Disclaimer:
Hello again! Well then! I finally managed to get my ass back in writing again (particularly because I'm so sick of studying college stuff 'n' all...). But I'm back with the thirteenth part of NNT. Now what should I yap about first... oh yeah! Legal stuff. You all may shut your ears now. First of all (bla, bla, bla), as mentioned before, this story is totally fictional and has no purpose whatsoever to imply that any member of the BSB is gay. Secondly, also as mentioned before, the setting of this story is 100% based on TSR, Inc. Novels, the Forgotten Realms. The story is written purely out of fun and leisure and I have no intention of publishing it anywhere or whatever. Hmm... what else? Oh yeah, this story also contain homosexual elements, so if you got a problem with it, Boo-hoo, I don't give fuck. However, if you are looking for some hot monkey sex scenes, sorry dudes, you'll be disappointed. I'm just not good in writing about that stuff :P Let just keeps the detailed sex stuff behind closed doors. But if you like stories that goes nice and slow and have more to offer than just sex, oh well, you might like this one (I hope).
Well! Now that is gone out of da way, lets get on with the story. Hope you enjoy it. If ya got comments, objections, suggestions, tips, death threats, boos, tomatoes or cabbages to throw or whatever, just write to me at goldenknightuk@yahoo.co.uk
Anyway, I would like to thank everyone who e-mailed me of your comments and such. It's nice to know that you've enjoyed it. I live to serve (Hah!). All in all, thanks guys. I intend to make this story as long as I can. But ideas do tend to run out quickly. I can always think up of new ideas (if I can get my lazy mind going long enough. It really needs a kick or two at time but it has always serve me well... hmm... well, most of the time). But if you have any inputs, ideas or suggestions, feel free to drop me a note anytime you want, be it through e-mails, letters, pigeons, message in a bottle, Morse codes, talking drums, whatever.
Author's Note:
Another thing is, in case you didn't notice; I have changed my email address. So if you guys wanna drop us a note, sent it to goldenknightuk@yahoo.co.uk
Right! Enough mindless chatters, roll back the curtain and on with the show!
Drew and Andy
Last time, in NNT12...
Far below, Lamelle breathed the last words of her final Spell of Flight as she gently touched Ken's forehead. Ken smiled at her briefly before springing aloft, blade flashing, to join the fray.
As she knelt by the moaning form of Delg and Alvin, Myra was calmly using her own druidic magic to summon insects to attack the enemy mage. Ten paces away, Kevin released arrows after arrows towards the dragon, though the arrows did little damage against the armor-like scales of the great wyrm. The dragon leaned forward again and spat out another of its deadly lightning breath, this time towards Lamelle. As the bolt descended, Garth raised his hands as he chanted his most powerful prayer. The bolt crawled harmlessly away, as a barrier against dragonbreath appeared from behind the two spellcasters, curved forward and slammed together before them.
The battle raged on overhead. The dragon slashed at Keres with its claws, cartwheeling across the sky with mighty beats of its wings. Ken was flying as fast as he could, while the uncanny air elemental struck again in midair and Diana cast down lightning once more. Then Diana rose from her saddle again, snarling a spell, staring balefully at Keres and Ken as she did so.
"Go, Sabre!" Kevin shouted.
A blur of shadow rise up from the forest and her spellcasting was foiled as Sabre scratched her face, screeching in anger. The dragon swooped away again, with Diana hanging at its back, screaming curses of anger and pain as she did.
Myra finished her spell, pointing at Diana carefully, and then turned her attention again to healing Delg and Alvin. From the forest, swarm of wasps, mosquitoes, bees and biting flies rose up and snarled as a single entity in the direction where Myra pointed. Kevin raised his bow and aimed carefully at Diana. At the same time Diana, amidst the pain of the attacking insects, saw him and hurled a lightning bolt towards him. Kevin staggered and fell as the bolt struck at the same time as Diana screamed in pain as the arrow struck deeply into her shoulder.
"Look out! She's free of the insects!" Kevin heard Myra cried out a moment later.
Then the ground shook again as the fireball Diana hurled exploded in front of Lamelle, Garth and Myra...
In the Stonelands, north of Cormyr...
AJ and Howie froze in mid-stride as they felt a vague sensation of panic and pain deep within their soul.
"Something wrong?" asked Beth.
"I'm not sure... I felt something..." AJ responded uncertainly. "D?"
Tessaril looked at them in alarm.
"Kevin..." Howie murmured softly as he stare into the dark shadows of the dungeon. "Kevin's in trouble."
"Kevin? One of your friends?" asked Beth.
AJ nodded. Howie looked at Tessaril.
"Tess?"
"I don't know Howard." Said Tess uncertainly. "Let's move on. We'll think more of this once we get ourselves out of this place and on our way to Shadowdale. Let us hope the good gods smiles upon your friends."
In the Woods of Sharp Teeth, near the Sword Coast...
"Kevin!" Brian cried out in alarm as he halted his mount amidst the pelting rain and howling wind. "Nick! Did you... did you...?"
Nick halted beside him and looked at his friend. Even in the dark, Brian could see the worry in Nick's eyes.
"I... felt something..." Nick stammered.
The eerie howls from the Hellhounds arise again from behind them.
"Make haste, Nick and Brian! Hurry! We must make it to the ruins quickly before the creatures overwhelms us!" cried Galadriel. Soon they were riding hard again through the woods...
In the Astral Plane...
Mielikki, the Lady of the Forest, Goddess of Rangers and the Woodlands, gazed silently at battle that is unfolding within the High Forest. She watched sadly as Diana's spells destroyed a good proportion of the forest. Her initial Meteor Swarm spell has lay waste a good deal of the forest. Her latest fireball spell only makes the destruction worst. She could feel the earth and trees itself cry in agony. Even now, she could sense the attention of Silvanus and Eldath, Goddess of Peace and Tranquility, being drawn to this place.
She also watched Ken in particular, one of her most faithful followers in Faerun. And she is also aware of one of the mortals Azuth seeks, who is currently in love with Ken. Kevin is his name. The goddess has been watching these two for some times now. Like every other deities, she cannot see or sense this mortal. But somehow, she managed to discover a way to overcome this limitation. Through her own eyes, she is not able to see this mortal. But through another eyes, she can!
Gently, she touched the mind of the flying falcon, Sabre. This Kevin has somehow managed to bond himself with this creature. Through the falcon's eyes, she looked for the young ranger.
Far below on the grown, the goddess almost wept as she looked at the destruction of the lands below. The sorceress Lamelle is still standing. The shimmering Globe of Invulnerability around her effectively shielded the sorceress from the fireball blast. Even as she watched, the sorceress raised her hands and cast her next spell calmly. Blue-white magic missiles rise forth out of the thin air before her in a bright dancing group of lights, rushing in a deadly speed towards the evil mage sitting at the back of the great blue dragon. The dragon roared in anger as its deadly clawed limbs missed the flying paladin by half a foot or two. The paladin slipped nearer and lashes out with his enchanted blade. The dragon let out an even greater roar as the blade struck though its armor-like scale and opened up another wound in its belly.
Beyond the sorceress, the partially scorched, Tymoran priest half-knelt on the ground, chanting steadily with his eyes closed as he tried his hardest to maintain the Dragonbreath barrier. Sweat trickled his brow as he mustered all his strength and faith and put it into the effort.
Near the two, the druid, Myra crouched behind a huge boulder, trying her best to protect the two badly injured dwarf and thief from the falling rocks and dirt with her own body. Looking on, she saw what she was looking for. Kevin lay unconscious on the ground below. Wisps of smokes still rising from his badly scorched skin. Even as she watched, she saw Ken landed and knelt beside him worriedly, calling out his name.
The goddess watched in grief as tears trickled from the half-elf's eyes. Even if the lightning bolt hadn't already wounded him seriously, the fireball blast surely would. The goddess looked at the two healers in the group. The druid, Myra has already depleted all her healing spells on the dwarf and the thief. The Tymoran priest is locked in his struggle to maintain his dragonbreath barrier to protect the sorceress...
"Pray to me!" the goddess cried out silently at Ken. "Draw upon your faith in me, my child, and call upon me!"
But the half-elf ranger continues to weep beside his fallen lover. Mielikki looked upon them in frustration. Even as she watched through the falcon's eyes, she could see Kevin slowly slipping into Myrkul's Realm.
"He is still alive, child! Call upon me!!"
In her frustration, the goddess reached out her hands to touch Kevin, intending to heal him. But another hand grabbed hers as it gets nearer to the fallen ranger. Mielikki looked up and her gaze fell upon the face of the goddess Tymora. The Goddess of Luck looked upon her sadly.
"He hasn't call upon you yet, Mielikki. You musn't! No gods can touch the Realm directly."
Mielikki looked upon the scene in frustration.
"Call upon me!!" she cried out.
A wicked laughter behind them drew their attention. Tymora hissed as she saw the ethereal form of Bane looking upon them mockingly. The ethereal form coalesced to form the figure of a dark armored man with long dark hair and pale, bloodless skin. Blood covered the armor and soak the wavering cape behind him. His eyes glowed blood red and filled with insanity and hatred. The man smiled at them and a slow, cruel chuckled issued from his lips.
"Bane!" Mielikki whispered harshly and willed her silver bow to appear in her hands, readily nocked and ready to fire. Beside her, Tymora stepped back warily, magic crackled in her hands.
The Black Lord smiled upon the goddesses mockingly.
"Tsk, tsk. Is that the way to greet a fellow deity? Particularly one of the Greater Power?" said Bane.
"You'll get no respect from me, Dark One, no matter how powerful you are!" Mielikki snarled. "Now get you back!"
Bane just laughed and stepped closer.
"As courageous and sharp-mouth as ever, Lady Mielikki. Even with Tymora to aid you, do you really think you can defeat me?" Bane replied. "Helm and Torm has faced me in the past, goddess, and they were supported by Tyr himself, a Greater Power like me. Yet, I threw them all back. Do you really think you can best me with just the two of you?"
"We're willing to try. We may fall this day and yet, we may not. It's the chance we're willing to take." Mielikki replied.
"Bah! You're beginning to sound like that pathetic Torm. Have you been taking lessons from him? I thought the Goddess of Rangers doesn't thought much about things like honors and such nonsense." Bane sniffed in disdain. He waved them dismissively with his gauntlet arm. "But I have no quarrel with any of you... yet. I came here only to observe. But cross my path only once, goddess, and I'll show you my true anger."
He turned his gaze upon the unfolding battle before them. When he saw Ken weeping over a somewhat invisible mortal, his smile returned.
"Worry not, goddess, for when I have Mystra's power in my hands, you'll not be the only one who will be against me."
Mielikki let her thought slipped back into the falcon's mind. Kevin's soul is slipping more and more into Myrkul's Realm. And Ken hasn't still call upon her!
"No, goddess. You cannot heal him. I guess your ranger is not as faithful to you as you think, for he still hasn't call upon your aid." Said Bane.
"Grief is preventing him from remembering you, Mielikki. He is not unfaithful to you. Listen to him not!" Tymora hissed fiercely beside her.
Mielikki nodded. Bane is simply trying to make her think that Ken is not faithful enough to her. If that is true, then the goddess cannot aid him even if he calls upon her for help.
"Bah! It doesn't matter now." Bane spat out. "Even as we speaks, the mortal is slipping more and more into Myrkul's Realm. I wonder what the Deathlord will do to him? Whatever happens, Mystra will perish at last! And her great power will be mine at last!"
He threw his head back and laughed aloud.
"And when I'm powerful enough, no one can stop me! I will destroy any who oppose me. You will have to serve me or d..."
The Black Lord was interrupted by a voice shouting hoarsely from below.
"Mielikki! Hear my call, I beg thee! Grant me your divine power to heal this ranger before me! Heal this ranger so that he may yet further your cause in this world for another day!!"
Smiling widely, the Goddess of Rangers and the Woodlands turned and stretched her hand towards Kevin, channeling all of her divine might towards the fallen ranger and using it to heal him. So great was the amount of power Mielikki unleashed towards Kevin that Ken eyes widened in surprise as the wounds and burns simply grew smaller and then vanished in a blink of the eye. In the past, Ken has gained enough favor from the Lady of the Forest to perform some healing, but only to cure light wounds - never enough to heal serious wounds such as this. The half-elf ranger has already thought that he has lost his lover forever, despite his limited healing ability...
Bane looked upon the goddess with a growing amount of anger in his eyes. Around him, dark aura of foul magic began to appear, increasing in intensity as time passes on. Mielikki and Tymora tensed as they prepared their own power. Mielikki trained her readily nocked silver arrow upon the Black Lord in readiness.
Bane held out his right hand and willed a dark bladed long-sword to appear. Dark fire licked along the blade, fueled by the essence of the tortured souls of Acharon itself. It was said that the Dark Flame of Acharon is so foul that a mere touch of it may corrupt the most lawful gods and turn them towards evil and tyranny. Tymora backed away warily, eyes never left the foul sword. Bane glared at Mielikki and raised his other hand, which is crackling with dark magic.
"I warned you about crossing my path, goddess," he hissed contemptuously. "Now feel the wrath of the Greater Power."
"Nay!"
A new voice boomed from beyond them all. The three deities looked at the direction of the voice and saw a new figure standing not far from them.
"Silvanus," Bane spat out the name like a curse.
The Oakfather strode forward and stood beside Mielikki and Tymora. Mielikki looked at the God of Wild Nature with a rising feeling of relief within her. Besides being one of her greatest allies, Silvanus is also one of the Greater Powers, just like Bane.
"You will not harm anyone here, Dark One. Now, begone while you still can."
"So, Tree-kisser, think you have the might enough to challenge me?" Bane sneered.
"Mayhaps. You may be powerful, Lord Bane, even as a Greater Power. But we're in the Prime Material Plane now, where I rule. Here, my power is supreme. Now, begone, or face me at your own risk."
Bane snarled angrily and drew more of his power within him. Sensing this, Silvanus called upon his own power, drawing all of it from the plane where they stood now. Because they are also being so near Faerun, the Oakfather reaches out to the plane and call upon his additional source of power from the Earth itself. Soon the Oakfather stood tall and proud before the Black Lord, wrapped around by a mighty aura of Earthen power that is so bright that it almost extinguish the dark aura around the Black Lord. While the Dark Flame of Acharon blazed brightly around the Black Lord's sword, Silvanus white-glowing staff totally outshone it nearly to obliteration. Taking the advantage, Mielikki and Tymora merged their own power into that which the Oakfather is holding.
Severely overpowered, Bane took a step back. At any other planes, the Black Lord knew he could take out the three deities, just like what he did to Tyr, Torm and Helm. But Silvanus was right. The Astral Plane is part of the Prime Material Plane where Silvanus rules. Here, his power is supreme.
With his vision nearly blinded with rage, he stole a view at the Realm below. The sorceress Lamelle has just unleashed her own fireball towards the dragon. The dragon, already severely struck by both magic and steel roared in pain and rage. Down below, the ranger Ken is hugging the newly healed Kevin...
"Mystra's power will be mine, yet, Silvanus." The Black Lord said harshly. He fixed his gaze on Mielikki. "You may have opposed me in everyway, goddess. But you have also unknowingly aid me so very greatly."
With that, the Black Lord touched the falcon's mind and gazed at Kevin through it's eyes. For the first time, Mielikki's eyes widened in horror. Bane smiled.
"Yes. I saw you looking at him through the falcon's eyes. I have been a fool not to think of this sooner."
"By the stars, what have I done?" Mielikki whispered under her breath.
Silvanus stepped forward angrily.
"Bane!" The Oakfather roared. "What are you planning to do, Dark One? You are aware that no gods can directly touch the Realm, are you not?"
Bane looked at the Oakfather mockingly.
"Do I, now?" he said softly. "Well, we'll just have to see about that, don't we?"
With that, the Black Lord vanished from the plane in a flash of dark light, leaving tendrils of wicked looking fog that started to reach towards the three deities. Silvanus simply waved it aside and the tendrils vanish. He leaned against his staff and suddenly he looked very old and very weary.
"It's beginning, I'm afraid." He sighed. "Dark time has begun and I fear for the Realm below."
"What is he going to do?" asked Mielikki. "Do you think he will defy the rules and strike directly upon the Realm?"
"With the Black Lord, who can say?" said Tymora. "His quest to gain Mystra's power has clearly pushed him close to insanity. There's no telling what he will do."
Silvanus nodded. He watched the unfolding battle below. He gently touches the falcon's mind and watched Kevin shooting arrows towards the dragon that is even now battling Ken and Keres simultaneously. The sorceress, Diana, having already successfully dispelled the Globe of Invulnerability around Lamelle, snarled out an arcane phrase and hurled magic missiles towards her. Lamelle staggered and fell to her knees as the magic missiles slammed and burned mercilessly upon her. Shaking with pain, the sorceress struggled back to her feet. The dragon spat out another of its deadly lightning breath towards the weakened sorceress. The lightning struck the barrier against dragonbreath. Garth is fighting a losing battle to maintain the barrier. After the blast, weariness finally caught the priest and he sank to his knee and was forced to release the barrier, leaving Lamelle totally exposed to any further dragonbreath attacks. Tymora looked upon his exhausted priest sadly and gently blew her own strength into him. Gods may not interfere with the affairs of the Realm directly, but the rule does not apply to their clerics. Gods has been known to appear before their clerics in the Realm.
"Keep your watch on the ranger, Mielikki. Aid him when you can," said Silvanus. "I must inform all of these to Lord Azuth and warn Lord Tyr of Bane's possible intention."
Somewhere in the Stonelands, north of Cormyr...
"This way!"
With the deftness of a cat, AJ slid quietly through the shadowy corridor to join Beth, who crouched watchfully before the solid oak door leading through yet another dark corridor. Behind her, AJ could see the body of the guard that used to stand watch before the door. Still unused to death, AJ winced unconsciously at the scene.
"I know what you're thinking AJ, but it's either him or us. They would do worst things to us than we do to them." Beth hissed in irritation.
"Sorry, Beth. I... I guess I will never be used to it," AJ replied.
A sudden rustling in the dark told him of the approaching older thief. Beth put her hand on his shoulder.
"Get used to it soon, AJ. You be seeing more of it before we get ourselves out of here. And our very lives may depend on it." Beth whispered softly. "Now signal the others to come here. We still have some way to go. With luck, we'll be out of here before they notice their prisoners' absence."
Beth padded softly towards the door again and checked the lock carefully for any traps. Finding none, she took out her lock-picking tools and set to work. AJ turned back to the corridor and gave a soft whistle. A moment later, the muffled sound of armors clanking with each other told them of their arrival. Beth sighed in frustration while AJ stifled a groan upon hearing that. He wished Howie, Zen and Derek would not wear armors but the warriors insisted in case they got themselves into a battle. While they don't have their enchanted Cormyrian swords, they have to settle with the swords they acquired from the Zhentarim guards they killed in the dungeon. Tessaril and Howie arrived first. The Lady of Eveningstar still bore the mark of her suffering all about her body, but she strode forward bearing a sword as if she had a good night rest. She refused to wear any armor for it would impede her spellcasting.
Behind them, the two surviving Cormyrian soldiers, Zen and Derek walked along the dark corridor warily, acting as a rear guard. Derek, the younger soldier held his sword nervously while Zen watched the shadows in full alertness.
"Where's Beth?" asked Tess.
AJ turned back to the door only to discover that the door is slightly ajar and she is gone.
"Scouting. She'll be back in a sec," AJ replied before looking at Howie and the soldiers. "Will you guys keep those clanking down? You're going to bring the whole fortress down on us in no time".
"I'm trying my best, okay," Howie growled "Not everyone is well-trained to creep softly like a thief".
A slight clicking sound at the door prevents them from making any other response though. When Beth looked up, she is staring at the point of three swords and a pointing finger crackling with magic, before her.
"Now, that's a beautiful sight a thief would not see everyday," Beth smiled before leaning against the wall. "Nice reflex, by the way."
"Glad it pleases you," Howie smiled back. "So what's the plan?"
"The door leads to a staircase leading to the upper chamber of the fortress. There are two corridors leading away from there. One leads to the guard hall filled with Zhentarim soldiers. The other leads to the sleeping chambers. The door at the opposite end of the main hall leads to the fortress courtyard and on to the front gate. With only AJ and myself, we can sneak through the guard hall without them noticing anything. But with all of you, it'll be nigh impossible. So, I say we go through the sleeping chambers and find our way out from there."
"What if it's a dead end?" asked Zen.
Beth shrugged.
"Then, we'll die young. I don't think we have any other choice. Unless you're up to fighting your way through about 40 or so Zhentarim warriors and a priest of Bane and a Zhentarim mage. And not to mention your favorite priestess of Talos."
"No kidding," said Howie.
"That's not the worst news. I overheard some of the guards saying something about making preparations for the arrival of Manshoon here at around noon. If that's true, we're all in a major deep shit."
AJ looked at her in surprise at her use of that not-in-this-world slang. Beth simply smiled.
"Well, will you look at that!" said Beth cheerfully as she looks at AJ, "I must have picked that up from you."
"We must get out before Manshoon gets here." Said Tess. "We might as well take the other route. The last time, I heard the Banite priest, Laelar, ordering the guards to takes our weapons and my spell book to his room. We can pick them up along the way."
"Well, lets get a move on then," said Beth "And try to be quiet! By Mask! You all sounds like an army of dwarves marching to a battle!"
Meanwhile, in the High Forest, near the Star Mountains...
Shargrailar wheeled again, and Diana shook where she sat on the broad, scaled back from the burning after-effect of the unleashed fireball cast by that wicked sorceress down below on the ground. Her own fireball has succeeded in striking a blow on many of the adventurers down below. The air elemental that had nearly slain her was gone - thanks to the mighty strength of Shargrailar - as were the other, lesser magic that had assailed her. But below on the rocks, the sorceress and the young ranger that had put an arrow into her shoulder still stood calmly. The sorceress' hands moved again in the gesture of spell-weaving, and the paladin and the half-elven ranger still flew after her, low and beneath Shargrailar's body where she could not reach them, one on either side. The priest is on his knees - probably exhausted from his effort in trying to maintain the Dragonbreath Barrier. At least the sorceress is now completely vulnerable to the dragon's lightning breath. Shargrailar will deal with her soon. Right now, her immediate threat is the paladin and the half-elven ranger, as well as that young ranger on the ground with his wicked arrows!
Diana snarled in frustration and leveled her wand of fire towards Kevin, as the dragon dove again towards his enemies. Shargrailar moved more slowly and heavily with each pass. Both spells and steel had struck the dragon, and struck deeply. The blue dragon had felt nothing worse than the sting of arrows for a long time.
'Nor have I met such resistance in a fair while!' Diana thought darkly as she uttered the words to trigger the power of the wand. But Kevin has fired his arrow first and the arrow sailed through the air and struck her again, this time at the side of her torso. The painful surprise caused her hand to shift slightly and the resulting fireball unleashed by the wand sailed over the adventurers and exploded several yards beyond them. Curse that man and his arrows!! Her eyes widened in horror as she then watched magic missiles rise up from the sorceress on the ground towards her in a bright dancing group of lights. With her magical barrier dispelled by that accursed druid, she is powerless to stop them!
Behind her, she heard Ken's battle-cry as the half-elf thrust his blade between two of Shargrailars armored scales. Diana turned, raising her wand, but Keres was there, Shadowcleaver sweeping out. The blessed blade burned across the invoker's fingers like liquid fire, and Diana stared in horror as the wand whirled harmlessly away in the air amid droplets of her own blood just before the magic missiles struck...
The fireball exploded some distance away in the woods but it still exploded with a stunning force, showering everyone on the ground with a spray of dust and small stones. Larger fragments cracked sharply off the rocks they crouched behind. Only Lamelle, Kevin and the exhausted Garth still stood in view. The others lay still under the dust or crouched behind cover tensely. The earth's shuddering nearly threw the weary Lamelle to her knees.
Kevin drew another of his enchanted arrow and nocked it on his bow, aiming carefully at the evil mage riding at the back of the dragon. His near-death experience was traumatizing but somehow he managed to hold on to his wits and continue with the battle at hand. One thing for certain - he will see that bitch dead before the battle is over, even if it means their death at the hands of the dragon.
The dragon wheeled around, roaring with rage, and Kevin lowered his bow. The dragon bulky mass is blocking his view of the sorceress. Near him, Lamelle uttered the final words of her next incantations and hurled several fiery lances made of fire towards the dragon. The lances struck deeply and the dragon roared in pain. For a brief instance, the dragon ceased flapping its great wings but then the flapping resumed though much more weaker than before. They are succeeding! The dragon is weakening!
A shadow crossed Kevin's view for a moment and he stared at the source. It was Ken, blade in hand. He was hurrying to the other side of the dragon while Keres kept the dragon and the mage in distraction. Kevin aimed his bow again, prepared to release the arrow as soon as the mage comes into his view.
Beyond the hurrying half-elf, Keres struck again and again, at the mage sitting at the back of the dragon. The mage twisted this way and that to avoid the paladin's blows until suddenly she straightened with a roar of triumph and then there was a flash of magical light. In moments, Keres was hurled end over end through the air like a husk doll.
Then, the dragon turned ponderously under its rider's urging, and thundered down out of the sky towards Lamelle. The evil mage raised her clawed-like hands and hissed another incantation, as she prepared her final diabolic spell towards those on the ground who had dared to wound her so very badly. Her eyes glittered with insanity and her lips twisted in a feral smile of triumph. The smile vanished, however and her eyes widened in fear as she noticed Kevin readily nocked arrow aimed at her. She didn't even had the time to curse as Kevin fired his arrow. The arrow sailed through the air with an incredible speed, causing a shrill whistle in its wake, straight to the sorceress' unprotected chest. The arrow struck, and the sorceress choked in mid-spellcasting before her eyes glazed as death took her instantly.
At the same time, Ken landed on the dragon's back and drove his blade downward, straight into the base of the dragon's neck.
"For Mielikki!!" the half-elven ranger shouted as the point of the blade smashed through the dragon scales and on through the underlying skin, muscles, windpipes and heart.
The dragon ensuing shriek echoed off the forest and mountain walls a dozen miles away, sending animals and monsters rushing for the cover of their holes throughout the High Forest and the Star Mountains.
Ken released his blade and jumped off the dying dragon. On the ground below, Lamelle, Garth and Kevin leaped out of the way as the dragon crashed to the ground. Its momentum carried the beast through the trees and rocks alike several yards away until it finally stopped - bleeding, broken and unmoving. The dead mage lay where the dragon first crashed, her eyes still open but glazed in death, staring unseeingly at the sky forever.
"Is... is it over?" Myra cracked voice arise from behind the rock where she took cover with the unconscious form of Delg and Alvin.
Keres and Ken landed before her. The paladin, exhausted and bleeding and scorched all over fell to the ground, unconscious. Myra ran towards the paladin while Kevin rushed towards Ken and hugged him.
"We did it!" Kevin whispered at the half-elf ear.
Ken returned his hug and nodded.
"Aye, but at what cost?" said Ken. "Is everyone well?"
At that moment, Sabre swooped down from the sky and squawked. Kevin offered his shoulder and the falcon landed on it smoothly.
"I managed to heal Delg and Alvin enough to keep them alive," said Myra. "But I have depleted all my healing spells, and Keres yet need it badly."
"Garth? Do you still have strength enough for healing?" asked Ken.
The cleric looks at the wounded paladin uncertainly.
"Mayhaps." The cleric replied wearily. "I can try, but I cannot make any promises. My healing spells are still there for me to call upon, but my weariness is blocking me from calling upon Tymora to grant me the power. I will try nevertheless."
"That is the best we could hope for," said Ken as Garth shuffled his way towards Keres.
"The dragon is dead, Ken, and so is the mage." Said Lamelle as she stood from the broken form of the mage. "What should we do now?"
Ken looked at Kevin for ideas. Usually it is Keres who makes all the decision. The paladin has always had an aura of command and confidence around him, and the rest would follow him to the bloodiest battle if he thinks they can do it. With the paladin down, the leadership falls onto Ken - something that he is not good in doing.
"Half of us are badly wounded and disabled." Said Kevin. "All of us are weary and wounded. The spellcasters' spells are depleted and they need rest to heal, study and replenish their spells. I say we find a place to hide, rest and heal."
Lamelle and Myra nodded in agreement and so does Ken.
"Lamelle, check the dead mage's body for anything that may be of use to us. Watch out for magical traps. Mages tend to set off nasty traps or contingency spells in the event of their death, just for the sake of taking whoever defeated them to the Land of the Dead with them." Said Ken. "Myra, aid Garth in his healing. We need them to be conscious and able to walk while we find a safe place to rest. Kevin and I will scout around for a suitable place to rest. Haste now, and keep a sharp eye for any more attacks."
In the caverns beneath the Star Mountains...
"It's gone." Said Maria as she frowned in concentration at the crystal sphere before her. The diviner brushes the strands of her ivory dark hair from her forehead unconsciously as she focused her skills on the task. "The sorceress must have used a Cloaking spell to prevent scrying. I can't penetrate it."
Halaster, face almost twisting with uncontrollable rage, simply said nothing. The archmage still bore the pain deep within his soul upon the death of his most favoured apprentice, Diana. When a mage trained an apprentice, he also became bonded to them. Priests of Mystra speculated that it is some sort of a magical pact made between an apprentice and his or her master. The training wizard must teach the learning apprentice the Ways of the Weave, and in return, the apprentice must serve the wizard in everyway he or she can. The apprentice can use the bond to call upon his or her master for aid should trouble comes upon them. And at the same time, the master can also feel the pain should death comes upon the bonded apprentice and exact revenge on their behalf.
But anger and rage is not the only feeling that swirls in the archmage's mind. From time to time, grief creeps into his being - an emotion Halaster is extremely unused to - for Diana is not only a fine apprentice. She has a huge potential within her - probably a touch from Mystra to become a powerful sorceress one day. She would have been a great asset to the Cult - more particularly to him. That day will never come now!
"An attack that robs me of something so valuable must be swiftly avenged," the archmage spoke softly under his breath.
He turned around swiftly to face the rest of his apprentices, his dark robe swirled in the process. He stares at each of his apprentice silently, judging them carefully from Orannon to Hasufel until his gaze fell to the final figure standing near the entrance of the room. Dathtor Fireblade has served as the commander of the Cult warriors for seven odd years now. A true brute in nature, the warrior's fighting skills is formidable and has been brought up from time to time amongst the leaders of the Cult. Halaster suspected that it wouldn't be long now before one of the leaders will die soon and be replaced by Dathtor. On normal days, Halaster would consider the warrior a threat to his position. But this time, the archmage finally found a use of his warrior's skills.
"Dathtor."
"Aye, Lord wizard?"
"Prepare the warriors for possible attacks. I suspect we will having an unexpected visit from our 'guests' soon."
"As you wish milord." The warrior replied monotonously.
"Galina, Orannon and Maria will stay here to attend me while I cast the incantations necessary to harness the power of the portal and complete our plans." The archmage continues as he regards his apprentices. "As for the rest of you, accompany the warriors and see to our defenses."
The gathered mages nodded expressionlessly. Halaster looked at them carefully before continuing.
"Let it be known to all of you that this will represents your final and absolute test of loyalty to me. Be weak, and you will perish at the hands of our enemy. Be victorious, and you will inherit my power."
Gasps and soft murmurs arise from the gathered mages as they turned this startling piece of news in their mind. Halaster smiled coldly at his remaining apprentices as they struggled hard to control their features - more than one has greed in their eyes. More than one of his apprentices will die today - of this he has no doubt. He might as well send them off to meet their destiny now. The sooner he weeds the weak out of this gathering, the better.