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Cards Reshuffled 252


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#1 Laufey

Posted 27 May 2005 - 03:54 AM

I'm posting this early, since I'll be away for some days. Will be back in the beginning of next week.

Disclaimer: Contains rude reference to Elminster. If that frays your nerves, go get a blindfold towards the end.


Cards Reshuffled 252 – Dermin

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. Sadly, you can’t always tell the difference until you’re lying in the gutter covered in somebody’s snot.

Excerpt from ‘Ruminations Of A Master Bard’


“A severed hand is hardly an appropriate pet,” Jaheira decisively stated. “What are you going to do with it, child?”

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.

Maybe it doesn’t get tired the way we do. It’s not as if the nerves have anywhere to go, after all.

“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.”

“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. 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.

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.

“Look, I won’t sell her! I mean it. Whatever. It wouldn’t be right.”

“The adventuring profession is well known for making its members cart around various severed body parts in order to collect bounties. I fail to see the difference.”

“No, Eddie. We’ll have to think of something else.” Zaerini sighed, hoping they would indeed think of something else, and soon. We’ll be back in Athkatla in another day or so. And then we’ll need to tackle Valygar’s Sphere. Can’t have the hand along then, really. So what do we…

Here, she raised her head, startled from having nearly collided with Jaheira. The druid had stopped right in the middle of the road, staring at a man heading towards them.

He was an older human man, perhaps in his late sixties or so. Yet despite his grey hair and the wrinkles on his face, the way he moved suggested that he was still in quite good shape. He was wearing a loose, grey robe, and for a moment Rini’s heart contracted painfully as she was reminded of Gorion. The silver embroidery along the hem of the cloak was much more expensive-looking than anything she had ever seen her foster father wear, but still…

The contemptuous look on the man’s rather square and strongly built face was nothing like she’d seen on Gorion’s though. Oddly enough, it wasn’t her he was glaring at, which she had half expected, it was Jaheira.

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…”

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?”

Jaheira’s cheeks flushed slightly, but her voice was steady. “Of…of course. You are my mentor Dermin, you introduced me to the Harpers and…”

“Yes, yes, but the lessons?”

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.”

Dermin ignored the cleric completely, his attention fixed on Jaheira. “I am not here to rehash our friendship. Jaheira…I have been sent to kill you, or otherwise seek your downfall, and I do not relish the duty.”

Jaheira’s back was very straight, her posture tense, but she never flinched. “I…see. This is about Galvarey, of course. But Dermin, you have known me for years, you are my friend. Surely you must see…”

“What I see,” Dermin interrupted, “is an operation in shambles, a score of dead Harpers, and you traveling with their killer. I had hoped there might be some form of defense for your actions, but seeing that you have not slain this…this…”

“Oh, hang on, let me finish that for you,” Rini interrupted. She could feel her cheeks burning, and there was a hot lump in her throat. I’m mad. Not going to cry. Just mad. “Bhaalspawn. Born to be bad, ought to be locked up in a tiny little box for a few thousand years, according to your friend Galvarey. That’s about what you meant to say, isn’t it?”

“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.

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…”

Jaheira swiftly shook her head, and there was a look of deep pain in her green eyes. She sounded mostly calm though, as she addressed Dermin again. “Dermin, I have washed my hands of the incident at the Harper Hold. Galvarey was in the wrong, he wrongfully sought to imprison Zaerini for his own gain and I took the side of right. I could do no other! You must believe me!”

Dermin wrenched himself out of Minsc’s grip, and shook his head. “It is not seen that way, Jaheira. Exact the necessary justice, if you wish redemption for your actions. The others will not accept you otherwise.”

Again, Jaheira shook her head, as if she was trying to deny his very words. “This is wrong Dermin. This is so wrong.”

“Your own are dead, Jaheira. What do you intend to do about it?”

For just a few seconds, Jaheira squeezed her eyes shut, and then she opened them again, looking straight at Zaerini. The bard looked back, then gave a small smile and a shrug, knowing that Jaheira would understand. After all, what could I possibly tell her? That she shouldn’t kill me? If she can’t make up her own mind about that, then I don’t see what I could say to convince her.

Jaheira nodded, then turned to Dermin again. “Dermin, I will do the right thing. I stand by Zaerini, and will continue to do so. I was right to choose her side, and if you cannot see that, then it is your loss.”

Dermin looked quite pained at hearing that, and there was both sorrow and anger in his voice. “Consider carefully what you are saying, child. You have a duty to justice. To Harper justice.”

“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.”

Dermin seemed quite taken aback by this, and now it was he who reached out to place his hand on Jaheira’s arm, and she who violently shook it off. “Jaheira, you cannot mean…think this through!”

“It would seem I am the only one that has thought any of this
through. You do not, Galvarey did not, and now the Harpers out for blood do
not. I mourn many fellows of the Harp, but they died fighting for balance
and truth. Galvarey did not, and this matter cheapens their loss. I will not
be party to it.”

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.”

Jaheira looked him straight in the eyes, never flinching. “It may not be peaceful, but it is clearer than the course you are on. Goodbye, Dermin.”

“You know,” Edwin said in a conversational voice as they watched the old Harper walk off down the road, “one of my superbly aimed Fireballs could easily hit him from here. Only say the word, druid, should you wish to turn that doddering old fool into a small pile of smoking ashes. (With such a miserable excuse for a mentor, no wonder she made the mistake of joining the thralls of the pointy-hatted one, but at least now she has realized her mistake.)”

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.”

I can, Zaerini thought, although she didn’t say it out loud. “Jaheira,” she said. “I…I’m so sorry. I know that being a Harper meant a lot to you, and now…”

“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.”

“I…don’t suppose they’ve learnt of Reviane yet? If they had, I can’t imagine he wouldn’t have mentioned it.”

Jaheira’s shoulders sagged a minute fraction. “You are probably correct in that, child,” she said. “And it will be very hard to explain that if they do, I do not deny it. But that changes nothing. I could do no other than what I did, and I do not regret it. I still respect the ideals of the Harpers, but not this…this travesty of justice.”

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.”

“Need or not,” the cleric replied, “The concern is still there, freely given. Do not forget that.”

“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.”

Valygar blinked. “You…dropped a cow on Elminster?” he said. “The Elminster? Not some…some exotic dancer performing under a stage name with a fake beard?”

Rini nodded. “Tell you on the way,” she said. “It’s a bit of a long story.”

“And then,” Jan said with a cheeky grin, “maybe Val here could tell us all about his past experiences with exotic dancers. Figures the beard could be twirled in pretty interesting ways, but somehow I always thought Drizzt the Drow would be more of a hit, dancing scimitars and all that, don’t you agree, Val?”

“I have not had experiences with exotic dancers!” Valygar angrily protested.

“Actually,” Jan cheerfully went on, “my cousin Bindles Brownnose Jansen made a career as an exotic dancer, performing privately for the Chosen of Mystra. He was a truly studly gnome, with the longest and pointiest nose you ever saw. Ah, the stories he told me…you wouldn’t believe what that Elminster means when he says ‘spellfire’.”

“We do not want to know!” Anomen said, looking rather red-faced.

“Old Elminster is quite the dancer himself too,” Jan continued, smirking slyly. “And he’s got old Bindles to thank for that, Bindles taught him all the best moves, including the ‘Attention Seeking Crotch Grab’ that all the Boy Band Bards do.

“Stop it!” Edwin shouted, placing his hands across his ears. “Stop it, stop it right now! (Agh, my poor ears will surely rot and fall off!)”

“Turns out though,” Jan said, “that much as he’s immune to, even Elminster isn’t immune to a really nasty case of ‘Sailor’s Itch’. He blamed poor Bindles for that, which was really unfair considering the vast number of Good Drow and teenaged princesses who could be just as guilty, and punished Bindles most cruelly by turning him into a marble lawn ornament, still in his famous Back Bender pose.”

“If only I knew that spell…” Edwin muttered.

“Bindles had his revenge though. The old wizard went sleepwalking one fine summer morning, after a lengthy bathing session with one of his Drow ‘nieces’, fell clear off his balcony and straight onto poor old Bindles Brownnose, which goes to show that brownnosing can be both physically painful and lead to highly embarrassing trips to the Healer’s office. Jaheira is better off not bothering with it, really.”

Jaheira’s eyes looked somewhat glazed over by now, but at this, she nodded, and even smiled. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, so I am.)
Rogues do it from behind.

#2 Guest_Theodur_*

Posted 27 May 2005 - 06:18 AM

I'm posting this early, since I'll be away for some days. Will be back in the beginning of next week.


Have fun! :D

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.


And that’s not always a compliment… :D

“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 doubt they would be pleased to see Mazzy again in such state. :shock:

“You could always sell it,” Edwin suggested. “Many wizards would pay good money for a severed hand that could fetch and carry for them.”


Yeah, it could do those level1 fetch and carry quests that these wizards usually dump on novice adventurers.

“The adventuring profession is well known for making its members cart around various severed body parts in order to collect bounties. I fail to see the difference.”


Well, for one thing, nobody really has put out a bounty on Mazzy’s head – at least not to my knowledge! :D

He was an older human man, perhaps in his late sixties or so. Yet despite his grey hair and the wrinkles on his face, the way he moved suggested that he was still in quite good shape. He was wearing a loose, grey robe, and for a moment Rini’s heart contracted painfully as she was reminded of Gorion. The silver embroidery along the hem of the cloak was much more expensive-looking than anything she had ever seen her foster father wear, but still…


Late sixties, eh? I guess he has to be quite in age for him to have tutored young Jaheira.

“Yes, yes, but the lessons?”


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.”


Heh heh. You tell him, Ano! :shock:

For just a few seconds, Jaheira squeezed her eyes shut, and then she opened them again, looking straight at Zaerini. The bard looked back, then gave a small smile and a shrug, knowing that Jaheira would understand. After all, what could I possibly tell her? That she shouldn’t kill me? If she can’t make up her own mind about that, then I don’t see what I could say to convince her.


Hm, perhaps, perhaps. Still, old loyalties and friendships should not be treated casually or discarded at ease, I feel… after all, if Rini were to screw up at something eventually, I doubt she would enjoy if Jaheira would forget her friendship easily. It just feels here that Rini thinks that it should be easy as pie for Jaheira to abandon Harpers and stay with her.

“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.”


Awww… it may be for the best, but it’s always sad when someone has to renounce a part of their life. :P

“You know,” Edwin said in a conversational voice as they watched the old Harper walk off down the road, “one of my superbly aimed Fireballs could easily hit him from here. Only say the word, druid, should you wish to turn that doddering old fool into a small pile of smoking ashes. (With such a miserable excuse for a mentor, no wonder she made the mistake of joining the thralls of the pointy-hatted one, but at least now she has realized her mistake.)”


Gee, thanks Eddie, you’re all heart. :D

Jaheira’s shoulders sagged a minute fraction. “You are probably correct in that, child,” she said. “And it will be very hard to explain that if they do, I do not deny it. But that changes nothing. I could do no other than what I did, and I do not regret it. I still respect the ideals of the Harpers, but not this…this travesty of justice.”


The ideals of Harpers are something I vehemently agree with, but… it does seem that they are sorely lacking in the execution of said ideals. Unfortunately. I think that for most part, the problem is that nobody really watches them – oh sure, the gods may scrutinise the Master Harpers, who in turn should watch over those of lower rank, but in practice it’s all a bit too loose.

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.”


“Need or not,” the cleric replied, “The concern is still there, freely given. Do not forget that.”


Awww, that’s sweet… though, I don’t think Jaheira will be weeping on anyone’s shoulder very soon…

“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.”


It’s always a crowd pleaser, to be sure! :twisted:

“Old Elminster is quite the dancer himself too,” Jan continued, smirking slyly. “And he’s got old Bindles to thank for that, Bindles taught him all the best moves, including the ‘Attention Seeking Crotch Grab’ that all the Boy Band Bards do.


:D Hmm, it kind of… seems even more disgusting if he attempts that one while wearing robes…

“Bindles had his revenge though. The old wizard went sleepwalking one fine summer morning, after a lengthy bathing session with one of his Drow ‘nieces’, fell clear off his balcony and straight onto poor old Bindles Brownnose, which goes to show that brownnosing can be both physically painful and lead to highly embarrassing trips to the Healer’s office. Jaheira is better off not bothering with it, really.”


Jaheira’s eyes looked somewhat glazed over by now, but at this, she nodded, and even smiled. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, so I am.)


I am sure that Jaheira is very deeply touched by this display of compassion and understanding. :D

#3 Guest_Kulyok_*

Posted 27 May 2005 - 06:26 AM

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. Sadly, you can’t always tell the difference until you’re lying in the gutter covered in somebody’s snot.


Um, Rini? The second sort are not friends.

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.


Awwwww...

“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. 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.


Edwin, leave her alone! The hand, I mean.

“Look, I won’t sell her! I mean it. Whatever. It wouldn’t be right.”


Indeed.

“No, Eddie. We’ll have to think of something else.” Zaerini sighed, hoping they would indeed think of something else, and soon. We’ll be back in Athkatla in another day or so. And then we’ll need to tackle Valygar’s Sphere. Can’t have the hand along then, really. So what do we…


Ah, they'll drop her in Nalia's place!

The contemptuous look on the man’s rather square and strongly built face was nothing like she’d seen on Gorion’s though. Oddly enough, it wasn’t her he was glaring at, which she had half expected, it was Jaheira.

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…”

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?”

Jaheira’s cheeks flushed slightly, but her voice was steady. “Of…of course. You are my mentor Dermin, you introduced me to the Harpers and…”


*hugs Jae*

“What I see,” Dermin interrupted, “is an operation in shambles, a score of dead Harpers, and you traveling with their killer. I had hoped there might be some form of defense for your actions, but seeing that you have not slain this…this…”


Sadly, I understand what he thinks. :D

“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.


:shock: "boo meant business" - priceless!

“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.”

Dermin seemed quite taken aback by this, and now it was he who reached out to place his hand on Jaheira’s arm, and she who violently shook it off. “Jaheira, you cannot mean…think this through!”

“It would seem I am the only one that has thought any of this
through. You do not, Galvarey did not, and now the Harpers out for blood do
not. I mourn many fellows of the Harp, but they died fighting for balance
and truth. Galvarey did not, and this matter cheapens their loss. I will not
be party to it.”


:D Poor Jae again... you have captured the scene very well.

“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.”

Valygar blinked. “You…dropped a cow on Elminster?” he said. “The Elminster? Not some…some exotic dancer performing under a stage name with a fake beard?”


Um, is there a difference? :D

"+6 in Dancing" comes to mind. :shock: Loved this story!

I did not quite react to Jan's story, though, but that's perhaps I was feeling strongly for Jaheira here. Very emotional chapter.

Say hi to Dekkie and Yoshi! :D

#4 Guest_Bookwyrme_*

Posted 27 May 2005 - 06:40 AM

“No, Eddie. We’ll have to think of something else.” Zaerini sighed, hoping they would indeed think of something else, and soon. We’ll be back in Athkatla in another day or so. And then we’ll need to tackle Valygar’s Sphere. Can’t have the hand along then, really.


Why not? It's already proven itself quite useful in combat.

I can see where it makes a somewhat unnerving companion, but it's a conversation starter, at the least, and can sneak up on unsuspecting enemies.

And, if it meets a heroic end, well, Mazzy liked heroics, so . . .


I enjoyed the chapter. Have a good trip!

(And come back with 253 ready, ok?)

#5 Laufey

Posted 27 May 2005 - 07:31 AM

I'm posting this early, since I'll be away for some days. Will be back in the beginning of next week.


Have fun! :D


Thanks! :D



“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 doubt they would be pleased to see Mazzy again in such state. :shock:


I agree. :shock:


“You could always sell it,” Edwin suggested. “Many wizards would pay good money for a severed hand that could fetch and carry for them.”


Yeah, it could do those level1 fetch and carry quests that these wizards usually dump on novice adventurers.


Oh yes, that would be clever! Or one could rent the hand out to the adventurers themselves.



He was an older human man, perhaps in his late sixties or so. Yet despite his grey hair and the wrinkles on his face, the way he moved suggested that he was still in quite good shape. He was wearing a loose, grey robe, and for a moment Rini’s heart contracted painfully as she was reminded of Gorion. The silver embroidery along the hem of the cloak was much more expensive-looking than anything she had ever seen her foster father wear, but still…


Late sixties, eh? I guess he has to be quite in age for him to have tutored young Jaheira.


Yes, that's what I thought.


For just a few seconds, Jaheira squeezed her eyes shut, and then she opened them again, looking straight at Zaerini. The bard looked back, then gave a small smile and a shrug, knowing that Jaheira would understand. After all, what could I possibly tell her? That she shouldn’t kill me? If she can’t make up her own mind about that, then I don’t see what I could say to convince her.


Hm, perhaps, perhaps. Still, old loyalties and friendships should not be treated casually or discarded at ease, I feel… after all, if Rini were to screw up at something eventually, I doubt she would enjoy if Jaheira would forget her friendship easily. It just feels here that Rini thinks that it should be easy as pie for Jaheira to abandon Harpers and stay with her.


Hm, that's not the impression I meant to convey at all. I'll have to see if I can rephrase it somehow.


“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.”


Awww… it may be for the best, but it’s always sad when someone has to renounce a part of their life. :P


Of course it is.

“You know,” Edwin said in a conversational voice as they watched the old Harper walk off down the road, “one of my superbly aimed Fireballs could easily hit him from here. Only say the word, druid, should you wish to turn that doddering old fool into a small pile of smoking ashes. (With such a miserable excuse for a mentor, no wonder she made the mistake of joining the thralls of the pointy-hatted one, but at least now she has realized her mistake.)”


Gee, thanks Eddie, you’re all heart. :D


:D

Jaheira’s shoulders sagged a minute fraction. “You are probably correct in that, child,” she said. “And it will be very hard to explain that if they do, I do not deny it. But that changes nothing. I could do no other than what I did, and I do not regret it. I still respect the ideals of the Harpers, but not this…this travesty of justice.”


The ideals of Harpers are something I vehemently agree with, but… it does seem that they are sorely lacking in the execution of said ideals. Unfortunately. I think that for most part, the problem is that nobody really watches them – oh sure, the gods may scrutinise the Master Harpers, who in turn should watch over those of lower rank, but in practice it’s all a bit too loose.


That's the problem with vigilantes in general, isn't it? They may mean well, and even do good, but if they slip up, well...



“Need or not,” the cleric replied, “The concern is still there, freely given. Do not forget that.”


Awww, that’s sweet… though, I don’t think Jaheira will be weeping on anyone’s shoulder very soon…


Nope, she won't. She won't want to talk about this much - at least not just yet.



Jaheira’s eyes looked somewhat glazed over by now, but at this, she nodded, and even smiled. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, so I am.)


I am sure that Jaheira is very deeply touched by this display of compassion and understanding. :D


As well she should. :D
Rogues do it from behind.

#6 Laufey

Posted 27 May 2005 - 07:35 AM

[quote][quote]
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. Sadly, you can’t always tell the difference until you’re lying in the gutter covered in somebody’s snot. [/quote]
[/quote]

[quote]
Um, Rini? The second sort are not friends.
[/quote]

They aren't - but you won't know it until it's too late.


[quote]
[quote]“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. 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. [/quote]
[/quote]

[quote]
Edwin, leave her alone! The hand, I mean.
[/quote]

Don't worry, I won't harm the hand.


[quote]
Jaheira’s cheeks flushed slightly, but her voice was steady. “Of…of course. You are my mentor Dermin, you introduced me to the Harpers and…”[/quote]
[/quote]

[quote]
*hugs Jae*
[/quote]

She needs that.


[quote]
[quote]“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. [/quote]
[/quote]

[quote]
:D "boo meant business" - priceless!
[/quote]

Thanks! :twisted:


[quote]
“It would seem I am the only one that has thought any of this
through. You do not, Galvarey did not, and now the Harpers out for blood do
not. I mourn many fellows of the Harp, but they died fighting for balance
and truth. Galvarey did not, and this matter cheapens their loss. I will not
be party to it.”[/quote]
[/quote]

[quote]
:shock: Poor Jae again... you have captured the scene very well.
[/quote]

Glad you think so! :twisted: This particular bit is game dialogue though.


[quote]
Valygar blinked. “You…dropped a cow on Elminster?” he said. “The Elminster? Not some…some exotic dancer performing under a stage name with a fake beard?”[/quote]
[/quote]

[quote]
Um, is there a difference? :D
[/quote]

[quote]
"+6 in Dancing" comes to mind. :D Loved this story!
[/quote]

:D :D :D

[quote]
I did not quite react to Jan's story, though, but that's perhaps I was feeling strongly for Jaheira here. Very emotional chapter.
[/quote]

[quote]
Say hi to Dekkie and Yoshi! :shock:[/quote]

Oh yes...we'll see them again soon. :P
Rogues do it from behind.

#7 Laufey

Posted 27 May 2005 - 07:36 AM





“No, Eddie. We’ll have to think of something else.” Zaerini sighed, hoping they would indeed think of something else, and soon. We’ll be back in Athkatla in another day or so. And then we’ll need to tackle Valygar’s Sphere. Can’t have the hand along then, really.


Why not? It's already proven itself quite useful in combat.


That was a lucky break though - I think that the odds are against it.

I can see where it makes a somewhat unnerving companion, but it's a conversation starter, at the least, and can sneak up on unsuspecting enemies.


And, if it meets a heroic end, well, Mazzy liked heroics, so . . .


Plus, my party is large enough already. :D


I enjoyed the chapter. Have a good trip!


Thanks! :D I will.

(And come back with 253 ready, ok?)


It already is. :D
Rogues do it from behind.

#8 Guest_Userunfriendly_*

Posted 27 May 2005 - 08:08 AM

I'm posting this early, since I'll be away for some days. Will be back in the beginning of next week.


ok...

Disclaimer: Contains rude reference to Elminster. If that frays your nerves, go get a blindfold towards the end.


or cherish and remember every word and nuance of elmo abuse... :D :P

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. Sadly, you can’t always tell the difference until you’re lying in the gutter covered in somebody’s snot.


eeeewwww.... :P

“A severed hand is hardly an appropriate pet,” Jaheira decisively stated. “What are you going to do with it, child?”


why do i feel like minsc is going to say...

"yyyyyooooooouuuuuu rrrrraaaaannnnngggg???"

there's a distinct flavor of adams family going on here...

rini: oui?

edwin: karamina! you spoke french! mmmmmmmmm...*smoochies*

rini: oh gomez...

edwin: who's gomez?! (I'll fireball him, no matter who it is!!!)

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.


that hand is creepy...and kooky, and all together spooky...

Maybe it doesn’t get tired the way we do. It’s not as if the nerves have anywhere to go, after all.


val: or its the product of vile and evil magic!

“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.”


just bits and pieces... :shock:

“The adventuring profession is well known for making its members cart around various severed body parts in order to collect bounties. I fail to see the difference.”


true... :shock: :shock: :shock:

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…”


dermin the dweeb...

“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.


ouch! :D :D :shock:

I can, Zaerini thought, although she didn’t say it out loud. “Jaheira,” she said. “I…I’m so sorry. I know that being a Harper meant a lot to you, and now…”


its canon that galvary was actually working under dermin's directions...hmmm...i wonder how you're going to resolve the harper plot... :twisted:

“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.”


it certainly amused us! :wink:

Valygar blinked. “You…dropped a cow on Elminster?” he said. “The Elminster? Not some…some exotic dancer performing under a stage name with a fake beard?”


eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwww..........

“And then,” Jan said with a cheeky grin, “maybe Val here could tell us all about his past experiences with exotic dancers. Figures the beard could be twirled in pretty interesting ways, but somehow I always thought Drizzt the Drow would be more of a hit, dancing scimitars and all that, don’t you agree, Val?”


oh dear god...maybe someday i'll write a story about drizzt in a chippendales routine... :D :P :twisted:

“I have not had experiences with exotic dancers!” Valygar angrily protested.


me thinks he protests too much... :shock:

“Actually,” Jan cheerfully went on, “my cousin Bindles Brownnose Jansen made a career as an exotic dancer, performing privately for the Chosen of Mystra. He was a truly studly gnome, with the longest and pointiest nose you ever saw. Ah, the stories he told me…you wouldn’t believe what that Elminster means when he says ‘spellfire’.”


rather freudian, that nose... :twisted:

“We do not want to know!” Anomen said, looking rather red-faced.


nope...the imagination is MUCH worse than the reality... :D

“Old Elminster is quite the dancer himself too,” Jan continued, smirking slyly. “And he’s got old Bindles to thank for that, Bindles taught him all the best moves, including the ‘Attention Seeking Crotch Grab’ that all the Boy Band Bards do.


OH SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: (the boy bands make me gag anyway, and the thought of.... :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: )

oh my god...laufey, congratulations!!! you've managed to make me cringe... :twisted:

“Stop it!” Edwin shouted, placing his hands across his ears. “Stop it, stop it right now! (Agh, my poor ears will surely rot and fall off!)”


ditto!!! :twisted:

“Turns out though,” Jan said, “that much as he’s immune to, even Elminster isn’t immune to a really nasty case of ‘Sailor’s Itch’. He blamed poor Bindles for that, which was really unfair considering the vast number of Good Drow and teenaged princesses who could be just as guilty, and punished Bindles most cruelly by turning him into a marble lawn ornament, still in his famous Back Bender pose.”


way...too....much...information!!!

“If only I knew that spell…” Edwin muttered.


awhy do i get an image of marble statue of jan, as Manneken Piss.. :D

“Bindles had his revenge though. The old wizard went sleepwalking one fine summer morning, after a lengthy bathing session with one of his Drow ‘nieces’, fell clear off his balcony and straight onto poor old Bindles Brownnose, which goes to show that brownnosing can be both physically painful and lead to highly embarrassing trips to the Healer’s office. Jaheira is better off not bothering with it, really.”


brownnosing... :wink: :wink: :P and eeeeewwwwwwwww.....

Jaheira’s eyes looked somewhat glazed over by now, but at this, she nodded, and even smiled. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, so I am.)


my eyes are glazed too...yay!!! :shock: :shock: :shock:

#9 Laufey

Posted 27 May 2005 - 08:56 AM


Disclaimer: Contains rude reference to Elminster. If that frays your nerves, go get a blindfold towards the end.


or cherish and remember every word and nuance of elmo abuse... :D :P


:D :D :shock:


“A severed hand is hardly an appropriate pet,” Jaheira decisively stated. “What are you going to do with it, child?”


why do i feel like minsc is going to say...


"yyyyyooooooouuuuuu rrrrraaaaannnnngggg???"


there's a distinct flavor of adams family going on here...


rini: oui?


edwin: karamina! you spoke french! mmmmmmmmm...*smoochies*


rini: oh gomez...


edwin: who's gomez?! (I'll fireball him, no matter who it is!!!)


Well, it's Xzar and Nalia you *really* need to watch out for - they're The De'Arnise Family, after all. :wink:



Maybe it doesn’t get tired the way we do. It’s not as if the nerves have anywhere to go, after all.


val: or its the product of vile and evil magic!


Or that. :D


“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.”


just bits and pieces... :shock:


Leftovers, in other words. :)



I can, Zaerini thought, although she didn’t say it out loud. “Jaheira,” she said. “I…I’m so sorry. I know that being a Harper meant a lot to you, and now…”


its canon that galvary was actually working under dermin's directions...hmmm...i wonder how you're going to resolve the harper plot... :shock:


*blinks* Are you sure that's canon? I've read through the Dermin dialogues before writing this, and I don't remember anything about him giving Galvarey his orders as such.


“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.”


it certainly amused us! :shock:


Thank you! :)



“And then,” Jan said with a cheeky grin, “maybe Val here could tell us all about his past experiences with exotic dancers. Figures the beard could be twirled in pretty interesting ways, but somehow I always thought Drizzt the Drow would be more of a hit, dancing scimitars and all that, don’t you agree, Val?”


oh dear god...maybe someday i'll write a story about drizzt in a chippendales routine... :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:


Oh, please do! :D



“Actually,” Jan cheerfully went on, “my cousin Bindles Brownnose Jansen made a career as an exotic dancer, performing privately for the Chosen of Mystra. He was a truly studly gnome, with the longest and pointiest nose you ever saw. Ah, the stories he told me…you wouldn’t believe what that Elminster means when he says ‘spellfire’.”


rather freudian, that nose... :twisted:


What is it they say about men with large noses again...


“We do not want to know!” Anomen said, looking rather red-faced.


nope...the imagination is MUCH worse than the reality... :shock:


:D


“Old Elminster is quite the dancer himself too,” Jan continued, smirking slyly. “And he’s got old Bindles to thank for that, Bindles taught him all the best moves, including the ‘Attention Seeking Crotch Grab’ that all the Boy Band Bards do.


OH SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: (the boy bands make me gag anyway, and the thought of.... :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: )


oh my god...laufey, congratulations!!! you've managed to make me cringe... :twisted:


YAY! :D I feel so proud now. :P



“Turns out though,” Jan said, “that much as he’s immune to, even Elminster isn’t immune to a really nasty case of ‘Sailor’s Itch’. He blamed poor Bindles for that, which was really unfair considering the vast number of Good Drow and teenaged princesses who could be just as guilty, and punished Bindles most cruelly by turning him into a marble lawn ornament, still in his famous Back Bender pose.”


way...too....much...information!!!


:D


“If only I knew that spell…” Edwin muttered.


awhy do i get an image of marble statue of jan, as Manneken Piss.. :D


Awww, wouldn't that be cute? :P


“Bindles had his revenge though. The old wizard went sleepwalking one fine summer morning, after a lengthy bathing session with one of his Drow ‘nieces’, fell clear off his balcony and straight onto poor old Bindles Brownnose, which goes to show that brownnosing can be both physically painful and lead to highly embarrassing trips to the Healer’s office. Jaheira is better off not bothering with it, really.”


brownnosing... :shock: :wink: :wink: and eeeeewwwwwwwww.....


:P


Jaheira’s eyes looked somewhat glazed over by now, but at this, she nodded, and even smiled. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, so I am.)


my eyes are glazed too...yay!!! :shock: :shock: :shock:


Again, I feel very proud. :P
Rogues do it from behind.

#10 Guest_Userunfriendly_*

Posted 27 May 2005 - 09:36 AM

Maybe not canon...might be something from a mod, a long time back...sorry, can't remember... :D

#11 Guest_Theodur_*

Posted 27 May 2005 - 10:48 AM


For just a few seconds, Jaheira squeezed her eyes shut, and then she opened them again, looking straight at Zaerini. The bard looked back, then gave a small smile and a shrug, knowing that Jaheira would understand. After all, what could I possibly tell her? That she shouldn’t kill me? If she can’t make up her own mind about that, then I don’t see what I could say to convince her.



Hm, perhaps, perhaps. Still, old loyalties and friendships should not be treated casually or discarded at ease, I feel… after all, if Rini were to screw up at something eventually, I doubt she would enjoy if Jaheira would forget her friendship easily. It just feels here that Rini thinks that it should be easy as pie for Jaheira to abandon Harpers and stay with her.


Hm, that's not the impression I meant to convey at all. I'll have to see if I can rephrase it somehow.


I think what I was looking for was a little hint of Rini's fear that Jaheira might decide otherwise. Though, maybe it is in character for Rini to be confident that Jaheira will stay. Still, I mean, what Jaheira is doing here, she is virtually forsaking her beliefs, and I know that in Rini's place, I would be plagued by a question whether I am important enough for someone to do a thing like that for my sake.

Just my thoughts. :D



I can, Zaerini thought, although she didn’t say it out loud. “Jaheira,” she said. “I…I’m so sorry. I know that being a Harper meant a lot to you, and now…”



its canon that galvary was actually working under dermin's directions...hmmm...i wonder how you're going to resolve the harper plot... :D


*blinks* Are you sure that's canon? I've read through the Dermin dialogues before writing this, and I don't remember anything about him giving Galvarey his orders as such.


Nope, there was nothing about that... the way I understood it was that they were accomplices and Dermin was very much involved in the whole thing from the start, but there was nothing to imply that Galvarey acted on his orders. After all, we know that Galvarey wanted to capture the PC pretty much for his own selfish needs.

#12 Guest_Melle_*

Posted 27 May 2005 - 12:04 PM

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.


You really enjoy using that word, don't you?

“The adventuring profession is well known for making its members cart around various severed body parts in order to collect bounties. I fail to see the difference.”


I don't have a wisecrack for that one. It's just too plain true.

“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 sure that will make him more sympathetic. :P

“You know,” Edwin said in a conversational voice as they watched the old Harper walk off down the road, “one of my superbly aimed Fireballs could easily hit him from here. Only say the word, druid, should you wish to turn that doddering old fool into a small pile of smoking ashes. (With such a miserable excuse for a mentor, no wonder she made the mistake of joining the thralls of the pointy-hatted one, but at least now she has realized her mistake.)”


When Edwin is helpful, something is very, very wrong. :D

“I…don’t suppose they’ve learnt of Reviane yet? If they had, I can’t imagine he wouldn’t have mentioned it.”


:D

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.”

“Need or not,” the cleric replied, “The concern is still there, freely given. Do not forget that.”


Hrm. At least he's not telling her stories of hill giants.

“Actually,” Jan cheerfully went on, “my cousin Bindles Brownnose Jansen made a career as an exotic dancer, performing privately for the Chosen of Mystra. He was a truly studly gnome, with the longest and pointiest nose you ever saw. Ah, the stories he told me…you wouldn’t believe what that Elminster means when he says ‘spellfire’.”


There seems to be quite a number of Jansens in the... entertainment industry.

“Old Elminster is quite the dancer himself too,” Jan continued, smirking slyly. “And he’s got old Bindles to thank for that, Bindles taught him all the best moves, including the ‘Attention Seeking Crotch Grab’ that all the Boy Band Bards do.


Well, the +6 had to come from somewhere. :D

“Turns out though,” Jan said, “that much as he’s immune to, even Elminster isn’t immune to a really nasty case of ‘Sailor’s Itch’. He blamed poor Bindles for that


Implications = :D :shock: :shock: :D

“Bindles had his revenge though. The old wizard went sleepwalking one fine summer morning, after a lengthy bathing session with one of his Drow ‘nieces’, fell clear off his balcony and straight onto poor old Bindles Brownnose, which goes to show that brownnosing can be both physically painful and lead to highly embarrassing trips to the Healer’s office. Jaheira is better off not bothering with it, really.”


Ok, I admit that was indeed the most wrongbad Jansen story yet. And the most tangential story moral as well. In order words: I salute thee! :D

#13 Guest_Wyvern_*

Posted 27 May 2005 - 05:57 PM

“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. 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.

Oh I don't know, maybe the hand could become Suffy's girlfriend? (Please don't let Edwin fireball me)

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…”

Poor Jaheira, you just know Dermin's attitude hurts her.

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.”

At least Dermin knows enough not to try attacking the party.

“You know,” Edwin said in a conversational voice as they watched the old Harper walk off down the road, “one of my superbly aimed Fireballs could easily hit him from here. Only say the word, druid, should you wish to turn that doddering old fool into a small pile of smoking ashes. (With such a miserable excuse for a mentor, no wonder she made the mistake of joining the thralls of the pointy-hatted one, but at least now she has realized her mistake.)”

I think there was a compliment to Jaheira, somewhere in all that.

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.”

Aww, real suave Ano :twisted:

Valygar blinked. “You…dropped a cow on Elminster?” he said. “The Elminster? Not some…some exotic dancer performing under a stage name with a fake beard?”

Hey Val, Elminster's a mage, you should approve of that story.

“I have not had experiences with exotic dancers!” Valygar angrily protested.

Not with dancers, but maybe Valygar *was* an exotic dancer. (It's a better image than Elminster on stage)

#14 Arcalian

Posted 28 May 2005 - 02:14 AM

*pets a kitty*

Heya Miss Kitty.

Not much to say here, as I have only played thru with Jaheria in the party exactly one time. Save that it amazes me that not even one harper had a Clue.

But then, maybe that's a Harper thing. Well written as always.
The road to the abyss may be paved with good intentions, but it is those with bad intentions that race down that road as fast as they can.

#15 Guest_AlphaMonkey_*

Posted 28 May 2005 - 03:18 AM

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.


I've always been fond of the old saying:

"Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies."

“A severed hand is hardly an appropriate pet,” Jaheira decisively stated.


Worked for the Addams Family.

He reached up towards his shoulder to tickle Insufferable’s tummy, and the little monkey made a chirping sound of delight.


I hate monkeys.

...

Wait a second...

...

No, I was right. I hate monkeys. :cry:

“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.”


Booyah! :lol:

“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.”


I'm alive.

(Shrug)

“I have not had experiences with exotic dancers!” Valygar angrily protested.


Oh yeah? What about... Misty? Huh? And Jenna? And Amber? :shock:

#16 Laufey

Posted 31 May 2005 - 06:53 AM

I think what I was looking for was a little hint of Rini's fear that Jaheira might decide otherwise. Though, maybe it is in character for Rini to be confident that Jaheira will stay. Still, I mean, what Jaheira is doing here, she is virtually forsaking her beliefs, and I know that in Rini's place, I would be plagued by a question whether I am important enough for someone to do a thing like that for my sake.


Just my thoughts. :twisted:


It's not so much that Rini automatically assumes Jaheira will stay with her, but that she knows that she shouldn't try to influence her. But perhaps I can make that clearer somehow.
Rogues do it from behind.

#17 Laufey

Posted 31 May 2005 - 06:55 AM

[quote][quote]
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.
[/quote]
[/quote]

[quote]
You really enjoy using that word, don't you?
[/quote]

Yes, and you know why! :D


[quote]
[quote]
“You know,” Edwin said in a conversational voice as they watched the old Harper walk off down the road, “one of my superbly aimed Fireballs could easily hit him from here. Only say the word, druid, should you wish to turn that doddering old fool into a small pile of smoking ashes. (With such a miserable excuse for a mentor, no wonder she made the mistake of joining the thralls of the pointy-hatted one, but at least now she has realized her mistake.)”
[/quote]
[/quote]

[quote]
When Edwin is helpful, something is very, very wrong. :D
[/quote]

:twisted:

[quote]
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.”
[/quote]

[quote]
“Need or not,” the cleric replied, “The concern is still there, freely given. Do not forget that.”
[/quote]
[/quote]

[quote]
Hrm. At least he's not telling her stories of hill giants.
[/quote]

Might happen later, I suppose. :)

[quote]
[quote]
“Actually,” Jan cheerfully went on, “my cousin Bindles Brownnose Jansen made a career as an exotic dancer, performing privately for the Chosen of Mystra. He was a truly studly gnome, with the longest and pointiest nose you ever saw. Ah, the stories he told me…you wouldn’t believe what that Elminster means when he says ‘spellfire’.”
[/quote]
[/quote]

[quote]
There seems to be quite a number of Jansens in the... entertainment industry.
[/quote]

I think it suits them! :D

[quote]
[quote]
“Old Elminster is quite the dancer himself too,” Jan continued, smirking slyly. “And he’s got old Bindles to thank for that, Bindles taught him all the best moves, including the ‘Attention Seeking Crotch Grab’ that all the Boy Band Bards do.
[/quote]
[/quote]

[quote]
Well, the +6 had to come from somewhere. :P
[/quote]

Of course. :)

[quote]
[quote]
“Turns out though,” Jan said, “that much as he’s immune to, even Elminster isn’t immune to a really nasty case of ‘Sailor’s Itch’. He blamed poor Bindles for that
[/quote]
[/quote]

[quote]
Implications = ;) ;) ;) :D
[/quote]

:twisted: :evil: ;)

[quote]
[quote]
“Bindles had his revenge though. The old wizard went sleepwalking one fine summer morning, after a lengthy bathing session with one of his Drow ‘nieces’, fell clear off his balcony and straight onto poor old Bindles Brownnose, which goes to show that brownnosing can be both physically painful and lead to highly embarrassing trips to the Healer’s office. Jaheira is better off not bothering with it, really.”
[/quote]
[/quote]

[quote]
Ok, I admit that was indeed the most wrongbad Jansen story yet. And the most tangential story moral as well. In order words: I salute thee! ;)[/quote]

Thank you! :D
Rogues do it from behind.

#18 Laufey

Posted 31 May 2005 - 06:59 AM

“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. 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.

Oh I don't know, maybe the hand could become Suffy's girlfriend? (Please don't let Edwin fireball me)


A tame hand for a girlfriend - yes, I can imagine a lot of people would enjoy that. ;)

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…”

Poor Jaheira, you just know Dermin's attitude hurts her.


It sure does. ;)


“You know,” Edwin said in a conversational voice as they watched the old Harper walk off down the road, “one of my superbly aimed Fireballs could easily hit him from here. Only say the word, druid, should you wish to turn that doddering old fool into a small pile of smoking ashes. (With such a miserable excuse for a mentor, no wonder she made the mistake of joining the thralls of the pointy-hatted one, but at least now she has realized her mistake.)”

I think there was a compliment to Jaheira, somewhere in all that.

Absolutely!


Valygar blinked. “You…dropped a cow on Elminster?” he said. “The Elminster? Not some…some exotic dancer performing under a stage name with a fake beard?”

Hey Val, Elminster's a mage, you should approve of that story.


I think it's :twisted: rather than :evil: really. ;)

“I have not had experiences with exotic dancers!” Valygar angrily protested.

Not with dancers, but maybe Valygar *was* an exotic dancer. (It's a better image than Elminster on stage)


Now that's an interesting idea! :twisted:
Rogues do it from behind.

#19 Laufey

Posted 31 May 2005 - 07:01 AM

*pets a kitty*


*purrs!*

Heya Miss Kitty.


Heya! :twisted:

Not much to say here, as I have only played thru with Jaheria in the party exactly one time. Save that it amazes me that not even one harper had a Clue.


But then, maybe that's a Harper thing. Well written as always.


Glad you liked it! :twisted: As for the Harpers, well, I figure they can't all be as bad as the ones we meet in the game, but that the Athkatla ones were pretty much corrupted.
Rogues do it from behind.

#20 Laufey

Posted 31 May 2005 - 07:02 AM

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.


I've always been fond of the old saying:


"Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies."


Oh yes, I love that one! ;)

He reached up towards his shoulder to tickle Insufferable’s tummy, and the little monkey made a chirping sound of delight.


I hate monkeys.


...


Wait a second...


...


No, I was right. I hate monkeys. :twisted:


But monkeys are *cute*! ;)


“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.”


I'm alive.


(Shrug)


Ah - I'll have to do better then. :evil:

“I have not had experiences with exotic dancers!” Valygar angrily protested.


Oh yeah? What about... Misty? Huh? And Jenna? And Amber? :twisted:


I like the idea of Val *as* an exotic dancer, myself. ;)
Rogues do it from behind.




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