Though the walk was long, Ralis, Corwin and Skie made it back to the coalition camp unharmed, which surprised Corwin because it felt to her as if Caelar's crusade let them come into Dragonspear Castle and leave. either the crusade's security is shoddy, or they are under orders not to attack anyone unless provoked. By the time they returned, it is evening, and they were already tired fromwalking up to Dragonspear Castle and back.
"You had good intentions, Skie. Reckless, but good, but you need to think carefully instead of acting impulsively. We're a team. You should have let us know what you were doing," Ralis said to Skie after they passed by Wilch and the other guards guarding the entrance into the coalition camp.
"He's right. I know you are eager to prove your worth to the Flaming Fist, but don't do it in a reckless manner."
"But isn't that what we do every day? Take risks?" Skie countered.
"Yes, but not recklessly, Skie. You should have told me or Nederlok what you planned on doing," Corwin said while being careful not to bump into anyone she walked by.
Skie frowned over at Corwin. "What? If I did that, he would stop me from doing what I needed to do. Besides, if it weren't for me taking initiative, Ralis would have never learned that there's a secret entrance into Dragonspear Castle from Dead Man's Pass."
"Actually, deLancie, Nederlok and Stonehand already knew about this, they just weren't sure if their intelligence was accurate. Now, thanks to you, Skie, you confirmed that their intelligence is indeed accurate," Ralis corrected her.
Skie blinked at him, but said nothing at first, but had her mouth open as if she wanted to say something, but she closed her lips instead for a few seconds. "... At least I've done that much. If I hadn't, you'd probably be off on some wild goose chase," she finally said.
Ralis, Skie and Corwin went to the Flaming fist section of the coalition camp, and they searched for Marshal Nederlok, finding him near his tent giving instructions to three Flaming Fist scouts. None of them wore helmets, so it is easy to tell that all three are human men, one with short black hair, one with curly brown hair and another that is bald.
"... I expect routine checks around our perimeter every two hours, understand? We cannot rule out the possibility that the crusaders have their own scouts searching for weaknesses in our camp," Nederlok instructed the three men.
"Yes, sir, Marshal Nederlok," the man with the curly brown hair said, then he and his two fellow scouts gave Nederlok a formal salute before leaving, and at that moment, Ralis, Corwin and Skie approached Nederlok from behind him.
"Captain Corwin, sir. Corporal Duncan told us about Skie's sudden disappearance," Corwin said, and Nederlok turned around to face them as soon as he heard her voice.
"Here she is, sir. We've located Skie and brought her back safe and sound," Ralis said.
Nederlok sighed in relief. "Thank the gods. I don't know what Duke Silvershield would have done if anything happened to his daughter. I appreciate you taking care of this, Ralis." Then he turned his gaze to Skie. "As for you, recruit "Goldbuckler", I am assigning you to filling sandbags for the next few days. That should keep out out of trouble for a while."
Skie blinked in disbelief. "What? ... Well, all right. It's better than doing exercise drills, I suppose," she said with a shrug, then Nederlok led her away from Ralis and Corwin.
"Let's find Neera and the others and prepare for a journey to Dead Man's Pass," Ralis told Corwin.
"All right," Corwin nodded in agreement and departed with the hero of Baldur's Gate.
Meanwhile, Dorn Il-Khan is sharpening his sword, Rancor, on a grindstone, his legs working the pedals that cause the wheel to spin and sharpen the edges of his blade. He has been doing this for the past six minutes, making sure that no edge of his blade is dull. His legs ached from pedaling for three minutes, but he mentally blocked out the pain and kept going. He heard footsteps approaching behind him, and looked over his left shoulder to see the male drow Baeloth approaching him, examining him like how a customer at a market sizes up an interesting item.
"By Lolth's legs! You are a scrappy little shaper, Dorn! Ever flirted with fighting to a fatal finish for fun and profit? Mostly profit." He asked the half-orc.
Dorn stopped pedaling then turned his body to the left side, still sitting on the seat of the grindstone, the blade planted downwards towards the ground, and Dorn rested his hands on the bottom of the hilt. "... Yes. My own fun. And my master's profit," he said with a toothy grin, showing his teeth and orc tusks.
The expectant smile on Baeloth's face fell away after Dorn made his reply. "Ah. You already retain representation, then."
"My patron supplies me with all that I need," Dorn said firmly.
Baeloth silently cursed. For the past few days he has been secretly formulating a plan to get revenge on the six surfacers who are the champions of The Black Pits and is now roaming Faerun freely, celebrating their survival, he just needs to recruit a few adventurers and/or mercenaries that are strong enough to put up a good fight against the six rebellious champions of The Black Pits, and he hoped that a blackguard like Dorn would be willing to take part in his scheme for profit, but that's not going to happen.
"... Well, should that situation shift, seek me out. I can steer you to a storied stature you never supposed secureable."
Dorn's scowl became more sharper after Baeloth said that, and he had half a mind to choke Baeloth for trying to anticipate and take advantage of his desires.
"Do not delude yourself into believing you comprehend the scope of my ambition, drow. Begone."
Baeloth had no choice but to walk away and leave Dorn to continue sharpening his blade. Banking on the blackguard to volunteer on taking part in a tournament where fighters fight to the death was a long shot, anyway. No one would ever say "yes" to an offer from a drow. Dorn continued grinding his blade on the grindstone's wheel after Baeloth left, making sure Rancor is sharpened on both sides from the crossguard to the point of the blade.
Meanwhile Ralis and Corwin found Neera speaking to Rasaad, Dynaheir and Patrescus near Mizhena's tent, talking among each other about something. As they approached, Ralis and Corwin gradually heard what Neera is saying to them.
"... and so the other guy from Waterdeep asked me: "What else has your wild magic changed on you other than your hair?" I mean, he was real flirty like. Don't get me wrong, he was kinda cute, but I have preferences that he doesn't fit into. Anyway, I leaned towards his ear and gave him the answer."
"What did you say to him?" Patrescus asked curiously.
Neera grinned before replying. "That I have extra teeth somewhere they shouldn't be. And that's in my- DAMMIT, ADOY! YOU ALWAYS RUIN A GOOD JOKE! GODS, YOU'RE LIKE AN ANNOYING LITTLE BROTHER! I don't really have a brother, but YOU GET MY POINT!"
"Okaaay, that's too much information, Neera! Show's over!" Ralis exclaimed, catching Neera, Rasaad and Patrescus' attention.
"Good to see you again, Ralis. And you as well, Captain Corwin."
"Always a pleasure, Rasaad," Corwin nodded courteously. "Did you sleep well this morning?" She asked.
Rasaad shook his head. "I haven't slept well in nearly a year," he admitted.
"Word has been spreading like wildfire about what happened back on Boareskyr Bridge," Patrescus informed Ralis.
"So I've heard," Ralis nodded, looking rather sullen.
Patrescus walked over to Ralis and put his right hand on Ralis' left shoulder.
"I just want you to know that few people do not think ill of you. But you should keep in mind that everyone here in this coalition camp will be watching your every move closely. Prove to them that you are not what they fear you might be."
Ralis nodded in agreement. "Thank you for the advice, Patrescus."
Before anyone could say anything else, Neera cleared her throat to get attention, then Patrescus, Ralis, Corwin and Rasaad turned to look at her.
"Uh, sorry to interrupt the ol' moral pep talk and all that, but you promised me a potion of clarity if I did that thing for you, and I've done it, so, pay up, please," Neera said to Patrescus, holding her right hand out in preparation to receive the potion.
Patrescus nodded and reached into one of his robe pockets. "Of course, Neera. I have not forgotten our agreement," he said, then he pulled out the potion of clarity and handed it to Neera.
As soon as the small vial was put in Neera's hands, her eyes widened as she stared at the vial resting in between her hands, as if it were some valued treasure she had been searching for a long time.
"Yes! Finally! Now, last but not least, I need a few leaves from a belladonna bush, then I'll have everything I need to make that special potion that will forever free me from Adoy's annoying ramblings," Neera turned to Ralis and Corwin. "So, what are we waiting for? Onward to adventure!" She exclaimed enthusiastically, pointing north dramatically.
"I admire how eager you are to leave, Neera, but we need to make preparations, first. We-" Ralis cut off what he was saying when he felt someone tap his shoulder and say:
"Um, excuse me, are you the hero of Baldur's Gate?"
Ralis and Corwin turned around to see two human men standing behind them, and judging by the dagger emblem on the breastplate of their armor, they are Daggerford soldiers.
"Ho there, I am Damius of Daggerford. My friend here is Sempek," the soldier with short black hair said, and pointed back at his friend who has brown hair and green eyes. "We, uh, have a problem, and we need your help to fix it. Could you come hear us out, please?" Damius asked.
Ralis glanced over at Corwin and she gave him a look that let him know that they don't have much time to waste, they should get going with their mission as soon as possible.
"I won't take long, okay? I'll see what these two sods want, and you assemble the group- I want Viconia, Minsc, Dynaheir, Voghiln, Baeloth, Khalid, Jaheira, Neera, Glint, M'khiin and Dorn with us on this mission," Ralis instructed.
"Understood," Corwin said, then they went their separate ways.
Ralis followed Damius and Sempek up the path towards the northeastern section of the coalition camp to a tent where a dwarf woman is giving free drinks to soldiers. She uses a large block of wood as a bar, and behind her are six large beverage containers called tuns, three holding three different kinds of ale, and the other three holding three different kinds of ciders. After serving a half-elf woman who is a Waterdeep solder a cup of Knee-Cracker cider, Damius walked up to the makeshift bar.
"Damius! Lemme guess. Two flagons of Iriaeboran North Brew for you and Sempek?"
Damius and Sempek burst into uproarious laughter.
"Ah, you know us too well, Diesa," Sempiek said while laughing.
Ralis stood behind the two men, feeling rather clueless to what is so funny.
"I only know the both of ye because ye two are my regulars," Diesa said as she picked up a fresh pair of flagons and walked over to the tun holding the Iriaeboran North Brew for them.
Ralis cleared his throat to get Damius and Sempek's attention.
"So what can I do for you for you two?" He asked.
"Oh! Sorry about that, friend, we nearly forgot. So listen- you look like you've seen your share of violence, am I right?" Damius asked.
Ralis frowned and slowly nodded. "Yes...?" He said slowly, hissing on the "s" in "yes".
"And you're still alive and in reasonably good shape by the looks of you, so I'm guessing you're pretty good at the whole killing of others thing. Am I right?" Sempek asked, looking a bit shifty.
Ralis grew increasingly suspicious of the motives of these two men. He is fully aware that every soldier in the coalition camp knows that he is a child of Bhaal like Sarevok, and as a result, not many people want to speak to him, let alone ask for his autograph. And at that moment, Diesa called Damius and Sempek to get their drinks.
"Why do you ask?"
"There's a gnome in our contingent- his name is Gardnerson," Damius said before drinking his ale.
Ralis blinked in shock, and little did he know, Glint, who is close by drinking suzale overheard what Damius said, spat out his drink in surprise.
"You mean Glint?" Ralis asked.
Damius frowned in confusion. "What? No. His name is Pritchard," he corrected Ralis, then his face contorted with anger. "Pompous jackass, he thinks he's better than the rest of us. He thinks he's in command here. Well, second in command, after General Stonehand."
At that moment Glint revealed himself to Ralis, Damius and Sempek.
"Cousin Pritchard! I KNEW he'd be around here somewhere. Making friends again by the sounds of it. Where can we find him?" Glint asked Damius.
Sempek stroked his chin for a few seconds in thought. "Last I heard, he was badgering Stonehand about strategy, like he knows something about it. find her, and you'll find him. Or at least pieces of him. Stonehand's not known for her patience," he said, and Ralis noticed the look in his eyes that hints that he is hoping Stonehand has tore Pritchard a new anus.
Ralis couldn't ignore the sick, twisting feeling in his gut, he had a hunch that Damius and Sempek expects him to do something... drastic to Pritchard, especially since Damius alluded to the fact that Ralis has a knack at hurting or killing people.
"Come on, Glint. Let's go find your cousin," Ralis said.
It took Ralis and Glint three minutes to find General Stonehand's tent. They had to ask a few soldiers of Daggerford directions to Stonehand's tent. As Glint and Ralis expected when they arrived, they found Pritchard talking to Stonehand outside her tent. Pritchard has brown colored hair unlike Glint, and his hair is fashioned to a mullet, and he has no sideburns. And judging by the annoyed eye roll from Stonehand, Pritchard is telling her something that she either does not want to hear, or agree with.
"If we move now, we can take Caelar's people by surprise!" Pritchard exclaimed, his body bobbing up and down like an excited child.
He and Ralis stopped walking once he said that, twelve yards away from Stonehand's tent, and Stonehand herself shook her head in denial, placing her right hand on her forehead as if she has a headache.
"You don't know that, and even if you did, it's not your decision to make. Just let it go, Pritchard. Like it or not, we aren't the ones who get to make the call," she said.
Glint moved on ahead of Ralis, approaching both Pritchard and Stonehand.
"Pritchard! Cousin, it's me, Glint!" He called as he approached.
Pritchard turned around looking confused and surprised all at once.
"Glint? What are you doing here?" He asked his cousin, taken aback by his hug.
"Mum's been worried about the family. She sent me out to make sure everything's all right. Is it? Are you all right?" Glint asked after releasing his cousin from his embrace.
Frowning in confusion, Pritchard patted himself down from his chest to his kneecaps, then he shrugged. "I daresay I am," he said with surety. "I'm a high-ranking member of the Daggerford militia. We were sent here to deal with that confounded Caelar."
"As were we. My name is Ralis."
Pritchard nodded at the young human. "I've heard of you. You were involved in that... incident on Boareskyr Bridge."
Glint cut in immediately. "Let's not talk about that, cousin. How is Aunt Wellsy? And Uncle Morsk?"
"They're fine, Glint. Mother and father are both fine. Tell Auntie next time you see her. Now excuse me, please. I've important matters that require my attention. We can talk properly when this situation with Caelar is finally resolved."
Pritchard turned his attention back to General Stonehand behind him.
"Now, as I was saying, if we-"
"For the last time, Pritchard, we don't have the authority to make that call. How many times must I tell you?" Stonehand interrupted him, the tone of her voice hinting that she has grown a bit more annoyed than before.
Ralis and Glint walked away as soon as General Stonehand said that to Pritchard.
"How can anyone deal with him? He won't listen to reason," Ralis said to Glint.
Glint nodded with a soft moan. "Yes, well, he can be a bit of a handful. He's difficult enough under normal circumstances. Give him any kind of power, and, well, it goes straight to his head. If he stays in this camp, I guarantee you he's going to rub someone the wrong way- probably several someones. They're going to hurt him, or worse, kill him. Kill him repeatedly, if history's anything to judge by," he said with a worried frown.
"So you want me to beat your cousin to a bloody pulp?" Ralis asked.
"Exactly," Glint confirmed with a nod, though the look in his eyes tells Ralis that he wishes for an alternative.
"Don't you think this is a little extreme?" Ralis asked, his heart pounding nervously at the thought of being caught punching Pritchard, especially when everyone in the coalition camp knows or heard what happend at Boareskyr Bridge.
Glint shook his head. "You don't know Pritchard the way I do. There's only one way to get any message through that thick skull of his. Words alone just won't do it."
Ralis was considering refusing Glint's request, but an idea came to him. If Stonehand allows him to beat up Pritchard in her tent, then they will be fine.
"Very well. I'll do this for you," he finally agreed.
"Thank you, Ralis. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this," Glint said.
They returned to Stonehand's tent, finding Pritchard and Stonehand still arguing.
"Damn it all, Stonehand! Listen to what I'm saying!" Pritchard exclaimed in frustration.
"I've listened, Pritchard. I listened once, then listened again, then I listened a dozen more times!" Stonehand replied, trying to tolerate the gnome's stubbornness. "Now I'm done listening. Open your mouth again and I move on to horrible maiming!"
Before Pritchard could utter another word, Ralis spoke up.
"Hey! Pritchard! Can I speak to you for just a moment?"
He saw the young human with his cousin approaching him and his superior, and he sighed in disappointment at the interruption they caused.
"We've been discussing important strategic matters. What do you want?" He asked.
"Quartermaster Belegarm wanted me to find you. He's got a gnomish item he thinks you'll find very interesting," Ralis informed him.
Pritchard lifted his right eyebrow in amusement. "Oh did he now? Intriguing." Then he nodded to Stonehand. "General Stonehand, if you'd excuse me?"
Stonehand nodded in approval. "Gladly. Take as much time as you need. Take MORE than that, even. The whole morning, if you have to. I could use some peace," she said with a relieved smirk.
Then Pritchard took a step towards Ralis and Glint, then Ralis held up his right hand signaling Pritchard to stop.
"Inside Stonehand's tent would suffice," he suggested.
"All right," Pritchard nodded without hesitaiton, then he turned around and stepped into Stonehand's tent first, and Ralis followed.
Glint stayed outside with Stonehand.
"What is going on?" Stonehand asked Glint.
"Believe me when I tell you, that my friend Ralis is doing us all a big favor," Glint said with a worried look on his face.
He wished that there are less brutal methods to convince Pritchard to step down as Stonehand's second in command, or better yet, leave the coalition camp, but there is no other way.
Inside Stonehand's tent, Pritchard turned to face Ralis.
"So this item your quartermaster has for me- what is it?" Pritchard asked Ralis.
Here we go... Torm forgive me... Ralis thought woefully as he slowly reached for his bag.
"It's... right here," Ralis said, then the moment Pritchard blinked his eyes, Ralis quickly pulled his right hand out of his bag and backhanded Pritchard across his forehead so hard he reeled and fell back on his rump.
Pritchard now had a throbbing headache, and he had a hard time comprehending what just happened. He thought his mind was playing tricks on him, but the moment he opened his eyes from blinking, he saw Ralis's fist fly towards his head, smacking him so hard he saw stars dancing around his eyes.
"What are you doing-?" Pritchard managed to say before Ralis kicked him in the face, nearly breaking his nose and he fell on his back.
"Help! Oof! Unh! Someone! Oof! Oof! Help me!" Pritchard yelled ad Ralis continued pummeling his forehead, and the world around Pritchard's eyes were beginning to fade to black.
Ralis had to remind himself that he is doing this for Glint, not for Damius and Sempek. After punching his head for the 6th time, he stopped assaulting the gnome, and just in time because Pritchard was one punch away from blacking out, and his forehead is all bruised with a few cuts, leaking drops of blood. When Ralis let him stand up on his feet, Pritchard couldn't keep his balance, he wobbled back and forth, and everything his eyes could seemed to swirl around, including Ralis.
"Mercy! Please, show mercy, I beg you!" Pritchard exclaimed fearfully as he tried to back away from Ralis and he lost his balance and fell on his rump again.
"That's enough, Ralis," Glint said, entering the tent.
Though his eye vision is still blurred and swirling, he recognized the swirling figure that entered the tent behind Ralis.
"Glint? Cousin? What's goin' on- I don't understand..." Pritchard stuttered.
"I'm sorry, Pritchard. You've got to leave the camp. Go back to Daggerford," Glint said.
"But- why...?" Pritchard whined.
"Because Glint fears for your life, Pritchard. There are people here who find you annoying so much that they soon mean to harm you, even worse than you are now. Two Daggerford soldiers named Sempek and Damius sent me to take care of you, but I'm doing this for Glint. As hard as it may believe, we did this out of love," Ralis explained.
Glint walked over to Pritchard and used the Cure Minor Wounds spell on Pritchard, and the bruises and cuts on Pritchard's forehead disappeared. "Mum would never forgive me if I let you die, Pritchard. You've got to get out of here."
Pritchard slowly shook his head in denial. "This was going to be my chance... I was going to prove myself..." He muttered sadly.
Glint placed both hands on his cousin's shoulders. "You're a good man, Pritchard. Don't become a good dead man."
Pritchard nodded slowly. "All- all right. I'll go. Here, take this dagger," He reached into his belt and pulled out a dagger, handing it to Glint. "It was Father's. He used it during the last two Dragonspear Wars. It's only fitting a Gardnersonson fighting this one wield it now. Goodbye, cousin. Farewell."
Ralis finally understood why Pritchard is so eager to take on Caelar and her crusaders. It is because he admires his father, who fought in both of the Dragonspear Wars. With Caelar's crusade on the verge of starting a third Dragonspear War, Pritchard wants to prove to everyone in Daggerford that the apple did not fall far from the tree, that he can be a honorable soldier just like his father before him.
Glint smiled. "Ah, that's a wonderful sentiment, Pritchard. I mean- I'm a cleric, so I'm not meant to actually wield it in the strictest sense of the word, but I'll carry it. As a Gardnersonson, proudly, I'll carry it.
"You don't like it," Pritchard stated with a sad frown.
"No, no, no, no, I do like it. I love it! I'll treasure it always."
"You just won't ever use it. Fine, that's all right. You're a cleric. I understand. I get it. I'll be going now. Luck to you in, you know. All of this. Farewell."
Ralis and glint followed Pritchard out of the coalition camp, and he walked away, with Ralis and Glint watching his departure from the camp entrance. Pritchard took one last look at his cousin and waved goodbye. Now, for the next 20 minutes, Ralis and Glint made preparations to begin the expedition to Dead Man's Pass, refilling their stock of arrows and crossbow bolts, etc. And as Ralis requested to Corwin, he handpicked Viconia, Minsc, Dynaheir, Voghiln, Baeloth, Khalid, Jaheira, Neera, Glint, M'khiin and Dorn to come with him to Dead Man's Pass, and Dorn is the one carrying Phossey's barrel of bwoosh. They departed the coalition camp 3 hours away from midday.
Forty-five minutes have passed since they passed by The Trade Way road heading northeast into the forests several miles south from Dragonspear Castle, and now Minsc is carrying the barrel of bwoosh. Khalid stayed by Jaheira's side as they traveled with everyone else through the dense forests, Khalid had no intention of distancing himself from his wife. Everyone else stayed behind Viconia, Baeloth Dorn and M'khiin while Ralis walked ahead of them with Corwin and M'khiin by his side. Dynaheir and Jahiera were worried about Ralis trusting Dorn, Baeloth, Viconia and M'khiin into his group, but they knew that whether Ralis wants them to tag along or not is up to him. Dorn, Viconia, M'khiin and Baeloth were no fools, they knew that Ralis is the only person who tolerates their presence. Dorn was, however, simultaneously surprised and not surprised that Ralis let a goblin join his group. Dorn knew that unlike most humans, Ralis is not picky about who he invites into his party, he is not blinded by prejudice, something that Dorn found slightly amusing.
"We have something in common, goblin," Dorn said to M'khiin. "To the humans, the elves, we are monsters, nothing more."
M'khiin never looked over her shoulder at Dorn, but she nodded. "Let 'em think that. Maybe safer that way," she said indifferently.
"Were we not aligned with the hero of Baldur's Gate, they would kill you without a second thought. Or in many cases, the first one," Dorn said.
M'khiin shrugged. "Just want 'em to think enough times that they don't kill me."
"And if Caelar, or one of her lackeys removes your protector permanently?" Dorn asked.
M'khiin rolled her eyes. "If this, if that. Can't worry about ifs. Too many of them. What is, is all that matters."
"So what you are saying is you don't worry about the future, you focus on the present day?" Ralis asked the she-goblin.
"Yes, that is exactly what I meant. Anything could happen tomorrow. Some things that you never expect could happen. So why waste time worrying about what might happen?" M'khiin said, then jumped over a twig that is thick as an adult human's arm.
Baeloth chuckled, causing Viconia, Dorn and Ralis to look back at him.
"Vel'bol zhah ji fa'narow, jaluk? (What is so funny, male?)" Viconia asked Beaeloth, frowning in annoyance.
"Hey! Speak Common, or not at all!" Jaheira demanded further behind the group, behind Glint and Voghiln.
"Oh, nothing, it's just our fleeceable "friend" over here has a rather counterintuitive conclusion. She says that she doesn't think of the ifs, but contrary to what she thinks, thinking of the ifs are what keeps us alive," Baeloth explained.
Viconia nodded, understanding what the male drow is talking about. Ignoring what might happen in the near future is foolish.
"I believe I understand what you mean. A witless fool is just as foolish as a trusting fool. You are not as stupid as I thought, for a simpering male," Viconia said.
"It all comes with the territory, my dear," Baeloth said and winked at her.
"Vith'ir (F**k you). Better yet, vith the wild mage," Viconia rudely brushed him off.
Baeloth turned his head to look over at Neera. "Aha. Sorry. Half-elves are not my type," he told Viconia.
"Hey! What the heck does "vith" mean?" Neera called over to Viconia, and she got no reply.
The group continued walking through the forest in silence for the next 57 minutes, staying alert for any predators that are bold enough to jump out of a bush or other foliage and attack them. Neera kept a close watch for belladonna flower bushes, the final ingredient for her potion, but so far, they have not come across any, even after 57 minutes passed. Neera began to worry if they come across the crusade's entrance to the underground caverns soon, she will miss her chance to make the potion that will finally rid herself of Adoy's voice in her head. Two minutes later the group was attacked by a pack of worgs, twelve of them. The worg pack did not attack the group head-on, they kept their distance and used strategy, using trees as cover to protect themselves from Corwin's arrows, Glint, Neera and Dynaheir's sling bullets, and they only attacked in pairs, one to distract, the other to attack. As a result, Minsc, Ralis, Voghiln and Dorn suffered minor injuries from the bites of the animals, but their armor saved them from any further injuries. Minsc wore studded leather armor, and his muscular arms are completely unprotected, so his arms got a few scratch marks, even his purple cape received a few tears, but nothing major.
Ralis and Dorn admired these creatures' intelligence- if Ralis' group were of six people or less, they probably would be overwhelmed by this worg pack. But unfortunately for them, Ralis and his party have three secret weapons- Jaheira the druid, Minsc the berserker, and Dorn the blackguard. Viconia and Glint managed to cast the Slow spell on two worgs, allowing Ralis and Khalid to finish them off. Jaheira called upon the trees around them to subdue the worgs, and as luck would have it, the vines nd roots from the trees emerged from the ground, grabbing the remaining worgs and holding them immobile and vulnerable to be attacked. The worgs howled and whined while struggling to get loose form the roots, but Dorn and Minsc silenced them all with their blades, and the group continued moving northeast after all the worgs were dead. Before they departed, however, Jaheira healed Minsc, but she did not bother to heal Dorn, though.
"Minsc has not met many as strong as he is, but you, evil orc man, you may be as strong as Minsc. Perhaps stronger! Minsc does not say that often," Minsc said to Dorn.
The half-orc looked over at him and raised his right eyebrow. ""May be", ranger? Have no doubt of it. I could snap your bones like twigs and leave you lifeless on the ground," Dorn growled.
Minsc obviously was not intimidated at all. "Aha! That is where you are wrong! For Minsc has Boo, and our friend Ralis!" He exclaimed enthusiastically. "Attack Minsc, and you attack us all!"
Dorn blinked twice. "I underestimated you. You offset your weakness, allying yourself with the strong. A shrewd strategy."
"I have no strategy," Minsc admitted. "Just friendship! And that friendship makes Minsc stronger than you will ever be!"
Glint clapped his hands. "Well said, Minsc, my friend! Well said! The power of friendship cannot be beaten easily! It has been proven by history many times over!"
Minsc looked back at Glint and nodded in approval. "See, evil orc man? The gnome understands the value and strength of friendship!"
"A shrewd strategy nonetheless," Dorn said.
Later, Ralis and his party were waylaid by a pack of displacer beasts. During the battle, Neera tried to use her magic to help her friends, but in the end, her unpredictable wild magic ended up doing what Neera did not intend it to do, teleport three of the displacer beasts to a random location 3 miles away from their location. With three of the beasts gone, Ralis and his party had no trouble killing the other four displacer beasts, then they moved on.
Baeloth grew rather amused at Neera's abilities. He has never met a wild mage before, let alone heard of one, but he assumed that the unpredictable effects that her wild magic can cause would be a valuable asset to use against the six individuals who survived The Black Pits and banished him up to the surface. Whether Neera would like to take part in a tournament fight like The Black Pits remains to be seen, though, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.
"A wily wizardess like you would make a worthy pit warrior. None would know what you might sorcer up next." Baeloth said to her.
Oh, there he goes again. What is he trying to pull? Corwin thought to herself.
"Hmm, I can see it. "Neera The Magnificent", they'd call me," Neera said bursting with enthusiasm over the idea. "What will I do to my next opponent? Turn them into a hedgehog, or make their blood acid?"
"It's not as fun as you think, half-elf," M'khiin warned Neera.
"Such spirit!" Baeloth grinned approvingly at Neera. "I shall study your strengths when our current campaign concludes."
"Of course, I'd be just as likely to turn the audience's blood to acid, that would be one downside. But an audience of hedgehogs would be adorable!" Neera added, grinning at the thought of polymorphing a hundred drow into a hundred hedgehogs.
The approving grin on Baeloth slowly faded away. Having a warrior who is capable of unintentionally harming the spectators would be very problematic. "Ahh. I start to see some shortcomings with my speculative assessment of your suitability. Let us leave the matter for the moment."
Neera couldn't blame him for reneging on the idea of inviting her to be a gladiator of sorts in a tournament. Who would want to invite a wild mage, anyway? Now Ralis and his group walked up a hill. Around them there are more and more trees, no distinctive landmarks of any kind could be seen in their vicinity, just more and more trees, and a small hill that they are walking on. The soil of the hill is neither muddy or slippery, and fortunately not steep at all, so Ralis and his party had no trouble going up the hill.
"Be happy he reconsidered, half-elf. Being his pawn of entertainment is not fun at all," M'khiin said to Neera.
"Having no control over your magic is no fun. But you gotta go with the flow, I suppose," Neera said with a sigh.
"So you're saying you won't be worried if your wild magic does us any harm?" Corwin asked Neera urgently.
Neera blinked in surprise and outrage. "Hey, I didn't say that! What I mean is if you cannot control something, why bother trying? Like Adoy once told me, you cannot govern chaos. YES, I REMEMBERED WHAT YOU SAID, ADOY, NOW MAKE LIKE A TREE AND... do what trees do..."
"So what's your point?" Corwin asked Neera.
"My point is the key to true happiness is to accept the fact that you are never in control of what can't be controlled," Neera replied.
When the group reached the top of the hill seconds later, Neera took a careful look around, analyzing her surroundings.
"If anybody sees any special plants, please let me know, it's an urgent matter, okay?" Neera informed her companions.
"It would help us more if we knew what kind of flower you are looking for, Neera," Jaheira said, walking up to her.
Neera felt like slapping herself for not recalling earlier that Jaheira is a druid. With her knowledge and abilities as a druid, she would likely be able to determine the whereabouts of belladonna.
"Okay. Have you heard of belladonna, Jaheira?" Neera asked.
Everyone stopped walking at that moment, and Jaheira frowned sharply, recognizing the name. Belladonna, also known as "wolfsbane", are extremely poisonous herbs that are rumored to cure lycanthropy, meaning the herb can potentially cure someone who has been bitten by a werewolf and therefore is at risk of becoming a werewolf themselves. Unbeknownst to Jaheira, there is a werewolf hunting organization at Baldur's Gate called the "Silver Stake" and they create gas bombs using belladonna herbs.
"Are you serious, girl?! What the hell do you need those for?" Jaheira exclaimed.
"For a potion. Why? I am fully aware that they are poisonous, I just need you to help me find some," Neera said.
Jaheira crossed her arms, scowling sharply at Neera. The half-elf couldn't help fidgeting under her gaze.
"Can you help me? Please?" Neera asked meekly.
Jaheira nodded. "I will help you, but promise me you will not endanger anyone with that herb."
"I won't, trust me," Neera promised.
Jaheira nodded in approval and looked around, analyzing the placement of the trees, the moistness of the soil, anything that would give her a clue to how far they are form the nearest belladonna bush.
"What is she doing?" Voghiln asked Khalid.
"T-t-trying to find clues to where the herbs are l-located. I d-d-don't know how, but she once t-t-told me that nature has many ways of telling you where you are, and where someone or s-s-something is," Khalid replied.
"Huh. And I thought nature is silent and serene," Ralis said.
"To the untrained ears and eyes, yes. If you would spend more of your time out here among nature rather than the stifling stench of what you call "civilization", you would understand," Jaheira said while kneeling down and touching the soil with her right hand fingers.
Ralis rubbed his hands together and grunted. "Well, forgive us for being different from you," he said with sarcasm.
Jaheira didn't bother replying, she focused on deciphering nature's secret messages for the next minute until she finally found out where they need to go.
"The nearest belladona bush is a mile southeast from where we are.," she informed everyone.
"But that takes us away from Dead Man's Pass, I think," Ralis protested.
Neera slapped Ralis in the back of his head.
"Ouch!" he yelped.
"Jeez, Ralis! What is the matter with you! We are doing this for the well being of my sanity, here! Your mission can wait. Don't you want me to be at my best to better help you fight the crusade?" She asked him with incredulity.
Ralis felt ashamed that he became more focused on the mission than the physical and mental health of his companions. He became so eager to learn the secrets of Caelar's crusade that he lost sight of what should matter to him.
"You're right, Neera. I'm sorry. I don't think I have my priorities straight right now. Let's take this quick detour," he said.
Now Ralis and his party headed southeast, which took them back down the hill in the adjacent direction from where they arrived back to flat ground.
One mile later, they came across three belladonna bushes close to a small cluster of thin trees with only a few brown leaves left hanging on its nearly naked branches, and Dorn is once again carrying the barrel of bwoosh.
"Yes! There they are! We found them!" Neera exclaimed gleefully.
"All right. Let's grab some of those belladonna leaves and be done with this scavenger hunt," Ralis said, approaching the belladonna bushes.
"Belladonna's poisonous, Ralis. Be careful with it," Neera warned him.
Ralis sighed, trying to stay calm and focused. He slowly reached for one of the belladonna leaves, and once his fingers closed around a piece, he carefully pulled it apart from the bushes, then he grabbed two more pieces of herbs, then he returned to Neera, handing the herbs to her. As soon as the herbs were placed in Neera's open hands, she couldn't help smiling so wide, all of her teeth were exposed.
"All right! That's everything I need! LET'S DO THIS! Any time it's convenient for you, of course, Ralis. But, uh. Sooner. Sooner is better. Right now would be best. The next time we set up camp, I can brew this godsforsaken potion and finally silence this godsforsaken mage in my godsforsaken head! YES, I HEARD THAT!" Neera exclaimed like an insane madwoman, then she took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. "Deep breaths, Neera. Okay. Whenever you're good, Ralis, I'm good. Good. I'm good."
"Very well. Let's move," Ralis said, then the group retraced their steps northwest back to the small hill and climbed it, heading north after goign up the hill instead of continuing northeast.
Hours passed to evening and Ralis and his party still have not found any signs of the crusade's presence in Dead Man's Pass. Before the sun completely fell away from the sky, making way for the darkness of the night, Ralis decided to finally make camp.
Voghiln chopped lumber for the fireplace, and everyone else placed their bedrolls on the ground, but as for Neera, she got busy making her special potion for hours. Jaheira was worried about Neera drinking a potion that has the herbal juice of a few belladonna herbs in it, but Neera assured her that the turnip juice is meant to neutralize the poison in the belladonna herbal juice. It took Neera hours to finish the potion, she continued working even when most of her companions were asleep except for Minsc, Dorn, Voghiln and Ralis, who took turns watching over the campsite every two hours. Though Neera gradually grew more and more tired creating the special potion, the possibility of no longer hearing Adoy's voice in her head kept her going, motivating her. Question is, what is in store for Neera and her companions the following day?
The next morning, Ralis woke up as soon as he heard Neera's voice exclaim:
"IT IS DONE!"
Then she laughed almost in a hysterical manner.
"It is done!" She said again, then looked over at Ralis, seeing him frown at her. "Dramatic, huh? All right... here goes nothin'..."
Neera held the bottle of her special potion up in the air, and slwoly brought the bottle's head to her lips. Jaheira felt her heart pounding in her chest, hoping that Neera is right about the turnip juice neutralizing the poison of the belladonna herbs, because if it doesn't work, the poison will severely weaken her, or in the worst case scenario, kill her. The bottle's head made contact with Neera's lips and she began to drink it. Everyone could clearly hear the sound of Neera gulping the liquid, it nearly drowned out the distant chirping of birds. Voghiln watched Neera drink her potion in sheer admiration, seeing her throat visibly undulating with each gulp she took turned him on.
Ho ho! The young half fey woman sure knows how to drink! Voghiln smiled.
He has never seen a woman drink a beverage the same way he does. It made him fantasize drinking ale or mead with Neera in a tavern, and having fun in bed with her at a hotel, and his thoughts caused him to have an erection, but fortunately he is still sitting in his bedroll, so no one would see anything embarrassing if they were looking at him.
After drinking the last bit of liquid, Neera pulled the bottle out of her lips and sighed in relief. She then held her left hand up, signaling her companions to be quiet for a moment while she tries to hear Adoy say something in her mind. she didn't hear anything. Nothing but the distant chirping of birds somewhere in this forest. The smile on Neera's face grew wider and wider every second she realized that she can no longer hear Adoy's voice anymore.
Yes. Yes. YES! Silence- blissful, glorious silence! I never thought I'd hear it again. Or not hear it again. Can you hear silence?" Neera turned to Glint, asking him the question.
Glint rubbed his hairless chin in thought. "Hmm. No, I don't think so, Neera. I don't think you can hear anything that is silent," he replied.
Neera clapped her hands together. "Excellent!" She grinned, and performed a victory fist pump with both arms.
"So does this mean thou art free of Adoy?" Dynaheir asked Neera.
Neera shook her head. "Adoy's still there. I can feel him, but I can live with tht. I think I could even... I totally could. But should I?"
Ralis climbed out of his bedroll, standing on his legs. "Should you explain to us what in the hells you're talking about? Yes, you should definitely do that," he said in a sarcastic yet serious manner.
"Sheesh, witchy britches. Calm down!" Neera exclaimed to Ralis. "The potion helped me focus. At least, I think that's what it did. I can control our link, anyway. That's the important bit."
"What do you mean?" Ralis asked.
Neera frowned, tilting her head slightly to the left. "I can kind of- make him louder or quieter, if that make sense," she said, clearly unsure if she described her control over Adoy's voice correctly. "I THINK I could sever the connection completely if I wanted. Just... cut him off. I'm just not so sure I should."
"What's the alternative?" Jaheira asked.
"Uh, I'm not really sure yet," Neera said slowly, then after a few seconds of thinking, she came to a decision. "All right, I'm gonna talk to him."
"Oh. Well, that should be fun. And by fun, I mean the exact opposite of fun," Ralis said.
"Hey, at least you don't have to listen to the guy. Give me a sec, this won't take long..." Neera said, then she fell into silence, directing her mind to increase the volume of Adoy's voice.
Ralis and the others could not hear Adoy's voice, but Neera could. At first it sounded distant, then it gradually grew louder, as if Adoy were standing next to her.
"Adoy? I need you to tell me where you are," Neera said, then she fell silent.
During that silence, Ralis, Jaheira, Glint and the others saw Neera's facial expression twist into an annoyed frown.
"... I don't CARE if it's embarrassing, just TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE."
After a few more seconds of silence, everyone saw Neera's eyes widen in surprise, then she rolled her eyes.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding... How in the hells did you manage that? ... Yes I know you're not in one of the Hells. It was- Just listen a sec- Stop flapping your insubstantial ghost lips, PLEASE."
Another few seconds of silence, and everyone could clearly tell from Neera's annoyed facial expressions and body language that Adoy is not shutting up.
"Oh, that does it- this talk is over. I can do that now. BYE." Neera then focused her mind to decrease the volume of Adoy's voice, and Neera could now barely hear his voice as if he were 40 yards away from her.
Then she turned her attention to her companions with an annoyed scowl on her face.
"Fugue Plane. Ugh. Okay. It sounds like he's trapped in the Fugue Plane," Neera informed everyone in a mildly upset tone.
"What the hells?" Jaheira asked in surprise.
"Fugue Plane?" Dynaheir repeated in disbelief, raising her left eyebrow.
The Fugue Plane is a world in the Astral Sea of the World Axis cosmology. It is a plane of existence where the souls of mortals go when they die.
"Isn't that the place where souls of people who died go? How did he get there? Do you think his wild magic might have sent him there even though he isn't dead?" Ralis asked Neera.
Neera shrugged because she doubted it. However, though part of her knew that she should keep an open mind, the sullen look in her eyes told Ralis that she doubts that is true.
"My magic's done some pretty crazy things in the past... I guess it's not totally out of the question. He says there's some kind of mountain nearby that can help him out. I think he said mountain. He was, uh, agitated. Anyway, if I can find this Mountain of Nepenthe, I can bring him back to the Material Plane," she said.
"Mountain of Nepenthe. Never heard of it," Ralis said.
"Yeah. Me neither. Adoy'll tell me when we're near. It's roughly north of here, so it's on our way... I think. Guess we'll find out," Neera said.
After that, everyone picked up their bedrolls, Dorn picked up the bwoosh barrel, Corwin and Khalid destroyed the campfire, and everyone continued moving north.
Although they weren't exactly sure if they were going the right direction despite what Adoy told Neera, they continued heading north through the forest. Minutes passed, and every minute that passed, Neera began to doubt more and more that Adoy said that they should head north. For all she knows, she might have misheard him, or he might not have a sense of direction. She did not want to mislead her companions in any way.
Agh, come on Neera, this is no time to doubt yourself. Your team trusts your directions, so chin up and roll full steam ahead! Neera encouraged herself, but she needed some encouragement from another person so she decided to ask Corwin for it.
"Hey, Corwin. Corrrrwin. Corrie. Can I call you Corrie?" Neera called in a childish manner.
"No. What is it, Neera?" Corwin replied.
"Nothing too important. I was just wondering how you think we're doing. As a team, I mean. The group of us, working together. Yep. Doing pretty good, huh?" Neera said.
Corwin nodded in agreement. "You're doing a good job. Your skills are proving invaluable."
Neera gasped, she never expected to get a compliment like that from the Flaming Fist captain. "Really?! You mean it? That is... I... I wasn't worried about ME, exactly. It was the team, you know."
"It's a good team, Neera. We're fortunate you're part of it," Corwin gave Neera a comforting pat on the back.
Neera smiled, feeling in high spirits now that she knows that Corwin is glad to have a wild mage in the group. But Dynaheir, however, couldn't help wondering if Corwin knows how unpredictably dangerous a wild mage can be.
"Thou speakest of fortune, Captain Corwin? I take it that thou hast never been in the company of a wild mage, am I wrong?" Dynaheir asked inquisitively.
Corwin shrugged. "I know nothing about wild mages. To be honest, I don't know anything about mages at all. They're all the same to me- masters of the arcane arts."
The group reached an open space that is 30 yards across on both ends in the forest where there are two boulders, heading northeast towards the boulders when Dynaheir begant to reply to Corwin's remark.
"Then allow me to educate thee about the unpredictable dangers of wild mages. First of all, normal spellcasters such as myself, an invoker of The Three, have complete control over most of the spells we cast. Wild mages, on the other hand, have little or no control over their magic," Dynaheir explained.
"Uh, you forgot to mention how my spells are more powerful, for example, I can shoot four magic missiles at once, and Dynaheir can only fire two at once," Neera chimed in, speaking to Corwin as they drew closer to the boulders.
"Thou'rt correct, Neera, but thy spells are unpredictable and dangerous. When thou try to cast the Hold Person spell on someone, thy wild surge might cause the spell to turn the hapless soul's blood into hot magma." Then dynaheir turned her attention to Corwin. "Tell thyself this, Captain Corwin, is a mage with whimsical spells a valuable asset to the team, hmm?"
Corwin furrowed her eyebrows, thinking over Dynaheir's question carefully before replying.
"When you put it that way, she might be a possible danger to the team..." Corwin began.
Neera pouted in frustration because of Corwin seemingly siding with Dynaheir, and Corwin heard Neera pout.
"Rein it in. If you can't control yourself, you're a danger to us all," Corwin told Neera.
"I KNOW what I'm doing. I even mean to do it, usually. Most of the time. At least half of it, I'd say," Neera said defensively.
Dynaheir nodded in approval. "'Tis exactly the answer I was searching for," she said. "We need to make sure Neera is not a danger to thyself and our group. I'd hate to see her wild magic turn any of us into a small insect."
Glint felt his skin crawl when he heard Dynaheir say that. "Now that's a scary thought. Yes indeed, that is really scary to think about," Glint said.
"Then don't think about it," M'khiin told the gnome.
Glint then had a better idea how to not think of it. Change the subject. After passing by the boulder, heading towards the cluster of trees ahead, Glint spoke to Dynaheir to take his mind off of blood changing to magma.
"You've an interesting way of talking. I mean your language, not your means. My second cousin twice removed could make his posterior talk. Better company than he was," Glint said.
Dynaheir looked down at the gnome walking next to her to her left, while Minsc walked alongside her on her right, frowning at his remark in confusion.
"I do not understand what thou art trying to say," she said.
"See? It's that, that right there. "Thees" and "thous" and "thines". Isn't it easier to use "you's" and "you's" again and "yours"?"
Dynaheir smirked after Glint spoke, keeping her eyes on what is ahead instead of looking down at him as they walked into the next parts of the forest.
"When one's power comes from incantation, it is a wise Wychlaran who keeps her tongue limber."
"Oh oh oh! So you do it to retain clarity! Make sure your mouth can form the words and keep your mind sharp! That's what you're saying. Thou'rt saying?"
"Perhaps that is the truth," Dynaheir replied while tilting her head towards Minsc for a second. "Perhaps I just prefer a more formal affect. Who is to say?"
"You're not going to tell me one way or another, are you? Oh, I like thee!" Glint said.
Dynaheir chose not to answer the gnome and let the conversation end there. Truth be told, she gets her habit of using informal pronouns from her mother, who was also a Wychlaran of Rashemen. She once thought "thees" and "thous" sounded odd too, but as she grew older and became a "hathran" or "learned sister" of the Witches of Rashemen, Dynaheir learned that informal pronouns sound more formal than their name implies- it made her mother sound elegant and wise, and she wanted to emulate that, to be a woman whose wisdom is unquestioned and unmatched, and it made her grow arrogant as she grew older, believing her moral code is superior over others. Usually those who disobey the wisdom of a Wychlaran is punished severely. That means Dynaheir would normally punish Ralis for allowing two drow and a goblin into his group as if she were his mother, but she has slowly learned that even the wisest man and woman can be blinded by prejudice, because many months ago, back when Ralis defended Viconia from being attacked by Kivan, she saw raw, yet confident strength and wisdom in him, especially when he brought up Drizzt to prove his point that some drow deserve a chance to mingle with humans and surface elves without hostility.
As the group neared closer to the first few trees at the northeastern edge of the small clearing, they saw a cloaked figure emerge from behind one of the trees, and as soon as they spotted the figure, they immediately drew their weapons.
"Stop right there! don't come any closer!" Ralis called to the stranger, holding his swords tightly.
"Stand down, everyone. I have not come to harm you- I am an ally," the cloaked figure said as he stretched his right hand out towards them as if signaling them to stop approaching him.
"As a matter of fact... I have come to join you," the figure added as he pulled his hood down, revealing his face.
Ralis couldn't believe who it is. It is none other than Jovan Goldmarsh, the elf who told him about his adventures in Icewind Dale many decades ago. Ralis slowly sheathed his swords into their scabbards as his mouth slowly dropped open in surprise.
"Jovan? Is that really you?" Ralis asked in disbelief.
Jovan nodded. "Yes, Ralis, it is I. I sincerely apologize for startling all of you."
"Who is this guy?" Neera asked Ralis.
"And how d-does he know your name?" Khalid asked, still holding his sword and shield.
Ralis looked around him and noticed that everyone in his group is on the defensive, still holding their weapons at the ready, unsure of whether to treat Jovan as a hostile or not.
"Oh gods, come on guys, don't you see we know each other? Lower your weapons," Ralis commanded.
Everyone did what he told them to do, albeit reluctantly, especially Dorn, because of his wariness of betrayal. Ralis took a few steps towards Jovan while his group followed behind him about seven feet away.
"What are you doing out here, Jovan? You need to be careful, startling us like that, we could have mistaken you as an assassin under the employ of Caelar Argent," Ralis scolded him.
Jovan nodded submissively. "I know, and again, I apologize. The reason why I followed you out here is because I wish to join you on your recon mission to Dragonspear Castle.
Jaheira laughed skeptically. "And you think that we would simply welcome you, a stranger, with open arms? What the hell do you take us for, a group of bumbling idiots?"
Jovan shook his head, taking a few steps closer to the group. "Many miles away from that, I assure you. I have... concerns about Caelar Argent and her crusade."
"Everyone is concerned about her crusade. What makes you so unique?" Corwin questioned the elf.
Jovan placed his hands on his waist after she said that. "I heard a small rumor from a Flaming Fist soldier who spoke to one of the soldiers back at Bridgefort before that incident on Boareskyr Bridge. He told the Flaming Fist soldier that there was a disagreement between a mage woman and the Barghest. The woman wanted you, Ralis, for some reason, while the Barghest wanted to simply parlay with you."
Ralis nodded. It's true that the Barghest wanted to parlay with him, but he paid little attention to the woman who disagreed with the Barghest's course of action. Now that Jovan brought it up, Ralis clearly remembered the mage woman. She was the only crusader during the siege of Bridgefort who knew his name and face. He never put much thought into why she was almost willing to disobey the Barghest's orders, but now, thinking back to it hints that the crusade might have an ulterior motive.
"It's true, it's all true..." Ralis said, rubbing his chin in thought.
Neera looked completely clueless. "Wait, what does this mean?" She asked Dynaheir.
"It means that Caelar Argent might have another goal in mind. It is now apparent that she has some kind of plan for Ralis," Dynaheir replied.
"What does the possibility of Caelar having a secret goal have to do with you, Jovan?" Ralis asked.
Jovan sighed. "You do realize that Dragonspear Castle and the demons and devils of the Nine Hells have a close knit history together, right?"
"Yeah? So?" Ralis subtly urged him to get to the point.
"For the past six decades, after my adventures in Icewind Dale 88 years ago, I've had this fear... A fear that has been plaguing me almost every night in the form of nightmares," Jovan said, his voice wavering and his eyes unable to focus on Ralis and his group.
Ralis and his group felt the ominous aura of unease around Jovan now, as if a malevolent cloud is hanging over him, spreading his fear to others.
"What is it? W-w-what is it that you are afraid of?" Khalid asked.
Jovan slowly shook his head, wiping sweat off his forehead. "More like who. I just have a feeling that a crusade army laying siege to a ruined castle with a portal connected to the Nine Hells means something very personal to me. What if their goal is to open the portal that leads to the Nine Hells? If they do that, then maybe..." Jovan paused there and tried to shake the bleak thoughts out of his mind. "Anyway, we should get going, we are wasting daylight. I just want to tag along and make sure my worst fear isn't true," he said, the tone of his voice mildly upbeat again.
Ralis couldn't help wondering what is it that Jovan wants to check out at Dragonspear Castle. There is a personal reason why he wants to stop Caelar argent's crusaders, and he is not forthcoming with the answer, so it is best to let him come with.
"All right, Jovan, you can come with us. But consider yourself forewarned, my group doesn't know you as well as I do. Don't do anything to make them think you mean us harm," Ralis advised him.
"I'll try not to overstep my bounds," Jovan promised, then approached the group, standing close to Ralis as they headed north, leaving the small clearing and entering the forest once more.
As they walked through the forest for the next hour, Jovan made sure to get himself acquainted with everyone, including Dorn. As expected, Dorn did not trust Jovan, and neither did Jaheira and Viconia, but they made no attempt to attack him at least. The only people who trusted him were Ralis, Corwin, Minsc, Dynaheir, Neera, Voghiln and Khalid. Baeloth was intrigued to meet an adventuring elf who visited Icewind Dale, and as usual, asked jovan if he would be interested in fighting for profit or fame, and obviously Jovan turned him down, much to Baeloth's disappointment. An hour later since meeting Jovan, they still have not found Dead Man's Pass, at least not yet. They eventually found a pond with clean water to stop and take a quick drink at least. however as time slowly passed, Ralis and Corwin began to think that they may have passed by the location.
"Jovan, do you know your way around these forests? We need to make sure we did not miss our destination," Corwin said.
"Sadly I don't. I've never traveled this far south before..." Jovan replied.
While Ralis, Jovan and Corwin were talking about how far north they should go according to Neera's direction based on what Adoy told her, Glint struck up a conversation with Jaheira.
"So, Jaheira, you and Khalid. You two have been together for a while, now, have you?" He asked, scratching his sideburns while walking beside Jaheira, with Khalid to her right.
Jaheira nodded shamelessly. "More than ten years. Married for eight of them."
"It feels longer, sometimes. T-t-the joy I feel is s-s-seemingly without end," Khalid said with a proud smirk.
Glint's eyes widened more in amusement than astonishment. "Ten years, huh? That is impressive. And you're happy together? With each other?"
"I cannot picture my life with my love Jahiera," Khalid said without stuttering over a single word.
"Oh, that's just lack of imagination. We can work on that."
Jaheira felt a bit disturbed at what Glint just said. "Why do you ask these things?"
"Hmm? Oh, no reason. Just trying to, you know, get to know the members of my party. Is there anything you'd like to know about me?" Glint replied.
Jaheira had a feeling that the gnome is interested in her, even though she is married. Why else would he talk about opening Khalid's imagination about living his life without her by his side?
"If I think of something, I'll let you know," Jaheira promised the gnome. Which is never, Jaheira remarked in her thoughts, as she had no intention of speaking further to Glint unless absolutely necessary.
While Glint, Khalid and Jaheira were speaking, Voghiln was having a conversation with Neera as well, something that he has wanted to do for quite a while, as he has never met a half-elf woman with pink hair before. It is an unusual sight, plus, the memory of seeing her chugging her custom potion as if it were a large flagon of ale deeply fascinated him.
"... so the wife looked like a goat?" Neera asked, trying to make sense of Voghiln's story because his accent is so unusual and strange.
"Ja! And the drunkard thought the sheepherder was married to a goat!" Voghiln exclaimed and laughed, and Neera laughed with him.
"Ha! Ha-ha-ha-ha! Oh! He thought she was a goat! That's a good one! It's good to laugh! Feels like it's been a while, you know?"
Voghlin nodded in reply to Neera. "Ja, ja. And, uh, there are other things I have not done of late," he said, lowering his eyes down towards Neera's pants, trying to imagine how she looks without her clothes on. "... Things better done with a lady... Perhaps you and I could do such things together, eh...?" he added slowly, trying to restrain himself from groping Neera's buttocks, and on top of that, placing his right hand in his pants pocket and hold his hardening manhood down to prevent it from creating a visible bulge from within his pants, and fortunately it is easy to control his erection since they are still walking. But if they were standing idle, holding down his manhood would be a less easy.
Neera slowly turned to face Voghiln with a confused, mildly disturbed look. "You and I? You want...?" Her voice trailed off there, then she started laughing as if he told a joke.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Oh, Voghiln, that is great! You had me going there for a second, you know that? You really had me going!" Neera said cheerfully.
Voghiln's eyes widened momentarily in surprise. He was sure that Neera knew what he was referring to. Was she giving him a hint that she is not interested? He wasn't entirely sure, but he had a gut feeling that she is not interested, and that hurt his confused feelings.
"You think I was making a joke? Well... maybe I was... Ja, ja..." Voghiln said slowly and uneasily, trying not to sound too crestfallen. "(It was a joke)," he whispered to himself, trying to lift his depressed spirits up. "Good one, eh?" He forced a grin at Neera.
"The best, Voghiln, the best!" Neera grinned back.
At that moment, after their banter, Jovan was questioning their source on which direction they are going. By the time they found themselves walking into a straightforward trail where the ground is mostly gravel than grass or dirt, and there are walls boulders of various shapes and sizes surrounding the trail, a perfect place for an ambush, but Jovan never noticed that possibility, he couldn't help wondering if this Adoy that Ralis said Neera spoke to could be trusted. He never met anyone who was a wild mage before, but from what he has learned about them, relying on them is like gambling- you'll never know what you might get.
"... Are you sure? The wild mage said we should go north?" Jovan asked Ralis, walking beside him to his right, Corwin to his left.
Ralis nodded, sensing the doubt in Jovan's voice. "I know you think I made the wrong call listening to Neera, but without her information, we're practically flying blind here."
Jovan raised an eyebrow in concern. "I never questioned your confidence in your companion's sense of judgment," he said in a calm, reasonable tone.
"It sounded as if you had, though," Ralis countered, sounding a little defensive.
Jovan sighed in exasperation. "Look, I-"
"Quiet!" Corwin abruptly hissed, and Jovan quickly fell silent, looking over at her direction with Ralis.
With everyone's silence secured, Corwin examined their surroundings. She noticed that there are more than a dozen boulders scattered around this open space, a crusader assassin or a cunning predator could be hiding behind one of them, or maybe more. Even more disturbing, the air in this area of the forest is stale and heavy, as if all the energy and power had been drained in this area.
"What is it?" Ralis whispered to her.
"Be on your guard, Ralis. This place was practically made for an ambush," Corwin whispered back.
"And the air is fairly thin here too, as if nature has abandoned this place," Jaheira commented.
While the group was trying to decide whether to move forward into the blatantly obvious ambush grounds, about 30 yards ahead of them, perched on the tallest boulder on the left side of the trail out of their view, ten mysterious figures were watching them, camouflaged by the canopy of the tall trees blocking some of the sunlight.
"It's him," one of the assassins whispered and pointed at Ralis as he and his group cautiously walked down the trail.
It took them almost two minutes to get close to where the assassins are waiting.
"Proceed as instructed," the assassin leader whispered back, then he gave the hand signal to tell his team that now is the time to strike.
Then suddenly, Ralis, Corwin and their group witnessed ten shadowy cloaked figures drop down from the air and land on the ground ten feet away from them, and half of them brandished short swords, two of them have daggers, and the leader is armed with two long swords.
Without hesitation, Ralis and his party drew their weapons. Neera and Dynaheir readied themselves to cast a volley of magic missiles, but when they thrust their arms forward, a thick wisp of smoke only emerged from the palms of their hands and they heard a fizzing noise.
"What the heck?! My magic failed!" Neera exclaimed.
"By the Three! A dead-magic zone!" Dynaheir exclaimed.
"What?!" Corwin exclaimed, looking back at Dynaheir. Everyone looked at her in surprise, except Dorn.
Big mistake. The assassins sprung into action, but Dorn engaging them gave Ralis and his party the time they needed to refocus on the battle at hand. If it weren't for Dorn, the assassins would have killed one of them in the blink of an eye, possibly. Ralis engaged the mercenary assassin leader, clashing swords, Voghiln, M'khiin, Minsc, Khalid, Jaheira, Glint, Jovan and Viconia engaged in melee combat. Neera, Baeloth and Dynaheir stayed back since melee combat is not their major expertise, and Corwin stayed out of melee combat and looked around to make sure the assassins don't have any archers of their own posted nearby.
A dead-magic zone is an area where magic ceases to function, a lasting effect that has appeared in certain locations on Faerun ever since the Time of Troubles ended. The fight against the assassin is almost evenly matched, however, Dorn, with his blackguard powers, tipped the balance in Ralis' favor, as he managed to kill two assassins with a single strike from his blade, and none of the wounds he inflicted on them were seriously fatal- its because he used his blackguard power to poison his blade, which explains why the assassins he attacked are writhing on the ground in pain. As the fight continued for the next two minutes, Corwin noticed that the assassins have no archers after all, they are just attacking head-on. Because of that, she began to believe that these assassins might not be trying to kill them, or maybe they are not so experienced. Why would Caelar send partially experienced assassins after them? Who would?
"Damn it! I hate watching them fight when I can't even help!" Neera cursed.
"There is nothing we can do. We are in a dead-magic zone, we cannot cast spells, and if we try to help them in combat, we will only risk getting ourselves hurt," Dynaheir reasoned with Neera, placing her right hand on her shoulder.
At that moment, Corwin noticed a new assassin appear out of thin air behind Dorn while he is occupied fighting an assassin armed with two short swords in each hand. The assassin drove a dagger that has zigzagging curved edges on its blade up Dorn's left armpit, one of the few weak spots in his armor when the opportunity presented itself, and Dorn yelled in pain, trying his hardest not to sag down to his knees, realizing that he had been stabbed by a dagger of paralysis.
"Damn!" Corwin cursed and took aim at the assassin who stabbed dorn in the back, and at that moment, Voghiln rushed towards Dorn to assist him before the assassin he was fighting can cut his head in half.
Corwin fired her arrow, aiming at the back stabbing assassin's right leg, out of fear that the assassin might dodge aside and her arrow might strike Dorn in the back by mistake. The moment when Voghiln used Kondar to parry the assassin's blade inches from Dorn's forehead, Corwin's arrow pierced through the back stabbing assassin's right leg, inches above his foot. The moment Dorn heard the assassin behind him cry out in pain after getting shot by Corwin, he pulled a dagger out of his belt and spun around, slicing the assassin's neck with it at the same moment Voghiln stabbed the assassin in front of Dorn in the chest.
The assassin leader noticed his allies are being felled almost at a fast rate. Though Dorn had been subdued by a surprise attack from one of his men, Dorn still managed to take him down despite being partially paralyzed. The assassin leader kicked Ralis in the chest when he could, then somersaulted twice to create more distance between him and his opponent.
"As expected, you have proved your might, Ralis. I have seen enough," the assassin leader told Ralis before he could charge at him.
Then he pulled a smoke bomb out of his utility belt and threw it down towards the ground.
*Poompf!* A thick cloud of smoke engulfed the entire dead-magic zone, and when the smoke cleared, Ralis and his group discovered that the assassins that have not been killed retreated, the smokescreen covered their escape.
"What... the hell?" Ralis panted, then sheathed his swords into their scabbards then looked to Jovan for answers.
"Your guess is as good as mine," he said.
"Whoever those assassins were, they fought us not to kill us, but to assess our strength," Jaheira said.
"For what?" Viconia asked.
Jaheira walked over to Dorn, checking him over as he struggled to stand on his feet despite his tense muscles refusing to relax.
"That's a question we can't answer by sitting here. Let's get out of here and ponder about it in a spot that is not a dead-magic zone," Neera said.
"She's right. We should keep moving north. Adoy's direction is our only lead, so we should follow it," Ralis said, and the group moved on, with Dorn struggling to walk, but after three minutes, the paralysis wore off and his muscles finally relaxed.