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From: [e-mail] (Fraser MacDonald MacKenzie)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.archives
Subject: STORY: Fate's Fellowship - Chapter 12:Fading Lights and Loss
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Date: 31 Oct 1995 17:04:17 -0500
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Hi all.  I hope this isn't too sad for you all.  We were all
quite devistated when this happened...


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   The characters contained in these writings and the writings themselves
   are copyright 1995 by Fraser MacKenzie.  Any resemblance to any persons
   or characters either real or fictional is utterly coincidental.  Copying
   and/or distribution of these tales is permissible only under the sole
   condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit and that
   they not be altered in any way.

   I wish to thank Eric Lindsey, Seng Ann Mah, Ron Trimmer, Max
   Bullock, Charlotte Ashley, Tom DeSanctus, Bob Grob, Michael Clair
   Haflidi Jonsson, and Drew Lahaise for their immense input without
   which, there would be no story at all. ;)

   Enjoy!

                                  Fraser MacKenzie
                                  [e-mail]


   Note: You can FTP the chapters of Fate's Fellowship as they come
   out from ftp.achilles.net in the directory pub/users/fraserm or
   access them from my home page at http://www.achilles.net:80/~fraserm.
   You can also email me to get on my mailing list.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Introducing the characters:

  Name      Race     Type
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~
Tenbar   Human      Warrior
E'tharn  Elven      Warrior
Kelemvor Human      Spellcaster
Ssylth   Human      Spellcaster
Ginafae  Elven      Spellcaster
Crowe    Half-Elven Thief




                             Fate's Fellowship
                                Chapter 12
                          Fading Lights and Loss


Kelemvor gets the groups attention and motions to the doorway stating,
"Before we do anything, why don't we have a word or two outside the
room."  The group listens to Kelemvor and then retires to the entrance
to discuss what to do.

Once everyone is out, Kelemvor says, "I think we should eventually
try to let these people out, but we might not want to do it all at
once.  Maybe we should let one out at a time."

"Now I think some of you have reservations about letting all the
occupants out, such as the orc, but I think we should let them all
out ... eventually.  We are not these creature's judges nor are we
their captors.  Although I have never met an orc that was not 'evil',
I cannot justify keeping him in this prison if there is no evidence
that shows he did something wrong."

"It also seems that this prison keeps the occupants in some sort of
temporal stasis.  It seems that while in the column, the occupant
does not need any food or drink, does not age, and, consequently,
cannot die, which is completely unnatural!  The one thing we have to
look forward to in this life is dying, when our soul is at last
freed!"

"I've been thinking about how this place works.  I'm guessing that
the circles on the walls are really the control panels for each
column/circle on the floor.  Putting your hand on the circle and
saying something will probably affect the columns.  I don't know
what you are supposed to say though.  We are just going to have to
experiment."

"Ssylth, you seem like you understand the runes the best.  I'd be
happy to facilitate the experiments, but you would probably have a
better shot at pronouncing the runes correctly."

As if remembering something, Kelemvor adds, "Before, I did not
trust the halfling, but now I have more doubt about Salmistra's
words.  If you had been trapped in a prison for three to eight
years, don't you think you would tell the truth to get out...  I
mean if the truth would not hurt you?  It can only damage your
chances of getting out if you lie when you don't have to.  My
point is that why would the halfling or Salmistra lie about other
people coming into the room?"

"Could Salmistra BE some sort of trap?  Maybe she is just an
illusion or image.  Why does she not have any belongings with her?"

To Kelemvors question, E'tharn replies, "She isn't an illusion
from what Ssylth and I have been able to discern."

Continuing, Kelemvor says, "We really need to discuss this more
before taking any action.  Any ideas would be great, even if they
are bizarre."

"Here is my best guess:  I think that the controls for each column
are contained in the crystal circles on the wall.  Each of the
runes, when spoken, does a different thing.  Also, certain
combination of the runes might be needed to do something.  For
instance, in regards to the halfling, maybe the runes 'treasure
trap' were used."

Ssylth begins to talk after Kelemvor has finished.  "I noticed that
also.  Salmistra must be lying a little, since we know that the guy
that on whom we found the map  must have come here.  He is probably
the same guy who the halfling was talking about that has not been
here in a while.  Also, why did that Romdril Moke person not let
Salmistra out because he certainly knew how to do it and he told her
how.  That does not make sense, he knew how to save her, and yet he
let her get trapped inside only to leave her and tell her how to get
out.  Third, if she does practice magic, where is her spell book, I
never go anywhere without it, it is all that I am.  Did she just
forget it.  Also, where is all their equipment, I assume they are
adventurers, thieves, or whatever, yet they have no equipment on
them.  This all seems very strange to me."

"One point which I would like to emphasize is that someone said
that maybe this used to be a prison.  Therefore, maybe these are
prisoners, not innocent folk that are trapped.  I say we get
Kelemvor to detect evil on them.  Also, what is an orc doing in
the sewers of a city, as well the Quaggoth.  Were they just lost?
I don't think so."

"I still think something funny is going on in there, and right now,
I have not a clue as to how the columns work, or how the people
were trapped.  We have two conflicting stories out of the halfling
and the woman.  Could it be that just one is lying, or are they
both lying.  I am going to go with caution, and assume that
Salmistra lying, for the moment."  Ssylth then states that he will
not be freeing any of the captives anytime soon as he does not want
to be in one of those light cells for eternity.  He also adds, "If
someone wants to try something, I will gladly tell you how to
pronounce the symbols, but I will feel no regret if you get trapped
in a column.  I need more information before I will do it."

"First, we need to question everyone thoroughly to find out what is
going on.  I want to know the following:
     How they were trapped?
     What they know about the others?
     If they are evil, Kelemvor can determine that.
     What is there occupation, or means of living?
     Who was here when they were trapped?
     How come the lady thinks that putting our hands on the column
       and saying the word will cause the column to drop?  Is she a
       magic user, or a liar?
     Can the Quaggoth speak with us?  I want his story, let's have
       the elves stay back while I talk to him"

Kelemvor interjects, "I do not think that detect evil will do us
much good here.  Let's investigate the other rooms here before we
continue on with this interrogation."

Ssylth continues, "As for the orc, I have no problems with letting
him out, I do not see how he is a threat to us as a group.  He seems
more than willing to help us out.  Besides you would be amazed what
a hundred years will do to an evil creature, he may even be good
now.  Besides, his tribe of orcs has long since died, what threat
could he pose to anyone, he may even want to join us for saving his
life."

E'tharn interrupts exclaiming, "He hasn't had a hundred years.  He
came in the past three years.  I don't think we should release it!"

Ssylth doesn't seem to hear E'tharn and rambles on, "Also, we can go
explore the rest of these rooms and try to find any hints as to how
this stuff works before we try to get the others out.  We may gain
some understanding of this place, and why these columns were put here
in the first place."

After hearing Ssylth's suggestions and caution, Tenbar nods.  "Ay, I
don' reckon we should do owt until we know this place better.  And I
don' trust t' lady, too many holes in her story.  Too often I've been
tricked int' thinkin' that jus' 'cause summat's beautiful like, they
mun be good."  He seems to be referring to something else when he
says that.  "I'd like to take a squiz down yon passage" he points to
the north-east one "while ye plunder yer brains over alla this.  D'ye
want t' come along, lassie?" he asks Ginafae.  Ginafae agrees to join
Tenbar and Kelemvor and Ssylth also decide to check out the other
rooms before trying anything with the columns.

E'tharn looks at Salmistra, the wall, and then the pedistal.  He then
says, "Alright!  I have had enough of this.  Ssylth you and Salmistra
decide which rune to say and where I should stand and place my hand
and I will free her.  I want to continue on and it looks like this
will be the only way."  At E'tharn willingness to free Salmistra the
others manage to convince him to wait until the other rooms have been
explored.

E'tharn says, "OK but then lets do something instead of standing
around here wasting our valuable time."

Before moving north, Ssylth asks Salmistra one more question about
where her belongings are.  She replies "Its been so long I'd
forgotten all about them, but when I turned the knob on the pedestal
I appeared in the column without them.  Everything was taken from me,
spellbook, weapon, and the few items I had found in my explorations.
I have no idea where it all went.  I know it may seem strange that
the others still have their stuff, but I guess your belongings are
taken only when you touch the pedestal."  As seen before, the other
prisoners seem to have their belongings.  The Quaggoth has a large
battle axe, Greykin has a shortsword and a couple of small sacks at
his waist, and the orc has an axe, leather armor and, of course, some
gold.

Before following the northeast passage, E'tharn asks Salmistra why she
still has her clothes if her belongings were removed when she was
imprisoned in the column.  She gives a wry smile and says "You naughty
boy, I just bet you wish I didn't have any clothes on!"  Chuckling,
she continues "Actually, I don't know why, I guess the creators of this
place had some sense of decency.  It must just be set to remove
anything that might help you get out."

E'tharn says, "I don't buy it.  It removed everything but your
clothes...I imagine that other items that you posessed wouldn't have
helped you get out and yet it took them......Something is smelly in
columntown."

Puzzling over the information they have learned, the party moves to
the northeast passage.  The prisoners eyes follow them out of sight;
even the smoke cloud seems to look in their direction, but then
that's impossible.  The passage extends 60ft before opening up into a
40x40 room.  Another passage exits the room from the southwest
corner.  In the center of the room stands a long marble table
surrounded by ornately shaped metal chairs.  A large open fireplace
yawns in the center of the north wall.  A little over half way up
the wall, spaced evenly around the room, are painted eight large
standards.  They depict (1) a serpent coiled around an emerald,
(2) a full moon in the center of 4 stars, (3) a gauntleted fist
grasping the sun, (4) leaping flames, (5) crossed, double edged
swords, (6) a wolf's mask, snarling, (7) a rearing unicorn, and
(8) a stricken tree.  The standard of the crossed double edged
swords is larger than the others and rests directly above the
fireplace.

Kelemvor reports that he does not recognize the standards on the
wall.  Ssylth, however, tells everyone that they were used long,
long ago by a race of men known as the Omiroth.  Each standard
represents a different 'house' of the Omiroth.  Detecting no
immediate threat, the party enters the room.

E'tharn, who is leading the party, gets barely 10ft inside, when the
fireplace roars to life.  At the same time the, room is filled with
the faint sound of beautiful music and the mouth watering aroma of
food.  The once empty table is now laden with enticing food.  They
see a large platter bearing a roasted pig, steaming bowls of
vegtables, several loaves of bread, a variety of pastries and much,
much more.  As the group looks on, a pitcher of wine rises into the
air and begins filling six glasses.  The chairs by the glasses move
out from beneath the table as if inviting everybody to sit.

Ssylth informs the party that the large crossed sword signifies
the Rendane, who were known for their conjuration and summoning
abilities.  He guesses that they are the reason for the food and
music here.

The party member's stomaches tell them that it is fairly close to
lunch time and the food is tempting when compared to the iron
rations they'll have to eat otherwise.

In the feast room, to everyone's dismay, E'tharn takes a seat in one
of the chairs that moved away from the table.  Once he is sitting
down, the chair scoots foward and a napkin rises to fasten itself
loosely around his neck.  A pair of knives begin carving the roast
pig and different dishes float over to E'tharn to begin filling up
the plate in front of him.  Faint music still fills the air and the
fire is beginning to warm the room.

Ssylth admits the food looks good, but before he joins E'tharn he
wants to examine the room to the south.  Before exiting the feast
room, Tenbar moves to the table and grabs a slab of roast pork.
E'tharn then rises and leads the group out of the room.  As they
enter the south passage and Tenbar discovers the meat has not
disappeared, he takes a bite.  With grunt of satisfaction he takes
another larger bite and soon wolfs down the rest.  He announces the
meal was quite tasty and he looks forward to returning to sample
more of what was on the table.

They follow the passage south for 40ft when it turns west to open
into a 30x20x15ft high room.  The room appears rather barren and
empty except for two large circles drawn on the floor.  Both are 5ft
in diameter, but the one to the north contains a triangle and the
one to the south contains a five point star.

Tenbar asks Ssylth to explain the significance of these circles. "I
don' like the looks of 'em," he says.  "Don' fergit, friends, that
them Death Cult be said t be divil worshippers.  And them circles an'
all, as I heard tell, got summat to' do wi' them divil worshippin'
I's reckon."  At Tenbar's request, Ssylth describes the north one as
a thaumaturgic triangle and the south as a pentagram.  There is no
sign of a pillar of light.

On the floor just outside the pentagram, a brass bowl sits on a small
stand.  The remains of a small fire lie just a few feet from it.
Within the circle, at each point of the star, is a partially melted
candle stick.

The two circles, like those in the room with the columns of light,
are formed of some dark crystal embedded in the floor.  The brass
bowl beside the pentagram is covered by a perforated lid and upon
examining it, Ssylth informs the group that it is an incense burner,
with the holes allowing the incense to escape.  Tenbar also moves to
take look at it, asking if he should look inside.  Ssylth gives a
noncommital shrug.  Deciding to brave it, Tenbar lifts the lid and
finds a half burned block of incense still inside.

E'tharn moves to examine the pile of ashes near the incense burner
and the burner itself.  He reports that it has been less than a month
since the burner was used or the ashes made, probably a couple of
weeks ago.  Within the ashes he also turns up a small scrap of burned
paper with a few words still legible.  He reads it to the group:

+-------------------------------------+
|....dark one, hear thy servant.......|
\.........to fulfill thy will.........|
/.....call upon your power............/
|..........city to your hands.........\
+-------------------------------------+

Tenbar's face darkens when he hears those words. He shakes his head
and looks at Ssylth.  "Ye still reckons these ain't them divil
worshippers?  I fear we stumbled into summat much bigger than mayhap
we c'n handle, friends.  I don' like this one bit... 'specially 'bout
the 'city t' yer hands' bit.  I fear it don't bode good fer Burkden,
and alla us in here."

Afterward, Crowe helps Ssylth make a complete search of the walls for
hidden doors or levers.  They turn up nothing, the walls of the room
being quite solid.

Finding nothing else of interest, the party moves back to the feast
room.  Though Tenbar and E'tharn join Ssylth at the table they decide
not to eat the food, taking out their own rations which seem bland in
comparison.  Ssylth, on the other hand, happily stuffs his face,
mumbling all the while comments like "You don't know what you're
missing", "This wine really hits the spot", "Apple pie like mom use to
make."  After several helpings, he finally gets his fill and pushes
away from the table.  Everyone else finished long ago and are now
ready to move on.

Tenbar, feeling very nervous about everything so far, speaks. "Tell
yer what, alla this has me poor head spinnin'.  First rooms wit'
prisoners in circles o' light, then this feast appearin' o' its own
accord, then the circles which I's still reckons has summat t' do
with divil worshippin'.  I'm all fer gettin' our tails out o' here,
but I reckons that we should stop gettin' ourselves distracted and
slowed down by alla this and have a look fer them Death Cult.  Hey!
We din't ask them folks in t' odder room 'bout the Cult. Maybe t' lady
Salmistra might tell us summat."  For lack of a better idea, the rest
of the party follows Tenbar out of the room.

E'tharn pats Tenbar on the back and says, "You seem to know a lot more
than you let on.  Could this accent be a guise Tenbar?  Perhaps so
that others underestimate you?  Well it doesn't matter to me so long
as you are on our side."

Tenbar looks bewildered at E'tharn's statement. "Eh?  What are ye
gondering about now?  I ent got no accent... heh.. it's ye lot as got
t' accent, not ol' Tenbar."  He gives a chuckle and whacks E'tharn on
the back sending the wood elf stumbling forward a couple of steps.

As the party passes over the threshold, there is the sound of rushing
wind behind them.  Looking back into the room they see that the table
has been cleared.  As they watch, the flames in the fireplace die down
and extinguish themselves, and the light music ends abruptly.
Everything in the room appears as it did when they first saw it.

Ssylth says, "You two really missed a good meal."  to which E'tharn
replies, "I don't care how good you thought it was, I am still glad
I didn't eat from the table.  That food wasn't harvested naturally
like it should have been.  I will be glad to get in the fresh air
sometime soon....hopefully.  This dungeon feels confining and I long
for the forest."  E'tharn's eyes seem to unfocus for a moment and
then he brightens "Ah well, at least I am serving Silvanus how I may
and that is enough."

Moving back to the room with the columns of light, they find everything
as they left it.  The prisoners all look expectantly at the party
and as her column is the closest, Tenbar approaches Salmistra
and asks her about the death cult, giving her just enough information
to see if she might know anything.  A puzzled expression crosses her
face and she says "I'm sorry, but I do not know what you are referring
to.  You'll have to remember, I've been trapped in this room for eight
years so I won't know much of what is currently going on in the city.
I do not remember anything about a Death Cult being in Burkden at the
time I was trapped.  Maybe they have formed during the time I have
been down here.  Sorry I can not be of help.  Have you given any more
thought to releasing me?  Perhaps I could help you find out about the
cult if you were to release me.  I would owe you a great debt and that
could be one way for me to pay you back."

Tenbar tells her that the party will think about it, then moves to
Greykin's column and repeats his question.  The halfling becomes
excited and replies "Yes, yes, the death cult.  That's why I came
down here in the first place.  I had heard rumors that there was
cult who practiced the old ways of the goddess of death.  Word was
that they had salvaged most of the wealth from the destroyed temple
and hoarded it somewhere in the sewers beneath the city.  I came to
investigate and got trapped here, but I think I still remember where
their lair might be.  If you'll get me out I'd be happy to take you
there."

Tenbar remarks, "Ruins o' t' tempel.  That might be yon 'Unholy
Shrine' on t' map."  He turns to the halfling.  "Tell us more, boyo,
'bout this ruins, if ye can."  "Unfortunately," Greykins replies, "I
know nothing about the ruins.  Sorry."

E'tharn asks Salmisstra, "How do you know it has been eight years?
Do you have some method of telling time down here?"

Tenbar echoes the tall elf's suspicions. "Aye.  Ye seem t' have a
very def'nite grasp o' the passin' o' time here, wumman.  Ye said ye
been here eight years, then say that yon halfling come here three
years ago.  Now, how c'n ye say that when there be no sunrise nor
sunset here..."

She shrugs and says "I admit my estimate could be incorrect by a
couple of years.  You are right that I have no way to note the
passage of days, seeing as how I need no sleep in this column and
no daylight reaches this room.  However, in comparing dates with
Greykin, I had been in here five years before he came along.  Since
that time I have been doing my best to count the passing days,
using guesswork, and it comes to an additional three years.  Please
believe me I have no reason to lie to you."

Tenbar also questions her about her apparent lack of emotion
compared to the other prisoners.  Again she shrugs and says "When
you've been in here as long as I have you learn not to get your
hopes up, It will only drive you mad."

Next Tenbar questions her about the inconsistencies between her and
Greykin's report about men coming to the room.  A puzzled expression
crosses her face and after a few mintues of quiet reflection, she
replies "I really have no idea why Greykin spins such tales.  No man
has ever come to speak to me and you are the first ones in this room
since the Quaggoth.  That halfling is a mischievous creature, I
really can't figure him out."   Tenbar doesn't seem to buy her story
and continues to try to get her to tell the truth.

E'tharn turns to the party and says, "Either we do something here or
get on with it.  This is taking far to to much time and I long for
the smell of fresh air.  If no one will volunteer to perform the
opening then I shall.  If you don't want to open it just say so and
we will leave but I think that the right thing to do is to free them.
My vote lies with freeing them.  If one or both attack us then we
shall be forced to defend ourselves but at least we will know that we
did the right thing.  Well, enough of my preaching."

Ssylth agrees, saying talk is getting you nowhere.  However, after
hearing E'tharn's speech about taking action, Tenbar rubs his
patchily grizzled beard and ponders for a time. Then he looks at
E'tharn "Not so fast, feller-me-lad, 'less ye want t' find yerself
trapped here fer all eternity."  He moves up to Salmisstra and
speaks to her.

"If ye want us t' free yers, ye need t' tell us th' truth, and not
some half-baked story shot full o' holes that ye been spinnin' fer
us.  Now, yon 'alfling said there was a man as come here some time
ago and spoke to yers.  Who is he and what did 'e say t' ye?"  He
points to the south-west passage.  "D'ye know what lies down there?"

In a growing pattern of throwing caution to the wind, that started
with his pigging out on the mysterious feast, Ssylth approaches the
circle on the wall that matches the one around Salmistra's column.
Ignoring Tenbars warning shout, Ssylth places his hand in the center
of it and speaks a strange word.

The pattern of the circle on the wall begins to glow, as does the one
around Salmistra's column.  Abruptly, bands of energy snake out from the
circle to coil around Ssylth's body.  Inside the column, Salmistra throws
back her head and cries out "Yes! Yes!" as similar bands of energy rise
up from the floor around her.  Then there is a blinding flash of light.

As everyones eyes recover, the room is filled with the sound of near
hysterical laughter.  Tenbar, standing in front of the column, now
finds it occupied by Ssylth.  The laughter comes from Salmistra who
is now standing beside the pedestal of knobs.  As her laughter dies
down, she looks at the group with a big grin and smiles.  "It feels
good to be free!" she says with emotion.   An expression of regretful
mockery then crosses her face and she says "Though it is no way to
show my gratitude, I cannot allow you to stop me from my revenge,
thus I have no choice but to do this."  Before anyone can react, she
reaches out and turns one of the knobs on the pedestal.

Out of the corner of everyone's eye, they see the pillar of light
around the Quaggoth come down.  With a roar, the creature raises its
axe and charges the group.  Salmistra darts quickly toward the
southwest passage.

As the Quaggoth charges the group, Tenbar and Kelemvor pursue Salmistra
out of the room.  From within the column, Ssylth watches helplessly as
the shaggy monstrosity bears down on Crowe.  The elf ducks a vicious
swing of the Quaggoth's axe, but is thrown off balance so that his own
jab also misses.  E'tharn then yells a challenge at the beast, "Let's
you and I do the dance of death!" which draws its attention away from
the shaken Crowe.  As the two join combat, E'tharn calls for Crowe to
get into postion behind the Quaggoth.

E'tharns fails to penetrate the Quaggoth's shaggy hide with his first
strike, but the creature draws E'tharn's blood on his first swing.
Ginafae retreats to the column containing Ssylth and beings casting a
spell while Crowe moves to come up behind the creature.

E'tharn deflects the next axe blow with his shield and returns a blow
to the creature's leg.  Seconds later, a bolt of energy shoots from
Ginafae's hand to strike the creature, it snarls in pain.  Its snarl
turns into a roar when Crowe's dagger sinks into it back.  With
blinding speed the creature spins, bringing its axe in an arcing sweep.
The blade catches Crowe full in the chest with a sickening thud,
knocking him back several feet where he falls to the floor in a
motionless heap.

E'tharn's swing at the distracted beast misses and it turns back to
him, blood dripping from it's axehead.  Raising their weapons together,
they strike blows to each other simultaneously.  The Quaggoth falls
with a thud, its white fur turning crimson from a slash along its
chest.  Seeing the beast is finished, E'tharn drops to one knee
clutching a painful gash to his leg.

Ssylth yells for someone to get him out of the column and Ginafae
runs to the pedestal.  Turning the knob pointed in his direction,
the walls of his prison come down and he quickly steps out of the
circle.

Over on the floor Crowe still lies motionless, a pool of blood forming
around him, while there is no sign of Tenbar or Kelemvor.  In his nearby
column, the halfling is shaking his head.

Realizing that Crowe is unmoving, E'tharn rushes to his side, ignoring
his own pain.  Approaching the half-elf, even E'tharn's untrained eye
can see the wound to his chest is critical.  Still, E'tharn crouches
and begins binding the wounds as best he can, all the while praying to
Silvanus to aid his friend.  "Silvanus, although my comrade is not
always good, he has saved my life and in doing so has done good.  He
likes the wilderness and has not done it any wrong that I have
witnessed.  Help me to keep him alive until he can be healed.  I ask
nothing of you...only beg.  Please Oakfather, hear my wishes."

He takes out some of his healing berries, but soon realizes there
will be no way for him to get them down Crowe's throat.  Having done
all that he can, E'tharn rises and admonishes Ssylth and Ginafae not
to open another column until he and the others return.  He then exits
the room, going down the the Southwest passage.

                             --------------------

As the walls of its prison come down, the Quaggoth charges for Crowe.
Trusting his companions can deal with the foe, Tenbar gives chase to
Salmistra and is followed closely by Kelemvor.

Her quick footsteps echo down the southwest passage.  Tenbar also
hears Kelemvor approaching from behind and slows to let him catch up.
Kelemvor says, "Maybe we should see where she goes.  Just follow
her."  After the quick exchange, the two decide to proceed quietly to
see where Salmistra might lead them.

The passage goes only a short distance before opening up into a
40x40x10ft high room.  Another passage exits the room to the west.
The walls of the room are decorated with bas-relief sculptings of
different scenes that seem to move in the shadows cast by their torch.
The room appears empty otherwise and intent on their quarry, they
quickly traverse the room and enter the far passage.

Following the faint sounds of her footsteps for a good distance, they
come to an intersection, where the passage branches south and also
continues west.  Though difficult to make out, Tenbar says he can still
hear Salmistra moving down the south passage.  The two men turn in that
direction to continue pursuit.

Again they travel for what seems like a long distance, before the
passage opens up into a large room, 60x60x10ft.  There are two exits
from the room, one to the south and one to the west.  The room appears
empty, but they detect something strange about the floor.  It appears
uneven, with high and low spots, along with small rivuets of water and
large puddles here and there.  A large milky white globe hangs from
the center of the ceiling.  There is no sign of Salmistra, and Tenbar
is sure she came this way, so they assume she passed the room safely
and it is okay to enter.

Moving to both exiting passageways, Tenbar inspects the floor.
Although it takes some time, he eventually determines that she followed
the south one.  Staying close to Tenbar, Kelemvor feels something
gnawing at his mind about the room but can't put his finger on it.
Knowing the need for haste, he dares not spend more time than needed
examining the room.  Once Tenbar finds the trail, they both proceed
down the south passage.  Just as they leave the room, Kelemvor
remembers that there was an area on the map called The Map room that
was in this general vicinity.

The passage leads south for several yards before connecting with a main
sewer line.  Samistra is nowhere to be seen and the rushing water
prevents them from hearing if she moves, but Tenbar again is
able to determine that she went down the west passageway.  Moving in
that direction, they soon come to another side passage, headed north,
that she seems to have taken.  Again following her, within a few
minutes they come to another branching passage that leads west.  At
the end of the passage is a ladder leading up to a round trap door,
with every sign indicating that is where Salmistra went.

Climbing the ladder, Tenbar is able to lift the small trapdoor.
Torchlight floods down from the opening.  As Tenbar cautiously pokes
his head up to look around, a voice floats down "That's one of them,
officers, that's one of the men who were trying to attack me."  Both
Tenbar and Kelemvor recognize the sound of Salmistra's voice.  Tenbar
sees a small 20x20 room, with walls of worked stone and a stark
appearance.  The room is filled with torch light, causing him at first
to flinch.  Looking in the direction the voice came, Tenbar sees
Salmistra standing beside an armed man who appears to be holding her
arm tightly.  She is pointing a finger at him while nearby, stand five
other armed men whom he recognizes as city guardsmen.  In fact, one of
the men looks all too familar and the name Corporal Holden Fellard pops
quickly into Tenbar's head.  All the guardsmen have swords in their
hands, a few have torches, and they are looking right at Tenbar.

A passage leads off behind the men with a set of stairs at the end
and doors, with barred windows, line both sides of the passageway.
The room Tenbar is looking into has shackles hanging from the wall
and a long table stands just to the side of the opening he is in.

Kelemvor swears at the predicament that he and Tenbar are in, "Damn.
Mages are far too clever...  well, all mages except Ssylth..." with a
slight grin he adds "Tenbar, I think she has us beat on this one.
The guards will never believe us.  Let's get out of here."

Slamming the trap door closed, Tenbar quickly scrambles down the
ladder.  When he gets down, the burly woodsman hisses, "She done
sold us out! We better get out o' here afore we end up in gaol, or
worse!" then comes scurrying down the ladder as quickly as his thick
legs can manage.  Kelemvor steps back allowing him to drop the rest
of the way, just as the door above opens again and a voice cries
"Stop you two."  Wasting no time, they sprint back to the main sewer
line.  Once there, the two pause briefly to listen for signs of their
pursuers and hear several pairs of boots running in their direction.
Sprinting again, they retrace their path back to the passage leading
to the room with the unusual floor.

After a long hard run, Tenbar and Kelemvor reach the entrance to the
room.  Winded, they pause to catch their breath and Tenbar informs
Kelemvor "Ye know that guard as got caught by us in t' shop up above,
that Holdin Fell'rd fellah?  Well, he was one o' them guards up
there, an' I don' think we stand a chance explainin' ourselves t'
him, on account of what we did t' the poor man."  Tenbar can't
suppress a chuckle when he thinks of how the group stuffed poor
Holden in a box.

Listening carefully down the passageway they just came, Tenbar
detects no immediate sounds of pursuit, but believes that he hears
voices shouting in the distance.  Hoping that they have lost the
pursuers for the time being, the two party members debate returning
to the rest of the group.

A sudden sound from the passage entering the room to the north causes
them to turn in time to see E'tharn step from the darkness.  He wears
a grave expression and both Tenbar and Kelemvor see two fresh wounds
on his leg and shoulder.  He asks "What happened to Salmistra?"
Tenbar tells the elf he'll explain later when you get back to the others.
He frowns and says "Well, you better hurry, the battle did not go well
and Crowe needs Kelemvor's help."

Again foregoing a closer examination of the floor, the two follow
E'tharn back to the column room.  There they are greeted by a grisly
sight.  The Quaggoth lies dead near the pedestal with the knobs, its
white fur now stained crimson.  About 4ft away is a large pool of
blood with a smeared trail leading across the floor into one of the
pillars of light.  Ginafae and Ssylth stand outside the column looking
sadly at what lies within.  Inside they see Crowe's motionless body,
stained with blood that still seeps from an large bandaged wound
across his chest.  Ginafae stifles a sob and says "He's dead.  We
moved his body inside the column because we thought that way nothing
could get at it."  Tenbar and Kelemvor see his belongings in a pile
outside the column.

--
Fraser MacKenzie
http://www.achilles.net/~fraserm

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