Session 15

Their bad night’s sleep was compounded by an early knock on the door.

Xalen groaned as he got up from his bed and moved across to open it to find Indra standing there.

“Sorry if I woke you,” she said.

Xalen shrugged. “It’s okay, I didn’t sleep very well anyway. What’s up?”

“Malaina has found some accommodation for us,” Indra said. “And I wanted to say goodbye to you all before we left.”

Brabara came up to stand beside Xalen. “Will you stay in the city long?”

Indra gave a little wiggle of her hand. “That depends. Sigil is a fantastic place to restock. I have some contacts here, and I reckon we have enough tucked away for a new ship. Just need to find the right one.”

“Will I … ah … I mean we, see you again?” Ebyn said.

Indra smiled. “I hope so, but the multiverse is vast, and we don’t tend to stay in any one place for long. But, if you’re ever in the Astral Sea again, please be sure to look us up.”

Ebyn swallowed. “Absolutely.”

“Of course, that is assuming you complete your quest to save us all,” she added with a wink. Indra held Ebyn’s gaze for a long moment. “You have a friend in Indra Malayuri, know that.”

Ebyn’s face reddened. “Of course,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “A friend. Yes. Lovely.”

Indra shifted her eyes to the others. “Thank you again, friends. It is time we took our leave.”

She turned and walked away, with Brabara’s eyes following her as she moved down the stairs and out of sight.

“She really meant that, didn’t she,” Brabara said once Indra had gone.

Xalen shrugged. “I guess, but why wouldn’t she?”

“I fought against being here,” Brabara said. “Partly because I don’t like having my choices made for me, but also because I didn’t think we’d be able to do much good here.”

The others waited, saying nothing.

“I think I may have been a little hasty in reaching that conclusion.” Brabara tapped her chin. “I reckon it might be time for me to make peace with that first issue.”

“You want company?” Xalen said.

Brabara shook her head. “No. I need to do this myself.”

Seknafret yawned and stretched as Brabara left the room, eyes puffy from lack of decent sleep. “I had the weirdest dream last night,” she said.

Ebyn nodded. “Me too. I don’t know if it’s because of all the research I’ve been doing recently but I dreamt of Vecna as a young boy.” He blinked and shook his head as if to clear it. “It was deeply disturbing.”

Xalen stared. “That’s what I dreamt of too.”

“And me,” Seknafret said.

Ebyn frowned and looked at the others. “Is this some kind of joke?”

“There was a city called Fleeth,” Xalen said.

“And he let his mother be killed for his crimes,” Seknafret added.

Xalen gasped. “What could it mean? That we all shared this dream.”

“We don’t know for sure that Brabara had the same one,” Ebyn said. “But it’s probably a fair assumption.”

Seknafret rubbed her eyes. “It wasn’t like any kind of dream I’d had before. I didn’t merely observe the scenes that played out, I felt that I truly was the young Vecna. That I really did those terrible things.”

Xalen nodded. “Same here. The lack of emotion when watching his mother executed was nothing I have experienced before. I woke up feeling sick to my stomach.”

Ebyn stared into the distance for a moment, mind racing. “This is incredible,” Ebyn said finally.

“Incredible?” Seknafret scoffed. “I don’t think so.”

Ebyn shifted his gaze between them, a light in his eyes none of them had seen before. “Don’t you see what a gift this is?”

Xalen and Seknafret just stood there, mouth agape.

“There is very little known of Vecna’s life before he and Kas forged their first great empire on Oerth,” Ebyn said. “We could not possibly have learned those details from a book, nor in conversation with anyone. Yet we saw Vecna as a boy. No. More than that … we lived it somehow.”

“And, it was awful,” Xalen said.

Ebyn nodded. “Yes, but it was also amazing….” He trailed off for a moment. Then he sucked a breath and took up his notebook. “I must write it all down before my memory of the dream fades. Imagine what we might learn if we have more such dreams.”

Xalen rolled his eyes. “There’s a cheery thought.”

---

Brabara found Mordenkainen busy in his large workspace on the ground floor. He looked up to see her standing at the entrance and frowned.

"Is there something you need?" he said, with his typical curtness.

"I was hoping you had a few minutes to talk," Brabara began, somewhat shakily, "I need to ask you something and I’m not really sure how to start."

Mordenkainen sniffed. "I find opening your mouth and letting the words come out is often a solid approach."

"Fair enough," Brabara said with a chuckle. "I grew up in Neverwinter and have spent most of my life in the city. In that time, especially since joining the watch, I’ve known many people who thought they were doing the right thing end up getting arrested, or killed, because they were being manipulated by others with more wealth and power.”

“And?” Mordenkainen said, shoulders sagging a little. “Is there a question somewhere in that?”

Brabara pursed her lips a moment, thinking. “I guess what I’m asking is, can we really trust you guys? I mean, you’re three of the most powerful wizards out there and yet you seem to need our help. As if we’re the key to defeating an actual god ... It sounds stupid to even say it aloud ... So, are we being manipulated right now?"

Mordenkainen stood up and walked over to Brabara. He placed what she hoped was intended to be a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's Brabara, right?" he asked.

She nodded.

"We three invested a lot of our power and energy in casting what is arguably the most powerful spell the weave can support. We did this with the goal of defeating that vile treasonous pig, and the result of that spell was you four.”

“I get that,” Brabara said.

“I’m not sure that you do,” Mordenkainen countered, bringing his hands together and taking a deep breath before continuing. “Mystra - all powerful goddess of the weave - sent you to us in response to that wish, and believe me when I tell you, that your arrival was entirely unexpected.”

“Okay, but...”

“Let me finish,” Mordenkainen cut her off. “You are neither the victim of a conspiracy nor the subject of a manipulation any more than a dandelion seed caught by the wind. None of this was engineered to trick you.”

“So, what then?” Brabara said. “We just have to suck it up and deal with it?”

Mordenkainen nodded. “Precisely. All we can do is make the most of the situation we find ourselves in. When plans fail, all we have left is bold action."

“Is that what we are then? A failed plan?” Brabara said.

“Absolutely not, my dear,” Mordenkainen declared. “You, are the bold action.”

Brabara thought about that for a moment and then let out a long breath, a tight coil of tension leaving her along with it. "Thank you," she said finally. "I guess I didn't really know if I could trust you. I love my companions, and I know that I can depend on them to do whatever needs doing, but all this pressure on just the four of us? It seems impossible that we would be lumped with such a burden. Plus, I miss Tiny and just want to be with him."

Mordenkainen took a step back. "My understanding is that Malaina offered to bring Tiny here, but you refused her."

Brabara sniffed. "That’s true, I didn't want to drag him into all this, and risk putting him in danger."

"My dear, given the nature of the threat we face and the outcome if we fail, nowhere is going to be safe. You might as well take the opportunity to spend whatever time you have left together in case what we are doing here proves insufficient to the task."

Brabara nodded. "You’re right. Thanks for hearing me out, I didn't realise how much I needed that reassurance."

Mordenkainen smiled. "Well, if there is nothing else, I have much to do. I am getting close to determining the location of the third rod piece. I expect you to be ready to move out in a couple of hours."

Brabara left the bald wizard to his work with a spring in her step that had been missing for many years. She went looking for Malaina, moving from room to room until she found her in the library with her head buried in a book.

Ebyn and Xalen were there also.

Ebyn sat with a pile of books on the table beside him, a look of intense concentration on his pale face, while Xalen wandered about the shelves pulling books out at random, flipping through them, and putting them back.

Malaina rose when she noticed Brabara heading toward her. "I hope you've recovered from your adventure in the Astral Sea?"

"I am glad to be away from there," Brabara said. "The whole place made me feel sick, it's good to know up from down for certain."

Malaina laughed, a sound like tiny bells jingling in the wind. "Yes, I know exactly what you mean. Is there something you need?"

Brabara looked to the ground at Malaina's feet. "Last time we spoke you offered to bring Tiny here to the sanctum and I turned you down." She raised her eyes. "I was hoping the offer might still be available."

Malaina reached her arm forward. "Of course, these are troubling and stressful times for all of us. I understood why you said no then, and I am glad that you are saying yes now. I will do what I can to bring him here."

Brabara nodded. "Thank you, but I want you to give me your word that you won't force him. If he comes it is because he really wants to be here."

"Rest assured it will be entirely his decision. Is there perhaps something you might be able to give me, so he knows that I am speaking for you?"

Brabara reached into a pouch at her belt and removed a large but misshapen gold ring. "Take this to him," she said. "It’s his wedding ring.”

Malaina took it and turned the damaged ring over. “What happened to it?”

Brabara’s face reddened. “I might have crushed it after the sentencing. Do you think you might be able to have it fixed beforehand. I'd hate for him to see what I did to it.”

"I think I know someone who can help," Malaina said.

"Thanks for this. I’ve been reluctant to be involved in this venture up to now but given the things I have seen I realise what’s at stake and am ready to give it my all."

"And what a sizable contribution that will be," Xalen muttered as he wandered close to where the two of them were talking.

Brabara turned on him with a scowl. "Do you mind? We’re having a private conversation."

Xalen shrugged. "Then perhaps try speaking a little less loudly," he tapped his ears with his fingers. "I have sensitive ears."

Malaina laughed and shook her head. "I will do as you ask. Hopefully Tiny will be here when you return from your next mission."

---

A few hours later, Alustriel and Mordenkainen called The Succulent Juices together by the portal. The magical gateway shimmered, bathing the room in a pulsing silvery glow.

“It’ll just be the two of us today,” Alustriel said once everyone arrived. “Tasha has gone to Athas to investigate some strange Vecnan cult activity there.”

“Will she be gone long?” Seknafret asked. “I had hoped to talk to her regarding the creature we fought in the dead god’s heart.”

Alustriel shrugged. “Hard to say. Athas is a blighted world, particularly for arcane spellcasters, which is why the presence of a cult of Vecna there is so alarming. She could be gone a while.”

“But that is not why we called you here,” Mordenkainen said, barely hiding his impatience. “I have located the third rod piece. It can be found on the world of Eberron, specifically on the continent of Khorvaire in a place called the Mournlands.”

Ebyn scratched his chin. “I know nothing of this place. What can you tell us about it?”

“A war-torn land, split into rival provinces who fight one another bitterly for control,” Alustriel said. “It is a sad story, really. A once united kingdom descended into more than a decade of war that led to the loss of countless lives.”

“Not that unusual a tale,” Mordenkainen said. “My home world of Oerth has many similar stories in its history.”

Alustriel shook her head. “Not like this one, I suspect.”

“How do you mean?” Ebyn asked.

“The kingdom of Galifar, once encompassed the entire breadth of Khorvaire. It was a period of prosperity, peace, and stability that lasted for almost a thousand years,” Alustriel said. “When the last king, Jarot ir’Wynam died, his five children broke tradition and refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of his eldest child, Princess Mishann of Cyre, as the rightful heir to the throne.”

“Why was that?” Brabara asked. “Because she was a woman?”

Alustriel shook her head. “No, the kingdom had many female sovereigns over the years. This dispute was something else.”

“Go on,” Seknafret urged.

“Auguries before the birth, divinations and portents all indicated that the queen was pregnant with a boy,” Alustriel explained. “When a girl was born it was seen as an ill omen.”

Ebyn’s eyes widened. “That’s impossible.”

“See,” Brabara said, pointing at Ebyn as though she’d just won an argument. “All that nonsense is a waste of time. Stupid divination magic couldn’t even get a coin flip right.”

“No. It can’t be,” Ebyn insisted. “There must be some other explanation.”

Alustriel looked at Ebyn, a sympathetic expression on her face. “I understand your surprise, Ebyn. Anyone versed in the arcane will agree with you. This should never have happened, but for whatever reason all the portents were wrong.”

“Because it’s bullshit, that’s why,” Brabara said.

“What happened next,” Xalen asked, giving Brabara a sideways glance.

“The king and queen had another four children, all born in accordance with the auguries and the kingdom lasted until King Jarot died. From there it tore itself apart as each of his children fought to claim the throne. The conflict spiralled into a continent-wide war that lasted twelve years. Ending only when the nation of Cyre was destroyed on the so-called Day of Mourning. The nature and scale of its destructions finally forced the other nations to reach an uneasy peace.”

Brabara scratched at the back of her neck. “I’m guessing the Mournlands are slap bang in the middle of all that mess?”

Alustriel nodded. “I’m afraid so.”

“Wonderful,” Brabara said.

Xalen eyed the two arch mages. “There’s more bad news, isn’t there.”

Mordenkainen nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. I was unable to narrow down the location of the third rod piece to less than a hundred-mile area within The Mournlands. The nature of the cataclysm prevents scrying from outside the area.”

“Well, that’s just great,” Brabara said. “A literal needle in a haystack.”

“It’s not all doom and gloom,” Mordenkainen said, taking out the second rod piece and handing it to Ebyn. “With that in your possession you should be able to narrow down the location of the next piece once you’re there.”

Ebyn turned the artifact over in his hand. “How so?”

“Using a piece of magical technology native to Eberron called a docent,” Mordenkainen said.

"What is a docent?" Ebyn asked.

"A docent," Alustriel explained. "Is a small construct - about the size of your fist - that is used as part of a Warforged Colossi. By embedding a docent into the many Colossi, the combined magic of each docent formed a type of network that allowed the Colossi to communicate with one another.”

Xalen raised an eyebrow. “Warforged?”

“Eberron is a place of extreme military innovation,” Alustriel said. “The artificers there created an entire race of constructs, called warforged, to serve as fodder for their armies. Allowing living forces to avoid the worst of most battles.”

“Smart,” Brabara said.

“Arrogant,” Alustriel countered. “The warforged are not mere automatons. To have them serve and fight effectively the engineers gave them sentience. The warforged were loyal soldiers for whatever nation they served, but it is believed that the cataclysm known as the Day of Mourning was somehow triggered by a faction within the warforged who sought to be free of the yoke of servitude.”

“In any case,” Mordenkainen cut in. “If you find one of these docent’s you should be able to combine it with that second rod piece to help point toward the location of the third.”

"And you’re certain that this will work?" said Ebyn.

Mordenkainen shrugged. "It's a theory, but one that is well supported by the lore."

"Surely more research is-" Ebyn began.

"Don't over think it, my boy." Mordenkainen interjected to approving nods from Brabara and Xalen. "Let necessity be the spark that delivers inspiration."

Ebyn's mouth dropped open, aghast. "You're sending us into the middle of a desolate cataclysmic wasteland to comb a hundred-mile area for the next piece of the rod with only a theory to guide us? We could be poking around in there for years."

Mordenkainen spread his arms wide, his face split in a confident grin. "You have all proven yourselves to be clever and resourceful. We have no doubt that will continue to be the case now. It's a gamble - sure - but with you four in the game I am confident we can win this roll of the dice. But I need you to believe in yourselves," he looked each of them in the eyes. "Can you do that?"

Brabara nodded, as did Xalen.

Seknafret waited a moment, then she followed suit. “What is life without the occasional challenge?”

Only Ebyn remained unmoved. “This is ridiculous. You can’t seriously be thinking about leaving now. We’re walking into a dangerous place which we know nothing about.”

“I know,” Brabara winked. “Exciting isn’t it.”

She stepped through the portal and vanished.

"See you when we get back," said Xalen as he followed Brabara.

Seknafret gave Ebyn a long pleading look before she stepped through the portal, leaving Ebyn alone with the two archmages.

"Why won't you let us take all the rod pieces with us?" Ebyn asked. "After all, they could be useful."

"That is true," Mordenkainen nodded, "but if you were to fail then all we've done to recover the pieces would be undone and we'd be back at square one." He looked at Ebyn gravely. "No, far better that the pieces stay here with us until the whole is assembled and we are ready to face the threat with the full power of the artifact behind us."

Ebyn’s expression darkened. "Then you aren't certain we can succeed."

"Everything in this life is a risk, my boy," Mordenkainen said, his words clipped. "And your companions stand a far better chance with you at their side rather than bandying words up here with me."

"Of course," Ebyn held Mordenkainen's gaze for a moment and then let out a long breath. "We shall see you upon our return."

"Godspeed," said Alustriel as Ebyn stepped through the portal and disappeared.