[Link]

PART II - WHERE THE FIRST JOURNEY ENDS, AND THE REAL ONE JUST BEGINS

He let the welcome sunlight warm his skin, shutting the world outside for just one second. Just for a little moment. How he had missed the touch of sun, the feeling of the cool breeze through his hair, the gaze of his God, smiling upon his wake. But then, there was reality. The sounds of battle, the clearing of the dust after the explosion, and, of course, his nemesis. The archmage Jon Irenicus.

The Shadow Thieves were never a threat. Neither was Imoen, and his former captor seemed the shrug the magics of the cowled ones off as petty street magic. Nevertheless, he allowed himself to be taken, and with him.. Imoen. His friend. Why? Whereto? Questions unanswered, for the time being. But questions, nonetheless, that needed to be answered as soon as humanly possible. Silently, Two Feathers sank to his knees after the mysterious mages had took both Irenicus and Imoen. Not to cry, but to pray.

"Hear me, Watcher!" he whispered softly. "Hear me! Guide me to the path of the righteous! Take me by the hand and lead me to my childhood companion, lead me to the mage who has done not only me, but so many others injustice. Let me be your vessel to rid the whole of Faerun from this evil!"
The answer came almost immediately. A surge of strength, a touch of healing. Two Feathers felt stronger, hardier. He stood up, and faced the pain-struck faces of his companions.

"So close and he is gone again! Raagh, even Boo wants to show his rage! Look closely, because he is quite small." The words of Minsc, seemingly childish, were full of truth. The four adventurers felt powerless, but Two Feathers was about to change that.
"We will get her back, Helm will guide us. Let us not waiste minutes or hours just sitting here. Let's get started," the cleric spoke clearly, and the three others nodded.

Thus the four of them set out across the area, questioning people as to what had happened only moments before. Most people were helpful enough, but could not help them any further. It seemed no one knew who Irenicus really was, and the mages, although being named "Cowled Wizards" by some, seemed even more mysterious. In each case, no one knew where they could've taken Imoen.
Two Feathers sighed. Maybe he could persuade some guards into helping him out? Most of them were rather short and aggressive, motioning them to walk and instead of disturbing their duties. One of them, however, seemed nicer. Standing in front of a circus tent, it was apparent that he was more taken with the situation inside than anything else.
Maybe, Two Feathers thought to himself, just maybe, if I help him out, he can help me out in turn, giving me some much needed information. The guard was reluctant to allow them in the tent.
"No one has come out, citizen. I don't advise you to go in, but I can't stop you from doing anything stupid either. Make your choice."

-- "But what if I help you out?"

"I would appreciate any help, but we've already sent in a squad of guards who haven't come out yet. If you're willing to give it a shot, be my guest. You have my blessings."
And with these words the guard stepped aside to allow them passage. Hesitant at first, Two Feathers, followed by Jaheira, Minsc and Yoshimo, entered the circus tent. Immediately everything began to swirl, change into something else. This is no circus tent! But before the thought had actually found its meaning, the swirling was over. Before his eyes, a vast structure had emerged from out of nowhere. Instantly, Two Feathers knew he was somewhere else, somewhere eerie. The chill of the place went straight for the bones.

"Be careful," he warned his companions, and slowly the party moved forward towards a bridge that seemed to hang across a void, a nothingness that stretched endlessly below.

"Muhahaha!" All were startled by this sudden laughing. With readied weapons they stared up at their adversary, a genie. "There's no need for weapons, human. Not just yet, anyway. Kalah will be most pleasant if you'd find your way across with your wits instead of your muscle."
Wits. That shouldn't be too hard. Even for a 22-year old Two Feathers was wiser than most. Even Gorion had known this.

"I will answer your riddle if it leads to some sense, genie."

And so the genie posed his riddle, grinning widely, as if he expected no mere human to answer the question accordingly. The answer, however, came sooner than expected.

"The prince is 30, the princess is 40."

-- "Indeed, human. You impress both me and Kalah. You may proceed. Perhaps we will see you again soon." And with a flash the genie disappeared from sight.

The party continued, carefully scouting the area. As Two Feathers had expected, it wasn't safe.. at all. Shadows and werewolves seemed to be roaming the huge domed building. Without much effort they were exposed of, the werewolves vanishing in a puff of smoke. Illusions! The situation seemed more and more bizarre each second that past. Best to get it over with, then, Two Feathers decided.

They entered the dome, and were faced with - again - a rather sudden change. The building was full of creatures, who were not what they seemed. A spider was the boy's lost mother, a giant ogre an avariel called Aerie, who was taken into the party after her release. Again the party advanced to the next level, where a more grim set of creatures faced them. Hostile shadows and werewolves assaulted them, and once more the werewolves turend out to be illusions. Minsc, in all his fury, attacked them nonetheless, and all were destroyed.

"Muhahaha!" No less startled now, Two Feathers and his party faced the genie once more, standing atop a staircase.

-- "More riddles this time?" the cleric of Helm asked ironically.

"No riddles, human. You've proven your worth. You can proceed to Kalah. Let's see how you do there, shall we not?" With a flash of blinding light, the genie disappeared once more.

"Let's end this once and for all," Two Feathers grumbled. The others nodded, for the travesty surely had lasted long enough already. They ascended the marble staircase and arrived in a small, circular room. At the center stood a monster, surrounded by shadows, werewolves and a slime.

"Be careful, Two Feathers! I suspect not all is what it seems!" Jaheira's warning came as no surprise, but was uttered too loud not to be heard by their mysterious adversary.

"Nothing! Nothing is what it seems! You've been doing well to get here, tiny one! However, your days of meddling with perfectly well-ordered revenge are over. Come my lovely ones, attack the adventurers so we can get this over with!"

"What have you done with Uncle Quayle!" Aerie screamed, face torn between anger and despair.

"Quayle? I had him reduced to what he really is. A slime of the lowest sort." And with these words, Kalah unleashed a jet of magic energy onto the unsuspecting slime, who yelped with pain. "Aerie! Is that you? I have no eyes!"

"No more wailing!" Kalah shrieked. "No more lies! No more humiliation! At them, my pets! I will no longer be ignored!"

The battle was short, but fierce. Minsc attacked the shadows and werewolves with a fierceness had not seen from him before. Aerie had a grim determination in her eyes as she unleashed her spells on Kalah who seemed to be more taken with torturing Quayle. I think he never even noticed he was on the losing side, Two Feathers thought with a harsh look in his eyes.

"Nooo--" *cough* "This isn't what was promised to me! This isn't what was supposed to happen!" The death rattle of Kalah, not a large humanoid, but a small gnome, set the party up with even more mysteries. And no answers still.

------------------------------------------

Just a quick overview what has happened so far:

I've completed Chateau Irenicus, gathering all important items: the Pommel Jewel of the Equalizer, the Mail of the Dead (Minsc is wearing it), the Dryad Acorns. After that Two Feathers indeed immediately went on to clear the Circus Tent, hoping to find answers. Aerie was added to the party, because Two Feathers was afraid to leave her on her own in the eerie environment of the interior of the tent. Yoshimo remains in the party because Two Feathers needs every help he can , but when the party encounters someone else, then no doubt Yoshimo will be kicked from the party.

QUESTS DONE IN THIS EPISODE:

- Circus Tent
- Rescuing the boy's mother

[ 01-19-2006, 05:40 AM: Message edited by: Link ]