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Hol-

-Der(p)

[Stworca]

Current Party

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

CH2 Part 4 : Monskine's Perspective
This episode was co-written with Monskine.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

So we finally got out of that hellish dungeon, and that stench infested city. Atleast the fools i travel with seem somewhat capable. I don't know if i should be staying with them, but there is something strange about Stworca, maybe he is a child of Bhaal as that wizard said, whatever it is, im not sure, but it is something powerful. I think time will show me more, perhaps there is potential in this ”adventure” after all.


Ah being being back here, brings back some.... wait what the hell is going on overhere....
if anyone even THINKS about lifting their weapon i will have their head.
Stworca : ”starts waving his hands and murmering some strange words”
Stworca that INCLUDES MAGIC!!!!
Stworca : Remind me, what are you doing outside of the kitchen?
I know you liked that extra short cloak i saw in the shop yesterday, i might still buy it you know?

They better have a damn good reason for that slaugther or there is going to roll some heads. And what is this city doing this close to my home? I wonder if faldorn have anything to do with these animals though. It would not seem like her to send these poor beasts so near a guarded city without anyone to look after them. They will pay. THEY WILL PAY FOR THIS!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I think i need to convince Stworca to look into this, something is wrong here, terribly wrong. He doesnt seem to smart, i should be able push him in the right direction if i want to. Although i should be a bit more carefull, he got one hell of a temper. I hope Faldorn is okay. Its been a while after all.



And that is what happens when you piss me off.
Stworca : Why did you stop my spellcasting again?
Your aim was off by quite a bit.
Stworca : That cloud in the sky needed to be blasted away!
Fine. If you say so...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I wonder how the best way to convince this foolish group to check out the groove will be. I doubt the goody two toes way will get more than captains approval. Trying to convince them about untold ammount of treasures will propaly be  a long shot. Maybe if i told them... hmm. Yes that might work.


So i really think we should check out why these animals where so close to this town.
Sleep-O :  We eat them?
No Sleep-O we dont eat animals...
Stworca : We skin them and make blankets?
NO!
Stworca : We drain their blood and take a bath?
For the love of Mielikkii.. We are going there to visist my sister.
Stworca : Sister? Hot sister? Sharing a king sized bed? Willing to share?
Yes and while we are there, we will visist the legendary cookie tree.
Sleep-O : Ye!
Captain Brunch : Ye!
3 : I wasn't paying attention, boss, what are we doing?
Stworca : Druids. Oh, you mean US not ME..
...

[Monks]

i naturaly have seem to have a hidden talent for these kind of things aswell

[Stworca]

Added a new poll. I will reset it every few updates, and turn in the direction you guys want me to!

Also, Monks is our modest Monskine. An unwashed barbarian too. Now to force Sleep-O to appear 'ere...

Feedback is, as always, welcome. If you don't want to comment, but are following the LP - for some impossible to explain reason - at least vote in the poll! Pies await!
Wait.. what?

[Earthquake Damage]

Enjoying this so far.

Also,

a half-tree half-woman gouged out my eyeballs

Did you do a Thief LP?

[Stworca]

Did you do a Thief LP?

Nope. Prior to this LP i only had HOI2, ToEE and Morrowind ones. It's my first BG2 Let's Play.

I have screenshots ready for ~two updates, but i'll do them after i return from underpaid, inhuman labor that my boss dares to call half-shift work. So in about 5 to 6 hours expect an update.

To the person who voted for combat encounters : Druid Groove is rather poor when it comes to these, but we'll have a neat one once we return to civilized areas of the game. Also Two or three chapters from here, there'll be a fight so epic, that i'm putting together music, effects & co for it even now!

[Stworca]

Current Party

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

CH2 Part 5 : Trademeet

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I'm not used to being manipulated, but what the hell, we might get some money out of the whole nature deal. I -
Whoa, what's in here? One fancy building for sure.


Ah, council palace.


Let's loot whatever we can, and check out the basement.
Hmm, some gold, some potions, and a blue pancho.. To the basement we go!
*open*
Nothing
*open*
Nothing
*open*
Nothing
*closed*
Oh, very funny. Sleep-O! 3! Open the doors!
Sleep-O : Uh! Not workin'!
3 : Doesn't work, boss!


That;s a rather complicated mechanism right here, i guess we'll have to talk to the councilmen before we can steal whatever is behind these doors. I just hope they won't mind the slaughtered guards nor looting..
You! You look important! Are you the councilor?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I love diplomacy. Now we'll get paid for what we were going to do anyway, and the damn guards will no longer attack us on sight! If only all my problems could be solved that way.. The merchant might be lying to me though, but i do have an idea for a leverage. Should he want to trick me, a nasty surprise will await him in the dinning room.


Skulltrap parties are the best parties ever, because skulltrap parties don't stop. Until everybody is dead! I better close the doors though.. And write  it down somewhere, so that I dont forget about them!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I guess all my problems CAN be solved by diplomacy. Blasting someones face off with a fireball is just another argument that cannot be beaten, and thus belongs to diplomatic category. "You're right, but i can hurl fireballs!". With a slogan such as this one i would make a great politician. I'm getting a hang of lying to people, telling them what to do, plus i'm vulnerable to bribes and endorse adultery. Just like every oth- now what is this?! ANOTHER djinn?!


Three wishes my ass! I haven't gotten even a single one, and i've met a handful of you floating buggers already! Time for your foul trickery to end! No more will you crush peoples dreams with your ironic smiles!


I bet there are more of them inside that tent!
*gasp* this one has legs!


He must be the brood mother.. THAT'S THEIR BREEDING LAIR! ATTACK! AIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!


..wait.. They had a legit tent set up in here.. Were they traders? Oh my.. I guess i better report to the council, and tell the truth.. How they violently attacked me, and tried to kill in cold blood. Despite my attempts to solve the matter peacefully, they kept striking at us, and thus we were forced to dispose of them. That was TOTALLY self defense!
Totally..

[Stworca]

Current Party

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

CH2 Part 6 : Welcome to the jungle.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Greetings, guildmistress, i'm here to discuss the dji-


Uh, oh.. I better prepare for combat!


Yes! I mean.. Of course, i knew about their foul deeds all along. Djinn are never to be trusted. Their wicked ways can be only compared to the evil that are Carol singers. Not the ones found in churches mind you, but the door-to-door plague that taints every household it visits, and spreads like a wildfire!
Now.. what am i getting anyway? A celebratory key to the city? Some fancy cloak? Whoa..


Brunch! I've found you a new shield!
Brunch : I shall protect the weak and the helpless with it, now and fore-
I guess i should nod and pretend to be listening to him. Judging from the expressions everyone else is doing it. If only everything was so easy.. Oh, i almost forgot about the prisoner i was supposed to interrogate!
Damn he looks ugly.. Focus, Stworca, don't let him smell your fear!


You there! I'm supposed to talk with you, and learn why the animals are going berserk on those oddly perceptive townpeople!


3 : What are you doing, boss? We were supposed to talk to him
I know, he's just so damn repelling. His appearance makes me regret eating today, but i didn't expect his voice to be so much worse! I just can't force myself..
Sleep-O : Sleep-O kill prisoner?
Cernd : You are aware, that i can hear you just fine, right?
We are, and we are okay with it. You're staying in this cell, for your own protection. Don't ever come near us, and we'll be best friends for life.
Brunch : -just like my grandfather, Colonel Lunch, who has fought-
He's not done yet? Let's move out.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Brunch : -and thus make the world a better place, for everyone!
A stunning speech, my friend! However we must leave soon to uncover the unjust activities of local shadow druids, and put and end to the-
Monskine : *cough*
-offer them our aid-
Brunch : What?
-in stopping the true evil that lurks-
Ochita  : TURKS? WHAT TURKS?
3 : What are we talking about? I was picking pockets back there and..
Bah, i better let them continue the pointless banter without me. Oh, a pagan encampment! Just outside city gates!


You there! Oddly dressed female, way past her golden years, can you explain to me what are you doing here?


No wonder people hate pagans! Not only did she steal ten gold pieces, but she also made me feel bad about it! Let's move out. This city drives me INSANE!
Monskine : Cough
-ER.
Monskine : Cough Cough
A nasty cough you have there...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

3 : I see some strange architecture in the distance, we must be close to something
Monskine : We are.


...
3 : Boss? Where is he?
Brunch : I don't.. There! Hey!
Damn mongrels, let me concentrate not to step in any more piles of c..
Monskine : Cough
Will you stop that?! Alright.. where are we?
Sleep-O : In a forest!
No shit, skippy.
3 : It's starting to rain.
Oh, for the love of..
Brunch : Rain did not stop my uncle, Sergeant Crunch, when he was hunting vile c...
..This day can not be any worse...



3 Boss, i see enemies approaching! A lot of them too!

...
I hate forests....

Since the poll votes are mixed, i'm going with mixed updates. This time party banters like crazy!
Next update? Today probably. I have material for over 3 updates ahead, but editing and compiling takes a while.
I'd also like to ask Brunch and others if they like their NPC's.

So far it looks like this :

Ochita has wild surge on EVERY spell that he casts. A weird bug, but one that i am unable to fix. I'm trying to cast as few spells as possible with him, to not kill him too fast. This will change during boss fights that are to come, where every single spell, wild surge or not, will matter. Ochita has insanely low health, despite having decent endurance. With 40 hp he can be instantly killed by anything more dangerous than an ant. Luckily he is a mage, and as such has a huge variety of defensive spells.

3 has proficiencies in Katanas, but we haven't found any yet, despite having an enormous arsenal of magical weapons. He's not yet able to plant difficult traps, but this will change in a few levels. Should he survive what is to come, i'll boost his archery skills a bit.
Brunch received Shield of Harmony. A very nice shield that grants immunity to confusion among other things. He fares quite well so far.
Monskine is a second-plane character when it comes to combat, but in a few levels this too may change. I'm not used to play druids.

We have truckloads of magical potions, handful of wands and desire to kick some butts! ARGH!
In the next update the person who voted for "combat encounters" will get a little treat to keep him interested. Druid grove is a boring place, but i'm trying to make it interesting. The fights there are boring, the dialogues are scarce, the events are.. there are none.. But i'll do my best to make it worthwhile until we get to interesting areas! Feedback is, as always, welcome.

Regards

[Earthquake Damage]

Ochita has wild surge on EVERY spell that he casts. A weird bug, but one that i am unable to fix. I'm trying to cast as few spells as possible with him, to not kill him too fast.

Spell level variation is not a wild surge.  That happens with every spell cast, and at high levels you'll see swings of up to +/- 7.  You'll know a surge when you see one.  There's an announcement and they're visually obvious.

Also, (Improved) Chaos Shield is your friend.  I don't think it reduces the chance of a surge, but it dramatically lowers the chance of a bad one and increases the chance of the "spell cast normally" result.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

IIRC even the non-improved version completely eliminates the chance of gating hostile Pit Fiends and several similarly horrible rolls.

Monskine is a second-plane character when it comes to combat, but in a few levels this too may change. I'm not used to play druids.

Druids have one massive drawback.  It takes IIRC well over 1 million XP to gain either level 14 or 15.  They lag behind the rest of the party for a looong time at that point.  Fortunately, they gain levels pretty quickly later on to make up for it.  At high levels they have Ironskins, Creeping Doom, and some fantastic summons.  They're still inferior to the other primary spellcasters IMO, but at least you have the best druid kit in the party (though Shapeshifter can be pretty good, the rest suck ).

[Burnt Pies]

Really enjoying Brunch so far, he's brilliant.

Really enjoying everything else, too. Nice work.

[Stworca]

Current Party

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The following update may be of lower quality than other ones. I've had yet another tough night with no sleep, and it's starting to get me. The update has a vulgar word or two, beware.

CH2 Part 7 : Muddy Water(s)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Bloodthirsty druids, terrible weather, unbearable heat, frenzied trolls, wild animals..
Monskine : Oh, Stworca, pick up the pace. I'm starting to have second thoughts about... *wink wink*
Ochita : NO, THANK YOU, I'M NOT HUNGRY!
Sleep-O : Sleep-O hungry.
..sluty druids, deaf mages, retarded dwarves... Wait.. what is this.. Transparent trolls!?


Now what.. Giant spiders?!


This place is simply terrible! Thankfully i'm getting a hang of the dangers that we're encountering her-
Now that's just bullshit. A troll lair inside ancient creatures carcass?!


That's it. I'm going in.. ( 2 minutes of killing trolls. )

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Are you done with your hiccups, deaf guy?
Ochita : PUSH-UPS? NO, I DON'T WORK OUT TOO OFTEN!

That's just peachy. Hey, it seems that the moronic druids are finally attacking the trolls instead of us! Splendid!


Uh, oh.. The trolls are winning. We should help this one time, and give the druids a chance to NOT attack us for once.
There! You're safe now. Anything you wish to say to me?


Yeah.. I'm beginning to think that our sneaky druid could be lying to me, and leading into some trap. This wouldn't be the first time for me. There was this mask-wearing guy, who incapacitated me when i was off guard, plugged to some strange machine and wanted to "play a game". Damn creep.
Hmm.. It's starting to get darker, we better pick up the pace..
Speaking of strange machinery, i'm something of a genius engineer and constructor myself. Just last month i've assembled a wooden floor in my tower bedroom. Chicks dig wood! With all the sawdust that i've left i filled out my dragon pet's cage.
3 : I see another group of druids ahead! They're waiting for us, boss!
I wonder why the rogue is named three. That must've been one productive and incredibly dysfunctional family. Still wouldn't be the weirdest name a child can receive - my neighbors named their son "HIM" - but this explanation is a bit too obvious. Maybe three refers to something of his, maybe he keeps asking that many questions before allowing passage over a bridge, maybe it's a rating he has received from his former lovers - in a one hundred scale no le----
Wait, is this why Brunch is following him..?
...
Is this why the mage is deaf!?
Sleep-O may likely be the sanest of my companions which, while doesn't scare me too much, isn't very promising. Thankfully my superior intellect and wisdom are sufficient to fill their many gaps. Gaps so large, that if i were to cross them on foot, i'd have to take one flying leap of faith after another, untill i faced imp-
3 : Hello?
Uh? What?
Monskine : You were long for an awfully long time..
Silence! Let's kill us some druid ambushers!
Toughest fight in druid grove. Video length : 2:30. We win effortlessly.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Great, now it's dark, and we're fighting giant mushrooms..


Oh.. i didn't expect to find anything like this..


The doors open! It's a hideous bog witch! Prepare for barbarian hordes swoop- What? You wish to trade? Ofcourse, my lady! I'll be happy to browse your wares.


Now these are nice..


As are these..


Not to mention the oils of speed.. Ten thousand one hundred and seventeen coins? Of course. Monskine, here, take the bag of gold and count the money.
Now smile Stworca, SMILE so that she has to remain silent! Yes, it works! Count the money! COUNT IT! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Now we're prepared for whatever is thrown at us! The old witch had quite a variety of helpful elixirs. I'm taking care of all of them though, so we conserve them for difficult encounters. Besides, Sleep-O likes eating clay bottles..
Hey! Hey you! Were you following us all the way from Trademeet!? I TOLD YOU not to do that!


Cernd : I know, friend, but Faldorn is behind evil in this place!
Monskine : That is a lie!
Is it now?
Cernd : She took power from the previous master druid...
Ah, so you choose your leaders just as the orcs do. That's a relief. I was suspecting that Monskine was plotting against..
Cernd : But she IS!
Monskine : Traitor! Fandorn will make you pay for these lies!
Cernd : She's the evil that will destroy nature! This is not the pa- ARGGGGGhhhhh... uh... *dies*
Ah, so our druid is killing other druids now. Fun.
Monskine : *loosens some clothes* He was not telling the tru-
Yes, he was, and you are trying to control us, but i don't mind Trademeet, nor this ugly guy that you've killed. As long as i get what i want..
Monskine : Is that so?
*silence*
Monskine : We're almost there.


Let's see what the great druidess will have to offer us. The next few minutes may very well shape the future of the entire region.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Monskine : It was the right decision.
We have work to do.

Nothing more has been said during the entire trip back to Trademeet.

When i've said wild surges i did mean wild surges. Ochita was polymorphed, we lost our gold, we summoned pit fiends, we... many things. It was because i've accidently activated "WILD SURGE" mode. It's fixed now.

The results of talk with Faldorn will be revealed in the EPILOGUE.
As will the sudden, but temporary change of Stworca's understanding and behavior.
When will i write epilogue? Once we die or beat the game. One of two.

Love and regards

[3]

That's it. I'm going in..

Entire video is "lol, sunfire". Why did I expect anything else?

Besides the shield of harmony, was there any specific reason you decided to go to Trademeet first? Just trying to get a hold on your overall strategy.

[Stworca]

Entire video is "lol, sunfire". Why did I expect anything else?

Well, we will never again encounter trolls so i gave them a special treat. I have warned thee that the Grove is a boring place. I hope you ain't TOO disappointed. 
Non-boss Combat encounters in general are not very exciting. The boss fights though..

Besides the shield of harmony, was there any specific reason you decided to go to Trademeet first? Just trying to get a hold on your overall strategy.

Shield of Harmony was not a reason. The only reason was that Monskine had a "past" in Grove.
This, and the fact that Trademeet = 20 000 gold, not counting the loot.
It's also a place which we are unlikely to visit ever again. Unless the party decides to go back.

I have no overall strategy. I only aim to get through boring parts of the game as fast as possible. I really have no ideas on how to make things like Lilarcol sewers interesting. I also want to focus on main plot as much as possible.

I went ahead and did D'Arnise off screen, there are no interesting fights in there, and nobody cares about Nalia's story. We got the flail, but will not be using it for quite a while. We have gained some XP though. Current levels are 10-12ish

With this being said i'm open for party suggestions where do we want to go.
Interesting and mostly doable places at this point are :
1 Firkraag's castle (a tough boss at the end, that can easily obliterate the entire party in one round. Fight with end boss would get much music and editing love.)
2 Unseeing Eye dungeon (beholders are MAJOR pain with SCSII. I'm still not sure how to handle them.)
3 Umar Hills (a few tough fights with undead, dragons and liches)
4 Unique, super high level characters in Athkatla - Such as Kuroisan, Liches and a rank 4x Gnome Fighter/Mage in docks
5 Proceed with main quest (we have the gold)

If you don't mind, i'd like to see your votes on it. I havent added Kangaxx, Twisted Rune and others, because these are too dangerous to beat without cheese usage. At least at this point.
The "vote" will close in 3 or 4 updates, after we beat a certain dungeon.

Also, 3, i hope i'm not going too far with your character. It's -yours- after all and thus i'm open to all suggestions and criticism. Having an "Ok, boss" rogue is good for me, but you might have a differend POV.

Aside from that, feedback on updates is - as always - welcome.

Regards

[3]

This, and the fact that Trademeet = 20 000 gold, not counting the loot.

Yeah, I tend to do the Mae'var quest asap for the same reason.

That docks gnome fight is always kinda fun, but it's pretty miscellaneous alone. I'd vote for the Umar Hills (although it's not like you get anything much out of it besides dragon armour).

Also, 3, i hope i'm not going too far with your character.

Nope, it's ok with me (boss).

[Stworca]

Current Party

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

CH2 Part 8 : Sealing the deal

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Ochita : -AND THIS IS HOW I DEFEATED THE BLACK DART GANG IN THE RUINS OF OLD CITY
3 : Uh.. He stopped talking! He actually stopped talking!
Brunch, can you PLEASE never again ask Ochita how is he feeling?
Brunch : But the stories about great justice and bandits!
Are about as true as female orgasms, i mean honestly, the guy is deaf!
Monskine : Is that so? Good thing that i was pretending to be doing it with someone else the last time!
Well, i was pretending to be doing something else.
Monskine : How can you be so mean to the only woman who slept with you sober, yo- why are you smiling dwarf?
Sleep-O : Sleep-O always smile when Sleep-O silently judge.
I can not believe that he knows such complex words! I find it deeply dist- ah, here we are!
Hello, Lord.. Ee... Yes, you!


What? You want to throw a party in our name..? Let me just.. visit your dining room for one second.. I think i left a skulltrap there..

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Phew, i almost blew them all to pieces, and with them our rightfully earned reward!


Shall we get started? I doubt this city has any more gold owning citizens.


A statue? Really? I must see it immediately!
Hmm.. they made me look fat. Also, why do i miss my fancy robe on this statue?!


3 : Boss, we could stay here and live like kings.
Not for long, trust me. Trademeet MAY still be in danger.
Monskine : Besides, i dislike the local food.
3 : Milady. You must've mistaken me for someone who cares.
Brunch : Are we going to have a Cat figh-?
Sleep-O : Purrr?
Our rogue would have to be a female for that to happen.
Brunch : It would be unethical! Unacceptable!
Unless they were m-
Wait, we should get moving. I'd rather arrive at Athkatla before dawn!

I wonder what would happen if i didn't disarm the skull traps... (0:34 video of Skulltrap parties)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Remind me to never again trust your shortcuts.
Brunch : But the gods themselves have told me to follow that path! It was the righteous one!
Ah. Gods. Whom do you worship? I know that Sleep-O worships Moradin, and for Monskine the main deity would be Gaiqkaciqa, The God of Mildew and Sawdust.
Brunch : I follow the guidance of many deities!
Ah, i can see benefits behind this. A healthy competition behind gods. You can always blackmail one that you'll only worship the othe-
Brunch : What do you believe in then?
I believe, that this city was cleaner before we left. It better get cleaner before i wake u-
Good, a tavern! Let us thank Gaiqkaciqa, the Mildew god for its guidanc- Au. Watch it, woman!


The Crooked Crane, eh? It's still better than The Muddy Hole
3 : I don't know that tavern, where is it?
Sleep-O : Haha!
My god! Sleep-O, you understoo-
Sleep-O : Sleep-O finds funny that Vinith laughed at pet rabbit.
Monskine : ...i'm not sure whether i should laugh or cry?
That.. ee.. That's nice, Sleep-O.. but this was four days ago.. (chapter 1 Part 4 : "They can talk!")
I guess i should see if y-
What is it, peasant!? Why are you bothering me?!


Now to finally get some rest. *yawn*
3 : Eee... Boss?
Yes, you can take a nap as well.
3 : I've found a-
A place to rest? Outst-
Ochita : BY AZURA! THERE IS A SECRET ENTRANCE ON THIS WALL! EVERYONE REMAIN QUIET TO NOT ALERT WHATEVER IS BEHIND IT


I'd rather have a mute mage.. Sigh

[Stworca]

Current Party

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

This update has an unchanged dialogue in second spoiler. Unchanged because i could not find the dialogue lines to edit. It's a shame, because there was supposed to be a bit of story behind this encounter. My apologizes for that.
Everyone hates slavers, and rightfully so! A combat update.

CH2 Part 9 : All in a day's work

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Damn it all.. Alright, open it up. Seeing as the tavern owner is hiding behind the counter, i guess this is not the cellar. Unimaginable dangers await!


This does not look right.
Monskine : I smell the stench of the..
Brunch : Undead!


Prepare yourself and let's move in!
Oh.. A lich..
3 : Ouch.


He doesn't mov- What the hell? Don't touch him, you fools!
Sleep-O : Thing moved!
...Kill it! Kill it before it manages to cast a spell!


Too late! Dispel magic, now!


LEFT SIDE! EVEN SIDE, MANY WH-




Yes! His spells are dispelled! Hit him! HIT HIM NOW!


Now grab the loot and flee! The damn demons will tear this place apart once they spawn!
The lich went down like a sack of potatoes. He made a mistake by not casting protection from magical weapons asap, and thus died in about 12 seconds. A barrage of FOUR dispel magic spells and hastened Sleep-O, 3 and Monskine were enough this time.
Other liches are not that stupid. Now if the lich did cast Horrid Willing instead of Gate, i would pause and run outside with the entire party. ADHW on Insanity would kill the entire party instantly. Low hp characters like Ochita would die even if they managed a save.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Run! Leave the tavern and run outside! Quickly now, we're still in grave danger. Run until we leave the gate area! To the slums!

The tavern behind the heroes turns into a fiery inferno. Demons start summoning other demons, and try to create a permanent gate between their planes and Atkhatla. Numerous Cowled Wizards and Amnish Guards arrive at the area. Screams and stench of fried bodies accompany the heroes all the way to Slums District.

Now that was.. Unexpected!
Brunch : We have to go back and help killing the foul spawns of hell!
Monskine : By dying a painful, fiery death?
3 : Swarmed by endless demons?
Sleep-O : Fire hurts!
Ochita : LET'S NEVER AGAIN GO TO GATE DISTRICT!
Brunch : But..
You're the one who touched the Lich, you know...
3 : Boss! We're not alone here!
Good eye! What do y- oh.. I think i know whom she might represent. Excuse me, my heroic companions, but this is a conversation i have to go through alone.



Monskine : Undead! You talk with the undead!?
Brunch : Explain yourself!
3 : Uh-huh.
Sleep-O : Sleep-O still hungry.
Ochita : CAN WE LOOK AT THE LOOT WE GOT FROM THE LICH ALREADY!?
Bandit : Do you people mind stepping aside? I have an important slave to deliver!
What!? You're joking.. You MUST be!


Ah, city watch. Time for you criminal lot to rot in prison!


I see.
Prepare to die, all of you.
Bandit : WHA- *gurgle*


3 : Boss?
What?!
3 : He's dead.
Monskine : He was dead ten to twenty five strikes ago..

Tell me where they were holding you, and you're free to go. The big boat-like building? Thank you. Now go wash yourself, you stink!

Door guard : You're not supposed to be he-


No talking.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

*Knock knock*
Guard : Who's there?
Death.


Move onward, soon they'll arrive here to check out what was that noi-


Brunch : The city watch was bribed!? DIE!
Ochita : MY TOE! I THINK THERE IS A SPLINTER  IN MY TOE! DIE!
Sleep-O : Sleep-O hungry. DIE!
That's the spirit!
Monskine : Slay the slavers!
3 : Right behind you!


That's the last one!


Onward! There is bound to be more of them!
Brunch : Ye!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

More of them are coming from behind! Ochita! *poke* Stop them! *point at more slaver scumbags*
Ochita : AYE!


Alright, they're dead.
Sleep-O : A puppy!
Ochita : DAMN SPELL WENT HORRIBL-.. I can hear myself!
Sleep-O : A talking puppy!
Brunch : Justice has given you your ears back!
It was the transformation, brainiac... Still a welcome chang-
Monskine : He's changing back!
Ochita : Worry not, i can s- NO! NOO! NOOOO! NOT BACK TO THIS HELL AGAIN!
One would think that he has realized that all this screaming is unnecessary..
3 : Boss! More people ahead!
What are these.. Children? They enslave children here!? Outrage!


Free them, and then we'll find the person responsible!


Now beat it, kid. You're already annoying me.
Three, go ahead and scout the next area.
3 : Sleep-O! Charge in as soon as you hear combat.
Sleep-O : Ye.


Alright. Charge in, dwarf! This one is on you and the rogue.


Sleep-O : No escapin'!


Sleep-O : ARRR!


3 : Bloody!
Sleep-O : Sleep-O likes bloody.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Half hour later.

..and this was another one of the reasons why the vampires may not be the worst option.
Brunch : I can not believe this city endorses slavery!
Monskine : This is true, that the Shadow Thieves are incapable of doing anything for us, and Aran is most likely to betray us... but vampires?!
We're not going to ally ourselves with them, druid, just use them for the time being. Without her help we're not going to rescue Pinky. Isn't it a noble enough goal, to accept the lesser evil that we'll have to endure? Haven't i accepted your lesser evil?
...
*uneasy silence*
...
Brunch : Undead are foul, you'll need me to protect you for long enough to rescue your captured friend!
Monskine : But we'll kill them once they're not needed!
Brunch : Of course!
Good.
Now let's see what presents did out lovely Lich friend leave.. Oh my, i think i'm having a sorcerergasm.
Monskine : What is it?


I wonder if i should cast it as a scroll, or let Ochita use it in his spell book.. I'll wonder about it later.
3 : There are some doors here, boss!
I see! Try to open them.
3 : Blocked from the other side!
So it must lead to one of the buildings in this district..


Alright, we've done a good job clearing out this lot.
Brunch : I only wish we could do something that would make the guards think twice before accepting slavery.
I think we did, Brunch. I think we did.

4 out of 7 votes were in favor of proceeding with main quest, so this is what we're going to do.
A new poll has been added. Bodhi or Aran? Bodhi is the more evil path, aiding vampires in their quest to slaughter everything that is living. Aran is a douche, with lots of plotting, but no action and annoying complications. Shadow Thieves endorse slavery. Vampires do so too, but use mental shackles instead of iron ones.

Aran is a lying type, Bodhi is a cruel one.
As enemy : Aran would sell you into slavery. Bodhi would kill you.

Now, since it's an alternative world..
Aran despises Stworca for something he did on a pool party, waay back.
Bodhi still sees him as potential pet slave.

Last, but not least. Bodhi path will have more changes from vanilla, Aran one will have less.