Chapter 2
Wew chapter 2 took helluva long ( its like a whole story), but I pulled throught. As you may have noticed, I bumped the rating up to R, Because of the gory stuff at the end. There are spelling mistakes, but I wanted to get this chapter out to my readers, all 2 of you :( I promised myself I would never write a drow fanfic, but I put one in this story. ( You`ll see he does`nt get the star treatment in this one...) Chapt.3 is coming, as soon as I get some sleep. Plz R&R.
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The gladiator arena was a oval ring, the walls lined with bone spikes and the floor a hard and unforgiving marble. It stank of a mix of numerous monster`s sweat and other excrements, of blood and innards and of course of the half dozen semi- decomposed bodies laying in their death position. The Illithid occasionly removed the bodies, but not often. Two Illithid stood close to the ring, interested in the fight before them. One kua-toa was down for good, the fish-man pinned to a spike. Two more circled around the fighter, who was busy pummeling a fourth. The two moved in, tridents ready, thinking the man busy and unaware of their attack. The braver, and dumber, of the two jumped forward, trident leading. With a great roar, Minsc swung the unconscious Kua-toa by its fish tail , easily two hundred pounds, into the attacking creature, smacking it across the jaw and sending the trident spinning away. Using the momentum of the swing, he brought the fishy club down onto the falling Kua-toa, sending both bodies smashing down onto the hard ground. A silent applause came from the balcony, as two dozen Mind-flayers watched in approval. Such fighting technique was never seen before, buts its bloody outcome was certainly satisftying to the merciless Illithids. The two partners nodded in pleasure at the success their slaves were having in the ring. And the best was still to come...
The single standing Kua-toa had back as far away as the beserking ranger as it could. It no longer had any will to fight, but the mental messages its master sent it, of excruciating agony should it be defeated, made him act. The Kua-toa thought itself quite clever as it pulled out its crossbow fitted with its stun- bolts. " You dare attack me by a far, fishman", Minsc roared as he charged, pulling out his longsword," come and meet my metal justice, funny face." The Kua-toa fired its crossbow into the charging Rasheman, hitting him squarely in the chest. The slave hissed in pleasure as the maniacs attack slowed, the paralyzation poison taking effect. The smirk was wiped off his ugly face at the realization that the ranger still came on, altought slower. It fumbled for its trident, but Minsc grabbed it by its neck and slowly raised him over his head. " I am... Minsc!!!," the man roared facing the crowd, " and when I am free... the only thing your tentacles will rap around is my fist as I drive it down your ugly throat." He heaved the flailing creature into the crowd. The unfortunate creature never got close, as a dozen telepathic attacks hit, effectivly tearing the brain, the skull and the spine, ribs attached, out of the flying creature, turning this creature into a bloody sack of organs that landed with a splash into the crowd. Minsc`s final battle cry was lost on the Illithids, who did not understand. Instead they congratulated the pair of Mind flayers who owned Minsc for including them in this fight, and they were happy to pay the pair in gems and potions for such fine entertainment. Minsc could say nothing more, he was stuck standing, arms extended, face in a continuous scowl, the poison taking full effect.
Seth was in a dark little room. The only thing he could hear was the sound of his own breathing. Flashbacks of his childhood came back to him, in his room alone in the dark, thinking a monster lurking nearby. Ironic, he thought, I am the monster. Without warning, the door slid open.
The drow mage has been a prisoner of the illithid for many decades. He had a relatively good life, his own quarters and slaves, attained by never losing a battle, pleasing his master. For this battle, which he thought would be as uneventful as any other, he chose five Duergar to be his front line fighters. These gray dwarves were robust and strong, if not bright. The challenger`s door slid open and a rivvil was pushed out. The mage chuckled, this was too simple. He found the human`s pale skin, black hair and white eyes with blue pupils most revolting. And he did not appear to possess great strength. He would crush this rivvil mageling in a quick and bloody way. This life did have its bright side.
Seth saw the five Duergars stood in battle formation, two crossbowman in the back protected by three swordmen. " Good dwarves", Seth said, arms held wide," perhaps we could come to a peaceful solution." He knew by the way the crowd of Illithid were watching them that this outcome would be anything but quiet. A part of his mind tingled in anticipation. Seth was troubled by this; always a small part of his mind had enjoyed killing, but the urge has become more strong ever since Irenicus in Spellhold and the Illithids. He did not like this.
Seth felt power surge forward. Throught him and out him it came, and he formed it into a spell. A brown fog drifted down on the duergar and the drow. Hands immediatly went to noses, fearing the gas was toxic and fatal. Chuckles of relief errupted from the gray dwarves when they determined that the fog only had a slight malodrious smell. The two crossbowman readied their bolts and aimed. The drow had keener senses, however, and this sent was familiar to him, like the smell of a lantern. It hit him then, and he cried out a warning. Seth hurled a small burning pebble into the mist. A massive explosion ensued, great fireballs shot in all directions and the shockwave sent everyone in the arena falling to the ground. The two duergar aiming their crossbows died instantaniously, their bodies pulverized. Their deaths played a short loud song in Seth`s mind. One of the attackers who was unfortunate enought to be caught in the explosion rolled around on the floor, burning slowly. His pain played delightfully slow.
Seth wanted more, wanted the sweet song to continue. The other two duergar were still intackted.
The first one charged blindly ahead, sword ready. It knew that taking a mage on in melee gave him an advantage. But he had to reach him first. The duergar ducked under a barrage of flaming arrows, one clipping him painfully on the shoulder. Yet more came in a seemingly endless supply, and they rained down all around him. Finally, he reached Seth. He swung his sword upwards, hopping to gut the sorceror. To his dismay, when he struck, the image blurred and disappeared, leaving him starring into empty space. A impossibly strong hand caught him by the neck and lifted him off the ground. Seth easily tossed him into the air, hurling him a dozen feet into the air. A barrage of magic missiles followed the spinnind dwarf, followed by a second. And a third. And a fourth. By the time the body hit the ground, it was nothing more than a smoking mass of burnt flesh.
The crowd hissed in pleasure at this grisly battle. One of the two owners nodded his head in approval, but the other one was more cautious and wiser. It knew how easily this awesome power could be turned on him and that it will have to find a way to harness it. It had a trump card. He watched in amusement at his other slaves horrified expression as they watched this battle.
The song was playing like a storm in his mind. The smell of death was all around him and he wanted more. Any semblance of control was gone; he was bhaalspawn. He hardly felt the changes that began in him...
The last remaining duergar had thought himself wise by sending his comrade in to fight the mage. Meanwhile, he lay on the ground and using his sword, cut his hand. He then smeared blood all over his face and lay very still. A cowards way, but the duergar had survival on his mind, not honour. He heard the magical attack and each hit on his comrade. His hair even stood on end because the amount of energy in the arena. Then, abruptly the attack stopped. He waited for what felt like an eternaty, until he felt a hand yank him by the hair. He starred into the face of the human, yet the change was undeniable.
The rivvin`s eyes glowed yellow and when he smiled, sharp fangs replaced his teeth. This was no human, this was a monster. He felt the hand holding his hair crackle and change, he felt three sharp claws dig into his scalp. The gray dwarf knew he would die.
Seth knew no reason. The song was playing in full, a discordant and horrible, but so intising. He wanted more, needed more. He tasted the creatures fear as it squirmed in his grasp, but he knew it was nothing like death by his hands. Seth held no pity for this small creature, it was naught but a mortal, and he was a demi-god, he was beyond emotion. He bit into the duergars dirty neck.
Their comrades were extremly impressed, the pair knew. The younger one thought of all the profit they would make, the older not so happy. What power! He felt it all around, and knew that not he, or any one else could stop this creature if ever this transformation was complete.
" This cannot be", Keldorn screamed, " I always thought he could control his curse."
Jaheira turned from the bloody spectacle, her eyes rimmed with tears. " He cannot control himself here, there is only killing. I always thought he was stronger than this."
Imoen stood up, her eyes angry, " do not pass judgement on him because you don`t understand. Death was bred in his bones, into his self." She looked at her changing brother with envy, " he is whole now."
Seth forced the struggling duergar down to the ground and pinned his shoulders with his claws. Without hesitation, he sank his fang mouth into the evil dwarves neck and ripped away tendons and veins. Blood spurt into Seth`s face, into his mouth and he let out a hiss of pleasure. Once more he sank his fang into the duergars neck, this time crushing the unfortunate creatures windpipe. He held on as the duergarstruggled wildly, screaming. Seth`s robes fell away as spikes grew out of his spine, his body began to rip and reform, more spikes growing from his chest, legs and arms. His skin peeled away, revealing a redish purple hide. Anothere set of forearms jutted from his elbows, there ends ending in wicked syckle blades. His face elongated, his jaws stretching and his fangs extending forward. By the time the gray dwarf was dead, Seth was no more a man.
The drow mage had been thrown back by the blast that had killed the two duergar. All he remembered was pain in his shoulder, lots of pain. One of the wall spikes had impaled bloodily into his right shoulder, leaving him hanging six feet off the ground. He must have slipped into unconsciousness, for when he woke, he was facing one ugly monster. The creature hissed as it noticed the dark elfs grotesque wound, pressing one claw on the shoulder. Without warning, the creature pulled down on the dark elfs body, the spike slicing upwards and seperating the body from its arm. The dark elf had no time to scream as the bhaalspawn wrapped his upper arms around him in a bearhug. His two sickle claws worked quickly and with precision, cutting apart his abdomen and chest and emptying out all organs held within to the floor.
The demi-god gave out a shrill and grating roar, as if a thousand men screamed out at once. It paced the arena, eyeing the Illithids who sat above him. The owners knew that this had gone on long enought, that they were pushing this creature far enought. The mind-flayer motioned to the slave-master, who opened one of the many gates leading to the arena. These were his trump cards; he knew that humans were filled with such weak emotions such as love and loyalty, and the Illithid hoped that exposing his companions would revert the change. Three humans and a half-elf were pushed out, the door closed quickly behind them. The creature regarded them with a mix of hatred and shame. It slowly walked forward, emitting a strange mewling sound.
" Stand behind me, lady Imoen", said Keldorn, ever the brave paladin. He pulled out the mighty Carsomyr, the two handed sword glowing brightly. " Come, beast, and meet my blade so that I may release Seth from his damning prison."
" Do not," Jaheira said, her own magical scimitar in hand, " the first time he changed into this demon, time restored him to his normal self."
" But the change had not been voluntary," Keldorn countered, " Irenicus had forced it out of him."
" Ready, comrades," Minsc growled, " the beast approaches." Boo shivered in his pouch.
The bhaalspawn stopped in front of these mortals. He had vague memories of them, had strange feelings he found most displeasing. The girl in the back was some sort of kinship with him, he could sense. He would not harm her, but nurture her back to full strength, so that they can hunt togethere. The three insects, who he knew chained them both to their mortal forms would pay dearly. His father would have it no other way. One in particular, the female human with the pointed ears, gave him strong disgusting feelings, of what he remembered as love and caring. He would kill this source of life, and nothing more would hold him back.
" Jaheira, watch out!", Keldorn yelled out as the creature charged toward her. Her eyes widened in shock; how the creature was fast. She barely had time to cast a protective layer of stone skin before the creature was upon her. The two scythes she was able to block with her shield, thought the attacks numbed her arm and almost split her magical shield in two. She managed to move her head out of the way as the massive jaws struck, but one of the claws got past her blocking scimitar and gave her such a blow as to send her flying back. She quickly jumped to her feet, the stone skin absorbing the hit.
Minsc came in by behind, jumping on the creatures back, grabbing one of the spikes on the creature for balance. He sliced with his axes, both the magical heat of Stonefire and the frost and acid of Frostreaver scoring painful hits on the creature. The creature screeched with such hatred that Keldorn almost lost grip on his sword. " Torm, grant me courage," he yelled as he placed himself in front of Jaheira, who had lost her shield. The beast wanted to crush this mortal, but he could not ignore the stinging hits. One claw reached out behind him and plucked the irritating bug from his back. Seeing his friend in peril, Keldorn ran forward and sliced at the occupied beasts flank, scoring a deep gash. Jeheira saw her opportunity and raced in by the other side, her scimitar, Belm, moving unnaturally quick. As much as they tried, they could not hope to defeat this monster. One of the bhaalspawns claws were keeping Keldorn on the defensive, the two swiping scycles keeping Jaheira`s shorter blade at bay. And no matter how ferociously Minsc kept the monsters jaws away, his guard would eventually slip.
It was Imoen who saved the day. While her comrades went off to fight, she had summoned two massive elementals, one of earth and one of air. It was hard for her to focus, she felt her brothers call to join him in the killing. The thought both sickened her and aroused her. She almost lost the mental contest with the Earth, but managed to focus when she saw Minsc in peril. Her friends needed her, she would fight the call. For now.
The Earth plowed from behind, wrapping its massive arms around the demi-gods waist. The creature fought ferociously for release, actually toar a massive chunk of rock fom the elementals abdomen, thought the creature felt no pain. The Air elemental drifted in, wrapping its misty body around the flailing bhaalspawn. Any attack made on this elemental was fruitless, as physical strikes only met air. However, the air elementals attacks were much more effective, its body turning cold and covering the avatar with a sheet of ice. This layer grew, and the creatures could not shed this layer, as the Earth elemental held it strongly immobile, its arms frozen to the Bhaalspawns body. Soon the creatures struggle slowed, the ice growing thicker. Webbing drifted out of nowhere, anothere of Imoens spells, and covered the already creatures. To make sure, she conjured a second layer of webbing and it hardened making it almost as strong as rock. Soon motion ceased in this tangled mess. Minutes passed like hours, the companions waiting if Seth would somehow break free, each clutching his weapon. But when the Elementals went back to their plane and the webbing dissipated, all that was left of this creature was a sleeping human. The Illithids hissed in disapointment, such a struggle ended without blood shed. But they were glad to hear that the creature would return to the ring after a short rest, and the blood spilling would start again.
When Jaheira came close, the first thing she noticed was that Seth`s hands, which had not reverted back to normal, but remained the three fingered claw. His mouth slightly opened showed small sharp fangs instead of teeth.
" Bhaal is in him,no more imprisoned deep within", Imoen said, " their is a constant struggle within him now, for control of his body." She picked up one of the claws, " he isnt winning easily."
" He cannot change back", Jaheira said, tears spilling down her cheek, " he will always be half monster?"
Imoen shrugged, " maybe one day..."
Keldorn checked a pulse; it was quick and irregular. He opened one eye to see if he was conscious.
Gone was the striking blue eyes. They now glowed a sick yellow...
Just like Sarevok`s eyes had
Wew chapter 2 took helluva long ( its like a whole story), but I pulled throught. As you may have noticed, I bumped the rating up to R, Because of the gory stuff at the end. There are spelling mistakes, but I wanted to get this chapter out to my readers, all 2 of you :( I promised myself I would never write a drow fanfic, but I put one in this story. ( You`ll see he does`nt get the star treatment in this one...) Chapt.3 is coming, as soon as I get some sleep. Plz R&R.
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The gladiator arena was a oval ring, the walls lined with bone spikes and the floor a hard and unforgiving marble. It stank of a mix of numerous monster`s sweat and other excrements, of blood and innards and of course of the half dozen semi- decomposed bodies laying in their death position. The Illithid occasionly removed the bodies, but not often. Two Illithid stood close to the ring, interested in the fight before them. One kua-toa was down for good, the fish-man pinned to a spike. Two more circled around the fighter, who was busy pummeling a fourth. The two moved in, tridents ready, thinking the man busy and unaware of their attack. The braver, and dumber, of the two jumped forward, trident leading. With a great roar, Minsc swung the unconscious Kua-toa by its fish tail , easily two hundred pounds, into the attacking creature, smacking it across the jaw and sending the trident spinning away. Using the momentum of the swing, he brought the fishy club down onto the falling Kua-toa, sending both bodies smashing down onto the hard ground. A silent applause came from the balcony, as two dozen Mind-flayers watched in approval. Such fighting technique was never seen before, buts its bloody outcome was certainly satisftying to the merciless Illithids. The two partners nodded in pleasure at the success their slaves were having in the ring. And the best was still to come...
The single standing Kua-toa had back as far away as the beserking ranger as it could. It no longer had any will to fight, but the mental messages its master sent it, of excruciating agony should it be defeated, made him act. The Kua-toa thought itself quite clever as it pulled out its crossbow fitted with its stun- bolts. " You dare attack me by a far, fishman", Minsc roared as he charged, pulling out his longsword," come and meet my metal justice, funny face." The Kua-toa fired its crossbow into the charging Rasheman, hitting him squarely in the chest. The slave hissed in pleasure as the maniacs attack slowed, the paralyzation poison taking effect. The smirk was wiped off his ugly face at the realization that the ranger still came on, altought slower. It fumbled for its trident, but Minsc grabbed it by its neck and slowly raised him over his head. " I am... Minsc!!!," the man roared facing the crowd, " and when I am free... the only thing your tentacles will rap around is my fist as I drive it down your ugly throat." He heaved the flailing creature into the crowd. The unfortunate creature never got close, as a dozen telepathic attacks hit, effectivly tearing the brain, the skull and the spine, ribs attached, out of the flying creature, turning this creature into a bloody sack of organs that landed with a splash into the crowd. Minsc`s final battle cry was lost on the Illithids, who did not understand. Instead they congratulated the pair of Mind flayers who owned Minsc for including them in this fight, and they were happy to pay the pair in gems and potions for such fine entertainment. Minsc could say nothing more, he was stuck standing, arms extended, face in a continuous scowl, the poison taking full effect.
Seth was in a dark little room. The only thing he could hear was the sound of his own breathing. Flashbacks of his childhood came back to him, in his room alone in the dark, thinking a monster lurking nearby. Ironic, he thought, I am the monster. Without warning, the door slid open.
The drow mage has been a prisoner of the illithid for many decades. He had a relatively good life, his own quarters and slaves, attained by never losing a battle, pleasing his master. For this battle, which he thought would be as uneventful as any other, he chose five Duergar to be his front line fighters. These gray dwarves were robust and strong, if not bright. The challenger`s door slid open and a rivvil was pushed out. The mage chuckled, this was too simple. He found the human`s pale skin, black hair and white eyes with blue pupils most revolting. And he did not appear to possess great strength. He would crush this rivvil mageling in a quick and bloody way. This life did have its bright side.
Seth saw the five Duergars stood in battle formation, two crossbowman in the back protected by three swordmen. " Good dwarves", Seth said, arms held wide," perhaps we could come to a peaceful solution." He knew by the way the crowd of Illithid were watching them that this outcome would be anything but quiet. A part of his mind tingled in anticipation. Seth was troubled by this; always a small part of his mind had enjoyed killing, but the urge has become more strong ever since Irenicus in Spellhold and the Illithids. He did not like this.
Seth felt power surge forward. Throught him and out him it came, and he formed it into a spell. A brown fog drifted down on the duergar and the drow. Hands immediatly went to noses, fearing the gas was toxic and fatal. Chuckles of relief errupted from the gray dwarves when they determined that the fog only had a slight malodrious smell. The two crossbowman readied their bolts and aimed. The drow had keener senses, however, and this sent was familiar to him, like the smell of a lantern. It hit him then, and he cried out a warning. Seth hurled a small burning pebble into the mist. A massive explosion ensued, great fireballs shot in all directions and the shockwave sent everyone in the arena falling to the ground. The two duergar aiming their crossbows died instantaniously, their bodies pulverized. Their deaths played a short loud song in Seth`s mind. One of the attackers who was unfortunate enought to be caught in the explosion rolled around on the floor, burning slowly. His pain played delightfully slow.
Seth wanted more, wanted the sweet song to continue. The other two duergar were still intackted.
The first one charged blindly ahead, sword ready. It knew that taking a mage on in melee gave him an advantage. But he had to reach him first. The duergar ducked under a barrage of flaming arrows, one clipping him painfully on the shoulder. Yet more came in a seemingly endless supply, and they rained down all around him. Finally, he reached Seth. He swung his sword upwards, hopping to gut the sorceror. To his dismay, when he struck, the image blurred and disappeared, leaving him starring into empty space. A impossibly strong hand caught him by the neck and lifted him off the ground. Seth easily tossed him into the air, hurling him a dozen feet into the air. A barrage of magic missiles followed the spinnind dwarf, followed by a second. And a third. And a fourth. By the time the body hit the ground, it was nothing more than a smoking mass of burnt flesh.
The crowd hissed in pleasure at this grisly battle. One of the two owners nodded his head in approval, but the other one was more cautious and wiser. It knew how easily this awesome power could be turned on him and that it will have to find a way to harness it. It had a trump card. He watched in amusement at his other slaves horrified expression as they watched this battle.
The song was playing like a storm in his mind. The smell of death was all around him and he wanted more. Any semblance of control was gone; he was bhaalspawn. He hardly felt the changes that began in him...
The last remaining duergar had thought himself wise by sending his comrade in to fight the mage. Meanwhile, he lay on the ground and using his sword, cut his hand. He then smeared blood all over his face and lay very still. A cowards way, but the duergar had survival on his mind, not honour. He heard the magical attack and each hit on his comrade. His hair even stood on end because the amount of energy in the arena. Then, abruptly the attack stopped. He waited for what felt like an eternaty, until he felt a hand yank him by the hair. He starred into the face of the human, yet the change was undeniable.
The rivvin`s eyes glowed yellow and when he smiled, sharp fangs replaced his teeth. This was no human, this was a monster. He felt the hand holding his hair crackle and change, he felt three sharp claws dig into his scalp. The gray dwarf knew he would die.
Seth knew no reason. The song was playing in full, a discordant and horrible, but so intising. He wanted more, needed more. He tasted the creatures fear as it squirmed in his grasp, but he knew it was nothing like death by his hands. Seth held no pity for this small creature, it was naught but a mortal, and he was a demi-god, he was beyond emotion. He bit into the duergars dirty neck.
Their comrades were extremly impressed, the pair knew. The younger one thought of all the profit they would make, the older not so happy. What power! He felt it all around, and knew that not he, or any one else could stop this creature if ever this transformation was complete.
" This cannot be", Keldorn screamed, " I always thought he could control his curse."
Jaheira turned from the bloody spectacle, her eyes rimmed with tears. " He cannot control himself here, there is only killing. I always thought he was stronger than this."
Imoen stood up, her eyes angry, " do not pass judgement on him because you don`t understand. Death was bred in his bones, into his self." She looked at her changing brother with envy, " he is whole now."
Seth forced the struggling duergar down to the ground and pinned his shoulders with his claws. Without hesitation, he sank his fang mouth into the evil dwarves neck and ripped away tendons and veins. Blood spurt into Seth`s face, into his mouth and he let out a hiss of pleasure. Once more he sank his fang into the duergars neck, this time crushing the unfortunate creatures windpipe. He held on as the duergarstruggled wildly, screaming. Seth`s robes fell away as spikes grew out of his spine, his body began to rip and reform, more spikes growing from his chest, legs and arms. His skin peeled away, revealing a redish purple hide. Anothere set of forearms jutted from his elbows, there ends ending in wicked syckle blades. His face elongated, his jaws stretching and his fangs extending forward. By the time the gray dwarf was dead, Seth was no more a man.
The drow mage had been thrown back by the blast that had killed the two duergar. All he remembered was pain in his shoulder, lots of pain. One of the wall spikes had impaled bloodily into his right shoulder, leaving him hanging six feet off the ground. He must have slipped into unconsciousness, for when he woke, he was facing one ugly monster. The creature hissed as it noticed the dark elfs grotesque wound, pressing one claw on the shoulder. Without warning, the creature pulled down on the dark elfs body, the spike slicing upwards and seperating the body from its arm. The dark elf had no time to scream as the bhaalspawn wrapped his upper arms around him in a bearhug. His two sickle claws worked quickly and with precision, cutting apart his abdomen and chest and emptying out all organs held within to the floor.
The demi-god gave out a shrill and grating roar, as if a thousand men screamed out at once. It paced the arena, eyeing the Illithids who sat above him. The owners knew that this had gone on long enought, that they were pushing this creature far enought. The mind-flayer motioned to the slave-master, who opened one of the many gates leading to the arena. These were his trump cards; he knew that humans were filled with such weak emotions such as love and loyalty, and the Illithid hoped that exposing his companions would revert the change. Three humans and a half-elf were pushed out, the door closed quickly behind them. The creature regarded them with a mix of hatred and shame. It slowly walked forward, emitting a strange mewling sound.
" Stand behind me, lady Imoen", said Keldorn, ever the brave paladin. He pulled out the mighty Carsomyr, the two handed sword glowing brightly. " Come, beast, and meet my blade so that I may release Seth from his damning prison."
" Do not," Jaheira said, her own magical scimitar in hand, " the first time he changed into this demon, time restored him to his normal self."
" But the change had not been voluntary," Keldorn countered, " Irenicus had forced it out of him."
" Ready, comrades," Minsc growled, " the beast approaches." Boo shivered in his pouch.
The bhaalspawn stopped in front of these mortals. He had vague memories of them, had strange feelings he found most displeasing. The girl in the back was some sort of kinship with him, he could sense. He would not harm her, but nurture her back to full strength, so that they can hunt togethere. The three insects, who he knew chained them both to their mortal forms would pay dearly. His father would have it no other way. One in particular, the female human with the pointed ears, gave him strong disgusting feelings, of what he remembered as love and caring. He would kill this source of life, and nothing more would hold him back.
" Jaheira, watch out!", Keldorn yelled out as the creature charged toward her. Her eyes widened in shock; how the creature was fast. She barely had time to cast a protective layer of stone skin before the creature was upon her. The two scythes she was able to block with her shield, thought the attacks numbed her arm and almost split her magical shield in two. She managed to move her head out of the way as the massive jaws struck, but one of the claws got past her blocking scimitar and gave her such a blow as to send her flying back. She quickly jumped to her feet, the stone skin absorbing the hit.
Minsc came in by behind, jumping on the creatures back, grabbing one of the spikes on the creature for balance. He sliced with his axes, both the magical heat of Stonefire and the frost and acid of Frostreaver scoring painful hits on the creature. The creature screeched with such hatred that Keldorn almost lost grip on his sword. " Torm, grant me courage," he yelled as he placed himself in front of Jaheira, who had lost her shield. The beast wanted to crush this mortal, but he could not ignore the stinging hits. One claw reached out behind him and plucked the irritating bug from his back. Seeing his friend in peril, Keldorn ran forward and sliced at the occupied beasts flank, scoring a deep gash. Jeheira saw her opportunity and raced in by the other side, her scimitar, Belm, moving unnaturally quick. As much as they tried, they could not hope to defeat this monster. One of the bhaalspawns claws were keeping Keldorn on the defensive, the two swiping scycles keeping Jaheira`s shorter blade at bay. And no matter how ferociously Minsc kept the monsters jaws away, his guard would eventually slip.
It was Imoen who saved the day. While her comrades went off to fight, she had summoned two massive elementals, one of earth and one of air. It was hard for her to focus, she felt her brothers call to join him in the killing. The thought both sickened her and aroused her. She almost lost the mental contest with the Earth, but managed to focus when she saw Minsc in peril. Her friends needed her, she would fight the call. For now.
The Earth plowed from behind, wrapping its massive arms around the demi-gods waist. The creature fought ferociously for release, actually toar a massive chunk of rock fom the elementals abdomen, thought the creature felt no pain. The Air elemental drifted in, wrapping its misty body around the flailing bhaalspawn. Any attack made on this elemental was fruitless, as physical strikes only met air. However, the air elementals attacks were much more effective, its body turning cold and covering the avatar with a sheet of ice. This layer grew, and the creatures could not shed this layer, as the Earth elemental held it strongly immobile, its arms frozen to the Bhaalspawns body. Soon the creatures struggle slowed, the ice growing thicker. Webbing drifted out of nowhere, anothere of Imoens spells, and covered the already creatures. To make sure, she conjured a second layer of webbing and it hardened making it almost as strong as rock. Soon motion ceased in this tangled mess. Minutes passed like hours, the companions waiting if Seth would somehow break free, each clutching his weapon. But when the Elementals went back to their plane and the webbing dissipated, all that was left of this creature was a sleeping human. The Illithids hissed in disapointment, such a struggle ended without blood shed. But they were glad to hear that the creature would return to the ring after a short rest, and the blood spilling would start again.
When Jaheira came close, the first thing she noticed was that Seth`s hands, which had not reverted back to normal, but remained the three fingered claw. His mouth slightly opened showed small sharp fangs instead of teeth.
" Bhaal is in him,no more imprisoned deep within", Imoen said, " their is a constant struggle within him now, for control of his body." She picked up one of the claws, " he isnt winning easily."
" He cannot change back", Jaheira said, tears spilling down her cheek, " he will always be half monster?"
Imoen shrugged, " maybe one day..."
Keldorn checked a pulse; it was quick and irregular. He opened one eye to see if he was conscious.
Gone was the striking blue eyes. They now glowed a sick yellow...
Just like Sarevok`s eyes had