Disclaimer:
Hello again! I'm back with the third part of NNT. First of all, (sigh! not again...) 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, hmm... too bad. Who asked you to come here anyway? 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 zan@oceanfree.net
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.
Right! Enough mindless chatters and on with the show!
Drew and Andy
In Lurkwood Forest...
He felt like he has been swimming in an everlasting darkness. He moved his head slowly and groaned. His head is pounding like mad, and he felt very cold. Someone shook him from the side and he wondered irritatingly who it is.
"Kevin. Kevin, you awake?"
Kevin recognizes the voice. He searches his mind slowly. He opened his eyes and everything fell back into place when he saw Ken looking at him worriedly.
"Kevin! Thank the gods, you're awake."
Another face appeared beside Ken.
"Here now, Ken. Ye leave the poor lad alone fer a while. How is his wits going to heal if ye keep on blubbering over him like that?" asked Garth.
"It's okay, Garth. I'm all right." Said Kevin as he sat up. "Where am I?"
"Back at the camp. You fainted right after Garth healed you." Said Ken as he held on Kevin's hand.
"Ye rest fer now, lad. You took quite a beating during the attack. Don't worry about that now. Keres and the others have dealt with most of those Zhentarim dogs." Said the cleric.
"Most?" asked Kevin.
"The leader managed to escape. He nearly killed me in the process." Said Ken as he showed a huge scar at the side of his torso."
"Can you stand lad?" asked Garth.
Kevin slowly stood with Ken's help.
"Come, Lamelle has prepared the food. We have to eat quickly and then move on. That Zhentarim will surely come back with more reinforcement." Said Ken.
They made their way to the campfire. Lamelle and the others looked up at the trio.
"Ah, Kevin! How do you feel?" she asked warmly.
"Felt like I've been taken apart and put back together with a lot of pieces missing." Kevin grumbled. Delg chuckled deeply.
"Ye'll get used to it, lad. After all, this is yer first battle."
"Eat, Kevin. You'll feel better soon." Lamelle urged encouragingly.
"Where's Keres and Alvin?" asked Kevin.
"Keeping a look out in the woods. They should be here soon," Lamelle replied as she passed a bowl of stew to Garth.
"Never fear, good lady. Alvin the hero is here." They turned and saw Alvin striding out of the woods with Keres behind him.
"How are you feeling, Kevin?" asked Keres.
"I've felt better." Kevin replied.
"So, when are we going to make our move?" asked Garth.
"As soon as we finish out meal. I am still uneasy of the fact that the Zhent leader managed to escape." Keres replied. "Kevin, do you have any idea why they are after you?"
Kevin shook his head.
"I don't know. They just appeared before us and attacked."
"It must be connected to his sudden appearance into the Realm." Said Ken.
"Why do you say that?" asked Lamelle.
"Because according to the leader, the Zhents are not only after Kevin here, but also the rest of his friends." Said Ken softly. Kevin nodded worriedly.
"If them Zhents are after ye, lad, then ye must be very important indeed." Delg grumbled. "But why? What would a bunch of young lads would interest the Zhents so?"
"Tell us again about how you got here, Kevin. Maybe we could find some clue as to what is going on." Said Lamelle.
Kevin told the party again about how they were whisked into the swirling vortex and the appearance of the silver haired lady. Lamelle and Garth frowned thoughtfully.
"Have ye seen this silver haired lady before?" asked Garth.
"No, I haven seen her before. She is even more beautiful then the..." Kevin stopped as he remembered the strange dream he had a while ago.
"Kevin? What's wrong?" asked Ken.
"Shadowdale." Kevin managed to breathe out.
"What?" asked Keres.
"Shadowdale. We... I must go to Shadowdale. I will meet the rest of my friends there. The lady asked us to go there." Said Kevin.
"Wha... what are ye talking about lad?" asked Delg.
"I... I had a strange dream..." Kevin proceeds to tell them about the dream. Now everyone frown in thought.
"Selune? You mean Selune, the Goddess of the Moon herself, appeared before you in your dream?" asked Alvin wonderingly.
"That what she told us her name, and I... I believe her." Said Kevin. "Now that I start thinking about her, she... she somewhat reminds me of that silver hair lady."
"What do you mean?" asked Ken.
"I'm not sure. It just that this Selune has somehow an aura of... power around her." Said Kevin.
"Of course she has, she is a goddess." Said Alvin.
"I think the silver haired lady is a goddess too, because she has the same aura around her too. Only that her aura is more... intensified. More powerful." Said Kevin.
Alvin, Lamelle and Delg begin to fidget uncomfortably.
"This is just great. It's bad enough that we have the Zhents after us, now ye are telling me that the gods are somehow involved..." Delg grumbled slowly.
"Aye. I'm beginning to sense that we have stumbled into the affair of the gods fer some reason." Said Garth.
"I told you he is part of something big." Said Lamelle.
Ken holds Kevin's hand tightly.
"So, what are we going to do?" asked Garth.
Kevin looked up at the rest of the group.
"I'm... I decided to go to Shadowdale." He gulped once at the prospect of traveling alone. "If I don't find my friends there, maybe I could find some answer or probably a way back to my world. But I won't force any of you to come with me."
Kevin stood up and looked at the rest of the group.
"I am very grateful with all of you, for taking me into your group, for taking care of me, and for saving my life. I will always be in debt with all of you. In fact, you are the only friends I have in this world." He said softly. "But I cannot abandon my friends. If these Zhentarim is after all of us, then I must find them quickly. All these time, I tried to find any clue as to their whereabouts. Now, I found my first lead, and that is to Shadowdale. I may or may not find my friends there, but it is the only lead I got and I decided to take it."
"Even if it might means walking into a possible trap?" asked Keres.
Kevin sat in silence for a moment before nodding.
"It's a chance I'm willing to take."
The group looked at him in silence for a moment. Then Ken stood and walked to Kevin's side.
"I will follow him." Said the half-elven ranger quietly. "Because he is my friend, my student as well as the man I love."
Kevin looked at him in surprise at his revelation. Ken just smiled at him and holds his hand tightly. Kevin smiled back. If any of the others have problem with it, to hell with them.
Lamelle smiled widely and walked over to them and hugged them both.
"I'm really glad you're together at last!" she said warmly. She turns toward the rest. "I'm going with them."
Garth turns to Alvin and held out his hand.
"Ye owe me a gold coin Alvin and Delg. I told ye those two are in love with each other." He chuckled.
Alvin and Delg hand over the coins sourly.
"I will never play a betting game with any priest of Tymora again," said the thief. He looked at Kevin and smiled. "Garth and I will go with you, Kevin. We are always on a look out for more adventure."
Garth nodded.
"Aye. Beside, if it is true that the gods are truly involve in this, ye need Tymora's good grace at yer side most of the time." Said the cleric.
"I will go with ye, lad." Said Delg. "Ye need old Delg to pull ye out of the trouble ye would get yerself into, especially with these two jokers around ye. What say ye Keres?"
Keres nodded quietly.
"Aye, I will go with you, Kevin. You have become a Red Wolf when you decided to come with us. When a Red Wolf is in trouble, the rest of the pack will come to your aid. Where a Red Wolf go, the others will follow." Said Keres. Garth and Delg nodded quietly. "The Red Wolves heads for Shadowdale then, though it would be quite a journey."
"Why?" asked Kevin.
"Shadowdale lies on the other side of the vast Anauroch Desert, lad. It'll take months to get there." Said Delg. "It is suicide to cross the Anarouch Desert. The barbarian tribes there will overwhelm us in no time. The best way to travel there is to travel around the desert. We have to go way south, through the High Forest and the High Moor, then on westward through the Sunset Mountains, Cormyr, and the Thunder Peaks. Then we have to go through Cormanthor forest and up into the Dalelands. The ways through these places are long and treacherous, not to mention all the Zhentarim spies lying around here and there, as well as spies serving the Red Wizards of Thay and the Cult of the Dragons in the Thunder Peaks. Eh, 'twould be many months before we reach Shadowdale."
"Not necessarily." Said Lamelle. "Lady Alustriel once mentioned to me that there is a portal near here that would lead us to somewhere in the Thunder Peaks. If we take the portal, we would be in Shadowdale within two weeks."
"Good enough. Where is this portal?" asked Keres.
"In the Star Mountains, in the middle of the High Forest, south of here. I can lead you to it when we get there." Lamelle replied.
"Aye then," said Delg as he got up and hefted his battle-axe. "Let makes our move then, before the Zhents return. Even on horses, it would take about two weeks to travel to that place."
In the caverns deep beneath Zhentil Keep...
The serpentine beast was a hundred feet long, its curled tail a hundred feet again, and armored, every inch, with large, overlapping black scales that gleamed like metal - the scales that is beyond doubt were every bit strong as tempered plates. The great leathery wings were folded now, wrapping the beast like a blanket on a babe. The great beast itself lay curled, catlike.
A dark robed figure entered the cavern steadily and softly. A soft glowing ball of light floated gently beside him. The figure stood before the sleeping black dragon.
"Up, Orthanc." The figure commanded coldly, in the tongue of the black dragon and clapped his hands once. The sound echoed throughout the caverns like thunder.
The dragon opened its eyes with a savage snarl. Its eyes glowed red within the darkness of the cavern. It begins to move, drawing its long neck high into the air as its tail slither smoothly over the ground. It flapped its wings lazily, sending dust and sands flying across the dark cavern. Its scales glittered from the soft glow emanating from the magelight. Tired, sleepy and angry for being disturbed from its slumber, it opened its maw to spits out its deadly acid breath.
The figure looked up and stares into the dragon eyes coldly, daring it to carry out its action. Few men indeed, could retain sanity and will in the face of the full gaze of a dragon. Fewer still could do so and live. The dragon stopped in mid-action and regard the figure with vast age, knowledge and amusement. However, the figure could see the tinge of fear within the glowing red orbs. Manshoon merely smiled and held its eyes with his own deep gaze. The fear in the dragon's eyes grew. Of all the living beings that dwell in Faerun, Manshoon is the only one who has total mastery over its power.
"Manshoon." The black dragon growled. "What do you wish of me?"
"I am... in need of your service, Orthanc."
The dragon lowered its head to the same level as the archmage.
"Speak your desire, wizard, and I will carry it out."
"I seek these five young men," said the archmage. He willed the image of the guys to appear before him. "Seek them out and destroy them, whatever it takes."
"Where shall I find them?"
"They are on their way to Shadowdale. Make sure they don't get there. Thunder Peaks would be a good place to start." Manshoon replied steadily. "I will contact you from time to time, so don't worry if you can't find them. There will be others... allies... out there looking for them too, so you will not be the only one."
The dragon nodded slowly and flapped its wing steadily.
"It shall be done."
Manshoon smiled coldly before turning away and walked out of the cavern.
In the innermost chamber of Darkhold...
The spherical creature hovered silently in the middle of the room. Its dark body is surrounded by sinuously coiling tentacles that turns restlessly to point in one direction and then another. From the end of each stalk, a cold, fell eye looked out at the world.
The beholder slowly turned and gathered all ten of its eyestalks in a sinister, watchful cluster: a forest of eyes stared at Sememmon as the wizard entered the chamber.
"You wish to see me, Sememmon?" it asked in a soft wispy voice.
"Aye, Lortan, I do." The wizard answer softly. "I have need of your service."
"What is it you want?"
Sememmon smiled coldly as he formulates his answer. Of all the beholders that rule the dark depth of the Zhentarim, Lortan is the only one who is totally under his power. One of his agents has informed him that the boys are on their way to Shadowdale. Perhaps, Lortan could intercept them somewhere along the way.
In the caves beneath the Storm Horn Mountains...
The vampire is old. It has been walking the earth for more than 400 years old. The number of people it has killed has been countless. But the thirst for blood never ends.
He is a powerful vampire. Perhaps it is because he has been living for so long. Vampire strength increases with time. The older it gets, the more powerful it becomes. Another theory would states that he was turned by another powerful vampire, but that has never been the case, for he was never turned by another vampire. He was turned when he made a pact with a being that is more powerful than him. He asked for eternal life on earth, in return he would submit to the will of that being whenever needed.
He sensed that his service is needed now. He could feel the presence of this being. He could feel the being's mortal servant entering his dark domain. He let out a low growl of anger and frustration. He has been living freely for centuries; never bother of thinking of serving another. Yes, he has made the pact, but centuries of freedom made it hard for him to come into term of the idea of serving another. He is not just a normal vampire. He is a master vampire. He has hundreds of minions under him, all ready to do his bidding.
He could sense the being's mortal servant standing before the altar where he lies. With a snarl of frustration, he sat up from the altar, eyes flashing. He fought down the urges to throw himself onto the priest and drink his blood. He is a powerful vampire, but the priest is powerful too. To make things even worst, the unholy presence of the priest's god seems to engulf the whole room. He fears the power of the priest's god more than the power of the priest itself.
"I bid you greetings, priest of Bane." The vampire growled.
"I suppose you know why I'm here?" Fzoul asked coldly.
The vampire nodded reluctantly.
"To honor the pact."
Fzoul gave a small wintry smile.
"You sound reluctant to serve Bane."
The vampire stood from the altar. He towered over the priest by a foot.
"Bane gave me immortality," the vampire growled "and in return, I will serve him whenever he needed my service. That is the pact."
Fzoul remain silent.
"What does Bane wishes of me?" the vampire speaks again. "My service and my minions is his to use. Whether I want to serve him or not, that is not an issue here."
Fzoul's smile grew wider.
"What name shall I call you?" asked the priest.
"I am known as Craille." Answered the vampire.
"I am Fzoul, servant of Bane." Said the priest again. "I have orders for you direct from the lips of Bane himself..."
The master vampire listened quietly to the priest, nodding occasionally as his mind begins to turn. After sleeping for more than a century, the time has come for him to hunt again. He could hear the calling of blood deep within his damned soul. Yes. It is about time for him to satisfy his thirst again.
In the vast caverns of the Underdark...
"You summoned me, Fesina?" asked the drow warrior as he walked cautiously into the small cavern of the Underdark. He looked at the two figures before him warily. Before him stood a beautiful drow sorceress garbed in dark blue silk gown and a middle age human female, dressed in a black robe. The drow woman looked at him and smiled.
"Greetings, Galdric." She said softly. "Yes, I did summons you. I would like you to meet Shaiella, a priestess of the Nightgoddess, Shar.
Galdric nodded stiffly to the priestess. Shar, the Nightgoddess. Although the drow worships the evil Spider Queen, Lloth, they occasionally pay their respect to the Nightgoddess, particularly since they live within her domain of darkness. Shar is the Goddess of Darkness, Loss and all the evil things that are done under the cover of darkness. This covers well within the domain of the dark elves, hence because of that; Shar has the right to hold some dominion over the faith of the drow.
"Greetings, Shaiella of Shar." Galdric murmured respectfully. The priestess merely looked at him expressionlessly. He turns back to Fesina. "What do you wish of me?"
"I have need of your men, Galdric." Fesina answered.
Galdric raised an eyebrow in askance. Fesina looked at the priestess.
"How would you like to do a service to the Nightgoddess, drow warrior?" asked the priestess.
"I serve Lloth, priestess." Galdric answered dryly.
"Yes, I am aware of that," said the priestess. "And I will respect that. But I do not ask for you to convert your faith, but merely doing a small service in the name of Shar. You will still serve the Spider Queen, but at the same time, you will also gain the favor of the Nightgoddess."
Galdric looked at her for a moment before shrugging.
"It depends on what the service is. What am I suppose to do, priestess?"
"I need you to kill some people..."
Galdric listened carefully as the priestess explained the situation. When she finished, Galdric frowned in thought for a moment.
"Shadowdale. That might be difficult." He said at last.
Fesina smirked.
"Are you... scared Galdric?" she said.
Galdric looked at her in anger.
"No, I am NOT sorceress!" he spat.
Fesina looked at him in challenge.
"The prove it." She said smugly.
The two drows looked at each other for a while. Then Galdric turns abruptly at the priestess.
"Agreed, priestess." He snapped before walking out of the cavern.
In the lowest part of the Abyss...
She is a goddess whose fury matches the rage of the ocean. Her loyal worshipper is not much, but many offered her prayers and tributes in hope to stave off her terrible wrath. In essence, she is worshipped more out of fear than love. Her fury is terrible - usually manifested in the Realms in the form of storms and tidal waves - and all the other deities acknowledged her as one of the Seven Gods of Fury. She is Umberlee the Bitch-Queen, the evil Goddess of the Ocean.
But evil as she may be, she is still but a deity of the Intermediate Power. She still serves as an ally to Talos the Destroyer, the God of Storm and Destruction, the god of ultimate chaos.
She sat in her throne in her watery domain, assuming her favorite form - that of a medusa. Before her is the Destroyer himself, standing amidst of the swirling whirlwind of chaotic energy that surrounds him almost constantly.
"To what do I own you the pleasure, Stormlord?" she growled quietly, her voice is like the crashing of a wave against the rocky shore.
"There is a ship crossing your domain bearing one of the mortals I seek." Said Talos.
Umberlee chuckled cruelly.
"And I take it that you want me to... do your... dirty work for you?" she asked mockingly.
Talos looked at the goddess in amusement.
"Are you disobeying me, Bitch-Queen?"
Umberlee stood from her throne, her eyes flashing red with cold anger.
"Umberlee serves NO ONE!!!" she roared in fury. In the Realms, lightning flashes down and the wind begin to rise, causing the ocean to rage.
Talos laughed in pleasure as he witness the display of chaos from his fellow deity.
"That is where you are wrong, Bitch-Queen. You serve me, for I am the Lord of All Chaos. If I wanted to, I can absorb your power of chaos and turn it into my own. So have a care to behave yourself when you're addressing me."
Talos stepped closer to the enraged goddess.
"So far, I have considered you as my ally." He said dangerously. "Don't make me think of you as my servant."
With much effort, the Bitch-Queen pushed down her anger and stares at the Stormlord expressionlessly for a moment.
"Aye," she submitted at last, though her voice is still shaking with anger, "I serve you as an ally. What is it that you want of me?"
"The ship is sailing within your domain of power." Talos replied. "Destroy them. And let chaos rules."
Umberlee turns to the glowing pool beside her and willed for the image of the ship to appear.
"I cannot touch the Realms directly. You, of the Greater Power, should know this better than I do."
"You are the Queen of the Deeps. Sent your creatures to them. Prove to me how powerful you really are." Said Talos in a challenging tone.
The anger within the goddess multiplied at that challenge.
"You'll be surprise to see how great my power is Stormlord," the Bitch-Queen replied through her gritted teeth. It took all her will as a goddess to prevent her from striking the Stormlord with her power.
Talos laughed evilly before vanishing through a huge whirlwind of chaos, back to Limbo, the plane of ultimate chaos where he dwells. Umberlee stares at the spot where the Stormlord previously stood for a moment before focusing her thoughts on her minions that dwells deep within the floor of the ocean. In moments, she watched expressionlessly at the sea-demon that is fast approaching the unsuspecting ship. Despite her anger, she smiles at the thought of the carnage she is about to wreck in the Realms.
In the middle of the Sea of Sword...
The voyage has been very uneventful for two days now. The sea is almost calm and the breeze is blowing gently, pushing the ship through the waters of the Sea of Swords steadily. Brian stood against the side of the ship (called the Waverider), staring across the vast stretches of the endless ocean. He thought of the rest of the guys, God know where they are right now. He gently caresses the silver cross he wears at his neck, praying silently to God, asking Him to protect them all.
He thought of Nick, always laughing and cheerful. Tears came unbidden into his eyes. Where is he now? Is he all right? Is he safe especially from these... these... Zhentarim? The thought of Nick laying on the ground somewhere, dead, caused a soft sob to arise from his lips. He shook his head angrily. No! They are still alive and well! They have probably made friends with people from this world, people like Sarelle and Galadriel who willingly went out of their way to help him.
His thought turns to the strange dream he had before setting out into the ocean. Nick and the others were there. It must be them! It cannot be just a simple dream. It was... too real...
And Kevin, his cousin, the most responsible one between the five of them. What is he doing now? Is he looking for the others too? Again Brian shook his head angrily. Of course he is looking for us. Each of the guys is out there, trying to find each other! Howie, AJ, Nick... If only he could find a way to sent out some sort of a beacon...
A sudden surge of determination filled his being at that moment. Brian nodded grimly. Shadowdale. Yeah. We will meet at Shadowdale. And together, they will find they way to get back home... back to his parents, friends and family... back to Leigh Ann... Again tears came unbidden into his eyes. How he missed her... He closed his eyes and prayed fervently.
"Brian?"
Brian looked up and saw Galadriel walking towards him. He smiled at the elven warrior. He has always wondered how an elf looks like and now it seems that his wish came true.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah. I was just thinking of my friends and home." He answered softly.
Galadriel smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Have faith, Brian. You will see them again, alive and hale as you are."
Brian smiled.
"Thanks Galadriel. That's means a lot to me." He replied. In the distance, he saw Sarelle discussing something with the ship wizard. The captain stood beside her. "What's going on over there?"
Galadriel turns to look at the trio.
"Oh nothing. Sarelle hates traveling by sea, so she is willing to do anything to make the journey as sort as possible. They are discussing the possibility to manipulate the wind or something. That woman is really desperate."
Brian grinned.
"Perhaps I'll go there and torment her further," he said. During all their time during the journey, Sarelle spent quite a lot of time in her cabin, seasick while Brian took it into his own hands to make Sarelle's life on the ship as miserable as he can. It work very well, for Sarelle managed to reaches the point to shower him with loads of vile curses and swear words that makes both him and Galadriel blush.
The two made their ways towards the priestess. Sarelle saw them and frown.
"One word out of you and I'll personally throw you into the water." Said the priestess grimly though Brian noticed the faint trace of a smile in her face.
"Aww, c'mon Sarelle. Lighten up! You've been moody for days now."
Sarelle chuckled softly before grimacing as the ship sway slightly.
"Oh, Great Mother helps me. I don't think I can survive this any longer." She croaked as her face turns green. She leaned over the rails and dumped her lunch into the sea. The captain saw this and chuckled.
"Aye priestess. Ye will get yer sea-leg soon." He drawled.
Their attentions were snatched away by a cry from the front of the ship.
"Captain! Over there, look! Something comes!"
Brian, Sarelle and Galadriel peered across the ocean to look at the figure of something huge and dark swimming towards them.
"What is it?" asked Sarelle curiously.
The captain took out his small telescope and peered into the distance. He observed for a moment before cursing.
"By the Bitch-Queen's fury! A sea-demon!"
In the plane of Elysium...
Chauntea peered worriedly at the image of the ship she willed to appear in her scrying pool. She watched the approach of the sea-demon in agitation as she listened to the desperate prayer of her priestess. She sent her assurance and love through the link that connect her to the priestess.
"Worry not, my child," she whispered softly. "I shall stand with you."
The Goddess of Health and Farming set out from Elysium, her dwelling plane of ultimate goodness, and head into the astral plane which gave her a more direct connection with the Prime Material Plane. Once she is there, she sent out a sending.
Almost immediately, a figure of a bearded old man bearing an oaken staff appeared before her. Silvanus Treefather, God of Wild Nature and Growth regard her gravely.
"Lady Chauntea. You called me?"
"Lord Silvanus. I need thy aid." Said Chauntea as she pointed towards the ship before her. "One of the mortals Azuth seeks is in that ship, and he will perish by the hands of the Bitch-Queen's minion without your help."
Silvanus peered at the ship and the approaching sea-demon expressionlessly and nodded slightly.
"I need time."
"And you will be given some," Chauntea replied.
Silvanus nodded again and focused his own thought to his own minions within the sea, calling them to battle.
In the middle of the Sea of Swords...
"Great Mother, help us!" cried Sarelle.
The demon reared its head out of the water with a roar. Brian watched in horror at the snarling beast. It blue-green scales glinted in the afternoon sun. It's eyes is blazing with blood lust and its mouth stretched open in a snarl, revealing the rows of razor sharp fangs. Brian stood paralyzed as the wave of demonfear caught him, and he is not the only one.
It was Sarelle who saved them all from the demonfear. The priestess cried out a prayer and spread her hands around her. Her body glowed with divine radiance and the light enveloped everyone on the ship, protecting them and banishing the paralyzing fear from their mind.
"See to your spells wizard!" Galadriel snarled at the ship wizard as she drew her long bow.
The wizard, white face from panic and fear looked at her wide-eye.
"Even with all my power, it is not enough against a demon!" the wizard stammered.
"Then which do you prefer? Lying down and die or die fighting?" Galadriel snarled back. "Throw everything you got at it! Haste! Or perish!"
By that time the sailors led by the captain were charging towards the demon that by that time has climbed onto the ship and is wrecking havoc at the front of the ship. The demon gave a mighty swiped with its clawed talons, taking down five sailors at the same time. Galadriel cried out an elven battle charge and launch her arrows on the demon. Her arrows were joined by a swarm of magic missiles streaking out of the wizard's hands and pounded onto the demon's body.
Sarelle and Brian stood in the distance, casting spells of their own, though Brian looked at the snarling demon worriedly. Unlike wizards, cleric powers are solely based on defenses more than assaults. Brian's spells are more numerous than Sarelle's and some are very powerful, but most of them are suited for protection and defenses.
The demon was snapping the body of a sailor into two when he completed his prayer. Eyes narrowed in concentration, he spread his hands towards the heaven. His silver cross glows with divine light as divine power coursed through his being. The sky darkened and brilliant blue-silver bolts split the sky and struck the demon as the spell of Holy Smite took effect. The demon shrieks in anger and pain. A glow of radiance surrounds each of the crew aboard the ship as Sarelle completed her Bless spell.
Suddenly the ship shook as the demon struck its long serpentile tail to the side of the ship, throwing everyone off their feet. The demon stares balefully at Brian, recognizing him as the one who has just hurled the hurtful spell on it, and leaped over the gathered sailors towards him; crashing through the sails and masts alike.
"Brian! Run!" cried Sarelle as she rushed towards the back of the ship with Galadriel and the ship wizard. A burly sailor before him threw a spear towards the leaping demons. The spear struck. The demon roared and grabbed the man as it sails through the air, shredding him to pieces with its razor sharp talons.
Brian, eyes wide in horror, stayed at the spot, watching the demon approaching nearer and nearer towards him. Droplets of blood and flesh rained everywhere over and around him. Out of instinct, he uttered the spell of Spiritual Force. He held out his hands before him and intoned the last word of his prayer.
"Back, fiend!" he cried out.
A wave of cold force struck the leaping demon in mid air, throwing it back. The ship swayed dangerously to the side as the demon crashes onto the side deck. A wave of lightning bolt struck it at the same time as the wizard cast his spell. The sailors rushed towards the demon again, determine to kill it no matter how small the chance of success is. Galadriel is amongst them now for all her arrows were spent, hacking with her sword and dodging the demon's deadly slashes. Again, three sailors met their death as the demon struck again with its talon.
Near the back of the ship, Sarelle and the wizard cast spells after spells. Waves of magic missiles, lightning bolts and flame arrows streaks the air as the wizard snarled his spells. Sarelle, having no offensive spells left, cast her store of beneficiary spells on the sailors. The sailors' strength increased as she cast her spell of Holy Strength.
The sky darkened again as Brian completed his next spell. A column of fire shot down from the sky as the spell of Flamestrike comes into effect. The demon gave a mighty roar and gave another mighty swipe, dealing death to five more sailors and throwing the rest and Galadriel away from it. It snarled at Brian and leaped towards him, talons striking down in a killing blow. The dragon's movement was so fast that Brian didn't have any chance to move away. He heard Sarelle screamed his name and the wizard raised his voice in a chant.
A swarm of magic missiles stuck the leaping demon, throwing it off balance. The talons missed his chest but the shrieking pain in his left shoulder arm told him that he still didn't escape the onslaught. Brian fell back, bleeding and screaming in agony as the demon lashed its tail at him. He flew a couple of feet away, narrowly hitting the central mast. Through the midst of pain, he dimly heard the dragon screaming in rage and the wizard screamed in terror. There was a tearing sound and the scream was cut off abruptly.
Brian stood up groggily. His left arm and shoulder is bleeding from the huge gash caused by the demon's claw. His attention was drawn to several shouts at the back of the ship. Sarelle, stood before the snarling demon in fear, clad in her holy armor and holding her silver mace before her. Galadriel stood grimly before her, blade drawn and ready, though Brian could see in her face that she is expecting death anytime soon. The bleeding remains of seven sailors lay carelessly on the deck before them, together with the decapitated body of the wizard.
The demon leaped forward in a med glee. Galadriel raised her blade in readiness, but Sarelle raised her Rose-In-The-Sun medallion and called upon her goddess to protect them. The demon struck an invisible barrier of holy force and was repelled back. Snarling in anger, the demon gathered its own naturally imbued power and strength and ripped the barrier asunder. It chuckled in a mad mocking glee as it advanced towards the two women.
"Your puny goddess is no match for me priestess!" The demon hissed in rage.
Brian stepped forward, holding his silver cross before him.
"I know mine is," he said grimly, drawing the demon's attention towards him. The demon snarled at him as he intoned a prayer.
"Lord in heaven," Brian breathed out as he watched the beast leaped at him, clawed hands ready to kill. "Banish this beast!"
A burst of divine power surged through his soul, and a wave of cold wind struck the beast as the spell of Banishment comes into effect. The demon shrieked in anger as it is thrown back into the sea where it came from. Brian looked at the ocean and cursed softly. A normal demon from the underworld would be banished by that spell back to its own world with no way to come back. But this is a sea-demon! Its native world is the ocean! As he expected, the demon reared up again onto the surface of the sea, its eyes glowing red with pure rage and madness. It slithered through the water towards the battered ship, gathering its momentum to leap aboard again. But the leap never came for suddenly; out from the depth of the ocean, a huge creature rises and struck the demon from the side and back into the water. In the distance, more of these creatures arise and struck the demon again, tossing it about in the water, and driving it away from the ship.
"Whales!" said the weary Captain as the crew watched the miracles. "The leviathans! The good gods be praised, we're saved!"
"Not yet, Captain. Not until we reach the shore." Said Galadriel grimly. "Set up whatever sails we have left. I for once want to reach the dry land as soon as possible."
In the Astral Plane of the Realms...
Talos looked upon the defeat of Umberlee's minion with increasing amount of anger. Below in the Realms, storm clouds gathered in the Sword Coast and lightning flashes as his anger begins to show. Beside him, Umberlee shrieked with savage rage. Her anger is released throughout the Realms, where the sea roils and raged, throwing huge tidal waves upon villages, cities and ships. In Calimshan, the citizens of Calimport were forced to evacuate the great city for fear of being caught by the tidal waves. In Waterdeep, Neverwinter and Baldur's Gate, people looked upon the raging ocean warily, offering small prayers to the Queen of the Deep in attempt to placate her rage. All through the Realms, priests and priestesses of Umberlee trembled in fear at the goddess' rage and knelt reverently in prayer.
Talos looked up at the distance and caught a sight that increased his rage even further. Far across the distance stood the figure of a long bearded old man holding a glowing staff in his hand. Beside the old man is a serene middle age woman. Silvanus and Chauntea watched the Stormlord in silence from afar. Talos sneered at the two deities. Talos is the God of Storms. In essence, he represents the dark and destructive side of Nature. So naturally, Silvanus who is the God of Nature and Chauntea, Goddess of Farming, Growth and Healing would be amongst his greatest foes in the Realms.
"So, the good gods has finally revealed their involvement in this," Talos said softly. Umberlee looked up and noticed for the first time the two deities in the distance.
"So be it!" the Bitch-Queen replied grimly. "If it is a fight they want, lets give it to them."
Talos merely smiled. Silvanus and Chauntea will protect the ship with their power and minions, so whatever his next action is, he will not prevail against these two deities unless he touches the Realms directly, which is impossible. Even the gods are bound to their own rules that they cannot break no matter how much they wanted to. But Talos has more allies other than Umberlee and his servants in the Realms are numerous and deadly, all ready to do his biddings.
"No matter what the outcome is, chaos will be sow unto the Realms." The Stormlord whispered to himself before chuckling. His alliance with Bane and Shar to remove Mystra from the Realms has finally paid off, just as he hoped. If the gods battled with each other, chaos will definitely rules the Realms, and to the Abyss with the Balance. Such matters are the concerns of the good gods, not him.
In the city of Baldur's Gate, in the Sword Coast...
"Oh, c'mon, Sarelle, it can't be that bad!" Brian laughed as he helped the tumbling priestess along the ramp. They have been traveling across the Sea of Sword for four days after the attack before arriving at the city of Baldur's Gate. The travel has been quite hard for Sarelle however. While Brian has always had trouble when traveling by air, Sarelle however has trouble when traveling by sea.
Since the attack at the sea, the ocean has been roiling continuously. The ship, damaged and battered, limped along the tossing waves slowly, with the surviving crew struggling to keep her afloat. The appearance of the whales has been nothing short of a miracle. However, miracles or not, more than twenty good sailors died during the attack, and dozens more injured. While the rest of their journey has been uneventful, the passengers as well as the crew still trembles from the terror of the appearance of the sea-demon, and everyone is anxious to get to shore as quickly as possible.
"You are not the one who is seasick here Brian." Sarelle said amidst of her groan. "Oh how I hate sea traveling!"
They stumbled onto the dock and sat at the nearest crate. Brian looked around at the city. He remembered Sarelle talked about it once, amongst the other cities they had talked about. The docks are bustling with people, each hurrying by with their everyday business. Ships crammed the ports and sailors rushes by with their works. Brian winced unconsciously amidst the din of the city. This place is totally different from the Moonshaes. While the countryside in the Moonshae is quiet, serene and peaceful, the city of Baldur's Gate is noisy, and full of chaos. It is the exact opposite of the place where he spent all his time at ever since he arrived in this world a couple of months ago. Even Caer Corwell is not as chaotic as this and Caer Corwell is the second largest city in the whole of Moonshae Isles.
Galadriel appeared in his view a moment later, leading the horses. She smiled at Brian and Sarelle. Brian noticed how beautiful she is when she smiles. It's a pity the Sisters of Synnoria are not allowed to have lovers or husband. Sisters of Synnoria are married to their swords the moment they recite their oath. Brian still remembered in awe at the elven warrior's courage during the sea-demon attack. Many of the crew owes her their lives, if not all of them.
"Still feeling bad, Sarelle?" she asked.
Sarelle glared at her balefully.
"Don't toy with me, knight!" she snarled weakly. Brian chuckled at her feeble attempt to toughen up. He helped her to her horse. His shoulder and arms still felt a bit sore but thanks to Sarelle's healing skills, the wounds do not leave any scars.
"C'mon. Let's find a place to stay. This is the first time I've come to the mainland. I might as well enjoy the trip." Said Brian. "I also want to get as far away from the ocean as possible."
"You got that right," Sarelle mumbled.
"What is there to see here?" asked Galadriel exasperatedly. "Such bustle! The city of Synnoria is empty in comparison! Anyway, I don't think it would be wise for you to go sightseeing right now. Things might be quieter in Corwell. But here, there are Zhentarim agents everywhere."
"Well, I've been here before," said Sarelle. "And I know a good inn. We'll stay at the Elfsong Tavern, which is due east from here. Let's go."
They made their way through the crowds along the docks. They kept within the crowds to lessen the chance of anyone recognizing them. Even then, Brian kept the cowl of his cloak up to hide his face. They were about to enter an alley when suddenly a slender, wiry old woman blocks their path, squinting curiously at Brian.
"Hold, Galadriel." Said Sarelle as the elf warrior drew her sword. She stepped forward toward the woman and asked politely, "Well met, mistress. Is there anything we can do for you?"
The old woman looked at her in surprise as if she just noticed her presence.
"Oh! Begging your pardon priestess. I mean none of you any harm..." she trailed off as she looked at Brian again.
"Is there's a problem, mistress?" asked Sarelle again. "Who are you?"
"I am Kyla, a diviner of minor power." The old woman began slowly. "I have seen many strange vision in my life, but never as strange as this."
Brian shifted uncomfortably under the old woman scrutiny.
"What do you see?" asked Galadriel.
"I see a very bright aura around you child, so bright that for one moment, I thought you are actually on fire." Said the old woman. "Normally, I would have passed it off. But there is something strange here. I sense something... care for a consultation child? I will not charge you, whether I find anything or not. My house is right over there."
Brian looked at his companions for a moment before nodding.
"Why not?" said Sarelle cheerfully. "Lead us, diviner."
The diviner lead them into a small house next to the alley. They entered a small room with a small wooden table at the middle. Galadriel stood guard near the door. Sarelle and Brian sat on the chairs at one side of the table while the diviner sat one the other side.
"Hush now," said the diviner before placing her hands over the crystal ball that rests on a small tripod in the middle of the table draped with black cloth.
The diviner closed her eyes and fell into a deep silent trance, frowning in deep concentration. The room remains quite for some time.
"Circles within circles," the diviner whispered quietly at last, "Meanings within meanings. Grant me your guidance, Savras, Lord of All Diviners. Help me understand the nature of this potent that lies before me."
As the other watched, the diviner continued to chant, now in the ancient language of magic. After a moment, sparks of magic fell from her hands onto the crystal orb. The orb flared brilliantly with blue-white radiance. Lines of concentration furrowed the diviner's brow. Her hands begin to tremble. Suddenly. Her eyes flew open, though Brian could see nothing within it for it is glowing with blue-white energy.
"The gods are taking sides." She gasped out. "Some remains quiet and watch, some will fight with you and some will fight against you."
"The cry of war shall arise soon... mortals fight in the Realm, the gods fight in the heavens... the dead shall rise... the courageous spirits descend... the Child of Battles shall rise again..."
"Demons shall rise, the damned follows... the angels descend... tears of blood... chaos rules..."
The trembling worsened. Her breathing grew heavy and ragged.
"The Five do not belong here." She whispered hoarsely. "The balance between the two worlds is disturbed. The Five must be returned."
The diviner looked up and stared at Brian.
"Five wanders now, but the shadow and chaos follows their footsteps. Five will gather. But Seven will return. The Child of Battle guides the way, the Servant of Nature will use the key."
Then the diviner gave a sudden gasp before falling onto the floor. Sarelle rushed to her side. The diviner stares at Brian in horror. Her trembling increased.
"Run child. Find your friends, before Bane does... if he does, the Realm is doomed... the Balance will fall... the shadow will rise... then comes the night, where there will be no tomorrow..."
The diviner looks pleadingly one last time at Brian before dying.
East of Beregost, in the Sword Coast...
Nick and Andy rode hard through the woods, heading north towards the direction of the Coast Way. They are heading towards a place known as the Friendly Arms Inn, a small community that is located just north of Beregost. Muragh nestled comfortably at Andy's belt.
"So how long are we gonna stay at this place?" asked Nick.
"Just for a night." Andy replied, "We should arrive there by sunset. Then, we'll set off westward at dawn for the city of Berdusk, through the Woods of Sharp Teeth. With luck on our side, we should be there in about four days."
"Four days?! Can't we get there any faster?" asked Nick, horrified at the prospect of being on the saddle for four days.
"It's the fastest route, Nick and also dangerous, for the Woods of Sharp Teeth is well known for its banditry activities. So make sure you got your spells and wands ready for anything." Andy replied.
Nick nodded. After the attack, Nick took the time to immediately study his spell book. His magic is not as strong as Andy's, but after months of studying and training, his power is considered a little bit more than average. He unconsciously touches the wands he carries at his belt.
They topped a hill some miles away from the lighthouse when they heard a rumbling of thunder. They stopped and turn to look at the direction of the lighthouse. In the distance, they saw a column of smoke rising into the air. Andy sighed and so does Muragh.
"I'm going to miss that place." Said Andy sadly.
Nick felt bad for being the one to cause all these. He placed a hand on Andy's to comfort him.
"I'm sorry, Andy." He said sadly.
Andy smiled at him.
"It's okay, Nick. As long as I have you in my life, nothing else matter." Said Andy. He turned back to the road. "C'mon, we must get to the inn quickly."
They gave their horses a gentle nudge and soon they were racing along the woods again.
In the middle of Evermoor...
"Splendid heroic death?" Keres chuckled softly as he rode his horse beside Kevin. "Only in tales, ballads and books, my dear lad."
The paladin adjusted his armor lazily as he turns to face Kevin. For the first time, Kevin noticed the gathered wisdom in the paladin's eyes.
"Death in battle is always brutal, painful and messy - and there's never time enough then for those heroic scenes legends tell of. Too little time, too much death. There's never time enough in life for any splendid or heroic things, lad. Remember that - and make time before you must die. If you do that, you'll have forged a better life than most."
They are crossing through the plains heading for the Evermoor, which according to Lamelle, is totally infested with trolls. Ken has volunteered to scout ahead with Alvin. Kevin wanted to accompany him but Garth wouldn't let him, stating that he is still recovering from the last attack.
'Oh no ye don't!' Kevin remembered the fat cleric grumbled before him severely when he tried to follow the ranger. 'Ye're not fully healed yet. I'm not having ye rushing around getting hurt and such, only to come back groaning at me fer more healing spells. D'ye hear? Just ride with Keres o'er there and keep watch with him fer any trolls that might come about.'
Kevin sighed as he waited for the ranger to return. Ever since the attack, the group has been keeping a sharp lookout for any sign of trouble. They has been traveling for three days now, and except for the occasional ambushes by goblins, orcs and wolves, the journey has been relatively peaceful. Kevin looked around at the rest of the group. Lamelle rode silently in the middle, paying little attention to the surrounding as she study her spell book. According to Keres, it is a curse on all magic users that they must constantly study their spell books, committing and replenishing their spells in their mind. According to Lamelle, everyday, a mage must memorize spells from his or her spell book. To draw on the magical energy, the mage must shape specific mental patterns in his mind. The mage uses the spell book to force his or her mind through mental exercises, preparing it to hold the final twisted patterns. Once the mage memorizes a spell, it remains in his memory (as potential energy) until the mage uses the prescribed words, motions and components to trigger the release of the energy. Upon casting, the energy of the spell is spent, wiped clean from the mage's mind - lost until the mage studies and memorizes that spell again.
Garth and Delg rode at the back, acting as the rear guard, though the cleric spent most of his time drinking wine and singing drunkenly. The dwarf rode sourly beside him, no doubt entertaining the idea of hitting the drunken cleric with his axe and render him unconscious.
The sound of Ken shouting somewhere in the distance causes Kevin to looked up in alarm. Keres and the others drew up immediately, weapon drawn and spells ready. There was a crash and suddenly Ken and Alvin burst through the woods before them.
"Trolls! Trolls led by an ogre! About two dozens of them, heading this way!" Alvin cried out breathlessly.
"Darn fool of a thief!" Ken grumbled irritatingly. "I told you to count them quietly, not rouse them!"
Alvin snickered.
"I was bored." He simply said as he drew his crossbow.
"That is what ye get for letting the thief in charge, ye fool ranger!" Garth grumbled as he hefted his mace.
"Enough talk! Here they come!" Keres snapped as the ogre came into view. "Red Wolves! To battle!!!"
Kevin looked at the direction of the woods only to see a huge ogre crashing through the trees. Its eyes filled with anger and it holds a huge spiked club in its hand. Behind the ogre, fifteen or more huge forest trolls leered hungrily at the companions. Delg rushed forward to stand beside Keres. Kevin jumped off his horse and tied it at a tree. Then he deftly climbed up a tree and picked his position carefully, long bow ready in his hands. In the distance, he noticed Ken doing the same. He caught the other ranger's eyes and the two smiled.
It was Lamelle who struck first. The sorceress raised her hands and intoned a spell. There was a red flash and suddenly the forest before them was filled with sticky strands of webs. Several trolls got caught within the webs. They howled harshly in anger as they trashed about, trying without success to free themselves. The ogre managed to free itself though, and the rest of the trolls move around the webbed area and continue with their charge. They were immediately met by volleys of arrows as Alvin, Ken and Kevin launch their assault. Beside Lamelle, Garth was chanting a quiet prayer, drawing the blessing of the Lady Luck upon them all.
The ogre caught sight of the dwarf and immediately fell into berzerking frenzy. It began to charge through the woods, battering everything in its path with its club. Delg smiled grimly as he stood his ground, axe ready in his hands. Of all the feuding races in the Realm, none is more bitter than the feud between the dwarves and the ogres. The ogre, blood enemies of the dwarves, roared in anger as it sweep its club into an arc towards Delg. Delg dropped to the ground and rolled to the side and rushed towards the ogre, shouting a dwarven battle cry, his battle-axe rose wickedly before him. The ogre may be larger and stronger, but the dwarf is small and more agile. Delg dodges all the blows easily and when he reaches the ogre, he calmly hamstrings it with his axe. With an angered roar, the ogre fell backward and crashes onto the ground.
Near the dwarf, Keres wield his sword gracefully against three trolls. Two trolls lay before him, motionless, but Keres knew it won't be long before they are up and fighting again. Trolls have a natural regenerative capability. Not matter how wounded they are; only fire and acid can kill them. He slashed the troll next to him with his sword and jumped back as it fall onto the ground. He quickly drew a flask containing a magical potion he acquired from an alchemist before they set off to Icewind Dale. He threw the flask towards the motionless bodies and ran back. There was a roar of fire and the dying cries of the trolls confirmed him of their fate. Then he charges forward to meet the charge of the remaining trolls. There was a flash of red light again and from the corner of his eyes he saw a fireball exploded in the distance as Lamelle cast her next spell.
Lamelle and Garth fought side by side, the cleric crushing one troll after another with his mace while the sorceress stood behind him, unleashing one spell after another. Lamelle hurled a fireball at the web-trapped trolls first, effectively incinerating them where they stood. Then she cast a spell of Haste on the cleric.
Garth crushed the skull of a troll with his mace and then chanted another prayer; drawing upon the holy might of his goddess to increase his strength. A halo of light surrounded him as his prayer is answered. He turned to another charging troll and swiped his mace before him. The mace hits the troll on its chest. Strengthen by the spell, the force of the blow cause the troll to fly back about five feet away from the cleric. At the same time, Garth heard Lamelle chants another spell and then felt his body grew lighter and his movement grew faster. Hasten by Lamelle's spell; the cleric became a blur as he rushed from one troll to another at an amazing speed. Combined by the spell of Holy Strength, soon, trolls begin to fly all over the place as the cleric attack every troll he could find.
Kevin loose his arrows at every troll he could find, each arrow hits the target perfectly. He watched as Lamelle's lightning bolt struck one of the trolls. The troll staggered back weakly, but Kevin knew it wouldn't die unless one use fire or acid on it. He drew an arrow from one of the special cases he reserve for magical arrows, given by Ken. He drew an arrow with a red tip at the end and placed it on the bow. Aiming carefully, Kevin released it. The arrow streaks through the air and burst into flame. As it hits the troll, it exploded and soon the troll is engulfed in fire. Kevin repeated the same action again an again, sparing the others the trouble from having to find fire to finish their foe. In the distance, he saw Delg finishing off the ogre and Alvin firing his own arrow expertly from one troll to another. Garth sped all over the place, laughing merrily as trolls flew away wherever he went. Ken jumped from one branch of a tree to another, firing his own magic arrows. Lamelle blast grimly every troll she could find with her spells.
Kevin's concentration broke when Alvin came flying through the air and landed beneath him. A huge troll rushed towards him. Aiming his arrow again, Kevin let it loose. The arrow strikes the troll right in the eyes. It was then struck from behind by Delg. Kevin jumped off the branch and landed beside the thief.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow... Ow!" the thief grumbled dazedly as he nurse his aching head.
"You all right?" asked Kevin.
Alvin grinned at him cheerfully.
"Eh? Yeah, I've had worst wounds from some of the lasses I slept with." Said the merry thief before standing up, healthy as ever, drawing out a slim long sword. "Heads up ranger boy. We're going dancing."
Kevin looked up and saw three trolls advancing towards them. Kevin drew his own long sword and smiled grimly as Ken dropped from the tree beside him, sword ready in his hand.
"May I have this dance?" asked Ken politely.
"Promise me we'll have some fun again tonight."
Ken grinned.
"We'll make it better."
Kevin answered him by giving a quick kiss. Alvin rolled his eyes and makes a vomiting sound.
"Guys," said the thief as he watched the advancing trolls. "Less talk, more fight!"
Kevin grinned sheepishly and raised his sword.
"Let's rumble!!" Kevin shouted. Alvin laughed wildly as they charges towards the trolls. Ken shook his head and smiled as he ran. The old saying is right. Adventurers and fools do walk together. And Ken is inclined to believe that adventurers and fools are one and the same.