Belly of the Beast

DM

* DM Kuul

Players

* Atalie d'Orien, human fighter/warlock
* Natalie ir'Tinak, changeling/shifter bard
* Tamiyah Athéhsa, shifter monk
* Amber Colworn, changeling artificer

Notable NPCs

* Ashib, a large man of uncertain provenance
* Xan'shun, a drow druid
* Aesuné, a fey lady

## Introduction

*At long last, the tickets have come!*

*"Promising riches beyond your wildest dreams!" The pamphlets said when you were given them by a stern-faced Wencove. He then gave you the other paper on his desk, an issue of the* Sharn Inquisitive.

> Sixteen dead in failed expedition to darkest jungle, Dalmorran being sued by the families of the deceased.
>
>
>

"It's not our usual job, but.... the PR will be good. You're to head off to Xen'drik and find this 'City of Firebrass', if it exists. Track down the bodies of the expedition, grab as much gold and artifacts as you can carry, and *come back alive.* Any questions?"

*The gnome looks over his desk, glasses swinging gently on the braided leather tie to keep them around his neck.*

## Summary

The Wayfinders head off to distant Stormreach on the *Admiral of the Red Sea.* They stop off at Sharktooth rock as the captain negotiates with the Sahuagin dominion in the Thunder Sea, and are off again in no time. They make their way to the Nest, the Wayfinder Foundation outpost in Xen'drik, and talk with the mistress of the tower and get some additional information.

They set off into the dark jungles of Xen'drik, aware of the dangers and potential for bodily harm inherent in the hostile jungle. They catch a glimpse of the fabled Obsidian City, but the resident Sulatar aren't too happy about it, and a small party attacks the Wayfinders, slaying Natalie the changeling. The final member of the raiding party surrenders, but Su's steel defender Hiero slays the drow on her command. Panicked, the Wayfinders abandon the mission and seek to return to Stormreach, where they hope to find someone capable of resurrecting her. Unfortunately, the Traveler's Curse works against them, and by the 8th day they have no idea where they are. They come across a drow hermit named Xan'shun who offers to restore Natalie to life... but through the *reincarnate* spell, not *raise dead.* They accept, and he returns her to life as a swiftstride shifter. He also drops information about the Briar Moon to Tamiyah and Atalie, and Atalie know that the cost of Natalie's *reincarnate* had already been paid for - by Aesuné.

After a brief farewell to Xan'shun, they decide to try again on their mission, giving the Obsidian City as wide of berth as they can. They eventually make it to the City of Firebrass, a dilapidated city constructed out of brass and stone.

They encounter a trap of fire, and a mysterious figure offers to free them in exchange for a service. Destroy the crystal binding it to this city, and it will release them. They agree (under duress), and the figure reveals itself to be an efreet. He dispels his illusion of a fire trap, and sends them off to the Tower in a nearby plaza. They explore said tower, finding it to be a celestial observatory of sorts, and head down into the basement to destroy the crystal. It's apparently in a Dolurrhan manifest zone, which freaks Natalie and Tamiyah right out (as they've both died before), but they brave their fears and stride forwards. Half of the bodies of the previous expedition are found here, but before they can be recovered, a pair of shades and the Orien heir's dragonmark animates and attacks the group.

A short skirmish later, and the phantoms are defeated, and the crystal smashed, releasing the efreet. They return to the surface, and decide to start searching the city to see if they can find any more remains. they find a small group of them in a tunnel, and while they're searching the rest of the city, they come across an old friend of Tamiyah's - Ashib, the mysterious gentleman from Scorched Earth. He chats with them, and provides a safe camp as they explore the rest of the city, in return for an introduction to the rest of the Wayfinder Foundation.

He leads them out of the city and through dense jungle, until they are forced to rest and Tamiyah and Atalie notice that he's taken them into Lamannia, which he insists is a shortcut. The next morning, he guides them through a thicket of bushes and emerges in the Wayfinder Arboretum, in Fairhaven, Aundair, thousands of miles away in a single days travel. They walk to the front desk, and Vikan Buristal, one of the Foundation Board Members, takes them into the Lounge to hear their story.

## Epilogues 1-3

**=== Epilogue 1: Two days before the Wayfinders stumble across Xan'shun *===***

*A drow sits by the fire in the dark Xen'drik night, the illusion of a fallen tree masking his campsite both from prying eyes, and his own view of the stars in the sky. The song of cicadas and bird-like dinosaurs fills the crisp air, and he sighs as he relaxes against the trunk of the tree, filling his pipe and taking a deep draw before slowly releasing the smoke in a wispy trail.*

*He quirks his head at the cerulean and pink butterfly that flies through his illusion and alights on his pack.* "Strange. I've never seen your like before, small one."

*The little butterfly takes flight again, apparently startled by Xan'shun's voice. But then the butterfly splits into two: one pink, one blue. Then it splits again, and again, and with a second a swarm of insects flutter around the drow. Finally, they coalesce into the shape of a towering Elvish woman. Her kimono is slashed half in black and blue, and half in pink and white. She wears a golden crown like a flower's stamen.* "Ah, another lost child, so far from home."

*She cocks her head, looking down at the campsite.* "We've both drifted, I suppose."

*He immediately jumps to his feet, boomerang seemingly materializing out of thin air.* "I mean no disrespect, kind Lady. But I did not invite anyone of your... stature to my camp."

"No." *She frowns, but then she smiles dearly.* "Nevertheless, you'll be glad I came. May I join you?"

"I would be a fool to say no, my Lady." *He stands and offers her the seat carved out of the wood of the trunk before sitting crosslegged on the other side of the fire*.

*The fey queen nods her head in thanks, and sits without a sound. She reaches towards the fire, and a swarm of butterflies flutter around her hand, forming the shape of a teapot in the charcoal. With another wave of her hand, the teapot pours into two wooden cups, and she passes one to Xan'shun.*

*Aesuné drinks, watching the drow all the while.*

*He draws in a breath, savouring the odour of the tea, but does not drink it.* "And why would I be glad of your presence, noble Lady?"

*She turns her cup over. Now empty, she shows him the leaves collected at the bottom.* "I saw an opportunity. A chance to earn favour with a... friend of mine. You understand the importance of a favour owed, yes?"

*He nods slowly, curious now.*

"I find my story bound to a group of explorers," *she begins.* "Wayfinders, they call themselves. One is mine already. Another has, shall we say... wandered astray. Bringing them back would give me another player for my stage." *She smirks.* "I have sensed in you the power to return a lost soul. Am I correct?"

"I cannot restore a lost soul, milady. The Dragon Between permits me to rebirth a fallen creature, but only in times of great need." *He narrows his eyes at her.* "Are you insinuating that this is such a time?"

*Aesuné nods.* "Understand what I am, elf." *She stares past the drow, gazing at nothing in particular.* "I was born between six worlds, seven...so many I lost count. I was a hundred scattered pages, struggling to find a meaning. Then five wanderers came to my realm and wrote my first chapter."

*She blinks, and a hawk flies down from the canopy and lands on her shoulder. It's like no native species the drow knows. She scratches its chin, and she chuckles.* "The Wayfinders are here because of a great need. That is their way. Their strange, infuriating, beautiful way. Now they need your help, and I need a chapter two. So will you make a deal?"

*Xan'shun stirs the flames with a fire-blackened stick.* "I am listening, fair Lady."

*She taps her chin.* "Oh my, I've never been on this side of the negotiation before." *She leans down towards the drow. Cocks her head as she studies him.* "I need your magic. What might you need of me?"

*He spreads his arms wide and laughs.* "I have everything I need, fair Lady. I have the earth beneath my feet, the sky over my head and the trees by my side."

*Aesuné speaks through gritted teeth.* "Are you mocking my generosity, mortal?"

"I know enough to know that the gifts of the fey are never what you expect them to be, fair Lady. I mock not your generosity, but I live a simple life, and enjoy its simple pleasures." *He strokes his chin, thinking.*

"This thing, I will do for you. But I require a name by which to call you, and a kiss by which to remember you."

*She hesitates, then frowns.* "A name?"

*The fey narrows her eyes, then exhales.* "A name for a new player. Yes, it is fair. I am called Aesuné - Queen, Princess and Witch of the Jasper Spire."

*She leans down and kisses his forehead. Her touch of her lips tingle like the pain after a scorpion's sting, then turn cool like a spring dew. Then her form starts to dissipate, and she shatters into a thousand blue and pink butterflies. They scatter into the jungle canopy, and Xan'shun is left alone again.*

*He cracks a smile, fingertips dancing over his forehead.* "Aesuné. Lovely name for a lovely lady."

**=== End *===***

***===*** **Epilogue 2: The day of Natalie's death*===***

*"Araushnee... excellent work. You have done well." The women's lips curl into a smile. She bows her head to the feathered serpent in the mirror.*

"Thank you, Lady Maharishi. Your information was correct. The precautions that they took excelled at keeping out the more physical threats, while lulling them into a false sense of security. I shall become your ears on the inside. They'll never see it coming, milady."

*Maharishi hisses in pleasure. "Hide. Immerse yourself in the role. You will be our dagger in the dark when needed."*

*Mirian ir'Tinak smiles malevolently. As Maharishi disappears from the bathroom mirror, she sees her own reflection in it, pounding against the glass, tears streaming down her face.*

"Foolish mortal. The Lords of Dust are not to be crossed with impunity." *The fiend wearing Mirian's skin smiles and adopts a pleasant expression as she turns, heading out to the children.* "Alright kids, who wants pancakes for lunch?"

***===*** **END *===***

**=== EPILOGUE THE FINALE ===**

*Ashib settles cross legged on the ground beside the roaring fire, apparently unconcerned with the amount of heat that it is throwing off. Across a small, low table, is a gnarled halfing, staring at the large “man”, tumbler of clear amber fluid in his hand.*

“You’re this Ashib fellow. I hear that you not only helped my Wayfinders out of a bind this time, but you apparently cured Tamiyah of mummy rot. That right?”

*Ashib smiles.* “This one was glad to help Miss Tamiyah. She has a strong spirit.”

*Boroman slams his tumbler full of mroran scotch on the table.* “Then I want you to heal me as well. Get rid of this wasting disease that’s stolen my vigour, and let me *live* again.”

“Ashib is not certain that you understand the nature of the situation. Everything has a cost, Boroman ir’Dayne. I will not help you.” *A dark look comes over Ashib’s face, and he crosses his arms as his lips purse.* “I would not have the cost on either of us.”

*The halfling’s eyes widen in surprise at the admission.* “You… you *can* heal me! Whatever the cost is, I will pay it. Gold? Artifacts? Land? I’m a powerful man, Ashib.” *He grabs a cane nearby and helps himself stand, joints creaking.* “Everything that I’ve done, all of the resources that I’ve poured into this Foundation, hoping that someone would find a cure… and you say *no?*”

*Ashib’s face is utterly neutral, eyes flinty and cold.* “Ashib does. You do not know what you ask, halfling.”

“Ask? All I want is to be *cured*, to be able to play with my nieces and nephews again, to feel the salty breeze on my face and to know what lies over the horizon.” *Boroman is getting worked up, chest beginning to heave in exertion.*

“No.” *Ashib is unmoved, the usually jovial man deeply disturbed by the conversation.* “Perhaps this one made a mistake in wishing to meet you.”

“Just *tell* me, Host dammit. What harm can that do?” *The halfling throws his cane to the ground in disgust.*

“You truly wish to know? Fine. Disgusting mortal. You never know when to leave well enough alone. You must collect the willing souls of 13 different true living dragonmarked heirs to be knowingly consumed, utterly *destroyed.* And the Mark of Healing *must* be an Heir of Siberys. That is the price for my help.”

*Boroman staggers back a step and collapses into an overstuffed armchair, jaw working uselessly. Ashib shakes his head sadly and stands before walking into and through the wall, leaving the flabbergasted nobleman behind.*

**=== END OF BELLY OF THE BEAST ===**