Chapter 5

Marpenoth 23 1369, Year of the Gauntlet

It had taken the three companions an hour to find the entrance into the altar room. As they walked into the vast chamber filled with armored statues, they heard someone shouting a prayer to their god.

"Oh Godson of Bane, grant me the power to vanquish these intruders," Cladius said in a low, raspy voice.

When Bowie, Rouric, and Entreri drew their weapons, they saw the lich, donned in faded green robes that were torn and tattered along the edges. Around the lich's neck was a gold medallion that hung on a thin chain. Embedded in the center of the medallion was a small green gemstone.

"Greeting gentlemen and welcome to your doom," greeted Cladius as he turned to face the intruders. Strips of his dead skin dangled from his bones as the cleric raised his hand and whispered the command that released his spell. Several thin purple colored bolts shot from the lich's bony fingertips and flew wildly around the room.

Entreri raised his right hand. His magical gauntlet caught many of the purple bolts, which he threw at the walls. Bowie began singing an elvish song, his bardic music created an invisible shield that deflected the lich's bolts.

Rouric let out a gasp as three bolts hit his chest. He then let out a scream as his limbs began to freeze in place.

As his body fell into paralysis, the axe in his hands fell from his grasp.

Watching Rouric becoming paralyzed, Entreri and Bowie ran at the lich. The assassin was the first to reach the undead priest, as he brought Charon's Claw across the lich's shoulder, chipping off a handful of bone shards from the lich's skeletal body. He then stepped to the lich's left, and with a twist of his left hand, planted a well-placed strike in the center of the medallion.

Before Bowie couldmake his own attack, Cladius vanished, then reappeared near the wall opposite of where Entreri and the halfling were standibng.

The lich's left bony hand clutched his broken medallion. "You dare attack a priest, in the house sacred to Iyachtu Xvim?"

"Your god, whoever he may be, is nothing to me," Entreri spat as he moved towards the lich.

Seeing the assassin approaching, the lich released another spell, this one creating a large stone wall that rose in front of him. Entreri was about to step around the wall, when Bowie's musical voice grew louder.

Behind Entreri, the halfling had put away his sword and pulled out his harp, moving on to new song as he plucked the strings of his instrument. He sang about the fall of Myth Drannor, and though the assassin didn't know much about the elven city, other than what he had explored in the ruins, a part of him was moved by the ballad.

Several feet away, Rouric regained control of his body and rose to his feet. His eyes saw the several green eyed hounds standing in the doorway. Letting out a cry to Moradin, Oghama, and Tymora, he picked up his battle axe and charged the beasts.

Continuing to sing his song, Bowie focused the energy of his bardic power on the stone wall. Staring at the wall, he sang;

A wall made of stone, granted by the power of a god.

Like the city of Myth Drannor that stood proud and tall

Your desire to stand forever is arrogant and sad.

And so stone obsruction I command you to fall.

Artemis Entreri, who very few times in his life had been surprised, watched in astonishment as the stone wall, which had been raised by the priest's magic, fell over at the bard's command.

"Lord Xvim, why have you forsaken me?" cried Cladius Fraust just as the wall crushed his bones.

Bowie and Entreri stood there for a moment, wondering if Cladius was truly destroyed. "Maybe his soul left to the Hells from which it came," Entreri guessed, remembering how he had broken the priest's medallion.

Bowie nodded. "Some evil priests who become liches aren't very wise when they choose their phylacteries. Wizards will put the safety of their souls in precious gems, or boxes, and hide them hundreds of miles away. Priests will often choose their holy symbols to keep their souls in, because they believe their god will protect them."

Entreri gave Bowie a confused look. "But when one becomes a lich, aren't they sacrificing their mortality and humanity. In their own way, aren't they trying to become like the gods themselves?"

"You make a good point Artemis," the halfling answered," Maybe Cladius was trying to please his god, or rather his god's son. Wait a minute, where's Rouric."

"Standing on top of a pile of canine corpses," replied the dwarf, whose arms and face were decorated with bite and claw marks, as well as dents in his armor.

"Well there's just one last thing to do," Bowie commented as he looked around the altar room.

"And what would that be?" the dwarf asked as he walked over to Bowie and Entreri.

"I don't know about you gentlemen, but I'm going to burn this place to the ground."

The assassin looked at Bowie. "Wouldn't we be offending the god of this place if we set it on fire?"

"Since when did Artemis Entreri wondered what the gods cared about?" Before Entreri could give a response, he continued," Besides, it looks like Xvim abandoned this place when he abandoned his priest."

That night, the star filled sky was accompanied by thick smoke and a radiant orange glow that came from the burning of the Black Chapel. While much of the temple was made of stone and marble, the banners, paintings, and tapestries made of linen, canvas, and oil burned with ease.

"Do you think priests will come back and rebuild this place?" asked Rouric as he laid out his bedroll.

Bowie shrugged his shoulders. "Perhaps, but that isn't our concern. Now we must concentrate on accompanying Artemis to Calimport.

The assassin's cold eyes looked over at the bard. "You do not have to come with me. I can make the journey myself."

"Yes you can," Bowie argued," but it's better to travel with comrades. Especially those who are Harpers because we are so expendable. If Rouric and I perish on our journey, you can just find two new Harpers to accompany you."

Entreri's lips parted in a thin smile. Maybe traveling with Bowie will not be so bad; he thought as he lay back on the grass and closed his eyes.

Watching the assassin lay on the ground, Bowie reached into his pocket and felt the harp-shaped pin lying at the bottom. "I'll wait for another day to ask him," he whispered.

You can try, but even I can see that he won't accept your offer.

Bowie looked over his shoulders, seeing a transparent image of the man in green.

"Veradess, I was wondering when we would see you again," Bowie greeted in a quiet voice.

So you learned my name, and after waiting seven years, you have finally fulfilled your promise.

"Yes, sorry it took so long, But one thing bothers me," Bowie said," if you were killed by Cladius, how were you able to come to Shadowdale all those years ago."

Veradess smiled. I actually fought Cladius ten years ago. Years after my death, I had made a bargain with Eldath and Helm, who let my spirit travel to this plane for one day so that I could choose the one who would avenge my death. When I came to you wearing green, instead of my plate armor, I had planned on that person being Storm Silverhand, but instead you and Rouric took on the task. And with Cladius dead, not only am I avenged, but also Oster's animals who were cursed with their affliction, are now cured. Now I must take my leave. You and your friends have my thanks, and good luck with your journey.

Bowie nodded and watched as Veradess walked away. It was then he remembered about the shield back at Oster's Tower. "Oh well, maybe he went back for it," he said when he looked up at the sky.