Adrian: Baldur's Gate

Bregondan, this land had once been called in happier times. A deep lake had been here, leading to a stream that went into the Cloudpeak mountains. The Firewine Bridge had crossed it to one of the few Half-Elven enclaves in the Realms, in times centuries-gone. Then some adventuresome party had been betrayed, or they failed here, and the land had dried up. The Half-Elves had fled southwards, into the lands that were not yet Amn. Now it was a dry, desolate place, which even the monster races only veiwed as temporary abodes.

"This place will be desert soon," said Adrian, squinting as he looked south.

"Desert?" Viconia asked.

"Any really dry and hot places in the Underdark?" Safana asked her.

"Oh." Viconia nodded, and made a face.

"Still not entirely sure why we're here," Edwin said. "The Cloakwood--"

"We'll get there, we'll get there," said Adrian. "When we're a little tougher. This is a well worn discussion."

"We dooo need to go, Adrian," Xzar said in sing-song.

Adrian turned and gave the mages one of his cold, gray-eyed stares. They cringed.

"The sooner we do this, the sooner I find out who killed Gorion," Adrian said. "I want to do it as much as you. But I also wish to survive. Now, if either of you has anything to tell me, speak. Otherwise, be silent."

The mages exchanged a glance, but held their peace.

"That's what I thought."

"Greetings, children!" a voice called to them. The man who had spoken seemed to be a priest, in threadbare robes.

"We're not your children," grunted Kagain.

"Oh but you are!" he exclaimed. "You are children of Ilmater, if only you would see it! Now cast aside your foul magics--"

He never finished. Xzar magic missiled him, hard and fast, then stomped on him when he went down.

"I do not mourn that fool," said Adrian. "But kindly don't waste magic when we may otherwise need it."

Xzar gritted his teeth, but nodded. Adrian began to worry if the madman could keep himself under control well enough to continue.

As if in vengance for the priest, undead beset them. Zombies, mostly. The party cut them down with ease, but there were a fair number of them, and the sun had climed to noon when they were done.

In the roasting heat of midday, Adrian decided not to lead them across the dry lake bed, with it's blowing clouds of stinging sand. They went around instead.

On the other side, they found an annoying bard (whom Adrian restrained himself from killing; Xzar laughed at him. Safana led him away, knocked him out, and stole his gold). After that they encountered some of those damnable Kobold fire-archers. Kagain was badly hurt by these, and they rested a while to let his wounds close up.

"Kagain, how do you do that?" Adrian asked him.

Kagain shrugged. "My family's always been stocky, even for Dwarves. I have a cousin in Amn you should meet."

After that, they met an arrogant warrior who clamed he was the best swordsman ever. To give him credit, he was good. He gave Adrian several scars to remember him by.

"Magical braces," said Xzar admiringly, holding them up. "Oh yes."

"I'll take those, thank you," said Adrian, snatching them away.

"Get away!" a woman in mage robes screamed. "Get away from Carsa!!"

"And why should we do that?" Adrian asked mildly.

"The thing, the thing in the box," she gabbled. She was indeed holding an ornate jewleld box. "It killed my party. It will kill you too!"

"That looks like some sort of phylactery," said Xzar in a nervous voice.

"A what?" Viconia, Safana, and Adrian chorused.

"A soul jar," Edwin spat. "No telling what's hiding in there."

"Give us the box, Carsa," said Adrian.

"Nooooo, it will make me say the name! Stay away!"

Kagain threw his axe, and his aim was true. He struck the box, and it tumbled from her hands.

"Karhk! O mighty Kahrk!" she cried. Then she let out a strange cry and began to Change.

"Physical contact is not neccesary," said Edwin dryly.

"Thanks for telling us that!" Kagain shouted. "Now I don't have a weapon!"

She turned red, then grew....into an Ogre Mage.

"More souls to to Kahrk's work!" he roared.

He put up a shield, but Viconia dispelled it. Adrian and Safana began shooting it, and Viconia closed in. Kagain scowled, then dashed after. He went for his axe, at the feet of the Ogre, who swatted him away. Fortunately he was only hit by the flat of the scimitar, but was nevertheless sent flying.

But without his shields, and out in the open, he was easy prey for the wizards. Viconia deflected three sword strikes with her hammer, preventing him from casting. She heard the wizards mumbling their Words, and rolled out of the way. A pair of lightning bolts ripped through him. He staggered back, and Viconia's hammer connected with his head. Kagain charged in, grabbed up his axe, and went for the knees. Safana's last bullet connected with his head, and down he went.

"How amusing. What an enlivening experience for our skills." sneered Edwin.

"Can we please go now?"

Adrian never got the chance to answer. Kagain was suddenly stinging Edwin's ankles with the handle of his axe.

"Whatisit--ow! Hey! Stop! OW!"

Xzar and Safana began to laugh. Viconia smirked. Adrian was just bemused.

"I dinna always agree with Adrian," said Kagain, continuing to thwap Edwin's ankles. "But the fact remains that every battle makes us stronger, tougher, better able to deal with the challenges that lie ahead."

"Besides," said Viconia. "Didn't you learn the other night, when he....screamed?"

As Kagain stopped, Edwin got a thoughtful and frightened look on his face. "Point taken."

"Thank you, Kagain," said Adrian.

"A pleasure."

"He was right about one thing though," Adrian said, thoughtfully.

"I was?" Edwin brightened. "What?"

"It is, indeed, time to go."

They made their way back to the coast way road cobbles, and made camp.

They slept peacefully for about three hours, and then....

...the monk and Draconian found them!