"Well...there doesn't seem to be any present danger," Aiyana replies, "Most of the time, such dogs prefer the dark for hunting...at least from my own experiences with them. We have such creatures in Lyrudrada, as well. And, I've encountered a few here in Nidal when leading Desnan followers to Gioret's ranch..."
The caligni pauses in mid-sentence...
"Wait! The ranch!" she exclaims, "If the horses are returning home like they're trained to do, they'll lead those shadow beasts to Gioret's. That'll bring their masters there, too. The dream hunters. And we could be walking straight into that."
Aiyana seems fretful for several moments.
"I suppose there's nothing all that suspicious about the horses. If the dream hunters follow them to the ranch, they shouldn't have any particular reason to suspect Gioret of aiding heretics, right? Do they...have any kind of magic that could compel the truth if they interrogate him? Or anything they might be able to divine about us and our use of the horses to get to Haramil's tomb?"
Daehalya & Bastian:
Spoiler:
Nothing specific about Mathion's tactics. He's a powerful spellcaster, who often surrounds himself with capable bodyguards and summoned allies.
"It's still nighttime," Aiyana notes as everyone prepares to leave, "Given that most of you can see just as well as Zyler and I now...it would be best to travel now. But the sun will be up soon. I know it always hurts my eyes. And, given how that bright light in the tomb's guardian chamber affected all of us, I worry the morning might cause us problems, as well. Once we see the dawn on the horizon, we should probably stop and rest..."
"I can only feel that I'm to blame for the predicaments all of you now find yourselves in..." Aiyana shares. The caligni seems genuinely worried for all of you. "I mean, I truly didn't know what dangers would await us in Haramil's tomb. I knew the Cradle was powerful, but I had no idea the kind of curse it might bring to surfacers. Haramil once wielded it, of course, and it must have twisted him. Now, whatever dangers it created upon his death...or through the meddling of the Reborn...I feel it must be the cause of whatever's happening here. And now, they take it to Lyrudrada."
She gestures towards herself and Zyler. "Yet, the two of us are unaffected. So, that must be why the Reborn are secure in taking it there. But now, I suspect the reason for that mystery might be a clue in understanding how to undo whatever has happened to all of you."
Lesska Thrice-shamed wrote:
”How can we follow the Reborn? Aiyana, do you have mystic means of portage? Though regardless of how, the when may needs to come after I rest and recuperate - still weakened by the spiders as I am...”
"There's one way," she acknowledges, "I've only ever used it for emergencies when Nidalese inquisitors were close to discovering the Desnans in our care as we smuggled them through the canyons and into the Darklands. It's a cache of supplies...some of them magical in nature...close to where I exited the mountains to journey overland to Gioret's ranch. There are a couple of scrolls there, each one capable of speeding our journey by accessing the Shadow Plane. And, given our circumstances, I'm certain we should seek them out and use them...but, only after we see Ailis safely back to Gioret."
"Y-you...serve the Reborn?" Aiyana finally stammers, struggling to find a more confident voice in conversing with the dragon. She looks to Zyler, half-expecting the dark dancer to confirm her assumption, but he only shrugs and continues his best to keep a low profile while clutching his wand in case he needs to disappear again.
Just behind everyone, there's a snarl of defiance as Aiyana comes charging behind Lydia with her longsword held high. But as she closes the distance...and Haramil's spirit is laid to rest...her vision finally clears and her steps falter as the caligni reaches everyone else. Seeing she was about to attack her friends, Aiyana drops the weapon, horrified by her own actions.
"It would seem we're going the right way if we're headed into an area of darkness as black as midnight..." Aiyana states on the way down, "Maybe we should stay close together so we pool what little light we have. Zyler and I can see in the dark, but the rest of you may face a similar fate as Ailis if you move too far..."
OOC: In game terms, if everyone stays within 5-feet of one another, your collective light sources will let you see into the next 5-foot square, but no further. Something is clearly affecting even magical light sources here...
"Is there anything we can do? I feel we're close now to whatever secrets this tomb contains about the Cradle of Night and the path taken by the Reborn. We've put Haramil's spirit to rest twice now..." Aiyana says, "Surely, we've withstood whatever traps, guardians, and restless spirits remain. Ailis? Can you continue if one of us leads you? Or should someone stay here with you while the others press on?"
"What now?" Aiyana asks as everyone draws to within 10 feet of the stairs leading to the coffin, "Do we dare to disturb his remains or maybe search through the surrounding treasure for the Cradle? I mean, we certainly don't want to disrespect the traditions of your people, Lesska...but, from what we've seen of this place, those who laid Haramil to rest here have already left behind many signs of their own disrespect for him. What does everyone else think?"
With Daehalya's encouragement, Aiyana moves among the statues to examine them. "These seem crafted from the same stone as those we saw in the trapped hallway," she announces, "Though they seem inanimate...or at least...not trapped that I can tell. Ailis? Do you want to check?"
"It would seem we've reached a dead end..." Aiyana announces, "But, perhaps this place gives us a better understanding of Haramil...as well as the depths his dark soul descended once he came into possession of the Cradle. I shudder to think what it might to do to my own people should the Reborn lay claim to it. Surely, it would usher in an age of unspeakable evil. And I doubt the Darklands would contain it."
Aiyana mutters something in her native tongue. None of you understand the language, but in your experience, it seems tonally consistent with a frustrated curse of some kind.
"Well, great!" she finally adds, "We've come full circle! And we're no closer to the Cradle than when we first began!"
"These mud-lined burrows were likely created by the giant spiders when they were still alive. Even in the Darklands, we know of many species which use such spaces to lay their eggs. So, I imagine it's much the same here on the surface lands. All those small spiders that were inside the husks likely hatched from those eggs...but only after whatever necromancy killed their mothers and reanimated their bodies. But, how long ago that happened? I really can't say."
The caligni points towards the western hall and the worked stone archway venturing back into Haramil's tomb. "Regardless, I think that's the only true way out of here...unless we want to go back to the room with the guardian statues. The muddy burrow in the ceiling probably just emerges somewhere on the hillside above the cairn. It's how the spiders probably dug their way in here...only to die when...well...when whatever happened to them."
"So...which way now, adventurers?" she asks aloud, her voice echoing slightly off the natural stone walls. "Back the way we came? Or to the west?"
"Well then..." Aiyana looks around in the dark chamber filled with once-again dead spiders. "Where to now? Shall we look around here...assuming it's safe? Do we press on...in that direction?" She points to the west where the tomb's man-made walls appear more intact than those that have caved in among the spider's den. "Or do we go back the way we came?"
Ailis looks quizzically at the people who are suggesting that they give up. "I wasn't under the impression that we had time to wait or rest or delay, whether we are weakened or not," she says. "What happens if we rest, selfishly putting our own well-being over the potential enrapturing of an entire city, and we fail in our quest while we sleep?"
"That's why I asked if we have enough restoratives to carry on," Aiyana explains, "If we don't, I'm not above resting a few hours to regain our strength. There's only one entrance/exit to this tomb...granted, that we know of. We've already found Zyler...so we know the Reborn were here, but we don't know if they're still here. Even if they are, presumably, they'd have to return the same way they entered. As long as one of us keeps watch, we'll still be able to confront them if they do."
"Regardless," she assures everyone, "I defer to your good judgment. Gioret assured me that all of you have a great deal of experience in matters such as this...so, if all of you feel we can continue, and you're willing to take the additional risk, I'm okay with pressing on. But, if you think it's wiser to rest a bit and recover by using some of our resources, I'm willing to wait. But no longer than that, of course."
"Are we going to be able to push on? I don't think we have time to wait...I have some curative potions if they're needed."
"Almost a third of us are poisoned..." Aiyana observes, "Wounds can be mended, but do we have enough restoratives to keep us going? I fear we haven't encountered the worst this tomb has to offer. And we haven't yet found the Reborn. Who knows what danger they may pose...especially if they have the Cradle of Night. We should probably be at our best if we're to successfully deal with them..."
The caligni peers sidelong at Zyler. "And perhaps we should rest while we ask this one a few more questions about what we can expect when we find them?"
Standing next to Daehalya with her bow nocked and readied, Aiyana turns to look behind them at the approaching stone guardians. "Hurry!" she shouts to the rest of the team, "Or we'll be caught between two enemies!"
Rather than draw the attacking spider's attention by standing up next to Bastian and Ailis, Aiyana starts crawling away from the horrific creature.
"Aaaaghhh! Get them off me! Get'em off!" she screams as more spiders rain down across her back.
She swats and smashes some of them crawling alongside her as she moves back to the secret door. Then, upon regaining her feet, she starts searching through her belongings for something to aid everyone, still slapping away the occasional spider clinging to her.
"This way!" she calls out, trying to shade her eyes within the greenish glare of the room where the Gozreh statues stand guard, "Lure them in here!"
Two move actions for her to get out of danger and stand. It'll take her until next round to contribute further.
"Should we go that way?" Aiyana asks, her vision finally clearing enough for her to see into the room better. "I don't like the looks of anything else here. Those dead spiders are...aaaccckkk!!!"
"Are you OK, Aiyana," Daehalya asks with concern. "That was bright even for me, so if you need a few moments to recover..."
"No...I...I...I'm fine..." Aiyana waves away Daehalya's concern, still shading her eyes with her hand. Even as she pulls back, it's clear that the caligni doesn't quite have her bearings, nearly stumbling as she blindly tries to follow everyone past the stone guardians and to the precipice of the secret door. "What is it? What do you see on the other side?"
In the meantime, Aiyana is drawn to the images on the shields arrayed across the north wall. "A black circle upon a field of blue," she notes aloud, her voice echoing a bit in the enclosed space. "Haramil must have incorporated the Cradle into his heraldry. For it to mean so much to him, surely it was buried with him." She glances at the coffin to the east. "Lesska? I know you urged us not to disturb anything here, but eventually we're going to have to in our search for the artifact. And that probably means opening the coffin..."
"My friends. Shadriev and Nephenie, their followers - must they come back this way? Or might they magick out once they have what they have come for? If they must traipse back this way, could we not merely wait for them or ambush them on their way out?"
"There are certainly magical means of traveling from the surface to Lyrudrada...and from there to here," Aiyana responds, "I myself was planning on using a scroll provided by my people to speed my journey home. I've done so in the past. It allows me to cross the Shadow Plane, effectively stepping from here, across the stretched shadows between worlds, and then onto the streets of Lyrudrada once I get my bearings. This magic is known to the caligni. So, it's possible the Reborn might have such means available to them, as well."
"If these vows they take are so potent, would we gain some advantage over...Shad...riev and his cronies were we to tell them they had inadvertently killed Zyler inside the door-magic or some similar accident?....Of course we might need Zyler to hide during such a ruse..."
"Doubtful," Aiyana responds, "Though it's a superstition in our culture, it wouldn't really rattle them enough to create a tactical advantage. And as a dark caller, I suspect Shadriev could discern the truth behind such a lie regardless."
"Like me?" Aiyana seems surprised. "I must admit, I assumed she too would be a dark caller to have climbed so far within the Reborn's ranks...and to be associated with an owb. She must possess a powerful charisma to have brought so many together and reopened the Forsaken Fane."
"Dark callers are the spiritual leaders of the caligni," Aiyana adds, "We heard the Reborn had started recruiting some of them. Apparently, this Shadriev must be a devout follower of their philosophy. And, if he serves a higher authority, Nephenie must be, as well. What god do they follow?"
"They didn't kill him because he's a dark dancer," Aiyana answers for Zyler. "His caste holds a unique position in caligni society, serving as intermediaries between factions and clans. No one restricts their comings and goings, and they're always welcome in any community for as long as they decide to stay."
"Aye. But I came not to Atteran to kill my own people, however malign, ancient or...insubstantial. I like this not."
"Nevertheless," Aiyana responds, "I'm glad you were here to defend us from such a malign spirit. That goes for all of you. Gioret's recommendation to bring this band together was well-founded. I had no idea Haramil's tomb would be this dangerous."
"Gods above and below!" Aiyana murmurs, "Is that...the spirit of Haramil?" She looks hopefully at Daehalya. "What did you do to him? Is he trapped...like the crystal from the pedestal would have done?"
"...What about you, Aiyana? What do you believe of such a practice?"
"I don't really know what to believe anymore. Our people are an enigma sometimes...even to me. But there's definitely real power in what the Reborn have been able to accomplish in Lyrudrada. And, their ability to venture here to retrieve a Cradle of Night only underscores that reality. Do our ancestral memories pass on to future generations when we die? There's a certain...appeal...to such beliefs. To think that loved ones and cherished companions are still a part of us. That our dreams are somehow echoes of the memories they shared. My own father passed away a few years ago, and I still miss him. Ownership of our estate and clan holdings in Lyrudrada passed to me upon his death, and it's a comforting thought to imagine his presence is still a part of my thoughts and actions in his absence. There's a lot of pressure that comes with my role in leading our small clan. And, if I'm being truly honest with myself, sometimes, it's comforting to leave the city and venture here to the surface...to see the sky...and reflect on the past, as well as the future...away from everyone else. I like to think my father is still with me when I come here, even as I feel the weight of responsibility to return to Lyrudrada and aid our people against the Reborn."
The caligni shakes her head as Lydia gets ready to examine the eastern doorway for signs of passage at Bastian's recommendation. "I'm sorry. I'm rambling again. There's just so much riding on us ensuring the Reborn are kept from retrieving the Cradle. And I fear so much would change in Lyrudrada under their reign. That all my father helped build will be truly lost."
As Aiyana's words fade away, Lydia kneels to examine the area around the double-doors to the east. She recognizes several recent scrapes and scuff marks on the floor and around the edges of the stone doors...as if someone had to pry them open and brace themselves in the process. The marks look recent enough that she's certain they occurred no less than a day or two ago. Before she can determine if the doors are now sealed or locked in any way, Aiyana gasps and points at the statue, drawing everyone's immediate attention there...
"Desna's stars!" Aiyana exclaims once the din of battle dies down, "Those things were hideous...and horribly dangerous. How'd they find their way in here? Lydia? Are you okay?"
"I think there's a chance this could get worse and we should move as quickly as possible....I think it might be the Cradle of Night, and I worry that means someone may already be using it...Or maybe even that it's still Haramil. Perhaps the tomb bound him and/or its magic before it was opened, but now someone's breached it.
"Well, in that case, we should definitely hurry along..." Aiyana agrees, "But, obviously, we need to proceed with caution. If the Reborn are already here, they can be quite formidable. And, if the Cradle of Night is in their possession, doubly so..." She draws a longsword and gestures towards the open doors of Haramil's tomb where the gloomy shadows continue to stir and shift with a supernatural menace. "Shall we?"
"Well, that was...certainly interesting...and maybe a little frightening, if I'm being honest about it..." Aiyana's well-timed voice cuts through the silence. "Well done, everyone. That was a swift reaction, even if they caught us by surprise. I don't think I've ever seen anything like those creatures before. They were positively eerie. What were they?"
Daehalya:
Spoiler:
You hear more voices. Harsh, sibilant whispers stretch across your mind as the rest of your companions catch their breath and talk among themselves.
"Murrrrderersssss!"
"Sssshadow sssslayersss!"
"Weee musssst kill them aaaall!"
"Yessss!"
"Ssswarm them!"
"Sssteal the liiife from their bodiesss!"
"Dessstroy their liiight!"
"Drag aaaall into the daaark!"
You turn your head in the direction you think the words came from, and, for a brief moment among the shifting shadowy gloom just outside the tomb, you see more of the elongated silhouettes amassing. But then, like an iris adjusting to unexpected light, that image disappears...replaced once again by the wooded hillside. Could it have been just a figment of your imagination? Or, is more danger on its way?
You may roll another Knowledge (planes) check, if you wish.
"This must be it..." Aiyana announces, her voice low enough for everyone to hear, but intentionally quiet lest she alert anyone...or anything...that might lie ahead. "Well, Pathfinder? What say you? How should we proceed? I expected the doors to the tomb to be closed tightly, and hidden from view. But it's unsettling that they hang open. And what are those...shadows? You see them? Swirling there?"
"Well, then...we'll just have to avoid being seen or running across any of these people," Aiyana says. "Now, I think I'll take a cue from Bastian over there and catch a nap before we leave. I'm sure Gioret will let us know when it's time."
"I am an inquisitor of the Song of the Spheres. The goddess has empowered me to judge the enemies of freedom and help those who cannot help themselves. They call me 'the Liberator,' for that is my specialty....I'm a competent fighter, and my magic can hinder our foes and bolster our group. I can root out hidden dangers and discern when lies are told to me. And should the need arise, I can be fairly stealthy as well."
"Happy I am to meet you then, 'Liberator'..." Aiyana inclines her head with a slight smile, "I too am a follower of Desna. Thus, my interest in aiding Gioret these last few years. At first, it was my love of travel that drew me here. But then, when I reached the surface and beheld the stars in the nighttime sky, I knew I'd found my purpose...and, my muse, I suppose. My only wish is that I could convince the rest of my people to abandon their false gods and turn to her."
Suetonius Voltaire wrote:
"I can help hold the line in melee, if necessary, although not to the extent of a dedicated barbarian; but thanks to the grace of Desna's Shadow, I can provide support in the form of some healing, some restoratives, and various blessings in combat....I also have the ability to create a light, which will shine brightly in places where all other lights would go out. Beyond that, I have some small skill at noticing things - whether it be hidden objects, or hidden emotions."
"Well then...perhaps we'll survive this mission after all. A healer is exactly what we need. But, as for your light...I'd recommend against using it unless you want to totally blind me. While I can tolerate the beauty of Desna's stars, anything brighter than that is quite painful to my eyes."
Lesska Thrice-shamed wrote:
"Lady Aiyana, I find I am wholly unfamiliar with the Darklands. Are the Reborn able to travel to the resting place of the Cradle we seek from their redoubt in Lyrudrada or must they surface? And can we reach it via your dusky paths?"
"No. Access to Haramil's tomb is entirely overland here in Nidal. There are no paths from the Darklands there. The Reborn would have to journey here, the same as me. Although...they could speed their way by relying on various forms of shadow magic. For our sake, let us hope they lack the means to conjure such transportation..."
"My specialty in battle s' tactical awareness. You listen to me, you stand where I tell you to stand, and we all do better. Other than that, I can hold my own in a fight. I'm quiet, I'm quick, I can break a trap and get into places that are closed..."
"I can see now why Gioret asked the Pathfinders for help. I must admit, I'm unfamiliar with your...Society? I'm not sure we have anything like that in the Darklands. But, clearly, your skills should come in handy as we explore Haramil's tomb..."
Aiyana gestures towards Bastian. "So, you and the other girl...Lesska...sound like our most experienced and capable warriors. Like Ailis, I can fight a bit, too, if need be...provide a bit of magic in certain situations...and advise on anything involving the Cradle itself." The caligni looks to Suetonius and Lydia. "I understand Daehalya here is much more apt with spells than any of us, but what of you two? What skills do you bring to our expedition?"
"I'll hold onto the map to Haramil's tomb," Aiyana adds, "The stars will help us gain our bearings. And even if the clouds obscure their light, I can see well enough in the dark to guide us there." The caligni looks sidelong at Gioret. "It's entirely possible we may encounter agents of the Umbral Court along the way, but I'd prefer to avoid them. If we can't, then I expect to defend ourselves rather than submit to them for questioning and torture. This mission is too important for my people to be slowed by dream hunters."
"So, defeat a cult, retrieve the ancient evil shadow artifact, and then sit and twiddle our thumbs while yer buddies take back yer city? Then ye pay us? Sounds good to me."
"Actually," Aiyana answers as she reaches behind one of the sacks of grain and retrieves a small haversack, "I'm empowered to pay you part of your reward now...as a retainer for your services. And, provided we're successful and the Cradle of Night is kept from the Reborn, I'm certain the Bleakshore Council will compensate you further..."
Opening the haversack, Aiyana begins to draw forth a variety of items.
The treasure consists of 2,400 gp in various gemstones, a masterwork mithral dagger, three potions of cure moderate wounds, three potions of lesser restoration, a scroll of shadow conjuration, and an ounce of stone salve, all carried in a handy haversack, which Aiyana informs you is also part of the payment.
"I hope you find these items satisfactory...and useful...?"
What creatures? As Suetonius said, forewarned is forearmed...
"A variety of things," Aiyana replies, "Some too...odd...to properly describe. After all, creatures summoned from the shadow plane are often half-formed or nebulous and ever-shifting. Some can freeze or drain the strength from the living. Others are shadow-infused versions of normal beasts here in our world. There's even a rumor that a shadow dragon has been seen near Lyrudrada and many worry the Reborn may add its power to their own...or bring its wrath down upon us if they secure the Cradle of Night and the artifact draws its interest."
"More common allies of the Reborn are the owb...visitors from the Shadow Plane, often summoned by our dark callers to assist with the various rites and ceremonies of our people. They never speak audible words, but can project their voices into your mind. Our people have worshiped them for many years, and they aid us in many of our conflicts with other civilizations...as well as the in-fighting between different caste-clans or communities. The dark callers serving the Reborn have definitely begun calling upon these patrons more frequently, and its a definite source of power for them."
"Outside of that, there are occasional allies and partners among the Reborn drawn from other creatures in the Darklands. Drow, driders, duergar, and so on. Some simply trade with them, the same as they do with the rest of Lyrudrada, but we worry that there may be more sinister support as they continue to consolidate control of the city in preparation for...well, whatever they're preparing for once they have the Cradle of Night. Whatever it is, the Bleakshore Council is convinced it's not good for our people."
The first check is for what Daehalya knows about Haramil; the second is for what I know about the Cradle of Night.
Daehalya:
Spoiler:
I'm going to rule that Daehalya hasn't spent enough time locally in Nidal to know very much about Haramil, so there's a circumstance penalty involved with your Knowledge (history) skill check. That said, in the small amount of time she spent reading books in the library of Mathion's estate in Pangolais, she's read about a legendary warlord named Haramil among the Gozreh-worshiping horselords who dwelt in the hill country of northern Nidal during the Age of Destiny many millennia ago. These Kellid humans were powerful warriors with a culture centered around honor, tradition, and horses. He led a devastating assault against dark folk raiders from the Darklands, pursuing them underground in their tunnels and caverns. Not only did he slay several of their leaders, but he stole a powerful artifact called the Cradle of Night. Legend holds that this artifact influenced him in sinister ways and drove him to abandon Gozreh's teachings.
The reason this myth drew Daehalya's interest (other than a means to occupy her mind with something other than the cruelties she observed among Nidal's cultural elite) is because of the references to the Cradle of Night...an artifact which was described as being somehow associated with shadow magic...a topic that's proven a lifelong interest for her. While she didn't study Haramil's history much further, she did consult other writings among Mathion's texts to learn more about the artifact he stole from the dark folk. This enabled her to learn everything Aiyana has shared about them, as well as one additional fact that may have eluded the caligni...
The power from any given Cradle of Night (and the books mention there were definitely more than one of them) would almost always spread among its bearer’s allies, whether or not the bearer willed it. As a result, the influence of these artifacts is believed to have created the various distinct ethnic variations among the dark folk (which the surface races more commonly refer to as dark creepers, dark stalkers, and similar names)...each one culturally distinct, but still allied and living among one another. Though the books mentioned these different sub-species, Daehalya has no experience or further insight into them.
Daehalya Shadowsun wrote:
"You mentioned your castes? Can you tell us more about them."
"Certainly. Though we're all collectively caligni...or dark folk...there are sub-species or different ethnicities among us. Dark creepers and dark dancers are smaller in stature with different interests based on their cultural callings. Creepers comprise the majority of our laborer caste, while dancers help preserve our heritage through their stories and music. Dark slayers are also shorter, but have more of an outsider mentality, often challenging our cultural norms and pushing the boundaries of our magical and alchemical traditions. More than most of us, they prove willing to consult with neighboring civilizations, often learning...or stealing...any lore they can manage from them."
"Higher within our society are the taller dark stalkers. Many of them lead our outlying communities, forming a loose coalition that holds Lyrudrada together, particularly against outside threats. Ulloo Bao, for instance, is a dark stalker who leads our Sentinels in the Highstone citadel. So, many of them serve or lead our militias. Nearly as important are the dark callers, the laypriests I mentioned before. And then, associated with them both are our dark champions...warriors given up by their families to be trained from birth in an ancient martial tradition maintained in Highstone. They often serve as bodyguards and enforcers for influential dark callers."
Aiyana pauses and smiles around the room. "By your reactions, I can tell this is a lot to digest. The caligni are a complicated civilization unlike any other in the Darklands. We're survivors, pure and simple, but a people like any other, unified by the dark. I, myself, am more of a pureblood caligni without a specific caste. They say my kind bear more of a likeness to our ancient selves, throwbacks to a time before our retreat into the dark. We can be born among any of the other castes, but often stand apart from them. Like the dark stalkers who lead some of our outlying communities and inner districts, I've ascended to a position of leadership, as I hold a seat on the Bleakshore council...an inherited position from my father before me. It's allowed me to influence those who would resist the Reborn, and they're the ones who sent me here on this mission."
"Do you know the location of the tomb and how to reach it?"
"Yes. Gioret was able to locate it. He provided a map that should lead us there."
Bastian Garmont wrote:
"And what else can you tell us of the Reborn cultists? Do they have any favorite weapons or magic they are likely to use against us? And will you be going with us?"
"I will most definitely accompany you, as I would see this mission through on behalf of my people. But, rather than do it alone, I asked Gioret for allies here in the Land Above who could aid me. That's where you come in..."
"As for the Reborn, they're already a potent military force, both in martial might and the powers that their dark callers can command. Enough so, that our own Sentinels of the Shroud who normally defend Lyrudrada from outside attacks have proven reluctant to move directly against them. Instead, the Sentinels' leader, Patron Protector Ulloo Bao, has withdrawn to the citadel of Highstone until the political upheaval is resolved. I suspect if the Reborn are successful, he will pledge his forces to them, as well. And, if we're successful by preventing this Cradle of Night from falling into their hands, it's my hope...and the hope of my allies in Lyrudrada...that we can convince him to oppose the Reborn and return the city to how it was before their rise."
"Can you tell us about this Reborn? And Lyrudada? How big is your city?
"The Reborn are a dark folk cult. They attract followers from every caste of our people, believing that when we die, fragments of our memories pass on to our children as our souls move on to the afterlife. According to their doctrine, they claim most of our kind cannot recall these ancestral memories except in dreams or on a purely instinctual level...like a reflex in times of stress. But the Reborn claim otherwise for themselves. They say they have memories which extend all the way back to the time when our people left the Land Above to take shelter underground."
"For a long time, the Reborn were nothing more than a secret society in Lyrudrada. Many laughed at them for their beliefs, scoffing at the notion that any so-called 'ancestral memories' were anything more than delusions of grandeur and coincidental misinterpretations of everyday normal happenings. I had a cousin once, who dated one of them. They tried relentlessly to pull her into their circle, but thankfully, she broke things off before they could fully dupe her into joining them."
"More recently, something has changed in the tone and tenor of their zealots, though. They're much bolder. More passionate. More convincing. And they wield actual power, having converted many dark callers to their ranks." She senses the questioning look on Daehalya's face. "Dark callers are those who serve our communities as priests and seers, overseeing important rites and summoning otherworldly creatures from the Plane of Shadow to defend us. Not all of them joined the Reborn, but those who have are certainly helping them rise in power and influence. Their followers have earned the allegiance of several powerful creatures both native to the city and from other areas of the Darklands. And, before I left to come here and thwart the cult's plans to reclaim this Cradle of Night, the Reborn made a major move to reclaim an ancient ruin and temple on an island at the heart of our city. It's been sealed for hundreds of years, but now they treat it like a fortress and a base from which to intimidate and convince others to join their cause."
"I'm sorry. I'm rambling. You had other questions? Yes. Lyrudrada! It's been our home for a long time now...as long as the collective memory of our people can recall before our time in the Land Above. Thousands of us live there. It lies in the Darklands beneath the southern Mindspin Mountains. Centuries ago, it went to war with the horselords of Nidal and was subsequently sacked, though it has since risen again to prominence. It is not on the major trade routes of the Darklands, but traders of many races transact business there, particularly in the neighborhood known as Trader’s Rift. And, while the caste-clans of Lyrudrada have held an uneasy equilibrium of power for centuries, the rise of the Reborn has thrown that balance into near anarchy, threatening our economic ties."
Daehalya Shadowsun wrote:
"...And this Cradle of Night. Do you know anything more about it?....Is it safe to use? To carry?"
"There were once many Cradles of Night. These powerful artifacts were used by the caligni, but over the centuries all of them have been destroyed or lost. A Cradle of Night resembles a fist-sized black orb cloaked in shadow. Supposedly, they granted those who carried them power from the Shadow Plane, including increased strength, health, and healing capabilities. Although the bearer of a Cradle of Night isn’t immortal, the artifact imparts a supernaturally long life span. I've heard it can exert a malign influence over those who wield it, and over their long life, it eventually leads them to become callous and cruel to those around them."
"If ye forgive me, Miss Aiyana...I don't trust ye too much right now....However, this errand really sounds like it's important. Too important't just ignore outright. It would really make me feel better if ye'd let me cast a spell on ya. It lets me learn some stuff about you. No sense being incautious, regarding the circumstances, and I promise that it's harmless."
"That is an interesting proposal," Aiyana replies, "I too have little reason to trust you based on direct experience. I only have Gioret's assurances that you're trustworthy and of good heart. Thus, I've taken a leap of faith that you are as he's described. And, now, you return that extended trust with a request to allow you to work your magic upon me? I wonder if you'd be as willing to extend me the same courtesy were I to ask such a thing of you upon our first meeting? Somehow, I imagine you would not welcome such an intrusion upon your privacy. From what I know of dwarves, you're an insular lot, and easily offended by such things. And yet, you are also quite direct, and much less caring of offending others with your own boldness and lack of etiquette."
With those statements, Aiyana pauses, letting your own possible offense upon her character hang unspoken in the silence between breaths. "But, as a token of goodwill," she continues, "I will grant your request this one time, good dwarf. I have nothing to hide, and I am secure in the knowledge of my forthright cause in coming here."
Ailis:
Spoiler:
With the successful casting of your psychic reading spell and your request to know Aiyana's name, you learn that it is indeed...Aiyana. Aiyana Telignor, to be exact.
"Milady Aiyana, forgive my ignorance - we are to accompany you into the tomb? And apart from summoning these visions, are we your bodyguards or are you...independently capable? If you will allow me, I ask only in that I make no assumptions - to better safeguard my clients, and myself."
"Yes. I'll be accompanying you to the tomb, though I don't consider you my bodyguards. I am quite capable of defending myself. After all, Gioret has trusted me on many occasions with safeguarding the lives of the Desnans seeking a route into Nidal. And, on occasion, we've had to do battle against the very shadowcasters and dreamhunters that seek them."
