*Arity's POV*
I took the device from Sarial and adjusted it to contact Sienna's device. As soon as they picked up, Sienna said, "Tyra! Is Sarial with you??"
"Yes, I'm with Tyra." Sarial said. "Are you and Plight still around his sister? I can't remember her name at the moment."
The device had two images available now. It was exclusive for mine. Dirthin's and Sienna's would only have the current speaker shown. "Lucretia is in Ymir's Town, we're in Hearthstone Town." Sienna answered.
Sarial grimaced. "I see."
"Why? What's wrong? Where are you?" Sienna asked.
Sarial had gone silent. Deeply disappointed and in thought.
"We had hoped that Lucretia may know how to get to Plight's old Underdark home. We happen to be very deep in the Underdark at this moment." I stepped in for her.
"Oh. Well, no, none of us do know the physical way to get there." Sienna said, "But Phintias allowed Lucretia to set up a teleportation circle to come and go from his home to the Acheron home. They even had Archimedes' help in establishing the portal."
James spoke then, "So we can get there."
"Yes, would just have to go to Phintias' library in Ymir's Town." Sienna confirmed.
"So we have a place to set up a base of operations." James said.
"As long as Plight and Lucretia don't mind their home being commandeered." I pointed out. "I may be able to capture someone to get information on how to get to their home."
"This is needed to help find my daughter. I will convince her however I must." James said.
"Lucretia is very likely to help if asked." Sienna said.
"Don't worry, I have every intention of asking first." James replied.
Sarial asked me mentally if we could add Mills to the call. So, I started to make the connection. "I'd like to say some joke about how Sarial isn't lost.... But no. We're lost. I know which direction we've been traveling and which cities we've passed, though not by their name, but that doesn't mean anything."
The line connected with a very disheveled Mills. He looked vulnerable and lost. He'd lost weight and, clearly, sleep. Having been the last person on my end to speak, it was displaying my face. He'd grown a small beard, even. Upon recognition, hope lit his features up. "Is Sarial with you?" He asked, anguished and nearly pleading.
"Yes, Mills. I am with Tyra. Sweetling, are you unwell?" Sarial asked, greatly concerned by his state.
"Yes. I am.. doing fine. Are you well? Where are you?" He answered, raking his hair back.
"We're in the-" Sarial began to answer again, but I had to cut her off. I'd placed my hand over her mouth.
"Shh." I said, lowly. "Be still, whisper if you must. Dia, guard. Be right back."
The poor girl paled and nodded, answering quietly, "Yes."
I'd heard a skittering sound. Creeping silently away, I met the encroaching creatures. Duergar. They weren't expecting me, and a fight ensued. I was watching over Sarial and Dia via the Wondering Eye, and saw her fear as she began to hear metal.
"There's people," She whispered to the people on the device. "We're in the Underdark."
Mills pressed a finger over his lips and gave a thumbs up. She nodded in response. I didn't realize those small things would be so meaningful for the device to pick up. It's much more handy than I thought.
After killing a few, one tried to flee. I captured them. To use my psionic inquisition on them. They had no information about the Acheron home. After confirming twice, I killed them, too. I noticed some more a bit farther back, so I went after them, too. Using my Inquisition on them, channeling it through the ability amplifier. None knew. This fight was harder, as their pets joined. They outnumbered me greatly, but this wouldn't stop me much. I resorted to my mass damage multiple target attacks. They were louder than I'd preferred, but I needed to end this.
After they were handled, I stopped my bleeding and ran back to Sarial. "We've gotta move. Now." I told her.
"Yes." She nodded, obedient. She petted Dia to comfort herself. She didn't want to end the communication.
"Keep it open. It's hardly going to matter with the noise I just made. Unless your family would rather end it." I said, tiredly. "I have no preference as long as it's not broken again."
I placed her on Dia and told him to mind her. He was strong enough to carry her. He was also more capable than she was at moving in the rocky terrain. And allowed her to communicate with them without much problem.
"How many was it this time? I am more than capable of aiming a bow." Sarial asked, softly, irritated.
"I really don't care about what you're capable of. If they know I am hell to fight and you're standing back, you become the target of anything that thinks past survival. Let me rephrase, if a group was fighting me and you stayed back from blades, I'd kill or incapacitate you first." I explained, irritably. "Stop arguing with me about it. You fight when we're ambushed, that's more than enough."
"I am going to be heading to Ymir's Town, immediately, to try and talk to Lucretia about setting up some kind of outpost in her home to send out search parties out to get you. Stay safe until I can find you, or you will be grounded." James said after a solid block of silence.
"Dad, I have no choice but to be safe. Tyra is more overbearingly over protective than Mom is." Sarial sighed. "I can't find the logic gap to argue with her, either."
James smiled slightly at her complaint. "I'll be leaving now to go take care of this."
Sarial told her dad to be well. Sienna asked, "How often do you get ambushed?"
"Not often. Tyra is incredibly aware of her surroundings at all times. She's only slept once so far." Sarial replied. "Sometimes things slip through, like a bunch of spiders under a fomorian's control. The fomorian was freaking huge."
"Yes, those beasts are indeed quite large." Dirthin commented. "As soon as we get set up, I will be leading that search party. I'll probably be the only one with Underdark experience."
"Great, so we can follow the screaming." Tyra joked.
"Of my fellows, or my opponents? Cause I am sure there will be screaming from both." Dirthin said.
"I haven't heard anything get loud down here." Sarial noted, missing the joke. "What is that??"
"Fungi." Tyra replied. "I know it looks odd, and is moving, but it's only fungi this time."
She was staring at it with a disgusted and unnerved expression. "Dirthin, I would also like to volunteer for that mission." Mills said.
"I'll take you. But you better get yourself together." Dirthin said.
"I love this plan. Take as many humans down as possible, that way it confuses the entire ecosystem." I said blandly.
"Good. Fuck that ecosystem." Dirthin said.
"I'll be ready." Mills said firmly.
"Be careful." Sarial said, "It'll be easier with Uncle, but it's not exactly a picnic here. And that's with Tyra sneaking up on anything that get's within her radar."
"I will be safe- as safe as I can." Mills said.
"Because I do feel particularly mean, I'll tell you, she's been as worried sick bout you as you've been for her, Mills." I said.
Sarial blinked at me slowly, irritated. Mills smiled broadly in response and said, "I will see you soon, my Moon Lily."
"Yes, likely, make sure you sleep. And have a decent meal." She scolded.
"I might be to excited to sleep, but I'll try." Mills said.
"Don't make me ask Jasper to knock you out." Sarial warned. "He'd do it."
"Hoh, I am positive he would." Mills agreed.
"So that's what Mills looks like." Dia commented. "I recognized his voice."
"And who might this little one be?" Mills asked.
"A talking lion I hatched from that gold egg." Sarial replied, petting Dia's ears. "I named him Dia, unlike the pegasus, he doesn't mind my name choice. I wouldn't say he's little, though. Just a week ago he was smaller than a mouse, now he's a little bigger than the blink dogs. How are they, by the way?"
"They play with the kids, and bugger people for scraps. They adopted the people, it would seem." Sienna said.
"They're happy, then? Good. I'd worried bout them, too." Sarial sighed. "Which reminds me, what did you two hatch, Sienna and Plight?"
"Mine hatched into a faerie dragon," Sienna said, "Plight's became a pretty interesting bat. You really should see her in person." Her voice indicated that it was an incredibly interesting thing.
"You've peaked my curiosity greatly." Sarial said.
"I'm sure that did. Ashryn is my Faerie dragon's name. Xi'an is the little bat's name." Sienna said.
"Are you aware of the meaning to that name?" I asked, amused, but pretending to be concerned.
"... Is it bad?" Sienna asked.
"Xi'an means eternal peace." I said.
"Ah, well that's alright." Plight sighed, then grimaced.
Sarial tilted her head looking at his image, then said, "You're much better with names than I am. Perhaps you should name the pegasus. Dia, like I said, doesn't seem to mind his name."
"Dia is a perfect name. Are you saying my name is bad?" Dia grumbled.
"I'm saying your name is bad." I teased.
Offended, Dia swiped a paw at me. Sarial grabbed a fistful of his mane and said, "Do be careful. I am on your back, and not settled for rough riding."
"Oops." He said, chastised. "Sorry, mom."
"It's fine, I didn't fall." Sarial said, patting him.
Dirthin chuckled, "Look at that, Mills, you got a lion cub anyway."
"I welcome any addition to the family." Mills said. "Just means they'll have a sibling, though I don't know how I'll explain it if anyone would ask."
"I mean, the diamond and armor growing out of him would explain enough, I think." Sarial said.
"Why are we laughing? They're still lost. We should be helping Dad plan." Jasper snapped.
"Purry, people need laughter, an outlet to stress. I understand why you are upset, but try to understand, little Brother. I can't speak for others on this, but I am considerably less stressed than I have been." Sarial said, her face soft. "Remember when I kept passing out when I broke my arm after falling from a balcony? I was still telling jokes to you and laughing while conscious. It's like that."
"So, nothing but a distraction." Jasper said. "Fine. I can accept that."
"Comfort comes in all shapes, Purry. I love you." Sarial smiled.
"I love you, too, Sister." Jasper said. Stress in his whiskers.
"Besides, that last fight I participated in, I was able to get something you may like." Sarial baited him.
"And what might you be trying to tempt me with?" Jasper asked.
She grinned and said, "A weapon, of course."
I looked at her, "You intend to give Jasper that..?"
Sarial nodded, "Yup. I think he'll enjoy it quite a bit."
I thought for a moment, "Probably." I agreed. "I mean, it is a decent weapon. It packs a serious hit."
"Why does it sound like there is a major drawback to this thing you're trying to give me?" Jasper asked.
"It's excessively large." Sarial admitted. "At least, it'd be large for Uncle even."
"That certainly does sound like a large blade." Jasper said.
"You're still growing." I said, "The blade has a vorpal effect."
"Hm. So aim for the neck, got it." He replied.
"And it talks." Sarial said.
"Wait, you found a sentient blade?" Jasper asked.
"Yep." Sarial said. "It hated the fellow who was wielding it and refused to lop Tyra's head off."
"Sounds like a good sword." Jasper said.
"I was certainly thankful for it's disobedience." I said.
"You shoulda seen Tyra's reaction when she learned it had a vorpal property to it." Sarial grinned.
"What, did she accidentally slice something's head off? I feel that'd be hard to do." Jasper said.
"She hasn't used it. She did an Item Lore on it. It scolded her for peeping at it." Sarial snickered, "Her expression was hilarious."
"I've never had a sentient blade before. That sounds very interesting." Jasper said.
"It has similar qualities as your sister. It doesn't like jerks and loves it's friends. Very protective." I explained.
"Also found a really neat instrument." Sarial said.
"What kind of instrument have you found?" Daelyn asked.
"It's similar to a lute, but it's bigger and has a deeper sound. Not that I got to play with it much." Sarial told him. "I found it in some ruins. Tyra said it's safe."
"Next time you guys are in a nice safe location, you should play me a few cords." Daelyn said.
"You could do it." Dia said.
"Playing it myself is not the same. One, it would be better. Two, I enjoy listening to her play." Daelyn said.
Dia's face became glum. "I haven't heard Mom play. I'm jealous."
Sarial petted him and said, "I'll play for sure when we get home. My Sweetling Mills seems to have fallen asleep."
Mills jerked upwards, slurredly said, "I'm up.. I'm up.. I-" His protest devolved into snores as he slumped down again. Sarial's face was pure concern once more, and I caught sight of the tears in her eyes.
"Don't worry, he's finally actually getting sleep." Dirthin tried to soothe her.
"I knew that our ending up down here would affect everyone, but I hadn't thought it'd be so significantly." Sarial said, sorrow tinging her features. "She's suffered for this, right?"
"To make a long story short. Yes." Dirthin said firmly.
A tear slid down her cheek, and with a vindictiveness I hadn't known she possessed, she said, "Good."
"As much as I hate to leave this call, I must go see what I can do to help James." Dirthin said.
Sarial nodded.
"I've got her. I'll keep her as safe as I can." I said.
"I'm sure you will all keep each other safe." Dirthin said.
"She's quite like a mother hen." Sarial said, trying to reign in her emotions. Her breathing exercises weren't doing the trick.
"I love you, both of you. And with that, we must all say goodbye." Dirthin said.
It was my turn to be losing control of my emotions. Sarial had smiled and nodded again, and I managed, "See you shortly." before I shut the device, ending the three way call.
We had a serious cry. Dia stood guard for us. Listened every bit as intently as I usually did. He was becoming a big help. When my tears stopped I got us moving again. I passed them food while we traveled. It wasn't particularly tasty by the looks of Sarial's reaction. It'd have to be ok. Except then it wasn't. She slid off Dia's back and threw up.
I have her some water. She didn't want to try and eat anything else. We had to keep moving again. which became miserable for her. Soon, we happened near a city. We'd almost passed by it as it was just on the outside of my comprehension. I left Sarial curled up next to Dia with the Wondering Eye watching over them, then I crept forward quietly from their location to approach the city.
Upon getting close, I was questioned, no one approaching, no one trying anything. I explained I was teleported here and had traveled a large distance. I was just looking for a way to the surface. After some back and forth, they cautiously let me in. I was under threat of any violence and I'd be killed. I got to talk with the ruler of this city, and after much chatting, decided it was safe to bring Sarial in. They sent fighters to help me get her.
We were all clearly suspicious of each other, but honestly that put me at ease internally. I explained how we were looking for the Acheron's home because it may contain a way for us to get home. I explained I had a cub back home I was desperate to return to. I also
spoke more in depth of how we'd gotten there. With both sides calming considerably, they agreed to help us.
The Acheron home had fallen to ruin long ago, so there was no harm in giving us an outdated map on that would show us the way there. I paid them for it with gold. This opened them up to us considerably more. We were now considered welcome guests. To that end, they set us up with a temporary place to rest, meals and would allow us to shop their wares. It felt very much like a surface interaction.
Sarial had a bit of nausea trouble with the food, making her condition was quickly discovered. She was congratulated and given an easy broth to drink. I'd made sure it was safe. A caution they understood. She was able to keep the broth down. The town didn't have a day or night cycle so everything was constantly open and ran in shifts. We enjoyed baths and comforts we hadn't been afforded in two weeks.
Nobody minded Dia. A few questioned about him, but her explanation about the mystery egg that she'd hatched him from didn't bother anyone. Of course, they'd probably seen and heard worse. Some folk live their whole lives without running into magic, though. Guess that wouldn't be the case down here. When we were alone later, Sarial asked me why I wasn't contacting her dad or Uncle. Paranoia. I explained. They were incredibly accommodating, but that didn't mean I trusted them. I also made sure to force gold on them for any and all of their 'kindness'. A few'd tried to refuse, but I hadn't let it go so they'd accepted in the end.
Before I let Dia and Sarial sleep we went over the path we'd take with the map. Thanks to Sarial's skills, I knew they wouldn't get lost or sidetracked. Once they slept, I pretended to. When we woke, they had breakfast and we went along on our way with fresh provisions we'd acquired. Once we were six miles away, I took out the device to contact James. I got a bad feeling, quickly. I put an item on Dia that would increase his movement speed, then I passed my precious bag to Sarial. Then I gave her the device and map.
Needing it to be a private conversation, I signaled Sarial to Mind Link the three of us.
<'When I say now, I want you to take off on the route we discussed on the map. Don't stop until you reach her family or that abandoned home. Sarial, while you are on the way, call James or Dirthin. I'll be fine, I'll catch up.' I said.
'I don't want to leave you.' Sarial.
'Understood.' Dia.
'What we want doesn't matter.' I reminded.
'We're over a thousand miles away from there still.' Sarial hesitated. 'It's not worth splitting up. What if we're ambushed?'
'Valid. But Dia can go twice as fast now. That item will help.' I said.
'Then I need a way to keep us bonded. I need it Tyra.' Sarial.>
"Fine." I said aloud. I took out a set of Earrings from the bag. Clipped one into her ear, where she'd had it pierced for such purposes. Then I impaled one onto my ear. These were very specific telepathic linking earrings. They only worked when two separate psionic users wore them. They'd only work on the same plane of existence.
After I explained to her mentally what they'd do, she felt marginally better. Probably cause she was smart enough to know I had planned for an ambush. Now, it was a waiting game. We continued on our path, my axe on my back, her on Dia's back. Dia on edge and Sarial stressed.
After a day, she convinced me to contact them, saying they would need the map more than us. Dia confessed to us then, that he could send items through a portal he makes. With this new knowledge, I took the map from her, and temporarily, I rode Dia and she walked. I used the same repair tool I'd used, except modified, and my ability amplifier to turn the map into a magicked one. Unlocking the know-how on how to do it.
Of course, it was psionics powering it. As long as the person viewing had psionics, or a strong enough mind, they would be able to use this map to track the two of us. To that end, after imbuing it with psionics, I pricked myself, and Sarial, and put our blood on the map. Sarial was amazed to see the blood pool on the map and follow us along.
With that done, I took my device from her, traded places, and while showing her how to use it, contacted both James and Dirthin's devices. They were pretty freaking quick to answer. Amused, I wanted to ask if it was bad timing, but I immediately didn't feel up to picking on them when I felt the ones following get a little closer.
"We've got a useful thing, who wants it?" I asked before they spoke.
"What is the useful thing?" James asked.
"A map from where we were to the Acheron home. That can now show where we are." I replied.
"Ah. A very useful thing." James replied. "I will take it, Dirthin will be here shortly for preparations."
"It's a little outdated, but Tyra made it do the tracking." Sarial said.
"Dia, prepare to send it to James." I told him, ignoring Sarial.
"A little outdated is fine. It should help us speed up the process. Good find." James said.
Dia stopped walking and gave a short bark, the diamond on his forehead peeled off and made a small swirling red portal. "Ready." He said.
I held the map to it, it sucked the map into it and disappeared a second later. I took a deep breath and said, "You will likely be meeting Sarial and Dia in a few days."
"There is a name missing from that list." Dirthin said.
".... It can't be helped." I replied.
"What do you mean 'it can't be helped'? All you have to do is stay with them and come back." Dirthin responded.
My ears drooped guiltily. "I don't think that's an option. I can try that, but it would lead to either us both being captured, or killed, or I can send them forward and not be held back protecting her. She's skilled, wonderfully so. But it would be better for her, to send her ahead, and much safer for her baby."
His face showed his frustration and grief over this. "Fine." He exhaled.
"I'm open to suggestions, if there's a better option available." I said softly. "The map will track Sarial and I separately. I don't currently see another way."
"I don't either, but that doesn't mean I have to like it." Dirthin retorted.
"The map reached you, right James?" I asked.
"Yes, I have it. I'm currently pouring over it right now." James replied.
"The path has been the same, just lots more branches so far." Sarial said, her face glum.
"Outposts here, here and here. Should help the return journey." James said.
Dirthin glanced and said, "Yes, yes. They're fine spots. I've been collecting materials already."
Dia glanced behind us, I pushed his face back ahead. "Don't do that. That'll embolden them." I said.
"Embolden who?" Dirthin asked.
"We're being followed. Right now, it's a game. They're trying to tire us by keeping us stressed and moving. Soon, I suspect they'll realize their ill estimation. In the meantime, we can't show anxiety." I explained. "Who and what don't matter. It's people, and they have ill intents."
"Is there a chance of losing them?" James asked.
I hesitated before responding, thinking quickly. "Unlikely. But I can try a few tricks and scramble a few minds."
"Ooh, like eggs." Daelyn said. I hadn't expected him.
"Daelyn!" James snapped.
"Hi." Daelyn said.
"How did you get here?" James growled.
Sarial was trying to hide her laughter, and doing a poor job of it.
"That's an easy one. You all are blind. And heavily distracted." Daelyn answered.
"Take the office, and go home." James ordered.
"I don't want to. I just proved I'm sneaky, I can help." Daelyn said.
"You will either walk yourself through that door, or I will walk you there myself." James insisted.
"Fine." Daelyn said, stomping away.
"I'll be calling your Mother just to make sure you actually went!" James called after him.
"Aw, come on!" Daelyn distantly shouted.
Sarial was still snickering and giggling and trying to hide it.
"He may need more things to keep him out of trouble. He's a smart kid." I noted, "I wonder what would happen if I took Daern's Instant Fortress out down here."
"What is it?" Dia asked.
"An adamantine fortress." I answered, taking it out of the bag. Then I channeled Danger Sense into my ability amplifier to give the future insights.
"What are you doing?" Sarial asked.
I looked through my decision of throwing it down here. It would give us a reprieve. But they'd swarm it immediately. It we stopped they'd inch towards us. But not quickly enough for me to see the possibility of what'd happen. I clenched my teeth. "I looked at some possibilities. Unfortunately, even with the ability boost, it's too limited for me to tell much."
"Ok." Sarial said. "Just so you're aware, I'm getting fed up with being delicate."
"Well, sounds like tough luck, girl." I replied. "It's hard being vulnerable. But you have a second person to think bout, until they are separate from you."
She grouched about it immediately. "You are vexing." She said finally. "You see what she does? She smacks you with so much logic you can't argue."
"I know, isn't she great?" Dirthin said.
"Uncle's smitten." Sarial sighed. "But, yeah, she is."
"You're both very silly." I said, then I turned my mental attention back to the dilemma. "I'm going to require those people to get closer to do anything to them, or I could use the Wondering Eye to attack them. But that would provoke them"
"What are they?" James asked.
"Dunno." Sarial said. "Haven't seen them."
"A moment and I'll find out." I said, summoning the Wondering Eye and sending it towards where I sensed them. A minute passed as it went to them and began ogling them for me. Confusion crossed my face. "Some Tieflings, human looking people, Drow, Xvart, Duergar and a Tanarukk. Numbering in total... a hundred and thirty-six. Forty are scouts riding kruthik of all things. They all bear an odd symbol."
"Describe that symbol." James said.
"It's like Rakdos's symbol, with Anael and Dagon's symbols intertwined with it." I said, not sure a better way to describe it.
"And how do you plan on dealing with such a large force?" He asked.
"... With force." I replied.
Sarial snorted and said, "Dad doesn't like jokes like that."
"Indeed, I was expecting some kind of actual plan." James said, unamused.
I scratched the side of my head and said, "I wasn't aware that I was joking. I fully intend to send Dia and Sarial ahead the minute they make a move. Fighting them is... barely doable at my current ability. To be honest, I'm not even confident on that."
"Then with guerrilla tactics, don't fight them head on." Dirthin said.
"I don't entirely intend to. I will only do enough to distract them from Sarial and Dia. I'm not suicidal." I replied. "That teleport thing Sarial did to Jasper? I can do something similar. I just don't want the chance of it hurting Sarial, because such things can turn deadly in the Underdark."
"Yes, that fills me with confidence, relying on an ability that may completely backfire." Dirthin said. "It's the most solid plan I can think of."
"Heh. Ever chase prairie dogs? I think it'd look like that." I said. "Right now, I'm anxious about doing anything because I don't want them swarming us."
"Do you think they are from that city?" Sarial asked.
"Maybe. I don't know. I didn't see any of them or that symbol there." I replied. "Alright, fine. strategy. No one likes my plan, so let's start talking it out, hm?" To that end, I send the wondering eye around ahead of us. and begin telling them the terrain, really it was just rocky, stone and tunnels. Ideally, if I could get them in a chokehold location it wouldn't be very difficult to pick them off.