The Lamentation of Lolth - Chapter VI

[Verbatim]

Ayden felt his anger threatening to boil over at the disregard that this foul creature had for Lady Chasity's state. Losing his concentration, he felt Finder's music fade from his mind and instead of allowing his emotions to settle to call upon it once more, he advanced another step towards the hag.

"Her name was Lady Chastity, and I would not press your luck so far as to think your tongue will have free reign while we talk. Tell us what you know of her death and those that caused it, and should you lie to us, we will find you and I promise you will regret every false word spoken."

 

[Majin]

The hag focuses her attention on the priest and cackles some more. "You're a fiery one, aren't you? Relax yourself boy, I did not harm the girl. She came looking for trouble and found it in the form of a string of will-o'-wisps that lurk in the ruined foundation of Tempest Tower. The will-o'-wisps killed both the paladin and her squire. A band of brigands as well came through the valley a while back. They, too, were killed by the will-o'-wisps. Nasty balls of light!" she spits.

 

[kirinke]

"Wisps are generally only lures. What else lurks in this Temple?" Teleri asks.

 

[hippocrachus]

Calenthang's mood brightens visibly when Ayden makes to attack the hag and threatens her further with his, usually pleasant and calm, now forceful commanding speech. He cracks his knuckles; sword still in hand.
Leave it to him, he thinks to himself, completely confident that his revered friend will handle the situation best.
When the hag dishonors Chastity with such apathy, Calenthang shrugs-off the insult and continues to wait for Ayden's cue if forthcoming.
He cringes when the topic changes to lesser aberrations. His shoulders slacken and he sheathes his sword, knowing full-well they had avoided a fight.
How fortunate...
He walks to Ayden's side and whispers calmly.
"Let this one go, revered Ayden. We must let our companions have their way sometimes..."

 

[Verbatim]

"Let this one go, revered Ayden. We must let our companions have their way sometimes..."

Sliding the hammer into the loop on his belt, Ayden whispered quietly to the warrior standing beside him in the wood elf's native tongue.

"There will be a time for this one as well, Finder has tasked his clergy to root out all of the spawn of Moander and send their black hearts to the Abyss. When that time comes, will you ride with me to face her?"

<after Calanthang's response>

Turning back to face the hag, Ayden's mind was already looking past the wisps to the creature that was holding Lady Chastity's soul. The wisps might have been the force that weakened the paladin, but Ayden had no doubt that the true darkness was beyond those guardians.

Spitting on the ground in open disgust, Ayden tried to keep his voice calm and steady.

"If what you say is true, I will honor my word to you and allow you to leave this swamp and would urge you to put as much distance between yourself and the area around Twilight Hollow. However should you desire to truly see if I am a man of my word, allow me to see you again and there will be no parlay between us."

Turning his back to the hag, Ayden approached the others, his eyes betraying the struggle in keeping his desire to strike the Moanderite down where she stood. Mounting his horse quickly, Ayden began speaking to the others in a short clipped voice.

"Master Broddy, between here and the lair of the will-of-wisps we need to know everything you know. Master Drogo, a bit of aerial scouting in locating this temple would be a great help to us if you don't mind. Master Sielwoodan, if that witch even looks as if she is following us once we start moving, you have my blessing to begin filling her full of arrows until we can close in on her."

With a flick of his reins, Ayden waited until Drogo had taken to the air to begin following his mental directions.

 

[kirinke]

Teleri gathers herself, praying softly to herself in elvish. The comforting litany was more to calm herself than anything else. At least he stayed his hand. If we strike down all who look like they are evil, then we will soon join those who follow the dark paths.

She turned Murnae around to follow the others.

 

[hippocrachus]

"It would be an honor, revered Ayden," Calenthang responds in Elven, pleased to see his friend so driven.

 

[Dhes]

Dunstand flips his dagger back into his wrist sheath as they turn to leave, “So …does any one know what these “Willwisps” are? Little balls of light don’t sound all that nasty.”

 

[kirinke]

"That which comes cloaked in pleasing colors is often poisonous. This goes doubly true for Will o wisps." Teleri responded. "Alone they are not much of a threat, but Willowisps often ally with nastier creatures. They have an ability to fasinate you and once fasinated, they can lead you into a trap, usually a bog of some sort. When you are mired up to your armpits, then their allies can tear you apart rather easily." she shrugged. "At least, that is how the legends go in my homeland."

 

[hippocrachus]

At one time sure that everyone knew what a will-o-wisp was, Calenthang groans inwardly as the lexicon of useless information explains them to the resident burglar.
I had a sense of humor once, he thinks to himself bitterly. I was just fooling myself...
Calenthang follows after Ayden; more than ready to find this temple and help his friends have their revenge.