18 - A Portal Missed
A Theatrical Encounter with the Perytons
Anticipation filled the air as the group prepared for an upcoming performance. Deciding to satiate their hunger beforehand, they settled down for a meal. Brolin and Zephyr, ever the adventurers, opted for the peculiar goblin candies they'd acquired earlier. The consequences were immediate and unexpected: Brolin transformed into a delicate butterfly, fluttering amidst the group, while Zephyr began to foam at the mouth uncontrollably.
Star, Frostbite's ever-curious displacer kitten, couldn't resist the allure of the fluttering Brolin and pounced playfully after him. Despite the chaotic scene, Frostbite remained composed. Utilizing his ongoing spell's telepathic link, he calmly instructed Star to desist, ensuring no harm befell the transformed Brolin.
As the commotion settled, the perytons commenced their mime performance. Their expressive beaks and animated gestures wove a silent tale that left Frostbite perplexed. The absence of words rendered the narrative elusive to him. Fortunately, Maeve, attuned to such art forms, interpreted the story for the group: a harmonious village coexisted with a nearby dragon until a villager's greed led to theft. The dragon's ensuing wrath decimated the village, leaving it in desolate solitude.
Maeve's eloquent narration and the perytons' emotive performance captivated Frostbite, drawing him into the poignant tale.
Maeve's Enchanting Performance
With the perytons' act concluded, Maeve took center stage. Strumming her lute with graceful precision, she recounted the saga of a princess from Baldur's Gate. Her melodic voice and the harmonious chords painted vivid images of the princess's adventures, blending beauty with adversity. The performance culminated in a resonant note that lingered in the air, leaving the audience spellbound.
Frostbite found himself smiling, a rare moment of unguarded appreciation. The perytons, equally moved, applauded by flapping their wings in admiration. Acknowledging Maeve's artistry, they declared their intent to cease hindering Alagarthas's departure and to keep the fires burning. Furthermore, they expressed a newfound hope of returning to their original plane to seek a remedy for their cursed forms.
Alagarthas, deeply grateful for Maeve's intervention, pledged rewards should the group ever visit Calimshan. In gratitude, he shared insights about Endalyn and her towers, offering valuable information for the group's quest.
The Ritual of the Fires
Collaborating with Alagarthas, the group set about igniting the fires atop the columns. Frostbite cast a Longstrider spell, enhancing Alagarthas's agility to expedite the process. As the final flame flickered to life, Alagarthas ascended the last column and leaped into the shimmering water below, vanishing through the portal.
Observing this, Frostbite felt a surge of longing. He edged toward the water, contemplating a return to his own plane. Brolin noticed his intent and called out, but it was unnecessary. The portal sealed shut just as Frostbite's claw hovered above the surface. Withdrawing his paw, he glanced around, hoping no one had observed his moment of vulnerability.
Nightfall and Reflections
Seeking shelter, the group settled beneath a rocky overhang, its modest expanse providing respite from the elements. Frostbite, ever introspective, occupied himself by carving floral patterns into pieces of wood, his thoughts drifting to the missed opportunity of returning home. Star nestled close, offering silent companionship. Engaging in a quiet communion with his lizard spirit, Frostbite found solace amidst his contemplations before succumbing to sleep.
Dawn's Unsettling Spectacle
The following morning, Frostbite awoke to an unusual scene. A vibrant red and yellow gypsy wagon stood nearby, a robed figure stationed beside it. Above a curtained stage, two-faced masks - one smiling, one frowning - swayed gently. As the curtain parted, a puppet show unfolded, eerily mirroring the group's recent exploits: a balloon's descent, encounters with stone megaliths, a girl with a kite, and prophetic goats.
Frostbite watched, entranced by the miniature reenactment. Suddenly, the wagon disassembled into fragments, a clap of thunder resonated, and the robed figure collapsed, leaving only the garment behind. Startled yet intrigued, Frostbite applauded the enigmatic performance.
Amidst the debris, Dhanell emerged, clutching a doorknob and wearing a sheepish expression. Brolin approached, draping the oversized robe over himself, while Ashira sifted through the remnants, discovering a purple ribbon inscribed with "to be continued" in golden letters, along with another item Frostbite didn't properly see.
Brolin searched for puppets resembling the group, noting missing features on his own likeness. With Zephyr's assistance, the remaining puppet parts were retrieved and distributed. Ashira, ever cautious, chose to incinerate her puppet, a sentiment echoed by Dhanell.
Journey to the Brigganock Mine
Forgoing further rest, the group pressed on toward the Brigganock mine, hopeful to find a tunnel leading to Endalyn's domain. The rhythmic clinking of pickaxes on stone guided them to a cave entrance, flanked by statues of korreds - hairy beings with cloven feet. Maeve identified them, prompting Frostbite to ponder their significance at the mine's threshold, though the thought soon faded.
As the group entered the mine, the rhythmic tapping of pickaxes suddenly ceased. Suddenly - a shove. Brolin elbowed past Frostbite, eager to take the lead. Frostbite grumbled but let it slide. The tunnel narrowed to just one meter wide, with just enough headroom for Frostbite. It twisted and turned like a lazy corkscrew, leading them deeper underground. The deeper they went, the more the silence transformed - the tapping returned, but now it had rhythm. A musical complexity, almost hypnotic. Frostbite, lulled by the patterns, drifted off mid-stride into a deep, restorative nap.
The Mysterious Molliver
He awoke with a snort to find a stranger standing nearby.
Molliver, a wiry figure with an aura of quiet purpose, spoke with Maeve and Ashira while a small Brigganock sat on his shoulder, squeaking in a high-pitched, unintelligible tongue. Frostbite blinked groggily, catching only fragments of the conversation.
Molliver, it turned out, was part of Valor’s Call - a band of adventurers the group had already partially encountered through Elkhorn. According to him, the rest of the group remained within the Palace of Hearts Desire.
He spoke of the Brigganocks mining for wishes - the good ones becoming diamonds, the bad ones discarded into a chasm. He even knew about the secret tunnel to Endalyn's tower, though he'd only reveal its location if Obit, some kind of overseer, allowed it.
The group agreed to follow Molliver deeper into the mine.
Chasms and Choices
The mine widened - larger tunnels branched off in many directions, and small homes dotted the stone corridors. It felt like a hidden world carved beneath the Feywild itself.
Eventually, they arrived at a massive chasm, nearly 30 meters across, a spindly 1.5-meter-wide wooden bridge their only way forward. No railing. Just a drop into purple, glowing nothingness below.
Molliver gestured, solemnly. "To the other side you must go. Speak to Obit."
Zephyr, confident as ever, unfurled his wings and glided across with ease. Frostbite followed, casually walking the narrow path like it was a city sidewalk.
But just as the others hesitated - Ashira lingering cautiously at the edge - the air crackled with tension. A chorus of eerie howls echoed up from the depths as purple, glowing skulls rose into view from beneath the bridge!
Their hollow eye sockets burned with arcane energy.
Frostbite stopped mid-stride, his claws curling on the wood. A low growl rumbled in his throat.
"Looks like we’ve got company," he muttered, claws flexing, tail twitching in anticipation.
Updated on: 20:11
