Welcome to Gaia! ::

Li'Ara groaned as she sat up, holding her head, her blurred vision slowly clearing. She was on a beach. Bodies and wreckage littered the sand. Scanning the surrounding more, the drow's gaze fell upon a squid looking ship.

"Vith," she muttered to herself. Was she on that thing? She couldn't remember. She couldn't remember anything. Every time Li'Ara tried to, there was nothing but a pounding headache as if someone was using her skull like a mortar and pestle to turn her brain to paste. "Hello!" She called out. "Any survivors?"

No answer.
The drow began walking, the first few steps were shaky, but soon became steady. The nautiloid was broken into pieces. Bodies of mind flayers, intellect devourers and thrall scattered around.
What happened? She wondered. Was she on it?
Again, she tried to remember, only for the same results as before. Nothingness and a pounding headache.

Shaking her head, Li'Ara continued investigating the crash site. Suddenly, faint pleas for help filled her mind and her body moved against her will.
Laying on the fleshy, broken floor further in was a mind flayer, pinned beneath a chitin support beam. Its hand weakly reached out towards her. Emotions flooded her thoughts. Love and compassion. The illithid manipulating her to move closer in an attempt to feed... Until an intrusive thought flitter in her mind. Images of its squishy flesh splattering and bones crunching danced in her mind's eye. Once the thought passed, the creature was dead. Its skull crushed beneath her foot. Li'Ara simply walked away without any remorse.

An hour of walking in silence, Li'Ara heard pounding and a woman demanding to be let in. Upon approach, the woman turned in a huff before her eyes widen in fear at the sight.

"A drow?" The half-elf drew her mace and shield, ready to attack.
"I'm not here to fight," Li'Ara said, raising her hands to chest height as she froze in place. "I'm just trying to figure out what's going on."
"Were you on the ship?" the woman asked. "Are you infected, too?"
"Infected?" the drow questioned. Her face twitched in confusion. "I.. I don't know. I just woke up nearby and I can't remember anything."

As if on cue, both women's faces scrunch in pain as images play in their minds. First of the cleric banging on a pod to get out of it then of the drow waking up moments after the ship had crashed as if she was dumped by someone or something else.

"Well," the half elf groaned, shaking her head. "That answered my question. But you weren't on the ship?" She turned away in thought as Li'Ara stepped up to the heavy wooden door, slider hands searching for a way to open it. The cleric noticed and called to it. "The latch is rusted shut. We'll have to find another way."
Nodding in agreement, Li'Ara stepped away before turning. "If you're coming with me. Let's go."
"I'm Shadowheart, by the way," the brunette said, following the dark elf.
"Huh?" the drow glanced back.
"My name? It's Shadowheart."
"Oh.. I'm Li'Ara."


: : : :


The women made their way up the path in silence, going through more wreckage of the nautilod, dispatching any surviving intellect devourers

"So... You're a warlock?" Shadowheart asked after watching Li'Ara fight.
"I'm whatever I need to be in the moment." Li'Ara replied before muttering to herself. "At least according to the fleeting thoughts."

Their attention was then drawn to a man calling for help. A high elf going off of his height and a member of high society going off his attire. The man noticed them and hurried over to them.

"Thank the gods you're here!" he said. "I saw one of those brain things over there in those bushes."
Li'Ara looked over his shoulder towards the foliage then sized up the elf.
"I'm sure you can handle it yourself. But fine."
The drow walked by, heading for the bush when a boar suddenly scurried away.

Just as I thought.

Just as a flash of a dagger appeared in the corner of her eye, Li'Ara gripped the elf's wrist as he went to hold her at knife point and flipped him over her shoulder, holder his weapon arm out in one hand and brandishing her own dagger against his throat with the other as he laid on the ground. The thought of how pretty he would look as a blood soak corpse flitted around her mind, but she shook it away.

"That was the oldest trick in the book, elf!" She mocked.
"Why you-!" He growled. The drow then twisted his wrist that still gripped the blade, causing him to his in pain. "Fine! Fine! I yield! I'm sorry!"
Only when he dropped the dagger, did Li'Ara let go and helped him to his feet.
"I only want answers," he said holding his throat, feeling a thin line of blood. "What did those... Things do to us?"

"They put worms inside us," Shadowheart chimed in. "I fear they might turn us into one of them."
"One of-" He suddenly burst into laughter, holding his head before throwing his hands up. "Of course it'll turn me into a monster!" He looked back at the women and gave a theatrical bow. "I'm Astarion."
"Shadowheart and she's Li'Ara." The cleric pointed up the road to the drow.

Li'Ara had already sheathed her dagger and continued on during shadowheart's explanation. Hearing her name, she looked over her shoulder at them. "Are you coming? I don't want to wait until we're sprouting tentacles."

"Not very social, is she?" Astarian whispered to Shadowheart who only shrugged.
"What's wrong with a little mystery?" She replied as they hurried to catch up with their strange companion.

It wasn't long before the three came across a sigil with a swirling portal. They approached it as an arm thrust toward them, waving frantically.
"A hand please?" came a voice from within the portal.

The companions looked at each other before Li'Ara stepped forward. Then something suddenly changed. Astarion noticed the drow's expression changed from curious and cautious to blank as she drew her dagger. She grasped the hand and brought the blade to the wrist, preparing to saw it off until Shadowheart grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"What are you doing? Cutting his arm off won't help him," the cleric said.
"Cutting my what?" came the voice, slightly panicked.
"Astarion, help me." Shadowhearts moved Li'Ara aside and gripped the arm. Astarion followed and they both tugged hard.

The drow stepped away, looking down at her blade before sliding it back into its scabbard. What just happened? One moment, she heard a man ask for help and the next, Shadowheart was stopping her. Did she black out for a moment? Gods she wished this headache would go away. Her companions' voices sounded a million miles away as her ears rang.

Once the wazard was free, Astarion noticed the dark elf crouch down, holding her head. He looked towards the cleric and wizard as Shadowheart filled him in to the current events.
"I'm sorry to interrupt... Gale, was it? But perhaps we should find a place to rest? We've all went through hell. Some literally and I for one am quite tired."
"You're quite right," said Gale, wagging a finger. "I believe there's an old chapel nearby we can holed up for the night."
"Perfect," Astarion said sarcastically before going over to Li'Ara, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, darling." The sudden touch caused the drow to flinch. Her pinkish red eyes darting around like a terrified animal. The elf felt her body trembling as he helped her to her feet, while continuing to speak. "Our wizard friend has us a place to rest. Gods know you need it. You're about to gnaw through your own tongue."
"I'm fine," Li'Ara said, getting a better hold of herself. She tried pulling her arm away, but he kept a firm grip as they followed Gale.


: : : :


With the chapel cleaned out of raiders and camp set up, the group settled down for the night. Li'Ara woke up with a start in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat. She frantically looked around the dark and damp building. It smelt musty and Gale's snores filled its stone halls. The drow got to her feet and walked further in the chapel, finding the crypt during her exploration in an attempt to calm down. The fight with the grave rubber had settle the intrusive thoughts for the time being. But the nightmares of a sea of red, bodies and organs floating as she waded through in bliss disturbed her more than anything. Was this Lolth's doing? Has she displeased the queen of spiders? One of her children perhaps? Or was there another god at play? Someone crueler.
Li'Ara desperately wished she could remember her life from before waking up on the beach.

The drow paid little attention as to where she was going, too deep in thought until something caught her gaze. A statue. The head was missing but the rest seemed to be of a man writing on a scroll.
Gale had found a magic bound book with a list of long forgotten gods hours ago. One stuck out...

Jergal.

Was this his temple once upon a time?

Li'Ara soon found herself in front of a sarcophagus. The room filled with ornate chests and vases. Some broken, all caked in dust and cobwebs.
A slender hand barely touched the lid of the sarcophagus when the marble slid open and a boney hand gripped the ledge. The drow gasped and stepped back, reaching for her weapons just to realize she had left them back at camp.

"s**t," she mumbled as a robed corpse adorn with a gold head piece rose from the sarcophagus and elegantly landed in front of her. His voice soft and soothing. But Li'Ara didn't understand what he was saying. Not until he repeated, this time with annoyance.

"Shall I ask again?"
The dark elf shook her head. "S-sorry?"
"What is the value of a mortal life?"
"Uh.. Each life is worth the same?" Li'Ara said the first thing that came to mind.
The mummy nodded. "In death that is true. Very well. I am satisfied. We shall meet again when the time right." He bowed his head and walked out of the chamber to the main section where the statue stood.

The drow watched the being roam around as it gathered a few scrolls and books before she made her way back to the others.

The heavy oak door swung open then close as quietly as possible. Astarion turned once the door latched to find everyone asleep save for Li'Ara who emerged from the dark hallway.
"Oh! Hello, my dear. Off for a nightly stroll?" The elf remarked before noticing how pale the dark elf was. "What's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Li'Ara shook her head. "N-nothing. We should get going."



: : : : :



Within the hour, the rest of the group was awake, and the camp was packed up. Within the next 2, they came across a pair of tieflings talking amongst themselves about what to do with the githyanki woman in a suspended cage. Li'Ara let the others go ahead, knowing all too well the likely hood of them wanting a fight at the sight of a drow.

The tieflings attention turned from the gith as Gale called out to them. The male greeted them just as the gith telepathically demanded to be freed. Li'Ara groaned in pain at the intrusion.

"Damays!" the female called out in fear after noticing the dark elf holding her head. "An under elf!"
"Weapons up, Nymessa!" the one called Damays said.
The pair drew their weapons as Gale moved to block their view of Li'Ara.
"Easy now," he said, holding his arms up. "We mean no harm! My friend here suffers headaches. We seek a healer then we'll be on our way. "

The pair looked at each other before begrudgingly sheathed their weapons. Damays spoke again.
"Halsin left with some mercenaries. But Nettie should be able to help. We'll go ahead to let everyone know you're coming. Just follow the road."
Nymessa eyes darted from the drow to the gith.
"Are you sure about this, Damays?"
"I'm sure. Let them handle it."

Both Gale and Shadowheart sighed in relief as Li'Ara looked up at the gith before mumbling a cantrip under her breath and a fire bolt struck the rope holding the cage high, burning the fibers until it snapped a moment later, dropping the cage.

The gith landed gracefully as the cage shatters, only to scoff. "About time."
Astarion crossed his arms. "A thank you would be nice. You nearly caused a fight."
The gith scoffs again. "You expect a wyvern to bow to worms? Once we find a creche and be rid of these parasites, that will be my thanks."
"Parasites?" Gale asked "You're infected, too? Will this creche actually work?"
The gith only turned and began going the way of the tieflings went, ignoring the human.



: : : :



There was shouting as the grove neared the grove. A group of humans along with the pair of tieflings from before were calling up to the others guarding the gate.

"Kanon, please!" cried Nymessa. "They're coming!"
The tiefling at the wheel that opened and closed the gate nervously looked around, torn to let them in or wait. Soon, an older tiefling appeared at the railing.
"What's going on?" he asked. "Where's the druid?"
One of the human men answered. "Goblins!" He pulled an arrow free from the other man's shield. "They took the druid! They're coming, Zevlor! Let us in!"
"They're here! Damays cried.

Roughly a score of goblins came running downhill with several worges at their sides. Goblin bowmen draw back as the rest of the force charged in. One archer suddenly burst into flames, drawing a few of the others attention just for them to get a crossbow bolt in the eye from Shadowheart as she moved to a better advantage spot. Gale and Li'Ara continued casting, causing the attackers to break formation. Lae'zel cleaved and stabbed her way through to stand with the refugees. Astarion's daggers danced and twirled as he followed the gith woman.
The tiefling archers joined in. Arrows finding flesh, fur and shield alike.

Li'Ara heard screams from behind. Turning, the warlock saw a trio of goblins. Two charging Gale as he worked, and one went for her. Quickly stepped to intercept while drawing her own dagger. She stabbed the one charging her in the chest, spun, pulling her blade free, grabbing another goblin and slitting his throat in one swift motion before plunging the steel into the third's back. Gale finished his spell and turned to counter the charge just in time to see the drow free her weapon from the body. A look of enjoyment painted on her delicate features
"You alright?" she asked and Gale nodded his thanks.

Cheers drew their attention as shouts for the gate to be opened. The group gathered around the entrance. The ground soaked in blood as bodies of goblin and their beasts laid scattered.

The heavy stone scraped and groaned as it raised. Zevlor and the archers hurried out. The latter hastily scavenged the bodies, retrieving anything of use along with their arrows while Zevlor ushered everyone inside.

Once everybody safely in the grove, Zevlor confronted the mercenaries.
"You led them here! There are children, you fool!" he shouted.
"We were running for our lives and you were going to let us die!" The mercenary shouted back.
Li'Ara stepped between them. "Enough! They're dead and you're all alive."
The human shoved Li'Ara out of the way. "Butt out, drow! I never asked for your help!"
"You show that woman respec-" Zevlor started to defend Li'Ara when a dark-skinned fist came between them, connecting with the man's chin, knocking him to the ground.
"It's a good thing I wasn't helping you."

The other two mercs rushed over to their companion, lifting him up, slung his arms over their shoulders and dragged him further inside for him to wake up as the party watched Li'Ara, impressed by her reaction.

The tiefling looked at the drow once the humans were out of ear shot.
"Thank you for your quick action. If not for you all, I don't know what would have happened. Out there or in here. If there's anything I can do."
"We need a healer," Shadowheart said, "and supplies."

Zevlor nods and tells them where to look when Lae'zel stepped forward.
"Tell me where I can find this Zorru that the ones at the gate spoke of"
The tiefling looked at the githyanki with confusion and concern. Gale placed a hand on her shoulder as he explained.
"She's looking for her people and rumors have it, this Zorru fellow may have seen them."
Lae'zel rolled her eyes and brushed the wizard's hand from her shoulder. Zevlor only shook his head.
"He's somewhere inside. I don't know where. We're busy getting ready for when the druids kick us out."

The warrior scoffed and walked past. Gale could only sigh.
"Guess I'll go help her," he says, before chasing after the gith. "Before she does anything brash."

Shadowheart throws her hands up in disgust. "I'm going to get us some supplies. Astarion, why don't you take Li'Ara to see Nettie, was it?"

"It'd be my pleasure," the elf remarked
Satisfied, the cleric left the elves to their task as she went to do her own. Astarion looked back at Li'Ara, holding out his hand. The drow snickered and gently push by him. She took 2 steps before Zevlor called out to her.

"If it means anything.. I think you're brave for not hiding your heritage." The tiefling smiled sincerely then turned away, returning to his duties.

The elves just stared after him. Li'Ara didn't know how to take the comment. Going off his smile, he meant no disrespect, but it felt laced with ignorance.

"Well.." Astarion began. "I don't know if I should be insulted for you."
The drow shrugs. "Let's go see if we can do something about these worms."



: : : :



Within the sanctuary of the grove, the druids and their familiars watched the pair intently, still leery of them despite hearing about their help protecting the grove. The tieflings were bad enough, but now there's a drow? Silvanus help them.

The elves reached Nettie's chambers. The gold dwarf glanced up when she heard the stone slab grind open.
"Be with you in just a moment," she called.
Astarion scanned the chamber. "Well, this is um.. Quaint." He caught a glimpse at the healer leaning over a corpse of a young adolescent drow as if doing surgery. He nervously glanced at Li'Ara, uncertain how she would react. If the dark elf was bothered by the sight, she didn't show it.

The druid grabbed a pair of long tweezers and placed it to the dead drow's eye. Carefully, she moved the eyeball to the side of its socket and with a high pitch screech, pulled the writhing tadpole free.

"There we go," Nettie said more to herself then anyone as she dropped the parasite in a glass jar. "Master Halsin will be pleased." The dwarf quickly sealed the jar before giving her attention to the elves. Her eyes widen, darting between Li'Ara and the body. "Oh! Hello. I-it's not what it looks like. He attacked me. I-I had to -"

Li'Ara raised her hands to calm the druid down. "It's alright. We're just here to see if you can do anything about.." The drow pointed to her head.
"Oh?" Nettie asked. "You're infected, too? Just how many did they take?"
"A lot by how it seems," Astarion added.
"There's 5 of us so far." Li'Ara continued.

Nettie nods and strolled over to a stone slab containing bottle, tools, books, and herbs. She offered them a seat as she rummaged through the contents, producing a stick with thorns that she quickly hid behind her back as she turned to face them.
The healer began asking a series of questions. Astarion was hesitant to answer truthfully, but Li'Ara answered honestly. Nettie seemed to relax, setting the stick aside and held out a vial of green liquid.

"Master Halsin knows more than I and is better suited to help you remove your little friends. But.. He left with a group of mercenaries a while ago."
"You mean the group that my beautiful friend here punched at the gate?" Astarion remarked which in turn gain him a glare from Li'Ara.
"What?" Nettie asked, eyes filled with concern.
Li'Ara sighed. "We followed a pair of tieflings here and ran into a group of humans that were being chased by goblins. After the latter was dealt with, Zevlor was asking them what happened to the druid."

Nettie covered her mouth, stricken with panic as she used the slab for support. Astarion shifted uncomfortably as if he hates seeing people cry. Li'Ara heaved another sigh and stood up.

"I'll go look for him," she said, causing the elf to snap his attention to her. She ignored his questioning gaze. "We need him, so.."
The dwarf's eyes lit up with renewed hope. "Thank you. This grove needs his guidance as well. I'll be forever grateful. But promise me one thing." Nettie gently grabbed the drow's hand, placed the vial in her palm and closed her fingers around it. "If you feel any changes - anything odd at all. You will take this."
Li'Ara examined the glass container. The drow recognized the shade and thick consistency somehow. She looked at Nettie. "Wyvern venom?"
The druid nodded and the dark elf gripped the vial then nodded in return.
"You must promise me!" Nettie insisted.
"You have my word, Nettie. I'll drink it the second I feel a shift."
"You what?" Astarion questioned. "Have you lost your mind?!"
Li'Ara gave the magistrate a sincere glance that made his expression even more confused as if there was another meaning behind it. The drow's attention returned to the dwarf.
"May I ask something... Concerning?" Nettie tilted her head slightly then nodded as the drow continued. "I have no memories, but I have knowledge to things like the venom. Every time I try to remember, I just see red and a pounding headache."
"And she nearly hacked off someone's hand," Astarion added.

The healer took a moment to think. In the end, all Nettie could do was shake her head. "It's possible that the tadpole could be doing it, but I don't know."
Li'Ara flinched at the elf's words, still wondering what came over her. The druid's answer didn't make her feel any better. Bowing her head in appreciation, the dark elf left the chamber with the high elf in tow.

Leaving the inner sanctuary to meet up with the rest party in the part of the grove the refugees had set up camp, something caught Li'Ara's eye. A violin on a table among other odds and ends for sale.
Slender fingers traced the modest yet delicate design etched into polished wood as a fragmented memory came to mind.
Her younger self standing in a garden, playing a lullaby on a violin. Two people sat on a bench, proudly watching. Their features shrouded in darkness but they seemed happy.

The faintest tug on her belt followed by "Oh no you don't!" snapped her back to reality. Looking over, she saw Astarion holding a crying, pale tiefling girl by the scruff of her shirt while a darker tiefling boy yelling at the elf to let her go.
Li'Ara knelt down in front of the girl, speaking softly. "What's your name?"
The girl's eyes darted around in fear, tears streaming down her cheeks. The drow knew they were genuine. Now if only it's from her choking on her own blood..
The thought unsettled Li'Ara, but her smile never wavered.

Astarion silently watched the scene unfold. People were easy to read, easy to manipulate. No matter the race. He had done so for so long, it was second nature to him. But this one... He couldn't read her. One moment, she's distant, slightly crazed. The next, she's scolding and giving tips to a child like a loving mother. This one was definitely different from what he knew drow to be He'd have to change his tactics. The others within the group would probably be easier to manipulate. Easier, but would it be as fun? The drow was unpredictable, more so than to be expected for her kind, and he could use her unpredictability to his advantage.

He caught her pink eyes and a subtle nod. That sincere smile still tugging on her lips. The elf's hand slowly uncurled and raised, letting the girl go. The tiefling children ran off, giggling. Astarion could only sigh as he offered his hand to the kneeling drow.
"Careful, darling. Your kindness could be seen as weakness."
Li'Ara could only laugh at his words as she accepted his help. He was right. Kindness was weakness to certain people. But show kindness to the right ones, they'd be willing to do nearly anything.



: : : :



The party left the grove soon after meeting back up with each other. Both Lae'zel and Shadowheart weren't too eager to go looking for this Master Halsin. The former really emphasizing how important finding her creché was.

With about an hour of reassurance, the gith swore to herself and the group was on their way.

The trek was long with the hot mid-day sun. The day felt warmer than the one before. Their bodies burning through the hearty potage the elderly tiefling woman offered them before they set out on their journey and their bellies began to growl.

"Perhaps we should rest?" Gale offered. "This goblin camp should only be a couple hours away. Might be best to strike at night? Mystra knows how many there are."
Shadowheart agreed with the wizard while Lae'zel sneered. Astarion just shifted uneasily.
Li'Ara took a moment to think the best option, then nods. The group stepped off the path for a more hidden advantage point in case there's a scouting party.

They found a shallow cave big enough to set up camp till nightfall. Shadowheart and Li'Ara went to collect something to block the entrance from any curious eyes. In their search, they stumbled upon a dead boar. The cleric knelt down and examined it.
"That's strange," she remarked as Li'Ara joined her, combing back bristle-like fur for injuries. "Puncture marks on its throat. But no ripping or tearing anywhere."

"This wasn't done by an animal," the dark elf said. She grabbed a leg and tried to move it. It never budged. "Happened sometime last night so the meat's not viable." The drow looked back over her shoulder in thought, calculating. "Took us 2 hours to get to the grove from the temple. So roughly 3 hours and the sun were already up when he came in..."
The half elf cocked her head, barely hearing the muttering. "What are you thinking? When who came in?"

The drow shook her head. "Probably nothing. We should be careful, though."
Shadowheart reluctantly nodded and the women returned to the group, dragging some branches to use as cover.

They told the group about the boar once the blind was set. Everyone began speculating as Li'Ara noticed the magistrate's unease.
"What's your take on this, Astarion?" she asked.
The pale elf snapped to her as if she was accusing. "Why would I know anything about this?"

There. The drow was giving him the same look she gave the children. That gentle, motherly expression. He hated it. How can one be on the edge of madness yet have a gentleness to them? Astarion sighed in exasperation.

"Fine.. It sounds like a vampire. Foul and vicious things. I.. Heard some of the tieflings mentioned it as we were leaving the grove."
"Chk! And you never thought to tell us?" Lae'zel scolded.
"I didn't want to alarm anyone, alright? It's bad enough our friend here has breakdowns due to her headaches."

Li'Ara only shrugged in acceptance. She didn't even understand the reason for the headaches or thoughts.
The conversation was cut short by a sharp pain and images of Avernus played in their minds. Distant shouting that was quickly growing louder soon followed.
Shadowheart growled. "I really wish these tadpoles would stop including us in other people's problems!"

Li'Ara and Gale were already moving the shroud to go outside where they saw a human holding a rapier at a tiefling.

"I ******** told you, I'm not a monster!" The tiefling shouted, erupting into flames. This caught the drow a wizard off-guard as the rest came out of the cave.
Li'Ara stepped between the man and woman as another vision flooded everyone's thoughts. The man suddenly swore and lowered his blade.
"I was told I'd only be going after devils!"

It took some time for the pair to calm and settle on a deal before apologizing to the group. After everything was explained and introductions made, Karlache and Wyll joined to help rescue the druid.



: : : :



The remaining daylight was spent planning and resting. They heard this goblin camp was once a temple to Seluné, much to Shadowheart's displeasure.
Wyll looked at her. "Only people I've ever heard the moon goddess so much are followers of Shar."
Shadowheart glared at him. "And what if I am? Do you have a problem with it?"
Wyll held up his hands in defense. "Sorry. I meant no ill intent. Just an observation."

Silence soon fell over the camp until it was time to set their plan into motion, finishing the final stretch of the trek, reaching the temple at nightfall.