Chapter 1

The undead hunter Shadimir Deachron sat in a large wooden chair, observing the guests at Blackstaff Tower. A small orange tabby cat landed on his head, scratching her paws through his silver hair. Shadimir let out a soft grunt and looked up as the tabby cat sat smiled down at him. Just as Shadimir was about to swat the feline off of his head, the cat jumped in the air, and landed on the floor.

Shadimir watched as the cat's body grew into the form of a beautiful red haired woman.

"Some interesting guests," Shadimir remarked as the woman walked away.

"Yes, but I don't think Stephanie would allow you to take that cat home with you," the svirfneblin Jepetto remarked as he walked over to his friend. In his right hand, the deep gnome held a small glass of wine.

The hunter nodded, thinking of his wife Stephanie, who was back in Silverymoon taking care of their twin children. "True, and besides, I've already got a cat."

"Yes, and he's sleeping," Jepetto commented with a smile as he pointed over to the snow tiger Elros, who was lying down in a corner. The snow tiger, who was Shadimir's faithful animal companion, had just finished eating half of a roast chicken.

"After eating a chicken, it takes a lot out of you," Shadimir said with a smirk. "I just wish we were all back home in Silverymoon. But we promised Stephanie that we would come and meet some of our fellow Moonstars." Jepetto nodded, then walked over to a nearby table and picked up a piece of pork. The hunter stared at his friend for a moment. Since arriving in Waterdeep three days ago, the deep gnome had kept to himself in the room they rented at the Blushing Mermaid. He told Shadimir that he needed to finish a project that he had been working on for along time. The hunter tried to see what his gnome friend was up to, but Jepetto took measures to prevent his friend from peeking on the unfinished project. Jepetto went ever as far as locking Shadimir out of the room.

Shadimir guessed that Jepetto was working on some sort of magical devise that could help them in their next battle, or possibly destroy the lands of the North.

The undead hunter continued to watch the room. His eyes saw a short, beautiful woman with pale skin and raven black hair. The woman turned to Shadimir, her violet eyes staring at him. She wore a long, sleeveless, red colored silk dress.

From his belt, Shadimir felt the vibration of his magical bastard Gabriel, telling him that this woman was undead. Either she's a vampire, he said to himself, or she's the most beautiful zombie I've ever seen. Then he noticed her fangs peek from her lips.

"Why hello there, you must be Shadimir Deachron, the famous vampire slayer," the woman said cheerfully, walking over to him.

Shadimir nodded, getting out of his seat. "Yeah I guess, and you are?"

"My name is Minerva Lastrona Kythorn," she answered with in a soprano voice, once again allowing her fangs to peek out. "Some of your exploits and adventures have reached my little ears."

The hunter smiled and crossed his arms. "You're not going to tell me that I killed a relative yours, are you?"

Minerva shook her head and laughed. "No, not at all. I write books and sing songs. Why I was just telling Mintiper Moonsilver that you and I should sit down together and talk about your adventures. Perhaps you could meet me in my home. It's just a small little house in the North Ward."

"That's generous of you, but I'll have to speak to my wife first," Shadimir answered with a smile.

"Why, your wife if welcome to join us," Minerva said as she took a sip from the glass of wine she held in her hands. The vampire shook her head and cringed as the taste of the wine hit her tongue. "I'm not really a fan of fancy Cormyrian wine, but I'd love to have you and your wife over for dinner sometime. My husband Ronald is a great cook."

"Oh darling, I'm not that great," said a tall, slender young man, as he walked up to Minerva. The man had red hair, blue eyes, and wore a white silk shirt with leather breeches. He gently kissed the vampire and smiled at Shadimir. "And you must be Shadimir Deachron. Minerva and I were talking about you earlier."

The vampire smiled at her husband. "Yes, love, I was just talking about having Shadimir and his wife over for dinner."

Ronald Kythorn raised and eyebrow and looked at his wife. "You didn't word it like that did you? Love, you know how that scares people."

Minerva blushed and turned away from both men, and said," I'm sorry love, I can't help it sometimes." She then looked at Ronald. "But where have you been darling?"

Ronald sighed. "I've been looking for Edmund, but he was nowhere to be found." He began looking around the lobby, trying to spot his friend.

"Maybe he's upstairs," Minerva said with a giggle as she grabbed Ronald's hand and pulled him towards the large staircase near the western wall.

Shadimir sighed and began walking outside. He had encountered many vampires in his life, but Shadimir had met very few like Minerva. He guessed that she had never hurt a mortal in her life, and if she did, it was only out of self-defense.

The hunter stared up at the moon, its light illuminating the City of Splendors.

"It went this way!" Shadimir heard someone yell from down the street. He saw members of the city watch running with haste, as if they chasing after something, or someone. The undead hunter grasped his weapons, then looked back, seeing Jepetto talking to a female svirfneblin named Harmonia about his secret creation.

"Let's hope I get back in time for more drinks," the hunter whispered as he ran down the streets to follow the city watchmen.

Five members of the city's watch had Edmund cornered in the alley. On both sides of the sentinel were large brick houses owned by noble families who had lived in Waterdeep for most of their lives. "Please," Edmund said in a calm voice," I don't want to hurt you."

All five watchmen stared coldly at the creature. One of the watchmen stepped forward and said in a deep voice," The woman said she saw you kill those men." Edmund sighed. It was the woman's word against his, and though he was a respected member of the church of Selune, Edmund knew his pleas would be ignored. To these men, he appeared as a freak of nature; a half man, half dragon creature with leathery wings.

Two of the watchmen drew their short swords and stepped in front of Edmund. They stabbed both of their weapons at his stomach, but the sentinel batted both short swords away with his claws. He then backhanded one of the two watchmen with his massive arm, sending him to the ground. The other watchmen slashed his blade at the sentinel, but Edmund grabbed the edge of the sword and began to spin in a circle, while the watchmen was still holding the sword's pommel. After two circles, Edmund released his grip on the short sword, and the watchmen flew in the air, landing in the next block.

The other three watchmen looked at each other, ready to attack, when a voice behind them said," I don't know how you Waterdeep watchmen fight, but in the Silver Marshes, I could call three against one unfair."

The watchmen turned, facing a tall, slender gentleman wearing leathers, and chain armor underneath. The man's silver hair seemed to shine in the moonlight. "This doesn't concern you citizen," one of the watchmen spat.

"That's fine and all," Shadimir remarked," but I'm just visiting." He drew his light mace and swung it hard across one of the watchmen's face. As soon as the first man fell, Shadimir swung his mace in a half circle, swatting another watchman in the forehead.

Edmund watched as the silver haired young man punched the last watchman hard in the stomach, then spun right and kicked him in the face. The hunter looked over at Edmund and smiled. "My daughter taught me that. Are you going to be all right?"

The Selunite Sentinel smiled and nodded at the hunter. "I'm a little tired of running, but all in all, I'm well. Where did you come from?"

"I came from Blackstaff Tower," Shadimir answered, staring at the creature before him. The dragon-like creature reminded him of the draconians he saw while he and Alustriel were in the world of Krynn.

"Fancy that, I was just on my way to Blackstaff Tower," Edmund said with a smile. "Perhaps I can join you."

"Sure," the silver haired hunter answered," but if you don't mind my asking, are you from the world of Krynn?"

Edmund sighed, shaking his head. "Well actually, it's quite a long story."