"By the gods," Keldorn said as the party stood on top of a hill behind the mountain-range dividing the island of Brynnlaw in half. Spellhold looked before them. And it was no doubt that the madhouse was itself designed by a madman. It was built right into the cliff side, with no telling how deep it went into the mountains. The main building seemed to be haphazardly supported by rotting beams and errant platforms, making them wonder why the building had not yet collapsed.

That moment, lightning stuck one of the many little towers strewn across the complex.

"Figures," Laska said. "It's been clear skies all day and suddenly when we get to the scariest place in Faerun, lightning strikes."

"I never saw it from the outside," Imoen spoke in awe. "But it's even scarier than inside. It almost looks like that painting of the impossible staircase in Gorion's study. You know, Laska, it was the one that always freaked you out."

"Imagine walking on and on and not getting anywhere," Laska sighed.

"It is an ugly building filled with examples of architectural poverty," Viconia nodded. "In other words, a typically human product."

"What, the Drow would have built it better?" Imoen said.

"Indeed," Viconia said. "It would have been made by dark living crystal... and we'd have more room to hang the corpses of our victims."

"What?"

"Just look at the entrance," Laska pointed out. "Two rotting corpses there."

"Ewww..."

"This is a place of foul evil, my friends," Keldorn said. "I sense malevolent and dark magics lurking inside that insidious building. We'd best be on our toes."

The entrance was quickly found. It was a small door, but it was flanked by a trio of arches, in turn covered with vicious gargoyles locked in a state of silent scream forever. The foursome felt threatened, as if the asylum was a living thing, ready to gobble them up in a single moment of carelessness.

"No need to confront Irenicus," Laska said with grim determination. "We just need to get it, find out what happened to Imoen's soul, get it back and get the hell out of here."

"Here it is," Yoshimo said, producing the key, "Shall we go inside?"

"Famous last words," Viconia muttered. The door opened with a resounding creak, offering entrance to the dangers within.

"This way," Imoen said, leading them to the narrow and empty hallways of the asylum. It was a desolate place, a dark place, and Laska once again felt the pang of guilt for leaving her sister to stay in this malevolent building. "It's odd," Imoen said. "Where are my friends! They're supposed to be here! We have to rescue them!"

"We'll find them," Keldorn said, holding Carsomyr at the ready. "None of the inmates deserve to be here."

Together, they sped through the hallways, heading towards the rec-room, from where they would have access to all the vital areas of the Asylum. So far, they had seen very little opposition, but as if on cue, two rather surprised Cowled Wizard overseers stepped out of the shadows.

"What... what are you doing here?" one of the wizards shouted. "All you inmates are supposed to be brought to the lower levels! Why aren't you there?!"

Laska said nothing, but calmly stepped up to him, lashed out and broke his neck with a single twist. As the body sank to the floor, Keldorn had already dealt a facefull of Carsomyr to the other sadistic wizard. Quickly, they continued on their path.

The rec-room was large and high, and the only well-lit place in the room. A figure stood in front of one of the large barred windows, looking over the courtyard below. "Ah, there you are," a familiarly eerie voice drifted from the cloaked man. "You certainly took your time. I gather my two assistants are no longer alive, yes?"

Viconia glanced at Keldorn. Both of them had noticed that Laska and Imoen were both trembling... trembling from a fear that came from the very depths of their being.

"Well, it seems you have improved since we last met, Laska," the cloaked figure asked. "So, killed many things since then?"

"I dunno," Laska snarled, but fear obviously overshadowed her bravado. "Why don't you find out?"

"Oh, I shall," the cloaked man whirled around and threw off his hood.

"By the gods," Keldorn exclaimed as he saw the man's mask, covered with a leathery mask which took away all of his expression. Even more striking were his cold and piercing eyes. Keldorn felt him staring right through him.

"So, you must be Irenicus," Viconia smiled. "I must say that I am not impressed. For all the horrific tales my friends have told me about you, I did not expect you to look like a simple hedge-wizard."

"What am I supposed to wear other than this?" Irenicus blinked. "Leather straps, perhaps? What kind of mad fool do you take me for?"

"Enough talk!" Laska snarled as she drew her blades and stepped forward, trembling every step she came closer to a rather bemused Irenicus. "I'm going to get you like a pig and drag your entrails across the fields for the hungry wolves to gnaw on."

"Such violent thoughts," Irenicus said. "Truly befitting your heritage."

Surprising all, Irenicus stepped right towards Laska. The tattooed elf let out a warcry and slashed her blade towards her most bitter enemy... and there it stopped. Mere inches away from his mask, the blade stopped.

"Indeed," Irenicus said while he effortlessly pushed the blade aside with two fingers and regarded the trembling elf. "Have you forgotten?"

Immediately, dozens of images and emotions shot through Laska's being as Irenicus spoke those words. A guttural scream she didn't know she herself produced or was only a product of her mind sounded. Laska felt numb, very numb, and felt it was easier to let go of the fear and simply submit.

Her two blades fell harmlessly to the floor.

"Yes," Irenicus said as she regarded the elf, who was now on the floor lying in a trembling little ball. "Very docile now," he added as the elf shied away from her touch.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Imoen shouted, breaking Irenicus' train of thought. The perky thief-mage had her bow drawn and was just about to fire at him. Still, Irenicus was not worried.

"Spell!" Viconia shouted and dove towards Imoen. Out of the blue, Irenicus launched a sickeningly bluish wave from his free hand. Though Viconia was fast enough to push Imoen away, her heavy armor prevented her from getting out of the way of the beam herself. The magic crashed into her abdomen, and the Drow went down with a yelp. The momentum of her jump caused her to roll over the floor and end up in a moaning heap away from the rest of the party.

Imoen turned around after hearing a metallic clank, and suddenly saw Yoshimo holding a blackjack and standing over Keldorn's unconscious form.

"Do not worry," Irenicus said. "It is a spell intended to disable, not to kill. Give up, Imoen. You stand no change."

"You'll never break me!" Imoen snarled and had just enough time to fire one of her energy arrows before a second blue magical beam introduced her to darkness.

"Lucky shot, ey?" Yoshimo grinned as he regarded the burn in the chest of Irenicus' suit while the golems took their victims away to the dungeons.

"My favorite shirt," Irenicus sighed. "No matter."

"So, now that you have what you want..."

"Right to the point," Irenicus spoke. "Very well, I shall remove you geas immediately."

"Thank you," Yoshimo sighed in relief. "I really would..."

"It's already done," Irenicus said after making an arcane wave. "You are free to go."

"I would have like to say serving you was pleasant, but it was not.." Yoshimo said coldly.

"Certainly, I believe that," Irenicus said. "Laska gave you two terrible trashings, after all. Oh, well, in the end she is in my grasp."

"Do to her what you like," Yoshimo said. "No quarter for the murderer of my sister."

"Your sister?" Irenicus said. "Is that why you came into my service? Hmmm, her name was Tamoko, wasn't she?"

"H-how did you know?" Yoshimo blinked.

"Not important. But she is not dead," Irenicus said.

"What?!" Yoshimo went white as a sheet. "But... But..."

"No, she is still alive," Irenicus said. "She was ready to defend Sarevok to the death, but Laska spared her life and she left. She wasn't important so my spies never attempted to find out her destination. She's probably still out there, if some monster or adventurer claimed her life."

"W... why didn't you tell me with I came into your service and you forced this geas on me?!" Yoshimo said.

"I would have told you," Irenicus's mouth twisted under his mask, and Yoshimo couldn't tell if it was a smile or a malicious grin, "but you didn't ask."

Irenicus turned around and left into the corridor, leaving Yoshimo standing with clenched fists.

Irenicus wished he could feel elated, but even now he could not. The culmination of all he had been trying to achieve was at hand, and he could feel nothing. A near century of study, seeking, research and gathering had given him the Great Machine in the center room of the Asylum and the elven Bhaalspawn floating into the main tank. It was the key to his restoration, the end of his curse. And yet he felt nothing, not even the slightest bit of trepidation.

Still, today he would gain all, or lose everything.

Laska lay dormant, floating into a tank filled with a magical liquid, with only a mask and a few pipes pressed against her face to keep her alive and breathing. Her arms and legs were restrained but otherwise she seemed to be breathing calmly. Truth be told, Irenicus was surprised that the conditioning he had let her endure while she had been in his care had held, seeing how much more powerful Laska had become. Still, he had broken Laska, and broken she had remained. He thought back of Imoen, whose gentle soul he was never able to keep under control, and felt a touch of admiration.

His attention were drawn to the shouts of some of the captured Shadow Thieves, who were in the feeding tanks. They were shouting, banging and clawing at the glass in utter panic. Irenicus nodded. The machine needed their life-force to operate, which was why Bodhi had shipped them here. They would die here and he would shed no tears.

Still not feeling anything, Irenicus activated the great machine. It was remarkably silent, but the lights on the panel did indicate it was working... The second sign that the machine was working, was that the Shadow Thieves started to die one by one.

Laska remained remarkably peaceful considering the fact that her divine elven spirit was being stripped from her. He wondered what Laska was experiencing. Imoen had went through the same ritual, but she hadn't been forthcoming with details. He knew the device worked through memories, but he had never known any more details.

He decided he would ask Laska about the experience... if she would survive, that is.

At that statement, Laska's eyes flew wide open. 'Okay,' she thought and looked for the clothes that had been strewn haphazardly about the room while the two lovers were in a hurry last evening. 'Now it's really time to get the hell out of this room.'

But her suffering was not over. She suddenly felt herself falling into a black abyss. Fear and pain gripped her as she waited for death to claim her. In split second, she saw the bottom she was falling towards with immeasurable speed. On impact, she remained conscious long enough to feel every single bone in her body being shattered into splinters.

Finally Laska's violent thrashing and ear-piercing cries had ended. Looking around, Irenicus could see that every Shadow Thief had left a desiccated husk in the tanks. Finally, Irenicus could claim his price : Laska's immortal elven spirit, neatly captured in a crystal for use in the restoration ritual. It shone its light brightly, as anything elven should. He held the key to his future in his hand...

And still he didn't feel anything.

"I'm never doing anything like that again," Viconia said while she rubbed her aching abdomen. They had been taken to a small holding-cell in the Asylum and locked in there.

"I think it was very sweet," Imoen smiled and rubbed Viconia's shoulder.

Instead the Drow pulled away. "'Sweet' is for the stupid and the dead. And I am neither."

"Strange," Keldorn said. "They let us keep our armor and weapons."

"Face it, they think we can't escape. To Irenicus, we're simply not a threat," Viconia said. "What an insult."

"If that coward hadn't snuck up from behind..." Keldorn started.

"Irenicus would have torn you to pieces," Imoen said. "Don't doubt that."

"I've encountered many evil practitioners of magic of his type... and they all fell before my blade..."

Suddenly the door to the cell was unbarred and opened. The body of Laska was then unceremoniously tossed into the room, after which the golem carrying it closed the door and re-barred it.

"Laska!" Imoen shouted as the three flocked around her. Laska was fully armored and all her weapons were in the scabbard, but she was staring blindly in front of her, breathing calmly as if she was asleep.

"Give me room!" Viconia shouted and started to examine her friend. Looking at her eyes and wagging her finger in front of her face offered no effect.

"She's catatonic," Viconia finally concluded.

"Oh, gods," Imoen broke into years. "Gods, he stole her spirit! That rat-bastard stole her spirit! I'll kill him! I swear I'll kill him!"

Viconia ignored Imoen's wails and continued her examination. "Her muscles tense up when I pinch her. A good sign. I think she'll awaken in a few hours."

"Look!" Keldorn said when suddenly and envelope was being shoved under the door. Quickly, the paladin sped to the door to look who had left it, but he could not see through the tiny barred window. Opening the envelope, he found the key to the door.

"Interesting gift," Viconia said while a crying Imoen hugged her unresponsive sister. "I don't trust interesting gifts."

"The door is still barred."

"Allow me," Viconia grinned and took the statue of Khittix from her pouch. Immediately, the happy spider appeared. "Khittix, we need a long sticky rope to lift the bar on the other side."

"Eee, eep!" Khittix saluted and started to work. Their escape was now only a matter of minutes away.

Bodhi found Irenicus sitting in the rec-room of Spellhold, but she was not prepared for what she would see. She found her brother sitting on top of the table in the middle of the room, and judging from the wall that was serving now as vertical silverware storage, he had been throwing daggers at the wall.

"I am restored, Bodhi," Irenicus slurred, and only then did Bodhi notice quite a few empty bottles lying on the floor. "I'm... starting to feel again, bit by bit."

"Congratulations, brother," Bodhi grinned. "Now, it's time for us to finish our revenge. Then the circle will be complete."

"Hey, I just had a very deep thought," Irenicus said. "What do you think the world would have looked like if 'cats' were called 'dogs' and 'dogs' were called 'cats'. Hey, we'd have cats chasing dogs!"

Bodhi blinked for a moment.

"You're drunk... How can you be drunk, you never touched a drop in your life!"

"Hey!" Irenicus snarled and shattered one of the bottles by throwing it in the wall. He quickly took an attack-posture and snarled at Bodhi. "If you accuse me of being drunk again, I swear I'm going to POP YOU ONE!" He took an clumsy swing at Bodhi, which the vampire easily avoided.

"What's gotten into you?!" Bodhi asked.

"I..." Irenicus stammered, again regaining his composure. "I grafted Laska's spirit to the remnants of my own... A great success. I can feel my body getting stronger, but there seems to be some... leftovers in her spirit that is leaking into my being."

"I've noticed," Bodhi said. "If you ever threaten me again..."

Irenicus ignored her and instead held up his hand. He gritted his teeth and seemed to giving the manner quite some effort. Suddenly, fire exploded from his hand and burned slowly. "Another spillage. It seems to have become very difficult for me to cast even the simplest of spells. More of my more powerful spells fizzle out immediately."

"My, my, my, it seems Laska's spirit has made you quite impotent," she grinned.

"Not so," Irenicus said. "I merely need to... practise again. Face it, if I have to give up some of my more powerful magic to live an immortal life, there is no choice."

"Hah! You must be weak to allow Laska's feebleminded antics leak into your being," Bodhi said. "Imoen's soul is completely under my thumb."

"Is that why you are wearing a pink ribbon in your hair?" Irenicus smiled.

"I, uh, I... Oh, shut up!"

"Eloquent comeback..."

"You're just a great big poopyhead!"

"I see..."

"Mutton mongering-riffraff. I happen to like pink... despite the fact my hair and clothes are all black. So there..."

"Where are you going?"

"Going to see the prisoners," Bodhi grinned. "I'm getting... very hungry."