A new travelling companion and a sexy octopus.

Everything was silent for a moment and then, a female merfolk walked in. She introduced herself as Emry and said she lived in the city above, she wore basic army and looked like she was good at sneaking around. She explained she had broken out of jail and followed a oath of devastation and destruction that led her to Liliana, Shadow and their new found travelling companion, Emin the elf looking human bard.
 
"Blessings of Stevie be upon you."
 
Liliana recognised Stevie as one of the traveller dragons that saved the world from catastrophe around a century.
 
"By the way, I'm telepathic but I try not to use that without permission." Emry said.
 
"I do not give you permission." Liliana said immediately.
 
"You'll find nothing in mine." Emin said.
 
"I'm not even sure I have a mind." Shadow added.
 
Shadow looked around and found a spiral staircase.
 
"So, Emry, the bottom line is we're going to kill the emperor. Are you on board with that?"
 
At Emry's silence Shadow said: "I will take your silence as yes."
 
They began to ascend the stairs until they reach what appeared to be a defunct dungeon. Emry recognised that they were used to housed human prisoners, who were sacrificed for Umber Lee. There was also a sign of an autopsy table. Shadow noticed broken bones of long dead prisoners to suggest that they had simply been thrown up and over the walls to land in the prisoner. They continued on into an enormous cavern with a central pillar of rock and a river flowing around and through the cavern.
 
"I would like to try something stupid." Shadow said and when they others didn't stop him shouted, "hello?"
 
Holding their breath to listen, they heard the cry echo only once and Emry heard what sounded like a giggle. She reached out with her telepathic abilities, detecting thoughts. Nothing. Except light music and horny thoughts from Emin.
 
They followed the curve of the cavern round, it felt as if they were walking underwater as the marine plant life looked like coral and flowing seaweed.
 
The cavern felt old, as if this was where the first chapel of this complex had been hewn into the rock. Old blood stains were still visible on the rock.
 
To the north, Emin heard the sombre sounds of a cello, humming with vibrato in Bb minor. "I can hear music to the north," he said turning to the north.
 
Shadow pulled Liliana back and asked quietly, "This new one who just showed up, do you trust her?"
 
"I do not trust anyone," Liliana said with a smile that did not reach her eyes, "so no, I do not trust her." She moved to walk forward and then stopped, "I do not trust anyone... except you. You are the exception to the rule. "
 
Shadow looked at her and was surprised by the emotionless truth in her eyes, he filed this information and they moved on to join the others, Emry pointed out that Umber Lee was known to play cello music and to proceed with caution. Shadow questioned the wisdom of whether they should move forward but Emin found himself oddly drawn to it. He kept moving toward it, spying doors ahead while Shadow and Emry advised caution. Liliana observed the proceedings with curiosity, she had no connection to Emin and was not afraid of harm coming to them but she was curious.
 
Following the sound they crossed the water, walking on the surface, thanks to a spell of water wlking by Emry. They approached a temple door with a huge relief depicting the octopus like face of umber lee, the outside of the door was wreathed in gold. They looked to the west and saw wooden pews, smelly and mouldy, they all began to move towards them to investigate but Liliana once again heard the compelling music, and felt drawn towards the doors back to the west. Curious at what was compelling her she examined the doors, they were unmarked by age, uncorroded and perfect, designed in the style of old Paxander.
 
Emry approached and offered to mage hand the door open for her. Liliana looked at her as if to say, 'bitch please' and opened the door with her own mage hand. Shadow peered into the room to scout ahead. Emry's mage hand flipped Liliana off and then was dismissed. She clutched her holy symbol as she entered the temple, moving towards the alter to take a look.
 
A large church like room with an alter, an exquisite statue of Umber Lee in her human form at the northern end. Columns ran either side of the room, with stone pews and the story of Umber Lee being protected on the prime material plane by the grand and heroic hero. Liliana followed in at Shadow's call and looked at the images. She vaguely remembered a black sword wielding hero, the champion of Umber Lee. Hero to their sect, villain to others.
 
She spoke out loud what she was thinking, a strange glint in her eyes as she spoke of how this figure was a hero or villain, depending on your perspective.
 
"Yeah, I think his name is, Boragg, 2 gs." Emry said.
 
Shadow spoke to Emin out of boredom, commenting on how Emin was clearly trying to hide that he was human. Emin seemed awkward and tried to shush Shadow.
 
"What? No! I'm trying to NOT look like a human."
 
"Oh, you're not doing a very good job. I can tell and so can other people. If you want to tell us what is going on?" He left a moment of silence and then when Emin did not respond he said, "Good talk."
 
The pull of music drew Emin back in and he found a mesmerising sweet spot in the room, standing to listen to the musical perfection. As he swayed ecstatically, Emry moved closer towards the alter and saw the book was more like a recipe book on how to cook humans.
 
The door slammed shut.
 
The statue moved to life and moved towards them.
 
"Hello my darlings. What a pleasure. Please have a seat." She said in a smooth voice.
 
The others sat nervously, but Liliana not wanting to be told what to do simply leaned against a pew, furthest form the statue, in their heads everyone heard Emry's voice, commenting, "She's so dramatic."
 
The statue began to offer a proposition, suggesting they make a bargain. That they would do something for her, in exchange for her giving them something in return. She already knew Shadow's name, which disconcerted him. She knew a lot about him and spoke of his new friend Emin, his recent acquaintance Emry and of his friend Liliana, pausing to describe Shadow as Liliana's only friend. She did not bat an eyelid, after all, it was true. She spoke knowingly of all of the people there, offering them a deal, though the details were not offered. Shadow, impulsive s ever agreed straight away to make a deal once he realised one was being offered but Liliana was more cautious. The statue noticed her expression and asked her straight up what her opinion was.
 
"I am more cautious than my friend. I would know what the terms are before I made a deal."
 
"In return for doing me a service, what would you want?"
 
Somewhat saucily, Liliana replied, "If you know me as well as you say you do, you already know what I want."
 
In her head she heard. "I am in your head darling."
 
In her own accent, inside her head Liliana replied in smooth low round tones, "Then you know what I want."
 
"Oh and I can give it you and more besides."
 
Liliana did not reply but her eyes flared. It was clear she was interested.
 
The statue of Umber Lee spoke of the empire above, of the emperor that he was a traitor, everything his wealth and prosperity was thanks to her. She wanted him destroyed and offered to help in the endeavour.
 
"You won't succeed without me."
 
"We could be persuaded to kill this person. It wasn't on our plan already." Shadow deadpanned.
 
Liliana chimed in, "Yes, we could be persuaded to change our plans."
 
"What will you offer us to convince us to do this thing that we definitely weren’t already planning to do." Shadow said.
 
Umber Lee spoke of her need for representatives on the surface world, of her disdain for good and evil of her chaotic place in the world, describing their relation of give and take. Wanting a team who would work for them, the role of that of a patron.
 
In her head Liliana replied in her own voice, her tones firm and powerful. "I have no intention of walking that particular road again." Liliana felt the avatar's knowing shrug at her response, and responded out loud in the accent of her speech, "Respectfully I must decline."
 
She watched as Umber Lee turned to looked towards to the others, images of power offered to them flashed through their minds.
 
Shadow agreed and Umber Lee drew an image of his soul from his body. It signed the book at the alter, turned a shade of brown and returned to his body. Umber Lee looked extremely sexy to Emin and he stepped forward confidently.
 
"Come on you sexy Octopus, let's get this over with." His soul surged from his body, and moved not to the book, but to Umber Lee, who sealed the pact with a firm kiss on the lips, his soul returning to his body.
 
Emry said. "I'm afraid I already serve someone."
 
"Ah yes, the dragon, he is untoward...." Umber Lee said.
 
She turned to her newly recruited warlocks and directed them to the docks they would need to rise to the surface. Shadow gave an approximation of a bow, though it was not entirely correct and they left Umber Lee behind, Emry quickly and sneakily scrawling some dicks and 'Emry was here' before departing.