It was in Lut Gholein when I got my next mercenary. When I heard that a man named Griez sold mercenaries, I felt guilty just thinking of hiring another. But somehow I still found myself at the front of the city gates speaking with the man named Griez about hiring a new one. He gave me some scrolls with each available mercenary's name and skills next to it. Annor looked over my shoulder, but I couldn't tell what she was thinking.
Annor had agreed to go with me to Lut Gholein, but she hadn't agreed to stay. I knew she felt that her sister Rogues needed her, but she didn't say anything. The trip here had been terrible for her. She had suffered from some sort of sickness on our journey toward the Desert City. When she was not throwing up, she was lying down in the back of the bumpy caravan wagon. I felt sorry for her and half of me was glad that she was going to return home.
But still another half was guilty . . .
As I looked through each of the mercenaries skills I was surprised because it felt like I was going shopping. I still felt the need for a companion and perhaps I would find one in my new mercenary. I knew it was somewhat foolish, yet I couldn't help the way I felt. I had momentarily forgotten that this new mercenary was human and not some new pet.
Finally, my finger fell upon a man named Leharas. He had some of the best combat skills out of all the others. I was tired of whacking monsters on the head and wanted somebody else to take them out for me. I gave Griez the scroll with Leharas's statistics on it. He glanced at it and I gave him the required money.
"Hold on. Let me go get him." Griez said thinking he was getting one of his men who would protect a lovely lady, not the other way around.
I turned toward Annor. She looked at me curiously waiting for me to talk.
"Annor . . ." I began. "I will miss you." I looked down again feeling guilty for hiring somebody to replace her, especially in her presence. She stepped up to me and put her hand on my shoulder.
"Do not feel guilty. I am not angry that you choose a new follower. I know that my arrows are no good in dark caves and tight spaces. A spear fighter will be better."
I sighed uncomfortably. Perhaps part of Annor wanted to stay and fight with me, yet I knew that she missed her home terribly.
"You have trained me well." She added and it was then that I realize that I was a 'trainer'. I had trained Annor as we fought side by side in the wilderness. I had never meant to be, but I was a mentor of sorts. Now I was to train the next mercenary.
"I respect you, oh great Sorceress. Not only as a friend, but as a teacher." Annor continued. I had never heard her speak so much before.
"Now I can take my newly acquired skills to my homeland and keep out any evil which may try and destroy us." She added.
"You miss your home don't you?" I said sympathetically. She had suffered on our long trip here just to turn around and go back again. I remembered that she hadn't faired too well against the desert heat and got alarmingly sick along the way.
She grasp my wrist and we shook hands according to her homeland tradition. "May you win your battles both against others . . ."
She smiled. ". . . And inside yourself."
I smiled at the last comment. Even though we didn't speak much she knew me well already. My encounter with an evil inside myself near Andariel's chambers, had proven that even I was not safe from corruption and I had to constantly remind myself not to give into despair. So far I had won this battle against despair, but who knew the dangers I faced here in Lut Gholein.
Annor began to walk away. "May you find love and live to see your grandchildren!" She yelled over her shoulder.
"May you live long and become a great Rogue among your people!" I yelled back not knowing what else to say.
And I never saw her again after that. Once I went back to the Rogue encampment and asked Kashya about her, but Annor refused to be hired. Kashya hadn't heard from her in a while.
"She has gone into the wilderness in order to rebuild our lost sisterhood, so she is not up for hire. I have other Rogues though." Kashya had explained. Unfortunately all the other Rogues were too young and inexperienced so I kept my current mercenary Leharas . . .
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When I first met Leharas I knew he didn't like me. He walked up to me with a scowl on his face. I glanced him over and decided that he was too scrawny and arrogant. Yet I kept him anyway.
"Greetings! Ready to be my new companion?" I said in a warm voice trying to make him feel comfortable. He looked at me strangely wondering at my comments, but didn't say a word. He seemed to be a guy who only answered to orders.
We didn't say anything at first. We set off to kill a monster in the sewers. I stood back as I let him kill most of the monsters for me. Whenever we were ambushed, I would simply step away and let him do all the fighting.
"Why do you not help me?" He finally complained angrily.
"You need more experience." I answered. I knew I was being a bit cruel, but I was determined for him to become more skillful.
"Your skills need to match my own." I continued trying not to sound haughty. "Through practice soon you will be stronger than your brethren." I added more softly.
He looked at me a bit angered, but said no more. Like Annor, he didn't say a whole bunch. I was testing him to see what kind of mercenary he was and if he was truly loyal. I know I probably didn't need to, but I wished to anyway. I looked to see what he would say to my greediness as I kicked every single urn to check for money or items. He simply watched with a distant look in his eye and still said nothing. Annor would have teased me about it, but he kept his mouth shut.
It didn't take him long for his skills to match my own. He was much stronger than I and could take out most enemies through one hit. For me it would have taken much longer only using physical force. I decided that my training had been effective, though Leharas didn't even know I was training him.
Finally, out in the desert I again stepped back from a fight, but not to let Leharas to fight the monsters, but to help fight the best way I knew how. I focused my mind on the spells that I had learned through my adventures in the West. I would freeze the monsters to slow them down and he would quickly stab them before they become unfrozen. Leharas seemed surprised yet comforted when I first froze a monster. And after that he seemed to respect me a little more.
We would pass the days like this, fighting monsters in the desert. But nights were even worse for me. I would become depressed. And I spent those depressed nights in Atma's bar along side a drunk guy named Geglash.
At nights I tried to warm up to Leharas and even flirt a bit. But he seemed to despise me. I found better company with Geglash.
Warriv had traveled back to the Rogue encampment with Annor. But he would be back soon. I spent my nights in the bar, drinking after a long day of searching and fighting in the desert. I had never drank much before, but now I did just to try and get away from my troubles. Though the mornings after I would feel a little sick from my consumption, I found that a health potion would help to wake me up.
We had just traveled through the desert and were returning back to Lut Gholein. Leharas followed obediently of course.
"Let us go to the bar." I ordered. He frowned in disapproval, but said nothing. I sat down at the table along with Geglash and some other man. Leharas stood behind me.
"What adventures have you been on?" Geglash asked clanking his beer mug next to mine. I could tell he was a bit drunk, but I didn't mind telling him.
"I just got through clearing out a whole lair of maggots." I bragged.
"Eww. No wonder you smell funny." He answered drunkenly.
"You don't smell too fine yourself." I answered.
"I never did like those over sized buggers." Geglash said rather loudly.
"I had to kill them in order to get the staff."
"What staff?"
"The Horodric staff."
"Ah. I get it." He answered obviously not really understanding.
We talked this way until a fight broke out in the corner of the room.
"We should go." Leharas whispered in my ear. I looked at him surprised that he was still there.
I got up and stumbled around. The little beer that I had drunk had already taken its toll on me. Geglash chuckled at me and slammed his hand on the table accidentally spilling his own beer on his lap.
I turned away and let Leharas lead me out. The coolness of the air seemed to sharpen my senses a little better than the hot and sweatiness of the bar. I finally became aware of Leharas's arm around me. I don't really know what came over me and why I did it, but a little tipsey I became bold and leaned over to kiss Leharas. But he looked away. I stumbled out of his arms and rested against the wall. He waited a couple feet away.
I still longed for a companion. Warriv had left and now Leharas seemed to be a prosecutable companion or lover. Though now that I think back, I feel foolish for acting the way I did.
"Why do you not like me?" I grumbled.
"You're drunk." He mentioned. "I will take you to your room."
I sat down my back against the cold wall determined to get some answers.
"Is there some other woman?" I accused. "Am I not pleasant enough?" He looked at me strangely again.
"Or do you find your company in men?" I said harshly.
He got angry at that. His eyes narrowed. "No." He answered darkly. "Let me help you to your room."
"You hate me!" I accused. "Is it because you disapprove of female fighters? Or because of the way I've been training you? I admit that my ways of conduct are not always conventional, but I only wish to make you great. I made Annor great. But she was a Rogue . . ." I rambled on.
He looked at me strangely surprised at what I was saying. I continued on speaking my mind not caring about the silence.
"I wasn't supposed to be a hero. I didn't even have the highest marks at the school. The older sorceresses told me, of all people, to go and fight--alone. I didn't even have a chance to start a life on my own. I want a husband and children. Not this! I never asked to be a sorceress! They took me from my home when I was quite little . . ."
"But you're wasting your life away!" Leharas interrupted.
"I am not!" I shouted like a little child.
"Your greed and drinking will consume you!"
"I know you disapprove . . ."
"You could be great!" He continued speaking with passion in his voice. "Imagine! A sorceress who defeated Diablo! But she was nothing but a treasure seeker and drunkard!"
I cried and realized what he said was true.
"You disgust me, Anuck. Plus you are drunk. I do not like you." He continued curtly.
And for the first time he left my side. I sat there for a while. Somebody came later and helped me up to my room. I didn't know who it was. I was too deep in thought.
After that I no longer sought for treasure in tombs and among graves. I never went to the bar again either. Leharas still followed me and we never talked of the incident. He didn't like me very much and I didn't like him, but I never replaced him with any of Griez's other men. We continued on our adventure in the East with an uneasy alliance.
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Awww. The sorceress hit another hard time in her life. I feel for her! Hope it wasn't too pathetic of a chapter and I hope it is somewhat believable. Because I had a tougher time writing this chapter than the others in the past.
Annor had agreed to go with me to Lut Gholein, but she hadn't agreed to stay. I knew she felt that her sister Rogues needed her, but she didn't say anything. The trip here had been terrible for her. She had suffered from some sort of sickness on our journey toward the Desert City. When she was not throwing up, she was lying down in the back of the bumpy caravan wagon. I felt sorry for her and half of me was glad that she was going to return home.
But still another half was guilty . . .
As I looked through each of the mercenaries skills I was surprised because it felt like I was going shopping. I still felt the need for a companion and perhaps I would find one in my new mercenary. I knew it was somewhat foolish, yet I couldn't help the way I felt. I had momentarily forgotten that this new mercenary was human and not some new pet.
Finally, my finger fell upon a man named Leharas. He had some of the best combat skills out of all the others. I was tired of whacking monsters on the head and wanted somebody else to take them out for me. I gave Griez the scroll with Leharas's statistics on it. He glanced at it and I gave him the required money.
"Hold on. Let me go get him." Griez said thinking he was getting one of his men who would protect a lovely lady, not the other way around.
I turned toward Annor. She looked at me curiously waiting for me to talk.
"Annor . . ." I began. "I will miss you." I looked down again feeling guilty for hiring somebody to replace her, especially in her presence. She stepped up to me and put her hand on my shoulder.
"Do not feel guilty. I am not angry that you choose a new follower. I know that my arrows are no good in dark caves and tight spaces. A spear fighter will be better."
I sighed uncomfortably. Perhaps part of Annor wanted to stay and fight with me, yet I knew that she missed her home terribly.
"You have trained me well." She added and it was then that I realize that I was a 'trainer'. I had trained Annor as we fought side by side in the wilderness. I had never meant to be, but I was a mentor of sorts. Now I was to train the next mercenary.
"I respect you, oh great Sorceress. Not only as a friend, but as a teacher." Annor continued. I had never heard her speak so much before.
"Now I can take my newly acquired skills to my homeland and keep out any evil which may try and destroy us." She added.
"You miss your home don't you?" I said sympathetically. She had suffered on our long trip here just to turn around and go back again. I remembered that she hadn't faired too well against the desert heat and got alarmingly sick along the way.
She grasp my wrist and we shook hands according to her homeland tradition. "May you win your battles both against others . . ."
She smiled. ". . . And inside yourself."
I smiled at the last comment. Even though we didn't speak much she knew me well already. My encounter with an evil inside myself near Andariel's chambers, had proven that even I was not safe from corruption and I had to constantly remind myself not to give into despair. So far I had won this battle against despair, but who knew the dangers I faced here in Lut Gholein.
Annor began to walk away. "May you find love and live to see your grandchildren!" She yelled over her shoulder.
"May you live long and become a great Rogue among your people!" I yelled back not knowing what else to say.
And I never saw her again after that. Once I went back to the Rogue encampment and asked Kashya about her, but Annor refused to be hired. Kashya hadn't heard from her in a while.
"She has gone into the wilderness in order to rebuild our lost sisterhood, so she is not up for hire. I have other Rogues though." Kashya had explained. Unfortunately all the other Rogues were too young and inexperienced so I kept my current mercenary Leharas . . .
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When I first met Leharas I knew he didn't like me. He walked up to me with a scowl on his face. I glanced him over and decided that he was too scrawny and arrogant. Yet I kept him anyway.
"Greetings! Ready to be my new companion?" I said in a warm voice trying to make him feel comfortable. He looked at me strangely wondering at my comments, but didn't say a word. He seemed to be a guy who only answered to orders.
We didn't say anything at first. We set off to kill a monster in the sewers. I stood back as I let him kill most of the monsters for me. Whenever we were ambushed, I would simply step away and let him do all the fighting.
"Why do you not help me?" He finally complained angrily.
"You need more experience." I answered. I knew I was being a bit cruel, but I was determined for him to become more skillful.
"Your skills need to match my own." I continued trying not to sound haughty. "Through practice soon you will be stronger than your brethren." I added more softly.
He looked at me a bit angered, but said no more. Like Annor, he didn't say a whole bunch. I was testing him to see what kind of mercenary he was and if he was truly loyal. I know I probably didn't need to, but I wished to anyway. I looked to see what he would say to my greediness as I kicked every single urn to check for money or items. He simply watched with a distant look in his eye and still said nothing. Annor would have teased me about it, but he kept his mouth shut.
It didn't take him long for his skills to match my own. He was much stronger than I and could take out most enemies through one hit. For me it would have taken much longer only using physical force. I decided that my training had been effective, though Leharas didn't even know I was training him.
Finally, out in the desert I again stepped back from a fight, but not to let Leharas to fight the monsters, but to help fight the best way I knew how. I focused my mind on the spells that I had learned through my adventures in the West. I would freeze the monsters to slow them down and he would quickly stab them before they become unfrozen. Leharas seemed surprised yet comforted when I first froze a monster. And after that he seemed to respect me a little more.
We would pass the days like this, fighting monsters in the desert. But nights were even worse for me. I would become depressed. And I spent those depressed nights in Atma's bar along side a drunk guy named Geglash.
At nights I tried to warm up to Leharas and even flirt a bit. But he seemed to despise me. I found better company with Geglash.
Warriv had traveled back to the Rogue encampment with Annor. But he would be back soon. I spent my nights in the bar, drinking after a long day of searching and fighting in the desert. I had never drank much before, but now I did just to try and get away from my troubles. Though the mornings after I would feel a little sick from my consumption, I found that a health potion would help to wake me up.
We had just traveled through the desert and were returning back to Lut Gholein. Leharas followed obediently of course.
"Let us go to the bar." I ordered. He frowned in disapproval, but said nothing. I sat down at the table along with Geglash and some other man. Leharas stood behind me.
"What adventures have you been on?" Geglash asked clanking his beer mug next to mine. I could tell he was a bit drunk, but I didn't mind telling him.
"I just got through clearing out a whole lair of maggots." I bragged.
"Eww. No wonder you smell funny." He answered drunkenly.
"You don't smell too fine yourself." I answered.
"I never did like those over sized buggers." Geglash said rather loudly.
"I had to kill them in order to get the staff."
"What staff?"
"The Horodric staff."
"Ah. I get it." He answered obviously not really understanding.
We talked this way until a fight broke out in the corner of the room.
"We should go." Leharas whispered in my ear. I looked at him surprised that he was still there.
I got up and stumbled around. The little beer that I had drunk had already taken its toll on me. Geglash chuckled at me and slammed his hand on the table accidentally spilling his own beer on his lap.
I turned away and let Leharas lead me out. The coolness of the air seemed to sharpen my senses a little better than the hot and sweatiness of the bar. I finally became aware of Leharas's arm around me. I don't really know what came over me and why I did it, but a little tipsey I became bold and leaned over to kiss Leharas. But he looked away. I stumbled out of his arms and rested against the wall. He waited a couple feet away.
I still longed for a companion. Warriv had left and now Leharas seemed to be a prosecutable companion or lover. Though now that I think back, I feel foolish for acting the way I did.
"Why do you not like me?" I grumbled.
"You're drunk." He mentioned. "I will take you to your room."
I sat down my back against the cold wall determined to get some answers.
"Is there some other woman?" I accused. "Am I not pleasant enough?" He looked at me strangely again.
"Or do you find your company in men?" I said harshly.
He got angry at that. His eyes narrowed. "No." He answered darkly. "Let me help you to your room."
"You hate me!" I accused. "Is it because you disapprove of female fighters? Or because of the way I've been training you? I admit that my ways of conduct are not always conventional, but I only wish to make you great. I made Annor great. But she was a Rogue . . ." I rambled on.
He looked at me strangely surprised at what I was saying. I continued on speaking my mind not caring about the silence.
"I wasn't supposed to be a hero. I didn't even have the highest marks at the school. The older sorceresses told me, of all people, to go and fight--alone. I didn't even have a chance to start a life on my own. I want a husband and children. Not this! I never asked to be a sorceress! They took me from my home when I was quite little . . ."
"But you're wasting your life away!" Leharas interrupted.
"I am not!" I shouted like a little child.
"Your greed and drinking will consume you!"
"I know you disapprove . . ."
"You could be great!" He continued speaking with passion in his voice. "Imagine! A sorceress who defeated Diablo! But she was nothing but a treasure seeker and drunkard!"
I cried and realized what he said was true.
"You disgust me, Anuck. Plus you are drunk. I do not like you." He continued curtly.
And for the first time he left my side. I sat there for a while. Somebody came later and helped me up to my room. I didn't know who it was. I was too deep in thought.
After that I no longer sought for treasure in tombs and among graves. I never went to the bar again either. Leharas still followed me and we never talked of the incident. He didn't like me very much and I didn't like him, but I never replaced him with any of Griez's other men. We continued on our adventure in the East with an uneasy alliance.
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Awww. The sorceress hit another hard time in her life. I feel for her! Hope it wasn't too pathetic of a chapter and I hope it is somewhat believable. Because I had a tougher time writing this chapter than the others in the past.