Chapter 7: A Short Reprieve
Charmane grew more cautious after the encounter with the swindling wizard, prompting her to scout ahead while her party waited. The path to the north seemed a well-trodden route leading up a steep hill, while to the east, she spotted a xvart village consisting of crude, circular houses surrounded by rocky outcroppings that provided a natural barrier against predators. She counted about twenty short, blue-skinned creatures engrossed in their daily tasks.
Going through the xvart village was the only viable way to proceed. It was a cruel irony, considering Charmane's refusal to hunt gibberlings lead to the death of a paladin just the day before. Clearly, the gods were mocking her.
Charmane had to make a choice. The xvarts were in the way, and to avoid them Charmane would have to take the longer route adding at least a day to their travel time. They did not have enough rations to last that long, especially now with an extra mouth to feed. The choice was clear: she would choose survival over all else, even if it meant the others thought less of her.
When the party neared the village, the little creatures screamed "Attack!" and charged at them, only to meet their death within seconds. As Charmane moved further into the village, a xvart wearing an elaborate headdress screamed, "You monster! You kill us when we do nothin' to you."
"Attacking on sight is hardly 'doin nothin'" Charmane mimicked.
Edwin scoffed, "What else do you expect? They make even you baboons look like geniuses."
"Well, Ursa kill you!" the village chief shouted indignantly, "Ursa protect us because Ursa kind." As he finished, a brown bear charged towards them. But instead of attacking the party, Charmane grimaced as it mauled the poor xvart to death.
The bear roared and rushed towards the party, its massive paws thudding against the ground. However, it proved a much easier fight compared to the polar bear they had fought before and soon it lay dead amongst the xvarts.
As they fought their way through, the party came upon a cave to the north. The entrance was immense, the opening stretching high and wide, rocks lining its edges like jagged teeth. A thick, musty odor emanated from within and soon they heard a loud growl, echoing off the walls of the cave.
With the bear inside dispatched, the party went about exploring the cave. It was clear that the xvarts were using the place as a warehouse and Charmane had to rummage through all sorts of random junk to find anything useful. It was worth it as she managed to scrounge a seemingly magical flail, a bracers and a potion.
With the xvarts dead, they had a clear path to Nashkel village. The trees were much denser as they headed east and after an entire day of trekking the party stopped for rest in a suitable clearing.
Charmane was returning from her bath, when Edwin approached her, clearly wanting to speak out of earshot of the other party members. He wore a deeper scowl on his face than usual.
"Charmane," he said in a voice laced with frustration. "What part of 'I command you to kill the Rashemi witch' did you not understand? Mayhaps I should put it in simpler, shorter words? Would you need it to be written down and read to you aloud five times a day, so you could keep it in your tiny mind?"
Charmane turned to him, a playful glint in her eye. "Hmm…That reading out loud idea is not that bad." she teased. "I love the sound of your voice almost as much as you do yourself, Edwin."
"Ah, yes, indeed – the sound of my voice." Edwin preened, without missing a beat. "I shall have you know that many before you have found it alluring, especially in the hour of sunset. Yet I feel obliged to remind you that my exquisite voice is not going to be there for you to enjoy, if the witch lives."
Charmane grinned, "Oh we can't have that! But let's discuss this some other time, I want to enjoy Jaheira's delicious rabbit stew while it's still hot." with that she turned on her heels and walked away, leaving Edwin to stew in his thoughts.
As the party approached the village of Nashkel, the warm hues of late afternoon sun bathed the surrounding farmland. The fields, tilled and ready for planting, stretched out as far as the eye could see, and the gentle breeze carried with it the earthy scent of freshly turned soil.
Crossing the stone bridge that spanned a babbling brook, the party caught a glimpse of the clear water that flowed beneath. Fish darted back and forth, their scales glinting in the sunlight. The bridge itself was old and weathered, with moss and lichen growing on its stones. If Charname recalled correctly, this is where she met the grouchy mage.
Continuing on the muddy path, they passed by a group of children playing a game of tag. Their laughter and screams filled the air as they ran around, their clothes and faces smeared with dirt. The path was well-travelled, and they passed by several villagers going about their daily business. Some were carrying baskets of produce, while others were leading livestock to market.
The party took a left turn on the road, when they saw a tall man, holding a massive two-handed sword. His bald head gleamed in the afternoon sun, and his muscular frame was encased in leather armour, that looked like it had seen much use. The top right of his face was decorated with a purple tattoo that extended well onto his scalp.
As the man looked up in their direction, a look of relief momentarily crossed his face before being replaced by open hostility. He rushed towards the party coming to a halt a few paces from them, panting heavily as he surveyed them with wary eyes.
"Boo, do my eyes deceive me?" The man boomed, in a familiar Eastern accent. "Dynaheir! Who are these knaves that would dare to stand so close to you?! If they are the ones that took you from me I shall tear their skins off!" he declared.
"Stand easy, Minsc." Dynaheir quickly replied. "They are to be trusted, for it was their valour that rescued me."
"Then I am truly shamed." The man bemoaned, dramatically. "I could not prevent your capture, and strangers were your saviours. I present my head for the taking."
"Now Minsc, that thick head is best left where it is, regardless of how little it is used." Dynaheir replied, trying to placate the gentle giant. "Thou shalt continue to accompany me as previously assigned. No doubt our new friends would welcome a warrior of thy... perseverance."
"Come with us." Charmane said. "When we've lightened our load and found a place to spend the night, I'll think on it."
"Ah! Introductions are formally in order then. I am Minsc," the tall man boomed, "and I am the sworn protector of the fair Dynaheir. Boo is my faithful animal companion, and more than he seems." he said pointing at a brown rodent on his shoulder. "My friend since the h-h-head wound, he is the only miniature giant space hamster you are ever likely to meet. We have a bond, we do." he explained, then suddenly shouted, "Onward! Onward to adventure!"
"Pay him little mind." Dynaheir explained, "Minsc must make his dajemma by seeking adventure, while I must prove my worth to my... sisters in much the same manner. 'Tis an interesting time for the realms, with great things foretold for the Sword Coast. Hopefully we shall all find what we seek."
"Yeah, the Bhaalspawn, I remember." Charname replied, wryly, earning herself a glare from the purple-robed witch.
The Nashkel inn was a single-story wooden building with a thatched roof, nestled in the heart of the village. A wooden sign hung from a post, bearing its name. The building had a cosy and inviting appearance, with a warm glow emanating from the windows. Pushing open the thick, wooden door, Charmane was greeted by the scent of wood smoke and roasting meat, making her stomach growl with hunger.
She was in a good mood. The adventure west had been more fruitful than she imaged. Their spoils sold for a handsome sum and most of team were now equipped with at least one magical item. She was going to rent the most expensive room at the inn to celebrate.
Charmane had barely taken two steps when a heavily armoured woman rose abruptly from her seat, the scraping of her chair echoing throughout the establishment. The hub-bub from just a moment ago was replaced by an eerie silence.
The woman seemed battle-hardened, and her strange mask added to her ominous aura. Striding purposefully towards Charmane, her cold gaze never wavered as she spoke in a low, menacing tone.
"Well, well, fancy my luck seeing you stroll in here, bold as day!" the woman exclaimed. "I expected a hunt and a chase from the description, but who am I to argue with easy coins in the purse? May the Lord of Shadows guide you swiftly to your death!"
"Oh, I see." Charmane retorted, as she unsheathed her shiny new sword. "You're here to offer yourself as tribute to the Lord of Shadows? How noble of you."
The masked woman scoffed. "Heh, let's see how long you can waggle that smart mouth." As the woman spoke, she began chanting, her hands moving in a complex pattern. The air crackled with magic and Charmane instinctively dodged to the side, but as she did, she realized with a sinking feeling that Khalid was right behind her. The spell hit Khalid full in the face, and he stumbled back, his eyes glazed over and unfocused.
Jaheira quickly moved in front of him, blocking any potential attack from the woman. However, Khalid started flailing his arms around like a wild animal and managed to land a punch on Jaheira's shoulder before Minsc quickly stepped in from behind to restrain him. Khalid struggled against Minsc's hold, still lost in a confused stupor.
"Jaheira, focus on the enemy!" Charmane shouted, urgently. "Minsc'll keep him safe!" Jaheira nodded and turned her attention back to the priest.
The mages had already began chanting. Imoen held back. The room was far too crowded for shooting arrows. The patrons had begun screaming and taking cover as soon as the fight started. But there were still too many people in shooting range. One errant arrow could snuff out an innocent life.
Meanwhile, Charmane launched herself forward. Just as she was about to Shadowstep, she found herself frozen to the spot in the most awkward position.
"Your vile ways have no place in this world!" Jaheira shouted, her voice filled with fury. She deflected the priestess' hammer with her shield and struck back with a vengeance but her attacks were glancing off the woman's armour in the most unnatural manner. Clearly the Lord of Shadow had granted her some form of protection.
Luckily, they had mages on the team and soon magic missiles and giant multi-coloured orbs rained down on the priestess. She may have been a formidable enemy to a warrior, but the woman was no match for spellcasters. Soon she lay lifeless on the floor, her blood pooling on the wooden floor.
"Argh!" Charmane grunted as she fell face first onto the ground. She had been frozen mid-step, balancing on one foot, her eyes wide with shock. As she picked herself up, every bone in her body creaked and groaned, her eyes throbbing with pain. "Well played, everyone," she said, through bleary eye. "I was almost afraid we'd end up destroying the place. You handled that perfectly."
Once she got her bearing, she turned to the innkeeper, a portly man with a bushy moustache, who was hiding behind the counter. "Excuse me, good sir. We'd like to rent some rooms for the night, and perhaps order some dinner for my companions."
The innkeeper looked at Charmane and her companions warily, but the gold coins jingling in her pouch seemed to soothe his concerns. "Of course, of course," he said, gesturing to a young woman to show them to their rooms.
The inn was small and if the iron crisis had not been keeping visitors away, they would have been hard pressed to find enough beds. In the end, they managed to secure enough for everyone, but they had to double up, except for Edwin, who had turned up his nose in disgust at the mere suggestion.
Charmane was readying herself for a well-earned dinner when she heard a knock. Edwin was standing in her door with his usual scowl.
"What do I owe the pleasure, Edwin?" Charmane asked.
"I do hope you haven't been entertaining the notion of recruiting those Rashemi savages," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "Surely, you realise the absurdity of entrusting the fate of our mission to a buffoon and his filthy rodent, not to mention a harlot, who would stab you the moment your path deviate the slightest from her misguided ideals."
"You make a fair point, Edwin." Charmane replied, she had indeed been mulling over the issue of Dynaheir's morals, "But what about you? Just yesterday you were nagging me to kill Dynaheir. Are you saying you're okay with letting her live?"
Edwin scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm merely pointing out the folly of relying on such a pair of dimwits. As for the other business, now that I know her location, tracking her from afar will be a mere trifle for a wizard of my calibre."
Charmane raised an eyebrow, studying Edwin's expression carefully. "So, let me get this straight. You're willing to stick around with me even if I allow Dynaheir to leave?"
Edwin rolled his eyes, "Please, do not mistake my presence for loyalty, my dear. As long as our goals align, I will continue to grace you with my presence. But rest assured, I will keep tabs on the witch, whether she's with us or not."
"However," Edwin continued, before Charmane could get a word in. "If you were foolish enough to continue traveling with her, I would stay as I am, to ensure that she does not sow her treacherous lies." He paused, a sly smile forming on his face. "Of course, if she were to conveniently meet her end while traveling with us, I would not object."
Charmane couldn't help but let out a chuckle at his audacity. "I'll take that under advisement, Edwin. Just so you know, I've already decided it would be best to not recruit Dynaheir and her bodyguard, right now."
Edwin's lips curled upwards, "Ah, so you do have a sliver of sense after all. I suppose it's a start," he said. "Truly, it is a waste of our time and resources to cater to the whims of pitiful idealists and brain-addled imbeciles."
Charmane couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt at the thought of abandoning Dynaheir and Minsc. But she pushed it aside, reminding herself of the cutthroat world they lived in. Survival was paramount, and she needed to do what was necessary to ensure their success.
"Well, Edwin, it's time for dinner," Charmane said. "How about we go eat something? My treat."