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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 792930" data-attributes="member: 143">Book VIII, Part 11“Well, now what do we do?” Benzan’s question hung there in the air for a moment.  The four companions stood on the broad shelf of stone that jutted out from the summit of the peak, a stone’s throw from a cliff that would be the first obstacle in a difficult climb down.  Behind them, up the steep slope a few hundred yards, the shadowed opening of the Oracle’s Shrine loomed like a great mouth in the side of the mountain.  But the four did not look back; their gazes, rather, were turned toward the vast expanse of peaks and valleys that ran off to the distance to the northwest.  They were high enough that they could see, through a gap between two distant peaks, the flat expanse of the Giant’s Plain.  Beyond that, although it was too distant to see, they knew lay the Sea of Fallen Stars to the north, and to the west, the city-states of the Western Heartlands.And their destination, in another mountain range and another dark place held deep within the fastness of mother Toril.  “Well, there’s no need to march back through all of that, not now,” Dana said.  She glanced down at Cal, who had a thoughtful look on his face.  “With Cal and myself both now able to teleport, we can return instantly to any locale that is well-known to us.”“So we can return to Iriaebor... or even directly to...”  Benzan didn’t have to finish his statement; they all knew the place of which he spoke.  The prospect of getting it all over with, right now, sent a sudden thrill that was part anticipation, part dread, through each of them.  Cal, however, shook his head.  “We need to prepare.”  He glanced up at Dana, but while her expression was dark, she did not contradict him.  She above all of them felt the press of passing time, felt personally the dread of each moment longer that Delem was kept confined to the prison in which his soul was bound.  Cal knew that she felt a burning guilt at their leaving Delem there as long as they had, long enough for the transformation that had created the... being... that they had confronted in that underground lair.  They had spoken of it, on the few occasions when they could bring themselves to confront those feelings, and while the mystic wanderer objectively acknowledged the fact that there was nothing that they could have done differently, that did little to salve the open wounds of guilt that surfaced in moments of doubt and fear, moments that came to all of them whenever they let their guard slip.  They were all looking at the gnome now, who despite his diminutive stature and harmless appearance, had so often served as their leader.  “We should split up,” he told them.  “I will go to Silverymoon, with Lok.  There are things that I left there, and the resources necessary to prepare some scrolls and some other items that we will need.  And after that, I can take Lok to visit his people—the Underdark interferes with teleportation, but the urdunnir settlement is near enough the surface that I should be able to take us at least close to their community.”The genasi warrior nodded, grateful that Cal knew him well enough to anticipate his request. “Waterdeep,” Benzan said.  He met Dana’s gaze, the young woman nodded in understanding.  “We’ll need more information, about what we can expect,” she went on, developing Benzan’s suggestion.  “And there’s a church near the city that I should visit, and an old friend who might be able to help.”“I will also send word to Cylyria,” Cal suggested.  “We’re going to need help, from what the Oracle told us.  Someone has to remain behind, take custody of the statue, start the closing of the Portal once we pass through.”Their eyes turned toward Benzan, and the tiefling swallowed under their scrutiny.  “Whatever needs to be done,” he said, absently patting the pouch at his waist.   “How long?” Lok asked. “We must move quickly, but should not rush our preparations.  We will get only once chance... a tenday, perhaps...”“All right,” Dana said.  “Should we meet in Iriaebor, or travel directly...”“I would think that would be up to you, Dana,” Cal said gently.For a moment, indecision warred in the young woman’s expression, only to harden with determination.  “Give all that’s happening there right now, it might be better to just go directly,” she finally said. Cal nodded.  “Contact me with a sending at highsun in nine days,” he told her.  “By then, we’ll have a better idea of what we need to do.”The gnome looked at each of his friends in turn.  “All right then!  It sounds like we have a plan.  I think you all have at least an idea of what we will face; don’t hesitate to do whatever you can to prepare.  And in a tenday...”“In a tenday,” Benzan said.  He extended his hand and grasped Cal and then Lok’s hands, followed by an embrace from Dana.  “Good luck,” she whispered, when she bent low to hug Cal. “And to you,” he whispered back.  Then the two groups parted, opening a small space between them on the ledge.  They looked at each other for a moment longer, and then the two spellcasters each started their incantations. The two groups shimmered, and then vanished, leaving behind only the bare expanse of windswept rock.</blockquote>

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