Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Judas Maccabeus]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I didn't get much thinking in at first; our somewhat haphazard group was far from quiet that night, and Safana was unsurprisingly the worst of the lot once she felt she had gotten me alone with her.

:  "You must be one of the more interesting men I've ever met, managing to keep everyone here working together."

:  "If I am a leader it is by accident, not design."

:  "Oh, I'm sure.  You know... I've always wondered whether halflings are small... everywhere?"

:  "Now what are you up to over there!?"

:  "Do I detect a hint of jealousy?

:  "'Sisterly protectiveness' would be a better term."

:  "Oh... interesting.  Hm, there goes that idea..."

I did not bother to wait for her to expand on that statement.  We went to our various places to spend the night, and by morning I had made my decision:  We set out back south, to return to Nashkel.



Alongside the road south, we met yet another unusual figure.

:  "Your... yard?  No, wait!  Please, I was hoping to speak with you.  Has your isolation given you any insights I might benefit from?"

Portalbendarwinden:  "Ehhh... insights?  Um... never take rasisns from rabbits, never spit in a man's face unless his mustache is on fire, and don't take any wooden knickers unless you've a good supply of salve."

:  "I... see.  Thanks for your time but I'll be going now... quickly."

Portalbendarwinden:  "If that is what you wish, then feel free to hit the ol' dusty trail.  Regardless, I have places to see and people to do.  Leave me."

[There's another option I could have chosen on that second line that... well... see for yourself.

:  "Ok, I've just about had my FILL of riddle asking, quest assigning, insult throwing, pun hurling, hostage taking, iron mongering, smart arsed fools, freaks, and felons that continually test my will, mettle, strength, intelligence, and most of all, patience!  If you've got a straight answer ANYWHERE in that bent little head of yours, I want to hear it pretty damn quick or I'm going to take a large blunt object roughly the size of Elminster AND his hat, and stuff it lengthwise into a crevice of your being so seldom seen that even the denizens of the nine hells themselves wouldn't touch it with a twenty-foot rusty halberd!  Have I MADE myself perfectly CLEAR?!"

Buuuut that's not really Dave's style.]



The woods to the south of him held some hobgoblins and gibberlings - nothing too particularly dangerous, although still foolish enough to make a direct assault on us.  They neither posed a challenge nor held anything valuable.  We arrived in Nashkel as night fell on that day, and immediately went into the inn - thankful that nobody seeking to kill us was inside.

:  "I shall be going into the Nashkel mines as soon as possible tomorrow.  I will also be getting two associates of mine - at whose request I am doing this - to come along with me.  Bringing all of you along would make this group too bulky, so... Safana, Branwen, for now I ask that you remain here."



Safana tried to sweet-talk me out of the decision, but I was not about to fall for it.



Branwen was more accepting of the decision, although certainly disappointed at not being able to take part in the coming fight.  All that remained was finding Khalid and Jaheira, and hoping that they would accept my return.



:  "I have returned to you by my own choice, not that of my foster father.  If you wish to join with me, you join MY group, not Gorion's."

:  "As well it should be.  Gorion taught you as best he could, and evidently some of that knowledge has stuck after all."

She still seemed determined to test me at every turn, but at least she was willing to accept my commands and allow me to lead.  I had no intention of having her take the group over.



We stocked up on everything we might need - particularly arrows for Imoen, as well as a sling and bullets for Jaheira.  Minsc, Khalid, and I were quite enough to fight in the front, we had more use for someone who could fight at a distance, and Jaheira stated she had some skill with such a weapon.

The Nashkel Mines

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The mines were a few hours walk south and east of the town itself.  The terrain became harsher and more broken the closer we came to them - we were entering the foothills of the Cloud Peaks that divide the Sword Coast region from that of Amn proper.



The first building we ran across at the site itself was not an entrance to the mine, but an abandoned storehouse that had been overrun by a pack of wild dogs.  They were quickly defeated, and although there was little we were willing to take or that could be used, we did find a healing potion.



The next thing we found wasn't the mine itself, either - it was something much stranger.  He mentioned a name I had heard before.

:  "I have nothing to do with anyone named Greywolf, and nor would I want to."

Prism:  "Thank Deneir, I thought I was done in.  I am not cut out for a life on the run.  Mayhaps you could help a foolish sculptor finish this epiphany?  Please, guard this place, for surely Greywolf will come seeking the bounty on the gems.  I will pay with my last possessions if you would do this one service for me."

He used the name of Deneir, the Scribe of Oghma; an unusual choice.  I knew that god well from Candlekeep; his patronage over art was of a specific kind.  One who sculpted for an exploration of its technical nature would perhaps call upon Gond, and one who did so to portray beauty would likely call on Sune.  But Deneir... he was attempting to learn something.  But what?

It was worth it to keep him alive, if nothing else than because he deserved at most only a trial and imprisonment for the theft, not death.  Perhaps this Greywolf could be talked out of killing him.

:  "If it is so important, then I shall guard you as best I can.  Yes."

Prism:  "I thank you, for I cannot run from this palce until my task is done.  I have been using potions of speed to aid my work, and have not slept for days.  She is beautiful, is she not?  'Tis a monument to my foolishness.  I saw her but once, on the outskirts of Evereska, and said nothing.  I let thee pass from mine eyes, and mine heart hath cursed me for it!"

That was it.  He wished to learn who this strange woman truly was, and being a sculptor he felt the only way was to create an image of her using the best materials he had available.  I could not quite blame him; he may well have been carving Sune herself, from what I saw before me.  Foolishness, certainly, but not one worthy of death.



Greywolf soon arrived, none to happy.  I'm not sure how Oublek confused me for him, but stranger things have happened on this journey.

:  "Prism wishes only to finish his masterwork.  Why not let him?  What harm can it do?"

Greywolf:  "You should be more worried 'bout the harm I can do!  Never have I taken a bounty and not delivered!  Now sthand aside, that I might dispense with this fool and claim my prize.  Or would you rather I go through you to get him?  Consider well if he be worth your lives!"

:  "You seek murder, though a technically legal one.  We will fight."

I learned quickly that Greywolf deserved his reputation.  He carried an enchanted weapon, which he struck hard with.  Despite only wearing leather armour, he stood up to several mightly blows, and even shrugged off arrow wounds as if they were pinpricks.

[Greywolf is quite a tough fight, but certainly doable, and not the toughest we'll deal with in this update.  Note:  Never, ever do what I did in the screenshots above and have the lightly-armoured people closer to where he arrives from; he will cut through them like a +5 dagger through hot butter.



Still, we outnumbered him, and eventually even he could not survive too much.  Another sad death that I would rather have avoided, but he clearly posed a danger not only to Prism but also to others that might have a bounty put on them unfairly - a situation I was far too familiar with by this point.



And with that, having used the last of his energy to complete his masterpiece, Prism died, the name of the woman whose image he had carved on his lips.

:  "Gorion would be proud of your actions."

:  "Perhaps, though I am still uncertain as to the right thing.  I do not like to mar a work of art, but these emeralds must be returned to their owner."



As expected, there was quite a commotion at the mines.  The miners themselves had only the vaguest idea of what was going on, though.  We found the man who appeared to be the mine's foreman.

:  "Berrun sent us to find out what is happening here.  We need to be allowed into the mines."





Three guards were standing in front of the mine entrance; after a few words, two of them descended into the mines themselves to add to the protection of the miners still inside.



Just inside the mine, there were two miners with some information.

:  "Why?  What have you heard?

Miner Gord:  "Well, my friend Ruffie barely escaped with his life he did.  Little demons jumped out of the very walls and chased him down.  He'd be dead now if it weren't for the guards that came running.  Course.... them guards are dead now.  Old Ruffie's around here somewhere.  You ask him what he saw and he'll tell ya."



:  "Tell me about the mines... what's been making the miners disappear?"

Miner Ruffie:  "Demons!  The little devils are everywhere I tell ya!  In the walls, there's coming!  They're going to kill us all."

With that, he ran off, before we could ask him for a description.  We proceeded further into the mines, and found another to ask questions of.



:  "What do you think has been happening with the mines?"

Miner Marvin:  "Didn't you know?  The mines are haunted!  The ghosts of all those that have died in the mine are here to kill us all.  They said they'd spare me.  Liked me they did.  Could see it in their beady little eyes."

:  "You saw something?"

Miner Marvin:  "Of course I saw something!  Had a nice long conversation with the little chap.  Would have asked him to stop haunting us too if the supervisor hadn't kicked me.  Said I was sleeping on the job!  Can you imagine?"

I could imagine.  But he may well have been speaking with whatever was causing trouble in the mines, though it seemed odd that it would attack so many so viciously and yet spare him.



One of the guards had a slightly useful bit of information about the iron itself.



Around one corner, we found a kobold, who being a kobold was easily dealt with.

:  "Odd.  I suppose you could mistake one of these for a demon in the dark.  But could they really stop a large number of soldiers?

:  "Kobolds aren't that stupid.  Well, I mean, they're usually stupid, yeah, but they can make a mean trap, or set up an ambush.  As long as we're careful we can drive them off, though."

:  "But why would they poison a mine?  I would think they would want the iron for themselves."

:  "The only way to find out is to continue onward."



One of the miners asked us to deliver a dagger; whoever the man was, he would need a weapon if he were deeper in the mine.

:  "Sure, I'll return his dagger."

Miner Dink:  "Thank you so much, I'm sure he'll appreciate it."



The mine carts carried chunks of the tainted iron.  I decided to bring some along for comparison with any other iron we might run across, or other substances that might prove to be the source of the poison.



Upon descending from the main level, we found a miner being chased by a group of kobolds.  The way he was referring to them as "demons" implied that this was indeed what the other miners had seen.  Again, we quickly dealt with them.

:  "But what of the man who spoke with them?  He said they were ghosts, and kobolds don't generally speak Common..."

:  "It could just be he really was crazy."

We continued along, fighting off several groups of kobolds fairly easily.  At one point, however, one got off a lucky shot...



:  "Minsc!  Minsc... his mighty berserker wrath will not go unremembered."

:  "Nor has it seen its last use.  He can be raised."

We had gone deeply enough for now, and I had no intention of continuing shorthanded.  The kobolds were not that dangerous, at least not in the numbers we had encountered them, but whatever other things might potentially await us would require the extra sword.



We also spoke with the miner whose life we saved.  We would have to keep an eye out for another of these glass vials; perhaps the kobolds would be carrying one that had not yet been used.



The first person we met upon returning to Nashkel that night was Oublek.

:  "I've come to turn in a bounty, and collect the reward that is duly mine."

Oublek:  "A 300 gold bounty for the emeralds!  Well, you'll make quite a name for yourself among the bounty hunters if you keep this up.  Whether it is for better or worse, I do not know."

:  "Are you certain that was the correct thing to do, Dave?"

:  "300 gold will go a long way to help us.  Besides, the emeralds will return to their place now."



Minsc was easily brought back to life, and after having his wounds healed we spent the night to replenish both our exhaustion and our supply of spells.  The difficult part was realising we would need to push ourselves likely even harder the next day, as worse was likely to be found deeper in the mines.



The kobold groups were beginning to grow denser and more numerous.  This group, in particular, seemed to be doing something in particular.  My suspicions grew as soon as I noticed one of them carrying an odd vial, looking like one a potion might be in - but as soon as I picked it up, Imoen all but grabbed it out of my hand.

:  "Wait a second.  Let me see that."

She looked at it, then at our sample of the tainted iron.  She then quickly began searching the walls, waving us over once she had found what she was looking for.

:  "There's a bit of iron ore here, it doesn't look like it's been tainted yet.  See?  The rest is all the same colour as what we got from the cart, but this one..."

She carefully poured some of the liquid from the vial onto the ore, and it subtly shifted in colour.

:  "This is what we're looking for, then.  But we still don't know who is behind this, or why."

[Incidentally, the game even lets you drink the liquid.  It poisons you, of course, so there's no reason to.]



:  "Be careful here.  This looks like a good place to spring an ambush."

Fortunately, that is not what happened; all we found was a body, near which lay a ring.  Unlike the many other pieces of jewelry we ran across in the mines, this one had an identifying marker on it:  it had apparently been given to a man named Joseph by his wife.  Perhaps we could give it back once we returned to Nashkel.



:  "Ow!  Imoen!  I th-thought you were looking out for t-t-traps!"

:  "I am."

:  "Look ha-harder next time!"



A few dispatched kobolds later, we found a crevice running as far as we could see down and in either direction.  On the other side was a solid wall; we would have to find another way forward.



[Every good party knows to have the thief go first in order to make sure that the traps hit them first if they aren't paying attention they can spot the traps more easily in time.  This is what you get for not seeing the one that hit Khalid, Imoen!]



:  "AH!"

:  "Imoen!"

:  "There's another one up ahead of that.  I think that one caught my attention and I missed the first one.  Here, let me get it."



It seemed that the kobolds had been very busy laying traps, true to their nature.

:  "There, saw that one before Khalid stumbled into it."

:  "That's not f-f-funny."

:  "Oh, come on.  Anyway, looks fine up ah-"



:  "Yeep!"

:  "Please pay more attention."

:  "Be gentle with her, Jaheira, this is not easy work.  She's doing a good job under the circumstances."



Further on, we found a ghoul.  It appeared the stories of the walking dead mentioned by some of the miners were correct - and that meant whoever was behind this could likely work necromantic magic, or was allied with one who could.



There were also spiders, although that was less unexpected, and both Dynaheir and I could stop their poison if necessary.



One of the kobolds we ran across had more fire arrows.  He got a good shot at me with one, and while it did not cause a severe wound, the fire made it hurt worse than it should have.  Imoen, true to form, soon replied with an arrow of her own.



It was not much further along until we arrived at the passage out of this section.

:  "Stop!  Don't move an inch, Khalid... there's another trap directly in front of your foot."



With Imoen keeping an eye out, Khalid carefully pulled back, and allowed Imoen to remove the three traps that had been set in front of the passage.



Another group of Kobolds awaited us across the underground river at the other end of the passage.  After Minsc took a couple arrows (which he did not seem to notice), we charged across a nearby bridge and easily killed all of them.

:  I'm gonna turn all these fire arrows on whoever's behind this.  See how he likes it.



For the next several hours we rested from all the fighting, healed our wounds, and restored our magic, during what Imoen and Dynaheir agreed was probably the night; this was as good a place and time as any to do so.  Refreshed, we then entered the strange rock in the middle of the water.



In the middle, we found the man that may well have been the cause of all our problems.  The fact that he mentioned the name of Cyric did not help his case any, even if it weren't for the fact that he also admitted to being behind the kobolds.

:  "No one sent us, but thy head is in no less danger!  Reveal thy treachery, and mayhaps we will be merciful!"

Mulahey:  "Tazok did not send thee?  Then thou art dead.  Help, my minions, HEEELLLPPP!!"

[No, I don't know why everyone suddenly starts using "thee" and "thou" here.]



He summoned a number of kobolds and skeletons in behind us; Minsc, Khalid and Jaheira held them off while Imoen, Dynaheir and I dealt with the half-orc ourselves.  As she had promised, Imoen continually stopped his spellcasting with her arrows - very welcome, as I recognised him calling upon the God of Strife to hold us all in place.

[Mulahey casts Hold Person, and, if those don't work, Entangle to make the fight much easier for him and his minions.  The first is what held Dave and Imoen in place in the fight back in the Nashkel Inn, while the latter keeps a character from moving around but doesn't preven them from fighting.  Of course, he never gets any of them off, thanks to Imoen and Dynaheir interrupting him constantly.  This is one of the many reasons I love magic missile - it's an instant cast spell, so it can't be interrupted but can be easily used to interrupt in turn.  I died a couple times in this fight due to those spells.  He can and will hold your entire party if you give him the chance.



:  "As well you should!  Tell us what has been happening here, and you may yet leave alive!"

Mulahey:  "I thank thee for thy mercy!  There in the chest are all my letters.  Take them and leave me be.  I will bother you no more."

I didn't trust him for a second, and I think he realised his ruse wasn't going to work for very long - he almost immediately took it back.

Mulahey:  "Fools, you'll never have the chance to take anything!  Minions, come forth and kill the intruders!"

Video:  Second half of Mulahey battle and Chapter Three intro

[I unfortunately didn't catch the first half, but here's part of what happened.  It's also only at half-size, as in fights like this the game can skip a bit with full-size video capture.  You get to see Mulahey's death, at least, and the ever-exciting clearing of that large group of not too difficult enemies.  The chapter intro doesn't actually start until a specific point after the fight, but said point is a particularly awkward one - when you pick up an item - so I'm splicing it in elsewhere.]



He brought in another group of kobolds and skeletons in behind us, but that served no other purpose than to be caught behind the ones already fighting and failing to injure those holding them off.  We quickly put Mulahey on the defensive, and after I pushed him back to the cave wall Dynaheir struck him with a magic missile and killed him.



[Oddly enough, as you can see in the video if you look closely, Dynaheir still has the spell, and I think someone else, probably Imoen, killed her instead just as the spell was being cast.  Except Dynaheir got the official credit for the kill, implying it was the spell that killed him.  Ah, well, that's one more dead kobold out of a dozen from that odd bit.]



Dealing with the kobolds and skeletons was almost trivial at this point.  It did take some time, as there were many of them, but they posed no danger to us.



On Mulahey's body, I found, aside from his weapons and armour, a magic ring, magic boots, and the holy symbol of his god.

"We're all doomed..."



Apparently he had also taken a prisoner, in the form of an elf mage.

:  "How did you come to be trapped in such an inhospitable place?

Xan:  "Alas, I was sent to investigate the strange goings-on about this area and I landed caged for seemingly hopeless weeks on end.  I have not seen the sun almost as long as I have not seen my home."

:  "It's hard enough trying to keep our hopes up without you to bring them down.  I'd rather you didn't join us."

Xan:  "I understand your decision, for the odds are surely insurmountable.  I shall return unto Evereska and report of these dire straits."

[Xan does have a portrait because he's recruitable, but I'm not going to bother preparing it just for two lines.  Nor am I going to bother recruiting him, as with Dynaheir and Imoen we have our magic needs very well covered.]

We had no room for another hand, and the route back was safe; it was best to let him go ahead while we scouted around.



In the chest were two swords (one of them apparently Xan's), numerous scrolls, potions, and two letters, both from the same man.



TAZOK



send a message to my new contact in Beregost.  HIs name is Tranzig, and he'll be staying at Feldpost's inn.

TAZOK

We had found another link in a conspiracy, and the evidence Berrun Ghastkill was looking for.  It was time to return to the surface.

[Judas Maccabeus]

CHAPTER 3

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Around the back of the cave was a passage that sloped back up aboveground.  We were taken aback for a moment, however, when the ground suddenly began to move and bubble.  Minsc, typically, dealt with the problem as he always does, hitting it with a sword, and that proved to be effective.



We came back above ground in very unfamiliar territory.

:  "Does anyone have an idea as to where we are?"

:  "If I didn't get turned around too much down there, I think we're a good distance east of Nashkel."

:  "I agree."



The area was filled with packs of wild dogs.  They seemed more a nusaince than a danger, until...

:  "Dynaheir!  Stop running ahead like that!"



:  "Aaaah!"

We allowed him to take his revenge on the dogs, and began to move on.



:  "May as well see what this cave has to offer while we're here.  At the very least it won't be more wild dogs."



:  "You appear to have been correct."

:  "Ghasts!  Don't let them hit you!"



[Ghasts can nauseate, and, worse, paralyse you if they hit.  This can result if you get a few bad hits from them.]



We put every effort possible into ensuring that those undead creatures did not make us into easy targets.  They did manage to paralyse Minsc, but he was clearly still alive when the last ghast slumped to the ground.  While waiting for it to wear off, Imoen took a look in the back of the cave.

:  "No traps... and it looks like there's something in these piles... oh!"

There were several clearly magical items scattered about, including chain mail armour, five arrows, and a wand of some kind.  Along with them were some more minor trinkets.  Grave robbing rubbed me slightly the wrong way, but we did need some sort of compensation for what we had been through so far.

:  "This is a burial ground.  I'd heard stories of an old elven village out this way... I wonder if this is from that?"



Almost as soon as we left the cave, we ran into a mage standing in the middle of a dusty field.

:  "What kind of experiment are you attempting?"

Narcillicus:  "I believe I have developed a spell to empathically control any gelatinous creature and bend it to your will.  Slimes, jellies, oozes, all of these things that foul the cook's cellar and the adventurer's dungeon can now be controlled and eradicated with an ease and efficiency never before seen in the history of the Realms.  It takes an entire hour to gain such control, but that time will be minimized with further experimentation, I am sure.  In moments, that hour will be up for a small number of mustard jellies that I have released into the nearby woods.  We shall soon bear witness to the results of my endeavor."

:  "Are you mad, experimenting on creatures and then releasing them into the wild before witnessing the spell's true effect?!"

Narcillicus:  "Rest your fears, I prepared thoroughly for the casting and could not have made a single mistake, unless... oh my... the wording... The wording, I got it wrong!  Rather than controlling them, I fear I have transformed them into the a [sic] far greater meanace:  the dreaded green slime.  Stay and fight them if you will but, whatever you do, do not let them touch you!"

:  "We are in no condition to deal with this!"



With his warning in mind, we kept well ahead of them and allowed Imoen and Jaheira to fight a running battle with their bow and sling.  Neither seemed to have any effect, however, and we breathed a sigh of relief when we outran the slowly oozing creatures.



:  "I am quickly growing tired of this place.  Let's kill this thing and get out of here!"



We cut the ogre to pieces, but not before he gave Khalid a good knock with his mace; I quickly healed his wounds as best as I was able and moved everyone along.



:  "Let's at least look at this cave."

:  "What if there are more ghasts?  We can't afford to keep fighting all the dangers out here."

:  "We'll run back out then, but at least give it a try."



Fortunately, the cave only held an easily-defeated ghoul, and a couple dozen gold coins.  Imoen agreed that from here on we would travel directly to Nashkel.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

We reached the town early the next morning; our first goal was, naturally enough, the Temple of Helm.



Berrun Ghastkill remained standing in front of the temple; he seemed somewhat haggard, as though he had barely slept at all since we had left for the mines.  His relief and gratitude were on obvious display, along with a surprisingly large amount of money.  We hadn't gone into the mines for that reason, but it would more than offset our costs.



The priest quickly returned Dynaheir from the dead and healed our wounds, and we pulled from the very money we had just recieved to donate in return.



Further donations paid for his aid in learning what the various magic items we had picked up in the mines and burial caves were.  Most were useful but unexciting in their enchantments, but one caught my attention.  It almost seemed perfectly directed to me.

:  "Sune?  An unusual goddess for such a ring, but I shan't be picky.  I only hope I come to deserve it..."

Imoen smiled and put her hand on my shoulder.

:  "Kindness and integrity?  You already have, many times over."



Not far up the street, however, we found a new and unwelcome face in town.

:  "What?  I'm not surrendering to anything!"

Nimbul:  "Struggle if you must, dead-one, I do not mind working for my money.  Why NIMBUL has been hired to deal with the likes of you, I'll never know."



[This is what happens if you let him cast uninterrupted.  One spell causes a fear effect for the whole party.  At this point, you're pretty much dead.  He has good missile weapon avoidance, too, so Imoen isn't as much help here, to say nothing of the Amnish guards.]



We did our best to bring him down and prevent him from striking us with his spells; a squad of guards quickly rushed over to help defend us.  Despite this, he seemed to dodge the arrows fired at him with superhuman agility.  Minsc took a nasty hit from his magic missiles, but Dynaheir immediately responded to this assault upon her bodyguard with a mortal blow to the assassin's head.



His letter was not the usual broad bounty notice, but a specific one meant for him alone and from a familiar name.



The secret of his ability to avoid arrow fire we quickly discovered to be his boots.  We also asked where a "Joseph" might live; we were directed to a house isolated on the southern end of town.



:  "Do you, uhh, have any information on the mines?"

Commoner:  "All I know about the mines are that men keep on disappearing in its hellish depths.  My husband is one of the miners, but he hasn't been home for weeks."

:  "We found his Greenstone ring, but I'm afraid we think he's dead."

Commoner:  "He's... he's dead.  My Joseph is dead."

:  "We're very sorry for your pain.  Here, have his ring to remember him with."

Commoner:  "Thank... you.  Thank you for bringing me the news."

[I spliced together a couple conversations there, partially because I managed to accidentally sell the ring and had to buy it back again...]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

We wasted no time in walking back north to Beregost.  There, on our way to the smithy, we ran across a familiar face, at least for Imoen and I.

:  "I knew it!"

:  "I was not aware that my actions were common knowledge."

:  "Perhaps not common knowledge, but everything is plain for those that know where to look.  As it is, I am aware of thine efforts and accomplishments.  Thou art quite adept, as Gorion predicted.  All that remains is to determine motive."

:  "Gorion?  You knew him?  But you said nothing before."

:  "'Twas neither the place nor the time for such things.  As painful as the circumstances may have been, it was time for thee to forge thine own path.  One of the most valuable lessons that life has taught me, is when NOT to go sticking my pipe in other people's affairs.  Such is the case now, as well."

:  "But you could tell me so much, about Gorion and myself alike.  Please, stay a while."

:  "I fear I cannot.  Self discovery is best left to the self, and all thy questions will be answered in time.  I will offer a small tidbit of information, though thou hast likely heard the same from another source already.  The bandits that thou dost seek make a habit of traveling in the northeast.  A search in that direction will no doubt yield fruitful results.  With this, I shall take my leave."

:  "That was, in fact, new and useful information.  Thank you, and Mystra be with you."

:  "Now it makes sense.  That's who E was, from the letter.  And that's why he was standing out by that marker... he was waiting for you, and Gorion.  And once he realised Gorion wasn't... wasn't with you anymore, he left..."



Almost as soon as we turned around, we were called for again.

:  "Slow down, breathless child!  Who is tossing money about in hopes of finding me?"

Chloe:  "Her name's Officer Vai and she's with the Flaming Fist.  And you needn't worry, she's real nice!"

I was rather dubious in expecting niceness from a member of the Flaming Fist, but I was willing to give it a try.  I would, of course, still be on my guard; my last encounter with one of their number had ended with an accusation of banditry and the guard's death.  Hopefully this was not actually about that.

:  "Thank you, child.  You have earned your gold piece, I will go to the Jovial Juggler and meet with Officer Vai shortly."

Chloe:  "Good!  You folks are real nice.  Momma says the Sword Coast needs some real heroes, these days... Tymora be with you, okay?"



I thought I had remembered Taerom Fuiruim having an enchanted mace, and I was correct.  With our newfound wealth, affording it was no problem.



True to my word, I immediately went to see the woman that I had been pointed to.  I decided to make the fact that I had no love for the Fist, and that I did not plan on letting them push me around, clear.

:  "I care not a whit for your name and title, Officer Vai.  The word of the Flaming Fist may be the law in these parts but the extent of that law stops within the reach of my blade."

Officer Vai:  "Then call me Jessa... to be perfectly honest, Angry Dave, my contingent and I are cut off from Baldur's Gate - we haven't receieved new orders for close to a week.  If you have issues with my superiors, then so be it but don't drag them in here because, as things stand now, I couldn't care less.  My contingent and I are on our own now and, quite frankly, all we want to do is make it home."

:  "Jessa is it... Very well, then.  How can we help you find your precious way home?"

Officer Vai:  "The bandit raids have been getting worse since you returned from Nashkel.  I used to think that they were just your usual brigands out to make a quick buck in troubled times but not anymore.  They're working for someone... Damn it, this is a fine mess, isn't it?  One way or another, I've got to get my troops back to the Gate!  I'll pay 50 gold pieces for every bandit scalp you can bring me - and spread the news.  Some of the merchants in the region have also decided to pitch in and give money for the bandit scalps, but I'll give you the best price.  I want this whole region cleared and I want to know what in the Nine Hells is going on, here."

:  "As do I... every time I find a link in the chain it seems to extend just that much further up.  Good hunting, then, Jessa."



Feldpost's Inn had calmed down since I had last been in here, and Marl's body had long since been removed.  One of the women, clearly from higher society, yelled over to me.

:  "When a lady offers me a drink, how can I refuse?"

Gyllian:  "You are the life of the party, you are! ... This all reminds me of a time when Betsy and I were still... Hoo, I'm so silly - I don't know a Betsy!!  Tee hee hee -hic- whooo..."

We left that utterly soused woman behind and went upstairs to find our target.  Fortunately, the layout of his room upstairs made cutting off his potential escape quite easy.



:  "Perhaps you could tell us WHY you are in such a hurry?"

Tranzig:  "I'm not gonna tell youse guys anything.  Git outta my face."

:  "You won't be rid of us that easily.  We know you're up to no good.  Now tell us everything you know."

Tranzig:  "Ya know what I'm up to, eh?  Well, maybe somethin' ya don't know about is my magic skills.  Ya might not believe me, but if you ain't outta my face in the next 5 seconds, I'll blast ya to kingdom come!"

:  "We're not afraid of any mage.  If you want a fight, then bring it on."

Tranzig:  "I warned ya, now you pay the price!"



He was killed very easily; he had no time to cast a single spell, much less blast us with anything dangerous.  He had wasted his life for nothing.



He had not even protected his secrets; on his corpse was a letter providing directions to Tazok.

:  "Peldvale and Larswood... those are northeast of Beregost, I think.  Just like Elminster said."

[Judas Maccabeus]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I decided it was best not to rush headlong into the full force of the bandits themselves - by all accounts there were groups all over the place in the area, and perhaps taking a few of them on would provide us with something useful against them.



South and east of Beregost, we found that a sinkhole had appeared and swallowed up half of a house.

:  "Sinkholes mean caves... probably flooded ones, though."



Further along, we were ambushed by a fairly large number of hobgoblins, several groups all trying to outflank us when we engaged another.



One of them appeared to be carrying a magical pair of boots.

:  "Hm.  I remember, I think, there was a halfling back in Beregost looking for boots like these... it was so long ago, though.  We've been at this forever, it seems."



After we dealt with the hobgoblins, at one point, Jaheira bumped up against Dynaheir.  Apparently Minsc was still somewhat jumpy from the fighting, as he immediately prepared for action.

:  "Stand easy Minsc, thy needs not be so motherly."

:  "Where Dynaheir goes, so goes my blade."

[Some of the dialogue in this game is very well written.  Some of it isn't.  This little conversation belongs in the latter category.  As does pretty much everything Safana says, it seems.]



Near the hobgoblins was a small cave.  It held little of note, although gold and healing potions were never unwelcome.



On one of the hobgoblins was, oddly enough, a scroll.  Dynaheir quickly and deftly copied the spell into her own book.  The possibility of not always needing to pay for the identification of magical items was a bit of a relief.



While returning to town, however, we found one of the undead walking around in the light of day, in the midst of a forest.  There was no time to question this oddity, however, merely to rid this place of it.



Minsc was held by it again, but again survived.



On the way back to Beregost, Dynaheir and I began talking.

:  "Your sister is showing promise.  It seems growing up amongst scholars has helped her - she already knows much basic knowledge of magic."

:  "You think that she'll be able to do it, then."

:  "Correct, and it will not be long before she is able to cast spells.  My only concern is that she still needs to learn patience... trying to do things too quickly has been the end of many a mage."

:  "I belive she will survive well enough."

:  "As do I.  It is a small concern only."



The talk of Beregost was, of course, about what happened in the mines.  Some of them even were directly able to identify us as those who had cleared them.  I was not too concerned about spies; Tazok had certainly not needed their help in tracking us up to this point.

:  "Why yes, that would indeed be us.  Thank you for noticing."

Commoner:  "Oh, how could I not?  Saviours you are!  Nashkel will recover soon enough, and then the rest of the area will follow.  Hey, THAT must be what you are doing here!  You've come to get rid of the bandits!  Of course that must be it!  You'll be scouting around just north to find and defeat those nasty brigands!  I should have known heroes such as yourselves wouldn't be just wandering aimlessly, no sir!"



I was able to find the halfling who needed the sword, and in fact recognised him as one who had pickpocketed us when we spoke to him.  He was contrite about it, and even returned what he stole along with the reward money.



While resting that night, Dynaheir took the opportunity to memorise the identification spell and discover precisely what the pantaloons were.

:  "They are... ordinary pantaloons.  Not even worth money to sell."

:  "Lovely.  Oh, well, we can keep them as a souvenir."

But the night had only just begun.



Held from whatever afterlife calls it, this foul apparition has been waiting for you.  A dagger of bone hovers before it, ready for a willing hand to drive it deep.  Had this creature breath you are sure it would be hurling curses.  It waits for the kill, a death beyond death, and knows no hope.

You turn your back on the blade, and it clatters to the floor.  Punishment enough shall find this creature in the land of the dead; you need not inflict any more upon him.

Surprised and thankful, the visage of Mulahey hobbles forward and through you, off to whatever fate it deserves.  Perhaps for safekeeping, it leaves a part of itself behind.  It is a spark of hope that fills a space within you; a dagger-shaped hole that you did not know was empty.

There is a cry of rage from the depths, and the dagger of bone launches itself through the air, your heart its target.  You awake just as it should have struck, and the cold sweat that covers you stings your eyes.  A disapproving voice lingers in your ears, though it should have disappeared with the dream.  "You... WILL... learn!"

The dream was followed by my realisation that the power I had, the power that allowed me to heal from my own self, had even increased.  There was something behind these dreams... something that could give me abilities that normally only the gods could provide... something that wanted me to kill?  I did not understand any of it, not for quite some time, and it troubled me more than tainted iron or bandit raids ever could.



We left the Burning Wizard the next morning, hearing the voice of the town crier in the nearby square.  He had interesting news.

:  "Five thousand gold is an astounding sum.  I belive we would be well-served in going to the temple next."



Along the way, we stopped at the smithy to purchase more enchanted weaponry, mostly bullets and arrows, and had Khalid's sword properly identified.



We had a new task set for us now.

Bassilus

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

As we travelled southwest towards where he was believed to be, we were ambushed yet again by the undead, this time at night when their presence was less unusual.  I quickly pulled out a holy symbol of Lathander, god of the dawn and opponent to the undead, hoping it would drive them off.



It had no observable effect, but they succeeded only in barely scratching us before we destroyed them.



The next morning, we ran across a child who showed we were on the right track.

:  "I've never heard of a funny spook before... Why are they so funny?"

Footy:  "Bassillus keeps on tellin' these stories about how happy he was as a kid but all of the spooks just kinda moan and mumble and stuff, like they're not really listening.  That's what my brother Johnny used to do before he disappeared, mumble like that when he weren't really listening... You stay here, I'm gonna go tell my friend Netty 'bout this place.  She'll think its really funny, what with her Daddy gone and all."



Bassilus was not too much further along.

Zombie:  "Uuuuuuuuuhhhh.................."

Bassilus:  "O don't hesitate on my account!  Some of the others may not have heard them."

Zombie:  "hhhhhhhhhhhh............................."

Bassilus:  "Hold your peace then, though I remember a time back at Zhentil Keep when you would sooner die than be quiet.  You... would sooner... um... I'll wait 'til you feel like telling them yourself, I don't remember the old days so well."

This man truly was mad.  Hopefully we could use that to our advantage, with him being surrounded by a distressing number of undead.

:  "You there, what is the meaning of this..."

Bassilus:  "Who dare interrupt while I speak with my family.  I'll have your heads if you're here to harm the... no!  I can't be!  Is that you Father?  It cannot be otherwise, you haven't changed a bit in all these years."

He was talking to Khalid.  We could only hope this man's father was slow of speech as well.

:  "Uhh... yes, son, it certainly has been a long time.  How are you doing... my boy?"

Bassilus:  "About as well as can be expected I guess.  It has been difficult but I've got most of the family back together.  Some did not seem to recognize me at first, but I helped them recall."

:  "No matter.  I've not seen you since... um... Zhentil Keep.  Thank the gods we all got out safely."

Bassilus:  "Yes, though it was frightening for a time because I thought I was the only one of us that survived.  I thought I was the only one who... the only one.  You lie.  YOU LIE!  You cannot be my father because he died when I left the... when I..."

The act was up; Khalid had done remarkably well, but it wasn't over.  This time I added in my voice.

:  "When you ran from your home leaving them to die?  You are a coward and a murderer, and today you face judgment!"

Bassilus:  "No!  They lived, all of them!  I saved them and they live!  I... I ran.  Dead... all dead.  It isn't true!  It cannot be... You lie!  You will die for slighting my memory!"



As I'd hoped, the doubt I sowed in his mind broke his control over the undead near him, and they fell to the ground, inanimate once more.

Video:  Bassilus battle and aftermath

[Featured:  The conversation beforehand, Dave levelling up, how horribly long it takes for Hold Person to go away, and birds flying sideways.]

Bassilus would not give up easily, however.  Although we were able to interrupt most of his attempts to hold us in place, one of them got through, leaving Minsc (as usual) and myself unable to attack.



He never pressed this advantage, and as I stood in place the others succeeded in killing him.  After a while, the spell wore off, and we were able to collect his holy symbol and equipment and move on.



One of those Dynaheir was able to identify as a fairly powerful warhammer.  Although not quite so good a weapon as the mace I already carried, I knew of someone who could use it - and I would likely be seeing her soon.



I felt a bit uneasy after turning in the holy symbol; the battle had not been quite so difficult as Keldath claimed.  Still, I was not about to dampen his enthusiasm, and the money would find good use.



One of those good uses was to identify the gauntlets Bassilus had been wearing.  It was fortunate we had learned our lesson from my error long before, as putting them on would have ended badly.

Commander Brage

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Our return to Nashkel was uneventful.  There, it was time to pick up two old friends.



I had forgotten how much I would need to ignore her constant flirting, or at least play along with it.

:  "Indeed.  I have a definite need for your particular type of... talents."

:  "I'm sure you do.  Lead and I shall follow."



She was very impatient to get going as soon as we found her.

:  "Yes, I know.  We'll head straight there."

[Note that even though I've kicked Khalid out, Jaheira hasn't left yet, though she's supposed to.  That only happens if the person you ask to leave gets a chance to engage you in conversation.  Yes, this does mean that, if you're very quick and very careful, you can make one leave but keep the other.]

:  "Khalid and I will wait here.  Please only return when you no longer need her 'company'."



Branwen was also there, and quickly spotted us, as I'd hoped.

:  "That is a fine idea.  We simply could not do without your fighting spirit."

:  "A triumphant day, indeed!  I welcome your company once again!"

:  "Why is the group always mostly women when I'm here... don't you ever run across more adventurous men?"

:  "I've met three others worth noting.  One was Elminster, who's probably too busy with Storm Silverhand right now if the stories have it right.  The others were an insane mage and an equally insane and now-dead halfling, and from the way they were acting towards each other, let me just say I don't think they'd be interested in you."



Along with plate mail for outfitting Branwen, the town's store had a magic shield for me to use - which also let me give her my old shield as well.

:  "I pray to Helm I won't need this much... but I know I will."



Along the way back to the cave, we ran across a woman shouting a familiar name.  Perhaps she could tell us something to help us... or him.

:  "Who is this Brage you speak of?"

Laryssa:  "Before this curse befell him, he was Captain of the Guard in Nashkel.  I am his cousin, Laryssa.  For all the bonds of love and blood, save him from his present agony if there be a way to do so."

[Aside from this acting ignorant option, the other one is to be confrontational and make her fight you.  I wish there was a "I know who he is and want to help" conversation option...]



Brage was indeed nearby, and posed a riddle - no doubt failure to answer it would end badly for one of us.

:  "Day and night wailing... it can only be Death itself..."

Brage:  "The end of night, where the light shines unto mine eyes and I can see clearly once again!  What hath I wrought!?  'Tis horrible.  HORRIBLE!!  I will welcome the block that must await me at Nashkel!  How could I live with what I've done!  Please, thy [sic] must guide me to the town that I might pay for my crimes!  I fear I can keep my senses for only too long, and I must not be allowed to do this again!  Too many good people have lost their lives to me!  Please..."

:  "We'll see you back safe as we can, though I don't see how killing you will help those that have died.  We shall take you to the temple of Helm in hopes that you may be healed."

Brage:  "I fear I can do nothing for those I've wronged whether I live or die, and I sitll know not what led me to this.  It's like a foul presence in my mind!  I can only imagine that I have finally succumbed to battle fatigue.  Take my weapon, that I might not harm another!  Use it if thy [sic] wish, though I'd rather it be destroyed.  Innocent blood on everything!  I'd only just acquired the sword.  Such a waste this has been.  Take me to Nashkel, I can bear this no longer."



We returned quickly indeed, the priest, Nalin, looking pleasantly surprised.

Nalin:  "Calm yourself Brage.  Helm sees all that he wishes, and knows much of what you do not.  It was your hands indeed that did many a foul deed, but it was not your will alone.  Intent is vital, and yours was influenced without your knowledge.  Justice will be done, but with atonement, not punishment."

Brage:  "But my crimes... my family... I don't want to go on!"

Nalin:  "If you are returned to the garrison, yours will be the only willful killing that has occured about this matter.  It would be a waste of your life which, fractured though it is, can still contribute much.  Helm will see you through.  As for our intrepid friends here, I shall exceed the reward offered by Oublek.  After all, it was the same task of bringing Brage to justice.  The Temple is in your debt for the return of it's lost son."



We provided the sword to Nalin for identification.  It proved to be the cause of Brage's madness - though it looked as if it could be controlled under the correct circumstances, or at least used without complete disaster if used carefully.

:  "I do not like to be rid of a potentially powerful weapon, but it is also a dangerous one.  I shall have to think on it."

Safana's Cave

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Once again we went north, once again we were assaulted by undead along the road at night, and once again we dispatched them.  This time it was Branwen who was held, again non-fatally.

Safana was up to her usual tricks along the road north, this time with a new target.

:  "I feel very sore... perhaps you could... massage me?"

:  "Your words are as sharp as my blade.  Perhaps I shall."



Along the coastline, we again found the sirenes, and this time we felt confident enough to fight them.  They attempted to enchant us with their songs; these were quickly stopped by Imoen and Safana's arrows, and although their own poisonous arrows caused us some trouble, Dynaheir was able to help and stop the poison when one of those arrows hit Branwen.

[Sirenes are extremely dangerous, as they can go invisible and charm party members into fighting for them, which results in bad things happening generally.  The reward (2000 experience points!) is huge, though.  The trick is to interrupt their spellcasting, either with ranged weapons or magic missiles (melee weapons work as well, but the time it takes to get into range of those can be fatal)]



Another one stood on the beach nearby, likely the same one we had fled from the last time we were here.  She again had no time to sing us into submission before we succeeded in killing her.



A carrion crawler also lay on the beach, though not for long, as its attempt to attack us forced us to kill it as well.

[The next fight is against three sirines.  Do not rush into it.  If you do, they'll charm half your party and make them kill the other half:



That's bad.]

:  "See something, Imoen?"

:  "Three sirines... all standing together.  We should probably try to pelt them with arrows and stones to keep them from singing us to death."



That is in fact what we did; the first two fell quickly.  The third, however, walked up to us and demanded to talk.  We allowed her to - taking care that she did not start to sing.



Instead, after yelling about her tribe, she tried to kill us, which of course ended poorly for her.



The cave was not far past them.

:  "Looks bigger than I expected."

:  "Everything looks big to you."



:  "Yes, such as those... ugh.  Safana, you mentioned nothing about these."

:  "I knew nothing about them."

The flesh golems required us to use our ranged weapons again; they could strike with great power, as we would discover soon.



I myself caught the bad end of one of their strikes; it was while healing myself from this that an arrow finally took it down.



Another had come in from a different passage while we were killing the first; Branwen held it off while Imoen and Safina killed it.



The next attempt to hold one off... she was not so lucky with.  The very moment before we brought it down, it crushed through Branwen's armour and left her dead upon the floor.



:  "The treasure is in this pool... oooh, that's a lot."

:  "Hundreds of gold pieces... potions... a wand, a cloak, a tome... you aren't joking."



Safana seemed happy with how things had gone, at least.  I suppose I shuldn't have been surprised that the death of a companion barely affected her.

:  "Sure you can work with us any time."

:  "You've made the right decision boys, but now we should talk about the leadership of this group, I think it needs overhauling."

:  "Not on your life.  Don't worry, I'm sure you'll end up rich enough from it - so long as you stay in line."



Dynaheir quickly discerned what the tome was with her magic; it proved to be an astoundingly powerful item.  The expedition was worth it simply for that alone.



Returning to Beregost to have Dynaheir restored to life, we also found out what the other items were.  All we found to be very useful indeed.

Decisions!:

1.  Use the beserking sword?  Giving it to Minsc would make him do something we could choose to have him do anyway.  It's very dangerous to use, though, as if we can't get away from him if he turns on us he could easily cut the rest of the party to pieces with it.  The sword also counts as cursed, so we can't easily change our minds about this.

2.  Who gets the Manual of Bodily Health?  Increasing constitution is useful for pretty much everyone, as that means more hit points per level.  That effect only starts at 15 and above (and the 17 and above increases only count for certain classes), though, so keep that in mind.

3.  Who gets the Cloak of the Wolf?  Note that it replaces all attacks with a melee one, and causes most spellcasting to fail, but also gives the wearer high strength and dexterity (though it would actually reduce Minsc's strength and Imoen's dexterity), along with high speed.  Its usefulness is limited, but there.

[Jreengus]

The sword... Maybe keep it and give it to Minsc it at some future point it seems necessary. My immediate thought for the manual was to give it to Angry Dave since if he dies the game ends, but since you are reloading if things go badly it may be better to give it to someone else, so I don't know. Cloak seems like it could be useful for Kahlid once he is back with us.

[Judas Maccabeus]

[Jreengus:  Well, with Dave in the front line it's more that, when things go pear-shaped, it's as likely as not he'll end up dead as well.  Don't worry, though, there'll be plenty of dead people in this update...  ]





The High Hedge

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

After a period of discussion, it was decided that I would take the manual and gain its benefits.  After a short period of study - something I had become used to in Candlekeep - it disappeared, its benefits apparently imparted.  I certainly did feel slightly hardier, though whether that was the actual effect of the manual or only my own mind I could not tell.  Minsc was also entrusted with the berserking sword, with the expectation that he would only use it in an emergency - the same sort which would bring about his berserker rage in any case.  Our next goal was to finalise our patrol of the area around Beregost, beginning with a strange building to the east called the High Hedge.



Just before it, we met a man with a bow; he was no bandit, however.

:  "We're adventurers, ready to smite any evil that darkens our path."

:  "A strange coincidence.  I have a quest similar to your own.  I have been hunting the bandits in the region for the past few months.  Perhaps if we worked together we would fare better.  What say you to that?"

There was certainly no reason to turn him down, with his goals aligning so well with ours, but I wished to ensure he wouldn't be a liability; I had no wish to bring a danger to my side.

:  "We'll help you against the bandits, but only if you tell us why you've spent months hunting them.

:  "Their leader, an ogre named Tazok, took the life of someone very dear to me."

That seemed fair enough.  It would certainly give him reason to fight well on our side.

:  "Thanks for being honest.  You can join our party."

:  "I hope that we will work well together."



Revenge.  That was an emotion I could understand, at least after the death of my foster father.  I also realised that it was something that needed to be kept under control, but I was willing to take a chance that Kivan would not snap and go too far.  He was quiet, and that was not a good sign, but he was also a good shot with a bow, and for this case utility overcame all else.  Branwen was the one to go to make room for him; her skills were the least necessary, or so I thought at the time.



Beside the building itself, we ran into another figure, this one quite a bit shadier.

:  "Of course you can't hear a word you're thinking.  You have to say it out loud, first."

Permidion Stark:  "Okay, okay, here's the plan:  There's a big-time mage living just over that rise.  Magic items scattered all over the place, I'm betting... Trouble is, he's got these two hideous, flesh monsters guarding him and no shadows where I can lurk!  Brute force is useless against the monsters, everything is useless.  There must be a way to outwit the witless but damned if I know how... Ah hell, I guess I'd be better off just finding a halfling village somewhere to pick on.  This dive is all yours."

With that, he rushed off.

:  "I would rather not make a habit of unnecessary theft... particularly against dangerous mages."



Inside the building itself was its resident mage.

:  "Not that easy."



:  "Rumors talk of a powerful mage that lives out here.  If it is you, I would like to speak with you."

Thalantyr:  "Rumors?  Bah!  There is no mage here that wishes to speak or be spoken of.  Unless, of course, if you have magic that you wish to sell."

:  "We're interested in selling or even buying magical items.  What do you have?"

Fortunately, he was indeed willing to do business.



He had a very large collection of scrolls for purchase; Dynaheir set her sights particularly on three of them.  The possibility of avoiding detection while also preventing others from doing the same did strike me as quite useful; she also purchased a spell to protect against the decidedly unwelcome fate of petrification.



Some of his other wares were, sadly, well outside our price range; we would have to return if we ever came into a much larger fortune than our current one.

[

Unfortunately, Dynaheir was not entirely successful in transferring the scrolls, apparently, as she requested that we purchase a second copy of the invisibility spell.  This, fortunately, proved to be successful, although costly.



As we moved south, we again found the dead walking around, this time a group of skeletons.  They did not prove to be much of a challenge, fortunately.



Likely thinking that we would be easy pickings distracted by the skeletons, some gnolls joined in.  Imoen, Safana, and Kivan quickly proved them wrong; their arrows dropped the gnolls in rapid succession.



Several hours' walk to the south only ended up with more of the same; gnolls, with a hobgoblin joining in for good measure.  They were as easily dispatched, and I found that the hobgoblin was carrying a surprising amount of money.  I would need it, I found out.



As rain started to come down, we ran across more gnolls - but these seemed to be preparing for an attack on someone other than ourselves, and only stood guard against us as we skirted them.



The reason showed himself soon enough, striking at a few gnolls that had already rushed forward.

:  "Fear not, we will not stand aside while another is in peril."

:  "The fight is joined, and I welcome your aid.  Tiresome beasts these gnolls are, and I'll be glad to be done with them!"

[Yes, it's that Drizzt.  Yes, he's ridiculously powerful.  No, we can't ask him to join.  Well, we can ask, he just won't accept.]



I will admit, and I find no shame in doing so considering who he was, that Drizzt did most of the actual fighting, with the rest of us barely managing to get a hit or two in.  I am not at all sure why he asked us for our aid, but whatever the case I was glad to provide it.



:  "The blasted raids are endless, as is my hatred for those behind them!"

:  "Such fuel burns hot and quick, but what of when it is spent?  Attacking with hate may suffice, but it is by no means the most fruitful road to travel.  These raiders of yours fight like mercenaries, and as such it is doubtful that their bodies will give you more than the most cursory hint at who their masters are.  Cool your fire, tread subtly, and you may find yourself closer to your true quarry.  Be wary, though, for the greater the potential reward, the greater the danger in acquiring it."

:  "That is sage advice which I will heed.  Know that I think well of you on your journey."

:  "Well met, friend.  Luck be on your side."

Luck, it proved, was very much not so.



A pair of ogre beserkers ambushed us not far up the road from there.  I held off one well on my own, but the other quickly made for Dynaheir.  Before distant Minsc could rush to her aid, she again fell to an enemy's blows.



Safana fell as quickly soon after.



Our vengance was swift and terrible, but not before Kivan was badly wounded as well.



The path back to Beregost went past a dock, where a lone man was staring out over the lake.

:  "Fish-wrangling?  I take it you've never done this before?"

Torlo:  "Nay, I have not.  Used to be a miner, I did.  I've sunk to this to feed my family.  Not that it's a bad way to make a living, mind you.  I just prefer having a good solid pick in my hands and sweating while I work.  There's too much standing about waiting for the fish to bite.  Ah well, we do what we must."



The final group of enemies between us and Beregost had two half-ogres and a large number of skeletons.  I drove the latter away easily, using the holy symbol again; the half-ogres were brought down without further deaths on our part.



The only casualty was one of Minsc's swords, which, weakened by the poison in the iron from which it had been made, shattered upon striking one of the half-ogres.  Minsc wasted no time in pulling out a spare and going back into battle with as much enthusiasm as before.

Peldvale

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

After having our wounds healed and dead raised, and after getting armour for Kivan, we turned back north for the areas the bandits had recently raided.  At one point on the road to the Friendly Arm, however, a group of bandits decided to try their luck on us.  I yelled at Imoen, Safana, and Kivan to bring down the bow-wielding bandits as quickly as possible, and they easily and skillfully complied.



Despite these efforts, however, the dogs the bandits were using put Dynaheir again on the front lines, and so again she fell.

:  "Gods above, this is becoming very tiring.  Just once I want a proper stand-up battle with us in front."



Scalping the bandits was bloody and unwelcome business, but if Jessa was paying so well for them, so be it.  Kivan also scavenged extra arrows from them; no doubt we would be needing them soon.

[At least they stack in large numbers, so all the bandits we kill won't flood the party's inventories with scalps.]



At the Friendly Arm, we stopped, rested, and had Dynaheir restored again to life.

:  "I swear I shall not see you dead again if it is in my power to prevent it."



Despite leaving the Friendly Arm early, it took the entire day and much of the night to make it far east to Peldvale.  The road to Baldur's Gate curved near the wooded region, and it was just south of that road that we met yet another drow - this one sounding much more desperate than Drizzt had been.  Having his example fresh in mind made me more willing to give one of them a chance.

:  "Calm down, we'll help you.  Just tell us who you are."

:  "My name is Viconia.  I... I'm not from around here, thank you so much for helping."



I likely could have predicted the cause of her trouble if I had been asked.  The Flaming Fist, of course.  They could be relied upon in going above and beyond the call of duty in ensuring no citizen of the Sword Coast was safe from being shaken down.

:  "They lie, I've done nothing wrong."

:  "What do you intend to do once you have her?"

Flaming Fist Mercenary:  "Kill her, of course."

:  "We can't allow that, you'll have to go through us to get her."

Flaming Fist Mercenary:  "A stupid decision!  For harboring a murderer I sentence all of you to death!"

:  "Another blind fanatic.  Doesn't he see he's outnumbered badly?"

The outcome was not in doubt.



:  "It has nothing to do with race, we just don't need another person along to worry about.  Sorry."

:  "You surface dwellers are so weak, I should be glad that you turned me down."

:  "There's gratitude for you... I suppose they can't all be Drizzt."

[In case you're wondering, no, there's no special dialogue if you have Viconia in your party when you meet Drizzt.  Also, bringing Vicky into your party lowers your reputation.  She's not worth kicking someone else out of the party, much less that; if we want an extra priest, Branwen can do that, plus she's not neutral evil and thus won't leave the party once our reputation grows too high.]



The bandits were a short distance onward, across a rocky ravine.

:  "Damn it, magic arrows again.  Close quickly!"



Even as I turned to heal Minsc's wounds - which he seemed willing to charge through without a thought - an arrow at close range punched through his armour and struck him to the ground.



Dynaheir provided her own answer, taking the man down with a magic missile.  These weren't simple bandits - whoever they were, they had their own reasons to be involved.



:  "We are adventurers."

Palin:  "Yer adventurers?  I used to have an uncle who thought of himself as some kind a hero.  He had the sword, shield... the whole bit.  But he got himself killed, see?  He was going off ta kill some sort of beastie with all of his buddies, but something went terribly wrong.  I guess this beastie figured out he was coming and set up a trap for him and his friends.  So anyhow, there are him and his buddies, trudging through the wilderness on their way to the monsters lair.  Then all of a sudden, BAM!  SMACK!  The monster leaps out and start ripping off arms and legs.  When my pops found his brother, there was nothing left but a big pile of rotting meat."

: ... "We have to get going now.  Bye!"



The next man we met proved to be an important one indeed.

:  "You'll not take us alive!"

Raiken:  "As you like it, fools!  Your children be orphans tonight!"

:  "No..."



:  "I meant you wouldn't be alive to take us."

He was no threat; Imoen, Kivan, and Safana easily brought down the two bandits near him while Dynaheir and I crushed him to the ground.  From the look of him he was the leader of the group in the area.

:  "There.  One band down, one to go, and then we can go after Tazok."



Along the way back, we ran across more of the bandits, along with a pack of their dogs.  All were easy pickings now that we had become used to fighting.



We also, however, ran across three more of the strange well-armoured men who had killed Minsc.  They managed to claim Kivan as well before we brought them down.



We were becoming all too common sights at the region's temples.



We had arrived soon before midnight; it would take much of the next day for me to tend to the entire group's wounds.  During that time, however, the others were not idle, and that day was momentous for one reason above all others.



[Yes, Imoen's level 5.  That means it's time for:]

Dual-Classing and You

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[*cue cheesy music*



This is Imoen.  Say hello to everyone, Imoen!

[Imoen waves]

She's a thief, who's just gotten to level 5.

[Imoen looks at the pile of scrolls she's collected]

What's that Imoen?  You want to dual-class to a mage?

[Imoen nods enthusiastically]

I don't know, Imoen, that's a pretty big step to take.  Are you sure?  Okay, then, but we'd better go over what that means first.

Before you can dual-class, you must:

- Be a human
- Be at least level 2
- Have a score of at least 15 in your class' main ability (Dexterity, in Imoen's case)
- Have a score of at least 17 in the target class' main ability (Intelligence)

It looks like you fit!  But that's not all - there's a lot you have to go through.

- Dual-class characters start at level 1 in their new class
- They cannot use their original class' skills until they reach one level above that in their new class
- All further progression is in the new class only
- All the new class' restrictions on armour, and some on weapons, apply (Thus, Imoen cannot wear any armour, but can still use her new weapons once she regains use of her thief abilities.  A person who dual-classed to cleric could never again use edged weapons, however)

Do you still want to go through with this?  Well, you're a determined young woman, aren't you!  Let's show you how you can do it, then.



And that's all there is to it.  Now you can dual-class too!]

- - - - - - - -

:  "Imoen, I believe you are ready for the final step."

:  "I... really?  You mean it?"

:  "Yes.  All that remains is for you to memorise your first true spells.  Remember that you can only memorise so many, and once cast they are gone until memorised again.  Such is the will of Mystra.  The ancient mages of Netheril did not have this limit, and they abused it - to their ruin.  It is for your protection, and that of those around you."



Imoen spent the first several hours of our rest carefully preparing her own spellbook; from all the scrolls she had collected, it was well-stocked.  Finally, study complete she took to her rest - the meditative rest of a mage.  She had been preparing for this for a tenday and a half, and when she awoke...

:  "I... I think I did it.  I can feel... something.  Something new."

:  "We'll soon find out.  It's time to deal with these bandits once and for all."

:  "Remember, Imoen, until you are settled into this you should not distract yourself with thieving matters.  The consequences could be considerable.  Leave your... little skills to Safana.  Here, have my staff - it will not require such mental effort to use as your bow will, and you are better able to stand close fighting than I."



:  "Thank you... you've been really nice to me."

:  "I did not wish to see your talents go to waste, particularly when they so well matched your aspirations.  Dave, we are ready."

:  "Then let's get to Larswood, and from there to find Tazok.  And kill him."

:  "You need not say that twice!"

[RAM]

Woohoo, you have a level 1 mage!!!

[psyn]

Imoen is no normal mage. 

[Judas Maccabeus]

Imoen is no normal mage. 

Precisely.  She already has 29 hit points, a +1 quarterstaff, darts of wounding, a large collection of level 1 and 2 spells, high dexterity (which improves her armour class), and two good wands.  She'll be able to contribute quite a lot still.

[psyn]

That too, but be cautious or risk Imoen unleashing havoc on the poor souls inhabiting Faerun. 

//I still remember doing Mage/Kensai builds in ToB for uber cheese-ness. Glass cannon, but soloable through the entire game. (I did one game with only Viconia for companion -- it was kind of fun picturing these two at-odds spirits rampaging through the world, bickering but cross dependent, until they forged a life of peace/Godhood.)

[Judas Maccabeus]

[psyn:  OW.  Yeah, that would certainly break things pretty badly.  ]


Larswood

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

More of the armoured bandits were waiting for us in Larswood.  Fortunately, I managed to survive their opening fire and close quickly enough to force them to switch to their considerably less dangerous swords.



:  "Okay, let's try this..."

Imoen managed to succeed in getting the spell off, hitting one of the enemies with a chromatic orb.  It clearly did the expected damage.



With the help of that spell, we managed to kill them this time without taking much damage of our own.



:  "More of their dogs..."

:  "No, that is a wolf.  I do not understand why the bandits would raid this place, it is clearly uninhabited."



There were also some bears; these ones finally objected to our presence after a short time.



We dealt with them, though not until after they knocked Imoen and I around a bit.

:  "It's not quite uninhabited, Kivan - there's someone up ahead, and he's not a bandit."



:  "What are you talking about, we've killed no one.  I think you're a little addled in the head, perhaps you should calm down so that we can figure out who really killed your brothers."

Osmadi:  "You think your excuses can work on me!  I know what you are, what all of you are!  Let the wrath of Malar destroy you and your faithless companions."



From a follower of the Beastlord we could expect only fury, and it did not surprise me to see him call over two bears to come to his aid.  However, someone else also arrived - and began helping us.  With his help, the battle ended fairly quickly.



:  "Thank you for your valuable assistance.  It is a shame that Osmadi had to be dealt with in such a manner, but there was little choice."



We took that as our cue to rest for the night in the ruins.  If we met the leader of the bandits around here, we might need the help.



We did meet him; after killing the two bandits near him who got a bit too enthusiastic, he approached us, trying to be intimidating despite the display we had just given him.  I knew an opportunity when I saw it.

:  "We'll not fight you.  In fact, we want to join your group."

Teven:  "Ha!  We've plenty o' mules now!  What for we be needin' you?"

:  "This is a bloodthirsty job you have, and we like the killin'!  Let us join and the roads will run red 'neath our feet!"

I could only hope I wasn't overacting this.  Having the imposing and clearly mentally unstable Minsc next to me may have helped, though he unsurprisingly looked a little confused.

Teven:  "Aha, the fury of youth!  Just wind ya up and point ya in the right direction eh?  Well we'll see if the boss wants any more berserkers.  Let's move."

Bandit Camp

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

As we arrived, we passed a few hobgoblins next to a fire, while a group of gnolls pushed a prisoner along.  We would, it turned out, see him again.



Teven:  "I eyed 'em well 'fore bringin' em this far, and they be as good as we got.  We ain't got the time to do formal training to cover our loses.  We'll be no use if we don't fill in the ranks."

Bandit:  "Fine, just keep 'em out o' trouble 'til Tazok gets here, and he can make sure they're on the up an' up.  An ogre up yer face will show yer true colors right quick!"



Right on cue, said ogre came up in his face.  Kivan barely contained his rage and allowed the deception to continue.

Teven:  "We need to keep our numbers up!  Besides we checked them out pretty good.  It think they'll do fine."

Tazok:  "YOU DON'T THINK!  I THINK!  I question them myself and if they not as you say, you die too!"

He then turned to us.

Tazok:  "I say now I don't like you!  Give me reason to not have you broth-boiled and use your skin to swaddle my small-kin!  Who are you that I should let you join?!"

:  "We're strong, well armed, and we know opportunity when we see it!  What better job be there for us?  Dungeon crawling?  That's fools' work!"

Tazok:  "Hmmm.  Ye have some sense to ye, but I have many a strong back here already.  What for I need you?!"

:  "Would you rather have too few and need more, or have too many and not need them at all?"

Tazok:  "Ehhh...?  You sure are big on words.  You better be big on the battlefield too, cuz if you're not... you die.  You have run of the camp.  If I hear ONE bad thing from Ardenor and Taugosz, I personally feed your livers to the crows!  I take a patrol and leave for mine tonight!  Keep pressure on trade routes and there be extra gold for all when we are done!  I leave soon."

:  "I guarantee you won't hear a thing from them..."

:  "You're letting him go!"

:  "We can't, not yet... too many around."



The Chill were stationed not too far into the camp.

:  "Oh that's not advisable at all.  I'm a little on the tough side; they might bust a tooth or two getting me down."

Ardenor Crush:  "Hmmm!  Perhaps they might at that.  You had best be careful with that with around Tazok, Ogres are not known to appreciate the subtleties of humon humor."



Entering one of the tents caused a group of gnolls to attack us.  They were easily killed, however, and exiting showed that none of the bandits seemed to be concerned with the attack - simply business as usual for them.



A second tent proved to be far more useful.

:  "Nor do I like the looks of ye but it's better than a face full of pulpy mush, now don't you think?"

Knott:  "Are you threatening me?"

:  "Keep your voice down or my next move won't be a threat.  I want to know how this whole place is laid out and I want to know it now."

Knott:  "Gulp... Heh, it's a bandit camp - tents here, tents there, ain't got no damn geography to it."

:  "Then make some.  Which one is Tazok's tent?"

Knott:  "The - The big one in the... in the northeast part of the camp."

:  "Alright, I've got what I want out of you.  Don't suppose I can let you live, though, can I?  Living lips tell tales, they say."

:  "I understand the need, but you are getting into this a bit much, I think."

He was easily killed without bringing undue attention to us.



:  "And who might you be?"

Credus:  "Me?  I'm Credus.  I'm your superio... superbior... I'm your boss.  I was the newest recruit until you showed up.  Now you'll get all the crappy guard duty and I'll be moving up."

:  "If you say so, but I'll wait to hear it from that Tazok fellow."

Credus:  "Oh, you don't want to be talking to him.  Tazok is kinda scary.  I do a good job guarding his tent so he's only smacked me once, but if you talk too much he might hurt you worse.  Especially if you interrupt him reading his important papers.  Just guard them and shut up, that's what I say.  I better go.  Talking about Tazok is bad for your health."



[You can fight the man just south of Credus, by the way.  He's a... bit of a tough nut to crack, especially since he brings the other bandits down on you and his hammer blows can be brutal.  Best leave him for now.]



:  "That must be Tazok's tent.  No reason to waste time now.  We'll probably end up in a fight, everyone get ready."



:  "Then come at me, for I've no intention of turning back."

Raemon:  "Yer dead, little worms!"

Video - Tazok's Tent

[This one took quite a few tries, mainly because that mage kept hitting Dave with Melf's Acid Arrow, which resulted in him dying, more than once after all the enemies were dead.  Getting the three ranged people in the party to ensure his spells all failed was the tricky part here...]



Imoen had a moment of quick thinking and used one of her wands to summon a group of wolves behind the three.  This proved a wise decision - one rushed over to attack a hobgoblin archer who had been hiding behind the objects in the middle.



Combined with me successfully holding the man who had yelled at us in place - his blows were clearly giving Minsc some difficulty - and Safana, Kivan, and Dynaheir constantly hitting the mage and preventing his spells from taking effect, this quickly turned the fight in our favour.

:  "Bah!  No Tazok, he's already left."

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The man we had seen being led in earlier was in the back of the tent.

:  "Time for what?  Explain yourself."

Ender Sai:  "My execution, what do you think? ... You're not with him, are you, though.  No, I'd smell his rancid breath on you if you were."

:  "You're right, we're not Tazok's lackeys.  What's going on here?"

Ender Sai:  "Aye, you're not... Well, this whole place is dirty to the core, that's what's going on.  These aren't your ordinary bandits.  They're part Black Talons and part Chill, Chill being a demihuman band, mostly hobgoblins, and led by that creepy smart one, Ardenor Crush.  There be others elsewhere, like that priest Mulahey sent to poison the mines of Nashkel.  Set himself up as a kobold god returned and legions of the brainless barking fools believed him, ready to do his bidding 'til death do they part..."

[Wait, does that mean they... EWWWWWWWWW.]

:  "Mulahey's dead.  He was working for Tazok, I understand.  Question is, who's Tazok working for?"

Ender Sai:  "That's the trick, see?  Crush and Taugosz Khosann, leader of the Black Talons, both think he's getting orders from the Zhents and Tazok doesn't do much to discourage that particular line of thinking.  But the Black Talons and Chill are bandit groups, see?  They ply the trade routes, avoid the cities, and that's where they go wrong.  I'm from the Gate and I can tell you dead as leather that the Zhentarim aren't behind this."

I could see the reason for thinking that - Mulahey had been a priest of Cyric - but it was distant from Zhentil Keep, and thus not an area where one would expect them to have a part.  Still, the Realms have seen stranger things over the years.

:  "How can you be so sure?"

Ender Sai:  "A desire for silence is the only reason I wear soft-soled boots.  I wear 'em so I can tell who's toes I'm treading on.  I didn't mess with no Zhentarim.  I picked my enemies and I messed with one group and one group only - the Iron Throne.  And, right as rain, here I am as Tazok's personal prisoner.  You do the math."

:  "The Iron Throne.  Where can I find them?"

Ender Sai:  "Tazok's been making regular visits to the Cloakwood so that's where I'd start if I were you.  There are some documents in that chest that might be worth taking a look at, too... Now go step on some toes, alright?  And you can tell them Ender Sai sent you."

I reached for the chest, but Safana stopped me.



:  "It's trapped, and locked.  Here, let me get that, I wouldn't want it hurting you."



[Stupid finger, right over what I want to show.]

Then, as she opened it, her eyes lit up.

:  "There must be two thousand gold pieces in here!  We'll have to drag this whole thing with us back to the Friendly Arm, I think."

The two letters were in fact also in the chest, as well as several scrolls.



Another link.  Davaeorn was our next target, and he was indeed in Cloakwood, with Tazok.  A third name appeared as well:  Sarevok.  From the sound of it, Davaeorn himself answered to him.  Whether that was the top of the line, I of course could not say, but I could only hope so.  This was becoming far too large as it was.

:  "A mine.  Ore.  They weren't just planning on stopping the Nashkel mine, they're planning on using their own to fill in the gap.  This Iron Throne is obviously thinking big."



Dyanheir also identified two magical items the four men had on them.  One was a new robe that was of course given to Imoen, while the other was a bow that was passed to Kivan.

[...Bah.  I remembered here I'd been saving a Knave's Robe for Imoen to use all the way since the Nashkel Carnival.  And I can't find it now.  I couldn't even find it in any merchant's inventory.  I have no idea what happened to it!]



Upon exiting the tent, we were accosted by another dangerous-looking man.  No reason to hold back now - after that business in the tent, we would soon have the bandits on us anyway.



Imoen again brought some dogs to our side.  They did little to hurt him, but they did distract his amazingly strong hammer blows away from us.

:  "Hmph.  Doesn't this thing make anything but dogs?



Amazingly, a few of the dogs still stood when we finally killed him.



Another of the tents, abandoned, held something very useful-looking indeed.

[YES FINALLY.  Once Dynaheir is able to cast 3rd level spells, she'll be using this plenty.]



The Chill hobgoblins were no threat by this point, and they were quickly dealt with as well.



After taking a few hours to rest in one of the tents and heal our wounds, we decided to take a look in the nearby cave.  This apparently held the gnoll members of the Chill.

:  "Sure..... you can leave.  I'll be going as well."

Garclax:  "You not smell right.  You smell of fear..... you not Black Talon, you intruders!"



Kivan took a bit of a hit from the surprisingly strong one on his end, but aside from that it was simply a matter of cutting through them.

:  "That's all of them... it seems we've fixed the area's bandit problem, but now there's this Iron Throne to deal with, and Tazok's still loose.  Does this never end?"



It was a long walk back south to Beregost, but a victorious one.  Officer Vai was unsurprisingly pleased, and we made several hundred gold pieces from the scalps alone.

:  "Glad we could do business.  Do tell the rest of your company not to randomly attack me as a bandit or the like from now on, would you?"



None of the other magic items we found in the camp were of any use to us; they were, however, useful to sell if nothing else.



After that, it was simply a matter of going to Feldepost's for a night in the inn and a few well-earned drinks.  The bartender also had an unusual piece of information; we learned that the farmers had come from the area between the Friendly Arm and the Chionthar River.  It was something to investigate, at least.