Adrian: Baldur's Gate

Safana had the watch, and she let out a low ululation like a night hawk when she saw two figures approaching in the darkness. She had no infravision, but she didn't need it. The moon was full and bright, and even if it hadn't been, the Draconian's heavy tread was audible indeed.

The two made no attempt to hide themselves. Nor was there any discussion; The Monk charged Adrian directly as he rose from his bedroll, while the Draconian hung back, waiting, drawing party members to him. Adrian's mouth formed a grim line, acknowledging the clever strategy of splitting the party.

Kagain and Safana moved to engage the Draconian, though of course they didn't know that's what he was. Seeing his larger form, the wizards focused their attention on him, leaving Viconia and Adrian to face the monk.

The Draconian threw off his cloak, revealing himself, and Kagain had another "what is that" moment. Though it was silent and to himself, and was more along the lines of "Did a Lizard Man get bulked up with strength potions?"

Safana had no bullets left, so she pulled the singing short sword that had once been Montaron's. She wisely let Kagain stay in front, while she leapt in periodically and struck stinging blows.

The Draconian shrugged off Safana's strikes, and parried Kagain's axe with his thick bladed scimitar. Safana began to work around behind him, trying to backstab. But he turned with her, which of course left him open to Kagain's axe.

Adrian, meanwhile, was marvelling at the number of hard fist-strikes that were making it past his sword, to strike his armor. He had several bone bruises already. He knew what a fighting monk was, of course, but had never seen one. He was starting to get pissed off, and a little scared. He breifly contemplated using his scream, which he was learning to master, but thought that the damned fool would probably shove a fist into his open mouth.

Viconia closed in, trying to drop her hammer on the monk, but every time she did, a foot blurred towards her face. She had parried with her hammer, but his foot had yet to be bruised.

The mages unleashed magic missles, which pounded into the Draconian but failed to do any significant harm. The Draconian had been made tougher, first by his trop across the planes, then by Semaj and Winski, Sarevok's mages. Nevertheless, it faced it's own troubles. If it tried to take out Kagain, the grater threat, Safana would backstab it. If it tried to take out Safana, Kagain would chop it down like a tree.

So it spun, blade held low. Safana jumped, but Kagain stepped forward, holding his axe in guard position. Axe and scimitar CLANGED together, and both fell to the ground.

Safana backstabbed, and the Draconian hissed in pain. Another wave of magic missiles arrived at that moment, and the Draconian was finished. It turned to stone, then exploded, sending Safana's blade flying and stunning both her and Kagain with stone fragments.

The Monk looked around at the noise, and Adrian's blade chopped into his shoulder. He ducked back, and Viconia's hammer grazed his head. In desperation, he tried the quivering palm attack on Adrian, but he was not that strong, and only made Adrian's armor vibrate, and Adrian's teeth chattered in sympathy.

So he responded in kind. He knew that his latest dream had given him a different power, though he knew not what. So with his free hand, he reached out and touched.....

The monk froze, mouth openend in pain, unable to move.

Adrian and Viconia made mincemeat out of him.

They rested well into the morning, and healing spells were dispensed, especially for Adrian, who had three broken ribs, and Safana, who had been badly concussed.

"Now?" Xzar asked shakily.

"Now," said Adrian, teeth gritted, "Cloakwood."