Ugh, I've been slogging through a nasty bit of WB lately and I struggled with this chapter before I came up with this version. Anyway here is my latest effort and I hope you like it. 
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Saul had seemed quite surprised when the group returned with a lot more people than they had with them the last time they had spoken with the ex-cultist. From all the people who previously worshipped the Undead Beholder, the party had managed to bring out almost two-dozen individuals. That was a fairly decent number if one considered that all the Beholder worshipers seemed to be dedicated fanatics willing to sacrifice everything in the service of their false deity.
Gaal was not one of those present in the group of refugees however, since he had used his hooked knife to stab himself after lamenting over his "god" had passed. Sadly, as things turned out, he was not to be the last cultist to remove himself from this plane as others had followed his example in their own fashion. Of course there were also those still willing to fight to the death for a leader that was no longer in existence, but unfortunately the party had to deal with these types of cultists in a more permanent fashion than Andaire would have liked, though truthfully a part of her had wanted to slaughter the entire group of ex-cultists, to watch the blood flow and to hear the screams of the dying.
She knew where those impulses came from, and she decided it would be best for her to keep that bit of information to herself.
As the party made their way back to the temple with the rod Andaire felt relieved that this mission was almost over. The half elf had not allowed anyone else to touch the artifact, and her answers were rather abrupt whenever anyone offered to relieve her of her burden. Jaheira was the only one who said anything about her friend's attitude, though everyone had noticed the change in the half elf's demeanor.
"Well here we are again," Andaire announced as the party walked down the long stone path leading up to the ancient temple. Blackie expressed his relief at seeing the old church as well, and chattered happily to himself when his mistress sent him reassurances that the sewer trek was almost at an end. The half elf quickened her pace when the magnificently roofed structure came into view as that meant that she could finally get rid of the Rift Device and end its unwelcome influence upon her.
"Bah, I've had my fill of this filthy rat trap," Anomen commented, looking at his surroundings with a weary eye. "It shall be good to feel the sun on my face once again."
Nalia, who for some reason had taken her cat out of its confinement and now carried her in her arms, asked the squire in a plaintive voice, "Anomen, did you have to mention the rats?"
Anomen looked at her, truly puzzled with her reaction and said, "Every sewer has rats. Why we have passed many a rodent on our way here, not including the remains of the ones we have defeated in battle."
If the Helmite was trying to reassure her he failed miserably, and he seemed perplexed by the noble's sudden interest in any movement in the shadows. "Ugh, at least there's water here. Maybe the rats will drown or something," Nalia announced, holding onto Mimi just a little more tighter than before.
"Rats can swim, oh little chickadee," Haer'Dalis told her over his shoulder. The bard was walking directly behind Andaire, and to prove his words true he pointed towards a lone, ordinary rat sitting in a corner. He had forgotten that Nalia's eyesight was not as good as his, so the young woman completely missed what he saw. She got the message though, and she really didn't appreciate his odd sense of humor.
The aristocrat gave the actor a withering look and told him, "Oh, that was not helpful at all! Why don't you go bother someone else then?" The Tiefling just laughed in response, which only served to irritate the youthful mage more.
Yoshimo had a thoughtful expression on his face that was somewhat different from his carefree manner. He had whispered to Nalia that she had no need to worry about rodents since she had a cat, and Minsc in turn had offered his services as a rat killer in case the noblewoman needed one. The aristocrat smiled at the support she received from the two men, and she felt so much better afterwards that she stuck her tongue out at the bard.
Keldorn saw the entire interaction and shook his head at the antics of the youth. He did not appear to mind taking the rear position, and in fact he used his place to his advantage to keep an eye on the entire group without anyone really realizing what he was doing.
The group was spotted when they had gotten within a few feet of the temple, and it was the same man who had first greeted them that came out to speak to them once again. "What? You have returned and you have the completed rod with you?" the black robed man exclaimed incredulously. "I don't believe it."
Since Andaire was the group's leader, and she carried the device with her, she was the one who answered the man. "You had better believe it," she replied, holding up the artifact so that the man could get a good, close look at it. "I told you that I would come back with the rod once I had finished borrowing it, and as per your lord's instructions I am returning it so that it can be destroyed and you may be freed."
The stranger caught her gaze, and in his eyes there was still his usual cynicism, but now there was something else, something that was akin to a spark of hope in there. "I-I must witness this for myself to see if what you say is true," he said at length. "We all must accompany you inside the temple."
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All of the diseased ones were gathered inside the church, but of the faded avatar there was no sign. The group wondered where he went as they had spoken to him before they left for their mission, though as mystified as they were it was nothing compared to the reaction of the temple guards.
"You said our so called god was here!" the man that everyone accepted as the spokesperson for the people dressed in sackcloth said in an accusing voice. "I see no sign of him."
Andaire could not really think of much to say to that statement, but then she glanced at Anomen's face and came up with an argument on the spot. "It is no wonder that he does not appear before you," she said firmly. "Have you even offered his name in tribute?"
Every one of the dark clothed individuals stared dumbly at the half elf as she stood on the sidelines and made her speech. "But there has been no sign!" the leader of the guards protested, seemingly trying to find any excuse to avoid the truth. "How will our lord show himself otherwise?"
The half elf was getting annoyed with his excuses, though she decided to let that pass. Blackie was watching the entire proceedings with interest, and he was giving his mistress all sorts of advice that mainly had to deal with feeding him treats and little to do with the situation at hand. Ignoring the crow's mental speech Andaire told the entire gathering, "I have already given you the sign by being here with the complete device. Now the question is, what will you do with the sign?"
Falling to his knees and bowing his head in prayer for the first time in many years the spokesperson for the temple guards cried out, " I… Amaunator! Your people call to you! I, Agru Tindul, Sunlord of the Third House, pursuant to your Conduct of Worship contract, do hereby give my voice to your name. We ask... please... we call to you."
Andaire caught the gaze of Keldorn and mouth the name Amaunator in a questioning manner. The older paladin shook his head, saying that he did not recognize that deity's name either.
A whisper of a sound flowed through the church, a sound that carried with it all the promises of sunlight like the scorching desert sands, the chirp of insects in the morning and anything really associated with summer. Far up the back wall behind the altar was a stained glass window in the shape of a stylized sun, and a beam of sunlight that got progressively stronger poured through the window and onto a spot on the floor in front of the worshipers that finally spoke to their god after an age. Soon the sunlight gathered together in a humanoid shape and set into the form of the avatar that Andaire's group had spoken to before.
Andaire sighed as she gave the device back to the deity for it seems that Amaunator was not above a bit of dramatization. She felt immediate relief once she was no longer holding the rod. He accepted it gracefully, and with a final flare of light he crushed it in his grasp, destroying it once and for all.
In a voice that was not as guttural or as weak as it had been before the avatar of the dead sun god told his followers, "I have come my children. You are free to sit by Amaunator's side in the Keep of the Eternal Sun for your duty has been fulfilled and the old enemies are gone."
"What about the device?" the leader of the guards wondered. He did not look worried about it, he appeared to be happy at last and asking this was just a formality.
"It is destroyed," the avatar said. "Now go home my children," he muttered, and with a wave of his hand the former guards were transported to whatever Plane of existence awaited them.
Andaire was a bit surprised that the dead god chose to linger for a while. "You have done Amaunator a great service," he told the group who remained stunned into silence. He turned his head towards Andaire, and the half elf could see that he was fading away once again since there was nothing more to tie him to Faerun. There is an object on my altar for you which will be of great assistance, though you do not know it yet. Finally, remember that which is lost will be returned if there is trust in the path that is offered. Farewell… "
No one spoke for the next few minutes, and during that time Andaire went to the altar as the avatar had instructed her. She found a single gold ring with a pale yellow stone set in the middle of the band lying on top of the stone surface. The object had power she knew, and as she inspected it some more she could not detect any sort of curse imbedded in the gem. Finally she decided that the piece of jewelry was not going to harm her, so she put it on the ring finger of her right hand. It felt right, in fact it was a perfect fit although the half elf had no idea of its true function as of yet. It must have been valuable because Blackie took an immediate interest in it and cautiously pecked at it with his beak.
Breaking the silence that had filled the room, Anomen gave voice to the question over what the last words of the dead god Amaunator meant. "What in Helm's name did he just say?"
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Andaire stood in front of the main altar inside the church of Helm and gave her report to Oisig. The half elf did not have all of her companions with her as she had sent Jaheira, Minsc, Yoshimo and Nalia ahead to Waukeen's promenade to escort the surviving ex-cultists to the only temple of Ilmater that she really knew about in the city. She was not sure if the churches that the eyeless people used to be a part of before they followed the Beholder would accept them back, so instead she sent the lot to the Crying God along with a generous donation for their recovery. The amount of coin she gave made some of her companions wince, but Andaire could not have been at peace with herself if she had simply let those unfortunate people stumble blindly about in the sewers, even if it took away from the fee that she would have to pay to find Imoen. Besides which, she could sell off some of the group's surplus equipment and regain the coin she had given away, an argument that to her disappointment did not go over well with any of the others apart from Yoshimo.
The monetary sacrifice had been worth it when Saul had taken her hand in his and thanked her just before they parted company, saying that he was not sure that anybody would have given them a second chance like she had done. Andaire smiled at him even though he couldn't see the expression for she was sure that the man would remain with the church of Ilmater, and she had no doubt that he would one day rise high among their ranks.
Now all that was left to do was to explain to the High Watcher why she had done what she had done. "So, what kind of information have you found about this cult that blinds people?" Oisig wondered.
Andaire let out a deep breath and mentally cautioned her familiar not to steal anything or he would most surely regret it. She had to give the crow the warning since he was muttering something about shiny ones as he surveyed the room. "It was a Beholder cult," she informed the high-ranking priest. "I have destroyed it and made sure there were no followers of the Unseeing Eye left in the city." Well, that's only a half-truth but he doesn't need to know that.
Oisig looked at her with suspicion and asked her, "Did you really put an end to the cult and all of its followers?"
"In a way, yes," the half elf said in response when the two armored figures still with her gave her an accusing glance. Meanwhile Haer'Dalis was watching the proceedings from the sidelines with amusement, and even though he acted bored he had given no real reason why he wished to accompany Andaire to the church instead of guiding the ex-cultists through the city. Needless to say more than one junior priest watched the bard since Tieflings were such a rare sight in this part of the city. "Some members, a very small number of them, have renounced their false worship and even now they are well on their way to the temple of Ilmater to learn how to begin their lives anew."
"The church of the Vigilant One had asked you to take care of the cult one way or another, and I suppose this is one way," Oisig said, shaking his head a little. "I will send out a team of clerics to immediately cleanse the sewers of the last traces of the taint of this cult. Still, you did perform your task in an adequate manner and I did promise to compensate you for your efforts. You will receive a trinket of some worth plus some gold, though the spiritual rewards could have been much greater if you had been one of the faith," he told her, giving Anomen a significant look as he did so. He then signaled to a nearby acolyte to go and fetch something for him. The young man came back in a minute with a fancy helm tucked under his arm, which he handed over to the half elf at his superior's signal.
"If you would like to serve the church of Helm in another capacity then speak to brother Sevin," Oisig informed her as he indicated a man who was going bald at the top of his head. He then signaled to Anomen to join him in a short conversation at the back wall where many candles burned beneath a picture (a picture that was only average in quality) of Helm himself, or what was supposed to be a representation of the God of Guardians.
"Thank you and I shall," Andaire replied once she saw the measuring look on the squire's face. She turned the helm over in her hands, certain that it would not fit her (not that she would actually use it herself in the first place) though she had a pretty good idea on who was going to meet up with the rest of the party sporting a brand new helmet on their head. "I'm guessing our cleric over there is going to be a while, so I'm going to see what else this church wants me to do," she announced to her two remaining companions.
"Are you sure about that my raven?" Haer'Dalis asked her in a low voice. He had an expression on his face that said he would rather be anywhere else but inside the temple. "These people may simply be trying to keep watch over you, and as lovely as you are on the eyes I would be suspicious over their motives," he told her as his gaze quickly swept up and down her form.
The half elf bit her lip thoughtfully and ignored the bard's flattering remark. She felt a spot of color rising on her cheeks the more she thought about it, so she tried to get Keldorn's attention and hoped that he hadn't heard what the actor said. That hope was in vain as she found the paladin in deep conversation with a group of temple guards and a few priests. By the snippets of conversation she caught she could tell that the old warrior was giving detailed instructions on where the depopulated base of the cult of the Unseeing Eye was.
"Yes, I am sure," she replied, flicking Blackie's beak away from her ear since he was trying to get her attention by biting it with his beak. "I would not be surprised in the least if this church knew a great deal about me. If they were not spying on me I would be very astonished to say the least. Blackie, stop doing that or I'll pluck out your feathers!" she almost growled as she glared at her crow who really didn't feel like being ignored at the moment.
Satisfied that he now had his mistress's attention he said one word. "Eaties."
Andaire looked at Haer'Dalis who was openly grinning at the half elf. "I find yon bird amusing," he told her.
"I'm glad somebody does," she replied.
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"So, all we need to do is to see this artist at the Jysstev estate, what was his name again Andaire?" Keldorn asked her.
The companions were now on their way back to the Five Flagons in after spending a good portion of the day inside the Temple of Helm. In fact they spent so long speaking to the various people in there that night had fallen, negating the shopping trip that Andaire had originally planned for the rest of the day. She sighed and glanced up at the sky, pleased to note that the moon was almost full. That reminded her of the long conversation she had with Oisig over her patron goddess when he questioned her over where she received her clerical power. She did not tell him how she had to perform many of her rituals, though the part about there being good drow was enough fuel for quite the discussion. But this also reminded her of a few other things that she needed, so she made the decision to stop by the Adventurer's Mart and see if Ribald had anything for a priestess of the Dark Maiden to use. She made up her mind before she left the Temple District that the party would spend at least one night out in the wilderness, and going to the Umar Hills area to look for the fugitive Valygar (with a side trip to Nalia's keep) would be the perfect excuse that she needed to do that.
All of this flashed through her mind in a few seconds and now she answered the paladin's question. "Hmm, that priest Sevin said the artist's name was Sir Sales," she told him while stroking Blackie's feathers. The crow had not eaten yet, and he was getting really hungry and irritable. "He is supposed to be a great artist and in demand by everybody in the city. Getting him to agree to a commission for the Temple of Helm when the other temples in the city are trying to do the same thing is going to be difficult. Not impossible, just difficult."
"I'm sure he'll choose Helm over any other church," Anomen announced primly. The squire was now wearing the helmet that Oisig had given the group as part of the payment for wiping out the cult in the sewers. Andaire had to admit that he looked good wearing it. "How could he possibly refuse otherwise?"
"Greed," Haer'Dalis interjected before Andaire had a chance to respond. "If the man is feeling greedy then the price will surely go up."
"That is something you are likely familiar with, bard." Anomen responded.
If the Tiefling was insulted at all by the squire's comments he didn't mention it. "But of course," he said in a tone that indicated he was enjoying himself at last. "I have met many a man who thought he was better than he was, and his own folly would doom him when he would stumble over his own pride."
Mercifully the two fell silent after that last exchange, though the fact that Keldorn was walking between the two of them may of had something to do with it. "Of course the Jysstev estate is located in the Government District, and I would be pleased to show you the way to their place," the paladin informed the half elf.
"I am guessing that you know the area well," Andaire responded. A growl came from her stomach, reminding her that she hadn't eaten anything for a while. She figured that she could wait until the group got back to the inn to eat, but Blackie was muttering such a steady stream of complaints in her ear that she elected to stop by a food stand and buy something to shut the bird up.
Nodding in agreement the battle-scarred man responded, "That I do for my own estate is located there."
"You have a home there?" Andaire wondered, a bit perplexed for she was under the impression that he spent most of his time at the Order headquarters when he was not on a mission. "I assumed that you lived in the Order building."
Keldorn chuckled at this remark, but it was an expression that was devoid of humor. "No, I merely have a room there. It may surprise you young woman, but this old warrior does have a wife and family. Perhaps we should go visit them tomorrow."
"Certainly," the half elf agreed. "We will have time enough tomorrow for I don't believe that talking to Sir Sarles will take too long. For now I need to pick up some food for my familiar here. To hear him talk he is about to keel over from lack of nourishment."
Knowing that some food was on the way for him the crow flapped his wings and squawked, "Blackie eaties! BLACKIE EATIES!"
"Is yon bird always like this?" Haer'Dalis inquired, wincing slightly as the half elf's familiar hit a note that was too high up the scale of sound to be heard properly by any human.
"Yes!" Andaire and Anomen said in unison.
The small group made their way to the Bridge District, and when they were about to set foot on the great span of stone that gave the section of Athkatla its name Andaire stopped by a clean looking stall run by an old woman who had a smile on her face, the same grin that the half elf had noticed was present on all the street merchants in the city. She purchased a chunk of charred meat on a stick, and remembering the merchant that was selling roasted rat for a meal she inspected the food closely before she paid for it. It turned out to be goat meat, which Blackie devoured in less than a minute.
"You pig," Andaire told her familiar as she brushed some food scraps off of her shoulder. "I'll stop feeding you extra food if you continue to be so messy."
Blackie didn't answer for his hunger was satiated. He started to clean his claws, but then he stopped what he was doing and assumed an alert posture. The half elf had no idea what he saw, or thought he saw though she knew him well enough by now to know that someone was coming towards the group, although the friendliness of that person or persons could not be determined as of yet.
"Someone is approaching us with a definite purpose in mind," Haer'Dalis cautioned.
"Is it anyone we know?" Andaire asked him, trying to see what the bard saw.
"Not anyone that I have met," the actor admitted. "She may be someone that you are familiar with."
Andaire was definitely curious as to who was seeking her or one of her companions out at this time of night, and more importantly how the stranger knew where she was. If this new arrival was a threat then the priestess could take care of herself, especially since two large, armored men and a smart mouthed bard that nonetheless was a good swordfighter accompanied her. It was not too long until the half elf received the answer to her questions.
"Ho, approach slowly and state your business woman," Keldorn called out to the stranger one she got within a few feet of the party.
The woman wore a set of leathers sewn so tightly to her body that it left no doubt in anyone's mind as to what gender she was. A deep hood covered her head, and when she noted the suspicious glares she was receiving from Andaire she stopped and held out her hands to show that she held no weapons. "Greetings, might I have a word with you away from the ears of others? I would impart a fine bit of business your way, one which can be quite profitable to you."
"No," the half elf responded. "Say what you will right now since I'm not going anywhere with you. Oh yes, I would have your name as well."
The hooded stranger hesitated, her pale face calm beneath her hood. "Very well, I am Valen though my name is not important. My mistress would have words with you about concerns that you have no doubt developed on your own."
Who does this Valen work for? She dresses almost like a Shadow Thief though somehow I don't think that she is one, Andaire thought, plus Blackie was staring at the woman so intently that he resembled a small statue. Aloud she said, "Who is your mistress and what does she want with me?"
Valen ignored the half elf's request and said, "She has watched you for a time, though she is not the only one. She knows what you seek and is willing to help one such as you. She is worthy of your trust, and if you feel worthy of hers come to the Graveyard District after the sun has set. Don't bother to seek her out before then since she will not be there."
Something about the woman's words aroused her suspicions, though it was the part about the Graveyard that really worried Andaire. Who isn't spying on me in this city? "Hmm, it's nighttime now, so do I assume that your mistress will be in the Graveyard at this moment?"
"Correct. My task here is done, and my mistress will be pleased to speak with you. Good night," Valen announced, disappearing into the darkened streets before anyone in the group could ask her any more questions.
Keldorn stared at the mysterious woman's retreating form, and then he turned to the leader of the group and said, "Andaire, that woman is entirely untrustworthy. Are you going to risk meeting with her unnamed mistress?"
The half elf thought about the situation for a minute, and then she gave the paladin her answer.
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Andaire sends some surviving ex-cultists (led by Saul) to a temple of Ilmater to recover. The dead god Amaunator gives her a ring (hey, I wasn't about to give her a shield so I changed the treasure) and a couple of pieces of cryptic advice. Half of the group spends so long inside the church of Helm that it's nightime when they finally leave. Andaire makes plans to get Sir Sarles to work for the Helmite shurch and to pay Keldorn's family a visit. On their way back to the Five Flagons Valen intercepts them and gives Andaire an unusual offer.
