Chapter 20: The Unseeing Eye
Jeral blinked once and then again to clear the blinding sunlight from his eyes. Despite his best efforts the light did not dim but over time his eyes adjusted to the brightness. Jeral found himself standing on a white floor that stretched out as far as he could see in all directions. His companions were nowhere in sight. There were no walls or ceiling, when Jeral looked to the sides or to the sky all he could see was the blinding yellow light. Despite the change in his surroundings Jeral felt at ease, it was almost as if something comforting was helping keep him calm. Jeral looked down and noticed that his hand was fully healed, his glove was gone – burned away by the acid – as was part of his shirt sleeve but his hand was uninjured. Jeral was very pleased to see that the enchanted ring and his armor were impervious to the acid.
"Do not worry Bhaal child," a soft female voice spoke, "your precious ring and armor are unharmed. Their enchantments protected them both from the acids surrounding the relic."
Jeral looked around wildly looking for the source of the voice. Soft chuckling echoed around him.
"Still confused? Think back Jeral, you have read about experiences such as this, remember your studies."
Jeral closed his eyes and thought back to his studies in Candlekeep. Smiling he opened his eyes and looked around in wonder.
"Very good Jeral, now you understand."
"But…"
"No need to speak child," the voice intoned softly, "I know what you will ask before you do, your mind holds no mysteries for me. This will go much smoother if you are silent."
"Do not pout Jeral. You should be honored to be in my presence. I am Amaunator, the Goddess of the Sun." The voice said proudly, "or at least I am what little is left of her," the voice said in a voice heavy with sadness.
"I remember….."
"Yes, yes, yes," the voice replied crossly, "I am a Goddess from before the time of troubles, and my followers are gone and my powers are almost gone as well. But I have some faint remnants of my divinity still. Remnants I will share with you for you will do my bidding."
Jeral remained silent and waited for the voice to continue.
"As my powers started to wane others sought to kill my followers to weaken me further. My greatest remaining priests created a temple far underground; for no one would expect Amaunator to have a temple in a place so far from my beloved sun. Sadly it made no difference. While the temple remained hidden my powers faded, and as my powers faded so did the lives of my few remaining followers. If that were the end of it I would have let it pass. However this unseeing eye is a tremendously powerful and ancient beholder. It has come to this realm from the underdark and is attempting to corrupt my remaining essence to ascend to the pantheon of the Gods."
"Ambitious little…."
"Silence!" roared Amaunator, and Jeral cringed as a flash of divine rage washed over him.
"I will not tolerate this abomination and its assault on my power. You shall be the instrument of my vengeance, you shall stop his ascension. I need you to destroy the unseeing eye. This will be my final miracle. A bit of my essence lives within the relic, there is power there. When you reassemble it, point it at the unseeing eye and I will do the rest. After that return it to my temple so my people can regain at least a bit it their lost faith. I need you to help them move on and join me in the Land of the Eternal Sun. I pray it will be enough. Now go with my blessing, Child of Bhaal."
The light winked out and Jeral found himself back in the Pit of Souls with his arm elbow deep in the acidic liquid. He stood up and pulled the second half of the relic out of the pool. Jeral instantly knew deep in his soul how to assemble and wield the rod against the unseeing eye. Jeral quickly pulled out the other piece of the relic and held them close to one another. The two pieces leapt together on their own and assembled in a blinding flash of light. A wave of sunlight radiated out from the reassembled rod and bathed everyone in the chamber in a warm reassuring glow. Jeral moaned in ecstasy as pure energy coursed through his body, Jeral felt himself start to tremble from all of the power radiating through his being.
"Jeral, beware for the unseeing eye approaches."
"The creature approaches, make ready." Jeral stated. The others looked at him strangely but complied with his directions as they readied their weapons. A low moan echoed through the hive and it caused everyone's courage to waiver for a moment until the rod flashed again and bathed them once more in warm reassuring sunlight. The party members were not cowed as the unseeing eye floated into view. The creature was terrible to behold for it was a large, unnaturally bloated beholder. Larger than any other creature in the hive, it had a badly scarred body and was missing its central eye. Large purple veins crisscrossed the central eye scar and pulsed evily, a dozen eye stalks moved independently of one another, adding to the horrific impression of the creature.
Viconia stared at the beast in wonder, "Jeral, this is an elder orb. This beholder has lived longer than all of us combined and is incredibly powerful." For the first time since Jeral saved the drow from burning at the stake Viconia's voice held a hint of fear.
"Prepare to meet thy doom foolish creatures for the rod is mine."
The great beholder's voice appeared in the minds of all the companions and all felt a wave of despair rise as they sensed the certainty of their impending doom. A wave of darkness flowed out from the unseeing eye, and the light emanating from the rod flickered and faded out as the room descended into the shadow of twilight as a wave of despair washed over the group.
"Foolish Bhall child, that twig from a long dead God is no threat to me."
Brushing aside the despair and fear, Keldorn boldly stepped forward and advanced on the creature with his sword held at the ready.
"By Torm! Prepare to be sent back to the deepest levels of the underworld foul creature!"
The creature almost disdainfully twitched a single eye stalk and Keldorn crumpled to the floor writhing in pain.
The certainty that had filled Jeral departed as quickly as it had arrived. Jeral suddenly had no idea how to use the rod and he suspected that the unseeing eye was correct. The relic would not have enough power to overcome such a powerful being. Jeral kept turning the rod over in his hands looking for a command word or other trigger. Suddenly, he straightened up and advanced on the creature. Grasping the rod with both hands he pointed it at the unseeing eye. Not knowing the command phrase Jeral just willed it to work. His hands trembled as the rod shook violently from side to side and then suddenly activated. A burst of blindingly intense white light – pure sunlight - shot from the end of the rod and headed directly at the unseeing eye. It stuck the creature and the beholder howled in pain. The room was bathed in intense light for a second but then it started fade. The unseeing eye tensed as it fought against the beam and the veins all pulsed at once as the beam of light started to flicker and weaken.
It isn't working! Jeral thought, the creature is too strong.
Sensing that all was not going to plan Minsc and Anomen charged the beholder side by side. They too were swatted aside by the unseeing eye and lay on the ground unmoving next to the fallen paladin. Nalia bravely fired a pair of arrows at the creature but the arrows both turned in midflight and struck the young mage in the torso. Bleeding profusely she dropped to the floor and dragged herself across the floor to lay atop the fallen Helmite. Hefting her war hammer Viconia strode determinedly towards the creature. The unseeing eye paused for an instant as if surprised to see a drow so far from its underdark home. The creature recovered quickly and Viconia shuddered as the creature turned its power against her. Gritting her teeth she strode forward and continued to close with the creature despite the energies sent against her. She managed to close with the beast and struck out with her hammer. The hammer smacked wetly into the bloated creature's face and appeared to cause no damage. The creature focused all of its eye stalks on the drow and she was thrown bodily across the chamber to slam into the far wall. Viconia slammed into the fleshy wall and slid to the ground, her war hammer sliding out of her grasp as she lay there too stunned to move.
Jeral struggled to control the rod as the flickering beam of light continued to strike the unseeing eye.
"There is not enough divinity within that rod to defeat me manling. I will drink in every last drop of power from that relic. Then I will drink in every drop of your power and ascend to the divinity. When you are drained I will destroy you and the others and add your bodies to my hive."
The words echoed through Jeral's skull.
Power. It was all about power. The beast intended to drain him. Jeral realized in an instant that for better or worse the darkness living inside of him was not something he was willing to give away, and he was certainly not going to allow anyone to take it from him. The mere consideration made him angry, very angry. Jeral closed his eyes and focused himself. He could see the Sun God's power flowing out of the rod and realized that it was not enough. He needed more power, more divine essence to defeat the creature, else they were all doomed. Suddenly the way forward seemed clear.
Jeral's eyes snapped open and sneering he started to slowly walk towards the unseeing eye.
Jeral's face flushed as the anger built up within him. "You want divine power?" He snarled through bared teeth
"YOU WANT POWER?" he roared.
"TAKE IT! TAKE IT ALL!" Jeral focused all his hate and all his rage and willed his own tainted essence to flow through his hands and into the relic. The darkness from within him and the light from the relic combined together to make a swirling, twisting beam of light and dark power that slowly started to burn into the unseeing eye.
The creature started to shudder under the combined assault of divinity from sun and murder.
"You are nothing!" Jeral jeered as he stepped forward. "You dare to challenge me? I have the blood of a god in my veins you pathetic sack of gas?" Jeral taunted. Chest heaving, he roared in anger as he focused every last bit of hate and rage into the relic in his hands. The rod started to smoke as it struggled to direct the power flowing through it. The sunlight emanating from the rod suddenly flickered out and the room descended into darkness except for a glimmer of light from Nalia's weakly flickering mage lights. The beam turned black and a thick ray of ultimate darkness lanced out and burned a massive hole through the unseeing eye. The beholder dropped to the floor. Jeral continued to aim the beam at the creature at it struck the ground. The beam continued to eat away at the creature and the entire mass of flesh soon dissolved into ash, wholly consumed from the power arrayed against it. Chest heaving Jeral watched with satisfaction as the beast dissolved before his eyes. Power continued to pour out of the relic and started burning a hole through the floor of the cavern.
Trembling, sweating, drunk with power Jeral looked down disdainfully at his fallen companions. They were pathetic. He did not need any of them, all he needed was the relic he held in his trembling hands. That was all the power he needed. He would rescue Imoen and kill Irenicus, and anyone else who stood in his way. He would become powerful; he would find a kingdom to rule, for he deserved to rule. It was only natural.
The relic vibrated wildly in his hands and shot a narrow beam of sunlight directly into Jeral's eyes. Startled, Jeral dropped the rod and it fell to the fleshy moist floor. Once the relic left Jeral's hands the all consuming anger disappeared at if washed away like the tide. With that anger gone he just felt empty, empty and very, very tired.
Jeral looked down at his hands and was relieved to see that they were intact and that he could move them without too much difficulty. They were numb and smoking slightly but he hoped that the feeling would soon return. Jeral stood there catching his breath as he slowly took in everything that just happened.
After a few moments Viconia slowly pulled herself to her feet, her natural magical resistance having helped her weather the attacks from the unseeing eye better than the others. Once she had cleared her head she quickly took in the scene around her. Moving quickly she tore the arrows from Nalia's torso, eliciting a whimper of pain, and closed the girl's wounds. After a quick check to ensure all the men were alive she started kicking a boot through the ashes of the unseeing eye's corpse. With a quick exultation Viconia straightened up holding a necklace with a large green amulet. Smiling she tossed it in her pack for later identification. Groaning, Anomen, Minsc, and Keldorn all slowly regained their feet. All three moved gingerly as every muscle in their bodies ached but they were uninjured otherwise.
Jeral inhaled deeply and noticed that the air smelled cleaner somehow. He mentioned as much to Viconia. "With the unseeing eye dead the hive is dead as well. The flesh will rot and decay and soon these caverns will be natural stone once again. All trace of this creature will soon fade from view."
Keldorn and Anomen each dropped to a knee to whisper a quick pray or thanks to their respective deity. Slowly getting to his feet Squire Anomen walked over, and using his armor polishing rag, carefully picked up the now depleted rod and placed it in his pack.
"Shall we return the way we came?" Anomen inquired to the group.
Jeral nodded quickly. "No. We go that way; we must return the device to the temple before we do anything else." Jeral's arm pointed to a small fissure in the floor. As the flesh was burned away by the relic the opening in the floor was revealed. It looked like an ancient salt slide.
"Jeral, we do not know where that goes. We cannot risk it."
Jeral smiled warmly at Anomen as he strode over to the opening in the floor.
"Squire Anomen, you are both wise and brave. But I know this is our path, the owner of the relic told me. I will go first. If it is safe I will send up a mage light."
"And if it is not safe?"
"Well then do not follow."
Jeral slid into the tunnel and quickly slid downward out of sight. After a few moments his mage light reappeared and the others slid down the tunnel. They each rocked down the salt slide and found themselves back on the far side of the strange bridge and were very near the entrance to the underground cavern that housed the long neglected temple. Anomen attached his flail to his belt and pulled out the relic from his pack. Head held high he confidently led the way into the cavern flanked by Nalia and Keldorn. Minsc trailed slowly behind Nalia while Jeral and Viconia trailed then other four at a distance.
Viconia placed a restraining arm on Jeral and he stopped and turned to face the drow cleric.
"What happened back there?"
"What do you mean Viconia?"
"How did you kill that beholder?"
"I assembled the relic and it did the rest."
Viconia looked critically at Jeral for a long moment. "You do not believe that," she said carefully, "I know what I saw."
"What did you see?" Jeral asked cautiously.
"I saw you attempt to use the relic against the creature as instructed by the avatar from the temple. I also saw the rod failing, the power held within was insufficient to destroy such an ancient and powerful creature. Then the room fell into darkness."
Jeral shrugged his shoulders, "Well the unseeing eye is dead so I guess the relic had more power in it that you thought." Jeral turned to catch up to the others when Viconia reached out and roughly turned him around.
"Do not lie to me male," she snarled. "You may lie to the others but never to me." Continuing she poked a finger forcefully into the center of his chest. "The power of the relic was failing, somehow you managed to take the divinity within your and channel it. You turned the power in your blood into a weapon, and that is what destroyed the beholder."
Jeral looked around quickly to ensure the others were out of earshot. "I am not sure what happened, I just knew that if I failed we all would have died. Please do not mention it to the others."
"Why is that a concern?" Viconia asked. "All who travel with you know you are one of the children of Alaundo's prophecy."
"That may be true Viconia, but I do not want to make any more of it that I have to."
"Jeral, you are something more than mortal, embrace it. It almost makes you worthy of my company." Viconia licked her lips and tilted her head to the side in a way that Jeral found incredibly alluring.
"We can talk about all this later Viconia, but I think you will end up disappointed."
"You presume too much male. Although if I do allow you into my bed I am sure it will be disappointing," she chuckled.
Jeral shook his head grimly. "No you do not understand Viconia, I think there is no longer any taint in my blood. I think that I expelled it from my body when I killed the beholder. My head is quiet for once and my body feels almost empty. I think I may be free of Bhaal's taint."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, how very disappointing. Let us rejoin the others." The pair quickly trotted forward and caught up to the group just as they entered the large cavern that housed the long neglected temple. Anomen led the way and he strode into the underground cavern and a large crowd soon formed around him. They nervously eyed the ancient relic in his hands and started quietly muttering to one another. Anomen raised the relic high over his head and rays of light radiated out of the rod, bathing the cavern in daylight.
The gaunt man once again spoke as he stared wonderingly at the relic. "You have returned the great relic to us as it was foretold so many centuries ago."
"It has been used to defeat a great evil and now returns to the temple as foretold by your God," Anomen boomed in a deep commanding voice. Mutters echoed through the crowd as people looked to one another for direction.
"Bah! Our God is dead!" The gaunt man screamed. "Gone, he no longer hears our cries! We are lost, we are forgotten."
"When is the last time you called his name?" Anomen asked gently.
"It has been decades, perhaps longer. Most here have even forgotten the name."
"I have given the sign, use it as you wish." With that Anomen and the others entered the temple closely followed by the growing crowd. The temple was exactly as it was before, empty and long unused, the torches on the walls flickering softly and bathing the chamber in a dim light.
"You see, nothing is here, there is no God in this temple!" The gaunt man raged piteously, "We have been forsaken."
"What have you done to deserve your God? What have any of you done?" Jeral asked quietly. "I am no paladin. I am no priest, but from what I have learned one has to show faith in their God to have any hope. I can tell you with certainty that you are not forgotten or forsaken. Your God is here and waiting for you but the next step must come from you."
The crowd milled around and shifted their feet from side to side. Finally one woman stepped forward, dropped to her knees, and raised her hands pleadingly to the sky.
"Amaunator, bringer of the light I beseech thee! Hear my voice. Hear the voice of your disciple calling to you. Amaunator!" One by one the others joined in and dropped to their knees and let their voices sing out in a long overdue outpouring of pain and anguish.
"Amaunator, bringer of the light, we humbly bessech thee! Hear our desperate cries!"
Jeral and the others stepped back as the voices got louder and louder, as the worshippers continued their chant with ever growing devotion and fervor as they swayed rhythmically from side to side. After a few moments a blinding white light appeared in the middle of the temple, bathing the entire building in daylight. The worshippers immediately prostrated themselves on the floor muttering words of thanks and devotion as the avatar again stepped out from the light.
"Jeral of Candlekeep, Squire Anomen, you and your companions have done a wonderful thing. Thank you for assembling the rod, defeating the usurper and giving faith to the faithless." Turning the avatar faced the crowd of worshippers and rose in the air. "To you, my people," he boomed, "your time here is done after so many centuries. Sleep in peace and join me in the land of everlasting sunlight."
With a single wave of the avatar's hand the worshippers and the relic faded from view and hundreds of individual beams of light shot straight upwards to disappear in the ceiling of the temple. Smiling kindly the avatar floated back to the ground. Suddenly a round shield appeared in his hands. The shield was made of an unknown silvery metal and covered with ancient runes and engravings. Small sunbursts were etched into a ring around the outside of the shield. Smiling he handed the shield to Anomen who took it with unsteady hands.
"Squire Anomen," the avatar began, "this shield is not of your family but it will aid you in your quest, and it is more in tune with you than the one you currently carry. Use it with honor do not worry for I am sure that Helm will approve. Know that when times are darkest this shield shall aid you and light the way." Anomen beamed with pride at the avatar's words as he gratefully accepted the shield. He strapped his old shield to his pack and slid the new one onto his left forearm. Winking, the avatar added one last comment before he vanished. "And good luck with the wedding you two." With a smile the avatar of Amaunator disappeared and the room darkened to the glow cast by the quartet of mage lights, as the magically enchanted torches along the walls of the temple were extinguished for the last time.
A reverent silence fell over the group.
"Wedding?" Jeral asked incredulously after a few moments.
Nalia and Anomen exchanged glances and then Nalia turned to address the group. "Squire Anomen and I are getting married!" she gushed gleefully. Minsc and Jeral both heartily congratulated the couple while Viconia nodded her approval to Anomen. After a moment Keldorn walked over to stand before Anomen and Jeral. "Jeral, Squire Anomen, we have all done a wonderful thing this day. There is indeed much to celebrate, however we need to capture or kill Gaal to truly bring this evil to an end."
Jeral looked around and the smile quickly left his face. "Keldorn is right; we can congratulate the happy couple back at the Coronet."
The group headed back to the upper level of the dungeon to locate Gaal. On the way they passed through the crypt where Sasser lived. The blind priest was dancing a jig in the dark as they entered.
"You did it! By Helm you did it!" he cried. "The unseeing eye is no more." Sasser raced over and clasped Jeral in a hug. Jeral was surprised at the strength of the frail man's grasp. Jeral gently pried the man's arms off and stepped back.
"You are correct Sasser. The unseeing eye is no more. We are on our way to confront Gaal, but he should not be too much of a challenge."
Sasser shook his head vigorously. "Have a care, Gaal is now even more dangerous that before."
"How can that be?" Keldorn asked, "With his false god gone Gaal has lost his patron and his powers. He should be helpless."
"The unseeing eye was powerful, so powerful that some portion of the creature's essence was passed to Gaal at some point to aid him in building up the cult. His power remains, and his rage is beyond belief. I can sense his anger from here."
"How is Yoshimo?" Anomen asked, looking to change the subject.
"He is fine, he is sleeping peacefully." The party looked over and noticed that Sasser had laid Yoshimo out on top of the coffin in the center of the crypt.
Tiredly Jeral drew his blades and looked at the others, "Let's get this over with."
As the party headed into the cult complex they were passed by a series of blind cultists sobbing and begging various surface gods for forgiveness as they staggered their way towards the surface by feeling their way along the walls.
"What is that colorful surfacer expression Jeral? The one about rodents leaving a sinking ship?"
"Something like that Viconia," Jeral added. The group reached the entrance to the complex and stopped mid stride at the sight before them.
Gaal stood at the main entrance to the cult complex with four elite guard members. Somehow the five of them retained their ability to see as Gaal worked to keep the cultists from leaving. The cultists were not listening to anything Gaal said as they kept streaming past him heading towards the surface.
Gaal looked somehow larger than he had before. Clad in a suit of ornate full plate mail and a long flowing scarlet cloak he was an impressive sight. Armed with a small shield and mace he looked ready for combat. The open faced helm on his head was shaped to look like the unseeing eye and twelve metal eye stalks adorned the top of the helm. The suit shimmered in the torch light as he pleaded with the cult members to remain and not lose faith.
The four guards flanking him were similarly attired. Each wore a suit of full plate mail, a long scarlet cloak, and a closed face helm forged to look like a lesser beholder. One of the guardsmen carried a heavy crossbow, one carried a wicked looking battle axe, and the other two were equipped with medium shields and long swords.
"Well well. Look who is here." Jeral quipped. "Sorry about killing your false god there Gaal." Gaal whirled around and his disfigured, eyeless face seemed to stare right through each of them.
"You…..You…. you…. blasphemers! You have ruined everything and defied the one true god" Spittle flew from his frothing mouth as he commanded his soldiers to attack. Three of the four plate clad elite guardsmen charged while Gaal prepared to cast a spell.
Keldorn, Anomen, Minsc and Jeral were soon locked in close combat with the trio of guardsmen. The men all were unnaturally strong and fast and they proved themselves formidable opponents. While the men were locked in close combat Nalia and Viconia started to cast spells against Gaal. A crossbow bolt from the fourth guardsmen tore into Nalia's leg and disrupted her spell. Before Viconia could complete her casting Gaal completed his spell and a massive tower of flame appeared from the ceiling and engulfed Jeral. The plate clad fighters all paused and stepped away as the intense flame continued to roar down from the ceiling and engulf Jeral. Intense searing pain seared through Jeral's body as he struggled to remain on his feet and chocked back a scream. After long moments the spell winked out and Jeral collapsed to the floor in a smoking heap.
"Do you see?" Gaal bellowed, "The Unseeing Eye will have his vengeance on the one who struck him down!"
Gaal raised his mace high and charged through the melee to attack Jeral. Jeral was struggling to regain his feet as every part of his body cried out in pain. His clothes and hair had burned away leaving nothing but his enchanted chain mail and pair of enchanted ring. His skin was badly burned and he could barely see through his burned and blistered eyes. Gaal smiled grimly as he stepped in and attacked with his mace. Jeral desperately raised his long sword to parry the strike. The blade parried the strike but the impact from the blow radiated pain through his body and jarred the sword out of Jeral's arm. Gaal stepped back and prepared to deliver the killing blow. Before Gaal could strike again Viconia slammed her war hammer down into the center of Gaal's back. The force of the blow staggered the cleric. Giving him no time to recover Viconia slammed her hammer down again in the same spot on his back. Gaal cried out in pain and fell to his knees; his mace skittered away from his badly shaking hands.
Gaal whirled around and held his hands up imploringly in front of his face as he rose up on his knees. Clasping his hands together in the center of his chest he began to weep piteously.
"Mercy! I beg of you mercy. I am a simple holy man. I now see the error of my ways and shall devote my life to atoning for my sins. Mercy please!"
Viconia dropped down into a crouch and carefully laid her war hammer down on the ground. She gently, tenderly, removed Gaal's helmet and tossed it aside. She ran a gloved hard through his sweaty hair while humming a gentle tune and then ran her hand over his armored shoulder and neck. Gently she pulled back the armor around his next with her left hand while muttering soothingly to the injured man. Gaal's breathing slowed and the look of terror started to leave his face.
"Thank you my child, thank y…..urk."
Before Gall could finish his words of gratitude Viconia grabbed her hammer in her right hand and hammered the end of the weapon into his now unprotected throat. His windpipe shattered and he fell back onto the ground. His body spasmed in agony as he fought for air through his now closed throat. His well manicured nails bloodily tore at his throat and neck as his body writhed from side to side as it struggled for air. After a few moments he stopped struggling and lay still.
Viconia slowly rose to her feet and looked disgustedly and the corpse that lay before her. "Mercy is not the drow way fool," she whispered as she spit on the corpse.
During his duel with one of the elite guardsmen Keldorn had managed to keep an eye on Viconia and Gall so he witnessed the entire exchange. After watching Viconia kill a man who had surrendered he realized it was time for him to act. He neatly sidestepped his opponents strike and brought his blade slicing down in a massive overhand strike. His blade collapsed the man's armor and tore deeply into his shoulder. With his left arm nearly severed the guardsmen managed only a feeble backswing before Keldorn drove him to the ground and finished him off by forcing his blade into a lightly armored joint of his armor. Minsc lay on the ground in a bloody head with a number of crossbow bolts sticking out of his armor having accepted the wounds as he closed with and killed the crossbow armed guardsman. Anomen had already defeated his opponent by caving in his skull with the Flail of Ages and then quickly moved to tended to Nalia's wound.
Striding forward Keldorn leveled his blade at Viconia. "Foul creature." He roared in his most commanding tone, "The time of your judgment is now at hand. Killing an unarmed man is the final indignity. Make ready."
The paladin pivoted into an attacking stance, raised his weapon to the high guard position, and advanced on the drow.
Smiling Viconia slowly twirled her war hammer around and gently tapped it against her small shield as she assumed a ready defensive crouch. Licking her lips sensuously she leered at the aged paladin.
"That man was no innocent, as you well know follower of Torm," she sneered. "I have no quarrel with you old man. But I also have no problem with killing you. I suggest you choose wisely, for you would not be the first of your kind that has crossed my path and come off much the worse for the experience. I was killing men like you when your father was still soling himself in his crib."
Transfixed Jeral watched as the two circled one another. The contrasts between the pair as they circled were tremendous. Keldorn was a large man clad from head to toe in ornate golden full plate mail and an open faced help. He wielded a massive two handed sword and moved with the confidence of an experienced warrior, his face a mask of grim determination. Viconia was more than a head shorter and was half his size. Clad in a set of chain main she twirled her war hammer expectantly and occasionally tapped it against her small shield. She moved from side to side as is she was gliding, every move smooth and graceful. Her dark skinned face was smirking, her violet eyes alive with joy, as she regarded her opponent with open disdain.
Jeral could only watch helplessly, his body still was overwhelmed by pain, badly burned, and he was completely immobile. Through burnt and blistered lips he managed to speak. "Anomen, stop this. Please."
Anomen shook his head as he struggled to close the wound in Nalia's leg. "The bolt pierced her badly," he cried, his voice cracking. "She will die from this leg bleed if I do not close it quickly. I cannot let her die."
Jeral was terrified that Viconia might be hurt. But his greater fear was that if she killed the paladin then they would be hunted by the Order. He realized that Viconia was likely more than a match for Keldorn so she was in little real danger. Jeral placed his hand on his thigh and called upon the healing gifts within him. After a few long moments Jeral gave up, nothing happened. Jeral did not have time to dwell on it as his eyes were drawn back to the paladin.
Keldorn shifted his weight and attacked with his massive war blade in a diagonal horizontal strike. Smiling, Viconia dove under the strike and quickly rolled to her feet on Keldorn's right side. Keldorn hastily pivoted to face her and backpedaled to keep her from getting inside of his guard. Viconia did not press her advantage and blew a kiss at the aged paladin. "Tired already old one?"
Gritting his teeth Keldorn advanced again and swung out with a massive overhand blow. Viconia nimbly sidestepped to her right and the blade slammed into the ground. She scornfully bashed her shield against the flat of the blade and then slid to her right again. Keldorn backpedaled again as he raised his blade and held it out protectively in front of him. His face was bright read from exertion and rage as he steadied his blade and regained his balance.
"Do you need a rest old man?" Viconia mocked. "You did not think this through. You were already winded from you fight with the guard, at your age you lack the stamina from your youth. You should have waited until you were better rested to face me."
"Silence foul creature!" Keldorn roared in anger as he advanced to attack once more. He raised his blade high over his head as he readied another massive swing. Viconia darted forward and punched her hammer out into the center of Keldorn's chest. Her strike did no damage but forced the paladin to stagger back and regain his balance. Breathing heavily he eyed the drow opposing him through narrowed eyes.
Smiling she twirled her hammer in anticipation. "Ahhhhhhh the dilemma you face male. Locked in a fight you cannot win, whatever shall you do?"
Chest heaving Keldorn adjusted the grip on his sword and held it in a close guard. Gritting his teeth he growled, "I shall serve Torm and willingly give my life in His service."
"Very well old one, let us continue."
Keldorn steadily advanced, holding his blade in close to his chest. He did not strike but just closed with Viconia. The drow, awaiting a swing of the blade was momentarily caught by surprise as the paladin closed with her. Instead of a sword strike Keldorn punched out with the pommel of the blade. Caught by surprise, the blow struck Viconia full in the face, shattering her nose. Viconia staggered backwards as she fought to clear her vision. She raised her right hand to her face and pulled it away. Her glove was covered in blood, her blood. Snarling she spit a mouthful of blood on the ground and stared at Keldorn. The aged paladin raised an eyebrow and the faintest smirk crossed his lips as he locked eyes with her.
"That was unexpected," she noted grudgingly, "now you die." She leapt forward and rained blow after blow on the paladin. She struck his left shoulder with her hammer. As he turned to counter she dropped down in a crouch and lashed her hammer into his armored left knee. The knee buckled slightly as the paladin grunted in pain. He quickly kicked out with his injured knee and caught her in the chest as she was rising up. The force of his blow threw her backwards and she slid across the floor on her backside. She quickly leapt to her feet and advanced on the paladin, her face a mask of determination.
Keldorn held his sword out defensively as he slowly limped backwards.
Anomen slid in-between the pair and shouted, "Stop this madness now!" Viconia brought her hammer down on Anomen's shield in frustration but she stopped her advance.
"Squire Anomen!" Keldorn raged, "You dare take the side of this foul creature? Stand aside."
Anomen turned to face Keldorn and resolutely locked eyes with the paladin. "Sir Keldorn, I say this with all due respect to your position within the Order and as a servant of Torm. You are not in the right on this day." Keldorn looked stunned at hearing Anomen's words.
Determinedly, Anomen pressed on. "Viconia is a loyal companion of ours and has done nothing evil in the time I have known her. She just aided in completing a quest in service of the Temple of Helm. You will not be fighting her today Sir Keldorn, for if you continue you will have to fight me first."
"And me as well." Grim faced Nalia walked over to stand next to Anomen. Her mage robes were badly torn and blood stained yet she held her staff firmly as she raised her head to look at the paladin. Nobility and determination were written all over her face as she eyed the paladin.
"No need to protect me you two, I am sure I can take care of this old man. Although he shows more potential than I expected," Viconia chuckled as she wiped blood from her face.
Minsc staggered over to stand next to Anomen, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. His face looked pale from the loss of blood even though the ranger was smiling. "Boo says Viconia should be quiet. There will be no more fighting between you two."
Jeral weakly staggered over and leaned heavily on Minsc.
"Keldorn, the cult has been destroyed, and we thank you for your companionship and assistance. However we must part ways. Viconia is one of us and you two clearly cannot get along."
Keldorn took a deep breath slowly let it out. Nodding slowly he sheathed his sword, "Very well. I thank you for destroying the cult. I will report the success to the Order. Anomen, I suggest you choose your companions more carefully for this reflects poorly on you judgement and suitability for service in the Order." He raised gauntleted hand to point at Viconia, "As for you dark one, pray to your heathen Gods that we do not meet again."
Viconia only blew a kiss as Keldorn stalked off down the tunnel.
The party milled around in an awkward silence as the paladin stormed off into the darkness. The silence was broken by the bounty hunter. He was leaning on Sasser and smiling broadly.
"Yoshimo is pleased to see that all of you have survived. Although I see that without me it was far more difficult than it should be."
Yoshimo quickly moved amongst the corpses and then clapped his hands happily. "Gaal carried a very heavy purse so this is a profitable endeavor after all. He also carries an enchanted belt of some sort."
"There is also an enchanted heavy crossbow there," Jeral added.
"Too bad the paladin could not stay; we could have allowed him to keep the crossbow. No matter, more to sell."
Anomen spent a few moments carefully healing Viconia's face. Once it was healed to her satisfaction he moved off to care for Minsc while she moved to stand next to Jeral. Looking him up and down she shook her head sadly.
"You look terrible Jeral. Nothing but a mass of scars and blisters."
Shaking his head Jeral chuckled, "Thanks Viconia, if it makes a difference it hurts even more than you can imagine."
"Let me see what I can do Jeral, stand still."
Viconia lowered her head and started muttering to Shar. After a few long moments warmth flowed out of her hands and radiated through Jeral's body. Stepping back tiredly she looked at the results of her work.
"Well my powers are lessened somewhat here but you look far better than you did." Jeral looked at his hands and saw that the blisters were gone as were most of the scars. The pain was largely gone although the pale pink skin itched terrible.
"Well said Yoshimo. Anomen, can you lead the way back to the Temple of Helm? I am still pretty weak."
"Very well Jeral. Sasser, will you accompany me to the Temple of Helm?"
After a long moment Sasser nodded and laid a withered hand on Anomen's arm.
"I will lad; I think it is time for me to face my God."
Anomen nodded and started to lead the way out of the crypt.
Nalia coughed softly and everyone turned to look at her. "Um, Jeral, I think you need to cover yourself before we return to the surface."
Jeral turned to face Nalia and then heard Viconia laughing behind him. Suddenly he felt a gloved hand caressing his backside. Standing on her toes Viconia whispered in his ear. "The ties on your armor burned away. Your backside is free for all to see." She gave it one last squeeze and walked over to pick through the red cloaks on the floor. Gaal's was the least blood stained so she helped Jeral put it on. Barefoot he carefully picked his way after the others as Anomen led them to the surface without incident.