An adventuring party recruited from Osirion teleports into Azir on the 8th of Desnus. Rahadoum's recruiting contact in Osirion wrote ahead to note they were expected. Couple of guys he's known a long time - a wizard, a ranger - and a new guy, sorcerer, probably to replace the cleric they usually travel with. They spend two days in Azir getting oriented and head out to the front. The ranger wears an unusually high quality amulet of Nondetection; the sorcerer wears a headband for intelligence, which is a bit unusual as sorcerers usually don't need it to cast, but some variants do; they are otherwise unremarkable. Chaotic Good, Lawful Neutral, no reading, which could mean neutral or 'hiding it'. They work quickly and effectively, manage resources reasonably well, get recommended to higher-ups for a closer look on that account.
The only thing that Moondance uses his limited freedom for, though, is to slam his head repeatedly into the stone floor.
Vanyel swears more creatively and grabs for him, with a force-net when Moondance scrambles out of reach of his hands. "Moondance, please stop, I know you're upset, just - don't do that, do a different thing about it–"
Moondance struggles halfheartedly to escape Vanyel's grip, and then gives up and goes back to quietly whimpering.
"Can we at least tell him, er, what's going on? He's probably really worried, I bet he can pick up through the lifebond that you're upset."
:Fazil, um, can you go tell Savil? - And then maybe ask a servant to bring us something to sleep on, I think I want to stay the night with him and he should be in a Work Room in case he starts projecting or throwing things around with magic, he's not compulsioned against that and - I've done it before when I was upset enough:
Starwind is on his feet in an instant when Fazil enters the room. "Where is Moondance - what did you–"
He ignores him.
:It looks like we can lift the Star-Eyed's pact,: he says to Savil. :But it left him a wreck and he didn't want Starwind, he was worried he'd react badly. I can't do Starwind until the morning. I'm sorry. Van wants to stay with him overnight.:
:Oh. Gods. I - I'm glad Van can be there for him. Should I tell Starwind about this or...not...:
:I have no idea! I'd worry about him doing something stupid if he thinks Moondance is being tortured but there's not much he can do, right? And Moondance didn't want him, he was emphatic about that despite being generally pretty out of it.:
:I can at least reassure him Moondance is physically all right and he's safe and with Vanyel, and we can explain tomorrow. Thank you, you can go back:
"Thank you," Vanyel says quietly. "Think you could get us some food too? I don't know that I can coax him to eat it but I should at least try."
Moondance really isn't in the mood to eat but can eventually be convinced to drink some water and eat about three bites of bread, after which he curls up in a miserable ball on the fold-out cot dragged in for him.
Vanyel puts a blanket over him. He sighs. :Fazil, you don't have to stay all night if you don't want to, it'll be pretty boring:
Your ring is working properly these days, right? If I go to bed now you can wake me a couple hours before dawn and then we'll both be rested and he won't have any chance of - escaping or something.
:That's right. I'll do that: Vanyel gives him an exhausted, wan smile. :Thank you so much for - everything on this trip, really. I know it's a lot to be dragged into:
Vanyel shuts the door after Fazil leaves, settles down on the chair next to the cot, and holds Moondance's hand.