Hello, Everyone!
Last time, we got to ask a few questions about things that we were wondering about. Mary found information however she could – from a couple of visits to the library, to making Tesaya straight up tell her what she wanted to know. However, not every attempt was successful, and Mary found herself more frustrated than pleased.
While Mary was busy researching, her friends filled their time however they found fit.
Bruno took to making another mechanical toy, this time a unicorn. He gave it a lot of work and it turned out much better than his previous ones. He asked Tesaya to give it to some kid that’d appreciate it.
“It can be a cousin or a nephew, if you have any,” he said.
Tesaya shook her head, her usually sunny and calm facade replaced with sudden sadness.
“No, I don’t have anyone,” she said. “Not anymore.”
Mary opened her mouth to ask why, but caught Bruno’s eyes. He shook his head and she remained silent. He was right. It wasn’t her place to ask. If Tesaya wanted to tell them more, she would.
Meanwhile, Aurum had joined Balaine Endoras in a few Council meetings discussing his plan to infiltrate the Underdark. It turned out that the Elder didn’t have as much support as they’d thought. Many of the other Councel members were concerned with 'the situation in the East’. The consensus was that there might soon be a conflict with Zerakas tol, and they didn’t want to split their forces.
"He told me something interesting, though," Aurum said. "He asked where we were going next and since I couldn't tell him exactly, he told me about a prophecy from an elven Oracle. Something about Dirim and Sarenat?"
"Dyrum and Saraneth?" Mary corrected him. "Two of the seven bells…"
"Yeah, yeah," he said. "Two of the seven bells Maheshvara had before his death. That are, like, Mosrael’s siblings." He pointed to the bell's case on his belt. "The prophecy said something about them lying with Cristoff Pyron's body on the bottom of the ocean, with a sea monster of some kind guarding them.”
“This must be in Ekoba,” Mary said. “Remember what Dynatos Perres told us? Creen Bright’s ship sank there and the bells might have been on it.”
“Then, after Pamagos, we’re off to Ekoba?” Aurum said.
The others agreed. It would be interesting to try and find the other bells. Seeing what Aurum could do with Mosrael, they sure were just as special. Plus, it sounded quite nice, going on adventure because of treasure and mystery, instead of because people were dying and needed help.
That last conversation with Aurum gave Mary an idea of what to do with the rest of her free time. If they were going to dive in the ocean to look for Maheshvara’s bells, they needed a way to survive underwater. So, she took out her Alchemist kit and started making some potions of Waterbreathing.
It wasn’t as hard as the first time she’d tried brewing a potion. It took some time and effort, but after a few tries and only one small burn on her last good shirt, she was able to produce the stuff. The only problem was that she had enough for only one dose.
She carefully poured it in a small glass vial…
… and when she lowered the cauldron, had to do a double take. There was still a lot of liquid left inside.
Mary stared at it, confused. Neither the cauldron, nor the ingredients she’d put in, had been enough for two doses of the potion.
But there it was! A second potion of waterbreathing, just waiting to be poured into another vial. Mary looked around, expecting a ghost or a phantom of some kind to come out of the shadows, laughing. She even switched to her Eldritch Sight to try and see if there was some enchantment on the cauldron, but, except for the soft glow of the potion she’d just brewed, there was nothing.
Yet another mystery. She might have to make a list of those, for future reference. There had to be something interconnecting them!
What’s going on?! Why are these things happening?! Mysterious keys, weird vases of water, bills suddenly being payed?! There must be something connecting all those things!
See you next time! We’re finally going away from this cursed Elven city!
Take care and be well!
(Also, here's a link to the Chapter Guide and the Glossary for the series. You're welcome!)
An important disclaimer: These are my notes from a D&D game turned into a narrative. All the worldbuilding and NPC encounters belong to our DM, and all the actions of the other main characters (Aurum and Bruno) belong to my co-players. My contribution to the story is only everything Mary-related (actions, reactions, inner thoughts), as well as the writing itself.