Greetings all, things got a bit busy so my target of a chapter a week fell by the wayside.
NoNameBis -thanks for the review and the feedback. Sorry you hated the bit about Imoen in Chapter 1. I must confess that I laughed out loud at your face palming comment. I will try and minimize the face palming for readers moving forward. Thank you again.
From a story stand point I think Yoshimo is really interesting, so making the protagonist something other than a thief was essential to ensure Yoshimo's membership in the group made sense. Just my thinking on it.
Chapter 7: Sewers, swords and slavers
By late afternoon the party was back in the common room of the Coronet. Everyone was back in their armor and carrying all the equipment needed for combat. Since they were remaining in the city they left their traveling gear secured in their rooms. Lady Nalia was the last one to come downstairs. She walked up the others at the table toying with the string on the newly acquired bow. Her face was flushed and she was fighting to hold back a grin as she eyed the others.
"This short bow is wonderful! A quick divination spell made it all so clear to me." she gushed.
"It is enchanted so it fires arrows more quickly than a normal bow, and it is more accurate than a regular bow as well."
She looked down at the floor, shuffling from foot to foot as she mumbled, "May I keep it please?"
Laughing the others said she could keep it and then they all sat down to an early supper. Hendak had the kitchen prepare a feast of roast duck, eel soup and a baked pastry filled with cheese, greens and exotic spices. The group washed it all down with mugs of watered down ale.
Hendak had closed the Copper Coronet for the day to ensure that their plans to search for the slavers compound remained a secret. Jeral doubted that it would make a difference, for the slavers assuredly had ears everywhere, but Hendak was insistent that it would help.
Over supper the party had a lively discussion about their planned activities for the evening. Yoshimo sat quietly and ate sparingly until he could no longer stay silent.
"Jeral, forgive my boldness but attacking the slavers in their own lair is madness. You cannot place yourself in such danger. You are new to the city of coin but believe me when I say that the slavers are a force to be feared within this city."
"What's wrong Yoshimo, getting cautious in your old age? Besides I am in no more danger than anyone else."
"Of course not Jeral," Yoshimo shot back, "I am merely trying to be the voice of reason. We must reunite you with your sister and this feels like a distraction. A very dangerous distraction."
Yoshimo paused and continued in a much softer voice, "I apologize for my outburst Jeral I am just concerned for your safety."
"No problem Yoshimo, I am pretty concerned about my safety as well. I am also concerned for your safety and that of the others as well. This does not feel like a distraction, this feels like the right thing to do."
Jeral rose and shifted his shoulders as he adjusted to the weight of his new chainmail armor. Hendak had taken his measurements and sent a runner to purchase the mail shirt for him. While not enchanted in the least it was well made and would provide a fair manner of protection when combined with his quickness and magical protections. Hendak also spent some time with Jeral and a couple of leather workers working on the placement of his blades and adjusting his equipment accordingly.
The Blade of Roses was slung low on his left hip where he could quickly draw it across his body while his heavily enchanted short sword was strapped to his left thigh. The placement would allow for a straight draw with his left hand. Hendak had adjusted Jeral's equipment and practiced with him to unsheathe his weapons until he could draw both swords in mere seconds. Hendak beamed with pride as the old gladiator watched Jeral prepare for his assault on the slavers lair.
"I wish all of you the best. I would proudly fight by your side but I cannot, for my fellow gladiators and I must remain ready to protect the inn. I have already heard rumors that the slavers may attack this tavern to place us all back in chains. I cannot allow that to happen. I will not allow that to happen. We will die free men before we shall live again in chains."
Hendak wore a pair of short swords strapped on his legs and directed a score of armed men and women to guard the doors to the tavern.
"I look forward to sparring with you, I am sure you can teach me a few things Master Hendak."
Jeral shook hands with the grim looking man and turned to follow Yoshimo and the others as they headed towards the back hallway in the Coronet. Once there they entered the stairwell heading down into the sewers.
How I hate sewers, Jeral mused. I have been in sewers far too often for my liking. Sewers beneath Baldur's Gate, sewers escaping Irenicus, and now sewers under the slums. The books in Candlekeep all said that sewers are a technical marvel indicating an advanced civilization. The tomes also mentioned that they greatly reduced the incidence of plague although no one is sure what this is the case. I bet not one of those sages ever set as much as a foot in a sewer.
Trudging through knee deep waste water was not anyone's idea of fun. Recent rains added to the depth of the water in the sewers but they had not managed to improve the smell. Nalia had already thrown up twice and Jeral's stomach rumbled unsteadily as the stench assaulted his senses. Viconia had yet to run out of rather colorful curses in her native tongue as she gingerly stepped through the waste.
I guess that having dinner before entering a sewer was not the best idea. Have to remember that for next time, Jeral thought wryly.
The party came across small roving bands of kobolds and hobgoblins and killed some random slimes and other unpleasant creatures. Jeral was pleased to note that his new long sword felt perfect in his hand. The long sword felt like a natural extension of his arm and the blade was incredibly sharp, cutting through shield and bone alike without any hesitation.
As they progressed through the sewer Minsc collected a seemingly random collection of odds and ends. When asked about them the large ranger said that Boo had told him to bring the items along with him for they would prove useful. Jeral found that hard to believe. How could a withered hand, a ring off a skeletal hand, a kobold shaman's staff, and the blood of a carrion crawler serve any useful purpose? Carrion crawler blood did have use as a spell component and in making paralytic potions but Mince could not possibly know that.
After a visit to a side room full of sewage pipes that was home to a disembodied voice, Minsc had a new heavily enchanted sword to wield. He beamed with pride as he took test swings with the new sword. The blade was polished to a high sheen with gold and platinum accents that only added to its luster. The blade radiated power. Minsc sheathed Sarevok's two handed sword and lovingly cradled the new weapon in his massive arms.
"Minsc loves his new shiny sword. Many evil butts will receive sharp justice from Minsc and Boo!"
Jeral had to agree that Minsc was not well suited to wield Sarevok's dark war blade, so this new two handed sword seemed like a better fit for the large ranger and his unique personality. Nalia divined that the blade was heavily enchanted and did not detect any evil within the weapon. Minsc gleefully took massive practice swings with the blade as they continued through the tunnels.
The six companions soon found themselves at the base of a ladder heading upwards. Ten feet above the ladder ended in a heavy wooden trap door in the ceiling. This was clearly not an original entry to the sewers skilled stone masons has created an opening into the sewers and covered over the opening with the wooden trap door.
Yoshimo whispered as he silently scampered up the ladder. "This must be the slaver compound."
He pulled a small vial from his tools and spread a black fluid over the exposed hinges.
Lady Nalia, overcome with curiosity whispered, "Yoshimo, what are you doing?"
"I am doing many things young noble. I am checking the trap door and ladder for traps. I am also oiling the hinges so when we open this door we can do so silently. We are very fortunate that the trap door opens down; otherwise the hinges would be on the other side of the door. Squeaking hinges are the bane of anyone looking to make a stealthy entrance."
Yoshimo proceeded to slide a thin metal rod up around the edges of the door. With a barely audible snik Yoshimo retracted his tool from the door.
Smiling he intoned, "the door was barred but not locked, I slid the bar to the side, the door should open now silently and safely."
He then lightly hopped down to the floor, bowed slightly and motioned to Jeral, "after you fearless leader."
Smiling Jeral quietly climbed up the ladder, followed closely by Minsc. Jeral silently eased up the ladder, slid the trapdoor down, and peered into the room above. It was obviously a storeroom and was lit by half a dozen torches mounted in wall sconces at various points in the room. Large boxes were strewn haphazardly throughout the room. A half dozen armed men milled around in two groups at the far side of the room. Four were seated at a table playing cards while two others were reviewing a large ledger. Jeral crawled into the room and slid back into the shadows behind a waist high stack of crates. Minsc was next up the ladder, despite his bulk he was light on his feet and near silent even while clad in full plate armor. Minsc started to move towards Jeral while Anomen started to climb in the room.
"Let's go whack some eeeeeeeeevil!"
Jeral froze as a nasally high pitched voice rang out across the room. He could have sworn it came from near Minsc.
Can Boo speak? Jeral wondered.
Minsc looked confused, until a squeak from Boo roused him into action. Bellowing a Rashemite war cry Minsc charged across the room at the quartet of slavers with his newly found sword screaming out a string of nonsensical profanities in a high pitched wail. The card players quickly dropped their cards, grabbed their weapons and leapt to their feet to face the charging ranger.
Jeral drew his new long sword and his short sword and headed for the two men examining the ledger.
Two against one, not too bad for odds. I should be okay until the others come through the trap door.
The pair noticed his charge and the heavy ledger fell to the floor. One of the pair muttered something about useless payoffs to the city guards as he started throwing axes at Jeral while the second slaver nocked an arrow to his long bow. Jeral parried the first hurled axe with his long sword as he raced to close the gap with his opponents.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Minsc heavily engaged. The ranger bled from a couple of small wounds but smiled as he swung his new sword with powerful strikes, tearing into his opponents. One foe was already decapitated and a second man was down from a wicked slash to his side. Meanwhile the sword kept up a steady stream of bizarre and inappropriate comments.
Jeral felt a burning sensation as an arrow struck him a glancing blow in his ribs.
A minor injury, Jeral thought, as he continued to close.
He dodged a second hurled axe and was mere steps from the slavers when a third hurled axe hit him squarely in the chest. A wave of pain surged through his body as he expelled a lungful of air and blood as he staggered back from the massive blow. He looked down and saw the axe head deeply embedded in the center of his chest. His legs would not respond properly and he struggled to remain upright as his vision clouded.
I wonder if this is how Khalid felt in Nashkel when he died? Jeral staggered backwards as he looked to retreat from his opponents as he fought to retain control of his limbs.
With a snarl his opponents dropped their ranged weapons and drew long swords. Before they could approach Jeral they suddenly froze in place.
Jeral looked back and saw that Anomen and Viconia had each completed a spell. Smiling Jeral collapsed to the floor, trusting his companions to protect him. Anomen and Nalia joined Minsc in finishing off the ranger's opponents while Yoshimo casually slit the throats of the pair of helpless slavers. Viconia slowly walked over to Jeral. She looked down on him with a bemused grin on her face as he coughed up another mouthful of blood.
"I see that you have yet to learn how to adequately protect yourself. How you have survived this long is beyond me Jaluk. I wonder if I should have laid claim to a more powerful male. Yoshimo is right, you need to continue to practice to improve your close combat skills and you also need some better armor."
She placed a slime covered boot on his chest for leverage and yanked the axe out with one good pull. Tossing the bloody weapon aside she knelt down and cast healing spells until the gaping wound had closed. Jeral writhed in pain as he felt his lungs and ribs quickly knit back together. Jeral used his own minor healing abilities to close the arrow wound in his side as his ring slowly healed his remaining minor injuries. Painfully Jeral struggled to his feet and slowly surveyed the room and the carnage that surrounded him. All six slavers were down and Anomen was healing the few minor wounds that Minsc had received during the fight. Shaking his head in frustration Jeral slowly removed his ruined chain mail tunic and tossed it to the floor as Nalia picked up the ledger near Jeral's feet.
Yoshimo searched the corpses thoroughly and handed Jeral a key and a heavy coin purse.
"This key must open the slaver cells in the complex."
Jeral nodded and opened the coin purse. It was full of dozens of well cut diamonds, emeralds and rubies.
"Someone was very well paid."
"There is always profit in the selling of flesh Jeral; it is a sad fact of life."
"Yoshimo speaks the truth Jeral. Even in the under dark slaves could command a large amount of coin, particularly if they had special skills."
Jeral nodded absently and pocketed the pouch of gems. He looked up as Yoshimo handed Jeral a set of clearly enchanted - and blood soaked - studded leather armor that had belonged to one of the unfortunate slavers.
"This should fit you, Jeral. You still cannot cast spells while wearing it but it should help keep you upright until you can get proper chain armor."
Nodding his thanks to Yoshimo Jeral slipped on the new armor and marveled at how light and flexible it was.
Still not as good as some enchanted chain mail but I will work with what I have.
Nalia paged through the blood drenched ledger excitedly.
"By Tymora's dice. This book documents every transaction in the past four seasons. They have sold thousands of people throughout Athkatla."
"Does it tell you the names of the leaders of the slavers in the city?"
"It does not Jeral. They have written in code so there are no recognizable names in evidence. From what I can tell paging through this book this is the distribution center for the slavers. They smuggle in slaves through the docks and the city gates and bring them here until they are delivered to their new masters."
"Well keep that book close Nalia, it might come in handy at some point." Nalia nodded and slid the heavy tome into her scroll case.
A pair of doors allowed exit from the room. The closest door was very large and heavily barred. Snarling and growling sounds carried through the wall. Whatever was on the other side of the door was clearly hostile. The group was ready to bypass the door entirely when a child's scream pierced the air. The terror was palpable in the child's piercing cries. Jeral tried the newly discovered key in the lock for the door and it clicked as the lock slid back. Minsc easily lifted the heavy bar off the door and hurled it across the room. Anomen quickly pulled the door open and Minsc charged inside with Jeral close on his heels.
A pair of trolls stood in the room standing over a pile of corpses. A small girl of six or seven cowered in the corner. Jeral looked at the tangle of corpses and realized with a shock that they were a pile of children. All of the small bodies were missing limbs or large chunks of flesh where the trolls had feasted on them. Minsc roared in fury and charged the left hand troll while Jeral threw himself at the right hand beast. Jeral ducked under a massive troll arm and slashed his blades against the creature's leathery hide. Jeral watched with satisfaction as his blades cut deeply, exposing bone on the creature's side. The troll turned to face Jeral as the bard backpedaled away from the beast, his eyes drawn to the rapidly closing wounds.
Before the troll could strike at Jeral again Anomen struck fiercely at the creature's back and the Flail of Ages tore huge chunks of flesh from the ice, fire, and acid flail heads. The troll roared in pain and rage as it turned to face the greater threat. As it pivoted to face the plate clad Helmite a sling bullet struck it in the neck and a flame arrow struck it in the chest. Jeral seized the opportunity and stabbed the Blade of Roses into the troll's unprotected back. The blade slid into the troll easily and Jeral drove it in to the hilt. The beast spasmed in pain and roared until a final strike from Anomen put the beast down for good.
Jeral withdrew his blade from the corpse and turned to look at the other troll. Nothing remained of the beats but a pile of smoldering flesh on the ground. Minsc and Nalia had easily dispatched the beast. Nalia's trio of flame arrows ensured that the creature would not arise again. Once it was clear both troll were destroyed Nalia and Anomen raced to check on the little girl. Clad only in rags she was crying hysterically as she looked at the carnage around her. Nalia smoothed the girl's hair back as Anomen checked her for wounds. Held in Nalia's arms the girl quickly calmed down and rubbed a soiled arm across her face to wipe away her tears.
"Other than some small scratches and bruises she is unharmed, thank Helm."
"Lucky for her the trolls were full from eating the other children."
"Mind your tongue Viconia, the poor child does not need what passes for wit amongst the drow to add to her worries." Anomen glared up at Viconia as he spat out the words.
"It is fine good sir. After watching the trolls eat my friends and watching slavers kill my parents a little sarcasm does not bother me. I thank you for saving my life."
Everyone turned to stare at the little girl who looked Anomen in the eye as she spoke in a high but clear voice.
Anomen gently patted the girl on the shoulder as he spoke in a low soft voice. "My child you are safe now. Are there any other children in the complex?"
"I think so. There are large cells down the hall that hold the children. They brought us few in here," she fought back a sob as she looked at the mangled bodies of the other children around her, "as food for the trolls. I can show you the way."
Under the child's direction Yoshimo led the way with Minsc and Anomen flanking the child in a wall of armor. They walked back through the store room and then opened the other door. They walked down a long hallway and stopped at a pair of doors, one on each side of the hallway.
"These are the holding cells for the children. Boys are on the left, girls on the right." The doors in question were heavy wooden doors banded in iron. A simple bar across the doors kept them closed.
Yoshimo cautiously walked a few yards down the hallway and warily watched the passageway with an arrow nocked to his short bow. Minsc lifted the bar off the left hand door while Anomen did the same on the right. Both opened the doors and recoiled at the smell of dozens of unwashed bodies held in primitive conditions. The children recoiled in fear until Minsc held out Boo to the cowering group of boys. Once they realized Minsc was not a slaver they crowded around him with tears streaming down their dirty faces. Minsc picked up the smallest boy in his left arm as he smiled down at the children.
"Minsc and Boo are here to rescue the little children and deliver the boot of justice to the slavers!"
The little boys burst out into spontaneous cheers at the words of their rescuer. When the girls across the hall heard their joyous cries they too raised their voices in delight at their rescue. Beaming, Anomen formally bowed and introduced himself to the roughly score of little girls arrayed around him.
"By Helm I promise you ladies are safe under our protection."
"What are you lot d…..?"
The slaver's question was cut short as Yoshimo's arrow tore into his chest. As his lifeless body dropped to the floor his spear loudly clattered to the ground. Yoshimo knocked another arrow and started backing up slowly.
"I believe the other slavers in this complex now know we are here. We must prepare to fight or flee quickly."
Yoshimo's bowstring thrummed as a second arrow struck a slaver guard in the chest. Jeral looked down the hallway and saw over a dozen armed guards clad in studded leather armor moving down the corridor. Jeral also spied a man in black and silver mage robes at the back of the group.
"Time to go everyone! Anomen and Minsc, get the children out of here and back to the tavern. We will hold them off to allow you time to escape."
"Yoshimo get back here behind me!" Yoshimo quickly slid behind Jeral and resumed firing arrows down the hallway. Nalia quickly joined him and she sent two arrows down the hallway for each one fired by the bounty hunter.
Jeral drew his blades and prepared to face the onslaught of guards. He called on his blood to and felt the familiar flush of power as his strength and speed both increased. The slaver guards moved slowly down the hallway. After taking a number of casualties from the archers the guards employed a new strategy. Two guards entered the hallway protected by large tower shields. Crouching down behind the shields the pair slowly worked down the hallway trailed by almost a score of other guards. Half a dozen arrows soon quivered in the wood of the shields but Jeral realized that they would soon reach him.
Suddenly the sounds of battle disappeared and Jeral watched amazed as the guards continued to approach, just now in absolute silence.
A dark skinned hand clapped Jeral on the shoulder.
"That will ensure that foolish mage cannot hurt us male. I suggest we flee before they can overwhelm us with numbers."
"Viconia is right Jeral we have to flee. But we must slow their pursuit else they will run us down in the sewers. Minsc and Anomen will be moving slowly with all of the children."
Wracking his brain Jeral looked around and realized that the entire slaver compound was made of wood. Floor, walls and ceiling all built with heavily polished wooden planks tightly joined together, almost like the insides of a ship. Jeral knew of only one landlocked ship anywhere in Baldur's Gate, the odd looking building next to Gaelan Bayle's home. Smiling he looked back at Nalia and Yoshimo.
"Let's burn this place to the ground, time for some fire arrows. The fire should not endanger any of the neighboring buildings for they are all built at a distance from this ship. Besides, it rained last night so the fire should not spread. Think you two can help?"
Nalia and Yoshimo started firing arrows of fire into the walls and ceiling to each side of the lead guards. The fire from the arrows quickly spread, feeding on the heavy coat of varnish that coated the wood throughout the complex. The hallway quickly became a tunnel of flame. Choking on the smoke Jeral and the others slowly backed away from the fire as it rapidly spread around the hallway. The guards looked around at the rapidly spreading flames and started to fall back, save the two lead guards who moved forward to escape the flames. They feared Jeral and the others less than they feared burning to death.
Jeral held his blades out in a low guard position as he readied to face the pair of charging guardsmen. Looking back over his shoulders he shouted at Viconia, Nalia and Yoshimo.
"Get out of here; go help Minsc and Anomen protect the children. I will be along after I take care of these two."
"Jeral, I will stay with you!"
"Yoshimo, I said go!"
"I have to protect you! I cannot leave."
Jeral charged into the right tower shield and drove the man back a step. He stabbed out with his short sword at the man on the left before he could react and smiled as it slid in deep. He twisted the blade to maximize the damage and pulled it out from the body as the slaver guard dropped to the floor. The remaining guard lashed out with his blade but Jeral easily parried the strike. He stepped to the side and lashed out at the guard's shield arm. The Blade of Roses easily sliced through gauntlet, flesh and bone. Jeral stepped back with a sneer as he watched the second guard fall to his knees clutching his severed limb. Jeral planted a boot in the man's chest and kicked out savagely. The maimed guard tumbled back into the inferno and screamed hideously as he was burned alive.
Jeral turned and raised his blood stained blades in front of Yoshimo's face.
Flush with rage from his combat with the pair of guards Jeral roared at Yoshimo. "I am somewhat fond of you bounty hunter but you are starting to sound like an old woman. I command and you obey! Else you travel with me no further. Is that clear?"
Yoshimo's eyes glinted before he lowered his head and nodded slightly. "Yoshimo will travel with Jeral and aid him in seeing his sister once again."
Jeral exhaled deeply and sheathed his blades feeling the rage wash out of his body. Clapping Yoshimo fondly on the shoulder he smiled as he spoke, "Let us get out of here before we get burned to death." Jeral raced towards the trapdoor closely trailed by Yoshimo. He jumped down into the sewer and Yoshimo trailed him by a few steps. Yoshimo paused to close and latch the trap door before he hopped off the ladder. He and Jeral slowly retraced their steps through the sewers. They paused periodically to listen quietly to ensure there was no pursuit from the slavers.
By the time the two reached the Copper Coronet there was a huge reunion and celebration underway as parents were reunited with missing children. The kitchen was working overtime as platters of fresh bread and roasted meats were visible everywhere. A few children stood alone to the side, their parents clearly not among the survivors. Anomen and Viconia tended to the wounds of a few of the children while Minsc and Nalia were chatting animatedly with some of the older children and their parents.
Jeral approached Hendak behind the bar and received his heartfelt thanks as the gladiator wrapped Jeral in an ale soaked bear hug.
"You and your friends have done us a great service Jeral. You will always be welcome at the Copper Coronet. What happened to the nice set of chain mail I had made for you?"
"Little matter of an axe to the chest ruined the armor."
Hendak laughed heartily and clapped Jeral on the shoulder. "Fortunately it did not cause any lasting harm to you."
"Well traveling with a couple of powerful clerics can keep one alive good Hendak."
"When you have time I would consider it an honor to spar with you Jeral. I may be able to teach you a few things about fighting with two blades."
"It would be my honor good Hendak. By the way I have something for you that may help care for the children."
Jeral smiled and handed Hendak the coin purse full of precious stones that Yoshimo took from the slavers.
"Please ensure that the orphaned children receive excellent care."
Nodding his thanks Hendak took the gems as he fought back tears.
"I will ensure you that we will care for the children, for all of the freed slaves with these riches. You and your friends are too kind. They orphans will be raised here as an extended family. With help from the priests of Ilmater we will see to their education and ensure they all learn trades and gain apprenticeships later in life."
Smiling Jeral broke free from the crush of people and headed upstairs to get a badly needed bath and some well deserved rest. On his way to the stairs Yoshimo gently grabbed Jeral's shoulder.
"Time to spar, good Jeral."
Jeral lowered his head and shook it tiredly.
"Yoshimo, it was a long day, I had an axe split me wide open, and all I want to do it go to bed."
"You said practice begins this evening. I will keep it short."
Grumbling Jeral followed Yoshimo back into the now closed fighting pits of the Copper Coronet. Yoshimo rummaged around in the weapon racks and pulled out two blunted long swords.
"These training swords should prevent us from getting hurt too badly." Yoshimo tossed one to Jeral and then assumed a dueling position.
"Sure you can manage without your katana?"
"I will be fine; I am capable with a katana, long sword, dagger, and short bow. With a katana you have no chance against me. As it stands you have improved your odds to almost no chance."
"Okay Yoshimo, you talk big old man, let's see what you can do."
Jeral twirled the sword around to get a feel for it and then launched into the attack. Yoshimo deftly parried every strike while moving side to side. Jeral continued to press the attack to no affect. After a few minutes Yoshimo became the aggressor and Jeral was forced to backpedal to avoid the bounty hunter's precise, quick lunges.
He is not as strong as I am, has a shorter reach and is no faster than I am. So why am I not winning?
Jeral could find no good answer as the two continued to spar. The two continued dueling until Yoshimo finally broke off the fight.
Breathing heavily Yoshimo spoke between breaths.
"You may not yet fight with skill Jeral but your endurance is impressive. With your strength and speed you will be quite the swordsman with practice."
The two returned their weapons to the sparring racks and trudged off to bath and then head to their respective beds.
The next day the party reassembled for a late breakfast. Jeral joined the others in clean clothes, still wet from his morning bath since he still felt dirty after bathing the night before. Yoshimo, Anomen and Nalia had identified all the new found equipment and sold anything they did not need. The six gathered around the table and looked down on the new blade that Minsc had discovered in the sewers. Minsc's new sword was laid out on the table.
"Let me get this straight Nalia. The sword is named Licaror and it can talk?" Jeral asked.
"You are correct Jeral; the sword has the spirit of its first owner inside of it. Evidently he was a young noble named Licaror."
"That's right baby, Licaror is my name, chopping is my game."
"Minsc likes sword better than evil sword but sword must learn to be quiet or Minsc will be angry."
"Screw you and your little rat too!" the sword cackled. Everyone at the table leaned back in their chair. They all know better than to call Boo a rat in front of Minsc. Surprising everyone Minsc calmly stood up, picked up Licaror and walked outside. After a few minutes he returned without the sword. Smiling Misc sat down.
"Boo is very smart. He told me to drop the sword in the privy and let it sit there for a while. Minsc wants to keep sword to kick butts of evil but sword must learn when to be quiet."
The thought of a talking sword down a privy hole was too much to bear and everyone broke out laughing. The group spent the rest of the day feasting, relaxing and replenishing supplies. That night Jeral requested another training session with Yoshimo, this time he managed to get inside Yoshimo's guard and land a few blows.
At the end of the session Yoshimo nodded in satisfaction, "I see some signs of progress Jeral. After a few more sessions I will be no match for you."
Jeral went to bed tired, sore and with hope for the future.