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#1 Guest_Bibbi_*

Posted 10 November 2003 - 01:45 AM

And the turning point finally arrives! You'll see what I mean soon enough... :mrgreen:




“Still you fight me,” the rumbling came from behind him. Tybalt spun and searched for the glowing eyes which had haunted him in a similar setting before.

He stood again in Candlekeep’s halls, surrounded by empty bookshelves and dust. This time, his sleeping companions had somehow crossed the line of consciousness and slumber with him, lying prone at his feet. Even little Quayle and Iranie rested on the floor.

Bhaal spoke from the dark recesses of a stairwell at the edge of Tybalt’s view. No matter how hard he looked, he could only glimpse a hint of his father’s powerful figure. The dead god was insubstantial, just as Haer’Dalis had reminded him. Bhaal could invade his dreams but held no true power over him.

Except that his companions were also here. Did that mean that Bhaal could indeed affect the world of the living? Or was his another trick devised to place Tybalt under his blood’s sway?

“Leave me,” he ordered his father in a trembling voice. “You are dead and gone. I want nothing to do with you!” He took a step toward the stairs in a show of courage.

The god laughed coldly. “Has the tiefling been spinning tales? He would know all too well the inevitability of blood. Or has he declined to tell you of his personal demons? Foolish as you may be, even you cannot believe him to be as free as he claims. Have you not seen the darkness in his smile, the pain in his laughter? He is as damned as you.”

Haer’Dalis rose from the ground and spoke. “I am sorry, my raven. Gods do not lie.” The bard convulsed as his body shook and a gradual blue tinge took over his features. He soon became almost unrecognizable as horns sprouted from his forehead and his hands and feet ended in claws. His skin became rough and scaly and his eyes dwindled into molten gold orbs. “Blood is not so easy to ignore,” he rasped in a gravely voice.

The former bard turned to face the others and flexed his claws. “I can smell their blood, it screams for release. I shall comply.” He lunged at the nearest body, Xan, and ripped deep gouges into the helpless elf’s form. The enchanter didn’t have time to defend himself. He was dead before he could wake up. As his life ebbed away, Iranie screamed and shot to the air. In a moment, her body stiffened and she dropped like a stone.

The rest of the group followed suit; Tybalt watched in horror as his friend mercilessly slaughtered Jaheira, Ajantis, Aerie, all of them. Then the fiend spun to face him. “You understand, don’t you, my raven? We are the same, you and I. We can help each other.” He walked to the Bhaalspawn but did not attack. Instead, he gently placed his claws on the other man’s shoulders and stared deeply into his eyes. “Help me,” he pleaded before uttering a heart-rending scream and slashing his own throat with his sharp claws.

Tybalt jolted awake with Bhaal’s laughter still ringing in his ears. The camp lay silent as dawn approached. Sleeping forms surrounded him and he quietly checked to make sure that his dream had been only that: an illusion. No one appeared harmed, to his great relief.

Everyone was accounted for but Yoshimo and Haer’Dalis. He vaguely remembered the thief promising to take watch duty after Valygar, so he assumed that the man stood somewhere nearby. Haer’Dalis’ disappearance troubled him.

He left the sleepers to find the missing bard. Not far from the camp, a stream burbled down its rocky bed toward some unknown pond or river. A large weeping willow clung tenuously to the bank and provided a shelter of branches for a seated form Tybalt knew well.

He sat down next to Haer’Dalis, who stared out at the flowing waters mournfully, matching the tree’s gloomy appearance. “I am not the only one who dreams elude tonight, I see,” the tiefling noted.

Tybalt smiled. “Bad dream. I’m used to them by now, they don’t bother me.”

“Truly? You must disclose that secret to me, then, my raven. I find that nightmares haunt the wakened world more than we care to think.” He remained watching the stream moodily.

“What do you dream of?” the Bhaalspawn wondered. He was curious what filled normal people’s dreams, if their dead fathers had no influence over their destiny.

“Flight. Death. Chaos. Nothing I have not seen before, yet I watch helplessly as my life enacts itself in front of me. I am distanced from it and see it from a new perspective; I fear this insight yet am fascinated. I cannot tear my gaze from this familiar and foreign life. My form twists and I become…something else.”

Tybalt shivered as he recalled his own dream and Haer’Dalis’ part in it. He didn’t want to frighten his friend, however, and didn’t mention it. He waited for Haer’Dalis to continue.

The bard looked down at his feet for a moment, then smiled ruefully and turned to look at his companion. “Your dreams, do they involve your father?” he asked.

Tybalt started at this accurate guess. How could the bard know? Worriedly, he searched Haer’Dalis’ face for any guile or craft but found only weary interest. He had answered Tybalt’s question, after all.

“Yes,” he stammered after a pause. “My father…talks to me.”

“We all create figments which haunt us subconsciously,” Haer’Dalis agreed.

“No. I mean, the real Bhaal invades my dreams,” Tybalt whispered. “He talks to me about my power.” He shivered.

The tiefling looked at him with some surprise, then wrapped his arm around his shoulder. “My poor raven, forced to deal with energies the mortal world can only begin to comprehend. You have an iron will, to conceal this from the others as you do.”

Tybalt leaned his head on Haer’Dalis shoulder, suddenly exhausted from the night. Unburdening his dreams had taken much pent up energy he hadn’t know he was holding. He nodded slightly, clenching his face as he thought of his father. “I try…try to ignore him, banish him from my mind, but he is persistent. He shows me things I’d rather not see.”

Sitting back up, he hesitantly explained Haer’Dalis’ dream transformation, then gained speed and strength in the retelling as he went. Soon he had related everything to the bard and shook from his confessions. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I seem to pull everyone into my darkness with me. I know you don’t want to hear this, but it’s better that you know…in case you want to leave.”

Haer’Dalis remained silent for a long time, so much that Tybalt feared the bard was angry and would take him up on the offer to leave. Finally, he spoke softly. “Your dream is truer than you think, my raven. You asked me before whether my own family held any sway over me and I denied this. Yet, once again I have not been entirely truthful to you. I regret this now, but there is nothing to be done for it. I can only relate to you now my previous deception.”

He drew a steadying breath and went on. “I, too, can hear my blood speak to me. Not to your extent, of course, but it is there nonetheless. Oft times in battle as I dance with steel I hear a calm, cold voice directing my movements, pointing Chaos and Entropy toward the enemy’s heart. I can retake control of my body, yet at times I wish nothing more than to lose myself in this presence and slip away. I enjoy this seductive power, revel in it. The fiend in me is released for the kill, and by the Lady, I embrace it.” He drew his arms around his knees and sunk his face into his lap; Tybalt had never seen him so vulnerable, naked without his silver tongue and sharp wit.

The Bhaalspawn sympathetically placed a hand on the bard’s shoulders and squeezed. “I understand. You’re not alone, Haer’Dalis.”

The tiefling lifted his head, a look of despair visible in his eyes. His lips drooped into a frown as he replied. “We are all alone, my raven, every one of us. But we can find some happiness in our moments of solitude. Allow me to steal a moment from you selfishly; I beg this one boon.” He leaned in without warning and placed a tremulous kiss on Tybalt’s slightly parted mouth.

Tybalt recoiled in shock, then closed his eyes and allowed his body to take over. He tilted his head to accept the bard’s forward advance and his hands grasped the other man tightly. They pulled back at the same time for air, but Tybalt didn’t dare open his eyes. He bit his lip cautiously, tasting it and ensuring that his senses had not betrayed him.

“I-” he began, but had no idea where to begin. “Wha-”

A cool finger hushed his concerns. “Savor the moment, Tybalt, and ask questions later. We share a connection, you and I, that runs deeper than our cursed ancestors. But I am too forward in my zeal; I know not what I do. This confused sparrow gives his apology for being so forward and will retire until the next act, when the star-crossed lovers’ fates are revealed.” He silently returned to camp and Tybalt finally opened his eyes.

He touched his face, felt his brow for fever, brushed his lips with trembling fingertips. Many thoughts tumbled through his head, but one thing was for certain. He would have no nightmares tonight.

#2 Guest_Theodur_*

Posted 10 November 2003 - 08:17 PM

Except that his companions were also here. Did that mean that Bhaal could indeed affect the world of the living? Or was his another trick devised to place Tybalt under his blood’s sway?


Better don't think... just don't listen to whatever that creep Bhaal tells you.

Haer’Dalis rose from the ground and spoke. “I am sorry, my raven. Gods do not lie.” The bard convulsed as his body shook and a gradual blue tinge took over his features. He soon became almost unrecognizable as horns sprouted from his forehead and his hands and feet ended in claws. His skin became rough and scaly and his eyes dwindled into molten gold orbs. “Blood is not so easy to ignore,” he rasped in a gravely voice.


Eeeep, a twist, a really ugly twist!

The rest of the group followed suit; Tybalt watched in horror as his friend mercilessly slaughtered Jaheira, Ajantis, Aerie, all of them. Then the fiend spun to face him. “You understand, don’t you, my raven? We are the same, you and I. We can help each other.” He walked to the Bhaalspawn but did not attack. Instead, he gently placed his claws on the other man’s shoulders and stared deeply into his eyes. “Help me,” he pleaded before uttering a heart-rending scream and slashing his own throat with his sharp claws.


Hey, I don't like this dream one little bit! :)

“What do you dream of?” the Bhaalspawn wondered. He was curious what filled normal people’s dreams, if their dead fathers had no influence over their destiny.


If you want to know what fills normal people's dreams, why ask Haer?

“Flight. Death. Chaos. Nothing I have not seen before, yet I watch helplessly as my life enacts itself in front of me. I am distanced from it and see it from a new perspective; I fear this insight yet am fascinated. I cannot tear my gaze from this familiar and foreign life. My form twists and I become…something else.”


Send Haer away, quickly, quickly, quickly... I don't want that dream to become reality, no sir! :)

He drew a steadying breath and went on. “I, too, can hear my blood speak to me. Not to your extent, of course, but it is there nonetheless. Oft times in battle as I dance with steel I hear a calm, cold voice directing my movements, pointing Chaos and Entropy toward the enemy’s heart. I can retake control of my body, yet at times I wish nothing more than to lose myself in this presence and slip away. I enjoy this seductive power, revel in it. The fiend in me is released for the kill, and by the Lady, I embrace it.” He drew his arms around his knees and sunk his face into his lap; Tybalt had never seen him so vulnerable, naked without his silver tongue and sharp wit.


Hey... I thought that Tybalt was really dangerous to travel with, and now you get also a homicidal Haer in the group, too... :)

A cool finger hushed his concerns. “Savor the moment, Tybalt, and ask questions later. We share a connection, you and I, that runs deeper than our cursed ancestors. But I am too forward in my zeal; I know not what I do. This confused sparrow gives his apology for being so forward and will retire until the next act, when the star-crossed lovers’ fates are revealed.” He silently returned to camp and Tybalt finally opened his eyes.


He touched his face, felt his brow for fever, brushed his lips with trembling fingertips. Many thoughts tumbled through his head, but one thing was for certain. He would have no nightmares tonight.


Wow. I read a lovescene featuring Haer... and with another male, no less. Gee... I'm becoming awfully tolerant of the characters I don't like... :)

#3 Weyoun

Posted 11 November 2003 - 12:15 AM

He stood again in Candlekeep’s halls, surrounded by empty bookshelves and dust. This time, his sleeping companions had somehow crossed the line of consciousness and slumber with him, lying prone at his feet. Even little Quayle and Iranie rested on the floor.


Bhaal spoke from the dark recesses of a stairwell at the edge of Tybalt’s view. No matter how hard he looked, he could only glimpse a hint of his father’s powerful figure. The dead god was insubstantial, just as Haer’Dalis had reminded him. Bhaal could invade his dreams but held no true power over him.


Still, it's not exactly a wholesome dream to be having...

Except that his companions were also here. Did that mean that Bhaal could indeed affect the world of the living? Or was his another trick devised to place Tybalt under his blood’s sway?


“Leave me,” he ordered his father in a trembling voice. “You are dead and gone. I want nothing to do with you!” He took a step toward the stairs in a show of courage.


Nice try, but I doubt it would work.

Haer’Dalis rose from the ground and spoke. “I am sorry, my raven. Gods do not lie.”


Obviously, he's never heard of Cyric. :lol:

The bard convulsed as his body shook and a gradual blue tinge took over his features. He soon became almost unrecognizable as horns sprouted from his forehead and his hands and feet ended in claws. His skin became rough and scaly and his eyes dwindled into molten gold orbs. “Blood is not so easy to ignore,” he rasped in a gravely voice.


Yikes. Where'd that come from...

The former bard turned to face the others and flexed his claws. “I can smell their blood, it screams for release. I shall comply.” He lunged at the nearest body, Xan, and ripped deep gouges into the helpless elf’s form. The enchanter didn’t have time to defend himself. He was dead before he could wake up. As his life ebbed away, Iranie screamed and shot to the air. In a moment, her body stiffened and she dropped like a stone.


:shock:

The tiefling looked at him with some surprise, then wrapped his arm around his shoulder. “My poor raven, forced to deal with energies the mortal world can only begin to comprehend. You have an iron will, to conceal this from the others as you do.”


Tybalt leaned his head on Haer’Dalis shoulder, suddenly exhausted from the night. Unburdening his dreams had taken much pent up energy he hadn’t know he was holding. He nodded slightly, clenching his face as he thought of his father. “I try…try to ignore him, banish him from my mind, but he is persistent. He shows me things I’d rather not see.”


He's brave, though.

The Bhaalspawn sympathetically placed a hand on the bard’s shoulders and squeezed. “I understand. You’re not alone, Haer’Dalis.”


Nice scene here. These two are getting closer.

The tiefling lifted his head, a look of despair visible in his eyes. His lips drooped into a frown as he replied. “We are all alone, my raven, every one of us. But we can find some happiness in our moments of solitude. Allow me to steal a moment from you selfishly; I beg this one boon.” He leaned in without warning and placed a tremulous kiss on Tybalt’s slightly parted mouth.


Wow, nicely done. I didn't see that one coming. :lol:

He touched his face, felt his brow for fever, brushed his lips with trembling fingertips. Many thoughts tumbled through his head, but one thing was for certain. He would have no nightmares tonight.


Good story,
---Weyoun
TnT Enhanced Edition: http://www.fanfictio...rds-and-Tempers

---
Sith Warrior - Master, I can sense your anger.

Darth Baras - A blind, comotose lobotomy-patient could sense my anger!

---

"The New Age? It's just the old age stuck in a microwave oven for fifteen seconds" - James Randi

#4 Guest_argan_*

Posted 17 November 2003 - 10:18 PM

Good chapter.

Interesting twist :twisted:

#5 Guest_Bibbi_*

Posted 19 November 2003 - 03:52 AM


Except that his companions were also here. Did that mean that Bhaal could indeed affect the world of the living? Or was his another trick devised to place Tybalt under his blood’s sway?


Better don't think... just don't listen to whatever that creep Bhaal tells you.


hehe, good plan. Bhaal will only try to lead him astray. Problem is, he won't be so obvious about it as Tybalt will suspect...


Haer’Dalis rose from the ground and spoke. “I am sorry, my raven. Gods do not lie.” The bard convulsed as his body shook and a gradual blue tinge took over his features. He soon became almost unrecognizable as horns sprouted from his forehead and his hands and feet ended in claws. His skin became rough and scaly and his eyes dwindled into molten gold orbs. “Blood is not so easy to ignore,” he rasped in a gravely voice.


Eeeep, a twist, a really ugly twist!


emphasis on the ugle :D


The rest of the group followed suit; Tybalt watched in horror as his friend mercilessly slaughtered Jaheira, Ajantis, Aerie, all of them. Then the fiend spun to face him. “You understand, don’t you, my raven? We are the same, you and I. We can help each other.” He walked to the Bhaalspawn but did not attack. Instead, he gently placed his claws on the other man’s shoulders and stared deeply into his eyes. “Help me,” he pleaded before uttering a heart-rending scream and slashing his own throat with his sharp claws.


Hey, I don't like this dream one little bit! :D


yeah, even darker than the ingame dreams. I don't envy Tybalt one bit


“What do you dream of?” the Bhaalspawn wondered. He was curious what filled normal people’s dreams, if their dead fathers had no influence over their destiny.


If you want to know what fills normal people's dreams, why ask Haer?


ha, good point. Normal is about the farthest thing from Haer


“Flight. Death. Chaos. Nothing I have not seen before, yet I watch helplessly as my life enacts itself in front of me. I am distanced from it and see it from a new perspective; I fear this insight yet am fascinated. I cannot tear my gaze from this familiar and foreign life. My form twists and I become…something else.”


Send Haer away, quickly, quickly, quickly... I don't want that dream to become reality, no sir! :D


hmm, Tybalt is more likely to follow that route, though stranger things have happened. I guess we'll have to wait and see :)


He drew a steadying breath and went on. “I, too, can hear my blood speak to me. Not to your extent, of course, but it is there nonetheless. Oft times in battle as I dance with steel I hear a calm, cold voice directing my movements, pointing Chaos and Entropy toward the enemy’s heart. I can retake control of my body, yet at times I wish nothing more than to lose myself in this presence and slip away. I enjoy this seductive power, revel in it. The fiend in me is released for the kill, and by the Lady, I embrace it.” He drew his arms around his knees and sunk his face into his lap; Tybalt had never seen him so vulnerable, naked without his silver tongue and sharp wit.


Hey... I thought that Tybalt was really dangerous to travel with, and now you get also a homicidal Haer in the group, too... :(


adventurers aren't noted for their stability. I wonder how long before Ajantis must smite them all? :)


A cool finger hushed his concerns. “Savor the moment, Tybalt, and ask questions later. We share a connection, you and I, that runs deeper than our cursed ancestors. But I am too forward in my zeal; I know not what I do. This confused sparrow gives his apology for being so forward and will retire until the next act, when the star-crossed lovers’ fates are revealed.” He silently returned to camp and Tybalt finally opened his eyes.


He touched his face, felt his brow for fever, brushed his lips with trembling fingertips. Many thoughts tumbled through his head, but one thing was for certain. He would have no nightmares tonight.


Wow. I read a lovescene featuring Haer... and with another male, no less. Gee... I'm becoming awfully tolerant of the characters I don't like... :(


hehe, thanks. Yeah, writing a male-male lovescene is definately not an easy task, and audience reaction is something I'm very interested in. As always, I'm reminded of how most of my characters are the less-beloved ones, and I try my hardest to make them likeable, or at least show why they are as they are (from my viewpoint). I'm glad it's making some sort of sense... thanks for reading!

PS, sorry for taking so long to reply and post a new chapter, I'll try and be better about this. Plus, break is coming up soon when I'll have a chance to work on new chapters and post a whole slew! Won't that be fun? :(

#6 Guest_Bibbi_*

Posted 19 November 2003 - 04:01 AM


He stood again in Candlekeep’s halls, surrounded by empty bookshelves and dust. This time, his sleeping companions had somehow crossed the line of consciousness and slumber with him, lying prone at his feet. Even little Quayle and Iranie rested on the floor.


Bhaal spoke from the dark recesses of a stairwell at the edge of Tybalt’s view. No matter how hard he looked, he could only glimpse a hint of his father’s powerful figure. The dead god was insubstantial, just as Haer’Dalis had reminded him. Bhaal could invade his dreams but held no true power over him.


Still, it's not exactly a wholesome dream to be having...


and daddy might indeed hold more power over him than he's like to think. psychological sway can be just as powerful as physicality, if not more so...


Except that his companions were also here. Did that mean that Bhaal could indeed affect the world of the living? Or was his another trick devised to place Tybalt under his blood’s sway?


“Leave me,” he ordered his father in a trembling voice. “You are dead and gone. I want nothing to do with you!” He took a step toward the stairs in a show of courage.


Nice try, but I doubt it would work.


yeah, gods aren't likely to give up so easily, especially when they're trying to be reborn...it's not like Bhaal has other things to occupy him time right now :D


Haer’Dalis rose from the ground and spoke. “I am sorry, my raven. Gods do not lie.”


Obviously, he's never heard of Cyric. :(


:P


The bard convulsed as his body shook and a gradual blue tinge took over his features. He soon became almost unrecognizable as horns sprouted from his forehead and his hands and feet ended in claws. His skin became rough and scaly and his eyes dwindled into molten gold orbs. “Blood is not so easy to ignore,” he rasped in a gravely voice.


Yikes. Where'd that come from...


Haer has taken Imoen's place in this dream. this is even scarier, since Haer is the love interest; if he can't trust the lover, who will he trust? and what if the dream is a prophecy for the future...?


The former bard turned to face the others and flexed his claws. “I can smell their blood, it screams for release. I shall comply.” He lunged at the nearest body, Xan, and ripped deep gouges into the helpless elf’s form. The enchanter didn’t have time to defend himself. He was dead before he could wake up. As his life ebbed away, Iranie screamed and shot to the air. In a moment, her body stiffened and she dropped like a stone.


:D



a bit of foreshadowing? :) i'm not saying anything definite, of course :(


The tiefling looked at him with some surprise, then wrapped his arm around his shoulder. “My poor raven, forced to deal with energies the mortal world can only begin to comprehend. You have an iron will, to conceal this from the others as you do.”


Tybalt leaned his head on Haer’Dalis shoulder, suddenly exhausted from the night. Unburdening his dreams had taken much pent up energy he hadn’t know he was holding. He nodded slightly, clenching his face as he thought of his father. “I try…try to ignore him, banish him from my mind, but he is persistent. He shows me things I’d rather not see.”


He's brave, though.


or desperate...then again, where's the real difference? hehe


The Bhaalspawn sympathetically placed a hand on the bard’s shoulders and squeezed. “I understand. You’re not alone, Haer’Dalis.”


Nice scene here. These two are getting closer.


and closer and closer... :) :(


The tiefling lifted his head, a look of despair visible in his eyes. His lips drooped into a frown as he replied. “We are all alone, my raven, every one of us. But we can find some happiness in our moments of solitude. Allow me to steal a moment from you selfishly; I beg this one boon.” He leaned in without warning and placed a tremulous kiss on Tybalt’s slightly parted mouth.


Wow, nicely done. I didn't see that one coming. :(


neither did Tybalt. Haer has had some prior experience with this type of thing :D


He touched his face, felt his brow for fever, brushed his lips with trembling fingertips. Many thoughts tumbled through his head, but one thing was for certain. He would have no nightmares tonight.


Good story,
---Weyoun


thanks. :D a new chapter up soon!

#7 Guest_Bibbi_*

Posted 19 November 2003 - 04:03 AM

Good chapter.

Interesting twist :)


thanks. I hope the build up wasn't too unexpected, but I see this as the (obvious) turning point in the relationship. I guess you could say this is where Haer's global variable turns to 2 :)

thanks for reading! :D




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