Pain. It surges through bone and blood. It tears at Belmarniss' heart, where the Relic of the Reaper once rested. A hole has been carved in her flesh, just above her heart, and raggedly stitched by an unskilled hand.
"I apologize for calling you beautiful," he says caustically, "and for implying that I enjoy the positive regard of women. My shame knows no bounds."
"Why don't you elucidate me, then? If it was not my calling you beautiful, or my saying that I should like to help rescue a beautiful woman, what made you so abruptly sure that you needed to protect the maiden from my wiles?"
"It was actually mostly the weird pass you made at the prison warden, it sort of contextualizes everything else."
He laughs disbelievingly. "I think I am permitted to say unpleasant things to the woman who held me captive under the threat of violence. Perhaps I should judge you on how very unkind you have presumably been to your enemies. Or perhaps you should judge your Thayan companion before me."
"I admittedly don't know much about her but she did break me out of a spirit barrow and let me copy spells off her so she seems fine so far." Shrug. "I wouldn't be complaining about you if you'd told the warden to freeze in hell or something. The sexual harassment just seemed like it slotted into a pattern."
"We stick our foes with the pins they give us," Gann says coolly. "And I can needle an old woman about her cooling lusts without preying on anyone who does not invite me in."
Through the portal they go. Shadow Mulsantir's darkness is cloying, almost physical, but Darkvision still pierces it.
Safiya looks up the hill on which the city is built and lets out a startled laugh. "I'm guessing that's our destination," she says, pointing to a massive building carved from what look like the bones of giants, complete with a grotesquely massive skull at the top.
"How... blatant," Gann says, wrinkling his nose. "I suppose your western gods are in that habit."
"You were close the second time; that's her mother. Eilistraee's primary domain is redemption, with sidelines in starlight and various artistic pursuits. One of the less objectionable deities, on the whole."
"Yeah, I got religion when I found out this planet has dire consequences for scrawling in 'not applicable' on that box on the form. She's chill."
"I suppose that's as good a reason as any. I decline to be blackmailed by a dead god, no matter how dire the threats he may invoke."
"I mean, I hope it doesn't come up, but it's not a very expensive precaution to take while I'm stuck on Toril."
"I'm not judging you," Safiya clarifies. "I simply look at the question differently."
They reach the Vault in short order.
The interior is just as impossibly grand as the façade, in a very different direction. The ceilings are vaulted and high enough to fit a decently sized dragon; the flagstones are black marble; their footsteps echo loudly.
The entry hall's main feature is an enormous gate of black stone, carved with an intricate design that the eye can't quite focus on without getting very close. Someone else is that close: a young woman, clad in silvery armor and with white-feathered wings folded across her back. She turns as they enter, tearing her eyes from the door with a visible effort.
"There are few who would brave the halls of the Death God's Vault," she says. Her voice is soft, sounding like nothing so much as a constant, gentle sigh. "Many would come seeking treasure. Some would seek knowledge. What calls you three to this place?"
"Me? - I suppose my siblings must have sent you. They are very kind, and very brave." She smiles wanly. "I had not known they would follow me so far... but it would be unlike them to give up a hunt, especially one so close to their hearts. No doubt it was Efrem and Susah you met, for they are the hunters in our number, even though Efrem bears the name of the Stag. They are persistent indeed."
She grits her teeth for a split second, then clears the tension from her face, squaring her shoulders and stretching her wings. "I am indeed Kaelyn, called the Dove. Formerly of the House of the Triad. My spirit now lies within the house of Ilmater."
"They wanted to communicate that you'd be welcome back. Said they'd respect your decision if you wanted to stay here."
Kaelyn sighs. "I cannot return to the Menagerie. To do so would be to betray my heart. But... I cannot stay here, either, in this place. I do not have the strength to complete the quest that brought me here."
"I sought entrance to the depths of this vault. Inside lie secrets of the Myrkulites, secrets that could aid me in my quest to carry on the Betrayer's Crusade - the destruction, once and for all, of the Wall of the Faithless."