Comatose

Darkness engulfs me,

but I offer no resistance.

Sadness indulges me,

but I have no existence.

Memory haunts me,

reminding me with persistence.

Misery taunts me,

mocking my own incompetence.

I cling to the regrets,

like numerous fresh wounds.

Feelings I try to repress,

but only hopelessness looms.

Feeling pain slowly progress,

suffocating this helpless loon.

Pleading to be suppressed,

I welcome my imminent doom.

Needing to be depressed,

but demise will free me soon.

Nothing left to express,

comatose in this empty room.

Chapter 2: Plight

In the streets of the Temple District in Athkatla.

Imoen's POV:

Imoen knew she was being followed but she concealed her cognizance of that fact.  Pretending not to care or notice, she walked calmly with the mingled crowd of nobles and commoners alike.  Her stomach wound seemed mild and insignificant now.  She was sure her wound would not hinder her plan.  But her immediate problem will.  As she glanced at the reflected image of a window in a nearby temple building, it reminded her of the imminent danger.

Imoen had ridden continuously for two days, stopping little to rest.  It was not until the second day that she realized Rezeren's search party had found her track.  That made her trip to Athkatla all the more urgent.

Imoen knew she had to find Keldorn soon.  She could not possibly face off against several scores of armed men.  And even if she could, surely she would endanger the residents of this district, whom had already been through a dilemma with the blasphemous Unseeing Eye Cult years ago.

When Imoen finally reached her destination, she stopped to catch a few needed breaths.  She glanced over her shoulder to see her pursuers abruptly stop their pursuit and feign the act of a routine stroll. They must think I'm stupid, Imoen thought with wry amusement.  Without a moment's hesitation, she entered the hall of the Order of the Radiant Knight. 

The interior was as she remembered it to be.  The walls were adorned with beautiful paintings that portrayed various natural landscapes, legendary heroes performing prestigious deeds, and the likes.  The candles on each side of the wall were bright enough to provide a large influx of light for the entire building.  Greater still was the indescribable sentient sensation one felt in the hallway.  Perhaps it was simply holiness in all of its resplendence.

Keldorn was discussing the Order's political matters with a fellow Order official when Imoen brashly rushed to greet him in the most unorthodox fashion.

"Heeelllllp!  I stole money from Trollops and now they're after me!!"

"Eh?  Imoen!  What brings you here?  Keldorn replied with apprehension.  He stared past Imoen as if expecting someone else to follow suit.  "And where is Devin?"

Hearing that, Imoen could only smile sadly.  "Can't talk about it right now.  I'm being followed by-," Imoen abandoned her facade and said, "Oh all alright, mercenaries are after me."

"Mercenaries?  Why would they be pursuing yo-"

"There she is!"  Keldorn's words were rudely interrupted by the sounds of rapid footsteps.  The mercenaries Imoen just mentioned had trespassed into the hallway.  Brusque and ill-mannered, they glared at Imoen with cold intent.

"May I help you in the House of Torm?"  Keldorn said in his dutiful tone.

"You may help us by giving us the girl, old man.  She owes us… a debt."  One of them replied.  Tall and muscularly built, he seemed capable enough to be the group's leader.

"Oh, is that so?  Well, perhaps you would like to enlighten me on what she owes you?"

"None of your business."

"But it is my business.  For you speak of Imoen, who is a friend.  By Torm, I would settle this dispute."

"I shit on your God!  Have you not heard what I said?  I want the girl!"

"Blasphemy!  How dare you address Him in such a fashion.  Had this not been His sanctuary I would have slain you right now!"

"Then do it, old man, I dare you."  With that the aggressor spat at Keldorn, the saliva splat on his platinum armor, denuding its shiny finish.  This commotion was followed by a congestion of snickers. 

Keldorn was unperturbed.  He cleaned his armor with his glove and glared at the foe in silence.

The leader was impatient with Keldorn's inaction.  Finally, after what seemed like ages, he finally spoke.  "Well, well.  It seems like you are too craven to fight.  Then let me provoke you into doing so!"  The foolhardy foe attempted a lunge at the old paladin.

Keldorn parried with Carsoymr in the nick of time, overturning the foe's blade in an arc.  "That is not wise.  I strongly recommend you yield before I am forced to spill blood in His hall."

"Shut your mouth!"  The mercenary stepped backwards and slashed at the veteran warrior.  Keldorn fended off the blade easily.  Moving as one fluid extension of power, Keldorn countered with an underhand sweep.  The two handed Holy Avenger sword Carsoymr connected with a massive hit that made a wet popping sound as the mercenary's left leg was severed from it's hip socket.  The foe howled in pain as he fell over, clutching at his bloody stump all the while.

Instinctively, the other soldiers rushed to engage Keldorn.  They quickly regretted the decision as the other knights of the Order intervened.  A short skirmish resulted in more loss of blood, and body parts.  Eventually, the enemies surrendered, unable to outmatch the heavily armored paladins.

Keldorn stared at the remaining mercenaries coldly.  "Do you fools wish to receive the same punishment as your comrades?  Lay down your weapons this instant, or you shall receive the same fate." Keldorn said in a tone full of authority.

Meekly, the soldiers dropped their weapons and conceded without farther struggle.

"Help… me…" The voice of the crippled leader was barely audible as he pleaded for aid.

"And it will be granted once you are held in jail for your crime and interrogated"  Keldorn replied.  He signaled for the other knights to carry the incapacitated criminal away and then turned to Imoen, who had just witnessed the entire situation without comment.  She wasn't the least bit surprised at Keldorn's method of justice either.  "Now Imoen, where were we?"  Keldorn said casually.

Devin's POV:

Devin found himself in a space filled with nothingness, a void.  A tiny hole emitted sunlight just barely visible but yet so far away.  His only hope was that tiny gap of light, but no matter how hard he tried to reach it, no matter how much he ran toward that direction, it remained just that, a tiny gap.  Exhausted and hopeless, Devin knelt, heaving breath after breath.  A wraith of blackness suddenly coiled around him at that moment of vulnerability, grasping his throat and suffocating him.  He tried to scream but the blackness covered his mouth, muffling his pitiful attempt for help.

He woke up instantly, choking as he rolled on the hard stony floor.  Blackness indeed surrounded him, but his own screams can now be heard.  One person who held a torch, stood solemnly nearby.  With both hands, Devin tried in vain to break free of whatever was choking his throat, but the greater his attempt, the more intense it strangled him. 

I'm going to die.  Devin thought as he struggled between life and death.

"Ahh.   So it does still work."


A familiar voice broke free of Devin's suffering, and the suffocation dissipated as well.

"Rez...eren."

"Oh I see you can still speak.  That collar around your neck is my very own Collar of Asphyxiation.  It works wonderfully against prisoners who disobey or wish to escape.  I hope you are smart enough to realize any attempt of either such things would lead to your death now hmm?  You should thank me for leniency.  I gave you an antidote for the poison while you were…asleep.  My original plan was to simply kill you during our first encounter."

"Why don't you then.  Why are you tormenting me!  Kill me now and be done with it!"

"Tsk tsk, aren't we impatient.  You see, I thought of a better way of killing you, in a… fancier and more traditional approach."

"What?"

"Well let see.  You are officially imprisoned in my temple dedicated to Talos.  At first I'd planned to sacrifice you to Talos but then I thought otherwise.  Since you are such a powerful man, and were, in fact, the most powerful Bhaalspawn, I thought it would only please Talos even more should I represent Him and defeat you in single combat.  Come a fortnight, you will fight me whether willingly or not."

"What's the catch."  Devin said coolly.

"Heh.  The catch is, you will rot here in the dungeon for two weeks.  But don't be so melancholy.  If you actually defeat me, you will be granted freedom.  Not that anyone has ever accomplished that, however."

"I don't give a damn about you or your idea, or your God for that matter.  You can just piss off for all I care."

"Well now, did I not just warn you disobedience won't be tolerated?  He began to chant.

The collar started to strangle Devin's throat once more, each second in greater succession.  Devin screamed again, unable to suppress the horrible agony.  When the collar finally ceased the torture, Devin almost fell back to unconsciousness.

"Toad!"  Rezeren called forth someone from the cell guards.

"Yes master!"  A bulky looking man came forth.  He cowered near his master. 

"See that you show our guest here the utmost hospitality."

"Yes master!"

Rezeren gave Devin a mock grin and left the cell room.  Devin stared back weakly with one eye shut tight.

"I do what master say.  You now punished!"  Upon closer examination, Devin saw that Toad was actually a Half-Orc, well over 7 feet tall, armed with a huge club and wore a chain hauberk.

Before Devin could think of anything else, the brute swung the club at him.  Too weak to evade the blow, it smashed upon his still recovering shoulder, knocking him several feet against the wall.  So devastating was the collision that Devin did revert back to unconsciousness this time.

Imoen's POV:

Imoen was afraid of heights.  To her, the mountainous view from above the Cloud Peaks was both beautiful and terrifying.  Cumulous clouds pervaded throughout the mountain path, almost like banks of fog.  From below, the landscape seemed so insignificant and tiny.  It was like looking down through a hawk's eyes.

But sight seeing wasn't exactly on Imoen's agenda.  She had found her former friends with Keldorn's help.  After hearing the dire news, Jaheria and Minsc immediately volunteered to join the rescue party. "Talos and his petty worshipers abuse the power of mother nature.  Their summoning of earthquakes and storms for the sole purpose of causing disasters are an affront to balance." Jaheria had declared.  Minsc was much more dramatic when he concurred.  "Devin kidnapped!?  Minsc and Boo will not tolerate such an evil deed!  Evil cleric beware, butt kicking is near!!"

Korgan however, took a bit of persuasion to assure him he would benefit from such a quest.

"Aye, if there be more killin' n lootin', I'll rescue the lad."

And so, Imoen's company of five had set off in search of their missing companion.  They pinpointed their destination in the Cloud Peaks, where unusual activities had been sighted for the past few months, strange weather and frequent natural disasters among them.  These acts were convincing evidence that Talos followers were behind them.

A week over had passed and their destination neared.  The temple was visible where Imoen stood.  At the very top of one of the peaks, the gigantic temple stood like an indestructible monument.  Its dome was formed out of pure tempest, creating the eye of the storm.  Lightning and masses of clouds whirled around it in a hypnotic like motion, exerting powerful electrical currents best avoided altogether.  Imoen couldn't help but stare at the maelstrom, so intent it strained her eyes.  She blinked rapidly when she realized that.  Her actual purpose instantly came to mind.  Devin, I hope you can hold out a little longer.  We're coming!

Devin's POV:

Pain… Everything is pain.  It was the only physical feeling he was aware of right now.  So much of it, he suffered the past week, immured within this dungeon.  It was excruciatingly unbearable.  The turnkey called Toad came by to visit him every hour of the day.  He came to feed him, but also to beat the living daylights out him, to lambaste him into utter submission.  At times of sleep, he would sob quietly.  All the while wishing that Imoen was with him, sympathizing with his grief and pain.  Why, oh why did I leave her?  I can't go on like this by myself!  Oh, I need her so.   He thought miserably. 

Rezeren came to visit no longer.  Nor did Devin care for it.  The hourly beating was quite enough.  Having a noose tighten around his neck would just amplify the torment he was already receiving.  The food was poor, spoiled or both.  He was being severely deprived.  He even pleaded to Toad for a quick end to his existence, but the brute would only laugh. "Master make rule, not me stupid!" Then he would pound him like he usually did. 

Sleep never came easy.  Devin would suffer horrendous nightmares of destruction, chaos and images of Talos, only to be beaten to consciousness by Toad's frequent routines.  The torture methods Toad utilized were, to be put at best, sickening.  He would force Devin to linger in a topsy-turvy standing position for hours on by.  Devin would feel like his head would explode at any given second.  Toad would also systematically make incisions on various parts of Devin's body until he bled none stop.  Then Toad would proceed in carving his skin, usually around the waist, and slowly peel upwards until Devin screamed for clemency. 

A drop of tear fell down his cheek as he thought of his torturing, of Imoen.  He knew not where she was or what she was doing.  He wanted to see her so much right now but he could not even dream about her in this forsaken cell.

Spending the little time of solitude he could sustain, he barely heard the approaching footstep and heavy breathing of his tormentor.  His prolonged torturing had come once again, but he did not even have the energy to utter a call of resistance.  Now with numerous deep lacerations while bleeding both externally and internally, all Devin wanted was death.  Quick and merciful death, but it would not come. 

Imoen's POV:

"Cloud giants." Jaheria muttered.  Just sixty feet ahead, away from the concealed trees, was the temple's gate.  Two cloud giants, well over twenty feet tall, guarded the entrance.

"Bah!  Only two of em.  Me axe be itching for giant's blood."  Korgan snorted, not impressed with the discovery.

"Korgan, I'd wager their helm could probably fit your whole body."  Jaheria mused.

"Aye, and me axe could probably fit yer skull too, elf .  Heh Heh." Korgan retorted

"You are welcome to try, dwarf."  Jaheria responded, not very amused by the remark.

"Enough!"  Keldorn interrupted the two's jabbering.  "We have a mission to accomplish.  Each minute, Devin's life is at stake.  I will not heed such wasting of precious time."

"Minsc agrees.  We must hurry!  Lest Devin suffer the most horrible death!"

"Minsc!"  Imoen whispered hoarsely.  "Please… Don't say that.  It's bad enough to know he's not at our side.  I… I just can't stand thinking about that, okay?"

"Ah Imoen, Devin's absence must be the most painful experience.  Minsc and Boo will bring him back, and put the evil cleric to righteous justice!"

"Enough talk Minsc, let's get going."  Jaheria complained.

When the party left the cover and approached the gate, one of the giants spoke.

"HALT!  NO ONE GOES FURTHER."

"We shall, for one of our friends is imprisoned within this temple."  Keldorn replied, his voice calm.

"FOOLS!  I WARNED YOU!  NOW WE'LL SQUISH YOU LIKE ANTS!"  The giants bellowed as they stormed toward the party, their footsteps fiercely shaking the ground.

Jaheria chanted a spell as her hand gestured towards the heavens.  A lurid bolt of lightning struck one of the giants.  He flinched as the bolt grazed his chest and scorched the skin.  However, he quickly recovered from the pain and resumed his onslaught.  His right hand held a gigantic mace as he brought it down towards the party.  The seasoned group quickly scurried for cover, each moving to different directions.  The mace smashed the ground, blasting away chunks of rocks and debris, scattering them everywhere. 

"YOU DIE!"  The other giant shouted as he charged toward Korgan with his huge battle axe. 

Korgan held his own battle axe in one hand as he ran, head on, at the giant.  He passed under the giant's widely spaced legs and swung his axe down on the creature's left foot.  The massive blow painfully ripped open several toes.  The giant howled in pain as he dropped his axe and knelt down to tend his injured foot with one hand.  With the other hand, he tried to grab Korgan, who easily escaped his reach.  The dwarf leapt forward, and in a savage arc, planted the axe down upon the giant's flesh, this time on the hand trying to grab him.  The hit snapped bones and removed most of the fingers, splattering blood everywhere.  Agonized, the giant went into a berserker rage.  He tried to crush  Korgan this time, his hands flinging wildly.  But instantly, a bolt of lightning struck his neck.  It ripped into him with such force that the neck was blasted away, cauterizing the jugular and trachea while burning out the spinal column.  The ravaged body fell with a thundering thud, convulsed slightly, and ceased all movement.

Korgan chuckled at Jaheria's help but his eyes widened as he shouted.  "Watch yerself elf!!"

Jaheria turned to see a crazed Giant stumbling towards her.  His right eye had been impaled by a flame arrow, obviously Imoen's work.  Cuts and burned marks were visible on his unarmored legs.  His right arm had a scorched gaping hole that still smelled of burned flesh.  But yet, the giant refused to go down. 

"I'LL BEAT YOU ALL INTO BLOODY PULPS!" 

"Everyone take cover!"  Imoen shouted as she began to cast a spell. A fireball fell down from the sky and smashed into the foe, exploding into a scintillating burst of sparks and fire.  After the smoke cleared, the giant remained standing   His head was lowered and his arms covered the chest in an X position.

Such resilience frightened Imoen. 

"HAHAHA!  YOUR FOUL SORCERY DID NOT KILL ME!  NOW IT'S MY TURN TO KILL YOU!"

Imoen froze for a moment, terrified by the monstrosity charging towards her.

"Down!!"  Minsc shouted as he tackled her.

The massive beast had tried to stampede Imoen and smash her into dust, but Minsc had saved her from that fate just in the nick of time. 

Though frustrated and outnumbered, the monster roared and stomped the ground.

Keldorn walked towards him, not the slightest bit shaken by the giant's intimidation.

The giant again charged, this time at Keldorn. 

Both hands gripped tightly around Carsoymr, Keldorn did not try to avert the collision.

Just seconds before impact however, Keldorn moved.  His two handed sword targeted the giant's left leg.  It landed a devastating hit that tore flesh and cartilage as the foe's right leg was ripped clean below the knee.  The giant wailed and collapsed, nursing his mangled leg.

"Imoen, finish him with a spell!"  Keldorn shouted from a distance.

Imoen complied and began casting.

A Bigby's hand was summoned.  It smashed down even as it formed, crushing the fallen foe with a sickening crunch of splintered bones.

The aftermath of the battle left none of them seriously hurt.  Though even the most veteran of warriors would be weary from such a fight.  They sat to take a few minutes of respite. 

Clapping of hands broke the silence.  Rezeren stood by the entrance, smiling contently.  The temple's gate was already open.  None of the party members had been aware of that during the battle, since they were too occupied at the time.

"Very well done." Rezeren feigned praise.

"So you are Rezeren."  Keldorn replied as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.  He didn't have to be introduced to know this powerful individual was Rezeren.

"That I am.  And oh, Imoen!  How nice to see you again"

She glared at him without saying a word.

"Now, no need to greet me in such a manner.  We've met before, haven't we?"  Rezeren grinned.

"We are here to see Devin. Take us to him."  Imoen demanded.

"Oh yes, Devin.  You should know that he is alive, at least.  Well, I'll have to discuss that with you privately, Imoen.  I'm afraid your friends will have to stay elsewhere."

"What treachery is this!" Minsc called out.

"Aye, I don't trust this cleric."  Korgan spat.

"No need to panic.  I assure you all, Imoen will not come to harm.  I am merely being cautious. You fellows can wait inside, I have all sorts of entertainment and food provided for you."

"Entertainment, aye?" Korgan was suddenly interested.

"No.  We will join you and find Devin" Jaheria insisted.

"Bah.  So be it. But understand this, you will not be permitted to enter Devin's cell.  You will remain outside. Only Imoen and I may enter."

"We are here to rescue him." Imoen said coldly.

"Rescue him? Nay, my dear. You may try to rescue him, but he will be killed before you even reach him. You see, he's been cursed by my special slave collar. If you even make an attempt at rescuing him, he will die. You may see him but, that is all." Rezeren said with certitude.

"You bluff!" Imoen exclaimed.

"I do not. Would you care if I activate the collar now?" 

Imoen's eyes widened with terror at that indication.

"I thought so. Now, if you would all follow me, the dungeon is this way."

They arrived at a grayish building neglected by centuries of weathering.  It stood like a beggar in the illuminated complex of the temple. 

"Your friends, they wait outside."

Imoen nodded to his comrades. "Fine. Let's go"

When they entered the cell, it was dark and gloomy.  Imoen adjusted her eyes to the surroundings.  The interior smelled of death and decay.

"Imoen, I might as well tell you this now."

"What is it?" Imoen said, her voice flat.

"Devin will not live much longer.  For I will challenge him in a duel to the death on the morrow.  You and your friends came just in time to witness my triumph."  Rezeren grinned evilly.

"What!?  After you put him in a cell?  He'd be in no condition to do battle!" 

"That is not my concern. I could have killed him immediately after his capture.  And Imoen, you fell into my inescapable trap.  Though you managed to flee, it was inevitable that you would return.  Do not presume that I am blind.  I saw the intimate moment you shared with your… former brother. You… love him, do you not?"

Tears were swelling in her eyes now as she forcefully nodded.

"Ahh.  That just makes it all the more tragic.  After Devin is slain and your friends disposed of, you shall be mine"

Imoen gasped in shock.  She shook her head in denial.  "No!  Devin will not lose to you!  And I'll never be yours!  I'd rather die then-"

"Heh, I am a cleric and have the power to resurrect you whenever I choose."

"Then I will kill myself a thousand times before I ever consent to you!"  Furious, she spat at his face. "Take me to him, now." She spoke as she glared at him, her gaze full of loathing.

"Foolish girl."  Rezeren said as he wiped the saliva off his cheek.  "Do you realize you have no choice?  Very well.  Come this way."

They walked through the rest of the dungeon in silence.  Many cells contained bones or rotting bodies.  A crazed lunatic screamed at Imoen as she passed by his cell. The prisoners here had either lost sanity or they were simply dead.

They stopped at a cell where no windows or bars were present.  Only a solid steel door allowed entry.  It must be keeping someone powerful, someone like Devin.

"Here it is.  Devin is in this one."  Rezeren pointed at the solid confinement.

Imoen was just about to enter the cell when she saw Rezeren follow behind.  "Well?"  Imoen said testily. 

"I am going to personally witness your so called reunion.  Just so you do not attempt anything foolish." 

Now Imoen was angry, but somehow she maintained her composure without giving any sign of her emotion.  Thinking fast, she said, "Look, I'm not going to drag Devin out from the cell.  With the way you no doubt treated him, his probably too beaten up to make it through half the trip.  You already know I have intimate feelings for him, so why do you insist on witnessing that?  Don't tell me you're so desperately lonely that you'd enjoy watching other people kiss and hold each other?   Are you that sick?"

For a moment, Rezeren's swift motion with his right hand almost looked like a genuine swing toward Imoen's face.  But instead, he stopped just inches away from her delicate cheek.  Slowly, he rubbed her there gently, then trailed down and cupped her chin, drawing her eyes up to meet his fully.  His mouth moved to speak. 

"My dear Imoen.  Do not ever, EVER, ridicule me like that again.  You have ten minutes to see him.  But the guards and I will be staying right here."  Indicating the cell's doorway, Rezeren grinned evilly.  "Remember, I have his fate in my hands."


One of the guards unlocked the door and Imoen quickly walked inside.  The room would have been completely dark had it not been the torches the guards were carrying outside.  She swept her eyes across the room until she saw him.

He was like nothing she remembered.  Barely clothed in torn rags, lacerations and bruises visible everywhere.  His eyes closed, his body sagged against the wall, in a malnourished condition beyond what she had imagined.  How he managed to survive for a week like this was anyone's guess.  She shuddered as she came close to touch his face.  She caressed the bony frame of his cheek, covered with the sparse beard he had grown during his imprisonment.  When she withdrew, she found her hand stained with blood. 

Imoen began to weep.  She put her arms around Devin then, cradling him gently against her breasts, whispering to him through a broken voice.

"Oh Gods.  Forgive me Devin.  I'm so sorry.  I came too late!  Dev, wake up!  Please wake up!"