The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Merrill]

Merrill eeps softly, trembling against Carver. 

[Helene Dakesh]

"To what degree must prevention be attained? Entropy is not within our means to circumvent," continues Helene. 

[Carver Amell]

Carver slides an arm around Merrill. "Nothing's wrong with Merrill. She's perfect."

[NPCs]

Dau redirects to Carver. "Her ability to perceive and interact with the meta-mystical flow of coeterimuns non-shelled, self-willed proto-existences has been greatly retarded. Such a thing can and likely has cause great emotional and even physical and mental pain. As she is a worshiper of the Heptad deity to whom Father owes fealty, we are obligated to offer assistance and guidance to the best of our ability and allowances. Including her education and training with your fleshcrafting is efficient."

[Carver Amell]

Carver stares blankly at Dau. "....what?"

[Marian Hawke]

"She's a shaman, but her shamaning went wrong, and since she worships Uryll Raplin can help," translates Marian. 

[NPCs]

"Well put," Granny Peli says with a grin. 

Dau is silent a moment. "That is... less accurate but... acceptable," the non-mortal allows with reluctance. "Prevention efforts of good faith resource allocation is sufficient."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "Understood. Will acceptance of the quest be enough or must proof be delivered before treatment is administered?"

[NPCs]

Dau considers for a moment. "Sworn word of Ray Lightsong and Seeker Helene are valid." A pause, the impression of a smile. "Your reputations precede you both."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"I- umm, thank you?" Haliel manages, blushing warmly.

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one is honored."

Helene gives a small bow, then reaches into nir bag, holding out nir journal to Marian. As Marian holds it, Helene places a hand on it and says, "This one pledges this one's resources toward Bright Dau's cause. This one will remedy the infestation or perish in the doing."

[Haliel Lightsong]

Taking her cue, Lightsong bows deeply, handing rest on the hilt of her blade. Far from being a threat however... "I swear on my grandfather's blade that I will devote myself to the quest Dau of Raplin's Daughters has asked of me in repayment for the care and healing to be given to my friends."

[NPCs]

Pleased, Dau accepts their vows and provides what information he has on the matter. Evidently, the roots of the Oak go deep enough that they reach Underdark depths. More than that, their nature as partially of a divine realm can cause... strangeness along that border- after all, the difference between underground and Underdark is not just a matter of depth alone, but a certain mystical change. A way to the Underdark had been opened a few years ago- Dau is somewhat vague on the particulars- but recently something had come through that was attempting to eat or harvest the finest parts of the root tendrils. Raplin wishes that to be stopped, as He finds the sensation to be unpleasing.

Dau's description of the encroachers is less than detailed. 'Of Raplin's domain but twisted and wrong corrupted by the worst of the Nebula and Night, lowly and a pestilence of plant and mind both.' Helene's best guess, given that, is some kind of aberration plant that either creates or prefers decay, one with limited intelligence. Dau's off-hand comment about the Way being made use of by more than one pest is not exactly reassuring either... Still, at least Raplin is the sort of quest giver, that while somewhat vague on details, believes in outfitting those tasked- Marian, Helene, Varric, and Lightsong are informed they will be getting a small supply of healing potions, a pair of goggles to see in the dark for Marian and provisions in plenty. Plus, a local guide, though Dau admits that whether the guide agrees to actually enter the Underdark to deal with the infestation is their choice, not his or the party's.

Unable to scry past the border between the cave system and the demiplane of the Underdark- even Helene would struggle to get a scry past that edge without a very solid focus for the ritual- the party has to fall back on experience, story and general paranoia to prepare. Varric gives a quick primer on basic underground and Underdark dangers, doubles the amount of water they're bringing, grabs extra lockpicks, antitoxins and flashstones and a half dozen vials of glow-in-the-dark ink that explains can be used as quick-and-dirty faerie fire for invisible foes. He clearly isn't happy about such a crude and inefficient solution but there's not a lot of supplies available in the small village so...

[Marian Hawke]

So they head down into the dark, into the caves. 

Marian's not thrilled about their guide, Jassinth. She's doubly not thrilled about the closeness of the ceiling, about a couple tight fits they have to squeeze through to get places. The lichens on the walls that glow with an eerie, dim light; the dampness, the smell, the sensation of rock surrounding her on all sides. It's uncomfortable for the elf, unsettling on a fundamental level the way it isn't for the much smaller samsaran, for those whose ancestry includes caves. 

Why am I here? she keeps asking herself, even as she pushes onward. For my family. Even if we're not family. for Carver, because he deserves better. So that Lightsong isn't the only surfacer stuck down here in the dark. So that Varric can be proud of me. That's why I'm here.

She's not much help, overall. Varric's taught her to make a simple bomb, which is useful; she's got a keen eye for throwing, which helps more. But she's still not particularly good at this sort of thing. Adventuring isn't my forte, I guess,  she tells herself, but she refuses to push back, refuses to change her mind. 

They pause at a crossroads, Helene and Varric setting to determining which tunnel to take. Marian produces a small fire from tindertwigs, trying to get some light and warmth going, drawing closer to Jass and Lightsong as she does. 

"This place is creepy," she murmurs, shuddering. 

[Jassinth]

"I will admit that, blood or no blood, that I am a creature of the open world," Jass says in a hushed voice, rubbing his arm. The vambrace he normally wears is missing, back at home along with his eagle companion. "I apprenticed with some of the cave druids for a year, which is why I am here, but..." He hesitates, then mentally shrugs. It is said that adventurers must be as family to survive great danger and families must have trust. "It was both alien and too welcoming at the same time. I was glad to bond with Arthur as I did."