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Reclaiming (Maiyn) - Chapter 36


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#1 Guest_arabellaesque_*

Posted 06 December 2006 - 12:03 PM

Bodhi

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The owner of the Five Flagons Inn and Playhouse looked at the man and two women standing before him with an arched eyebrow. A former adventurer himself, he'd seen a lot in his life and he was of the age and experience when he thought nothing would ever surprise him again.

He was wrong.

"And then Boo told me that the man may not be a vampire, but little Maiyn would not lie to Minsc, so she must have thought him a real danger! And Boo and Minsc live to show evil the righteous boot heel at all times!" The tattooed man paused for a second, holding the rodent he was carrying up to his ear where it squeaked furiously. The man seemed to nod his agreement. "Boo says that he may not have been a vampire, but he was probably working for them."

To this man's right was a female elf, dwarfed by the human's immense frame. She currently had one of her fists almost completely rammed into her mouth and her eyes were fixed to the ground. Samuel Thunderburp was sure she was trying not to laugh.

"I see," he said eventually. He didn't really, but though he was at a loss over what to say or do, he didn't want to admit it for an instant. There were three dead bodies littering his tavern, which wasn't wholly unusual; but it had been the death of the third man that had caused his investigation.

It had been just another rowdy night; the patrons merry, the singing... well, awful. It would have taken an almighty noise to be heard above the incessant chatter and singsong -- and that's exactly what the Minsc's mighty berserker roar had been. Samuel was unsure as to how much of a fight the victim had been able to put up, but there certainly wasn't much left of him by the time the halfling got to the top of the stairs. Several customers had peered from their rooms, witnessing the gory carnage in a full, colourful display. They were now demanding refunds for the trauma, so he'd sent his wife to deal with them.

He'd thought he could get compensation from the cause of the problem, but instead he'd been faced with a raving man, easily four or five times his own size, who delighted in waving some form of rat around. His elven companion was of no use at all, being unable to remove her hand from her face. The others in the group had stalked off downstairs shortly after his arrival, ignoring his stare, and the innkeeper wasn't sure if he wanted to follow them or not.

Only one other had remained upstairs, and she was glaring at her two companions. The half-elf intimidated Samuel even more than the warrior did; her look seemed to be a more lethal than even the large two-handed sword strapped to the tattooed man's body.

That was probably why Samuel thanked her profusely for the coin she offered him and agreed with her completely when she suggested that it was his duty to get rid of the bodies, not mentioning anything of the incident ever again.

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As they walked along the road leading from the Bridge District, heading back to Aran's office, Jaheira voiced, rather clearly, her displeasure at Maiyn's antics. The ranger had the grace to hang her head in shame and accept the rebuke, but she exchanged several mischievous glances with other party members when Jaheira wasn't looking. Minsc had recovered from the confusion he'd experienced when his killing blow had just landed him a corpse and not a gaseous form; it was the combined efforts of Kivan and Anomen that prevented him from tearing off some of the wooden fixtures in his berserker rage, as he tried to make an impromptu stake, 'just in case'.

They walked swiftly, and Aran stood as they entered his familiar room once again, his eyes betraying his curiosity in regarding what they'd found out. Sime was still present; also eager to discover if her suspicion had been accurate, and -- more importantly -- if it had been acted upon sufficiently. Maiyn related the information they'd gleaned, skimming over the other details, and Aran nodded grimly.

"Undoubtedly they have made their lair within the crypts," he mused thoughtfully. "From what we have seen of their dark nature, I can hardly say I am surprised."

"You are not the only ones who have been busy," said Sime softly, looking over to the group. "Their leader, Bodhi, made a daring attack on one of our Guildhalls this eve. We fought back strongly; stronger than they expected, I daresay, but it was a move against us that we cannot ignore."

"The time has come to strike back," agreed Aran. "To protect our people and the city that she has invaded."

"How very noble of you," muttered Anomen dryly. The thieves ignored him.

"After the assault on us, we lack the force that we would require. We are sure we have weakened them just as much in return but we need your aid in this matter. It would be the final thing we ask of you and you could be on your way to see Imoen by tomorrow evening."

Maiyn frowned slightly at the Shadowmaster. "What you ask is a rather large favour," she noted. "How do you expect us to take on a whole lair?"

Aran smiled. "I know what you have faced previously," he said casually. "The new armour shall look very fetching on you, my dear." He looked to Jaheira, and the druid glared back at him.

"We had sufficient aid in that battle," she replied, coldly.

"You have a servant of Helm in your ranks," shrugged Aran. "Undead should surely be his speciality?"

"I..." Anomen seemed lost for words, for the first time -- seemingly unwilling to refute the claim, but hesitant to admit to it either, in case it proved the Shadowmaster's point.

"Regardless, Sime here has agreed to accompany you, and we know a mage who will also assist. They shall meet you at the set of blue doors beneath the tombs -- it had previously been tracked by one of our scouts, but we were unsure as to how they passed through the stone. Now, I believe we know, and our wizard should be able to open it."

"I am still unsure," admitted Maiyn. "This sounds like it could be suicide."

"And that surprises you... why?" asked Xan morosely. Sime flashed the enchanter a winning smile, and he just groaned and slunk off.

"We will need stakes," remarked Kivan; the stoic ranger was being the voice of practicality for the evening. Aran nodded to him and signalled for one of his guards to see to it.

"You could do it even without our aid," he said encouragingly to Maiyn, striding forward to meet her for the first time. She was surprised to notice that he was only a little taller than she was, and his slight build was deceptive considering the strength she could feel from him as he shook her hand energetically. "You have my best wishes," he said, concluding the deal before she could object further. "If all goes well, you will be seeing Imoen sooner than you think. I will see you when you return."

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The Seas' Bounty turned out to be relatively quiet by the time the group stumbled in through its door and it also had available rooms. Wearily, the companions made their way up stairs and tumbled into their various beds, but despite her fatigue, Maiyn was unable to sleep or reverie.

In frustration, she got back up, dressing quietly so she didn't disturb the sleeping Jaheira, stalking off quietly out to the cold night air. The docks were only a short stroll away and the ranger completely ignored all the horror stories she'd heard about the area at night, deciding instead to stand at one of the rails, looking out over the moonlit sea as she let her mind wander.

And wander it did. Memories swirled around, combining with thoughts of 'what if', and speculation about what she'd be doing right at that moment if she'd been normal. But she wasn't normal, and she knew the futility of such thoughts -- or at least, that's what Xan would tell her.

"Yes, I would."

She jumped, and spun round to see the enchanter standing behind her, a wry smile on his face. She frowned at him, preparing to chide him for his sneaking when she realised he'd answered her thoughts, and a puzzled expression crossed her face.

"Do you often talk to yourself?" he asked casually, taking a place beside her and leaning on the bars that ran the length of the docks. His gaze swept across the sea, almost fearfully.

"I don't talk to myself," she replied with confusion, still frowning at him. He just laughed quietly.

"You were muttering to yourself as I approached," he noted. "That is how I knew what you were saying."

Maiyn blinked. "I was? Oh." She moved slightly closer to him, leaning against his frame until his arm wrapped around her, pulling her into his arms. Together they stood, looking out across the body of water that shimmered eerily under the lunar light.

"You are aware that we will most probably die tomorrow, aren't you?" he said indifferently.

"Xan!"

"What? It is true, isn't it?"

"You're spoiling the moment!"

"I am?" The enchanter pondered this for a few moments. "I see."

Maiyn pulled away from him, but held his hands in hers as she grinned to him. "No, you don't," she teased.

He shrugged. "I admit, I do not. But what I said was-"

"No, no, no! We are invincible, remember! We have fought dragons and battled forces of evil!" Maiyn had to bite her lip to not laugh at the mage's distraught expression as he pondered the sincerity of her words. "All this time, Minsc has been right! We're untouchable, we kick the butts of evil and it fears us! Rargh!"

"Now you are beginning to worry me," noted Xan.

The ranger giggled, and just threw her arms around him for an embrace that lingered far longer than it was meant to. When they eventually pulled apart, she could see a light in his eyes that had been absent all the time she'd known him; a spark of hope and joy that looked alien in his usual demeanour. Within a split second of their separation, however, it was gone.

"Why aren't you asleep?" she asked him eventually.

"Terror," he replied, completely seriously. He frowned at her giggling fit. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

"Oh, the doomed never sleep," she replied airily, earning herself a loud tut. She smiled at him, and turned serious for his benefit. "I'm not sure. Perhaps it's because I feel really close to reaching Imoen, for the first time," she admitted.

"Even though we are likely to die in the process?"

Maiyn ignored him. "I... I have something to ask you," she said quietly, looking back out to the sea.

"What is it?" He looked at her with concern, his dark eyes searching her face for a clue as to her sudden, genuine sincerity. She met his gaze, and offered a slight smile, then looked down to their joined hands and shifted slightly.

"When we defeat Bodhi tomorrow-"

"If..."

"Xan! When we beat her, your mission... it will be complete, will it not?"

He nodded. "It will be more than complete," he said morosely. "Duty binds me to return to Evereska and report on my discovery, as a Greycloak."

Maiyn nodded, and swallowed hard. "I... I thought so."

"You know I have to."

"I know."

"You expect me to."

"I do."

"I will help you find Imoen first, however."

"It's all ri-" Maiyn stopped herself, and frowned slightly, then looked up to see the twinkling in the enchanter's eyes. "Really?"

"Maiyn, how often do I lie to you?" he asked with slight exasperation. "I cannot promise that I will be able to accompany you after her rescue, as I shall more than likely be dead; but if I am at all possible to, I will follow you until you find Irenicus and both your safety, and Imoen's, is assured. Only then will I return home."

Maiyn squealed slightly, and threw her arms around him, squeezing him exuberantly in her delight. It was only when he made a slight choking noise that she thought to let go, apologising profusely for hurting him.

"It is fine," he assured her, rubbing his side tenderly. "But come -- let us return to the inn, and please promise me you will try and get some rest before tomorrow. You will need it, I can assure you."

Maiyn nodded, and let him lead her back into the stifling heat of the tavern. They shared a lingering kiss, daringly, in the hallway, before giving each other a longing look and retiring to their respective rooms. Much to her surprise, Maiyn entered a peaceful reverie soon after.

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The next morning seemed to pass quickly. Yoshimo left to pick up Jaheira's armour but returned empty handed; the dwarf forging it had not completed it to a high enough standard and requested the rogue return later. The druid didn't seem overly bothered by this, cheerfully announcing that they could pick it up when they returned from their trip to the catacombs.

Xan moped about for hours and would speak to no one, not even Maiyn. The little conversation anyone got from him revolved around the topic of death and how it was sooner than any of them anticipated. Eventually, everyone just gave up with him.

Kivan and Anomen set off to stock up on various arrows and bullets for the group, and returned shortly before lunchtime. Minsc was sent to the Copper Coronet to collect what little belongings they'd left there, and returned fully laden with the items. Maiyn and Jaheira spent the morning sorting through it all.

By early afternoon they were as ready as they could be. They went to the thieves guild and left their packs under their careful guard, despite Anomen's objections. From there, they detoured to Waukeen's Promenade and quickly picked up a few magical items that they could afford to aid their protections. When they were sure they could do no more, they steeled themselves, and marched to the graveyard.

The tomb was easy enough to find, up a large flight of stone steps. The door opened easily and Kivan pointed out the footsteps that had been made recently in the dusty interior -- Sime and the mage had already passed this way, it seemed. Maiyn relaxed slightly as she led the way down the musty passage -- although the task at hand was daunting, they had allies supporting them and soon after it they would go to rescue-

Suddenly, the ranger froze, causing Kivan to bump into her. He asked what was wrong, but she just shook her head, unable to move, listening intently to the darkness. Anomen bumped into Kivan and voices of protest echoed behind her, but she ignored them all.

She heard chittering. And it was getting louder.

Every fibre in her body told her to turn around and run, but her limbs refused to listen. They just ignored her mind completely, leaving her to stand there as she sensed it approaching. Eventually Kivan seemed to detect it too, and he grabbed her, pushing her back behind the others.

"Spiders!" he hissed, readying his weapons, and nodding for Xan to create a light. The sudden brightness caused them all to shield their eyes instinctively, except for Maiyn, who somehow managed to ignore the glare and focus on the creature that had become alerted to them by the action. She became mesmerised by its legs, swaying slightly as she watched it scuttle towards them, faster and faster, only vaguely hearing her companions’ shouts, but being deafened by the noise emanating from the beast.

Then she passed out.

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She felt sick when she woke, but Jaheira assured her she'd only been unconscious for a few minutes, and urged her to drink from the water skin that was held to her lips. She did as instructed and stood up with shaky legs. Yoshimo and Anomen regarded her curiously, and she groaned slightly; the others were all too familiar with her fear, and she quickly explained to the cleric and thief the all too frequent sensation arachnids seemed to generate in her.

"Xan, cast resist fear," commanded the druid as she repacked her skin. The enchanter fiddled in his pouch, drawing out the components he needed, then intoned the words to the spell in the gloomiest tone possible. The party glowed with a cyan light for a few seconds, which softly faded away, and Maiyn nodded to Kivan, accepting his offer to lead.

To her dismay, it was not an isolated incident; they faced several of the creatures, and the ranger spent her time with her bow equipped, muttering darkly about Sime and her companion seeming to pass the area easily enough. It wasn't long before Jaheira spoke the words that came close to making her cry.

"I think this passage leads to their nest."

She followed as the druid led the way in, but lingered behind guiltily as they charged into a tall structure, made from millions of strands of silk, weaved together to form a solid dome. She heard the sounds of battle, and pondered heading in to help, but decided her presence was unlikely to be missed. Within a few minutes, her companions emerged, looking no worse than they had as they entered. Jaheira smiled wryly to her as she approached, obviously aware of the ranger's failure to aid in the battle, and Maiyn instantly felt uncomfortable.

"We found a gift for you," said the druid calmly, pressing something into Maiyn's hand, then walking away. The ranger looked down to her outstretched hand and screamed, dropping the black spider figurine to the ground.

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"That was neither funny, nor mature," muttered Maiyn as she sat up, recovering from her second fainting spell. Jaheira just chuckled slightly in an unnerving manner.

"Let us go on," she remarked, hoisting the elf to her feet, and heading back down the tunnel, into the darkness. Maiyn could hear Kivan's low laughter as he caught a glimpse of the dark glare she was directing at the half-elf's back.

"Where is it?" demanded Maiyn as she was pulled along by Anomen, her eyes searching the floor for the small statuette.

"It probably rolled into a corner, my lady," said Anomen in his most soothing voice, but Maiyn just threw him a distrustful look and stalked off with a dark frown.

The rest of the passage was quiet, and they soon saw Sime and her companion ahead, standing before a set of bright blue doors; the wizard introduced himself as Haz, and then continued with his nervous glances at his surroundings. After the group had gone through their names, he waved a hand lazily, causing a golem to lumber out from the shadows. Xan almost shrieked in surprise.

"Time to open up?" Haz inquired, to which Sime nodded. The man murmured a few words to his guard, and the golem ran at the doors, smashing through them with relative ease. The group winced at the thunderous rumble that echoed in its wake, and Maiyn raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"I thought thieves were stealthy and preferred to use guile?"

Sime smirked at her and led the way in through the demolished doors. The others followed, and as Minsc brought up the rear, the battle began, as several skeletal figures charged. Anomen gripped his holy symbol tightly, chanting furiously as he channelled Helm's power, Maiyn attempting to do likewise with the weaker blessing of Fenmarel by his side. The others encircled them keeping them safe from the hostile attackers and fending off their foes until the waves of holy power would sweep out and wash over the creatures, blasting them into nothing.

Slowly they moved down this first hall in this fashion, approaching some double doors that seemed to lead into another large room -- this one had a huge table running down the centre however, covered with candelabras, matching the sconces on the walls. Fledgling vampires swarmed at them from all sides, but the tactic remained the same; and together, the clerics were able to generate enough cleansing to destroy the form of the creatures outright.

It wasn't long until a fully formed vampire turned its attention to them, and the turning force was only strong enough to repel it away; this made it an easy target for the enraged Minsc, and he made short work of it as he swung Lilarcor around, his sword crying out in delight. With the combined powers of the clerics and the berserked warrior, the progress became swifter and the group grew in confidence.

Methodically they worked their way through the level of the lair, discovering the sarcophagi of many of the creatures, and staking the ones which had retreated, or failed to waken in the daylight hours. Yoshimo picked the locks on some chests, and pulled out a few more stakes with a bemused expression, handing them to the delighted berserker.

"Why on earth do they have stakes down here?" asked Anomen in disbelief.

"Perhaps they go camping regularly, and keep some spares for the pegs they lose." Maiyn's face was deadpan as she offered her theory, causing Jaheira to roll her eyes and Kivan to groan.

Eventually they made their way round in a circle, returning to the dining room. This time there was a figure there waiting for them, whom they instantly recognised as the man who murdered Mook. He sneered at them from across the table.

"Come then, come to your doom!” he taunted, backing into another corridor. “Dare you breach the inner sanctum? I think not!” He vanished into the darkness and Minsc roared loudly, leaping onto the table and jumping off the other side as his fury compelled him onwards.

"Liberal butts shall be kicked! Watch out evil undead -- Minsc and Boo and Larry are coming!"

The others rushed to keep up, chasing the berserker as he charged down some stairs and along a narrow corridor, only to be faced with a large pair of doors. He paused for an instant, then ran at them, bursting through easily and immediately slashing wildly at the assorted undead who lay in wait.

There was no way to guard the clerics now as Minsc was in need of backup, so with a grim nod, Maiyn led the way through the destroyed door and into the chamber. Pools of blood were bubbling in several marble tubs, and the stench of it rushed into Maiyn's consciousness, causing her to stagger slightly. She fought off the dizziness and allowed herself to feel nothing but repulsion for the sight; the walls were had a scarlet border, the rest carved from some yellow brick that also formed the floor. There was no sign of the vampire they'd been chasing, but plenty of his companions were waiting for them, fighting viciously in their own domain.

By the time the last fell, several of the companions had felt their energy being drained from them. Anomen and Maiyn quickly administered their respective god's blessings into healing the unnatural state, both trying to shake off the fatigue that the effort hoisted on them in the process. Yoshimo pointed quietly to a door at the far side of the sanctum, and Jaheira nodded determinedly, marching up to it with Minsc in tow. She threw it open, and glared in at the laughing figure of the man who seemed to delight in taunting them.

"One ambush you have survived but the battle is far from over! Find me upstairs in the room of blood and blades!" He disappeared in a dimension door as Jaheira cursed in a language unfamiliar to all others. Wordlessly, the half-elf swept from the room and led them back upstairs, travelling down the final corridor.

At the end lay a room where the floor was covered in spikes. Minsc charged in, but Jaheira held out her arm, preventing the others from following.

"Something is not right about here," she said thoughtfully.

"There is a sense of danger," agreed Yoshimo, his eyes narrow as he peered in.

At that moment, Minsc roared; one of the spikes had suddenly shot up from the ground, only narrowly missing him. The vampire watched as he approached, laughing as he gathered injuries from the other traps that he befell -- but the laugh soon faded as Minsc got close, and he was no match for the enraged berserker. Somehow, the Rashemeni warrior made it back to the group without incurring any serious injury, and he was tended by the healing spells of the clerics and druid. When he was better, Maiyn stood up straight and asked the question lingering on their minds.

"Where is Bodhi?"

"Perhaps she has fled already," suggested Anomen strongly; the knight's confidence had nothing but bolstered during this expedition, as his faith in Helm had proven to be the clinching factor in their fairly easy progress.

"I wouldn't think so," said Sime quietly, her arms running over the nearest wall, searching for any hidden exits that they'd missed. "She has certainly appeared to be arrogant enough to face anything, even if her own flock were being destroyed in the background."

They had no option but to return to the antechamber that homed the sarcophagi. To their delight, they noticed that several more had retreated to their coffins, and Minsc was more than happy to drive a stake into each. It was as he finished the final one that a bat flapped into the chamber and hovered between Maiyn and Haz.

The ranger instinctively moved away from it, watching as its shape changed, growing and lengthening as Bodhi's natural figure took form. Everyone else was busily watching the berserker hammer his final stake into a coffin, and Maiyn only managed to give a strangled cry as Bodhi reached out and bit Haz on the neck.

The mage fell to the ground when she released him, his eyes wide open, and glazed with horror in his death. Bodhi regarded the group with mild amusement, seemingly proud of the way she managed to catch their attention.

"Hmm," she purred, smiling deliciously. "I had hoped it would not come to this, but you are set in your path, aren’t you?”

"You know nothing of my path," stated Maiyn coldly, "except, possibly, for the part that involves exterminating you."

Bodhi laughed lightly. "Sure of yourself, I see... I know more about you than you can possibly imagine! I know about your childhood, your friends, your employers... what they intend."

Maiyn snorted and pulled her swords free from their sheathes. Bodhi watched her, but remained undaunted with her conversation.

"Can you say as much as I do?" the vampire asked. "Do you truly know these people cloaked in shadow?"

Maiyn hesitated and glanced quickly at Sime. The young girl was watching the ranger with a worried expression, and the elf instantly knew that there was more to what she had learnt and suspected. She turned back to face Bodhi slowly.

"They appear to be honest in their dealings, so far."

"Do they really?" sneered Bodhi. "Are you certain? What if their interest in you was more than simply mercenary? What if they knew full well who you are... and what you are?"

Maiyn's weapons fell slightly as she stared at Bodhi in shock. Is there anyone in Amn who doesn't know what I am? she wondered.

Bodhi smiled cruelly. "You look surprised. I know what you are, child of Bhaal; Irenicus told me. He might have learned more, awakened your power, but the thieves interrupted him."

"What I am is of no interest to them!" Maiyn insisted, trying to convince herself more than anyone else.

"Oh really? Why, then, did they offer to aid you, hmm?"

"Their service did not come cheaply," interrupted Jaheira. "We paid more than enough for it."

Bodhi looked at the druid with disgust, before her eyes returned to Maiyn. "You really believe gold is so important to them? To a guild of thieves? Ask yourself; was it not more likely that your capabilities were being mapped, charted -- you were being observed. You brought only service and coin to the equation, both of which they could have procured elsewhere. Why don't you ask your little thief friend here; ask her to deny what I have just said."

Maiyn looked back to Sime. The rogue gave her an apologetic shrug, but remained silent. The ranger quickly glanced at her companions; Minsc was being held back by Anomen and Kivan, but was composing himself well enough to refrain from yelling. Jaheira was looking thoughtfully at the Shadow Thief, offering Maiyn no hint as to what she was thinking, and Yoshimo was standing in the shadows, as was his usual stance.

Maiyn's eyes met Xan and he looked back at her with fear; his hands were gripping something tightly, doubtless some components for casting a spell, the enchanter knowing that it was better to be prepared. She tried to smile encouragingly to him, but it had little effect on his morose demeanour, and so she switched her attention back to the vampire.

"You must know that anything you say to me, I view with the deepest of suspicion," she said confidently. "You have willingly acknowledged that Irenicus has shared information with you, proving your association with him. That makes you our enemy, just as much as he is... and just as he will, it is your fate to fall by our hands."

Bodhi's eyes flashed angrily at the ranger's calmness, and she backed away slightly, glaring at Maiyn. "It seems you are determined to make a nuisance of yourself, regardless of what I say," she said softly, the wicked smile returning to her lips as she tensed her muscles. "You are too volatile for my purposes... you will discover the extent in which you are being used; but for now, this will end. Let us both learn a thing or two..."

Before anyone could react, Bodhi had sprung from her position, launching herself at Maiyn while her defences were lowered. The ranger screamed as she tumbled to the ground with the vampire, feeling the sharp claws raking across her face. She caught a glimpse of the manic expression on her attacker, and desperately fought to cover her exposed neck, but then Bodhi was knocked from her with extreme force, and the ranger only caught a glimpse of Minsc as he pursued.

Kivan helped the elf to her feet, and together they went to aid the berserker and Anomen, Jaheira murmuring some words to a druidic spell, her voice dancing with Xan's own recital. Various lights and effects engulfed Bodhi, none seeming to have any effect as she dodged her attackers blows with an unnaturalness that was part of her tainted blood.

Arrows from Sime and Yoshimo occasionally managed to hit her, but she did nothing more than pull them out, and allow her wounds to heal as she continued to evade the melee blows, mocking her attackers all the time. Maiyn found herself dropping back from the battle, and felt strangely detached from her own being. She calmly sheathed her swords, her eyes watching Bodhi intently all the time; and then she raised her arm, and pointed at the vampire.

The air before her rippled slightly and Bodhi suddenly lurched to the side, hit by a force she couldn't see. She looked at the ranger with widened, shocked eyes, too distracted to avoid Minsc's blow as Lilarcor tore across her chest. She screamed in agony, and leapt backwards acrobatically, landing atop one of the coffins with the agile grace of a feline.

"Well, that certainly was…educational,” said sneered, her hand clamped tightly across her injury. "I have seen enough, and I am done with you... for now." A blue swirl enveloped her, and she disappeared into a gaseous form, drifting away from their reach, much to Minsc's annoyance.

"Come back and fight, evil one! Minsc and Boo and Larry are not done with you!"

Jaheira appeared at Maiyn's side, her expression clearly asking what the ranger had done. Maiyn shrugged wearily.

"I don't know. It just... happened."

The druid nodded grimly, and quickly rounded up the group, preparing them to leave and return to Aran. Maiyn was first to head outside, using another exit that led from the lair, avoiding the trip back through the catacombs. The others were still below, ensuring they'd staked every coffin, or in Yoshimo's case, ensuring all valuables had been collected. Only Xan accompanied the ranger as she wandered out into the fresh air, allowing the sun to warm up her chilled body.

"Let me see," said Xan, gently turning her face to his so he could examine the wounds. Deep tears lined one side of her face where Bodhi had ripped through the flesh and Xan's eyes betrayed his barely concealed expression of horror. She shook her head slightly to him, closing her eyes, calling to Fenmarel. Her hand glowed with a white light as it passed over the rips, causing them to fade but not disappear.

"They may scar," he remarked quietly, his eyes fixed on them as he spoke.

Maiyn shrugged slightly. "I am lucky to have not been scarred before now," she pointed out. "It doesn't change me, and as Yoshimo says -- it adds character!"

He didn't share her smile; instead he looked at her sorrowfully, and she sighed, taking his hands in hers.

"If it's not bothering me, please don't let it bother you," she whispered. "I am alive, and so are you. Whether or not I am scarred by a wound is irrelevant in the larger picture."

Xan looked as if he wanted to answer, but the rest of the group chose that moment to appear from Bodhi's lair. Maiyn snatched her hands back guiltily as Kivan appeared, and waited silently until they had all gathered. Then wordlessly, she turned and walked towards the graveyard's entrance.

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Aran listened intently as Maiyn recounted the events back in the relative safety of the Shadow Thieves den. Sime was sitting to one side, her eyes fixed to her hands as they rested on her lap; a humble position for one of the more capable rogues in the city.

When it came to the meeting with Bodhi, Maiyn hesitated slightly. Then she recounted the exchange as fully as she could remember, with occasional help from Jaheira and Anomen. After she finished, Aran sighed.

"We will arrange for thieves to go for Haz," he said quietly, waving a guard to see to it. The man slipped from the shadows, and darted from the room. "It is unfortunate he fell."

"You have yet to comment on Bodhi's accusations," noted Maiyn. She watched as he shifted slightly under her gaze, before his impassive expression returned, quickly masked by a charming smile.

"I trust you are aware of the deceptive nature of her kind," he remarked casually. "She would be willing to say almost anything to lessen the bonds you've developed with allies."

Maiyn frowned slightly, but the Shadowmaster stood from his desk and walked around to perch on the corner as he continued.

"However, you have proven worthy of an explanation; and I shall start from the beginning." He took a deep breath. "We knew of your arrival here in the city as soon as it happened; and I do not mean when you escaped the wizard's lair. We were aware of the strange dungeon before then, knowing only that a man named Irenicus was using it. Our sources informed us of his prisoners, but we thought a simple kidnapping was nothing to be concerned over, even though it was done outside the Shadow Thieves. However, it was soon after that we began losing members; then Bodhi appeared, but we did not know her identity at that time. Members were threatened or seduced into her guild, and most were never seen again."

"Then she has been building her flock for some time," frowned Jaheira. "There were many in her lair, but not the amount that you would suggest have been lost."

"I would agree," nodded Aran. "Even her cadre could not have fed on them all. But it was by chance that a body was discovered in the sewer, which in turn led us to the discovery of the exact location of his dungeon's entrance. We battled and lost, and the Cowled Wizards took him, as you saw."

Maiyn nodded. "It was a slaughter. Why did you not tell us this earlier?"

"I had to be sure you were not working for him," shrugged Aran. "Now I am certain we are on the same side, and this trust has grown from our observations of you, following your movements as much as we could since your escape. You were the only living things to emerge from his prison that was not captured by another powerful force. We had to ensure you stayed close to us."

"I understand," said Maiyn slowly. "But why not just interrogate us? Why require us to raise such a high price?"

"We could not let an enemy into the guild when we were so weakened." Aran smiled slightly. "In truth, your gold was much needed as well. We thought you could lead us to him and you can; you seek Imoen and Irenicus, and we seek answers."

"We appreciate your help, despite its disguised manner." Maiyn's sly smile was enough to remove any tension that had lingered in the air since the group's uneasy return to the Shadowmaster, Bodhi's words still fresh in their minds.

"And we appreciate yours. You know they were taken to Spellhold, I gather? What do you know of it?"

Maiyn shrugged helplessly, and the others were likewise quiet.

"You must realise, that when you reach the island that homes Spellhold, it will not be as simple as launching an assault," Aran cautioned. "They call it a 'Residence for the Magically Deviant'; it's a place where power is stripped and examined, and minds are laid open for study. It was designed to hold mages, and other... talented people."

"It is on an island?" Xan sounded dismayed, more than normal.

"It is," affirmed Sime. "The building is situated on the cliffs that surround the town of Brynnlaw. If you are willing, I will accompany you in this venture, as a sign of the gratitude of the Shadow Thieves for what you have done for us. I will be at your service while we free your friend and find the mage and until we then return to Athkatla. I have been to Brynnlaw before, and I may still have some contacts there that we can use."

Maiyn smiled over to the girl. "We would welcome your aid. We thank you for your offer and accept."

"One word of caution," warned Sime. "The island is under the control of the pirates who use it as their base -- your coin was used to book a passage to it on a ship; one of the few who will make the voyage. When we arrive, we will have the locals to contend with, as well as the wizards. Our spies with in the Cowled ones have also warned us that they have not had direct contact with the isle for some time, which is unusual, but nothing they would overly concern themselves with."

"What does that mean?" asked Jaheira quickly.

"It means we should be prepared to face anything -- although Irenicus is inside Spellhold, we cannot assume he poses no threat to us. The sooner we get there, the better."

"How long will the journey take?" asked Maiyn, standing up, the others following her lead.

"At least a few days, perhaps as long as a week," replied Sime. "It will depend on the weather and Umberlee."

"Then we should leave now," stated Jaheira, and Maiyn voiced her agreement. Arrangements were made to collect their possessions, and Sime disappeared to collect her own belongings, assuring them she would meet them at the dock within an hour.

Aran accompanied them through the Shadow Thieves building, thanking the group once more for what they'd done. "Sime is a capable fighter and an excellent spy -- I am sure she will prove her worth to you in this. Now, let us get you to the ship!"

#2 Guest_Cel_*

Posted 06 December 2006 - 11:14 PM

You know, I am seriously beginning to wonder exactly which elf is going to do the titular reclaiming...

#3 Guest_Theodur_*

Posted 07 December 2006 - 02:47 PM

"I see," he said eventually. He didn't really, but though he was at a loss over what to say or do, he didn't want to admit it for an instant. There were three dead bodies littering his tavern, which wasn't wholly unusual; but it had been the death of the third man that had caused his investigation.


Knowing Minsc’s feelings towards vampires, I am guessing it was somewhat… gory? ;)

Only one other had remained upstairs, and she was glaring at her two companions. The half-elf intimidated Samuel even more than the warrior did; her look seemed to be a more lethal than even the large two-handed sword strapped to the tattooed man's body.


He is a very shrewd judge of character, our Samuel! :D

That was probably why Samuel thanked her profusely for the coin she offered him and agreed with her completely when she suggested that it was his duty to get rid of the bodies, not mentioning anything of the incident ever again.


How very mobster like! Now I’m getting a very cute image of Jaheira wearing a fedora and smoking on of those fancy long cigarettes. :D

"The time has come to strike back," agreed Aran. "To protect our people and the city that she has invaded."


"How very noble of you," muttered Anomen dryly. The thieves ignored him.


He might actually care about the city and its people – they are the source of his income!

Aran smiled. "I know what you have faced previously," he said casually. "The new armour shall look very fetching on you, my dear." He looked to Jaheira, and the druid glared back at him.


Oh, I cannot help but to agree. (UU Jaheira is still wearing that armor, by the way)

And wander it did. Memories swirled around, combining with thoughts of 'what if', and speculation about what she'd be doing right at that moment if she'd been normal. But she wasn't normal, and she knew the futility of such thoughts -- or at least, that's what Xan would tell her.


"Yes, I would."


Eeeek! :cry: He stalks her even in her thoughts!

The ranger giggled, and just threw her arms around him for an embrace that lingered far longer than it was meant to. When they eventually pulled apart, she could see a light in his eyes that had been absent all the time she'd known him; a spark of hope and joy that looked alien in his usual demeanour. Within a split second of their separation, however, it was gone.


See Xan, optimism can be contagious… run Xan, run! :D

He nodded. "It will be more than complete," he said morosely. "Duty binds me to return to Evereska and report on my discovery, as a Greycloak."


Err… I don’t really recall what his exact mission was supposed to be… *points at self* Inattentive reader… sigh. :(

Maiyn nodded, and let him lead her back into the stifling heat of the tavern. They shared a lingering kiss, daringly, in the hallway, before giving each other a longing look and retiring to their respective rooms. Much to her surprise, Maiyn entered a peaceful reverie soon after.


That was rather sweet. :)

The next morning seemed to pass quickly. Yoshimo left to pick up Jaheira's armour but returned empty handed; the dwarf forging it had not completed it to a high enough standard and requested the rogue return later. The druid didn't seem overly bothered by this, cheerfully announcing that they could pick it up when they returned from their trip to the catacombs.


Uh… sounds like famous last words… :?

By early afternoon they were as ready as they could be. They went to the thieves guild and left their packs under their careful guard, despite Anomen's objections.


:lol: That whole sentence reads a bit like an oxymoron, doesn’t it?

"Spiders!" he hissed, readying his weapons, and nodding for Xan to create a light. The sudden brightness caused them all to shield their eyes instinctively, except for Maiyn, who somehow managed to ignore the glare and focus on the creature that had become alerted to them by the action. She became mesmerised by its legs, swaying slightly as she watched it scuttle towards them, faster and faster, only vaguely hearing her companions’ shouts, but being deafened by the noise emanating from the beast.


Then she passed out.


Uh, that’s very… heroic. :)

"We found a gift for you," said the druid calmly, pressing something into Maiyn's hand, then walking away. The ranger looked down to her outstretched hand and screamed, dropping the black spider figurine to the ground.


Oh, that was really mean! Bad Jaheira! :D

"Time to open up?" Haz inquired, to which Sime nodded. The man murmured a few words to his guard, and the golem ran at the doors, smashing through them with relative ease. The group winced at the thunderous rumble that echoed in its wake, and Maiyn raised an inquisitive eyebrow.


Nice and subtle. :D

"Why on earth do they have stakes down here?" asked Anomen in disbelief.


"Perhaps they go camping regularly, and keep some spares for the pegs they lose." Maiyn's face was deadpan as she offered her theory, causing Jaheira to roll her eyes and Kivan to groan.


Well, I certainly can’t see a better explanation! :D

At the end lay a room where the floor was covered in spikes. Minsc charged in, but Jaheira held out her arm, preventing the others from following.


Ouch! Poor Minsc! :shock:

At that moment, Minsc roared; one of the spikes had suddenly shot up from the ground, only narrowly missing him. The vampire watched as he approached, laughing as he gathered injuries from the other traps that he befell -- but the laugh soon faded as Minsc got close, and he was no match for the enraged berserker. Somehow, the Rashemeni warrior made it back to the group without incurring any serious injury, and he was tended by the healing spells of the clerics and druid. When he was better, Maiyn stood up straight and asked the question lingering on their minds.


I hated that room… I just sent in Jaheira alone, making sure that she had ironskins on and another spell on standby if the previous one wore off… she made a very quick work of that silly vampire. :)

The ranger instinctively moved away from it, watching as its shape changed, growing and lengthening as Bodhi's natural figure took form. Everyone else was busily watching the berserker hammer his final stake into a coffin, and Maiyn only managed to give a strangled cry as Bodhi reached out and bit Haz on the neck.


Hey, Bodhi! You just ate a plot device! :lol:

Bodhi smiled cruelly. "You look surprised. I know what you are, child of Bhaal; Irenicus told me. He might have learned more, awakened your power, but the thieves interrupted him."


Well, now you’ve made sure that the Shadow Thieves know it as well, if they didn’t know it before.

The air before her rippled slightly and Bodhi suddenly lurched to the side, hit by a force she couldn't see. She looked at the ranger with widened, shocked eyes, too distracted to avoid Minsc's blow as Lilarcor tore across her chest. She screamed in agony, and leapt backwards acrobatically, landing atop one of the coffins with the agile grace of a feline.


Well… that was very odd! :shock: What did Maiyn do?

"Let me see," said Xan, gently turning her face to his so he could examine the wounds. Deep tears lined one side of her face where Bodhi had ripped through the flesh and Xan's eyes betrayed his barely concealed expression of horror. She shook her head slightly to him, closing her eyes, calling to Fenmarel. Her hand glowed with a white light as it passed over the rips, causing them to fade but not disappear.


"They may scar," he remarked quietly, his eyes fixed on them as he spoke.


Nah… elves don’t have scars… they have some uber regeneration, according to the elven lore books. At least I remember Weyoun telling me so, and he’s the resident expert - or just pervy elf fancier, you decide. ;)

"You must realise, that when you reach the island that homes Spellhold, it will not be as simple as launching an assault," Aran cautioned. "They call it a 'Residence for the Magically Deviant'; it's a place where power is stripped and examined, and minds are laid open for study. It was designed to hold mages, and other... talented people."


"It is on an island?" Xan sounded dismayed, more than normal.


Let me guess, he gets seasick just by seeing a lake or a river? ;)

Aran accompanied them through the Shadow Thieves building, thanking the group once more for what they'd done. "Sime is a capable fighter and an excellent spy -- I am sure she will prove her worth to you in this. Now, let us get you to the ship!"


Whee for new partymembers! :D

#4 Guest_arabellaesque_*

Posted 07 December 2006 - 09:17 PM

You know, I am seriously beginning to wonder exactly which elf is going to do the titular reclaiming...


Hee :shock: Originally, the title only referred to the reclaiming of stolen souls -- much like 'Discovery' only was meant to mean the discovery of Maiyn's heritage (but did, actually, have a lot more discoveries than that, in many ways). But you're right -- the elves are determined to live up to the title, and only time will tell who gets what :shock: Even *I* don't completely know -- any plans I had for them, usually just get dismissed...

Thanks for reading and commenting :shock:

#5 Guest_arabellaesque_*

Posted 07 December 2006 - 09:38 PM

"I see," he said eventually. He didn't really, but though he was at a loss over what to say or do, he didn't want to admit it for an instant. There were three dead bodies littering his tavern, which wasn't wholly unusual; but it had been the death of the third man that had caused his investigation.


Knowing Minsc’s feelings towards vampires, I am guessing it was somewhat… gory? :D


I'd imagine so :D

Only one other had remained upstairs, and she was glaring at her two companions. The half-elf intimidated Samuel even more than the warrior did; her look seemed to be a more lethal than even the large two-handed sword strapped to the tattooed man's body.


He is a very shrewd judge of character, our Samuel! :D


Samuel: They say wisdom comes with age, and, well... it didn't take me many years to understand a scowl, especially after I got married...

That was probably why Samuel thanked her profusely for the coin she offered him and agreed with her completely when she suggested that it was his duty to get rid of the bodies, not mentioning anything of the incident ever again.


How very mobster like! Now I’m getting a very cute image of Jaheira wearing a fedora and smoking on of those fancy long cigarettes. :D


:lol: ;) ;)
She does sound fairly mafia like, doesn't shee? I can see an AU Jaheira, Don of some mob, lounging back in her seat as some poor sap is hustled up before her.

AU Jaheira: So, we can do this the easy way... or the hard way, capiche?

"The time has come to strike back," agreed Aran. "To protect our people and the city that she has invaded."


"How very noble of you," muttered Anomen dryly. The thieves ignored him.


He might actually care about the city and its people – they are the source of his income!


Maiyn: The man has a point.
Anomen: *grumble*

Aran smiled. "I know what you have faced previously," he said casually. "The new armour shall look very fetching on you, my dear." He looked to Jaheira, and the druid glared back at him.


Oh, I cannot help but to agree. (UU Jaheira is still wearing that armor, by the way)


I thought she might, after your leg comment in earlier chapters... :D

And wander it did. Memories swirled around, combining with thoughts of 'what if', and speculation about what she'd be doing right at that moment if she'd been normal. But she wasn't normal, and she knew the futility of such thoughts -- or at least, that's what Xan would tell her.


"Yes, I would."


Eeeek! :shock: He stalks her even in her thoughts!


Coran: Hmm. The enchanter is playing dirty, I see -- making the most of his advantageous abilities.
Xan: *sigh* No, she was merely talking out loud...
Coran: Oh.

The ranger giggled, and just threw her arms around him for an embrace that lingered far longer than it was meant to. When they eventually pulled apart, she could see a light in his eyes that had been absent all the time she'd known him; a spark of hope and joy that looked alien in his usual demeanour. Within a split second of their separation, however, it was gone.


See Xan, optimism can be contagious… run Xan, run! :D


Xan: It's hopeless. I'd only be caught unaware by some bandits who saw the opportunity there for the taking, and after a slow and painful death, I'll end up trapped in my sword for an eternity.

He nodded. "It will be more than complete," he said morosely. "Duty binds me to return to Evereska and report on my discovery, as a Greycloak."


Err… I don’t really recall what his exact mission was supposed to be… *points at self* Inattentive reader… sigh. :(


Not at all :D I think I only mentioned it once, and it was more or less the reason from Kulyok's Mod -- namely that he's investigating the rumours of vampires in Athkatla.

Maiyn nodded, and let him lead her back into the stifling heat of the tavern. They shared a lingering kiss, daringly, in the hallway, before giving each other a longing look and retiring to their respective rooms. Much to her surprise, Maiyn entered a peaceful reverie soon after.


That was rather sweet. :)


Aww :) Thanks :D Sometimes I wonder if I fail sweet and just manage to hit 'corny' instead ;)

The next morning seemed to pass quickly. Yoshimo left to pick up Jaheira's armour but returned empty handed; the dwarf forging it had not completed it to a high enough standard and requested the rogue return later. The druid didn't seem overly bothered by this, cheerfully announcing that they could pick it up when they returned from their trip to the catacombs.


Uh… sounds like famous last words… :?


You'd think so, wouldn't you? But, no... :D

By early afternoon they were as ready as they could be. They went to the thieves guild and left their packs under their careful guard, despite Anomen's objections.


;) That whole sentence reads a bit like an oxymoron, doesn’t it?


:( I guess so :)

"Spiders!" he hissed, readying his weapons, and nodding for Xan to create a light. The sudden brightness caused them all to shield their eyes instinctively, except for Maiyn, who somehow managed to ignore the glare and focus on the creature that had become alerted to them by the action. She became mesmerised by its legs, swaying slightly as she watched it scuttle towards them, faster and faster, only vaguely hearing her companions’ shouts, but being deafened by the noise emanating from the beast.


Then she passed out.


Uh, that’s very… heroic. :)


Maiyn: Oh, don't you start! I know Imoen isn't here, but really -- there's no need to fill her role!

"We found a gift for you," said the druid calmly, pressing something into Maiyn's hand, then walking away. The ranger looked down to her outstretched hand and screamed, dropping the black spider figurine to the ground.


Oh, that was really mean! Bad Jaheira! :D


Jaheira: It'll toughen her up.
Kivan: Or make her annoyed.
Jaheira: Well, that takes her mind off it, so we still win.

"Time to open up?" Haz inquired, to which Sime nodded. The man murmured a few words to his guard, and the golem ran at the doors, smashing through them with relative ease. The group winced at the thunderous rumble that echoed in its wake, and Maiyn raised an inquisitive eyebrow.


Nice and subtle. :D


Haz: I aim to please.

"Why on earth do they have stakes down here?" asked Anomen in disbelief.


"Perhaps they go camping regularly, and keep some spares for the pegs they lose." Maiyn's face was deadpan as she offered her theory, causing Jaheira to roll her eyes and Kivan to groan.


Well, I certainly can’t see a better explanation! :D


No, neither can they :)

At the end lay a room where the floor was covered in spikes. Minsc charged in, but Jaheira held out her arm, preventing the others from following.


Ouch! Poor Minsc! :shock:


Minsc: Minsc needs to worry! The mighty force that is Minsc and Boo and Larry shall charge blindly on to serve as an inspiration for their comrades! Raaargh!

At that moment, Minsc roared; one of the spikes had suddenly shot up from the ground, only narrowly missing him. The vampire watched as he approached, laughing as he gathered injuries from the other traps that he befell -- but the laugh soon faded as Minsc got close, and he was no match for the enraged berserker. Somehow, the Rashemeni warrior made it back to the group without incurring any serious injury, and he was tended by the healing spells of the clerics and druid. When he was better, Maiyn stood up straight and asked the question lingering on their minds.


I hated that room… I just sent in Jaheira alone, making sure that she had ironskins on and another spell on standby if the previous one wore off… she made a very quick work of that silly vampire. :)


*grins* There's very little Jaheira can't do on her own when she gets iron skins and a few other choice spells -- when you start adding on abilities on top of that (like whirlwind and power attack and hardiness...) then she's just teh awesome!

The ranger instinctively moved away from it, watching as its shape changed, growing and lengthening as Bodhi's natural figure took form. Everyone else was busily watching the berserker hammer his final stake into a coffin, and Maiyn only managed to give a strangled cry as Bodhi reached out and bit Haz on the neck.


Hey, Bodhi! You just ate a plot device! :(


Bodhi: I wondered what was caught in my teeth...
Maiyn: That's just his pointy hat?
Coran: :shock: She ate Elminster?
Maiyn: Oh, my bad -- wrong wizard.

Bodhi smiled cruelly. "You look surprised. I know what you are, child of Bhaal; Irenicus told me. He might have learned more, awakened your power, but the thieves interrupted him."


Well, now you’ve made sure that the Shadow Thieves know it as well, if they didn’t know it before.


Sime: We knew -- we know everything.
Imoen: What colour of pants am I wearing?
Sime: *sigh* We know almost everything.

The air before her rippled slightly and Bodhi suddenly lurched to the side, hit by a force she couldn't see. She looked at the ranger with widened, shocked eyes, too distracted to avoid Minsc's blow as Lilarcor tore across her chest. She screamed in agony, and leapt backwards acrobatically, landing atop one of the coffins with the agile grace of a feline.


Well… that was very odd! :lol: What did Maiyn do?


Just channeled some of daddy's power really -- not something you can do in the game, but I think Bodhi would have sufficiently annoyed Maiyn enough (especially by association to Irenicus) to waken up daddy from his slumber inside.

"Let me see," said Xan, gently turning her face to his so he could examine the wounds. Deep tears lined one side of her face where Bodhi had ripped through the flesh and Xan's eyes betrayed his barely concealed expression of horror. She shook her head slightly to him, closing her eyes, calling to Fenmarel. Her hand glowed with a white light as it passed over the rips, causing them to fade but not disappear.


"They may scar," he remarked quietly, his eyes fixed on them as he spoke.


Nah… elves don’t have scars… they have some uber regeneration, according to the elven lore books. At least I remember Weyoun telling me so, and he’s the resident expert - or just pervy elf fancier, you decide. ;)


Hehehe -- well, this elf is scarring. She has a fair collection, by now, though to be fair, all have been done by rather vicious/strange weapons. If it makes it easier to accept, see Bodhi's claws as an unnatural attack that her regeneration can't overcome (easily, at least).

"You must realise, that when you reach the island that homes Spellhold, it will not be as simple as launching an assault," Aran cautioned. "They call it a 'Residence for the Magically Deviant'; it's a place where power is stripped and examined, and minds are laid open for study. It was designed to hold mages, and other... talented people."


"It is on an island?" Xan sounded dismayed, more than normal.


Let me guess, he gets seasick just by seeing a lake or a river? ;)


Maiyn: He gets seasick by seeing a glass of water.

Aran accompanied them through the Shadow Thieves building, thanking the group once more for what they'd done. "Sime is a capable fighter and an excellent spy -- I am sure she will prove her worth to you in this. Now, let us get you to the ship!"


Whee for new partymembers! :D


Sime: Hi!

Yes, say hello to Sime, who was originally intended to be in a chapter or two, but is *still* in the story in its current written chapters...

Thanks for reading and commenting! :D




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