Chapter 7: The Virrcan Bard

When one travels with a Bhaal Spawn one must always be prepared for the worst. For Minsc this worst had happened. The most loyal companion of all was gone, stolen. Boo was missing. Poor Boo had been taken by a mean little boy and then sold to a pet store and if that wasn't bad enough he was sold to someone else!

They had tracked down the witch he was sold to, but she told them a bard had stolen the hamster when she was trying to teach him to swim. It was only after she made them play a question game that she told them. That and Anni started strangling her. It had taken three of them to pull her off. The witch had then told them what happened.

So here they were a few miles east from the town of Imnesvale, standing in front of a large barn, where strange sounds where coming from. As soon as they heard the noise Anni's eyes went wide and she started smiling like crazy, Jaheira on the other hand looked slightly sick.

"Please child tell me that isn't what I think it is."

Anni's behavior suddenly changed from a mature calm woman to... well Imoenish. "It is! A Virrcan bash. I haven't been to one for almost two years. Can we go in? Hell, I don't care I'm going to!"

"But what of Boo?" She stopped in mid-step and sighed.

"Well, the witch did say that the man who took him was tall, golden and mean looking right? And that we could find him here, right? That means it has to be the Virrcan leader, Simon, who happens to be a very good friend of mine."

"If I may ask my lady just what is that noise? And what is a Virrcan?" Anomen asked.

"Ah, the ultimate leech. Creatures from the lowest and most vile plane, Gaia." Haer'Dalis stated. "They feed off of emotions."

"Only the bad ones! Geez, you got room to talk with being a Tiefling. Ever sing at on?"

"No. Their taste in songs are beyond abhorrent." Coming from Haer'Dalis that was saying something.

Anni proposed that only some of them go in, stating that not all of them would fit in. In the end it was Edwin, Minsc and Anni who would be able to get in. Jaheira and Haer'Dalis refused to go any closer to the noise that seemed to keep getting louder.

Anni had insisted that Anomen stay outside, telling him he would never be able to survive something like it.

"I do not understand my lady, why them and not I?"

"Ano you look too goody two shoes. They'd eat you alive." He sighed and nodded.

She looked at the others. "Minsc should pass with his tattoo and Edwin with his piercings. Plus I always saw Thay wizards in these things." She thought for a moment. "Haer'Dalis, do you think they'll be fine? Any thing else they should do before going in?"

"Leave the armor and weapons, my sparrows. And I fear you will need less... covering my raven."

"I know. Get them ready while I change." She walked off.

"Less covering bard?" Anomen looked at him.

---
When she came back Anomen's and Edwin's eyes bulged out of their heads, Jaheira only shook her head, Haer'Dalis nodded in approval and Minsc start to ask Boo something then realized he still didn't have Boo.

Anni was dressed in black leather pants hung low on her hips, that looked like they had been poured on, her shirt was black and had holes of varying size all over. When she moved it gave them all more glimpses of her pale skin.

Ten minutes later, after much fighting, (mainly Anomen not liking what she was wearing) they were ready to go inside. She had tried to get Edwin out of his robes but he refused, she didn't ask Minsc to change with her luck he would run in naked just to get Boo back.

Edwin really hadn't hear a word she had said since she changed. He had only seen Anni in her robes (expect for the time she was injured) and she was a sight to behold. Her skin was the palest ivory, ethereal, that was the word to describe it. If he stared hard enough he could see scars, like white worms marring her skin.

"What are you staring at wizard?" Anni still wasn't nice towards him but at least she was talking to him now.

"I am amaze by what means you are willing to go to rescue a rat.

"Boo is hamster." Both Anni and Minsc said at the same time. "Anyhow, I would do the same for anyone of you." Anni continued. "Though I do not hold the believe that you would do the same."

She turned away before he could answer her.

---

After only five minutes of being inside Edwin had decided this must be what the nine hell were like. The "music" was overly loud, one could barely breath with the masses of people pressing against him and it was too hot. Currently they were standing off to the side. The only good thing about all this was that Anni's body was pressed tight against his own and she had her mouth right next to his ear so she could talk to him without yelling herself hoarse.

"So you see, the Virrcans there absorb all the negative emotions, the music is just a cover. Most people will leave feeling better than they have in a long time. They give a temporary peace to people. Can you feel it Edwin?"

Oh he could feel something alright. She was moving her body in time with the music (which sounded like screaming) and with the crowd pressed together her body kept brushing against him. When he thought about it (which was becoming harder, thinking that is) she did seem different, she looked happier and wasn't angry with him anymore.

"I miss coming to these but they can only come every so many months. Being happy is addictive, and if you stay around them too long you feel as if you can't live without them."

She pointed to the stage as a man climbed up. The lights dimmed and he stood out in a single shaft of light. "That's my Simon." He could see her smile in the darkness. Her Simon appeared to be the opposite of Edwin. Simon had golden hair, his skin a light bronze color and was an elf, while he had dark hair, pale and human.

Anni's Simon smiled as he stared out into the crowd. The people of Faerun always provided lots of food for his people, how he loved being here. As his eyes swept through the crowd he stopped on one girl. -Anni- He smiled even brighter.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it seems our Dark Goddess has returned. May I ask that you join me again, my dark muse?"

Anni turned away from Edwin and glared at him. As she moved away Edwin could hear her mumbling, "He would want me to sing again..."

She approached the stage and Simon lifted her up. Edwin watched as she whispered something into Simon's ear who nodded. She turned and started out at the crowd Edwin couldn't help feeling that she was staring right at him as she sang.

"This song goes out to daddy dearest Bhaal.


I am a product - of your conduct
The uncontrollable urges that made me
Have made us all - Are you proud? Do you even care?
You taught us all to lie - that's how we made it here
You should've buried the truth with your secrets
But you were far to impressed with your pretense
Now as far as I know, I don't know anything
'Cause you made damn sure I wasn't anything

Distractions, reactions
The only way to go is to go away
Discarded, retarded
Before I let you go, you have to let me

Clawed away from human clay
We are the broken shards, the art disarray
Before you condemn, you rape them, feed us meconium
Stunt our growth from our souls to our throats - cut!
You shouldn't wall us up with your apathy
But you did - now you're only growing enemies
This is the catalyst, the alpha, the first breed
'Cause you made damn sure - Now we're everything

Distractions, reactions
The only way to go is to go away
Discarded, retarded
Before I let you go, you have to let me

Much to my surprise, I will wake up
And follow the path of the ones I am made of
But this time... I won't give in
I will save you from my sins

Ensconced... in all that's wrong
I slam you shut... I can only take so much
How many times do I have to mistreat you?
Constantly biting my hand as I feed you
Maybe now you'll understand severity
I'll sum it up with the best amount of brevity

Welcome to the transformation
Welcome to annihilation
Welcome to the man that wanted
everything but couldn't have it!

Distractions, reactions The only way to go is to go away
Discarded, retarded
Before I let you go, you have to let me

Much to my surprise, I will wake up
And follow the path of the ones I am made of
But this time... I won't give in
I will save you from my sins "

Edwin could only stare when she finished. She had been moving almost violently to the music and her voice... He never thought such a voice could come from her. She had sounded like a demon. He briefly entertained the thought that the only thing she had gotten from her bhaal blood was her singing voice. It wasn't bad... just scary coming from her.

---

Three hours later...

"That was fun wasn't it?" Anni smiled. After Simon and Anni had sung together for a few hours they all had retired to a the inn in Imnesvale.

"Like old times, An. Now I believe you came seeking me for a reason? Looking for one hamster I believe?" As if on cue a fuzzy little head poked out of his pocket. Simone chuckled as he handed the hamster to the very happy Minsc, who immediately went off to reacquaint himself with the hamster. Simon then turned to Jaheira.

"Jaheira, I wanted to tell you who sorry I am about Khalid. I know how much you loved him and he was a very kind man."

"Thank you Simon. If you'll excuse me." Jaheira walked away going to her room for the night.

"I don't suppose she'll let me ease her grief will she?" He whispered in Anni's ear who only shook her head. "Ah now. You have been ever so lax in your introductions Anni. Since she is so rude, allow me to introduce myself, I am Simon Doruto, long time friend of our own Anni. Unfortunately I know Haer'Dalis, tell me has your poetic gift gotten any better or is it worse?"

"Knock it off Simon, I won't have you starting fights." Anni glared at her friend.

"Fine. Let's see, I'm guessing this is Anomen and Edwin." He smiled at both of them. "Not that I really care, but I have much catching up with Anni." He grabbed her hand and walked off with her. A muscle in Anomen's jaw twitch as he watched Simon put his arm around Anni as they walked up the stairs.

"Just what kind of friend is this Simon?" He asked himself. He turned as Edwin started to leave and called out to him. "Edwin there is a little matter I wish to discuss with you."

"What is it?" He snapped. The last thing he saw was Anomen's fist rushing at his face. Anomen smiled as the wizard when down, he had put all his strength in to that punch. He felt no remorse for his action, in fact he was going to take it a little farther.

---

Anomen laughed as he looked at the knocked out Edwin, who was now laying in that wonderful mixture of hay and mature that coated the bottom of the stable. Just to be safe he had taken Edwin's spell components and his spell book and dropped them in a barrel of water. Anomen felt this slightly made up for what was said about Lady Anni. He doubted the wizard would tell her what happened and when he did strike back at Anomen, Anni would get rid of him. Anomen smiled feeling quite pleased.

----

Scribe: Yes the Virrcans are all mine. Touch them and suffer!