Cursed Heritage 1 - The Dark Half
Chapter 5 - A tale of two priests
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"Come one, come all!"
The loud mouth holding the show was a halfing, Aidan noted. The little demi- human was trying to sell a sculpture of a woman.
"Take a look at the stone warrior maiden. How long has she been trapped in this petrified form, no one knows! Be the first to learn, for the mere price of 500 gold. For that small amount of money, I shall give you a magic scroll, and with this scroll you can release the maiden from her stone prison. Think of the gratitude she would feel to her saviors. Perhaps she's a princess from some far off land, or maybe a powerful sorceress in search of a concubine. You can't afford not to know! Buy the scroll!"
Aidan was almost certain that it was a scam. He had tried to dampen Imoen's enthusiasm, to no avail. 500 gold was almost a fourth of their current funds, and wasting it on a scam would be insane. Imoen, however, insisted that the statue was a living person, and had tracked down Jaheira and Khalid to back her up.
"By Silvanus! The girl may be right!" Jaheira exclaimed, as she examined the statue closer.
Aidan couldn't believe his ears! HE was the wizard here!
"Jaheira, with all DUE respect." he began, laying a hand on her shoulder.
"W. w. whuwhere did you get this statue!" Khalid demanded from the halfling, apparently buying into the tale.
Jaheira turned angrily to Aidan, and roughly pushed his hand off her shoulder.
"You have no experience on these matters, child! Khalid and I have seen petrified people before, and this poor woman seems to be one also." She snapped at him.
Aidan left it at that, unhappy at everyone being against him. The halfling wouldn't reveal the past between him and the petrified maiden, but was detained by Khalid after Jaheira had given him the 500 gold.
"Y. y. You aren't going anywhere, until w. w. whuwe have reversed the enchantment!" he told the protesting little merchant.
Despite being sullen, Aidan watched Jaheira reading the powerful scroll with great interest. Powerful magic being his greatest passion, he was excited and envious seeing the transformation of the statue/maiden.
The statue glowed in greenish light intensely for a moment, and indeed transmuted into a lovely golden haired human female. She collapsed immediately, and Khalid and Imoen rushed to tend her. Aidan and Jaheira quickly followed, with the latter preparing a healing spell to heal the ravages the woman had certainly sustained while in her stony form.
The woman gasped a quick prayer of thanks to some deity Aidan didn't catch, and struggled to stand up, which she managed with Khalid's help.
Jaheira muttered her incantation, and the healing energies of her spell quickly returned some color to her bloodless cheeks, and she smiled in thanks to the warrior druidess.
"I am Branwen, a War-priest from the Norheim isles." She answered Imoen's question.
"I have been trapped in stone for what seems like an eternity." She muttered, partially to herself, then continued in a fierce, heavily accented voice, "You have saved me, and for that I owe you my life. I am indebted to you and by Tempus I leave no debt unpaid!"
"Let me join whichever cause you're fighting for, I should make a valuable ally and bring the favor of the Lord of Battles upon us." Branwen finished, her steely eyed gaze travelling across the members of the small party.
"We're always on the lookout for another warrior." Jaheira replied her with a smile.
"I am glad to be part of your war party. I will not make you regret your decision." She exclaimed with a happy voice.
"A word of caution though: beware of the dog that entrapped me in stone. Tranzig he called himself." She continued.
"He was in the employ of a mercenary group, but I do not know the name. I shall see him dead before I see the shores of home again!" the last was spoken in the same fierce voice, and her eyes blazed with cold fire.
She shook everyone's hands, and Aidan felt a small jolt go through his body when the comely, buxom priestess (currently clad in little more than ragged scraps of clothing) shook his hand and looked straight in to his eyes.
Quickly averting his eyes to shield his embarrassment, the young wizard tried to engage in casual conversation with Imoen. Branwen hadn't noticed his discomfort, and was already chatting with Jaheira and Khalid about the purchase of weapons and armor.
*-*-*
Clad in chaimail and wielding a mighty mace, Branwen looked every bit the northern warrior priestess she was. The party had generously bought her equipment, since her own gear was long gone. They had passed through the fair quickly, intending to reach the mines before the fall of dark. A light snow fall was blanketing the area, melting as soon as it touched the earth.
There was little warning, only the shrill screaming of the attacking Xvarts and the terrible voices of the Gnolls alerted them. An ambush, Aidan realized just as a gnoll hit him on the chin with it's clawed fist.
The young wizard went flying and hit his head painfully on a rock. The sound of combat was everywhere and his vision was clouded by a red blur of pain. Aidan struggled to rise, but he was savagely kicked by the gnoll and slammed into ground once again. He thought his last moment was upon him, as the hyena faced monster, grinning evilly, raised it's wicked halberd to impale him to the ground.
Aidan feebly raised his hands as if it would cover him and closed his eyes. Something warm splattered all over his face, but there was no pain. He yelled anyway, certain that the pain would be certain to follow. Strong hands picked him up, and he heard Khalid's worried stutter.
"A. A. Aidan! Are you a. a. all right?!"
The young wizard opened his eyes and saw the headless corpse of the gnoll at his feet. The fight wasn't over, however, and as soon as Khalid saw he was still alive, he left Aidan and went off to help the besieged Branwen and Jaheira. Aidan shook his head, trying to clear the haze when he heard Imoen call for help.
The wizard turned and saw his friend engaged in melee combat with a huge gnoll. Only armed with her dagger, Imoen had still managed to kill two Xvart's, with the small corpses of the baldheaded blue humanoids sprawled at her feet. The two meter tall gnoll, however, was a completely different matter.
Aidan tried to grasp the words for a "Sleep" spell, but his ringing head couldn't hold the words. Seeing Imoen fall and the gnoll preparing to finish her off, he frantically raised his wand and fired a magic missile at the monstrous humanoid.
The small bolt of magical energy struck the gnoll squarely between shoulder blades, and snarling in agony it turned to attack it's new enemy. Aidan yelled the command word again, and launched another bolt at his charging enemy. Again, a clean hit, this time at the gnoll's chest. The brute roared in pain and fell to the ground, clutcing it's smoking breast.
Aidan, seeing his enemy incapacitated, rushed to Imoen's side. His friend was badly wounded, a long gash at her side. She was quickly bleeding to death, and Aidan didn't have any healing potions at hand. Branwen and Jaheira were fighting for their own lives, and wouldn't be able reach them in time. Not knowing anything better, Aidan tried to staunch her flow of blood with his hands. In his desperation, he prayed to every good deity he knew.
Something was happening.
Aidan felt magical energy brimming inside of him, as if he had just cast a spell. It felt like no wizard spell he had cast. In his amazement, he saw his hands beginning to glow and the wound close under his hands. Stumbling back in alarm, the glow subsided. Imoen's lethal wound had completely healed, and her breath was once again regular. Aidan quickly rose up, and turned. He saw Khalid, Jaheira and Branwen staring at him in amazement. The gnolls and xvart's were all dead.
"What. how did you." The warrior druidess was at loss of words.
She shared a quick, alarmed look with her husband. Branwen looked impressed.
"I didn't know you too were a cleric, Aidan." She said in her husky tone.
"I. I am not a cleric." he replied, trying to understand what had happened.
"What's all this fuss about?" Imoen asked, yawning and blinking in confusion as she rose up shakily.
*-*-*
Surprisingly, Jaheira didn't pester Aidan about his miraculous casting of the priestly spell. Imoen was more curious, but Aidan couldn't explain anything to her. He now felt the power to unleash the magic again in him. Such a power would come useful in the future, he was certain. But Aidan also knew that all priestly spells were powered by the gods. He wondered which deity had answered his prayers. At least he had prayed to the good ones, Aidan tried to reassure himself.
The mines loomed ahead, and the party increased it's pace. The snowfall had ceased and the weather was warming up. They saw a small group of Amnish soldiers ahead, probably a patrol. Jaheira and Aidan went forward to parley with them. The officer leading the patrol started towards them.
"You there stop!" he said sternly, but not unkindly.
Reaching the pair, he took of his helmet and took a swig from his wineskin before continuing.
"Sorry to bother you, but you should be aware of the danger you're in right now. There are monsters about, dog headed ones. I'd advise that you return to Nashkel where it's safe." He informed them.
"Gnolls?" Aidan thought with some dread. Their last encounter with the powerful humanoids had given him a lasting impression. Instinctively, he also touched his wounded head, wincing in the memory.
"Actually, we're adventurers. We're here to help out. Perhaps you could tell us about what's been going on in the region." Jaheira replied the soldier in a friendly tone.
The officer looked at them, and nodded approvingly at the sight. Khalid and Jaheira both radiated experience and skill while Branwen looked quite formidable in her gleaming chainmail and horned helmet.
"We could sure use some more fighting men. If you want to know where to go, just go to the northwest. Up there is the mines. Emerson might tell you that he don't need any adventurers, but you don't listen to him - we need as many men as we can get." He answered, and shook both their hands.
The patrol continued on, while the adventurers headed to the direction they had been given.
*-*-*
"So you want to take a look at me mine?"
Emerson wasn't pleased. The man overseeing the Nashkel mine was dressed in a bright red tunic and carried his walking stick like a cudgel. His face held a nasty sneer as he appraised the party.
"I really don't be needing adventuring fools wandering about me mine!" he snapped at Jaheira's face as she agreed with his first question.
"Especially ones that think they can tromp about with nary a thought about askin' permission! Hmph!... you've got one day. If I see you after that, I'll have a new shaft dug fer each of ya! Got that?! Good!" With that, he angrily stormed off with his bodyguards in tow.
Blinking a few times at the man's hostility, Aidan saw that Jaheira was already walking towards the mine entrance. He quickly followed, trying to swallow his anxiety.
The guards let them in, having seen Emerson giving them the access. Jaheira and Khalid leading them on, the party stepped inside the dark and dank mine. A miner gave them a lit torch which Aidan took on himself to carry. Khalid carried a lantern and some torches of his own, so lighting wouldn't be a problem. The upper levels were lit by torches on walls anyway.
They passed throngs of quiet and fearful looking miners, some of whom asked questions about their presence.
"What? Oh. it's just other one here to save us. Go ahead, try to rid the mine of all its evil and get yourself killed like the last couple." One particularly sullen looking miner exclaimed as they passed.
Somewhat irritated by the man's attitude, Aidan stopped by the old bitter looking miner.
"Last couple what?" he asked the man, trying to sound friendly.
"Adventurers ya idiot." The old man snapped at him.
"Ye think you're the first to try to save us all. Not likely, not going to be the last I'll wager either."
Aidan smiled forcedly at the man, suddenly feeling rather uneasy about descending further in the mine. Nodding halfheartedly at the old miner, he hurried after the rest.
*-*-*
As he caught up with the party, he saw that they were engaged in conversation with a frantic miner. Jaheira said something to the man, and they passed him by. As the miner saw Aidan, he ran to meet him and grabbed his arm.
"Finally! Someone has come to save us." He jabbered excitedly.
"Do you know something about what's been happening here?" Aidan asked the man, trying to free his arm from the miner's grasp.
"Sure I know what's happening. What do you wanna know?" he brightened up, and let go of the young wizard.
"What about the missing miners?" Aidan asked him, preparing to head after his comrades after humoring the man.
"Oh them, I told them before they went. Tried to at least. Naturally there must be a dragon down there killing them all. He must be mad about us mining his hill. Poor thing."
Aidan merely smiled at the unbalanced man, and hurried after his fellows. A dragon?! It couldn't be, he tried to reassure himself.
*-*-*
The party pushed deeper into the half-abandoned mine. The interval between lit torches grew, and they were forced to lit Khalid's lantern. Aidan took the responsibility of carrying it, naturally. Along with Imoen, he was the least effective melee combatant, so carrying the lighting for the party was a natural task for him.
Suddenly, they heard panicked screams from behind a corner.
Khalid drew his sword and rushed forward along with Branwen. Jaheira stayed behind, to guard the rear.
A panicked man rounded the corner and almost got himself impaled on Khalid's blade. Obviously one of the miners by his garb, Khalid and Branwen along with Aidan tried to calm him down.
"They're coming-- The yipping demons, they're everywhere! Save me!" he yelled, trying to break free.
Yipping demons? Aidan found that a little hard to believe.
"Don't be foolish, I've never heard of a yipping demon." Branwen replied to the miner in her thick accent. She seemed to be impatient with the man's apparent terror.
"But I-- There they are! There they-" he began yelling again, and stared at the direction he had fled from.
A small group of short figures was indeed closing in. Letting go of the struggling man, Khalid spun around and met the enemy head on. Rising his lantern to get a better view of the attackers, Aidan mentally prepared for spell casting.
The approaching creatures cursed and yipped in irritation as the bright light hit their eyes. They looked like small reptilian dogs walking on two legs and holding short swords and bows. Kobolds! Aidan realized the identity of their enemy at the same time as they raised their short bows and unleashed a volley of arrows at Khalid.
Luckily for the half-elf, he was wearing heavy armor and carried a shield. None of the shaft's penetrated, and he returned the favor by slaying one of the small dog-men with a fearsome blow. Calling the name of her god, Tempus, Branwen cracked open the skull of another kobold, splattering it's brains all over it's fellows. The rest two tried to flee in terror, as they were clearly not experienced in fighting against armed foes.
Imoen's quick shot felled the other and Khalid caught up with the other and ended it's flight with a decapitating swing.
The miner they had saved had fled and was long gone. Jaheira surveyed the four little corpses.
"Yipping demons, eh? Seems we are up against kobold scum here." She mused.
"It is unlikely that theses wretched beings are in charge of this operation, however. They wouldn't have the intelligence or resources to orchestrate the iron crisis. Let us be careful." She reminded everyone.
Aidan agreed with the warrior druid in his mind. What would the kobold's have to gain by stopping the mining of iron? No, there was something else at work here.
Grimly he followed the other's into the depths of the mine.
*-*-*
The next conflict came soon enough. A large group of the dog-men were heading towards the upper levels, when they ran straight into the party. There was no parley, as both sides rushed to engage each other in combat. Khalid and Branwen waded into the fray, slaying a kobold with each blow that they landed. But there were many more.
Two of the creatures ran straight at Aidan, trying to reach the rather defenseless looking wizard. Imoen's shot felled one, and Aidan blasted the other with his wand. Both creatures died, but Aidan saw his wand wither and twist in his hand. It's charges spent, it was now useless unless recharged. With more enemies rushing towards him, Aidan stuffed the now useless magical item into his belt and readied himself. He had already cast the "Armor" spell, and grinned as the first kobold's weak strike glanced uselessly from his magically hardened robes. As the small humanoid dumbly glanced at it's weapon, Aidan grimly brought his staff down with all his strength. The blow snapped the dog-man's head at the side with a nasty crack, and the creature fell twitching to the ground.
"Aidan! To your side!" Imoen yelled at him and shot her bow.
Two more creature's were charging, and her shot killed the other. The survivor, seeing it's fellows dead around the tall young man, tried to flee. It's short life on Faerun had come to an end however. Jaheira struck without mercy, and the creature's cracked skull hit the ground with a soggy thump.
The battle was over shortly, and while everyone was slightly injured, the party was well equipped with healing magic and potions. As Imoen examined the sacks and pouches of the dead kobolds, she made a discovery that provided another piece to the puzzle. Two of the kobolds had been carrying curious flasks of a strange greenish liquid, that was like nothing they had seen before. Had the dog-men been using it to weaken the iron? Aidan grabbed both vials for further study, before the party continued deeper.
These level's were completely abandoned, since the Amnish militia didn't have enough manpower to guard them because of the increased banditry. Evidence of kobold activity was everywhere, the most horrifying being the corpses of poor miners. Some of them had been cruelly tortured, legs and hands bound together.
The party passed one such gruesome pile as Aidan saw Imoen kneel beside it. He saw her quickly wipe her eyes as she grabbed something from the ground.
"Im, what's wrong?" he asked worriedly, seeing tears in her eyes.
Controlling herself, the girl grinned feebly and tried to reassure him that she was all right.
"I'm fine, it's just that seeing those poor sods, tied down." she said to him, trying to control her voice.
Unconvinced, Aidan nonetheless returned to Jaheira's side when she called out to him.
Opening her hand, Imoen glanced at the item she had picked from the dead miner. It was a greenstone ring.
Sighing sorrowfully, she placed it into one of her pouches.
*-*-*
Deeper and deeper they descended. And they were beset by kobolds time after time. Although the creature's attacked in small groups and were always killed quickly, the party didn't escape without injury. Soon their healing spells were all spent and even Khalid was gasping for breath and sweating from the relentless onslaught.
Aidan had used his "Sleep" spell in an ambush by a group of kobold archers, dropping the dangerous bowmen quickly from the fight and ending a dangerous situation. That meant also that his spells were spent, however. He was now reduced to carrying the lantern and was occasionally forced to step in and help his comrades. Imoen had shot her own arrows a long time ago, and was now using ones she had grabbed from fallen kobolds.
Khalid heard the feral yipping of their kobold adversaries again. As they rounded another corner, he saw a huge chasm leading to the depths of the earth. On the bridge a group of kobolds was waiting. Seeing the party they immediately unleashed a swarm of arrows while their sword wielding kin advanced to engage the adventurers in melee.
Khalid rose his shield to protect him from arrows as he engaged the dog-men in combat. The first kobold dodged his swing by crouching under it. The creature lost it's balance, however, and Khalid kicked it over the edge of the earth bridge crossing the chasm. With a high pitched wail, the creature disappeared from view. Another one tried to stab Khalid with it's sword, but the half-elven fighter smashed it's blade aside with his shield. The creature yelped in pain as it's weapon sailed over the edge, and died a quick death as Khalid brought his sword around for another swing. He stepped over the twitching corpse and charged the now panicking bow- kobolds.
Branwen finished her own foe at the same time, battering the small humanoid into a crushed bag of skin, entrails and broken bones with her mace. As Khalid towered over a soon to be dead kobold archer, he felt the pain of his wounds. They had better rest soon, the fighter thought, or the kobolds would eventually overwhelm them. He brought down his blade, and ended the wretched little monster's life.
*-*-*
They had entered a deeper, older part of the mine. Or rather not the mine but a natural dungeon. After they had crossed the stone slab functioning as a bridge over the chasm, they hadn't seen any signs of mining. Only more and more kobolds. Their last battle had been a close one. Jaheira had been swarmed by five of the creatures, and despite killing two of them she had been overpowered and stabbed multiple times by the dog-men. Aidan, Branwen and Imoen had managed to kill the kobolds and save Jaheira's life, but without healing magic she would be unconscious for some time. Aidan had taken over the leadership of the group, and after watching the battle weary faces of his fellows, he decreed that kobolds or no kobolds, they would need to rest.
Imoen had sneaked ahead, and had found an old deep dusty tunnel. They advanced into it's depths and found no evidence of kobold activity. Setting up a camp, Aidan had told Imoen to take the first watch to let the weary and hurt warriors rest. He had memorized his own spells and rested for awhile when Imoen woke him up. It was his turn to stand watch. Aidan sat in the darkness, trying to listen to noises. But all was silent. After a few more hours of rest, he woke the rest up and Branwen healed their wounds to an extent with her spells. Jaheira, too, rose up. Weakened, she asked Aidan to continue as a leader, however.
Leading from the rear ranks, rather than the front, the young wizard led them deeper into the kobold infested caves. After their last skirmishes, the creatures seemed to have developed cold feet however, and the party pushed onwards with out being attacked. That it, until they came across a side passage. Some runes of kobold design had been hastily inscribed at the rock where a side passage lay. Curious, the adventurers entered the small passage and after a short while they emerged in a small cave.
There were thick webs everywhere, and desiccated husks of kobolds hung from them. Aidan had heard of giant spiders, and ordered everyone to slowly retreat out of the ominous cave. It was too late. Hissing venomously, a hairy spider the size of a large dog dropped from the ceiling blocking their way back. Another one attacked from behind them. Khalid charged the first one, swinging with his sword while Branwen stood ready to block attacks from the rear.
The eight legged creature nimbly evaded Khalid's swings, and tried to bite him with it's hideous twitching mandibles. Khalid jammed his shield between the monster's jaws and sunk his sword deep into the spider's moist body. Chittering in pain, the spider thrashed in pain trying to bite Khalid in vengeance. Jaheira ended the beast's life by crushing it's head with her deadly magical weapon. The other spider chose this moment to charge Branwen. Imoen let loose an arrow and hit it straight into one of it's many eyes. Distracted by the pain, the beast didn't notice Branwen's descending mace until it's head was crushed between the rocky floor and her weapon. It died without a sound. Not wishing to encounter more of the poisonous arachnids, the party quickly retreated from the spider cave.
*-*-*
Once again, arrows were fired at them. Ahead, Aidan saw five kobolds in a prepared guard posts, waiting for them. Khalid and Branwen had charged them and despite getting hit by an arrow, the half-elf had already killed two of the yipping humanoids. Branwen shouted and pointed at another kobold, loitering further inside the large chamber they had entered. This one seemed larger and stronger than the rest, and it wore a suit of leather armor. Khalid killed a third kobold, leaving Branwen and Jaheira fighting with the other two, he charged the large leader.
The new kobold raised it's bow, and fired an arrow at the half-elf. To Aidan's great shock, the arrow burst into bright flames as it flew. Khalid yelped in alarm and raised his shield to block the flaming shaft. Luckily it deflected from his shield and flew harmlessly to the wall. Grinning evilly, the small dog-man launched another and this time impaled it's flaming missile straight through Khalid's leg. Screaming in pain as the flaming arrow burned in his leg, the fighter fell down to ground. The kobold yipped in victory, and drew it's sword. Imoen's arrow ended it's charge to finish off Khalid in midleap. The kobold leader rolled to ground, dead.
These particular kobolds had been guarding a passageway deeper into the earth. After bandaging Khalid up they warily advanced along the tunnel. It led a short distance deeper into the earth, but then opened into a huge cavern. They were staring at a small underground lake, with a island in it's midst. A land bridge connected the it to the shore, and some kind of structure had been erected in the middle of the island. And there were kobolds on the other side, scrambling up and reaching for their weapons.
One of them was larger than the others, and Imoen targeted it before it managed to fire. The creature fell with a gurgle, an arrow sticking from it's eye. Khalid and Branwen charged across to the other side and made quick work of the others. Aidan led the rest over to the opening in side of the building. Light streamed from it, and the party stepped in. The corridor was forked and Aidan saw the left passage leading to a opulently decorated chamber. Nodding silently to each other, the party plunged inside weapons at the ready.
They were immediately beset by four kobolds armed with short swords. As Khalid and Branwen engaged the creatures in melee, Aidan saw a bloated figure in some kind of priestly vestments lumber into view. At first he thought that it was a man, but recognized his mistake upon seeing the bestial, rough features of a half-orc. Imoen recoiled in disgust, and raised her bow, waiting for a clean shot.
"Tazok must have dispatched you, and my traitorous kobolds let you pass, didn't they?" The half-orc wailed, wringing his hands.
"I knew I could not trust them! Armed as such you have obviously been sent to kill me! By Cyric, not a measure of ore leaves this mine unspoiled and I am still to be executed?!" It continued, working itself into a rage.
"I'll not lose my head over this!" The bestial priest of Cyric finished, raising a morning star and waving it accusingly at Aidan.
The young wizard thought quickly and decided to try and fish for information before the seemingly inevitable conflict.
"Uh... Yes... fool, Tazok is... is most displeased with thee! Reveal your treachery and mayhaps he will spare you!" Aidan demanded in his best "evil warlord" voice.
The half-orc's face twisted in fear as he bought into Aidan's act.
"Tazok is unfair, I have no desire to cheat him, or thee!" The bestial priest wailed.
"My letters will show, they are in that chest. Take them, take them and Tazok will see!" He continued anxiously.
Aidan glanced at the far side of the room, and saw the chest the half-orc had meant, located next to a throne.
The half-orc saw the last of his kobold guards fall to Khalid's blade, and made his choice.
"Fools, you'll never have the chance to take anything! Minions, come forth and kill the intruders!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.
From all around, beneath the masses of dirty pillows and behind the decorative curtains kobolds and hideously grinning animated skeletons surged into view.
Khalid leaped forward to attack the half-orc priest, while Jaheira and Branwen concentrated on the more dangerous undead, knowing they needed to be quickly removed as a threat. Aidan cast his "Sleep" spell at the kobolds, causing a goodly number to topple over in deep sleep. Imoen grinned at this, and sunk an arrow at one of the still standing dog-men.
The half-orc finished a prayer just as Khalid was about to lop of his ugly head. His spell caused the half-elf to freeze into place, unable to move. Naturally losing his balance, Khalid toppled over. Cackling evilly, the brutish cleric raised his viciously spiked weapon to end Khalid's life. Jaheira sprung into rescue, hitting the evil priest squarely into his face. Losing his balance, the half-orc's intended killing blow handily missed. Scowling angrily and spitting out a tooth, he turned his attention towards fighting Jaheira.
Imoen had killed last one of the still standing kobolds, and had discarded her bow in favor of her dagger. She circled around the melee, hoping for a chance to sink it into the half-orc's back. Meanwhile Branwen was fighting against two skeleton's at the same time. Despite giving as good as she got, the undead were slowly overwhelming her. Aidan intervened, bludgeoning the other mercilessly with his quarter staff. With his first blow, he shattered most of the skeleton's ribs, while his second blow cracked the spinal cord. Damaged fatally, the animated monstrosity fell down in a broken heap. With a mighty oath, Branwen crushed the other one's skull.
Fire burning in her eyes, the priestess of Tempus turned to face Aidan.
"By Auril's icy breath wizard! You fight like one of the warrior's of my tribe!" She closed quickly over and grabbed the young magic-user.
Before Aidan could protest, the strong priestess grabbed him and kissed him fiercely on the mouth, before letting him go. Aidan's eyes were wide as saucers, and he couldn't speak a word. Branwen looked at him and grinned lewdly.
"If we survive the battle, wizard, I'll show you how the women of my tribe thank their saviors!" Then her expression changed, and she ran to Jaheira's aid.
The battle between the half-orc and the warrior druid had reached a stalemate, which was broken even as Branwen reached the battle. Imoen leaped from a shadowed corner and sunk Gorion's old dagger into the half- orc's broad back. The evil cleric's roar of pain was prematurely cut short by Branwen's mace, which she smashed hard into the evil priest's head. The half-orc fell down to the floor of his throne room, dead.
*-*-*
Khalid recovered quickly, and the party searched the rest of the cave. In one chamber, they found a prisoner. The captive was an elf, and a particularly miserable looking one at that. Though he was quite handsome and didn't look injured, his whole demeanor was that of a doomed man.
"At last I am free of my dreary prison; five and eighty days are far too long for one of the fair folk to live as a dwarf." The newly freed elf exclaimed as Khalid opened his chains with a key found on the half-orc's corpse.
"You look no better off than I, but my appreciation for my liberty bids me add my spells to your cause. I am Xan; shall we face the impossible together?" The elf asked them, raising a questioning eyebrow at Aidan.
The young wizard turned to Jaheira, but saw to his astonishment that everyone, the druid included, were waiting for him to decide.
"How did you come to be trapped in such an inhospitable place?" he asked the elf, bewildered at the thought of everyone deferring to him.
"Alas, I was sent to investigate the strange goings-on about this area and I landed caged for seemingly hopeless weeks on end. I have not seen the sun almost as long as I have not seen my home." Xan's tone was dreary and hopeless, and Aidan couldn't help but to grin at the elf's melodramatically hopeless demeanor.
"Certainly you are welcome to join with me. Another pair of hands can only help, especially when they wield powerful magics." he suggested, to which the elf only nodded.
"I thank you. However ineffective our actions be, I shall not rest until I have made payment to you. If you have searched through Mulahey's treasure you may have found a sword among his documents. The sword is a moonblade and it is my most valued possession." Xan finished, rubbing his hands to relieve the numbness of long inaction.
*-*-*
Mulahey's chest held a multitude of valuable items, including gold coins and the moonblade Xan had mentioned. The elven wizard lovingly caressed the blade, which burst into blue flame's when he wielded it. Finding the sword's sheath, he quickly fastened it to his side. Some potions and magical scroll's were also found from the chest. Imoen lifted a silvery short sword, seemingly of halfling design. Aidan and Xan both concurred it to be enchanted, and Imoen placed it into her backpack to wait for identifying.
From the half-orc Mulahey's corpse they found his holy symbol (which Jaheira picked up for evidence to Berrun Ghastkill), his fine leather boots (determined to be magical by both magi) and a fine sapphire ring in the cleric's finger (again, magical in nature). They also found two letters, which contained ominous missives to the half-orc.
*
"My servant Mulahey,
I have sent you the kobolds and mineral poison that you require. Your task is to poison any iron ore that leaves this mine. Don't reveal your presence to the miners or you will find yourself swamped by soldiers from the local Amnish garrison. My superiors have recently hired on the services of the Black talon mercenaries and the Chill. With these soldiers at my disposal, I should be able to destroy any iron caravans entering the region from the south and east. I don't want to deal with iron coming from the Nashkel mines so don't fail in your duty.
TAZOK"
*
The second one had obviously been written in a later time, and was very threatening in it's tone. It certainly was no wonder Mulahey had suspected Aidan and his companions of being this Tazok's hirelings:
*
"My servant Mulahey,
Your progress in disrupting the flow of iron ore does not go as well as it should. How stupid can you be to allow your kobolds to murder the miners? ! With your presence revealed you should be wary of enemies sent to stop your operation. Your task is a very simple one; if you continue to show that you can't do the job, you will be replaced. I will not send the kobolds you have requested as I need all the troops I possess to stop the flow of iron into this region. With this message I have sent more of the mineral poison that you require. If you have any problems then send a message to my new contact in Beregost. His name is Tranzig, and he'll be staying at Feldpost's inn.
TAZOK"
*
Tazok.
It had certainly been no surprise that some greater evil was behind this strange plot than a half-orc priest of Cyric and his kobold minions. With the bandits currently plaguing the sword coast revealed as hired mercenaries of this Tazok, whoever he was, one more piece of this puzzle had clicked into place. But what purpose did creating an iron shortage serve?
At least Aidan and his friends had a new target in sight now.
Tranzig.
Branwen's eyes blazed as she heard Aidan read the name aloud from the letter. The evil wizard could expect no mercy from the priestess of the war god.
With everything of value gleaned from Mulahey's sanctum, the party left the place and started the long climb back towards the welcome fresh air of the outside.
*-*-*
"Well bless my soul, you made it back alive!" Emerson's tone of voice had certainly improved.
"If you don't mind me saying, you're about the most beautiful sight I've seen in weeks! I'll be tellin' the men to get back to work, we've got ore to mine! Still can't ship it for fear of bandits, but that ain't my problem. Best you tell the mayor of what you did here, cuz he'll likely give you a reward of some kind." The newly jubilant master of the mines started yelling orders to his underlings.
Starting back towards the village of Nashkel, Aidan rejoiced privately at their victory over the evil priest. He was certain that the worst was still ahead, but he was now more confident in his ability to overcome danger and troubles on his own, not merely depending on his friends. Gorion might no longer be around, but Aidan was certain his foster father would have appreciated Aidan's efforts on behalf of the people of the Sword Coast.
This had been one of the good days.
Chapter 5 - A tale of two priests
*-*-*
"Come one, come all!"
The loud mouth holding the show was a halfing, Aidan noted. The little demi- human was trying to sell a sculpture of a woman.
"Take a look at the stone warrior maiden. How long has she been trapped in this petrified form, no one knows! Be the first to learn, for the mere price of 500 gold. For that small amount of money, I shall give you a magic scroll, and with this scroll you can release the maiden from her stone prison. Think of the gratitude she would feel to her saviors. Perhaps she's a princess from some far off land, or maybe a powerful sorceress in search of a concubine. You can't afford not to know! Buy the scroll!"
Aidan was almost certain that it was a scam. He had tried to dampen Imoen's enthusiasm, to no avail. 500 gold was almost a fourth of their current funds, and wasting it on a scam would be insane. Imoen, however, insisted that the statue was a living person, and had tracked down Jaheira and Khalid to back her up.
"By Silvanus! The girl may be right!" Jaheira exclaimed, as she examined the statue closer.
Aidan couldn't believe his ears! HE was the wizard here!
"Jaheira, with all DUE respect." he began, laying a hand on her shoulder.
"W. w. whuwhere did you get this statue!" Khalid demanded from the halfling, apparently buying into the tale.
Jaheira turned angrily to Aidan, and roughly pushed his hand off her shoulder.
"You have no experience on these matters, child! Khalid and I have seen petrified people before, and this poor woman seems to be one also." She snapped at him.
Aidan left it at that, unhappy at everyone being against him. The halfling wouldn't reveal the past between him and the petrified maiden, but was detained by Khalid after Jaheira had given him the 500 gold.
"Y. y. You aren't going anywhere, until w. w. whuwe have reversed the enchantment!" he told the protesting little merchant.
Despite being sullen, Aidan watched Jaheira reading the powerful scroll with great interest. Powerful magic being his greatest passion, he was excited and envious seeing the transformation of the statue/maiden.
The statue glowed in greenish light intensely for a moment, and indeed transmuted into a lovely golden haired human female. She collapsed immediately, and Khalid and Imoen rushed to tend her. Aidan and Jaheira quickly followed, with the latter preparing a healing spell to heal the ravages the woman had certainly sustained while in her stony form.
The woman gasped a quick prayer of thanks to some deity Aidan didn't catch, and struggled to stand up, which she managed with Khalid's help.
Jaheira muttered her incantation, and the healing energies of her spell quickly returned some color to her bloodless cheeks, and she smiled in thanks to the warrior druidess.
"I am Branwen, a War-priest from the Norheim isles." She answered Imoen's question.
"I have been trapped in stone for what seems like an eternity." She muttered, partially to herself, then continued in a fierce, heavily accented voice, "You have saved me, and for that I owe you my life. I am indebted to you and by Tempus I leave no debt unpaid!"
"Let me join whichever cause you're fighting for, I should make a valuable ally and bring the favor of the Lord of Battles upon us." Branwen finished, her steely eyed gaze travelling across the members of the small party.
"We're always on the lookout for another warrior." Jaheira replied her with a smile.
"I am glad to be part of your war party. I will not make you regret your decision." She exclaimed with a happy voice.
"A word of caution though: beware of the dog that entrapped me in stone. Tranzig he called himself." She continued.
"He was in the employ of a mercenary group, but I do not know the name. I shall see him dead before I see the shores of home again!" the last was spoken in the same fierce voice, and her eyes blazed with cold fire.
She shook everyone's hands, and Aidan felt a small jolt go through his body when the comely, buxom priestess (currently clad in little more than ragged scraps of clothing) shook his hand and looked straight in to his eyes.
Quickly averting his eyes to shield his embarrassment, the young wizard tried to engage in casual conversation with Imoen. Branwen hadn't noticed his discomfort, and was already chatting with Jaheira and Khalid about the purchase of weapons and armor.
*-*-*
Clad in chaimail and wielding a mighty mace, Branwen looked every bit the northern warrior priestess she was. The party had generously bought her equipment, since her own gear was long gone. They had passed through the fair quickly, intending to reach the mines before the fall of dark. A light snow fall was blanketing the area, melting as soon as it touched the earth.
There was little warning, only the shrill screaming of the attacking Xvarts and the terrible voices of the Gnolls alerted them. An ambush, Aidan realized just as a gnoll hit him on the chin with it's clawed fist.
The young wizard went flying and hit his head painfully on a rock. The sound of combat was everywhere and his vision was clouded by a red blur of pain. Aidan struggled to rise, but he was savagely kicked by the gnoll and slammed into ground once again. He thought his last moment was upon him, as the hyena faced monster, grinning evilly, raised it's wicked halberd to impale him to the ground.
Aidan feebly raised his hands as if it would cover him and closed his eyes. Something warm splattered all over his face, but there was no pain. He yelled anyway, certain that the pain would be certain to follow. Strong hands picked him up, and he heard Khalid's worried stutter.
"A. A. Aidan! Are you a. a. all right?!"
The young wizard opened his eyes and saw the headless corpse of the gnoll at his feet. The fight wasn't over, however, and as soon as Khalid saw he was still alive, he left Aidan and went off to help the besieged Branwen and Jaheira. Aidan shook his head, trying to clear the haze when he heard Imoen call for help.
The wizard turned and saw his friend engaged in melee combat with a huge gnoll. Only armed with her dagger, Imoen had still managed to kill two Xvart's, with the small corpses of the baldheaded blue humanoids sprawled at her feet. The two meter tall gnoll, however, was a completely different matter.
Aidan tried to grasp the words for a "Sleep" spell, but his ringing head couldn't hold the words. Seeing Imoen fall and the gnoll preparing to finish her off, he frantically raised his wand and fired a magic missile at the monstrous humanoid.
The small bolt of magical energy struck the gnoll squarely between shoulder blades, and snarling in agony it turned to attack it's new enemy. Aidan yelled the command word again, and launched another bolt at his charging enemy. Again, a clean hit, this time at the gnoll's chest. The brute roared in pain and fell to the ground, clutcing it's smoking breast.
Aidan, seeing his enemy incapacitated, rushed to Imoen's side. His friend was badly wounded, a long gash at her side. She was quickly bleeding to death, and Aidan didn't have any healing potions at hand. Branwen and Jaheira were fighting for their own lives, and wouldn't be able reach them in time. Not knowing anything better, Aidan tried to staunch her flow of blood with his hands. In his desperation, he prayed to every good deity he knew.
Something was happening.
Aidan felt magical energy brimming inside of him, as if he had just cast a spell. It felt like no wizard spell he had cast. In his amazement, he saw his hands beginning to glow and the wound close under his hands. Stumbling back in alarm, the glow subsided. Imoen's lethal wound had completely healed, and her breath was once again regular. Aidan quickly rose up, and turned. He saw Khalid, Jaheira and Branwen staring at him in amazement. The gnolls and xvart's were all dead.
"What. how did you." The warrior druidess was at loss of words.
She shared a quick, alarmed look with her husband. Branwen looked impressed.
"I didn't know you too were a cleric, Aidan." She said in her husky tone.
"I. I am not a cleric." he replied, trying to understand what had happened.
"What's all this fuss about?" Imoen asked, yawning and blinking in confusion as she rose up shakily.
*-*-*
Surprisingly, Jaheira didn't pester Aidan about his miraculous casting of the priestly spell. Imoen was more curious, but Aidan couldn't explain anything to her. He now felt the power to unleash the magic again in him. Such a power would come useful in the future, he was certain. But Aidan also knew that all priestly spells were powered by the gods. He wondered which deity had answered his prayers. At least he had prayed to the good ones, Aidan tried to reassure himself.
The mines loomed ahead, and the party increased it's pace. The snowfall had ceased and the weather was warming up. They saw a small group of Amnish soldiers ahead, probably a patrol. Jaheira and Aidan went forward to parley with them. The officer leading the patrol started towards them.
"You there stop!" he said sternly, but not unkindly.
Reaching the pair, he took of his helmet and took a swig from his wineskin before continuing.
"Sorry to bother you, but you should be aware of the danger you're in right now. There are monsters about, dog headed ones. I'd advise that you return to Nashkel where it's safe." He informed them.
"Gnolls?" Aidan thought with some dread. Their last encounter with the powerful humanoids had given him a lasting impression. Instinctively, he also touched his wounded head, wincing in the memory.
"Actually, we're adventurers. We're here to help out. Perhaps you could tell us about what's been going on in the region." Jaheira replied the soldier in a friendly tone.
The officer looked at them, and nodded approvingly at the sight. Khalid and Jaheira both radiated experience and skill while Branwen looked quite formidable in her gleaming chainmail and horned helmet.
"We could sure use some more fighting men. If you want to know where to go, just go to the northwest. Up there is the mines. Emerson might tell you that he don't need any adventurers, but you don't listen to him - we need as many men as we can get." He answered, and shook both their hands.
The patrol continued on, while the adventurers headed to the direction they had been given.
*-*-*
"So you want to take a look at me mine?"
Emerson wasn't pleased. The man overseeing the Nashkel mine was dressed in a bright red tunic and carried his walking stick like a cudgel. His face held a nasty sneer as he appraised the party.
"I really don't be needing adventuring fools wandering about me mine!" he snapped at Jaheira's face as she agreed with his first question.
"Especially ones that think they can tromp about with nary a thought about askin' permission! Hmph!... you've got one day. If I see you after that, I'll have a new shaft dug fer each of ya! Got that?! Good!" With that, he angrily stormed off with his bodyguards in tow.
Blinking a few times at the man's hostility, Aidan saw that Jaheira was already walking towards the mine entrance. He quickly followed, trying to swallow his anxiety.
The guards let them in, having seen Emerson giving them the access. Jaheira and Khalid leading them on, the party stepped inside the dark and dank mine. A miner gave them a lit torch which Aidan took on himself to carry. Khalid carried a lantern and some torches of his own, so lighting wouldn't be a problem. The upper levels were lit by torches on walls anyway.
They passed throngs of quiet and fearful looking miners, some of whom asked questions about their presence.
"What? Oh. it's just other one here to save us. Go ahead, try to rid the mine of all its evil and get yourself killed like the last couple." One particularly sullen looking miner exclaimed as they passed.
Somewhat irritated by the man's attitude, Aidan stopped by the old bitter looking miner.
"Last couple what?" he asked the man, trying to sound friendly.
"Adventurers ya idiot." The old man snapped at him.
"Ye think you're the first to try to save us all. Not likely, not going to be the last I'll wager either."
Aidan smiled forcedly at the man, suddenly feeling rather uneasy about descending further in the mine. Nodding halfheartedly at the old miner, he hurried after the rest.
*-*-*
As he caught up with the party, he saw that they were engaged in conversation with a frantic miner. Jaheira said something to the man, and they passed him by. As the miner saw Aidan, he ran to meet him and grabbed his arm.
"Finally! Someone has come to save us." He jabbered excitedly.
"Do you know something about what's been happening here?" Aidan asked the man, trying to free his arm from the miner's grasp.
"Sure I know what's happening. What do you wanna know?" he brightened up, and let go of the young wizard.
"What about the missing miners?" Aidan asked him, preparing to head after his comrades after humoring the man.
"Oh them, I told them before they went. Tried to at least. Naturally there must be a dragon down there killing them all. He must be mad about us mining his hill. Poor thing."
Aidan merely smiled at the unbalanced man, and hurried after his fellows. A dragon?! It couldn't be, he tried to reassure himself.
*-*-*
The party pushed deeper into the half-abandoned mine. The interval between lit torches grew, and they were forced to lit Khalid's lantern. Aidan took the responsibility of carrying it, naturally. Along with Imoen, he was the least effective melee combatant, so carrying the lighting for the party was a natural task for him.
Suddenly, they heard panicked screams from behind a corner.
Khalid drew his sword and rushed forward along with Branwen. Jaheira stayed behind, to guard the rear.
A panicked man rounded the corner and almost got himself impaled on Khalid's blade. Obviously one of the miners by his garb, Khalid and Branwen along with Aidan tried to calm him down.
"They're coming-- The yipping demons, they're everywhere! Save me!" he yelled, trying to break free.
Yipping demons? Aidan found that a little hard to believe.
"Don't be foolish, I've never heard of a yipping demon." Branwen replied to the miner in her thick accent. She seemed to be impatient with the man's apparent terror.
"But I-- There they are! There they-" he began yelling again, and stared at the direction he had fled from.
A small group of short figures was indeed closing in. Letting go of the struggling man, Khalid spun around and met the enemy head on. Rising his lantern to get a better view of the attackers, Aidan mentally prepared for spell casting.
The approaching creatures cursed and yipped in irritation as the bright light hit their eyes. They looked like small reptilian dogs walking on two legs and holding short swords and bows. Kobolds! Aidan realized the identity of their enemy at the same time as they raised their short bows and unleashed a volley of arrows at Khalid.
Luckily for the half-elf, he was wearing heavy armor and carried a shield. None of the shaft's penetrated, and he returned the favor by slaying one of the small dog-men with a fearsome blow. Calling the name of her god, Tempus, Branwen cracked open the skull of another kobold, splattering it's brains all over it's fellows. The rest two tried to flee in terror, as they were clearly not experienced in fighting against armed foes.
Imoen's quick shot felled the other and Khalid caught up with the other and ended it's flight with a decapitating swing.
The miner they had saved had fled and was long gone. Jaheira surveyed the four little corpses.
"Yipping demons, eh? Seems we are up against kobold scum here." She mused.
"It is unlikely that theses wretched beings are in charge of this operation, however. They wouldn't have the intelligence or resources to orchestrate the iron crisis. Let us be careful." She reminded everyone.
Aidan agreed with the warrior druid in his mind. What would the kobold's have to gain by stopping the mining of iron? No, there was something else at work here.
Grimly he followed the other's into the depths of the mine.
*-*-*
The next conflict came soon enough. A large group of the dog-men were heading towards the upper levels, when they ran straight into the party. There was no parley, as both sides rushed to engage each other in combat. Khalid and Branwen waded into the fray, slaying a kobold with each blow that they landed. But there were many more.
Two of the creatures ran straight at Aidan, trying to reach the rather defenseless looking wizard. Imoen's shot felled one, and Aidan blasted the other with his wand. Both creatures died, but Aidan saw his wand wither and twist in his hand. It's charges spent, it was now useless unless recharged. With more enemies rushing towards him, Aidan stuffed the now useless magical item into his belt and readied himself. He had already cast the "Armor" spell, and grinned as the first kobold's weak strike glanced uselessly from his magically hardened robes. As the small humanoid dumbly glanced at it's weapon, Aidan grimly brought his staff down with all his strength. The blow snapped the dog-man's head at the side with a nasty crack, and the creature fell twitching to the ground.
"Aidan! To your side!" Imoen yelled at him and shot her bow.
Two more creature's were charging, and her shot killed the other. The survivor, seeing it's fellows dead around the tall young man, tried to flee. It's short life on Faerun had come to an end however. Jaheira struck without mercy, and the creature's cracked skull hit the ground with a soggy thump.
The battle was over shortly, and while everyone was slightly injured, the party was well equipped with healing magic and potions. As Imoen examined the sacks and pouches of the dead kobolds, she made a discovery that provided another piece to the puzzle. Two of the kobolds had been carrying curious flasks of a strange greenish liquid, that was like nothing they had seen before. Had the dog-men been using it to weaken the iron? Aidan grabbed both vials for further study, before the party continued deeper.
These level's were completely abandoned, since the Amnish militia didn't have enough manpower to guard them because of the increased banditry. Evidence of kobold activity was everywhere, the most horrifying being the corpses of poor miners. Some of them had been cruelly tortured, legs and hands bound together.
The party passed one such gruesome pile as Aidan saw Imoen kneel beside it. He saw her quickly wipe her eyes as she grabbed something from the ground.
"Im, what's wrong?" he asked worriedly, seeing tears in her eyes.
Controlling herself, the girl grinned feebly and tried to reassure him that she was all right.
"I'm fine, it's just that seeing those poor sods, tied down." she said to him, trying to control her voice.
Unconvinced, Aidan nonetheless returned to Jaheira's side when she called out to him.
Opening her hand, Imoen glanced at the item she had picked from the dead miner. It was a greenstone ring.
Sighing sorrowfully, she placed it into one of her pouches.
*-*-*
Deeper and deeper they descended. And they were beset by kobolds time after time. Although the creature's attacked in small groups and were always killed quickly, the party didn't escape without injury. Soon their healing spells were all spent and even Khalid was gasping for breath and sweating from the relentless onslaught.
Aidan had used his "Sleep" spell in an ambush by a group of kobold archers, dropping the dangerous bowmen quickly from the fight and ending a dangerous situation. That meant also that his spells were spent, however. He was now reduced to carrying the lantern and was occasionally forced to step in and help his comrades. Imoen had shot her own arrows a long time ago, and was now using ones she had grabbed from fallen kobolds.
Khalid heard the feral yipping of their kobold adversaries again. As they rounded another corner, he saw a huge chasm leading to the depths of the earth. On the bridge a group of kobolds was waiting. Seeing the party they immediately unleashed a swarm of arrows while their sword wielding kin advanced to engage the adventurers in melee.
Khalid rose his shield to protect him from arrows as he engaged the dog-men in combat. The first kobold dodged his swing by crouching under it. The creature lost it's balance, however, and Khalid kicked it over the edge of the earth bridge crossing the chasm. With a high pitched wail, the creature disappeared from view. Another one tried to stab Khalid with it's sword, but the half-elven fighter smashed it's blade aside with his shield. The creature yelped in pain as it's weapon sailed over the edge, and died a quick death as Khalid brought his sword around for another swing. He stepped over the twitching corpse and charged the now panicking bow- kobolds.
Branwen finished her own foe at the same time, battering the small humanoid into a crushed bag of skin, entrails and broken bones with her mace. As Khalid towered over a soon to be dead kobold archer, he felt the pain of his wounds. They had better rest soon, the fighter thought, or the kobolds would eventually overwhelm them. He brought down his blade, and ended the wretched little monster's life.
*-*-*
They had entered a deeper, older part of the mine. Or rather not the mine but a natural dungeon. After they had crossed the stone slab functioning as a bridge over the chasm, they hadn't seen any signs of mining. Only more and more kobolds. Their last battle had been a close one. Jaheira had been swarmed by five of the creatures, and despite killing two of them she had been overpowered and stabbed multiple times by the dog-men. Aidan, Branwen and Imoen had managed to kill the kobolds and save Jaheira's life, but without healing magic she would be unconscious for some time. Aidan had taken over the leadership of the group, and after watching the battle weary faces of his fellows, he decreed that kobolds or no kobolds, they would need to rest.
Imoen had sneaked ahead, and had found an old deep dusty tunnel. They advanced into it's depths and found no evidence of kobold activity. Setting up a camp, Aidan had told Imoen to take the first watch to let the weary and hurt warriors rest. He had memorized his own spells and rested for awhile when Imoen woke him up. It was his turn to stand watch. Aidan sat in the darkness, trying to listen to noises. But all was silent. After a few more hours of rest, he woke the rest up and Branwen healed their wounds to an extent with her spells. Jaheira, too, rose up. Weakened, she asked Aidan to continue as a leader, however.
Leading from the rear ranks, rather than the front, the young wizard led them deeper into the kobold infested caves. After their last skirmishes, the creatures seemed to have developed cold feet however, and the party pushed onwards with out being attacked. That it, until they came across a side passage. Some runes of kobold design had been hastily inscribed at the rock where a side passage lay. Curious, the adventurers entered the small passage and after a short while they emerged in a small cave.
There were thick webs everywhere, and desiccated husks of kobolds hung from them. Aidan had heard of giant spiders, and ordered everyone to slowly retreat out of the ominous cave. It was too late. Hissing venomously, a hairy spider the size of a large dog dropped from the ceiling blocking their way back. Another one attacked from behind them. Khalid charged the first one, swinging with his sword while Branwen stood ready to block attacks from the rear.
The eight legged creature nimbly evaded Khalid's swings, and tried to bite him with it's hideous twitching mandibles. Khalid jammed his shield between the monster's jaws and sunk his sword deep into the spider's moist body. Chittering in pain, the spider thrashed in pain trying to bite Khalid in vengeance. Jaheira ended the beast's life by crushing it's head with her deadly magical weapon. The other spider chose this moment to charge Branwen. Imoen let loose an arrow and hit it straight into one of it's many eyes. Distracted by the pain, the beast didn't notice Branwen's descending mace until it's head was crushed between the rocky floor and her weapon. It died without a sound. Not wishing to encounter more of the poisonous arachnids, the party quickly retreated from the spider cave.
*-*-*
Once again, arrows were fired at them. Ahead, Aidan saw five kobolds in a prepared guard posts, waiting for them. Khalid and Branwen had charged them and despite getting hit by an arrow, the half-elf had already killed two of the yipping humanoids. Branwen shouted and pointed at another kobold, loitering further inside the large chamber they had entered. This one seemed larger and stronger than the rest, and it wore a suit of leather armor. Khalid killed a third kobold, leaving Branwen and Jaheira fighting with the other two, he charged the large leader.
The new kobold raised it's bow, and fired an arrow at the half-elf. To Aidan's great shock, the arrow burst into bright flames as it flew. Khalid yelped in alarm and raised his shield to block the flaming shaft. Luckily it deflected from his shield and flew harmlessly to the wall. Grinning evilly, the small dog-man launched another and this time impaled it's flaming missile straight through Khalid's leg. Screaming in pain as the flaming arrow burned in his leg, the fighter fell down to ground. The kobold yipped in victory, and drew it's sword. Imoen's arrow ended it's charge to finish off Khalid in midleap. The kobold leader rolled to ground, dead.
These particular kobolds had been guarding a passageway deeper into the earth. After bandaging Khalid up they warily advanced along the tunnel. It led a short distance deeper into the earth, but then opened into a huge cavern. They were staring at a small underground lake, with a island in it's midst. A land bridge connected the it to the shore, and some kind of structure had been erected in the middle of the island. And there were kobolds on the other side, scrambling up and reaching for their weapons.
One of them was larger than the others, and Imoen targeted it before it managed to fire. The creature fell with a gurgle, an arrow sticking from it's eye. Khalid and Branwen charged across to the other side and made quick work of the others. Aidan led the rest over to the opening in side of the building. Light streamed from it, and the party stepped in. The corridor was forked and Aidan saw the left passage leading to a opulently decorated chamber. Nodding silently to each other, the party plunged inside weapons at the ready.
They were immediately beset by four kobolds armed with short swords. As Khalid and Branwen engaged the creatures in melee, Aidan saw a bloated figure in some kind of priestly vestments lumber into view. At first he thought that it was a man, but recognized his mistake upon seeing the bestial, rough features of a half-orc. Imoen recoiled in disgust, and raised her bow, waiting for a clean shot.
"Tazok must have dispatched you, and my traitorous kobolds let you pass, didn't they?" The half-orc wailed, wringing his hands.
"I knew I could not trust them! Armed as such you have obviously been sent to kill me! By Cyric, not a measure of ore leaves this mine unspoiled and I am still to be executed?!" It continued, working itself into a rage.
"I'll not lose my head over this!" The bestial priest of Cyric finished, raising a morning star and waving it accusingly at Aidan.
The young wizard thought quickly and decided to try and fish for information before the seemingly inevitable conflict.
"Uh... Yes... fool, Tazok is... is most displeased with thee! Reveal your treachery and mayhaps he will spare you!" Aidan demanded in his best "evil warlord" voice.
The half-orc's face twisted in fear as he bought into Aidan's act.
"Tazok is unfair, I have no desire to cheat him, or thee!" The bestial priest wailed.
"My letters will show, they are in that chest. Take them, take them and Tazok will see!" He continued anxiously.
Aidan glanced at the far side of the room, and saw the chest the half-orc had meant, located next to a throne.
The half-orc saw the last of his kobold guards fall to Khalid's blade, and made his choice.
"Fools, you'll never have the chance to take anything! Minions, come forth and kill the intruders!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.
From all around, beneath the masses of dirty pillows and behind the decorative curtains kobolds and hideously grinning animated skeletons surged into view.
Khalid leaped forward to attack the half-orc priest, while Jaheira and Branwen concentrated on the more dangerous undead, knowing they needed to be quickly removed as a threat. Aidan cast his "Sleep" spell at the kobolds, causing a goodly number to topple over in deep sleep. Imoen grinned at this, and sunk an arrow at one of the still standing dog-men.
The half-orc finished a prayer just as Khalid was about to lop of his ugly head. His spell caused the half-elf to freeze into place, unable to move. Naturally losing his balance, Khalid toppled over. Cackling evilly, the brutish cleric raised his viciously spiked weapon to end Khalid's life. Jaheira sprung into rescue, hitting the evil priest squarely into his face. Losing his balance, the half-orc's intended killing blow handily missed. Scowling angrily and spitting out a tooth, he turned his attention towards fighting Jaheira.
Imoen had killed last one of the still standing kobolds, and had discarded her bow in favor of her dagger. She circled around the melee, hoping for a chance to sink it into the half-orc's back. Meanwhile Branwen was fighting against two skeleton's at the same time. Despite giving as good as she got, the undead were slowly overwhelming her. Aidan intervened, bludgeoning the other mercilessly with his quarter staff. With his first blow, he shattered most of the skeleton's ribs, while his second blow cracked the spinal cord. Damaged fatally, the animated monstrosity fell down in a broken heap. With a mighty oath, Branwen crushed the other one's skull.
Fire burning in her eyes, the priestess of Tempus turned to face Aidan.
"By Auril's icy breath wizard! You fight like one of the warrior's of my tribe!" She closed quickly over and grabbed the young magic-user.
Before Aidan could protest, the strong priestess grabbed him and kissed him fiercely on the mouth, before letting him go. Aidan's eyes were wide as saucers, and he couldn't speak a word. Branwen looked at him and grinned lewdly.
"If we survive the battle, wizard, I'll show you how the women of my tribe thank their saviors!" Then her expression changed, and she ran to Jaheira's aid.
The battle between the half-orc and the warrior druid had reached a stalemate, which was broken even as Branwen reached the battle. Imoen leaped from a shadowed corner and sunk Gorion's old dagger into the half- orc's broad back. The evil cleric's roar of pain was prematurely cut short by Branwen's mace, which she smashed hard into the evil priest's head. The half-orc fell down to the floor of his throne room, dead.
*-*-*
Khalid recovered quickly, and the party searched the rest of the cave. In one chamber, they found a prisoner. The captive was an elf, and a particularly miserable looking one at that. Though he was quite handsome and didn't look injured, his whole demeanor was that of a doomed man.
"At last I am free of my dreary prison; five and eighty days are far too long for one of the fair folk to live as a dwarf." The newly freed elf exclaimed as Khalid opened his chains with a key found on the half-orc's corpse.
"You look no better off than I, but my appreciation for my liberty bids me add my spells to your cause. I am Xan; shall we face the impossible together?" The elf asked them, raising a questioning eyebrow at Aidan.
The young wizard turned to Jaheira, but saw to his astonishment that everyone, the druid included, were waiting for him to decide.
"How did you come to be trapped in such an inhospitable place?" he asked the elf, bewildered at the thought of everyone deferring to him.
"Alas, I was sent to investigate the strange goings-on about this area and I landed caged for seemingly hopeless weeks on end. I have not seen the sun almost as long as I have not seen my home." Xan's tone was dreary and hopeless, and Aidan couldn't help but to grin at the elf's melodramatically hopeless demeanor.
"Certainly you are welcome to join with me. Another pair of hands can only help, especially when they wield powerful magics." he suggested, to which the elf only nodded.
"I thank you. However ineffective our actions be, I shall not rest until I have made payment to you. If you have searched through Mulahey's treasure you may have found a sword among his documents. The sword is a moonblade and it is my most valued possession." Xan finished, rubbing his hands to relieve the numbness of long inaction.
*-*-*
Mulahey's chest held a multitude of valuable items, including gold coins and the moonblade Xan had mentioned. The elven wizard lovingly caressed the blade, which burst into blue flame's when he wielded it. Finding the sword's sheath, he quickly fastened it to his side. Some potions and magical scroll's were also found from the chest. Imoen lifted a silvery short sword, seemingly of halfling design. Aidan and Xan both concurred it to be enchanted, and Imoen placed it into her backpack to wait for identifying.
From the half-orc Mulahey's corpse they found his holy symbol (which Jaheira picked up for evidence to Berrun Ghastkill), his fine leather boots (determined to be magical by both magi) and a fine sapphire ring in the cleric's finger (again, magical in nature). They also found two letters, which contained ominous missives to the half-orc.
*
"My servant Mulahey,
I have sent you the kobolds and mineral poison that you require. Your task is to poison any iron ore that leaves this mine. Don't reveal your presence to the miners or you will find yourself swamped by soldiers from the local Amnish garrison. My superiors have recently hired on the services of the Black talon mercenaries and the Chill. With these soldiers at my disposal, I should be able to destroy any iron caravans entering the region from the south and east. I don't want to deal with iron coming from the Nashkel mines so don't fail in your duty.
TAZOK"
*
The second one had obviously been written in a later time, and was very threatening in it's tone. It certainly was no wonder Mulahey had suspected Aidan and his companions of being this Tazok's hirelings:
*
"My servant Mulahey,
Your progress in disrupting the flow of iron ore does not go as well as it should. How stupid can you be to allow your kobolds to murder the miners? ! With your presence revealed you should be wary of enemies sent to stop your operation. Your task is a very simple one; if you continue to show that you can't do the job, you will be replaced. I will not send the kobolds you have requested as I need all the troops I possess to stop the flow of iron into this region. With this message I have sent more of the mineral poison that you require. If you have any problems then send a message to my new contact in Beregost. His name is Tranzig, and he'll be staying at Feldpost's inn.
TAZOK"
*
Tazok.
It had certainly been no surprise that some greater evil was behind this strange plot than a half-orc priest of Cyric and his kobold minions. With the bandits currently plaguing the sword coast revealed as hired mercenaries of this Tazok, whoever he was, one more piece of this puzzle had clicked into place. But what purpose did creating an iron shortage serve?
At least Aidan and his friends had a new target in sight now.
Tranzig.
Branwen's eyes blazed as she heard Aidan read the name aloud from the letter. The evil wizard could expect no mercy from the priestess of the war god.
With everything of value gleaned from Mulahey's sanctum, the party left the place and started the long climb back towards the welcome fresh air of the outside.
*-*-*
"Well bless my soul, you made it back alive!" Emerson's tone of voice had certainly improved.
"If you don't mind me saying, you're about the most beautiful sight I've seen in weeks! I'll be tellin' the men to get back to work, we've got ore to mine! Still can't ship it for fear of bandits, but that ain't my problem. Best you tell the mayor of what you did here, cuz he'll likely give you a reward of some kind." The newly jubilant master of the mines started yelling orders to his underlings.
Starting back towards the village of Nashkel, Aidan rejoiced privately at their victory over the evil priest. He was certain that the worst was still ahead, but he was now more confident in his ability to overcome danger and troubles on his own, not merely depending on his friends. Gorion might no longer be around, but Aidan was certain his foster father would have appreciated Aidan's efforts on behalf of the people of the Sword Coast.
This had been one of the good days.