Before my followers could blast the undead to bits I raised a hand to stop them.
"What is it now?" Shadowheart sighed.
'Already growing on you, am I?' I chuckled inwardly.
The rest were tense but didn't immediately charge in.
"A fine evening to you, gentlemen." I smiled and turned to the skeletons "And ladies." I quickly added at a pair to my left "I believe I am expected?"
The two closest to the center of their semicircle stepped away from each other and indicated for me to pass.
"Mighty kind of you." I thanked cheerfully and walked through, though as I did the duo flanked me and followed after me.
But before the rest could follow the semicircle was closed again and one of the undead raised a silent hand, the message obvious.
Once more I found myself preempting any violence "Just wait there," I gave them a wave "Do try not to weep too much if this is all an elaborate trap."
"The loss would break us." Astarion said dramatically "Surely."
"You'd cope." I snorted and followed the aura of my host.
Though out of the corner of my eye, as I observed the ancient statue depicting the temple's patron, I noticed a barely legible plaque with only the title still not ravaged by time, it said 'Jergal, Scribe of the Dead.'
As we reached a seemingly dead end behind the main hall, the duo passed me by and one of them pressed some kind of button on the wall, making it split to the sides and revealing a private tomb.
It looked to be obviously important but the few effects inside also made it seem almost purposefully humble, holding only a few items items that looked more to be personal offerings than anything of true value and a few stone benches carved for visitors.
The two skeletons bowed their heads and left the chamber, taking positions at the sides of the passage.
"How polite." I hummed and approached the sarcophagus, from which the divine aura emanated.
Since it was only right I returned the courtesy, I bowed my head before the tomb "Greetings."
That seemed to do it as bright green flames lit up around the sarcophagus and the lid slid off on its own, a desiccated but not yet skeletal undead covered in ceremonial golden bands, and clad in surprisingly intact deep blue robes levitating out of it on his own power.
The divine power he radiated was highly contained but unmistakable to my sight. This was either some kind of high priest judging by how distant he felt from the full weight of his domain, or some kind of long forgotten deity itself.
His blank black eyes snapped open, and in silence he levitated down in front of me, his steps too sure for someone who was stuck inside a tomb for who knows how long as he stopped only a short distance away from me, the green flames shutting off behind him.
"Curious." His lightly grinding voice echoed "He hast spoken one would stand before me, yet I did not expect it would be one such as thee."
"How flattering." I smirked at the eerily calm lich "Who were you expecting then?"
His answer was as flat as his look "Mortals."
"That's fair" I pointed a thumb behind me "Those would probably be the unfortunates behind me."
"And yet thou hast inserted thyself into their path." The being hummed, neither judging nor approving "Time flows ever onwards indeed."
"Not going to lambast me for daring to step in the way of divine prophesy?" I quirked an eyebrow "Does my interference not ruin your plans for them?"
"What an odd question." The undead noted "What will happen will happen, I stand merely to observe."
"And record mayhaps?" I quirked an eyebrow.
"It is one of mine duties." He inclined his head solemnly "Yet mine awakening can only be for one reason, and far travelers such as thee oft bring great upheaval with them."
His divine aura spiked, just hard enough to make sure I understood the underlying threat "I would know thine intent in these lands. Seek thou to conquer and plunder? Or is thine visitation its own purpose?"
"The latter, I am afraid." I responded with a shrug "Too much conquest tires anyone."
"I see." He closed his eyes for a long moment and opened them again "Thou speaketh truth, for now."
"You do know there is a way to cheat those kinds of divinations, right?" I deadpanned.
"Why argue against thyself?" He mused, voice still utterly neutral "It is not thine words but the echoes of thine being that sayeth the truth. The perception will come in time, as all things ever do."
'Did we just get skill issued?' Scorch chirped in.
'I believe we just did.'
'Fuck.'
"Right" I let out a wry chuckle "Apologies, do go on."
"There is naught else of import to discuss." He said "Yet I have a question for thee, spirit of ashes, if you would answer."
"Only if I can ask one in turn." Was my immediate response.
"Very well." He nodded slowly "Answer me this: What is the worth of a single mortal life?"
I cupped my chin, and considered it briefly.
"Entirely subjective, as unfortunate as that may sound." Was the only answer I could honestly give "Both the mortal themselves and those around them give it worth, otherwise we are as worthless as dust."
The desiccated head tilted at this "Thou wouldst equate thine life to that of a mortal?"
"All that begins." I repeated that favored phrase "Must end. All."
The lich-like being considered me for a long few moments, before once more solemnly inclining his head "It is indeed so." He said, once more facing me "Now ask thine question."
I had already concluded that I was in fact speaking to the Jergal represented in the temple, being in his presence for so long removed all other options, and asking him something basic I could learn outside would have been a waste.
And so only one question remained "Why awaken now?"
He let out a hum at that, one that was still mostly neutral but carried just the slightest echo of both annoyance and grudging approval "Mine successors fail in their duties." He spoke after a full ten seconds, and then just stopped.
"Not getting any more from you, am I?" I grumbled.
He just stared at me.
"Alright, alright." I raised my hands in faux surrender "Mind if we take over the top floor for the night?"
"Thou may do as thou will." He said "I must remain here for a time, and tend to this place. We will reconvene when the hour is right."
As I turned to leave his voice stopped me "A request for thee."
Turning around with a raised eyebrow I asked "Yes?"
"Do not spread thine conclusions to any other." He said with gravity "An allowance exists for beings such as thee, but mortals have no business in knowing the divine."
"Just so long as you don't demand I pretend I am not myself." I shrugged and hearing no response, I left the crypt.
The two skeletons shut the way behind me and soon I rejoined the rest of the group, most of whom showed some kind of relief upon seeing me.
"Didn't miss me too much, I hope?" I spoke up, and the skeletons retreated to the edges of the chamber "We have permission to stay in the upper sections, but after that we should probably leave."
"Excellent." Gale sighed in relief "I was dreading another hike."
"Weak." The Gith hissed to herself.
I ignored their questioning looks as we ascended the temple, and they began setting up camp, myself conjuring a nice fluffy armchair enchanted to hell and back and summoning forth a mug of steaming coffee alongside a large thick novel to consume.
"So." Astarion, who hadn't bothered with a tent stepped out from the corner of the room he had been skulking in "Not going to share?"
"Do I look like your personal luxury dispensary?" I deadpanned "Find your own."
"How cruel." He drawled in his overly sensual tone, making my eye twitch "I am curious, what did you find down there?"
"A long dead god that wanted to have tea with the only civilized being in the room, obviously." I deadpanned.
He smiled wryly at that "Alright, keep your secrets."
"Ask your real question then." I rolled my eyes.
He looked around the room first, and then lowered his voice "You know about my..."
"The fact your diet is a bit on the cooked overly rare side?" I quirked an eyebrow.
"Quite." He exhaled.
My gauntlet disappeared and I raised my hand towards him "Going to ask me for a bite?" I drawled, my gaze growing cold as I looked up at him.
His eyes flashed with hunger but he quickly looked away, breathing heavily as I retracted my hand and covered it again.
"Surprisingly restrained." I noted after a few moments.
"Oh you are just a-" He stopped himself, voice both hateful and amused.
"An incredibly charming fellow?" I finished for him.
"Well" He hummed "I can't say I disagree."
"Too bad for you then." I winked, much to his irritation.
"How unfortunate." He drawled and shook his head "Something tells me accepting your 'offer' wouldn't have ended well for me."
"You'd have combusted." I deadpanned "Instantly."
"Of course." He exhaled.
"I have no use for beasts." I shrugged "But since you aren't one." A blood potion appeared in my hand "Take this totally not trapped or cursed bottle of totally fresh 'wine'."
His look grew strained "And you just had to phrase it that way?"
"Have you met me?" I deadpanned.
He laughed at that and took the potion, opening the crystal cork and sniffing it for a moment before downing the whole thing.
"That was meant to last you weeks." I deadpanned.
He didn't listen though, and was staring into the distance like someone who had just snorted cocaine for the first time.
A stupor it took him long enough for me to start actually reading my book to wake up from "What in the hells was that?!" He hissed.
"Blood potion." I shrugged.
"Blood potion?" He repeated "Those don't exist."
I just looked up at him from my book and stared, utterly disappointed.
"Right." He huffed and looked away "Where did you get something so powerful?"
"One of my best friends is a Vampire Lord." I shrugged, flipping a page "She is a master at making substitutes for living blood."
"You uh..." He shuffled awkwardly, scratching at his neck "Wouldn't happen to have more?"
"The high is already down?" I blinked up.
"No." He answered instantly.
Rolling my eyes, I once more returned to my book "Ask me again in a few weeks."
"Fuck." He cursed "I am going to scout around."
"Yes, yes" I shood him away "Go leap across the walls and fly like a bat or whatever it is your kind do here, just try not to impale yourself on any inconspicuous piece of wood please."
He twitched and quickly left, grumbling as he did.
Around an hour later, the rest of them had set themselves up, but both Durge and Lae'zel had already nodded off while Gale and Shadowheart were discussing something between themselves.
Being a cheeky fucker, I teleported next to them, armchair and all, and leaned in "No way she said that!" I stage whispered.
The two immediately startled, the half-elf groaning while the human chuckled after a moment.
"I wish I could be as relaxed as you are." Gale shook his head.
"I am here for my amusement after all." I chuckled and looked to the half elf "Done making conspiracies for the night?"
She directed me with a dry look "Just making sure your... pet doesn't stab us in the back when you aren't looking."
"Ah but Shadowheart." I smirked and in my creepiest most foreboding tone said "I am always looking."
She looked like she wanted to kick me but grit her teeth "Hire a bard if you want a performance." She said.
"I believe I will." I marked that one down "Find out anything about the temple's owner while I was busy?"
"Just the name and some history." She perked up somewhat "The patron is Jergal, Scribe of the Dead, and this is a burial ground for his followers."
"I found much the same myself." I hummed "Know anything about any successors of his?"
Shadowheart frowned.
But Gale's eyes suddenly brightened in turn "I remember now! Jergal used to be the god of death before the Dead Three." He said and quickly listed them for me "Bhaal, Bane, and Myrkul."
"Interesting." I noted, the words '"Mine successors fail in their duties."' repeating in my mind "What of their domains?"
"Bhaal is the God of Blood and Murder." Shadowheart answered.
"Every self respecting civilization needs one of those." I deadpanned.
Her lip twitched upwards but she went on "Bane is the God of Tyranny and Strife, and Myrkul is the God of the Dead."
'And yet Jergal was succeeded by all three.' I realized 'I must have been talking with one of the proper big boys of the land.'
'Fucking neat.' Scorch bobbed his metaphorical head.
'I know, right?'
"They sound like a right personable bunch." I chuckled "Thanks for satisfying my curiosity."
That seemed to surprise her into silence.
"Anyone seen Astarion anyway?" Gale spoke up after a while, his eyes scanning the chamber.
"He ran off to scout around." I waved him off "He will come back if he isn't an idiot."
The duo quickly relaxed to my presence after that, and we chatted about plans for the morning and finding the druidic grove the two Tieflings spoke about, but soon enough Shadowheart grew too tired to go on and went to her tent, quickly falling asleep despite the rampant paranoia she was radiating.
Gale was content to simply stay silent as I flipped through my book for a good half hour after that, simply staring into the campfire as he ordered his thoughts.
"Finally ready to talk about it?" I asked without bothering to look at him as I felt the air around him shift.
"You are too perceptive, my friend." He chuckled "But have no worries, the core in me is stable enough, for now."
"You do realize that wasn't what I was actually curious about, right?" I drawled.
"Hah!" He barked out a laugh "No, I suppose not."
"So?" I finally looked up.
"So." He nodded "I was exploring an ancient Arcanist complex."
At my mostly empty look he elaborated "Mages of the ancient Empire of Netheril who dominated the world with their unhindered power. They existed before the Weave and lived as close to gods but one of them grew too ambitious and nearly broke the world when he tried ascending into one."
"As one does." I snorted "But tell me more about this Weave itself, treat me like I know nothing."
"The Weave." His eyes turned distant "Is what happened after the disaster. The Goddess of Magic, Mystra-" He sounded downright wistful at mentioning her, and another distant divine gaze fell on him at the invocation "-Reordered the chaos of the failed ascension and brought magic under her complete control."
"And thus this overly pedantic field of specific spellforms and paths surrounding us." I scoffed "How irritating."
"It is constraining, I will admit." He nodded "But it stops the truly ambitious from fracturing the world all over again."
"And yet you reached for the power of the Arcanists despite your obvious respect for this Mystra." I noted.
He looked away "Magic came so easily to me, and I just..."
"Couldn't stop when you reached the cutoff point." I finished for him "I know the feeling."
"Yes." He sighed, looking like a weight had been lifted off him at the admittance, and even the gaze of his divine patron turned just slightly softer.
"I can't help but wonder how it feels for you." He spoke up after a moment, a touch of longing in his voice "You speak as if you have only ever known complete freedom."
"Not entirely, but not untrue either." I hummed.
"In my homeland." I began slowly "There is no Weave, only magic. And its only limitation your ability." I clutched my hand as a little dot of Magicka began pulsing within "Any fool who tries to ruin it for everyone else is inevitably brought down."
"Be they mortal." I sneered as I focused the new gaze now directed at me, and a pulse of grey flame spread from within my hand "Or Divine."
-----
Feed me stone!
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