A Sleepless Night

That night was restless for everyone. I awoke to find a demon in the room watching me. I couldn't move, and the creature walked over and sat on the bed next to me. He didn't give a name, but I could tell from the brand on his forehead that he was one of Maethok's minions. He began telling me that Maethok hadn't forgotten our deal, and that he had plans. He then began drawing a finger across my chest, burning into my flesh the same brand that was on his forehead. He then presented me with a spell book with a crude letter A on it, a gift from my "patron". When I could finally speak I told him I hadn't forgotten the deal, and then asked what Maethok thought of our dealings with Lilith and the others. He seemed more amused than anything, casually remarking that Lilith was simply another pawn in the game. Darneska had been part of her seven, and then decided to create his own "seven" part in imitation and part in challenge to her. The illithid Rezic was one of them. The demon remarked that Rezic was one sneaky bastard, so we'll have to watch our steps around him when we encounter him.
I spent the rest of the night studying the spell book under the demon's supervision, learning how to cast the spells and what components they would require. He left before dawn, remarking on his way out that Maethok was showing some interest in Isyllwen. I told him to tell Maethok that she was not part of the deal and he better leave her the fuck alone. He laughed and said maybe I should tell him myself. I swear if he gets anywhere close to her, deal or no deal I'll kill the fiend.
Dru woke shortly after that from some sort of dream, thrashing about and calling out wildly. I calmed him down and asked him what was going on. He had had another dream about his sister, but this time she was with Mirielle's mother. In the dream they said they were both being held by Lilith in Limbo, and begged Dru to help them soon. He had tried to leave something with them, but realized when he woke that he still had the item on him and appeared to start questioning the validity of the dream. I don't doubt that what he saw was real, at least in part, but there are a lot of questions about what is going on and I was thankful he didn't try to rush off and find a way to Limbo right away. I have a feeling none of us are ready for that experience yet.
I was able to calm Dru down and we went to find the others Zarruk was still in his room, looking like he hadn't slept well either. He also said something about needing to go to Limbo right away. We gathered Mirielle then headed downstairs, where we found Po waiting at a table, also looking the worse for wear. They began talking about their dreams, Dru sharing his but without the conviction of when he had told it to me. Zarruk had dreamed of an illithid with red eyes who taunted him and showed him how his parents had died, then told him he would be waiting for us in Limbo. Po had had a dream about something in his past, but he wasn't in a sharing mood like the others.
We discussed what we should do, and I urged everyone to wait before going to Limbo. We were being pushed to go there as quickly as possible, but the sources were all enemies or threats. My gut told me that this was turning into some sort of elaborate trap, whether to kill us all or for Lilith to capture Mirielle and turn her, I wasn't sure. But it felt like we were being baited, and I was in no mood to bite yet. Fortunately I was able to convince the others to at least wait until we had gathered enough resources and power before attempting a rescue or revenge mission of any kind.
Eventually Uncle Branlid came downstairs and joined us. We began discussing means of getting to Limbo, and Dru brought out the cube he had taken from Jillia and Camila. Branlid told us it was a gate stone of sorts, and could open a portal to the planes with the corresponding symbols. He identified the symbols for the Feywild, the Abyss, Limbo, and the Material planes, but was unsure of the last two. Po seemed interested in the cube and where we had obtained it, and we discovered that he knew Jillia and Camila. He tried to pass it off as just names from the past, but he was hiding something. I tried to press him a little on the issue, but he assured us that it wouldn't be an issue. I didn't inquire further, but my faith in our dark elf friend was very shaken. If he had connections to the sisters, then he might have connections to their mother. He might even be a plant by Lilith in our group. It wouldn't be the first time one of her pets infiltrated a group and betrayed it. I knew I'd have to keep an eye on the elf, but for the time being we still needed him with us. Going to Limbo with him though... That would be another matter.
Just as we finished discussing the matter of the gate cube, the door to the inn burst open and Tharra's bound form was flung into the room, followed by the bandit leader Rolf, wearing an expression like he was out for blood.