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While the deep Nightal snows raged across the surface of Faerûn, the Underdark remained in its perpetual state of timeless indifference far below. Bioluminescent mushrooms fruited from cavern walls year-round where the harsh, fickle winds could not reach and the waters knew not frost. Nice as it was to live somewhere that they never had to worry about the weather, Sebastian did miss the coziness of the winter solstice.
Stopping on his morning walk of the settlement to watch the sparkle of a waterfall that fed their local aquifer, he wondered if any of the other vampire spawn felt the same. Surely there were those who enjoyed the stability granted by the lack of seasons, but he couldn’t be the only one who enjoyed how even harsh weather helped to distinguish the passing days from one another. The warmth of a hearth in winter, the opening of buds in spring - these treasures were now forever beyond their reach. Their new home was as eternal as their cursed bodies.
Perhaps for the better, Sebastian was before long drawn out of these meandering introspections by low, distant murmurs that swelled into a cacophony of dissonant whispers. Eerie though the sound was, it was no spell nor haunt but a crowd gathering at the settlement’s front gates. Though, from where he stood amidst the barrelstalk and bulbfruit of the community garden, that was all Sebastian could see.
Fear swirled in his breast as he made for the gates. Local wildlife largely gave the dusty ruins the spawn had settled in a wide berth, the area having been uninhabited for some time. Still, the rogue bulette or hooked horror was occasionally lured in by the livestock they kept for feeding. Their group had no open conflict with the nearby drow settlements, yet over the past few weeks they’d had a number of run-ins with Lolthsworn scouts. Concerns had been raised of a possible raid, but without any soldier or engineers amongst them, fortifications had been slow-going. They did their best not to draw any unnecessary attention, and yet it seemed trouble was determined to always sniff them out.
The only thing keeping Sebastian from full-blown panic as such possibilities ran through his mind was that no one was screaming. There were no shouts of an attack nor cries of pain as arrows and spells cleared the path for foot soldiers. Holding firm to his wits, Sebastian sent up a silent prayer to any god that could hear him through the miles of stone and soil above.
Picking his way through the crowd, Sebastian’s still heart did a flip as he spotted the point of interest that had drawn the attention of seemingly the entire population of the settlement. Three visitors stood politely at the threshold, though not for the same reason a vampire would have to. Their guests awaited an invitation, yes, but out of courtesy rather than necessity for they were very much alive. And Sebastian knew this because he knew the trio well.
“Halsin, Zevlor, Zhret’tt… What are you all doing here?”
Zhret’tt stepped forward, pushing up the brim of his hat. The elderly drow gave Sebastian a shy smile.
“Normally,” he said, his voice smooth and airy as ever, “I’d say something to downplay the significance of a visit for the sake of preserving the casual atmosphere. Something like, ‘Oh, we just happened to be passing by and thought we’d drop in.’ But as our bounty of offerings may betray, we did set out with purpose to find you here.”
The other gathered spawn whispered and shifted nervously. Even though Sebastian knew these people were their allies, not everyone was as familiar. And they each had good reason not to immediately trust a gaggle of adventurers showing up uninvited and bearing “gifts”.
“And what of Jaheira?” Sebastian asked, noting her absence.
“The second the world was safe from the threat of the Netherbrain, she went straight back to her Harper duties. She never was one to rest on her laurels.”
“Not that we have room to talk,” Halsin joked, looking to his partners.
The reunion was suddenly cut short by panicked screams from those on the very edge of the crowd.
“Cleric!”
“Furies of Celestia, come to smite us!”
A pit dropped in Sebastian’s stomach. This was exactly what the others had always feared. He looked to their three visitors. Were they in league? Had he been naive, blinded by appreciation for the kindness they’d once done him?
Zhret’tt’s slate-grey face drained of colour. Motioning for calm, he moved through the panicked crowd with surprising ease.
“Peace! Please, be at peace! These ladies are friends of ours - and by extension, friends of yours. They mean you no harm. On the contrary, we wouldn’t be here without them.”
As the crowd parted, a large woman with gold-veined skin and massive wings walked through. Carried around her neck like a lamb was the fresh carcass of some great, hairy beast. With a confident smile, she adjusted the load as though it weighed nothing. So striking was she that her companion, a smaller woman with white hair and dark, smoky makeup around her eyes, nearly disappeared into her shadow.
Whispers broke out amongst the crowd anew.
“Is that a bear?”
“Couldn’t be. Where in the Underdark have you ever seen a bear?”
“We come bearing a handsome gift of beastly blood - hot and red as the sky at dawn!” The celestial proudly raised the creature over her head with both hands for all to see. There were gasps of awe and much smacking of lips.
The smaller woman giggled at her partner’s display.
“We did a bit of hunting on the way here. It seemed rude to impose upon you all empty-handed.”
“Everyone,” Zhret’tt said, raising his hands to call their attention, “this is Dame Aylin, daughter of Selûne, and her lovely partner, Isobel, cleric of the same. I know the divine and their servants often incite violence against your kind, but I assure you of these fine ladies’ good will.”
It was quite the proclamation; but with her striking looks, none questioned the Dame’s claim to divinity. Whether from the giddiness of receiving such unusual guests or the suggestion of a proper, bloody feast, it seemed that much of the crowd’s apprehension had lifted.
Sebastian too was overjoyed at the unexpected charity and to see some friendly faces once again - but his head was spinning amid the elation. These were the very heroes who had not only saved them all from being sacrificed in Cazador’s profane ritual but also fought and killed the Netherbrain itself. If he was still capable of dreaming, Sebastian would have thought that was all it was.
“Not that I’m not happy to see you,” he stuttered, doing his best to walk a fine line of optimism and caution, “but what in all of the gods’ names finds you here? And with such a bounty of gifts?”
Zhret’tt gave him a gentle smile, although there was also a twinkle of mischief in his pale eyes.
“This is a special time of year for Selûnites and Eilistraeans alike. The cold of winter can be harsh, but in the dark of its long nights our goddesses smile upon us. We gather in thanks for their protection and to share warmth and succor that we may all see the coming of spring together.”
So he wasn’t alone in treasuring the changing of the seasons after all, Sebastian thought. Trivial a thing as it was, knowing that made him feel a little less isolated.
“It feels entirely improper for me to ask,” Sebastian admitted nervously, still nursing a quiet misgiving in his heart, “and please do not take this as any lack of appreciation. But why, out of all the forsaken corners of Faerûn, did you want to bring your cheer to ours?”
“It was dear Isobel who suggested we do something community-focused for the holiday as a means of observance. And Zevlor suggested we pay you all a visit specifically.”
Zhret’tt nudged Zevlor with his elbow. The tiefling’s cheeks flushed red as he cleared his throat.
“Yes, well. It was Selûne’s protection - granted through Isobel - that provided refuge to my people in our hour of greatest need. The connection from that to the letter you sent was not so far a bridge in my mind. We do feel some responsibility for your well-being, little though we can offer. Still, it’s wonderful to see you all safe and thriving, as much as possible given the circumstances.”
A tightness clenched in Sebastian’s chest at such thoughtfulness. By the time Zhret’tt and the others had rescued him and the rest of the spawn from Cazador’s prison, 200 lost years had passed, taking all of Sebastian’s friends and family with them. To be human was to be confronted now and then by the unpleasant reality that you or anyone you loved could die any day as easily as the next, whether from foolishness or random tragic happenstance. Sebastian had been blessed in life to have the support of a small but tight-knit social circle that saw him through the worst of days. Finding out he would never see them again had turned the taste of freedom to ash in his mouth.
“I see. What can I say but ‘thank you’?” Sebastian forced the bitter thoughts from his mind. This was a time to be thankful, not to wallow. “You’re all welcome to make yourselves comfortable for however long you’d like to stay. We could never hope to repay you for what you’ve already done for us, let alone the feast you’ve brought.”
“Not to make even more trouble for you, but food isn’t all we brought,” Zevlor said.
“I’ve my own modest contribution to offer.” Halsin smiled. Unlimbering a sack from his broad shoulders, he pulled back the flap to reveal a plethora of delicately carved wood pieces. Some were simple tools like combs and hair picks, some were sets of game pieces for play, and still others appeared to be jewelry. All were luxuries that most of the spawn had had to go without for centuries now.
“And while I’m sure we’ve already more than overwhelmed you, Zevlor and I humbly offer entertainment for the night in the form of story and song.” Zhret’tt bowed.
All of the emotions that had been building up behind the dam of self-control in Sebastian’s heart - gratefulness, relief, acceptance, love - burst forth in the form of tears of joy. He covered his face with his hands, mortified to be sobbing in front of both the other spawn and his saviours.
Soft, warm arms took him in a comforting embrace as Isobel, Halsin, and Zhret’tt all surrounded him in a group hug. Aylin gave Zevlor a gentle nudge. The tiefling hesitated but a breath before joining the circle. Finally, Aylin crushed the lot of them with a one-armed bear hug, still balancing the beast they had brought on one shoulder.
Sebastian couldn’t stop the tears anymore than he’d been able to stop any of the events that had brought them to that moment. But swaddled in the warmth of so much love, he finally felt as though he could at least be at peace with it all at last.
