Cursed Heritage 1 - The Dark Half
Chapter 6 - The high price of freedom
*-*-*
Weary from the constant fighting, the companions still valiantly pressed on towards the village of Nashkel. Jaheira had taken the lead, pushing the others onwards with her sharp remarks. Their new companion, the elven wizard Xan, was particularly ill-suited for travel. Having spent months as a captive to the loathsome Mulahey, his limbs were unused to the exertion. After some pressure from the others, Jaheira was persuaded to allow for a short rest. Nearby, seemingly unoccupied, was a sheltered stone cliff. Offering some protection from the elements, the experienced traveler Jaheira chose it to serve as their way station.
As the party drew closer, they saw that it wasn't unoccupied after all. A huge, masterfully made carving of a beautiful female elven face had been worked into the cliff. A slight, dapper man was working furiously on it with inhuman speed. He carried no weapons or appear otherwise threatening, so the party approached closer. Aidan heard words as they silently climbed the short natural stairs, the man was speaking to himself.
"Ahh, beauteous creature!" he sighed with longing.
"Never should I have stolen these emeralds, but there was nothing else that would capture the majesty of thine yes!"
The carving had indeed emeralds for eyes, Aidan noticed with surprise.
"I did what must be done, for I have left my shop, forgotten all my commissions, and spent all that I had. I must complete thee!" The man was now rambling obsessively.
Aidan saw that he was quite young for such a master craftsman. The young wizard saw spent potion vials all around the area. Was the man using oil of speed to finish his work quicker? What toll that must have taken on his physiology, Aidan couldn't even begin to guess. Suddenly the man turned in alarm.
"Wait, there is someone here!" he exclaimed in alarm, partially to himself.
"Who are you? 'Twas that relentless Greywolf who sent you, wasn't it?" he asked Aidan timidly, seeing the young wizard as being the nearest of the companions.
"I have nothing to do with anyone named Greywolf, and nor would I want to." Aidan replied in a soothing voice.
He wished to hear the story behind this seemingly insane endeavor, and the man didn't disappoint him. His face, sweating and pale from the ravages of the hastening magic, nonetheless calmed down somewhat with relief.
"Thank Deneir, I thought I was done in. I am not cut out for a life on the run." He explained.
"Mayhaps you could help a foolish sculptor finish this epiphany? Please, guard this place, for surely Greywolf will come seeking the bounty on the gems. I will pay with my last possessions if you would do this one service for me." The young sculptor's fervent wish struck a chord in Aidan's soul, and he turned to the others.
The young wizard needn't to have worry, for the others welcomed this opportunity to rest. As the party began to unpack their sleeping gear, Aidan stayed behind and watched the love struck fool work in his suicidal pace. He was just about to ask the name of the woman in the sculpture, when he felt an arm on his shoulder. The young wizard turned, and saw Branwen, holding her blanket by the other hand.
"I--ah..." was all Aidan had time to say before the voluptuous priestess silenced him with a deep kiss. She hadn't forgotten her promise, and was determined to see if the young wizard performed as manly in other tasks than battle, as well...
Perhaps it was for the best in regards to Aidan's reputation for heroic deeds, that they didn't get very far that night before being interrupted by a harsh voice.
*-*-*
Imoen was standing guard that evening. She had seen how Branwen had dragged her poor friend away, presumably to "make a man" of the wizard.
The young woman giggled at the thought. Her stuffy and pompous friend wasn't very experienced in that area of life, but she had lied anyway (only for Aidan's benefit, Imoen rationalized shamelessly) when Branwen had asked her. It would be good for Aidan to have a closer... relationship with the straightforward priestess., she had decided.
She was looking casually at the feverishly working young sculptor as she mused on her friend's "plight". The young man was handsome, and he had the look of a wealthy artisan on him. As she realized what she was thinking, Imoen blushed. She wasn't that brash, but maybe.
Someone was approaching.
Quickly shouting an alarm and raising her bow, she was relieved to see Jaheira, Khalid and Xan come running as the stranger drew near. He was a huge human fighter, dressed in studded leather and carrying a dark bladed long sword on his right hand. The dangerous looking man had long, iron gray hair and Imoen realized that this must have been the ominous bounty hunter the sculptor had feared.
Greywolf eyed them dismissively, and stepped towards their young charge.
"I have come for you, Prism." He bellowed to the frightened sculptor in his nasty, gravelly voice.
"No! Not yet! My work is nearly done! Please, I implore you!" There was true terror in Prism's voice, but it was not because he feared for his life, Imoen realized.
He was worried for his masterpiece.
Dressed only in her undergarments, Branwen came running wielding her mace and her shield. Aidan trailed behind, red faced (from exertion or embarrassment, Imoen wondered) but still seemingly ready for conflict.
"Your sentiment is wasted on me, fool. You are but gold in my purse." Greywolf laughed at the poor sculptor's face.
Then he turned to scornfully view upon the companions. Sneering cruelly, he spat in Khalid's direction.
"Do you make your situation worse by hiring help to protect you? Who are you fools?" he demanded from Khalid.
Seeing Aidan's current... unbalanced state, Jaheira took the speaker's role.
"Prism wishes only to finish his masterwork. Why not let him? What harm can it do?" she asked, trying her best to avoid any conflict.
It didn't do much good. The bounty hunter laughed out loud at her words.
"You should be more worried 'bout the harm I can do!" He yelled back at her face.
"Never have I taken a bounty and not delivered! Now stand aside, that I might dispense with this fool and claim my prize. Or would you rather I go through you to get him?" the evil looking man had already decided their fate, it seemed.
"Consider well if he be worth your lives!" He barked out at Khalid, and advanced on him, sword ready to strike.
*-*-*
Aidan heard Branwen call the blessing of Tempus on them, and felt his spirit sharpen and mind ease. His companions charged to Khalid's aid, as Imoen took a shot which the bounty hunter dodged. Preparing his mind for spell casting, saw Branwen charge into the fray also.
Barking out the few words and making the necessary arcane hand movements, Aidan launched a "Chromatic Orb" at their enemy. This was the second power level for the spell, Aidan knew. It would cause a nasty shock and also cause intense pain upon the victim. As his magical attack hit Greywolf on his arm, Aidan realized that this fight was going to be a close one. Jaheira had already fallen, and was trying to heal herself from a terrible wound made by the black sword their enemy swung with practiced ease and fluid power.
Khalid was fighting for his life. This gray-maned warrior was not only a master swordsman, but he also wielded an enchanted blade of some power. The half-elven fighter had his hands full trying to avoid losing body parts to their enemy's swings, let alone trying to hit back.
Khalid blocked an overhead swing with his sword, but this time his non- enchanted blade didn't hold. Splintering from the force and magical energy of his enemy's weapon, Khalid's only defense was now a dagger he wore on his belt. Branwen jumped in and hit their foe with her heavy mace.
Khalid's eyes widened in surprise. Greywolf didn't even wince.
Instead, he slashed a terrible blow at Branwen, which she only barely managed to block with her shield. Blue energy trailed behind the blade as it was swung.
Imoen, not daring to shoot into the swirling melee tried to stab the bounty hunter into his back.
Greywolf, however, was no novice in dirty combat. Having seen her approach, he turned quickly as Imoen rushed towards his seemingly unprotected rear. Only Imoen's phenomenal dexterity kept her alive as Greywolf aimed a vicious swing intended to decapitate her.
Her agility didn't keep her in the battle, though.
Greywolf, having missed with his sword, kicked her straight into between her legs. While a more painful spot for a male, it made Imoen double over in pain and scream in agony. Turning his attention back to Khalid, Greywolf laughed aloud. He was enjoying this, Aidan realized!
Xan, not having any spells memorized, instead swung with his elegant and lethal moonblade. Trailing blue flames, the blade bit deep in to the bounty hunter's side. Roaring in agony, Greywolf turned his wrath towards the hapless elf. His first strike disarmed Xan, sending his moonblade flying. His second one cut the elven wizards flesh open from chin to groin.
Screaming in horrible pain, Xan fell to ground trying to stop his entrails from spilling to the ground.
Branwen rushed to help the mortally wounded elf as Khalid, bellowing in uncharacteristic anger, rushed the bounty hunter and stabbed the man's back viciously with his dagger. He had the time to score two hits through the bounty hunter's leather armor, before being stabbed straight through his abdomen by the cold, dark blade of his enemy. Blood welling in his mouth, Khalid fell into a crumbled heap.
Meanwhile, Aidan had managed to help Imoen stand up. He had seen Khalid and Xan fall, and now Greywolf's attention was on him. The bounty hunter glanced at his singed arm.
"That HURT!" he remarked to the young wizard.
Imoen raised her bow and fired an arrow at the menacing bounty hunter.
He grunted in pain as her arrow penetrated his armor and stuck in his chest. Then, inexplicably, terribly, he smiled. Raising his sword, he charged at the wizard and the rogue.
Aidan saw that even though Branwen and Jaheira were running behind Greywolf, they wouldn't catch him in time to prevent his and Imoen's deaths. Preparing to strike in a final defiant blow, he was surprised to see someone charge the bounty hunter with inhuman speed.
It was Prism!
The young sculptor, screaming in his high-pitched voice and wielding Khalid's fallen dagger, pounced on Greywolf stabbing and hacking madly. Taken completely by surprise, the bounty hunter took nasty wounds from the sculptor's fury before managing to elbow Prism off of his back. Blood spurting from his pierced throat artery, Greywolf fell on his knees and didn't even see the blow that took his life.
Wielding her mace in both hands, Branwen smashed Greywolf's head into a bloody mess of hair, bone and brains.
*-*-*
Khalid and Xan were both badly wounded, the elven wizard more so. It had taken all the healing ability the party had just to save his life, and the elf was still unconscious. Khalid managed to walk by himself, but Aidan and the others would have to carry his and Xan's gear. And they had had to build stretchers to carry Xan back to Nashkel where he was given over to the local temple of Helm to be taken care of.
Prism didn't accompany them back.
Lying on the ground mortally exhausted, the young artist looked pleased and strangely fulfilled.
"Alas, my work is complete. Take what you will from my possessions, but leave the sparkle in her eyes." He breathed to Aidan, who had offered to take him back to Nashkel.
Turning to his masterpiece, he smiled for the last time.
"O sweet creature, My effigy to thee is done. Perhaps our paths shall cross in distant Realms, and I shall find the courage to call thy name. Ellesime!" Prism died with those final words.
Before leaving, they dug a small grave for the tragic young sculptor and Khalid took Greywolf's dark weapon to replace his own shattered blade. He kept it sheathed for the moment, not daring to use a unidentified magical weapon.
*-*-*
Berrun Ghastkill had been overjoyed at their triumphant return. Not only had Aidan and his friends been given 900 in gold, but they were also treated like conquering heroes by the populace. Only thing that puzzled the young wizard was Imoen's behavior.
His usually carefree friend had disappeared somewhere for a short time after they had visited Berrun. When she returned, not only did she have tears in her eyes but she had lost all of her share of the prize money. Aidan didn't believe Imoen had been robbed, but other than that he had no clue what had upset her so.
In reality, Imoen had visited the unfortunate miner Joseph's wife and returned his wedding ring to her. She had also given her portion of the reward to the young widow. She never told anyone what she had done, however, and Aidan soon forgot about the incident.
The inn's common room was filled to capacity that night, for everyone wanted to share a toast with the town's new heroes. Even Volo was there, telling a new story about the party's exploits. As Aidan was drinking he slowly became aware of someone watching him. He turned his head and saw a towering human fighter, clad in chainmail and sitting in the corner watching him. Remembering the attempts on his life, Aidan tried to discreetly observe the huge stranger's activities.
The man was bald, and had a garish purple tattoo across his face. Propped against the wall next to him was a huge two-handed sword. The strangest detail, however, was that the man was apparently speaking to his backpack. He kept glancing towards Aidan, and murmuring to his knapsack as if holding a discussion concerning the young wizard with it. Then the man nodded to the pack, grabbed his belongings and headed straight at Aidan.
Hastily preparing himself for spell casting just in case, Aidan quickly motioned to Khalid and Jaheira to come to his aid. Unfortunately, both half- elves were chatting with Branwen and didn't notice his plight.
Aidan felt a huge hand on his shoulder, and gulped in fear. He turned and saw the huge man towering over himself. His initial alarm faded a little though, when he noticed that the man was smiling amiably.
Something was sitting on the giant's shoulder, appraising the young wizard intently.
To his amazement, Aidan saw that it was a hamster.
Seeing his bewildered look, the huge warrior looked pleased.
"I agree Boo, they look to be friendly." He whispered to the small animal in a conspirational tone.
Then he turned to look upon Aidan once more.
"Greetings, we are Minsc and Boo." He pointed his thumb first at himself, then at the rodent on his shoulder.
"We have traveled far to explore this land, but now my charge Dynaheir has been taken from us." Minsc continued in a loud voice, drawing the attention of Aidan's companions.
"'Twas gnolls, and once we have tracked them I will beat sense into their heads until they release her." The warrior gritted his teeth in anger before continuing.
"Accompany us and bards will sing the deeds of Minsc and Boo... and friends." He hastily added, looking expectedly at Aidan.
The man seemed genuinely amiable, but Aidan was worried about his mental stability. He had traveled with Xzar, who had provided enough craziness to last a lifetime as far as Aidan was concerned.
"Excuse me, but are you speaking to a rodent?" Aidan asked the warrior, trying hard to sound non-confrontational.
Minsc looked at him incredulously.
"Boo is my faithful animal companion, and more than he seems." He replied in his thick accent.
Khalid and Jaheira had heard the whole exchange, and nodded approvingly at Aidan.
The young wizard smiled disarmingly at the giant, trying to appear enthusiastic about his quest.
"The classic dilemma of the damsel in distress! How could anyone decline!" Aidan hoped he sounded sincere, and Minsc certainly seemed think so.
Hollering thunderously with joy, he startled Aidan who spilled his beer mug all over his robes in alarm.
"Take heart fellow adventurers, for you have curried the favor of Boo, the only miniature giant space hamster in the Realm!" The huge warrior proclaimed presenting his small pet at them.
"My friend and companion ever since my h-h-head wound, he will lead us to victory! Onward to the Gnoll Stronghold in the west! Tarry not! We must go soon!"
Trying hard not to scowl, Aidan merely hoped they would rescue this loon's female companion quickly and be rid of his company.
*-*-*
Darkness.
Aidan felt the most curious sensation as he literally passed through dirt and stone both.
He was once again speeding through the mines of Nashkel, only now they were empty and sterile.
No kobold disturbed his descent, and he knew (with some satisfaction) that it was because HE had killed them all, slaughtered them mercilessly like the vermin they were.
Uncharacteristically exultant from the slaughter, Aidan saw that he had arrived to his destination.
Mulahey's sanctum.
Inexplicably, the half-orc was there, bloated and pallid in it's apparent undeath.
Snapping to his senses, Aidan tried to determine if he was sleeping or awake. He didn't know.
A dagger made of bone was hovering in the air, before the half-orc. It was glaring in terror at the blade, awaiting punishment beyond punishment, a death beyond death.
With sickening clarity Aidan realized that the dagger was there for him. He was supposed to show his power over the already dead once more.
His heart filling with pity for the poor apparition of his dead foe, Aidan turned his back on the blade.
He heard it clatter on the floor.
Turning to face Mulahey's ghost again, he saw surprise and thankfulness on the half-orc's face. Holding it's hands over it's still heart, it walked towards Aidan and passed through him vanishing into nothingness.
No, not completely.
It had left something behind.
A spark of hope against despair, Mulahey's ghost had filled a small empty space Aidan had been unaware of.
Then he heard it.
A horrifying cry of rage from the depths of abyss.
Aidan fell to his knees, trying futilely to block the keening from his ears by his hands.
The dagger of bone hovered into air before him, and flew straight at his heart with a startling speed.
Covered in sweat, Aidan woke up with a scream. Tearing off his sheets in panic, he nearly cried in relief as he saw his unmarred chest.
Once again a sinister voice lingered in his consciousness, this time more persistent...
"You WILL learn..."
*-*-*
Their party certainly looked more lethal, Aidan decided.
Jaheira, wearing her new splint mail armor and a horned helmet, looked lithe and majestic.
Khalid was even more heavily armored, wearing his new suit of plate mail like a knight. His new sword had been identified in the temple, too. Called Varscona, it was a fearsome weapon formerly used by the cultists of the evil goddess of darkness and loss, Shar. Despite it's malignant past, Khalid was determined to use it for righteous deeds. He also wore Mulahey's magical boots, which had the power to protect from electricity. They too, had a dark history with the god of mindless destruction, Talos.
Imoen had a new blade as well, the minorly enchanted halfling made short sword from Mulahey's hoard. She wore it on her left hip, determined to be better prepared the next time she was forced into melee.
Branwen had been awarded the sapphire ring, determined to be a fabled ring of holiness by the Helmite priests. It brought the warrior priestess into a closer contact with her deity, increasing her magical potential in battle and otherwise.
And last but not certainly least, the towering ranger Minsc (with his faithful Boo atop his bald head) seemed ready to take on the horde's of Abyss by himself. Heavily muscled, Aidan was actually glad to have the ranger beside them.
Aidan himself was more practiced in his spell casting, having mastered a few new enchantments. As soon as his powers advanced just a little bit further, he would be able to cast the "Web" spell taken from Mulahey treasury. For now, it was out of his reach.
The weather was lovely and despite his grim dream last night, Aidan felt generally fine. Perhaps this rescue mission would turn out fine. The thought of storming a fortress of gnolls worried him somewhat, but just looking at his heroic friends eased his spirits.
They set off westwards, Imoen and Minsc taking the lead.
*-*-*
"There!"
Aidan glanced at the direction Imoen pointed. The violent winds whipped his cloak around him and the rain fall made it difficult to see, but he could still make out the huge ogre crashing through the foliage.
It was after them.
They had been under attack by hobgoblins, ogrillons and ogres ever since they had crossed the river sometime ago. The party had been forced to flee, with everyone more or less wounded by the constant fighting. Now it seemed the humanoids had found them again.
Aidan cursed under his breath. He had hoped to rest and heal his wounds and re-memorize his spells. It wouldn't happen now.
"Yes Boo. I see them too."
Aidan sighed in exasperation. Minsc actually consulted with his hamster regarding their plans, and agreed or disagreed with them based on Boo's "opinions"...
"Boo thinks we should charge immediately and administer a wallop of righteous hamster JUSTICE!" the huge ranger bellowed.
And with that, he was off. Bellowing war cries, Minsc charged straight at the three meter tall ogre. Khalid stuttered a quick curse and followed him out. Jaheira and Branwen advanced more slowly, to take a better look at the situation.
A lightning flashed across the sky, and Aidan saw the ogre more clearly. It was a huge monster, by far the biggest of it's kind Aidan had yet seen. Wielding a huge blade in it's hands, it bellowed a thunderous war cry of it's own, and engaged Minsc and Khalid in melee. Five hobgoblins armed with bows followed it, and unleashed their shafts at the two women.
They hit Jaheira wounding her, but Branwen managed to finish her prayer and cast a holding spell over the archers. Imoen fired an arrow of her own and killed one of the still standing bow wielders. Jaheira and Branwen charged the final one and caused it to flee in panic.
Meanwhile, the huge ogre was engaged in savage hand to hand struggle with Khalid and Minsc. It was surprised at their prowess, something it hadn't expected to see from such small pests. Aidan advanced warily, shivering in his soaked robes. He still had one spell left, the "Chromatic Orb". Focusing his mental energies, the young wizard unleashed the magical sphere.
Unerringly, it flew straight into the huge ogre, hitting it to it's ugly face. Bellowing in sudden pain, the beast dropped it's guard for one fatal moment.
Khalid didn't hesitate, and sunk his chilling blade into the ogre's chest.
The battle was over.
*-*-*
The party was huddled in a small cave Imoen had found. They had faced no further attacks from the humanoids, and Aidan surmised that the huge ogre had been the leader whose death had dampened the survivors' enthusiasm.
The young wizard watched Branwen chatting with Minsc. He was glad that the priestess had forgotten about him, having been dead embarrassed with Imoen's snide comments about "that damn Greywolf interrupting their midnight lovemaking". Blushing in irritation and embarrassment, Aidan wished the little scamp would stop ribbing him. Not that he didn't consider Branwen attractive, far from it. It was just that the priestess' straightforward manner intimidated the young wizard.
Shaking his head angrily, trying to clear the embarrassing thoughts away, he resumed studying his spell book. It dawned on him just then that for the first time, he was actually comprehending the required verbal components of the "Web" spell. Excitedly, all his discomfort regarding Branwen forgotten, he started to memorize the new spell.
From some distance away, Jaheira watched the young wizard.
"A-are you all right, my dear?" Khalid asked her worriedly.
She turned to face her husband and smiled reassuringly to him. Despite her often argumentative behavior, she cared deeply for Khalid. They had been married for many years now, ever since Khalid had been forced to flee from his home in Calimshan. She had brought him to the group they both were now members of, the Harpers.
Counting many powerful figures for good and for balance among it's membership, the Harpers were a semi-secret society often working against disruptive elements on Faerun. Such as their present task, to uncover who was behind this whole iron crisis and stop them, if possible.
ONE of their tasks, Jaheira reminded herself.
The other was self-appointed, but it had some ties to the Harper's also, for Aidan's foster father Gorion had been a long time member. She felt a pang of sadness wash over her as she remembered her old friend. Gorion had retired from adventuring to raise Aidan, a task now complete. Someone was after the young wizard, and the warrior druidess couldn't help but to wonder if it was the same people as the ones behind the iron shortage.
She glanced over to where Minsc was chatting with Branwen. The huge warrior was a tremendous asset to the party in combat, as the many ogrillons and hobgoblins he had slain amply proved. The rangers addled mind worried Jaheira, however.
Khalid smiled at her, and went to unpack their bedroll's. Stretching herself like a cat, Jaheira walked over to her husband. They would need the rest, she knew. Tomorrow they would face the gnolls.
*-*-*
"Damn you, whelp of an elven whore!" Grahhk cursed as his comrades laughed raucously at him in their barking voices. Brrazk, the winner of their little game of javelin throwing displayed a toothy smile at him.
"Shut up, cur!" the other gnoll snarled as he grabbed the collected bets from the earth. These included the pair of funny looking gauntlets they had pillaged from an Amnish caravan few nights ago.
"Well, up for another bout?" Brrazk asked him, sneering arrogantly.
Tossing down the leather bracers they had grabbed from that pink-skin witch a raiding party had captured some nights ago, he growled a defiant challenge at his victorious comrade.
Grabbing another javelin from the ground, the gnoll prepared to throw it to the target one of their xvart slaves had prepared some distance away. Grahhk concentrated, drew deep breath and aimed carefully...
Success!
He let out a barking laugh of victory... or tried to. Turning around in amazement, he found out that he couldn't hear a thing!
The last sight Grahhk ever saw was the rapidly descending blade of Minsc's sword, which split the gnoll sentry's head and chest well into his lower torso.
*-*-*
Branwen's spell had silenced the gnoll sentries, and they had been killed off discreetly. Aidan knew that they would have to move quickly, because the element of surprise wouldn't last. Imoen had climbed the rocky walls over seeing the ruined fortress. She would provide close support with her arrows. The party raced up the roughly cut stairs, hoping to find out where this Dynaheir was being held.
They reached the outer courtyard of the keep, and saw two pits where a number of stinking carcasses lay. To Minsc's great relief, none of them was Dynaheir's and they pressed on towards the second set of stairs.
A shrill xvart scream told them that the easy ascent had come to an end. Ten of the puny little blue humanoids, screaming in their shrill voices charged them. Aidan withheld his spells, seeing Minsc and Khalid quickly rout the little kobold sized pests.
With menacing growls, a group of gnolls charged them.
They hadn't counted on meeting Minsc.
The addled ranger seemed to hold a special hatred for the hyena-faced monsters, and with each berserk swing of his mighty blade a gnoll fell down. Soon he had single handedly routed them, with five slain at his feet.
Quickly urging them onward, stopping only to cast a healing spell on the ranger, Jaheira took the lead herself. The raced for the stairs leading to the inner courtyard, with Minsc again pressing forward past the druid.
Having trailed behind Aidan climbed the stairs last, and was shocked to see at least twenty gnolls, some of them already engaged in fighting against his companions, milling about the inner grounds. And more were on the way. He saw a group of ten or so of the hyena-men, these looking particularly tough. They were led by what was obviously the stronghold's chieftain.
Even though Minsc, Khalid and Jaheira had already felled another three of their enemies, each of them was already wounded, with Minsc bleeding the worst. The chieftain barked an order which sent the ten nasty looking gnolls flanking Minsc and Khalid. Aidan quickly realized that if they managed to do so, the battle would be over sooner than it had began.
He knew instantly what he had to do.
Yelling out the words of power, he cast his first "Web" spell at the charging veteran gnolls. The chieftain's glee turned into disbelief when he saw his bodyguards mired helplessly in the sticky strands.
At the same time, Branwen had completed her prayer and unleashed a holding spell at the swirling melee, which incapacitated three of the gnolls attacking Jaheira. Aidan saw that Imoen wasn't evading the battle either. She was perched high above them, on a cliff side, and was firing arrows down at the unengaged gnolls.
Snarling in rage, the gnoll chieftain charged at Branwen, who was killing the webbed and helpless gnoll veterans. Khalid yelled for help then, and Aidan's attention was diverted again.
The young wizard saw that his three comrades' situation was quickly deteriorating. Ten of the gnolls were already dead, but more had joined the fight and as skilled as his friends were, they would soon be overwhelmed. Aidan quickly cast the "Sleep" spell over the rear ranks of the fray, which turned out to be the turning point as almost half of the fighting gnolls collapsed, fast asleep.
He turned his attention back to Branwen and the gnoll chief, and instantly fear welled in his stomach. The two combatants were fighting dangerously close to the edge of the cliffside, where there was no wall to prevent a miss-step from causing a 100 meter fall in to the rocks below. Aidan began to run closer to launch his last spell at the chieftain.
But Branwen didn't seemingly need any help. She dodged the huge gnoll's latest blow and smashed her mace into the monster's ugly snout sending it reeling. Losing it's balance, the creature fell down with a yelp.
"By Tempus' shield!" she exclaimed as Aidan approached.
"A hard fight, but in the end, with the aid of the Lord of Battle's, I--" Something was moving behind her!
Aidan tried to shout a warning as the wounded but still strong gnoll chieftain grabbed Branwen's long hair and yanked hard. With a shriek that sounded half angry, half startled, Branwen fell over the edge of the cliff.
The large gnoll had managed to grab the edge when it fell, but Branwen didn't have such an opportunity. Alarmed at seeing another human so close, the chieftain frantically tried to clamber up from it's precarious position.
Aidan never gave the monster a chance. Howling in rage and grief, the young wizard hacked with all his strength at the gnoll's head with his staff. Unconscious from the blow, the gnoll fell down to it's death.
"Aidan!"
The young wizard turned, tears clouding his eyes. He saw that Jaheira and Khalid were standing behind him. Minsc was further away, but even he looked downcast.
"Branwen..." was all Aidan managed to say, his lower lip trembling.
"I know. We saw it. There was nothing--" Jaheira tried, but Aidan was unused to seeing friends die.
"Don't say that!" he yelled.
"I should have helped her! I should have--"
"If you hadn't taken the time to make those gnolls fall asleep, EVERYONE would be dead now. Not only Branwen." Jaheira said kindly, but firmly.
"S--she's right, Aidan. The rest of us are alive because of you. D--don't blame yourself." Khalid said gently.
"Boo says we must GO!" Minsc yelled then, and even Aidan realized the ranger/berserker was right. They would return for Branwen's body later, now they had the living to care for. Taking a final glance over the cliff side, he ran off after his friends.
*-*-*
The rest of their enemies were swept away like leaves before the wind. Cold fire now burned in the companions' hearts, and the assorted gnolls and xvarts who offered resistance died quickly. Aidan joined the melee, somewhat protected by his magical items and the "Armor" spell he by now cast whenever travelling. He hacked away at the xvarts, their blood spraying all over his robes and hands. It finally took Khalid to snap him out of his bloodlust.
Aidan surveyed the scene. Xvart and gnoll corpses were strewn everywhere, and he had been hacking at a dead xvart. Everyone was staring at him, Jaheira and Khalid in apprehension and Minsc grinning in approval.
The heavy silence was broken by a woman's weak voice, coming from a pit similar to the ones they had seen in the lower courtyard. Khalid and Minsc ran over to the mounds edge, and the ranger quickly jumped down. Some short, pointed questions later, Khalid helped a short, dark-complexioned woman up from the pit.
Her skin was a curious, exotic dark color contrasted by her long auburn hair.
Looking them over, she limped over to Aidan supported by Minsc.
"I thank thee for saving me. 'Twas courageous to follow the likes of Minsc into battle, if a touch foolish." She shared Minsc's strong accent and constructed her sentences in an curious, archaic manner.
"I have naught to offer thee in return, save my services in battle. Mayhaps I could travel with thee awhile, and an opportunity may arise for repayment of mine debt." Dynaheir offered, getting approving nods from Jaheira and Khalid.
"Minsc is... well... Minsc, but he hast a strong sword arm, whilst I am practiced in the arts magica. Shall we join?" she finished, looking straight into Aidan's eyes.
Realizing that it was up to him to make the decision once again, Aidan regarded the short, pretty wizardess approvingly.
Dynaheir seemed to radiate hidden wisdom and power, and Minsc had proven to be unstoppable in melee.
"Who are you that you warrant a bodyguard?" he inquired in a friendly manner.
Dynaheir nodded approvingly at his caution.
"I am Dynaheir of Rasheman. 'Tis not a title; 'tis just where I am from." So these two were from that faraway eastern land, Aidan realized!
"We two are indeed far afield of our home, but 'tis a necessary rite of passage." She continued her explanation.
"Minsc must make his "dejemma" by seeking adventure, while I must prove my worth to my.. sisters in much the same manner." She smiled at Aidan's raised eyebrow.
"'Tis an interesting time for the Realms, with great things foretold for the Sword Coast. 'Tis therefore a likely place to look for what we need. What dost thou seek on this adventurous road? Mayhaps we can all find what we need together?" she once again offered, making a small bowing gesture.
"You are welcome in my company. One cannot have too many friends." Aidan replied her, with some bitter pain in his voice.
Branwen would still be alive if not for this mission. Realizing the folly of blaming Minsc and Dynaheir for the priestess' death, Aidan was relieved to see that the Rashemite woman had either ignored or hadn't understood his remark.
"I have no doubt thou shalt make an... interesting traveling companion." She remarked, smiling in an unsettling manner, as if she was aware of something Aidan didn't know.
*-*-*
They found Branwen and the gnoll chieftain close to each other. After Imoen had gleaned the gnoll carcass of anything valuable, they carried it off to the sea and threw it there.
Branwen they buried in a cairn dug by Jaheira, Khalid and Minsc. Jaheira performed the last rites, and they raised a small marker on top of her grave. Jaheira gently took the ring of holiness from her finger, and no one protested. She was going to the side of Tempus, the Lord of Battles. The living needed that magical item more.
The party had found quite a cache of treasure from the gnolls, but Aidan couldn't think of that now. His thoughts lingered on their fallen comrade. Just a week before the golden haired priestess had gotten her life back from being imprisoned in stone, and now she was dead.
As the party began to file away, Aidan lingered behind. A part of him still blamed himself from her death.
And twisted though it was, another part exulted in the carnage they had caused.
Aidan shivered at his dark thoughts, and slowly followed after his comrades, leaving Branwen's final resting place behind.
Chapter 6 - The high price of freedom
*-*-*
Weary from the constant fighting, the companions still valiantly pressed on towards the village of Nashkel. Jaheira had taken the lead, pushing the others onwards with her sharp remarks. Their new companion, the elven wizard Xan, was particularly ill-suited for travel. Having spent months as a captive to the loathsome Mulahey, his limbs were unused to the exertion. After some pressure from the others, Jaheira was persuaded to allow for a short rest. Nearby, seemingly unoccupied, was a sheltered stone cliff. Offering some protection from the elements, the experienced traveler Jaheira chose it to serve as their way station.
As the party drew closer, they saw that it wasn't unoccupied after all. A huge, masterfully made carving of a beautiful female elven face had been worked into the cliff. A slight, dapper man was working furiously on it with inhuman speed. He carried no weapons or appear otherwise threatening, so the party approached closer. Aidan heard words as they silently climbed the short natural stairs, the man was speaking to himself.
"Ahh, beauteous creature!" he sighed with longing.
"Never should I have stolen these emeralds, but there was nothing else that would capture the majesty of thine yes!"
The carving had indeed emeralds for eyes, Aidan noticed with surprise.
"I did what must be done, for I have left my shop, forgotten all my commissions, and spent all that I had. I must complete thee!" The man was now rambling obsessively.
Aidan saw that he was quite young for such a master craftsman. The young wizard saw spent potion vials all around the area. Was the man using oil of speed to finish his work quicker? What toll that must have taken on his physiology, Aidan couldn't even begin to guess. Suddenly the man turned in alarm.
"Wait, there is someone here!" he exclaimed in alarm, partially to himself.
"Who are you? 'Twas that relentless Greywolf who sent you, wasn't it?" he asked Aidan timidly, seeing the young wizard as being the nearest of the companions.
"I have nothing to do with anyone named Greywolf, and nor would I want to." Aidan replied in a soothing voice.
He wished to hear the story behind this seemingly insane endeavor, and the man didn't disappoint him. His face, sweating and pale from the ravages of the hastening magic, nonetheless calmed down somewhat with relief.
"Thank Deneir, I thought I was done in. I am not cut out for a life on the run." He explained.
"Mayhaps you could help a foolish sculptor finish this epiphany? Please, guard this place, for surely Greywolf will come seeking the bounty on the gems. I will pay with my last possessions if you would do this one service for me." The young sculptor's fervent wish struck a chord in Aidan's soul, and he turned to the others.
The young wizard needn't to have worry, for the others welcomed this opportunity to rest. As the party began to unpack their sleeping gear, Aidan stayed behind and watched the love struck fool work in his suicidal pace. He was just about to ask the name of the woman in the sculpture, when he felt an arm on his shoulder. The young wizard turned, and saw Branwen, holding her blanket by the other hand.
"I--ah..." was all Aidan had time to say before the voluptuous priestess silenced him with a deep kiss. She hadn't forgotten her promise, and was determined to see if the young wizard performed as manly in other tasks than battle, as well...
Perhaps it was for the best in regards to Aidan's reputation for heroic deeds, that they didn't get very far that night before being interrupted by a harsh voice.
*-*-*
Imoen was standing guard that evening. She had seen how Branwen had dragged her poor friend away, presumably to "make a man" of the wizard.
The young woman giggled at the thought. Her stuffy and pompous friend wasn't very experienced in that area of life, but she had lied anyway (only for Aidan's benefit, Imoen rationalized shamelessly) when Branwen had asked her. It would be good for Aidan to have a closer... relationship with the straightforward priestess., she had decided.
She was looking casually at the feverishly working young sculptor as she mused on her friend's "plight". The young man was handsome, and he had the look of a wealthy artisan on him. As she realized what she was thinking, Imoen blushed. She wasn't that brash, but maybe.
Someone was approaching.
Quickly shouting an alarm and raising her bow, she was relieved to see Jaheira, Khalid and Xan come running as the stranger drew near. He was a huge human fighter, dressed in studded leather and carrying a dark bladed long sword on his right hand. The dangerous looking man had long, iron gray hair and Imoen realized that this must have been the ominous bounty hunter the sculptor had feared.
Greywolf eyed them dismissively, and stepped towards their young charge.
"I have come for you, Prism." He bellowed to the frightened sculptor in his nasty, gravelly voice.
"No! Not yet! My work is nearly done! Please, I implore you!" There was true terror in Prism's voice, but it was not because he feared for his life, Imoen realized.
He was worried for his masterpiece.
Dressed only in her undergarments, Branwen came running wielding her mace and her shield. Aidan trailed behind, red faced (from exertion or embarrassment, Imoen wondered) but still seemingly ready for conflict.
"Your sentiment is wasted on me, fool. You are but gold in my purse." Greywolf laughed at the poor sculptor's face.
Then he turned to scornfully view upon the companions. Sneering cruelly, he spat in Khalid's direction.
"Do you make your situation worse by hiring help to protect you? Who are you fools?" he demanded from Khalid.
Seeing Aidan's current... unbalanced state, Jaheira took the speaker's role.
"Prism wishes only to finish his masterwork. Why not let him? What harm can it do?" she asked, trying her best to avoid any conflict.
It didn't do much good. The bounty hunter laughed out loud at her words.
"You should be more worried 'bout the harm I can do!" He yelled back at her face.
"Never have I taken a bounty and not delivered! Now stand aside, that I might dispense with this fool and claim my prize. Or would you rather I go through you to get him?" the evil looking man had already decided their fate, it seemed.
"Consider well if he be worth your lives!" He barked out at Khalid, and advanced on him, sword ready to strike.
*-*-*
Aidan heard Branwen call the blessing of Tempus on them, and felt his spirit sharpen and mind ease. His companions charged to Khalid's aid, as Imoen took a shot which the bounty hunter dodged. Preparing his mind for spell casting, saw Branwen charge into the fray also.
Barking out the few words and making the necessary arcane hand movements, Aidan launched a "Chromatic Orb" at their enemy. This was the second power level for the spell, Aidan knew. It would cause a nasty shock and also cause intense pain upon the victim. As his magical attack hit Greywolf on his arm, Aidan realized that this fight was going to be a close one. Jaheira had already fallen, and was trying to heal herself from a terrible wound made by the black sword their enemy swung with practiced ease and fluid power.
Khalid was fighting for his life. This gray-maned warrior was not only a master swordsman, but he also wielded an enchanted blade of some power. The half-elven fighter had his hands full trying to avoid losing body parts to their enemy's swings, let alone trying to hit back.
Khalid blocked an overhead swing with his sword, but this time his non- enchanted blade didn't hold. Splintering from the force and magical energy of his enemy's weapon, Khalid's only defense was now a dagger he wore on his belt. Branwen jumped in and hit their foe with her heavy mace.
Khalid's eyes widened in surprise. Greywolf didn't even wince.
Instead, he slashed a terrible blow at Branwen, which she only barely managed to block with her shield. Blue energy trailed behind the blade as it was swung.
Imoen, not daring to shoot into the swirling melee tried to stab the bounty hunter into his back.
Greywolf, however, was no novice in dirty combat. Having seen her approach, he turned quickly as Imoen rushed towards his seemingly unprotected rear. Only Imoen's phenomenal dexterity kept her alive as Greywolf aimed a vicious swing intended to decapitate her.
Her agility didn't keep her in the battle, though.
Greywolf, having missed with his sword, kicked her straight into between her legs. While a more painful spot for a male, it made Imoen double over in pain and scream in agony. Turning his attention back to Khalid, Greywolf laughed aloud. He was enjoying this, Aidan realized!
Xan, not having any spells memorized, instead swung with his elegant and lethal moonblade. Trailing blue flames, the blade bit deep in to the bounty hunter's side. Roaring in agony, Greywolf turned his wrath towards the hapless elf. His first strike disarmed Xan, sending his moonblade flying. His second one cut the elven wizards flesh open from chin to groin.
Screaming in horrible pain, Xan fell to ground trying to stop his entrails from spilling to the ground.
Branwen rushed to help the mortally wounded elf as Khalid, bellowing in uncharacteristic anger, rushed the bounty hunter and stabbed the man's back viciously with his dagger. He had the time to score two hits through the bounty hunter's leather armor, before being stabbed straight through his abdomen by the cold, dark blade of his enemy. Blood welling in his mouth, Khalid fell into a crumbled heap.
Meanwhile, Aidan had managed to help Imoen stand up. He had seen Khalid and Xan fall, and now Greywolf's attention was on him. The bounty hunter glanced at his singed arm.
"That HURT!" he remarked to the young wizard.
Imoen raised her bow and fired an arrow at the menacing bounty hunter.
He grunted in pain as her arrow penetrated his armor and stuck in his chest. Then, inexplicably, terribly, he smiled. Raising his sword, he charged at the wizard and the rogue.
Aidan saw that even though Branwen and Jaheira were running behind Greywolf, they wouldn't catch him in time to prevent his and Imoen's deaths. Preparing to strike in a final defiant blow, he was surprised to see someone charge the bounty hunter with inhuman speed.
It was Prism!
The young sculptor, screaming in his high-pitched voice and wielding Khalid's fallen dagger, pounced on Greywolf stabbing and hacking madly. Taken completely by surprise, the bounty hunter took nasty wounds from the sculptor's fury before managing to elbow Prism off of his back. Blood spurting from his pierced throat artery, Greywolf fell on his knees and didn't even see the blow that took his life.
Wielding her mace in both hands, Branwen smashed Greywolf's head into a bloody mess of hair, bone and brains.
*-*-*
Khalid and Xan were both badly wounded, the elven wizard more so. It had taken all the healing ability the party had just to save his life, and the elf was still unconscious. Khalid managed to walk by himself, but Aidan and the others would have to carry his and Xan's gear. And they had had to build stretchers to carry Xan back to Nashkel where he was given over to the local temple of Helm to be taken care of.
Prism didn't accompany them back.
Lying on the ground mortally exhausted, the young artist looked pleased and strangely fulfilled.
"Alas, my work is complete. Take what you will from my possessions, but leave the sparkle in her eyes." He breathed to Aidan, who had offered to take him back to Nashkel.
Turning to his masterpiece, he smiled for the last time.
"O sweet creature, My effigy to thee is done. Perhaps our paths shall cross in distant Realms, and I shall find the courage to call thy name. Ellesime!" Prism died with those final words.
Before leaving, they dug a small grave for the tragic young sculptor and Khalid took Greywolf's dark weapon to replace his own shattered blade. He kept it sheathed for the moment, not daring to use a unidentified magical weapon.
*-*-*
Berrun Ghastkill had been overjoyed at their triumphant return. Not only had Aidan and his friends been given 900 in gold, but they were also treated like conquering heroes by the populace. Only thing that puzzled the young wizard was Imoen's behavior.
His usually carefree friend had disappeared somewhere for a short time after they had visited Berrun. When she returned, not only did she have tears in her eyes but she had lost all of her share of the prize money. Aidan didn't believe Imoen had been robbed, but other than that he had no clue what had upset her so.
In reality, Imoen had visited the unfortunate miner Joseph's wife and returned his wedding ring to her. She had also given her portion of the reward to the young widow. She never told anyone what she had done, however, and Aidan soon forgot about the incident.
The inn's common room was filled to capacity that night, for everyone wanted to share a toast with the town's new heroes. Even Volo was there, telling a new story about the party's exploits. As Aidan was drinking he slowly became aware of someone watching him. He turned his head and saw a towering human fighter, clad in chainmail and sitting in the corner watching him. Remembering the attempts on his life, Aidan tried to discreetly observe the huge stranger's activities.
The man was bald, and had a garish purple tattoo across his face. Propped against the wall next to him was a huge two-handed sword. The strangest detail, however, was that the man was apparently speaking to his backpack. He kept glancing towards Aidan, and murmuring to his knapsack as if holding a discussion concerning the young wizard with it. Then the man nodded to the pack, grabbed his belongings and headed straight at Aidan.
Hastily preparing himself for spell casting just in case, Aidan quickly motioned to Khalid and Jaheira to come to his aid. Unfortunately, both half- elves were chatting with Branwen and didn't notice his plight.
Aidan felt a huge hand on his shoulder, and gulped in fear. He turned and saw the huge man towering over himself. His initial alarm faded a little though, when he noticed that the man was smiling amiably.
Something was sitting on the giant's shoulder, appraising the young wizard intently.
To his amazement, Aidan saw that it was a hamster.
Seeing his bewildered look, the huge warrior looked pleased.
"I agree Boo, they look to be friendly." He whispered to the small animal in a conspirational tone.
Then he turned to look upon Aidan once more.
"Greetings, we are Minsc and Boo." He pointed his thumb first at himself, then at the rodent on his shoulder.
"We have traveled far to explore this land, but now my charge Dynaheir has been taken from us." Minsc continued in a loud voice, drawing the attention of Aidan's companions.
"'Twas gnolls, and once we have tracked them I will beat sense into their heads until they release her." The warrior gritted his teeth in anger before continuing.
"Accompany us and bards will sing the deeds of Minsc and Boo... and friends." He hastily added, looking expectedly at Aidan.
The man seemed genuinely amiable, but Aidan was worried about his mental stability. He had traveled with Xzar, who had provided enough craziness to last a lifetime as far as Aidan was concerned.
"Excuse me, but are you speaking to a rodent?" Aidan asked the warrior, trying hard to sound non-confrontational.
Minsc looked at him incredulously.
"Boo is my faithful animal companion, and more than he seems." He replied in his thick accent.
Khalid and Jaheira had heard the whole exchange, and nodded approvingly at Aidan.
The young wizard smiled disarmingly at the giant, trying to appear enthusiastic about his quest.
"The classic dilemma of the damsel in distress! How could anyone decline!" Aidan hoped he sounded sincere, and Minsc certainly seemed think so.
Hollering thunderously with joy, he startled Aidan who spilled his beer mug all over his robes in alarm.
"Take heart fellow adventurers, for you have curried the favor of Boo, the only miniature giant space hamster in the Realm!" The huge warrior proclaimed presenting his small pet at them.
"My friend and companion ever since my h-h-head wound, he will lead us to victory! Onward to the Gnoll Stronghold in the west! Tarry not! We must go soon!"
Trying hard not to scowl, Aidan merely hoped they would rescue this loon's female companion quickly and be rid of his company.
*-*-*
Darkness.
Aidan felt the most curious sensation as he literally passed through dirt and stone both.
He was once again speeding through the mines of Nashkel, only now they were empty and sterile.
No kobold disturbed his descent, and he knew (with some satisfaction) that it was because HE had killed them all, slaughtered them mercilessly like the vermin they were.
Uncharacteristically exultant from the slaughter, Aidan saw that he had arrived to his destination.
Mulahey's sanctum.
Inexplicably, the half-orc was there, bloated and pallid in it's apparent undeath.
Snapping to his senses, Aidan tried to determine if he was sleeping or awake. He didn't know.
A dagger made of bone was hovering in the air, before the half-orc. It was glaring in terror at the blade, awaiting punishment beyond punishment, a death beyond death.
With sickening clarity Aidan realized that the dagger was there for him. He was supposed to show his power over the already dead once more.
His heart filling with pity for the poor apparition of his dead foe, Aidan turned his back on the blade.
He heard it clatter on the floor.
Turning to face Mulahey's ghost again, he saw surprise and thankfulness on the half-orc's face. Holding it's hands over it's still heart, it walked towards Aidan and passed through him vanishing into nothingness.
No, not completely.
It had left something behind.
A spark of hope against despair, Mulahey's ghost had filled a small empty space Aidan had been unaware of.
Then he heard it.
A horrifying cry of rage from the depths of abyss.
Aidan fell to his knees, trying futilely to block the keening from his ears by his hands.
The dagger of bone hovered into air before him, and flew straight at his heart with a startling speed.
Covered in sweat, Aidan woke up with a scream. Tearing off his sheets in panic, he nearly cried in relief as he saw his unmarred chest.
Once again a sinister voice lingered in his consciousness, this time more persistent...
"You WILL learn..."
*-*-*
Their party certainly looked more lethal, Aidan decided.
Jaheira, wearing her new splint mail armor and a horned helmet, looked lithe and majestic.
Khalid was even more heavily armored, wearing his new suit of plate mail like a knight. His new sword had been identified in the temple, too. Called Varscona, it was a fearsome weapon formerly used by the cultists of the evil goddess of darkness and loss, Shar. Despite it's malignant past, Khalid was determined to use it for righteous deeds. He also wore Mulahey's magical boots, which had the power to protect from electricity. They too, had a dark history with the god of mindless destruction, Talos.
Imoen had a new blade as well, the minorly enchanted halfling made short sword from Mulahey's hoard. She wore it on her left hip, determined to be better prepared the next time she was forced into melee.
Branwen had been awarded the sapphire ring, determined to be a fabled ring of holiness by the Helmite priests. It brought the warrior priestess into a closer contact with her deity, increasing her magical potential in battle and otherwise.
And last but not certainly least, the towering ranger Minsc (with his faithful Boo atop his bald head) seemed ready to take on the horde's of Abyss by himself. Heavily muscled, Aidan was actually glad to have the ranger beside them.
Aidan himself was more practiced in his spell casting, having mastered a few new enchantments. As soon as his powers advanced just a little bit further, he would be able to cast the "Web" spell taken from Mulahey treasury. For now, it was out of his reach.
The weather was lovely and despite his grim dream last night, Aidan felt generally fine. Perhaps this rescue mission would turn out fine. The thought of storming a fortress of gnolls worried him somewhat, but just looking at his heroic friends eased his spirits.
They set off westwards, Imoen and Minsc taking the lead.
*-*-*
"There!"
Aidan glanced at the direction Imoen pointed. The violent winds whipped his cloak around him and the rain fall made it difficult to see, but he could still make out the huge ogre crashing through the foliage.
It was after them.
They had been under attack by hobgoblins, ogrillons and ogres ever since they had crossed the river sometime ago. The party had been forced to flee, with everyone more or less wounded by the constant fighting. Now it seemed the humanoids had found them again.
Aidan cursed under his breath. He had hoped to rest and heal his wounds and re-memorize his spells. It wouldn't happen now.
"Yes Boo. I see them too."
Aidan sighed in exasperation. Minsc actually consulted with his hamster regarding their plans, and agreed or disagreed with them based on Boo's "opinions"...
"Boo thinks we should charge immediately and administer a wallop of righteous hamster JUSTICE!" the huge ranger bellowed.
And with that, he was off. Bellowing war cries, Minsc charged straight at the three meter tall ogre. Khalid stuttered a quick curse and followed him out. Jaheira and Branwen advanced more slowly, to take a better look at the situation.
A lightning flashed across the sky, and Aidan saw the ogre more clearly. It was a huge monster, by far the biggest of it's kind Aidan had yet seen. Wielding a huge blade in it's hands, it bellowed a thunderous war cry of it's own, and engaged Minsc and Khalid in melee. Five hobgoblins armed with bows followed it, and unleashed their shafts at the two women.
They hit Jaheira wounding her, but Branwen managed to finish her prayer and cast a holding spell over the archers. Imoen fired an arrow of her own and killed one of the still standing bow wielders. Jaheira and Branwen charged the final one and caused it to flee in panic.
Meanwhile, the huge ogre was engaged in savage hand to hand struggle with Khalid and Minsc. It was surprised at their prowess, something it hadn't expected to see from such small pests. Aidan advanced warily, shivering in his soaked robes. He still had one spell left, the "Chromatic Orb". Focusing his mental energies, the young wizard unleashed the magical sphere.
Unerringly, it flew straight into the huge ogre, hitting it to it's ugly face. Bellowing in sudden pain, the beast dropped it's guard for one fatal moment.
Khalid didn't hesitate, and sunk his chilling blade into the ogre's chest.
The battle was over.
*-*-*
The party was huddled in a small cave Imoen had found. They had faced no further attacks from the humanoids, and Aidan surmised that the huge ogre had been the leader whose death had dampened the survivors' enthusiasm.
The young wizard watched Branwen chatting with Minsc. He was glad that the priestess had forgotten about him, having been dead embarrassed with Imoen's snide comments about "that damn Greywolf interrupting their midnight lovemaking". Blushing in irritation and embarrassment, Aidan wished the little scamp would stop ribbing him. Not that he didn't consider Branwen attractive, far from it. It was just that the priestess' straightforward manner intimidated the young wizard.
Shaking his head angrily, trying to clear the embarrassing thoughts away, he resumed studying his spell book. It dawned on him just then that for the first time, he was actually comprehending the required verbal components of the "Web" spell. Excitedly, all his discomfort regarding Branwen forgotten, he started to memorize the new spell.
From some distance away, Jaheira watched the young wizard.
"A-are you all right, my dear?" Khalid asked her worriedly.
She turned to face her husband and smiled reassuringly to him. Despite her often argumentative behavior, she cared deeply for Khalid. They had been married for many years now, ever since Khalid had been forced to flee from his home in Calimshan. She had brought him to the group they both were now members of, the Harpers.
Counting many powerful figures for good and for balance among it's membership, the Harpers were a semi-secret society often working against disruptive elements on Faerun. Such as their present task, to uncover who was behind this whole iron crisis and stop them, if possible.
ONE of their tasks, Jaheira reminded herself.
The other was self-appointed, but it had some ties to the Harper's also, for Aidan's foster father Gorion had been a long time member. She felt a pang of sadness wash over her as she remembered her old friend. Gorion had retired from adventuring to raise Aidan, a task now complete. Someone was after the young wizard, and the warrior druidess couldn't help but to wonder if it was the same people as the ones behind the iron shortage.
She glanced over to where Minsc was chatting with Branwen. The huge warrior was a tremendous asset to the party in combat, as the many ogrillons and hobgoblins he had slain amply proved. The rangers addled mind worried Jaheira, however.
Khalid smiled at her, and went to unpack their bedroll's. Stretching herself like a cat, Jaheira walked over to her husband. They would need the rest, she knew. Tomorrow they would face the gnolls.
*-*-*
"Damn you, whelp of an elven whore!" Grahhk cursed as his comrades laughed raucously at him in their barking voices. Brrazk, the winner of their little game of javelin throwing displayed a toothy smile at him.
"Shut up, cur!" the other gnoll snarled as he grabbed the collected bets from the earth. These included the pair of funny looking gauntlets they had pillaged from an Amnish caravan few nights ago.
"Well, up for another bout?" Brrazk asked him, sneering arrogantly.
Tossing down the leather bracers they had grabbed from that pink-skin witch a raiding party had captured some nights ago, he growled a defiant challenge at his victorious comrade.
Grabbing another javelin from the ground, the gnoll prepared to throw it to the target one of their xvart slaves had prepared some distance away. Grahhk concentrated, drew deep breath and aimed carefully...
Success!
He let out a barking laugh of victory... or tried to. Turning around in amazement, he found out that he couldn't hear a thing!
The last sight Grahhk ever saw was the rapidly descending blade of Minsc's sword, which split the gnoll sentry's head and chest well into his lower torso.
*-*-*
Branwen's spell had silenced the gnoll sentries, and they had been killed off discreetly. Aidan knew that they would have to move quickly, because the element of surprise wouldn't last. Imoen had climbed the rocky walls over seeing the ruined fortress. She would provide close support with her arrows. The party raced up the roughly cut stairs, hoping to find out where this Dynaheir was being held.
They reached the outer courtyard of the keep, and saw two pits where a number of stinking carcasses lay. To Minsc's great relief, none of them was Dynaheir's and they pressed on towards the second set of stairs.
A shrill xvart scream told them that the easy ascent had come to an end. Ten of the puny little blue humanoids, screaming in their shrill voices charged them. Aidan withheld his spells, seeing Minsc and Khalid quickly rout the little kobold sized pests.
With menacing growls, a group of gnolls charged them.
They hadn't counted on meeting Minsc.
The addled ranger seemed to hold a special hatred for the hyena-faced monsters, and with each berserk swing of his mighty blade a gnoll fell down. Soon he had single handedly routed them, with five slain at his feet.
Quickly urging them onward, stopping only to cast a healing spell on the ranger, Jaheira took the lead herself. The raced for the stairs leading to the inner courtyard, with Minsc again pressing forward past the druid.
Having trailed behind Aidan climbed the stairs last, and was shocked to see at least twenty gnolls, some of them already engaged in fighting against his companions, milling about the inner grounds. And more were on the way. He saw a group of ten or so of the hyena-men, these looking particularly tough. They were led by what was obviously the stronghold's chieftain.
Even though Minsc, Khalid and Jaheira had already felled another three of their enemies, each of them was already wounded, with Minsc bleeding the worst. The chieftain barked an order which sent the ten nasty looking gnolls flanking Minsc and Khalid. Aidan quickly realized that if they managed to do so, the battle would be over sooner than it had began.
He knew instantly what he had to do.
Yelling out the words of power, he cast his first "Web" spell at the charging veteran gnolls. The chieftain's glee turned into disbelief when he saw his bodyguards mired helplessly in the sticky strands.
At the same time, Branwen had completed her prayer and unleashed a holding spell at the swirling melee, which incapacitated three of the gnolls attacking Jaheira. Aidan saw that Imoen wasn't evading the battle either. She was perched high above them, on a cliff side, and was firing arrows down at the unengaged gnolls.
Snarling in rage, the gnoll chieftain charged at Branwen, who was killing the webbed and helpless gnoll veterans. Khalid yelled for help then, and Aidan's attention was diverted again.
The young wizard saw that his three comrades' situation was quickly deteriorating. Ten of the gnolls were already dead, but more had joined the fight and as skilled as his friends were, they would soon be overwhelmed. Aidan quickly cast the "Sleep" spell over the rear ranks of the fray, which turned out to be the turning point as almost half of the fighting gnolls collapsed, fast asleep.
He turned his attention back to Branwen and the gnoll chief, and instantly fear welled in his stomach. The two combatants were fighting dangerously close to the edge of the cliffside, where there was no wall to prevent a miss-step from causing a 100 meter fall in to the rocks below. Aidan began to run closer to launch his last spell at the chieftain.
But Branwen didn't seemingly need any help. She dodged the huge gnoll's latest blow and smashed her mace into the monster's ugly snout sending it reeling. Losing it's balance, the creature fell down with a yelp.
"By Tempus' shield!" she exclaimed as Aidan approached.
"A hard fight, but in the end, with the aid of the Lord of Battle's, I--" Something was moving behind her!
Aidan tried to shout a warning as the wounded but still strong gnoll chieftain grabbed Branwen's long hair and yanked hard. With a shriek that sounded half angry, half startled, Branwen fell over the edge of the cliff.
The large gnoll had managed to grab the edge when it fell, but Branwen didn't have such an opportunity. Alarmed at seeing another human so close, the chieftain frantically tried to clamber up from it's precarious position.
Aidan never gave the monster a chance. Howling in rage and grief, the young wizard hacked with all his strength at the gnoll's head with his staff. Unconscious from the blow, the gnoll fell down to it's death.
"Aidan!"
The young wizard turned, tears clouding his eyes. He saw that Jaheira and Khalid were standing behind him. Minsc was further away, but even he looked downcast.
"Branwen..." was all Aidan managed to say, his lower lip trembling.
"I know. We saw it. There was nothing--" Jaheira tried, but Aidan was unused to seeing friends die.
"Don't say that!" he yelled.
"I should have helped her! I should have--"
"If you hadn't taken the time to make those gnolls fall asleep, EVERYONE would be dead now. Not only Branwen." Jaheira said kindly, but firmly.
"S--she's right, Aidan. The rest of us are alive because of you. D--don't blame yourself." Khalid said gently.
"Boo says we must GO!" Minsc yelled then, and even Aidan realized the ranger/berserker was right. They would return for Branwen's body later, now they had the living to care for. Taking a final glance over the cliff side, he ran off after his friends.
*-*-*
The rest of their enemies were swept away like leaves before the wind. Cold fire now burned in the companions' hearts, and the assorted gnolls and xvarts who offered resistance died quickly. Aidan joined the melee, somewhat protected by his magical items and the "Armor" spell he by now cast whenever travelling. He hacked away at the xvarts, their blood spraying all over his robes and hands. It finally took Khalid to snap him out of his bloodlust.
Aidan surveyed the scene. Xvart and gnoll corpses were strewn everywhere, and he had been hacking at a dead xvart. Everyone was staring at him, Jaheira and Khalid in apprehension and Minsc grinning in approval.
The heavy silence was broken by a woman's weak voice, coming from a pit similar to the ones they had seen in the lower courtyard. Khalid and Minsc ran over to the mounds edge, and the ranger quickly jumped down. Some short, pointed questions later, Khalid helped a short, dark-complexioned woman up from the pit.
Her skin was a curious, exotic dark color contrasted by her long auburn hair.
Looking them over, she limped over to Aidan supported by Minsc.
"I thank thee for saving me. 'Twas courageous to follow the likes of Minsc into battle, if a touch foolish." She shared Minsc's strong accent and constructed her sentences in an curious, archaic manner.
"I have naught to offer thee in return, save my services in battle. Mayhaps I could travel with thee awhile, and an opportunity may arise for repayment of mine debt." Dynaheir offered, getting approving nods from Jaheira and Khalid.
"Minsc is... well... Minsc, but he hast a strong sword arm, whilst I am practiced in the arts magica. Shall we join?" she finished, looking straight into Aidan's eyes.
Realizing that it was up to him to make the decision once again, Aidan regarded the short, pretty wizardess approvingly.
Dynaheir seemed to radiate hidden wisdom and power, and Minsc had proven to be unstoppable in melee.
"Who are you that you warrant a bodyguard?" he inquired in a friendly manner.
Dynaheir nodded approvingly at his caution.
"I am Dynaheir of Rasheman. 'Tis not a title; 'tis just where I am from." So these two were from that faraway eastern land, Aidan realized!
"We two are indeed far afield of our home, but 'tis a necessary rite of passage." She continued her explanation.
"Minsc must make his "dejemma" by seeking adventure, while I must prove my worth to my.. sisters in much the same manner." She smiled at Aidan's raised eyebrow.
"'Tis an interesting time for the Realms, with great things foretold for the Sword Coast. 'Tis therefore a likely place to look for what we need. What dost thou seek on this adventurous road? Mayhaps we can all find what we need together?" she once again offered, making a small bowing gesture.
"You are welcome in my company. One cannot have too many friends." Aidan replied her, with some bitter pain in his voice.
Branwen would still be alive if not for this mission. Realizing the folly of blaming Minsc and Dynaheir for the priestess' death, Aidan was relieved to see that the Rashemite woman had either ignored or hadn't understood his remark.
"I have no doubt thou shalt make an... interesting traveling companion." She remarked, smiling in an unsettling manner, as if she was aware of something Aidan didn't know.
*-*-*
They found Branwen and the gnoll chieftain close to each other. After Imoen had gleaned the gnoll carcass of anything valuable, they carried it off to the sea and threw it there.
Branwen they buried in a cairn dug by Jaheira, Khalid and Minsc. Jaheira performed the last rites, and they raised a small marker on top of her grave. Jaheira gently took the ring of holiness from her finger, and no one protested. She was going to the side of Tempus, the Lord of Battles. The living needed that magical item more.
The party had found quite a cache of treasure from the gnolls, but Aidan couldn't think of that now. His thoughts lingered on their fallen comrade. Just a week before the golden haired priestess had gotten her life back from being imprisoned in stone, and now she was dead.
As the party began to file away, Aidan lingered behind. A part of him still blamed himself from her death.
And twisted though it was, another part exulted in the carnage they had caused.
Aidan shivered at his dark thoughts, and slowly followed after his comrades, leaving Branwen's final resting place behind.