„What the Heroes Do"
Daria took a first step carefully balancing her small weight on the decrepit stairs leading into the lower levels of the old temple. All that was left of the ground floor was few barely standing walls, eroded by wind and rain. She hoped that the underground crypts proved to be more durable against the influence of time. It didn't seem like it, though.
She was second to descend the set of ruined stairs they found half-buried under the ground and covered with bushes. The first was Jaheira with flaming sword once again in her hands, lighting the way. Behind her Daria did her best to disperse the darkness with a bright silver Light spell. Few steps behind her in a column a purple Light marked Xan's presence, and further still Nalia's blue spell was uncovering the way for her and Minsc. The corridor following after the stairs was narrow, but filled with sideways passages ending with piles of rubble. They walked in pairs and Daria had to stop herself from checking every side-passage with her divinations, knowing that it would eventually end with another headache. Instead she centered her attention on the shadows struggling to rely on her normal sight.
They faced the first attack upon reaching a large chamber, an empty hall with piles of debris, decayed wood and shattered urns stacked under cracked walls, everything covered in a thick layer of dust. At their entrance two skeletons in rusty armors got up from the ground with sound of snapping joints and centered their empty eye sockets on the invaders. One of them gave an unearthly howl and charged at Jaheira, standing at the lead. The druidess raised the flaming weapon to block the corroded two-handed sword, the blaze burning through ancient metal. Daria hastily got inside to unblock the door for Anomen walking after her. She could hear shadow wolves answering the call of the skeleton further down the corridor, hurrying to stop the invaders. She picked a covered corner of the room and began her spells. Not many of them were needed, when Minsc and Yoshimo joined the battle, assisting Jaheira in smashing skeletons to dust.
Daria gestured the melee fighters to watch out at the other way in to the chamber. The wolves could appear any moment. A holy radiance swathed over the group. Daria glanced at Anomen smiling at her, before he turned to face the danger.
It was quiet. Only straining her hearing to its limits the diviner could hear a soft sound of shadowy paws hitting the stone, coming closer and closer. She stretched her fingers – she hated those moments, when enemy was drawing nearer, but wasn't there yet. She had to be alert and ready, with tension rising every second. She could hear her heart racing in her chest.
A pack of shadow wolves shot from the darkness with ferociousness surpassing any living animal. Their ferocity was promptly reduced however, when Anomen drew his holy symbol of Helm. The priest charged at the undead with a battlecry that put Minsc to shame, and began to smash his way through the shadows. 'Show-off' Daria thought with a smile and sent a slimy ball of grease towards a new group of wolves. The battle was over before Xan and Nalia finished their first Fire Arrow cantrip. Shady forms of the undead animals disappeared into the darkness.
"…help me!" a quiet voice could be heard after the noise of the battle died out. After a hasty search its owner turned out to be a halfling woman, chained in one of the alcoves. She looked battered and starved, but she had a glint of determination in her eyes, betraying a veteran warrior. She was unarmed however and Daria wondered why the shadows left her here alive.
"My name is Mazzy Fen…" the halfling began when Yoshimo unlocked her chains, but Daria interrupted her, finally losing to the urge to use her precognition.
"There's a safe spot at the end of corridor, behind the corner. We'll talk when we get there." Daria could 'see' an irritated look Jaheira gave her behind her back, probably just a prelude for another speech about controlling the visions, but decided to ignore it. She knew she's not going to lead her team straight into ambush ever again.
The 'safe spot' was a circular room with a spectacular hole in the ceiling. It wasn't the first thing they noticed upon entering however. The first thing was a sun gem, as Mazzy named it, located on a pedestal in the middle. It was an appropriate name, as the precious stone was shining with inner light that could challenge the sun's glow. It was more than just a beautiful decoration however, as the team found out when one of the dark inhabitants of the temple tried to follow them inside. After a spectacular flash of white ray of sunshine all that was left of the unfortunate shadow was a smudge on the dusty floor. Daria noticed there were many such smudges around the pedestal.
"My name is Mazzy Fentan and I'm a warrior in service of Arvoreen. Thank you for rescuing me." The halfling woman still wore a simple chainmail and an empty sword belt, but her weapon was gone. Shadows weren't famous of their knowledge about keeping live prisoners and Mazzy looked like she went through hell and back.
"What are you doing here? Why did these aberrations kept you alive?" Jaheira didn't wait to find out, eager to skip the prologue.
"Later, Jaheira. We're safe here now – we should have a break." Daria tossed her pack by the crumbling wall.
The team was rested, but Mazzy eagerly accepted the offer to share rations and equipment. Nalia lent her a short sword she seldom used, after hearing it was small warrior's first choice weapon, while Minsc and Anomen repaired the gaps in her armor as much as they could. In exchange Mazzy told them about the Shadowlord, who took over the temple, once dedicated to Amaunator, the god of sun. It turned out that Mazzy and her team was hired by the mayor of Imnesvale with the same quest as Daria's party, but they managed to learn more. They met a werewolf named Anath, once a leader of the local pack of wolves, which was now devoured by the Shadowlord and served him as minions. Anath told them about the source of the plague of darkness slowly swallowing the area and led them to the temple. Mazzy's voice quivered a little when she told her saviors about an encounter with a black dragon, guarding the way to the desecrated altar, the gate to the plane of shadows. All her companions, even her beloved, fell by the beast's claws and were turned into undead, as all fallen close to the portal. The only reason the halfling was kept alive was that she was chosen to by the Shadowlord's 'consort', a mortal body allowing him to exist in material plane. The current carrier was Merella, the lost ranger of Imnesvale.
After hearing her saviors are in the ruins for the same reason, the halfling warrior agreed to join them to defeat the Shadowlord. Her first advice was to take the sun gem from the pedestal, even though it would weaken its power considerably – the hole in the ceiling turned out to be a part of system illuminating the whole temple, enhanced with magic. Only traces of the spells remained and it was but a minor annoyance to a small army of undead inhabiting the halls. Nevertheless the gems could help in breaching the walls of shadows, impenetrable barriers made of darkness they were bound to encounter sooner or later. Mazzy claimed to have breached most of them, but some still remained and could pose a serious problem.
With Mazzy as a guide the team was making its way through the tunnels steadily. Dark halls smelling with rot were full of old relics and symbols of worship, statues showing different interpretations of the same deity, broken vases and crumbled pillars. Some of the antique magic systems remained active throughout the ages and were a help in frequent skirmishes with shadows. The team was actually only becoming a 'team' – previously it was not much more than a group of people fighting together. In the troll-infested keep, they were fighting separately, uncoordinated and though it was the only way to survive in tight passages of de'Arnise Keep, during the massive attacks of shadows some measure of synchronization was essential. And so Daria found herself once again spending more time trying to keep everyone safe and covered, than actually spellcasting. She was dividing her attention between scanning a place of a battle and directing magical support Nalia and Xan provided to aid the most pressed melee fighters. It would take some time before everybody learned their place, but before that her role as a leader was indispensable.
In addition she had a chance to give her standard divination show, when after another clash with undead a big stone head asked them to complete a ritual used ages ago to honor Amaunator and activate the defenses of the temple. Daria learned a lot about her divining powers through past year – she didn't even try to look part all these centuries. Instead she focused on the last person, who performed the rite. It wasn't the right path either and she quickly corrected herself focusing on the last person, who performed the rite and wasn't burned to a crisp. She flinched slightly at the smell of the burned flesh she couldn't feel, but could recall and politely asked Jaheira for a protection from fire before reciting the words of a ritual. She trusted her abilities, but it wasn't a kind of trust she would die for. She did manage to impress Mazzy and received another sun gem however.
He dragon was more than just a mild reason to be concerned. Daria never encountered anything bigger than a wyvern, but back in Candlekeep her favorite tales were about those giant lizards, breathing fire or steam, gathering treasures throughout centuries and eventually falling, slain by mighty heroes. She wondered whether she would see the famous piles of gold and jewels, or this time they would be forced to do the 'mighty heroes' part. Wasn't it what the heroes do? Saving maidens, defeating dragons and rescuing villages? It wouldn't be bad to create her own 'dragon slaying' tale, but she didn't fancy to be burned, frozen or whatever black dragons did.
It didn't come to that however, as on their way to the lair of dragon they met a ghost of a girl, not much older than ten, named Amauna. For rescuing her bones from jaws of shadow wolves they were returned with a gem, black this time, that had the power to hide them from the dragon's sight. A pool of lava, another few riddles and some dead, or at least deader, shadows further they finally reached the lair and Daria could sate her curiosity.
They were warned by Mazzy upon entering the large antechamber so they clenched in a small group, Yoshimo holding the black jewel standing in the middle. All lighting spells were dimmed and elves and one halfling took their human companions by hands to lead them. Daria raised her eyes to look at the dragon. And then raised them higher realizing she's looking at its knee. She closed her mouth when she realized it's open.
The beast was beautiful, though she wouldn't admit that aloud, not with such a constricted throat. Thousands of scales were covering its whole body, creating an armor shining with inner glow, the darkest and most terrifying kind of glow. It looked as if it was wearing its own shade and after wrestling all day through countless twisted tunnels filled with shadows it wasn't a pleasant association. The eyes of the dragon were much more terrible though. An unblinking gaze of the beast was centered on a hill not far south, bizarre shade of yellow with reptilian pupils had strength of penetration comparable to… nothing Daria ever saw. She made an involuntary step back at the thought of those eyes centered on her. She felt someone's foot under hers.
"Don't even think about fighting this thing" she heard a soft whisper next to her ear, so close she could feel a breath on her skin.
"Fighting? This thing? I can't even imagine how" she whispered back to Xan. She wanted to move forward, but her legs ignored her wishes, frozen with dread. She hoped nobody noticed the prolonged moment of hesitation, when she began to circle the dragon's lair at last.
The group stayed so close together that they were actually stepping on each other's feet while marching towards the exit. The mostly ruined stone arc leading outdoors, into the forest, was wide enough for the whole team to pass, but not big enough for the dragon, and Daria couldn't help but wonder how the lizard got inside the chamber. It certainly wasn't going to leave any time soon, at least not without ruining the whole construction. Another paved road began by the arc, but it was in no better shape than the previous one. It led upward, to the hill so stoically observed by the great lizard. No one said as much as a word when the crooked trees of the gloom forest rose around them once again. Daria's only thought was to get as far as possible from the dragon and judging by the looks, the others' thoughts weren't all that different. Only Mazzy seemed controlled in face of the monster which annihilated her entire party. Her unwavering stance was an inspiration to everyone surrounding her and soon the team slowed the pace preparing for the fight with the source of the corruption of the Umar hills. They were already tired after their struggles in the underground, but resting between a draconic guardian and a dark master of an army of shadows wasn't actually an option. Their only alternative was to press forward.
Daria was considering scouting the hill with her precognition, but she recognized the presence she felt since her first 'look' around. If it was the Shadowlord, and she had all means to suspect it was, than wrestling him on his own playground was more than she believed she was capable of. 'Killing myself won't help anyone' she thought, before realizing she began to sound like Jaheira. 'Damn it'.
After shielding themselves with all the few spells they had left, they emerged at the top of the hill. Mazzy surprised them with few blessings she casted to enhance her speed and strength. 'An aura of confidence, blessings, leader of a party… Warrior in service of Arvoreen, yeah right. She should have told us plainly that she's a paladin.' Daria was angry at herself for only noticing it now. 'She probably turns undead as well'.
Minsc and Mazzy lead the front, a tall berserk and a halfling woman creating a strange contrast, Yoshimo hiding in the darkness next to them, imperceptible even for shadows, which was telling something about his skills. Anomen and Jaheira were the second line providing backup with nature's or Helm's gifts. The last went the mages - Nalia clutching tightly her crossbow was left without any effective combat spells and all Xan had memorized were his enchantments, mostly useless against the undead. Only Daria had some reserves, but her damaged hands could decide otherwise any time.
It was eerie quiet on a small square on the top of the hill. It must have been a glorious place once, rising above the level of the trees, facing the sun. Ground was covered in broken tiles, which must have been shining in countless shades of yellow and gold, composing into a mosaic illustrating the sun, were there any illumination. Now it was no more than few piles of crumbled stone, not one lonely spark of brightness making its way between the reflecting layers. In the central point of dark mosaic stood a dark portal to plane of shadow – the altar. A golden statue was covered in something denser than any shadow, blacker than any darkness. There was nothing holy in it anymore - it was completely defiled in slow process that brought formerly magnificent sanctuary of sun-worshippers to its ruined and corrupted state. Daria began to articulate the words of Fireball spell.
Her words broke the silence weighting over the hill like a material barrier. A shriek, high and piercing, erupted from unknown source, stirring the shadows and awakening the forest. An invisible tide bent the leafless trees, their branches reaching toward the hill. Daria lost her concentration for a split second, but managed to hold on to her incantation keeping her eyes centered at the black altar. Simple Light evocations blinked and disappeared – the only source of illumination left was the last sun gem they found in the temple, held by Yoshimo.
The shriek rang in Daria's ears long after it ended, throughout the silence that came after it. She was repeating words of spell she knew by heart bit by bit, her gloved hands moving along the rhythm. She barely kept to the spell, when a sudden wave of stench almost made her choke.
"You brought more mortals to join my army, my chosen. I should thank you." The voice was an unnerving hiss, provoking and sarcastic, inhuman. Daria didn't look at its owner, concentrating on her magic, but from the gasps of her companions she imagined it wasn't nice to look at.
"You will not corrupt any more innocent souls, demon! I will ensure that you won't" Mazzy gave in to her emotions at last. She watched the Shadowlord with pure hatred showing on her face.
"Careful, dearest! You are meant to be my…" the thing never named what Mazzy was meant to be, as this moment a smoking fireball passed in an arc inches from its torso and hit the altar with a loud thunder making it shake on its golden foundation. Daria finally took a look at the powerful undead.
'By gods, it is ugly' was her first thought. The undead was closed in a form of half-elven ranger Merella, but her body was already showing signs of advanced decay. Her skin was of a color of tattered scroll, but her eyes, dark as the deepest pits of hell were drawing the most attention. Evil incarnated, but into body of an innocent protector of Imnesvale. Daria felt only revulsion towards the hideous creature. She began to cast another fireball meaning to destroy the altar utterly.
The Shadowlord began his own spell, but was quickly interrupted by Minsc and Mazzy. One enemy was nothing against their joined forces, but one enemy turned into hundred within moments, when the dark forest surrounding the hill spawned dark silhouettes of both men and wolves, answering the cry of their maker climbing the hill with their pawns of feet. Jaheira summoned a pair of panthers to aid them in stopping the black flood, but she was only buying her time to destroy the altar. Whether destroying it would banish the shadows was a different matter.
"Join us, Mazzy!" a voice broke through a sea of whispers and howls.
"Patrick!" Mazzy seemed to recognize one of the undead, but she was engaged in battle with the Shadowlord and couldn't afford losing concentration. Tears appeared in halfling's eyes as she dodged another attack of an incorporeal limb. She countered with renewed determination, slicing through half-material form. Anomen was doing his best to fend off as many opponents as he could, but his strength was waning rapidly. Another fireball ripped of a half of the statue, but portal remained open. The Shadowlord howled in pain, the sound sending shivers down Daria's spine. Minsc left his defense slashing through injured undead master and almost cleaving it in half. The final wail of the powerful monster brought only more chaos among its army, pushing the shadows to attack ever more ferociously.
The situation was becoming desperate. Both of Jaheira's summons has already joined the ranks of the enemy, becoming undead under shadow's chilling touch. Even though Mazzy and Minsc charged to help fend off the army, the party was slowly being pushed back closer and closer to the portal.
Daria was making her way through the last Fireball spell she prepared for today. 'If this is won't tear down this cursed thing, than nothing will' she thought with desperate determination. She was fighting with her hurting fingers bending and moving them despite the pain. She wasn't going to fail like that, bringing doom to her friends in the critical moment. Cold touches of shadows were stealing from her last reserves of strength every time one of them slipped through cover warriors provided and the familiar numb feeling was returning, but she cut herself from it, focusing on the spell. 'I'm not going to bite the ground again. I've had enough of this for an entire month' she made herself clear. Her heart almost stopped when she heard a body – material body – falling on the ground, but she continued the recitation. Upon completing the fireball, she made out another thud of someone armored falling, but the orb of blazing element already shot from her outstretched palms hitting the stone. It exploded in unusual color of gold and annihilated the dark mantle from Amaunator's statue. The portal was gone.
She turned to face the tide of darkness just in time to see Nalia falling down to her knees. Daria's world stopped for a second seeing Xan and Jaheira were lying on the ground motionless with Minsc shielding them, great swings of Sword of Chaos only barely keeping the undead at bay. The Rashemi ranger has suffered many hits however, and though his rage was shielding him from the undying chill, just as he was shielding his friends from the shadows, his strength was not infinite. Anomen and Yoshimo were protecting Nalia, while Mazzy tried to deal as much damage as she could, but they were vastly outnumbered.
'So this is the end…' Daria thoughts drifted to Imoen. 'Sis will never be rescued…' The elf forced her face to look like a stone mask and picked Jaheira's quarterstaff from the ground.
"For Corellon Larethian! For Labelas Enoreth!" she shouted and attacked. Nonmagical wood was going through the shadowy forms without doing any damage, but she had no effective spells left, and so struck again and again despite the weakness worming its way to her very bones. It was better than just standing, waiting for death. She hoped she wasn't crying. She hoped she wasn't going to die with tears in her eyes.
"For Labelas…!" she screamed again losing her breath.
A ray of light penetrated the dark cloud and hit her eyes blinding her for few seconds. It did much more to the shadow wolf she fought and soon to all the undead attackers. More and more rays of sunshine penetrated through the shroud, like arrows piercing through the lines of shadowy army, drawing an unearthly howl from hundreds of undead throats. Monsters were scattering to escape their doom, but couldn't find cover between leafless trees or ruined walls. They died in hundreds, wailing and howling with their undead throats.
When the elven diviner regained her sight she stood on an empty hill, illuminated by the warm glow of the setting sun, her companions standing nearby, equally dazzled.
The elven mage lowered her head before the live symbol of her god and hurried to help her friends.