"What causes the Spellplague?"

The Weave, behind all that we hold dear and arcane, was severed when Mystra, the goddess who kept its magical tapestry intact, was assassinated by Shar, through the hands of Cyric. For a decade, a storm of virulent blue flames swept across the face of Toril and into the planes, until it reached the world of Abeir, where it continued its devastation. The Spellplague reshaped entire regions, mutated thousands of people, and even the gods and reality itself were forever altered.

"Who is this Mystra?"

There are 3 that bore that title, but only one abides, but no longer by that name now. She has lived and died and lived again, first once wrestling against the now petrified Karsus, in efforts to cement the Weave against the damage from the raging empires of Netheril and Phaerimm. Mystra reawakened in time to save three of the four floating cities from their catastrophic plummet, but Thultanthar was salvaged into the Plane of Shadow before the Weave suffered penultimate pain.

During the Time of Troubles, she reincarnated herself as a young girl named Caitlin Moonsong, after securing a portion of her power with Midnight, who was slain by Cyric, that your inquiry now seeks. There will be a future that she will return to live and rule again after death, as she has done so thrice.

"Is there a way to stop or prevent the Spellplague?"

You have already tried, my daughters. Almost a century ago. And... You failed. Your minds were not your own, and your bodies have forgotten much of its power.

---
As you continue your interrogation, you sense the silt is up to each of your knees, with a rumbling from below. You note that you will have likely only a couple more questions before it is almost waist high.

@Ms Ravenwinter@corneredbliss

"What do you mean?"

You were called the Gemini of the gods, deemed as such by the brilliant gems in your bodies while being hurled into the Planes by forced experimentation with Blackstaff’s methods of projection and cloning. In essence, you became Astral twins of your Material selves, planar travelers employed to halt the Spellplague.

However, your failure swallowed you up by the brunt of its rude awakening, severing your silvery links to your body, and returning to the dimension from whence you came.


@Ms Ravenwinter@corneredbliss

What with all of the new visions and stimuli provided by the Tree-being, it was a miracle that - in her exhausted state - the druid was able to comprehend the amounts of knowledge being bestowed upon her. Still clutching the horn of water like an anchor as the world spun from past to present around her, Ynaxandra listened to Eve question what they'd seen, what it all meant, etcetera. She seemed so much more... open to it all. And while Yna was never one to be skeptical of nature's higher power, she really had been locked away in a cell with only her paranoia for company. So somehow, the most important question had yet to be asked. With the silt already climbing at their knees, she swallowed her hesitation and mustered up whatever of her old courage was left: "And you? What part do you play in all of this?"

@Gordian Nought

>Collaboration done with @Ms Ravenwinter@corneredbliss

I am an eye seed of Sylanus planted three centuries ago by Mystra herself into a remnant shaft of Khelben's black staff. My roots sift the forest for those who pose a danger to Waterdeep. I have guarded your friend, waiting to grant the six powers to those worthy, of which each of you have received your due dew.

The roots trembled beneath the pair.

Now, you must go. They are coming for me.

Suddenly, crimson vines, dripping blood, reached out from the quicksand, lunging at the druid and her friend. They blindly grappled with the air, easily missing their targets and telegraphing the disaster that was soon upon them.

Evlynne tumbled aside, one of the sanguine tendrils sweeping just short of her only to thrash at the air in vain. Once grasping her bearings, she squeezed at the arcane crystal dangling from her wrist as she reached out for her companion. Fingers clutched the druid's hide with urgency as Eve's eyes pleaded with her to flee. With a sweep of her hand, focus glowing faintly with magical energy, she forced a projection into being. Floating over, just out of reach of the reddened vines, was a still image of herself in a shocked stance, as if petrified. Only glimpsing back long enough to see the air bend into her image, Evlynne turned away and darted in the opposite direction.

The two of them toppled away from the attack, and just as Yna was regaining her feet to turn back to the action, she felt Eve grab at her. All thoughts of possibly staying and providing support for the Tree-being fled the druid's mind at the sight of those pleading eyes. It was probably more than capable of fending for itself, right? Feeling a touch guilty, but knowing where her responsibility really lay, she gripped Evlynne's hand tightly in her own and barreled away from the illusion of the mage, leading her the safest way through the trees that her eyes found in their hurry.

The eyes communicated, reaching to their minds and providing confidence of their flight. The scarlet whips soon multiplied in number and effort. Their thorns growing and piercing the bark of the Tree, slowly slaughtering the sage with the death of a million paper cuts.

Run, daughters. Flee!

>Collaboration @rush99999, @JBRam2002, @The Large Dumbo and @Cu Chulainn

Uregaunt frowns, watching Halflight dash back up to the room. He didn't have time for this. "Come with me!" He shouted to the invisible lady, before casting Armor of Agathys on himself and running at the portal.

The AdAM's family pick their victim's door as the more legged blessed wraps up the loose ends.

Halflight draws his longsword in one hand, shuffling his armor on as he dashes for the portal.

Once through the portal, pandemonium breaks the loose, realizing Thanath and Mara have been battling seven Albinos with strange tattoos.

Uregaunt raises his free hand and casts Hex on the unconscious Albino closest to him before rushing into the store, whereupon he slashes at the Albino once before taking pause and aims a strike at the Albino's right arm, severing it. "Don't let any of the albinos escape!" He shouts.

Mara will feed Fern one of her potions (+8 HP) and then mount the wolf, urging her through the gap between the bookcases to flank around her albino opponent. Fern Dashes forward, carrying Mara to freedom as she yells out "Leave me alone!" Her warhammer is leveled at the albino, charged with thunderous energy as it smashes into him, and the duo crash into the doorway, hoping to break into safety! Unfortunately for them, however, the door is barred.

Thanath starts off his turn by throwing his light hammers into the air. He then drinks a healing potion as he begins to glow with the radiant light of Tempus' divine fury and snaps the neck of the Albino in front of him before catching the light hammers on their way down, moving to the map square to the immediate left of the closest conscious Albino, and sandwiching the Albino's head between his hammers.

One Albino retaliates and strikes against Thanath with two daggers. It hits with the first swipe and missed with the second, inflicting only 5 damage.

Another Albino will throw a dagger against Invis Lady via its readied action, somewhat terrified seeing an unseen female bloodied.

The invisible Lady takes 10 damage. The Albino, opposing Thanathm will leap over the small table, unsheathing a dagger (free action) and strike with two handed daggers against her. He misses with one dagger, but hits for 9 more damage. Due to her concentration being taxed, she loses her concentration on the Res Sphere, and the encircled, unconscious Albino with the Diamond falls to the ground. Enraged by the inflicted damage from the Albino's sharp steel, her body reflexively absorbed the blood into her unseen corporeality, with just enough of a glimpse for the Albino to witness to powerful fists heading directly towards, being beaten with 26 bludgeoning damage.

One Albino pierces the hide of the monk's mount, delivering it swiftly to the realm of unconscious dreams. The other dagger swiped at her owner, Mara, gashing her arm for an additional 10 damage.

"Oh, did the orgy start without me?" Ysalain smiled.

Thanath laughed at Halflight's words. "Orgy!?" Thanath boomed "This is a fight man! Get you head in the game!"

"Well, I could argue that they're the same." Halflight shrugged, nonchalantly, although there is a clear indication of disappointment in his tone and face. He starts walking towards the unconscious albino in order to determine what exactly those tattoos are. ".. What happens when they die?"

"They die of course!"

"Right. What say you, friend?" Halflight directs to Uregaunt, who is the closest to him, it seems.

The Diamond-studded Albino was dragged from the safety of Mara and Fern's side. He remained unconscious.

Cerise and her Corgi attempt to break the door down from the outside, visibly, in front of onlookers. "Hey, what are you doing?" An official cry is heard from the distance.

As Mara hears the call, she yells out from inside: "I'm a member of the City Watch! We're under attack in here!"

Two City Watch Guards hearing the yells of Mara approach next to Cerise and her Corgi. Frightened she attempts to run away. One Guard gives chase and the other attempts to open the barricaded shop door. The door breaks open!

"What in Waterdeep is going on?" The guard proclaims loudly, with no hesitation, after viewing the blood pouring from a dire wolf and the Monk, Mara.

"A fight is going on!" Thanath boomed "Feel free to join in!"

Mara will point at her wolf. "Help us, please!"

He draws his sword, yelling, "Cease and desist!"

"How many times has saying that worked exactly?!" Thanath asked out of curiosity.

Uregaunt frowns as he hears the words "City Watch". He'd never really been a fan of them in the first place, and if they saw the group now... He could only imagine what their reaction would be. He needed to think about how he could effectively take care of the albinos, when suddenly he had an idea. Uregaunt moves to place himself in front of Halflight, before performing a quick flurry of movement.

Both unconscious Albinos take simultaneous gasps of air, attempting to stabilize their internal milieu to stave off expiration.
The City Guard (Initiative 17) chasing after the fairy and her four legged mount, misses with throwing a net. He audibly curses his luck, "Damn it!!!"

"I don't know what you're doing, but I have an idea..." Halflight says to Uregaunt while glaring at the guard.

Uregaunt's eyes flicker for a brief moment, and he nods to Halflight. "As do I, friend. As do I."

Halflight pulls the holy symbol to Lurue out of his pack, raising it in the air, facing the guard. "My friend and I are sanctified witch hunters and we are in a den full of necromancers! Help us!"

"WITCHES?!?!" The captain belted. "I knew it!!!"

"This building is desecrated ground! Help us out and burn it down!" Halflight communicates to Uregaunt, quietly. "... Let me do the talking. Just do what you are doing."

Mara was quite confused about the state of things at this point. The paladin claimed he and his friend were witch hunters, which meant that these albinos must be the witches. This made sense when combined with the odd jewels placed in their chests. Mara pointed to the albino nearest her. "The whiteys are the witches, and the rest are friends!" she called out, intuitively deciphering what the paladin had claimed. "They been hurting us all, and I just been tryna get away!" With that, she kicked her fury up a notch and slammed her hammer into the albino nearest her (To hit: 20, Dmg: 15)

"Death to the witches!" Thanath bellowed before pummeling the face of the Albino closest to him into a bloody pulp with his light hammers. With another Albino brought low, Thanath put away his light hammers and pulled out his maul as he charged as far down the map as his movement allows.

The Albino previously next to the unseen woman, became enveloped with shadowy energy, striking at what appeared to be thin air, but drawing blood nonetheless from the Invisible lady, now drenched in sanguine fluid.

In turn, the crimson stained girl returned punishment in kind to the changeling, imploding his chest with two thunderous blows. Quickly the dusky runes fled its corpse to feed the last two remaining Albinos, albeit they were now consumed with more darkness than white skin. The guard, witnessing the Albino in front of him and next to the monk, previously calling for help and hearing the ploy of witches, attempts to strike the grey mass like creature now transforming before him.

"... Bloody demons!" Halflight says, with as much zeal as a totally holy knight like him would have.

Hearing the paladin from yonder, the captain of the local City Watch raised his sword in the air with both hands, neglecting to don his shield, striking the grey goo of a man before him for 9 damage. The other Albino, eyeing Thanath slay his bethren, began to shapeshift into a spitting mirror copy of the Goliath Barbarian, as he opened the lesser barricaded of the two doors, with a front kick, dragging the Diamond encrusted Albino alongside with him. The silvery Albino filled with more shadow runes, instills a sense of madness among the ambiance of combat, raising his two daggers and slashing against the naive guard.

Halflight watches everything unfold, interestingly, as if waiting for something to happen...

The daggers pierced through the guard's armor, delivering the last lethal blow to send him towards a crashing flight of unconsciousness.

Well, the guard still has a chance. It wasn't to his knee. Halflight thought to himself.

>Mara, Thanath, Ysalain and Uregaunt can assume that when one Albino dies, the others receive the fallen's dispersed rune tattoos, making them stronger.

Halflight shakes his head when the Guard goes unconscious. He'll have to make due with it, he supposed. Ah, well, time to curry favor with his other allies, Halflight supposes. "I'll look for our Goliath friend and give him aid. You should help that woman." Halflight tells Uregaunt, pointing at Mara before heading towards where Thanath was last seen.

Uregaunt nods quietly. He wasn't going to let his friends fall, not now.

While he walks past the dead albinos, Halflight scornfully stomps on one of their skulls once he has the cover of the bookshelf to aid him.
Once Halflight makes it over to where Thanath was last seen, he notices that the Goliath is heading south. "Friend! Wait!" Halflight calls as he dashes down, "I can heal you!"

Thanath waves Halflight's offer of healing away before gesturing to the 1 remaining healing potion he has on his person. "I have my own method of healing!" Thanath booms politely "So you can save yours for the others! Thank you for offering though!"

The unconscious bearer of the Diamond was dragged outside, as Cerise saw Thanath outside. She yelled, "A little help over here," as she dismounts and flies up 2 stories to the roof. Her Corgi dashes into the crowd.

"That's not me!" Thanath warns "That's an impostor!"

Uregaunt frowns and licks his lips, clenching a fist as the blade he held in his hand dissipates. His eyes nervously pan around the room as he watches the chaos unfold before him. He wasn't going to fall here, not now. He had to help out, no longer could he idly stand by and use the unit that Kelemvor had granted him. He places himself in front of his bloodied servant and drops a tinderbox on the ground before him. "My friend and I are witch hunters!" He proclaims loudly. "This building is full of witches! Burn the witches! Destroy them all!" He shouts, in a fit of curious behavior before casting Eldritch blast, aiming two beams of crackling energy at Mara.

>On his way, Halflight snatches a scroll.

"Oi! I'm on your side, you half-wit!" Mara called out angrily before pulling the stopper of her other potion off the bottle with her teeth and jamming it down Fern's gullet (healing for 6 HP). "Come on, Fern, let's get out of here," she muttered. As the wolf got to her feet, Mara pulled her City Watch badge from her pack and held to up so the other guards could see. "I'll check outside!" she called before darting into the forming crowd. Although they made way for the wolf as needed, Mara's intentions were more to put space between herself and anyone wishing to hurt her. Both she and Fern darted low to the ground and around a corner, taking cover among the citizens and breaking line of sight.

"It's only you left now!" Thanath calls out to the last conscious Albino in the building "Let's see if you're any better in a fight than the others!" (Prepared Action: Thanath attacks Albino twice with maul. Action Trigger: The Albino gets Thanath's attack range.)

The scarlet servant obeyed her Warlock master, taking and striking the flint over the unconscious changelings, igniting their dying cadavers ablaze. The scrolls, wood, and timber within the shop began to feed the fiery inferno, thanks to the aberrant oil spread earlier.

Then, the ruby lady commences its disappearing act, once again cloaked by Invisibility. She dashed next to the blackened Albino riddled with revolving tattoos, its darkness hindering the ambient light and warmth to reach him, but welcoming the unseen fool to its proximity.

Eyeing the mighty force next to it, the conglomerate of tattoos and bitter darkness strikes with Disadvantage against the unseen servant of Uregaunt. However, both swift swipes missed the intended target. Angrily bellowing a howl, the Albino moved away from the burning building, and of course the woman in cognito, provoking an Attack of Opportunity. The enraged changeling stumbled upon the cobbled rue, as the crowd, overwhelmed by the frightening spectacle, began to flee rampantly. The chaotic riddle of a man inched near to their new found quarry, the One with the Diamond, but also haphazardly closer to the guards attracted by their Captain's yells.

>The Thanath imposter will ready an action after stopping dragging the unconscious changeling studded with the large Diamond

Halflight, thinking fast as the shop begins to burn down, decides to try something sinister- he runs towards the bookshelf, attempting to push it over the Goliath as a means to impede him. Sadly, however, his strength failed him. Cursing to himself, Halflight holds his holy symbol close and whispers a short prayer, touching his dagger's blade. Soon, he begins to fade from sight.

Cerise, witnessing the mutated Albino, now engorged with height and tattoo, focused on her fairy shield in, praying to her deity in hopes to summon a sacred flame upon the monstrosity, ironically ignoring the crackling fires beneath. The radiance split the heavens and descended upon the rune riddled behemoth, but to apparently no avail. Her Gossamer wings flew her higher to building, to witness the surrounding landscape and the sun overhead nearing the flanking horizon of Waterdeep's cemetery, the City of the Dead.

Uregaunt frowns, realizing he didn't have his holy symbol with him. Regardless, he hoped that this would work. He walks 30 feet forward, before turning to face Thanath. "Stop, heathen!" He shouts, throwing his hands in the air in what appears to be an elaborate gesture. "The powers that be command you to stop!" Thanath would feel paralysis overcome his body. Once he has done that, Uregaunt lets his hands fall. "Forget destroying the witches. Come with me," he says, his voice no longer a shout.

The footsteps of the invisible lady follow her master's voice, drowned out by the surrounding flames.

"Hey!" Thanath booms as he tries in vain to move "I'm not a heathen! Why did you cast that spell on me!? Do I really look like 1 of those Albinos to you!?"

All three city guards hear Thanath's last words before succumbing to paralysis. As they approach, they see their fallen captain and question the looming impostor of a Goliath. "Stop! What happened?" one questions, while the other interrupts, assuming the man was pulling the unconscious Albino out of the building in regards to safety, "The house is on fire! We need to get everyone else out." As the further guard moves, the Barbarian impostor attempts to stab (an Attack of Opportunity) against the sentry as he leaves his proximity. Seeing the attempted assault, the guards, with swords already drawn, strategically flank the unknown phony. "Stop!" They yell in unison as the other guard runs back around the corner.

The glow caused by Thanath's divine fury begins to fade away as he struggles against the magic holding him in place. "Now let's see!" Thanath booms to himself as he tries to remember what 1 of his sisters advised him to do should he ever become paralyzed "If I remember what Onegeo told me correctly, I just had to do this then that, then that then that, then that then that, then that then...erm...this?!" Unfortunately for Thanath he had not remembered his sister's advice correctly. "Oh bother!" Thanath says as the flames licked ever closer.

The unseen woman watches Thanath struggle, awaiting his master's next desire. The captain sliently crawls nearer to death's door; his strewn body gasping upon the previously barricaded frame.

The dusky, enigmatic albino rushed the nearest guard, swiping it with dark daggers of angst. With one swoop, the guard plummetted like a ragdoll before it blade. Using the other arm, a bludgeoning backhand rotated to catch the City Watch sentinel off guard. Thwack! However, the man remained standing, only for the adjacent Goliath to bare its facetious dentition. With an abrupt downward stroke, the man's armor and corpus was filleted, literally split in half by the thunderous blow.

Dragging the man with the Diamond between them, they fled southeast towards a gate of the City of the Dead.

Halflight gripped the dagger eagerly in his hand as he eyed the now paralyzed Goliath. Approaching him, Halflight lunged his leg at Thanath with the intent of kicking him down, his magical guise shimmering away as he appeared. The Paladin then raised his dagger in the air, a look of fanatical zeal in his face... "Fairest Lady! I dedicate this sacrifice..." Halflight began, stopping in a quick trance of thought as the heat of the burning building became apparent to him. Yes, this could be even better... Halflight retrieves a clay flask from his belt, uncorking it before pouring it over the downed barbarian. "I dedicate this sacrifice, bequeathed in flame, in your name!" Halflight exclaims to the sky, before looking back down at Thanath. "I envy you, to meet her before I..." Halflight shook his head, dropping the flask before turning away and heading for the exit.

The winged cleric belted another ray from her deity but the target was again ready, dodging easily without much effort, the brilliant holiness sent from the heavens. Seeing the guard below, she feared making an appearance once more, hiding again above the building's shingles. She knew this refuge would succumb to fire, as flames began to fan outside the door, with its bellowing smoke attracting all those nearby.

Uregaunt bats at the fires that start to overwhelm him, realizing the tactical issue in lighting the house that he's in on fire. In retrospect, perhaps that wasn't his best idea. "This way!" Uregaunt shouts, reinforcing his order from before, before exiting the burning building. As soon as he is out, he breaks out into a mad dash to the east. He wasn't going to let himself get caught, and he hoped that the fire would provide a sufficient distraction for his escape.

In an effort to strike when opportunity was hot, the last standing guard attempted to impale Uregaunt but lost his grip with the sword plummeting inside the burning house of all places. Now, devoid of weaponry, the sentry pulled his dead captain from the ablazed shop, unknowing that he had already succumbed to the grim reaper's scythe moments earlier.

Just as Thanath began to make another attempt to escape, he felt the ability to move return to him. "Well that's conveni-!" Thanath boomed before being interrupted by a flame licking at his arm. "Gah!" Thanath yelped as he jumped to his feet "I should probably get out of here!" Thanath said before putting away his maul and exiting the shop. Upon doing so, Thanath spotted Halflight trying to get away. Thanath began to glow again as he charged towards Halflight and attempted an choke slam. Thanath chugged down his final healing potion before looking down at Halflight and pulling out his maul. "Thought you could leave me to burn!?" Thanath boomed as he hefted his maul for a powerful downwards strike "You thought wrong!" With that said, Thanath brought his maul down on the traitorous paladin.

Thanath laughed in anticipation of a good fight as Halflight avoided the maul strike.

The unseen servant followed, bitten by the bitter flames ignited by her new master. She hugged close to his shadows, but glancing over her invisible shoulder towards the Albino with the diamond, hauled off by the two fiends, which was soon interrupted by a half-orc fighter.

Ragnar, a sellsword, stepped up to the Albino duo and the Goliath. "What the HELL is going on here??? Whoa! Does that man have a giant diamond in his chest??? GIMMEE!!" The half-blood fighter reared his scimitars upon the Albino riddled with tattooes, and released a surge of green angst upon the duo.

The first blow hit the towering changeling with accuracy, felling it to the ground, with a gash across its chest. "I SAID GIMMEE!!!"

The avocado luck continued onto the barbarian, as the half-orc continued its rampage (Action Surge after non-dominant strike), savoring four lethal stikes against the faux Thanath, rendering the now reverted changeling extinguishing and dying. Ragnar, completely exhausted, hoisted his leg in Captain Morgan fashion over one of the dying Albinos, to his right. "WEIRDOS!!!" He realized the stage was now set, and he was vulnerable, until he rallied to reap his reward.

Halflight avoided the maul gracefully as the burst of divine light scorched him. Thanks to his Celestial blood, however, he was able to withstand the sudden burst of energy. Annoyed that his sacrifice decided not to stay as one, Halflight spun his dagger in his hand. "You should've stayed dead," he remarks, before he prepares for a lunge.

His feint, having been successful, results in Halflight lunging his blade into Thanath's chest while saying a quick prayer to his patron deity, causing a burst of holy light to coalesce from the tip of his blade. The poison of treachery, lathered on his dagger, stings much more as the Goliath was distracted from the earlier feint. Leaving his dagger in the Goliath's chest, Halflight stepped back as he watched the poison work its magic. With a smug grin, Halflight looked the Goliath straight in the eye, with one last quip before he retreated towards Uregaunt, avoiding the guardsmen as he does so.

"Consider it a souvenir. Keep it, you filthy animal."

Thanath cried out in pain as Halflight's dagger pierced his chest with extraordinary force. As Halflight stepped back to admire his handiwork, Thanath attempted to stagger forwards after him, but instead the Goliath faltered and fell onto his side. He saw Halflight's mouth move, but couldn't make out what he was saying. Something about animals? Either way, Halflight retreated after that, once again leaving Thanath for dead. "It only took him one hit." Thanath breathed as his vision began to darken "Incredible"

"You never told me your name, by the way, friend!" Halflight said to Uregaunt out loud as they ran from the guards.

The fairy shrugged behind the gutter of the burning the building, concentrating on a gigantic simmering scythe. It materialized before the barbarian's bloodied body, exhuming from the ground itself, in a spectral fashion, a spiritual weapon to guard her friend. Descending on Gossamer wings, she dropped next to the Goliath, to both protect and persuade him to end this pandemonium. "Thanath, please rest and stop. I am afraid we are gonna kill each other. We need to figure out why these stones are in us." Her plea was eavesdropped and she waited for this verbal treaty to be overhead by the red gemmed assailants.

"In due time, friend," Uregaunt nearly shouts, while trying to formulate a plan. He looked over at the combat, as he slowly eyed the field. He didn't want to deal with any more potential threats to his plan, and to that extent, with a whisper and a wave, he sent two blasts of crackling energy flying towards Thanath, before fleeing even further. The guards should deal with the two of them, but with his cover blown, Uregaunt knew it was only a matter of time before he was in deeper... "We need to leave and get as far away as we can from here, follow me!"

The guard blows a whistles and readies his weapon. He hoped his brothers in blue would heed the holler.

The half-orc sheathes one of his blood stained blades, allowing his non-dominant hand to grapple the expensive unconscious changeling, dragging the ragdoll body, bleeding and paralyzed on the floor.

"Very well!" Halflight nodded back, watching the half-orc and keeping a mental note to himself. "Half-orc! If you wish for better bigs and shinies, then I have a proposition for you!" Halflight says, before taking a small pouch of 50 gp out.

He ignores the treacherous paladin and his meager bargaining chips, focusing rather on the big ass diamond, he had in tow.

Halflight sighed, then ran back over to Uregaunt's side. "We should try and find a way to get that body back. It may hold secrets as to what we were doing in there." Halflight told Uregaunt once he had caught up.

"Why?!?!" The cleric questioned the knight, as she ran to the exsanguinating pile of sculpted flesh. Her hands full of comfort were placed on the shoulders of the collapsed goliath, healing Thanath for 21 HP, saving from the vile grasp of the grim reaper. The scythe maintained its poise, unwavering in a possible defense against any further threat. "Are you okay? Thanath, was it?"

Uregaunt gives a dry chuckle. "Oh, it has something of interest, alright. I'll tell you once we're out of harm's way." With that, he dashes even further away from the battle, waving for Half-light to follow.

As the healing magic began to do its work, Thanath sat up and watched Halflight and Uregaunt run off into the distance. Even after the healing, he was still too injured to pursue Halflight successfully, let alone fight him. So instead Thanath got to his feet, pulled the dagger out of his chest, and smiled thankfully at Cerise as he leaned on his maul for support. "Thank you," Thanath said.

Mara rounded the corner of the burning building as the traitorous duo slipped further away. Any other day, and she would make them pay, but today... well, there were more important things than revenge. For now. She approached the other barbarian and the fairy. "Well, that coulda gone better, ya? We best get to safety. I'm with the Watch. Stick with me, and we'll get outta here all set, ya?"

Thanath looked over at Mara as she approached and smiled gratefully at her offer. While he and most city guards had a tense relationship at even the best of times, Thanath was more than willing to take what he could get after what he had just been through.

"Good to see another friendly face." The fairy commented after the afterglow from her healing hands had diminished to a faint tint. "We should get outta here. I sent Rudolph to follow your mount earlier. I hope they're okay." Her face mimicked the worried cackles of the bellowing inferno, housing the portal from whence they came.

"You ain't got more of that healy magic, do ya?" Mara asked anxiously. "Whiteys did a number on Fern, and if we don't get back soon, someone else might find her. If someone hurts my Fern..." Mara's voice trailed off, but the implications were fairly obvious. "Come on. Alley is safer."

Oblivious to the monk's wounds, the cleric shrieked in her ignorance to Mara's suffering. "Oh no! Here!" She offered again the same hands, as she hovered with the goliath and the Genasi. "I hope this grants you both peace and strength."

>Mara is healed by a Level 2 Cure Wounds for 9 HP.

"Oy, not me, Fern!" Mara replied before sighing. "I mean, thanks true nuff, as long as you got more of that magic juice on ya for my wolf."

"Thanks, only be to the good gods. Your wolf will be healed as well. Take us to her."

Mara nodded, taking off through the streets to where she last left Fern. It wasn't far away (much closer to danger than she preferred), but she had hoped that she confused those arcane assholes by cutting North before hiding Fern in an alley. As she arrived at the street, Mara gave a low whistle as a signal to tell Fern all was clear.

Knowing Rudolf wasn't far off, the fairy attempted to whistle, but only blew hot air. After a third try, she just hollered, blowing their cover. "Rudolf, come boy!" The mounts soon approached the trio. With arms outstretched, the cleric offered another a cure to the wound that had befallen Fern at the hands of those Albinos.

>Fern is healed by a Level Cure Wounds for 8 HP.

The cleric asked the trio, "Where to now?" She was worried that the guard still knew their faces. "Since we're running away, are we now criminals?"

"I don't think so" Thanath commented "We didn't do anything wrong, and we also have someone from the watch who is willing to vouch for us".
Mara waved her badge at the fairy. "Can't be criminal if you ain't done nothin wrong, ya? We just defending ourselves. That guy chasin ya didn't know who was what, I'm sure. We should stop in the barracks, grab some supplies, figure out what went on while we been sleepin... Last I remember, there was snow on the ground, and now the leaves are changing, like it were three months ago." Mara led Fern forward gently, not wanting to cause undue stress. "Gotta get this bardin on Fern too, when we got a minute for a breather."

"Thanks be to the heavens." Cerise, was a little anxious, but was relieved that Mara was part of the City Watch. "When I was on the roof, I saw plenty of armed guards come out of a place, nearby. Should we go there or rest first?" She offered her two cents but seemed still apprehensive and slightly indecisive, since she did not know Waterdeep.

"I don't know about you two." Thanath said "But I wouldn't mind some rest before we do anything else".

"Shall we? There were large houses with stables and chimneys North and East. Likely some inns. Wanna go there?"

"Sounds good to me" Thanath replied.

The fairy murmured softly, "Do you mind if we replenish my stock? Gold is heavy and I prefer healing potions." She flattened her pixie wings on her back and hugged Rudolph tightly. "I think I might know of a place. We can mend you right up. Catch two fish, with one hook. Whaddya say?"

"Sounds good to me" Thanath replied.

"Any place is better than here. When we stop, I can fix up Fern and grab some new gear too. Please lead on, Little Bug."

They soon approached a low building, etched partly in and below the ground, adorned with a petrified harpy on the roof. The swinging sign read in Common and Elvish, The Riven Shield: Weapons, Armor, and other goods. "Here it is! Hey, that's not a fairy." Horrified as she opened the door when finally noticing the statuesque weathervane more in detail. A half-elf approached the motley crew. "Wonderful! Out of towners?"

"Indeed" Thanath replied "By any chance are potions part of those 'other goods' mentioned? I could definitely use a few right about now".

"Of course, my dear Goliath. Right this way." He walked ahead hoping to lead them deeper into the store. Thanath followed, still using his maul as a walking stick. Mara tossed Thanath a bag of coins before he left. "Here, buy me a coupla potions. I'll be a minute still." She then stayed outside the shop with Fern, putting on her wolf's barding. "Will do." Thanath said as he caught the bag.

>Mara handed over 100 gp to Thanath

"So, where do each of you come from?" He brought out a drawer of glass beakers with stoppers, with a variety of different opacities. A dropper in metal case was soon procured for Thanath and Cerise individually to taste the assorted liquids. "Also, please sample these flavors to your liking. Each potion will be 75 GP. We unfortunately do not finance unless you have a reputed Waterdhavian address."

"I'm not sure where my companions hail from, since I've only just met them" Thanath said "But I can tell you that I myself come from the Sunrise Mountains". With that said, he began sampling flavors from his case.

The pixie was anxious about telling a stranger exactly where she came from, but became honest after the Goliath said his peace. "Moonlight Pond, a subsidiary of the Summer Court." As they sampled away, they each tasted asparagus, pomegranate, and celery in various combinations. The pair soon sensed the restorative properties.

>Thanath and Cerise gain 1 HP.

"Very nice. Can I also interest you in any armor? What were your names again?" The half-elf realized the sale of the potions would be a given, moving onto more profitable purchases.

"Thanath Thundermaul Thenalekali" Thanath said "And I guess it wouldn't hurt to browse a little while I'm here". "Excellent! We have some fantastic options in our Big and Tall Section." He curtly ignored the cleric, to wade further into the back of the store. Thanath wasn't far behind. "Here we are, a wonderful set of half-plate. This suit is reinforced with adamantine, one of the hardest substances in existence. (While you're wearing it, any critical hit against you becomes a normal hit. AC 15 + DEX Mod (Max 2)) We just slashed this price last week to a measly 500 GP."

"Does the reinforcement add to the weight?" Thanath asked "My fighting style doesn't work as effectively if what I'm wearing is too bulky".

"It does, but if you want something lighter in your size, I have just the thing!" He walked behind some curtains. He scurried back carrying in one hand, some splint armor. "This is made of Mithral." His eyes widened as his vocal cords burped up another sales pitch. "A light, flexible metal. A mithral armor can be worn under normal clothes. (AC 17. If the armor normally imposes disadvantage on Stealth checks or has Strength requirement, the mithral version of the armor doesn’t.) It fits and stretches perfectly to those of medium build. This is currently on sale for 750 GP."

"You have quite an interesting selection" Thanath commented "When I have the coin for it, I will definitely be coming back here. But for now, I think I shall relieve you of 2 healing potions". With that said, Thanath presented the shop keep the bag of gold Mara gave him and 50 golden coins from his own pocket. "I believe that this should cover it".
The half-elf gawked at the insult, but counted the money to be sure. "You are short 25 GP for just one potion." He placed the money gently with the bag on the counter.

"Didn't you say the price was 75 gold earlier though?" Thanath asked?

(Check dice rolls. He used Sleight of Hand and Deception.) "I sure did. This bag of money is full of rocks." He took the bag and emptied its contents on the counter, next to Thanath's money. "Pickpockets are notorious in this part of town. Are you sure that had money it?"

"That bag was given to me by one of my current companions" Thanath said "I couldn't be sure. She might know though". With that said Thanath turned in the direction of where he last saw Mara. "Genasi!" Thanath called out with much effort "The coin pouch you gave me was full of rocks!".

His tongue was quick to interrupt. "Tell you what. I'll make a deal with you and turn your luck around. How 'bout 3 of your Javelins and this 50 GP for 2 potions?"

"Like hell it was!" Mara called back from outside. "The filth is a liar, and I'll call the City Watch on him!"

"Aren't you part of the watch though?!" Thanath called out, again with much effort. JBRam_2002-Yesterday at 1:03 PM Mara nodded, then realized Thanath couldn't see her. "Yeah, give me a second and I'll come ring his bell if you need me to!"

>Mara finished the barding for Fern.

Thanath then turned back to the shop keep. "If you are lying, I suggest you return the money" Thanath advised, his voice now somewhat hoarse "She kicked down a wall earlier". Mara storms into the shop, Fern in tow and a large warhammer at her side. "Who's the little shit who says I dunno rocks from gold? I'll teach him a thing or three!"

"It is I." A top hat soon flocked to the half-elf's head with a strange rod in his hand. "And who might you be?" Mara flashed her emblem of the City Watch. "That's all you need to know. Now, give us what we paid for, and we won't have to make a mess of the place. I counted that gold there twenty times, and heard it jinglin' as I tossed it to Thunderhead. Do I need to call the Captain down here to take a look, or are we gonna play nice?" "Thundermaul" Thanath corrected. Mara shrugged in response.

The pixie skunked further to the exit, realizing there were no other customers, initially attributing it to the fire before. "Guys, I don't feel good about this."

"Me neither. I don't like it when people steal from me. Something don't smell right, and that makes me feel not good at all," Mara replied, hefting the hammer in her hand. "Must be the stench from the sewer, huh? I think I've changed my mind. Give us back our gold, and we'll leave. I don't trust anything from this dump anyways."

"I was being hospitable. My name is Ssssima." The being took a bow. "Again. The offer still stands 3 added Javelins and this 50 GP for 2 potions. Since your luck seemed already to be pressed today." He noted the blood on all of them. "Besides, you want to be healed, right?"

"There's always the Plinth" Thanath replied "And I'm sure we can find potions from a less shady source...Once you've returned the Genasi's gold, that is".

”Guys, I think that was a petrified Harpy on the roof, right?" Trying the now locked door and looking at the wand.

"I don't think you want to start this fight, friend" Thanath said in a manner that would have been a lot more intimidating had he not sustained heavy battle damage earlier. (Intimidation roll: 5)

"I still want to do business in the future, with each and everyone of you." He appeared honest as his forked tongue slithered about his lips. "Okay two javelins. This 50 GP. And a promise to return. I'll even save the Mithral for you. How about it?"

"How about instead you give us back what you took and we'll buy 2 potions from you for 150 gold and a promise that I'll be back for that Mithral armor" Thanath said in an extremely persuasive manner "You have nothing to lose from a little honesty". (Persuasion roll: Natural. Goddamn. 20.)

"Sold!" The door unlocked itself. He looked into the Goliath's eyes. "I will keep you to it." The coins magically disappeared and 2 potions materialized in each of Thanath's hands. "As a tip moving forwards, in the Wards, don't say you're from out of town." His smile was painfully smug.

"I'll keep that in mind" Thanath replied. Thanath then turned and handed Mara 1 of the potions. Mara sighed and shook her head as she accepted the potion. "I sure as hell don't plan on coming back. Not when you steal my gold, then overcharge us that much for our potions. But at least I don't have to waste time roughing your nice little shop up. Consider yourself on notice though." Mara turned away from the half elf and proceeded out the door. "I hope you know, Thunderhead, that you just paid nearly half again what them potions are worth."
"Well that was his original asking price" Thanath said as he followed Mara out "And besides, he would have made us pay a lot more had I not been so persuasive as I had been. While we're on the subject of money though, I do believe I owe you 25 gold".

"My guess is we were about a minute from turning into a rock like that harpy," Mara replied, jabbing a thumb up at the statue. "Thanks to your words, we're still able to walk. So, I guess I owe ya a thanks or something. Thanks." Mara took the 25 gold that Thanath offered and put it with the rest of her money, lamenting how light her wallet was feeling. "Something about this city feels different. Last I recall, there weren't no shop here. And shops don't just spring up overnight."

"Well he was a magical snake man" Thanath said "Magical snake men do tend to pull stunts like suddenly making a shop appear out of thin air from time to time. They're like that sometimes".

"Riiight," was Mara's response before she turned away. Looking about the street, she found a woman who seemed relatively nonthreatening (she hoped). "Oi. You there. I forgot what day it was, and I got an appointment to keep one day this week. You mind telling me the date?"

"It's tenth of the Fading, lass."

"Tenth of..." Mara gave a confused look towards Thanath. "That's almost a year from when I last remember. Guess I missed that appointment, ya?" She turned back to the woman and pointed towards the shop. "And when did that place get built, huh? Last I came through here, it was
just a sewer."

"A sewer? That's been there since the Spellplague, almost a hundred years ago, I reckon."

"Let it go, Genasi" Thanath said "Sometimes you just have to chalk things up to magical snake men".

"Are you folks from out of town?" She asked unassuming.

"What the everlivin shit on a stick is up with that? I dunno what magical snake men you been dancin' with, but I ain't ever seen one conjure up a buildin' and then make everyone think it's been there a hundred years, have you?" Mara's confusion was not getting any better.

"Uh, thanks, miss," she said to the woman before urging Fern onwards. "We gotta get outta here. Now."
Cerise shook her head, distracted by Thanath, and told the old lady, "No, ma'am and we're not lost either." She looked at Thanath and Mara.

"What should we do now?"

"We gotta get. This part of town ain't good for outsiders, and we're all outsiders now." Mara's voice was lower than it had been previously, almost as if she were afraid someone would overhear. "I know a way to a gate. We'll be safer out there than in here, I wager."

"Sounds good to me" Thanath said.

"Lead the way. I actually don't know this city. Rudolph and I will follow." The cleric notes there were more City Watch peddling through, racing to the Virgin's Square.

>Thanat, Mara, Fern, and Rudolph head to the Rivergate.

>Collaboration done with @Ms Ravenwinter@corneredbliss

>Both make their DEX saves.

Evlynne tumbled aside, one of the sanguine tendrils sweeping just short of her only to thrash at the air in vain. Once grasping her bearings, she squeezed at the arcane crystal dangling from her wrist as she reached out for her companion. Fingers clutched the druid's hide with urgency as Eve's eyes pleaded with her to flee. With a sweep of her hand, focus glowing faintly with magical energy, she forced a projection into being. Floating over, just out of reach of the reddened vines, was a still image of herself in a shocked stance, as if petrified. Only glimpsing back long enough to see the air bend into her image, Evlynne turned away and darted in the opposite direction.

>Evy uses Minor Illusion and full movement to get the hell outta dodge.

Ynaxandra stared stoically up at the guard, unfamiliar yet recognizing an echo of herself in some past life. A mixture of resentment and hurt bubbled up in her gut, so distracting that the nudge at her arm might have caused her to jump were it not for the lack of energy to do so. With her eyes still on their new threat, she murmured back to the mage, "What thing? I have no thing... Didn't exactly leave on good terms, remember?" She cleared her throat before answering the solder's question. "We come in peace, seeking refuge from the forest."

Not exactly the most social of people, she gently nudged Evlynne back and muttered, "Your turn. Be sweet, or something."

With a sigh, Evlynne responded by slipping a hand under the neck of her dress. Fiddling around as minimally as possible until she fished out an ornate brooch with her company's symbol emblazoned upon it; with the emblem affixed to a silver cord about her neck. Her hair tucked under the necklace as she removed it and raised it high toward the city wall. "I'm an agent of the Harpers, not a beggar!"

"Harpers, eh?" The bowstring slackened a tad, as undecipherable whispers pinched the sky's hot eye belching its radiance upon the frozen pair. "Approach, please." The gates opened to allow a merchant's horse and its rider through, only to close soon after. As the baker's carriage traveled by, he spoke plainly to the duo, "Open travel is not allowed into the city after mid-day unless you possess the seal or documentation." He tapped his herald demonstrating he was one of many guilds within Waterdeep. His horse neighed, then headed south, away from the forest line.

>Yna recognizes this harsher protocol as well. It suggests something must have happened in the city or recently outside the city to cause the momentary lockdown. The smoke in the horizon clues her in.

Yna's eyebrows furrowed back up at the guard after spotting the smoke. "What's happened?" she called up to him, momentarily forgetting her lack of position and speaking as a worried familiar.

Group 1 - West of Rivergate @rush99999, @JBRam2002, @The Large Dumbo
Group 2 - East of Rivergate @Ms Ravenwinter@corneredbliss

"Some idiot set fire to ol' crazy Alek's scroll shop. You can see the plume from 'ere! Have your papers/heralds ready. We will greet and search you at the door. Come forward."

One of the Harpers motions to come closer as three other sentries approach a Goliath, a Genasi, and Fairy, with two on mounts. They resonate of battle, with blood stains riddled over the quintet. What was more curious was the gem in the pixie's and barbarian's left arms.

>Yna and Evy's passive perception notices the gems of the duo. Mara's is behind her skull and not in plain sight.

An elvish captain approaches the monk curiously.

"Mara, is that you???"

>From here, we can pursue this in IC on Discord, for quick banter.

>Collaboration done with: @The Large Dumbo and @Cu Chulainn

"So, friend, should we make our way to an inn and get our bearings?" The paladin motioned to the adjacent warlock.

>(Ms. Ravenwinter says in OOC: Friend is some strong language for an evil pairing)

"Word will spread quickly, I believe," Uregaunt mumbled, stroking his chin. "I believe if the guards don't arrest those two, they'll also be searching for an inn as well. Perhaps it is best if we leave now, while we can do so without detection."

Halflight replied, "Perhaps... if it comes to any guards running into us, however, just let me do all the talking. I may have lied about... a few things, but I'm still an ordained Knight of Lurue. That status, alone, may give us leeway for any future encounters."

>(Cu replies in OOC: You’ve never said “Friend” in an evil accent.)

"Lurue, is it?" Uregaunt said, pausing for a bit. "Very well. If it does not, however, I take it you're willing to clear our path of any obstacles?" He made a fist and raised it, clenching it slightly as he spoke.

"So long as it doesn't ruin my image." Halflight replied, flicking his hair back with his hand, with a small smile.

Uregaunt chuckled. "Good, good. There's much I need to consider about that situation we found ourselves in earlier. Once we're out of town, I'll be glad to share some of this information with you. Specifically, I'm wondering most about this..." He lifted the arm with the gem on it and gived it a few ginger taps with his finger.

Halflight chuckled back, mostly from the usage of the word 'pickle.' "Ah, these old things? I've already had a few thoughts on it, myself. Notice how the spark in that one pale man's gem lit up when we healed him?"

Uregaunt nodded quietly. "That pale man is a mysterious one," he remarked, crossing his arms. "I believe we should have killed him when we had the chance... Of course, we had no way of knowing..." He paused, clearing his throat and letting his arms drop as casually as possible. "It matters not. That albino is a rather remarkable figure, to say the least. I'll explain once we're out."

"Of course, I had only assumed. He did have control of that woman, after all... Say, does she ever talk, by the way? And why is she helping us?"

"She's helping us with the grace of Kelemvor, of course," he sarcastically said, a smug smirk on his face as he tried - and failed - not to chuckle at his own cleverness. "I know little of her origins, but I know that she follows whatever commands are issued. 'Kelemvor' was kind enough to grant me this miracle, and to that end, she will aid me in my quest. At some point, though, I believe we should... well." Uregaunt hesitated before continuing. "We should get to know her better. I admit I know very little about her.”

"Ah, so she's the religious type... Perhaps we should bring her to a temple?" Halflight inquired.

"Perhaps. I doubt it, however." Uregaunt looked around, frowning. "Perhaps I've given too much information loosely. I wouldn't want anybody to hear this information who needs not. Let's just say that 'Kelemvor' is likely closer than you may think..." He placed heavy stress on the word 'Kelemvor'.

Halflight glared at Uregaunt. At first, he had interpreted such emphasis as something of a death threat... until he looked at Uregaunt's expression, as well as his gem-inlaid arm. Halflight cackled to himself at the realization. "I see... we are more kindred spirits than these gems have thought us out to be." Halflight grinned, before looking at the Servant, clearing his throat. "Can you speak? Tell us your name."

"Midnight." The unseen servant soon closed her maw, awaiting the next command.

The warlock inquired further, "Do you remember anything that happened before you woke up and encountered the rest of us? Try to remember as much as you can."

"Yes." She stood invisibly silent before the duo, but again lingered for another impending query.

"Just keep recalling while we make our ways out of town. You could tell us everything once we're in a less open area." Halflight egged her to continue.

"Yes," Uregaunt stated in agreement. "We should make haste, lest we stumble upon some unwelcome company."

Ysalain asked, "So what were you doing before you had woken up, friend?"

The invisible voice replied, "Dying."

The paladin awkwardly hesitated, "... Okay." Halflight was still very surprised at her response. She appeared to be more concise than curt, despite the lack of visible body language. He probably should look at Uregaunt next time when asking him questions, specifically. This does, however, open a new can of worms.

"Dying? Were the dastardly changelings responsible?"

"Yes." A pause. "No."

"Who was the man with the gem in his chest? Was there a reason why our attackers took his shape?" Ysalain requested more.

"I know of him." The unseen girl bicated her replies. "No."

"Tell me," Uregaunt said, crossing his arms. "What is your relationship with the gem-chested Albino?"

"He bears the gem of Azuth's staff." She finally added some insight. "It's no longer a sapphire but a diamond."

Uregaunt nodded, placing a hand on his chin to think about the facts he has acquired thus far from Midnight and his observations.

The paladin tested, yet again. "So you did not protect him for his life, but for what he has in his chest?"

The incognito reply was brisk. "Yes."

"Then why help us?" The paladin probed deeper.

The female wind whispered, “For I am your servant and guardian."

"Ours, or our gems?" Halflight raised his forearm.

“Gems.” She stated simply.

The paladin was ever curious. "What is so important about our gems?"

"Together, they can imprison a god." Midnight replied.

“Why have we been chosen to bear these gems?" Uregaunt piped in, a concerned scowl on his face.

The guardian answered simply once more. "To prevent my death."

"And if we all die, so will you?" The prince of Lurue questioned.

"Yes." Again, was the theme.

"And if the man with the gem in his chest dies, will you also die? Or will we die?”

"Yes." A pause again."Yes."

"... Shit." The pair paused in return. "I believe we will have to take a shorter rest than anticipated, friends. We have to find that half-orc." Ysalain suggested. "Do you have any means of tracking anyone down?"

"No." She replied.

"Do our gems?" Ysalain solicited.

"Yes." She answered.

The paladin solicited further. "What else can they do?"

Her reply was more extravagant, but remained curt. "Provide magic to its keepers. Grant strength with their communion. Deliver exhaustion with their separation."

The long-haired knight requested more intel. “Explain the last bit more..."

"Three gems cannot be farther than 500 feet from one another more than a day, lest the keepers suffer loss (Exhaustion Level and/or Loss of HP). When all are amassed together, the gems provide the ability to learn and store magic (spells) without preparation or reserve." She continued, "If one dies, the others inherit the loss vigor."