" Might I say you look particularly ravishing when your angry, M'lady." The blonde wizard flashed a white toothed and all too suggestive grin towards The Simbul. He bowed low letting his red and gold cloak swirl around his waist as he gestured her to her chair.
"And you are becoming irritatingly cocky." The Simbul was growing tired of Yenir's passes, however charming they may be. She pushed past him and lowered gently into the high backed, red velvet cushioned chair, her silver tresses settling around her shoulders. Yenir looked up when she sat, smug grin still on his face. He couldn't help but have a puppy's crush on the voluptuous and slender woman that most revered as a goddess. He saw her as a colleague of sorts even though she was of Mystra's chosen and he was not. Yenir was playfully jealous of Khelben for having the luxury to be wed to one such chosen. Laerel Arunsun gracefully entered the room, her modestly low-cut gown swaying as she swept across the floor to lounge upon a chaise near the warm fireplace. She was just as beautiful as her sister, the Simbul, but held herself more respectfully. Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun entered behind Laerel but remained standing. It was rare to see Khelben sitting for he is always busy with one thing or another in the affairs of the realms and doesn't have much time to himself save sleep.
"Thank you for your aid in healing Quinn, Lady Arunsun. He took quite the nasty fall." Yenir said to Laerel
"You are most welcome. If you would have got him to me any later he would be singing his praises to Mystra on the Fugue Plain. It is my pleasure to aid those that our goddess has touched. Please, call me Laerel." Her eyes were kind and genuine when she spoke.
" You pay him too much respect, sister" The Simbul mocked " It seems his head may grow too big for your tower being in such company." She folded her arms over her chest as she spoke.
"M'lady is just jealous that I have eyes for a much more beautiful quarry." With that he clasped the Lady Laerel's hand and bowed to kiss it.
" Good sir Yenir my hospitality is growing thin with you. Let us get down to buisness shall we?" Khelben said with his usual gruff seriousness. Yenir went to his chair and sat with one leg dangling over the arm. Khelben was in blue robes and he carried an ornate black staff of power that he is rarely seen without. His hair was black save for the sideburns and beard which was a salty gray. "It seems your halfling friend stumbled into a rather large conspiracy that The Simbul and Laerel have been following for some time now."
The Simbul sat up to speak " It seems that the Drow are siding with the Red Wizards of Thay to try to overthrow the rulers of the realms. The Drow have been masquerading as wealthy nobles, working there way up the aristocratic ladder to the top with the help of Thayan dark magic. I have found such Drow agents in Shadowdale, Rashemar, and even here in Waterdeep."
"There was even an attempt to kidnap me." Laerel spoke up. Her voice betrayed a little amusement at the fact that someone had even attempted that feat. " We have found that they are trying to bring the underdark to the surface by taking the forms of others. Until they can completely overthrow the existing rulers of the kingdoms to replace with their own the Drow have been conducting themselves rather respectfully, as Drow are concerned. Keeping with the status quo of there stolen stations more to keep up appearances than anything else I would suspect."
"Wouldn't want to blow their cover would they?" Yenir said " I mean it's not everyday you see a Drow walking the streets of Waterdeep. Unless of course some noble decides a Dark Elf costume for a revel is in order." Yenir was stunned by his own comment having seen just such a costume only days ago at the Hawkwinter estate. He sat back in his chair, contemplating this revelation.
"Exactly." The Simbul spoke up " They have been walking around under our very noses for some time now and we are just now investigating what is probably a strongly established front. I say we go in a destroy the lot of them." she said matter-of-factly. She was of course referring to the Thayans than anything else seeing that her bloodlust against them was nearly unsatiable.
"You can kill as many Red Wizards as your heart desires, sister, as long as they don't carry vital information to our cause." Laerel spoke pointedly with a certain accusing, yet still gentle, tone. "Kahn may have had info that could have greatly helped our cause. However, there is little we can do about that now."
"Truly a pity." She mocked.
"Yes, truly a pity." Yenir joked as well. " It seems you have had your hands full as of late. So what, pray tell, does this have to do with me?"
" We need your help." Khelben said. Yenir nearly fell from his chair. Khelben never asks for help, let alone from a lower level sorcerer like Yenir.
"Well now, Khelben, I don't think I heard you right. Are the old grays finally catching up to you or am I imagining the fact that you asked me for my help?" Yenir could'nt help but pull Khelben's chain a little. Khelben, however, was not amused.
" If Laerel and I weren't busy dealing with this crisis within the city walls I would be out there myself cleaning up this mess." He gestured his staff in a wide arch towards the window, " As matters stand, yes, we do need your assistance. Unless, of course, you don't feel up to the task of infiltrating the Underdark." This time it was Yenirs turn to scowl. H quickly regained his composure.
"As much as I would like to lounge on the fungus filled beaches of the Underdark I think I'll pass. No one ever said I had to fight the Drow let alone on their turf. I've been to the Underdark. It's not a pretty place."
"Who said anything about fighting?" Khelben smiled a little at the prospect of making this all too smug sorcerer uncomfortable. "We need you to go to the Desert of Amn."
"Amn! Well why didn't you say so in the first place? I love the desert! Golden sands, beautiful women in cool oasis villages. Now that's a vacation I could enjoy. When do I leave?"
" I'm glad to see your excited about this." Laerel said with a hint of humor. "We need you to go to the temple of Sharess near the Caravan City. There is a Priestess there of no small power that has fought and defeated the Spider Queen, Lolth. It has taken the goddess some time to regenerate her former power from her defeat and I assume this infiltration is part of her plan to regain her throne, if not the world, for her own."
"The Simbul, Laerel, and I will resume our investigations throughout the realms. We need you to find this priestess and bring her here so that we may know how she gained the power to overthrow Lolth." Khelben gestured to the door and one of his apprentices brought in a rather noble looking gnome. He held himself like a soldier ready for his orders. He nodded to the group showing his respect. "This is Twik. He can lead you too the priestess and he's not bad for a little extra protection if I do say so myself."
"It's truly a pleasure to be of service to you." The voice that came out of the little gnome was suprisingly deep and resonant for someone so small. Yenir couldn't help but see Quinn as a lead soprano in a choral production in comparison to the gnomes heavy baritone." Yenir Wayrac? I've heard of your adventures. It is an honor."
"You pay me far to much respect. If half those stories were true I would outshine Peirgeron in selflessness and righteousness." He nearly lost his composure when he compared himself to those words.
"I'll say." The Simbul said under her breath. Yenir blew her a kiss. She began gesturing a death spell.
" So when do we leave?" Yenir turned to Khelben. A beautiful brown feathered hippogriff landed gracefully on the balcony.
" As soon as your ready. Razorhawk will be your steed." Khelben gestured towards the regal mount.
"Sizrit!" He called and the silver winged raven left Quinn to Mirt and flew over to Yenir. " Ready to go"
"Ready as I'll ever be." Sizrit answered. " Who's the small one."
" That's Twik. He'll be riding with us." Sizrit and Twik introduced themselves. Twik was seemingly unphased by the talking raven. They all mounted Razorhawk and prepared to fly away when Yenir turned to Khelben. "This priestess, does she have a name?"
" Her name is Selena."
"Very well. Selena huh? Sounds hot." With that he grabbed the reins and swooped out of the tower and over the city towards the north...
to be continued...
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