Chapter 19

With Erik handling Gnarl and Shavariel moving to take on Bjorn, while Janessa and Selima backed her up, that left two options for me. First, I could try to suss out where Mist got off to, not a great prospect given the Skill of the Assassin, or I could attempt to stop the Wavemistress' Attempts to back up her allies with spellwork. I chose the latter, at least until Mist revealed himself.

Unslinging my Bandore, I began to pluck out a series of chords in A Minor, E Minor, F, C, G, and D Minor as I began to strum out a tune. I really should have a harpsichord for this song, but needs must and all that. As I began to sing, I channeled my bardic powers of Distraction into my song, as I focused it all on Wavemistress Aud.

"Golden brown, texture like sun. Lays me down, with my mind she runs. Throughout the night. No need to fight. Never a frown with golden brown." I sang out the first verse of an old Stranglers Song from back on Earth.

The distraction wound up being just what we needed as Wavemistress Aud enchanted a prayer to Umberlee to lend her arm the strength to slay her foes only for her to stumble over the last of the words thanks to my song. The power of her Goddess failed to take hold as she moved to slap Shavariel in the face to no real effect. I'd just barely managed to counter a Spell of Slay Living with the power of my song, forcing the Wavemistress to waste one of her precious fifth-level spell slots. Mind you, that caused her to focus on me. As Wavemistress Aud began casting once more, I strummed out the next series of chords and sang out once more.

"Every time just like the last. On her ship tied to the mast. To distant lands. Takes both my hands. Never a frown with golden brown." I sang out.

This time there was more of a fight being put up by Wavemistress Aud as she attempted to block out the distracting power of my song, trying to plead with her Goddess to grant her the power of the Winds of the Sea of Moving Ice to freeze her foes to the bone. The Spell of Boreal Wind began to coalesce on Wavemistress Aud's Fingertips just before she stumbled on some loose masonry, the Distraction Effect of my song taking hold at the last moment and the howling, freezing, winds dissipating.

That was one more of her limited Fifth-Level Spells were gone. I didn't know how much longer I could keep this up, though. I'd almost failed that last time. I had to try at least once more, however, as Wavemistress Aud began to cast once more, strumming out the notes to the next section as I began to sing the next verse. This time, though, I put a little bit of extra power into my performance, using my capabilities with Spellsinging to attempt to hit back, even as I tried to dispel her next spell.

"Golden brown, finer temptress. Through the ages she's heading west. From far away. Stays for a day. Never a frown with golden brown." I sang out.

My performance managed to just about overpower her next spell as she begged Umberlee to inflict her foes with the poor luck of a Tempest-Tossed Ship. Her Spell of Bewildering Mischance failed to coalesce thanks to a wince from my Spellsung attack as I raised my voice on the last part of the verse, producing an Ear-Piercing Scream that only Wavemistress Aud could hear. Between the backlash from her spell failing to coalesce, the distraction of my performance, and the Spellsung attack, Wavemistress Aud failed to properly brace herself for my attack. Her eardrums burst from my sonic power and she stumbled, dazed.

I followed up on that as best I could, strumming out a loud, screeching, chord that produced a series of blades of sonic force via a Spell of Chord of Shards, the blades catching both Wavemistress Aud and Gnarl, who had just been bull-rushed backward by Erik into the effect. As both Gnarl and Wavemistress Aud were cut up by daggers of sonic force, Gnarl was sent smashing into Wavemistress Aud, sending them both toppling to the floor.

Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to grin at that, because Shavariel let out a cry of pain as she was struck by Bjorn's Mace fully in the side. Not only was she hit by the mace's power, which hit her with the force of frost and acid, but he also channeled some sort of Inflict Wounds Power through his attack. Shavariel crashed to the floor as Bjorn raised his mace high, preparing to smash down on Shavariel's Prone Form. I decided then and there that Erik could handle Wavemistress Aud and Gnarl, as I rushed forth, drawing Aremeg's Fury and Aremeg's Wisdom in an attempt to interject myself into Shavariel's Fight.

Alas, it wasn't to be, as Mist took that moment to detach himself from his hiding spot and strike at me with his matched scimitar and dagger in a flurry of blows. I managed to parry one on Aremeg's Wisdom and the dagger rebounded off of the Family Armor of Clan Kumato. However, a third strike, which I hadn't been expecting, bit deep into the back of my knee as Mist dropped his scimitar low to slice the tendons in the back of my right leg. I toppled to the ground, feeling the strength in my right leg just give out from the sudden sneak attack as I felt my body physically slow down from the attack. At the same time, my leg felt like fire had just injected into my veins. The smell of overripe fruit pervaded my nostrils as Mist stood over my prone form.

"Do you like it? One of my contacts down in Chult managed to pick it up for me. I believe the locals call it Ts'ous. It's quite a deadly poison." Smirked Mist.

I tried to struggle to my feet, but my blood was on fire and I couldn't get any strength in my right leg. I grit my teeth trying to power through, but barely managed to shove myself up to a kneeling position, breathing hard and sweating beneath my armor as the fire burned me up inside.

"It's a mix of Cobra Venom and several poisonous plant extracts the sort of which are only found in the Green Hell that passes for countryside in Chult. Once it's introduced into your bloodstream, it burns you up inside. Mind you, you're likely strong enough to handle it, or you were before my surprise attack hit you, at any rate." Gloated Mist.

I couldn't hear him, I was burning up, I had to get the fire out somehow, had to sweat it out. In my desperation, I did the only thing I could think to do at the time. I called on the power hidden inside Aremeg's Fury to try to use the roiling, angry, steam within to sweat the poison out. Unfortunately, in my suddenly delirious state, I could barely aim the blade. The line that would have resulted, instead billowed out around both Mist and Myself. Fortunately, my position on the floor afforded me enough cover to avoid the worst of the burning. Mist wasn't quite so lucky.

"Gah! Cyric flay you alive!" Spat Mist as he took the full brunt of the steam to the face.

As Mist Staggered backward from the sudden parboiling of his face, swearing up and down to his Dark God, he wandered right into a Lightning Bolt from Janessa that speared him through his right side and out through his left. However, that allowed me the time I needed to collect myself, the steam fortifying me somehow and allowing me to throw off the grip of the Ts'ous Poison. I was barely alive, clinging to life by my fingernails, but as Mist turned to face Janessa, I was able to thrust Aremeg's Fury up and through the gap in his leather armor's armpit. Unlike the leather cuirass, this gap was protected by a simple cloth gambeson. My blade bit deep into Mist's side.

Then I collapsed to the floor, utterly spent. . .

XXXX

I woke up what seemed like moments later, but was actually long enough for Selima to begin healing me, to find that my Companions had finished the battle down here while I'd been unconscious. I looked up to see Selima nodding at me, a weary smile on her face.

"How long?" I questioned.

"Long enough for us to finish the job." Grunted Erik. He was sporting a fresh scar on his scalp.

"Indeed. You managed to wound Wavemistress Aud enough that Erik and Janessa were able to handle her while you were dealing with the Assassin. Once the Assassin had been slain, it was just a matter of time before the Blackguard and Orc went down as well." Nodded Shavariel.

"I'm tapped for most spells above the second circle, though." Informed Janessa.

"And with this last bit of healing, I unfortunately am also dry outside of cantrips. Fortunately, we only require my cantrips to ruin the Smokepowder." Nodded Selima.

"Who else was wounded?" I queried.

"Everyone. Those were no milksops." Scoffed Erik.

"True enough. When we're done here, we'll be down to potions and martial capabilities to cut our way out through the Waveguards." Informed Shavariel.

"We could try holding this position. Let the Jarl come to us." I suggested.

"Indeed? And what message would that send?" Asked Selima.

"That we know our limitations." I huffed.

"Yeah, maybe. Or maybe we look weak to an Island full of raiders." Pointed out Janessa.

"Right. Should've thought of that." I grumbled.

"The good news is that the Prince and Jarl ought to be getting their forces ready to face the Waveguard and Lesser Priests now. That was the plan, at least." Opined Erik.

"Yeah? And just what about all this has gone to plan so far?" Demanded Janessa.

"Either way, we will not find a solution bickering amongst ourselves." Insisted Shavariel.

"Shavariel is correct. Besides, our task is not yet finished." Reminded Selima.

"Right." I grunted, sitting up. "Selima, go conjure the water you need to ruin the Smokepowder. Everyone else, police what gear we can from the Enemy now, because once we break out, we'll be moving non-stop for the Prince and Jarl's Forces."

"I would expect no less. I for one am eager to fight beside my Prince once more." Huffed Erik.

As it happened, we collected plenty of Gear. Unfortunately, I only had time to identify a few pieces before we had to move out. Primarily, the matched dagger and scimitar set of Mist, Mist's Bracers, Hood, and Leather Armor. What I learned didn't fill me with much confidence.

The Bracers were the Bands of the Citadel, a pair of dark brown leather, brass-studded, bracers that were once one of the items stored in the Armory of the Citadel of Assassins in Damara. Thought lost on a job somewhere, they had actually been stolen by a Young Mist who had been acting on Orders of the Black Network to infiltrate the Citadel and discern if they would be useful allies to the Zhentarim or not. They gave the user the ability to utilize sneak attacks as if he were one step more adept at them than he currently was.

Meanwhile, the Hood was the Hood of the Roof-Crawler. It had formerly belonged to a Calimshite Assassin who was known for being able to get the drop on his targets, somewhat literally, as he tended to attack from above. When he was finally slain, the Assassin, Known only as the Roof-Crawler, was interred with the Hood in his tomb. The Tomb lay undisturbed for centuries until it was opened by a band of grave robbers in the Year of Sinking Sails, Eleven-Eighty Dale Reckoning.

The leader of these grave robbers, a Man named Ismail, attempted to use the powers of the hood to assassinate the Pasha of the El Kahmir Crime Family of Manshaka only to discover that while the Hood granted power, it did not make him automatically a skilled assassin. He was slain and the Hood passed down through the El Kahmir Pashas until it disappeared in the chaos of the Darkstalker Wars.

The Hood of the Roof-Crawler granted its bearer the ability to Spider-Climb at Will, Cast Feather Fall Three Times Per Day, and gave the ability to see in total darkness up to a range of one hundred fifty feet.

Meanwhile, Mist's Armor was the Armor of Night's Freedom. It was crafted for a Zhentarim Assassin who was posted to Port Nyanzaru in Chult for a long while named Armond Shadekiller. Armond sought Armor that would allow him to avoid the perpetual snares and entanglements that plagued the jungles of Chult and spent his ill-gotten gold on commissioning this set of Plus Three, Shadowed, Leather Armor of Freedom of Movement. Unfortunately, on his first night out with the armor, Armond ran afoul of Yuan-Ti, who slew him and took the armor for themselves. The Yuan-Ti kept the Armor, alongside Armond's Mummified Skull, until Mist was sent to negotiate the return of the Armor, which he proceeded to keep for himself.

Mist being familiar with the Yuan-Ti likely explained the matched Scimitar and Dagger. They were the Fangs of Merrshaulk. Signature Weapons of the Yuan-Ti Champion of the Arena in the Shrine of Fangs in Chult, a Yuan-Ti Abomination known only as Ssreng. Mist was forced to duel the Champion to prove his worth and slew Ssreng in the process, claiming the Fangs of Merrshaulk and Armond's Armor of Night's Freedom as his prize.

Aside from being Plus Three, Keen, Adamantine Weapons, the Fangs of Merrshaulk contained internal reservoirs that replenished themselves each day with a Yuan-Ti Poison on command. The Scimitar could also cause a target hit with it to be Slowed three times per day, while the Dagger could drain the health of a dying enemy as if the wielder had used the Death Knell Spell.

Unfortunately, that was all I had time to suss out before having to swiftly bag up the magic items along with everything else I hadn't yet identified. Selima had finished watering the Smokepowder Cache to the point of uselessness, and now we would have to move. Nodding at my Companions, we formed up and headed out of the underground chamber, up the stairs, and out of the shack, through the wooded area out behind the Priestly Quarters.

What we found was a scene of Chaos as two large longships, the Iron Drakon and Bloody Spear, were moored off the coast, their crews fighting with summoned Giant Fiendish Sharks and Water Elementals. On shore, Waveguards of Umberlee under the command of Lieutenant Skellan clashed with Warriors of Jannathstaad under the Command of Magnus Ullrsson and Jarl Finehair. All around, men and women were fighting and dying.

Steeling ourselves, we plunged into that hellscape, hoping to link up with the Prince and Jarl and finally, be done with the Umberlant Threat to this Island. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here's the next chapter. It turns out, when you gear up an Assassin properly, you can get the party's shit rocked in one hit if you're not careful. Robar was literally taken down to a single HP from that surprise attack. Meanwhile, Shavariel was getting her shit rocked by Bjorn pretty hard. If Robar hadn't managed to counter Wavemistress Aud early on and then stall Mist for a few rounds, this would have been a party wipe.

At any rate, the next chapter will be the wider battle and sweeping up the Umberlants in Jannathstaad.

Stay tuned. . .