"Looks nice," Laska mumbled absentmindedly as she appraised the temple of Helm.

"If ye wants to see som'tin' impressive, lassie," Korgan replied, "takes a look at yon lightnin' in a bottle at the Temple of Talos over there..."

"Talosians..." Viconia muttered. "Nothing but braggards and blowhards..."

"Boo says those clerics have to be blowhards to be worshipping the storms!" Minsc smiled in reply.

After doing some exploring through Athkatla, the group had finally entered the temple district. Laska might not be one for quiet worship, but she appreciated the serene atmosphere surrounding the temples. This part of the city lacked the bustle of the inhabitants, as well as the noises. The chimes of bells played in the background and the soft rustling of the water calmed her senses. The quiet wisdom emanating from the temples made her want to, well, get a drink actually...

She noticed her companions were not sharing her state of mind. Minsc seemed very eager to combat evil, since he hadn't had a good fight for two days now. Korgan looked immensely bored by the whole district, while Viconia was spying the clerics here a bit nervously, keeping an eye out for more religious fanatics lying in wait to kill her for simply walking by.

"Oy!" Korgan suddenly shouted, interrupting Laska's train of thought, "look over at yon group of longlimbs." He pointed at a group of people, gathered in from of the temple of Lathander.

"What are those rivvin doing there, I wonder? Surely there is room in a temple for such a large gathering," Viconia said, while a look of suspicion crossed her face.

"Aye..." Korgan chuckled. "Mayhaps they've foun' another Drow to burn to cinders, doncha know..."

"Oh, be quiet Hargluk!," she snarled back, while taking another look at the group of people. Using her sharp senses she noticed the man standing on a low pedestal in the middle of the group of people was actually missing two important parts of his anatomy... After pointing this out to Laska, they decided to approach to group to find out what was going on.

"I, Gaal... I, who have been mercifully stripped of my eyes... I, who was chosen by the Great Unseeing Eye... I have been allowed to see the truth that has eluded the world for all ages! The gods you worship are false gods... They are powers that are drunk on their own lust for power, riches and followers to play out against each other," the man continued his ranting, while Laska and Viconia shared a look. Viconia herself, had seen many forms of religious fanaticism during her old life in Menzoberranzan, but this sort of self-mutilation she had never heard of before.

After Gaal proceded to berate a visibly shaken priest of Lathander, the crowd seemed divided.

"Aye, this be a load of pigdung, then... I nay be a worshipper o'gods, but I donnae think that Gaal pratt would say this load unless he's got some powerfull protection backin' 'im up..." Korgan mused.

"But there is a god! The Unseeing Eye offers the faithful a clarity of vision, the true path to the divine!" Gaal continued, "He offers you protection and succor!"

This was an offer too good to withstand for some of the disappointed peasants in the crowd. Laska snorted as she realized Gaal had chosen his victims well. Most people here wore ratty clothing, looked malnurished and were probably farmers or beggars who has recently lost everything they had owned... As Gaal wandered off, with his new victims in tow, the frustrated priest of Lathander stormed back into his temple.

"Aye, I tells ye once, and I tells ye again, lassie," Korgan directed at Laska, "all Humans have brain-rot..."

"Those clerics are truly evil!" Minsc shouted. "They have no eyes and now Boo cannot attack them!"

Korgan said nothing, but directed a 'told ya so!' look at the tattooed elf.

Laska simply smiled and patted her hand on Minsc's shoulder for a bit. Suddenly, quick as a flash, she drew one of her two longswords and pointed it at a shadowy corner at the temple of Lathander, where her elven senses had picked up a shadow lurking in the corner.

"Come out, human," she snarled through clenced teeth, while her companions drew their weapons as well.

"Stay your hand," an older, greying man told the elf. "I am a servant of Helm... And I have come to ask for your aid. I have heard of your reputation and of your deeds up north. Helm requires your assistance in dealing with this new... 'Faith'," he spat out the last word as if the very idea filled his stomach with bile. "Come to the temple of Helm, then. I, High wather Oisig, will be waiting for you there..."

And before Laska could reply, he was off. The four companions shared a quick look and followed suit.

The temple of Helm was a very dull and grey place on the inside, except for the artworks which were sporadically strewn across the back wall. A gigantic statue of a clenched fist was the centerpiece of the temple, and the high watcher was standing in front of it with several acolytes. The acolytes were looking very tired and haggard, as if they had seen great hardship recently.

Assuming the role of leader, Laska stepped forward to approach Oisig, who offered a sincere smile.

"Welcome," he began impassively. "I am glad that you have decided to come. We are aligned in a like fashion and I would like to pose question to you. You heard the words of Gaal, did you not? His words are lies. If a new power had risen, Helm would not be left in the dark about that. This raises the question however, what the nature of this cult actually is."

"He picks his victims well," Laska pointed out. "People who have lost their faith and trust..."

"True, but it's not only those people which have fallen victim," Oisig continued. "Do you see these acolytes? They are all yhat remains of the dedicated clergy of followers in Athkatla. About ten novices disappeared without a trace. Whether they have been taken against their will or not, we do not know... And other temples... They have reported to have missing members as well. The blindness this cult promotes is abhorrent to the Vigilant One and thus, it must be dealt with... According to Him, the cult resides underground, so I would like you and your companions to..."

"So you want us to go into the sewers to investigate? Or exterminate? Or both?" Laska asked with a hint of suspicion. Laska liked a good fight, but not without knowing the whole story and she knew a clergyman with a grudge never told the whole story... Still, she had witnessed the actions of Gaal in the streets and she was quite certain the Helmite was telling her the truth...

"Investigate, if you like," Oisig responded quickly when he sensed Laska's hesitation. "Whatever happens, Helm must know of the true nature of this cult..."

"Urm, might I be allowed to break in fer a moment, lass?" Korgan asked. "We still have to get yon book from the graveyard fer Pimlico afore me ol' companions get their 'ands on it."

"I agree with Korgan, Laska," Viconia added. "Why should we care if the rivvin of this city wish to worship some abomination and put out their own eyes? What difference does it make to us?"

"Why Viconia," Laska smiled and told her Drow friends in a sing-song voice, "does the mystery not pull at you? Do not wish to find out who is the puppetmaster pulling the strings, or stuff like that?"

"If we have to trudge through the sewers to do so," Viconia continued, "no..."

"Come on," Laska urged with a grin, "besides that mystery thing, there's a good chance we'll get to kick some ass!"

"Well, in that case," Korgan grinned wildly while rubbing his long beard, "it's a cracker! I'm on!"

"Minsc?" Laska asked and smiled in his direction.

"Boo will finish the eyeballs of the evildo'ers," Minsc shouted, but then paused. "Errrmmm... That is if the the eyeballs weren't finished already!" A confused squeek sounded from Minsc's pocket.

"Viconia?" Laska asked and smiled at her Drow friend.

Viconia sighed once, shook her head and then, after a offering a brief gaze, she slowly nodded.

"Okay," Laska directed at Oisig, "We'll do it..."

"Excellent!" Oisig replied in utter relief. "May the Great Guard protect you from all wrongs reared against you! Our resources are thin at the moment, but a servant of Torm is already awaiting you in the sewers below."

"Oy, where's this Keldorn chappy then?" Korgan asked impatiently. "We be trudging through old dishwater for about an hour now!" he said as they made their way though the sewers. The sewers were, well, sewers... Smelly, foul, dark and filled with all types of beasties. The encounter with the Rakshasa was the most profitable, and Viconia was wearing a nice enchanted cloak they had found afterwards.

"We've only been down here for five minutes, Korgan," Viconia chuckled.

"Well, it soddin' feels like an 'our, Drow! Do you want a taste o' me axe?" Korgan smiled back.

"I think there are six people ahead. Boo says they are adventurers," Minsc, who had been making good use of his tracking abilities, suddenly spoke up.

"Six?" Laska asked with a hint of suspicion. "Didn't Oisig tell us there would only be one? Better keep your weapons ready."

As soon as they rounded about the corner, the companions were standing face to face with six powerful adventurers, apparently led by a dwarven hatchetmen.

"OY!" The dwarf called out in surprise. "Who was supposed to be holding watch, 'ere!" The five others shared sheepish looks while the hatchetman's fury grew by the second.

"Well, then," The dwarf continued, adressing Korgan, "I be Tarnor the Hatchetman... And this be our spot! So hand over yer loot, or I'll split yer head with me axe!"

"Don't ye be lookin' at me," Korgan snarled, while the two dwarves stared each other out. "I'll be more than 'appy to put me axe in yer brain, but it be Laska that does the talking..."

The dwarf snorted while he appraised the elven female. "Ye take yer orders from an elf?!! Are ye addled?"

"This one may surprise ye, groundling!" Korgan retorted.

"Aye," Tarnor laughed. "Axe not as sharp as it used to be, eh, Bloodaxe?"

"That be it!" Korgan shouted. "Come on, lass! Let's show this piece of pigdung what we be made off!"

"Pay the gold," Viconia whispered to Laska through clenched teeth. "They are far more powerful than us..."

For a moment Laska seemed to agree, but then Tarnor taunted her again....

"Aye, elven lass. Shouldn't you be dancing and pouncying naked through the woods and singing to the trees and flowers," Tarnor mocked. Viconia saw a snarl tug at the corners of Laska's mouth. She knew that her hot-tempered friend would be pushed over the edge if Tarnor would mock her futher...

"Ye are a looker, though. For an elf, that is. Mayhaps you can do a little happy-dance for us, while we toss some coins in yer hat!"

Viconia nodded her head and took hold of her flail, preparing for the assault. Taking Tarnor completely by surprise, her elven friend drew her longswords and bellowed a battlecry before throwing herself into the fray.

"A SKULLBREAKER!" she heard Korgan yell over the sounds of battle.

"GREAT FUN!!!! Right boo?" Minsc shouted as well, boo squeaking in agreement....

Viconia grimaced as she swung her flail into the head of the half-elven mage...

"That was idiotic!" Viconia shouted, echoing through the sewer corridors. After casting her last healing spell, she had managed to heal most of her companion's and her own wounds. She had, however, not been able to heal her anger.

"Your attacks were uncoordinated! Do you realize that if I hadn't taken out that mage, we'd all be dead by now?!" Viconia shouted while she tended to the last of Laska's wounds with a piece of dirty cloth...

"Oy, donnae be bickering. We won, didnae we?" Korgan said. "We've got new armor and I've got me a new axe," he said while giving the axe, which he pried from Tarnor's dead fingers, a loving look.

"We could have walked away from this," Viconia replied. "Instead you three let yourselves be lured into a fight with superiour foes on a dare! I don't mind if you play with your own life... But I do not favor someone playing with mine..."

"So you don't want your share of the treasure then?" Laska joked?

Viconia, already wearing the magical platemail, raised her eyebrow. "Now I didn't say that, did I?" she replied while sharing a smile with the elf.

"Doesn't Laska want a plate? Boo says even big girls need good protection!" Minsc said.

Laska leaned against the wall and smiled. "Nah," she began. "I'm a chainmail-gal myself. Besides, that magical Full Plate was dwarven-sized and there's only one dwarf here..."

"Who knows what's in store for us when we descend deeper into these sewers?" Viconia stated again.

"Oh, come on..." Laska chuckled. "This is a sewer! There'll be no worse than goblins below, aside from a couple of crazy cultists..."

As Viconia prepared to snarl a reply, she suddenly spotted an anomaly in the wall. The Drow let her hands run over the slimy rock, scanning for the seams she knew would be there.

"Oy," Korgan called. "Whatcha be doin', Drow?"

"I see it too," Laska added. "Fake wall?"

"Fake wall..." Viconia replied.

Have you ever had one of those days, where you wish you'd never entered a room? Well, this time Laska had one. While going down the stairs in the sewers, she had managed to find a place to sleep safely for her and her friends, but she had also been forced to slaughter one of her elven kin over a misunderstanding, and worst of all, there was certain Tiefling bard they had stumbled upon. And she found he was very, very, very annoying!

"My raven... Let us to the playhouse fly!" Haer'Dalis stressed in his melodic voice. "Miss Raelis is awaiting the gem with dire need!"

"Listen carefully," Laska fumed. "I will say this one more time... My name is Laska... You may call me everything you like... Laska, elf, lassie," she directed a smile at Korgan, "girl, Lady, even 'Hey You' for all I care... But if you compare me with a bird one more time, I swear you will witness the 'entropic decay' of your teeth firsthand!"

"Aye, that be tellin' 'im," Korgan laughed. "But I be tired o' restin'. Let us smash our weapons into the gullets of those cultists, and bathe in their blood! We be a group of vicious skullbreakers!"

"I will be happy to assist you, but we must go the playhouse first... It would do miss Raelis no good if the gem lies at the depths of a dungeon, drenched in the blood of the unfortunate adventurers who were expected to return it to her! Death comes for us all, my ravens. For some it is sooner than for another, but sometimes it is quite fortuitous to avoid it to live another day!" Haer'Dalis stressed.

Korgan, disturbed in his violent musing, shot the bard the harshest look he could master and shouted, "Oy, ye've ruined the atmosphere, ye daft pansy!"

"Your words are confusing to rangers and hamsters alike!" Minsc said. "Minsc and Boo do not flee from danger! No sir!"

"Come to think of it," Laska chuckled, "you may compare me to a bird..."

"Oh?" Haer'Dalis replied in surprise.

"Yes," She smiled like a wolf, "you may call me 'Woodpecker'."

"Woodpecker?" Haer'Dalis asked in surprise.

"Yes... because a woodpecker, pecking a tree makes roughly the same sound as a certain elven female's fist when it is repeatedly punched into your forehead!"

"As you can see," Viconia chuckled. "This lot is not very interested in poetry, or philosophy, or... basically anything else besides fighting, drinking and pulling pranks..."

"Ah," Haer'Dalis replied. "I see I cannot convince you to join me then. Please then, my... woodpecker, come to the playhouse to bring the gem to us, after you have taken care of your business here... Do not disappoint me, then, my ravens... and woodpecker." Haer'Dalis smiled and rounded about the corner before Laska could reply.

"Wait," Laska shouted after him, "what about your...."

But he was gone, leaving Laska to hold a strange, gnarly gem. She threw it around in her hands for a while and then gave it to Korgan.

"You've seen plenty of precious stones, Korgan. What is this?"

Korgan looked at this closely, holding it close to his eye. He sniffed it and took a small bite...

"Zirconia..." Korgan huffed and tossed it back to Laska.

"Well, I'm no one's lapdog," Laska grimaced and tossed the gem down a pipe.

'See ya', she thought while she heard the gem rattling all the way down...

And then, the companions continued on their way... deeper into the complex, still looking for Sir Keldorn Firecam...