Movers and Shakers of Faerun, 30 Eleint,1378 DR,Year of the Cauldron
The fire continued to burn sending shadows across the upland pasture somewhere in the Nether Mountains southeast of Deadsnows. Several hundred yards away, the Heroes of the Reach watched the flames. The heat from the explosion of the Colossus had been so intense that the metal itself had caught. Ariod had found an overhang and Kyros had moved the forcecage once again to what they felt was a more secure location.
Benito and Aris--and Grim hidden deeply in the shadows--spoke in hushed tones away from the rest of the group.
"We need to secure Ivan's family, Aris," Benito spoke emphatically.
Aris nodded his head in agreement.
"Ivan and I have spoken before about it, but with all the Crystal-related events, it was pushed aside. Before we strike at Iriaebor, it must be done."
"Can you take us to Twillight Hollow?" asked the genasi.
"It would take all night to get there using the wind, and we would be exhausted."
"Silverymoon is closer, and Nosr is there. He can teleport us to Sunset Vale and back in no time. How long for that?"
Benito smiled, "Not long."
Benito cast a sending informing Nosr of their arrival that evening. Curiously there was no response. Soon, however, Aris and Benito were Windwalking west towards Silverymoon, while the rest of the group stood guard over Ivan and Ellysidell in the forcecage, and the seven prisoners that had once been mercenaries for Xentarich. They left Grim in charge with one of their two sending stones.
Ariod went off to hunt down some of the wild goats he had seen in an aeril recon earlier. While the evening in the upland vale quickly became very chilly, a campfire and the some cabrito warmed the bellies of Kyros, Grim, and the druid. Fortunately, they could not hear Ivan's incessant complaining about being stuck with the elf in the box.
**
Sometime later, Ariod and Kyros, and they presumed Grim kept watch. The Colossus still burned, but Ariod noticed something very strange. Seemingly, the light from the fire became dulled, as if a canopy of shadows had been thrown over it. He pointed it out to the Mithral Knight, and they decided to hold their ground and not investigate. Grim came to that same conclusion on the outskirts of the camp, then he felt a presence.
From out of the night, a shadowy form coalesced before Ariod and Kyros. Grim recognized the creature at once as a shade.
"Where is the red wizard?" the shade demanded.
The voice was a harsh whisper and there was definite anger, but neither Ariod nor Kyros could read the being's face, lost as it was in semi-shadows. Only its bright blue eyes shown in the surrounding darkness. Grim crept deeper into the shadows, sensing that other beings hid there. Kyros and Ariod felt an eerie oppression as if the light from their own campfire had somehow been subdued as well. Shadows seemingly closed in around them as the shade-man waited for their response.
Ariod mustered the courage to speak.
"We defeated him. He had fled back to the hole from which he came."
The blue eyes dimmed slightly and the shadows on his person that looked like robes rustled silently.
"And the Colossus?"
"We freed the spirit trapped inside. Then the construct exploded," answered the druid as matter-a-factly as possible.
"This wizard is guilty of stealing our property. We wish to punish him? Do you know where this 'hole' that you mentioned is located?"
The druid resisted a glance at the prisoners and simply shrugged his shoulders.
"Very well, we are examining and recovering what we can salvage from our property. Do not interfere."
The shade vanished and Ariod exhaled. Kyros relaxed the grip on his greatsword and Grim appeared a few heartbeats later near the prisoners.
They are a liability. We should kill them now, Grim sent first to Kyros and then to the druid.
Ariod narrowed his eyes.
"There will be no killing of prisoners today, halfling. Show me that map you took from the Colossus."
Grim hesistated.
"Please, halfling."
The halfling stepped from the shadows and removed the large map from his bag of holding. Then,with the most cooperative gnomish prisoner, Ariod went over the map to find a certain location: where Xentarich and his group had found the Colossus. Ariod grimaced as he saw where the excavation had been. He did not relish the prospect of traveling into the Anauroch. The site was near where the desert met the High Ice. That was even worse.
**
Aris and Benito became corporeal again several hundred yards from the Mulgate Gate outside of Silverymoon. Quickly, they hoofed it into the city heading for the villa that Aris had purchased for Benito and his family to use, near Mielikki's Glade in the Art's district of the city on the Southern bank of the Rauvin. While Benito was happy to see his wife Johanna and Samantha, his daughter, both he and Aris were disconcerted to learn that Nosr had left close to a tenday ago. Johanna related that he was helping a young woman and her adventuring company. Benito made a snide remark about Nosr's skirt-chasing and lack of focus.
Frustrated, the pair headed across the Moonbridge to the High Palace to ask assistance from the High Mage or the High Lady. Alustriel was unavailable. However, Aris and Benito were escorted to the High Mage's residence where after a bit of diplomacy with an overly protective apprentice, the heroes met High Mage Taern Hornblade as he was taking his evening meal. Neither realized how hungry they were until they saw the spread of food.
"Sit, gentlemen. There is much too much food for me," motioned the High Mage.
They complied and began wolfing down the dinner set in front of them. In between gulps, Benito and Aris related the events of the last two days; tracking down the Colossus to Deadsnows, entering the construct, and defeating the Red Wizard Xentarich.
Taern Hornblade looked perplexed at the mention of the name, clearly not recognizing the wizard.
"So what next, heroes?" he asked.
"Iriaebor. To right the wrong done there over five years ago," stated Benito.
"Troubled times in the south. My sources tell me that Asbravn has fallen within the last few days. Refugees are flooding into Berdusk as we speak," said Taern sipping on a goblet of wine.
"Then undoubtedly some may fleeing to Twilight Hollow," observed Aris. "By Mielikki! I had hoped to use Asbravn as a forward base," he swore.
"Your grace, we have no time to lose, then. We must get with haste to Twilight Hollow and bring our companion Ivan's family to safety here in the north. Can you transport us there?"
Aris grimaced at Benito's presumption.
High Mage Taern Hornblade rubbed his white-flecked beard.
"While I cannot go myself, I do have a solution. Please follow me."
He led them along twisting corridors, up and down several staircases, and finally to a rune-covered iron door. Two guards in full plate armor stood to either side, crossing halbreds to bar passage as the three approached.
Taern produced a small token.
"They are with me."
Without a word, the polearms were brought back to vertical, and Taern muttering a phrase, pushed open the portal. Another set of steps led to a wall, which Taern passed through. Aris, seeing that the wall was illusory with his magical eyepatch shrugged his shoulders and followed. Benito closed his eyes and stepped past...into a very bare and very clean room measuring close to thirty paces a side. Bright, white light emanated from the ceiling.
The High Mage pushed a section of wall, revealing a hidden panel with a space behind. He removed drawing materials and began drawing a circle on the floor. Time passed. Runes were drawn around the circle as the heroes watched. Finally, he spoke.
"I am almost done. Benito, you must open your mind and allow me to view a locale near where you wish to arrive."
The cleric thought about the statue of Ilmater in Twilight Hollow.
"Very good."
The Taern Hornblade finished and gave instructions as he handed Benito a token:
"This circle will transport you to your destination. You have until the moon is halfway in the sky to return to that spot with this token. Make sure that you join hands with those you wish to accompany you and you will arrive back here in this room."
Aris and Benito stepped in and were whisked to Twilight Hollow....
In the flickering torchlight, horses whinnied and ran back and forth in front of the Temple of Ilmater. Some of the mounts had flecks of blood strewn across their coats. It smelled of rain. Benito and Aris heard moans and mumbled prayers echoing from within the building.
"Benito, I hope we are not too late."
The cleric was already striding purposefully towards the entrance.
