Yeah yeah…I stole a movie title for this chapter, sue me. I will not be able to update as much as I would like for quite a while since school started back up yesterday. Well hope you enjoy this chapter and please review.
What Lies Below
Menelanna was restless. Today was it. Today was the day they were going to face the vampire guild. They were to go to the Graveyard District at noon, when the vampires would be their weakest, and attack. The ranger had never battle vampires before, and the thought did frighten her. As she led the way into the graveyard she could tell that she was not the only nervous one today. Ajantis went ridged, probably feeling the evil radiating from the vampire stronghold hidden somewhere below. Anomen nervously grasped his mace as he walked by the paladin's side. In fact the only one who did not seem to be nervous at all was Edwin. The red wizard radiated with confidence, and an almost excited gleam could be seen in his eyes.
They reached the crypt which Aran had told them enter by, Menelanna took a deep breath before pushing the door open. A flight of stairs led down into darkness which even her elven eyes had a hard time seeing in. Ajantis struck a torch and with Jaheira and Anomen next to him led the way down. Menelanna and Kivan entered next with bows at the ready as Yoshimo slinked into the shadows where he could be of best use. The two spell casters entered last.
As they slowly made their way through the dark corridors Yoshimo kept his eye out for any deadly traps. He halted when they came to a place where stone no longer was the only thing below their feet. There was a sticky whitish net that came down from the ceiling and cover the enter cavern they had entered. Menelanna let out a gasp as she realized it was webbing.
"Aran forgot to mention this," she muttered. "Let us hope we do not have deal with the makers of these webs."
No soon had these words left her mouth a soft scuttling noise could be heard. Menelanna looked up and cursed when she saw three spiders quickly descending upon them. Yoshimo and the two elven rangers went to work pelting the creatures with arrows. Xan could be heard chanting a spell as Edwin began his own muttering. The other three present readied their weapons for if any of the creatures made it to the ground. Menelanna was relived when two giant spider bodies fell to the ground and did not move again. The third one was quickly slain by the combined force of the druid and the men of the Order.
"Heh…looks like I spoke a little too soon…" Menelanna said nervously before she cried out in pain. She had not notice a fourth spider approaching her from the back until is sank its poisonous fangs into her leg. Her bow fell from her hand useless as her limbs became weak from the poison coursing through her veins. The spider began to wrap her in webbing as her legs gave out and she tumbled to the ground.
"Menelanna!" everyone cried out in horror. Ajantis ran forward and cleaved the spider's head off in on powerful stroke. Xan rush in and wrapped his arms around the limp elf. He could not find his breath as he look down and the pale face of the woman he cared so deeply about. He looked to Jaheira with an unspoken plea in his eyes. The druid hands shook and she placed them over the poisoned girl and began to chant. Xan let out a sigh of relief as the color suddenly came back to the ranger's face…she would be alright.
"Hold still," Xan said quietly as Menelanna started to struggle against the webbing that bound her legs. She glanced at the enchanter and silently obeyed. The ranger watched nervously as he began chanting and fire spread from his hands. Xan guided the fire over the webbing but was careful not to harm the ranger. As soon as her legs were freed he helped her to her feet. "Are you alright?" he asked.
She nodded, "I am fine. Let's just not repeat that experience okay." She glanced around suddenly noticing Edwin was missing, "Where did that idiot red wizard go?"
They found Edwin a little ways down the path intently studying another passage way. A smile broke out on his face, "This is it! Yes, it is as I thought." He could be heard muttering.
"What is so interesting wizard?" Anomen asked coldly.
"Down this way is an artifact of great power. (Something far beyond what these simians could comprehend). And I intend on getting it!"
"Sorry to break it you but we have more important things to do than your little treasure hunt! We have some vampires to kill, remember," an annoyed Menelanna said.
Edwin did not even seem to be listening as he strode down the passage intent on gain what ever this artifact he so desired. Menelanna was not the only who let out a curse at this point.
She sighed, "I am probably going to regret this…but we best go with the fool."
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Edwin rummaged through the tomb of the now destroyed lich as Jaheira and Anomen patched up everyone's wounds. The wizard must have found what he was looking for as he let out a delighted scream. "This is it! This has to be it! The just and unjust alike will fear the overwhelming power of Edwin Odesseiron and his Nether Scroll!"
"You idiot! You risked all of our lives just so you could get some ancient tattered scroll. Do you even know what that thing does?" Menelanna yelled.
"Ha! You can not begin to comprehend the power of the Nether Scroll. Mark my words, (yes, mark them well) once I have uncovered the secrets of this scroll you will be beginning me for a taste of the power I will have!" the red wizard gloated.
"This fool will be the death of us all," Xan muttered.
Menelanna threw up her hands, "I don't care! Can we just get to the task we actually came down here for?"
"Fine, fine, led the way to what ever insignificant quest you have gotten us into this time," Edwin said in a plainly annoyed voice.
Menelanna turned on her heel and quickly lead back from where they had come.
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As they approached the large door that blocked off the passage they could see a mage dress in dark colors standing there with a large golem next to him. He turned and nodded to them. "About time you got here. I am Haz."
"Sorry, we had some…distractions," the ranger said as she shot a dark look at Edwin.
"Anyways, let me get the door opened for you," he replied as he gave a single to his golem. The golem rushed forward and the door crumpled from the force of its impact. Menelanna and her companions followed closely behind the creature. A single vampire stood before them with a smug toothy grin on his face. Menelanna's eyes widened as she recognized the it as the creature who had slain Mook not that long ago. "Fools!" the undead creature called out. "The mistress knew you would come! Fight then and know you die for nothing!" He leapt back as Menelanna released and arrow at him and disappeared a moment later. Unearthly shrieks could be heard ahead of them as their golem friend was running amuck in the room ahead of them.
Menelanna ran forward and was greeted with the stench of blood so strong the felt her stomach turn. She shook her head and steadied herself and she began launching arrows at the vampires arrayed in the room. A scream to the side caught Menelanna's attention. She looked just in time to see Haz's limp body fall to the floor. Anomen and Ajantis ran past her weapons brandished and began to tear through the undead foes. The paladin held his holy symbol high and a flash of light surrounded him. The sudden holy presence caused the undead abominations to either crumble to ashes of become frozen. It was mere moments later when the room was cleansed of the creatures.
Yoshimo discovered a passage leading downwards and the companions were quick to follow it. The thief led the way and disarmed many traps along the way. When they at last came to a door, they prepared themselves for whatever would lie behind it. Ajantis tightened his grip on Carsomyr; the holy sword was working wonders against the undead abominations. Anomen cautiously opened the door and they were immediately greeted by an ambush that had been laying in wait. The knights were about the run in when Menelanna saw a fiery ball shot from Edwin's hands. The ranger barely had time to yell out a warning to her friends when the fire ball erupted in the room ahead, incarnating the creatures within. The red wizard just had a smug look and both Anomen and Ajantis gave him a dark glare.
"Watch where you through your spells wizard!" Anomen growled.
"No time for arguing you two!" Menelanna yelled as she ran forward bow at the ready.
Anomen nodded and followed after her obediently. A door on the other side of the room slowly opened and the vampire they had been chasing walked out. He gave them a small toothy grin. "One ambush you have survived but this battle is far from over! Find me upstairs in the room of blood and blades!" With that he once again disappeared through a dimension door.
"Damn! This is really starting to get on my nerves!" the ranger swore before turning and quickly run back upstairs. Once there she started searching for the vampire scum not even waiting for her friends to catch up. This battle was starting to really tick her off. This was doing nothing but keeping her from reaching Imoen! She halted when a hand grabbed her arm. Kivan calmly gazed at her with his unreadable face.
"I know you want to finish this battle quickly so you can get to Imoen. But you mustn't do anything rash. Please calm yourself and let us stay together," he said in a soft voice.
"I am not…" she began to yell. She stopped and nodded her head. She looked up at him, he anger subdued and her voice calm once again, "You are right mellonamin. Let us proceed with caution."
The stoic ranger nodded and gave his young friend one of his rare smiles. Someone calling Menelanna's name alerted both of them. They ran down the passage from whence it came and for their companions gathered before a large room. In the middle was a large pool filled with blood. The sight and smell of it made the young ranger's feel sick. It seemed to have the same effect on Xan for he was much paler than normal at this point.
As Menelanna was about to enter the room, Yoshimo quickly halted by grabbing her shoulder. He pointed to the floor where small slits could be seen in the ground. The thief took a coin out of his pocket and tossed it by on of the holes. She cried out in surprise as a blade suddenly shot up from the floor. A moment later it slowly began descend back down.
They look up to see the vampire standing across the room laughing. It seemed as if he were taunting them to try and reach him. Menelanna narrowed her eyes and slowly notched an arrow and took careful aim.
The vampire smirked at her, "I am not as weak as the others you have fought here today. Normal weapons such as your arrows cannot harm me."
"I am no normal archer," she replied. After a quick spell she released her arrow. A blue streak followed after the projectile and thudded into the vampire's chest. The creature let out a howl as electricity shot through his undead body. The shock sent him stumbling back into some of his own traps. Several blades shot of from the floor and quickly tore his body a apart. The creature turned into mist and floated past them.
"He is returning to his coffin!" Xan called out.
It was impossible to try and followed the vampire's mist form. Menelanna let out a curse as they could not find where the vampires kept their sleeping area. The ranger was once again thankful to have Yoshimo traveling with them as he found a crack in the wall that turned out to be a hidden door. Once opened the party cautiously moved down the new corridor. Menelanna gave a small thanks the Seldarine as this passage turned out to lead to several coffins, many of which had a sleeping vampire lying within.
The party went about staking the vile creatures. As the last one was put to its final rest and chill filled the air. They turned to see a dark shape crouched on top of one of the coffins. As the figure raised its head Menelanna recognize it…Bohdi.
Bohdi's red eyes rested on the ranger, "I had hoped it would not come to this, but you are set in your path, aren't you?"
Menelanna notched an arrow and aimed at the vampire, "That I am. But what do you know of my path I might ask."
The vampire seemed completely unmoved by the arrow aimed for her heart as her spoke on. "So Sure of yourself, I see," she purred "... I know more about you than you can possibly imagine! I know about your childhood, your friends, your employers... what they intend."
"What are you talking about vampire," Xan asked as he took out components from his belt for his next spell.
"Do you truly know these people cloaked in shadow?" she asked simply.
Menelanna scoffed, "Of course I do not trust them. But they seem to be honest enough in their dealings with us thus far."
"Do they really?" sneered Bodhi. "Are you certain? What if their interest in you was more than simply mercenary? What if they knew full well who you are... and what you are?"
Menelanna narrowed her eyes but show no other reaction. She did not know how the vampire found out what she was, but she was not going to let this affect her.
Bohdi smiled, "Ah, yes. I know what you are, child of Bhaal; Irenicus told me. He might have learned more, awakened your power, but the thieves interrupted him."
Menelanna face was now full of rage. This creature was an ally of the one who tortured her and her friends. An ally of the one who killed Khalid and Dynaheir. And an ally of the one who still had Imoen. "You have willingly acknowledged that Irenicus has shared information with you, proving your association with him," The ranger growled. "That makes you our enemy, just as much as he is... and just as he will, it is your fate to fall by our hands!"
"It seems you are determined to make a nuisance of yourself, regardless of what I say," she said softly. "You are too volatile for my purposes... you will discover the extent in which you are being used; but for now, this will end. Let us both learn a thing or two..."
Without warning Bohdi leapt at Menelanna with amazing speed and agility. The vampire was upon the ranger before she could even release her arrow. Bohdi pinned her and was about to sink her fangs into the ranger's exposed next. Thankfully a spell launched from the enchanter sent the vampire flying. Bohdi quickly righted herself preparing for another attack. Menelanna gave Xan a quick smile of thanks before beginning to pelt the vampire with arrows. Bohdi's agility made it near impossible for either Anomen or Ajantis to even hit her and her unnatural body made her impervious to the arrows striking her.
Menelanna realize she would have to use her spells again to defeat this one. She notched her arrow and closed her eyes to prepare her spell. Xan glanced over at her and let out a gasp at what he saw when she opened her eyes again. Her emerald green eyes shone with and unnatural light. Menelanna felt the usual magic course through as she applied it to her arrow…but this time something was different. The magic that was being put into her weapon was not from any of her spells but from within her. The arrow began to glow in a shade of deep red as more power was fed into it. When the arrow was released from its shaft the room was filled with an eerie red light.
Bohdi wailed as the arrow tore into her arm. She leapt back clutching her wound, "Well that was certainly…educational. I am seen enough and am done with you…for now."
"You won't get away vampire!" Jaheira yelled out. She swung her weapon but hit nothing but air as Bohdi transformed into a bat and disappeared into the darkness.
Menelanna noticed none of this as she fell to her knees suddenly exhausted. Xan ran to her side as her bow clattered to the floor. He wrapped his arms around her as she closed her eyes and passed out.