Raven's the first one to notice the druid- the tressym's ears perking up at a sound and her little claws digging into Malchior's leg as a way to get his attention- because he was often lost in thought, reading that tome left behind. It hurts you, the tome, she says, it makes your emotions dark, it makes your magic dark- but I think there's a little bit of light about to walk into your life. At this, he looks up, taking note of the girl who had found her way to a spot he'd unofficially chosen as his 'thinking spot'.
The tadpole stirred ever so slightly. A survivor.
Raven was right; reading Rorek's grimoire hurt him, it filled him with anger and pain- because he wanted Rorek to survive. In his desperation to keep any part of the wizard with him, he'd consumed a second illithid tadpole- Rorek's tadpole managed to calm that spike of anger, because in the end, he was glad to see someone else who had survived that absolute hell. ❝ It looks like there's more of us than i thought- ❞
❝ I ... didn't see you on the Nautiloid, but ... ❞ Somehow, she had acquired an illithid tadpole, too. It seemed she was also offered some form of protection. Malchior was no fool- he'd learned enough in his studies with Rorek about the nature of ceremorphosis. At most, the process took a week- an agonizing thing ... but she looked as if she'd survived more than that- so what else could he assume? ❝ It's good to see you ... er ... symptom free. ❞
Raven had jumped off of Malchior's lap and had chosen to stretch her wings, her front paws extended and her back arched before she stared at the paladin. Manners, Mal. You should introduce yourself. ❝ Right, my name is Malchior. I'm a paladin hailing from Baldur's Gate. Sorry- I know this must seem a rather peculiar encounter ... ❞