Chapter 30: Just a Little Overboard
Note: I have attached images of interest to this chapter. I suggest you to read this chapter on "Archive of Our Own" for full immersion.
"Isn't it incredible?" Imoen's eyes sparkled with wonder as she gazed at the lifelike statue before her. The figure of the man, frozen in time, appeared as if he had been caught in the midst of a daring adventure. Although a portion of his head was missing, an expression of determination was still evident on his undamaged face. Every intricate detail of the man's leather armour was painstakingly crafted, from the supple folds to the delicate etchings that adorned it.
"I mean, just look at the fine craftsmanship! It's as if he's about to take another step forward any moment now." Imoen continued, excitement evident in her voice.
Jaheira, however, looked concerned. "Would that it were so." she said. "I fear this may be the infamous nesting ground for basilisks. Rumours say they come from all around the Sword Coast to mate and lay eggs every summer before travelling back to their lairs hundreds of miles away."
"What!?" Charmane exclaimed in alarm. "You could have warned us last night. We could have-" the rogue turned to Edwin, her brow furrowed in concern, "You've got us covered, right?" Charmane asked, hopefully.
Edwin muttered something inaudible then replied, "I don't have the spell prepared. Though we may have scrolls." he said as he thumbed through the case Charmane had given him. "Here we are."
Charmane pursed her lips. She was loathe to use up consumables unless absolutely necessary. "Gorion once told me, that certain undead creatures are immune to petrification…" Charmane trailed off looking at Neera.
The zombie's droopy eyes went wide, "No no no no no!" zombie Neera protested. "There's no way! What if I end up like that guy?" Neera asked gesturing at the statue.
"Relax, Imoen 'acquired' a Stone to Flesh scroll some time ago." Charmane replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "It'll be fine."
Edwin's scowl was now replaced with an amused grin, "I am sure this will be a worthwhile experiment" he said. "But just in case, I will keep a Protection from Petrification scroll on hand."
Some ways south, Charmane caught sight of the monsters in question, lurking behind a thicket of trees. Closest to her was a yellow basilisk, a fearsome creature measuring a good six feet in length. It crawled on eight legs, and bony spines lined its back. A bit farther away sat its orange-hued companion, larger in size and sporting a curved horn atop its nose.
Remembering Jaheira's advice about their near-sightedness, Charmane took the opportunity to admire their riveting, pale, green eyes from a distance. Before she could get lost in their depths, Charmane shook herself back to reality and surveyed her surroundings. Statues of animals and people were scattered all around the basilisks. These reptiles were known to feed on stone statues, yet strangely, most of the them, despite their age, remained unharmed.
What was even more peculiar was the gnome standing a few paces from the two basilisks, his back turned to Charmane. The man wore an orange-brown robe with blue sleeves and yellow shoulder-pads. He held a quarter staff and looked to be a mage for all intents and purposes.
Charmane surreptitiously picked up a rock and threw it at the yellow basilisk, hoping to draw its attention and then pointed looked to the sky. She heard a grunt and the shuffling of many feet drawing towards her hiding spot and ran towards her party when she deemed it was close enough to see her.
"You're up!" She shouted at Neera.
In response, the zombie came shuffling forward and intercepted the yellow basilisk. The reptile chasing Charmane noticed the zombie closing in on it and gazed intently at the wild mage.
To Charmane's surprise, Neera's body began to stiffen, her movements becoming rigid and jerky. Within seconds, the wild mage turned into a lifeless figure, her zombie form forever etched in stone.
"Uh-oh…" Charmane said, panic setting in. "Edwin!" the rogue shouted, urgently, but the mage had already begun reading the scroll as soon as he noticed Neera's transformation.
It was now Khalid's turn to intercept the reptile, his shield held defensively before him. Edwin's spell enveloped the half-elf but he couldn't help but feel hesitant in the face of the giant basilisk.. He mustered his courage and swung his sword, but his attack missed its mark, for he had shut his eyes in fear.
"You are immune, you spineless mongrel!" Edwin's voice boomed with arrogant disdain. "Now act like it!"
As the basilisk turned its attention to Khalid, the half-elf fighter gritted his teeth, determined not to let fear overcome him. He took a deep breath, pushing back the creeping sense of dread, and steadied his stance. With steely resolve, he faced the fearsome creature once more, trusting that his companions, insulting or not, had his back.
The basilisk hissed in anger as it watched its prey continue moving despite its efforts. It snapped it's jaws at Khalid, but the half-elf blocked it with his shield. It tried to direct its gaze at the other party members but Khalid used his large shield to block its view every time it moved.
With it's deadly eyes temporarily neutralised, the basilisk was just another wild animal. Charmane had no back to stab, not unless she wanted to be impaled on the creature's spine. Nevertheless, projectiles soon proved enough to bring down the monster.
"What of Neera?" Khalid asked, a note of concern in his voice.
"Let's clear the area of basilisks," Charmane replied, a calculating tone in her voice. "We may need the scroll for someone more er… critical."
Imoen looked hesitant, torn between her desire to help and her lack of fondness for the wild mage. While no love was lost between the young rogue and Neera, Imoen couldn't bear the thought of leaving anyone trapped in stone. However, she found herself unable to argue with Charmane's logic. In the end, she kept her thoughts to herself, trusting in her friend's judgment.
Charmane described what she'd seen: the gnome, the larger basilisk and the odd garden of statues. Soon Edwin, Viconia and Jaheira began chanting protective spells in preparation.
As they planned, Khalid walked a few paces ahead of the group and approached the basilisk. It's eyes turned towards the half-elf, but it continued to lay lazily on its belly.
As the sounds of their footsteps crunching on the grass reached the gnome's ear, he turned around. "Greetingssss, I am Mutamin." the gnome said in a high-pitched voice. "I hope you enjoy the artwork my pretty lizards have sculpted." He continued, gesturing at the statues around them. "They sculpt with their eyessss. They sculpt when nasty travellers come by, yesssss. I don't like nasty travellers. They should keep to the roads."
"Remarkable work, for one so small." Edwin spoke up, unable to hide the curiosity in his voice. "I must admit, I am most intrigued by your methods. How ever did you manage to tame these lizards?"
Mutamin turned his manic gaze towards Edwin, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Ah, the beautiful basilisksss," he hissed, his enthusiasm evident. "My passion, my obsession. It took years of sssstudy and dedication, but I've found a way to gain their loyalty." A manic glint danced in Mutamin's eyes as he began to explain. "It's all in the sssspell, you see," he said, drawing out his words. "An incantation that I devised. With it, I can bend the will of the basilisks to my own desire."
The red mage pressed further. "A variation of the Domination spell perhaps? Or maybe the mundane Charm?" Edwin asked.
Mutamin's smile faltered, replaced by a dark scowl as he realised Edwin's true intention. "You're after my spell, aren't you?" he spat, his voice filled with venom. "You think you are worthy of wielding such power? Foolish human! I will not hand it over to the likes of you! No! You will join the beautiful work of art that standssss before you. You will become a piece of the art... forever."
As the gnome began casting, the basilisk snorted and lifted itself off the ground, emitting a low hiss from its throat. The party swiftly focused their attention on the gnome, while Khalid poised his shield defensively, determined to shield his comrades from its gaze. An ominous ball of light surged from the gnome's palms as he completed his spell. However, before he could witness its effects he felt cold steel stabbing through his back. Charmane's poisoned dagger had found its mark.
With a smug satisfaction, Edwin observed the effectiveness of his enchantment as the gnome's Horror spell dissipated harmlessly around the party. He was about to cast magic missiles but realised that Charmane's poison had been more than enough to finish off the diminutive mage.
The large basilisk proved somewhat more challenging than the yellow variant, its fangs laced with venom. However, a quick incantation from Jaheira was enough to counter its deadly effects.
"Next time," Charmane began, her eyes on the red mage. "Let's not ask eccentric mages to share their life's work, shall we?"
Edwin scoffed, "Do not question my plans, woman," he retorted. "The risks I take are calculated. I alone could have handled the little gnome and his pet, effortlessly." he said, smugly.
Charmane rolled her eyes in amusement. "Of course, Edwin. How could I have ever doubted you?"
Hoping to utilise Khalid's immunity to petrification for as long as possible, Charmane quickly set about looting the gnome. He wasn't carrying many interesting spells, but as she turned the corpse over to inspect his robe she chuckled at the curious scribble on the label, 'Halves chances of petrification & getting stepped on'.
"Edwin put this on." Charmane said as she pulled the robe off the gnome.
Edwin accepted the robe without protest, although a look of disgust crossed his face at its abominable colour. He muttered a quick incantation, causing the robes to enlarge and transform into a glorious crimson hue. "Much better," the mage muttered, as he shrugged the robe on with a hint of satisfaction.
The party dispatched two more basilisks before Khalid's enchantment finally ran out. As Charmane contemplated their next move, a woman wearing a horned helm and brown leather armour swaggered towards them. As she approached, Charmane couldn't help but notice the purple face paint running down the woman's right eye and splayed across her left cheek.
"Hold, travellers!" The woman demanded. "I challenge your best warrior to a duel. I don't fight women, so only men should step forward."
Charmane pursed her lips in annoyance. Being underestimated was nothing new to her, in fact, it gave her an advantage as a rogue. However, when a woman who appeared no stronger than herself dared to do so, she couldn't resist the urge to bite back.
"Such chivalry!" Charmane cooed. "You challenge the best warrior and then assume it's a man?"
The blonde woman scoffed. "Nonsense. As if these cowards and fools could ever be better than a woman." she said, casting a venomous glare towards Edwin and Khalid.
Charmane's protective indignation flared as she caught her gaze. "Oh! I see now." Charmane exclaimed, as she twirled her poisoned dagger cockily from one finger to the next, eyeing the woman with a challenging smirk. "Who hurt you little lady? Was it a big bad man? Did daddy not give you enough love?"
The woman's face flushed with anger at Charmane's taunt. Her hand instinctively gripped the hilt of her weapon, her knuckles turning white. "You dare mock me?" she spat, her voice low and seething with rage. "I don't need to explain myself to the likes of you. I refuse to fight a woman, that's all that needs to be said!"
"Oh, but as leader I can't ignore such blatant disrespect towards my men, can I?" Charmane said, feigning sadness. "I would almost say we're at an impasse… almost." Charmane said, derisively. Turning to Viconia, she asked. "You prepared your spells as we discussed, right?" The drow nodded in response.
"I knew this junk would come in handy someday." Charmane muttered as she fastened a dark brown leather belt with a golden buckle around her waist.
"By the Nine Hells!" Imoen exclaimed, as she watched her friend undergo a startling transformation.
Charmane grew a head taller and her wind swept mane of raven hair now cascaded around a sculpted face with high cheekbones and an angular jaw. Thick, high-arched eyebrows framed her playful eyes, and her long eyelashes drew Imoen's attention in an unsettling way. Strangely, something about the figure before her vaguely reminded the young rogue of Khalid, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"Ah, I suspected as much." Khalid said, with a chuckle. "T-there is some Calimshite in you."
"Oooh! A southern prince!" Imoen exclaimed, excitedly.
"You make a fine young man, Charmane." Viconia said, approvingly, as she admired her dashing looks and the lean muscles peeking from underneath her enchanted leather armour, which had adapted to her new form.
Jaheira looked as if she was torn between amusement and disapproval. "I wonder whether donning a cursed belt over such a trivial matter was a wise decision."
Edwin's scowl deepened as he watched the entire scene unfold before him. As Jaheira's words registered, his eyebrows shot up in disbelief, "Cursed? Cursed?! What made you think it was a good idea to willingly forfeit your most important er… assets, for a mere duel? What happens if this cannot be reversed!? Have you lost the last little faculty you possessed in that monkey brain of yours?!"
Charmane frowned at the backhanded compliment but it swiftly morphed into a smirk as she turned to the wizard, who now stood at eye level. She leaned dangerously close to him and in a swift motion, hooked her finger under his chin. "My Edwin, are you perhaps jealous that I am now more handsome than you are?" she teased, in a deep, silky and seductive voice, gliding her finger along his chin.
"W-WHAT!?" Edwin spluttered, tearing himself away with a mixture of confusion and disgust. For once he was at a loss for words and it was made all the worse by the sound of his party snickering loudly in the background.
As Charmane's laughter subsided, she turned to the blonde woman. "Now then," she said, a dangerous edge to her velvety voice. "Am I man enough for you now, Milady?"
"Shar-Teel won't be fooled by a mere trinket! Send me your men or be on your way!" the woman exclaimed in irritation.
Charmane swaggered forward, "Aren't you a pathetic sight?" she said, purposely leering at the woman's chest. "A little woman like you pretending to be a warrior? Can't handle the thought of facing a real man in battle, my dear?" she asked, raising her arms to flex her newfound muscles.
Shar-Teel's face turned crimson with anger at Charmane's taunt. "You're nothing but a revolting pig! I'll show you just how weak you really are!" She hissed through clenched teeth.
"Come on, little girl, are you afraid of getting hurt?" Charmane jeered. "Maybe you should run along and find someone your size to spar with."
The rage in Shar-Teel's eyes intensified. "I've had enough of your nonsense! Prepare to eat your words, you insufferable brute!"
"That's the spirit!" Charmane mocked, as she rushed forward, sword in hand.
The clash of metal rang out like thunder as Charmane's sword met Shar-Teel's. The fighter's eyes widened in surprise as she felt her bones rattle from the sheer strength behind Charmane's strike. This was no ordinary opponent she was facing.
Charmane parried Shar-Teel's counterattack effortlessly and retaliated with a punch to woman's face, causing blood to spurt out of her nose. Even as her opponent reeled from the hit, the rogue followed up with flurry of punches that sent the woman careening backward.
"Is that all you've got?" Charmane taunted, as she landed her blows, her voice low and dripping with disdain. "Pathetic!"
Shar-Teel's face contorted with fury, as she finally found her balance, her determination fuelling her attacks. But every strike she aimed at Charmane seemed to be effortlessly deflected or dodged. It was as if the 'man' could anticipate her every move.
Perhaps the rogue had gotten too overconfident, because the next moment, Shar-teel's sword drew blood across Charmane's cheeks. But to Shar-Teel's dismay, the 'man' used the opportunity to lunge to her side, grab her sword arm and brutally twist it in a display of raw power, forcing the woman to drop her weapon with a strangled cry.
Charmane's rage mingled with ecstasy, as she finally embraced the true strength she had reluctantly been hiding from her companions. "You think you can insult my men and get away with it?" Charmane spat, her eyes glowing with unrestrained fury, "You're nothing but a weakling, misdirecting your hate, too afraid to face your own demons!"
Shar-Teel seethed with anger and embarrassment as her sword arm hung limply to her side, her pride wounded by the undeniable display of superiority before her. With a growl of frustration, she scrambled to her feet and charged at Charmane once more.
But the rogue was ready, her senses heightened by the adrenaline coursing through her veins.
She delivered a crushing blow to Shar-Teel's face, causing the woman to reel backwards in pain.
"Give it up," Charmane sneered, her taunts cutting like daggers. "You're no match for me, not as a warrior, and certainly not as a woman."
Shar-Teel's face flushed with a mix of rage and humiliation, her breaths coming in heavy gasps. But she refused to yield. In one last act of defiance, she lunged at Charmane, but the result was inevitable.
With an effortless sidestep, Charmane evaded the attack and swiftly thrust her knee forward with deadly precision. Charmane's companions winced as the blow met Shar-Teel's ribs with a sickening crack. A pained cry escaped her lips and the fighter finally collapsed.
As the woman struggled to draw breath, her pained gasp brought Charmane back to her senses. "Enough!" she declared, her voice cold and commanding. "I've shown you your place, now remember it."
Shar-Teel, defeated and humbled, could only glare at Charmane through her swollen eyes in silence.
As the dust settled and the adrenaline faded, Charmane's fury gave way to a sense of profound satisfaction. In her male form, she had embraced her strength and let it flow freely, savouring the freedom it brought. Perhaps one day she would let it reign free, but as she caught a glimpse of her companions' concerned faces, she decided 'the girl with monster strength' would stay a secret between her, Imoen and the residents of Candlekeep for just a while longer.