"Mm-hm."

She rolls out her bedroll and tries to sleep through the feel of the geas.

Does she feel like reading when Garrus wakes her up to take her watch?

Yeah, sure.

Alan travels to J'Nah's lair to the south, equipped with a vial of powder the dragon gave him to weaken the witch. Her gnoll minions apparently attacked the nearby village of Blumberg while the kobolds invaded Hilltop, and they took prisoners. Alan frees the prisoners and tells them to run for their lives, which they do. The lich-hand asks why he bothered.

"What do you mean?" Alan asked.

:They were weak,: the voice of Balpheron said in his mind. :You took the time to save them from their own weakness, and you did not even extract payment.:

"They had nothing to give."

:Then you should have left them where they were. The only reason to help someone is if they will then help you. Weakness breeds weakness, young blackguard...:

Alan considers this philosophy as he battles the gnoll chieftain. The chieftain tells Alan that if he spares his life, the gnoll clan will aid him in battle against J'Nah; that he will need it, for the sorceress's powers are great. Alan slays him. "I am stronger than you think, beast."

He enters J'Nah's chambers. She engages him in conversation, wishing to know who has killed her guards and invaded her home before she kills him. He tells her that he's here to ally against a common enemy: Tymofarrar. She asks why she should believe him; he feigns innocence, saying that he seeks only to defeat a great evil. Believing him, she tells him of the dragon's weakness: he fears frost giants, after having been severely wounded by one some time ago, and so to defeat him she has created a magical item that will temporarily transform Alan himself into a frost giant so he can slay the dragon. She hands over this Phylactery of Ice. Alan thanks her, throws the powder in her face, and commences battle.

It's a fierce battle. The sorceress nearly defeats him, with the assistance of a handful of summoned demons, but he stands firm against her magics, and eventually he stands victorious, panting and bleeding from a dozen wounds. From her body he takes the artifact she stole - the tooth of the ancient wyrm Hephaestagon - and heads north to deal with Tymofarrar once and for all.

She's pensive even when everybody else is up. Remembers to think a few words to Eilistraee but they're mostly about how she is still very upset about the geas.

...there's a silvery glow from inside her pack.

...she peeks and reaches for, uh, let's see, does trying to grab 'whatever's glowing' work?

The Relic of the Reaper leaps into her hand.

She waits till someone else is awake to inform them of this eventuality.

Jojo wakes first.

"Good morning," he says. "-is something wrong?"

"Got in my morning prayer which was mostly 'hey Eilistraee I'm still super upset about the geas' and then my blursed arrowhead sparkled silver. Thought I should get a second opinion before I go visit the Reaper without having to die about it."

He pauses to consider. "We are going to be entering a dangerous situation... but if this has a chance of releasing you from the geas, I think we can afford to expend a bit more effort keeping you safe for today. I can tell it affects you deeply."

She nods. She wishes herself into the Reaper's place.

"Greetings, Belmarniss," the Reaper says. "What brings you to my realm?"

"Uh, so I converted and was keeping up with that this morning and I think Eilistraee made the arrowhead thing sparkle? So I thought I'd come ask you if you had any advice on getting rid of this geas."

The Reaper nods. "The Dark Maiden told me of your geas - she was displeased with Halaster for laying it upon you, but even she cannot compete with the mad wizard's mastery of the arcane. Nor can I, truth be told, but I have certain powers within my realm... and the geas will only last forty days, if you cannot complete it by your own efforts. Do you understand what I propose?"

"Ah.

Well.

D'you play cards?"

"I can conjure books. Regrettably, finding a way to occupy your time is unlikely to be the worst part; as long as you cannot complete it, the geas will sap the strength from your body and mind. The effects will not be permanent, and I can alleviate your suffering to the best of my ability, but it will still be... unpleasant."

"Yeah. Well. I'll get over it. I guess it might be more unpleasant than the geas. Maybe I can sleep through a lot of it."

"I can aid you with that, if you would like. There are drugs that will cause a deep slumber; while many would hesitate to use them for fear of side-effects, none can die in my realm, and it is part and parcel of our contract that when you leave you will be healed of all harm."

"That would seem to cover the side effect issue, yep. Once I can't read books any more I guess."

The Reaper nods. "Simply tell me when you wish to be made to sleep."

"Well, not yet. I figure I'll finish Deekin's book first."

"As you say."

"Thanks, I really appreciate this."

She pulls out Deekin's book.