Jump to content


Chapter 19 - Witch Hunt


  • Please log in to reply
No replies to this topic

#1 Guest_Clovis_*

Posted 13 July 2005 - 01:38 AM

The bodies of the slain hell hounds continued to reek of brimstone as the adventurers poked around the surface ruins for clues. The annis that had commanded the pack escaped during the fight, though no doubt she was not far away, according to Jaheira. Finding nothing of importance above ground, Theodoric decided it was time to descend into the underground portion of the ruins. The adventurers fell into single file, negotiating the narrow, crumbling stairs carefully but without too much difficulty. In a few moments, they were in a dusty stone passage that showed signs of recent activity.

“Tracks” Minsc said, squatting down to examine the floor. “There were people here, but Minsc cannot say for sure how many. The tracks are not fresh.” He traced his finger on a faint set of drag marks. “Boo thinks one of the people was hurt.”

So Fentan’s group made it in here. At least some of them Theodoric said to himself.

“Good work, Minsc. Okay, everyone, we have to assume that there are survivors from the first group. Let’s do some exploring and see if we can find them.”


As they moved up the tunnel, the adventurers became aware of a faint stench in the air. The smell grew stronger as they neared a bend in the passage. It was the smell of death, but not of recent death, like Madulf and his band. It had the musty, charnel smell of a opened grave. Theodoric knew what it was instinctively.

“The dead roam these halls” he hissed, raising his sword a bit higher.

The bend in the tunnel led to what might have once been a dining area. Remnants of broken furniture were scattered about, and in the flickering light of their torches they could see pegs set into the wall for hanging cloaks. The stench was strong here, though they saw no bodies. Theodoric reached out with his senses but did not sense evil nearby.

Minsc placed spare torches in several of the wall sconces and lit them with his own. The increased light was a welcome sight after all of the gloom they’d seen. The shadows in the room melted away and brought the room into focus. There was a passage at one end of the room, which led to small individual cells, of the kind one saw at a monastery.

“Theodoric, come have a look at this” Yoshimo said, hunched down by a putrid slick on the floor.

“Residue from a cadaverous undead creature” Theodoric said, examining the chunky puddle. He pointed to another spot on the floor. “And over there are bone fragments. It looks like Fentan’s group may have battled several undead creatures.”

“But where are the rest of the remains?”

“That’s a very good question, Yoshimo. This is most peculiar.”


*


An investigation of the cells turned up nothing of interest, though one of them appeared to have been used recently. It was possible Fentan’s group had taken refuge in it for a time. Beyond the cells were the splinters of a long-decayed wooden door and another passage. It looked like the door had recently met with a violent end. The adventurers found what had been a bathing chamber, and also what might have been an apothecary or alchemists lab along the way. There were also signs of a fight, with several small blood smears on the passage walls.


The passage turned west, widening and opening into the ruins of an old library. A few crumbling texts lay on the stone floor, but the adventurers were more interested in the chamber beyond that one. In the next room was an ornate stone pedestal, like the one they seen near the entrance to the ruins. Atop this one, however, was a radiant gem, shining like a sunrise on the horizon. It was quite an impressive sight, but Theodoric’s attention was focused on the person crouching behind it.



A disheveled and wild-looking man, looking to be in his early thirties, stared at them from behind the pedestal. He was portly, but his arms were thick and strong. His long brown hair was a rat’s nest of tangles and he had several days’ beard growth on his face. The man was obviously wounded, with his left arm in a makeshift sling and dried blood smeared on his face and clothes. He held a longsword in his other hand but wore no armor, only tunic and breeches.


The man staggered to his feet, nearly losing his balance twice. “Hey, you!” he called out hoarsely. “Are you from Imnesvale?”

“We are” Theodoric replied, cautiously eyeing the other man. “Who might you be?”

The older man leaned against the stone pedestal for support. “Pelor’s light” he whispered. “I may be rescued yet.” He sheathed his sword and gestured to Theodoric.

“I will explain myself, stranger” he rasped out. “But you shouldn’t stay out there while there are undead about.” He gestured wearily at the brightly glowing gem on the pedestal. “The light gem will protect us from them.” With that, exhaustion over took him and he slumped down against the pedestal.


*

The man was barely conscious when the adventurers entered the room. Jaheira cast several healing spells on the man to revive him. Slowly, the man stirred. With parched lips he asked for water. Theodoric handed him one of his skins, which the man grabbed and nearly drained in his thirst. After a long moment, he finally spoke.

“I apologize for my greed, friend” he said, handing the skin back to Theodoric. “My own water ran out almost two days ago.”

“It’s quite alright” Theodoric said kindly. “But maybe you could answer some questions, now?”

“Sure” the man smiled, making to his feet. “I guess that’s the least I can do for the people who just saved my life” he added, flashing a tired, but distinctly impish, grin. “What do you want to know?”

“Who are you, for starters?”

“Me? I’m Neracer." "Neracer the Mystic One of Trademeet, if you want my professional name” he added in a mock ostentatious voice. "I usually only use that one on the yokels and tourists, though. Pleased to meet you.”

“The Mystic?” Theodoric puzzled. “Are you saying you are some sort of mage?”

“Yep. I’m the best Illusionist in Trademeet. Well, I’m the only Illusionist in Trademeet, but you know what I mean. Why do you ask?”

You do not look like a mage” Theodoric said with mild surprise. “I had thought you a rogue, or warrior. You carry a sword.”

“A long story, that. I was a warrior once, long ago. If I do not find my spell books I may have to be one again. They were in my pack, which I lost in the last fight.”

‘I believe I have found your pack” Yoshimo interrupted, carrying a smallish leather pack with broken straps. “I found this lying in the debris of the library.”

“Yes!” Neracer shouted, his eyes lighting up. He looked at Theodoric with an inquiring eye. “I don’t suppose you have need for a mage, do you? I have friends to find and don’t fancy taking this place on by myself.”

“Ah, well, we may.” Not much for small talk, is he? “But first I have more questions.”

“Oh, of course. I imagine you want to know how I got here, right?”

“It had crossed my mind” Theodoric replied dryly.

“Well to answer that, let me tell you I came here with Mazzy and the rest of her group. We were hired out of Imnesvale, though I’m sure you knew that part already.”

“Where are Mazzy and the others? You said you had friends to find?”

Neracer’s cheer suddenly faded. “I do”, he said quietly. “Mazzy and Patrick may still be alive. I pray they are still alive. There *were* five of us...Arentis and Kivan are dead.”

Kivan? Theodoric exchanged looks with Jaheira and Minsc. The group had two half-elves. Damn.

“We didn’t even make it into this temple before the dragon ambushed us.”

“Dragon? There is a dragon here?!?” Yoshimo started, his eyes widening.

“Maybe you’d better start from the beginning, Neracer.” Theodoric said uneasily. Tell me about this dragon.”

“There’s not much to tell. It ambushed us at the entrance to the temple. We’d just figured out how to bring down the shadow barrier barring our way with the sun gem. You saw the pedestal out there, like this one? It had a gem much like this one. We figured out its power could penetrate the barrier in front of the entrance to the temple. Anyway, when the gem’s light brought down the shadow wall we spotted the dragon in the gloom of the forest.”

“What happened next?”

“It killed half our party, that’s what happened” Neracer said, anger coloring his words. “At first glimpse, it looked a little like a Black dragon – one of the acid-spitters. We scattered, trying to avoid its attack. But this was something else. It breathed out a cloud of darkness. Some sort of - I guess you’d call it, negative energy. The cloud drained the life from everything it touched. Mazzy’s Patrick was just grazed by it and was brought to his knees. Kivan and Arentis were caught in the center of the blast. They died before they could even cry out.”

“How did you survive?” Jaheira asked.

Neracer gave her a feral look. “We hit back. Mazzy and I had been outside the blast. I kept the dragon off-balance with my magic while Mazzy stuck a blade in its guts. Either this dragon was very young or its breed is cowardly. It hesitated, and Mazzy and I used that moment to grab Patrick and flee inside this tomb. I guess I’m lucky it wasn’t Draco Causticus after all. Black dragons are kind of stupid, but they fight real hard.”

“Where are Mazzy and Patrick now, Neracer?” Theodoric asked.

“I wish to hell I knew. We were attacked again shortly after we made it into this place. Patrick was starting to recover – the creature’s life-stealing weapon apparently is not permanent, if you can survive it – when a horde of undead descended on us. Mazzy and I held them off as long as we could, but we were hopelessly outmatched. She ordered me to make a run for it, to let the villagers know what had happened here. I only made it as far as this room by using the last of my magic. The undead would not enter here, because of that glowing gem. But I was cut off from escaping that way. And I was too weak to explore either of the passages connected to this room.”


“The way back to the entrance is clear now, Neracer” Theodoric said. “Though we did not see your friends.”

“Then I must assume they are still alive. Mazzy is a dear friend, and Patrick is her betrothed. Will you help me search for them?”

Theodoric glanced to his comrades, who all nodded their approval. “Our tasks are the same, Neracer” Theodoric said. “Of course we will help search for your friends. Torm willing we will rescue them and defeat the evil that dwells within these walls. You are welcome among us.”

Neracer nodded. “I’m not so good with my words as you, friend. But I will do everything in my power to help you and your friends.” Grinning, he added “at least after I’ve had a chance to go over my spell books.”


*

The party spent several hours under the protection of the light gem. While the warriors kept watch for threats, Aerie and Jaheira had the luxury of resting and restoring what spells they’d used up after the hellhound battle. After resting himself, Neracer sat cross-legged on the ground, reading over page after page of arcane writing. He fished out a second traveling spell book from his pack, along with an ornate, bejeweled silver mirror.

“Where did you get that?” asked Yoshimo. “Is that treasure from this temple?”

“Oh no, not at all. I had this made a long time ago. Nice isn’t it?”

“Well, yes but –”

Neracer examined himself in the plate-sized mirror. “Oof, I need a shave.”

“Isn’t that a bit of a burden to carry?” Yoshimo continued. “It looks rather heavy.”

“It is, Yoshimo” Neracer said absently, taking a bone comb from his pack and straightening out the tangles in his hair. “A good ten pounds, I’d say.”

“Then why do you carry it?”

“Oh, you never know when something like this may come in handy, Yoshi” Neracer said lightly, replacing the mirror in his pack.

“Ah” Yoshimo said. “I see.” In truth, he didn’t see, but he realized the mage was not going to elaborate.

“Ah, one more thing, Neracer?”

“Yeah, sure?”

“If you would, don’t call me ‘Yoshi’. Where I come from, such a pet name is...well, let us say you and I are not quite so well acquainted, hm?”

Neracer laughed and turned a bit pink in the cheeks. “Oops, sorry about that.”


*


At last Neracer acknowledged he had finished preparing and memorizing his spells. Aerie and Jaheira had replenished the few spells they had expended already.

“We’ll probably need to take this” Neracer said, pointing to the light gem. “If there are any more shadow barriers, the gem can bring them down. Mazzy said these gems are relics of this place, a temple to some ancient god. Aumen- Aumenti”

“Amunator?” Theodoric asked.

“That’s it, yes. Amunator. I’ve not heard of him before. But apparently he was some sort of sun god.”

“He was that” Theodoric acknowledged. The god of sun and bureaucracy and law, among other things.”

“A strange combination” Neracer commented. “I assume he was a good deity?”

“Not entirely” Theodoric replied. “He was stern, rigid. But he served the light, which was more often than not, good. Certainly better than the fell creatures we have encountered in this place.”

“Well, that wouldn’t take much” the illusionist pointed out.


*

The light from the gem receded as it was taken from its pedestal. It still glowed softly, but did not fill the room will its light. Theodoric had Jaheira put the gem in her pack.


“We’ll try the tunnel to the south first” Theodoric informed his party. “If we don’t have any luck there, we’ll back track and head through the northern passage.”


The southern passage led to a number of small abandoned rooms. One appeared to have been a food pantry, another a small kitchen. The third room at the end of the passage was a dusty old storage room, strewn with cobwebs and bits of broken furniture and chests full of rotted goods. A thorough search of the room turned up no secret doors or anything else of note.

“So much for this way” Theodoric said, absently poking at a cobweb.

“Perhaps” Neracer said, scrutinizing the room. On a hunch, he chanted a small spell. The room glowed with a faint bluish light for the briefest moment.

“There is illusion at work here, Theodoric” Neracer said emphatically. “Someone, or something, has laid a powerful veiling magic on this room to disguise its true nature.”

“Do you think it is the dragon?” the paladin asked. Neracer shrugged.

“I couldn’t say, not knowing what sort of powers that dragon has. Dragon magic tends to be strong, but some breeds are more powerful than others.”

“How do we get rid of it then?”

“I’m not sure. Probably a dispelling magic would be best. I haven’t got one memorized, though.”

“Jaheira, Aerie?” Theodoric asked. Both women shook their heads.

‘We’ll have to try the northern passage, then” Theodoric said. “Perhaps we will find some clue to do away with this deception.”


*


The northern passage led to a burial chamber of some sort. A small stone sarcophagus lay in the center of the room. The lid had been pried off, and the contents of the grave removed.

“Grave-robbers” Theodoric said with disgust.

The air in the room stirred and a pair of pair of ghostly apparitions rose up before the desecrated grave. Theodoric shouted for the others to get back as he interposed himself between the apparitions and the rest of the party. The apparitions merely stood there, their expressions sad.

“Ho, spirits!” he called, approaching them cautiously.

The spirits pointed to the grave and their expressions grew pained.

“Seek the wytch above” one of them whispered. “Return the child” whispered the other.

The spirits faded, leaving behind only a chill in the air.

The adventurers shared glances for several moments. Theodoric spoke first.

“Do you suppose by “the witch” they meant the annis?”

“It is as good a guess as any, I would think” Jaheira nodded.

“Annis?” asked Neracer. “There is a hag in the wood?”

“There is” Jaheira answered. “She commanded a pack of hell hounds against us. You saw nothing of her?”

“No, I didn’t” he replied, furrowing his brow. “We encountered absolutely nothing until the dragon ambushed us. I was rather surprised you didn’t encounter it.”

“Do-do you suppose they are working together?” Aerie asked in timid voice. “The dragon and the hag, I mean?”

“It’s certainly a possibility” Theodoric acknowledged.

“Not a very pleasant one, though” added Yoshimo.

“No, I don’t suppose it is at that. Regardless, it seems we cannot progress any further in our mission for the moment. I believe we should start hunting for this annis. We may learn something of value. If nothing else, I would see to it that the remains of this ‘child’ are laid to rest properly once again. Jaheira, what do you know about the annis? What are its strengths and weaknesses?”

“It is powerful among its kind, the hags” the druid replied, her face serious. “It has great strength and intelligence. It is fond of mimicry – luring victims in with the voice of a friend, or taking on the appearance of a helpless maiden – and stealth.

“Any weaknesses we can use against it?”

“Overconfidence is common among her kin. Though after our victory over her pack, she is unlikely to underestimate us. Likely she will evade us at every opportunity. At least until she feels confident she can strike with impunity. Attacking us while we sleep, or perhaps picking off a straggler.”


“Then perhaps a little subterfuge of our own is called for” Neracer said to himself, once again grinning mischievously. Realizing he was being stared at, he added “sorry for interrupting, Theodoric. But I have an idea on how to catch the hag.”


*


The adventurers emerged from the temple, looking battered and bedraggled. Theodoric’s arm was in a sling and Jaheira’s face was bandaged on the left side. Each groaned and grunted theatrically as they found their way to the pedestal. Jaheira placed the light gem in the mounting, filling the immediate area with a sunny glow.

“Oh, I just have to stop for a while” Neracer complained, plopping down.

“Me too” whined Aerie. “My legs are just *aching*!”

“The chubby wizard and nice elf should relax” Minsc advised sagely. “Minsc will stand watch while the others rest.”

Theodoric grunted his approval and shrugged off his pack. In that brief moment, his slung arm did not seem to be in any way affected. A fact that did not go unnoticed by another.

The hag watched from her vantage point in the woods. She cackled silently at such an obvious deception. The prey was not so wounded as they seemed. She would not be pulled into the attack. She would wait until they let they truly let their guard down.


*

The adventurers rested for a time, saying very little. After about an hour, Minsc began to shift from foot to foot.

“Something wrong, Minsc?” Neracer asked mildly, sitting against the light gem pedestal.

“Ah, Boo has heard the call of nature.”

Neracer chuckled. “Okay, Minsc. I can watch the group for a few minutes. Do you want me to wake one of the others to go with you?”

“Minsc is big enough to go by himself” the ranger said without irony.

Neracer frowned. “All right, but don’t go too far. The others are asleep and I don’t like being by myself.”

The hag watched the scene play out with great suspicion. The fat man was trying to lure her in again. No doubt his friends would wake the instant she showed herself, and the other one would come running to their aid as soon as they called for him. But the other one would be alone for several moments, and she knew its voice. She could kill him and then lure the others away one by one. A cry for help from a comrade. Yes, that would do nicely. The hag smiled wickedly, and sped off through the woods.


*


Minsc was whistling a happy tune as he stood before the stump of an old tree, relieving himself. The hag watched him for several moments, until she was sure he was alone.

The annis crept silently from her position in the darkness, intent on murdering the man before he could cry out or defend himself. She had almost reached him when things went very wrong.

The first thing the hag *felt* was a searing pain in her gut. Theodoric drove his sword deep in her side even as he was becoming visible. The first thing the hag *saw* was the point of Yoshimo’s katana bursting through her chest, accompanied by a suitably ferocious “Kaiiiii!” from Yoshimo himself. The last thing the hag would ever see or feel again was Minsc spinning around and bringing a mace down on her head.


*

The three men returned to the ruins a few minutes later, much to Neracer’s relief.

“Finally”, he said, allowing his concentration to lapse. The images of Theodoric and Yoshimo wavered, then dissipated into nothingness, leaving only Aerie and Jaheira behind.

“Ach, I have a headache now” the illusionist grumbled. “I was beginning to wonder if that damned hag would ever take the bait.”

“An effective ploy, Neracer” Theodoric said. “I must say I had my doubts. It seemed rather elaborate.”

“Well, it was” answered the illusionist. “But it needed to be. The hag was too clever and alert to fall for a simple snare like playing wounded or sending out a scout as bait. Honestly, would you have fallen for either of those?”

“No, I probably wouldn’t have” admitted Theodoric.

“Exactly. As my late mentor was fond of saying, ‘deception is most effective when it is hidden within another deception.’ Besides, one illusion and a couple of invisibility spells isn’t much of an investment. If it hadn’t worked, we still had plenty of options.”

Well, I can’t argue with that Theodoric thought. Though I am starting to understand why the innkeeper wasn’t too sure about him. He’s sneaky.

Jaheira noticed the swaddled bundle Theodoric was carrying. “You have recovered the bones we seek?”

“The hag had them in a sack of valuables she carried” Yoshimo answered, a trifle pale. “The child’s body was the least unpleasant of her ‘treasure’, I can assure you.”


*

Returning to the burial chamber, Theodoric laid the remains of the child in the sarcophagus and replaced the lid. Aerie prayed over the grave and blessed it.

The two apparitions once again appeared before them. Their expressions were ones of relief and joy.

“You have returned the child” they said in unison, fading away even as they spoke.

“A good deed” Theodoric said. “This was the right thing to do.”

“Yes it was” agreed Jaheira. “Though we are no closer to uncovering the evil that plagues this place.”

The air in the chamber began to swirl once more. The ghostly figure of a young girl, perhaps nine or ten in life, materialized before them. She wore the richly appointed vestments of a priestess of Amunator.

“I bring you the answers you seek” she said.




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users

Skin Designed By Evanescence at IBSkin.com