General disclaimer: I own nothing, even Maiyn generally decides her own path.
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Mulahey
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Maiyn woke to see the others resting around her. She'd not been moved, so she could only assume that the plan had worked. She had also regained consciousness, which meant she was still alive, and this could only be a good thing. Her leg had been healed, and she was surprised to find she felt no pain as she pulled herself up from the floor.
"How long was I...?" she asked, feeling slightly dazed.
"Not long," said Khalid, kneeling beside her. "At most, about h-half an hour. Your second arrow managed to c-cause the surviving kobolds to f-flee. We're not sure why they d-didn't just fight, but there couldn't be many left."
"That wasn't my second arrow," she said glumly, explaining her missed first shot.
"You were lucky they only hit your leg," said Jaheira sharply, but her tone became more gentle. "You were foolish and reckless to run back like that, but I expect it is a sign of your young years."
"How are you feelin'?" asked Imoen. The young thief was watching her friend with worried eyes.
Maiyn smiled. "I feel... cold and a bit sick actually. But otherwise, I feel fine."
"The knock to your head will be causing you to feel nauseous," said Jaheira. "We will rest here a short while, and eat."
Montaron was busy fixing some food while the conversation went on, and when Khalid and Jaheira moved away to talk in private Maiyn watched him with an amused smile. The halfling noticed her stare, and scowled.
"Ye wantin' somethin'?" he snapped impatiently. "I have no time fer chattin' wi' ye. I'm preparin' the flamin' dinner."
Maiyn couldn't help but be amused by his obvious ire. "I must admit that you surprise me. Cooking isn't a talent I'd have associated with someone of your... temperament."
The halflings glare increased tenfold at her. "I likes eatin', and I don't trust none other wit' me stummick, is all," he muttered.
Maiyn couldn't resist teasing him. "Hmmm. Reserving to yourself the rights to nightshade distribution, I suppose?"
Montaron's scowl faded, and he grinned at her wickedly. "As there's only the one cookin' pot and it's all-share-all, I'd suffer it too, which me stummick'd mislike. 'Sides, if I had somethin' like that in mind, ye'd know of it long 'fore dinner time."
"So you have the knowledge of poisons, then?" she asked, now genuinely curious.
"If'n I didn't, I'd be a fool... or dead, more like," he snorted. "But ye needn't be worryin'. None o' ye're worth such slickery out here."
"You sound as though you don't approve."
"Well, if they's noother way... but I never yet knew a feller as used 'em regular, what didn't get sloppy in his habits and neglectful o' his skills." Montaron shrugged, and his attention went back to his culinary skills. He occasionally looked up to the young elf as he prepared the rations, but she had closed her eyes, and was resting uneasily against the cold, stone wall.
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Montaron and Imoen had been scouting ahead checking for traps. Maiyn had insisted on it after they crossed the cavern and Xzar had stepped on a loose stone. Khalid had ducked to avoid the acid arrow that flew towards him, but the elf was unwilling to risk running blindly into any further snares.
It meant that their advancement was slow but steady, and judging by the occasional flurries of activity from the two thieves, it was a prudent move. The walls around them slowly began to change as they moved further into the depths, the rock looking less mined, and more like a natural cavern. The floor underfoot also changed, and occasionally a crack in the ground would show some slow moving lava beneath the surface.
Before long they arrived at a deep chasm, a narrow bridge of stone being the only way across, leading into the darkness. Montaron and Imoen cautiously approached it, still checking for anything suspicious, when a hail of arrows landed around them, causing them to pull back to the cover of the walls.
They waited, but nothing appeared from across the bridge.
"They won't come over," sighed Maiyn, "because it's trapped."
The group tried to work out what to do next. Without being able to check for traps, they could not cross such a narrow and dangerous span. Maiyn agreed that she could possibly move herself forward enough to take a few shots at them, but accepted that they'd see her just as clearly, and she'd be outnumbered once again. Jaheira had been right before - she was lucky it was just her leg that had been hit. She didn't want to test her fortune again quite so soon.
"Would you provide cover for me, my child, if we were to approach the edge of the chasm?" Xzar's voice was soft, and he held something in his hands that Maiyn couldn't quite make out.
"Cover? You want to go nearer to them?" Maiyn pondered the mage. "Whatever for? If they hit you with an arrow, there's little I can do!"
"I am glad you would oblige, child!" Xzar exclaimed, and wandered off towards the bridge before she could grab him. Maiyn leapt after him instinctively, and readied her bow. Sure enough, she could make out the kobolds sitting at the other side of the chasm, and there were many.
She moved slightly ahead of Xzar so they would be tempted to aim for her, and she rained down arrow after arrow upon them as she somehow dodged the incoming onslaught. She could head Xzar muttering behind her, and he seemed to take a lifetime to cast whatever spell he had prepared. Then he was done, and he turned and disappeared back to the group, leaving the elf alone, still shooting and amazed she'd not been hit. On the edge of her vision, she could make out what appeared to be a cloud, a billowing mass of gas that lingered over the edge of the opposing side of the gorge. One by one the kobolds fell to the ground; some were still, some were twitching, and some turned to flee further down the tunnel. Maiyn watched in amazement for a few seconds, and then swiftly returned to the group. She stared at Xzar.
"You're full of surprises, aren't you? What was that?"
Xzar was sorting through some jars in his pack, but he paused to look up to the ranger. "Ah, my dear child," he cooed, "that was stinking cloud. I have a soft spot for that spell, but the components for it are rather tricky to come across generally. I would advise us not crossing over until it has dispersed."
Jaheira and Khalid moved forward slightly to see what was happening in the cloud, but Maiyn insisted everyone wait until Xzar decreed it safe to cross. Then Imoen and Montaron began edging their way across the bridge once more, disarming several traps. When they reached the other side of the chasm, they were met with a pile of kobold corpses.
"How exactly did this cloud kill them, Zhent?" asked Jaheira sharply as she stood amongst them.
Xzar turned to the druid, and smiled benevolently. "Poison," he said simply, rummaging around in his pack further. When he realised she was still looking at him, he walked over so that his face was only a couple of inches from her own.
"I have become death, destroyer of worlds!" His cackle echoed around the cave, and made Imoen jump.
"Enough!" snapped Jaheira, turning away in disgust. "We must move on."
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The tunnel twisted and turned as they went on, providing plenty of places for the kobolds to ambush them. There were never more than a couple at a time though, and the group found them easily dealt with. They then came to a junction, there the tunnel split into two. One smaller tunnel ran off into the darkness, while another larger entrance led into another sizeable cavern. Maiyn had moved to scout the smaller tunnel, while the others looked into the cave, when she heard a high pitched chittering noise coming from their location. Strange noises followed, and Maiyn heard Garrick breaking into song, being somewhat drowned out by Xzar's roar: "Let the rivers run red!"
She turned to head back to her companions aid when the familiar yapping noise erupted from behind her. The kobolds down this corridor had obviously heard the commotion too, and were coming to investigate; her companions would be too busy fighting their own battle to notice them. She readied her bow and aimed down the passage, taking out the kobolds as they appeared in her sight. There seemed to be almost no end to them, but they came one or two at a time, not possessing the sense to group together and charge as a unit.
Before long, Jaheira and Khalid had appeared by her side, and helped her to take out the remaining foes. The three returned the junction, where Maiyn noticed the halfling looking very pale.
"We think Monty's poisoned," said Imoen, looking at him with worry.
"A bit o' poison ain't gonna... argh!" Montaron jerked violently, and collapsed to his knees, huddled into a foetal position. Jaheira roughly made him sit up, and checked him thoroughly.
"It's quite bad," she murmured. "I shall need the herbs from my bag."
Khalid immediately opened her pack and took out some small white flowers. As he handed them to Jaheira he also took some small bottles from his own pack, and opened one. Jaheira crushed the flowers in her hands, and added them to the bottle he held open to her. Khalid put the lid back on the bottle and shook it vigorously while Jaheira tried to hold the halfling upright.
"You must drink this," she said, as Khalid guided the bottle to his lips. The halfling allowed them to administer the antidote, but pushed them away when he had enough strength back, immediately falling over in the process.
"We need to rest," said Jaheira. "The antidote will take a few hours to completely cure him, and he will need to regain his strength in that time."
Maiyn nodded, and watched Khalid and Garrick try to assist the halfling into becoming more comfortable. "What poisoned him? I was here, trying to hold off the kobolds, and I only heard some strange sounds..."
"Two giant spiders that lived in that cave," replied Jaheira, busy sorting out the remainder of her herbs and potions.
Maiyn felt herself sway slightly, and she felt dizzy. Imoen had noticed her friend turning pale, but Maiyn shook her head before she could say anything. Imoen nodded, knowing what was wrong.
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"Look, it won't harm you!" Imoen had been teasing Maiyn for hours, holding the creature out to the elf at every opportunity as they lounged in the gardens at Candlekeep.
"I don't care!" shrieked the elf, recoiling from the human's outstretched palm. "Just take it AWAY from me!"
Imoen giggled and withdrew her hand. "Really, for someone who loves the wilderness so much, you're a real BABY about spiders!"
Maiyn scowled at the thief, but remained hunched up, refusing to go anywhere near her.
"You know, the monks were telling me..." Imoen began.
"No, Imoen, really, don't!" pleaded Maiyn.
"... that you can get giant spiders, and they're even bigger and taller than some humans!" finished the rogue proudly. "Maiyn? Where are you going? Maiyn!"
The elf was unable to answer her friend, as she'd darted off behind the bushes to be violently sick.
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"So, Maiyn," said Garrick as they rested, dragging his gaze from Imoen's sleeping features. The bard and ranger had agreed to take the first guard with Khalid, allowing the others to get some sleep. "I was wondering what you thought of my music. Everyone else seems to have an opinion..."
Maiyn looked at him, and blinked, clearing her mind of the spider infestation it was suffering from. "Oh, er," she replied, slightly hesitant at the random question. "Truly, you are a great bard Garrick. You have songs and tales for every occasion."
The bard looked at her incredulously, but smiled when her face remained serious. "Thanks, it... uh, means a lot to hear that! When I write of you, I'll be sure to mention your kindness and good nature."
Maiyn smiled. She hadn't really lied - exaggerated perhaps, but not outright lied. Garrick's songs did seem to have a positive effect in battle, and at rest he had shared some of his more interesting tales and songs to an appreciative audience - well, Imoen at least.
"When we have finished here, I shall have a new tale to write," Garrick mused thoughtfully. "It will be an interesting piece to work on, I am sure."
The elf grinned at him. "Yes, I am sure it will," she remarked, looking from the young bard to her sleeping friend, and then returning her gaze to the bard.
"Er," coughed Garrick, suddenly turning red. "Well, yes." Maiyn heard Khalid chuckling softly as he worked on his swords, and she caught his eye while grinning mischievously. The whole party knew of Imoen and Garrick's blossoming relationship after Maiyn had quite pointedly asked how much rest they'd got after suffering from the necessity of sharing a bed in Beregost. Imoen had immediately turned scarlet, and kicked her friend as Montaron yelled, 'Oh, look ye! The young rogue's got hersel' a singin' knight!' He and Xzar had howled with laughter, despite Jaheira's disapproving stare at the juvenile display. Khalid had just chuckled softly with Maiyn.
"Tell me, m-minstrel," began Khalid, looking over to Garrick, "do you know any songs or t-tales other than the formal lays that y-you share with us?"
"Heh," sniggered Garrick. "As a practicing bard, I've learned a few score drinking songs. You have to know those to get by in taverns, but I'm not ready for the grand halls yet."
Khalid smirked. "No, I meant... folk songs, I g-guess you'd say."
"Folk songs? Hmm." Garrick paused to think. "One or two, maybe, from when I was a child, but they don't entertain the taproom crowd, and they certainly can't be called 'Art'."
"No?" Khalid looked surprised. "Odd, when you th-think of it. That common experience isn't the b-best soil for art to grow in..."
"What everyone already knows can't be art," said Garrick thoughtfully. "Art is too rare for that, and so is best served by extraordinary events; the better to explore the outermost limits of feeling and understanding..." His voice drifted off as he stared into space.
"I don't feel so b-bad, then, about not being artistic," stated Khalid, "if one has to speak a different language and almost be an outsider j-just to cope with it."
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Montaron and Imoen had been working on the trap for almost ten minutes when they signalled that it was safe. It was an elaborate snare, covering half the door as well as the floor next to it. Maiyn was surprised to find the door unlocked, and the group moved through quietly. The corridor didn't extend far ahead of them. The end was a smallish cavern, littered with the bones of some poor creatures. Probably kobolds, thought Maiyn.
A passage branched off to their right, and the elf cautiously crept up to it and peered around. Three kobolds were sitting with their backs to her, facing a large boulder at the far side of the tunnel. Maiyn saw that their attention was taken by crumpled figure lying on the ground. She turned her gaze to a small fissure in the wall; the space had been converted into someone or something's quarters, with rugs laid across the floor, and cushions scattered along the edges of the walls. Maiyn moved around the corner a bit more, and managed to make out a half-orc kneeling at the far side of the room, deep in prayer. The symbol hanging on the wall above him clearly showed him as a Priest of Cyric, and Maiyn wrinkled her nose.
She returned back to the others and filled them in on her findings. "I am going to go back and try for the kobolds," she said firmly. "If the half-orc becomes aware of what is happening, I shall call for you - or rather, you will likely hear for yourselves."
"Who is the other person behind the kobolds? A prisoner?" asked Imoen thoughtfully.
Maiyn shrugged. "Looks most likely, but we shall see." Without another word she returned to her position, and silently readied her bow. Before she could take a shot, the prone figure moved and raised his head. Maiyn retreated into the shadows, but his eyes followed her, and she saw the male elven face quite clearly. The expression was weak and tired, and Maiyn instantly knew it was no foe. She raised a finger to her lips, and moved forward again, readying her bow to take down the kobolds.
Her first two shots were perfect, felling them before they even reacted. The last kobold hadn't realised what was happening until it was too late, and it was mid-turn when Maiyn's arrow landed in its head.
Maiyn instinctively darted over to the figure, past the priest who was still deep in prayer. The male elf's robes were dishevelled; his skin filthy with the dirt of the mine, and his long dark hair was matted. She wondered how long he had been held captive here, and without a word she produced her new hunting knife and swiftly cut his bonds.
A sound from the priest's quarters made her push him rather roughly behind the large rock, so he was safely out of sight from the approaching priest. She mouthed an apology, then darted away while staying in the shadows, standing up and walking out to face the cleric from a different angle. The half-orc slowly brought his gaze up from the sight of his dead kobolds and regarded her.
"Tazok must have dispatched you, and my traitorous kobolds let you pass, didn't they?" His voice was tired, his eyes were cold and soulless. Maiyn hoped the others had heard his voice, for the man was wearing protective platemail, a sturdy looking helmet and a large shield. He was also armed with a mean looking mace. "I knew I could not trust them! Armed as such, you have obviously been sent to kill me. By Cyric, not a measure of ore leaves this mine unspoiled, and I am still to be executed?"
"No such person sent us," replied the elf calmly. Her hand was ready to snatch some arrows from her quiver at the first sign of danger, but she had no hope of penetrating the man's defences. She spoke on, her voice carrying nothing but a confident tone. "Your head however is in no less danger! Reveal your treachery, and mayhaps we will be merciful!" Her voice rose as she spoke, alerting her friends to her discovery, and her keen hearing heard them moving closer, much to her relief.
The male just stared at her, and a look of mild disbelief crossed his face. "Tazok did not send thee? Ha! Then thou art dead, most certainly! Help me, my minions - aid me!"
The cleric stretched his hand out, and pointed to the tunnel where her companions were waiting to strike. Maiyn couldn't see what had happened, but Montaron suddenly charged past the tunnel entrance with Khalid close behind. She heard Imoen shrieking "He's raised the dead Maiyn!" and she remembered room littered with skeletal remains.
A familiar yapping noise filled the air, and kobolds seemed to materialise from nowhere, blocking her way back to her friends. She ducked back behind the rock making sure to not step on the injured elf, and began to shoot down the kobolds, ducking the arrows that were shot back towards her. A quick look past the creatures revealed that Garrick had picked up a sword from somewhere, and was in the midst of the melee alongside Jaheira, swinging wildly at the Priest of Cyric, while Imoen concentrated on the kobolds nearest her. Xzar was throwing spells towards the undead, looking more focussed than Maiyn could ever remember him. Of course, she thought while readying another arrow, he's a necromancer; he'll feel alive amongst all this undead...
Suddenly she felt a wild surge of panic. She had grabbed the last of her arrows from her quiver, and was out of ammunition. The injured elf by her side had noticed this, and looked slightly concerned. She shared a beaming smile with him, and shrugged, before lightly jumping into the fray to loot a quiver from one of the fallen minions.
Somehow she managed to dodge the blows aimed at her from the kobolds, and she swiftly bent and grabbed a case from one of their fallen comrades. Turning around, she was faced with one particularly ferocious looking creature, and she didn't have time to reach for her sword as it lunged for her. Instead, she ducked to the side and swung her newly gained quiver hard at its head. It staggered slightly from the unexpected blow, and she instinctively followed it up with a vicious punch to its jaw. As it fell to the ground dazed, she wondered what had come over her, and she bounded back to the slight cover provided by the boulder.
"I got some more arrows!" she exclaimed in elvish to the prisoner, and she refilled her own quiver. Without any more words, she went back to shooting the yapping beasts, happily noting that Khalid and Montaron had arrived to help Garrick and Jaheira with the priest.
Garrick swiftly pulled back from the battle, dropping his sword and pulling out his lute. The last kobold fell, and Xzar began to concentrate on an incantation aimed at the priest. The priest was also in the middle of a spell, using his shield to deflect the rain of blows from the three fighters surrounding him. With a look of triumph, he finished his conjuration, and a yellow glow engulfed Montaron and Jaheira, rooting them to the ground.
Khalid somehow managed to avoid the effects, and redoubled his attack. The cleric avoided his blows, and managed to strike Jaheira with his mace painfully, tearing open a large gash on her shoulder. The spell he'd placed on her kept her rooted in place, and he drew back his mace for another swing.
It never came though, as Xzar's magic missiles streamed through the air, striking the man's helmet and causing him to loose his footing. Khalid lashed violently with his swords, knocking his foe's shield to the ground, and managing to deftly flick his mace from his grasp.
"I yield, I yield to thee!" the half-orc exclaimed, scrabbling around on the floor. Maiyn stood and moved closer to him; Khalid had restrained himself from any more strikes, but was poised and ready to land the final blow; the injury to his beloved wife had incensed him almost to the point of losing control.
"What information can you give us about why you are here?" asked Maiyn directly.
The priest turned to look at her, and smiled. His mouth was moving but he didn't speak.
"He's casting!" Maiyn yelled, but his hold spell wore off at that moment, and before Khalid could move the man lay on the ground dead, with Montaron's sword piercing the joint in his armour around his torso.
"That'll bloody teach 'im t'cast at me!" roared the small warrior, who seemed to take a personal insult in being prevented from maiming.
Jaheira dropped her pack, and busied herself with a healing preparation with Khalid's help while Maiyn looked on helplessly. Montaron was stripping the corpse of valuables, and had seemingly found several magical items. Xzar took them and identified them swiftly as a Ring of Holiness and what he called 'Boots of Grounding' - boots with a slight enchantment that made them more able to absorb electrical attacks. Jaheira accepted the gift of the ring when her healing spell was done, a warm yellow glow engulfing her as it settled upon her finger, and her husband was given the boots.
"Khalid, can you give me a hand?" Maiyn asked, leading him to the boulder. The elf prisoner was still conscious, but was only able to stand with fighter's help and support.
"At last," he said faintly, "I am free of my prison. Five and eighty days are for too long for one of the fair folk to live as a dwarf, though you look no better yourself. I am Xan, by the way."
Maiyn grinned at the morose expression on the elf. "I am Maiyn. How did you come to be trapped in such an inhospitable place?"
Xan seemed to flinch at her name, and his eyes regarded her almost with fear for a split second.
"What is wrong?" she asked, puzzled by his reaction.
The elf merely shook his head, and sighed. "Alas, I was sent to investigate the strange goings-on in this area, and I landed caged for seemingly hopeless weeks on end. I have not seen the sun for almost as long as I have not seen my home."
"Then we shall fix that as soon as we can," said Maiyn brightly.
Imoen had found and opened a chest in the priest's room, and Xzar came rushing over to relieve her of the spell scrolls she found, stashing them neatly in his pack for perusal later. Imoen passed several potions of healing to Jaheira and Khalid to replenish their supplies. Two shortsword were also found, one of them was claimed by Xan, and he immediately seemed to regain strength when it was handed to him. Xzar identified the other as having a minor enchantment upon it, and Imoen put it in her pack for safekeeping. Most interesting, to Maiyn, were the parchments she found at the bottom of the chest. A quick glance showed that one was more recent that the other, so she opened the older first, and read it.
My servant Mulahey,
I have sent you the kobolds and mineral poison you require. Your task is to poison any iron ore that leaves this mine. Do not reveal your presence to the miners or you will find yourself swamped by soldiers from the local Amnish Garrison. My superiors have recently hired the services of the Black Talon Mercenaries and the Chill. With these soldiers at my disposal I should be able to destroy any caravans entering the region from the south and east.
I do not wish to deal with iron coming from the Nashkel Mine, so do not fail your duty.
Tazok
She passed the parchment to the others, and opened the next letter.
My servant Mulahey,
Your progress in disrupting the flow of iron ore does not go as well as it should. How stupid can you be to let your kobolds murder the miners? With your presence revealed you should be wary of enemies sent to stop your operation. Your task is a very simple one; if you continue to show that you cannot do the job, you will be replaced.
I will not send the kobolds you have requested as I need all the troops I possess to stop the flow of iron into this region; I have enclosed more mineral poison, however. If you have any problems, send a message to my new contact in Beregost. His name is Tranzig, and he shall be arriving at Feldepost's Inn in the next week.
Tazok
The ranger frowned as she handed the parchment to Jaheira. Imoen had discovered some vials and bottles of the poison they'd been using on the ore, and Maiyn carefully put them into her pack to show the mayor when they returned to Nashkel. The iron crisis was turning out to be a well orchestrated plot by someone or some group, and Maiyn's party had only just scraped the tip of the iceberg it seemed.
"We need to report back to the mayor of Nashkel," she said, "and then I need to visit this Tranzig person."
