The Tale of Negrath Chapter XXXV.

Dropping by a local smith, they made sure to get the best weapons and armor they could, and headed back to the elven temple at which their current "employer" waited. A campsite later, they were battling Irenicus minions at every turn, flanked by elves whose loss, in the event of defeat, would be incomprehensible to the adventurous group.

By necessity they ignored the astounding beauty surrounding them, only finding time to enjoy the impossibly tall, wonderful trees and impressive buildings of Suldanesselar while setting up camp at the entrance platform that evening. Saving those they could, they had gained invaluable information, which supplied Imoen with cause to search every container and storage-space in sight. Having gathered two out of three key items, plus a pair of stone instruments, they decided to wait with taking on the black dragon holding the last item, to the next day.

Once in the clearing, the spellcasters threw their fireballs and lightning bolts, purely in the interest of keeping the giant lizard occupied, as the warriors, having equipped themselves with what magical items they had deemed necessary to keep, charged head on, tired of pointless chatter, and intent on turning the Winged One into field rations of dragonsoup.

Having been tossed on their collective behinds by the draft of the dragons wings more often than they could count, the beast finally fell to a heavy hammer from Viconia…

After "explaining" the situation to the Leaflord (a.k.a. having -him- explain it to -them-), they found themselves outside the palace gates, the dust from the Rakshasa guards already having blown away in the breeze.

Stepping inside, they found an impressive tree coming up through the floor, Imoen immediately spotting the nuts in the top. Attempting to climb up after them, she cowered with a shriek as they all fell around her, shook loose by the shiver her touch had produced. Collecting them with an embarrassed smile, she proceeded to study them intently as they continued through a small hallway into the next room.

Feeling a strong need wash over him to just settle down and relax there for a day or two, Negrath paused as he got close to the calming waterfall in the middle of the room; His soul, and its captor, were somewhere below…

Looking around, knowing there had to be some way of stopping the water, his eyes landed on two statues who looked like they were supposed to be holding something. Remembering the stone items, a harp and a horn, he asked Viconia to retrieve them from her pack, and placed them in the hands of the silent musicians.

As the harp were manipulated to play a most exquisite melody, one of the two channels feeding the waterfall stopped flowing, and the shadows that had played at the bottom, solidified into slim platforms twisting downwards…

"It's a staircase!" Imoen called, popping a nut in her mouth, having offered those that simply refused to open, to Jaheira. Her nature-manipulating abilities oddly ineffectual, the druid could only surmise that they were as magical as their surroundings, and would open when the need was there.

An eternally mournful, yet imposing tone later, the other channel trickled off, and the stairs were accessible. Gathering at the top of the stairs, they all looked at each other; would anyone pull away?

Clearing his throat, Negrath posed the question;

"I'm aware that you do not have much reason to be here…" scolding looks from Minsc and Jaheira "well, most of you don't….so I take the opportunity to let you go now, if you are not prepared to follow me further…?"

"This is about me, isn't it!" Aerie exclaimed; "don't you dare think I'm letting you finish this without me, Negrath. I'm in this for as long as it goes, and you know it!"

"…guess I do. Keldorn?"

"I should return to my family, but that can be done when we're done here. They won't assume I'm dead before another week yet. I'm with you; the Order wouldn't expect any less."

"As long as you do not do this solely because of their expectations…?"

"Had I shrunk from opponents simply because they could kill me, I would not deserve the life I've had so far. Lead on, and my blade will watch your back to the end of days."

"Very well…Viconia?"

"……If there is the slightest chance of me having a say in whether or not you fall to that yeunn faern, I will be there to say it. And even if there weren't,…I'd be harder to remove from your side than your arm. I also seem to recall a promise of yours that would hold you to me, if not the other way around; "Within an arms reach at all times"…remember?"

Smiling, he nodded;

"Then it would seem we are stuck with each other."

"I would not want it any other way."

"So…what are you saying?" Negrath prodded, a weak attempt at a mischevious smile on his face.

"She needs you and you need her. You know it and we know it." Jaheira interrupted; "Now let's get down there and give that pathetic matekiller some revenge!"

Momentarily too bold for their own good, they stormed down the stairs shouting warcries, expecting to find a blankfaced mage awaiting them at the bottom. Instead, they were faced with a ghostly apparition of a woman, infinitely pleased at their arrival; hurriedly, yet authoritatively, she informed them that their foe were already feeding on the power of the Tree of Life…branches of which spread out from where they stood, as far as the eye could see.

Informing them that she was being held by the Despicable One's corruptive magics, and that she probably would be able to help them were she to be let out of it, she instructed them to seek out the parasites he had let loose on the life-affirming tower of wood. Evidently the removal of their aid, would render Irenicus temporarily off balance, and open to attack.

At this, Jaheira and Minsc scanned their immediate area after one of these "parasites". Coming up blank, Jaheira cursed, and joined the Berserker in turning impatient eyes on Negrath, who smiled, sliding his katanas against each other menacingly. Viconia then decided to get them moving, and ran off along one of the many branch-paths open to them, calling out with malicious glee as the first of their insectoid "opponents" came into view, hanging on the side of the branch a ways down the path… Storming after her, the others soon found themselves in a fierce battle with a pair of Fire Elementals, materialized the moment the first hammer had started it's swing…

Fuming as it became clear they had no obvious way of protecting themselves against the towering Flamefolk, Negrath called to Minsc, instructing him to keep the other one busy, while he himself danced around his own prey, pleased as the others immediately turned their attention upon the creature they were there to take out. As the bug fell lifeless from the tree, he told them to keep going, knowing that, although strong, the Elementals were also slow…too slow to catch up to a group of vengeful adventurers…

Storming along the unusual path, they soon came upon the second critter, directing a quick, concentrated assault on whatever connection it had to the tree, almost laughing in relief as they saw the new opponents spring to life; Earth Elementals. Viconia and Minsc joining up with Keldorn and a measured backup of offensive magic pounded loose on the solid foes, doing a nice job of driving them back towards the approaching Flamefeet.

As the two groups came closer to each other, they stopped, evidently pondering how to best proceed. By the time the Fire and the Earth had "decided" to work together, the mortals were long gone, already chopping at the third, hair and cloth flapping as they danced to avoid the attacks of recently manifested Air Elementals…

As the third parasite fell, crippled limbs twitching, the phantom appeared again, urging them in the right direction, as the latest opponents withdrew; the link with the power that had called upon them suddenly severed…apparently three were all the Exile had deemed necessary…the seven friends, already smelling the scent of victory, intended to give him plenty reason to regret his miscalculation...

Standing about him as his protections fell and the energy the connection with the Tree had supplied him with faded, there were muttered druidic curses and rumbling growls of protest as their foes confused first words were interrupted by an Elven Queen that evidently intended to give the mage a second chance…which earned her something of a low intelligence in the opinion of more than one…

As the conversation progressed, though, a number of surprising things became known…Evidently, Prism were not the only one to have loved the woman… Dubious looks were exchanged; had the guy really had the love of Ellesime, the respect of Suldanesselar, and a future as the most powerful mage since Elminster…and discarded it to, at his sister's suggestion, gain power he never would have needed? Unanimously and wordlessly, the group wished they could have had the chance to square off with Bodhi once more…

As the situation were, however, Ellesime refused to acknowledge the man he had become, and withdrew to gather what was left of Suldanesselar's forces, while the man himself turned to the snarling faces in front of him, two of which showed a clear intention of tearing him apart by hand. As he began to talk, the fact that he still behaved as though he could brush them aside like ants, set them off; in a cacophony of warcries, weapons were raised high as five pairs of feet stepped forward, and two pairs of hands called upon the most destructive magics of the group's arsenal… Within moments, their concentrated effort had worn down what defenses their opponent's inherent abilities had managed to erect, and by unspoken agreement the others held back as Minsc and Jaheira "dug in"…

As the euphoria of the Final Battle seeped from their bones, they became aware of the severe burns and cuts they had inflicted upon each other by premature fireballs and deflected blades… The realization dawning on them that they all looked like walking torturevictims, Negrath made a hoarse admittance…;

"Something's not right…"

Indeed, it wasn't…

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Last modified on September 2, 2001
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