So many witty remarks were rushing through Irmiel's brain she was lost at which one to say first. But a quick glance at the fanatical glow in shadovar's eyes convinced her the humour wouldn't be appreciated. Instead, she asked a more reasonable question. "The Mythallara are coming alive? What do you mean? And ... what does it mean?"

Seemingly having caught himself in mid-reverie he turns to Irmiel...."They work again. They laid dormant for over a thousand years, the flow of magic in the weave choked to a dribble by Mystra. Since the spell plague, Mystra has been replaced and the flow of magic is once again as it was in Netheril times. The Mythallars can once again function and show the world what the might of Netheril truly was."

"Obviously then you and your fellow shadovar will be able to defeat this Queen then?" Sistri asks, trying to get the group moving towards his portal. "You aren't worried that with her having the mythallar it will prove difficult?"

The pale Shadovar flicks some stringy black hair out his eyes and smirks at Sistri, "I am merely a scout. My job was to find the Mythallar. Now that I've found it, we have powerful forces that will have no trouble prying it from the Queen's dead grip." 

"Such dedication..." There was another term for it, quite a few, actually, like fanaticism, but Irmiel was set on not provoking a zealot. "Purely out of curiosity," she emphasised the last word, "say, you come across some other netheresian survivors... Like maybe a city survived somewhere? Or they say this powerful lich, Larloch, was a netheresian wizard and he is still around... Are you going to fight them too if they want a mythallar for themselves? Just asking." Even if Selunnara was a myth and Larloch sort of a demigod, it would be nice to know all possible "what-ifs".

It was the worst-case scenario, Llwyd noticed as the man explained. The Queen already had the knowledge of what, by all accounts, was an extremely dangerous power. The other Shadovar being defeated was congruent to what they had found to that point and everything pointed to the captive speaking the truth. He was the key to an safe exit and there was nothing they could to there anymore. Thing is, do we let him alert the other Netherese? A question the satry didn’t dare to speak, but that remained nonetheless. Cormyr would be happy to brand them traitors if they so much as dreamt they let one of the magicians escape, let alone if Charlie’s company is implied on having contributed to their acquisition of a Mythallar. And there was another problem.

“Do you know where this Queen came from?” The druid questioned, his mind full of thoughts about the poem. “What is she exactly, besides a sorceress? What she intends to use the stone for?”

At that point Llwyd could only hope she was not one of the monsters dreamt by the blood god. Yet, his experiences to that point started to make him expect the worse. On the so called civilization the worst happening seemed to be more than likely, a rule. Please, Oakfather, let me be wrong.

The Shadovar shrugs to Irmiel his face shrewd, "I suppose that would be up to the political higher ups...wether we welcome them as brothers and sisters...or if they've been twisted into something no longer Netherese. Do you know of some such city?"

To Llwyd he says, "I don't know what manner of creature she was....but her and her brood had been living in the bones of this city without knowing the Mythallar was its ancient beating heart. Her....mind manipulations....drew the truth from my mind and unfortunately led her to the sphere."

Irmiel instinctively clasped the invisible ring. "Drew the truth from my mind" sounded... quite unpleasant and the thin circle of metal around her finger felt like a weak defence against such atrocity. But that reminded her about other abilities of the ring. Blinking innocently behind her glasses she looked straight into the black eyes of the shadovar and answered as she hoped very convincingly. "No, not really. But your city survived, right? Even if on another plane. Who knows, you might not be the only one." She added a smile and clapped her hands. "Well, shall we go? Whoever the queen is, does not look like we are a match for her. If we want to want to get some help to deal with her," (she again slightly emphasized "get some help") "we probably have to move."

His worst fears were not confirmed, but the Shadovar answer was far from bringing Llwyd any peace of mind. The Queen had all knowledge she needed and there was the matter of time. Why did the Mythallar start to wake now? He only hoped it was not the only thing waking, otherwise they would be dealing with something much bigger and worse than the Netherese and their spellcraft.

“I agree with moving, as long as bring those two with us.” He pointed to the tied jackals. “If they are found too early we will have more attention than we need. Everything besides this I think we can talk on our way out.” He said to Irmiel before turning his eyes to Lamorak. “How did the Queen came to know about the Mythallar? Should we worry about more enemies besides her brood?”

They were in trouble enough already and there would be the matter of what to do with pale figure once out of the ruins. Too many battles in front of us already. None too easy, he expected. Nothing capable to get on these ruins would be easy prey, he knew in his bones.

“After you.” Llwyd said to their new and unexpected guide, Lamorak, ready to move. Eyes well open and ears at the ready.

Lamorak looks to Llwyd, "The Queen asked why we had come. Her mental machinations forced answers from me...and I revealed we'd come seeking the Mythallar. Before we came, I'm afraid she was quite ignorant of its existence. Our seeking it has accidentally brought her to awareness of it..."

With those final answers, Lamorak leads you back the way you've come. "It's just down this way..." 

He seems unaware that you, as a group, came through the same portal, and leads you all the way back into the very room you entered in less than a day ago.  The place is much as you left it, quiet, with a few bodies laying about starting to smell rather badly at this point.  The dim glowing frame on the wall alludes to the portals existence.  Lamorak says, "Um, there is...a poem, to activate the portal. It will take us through to the forest of Cormanthyr."  

"At the days of old there was only darkness far and wide.
And beasts ruled the void, as there was no need to hide.
The beasts, they laughed, giggled and formed their evil schemes,
entrapped and killed each other and madness reigned by all means.

Yet at one faithful day in a world without time,
from far they could perceive a sound, a soft chime.

The chime grew louder and ripped them apart in a bright flood,
and before them came a being full of light and fun.
Soon they realized they were lost, t'was Armok, god of blood,
who caught them all no matter how far they would run.

He imprisoned them deep in his heart as his veins were filled with magma.
Yet their dark hearts corrupted his and he got filled with rage.
Out of his sad thoughts formed the deities to protect him from any dark age.
And as he cried tears full of water to keep them in he fell down to stay asleep.
And asleep he stayed for a long time as the eons passed.

The deities formed the humans, the elves, the kobolds and us dwarves,
and all the other fairy creatures you on the land can see.
They lived in peace and harmony and held a party every day.
Yet they soon realized that 'tis not how it shall always be.

There were monsters coming onto the land coming from his dark dreams,
and oh they changed the world, raided city after city full of screams.
And in this chaos the beasts knew that his heart had cracks.
So they escaped to the world and enthralled their own packs.

'Tis the world how it is today and how it shall ever be and we can only hope,
that stands strong the halls of our fathers may, for six thousand years."

You all can't help but noticing that he finished the poem with 'six thousand' instead of 'ten thousand'.  The portal flashes the wall fills with a silver flickering void.  Lamorak looks to the group, wondering if he will be the first one through or if you want him to follow.  The two bound prisoners look on with surprised, wide eyes.

Even overtalkative Irmiel managed not to reveal the group's knowledge to the shadovar. Obviously, once it became clear that Lamorak knew the poem, she had another batch of questions for the man, but first thing first. "Um... Do you think Dolf and Mugta could memorize the poem? Maybe - just in case - we should take them with us? A forest is a forest, what are two more jackals in the brush? I would hate for that queen to get to the civilized world." 

And while others contemplated the answer, she went on with her questions. "What's with the bodies? Oh, and how did you even find that portal? Secret shadovar knowledge? Quite the poem, I must say. Kind of spooky. Also, somehow reminds me of that Queen. The "beast" part." It was a long shot but Lamorak seemed to like to tlk about his kind and she hoped he will take the bait.

Sistri nods. "That is a good idea Irmiel. We should take those two with us to be safe. I'll go through first, then Lamorak and the rest can follow."  She pauses just long enough to hear what the shadovar might say. She was curious about his responses. 

So different numbers lead to different places, Llwyd thought noticing how Lamorak finished the poem. The way to the portal had been uneventful and for that the druid could not be grateful enough. As the Shadovar waited and his companions discussed the jackals he found of the interrogation of the beasts, then of the mind powers of the Queen.

“I don’t think either of them would remember the poem, but since their boss can control minds, it wouldn’t be surprising if she could look into them. Get the verses directly from their memory.” His eyes went from Irmiel to Sistri. “We should take them and release as far away from Cormanthyr as we can.”

That said he took his token in hand and asked for guidance in a whisper. The entirety of his attention focused on the pale man, trying to read on his body the meaning he gave to the answers about the poem and the association of the Queen with the beast mentioned on the text.

“Before we go, what are the chances of meeting enemies of your group on the other side?” Llwyd said thinking of the drow. Assuming the portal returned them to the forest where they stood before first arriving on those ruins there was a good chance an Underdark expedition awaited for them.

Notes: Insight check to see if Llwyd believes on what Lamorak answers about the poem.

Insight: 24 (Passive Insight 18)
Guidance: 2

Lamorak looks to the two prisoners, then to the dead bodies. "When me and my allies arrived here, we found this room guarded by their kin. We slew them and proceeded into the tunnels. Unfortunately we were quickly overwhelmed, especially when the Queen joined the fray. I've no idea if they could remember the verses...but..we have not long before it closes and repeating it will increase the chances, we must go now..."

Llwyd gets a prickling sensation that Lamorak is hoping to rush the group. He can't figure if it's because he knows there will be reinforcements on the other side but....a slight tingle in the back of the neck....Lamorak is at least hoping that his fate as the groups prisoner will have a better chance of changing in some new environment, than by staying here.  There's also a good amount of fear in him....it's possible he's afraid the Queen will appear at any moment to try and stop them. He clearly is...a bit confused and worried that there was no one to stop them get to the portal, and no one to raise an alarm about him missing, and that a day or two, no one has come to clean up these bodies and re-guard the portal. 

Having heard the answers, Sistri steps through the portal....Lamorak is quick to step behind her. The rest of the group follows, their two prisoners in tow. 

Sistri, you emerge from a glowing free standing archway in the middle of a dark chamber. The chamber is a stone structure with arched ceiling that reach up 40 feet overhead. There are four exits all leaving this small building, out through which Sistri's eye lock onto a mysterious scene.  A dim diffuse glow fills the air beyond, and the space is filled with a field of floating debris. The debris ranges from hand sized chunks of rock, to entire islands that have several buildings upon them. Everything floats at every which angle, leaving Sistri feeling more than a tad disoriented.  She can't see what sort of environment all this floats in from her position, but everything seems to be moving about every so slowly.  She sees this scene repeated from all of the four exits.  Lamorak appears behind her. He looks like he's about to to try something  but his eyes catch the scenes outside of the current structure and he stops, mouth open. 

Quickly enough everyone else emerges from the portal and finds themselves likewise situation in a strange building, floating amidst a sea of rubble.

"Um... Did not you say we were supposed to exit in a forest? Does not look much like a forest to me." Irmiel made a few steps to the closest exit and carefully looked outside. "Does not look like anything I ever saw before, actually." She narrowed her eyes at Lamorak. "Where did you say you got that poem of yours?" (He did not, but she felt it was a good moment to repeat the question).

In case Belaern was up and about, she sent a question to him as well. "Know where we are by any chance?"

The voice in Irmiel's mind sounds serious and awe struck for the first time. No prickly comment or insult. Instead just a, "Most fascinating."

Lamorak's mouth clamps shut with a "clack" as he glances about.  It seems as if he has suddenly decided not to speak further.

Sistri takes a few steps towards the nearest of the exits, trying to get a better look of what's outside. "Yea, this is unlike any forest I've ever seen."  As she nears the portal, she tries to steel herself, fearing more of the disorienting spectacle she just glimpsed initially.  Having caught a glimpse of Lamorak's reaction, she asks, "Did we take a wrong turn?"

"I wish I knew!" Or anyone else, for that matter. But it seemed no one here had any idea where they are and how they got here. "Do you think we can get back the same way we came?" The question was not rhetorical, Irmiel hoped for an answer. But in case there was non (and in order to not stay idle - a difficult task for her anyway) she looked around for the signs of the portal. Maybe another ring of the symbols? "I sincerely hope it was not a one-way portal!" The thought was most unpleasant and she instead concentrated on her theoretical knowledge. Was there anything at all familiar about the place? Maybe she read or heard about something similar?

(Perception: 5, Arcana: 12)

There was something strange on Lamorak’s reactions. Llwyd could understand the fear and confusion of the Shadovar, but his sudden hurry to leave seemed out of place. Maybe he is guiding us to a trap, the druid thought while considering the different end of the poem. With no time to voice his concerns, the satyr decided to follow behind the pale figure, ready to assume a beast form and attack him while taking any attacks directed to his companions.

On the other side of the portal he saw the Netherese ready to attempt… Something, but stopped before the fey could think about reacting. Surprise was visible on the humanoid’s face. Scanning their surroundings only one conclusion could be made – the place was attacked and its defendants hadn’t be very fortunate.

“Our friend right here was ready to attempt something soon after we passed the portal.” He said with a cold, unusually deep voice, while getting closer to the Shadovar. “Something against us.” The druid’s eyes flash emerald for a moment. “This place was Netherese base. You brought us here to have your companions attack us, but something messed the place that should be safe and deep withing your defenses. You believe your allies were attacked, defeated and likely killed.”  Llwyd made a brief pause, and in a whisper asked for the Oakfather’s guidance yet again. “Where I come from we don’t treat traitors kindly so I recommend you stop lying and tell us where are we exactly.”

Notes: Insight check to see what Llwyd catches from Tamorak's reaction to his words and if Llwyd believes the Shadovar answers. Probably going to roll low.

Insight: 10
Guidance: 3

Lamorak's persona has changed abruptly and his now a sullen silence. As Llwyd voices his theory, there is a bit of resignation in the Shadovar's face, but also some contempt. Llwyd figures he's not entirely correct about Lamorak's situation or the one here. In face, the ground shows no sign of any sort of disturbance, beyond the group, in a long time. This place is ancient and undisturbed. 

The group emerged through a free standing stone archway in the middle of this room.  It is still filled with a silvery void, but as everyone takes in their surroundings, the field abruptly vanishes, along with the cool glowing haze it was casting. The only light now in this room is that of the dim blue light from the floating fields of buildings and rock just outside. The two other prisoners are wide eyed and gawking at the view. 

Sistri moves towards the nearest exit, creeping towards the edge of the rock this building is built upon, and looks around. The blue nimbus glowing amidst the rocky field is too dim to offer a good view for very far, but it's enough for her to see a larger view of the area. Below them, perhaps a few hundred feet away is what appears to be a solid rock face.  It's odd though, because stalagtites hang down from the rocky edge...but...they hang to the right instead of down.  To the right, the view is of a rock field, where large chunks of rock the size of large buildings float lazily about, beneath which is only darkness.  Looking left, the number of structures and man made stones in the field seem to increase, while looking up there is an even mix that obscures the view, though in the distance there may be another rock face.  

Irmiel's eyes take in everything around her. This is indeed a Netheril ruin, that's she's sure of. Netheril symbols dot the walls and....

Lamorak vanishes. 

It's as if the shadows suddenly envelop him like a cloud, and consume his very existence. Several dozen feet away, on a large rock that contains what appears to be half of a large structure, though the building is turned at a 90 degree angle to your perspective. A sizeable segment of flat ground clings to the rock before the building.  You attention has been drawn there by a grunt and thud.  Lamorak has appeared there, a cloud of blackness spitting him out.....and promptly dropping him sideways, where he lands painfully onto the ground.  He stands up...but is standing at a 90 degree angle to all of you.  It looks like he tried to use some sort of teleportation to land on the side of the building, only to have it's own gravity push him off and down to the ground.  Clutching his side, and looking at you from a sideways view...he curls his lips at you from his new perch.