Well, crap.

I hate waking up in my own, personal hell. And I mean that in the most literal sense. Not only is it hell -far from picturesque Candlekeep- but HE's here. Great.

Wait, maybe I should explain things a little.

The dark clouds gathered as the heads talked in ancient voices, speaking of Alundo's prophesy... something I was fairly familiar with. They told me that everything was coming to a head, and my destiny would soon be resolved. Good news, at long last. We all started discussing what we thought the stone heads meant as we walked deep into the forest- the city's gates were closed to us now, I knew it. So we walked deeper into the forest.

We entered a clearing, surrounded by rubble. Looking around, we tried to decide what to do. Ellesime's tone convinced me that heading back to the city was a bad idea. Minsc argued for heading north, back towards Baldur's Gate, to Beregost or Nashkel. We had to make things right with Farmer Brun, and we could count on at least some of the locals to back us up. They were a different sort, he said.

Imoen wanted to head east, to Trademeet. They had a decent bar, she said, and the mayor would almost certainly keep us safe. She had heard the rumblings. People didn't like Bhaalspawn, and she knew it. Specifically, they didn't like me. Trademeet was like a closer version of Nashkel.

Jaheira wanted to hide out in Coran's cabin. It was close by, remote, peaceful. We could ride out the troubles, wait for the people to to forget my lineage in the course of their lives. From there...well, let fate decide.

Viconia said nothing.

Aerie wanted to explore, grab a ship, head west...vacation, basically. it honestly didn't sound bad. Life on the road and all that. I just wanted to go somewhere, kick up my heels, and relax. Surely, I deserved it. Illmater's tears! So, we were standing there, squabbling, when the first thunderbolt speared the sky. We all whipped around, looking at the bright bolt. That's when we started noticing the torchlights.

Five of them, coming from different directions. Orange light glinted off exposed steel. Now, if you've been around elves, then you know that if they wanted you dead in a forest, they wouldn't walk up to you. You wouldn't know they were there until you were already full of arrows and blades. So, my common sense said either these were not elves, or we were in deep trouble. Most likely, both.

So, we slowly surrounded Imoen and Aerie. Minsc to my left, Jaheira to my right. Little sis nocked an arrow. Another lightning bolt, fat rain drops starting to fall as everything was lit. These were definitely not elves. An orog, more than a few humans, all heavily armored. One cloaked figure. Everyone called them as they spotted them. The mysterious figure and assorted cronies surrounded us, standing about twenty feet away. The four of us circled the casters, watching and waiting.

The figure whipped off her hood. A black band across her eyes. Short hair. A longbow in her hands.

"So...I have found you at last! It was an effort to track you down in these woods...too many old wards for my liking. None the less...here you are."

Well, damn. She had gotten through some hardcore elven wards...which meant this was going to be a tough fight.

"And who might you be?"

Hey, you never know. She might run once we killed her cronies. Okay, one mage among them...

"All you need to know is that I've been given the pleasure of ending your life. I may yet mount your head on the wall with all the other Bhaalspawn I've killed...I haven't decided yet."

Damnation! I can't catch a break, can I? I reminded myself that if I ever saw my dead father again, to kick him in the groin. Over and over again. Well, time to try to intimidation card.

"You can try, but I am no ordinary Bhaalspawn!"

"I know...neither am I."

Oh. Crap.

"Not all of us have been wandering Faerun like witless cattle, like you and pathetic Imoen and so many others of Bhaal's blood. Some of us have greater aspirations."

I gritted my teeth. So...she knew about Imoen, then? Perhaps she was one of Irenicus's former allies. Not good.

"The time of Alundo's prophesy has come. These rhyming ghosts should have told you that must. Great things are afoot, and your contribution shall be your death."

Why do people always think that me dying will help them somehow?

"It has already been decided. I am Illasera the Quick, Child of Bhaal, and I have been chosen to perform this deed. You cannot resist us."

Us? Well, I guess it's a fight, then.

"So others have said. They're all dead now."

"We shall see."

She snap-shot an arrow faster than I could see. It deflected off my shield with a clang, and the battle was joined. Illasera's mage began to cast, and her minions lurched into a charge. So familiar was the situation that I guess I felt the need to make fun of it. I'm wise, not smart. I turned to Jaheira as we set ourselves, grin on my face. Her pin was on a leather thong, dangling and bouncing against her armor.

"Shall we dance, Master Harper?"

I could have sworn I caught a smile on her part as launched herself towards the massive orog, swinging her staff hard. I went in low and hard, using my shield as a club. The man I faced was large, scarred, but unprepared. My shield caught him just above the knee. It buckled as another arrow whizzed past me. I raised my flail high, and brought it down on his helmet. It crumpled with a spurt of blood, and the man went down. He was still alive, struggling to his feet. I stomped on his back, and heard bones crunch. I finished it quickly.

Turning around, I saw Aerie and my little sister on their own, whipping spells every which way. three or four more bodies littered the muddied ground. Minsc's blade had torn the mage in half. Illasera calming loaded another arrow, a cleric beside her giving her first aid. Jaheira, Viconia and Minsc surrounded the badly wounded orog, forcing in back towards the other Bhaalspawn. Jaheira stopped, stood back as I advanced at a jog. She cried out to the storm, calling down its fury on the beast.

Aerie dashed to my side, launching a sling stone at the enemy. It struck Illasera in the stomach, with little seeming effect. Aerie grinned at me.

"See? There's nothing we can't overcome together. We're going to be fine, dearest," she told me, reaching out to stroke my face.

The Bhaalspawn wasn't having any of that. She was wounded, but managed to order her cleric forward, to hold off the rapidly advancing group of warriors while she aimed. What happened next...well, was disastrous.

I was smiling at Aerie, watching those tender digits when the arrow hit. It carved a divot out of her forearm, sending a spray of bright red blood into the air. She cried out, and I became enraged. No one hurt one of mine. No one ever hurt one of mine was got away with it. I called on the power of my god, summoning the holy, cleansing fire of Lathander. A pillar of flame reached down from the heavens, searing aside the cloud and immolating Illasera. She shrieked in agony before falling to the ground. The battle was over.

I turned to Aerie, who was bleeding fairly badly.

"You okay?"

"I'm...I'm...oh, Baervan! Imoen!"

She pointed, hand covered in blood. My little sister...my little sister was on her knees, arrow lodged in her gut. I cursed, ran to her side, began to issue orders.

"Jaheira! Jaheira, help Aerie. Once you're done, I need you over here."

"What? You need me NOW!"

"I...I...I know, Jaheira. Aerie needs looking after, and the last thing I need is Viconia and her squabbling."

"I...understand."

I dashed to Imoen's side. She tilted her head to me. She was pale. Dreadfully pale.

"So...cold. So cold...big bro."

"I know. I hear you. You'll be warm in a second."

She gurgled a little, spitting up blood. She was badly wounded and poisoned, I could tell. I screwed things up, bad. Viconia looked her over, appearing from nowhere.

"Well, abbil, shall we start?"

She began to work her curative magics, flushing the toxins from Imoen's body. I tugged gently at the arrow, trying to remove it without enlarging the wound cavity. I could see Minsc out of the corner of my eye, being merciful and finishing off the mortally wounded. I concentrated on slowly withdrawing the arrow.

Suddenly, the ground warped and twisted beneath me, and we were somewhere else.

"Welcome, godchild," a voice boomed at me. I looked up from Imoen to see a large, winged being before me...a demigod of some sort. She...it smiled at me, crowned in flames. I frowned.

"I am here to teach you of your destiny."

"Well, no disrespect intended m'lady, but my sister is bleeding all over the ground at the moment. Can we postpone the lesson for an hour or...hey, where the hell am I?"

I looked around. Green skies, frowning Minsc, giant demonic statues.

"Awwwww, HELL!"

The...well, whatever it was grinned. I think it grinned. My entire party was with me, at least. They all looked as confused as I did.

"Aerie, Jaheira...some help?"

The demigoddess ended up giving me a lecture after we sewed up Imoen. She wasn't going anywhere anytime soon- she was a bad ways, but at least she'd get better in a week or two, with rest. But, as soon as the solar was done, HE appeared.

"Eh? He is like a bad penny, this one. An armored, deep-voiced penny of most sinister evil!"Minsc proclaimed. I agreed with him.

"Hello again, Brother."

Sarevok.