Soon, after a minor encounter with a pair of spotted lions, that didn't
fancy their chances and withdrew, the group found themselves on the
doorstep of a rather run-down building.
Turning to ask Viconia why she had them stop at such a place, he could have sworn he saw her nose twitch.
Smiling victoriously, she turned to him to gesture at the large building;
-"There is someone in there…think it might be the creature the d'jinni are after?"
Looking confusedly at her for a moment he finally remembered the incident that led to him being temporarily barred from his own room;
-"Those smokefolk you talked with? Outside Trademeet?"
She nodded, half lifting a hammer from her belt, her eyes bringing across the query; would he have objections?
-"Did they say anything about how difficult it would be to take down?"
-"Who cares? They gave us the assignment, which means they expect us to be able of it. After all, we only need her head."
-"…her…head?"
-"Yes, her head. How else should we prove our success?"
-"…an ear, perhaps? Easier to carry."
-"And easier to loose. No, I'm going for a decapitation."
-"Strange you do not suggest to have the house fall in flames around her feet." Commented Jaheira, seemingly unconcerned at the venomous gaze Viconia set on her.
Stepping up to the Druid, the Drow hissed;
-"I am well aware of what you intend to remind me of, and let me tell you: You Do Not Need To!"
Turning back towards the cabin, she calmly stated that if they were to enter at all, they were to enter through the front door.
Negrath thought he heard Minsc mumble something about Boo not being able to see any other ways in…
Instructing the avariel to throw at her whatever stealth-enhancers she had memorized, Viconia, invisible and silent, could be observed disappearing through the door.
After a long batch of silence at their end, the house virtually erupted in sound and light; the thunder and flare of exploding fireballs, the smoky puff of a cloudkill-spell being triggered, and, finally the loud, somewhat muffled ding, as two large pieces of metal met halfway through their respective arches.
Rapidly following that, were a black flash as the Drow sped past them, waving frantically for them to follow.
In doing so, they barely avoided being buried in rotten wood and chipped rock.
As they eventually met up with their dark assassin, she were leaning against a convenient tree, an orb of unknown origin beside her foot, and one hammer-slot empty.
Seeing them, she wiped her brow, and bent to lift the orb triumphantly by the…hair?;
-"She had invited some friends over," she breathed, "but Viconia Devir held the day!"
-"I had intended to bring that thing down over her ears anyway," she continued a little while later, as they were walking back towards the ruin, in the intention of continuing along the path.
-"That I got a few more were merely a bonus."
Slapping the empty slot on her weapon-belt, she cursed;
-"I almost forgot, I need to get back in there. That hammer was my favorite."
-"Strange you held on to the other, then…?" Jaheira commented.
-"Force of habit I guess, dropping the favorite gives me sufficient reason to return. And now it has given me sufficient reason to go back in there after it.
-"You will break your skinny neck!" objected Minsc.
-"Then perhaps you, that has none, will do it for me?" she replied sweetly.
Looking at her with something similar to suspicion, as though he knew she was making fun of him, but couldn't figure out quite how, the large ranger, nodded gruffly;
-"Minsc will get you your hammer, if you can convince Boo to let me."
-"Minsc had better know that I'm not interested in his help." Were the cold reply as the Drow set off toward the trashed pile of wood.
-"Then Minsc will not give it." Were Minsc's even reply, without compensating for the increased distance.
At the look in Negrath's eyes, the fighter simply smiled;
-"She will know. So says Boo."
-"…Boo is wise, in such ways, I guess…" were the leader's somewhat less- than attentive remark, following the Drow with his eyes as she disappeared over what was left of the roof(now looking more like a slightly elevated and bulky piece of ground).
A good half hour or so later, Viconia reappeared, climbing atop the ruined building(not much of a climb, really…) and, in something of a show of strength, swung her hammers gleefully, as though fending off multiple, humanoid opponents, before giving a loud yell as she brought the hammerheads together in front, the sound reminding the others of what they had heard before the Drow had fled the place…realizing how she had gained ownership of the head, a shiver trickled down their collective backs at the thought of loosing their own heads the same way…
using the backwards momentum of the fall she had forced in order to have the two smiters meet so exactly, to somersault down behind what little cover the severely lowered roof offered, she could soon be seen running toward them from behind the mess she had earlier caused.
As she rejoined the group where they had sat down to wait, Negrath spoke up;
-"Was that the way you…acquired…your loot?"
-"So it was." She grinned, seemingly enjoying his hesitation more than her earlier success.
-"How long can weapons stand such a treatment?" Minsc wanted to know.
-"By being massive, and carefully selected from the treasure of a mage that has no idea he's about to be a hammer or two short in but a moment of Drow consideration, my friend."
As they stood to continue, it slowly dawned on them what she had called the ranger.
Looking at her, they found her looking back expectantly, laughing amusedly at them when she saw their faces, before leading on along what was left of the path they had followed.
Sharing looks with the others, Negrath could do nothing but shrug his shoulders, and comment that;
-"I guess we have passed the border for how near her servants dare go unasked."
Nodding, as though the decreasing quality of the path had been what they'd been wondering about, they hoisted their backpacks, gave their weapons and staffs an inspecting glance, and followed the Drow as fast as they could without actually running...
Catching up to her by something looking like an elevated circle of stones surrounding the entrance to a cave of sorts, they found her leaning against the pillar directly opposite the cave opening, gazing morosely at the bodies of two human males, one quite evidently the victim of a battle lost to an opponent with a blade…probably just the sort still in the hands of the other one, who had a dagger stuck in his back…
Walking over to her, Negrath inquired as to what was wrong…
-"I met these two, and they, as others, saw nothing but the Drow skin…at least they had other reasons to kill me as well…evidently they considered me a trespasser. Of course, I was, but that's beside the point. I tried to explain to them what I could do for them, but that cursed lout wouldn't listen…apparently, he weren't in the habit of thrusting Drow…"
Watching her lift her head and smilingly mouth it as he mumbled, he commented;
-"Smart of him."
Unfazed, she continued;
-"The other though had second thoughts…evidently there's not much to be "gotten" from this new ruler of the Grove…
As I suggested he got the other out of the way first, they eventually came to blows…"
Gazing down at the topmost of the two, she mumbled, almost sounding regretful;
-"Good kisser he was, too…"
Lifting her eyes to catch his reaction she gave a low-throated laugh;
-"Don't you worry, He got his own knife in the back as he leaned in for seconds…
I put him atop his friend to remind me which was which."
Putting a hand to his forehead, he shook his head dazedly;
-"Viconia,…would you PLEASE take your place in the group?!"
-"Fine." Were the bland reply, as she moved to stand between Minsc and Jaheira, who, with a neutral face, gave the Drow what room she could, gesturing for Aerie to take a step back…
Knowing she smiled inwardly at his outburst, he gruffly drew his blades, and stormed into the cave, Minsc in hot pursuit…
Turning to ask Viconia why she had them stop at such a place, he could have sworn he saw her nose twitch.
Smiling victoriously, she turned to him to gesture at the large building;
-"There is someone in there…think it might be the creature the d'jinni are after?"
Looking confusedly at her for a moment he finally remembered the incident that led to him being temporarily barred from his own room;
-"Those smokefolk you talked with? Outside Trademeet?"
She nodded, half lifting a hammer from her belt, her eyes bringing across the query; would he have objections?
-"Did they say anything about how difficult it would be to take down?"
-"Who cares? They gave us the assignment, which means they expect us to be able of it. After all, we only need her head."
-"…her…head?"
-"Yes, her head. How else should we prove our success?"
-"…an ear, perhaps? Easier to carry."
-"And easier to loose. No, I'm going for a decapitation."
-"Strange you do not suggest to have the house fall in flames around her feet." Commented Jaheira, seemingly unconcerned at the venomous gaze Viconia set on her.
Stepping up to the Druid, the Drow hissed;
-"I am well aware of what you intend to remind me of, and let me tell you: You Do Not Need To!"
Turning back towards the cabin, she calmly stated that if they were to enter at all, they were to enter through the front door.
Negrath thought he heard Minsc mumble something about Boo not being able to see any other ways in…
Instructing the avariel to throw at her whatever stealth-enhancers she had memorized, Viconia, invisible and silent, could be observed disappearing through the door.
After a long batch of silence at their end, the house virtually erupted in sound and light; the thunder and flare of exploding fireballs, the smoky puff of a cloudkill-spell being triggered, and, finally the loud, somewhat muffled ding, as two large pieces of metal met halfway through their respective arches.
Rapidly following that, were a black flash as the Drow sped past them, waving frantically for them to follow.
In doing so, they barely avoided being buried in rotten wood and chipped rock.
As they eventually met up with their dark assassin, she were leaning against a convenient tree, an orb of unknown origin beside her foot, and one hammer-slot empty.
Seeing them, she wiped her brow, and bent to lift the orb triumphantly by the…hair?;
-"She had invited some friends over," she breathed, "but Viconia Devir held the day!"
-"I had intended to bring that thing down over her ears anyway," she continued a little while later, as they were walking back towards the ruin, in the intention of continuing along the path.
-"That I got a few more were merely a bonus."
Slapping the empty slot on her weapon-belt, she cursed;
-"I almost forgot, I need to get back in there. That hammer was my favorite."
-"Strange you held on to the other, then…?" Jaheira commented.
-"Force of habit I guess, dropping the favorite gives me sufficient reason to return. And now it has given me sufficient reason to go back in there after it.
-"You will break your skinny neck!" objected Minsc.
-"Then perhaps you, that has none, will do it for me?" she replied sweetly.
Looking at her with something similar to suspicion, as though he knew she was making fun of him, but couldn't figure out quite how, the large ranger, nodded gruffly;
-"Minsc will get you your hammer, if you can convince Boo to let me."
-"Minsc had better know that I'm not interested in his help." Were the cold reply as the Drow set off toward the trashed pile of wood.
-"Then Minsc will not give it." Were Minsc's even reply, without compensating for the increased distance.
At the look in Negrath's eyes, the fighter simply smiled;
-"She will know. So says Boo."
-"…Boo is wise, in such ways, I guess…" were the leader's somewhat less- than attentive remark, following the Drow with his eyes as she disappeared over what was left of the roof(now looking more like a slightly elevated and bulky piece of ground).
A good half hour or so later, Viconia reappeared, climbing atop the ruined building(not much of a climb, really…) and, in something of a show of strength, swung her hammers gleefully, as though fending off multiple, humanoid opponents, before giving a loud yell as she brought the hammerheads together in front, the sound reminding the others of what they had heard before the Drow had fled the place…realizing how she had gained ownership of the head, a shiver trickled down their collective backs at the thought of loosing their own heads the same way…
using the backwards momentum of the fall she had forced in order to have the two smiters meet so exactly, to somersault down behind what little cover the severely lowered roof offered, she could soon be seen running toward them from behind the mess she had earlier caused.
As she rejoined the group where they had sat down to wait, Negrath spoke up;
-"Was that the way you…acquired…your loot?"
-"So it was." She grinned, seemingly enjoying his hesitation more than her earlier success.
-"How long can weapons stand such a treatment?" Minsc wanted to know.
-"By being massive, and carefully selected from the treasure of a mage that has no idea he's about to be a hammer or two short in but a moment of Drow consideration, my friend."
As they stood to continue, it slowly dawned on them what she had called the ranger.
Looking at her, they found her looking back expectantly, laughing amusedly at them when she saw their faces, before leading on along what was left of the path they had followed.
Sharing looks with the others, Negrath could do nothing but shrug his shoulders, and comment that;
-"I guess we have passed the border for how near her servants dare go unasked."
Nodding, as though the decreasing quality of the path had been what they'd been wondering about, they hoisted their backpacks, gave their weapons and staffs an inspecting glance, and followed the Drow as fast as they could without actually running...
Catching up to her by something looking like an elevated circle of stones surrounding the entrance to a cave of sorts, they found her leaning against the pillar directly opposite the cave opening, gazing morosely at the bodies of two human males, one quite evidently the victim of a battle lost to an opponent with a blade…probably just the sort still in the hands of the other one, who had a dagger stuck in his back…
Walking over to her, Negrath inquired as to what was wrong…
-"I met these two, and they, as others, saw nothing but the Drow skin…at least they had other reasons to kill me as well…evidently they considered me a trespasser. Of course, I was, but that's beside the point. I tried to explain to them what I could do for them, but that cursed lout wouldn't listen…apparently, he weren't in the habit of thrusting Drow…"
Watching her lift her head and smilingly mouth it as he mumbled, he commented;
-"Smart of him."
Unfazed, she continued;
-"The other though had second thoughts…evidently there's not much to be "gotten" from this new ruler of the Grove…
As I suggested he got the other out of the way first, they eventually came to blows…"
Gazing down at the topmost of the two, she mumbled, almost sounding regretful;
-"Good kisser he was, too…"
Lifting her eyes to catch his reaction she gave a low-throated laugh;
-"Don't you worry, He got his own knife in the back as he leaned in for seconds…
I put him atop his friend to remind me which was which."
Putting a hand to his forehead, he shook his head dazedly;
-"Viconia,…would you PLEASE take your place in the group?!"
-"Fine." Were the bland reply, as she moved to stand between Minsc and Jaheira, who, with a neutral face, gave the Drow what room she could, gesturing for Aerie to take a step back…
Knowing she smiled inwardly at his outburst, he gruffly drew his blades, and stormed into the cave, Minsc in hot pursuit…
