Disclaimers: I think we all know who belongs to whom and the story is mine. Please keep reading and the reviews coming!
Chapter 2: The Best of the Best
Wolf slowly made his way down the stairs to the first story of the Inn; where the common rooms were placed. He could hear the music of Bards trying to keep those who fled the hit & run battles on the streets and those who gathered to help in the city's time of need. He stopped and saw a group of four near the bottom of the stairs. They were talking amongst themselves before one turned to see him and waved the others to quiet down.
The woman was dressed in a blue robes that covered a suit of heavy armor; her black curly hair and pointed ears gave away she was a Moon Elf. The group came up to him and the woman bowed as she spoke; "Blessed be, but would you happen to be Wolf Goldyes, The Windseeker Druid?" Wolf nodded as he said, "Yes that is me; though I was hoping to get some peace and quiet for a little bit before everyone got here." The man next to her, a halfling with red hair and a calimshite-accent spoke up next. "Well I believe I told you Linu he was here. Saw him come in myself last night."
He said with a grin.Linu looked to the halfling and commented; "What had you down here so late Tomi?" Tomi just smirked and patted his coin purse. Another voice, a deep male one; came from behind. Wolf looked to the eyes of a redheaded half-orc who was obviously from the North; probably an Uthgardt. "I for one was not expecting to be kept waiting for others to show up. A city burns to the ground and Durnam seems to be waiting for more than him to arrive from what I heard."
The druid decided to speak up to the proud warrior; "I am here to do what is to be done and would of come whether gold was being offered or not. Patience is a good thing in a situation like this." The half-orc relaxed considerably and replied, "I am glad to hear it. I do apologize for how I addressed you earlier. My name is Daelen." Wolf just smiled and said, "No harm done though I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that weapon of yours." The Druid pointed to the double-axe and the warrior just laughed at the jest.
That is when Tomi commented to Daelen; "I don't know about you, but I came for the gold." He took out a kukri and just tossed the heavy, curved dagger into the air and caught it by the hilt before it hit the ground. Wolf looked to the halfling as Storm Fang came down the stairs; Durnam's daughter having washed the Dire Wolf's muzzle of blood.
Another voice spoke up, "I do kind of agree with Tomi. Getting gold for this little jaunt would be a good thing." Wolf and the others turned to the source, a woman bard who had just gotten off the stage. "Well, that is quite strange of you Sharwyn. I would expect a Bard to have more of a need for epic." Sharwyn shrugged and replied to the elf; "Epic doesn't put food in your mouth."
Daelan had to nod in agreement, "She does have a point Linu. Remember how hard we all had to work in Neverwinter?" Wolf's ears perked up as it was now his turn to ask the questions. He than spoke and asked Linu, "You four came from Neverwinter? Did you know the one who helped save the city?" Linu turned and nodded with sad eyes. "Yes we came from there and knew her. We kind of had no reason to stay once our friend left."
"And I would rather not rehash that." Said a fifth voice as everyone turned to one of the doors in the Common Room. The four around Wolf nearly fell over in shock as Wolf looked to see a rather beautiful, if dangerous looking Wood Elf. She had a bow slung over her shoulder and wore the cloak that marked her as a current member or a former member of the Cloaktower, Neverwinter's mage guild.
Linu rushed to the newcomer to embrace her in a hug; promptly tripped and landed at her feet. She looked up as the stranger reached out a hand and hauled Linu from the ground. "You really should just walk dearheart." Linu smiled as she replied, "It is a pleasure to see you again." At this time, the others joined them with Wolf holding out his hand for a handshake. "I am Wolf Goldeyes, Druid-Protector of Hilltop."
The Wood Elf nodded and took the hand and gave a firm shake. "Nalia Kelenfeltyie, Lead Arcane Archer to the defenders of Suldanessellar." The druid nodded as he relied; "Pleasure to meet you in person Nalia." Nalia replied back; "It is the same for me Wolf. Take it you came for the same reasons I did?" Wolf laughed and said, "You mean to teach the Drow the surface is a dangerous place to play?" Nalia laughed and then grinned evily. "I am the only survivor or my family from the attack on my home city some years ago. I do intend to get some payback here for losing my mother, father, and brother to those dark-skinned Lloth-spawn."
"Hatred though doesn't help anybody; even you young elf." The gathered group turned to see a man dressed in red full plate with a sword as big as him strapped perpendicular to his back. He towered over the elven woman next to him. She though also captured the room with both her beauty and the aura of power she exuded. Linu than looked to them incredulously and replied; "But they betrayed their own race and have killed many in the name of that spider-whore."
Nalia looked to Linu and said; "I wouldn't be speaking that way to the Wielder of the Carsomyr, Robin Pendragon; Chief Inquisitor of the Order of the Most Radiant Heart." She looked to others to see if the name caught, only seeing recognition on Sharwyn's face. "My home has him and his friends to thank for driving the Drow back down and saving the Tree of Life from Irenicus. He and his wife, Aerie; are welcome elf-friends to Queen Ellesime's court." Linu turned and then shook her head in understanding, her eyes wide at the error she made.
Nalia just laughed and said; "No harm done as they are quite used to people not sharing their ideas." She turned and bowed. "Lord and Lady Pendragon, it is an honor to see you again. I do apologize for my friend's rudeness." Aerie smiled and nodded her head and replied politely, "It is not to worry." Linu breathed a sigh of relief.
There was a shout of alarm from the dining room and commotion as someone screamed, "DROW!" The group in the common room ran through the door and stopped as several adventurers had their weapons drawn or powerful spells at the ready at the group of three dark elves, another Moon Elf, and one human in a circle. The man and two of the Drow were dual wielding. The human and the green cloaked Drow shooting looks that could kill at each other while the other; flamboyantly dressed, just had an amused look on his face. The third Drow; a lady, had hands ready to move in arcane gestures.
Robin stepped forward as he put two fingers to his mouth and blew a sharp whistle that had even those without elven hearing covering their ears. He approached the green cloaked one and held out a hand. "Good to see you again Drizzt." Drizzt smiled at the friendly face as half the room relaxed slightly upon hearing the Paladind address the Ranger. "It is a good pleasure to see a person of reason such as you Robin amongst this insanity." He looked to the man and they continued to trade glares.
The man looked to the outlandishly dressed Dark Elf and said confusedly, "I thought I actually beat him?" The Dark elf just laughed and said, "You did Artemis, I just brought him back from the brink of death." The drow then took off his broad-rimmed hat and bowed low; introducing who he was and his friend in perfect common, "I am Jarlaxle. My friend is…"
Tomi broke in and completed, "His friend is Artemis Enteri; the King of Assasins onetime in Calimshan. Did the city hire you to kill Drow?" Artemis glared at the halfling and then attention turned to the pair of elven women that had arrived with the crowd. The Moon Elf nodded and introduced herself to the crowd. "I am Innovidil from the Moonwoods. I am one of the defenders of the forest." Attention than turned to the Drow female in the white dress with the deep purple cloak and boots.
Nalia had an arrow ready and notched in her bow when a gruff voice spoke up. "I wouldn't go messing with that particular dark elf. Anyone who can cause the havoc she has and crawl through Undermountain without knowing about it has my respect." The dark elf girl whirled and smiled at Durnam before speaking in Common; "It is a pleasure to see you again though last time I was crawling out from a spider-infested hole in the ground. I really don't know what my family sees in them to be honest." She then curtsied to the others and said, "I am Liriel Baerne; daughter of the Archmage Gromph Baerne."
Drizzt visibly tensed and Liriel smiled at him and batted her eyelashes. "Believe me handsome; most of my family; including my Aunt Triel; may want you dead. I would rather drag you in chains to my bedroom for some fun…and not the painful kind either." If Drizzt could of blushed; he would of as the the young Baerne laughed.
Nalia shook her head as Durnam spoke up. "It is good to see so many here ready and willing to fight. I believe some background on what is going on here in the City of Splendors is in order before we plan out actions." He pulled up a chair and bid everyone to get comfortable; which they did.
He then began to speak; "The attack started three tendays ago and at the time we had no idea what was going on as they struck in several of the city wards at once. The survivors spoke of creatures only known to live in the Underdark. It wasn't until several days later we learned who led them and where they were attacking from."
Durnam took a drink of some tea that was sitting on a table nearby and put it down. "The attacks are coming up through Undermountain, lair of the mad mage Halaster." The room launched into hushed whispers at this for several moments before Aerie stated, "I thought the mad Archmage had little love of the Drow himself?" Durnam nodded and said, "So did even Khelben. But maybe this is one of his mad schemes. The Lords of Waterdeep, the Blackstaff Tower, and I decided sending armed parties into the dungeon would be suicide so the next best option was to send out a call for heroes. I am quite glad at who responded as your reputations preceed you for the most part." He looked to the gathered group.
"What we want to know is what that Mad Mage is up too and stop it!" Wolf patted his animal companion on the head as he asked, "How do we know he is even alive." Durnam smiled and decided to address something else at that moment before answering Wolf's query. "I didn't get to ask how you slept in all the commotion down here earlier?" Wolf laughed and put his hand out while another was on his hip. "The drink was stale, the bed hard as a rock, and I don't remember requesting the Drow to come and steal my stuff." Tomi then piped up, "You got your stuff stolen? If I had known it would be so easy, I would have done it myself."
Durnam shot a glare to Tomi that had the Halfling back into his chair. "It wasn't a joke Tomi. It was more than likely the prelude to an assasin coming to kill him. Wolf was lucky he woke up when he did." That is when Robin spoke up, "We got attacked on the way to here in the city." Drizzt nodded and replied, "So did we." Liriel looked to them and asked, "You as well?" Artemis added, "Same here." Nalia shook her head, "She didn't have time to draw a weapon before I got an arrow between her eyes." Jarlaxle whistled and commented, "Nice shot." Nalia curtsied with a grin.
Durnam nodded and continued, "As to your question Wolf. Time doesn't mean the samething to an Archmage. Halaster and his dungeon home have been here since before Waterdeep itself. The inn itself rests on the site of his former tower with a magical well that goes the thousands of feet through the layers of Undermountain that lay below the city."
Nalia than raised her hand and said, "What are you suggesting we do now? Durnam smiled and said, "Glad you asked. First thing is that you prepare for your forays into Undermountain. I think it might be good if I talk…" He stopped as he heard some commotion coming from the well room. He turned and then yelled out, "No!" Before the door exploded from a fireball and another careened from it into a group of adventurers, killing them in the blast. A group of Druegar and Drow soldiers charged up with a female and two mages behind them.
The obvious commander of this raid spoke in Drow, "Dosst el'inssrigg, dosst che'el, dosst dazzan orn p'los l' yorn d'lil Ilythiiri." Liriel looked up and translated for the group as the room filled with darkness. "She said, and I quote 'Your inn, your city, your race will before the power of the Drow.' End quote." She stood up as her eyes switched sight. She felt something fly by her ear and the Drow commander yell in a muffled scream of pain. The darkness was soon dispelled to see the Drow commander had an arrow in her mouth and out the back of her skull.
Liriel looked to see Nalia notching another arrow and firing point-blank into a Druegar armor. She quickly turned and brandished her throwing spiders, sending them flying. One caught a Drow in the face and the magical item began to eat through his flesh and bone before getting to his brain. It was than he dropped dead. She had no time for his fellow soldier as she brandished her two short swords and set up a defense. That was when the groun before her erupted with green vines that wrapped the hapless warrior and stopped him dead. Liriel turned to see the mages had defenses raised.
It was time for her to go to work and halt the mages as the others swept through. She felt someone walk up behind her as Aerie said. "Let's take them!" Liriel nodded and the two mages worked fast. The Drow wizards turned to face them and tried to beat them to casting their spells. They lost as their defenses were stripped by Aerie and then they found themselves being cooked alive in a wall of fire.
The battle though was over before it began as Drow and Druegar laid dead, a group of them cut in two across the waist or down around Robin. Several more with knives in their faces or eyes, as Jarlaxle looked for more targets. Some though had no visible wounds while Artemis; even with cuts in his armor, was standing there with not a cut on him. The stripping would reveal thin dagger wounds where the armor seams were.
Drizzt called out to the group, "Too the Well room!" The survivors nodded as they ran down the stairs to see another large raiding party trying to secure the well room. Nalia forced her way back and notched another arrow. "Not on my watch!" She let the arrow fly and it flashed with light; becoming a rain of arrows that hit the Drow with overwhelming force. Several dropped dead or soon would be from their wounds.
Jarlaxle said, "Damn good aim." He looked to Nalia and smiled. "I might have to get lessons from you sometime." Nalia just shot him a look and replied, "When Orcs fly." Durnam came past and went down the stairs to the well; pulling a lever. The rest gathered around them except for Nalia, her warrior instincts telling her to stay back.
"There, that should hold them back down there for awhile." He said while turning to address the group. "I think it might be a good idea to definitely get some supplies for you people." He said as Sharwyn cried out in alarm. "LOOK OUT!" He turned to see an Eye Tyrant ready to unleash a barrage of magic before two arrows took out a pair of eyestalks. Another one logded in it's thick carapace, between joints. It screamed in rage and floated back down. Nalia was breathing fast as she came down the stairs. "What in the Hells was that thing?"
Durnam was about to respond but Jarlaxle beat him too it, "You call it an Eye Tyrant or Beholder. We call it a B'ahlach. Can unleash more spells than a group of Drow mages with even faster results. You must be real good to have beaten its speed." Nalia just shook her head and replied, "Filling a Red Dragon with arrows can kind of improve the speed you notch, aim, and fire them." Jarlaxle nodded with a grin as Artemis said. "Who is up for some shopping?" There was no argument cause if the Drow had Beholders down in Undermountain; who knows what else laid in wait.
------------------------------
Author's Note: Well, I got it up faster than I thought. READ AND REVIEW! Those who are taking the time to read it, I don't put this up for my benefit but for yours. I would especially like feedback from those of you familiar with the Forgotten Realms. Till next time fans!