Light Wrapped in Darkness
Smokegirl: dressed in black robes Welcome to the Dark Side of the Force!
Magicman: -Yes I'm back, meaning that Taurus and company have to keep tramping through Hell and a hand basket.
Taurus: Ah Hell.
Imoen: And a hand basket.
Magicman: Yes… Anyway, back to the asylum with you! Scoot! Scoot!
IIIIIII
A nightmare made flesh. That would be Taurus' later impression of the dark maze beneath Spellhold. A viscous mosaic of shadow laced with all manner of dark beasts. Undead crawled down the halls. Demons lurked behind portals. Mind wrenching riddles led to further mysteries that led to traps. And all through it the void where the crintri's soul had lain gnawed and gnawed on his sanity with a mindless life of its own.
Even so the party fought and forced their way through the Hell. No one escaped wounds. Minsc was viciously mauled by a Greater Wolfwere that leapt forth from a magical portal. A trio of Clay Golems took Imoen by surprise and their pummeling broke her arm and shoulder bones. While battling a Yuan-ti mage Jaheira took the brunt of a fireball assault. Even Taurus, who was kept at the back of the party by Aerie's glaring nearly lost an arm when a skeleton warrior got in a lucky hit. Only an accidental slip in his own blood saved the limb. The party had used up all their healing magic and even their emergency potion supply was running low. They could have rested but they didn't dare. None of them knew how much time they had to escape before Bhodi came after them.
Of course they shouldn't have expected Bhodi to keep her promise.
Following just behind Jaheira, Taurus froze in place. The druid swore and drew her scimitar, readying her shield. Standing between them and a large stone door lounged the vampire queen herself. Bhodi smiled wickedly, showing off her pointed eye-teeth. Four of her minions hissed at her side. Bhodi laughed at the look on Taurus' face. "Here mousey-mousey!" she taunted. "The hunt draws to a close here and now."
"What! You said you'd give us a chance to escape! We haven't had enough time!" The vampire grinned at Taurus' objection.
"I know I'm early, but I just couldn't bear to see you leave. One last time let our paths cross in blood." The playful look on Bhodi's face vanished, replaced by a hateful snarl. She lunged forward, claws extended and followed by her minions.
As Jaheira tried to yank him back into the previous room, Taurus couldn't move. His teeth gritted involuntarily. For hours now he had been wrestling with the urge to kill, anything. But now the surge of hatred he felt for the treacherous bitch of a vampire threatened to overwhelm him. Even as Bhodi and her brood flew at him, even as his friends and loved ones prepared for a desperate fight to the end, even as he focused all his mental will on staying calm, he was losing control.
Bhodi was ten feet away when he could fight no more. He threw back his head and a horrible scream ripped from his throat as his mind plunged over a dark cliff.
The unearthly scream jarred Bhodi's undead senses, and she skidded to a halt. Her brood sensed her uncertainty and milled around in confusion, but she didn't care about them. Her eyes were fixed on the bhaalspawn. She didn't understand what was happening but it shook her to the core.
As he screamed the crintri was transforming. His skin rippled and burst, melting over his clothes and armour. His bones crackled and snapped as his internal structure rearranged itself, absorbing and reforming vital organs. A pair of dark and scaly arms burst from his ribcage and flailed with a life of their own. One reached out and grabbed a vampire, crushing the creature's skull before it could even scream. And through it all Taurus' face continued to scream, even as it too morphed. His ice-blue eyes turned golden yellow, his cheek bones erupted outward and curved into two vicious tusks two feet thick, his pearly teeth grew long and yellow and perfect for tearing. And eventually even the scream changed, becoming a full-throated roar of hatred and lust for death.
A beast formed of shadow and murder towered to the roof of the chamber. The slayer walked Faerun once more.
For the first time since before she walked the path of undead Bhodi felt fear course through her wizened black heart. Her stolen soul seemed to quiver when the beast that had been her prey turned its baleful yellow eyes upon her.
"No! Stay back!" The vampiress seized one of her minions and thrust it in front of her as the slayer rushed at her with surprising speed. Caught off guard the other vampire was torn to pieces by clawed hands. Panicked, Bhodi transformed into a cloud of mist and fled the scene. Confused and terrified by their leader's sudden departure the remaining two vampires did likewise and the Slayer's claws rent only mist. The monster roared in frustration at losing its kill.
Then it turned to the party.
The monster attacked while comprehension was still dawning on the elves and humans. Minsc reacted first. Bellowing defiance he rushed the Slayer, seeking to distract it. It worked only for a second before one of its many arms swatted him aside. Ignoring the fallen ranger the Slayer lunged forward. Perhaps it desired the sweet flesh of elves because Imoen was likewise thrown aside as it rushed the elves. Cursing, Jaheira shoved a stunned Aerie to the side and held her staff out crosswise to block the coming attack. Her face was grim and set.
Three clawed arms grasped the weapon and yanked it from her grasp while the fourth lifted her up. Jaheira found herself staring into the Slayer's gaping maw. The beast moved to thrust her inside and she whispered a final prayer to Silvanus when Viconia acted. Calling a prayer to Shar, Viconia attacked the monster and used her magically enhanced muscles to slam her mace into its side. A roar of rage was the mighty blow's only affect but it distracted the creature's attention. It dropped Jaheira and lashed out with its tail. The spined limb caught Viconia in the small of her back. She gasped in pain and fell helplessly to the floor, blood leaking from the severe wound.
Then the Slayer turned back to Aerie. It advanced on the avariel, saliva dripping from its jaws and the stone floor cracking under each step. Aerie could only stare into her love's face in paralysing horror. Her body trembled and fear was in her wide doe eyes. The Slayer observed its prey as it raised a clawed hand, ready to strike and rip out her spine. It would be so easy. It would kill her. Yes! Kill!
It didn't attack.
Deep within the monster's body the small part that was still Taurus stirred. It realised what it had allowed to happen and fought back for control. The Slayer growled in frustration but it was only the physical form of an emotion. As powerful as it was, it could be mastered. And while its clawed paw hovered above the avariel's head it would not descend. Slowly the monster shrank. The spines and scales retracted back into flesh, cloth, and armour. The extra arms were sucked back into a torso that was lined with wiry muscles. The face shrank and at last Taurus emerged from the monster. He stayed in place for a few seconds, his eyes staring wildly and his chest heaving. Then he fell forward, drained and helpless.
IIIIIII
The night was quiet. Deep beneath Spellhold Taurus tried to sleep but he could not. He could feel the pulsing ball of instincts at the back of his mind. Instead he lay on his back, staring dully at the stone ceiling.
On guard duty, Jaheira kept one eye on her friend. Outwardly calm, she was worried about him. When he'd regained his strength and consciousness he hadn't panicked or become hysterical or anything like that. All he had done was blink slowly when Imoen told him about the Slayer. Then he had suggested that the party move on with their quest. Luckily there had been no further monsters nearby so the party set up camp outside the gateway Bhodi had guarded. After eating trail rations Taurus lay his bedroll against a wall away from everyone and lay down wordlessly. All that day he'd been so cold and quiet, refusing to mingle with his friends. He hadn't made a single bad joke, he'd never laughed, he didn't draw Aerie or Viconia aside for a quick kiss, and he had barely said two words. In fact it was an understatement to say that Jaheira was worried. She was scared.
From out of the shadows Imoen slunk up next to the druid and sat down on a broken rock. Her eyes drifted to her brother before returning to Jaheira. "It's my shift. You can get some sleep now." The druid nodded but did not move. Imoen crossed her legs comfortably and waited.
After several seconds Jaheira turned her attention to the younger girl. "What do you think is going through his mind right now?" She asked the question softly so as to not disturb Taurus.
Imoen shrugged. "I've known him for all of my life and I've never seen him like this. But I would have to say that he's afraid. He's afraid that he'll become a monster and that he won't be able to control himself. I think I can understand him." She rubbed the side of her chest, wincing. "I've still got bruises from where he threw me into that wall. Apart from good old self-preservation he's afraid that he'll kill the rest of us. I'd be willing to bet you anything you like that he would just take off and leave us alone, if we all weren't stuck in a dungeon."
Jaheira snorted, raising some dust. "That's preposterous. No one here would let him get away with it. Viconia really would collar him and Aerie would probably help her!" She thought seriously for a moment. "Does he really want to run away?"
Imoen nodded her head before resting her chin in her hands. "He has always had that stubborn noble streak but it never stopped him from being a joker before. I just don't get it." A thought came to her. "Maybe it has something to do with his soul."
"Hmm." That hadn't occurred to Jaheira. "The elves think that a soul is more than just what gives a body life. They say that a soul is who a person is."
The thought made Imoen jerk her head upward. "If that's true then what will happen to Taurus?"
"I have no idea."
IIIIIII
The stone door shut with a thunderous boom, locking the party in a huge dark room. They were engulfed in absolute darkness for only a moment before an eerie glow lit the centre. The strange light coalesced into a humanoid figure. The sight sent chills down the spines of most of the party. In the surrounding darkness, something stirred.
The apparition spoke and its voice was weak but held enormous authority. "I am the arbitrator or the asylum. You who have been judged mad come before me to seek escape. Know that the only release from this prison is gained by my will."
The party stood in awed silence as the arbitrator paused in its speech. "Do you wish to leave here? Or are you truly mad?"
At last it was Taurus who answered. "We wish to leave. How may we do this?"
"To escape the asylum you must pass my tests" the arbitrator answered. "Tests of clarity, perception, and stability. When all of these tests have been completed I will judge you."
Taurus raised one eyebrow slightly. "What happens if we refuse to take your tests?"
The arbitrator lifted one ghostly appendage and with it lifted the darkness. From behind Taurus Aerie gasped. Even Minsc let out a surprised hiss. Surrounding the party all over the chamber, on pedestals and crowded along the stone floor were thousands and thousands of goblins. All of the beasts were slavering for the taste of flesh that had long been denied them and only the power of the arbitrator kept them from it.
Taurus nodded slightly. "It seems we have no choice. Bring on your tests."
"As you wish." Again the shadows fell and the goblin horde cried out in deprived rage.
This time there was a sense of traveling. The air rushed around Taurus' head, whipping his hair about wildly. Suddenly there was light. The sun gleamed off of plants and trees and a cloud of pollen filled the air. The crintri cautiously surveyed the territory and immediately started coughing as the pollen flew down his lungs. He blinked, trying to get the stuff out of his eyes. They stung fiercely. He could not draw breath and he couldn't see! From the sounds of helpless coughing behind him he could tell that the others were in the same boat.
Behind him Jaheira managed to blink quickly enough to clear the pollen from her eyes momentarily. Perhaps ten feet away by a tree sat a large mushroom. A Spore Colony; it was this that had incapacitated them all so easily. Emitting its toxins, they caused any animals that wandered near to fall senseless to the ground. There they died of thirst and starvation, allowing the roots of the spore to harvest the nutrients it needed. The same would happen here if someone didn't act.
Jaheira held her breath and drew her scimitar. She threw herself forward where she thought the spore would be and swung desperately. Her aim was guided by luck and the weapon bit deeply into the plant. The damage made it lessen its pollen emission slightly. With the air cleared she could think again and her aim was surer. The next swing was surer and the scimitar buried itself into spore's core. Now a thick ichor spewed from the plant and the pollen cleared even further. Jaheira swung the final blow and the spore was cleaved in half.
Taurus straightened again. He nodded his thanks at Jaheira and turned toward the arbitrator who appeared before them.
"You maintain your stability through confusion and disablement. Perhaps you are closer to escape than I thought." The ghostly being paused for a moment. The party waited anxiously until it continued. "Now a test of clarity. Answer me this question true." Now the spectre's voice transformed to something soft and melodic as it asked its riddle. "T' was in the wood I found it, I sat me down to seek it, I never once did see it so I took it home with me."
"Um, is anyone else confused?" Minsc asked. "What is this about finding and seeking?"
Viconia snorted. "Dolt. It is a riddle."
"Ah, I see. Minsc is bad at riddles, and even Boo is mediocre at best."
"Well don't look at me. I still don't know how you rivven can stand to live in forests."
Aerie rolled her eyes at Jaheira who smirked back. 'Drow' they both thought ironically.
Meanwhile Taurus considered. "In the wood… A forest? No. I sat me down… A log. Maybe… Is it a splinter?" When he answered the world around him began to disintegrate away. Soon the party was surrounded by a darkness again from which the arbitrator's voice echoed.
"Clarity! You see through a myriad of words and deceptions to pluck out the truth. Or perhaps it is merely that madness seeks out more madness? More must be studied."
Again the darkness lifted away. Prepared, the party drew their weapons and scanned the area. But this time they only found themselves in a room. Four humans, two men and two women, sat at a long table, drinking wine and discussing things amongst themselves. But whatever they were doing, they stopped it when the party arrived.
"So! Another young madman has made his way to our hall." One of the men laughed merrily.
A woman picked up the line of conversation. "I don't know what you expected to find here. Sanity? It suggests derangement even in the asking."
"Still the forms must be obeyed." The other woman sighed. "Yes, they must. Have any of you a question for these mad persons?"
The second man spoke up now. "I do in fact." Now he addressed Taurus directly. "My question for you is this. Listen well for madness springs from madness. You must pick out the truth within." The man closed his eyes and lay back on his chair, his hands folded loosely. The others became silent and Taurus listened carefully. "A hunger so deep as never to end. The greatest foe that one cannot fend. Try to fight me but try in vain. When I win I end your pain."
Taurus was silent for a long moment. Finally he drew a deep breath and spat out one word harshly. "Death." Then he stalked away from the man to lean against a wall. There he put his hand on his forehead silently. Hesitantly Aerie reached out to him but he flinched away.
"Giddy I am with your perceptiveness" the man answered. He smiled and raised his wineglass in a toast to the sullen crintri. "But freedom is not so easily purchased. Have you others any questions for these mad ones?"
"I do." One of the women finished her wine and threw the glass behind her to shatter unnoticed on the floor. She gestured to Imoen, smiling merrily. It was infectious and soon Imoen was grinning back as she approached. "Let us see dear. Can you perceive reality as your friend can?" She cleared her throat dramatically before asking her riddle. "It is better than the best of things, it is worse than the worst of things. The richest need it while the poorest have it in abundance."
Imoen chuckled. "That's a good one. The answer is of course nothing."
The woman laughed. "An answer that moves you forward, but only if you know where you are going. Shall more madness be passed along?"
"It shall." The second man turned his gaze on Aerie. She stopped watching Taurus anxiously and faced the man. He eyed her speculatively for a moment then nodded, as if to say 'you will do'. "The man who made it doesn't want it, the man who bought it doesn't need it, and the man who needs it doesn't know that he needs it."
The avariel blinked in confusion at the wordplay. Sorting through the small jumble of phrases, she came to the answer easily enough. "A coffin" she answered. "No man who makes a coffin would want it, a man who buys it doesn't need it because he's still alive, and a dead man doesn't know what he wants."
The man nodded his head, apparently satisfied. "A web of lies you have sorted though. Is there any other who wishes to test?"
The fourth nodded. She clasped her hands together and her eyes settled on Minsc. "One last question to see if sanity reins an unbalanced mind. You!" The sharp command made Minsc jump. The woman leaned back in satisfaction, certain that she had found the mad one. She decided to abandon the usual riddles for this madman. She licked her lips in anticipation. "Tell me this…if a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"
Jaheira stared incredulously. "I protest! That is a trick question!"
The woman glared at Jaheira, and for a wonder the elven woman backed down. Minsc stared helplessly about him. He had always been horrible with riddles. He'd never really cared; with so much evil to smite, who had time for word puzzles?
Then just when all seemed lost a tiny hamster squeaked piercingly. Everyone stared at the rodent in surprise. Even Taurus was drawn out of his brooding silence. Everyone that is, but Minsc. The ranger leaned his head down to listen to his companion's squeaking. After several long seconds of this he lifted his head.
"AHA!" Minsc shouted. His voice raised dust and made Jaheira jump back in alarm. "The great Boo has seen through your little scheme! He has explained this to me and I shall explain it to you! Your question is tricky." He raised one finger and wagged it admonishingly at the woman. "You ask if a crash is a crash when no one can hear it! But Boo has explained to me the laws of physics and motion. Of course I lost him after a bit but he tells me that yes. The laws of the world ensure that there is a crash and quite a big one too." Minsc beamed and crossed his arms expectantly.
The woman scowled and tried to puzzle through Minsc's ramblings. The first man who asked a riddle laughed out loud.
"You thoughts are clear and flowing, and you may proceed."
"To where your destiny calls and your fate guides" the first woman added.
The second woman snorted. "That makes hardly any sense at all!"
"Aye" the last man asked as the room started to dissolve. "But it is more than can be expected from a roomful of the maddened dead." And as the party was engulfed in darkness yet again, the forms of the four revelers faded into a translucent haze.
IIIIIII
Magicman: I'm skipping the trolls because, quite frankly, I'm sick of this chapter taking so long. Besides, I never use the damn club anyway.
IIIIII
The light surrounded the party once more. Now they found themselves in a stone chamber. At one end there was a door, simple and plain with none of the fancy intricacies of the maze.
Between the party and the door floated the arbitrator. "The tests that you have taken have been laid down by wizards for decades" it spoke. "It has been many years since they were last refined. Truly, I do not think you were intended to survive. But I will fulfill my duty using the criteria that exist." The arbitrator began to fade away. Before it disappeared completely it whispered one last sentence. "You are free."
Imoen blinked in surprise. "That was the test?" she demanded. "A few riddles and a giant mushroom? What kind of morons test sanity by how good you are with riddle!"
Viconia snorted as she passed the human, heading for the door. "I don't know about you, but I prefer not to look a gift horse in the mouth." She grasped the brass handle and turned, but when she opened the door she hissed and jumped back. Minsc cursed and moved in front of Aerie, brandishing Lilracor threatening. Only Taurus didn't react badly.
The crintri sighed and shook his head. "Why am I not surprised to see you Havarian?"
The pirate grinned disarmingly as he leaned on the doorjamb. "Well it's nice to see you too milord. Good to know you've escaped the-"
"Give me three reasons why I shouldn't kill you." Taurus cut him off.
Saemon blinked in surprise, perhaps not expecting this kind of raw hatred. "Isn't two reasons more traditional?"
"I doubt two would be enough to keep me from killing you."
Saemon lost the grin, perhaps feeling the precariousness of his situation for the first time. He reflected that it was good he'd prepared for this. "Well sir, I'll give you your reasons. One, I know how you can beat Irenicus. Two, I can get you off the island. And three, I know where the mage is heading."
Taurus didn't answer for several seconds, and just continued watching Saemon with a look of detached hatred. Then he sighed and stepped back. "I was really looking forward to killing you. Would you handle this Jaheira? I'm afraid I'm just not in the mood right now."
The druid advanced while Taurus stepped back and leaned against a wall. "Speak or I will make you speak!" she snapped.
Saemon bowed. "Of course dear. Of course you're most interested in defeating the mage, ay? It'll be no easy task. I've spent several days with him and I've not seen any chinks in his armour of spells. You would need and army to defeat him. And I say there is one to be had."
"The inmates are all very powerful spellcasters. Irenicus has tormented them in the past, and they are very angry. If you release them they will direct that anger at him. It is dangerous, I know, but I think it is your only option. If you do manage to survive, I'll wait for you by the asylum entrance, ay? I'll get you off the island then." With a bow Saemon turned and vanished into the shadows.
Viconia seethed. "Taurus, do not tell me you plan on listening to that madman!"
"I agree with Viconia! Minsc would rather strike with the blade of justice himself, though I admit that the crazy people do deserve some chance for justice." Bo squeaked and Minsc stroked his fur.
Jaheira frowned. "I admit that I have no taste for it, but Saemon may be right. The inmates may be or only chance for victory."
All eyes were on Taurus as he weighed his options. He'd known crazed mages before (Xzar for one) and he'd regretted every meeting. He weighed that possible risk with the thought of fighting Irenicuson the wizard's terms.
"Mystra preserve me" he groaned. "I just know I'm going to regret this."
IIIIIII
Magicman: Tough times. Two long essays due within days of each other. Add to that two seminars, a book review, and an assignment and I have very little time for fiction.
Taurus: So I noticed. I was worried for a few minutes.
Smokegirl: (still dressed in black robes) Ah yes! He comes to the Dark Side! Ha ha ha ha ha!
Magicman: I've been considering dividing Taurus' adventures into separate fics. For example, one for the first half of Shadows of Amn, one for the second half, and one for Throne of Bhaal. I figured it would be less confusing and easier to navigate that way. What do you guys think?
Smokegirl: Use the Force to decide!