Episode 24- Fallout

Menelwen glanced at Theamen as the party braced themselves. She put a hand on his cheek. “I love you. Don't die, keep a level head.”

“I'll do my best. I love you too.” He gave her a kiss.

They opened the door, ready to drop the fireball. A blast of wind slammed into the party.Henry, Theamen, and Menelwen are thrown off the bridge. Thok tried to save Menelwen but failed. They landed in the water below.

Three blowgun attacks hit Thok in the chest, The Hurricanes and Howling Hatred cult members ride the air current to attack him.

Thok attacks, using his new sword. It freezes and shatters one of the guys. Scruffy manages to kill two, backing Thok up.

Rosette smirked, snapping her fingers. Shocks of lightning go through Thok and Scruffy as she uses Chain Lightning.It richochetes and hits everyone, knocking the party out cold.

Vega, who had been absent as the fight started saw three figures scooping Menelwen, Theamen, and Henry out of the water. They were dragged back into the chamber. He saw Rosette directing people as the doors closed behind them.

Vega was left all alone...debating about what to do.

He made a pact, taking on a level in paladin. His resolve steeled with new powers, he wildshaped into a flying snake and slipped in. He saw the cultists cleaning up from the mess. He followed the staircase up to a room that had a high throne on a marble dias.

A moon elf rested on the throne, her feathered wings behind her and near transparent robes covered her forom.

Four figures were chained to the wall.

Rosette stepped over. “I took care of them a lot easier than expected. Is there anything else?”

“Send for the clerics. We don't need our little toys breaking on us so quickly. And find the other one. Invite him to come...have a conversation.”

Rosette nodded, turning. Vega saw that she had Drown. She left.

About forty-five minutes passed before men in robes entered and bowed before the moon elf. “Which one?”

“Three of them are spell casters. Wake the orc.”

Smelling salts and an incantation brought Thok up to one hit point and conscious.

“Kalinoth I presume.” His voice was thick but clear.

“I see you got my letter, champions of Red Larch.” She purred.

“Yeah, we did.”

“You're no match for me or my people.”

“Mmhm.” Thok was not giving her the satisfaction.

“Abundantly. But I'm feeling generous. You can atone for your sins.” She studied her nails as though they were more interesting than the conversation. “Marlos has become a thorn in my side. I want you to kill him.”

“Really. You want us to kill him.”

“Yes.”

“Waiting for the catch here.”

“It's simple. Kill him or die here. If I send you, and you die to Marlos, I've lost nothing.” She put on an innocent expression. “Oh no Marlos, I would never do anything like that.” She smirked. “If you go, you go in peace. I'll have my underlings lead you out. Fail to kill him, I'll send my lieutenant after you. She held back today.”

Thok glanced at Henry, still out cold. “How did Rosette join?”

“I'm a masterful recruiter. See how easy it is to get you to work for me now?”

“What else?” Thok pressed.

“I don't know what you mean.”

“What happened to Vega?” Thok asked. He was the only one not chained.

“My lieutenant is looking for him. He wasn't caught in the blast.”

“They still okay?” He jerked his chin towards Menelwen, Theamen and Henry.

“They're alive.”

“Where is he?”

“Marlos?” Kalinoth looked at him. “Sacred Stone Monastery. Keep going down. If he's there, kill him. If not, he'll be back. It was always so terrible when we had meetings at his place. He has no mirrors anywhere...”

Thok agreed to her condition. What else could he do? “Restore us to working order and have us led out then.”

Vega slipped out to meet up with Rosette.

The party was restored to one hit point. Still gagged but awake.

Henry managed to prevent himself from being turned on as Kalinoth walked up to him. “Cast a spell and I'll kill you child.” She yanked the gag from his mouth.

“Where's Rosette?”

“Looking for your missing companion.”

“What do you have on her?”

“Her allegiance. It's a scary world out there. Everyone needs protection. It just matters where you found it. My lieutenant chose wisely. Unlike you.”

“What secret do you have on her?”

Her eyes narrowed at the word.

“Did that touch a nerve?” Henry snapped.

“I don't know. Did it?” She took a stab at his eye socket. Henry passed out from the pain, the nerves still incredibly raw.

The party sees four small figures with crossbows marching in to escort the,. Kenku. As they were marched out, they passed Rosette. Henry was unconscious in Thok's arms.

“He opened his mouth,didn't he?” She scoffed. “Tell Henry to check the sewn in place. Idiot.” She brushed past them.

The Kenku led them out to the gate that Thok had broken into. Their possessions were dropped. Vega caught up to them, casting mass cure wounds on the ground.

Henry came to, taking a step away to check the sewn in place. He found a note and ten gold pieces. “Glass eye for shape, eye patch for looks.”

Menelwen used her once a day cure wounds on Theamen. He in turn used lay on hands to bring her up to full hit points.

“We should plan.” Menelwen sighed.

“As much as I hate to suggest it, we're about ten days away from Waterdeep.” Theamen frowned. “We can restock, learn, and get Henry the proper medical attention that he needs.”

They agreed that this was the most sensible course of action. The party goes up the stairs, out the doorway as the sun started to rise.

After putting some distance between themselves and the air cult, they stopped for a rest around 11. Theamen takes his breastplate off, and just curled up. Menelwen passed out with him.

Thok took the first watch. Nothing happened, he noticed flying things that appeared to be watching them. But they did nothing.

Menelwen stirred a couple hours later. On hers, she saw some giant vultures, hear the roar of a far off manticore, and the crow that had been hanging out in a nearby tree hopped down.

The next thing she knew, there was a scimitar to her throat. Centari held the other end. “Scream and I'll slit your throat. I was waiting until the level-headed one was alone.”

She froze, watching him.

“Good.” Centari took the blade away. “We'll have a conversation. I want to know why. Why isn't he an abomination anymore?”

“We got a cleric to cure him.”

“There's more.”

“What...what do you mean?”

“If you don't know...then we'll wait until they wake.” Centari folded her arms over her chest. A few hours, the party woke.

“Tell me,” she addressed Vega. “Why are you no longer an abomination?”

He told her that he made a pact with a Celestial. Her expression stayed neutral as she stood. “Very well. You can no longer call the circle your home. I wish you luck, child. With the decisions you made, you'll need it.” She transformed and flew off.

Vega explained that due to his pact with Raizel if he died, he could never be resurrected or come back. He was no longer a vessel for his own soul. He was merely a conduit for a higher power, to be used as a weapon. A sword that is pointed at an enemy. He was their tool.

Henry refused to accept it.

The party, still processing all the information from their last couple encounters moved on. Henry, rubbing his remaining eye paused. He blinked, noticing a trail of smoke coming from the forest. Sneaking, he saw a little boy playing with fire in a clearing. He was giggling, causing the fire to increase and decrease.

Henry didn't even wait, he approached the boy.

“Are you a bandit?” The kid asked.

“No. If I was, I would have done a better job on sneaking up.”

The kid shrugged. “Bandits are stupid.”

“I'm not.”

“How'd you lose the eye then?”

Henry rolled his eye and glanced at the fire. “Want to see something cool?”

“Sure!”

Henry aimed Burning Hands down, half pointed towards himself so as not to hurt the kid. He did however, hurt himself and set part of the forest on fire.

As the trees catch, a blur of motion makes the kid disappear. Because Henry had wandered off, it takes the rest of the party time to catch up.

Seeing the fire and knowing that Henry did it, Menelwen spat out “You're a fucking dumbass.” in Elvish.

“I know!” He had understood but the response was garbled Elvish sounds. Henry was grabbed and rocketed up into the air, his arms windmilling, screaming.

Luca jumped from Henry to a tree, climbing down to Thok.

Henry cried out for help

“But Mama, it was cool!” The kid said. He appeared with a dark skinned elf with white hair. A Drow woman who identified herself as Eclipse.

“Why was my child attacked so viciously?” She demanded. An orc stepped out, wearing robes to join them.

“Are you alright Simon?”

“I'm fine Papa.”

They explain that they had found him in the Underdark. The orc, named Gurrack and his wife had found Simon, rescued him and were going to bring him to Waterdeep. Hopefully to find his parents. Gurrack himself was thrown from his orc clan for studying magic. He was captured and sold to be a slave. Eclipse had taken pity on his and saved him. He did the same for her in turn.

Henry freefalls for a moment then is lowered down. Gurrack had used Levitate on him. Just to mess with him. “What did you learn?” Gurrack asked.

Henry apologized and spoke with Eclipse. She accepted his apology.

“Simon, get the pot open.” The family started cooking.

Theamen stepped aside to talk to Eclipse, paladin to paladin. Thok and Gurrack talk about how far they had come. It had taken the small family three years to get this far. But since their destination was the same, the family agreed to join the party.

Menelwen stayed supervising Henry and Simon with the fire. She talked with Simon. For such a young boy (eight years of age), he reads really hard books. He knew all about Solaris when she mentioned it. She showed him a favorite spell of hers, Mold Earth, She created designs in the dirt.

“I can show you my favorite too!” Simon beamed. He used Conjure animals, creating a bunch of puppies.

Simon was called and helped his Dad create jerked out of the spare meat.

Henry approached Gurrack, asking if he could help teach him magic.

“The best thing you can do it is do us a favor. Make a conscious effort. Think before you cast. That is what wizards do.”

Henry nodded, then started talking to him about Rosette. “Maybe I was too blind to see....maybe I could have gotten her help.”

“She's a grown woman, let her make her mistakes. She'll learn. They always do. Just be there for her when she does.”

“I'm too focused on trying to save her and blaming myself.”

“Don't give her what you think she wants. Give her what she needs.”

After a meal, the party continued on the path to Waterdeep.

~

Henry tried to practice shooting on the road.

“You suck at this.” Simon told him.

“I'm using my bad eye.” Henry defended himself.

“Then use your good eye. You only have one.” Simon then suggested switching hands..

~

Menelwen asked Theamen about his conversation with Eclipse. He said it was nothing to worry about. That she was very motherly, and he would share what she said at some point. He needs to think things through.

They had spoken about her patron, Eilistraee, the Drow goddess of song, dance, swordwork, hunting, moonlight, goodness and beauty. He wanted to find out more about her in town.

~

Along the way, Gurrack, Simon and Henry practiced magic. They played catch with Mage Hand. Menelwen grinned, helping out. She used levitate on Henry ad turned him to make it more of a challenge.

~

The city of Waterdeep rose up in front of them after days of travel.

~To be continued...!~