Disclaimer: NWN2 & MotB are property of Obsidian and are used here for pure fun only.
Author's Notes:
-I short chapter before the battle.
-This time errors-free by Jazhara! Thank you!
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-- 14 --
The portal the Founder had provided had landed them in the Shadow Theatre with their goal just across the town. They had time to rest, recover and replenish their stock of weapons, potions and other things that might prove helpful, before heading for the Vault. But in all likelihood the battle in Kelemvor's realm could be very short. He was a god on his own plane and few could stand up to him.
Aneele with the bottomless abyss brewing within her perhaps, but her recent troubles with Myrkul proved that gods, dead or alive, were still off the menu, for now. Weaken him, yes. Erase him from existence, sadly, not yet.
"This will be a dangerous venture. Braving the Sunken City or the Thayan Academy will prove fairly minor in comparison," Kaelyn noted choosing her weapon carefully from the assortment they have collected during their travels. She had learned that different enemies demanded different approaches and with that, she never got attached to one weapon for too long. Kelemvor's knights will most assuredly be one of the more difficult opponents she was to face in her struggle to end suffering.
"Not that we can ask anyone for any advice on how to attack a god's realm," Gann snorted from the side. His belief in gods as such might be nonexistent but he had little doubt in their destructive power as spirits.
"He is not all that powerful," Kaelyn assured him. Gann was perplexed. The celestial truly believed that.
"In his own house? I should think that's where he is at his strongest," he countered. He had already agreed to go to this plane of the dead and help Aneele. He knew death could strike him at the very beginning of battle. He did not approve, however, of dying because Dove's beliefs should be taken as facts.
"Would this argument lead anywhere?" Safiya interrupted them, sounding more than a little annoyed, but it could have been apprehension sneaking in behind it all. "We have neither the power nor the weapons to best him, but Kelemvor's realm is where we are going. Once we meet with the 'Generals' we will proceed from there."
"And they would answer only to Akachi no matter what they face."
Kaelyn sounded both pleased and irked, if such a thing was possible. An great army that would follow the one who had the least interest in continuing the Crusade beyond her selfish needs.
"Will Aneele be up to it?"
It was a foolish question. They all knew she was more than 'up' for it. Yet the question was still there on everyone's mind.
"She will devour the entire city of the dead if that is what it takes to retrieve her soul."
"Where is she anyway?" He asked, finally looking around the chamber. He had not seen her since they'd entered the Vault. She had showed little interest in discussing the upcoming war despite its importance for her survival.
"She is not wandering around on her own again, is she?" She looked up worriedly. While Aneele certainly knew how to take care of herself, Safiya least of all liked the idea of the elf being alone in her current condition.
"There is nothing on this level of the temple that we should wo-"
The Vault rattled.
It was not the explosion per se, but something shook the building straight from its shadowy roots. There was no magical sensation or fire to speak of but shadowy partials in the air rose, fell and swayed with great commotion. A second one followed, shaking the foundations more violently than the previous one, so much so that some of the pillars leaned and whined under the weight of the building.
"The Crematorium!" Safiya's voice broke through the commotion in the air.
"Why would she choose that dreadful place to go in?" Kaelyn shook her head but followed the others.
Even before they'd reached the embalming room, a blur of inky blackness rushed past them screeching and howling. It disappeared into thin air leaving behind bone chilling coldness with whimpers fading into the distance.
From behind the corner Aneele appeared with an empty expression and hands in her pockets.
"What happened?! We heard an explosion," Safiya asked, scanning the room for any potential danger that might jump at them from the shadows.
"Proper application of the food chain," she shrugged and walked past them.
Several moments of stunned silence later, Gann exploded,
"Let us go to that cursed plane and be done with it! I am tired of her not making any sense!"
"Indeed," Kaelyn whispered. "Her foolish decision to devour Myrkul has cost her greatly. She will not last much longer."
Safiya, the one who always had a plan – one of the benefits of having a Thayan on board was that they always had a plan – marched over to her enchanted backpack and pulled out several bags heavy with coins, and a scroll.
"Here hagspawn," Safiya said, placing it all in his hands so suddenly that he nearly overbalanced it and let the golden content spill on the floor. "Go to the bazaar and get as many healing and protective supplies as you can. And sell all the junk we don't need."
"Me?" He looked at her in disbelief. "What makes you believe that any of the merchants would give a better price to me?"
"Because they wouldn't barter at all with a Red Wizard and Kaelyn doesn't know how to get the best items at the most lucrative price. Besides," she waved with a wand dismissively, "I have to speak with Magda."
"So the heavy burden of charming the merchants rests upon my shoulders," he sighed once again, most dramatically. "Very well. Despite my undeserved reputation I shall do my best to empty their supplies and conserve our coins at the same time."
Putting all the gold they'd collected – and it was ridiculously much – in his bag he opened the scroll and read its contents. To his surprise the list contained almost nothing but healing potions, kits and medical spells. He understood they were going to war and that staying alive in the realm of the dead – ironic really – was paramount, but he expected at least a few more destructive components.
"Why so many healing potions wizardess? Both Kaelyn and I are well proficient in treating wounds." Kaelyn more than him but he had enough knowledge to help. She glanced at him over her shoulder with a sour expression, as if she expected of him to know what she was thinking of. Gann, for his part, would never want to know what went on in the head of the Red Wizard. Her dreams he would be curious to visit, but suicidal he was not.
"Those are for her," Safiya said plainly. "She had not eaten, drank or slept for more than three months. If anything, the return of her soul will put her at death's door."
He had not thought of that.
He should have.
"And take Okku with you," Safiya called after him lightly, as if it was an afterthought. Gann looked at her curiously. "His presence might make bartering easier for you where Witches are concerned." Because yes, the Witches held the greatest supply of healing materials in the entire town.
"I understand that the witches are not so fond of me, but I hardly need an intimidating ball of fur with me to get the job done." Even when said job consisted of nothing but shopping.
"Take. The. Damn. Bear." She intoned, gripping the wand tightly. To Gann's expert eye it looked like a wand she had threatened him while he was transfigured into that animal, a wand of mass destruction and high damage distribution. He opened his mouth to protest, because wand of collateral damage or not, he would not be threatened into submission like a common-
"Take Okku with you Gann," Aneele's empty voice sounded from the dark.
And that's all it took for his pride and self-esteem to crumble. He glanced at where the elf was.
She was sitting on the floor right under the great painting of the first crusade, the Silver Sword's dreamy shape resting at her hip awkwardly and that cursed scythe leaning against the wall, it's sickeningly black blade posed as if to fall on her neck at any time. Her arms were crossed over her drawn knees and she was twitching lightly.
Her body was failing her.
He also noticed that as Kaelyn moved from one room to another, her black eyes rested more and more on the Silver Sword, and not so much on the ill bearer. How ever this Crusade might end, Gann had an inkling that Dove had set her eyes on a very helpful tool she could use in the future.
He wondered if he should mention it to Aneele, but ultimately decided against it. That girl could notice things before they actually happened.
"Very well. I shall take the bear out for a walk," he said, lightly straightening his shoulders. "But if he gets lost along the way I will take no responsibility for it."
Once Gann was out of sight, Safiya looked at the supplies she was sorting out.
"Should we bring food to the Fugue Plane?" She asked. "It doesn't take that much space in the bags."
From her place under the painting Aneele looked up.
"We will either win and come back, or die and it won't matter anymore."
"That's a bleak outlook on things," Safiya remarked. She preferred to consider herself a realistic optimist. And currently she was realistically optimistic that they would succeed.
"You should leave Kaji here. He might get caught in the battle," Aneele pointed at the little homunculi fluttering around the wizardess' head and shoulders. He shook his head quickly and dug his claws into Safiya's red robe.
Working his way through the words Kaji finally understood what the elf meant and clutched his mistress' robe.
"Don't want to stay!" He squealed.
"Calm yourself Kaji. You'll not stay alone." She looked at the impassive spirit-eater. "Where I go, Kaji goes as well," she said in such a tone that settled the matter.
"You are still determined to go through with this?"
"It is what my mother, the Founder, has given her life for. I cannot- will not give up when I am so close."
Aneele blinked at the passion behind her words. Thayans.
"The Founder must have loved him greatly," Aneele said from the dark. Safiya waved her hand impatiently.
"Akachi has nothing to do with my reasons. I do not love him. I do not even remember him. I am Safiya. The Founder might have fashioned me on the image of her youth and innocence but memories of him she did not give me."
"That may be for the best. Soul or not, I'd feel dreadfully uncomfortable should you start looking at me the way the Founder did."
Stunned for a moment Safiya paused in the middle of packing.
"She didn't!"
"I dare say she did. Love and stars, and all the gentle feelings under the moon." The elf shook her head. "I am not even going to pretend I understand."
Safiya opened her mouth to say something Aneele wouldn't appreciate, but then decided against it. She watched the elf girl curl even further into herself. Perhaps things will work out once everything was over.
"You need to see if the others are ready to battle soon," Aneele said with detachment in her voice.
Provided they survived first.
--
Hours later Gann had successfully emptied the coffers and provisions of three different merchants in the Bazaar, made sure the priest in Kelemvor's temple lost his yearly supply of healing potions and was now working his way through Katya's store.
Bartering with her didn't go half bad as he expected it to be. But then again, Katya and Sheva did not have as hostile a disposition as Kazimika did. That witch was currently trying to flay off his armor, skin, muscle and bone with the power of her glare alone. Or perhaps she would stop at his skin.
Her eyes were full with fury and inbred sense of superiority. This one prided herself to be a witch and law in a country where those two words meant the same thing.
"Has your search for the cure proved fruitful?" Sheva asked breaking the sound of coins and potion bottles.
"You'd better be off asking how far into the madness the spirit-eater is, Sheva," Kazimika added with a condescending tone, not taking her eyes off the hagspawn. He certainly wouldn't mind rearranging a few of her dreams.
"Actually, I am happy to say that we have discovered the reason behind the curse," he paused for a good effect, "as well as its cure."
Next to him Katya gasped nearly dropping the neatly packed bottles and Sheva Whitefeather looked at him like he had just grown a second head – or something equally surprising. Only Kazimika's eyes narrowed behind the slits of her mask.
"Impossible," she said firmly, but with a raised hand Sheva shushed her.
"Is that true hagspawn? Has the cure truly been found?"
He grinned for all he was worth.
"Oh yes. And we are heading today to… acquire it. With little luck in less than a tenday the spirit-eater will be no more."
"That is good to hear," the old woman sighed and her voice revealed relief. "And is one of better news I have heard in a while."
"If it comes to pass the spirits will rejoice everywhere," Katya nodded.
"Lies!" Kazimika insisted angrily. "The curse had been around for centuries. Were it so simple to remove it, it would have been done so long ago."
"Perhaps if they had been helped rather than hunted down…"
Yes, Kazimika had it in her to drive even the most patient of men to unspeakable acts. He was certainly tempted to- but no. Were he to do something like that the suspicion would immediately fall on him, and Aneele would lose what little favour she had with the Witches.
"Mad creatures that would sooner eat you than ask for help," she hissed.
"And would there be help for them had they asked?" He countered.
Kazimika opened her mouth to say something, but the bear god stepped in.
"Save your words for some other time. My barrow is warm and waits for my return once the spirit-eater is no more," he grumbled from his spot near the statue of Chauntea. "And I wish for swift return."
Diplomatic as only a bear could be, Gann thought, but he was grateful nonetheless. Who knows how it would have ended otherwise? Any final word he would bring to the table would with no doubt anger the Witches. And with their purchase complete they immediately headed back to the Vault.
Gannayev was pensive. More than usual.
Despite the insults the Witches would howl his way there was always an undertone of longing behind their eyes. Something hate and indignation could not hide completely. He had seen it in every woman he had spoken to.
Except the one he was following.
Every time she looked at him he felt scrutiny, the Hunger deciding if he was good for something other than a passing meal. Gann had little doubt that should he step over the line – which he had no idea how it might look like – that she would come down upon him with all the fury and emptiness, and he would be no more.
She did not hate him – she'd have to care for him first.
"You'll walk over the edge of a cliff in your daydreams, hagspawn," Okku said glancing at the blue man.
"I do not daydream," he said tartly. Indeed, daydreaming was for poor fools who couldn't walk through dreams as they wished. "I was merely thinking of the future."
Okku let out a bearish snort.
"I wouldn't have thought you would give your future much consideration."
In truth, he hadn't. And because he didn't he decided to counter it with a question of his own.
"Do you already know what you will do, old father bear?" Gann asked with a taunting smile.
"Once my oath is fulfilled I will sleep and dream. And this time there will be no nightmares for me, or my kin," the bear god spoke wistfully. He turned his great head to look at the dreamwalker. "And what of you hagspawn?"
"Me?" Gann asked with a raised eyebrow.
"This journey nears its end and should this end prove favorable for us, what will you do?"
"With the reputation of helping the spirit-eating curse end I could do many things," he said with a flourish. Never mind that he couldn't think of a single one at the moment.
Okku chuckled.
"I am not surprised. You are such an inconsistent creature. You go where the road takes you."
Gann frowned indignantly.
"It is better than sleeping the eons away. I suppose the others have made such plans," he sighed.
"They indulge them, yes."
"And what might they be? Forgive me, but other than concern for Aneele's health I have heard little more from the wizardess' mouth. Though I can guess what Dove is planning for her future."
"Indeed. The Red Wizard would return home free from her promise as I will be from mine." Gann chuckled at the image. She would most likely in a great spectacle of magic demolish all the rivaling wizards and take back the school founded by her older self. "And the little one said she would return to Sword Coast."
The hagspawn paused in mid-stride.
"What?"
'Little one' was a term Okku used to refer to Aneele. But she was not someone to disclose anything about herself, particularly in the state she was in. He had not heard her say a word of her past. Or her future.
"She said she did not know what she will do with her life but that she would start searching at her home."
"She speaks with you of that?" The hagspawn asked slowly.
"Often," Okku responded. "On many nights when she kept watch and the others slept."
Gann wasn't listening. He felt strangely bitter and cheated.
Lately she had done nothing but berate him yet with Okku she had long conversations on her future. Had he done something so grave to insult her? He did not know, but he was certain that he had been well behaved and even supportive during the past month.
Perhaps he should just accept the fact that her bond had grown thicker with some, and was almost non-existent with the others.
He'd be damned and would sooner believe in gods than give up like that.
"Come along hagspawn," Okku called from up ahead, "or I shall have to tell the Red Wizardess how I lost you in the crowd."
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