The pocket plane materialized before the party. David looked around to find Cespenar standing in front of him.
"Cespenar was wondering when the Great One would come back," he said. David thought he heard sarcasm in that, but immediately discarded it. "You'se gotten any more itemses for Cespenar to searchs through?"
David unslung his pack and gave it to him. "Oooh! Cespenar gladly help the Great One. Needs I look through your belongings?"
David smiled at the routine. "Sure, as long as you don't break anything." After about 2 minutes of Cespenar rummaging around, his head popped up.
"Oooh! I'se founds a thing in here…looks like some arm bands. Aaah, Tzu's bracers! I remember them…they were worn by a monk in my dungeon, yes!"
David's eyebrows arched. "Your dungeon?"
Cespenar seemed to hesitate before he answered. "Oh…the one I'se lived in before I came into your service. Hum dee dum dum…oh, yesses! These could be made much better if they had the heart of a wizard."
David looked at Imoen and faked a lunge at her before he answered. "Let me guess…not just any wizard?"
Cespenar looked thoughtful to the point of calculating. "I'se only be knowin' that the wizard is an elf. I think I knows a poem that goes with this recipe. Let me thinks…aah! I remembers: If travels lead north, you will come to a site
once shrouded by magic, uncovered by light. Cespenar looked around. "I hope you'se can make sense of that one, Great One, for poor Cespenar's stumped. I'se certain I'll remember more if you'se tell me what that means."
David looked around at his friends. "North from where, Cespenar?"
Cespenar shrugged. "I guesses from where you were."
David cracked a smile. "Thanks, Cespenar. I think I'll be going now. See you later!"
Cespenar called after him. "See ya, wouldn't want to be ya and all that!"
David hit an invisible wall as he tried to leave. Imoen looked over. "What's wrong, David?"
David looked worried. "The only time I've had this difficulty was when I first discovered this place…" he looked around at the edges. To his dismay, his challenge rooms all were held by a force field—except for the first. "Looks like we go that way," he said as he pointed to the open door.
Valygar raised his eyebrows. "Oh, great…a challenge."
Keldorn punched him. "Literally."
Imoen rolled her eyes and started towards the door. She crossed the threshold of the room, and vanished from the sight of the rest of the party.
***
Imoen was in a fog. She looked behind her, but saw nothing. She looked forward, and a figure appeared before her.
She looked at it, and it was a woman. An elf, by the looks of it, Imoen thought. She started moving toward her.
The woman held up her hand, and Imoen stopped. "Who are you?" she whispered.
The woman cracked a smile. "You seriously don't know me? I am Bodhaline. I am also part of you, Imoen."
Imoen squinted. "How can you be part of me? I don't even know you, at least, I don't think I do," she finished awkwardly.
"I also have a powerful brother, Imoen."
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you a Bhaalspawn too?"
The woman shook her head. "Don't you see? Being a god-child was never the problem for so-called Bhaalspawn. It's not the divine influence that makes them powerful, Imoen. Look at your brother. He is unchanged! He just thought he was changed. That's all that mattered! Don't you understand what's going on? Can't you tell that these powers aren't what they seem to be? Visit the elves—" the figure started wavering. Imoen had to strain to hear, and even then she couldn't understand very well. "They know that I'm here!" the woman wailed frantically. "No!" The figure winked out of existence, as did the fog Imoen was in.
***
Four pairs of eyes were fixed on her as she appeared in front of the party. She rose to her feet.
"David…something's in there. I couldn't make sense of it, but if anyone could, it'd be you."
David looked at her questioningly, and then shrugged at everyone. Bracing himself for something terrible, he walked through the door…
***
…only to find himself in a fog just like the one Imoen was in. He started to walk forward when a hand clamped on his shoulder. He turned to find a young, strong-looking elf next to him.
The man had a soft, melodic voice. "Hello, David. I am Jonaleth."
David was incredulous. "You're…you're Irenicus?"
The man sighed and looked pained. "Don't use that name…until you understand what truly shattered me. Have you ever wondered why, even though I was not a Bhaalspawn, was almost a match for you and certainly a match for all others but Amelyssan? The elves have the answers, David. Go to them—" he flinched as if in pain, falling to his knees. David knelt beside him. Through gasps of breath, he managed to say, "They are not as they seem, David. Be vigilant!" before he was sucked into an invisible portal. David found himself in the company of his friends once again.
***
Keldorn chuckled softly. "You were gone for all of 30 seconds. Any life-changing revelations this time?"
Imoen kicked him. "David, what is it?"
David sighed. "I've got to think on this…Sarevok, try going through the door while I meditate. Maybe you'll find something interesting."
Sarevok gripped his sword. "Very well, then," he said, walking to the door.
David called after him. "Sarevok! I don't think you'll need the sword. Prepare yourself for another type of attack."
Sarevok nodded, and sheathed his blade. In seconds, he was gone.
***
He found himself in a haze, but didn't move forward. He had an unpleasant guess as to whom he would be facing. Sure enough, no sooner had he thought this than a figure came out of the mist towards him.
It was Gorion.
He came slowly forward to grip Sarevok on the shoulders, then smiled slightly. Pride was evident on his features.
It was all Sarevok could do to keep from crying. "Gorion…"
Gorion spoke softly. "Sarevok, I need you to tell David something." He looked around, as if being watched. "Tell him…when we fled from Candlekeep, I was not fleeing from you. I was fleeing from—" he cringed and started to dissipate. He turned to Sarevok. "Before I leave, I must say something to you. Outside of Candlekeep, I died doing two things. I opened a door for David, but I also opened one for you. You are seeing me here because, before I died, I put some of my soul into yours. I will go as far as saying that out of all my recipients, you have used your gift more wisely than any. Farewell."
With that, he was gone, and Sarevok was facing his party once more.
***
Imoen was the first to speak. "Sarevok…you don't look to good. Something up?"
Sarevok tried valiantly to jest in return. "Hmm…should I go get my hairbrush, then?"
David came out of his reverie and grinned, but instantly sobered. "Sarevok…I have some idea about what's going on here. Imoen and I have been talking…but don't feel pressured to do so yourself, at least not yet. I have a feeling I know who you were visited by."
Sarevok bowed his head. "Thank you, but that is not necessary. Let us leave this place, though—it begins to grate upon my nerves."
Valygar nodded vehemently. "Amen to that!"
David approached the gate out of the pocket plane. "Return me from whence I came."
"As you wish," came the predictable reply.