The Seed, The Cube and Frank

A great, gray fog had swirled over Nazzeth, bringing him here. Now he stood inside the belly of a large castle wrought from hewn stone. It was empty except for the throne before him, but the throne, too, was empty. He’d never been here before and yet, this place still held an air of familiarity — as did the voice whispering through his mind.

It hadn’t said much, but it had said enough. If nothing else, it verified what he always believed. It’s last words before the fog returned to claim him were, “I expect great things from you, Nazzeth. Only two more brothers stand in our way.”

Nazzeth’s eyes fluttered open. The rafters of the stable came into focus. Had he passed out? The last thing he remembered was the look of disbelief on his brother’s face after the demon decapitated him. Then a feeling of elation… then only darkness.

Dare appeared above him, staring down, picking his nose. He watched Nazzeth for several moments before stating the obvious: “I think he’s awake.”

Footsteps approached from all directions, and one by one the rest of Team Ramrod came into view — Lilvari, Mystic, Mercarri… and Droop. So Droop was safe. Good.

“You okay?” Mercarri asked.

Nazzeth answered by getting to his feet, albeit slowly. His brother’s headless body lay a few feet before him. The smile came back at once, but this time he remained standing.

“Oh here,” Lilvari said. “I got this stuff off your brother after Frank… you know… separated his head from the rest of him.”

Lilvari handed over a letter and a strange flower with pointed, orange petals.

“Who’s Frank?” Mercarri asked.

Lilvari nodded to the corner — to the large demon standing there. It glanced awkwardly back at them. “That’s Frank.”

“Is it safe?” Mercarri asked.

“To you, yes. To someone I have a problem with, not so much.”

Nazzeth opened the letter. It was addressed to his brother Kassdian. His eyes immediately went to the bottom of the page. The letter was from Paluses, one of his two remaining brothers.

Dearest Kassdian,

I hope this letter finds you well. It’s been too long since we’ve been able to see one another, yet I know times are tough. All I can say is hang in there little brother.

Know that Liamatros and I are doing all we can to find Nazzeth and end him. The day we do will be a day of rejoicing for the Skyven clan. I can already picture mom and dad smiling down from the heavens while whatever twisted master our dear brother serves crawls back under the rock from which it came.

Good will win out in the end. Trust in that. Included with this letter is a flower that’s only known to grow out here in the nearby forests. It’s known as a Witflower and is said to bring you luck and prosperity. I think we can all use a little of that right now.

May Helm light your way forward.

Your brother,

Paluses.

While Nazzeth pondered the letter and the flower, Lilvari and the others headed outside.

“Bring the head,” she instructed her demon companion.

Frank did as he was told. Before returning to Helmshold, there was something that Lilvari needed to do — a request of sorts. Several dozen yards from the stable, just behind a fledging tree, she knelt down and pulled a small, oiled bag from the haversack. Inside was a single black seed given to her by her patron.

“Dig,” Lilvari commanded.

Frank dug. With his sharp nails it took but moments. Lilvari dropped the seed in. She had a jar full of blood for this specific purpose, but why be thrifty when blood was in such abundance? She closed her eyes and envisioned what she wanted her demon to do. In her mind, she saw Kassdian’s head being sliced to ribbons by the demon’s oversized claws, his skull being crushed by its incredible strength. Eyes still closed, she heard the crunching sounds of bone.

“Good boy.”

The seed, after being saturated with Kassdian’s blood, began to glow. Then it was time for the rest of the blood. She pulled the jar from the haversack and began to pour.

“I took a pretty good shot to the kidney,” Dare said. “If you want, I can piss on it too.”

“I think we’re good,” Lilvari replied and covered the seed before Dare could unbutton his fly. A warm sensation caressed her hands as she did so. Her patron was pleased. She could tell.

As the seed was being planted, Nazzeth was taking a look on the second floor of the stable, hoping to find more clues that might lead to his other brothers. Until he found someone who knew where the Witflower grew, he was no closer to finding Paluses. Towards the back of the room, he found two items partially hidden beneath a pile of hay. Neither seemed to help in regards to his brothers, but they weren’t a total loss. And luckily, both had escaped all contact with the blood and feces splashed about from the earlier fight with Tio.

One item was a scroll rolled up and held in place with a thin strip of parchment. Written on the strip was the word, “Ryck”. He placed it in his satchel and picked up the other object. This was the more interesting of the two: a bronze cube full of levers, buttons and gears. It was small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. A puzzle box, he reasoned. But not just a puzzle box. He could sense the magic practically oozing off it. Nazzeth reached out to touch a button.

“Nazzeth!” Mercarri yelled. “You coming?”

He stopped himself. Later, he thought to himself. He’d figure out its treasures later. He put the puzzle box in his satchel and headed outside.

When he arrived, everyone was discussing the situation with Droop. Helmshold wasn’t particularly trusting of goblins. In fact, Droop would more than likely be hanged as soon as he stepped through the gate. So far, the plan was to have Mystic turn into a horse, hurry to Helmshold and ask Aldous Wester to send a wagon. He promised to hide Droop if needed.

“How about I just make him invisible?” Nazzeth said.

The Horse of Many Colors

Team Ramrod arrived at Helmshold about an hour later. Droop, unseen by all, carefully and quietly walked between Lilvari and Mystic. Aldous’s estate was about a fifteen minute walk into the nicer part of town. To Droop, they couldn’t get there soon enough. He hated to be away from his friends, but it’d be nice to spend time with Lillian, Aldous’s twelve-year-old daughter. He’d met her in Phadanlin when she was visiting her grandfather. That was before the poisoning that took her grandfather’s life and the lives of at least a dozen others. The thought made Droop shiver.

“Hey, take a look at that!” It was Dare. He was pointing at a large horse tied along side of the street. It was a beautiful animal, but what caught the eye was what it had on. Ribbons of every color of the rainbow were tied throughout its mane and tail. It’s tack and reins were bejeweled. Dare headed over. As he went to pet the horse, he noticed the sign on the building next to it: “Willow’s Grave Tavern”. His lips were suddenly dry.

“You guys go on ahead. I’ll meet you at the Heartward Market.”

Mystic began to argue, but Lilvari stopped her. “Having him stay here instead of going to The Westers might not be such a bad idea.”

She seemed to think about it for a moment then nodded. From the corner of her eye, she saw Nazzeth and Mercarri following Dare in.

“Wait! All of you are going?”

“I’m thirsty,” Mercarri said.

“Me too,” echoed Nazzeth.

Mystic sighed. She was hungry and thirsty but wanted to see Droop off first. The invisibility spell only lasted an hour after all. Dare, Mercarri and Nazzeth hit the tavern while the others went ahead towards the Westers’ Estate. As they entered, they were immediately aware of a commotion near the bar.

“I said no!” yelled the bartender.

In front of the bar stood a man dressed in garish clothes of all colors — bright purples and pinks, reds and blues and yellows. He wore countless gold necklaces and bracelets. Mercarri immediately thought that she knew who the horse belonged to.

“I have the money right here,” he argued. “Look! Fifteen silver pieces for five casks of wine!”

“But you’re Vistani. We don’t serve Vistani.”

Dare froze. As the colorful man argued with the bartender, Dare thought back to Team Ramrod’s encounter with the hag. What was it she said? Find the Vistani? They have the power to deliver you to your sister’s evil form?

The man stormed passed him and out the door. “You guys grab a table,” he said to Nazzeth and Mercarri. “I’ll be right back.”

He followed the man outside and reached him just as he was ready to mount his very colorful horse.

“Excuse me!”

The man looked down at him. He had a pencil thin moustache and a pointed goatee. A glint of light reflected off his many earrings and into Dare’s eyes, making him squint.

“What?”

“You’re a… a… Vistani?”

The man gave Dare a look as if waiting for the punchline. When none came, he answered with his own question. “Why do you want to know?”

Dare explained him that he needed to find someone who might be in another plane of existence and that he heard the Vistani could help him get there. “I’ll get your wine for you. How about that? In exchange for you helping me.”

The man stroked his moustache for a moment, then smiled. “Okay,” he said. “Okay, here.” He counted out enough gold and silver to pay for the casks of wine and for Dare to keep five gold pieces for himself.

Dare went inside and ordered the wine. He brought it out to the man as soon as it was ready. As Dare helped load up the wagon, the man told them how to reach his camp.

“We’ll be staying about an hour north of Helmshold for the next few days. When you arrive, I’ll introduce you to our leader, Madam Eva. She might be able to help you.”

With that, the man was on his way. Dare headed back inside and found Nazzeth and Mercarri sitting at one of the tables in the back. Nazzeth was playing with that bronze cube he’d found, pushing a random button here and there and pulling levers. Dare didn’t care much about that. The drinks had already been served and Nazzeth’s and Mercarri’s were already half gone. Dare needed to catch up.

Sisters of Silver Fire

After saying their goodbyes to Droop (and a very excited Lillian Wester), Lilvari and Mystic headed back from the Westers’ estate towards the market area. Lilvari felt eyes on her the moment she stepped into view of The Church of Mystra. She looked back. Standing on the topmost step, near the open doors heading in, was the same old elven woman from the other day. The last time Lilvari saw her, she got the strangest warm feeling in the pit of her stomach. Now, the woman beckoned her over.

“You go ahead,” Mystic said. “I’ll look for the others. Besides, I’m hungry for cinnamon buns, and I think we passed a place that sells them.”

As Lilvari started towards the church, a strange sensation came over her, and it wasn’t that warmth from before. This time, it was as if an invisible hand placed itself on her chest — not trying to hold her back necessarily, but showing her that it was preferred she not continue. Lilvari pushed through it, and immediately felt her patron’s disapproval.

The old woman was dressed in white robes with purple trim — the customary garb for The Sisters of the Silver Flame. “My child,” she said to Lilvari once she climbed the stairs, “I sense conflict within you. And more, the heavy shadow that clings to your back. Will you not come in and pray with us in front of the silver flame?”

“Thanks for your concern, but I think I’ll stay out here.”

“You needn’t fear, for we have ways to quell what burdens you — for a little while at least.”

“What is it you see, sister?” Lilvari asked. “Why have you singled me out?”

The woman’s rheumy eyes narrowed. “I can’t place it. There’s something familiar about you, something inside that I can feel, and I know not what it is or where it came from, but it… calls to me. Perhaps if you join us at the silver fire, it will make its intentions known.”

“Sorry but no. Still, I appreciate your concern.”

“Just know that we are here for you, me and my sisters. Should you change your mind, please come back. In the meantime, we will pray for you. May Mystra bless you.”

Lilvari gave her thanks and headed back to meet Mystic. Mystic was with the others. She was sitting at a small table in front of the Venturer’s Tavern, eating a cinnamon bun covered with white icing. Gobs of it covered the lower half of her face. The others stood around her watching Nazzeth doing something with that cube of his — pulling levers and pushing buttons. Dare was the only one not watching. He also had a cinnamon bun and was too busy trying to scrape white icing off into his magic flask. He noticed Lilvari staring.

“Imagine if I can get my flask to infinitely pour out white icing? That’d be amazing.”

Lilvari didn’t bother with a reply. She nodded towards Nazzeth. “What’s he doing? A magic trick?”

Dare followed her gaze. “I dunno. Sort of. That thing shoots out money or something.”

Well, that was interesting. Lilvari watched Nazzeth as he continued. He was concentrating, as if running through a pattern in his head. When he finished, a small door slid open on the side of the cube. From it popped out a blue gem. It hit the table in front of Mystic, almost landing in a drip of icing. The gem was followed by another, then a few pieces of gold and then two more gems. In total, it must have left the equivalent of about fifty gold pieces.

“Damn,” Lilvari said.

Nazzeth nodded. “I know, right?”

“Can you make it do that whenever you want?”

“I don’t know. I tried once back at the tavern. It took a bit to figure out the pattern, but once I did it spit out money. Then I did the same pattern here, and it did the same thing. Different amounts of money though.”

Dare made a grab for the cube with his icing-covered hand, but Nazzeth was too fast. “I’ll hold onto it for now,” he said, tucking the cube away in his satchel. “Just in case.”

“Yeah whatever,” Dare said. “I got my own dispenser, and it’s better than that.”

They all looked at him. He turned his flask completely upside down above his mouth, opening wide, expecting icing, Instead, whiskey, which was the last liquid he imagined being in the flask, came rushing out. He nearly choked.

The Might of Thorsborrow and the Thief

As Mystic finished her cinnamon bun, Team Ramrod began discussing what was next. They had the notes from Aust’s estate. They just needed to get them translated. Then they could head back to Phandalin and confront Halia Thorton. Dare told them about the Vistani and about making the short trip North to meet up with them. They decided to do that at first light tomorrow.

“Did I hear you mention the Vistani?”

The group looked up. A familiar group stood before them: The Might of Thorsburrow — a group of adventurers who had been staying in the rooms above the tavern just like Team Ramrod. The party consisted of a thin elven woman who seemed to know magic, a tall lanky human male dressed in commoner clothing, though his fists were wrapped in strips of leather, a halfling with blond hair and a dark blue cloak and a mountain-sized human with jet black hair.

“You heard of them?” Mercarri asked.

“Oh yes.”

“They owe Dare a favor. He wants them to help him get to another plane of existence.”

“Then you’ve met the right people. Just be wary.”

“Wary?” Dare asked. “Wary of what?”

“The Vistani are known for their fierce loyalty and cruel curses. As long as you have the former, you won’t suffer the latter.”

“Fair enough,” said Lilvari.

“How’s the hunt?” The elven woman asked. “Have you found any new information regarding The Lurkers in Shadow?”

Lilvari pulled the two letters they’d gotten from Aust’s estate from the haversack. “Funny you should mention it,” she said. “Do any of you read Thieves’ Cant?

“Winthrop does,” said the halfling. He and the other members of The Might of Thorsborrow turned to the man with leather strips wrapped around his wrists.

“We used to have a thief in our party,” Lilvari said. “It definitely has its benefits.”

“I’m not a thief,” Winthrop replied. He seemed a little agitated. “I just happened to pick a little of the language up. That’s all.”

Lilvari smiled at him. “I’m not here to judge. Really, it’s okay if you are.”

“Fuck off, I’m not a thief. I’m a monk.”

His halfling friend jabbed him with his elbow. “She’s just messing with you. We all know you’re not a thief.”

“I just don’t want that shit getting out there. I have a reputation to protect, you know?”

“Can you just take a look at the notes and see if your thieving skills are up to par?”

Winthrop swiped the notes from Lilvari. He was able to make out some key details — namely that whoever wrote it wanted to ‘replace the rudderless fool’ and doing so was worth quite a bit of coin.

After that, Dare handed over the journal he’d found in Aust’s study — the one that mentioned The Lurkers in Shadow. This, The Might of Thorsborrow seemed to take much interest in. Unfortunately, Winthrop wasn’t able to make out too much — only that it seemed as if The Lurkers in Shadow had found the key, and then Aust had taken it.

“We also managed to find out that he gave the key to someone named Interminus, but we don’t know who that is or where to start looking,” Lilvari told them.

The Might of Thorsborrow didn’t know either, but they promised to keep Team Ramrod in the loop on whatever they found. “We really have to get going,” said the elven woman, “or we’re going to be late.”

It was then that Lilvari noticed the bedrolls, backpacks and all sorts of adventuring gear on their backs. “Where are you off too?”

“We’re meeting with Holy Watcher Cithreth,” replied the halfling. “Apparently he has a crypt full of ghouls or something he needs us to take care of.”

“Sounds like fun,” said Lilvari. “Do us a favor and don’t mention anything about us or what was found regarding The Lurkers in Shadow. Aust was one of the Holy Watcher’s top men. I’m not sure he can be trusted.”

“Don’t worry,” said Winthrop, “we’re careful not to trust anyone just out of principle.”

With that, they headed off. Lilvari waited for them to pass then called out, “Thanks for the help. I really think you’re a great thief.”

Winthrop didn’t bother turning around. He just lifted his middle finger high into the air as he kept walking.

“So who else can read Thieves Cant?” Lilvari asked.

“A thief,” Dare answered.

“But we don’t know any thieves around here.”

“Yeah we do. Remember the halfling guy we rescued from the sewers, the one who had the vial of drugs?”

After finding the drugs and a note that mentioned distribution of the drugs to Phandalin, Team Ramrod hauled the halfling to the town hall where he was promptly locked in the jail cells beneath.

“It’s worth a shot,” Lilvari said.

They made their way to the town hall. Lawmaster Kolpepper was fetched at once. After explaining what they wanted, she gave them access to the halfling. “Just don’t go killing him or roughing him up too badly. I know how you can uh… go a little off the handle sometimes.”

They promised, but just to be sure, she sent a guard with them.

The halfling had been curled up into a ball towards the back of his cell but jumped to his feet when he heard footsteps approaching. By the time Team Ramrod reached him, he was at the bars, looking at them anxiously.

“Do you know Thieves’ Cant?” Lilvari asked.

The halfling looked back and forth at all of them, as if pondering the question, but he didn’t say anything.

“I was thinking if you could help us translate something, we can maybe help you with your… situation here.”

“You’d do that?” he replied.

Lilvari glanced over at the guard. His face betrayed nothing. “Well, no promises but maybe.”

“I’d love to get out of here. I really would.”

“Then tell me what this says.” Lilvari held up one letter and then the next. After the halfling told them what each one said, Dare gave him a look at the journal. The guard, meanwhile, was writing down the translations.

“Will you let me out now?” the halfling asked once everything had been translated.

“No,” replied the guard simply. He started back up the stairs towards the first floor of the town hall. Lilvari shrugged an apology as Team Ramrod followed. The halfling was still wailing when they closed the door at the top of the stairs.

Chief Speaker Wanderfoot was waiting for them. Team Ramrod showed her the translations.

The two letters from Halia were most likely enough to condemn her. The first mentioned an offer of 3500 gold pieces for Aust’s assistance. Though she didn’t say exactly what the assistance was for, she did mention that it was time for her to ‘take control from that rudderless fool.’ Who else could she mean other than Phandalin’s previous Townmaster Harbin Wester — who now lay buried six feet underground, a victim of Midnight Tears which Team Ramrod found in Aust’s estate.

The second letter instructed Aust to make sure ‘the dwarf never reaches her destination’. The dwarf had to be Grista Corg — the one who had been charged with the poisoning. That particular letter was dated a few days before Grista was escorted out of Phandalin to Neverwinter where she’d stand trial for the murders. Team Ramrod came across her wagon on their way to Helmshold. It had been riddled with arrows — all it’s riders killed.

Lastly, Team Ramrod shared Aust’s journal with the chief speaker. Of this, she seemed most interested of all. According to Aust’s entry, he managed to kill some of the Lurkers and steal the key, and though he had given the key to Interminus, his job still wasn’t done. He’d been tasked with finding the ‘lock’ but had yet to make any progress. “I don’t think there’s much time,” Aust had written. “He’ll figure out the ritual eventually, and if the wand isn’t retrieved by that point, it’s over for me.”

“What ritual?” asked Chief Speaker Wanderfoot.

No one knew. But they were sure that the wand was an artifact belonging to Orcus. That in itself was bad news.

“We need more information,” the chief speaker said, “and maybe I know how we can get it. I was able to convince The Holy Watcher to send some of his men to accompany you to Thundertree to slay the dragon.”

“Are you sure that’s safe?” Lilvari asked. “I mean, we did just kill one of his men. Can they be trusted not to kill us the moment our backs are turned?”

“There’s always a chance of that,” the chief speaker replied, “but I don’t think it will come to fruition. There’s too much at risk. And speaking of risk. It might be worth said risk.”

“How so?” asked Mystic.

“Well, if you do this, there will be less of a guard presence in town, and perhaps we can use that time to do a bit of reconnaissance of our own regarding The Lurkers in Shadow and this Interminus whoever he is.”

So it was agreed. Team Ramrod, along with a group of The Order of the Guilded Eye would head north to Thundertree in two days time.

Time for One More Misadventure

Thought it was still early in the afternoon, Team Ramrod had their share of adventure for the day. They decided to head back to The Venturers’ Tavern for an early dinner and then an early sleep. Sleep, however, didn’t find everyone equally.

Lilvari sat on the edge of her bed, hunched over, eyes closed. She was in deep conversation with her patron, trying to learn the purpose for the seed and watering it with blood. Since burying the last, another had appeared inside the bag.

Her patron’s response was cryptic if nothing else: “The seeds will level the playing field. With the seeds, you, me, all of us will be as one.”

Lilvari’s questions about The Sisters of Silver Fire weren’t answered in any more depth. “Why do they take an interest in me?” she asked. “Was that you speaking through Ibis’s image that I saw in the flames the other day?”

“They take an interest in you because they feel that you’re special,” her patron replied “They’re not wrong. Be wary of them. And of Ibis. That was not me. The voice that you heard is that of a liar and nothing more.”

Nazzeth, likewise was getting no sleep, and it wasn’t because Dare was snoring loudly from the floor. He’d been spending the last few hours working on the cube. After the last time it spat out money, the buttons, gears and levers somehow changed their configuration. The now familiar pattern no longer worked. Finally, after another few hours, he worked out the new pattern. Instead of money, however, the puzzle box gave him something more spectacular. It shuddered violently for a moment before a hole appeared on the carpeted floor of his stay room. Its diameter was about four feet and thank the gods he hadn’t been facing in the other direction or it might have appeared under Dare. He stared at it in equal measures of both surprise and trepidation. On the other side of the hole was nothing but darkness.

He decided to drop a lit torch inside, but as soon as it passed the threshold, it was swallowed by the darkness. As he puzzled over what he was looking at, the hole disappeared. He wondered if he could make it come back. Nazzeth picked up the puzzle box and attempted pushing the same buttons and maneuvering the same levers and eventually completed the same pattern. The box shuddered and, sure enough, the hole reappeared. How long did it last? A minute? Maybe two? Hopefully it was enough time for what he planned.

He used his magic to give himself the ability of flight and then quickly jumped inside, expecting to fall some great distance. However, his feet hit solid ground a moment later. He’d gone down maybe at most six feet — such a small distance that his head was about level with the carpeted floor of his stay room. He ducked inside and found himself in a small five-by-five room made of stone.

He knew he hadn’t much time, but there wasn’t much to see. Besides a burgundy cloak lying on the ground, there was nothing else. He grabbed the cloak and flew back into his room. Once he exited the portal, because that was what it surely had to be — a portal, he sat on the edge of his bed and better examined the cloak. It was of a very good quality, though far too small for a dragonborn of his size. The letter ‘D’ was embroidered over the breast area. After a thorough search, he found a hidden pocket and inside, a pearl.

He had an urge to continue playing with the puzzle box, for its configuration had switched again, and he was curious if that meant something different awaited him the next time he solved it. Instead of finding out, Nazzeth placed the cube on his nightstand. After the already exciting day he had, maybe it was best to save the surprise for tomorrow.

He put out the candle and got into bed. What a day, he thought. He’d finally found and killed Kassdian. Droop had been rescued, and though he didn’t know exactly where his other brothers were, it was only a matter of time.

“Two to go,” he whispered to the darkness, then fell asleep.