Disclaimer: all characters are rightfully owned by Atari and other companies who worked on the Neverwinter Nights 2 game,, the main character Dagmar Lake and her companion Aura are my property. There are some changes made in the story and also there will be a different ending from what you have experienced in the game. Rating is T, but it might change in future chapters.
This place she lived, it was like a prison…never cross the borders of town her foster father always said, you are not ready for what you might find there he would answer if she would ask why. But in her heart the wilds kept calling her name, willing for her to come…willing for her to play in them. She was a human child with here and there a streak of her own which weren't exactly human, she would want to play with the little bear cups and their mothers would allow her like they where under a spell. Some said she bore resemblance with her foster father…he was an elf after all. In her young years she was a bubbly and cheerful little girl with hair as black as the darkest nights, and eyes as green as the pine trees across the borders of the town, her skin was fair and soft and slightly light in contrast with her dark hair and eyes. Her body had but one flaw, a scar just above her heart which she had, had since she was a little baby. No one but her foster father knew how she had gotten this scar. When she grew up her body began to develop into that what some men thought of as a good looking body, but they never dared to get on her bad side…for she could be vicious as any men. Her name was yet another tale…it sounded sweet like that of a wood elf but also bore the harshness from the humans, her name was Dagmar. At the age of fourteen she ran of into the wilds…some said she was crazy, but her foster father said her time had come to go there. When she returned she held a wolves pup in her arms, the little fellow was whacking its tail in delight and she had been called Aura by Dagmar, the ranger she would later become had began to develop. She began to specialize in swordsmanship and archery, training her wolf as well in the process, even learning how to make clothes, cooking and hunting wasn't left out in her schedule. Only her foster father and two friends Bevil and Amie where always at her side. When she had finally turned twenty much of the bubbly girl she had been was long gone, right now a strong, beautiful but still kind hearted young woman stood before them. But the day where our story starts would change her forever.
It was a nice morning, the town was bustling with activity…for today was the High harvest fair after all. Birds where whistling in the trees, people where laughing and talking whiles the various stands and activities where set up. It was going to be big this year, you could see that easily the people that lived in the town knew that there where even people from outside the Mere that came to the fair. The people here loved stories and with only Georg here stories from outside the Mere where not that common. People questioned themselves who was going to win the cup this year…the Mossfeld boys had win three years in a row since Cormick had left to see the world, but some thought this year was going to be different. For Dagmar and her friends had practiced for years to work up to this moment, they where almost certain they where going to win this year. She lived in the house across the river, with her foster father. Finally she had woken up, but going outside wasn't in her options yet. She sat on top of her bed thinking about what she was going to do today. At least she and her friends where going to compete for the cup, she wouldn't let the Mossfeld boys keep it this year. She smiled and brushed the strands of her short hair from her eyes, last year she had enormously long hair which almost reached her butt, but after Amie had accidently put it on fire she had cut it of just beneath her ears, the longest hairs just reached into her neck, which was long enough for her. Although almost everyone had found it a pity she had decided not to let it grow anymore…especially Amie. She stretched out her arms and planted her feet on the wooden floor beside her bed, she crept up toward a sleeping form in the corner of the room and shook is softly. "Wake up Aura, today we got fair day." She said happily whilst pulling out her night gown and putting on her leather armor. The form yawned and a tail started whacking, a head with two ears perked up and looked toward her master until she would open the door to go outside. She finally opens the door and walks down the stairs with Aura close behind her, during walking she straps tight her pulse protection.
When she finally reaches the bottoms of the stairs she sees her foster father in front of the fireplace mumbling to himself. "…So many years ago today…" he then sees her in his eye field and says "ah you're up and dressed I see Dagmar, today as you know is the high harvest fair, Georg requested me to attend the archery contest which doesn't give me the chance to see Galen to sell my furs, I'd like you to go to him, sell the furs and receive the bow I ordered from him. Your friends are probably waiting outside for you, don't let them wait to long and I'll be seeing you at the fair." She nodded and watched as he walked outside to got to his spot on the fair, she shrugged and walked outside as well, she grinned and said "as expected from dad…walking so fast I can barely walk up with him." She then closes the door behind her and walks toward the bridge toward her friends who are waiting there. "Good morning Dag, and Aura…yeesh why don't you let your hair grow anymore?" asks Amie while crossing her arms, Dagmar chuckles and says "so that you can put it on fire again? No thanks…and stop asking me that, you ask me that every day. Anyway what is our competition like this year Bevil?" Bevil looks around and says "well, the Mossfeld boys have won both their matches in the brawl…they'll be tough to beat, but Amie is bound to win the tourney of talent for us." Amie nods proudly and says "Tarmas had finally taught me some new spells…and I dug up a couple more when he weren't looking. Anyway I heard Webb Mossfeld is doing the same act this year, so that should help my chances." Bevil shakes his head and says "oh no…not the pixie impressions again." Dagmar chuckles and says "alright, let's go sign up with Georg shall we? And I also need to see Galen to sell my dads furs." They nodded and followed Dagmar down the path toward a small tent, beside the tent two men were talking with each other in a lowered tone, so they decided to let them talk first before walking up to Georg.
When the other man leaves they walk up to Georg and sign up for the tournament, before he lets them go he gave them is usual speech about the rules and about how wonderful Cormick had done it in his young years. "He kept on going, I also remember Cormick…he was good, but Georg makes it sound like he was a god or something." Said Amie while petting her bat Volo that was on her shoulder, Dagmar sighed and said "you know Amie, I don't get why you take Volo with you in the sun, he's a nocturnal animal…and can only see at night anyway." Amie blinked and said "and letting that cat of Tarmas kill him? No thanks…he's better of with me." After their little conversation to went of for their tournaments, and to Galen to receive the bow for her father. "Hey there Galen, dad send me with his furs since he can't come in person." She said while putting down the furs for Galen, Galen nods and says "ah yes, fine ones indeed…you know Daeghun has the best furs in this area, I also got his bow…needed to get the wood from Duskwood to make it." Dagmar frowns and says "Duskwood? You mean you got this from Luskan territory?" Galen quickly shakes his head and says "oh no, I got it from a small village called Ember, they just ended up on the wrong side of the border when the maps where drawn that's all." He hands her the bow and some money and says "here you go, and some money what is left for the furs as well…say I remember your hair was longer last year, how come it's so short today?" Dagmar points to Amie and says "you got to ask her that…she accidently put it on fire last year, and I decided to keep it short, it's much handier anyway, but we got to go…see you later Galen." They then walk away for a bit, while watching the little kids running around. "So what challenge should we do first Dag?" asks Amie whilst looking around, Dagmar shrugs and looks around she then spots the towns' wizard Tarmas over by a tent looking very unsatisfied. "Let's see Tarmas first shall we? At least try to make him look a bit more cheerful." She says while walking down the path toward the wizard, once he spots them he smiles wryly and says "look who we got there, my student and the ranger girl…and the militia boy, what a wonderful day for a fair…not even the tents manage to look cheerful. And what a fair it is did you know they even hand out prizes for the fattest pig? As if those beasts need encouragement…but enough about me I suspect you three are here for the Knaves' challenge?" Dagmar chuckles and says "good to see you to Tarmas…well give us the challenge see if we can make you a bit more cheerful." Tarmas nods and says "ah yes…anyway I think you three first want to hear the rhyme right? Georg asked for a rhyme this year…that's what we do we compose rhymes. Ahum… I've hidden three feathers, scattered them wide, placed white in a box, and locked it inside. Blue followed termite-tracks, down where they ran, green in the pocket of same-colored man." Dagmar thinks for a minute and mumbles "three feathers, one blue, one green, one white…that won't be so hard. I've learned some minor rogue skills so that should be easy….we'll be back in no time at all Tarmas." She adds to it as she follows her friends back toward the squire to find the feathers. "Blue followed termite tracks…hmm, say Dagmar what do you think about over there?" Bevil asks while pointing toward some stacked logs, she nods and carefully walks toward the logs "he has them trapped with a spell trap…that shouldn't be so hard." In no time at all she has uncovered the trap and taken the blue feather from underneath it, she then spots a chest nearby in which she finds the white feather. "Green in the pocket of same colored man…that should be him, over there by the house the feather is in his pocket it's got to be." Amie says while pointing toward a man beside the house talking to someone else. Dagmar chuckles and sneaks toward him, she puts her hand in his pocket and swiftly takes the green feather from his pocket. "Okay we got them, let's go back to Tarmas…" she says while showing the feather, they nod and walk back toward Tarmas who looks a bit more cheerful right now "ah wonderful the challenge has been won, I'd kiss all of you but nobody takes a look at a charming wizard…I'll inform Georg of your success. At least now I can search for some dryer ground…not that I will, I mean it's a swamp after all."
They look as he walks of toward Georg, Amie shrugs and says "ah well, hey Dag your dad is nearby…let's see him now shall we?" Dagmar nods and they walk up toward her father, who eyes the road carefully "father I got your bow from Galen." She says while removing the bow from her back and handing it to him, he smiles and says "ah a fine bow, a fine one indeed…I suspect you're here for the archery contest? Your target will be those ten old bottles over there, hit all ten for the best score." Dagmar nods and takes the crossbow that he presented to her, she aims carefully and shoots the bottles in no time at all. She then hands back the bow to him and he smiles "good work Dagmar, I think that is the best score until now…anyway keep the money you got from Galen, let's say it's your allowance for this month, good luck in the rest of the fair and see you in the evening." She nods and she and her friends walk the path up again "not much of a speaker is he?" asks Bevil while looking back at her father, Dagmar shrugs and says "he has never been such a speaker, Georg said it has to do something with his past…but I know it's wise not to ask him about it to much...Amie you up for the tourney of talent?" she asks while leaning against the fence, Amie swallows and says "I don't know…but it's only children watching right?" Bevil nods and says "yeah, these kids and my mum…nobody else." Amie nods and walks up to Retta to assemble for the test, she then walks into the fenced area and starts a small show for the kids, first she summons a wolf which starts chasing behind its own tail. She then seems to struggle with choosing her next spell, but then she casts a enlarge spell on a small girl who is bullied by some other kids making her grow twice as tall, lastly she casts a ice spell on a barrel which breaks apart in a thousand pieces. The kids cheer and Retta confirms she has won the challenge. "Good work Amie all that is left is the brawl, you up for that or do you want to rest first?" Dagmar asks while she hugs her friend and receives the reward from Retta which contains some minor spell scrolls. Amie shrugs and takes the scrolls from her while saying "well we can also do the brawl first, we can rest afterwards anyway." They nod and walk toward the brawl pen toward the once managing it "brother Merring? You are doing the brawl this year?" Dagmar asks while walking up to the towns monk, brother Merring nods and says "why yes, I asked Georg to stand closer to the fighting…so that I can heal someone's wounds faster then first taking them all across the town. And with it Lathander has given us a beautiful day for a fair." Dagmar smiles and says "yes you're right…it's a shame the people don't believe in Lathander that much around here, I heard he has quite a sense of humor." Brother Merring nods and says "why yes…but people around here believe more in Waukeen…and I believe you believe in Chauntea?" Dagmar nods and says "yeah, but we would like to compete in the brawl…just give us some opponents, I still remember the rules from last year." She adds with a wink, brother Merring smiles and says "alright…first you need to defeat those three, once you have won you'll need to fight the Mossfeld boys for their title…oh and lastly, no bets." They nod and enter the ring to fight, they finish their opponents of in no time at all and return back to brother Merring for their wounds.
Once their wounds are healed they walk up to the Mossfeld boys. "Look who we got there, the prettiest girl of town and her two friends, you sure you want to fight us Lake?" Amie stifles a laughter and one of them eyes her and says "so you're still around to huh Fern…always following Lake and Starling as a blood fly, why didn't you burn up with your family back then huh?" Dagmar becomes angry and says "hey?! What has Amie ever done to you?" he shakes his head and says "it's just the matter she exists, a small gust of wind could blow her over." Dagmar smiles wryly and says "only if it came from your backside…but we are not here to share insults, but to brawl. And I won't bet…I don't trust you enough for that." They nod and enter the ring, after a fierce fight they are finally able to knock them down. They then return to brother Merring who congratulates them with their victory. "Let's go to Georg to claim the cup, we can do loads of things afterwards anyway." Says Bevil while walking toward Georg's tent followed by Dagmar and Amie "say Dag, where is Aura? I haven't seen her whole morning." Asks Amie, but just as she said this Aura jumps from Georg's tent against Dagmar, Dagmar smiles and says "Aura doesn't like the commotion around the fair so much, so I let her stay with Georg." Georg walks from the tent and says "ah you guys are back, I got conferment from all the challenges you three have won…so I'm heading toward the stage, follow me as soon as possible." They nod and walk after Georg toward the stage, after which he gives a speech about the day and hands them the cup and a cloak. Dagmar holds up the cup and Bevil the cloak, the people beneath them erupt into cheering "All hail the champions! Hip hip hooray!" they then bow for the people before them and start to celebrate their victory.
When night falls she heads back home, Aura on her heels "I guess I headed of just in time Aura, it was getting rugged up." She says while opening the door to the house, Aura yawns and Dagmar closes the door behind her. "It's silent don't you think? A bit to silent for my liking." She mumbles while she walks up toward the stairs and retrieves her weapons from her personal chest, she then walks back downstairs and lowers herself in one of the arm chairs before the already almost died out fireplace. Only a few flames dance in the fireplace and silence surrounds them, Aura lowers herself to the floor with her head toward the door…she knew when her mistress was worried about something, and until Daeghun hadn't returned she wouldn't go to sleep. After a few hours the sounds of the party had died out, but her father still hadn't returned…not that she was worried, he would stay away longer sometimes anyway. But she has the feeling something was about to happen, the fireplace had died out recently but she didn't budge to restart it or to put on some candles. Suddenly the sounds of screaming people erupt from outside, as well as the sound from running feet and strange sounds she can decipher as scaled feet or armor. She puts an arrow against her bow and pulls the string backward, the door opens and two persons run inside, Aura barks happily which makes Dagmar lower her bow because she can see who they are through the flawless light from outside. "West Harbor is under attack, I'm glad you're safe Dagmar…come on we need to help defend the village." Says Bevil with a pale face, Dagmar looks through the window outside and says "why would anyone attack us? We got nothing of value here…" Amie shrugs and says "I don't know…maybe they're raiding for food? But we'd better hurry…I saw some of the following us on our way here. They're likely to hit this house next" Dagmar opens the front door with a snort and launches an arrow toward the pursuers of her friends, Aura storms past her and launches herself onto the attackers as well, Bevil is mortified and says "you…you didn't give her a command, how does she know when to attack?" Dagmar launches another arrow while saying "she knows when I need her…let's say we are mind bound with each other."
Amie nods and fires one of her spells toward the incoming enemies "what are they anyway? They look like dwarves but…look at their skins." She says once they are clear for a moment, Dagmar shrugs and says "don't know…but we'd better find Georg, he'll want us anyway." She wants to launch another arrow but stops just in time to prevent from killing brother Merring. "Thank Lathander you're safe…I saw some of them heading here and I was afraid they had gotten to you. I haven't seen your father yet and I feared…anyway Georg is at the southern bridge, but before you go take these herbs and this blessing." He says while handing her the herbs, she carefully places them within her pocket and they move toward the southern bridge. To their dismay she can see Georg and some of the militia almost being overthrown by the attackers as they try to hold up against them, as quickly as she can she fires her arrows toward the attackers followed by Bevil, Aura and Amie's spell casting. Georg looks up with a smile and beckons them nearer, they quickly run toward them and he brushes the sweat from his bald head "ah good you're here. You three…the militia is likely disorganized throughout the town, find them and send them to the fields north of the Starling farm." He says while waving his hand across the town, Dagmar nods and she and her friends cross the bridge toward the inner town. They quickly heal the Mossfeld boys who got wounded in the fight and send them of toward the field, some little time later they locate Pitney who got wounded to, after they healed him they run further. But then Amie stops and says "master?"
Dagmar looks at what she is pointing and they see Tarmas in battle with an other mage, this one has pointed ears a strange nose and a green bit scaly like skin. "You three stay out of this! It is far too dangerous!" yells Tarmas once he sees them, he quickly counters up a shield spell to prevent the other mage from killing him. But Amie as stubborn as she always was runs forward and says "master hold on…we can help!" she launches one of her spells toward the mage who doesn't even budge, the mage cackles and says "so the whelp seeks to test herself? Very well…" he launches a fire spell toward Amie which hits her right in her stomach, she makes a salto through the air and lands with her back on a nearby stone which breaks in a sickening sound. Tarmas is mortified and can do nothing to help her, Dagmar sees as the mage looks around for a bit then he sighs and says "I shall waste no more time on this pitiful village…it is not here." He then summons three enormous spiders before disappearing, the spiders launch themselves onto Tarmas, which gives back some power in Bevil's legs and Dagmar's arms. Once they are down Tarmas is even paler as usual "the stupid girl…I told her to stay out of it, now look where it got her…there is more to do let us go to the Starling farm to make sure her death was not in vain." Dagmar looks toward her best friend and hisses "I promise you Amie…once I see that mage again, he will die by my hands." Bevil puts a hand on her shoulder and steers her away toward the Starling farm, Tarmas turns and says "Dagmar…I need you and Bevil to go to my house, take everything with you that you can use, after that the two of you head for the fields as fast as you can." Dagmar nods and she and Bevil run toward his house in the centre of town and open the door, inside it is quiet and only the fireplace is still burning with a magical fire. "So what is it we search for Dagmar?" asks Bevil while roaming through a closet, Dagmar shrugs and says "anything we can use, flasks, jewels, scrolls…" she opens a chest and roams through it receiving a wooden flute from it, once they are done they run toward the Starling farm.
Upon arriving there another wave has just emerged from the swamp leading the militia into launching a counterattack. Bevil and Dagmar quickly join the fight, but Dagmar has to resort to her sword since she has no arrow left in her quiver. "Once this battle is over I'm going to search for arrows!" she yells while hitting a enemy with her sword, Bevil nods and stands by her side giving her a backup, Aura had just run of…keeping in contact with Dagmar through their minds. Suddenly Georg yells across the field "Cyric's blood they're entering the Starling farm!" Bevil points and says "if we hurry we can destroy them before they find the children." Dagmar nods and whistles, Aura runs toward them tackling some enemies in the process, then they quickly run toward the farm and close the door behind them. The house is dark when they enter, and they only hear the sniffing sound of dog noses "mum? Are you alright?" Bevil asks while walking toward his mother who is surrounded by their dogs. Retta looks up and says "I'm fine…but the children." Dagmar had given a silent order to Aura to find out if they where alright "where are they Retta?" she asks, Retta points and says "in the back room…but I don't know how long it will take those monsters to find them." Bevil looks toward Dagmar and then he nods and says "alright, Muttonchop, Nasher Locke…let's get them." Dagmar opens the door and watches as the dogs go inside followed by Aura, the dwarves inside are finished in no time at all. Dagmar quickly walks toward the backroom to see if the kids are alright "yay! Its Dagmar…did you kill them? We heard them screaming from mercy as they died…is there any blood? Can we see?" says one of them happily, Bevil snorts and says "it wasn't that much fun…" one of the kids puts out his tongue and says "shuddup Bevil, if it had been you we would've been killed." Bevil becomes angry and says "why you little…" but Dagmar stops him and says "Bevil stop, use your anger to our attackers alright? And you three lock the door and don't let anyone in…scream if you need help alright?" the kids nod which makes Dagmar leave the room, Bevil quickly walks after her and asks "so what now? Returning back?" Dagmar nods and opens the door to outside, when she does she sees spells flying around…she sighs and mumbles "when is this going to be over…Aura!" Aura barks and launches herself toward the fight while Dagmar's quick feet follow her directly Bevil follows them shortly after as well.
Once this wave is down Georg sighs in relief and says "that's the last one…" but before he can finish his sentence another group emerges from the swamp, a branch snaps and they quickly turn around…only to be finding "Daeghun!" Georg yells, Daeghun nods and says "much blood has been spilled tonight…let us repay our enemy in kind." They then attack the remaining enemies, Daeghun quickly hands Dagmar some arrow and says "once this is over you can take some arrows from my chest!" she nods and snipes down some enemies that tried to cut in on her foster father, once the battle is over Daeghun sighs and says "that was the last of them…for now, let us see how many people we can safe from deaths grasp. Bring the wounded and death toward the main squire." Dagmar and Bevil start to pass through the town searching for any clues…and in Dagmar's case useable arrows. When they get back on the squire where Amie died they give her the respect she deserved. Bevil lifts her up in his arms and carefully carries her back to the main squire. Once they arrive there they see that the attack has at least taken five to ten people, also one of the farms has been burned down completely. Daeghun watches as his foster daughter walks around to help the older people toward the squire. "What in the bloody hells where those things anyway?" says Georg angrily while sitting down beside one of his men to inspect his wounds, it is brother Merring who answers his outspoken question "they are called bladelings…they dwell in a place beyond." Georg frowns and says "then what in the nine hells where they doing here?" brother Merring shakes his head and says "I do not know…Lathander doesn't illuminate all paths for me…it is unclear." Georg sighs and says "anyway…one of those dwarves mentioned they where searching for something, anyone knows what it was?"
Daeghun frowns and says "lass, come over here." Dagmar looks from Bevil to her father and then she walks toward him, he swallows and says "I understand you lost a friend to the attack it's tragic." Dagmar smiles wryly and mumbles "she was a good friend, but we have to move on right?" Daeghun nods in respect and says "yes…now there is an item, I fear that is what draw our attackers here, I hid it somewhere deep within the swamp, I need you to retrieve it for me. It is small and silver, and one more thing…you should not go alone." He turns toward Bevil and says "Bevil I need you to accompany my daughter toward the swamps." Bevil whimpers and says "but there are creatures out there…spiders, lizard folk and worse!" Daeghun raises an eyebrow and says "I know…but that is why no one should be going alone, hurry now the pleas of the wounded cannot be unheard…and Dagmar, should you need anything you can take some things from my chest in my room." She nods and walks toward Bevil who is almost shaking on his legs "this isn't happening, tomorrow I'll be waking up to see this was all but a dream." He says quietly, Dagmar smiles softly and says "I wish it where a dream to…but I'm afraid it isn't…let us go and retrieve whatever it is my dad wants." He nods and follows her toward the exit of town "this path runs directly toward the swamps, if we follow it we should be alright." He says with a smile, she nods and starts to walk down the path with Aura and Bevil beside her.