Hanethes looks sadly at the Yamahs before he escapes up the chute.
"We'll try to protect you the best we can until we can find a way for you to depart to your own realm."
"We thank you." Ilyata responded, bowing her head.
---
Flying up into the air, the fighter was buffeted by a cold wind carrying a muted scent of carrion and burnt dust. However, looking below didn't yield anything, and no further sounds came from the forested marsh below aside from the dripping of the bog below.
Talon flies back a little dejected. "Lame. I found nothing."
"It still must have been enjoyable to fly the unfriendly skies, Talon," says Kanthuun encouragingly. He gestures to let the fighter lead the way back to Gant's.
And checks the wayfinder.
"A blast, Kant." Talon responds as they make their way back to Gant.
Talon flies back a little dejected. "Lame. I found nothing."
Drovya claps Talon on the shoulder with genuine sympathy. Never fear my friend, I'm sure something horrible will happen to us soon enough.
He smiles in a manner that is meant to be reassuring to the Yamah, but that ends up being more of a grimace. Never fear, we will get you out of this place, but, it might be better if we can keep you out of sight once we approach the petitioner's settlement. Oh, and maybe we should use the wand of undetectable alignment on them as well as the rest of us. Rohini, would you do the honors?
"You're just a ray of sunshine aren't you?" Talon says sarcastically looking Drovya.
Ilyata's eyes peered off into the distance, but she shook her head as Talon returned.
"I, too, sense nothing."
In response to Drovya's reassurances, the two yamah bowed their heads in gratitude.
"I did assume that we would have to hide ourselves; the petitioners you speak of would not see us, but daemons could, so I understand this counsel. Merely warn us when we draw near." Ilyata again was the only one vocalizing concern.
Nyota looked back at the flume with grief before turning back to the party and finding her place in step among them.
The needle has moved only slightly to the right.... though that's no gauge of distance. However, that it still reacts with magnetism meant the party's quarry remains intact.
Nope. :)
Drovya shrugs and chuckles. Someone has to keep our spirits up.
Abaddon: Return to Shantytown
Drovya spoke truth, indeed. The trip back to the shantytown was full of necessary silence as the party moved with caution, aware that every step through the marshy terrain announced their presence to scant, but possibly powerful, hunters.
The cold, murky water was especially jolting to Haka, who hadn't yet traversed in the marshy forest.
Now and again, another distant scream would startle whomever took point.
However, eventually, the monoliths that announced the encroaching dungeon grew sparse and the familiar, hard ground of the terrain near the shantytown announced that the group had made it back, relatively unscathed....
Though the thought of the fact that they'd lost three of their original number remained a sobering warning against feeling any long-lasting relief.
The yamah followed the adventurers invisibly and in silence, and Rohini replaced her veil for safety.
Wandering petitioners looked up from small groups by the sides of the causeway, obviously gossiping, in some cases, about the fact the 'soul merchants' had returned, about other petitioners going missing (presumably the ones the Bajhat-Return-Brigade had slain), and the obvious lack of the buxom Petrova in the midst of the interlopers.
Gant's tiefling bodyguard emerged from one of the crumbling buildings and, one could assume, went off ahead to inform Gant of their arrival.
---
Abaddon: Gant's Abode, Redux
The elderly petitioner had left his door open; the party was able to slip inside without a word, though they were greeted by the dead elf who had likely assisted in the theft of the wayfinder not less than five days ago. Still, the odd, unblinking child remained practically glued to him, and the holes in his brows where piercings once were made it difficult for him to emote... it was impossible to tell if he was surprised to see the party or not.
Gant, once the party could see him in the back of his hut, had a more obvious reaction. A grin split his wrinkled face and he threw his arms wide in a gesture of gratitude before beckoning to the returning heroes, relatively certain that they had returned victorious.
The cushions were arranged for seven guests. His mood was only dampened by the fact not all were to be filled.
"It warms my proverbial heart to see you've come back safely, and even brought Rohini with you! Can I assume you were successful?"
Gant queried with a tone of cautious optimism.
"Come, sit, and tell me what has been done. I promise not to delay you long, by my terms or yours..."
"Yea, we won. But there was a price that was paid for it." Talon will explain the whole story to him, the losses of Arasmes and Petrova, the recruitment of Haka, and the rescue of the Yamah along with the destruction of Uraffa.
"Yes, Gant, much has changed in the brief period since I left you. These are noble companions and I have joined in their cause, even choosing to come back to this place after we took our fallen comrades to Katapesh. I feel I was perhaps brought here for the purpose of meeting them. And I feel the destruction of Uraffa was a task worthy of us, despite the cost. We must continue on our mission, but, as Talon mentioned, we rescued these two Yamah, who experienced unimaginable suffering at Uraffa's hands. Do you have any ideas about how we can return them Elysium or, at the least, to the material plane? We do not want to expose them to the hazards we will face, but I can't contemplate just leaving them here, stranded and a target for any daemons that come wandering along."
That place was foul, and its denizens fouler still, and the loss of Arasmes and Petrova was a great blow to us all. Still, we are glad to have Rohini and Haka with us, and for now, that place is no threat to you. Also, this may belong to you.
Drovya holds up the Felhunter spellbook to see if Gant recognizes it.
Haka sits quietly, trying to take in the strange surroundings, so peculiarly domestic for such a horrible place, as his companions tell Gant the tale of their recent adventures. As Drovya finishes speaking, Haka adds, "He speaks the truth, they were foul beings in a fell place. And if you had a hand in tasking us to kill Uraffa and her minions, then you've done right."
Kanthuun sits, looking especially grim at the mention of Arasmes.
"Was there anything you expected to find in Uraffa's lair, Gant?" he asks, after a while.
Hanethes is also quiet as he carefully observes their surroundings, listens to the gossip from the other petitioners, and otherwise remains his jovial (if subdued by their environment) self.
Gant listened to Talon's account intently, brushing his chin with emaciated hands and furrowing his eyebrows in concern over every detail. He sighed heavily at the end of the account and paused, not so much for effect as to gather his thoughts as the vacant eye sockets of the avian skulls leered down at the party.
"I am truly sorry for the loss of your companions. I did not send you to Uraffa's lair to die, but understand that I have waited eons for this day, and only their loss has taken some of its glory from me. Still, you have done well to rescue others from that place."
The two yamah reappeared as their cloaking wore off, bearing close to the cleric of their goddess as she spoke on their behalf.
"Ah, dear child, I can grant them succor here, but I cannot keep them in my house forever... They'd have effectively traded one prison for another."
And he was still worried about something. The same something that the party had noticed the last time they passed through, most likely...
"Still, as there is no threat of Uraffa swooping in and either offering the damned a way out or stealing one herself, you could, in theory, use plane-shifting magics in this chamber. I've.. no interest to be inside if you do, however... Best not to become reacquainted with what I've lost lest I decide I miss it overmuch."
The petitioner's eyes widened when Drovya showed him the spellbook. Provided the magus allowed it, the wizard grabbed it immediately and began to shuffle through it. He laid wizened hands over the pages and laughed heartily until he came upon the destroyed pages.
"Ah... and then nothing, I suppose. No illumination as to why I hunted her, then... other than the name, I suppose."
He snorted quietly. "What manner of family did I have to merit such a ridiculous name? Ah, well. Gant I was, and Gant I shall remain."
Gant studied Drovya's face for a moment before looking Kanthuun over.
"There wasn't anything else, really, that merited my attention inside her lair... but I hope you don't begrudge an old dead man his curiosity. Hopefully there was enough inside to make your deadly sidetrip worth your while. I can grant you something in return for what you've done for me, at any rate."
Just then, Haka felt a small blunt object hurtle into his head, and the malformed, somewhat dim cacodaemon familiar of the elder came into view, skidding across the floor in a ricochet.
"Hm... so there you were, Mika. Did you get the reward for our guests?
The creature made a few subsequent hissing sounds and regurgitated a pair of rings onto the ground in a slimy, but as any spell of detection could reveal, magical mess.
"I buried these when my partner ...well. I didn't know if I'd be able to find them again, but Mika apparently remembered what I had forgotten."
Sense Motive:
"Unfortunately, it will be some time before my Lady will entrust me with plane shifting magics. Unless someone has an idea of how we can access those magics now, it may be best that the Yamah continue traveling with us until we all can return to Katapesh together. What do you all think? And what do you think?," turning to the Yamah.
"I'm alright with our lady Yamah's keep traveling with us. What do the rings do?"
It will be some time before we can return to Katapesh, won't it Kanthya?[b] He turns to Rohini with a quizzical look. [b]Did you prepare that spell you mentioned? The one to restore the armaments of our celestial friends? Would it work on Gant's spellbook? We might garner some more information that way. Kanthuun, Haka, have either of you ever heard of the Felhunter family? Perhaps the name hides some clue.
He then turns to other matters. In the meantime, what of our prize? Do we depart at once, or is there time to delay? I would not mind an opportunity to study these new spells, and scribe them into my own grimoire, although that is a matter of several hours, and I would need some materials. Gant, is there a place in this settlement where I could procure scribing materials?
Rohini will use the mending spell on the books and the starknifes. She has no objection to waiting while Drovya scribes spells.
"The Wayfinder only tells direction,not distance. But yes,I wager it will be some time, Drovya. I haven't heard of the Felhunters myself."
Haka responds to Drovya's various questions, "I think your study of those spells will only help prepare us for whatever strange horrors lie ahead, so it seems worth the time to do it. As to the Fellhunters, I can use the time while you work on your scribing to ponder your question."
Turning to Rohini, he adds, "And perhaps we can brighten this strange place a bit with some music, so that you might practice some with that lovely flute?"
Hanethes had crept in over the duration of the conversation, and shook his head grimly at Haka.
"We have to be careful here, Haka. Well, perhaps not in this room, but on this plane. Joy and happiness might bring us the wrong type of attention, but if you can play something appropriate to the place, perhaps it wouldn't."
"Its well taken the suggestion that I practice a bit on the flute, and also that I be careful not to draw unwanted attention." While Drovya works on her spells, Rohini will practice on the flute, playing quietly, at this point mostly trying to get a feel for the instrument.
"In that case I'm gonna relax while you guys do that, maybe get to know our lady Yamah friends here."
Drovya sets to studying (with Gant's approval, of course), doing his best to ignore everyone around him.
After the second hour, he stretches, popping his back and grins. Well, at least I'll be useful in the desert now. He takes a drink and returns to his studies.
After another hour, he grins again. All too easy. Fortunately, none of these spells are very complex, at least, for someone of my talents.
The fourth hour finds him grumbling in annoyance though. Celestial swarms indeed! he sneers in vexation. Perhaps if this mage had spent less time drawing angels and more time differentiating his spondis from his dactyls the damn thing would make a lick of sense. He stands and engages in several stretches before shaking his head and returning to the recovered pages.
Two hours later his closes the books with a weary smile. I haven't studied that much since I was a boy. He rubs his eyes, cracks his knuckles and goes through his stretching routine again. All in all, very successful though. Too bad about the incantation to summon a swarm though. I wonder if they really are celestial.
Illyata, though kneeling serenely, eyed Mika dubiously.
"We would be honored to aid you, but would respect your wishes that we stay, all the same, blessed ones. Though we do not relish the though of consorting with daemons or remaining without her servants, now that we have had a taste of freedom."
Nyota shivered, but otherwise remained silent still.
"You may have access to my stores, Drovya, but I do not know how much I have left." the elderly petitioner motioned to a stuffed skull towards the end of the room. "There are some scavenged and derived inks and a pen, but little else... Be wary of the red pigments; they come from a plant that melts mortal flesh, if vicarious experience has taught me correctly."
He clears his throat.
"The rings allow you to communicate with its partner across great distances for up to ten minutes every twenty-four hours... though to be honest, we never really were able to keep track of the time. Rather, the inlaid orange stones emit dim light when they are recharged. There's a command word, but it's utter nonsense. Pipligg. Oh, and to cease the effect if it hasn't yet been ten minutes, you simply reverse the term."
"As always, you are free to rest here as you require, but I must be able to come and go. Your cleaning out several of our traitors has not gone unnoticed."
---
Rohini's spells caused the starknives to regain some of their former shape, but it was obviously a temporary solution. She suspected that the force of a telling blow might break them.
The books fared little better, though she was able to constitute a few pages in each, one of which contained a spell intact, but others had only bits of notations and a partial contract of some sort that could be rescued after centuries of neglect.
The Felhunter Guild in Ustalav is a small but specialized monster-hunting business. They specialize in taking down extraplanar evils, though occasionally foraying into undead hunting isn't unknown for them.
During the time it took the party to scribe and prepare spells, Nyota took hold of the remaining filthy cushion and proceeded to relax, not paying much attention to the degraded ambiance.
Illyata approached the fighter as soon as Nyota fell asleep. He had mentioned wishing to spend time with the celestials, but there seemed to be more to this errand.
"Did you say something to my sister?" she whispered, her tone serious.
"Did you say something to my sister?" she whispered, her tone serious.
"No, I don't think so. Why so serious? Did something happen?"
My thanks, as always Gant. Once I've finished, if you'd like to have a look at the books for your own collection, please feel free.
Drovya painstakingly drew new marks into his spellbook for several more hours , taking only short breaks for food and water. Spending an hour on each page seemed tedious, but the half elf seemed oddly peaceful as he worked. Black Ivan rested against the wall, forgotten as Drovya scribed his marks and had some small measure of peace.
Once done, he rubbed his eyes and shook his head. Another spell? he shrugged his shoulders at the reconstituted book. I'll have to look at it later. We've tarried here long enough, and my fingers will probably fall off if I try to write another rune.
Perform (untrained):
Rohini returns the starknives to the Yamah, "They are not fully restored -- they are more fragile than they were originally -- but they have at least been restored to useability, and I hope their return to you will bring you some comfort."
"Interesting devices." Hanethes said aloud, admiring the mucousy gemstones on the rings. "Spessartine garnet, I believe."
"Is there a maximum range?"
"Hrmmm...I wonder how we could make good use of these rings. Gant, on another subject, do you know where to find anything regenerative in this land? These companions of ours, you know." He looks at the Yamah.
He then spoke to the party at large. "I also suggest that we find some sort of conveyance to increase our speed. We've spent many turns of the glass on our side trip."
"Not persay, no." Illyata pulls her lips together and looks down.
"She merely seems to have taken a liking to you, so I thought, maybe; well, no matter."
The yamah regards the mortal with an unreadable expression.
"Be careful with her... She is damaged in a way I... I was only spared by fortune. I do not think she has the same strength I have remaining."
A smile can't help but form on Talon's face. "Is that so? I had a feeling that might be it."
"You got it. I'll do my best to be careful. Though I would like to know what's up eventually. When one of you is ready of course."
"They should function as long as you remain on the same plane." Gant replied to Hanethes, looking at the back of his gnarled hands with a frown.
"And therein lies the wonder. And you needn't even speak once they are active, merely think the words you choose to say."
The petitioner turned to Kanthuun.
"As for objects with regenerative properties, I cannot say that I know of any. Not here. Even the medicinal plants here are derived from toxins and dangerous to use."
"It is appreciated." Illyata replied, inclining her head. "Now I assume your friend Drovya shall be at his work for some time. A rest would do you well while you have the chance, I would think."
"No problem. That's a really good idea." Talon will find a good place to sit or lay down and take a nap while all the casters do what they need to.
"Then we need to keep them with us. There will be healing back where we came from, and a way onwards. Han--regarding those rings, I think you should wear one. Rohini or I can wear the other. Good for reconnaissance."
Kanthuun naps until the lovely Abaddonian sunlight wakes him, or something attacks, whichever comes first.
The rogue finds himself quietly wandering the main avenue, taking advantage of his natural talents, though he finds only those he'd befriended at Baema's place are willing to talk with him directly. Whatever had transpired with Rogar certainly didn't embolden anyone. The petitioners acted with the knowledge that the current part of adventurers were not to be trifled with.
"Haven't seen Begyll, Uran, or Adrig since those brokers showed, mark my words, they've been done away with by those 'wanderin' salesmen'-,"(whispered.)
"Kryel's brat looks like he's gonna turn any day now. Guess Gant doesn't have the strength to go after his own dogs-,"(Heard in passing.)
"They're missing the other bird. Shame, women like that don't just fall out the rotten trees..."(Heard in passing.)
"Was that... a halfling?! Best you keep an eye on that one, just screams 'take me down', having a halfling here."(In conversation with Hanethes when he's sociable)
"I still don't like it. There's too many who know where we are now. One of these days, that one fella is gonna come back and wipe us off the map. We should go, hey, just you and me-," (Said from one petitioner to another.)
Rohini's returning of the patched starknives was greeted by a swift embrace from Illyata. The second the azata placed her fingers around a handle, the object began to emanate magic, though it was obviously still damaged.
"Blessed be. I had almost given up hope on using these again. You will find us much more capable of defending ourselves, now."
She bowed, starlit hair spilling forward. She bows low before the servant of her goddess.
"Again, please accept my thanks."