Light Wrapped in Darkness 5
Magicman: Hiya peeps! I'm back with another chapter. I know that these updates are far between but give me a break, okay? I have two other fics and much school work to work on. But I give you my word that I will never abandon my fics. That said, I hope you enjoy this nice addition to my little tale of Baldurs Gate 2.
Aerie shivered and wrapped her robes more tightly about her. The party had discovered a secret passageway that Hendak said would lead to the slavers' base. They were now traversing the sewers in the hopes of finding the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.
"Oh" Aerie whispered to herself as she gazed at the dank and slimy walls of the underground sewer. "We have such tales amongst my people. Being underground is just not for the Avariel."
She hadn't meant for anyone to hear but Viconia nodded.
"For once I will have to agree with you. This place brings back some most unpleasant memories."
"Ah cheer up girls" Taurus said cheerfully. "It's just a sewer."
"A sewer is dark, filthy, and infested with the most vile of stenches that I could ever dream of!" Viconia snapped. "I still can't believe that you actually wanted us to go down this way! Do you have any idea what I've stepped in so far? I don't!"
"Boo thinks that this place stinks something fierce" Minsc reported. "But he also thinks that the slavers will not expect us to come through this way so he can deal with it."
"Hurray for Boo then!"
"Try to relax Viconia" Jaheira offered. "This is all just a part of nature, no matter how unpleasant it may be."
"Maybe..." Viconia trailed off and listened for a moment. "Do you hear that?"
Yoshimo frowned. "Hear what? What is it?"
"I could tell you if you would just shut up!"
Aerie suddenly cocked her head. "I hear it too. It's coming closer."
"Oh really?" Viconia snorted. "And how could you tell?"
Before Aerie could retort, the makers of the noise appeared from a side tunnel. A large Otyugh, flanked by two slime monsters, lumbered into the tunnel where the party was passing through. With a gurgling roar, the beast attacked, waving its long tentacles.
Caught unaware, the party did not have the time to react. The beast caught up Viconia in one of its tentacles and squeezed her hard. The dark elf screamed in pain as she was shaken like a wolf cub as the beast's razor- edged suckers poisoned her.
Taurus pulled out his blades and whirled into attack. He sliced a piece of flesh from the tentacle that held Viconia as Jaheira shrieked out the words to a spell. The otyugh roared in pain and hurled Viconia backwards into the chamber from which it had come as vines and other plants pushed up through the cracked stone floor and clutched the monster firmly in their grasp. Jaheira then pulled out her staff and joined Yoshimo and Minsc in the attack on the slimes.
One of the slimes emitted a gaseous film. Minsc plowed through the smoke easily but was immediately slowed by the cloud's magical effect. The slime then clutched its sulphurous body about Minsc's leg and held on, burning clothing and flesh with its touch. Yoshimo hacked at it with his katana but it refused to let go until it was killed.
The other slime lurched toward Aerie and she quickly cast a swarm of Magic Missiles. Her mouth dropped open when the slime shrugged off the magical attack. Stumbling backward, she tripped on a loose piece of rock and fell to the floor. Sensing weakness, the slime threw itself at her and was knocked away by a blow from Jaheira's staff. Before it could recover, Jaheira crushed it with another blow.
The half elf smiled wryly at Aerie as she struggled to her feet. "This is quite the life, isn't it?"
Aerie didn't answer. The sounds of combat had attracted the attention of a squad of hobgoblins that were tramping about nearby. The elf and the druid ducked the first volley of arrows and slipped past Taurus, who was still hacking at the otyugh.
"Taurus!" yelled Jaheira, "Get in the chamber! We've got company!"
Ducking a vicious tentacle slash, Taurus took a look at the hobgoblins. They had a shaman and a wizard with them, both of whom were chanting. "Fair enough. Hit the deck!"
Jaheira and Aerie raced into the room past the rampaging Otyugh. Taurus paused to thrust his blade through the creature's heart, killing it.
The hobgoblins seemed to not know the meaning of caution. The whole band swarmed into the chamber, howling with bloodlust. The archers jumped back and started firing arrows while the footsoldiers attacked.
Giving his battle cry, Minsc charged forward, the sword of Chaos already swinging. The first hobgoblin in his way lost its head and the second one was trampled by the berserker. Suddenly the rampaging ranger was brought up short by a Hold spell, cast by the shaman. Jaheira sprang forward to protect Minsc.
The Archers, meanwhile, had zeroed on the three elves in the corner. One of their arrows missed completely, another hit but skidded off Taurus' armour. The third arrow struck Viconia in the shoulder.
This set Taurus off and he leapt forward, drawing his swords in mid- spring. He dropped into a roll, ducking under the archers' next volley of arrows, and came up right beside the hobgoblins. He split one monster in half with a single swing and disembowelled the next with an upward slash. When the third archer tried to shoot him with an arrow, it suddenly fell over gurgling. Yoshimo had backstabbed it from behind.
Seeing that the odds had swiftly changed, the hobgoblin wizard decided that discretion was the better part of valour and teleported to safety.
Taurus sheathed his blades and left Jaheira and Yoshimo to try and break the spell on Minsc. He hurried over to Aerie, who was healing Viconia, albeit reluctantly. "How is she?"
"Well she was diseased from that tentacle monster and she has a fever. Plus that arrow she was hit with was poisoned. I've healed her up a bit but I've run out of healing magic. I really don't know if she'll live." Aerie sounded less upset at that than she might have been.
Taurus hesitated. He really didn't like using his Bhaal powers but... "Desperate times call for desperate measures" he murmured to himself.
"Pardon?" Aerie was only half listening when he kneeled by the dark elf. She watched idly as he lay his hands upon her and nearly jumped out of her skin when they started glowing green. The green light seemed to flow from his core being into Viconia's. Taurus held that position for a second until the light faded. Then he slumped slightly.
"The poison has been cleansed from her system."
"H-how did you do that?" Aerie stuttered in surprise. Taurus smiled.
"Being a Bhaalspawn does occasionally have its advantages." He stopped smiling. "But for now we have to break the fever or she could still be in danger."
The two elves pulled out some spare blankets from their packs and wrapped up Viconia in them. She couldn't very well protest, being unconscious as she was. Taurus built a small fire and the small sewer chamber quickly began to warm up. Jaheira had dispelled the magic that had held Minsc and they settled down.
"You guys get some rest. I'll keep watch for a while." Taurus reassured the others. "Besides, Nalia will be back anytime now."
This said the Crintri seated himself down on his bedroll next to the unconscious Viconia and spread his blanket over the two to better spread around the warmth. His pale eyes flickered in the firelight as they watched the camp protectively.
Aerie looked at Taurus out of the corner of her eye and sidled up next to Jaheira. "Um Jaheira?" she stuttered, "Why does he...?"
"Why does he what?" The druid looked around impatiently until she spied the two elves cuddled under the blanket. She looked back at Aerie and a smile threatened to break over her at the girl's anxious look. "Oh. Why does he do THAT."
"Uh yes..."
Jaheira sat down and motioned for the young mage to join her. "You see Aerie, Taurus is a very caring man. It probably comes from his time with his stepfather Gorion but that doesn't matter. He doesn't like it when people, especially his travelling companions get hurt. Perhaps the only person that he'll trust with our lives is himself. You see, we're the only family he has left."
"His only family?" Aerie was rather surprised. "What about his stepfather?"
"Well not quite his only family" Jaheira amended, emphasising the word family. "He has many fellow Bhaalspawn but he doesn't know any. There's also his childhood friend Imoen, whom we're trying to find. And as for his stepfather he was murdered by one of his brothers, a man named Sarevok. Of course Taurus went after Sarevok and killed him." She snorted and blew a strand of hair from her face. Then she smiled mischievously. "But tell me, why should Taurus sleeping with Viconia bother you so?"
Aerie nearly choked at the ambiguous words and mumbled something about having to study her magic. She hurried over to the other side of the room and spread out her bedroll. Jaheira chuckled quietly at the conversation and glanced over at Taurus.
He was a Bhaalspawn just trying to find his place in a world that despised his kind. 'I wonder how he'll handle love?'
***
Some time later, Nalia rejoined the party and took over the watch. This allowed Taurus to grab some sleep, which he did so with great gusto.
In around the middle of the night, movements by him brought him half- awake. He sleepily reached out his arms and wrapped them around the person lying next to him before drifting back to sleep again.
The feel of being held gently by a sleeping figure waked Viconia. Also still half asleep, she held the arms tighter to her stomach before turning over and falling asleep again.
Hours later, the dark elf woke up again. Yawing, she buried her face in a strong chest, seeking its warmth. Suddenly she frowned. There should not have been a chest there for here to bury her face in. Waking fully, her eyes widened as she realised that a sleeping Taurus Halfbreed was holding her tightly about the waist.
Viconia smirked. This was certainly a change she liked. She decided to have a little fun with her sleeping leader.
Squirming her way up Taurus' lean clothed body, Viconia eyed him closely. He really was a very attractive male. Cautiously, she planted a small kiss on the corner of his mouth. The Crintri didn't move and this encouraged Viconia to continue. Rubbing his chest gently with practised hands, the drow nuzzled against his neck. Pressing her dark lips against his smooth flesh, she licked at his throat with her furtive tongue.
Taurus mumbled something quiet in his sleep and rolled over onto his back, inadvertently pulling Viconia on top of him. Feeling his lean muscles, Viconia grinned slightly. He really had no idea what she was doing! She returned to kissing his neck, growing more passionate each minute. Still, she remembered to remain quiet. She wasn't in the mood for the fight this would bring. Finally, Viconia pulled away from his neck and leaned forward. She looked into his eyes, closed with increasingly restless sleep and licked his lips.
Not even Taurus could sleep through that. With a quiet gasp, his eyes shot open in surprise, staring at the woman lying on top of him. "Viconia? What-"
"Shhh". Viconia placed a finger on his lips and smirked at him. "Well my fearless leader, it seems that you've managed to get a drow woman between the sheets."
Stumbling over her meaning, Taurus was quite surprised. He looked down and saw his arms holding her to him. He blushed (as much as his dark skin would allow) and released the woman who slid off his chest. Resting her head on a raised arm, Viconia idly traced a finger over Taurus' chest.
"You seem embarrassed," she said. "Don't be. You didn't do anything. But I must say, I think that I have revised an opinion I have. I used to see you as just a brave and skilled leader. Now I think that you are a strong and attractive male as well. I shall have to think about this." Viconia winked sexily at Taurus and continued in a purring voice. "And what about dark Viconia, hmmm? Does her ebony glow spur lustful thoughts? Does her sharp beauty give you singular twinges of desire?" Her voice lowered with passion. "Do you long to exert yourself within me, to hear me cry out your name passionately as you conquer and claim me for your own?"
For a moment Taurus just looked into Viconia's dark eyes. Then he smirked. "Well I'll say this for you Vicky" he said in a husky tone that sent shivers down Viconia's spine, "You talk a good time. One of these nights it might be worth finding out just how good." Boldly he reached out and stroked a hand across her face and down the smooth skin of her neck. The drow stretched at the touch and gasped slightly as it grazed her full breast for the barest instant. Her desire for him heated in an instant.
"But not tonight".
The hand pulled back and Viconia glared at Taurus who shrugged helplessly.
"It would be kind of embarrassing to be caught in this position, don't you think?"
"I couldn't care less what position I get caught in!" Viconia growled. "But perhaps you're right. The little butterfly might get irritating if she saw us tonight."
Taurus sighed. Not the butterfly comment again! Before he could tell Viconia to lay off of Aerie for a while, Jaheira snorted and shifted in her sleep. The sound woke up Yoshimo and the camp slowly came to life.
***
Nalia briefly filled them in on what she had been doing while they travelled through the muck of the sewers.
"I don't believe it!" she exclaimed. "It's like the guards don't care about the slaves!"
Yoshimo nodded sagely. "Ah yes. I remember them. The guards who are as blind as a bat once you place a few coins over their eyes. Remember them well Nalia. Not all people are as good hearted as you."
"Bah! Surfacers are scum anyway that you look at them!"
Aerie rolled her eyes at the dark elf. Viconia was feeling much better and was demonstrating her ability to annoy people.
Nalia continued talking. "I can't believe that people would care about money that much! Don't they care about others who need their help?"
"Apparently not".
Minsc growled. "Perhaps after we teach the slavers a lesson we should put the boots to these guards who sell out those who need them!"
"I don't think that attacking the town guards would be such a good idea Minsc" Jaheira cautioned. "We could get arrested."
Minsc hesitated. "Well then couldn't we give them a spanking?"
"Nope".
"Rats!"
The group suddenly came to another room. Unlike the sewer chamber they had spent the night in, this room had a semblance of liveability. A large round table stood in the centre and some crates were stacked up in the corner of the room. A strange little man sat at the table, his hands clasped. He watched the adventurers as though he had been expecting them. His clothes were ragged and torn while his eyes watched them with emotionless darkness.
"Ah!" the man exclaimed. "People have come for the blade once again my old friend." He looked down at a spot behind his table. "It is always the same with strangers, is it not?"
Taurus glanced around in confusion. "Ah, who might you be talking to sir?"
"My friend of course. My only true friend." The man gestured over to the right behind the table.
Curious, Taurus walked closer to get a better look and froze. Apparently the 'friend' the man referred to was a large carrion crawler slobbering on a piece of dead meat. Aerie nearly retched at the sight.
"Uh..." Taurus was momentarily at a loss for words.
"You mentioned something about a sword?" Yoshimo piped up.
The weird old man smiled strangely. "Ah! You eyes fill with greed as you speak those words. If you truly wish to learn the clues, then go to the place where the water comes to the sewers. That is where you shall have your answers.
"Well thanks then. I think." Taurus then led the group down a little side tunnel, which just happened to lead to the drainage system.
As soon as they entered the drainage room, a squeal of delight nearly startled them out of their socks.
"At last!" a disembodied voice exclaimed, "One has come to claim me at last!"
"Uh, yes?"
"Hooray! Now listen very carefully" the voice suddenly became solemn and businesslike. "There are basically four items in these dungeons, charms that hold me trapped here. You find these charms and put them in the right sewer pipes in the right order and I'm released to do what you will!"
Nalia frowned slightly. "And what exactly are you?"
The voice chuckled. "Find the wards and all will be revealed. Oh, you'll find out what the wards actually are on those pipes."
Taurus just kind of stared. Then he turned to his companions. "You guys DID just hear a voice, didn't you?"
Jaheira nodded. "If you're crazy then we all are. So now what?"
Taurus shrugged. "I guess now we check out the pipes."
The gang spread out and actually discovered four pipes in particular that contained messages inscribed on them. Through careful puzzling and discussion, they eventually decided that they needed some sort of hand, a ring, a wizard's staff and some sort of special blood.
"I have the blood." Viconia smirked as she lifted a small bottle. Aerie eyed her suspiciously.
"Where'd you get that?" she asked suspiciously.
Viconia shrugged and didn't answer. Meanwhile, Yoshimo was rooting through his backpack. He pulled out a shrivelled up hand and an ornate ring triumphantly. Jaheira gave him a weird look.
"You just happened to be carrying them around in your backpack?" The thief shrugged.
"I try never to throw away anything if I can help it."
Taurus rolled his eyes. "I guess that that still leaves the staff..." he trailed off as Yoshimo pulled out a carved staff from his pack. "I'm not even going to last." He said finally. Muttering to himself at the insanity of people, he grabbed the staff and placed it in its respective pipe.
A bolt of lightning flashed, catching a surprised Taurus squarely in the chest. The force of the magic threw him to the floor.
"Taurus!" Aerie cried out. She rushed to the Crintri where he had fallen and began murmuring a healing spell quickly.
"Mystra damn it!" Nalia and Yoshimo helped Taurus sit up so he could swear. "What in the Abyss happened?!"
Jaheira shrugged. "It did say to place them in the right order. You probably broke the chain." She smiled. "Nice job omnipresent authority figure."
The druid stepped up to the pipes and examined the writings respectively. She smiled again. "You really should have read these more closely. They tell you everything you needed to know. Pass me the hand."
Jaheira placed the items in the pipes quickly and without flaw. The water turned a strange colour and a scream resounded throughout the room, raising hairs as it did. Then an ancient looking two-handed sword rose from the water. It floated ominously in the air for a moment. Everyone watched, too overcome with awe to take hold of the obviously magical weapon.
The sword suddenly yelled in a rather shrill voice, "Hey! Take me already! I don't have all day you know!"
Minsc suddenly strode forward boldly and grasped the sword by the hilt. He lifted it into the air like a scene from an old legend before eyeing it curiously. "Minsc has never seen a talking sword before."
The sword was incapable of facial expressions but it still managed to sound condescending. "Well this talking sword has never seen a Minsc before. Oh, and my name is Lilracor."
"And Minsc's name is Minsc. And this is Boo, the miniature giant space hamster." The ranger held up the hamster to the sword. The hamster squeaked.
"Hello yourself" Lilracor replied. "Now lets get a move on! There must be evil somewhere around here to kill!"
Minsc's eyes glowed. "Yes! We must smite the evil! With this example and one day evil will no longer have to put the boot to those who stray of the path of goodness and into the muck and bile of villainy and track great bloody footprints over our lilly white tiles! BOO WILL HAVE CLEAN WOODSHAVINGS YOU EVIL BASTARDS!"
"Yes!" the sword howled gleefully. "Kill them all! KILL KILL KILL!!!!!"
Minsc raised his sword and went screaming through the sewers, looking for evil to kill while his new sword slung encouragement.
"Well" Viconia remarked at length, "They seem to get along well."
"Is he alright?" Nalia asked worriedly. "He seems unwell."
Jaheira shook her head. "He's been that way for as long as I've known him. Speaking of which, we should probably catch up with him before he gets lost."
The party met up with Minsc a short time later, talking to the strange man in the room. This time, he seemed nervous and afraid. He jumped at shadows and stared wildly at the party as if he had never seen them before in his life. The ranger looked baffled.
"Boo remembers meeting you before. Do you not remember?"
The man shuddered. "I don't know. I think so... But it is so confusing."
Taurus cocked his head curiously. This was a type of magic that he'd never heard before. "You mean that you were charmed or dominated?"
"I don't know. I have been down here for so long." His eyes widened. "My family! What has become of my family? I'm sorry but I must go." Shaking, the strange man wandered down the tunnels, in search of his family.
Jaheira watched him go, pityingly. "He was kept prisoner for so long. And for what? A sword? It makes no sense!"
Aerie shuddered. "A-at least he's free now. That poor man".
***
Taurus gave one mighty shove and the trap door gave way into a pile of splinters. He pushed through and jumped to the floor warily, his hands on his swords. The rest of the party followed him. They had arrived in the cargo hold of some sort of ship. Crates were stacked all around and netting hung from the walls. The Crintri nearly tripped over a gaff lying on the ground but Jaheira pulled him upright again.
The noise caused five men to turn around, weapons raised in their direction. They all had a suspicious light in their eyes as they regarded the armed companions.
The biggest man and apparent leader growled something feral. "Why are you out to ruin me?!" he snarled. "We were doing good business in this town before you killed my partner Lehtinan!"
"Shut your mouth you filthy slaving bastards!" Snapped Taurus. "You brought this all on your own head with all the money you made selling your souls!"
"Bah! Selling these wretches is no worse than dealing in cattle! And speaking of which, it's time that you were butchered!"
Aerie gasped. "T-they don't even regret it? That's disgusting! We will destroy you, you disgusting men!"
"They show no remorse? Boo, GO FOR THE EYES!" Minsc howled and barrelled forward, Lila yelling out threats all the while.
"Have at 'em lads!" The leader yelled out before he started throwing axes. The rest of his men all started to fire arrows and the battle was under way.
One man drew a sword and attacked the harmless looking Aerie. The elf chanted and disappeared from sight. The man stopped short, dumbfounded. Then he cried out in pain as he tripped over something. Viconia trampled over him in her charge to reach the archers. She cried out a prayer and one of the men suddenly dropped his bow and fell to the ground just before she reached them, her mace whistling through the air. "For Shar!"
Taurus stumbled back a step as one of the captain's axes lodged in his shoulder. He ducked behind a crate an another axe sailed past. He looked around. Minsc was grappling with three men, Jaheira and Yoshimo were assisting Viconia who was systematically killing a trio of archers. Aerie had disappeared somewhere.
Suddenly from the staircase across the room, another four men entered the room, ready for battle. The slavers had reinforcements and one of them started chanting prayers. A duo of skeletons rose from the floor at attack Minsc and the three other men attacked Viconia.
All of a sudden, the room flared up with a sudden bright light that had everybody covering their eyes. With a shriek, two of the slavers approaching Viconia were consumed in the giant fireball and the third was wounded badly. Taurus looked around and saw Aerie standing in the corner of the room. She nodded in satisfaction and Taurus felt a surge of admiration. She had aimed that fireball perfectly whereas Taurus usually ended up hitting someone.
Aerie saw Taurus staring at her and she blushed. Then an arrow grazed her leg and she yelped, diving behind a crate.
Taurus chanted his own words of magic and felt his skin harden with his spell. With a yell of challenge, he jumped from his box and charged the leader. Minsc, who had dispatched the three men with ease, ran to assist him, body checking an archer in the process.
Haegan (AN: I got sick of calling him 'the Leader'. It sounded like a religious cult) flung one more axe and drew his two handed sword. He was good, blocking Taurus' double attack and driving the Crintri back with a short feint to the left. He then broke away and ran for the secret exit, fully intending to escape.
Taurus ran after him. He couldn't escape! He'd enslave more innocent people!
Haegan reached the door and cackled. Before he could get through, however, he was tackled from behind. He fell to the floor heavily and rolled onto the back. He viciously kicked the small elf that'd knocked him down in the stomach and struggled to his feet just in time to feel twin blades run him through. He gave a last gasp and died.
Taurus reached down a hand and clasped Aerie's wrist and hauled her to her feet. "Are you alright?"
Aerie gasped, still trying to get her breath back from Haegan's kick but she still managed to smile with satisfaction. "I...told him...I'd...destroy him."
Taurus smiled and laughed. "Aerie you wonderful little witch! So much for being a fragile butterfly, eh?"
The young elf blushed and didn't answer.
Meanwhile, Viconia had smashed the skull of the last archer and Minsc had trampled the cleric. Yoshimo was picking the lock of the door at the far end of the room and Jaheira was healing Minsc, grumbling the whole time about having to deal with 'these insane youngsters'.
A 'click' signalled Yoshimo's picking of the lock. He opened the door to reveal a young girl, clad in ragged clothing and shivering in fear.
"Eek!" the girl squawked in fear. "P-please don't hurt me!"
The girl's cries drew the attention of the others. Jaheira cocked her head. "No child. We have come to release you."
"Oh..." The child began to sob in relief. "Thank you! I was so afraid. I thought that those men would kill us all after they were through!"
For the first time, the companions noticed several more children huddling at the back wall of the cell. Taurus frowned slightly. "Why did the slavers have so many children here?"
"Well they said that we were no good and that no one would buy us. Thanks again for freeing us. The only problem now is getting home. Scornubel is so far away..."
"Well then here's 100 gold. It should be enough to get you home."
The girl's eyes widened at the small pouch that Taurus dropped into her cupped hands. "Oh thank you!" she gushed. "This will get us back home no problem!"
As the children all left, they said their various 'thank you's. Nalia looked at Taurus thankfully.
"That was a good thing you did Taurus." She said. "A lesser man would have left those children to starve."
While Taurus hemmed and hawed Yoshimo sighed.
"Ah, the trouble is that, knowing this city the way that I do, it is likely that the child will be robbed of her coin before the day is out."
Magicman: Another chapter come and gone. Hmm. I can't come up with anything inspiring to say. Ah well.
Magicman: Hiya peeps! I'm back with another chapter. I know that these updates are far between but give me a break, okay? I have two other fics and much school work to work on. But I give you my word that I will never abandon my fics. That said, I hope you enjoy this nice addition to my little tale of Baldurs Gate 2.
Aerie shivered and wrapped her robes more tightly about her. The party had discovered a secret passageway that Hendak said would lead to the slavers' base. They were now traversing the sewers in the hopes of finding the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.
"Oh" Aerie whispered to herself as she gazed at the dank and slimy walls of the underground sewer. "We have such tales amongst my people. Being underground is just not for the Avariel."
She hadn't meant for anyone to hear but Viconia nodded.
"For once I will have to agree with you. This place brings back some most unpleasant memories."
"Ah cheer up girls" Taurus said cheerfully. "It's just a sewer."
"A sewer is dark, filthy, and infested with the most vile of stenches that I could ever dream of!" Viconia snapped. "I still can't believe that you actually wanted us to go down this way! Do you have any idea what I've stepped in so far? I don't!"
"Boo thinks that this place stinks something fierce" Minsc reported. "But he also thinks that the slavers will not expect us to come through this way so he can deal with it."
"Hurray for Boo then!"
"Try to relax Viconia" Jaheira offered. "This is all just a part of nature, no matter how unpleasant it may be."
"Maybe..." Viconia trailed off and listened for a moment. "Do you hear that?"
Yoshimo frowned. "Hear what? What is it?"
"I could tell you if you would just shut up!"
Aerie suddenly cocked her head. "I hear it too. It's coming closer."
"Oh really?" Viconia snorted. "And how could you tell?"
Before Aerie could retort, the makers of the noise appeared from a side tunnel. A large Otyugh, flanked by two slime monsters, lumbered into the tunnel where the party was passing through. With a gurgling roar, the beast attacked, waving its long tentacles.
Caught unaware, the party did not have the time to react. The beast caught up Viconia in one of its tentacles and squeezed her hard. The dark elf screamed in pain as she was shaken like a wolf cub as the beast's razor- edged suckers poisoned her.
Taurus pulled out his blades and whirled into attack. He sliced a piece of flesh from the tentacle that held Viconia as Jaheira shrieked out the words to a spell. The otyugh roared in pain and hurled Viconia backwards into the chamber from which it had come as vines and other plants pushed up through the cracked stone floor and clutched the monster firmly in their grasp. Jaheira then pulled out her staff and joined Yoshimo and Minsc in the attack on the slimes.
One of the slimes emitted a gaseous film. Minsc plowed through the smoke easily but was immediately slowed by the cloud's magical effect. The slime then clutched its sulphurous body about Minsc's leg and held on, burning clothing and flesh with its touch. Yoshimo hacked at it with his katana but it refused to let go until it was killed.
The other slime lurched toward Aerie and she quickly cast a swarm of Magic Missiles. Her mouth dropped open when the slime shrugged off the magical attack. Stumbling backward, she tripped on a loose piece of rock and fell to the floor. Sensing weakness, the slime threw itself at her and was knocked away by a blow from Jaheira's staff. Before it could recover, Jaheira crushed it with another blow.
The half elf smiled wryly at Aerie as she struggled to her feet. "This is quite the life, isn't it?"
Aerie didn't answer. The sounds of combat had attracted the attention of a squad of hobgoblins that were tramping about nearby. The elf and the druid ducked the first volley of arrows and slipped past Taurus, who was still hacking at the otyugh.
"Taurus!" yelled Jaheira, "Get in the chamber! We've got company!"
Ducking a vicious tentacle slash, Taurus took a look at the hobgoblins. They had a shaman and a wizard with them, both of whom were chanting. "Fair enough. Hit the deck!"
Jaheira and Aerie raced into the room past the rampaging Otyugh. Taurus paused to thrust his blade through the creature's heart, killing it.
The hobgoblins seemed to not know the meaning of caution. The whole band swarmed into the chamber, howling with bloodlust. The archers jumped back and started firing arrows while the footsoldiers attacked.
Giving his battle cry, Minsc charged forward, the sword of Chaos already swinging. The first hobgoblin in his way lost its head and the second one was trampled by the berserker. Suddenly the rampaging ranger was brought up short by a Hold spell, cast by the shaman. Jaheira sprang forward to protect Minsc.
The Archers, meanwhile, had zeroed on the three elves in the corner. One of their arrows missed completely, another hit but skidded off Taurus' armour. The third arrow struck Viconia in the shoulder.
This set Taurus off and he leapt forward, drawing his swords in mid- spring. He dropped into a roll, ducking under the archers' next volley of arrows, and came up right beside the hobgoblins. He split one monster in half with a single swing and disembowelled the next with an upward slash. When the third archer tried to shoot him with an arrow, it suddenly fell over gurgling. Yoshimo had backstabbed it from behind.
Seeing that the odds had swiftly changed, the hobgoblin wizard decided that discretion was the better part of valour and teleported to safety.
Taurus sheathed his blades and left Jaheira and Yoshimo to try and break the spell on Minsc. He hurried over to Aerie, who was healing Viconia, albeit reluctantly. "How is she?"
"Well she was diseased from that tentacle monster and she has a fever. Plus that arrow she was hit with was poisoned. I've healed her up a bit but I've run out of healing magic. I really don't know if she'll live." Aerie sounded less upset at that than she might have been.
Taurus hesitated. He really didn't like using his Bhaal powers but... "Desperate times call for desperate measures" he murmured to himself.
"Pardon?" Aerie was only half listening when he kneeled by the dark elf. She watched idly as he lay his hands upon her and nearly jumped out of her skin when they started glowing green. The green light seemed to flow from his core being into Viconia's. Taurus held that position for a second until the light faded. Then he slumped slightly.
"The poison has been cleansed from her system."
"H-how did you do that?" Aerie stuttered in surprise. Taurus smiled.
"Being a Bhaalspawn does occasionally have its advantages." He stopped smiling. "But for now we have to break the fever or she could still be in danger."
The two elves pulled out some spare blankets from their packs and wrapped up Viconia in them. She couldn't very well protest, being unconscious as she was. Taurus built a small fire and the small sewer chamber quickly began to warm up. Jaheira had dispelled the magic that had held Minsc and they settled down.
"You guys get some rest. I'll keep watch for a while." Taurus reassured the others. "Besides, Nalia will be back anytime now."
This said the Crintri seated himself down on his bedroll next to the unconscious Viconia and spread his blanket over the two to better spread around the warmth. His pale eyes flickered in the firelight as they watched the camp protectively.
Aerie looked at Taurus out of the corner of her eye and sidled up next to Jaheira. "Um Jaheira?" she stuttered, "Why does he...?"
"Why does he what?" The druid looked around impatiently until she spied the two elves cuddled under the blanket. She looked back at Aerie and a smile threatened to break over her at the girl's anxious look. "Oh. Why does he do THAT."
"Uh yes..."
Jaheira sat down and motioned for the young mage to join her. "You see Aerie, Taurus is a very caring man. It probably comes from his time with his stepfather Gorion but that doesn't matter. He doesn't like it when people, especially his travelling companions get hurt. Perhaps the only person that he'll trust with our lives is himself. You see, we're the only family he has left."
"His only family?" Aerie was rather surprised. "What about his stepfather?"
"Well not quite his only family" Jaheira amended, emphasising the word family. "He has many fellow Bhaalspawn but he doesn't know any. There's also his childhood friend Imoen, whom we're trying to find. And as for his stepfather he was murdered by one of his brothers, a man named Sarevok. Of course Taurus went after Sarevok and killed him." She snorted and blew a strand of hair from her face. Then she smiled mischievously. "But tell me, why should Taurus sleeping with Viconia bother you so?"
Aerie nearly choked at the ambiguous words and mumbled something about having to study her magic. She hurried over to the other side of the room and spread out her bedroll. Jaheira chuckled quietly at the conversation and glanced over at Taurus.
He was a Bhaalspawn just trying to find his place in a world that despised his kind. 'I wonder how he'll handle love?'
***
Some time later, Nalia rejoined the party and took over the watch. This allowed Taurus to grab some sleep, which he did so with great gusto.
In around the middle of the night, movements by him brought him half- awake. He sleepily reached out his arms and wrapped them around the person lying next to him before drifting back to sleep again.
The feel of being held gently by a sleeping figure waked Viconia. Also still half asleep, she held the arms tighter to her stomach before turning over and falling asleep again.
Hours later, the dark elf woke up again. Yawing, she buried her face in a strong chest, seeking its warmth. Suddenly she frowned. There should not have been a chest there for here to bury her face in. Waking fully, her eyes widened as she realised that a sleeping Taurus Halfbreed was holding her tightly about the waist.
Viconia smirked. This was certainly a change she liked. She decided to have a little fun with her sleeping leader.
Squirming her way up Taurus' lean clothed body, Viconia eyed him closely. He really was a very attractive male. Cautiously, she planted a small kiss on the corner of his mouth. The Crintri didn't move and this encouraged Viconia to continue. Rubbing his chest gently with practised hands, the drow nuzzled against his neck. Pressing her dark lips against his smooth flesh, she licked at his throat with her furtive tongue.
Taurus mumbled something quiet in his sleep and rolled over onto his back, inadvertently pulling Viconia on top of him. Feeling his lean muscles, Viconia grinned slightly. He really had no idea what she was doing! She returned to kissing his neck, growing more passionate each minute. Still, she remembered to remain quiet. She wasn't in the mood for the fight this would bring. Finally, Viconia pulled away from his neck and leaned forward. She looked into his eyes, closed with increasingly restless sleep and licked his lips.
Not even Taurus could sleep through that. With a quiet gasp, his eyes shot open in surprise, staring at the woman lying on top of him. "Viconia? What-"
"Shhh". Viconia placed a finger on his lips and smirked at him. "Well my fearless leader, it seems that you've managed to get a drow woman between the sheets."
Stumbling over her meaning, Taurus was quite surprised. He looked down and saw his arms holding her to him. He blushed (as much as his dark skin would allow) and released the woman who slid off his chest. Resting her head on a raised arm, Viconia idly traced a finger over Taurus' chest.
"You seem embarrassed," she said. "Don't be. You didn't do anything. But I must say, I think that I have revised an opinion I have. I used to see you as just a brave and skilled leader. Now I think that you are a strong and attractive male as well. I shall have to think about this." Viconia winked sexily at Taurus and continued in a purring voice. "And what about dark Viconia, hmmm? Does her ebony glow spur lustful thoughts? Does her sharp beauty give you singular twinges of desire?" Her voice lowered with passion. "Do you long to exert yourself within me, to hear me cry out your name passionately as you conquer and claim me for your own?"
For a moment Taurus just looked into Viconia's dark eyes. Then he smirked. "Well I'll say this for you Vicky" he said in a husky tone that sent shivers down Viconia's spine, "You talk a good time. One of these nights it might be worth finding out just how good." Boldly he reached out and stroked a hand across her face and down the smooth skin of her neck. The drow stretched at the touch and gasped slightly as it grazed her full breast for the barest instant. Her desire for him heated in an instant.
"But not tonight".
The hand pulled back and Viconia glared at Taurus who shrugged helplessly.
"It would be kind of embarrassing to be caught in this position, don't you think?"
"I couldn't care less what position I get caught in!" Viconia growled. "But perhaps you're right. The little butterfly might get irritating if she saw us tonight."
Taurus sighed. Not the butterfly comment again! Before he could tell Viconia to lay off of Aerie for a while, Jaheira snorted and shifted in her sleep. The sound woke up Yoshimo and the camp slowly came to life.
***
Nalia briefly filled them in on what she had been doing while they travelled through the muck of the sewers.
"I don't believe it!" she exclaimed. "It's like the guards don't care about the slaves!"
Yoshimo nodded sagely. "Ah yes. I remember them. The guards who are as blind as a bat once you place a few coins over their eyes. Remember them well Nalia. Not all people are as good hearted as you."
"Bah! Surfacers are scum anyway that you look at them!"
Aerie rolled her eyes at the dark elf. Viconia was feeling much better and was demonstrating her ability to annoy people.
Nalia continued talking. "I can't believe that people would care about money that much! Don't they care about others who need their help?"
"Apparently not".
Minsc growled. "Perhaps after we teach the slavers a lesson we should put the boots to these guards who sell out those who need them!"
"I don't think that attacking the town guards would be such a good idea Minsc" Jaheira cautioned. "We could get arrested."
Minsc hesitated. "Well then couldn't we give them a spanking?"
"Nope".
"Rats!"
The group suddenly came to another room. Unlike the sewer chamber they had spent the night in, this room had a semblance of liveability. A large round table stood in the centre and some crates were stacked up in the corner of the room. A strange little man sat at the table, his hands clasped. He watched the adventurers as though he had been expecting them. His clothes were ragged and torn while his eyes watched them with emotionless darkness.
"Ah!" the man exclaimed. "People have come for the blade once again my old friend." He looked down at a spot behind his table. "It is always the same with strangers, is it not?"
Taurus glanced around in confusion. "Ah, who might you be talking to sir?"
"My friend of course. My only true friend." The man gestured over to the right behind the table.
Curious, Taurus walked closer to get a better look and froze. Apparently the 'friend' the man referred to was a large carrion crawler slobbering on a piece of dead meat. Aerie nearly retched at the sight.
"Uh..." Taurus was momentarily at a loss for words.
"You mentioned something about a sword?" Yoshimo piped up.
The weird old man smiled strangely. "Ah! You eyes fill with greed as you speak those words. If you truly wish to learn the clues, then go to the place where the water comes to the sewers. That is where you shall have your answers.
"Well thanks then. I think." Taurus then led the group down a little side tunnel, which just happened to lead to the drainage system.
As soon as they entered the drainage room, a squeal of delight nearly startled them out of their socks.
"At last!" a disembodied voice exclaimed, "One has come to claim me at last!"
"Uh, yes?"
"Hooray! Now listen very carefully" the voice suddenly became solemn and businesslike. "There are basically four items in these dungeons, charms that hold me trapped here. You find these charms and put them in the right sewer pipes in the right order and I'm released to do what you will!"
Nalia frowned slightly. "And what exactly are you?"
The voice chuckled. "Find the wards and all will be revealed. Oh, you'll find out what the wards actually are on those pipes."
Taurus just kind of stared. Then he turned to his companions. "You guys DID just hear a voice, didn't you?"
Jaheira nodded. "If you're crazy then we all are. So now what?"
Taurus shrugged. "I guess now we check out the pipes."
The gang spread out and actually discovered four pipes in particular that contained messages inscribed on them. Through careful puzzling and discussion, they eventually decided that they needed some sort of hand, a ring, a wizard's staff and some sort of special blood.
"I have the blood." Viconia smirked as she lifted a small bottle. Aerie eyed her suspiciously.
"Where'd you get that?" she asked suspiciously.
Viconia shrugged and didn't answer. Meanwhile, Yoshimo was rooting through his backpack. He pulled out a shrivelled up hand and an ornate ring triumphantly. Jaheira gave him a weird look.
"You just happened to be carrying them around in your backpack?" The thief shrugged.
"I try never to throw away anything if I can help it."
Taurus rolled his eyes. "I guess that that still leaves the staff..." he trailed off as Yoshimo pulled out a carved staff from his pack. "I'm not even going to last." He said finally. Muttering to himself at the insanity of people, he grabbed the staff and placed it in its respective pipe.
A bolt of lightning flashed, catching a surprised Taurus squarely in the chest. The force of the magic threw him to the floor.
"Taurus!" Aerie cried out. She rushed to the Crintri where he had fallen and began murmuring a healing spell quickly.
"Mystra damn it!" Nalia and Yoshimo helped Taurus sit up so he could swear. "What in the Abyss happened?!"
Jaheira shrugged. "It did say to place them in the right order. You probably broke the chain." She smiled. "Nice job omnipresent authority figure."
The druid stepped up to the pipes and examined the writings respectively. She smiled again. "You really should have read these more closely. They tell you everything you needed to know. Pass me the hand."
Jaheira placed the items in the pipes quickly and without flaw. The water turned a strange colour and a scream resounded throughout the room, raising hairs as it did. Then an ancient looking two-handed sword rose from the water. It floated ominously in the air for a moment. Everyone watched, too overcome with awe to take hold of the obviously magical weapon.
The sword suddenly yelled in a rather shrill voice, "Hey! Take me already! I don't have all day you know!"
Minsc suddenly strode forward boldly and grasped the sword by the hilt. He lifted it into the air like a scene from an old legend before eyeing it curiously. "Minsc has never seen a talking sword before."
The sword was incapable of facial expressions but it still managed to sound condescending. "Well this talking sword has never seen a Minsc before. Oh, and my name is Lilracor."
"And Minsc's name is Minsc. And this is Boo, the miniature giant space hamster." The ranger held up the hamster to the sword. The hamster squeaked.
"Hello yourself" Lilracor replied. "Now lets get a move on! There must be evil somewhere around here to kill!"
Minsc's eyes glowed. "Yes! We must smite the evil! With this example and one day evil will no longer have to put the boot to those who stray of the path of goodness and into the muck and bile of villainy and track great bloody footprints over our lilly white tiles! BOO WILL HAVE CLEAN WOODSHAVINGS YOU EVIL BASTARDS!"
"Yes!" the sword howled gleefully. "Kill them all! KILL KILL KILL!!!!!"
Minsc raised his sword and went screaming through the sewers, looking for evil to kill while his new sword slung encouragement.
"Well" Viconia remarked at length, "They seem to get along well."
"Is he alright?" Nalia asked worriedly. "He seems unwell."
Jaheira shook her head. "He's been that way for as long as I've known him. Speaking of which, we should probably catch up with him before he gets lost."
The party met up with Minsc a short time later, talking to the strange man in the room. This time, he seemed nervous and afraid. He jumped at shadows and stared wildly at the party as if he had never seen them before in his life. The ranger looked baffled.
"Boo remembers meeting you before. Do you not remember?"
The man shuddered. "I don't know. I think so... But it is so confusing."
Taurus cocked his head curiously. This was a type of magic that he'd never heard before. "You mean that you were charmed or dominated?"
"I don't know. I have been down here for so long." His eyes widened. "My family! What has become of my family? I'm sorry but I must go." Shaking, the strange man wandered down the tunnels, in search of his family.
Jaheira watched him go, pityingly. "He was kept prisoner for so long. And for what? A sword? It makes no sense!"
Aerie shuddered. "A-at least he's free now. That poor man".
***
Taurus gave one mighty shove and the trap door gave way into a pile of splinters. He pushed through and jumped to the floor warily, his hands on his swords. The rest of the party followed him. They had arrived in the cargo hold of some sort of ship. Crates were stacked all around and netting hung from the walls. The Crintri nearly tripped over a gaff lying on the ground but Jaheira pulled him upright again.
The noise caused five men to turn around, weapons raised in their direction. They all had a suspicious light in their eyes as they regarded the armed companions.
The biggest man and apparent leader growled something feral. "Why are you out to ruin me?!" he snarled. "We were doing good business in this town before you killed my partner Lehtinan!"
"Shut your mouth you filthy slaving bastards!" Snapped Taurus. "You brought this all on your own head with all the money you made selling your souls!"
"Bah! Selling these wretches is no worse than dealing in cattle! And speaking of which, it's time that you were butchered!"
Aerie gasped. "T-they don't even regret it? That's disgusting! We will destroy you, you disgusting men!"
"They show no remorse? Boo, GO FOR THE EYES!" Minsc howled and barrelled forward, Lila yelling out threats all the while.
"Have at 'em lads!" The leader yelled out before he started throwing axes. The rest of his men all started to fire arrows and the battle was under way.
One man drew a sword and attacked the harmless looking Aerie. The elf chanted and disappeared from sight. The man stopped short, dumbfounded. Then he cried out in pain as he tripped over something. Viconia trampled over him in her charge to reach the archers. She cried out a prayer and one of the men suddenly dropped his bow and fell to the ground just before she reached them, her mace whistling through the air. "For Shar!"
Taurus stumbled back a step as one of the captain's axes lodged in his shoulder. He ducked behind a crate an another axe sailed past. He looked around. Minsc was grappling with three men, Jaheira and Yoshimo were assisting Viconia who was systematically killing a trio of archers. Aerie had disappeared somewhere.
Suddenly from the staircase across the room, another four men entered the room, ready for battle. The slavers had reinforcements and one of them started chanting prayers. A duo of skeletons rose from the floor at attack Minsc and the three other men attacked Viconia.
All of a sudden, the room flared up with a sudden bright light that had everybody covering their eyes. With a shriek, two of the slavers approaching Viconia were consumed in the giant fireball and the third was wounded badly. Taurus looked around and saw Aerie standing in the corner of the room. She nodded in satisfaction and Taurus felt a surge of admiration. She had aimed that fireball perfectly whereas Taurus usually ended up hitting someone.
Aerie saw Taurus staring at her and she blushed. Then an arrow grazed her leg and she yelped, diving behind a crate.
Taurus chanted his own words of magic and felt his skin harden with his spell. With a yell of challenge, he jumped from his box and charged the leader. Minsc, who had dispatched the three men with ease, ran to assist him, body checking an archer in the process.
Haegan (AN: I got sick of calling him 'the Leader'. It sounded like a religious cult) flung one more axe and drew his two handed sword. He was good, blocking Taurus' double attack and driving the Crintri back with a short feint to the left. He then broke away and ran for the secret exit, fully intending to escape.
Taurus ran after him. He couldn't escape! He'd enslave more innocent people!
Haegan reached the door and cackled. Before he could get through, however, he was tackled from behind. He fell to the floor heavily and rolled onto the back. He viciously kicked the small elf that'd knocked him down in the stomach and struggled to his feet just in time to feel twin blades run him through. He gave a last gasp and died.
Taurus reached down a hand and clasped Aerie's wrist and hauled her to her feet. "Are you alright?"
Aerie gasped, still trying to get her breath back from Haegan's kick but she still managed to smile with satisfaction. "I...told him...I'd...destroy him."
Taurus smiled and laughed. "Aerie you wonderful little witch! So much for being a fragile butterfly, eh?"
The young elf blushed and didn't answer.
Meanwhile, Viconia had smashed the skull of the last archer and Minsc had trampled the cleric. Yoshimo was picking the lock of the door at the far end of the room and Jaheira was healing Minsc, grumbling the whole time about having to deal with 'these insane youngsters'.
A 'click' signalled Yoshimo's picking of the lock. He opened the door to reveal a young girl, clad in ragged clothing and shivering in fear.
"Eek!" the girl squawked in fear. "P-please don't hurt me!"
The girl's cries drew the attention of the others. Jaheira cocked her head. "No child. We have come to release you."
"Oh..." The child began to sob in relief. "Thank you! I was so afraid. I thought that those men would kill us all after they were through!"
For the first time, the companions noticed several more children huddling at the back wall of the cell. Taurus frowned slightly. "Why did the slavers have so many children here?"
"Well they said that we were no good and that no one would buy us. Thanks again for freeing us. The only problem now is getting home. Scornubel is so far away..."
"Well then here's 100 gold. It should be enough to get you home."
The girl's eyes widened at the small pouch that Taurus dropped into her cupped hands. "Oh thank you!" she gushed. "This will get us back home no problem!"
As the children all left, they said their various 'thank you's. Nalia looked at Taurus thankfully.
"That was a good thing you did Taurus." She said. "A lesser man would have left those children to starve."
While Taurus hemmed and hawed Yoshimo sighed.
"Ah, the trouble is that, knowing this city the way that I do, it is likely that the child will be robbed of her coin before the day is out."
Magicman: Another chapter come and gone. Hmm. I can't come up with anything inspiring to say. Ah well.