Beloved Child 8

I am proud to say ladies and gentlemen, that I am now ahead of myself and have a few chapters written. Both chapter 8 and 9 are a bit longer then usual and 9 will mark the end of the De`Arnise arc.

Afterwards there will be some downtime, a happy reunion and actual dialogue for both Viconia and Yoshimo... really!

As always, enjoy and don`t be afraid to comment and criticise. Thank you for reading.



Beloved Child 8

The woman that approached them was in her late forties to early fifties, it was hard to tell. She had a stern face that age had yet not begun to etch its lines into. The grey speckled auburn hair was tied up in a conservative knot. She wore a wide yellow dress with a high neck. The room reflected the woman; most of the furniture were of dark wood and polished to shine. Most of it had also been piled against the room’s door however leaving large open spaces. She gave them all a critical look before settling for on Nalia.

“Exactly what are these… people?” She waved derisively in the group’s direction. The young guard had collected himself and stepped away from the group.

“Aunty!” Nalia began in an almost whining voice laced with some undertone of warning.
“They are here to help us! I hired them.”

“You must have scraped the bottom of the barrel then. It seems we are doomed to be served by ineptitude” Then Delica pointed first at Viconia and then Mogals visage in the doorway.

“I do believe that is a dark elf and an ogre. What are those creatures doing with you?”

Groder snapped his fingers and turned to Viconia with an amazed expression. The drow stood next to him, a disdainful expression spreading on her face.

“Viconia, a drow? I knew I shouldn’t have bought that nymph and chimney story. And how has that ogre managed to stalk us?”

“Err… You pay Mogal to come.” The ogress said. Groder rolled his eyes.

Delicas lips curled.

“Sarcasm is the tool of the inept, just how old are you, boy? Are you one of Nalias street urchins? It is rather obvious that your mother never taught you any manners.”

“Aunty, please!” Nalia hissed standing in front of her aunt.

“What is it Nalia?” Delcia turned to her niece with a tired look.

“Don’t antagonize him.” The girl pleaded.

“Nonsense, it is their place to serve their betters, I do hope they will perform better then our own servants. Letting our home be overrun, honestly.”

“This is amazing. It is like she is blind and deaf. Men have died to defend her and she derides them.” Yoshimo whispered behind Groder. Viconia crossed her arms over her chest.

“A few minutes with a tentacle rod and the iblith would know her place.”

“Well, we don’t have one of those.” Groder said. “Could you move back a little Viconia?”

She gave him a quizzing look but stepped back to Yoshimo. Groder sprinted across the room, darted in between the two women and sank a fist into Delicas stomach. The woman gasped and sank to her knees, clutching her stomach. Then Groder wrapped his hands around the woman’s bony throat.

“Let… let my aunt go!” Nalia looked mortified.

The guard started fumbling for his sword but was interrupted by Yoshimos blade pressing against his neck. Viconia sauntered up next to Nalia.

“We may have forgotten to mention that Groder has a terrible temper.” The drow was so close to Nalia that the girl could feel the other woman’s warm breath on her neck.

“Especially about things concerning his mother. It is a very sensitive area.”

Yoshimo had acted on instinct, he had to protect the boy and in extension those he travelled with. When the guard had begun reaching for his weapon Irenicus fingers had begun burrowing again, pressing him into action. When the blade was at the guard’s neck, the invisible fingers had stopped and retreated. He felt sick, images of those thin pale hands wrapping around another throat flashing in his mind, around Tamakos throat.

Nalia flung herself forward and wrapped her arms around Groders chest trying to pull him of her aunt.

“Please… she did not mean anything. She doesn’t think about what she says sometimes.” She pleaded. “You can’t kill her…”

“Remember that we may lose part of the reward if she is dead.” Viconia stated. “Not that I care, kill the rivvin if you wish.” She added absentmindedly.

“Ah yes, I think it is time for your aunt to leave….” Groder hissed and let the woman go. Delcia coughed as air flowed back into her lungs.

The woman struggled to her feet, a look of fear now etched on her face. Yoshimo released the guard and with his help Lady Delcia hurriedly left. A silence permeated the room. Nalia had let go of Groder and was looking down at the floor.

“Now that we have gotten over that shall we continue? There has to be something in the chapel for there to be a golem in there.” Groder said.

Nobody argued and the group left Delcias room. They assembled in front of the metal golem. Just like before it did not even acknowledge their presence.

“Can we disable it before we find whatever it is that activates it?” Groder asked.

“Well, it is a rather powerful construct.” Nalia said glumly not looking at Groder. “It may activate if attacked. I don’t think we can handle it.”

“Mogal, do you think you could push it if it was moving?” The boy addressed the orgess.
Mogal looked at the golem. It was about her size.

“Maybe… fought one of them big fellas with two heads once.”

“Get ready and stand away from it. Rush it when it starts moving.” Groder instructed. The ogress nodded.


They searched the room; Nalia stayed close to Yoshimo and said nothing. In the end Yoshimo found a small alcove in one of the statues. Inside sat the third flail head.

“Why the hell did they scatter the flail all over this place?” Groder wondered aloud. He looked pointedly at Nalia whom did not reply.

“There is a pressure plate. I don’t see a way to remove the flail head without activating the golem.” Yoshimo said.

“Just remove it.” Groder told him.

The Kara-Turan rogue plucked the head from it resting place. The effect was immediate. The golem began moving, layers of dust burst into clouds around the construct. The doll resting at its feet fell forward and was then crushed by the first step of the massive golem. Mogal charged at it with a roar. The golem turned its featureless face towards the charging ogress but did not react fast enough as Mogal slammed into it. The golem wobbled in mid step and fell over with a loud crash.

“Now!” Groder shouted and they all ran down the corridor leading to the stairs. In the chapel the golem had gotten back on its feet and was walking around searching for the intruders.

“Right, we are about to enter the cellars, we have to assume that whomever is down there knows we are coming. So let’s be careful shall we?”

Groder unsheathed his sword and began descending the stairs, Mogal and Viconia followed behind him with Nalia and Yoshimo bringing up the rear. The stairwell was steep and the way down was long. Groder stopped a few times trying to figure out where they where according to the floor plan. Had they walked long enough to be behind the hidden smithy and the statue room?

The room they ended up in after opening another of the De`Arnise keeps innumerable secret doorways was pitch black.

“Light!” Groder hissed. Viconia spoke a few words and the light she had summoned earlier reappeared. Every square inch of the room was stone; four columns rose to support the ceiling and on the floor rested stone sarcophaguses. Stone carvings on the walls showed ancient De`Arnises.

“Where are we?” Groder asked Nalia

“The old catacombs, we haven’t used them in years. I think they may have brought father to the mausoleum, I think he may have hidden money there.”

“How would the trolls know that? “ Groder asked.

“Throgal said he knew lots of thing about this place, someone told him.” Mogal interjected.

Groder smiled and in the pulsing ghost light it became ghoulish.

“So they are being ordered by someone else.” Nalia opened her mouth to ask but Groder stopped her. “Later, we will talk about that later. Now we need to find our way put of here.”

The group navigated the small maze of sarcophaguses until they came upon a thick wooden door. Practically no light managed to trickle from the room beyond but sound travelled well and there were large things moving about in the next room. Viconia extinguished her summoned light. Groder carefully opened a crack in the door. Something very large with black gleaming limbs and back passed close to the door. Amidst the shuffling noises there was a high pitched keening, buzzing sound.

“Umber Hulks.” Viconia whispered. “The have very tough hides and can enchant you by simply looking at you.”

“They are also a lot larger then the trolls.” Groder whispered back as he closed the door carefully.

“So what do we do?” Nalia asked.

“Didn’t that boy of yours say that he fed them dogs?”

“Yes… and he isn’t my boy.”

“Of course not.” Viconia said and patted Nalia on the shoulder.

“So we go back to the kitchens.”

“Not to be negative young master.” Yoshimo cut in. “But we left the golem up there.”

Groder thought for a while then looked at Mogal and smiled.

“Then we will simply have to make another entrance to the stairwell.”

“This is the last light spell I can use; we need to bring torches the next time.” Viconia said and cast again.

They made their way back to the stairwell and proceeded to climb it. Every once in a while Groder stopped and looked at the wall. They had reached about half-way up when he stopped them.

“Do you have room to swing here Mogal?” He asked.

The ogress tried to stand in some different positions and found one she liked.

“Not a lot of room but it should work, maybe.” She said.

“Can you cast some spell to augment her strength, Viconia?”

“I have one but it would affect all of us.” The drow answered.

“I have one.” Nalia offered. “But what are we going to do?”

“I guess that we are in height with either the room with the statues or the smithy. We or rather Mogal is going to make us a hole in the wall.”

“But I am not paying you to wreck my home!”

“It is just a wall; one wall is preferable to one keep or your father’s life no?”

At the mention of her father Nalia seemed to deflate.

“Fine…” She murmured and began casting.

There was no discernible change in Mogal as she began hammering away at the wall. The craters made by her maul may have been deeper and bigger then usual. Dust whirled at each stroke and more mortar fell to the ground.

“This feels easy.” She grunted.

After a few minutes a small hole had begun appearing in the wall.

“Can you see anything?” Groder asked as light spilled through the hole.

“Stone creatures.” The ogress grunted.

The ogress worked until there was a hole about half her size.

“There, you can go through. Mogal will wait here.” She stated and sat down, putting her maul in her lap. “Bring back something to drink and eat.”

“Will do.” Groder said and slipped through the hole.

When the group sans ogress now somewhat covered in dust assembled in the statue room Groder addressed them.

“Let’s begin with assembling the flail shall we. Then we go see what we can find for our insect friends downstairs.”

They went into the smithy and collected the rod. Viconia and Yoshimo fished the flail heads from their pouches. After they had lit a fire in the forge, Groder asked:

“So, what do we do now? None of us is particularly skilled at forging.”

“Well, it is supposed to be magical so maybe we don’t actually need to do any smiting.” Nalia ventured.

“Why yes.” Groder replied sarcastically. “I’ll just put the rod in the fire with the flail heads and everything will sort itself out.” He waved the rod a little over the fire. As the fire licked the chains they began to move. They writhed like snakes bending towards the edge of the forge where the flail heads lay.

“Oh…” The boy said. Nalia smiled.

Viconia picked up one of the flail heads, it glinted faintly of red. As she brought it closer to the writhing chains one of them shot out, the tip of it glowing yellow. The head and chain connected and there was a faint sizzling after which the completed chain and head fell limp. Viconia repeated the process with the two other heads, those glinting faintly of green and white. The process repeated it self two times and all three links went limp. Groder handed the flail to Viconia.

“This would be yours.”

She hefted it, drew her arm back and lashed at the lone table. The table smashed with frozen, acid charred and burning bits falling off it. The drow smiled triumphantly at Groder and the rest of the group.

“A very fitting weapon.” She said.

They entered the kitchen and looked around. It was in the same state they had left it a few hours ago. The dogs still lay where the troll had disposed of them. Groder rubbed his hands together and smiled.

“So who can cook?”

I am proud to say ladies and gentlemen, that I am now ahead of myself and have a few chapters written. Both chapter 8 and 9 are a bit longer then usual and 9 will mark the end of the De`Arnise arc.

It’s always nice to have a backlog.

“Viconia, a drow? I knew I shouldn’t have bought that nymph and chimney story. And how has that ogre managed to stalk us?”

Yeah, nobody would have white hair after being dumped in a chimney.

“Err… You pay Mogal to come.” The ogress said. Groder rolled his eyes.

Ogres are really not big on sarcasm.

“Nonsense, it is their place to serve their betters, I do hope they will perform better then our own servants. Letting our home be overrun, honestly.”

The loyalty that you inspire, Delcia, is truly amazing.

She gave him a quizzing look but stepped back to Yoshimo. Groder sprinted across the room, darted in between the two women and sank a fist into Delicas stomach. The woman gasped and sank to her knees, clutching her stomach. Then Groder wrapped his hands around the woman’s bony throat.

I’m sure we all wanted to do this at some point.

Let’s hope Groder has better luck strangling Delcia than he had with Jaheira.

“Please… she did not mean anything. She doesn’t think about what she says sometimes.” She pleaded. “You can’t kill her…”

It would be rather impractical. I mean, you will probably have to kill Nalia and the guard afterwards.

“Mogal, do you think you could push it if it was moving?” The boy addressed the orgess. Mogal looked at the golem. It was about her size.

Having her attack that would be one way to get rid of the ogre.

The Kara-Turan rogue plucked the head from it resting place. The effect was immediate. The golem began moving, layers of dust burst into clouds around the construct. The doll resting at its feet fell forward and was then crushed by the first step of the massive golem. Mogal charged at it with a roar. The golem turned its featureless face towards the charging ogress but did not react fast enough as Mogal slammed into it. The golem wobbled in mid step and fell over with a loud crash.

Whoa, looks like you’re stuck with the ogre, then!

“They are also a lot larger then the trolls.” Groder whispered back as he closed the door carefully.

“So what do we do?” Nalia asked.

Look for a Wand of Cloudkill, obviously!

“I guess that we are in height with either the room with the statues or the smithy. We or rather Mogal is going to make us a hole in the wall.”

The ogre is the most useful party member, so it seems!

“There, you can go through. Mogal will wait here.” She stated and sat down, putting her maul in her lap. “Bring back something to drink and eat.”

Yeah, but you’re paying for that yourself, ogre!

“Why yes.” Groder replied sarcastically. “I’ll just put the rod in the fire with the flail heads and everything will sort itself out.” He waved the rod a little over the fire. As the fire licked the chains they began to move. They writhed like snakes bending towards the edge of the forge where the flail heads lay.

If it would not have worked that way, then the idea to disassemble the flail would have been a truly moronic one, naw?

Viconia picked up one of the flail heads, it glinted faintly of red. As she brought it closer to the writhing chains one of them shot out, the tip of it glowing yellow. The head and chain connected and there was a faint sizzling after which the completed chain and head fell limp. Viconia repeated the process with the two other heads, those glinting faintly of green and white. The process repeated it self two times and all three links went limp. Groder handed the flail to Viconia.

I hope you already got her something that boosts her STR score, otherwise I don’t think she could lift and use it.

They entered the kitchen and looked around. It was in the same state they had left it a few hours ago. The dogs still lay where the troll had disposed of them. Groder rubbed his hands together and smiled.

“So who can cook?”

Knowing Groder, probably Nalia will have to cook her own dogs…

The woman that approached them was in her late forties to early fifties, it was hard to tell. She had a stern face that age had yet not begun to etch its lines into. The grey speckled auburn hair was tied up in a conservative knot. She wore a wide yellow dress with a high neck. The room reflected the woman; most of the furniture were of dark wood and polished to shine. Most of it had also been piled against the room’s door however leaving large open spaces. She gave them all a critical look before settling for on Nalia.

“Exactly what are these… people?” She waved derisively in the group’s direction. The young guard had collected himself and stepped away from the group.

Run away! Run away!

“Viconia, a drow? I knew I shouldn’t have bought that nymph and chimney story. And how has that ogre managed to stalk us?”

“Sarcasm is the tool of the inept, just how old are you, boy? Are you one of Nalias street urchins? It is rather obvious that your mother never taught you any manners.”

Now she's done it!

She gave him a quizzing look but stepped back to Yoshimo. Groder sprinted across the room, darted in between the two women and sank a fist into Delicas stomach. The woman gasped and sank to her knees, clutching her stomach. Then Groder wrapped his hands around the woman’s bony throat.

Yay!

“There is a pressure plate. I don’t see a way to remove the flail head without activating the golem.” Yoshimo said.

If I remember correctly, you can take the flail head in game without anything happening - it's taking the other loot that triggers the golem Nice of them to make it possible to complete the flail and still avoid that particular fight.

The Kara-Turan rogue plucked the head from it resting place. The effect was immediate. The golem began moving, layers of dust burst into clouds around the construct. The doll resting at its feet fell forward and was then crushed by the first step of the massive golem. Mogal charged at it with a roar. The golem turned its featureless face towards the charging ogress but did not react fast enough as Mogal slammed into it. The golem wobbled in mid step and fell over with a loud crash.

If only they were that easy all the time! (Then again, how many parties have an ogre with them?)

“I guess that we are in height with either the room with the statues or the smithy. We or rather Mogal is going to make us a hole in the wall.”

Clever!

“Why yes.” Groder replied sarcastically. “I’ll just put the rod in the fire with the flail heads and everything will sort itself out.” He waved the rod a little over the fire. As the fire licked the chains they began to move. They writhed like snakes bending towards the edge of the forge where the flail heads lay.

“Oh…” The boy said. Nalia smiled.

She hefted it, drew her arm back and lashed at the lone table. The table smashed with frozen, acid charred and burning bits falling off it. The drow smiled triumphantly at Groder and the rest of the group.

Nice depiction of what that thing actually does

I am proud to say ladies and gentlemen, that I am now ahead of myself and have a few chapters written. Both chapter 8 and 9 are a bit longer then usual and 9 will mark the end of the De`Arnise arc.

It’s always nice to have a backlog.

Oh yes, it really is.

“Viconia, a drow? I knew I shouldn’t have bought that nymph and chimney story. And how has that ogre managed to stalk us?”

Yeah, nobody would have white hair after being dumped in a chimney.

Viconia is such a poor liar.

“Err… You pay Mogal to come.” The ogress said. Groder rolled his eyes.

Ogres are really not big on sarcasm.

No, I guess if they understood it they would apply swift asskicking to the one using it.

“Nonsense, it is their place to serve their betters, I do hope they will perform better then our own servants. Letting our home be overrun, honestly.”

The loyalty that you inspire, Delcia, is truly amazing.

Yes, she isn`t Helen of Troy.

She gave him a quizzing look but stepped back to Yoshimo. Groder sprinted across the room, darted in between the two women and sank a fist into Delicas stomach. The woman gasped and sank to her knees, clutching her stomach. Then Groder wrapped his hands around the woman’s bony throat.

I’m sure we all wanted to do this at some point.

Yeah, a little strangling will put her down a peg or two.

Let’s hope Groder has better luck strangling Delcia than he had with Jaheira.

Oh yes, strangling a fierce warrior druid is another thing entierly.

“Please… she did not mean anything. She doesn’t think about what she says sometimes.” She pleaded. “You can’t kill her…”

It would be rather impractical. I mean, you will probably have to kill Nalia and the guard afterwards.

And without Nalia there is no one to pay them.

“Mogal, do you think you could push it if it was moving?” The boy addressed the orgess. Mogal looked at the golem. It was about her size.

Having her attack that would be one way to get rid of the ogre.

Yes, but the golem would still be there.

The Kara-Turan rogue plucked the head from it resting place. The effect was immediate. The golem began moving, layers of dust burst into clouds around the construct. The doll resting at its feet fell forward and was then crushed by the first step of the massive golem. Mogal charged at it with a roar. The golem turned its featureless face towards the charging ogress but did not react fast enough as Mogal slammed into it. The golem wobbled in mid step and fell over with a loud crash.

Whoa, looks like you’re stuck with the ogre, then!

Mogal is on this ride to end... of the arc that is.

“They are also a lot larger then the trolls.” Groder whispered back as he closed the door carefully.

“So what do we do?” Nalia asked.

Look for a Wand of Cloudkill, obviously!

Unfortunatly this De`Arnise keep does not squrriel away magical equipment everywhere.

“I guess that we are in height with either the room with the statues or the smithy. We or rather Mogal is going to make us a hole in the wall.”

The ogre is the most useful party member, so it seems!

A huge muscle bound woman is always useful... right Shar-Teel?

“There, you can go through. Mogal will wait here.” She stated and sat down, putting her maul in her lap. “Bring back something to drink and eat.”

Yeah, but you’re paying for that yourself, ogre!

Right now everything is free!

“Why yes.” Groder replied sarcastically. “I’ll just put the rod in the fire with the flail heads and everything will sort itself out.” He waved the rod a little over the fire. As the fire licked the chains they began to move. They writhed like snakes bending towards the edge of the forge where the flail heads lay.

If it would not have worked that way, then the idea to disassemble the flail would have been a truly moronic one, naw?

I`d say the fact that is was disassembled to begin with was moronic.

Viconia picked up one of the flail heads, it glinted faintly of red. As she brought it closer to the writhing chains one of them shot out, the tip of it glowing yellow. The head and chain connected and there was a faint sizzling after which the completed chain and head fell limp. Viconia repeated the process with the two other heads, those glinting faintly of green and white. The process repeated it self two times and all three links went limp. Groder handed the flail to Viconia.

I hope you already got her something that boosts her STR score, otherwise I don’t think she could lift and use it.

Err... All that house building put more muscles on her or artistic licence lowered the STR requirement.

They entered the kitchen and looked around. It was in the same state they had left it a few hours ago. The dogs still lay where the troll had disposed of them. Groder rubbed his hands together and smiled.

“So who can cook?”

Knowing Groder, probably Nalia will have to cook her own dogs…

Nalia, cook? Naw... Servants have done that all her life.

They do have someone that has atleast observed the cooking of dog with them.

The woman that approached them was in her late forties to early fifties, it was hard to tell. She had a stern face that age had yet not begun to etch its lines into. The grey speckled auburn hair was tied up in a conservative knot. She wore a wide yellow dress with a high neck. The room reflected the woman; most of the furniture were of dark wood and polished to shine. Most of it had also been piled against the room’s door however leaving large open spaces. She gave them all a critical look before settling for on Nalia.

“Exactly what are these… people?” She waved derisively in the group’s direction. The young guard had collected himself and stepped away from the group.

Run away! Run away!

Is it the party that shall run away or Delcia?

“Viconia, a drow? I knew I shouldn’t have bought that nymph and chimney story. And how has that ogre managed to stalk us?”

I always liked that remark.

“Sarcasm is the tool of the inept, just how old are you, boy? Are you one of Nalias street urchins? It is rather obvious that your mother never taught you any manners.”

Now she's done it!

Oh yeah... Foot in mouth syndrome.

She gave him a quizzing look but stepped back to Yoshimo. Groder sprinted across the room, darted in between the two women and sank a fist into Delicas stomach. The woman gasped and sank to her knees, clutching her stomach. Then Groder wrapped his hands around the woman’s bony throat.

Yay!

Delica gets all the abuse.

“There is a pressure plate. I don’t see a way to remove the flail head without activating the golem.” Yoshimo said.

If I remember correctly, you can take the flail head in game without anything happening - it's taking the other loot that triggers the golem Nice of them to make it possible to complete the flail and still avoid that particular fight.

Oh, I always assumed that they activated so I kill them first.

The Kara-Turan rogue plucked the head from it resting place. The effect was immediate. The golem began moving, layers of dust burst into clouds around the construct. The doll resting at its feet fell forward and was then crushed by the first step of the massive golem. Mogal charged at it with a roar. The golem turned its featureless face towards the charging ogress but did not react fast enough as Mogal slammed into it. The golem wobbled in mid step and fell over with a loud crash.

If only they were that easy all the time! (Then again, how many parties have an ogre with them?)

Not many, of course the golem isn`t dead.

“I guess that we are in height with either the room with the statues or the smithy. We or rather Mogal is going to make us a hole in the wall.”

Clever!

Some of his plans have to work you know.

“Why yes.” Groder replied sarcastically. “I’ll just put the rod in the fire with the flail heads and everything will sort itself out.” He waved the rod a little over the fire. As the fire licked the chains they began to move. They writhed like snakes bending towards the edge of the forge where the flail heads lay.

“Oh…” The boy said. Nalia smiled.

I couldn`t find any material on forging flails.

She hefted it, drew her arm back and lashed at the lone table. The table smashed with frozen, acid charred and burning bits falling off it. The drow smiled triumphantly at Groder and the rest of the group.

Nice depiction of what that thing actually does

Thank you.

“Viconia, a drow? I knew I shouldn’t have bought that nymph and chimney story. And how has that ogre managed to stalk us?”

“Err… You pay Mogal to come.” The ogress said. Groder rolled his eyes.

Yoshimo had acted on instinct, he had to protect the boy and in extension those he travelled with. When the guard had begun reaching for his weapon Irenicus fingers had begun burrowing again, pressing him into action. When the blade was at the guard’s neck, the invisible fingers had stopped and retreated. He felt sick, images of those thin pale hands wrapping around another throat flashing in his mind, around Tamakos throat.

Makes sense, and a nice paragraph. Poor Yoshimo.

“Didn’t that boy of yours say that he fed them dogs?”

“Yes… and he isn’t my boy.”

“Of course not.” Viconia said and patted Nalia on the shoulder.

Nalia really does have to put up with a lot.

“Why yes.” Groder replied sarcastically. “I’ll just put the rod in the fire with the flail heads and everything will sort itself out.” He waved the rod a little over the fire. As the fire licked the chains they began to move. They writhed like snakes bending towards the edge of the forge where the flail heads lay.

“Oh…” The boy said. Nalia smiled.

again.

They entered the kitchen and looked around. It was in the same state they had left it a few hours ago. The dogs still lay where the troll had disposed of them. Groder rubbed his hands together and smiled.

“So who can cook?”

Urgh, I always feel bad about the dogs. But Groder probably doesn't.

Thanks for another chapter!

“Viconia, a drow? I knew I shouldn’t have bought that nymph and chimney story. And how has that ogre managed to stalk us?”

“Err… You pay Mogal to come.” The ogress said. Groder rolled his eyes.

It appears that I am funny!

Yoshimo had acted on instinct, he had to protect the boy and in extension those he travelled with. When the guard had begun reaching for his weapon Irenicus fingers had begun burrowing again, pressing him into action. When the blade was at the guard’s neck, the invisible fingers had stopped and retreated. He felt sick, images of those thin pale hands wrapping around another throat flashing in his mind, around Tamakos throat.

Makes sense, and a nice paragraph. Poor Yoshimo.

He has had so little dialouge that he needed a little time in the spotlight.

“Didn’t that boy of yours say that he fed them dogs?”

“Yes… and he isn’t my boy.”

“Of course not.” Viconia said and patted Nalia on the shoulder.

Nalia really does have to put up with a lot.

And it will more....

“Why yes.” Groder replied sarcastically. “I’ll just put the rod in the fire with the flail heads and everything will sort itself out.” He waved the rod a little over the fire. As the fire licked the chains they began to move. They writhed like snakes bending towards the edge of the forge where the flail heads lay.

“Oh…” The boy said. Nalia smiled.

again.

Sarcasm strikes back at the weilder!

They entered the kitchen and looked around. It was in the same state they had left it a few hours ago. The dogs still lay where the troll had disposed of them. Groder rubbed his hands together and smiled.

“So who can cook?”

Urgh, I always feel bad about the dogs. But Groder probably doesn't.

Thanks for another chapter!

Well, the dogs were already dead this time around...

Interesting, in this story you really couldn't fault Yoshimo for being a traitor even if he didn't have a geas. Provided he could somehow avoid betraying his young lovely at the same time (though I can easily imagine Nalia pushing Groder at Irenicus and saying, "Here, take him", so thats probably not too hard). And save Imoen, too (that might be harder). There can be no redemption for those who allow Immy to come to harm.

I want Mogal in the game. Really. Someone make a mod. Now.

I keep imagining Groder as a young Shia LaBeouf for some reason, though I'm pretty sure that's not what you have in mind

Interesting, in this story you really couldn't fault Yoshimo for being a traitor even if he didn't have a geas. Provided he could somehow avoid betraying his young lovely at the same time (though I can easily imagine Nalia pushing Groder at Irenicus and saying, "Here, take him", so thats probably not too hard). And save Imoen, too (that might be harder). There can be no redemption for those who allow Immy to come to harm.

We shall see, thanks for commenting.