When Shar-Teel drops to the ground, I close my eyes, seeking guidance. I turn my gaze inward, to my innermost thoughts. "Kick her and Mopey-the-elf" one says, while whispers of "rez the lady" and "steely-eyed vengeance machine" compete for my attention. "Room full of heroes" and "she has been kicking some serious rear end" float by my inner eye, and a moment after them "rez the bitch" and "ditch the bitch" fly by on opposite sides. I open my eyes when Kivan clears his throat. I say we are going to the Song of the Morning Temple, and to gather Shar-Teel's things. I turn to the coin purse to count our coins. With 276 coins we will have more than enough. I make a mental note to get Rose some decent equipment while we're in town.

The journey from the Red Canyons to the Song of the Morning temple takes a solid day.



After the bitch is raised, Finch steps in to provide healing. I decide to sleep here in the temple once again.



The night passes uneventfully for all save two.




I braid my hair to keep them away from my face. I need to see clearly in order to aim.

Of course! How can you have your pretty ringlets to fall into your eyes when you play with that bow? I'd buy you a doll, but you won't have it out of fear that someone might think that you are of the stronger sex after all. A woman, that is.

Mani uma lle merna, Shar-Teel? What do you want from me?

I want to get one honest fight out of you. This arrow busiiness is too cowardly for my taste. Are you a coward?

I do what I must to ensure that our group wins a fight.

That's what you told that Deheriana of yours, hiding in the bush with the bow, when those ogres and orcs attacked you?

Auta miqula orqu.

What? Do not mumble gibberlings' prayers at me! Dance the spear with me, or a sword, or whatever other *real* weapon you have!

I said: "Go kiss an orc.'" And pick a male one. That is the only suitable company for you.

I start to get a little worried. Are these two going to be able to get along? Shar-Teel went too far taunting Kivan about his wife. He went solo ninja badass on the bandits for months before we met him because of his wife. He's also a whole level higher than the rest of us. I worry for the future of the party.

On our way out of the temple, I stop to say hello to Gavin, who seems content with guard duty at the entrance.



Not right now

We then stop by the Thunderhammer Smithy to get some decent equipment for Rose, the most ill-equipped member of our party. I buy her some darts, a short sword, and some studded leather. Also, I get her a buckler, the only shield she can use.

.. And it's a bit too tight on the chest, too..

We return to the Red Canyons, another 24-hour-long journey.



I wonder if we will need rest soon, or we can continue to soldier on. When we arrive, we are greeted by Trungle, who looks like a halfling. Or a gnome. Honestly I can't tell them apart.



Yes, we're adventurers, why should you care?

That's good then! You see, I am an adventurere of sorts, of course, I'm not very fond of battle. I like to pilfer objects from ruins and monstrous lairs, and try my best to avoid getting hurt. Anyway, I have a few items that might interest you. Would you perhaps be interested?

Well, lets have a look at what ye have!

Surely, just let me know if you see anything that you like!

He has masterwork, +1, and +2 ammunition, from darts to bolts to bullets. All out of our price range of course. He also has healing potions, master thievery potions, and antidotes. Most interesting are his Bullets of Detonation, but at 750 gold per bullet I can't imagine ever being able to afford shooting them at something. He also has Bolts of Dispelling +1 at 30 gold a pop, equally extravagant. Something that piques my interest is an unidentified ring for 4,500 gold. The tiny fleck of jewelry is probably worth 10 or 50 times more after it is identified, but it is still firmly out of our price range. We don't buy anything, but might come back some day if we kill a dragon or something...

We return to the exploration of the Red Canyons. Daytime here seems to be much safer than our previous night-time patrol. As we pass a small outcropping of rock, a wolf jumps out at Kivan.



At the same time a nearby chicken starts making a huge fuss, probably because of the wolf.



Buc-becaw! HELLLLP-becaw!

Saving talking chickens from big bad wolves! Bah! It'd be much merrier if those were Flaming Fists that accosted you.

Shar-Teel wants to fight the Flaming Fists? But aren't those the law around here? I'm going to have to keep a tighter leash on this one. But for now, we fight the evil wolf. Kivan moves in to undoubtedly tame the wild beast, but before he can get within range, Shar-Teel kills it.



I wonder if she did that on purpose. Those two have such different approaches to combat and nature. Then, um... the chicken waddles over to thank us?



A-A talking chicken? Whoa.. Syvishtar can I keep it? Pretty please?

Aaaaahhh!! Unholy magics are afoot! This chicken is possessed! This bird is FOUL!

If you are quite *cluck* through with the thea-*cluck*-trics, my situation is indeed quite *cluck* grave!

Might I first pose a query? Which came first, and what side of the road did you start on? (snicker)

... *sigh*. Methinks I'll go *cluck* find another wolf. Thank ye for your *cluck* "concern."

Personally I think it's funny, but then I feel bad. Then I realize a chicken is making me feel bad. I have no choice but to approach it again.



Wow, the only talking chicken in the world, and I have offended it so much that it doesn't even want to talk to me anymore. That's... that's terrible. I send Imoen in.



My apologies good... um... chicken. What has caused your current accursed state?

Thank the *cluck* Mother of all Magic, mayhaps now I might end this *cluck* nightmare. I am Melicamp of Beregost, a *cluck* mage adept in the mystical arts. A... misread... incantation seems to be *cluck* the source of my troubling form. 'Tis been over an month since I *cluck* uttered a polymorph spell, and I simply cannot return to my normal *cluck* form!

I have a passing knowledge of magery. Can you not dispel this *ahem* foul condition?

I would but dispel is beyond my... er... rather, I exhausted my *cluck* memorized spells earlier, and now I cannot... access my spellbook. Have you or a member of your party the *cluck* ability to cast such a spell?

It's a spell neither I, nor my comrades can cast at this time. Is there another way I might assist you?

Blast it all! Well, there is nothing else I *cluck* can do except my most hated option. There is a tower directly to the west of *cluck* Beregost, about which can be found the mage Thalantyr. I am his... apprentice, and I am... certain he will *cluck* aid me.

For being his apprentice you seem unsure of his willingness to help you.

Oh, 'tis nothing *cluck*... REALLY! Um, often the relationship between *cluck* apprentice and master is... strained. He will help. I am... certain.

Then to his abode we shall go. I will escort you.

Thank you! It's located just to the west of Beregost. Thalantyr lives in a large manor there. I'll just nestle in your pack until we get there.

And nestle he does!

8 hours into the 16 hour journey, we are waylaid by Worgs. We brace for the attack.



But just a split second later, kobolds suddenly burst onto the scene as if from nowhere.



I don't understand why, exactly, but it is now time for magical wrath! I attempt to cast Color Spray. I start flashing a bright and brilliant yellow.



A kobold seriously injures Imoen at the same time. She drinks a healing potion and switches to a melee weapon. But the potion was one of those goddamned spoiled ones and it just makes her drunk!



I frantically motion for Finch to go heal her, and my movements are easily seen in the night, what with me flashing like a strobe light. Finch does as I say. I also get shot in the back with a kobold arrow. I guess these clothes make me a great target too.



Meanwhile, Shar-Teel and Kivan get done slaughtering the monsters on their side of the group and come over to our side. Kivan charms one of the worgs in a second, then draws his spear on a kobold.



I order the worg to go against the furthest kobold to the east. There's another little yippy beast in front of me, so I swing wildly at it with my staff. Suddenly, the battle is over. Kivan, the charmed worg, and Shar-Teel get deathblows at practically the same time.



Frantically, I look around for the dead body of Imoen, or Rose, or Finch. But everybody is alive. Gloriously, gloriously alive! I throw my head back and laugh loudly and shrilly in relief, my clothes scintillating like a thousand bright stars in the night. We are all aliiiiiveeee!

I might have laughed all the way to High Hedge, I'm not quite sure. Eventually, my clothes stopped their twinkling. When we arrive, Rose has a question.

I like heroic ballads and funny, easy to remember tunes. What about you?

I see. I like all kind of music, mostly because I enjoy playing it and singing. Or whistling. Can ya whistle, Syvishtar? It took a good time out of me to learn how to do it.

Not at all. Unfortunately I don't have that particular feat. Imoen always made fun of me because of that..

*giggle* Well, now you can do some practice while in the wilderness.

We walk to the High Hedge and talk to Thalantyr.



Well... it's rather amusing actually. You see, I happened to rescue this... um... talking chicken...

Chickens do not talk, so quite obviously it is a polymorphed being of some kind. Spells such as that wear off in time or can be dispelled. 'Tis a simple matter and one not worth the waste of my day. Keep moving.

I am quite aware of the mute status of chickens, thank you very much! Yes this is a transformed man, but it is also a man who claims to be your apprentice. That is why I brought him here.

Apprentice?! I have had no apprentices! I teach no one about what I... wait... Melicamp? MELICAMP, is that you?!!

Yes, Master Thalantyr; it is *cluck* I.

I am no "master" to you, and you are no "apprentice!" What gall you have to expect help from me!

He is not your student? But you do know of him, do you not?

A student wishes to LEARN, while this fool wishes only to have knowledge. I will tutor no one who does not understand the ramifications of what I have to teach! Not getting the quick gratification he wished, he instead chose to steal from me!

You speak of so much, but show so little! I only wished to *cluck* learn a fraction of the power you possess!

It has taken me some fifty-odd years of life to gain the power I wield, and the will not to use it. You are but a baby in comparison. Frankly, I'm surprised you changed into such an OLD chicken! How DID you manage that, by the by? You were muddling the simplest cantrip when last I observed you.

I have progressed much since then... and I *cluck* ''borrowed'' a few items to speed the process.

As I thought. Well, it's obvious you can steal my tools, but not my understanding of them. Hold still while I dispel this foolish facade. Can't very well get my property back while it's polymorphed into y... wait a moment. I did not possess any items that allow the casting of that enchantment. Wait... oh dear... Melicamp, listen very carefully. What did you take?

Nothing too valuable, I swear! Just some *cluck* components, a few scrolls, a beat-up pair of bracers, a blank spellbook, some parchment...

A pair of... oh no. You little FOOL! The bracers in my locked and trapped safe?! I certainly hope you can develop a taste for chicken feed, because you are going to be stuck the way you are for a very long time!

I know I stole from you, but you can't leave me like this! Please Master Thalantyr, please... *cluck*

It's not a matter of whether I wish to help or not, simply that I do not have the power to undo what you have done.

What sort of item could cause such a problem for even such a mage as yourself?

The magic that so many revere today was not always the same as it is now. Any adventurer worth his salt should know this, and know that not every bauble they wring from a dungeon will be helpful. The bracers in question were a vain little reminder of... well... it doesn't really matter does it? Suffice to say that I have no idea what their intended function was, and I was in no position to ask their former owner. Years have passed since my... release, and the spoils of that Netheril ruin remain as enigmatic as ever. They resist even the strongest divination, and attempts to dispel result only in explosive consequences. Some things should just stay buried.

Is there nothing that can be done? I am willing to help however I can.

If you are willing, then I will do what must be done, We will need a component that I do not have on hand, and it will be your job to get it. I will require the head of an undead creature, and a simple skeleton skull will do. Bring it back here and I will try to bend a few magical rules to reincarnate this foolish boy.

Reincarnate? But does that spell not require *cluck* the recipient to be dead?

There must be a dead element, yes. That is what the skull is for. I cannot fully explain what I am to try, but it's something of a reversal on the reincarnation scheme. The age of the enchantment that changed you may allow for a loophole in the laws of magic. Of course it may just kill us both in the casting. Such is life. Off you go to some dungeon or another. Return with the skull. Go.

Well, I guess off we go indeed. I remember seeing skeletons at night in the Red Canyons. Perhaps they will give us a skull when Shar-Teel shatters them into a million little pieces.

We go out and get ready to make camp. Kivan especially is tired, and welcomes the rest. As we get everything settled, Shar-Teel addresses me, for once. At least she isn't taunting Kivan tonight.




You've been a useful member of the group.

And you're strong, as well. If only you weren't so ugly, I could see us having some fun.

Warning sirens go off in my brain. Did the psychobitch just hit on me? Greatly disturbed, not sure how to feel about that, I cautiously bed down for the night. Imoen smirks at me from her own bedroll.



Night comes, and we go skeleton hunting. Or rather, Finch goes skeleton hunting. Her boots let her zip around the map and she says Deneir will take care of any undead she finds. But she only finds a horse.



Reluctantly, we go back to the Red Canyons for our undead. When we arrive, I almost get raped.




*Shar-Teel grabs your arm, above the elbow.* Move along, and shut your trap. You must have swallowed a dozen flies already while gawking at me.

I try to wrap my mind around what just happened. Does she think...? Did she just...? Is she going to...? What the bloody hell?! Unable to think of a verbal response, I just decide to focus on the task ahead - killing skeletons.



Calm down. What is this madness of which you speak?

I have been a rural merchant all my life and am thereby no stranger to poultry of any shade or color... But there be a fiendish hen to the east that, when I picked her up, she spoke to me in a voice most human. Either I am in the chill grips of the deepest fever or that chicken be possessed by a spirit from the very depths of the ninth and final hell!

This guy is so yesterday. We all laugh at him and keep going. Right behind him we see a nice sign.



I give Haiass a pat on the head. Eventually, though, we do run across a hostile wolf.



He is summarily executed. His two dire wolf brothers a little further along prove to be a greater challenge.



Shar-Teel rushes in to attack, heedless of her death by dire wolf not a week before, while the rest of us pelt them with missiles. I cast an Azragan's at one, and it looks weaker somehow.



Both of the dire wolves go down, this time without anyone's death. We continue searching the area, getting the lay of the land, when we are interrupted by Zargal.



Time to die, you ugly knobgoblins.

You very stupid for city folk. You die screaming. ZARGAL STRONGEST ONE THERE IS!!!

Ha-ha! This man dares to call himself the strongest in *my* presence?! Perhaps, I can keep him as a fool for a day or two, before cutting his throat.

All die, but you die first!

I am NOT about to start surrendering to demihuman scum! We all attack. We all open fire on the nearest hobgoblin, Geltik. He gets hit many times in rapid succession, panics, and starts to run.



I cast an Azragan's on him, but the magic turns back on me and I am silenced.



Unable to speak or cast any more spells (not that I have any more to cast) I turn to my bow and ponder what the magic is trying to teach me this time. Not to cast on frightened, panicked enemies? It must be. While I contemplate, Shar-Teel gets almost destroyed by Zargal.



She pops the last healing potion and keeps on fighting. Unfortunately, Zargal also has healing potions.



There is nothing anybody can do but keep fighting. We pour the missiles onto Zargal, and then he does the worst. He strikes Shar-Teel down. Again she falls. The third hobgoblin, Malkax, also fires a poisoned arrow at Rose. Things are not looking good.



Finch rushes over to heal Rose, and does so. I realize Zargal is trying to kill my cat, so I order it away. That's when I realize that ZARGAL IS HASTED. How the hell did a hobgoblin get ahold of that kind of magic? I feel a shiver of fear wriggle down my back. My cat continues to run away from Zargal, while Haiass tries to attract his attention. He does, eventually, and the two engage in a drawn-out duel until one of Imoen's arrows kills the beast.



I call my wolf to me. He is Badly Injured. We need to regroup before we take on the hobgoblin with poison arrows. Haiass runs around a small bit of earth and comes up behind me, near my cat. For some reason I feel that if Haiass dies, I die. I instruct my comrades to form a firing line. We're going to do this old-school.



Kivan starts with a strong lead, melting out of the shadows to let an arrow fly. We all follow his example, while Rose sings the song of victory.



Our arrows (and bullets) fly true, while Malkax's arrows all fly false. The bastard couldn't hit the side of a barn! Finally, Imoen hits him in a vital organ, and the beast falls. We have one tiny moment of triumph when the third hobgoblin, Geltik, stumbles back into view, Near Death. Both he and Kivan let arrows fly at the same moment.



Geltik's arrow hits Finch, splashing her blood onto her scrolls. Kivan's arrow hits Geltik, dropping him to the ground for the last time. Finch reflexively casts a heal and is back to normal. Now, finally, the battle is over. It looks like there will be no skeleton-hunting tonight. We will be going back to the Song of the Morning Temple. I sigh and prepare to loot everything. This is getting to be routine, I think to myself.

I giggle just twice.

This all seems too much for Kivan, and he immediately engages me in conversation.



The Forest of Shadows...

Yes, it means the "Forest of Shadows". Of late I often think that for me it is indeed full of shadows.

Is this yet another "weep along" session? A jolly wench without much remorse is what you need, elf. I'll buy one for ye.

I lived long in solitude, and it seems that I am now prone to talking excessively. Forgive me, Syvishtar, I shall leave you to your privacy.

Vorgen fucked around with this message at 19:15 on Nov 20, 2011

Vorgen fucked around with this message at 20:54 on Sep 20, 2011

Tax Refund fucked around with this message at 21:25 on Sep 20, 2011

Servetus fucked around with this message at 00:20 on Sep 21, 2011

Vorgen fucked around with this message at 03:39 on Sep 21, 2011

We travel the long, hard road back to the Song of the Morning Temple.



First thing we do is sell the Wakizashi, Quarterstaff, and the other junk that we collected from smaller fights. That all works out to 1200 gold! The Wakizashi itself was 1000 gold. We're rich! Because we're rich now, I spring for a Resurrection for Shar-Teel, which is 150 gold, rather than a normal Raise Dead. Resurrection also heals her back to full. The first thing she does when she wakes up is turn to me.




*Shar-Teel squints at you, as if you were a mortal enemy or something impossibly bright.*

She doesn't give any explanation for her behavior, and I don't ask. With so much money suddenly, I think we might be able to get some better equipment for the strange woman. We stop by Thunderhammer Smithy to see what's available. Unfortunately, plate mail is 1800, even with Imoen's sweet-talking, and some magical Splint Mail +1 is 3,000. We'll have to wait a bit longer.

Since we're in Beregost, I go talk to that Perdue guy again about his sword that we found. He doesn't seem to remember us, because he asks the same question as before.



It's a slam dunk that we did! Every man on Faerun fits this description! *laughs*

I'm wastin' me time on ye idiots.

A dog's head?

You 'eard me. A dog's 'ead. And breath that could peel paint, too.

Oh, a gnoll!

Yeah, a gnoll. There's one 'oled up in the hills due west of 'ere, close to the High Hedge. drat thievin' ball-o-fur stole my short sword two days back.

Never liked them myself. How much would that blade be worth to a runty guy like you?

Yeah, yeah. Lay off the short-guy jokes, they're older than your grandmother's uncle. The drat blade ain't worth nothing. It's a pride thing. I'll give ya 50 gp if ya wipe 'is arse with it.

You've got yourself a deal.

Yeah, yeah.

He doesn't seem to realize that I am saying that I've got the sword, so I have to talk to him again.

We decide to hang around in the Inn a bit more, or at least Imoen does. We just kindof follow her lead in these types of situations. She goes up stairs and meets a guy named Raleo.



One thing I've learned is that you hear more interesting stories on the road than staying in an inn. *sighs* When I was er... staying in the inn, as soon as some traveller from afar would start a good tale, everyone else would shout for ale and food... and I never would hear the whole story. I had to fill in all the missin' bits on my own.

What can you tell me of Beregost?

What would you like to know? I have met many of the locals and I know a bit of history as well.

What are the concerns of the day? How have the troubles lately affected people?

Hmm? Oh, I suspect you mean the iron shortage? I imagine it has affected the local smithy quite a bit. Taerom is a wonderful blacksmith, but he's got a lot of time on his hands these days. His shop is still reasonably stocked, but I thik he's looking for other materials to work on these days. Not sure what that might be, but he's quite adept at exotic materials. Anything else I can help you with?

Any outstanding quests that need resolution? I fancy myself a bit of an adventurer.

An adventurer, eh? Well, if you are up to the task I hear there are strange things in the Ulcaster School Ruins southeast of town. I would nae go down there unless you are quite sure of your abilities though. Many a well-meaning fellow has gone and not come back. Only for those adept in battle. Other than that, I know that the lady Mirianne has been awaiting news of her husband for some time. He was to come up from Amn but is overdue. I know she would be grateful for any news. She lives on the east edge of town if you find anything. Anything else you would like to know of?

No, thanks. You have been a great help.

Not a problem. Always a pleasure making new friends.

Imoen goes to look around a bit and then comes back downstairs. She whispers something to Rose, and the two giggle. I idly ask what's going on and they tell me it's a girl thing. I don't pry further. Imoen encourages everybody to have some drinks, since we're rich now, while she and Rose take care of some things.





[Charisma] - I assure you, that wasn't my doing. However, I did see a hooded woman pass nearby mere moments ago. Perhaps that was the real culprit?

Hmm... I will let you off with a warning, this time.

However, know that you will be watched much more carefully from now on!



[Charisma] - I assure you, that wasn't my doing. However, I did see a hooded woman pass nearby mere moments ago. Perhaps that was the real culprit?

Hmm... I will let you off with a warning, this time.

However, know that you will be watched much more carefully from now on!

Rose comes back to Imoen a few minutes later with a frustrated look on her face. Imoen passes her a dark-looking bottle. I take another drink, and when I look back Rose is nowhere to be seen.





[Charisma] - I assure you, that wasn't my doing. However, I did see a hooded woman pass nearby mere moments ago. Perhaps that was the real culprit?

Hmm... I will let you off with a warning, this time.

However, know that you will be watched much more carefully from now on!

The next time I see Rose she is even more frustrated than ever. Imoen suggests we move to the Burning Wizard, so we all go! Imoen and Rose repeat their strange behavior once we get there, disappearing upstairs almost immediately.



Firewine? What and where is that?

Firewine Bridge ruins is what I mean. She be pretty far to the south and east, but a strong pair o' legs will get ye there just fine. I would make sure that they are strong enough to bring ye BACK too though. The Firewine ruins might be quite the deathtrap for the inexperienced adventurer. Mind ye remember that, and don't blame old Spen if ye lose a few of yer fellows stumbling about within.

Firewine Bridge... that sounds familiar... where did I hear it? Uhm... In any case, ruins are ALWAYS full of treasure! And since we're experienced adventurers, we've nothin' ta worry about. Let's go there one day.

What else can you tell me of it?

What? Do I look like I be fool enough to go tromping about in such a place? Not likely. Ye want more info, ye go talk to them halflings in Gullykin. They be curious about such things, and will probably help ye. I warn ye again though, it ain't no place fer a youngin! Ye go there and yer just looking for tough trouble. Best ye cut yer teeth somewhere else before ye throw yer lives down that hole.

And what of Beregost? Anything interesting here?

Hereabouts? The temple to the east be an intereesting view, if ye like that sort of thing. I don't! Don't like much, actually. Don't think I like you, either. Ehh, leave me to my readin'.

Always the nice girl, Imoen does.

We go outside, and Rose begins to tell us a story about one of her many adventures. She works the town obelisk into it, so we look at it while she tells the story. I don't see Imoen open a locked door and slip inside except from the corner of my eye, and I don't really register what's happening. During the story, Shar-Teel squints at me again, in the same way that she did in the Temple. What is up with her?





At the girls' urging, we walk around the streets for a while just soaking in the ambiance of Beregost. It really reaches Kivan, because he again begins to talk about sunsets.

I see the sun setting and clouds turning pink... I am thinking that it is going to be dark soon, and we should be thinking of setting up a camp.

You are luckier than I am, then. I see the sky smeared with blood... Deheriana's blood.

We shall avenge Gorion's and your Deheriana's death. Maybe then the sunset will not be an ominous sight for you.

Syvishtar, I hope that such a day will come. Maybe we will stand together then, watching the sun set while dreaming of the dawn... as befits a happy person.

Imoen keeps slipping in and out of the group. She's always a curious one.



Eventually we find ourselves wandering near Feldpost's Inn, and something catches my eye.



I wonder what she means, but Rose just rolls her eyes and tells me she's useless because she has no items. I keep trying to put that together but... just... can't. We enter Feldpost's Inn, and have a good look around. I realize that I didn't pay much attention to this place before, but it's really quite swanky. Imoen likes the patrons, as always.



I'd like to have a key made.

Do you have a copy of the key?

No.

That will make it more difficult, but not impossible.

Which house is yours?

The one behind the Burning Wizard.

I can make a key for the house, but I'll have to make a cast of the lock... very difficult work. It will take me all day, and it will cost you 1,500 gp. Payable in advance.

You should be able to do it for half that!

How about I make you half a key? Sorry, but I cannot do it for less than 1,500 gp and I need the gold now.

I don't have that much coin on me.

I'm not going anywhere.

Imoen keeps talking to everyone. One guy seems to be singing whenever she comes by.











Then he walks out the front door, never to be seen again. Imoen and Rose then go upstairs together. At this point nobody cares because we're all drunk. We're not the only ones though.



The guy's in the hallway! Rose decides to see what he's got on him.

Imoen seems to be having some initial trouble with her lockpicking, but when she reaches for her mysterious artifact everything seems to go smoothly.



She finds four longswords. What a strange thing to keep in an Inn. We consider this place to be a great place to end the night, and rent a Royal room for ourselves.



As we are bedding down for the night...




Oh, no... it's not what you are thinking, Shar-Teel. I wanted to talk.

*grins* Just to talk? Ha!

*reaches with her hand for the front of your breeches* Wouldn't you rather?

*cough* Now, that you mentioned it... you do that *rather* better than talking.

Listen, you, lover-boy, and listen carefully.

*She crooks her finger at you.*

*I* will tell you when I want you. Now leave me alone.

And with that, we all fall into a drunken slumber. I am not disturbed at all. Nope, not me! When we wake up, Rose seems to be in a wistful mood.



I like my life as it is. I have many dreams, but none so that important. What about you instead?

Oh, I'd just love to become an actress. That would be wonderful.

An actress? You're a pretty good singer, I think it could be easy for you to find a role.. Or is it that where you lived there weren't playhouses?

I used to live in Athkatla, there is a playhouse in the bridge district but my parents never allowed me to give it a try.

I see.. So that's the reason you left your home?

Well, sorta. That's one, but there are others. Mayhap I'll tell ya one of these days.




And there's that, too. Is Shar-Teel showing off her strength because she's jealous of Rose talking to me? That woman is inscrutable. We go outside again.

I finally catch on to the fact that Imoen and Rose are fleecing the whole town, and I am a little surprised. But I tell them I don't care, so they can stop their pretense. Imoen suggests we start working on the west block.



She has trouble with one lock, so she calls in Shar-Teel to break it open. Shar-Teel can't seem to pry it open either, though, so Imoen goes for her artifact. Then it opens.

The next house goes well too.



While Imoen is busy going house-to-house in a rather different fashion from before, Rose nonchalantly asks Finch about this cloak she's had for a while now. Finch examines it and gets excited.



When Rose realizes what it does, she immediately puts it on and strikes a pose. I think even Shar-Teel is impressed at the figure she cuts. In one of the houses that Imoen visits, she finds a potion.



We think Finch might like this. In another house, Rose and Imoen's plan doesn't work. Even though Rose tries to talk to the guy there to distract him, he is too observant.



The girls try to run out of the house, but a Flaming Fist mercenary catches them before they make it.



[Charisma] - This is simply a misunderstanding, I assure you. I will gladly pay the appropriate fine and resolve this issue peacefully.

Very well. According to the rule book, the appropriate fine for this misbehavior would be...

250 gold pieces.

Alright, I will pay.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Imoen continues making the secret rounds throughout the town, while the rest of us just kinda wait around in the street. Soon enough Rose starts talking, just to pass the time.



Mmh? Where?

Here, let me show you.

See, that one? It's weird. Plus it has really sweet colors. Love how the sunset paints the sky.

Oh, you're right! That's funny. You do enjoy yourself, don't you?

You always have to take the best from the life, that's what I think. Don't ya agree?

I couldn't agree more. Actually, I too think life is to be enjoyed.

I'm glad of that, Syvishtar. *yawn* Could we rest a bit, please?

I tell her that we can rest when night comes. A little later, Kivan mutters under his breath.

The city is an example of man's excesses. Ugh... I wish we would be gone from this miserable place.

Suddenly, for no reason, Shar-Teel looks at me.




Who do you think I am to bed with a man every night, my mother? I won't let you put a bastard in my belly and make me beg for your favors because of it.

Ah, so that was my plan all along? Never mind the assassins; never mind avenging my father's murder! Sure, my life's goal is to sire a bastard child on Shar-Teel! Women...

Don't you 'women' me! I am not my mother!

I know, I heard. You are not your mother. In the spirit of enlightenment, perhaps you can tell me just who is your mother?

Was. She was a whore, and now she is dead.

I see. How did she die?

She died in birthing her husband's third child.

Husband? I thought you said she was a whore?

She was, before my father knocked her up. As he tells it, she then threatened to tell everyone that she was pregnant by the hero of Fort Flame's defense, and ruin his career with the Flaming Fist. He agreed to marry her.

What... what was your mother's name, Shar-Teel?

*shrugs* Verana, if you need to know.

Ah, well.

For a minute there I thought her mother might have a famous name, but doesn't seem like it. I wonder if I want to delve further into this warrior woman's psyche at all. But I push that out of my mind when we hear the Signal from inside the current house. Imoen has been caught again! But the signal came from the second floor. I don't know quite what to do, so I send Kivan in stealthed.



Or at least I try to... he doesn't seem to be having an easy time finding a place to hide here.

Finally my fellow elf figures out a way to make it work, and Kivan enters the house and sneaks past two Flaming Fist guards to get to the stairway to the second floor.



Turns out Imoen is encumbered from carrying too much loot and can't walk fast enough to make a run for it. Also, she was seen breaking into one of the chests downstairs and panicked, running upstairs away from the guards. Rose wasn't with her then, because she was looking at the clouds with me... oops? Kivan takes some of the stuff Imoen has collected, so that she can walk normally again. She was carrying lot of bastard swords, daggers, and spears for some reason.



Not wanting to pay another fine, the two then try to hide in the shadows and sneak out of the house.



After a few attempts, both of them manage to sneak out without anybody noticing. Then Imoen says she can totally go back in and swipe the few things she missed, and the mercs won't even know she was there! But I drag her away and tell her to try it again another time. Instead we go to the Thunderhammer Smithy to turn our illicit gains into gold. On the way, Shar-Teel growls at me.



Again? I didn't think we had yet... best not dwell on it. When we get to the Smithy, Imoen asks Rose if she can borrow her cloak, to which the other woman readily agrees. Imoen then casts that spell she's always casting before talking to merchants [Friends] and suddenly I can't remember why I never noticed how absolutely amazing my childhood friend is! I just can't help but stare.



Imoen talks to Taerom, and sells him back all the stuff she can. He also seems to be a little dazed at Imoen's bright and happy demeanor. After all is said and done, we have... 1917 gold! We immediately purchase the platemail and give it to Shar-Teel.





Hopefully this will keep the psychohottie alive from now on.

I gather everybody up and tell them that we're going to go to the Red Canyons, we're going to kill some skeletons, and we're going to kick some serious rear end. They all cheer, and we set off for the Red Canyons again.

Vorgen fucked around with this message at 18:00 on Sep 24, 2011

Vorgen fucked around with this message at 18:42 on Sep 23, 2011