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Into the Monster's Den


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#1 Guest_Bibbi_*

Posted 21 March 2004 - 02:01 AM

They walked into the elven camp, escorted by a ring of soldiers. The elves had dropped from the trees near the cavern exit and surrounded the party without warning. Aerie’s idea of the Drow attacking an elven city appeared correct; the leading soldier wouldn’t explain much, but the two armies of elves had been skirmishing around this area for a few days.

The party was led to a group of tents further into the woods. Several elves stood watch as they entered, and a stately elven man left a tent to approach. “So, you are the fugitives I have heard about. My soldiers tell me you were running from the Drow. A good sign. Had you been allied with the foul creatures, you would not have made it this far.”

“We seek no conflict,” Tybalt said. “We were caught underground tracking someone. The Drow were merely in our way. We have nothing to do with them.”

A man standing behind the lead elf said, “True,” verified by a second man. Tybalt hadn’t even noticed them until they spoke. He guessed by their garb that they were wizards of some sort, apparently testing the veracity of his words.

“I would normally not be as wary of outsiders as now, but the conflict with the Drow has increased our suspicions. You will forgive me if I ask you some questions.”

“We really don’t have time,” Tybalt said firmly. He needed to find Bhodi and Haer’Dalis, and this wasn’t helping.

“You will make time,” the elf said. “I am General Elhan, and I speak for the elves of Suldanessellar while we are outside of the city. If you do not answer my questions, you will be condemned to death.”

Jaheira laid a cautionary hand on Tybalt’s shoulder and he nodded.

“Good. Who were you tracking, that you ended up in the Underdark?”

“The Underdark? We followed some old caves that Bhodi used-”

“Bhodi? How do you know Bhodi? What could she possibly interest you with?”

“She stole someone very dear to me,” Tybalt said quietly. “We will find her and kill her. Her crimes cannot go unpunished.”

This was followed by a chorus of “True.”

“Interesting. Perhaps we have more in common than I thought.”

“We might as well tell the whole story,” Valygar said, looking around at the elves standing on all sides.

The others agreed, and Tybalt gave a short version, leaving out specifics of why Irenicus wanted him. He made mention of his deeds in Baldur’s Gate which attracted the mad wizard’s attention.

“So you seek the Exile and his sister,” Elhan mused.

“The Exile? Why do you call him that?”

“It is none of your concern,” the general snapped. “You are not an elf, you would not understand.”

“But I am,” Aerie stepped forward. “Could you not tell me?”

“I do not recognize you,” Elhan said. “Are you from Suldanessellar?” He frowned as she shook her head. “Then you cannot understand what crimes the Exile has committed. This is not for you to know. I have said more than enough as it is. Suffice it to say that we share a common enemy: Irenicus and Bhodi. Irenicus made some sort of deal with the Drow, causing them to attack this sacred site and draw the city’s forces to deal with them. While we were out of the city fighting back the Drow forces, Irenicus came and captured the unguarded city. Now, he has sealed it from us and we know not what havoc he wreaks within.”

“Why would he want to attack your city?” Jaheira wondered.

Elhan ignored her. “All we can do now is fight off the Drow and wait for the city to appear again. I am afraid the city is lost if we cannot find a way in.”

“Cannot your mages do something?” Aerie asked.

“We had a relic at this site which dispelled the most powerful enchantments, but when the Drow came, it vanished. No doubt this, too, was part of the Exile’s plan. If we had it back, we could find the city and destroy the Exile once and for all.”

“What if the relic is inside the city?” Valygar asked.

“Our sages have divined its location, not far from here. Had we the resources, we could retrieve it and use it. But all of our soldiers are kept busy by raids from the Drow.”

“Let me guess,” Tybalt said, crossing his arms, “you want us to bring it back to you.”

“It would be beneficial to both of us,” Elhan said. “The Rhynn Lanthorn is in the lair of Bhodi.”

Tybalt’s face hardened. “Tell us where she is and we’ll get your relic.”

Several hours later, after a much needed, if not wanted rest, the five went off to find Bhodi’s lair. Jaheira had insisted that they rest before tackling the vampire nest, and despite Tybalt’s insistence on racing to save Haer’Dalis, everyone knew that they stood no chance of winning if they were exhausted. Still, Tybalt was more than ready to go when they left the elven camp.

Elhan’s mages had divined the vampire nest to be relatively close by, somewhere in the forest. One of them had mentioned something about birth soil in the coffins before Elhan shushed him. The party had been given several vials of holy water and wooden stakes to aid in defeating the vampires. They hoped that it would be enough.

An hour’s march led them to a set of stylized marble doors set into the ground. There was no other marks around the area, only two doors in the earth. “This stinks of evil,” Ajantis said, drawing Carsomyr. “This must be the den of the foul beasts.”

The others readied themselves before opening the doors. A series of stairs led into blackness. Aerie created a ball of light to illuminate the darkness and they walked down the stairs.

The passageway was smooth, as if someone had sculpted the tunnel along with the doors and stairs. This was a long-term home rather than a hastily constructed lair. Dust choked the air, lending years to the atmosphere.

The tunnel opened into a larger room filled with nine coffins. Various chests and jars lay around the coffins and tapestries decorated the chilly walls of the tomb. Several suits of armor stood over the coffins, holding sword or bows in their eternal vigilance. At the opposite end of the room, another hallway led further under the earth.

Aerie chanted a prayer for protection from the vampires’ attacks before they proceeded further. She remained in the back of the group to deal damage from afar; her spells would be of no use if the vampires prevented her from casting. Tybalt, who bore an amulet from the Shadow Thieves to ward off the undead’s power, and Ajantis led the way to the first coffin. They lifted the lid to find it empty.

Tybalt sighed. “Of course it couldn’t be that easy.” He fidgeted constantly, looking around him and clutching the Equalizer spasmodically. “We have to find her soon. She’s got to be here…”

As they passed the center of the room, the armor around the room twitched to life. Stone arrows whirled at the group and swords came crashing out of their scabbards. Ajantis yelled and engaged the nearest one, striking out with a blazing Carsomyr. The others joined in, hacking away at the armor until they collapsed into piles of disconnected plates.

“If they didn’t know we were here before, they do now,” Valygar muttered sourly.

A hiss from across the room reinforced his statement. “Intruders in the lair? The Mistress will be displeased to hear of it. I must not be punished for finding you!” A pale, gaunt creature which had once been human stood in the doorway, staring at them with its pitch black eyes. Fangs jutted out of a maw stained permanently red and claws grew from its skittish hands. It leapt onto Ajantis and tore at his armor with reflexes faster than humanly possible. The others pounded away on it once they realized what had happened. The monster absorbed several blows before even showing signs of being hurt. It merely kept attacking Ajantis with fervor.

So involved was it in its attack that it didn’t acknowledge its danger. Jaheira’s staff struck it a blow which caved in its head and it crumpled to the floor. The party sighed in relief as Aerie checked over her lover. With a gasp, Tybalt pointed as the fallen vampire’s form turned to mist and hovered into one of the coffins. He yanked open the lid and peered in to find the sleeping vampire, whole, inside. “Can’t they die?” he asked.

“They certainly will!” Ajantis cried, taking a wooden stake and shoving it through the beast’s heart. It gave an agonizing cry before crumbling to dust, the stake embedded in the coffin’s interior. “I have had some training at the Order in dealing with these fiends. They must be weakened before we can truly kill them.”

“Good to know,” Tybalt said shakily. “Only eight more, then?”

They proceeded down the hall more cautiously, on the lookout for more surprises. The path split into two, and they hesitated before going down the left branch. A long, elegant dining table filled the room, covered in bones and gristle. The party suppressed nausea as they advanced.

“I thought vampires only drank blood,” Aerie said, noting the lack of flesh on the bones.

Several ghouls lunged into view, answering her question. Another vampire accompanied them. “Get them, pets,” it cried. “We will feed on fools tonight!”

The party focused on the ghouls with their paralyzing touch while Aerie chanted to Baervan to destroy the undead menaces. As she finished her prayer, the ghouls exploded and the vampire fell back. The party finished it off while it was still stunned, then chased its mist form back to the coffins. As before, the vampire lay sleeping in another coffin, and turned to dust as a stake went through its heart.

“This does not seem so bad,” Ajantis said almost cheerily.

“I’ll be glad when it’s over, though,” Valygar retorted.

They returned to the dining hall but found nothing of interest. Beyond lay a small room filled with a bathing pool. Aerie stepped forward to inspect it, gasping once she realized its contents. “That’s-that’s blood!” she screamed, stumbling back. Small tracks in the floor sloped into the pool, apparently running from the complex to drain here.

“This is where they feed,” Ajantis said in disgust, sprinkling holy water across the liquid surface. A cry arose from the pool as a vampire rose, dripping in blood. Its skin was singed where the holy water had touched it.

“Who disturbs my meal?” it demanded. The party didn’t give it a chance to reorient itself, attacking while it stood in the pool. They repeated the chase back to the coffin and ended its unlife permanently.

“Three down, six to go,” Aerie said hopefully. “We’re making progress.”

“Let’s hope it’s enough,” Jaheira said grimly.




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