Disclaimer: I think we all know that I do not own Neverwinter Nights 2 (or Mask of the Betrayer) or anything related to Obsidian! But I DO own the KC!
A/N: Yes, yes; I've said many times that my spelling sucks and characters might be OOC; I SUCK with personalities, alright?! NOBODY IS PERFECT, DAMN IT!! Anyways, I will be using my own dialogue :D though…I might add some from the game X3 if I can remember them o.o; haven't played the game in a while XD and I KNOW I haven't finished my other story but at least I finally got third chapter out! XD please forgive me! Well…enjoy! :D
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Spirits and Witches and Egos, Oh My!
"By the gods, finally free of that spirit invested barrow!" Karen exclaimed, blood coating the blue tunic she wore, which slightly covered the white eye.
Safiya, a Red Wizard who found Karen in the barrow, nodded. "Yes and over there is the City of Mulsantir." The teen girl stood up straight from the bent over position she was in and looked at the city; her tail twitched as a grin appeared on her lips.
"So, do indulge me on why I was in that damned barrow and so far from the Sword Coast," she said. Safiya looked at Karen and said, "We're here to see a woman, Liana, and so we can both get some answers." The golden demon eyes stared at the Red Wizard till they closed and Karen sighed. "Why am I getting the feeling it won't go as easy as I wish it too?" she whined.
Safiya chuckled at the unoptimistic teen; she watched her as she straightened from her bent position again and stretch then rubbed one of the long, thin horns that pointed to the back of her. Though one horn was shorter, there was no point…like someone had lopped it off with a blade.
Karen stared at the city again and asked, "So, spirits are here…what else is here?" Safiya looked at her a bit confused. "I mean…with the city," she said, grinning sheepishly. "Well…the lands here are cold and unforgiving; and, coincidently enough, developed the people to be cold and unforgiving…they are also suspicious and paranoid of strangers. And they dislike my kind, so I'll have to disguise myself," she said.
She noted the slightly worried look on the teen's features and said, "Don't worry, if they become suspicious, I'll…think of something." The sheepish grin appeared on the young girl's lips as she said, "Or I'll use a bit of diplomatic talking to get their asses away."
The Red Wizard chuckled; she was defiantly amusing. "So, how're we gonna find this Liana lady?" Karen asked. "I sent out two other Homunculi to find her, like Kaji," she replied. Safiya's familiar, Kaji, then spoke up, "But they're not as smart! Or as good looking!" Karen laughed and grinned at the Homunculi, and Safiya chuckled. "Yes, so I won't be surprised if they got lost on the way," she said.
Karen nodded and grinned, "Well, you need a disguise, yes?" "Yes, please give me a few moments to prepare before we head out," she said. The teen nodded and plopped under a tree as the Red Wizard went behind a bush. When she couldn't see Safiya, she let out a rather sad sigh and her expression saddened.
All she could think about were her companions…her friends; she was most happy have been able to kill that annoying sorceress, Qara. She was so scared Sand was going to betray her, he was very kind to her; she felt horrible for Neeshka, how she was tortured. They were like sisters because they shared the same heritage; Neeshka was so much like a big sister and she rejoiced when she fought against Garius.
Khelgar was scarily like an older, overprotective brother! Always charging after men who would flirt with her. Elanee…by the gods, she was the mother she never had; she cared for the teen and had watched her grow up. Grobnar was…well, more like a very annoying pet that she couldn't help but adore…though he could use some work with his singing.
Then there was Casavir…he was more like a father that Daeghun never was; when he confessed his "love" for her, she was leaning against the short part of the keep's wall and had literally fallen over. Despite his full plate, he moved fast enough to catch her, and she had yelled up to him that he was more like a father to her. The poor human almost dropped her from that but regrabbed her when she let out a startled yelp.
Karen grinned at the memory…though she was still a little crept out; her grin fell as she thought of Shandra. Despite her being a bit moody, she was also like a mother to her, though she could never replace Elanee. The memory of her dead body flashed in her mind and she flinched; she remembered charging in blind rage at Ammon Jerro, ready to lop his head off with her rapier, but was caught by Casavir and Khelgar.
Speaking of that crazy warlock; after she got over her hatred and began to understand the old man, and after gaining his respect several times, he was a bit protective of her as well…not as bad as Khelgar, but still…more like a grandfather, maybe…a very, very scary grandfather.
And there was that cleric, Zhjaeve; the way she tended to start with "know" kind of got on her nerves. She confused the Githzerai when she started doing that herself, but she almost got an arrow in her hide when she said it for like the fifteenth time.
Karen flinched as she thought that; the last of her companions…that evil bastard, Bishop. She remembered the so many innuendos, the leering, and snide comments…and she remembered his and Casavir's bickering. Those two were always at each other's throats, but she could never help but laugh. She remembered that night, before the undead came to the keep; Casavir had left and she stood on the wall, staring at the full moon when he visited her.
He had kissed her; wasn't the first time he had, but that one was different. It was passionate and full of emotions she thought he didn't have; the poor young teen turned utterly red at the memory and her tail twitched. But the red disappeared as she thought of his betrayal; she was such a mess, watching him leave. She almost ran to him, but was once again stopped by Casavir and Khelgar.
When they met again, in the Vail of Merdelain, he told her everything…of his past. She felt even more hatred towards those damned Luskans, but she almost crumbled when Bishop didn't leave…no, he stayed…he fought against them. She fended off his arrows until Garius and Qara were dead; she told everyone to stay back and she prepared her rapier. She didn't use the Sword of Gith; he used his longsword, arrows aside, and Karnwyr was nowhere in sight.
They fought, their weapons clashing together; he lopped off almost all of her left horn when she ducked. She wasn't thinking when she stabbed him in the chest; her eyes had widened at what she did and she saw a smirk appear on his lips. She watched as he pulled himself off her rapier and a hand instinctively went to his wound; he smirked at her and had said, "Nice hit, Captain."
He fell forward but Karen had caught him; she turned him over and held him to her small frame. She yelled to Casavir, Zhjaeve, Grobnar, and Elanee to heal him…but they had used all their healing spells up. She had looked back at him as the tears began to run. Bishop had done his best to sneer at her, but it was mixed with pain…and guilt.
"Don't cry…on my worthless behalf…I'm not worth those tears."
Her heart wretched at that and she yelled back, "You are too! You're worth every drop of them! Damn it, Bishop, I love you!!" She had seen the surprised look on his face and heard the shocked gasps of her companions; he smirked again and brought up a bloody hand to her face, softly tracing her chin, lips, and cheek.
"Yeah…I felt the same, but that's why I fought you…lying to myself I felt nothing."
His hand fell and his eyes started to lose their light, and the last words he had uttered to her still haunted her…
"Thanks, Karen."
His eyes closed as his body went limp and Karen tried waking him, called to him, but she knew nothing would help; she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up at the face of Casavir. He shook his head and her tears began falling faster; she looked back at the dead man she had loved and she burst into tears, burying her face in his blood soaked leathers.
She shivered at the painful memory and wiped away any tears that threatened to come out. They had rested, regaining strength; Karen had used a spell to burn Qara and Garius' body to ash…but for Bishop, she couldn't; no, she dragged his body to where it wouldn't get any more damaged in the fight with the King of Shadows.
When he had appeared, she felt a tremor run through her; he was bloody HUGE! He started talking to her…he tried to sway her over to his side, bribing her with bringing Bishop back. She almost accepted, but she glared and said, "He would only be a mindless corpse; he wouldn't be the man I knew…plus, he would probably kick my ass for bringing him back!"
They defeated him but the place started to collapse; they started running, but she had gone back…gone back for Bishop's body; she heard her friends calling for her, but she ignored them…then everything went black and the next thing she knew, she woke in the barrow.
Karen let out a startled yell as Kaji suddenly appeared in front of her; she fell over and smacked her head on another tree. She yelped and rubbed the sore spot; she looked over at Safiya and she was now in a dark robe, a hood over her head. "Is everything alright? You looked dazed and…sad," she said.
The teen blinked then grinned sheepishly. "Nah! All is cool!" she exclaimed then jumped up onto her feet, straightening the mud and blood stained, tan breeches. She frowned at her outfit, she really liked it…Lord Nasher gave it to her when she joined the Neverwinter Nine. "I hope I can find somebody to sew this thing up; I don't wanna lose it!" she exclaimed.
She had a strange manner of talking; Safiya heard words she never heard before: "gonna" and "wanna." The teen Tiefling was strange indeed. "Let's get going," Safiya said. Karen yawned and nodded, stretching. "Alrighty then!"
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Okay…this was getting ridiculous! Karen turned to look at Safiya with an annoyed look and said, "First finding those Red Wizards and finding out the one woman with answers is dead, now THIS?!" The Red Wizard sighed; standing in front of them now were the Witches.
Karen's tail twitched and she immediately started defending herself, "I am in no way associated with those Thayens that attacked; I helped and tried to save Liana. No, I did not kill the woman; she killed herself for some unknown reason."
"Then what Magda said was true! That Thayens appeared from the very shadows!" Katya exclaimed, her young eyes looking frightened behind her mask. "Calm yourself, Katya; you are a witch now, not a farm girl," the older woman, Sheva Whitefeather, said to calm the young woman.
"Why are you here, witches? I have studied your laws and we have broken none!" Safiya exclaimed. The young Tiefling looked at her and said, "Perhaps they dislike any type of fighting?" "How dare you, foreigner!" Kazimika Vadoi exclaimed, glaring hatefully at Karen through her mask.
Karen's tail twitched and her sheepish grin appeared on her lips. "So, please indulge us on why you stopped us?" she asked. Sheva stared at Karen and said, "The bear god marches an army to our gates…roaring for your blood." "And the bear god does not lie! I can smell the wrong on you foreigner!" Kazimika sneered.
She turned to her Thayen friend and said, "The colorful furball is back?!" The three witches gaped at her before Kazimika exploded, "How dare you speak of Lord Okku in such a manner, barbarian!" Karen turned and stuck her tongue out, "Correction: swashbuckler!"
"And one of the Neverwinter Nine but I doubt they know of that."
Karen scratched the end of her nose and said, "So, I guess I'm gonna have'ta fight furball again; let's kick spirit butt, Safiya!" Safiya chuckled and nodded. "No witch may stand against the bear god, but…go to our prison and maybe there you can find some more 'allies' to aid you," Sheva said.
"How very generous of you," the Tiefling whistled. "We will be watching you," Sheva said before the three disappeared. Karen's eye twitched and she stuck her tongue where the witches were. "Stuck up, wenches," she grumbled, her tail flickering wildly. She squeaked as her tail was caught by Safiya and she looked back at the wizardess. "You'll label hit me or Kaji with your tail flickering about like that," she said.
Karen just grinned and slipped her thin tail out from her hand. "Sorry, sorry," she said and went down the steps to the prison.
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Gann sighed as he stood in his "cell," rather embarrassed at the fact of that woman yelling out "rape" when he had done nothing to her…except maybe admire her from afar and "invade" her dreams last night. How rather unfortunate for him that she recognized him and had him jailed.
His ears perked as he heard talking and he became rather curious; to his surprise, his door opened and there stood two women: one was garbed in a robe and a hood over her head, trying to conceal tattoos; it was rather obvious what she was. Then there was the other one…
She was young…very young but also rather pretty; her hair was long, perhaps to her waist but it was tied back in a braid and only a few strands of hair fell into her face. It was also an interesting color: bright red with black streaking it, as if covered with ash. He studied her horns, particularly the smaller one, and it was obvious it was cut with a blade. Her eyes were a golden color, which shone brightly against her tanned skin, but it highlighted the two stripes under each eye which matched them. The tail behind her flickered wildly as the young Tiefling obviously studied him; he also noted her rather…dirty clothes. Covered in dirt and blood…a lot of blood.
The girl was obviously studying him as he studied her; the Thayen watched him carefully, obviously protective of the Tiefling.
"Ah, more jailers to come rattle my cage?" he spoke.
The Tiefling looked up at him; she came up only about his stomach, a bit under his chest perhaps but not by much. She tilted her head to one side and her tail flickered. "Not one of your jailers," she said then a sheepish grin spread across her lips, "but maybe your benefactor?" He tried to suppress a grin; she obviously knew how to talk.
"Is that so? Well, go on…my benefactor," he said smoothly. He rose a rather thing brow as she looked around his cell. "Wow…they must be terrified of you if they locked you up in this closed off space!" she said, though she did not sound impressed, "why'd they lock you up in here, anyways? What's your crime for it?"
Gann sighed rather dramatically, which he noticed made the Tiefling raise a red brow, and said, "My crime? You see, I am too handsome to look upon; it is not the first time I have been forced to have myself locked in a cell to have admirers at bay. If that's what you're here for; you'll have to wait in line like the rest."
She was quiet…
Perhaps too quiet until she spoke, "So it was your wit and charm that got you in here?"
He let the corner of his lips twitch and said, "You must not be from Mulsantir, they have no sense of humor whatsoever." "I've noticed," the Tiefling grumbled.
"But as much as this delightful banter is pleasing, I'm starting to get the suspicion there is more you wish of me," he said.
Karen sighed as her tail twitched behind her. "I'm in need of help against a couple of spirits…being led by a very angry, very strong, and very colorful bear spirit by the name of Okku," she said.
"My, what did you steal from him?" he asked. He noticed the rather annoyed expression on the young girl's face and she poked his chest with her tail. "Hey! I stole nothing from him! I may have my moments, but I know better then to steal from the dead! Err…spirits…whatever!" she exclaimed.
He kept his smirk hidden; she had a rather fiery temper if provoked. "And what reason does one such as I have to follow you into this seemingly hopeless battle?" he asked.
"Cause all the time I've been here; you haven't pushed me out," she said. He finally allowed himself to laugh; well, more of a chuckle but still. "An excellent response; you have yourself a willing soldier then," he said.
The Tiefling threw her hands up in excitement and grinned, "Yay!" Gann chuckled and said, "Please, allow us to say goodbye to the 'warden.' I'd hate to leave without saying goodbye to her gentle, loving soul." "Obviously that was sarcasm, I hope," she said before a sudden surprise look came to her face, "oh! I don't think I asked you your name!"
"I am Gannayev, Gann of Dreams," he replied. She stared at him for a bit, blinking then let out that rather sheepish grin and said, "Karen Chaos! And this is Safiya and Kaji!"
Gann let out a small smirk, let out a small nod, and said, "Well met then."