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Into the Deeps


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#1 Guest_Soris_*

Posted 20 January 2003 - 08:09 PM

Into the Deeps

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“Sheesh. It’s quiet down here, and what is that smell?” Imoen reached up and pinched both nostrils shut.

“The smell is the smell of decay, like a body left too long in a moist, damp place.” Viconia shrugged as if the horrible stench was nothing unusual.

“And I suppose you would know this through personal experience?” Keldorn aimed the barb at Viconia. The two had managed a grudging respect for one another over time, but neither of them missed the opportunity to take little jabs at the expense of the other.

“You don’t know the half of it, dear paladin, and trust me, you do not wish to.” Viconia gave her retort in an ironically sweet voice.

“Quiet! I think I hear something.” Soris waved his staff a little, and a small green glow burst out at the tip.

The party proceeded to walk silently along the wide branch. As they drew closer they were able to make out a sucking sound. A large grey body was visible through the greenish gloom.

“A parasite. But only magic could create one so large.” Jaheira looked at the creature with a mixture of horror and amazement.

“That must be how Irenicus is tapping the tree’s power.” Imoen’s voice was cheerful, but a faint orangish glow shown in the back of her eyes.

“Wait. Minsc does not understand. How does little Imoen know what the evil wizard does? Boo is wise, but even he does not understand the minds of evil wizards.”

“I had a dream, Minsc. In it, an elven lady explained that Irenicus was draining the power of the tree. She did not understand why. All I know is that she begged me to stop him, to end his pain. She seemed sad, somehow. I don’t really understand.”

Soris looked at his sister. “I had a similar dream. The woman is Ellesime. She and Irenicus were once lovers. She may still care for him.”

Imoen looked out into the gloom. “He might care for her too, if he were capable.” Her voice grew cold.

At that particular moment, two huge fire elementals bust forth from somewhere, and the party was plunged into chaos. The brief battle that ensued ended when Imoen was able to snatch the staff of fire from the bag of holding and deal each fire elemental a resounding crack, leaving only two small piles of ash.

“That’ll teach ya. Mess with best and die like the rest.” Her voice had lost its cheerful demeanor and instead displayed a fine image of cold arrogance. The expression lasted only for a second.

Soris did not like the changes he was observing in his sister, but he supposed that no one could been through what she had and remain the same. His resolve to find Irenicus strengthened.

Before moving on, Jaheira and Keldorn sliced the parasite into little pieces. Jaheira seemed almost to relish the gruesome task.

“I wonder how many more of these cute little specimens we’ll have to deal with?” Imoen wrinkled her nose and kicked sever bloody pieces over the edge of the branch.

“I doubt this is the last.” Soris stared out into the darkness.

“You can say that again.”

The party continued to explore, using some of the strange nuts from the tree of life when they needed to cross gaps left by dead branches. They passed the heart of the tree where Jon Irenicus stood as a focus for the energies gathered by the horrible parasites. Nearby, stood Ellesime, the elven queen, enclosed in a prison of magical power. Upon seeing the adventurers, a new light shown in the queen’s eyes.

“Hurry, noble adventurers. He must not be allowed to finish.” The proud elf’s voice was pleading, almost humble in quality.

Soris thought he could see Viconia lift her chin just slightly, but the Drow woman said nothing, and the party hurried on to locate the remaining parasites. They fell, and Soris was pleased to see that the orange glow remained absent from his sister’s eyes. He watched her carefully as they walked back to meet with Irenicus. He could find no trace of the frightening countenance he had observed earlier. When they arrived at the heart of the tree, Irenicus was waiting for them.

“So you have arrived. I knew you would, and you have performed perfectly. The procedure worked even better than I could have imagined. You have survived where no mere mortal could.” Irenicus looked at Soris, but the sorcerer could read nothing in the wizard’s eyes.

“Why? Why did you do it?” Imoen’s voice broke through silence that had settled over the group.

“Why? Don’t bother to ask. How could I know his full potential without putting him through the ultimate test? He is everything I could have asked for and more. No one else could have survived.”

Soris looked at the wizard. “If this was all a test, what happens now?”

Irenicus smiled. “Just another test my boy. Just another test.”

Both men began to draw power.

“Stop this both of you. Please Joneleth, for us…for what we once had.” Ellesime went to her knees before him, tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

“It is too late for that now. What was begun must be seen to completion.”

“Joneleth, please!” She reached out to touch him. He struck her.

As Ellesime fell to the surface of the branch, a mixture of blood and tears ran down her face, magical protections snapped up around the wizard, and the battle began. Spells and battle cries faded to blows and curses, but neither side gained a clear advantage. Gradually the fight shifted and Soris was left to duel the wizard alone. Irenicus exhausted his spells and the young stood over him, Staff of the Magi in hand.

“It is over.” Soris leveled the Staff of the Magi, preparing to unleash its power.

For a brief instant, Irenicus’ eyes flared with emotion. “No boy, it is only begun.”

The wizard lurched forward, staggering precariously close to the edge. Soris flung the wizard out into the darkness. As he began to fall, Irenicus reached out a hand and grabbed Soris’ robe.

“Soris!” Imoen screamed, but she stood too far from him to act.

“NO!” Viconia threw herself towards the edge, arm outstretched before her. She reached out into the darkness and felt her nails rake along Soris’ arm, but she could not hold on. He slipped from her grasp.

As he fell down into the darkness the last thing he heard was an anguished wail.




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