[Neomi]

And so the journeys of Prince Humperdink and his faithful minions continued...

Outside the Friendly Arms, Prince Humperdink paused for a moment. Which way to go? That insistent wizard, Xzar, had suggested heading south to investigate some events that had occurred in a back-woods town called Nashkel. But who really wants to travel to a dismal two-bit hamlet? So the Company headed north toward the fine city of Baldur's Gate. Unfortunately, they were only a few minutes down the road when they were waylayed by a band of Hobgoblins. The stench and the flying arrows were enough to send Humperdink scooting to the rear of the group while Khalid and Montaron closed the gap to engage their attackers. Although the first group were dispatched easily, a short distance further along the road Khalid was mortally wounded in a second skirmish. Not wanting to waste time by making a detour back to the Friendly Arms, Humperdink ordered Jaheira to leave Khalid's lifeless body by the side of the road and directed the group to turn back to the south. After all, Beregost was known to have several fine Inns and Taverns, and Khalid could easily be replaced.

Several hours south of the Friendly Arms the group turned off the main road. Jaheira, still mourning the loss of Khalid and perhaps regretting having allowed Humperdink to simply leave his body behind, thought she remembered a short-cut through the wilderness to the east. Not far into the woods, however, the group came upon an Ogre. Jaheira instantly began slinging stones upon him while Imoen and Montaron unleashed their missiles as well. However, the Ogre continued to advance as most of the arrows and bolts bounced off his leathery hide. Humperdink stepped quietly back a few steps to avoid the saliva spray from the Ogre's mouth and the spatters of blood from Montaron's scalp as the Ogre made his first contact. Jaheira's ammunition ran out quickly, and before Humperdink could command her to reload from her backpack, she had pulled out a club and run up to the Ogre, pounding upon him the misery she felt from Khalid's passing. Unfortunately, the Ogre's club was swifter and his swing much stronger as he turned his attention away from the visibly swooning (and now panicked) Montaron to this new ferocious attacker. Jaheira's life ended in an atrocious manner, as the last swing of the Ogre's club cleaved her into several pieces. Luckily for Humperdink and the rest of his Company, Imoen finally landed a critical hit with an arrow from her bow, and the Ogre's life was over.

It took several minutes for Montaron to return to the group. Xzar, who had been next to useless during the fighting after using his only spell early during the battle, picked up what was left of Jaheira's belongings and then noticed that the Ogre had strangely possessed two belts. One was dull and most likely of no consequence. The other, however, was bronze and verily hummed with magical energy. Quickly, before Humperdink could see what he was doing, Xzar strapped the belt around his waist and he... he was a she. No one in the group knew quite what to say, so they silently resumed their course to the south, toward Beregost and Nashkel beyond. Prince Humperdink was beginning to wonder if this group would actually be able to survive.