Athasen shook himself awake as the morning sun came down into the depths of the mountain. For a brief moment, he was confused; he knew himself to be deep within the bowels of the Yuan-ti cliffs, so why was there such bright light? The mystery revealed itself. A series of mirrors had been erected during the night, positioned in such a way to project the distant sun deep into the heart of the yuan-ti refugee’s mountain home.
This was clearly in response to the work the adventurers had done the day before, slaughtering the party of raiders from below who had moved to threaten the exiled colony. For the first time in weeks, if not ever, the refugees had a festive air about them. They were free.
Athasen came to his feet as he watched the yuan-ti women make ready the day’s breakfast. Children played, but the half-elf warrior was ambivalent about the whole thing. Yes, these were not the same as the yuan-ti of his past, but they were of the same race and, given Urarzu’s comments, of the same mindset. They were better. They were superior. However much gratitude they might owe to the adventurers and their allies, Athasen couldn’t help but feel that it was all a formula for disaster.
Still, it would not be his concern. That would fall to his superiors in the Zhentarim and their peers in the other factions.
He walked leisurely up to the surface, hoping for a breath of fresher air to start the day. Upon reaching the exit, he found Allar and Jorya already there, speaking to one another.
“Good morning,” offered Jorya kindly. “Allar was sharing with me your next destination.”
“Was he now?” said Athasen with slight suspicion.
“Yes, the tower you seek lies about two leagues to the southwest from here.” He pointed across the jungle. “Over that way. We rarely venture that direction. Not now nor when we were still a part of the warren below.”
“And why is that?”
“An enemy lives in the tower, one that we fear.”
“Urarzu would have us believe your people fear nothing.” mocked Athasen coldly.
“There are those who are more perfectly serpentine than we and resent us for our imperfection. Some live below. Another lives in that tower.” said Jorya, ignoring the insult but speaking with a grim tone. “Be warned. It will not take kindly to your kind either.” With that, Jorya departed back into the darkness.
“It? What singular monstrosity could chill the blood of these so?” asked Allar.
“Something snake-like.” said Athasen, putting the pieces together. “Perhaps another yuan-ti or something else.”
“Like what?”
“There are many monsters and creatures unique throughout the world. Even with my experience, there are beasts abroad that I’ve never faced nor even heard of. It could be anything, a naga, a monstrous giant snake, a half-dragon half-snake monstrosity. Take your pick. Your guess is as good as mine. But if it frightens a cold blooded yuan-ti, we have reason to be cautious.”
“Are the others awake?” replied Allar, changing the subject.
“No, but they should be up soon. You, I’d imagine, have been up for sometime now.”
“Elves don’t sleep, as I’m sure you know. Yes, my trance ended some time ago. I’ve been up here, taking in the beauty of the dawn.”
“Well, our hosts didn’t murder us in our sleep, so I suppose we have that going for us.”
“You really don’t like them, do you?”
“No, I don’t. The sooner we’re on our journey, the better I’ll feel.”
“They kept to their agreement. We have come to no harm by their hand. I see no reason to distrust them.”
“We all wear the mask of necessity from time to time. That doesn’t change who or what we are beneath. They are yuan-ti. Desperation make have made them kind for the time being, but they are still and will always be yuan-ti. I’ll go wake the others. I want some distance between us and this place.”
----
Even across the jungle, two leagues was not a vast distance; a day’s journey at most. After the others awoke and the group broke their fast, they set out almost immediately. Athasen took the lead behind Hoggle, who once again took relish in hacking a path for them through the foliage. Not only was the half-elf eager to have the yuan-ti colony at his back, but he hoped to find the one thing he values above all else at the tower: magical knowledge.
The spring in his step was not missed by his companions. “It’s not just that we’re away from the snakemen, is it?” asked Zangdrax.
Athasen chuckled to himself. “No, with wizards comes power. Knowledge, spells. I come from a people that don’t quite value gold and jewels in the same way as all of you. No, what mattered to us were the means and the mechanisms to survive the harsh land in which we lived: Water, food, but also important were weapons of all sorts that could be used to give us an edge against our enemies.”
“Enemies that would steal your food and water, I presume.”
“And your lives. And your freedom. And whatever else they could take.”
“I think I am starting to understand you, Athasen.” admitted Zangdrax. “You lead because you crave order. You crave order because you resent the chaos of your upbringing and lands in which it took place. But there is a fine line between order and tyranny.”
Athasen chuckled again, only heartier this time. “I’m to be lectured on tyranny by a paladin of Tiamat? I’m not sure you understand your own religion nearly as well as you think you do.”
“Perhaps,” Zangdrax took Athasen’s barb in stride. “But if I am so wrong, why do my spells and powers continue? Why does the goddess not cut me off if I am so much a heretic?”
“You make a good point, my friend. Far be it from me to question the gods. Their schemes are often beyond us. It is clear you serve a purpose to the Queen of Dragons. What purpose precisely only she knows.” He paused. “As to your original point, I know all too well the dangers of tyranny. That was my homeland’s response to the chaos. You either served as a slave to a master of the city or you took your chances with the desert. I have done both in my life and I cannot say one is better or worse than the other. I was fortunate to find another tyrant, a different one, who took interest, even care, in me. But not all who served him saw him as I did. Not all found his service rewarding or even pleasant.” Athasen paused again and looked at Zangdrax. “I suppose one could say the same of me as I lead this group.”
“You have not led us astray yet.”
“I might have with the yuan-ti. Would you have followed had I chosen to strike them down rather than work with them? Even I don’t know whether what we did was the better path.”
“As you say, the gods are mysterious. Perhaps your god is testing you.”
“Istishia takes little interest in the affairs of mortals. Like all elemental gods, she provides what she provides for the world and leaves things at that. We who worship her and her kin are grateful for whatever gifts she gives, but we have few expectations that she will intercede directly in our lives. We have breath, life, water, sustenance, and the rest is up to us.”
Zangdrax shrugged. “Perhaps it is much the same with Tiamat. She gives strength to her children, dragons and we kobolds as their lesser brethren, but cares little how we use it.”
Langley interjected at this point. “Theology bores me and we have arrived. Can you two put your blathering at rest?”
“As you wish, mi’lady.” said Zangdrax with a mocking tone of his own.
The party stepped into a fairly sizable clearing in the jungle foliage. At the center was a stone tower, some 60 feet high. The grey stone was smooth, with each stone brick fitting perfectly with the others around it. That made the walls almost as smooth as glass and even the ivy that grew up around the tower seemed to have difficulty finding grip. The stone was otherwise featureless’ no windows, no doors. Were it not for its shape, it might be mistaken for an obelisk or stelae or some other form of solid statuary.
Surrounding the tower were several other carved stones, each bearing a symbol. Athasen recognized the symbols: Earth, Air, Lightning, Thunder, and so forth. “Speaking of the elements,” said Allar.
“Yes, Istishia, Kossuth, Talos, which I presume means lightning. All are represented. Earth, air, lightning, water, life, death.” said Zangdrax. “All symbols of the elemental gods.”
“But it’s not a shrine. It’s a puzzle.” said Fejj. He put his hand into the symbol of Akadi, the goddess of air, and it glowed briefly before fading.
“The wrong combination could be dangerous.” warned Athasen, although he had to admit to himself that placing his hand on the symbol of Kossuth in front of him was going to be his next move as well.
“Then what’s the sequence?” asked Langley, looking at the tower. “There’s no climbing this thing and no way in above even if we could.”
“There should be a message somewhere that gives us a clue. Search about.” said Zangdrax.
“Only if this wizard wanted visitors.” laughed Athasen.
“The wizard is long dead and the yuan-ti warned us that this place is home now to something they fear.” reminded Allar. “It figured out how to enter. And the Harpers that were sent here, as there is no sign of them outside the tower. They figured it out also.”
“Or they were confounded by the puzzle and simply abandoned the effort.” said Athasen.
“That doesn’t change the first part of my argument.” retorted Allar. “The monster got in.”
“Here!” cried Hoggle. “Me find writing.”
Sure enough, hidden under the ivy was another stone similar to the elemental ones leaning against the tower. Upon it was written in Common the message “This comes after while covered by the other.”
“Well, good job, Hoggle.” complimented Langley. “You found the clue. Now what does it mean.”
“One element that follows another while underneath another.” muttered Zangdrax.
“Water lies beneath air. So does Earth. As one moves from land to sea...” wondered Athasen.
“If this tower were on the coast, I’d say that answer has merit.” retorted Zangdrax. “But we’re too far inland. Right in the middle of a jungle, a rainforest.”
“Rain. Water that comes from air. But covered by what?” said Allar.
“No,” Zandrax smiled. “But you’re close. Thunder and lightning come with rain. Lightning first, then thunder, all while it rains. Touch lightning, thunder, and then water.”
Hoggle, already enthusiastic about having found the clue, jumped up and hit the stones Zangdrax said in order. Each symbol glowed and then there was a bright flash. Immediately, Hoggle disappeared from their sight.
“What the...” said Fejj with alarm.
“No worries.” said Athasen. “That was a teleport spell. Zangdrax solved the puzzle. Hit the stones as he said and it’ll let us inside.”
Each of them did as Hoggle had done and each in turn found themselves in a dark circular room. Fejj lit a torch and they took stock of their new surroundings. The room was mostly empty, save for some wrecked and discarded furniture. Across from where they’d “arrived,” they could see a teleportation circle glowing faintly in the darkness.
“Our way out.” said Athasen with authority.
In the center of the room, a stone staircase spiraled upward into the ceiling. Zangdrax spoke quietly, “And that’s our path ahead. Hoggle and I will take point. As small as we are, we may escape notice.”
“Very well.” said Athasen, drawing his sword.
The goblin and the kobold moved with as much grace as they could muster. Despite his blood lust and fierceness, it was obvious Hoggle knew when it was fitting to be quiet. Zangdrax did likewise, but found it harder to pull off in the metal skin of full plate armor. He clanked on the stairs as he ascended, a sound that did not go unnoticed.
When he reached the top, Hoggle immediately spotted four large Chultan warriors. Each had a glazed look in their eyes, one very similar to the enchanted and controlled Zhentarim at the farmstead. Upon hearing the sound of Zangdrax’s armor, their eyes darted to the stairs and immediately spotted the goblin. They charged.
Knowing the game was up, Hoggle let out a bloodthirsty scream and rushed the warriors in turn. The first to reach Hoggle took a swing, but aimed too high with his sword. Hoggle ducked beneath and brought his axe up into the warrior’s crotch. The blow sank deep, nearly cleaving the warrior in two.
Zangdrax and the others, either hearing the din of battle or Hoggle’s scream of fury, dashed up the stairs. Zangdrax moved in to engage a second warrior as arrows flew out from the darkness. Two struck Zangdrax’s shield and Langley drew a bead on their origin. Across the chamber, one nearly identical to the floor below, there was a crude barricade constructed of wrecked and ruined furniture. Behind it, two archers. They too had the glazed look of mind-controlled slaves, but, unlike the warriors, these were dressed as northerners and outlanders.
“There’s our missing Harpers.” said Langley as she lined up a carefully aimed shot. She fired, the slingstone of her rifle striking the leftmost archer’s bow and splitting the wood.
“Impressive shot.” said Allar, drawing his own bow and loosing at the archers himself.
Zangdrax struck down a warrior and Hoggle took out a third. Whoever these foes were, they were no match for the seasoned adventurers they faced. Athasen formed the pattern of a spell in his mind and cast it towards the archers as Fejj’s bow took down the fourth and final warrior.
“Amarvo.” He muttered aloud as the dispelling magic stole away the mind-control enchantment. The two Harpers blinked in confusion for a moment and, immediately after realizing they were outmatched, surrendered.
“Where are the rest of you?”
“Imprisoned above.” admitted the Harper. “You’re Zhentarim?”
“Part of a group sent to find the lot of you who went missing.”
“You made short work of the hired help.” complained the Harper.
“They pissed off the goblin.” said Athasen mirthfully.
“Be glad you’re worth more alive than dead,” added Langley before the Harper could retort,” or we might have made short work of you as well.”
“What took control of you?” Athasen demanded, changing the subject.
“I don’t know. I just remember two golden snake-like eyes.”
“Naga.” said Fejj. “Magically controlling them through its gaze.”
“Yes, that was the last clue we needed.” said Athasen, agreeing.
“I would have preferred the giant snake you mentioned this morning.” said Allar.
“A mindless beast would not have figured out how to enter.” said Fejj. “It had to be something with intelligence.”
“It’s also not alone. The rest of our party is with it.” interjected one of the Harpers. “Enchanted as we were.”
“How many?” asked Zangdrax.
“Up to six, assuming the naga hasn’t eaten any of them.”
“It can enthrall us just as easily as they.” warned Zangdrax. “Only those of elven blood might be able to resist.”
“That gives Fejj, Allar, and myself some immunity then.” said Athasen. He walked over to the magical circle etched into the floor. “The one of these below leads out. Am I to presume this one leads up?”
The Harper shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Why haven’t they attacked?” wondered Allar aloud. “Surely they know we’re here.”
“Because they know the top of the stairs is a choke point they can use against us.” said Athasen. “Better to let your enemy come to you than vice versa. Lets you name the battlefield.” He paused. “It’s what I’d do.”
“They’ll cut us to pieces if we charge up there.” said Fejj.
“Not if we draw them off. Hoggle, Zangdrax, with me. We’ll take the circle and attack from behind them. The rest of you charge up when you hear the ruckus.”
Athasen turned towards the teleportation circle, the goblin and kobold behind him. The three of them encircled the symbol and stepped in together and vanished.
They emerged, as they expected, on the top floor. Also as they expected, the enchanted Harper archers and their native bodyguards were poised to attack the top of the stairs. And while they were not expecting a foe to come up through the teleportation circle, the naga was not so foolish.
The massive black snake with a humanoid head reared up around them. “Fools,” it hissed. “I will make slaves of you all.”
“Hoggle, go!” barked Athasen as he began to cast his haste spell.
The goblin let out another road of rage and fury and charged towards the group of ensorcelled foes. Zangdrax rushed forward and hacked a portion of the naga with a well placed blow from his mattock.
The archers fell all over themselves as Hoggle flung his diminutive form into one of the native guides, knocking him back into the packed group. That was cue for the others still below, who dashed out of the stairwell and into the fray.
“Spare their lives if you can.” barked Athasen, repeating the same command he’d given on the farm to save the enchanted Zhentarim. He felt the powerful transmutation magic of his spell take hold and the whole world seemed to slow to a crawl.
Athasen dashed towards the naga, pulling his blades from their scabbards. If the spellcaster died, the enchantments that controlled the enthralled prisoners would fail. The naga snapped at him as it curled its body around, knocking the diminutive Zangdrax back. But to the accelerated Athasen, the blow seemed clumsy and slow and he dodged the snapping jaws with ease. Four quick slashes from his swords danced across the naga’s hide, each scale as hard as iron. The blows did little damage, but were more than enough for the naga to realize this unconventional wizard was the greatest threat by far.
Zangdrax came back to his feet. Langley, Fejj, and Allar were exchanging shots with the enthralled Harpers and Hoggle was in heaven fighting the whole group of Chultan mercenaries at once. The naga was now focused on Athasen, who continued to rain blows down on the monster.
“Alright, Tiamat, lend me your strength.” prayed Zangdrax. A slight radiance enveloped his mattock and he swung at the distracted naga. The blow smashed hard into the naga’s iron scales and holy light arced across the beast’s body as Zangdrax’s smote his foe with the power of his goddess.
That hurt the naga far more than Athasen’s hail of blows, so the naga turned anew back to the kobold. Athasen saw his chance, vaulting himself into the air with a powerful jump and planting one of his blades in between the scales on the naga’s back. He hung there for what seemed to him only a second, but to the others barely a faction that, and then used the embedded weapon to vault himself up further. He took his remaining sword in both hands and drove it deep into the back of the naga’s skull. The monster convulsed wildly, flinging the half-elf across the room, and then collapsed. Another smite from Zangdrax’s war pick finished it.
“Surrender now!” demanded Langley of the now bewildered Harpers. They did so immediately.
Allar and Fejj turned their attention to the Chultan bodyguards as Hoggle checked his next blow as they too surrendered. They were in far worse shape, all wounded, but none in danger of dying.
“I did good. No kill.” said Hoggle proudly.
“Yes, very good.” answered Zangdrax. “Athasen?” he called out.
Athasen picked himself up, the world having returned to its normal pace. “I’m alright. Just a bit bruised. Had the wind knocked out of me.”
“That was impressive.” admitted Fejj.
“Better than Langley shooting bow downstairs.” added Hoggle.
“A legacy from my gladiator days,” said Athasen, rubbing the pain out of his back. “A mite flashy, but it got the job done. See to the wounded.”
“I’ve heard of you, Athasen of Darkhold.” said the Harper from downstairs. “Your reputation is well-earned.”
“Well, aren’t you the man of the hour?” grumbled Langley.
“This isn’t a competition.” said Athasen adamantly. “We do our jobs. We get paid and the glory of success is for all of us.” He paused. “That shot downstairs was damned impressive. We’re going to need skills like that, because whatever claims mastery over these lands and is behind that Death Curse is going to take everything we have to defeat.”
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