Beloved Child 62

Beloved Child will take a week’s hiatus now so there will be no update next Sunday. I will also not be able to comment on this one until next weekend I think.

The views expressed by the characters in a certain section of his chapter do not in any way or from represent or correspond with the veiws of the author or the author’s parent companies and various associates.

Beloved Child 62

Solaufein almost got cut down when he appeared before the party on the empty night time streets. The Drow warrior quickly held out his hands in a Drow gesture for peace. Imoen smiled brightly at him and he smiled back.

“I heard about Phaere`s little plan.” He whispered and smiled again at their surprised faces. “Sometimes Phaere has a hard time keeping quiet and it is especially bad if you are sleeping with one of your servants.”

Viconia gave a wry smile and shook her head. Solaufein handled a bundle over to Jaheira whom stood closest.

“These are another replica of the dragon eggs that you can give to Phaere.” The Drow warrior said. “There were quite hard to get my hands on, her thugs did a good job with the artisans shop.”

“I guess she did a good job with the artisan.” Groder grinned.

“She would, the tramp.” Nalia blurted out and then held her hands in front of her mouth, shocked at her own crassness.

Solaufein snorted.

“You could say that…” He agreed.

“So are you coming with us?” Imoen asked with some urgency.

“I won’t come with you to the temple, but I think I know where the dragon’s lair is. I will wait for you there if I decide to come with you.”

“Don’t get eaten.” Imoen said half seriously.

“I won’t.” Solaufein grinned confidently and slipped away again.

“Your would-be lover seems to be adept at disappearing into shadow. You should watch that little hummingbird.” Haer`Dalis said.

“Sush you…” Imoen said and waved her fist at Haer`Dalis.

“So now we have to keep an eye on three sets of eggs.” Viconia mused. “I will take one of the fake sets and Jaheira the other set. That way we won’t confuse them.”

“And why should you two carry them?” Groder asked.

“Because we are females.” Viconia responded.

“So are Nalia and Imoen.” Groder argued.

“Responsible females.” Viconia added.

“Hey!” Both Nalia and Imoen sounded indignant but a smile was spreading on Imoen`s lips.

“No, she is right.” Jaheira interjected and then pointed at Imoen. “We are the most experienced and I still remember when you confused all the wands back in Baldur’s Gate, Imoen.”

“Eh… he he…” Imoen laughed nervously and rubbed the back of her head. “Yeah…”

“Sheesh, you would think that they were married…” Nalia whispered to Imoen.

“They are planning on it I hear.” The pink haired mage and rogue responded.

**

“This isn’t going to work.” Groder said and gestured as himself. He wore the spider silk shorts and shirt he had bought much earlier but without the useless armour pieces. His hair was done up in ponytail from the back of his head.

“Yes, it is, My Raven. I know what women like.” Haer`Dalis assured.

“So all women secretly covet good looking youths?” The youth asked.

“All women are suckers for a pretty young thing like you.” The bard responded.

“Even those.” Groder knocked his head in the direction of the two stony faced females that stood in front of the temples gates.

The two Drow females were looking straight ahead, gripping their halberd looking weapons tightly.

“Especially those.” Haer`Dalis nodded sagely.

“I sure hope you are right…” Groder muttered. “Can’t I just stab them in the neck?” He whined then.

“That might be noticed my Raven.” Haer`Dalis said.

“Like anything else we do to them won’t be noticed.” Groder grumbled sarcastically.

Groder made his way over to the guards whom still looked straight ahead. As he got closer, he noted that neither looked very stoic at all. The one to the left was tall and muscular but her face was marred by an ugly scar and a patch sat over her right eye. The guard on the right was smaller and looked a bit mousey. When she smiled, Groder could see that she had several gaps were teeth should be. As he approached, they spotted him and almost dove on him.

“You’re that Veldrin right?” The one with the eye patch said.

“The one that killed a flayer and that noble whats-his-face?” The gap toothed one asked.

“Ehh… yes.” Groder began, a bit surprised that they knew who he was.

“We killed a noble once…” The one-eyed said suddenly and somewhat absentmindedly.

“It was an accident.” The other female said and looked sour.

“That why we are on guard duty…” The scarred female growled.

“We said it was an accident. He shouldn’t have stood where we were swinging our weapons.” The mousy one whined.

Groder was getting confused by they way they seemed to blur into each others sentences. He decided to try and stop them before their senseless story grew longer.

“So…” He smiled at them. “You want to go and grab a drink or something?”

The two women looked uncertainly at each other and then they gazed at the temple. Shrugging they picked up Groder by the arms and marched away from the temple. Before being hauled around a corner by the chattering women, Groder saw Haer`Dalis smile and wave at him.

**

They stalked through the shadows of the temple walls and pillars. Pausing in alcoves when lone guards walked too near. The guards of the temple seemed to have abandoned the fixed positions they had during the day. Had the four women looked at the statue of Lloth that sat in the temple, they would have seen a slight smile on its lips. Following the map that Phaere had given them and with Imoen in the lead, the four women soon stood in a long corridor that would take them to the treasury. At regular intervals almost hidden by alcoves in the walls stood guards. The guard’s positions however made them blind to the entrance to the corridor. If it was a miscalculation or by design none could say.

“Think a simple invisibility spell can help?” Nalia whispered.

“Add in Cat’s Grace then yes.” Imoen whispered back, eyeing the nearest guards.

“We can strike them deaf. This place is so quiet I don’t think they would notice.” Viconia supplied.

Three silently conjured spells later and they move quickly, silently and invisible down the hall. They passed by the guards that saw and heard nothing. The key slid into the lock perfectly and the doors opened slightly. The four slipped in and Imoen held up the smooth stone that was the control for the golems. There stood five of them in a silent vigil, huge and ironclad. A large brazier hung in the roof and spat blue flames the illuminated the room. It cast a blue sheen on the iron bodies of the golems and the highly organized piles of treasure there. On a pedestal in the far back of the circular room rested the dragon’s eggs. Small like urns now but they would grow to immense size with time. Imoen checked the pedestal and scoffed.

“It’s not even trapped.” Shrugging she reached for the eggs. ”Amateurs.” She snickered as she took off the eggs and bundled them up in cloth. She handed them over to Jaheira whom in turn put her fakes on the pedestal.

Jaheira put the eggs in her pack and nodded to Viconia.

“Now to deliver the fakes to Phaere.” The Drow cleric whispered and hoisted her own bundle of fake eggs out of her pack.

They cast the invisibility spells again and quickly walked back down the corridor. Just as they emerged from the corridor two guards passed by it. Seeming to sense something the guards stopped and looked around. The four women remained still just in archway that connected the corridor and the temple atrium. Imoen and Nalia slowly slid blades from their sheaths. Then the guards started their patrol again and the four could breathe easier. They passed through the atrium again and this time the Spider Queens smile was wider. Once they were out on streets and passed about a block, they were surprised by a bright blue arc appearing out of nowhere. An Imp met their weapons at the ready.

“Aiii!” It cried and held up its small hands. “The mistress sent me to fetch her eggs; she sensed that you have then.”

“She could not have done it a little less capriciously?” Jaheira asked and removed the real eggs from her pack while Viconia nodded and muttered. Imoen rubbed the Imps head and the little fiend purred contentedly. Then it received the eggs and flashed out of existence again.

“Aw, he was cute.” Imoen smiled.

“Kind of…” Nalia agreed.

**

Groder looked harried when they met up with him and a smiling Haer`Dalis just outside the females fighter academy.

“They were the two dumbest people in the world…” He sputtered as they entered into Phaere`s chambers.

Phaere sat by a table and lazily sipped wine and every now and again she took a piece from the plate of food in front of her. She simply extended her hand expectantly when the party came to stand next to the table.

Viconia un-slung her pack and then removed the bundle containing the fake dragon eggs. The Drow put them on the table. Phaere raised one and looked at it. Then she smiled and chuckled.

“Wonderful…” She purred. “Now get going, the ritual is tomorrow and mother wants you there as well. She shooed them away while caressing the eggs.

**

The inner summoning room was a domed thing that let artificial light in through a hole in the roof. Apart from the matron mother Ardulace and Phaere there was only the six companions conspicuously weighed down by their packs there. Arrayed against the far wall in half circle as recommended by Viconia whom had promised that the summoning would get in her words complicated.

Ardulace stood in the middle of the room before a complicated circle drawn in blood on the floor. The matron’s smooth and angular face was a mask of concentration and sweat beaded down her forehead. Phaere stood off to the side of her mother and smiled cruelly every now and again, anticipating what was to come.

As Ardulace spoke the last syllable the room seemed to darken and shake. The design on the floor darkened and became a swirling black maelstrom. Then the fiend came. It crawled out of the black depths and a wind of rot and decay followed it. The quivering flesh coloured mass oozed pus and dark liquids. It shivered and one large eye opened and blinked a few times. The iris was red and the pupil expanded and shrunk. The eye itself seemed to pulse and quiver. It looked around and then finally centred on Ardulace.

“Who…” It swept like a wind through the minds of the assembled and sounded like drops of sludge falling in a pool of water.

“Great fiend!” Ardulace yelled. “We have summoned you to do aid us in the fight against the surface elves and in exchange we give you this.”

The matron mother held the fake dragon eggs aloft.

“These are the eggs of a hated silver dragon we offer for your services. The eggs of a creature of pure good to satisfy you.” She called triumphantly.

The massive pulsing eye looked a long while at Ardulace and the eggs she held up.

“No… Fraud…” The voice said.

“What?” Ardulace cried with a look of shock on her face.

Phaere could not contain her glee and laughed. Ardulace spun to face her daughter.

“You…” She hissed.

“Me, mother dear. It seems that the house of Despana is now mine.” Phaere smiled.

“If you think…” Ardulace growled and drew a dagger but before she could do anything a flesh coloured tentacle wrapped itself around her waist. The matron shrieked as she was violently pulled back and into the eye of the demon. The fiend blinked slowly and gazed upon them again.

“Great one, I possess the real eggs!” Phaere told the pulsing beast.

The great eye twitched in its socket and the voice spoke again.

“No…” Came the sigh.

Phaere looked honestly lost and confused. She looked at the eggs she held and then to the party. Realization dawned on her face.

“You tricked me!” She screamed, waving an accusing finger at the party. “I’ll… I’ll kill you all!”

However in her rage Phaere did not forget the quivering horror in the middle of the room. The first daughter turned matron ran for the doors of the summoning room. A tentacle shot out and grabbed the fleeing Drow by the legs. Phaere was pulled back trough the air and then sucked screaming into the great eye just like her mother.

Then the great eye turned on the party. Nalia fought not to vomit and Imoen whom had demonstratively held her nose let go to not offend the beast.

“You ehh… can leave…if you want to…” Groder said while trying to avoid looking at the fiend. “We have no eggs…”

The things mass quivered and then tentacles emerged again, holding four naked grey legs. It dropped them on the floor and then began sinking back into the depths from which it came.

“Eggs… legs… Was it trying to be funny?” Jaheira asked after it had disappeared.

“Probably…” Viconia said and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Now let’s get out of here!”

They moved quickly from the temple and out onto the streets of Ust Natha. No one stopped them and no one took much notice of them as they passed. Soon they were outside the city and after they had passed by the cliffs that made up the corridor to Ust Natha, they headed west towards Adalons lair.

“I heard about Phaere`s little plan.” He whispered and smiled again at their surprised faces. “Sometimes Phaere has a hard time keeping quiet and it is especially bad if you are sleeping with one of your servants.”

And, pray tell, what connection does our friend Sola have to her servants?

“Hey!” Both Nalia and Imoen sounded indignant but a smile was spreading on Impends lips.

A lil' typo there?

“No, she is right.” Jaheira interjected and then pointed at Imoen. “We are the most experienced and I still remember when you confused all the wands back in Baldur’s Gate, Imoen.”

Confusing wands? Never a good thing.

“So all women secretly covet good looking youths?” The youth asked.

“All women are suckers for a pretty young thing like you.” The bard responded.

“We killed a noble once…” The one-eyed said suddenly and somewhat absentmindedly.

“It was an accident.” The other female said and looked sour.

“That why we are on guard duty…” The scarred female growled.

“We said it was an accident. He shouldn’t have stood where we were swinging our weapons.” The mousy one whined.

The two women looked uncertainly at each other and then they gazed at the temple. Shrugging they picked up Groder by the arms and marched away from the temple. Before being hauled around a corner by the chattering women, Groder saw Haer`Dalis smile and wave at him.

I guess it's good for Groder that the guards had the collective iq of a gnat

“Aiii!” It cried and held up its small hands. “The mistress sent me to fetch her eggs; she sensed that you have then.”

“She could not have done it a little less capriciously?” Jaheira asked and removed the real eggs from her pack while Viconia nodded and muttered. Imoen rubbed the Imps head and the little fiend purred contentedly. Then it received the eggs and flashed out of existence again.

The mistress = Adalon?

As Ardulace spoke the last syllable the room seemed to darken and shake. The design on the floor darkened and became a swirling black maelstrom. Then the fiend came. It crawled out of the black depths and a wind of rot and decay followed it. The quivering flesh coloured mass oozed pus and dark liquids. It shivered and one large eye opened and blinked a few times. The iris was red and the pupil expanded and shrunk. The eye itself seemed to pulse and quiver. It looked around and then finally centred on Ardulace.

Hello there, (Somewhat) Big Bad!

“Me, mother dear. It seems that the house of Despana is now mine.” Phaere smiled.

“If you think…” Ardulace growled and drew a dagger but before she could do anything a flesh coloured tentacle wrapped itself around her waist. The matron shrieked as she was violently pulled back and into the eye of the demon. The fiend blinked slowly and gazed upon them again.

Ah, the loving family lives of Drow. Could be taken straight out of any soap opera

“Great one, I possess the real eggs!” Phaere told the pulsing beast.

The great eye twitched in its socket and the voice spoke again.

“No…” Came the sigh.

You make him sound so very exasperated

They moved quickly from the temple and out onto the streets of Ust Natha. No one stopped them and no one took much notice of them as they passed. Soon they were outside the city and after they had passed by the cliffs that made up the corridor to Ust Natha, they headed west towards Adalons lair.

Yay, no more Drow!

The views expressed by the characters in a certain section of his chapter do not in any way or from represent or correspond with the veiws of the author or the author’s parent companies and various associates.

That... doesn't sound good. Might be funny, though.

“I guess she did a good job with the artisan.” Groder grinned.

“She would, the tramp.” Nalia blurted out and then held her hands in front of her mouth, shocked at her own crassness.

That's brilliant!

“And why should you two carry them?” Groder asked.

“Because we are females.” Viconia responded.

“So are Nalia and Imoen.” Groder argued.

“Responsible females.” Viconia added.

And I'm again. Have I ever mentioned before how great the dialogues in this series are?

“Can’t I just stab them in the neck?” He whined then.

Quit the whining, Groder! You had enough stabbing a few chapters ago!

Before being hauled around a corner by the chattering women, Groder saw Haer`Dalis smile and wave at him.

I like that little wave. I can just picture it after his preparation of Groder. Very HD!

The four women remained still just in archway that connected the corridor and the temple atrium. Imoen and Nalia slowly slid blades from their sheaths. Then the guards started their patrol again and the four could breathe easier.

I was holding my breath too. Not that I'm worried about the four. We know what they can do in a fight.

Then the fiend came. It crawled out of the black depths and a wind of rot and decay followed it. The quivering flesh coloured mass oozed pus and dark liquids. It shivered and one large eye opened and blinked a few times.

Urgh. Your fiend seems appropriately... fiendish.

Nalia fought not to vomit and Imoen whom had demonstratively held her nose let go to not offend the beast.

“You ehh… can leave…if you want to…” Groder said while trying to avoid looking at the fiend. “We have no eggs…”

The things mass quivered and then tentacles emerged again, holding four naked grey legs. It dropped them on the floor and then began sinking back into the depths from which it came.

“Eggs… legs… Was it trying to be funny?” Jaheira asked after it had disappeared.

But hey... the fiend has a sense of humour! Awesome.

I think that I loved this chapter! Especially Groder's playing on the trope of picking up guards the stealing of the eggs - especially Nalia and Imoen consulting each other, for some reason - and the demon summoning ceremony... which, since they are the longest paragraphs here, I will refrain from quoting. They were very clear, the descriptions were very vivid, and the action very clearly presented, so, all in all, it was a great job!

And - I think this was because this chapter was longer - I enjoyed the balance you struck in it between the descriptions and the dialogue. Which, incidentally, was also full of great and in-character moments. Suffice it to say that I smiled at all the moments where you intended me to smile, and am not doing a line-by-line only because it would boil down to a string of icons...

Well, if the two drow gals were so stupid, that explains why there were on guard duty in the first place.

The fiend seemed to have changed face, what with the tentacles and all. I just hope for poor Ardulace and Phaere that it wasn't a Japanese creation. In any case, I suggest Groder and the 'responsible' females get out of there fast.

The views expressed by the characters in a certain section of his chapter do not in any way or from represent or correspond with the veiws of the author or the author’s parent companies and various associates.

Awww, whenever my characters revel in bloodthirsty evildoing, it always represents and corresponds with my own views.

“She would, the tramp.” Nalia blurted out and then held her hands in front of her mouth, shocked at her own crassness.

More like, her own honesty.

“And why should you two carry them?” Groder asked.

“Because we are females.” Viconia responded.

“So are Nalia and Imoen.” Groder argued.

“Responsible females.” Viconia added.

Well said!

“Sheesh, you would think that they were married…” Nalia whispered to Imoen.

“They are planning on it I hear.” The pink haired mage and rogue responded.

“So all women secretly covet good looking youths?” The youth asked.

“All women are suckers for a pretty young thing like you.” The bard responded.

Only the really desperate ones… and even then, maybe.

Groder made his way over to the guards whom still looked straight ahead. As he got closer, he noted that neither looked very stoic at all. The one to the left was tall and muscular but her face was marred by an ugly scar and a patch sat over her right eye. The guard on the right was smaller and looked a bit mousey. When she smiled, Groder could see that she had several gaps were teeth should be. As he approached, they spotted him and almost dove on him.

….these could be desperate enough…

The two women looked uncertainly at each other and then they gazed at the temple. Shrugging they picked up Groder by the arms and marched away from the temple. Before being hauled around a corner by the chattering women, Groder saw Haer`Dalis smile and wave at him.

Brilliant idea, this is going to help their career plans considerably.

“It’s not even trapped.” Shrugging she reached for the eggs. ”Amateurs.” She snickered as she took off the eggs and bundled them up in cloth. She handed them over to Jaheira whom in turn put her fakes on the pedestal.

You mean they didn’t even have to fight the golems? How disappointing!

“She could not have done it a little less capriciously?” Jaheira asked and removed the real eggs from her pack while Viconia nodded and muttered. Imoen rubbed the Imps head and the little fiend purred contentedly. Then it received the eggs and flashed out of existence again.

Did they just trust an imp with the real eggs??

The inner summoning room was a domed thing that let artificial light in through a hole in the roof. Apart from the matron mother Ardulace and Phaere there was only the six companions conspicuously weighed down by their packs there.

If they knew that it would look conspicuous, why did they take their packs with them?

However in her rage Phaere did not forget the quivering horror in the middle of the room. The first daughter turned matron ran for the doors of the summoning room. A tentacle shot out and grabbed the fleeing Drow by the legs. Phaere was pulled back trough the air and then sucked screaming into the great eye just like her mother.

I guess she wasn’t well developed enough to warrant further existence.

They moved quickly from the temple and out onto the streets of Ust Natha. No one stopped them and no one took much notice of them as they passed. Soon they were outside the city and after they had passed by the cliffs that made up the corridor to Ust Natha, they headed west towards Adalons lair.

Good riddance to all the Drow.

“She would, the tramp.” Nalia blurted out and then held her hands in front of her mouth, shocked at her own crassness.

Go Nalia! I'm proud.

“Responsible females.” Viconia added.

Ooh!

“I sure hope you are right…” Groder muttered. “Can’t I just stab them in the neck?” He whined then.

Typical Groder...

Groder made his way over to the guards whom still looked straight ahead. As he got closer, he noted that neither looked very stoic at all. The one to the left was tall and muscular but her face was marred by an ugly scar and a patch sat over her right eye. The guard on the right was smaller and looked a bit mousey. When she smiled, Groder could see that she had several gaps were teeth should be. As he approached, they spotted him and almost dove on him.

Shouldn't they be priestesses of Lloth? Or are they not fit for it?

They stalked through the shadows of the temple walls and pillars. Pausing in alcoves when lone guards walked too near. The guards of the temple seemed to have abandoned the fixed positions they had during the day. Had the four women looked at the statue of Lloth that sat in the temple, they would have seen a slight smile on its lips. Following the map that Phaere had given them and with Imoen in the lead, the four women soon stood in a long corridor that would take them to the treasury. At regular intervals almost hidden by alcoves in the walls stood guards. The guard’s positions however made them blind to the entrance to the corridor. If it was a miscalculation or by design none could say.

If it was a miscalculation, then the person responsible was probably tortured. Am I glad to live in a no-drow society, let me tell you.

“Kind of…” Nalia agreed.

It must have looked pretty ugly, because it sounded *very* cute to me!

As Ardulace spoke the last syllable the room seemed to darken and shake. The design on the floor darkened and became a swirling black maelstrom. Then the fiend came. It crawled out of the black depths and a wind of rot and decay followed it. The quivering flesh coloured mass oozed pus and dark liquids. It shivered and one large eye opened and blinked a few times. The iris was red and the pupil expanded and shrunk. The eye itself seemed to pulse and quiver. It looked around and then finally centred on Ardulace.

Now *that* is a good monster description. Creepy. *shudders*

“You ehh… can leave…if you want to…” Groder said while trying to avoid looking at the fiend. “We have no eggs…”

If I was the demon thing, I think I'd be a little suspicious after Groder said that.

They moved quickly from the temple and out onto the streets of Ust Natha. No one stopped them and no one took much notice of them as they passed. Soon they were outside the city and after they had passed by the cliffs that made up the corridor to Ust Natha, they headed west towards Adalons lair.

Buh-bye Ust Natha! We'll miss you! (?) Well. Groder might.

“I heard about Phaere`s little plan.” He whispered and smiled again at their surprised faces. “Sometimes Phaere has a hard time keeping quiet and it is especially bad if you are sleeping with one of your servants.”

And, pray tell, what connection does our friend Sola have to her servants?

He know people.

“Hey!” Both Nalia and Imoen sounded indignant but a smile was spreading on Impends lips.

A lil' typo there?

Well yeah...

“No, she is right.” Jaheira interjected and then pointed at Imoen. “We are the most experienced and I still remember when you confused all the wands back in Baldur’s Gate, Imoen.”

Confusing wands? Never a good thing.

Nope. Never good to get fire when you want ice.

“So all women secretly covet good looking youths?” The youth asked.

“All women are suckers for a pretty young thing like you.” The bard responded.

“We killed a noble once…” The one-eyed said suddenly and somewhat absentmindedly.

“It was an accident.” The other female said and looked sour.

“That why we are on guard duty…” The scarred female growled.

“We said it was an accident. He shouldn’t have stood where we were swinging our weapons.” The mousy one whined.

They are not the smartest bunch.

The two women looked uncertainly at each other and then they gazed at the temple. Shrugging they picked up Groder by the arms and marched away from the temple. Before being hauled around a corner by the chattering women, Groder saw Haer`Dalis smile and wave at him.

I guess it's good for Groder that the guards had the collective iq of a gnat

Indeed it is.

“Aiii!” It cried and held up its small hands. “The mistress sent me to fetch her eggs; she sensed that you have then.”

“She could not have done it a little less capriciously?” Jaheira asked and removed the real eggs from her pack while Viconia nodded and muttered. Imoen rubbed the Imps head and the little fiend purred contentedly. Then it received the eggs and flashed out of existence again.

The mistress = Adalon?

Yep, Prehaps I should have explained that.

As Ardulace spoke the last syllable the room seemed to darken and shake. The design on the floor darkened and became a swirling black maelstrom. Then the fiend came. It crawled out of the black depths and a wind of rot and decay followed it. The quivering flesh coloured mass oozed pus and dark liquids. It shivered and one large eye opened and blinked a few times. The iris was red and the pupil expanded and shrunk. The eye itself seemed to pulse and quiver. It looked around and then finally centred on Ardulace.

Hello there, (Somewhat) Big Bad!

Demon: *waves*

“Me, mother dear. It seems that the house of Despana is now mine.” Phaere smiled.

“If you think…” Ardulace growled and drew a dagger but before she could do anything a flesh coloured tentacle wrapped itself around her waist. The matron shrieked as she was violently pulled back and into the eye of the demon. The fiend blinked slowly and gazed upon them again.

Ah, the loving family lives of Drow. Could be taken straight out of any soap opera

Yep but with more sex and murder.

“Great one, I possess the real eggs!” Phaere told the pulsing beast.

The great eye twitched in its socket and the voice spoke again.

“No…” Came the sigh.

You make him sound so very exasperated

It is tough to be ancient and horrible.

They moved quickly from the temple and out onto the streets of Ust Natha. No one stopped them and no one took much notice of them as they passed. Soon they were outside the city and after they had passed by the cliffs that made up the corridor to Ust Natha, they headed west towards Adalons lair.

Yay, no more Drow!

Now its just surface elves!!

The views expressed by the characters in a certain section of his chapter do not in any way or from represent or correspond with the veiws of the author or the author’s parent companies and various associates.

That... doesn't sound good. Might be funny, though.

“I guess she did a good job with the artisan.” Groder grinned.

“She would, the tramp.” Nalia blurted out and then held her hands in front of her mouth, shocked at her own crassness.

That's brilliant!

THank you.

“And why should you two carry them?” Groder asked.

“Because we are females.” Viconia responded.

“So are Nalia and Imoen.” Groder argued.

“Responsible females.” Viconia added.

And I'm again. Have I ever mentioned before how great the dialogues in this series are?

Again thank you.

“Can’t I just stab them in the neck?” He whined then.

Quit the whining, Groder! You had enough stabbing a few chapters ago!

But he wants to keep on stabbing!

Before being hauled around a corner by the chattering women, Groder saw Haer`Dalis smile and wave at him.

I like that little wave. I can just picture it after his preparation of Groder. Very HD!

Yeah, he is enjoying himself.

The four women remained still just in archway that connected the corridor and the temple atrium. Imoen and Nalia slowly slid blades from their sheaths. Then the guards started their patrol again and the four could breathe easier.

I was holding my breath too. Not that I'm worried about the four. We know what they can do in a fight.

Yeah but against a whole temple?

Then the fiend came. It crawled out of the black depths and a wind of rot and decay followed it. The quivering flesh coloured mass oozed pus and dark liquids. It shivered and one large eye opened and blinked a few times.

Urgh. Your fiend seems appropriately... fiendish.

All Lovecraftian and such.

Nalia fought not to vomit and Imoen whom had demonstratively held her nose let go to not offend the beast.

“You ehh… can leave…if you want to…” Groder said while trying to avoid looking at the fiend. “We have no eggs…”

The things mass quivered and then tentacles emerged again, holding four naked grey legs. It dropped them on the floor and then began sinking back into the depths from which it came.

“Eggs… legs… Was it trying to be funny?” Jaheira asked after it had disappeared.

But hey... the fiend has a sense of humour! Awesome.

One just doesn`t want to be a part of the humor.

I think that I loved this chapter! Especially Groder's playing on the trope of picking up guards the stealing of the eggs - especially Nalia and Imoen consulting each other, for some reason - and the demon summoning ceremony... which, since they are the longest paragraphs here, I will refrain from quoting. They were very clear, the descriptions were very vivid, and the action very clearly presented, so, all in all, it was a great job!

And - I think this was because this chapter was longer - I enjoyed the balance you struck in it between the descriptions and the dialogue. Which, incidentally, was also full of great and in-character moments. Suffice it to say that I smiled at all the moments where you intended me to smile, and am not doing a line-by-line only because it would boil down to a string of icons...

Thank you for the comments. I think I shall try for these little longer chapters. If I am lucky there may be one up on sunday.

Well, if the two drow gals were so stupid, that explains why there were on guard duty in the first place.

Well, they were actually a part of another scrapped short story so there is a little more background on them. But they are the dumbest Drow that ever lived.

The fiend seemed to have changed face, what with the tentacles and all. I just hope for poor Ardulace and Phaere that it wasn't a Japanese creation. In any case, I suggest Groder and the 'responsible' females get out of there fast.

The views expressed by the characters in a certain section of his chapter do not in any way or from represent or correspond with the veiws of the author or the author’s parent companies and various associates.

Awww, whenever my characters revel in bloodthirsty evildoing, it always represents and corresponds with my own views.

Well, it was more about the "all women likes young lambs" thing.

“She would, the tramp.” Nalia blurted out and then held her hands in front of her mouth, shocked at her own crassness.

More like, her own honesty.

But it is crass and Nalia is a proper lady after all.

“And why should you two carry them?” Groder asked.

“Because we are females.” Viconia responded.

“So are Nalia and Imoen.” Groder argued.

“Responsible females.” Viconia added.

Well said!

Viconia: Indeed.

“Sheesh, you would think that they were married…” Nalia whispered to Imoen.

“They are planning on it I hear.” The pink haired mage and rogue responded.

Who knows...

“So all women secretly covet good looking youths?” The youth asked.

“All women are suckers for a pretty young thing like you.” The bard responded.

Only the really desperate ones… and even then, maybe.

I don`t really know...

Groder made his way over to the guards whom still looked straight ahead. As he got closer, he noted that neither looked very stoic at all. The one to the left was tall and muscular but her face was marred by an ugly scar and a patch sat over her right eye. The guard on the right was smaller and looked a bit mousey. When she smiled, Groder could see that she had several gaps were teeth should be. As he approached, they spotted him and almost dove on him.

….these could be desperate enough…

Well, yeah. Although I doubt things like that cross thier minds very often.

The two women looked uncertainly at each other and then they gazed at the temple. Shrugging they picked up Groder by the arms and marched away from the temple. Before being hauled around a corner by the chattering women, Groder saw Haer`Dalis smile and wave at him.

Brilliant idea, this is going to help their career plans considerably.

It is latrine duty next for them!

“It’s not even trapped.” Shrugging she reached for the eggs. ”Amateurs.” She snickered as she took off the eggs and bundled them up in cloth. She handed them over to Jaheira whom in turn put her fakes on the pedestal.

You mean they didn’t even have to fight the golems? How disappointing!

The golem fighting would have been compunded by an enitre temple army you know.

“She could not have done it a little less capriciously?” Jaheira asked and removed the real eggs from her pack while Viconia nodded and muttered. Imoen rubbed the Imps head and the little fiend purred contentedly. Then it received the eggs and flashed out of existence again.

Did they just trust an imp with the real eggs??

Eh.... Yeah...

The inner summoning room was a domed thing that let artificial light in through a hole in the roof. Apart from the matron mother Ardulace and Phaere there was only the six companions conspicuously weighed down by their packs there.

If they knew that it would look conspicuous, why did they take their packs with them?

Well, they figured that they needed to run fast.

However in her rage Phaere did not forget the quivering horror in the middle of the room. The first daughter turned matron ran for the doors of the summoning room. A tentacle shot out and grabbed the fleeing Drow by the legs. Phaere was pulled back trough the air and then sucked screaming into the great eye just like her mother.

I guess she wasn’t well developed enough to warrant further existence.

Well develped enough but this fiend leans other ways. It is kind of modeled after Chzo.

They moved quickly from the temple and out onto the streets of Ust Natha. No one stopped them and no one took much notice of them as they passed. Soon they were outside the city and after they had passed by the cliffs that made up the corridor to Ust Natha, they headed west towards Adalons lair.

Good riddance to all the Drow.

Well there are some that are going to hang around.

[quote]“She would, the tramp.” Nalia blurted out and then held her hands in front of her mouth, shocked at her own crassness. [/quote]

Go Nalia! I'm proud.
[/quote]

She can bite sometimes.



[quote]
[quote]“Responsible females.” Viconia added. [/quote]

Ooh!
[/quote]

Viconia: We are.



[quote]
[quote]“I sure hope you are right…” Groder muttered. “Can’t I just stab them in the neck?” He whined then. [/quote]

Typical Groder...
[/quote]

Yep. Good thing he has people to reign him in.

[quote]
[quote]Groder made his way over to the guards whom still looked straight ahead. As he got closer, he noted that neither looked very stoic at all. The one to the left was tall and muscular but her face was marred by an ugly scar and a patch sat over her right eye. The guard on the right was smaller and looked a bit mousey. When she smiled, Groder could see that she had several gaps were teeth should be. As he approached, they spotted him and almost dove on him. [/quote]

Shouldn't they be priestesses of Lloth? Or are they not fit for it?
[/quote]

Well, I don`t think the guards all are.

[quote]
[quote]They stalked through the shadows of the temple walls and pillars. Pausing in alcoves when lone guards walked too near. The guards of the temple seemed to have abandoned the fixed positions they had during the day. Had the four women looked at the statue of Lloth that sat in the temple, they would have seen a slight smile on its lips. Following the map that Phaere had given them and with Imoen in the lead, the four women soon stood in a long corridor that would take them to the treasury. At regular intervals almost hidden by alcoves in the walls stood guards. The guard’s positions however made them blind to the entrance to the corridor. If it was a miscalculation or by design none could say.
[/quote]

If it was a miscalculation, then the person responsible was probably tortured. Am I glad to live in a no-drow society, let me tell you.
[/quote]

I think most of us are.

[quote]
[quote]“Kind of…” Nalia agreed. [/quote]

It must have looked pretty ugly, because it sounded *very* cute to me!
[/quote]



[quote]
[quote]As Ardulace spoke the last syllable the room seemed to darken and shake. The design on the floor darkened and became a swirling black maelstrom. Then the fiend came. It crawled out of the black depths and a wind of rot and decay followed it. The quivering flesh coloured mass oozed pus and dark liquids. It shivered and one large eye opened and blinked a few times. The iris was red and the pupil expanded and shrunk. The eye itself seemed to pulse and quiver. It looked around and then finally centred on Ardulace. [/quote]

Now *that* is a good monster description. Creepy. *shudders*
[/quote]

Thank you.

[quote]
[quote]“You ehh… can leave…if you want to…” Groder said while trying to avoid looking at the fiend. “We have no eggs…” [/quote]

If I was the demon thing, I think I'd be a little suspicious after Groder said that.
[/quote]

Well, it kind of deson`t care.

[quote]
[quote]They moved quickly from the temple and out onto the streets of Ust Natha. No one stopped them and no one took much notice of them as they passed. Soon they were outside the city and after they had passed by the cliffs that made up the corridor to Ust Natha, they headed west towards Adalons lair.[/quote]

Buh-bye Ust Natha! We'll miss you! (?) Well. Groder might.[/quote]

It will be a bit more plesant from now on.