Bhaal's Abysmal Realm
Irenicus died; or so I thought. Moving towards the position of Irenicus, I saw Imoen and Aerie approach me and was wondering about my soul when a bad feeling came over me. I found it hard to breathe and shortly I was traveling I knew not where. Somehow, the death of Irenicus did not release my soul. It has ended up still with Irenicus holding onto it some where in my Father Bhaal's abysmal realm. I, as well as my companions Imoen and Aerie, were transported to this plane too. Limited exploration showed five areas with steps downward as well as a five-eyed doorway in the main circular room. I believe Irenicus is aware of us, as I am him. We were well rested and few spells had been spent. I took the lead down the first stairwell.
Journal entry 46
The Tears of Bhaal
The shade of Serovok had a 'Tear of Bhaal', but would not hand it over to me. To unlock the door above, I would need all five tears, so the deep voiced one is once again vanquished. Having obtained the tear I needed from him, we went back to the main level and down the third stairway. A Demon advised me that there were two paths ahead that I could use to obtain a tear of Bhaal: to the Demon's left, I could chose the path of self-sacrifice; to the Demon's right, I could choose the path to sacrifice one of my companions. The Demon took Aerie away from me. I chose self-sacrifice for my present moment and I have permanently lost a bit of my life force and experiences. Aerie was okay, though, and I got the second tear of Bhaal as well as a comforting hug from Aerie.
I took the first two tears of Bhaal to the five-eyed doorway. In using the tears upon the door, my abilities increased for each tear of Bhaal so used upon the door. Having left Imoen and Aerie back at the second stairway, I reported my good fortune to them. They both urged me to continue down the second stairway, but I called for a break to restore our magic. Rest for us all and a Journal entry for me. My confidence is as a buoy in the water: always at the top. True, the death of Irenicus did not stop him - I believe due to his link with me - my Bhaal essence. As the last of the Tears of Bhaal are used upon the five-eyed door, I imagine the very last battle with Irenicus will be fought. The mind of Irenicus is powerful; this is not to be contested. I extrapolate that by the time I allow him in having used the last Tear of Bhaal upon the door, he will have learned to use 'the Slayer' - what comes natural to me but that I shall never use. I toyed with the idea of invoking 'it' and testing its abilities. The ability of Irenicus to use it, should I be correct, will be dealt with without my participation in the use of my capability. It is a variable I trust I shall overcome as well as our success in the final death of Irenicus. I am sure he understands that when he dies here, that it will be final. His spirit will make its journey to its final resting-place. Actually, I would say that there will be no rest for his spirit. I have no sympathy for him in that regard. I do wish he had never been born during my own stay upon Faerun. Fate picked the wrong time for him to be alive. That is the extent of my sympathy for him.
Ready for the second (third of five) stairway, we came into the presence of another Demon. The Demon advised that a creature further along the path had one of 'my' tears. It mentioned that always have I used the right tool to vanquish my enemies. It offered a sword as the right tool to me. With the sword, I advanced further where a Jinn had been here as a punishment; for what, I have no idea. The Jinn did have a Tear of Bhaal, and spoke the riddle which would free it from its punishment should the proper tool be used to free it. This seemed to be what the Demon gave me - a sword to end its life. I was not simply going to kill it to get the Tear of Bhaal. I questioned it a bit further and realized that I could just give it the sword - that might release it. I did give the Jinn the sword that the Demon gave me. Wonderfully, that was the key to releasing the Jinn without having to kill it. The Jinn thanked me profusely while giving me the Tear of Bhaal and left for its home plane having been freed from its punishment.
That was an easy one. The fourth of five Tears of Bhaal could have been deadly. Once again, a Demon. It sought to give me a cloak that would allow me to resist my fears. The cloak was stitched together with the flayed skins of nymphs. Such an evil thing I wanted nothing to do with it. I sent the Demon away with the cloak. I hoped it choked upon it! It did mention that my courage would be tested within either of the two rooms that were ahead of me. I went alone into the left room where my pride almost allowed my death. Among a couple of Guaths and Beholders I spotted what I knew was an Elder Orb Beholder. My boots of speed saved me. While I did get hurt, the worst of the beholder rays were not successful upon me. Thinking fast, I sped past them all and was in luck since the two rooms were connected on the far side. I ran around to the front of the other room and barely got my time stop spell into effect. Casting resist fear first, I proceeded to destroy the beholders one by one with a combination of my most powerful spells. After this dirty work was done, I found an area between the back of the rooms that had the Tear of Bhaal. I had forgotten Aerie and Imoen. They heard parts of the battle, but did not hear my signal call for help - I did not think to call for help. Thankfully, my failure was not complete; I wish I had at least called out the words beholder Elder. As I was quite busy, I forgive myself and caution myself to do better.
Journal entry 47
The Last Tear of Bhaal
If you have not read "The Dead Three", you may not know the supposed origin of Bhaal. Bhaal was first a mortal. He and the other two mortals of the story replaced a God who was at the time weary of his position! Bhaal, through a game of chance, was the third winner of the three. The other two mortals got to pick a portion of the old God's powers before Bhaal did. Bhaal became God of Murder. The way it is presented in the book, Bhaal actually got the best part of the Godly powers.
This is where the book notes end and my own speculation begins.
The Time of Troubles may have been the origin of the Tears of Bhaal. My theory is that through the edict of AO (Over God?) for all Gods to die with the exception of Helm, It was sufficiently sad for Bhaal to create the tears still manifest in his old realm. I would say that the journey to Godhood was long and as well nigh as to be impossible, hence the tears fell. To cheat death and become a God only to have to experience death after all created the tears. After which, I suggest Bhaal came up with a plan to be reborn through his children - the Bhaalspawn of which both Imoen and I have this taint (if you will) of Godly essence. I extrapolate that once all the children of Bhaal die, all of the essence of Bhaal will once more be within his realm. I have no idea on exactly how Bhaal will then be re-constituted back into the God of Murder.
So you have, to the best of my ability, what may be true although Bhaal may be the only one who has the actual truth of the matter. Take the previous paragraph as simply a possibility. Perhaps my Bhaalspawn essence is speaking through me or perhaps not.
Having 'closed' four eyes of the five-eyed door, I now relate the story of the last Tear of Bhaal. The words of this Demon were a bit cryptic to me. Nevertheless, I understood what it was attempting to do. It sought to fan my pride. I was on my guard, though; it was clever, but I did not fall into the plan it had for me. It told me that there was a creature in the next room that held the last of the Tears of Bhaal. The Demon said that it was confident that I would prevail where others had fallen. I persisted in asking it what type of creature it was and got cryptic answers that still did not get to the truth. I tried a different tactic: asking the Demon would the creature give me the tear if I asked for it. The Demon gave up then and I found a black Dragon in the next room that told me I had mastered my pride. The dragon told me to go well and gave me the Tear of Bhaal. It then teleported out of the area.
Is it that the Demons and beings found here have been given a task to which they are bound until completed? Having completed their task, they vanish - as the Jinn and now the Dragon, as well? They and the Demons were given the task of providing ME the Tears - by Bhaal himself? If so, why ME? I have a feeling that the end for Irenicus will not end my involvement; my Journal will not end soon. My next entry may well detail the fall of Irenicus. Bhaal willing? Unknown.
Journal entry 48
The Last Battle of Irenicus
Predictable. If nothing else, Irenicus is consistent in his voice projection of my failure. As if that alone will be cause and effect of the present moment reality. His battle script was revealed before he started. Four Demons were channeled to the area. Having turned into the Slayer, Irenicus gave me a peek at what I would look like should I ever invoke it - which will never happen. We drew the Demons away from Slayer/Irenicus. Under the protection spells we had active, we then sent the Demons back from where they came from. An insight I wondered about became true as we waited in anticipation of my theory - which was correct. Slayer/Irenicus finally disappeared. Beaming a smile and whispering the word "gone" for Imoen and Aerie, I started checking magically for the real Irenicus. Upon finding him, I gave the location to Imoen and Aerie. We kept a three pronged attack focused upon Irenicus. I almost could not help but laugh at the way we had him coming and going. Granted, it was three against one. At one point, Aerie had blasted Slayer/Irenicus so hard, it almost lost its balance. As well, Imoen smote it so hard with her particular talents, that it hesitated a short while before attempting to attack once more; at which point another one of my spells hit the mark draining it further. More than that I will not get into.
Journal entry 49
Love is Forever; Corruptible Power Fades
Having been defeated, the face of Irenicus turned back to normal. Screaming in protest, the Bhaal essence he stole from me drained from him and returned to me. In short order, Irenicus was truly dead. Events are sketchy to me at this point since very shortly after the very end of the process I died, as well. How am I writing my Journal if dead? That, reader, is for another time after I feel well enough to start what I will now call my Bhaalspawn Chronicles.
--The End--