Adrian: Baldur's Gate

The two parties stood there eyeing each other, while the Amnian guards of the Mine shifted uneasily from one foot to the other.

Eventually, Adrian said "When I told Imoen to wait for you and join you, having her share my dangers wasn't exactly what I had in mind."

"I can handle the dangers, Adrian," Imoen shot back. "I just don't like your methods."

"The methods that need to be used to win. To get things done," said Adrian, wearily.

"Surely," said Jaheira, "If we combine our resources, we can better combat whatever it is plaguing the mines."

"No," said Adrian. "Quarrelling over leadership, direction, and a hundred other things would make it impossible. Though I will say you've got an effective party member, there," indicating Branwen.

Branwen held her head high, ignoring the left-handed compliment. "You cannot prevent us from entering the mines!"

"Y-yes he can," said Khalid. "It's s-s-six to f-four. H-he'd win any fight."

"It's not a question of preventing you from going in," said Adrian. "Just a matter of not forming one big group."

Understanding lit Jaheira's eyes. "This way we have two chances to solve this crisis."

"And earn th' reward," put in Montaron.

"Yes yes yes, enough of this pointless gibbering," sneered Edwin. "Let us begin."

Forming up into two lines, the parties entered the mines, Jaheira's on the left, Adrian's on the right.

"Take care of Imoen," Adrian warned Jaheira. She merely nodded.

As Adrian had expected, Jaheira wanted to clear out each level of the mines as she went, and so her group did their best to search out every nook and cranny of the entrance level. After killing two groups of those annoying little dog-people, kobolds, Adrian knew that getting to the bottom of the mine, and the instigator, was more important. Any enemy stragglers could be taken out by Jaheira, or the Amnish guards.

So he found the access to the next level as quickly as possible, and went down.

Here Montaron demonstrated his trap-detecting skills for the fist time, neutralizing three traps in rapid succession. They went down another level. After an archery duel with more Kobolds, Adrian started looking for a place for the party to rest. Jaheira's group, no doubt, would be similarly exhausted before they even finished the first level. Pragmatism would win, as it always did.

Adrian began to feel a sense of...not fear, but awareness of how deep underground they were. It became very dark, and quiet, only themselves or their enemies making any noise--except when there enemies were undead.

All of them were grim and serious, even Viconia, though for her there was also a sense of familiarity. "Reminds me of home...though home does not welcome me."

"This is where the gold grows," Kagain said, "Trouble is, ye have to kill whoever's hoarding it first."

"The dark be nice," said Montaron, "But blast this damp!"

The wizards remained silent. As yet, they hadn't had to use their spells, but it was only a matter of time until they did.

They found their opportunity shortly thereafter. They had left the mines proper and entered the natural cave system they were growing into. Adrian almost feared they had made a wrong turn, but they ran into more kobolds, so he knew he hadn't reached the source, yet.

The opportunity came when they finally found a cavern to rest in. Unfortunately, it was guarded by three giant spiders.

Viconia snarled something in Drow, and charged. Adrian hurled the minor drain spell at the nearest spider, and the battle was joined.

Adrian's crossbow bolts found their marks, and Kagain and Montaron charged in to help Viconia, while Xzar and Edwin cast their spells--Edwin had learned magic missile by now--and the first of them went down quickly enough. But the second bit Kagain, injecting it's poison. Adrian took that spider down with a crossbow bolt seconds after, and Viconia and Montaron finished off the third.

The poison was spreading through Kagain's system faster than his ability to regenerate. "This Dwarf's not feelin too good," the moaned. Viconia slowed the poison with her powers to the point where his regenerative abilities could deal with it.

"Don't rush in alone," Adrian said to Viconia. "We need to support each other in combat."

Viconia looked at him with a puzzled expression for a moment, then nodded.

They camped in the spider cave for the night.

Jaheira's troupe had camped at the very beginning of the second level.

"H-hes gotten ahead o-of us again, h-hasn't he," Khalid said quietly.

"Yes," Jaheira whispered, and sighed.