"Think what you will, but I'm still picking out brambles from my hair from our romp in the scree last night," Roz replies indignantly.
Aurelia laughs and holds her hands up "Hey, look, no complaints here. I'll take Red over that psychotic archer any day of the week. Please keep doing what you are doing because frankly, I do not know how you put up with Vox!"
Before you leave the Kallow Mounds, Thousand Bones tells you that he has no intention of sending you into the Cinderlands on your quest alone or unarmed. He calls forth four brave young Skoan-Quah boneslayers, introducing them as Ahalak, Hargev, Nalmid, and Shadfrar. These four are to be your through the Cinderlands and shall lead you where you need to go. In addition, they will be the witnesses to your deeds, and their word will aid in spreading respect wherever you travel in the Cinderlands. Finally, the boneslayers’ survival at your side despite many dangers will prove your ability and interest in protecting Shoanti allies.
Further, Thousand Bones presents an array of helpful gifts: five potions of cure serious wounds, a wand of create water (44 charges), a wand of endure elements (23 charges), and five pots of Shoanti war paint (three red and two silver). "I had suspected for some time you would need my help. These items are nothing to me, but they may be everything to you," the shaman says with a smile.
You feel stronger from your recent experiences, better prepared to take on the challenges to come.
You head off to the northwest, making for the distant domain of the Lyrune-Quah to seek the truthspeaker Akram. The boneslayer guides are quite competent, helping you navigate through the badlands and avoid encounters with any dangerous denizens. After two days' march, you cross the Yondabakari River and continue your journey.
Late that afternoon, you come upon a grisly sight--the rotting head of a Shoanti man mounted on a sharp wooden pole, the other end of which has been jammed into a cleft between two rocks so that the head hangs out much like a flag on the side of a building. Bright red crossbow bolts have been driven into each of the head’s eyes.
Hargev curses under his breath as the other boneslayers look around warily. "This is the work of the Cinderlander," he says. "This mysterious man has stalked these lands for many years. He never attacks large groups but targets only lone hunters, using a strange screaming crossbow. Nobody knows exactly who he is, but there are many stories. The Skoan-Quah believe he is the unquiet ghost of a Korvosan general who stalks these lands and will continue to slay Shoanti until the number of Shoanti he kills equals the number of friends and family members the Shoanti took from him."
Nalmid peers more closely at the head. "This looks like it is rather old. With luck, the Cinderlander is long gone from these lands."
"We could try and find him?" Iolaire suggests, "We don't want to be leaving someone like that roaming around."
Grimacing at the bolts through the eyes, the first thing that comes to mind is that this is what Vox will devolve into.
Aurelia looks to Iolaire and thinks Always wanting to help people for free. She shakes her head slowly for a second before smiling and saying "Why not? We're here and we'd love to help. Let's go find the Cinder Lander."
Nicoleta looks over the head with a clinical eye. "I'm pretty sure that these were stuck in after he killed the poor bastard," she says.
"Hey, Iolaire? It's been a while, but any chance that your friend could check for any tracks?" she asks.
Aurelia shakes her had at Nicoleta's request, waving her hands in the air "No, it's fine. I'll do it. She can stay wherever she is."
The mesmerist then sets about searching for tracks.
Despite a stellar effort, Aurelia is unable to find any recent tracks in the area.
Aurelia sighs and says "It's no use, there's no tracks. Let's move on."
Iolaire shakes herself out of a reverie just in time to pick up Aurelia's conclusion. Since there's nothing there she shrugs and prepares to travel on.
"Well, let's keep an eye out in any case for any crossbow snipers," Nicoleta says, her eyes scanning the surrounding terrain.
The boneslayers continue to lead you northwest across the Cinderlands. You skirt the Sklar-Quah settlement of Flameford, not yet ready to treat with the Clan of the Sun. As you pass nearby, though, you catch a glimpse of a small group of riders on a distant outcropping. Perhaps they are Sklar-Quah members keeping an eye on you.
Later on, Nicoleta gets the distinct feeling of being watched, but she can't quite put her finger on where it's coming from.
After another two full days of walking, you near the Lyrune-Quah's camp on the third day. Their camp is located near an ancient Desnan temple called the House of the Moon. As you approach the location, a patrol of four Shoanti women approach. They wear blue-dyed hide armor and wield starknives.
"I am Tekrakai, Moon Maiden of the Lyrune-Quah," the group's leader says. "Who are you that approaches the House of the Moon?"
Iolaire looks at Aurelia, this is definitely not the time for the groups 'B' diplomat to lead.
Nicoleta's cocky grin appears as the woman approaches. Expecting something crude to come forth any moment, it's a bit of a surprise that after a glance at Aurelia, the monk bites her lip and simply nods in greeting.
Aurelia doesn't miss a beat and greets the women, speaking for her group "Well met, Tekrakai, I am honored to meet you. I am Aurelia, Will Maker of the Korvosa Angels. My companions and I have traveled many miles on a great journey on behalf of Thousand Bones. We seek knowledge to overcome an ancient evil."
Tekrakai's attitude softens. "If you are friends of Thousand Bones, then you are welcome among the Lyrune-Quah. These are Eaklai, Maeva, and Yandree." The other Moon Maidens nod, and you can see the expressions of worry remain on their faces.
"You are a long way from the lands of the Skoan-Quah. What brings you here?"
"We're looking for a Truthseeker," Nicoleta says with a playful grin, unable to resist for too long. "But we're always open to meet new friends."
Aurelia introduces "This is Roz, Iolaire and Nicoleta." When she turns away from their hostess to look back at her girl, she double raises her eyebrows before turning back to Tekrakai.
"We are in search of the great truthspeaker Akram. We were told we could find him here. May we have an audience with him?" Aurelia requests.
"You seek Truthspeaker Akram. He is indeed scheduled to arrive with the rest of our tribe in a few short days, but I worry that this year’s pilgrimage may need to be rerouted. Our sacred House of the Moon has been claimed by a highly territorial monster. So far, we have been unable to drive it off. We lost our previous commander when the creature killed and ate her during our first assault." Tekrakai casts her eyes to the ground.
"We might be able to help with that?" Iolaire suggests. "We've had practise dealing with vampires, rakshasa and other monsters."
"It's true! They're big heroes!" Trinia offers helpfully.
Tekrakai sighs in relief. "Thank you! We would be most grateful for your assistance. My Moon Maidens and I are ready to assault the House of the Moon immediately if you are prepared. The creature that dwells within is a hulking, red-skinned monstrosity with tiny wings that don't seem like would actually let it fly. Its claws can rend flesh and its roar causes fearful discord. However, the creature is easily distracted by artistic beauty so a performance could well lull it into a state of temporary calm. The beast never sleeps, and as long as it defends a site it counts as its territory, it fights with a ferocious focus—driving the thing off permanently is likely impossible, and killing it is the best solution."
'She really felt the need to mention that their commander was killed and eaten?'
"A performance?" Nicoleta asks. "What kind of performance?"
Aurelia thinks for a moment, but she isn't able to place the creature. "I'm not sure what it is, but we are something of specialist when it comes to sort of thing. We'll take care of it, rest assured."
She looks back at her companions to verify and make sure there are no objections before she agrees "We are ready to set out. Let us be on our way."
”Any artistic performance. Song, dance, story,” Tekrakai says.
”Oh! I could sing a song to soothe the savage beast!” Trinia says excitedly.
"Sounds like a plan." A sharp voice says. "Let's get out of the sun, it's too damn bright!"
Aurelia snaps around to see Vox, scowling at her. Her frown quickly turns upside down however, stepping back and motioning their hostess to the archer "Oh, let me introduce the final Korvosan Angel, Song of the People. She loves to perform. Why don't you sing us a beautiful melody, Song?"
Nicoleta leans in a littler closer to the mesmerist. "Or we could dance?" she whispers with a leer.
Sufficiently distracted or interested, Aurelia's smile turns into a huge grin. "I'd love to dance. Will you take me dancing?" she asks. Suddenly very interested in Nicoleta's conversation, she forgets about Vox.
"As a performance is what I meant," she says with a grin. "Do you know the Dance of the Sullied Maiden?"
Vox marches towards the temple, unwilling to remain in the sun or endure the flirting going on behind her. As she goes she twists a ring on her finger and disappears.
A silvery stone shrine stands atop a low promontory in the foothills here—the House of the Moon. The surrounding stone has been smoothed by ages of wind, but the shrine itself remains as stark and unweathered as the day its final block was set in place. The structure shimmers with a slightly reflective sheen, and even on moonless nights it glimmers with lunar radiance. A 30-foot-tall opening allows access to the shrine interior at ground level. The curving sides of the archway are framed by the long peacock-like tail feathers of an immense star monarch moth carved into the building’s facade. The creature’s wings furl to the left and right, fanning over two side towers attached to the central spire, which rises to a height of 100 feet. Above, a silvery sphere caps the central tower’s peak, as if the moon had fallen out of the sky to become impaled upon the steeple.
”The beast lurks within. How should we proceed?” Tekrakai asks nervously.
"It will not see me." Vox says confidently. "Is there an upper level inside? I will go in and take up a shooting position. Wait two minutes and then you can have those two do their sex dance or whatever the plan is!"
Aurelia shakes her head "No. Does it involve biting?" she responds to Nicoleta.
----
Aurelia puts her hands on her hips, sticking her tongue out at Vox "I think you are just jealous because you don't get to come out and play as much."
Turning towards Tekrakai, she says "Vox can scout ahead and let us know what she sees. Once we know the exact lay of the land, I can make us invisible during our approach and we can spring a surprise attack on it."
"The Dance of the Sullied Maid is an ancient dance with a long and storied history. It's deeply embedded in the Varisian culture and deserves more respect that that," Nicoleta says with a distinguished air. She only holds it for a moment though. "And it's about sex," she adds with a shrug and a grin.
"It's designed for one performer," she says to Aurelia. "But it works with two together. Just mirror my movements." She raises an eyebrow. "And no biting."
~~~~~
"No need for invisibility if we're going to dance for it," she says. She gestures to Tekrakai and demonstrates a simple clapping rhythm with her hands. "All of you now," she says. Once then have it down she nods. "So as soon as we see this red reaper, a couple of you start up that beat and you'll get to see some Varisian culture."
She pulls Aurelia to her side and begins creeping into the shrine.
”This ought to be good,” Roz snorts with a laugh.
The House of the Moon’s interior consists of two floors—a large open area below that serves as a gathering hall and a smaller area above known as the “sky well.” The two floors are connected by graceful spiraling staircases.
The walls in the gathering hall are decorated with symbols and imagery sacred to the worship of Desna. A massive starknife made of white stone, measuring 20 feet from tip to tip, sits on a pivot in the center of the floor. The starknife is very cunningly balanced, so that despite its size, visiting priests can easily rotate it on its central axis to reflect the current month and day. A formidable stack of picked-over animal carcasses and seven dead moon maidens are heaped in the southwest corner of the hall.
Above, in the sky well, a moonlike sphere emanates a shimmering curtain of moonlight at all times that then reflects upward against the ceiling to project an accurate image of the clear night sky, regardless of the time of day or weather. In this way, the sky well functions as an observatory, allowing astronomers to stargaze even on stormy nights or at high noon.
A monstrous creature lurks near the bodies in the gathering hall. This hulking humanoid towers at a height of ten feet. Its body is thick and hairless, its gray hide flushing with crimson along the arms and legs. Strangely tiny bat-like wings jut from its shoulder blades while its gangly claws swing down to its ankles. Three separate pairs of crimson eyes hint at the creature’s crude intellect, but its powerful jaws and razor-sharp talons dismiss any suggestion of docility.
Vox sneaks up for the sky well to get into sniping position as the rest of you creep forward. The creature turns to you with a growl, and Trinia begins to stomp and clap, leading Roz and the Moon Maidens as they perform the beat for Nicoleta’s dance...
Nicoleta strikes a pose as the Maidens begin their beat, indicating for Aurelia to mirror it. She begins moving as the percussive sound continues, but something is not ... quite ... right. Whether it's because she's trying to watch and guide her partner too closely or if she just hasn't done it in a long time, it doesn't look graceful or seductive. "F*&@, this isn't working," she snaps at Aurelia. "I think we're going to have to resort to plan 'B'."
Despite the somewhat awkward nature of the dance, the beast is somehow still entranced by it! It sits heavily on its haunches and watches Aurelia and Nicoleta with rapt fascination as they twirl and gyrate.
Aurelia watches Nicoleta's movements as she tries to get a feel for the dance. It doesn't take long before she gets the gist and begins to take the lead "No, I got it. Like this, right?" she says as she gets into it. The mesmerist slides her hands over her body and moves about in ways even Vox can't help but find seductive.
Vox finds a hiding place on the upper level, deliberately choosing the second best place so that she can move to the best after the beast snaps out of its drooling.
Then she waits until she is sure that everyone else is ready before firing.
Manyshot: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 15 - 2 = 21 Damage: 14d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 4, 7, 8, 5, 7, 8, 2, 6, 8, 6, 1, 1, 2) + 10 = 80
As Vox's arrows fly, Nicoleta gives up all pretense of dancing and dashes forward to strike at the imposing creature.
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Finishing her dance with a flourish, she sweeps her hand across her body and says to the creature "You will not move again until I tell you to."
Roz starts off the fight with a primal shriek, trying to instill the monster with mortal terror. It resists her spell but succumbs to Aurelia’s paralysis! Even frozen in place, its hide proves quite difficult for Vox’s arrows to pierce, but Nicoleta sweeps its legs, and the Moon Maidens pounce on the fallen beast, stabbing with their starknives.
The creature struggles in vain to break the compulsion, giving you all ample time to stomp, shoot, and stab it until, at last, it breathes no more!
”Thank you! Without your powerful magic, that would have been a dangerous battle, indeed,” Tekrakai says. ”You may claim the arms of my fallen sisters as a reward, and once we have put the dead to rest, you are welcome to stay here with us in the House of the Moon until the rest of our clan arrives.”
Aurelia gestures forward with her hand and bows her head "It is our pleasure. For us, the simple acts of saving lives and your happiness are enough of a reward."
Before Tekrakai can adjust their payment she adds "But since you offer them up, we will put them to good use and take them in."
She leans in and whispers "There is one other topic I'm interested in discussing with you in private later this evening unrelated to this." Aurelia looks over her shoulder at Nicoleta, winking.
Turning back to the group she folds her hands together as if praying and says "For now, let's celebrate our victory and say a prayer for the fallen."
There is a snort from the gallery above, but it is a quiet snort and could easily be dismissed as a trick of the wind.
Uninterested in Aurelia's false piety Vox goes exploring.
Nicoleta sees the wink and her eyes narrow, not knowing what her mercurial girlfriend is up to this time.
Vox doesn't find anything else of interest in her exploration of the temple.
The Skoan-Quah boneslayers with you help to bury the Moon Maidens outside their sacred temple and perform funerary rites. Their cultural mores require them to avoid too much interaction with the Lyrune-Quah; they opt instead to camp out of sight in a nearby vale until you decide to move on.
Tekrakai and the other Moon Maidens become even friendlier now that the House of the Moon is free of danger. They share food and drink with you as well as tales of their tribe. The celebration lasts long into the night...
False piety or not, Aurelia plays up the whole thing and dives into befriending the Moon Maidens. She spends a lot of time around Tekrakai during the celebration and late that evening once everyone is fairly plastered and the celebration end is nearing, she does a semi-private dance for just her and Nicoleta.
Using the dancing as a gateway, she attempts to lure her back to her and her girlfriends sleeping quarters...
Though initially resistant to Aurelia's attempts at seduction, as the night wears on and the spirits continue to flow, Tekrakai smiles and joins in the strange tshamek dance. Before the toned Shoanti warrior knows what is happening, the mesmerist has lured her into the private chamber she is sharing with Nicoleta, and it isn't long until all parties involved have divested themselves of their clothing...
Meamwhile, Roz draws Iolaire away to find an area of heavy vegetation to perform her nightly devotions to the Green Mother, whispering secrets to the Eldest during the throes of passion...
***
That night, after Aurelia and Nicoleta finally fall asleep, they share a dream. In it, they stand naked in the great hall of the House of the Moon. With a flutter of feathers and starlight, a great bird-man appears before the pair. Great feathers sweep back from the lean man's brow, and silver-and-black spotted adorn his mighty wings. "Greetings, children of Desna. I am her servitor, Nightspear. I come to you to assuage your fears and ensure you have pleasant dreams. You have questions. Ask, and they shall be answered."
After much celebration, Aurelia is exhausted from having entertained two strong and proud women last night. She collapses into Nicoleta's embrace and has troubling dreams of draining her lover's body of all of its blood.
Awakeing with a start, she finally lays back and down eventually falls back asleep to the shared dream with Nightspear.
"Is this real?" she asks, pinching Nicoleta to see how she reacts. Once she has her answer, she turns to Nightspear and asks the most pressing question on her mind. "Will I become a full vampire?" And kill my lover? she thinks, but does not say aloud.