Everlong

Eye of the Beholder

Ed and Olly met Qila at the Castle Ward gates, the Ranger moving quickly past them, Olly not even taking the time to braid her hair back. She was furious, determined, and in pain which fueled her desire to fight on even more. She didn't care what lay ahead, even if she had to face the Xanathar himself. Ed watched as Olly lifted up the sewer manhole like it was a flimsy piece of wood, the heavy piece of metal clanging on the ground loudly in the middle of the night, impressed by the strength she possessed when she was angered.

"Remind me never to really piss you off" Ed said looking down into the darkness of the sewer.

"Whatever is down there is about to find out" Olly said taking a closer look at the manhole cover. There, etched crudely into the stone, was an eyeball with twelve lines surrounding it. Olly looked up at Qila who plucked up her feathers.

"The Eye" the Aarakocra twittered.

"Xanathar's Guild?" Ed said looking between the two.

"Looks like we found one of the entrances into his lair" Olly said getting ready to go down "There might be a lot of traps, or a lot of enemies. Xanathar is notoriously paranoid, so whatever we run into it's going to have back up."

Ed nodded, getting his longsword out and in his hands. He didn't want to use the Dawnstar just yet, in case the Beholder himself was going to face off with them.  He had never faced an enemy like this before, but seeing Olly so determined gave him hope that even an alien from another world couldn't stop her if they tried. 

"You'll understand that I don't join you?" Qila remarked at Olly who strung her bow across her chest.

"I know Qila" Olly said reassuringly "Tiny spaces. Just be ready for my signal in the sky if we make it back to the surface."

"You have my word" Qila said bowing.

Olly gave Qila a nod before jumping down into the dark hole, Ed waiting at the top for her give the signal of her call. When the signal came from the bottom, Ed got ready to jump down before Qila stopped him, her clawed grip tight as he looked into her golden eyes.

"Cleric" the Ranger chirped at him as Ed looked over at her, the Aarakocra giving him a serious look.

"Don't hurt her like the elf" she said "Trust her judgment. The only thing you need to protect is right here" she said touching her chest with a nod before taking off into the air.

Perplexed Ed watched her go into flight before jumping down into the hole, still thinking on the forewarning he just received. What exactly did Qila mean by that?

No time to dwell on the warning as Ed landed beside Olly, the stink of the sewer hit his nostrils quickly. Ed pulled up his yellow neck scarf to cover his nose and mouth as Olly continued on. She was using all her senses, even her smell that was bombarded with the stench, to guide her along the sewer path. She could see the gunk of small footsteps that drug something large behind them as she followed the trail, the smell of fresh damp air starting to lift as they turned down tunnel after tunnel. Soon though, the brick layers turned into a stone alcove, a tunnel forming now around them as Olly pressed on through the darkness.

Ed followed her footsteps perfectly, trusting Olly's Ranger training to track and find something even in the darkest of places. It wasn't until the air around them grew cold did she stop, her whole-body stiff as a board as she used her senses to feel out the room.

"Ed" she whispered "Get your shield ready."

Ed did as she commanded, taking his blessed wooden shield off his back. Olly moved a little closer to him before unsheathing her swords, the flames of Findex lighting the surrounding area as Fax's icy blade sparkled in the firelight.