The wolf obeyed, not that she had any other choice, following the aasimir through the Kingscourt. Eyes on the two oddities did not phase Brom; he seamed to revel in it, giving every staring face a cheerful wave and continuing like he belonged here. That seam to work for him, no one questioning the human appearing male with his pet wolf. Being a city of magic users, it was expected to have the occasional weirdness, as the wizard towers displayed. “find the trail,” he commanded in elvish to the canine, “Ariali,” using her name with the force of a spell behind his words. If a wolf could sigh, the whine she let out sounded like one. But luckily for her, she managed to pick up a familiar scent. Letting out a yip to alert him, she lead them to the estate the companions had arrived at. From his scrying, it definitely appeared like what he remembered. Guards stopped the approaching aasimir with swords demanding their business. “let your Lady Boss know, she will find interest,” showing a
Walking through the same doors hours later, the place had doubled in occupants, and twice as loud. Students filled the tables, or at least the four had assumed these were students. Most were on the young adult side, all drinking and the usual rousing. Several tables had card or dice games happening. Jinx spotted the barmaid from earlier, dressed for work but hanging around a table of six, and leaning against a male gnome. “that one,” she pointed after elbowing the elf to take lead. Zyne followed Tahlethar, intending to appear as an apprentice to the elf. Lilla smiled as she spotted the elf and dwarf and waved them over. Nudging the gnome she was leaning against, “these are the talent scouts.” Bryac gave a look of uncertainty to the two “masters”. But not wanting to lose an opportunity, he greeted them. Giving his name and a handshake, Tahlethar returned the gesture to the gnome. Having to speak over the noise, “Lilla says you are here for tomorrow?” “very much. We,” indicating
It was nearly noon when the four companions were departing the apartment again. Despite it being the cold season and the mild winters of the southern country, Zarae was still adjusting to such changes in weather. The Underdark cities more often remain at constant temperatures and the only weather she would have experienced would have been spells. The sun continued stinging her light sensitive eyes even through the hood that hid her face. Jinx exited with a little spring in her step, reminding herself she was still free and not back with her captors. A few spins on her toes, the tabaxi was taking in the cool air when she accidentally bumped into the elf. Leaving the Villa, they came to the district known and dominated by entertainment and scholarly trades. The bazaar they were passing through was a typical jumble of shops and row houses, shamelessly displaying their goods in whatever manner would attract a crowd.; merchants lined every lane, selling weapons, foodstuffs, exotic trinkets
The night carried on, the crowds of the tavern grew then faded out until it was only a handful left. While waiting for their contact, the companions, or in particular Jinx, was talking with the various patrons. Four were from the north sword coast down to visit family, one was from Chessenta, two returning to Tashalar, three originally from Haluraa, and a couple from Chult, which the tabaxi spoke the longest with, asking if they had news from Maztica; which unfortunately the couple did not. Another round of drinks came, courtesy of the drow, or rather the one she had pick-pocketed on the way here, and the waiting group was playing a card game, attempts at cheating included. A few drinks in, the dwarf sorcerer found himself rather chatty and curious, “How does a war based cleric come to follow some lovey-dovey goddess?” he asked the elven cleric after draining his 3rd mug of ale. “that might not be as interesting a story as our shady girls here I am sure,” a wink twords the rogues
A mist surrounded the travelers from nowhere, the world of the cavern fading. Their bodies felt the strong tugging and pulling. Everything was a brilliant glare of color then a shimmering distortion spread around. The companions were disoriented as they traveled the path of the portal. Jinx was shaking, her mind still stuck falling into water, so her body tumbled as if she was underwater. Panic flooded her as she tried to swim for the surface yet unable to get there. Zarae’s experience in her drow house gave her theoretical knowledge, but she too couldn’t orient herself, couldn’t catch ahold of anything to stop the freefall sensation. Then, the lighting changed growing into a brighter white. The sting of the light brung tears to the drowess’ eyes. Freefalling was abruptly stopped, jerking bodies all which way. Feet were on solid ground. Both Zarae and Jinx pitched over falling to land in a white blanket of wet and cold. The fog in their minds began to clear while the sensation of
The tunnels narrowed, winding its way through the Underdark. The half drow ranger Ithlyn lead the way, knowing the path well. He was the go between contact of the for the promenade, Skullport, and surface. Jinx took up the second, the dwarf in the middle and Zarae bringing up the rear. The rogue mentally noted the path they took and committed it to memory. Several branching tunnels looked like better paths; and had the ranger not known better, been familiar with the correct path, then those false trails would have led to dead ends, figuratively and literally. Another tunnel was primed to collapse. The corridor they traversed opened into a cavern with a conical roof 50 feet overhead. The air was full of harmless, dimly luminescent spores that formed clouds around gardens of moss and fungi. Planted among the other fungi were four unique purple mushrooms, with special openings in its cap. Stopping the group, Ithlyn signed back that there were shrieker in this cavern. He whispered a spell.