"Oh, my head…" Anomen moaned, awake for the first time since the Drow ambush. Jaheira kept a watchful guard over him, but sleep was starting to cloud her eyes despite all her efforts. Anomen sat up and looked around for a minute.
"Where are we?" he asked. Jaheira shrugged.
"Some prison."
"Again?"
At this, Jaheira chuckled softly. It did seem as though they had been in more than one nightmarish cell of one madman or another. It was getting tedious, but every time they always had to be on their guard.
"For such is the life of an adventurer…" she spoke softly. Anomen whipped his head around to face her.
"What was that?" he asked. Jaheira shrugged and gave a small mumbled, "Nothing." Anomen shrugged and stood up to stretch.
"How long have we been here?" he asked. Jaheira rolled her eyes.
"Torm only knows…" she muttered.
Anomen looked at her curiously.
"How would he tell us?
Jaheira gave a frustrated growl and looked at Anomen eye to eye.
"I don't know how hard they hit you on the head, but that is no excuse for acting like Minsc!" she snarled into his face. Anomen smirked and started to laugh.
"All this time, and I was acting the wrong person. How amusing…" he said. Jaheira starred at him baffled.
"What in the Nine Hells are you talking about?" she demanded. Anomen looked at her with an amused look in his eye.
"Oh, haven't you guessed?" he asked.
He snapped his fingers, and in a small pop, "Anomen" disappeared, and in his place stood a man of some tall height dressed mostly in black. He was an adventurer, that much was obvious enough due to the three swords strapped in various places around his body and the black scale armor that he wore around his torso. Yet something was odd about him. Though his demeanor on the outside was charming, evil seemed to have taken up residence with him.
"In case you are wondering, my name is Kakrin," he said, obviously very pleased with himself.
***
Somewhere else in the dungeon, the real Anomen stirred to consciousness. He looked around, somewhat dazed, and found his surroundings to be no more welcoming then those of his companions'.
He made a quick inventory check and found that he too, had been relieved of his weapons. However, the Drow must have been confused when disarming him, for he still retained all of his unused clerical spells. He also found that, although sick to his stomach, he was in otherwise perfect health. He didn't even feel the slightest trace of fatigue.
Restlessly, he began to pace about his cell, waiting for something to happen. He finally got tired after what felt like hours and rested up against a wall…
…only to find himself fall straight through it. With a startled "OOF!", he crashed down onto the cold stone floor of this hidden passageway.
"I swear, when I find who created this God forsaken place…" he cursed.
"Shhh…" a voice nearby said.
Startled, Anomen jumped, ready to cast a spell on a moment's notice. From out of the shadows stepped a tall, lithe figure. He wore a simple black cloak that obscured most of his other apparel. The only things noticeable was the long sword strapped to his waist, and the elaborate bow that rested securely on his back.
"I am no enemy to your group," he said, "I heard the Bhaalspawn's cry for help and I am willing to give whatever assistance I may provide to help you."
Anomen still didn't buy it. He'd had his fair share of strangers offering their "help," and every time he always ended up in a place like this.
"Why should I trust you?" he asked. The figure chuckled a bit.
"Because if I wanted to kill you, I would do it. Now!"
In brilliant flash of light, gold lined wings sprouted from the figure's back. He drew the longsword and pulled down his hood, revealing the face of a Drow. Actually, the face of a half-Drow.
"My name is Ched'Nessad. I am an angel ordained of Ao and the Archangel Stephan to help you," he said. "Alas, my power is only half of what it once was. My partner is lost and I am trapped in this cursed form."
Anomen didn't relax a bit.
"Angels of Ao are not known for their benevolence," he said. "What other motive do you have behind this?"
"My mission is exactly that. My mission. When the time comes, Mortal, you shall understand," he said, glaring darkly. "But we tarry. Come, we must hurry if we are to save your friends."
***
Incantations flew from her mouth for hours as she fervently hoped the Oracle[1] would hear. She whispered a final prayer and waited for what seemed like ages, until a bright sphere of energy that was the Oracle appeared. Far above the Prime Material plane she stood, arms to the side and eyes closed as the Oracle breathed the message to her.
"He has arrived," it said.
She looked up.
"Where is he?" she asked.
"That I may not answer, Iyredlynn, for we lost him shortly after you fell," the Oracle replied. A tear streamed down her cheek.
"It could not be avoided. I shall try to find the Entrance before it is too late."
The sphere glowed red briefly, then returned to its normal white.
"The High Council is already displeased with you. Do not be so quick to think that the Entrance wishes to be found," it said. Her face paled at this news.
"Surely they know that it was not my fault. Had I not intervened, He would have found what He wanted, that much is clear," she said. The Oracle shimmered again.
"That may well be, but your previous 'behavior' has made the council…untrusting of your skills," it said. She looked at the ground. The Oracle continued speaking. "However, the Council still has some faith in your abilities, and will grant you one last chance to redeem yourself. Be warned however, it is a thin line you walk upon. Even the slightest sway in step…" She interrupted.
"I know very well the consequences of failure," she said softly. The Oracle began to fade, as well as the swirling mists around both of them.
"Time grows short, and soon I will be able to help you no longer," the Oracle said in an echo, "remember what I have said, and remember to always be on your guard. The Enemy is ever watchful."
Her vision began to blur, and darkness swept over her mind. The Oracle's last words came ringing clear throughout the chaos.
"We shall meet again when the time is right."
[1] The Oracle is a servant of the Council of Angels. Usually, it acts as a messenger, but it is also called upon to fulfill angelic ritual ceremonies.