Chapter 27 - A Lost Netherese City Unearthed

[Elaisis 28 – Eleint 1]

            The Sandstorm we had used as cover in our last mission lasted a very long four days.  It was said to be the biggest sandstorm in recent history of the area and we were in the middle of it.  There was sand constantly battering the tent and no visibility between tents.  I tried to keep the peace amongst everyone with my stories and my music and was mostly successful.  Some were looking for a fight and other were just cooped up too long for their own sanity.  Eventually, the storm ended and we continued westward. 

            On the night of the 28th of Elaisis, we saw bright flashes in the sky on the horizon.  It looked to be a huge battle by the size of it.  Were we heading towards it?  It was decided we would be skipping the next oasis stop and continue straight through as the Bedine held the oasis.  On the 30th we again saw the flashing lights at night as they grew closer – or were we getting closer to them?

            On the 1st of Elient, we captured three Bedine Scouts with their horse and gear.  Oskar let us know they were not evil and all of them had the mark of a black lion’s paw on their chest.  We tied them to the back of the wagon train and continued on our way.  It was not said, more agreed upon, that nothing would be happening to these scouts as far as we were concerned.  It was just trying to figure out how to keep our cover and set them free that puzzled us.

            We continued on our way west until we were suddenly caught off-guard.  Right next to me, bursting out of the sand, a 12’ tall lion knocked me off my horse and pinned me to the ground.  As the rest of the caravan came to a screeching halt, the Zhentarim driving one of the wagons lost control and tipped it over.  The Zhent troopers, in panic more than skill, all drew their crossbows and took aim at the beast.  My companions were ready to spring into action but wanted to see how the situation might turn out before attacking the beast.

            Pinned to the ground with the huge beast above me I had to act quickly.  The only thing that came to mind was to try to communicate with the lion – that’s right, communicate.  Without moving I cast a tongues spell and began speaking with the beast.  Our conversation was brief and guarded but I soon found myself sitting in front of the beast astonishing my companions, the Zhentarim, and myself.  The Bedine were also surprised as they follow the Night Lion.  The lion left me with a very direct statement – “It’s almost time to meet your fate, Two Legs.”

            Did he mean me specifically?  Did he mean our group?  Was it the caravan?  And, moreover, what was this fate that lies ahead of us?  As we picked ourselves up and got ready to move on, one Zhent had taken a pot shot at the Lion leaving.  He was whipped accordingly.  I thanked Vestele for her holding the troop’s actions, which she brushed off as her job.  While tipping the wagon up we found many broken crates.  They held shackles that were dusted with a scent to make a prisoner more agreeable and increased their pain.  There were also about 1500 swords in the shipment.  We helped repack the caravan and I kept in mind what the large lion had shared with me.  I guess it would lose its intensity in the translation but to hear it in growls less than three feet away from a 12’ lion makes a definite impression.

            We traveled further west until we reached the edge of a bowl-shaped valley with a large city at the center of it.  I was amazing to see this spectacle in the middle of the desert.  All the building were of Netherese design and most was well preserved.  There appeared to only be minimal inhabitants that we could hear but not see.  It sounded like cracks from smokepowder weapons (similar to when we were out in Realms Space with Potulus).  We knew we needed to investigate the city.

            I wondered if the four-day sandstorm had unearthed the city as a lot of sand was certainly missing.  Moreover, we noticed that the dunes stopped abruptly as a specified border around the city.  Due to the depth of the valley and knowing the power of the Netherese magics back then I wondered if this city was magically uncovered instead of accidentally unearthed.  Then I considered the level of magic required to accomplish the feat this must have been.  Putting those ideas together with the worst four-day sandstorm in a century made my respect for the Netherese magics and whatever uncovered this city after thousands of years go up considerably.

            Vestele offered for us to go investigate the city.  She said she would have the caravan wait 2 days west of the city for us to catch up.  I we weren’t back on time she would continue on.  She only asked for a 10% donation to the caravan cause but also offered to discount that by 1% for each Bedine we brought back to be sold as a slave later on.  We accepted the terms and got ready to go our way.

            As we approached the city, the sand dunes suddenly just stopped.  It was like someone drew a line and there was a vertical barrier that no sand could cross.  We approached the first building as Xan had scouted the way in a bit with his familiar.  As we were discussing where to go, Primula was suddenly shot in the shoulder knocking her to the ground.  A second or two later we heard the crack of the smokepowder weapon firing.  For that to be correct, the assassin must have been a great ways off.  During Xan’s scouting he had run into a Mind Flayer and some Alips (undead) that were eating a body.  We had also identified a warrior with a tattoo on his face and a blue/silver sword.  We decided our goal was to reach the Temple to Mystral and headed out quickly to keep what happened to Primula from happening to more of us.

            When we rounded the corner to approach the Temple to Mystral, we saw another adventuring group numbering seven on the stairs.  As we later found out, they were from Waterdeep and consisted of a dwarven warrior, a mage of some standing, two rangers, a rogue, a guy with the smokepowder weapon, and a man who had grafted weapons and appeared to skate around us during the battle.  The battle was fierce with the magic user choosing to target Primula often.  I took it upon myself to keep Primula alive.  Cedar let some incredible magic go as fireballs went off everywhere.  Primula was keeping on the offensive to help our fighters in melee.  Oskar and Shane had a challenge ahead as they charged into the fray.  Xan found himself matched well with the man firing the smokepowder weapon and they played on each other until Cedar ended their fight by turning him into a fish.  Cedar never ceases to impress me with his timing for spells like that one.

            When we successfully finished with them, ending victoriously, the next battle was just around the corner – literally.  Primula and I were in the back while the rest of the group had approached into melee range.  The group came upon us at our right flank.  I shouted a warning and took to the offensive to protect Primula.  I stunned two with a sonic attack, shot at the invisible Pherim, Made sure people knew about the Mind Flayer, and was then surrounded by Asabi.  There were a dozen total and Primula and I were now in the thick of it.  Primula cast a Holy Smite and killed almost all of them on her and myself.  Had she not been getting additional healing from me, I don’t think she would have made it through.  We vanquished our new foes with the Mind Flayer Plane Shifting out of there to save his own hide.

            We had made more noise to draw others here.  We regrouped at the steps of the temple and tried to decide what to do.  Our next encounter was going to be 4 giant skeletons, 4 wraiths, a bone golem, 4 mummies, and a litch.  We were low on everything and needed a break.  Cedar put up a Rope Trick as we attempted to scavenge what we could from the bodies.  I was the second to last one in the Rope Trick when a Cubical building on rollers burst out of the ground and began mashing everything in sight.  It had carved faces on each side and three large arms.  Xan was still out there collecting things.  Xan saw the damage this thing was doing and decided it was time to join us.  We learned it could also see invisible as it took a shot with a ray attack that nearly hit Xan as he scooted into the Rope Trick.  It was a force cage that would have trapped him out there alone to be mashed.

            We are resting and spending our time contemplating how to get out of here as the building is staying on patrol out there.  The other encounter had come up and taken the bodies and items of the dead with them.  We found this unsettling as well.  There must be a large cache of stuff somewhere as well if this last group was any sign of what could possibly be here to be found.

            Tomorrow we venture into Mystral’s Temple with hopes of finding some items that will be useful against the Shade Enclave and Shadovar.  Maybe the old magic that lies within can give us the advantage as we prepare for their coming.  Maybe there will be more good stories and songs as well. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.

The Songs and Stories of my Life,

Kerith of the Dalelands