|
The Worlds Within Choose a chapter: Chapter Ten Before entering the passageway that would take them
to Drearing’s Deep, Hypatia mentally reviewed her spells.
She had been blessed with new ones and for some reason been drawn
to ask for those that would be especially effective against the
abomination of undeath. She
had been tempted to ask for other, more spectacular spells, but her
intuition had yet to lead her astray, so after much agonizing, she prayed
for those she felt lead to. Now her sense of foreboding was back and she drew a
deep steadying breath before motioning to Valen that they should proceed. Almost before they stepped out of the low passageway
they found themselves accosted by a strange little rock gnome.
He practically bounced up from where he had been sitting and began
prattling about the most inane things.
Like mint leaf and asparagus.
After listening to him and having him repeat himself several times
Hypatia thought she had managed to pick out the things that made sense in
what he was saying. Drearing’s Deep was a small colony of former
slaves, though the rock gnome described them as “almost free.” Whatever that meant. He
seemed to think that he was the leader of the little colony, though by his
other words she got the feeling that there were more sinister…creatures?
And that it was these creatures who held the real power in
Drearing’s Deep. Hypatia managed to excuse themselves from the little
rock gnome, who it seemed had had part of his mind taken by illithid
before he escaped them and began to explore the unusually eerie cavern. “Might we speak?”
Valen interrupted her thoughts. She turned to him a puzzled frown on her face.
She was still trying to make sense of the rock gnome’s words. “My lady?” Valen
tried to get her attention. With a shake of her head, Hypatia focused her
undivided attention on him. “I’m
sorry, Valen. What was it you
wanted to say?” “This village…these are all surface folk.
Why would they be here? The
Underdark races use surfacers as slaves or food…or both.
Nothing more.” “Perhaps they are not as they seem?”
Hypatia looked around cautiously, still unable to shake the feeling
that something was very wrong. “An illusion, you mean?”
Valen’s brow furrowed as he considered this idea.
“No, I do not get the feeling that they are anything other than
what they appear.” “Then still slaves?” “Perhaps but who do they serve and why?” With a sigh Hypatia concluded, “Well, we will have
to explore if we are to find out.” “Of course, my lady.”
Valen agreed. “I’m
just suggesting caution.” Hypatia nodded her agreement, her agile mind already
turning back to the conflicting information at hand.
With a small sound of frustration she decided it was time to take a
look. Taking a deep
breath she closed her eyes and opened her heart. The moment she did though, the shadows started to
close in around her. Usually
they stayed back, merely touching the edges of her consciousness. This time though, they flowed toward her like a great wave,
reaching and grasping for her. So
surprised and horrified was she that she froze, unable to break off her
unique vision. Had she been
able to she would have screamed. For
though the shadows were terrible, there was something else here too. Something ancient and malevolent. Hypatia had never been unable to stop her vision
before. But then again,
she’d never encountered something that dragged her down so. Just when she thought she’d be lost the shadows seemed to
recoil back and she noticed a reddish haze flowing around her.
As the strange haze spread the shadows retreated farther and
farther. “Hypatia!” Valen
shook her gently. Blinking her eyes she focused on him and caught her
breath. “Valen…I…I’m
sorry…I don’t know…how did you...thank you.” “What happened?”
Concern was evident in his eyes and voice. “I don’t know.”
Hypatia shook her head to clear the remaining vestiges of shadow
from her mind. “I’ve
never encountered anything quite like it before.” “I do not think you should try to use your vision
again. At least until we have
solved this mystery.” Valen’s
words though spoken softly were an unmistakable command. Rubbing her head with one hand to ease the sudden
headache she had, Hypatia silently agreed with him. The cavern was modest compared to some they had seen and seemed to circle an enormous pillar of rock. Rude camps were set about the space around the pillar along with the occasional hut and even a more permanent building or two. They started their exploration by circling to the
east. Very soon they came
upon a rude encampment of mostly humans.
Most of the people were busy with their daily activities, some hung
laundry to dry from lines stretched between low tents.
Others tended fires and cooking pots.
There was one woman, however, who caught Hypatia’s eye. She clung to the shadows, fearful and wary.
Hypatia felt pity for the poor woman and approached her. The woman’s voice was small and hesitant.
“What you be wanting with the likes of us?” “Its all right.” Hypatia spoke in her most
reassuring and soothing voice. “You
have nothing to worry about.” “Yes I do.”
The woman whispered. “We
all do.” Hypatia found herself very concerned about what might
frighten the woman so. “What
do you have to worry about?” “The ceremony…it’s to protect us!” She looked around with wide frightened eyes.
“One be picked so the rest can be safe.
It’s being held more and more often now.
There be trouble in the world, see?
Drow, undead, illithid…the ceremony is what keeps us safe.” Hypatia felt the need to comfort the poor terrified
woman, to let her know that help was at hand.
“Do you have a name?” The woman shook her head and retreated farther into
the darkness. “We don’t
use names here. They say if
you give someone your name, you’ll be the next one picked…” “How,” Valen asked the next question,
“does a ceremony get called?” The woman shifted nervously and edged closer to
Hypatia. “The priests ring
the gong out behind the temple and everyone from the village gathers for
the picking. Sometimes one of
us rings the gong, too, if we think there’s need for it.
But if the gong’s rung, the picking has to happen.
The gods have heard the ringing and won’t leave without their
price. Once a little boy rang
it three times and would’ve rang it more if he hadn’t been the one
picked.” Valen nodded slowly.
“And who does the picking?” The woman spoke just once more before vanishing into
the shadows, too frightened to face the dim light of the cooking fires and
the endless questions of the strangers.
“High Priest Sodalis does the picking here. His be the only name spoken in Drearing’s Deep because he
who does the picking don’t never get picked.” Hypatia turned to Valen.
“Let us go and find this temple and their High Priest.” The temple was easy enough to spot, once they made
their way around the giant pillar of a stalagmite, or stalactite, Hypatia
couldn’t tell which, that filled the center of the cavern.
It was up on a plateau looming over the village and its frightened
populace. In the center of an
open space that showed the only way up the steep sides of the plateau was
an old gong. Hypatia circled the gong carefully, inspecting it
before approaching it to see what runes might be on it. There were old symbols and after some study she determined
that they seemed to be derived from Old Draconic, a language that was once
popular among Faerun’s more powerful dark wizards.
To her the symbols seemed to refer to some form of ritual human
sacrifice. Hypatia turned thoughtfully to Valen.
“We need to get into the temple and I don’t think they are just
going to invite us in for a cup of tea.” “What do you intend to do, my lady?”
Valen asked suspiciously. “I intend to ring the gong and volunteer for the
ritual. You did not sign up
for something like this, Valen…” She got no farther as he interrupted
her. “This temple has the feel of strong magic. Evil
magic. I wouldn’t be
surprised to discover that it’s the source of all the undead that have
been bolstering the Valsharess’ army.”
He stated. Hypatia nodded slowly.
“You think the undead are inside the temple?” “The undead and more most likely.” He surmised.
“We could be dealing with priestesses of Kiaransalee…or even a
cult of necromancers. There
is no way to know without investigating, and that could be quite
dangerous.” Hypatia nodded with determination. “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful in there.” “Good.” Valen
declared. “You will not be
facing it alone, however; I will be fighting at your side.” Hypatia had to hide a small smile. What had she been thinking?
Of course he would not let her face this alone.
Kiaransalee you think? The mistress of vengeance and overlord of
the undead, this could be very bad. “You
should know that the symbols on the gong indicate some form of ritual
human sacrifice.” Valen’s eyes widened then narrowed turning a
dangerous shade of red. “You
were going to volunteer for that?” Hypatia chuckled a bit nervously. “Well I didn’t
intend to just lay down and let them have at me.” Valen thought about it for a moment, scrutinizing
her. “So…you were going
to get yourself invited in and then…?” “I can think of few things more vile than human
sacrifice, Valen.” Hypatia answered slowly.
“I intend to put a stop to this practice.
One way or another.” A grim smile crossed Valen’s face. “Then let us proceed, my lady.” With a determined expression on her face, Hypatia took up
the small hammer that hung next to the gong and struck the metal disk.
In response a resonant and hollow sound echoed through the cavern.
Villagers began to shuffle reluctantly toward them, forming a loose
circle around the gong. The temple doors swung open silently and a priest
stepped out. He surveyed the
gathering arrogantly. There
was no pity in his gaze, not a trace of humanity or a scrap of kindness
could be found in his countenance. And
when he spoke his voice was cold, devoid of emotion. Hypatia shivered.
Unlike the lavender-eyed drow who had had everything taken from
him, this…creature had sacrificed everything to become what he was.
The sense of unholyness emanating from him was palpable. He spoke of an ancient known as Vix’thra. Hypatia,
who liked to consider herself pretty well informed as to the gods and
goddesses of Faerun, had never encountered the name before. Finally she heard the question that she’d been
waiting for and she stepped forward.
The priest nodded and claimed that she was an acceptable offering.
The two hideously garbed strong men who had flanked the priest
stepped forward and took her roughly by the arms. Though she went
willingly, they still managed to manhandle her a bit as they led her away. Valen was right behind her, his eyes already starting
to glow red. Once inside the foyer of the temple the priest, she
presumed was High Priest Sodalis, ordered the men to strip her and present
her to his chambers. Though
he obviously had further instructions he got no farther as Valen his flail
already swinging, charged the man. He stood for one startled minute as Valen attacked,
then ducked and ran for a door at the top of a short flight of stairs. Hypatia wrenched herself free from her would be
captors and drew her katana. The
men, if that’s what they still were, had no chance against them. Taking a moment, Hypatia looked around curiously.
The temple seemed ill kept and somewhat dirty.
All that was left of its former glory were some oddly shaped clean
spots here and there on the walls and the occasional rune fragment
adorning a column or above a lintel.
She couldn’t be certain, but she got the distinct impression that
the temple had been constructed long ago for a less evil purpose. Hypatia spoke quietly.
“Do we clear out this level or chase after the high priest?” Valen frowned. “He
has no doubt already alerted his minions on the upper level.
Let us clear out this level. I
would prefer to fight enemies from one side at a time if I can.” Hypatia smiled.
“Very prudent.” She
indicated the massive metal door in the center of the wall opposite the
main entrance. “Shall
we?” Since nothing can be easy, the door was trapped and
Hypatia set off the trap. Her
ears ringing, she forced the door open with Valen’s help.
Standing in the middle of a short hall was another of those
hideously garbed men. Only
this one was casting something. Hypatia steeled herself, knowing that it was too late
to stop him. The spell broke
over her and she had to fight to keep from being nauseated, but she
managed. They made short work of the cleric and also cleared
out the rooms on either side. In one room they encountered vile little creatures
unlike anything Hypatia had seen before.
Valen identified them as skeletal devourers. There was a brief stair descending opposite the one
ascending and they tried the door, but it was locked. There was nothing they could do about it.
The door was too solid for even Valen’s extraordinary strength to
break through. So they turned to the stair up which Sodalis had
fled. As they suspected there
were more of the grotesque clerics waiting for them and they were
accompanied by shadow fiends. Calling upon the name of her goddess, Hypatia was
able to turn the shadow fiends, though not destroy them as she had
secretly hoped. Good thing
her turning worked too, for otherwise they would have been surrounded. While Valen threw himself at the nearest cleric,
Hypatia began casting. Valen
felled two of the three clerics while Hypatia chanted.
Then a column of divine light dropped into the cluster of shadow
fiends and they scattered. Valen attacked the third cleric while Hypatia drew
her katana and began chasing down the weakened shadow fiends.
It was over in a surprisingly short time. Hypatia sheathed her katana and looked curiously
around the room. There were
two fierce looking statues of dragons looming menacingly over an altar
that seemed to suck the heat right out of the room.
Just looking at it made Hypatia shiver. She noticed that Valen seemed to be bothered by something. “Valen?” He didn’t answer right away, but rather put a hand
to his head. Suddenly Hypatia felt chilled to her bones.
Something was not right with Valen.
“Valen, what is it?” Still he didn’t answer.
When he finally looked at her his eyes seemed confused.
Frightened and not sure what to do, Hypatia reviewed her spells in
her mind. She had spells that
would neutralize poison, cure any wound no matter how severe, she had
spells that would cure disease. No
he didn’t seem diseased. She
had spells that would remove blindness or deafness. No, those didn’t seem right either. Was he confused? Charmed?
Cursed? She just
didn’t know. In a bit of a
panic she cast the most general spell she could think of that might help. A soft light flew from her hands and like water
washed over Valen’s form. If
there was a magical reason for his behavior, the dispelling of magic
should correct it. “Valen? Are
you all right?” He frowned and shook his head as if to clear it.
“I can’t say, my lady. I
do not seem quite like myself. I
somehow feel…weakened…or perhaps I am just weary.” Hypatia’s eyes flew wide.
She had prayed for a spell that might help just such a condition.
“Hold still, Valen. I
think I can help.” With
that she began casting again. A swirl of pinpoint lights enveloped Valen
and when they had vanished he seemed more himself. “How do you feel?”
Hypatia asked hesitantly. Valen thought about it for a moment. “Like myself
again. Thank you.” Hypatia breathed a sigh of relief. There were two small rooms to check, and another short
stairway leading up to yet another level. They stood outside a trapped door at the top of the
flight of stairs. This seemed
to be the highest level of the temple.
At their feet was the body of the most powerful cleric of the
temple that they’d yet faced. Hypatia felt certain that Sodalis was on the other
side of the door. Valen, who
had spotted the trap this time, was trying to delicately disarm the thing.
While he was doing that she decided to cast some spells to aid them
in the coming battle. She
cast a barrier around them giving them resistance to spells, she cast a
barrier around them to protect them from negative energy.
She cast spells to increase their battle prowess and strength.
On Valen she cast spells to increase his agility and endurance. She was considering any other spells she might have
when with a soft click the door swung open.
Valen stood and Hypatia just had time to take one step forward when
the spell caught them. Both
were frozen in time, unable to move, unable to even breath. May you be afflicted with boils and hemorrhoids
and may fungus invade your skin!!
Hypatia cursed Sodalis in her mind.
She’d had more than enough of this spell from Sabal. While they were immobile, Sodalis summoned no fewer
than three huge fire elementals. Upon
completion of his summoning he ran for a hallway to left of the room,
casting a nasty spell behind him that left a deadly cloud in his wake. The spell holding them faded and Valen charged the nearest elemental. Hypatia began casting a spell of her own. She intended to send these things back to whence they came. She got her spell cast just as one of the elementals
swiped at her. It vanished in
a wave of magic as she screamed in agony from the flames that licked over
her. Valen felled the elemental he was facing.
Stepping slightly between her and harms way he grabbed her and
thrust her behind him before turning his attention to the remaining
creature. Gritting her teeth against the pain she cast her most
powerful healing spell, one that would heal them both, for Valen too was
showing signs of being wounded badly.
The warm glow flowed through them and around them. While Valen fought the elemental Hypatia got busy
casting again. Another soft
light flew from her hands, this time landing in the middle of the caustic
green cloud Sodalis had left to slow them down or perhaps even kill them
if his elementals failed. The
wisps of the dispelling pushed aside the fell magic and left clear floor
for them to traverse. Valen chased after Sodalis with Hypatia following
quickly on his heels. They
found their quarry in the corner of a spacious room at the end of the
hall. Sodalis, when they found him, appeared to be
encircled by a strange looking barrier.
One that seemed to be made from fragments of darkness.
Obviously he had made good use of the time he’d bought to cast
more spells about himself. Valen was undeterred, tripping two traps in his rush
to attack. He growled against
the pain from the barrier as he swung his flail in a powerful blow. Hypatia had used her final dispelling for the day and
racked her mind trying to come up with something else that might help. Nothing could withstand the force of Valen’s attack
for long though and with a final strike Sodalis collapsed to the floor. It was then that a very strange thing happened.
For his body dissolved into a wisp of smoke or vapor of some kind
and flowed out of the room. Hypatia shot a worried glance at Valen before casting
another spell. Once again the
warm glow of a healing spell enveloped him, soothing his hurts and
returning him to his accustomed battle ready state. Searching the remaining rooms they found an old key
along with numerous scrolls of spells.
Many of which Hypatia stashed away in her pack to add to her tithe
to Mystra once she got back to a temple. “I have few spells left, Valen.” Hypatia told him wearily.
“We need to rest somewhere.” Valen scowled, but nodded his agreement.
“It is possible that we could barricade the door to this room.
We would have to sleep in shifts, but we should be able to rest in
relative safety.” Hypatia was relieved.
She did not like going too long without her spells readily
available. “I’ll take the
first watch. You get some
rest.” Valen seemed about to argue, then thought better of
it. While Valen slept, Hypatia said her prayers then
settled in for the watch. They
had selected the farthest room from the door.
It was fairly empty, boasting only a throne and four stone statues.
The floor had been trapped, but Valen had spotted the tell tales
and had disarmed them. A sound interrupted Hypatia’s sweep of the
antechamber and she turned to see Valen rousing himself long before she
would have woken him. “What are you doing?” She demanded.
“You haven’t slept near long enough.” His intense eyes met hers.
“I have rested long enough.
I am quite accustomed to getting little rest when on a journey.”
A brief smile softened his next words.
“You, however, need to rest long enough to replenish your
spells.” Hypatia shivered.
“I don’t know if I can. I
remembered something Imloth told me.
He mentioned vampires. I
fear that Sodalis may be one. And
if he is, what is down those stairs?
Sodalis spoke of sacrificing someone to the pit.
What could be down there that would have a vampire working for
it?” Valen frowned deeply at her words. “That would make your need to replenish your spells all the greater, my lady.” At her uncertain expression he added softly. “I will be watching over you.” |
||