LINK: Sow's Foot, Outer City, Interactive Map, World Anvil.

The power continued to swell within camp, and Nyx joined the others to watch it congeal and morph into a projected figure. Before the amorphous magic could fully take shape, Lae'zel roared, "Queen Vlaakith - tsk'va!"

Towering above them stood Vlaakith's darkened form, magic swirling over the projection. Even as a projection, her power pressed down on Nyx's body, and the surrounding stars seemed to dim. Vlaakith took a long breath, looking down her nose at them, eyes glowing with restrained fury. She straightened herself even more and boomed, "You are Hshar'lak. And still you speak my name."

Lae'zel clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. Pointing she said, "I've seen the captive Orpheus with my own eyes, spoken to Jhe'stil Kith'rak Voss. You lied to us, enslaved us."

Rage bellowed from Vlaakith. "The betrayer Voss LIES!"

There was uneasy movement from the rest around Nyx, but none of them moved an inch. Lae'zel stood her ground, and Vlaakith cut her off with a dismissive hand. "I have only a moment. And you, Hshar'lak will listen." To Nyx's surprise, Vlaakith continued with an appeal. The lich queen's eyes did not leave Lae'zel's, and she said, "We are Githyanki. We move mountains, we snuff out stars, we share the planes. The traitor Voss has lied to you. The Heretic Prince would shatter us in an instant. The Great Dominion, shrunk to the head of a pin." She pointed to Lae'zel. "Return to the Astral Prism. Slay Orpheus the pretender. Serve me and I will ascend you." She placed a hand on her chest, and a strained smile pulled at her mouth. "You will be no mere warrior, nor Kith'rak. You will be Baht t'Vlaakith. Commander of Dragons. My only, my Chosen." Contempt returned to her gaze when Lae'zel didn't react. "A final chance. Kneel before me. Make your promise."

Lae'zel took a step forward and threw her shoulders back. "I have witnessed too much, and you have given me too little. Finally, I can see." She shook her head, declaring, "Orpheus will live, and I will hear his creed. This is my word."

Vlaakith shook with fury, and spat, "Your word is nothing. You are nothing." She swept her hand over camp, sneering at them. "The Kith'raki will bring you. I will tear your flesh from your bones and devour your skull's marrow while you beg for death." Vlaakith's projection was coming apart at the sheer rage in her voice. Nyx had to widen her stance or be pushed back by her mere spoken words. Its power grew dangerously erratic, rippling waves thrashed at the surrounding tents and trees. The projection sputtered and snuffed in a final echoing promise. "I will consume you. I will unmake you!"

The hush of power and sound that followed was so jarring that both Nyx's ears and magic were ringing. She took a steadying breath and found herself standing among every single one of their companions, half a step or so behind Lae'zel.

Nyx crossed her arms, blinked Vlaakith's ghost from her vision and snorted. "What a child. Godlike tantrum or no."

Lae'zel gave her a strange look over her shoulder, and Nyx inclined her head. Lae'zel returned the gesture, and her gaze fell on the others.

Karlach threw her fist in the air and whooped. "Aw, yeah! That was ratchet! Way da go Lae'zel!"

Released from their shock, grins and sounds of agreement sprang from the rest of their companions as well. Admit the declarations of approval and congratulations, Nyx couldn't help but wonder whether Lae'zel had simply traded one tyrant for another.

"Well, cut my straps and call me a purse! Ye got some brass ones lassie, that's fer sure." Clive hopped from Nyx's tent and said, "And here me thoughts, I'd had to come and rescue ye lot."

Karlach slapped Lae'zel across the shoulder hard enough for her to grunt. "Nah, I think Lae'zel and I can take her. Whaddaya think?"

Lae'zel gave her an incredulous side eye. "The lich queen is no trifling foe."

"Oh, come on. Lighten up a bit, you just told off a demigoddess for fuck sakes. I think what you need; is a drink."

Several others agreed with that estimation, and procurement of drinks commenced.

Nyx made herself comfortable on the log, and Clive joined her to watch the others scurry, each trying to get to the alcohol first. Focusing on the fire, she wrung her shaking hands and took a few more steadying breaths.

Clive said, "Nye a dull moment round here, eh?"

She spared a small smile. "I'd rather not have visits from demigods too often."

He chuckled and squirmed. "Which is why I brought you this." He leaned over to deposit a long ribbon of cloth next to her; the effect of which was akin to him barfing it up.

It was an exquisite gift. A whole pile of ribbon, the breadth of her hand and embroidered with circular interlocking patterns. Its black and silver thread gleamed in the firelight, and the stitching was thick enough to double the weight of the hardened cloth. The knotwork was interspersed with sigils.

Nyx studied the patterns and heard Gale gasp. He promptly plopped himself next to her, put his cup down and asked, "May I?"

"Uh, sure."

Gale too studied the fabric, but with much more reverence than Nyx had. Clive puffed himself out.

Nyx arched an eyebrow at Clive. "So, you going to let me in on it or leave me hanging?"

"Oh, me thinks I'll let man skirts do it. He's about bursting."

She turned her expectant gaze on Gale instead, and it seems they've attracted an audience of their own. Astarion hovered over them, goblet of wine in hand.

Gale ran a thumb over the embroidery. "It is ethereal weave infused with a containment sigil. See the three interlocking loops here combined with this sigil? That channels the binding of authority."

Both Nyx and Astarion's brows knit. Gale flashed them a grin, and he leaned over to Nyx. "You my friend are the very lucky owner of interlaced Draconic knotwork and you'll be as safe as an Archmage in his own tower from now on." He gestured to her tent.

Both Nyx and Astarion were frowning at her tent now.

Gale leaned even closer and spoke in a low conspiratorial tone, "Clive, you wouldn't have come by more of this on your adventures have you?"

"Har! I'm afraid ye'll have to find some yerself."

Gale visibly deflated, and Nyx's brows returned to their resting place. "Ah, so it's a protective ward."

Gale clutched the ribbon to his chest as if to protect it from her blasphemy. "Not a protective ward; the protective ward. Tara wouldn't even be able to get me some even if I'd asked."

Nyx's eyebrows shot up into her hairline anew. "Oh."

Clive harred again and said, "Aye lassie, let's just say no curses will be dragging ye off again once you got that properly fastened. And seeing as Vlaakith herself has- Gah!"

Nyx swooped Clive up and squished him hard until his usual string of curses replied. Nyx set Clive back down, but his glare didn't last after she thanked him.

Gale chuckled and stood. "Oof, worse than a pixie sailor." He held the ribbon for another longing moment and placed it into Astarion's waiting hands.

Astarion left momentarily to safely stow the talisman in a place 'no one would find it' until they could fasten it to their tent proper.

Clive nodded to himself. "Good. That's good."

Nyx smiled. "Careful, that almost sounded like approval."

He harrumphed and said, "If he didn't have his priorities straight, I'd have set it fer him."

To Nyx's surprise, Clive joined in the rest of the festivities. She was convinced that it was to annoy Astarion more than anything, but the barbed remarks dried up quickly once Tav broke out the lyre to sing Lae'zel's championing ballads to toasting companions. And once Wyll and Karlach got enough drink into her, Lae'zel joined the rest of the nightly jubilations herself, to everyone's amusement.

---

The rising sun dispersed the last of the fog that had shrouded Twin Songs during the night. The pale yellow granite of Duskhawk Hill made a striking picture against the cool blue sky. Nyx closed her eyes and listened to the winds howl through the natural winding corridors created in the landscape. Two different frequencies denoting Twin Song's namesake. Her enjoyment of the crisp morning was abruptly interrupted by a peacock call.

Awful noisy birds. Caterwauling all hours of the night. Why people keep such things as pets I'll never understand.

Nyx would rather have her peace and quiet, no matter how pretty they were. She swept her gaze to the river; admired its twin brilliance to the sky and set out to get ready.

The priests of the Gilded Lantern intercepted Tav's group before they could make headway to Sow's Foot. Both Father Liam and Rowan implored them for assistance once more. With the makeshift boom blocking ease of access to Sow's Foot and their need to tend to The Church of Last Hope's crypts meant they were not able to reach the Bone Pit before the next full moon.

Astarion said in a low tone to Nyx, "I already don't like where this is going."

She made a noise of agreement.

Tav looked between the two priests and asked, "Why would you want to go to the pit? If you don't mind me saying, but I think most people would want to avoid the place."

A small smile played on Father Rowan's lips. "It is exactly for that reason why we should. You see, the abattoirs' disposal site has a habit of attracting disgruntled spirits and other agents of malcontent. The abattoirs themselves refuse to clean out the pit on a regular basis and the Gravemakers don't care for animal carcasses." He folded his hands. "Thus, the duty of protecting the citizens of Sow's Foot from undead animals and spirits has fallen to us."

Father Liam glanced in the direction of Sow's Foot and shook his head. "We've already had word of ghost sightings and we are concerned that the full moon tomorrow night will cause an outbreak of hauntings."

Father Rowan gave Tav a knowing look when she didn't 'volunteer' immediately. "We'll offer compensation, equal to that of the crypt cleansing."

Tav took a moment to confirm with her crew, who, although reluctant at dealing with more undead (or spirits) were more strapped for coin. She said to them, "We need to take on work as we go and quite frankly I don't see us getting any better paying jobs that side."

Shadowheart put in, "Or any less dirty."

Wyll mentioned the possibility of more tolls at the coming gates, which also swayed their decision to agree to the task. "I imagine Whitkeep's toll would be a handsome sum." And it also meant a two-night stay in Sow's Foot, which incurred most of their group's chagrin.

Tav scratched her head and said, "We'll deal with it when we get there."

---

Sow's Foot's reputation preceded it, and not in a good way. A broad winding road between Duskhawk Hill on the left and the forested escarpment to the right brought you face-to-face with its sprawling slums. In the distance, the rooftops of the massive slaughterhouse dominated the skyline, as well as the foul odour from its abattoirs and animal pens. Nyx surveyed her companions, who each had set their faces into a grim line.

Tav pointed down a side street and said, "I've some contacts at the Silken Dreams. From there we can make our way to the pit. Get the lay of the land."

Faces became even more grim at the suggestion, and Astarion quipped, "My dear, I do hope you're not planning on staying for tea. If so, you're on your own."

She ignored him, but his pout followed the rest after Tav.

Ramshackle houses were interspersed with makeshift dwellings, crowded shebeens and simple workshops. The streets were packed with people, and Nyx resorted to reclaiming space for herself through her most menacing scowl. The others had come to the same conclusion. Together they stomped through the narrow roads, armed to the teeth and walking as though they didn't care who owned the place. Thankfully, it was effective and meant that most of the crowd scurried out of their way after taking one look at them.

Halsin's scowl was fixed on the structure in the distance. "So this is city living with all its noise, smoke, stone and bustle?"

Wyll followed his gaze and nodded solemnly. "Sow's Foot had got a rotten deal. Cut off from the sea and located between a rock and a hard place means the living is rough out here."

Tav sidestepped out of the way of an overloaded cart filled with rusted equipment, its owners straining to manoeuvre it through the uneven mud and unwieldy crowd. "People make do with what they can, and most of that comes from physical labour. They also heavily depend on the surrounding woodlands."

Halsin shook his head at seeing more beggars spilling from an alleyway. Their faces gaunt, lesions on their exposed skin, their behaviour not unlike the Absolutist thralls. "It certainly does crawl with life, but it doesn't flourish. I've seen the refugees, unhoused; the destitute, unwanted; and orphans, unloved." He sighed and gestured with an open hand at the scene. "It's like a forest with an overgrown canopy. Light and nourishment cannot penetrate to those who need it the most..." They passed more beggars, some of whom were laying on the ground. Whether they were asleep or otherwise was hard to tell. "And still it draws them in. The safety in numbers. The promise of civilisation. The dream of better." He drew to a halt.

Wyll cried out behind them, "Halsin wait! It's not what you think."

Halsin had disappeared into the alleyway intent on examining one of the men laying on the ground. Wyll and Shadowheart wanted to intervene, but the trap had been sprung.

Several dark figures pounced on Halsin, dangling from his arms and back. Fortunately, due to his stature and strength, the would-be robbers merely hanged from his limbs like misplaced ornaments. Once weapons were brandished and the robbers realised that their pickings weren't going to be that easy, and they ran tail. One tried to pry Halsin's staff from his back, but the swell of druidic magic was enough to send him running after his friends empty handed.

Karlach stowed her hammer. "Whoo, even worse than I remember. Please don't do that again."

Green power whirled around Halsin for another moment. He stared after the robbers, fisted hands and eyebrows drawn. "All that potential has been left to die in the dark, and rot in the gutter."

Shadowheart mumbled under her breath, "You were nearly the one to rot in the gutter."

He didn't spare her a reaction and instead beckoned with an open hand to the gloomy alleyway around them. "I wish... I wish there was a better way. I wish everyone could see the sun, have a full belly, and know nature as a friend. There is a balance that is yet to be found." His shoulders slumped, and he shook his head. "Ah, but listen to me, preaching like an initiate in his cups."

Tav sidled next to him, staring down the corridor. "It's a fine dream. Perhaps you can help find the balance?"

Gale scratched his beard. "I'm sure plenty of people would trade this life for one of a druid - if they knew the option existed."

Halsin’s demeanour relaxed. "Yes... I hope so. But we have many battles to win, before any of that." He turned on his heel and marched back to the stream of people.

---

Nyx had no interest in 'visiting' the Silken Dreams. Unlike Sharess' Caress, the Silken Dreams was not so, erm - civilised. Half of their companions followed Tav inside as backup, armed with blades and scowls. Not too long after, they returned with the same scowls on their faces.

Tav informed those waiting that her contact had fallen through and that, for now, they were out of options. "Or rather no options I'd like to take up. My shady undertakings have their limits."

Astarion inspected his nails. "So, what happens now? And don't even think that I'm going to take up a bed at any one of Sow's Foot's disgusting establishments. Ugh."

Tav pinched the bridge of her nose. "It's not like we can go back-and-forth between the gates; the tolls will clean us out."

Nyx squinted past the roofs where she could barely make out the forest canopy and suggested, "We can head for the forest, make camp there and wait it out for tomorrow night."

No better alternatives presented themselves and Tav gave a curl nod. "It's settled then, and we can scout the pit as well."

They avoided the slaughterhouse route all-together, since the state of Sow's Foot was depressing enough without adding to it what may be going on at the abattoirs. Nyx also wondered whether Halsin may do something even more drastic than what happened in the alleyway. Instead, they headed for Whitkeep gate, turning toward the woodlands they would slink between the houses.

"Oi! Where do you think you're going?" A guard marched up to them in an exaggerated motion. "Don't think you can bypass the gates, we'll simply catch you on the other side. You're not getting around the fee that way and will only be overnighting in the cells. That's if we don't kick you out of the city entirely."

Tav blinked at him a few times and said, "We didn't intend any of that, we're merely going to camp in the forest and exorcise the pit tomorrow night."

"Oh, sure you are and I'm Lord Gortash himself."

Instead of arguing, Tav simply presented Father Rowan's letter stating the same.

The guard handed it back with a disappointed huff. "Fine, fine. If you end up as animal feed for the ghosts don't expect me to dig you out of the pit." He ambled back to his post, grumbling to himself.

On the way, they passed several crumbling and abandoned houses. Father Rowan had mentioned them, stating that the regular hauntings from the pit had driven away nearby residents. True to the guard's warning; unsettling howls and piercing screeches would echo from the ruins.

Gale paused for a moment and extended a hand in the direction of the buildings. "Oof. Pretty powerful disturbances for it to occur in daylight."

Shadowheart quipped, "Scared?"

"Of ghosts? Of course not. A magical pestilence more than anything else."

Karlach's face lit up. "Ooh, could we go clean them out? Let's go clean them out!" She received several incredulous looks. Another drawn-out cry drifted from the houses.

Gale glanced at the general location of the pit and said, "Hmm, might be a good idea. Those two are too close for my liking and I doubt we would want interference tomorrow."

There were grunts of assent. The pit itself was a brisk walk away from the ruins, and its pile of carcasses and bones peaked past the ground, rising into a heap taller than the remaining intact houses. A truly grotesque sight, and Nyx was grateful that they weren't downwind of it. She understood the need for people to eat, but surely there was a better way, like Halsin said. Steering well clear of the ruins and the pit, they set up camp at the forest boundary.

A group of rangers materialised from the forest and stopped on their way home to warn their party of the hauntings as well. Tav eagerly conversed with them on the subject while Gale boasted that the modifications to the camp wards. The same wards Shadowheart and Wyll had been roped into laying down.

"As you can see, my good ranger, these will fling any untoward spirit away from our encampment. Even dispel lesser ones."

Shadowheart shook her head, ponytail swaying. "As long as it doesn't set fire to anyone's hair again."

"A minor miscalculation."

Wyll snickered at Shadowheart glaring daggers into Gale's back.

Tav explained to the rangers why their group was stationed here. Nyx couldn't make out their faces from her position, but the shortest ranger sighed in relief.

"Chauntea bless you. Those sleazy bastards don't care." Pointing to the slaughterhouse. "And the spirits are scaring away game too. We need to go deeper into the woods each hunt, return later every time and it's getting more dangerous trying to pass that wretched pit and its ghost town."

Another piped up, "Yeah, why don't they send one of those shiny Steel Watchers in to deal with it?"

"Because they're too busy polishing it!"

There was a round of snorts and sniggers from their group and the rangers. Tav's jaw was set in determination, and her companions already knew what that meant. She said, "We'll be clearing out both. The 'town' tonight, and the pit tomorrow night."

Another ranger chuckled. "Hah, I would've sat in for the show, but our families need us alive. Good luck to you, and we'll see you on the other side."

Tav waved them off and turned to her crew. "I hope you're up for some ghost busting."

"Aw, yes! This is going to be awesome."

--- --- ---

How is it that I keep finding myself in these situations? Not only must I stay in the rotting slums of Sow's Foot for two nights, but now I have to exorcise ghosts? Do I look like a priest?

"This is not my idea of evening entertainment.", Astarion groused as they approached the ruin, dragging his feet. The sun's last rays drenched the ruins in red, and a wail cut through the air. He was not getting paid enough for this, neither was he receiving any sympathy.

Karlach brandished her hammer and rolled her shoulders. "Come on, it'll be fun."

"Hmmph, as if."

"The two scaredy-cats are welcome to go on back." Shadowheart said, retrieving Lathander's mace, and on cue, several more wails cut the encroaching night.

"I told you earlier, I'm not scared."

Shadowheart's eyes flashed with mischief. "Alright then, let's make teams and see who gets the most."

Karlach guffawed and said, "Oh, you're so on.", grabbing Wyll by the arm and dragging him off. "Starting now!"

Before Astarion could fully voice his protest at the stupidity of splitting up, Shadowheart had confiscated Lae'zel and Halsin for her team, whereas Tav and Gale headed in another direction. Astarion and Nyx stood alone in the dark, dusty road.

Nyx casually gathered her staff and readied her magic. She gave him a raised eyebrow. "Ready?"

"It's hardly fair if there is one team of three."

"If I were up against a master hunter and a super predator I'd want an unfair advantage too."

A grin split his lips. "Well now, since you put it that way, my sweet."

"Let's hunt."

---

Astarion wrinkled his nose when they approached the first partly collapsed house. The heavy smell of tar and the sour notes of rancid grease greeted them at the slanted, open doorway.

Nyx made a face and covered her nose. "Phew, now that is rotten." Her magical mask shimmered over the lower half of her face. "I suppose this is a prime spot for oil fey."

He peered into the gloom. "Boggles, you say?", readying incendiary arrows.

Nyx eyed his choice. "Normal arrows would do the job - besides they're not flammable like oozes."

A quick exchange saw his poison arrows take point. "Better?"

She inclined her head, and they stepped into the structure. The air inside stirred. Footsteps ran overhead on the second floor, followed by a door slamming and the sounds of faint crying. Nyx took up a fighting stance and said, "Poltergeists too."

Astarion sighed, trading his arrows for plain ones after all. Terribly dull. Fortunately, all their weapons were re-blessed using the amulets provided by the Church of Last Hope.

Nyx took the lead, creeping through the first floor.

Rays of moonlight streamed through windowless frames, dust carpeted every surface, and cobwebs hung like curtains from the walls. Nyx stooped to pick up a dry bone from the rotten floorboards. Turning it over, she said, "Hmm, swine." And another scattering of bones led a trail up the stairs. They shared a knowing look and inched up to the second floor. The landing was clear, but the trail of bones was joined by black footprints leading into the same room the incessant snivelling came from. Astarion took cover position behind Nyx, arrows and magic primed for what they might find inside.

Nyx reached for the doorknob, and it flew open, knocking her back. The assailant's blue glow vanished before Astarion could give it the deserving arrow to the face. Nyx regained her feet in the nick of time as a dark shape hovered in the middle of the room.

Astarion squinted. What in the hells?

The shape twirled once and came hurdling toward them. Nyx struck the object with enough force that it came undone, but the resulting spray of decay rained down on them both.

"By the Abyss", Nyx frowned at the partially eaten animal carcass strewn on the floor, pieces of which were now stuck to them both. The incessant wail rose in pitch, morphing into a roar of laughter.

"Damn you wretched things." Astarion sneered at the state of his gear and spotted something wriggling on shoulder. Flailing wildly in an attempt to rid himself of the maggots, the laughter grew and was joined by more than one voice. He glared at the surrounding room, tracking movement in the shadows, arrow nocked.

The verminous spirits harassed them with more flying objects: broken furniture, animal skulls and rusted cutlery. Astarion and Nyx dodged and parried the objects until they could corner one of the ghosts. A smug sense of satisfaction accompanied Astarion's growing grin as the laughter turned back into wails. They had banished a handful of ghosts. Nyx worked another one into a corner while Astarion intercepted flying objects from the others.

A pot arched through the air, and Astarion's arrow shattered it into dust. A gust of wind picked up and blew the cloud into his eyes. Choking and coughing, he heard Nyx cry out in frustration. He couldn't clear the scratching debris from his eyes quickly enough. One of the wretched things shoved him hard, and he stumbled backwards. His momentum jerked to a standstill when feet got caught in something. Looking down, he found himself glued to the floor in boggle soot. He swore, noticing the nails in the floorboard quivering as the wretches worked them loose from below.

"Shit." Stowing his bow, he tugged as hard as he could on his legs to become unstuck, but the nails were wiggling from their fittings faster. An undignified squeal left his throat as the planks gave way, dragging him along to plummet to the floor below.

--- --- ---

Nyx was trapped, holding her breath while wrestling herself free from what felt like fabric. Regardless of the magic covering her face, the smell was awful, and spiny things scraped against her skin. She heard Astarion cry out followed by a crash. Something struck her, and she sucked in a breath of foul air. The beating continued while she choked, and she had to reinforce her limbs against the onslaught. Fortunately, she was close to the wall and pressed herself against it, protecting her face and abdomen. Steeling herself, she drew on her force magic and let of an uncoordinated burst in the direction of the beatings. In the pause between, she gathered her hunting knife and furiously cut away at the fabric. A flurry of floating feathers greeted her after the blood splattered curtain dropped to the floor. The glowing beater came at her again - with her own staff no less!

She caught the weapon on the downward swing, reclaimed it and, before the poltergeist could vanish, she returned the favour tenfold. It evaporated in a shriek along with the last of the wailing, and she took a moment to gain her bearings. Hearing Astarion's voice was a relief, but it sounded farther away. She spotted the hole in the floor, surrounded by boggle soot, and rushed down the stairs to find him.

Astarion was sprawled on the floor, sans his boots, cursing and swearing up a storm. He was wrestling too, against three bald boggles trying to steal his bow. Their short, stocky bodies dangling halfway from their portal in the wall, long fingers wrapped around their would-be prize. Astarion shouted at them, "I am going to kill all of you!", landing a barefooted kick to one's head.

Nyx's knives whipped through the air, neutralising the pests in one clean swoop. Their limp bodies dropped from the portal and it dispelled. Astarion clutched his bow to his chest, glowering at their corpses. She stalked to him carefully, hands over her knives ready to send them flying at the next nuisance to show itself. He gave her a long look before taking her hand.

Standing, he said, "Gods, you look like you've been attacked by a rabid chicken."

Only then did she look herself over, and the description was quite apt. Blood soaked feathers jutted out from her gear, and she could feel their weight in her hair. Her skin crawled.

Yuck, yuck, yuck.

She forced herself to ignore the unsettling feeling of grime on every part of her body as well as the overwhelming scent of decay in her nose.

Dagger in hand and a snarl on his face, Astarion said, "Cover me," while he hacked his boots free from the second story's fallen floorboards. And indeed, more boggles appeared from portals attempting to steal their gear, leaving sticky soot in their wake.

Astarion was boiling with fury by the time he got his boots on after having to fend off boggles once more. "I am going to send you to the hells where you belong.", nocking a smokepowder arrow.

A portal appeared on the ceiling, and Nyx unceremoniously cut down any boggles that appeared. Astarion shot the sparkling trail of the smokepowder arrow into the collapsing portal. The portal distended after the subsequent explosion and snuffed out. Everything fell silent. There was no movement in the shadows, no levitating objects waiting to be hurdled, and the only sound was the far off booms of their companions' efforts against the tricksters.

Nyx blew out a breath of relief and gestured to the oily remnants against the ceiling. "That was remarkably effective."

His mood remained sour. "It is a remarkably expensive way to be rid of pests."

She gave him a sympathetic smile and said, "We could test the elemental ones instead? Refine out strategy so that we don't end up-"

"Looking like we've fallen into a mire of waste runoff?"

She snorted and grimaced as it reminded her of how disgusting she felt.

Astarion's expression shifted into a sardonic grin, and he knocked another smokepowder arrow. "You cut them down and I'll blow them up."

They cleared three more houses by prioritising whack-a-boggle followed up with cornering poltergeists. Astarion was more keen on revenge than saving his smokepowder arrows, and the resulting extermination was over sooner rather than later. The remaining ruins were either unoccupied by corporeal or incorporeal agents of mischief or had been cleared out by their companions. Eventually, they all circled back to their starting point. To everyone's disgust and delight - each of them was filthier and more unrecognisable than the other; covered in a mixture of rancid feathers, oil, blood, rotten flesh and pieces of bone. The number of kills forgotten in the chaos, snickering at their collective state instead. They decided to conclude the evening's activities, satisfied that eerie nuisances would not be interfering with the bone pit exorcism the next day.

--- --- ---

As much as he didn't want to admit it, toward the end of last night's entertainment, Astarion was having a little fun - but just a smidge, to be clear. Its lingering foul stench was a different matter, and although everyone had physically and magically scrubbed everything and themselves, he was convinced that he could still smell the boggle soot and slaughterhouse waste clinging to everything he owned.

Camp was at an impasse. Other than cleaning, maintenance, repairs and more cleaning, there wasn't much else to do. He'd already amused himself hunting, his reading material had run out, and Sow's Foot isn't known for its riveting, well anything. All he could do was wait.

Waiting is so dull.

He spotted Nyx seated at the entrance to their tent and sauntered over.

--- --- ---

A smile quirked at Nyx's lips when a familiar shadow cast over her. "Bored?"

"To tears, my sweet." He peered a little closer over her shoulder, sighed dramatically and left. Moments later he returned and made himself comfortable on the other side of the tent's entrance.

Her eyebrows shot into her hairline when he set aside an expensive-looking sowing kit, selected a gleaming needle from its contents, threaded it with practiced expertise and gathered up the tent material. Collecting the other end of the Draconic knotwork ribbon, Astarion set to work fixing it to the outside of the tent in the opposite direction that Nyx was going. Impressed, she inclined her head at his knowing gaze, and he gave her a wink. Birds darted overhead, singing bright duets and the wind gently rustled the leaves while they worked in companionable silence for a while.

Tav and some of the others returned from their rounds in Sow's Foot to secure the last preparations for the exorcism ritual. Tav brandished her latest Baldur's Mouth and proceeded to read the freshly printed news off the city press.

She took up position on the logs at Nyx's back and used her magic to project over camp. "Gortash wants to 'crackdown' on crime and cultists alike. More Steel Watchers are being commissioned from The House of Wonders to deal with the 'murderous cult' and its 'refugee spies'."

Gale's voice drifted from somewhere out of sight. "Ah, so that's how he's going to play it. Blame the Bhaal murders on the cultists and incite more dissent against the refugees."

Papers ruffled. "And tightening security around Wyrm's Crossing for his inauguration. I'm terribly sad we won't be able to attend."

Karlach said, "Anything about the bust-out?"

More ruffling paper. "No, not a word."

She guffawed. "Too embarrassed, wants to keep it on the down low."

"There is a party though."

"Ooh, we invited?"

Nyx could practically hear Tav grinning. "Not yet, but seeing as our esteemed Archduke will be having a Coronation ball at High Hall I think we ought to invite ourselves, no?"

"Aw, swish. That's a party to crash for sure. Hey, hey! Wyll - you'll get us in, yeah?"

He chuckled. "I may know a way in."

"Fuck yes."

"But that'll be the easy part."

Tav made a noise of agreement. "It'll be tough going, getting into the Upper City with the heightened security and the passes."

Karlach huffed. "I'm sure you'll figure it out. I'd like to let him have his cake and eat it too, especially when he is choking around my fistful of it."

Several tactless snickers went round.

Tav skimmed over the rest of the articles, which included aid from Waterdeep being held up by more bureaucracy, and merchants calling for assistance from the Brass Consortium regarding trade restrictions. Declaring the debriefing over, Tav rose to find something else to do as well.

---

After what felt like hours of sowing, Nyx stood and stretched.

She leaned over Astarion's shoulder, and he quipped, "It is rude to watch over another person's shoulder while they work... Or, so I hear."

She snorted and smiled. "Fine needlework. You could be a surgeon with those stitches."

"No. I don't want to dig around in people's guts, thank you. Enough of that around here." His thread was running out, and he finished off the section of stitching. He rose, grunted and rubbed his back. "And I've done enough work for one day." Glancing at the bone pit, he asked, "What do you think, my sweet? More boggles and poltergeists later?"

Nyx grimaced at the tower of carcasses and set her mouth in a line. "Given how concerned the priests were and how much money they paid; we'd be very lucky if that were all we had to deal with."

He made a sound of displeasure. "Undead animals this time?"

"Most likely."

Nyx hoped that they would have enough holy water to deal with whatever monsters would come crawling out of the pile once their group disturbs it during the full moon exorcism. She glared at the silhouette of the slaughterhouse wondering how many people had paid the price for its owners greed and neglect of the pit - just like the authorities who neglected their duty in assisting the Church of Last Hope's undead problem.

Thinking back on the crypt made a shiver run down her spine. She didn't relish the idea of interfering with the pit either, not to mentioned Tav's overzealous nature of volunteering for every cause they stumble upon had dragged them into situations Nyx would've rather avoided. But in this case, the pit needed cleansing and their group was the best equipped to do so given the state of Sow's Foot.

She puffed out her cheeks, uneasiness rising in her stomach.

Right. Let me double check everything one last time.

---

They worked in tense silence under the watchful eye of the full moon. Shadowheart, Halsin, Gale and Wyll were setting up the magic circle around the pit and placing holy talismans at key points to create a heptagon channel. The rest of them acted as sentries keeping an eye out for wondering spirits or humans; alive or undead. Fortunately, the smell was bearable, since the wind had settled and Nyx had prepared the herbal counter measure to apply under their noses.

Gale and the others rounded the pit and placed the last talisman in its designated spot. The air sparked with static energy and the rays of the moonlight were drawn into bright lines by the talismans. More lines grew from the intersections, connecting to one another in heptagonal grids rising upwards until a dome covered the entire tower of carcasses. Nyx's skin and magic prickled with anticipation and she gripped her bow tighter.

Standing in front of the dome, Gale shook out his limbs and wiggled his fingers.

Shadowheart rolled her eyes. "Stop making a show out of it and get on."

"Are you volunteering all of a sudden?"

"No."

"Then let a master do his work."

A smile quirked at Nyx's lips and after more 'show-making' Gale took in an exaggerated breath. He'd hardly spoke the first line when Nyx spotted movement in the trees nearby.

She aimed an arrow at the silhouette and projected, "No use in hiding. Do something rash at your own risk."

Gale's incantation continued in the background. Altered to the threat the others kept a watchful eye not leaving their posts, except for Tav.

Tav sidled next to Nyx and said, "We are here on official business from the Church of Last Hope. The bone pit needs cleansing and we ask that you steer clear."

Nyx tracked two more silhouettes and her magic hackles rose in response.

The one in the middle chuckled, a gruff grating sound. "We are merely here to deliver a message."

And here I thought I'd made a huge mess of some of my scene 'discussion' points (i.e., snippets of information I should relay to you). There was a lot more info to convey than I initially anticipated and to prevent overload, I kicked some down the road. I did end up with a bit of a bottleneck... Fortunately, my plot grid is in Kanban format so revising the outline was a breeze to update and fix!

Githyanki vocabulary:

Hshar'lak: A traitor who should be hunted on sight. Literally, "unforgiveable". "Hshar'laki" as a plural is used to refer to the githzerai (those who spurn Gith; rebels and outlaws)

Baht t'Vlaakith: Sister/Chosen of Vlaakith

Boggle, Forgotten Realms Wiki

Poltergeist, DnD5e Homebrew by ???