A/N:I just want to make one thing clear before you become disgusted at a protagonist+Imoen thing and say something like, "Ew they're brother and sister." Well actually in this story they're not. For starters, the protagonist in this story is an elf, so they don't have the same mother. Second, Bhaal's taint was removed in Throneof Bhaal anyway so basically they have no relation at all. And lastly, this story contains major spoilers for Bg2 SoA, and Tob. Anyway, this story takes place about three years after ToB, and Imoen now lives back in Candlekeep, so enjoy. AND PLEASE REVIEW!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Imoen was lost. She knew where she was, true enough, but she didn't know, when she was, or why she was there, standing in the middle of the laboratory of Spellhold once again. Due to her past encounters in this place, she was also quite terrified. The need to leave over to her and she began to walk cautiously towards the door, her footfalls echoing on the hard floor.
She reached for the handle, but suddenly it was gone, along with the door. She suddenly found herself back in the experiment tube, where she had been tortured by the scariest man she had ever know-Jon Irenicus.
"But that was years ago." She muttered to herself, and indeed it was. Three years had passed since her half-brother had saved her from this very building and killed the monster, Irenicus.
"Indeed it has been a while hasn't it Imoen?" said a haunting voice that seemed to come from the very walls of the place, echoing through the corridors to her. The voice was Jon Irenicus's, who suddenly materialized in front of the experiment tube, looking as powerful and bloodthirsty as ever.
"You-you're dead!" Imoen cried in disbelief and horror.
"Am I really?" Irenicus asked. "I seem very much alive don't I?"
"Riven killed you! He killed you in the Nine Hells!" Imoen spat.
"Yes, but now I'm back. Isn't that ironic? Luckily I had enough power left in my soul to revive my body. But enough talk, now we will resume the experiments." Irenicus said, and began to move toward her.
"No...Our taint of Bhaal is gone! You won't get anything from us." Imoen said, with a satisfied expression on her face.
"Hm...well I suppose that does make a difference...But no matter, I must still torture you for the trouble you have caused me." Irenicus said, and continued to move toward her tube.
"No...please...Help me! Anybody!" Imoen cried.
"Hahahahahaha. You foolish girl, no one can hear you." Irenicus's said maliciously. "Now it is time for your punishment."
He began to cast a spell while Imoen began pounding on the glass, looking for any possible way out. She suddenly remembered Riven's dagger, sheathed on her belt. She reached for it, but it wasn't there. Suddenly her strength left her. She crumbled to the floor while Irenicus began to laugh.
"Now that your strenght is gone little one, I shall enjoy watching you scream." Irenicus said, and then began casting spell after painful spell. Imoen's screams soon filled the room, while Irenicus laughed excitedly.
Blood began to trickle from her mouth as she managed to scream for help again.
Suddenly, Jon stopped casting. Imoen looked up, hardly daring to believe her luck, when she saw what had stopped Irenicus. He was staring at his forearm, where blood was oozing from an arrow that was protruding from the muscle.
"What is this?" He cried out in pain, and surprise.
"That, you bastard, is an arrow." Came the voice of a figure, hooded by an Elven cloak, standing on the top row of experiment tubes. Imoen felt a thrill of hope at the sight of, what apparently was Riven, her former half brother.
He then leapt down from the shelf, and after fitting his bow over his chest, threw back his hood to reveal an Elf with dark blue eyes, and electric blue hair, that fell to his shoulders.
"Riven!" Imoen screamed, as relief flooded her system. She also felt a power course through her, as if Riven was giving her strength just by being there.
"Well isn't this priceless? The fool once again comes to the rescue. Tell me Ranger, what do you plan on doing to me? You are powerless compared to me." Irenicus said. He seemed to have magically healed his wound, for it had stopped bleeding.
"Would you seriously like to feel my wrath once again Jon?" Riven asked.
"Yes, in fact. I am eager to see what has become of the Bhaalspawn since his taint was removed." Irenicus answered.
"You have made your choice, but I am willing to give you one last chance. Free Imoen and you won't be hurt as bad. Mind you I will still have to kill you for torturing Imoen." Riven said, and let his hand slide instinctively to the hilt of his long sword, Daystar.
"And my choice remains. Now I will kill you both." Irenicus said, and summoned a huge Phantom Blade. "It's been awhile since I fought hand-to-hand. Let's see how well I perform against yourself." Irenicus said, and leaped forward into a battle stance.
"Have it your way." Riven replied, and threw back the sides of his cloak to reveal a coat of Elven chain mail. He then drew Daystar, which glowed a rich orange. The light also made Imoen feel stronger. Riven then feinted a jump attack, but instead of chopping down, he brought his blade down and up, attempting to rip through Jon's midsection. Instead of soft flesh though, his blade met hard steel as Jon blocked his attack. He then drove Riven backwards, to the floor.
"Pressing his blade against Riven's throat, Irenicus said, "Now Riven, is when you die." But before Jon could slice, Riven batted his blade away, and kicked him in the stomach, giving him enough time to leap to his feet, and regain his balance.
Suddenly Riven was blown backwards into the wall by a magic missile spell, and cried out in pain and surprise. He barely had time to catch his breath, when a lighting bolt came flying his way. Imoen was watching all this from the tube, feeling extremely helpless, and weak. Suddenly, she saw Riven get blown off his feet by a fireball spell.
Imoen realized that Riven had had enough, when he yelled, "Imoen, cover your eyes!" She realized what he was doing right before he did it. Snapping her eyes shut and covering her head, she dropped to the floor, just as a massive sunfire was released from Daystar. Imoen, being out of the spell's range, was unharmed, and she looked up to see that Jon had been obliterated by the fiery blast.
Riven shakily got to his feet and asked anxiously, while running to the tube, "Are you ok? He didn't hurt you did he?"
"No, I'm ok n-now that you're here." Imoen answered.
"Stand back." Riven said, and shattered the experiment tube with a whack of his sword.
Imoen leaped down from the tube gratefully and said, "Thanks. He would have killed me if you weren't here."
"Don't mention it." He said.
"Modest as ever I see." Imoen said, cheerfully.
"Cheerful as ever." Riven noted making Imoen smile.
Imoen was about to suggest that they leave, but when she turned around to do so, Riven had gone. In fact, the whole dungeon had gone. Imoen was left standing in a black void.
"Until we meet again little one." Irenicus's voice came, and then she was falling through the void, her screams echoing back to her...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Imoen woke with a startled cry. She quickly darted her gaze around the dark room to find that she was back in her room. She let out a sigh of relief and looked out the window to find that it was thundering and raining like mad.
She then realized that her window was open and the rain was streaming in, and soaking the hard wood floor.
"Damn it." She muttered to herself, and got out of her bed to shut it. Suddenly, there came a knock at the door. Not wanting to leave anybody standing out in the pouring rain at this hour of the night, Imoen quickly ran over to her wardrobe, grabbed the first robe she saw, slipped it on, and ran for the stairs. In her haste to get downstairs, she forgot about the puddle on the floor, and slipped, landing hard on her butt.
"Ow! Coming!" She yelled, and ran downstairs, past the kitchen and pulled open the front door to see the very savior from her dream standing in her doorway.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Imoen was lost. She knew where she was, true enough, but she didn't know, when she was, or why she was there, standing in the middle of the laboratory of Spellhold once again. Due to her past encounters in this place, she was also quite terrified. The need to leave over to her and she began to walk cautiously towards the door, her footfalls echoing on the hard floor.
She reached for the handle, but suddenly it was gone, along with the door. She suddenly found herself back in the experiment tube, where she had been tortured by the scariest man she had ever know-Jon Irenicus.
"But that was years ago." She muttered to herself, and indeed it was. Three years had passed since her half-brother had saved her from this very building and killed the monster, Irenicus.
"Indeed it has been a while hasn't it Imoen?" said a haunting voice that seemed to come from the very walls of the place, echoing through the corridors to her. The voice was Jon Irenicus's, who suddenly materialized in front of the experiment tube, looking as powerful and bloodthirsty as ever.
"You-you're dead!" Imoen cried in disbelief and horror.
"Am I really?" Irenicus asked. "I seem very much alive don't I?"
"Riven killed you! He killed you in the Nine Hells!" Imoen spat.
"Yes, but now I'm back. Isn't that ironic? Luckily I had enough power left in my soul to revive my body. But enough talk, now we will resume the experiments." Irenicus said, and began to move toward her.
"No...Our taint of Bhaal is gone! You won't get anything from us." Imoen said, with a satisfied expression on her face.
"Hm...well I suppose that does make a difference...But no matter, I must still torture you for the trouble you have caused me." Irenicus said, and continued to move toward her tube.
"No...please...Help me! Anybody!" Imoen cried.
"Hahahahahaha. You foolish girl, no one can hear you." Irenicus's said maliciously. "Now it is time for your punishment."
He began to cast a spell while Imoen began pounding on the glass, looking for any possible way out. She suddenly remembered Riven's dagger, sheathed on her belt. She reached for it, but it wasn't there. Suddenly her strength left her. She crumbled to the floor while Irenicus began to laugh.
"Now that your strenght is gone little one, I shall enjoy watching you scream." Irenicus said, and then began casting spell after painful spell. Imoen's screams soon filled the room, while Irenicus laughed excitedly.
Blood began to trickle from her mouth as she managed to scream for help again.
Suddenly, Jon stopped casting. Imoen looked up, hardly daring to believe her luck, when she saw what had stopped Irenicus. He was staring at his forearm, where blood was oozing from an arrow that was protruding from the muscle.
"What is this?" He cried out in pain, and surprise.
"That, you bastard, is an arrow." Came the voice of a figure, hooded by an Elven cloak, standing on the top row of experiment tubes. Imoen felt a thrill of hope at the sight of, what apparently was Riven, her former half brother.
He then leapt down from the shelf, and after fitting his bow over his chest, threw back his hood to reveal an Elf with dark blue eyes, and electric blue hair, that fell to his shoulders.
"Riven!" Imoen screamed, as relief flooded her system. She also felt a power course through her, as if Riven was giving her strength just by being there.
"Well isn't this priceless? The fool once again comes to the rescue. Tell me Ranger, what do you plan on doing to me? You are powerless compared to me." Irenicus said. He seemed to have magically healed his wound, for it had stopped bleeding.
"Would you seriously like to feel my wrath once again Jon?" Riven asked.
"Yes, in fact. I am eager to see what has become of the Bhaalspawn since his taint was removed." Irenicus answered.
"You have made your choice, but I am willing to give you one last chance. Free Imoen and you won't be hurt as bad. Mind you I will still have to kill you for torturing Imoen." Riven said, and let his hand slide instinctively to the hilt of his long sword, Daystar.
"And my choice remains. Now I will kill you both." Irenicus said, and summoned a huge Phantom Blade. "It's been awhile since I fought hand-to-hand. Let's see how well I perform against yourself." Irenicus said, and leaped forward into a battle stance.
"Have it your way." Riven replied, and threw back the sides of his cloak to reveal a coat of Elven chain mail. He then drew Daystar, which glowed a rich orange. The light also made Imoen feel stronger. Riven then feinted a jump attack, but instead of chopping down, he brought his blade down and up, attempting to rip through Jon's midsection. Instead of soft flesh though, his blade met hard steel as Jon blocked his attack. He then drove Riven backwards, to the floor.
"Pressing his blade against Riven's throat, Irenicus said, "Now Riven, is when you die." But before Jon could slice, Riven batted his blade away, and kicked him in the stomach, giving him enough time to leap to his feet, and regain his balance.
Suddenly Riven was blown backwards into the wall by a magic missile spell, and cried out in pain and surprise. He barely had time to catch his breath, when a lighting bolt came flying his way. Imoen was watching all this from the tube, feeling extremely helpless, and weak. Suddenly, she saw Riven get blown off his feet by a fireball spell.
Imoen realized that Riven had had enough, when he yelled, "Imoen, cover your eyes!" She realized what he was doing right before he did it. Snapping her eyes shut and covering her head, she dropped to the floor, just as a massive sunfire was released from Daystar. Imoen, being out of the spell's range, was unharmed, and she looked up to see that Jon had been obliterated by the fiery blast.
Riven shakily got to his feet and asked anxiously, while running to the tube, "Are you ok? He didn't hurt you did he?"
"No, I'm ok n-now that you're here." Imoen answered.
"Stand back." Riven said, and shattered the experiment tube with a whack of his sword.
Imoen leaped down from the tube gratefully and said, "Thanks. He would have killed me if you weren't here."
"Don't mention it." He said.
"Modest as ever I see." Imoen said, cheerfully.
"Cheerful as ever." Riven noted making Imoen smile.
Imoen was about to suggest that they leave, but when she turned around to do so, Riven had gone. In fact, the whole dungeon had gone. Imoen was left standing in a black void.
"Until we meet again little one." Irenicus's voice came, and then she was falling through the void, her screams echoing back to her...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Imoen woke with a startled cry. She quickly darted her gaze around the dark room to find that she was back in her room. She let out a sigh of relief and looked out the window to find that it was thundering and raining like mad.
She then realized that her window was open and the rain was streaming in, and soaking the hard wood floor.
"Damn it." She muttered to herself, and got out of her bed to shut it. Suddenly, there came a knock at the door. Not wanting to leave anybody standing out in the pouring rain at this hour of the night, Imoen quickly ran over to her wardrobe, grabbed the first robe she saw, slipped it on, and ran for the stairs. In her haste to get downstairs, she forgot about the puddle on the floor, and slipped, landing hard on her butt.
"Ow! Coming!" She yelled, and ran downstairs, past the kitchen and pulled open the front door to see the very savior from her dream standing in her doorway.