Delurk - 1/2 Orc story

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After an epic battle, Minsc has ceased to occupy space on the Prime Material Plane. But, perhaps I am getting ahead of myself.

Duharrel was shamed by Korgan and Minsc into exploring the ruins of the Windspear Hills. Surviving and ambush immediately after their arrival in the area, a passing gentleman offered shelter from the elements. Duharrel and Viconia's mutual attraction having reached the point where he was no longer confused by her insult/interest in him, slept with their backs touching (but no more) for the first time. Each found the warmth of the other somehow .... comforting yet ... insufficient. Likewise, Minsc and Aerie fell asleep together - she in his arms sniffling herself to sleep at Duharrel's rejection of her for Viconia.

Heading out in the morning, the group stumbled across a nymph that reminded Minsc of one who had sung a really charming song at him on the coast some months earlier. Unfortunately, that song caused him to lose control of his mind and he had slain an innocent. So, "charging blithely on", Minsc rushed forward - Lilacor uttering a battle cry for him - and nearly sliced the wench in two with a great swing. Aerie rushed forward to step between them and dropped her backpack which opened and the bag's contents lay strewn along the ground. The dying nymph noticed some acorns amongst the detritus of Aerie's pack and asked that they be planted as her dying wish - and with that, Minsc's great sword carved her from neck to sternum. Aerie did as the nymph had asked, covering the acorns and watering them. Surprisingly, the acorns sprouted immediately and three nymphs appeared - Duharrel recognized them from the dungeon - yet Minsc again attacked in a berserk rage. Yosh drank a potion of invisibility and looked for additional cover. Korgan figured that nymph's blood was still blood and his axe was hungry so he swung along with Minsc. Duharrel didn't really give a s**t and went to sit and watch. Viconia just followed Duharrel and offered him a roasted cricket for a snack. Well, three nymphs against the fury of Minsc and Korgan - it didn't take long before the cries for mercy and of pain subsided. Minsc collapsed from his exertions and even Korgan was a bit tuckered out however - those little wenches had been tougher than he expected.

Finally, the group's explorations led them to an abandoned temple. Once inside a semi-hidden opening, the near-the-entrance darkness presaged what was to come - four increasingly difficult ambushes that left the crew exhausted and in need of aid. Back to the light Duharrel led, prayers and offerings to Lolth were made and the group returned to the darkness of the cavern. Deeper and deeper the group went, ambushed no less than twice before they could no longer use the "straight ahead" strategy. Flipping a coin, Duharrel turned west and ran into an adventuring group also pillaging the ruins.

At that moment, Lilacor spoke up about his brother having been a +12 Hackmaster. This encouraged the other group to try to take it away from Minsc. Duharrel, remembering animals having tried to steal his food as a child, reddened with fury and struck out - first to the right then to the left. A brouhaha of nearly deafening proportions broke out as the narrow corridors caused sword blows to be constrained, bounce off walls and echoed the sounds of metal on metal. Viconia again called on Lolth wile Aerie fell to her knees in prayer - she just knew that they were all going to die. Korgan remembered a dwarven battle hymn as he swung his two axes to its beat and rhythm. Duharrel was pushed to his limits as he faced first a man as large as himself then a guy who kept disappearing and reappearing behind him. Yosh's new bow was also making music - though his quiver was empty, his bow string now created arrows as he drew it. As with all battles, they eventually end and so did this one - bodies bleeding, chests heaving and armor dented.

This set the tone for the entire exploration of the maze of corridors, Aerie and Viccy providing support while at most two of the guys facing whatever they could swing at in narrow corridors of darkness. Finally, they needed to rest again. Yosh snuck off and explored, stumbling across a rock wall that seemed hollow. Hiding in the shadows, he snuck along the walls until he noticed three of the largest man-like shapes of stone that he had ever seen - and they moved! Still skulking in the shadows, he found a crevice stuffed with jewels. Grabbing it, he ran for his life as the stones came to life and chased him - one of them so large he managed to elude it because it couldn't fit through an opening he squeezed through. Up one corridor and down the next he ran, shutting doors behind him when he could, just running and ducking for his life when he had to retrace his steps and try to get past the rocks that were chasing him. Finally, he stumbled back into the alcove where Duharrel was asleep and shook him awake - just in time!

Rock scraped metal as blow after blow rained down. First Duharrel had the advantage, then his poor luck returned and he was beaten backwards to the wall by the fury of the stone man's assault. With nowhere to go, Duharrel found strength he hadn't known he had and swung for his life. At last, he stood triumphantly above a pile of unmoving rocks, staring at Yoshimo and swearing that he would eventually make the pickpocket pay for this. Yosh slunk away to find the others... he did, and learned that the other rock man had found them also. Viccy was healing both Korgan and Minsc after their battle while Aerie still sat trembling in a corner.

Locating a cell block, they found a child inside... but even Yosh's best attempts could not learn the secrets of the door's lock. Likewise, neither Minsc nor Duharrel's great strength could bend the bars to free the child. Duharrel offered the child the quick death of one of Yosh's arrows to the great horror of Aerie while simultaneously amusing both Viccy and Korgan. Then again, why waste the arrow?

At last, they found a set of stairs leading down. Korgan recognized the stench - so did Duharrel. It was like that of the great evil in the darkness of the dark forest they had earlier explored. Down they went, prepared for anything - or so Duharrel thought.

It was a battle even the gods would tell each other of - Duharrel and crew against a red lizard of immense proportions. Duharrel had never seen such a beast - never even heard of one. Flames erupted with everyone of its breaths. Yet, this didn't stop Minsc or Korgan from rushing forward - so Duharrel followed swinging as he charged. The lizard's wings repeatedly buffeted one or the other attacker back to the walls of its large lair. Aerie was even blown UP the stairs once as she waved her hands wildly while casting. Korgan's eyes streamed blood from his concentration and scrapes from being blown across the floor. Minsc's armor was dented so badly that even Boo crawled from his hiding place and began to search for a better one. Duharrel, knocked senseless no less than three times, didn't let these setbacks dissuade him from the fight - again and again he charged, the last time to stand beside Minsc as they fought.

The red beast turned to face the direction from which it was suffering the most aggravation and roared its fiery breath once more. Duharrel tucked his head, now in a helm he had found only a short time before, into his breast plate and swung a sword he had also only recently found at the beast. Minsc stood his ground and took once final blow as the flames engulfed him and .... well, there was little left but charred cinders blown throughout the entire area of the lair. In that split second, a missile from Aerie's fingers met Duharrel's sword as it met Korgan's axe which also met an arrow from Yosh and Viccy's mace. The dread creature collapsed to the ground and uttered on last hot breath before it died - setting Duharrel's beard afire. This will undoubtedly leave yet another scar on an otherwise already ugly face.

In the silence of the aftermath, Aerie counted the bones of no less than 25 summoned creatures, remembered casting spell after spell and praying as if her very life had depended upon it - well, it had! Viconia sat against a wall reveling in the glory of a hard-won victory while Korgan just stood and gloried in the smell and feel of dragon blood as it flowed down his armor. Duharrel searched his pack and took that stick that had proved capable of restoring the lives of others over to Viccy. Called back to the here and now from her reverie, she tried in vain to find a large enough piece of Minsc to be identified as him - as opposed to the other carved and burnt bits of flesh and meat lying lifeless in the great hall. It was no use. Minsc is dead... Not even a trace of Boo to be found.

Let us bow our heads in his memory.


NOTE - now the decision is who is to take Minsc's place. The ratio of good to evil to neutral is 1-2-2... Edwin almost seems to fit the group best though Jan is CN like Duharrel. Haer Dalis' has not yet been stumbled across .... decisions, decisions.

Also - shoudl Duharrel with the Thieves or with Bodhi? A lot of people could argue that he has acted in an evil manner, though I would argue that he has merely acted chaotically (as defined as looking out for #1 first and foremost). Suggestions? Comments?

---more to come as events warrant-----


[This message has been edited by Kailynne Johanne (edited September 07, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Kailynne Johanne (edited September 07, 2001).]

 

I vote for going with Bodhi...

 

Last update tonight....

Just think - Lord Duharrel!!! Remember that he (et al) cleared out Nalia's keep some time ago... Well, being a straight fighter, he took up Nalia on her offer of some free gold in exchange for allowing her to stay there. Enroute back to Athkala (to pick up either Ed or Jan, I haven't decided yet), the group stopped by the keep and spoke to the Major Domo.

Seems some merchant decided to try to extort gold from "dummy" Duharrel. Remember he doesn't like to be insulted? Well, extortion is definitely an insult - didn't even need Yosh's snickering to tell Duharrel that the merchant whose caravan was robbed was trying to take him(duharrel). So, the merchant was summarily ordered to be dispatched by the keep guard, the keep's farmers' debts were bought and all's well with the world fo rnow...

BTW, Duharrel received a nice "Return to Keep" present. The Major Domo had so successfully managed the property for Duharrel that 2000 gold was handed to Duharrel - for doing nothing! Duharrel likes this way of making a living!

Funniest scene of the day... As our heroes traipsed into the slums toward the Copper Coronet for resupply, entertainment and sleep, the group was attacked by a rat! This is the same rat that acted as a target when Duharrel decided to test out the actual damage he could do with his fists.... As with people, he could only knock the rat unconscious (for some silly reason) and left the rat lying senselss in the gutter.... and forgot about it... So the mad rat attacked the group when they returned to the Coronet!!!! heheehehehehe

More tomorrow (Friday)


[This message has been edited by Kailynne Johanne (edited September 07, 2001).]

 

Excellent telling. I'm looking forward to more in days to come.

If I may be a critic....Viconia has dialogue about how she rejected the spider queen and wouldn't be offering prayers to her or getting any spells from her.

Isn't looking out for #1 what evil really is. I think your hero most certainly has acted evilly.

 

Subra - first, thanks for the comments. Second, you are absolutely right.. I screwed up and remembered Lolth's name but forgot the name of the God that Viccy "switched" to afterwards.....

Hopefully, that doesn;t ruin the story too badly.....

As for the other comment, however, I again suggest that alignment (as role played) is often in the eye of the beholder (not the monster).

CN- as described in the manual - do not believe that there is order to anything, including their own actions. With this as a guiding principle, they tend to follow whatever whim strikes them at the moment. Good and evil are irrevlevant when making a decision. CN characters are extrememly difficult to deal with. Such chars have been known to cheerfully and for no apparent purpose gamble away everything they have on the roll of a single die. They are extremely unreliable.

As such, if you look at the history of Duharrel, he is anything but consistent - picking up both evil and good, lawful and chaotic NPC companions... making a deal with a cowled wizard who is one of the group that "stole" his sister... killing Mazzy because she insulted him... not killing Minsc after he attacked Duharrel a number of times... choosing the salacious Viconia over the succulently naive Aerie... IF those aren't relatively impulsive acts without any apparent plan, I don't think I know what impulsive really means.

But, as I said, I suspected that more than a few people would interpret his actions as evil.

Again, thanks for the comments though.

 

I side with Kailyne johanne on the alignment thing.. "chaotic action" can be misinterpreted as "evil" depending on what you view as good or evil and how many actions can be classified one way or the other.

However, you also have to remember that the alignment thing is a two dimensional continuum -- Law versus chaos as well as good versus evil. I do feel that actions without good/evil intent can be placed along the law-chaos axis(or continuum) when viewed in a larger context (that is, not individual actions, but a group of actions viewed as a whole). Do they advance order of society as a whole? If so, then you are tending toward LN status. If not, then not only is CE a possibility, but so are all eight other alignment possibiilities - something that mus be viewed from a distance in order to make sense of it!

Anyway...... Lord Duharrel - what a kick! I bow to his Lordship.

 

The High Hall of the Radiant Heart now lies in ruins in Athkala. But again, I fear I get ahead of myself as a storyteller.

Duharrel and his four remaining "survivors" made their way back to Athkala and the Copper Coronet to rest. Following the straight ahead rule, they ran into Edwin waiting for them on the stairs before they reached the innkeeper or Hendak. Edwin said something about joining up and Korgan whispered that he thought the crew was "one light at this point", though Edwin definitely couldn't provide the brawn that Minsc had. A quick glance at Viccy convinced Duharrel that one more body couldn't hurt, so they were six again. After a quick rest, Aerie reminded Duharrel of a deal they had made to recover someone's ring - something about a smuggling mission or some such. But, that had to be done at night, so there was time to kill.

And kill they did, but again, I jumped ahead there.

They visited the High Hall of the Radiant Heart to offer their services for any quick (and preferably not too dirty, Aerie whined) deeds they might be able to complete before sundown. A haughty Sir Ryan Trawl sneered "I have heard of your reputation. I suggest you leave immediately." Almost before the breath had finished leaving his mouth, Ryan Trawl's head was barely still attached to his shoulders after a mighty sword swing by Duharrel and axe blows from Korgan. Needless to say, the Knights of the Holy Order didn't care for that at all and tried to rescue Trawl - what can Duharrel say? Um, too late.. He shouldn't have insulted me? No, Duharrel didn't think so.... and blood became the wax covering the designs on the floor of the Great Hall. More blood splattered and stained the cloth banners hanging behind the chair on the dais of the Great Hall. The leader of the Order emerged from his office as did an elderly knight, "Keldorn to the rescue" he yelled as he emerged from a side room. Unfortunately for the Order, even their reinforcement and cries of encouragement failed to rally the knights as Duharrel and Korgan picked off the knights stuck in a web cast by Aerie one by one by one... well, you get the idea.

When silence returned to the Hall, our crew looked at each other and wondered, how were they going to get out of this mess? The Order was reknowned and respected throughout the Realms and surely this could not help but isolate the entire group from the rest of society - much as Duharrel's scars seemed to attract only Viconia. Without answers, the adventurers did what adventurers do - they looted the fallen and searched the building, finding that the Order was less wealthy than the grandiose Hall suggested.

A flash of inspiration hit Yoshimo just as the crew was about to head back out the main door - ready to face the worst, the wrath of an outraged public. He suggested starting a fire at that door and leaving out the back one... Maybe no one would notice them leaving and the death of the Order wouldn't be blamed on Duharrel et al. With no better suggestion offered, that's what they did....

Surprise surprise... they got away with it... No one seemed to notice. Merchants still sell to them. The Cowled Wizards didn't come after them. Arkanis Gath has not shown up. And a quest from another Temple was coompleted soon afterwards (for points!).


Note: Now notice that this was "in character" as defined early on in Duharrel's biography. He had nothing against the Order per se. All he did was react to Sir Ryan Trawl's insult totally "in character" and try to settle it like he had so many other insulting situations. (Edwin may not last very long do to his insulting nature as defined by his scripts). Many will see this not only as a blasphemous descration of th e High Order, but essentially an evil action - especially as Korgan was involved. However, neither I, the chronicler, nor Duharrel the PC had any intention of furtering the cause of Evil or damaging that of Good.... Things just got out of hand.

But isn't life/the game interesting.. kill everyone in the High Order and get away with it scott-free reputation-wise.

---more to come as events warrant-----


[This message has been edited by Kailynne Johanne (edited September 07, 2001).]

 

Dude! The elucidation and articulation of the role-playing in this storyline is almost as interesting as the story itself. The extra notes as well as the particulars in the story text leave little doubt about why Duharrel acts as he does.

I am curious to know if others also appreciate the intensity of the role playing going on here -- anyone?

Keep it up Kailynne Johanne....

 

I do. It's great.
And yeah, keep it up...

[This message has been edited by Namuras (edited September 08, 2001).]

 

Well I'm torn between waiting for more of your story or playing a few hours of BG...hehe. I confess that last evening as I read the thread, I simply didn't have inclination to play the game of ToSC I have recently begun.

 

I, as player, had a major difficulty deciding which way to go with Duharrel's choice concerning Bodhi or the Shadow Thieves. As indicated in previous posts, alingment is an illusory thing which may be completely different for the person one speaks of and what others consider that person's alignment to be. The question comes down to intent versus observed behavior - only the actor can know of the actual intent behind a behavior...

Thus, Chapter Three finally begins...

Edwin mentioned something about a scroll he had sought, was still seeking, and that it might be located inthe Graveyard. With nothing better to do, Duharrel allowed Edwin to lead the way there. Arriving at dusk, a minion of Bodhi's, a Valen, greeted Duharrel by name and complained about the slowness of the groups' compliance with her mistress's summons and then she(it) disappeared.... into thin air....

Bodhi arrived soon afterwards, explaining that the Thieves were not the only party with information about Imoen or Irenicus. Additionally, with Duharrel's recent liquidation of Mae Var's upstart rival splinter-guild, the Shadow Thieves were ripe for being taken down by Bodhi and her minions. Bodhi offered to hire Duharrel and crew in mercenary like fashion - however, not merely as infantry drones, but as specialists to be used for important missions in her war against the guild. Korgan and Viconia's thirst for blood led them to strongly urge acceptance of the offer while Aerie worried about doing something evil. Yosh advised that this would be a double-edged alliance, with great ppossible reward, but that it was almost certain to make Duharrel an enemy of the Thieves. Edwin waffled slightly, but advised accepting Bodhi's terms.

Duharrel, now both accepted and respected as leader of this motley crew (despite his non-obvious decision-making processes), sat down to consider carefully what he would do - for all of about 30 seconds before Bodhi became impatient and demanded a choice. Impulsively he accepted and, as they say, his fate was sealed.

Enroute the first special mission, the crew swung by for a quick brewski at the Copper Coronet and Duharrel drank enough to become really entertaining. He and Yosh ventured outside to see who could kill the most rats in the shortest amount of time. While Yosh ran and shot his bow, Duharrel chased rat after rat, up stairs, around in circles and in and out of stacks of boxes as the rats evaded his large frame and swinging blade. After about an hour, the slums stood as the only place in the city of Athkala without rats - NONE. Rumor has it that a new statue of Duharrel the Ratkiller will be erected in the slums as soon as a bond issue can be passed - or when Hell freezes over, whichever comes first. By the way, Duharrel won the bet as he found more rats to kill tha Yosh did. Yosh sulked himself to sleep while Duharrel went over to celebrate with Viccy.

Speaking of Viccy, she had drunk enough to become truly amorous, finally renting one of the special rooms for the night for herself and Duharrel. As they walked up the stairs, she whispered into his ear that she wanted to show him special arts known only to Drow females, techniques that were known to make Drow males slaves, eternally subservient in hopes of being shown again and again that kind of special attention.

Early the next morning, on the way to the docks, Duharrel and party were assaulted by Thieves as the group passed the Thieves Guild building. Needless to say, it wasn't much of a battle. Neither was the skirmish at the docks for a shipment Bodhi wanted stolen.

What I was surprised about was that Arkanis Gath showed up for this battle - and died! Oh, he hit Duharrel four times for some 80 points of damage....... But, Duharrel lived to tell the tale - with some considerable scars to document the feat. I hadn't thought Arkanis could die....


---more to come as events warrant-----

[This message has been edited by Kailynne Johanne (edited September 08, 2001).]

 

"statue of...Duharrel the Ratkiller" - oh man, are you on some good drugs........! My bud and I nearly fell off our chairs when we read that... becase that is US in real life! We have all but done that!

 

Bodhi's heyboys...or Eliminating thieves in Athkala

Well, a deal is a deal (until it's not) so Duharrel and crew made their way back to the Thieves Guild and began the slaughter... And slaughter it has been... Be careful if you ever enter through the front door, as even after hiring three maids to try to scrub the blood off, the boards still have that slick feeling as you step on them - must have been the quarts of thieves' blood that were spilled there, or were they gallons (let's see, 8 pints per person, times x number of thieves.... well, you get the idea).

After heading upstairs to even the score with the guy who hired Duharrel to eliminate Mae Var (sorry, forgot his name), the group only found an empty room and a few trinkets in some crates. So, back to the main floor to ransack it... Finally, behind a curtain, a secret door finally revealed itself and "fight's on" became a reality. The "Restaurant room" fight was made easy by a single web, activating a spider figurine and Yosh sucking down a poition of speed and making string music with his bow and arrows. Straight ahead they went - and found the torturer whom Duharrel left stretched out on a rack, rats slurping up the wine Viconia poured over him after Duharrel and Korgan streteched him out none too comfortably on the bed - well, gnawing on the torturer actually, it seems the rats were kinda hungry as well as thirsty... Aerie walked out as she couldn't watch the bloo dbegin to flow.

A key found on the torturer allowed one of Bodhi's ineffective henchmen to be free from the one room, while orcs were dispatched in another (what the heck are orcs doing in the middle of the city inside a building?). So, stragiht ahead and down a long hallway, the group proceeded again..... at the end of it, they turned left and hung up their coats - on the propped up skeletons of the mage and guard they left behind as they departed the coat room. Onward and across the brdige-ladder-guillotine room they went, stopping only long enough to loot the bodies of the dead they created - it's amazing the carnage that hasted, dual-weilding 1/2 orc's and enraged dwarves can cause.

(As with my previous games, the most difficult part of assaulting Aran Linvall's stronghold, except for the fight with him, has been the town training ground area.)

Yosh snuck forward and found and disarmed first one trap and then another in a large underground area that looked like it was a fake town... He walked behind every faake building front and checked carefully before reporting back that the coast was clear. Duharrel led the rest down into the open area and after a few minutes spent patching up a couple of nicks and cuts, were ready to head out. Somehow though, Yosh had overlooked some secret doors or something as, without warning, a group of thieves ambushed the hell out of our heroes.

While Duharrel faced off against the only named enemy, Korgan did the same with the nearest thief while Yosh was forced to play with his sword for the first time since joining up with Duharrel - and he was a bit rusty, often missing. Aerie and Viccy headed for cover/to pray after Viccy was stabbed in the back and Aerie's first prayer was disrupted by an arrow in her flat chest.

Duharrel had his hands full with his foe, despite the dual-wielding of his club and Flail of the Ages. Switching the club for the Blade of Roses sword made little difference as Duharrel was once forced backwards by the onslaught of his opponent in order to sip a healing potion. That gave the opponent just enough time to notice Viccy concentrating on her prayers and heading her way. She wasn't quite quick enough getting to her feet and he slashed her back open as she ran. When she stumbled forward, his sword ended her life....her body quivering in death.

Duharrel finally caught back up to the foe as he headed for Aerie. Her summoned skeletons and sparks from her fingers hadn't done much to slow the foe's headlong flight at her. Caught between a skeleton and Duharrel, the thief showed what he was made of - stern stuff indeed as he whacked first Duharrel, then the skeleton, then Duharrel again. Duharrel finally got in a killing blow and was able to catch his breath long enough to spare a glance at Viccy's lifeless body. Then he returned to the fray.

By this time, Edwin had been cornered by two thieves and was almost holding his own with his staff and some poisoned daggers. Yosh had nearly dispatched his attacker and Korgan was heading over to assist Ed. So, Duharrel tried something he had learned watching Minsc and Yosh - that bow and arrow thing. After three quick misses, he threw the Mana bow on the ground and roared forward, club in hand to bash the thief Korgan wasn't beating on.

At last, the clang of metal on metal, wood on metal and heavy breathing and shouting no longer echoed around the room. Five allies stood where six had entered and it was time to recoup, loot and reequip.

Despite not having a sentimental bone in his body, the hormone rush of Duharrel's nocturnal romp with Viconia was still fresh in his mind. It had been gooooooood, despite adding a scar or two to his back. Duharrel found that special stick in his pack and tried touching it to Viccy's corpse. Aerie saw what he was doing, how crestfallen he seemed when nothing happened and went over to him. Taking the stick from his hands, she raised it to the sky (well, okay, the ceiling), uttered some melifluous words, closed her eyes and moaned a couple of times and then touched Viconia's body with the stick. After a few seconds, Viconia's chest heaved like someone spitting water from their lungs and she rolled over to expel the most putrid bile from her mouth. Duharrel reached down and dragged her out of the liquid stench before nodding at Aerie and returning to his pack.

Needless to say, Viconia hated ever showing weakness, especially to males, doubly especially to males she had reached states of rapturous sexual ecstasy with. So, after a few vicious insults almost severe enough to cause Duharrel to return her to the realm of the lifeless, she became rather quiet as she tried to figure out how to regain her self-respect for allowing herself to not only be killed but resurrected by such a wimp as that whiny little wench.

Eventually, the group headed up the stairs again and faced off against Kaz and his henchmen. Again, Aerie and Ed worked well together - her fireball and his web followed by Viconia's free-action spell on Duharrel meant a slaughter. Both Korgan and Yosh did manage to spill some blood - Korgan finally got to use this really neat throwing axe that returned to his hand after being thrown!

So, time for a beer and a quick nap.. then on to confront Aran...

---more to come as events warrant-----


[This message has been edited by Kailynne Johanne (edited September 08, 2001).]

 

IS the beer and nap for you or the party?

 

Too bad for you they don't reward around here for word count.

 

I thought our protagonist was female now.

 

Julius...one of my favorite writers is Faulkner - does it show? If it's not interesting enough to read, I won;t be offended if you don't. If it is interesting enough to read (and you apparently do), then word count shouldn't matter to you. It doesn't to me.

Subra - I said early on that Duharrel still believes that he is male despite the Girdle of Feminity he is wearing...

The rest can be summed up in Viconia's own words from the game...
"I have lied to you...lies upon lies...Like a succubus, I have whored..taking what favors I could through sweat and passion. I earned passage with tongue and passion...I am a creature of dark lusts..."

Lastly, remember that I said this was the one romance I hadn't finished... that was part of the point of this particular game. If lesbian relationships bother you, sorry.. I hope I didn't offend. So, I am taking literary license with the romance in the recounting of the story (necessary because of the aforementioned Girdle of Feminity having inconsistent effects on the game, its scripts and the romancing options).

-- so on with the story
Duharrel and crew returned to the nearly empty guildhall of the Thieves. Through silent hallways they walked, searching for the one room they had not found and entered. Finally, finally, after what seemed like hours, a small button on a wall revealed itself and a hallway became visible. Carefully, down the hall the party went, slowed momentarily by more orcs (again, orcs in a guildhall in a city? what were the developers thinking?) and slightly longer by ethereal creatures trying to suck the life from party members.

Across a balcony overlooking another training area and down the last hall they crept, careful yet not afraid. At last, the door they sought stood before them.

Aerie and Viccy prayed while Edwin waved his hands and the fighters felt that they were more procient, more secure and quicker. Korgan worked himself into "a state" while Duharrel just tensed to throw open the door... In they all burst, barely behind the fiery blast from a necklace worn by Viccy... Aerie, anticipating an alliance with one temple or another, tried to silence any casters within - yet failed when she was unexpecedly hit in midforehead. There *was* a priest within and somehow she caused Duharrel and Yoshimo to fall to the ground senseless. Viccy stood protectively over Duharrel's body, drawing upon her connections to the gods and her hands became channels of their power - first skeletons appeared, then an elemental, then a quiet settled on the office of Aran Linvale.

It was a deathly silence, yet metal struck metal as Korgan's axe swings were returned stroke for stroke by Aran. Edwin's hands waved rhtymically as he dualled with a mage/thief, each seeking to take down the other's defenses and gain an advantage. Aerie again found her fancy pink feather and looked somewhat silly as she waved it frantically at the thieves inside. But, with each wave, sparks streaked from her to whatever she pointed at...sometimes with effect, sometimes not. Korgan felt himself struck time and again by power and forces other than metal, wood or fists, the back of his mind thanking dwarven gods that he had natural resistance to unnatural forces.

The battle ebbed and flowed - at one point, even Korgan lost his self-control and swung blindly and wildy at whatever was within reach. A couple of times, the deathly silence was broken by just one voice or the other in the room as a special spell returned audible characteristics to that priest or mage. On the hero's side, at one point, Aerie, Viccy and Edwin stood alone together against their enemies when Korgan was somehow controlled by the thieves and began to swing at Duharrel's inert body. Aerie quickly helped Korgan regain his senses and the fight continued.

Seeing Aran fall, Korgan was momentarily relieved and began to move towards a priest to take her down... Yet, a blur in the corner of his vision revealed that what Korgan noticed was Aran himself... Aran still stood alive and well, fighting for his life and that of his guild.

So the battle roared on, seemingly endless, without Duharrel or Yosh... The heroes' side only held their own through the benificence of Viccy's gods and Aerie's ability to block the doorway with animal bodies. At last, Duharrel regained his senses noting that Yoshimo was nowhere to be found. Springing to his feet, Duharrel rushed to Korgan's aid, faced as he was by two thieves and Aran. A priest hidden in a corner seemed to concentrate on Duharrel and suddently Duharrel tunred and swung at Korgan! Oh my! thought Aerie and she hurridly waved her hands at Duharrel. So did Viccy - which one actually returned him to his senses didn't matter and he once again swung at Aran. Edwin reached into a pocket for a hadnful of scroll and began reading them in succession. Suddenly, Aran was being hit by Duharrel and Korgan with each swing.. first in the arm, then in the chest, stomach and again the chest. Again and again Aran staggered backward from their blows. Finally, he fell and did not move.

Edwin stepped inside the doorway, pointed at a thief cowering in a corner and the thief immediately dropped dead to the floor. Aerie pointed at a priest caused her to walk straight toward Korgan who wasted no energy in severing the preist's head from her body. Duharrel saw a last thief heading for the door and charged after him - but shouldn't have wasted the energy. Viconia blocked the doorway and, with a bone chilling Drow battlecry, ended the thief's flight for safety.

The group of five sat in Aran's office, breathing heavily, taking stock of their wounds - only a few minor ones except for one on Korgan's off-hand. As Aerie bound it up for him, Yoshimo wandered back in, explaining that he had suddently "woken up" only to find himself in the "town training ground" area.

After a short rest and a final looting of the guildhall, there was nothing left to do but head over to the Sea's Bounty to enter and be welcome. That, and to decide whether or not to report their results immediately to Bodhi or not.

---more as events warrant---

Well boys and girls, Duharrel finally became tired of Edwin's bitchin' and moanin' about that damned Nether scroll so they headed back over to the Graveyard just for that... Found the scroll, dispatched the lich who could barely be called such and Edwin has been studying the scroll.... Looking forward to Duharrel having another transsexual in the group! 8-) muuwahahahahaha

Wasn't quite ready to go talk to Bodhi yet as Aerie reminded Duharrel that Quayle had mentioned a friend in need of assistance over in the Bridge District. The entire Planar Sphere bit was extraordinairily easy - barely even worth mentioning except for anyone keeping track of quests completed...

Then again, the "player" - me - screwed the pooch on one aspect - I just realized. After completing all of the Mae Var quest things, I forgot, yup simply forgot, to go tell Renal Bloodscalp.... So, I basically threw away a bunch of experience points... What a memory, eh? slappityslappityslapslapslap...

Right now, the group is running around with a Rep of 6 - this after snooping into one house inthe Bridge District and ticking off the government official inside. He called the guards and got himself killed for the insult. What was interesting was that killing him cost reputation points, but dispatching the guards that showed up did not. And the house boy ran outside only to return with a "friend" from outside who also turned red - though none of Duharrel's group killed either of those two innocents.

I am currently debating whether or not to run Duharrel through the Planar Sphere quest before heading out to Spellhold...

---more to come as events warrant-----


[This message has been edited by Kailynne Johanne (edited September 09, 2001).]

 

BTW, what level are these guys now? Just curious.

 

To answer drm's question,
Duharrel - 13/Fighter
Korgan --- 13/Berserker
Yoshimo -- 15/Bounty Hunter
Viconia -- 14/Cleric
Aerie ---- 10(Cleric)/11(Mage)
Edwin ---- 12/Conjurer

Sorry that much has not been told of the day's happenings, but they have really been boring - not even the Darksun halfings that normally give me fits of one sort or another seem to be able to stand up to Duharrel and company's onslaught.

The puzzles in the Planar Sphere that Duharrel cannot solve are rather simply dealt with by one of the more traditionally intelligent party members - for instance, Edwin. Consequently, it has been mostly hack and slash - something right up Duharrel and Korgan's line.

---fade to story telling mode----

However, entering one rather large room with some stairs, Yosh senssd something wrong immediately and backed everyone out again. Swigging down a potion of invisibility, he snuck back into the room and found a haggard wrinkled apparition talking to himself and pulling levers on a machine. Between pulls, the wasted-away individual would consult a notebook, write something down and then apparently decide which lever to pull next... After watching this for a while, Yosh heard the apparition mumble to himself by name - Lavok!

Figuring this would be both an opportunity to regain status with Duharrel and possibly rifle through the guy's pockets without having to share whatever he found, Yosh snuck up behind Lavok and prepared to strike. Sure enough, he accidentally stepped on a discarded piece of parchment and alerted Lavok just before trying to stab him in th eback. Quickly downing another potion of invisibility, the game of cat and mouse was on.

Of course, now that Lavok was alerted, he raised his magical defenses so Yosh had no choice but to sit quietly on the floor and watch Lavok search in vain for him - it took forever, or so it seemed. After Lavok finally settled down and returned to pulling levers, Yosh tried the backstab routine again...and again missed completely.. only escaping by way of yet another potion. This cycle played itself out five times with no significant results.. Yosh finally figured that maybe this wasn't going to be as easy as he had hoped. A pissed-off mage is nothing for a self-conscious, insecure thief to mess with!

When Yosh finally told the group what he had found and what to expect, Duharrel wanted to just charge straight ahead swinging; Korgan barely stopped him at the door before giving them all away. Edwin consulted with Viccy and Aerie, told Duharrel what the three of them had figured out and began reading from a parchment and waving his hands.... One by one, no one could see anyone else....

Three mages coordinating attacks against one other mage is generally a loss for the single mage... Sure enough, it was over quickly... and Lavok lay bleeding on the floor...

---fade back out to narrator speaking---

At this point, I have to say that the fight with Tolgerias was also the typical exercise in coordinated attack and concentrated firepower bringing down defenses and slaughtering those left exposed without them. While the Lavok fight required one reload, that with Tolgerias didn't.. Duharrel even sustained a 99% loss of his HPs during the Tolgerias fight but his ring of regeneration kept him in the battle. From his point of view, any fight you walk away from is one that was not *that* difficult... Then again, his short memory means he really doesn't recall the difficulty of the fight, the use of summoned monsters for assistance, or the illusions created and used as distractions by the three spellcasters in the group... He just barely recalls his own actions and efforts.

So, the group stands at the entrance to the power room, just about ready to enter and explore... However, HBO's new series Band of Brothers has just started and that means at least a two hour delay before Duharel and group enter.... Then again, that might not happen til tomorrow afternoon due to real world commitments.

--edited for spelling and content--- also to add thanks for the nice comment below----


[This message has been edited by Kailynne Johanne (edited September 10, 2001).]

 

This is sooo cool! Don't stop now you're doing a great job on the role-playing and story telling!

Keep it up!