Hi Laufey! I’m just back from a memorial day weekend trip; it’s great to see another chapter of the cards.I'm posting this early, since I'll be away for some days. Will be back in the beginning of next week.
(*shrugs*) Don’t care one way or another m’self. He was just a strange character with little motivation for being there in the games. I guess you need to read the “canon” to know what he’s about.Disclaimer: Contains rude reference to Elminster. If that frays your nerves, go get a blindfold towards the end.
Too true, I’m afraid.There are friends, and then there are friends. Some friends stick by you and are there for you when you need them the most, and some are all too ready to drop you like a used hankie.
Ewwwwweeeeee! Laufey!Sadly, you can’t always tell the difference until you’re lying in the gutter covered in somebody’s snot.
“Mom, it followed me home? Can I keep it? Huh, mom? Huh?”“A severed hand is hardly an appropriate pet,” Jaheira decisively stated. “What are you going to do with it, child?”
I’m surprised they wouldn’t give it a ride. Then again, I guess I’m not really surprised.Zaerini turned to glance across her shoulder. Mazzy’s hand was trailing along after the rest of the party, moving amazingly quickly given that it had to run using its fingers. They had been going at a brisk speed ever since leaving Imnesvale, pausing only to escort Madulf back to his camp after negotiating the treaty with the mayor. Still, the hand seemed positively…perky.
It could hardly run out of breath, after all.Maybe it doesn’t get tired the way we do. It’s not as if the nerves have anywhere to go, after all.
No, it would not be a good deed to bring it home.“I’m not sure,” the bard admitted, raking her fingers through her red hair. “Nobody in Imnesvale seemed to know exactly where she came from, or if she had any family, and all of her party are dead, so they can’t tell us either. And even if she did have family, it’s not as if this is exactly Mazzy any longer.”
I think just having it around would freak any prospective thieves out.“You could always sell it,” Edwin suggested. “Many wizards would pay good money for a severed hand that could fetch and carry for them. Or perhaps one could put a spell on it that would enable it to catch thieves.
Awwww!I, of course, have no need of it, since I already possess the perfect familiar.” He reached up towards his shoulder to tickle Insufferable’s tummy, and the little monkey made a chirping sound of delight.
I agree.And neither do you, kitten, Softpaws interjected. The black cat appeard from out of the tall grass near the road, eyes glittering. That thing has to go. It keeps poking me in the ears as it tries to pet me.
Uh oh.The druid smiled at first, half reaching out her hand towards the stranger. Then, the smile faltered, and her hand dropped to her side. “Der…Dermin? Is that you? It has been some time…”
This isn’t good.The man gave her a stern look. “Indeed. It has been a very long time. Long enough for you to forget much, it seems. Jaheira, do you remember the lessons I taught you?”
Awwwww, Anomen’s being protective. Not that Jaheira can’t take care of herself, of course.Anomen scowled. “What are you getting at, old man? If you have business with the lady, now would be a good time to state it, or else leave her be.”
Yes, this should help things.“Nobody locks little Rini in a box!” Minsc bellowed, and the large berserker gripped Dermin by the front of his robe, giving a little shake with every syllable. The Harper’s teeth rattled. “Boo says Minsc should put you in a box and don’t worry if all bits don’t fit inside, for he will make sure nothing is left sticking out.” From the depths of his pocket, there came an angry hiss that indicated that Boo meant business.
“I’m wouldn’t” should be “I wouldn’t”Rini couldn’t help smirking a little at that. “Cheer up, Dermin,” she said. “I’m wouldn’t mind helping Minsc fit everything inside that box, but we won’t hurt you. Not unless Jaheira wants it, so you’d better thank her nicely.” She gave the druid a questioning look. “Jaheira? Do you…”
Passionately loyal to the end.“No! This is not justice! This is revenge for a lie, a falsehood that no Harpers seem bothered to find the truth behind!” Jaheira made a cutting gesture with her hand, and then took a deep breath. “If this is truly Harper justice, then…then I renounce. I renounce my life as a Harper.”
Not that it has ever been.Dermin sighed. “So be it then. I will take your words to those who will listen. Do not expect your life to be peaceful with this choice.”
(*sigh*) For all her sarcasm, Jaheira just can’t bring herself to suspect the worst of her friends..Jaheira managed a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Thank you, Edwin, but no. Dermin…we are old friends. I cannot imagine that he will not see reason, in due time.”
How very like Jaheira.“Hush, child,” the druid admonished her, sounding almost like her old self. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I made my own choice, and I stand by it.”
Awwwwww.Anomen cleared his throat. “My lady,” he said, “I cannot begin to say how sorry I am. It is my sincere hope that this misunderstanding will indeed be cleared up, but should circumstances be less than fortunate, please remember to rely on…er…your friends and companions.”
Jaheira blinked, looking quite perplexed for just a moment, and the look in her eyes softened a little. Then, she spoke again, in her normal brisk tone of voice. “I am hardly helpless, Anomen. I will be fine, there is no need for concern.”
(*wistful sigh*) Cows……flying cows.“He’s right,” Rini quietly said. “We’ll do whatever we can to help, Jaheira, I promise, even if Elminster himself should pop up to meddle again.”
“A pity I do not have another scroll of Cow Kill,” Edwin muttered. “The squashing of that senile old puff of alimentary gas under the rump of a sturdy bovine ought to amuse even our grumpy druid, or indeed anybody not clinically dead.”
Score one for Jan. Even the usually unperturbable Valygar is not immune.“I have not had experiences with exotic dancers!” Valygar angrily protested.
Jaheira’s eyes looked somewhat glazed over by now, but at this, she nodded, and even smiled. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, so I am.)
Good story! Shouldn’t we be finding out about Dekaras and Yoshimo soon? They’ve been in the vampire’s lair for over two weeks!
--Rick Taylor