Symbol of Bane 
Join Date: November 26, 2001
Location: Texas
Age: 77
Posts: 8,167
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Ha! With <font color=lavender>Galadria's</font> help, I found the Missing Floppy, so here is some more:
A few days later, Imoen came to Attalus and Viconia's house with a small sack. It was, in fact, a Bag of Holding, much larger on the inside than the outside. The butler let her in and she found the family gathering in the front hall, fully armed and armored for an expedition, as was she. "Heya, Big Brother," she said brightly. "I've got it right here. It didn't come cheap, but that wasn't the point, was it?" She hugged Viconia and Veldren in turn. They all seemed quivering with anticipation, except Attalus, who was as serious and thoughtful as ever.
Veldren, for his part, was amazed at the change in his parents since this whole episode had begun. Like most young men, he viewed his parents as rather out of it, though he certainly respected his father's immense strength, to which many a friendly contest would attest, and his mother's cat-like grace and delicacy. But, seeing them in their armor and hearing them banter with jokes seemingly told many times before on the outset of an expedition cast them in a new light. They were adventurers, again, not Duke of Baldur's Gate and his lady, and his famous sister. Also, the thought intruded, they were highly skilled and experienced, and he was by far the junior member of the party. He resolved to be very observant and not be a hindrance.
The next few days were spent traveling, without much by the way of incident. Veldren complained about the lack of adventure to his aunt, who was much easier to talk to than his parents. "So," Imoen replied with a twinkle in her eye, "complaining about the lack of chances to risk your life, huh? Well, just think of this. You are a bandit, right? Eager to rob somebody for their arms and treasure." Veldren nodded eagerly at the thought of hiding in the bushes, watching the road. "So," his aunt continued, "you see, not a caravan of merchants with a few thugs, maybe, as bodyguards, or a family armed with clubs and spears driving their sheep to market, but - us." She laughed at his look of skepticism.. "Not me, silly, I know I'm not scary at all, but, your father and mother? A giant of a man, in full plate? A Drow Elf, armored, too, with that great hammer of hers? Nope, unless it's a wild beast or crazy, they aren't going to attack us."
So it proved, and soon they reached a group of temples, apparently elvish in architecture. A muscular elf in green came out to greet them. Attalus waved, though Viconia remained still on her horse.
"By the Rhyn Lanthorn that you restored to us," the elf cried in a friendly voice, "you have changed little since the last time I saw you, Attalus." His smile changed slightly as he surveyed Viconia. "And this, as I remember well, is Viconia, now your lady wife, I hear. My duty, madam." He bowed gracefully, after the elven fashion.
Viconia tossed her head. "And you, Elhan," she replied grimly. "I note that you do not say that you are glad to see me again. Even though I did as much as my husband to restore that elvish trinket. I suppose it sticks in your craw to think that you might have been wrong about me. You should also know that without our son, Velden,here, King Fandorn would be mouning his daughter, and Princess Novenna's heart would be smoking on one of Lloth's foul altars."
Elhan's smile grew grim. "I will readily admit that I was wrong to suspect you, then, my lady. I know Novenna well, and would have been grieved if the evil drow plot that we have heard of had gone through. So, this is the young man?" Veldren blushed slightly at his frank appraisal. "My thanks to you, then, Veldren. You did better than you knew in saving Novenna, for she has been singing your praises ever since she got back. In fact, that is one of the reasons that I have journeyed here to meet with your family." He turned back to the sire.
"Attalus," he continued, "I think that your plan is excellent, and I am here to tell you that the elves of this kingdom will be behind Baldur's Gate wholeheartedly. If war is your decision, we hall back you. Now, good speed on your journey. I must return to Suldenessallar. We are mobilising." He nodded, and mounted his waiting horse being held by a group of war elves. They all rode off.
Viconia allowed a smile of satisfaction to cross her face. "How many years have I waited to hear those words on his haughty lips?" she asked nobody in particular. "Ay, well, there's some reward for all the truble that you have caused me over the years, Veldren." She gave him a mischievous look, then, in a rare gesture of maternal affection, she rode her horse over to his and kissed him.
The glow of satisfaction quickly gave way to activity on their part, however. They took their horses into the stables and paid the ostler for several days' board, unpacked their horses, then trooped into the temple. An aged elf priest met them with a smile on his face. "So," he said, "you are going to do something to the drow, eh? The drow of Lloth, I should say, milady," he quickly added, seeing Viconia and immediately recognizing her. "Come this way. We rarely undo this door, but there can be no doubt of the justice of your cause. Rillifane aid you." They went down to the cellar, where a heavily-barred door led into the Underdark. He removed the spell that bound it, and opened it cautiously. Nothing was to be seen, only the long loneliness of the tunnels and caves.
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