Thema: "A simple escort," she said ...

[Zanan]

Xune, after a long time, gets out her equipment and start painting a new tattoo one her upper left arm. While finishing the last details, she quietly casts a spell and the runes glow somewhat. After a while, only the tattoo remains, depicting a flaming dagger.

After the rest, Xune ask you to step close to her and points to a wall. She moves her fingers over the stone and a magical symbol becomes visible for a short time. She points at that and two large, flat stones on the floor.
"You step on these stones and touch the rune to pass the portal. Make sure you step aside once you are through, as there is only a small ledge on the other side and you may get pushed by the next of us and enjoy a 50 feet drop to other the cavern's floor."

Nodding to Szordrin, Xune, after drawing her dagger, does as she told you and vanishes through the wall.

[Phaerven]

On their way to the city, Zhadristan approaches Naedragard as soon as he is given a good opportunity to talk.
"I thought you would be bound or something like that in the ritual." Zhadristan states. "Looks like it turned out quite well for you instead."

[Zanan]

"Matter of factly, I was to," the female replies. "As it looks, your Dark Mother decided to come back to your priestesses while we were away - I would assume you know that she went silent for a while?! So when we returned that sweetblood, the one who was actually bound to take his place must have arrived too. Thus, my presence was no longer required. That's at least what Pallistryn conveyed." She smiles thinly, "I'm in a talkative mood it seems. Anything else you want to know? ... Ahem, while we are at it, you're not willing to hand over your soul to my mistress instead of hers?" (Pointing at Xune, while smiling wickedly.)

[Phaerven]

"There are many things I would like to talk to you about", the visibly surprised Zhadristan says, "but bartering for my soul was not among them."
"Obviously I could hardly do worse," he adds with a very derisive expression slighty nodding in the direction of Xune.
"But then I do not find it very appealing to end up in your dagger one time for nothing either", he offers, inviting her to go on.

[Zanan]

Naedragard raises an eyebrow on Zhadristan's remark towards Xune's faith. "Well, there are certainly better uses for a soul than being fed to the Pits and its inhabitants. My mistress is very careful about this ... and I am not that murderous a beast either," she adds, fainting a dissapointing look. "Then again," she waves a hand in front of Zhadristan's face (non-threatingly) as if measuring something, "you will have to become far more valuable before becoming attractive to her."
Cocking her head, she says: "Maybe I should watch you nonetheless, for there surely is potential in that dark skin of yours ..."

[Phaerven]

Zhadristan listens and nods, interested. Then he grins and answers, "That would be only fair, I am and have been watching you, too..."
He briefly glances around to reassure him that she-knows-who is not too close nearby. "So you will be going to the surface then?"

[Zanan]

Getting more interested now, she simply replies: "Some day, maybe ..."

[Phaerven]

"No hurry going up, that is good", he says and walks a few steps in silence wearing a pleased expression.
"Personally, I have no idea where I am going to go. But after all this, I will not go back to the usual caravan business." Zhadristan chuckles as he remembers something, but hesitates before he goes on cryptically, "even though it can potentially have its good sides."

[Zanan]

Naedragard takes this as a compliment, but keeps quiet for a while.

After stepping through the portal, you walk along the ledge downwards to the floor of the cavern, a floor which is virtually littered with small stalagmites. Xune leads you on through this 'field of stony teeth' and after about two miles, the cavern has become as narrow as a tunnel, one you cannot spot the ceiling of. Naedragard looks quite relax, keeping to the main group and watching on carefully, both on the group members as well as the Underdark around her. The way finally becomes a tunnel and the walk along the path becomes more strenuous as it warps its way upwards for mile after mile.
Xune calls for a halt in a small, flat cavern. She signals that the Tranquillian trade route is about half a mile away, but she would suggest a short rest, as you will have to be on your toes from then on.

"Caravan work?" Naedragard asks within Zhadristan's head. "That sounds not exactly exciting!"

[Zanan]

Szordrin sticks closer to Xune this time around. probably being ordered to do so by Kylara. After a few initial too-close-for-comfort looks though, he keeps a respectful silence and an eye on the others, rather than guarding the scout directly.

[Phaerven]

Zhadristan spends the rest chewing on some of his dry rations and relaxing his muscles.

"Not really, although it is better than staying around in Skullport", he answers Naedragard in his mind. "But I suppose your assignments are also not always that thrilling?"

[Zanan]

"Those 'at home' surely not. Hence I have no immediately plans to go back there. Much like she (nodding towards Sheiriya) I'd assume. Then again, she most likely does not have any superiors pushing her along." She keeps silent for a few moments, then adresses him again: "You have been around the Underdark then? Not that I have any clue about where that Skullport lies, or Sschindylryn for that matter."

[Phaerven]

"I was fortunate in having had my.. superiors.. removed for good." Zhadristan thinks. "I do not really know much about Sheiriya, at first I even thought she was drow."

"Until our recent travels I have not been anywhere else", he then answers her question.
"Funnily enough I barely survived a caravan ambush and my first contract afterwards was retrieving the remnants off another raided caravan. You should have been there when we found it, I think you would have enjoyed the sight."
Zhadristan gives no further explanation why and asks, "I am wondering, do you actually drink? Like wine or spirits?"

[Zanan]

"Drinking? Well, much like she I can and do drink anything that tastes good. Why shouldn't I?" She gives him a questioning look: "You don't want to become a diabolist or the like? Meddling with devils is a dangerous art. Not as dangerous as is meddling with demons, but very close."

The "talk" goes  on even while Xune gets you up again. She leads you through a number of flat caverns before you eventually climb up via a narrow shaft to reach the large tunnel that is known as the Tranquillian trade route. Xune asks Naedragard to look for any signs of danger, given her unimpeded sight. The female agrees and stays close to the middle of the group. Nothing bothers you for the first two days of travel, as you skirt a small lake, a fungi forest and a couple of dead lizards, which are eaten by a pack carrion crawlers as you pass them by. After a few hours of travel on day three, just after passing a crossroad, you spot the tail end of a caravan, guarded by drow and a couple of trolls. Xune bides you to wait and asks Naedragard for assistance again, as she goes up to the caravan master to check whether you can utilize the travellers along you way to Sschindylryn.

[Phaerven]

"No", Zhadristan answers, "I was not even remotely thinking of any such thing. I know your kind is not affected by any of our poisons, I was simply wondering if that means you also miss out on the good ones."