Perhaps You Have Changed
- "Anomen? Want to do the honors?" Peri was regarding the heart blazing in magical fire.
So hot... the stench of burning, the horrible smell of charred flesh, the sound of flames dancing.
- "I hate fire... I really wouldn't want to die in a fire," Peri said.
- "Fireballs are handy enough," Imoen answered. "Well, not here, but generally."
- "Yes, but the idea is that you toss them at your enemy. So they are not supposed to be pleasant. And don't try to make me think objectively and see the positive side. I want to be cranky and pissed off."
Imoen shrugged. The horrors of being captured by Irenicus had made her more pensive and dark-natured, but she still generally preferred people to be cheerful and optimistic. But she also knew from experience that there was not much to do when Peri was like that.
Anomen extinguished the sacred magical fire, cast protection of fire on himself and took the still beating, large heart.
- "There, foul giant," he spat.
- "Not much good until the hag performs her dark rites," Peri shrugged. "I wonder if we should return to Saradush briefly and inform Gromnir of what we have found out. Then we could plan the attack on Yaga-Shura better, as he could possibly help us. But he is also very unstable - and if he decided he doesn't trust us after all it would be disastrous to part of the information. And I would avoid Melissan for now. Deal with one problem at time."
Sarevok was nodding.
- "I advise against including Gromnir. Too much of a gamble in the circumstances. His armies are worn by the siege as they are, he himself is, like you said, very unstable, and we are capable of taking the giant down ourselves."
- "And his army?" Keldorn said.
- "It will be of no consequence once their 'invincible' leader is down," Peri said. "They are fanatics, believing him a god... and if they see him fall they will quickly lose their morale. Imoen has a few handy spells to deal with masses so that we can hinder them before the giant is killed."
Imoen disposed of the traps guarding the giant's personal chambers. Inside, however, they had yet another unpleasant surprise waiting. The creature was pure fire, heat, flame, consuming rage... but it also had a modicum of intelligence unlike most of the fire creatures commanded by the giants of the temple. Every time one of the fighters managed to hit the creature, they also took a good amount of fiery pain. The blistering pain in Peri's skin was maddening. She started to feel the unreason, the all-consuming rage, the alluring presence inside her tugging, straining to get out of control.
- "I HATE these things! Hate them! Hate them!" she growled, hacking away.
Sarevok recognized the look in Peri's eyes. The flickering madness, hate, rage, lust of power...
- "Peri! Don't give in! We will kill it anyway! It is not worth it!" he shouted.
Peri glanced at him, slightly annoyed, but nodded and concentrated. No rage, no lust... can manage... will not lose control. After a while the creature was killed, nothing left of it but the burned skins of the fighters.
Sarevok took Peri's hands into his own.
- "Sister... I know how it calls. And what you said to me is true... allowing myself to think of Tamoko made me see. It consumes you, it eats your own soul away. And I... I don't wish you to be consumed."
- "I just... I hate them so! I have always hated heat... there is something malevolent in it. Those things don't even have proper bodies!"
- "It was an elemental prince. A powerful creature, but nothing our weapons couldn't take down. Anomen will heal you. It will be all right. Look, Imoen has already found the witch's heart. We don't have to come back to this place dedicated to fire."
Peri was still shaking, and Imoen came to Sarevok, a puzzled expression on her face.
- "Sarevok... you... helped her not to turn into the Slayer. Perhaps... perhaps you have changed," she said.
- "Perhaps, little sister," Sarevok only answered.
- "Boo also wants to encourage the previously evil Sarevok into his chosen path in encouraging our mighty, heroic leader in her righteous butt-kicking endeavours!" bellowed Minsc, his honest face encouraging and friendly.
Sarevok sighed.
- "Thank you, Minsc. Er. Boo as well," he said in defeat.
