I am back and a lot sooner than expected. Due to the fact that somebody actually read my last chapter has not only shocked me but also made me feel over the moon. Just like with my Surviving Without Sirius story I am going to address each reviewer at the beginning of each chapter. I value each and every review and would thus like to acknowledge all those that were kind enough to take the time to not only read my story but also to review it.
Hikari: Well, I must say a very big thank you for reading and reviewing my story. You really had me smiling. I honestly did not think anybody would review this story. I am happy that you enjoyed it and I will strive to do my best to keep this story of a high caliber. Thanks again!
Disclaimer: I don't own Neverwinter Nights or its original plot. I own only my characters thoughts and descriptions.
I—I
In one brutal attack the promise of those at the Academy had been all but snuffed out. Hope disappeared with the Waterdhavian creatures, and the weight of the terrible sickness pressed down on the city once more. Even more chilling, the whispered rumors of enemies seeking to destroy Neverwinter from within had proved true though the identity of those responsible for the slaughter was still unknown. Still, a flicker of hope yet remained, for not all had died in the attack. From the bloodied carnage at the Academy a survivor had stepped forward, a champion to carry the torch in this darkest hour.
After the attack I was healed of my wounds and did my best to aid the surviving members of the Academy. The groans, moans and calls of pain ring out through the Academy and its hospital wing endlessly. I did my best to help ease the suffering and pain where I could, but being still new in my arts of healing meant that the assistance I could provide was minimal at best.
A week had passed since the brutal attack on the Academy. I can still scarce believe of the carnage that had been rout. Apparently the other graduate students that I had left with Aribeth when she had sent me to protect the Waterdhavian creatures had perished in the attacks that had followed. Only two students had made it out of the attack alive. I was one and Pavel was the other, but he had chosen to abandon his training and seek out a quieter life. I wonder how his parents took the news of the loss of Bim? I still spare a thought for them all when I can.
The nights have been long and painful. My physical wounds were cured, so the pain is not a physical one. My affliction is of the mind, a mental wound. The staring and dying eyes of the mages that I killed in the attack haunt my dreams. It is as if their stare penetrated me to my very soul. I hope and pray that they will no longer torment me. I feel burdened with this weight and can only imagine how much the Lady Aribeth must be struggling with the enormous amount of weight that has been placed on her shoulders.
Both good things and bad had come from the assault on the Academy. I had met Fenthick who seemed to be a very good person. I foresee great things for a person like him. He truly bears the burden of the people as a priest of Tyr. But then there is the human called Desther. I really dislike him. But not just because of his brash and poor attitude. There seems to be something amiss regarding him. I feel like I am in the presence of the devil himself when I am near him. I think I will keep an eye on him just to be sure. I'm probably being paranoid, but better safe than sorry I always say.
On my way to the assembling hall for the meeting I ran into Desthick and Fenthick. Upon catching sight of me Fenthick rushed over and warmly greeted me.
"Lothar, good to see you. You were quick to answer the summons. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to the Halls of Justice." Fenthick said as he shook my hand.
"This is a mistake Fenthick! We know nothing about this whelp! How do we know that we can trust him?" Desther cut in and yet again I found myself beginning to dislike him even more than I had before.
"Desther please! Lothar showed great promise throughout his training at the Academy and has done even more in the week since the attack. Rarely has a recruit shown such potential after so short a training period." Fenther said speaking up in my defense.
I really don't know what I did to deserve such praise. This past week had been a blur. I merely tried to help ease the suffering of the wounded trainers, assistants and guards of the Academy. It was nothing much for what else could I have done? I am a Paladin after all, and it is my duty to those in need to help them if I can.
"If we are to have any hope of finding a cure for the Wailing Death we need people like Lothar in the service of Neverwinter." Fenthick went on.
"I am honored to serve Neverwinter Fenthick." I said, not really knowing what else to say, for I did indeed feel it both an honor and privilege to serve the Jewel of the North in her time of need.
"And I still say that we should put our faith in my Helmite brethren rather than in this unproven boy." Desther said casting me a scathing glance.
I returned his glare with one of my own. I know it is not good for a Paladin to consort to allowing the pettiness of others to affect them, but Desther seemed to have the kind of personality that a rattlesnake could appreciate. He just seemed to get under my skin. I wondered who his commander was, because he was not acting like a priest of Helm should. Helmites are not haughty and as arrogant as Desther acts. Something didn't add up. Maybe I should report him to his commander, because he is ruining the glorious name of the priests of Helm.
"Aribeth holds Lothar in the highest regard, Desther. And Lord Nasher placed her in charge, not you." Fenthick said in a stern voice and looked Desther square in the eye.
It was the first time I had heard him speak so sternly to Desther. Even the arrogance of Desther was caught off guard by this sternness on the part of Fenthick because he did not have a retort or reprimand of any kind.
"Please Lothar, you must forgive Desther. The plague takes a heavy toll on us all, a toll made even greater in the past week by the attack on the Academy and the loss of the cure." Fenthick said, turning back to me.
"I understand Fenthick, these are troubled times that we live in." I replied, sorry that Fenthick did not rebuke Desther any more than he had done.
"You speak more truth than you know Lothar. Within the Academy walls the true horror of the Wailing Death has yet to be felt. The quarentine of Neverwinter has done little to halt the spread of the Wailing Death. Bonfires burn night and day as the city watch disposes of the dead. Even with this the corpses are piled higher than ever." Fenthick said bringing the reality of the situation home.
He was right. Sure the attack on the Academy had been hard, but we survived. The foes that we fought were physical enemies that died when a blade was thrust in them. The Wailing Death is an enemy that has yet to know defeat. So far even the best conjurers, wizards and priests have tried and failed to cure the Wailing Death. I only hope that the plague does not make its way into the Academy, for then I believe that the entire city will have to be burned to purge this world of this plague.
"It is all we can do to contain the chaos and maintain order within the various city districts. Rumors run rampant and the citizens are on the verge of panic." Fenthick went on.
"Rumors? What rumors can have the citizenry even more on edge?" I asked him.
"Because the plague cannot be cured by the priests or clerics of the city, some claim it is an unnatural thing sent by an unknown enemy bent on destroying Neverwinter." He explained.
"The attack on the Academy in the past week will only make things worse Fenthick, once people learn how Aribeth lost the cure through her lack of faith!" Desther interrupted by delivering a verbal blow to the Lady Aribeth behind her backl.
"Desther! I will not have you question the faith of my true love! Aribeth believed the Academy to be a safe haven. Anyway, it is not our place to even discuss such things. My Lady Aribeth is in charge, appointed by Lord Nasher himself to stop the Wailing Death. You must talk to her Lothar, as soon as possible. She is in the assembly hall behind me. Go with Tyr's blessing. Desther, we need to have a serious talk." Fenthick said.
"I will go to Aribeth at once!" I said, though secretly I wished I could stay.
I know Fenthick's anger would most likely have quickly have dissipated, but I would dearly have loved to see Desther reprimanded. As I believe I have mentioned, I really don't like that man!
Hastening to the assembly room I nearly ran right into Lady Aribeth herself.
"Excuse me my lady, believe it or not I did not see you." I foolishly muttered glad that I did not run her over.
"Greetings Lothar, do not worry. It is good to see you again." The good lady said.
"I came as quickly as I could Lady Aribeth." I said regaining my composure.
"The attack on the Academy doused the one spark of hope that this city had. I need you to recover that which we have lost Lothar." She said.
"It will be an honor to serve you Lady Aribeth." I said inwardly smiling, for it seemed that I had the honor of serving a lot of people these days.
"I knew I could count on you Lothar. Many rumors abound regarding the plague of the Wailing Death, but if you are to aid me then you need to know the truth about the plague. As you know our priests and clerics can do nothing to cure the plague and their powerful magic's can do nothing to even raise those that have fallen to the plague. But a short time ago we had word that Khelbeb 'Blackstaff' Arunsun, the famous archmage of Waterdeep, had discovered a potential cure. This cure could be concucted from the essence of four rare and magical creatures." Aribeth explained, eliminating the rumors in my mind and replacing them with facts of certainty.
"So the rumors go, and it was these creatures that I failed in protecting from escaping." I said bowing my head in shame.
"Do not blame yourself Lothar, there was nothing you could have done." Lady Aribeth said with a kind smile on her face.
"I thank you for your words of kindness my lady. But tell me, if I may be so forward, what kind of creatures were they?" I asked.
"They were a cockatrice, an intellect devourer, a yuan-ti and a dryad. I had them sent here, to the Academy. I once studied here myself and thought that the instructors and students were loyal to Lord Nasher." She said shaking her head.
"So you think that somebody within the Academy betrayed you?" I asked.
"Yes, I believe so, or maybe I place to much faith in the instructors, staff and students as Desther says I do. But you were there Lothar, you saw the slaughter. The attack caught us unprepared. You are only one of a handful of survivors that survived the carnage faced in the Academy. Although Fenthick and Desther arrived with reinforcements, they were still to late, for the Waterdhavian creatures managed to escape in the chaos of the battle." Aribeth said as memories of the destruction that took place at the Academy flooded my mind.
"How may I aid you, Lady Aribeth?" I inquired.
"Your task would be two-fold in this Lothar. First, find the Waterdhavian creatures and bring them back to me at any cost. We need to harvest components from these creatures if we are to concoct a cure for the Wailing Death. This is your most important duty. Second, we must discover who was behind the attack on the Academy. Any evidence you uncover in this matter should be brought to Fenthick. He is the one assigned the task of unmasking our hidden enemy." She said setting my task before me, and it truly was a daunting task at that.
"I will do as you command my lady."
"I ask for your discretion in this matter Lothar. News of the attack and strange creatures roaming the city will only add to the panic and chaos already in the streets. To aid you in this task I will give you this Stone of Recall. You will find it a valuable tool in your tool in your quest." Aribeth said and handed me a strange stone that shone, even in sunlight, with a strange light green hue.
"How does it work?" I asked staring at the stone that seemed to radiate with an untapped power.
"You can activate the stone at any time and it will instantly teleport you and anyone in your service back to the temple of Tyr, where I will be stationed as you go about your quest. After being teleported to the temple, should you and any companion of yours wish to go back, you need only step into the teleportation portal to take you back where you last activated the stone."
"That's handy." I remarked.
"There is little else I can say to you Lothar. Should you need provisions or stores you can get them from the Temple of Tyr. Here is some gold so that you can buy healing potions and other equipment that you may need. There are plenty of mercenaries that are for hire here in the city, I am sure that they will be of invaluable service to you. I advise that you begin your search for the Waterdhavian creatures in the Peninsula District. There have been several eye witness accounts of the sighting of strange beasts in the area. Farewell and good luck Lothar, I have complete faith in you. Tyr's blessing upon you!" Lady Aribeth said and turned to leave for the temple.
And so my task was set before me. The city was had four quadrants surrounding the city center. As per her advice, I decided to go and start my investigations in the Peninsula District. On my way out of the temple a shady looking halfling was called out to me.
"Hey! Do you have any need of a henchman?"
I shook my head and exited the temple. A wave of wind hit me while I stood on the stairs that led up to the temple. The air was not fresh and refreshing as it normally would have been, but warm and filled with the stench of fire and death. It was truly a disgusting smell and I nearly gagged on the scent. I shook my head trying to regain my focus on the task at hand when a young lady ran up to me crying for help.
"Oh please! Can you help me? You're with the city militia aren't you? The guards at the gates said I might get help over here, but I don't know if they were serious or not." She said so quickly it reminded me of speaking to a gnome (as all know, gnomes speak extremely quickly).
"Slow down, take a deep breath. I'll hear what you have to say. Tell me what is wrong." I said trying to calm her down.
"Thank you! Thank you for listening. You look so right I just had to ask you for help. You must be an officer right? I hope you can help. My name is Bethany and there are great problems in the Peninsula district. I live in there and it's just horrible! The killing….. everybody running for their lives… it's just so horrible!" Bethany said not even slowing down at all.
"Easy there, you are safe here. You can tell me when you are ready." I said smiling what I hope was a reassuring smile to her.
"Ok….. ok, as I said, I came from the Peninsula District because that is where my house is, or rather was. Now it's too dangerous to go there. The prisoners are killing everyone. It's awful." Bethany said finally slowing down.
"I may have heard of this, can you please give me some background on the Peninsula District please?" I ask her hoping she could provide some first hand information.
"Well, it's kind of complicated. The Peninsula district houses the Neverwinter Prison. The families of the guards and such live around it. It's been safe for years…. It changed a little while ago. The guards never came home from work one day…. And now the prisoners are everywhere! First the plague, and now the constant threat of finding a knife in your belly!" Bethany said on the verge of tears.
"I'll see what I can do my lady, you better stay here where it is safe. No criminal will attack you here."
"Thank you! I can't say how much this means to me! Do you need directions? I can tell you how to get there is you want." She said a soft smile touching her lips and a flicker of hope entering her eyes that were filled only with despair earlier on.
"Don't worry, I know how to get there, you just be sure to stay here and keep safe." I said and started to make my way to where I thought the Peninsula district was located.
As I walked through the core of the city I was shocked at what I saw. Bodies were heaped upon one another and many were alight as the smell of burning bodies now assailed my nostrils. I covered my nose and mouth with my hand as I hastened on to my destination. Soon I noticed that my trip to the Peninsula districts was taking longer than expected and that the piles of bodies were becoming more and more. But I finally arrived at a set of large gates that would surely lead me to the Peninsula districts. I wondered how I would go in and saw a guard standing nearby and so I approached him.
"Good to see you. You must be one of the fine new recruits with the guards. No one else comes near the Beggars Nest." He said and I mentally berated myself for not accepting Bethany's offer for directions.
I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere because instead of being at the Peninsula districts I was at the entrance to the Beggars Nest. Stupid male pride always coming into play. I was sure that it was my human heritage that had made me become so overconfident that I declined the offer of directions. But no matter, I was now at the Beggars Nest and it seemed that this place was worse off than anybody truly realized. It was my duty to try and help out here.
"Ugh, give me a moment. The smell of the burning corpses is getting to me…. As if the plague isn't bad enough on its own. Now the Beggars Nest is even worse! Have you heard? It's a nightmare in there! Zombies are everywhere! We're keeping the city core secure, but damned if we can do much for the Nest." The guard said gagging as he spoke.
"Is this area quarantined? Do you let anybody in or out?" I asked him.
"As a guard you'd be allowed to pass. Other than that we've tried to keep it sealed. The plague is the worst in the Nest and now with these undead walking around…. The zombie threat is keeping people in their homes so there haven't been many confrontations between the guards and people trying to break quarantine. The Helmites were allowed in to establish a shrine. I hear they continue to grant blessings. I doubt they counted on the undead infestation though. They'll probably help you if they can." The guard said.
"Thanks for the information. I'll see if I can help clear a few things up in there. Could you open the gates for me please? Wish me luck." I said as I unsheathed my short sword and prepared to enter the Beggar's Nest.
"I will but I don't hold much hope for the district, good luck in there!" he said and opened the gates for me.
I wondered if the situation was really that bad in the Beggars Nest. For the undead to be roaming the streets seemed to be just too much to comprehend. This seemed to be the sort of thing that parents would normally tell their children to frighten them. Well, there was only one way to find out if the dead really were walking. I passed through the gates and entered into the Beggars Nest.
In front of me I saw devastation all around. A few guards were hiding behind overturned wagons that were bolstered by various bits of broken debris. The men all had haggard expressions on their faces and others were tending to their wounded. I walked past them and in between the barricades that they had erected. A few, I saw, started shaking their heads as I passed them. They clearly thought that I was walking to my doom. I doubt that I could count on them for any assistance outside of their barricade.
A few buildings in front of me were lying in ruins and flames still burned from recent destruction that had been wrought. There was an unearthly silence about the place and I felt chills run up and down my spine. My steps grew uncertain and my breathing sped up. I swallowed hard as I slowly stepped forward into the unknown. I stopped when I thought I heard something stirring ahead of me. Looking around, taking advantage of my elven sight, I saw two grotesque figures walking towards me. The vile creatures were the undead that the guard had earlier told me about! I was about to fight my first zombies! I took in a deep breath, planted my feet firmly on the ground and then charged forward to attack the nearest zombie.
The zombie was a truly sickening sight. Its right eye was missing and decaying flesh was literally falling from its bones. The left leg of the zombie was twisted at an odd angle and I saw that pieces of bone stuck out from it indicating a broken leg. The undead creature took a wild swing at me with its arms and narrowly missed me. Its fingered were coated in blood that I knew to be fresh because of the way it glistened and still dripped from the fingers. This beast had recently fed on a living person or animal. I was determined to make sure that this foul beast would never harm the living again.
I raised my short sword above my head and brought it down on the skull of the zombie. There was a sickening thud and cracking sound as the head of the zombie exploded and sent pieces of flesh and rotting brain flying all around. I did not have any time to savor my victory over the zombie when I saw that the other zombie along with others were closing in on me. It was then that I realized that they could smell my blood. I was not a threat to them, I was merely on the menu for their next meal.
The fighting was fierce. I used my shield to block the blows off while I hacked away at them with my short sword. Limbs were hacked off and zombie parts littered the ground as I fought for my life. Soon all the undead in my immediate vicinity were lying heaped around me. But more were stumbling along. I decided that discretion was the better part of valor for the moment and ducked into an alcove of a nearby building to regain my bearings. The constant groans that grew ever louder. I took a steadying breath and lunged out of my hiding place to rid the world of a few more zombies.
Three more zombies fell by my blade and were never going to rise again. I heard a terrified cry and noticed that the voice was not that of the undead, but of the living! I looked up and saw that a young lady was surrounded by three zombies that were trying to eat her as she screamed for her life! This was more than I could bare and with a yell of rage I charged forward and attacked the nearest zombie. Its torso fell in two and twitched a little before falling still. The nearest zombie tried to attack me with flailing arms. A quick swipe and the arms fell to the street. Without its arms I made quick work of it and finished off its companion. The lady was safe.
"Thank you so much! I thought they were going to kill me!" She said and immediately ran off before I could say a single word.
I watched her as she ran off and saw that she entered a nearby building. It seemed to me that this place might be a haven of refuge in this damned area. I was tired and decided to go and try my luck at finding safety in the building as well. I ran on and saw a large sign hanging above the door. It read 'The Shining Serpent'. Normally I would've associated a snake with danger, but at this point in time it looked like the most beautiful sign on the face of this earth. I opened the door and entered the building. Inside warm dull light flickered from various braziers placed throughout the room. The chatter of people brought a tired smile to my face. I was safe, for now at least. There was an important looking halfling nearby. I decided to go and speak to him before I rested up.
I—I
A/N Well, that's it for another chapter. It took me longer than expected, but I'm trying to be accurate and having so many tests don't make it any easier. I managed to update and will try to do so again as soon as possible. Exams are approaching so I should have more time once they are done. I hope this chapter was good enough and that any who read enjoyed it.
Cheers
Lost in A World of Pain