Date: 22 Apr 2001 01:11:52 +0000
From: zan@oceanfree.net
Subject: Night of No Tommorrow - 3 (gay/boybands)

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 TRS,
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, boy, why are you here??!
However, if you are looking for some hot sex scenes, sorry dudes, you'll be
disappointed. I'm just not good in writing about that stuff :P 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

Oh, an announcement to readers. I'm afraid I will not be able to continue
the story for the next couple of weeks. My exams has started to rear its
ugly face in the distance, and *SIGH!* looks like I have to seriously hit
the books (Suddenly, watching Pokemon on TV seems to be more interesting
than watching my Pathology notes on my desk...). Oh well, I asked for it,
so I better quit moaning. Anyway, I promise I'll get on with the rest of
the story as soon as the exam is over (provided that I survives the
oncoming onslaught, *shiver!* I can just see my professors smiling at me
evilly as they prepared the questions. I tell you, they are EVIL!).

Anyway, onward with the story!!! Tally-HOOO!!!...

Drew

***************************

2 months later, in the city of Westgate...

The room is dark and slightly musty. The only source of light that
lightened the room is the moon. Bookshelves crammed with moldy tomes and
scrolls lined the wall. Table filled with beakers, powder filled jars,
scrolls and wands stood at one side. The rest of the room was filled with
various other odd items that the figure could only guess at.

He creeps through the small window at the back of the room. Unlocking the
window from outside has been relatively easy. He has had a good teacher and
he had been studying the art of stealth and thievery for more than two
months now. Although he is quite confident of his success, he was still a
little bit nervous. This is the first time he has ever participates in a
major thievery. According to his teacher, this mansion is owned by a quite
powerful wizard and the room he is in now is the wizard's laboratory.

He shook his head slightly. Breaking into a wizard lab is a very risky
business. Wizards have the tendency to place various kinds of nasty warding
and traps in their lair. He walked towards a massive oak table in the
middle of the room cautiously. Peering through the gloom, he could see the
object he came for. The spell book lay at one side of the table, half
covered by numerous scrolls.

The distance between him and the table is not that great. But before her
continue his advances, he slipped on the ring his teacher has given
him. Almost immediately his vision is filled with numerous images of
warding around the table. All the warding appeared in the form of a line of
light that connected one point of the room to another. The man knew that if
he walks through any of these lines of light, the warding would be
triggered. Slowly and carefully, he moved forward, taking care to avoid
touching the wards by twisting his body here and there. Finally, he reaches
the table and peered at the spell book. A halo of light seems to radiate
from the book. The man knew instantly that the wizard has also cast a
warding on the book. He slowly pointed his ring over the book and uttered a
word.

Dumak

The ring flashed once and suddenly, the halo vanished. The man smiled. Too
bad the ring could only work once a day or else he would just dispel all
the warding when he got in instead of having to twist about through out the
room in order to avoid it. He gently picked up the book and carefully made
his way back towards the window. As he got nearer, the door opened and a
robed man walked in.

They stared at each other for a moment, speechless. Then the thief gave an
oath and jumped out of the window. He heard the robed man yelled in rage as
he got up and ran up the roof. The wall and window exploded as the robe man
hurled a fireball on it. Desperate to get away now, the man jumped from one
roof to another, using every skill he has learned in the past two
month. His agility served him well it seems for as soon as he flipped into
the air, a magic missile slammed right on the spot where he stood a moment
before. He glanced back to see the wizard standing in the middle of the
hole of the wall of his lab, his hands gliding smoothly as he angrily cast
another spell. Focusing on his skills, he drew a dagger and hurled it
towards the wizard in one single motion. He saw the wizard staggered as the
dagger hits its target. While the wound does not kill him, it does however
disrupt his spell casting. The spell he was casting fizzled into useless
energy.

The man took the chance to slips away quickly before the wizard could
recovers and cast another spell. He jumped off the edge of the roof and
landed on the roof of another building and ran as quickly as he can. He
heard the alarm being raised from the mansion and he continue to run even
faster, jumping from one roof to another. He arrived at the roof of a small
inn and swings himself through the window of one of the rooms. He landed
inside the room quietly.

He walked towards his table and placed the spell book on it. Suddenly, the
sound of someone clapping turns him around. As he did so, he pulled out his
slim long sword, so that when he faces the person in his room, he is
pointing the tip of the sword at the person's neck.

"Well done. You learned well." The person said.

AJ recognize the voice and relax, slipping his sword back into its
scabbard.

"Beth. Don't do that. You startled me." He grumbled.

The figure stepped into the light. It is a beautiful woman in her mid 30s
with curly red hair and a sweet smile. Her eyes are emerald green and
twinkled with amusement. She wears a dark blue tunic and dark leather
pants. Her boots glimmered in the moonlight. She wears the same type of
leather armor AJ is wearing.

"You got the spell book." She remarked.

AJ smiled at his teacher. Beth was the one who discovered him after he fell
out of the portal into one of the hundreds alleys in the city of
Westgate. She was also the one who took him under her wings and teaches him
the art of thievery. She was once a long-standing member of the
organization known as the Night Mask and has a very high influence in the
organization's High Council, considering the fact that most of the members
of the Council are her close friends. However, recently, she decided to
retire from the organization, which is graciously accepted by the Council
considering all her contributions in the past years. So now, she work as an
independent thief in Westgate and only visited the organization once or
twice to see the progress of things and giving out advice.

At first AJ was quite uncomfortable when he found out about all of the
Night Mask illegal activities. But eventually, he get used to the idea. He
is still wary of all the assassins and murderous thieves when visiting the
group with Beth though, and always kept a sharp look out. Also, when Beth
offered to teach him, he made it clear to her that he will not kill anyone
save for self-defense and has no intention in joining the Night Mask. He
told her that he only needed the skills to survive this world. Thankfully,
Beth agreed with his terms. No one in the organization knew that he is from
another world, a fact that Beth wisely advised him to keep it between
themselves. However, because of Beth popularity, he did managed to make
friendship and gain favor from all the members of the Council as well as
most of the members of the Night Mask.

Beth is a wonderful woman. She is funny, can be very kind if she wants to,
and also a good listener. Apparently, she was born and raised in
Westgate. She joined the Night Mask at a very early age, soon after her
family was killed, caught in between two battling wizards. She learns
everything she can in the organization and when she was skilled enough, she
set out to avenge the death of her family by assassinating the wizards
involved. She succeeded, barely, but she did managed to gain enough wealth
from the wizards' coffer to contribute to the Night Mask and raised her
standard instantly within the organization.

AJ smiled at her and held out the spell book.

"Had a brief scuffle with the wizard on my way out." He said.

Beth laughed aloud.

"I know, I saw everything." She said merrily. "It happens. But if you keep
your wits with you all the time and adept quickly to the situation like how
you did just now, you'll do fine."

She walked at one of the chair and sat.

"Thieving depends on luck as well as on skills. You did reasonably well for
a first timer." She continued.

"So what should I do with this?" AJ touches the spell book. "Should I give
it to the Night Mask?"

Beth looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Not unless you want to join them." She said. AJ shook his head immediately
causing Beth to giggle. "Then keep it. Even though you have no use of it,
it is tradition. Generally, all new thieves keep their first loot with them
until they die, unless situation demands that they must use it or give it
away."

"Cool. So I'm a fully skilled thief now huh?" AJ grinned.

Beth looked at him smugly.

"Maybe a full thief, yes, but skilled? Hmm... time will tell."

AJ laughed and jumped onto the bed.

"God, I'm tired." He moaned.

"Well, get rested then, 'cause we're going to have one hell of a heist
tomorrow night."

AJ sighed and looked at the moon. His thought wandered back at the rest of
his bandmates. He sat up and gaze at his mentor.

"Any news about my friends yet, Beth?"

Beth looked at him sadly and shook her head. She walked over and sat beside
him, holding his hand.

"Don't worry AJ. We'll find him. I'm sure we will." She said gently.

"I hope so, Beth. I really hope so."  AJ whispered.

**********************

In Myrloch Vales, in the Moonshae Isles...

"So you're saying that in your world there is only one God?"

Brian looked over at the beautiful priestess beside him and nodded. Sarelle
is truly a beautiful lady. Her raven hair flows down her shoulder and
reaches half way down her back. Her eyes are dark brown in color and her
skin is almost white. She wears a simple green traveling robe half covered
by a dark brown woolen cloak.

She found him unconscious in the middle of the woods about two month ago
and took care of him ever since. She claims to be a traveling priestess of
the goddess known as Chauntea, the Great Mother, the Goddess of Healing and
Agriculture. She has been traveling all over the Moonshae Isle for more
than a year now, doing her duty to her goddess by spreading the tenets of
Chauntea to the island occupants. She is originally from the far off city
of Waterdeep. So far, she has been having very little luck, for the people
of the isle held tight to their ancient faith toward the Earthmother,
another goddess.

"How interesting. I would very much like to see this world of yours." She
said in wonder. "So, how far have you progress with your spells?"

Traveling with Sarelle for the past two month has not been in vain
however. Brian was astounded to see the display of magic when he saw
Sarelle healed a young boy who fell off a tree. Ever since then, he has
asked questions after questions about it. Sarelle explained to him that the
magic does not come from her, but from her goddess. It is a matter of
faith. A blessing of the goddess upon her faithful. She explains patiently
to Brian the power of clerics and described as best as she can about all
the faith there are in Faerun.

One evening however, they came across a farmer who has been wounded by a
bear. While Sarelle was busy rummaging her backpack to gather the component
she needed for her healing spell, Brian help to hold the man and tried to
stop the bleeding. But something happened at that time. He felt a very
strange presence and heard a gentle whisper, asking him to pray to his own
God. Without thinking, he started praying and almost immediately, he heard
Sarelle gasped. He looked down to his hand and saw that it was glowing. The
bleeding stopped and the wound knitted itself.

Ever since that incident, his mind began to fill with various knowledge he
didn't even know it were there. He worriedly asked Sarelle about this and
Sarelle gently explained to him that these are clerical spells and that he
is a cleric. For the past month, Sarelle has been guiding him with the
spells and explain to him as to what a cleric should do and what they
shouldn't do. She cannot give him any advice about his faith though, for it
is not her faith. Only he knew what his faith demands.

"Far enough, I guess. I'm dealing with this spell known as 'Flame Strike'
at the moment." Said Brian.

"Flame Strike?" Sarelle exclaimed. "That is a powerful spell. Are you sure
you have the power to cast that spell?"

"I'm certain, though I am not sure what it is. Can you explain it to me?"

"Well, I can, though I have never cast it myself. The spell is still beyond
my ability." Said the priestess before switching into a lecturing
tone. "When the spell is cast, a vertical column of fire will roar
downwards onto any living creature you choose. Basically your faith is
great enough for you to reaches out spiritually into the elemental plane of
fire and draw the fire from there. It is one of the most powerful offensive
spell we clerics have."

They reach the spot where they are supposed to be heading.

"Well now, here we are." Said the priestess.

"It's beautiful." Brian gasped as he looked at the view before him. Before
him is the fabled Myrloch Vale, the place Sarelle and everyone else in the
place that they have visited been talking about. A vast crystalline lake
stretches out before him, surrounded by the forest. In the distance,
snow-capped mountains loomed into view. The water of the lake is
crystalline clear and the air around them smelled sweet with
honeydew. Birds chirped above them and the wind blew gently pass them. The
sun was just setting, coloring the sky with its golden aura.

"It is isn't it? I've been here only once with a druid friend of mine."
Said Sarelle.

"But something is... strange..." said Brian.

"What do you mean?" asked Sarelle.

"I feel like... a stranger in this land. Like... I shouldn't be here."

"Ah, I see what you mean. That is because we are in a holy site of the
Earthmother, the Goddess of this isles." Sarelle explain gently. "The lake
itself is the main source of power for the Earthmother - the Moonwell. It
is at this very place where the druids of the Earthmother felt closest to
their goddess."

"Then we shouldn't be here." Said Brian.

"No, no, no. Everyone is welcomed here provided that we treat the place
with proper respect. Anyway, we came here because we're being summoned by
the Great Druid herself." Said Sarelle as she fished out a note from her
pocket.

"The Great Druid?" asked Brian.

"Yes, child. It was I who summoned both of you." A new voice spoke from
behind them.

Sarelle and Brian turned around to see a plump woman in about her 50's
standing before them. She wore a simple, plain woolen robe. Her hood was
thrown back to reveal a plump, lined face and a warm smile. Suddenly, Brian
felt at home and at ease.

"Well met, Great Druid. It has been a long time since we last met." Sarelle
said warmly.

"Oh such stuff!" she said warmly. "You know very well to call me Genna,
Sarelle of Chauntea. And you too Brian. It is very nice to finally meet
you."

"How..." Brian stammered.

"Oh I know who you are Brian, and where you came from. I felt the ripple
cause by the portal the night you arrived here and came straight out to
investigate. We have been watching you for some time now, though I assure
you not in the evil eye kind of way." Said Genna. "Oh by the way, I am
Genna Moonsinger, Great Druid of Myrloch Vale."

"Nice... nice to meet you too Genna." Said Brian uncertainly.

"Why did you summoned us Genna?" asked Sarelle.

"Why to warn you of course." Said Genna.

"Warn us?" said Sarelle.

"Evil men have entered Myrloch forest. I think they are looking for you."
Said Genna.

"Looking for us? Why?" asked Brian.

"I don't know Brian. But I suggest you return to Caer Corwell
immediately. At least there, with the guards around you'll be safe." Said
Genna. "Hurry child."

Sarelle nodded and grabbed Brian's hand.

"Come on Brian. She's right. We must go."

They got onto their horses and begin to trot down the forest.

"Thank you Genna." Said Sarelle.

"Take care of yourself Sarelle. And you too Brian. For some reason or
another, I sensed that you are important in some way. Good luck." Said
Genna.

Brian and Sarelle galloped through the forest as fast as they could.

Some distance away, an armored figure on a white horse followed them.

***************************

In Eveningstar Castle, in the Kingdom of Cormyr...

In the small courtyard of Eveningstar castle, two people are in the middle
of a heated sword fighting. Clashes of steel against steel ring the air
around the courtyard. Howie dodged the sword swipe of his opponent easily
by rolling onto the ground. He got up easily enough to counter another
swipe. At first he thought his opponent would be an easy fight, but now it
was proven that his assumption was wrong. At time passes on, he is slowly
being driven against the courtyard wall.

Two months have passed since he suddenly and unceremoniously appeared
unconscious in the dining room of Eveningstar Castle where the Lady of
Eveningstar, Tessaril Winters was having her dinner. Tessaril is a great
lady. Outspoken, beautiful and very, very brave. Howie was surprised when
he discovered that she is a sorceress too.

Tessaril took care of him when he was unconscious and decided to teaches
him a little bit of sword fighting. She also guided him about the Realms
and took him around Eveningstar when she was not too busy. In return, Howie
told her of things from his own world, which Tessaril found very
interesting.

Every morning, they would spar with each other in sword fighting. His
fighting skills gets better as time passes on, but he still cannot defeat
Tessaril in sword fighting, no matter how hard he tried. She is always one
step ahead of him.

Tessaril has even had him speak with King Azoun IV and his wizard
Vangerdahast. The conversation was quite pleasant though suspicions still
etched in the wizard's voice when they spoke with each other. It was by
Tessaril's influence that kept him from being taken into custody by the
war-wizards of Cormyr in order for further interrogation.  Under Tessaril
firm request, the king decided that any further interrogation with the
young man would be done under the close eyes of Tessaril's and must be done
in the comfort of Eveningstar Castle. Vangerdahast was not pleased but he
agreed, although reluctantly, with the king's order. Apparently, according
to Tessaril, Vangerdahast has always had great difficulty in trusting
anyone.

He dodged another swing that should have taken off his head and dived to
the floor, rolling away from the maiden before standing and re-assuming his
battle stance. Tessaril attacked again and Howie managed to parry it off
before going in for his own attack. Swing after swing he gave the warrior
maiden, each attack aimed to strike her down, but each was parried and
blocked expertly. But the tide has turned. This time it is Tessaril who
retreated and forced into defense.

Howie continued with his attack with renewed vigor, moving fluidly as if he
is dancing. His sword, a large, two handed long sword, glided swiftly
through the air, ringing shrilly as it is blocked by Tessaril slim long
sword. The air hummed as he dodged her slashes and for every attack the
Lord of Eveningstar made, Howie returned it back with three separate blows.

But then came the unexpected. Loss in his determination to disarm the
maiden, he was too slow to react when Tessaril dipped down on one leg and
swiped the young man off his feet with the other. The next thing he
realized is he is lying on the floor, dazed with the point of Tessaril's
blade at his neck.

"Good fight, Howie, but not good enough." She smiled.

Howie groaned as he realized what has happened. His fighting was tainted
with battle lust, greed and anger. He was too eager to press the advantage
he managed to gain on Tessaril that it clouded his perceptions and
instinct.

"I take it that you realized where your mistake was?" she asked as she
helped him to his feet.

"Anger." Howie said simply. "I was so sure that I have got you where I
wanted."

Tessaril throw her face back and laugh sweetly.

"Howie, Howie, Howie. You must never think of that when you're in battle."
She said as she clapped his shoulder firmly. "Remember, Howie, in the world
out there, you will not fight one warrior alone. Instead, most of the time,
you will have to fight more than one warrior simultaneously, with wizards
and priests to support your foe with magic."

"In fact, you have just fought me as a warrior. May I remind you that I am
a mage too. If this is a real battle, I would use all the advantage I have,
and that would be using all my fighting skills as well as my magic." She
continued as they walked into the castle. "You must always expect anything
in a battle Howie. Real foe would not be as merciful and nice as me."

They walked on into a small sitting chamber. Servants walked up to them,
offering clean towels to wipe off their sweats.

"Why are you doing this, Tess?" Howie asked at last.

"Do what?"

"All this," Howie gesture to himself. "I am nothing but a stranger to you
land, your world. Yet, you took me in and took care of me and teach me
about fighting and all. Why? Aren't you a little bit suspicious of me, like
Vangerdahast does? For all you know, I might be an evil person, seeking for
the right time to bring your doom."

Tessaril stare at him expressionlessly for a moment.

"Because Howie, I have this strange feeling that you are going to need all
the help and skills you can have soon." She said quietly. "And so does
Vangerdahast and the King."

"What do you mean?" asked Howie curiously.

"Sit down Howie, and I will show you something." She said, moving towards
her desk at the edge of a window. She took out a scroll from one of the
drawers and sat down before the young man. "Tell me Howie, how many of your
friends were with you when you were whisked off into this world?"

"Well," Howie replied slowly. "If they are still alive, there would be five
of us all together, myself, Brian, AJ, Nick and Kevin."

Tessaril unrolled the scroll.

"There was a prophecy made about three months ago, by an Oracle from
Silverymoon. I will recite it to you now."

The triad of evil will be formed Bringing chaos to gods and mortals alike
Darkness shall be the harbinger Destruction shall harm the Silver Maiden
Strife shall form her doom

But Five shall arrive from far Five hold the key to free the Silver Maiden
Five shall be hunted down by the shadow But the Five will bring triumph

The good gods will smile The silver fire burns The power released Five
shall come forth Five will disperse Five shall gather But Seven will return
And the Maiden be free...

The two remain quiet for some times.

"Are you saying that 'The Five' is us? That we are a fulfillment of a
prophecy? That's ridiculous!" said Howie.

"A little over three month ago, Howie, there was a huge... cataclysm in
this Realms. For no apparent reason, there was a huge ripple in the Weave
of Magic that nearly destroyed the whole Realms. Many wizards and sorceress
were killed because of the magical chaos. A huge earthquake erupted,
shaking off everything. Cities lies nearly in ruins. Even Suzail were
nearly destroyed. Right after that, according to priests of Mystra, the
Goddess remains strangely silent. Any communications and prayers were
answered not by the Goddess, but by either Azuth or Savras. At the same
time too, we lost contact with all of Mystra's Chosen."

"Who are they?"

"Mystra's Chosen? They are mortals chosen by the Goddess herself to hold
some of her great power. You see, being a Goddess of Magic, Mystra's power
is more powerful than any other gods and goddesses in the pantheon. So, to
maintain the Balance, Mystra agreed to divide her power and entrusted it to
a group of mortals of her choosing to hold it for her. The Goddess herself
cannot draw that power without the Chosens permission and by doing so; the
Balance of Power is maintained. There are a number of them running the
Realms, most of them powerful mages and beings. Only a handful of people
knew who they are. Myself, Vangerdahast and Azoun are some of
them. Elminster, the Old Mage of Shadowdale is one of them. Another is
Khelben Arunsun, an archmage of Waterdeep. Then there are the Seven
Sisters, amongst them are the Simbul, the Witch-Queen of Aglarond, Lady
Alustriel, the High Lady of Silverymoon and Storm Silverhand, the Bard of
Shadowdale."

"After the disaster, we lost contact with Mystra and her Chosens. Oh they
are still around, we still heard of news of the Simbul throwing back the
invading warriors of Thay back from Aglarond more than once and people in
Waterdeep still caught glimpse of Khelben and Laeral in Waterdeep. But
according to Vangerdahast, they wouldn't answer to any attempts of
communications. It was like they are partly in this world and partly in
another. It was like they are too preoccupied into something. Around that
time also, the prophecy was made."

"Vangerdahast deduced that the first part of the prophecy has been
fulfilled. He thought, and I agree with him that the Silver Maiden referred
here is Mystra. We suspected that something has happened to Mystra, and
this was evident from the sudden ripple of the Weave. With Mystra gone, her
allies, Azuth, Savras and her mortal Chosens must work together in
maintaining the Weave until her returns."

"How did you know she will return?" asked Howie.

"Because the prophecy said so. And it also mentioned that 'The Five shall
come from far'. I would say it is more than a coincidence that you and your
friends suddenly arrive into this world about a month after the disaster."

Howie frowned thoughtfully. He simply does not know what to believe
anymore. Ever since he arrived in this world, his life seemed to have
turned upside down.

"What should I do then? I don't even know where the others are. Hell, I
don't know whether they are alive!"

Tessaril put her hand on his shoulder.

"Thrust me, Howie. They are alive. I know they are."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I have this strange feeling that if any of you dies, something bad
will happen to this Realm. And since nothing happen at the moment, my best
guess is they are alive." She replied steadily. "You will meet them again,
Howie. The Prophecy said so. Even now, Vangerdahast is using all of his
power to find you and Azoun is sending almost all of his soldiers and
war-wizards all over Cormyr looking for your friends. Believe me, Howie. We
are as concern to find your friends as you are."

"Has Vangerdahast found anything?" he asked.

Tessaril shook her head.

"Apparently, you came from a world within the negative zone. That makes you
totally immune to any type of detection and scrying spells."

Howie sighed softly.

*************************