"So, what do we know?" Keldorn threw in the group as he and his friends took their table in the Five Flagon's Inn. As a pleasantly smiling middle-aged halfling woman brought them their cups of Evermead, they mulled over their options.

"The guy be bloody daft?" Korgan offered.

"We already knew that," Keldorn sighed, while Laska downed her first cup.

"Hmmm," Viconia said. "Our murderer seems to be only interested in obtaining the skins of his victims and leaves the rest of the bodies relatively intact. Why would that be, you think?" she asked, more to stress her point than to actually inquire.

"Spell-components, of course!" Jan said, as if a little light had blinked on over the top of his head. "Of course, my uncle Bendy can attest to that. He tried to harvest breadcrusts for his magical aviary-cage. You'd think an aviary couldn't be made entirely out of bread, but it wasn't really a problem as it turned out. Whenever the birds finished eating their bread-cage, they'd be so stuffed they couldn't fly anymore. At least they were out of commission long enough for Bendy to build a new cage around them while they were groaning on the floor, wrapping their wings around their bellies. He had to constantly find new pieces of bread to build the cage, though. So, he broke into bakeries, pretended to be a pigeon when an old lady was throwing breadcrumbs, things like that. Got quite a nice collection of birds too. Sadly, his acquisition of the rare Micro-griffin was his last one. Micro-griffins don't care much for bread, it seems. Poor sod, but we did warn him about keeping that griffin fed properly..."

"Jan, please!" Keldorn stressed. "This is a serious matter," he said as Laska downed her second cup.

"If we look past that insipid story, Jan has the right of it," Viconia said. "Many Drow wizards make use of human slaves solely for spell-components, so it's not that uncommon..."

"A vile deed," Keldorn muttered.

"No more viler than human wizards turning my kin-folk into magic potions is," Viconia snarled. "I've heard the stories of wizards of a dark nature constantly seeking to chop up members of my race to make spells that increase their own waning virility..."

"If they survive the process of actually capturing a Drow, of course," Laska offered with a grin.

"Hah," Viconia chuckled, "the road to Menzoberranzan is littered with corpses of Halruans, Thayvians and other wizardly types. Often cases of 'overconfidence killed the cat'... One wizard actually managed to sneak into the bedroom of a Drow priestess. Unfortunately, this 'mere' priestess-girl he intended to capture turned out to be the Matron Mother of House Fey'Branche, the second House of my former home-city. The wizard was captured alive... It took him three months to die."

"This conversation is drifting away from our goal again," Keldorn sighed. "I would suggest we focus on the business at hand."

"Yes, mister pushy," Jan chuckled.

"To come back to our murderer," Viconia said, "the guardsman told us he suspected the victims were flayed alive. This is consistent with the spell-component argument I offered earlier. Also, he's focused on only a single part of the human body, so he is definately not doing this for money, but possibly for a project he's working on... or for an employer."

"Employer?" Korgan chuckled. "Ach, figures one o' the daftie mage-nobles in this blasted bloody city be hirin' a toady fer doin' the dirty work."

"But this vile, evil, scumbag, nasty, icky, not-so-nice, needs a good boot up the butt, bad guy," Minsc said, "just throws the bodies of his poor victims on the street! Boo wants to know what can be done to find this evil scoundrel and punch him silly!"

"That's the most puzzling of this whole mystery," Viconia said. "He... Or she for that matter. Let us not presume the murderer is a male. I know for a fact females are capable of terrible deeds as well. Our murderer simply tosses the bodies on the street in plain sight!"

"Arrogance," Keldorn brought up. "Our murderer thinks he or she won't get caught no matter what he or she does. He or she considers himself superior to everyone around."

"I be thinkin' our laddie ain't human 'imself, what ye reckon?" Korgan suggested.

"There's a thought," Laska laughed. "Where were you when the first murder happened?"

"Probably killin' some daft long-limb after lippin' me off, HAR HAR!" Korgan chuckled.

"I may be off on a limb," Jan added, "But I'm thinking undead here. Think about it? A vampire, a lich or a ghoul would consider a human like a Jansen does a turnip : fresh, plump and juicy..."

"And what about you then, Jan," Laska chuckled. "Where were you when the first murder occurred?"

"Probably peeling some turnips and... oh," Jan grimaced, then smiled. "That was NOT a confession. You did not hear that, okay? Good..."

"Please!" Keldorn stressed.

"To be comin' back to our original topic," Korgan said, "I be thinkin' 'is lair is close ta the victims, somewhere on this bleedin' bridge. 'E don't drag them bodies fer long, and 'e needs a large room which be scuffin' the sounds of 'is victims."

"There's a point," Laska joked again. "How about you Vic? Where were..."

"DO not!" Viconia snarled. "Do you not realize how your childish joke might put me in jeopardy? How many more days will my life number, if you point your finger at a Drow in a packed public place in an area nearing the breaking point!"

"Sorry," Laska sulked and took another sip from her cup, "Wasn't thinking."

"Alright," Keldorn said. "I suggest we split up and talk to the people Lieutenant Aegisfield mentioned. Myself and Minsc will question the boy Faraji."

"Then," Laska said with renewed spunk, "Jan and I shall question Rose Bonquet..."

"That leaves Rampah for me and Korgan," Viconia sighed.

"Och," Korgan chuckled. "'E'd better be spillin' 'is guts, or me axe will be doin' it for 'im!"

"And there was this blood alllll over the alley.... It was soooo COOOL!"

Keldorn was feeling a mite green around the gills after hearing the joyful boy's very graphic description of the body he had found. Sifting through the many words like 'cool', 'neato' and 'far out', he managed to discern the boy really knew nothing he didn't know already.

"Boo feels not well in his tummy," Minsc said. "And neither does Minsc..."

"Did," Keldorn stammered, still recovering from the horrific mental images, "did you know the cool corpse..... Errr, the poor victim?"

"Sure I does!" the boy said. "That was ole Grodin. Mean fellow... Used to rob me of my gold I begged, and the bread I could buy..."

"I see," Keldorn said. "Did he have any enemies? Anyone who wanted him dead?"

"Just about the whole bloody bridge!" Faraji chuckled. "But missus Cragmoon! Yeah, she was always telling him to shove off, or beat it... And I knows why! She's a WITCH! Yeah, a BIG, FAT WITCH! I knows it, cause she smacks you for stealing cookies, and I knows that's mean!"

"A witch?" Minsc said. "Witches are good! Witches do good deeds! Minsc likes witches! And Boo does too!"

Faraji made a dirty face, "You're nutty,"

"Let us go find this pratisioner of magic immediately," Keldorn said, while giving Faraji ten coins.

Mrs. Cragmoon was quickly found. She was standing next to a low building, currently handing out some potions to some the local beggars and urchins. Mrs Cragmoon was an elderly lady, yet her wrinkled face showed subtle laugh-lines. Still, this meant nothing. Keldorn immediately sensed the lady was a mage of moderate power, and even if the woman was too frail to carry around bodies, that did not mean she couldn't have used magic or a magical construct to do so.

Deciding to take action, Keldorn motioned Minsc to follow him as he walked over to the lady. The lady, in turn, noticed Keldorn as soon as he crossed the street.

"Well, hello there deary," she greeted with a smile. "Can I help you? You look a little preoccupied, like you have a question or two."

"My lady," Keldorn greeted, "I am Sir Keldorn Firecam of the Most Noble Order of the Radiant Heart and this man is my companion Minsc..."

Minsc scraped his throat loudly, prodding Keldorn into action.

"... and his animal companion Boo," Keldorn finished. "We are investigating the murders that have plagued this region as of late."

"About time someone did something," Mrs. Cragmoon spoke with a harsh tone. "A pox on that Isaea Roenall and his damnable pride..."

"On that we agree, my Lady," Keldorn said. "We have talked to Faraji and..."

"You did? Delightful boy," Mrs. Cragmoon smiled. "Light fingers though. Poor thing doesn't have parents to help him. I let him get away with stealing far more often than he thinks."

"He said you are a witch!" Minsc broke in. "Boo wants to know if this is true!"

"I see," Mrs. Cragmoon said softly, yet her hearty smile didn't falter. "This child, who finds me old and a little off my noodle, has called me a witch and you have taken that as basis for murder accusations? I think not. If every old crone were murderers because some child said they were evil, there would be a decided shortage of crones! A funny thought, yes?"

"I apologize, my Lady," Keldorn nodded. "But these crimes are of such a serious nature and we must investigate every lead we can uncover. According to Faraji you often had arguments with the most recent victim."

"Grodin was a scoundrel of the highest order," Mrs. Cragmoon said. "He'd kill a child for a single gold piece, if he didn't know I was constantly watching him... and them."

"Let us dispense with the games, my lady," Keldorn said harshly. "I am an Inquisitor..."

"Ah well, then I shall tell you why the child thinks I am a witch. I AM a witch, or a magic user at least. A crime in this city if they decide it is, but I use my magic powers to create potions that fill bellies with magic or heal disease and wounds. I use my magic to make sure none of the poor and urchins are harmed, not to kill and maim..."

"This is not the foul buttkickee we seek, Keldorn," Minsc said. "Witches are often good and kindly heroes too, like fair Dynaheir..."

"I must admit I sense no evil in you, Mrs. Cragmoon," Keldorn admitted. "But, nevertheless, it is my duty as a servant of law and order to report you to the Cowled Wizards as an unregistered magic user."

"No, Keldorn!" Minsc said. "You cannot do this! If you arrest this goodly witch, then who will keep the children safe and who will keep the poor safe, fed and happy?"

"It is true," Keldorn sighed. "The council or the guard would not even give them a second glance if they starve in the streets, but duty..."

"It is not the duty of good and kindly to imprison other good and kindly!" Minsc said resolutely. "Good and kindly must imprison Evil and meany!"

Keldorn looked around him, and noticed the many street children depending on Mrs. Cragmoon. "You are right, of course," Keldorn admitted. "My lady," he directed at mrs. Cragmoon. "You have my sworn oath that I shall not reveal your secret."

"Thank you," mrs. Cragmoon said. "Oh, and don't forget to thank your elven friend. She just pulled a couple of the most unfortunate people off the street and gave them a home..."

"Really?" Keldorn said thoughtfully. "I think I must have a chat with Laska about that one..."

"Ah, Keldorn has done the right thing, didn't he Boo? Ah, Boo certainly agrees!" Minsc said, while holding out Boo so that Keldorn could read the hamster's expression.

"Minsc," Keldorn smiled, "It seems that, in this party, I must often choose between duty and my heart. A difficult choice at times."

"But what about your duty to your heart?" Minsc asked.

Keldorn chuckled for a moment, then clapped Minsc on the back. "Minsc, no matter what some people might say, you are one of the wisest men I have ever met."

"Oh, my," Rose Bouquet, a pretty half-elven woman in lavish clothing draped skin-tight over her body was roving her wide eyes all over Laska's lithe body, "an actual elf in Athkatla! Hmmm, I am very interested in my own elven heritage, honey. I'll... give you a big discount if you're interested... No charge. What do you say?"

"Tempting," Laska chuckled, "but I'm afraid I'm here on business, so to speak..."

"Honey," Rose chuckled, "all the men and women that come to see me are... here on business."

"O-ho!" Jan spoke up. "We're talking murder-business here..."

"Lieutenant Aegisfield told us you saw something last night," Laska stressed.

"No kidding?!" Rose seemed delighted. "Wow, this is the first time you adventuring and guard types actually take me seriously! You wouldn't tell it by looking at me, but I am actually quite smart..."

"Yeah," Jan snorted, "those clothes really show off your intellectual prowess quite nicely..."

"Actually," Rose said, completely ignoring the gnome and focusing her attentions solely on Laska, "the man was hooded. It was definately a man, though. You could hear by the way he walked... But it isn't as much as what I saw, but what I smelled..."

"Smelled?" Laska said, arching one eyebrow.

"Ah, don't underestimate the power of a good nose, Lasky, as us gnomes well know," Jan said. "Why, I remember my cousin Vinnie claiming he smelled gas one day... Unfortunately, it was after he had lighted the hearth... He, and his home blasted into the sky... The house landed through the roof of the estate of one of Thay's most prominent noble families. I believe the lord of the manor turned it into a coffee-table and conversation-piece. Cousin Vinnie wasn't as lucky, though... Just as he was about to land, a griffin had just woken up and had stepped out of his lair... And when he rose his head in the air to yawn... KA-POW! Instand breakfast... Cousin Vinnie landed right in his mouth..."

"That's very interesting," Rose said without interest, before directing a ready smile at Laska again. "But what I smelled were... well, it smelled like Guril berries... I've often come across those, since they are used for, ahum, personal afflications... No wonder the guards made fun of me, huh?"

"Ah!" Jan said while he walked towards a greengrocer. "Be right back!"

"So... now that the gnome is gone," Rose purred, "those tattoos of yours... Do you have any that are under that chainmail of yours? Can I see those sometimes?"

"Well, errr, I, eehhh," Laska said uneasily.

"Hey, I'm back!" Jan spoke up.

"Already?" Rose all but snarled.

"Hey, put your nose under these beauties," Jan said while holding up three peculiar items.

"Hah," Rose chuckled, "this might be the strangest request I've ever had. Aside from the sailor who wanted me to wear a bodice made from hedgehog-fur, that is..."

"Here," Jan said, "take these Guril berries first."

"Hmmm," Rose said as she sniffed, "Nope... nope... It's not the berries themselves. The scent was much more subtle."

"How about these solik berries. Tasty suckers," Jan offered.

"Mmm, solik berries. Mumbleberry pie, right? That's not the smell though. Good thing too. I'd hate to think of the murders every time I smelled a pie. Next!"

"Last try," Laska said as she took the piece of oak bark from Jan and gave it to Rose, who 'casually' and slowly grazed her finger's over Laska's. Rose took the bark and sniffed if briefly. Her blue eyes grew wide as she recognized the smell.

"This is it! Oak bark? But what does he want with oak bark?"

"Well, as my aunt Togra knows (or should know) is that oak bark is used to make tannin, which is normally used when working with leather. But aunt Togra usually just uses water, which makes for terrible clothes, through..."

"Leather, eh?" Rose said. "Hmmmm...."

"So, Lasky," Jan said, "we'd better tell the others what we found, don't you agree..."

"Errr, yeah, yeah," she replied. "We have to catch a murderer, you see..."

"Okay," Rose smiled at the tattooed elf. "Just remember, the offer stands... And don't be so embarrassed, sweety. Your cheeks are almost as red as mine, and that's saying a lot with your lovely grayish skin..."

"Embarrassed?" Laska said, quickly covering her face with her hands, "I'm not embarrassed! I'm never embarrassed! I'm.... just drunk! Yeah, that's it! Drunk!"

"Me... Murder... Talk... You..." Viconia said, thinking that talking slow might make this old human more sensible.

"Or I be slamming me axe in yer gullet, doncha know!" Korgan threatened.

"Korgan, you are not helping!" Viconia said. "And put that thing away. The last time you threatened to axe him in the skull, he mistook you for his ex-wife!"

"Ach, it nay be goin' wrong till the ole bugger be talkin' about kissin' and makin' up..." Korgan shuddered at the memory.

"I ain't done no murders!" the old man spoke in a scratchy voice, his beard reaching his belly as he leant forward to better hear his interrogators. "I'm innocent I tells ya! I ain't stole no badgers!"

"Badgers?!" Viconia snarled. "This is about murder of PEOPLE! Not badgers!"

"Oh? Oh, well it's alright then..." Rampah chuckled. "For a moment there, I thinks it be a serious matter. But if no badgers were harmed..."

"OY!" Korgan said, getting the inkling of an idea. "If ye nay start talkin' right now, I be travellin' to the forest, find me a burrow o'badgers and SLAUGHTER THE WHOLE BLEEDIN' LOT OF THEM!"

"NO! NOOOOOOO!" Rampah cried. "Not the badgers, not the badgers! I'll tell, I'll tell!"

"So spill your guts!" Viconia stressed. "Badgers?" she whispered in Korgan's ear. "Smart tactic. But... pray tell, what is a badger?"

"Och," Korgan chuckled. "Who be carin'? To me, all the woodland animals be like cats with a stripe o'paint on their backs. HAR!"

"Alright," Viconia snarled at Rampah while she hoisted him forward by the lapels of his jacket. "Start TALKING!"

"Nothin. Not a thing," Rampah said casually, while grinning through his bushy grey beard. His attitude changed, however, when he noticed the Drow in front of him was now boiling with rage.

"Do not PLAY GAMES WITH ME!" Viconia shouted in his face, but when she noticed her shouts were attracting the attention of gawkers, she forced herself to calm down a bit. Then, she got another idea. After taking the small statue from the pouch on her belt, she began chanting. A few moments later, Khittix appeared next her, looking very happy his mistress had called him again so quickly. "See this spider here? Well, he would like nothing more than to devour you whole... I need only give the word, iblith."

Khittix looked from the man to Viconia to the man again before he caught on to Viconia's hint. Immediately, he rose his most forward pair of legs and started to chirp in a threatening fashion.

"AAAAHHHH!" Rampah cried again. "Don't let the big eight-legged doggie pee against my leg! I finds something at the murder, I finds something! They be blind, but I saw it, and now it's mine to give to you! Good doggie, nice doggie!" he told Khittix, who in turn, chirped again for good measure.

Rampah fumbled in his pack a little until he pulled out a large, thick greyish hide, which he gave to Korgan. "Here! I finds... I gives... Now call off doggie!"

"What the bloody hell be this?" Korgan snorted. "I nay can imagine the beastie this be comin' from."

"Maybe the others know... Or maybe Rampah," Viconia said, but she noticed Rampah had bolted off. Instead, she bent down to pet Khittix over the head, praise his performance and bid him to return to the statue.

"So," Jan asked after the party had reunited in front of the Five Flagon's Inn. "Who got into trouble with their leads," he chuckled.

"I had to deal with a complete nutter," Viconia sighed.

"The woman I questioned came on to me," Laska sighed.

"Faraji's word led to a dead end," Keldorn sighed.

"I nay got to use me axe!" Korgan sighed deepest of all.

"But in that little time Rose Bouquet was not fawning over Laska, she did say she smelled tannin on the murderer," Jan said.

"What do you make of this, Jan?" Viconia asked while handing the gnome the leather.

"Ah, this is elephant hide!" Jan chuckled. "Of course I would recognize it!"

"What is this... elephant?" Viconia asked.

"Oh, just a grey, big, fat creature that takes up a lot of space. They've got big ears and a very long trunk for a nose. Love to eat peanuts..." Jan said. "I should know all this, you see. My brother married one..."

"SAVE," Viconia snarled, then caught herself. "Save me the stories. I've dealt with enough buffoons for one day."

"Hmmm, tannin and elephant hide..." Keldorn muttered. "This cannot be a coincidence, I'd say..."

"A Tanner..." Laska said. "Makes sense..."

"No..." Keldorn says, "nothing about these terrible murders makes sense..."

The building that housed the local tanner was in a state of sad disrepair. Some inquiries at neighbors revealed that the tanner, one Rejiek Hidesman, had only moved in there a month ago, and rarely left his home. From the look of things, this building was three storeys tall, seeing it was built inside the very bridge. The front-door was locked, but a swift kick from Laska shattered the wood around the lock, allowing the party access to the inside of the building.

The inside of the Tanner's home was in even a sadder state of disrepair than the outside of the building. There was no furniture, save for a couple of old tables. Strange thing was, there were no tools that were normally used in tanning. In fact, it seemed the first floor of this building was not even in use at all.

Obviously attracted to the sounds upstairs, the tanner came walking up the stairs from the second floor. Now, he was to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, but dressed like he was, he could easily be the murderer. He wore a formerly white apron, drenched with blood. He held up his hands, also covered with fresh blood... The man itself had a strange expression about him. His ratlike-face seemed to be pasted on his bones, and even though he looked intently upon the invaders of his home, his gaze seemed to stretch into infinity. In the background, Keldorn's eyes narrowed, for he sensed deep evil from this man.

"I am sorry," the tanner spoke, "but we are closed at the moment. Please return later...."

"Good sir," Keldorn said, trying a diplomatic approach.

"We know you did it!" Laska broke in.

"I beg your pardon?" the tanner asked, not showing any outward sign of being upset or bothered.

"Interrupted you during yer trade, eh laddie?" Korgan grinned. "I care nay fer yer victims, but I do be feelin' like guttin' ye!"

"I cannot be bothered with these wild accusations," the tanner spoke. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do..."

"We found a hide of a poor elephant!" Minsc yelled. "And bark of a poor oak smells like tannin!"

"I see..." the tanner said calmly. "You have gathered this... evidence?"

"Foul beast!" Keldorn snarled. "Your schemes are exposed! We shall bring you to the justice of the courts! Come with us, or be slain!"

"No, I cannot allow that!" the tanner suddenly snarled. "You cannot understand! My work, my craft has only one place left to go, and you must not stop it!" That said, he sprinted for the stairs, with the party in hot persuit.

Coming down the stairs, the first thing the party was confronted with was the wall of stench. As they reached the end of the stairs, they noticed why... Skinned bodyparts of about six people lay strewn about the place, next to a large amount of bloodied tanning and butcher appliances. Overcoming the initial shock they noticed the tanner was vigorously removing boards in the back of the room. A volley of magic missles shot from Jan's hands and was accompanied by one of Laska's throwing daggers. The tanner hissed in pain as the target was reached, and for a moment, he hesitated, deciding to keep rummaging with the boards, or run... In the end, he decided to run...

"Hey!" Laska shouted. "GET HIM!"

"WAIT!" Viconia shouted at the top of her lungs. "This is the lair of a madman! It is the nature of madmen to trap their holdings..."

"She has a point," Jan said, and put on his goggles. "Alright, step over that board there," he said.

The journey across the room only took about ten seconds, but it seemed an eternity to the band of heroes chasing a madman. Finally, after Jan indicated they should jump over a set of boards, they arrived at the end of the stairs leading to the third floor, which was in fact a loading dock, betraying that this building was formerly used as a storehouse for shipping. They came just in time to see Rejiek's boat disappear onto the river.

"I got him," Jan said, cocked his crossbow and took aim... and only just managed to dodge a magical Acid Arror, which ended up inbedded in the wall.

The arrow was fired from the hands of a wizard standing in the middle of the room, flanked by two mean looking thieves.

"You shall pay the price for crossing the Rune!" the wizard shouted, while the thieves shot forward. Immediately, all enemies were removed from sight.

Having dealt with invisible enemies before, Keldorn stood his ground and was in the proces of calling upon the innate powers of True Sight given to him by Torm... But it was too late. He had not counted on the rogues crossing the room in the small amount of time it took to summon his ability. Before he could react, he felt himself being held around the neck by an invisible opponent, while the enemy stuck with lightning speed. Keldorn felt cold steel bite deep into his body as one of the rogues slid a short sword through the seams of his armor. Grunting in intense pain, the aged paladin felt his knees buckle from under him as he sank to the floor. His vision, already starting to blur from the sudden loss of blood noticed a dark figure speeding towards him... Before the sounds of the beating of his own heart deafened him, he heard a flail ring out, and moments later, the intense relief of curative magic seeped into his wounds.

Viconia, just having chased off the rogue and alleviated the seriousness of Keldorn's condition somewhat, took a defensive stand and scanned around the room. Her partymembers were equally confused by this turn of events. Cursing herself for not having memorized a 'Detect Invisibility'-spell, she noticed Korgan and Minsc were waving around their respective weapons in a futile fashion, trying to hit at least something. Then, to her horror, she noticed Minsc had been attacked in a simular fashion as Keldorn had been. That meant two of their strongest fighters had been disabled, and that these assassins were intent on taking them out one by one. Then, from a location quite near her, she noticed a Cone of Cold, a blizzard of frost and ice was shot from the hands of the invisable wizard and, while the magic overtook Jan and Laska, she jumped... and landed right on the back of the invisible wizard. Seemingly floating in the air, Viconia quicky pressed the hilt of her flail to the front of his neck, and pulled backwards with all her strength until she heard the satisfying snap of the wizard's neck breaking under the strain. She grinned wickedly as the body of the wizard rippled into existence, his neck twisted at an odd angle.

In the meantime, Korgan was being attacked by the two rogues at once. His wounds were deep and many, but that only resulted in the dwarf getting enraged more and more. His axe was certain to have hit something, if his body hadn't give out from the strain first. Laska was the next target.

But Jan was not out of the race. After shouting to Laska to keep her head down, he launched a fireball aimed at a crate. The ball expanded outward, setting the two rogues aflame. Laska, who had dove to the floor to avoid the fireball, jumped upwards and made a backward flip until she stood between the two rogues, still invisible except for the flames. Grinning ferally while taking out both her swords, she skewered both rogues through the chest. They rippled into existence, showing a look of pure surprise on their faces before dropping like two sacks of potatoes...

"Bugger!" Laska shouted when she noticed her downed friends. "Viconia! We need you!". "Dammit," she added when she noticed her blood was gushing out of the right side of her armor, just under her chest.

"That's the last of my healing-spells," Viconia said as she finished healing her friends. Using her spells, she had managed to save them from immediate danger, but still more healing was required.

"Och," Korgan sighed weakly, "those laddies really did a number on us..."

"There's a temple of Helm near here," Jan said. "We need to get them there quickly."

"We can only carry them there one by one," Viconia said. "Jan and I are not strong enough to carry you all there in one turn."

"I can still walk..." Laska said weakly. "So I can help carry..."

"You walk yourself to that temple and STAY there," Viconia said. "You've lost too much blood already..."

"Minsc will survive," Minsc managed weakly. "Bring the mighty Keldorn to the temple first..."

"Aye," Korgan said. "We be livin' fer another while."

"Keldorn's in the worst shape," Viconia added, pointing to the unconscious paladin, "we shall bring him first, then come back with the acolytes of Helm to bring you back."

"Aye," Korgan chuckled, while Viconia and Jan lifted Keldorn up on a make-shift stretcher. "We be here countin' the rats..."

"Rats?" Minsc grimaced, "Boo does not like rats..."

"Really? Hmmm, ye be thinkin' he'd be interested to be meetin' 'is cousins, HAR," Korgan said, then coughed violently.

"Korgan is not funny," Minsc grimaced.