Chapter 5
Sorry for the delay, was gone on vacation. I`m almost finished the next chapter, be up soon. Any comments you got, please tell me. If I made any mistakes concerning the Illithids or the underdark, plz tell me.
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Inhibitor was knocked to his feet as the fireball came out of nowhere and hit the Ogre in the back. The other Ogre, a moment ago bent on killing his former Illithid masters, turned and ran. The Ogre did not go far, as a winged demon burst out of a side passage, tearing into the Ogre. All around him, down every corridor, chaos ruled. Slaves, no longer unthinking zombies, ran in pacts, trying to find an exit, and to survive this onslaught of beasts and magic. Yet magic swirled around him, like a lashing whip, out of control. Inhibitor knew the bhaalspawn was to blame, and his comrade was the one responsible for starting this. Inhibitor knew he had to stop this, if harm came to the Brain, the one being able to keep the Mind-flayers togethere, this chaos would tear the Illithid city apart. He could not do this alone. He could not count on his comrades, as they must be making a stand in the Brain chamber. They godchild`s friends was the solution. Perhaps he could bring them to the bhaal child, so that they may stop him in their way. Yes, he thought, stepping past burnt Goblin, it could work. It had to.
" Get back", Minsc yelled ahead of the group, as the ground shook. A huge fire elemental advanced on them, its burning body radiating searing heat. No fleshy creature could come close without being burned alive.
" We`ll have to go back the way we came", Keldorn said, backing away, sword in front of him.
" No, that way had been cut off by that rancid gas," Jaheira said, " we`ll have to fight it."
" I have never seen an elemental this big before", Imoen yelled over the roar of flames.
The fire Elemental came on suddenly, with great speed for a creature its size. The companions knew this was the end, even Minsc knew it. For once in a long time, a clear thought entered his mind. He gently took Boo out of his pocket and lay him on the floor," remember me," is all he could say. It was time for him to join the hamster in the sky. He took out his twin axes, a crazed grin on his face.
" Come along and taste my cuisine of metal and death," Minsc roared so loudly that even the elemental paused. " For the good of hamsters everywhere", was his last cry ,leaping onto the elemental. Minsc did not feel pain, not even as his skin peeled away, only glorious battle. He hacked into the elemental with abandon, knowing that if he relented, his friends would be lost. Frostreavers cold edge cut in like a knife in butter. The Elemental roared in pain and brought a huge arm up and grabbed the ranger. He threw the pest on the floor, who technically should have been dead long ago. Yet despair grants strenght, and Minsc pushed his charred body up and swung Frostreaver down onto the creatures leg, such a mighty blow that it severed the leg, making the creature fall on top of Minsc. The rangers last triumphant cry was smothered by the creatures huge mass. The creature lay still, unable to rise.
It happened so quickly that they barely had time to react. Only Boo was heard, squeaking in what could be hamster denial.
" Oh Minsc", Imoen sobbed, picking up Boo and holding the quivering hamster against her.
" Anothere falls by my side", Jaheira whispered, kneeling by the burning mass," anothere person I hold near my heart gone."
Keldorn mourned as well, but battle instincts took over, the veteran of a hundreds death, both of friends and enemys. Many foul creature were drawn to the sound of battle, and they would soon be assaulted again. It was time for him to take charge. " It is how he had wanted to leave this world, in battle for righteousness", Keldorn said, his voice strong and commanding, " We will mourn later. Now we must leave this damned hole."
Jaheira looked up, " it is Seth who is causing this chaos, I know it. The Illithids must have provoked some kind of reaction in him."
" We must find him, only we can stop him", Imoen said.
" But this place is a maze, not to mention all these beasts roaming about."
" Maybe I can assist you", a voice said in their heads.
They spun around, and their stood the Illithid that had enslaved them all this time. Jaheira pulled her scimitar out of the sheath, but Keldorn shook his head.
" You have nerve to seek us out", Keldorn thought," tell me why we should`nt cut you down, creature."
" I can show you where your human is. The sooner you leave, the better."
" I find it hard to believe you monsters are capable of mercy."
" Not mercy,human, survival. Look around you, how long do you think my bretheren can survive in this choas."
" An alliance?" Keldorn asked increduously.
" Temporary, I assure you. When you leave, do not come back. We will not be as merciful as before. We have wasted enought time, follw me."
A shimmering portal opened.
Seth regained consciousness. It was difficult, as his whole body was in pain like none he felt in his life. Yet it was nothing like the pain in his mind. He no longer controlled his body. His arm and his mouth moved quickly, under control of some other being. Spell after spell he conjured, even some he did`nt know. There were portals all around him, several dozen, and he let loose his spells into these portals. He could only think of the destruction he was causing. And he thought of Jaheira.
" Stop it", he tried to scream, but it only echoed in his mind,
" Give me control of me, damn you."
" Shut up, boy," a dark voice said, "this is for your own good, so let us have some fun."
" For once I agree with your father, young one," a soft voice said," We will level this forsaken place, and you will walk free once more."
" No!", he screamed out, " I will not play the role of the destroyer. I will not put my friends at risk with this display of power. I am no god. Not Bhaal, not Mystra, not any god who ever walked. Nor do I want to be, I am Sethanial Shajis, born of Maya Shajis, and I command you to stop this at once. This is my body, you must do as I ask."
His body stopped moving and gently floated down onto the table. " As you wish, mortal," the soft voice said, " I only did as I deemed best for you. However you show wisdom beyond your age, young one, so I will leave and watch from afar once more."
" Foolish offspring", The dark voice growled," I certainly hope your brother and sisters have more sense and accept who they are. I cannot be pushed away for ever." The voice chuckled," when I am free, boy, it`ll be one big bloodbath."
The presence retreated deep into him, to lie in wait once more. Seth slipped back into darkness.
The scale was gone, the one who balanced light and dark. He did not need it, he was Seth, his own being, not one influenced by others . He was balance.
" Gods", Keldorn whispered as he stepped throught the portal. The room was a mess. A Yuan-ti lay nearby, a burning poker down its throat. Yet nothing was as worse as Seth, his body covered in cuts and bruises, pins and hooks sticking out everywhere. His head was a mess, the top pulled away and his brain attached to a dozen wires.
The Illithid kneeled by its comrade. " Pity", it thought, looking at the blasted mess that was once its partners head," someone beat me too it."
A scimitar pressed against his back.
" Fix him", Jaheira thought, tears in her eyes. She pointed to Seth`s open cranium.
Inhibitor worked quickly, giving the brain a longing glance. Such a delectable dish, he mourned, so filled with turmoil and uncertainty, it is a shame it is going to waste. Fear and hate was high cuisine. He pasted a sticky substance on the rim of the cranium, and put the top back on. The paste would harden until it melded the skull togethere, and all that would be left was the scar around the skull, which would heal quickly.
" His claws are gone, he has fought hard to recover his body ", Imoen said," you found yourself, big brother."
" His cuts are superficial", Jaheira said, recovering some optimism," I can heal them, with time. Its finally over, is`nt it."
" Far from it", Keldorn said," Irenicus still has both Seth and Imoens souls."
" I forgot all about that one", Jaheira said," the Abyss better have a place ready for him."
" You sound just like Minsc". Imoen said with a melancholy smile. Boo gave a heartfilled squeak.
" Rest easy, addled one", Keldorn said.