As reluctant as some of them were to continue, the Archer was up and walking around with a pair of Xzar's trousers (which were a little short in the leg, but they were making due with what they had) within a few minutes. Bare foot and with his brothers sword bare and braced by the blunt side against his shoulder, Damiondred made his way carefully through the halls as the rest of the party followed. It wasn't long before the smell of burning flesh drew them to the smouldering corpse in the hallway, Edwin leaning over it and poking it with the staff a few times. He looked up as they approached, and raised his hand.
"He made to strike first. I know you are disinclined to allow those who fought with you to fight each other, but you charged me-"
"Is that Yoshimo? Don't worry. In fact, I should be thanking you. Viconia, use the rod on him, please." The archer leaned against the wall, raking a hand back through his hair as the drow stepped in and tapped the smouldering corpse with the item in question, stepping back as flesh regrew across charred bones before Yoshimo sucked in a breath. "Thank you. Yoshimo. Fancy meeting you here. Are you going with the 'I'm a prisoner the same as you' bit again?"
"Nnn... Yes, I am. You do not understand, I-" He winced, clutching his chest before scrambling to his feet. "I have to kill you, I am... I am sorry, I-"
The archer cut him off with a casual swing of the two handed sword, cleaving partially through the body and watching him gurgle and wheeze into stillness before using a foot to kick the dead kara-turan off the blade. As the bhaalspawn nodded to Viconia, she leaned forward to tap the rod against Yoshimo once more. She stepped back as the wound sealed.
"How many charges are left?"
"Seven."
"Six more than I'm going to need. Don't worry, Yoshimo I'm only going to kill you one more time, at the worst. Where are Jaheira and the others, and why do you work for Irenicus?"
"Athkatla! They are in Athkatla-"
"Hey, Viconia, do you think he remembers dying after being brought back? You mentioned a long time ago that this is something your people do, right?" Damiondred leaned against the sword, contemplating the human on the ground as the cleric of Shar nodded.
"They do, Abbil. It is more effective if you kill them slower."
"Thank's. I'm relatively new to this and I think I'm only able to because I don't really feel much of anything at the moment. Might take a few more tries before I get it down. Are you -sure- they're in Athkatla? You're not lying to me?" The archer studied Yoshimo as the human backed against the wall, clutching his chest with one hand and holding the other out as if it could keep him from being killed again, eyes wide.
"No! I am not lying! I don't... I don't have a choice when it comes to working for Irenicus, but you and your sister were the only targets! Mostly you! Your friends are in Athkatla and safe!"
"Hmm. Well, I believe you, but if you don't have a choice that means either you're being compelled or he's got something over you. Anyone have any ideas? I've got a splitting headache and I've half a mind just to kill him a final time."
"It could be a geas, or a quest spell." Edwin smoothed his fingers along the little bit of a groomed goatee he had, looking thoughtful. "(Or it could be family members, but he is clutching his chest...)"
"Right. I'm assuming a restoration of some kind?" Damiondred turned to Viconia, who pursed her lips and shook her head.
"I only recently gained the ability to call back spirits from the brink. I do not have that kind of restoration yet."
"It theoretically could be removed as a curse, but only if the caster were far more powerful than the caster of the geas." The Necromancer settled into a crouch, chewing on his own thumbnail in thought. "None of us singularly are stronger than Irenicus. But together...? 'Tis four of us of the arcane bent and one of the divine, yes? Damiondred, Edwin, Haer'Dalis, this one and Viconia. Varying levels of power but, with unified intent..."
"You would need power equivalent to that of a wish! (Even I do not have that power!)" Edwin raised his hands in protest, only to quiet as the archer leaned over Yoshimo and hummed thoughtfully.
"The question is why should I make it worth my while to even try to remove it in the first place." The bhaalspawn sighed, studying the panicking kara-turan.
"This also raises a question, Necromancer. Your god is dead. How did you come to cast the spell of sanctuary?" Viconia narrowed her eyes as Xzar stood and clasped his hands behind his back.
"It was his idea, to even try. Before he was taken, we... Practiced. Experimented. I am granted minor healing abilities and other such small uses of his blessings, and in return my belief assists in empowering him. He is to become a god."
Wilson grumbled and growled, head tilting to the side as he sat down in the hallway next to where Hexxat and Haer'Dalis were trying very hard to look like they weren't eavesdropping as they idly braided the catatonic Imoen's hair.
"It -is- possible." Green eyes settled on the bear, before fliting back to the drow and settling upon red ones. "He is a direct descendant. Divinity flows through his veins. Soulless, he stands before you, a weaver of fate. With the proper grooming he need only meet the correct conditions such as attaining a portfolio-"
"How badly do you want to live, Yoshimo? I won't force you to do anything. I'm not going to become your new master, I'm very big on people choosing their own paths after all. It's as Xzar says, though, and while my progenitor was the god of murder I'm looking to specialize in revenge." The archer shifted to lean casually against the wall as he peered down at the bounty hunter, head tilting slightly. "And I think you would very much like to take revenge on Irenicus too, wouldn't you. I believe you, you know, when you say that you don't want to work for him."
"You are -crazy-!" Yoshimo shook his head slowly, sagging slightly before pressing the palms of his hands against his eyes. "Of -course- I want to live! But to do this, I must kill you-"
"And then what? And then he uses you for whatever is next, until there's nothing left of you." Pushing off the wall, he looked at Viconia as he hefted the sword. "We're running out of time, and Irenicus is getting away. How long can someone stay dead before a resurrection won't work on them any more?"
"Ten years, Abbil."
"Oh, well that's fortunate. Plenty of time then. Goodnight, Yoshimo."
"No, wait-!"
It was more difficult than expected to fit the corpse into the bag, but Hexxat volunteered the use of the one with her coffin in it and showed him how to adjust the neck somewhat to the full two foot by two foot opening. It was how they got the coffin in the first place, which he supposed was why it was the better choice. They were careful to sew him into a shroud before stuffing him in, and hefted the sack a few times before looking at the others.
"Wilson, I think I know why Jaheira send you with us. I'm thankful for that, too, but I have to send you back to her, and you know it. No, don't look at me like that. Use your nose and sniff out where Irenicus went, and then take this to Sine at the docks." He offered out the wardstone after digging it out of the bag, and the bear grumbled before sniffing around and ambling off.
They came across the captain, Saemon, but it was short lived as the archer strode up to him, patted him on the shoulder as he talked about the options of sailing on his ship or traveling through the portal to the Underdark and then blanched as the archer abruptly ran him through with his brothers sword. They found a curious silver blade in his possession, and stuck it in the bag of holding.
"Xzar, write up a letter for Sine. Let her know about how she just inherited a ship and that I need Wilson to go back to Jaheira and let her know what happened. It's a far better idea than I originally had for Wilson. In the meantime, Viconia, I want you to go back with Wilson. I'm sure you understand why."
"Abbil-"
"No, Vic. You've mentioned more than a few times about how difficult it was to escape. I'm not dragging you back into that hell. Go back with Wilson. Live out a good life on the surface. Who knows, I might even survive this and find you again, but I refuse to gift wrap and hand you to the very world you escaped. I owe you too much to allow that to happen."
She blinked at him, surprised and slowly closed her mouth as the necromancer pressed a piece of parchment into her hand. "... At least take the shield with you-"
"None of us would use it."
"The rod then. And my potions."
The archer studied her for a moment, before nodding and holding his hand out to accept them from her and then look towards the door the captain had said the portal was behind.
"Goodbye, Viconia."
He turned and left abruptly, the rest of the group filing down the hallway after him to leave her alone save for the bear that gently nuzzled her hand for scritches.
The darkness was chased away by the flame that burst from the conjurer's palm, and he stared at the others as the portal closed behind him. "For the record, I would like to say that this is an idea on par with willingly entering a planar prison."
"We escaped. We weren't even there an hour." Damiondred glanced at Hexxat as she removed Dragomir's cloak and tucked it away, and she caught the nod that indicated she should start scouting with a wave and a nod of her own before disappearing into the darkness.
"There are two humans who cannot see in the dark, and two bhaalspawn who, when I last checked, also could not see in the dark. (It is as if I must spell everything out. Tch.)" Edwin narrowed his eyes, before pointing to the fire that wreathed his hand. "This? Dangerous. Underground often houses explosive fumes."
"Did you never learn magelight? Xzar, help him with that, please. Still, you have a good point. Light attracts things down here. I have the infravision spell. Lasts two hours, so those without the ability to see should have... Five prepared a day down here, minimum. I can manage four. Haer'Dalis?"
"Aye, my raven, our casting abilities seem similar in this regard, though I need not cast it for myself. I will supplement those who need it, but need we not cast it on your sister? Yon rose-breasted cockatoo need not see, as she must be led regardless?"
Damiondred nodded, before scrubbing a hand across his face with a sigh. "A good point. That limits Xzar and Edwin to a handful of alternate spells otherwise, but cuts down on the number we'll have to cast otherwise. I know Hexxat's going to be fine down here. Better than fine. Without having to wear the cloak all the time she's the strongest of us all."
"Leader-"
"Xzar, are you going to remind me that I just about died recently, that I'm barefoot and still wobbling from the aftereffects of the - what did you call it, the Slayer? - transformation, and recommend that we rest soon?"
Xzar clasped his hands behind his back and wiggled slightly where he stood, looking hesitant and cautious. "Ye-esss...?"
"Good. Once Hexxat gets back we need to camp to adjust our spells either way. She'll be back soon." He shifted to lean against the wall, rubbing at his temples once he had tucked the two handed sword beside him. "Did I make a mistake? Bhaal's balls, I'm exhausted. Viconia is the natural choice to keep with us down here, with her knowledge of the terrain, darkvision and clerical spells but I know she wouldn't have been happy."
"You remember caring for her." The necromancer gave Edwin a -look- that clearly said the conjurer was ill equipped to answer the question that had been asked. The Thavian closed his mouth and threw up his hands, turning to keep watch as best he could as Xzar stepped in to lean against the wall next to the bhaalspawn. "You did what you would have done if you could still feel fondness. Is that what you were thinking?"
"Yeah."
"Ahh, the matters of the heart... I do not envy you your inability to feel, my Raven. The dark-feathered night owl that flew with us was starting to warm up to you. You were right to keep her safe." Haer'Dalis flashed a smile as he leaned against the wall of the tunnel opposite the Bhaalspawn, leading Imoen to stand beside him.
"I took away her choice. That will bother me, when I can feel again." The archer frowned faintly. "A worry for when I actually can. Hexxat, what did you find?"
The vampire paused at the edge of the light before stepping closer. "I am impressed. I thought I was moving quietly."
"You were. I could feel you like an incoming point of death."
They settled down to camp in an alcove, with Hexxat volunteering to keep watch after she had left for and returned from the duergar traders with a handful of Topsider's Crutches and a much emptier bag of holding. She also came back with a few sets of clothes, which Xzar took to hemming and adjusting to try and make clothing that would fit someone who wasn't a dwarf. The archer accepted his ring and stretched out on the ground with his brothers sword tucked against his chest, and was out almost as soon as he closed his eyes.
"I thought I was done for."
Damiondred opened his eyes, taking in the sight of bookshelves and stairs. Candlekeep library, the second floor. Cracks lined the floor and walls. "It's good to see that you weren't. That wasn't actually Imoen, was it."
"It was a close call, and no. That was the shape your soul took, which is why she isn't here right now. I played along so that you wouldn't get angry and try and find the real her." His mirrored image sighed from where he sat on the steps, elbows on his knees and hands clasped. "I don't have much time, though. Over the last several hours it's gotten... Harder, to concentrate. To remember what I am. I think... I don't have much longer to remain a consciousness here. I almost can't keep this place together, but I have to. There are things you need to know. Come, sit with me."
The bhaalspawn nodded and moved to sit down next to his mirrored image.
"The Slayer... Me. My power. You can die, using it. You burn your candle at both ends, and in return you get enormous power. You can hit something five times in six seconds, carry a thousand pounds, and every attack that you make, nothing has the power to be immune to those. Nothing can stop death after all, only delay it a little bit. You, can probably last about half a minute, maybe a minute before you start to break apart from the simple nature of the change. It's a valuable gift, and one that you better appreciate." The mirrored image jabbed a finger at the bhaalspawn, who looked thoughtful and nodded.
"I don't remember much of it, but from what I've been told we knocked Irenicus around like a rag doll. If nothing else, I appreciate you for that."
"Yeah, that was great." They grinned at each other, before Damiondred paused.
"Wait... I have emotions here. I can feel things."
"Because of me. Jon Irenicus may have taken your soul, but there are things that remain after mind and reason are stripped away. Instinct, and I bring echoes of the raw emotions that are deeply tied to such a thing. Remember when I told you that you could only choose a few hearts to take with you? Those hearts, those few are the ones that you will instinctively refrain from attacking, because they're yours."
"Like Xzar. I have a hazy memory of looking down at him as he waved his hands."
"Yes, like Xzar. These few are permament, and can't be changed. It's like... Imprinting. There are hearts you seek out, too."
Damiondred nodded, eyes narrowing. "Like Irenicus."
"Like Irenicus, yes. That, however, is just tied to how badly you want to kill someone. Murderous Instinct. But you can control it, with practice and patience. You're a fast learner. I'd say another two times and you'll be awake from start to finish."
They sat in companionable silence for a few long moments as part of the plaster across one of the walls cracked and fell to the ground in showers of golden sparks that slowly disappated, a pale yellow light shining through the resulting space just as it did all the others.
"Hey, you've been with me from the start, haven't you. Right from when I was conceived? When did you, I don't know. Wake up. What's your earliest memory?"
His mirrored image glanced over, head tilting. "The first time you ever killed anything. You were six, and it was a pet fish."
"That's... Earlier than mine. Farthest back I can remember is sitting on Gorion's knee, staring up at him and mushing what I've been told was the cake from my tenth birthday into his hair." Damiondred leaned back and stretched his legs out, looking up at the ceiling. "What is this place, by the way?"
"The Room of your Soul. Everyone has one. It takes the shape of whatever it is that resonates with you on a personal level. I'd bet Imoen's life on whether you could navigate these halls blind and deaf without having to reach out and touch anything for reference." The mirrored image chuckled, and the bhaalspawn joined in before settling back onto his elbows. "It's a perceived space, not an actual one. It's like a dream, that way, and you can learn a lot about a person by the form theirs takes."
"We've been influencing each other for a very long time then, even before I was aware of it. What I'm curious about, is if you're the Instinct, or Bhaal's heritage, and Imoen was the shape my soul took... What am I?"
"The consciousness. The waking mind. The soul is normally a subconscious thing that just sort of... Exists, and ties everything together. Three types of dye in a cup of water. Stir them around, and you still have the basic components even if they're all blended together. Imoen's consciousness is still there somewhere, it's just the trauma that's forced her under."
"So... It's not that her soul is missing?"
"It could be the trauma from that, but not that actual fact. Irenicus split the two for both of you, I suspect it's because he didn't want your waking minds tagging along for the ride."
Part of the ceiling crumbled, disintegrating and dispersing like a cloud of golden fireflies before it hit the ground, and they settled into a companionable silence once more before Damiondred glanced over.
"Can I stay here, until...?"
"I don't know why you'd want to."
"What am I supposed to do, just let you die alone? You're mine, just the same as Xzar. That's a very important distinction to me."
The Slayer paused, before looking over in surprise.
Damiondred opened his eyes to the silence and stillness of the Underdark broken only by the quiet breathing of his party members and the subdued humming of Haer'Dalis as the tiefling kept watch. He looked over, catching the heat signature of the blade as he leaned against the wall and stretched idly before the bhaalspawn frowned and focused. He could see the silhouette of Haer'Dalis with sudden clarity, a silver-green ghostly outline that highlighted facial features and reddened along the arms until the tiefling's hands were a bright, cherry red. A glance at Xzar confirmed his suspicions, when the necromancer was suffused with a mix of dark greys and equally dark reds. He could tell who they were, the instinctive knowledge of who they were clear to him as their moral alignment, and a moment of rest let the world shift back into its normal infravision-induced hues.
Shaking his head slightly, he closed his eyes and waited for his turn to keep watch. The thought of glancing at his own hands occurred to him, but he pushed the thought out of his mind. There were other things to contemplate.
Fun fact, pretty much every chapter that I've written has been from what I remember of playing the game and googling some small bits of dialogue when they're parts that I remember really stood out to me. I started re-playing this game right before writing it and let it slide until about chapter three, where I steamrolled through most of what I had already written, took a break, posted a new chapter and then spent that night catching up. Case in point, Dami and co are already in the underdark in the story and I -just- got my party to Bhodi's gauntlet in the game last night, after having most of this chapter pre-written as of friday.
I didn't post this until today because I was trying to give myself time to catch up in game. With any luck, Imoen will be useful soon. I figure trauma piled on more trauma would make her retreat inwards considering she doesn't say much of anything when you find her in the cell and when the soul suck happens to the pc. It made it work better than her suddenly becoming chatty after the fact in the gauntlet. Of course, she could have been drugged but where's the drama in that? Also regarding Xzar and the mouse, I figure if he can put his senses into a mouse and see through it's lack of eyes, he can probably put more than that when you factor in his time spent experimenting with undead as a priestly type of Bhaal.
Also, Damiondred working with his bhaalspawn taint has so far been my favourite things to write in this story, brief and few as they've been. I like to think that because they've grown up together, it was just as subject to Gorion as Dami was, even if it was better at holding the old man at arms length.
Questions? Comments? Concerns?
Leave a message after the tone,
-KD