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Ember's Tale 17: A Little More Conversation


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#1 Guest_Cel_*

Posted 17 May 2006 - 01:52 PM

Chapter 17: A Little More Conversation


No longer having a trail to follow, the party was able to take an easier route back to Nashkel. The following morning found them in a lightly forested area where most of the rocks were covered by bright green grasses, brambles, creepers and a variety of spring flowers.

Unfortunately, even though they had left the rocky wastes of the peaks behind, there were still wolves in the area they passed through. Four of the creatures were standing on top of a boulder, snarling at the group. Two were dire wolves - larger and more ferocious than normal wolves, but otherwise similar - and two of them were snowy white winter wolves.

"I suppose the greatest wizard ever can take them on singlehandedly?" Imoen muttered to Edwin as she notched an arrow.

"I... even you must understand that my potential is not realized yet!" the wizard hissed back. Imoen stifled a grin as Edwin mumbled something inaudible yet no doubt insulting, and aimed her arrow at the closest of the winter wolves.

Despite his lack of greatness, the wizard acquitted himself decently. While the others had fought the wolves with bow and sword, he'd used a spell to siphon some life force from one of the wolves and then shot three small volleys of magic missiles into another. He also proved to be familiar enough with staves to be able to put the white staff to good use, knocking a winter wolf off its feet as it was about to release a blast of frost. In the end, the four wolves lay dead on the ground, and the only serious injury in the group was Ember's severely frostbitten leg. Ajantis immediately produced a flask of healing potion and offered his own healing abilities, but Ember brushed him off.

"If you don't mind, I want to try something," she told him. "Just be ready in case it doesn't work." She hobbled towards a small boulder, sat down, put her hands on her leg and concentrated. Almost immediately, the fire rushed through her and out of her hands, only to transform into a soothing sensation as the damaged tissue of her leg was restored. Ember smiled happily.

"I was right! I think I understand how to trigger the healing now," she said.

"That is excellent news, miss Ember," Ajantis said. "How did it feel?"

"Well, it still feels like burning in my body and arms, but when my leg was healed, it felt just like any other healing spell."

Edwin looked from Ember to Ajantis and back to Ember again. "(How curious.) I was not aware that you are a cleric," he remarked.

"She is not," Kivan said.

"I seem to have picked up a healing gift since we left home," Ember said. "We don't know how or why, but it's been nothing but useful so far."

"Indeed. (How very interesting.)" Edwin stroked his beard thoughtfully. "You will look into the cause, I am sure."

"Of course, when we have time. I have other things to do first, such as finding out who wants me dead," she replied with a small chuckle.

"Miss Ember!" Ajantis said. "You should not disclose that so openly!"

"Is there a problem, squire?" Edwin asked.

Ajantis glowered. "I may yet still be a squire, but I possess more integrity than you could ever hope for, Thayvian."

"I see; you are afraid the Red Wizard may act against her. (How narrow-minded, but what else is to be expected?)" He straightened his grimy robes. "Go ahead, use your little paladin tricks. See what my intentions towards her are."

Ajantis stood up and gestured rapidly, casting a spell on Edwin. The spell settled around the wizard in a wavering glow.

"Well?" Edwin asked.

"The response is muddled, but I cannot see that you have any overtly hostile intentions towards us," Ajantis said in a terse voice. "Nevertheless, know that I do not trust you."

"And know that I do not like you," Edwin snapped at Ajantis before stalking off. "(Most interesting indeed,)" he murmured to himself. "(The implications... the unanswered questions...)"

Imoen sighed. "They're both buffle headed."

---

A waterfall spilled over the shelflike cliff in front of them and ended in a deep pool, surrounded by bushes and tall, slender trees. The water was almost crystal clear, and they could barely make out an underwater tunnel that had to be where the water was led away from the pool. The body of a small cat lay in the water, tangled in some branches that dipped into the pool.

Minsc spoke for the first time since they had left the gnoll fortress. "Look, Boo. A little kitten, taken away too soon. Just like my witch," he said. A fresh tear trickled down his cheek.

"Poor little cat," Imoen said. "It must have fallen in the river further up."

"It has a collar, too. See?" Ember said. Imoen nodded.

Minsc clambered through the bushes. He wrapped one hand around a tree for support and reached out and picked up the limp body of the cat with the other. "We must take the kitty home," he stated.

Nobody argued with him; even Edwin settled for merely mumbling about futility and wasted time. They made their way westward from the waterfall to where they could see a winding path leading further up the cliff. The path was narrow enough that they had to walk in single file, and it even crossed under the waterfall at one point. Shortly after emerging from under the roaring curtain of water, they came upon a small girl. She ran down the path towards them with an anguished look on her face.

"Have you seen my cat?" she asked. "Pixie, my cat, she was playing close to the waterfall and slipped... Sniff... I hope she's alright."

"Is this your cat, little one?" Minsc asked sadly, holding out the cat to her.

"Pixie!" the girl exclaimed happily. She retrieved the dead cat from the dumbfounded Minsc and cradled it in her arms. "It's alright, she's done this before. Daddy will just have to raise her again. Here, you can have this scroll Daddy gave me. I can't read the words yet, anyways."

"He can bring back the dead?" Minsc asked.

"Yes, sometimes. It's difficult, he says, but he's raised Pixie three times already."

"Could Minsc ask him to raise someone? Please?"

The girl nodded. "Of course! Follow me." The girl skipped up the path away from the waterfall.

Ember cursed silently as they followed the child. There was no chance of raising Dynaheir; it'd been too long and her body was far too damaged. I knew even Gorion was too damaged for that, and we at least had his entire body. She could hear Imoen trying to delicately reason with Minsc, but he refused all advice, insisting upon hearing what the priest had to say first.

The top of the cliff was a quiet, lush grove. A small lake was revealed to be the source of the waterfall, and it was surrounded by trees of all sizes. Largest of these was a large, gnarled oak that was easily twice as tall as any of the others. It stood somewhat apart from the other trees on the eastern shore of the lake, and they could see three people standing next to it.

"Drienne, who do you travel with?" a melodic voice asked from behind a tree.

The little girl immediately turned in the direction the voice had come from. "Oh, there you are! Is Daddy with you?" she said. "They helped me find Pixie and now the big man wants to talk with Daddy."

A slight woman with green-tinged skin and a mass of golden hair appeared so suddenly that Ember felt like she'd stepped out of the tree itself. Her feet were bare, and a simple garment the color of young spring leaves flowed around her body like water. She was painfully beautiful, and as her gaze passsed over the party, it all but mesmerized each of them in turn.

"A wondrous oak is in peril," the woman said, looking at directly at Ember as she spoke. "It is about to be attacked by two who would defile the majesty of nature. They have avoided my charms, and must be stopped before irreparable harm is done. Would you heed my plea?"

Ember nodded. "I will come."

"What villain would do such a thing?" Ajantis proclaimed. "Lead on, and I will deal with them!"

"Aye," Kivan said. "We will all help."

"Drienne, fetch your father," the woman said. "I thank you, for although they seem dim of wit, they still could do much damage. This way." She walked towards the large oak tree in a purposeful, gliding gait.

"The dryad's always like that; she is very strange," Drienne explained. "I think she liked you, though. I'll go get Daddy now." The girl waved at them and ran up the path to the northernmost end of the lake.

Ember led the others towards the tree, which was even more impressive up close. Its leaves whispered in the wind like a chorus of voices, and its branches creaked softly as they moved in the breeze. It's almost like a person, sitting there in the sunlight and watching the world and whispering to itself, Ember thought. The two men that were standing under the oak were utterly dwarfed by it.

"There, they are just ahead," the dryad said. "I implore you, do what you must to make them leave." With a soft rustling like the sound of dry leaves, she vanished from sight.

"Hey, look, Krumm! New folks!" one of the men cried out. His companion looked around confusedly, but the speaker sauntered towards them.

"Heyas, I'm Caldo," he said. "We think dis here's a magic tree, cuz it's all alone up here and so big. Probably got gnomes or pixies or sumthin' in it, so we're gonna bust it down and take any treasure! Ain't that right Krumm?" The last part was shouted over his shoulder to his friend, who merely grunted and picked his nose in response.

"You wanna help?" Caldo asked. "It's a big tree, probably got enough gold fer alluh us!"

Edwin burst out laughing. "Gnomes? In trees? Gnomes do not dwell in trees, you bumbling idiots! (Is there no end to the stupidity?)"

"Sure dey do!" Caldo protested.

"Have you ever even seen a gnome, you pathetic simian? Or a pixie?"

"I seen one," Krumm said.

"Oh, I'm sure you have. How drunk were you at the time?"

"Huh?"

"(Fools.) Go ahead. Cut the tree down. I'll watch you, and I'll laugh when you find nothing but more kindling than you could ever carry home."

"I'm not gonna stand for dat!" Caldo said angrily. "Yous were probably gonna rob us when we're done, wern't cha? Me an Krumm don't cotton to bandits one bit! Do we Krumm?"

Imoen stepped forward. "Rob you of what, firewood? Think about it; how long would it take you to cut a tree this big? Just look at it. Like you said, it's a big tree."

Krumm stared dazedly at the tree. "Uh...Yeah!" he said.

"It'd take you at least a week, I reckon," Imoen said. "Don't you agree, Caldo?"

"Mebbe," Caldo muttered. "But it's still our tree an our treasure!"

"How would they get the treasure in the tree?" Imoen asked.

"Magic, of course!"

"So, if someone used magic to put treasure in the tree, wouldn't they use magic to protect it the tree was cut down?"

Caldo frowned. "You mean... poison or sumthin'?"

"It'd be a pretty stupid place to hide a treasure, anyway," Ember added. "Out in the open like this? Too obvious. I'd put it in a cave instead."

Caldo's face lit up. "We knows a cave! But... it probably got wolves in it."

"Probably," Kivan said. "I would not expect a treasure cave to not be protected."

"Lemme think," Caldo said. He looked up and down the tree, seeming to gauge its size, then he looked southwards. After a few more minutes of looking between the tree and the lands to the south, he nodded as if he had reached an important decision. "Krumm!" he shouted. "We're gonna go to the cave!" Krumm muttered something unintelligible, stuck a finger in his ear, and followed his friend south.

"I don't know whether or not to hope there will be wolves in the cave," Ember said as they watched the men leave the area.

"We should have just killed them. It would have been much simpler," Edwin said. "(And the world would not miss them, I am sure.)"

"Perhaps, but I am most pleased that you did not," a voice said. A man in blue and green robes was walking towards them, closely followed by Drienne. She was cradling a slightly damp cat in her arms; it was purring loudly and most decidedly alive.

"I am Peaceman Derrin," the man said in a calm, gentle tone, "and I am grateful for your assistance with this problem. Now, my daughter tells me that one of your party wishes to speak with me. How may I help?"

#2 Guest_Finduilas_*

Posted 18 May 2006 - 01:24 AM

"I suppose the greatest wizard ever can take them on singlehandedly?" Imoen muttered to Edwin as she notched an arrow.

"I... even you must understand that my potential is not realized yet!" the wizard hissed back. Imoen stifled a grin as Edwin mumbled something inaudible yet no doubt insulting, and aimed her arrow at the closest of the winter wolves.


Hee hee. Suuure, Edwin, sure.

"If you don't mind, I want to try something," she told him. "Just be ready in case it doesn't work." She hobbled towards a small boulder, sat down, put her hands on her leg and concentrated. Almost immediately, the fire rushed through her and out of her hands, only to transform into a soothing sensation as the damaged tissue of her leg was restored. Ember smiled happily.


Edwin looked from Ember to Ajantis and back to Ember again. "(How curious.) I was not aware that you are a cleric," he remarked.

"She is not," Kivan said.

"I seem to have picked up a healing gift since we left home," Ember said. "We don't know how or why, but it's been nothing but useful so far."

"Indeed. (How very interesting.)" Edwin stroked his beard thoughtfully. "You will look into the cause, I am sure."


Hmm. Is a too-inquisitive Edwin going to be a problem?

"The response is muddled, but I cannot see that you have any overtly hostile intentions towards us," Ajantis said in a terse voice. "Nevertheless, know that I do not trust you."

"And know that I do not like you," Edwin snapped at Ajantis before stalking off. "(Most interesting indeed,)" he murmured to himself. "(The implications... the unanswered questions...)"


Where's that Happy Party mod when you need it? :shock:

It seems that Edwin was as surprised as anyone about the results of Adjantis' spell. Are we going to find out why?

Minsc clambered through the bushes. He wrapped one hand around a tree for support and reached out and picked up the limp body of the cat with the other. "We must take the kitty home," he stated.

Nobody argued with him; even Edwin settled for merely mumbling about futility and wasted time.


Even Edwin knows better than to argue with a grieving Minsc.

"Pixie!" the girl exclaimed happily. She retrieved the dead cat from the dumbfounded Minsc and cradled it in her arms. "It's alright, she's done this before. Daddy will just have to raise her again. Here, you can have this scroll Daddy gave me. I can't read the words yet, anyways."


I know this is straight from the game, but it always struck me as extremely un-catlike for Pixie to keep falling down the waterfall. A dog, sure, but not a cat! :wink:

"He can bring back the dead?" Minsc asked.

"Yes, sometimes. It's difficult, he says, but he's raised Pixie three times already."

"Could Minsc ask him to raise someone? Please?"

The girl nodded. "Of course! Follow me." The girl skipped up the path away from the waterfall.

Ember cursed silently as they followed the child. There was no chance of raising Dynaheir; it'd been too long and her body was far too damaged. I knew even Gorion was too damaged for that, and we at least had his entire body. She could hear Imoen trying to delicately reason with Minsc, but he refused all advice, insisting upon hearing what the priest had to say first.


Urgh. Poor Minsc. ;)

"Lemme think," Caldo said. He looked up and down the tree, seeming to gauge its size, then he looked southwards. After a few more minutes of looking between the tree and the lands to the south, he nodded as if he had reached an important decision. "Krumm!" he shouted. "We're gonna go to the cave!" Krumm muttered something unintelligible, stuck a finger in his ear, and followed his friend south.

"I don't know whether or not to hope there will be wolves in the cave," Ember said as they watched the men leave the area.

"We should have just killed them. It would have been much simpler," Edwin said. "(And the world would not miss them, I am sure.)"


I'm sure the gene pool would be better off without them, but I like your non-violent solution. I always felt kind of bad about killing those two idiots.

"Perhaps, but I am most pleased that you did not," a voice said. A man in blue and green robes was walking towards them, closely followed by Drienne. She was cradling a slightly damp cat in her arms; it was purring loudly and most decidedly alive.

"I am Peaceman Derrin," the man said in a calm, gentle tone, "and I am grateful for your assistance with this problem. Now, my daughter tells me that one of your party wishes to speak with me. How may I help?"


:shock: Well, this is an interesting development! I'm eager to see how it will play out.

#3 Guest_Cel_*

Posted 18 May 2006 - 06:10 AM


"I... even you must understand that my potential is not realized yet!" the wizard hissed back. Imoen stifled a grin as Edwin mumbled something inaudible yet no doubt insulting, and aimed her arrow at the closest of the winter wolves.


Hee hee. Suuure, Edwin, sure.


Nobody understands his plight ;)


"I seem to have picked up a healing gift since we left home," Ember said. "We don't know how or why, but it's been nothing but useful so far."

"Indeed. (How very interesting.)" Edwin stroked his beard thoughtfully. "You will look into the cause, I am sure."


Hmm. Is a too-inquisitive Edwin going to be a problem?


If it does, I assure you the problems will be completely intentional :) Also, this version of him is somewhat capable of subtlety.


"And know that I do not like you," Edwin snapped at Ajantis before stalking off. "(Most interesting indeed,)" he murmured to himself. "(The implications... the unanswered questions...)"


Where's that Happy Party mod when you need it? :shock:


Well, it's on my computer now. I tinkered a bit with it and as a result everyone became deeply unhappy with me when I let Viconia team up for 2 seconds, so I guess I should either restore it or tinker some more :D

It seems that Edwin was as surprised as anyone about the results of Adjantis' spell. Are we going to find out why?


Actually, he's mumbling about what he's just learned about Ember. His mission is to find out about the Bhaalspawn in the area, and he just receieved motivation to try to stay with the party :)

Minsc clambered through the bushes. He wrapped one hand around a tree for support and reached out and picked up the limp body of the cat with the other. "We must take the kitty home," he stated.

Nobody argued with him; even Edwin settled for merely mumbling about futility and wasted time.


Even Edwin knows better than to argue with a grieving Minsc.


He seems to argue much better with Ajantis. I'll figure out how Edwin and Minsc will interact once I get Minsc out of mourning, I think.

"Pixie!" the girl exclaimed happily. She retrieved the dead cat from the dumbfounded Minsc and cradled it in her arms. "It's alright, she's done this before. Daddy will just have to raise her again. Here, you can have this scroll Daddy gave me. I can't read the words yet, anyways."


I know this is straight from the game, but it always struck me as extremely un-catlike for Pixie to keep falling down the waterfall. A dog, sure, but not a cat! :wink:


Well, who knows? Kids can play pretty hard...


Ember cursed silently as they followed the child. There was no chance of raising Dynaheir; it'd been too long and her body was far too damaged. I knew even Gorion was too damaged for that, and we at least had his entire body. She could hear Imoen trying to delicately reason with Minsc, but he refused all advice, insisting upon hearing what the priest had to say first.


Urgh. Poor Minsc. :(


It'll be okay. Really. I promise.


"We should have just killed them. It would have been much simpler," Edwin said. "(And the world would not miss them, I am sure.)"


I'm sure the gene pool would be better off without them, but I like your non-violent solution. I always felt kind of bad about killing those two idiots.


I originally wanted Derrin below to drive them off with words, but decided my two smartasses would do a better job of it. Either way, Derrin would not be too pleased with needless bloodshed. The dryad wouldn't care either way as long as her tree was safe, though.


"I am Peaceman Derrin," the man said in a calm, gentle tone, "and I am grateful for your assistance with this problem. Now, my daughter tells me that one of your party wishes to speak with me. How may I help?"


:shock: Well, this is an interesting development! I'm eager to see how it will play out.


Next chapter should be about as action-packed as this one was :)

#4 Guest_Jean_*

Posted 18 May 2006 - 08:45 AM

Heh, good chapter. Nice to see some inter-party conflict between Ajantis and Edwin. Odd that I never play much with our favourite Thayvian Red Wizard in the game itself, but I love reading about him.

Ajantis. *sighs* I will try to like him (just waaave your sword around a little more monkey, maybe you will cut your own head off.)

#5 Sumpton

Posted 18 May 2006 - 11:37 AM

Minsc seems to be coming out of his shock. He not dumb, and I think he has a surprise in store with his question.

As for Edwin, since the ranger is unresponsive, he seems to have turned his attention towards the squire. Imoen's little jab covered both heads.

Again excelent characterization.

Thanks...
============
Cheers...

#6 Guest_Theodur_*

Posted 18 May 2006 - 12:33 PM

"I... even you must understand that my potential is not realized yet!" the wizard hissed back. Imoen stifled a grin as Edwin mumbled something inaudible yet no doubt insulting, and aimed her arrow at the closest of the winter wolves.


Perhaps ‘my full potential is not realized yet’ to make it sort of implying that he thinks he is extremely capable already?

Despite his lack of greatness, the wizard acquitted himself decently. While the others had fought the wolves with bow and sword, he'd used a spell to siphon some life force from one of the wolves and then shot three small volleys of magic missiles into another. He also proved to be familiar enough with staves to be able to put the white staff to good use, knocking a winter wolf off its feet as it was about to release a blast of frost.


No doubt while making a comment how brutish use of a weapon is far beneath someone of his station. ;)

"Indeed. (How very interesting.)" Edwin stroked his beard thoughtfully. "You will look into the cause, I am sure."


Wizards are anything if not curious! :D

Ajantis glowered. "I may yet still be a squire, but I possess more integrity than you could ever hope for, Thayvian."


Possess more integrity? What the hell does that even mean? :)

"I see; you are afraid the Red Wizard may act against her. (How narrow-minded, but what else is to be expected?)" He straightened his grimy robes. "Go ahead, use your little paladin tricks. See what my intentions towards her are."


Good thing he’s not attracted to her or something, otherwise Ajantis might have been a bit disturbed by his reading! :shock:

Imoen sighed. "They're both buffle headed."


I completely agree! :)

Minsc spoke for the first time since they had left the gnoll fortress. "Look, Boo. A little kitten, taken away too soon. Just like my witch," he said. A fresh tear trickled down his cheek.


"Poor little cat," Imoen said. "It must have fallen in the river further up."


Cats usually are very good swimmers, but maybe in this case it was the waterfall that did it. :D

"Pixie!" the girl exclaimed happily. She retrieved the dead cat from the dumbfounded Minsc and cradled it in her arms. "It's alright, she's done this before. Daddy will just have to raise her again. "


Nine lives, and all that. ;)

"Yes, sometimes. It's difficult, he says, but he's raised Pixie three times already."


"Could Minsc ask him to raise someone? Please?"


:) I don’t think it’ll be that easy…

Ember cursed silently as they followed the child. There was no chance of raising Dynaheir; it'd been too long and her body was far too damaged. I knew even Gorion was too damaged for that, and we at least had his entire body. She could hear Imoen trying to delicately reason with Minsc, but he refused all advice, insisting upon hearing what the priest had to say first.


There are spells that supposedly can raise a person even if there is no body. Wizard’s can do it with the Wish spell, clerics with Resurrection or True Resurrection. Wish and True Resurrection are both level9 spells, so there would be very few people in the Realms who can actually cast it, not to mention even the outrageous cost of magical components.

Resurrection is ‘only’ level7, so a level13 cleric could cast it… but then again, level 13 clerics are not terribly common either. Resurrection also requires a part of the dead body, there are certain limitations on how old it can be, and it also requires lots of expensive material components. And the most important thing – in all resurrection spells, the soul of the deceased must wish to come back. That’s one of the reasons why you wouldn’t be able to resurrect an elf – none of them would want to leave Arvandor ever again.

Anyway, that’s talking rules. In story terms, I’d avoid resurrection as much as I can, reserving it maybe for some special occasions. It can easily be overdone.

The top of the cliff was a quiet, lush grove. A small lake was revealed to be the source of the waterfall, and it was surrounded by trees of all sizes. Largest of these was a large, gnarled oak that was easily twice as tall as any of the others. It stood somewhat apart from the other trees on the western shore of the lake, and they could see three people standing next to it.


It is a very beautiful area, for sure. I loved the BG1 outdoor areas, they were so amazing. :)

A slight woman with green-tinged skin and a mass of golden hair appeared so suddenly that Ember felt like she'd stepped out of the tree itself. Her feet were bare, and a simple garment the color of young spring leaves flowed around her body like water. She was painfully beautiful, and as her gaze passsed over the party, it all but mesmerized each of them in turn.


Nice description of a dryad. :)

"Heyas, I'm Caldo," he said. "We think dis here's a magic tree, cuz it's all alone up here and so big. Probably got gnomes or pixies or sumthin' in it, so we're gonna bust it down and take any treasure! Ain't that right Krumm?" The last part was shouted over his shoulder to his friend, who merely grunted and picked his nose in response.


I didn’t feel very sorry for killing these idiots. With their lukewarm IQ, it was almost like doing them a favor – no doubt they would have gotten themselves killed soon, anyway. :?

"I'm not gonna stand for dat!" Caldo said angrily. "Yous were probably gonna rob us when we're done, wern't cha? Me an Krumm don't cotton to bandits one bit! Do we Krumm?"


They really are soooo stooopid. I’m amazed they even realized Edwin was insulting them. ;)

"It'd be a pretty stupid place to hide a treasure, anyway," Ember added. "Out in the open like this? Too obvious. I'd put it in a cave instead."


Caldo's face lit up. "We knows a cave! But... it probably got wolves in it."


Hopefully, and with little luck they will eat you! :)

"We should have just killed them. It would have been much simpler," Edwin said. "(And the world would not miss them, I am sure.)"


I think the world would breathe a sigh of relief. :(

"I am Peaceman Derrin," the man said in a calm, gentle tone, "and I am grateful for your assistance with this problem. Now, my daughter tells me that one of your party wishes to speak with me. How may I help?"


I’m sorry for Minsc, but I don’t think this fellow will be able to do anything for Dynaheir.

#7 Guest_Keldan_*

Posted 18 May 2006 - 03:02 PM

Ah, the tree-killing idiots. I never really had a problem killing them, but then, I don't suffer fools lightly. Of course, in real life I don't really have the option to kill fools either. Heh.

Again, poor Minsc... :shock: In contrast, I always felt really sorry for the poor kitty and always rescued her. Although that once led to a feeling of resentment since my reputation wasn't too grand at the time and the kid accused me of throwing the cat down there myself. Still, I've got a soft spot for animals. Er, as opposed to humans, I guess? ;)

Great chapter. I almost don't want to know what Derrin says about raising Dynaheir, though...

#8 Guest_Cel_*

Posted 18 May 2006 - 05:50 PM

Heh, good chapter. Nice to see some inter-party conflict between Ajantis and Edwin. Odd that I never play much with our favourite Thayvian Red Wizard in the game itself, but I love reading about him.


Glad you liked it :shock:
Personally, I pretty much avoided Edwin till the day I was trying an evil BGII party and realized he's a pompous riot ;)

Ajantis. *sighs* I will try to like him (just waaave your sword around a little more monkey, maybe you will cut your own head off.)


Aw, he's not that bad. It's just that he had tolerance lessons with Keldorn, you know?

#9 Guest_Cel_*

Posted 18 May 2006 - 05:54 PM

Minsc seems to be coming out of his shock. He not dumb, and I think he has a surprise in store with his question.


That depends on which resolution you'd consider a surprise :shock:

As for Edwin, since the ranger is unresponsive, he seems to have turned his attention towards the squire. Imoen's little jab covered both heads.


I think it's more Ajantis turning attention towards The Evil Thayvian Red Wizard than the other way around. Kivan and Ember just see him as an arrogant wizard, and Immy sees him as an arrogant wizard she can torment ;)

Again excelent characterization.


Glad you liked it ;)

#10 Guest_Cel_*

Posted 18 May 2006 - 06:07 PM

"I... even you must understand that my potential is not realized yet!" the wizard hissed back. Imoen stifled a grin as Edwin mumbled something inaudible yet no doubt insulting, and aimed her arrow at the closest of the winter wolves.


Perhaps ‘my full potential is not realized yet’ to make it sort of implying that he thinks he is extremely capable already?


Hm. Perhaps.

Despite his lack of greatness, the wizard acquitted himself decently. While the others had fought the wolves with bow and sword, he'd used a spell to siphon some life force from one of the wolves and then shot three small volleys of magic missiles into another. He also proved to be familiar enough with staves to be able to put the white staff to good use, knocking a winter wolf off its feet as it was about to release a blast of frost.


No doubt while making a comment how brutish use of a weapon is far beneath someone of his station. :(


Actually, I don't think he'd say anything about it. And if he did, Imoen would just ask where his spells were :D

Ajantis glowered. "I may yet still be a squire, but I possess more integrity than you could ever hope for, Thayvian."


Possess more integrity? What the hell does that even mean? :D


Don't ask me. He's been saying that to Edwin in my game ever since I picked the wizard up ;)

"I see; you are afraid the Red Wizard may act against her. (How narrow-minded, but what else is to be expected?)" He straightened his grimy robes. "Go ahead, use your little paladin tricks. See what my intentions towards her are."


Good thing he’s not attracted to her or something, otherwise Ajantis might have been a bit disturbed by his reading! :shock:


:? She's not his type, and he is not hers.

Imoen sighed. "They're both buffle headed."


I completely agree! :D


Me too ;)

"Poor little cat," Imoen said. "It must have fallen in the river further up."


Cats usually are very good swimmers, but maybe in this case it was the waterfall that did it. :(


Waterfalls can do quite a bit of damage :(

"Pixie!" the girl exclaimed happily. She retrieved the dead cat from the dumbfounded Minsc and cradled it in her arms. "It's alright, she's done this before. Daddy will just have to raise her again. "


Nine lives, and all that. :)


How'd you know I'll be going for the nine lives angle :P

Ember cursed silently as they followed the child. There was no chance of raising Dynaheir; it'd been too long and her body was far too damaged. I knew even Gorion was too damaged for that, and we at least had his entire body. She could hear Imoen trying to delicately reason with Minsc, but he refused all advice, insisting upon hearing what the priest had to say first.


There are spells that supposedly can raise a person even if there is no body. Wizard’s can do it with the Wish spell, clerics with Resurrection or True Resurrection. Wish and True Resurrection are both level9 spells, so there would be very few people in the Realms who can actually cast it, not to mention even the outrageous cost of magical components.

Resurrection is ‘only’ level7, so a level13 cleric could cast it… but then again, level 13 clerics are not terribly common either. Resurrection also requires a part of the dead body, there are certain limitations on how old it can be, and it also requires lots of expensive material components. And the most important thing – in all resurrection spells, the soul of the deceased must wish to come back. That’s one of the reasons why you wouldn’t be able to resurrect an elf – none of them would want to leave Arvandor ever again.

Anyway, that’s talking rules. In story terms, I’d avoid resurrection as much as I can, reserving it maybe for some special occasions. It can easily be overdone.



Ooh, thanks for rules snippets. Since BG *is* the sum of my exposure to DnD related stuff, all I know about resurrection is that you can have it done on your party members unless they're cut to shreds, but that any other dead person is a dead person even though it's only 1000 gold ;) So I've been trying to figure out ways to have it significantly less accessible than the game makes it appear.

The top of the cliff was a quiet, lush grove. A small lake was revealed to be the source of the waterfall, and it was surrounded by trees of all sizes. Largest of these was a large, gnarled oak that was easily twice as tall as any of the others. It stood somewhat apart from the other trees on the western shore of the lake, and they could see three people standing next to it.


It is a very beautiful area, for sure. I loved the BG1 outdoor areas, they were so amazing. :D


That area was particularly awesome, with flowers and stuff :) I also loved the blossoming fruit trees in the woods where I found Rufie.

A slight woman with green-tinged skin and a mass of golden hair appeared so suddenly that Ember felt like she'd stepped out of the tree itself. Her feet were bare, and a simple garment the color of young spring leaves flowed around her body like water. She was painfully beautiful, and as her gaze passsed over the party, it all but mesmerized each of them in turn.


Nice description of a dryad. :D


Thanks, I was hoping it'd fit :)

"I'm not gonna stand for dat!" Caldo said angrily. "Yous were probably gonna rob us when we're done, wern't cha? Me an Krumm don't cotton to bandits one bit! Do we Krumm?"


They really are soooo stooopid. I’m amazed they even realized Edwin was insulting them. :)


Who says they did? :)

"We should have just killed them. It would have been much simpler," Edwin said. "(And the world would not miss them, I am sure.)"


I think the world would breathe a sigh of relief. :D


I think that's a safe guess :)

"I am Peaceman Derrin," the man said in a calm, gentle tone, "and I am grateful for your assistance with this problem. Now, my daughter tells me that one of your party wishes to speak with me. How may I help?"


I’m sorry for Minsc, but I don’t think this fellow will be able to do anything for Dynaheir.


With me coming from the angle that severe bodily damage makes you unressurectable, it shouldn't be too hard to guess :)
Right now, his importance lays more in being able to do something for Minsc. (Bhaalspawn might benefit from conversing with a pacifist as well.)

#11 Guest_Cel_*

Posted 18 May 2006 - 06:09 PM

Ah, the tree-killing idiots. I never really had a problem killing them, but then, I don't suffer fools lightly. Of course, in real life I don't really have the option to kill fools either. Heh.


Hey, the dryad all but asks you to kill them. I've never had a problem complying :shock:

Again, poor Minsc... ;) In contrast, I always felt really sorry for the poor kitty and always rescued her. Although that once led to a feeling of resentment since my reputation wasn't too grand at the time and the kid accused me of throwing the cat down there myself. Still, I've got a soft spot for animals. Er, as opposed to humans, I guess? ;)


Animals are innocent. And cats are cute.

Great chapter. I almost don't want to know what Derrin says about raising Dynaheir, though...


Well, it's not written yet (I know what the outcome will be, of course)

#12 Guest_Futurist_*

Posted 18 May 2006 - 06:44 PM

Unfortunately, even though they had left the rocky wastes of the peaks behind, there were still wolves in the area they passed through. Four of the creatures were standing on top of a boulder, snarling at the group. Two were dire wolves - larger and more ferocious than normal wolves, but otherwise similar - and two of them were snowy white winter wolves.


They are nothing compared with the DIRE BADGER! It never lets go!

"Of course, when we have time. I have other things to do first, such as finding out who wants me dead," she replied with a small chuckle.


Ember is very good-natured. ;)


Imoen sighed. "They're both buffle headed."


He he, she is kind of right.

"Pixie!" the girl exclaimed happily. She retrieved the dead cat from the dumbfounded Minsc and cradled it in her arms. "It's alright, she's done this before. Daddy will just have to raise her again. Here, you can have this scroll Daddy gave me. I can't read the words yet, anyways."


"And what does your daddy do?"

"He rasies the dead! With necromancy!"

Ember cursed silently as they followed the child. There was no chance of raising Dynaheir; it'd been too long and her body was far too damaged. I knew even Gorion was too damaged for that, and we at least had his entire body. She could hear Imoen trying to delicately reason with Minsc, but he refused all advice, insisting upon hearing what the priest had to say first.


Oh.. Her father is a cleric. :shock:

"Heyas, I'm Caldo," he said. "We think dis here's a magic tree, cuz it's all alone up here and so big. Probably got gnomes or pixies or sumthin' in it, so we're gonna bust it down and take any treasure! Ain't that right Krumm?" The last part was shouted over his shoulder to his friend, who merely grunted and picked his nose in response.


Wow, they are really stupid.

"I am Peaceman Derrin," the man said in a calm, gentle tone, "and I am grateful for your assistance with this problem. Now, my daughter tells me that one of your party wishes to speak with me. How may I help?"



I wonder how this will play out? A floating Dynahier skull maybe or a proper burial?

#13 Guest_Cel_*

Posted 18 May 2006 - 09:40 PM

Unfortunately, even though they had left the rocky wastes of the peaks behind, there were still wolves in the area they passed through. Four of the creatures were standing on top of a boulder, snarling at the group. Two were dire wolves - larger and more ferocious than normal wolves, but otherwise similar - and two of them were snowy white winter wolves.


They are nothing compared with the DIRE BADGER! It never lets go!


Of mushrooms?


"Of course, when we have time. I have other things to do first, such as finding out who wants me dead," she replied with a small chuckle.


Ember is very good-natured. ;)


I'm glad you think so :?


Imoen sighed. "They're both buffle headed."


He he, she is kind of right.


Only 'kind of'? sheesh :)


"Pixie!" the girl exclaimed happily. She retrieved the dead cat from the dumbfounded Minsc and cradled it in her arms. "It's alright, she's done this before. Daddy will just have to raise her again. Here, you can have this scroll Daddy gave me. I can't read the words yet, anyways."

"And what does your daddy do?"


"He rasies the dead! With necromancy!"


Undead cats in waterfalls? ;)


Ember cursed silently as they followed the child. There was no chance of raising Dynaheir; it'd been too long and her body was far too damaged. I knew even Gorion was too damaged for that, and we at least had his entire body. She could hear Imoen trying to delicately reason with Minsc, but he refused all advice, insisting upon hearing what the priest had to say first.


Oh.. Her father is a cleric. :shock:


Damn right you should be embarrassed ;)


"I am Peaceman Derrin," the man said in a calm, gentle tone, "and I am grateful for your assistance with this problem. Now, my daughter tells me that one of your party wishes to speak with me. How may I help?"



I wonder how this will play out? A floating Dynahier skull maybe or a proper burial?


Floating skulls? Are you reverting to the necromancers again? :(




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