Chapter 2: Escaping the Dungeon I

Link groaned and rose up shaking his head. It took awhile for his eyes to adjust to the darkness of his surroundings. He realized with a start that he was locked in a cage. With a gasp he tried to pry out, but strong though he was, he was unable to make the bars bend. It was then he heard a sinister chuckle and a figure stepped towards his cage from out of the darkness, "Heh heh, yes you are strong, it is good that I found you, oh Son of Bhaal." the voice was definitely male, but Link still was to groggy to quite make out the figure in the poor light; dimension travel does that some times. Link staggered towards the figure, or at least as far as he could in the small space the cage gave him, "I - I don't know who you are or wh- who Bhaal is but I am not his son, and I am not accustomed to being shut up in cages like this." He thought about his statement for a second, and then said, "Actually I get thrown in prison all the time now that I think of it, but usually I get to keep my gear and it's real easy to get out."

The man swore, "Silence!" Link fell silent and the man continued, "It is time for more... experiments." With those words the man uttered some incantations in a tongue Link didn't understand, and suddenly fire erupted from his finger tips, engulfing Link in flames. Link screamed - the pain was excruciating. Then the flames stopped and Link staggered as the pain passed. The man spoke in a matter-of-fact tone of voice, "The pain should be passing - you will survive."

Link glared at him. He could now make out the figure in the poor light, but still couldn't make out any facial features.

Another spell, this time of lighting, hit Link, knocking him to the floor and another excruciating feeling washed over him. When he staggered back to his feet the man spoke again. "Interesting, you have so much untapped power... so much... potential. If only you realized the magnitude of your power."

It was then a large figure entered the room. There was no way it was human, for it was far too big for that, but at the same time it was built like one. It spoke in a mechanical tone. "Master, there are more intruders in the complex."

The man cursed again, "They act too soon! We will have to deal with them before proceeding with our plan." The large creature left the way it came and the man turned back to Link, who glared at him. "We shall continue our... experiments when I return." With that he spoke again words that Link did not understand and disappeared. Link immediately went back to looking for a way to bust out of his prison, "Din sear it!" He cursed, "There's no way out." He was surprised when a masculine voice called out in answer to his curse, "Boo says do not worry, new one, I'm working on it!"

Link looked into the darkness and made out the shape of three other cages lined up side by side further away from him. He called back, "Hello? Is someone there?"

The voice replied again, "Aye four of us! Boo says he thinks we escape soon." Link frowned somewhat quizzically, "Boo?" he asked, and the man replied, "Ah yes, Boo is the very smartest hamster in the whole world."

Link smiled somewhat, "Ah you've gone insane. I'm not surprised. I know I will if I'm stuck in here much longer. I need to escape before that guy returns and get my hands on a sword."

The man grunted, suggesting to Link that he had been sitting down. "WHAT? YOU THINK ME CRAZY? MINSC SMASH YOU INTO GROUND!" There was a creaking of iron and a snapping sound. Link's mind raced - he had just angered a madman, one who by the sounds of things was very strong. There was a moment of silence before the man began laughing, "Ooh you a smart one! I see it now! You only said what you said to make Minsc mad enough to break the iron bars! Right?"

Link thought quick, "Er, right, yeah that's totally what I was doing... now come break me out!" Minsc, as Link had come to understand was the man's name, called back sadly, "I fear not, Minsc only could do it if he so very angry and now Minsc not angry."

Link laughed in frustration, "Minsc, how am I supposed to get out then?"

There was a moment of silence then. "Ah! Boo, you very smart! Boo says Minsc must find key! Then I can let you out."

Link rolled his eyes, "Or perhaps you could just 'try' to pry the bars apart enough so I could squeeze out."

Minsc thought about what Link said, "Hmm I guess maybe that work. I'll ask Boo."

Link smacked his forehead and rolled his eyes when a noise caught his attention: a quiet feminine groan coming from the direction of one of the other cages, "Minsc? What's going on?" It was young sounding, very young, almost like she was barely seventeen. Coincidentally, that was Link's age as well. Link felt hope surge through again. "Hello? Miss? Are you locked in as well?"

There was the sound of movement, "Yes! YES! Oh please sir, whoever you are, help us!" Link smiled bitterly to himself, "Would that I could, miss. Unfortunately, I am unable to, as I, as well, am locked in."

The girl groaned, "Dang it! Oh how I wish Abdel were here, he'd know what to do."

Link brightened up a little, "For what it's worth, Minsc broke free."

The girl exploded, "WHAT? MINSC WHAT IN THE NINE HELLS ARE YOU DOING? GET US OUT OF HERE!"

Minsc responded as if it had just registered to him what was going on, "Hmm? OH! Oh yeah! Hang on a minute, I will try to pry the bars loose *ernf*!" There was a creak but no crack and Link heard the girl squeal excitedly, suggesting she had been set loose.

"Are you free?" he asked,

"Yes. Yes! Minsc you did it! Let the man out!" Minsc hurried over to where Link stood waiting in his cell. Minsc pulled on the bars and they creaked and gave a little, then a little more and Link was able to squeeze out. That is when he got a good look at Minsc. He was big. Very big, almost as large as Ganondorf. Link could see well enough now to see he was bald and had tattooed half of his face purple. He was dressed in a pair of brown pants and a blue tunic. Link clasped hands with Minsc, "Name's Link, I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance."

Minsc nodded his acknowlegment. "Minsc," he held up a white and orange furred hamster, "and Boo."

The girl walked up to them, and even in the dim light Link immediately noticed an odd feature regarding her. Her hair was... pink. She wore a pair of black pants that matched and shirt, "Imoen." She said, extending her hand. Link took it and shook it heartily, "Link. Is there anyone else here? Perhaps in the other cage." Link heard Minsc shift uncomfortably behind him, and he turned to the large man.

"Dynaheir, my charge, the one I was chosen to protect, I - I failed her... that man... that cursed man killed her. I will avenge her death."

Link nodded gravely, "I know how you feel Minsc. There are those I wish I could've protected better as well. Let us join together and find just who is responsible for all this." Link looked around the room. There were two doors, one to the right of them the other slightly to the left straight ahead. "Let us go through the right door." He said, and the other two followed, unquestioning. He pushed open the door and they found themselves in a much smaller room than the one they had been imprisoned in before. There were swords and other weapons on racks, armor strewn about on the floor, and a door stood across on the oppisote side of the room. But standing in the center of the room was a large hulking... creature.

"What is that thing?" Link asked quietly so as not to disturb it.

"Clay golem," Imoen said, "They can be dangerous, so best not to disturb it."

Yet Link disagreed, "But we need swords. And armor too."

Imoen looked unconvinced, but didn't move to go back either, so Minsc, who had remained silent, took the initiative and walked into the room and began rummaging through the armor. The golem paid him no heed and continued standing with it's back to them, and this seemed to relax Imoen. Link followed Minsc, but instead of looking for armor checked out the swords. He still had his chain mail shirt - luckily the man hadn't taken that from him. He pulled out a decent sized sword, funny, it seemed so much like the one he had when he'd entered the dimension gate.

That's when it all hit him.

With a gasp, Link remembered all that had transpired. He was in Amn, or at least he was in Faerun, as he didn't know where the man could have taken him when he had been knocked out. Also, he remembered what Zelda had told him just before the gate had sucked him away. "Link, I'm sorry I didn't say this earlier, but I knew you wouldn't do it if you knew, there is a high probability you will be unable to return to Hyrule."

Link slid to the ground, despair nearly overcoming him. "Link!" Imoen cried, rushing to his side and kneeling beside him. "What's wrong?"

Link shook his head, "Nothing, I... it's nothing."

Imoen seemed unconvinced.

"Really, I'm fine." Link stood up; now was not the time for self pity. They had a task to complete. And that was finding out who had captured them, and then for Link finding his way to Amn. He strapped the sword to his back and picked up a shield. It wasn't too large, roughly the same size as his Hylian Shield though not as sturdy and heavier. Minsc had found some armor that fit him, splint mail he called it, and armed himself with a large two handed sword. Meanwhile, Imoen had found some studded leather armor and a short sword, as well as a bow and a few arrows. Link looked at his two companions, "Ready to go?" He asked. They both nodded and they moved on into the next room.

In the next room, they found themselves in a long hall that led upwards to another door. They made their way to it and found it to be locked. There was no lock to be found though, and Minsc and Link together were unable to force it. Cursing, they returned the way they had come. Taking the other door they came into another hallway. There were bodies of men in black hoods and cloaks laying dead on the ground. Link was stunned, but his companions seemed indifferent. "Poor fellows, likely the work of the cursed wretch who imprisoned us."

Imoen silenced him. "Wait I hear noises in the distance!"

Link stopped and strained his ears, trying to pick up the sounds as well. He did. He could hear screams and the clash of steel, though to him it seemed to be more above them, rather than in the distance. They continued walking until the hall turned sharply to the right. Link peered cautiously around the corner and gasped, "What in Din's name is that?" He swore. Ahead of them, the hall opened into a larger room in the center of which sat a large mechanical device. It buzzed with electric power, sparks flying from it every now and then.

"What?" Imoen questioned, gazing around the corner as well. She gasped slightly.

"Me thinks it not alive, so it won't hurt us, yes?" Minsc asked sounding slightly uncertain. Link shrugged. "I guess we'll find out. We have to go through there, right?" Neither of his companions disputed his point, and so they moved forward, albeit cautiously. Once inside the room the machine began shooting sparks like never before, and the three companions charged through to the other side of the room, each suffering a few minor shocks but otherwise unharmed. None of them noticed the pair of winged creatures that followed them. They checked themselves to make sure nothing important had been damaged and were about to move on when another electrical bolt flew towards them out of the blue, striking Minsc square in the chest and knocking him flat. He grunted in pain as he hit the ground. Link whirled around in time to dodge a bolt directed at him and see the pair of flying... bats? - hurtling the lighting at them.

"Mephits!" shouted Imoen. She readied her bow and notched an arrow. Link had already drawn his sword and charged the beasts. He raised his sword above his head swung it in a downward arc, striking one of the mephits on its right wing. Mephits wings are often very thick and are leathery, making for good protection against enemies like Link armed with swords, but the force of Link's blow was so great he sliced clean through the wing and cut into the Mephits midsection. The unlucky creature screamed in agony, its wing ruined and blood pumping from its wound as it fell to the ground. Link finished it off by driving his sword through its skull and into its brain. Imoen fired her arrow into the other Mephit, striking it the chest which caused the creature to squeal, but it remained in the air and started to fly towards her, readying its claws. Unable to ready another arrow in time, Imoen tossed her bow aside and drew her short sword, preparing for the oncoming foe. Thankfully, she didn't have to engage the creature. Minsc gave a mighty roar and rose up, his armor blackened from the bolt that had struck him and he leveled the hapless Mephit with a single blow of his powerful sword. The creature fell to the ground blood, pouring from its mouth as it shook in its death throes. Breathing heavily, Link turned back to his companions. "You guys okay?"

The others nodded. Link smiled and wiped some grime off his face. "Good. That wasn't too difficult. Though I've never encountered such creatures before."

Imoen grinned, "Really? You must not do much adventuring."

Link shook his head. "Trust me, I've done more than my fair share of adventuring in my time."

Unconvinced Imoen shrugged and turned around to view the room they had entered. It was fairly large. Red crystals covered the walls and a large clump of the crystal shot up from the middle, pointing out in many directions. Link walked into the chamber, his companions following, and was moving around the clump of crystal when a deep sound of laughter echoed through the room and a genie appeared.

"Link, welcome. You escaped later then I hoped. I am Aatqah."

Link drew his sword and pointed it towards the genie defensively. "What do you want?" The genie laughed again. "Do not be afraid, Link, I will not hurt you. I merely desire to ask you a question."

Link relaxed slightly, but didn't lower his sword. "Very well, then ask."

The genie smiled. "Here is my hypothetical question: You and your sibling are captured and locked in separate cells. You are unable to communicate. The wizard responsible appears and speaks. He explains his sadistic game: If you press your button and your sibling does not, you will die but your sibling goes free. If you do not but your sibling does they will die but you will go free. If you both push the button you will both die. And finally, if neither of you push the button you both will die. The mage tells you you have one turn of the hourglass to decide what to do, and he then leaves. Now, tell me Link, do you press the button?" Link nodded, "Of course." The genie raised his eyebrows, "Interesting, but now you must deal with the consequences of you're choice."

He cast a spell and a large beast appeared. The genie then laughed and disappeared. The creature which he had left behind was humanoid in build but grotesque and more of a greenish tan than the normal tone of most humans Link had seen, much like Ganondorf.

"Ogre!" Imoen cried, unslinging her bow and firing a quick shot at the beast. It struck the ogre in the left shoulder, causing the beast to scream in pain. It ripped the arrow out and glared at the three companions. Roaring a battle cry, the beast charged them. Imoen dived to one side, Link backflipped to another, while Minsc charged at the ogre head on. The ogre was armed with a massive morning star which it swung at Minsc, who miraculously managed to dodge and land a hit - a weak one - but a hit on the left calf of the ogre.

"Me smash you!" The ogre screeched, and swung its morning star down toward Minsc who brought his sword up to deflect the blow. Thanks to Imoen however, he didn't have to. The arrow pierced the ogre's chest. Howling in pain the ogre staggered back, its eyes fixing Imoen with a murderous glare. Moving toward her, not paying Minsc any heed, he raised his weapon ready to strike.

"HYAAAAAH!" Link came down from the crystal spire, sword drawn and slicing down at ogre. The beast had time for one scream before it fell, its head sliding off his shoulders and thudding to the ground, the rest of it following in short order. Link rolled upon hitting the ground, lessening the impact and stood up sheathing his sword in one fluid motion.

There was more laughter and the genie reappeared. "Well fought! It seems you've overcome the consequences of your choice, Link! I have advice for you. Seek out Rielev, and give him the assistance he desires and the object of your quest will become clear." With those words Aatqah laughed once more and disappeared. Link looked at his two companions.

"Well, I guess we should get moving." Minsc picked up the morning star, strapping it to his back. Link raised an eyebrow and Minsc shrugged. "Just in case."

Link nodded and turned and headed out of the room, Imoen and Minsc following.

They walked down a long passageway, not encountering any enemies and eventually came to three doors, one on the right, one on the left, and one that continued down the path they were already treading.

"Right?" Link asked, and not waiting for a reply pushed the door open. A screech sounded and a Mephit lunged at Link. He stumbled back while drawing his sword, knocking into Imoen who tripped and fell on her rear. Minsc however, was ready. Sword drawn, he sliced the Mephit down and while it took a good blow was still alive, but before it could retaliate Link plunged his sword into it, killing it immediately. He turned and offered a hand to Imoen, who took it and heaved her up. "Sorry." he said sheepishly. Imoen waved him off. "It's fine. You took care of the Mephit."

Minsc went ahead and entered the room, sword drawn just incase. Inside there was another golem, and it looked a lot like the clay golem from earlier but had more of a greenish tinge to it, suggesting that it was actually a sewege golem. Like the previous golem this one didn't bother them and just sat there. Satisfied that it wouldn't attack him, Link looked around at what the room had to offer. There were shelves, crates, and barrels, and in the middle of the room a table. Link inspected the table, finding a few weapons on it. The things that caught his eye were a finely crafted scimitar that he strapped on though not for his use, at least not unless he had to use it, and a sword. His sword. The sword he had brought through the gate with him.

"Ooh, Boo! Check out this shiny shield." He heard Minsc say behind him, Link turned to see Minsc examining what he expected: his Hylian Shield. "Minsc, could I have that?" He asked. Minsc looked at him for a second, then shrugged and handed it over. "Thank you, I brought this through the gate with me." There was a sound of glass shattering behind them, and they turned to see Imoen looking straight at Link, a broken bottle laying in pieces at her feet, explaining what had made the noise.

"Gate? What gate?" she asked sounding somewhat panicky.

"Er, a dimension gate." Link said, unsure. Imoen seemed to relax some but then a look of curiosity covered her face. "Dimension gate? You mean... you're from another world?"

Link sighed and nodded his head. "I guess I might as well tell you the truth... I don't see any sense in hiding it."

Minsc and Imoen exchanged curious glances.

"What? What's the problem?"

They ignored him. "You don't think...?" Began Minsc. Imoen shrugged. "I don't know, it's very possible."

Link frowned. "What's very possible, what's going on?"

Imoen held up a hand, "We will discuss this later, Link. For now, let's focus on getting out of here. There are many questions I desire to know the answer to as well."

Link privately pouted, but said nothing else. Imoen on the other hand held up some bottles filled with blue liquid, "But anyway, look what I found! Healing potions!"

Minsc cheered. "Happy day for all hamster-bearing rangers! The gods smile upon us today!"

Link smiled, "Oh good, those may be useful. How many did you find?" He asked. Imoen placed four on the table and looked back at the shelves. "All together there's eight. Here, you two take three. You're more likely to be in need of it than me."

Link nodded at the logic and placed them in his pouch. "Is that all there is?"

Imoen nodded, "Except for these scrolls; they have some spells on them, but I think I already know them."

Link raised an eyebrow, "You a magician?"

Imoen nodded and smiled slightly. "Yup! Sure am! Though I prefer the title mage or wizard, it sounds more adventurous that way."

Link nodded, impressed. "Well it seems we've got all there is to get here. Shall we move on? Butts are still in need of kicking!"

Imoen and Link glanced at Minsc, nodded and they moved out. Back out in the hall they went into the left door this time. Inside there were many different strange things, glass tanks filled with something that looked like water yet, something told Link that it wasn't. Inside them there were creatures, though it was difficult to tell what kind of creatures they had been. It seemed these were more subjects to the man's... experiments. There really wasn't anything else in the room besides a few Mephits which were quickly disposed of, and a few weapons, one of which was a composite long bow. Link slung it over his shoulder, smiling, "Well, shall we find out what is the final door?"

Minsc smiled and drew his sword, "Aye, Minsc and Boo will kick the butt of anything that stands in our way!" Chuckling slightly Link led them out into the hall and they opened the final door. The first thing Link noticed about the new hall they entered was that the floor was no longer just dirt, but brick. 'We're getting somewhere now." He thought. He was just about to tell his friends of the change when he was interrupted by a cry ahead. "Hello? HEY! CAN ANYONE HEAR ME? HELP!"

Imoen gasped, "That's Jahiera!"

Author's Note: *Woof!* That took a long time to write. I hope it's easier to read now. I worked hard on making it better than the last chapter so I hope my efforts were not in vain. I think we will probably spend another two chapters in this dungeon before moving on into the meat of the game.

Thanks for reading. PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW! I would really LOVE to hear from you guys. What you thought of it, suggestions, and complaints.

~ BeastModeMan97