The Discovery

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"Jan, are you sure its down hear? We have been serving the sewers for three hours now and there is no sign of your penny!" said a exasparated elf.

"My lucky penny. It was given to me by my grandma, bless her sole, while she was on her death bed. She said to me 'Jan, I'm gonna' die so take this penny and you will be rich and famous one day" said the gnome.

"Whatever! Can we just get out of hear! This place smells!" The elf ran her fingers through her dark brown hair and ajusted her headband.

"Now, now Rade" said the good tempered voice of Yoshimo from somewhere in the dark "Jan is looking for his money, which in my book is fine!"

"But it's just a penny!" Rade shouted back. Rade Rydrillan was a wood elf, with a tall slim build, long brownish red hair, big brown eyes and an enchanting smile. She was a ranger and had a strong bond with animals. Her animal companion was an albino panther by the name of Zugothra. Being albino he was highly magical and could talk to his mistress. He at this point was sniffing a wall.

"Mistress" He purred "there is something funny about this wall mistress, it smells.....fake"

"Guys" Rade shouted "Zugothra thinks this wall is fake!"

"Will you tell your cat to shut up!" Snapped Jahira "I am not in the best mood and my mood will not improve with it blabbering on about fake walls!"

"But mistress" Zugothra whined " It smells fake! Honest!"

"Maybe the cat has a point" said Jan, who now had his spectroscopes on "That wall is a fake!" with that Jan ran straight through the wall. He ran out again and said

"There are some steps in here! Come on!"

Rade shrugged

"Why in the nine hells not!"

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After defeating the mephits that had atacked the minute they had stepped into the room our heroes found themselves in a labyrinth of tunnels. Eventually they came to what looked like a storage room and sitting in the middle, pealing potatoes was the most beautiful man Rade had laid eyes upon. His hair was the color of the sky on a summers day. But his face, once maybe could have been mischievous and cheery, was expressionless and dull. He looked up at them with his violet eyes, blank, pupil-less, and then went back to the potato.

"By the gods!" Rade gasped "What happened to him?!" he nelt next to the man and shook his shoulder slightly "Are you all right? Who did this to you?"

"I only serve master Merkrath" His voice was cold and dull.

"Hmmmmmmm, this man is a zombie for sure, without the inconvenience of rotting flesh. The ultimate slave; no pay, no food, no complaints and the bonus: no disgusting smell" said Jan. Zugothra sniffed the man.

"He smells so sad! Mistress, what is wrong with him?"

"I don't know. Are you all right" she shook the mans shoulder again "What's wrong with you?!"

"Nothing" said a voice which startled them all "He is my slave, and you are trespassing in my privet sanctuary!" said a wizard with grayish brown hair."I am the wizard Merkrath and..."

"You are the one who keeps men as slaves? You should be ashamed of yourself! Boo and Minsc will reek vengeance upon you! GO FOR THE E....." 'Thwack'

"Minsc calm down. Everything will be fine!" soothed Rade.

"Yes" said Merkrath "For me, you will all be my slaves! Mwhahahahahahaha!"

"Oh really......"

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"Dead, as he should be" said Rade, pulling her spear out of the dead mans stomach. A small pool of blood gushed out of the spear hole.

She turned to the blue haired man who had got up and was holding his head in his hands. He spoke, his voice rich and exotic:

"Ahhhhh, My head spins with sullen fire and strange lurid notions instead of memories. But, what is this? My captor lies dead, I can feel it, and emotion overwhelm this poets heart as the sparrow spys his saivours! Who pray tell are you that would save a compleat stranger?" this question was pointed at Rade.

"I am Rade Rydrillan" said Rade, putting on a brave voice, but inside her heart was racing. Gods, she thought, he is even more beautiful than he was before!

"I greet you, Rade, I am Haer' Dalis" said Haer' Dalis, ofering his hand to her. Rade took it and instead of a hand shake Haer' Dalis kissed her knuckles briefly."So, Rade, what brought you to my little prison?"

"Curiosity, I guess" Rade's heart was about to burst out of her chest.

"Ahhhhh, curiosity killed the cat, yet saved the sparrow!" he chuckled a small smile curling on his lips, but then faded "If that is indeed what you have done, since my master is dead, you have the rights of owning me. You may just want to sell me to the slavers, or to be someone to carry the bags of your adventure. Alas! Is the Sparrow destined to be a slave for the rest of his days?" Rade smiled

"I have no need of a slave, and I would much rather have you as a friend." she said.

"Ahh, a rose of any other name! But my dear, how can you trust so easily in a stranger? I could turn out to be evil and a not at all nice person to be with?"

"You seem harmless enough to me" snarled Jahira.

"Funny that," he replied "I'm an actor"

"An actor,will I have seen any of your work?" said Rade

"Perhaps, have you ever been to the Bridge District?"

"Briefly, to buy some equipment"

"Well, perhaps not then. Ahhh! That reminds me, I should be getting back, my dear rescuing raven, do you have room for another traveling companion? If I'm attacked, I am in no fit state to defend my self."

"We can not abandon him now Rade!" Minsc stated, "We have rescued him and he is our responsibility! So says Boo!"

"Of course you can join us!" Rade smiled.

"Rade, are you sure about this?" Jahira whispered.

"Yes Jahira, I'm sure Haer' Dalis will be a worthy asset."

"Then let us finish one last piece of business.

A Gem,just a prop for stage, that has value to those I work for was stolen by the wizard. We must retrive it!"

"Jan, sounds like a job for you!"