The stairs led up to a thin hallway, new doorless rooms with new vices and pleasures. Lixiss looked into the first room to find a room of bodies unburdened by clothing. Their eyes vacant, manic laughter and hazy smoke filled the room; a halfling put powder on her tongue and shared it with a human next to her, who transformed into a halfling while kissing. A small mote of lite appeared in the fog like room liquid bubbled like a boiling kettle in a pipe and its contents were inhaled by an elf who had all but disappeared into the smoke created by it. There were plates of mushrooms which Lixiss knew all too well, but judging from the people consuming them they were a far more potent hallucinogen. It took all she had not to join them, it was a strange way to feel considering she did still realize where she was. It called to her, there was a nonrecognition in their eyes, the curled lips indicating their pure bliss. The halflings had taken to dry-humping as the lady grinded away as their faces battled with ferocious lust. It took everything Lixiss had to turn away. I cannot give into temptation not after pulling Gileon away from those two elves, and definitely not after using glamor magic to nudge Carl away. Lixiss thought, shaming herself back to the task at hand. The next sight perplexed Lixiss, she wondered how it could even be and started questioning what they were experiencing as she saw the next room. There were fountains of various alcoholic substances, a swimming pool filled with chocolate, platters of fresh fruits and salted pork hanging from branches in mimicry of a willow. There were three dwarves taking turns to satisfy a single dark elf, there was an aquagena having her chocolate covered privates eaten out by an antlered devilborn. There were those feeding one another, others almost drowning themselves in the chocolate or alcohol. What Lixiss didn’t see was anyone puking, passing out or even feeling generally unwell. It felt far too real to be an illusion and as she grabbed for the fruit she noticed Gadraek had already drunk his fill, grabbing the platter away from her.

“What in the nine circles of hell do you think you’re doing.” She asked but before he answered with words he was already plowing away at one of the dwarves working her tongue into the dark elf.

“Stop that right now, we have work to do!” Lixiss shouted but to no avail.

“I’m coming!” Gadraek shouted but it wasn’t in answer to her request. Any attempts to pull him away resulted in Gadraek lashing out before returning to the room.

“What is going on here…” Gileon said, trying to distance himself from his behavior downstairs.

“One of these doors must hold the answers we seek.” Agazuul said, sounding as determined as ever. His night with Qilynrae may have done more than I intended. Lixiss thought proudly. The next room was something quite simple, an empty bar with a bartender cleaning a glass indefinitely. It was a fancy looking bar; walls of indigo, a black marble tiled floor, mahogany bar with a slab of golden veined white marble and cushioned bar stools. Carl went to sit at the bar, Gileon taking a seat next to him and Agazuul took up a third barstool as Lixiss looked to see if Eira would join them she realized he was gone. Lixiss took the fourth barstool.

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“So what will you be having next then?” He asked, his strong jawline drawing her in. His scar ran from eyebrow to jaw, there was a faint line on the upper eyelid telling of what was nearly taken. He wore a black doublet with golden web-patterned lining. She nearly lost herself in his pastel upturned eyes.

“Be not fooled by such simple tricks.” Neva’Coh’Etriel told her, but would she want to listen? Lixiss gazed downwards for a moment seeing two empty glasses placed before her, only the smallest remnant of an amber colored liquid in the glass reminding her it was once full. As she looked to her left she saw the others taking in the barman well, each one confusing her more than the last.

“I’m so sorry. Agazuul needed me…” Gileon apologized to Gwyryn Hylarr.

“I keep seeing you, does that mean you’re not dead?” Carl asked Gwyryn desperate for it to be true.

“You should’ve fought harder for me!... I did everything right!... It wasn’t me who fucked it all up!... You should’ve taught me better!” Agazuul shouted between racking cries, his voice breaking on every syllable accusing her master of warfare. They all seemed unaware of one another locked into the view before them.

“Carl, is it Tòmas you’re thinking of?” Lixiss asked, mustering up all empathy she had for the man.

“Yes, it is…” He looked in front of him and then around the bar growing red.

“Gileon, it was Aquilan you feel you’ve betrayed is it not?” Lixiss asked, having heard the tale from Agazuul.

“...Yeah…I…” Gileon didn’t finish the thought but he looked to have snapped out of it as well.

“Agazuul, Ludwig was a fine teacher, you've got to see that.” Lixiss said she met him long ago when she had gotten the sword; she wasn’t sure she could take him in a fight.

“...He is…” Agazuul admitted, embarrassed by his previous words.

“Who did you see?” Carl asked. Lixiss pondered answering that question unsure of what she said in all that time before the Spider Duchess woke her from her stupor. She decided to leave it unanswered, better not give them weaknesses to exploit once they get out of here. Where did Eira go? Lixiss wondered.