"Eilistraee would never be so tacky."

"I suppose that she is the goddess of... flowers, or spiders, or sarcasm?"

"You were close the second time; that's her mother. Eilistraee's primary domain is redemption, with sidelines in starlight and various artistic pursuits. One of the less objectionable deities, on the whole."

"Yeah, I got religion when I found out this planet has dire consequences for scrawling in 'not applicable' on that box on the form. She's chill."

"I suppose that's as good a reason as any. I decline to be blackmailed by a dead god, no matter how dire the threats he may invoke."

"I mean, I hope it doesn't come up, but it's not a very expensive precaution to take while I'm stuck on Toril."

"I'm not judging you," Safiya clarifies. "I simply look at the question differently."

They reach the Vault in short order.

The interior is just as impossibly grand as the façade, in a very different direction. The ceilings are vaulted and high enough to fit a decently sized dragon; the flagstones are black marble; their footsteps echo loudly.

The entry hall's main feature is an enormous gate of black stone, carved with an intricate design that the eye can't quite focus on without getting very close. Someone else is that close: a young woman, clad in silvery armor and with white-feathered wings folded across her back. She turns as they enter, tearing her eyes from the door with a visible effort.

"There are few who would brave the halls of the Death God's Vault," she says. Her voice is soft, sounding like nothing so much as a constant, gentle sigh. "Many would come seeking treasure. Some would seek knowledge. What calls you three to this place?"

"Well, you look sort of dove themed so I expect we come seeking you."

"Me? - I suppose my siblings must have sent you. They are very kind, and very brave." She smiles wanly. "I had not known they would follow me so far... but it would be unlike them to give up a hunt, especially one so close to their hearts. No doubt it was Efrem and Susah you met, for they are the hunters in our number, even though Efrem bears the name of the Stag. They are persistent indeed."

She grits her teeth for a split second, then clears the tension from her face, squaring her shoulders and stretching her wings. "I am indeed Kaelyn, called the Dove. Formerly of the House of the Triad. My spirit now lies within the house of Ilmater."

"They wanted to communicate that you'd be welcome back. Said they'd respect your decision if you wanted to stay here."

Kaelyn sighs. "I cannot return to the Menagerie. To do so would be to betray my heart. But... I cannot stay here, either, in this place. I do not have the strength to complete the quest that brought me here."

"Oh? What was that?"

"I sought entrance to the depths of this vault. Inside lie secrets of the Myrkulites, secrets that could aid me in my quest to carry on the Betrayer's Crusade - the destruction, once and for all, of the Wall of the Faithless."

"...what reason do you have to believe that the secrets would be instrumental toward that end?"

"Akachi himself was known to have come here, and the scholars and keepers of this place aided his crusade. They were burned alive for their heresy, but their records were preserved."

"Okay. And what's blocking you on getting in the vault?"

"The door is locked... not by mortal means, but by some mechanism I can hardly comprehend. The more I stared at it, the closer I felt myself come to figuring it out, but... I think that may have been a trap of its own, for the insights I thought I had found melt away as I reach for them."

"Huh. And you - don't have dim-door, don't think that's a good idea -"

"Strong abjuration behind the door," Safiya comments. "I think it's Anchored. And the walls are too strong for a Passwall."

Kaelyn nods. "I think - it wouldn't be set to open only for a priest of Myrkul, or something like that, because a practiced rogue can fake that. I think there's a key that the priests would carry with them, a magical key. And the priests were all burned in the crematorium. So perhaps we could find one there." She coughs. "I mean - I could find one. But, um, it's a bit of a moot point, since I'm not strong enough to fight my way through the guardians."

"Kinda guardians?"

"Mummified clerics, which I could face without trouble; death knights, which would present some difficulty; and... in the crematorium itself, there is some kind of congeries of screaming souls that I can sense even from here. I would not choose to fight it without significant assistance."

"Well, I like the sound of your quest and I would be happy to significantly assist you. This - doesn't seem time-sensitive exactly, is that right? We could come back after I have dealt with my thing."

She looks shocked, for a moment, then smiles tentatively. "If you would help me in my quest afterwards, I would be happy to help with your, um, thing. Unless it's something evil? But I doubt it is."