Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2002 22:26:09 +0100 (BST) From: goldenknight" Subject: Night of No Tomorrow - 16 (gay/boybands) Disclaimer: Hello again! Well then! I finally managed to get my ass back in writing again (particularly because I'm so sick of studying college stuff 'n' all...). But I'm back with the sixteenth part of NNT. It's kinda shorter than the rest, I know. Sorry about that. Now what should I yap about first... oh yeah! Legal stuff. You all may shut your ears now. First of all (bla, bla, bla), 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, Boo-hoo. 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 (I'm a good boy, hehe) 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, bomb threats, boos, tomatoes or cabbages to throw or whatever, just write to me at goldenknightuk@yahoo.co.uk 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. Author's Note: Another thing is, in case you didn't notice; I have changed my email address. So if you guys wanna drop us a note, sent it to goldenknightuk@yahoo.co.uk Right! Enough mindless chatters, roll back the curtain, roll the drums and on with the show! Drew (the man) and Andy (the slut) hehe ******************************* Tess accepted Beth hand gratefully as the thief helped her up. With the priest gone, so is the effect of his Spell of Silence on her and the Spell of Holding on AJ and Zen. "My thanks, Beth," said Tess as she nursed her wound. "You fought well, Lady. Here, drink this," Beth handed her a vial of healing potion. "I'll check the others." "God, what did he do to me just now? I can hear and see, but I cannot move!" asked AJ as he nursed his aching body. "The Spell of Holding." Tess replied as she relaxed as the healing potion took effect. "Very popular amongst priests and clerics. Zen, are you well?" "Aye." Zen replied. "My body is aching all over, though." "How's Howard?" Howie merely replied with a groan. "He'll live." Beth replied as she tends to his wounds. AJ, check that wall over there, by the altar. I think there's a secret door there. Look sharp for traps too." "Better hurry up, AJ. If Deina is as powerful as Laelar, I really don't want to face her in this condition." Said Howie. "Trust me, Howard. She is more powerful than Laelar. I should know. I have faced her before." Tess replied. "Bingo," said AJ as the stonewall against which he pushed turned backward silently. "Derek, help Howie up. Make haste, everyone! We must be out of here quickly!" said Beth as she hastily made her way to the opening and peers into the darkness. "Mask, look after us," she whispered softly to the God of Thieves before stepping into the darkness. ***************************** At the ruins of Tandrull, near the Sword Coast... "How is he?" Sarelle whispered softly as she knelt gently beside Brian. Brian simply shook his head quietly as he gently stroke Nick's soft golden hair. He sighed sadly as he watched Nick sleeping before him with his head resting on Brian's lap. "He cried himself to sleep," Brian replied softly. "I healed all his wounds, but there's nothing I can do for the pain in his heart." "Andy," Nick muttered as he stirs in his sleep. "Don't leave me..." A single tear began to flow from Brian's eye as he watched his best friend's agony. He wouldn't know what he'd do if he lost Leigh Ann in the same fashion. He understood what Nick is feeling right now. To love someone and then forced to watch as that someone is taken away from you... it would be like losing part of one's soul, if not worst. There were times ever since Brian arrived to this world when he thanked God fervently that Leigh Ann is safe at home in his world. "He's hurting inside, Sarelle." Brian whispered tersely, "He's hurting inside, and there's nothing I can do about it." "Be with him, Brian." Sarelle replied sadly. "Be his strength, be his courage, be his hope. Now is the time when he needs you the most." The priestess stroke Nick's hand gently as she sadly stares at Nick's tear stricken face. After a while, she sang softly. It is a phrase of an ancient song, dated back to the dark days during the fall of Myth Drannor: Good fortune comes, fleeting, and then it is gone, But the heart heavy with weeping must carry on, Ill luck comes and stays like winter's cold snow, Always you must weather more than one blow... *************************** In the Stonelands, north of Cormyr... "Fools! Imbeciles!" Deina raged before the cowering soldiers in Laelar's room. In her anger, the priestess of Talos smashed a small ornately carved table that stood at one corner of the room with her mace. Outside, storm clouds gathered as if the weather itself reflects her fury. "Never before have I been served by men as pathetic as this!" "Surely they can't just vanish!" said Damien quietly from where he stood near the door. The wizard wisely kept a suitable distance from the enraged priestess. It was well known across the Realms that the clergy of Talos exults in the wild destruction of nature at its fiercest, trusting to its own luck and the favor (or ill-favor) of the god to protect it. Hence the followers tend to be fatalistic in nature as a result - almost self-destructive. However, clerics of Talos wish to take as many others with them as possible! Switching his gaze from the worried looking soldiers to the dead priest of Bane lying on the floor, the wizard frowned contemplatively. "You have enough favor of Talos to resurrect the priest, Deina. Perhaps you could bring him back so that he can tell us what has happened here? It appears he died in a battle." Much to everyone's relief, Deina ceased her rancor and frowned at the corpse. "Bah! I'll not waste my power to bring him back." Deina spat. "It is clear what has happened. The fool priest faced them here and they slew him. I have faced Tessaril before and I know well the extent of her power and battle-skills. Laelar wouldn't stand a chance against her." "So the question now is: where did they go?" said Hanthor Darkshield, the leading commander of the Zhentarim soldiers of the keep. "All the exit are sealed and heavily guarded. They must still be around." "What do you know about this keep, Hanthor?" asked Deina suddenly. "Is there any secret passages leading away from this room?" Hanthor shrugged. "The place is old even when we first arrived here. We know of some secret passages, though there are others that remains to be discovered." Deina turned sharply at Damien. "Do you have any spells to detect any secret entrance?" "I do." Damien replied softly as he strode to the middle of the room. Selecting the appropriate spell components from his belt pouches he began to mutter a slow incantation. His claw-like fingers move slowly in specific motions as he traced several runes in the air before him. All about the room, soldiers began to fidget uncomfortably, most looking at the wizard suspiciously. The wizard finished his incantation and spread his hands wide in a flourish. There was a bright magical flash and suddenly every exit from the room began to glow red. Surprisingly, a portion of the wall next to the altar at the end of the room glows red too. "There!" said Deina sharply. "Hanthor! Go and check it!" The Zhentarim commander was already striding towards the wall. Warily, he pushed firmly against it and then the wall swings open to reveal a dark entrance. He grabbed a torch and peered inside. "The dust was disturbed. There are footprints. They have been here." Said Hanthor. "Well? What are you waiting for?!" said Deina as she grabbed a torch. "After them! I want them found before Manshoon gets here! Find them or face my wrath!" With a quick command from Hanthor, the Zhentarim soldiers hastened through the entrance, sword drawn readily. Deina turned to Damien. "Damien. Use your scrying spell to see where the tunnel leads. Then take Hanthor and two other warriors with you and teleport ahead of them. I will follow the others and try to catch them from behind. Make haste!" The wizard nodded and strode out of the room, followed by Hanthor and two Zhentarim warriors. Deina turned and strode after the others. "I will get you, Tessaril, even if it's the last thing I'll ever do!" she muttered under her breath as she marched off, hefting her mace. "This is a fool's idea!" Tessaril hissed angrily. "Gods in their thrones! We don't even know where we are going!" "It's too late to go back, Tessaril," Beth replied evenly. "I've set more than half a dozen traps behind us for the Zhents, and I'm not about to crawl back in the dark to disarm them all again." Tess muttered something quite unlady-like under her breath as they make their way warily though the catacomb. The warrior-mage strode stiffly in the middle of the group; her armor jingles lightly as she move. The last two hours or so has proven to be extremely difficult as they wove their way through the web and dust filled catacomb. Here and there, the floor was clattered with bones and skeletons of long-dead lords and occupants of the keep above. Obviously, they have stumbled into the family tomb of the previous occupant of the keep. The last two hours has also been a busy period for Beth and AJ too. While AJ scout the catacomb to check and disarm any possible traps that might be lying about before them, Beth set off to create traps of her own to slow down or even encourage the pursuit of their enemies. "It is the only chance we have, milady." Said Zen as he peered against the darkness beneath the light of the torch. "One thing we Purple Dragon soldiers are very good at is knowing when we're greatly outnumbered." Tessaril sniffed at that. Ahead of them, Derek sneezed as he tripped and tumbled against a dust filled sarcophagus. AJ moved to help the young soldier up. "You alright?" "Aye," Derek muttered. "I'm just not used to this crawling about in the dark." "How long have you served under Azoun's banner, Derek?" asked Beth. "About a year so far." Derek replied. "During that time, the heaviest work I have ever done was guarding His Majesty's chamber in the Royal Palace in Suzail." Zen snorted. "Well then, young one, consider this your first major mission." The veteran soldier grumbled. "Aye, and let's hope I'll survive so that I can boast about it to my lady in Suzail." Derek replied. Beth laughed. "Lad, if all of us survive this, I'll sent a priest of Mask to wed you with you lady." "Mask, the God of Thieves?" Derek chuckled. "Thank you, but no, milady. The Shadowlord'd probably cast a shadow upon us for the rest of our married life and turn all of our children into thieves." "What's wrong with being a thief?" ask AJ. "Let just say, they all tend to have very short life-span." Suddenly, there was a shout followed by a distant explosion. The group looked back to determine what has transpired. "They've found the entrance to the catacomb," said Beth. "They've triggered my first trap. That means they've reached the first chamber." The thief turned, her face looks serious. "We must make haste. Quickly! Run!" With that they rushed through the catacomb. Before them, the shadow awaits as the passage lay endlessly before them. *************************** In Blackstaff Tower, in the city of Waterdeep... "Khelben?" The middle-age wizard turned from his meditative trance to face the pulsing crystal sphere on his desk. The voice emanating from it is a familiar woman's voice. Grimacing with weariness, the wizard stumbled weakly towards his desk. "Storm?" Exerting what left of his strength into the sphere, he willed the image of the Bard of Shadowdale to appear within it. "Well met, Lady Bard. How is Elminster?" "My greetings, Blackstaff. I bring words from Elminster. Have you any news of the Five?" "Aye. And it is not good." Said Khelben as he sat down. "Laeral received words from Alustriel stating that one of them managed to join up with a group of adventurers up North. At the moment, they are near the Star Mountains, in the middle of the High Forest, attempting to thwart the plans of a small group of the Cult of Dragons." "The Cult of the Dragons? In the High Forest?" said Storm. "Aye. They are led by a powerful archmage, Halaster, who apparently is attempting to harness the power of the portal beneath the Star Mountains that was created by the elves of the High Forest during the ancient days." "Mystra mercy! And Alustriel let them go off alone?" said Storm. "So far, they have done well." Khelben replied dryly. "Harpers from Neverwinter reported that they have recently defeated Diana the Doombringer, Halaster's most favored apprentice. And her riding a blue dragon too!" Storm looked at him thoughtfully, unconvinced. "What is the name of this adventuring group? Do you know?" asked the bard. "I believe they called themselves the Company of the Red Wolves. Why? Do you have a Harper within the group?" Storm smiled. Her features relaxed visibly. "Aye. Lamelle, the group's sorceress, has served the Harper for nigh over 10 years now. She will keep them safe." She replied. "That is good news, then." "What of the others?" Storm asked again. "Well, you know about those two with Tessaril." "Aye. I have already dispatched a Harper under me to aid them. Though I don't think they need the help. The thief, Beth, is a good one, a skilled assassin and once a member of high standing of the Night Mask. Between her and Tessaril, I'm sure they'll get themselves out of it. What of the other two?" Khelben face became grave. "This one is a problem. They were set upon by Hellhounds that were conjured by a Zhentarim mage as well as one of Sememmon's pet beholders. They battled but one of their companions were abducted in the end." "Who?" "Andy Elbereth, the last of Tempus' Children." "Gods in their thrones!" Storm exclaimed. "That's the least of the worst news that we have right now." Khelben continued. "There's more?" "At presence, they are all trapped in the ruins of Tandrull." Storm gasped. "Aye, you and I both knows what awaits them inside that evil place." ***************************** In the Ruins of Tandrull, near the Sword Coast... "The storm has cleared, I see." Brian looked up to see Galadriel sitting gracefully beside him. The elf murmured thanks as Sarelle handed her breakfast. "Aye. Let's hope the weather stays like this for the rest of the days. After last night, I have no desire to trudge through mud and rain for a long while." Sarelle replied. "More stew, Brian?" Brian shook his head quietly as he nibble the last of his bread. His eyes are still heavy and his thoughts are still plague with weariness. His last night sleep has been nothing but dreams and nightmares. Twice last night, he dreamt of Kevin fighting a dragon. Though it was not an ordinary dragon. It's a... it's a... "Sarelle, what is a dracolich?" asked Brian after a while. Both Sarelle and Galadriel stared at him at that. Muragh murmured softly at his side. "Why... why do you ask?" asked Sarelle uncertainly. "I... I had a bad dream last night. I saw Kevin and some other people fighting... something. A great dragon that is made up of nothing but bones and skeleton. One of the people he was fighting with shouted something that sounds like dra... draco... I think it was dracolich." Sarelle and Galadriel looked at each other thoughtfully. "A dracolich is an undead dragon. Much like human mages who turn themselves into liches to become undead and increase their power, or elves turning themselves into baerlnon, dragons turn themselves into dracoliches." Muragh explained dryly. "If your friend is facing a dracolich, he is surely doomed." "What? Why?" asked Brian. "A living dragon is powerful enough a foe as it is, young one." Galadriel replied. "Dracoliches are even more powerful than the dragon's former self. In facing a dracolich, it would prove to be a very difficult battle, I admit... but not impossible." "Not impossible?" Muragh scoffed. "Have you ever faced one before, elf? I have! Well, not me. But Andy has, during his adventuring day. I was dangling at his belt as usual, but I did saw everything. Dracolich is a difficult foe. They are immune to many spells. They cannot be poisoned, paralyzed or dominated. They have the same magical resistance as their former form. They are immune to normal weapons. Bah! Only the more powerful wizard's spells and magical weapon can hurt a dracolich. Even with these, it still managed to kill two members of our party." "Aye, but you still defeated it, did you not, skull?" Galadriel answered dryly. "Then you have to agree with me that it is a difficult foe, but not impossible." "Hmph. It does seems impossible to me." Muragh replied. "It was purely by luck that we actually managed to kill that creature." "Enough gloomy thoughts." Said Sarelle. "You are only worrying Brian further." She turned to Brian and smiled. "Don't you worry about any of that, Brian. I'm sure you cousin is alright. It was only a dream, nothing more." "Yeah, well, in this world, I don't know what to believe anymore." Brian muttered. "Where's Nick?" asked Sarelle softly. "How is he this morning?" Brian looked around and gazed worriedly at his friend sitting alone at the far corner of the room, studying his spellbook. "He will not talk." Brian replied softly. "He just sits there and study his spellbook. I... I tried to talk to him, but he just brushed me away." "Muragh?" asked Sarelle. "The same." The skull sighed hollowly. "He has vengeance in his eyes, Brian. He intends to follow his anger and storm off to the Citadel of the Ravens to save Andy." "What? That's... that's madness!" Sarelle gasped. "The Citadel is the third largest Zhentarim military fortress. It is highly defended by both warriors and mages. Gods! The mages there will blast him to ashes before he could draw breath to cast his first spell!" Galadriel placed her hand on Brian's shoulder. "Talk to him, Brian." Brian nodded quietly and stood. As he walked towards Nick, he silently gathers all his strength and will. This is going to be one hell of a job. "Nick?" Nick sighed and closed his spellbook as he heard Brian approaches him. "Go away, Brian." He murmured flatly. Brian sat beside him. "Talk to me." "What is there to talk about?" Nick replied. Brian looked at him quietly before turning his gaze towards the untouched bowl of stew before him. "You didn't eat your breakfast." "I'm not hungry." "Yes, you are. Nick, you got to eat something. We got a long journey ahead of us." Nick rose and glared at Brian, his eyes flashing with anger. "Brian, will you quit treating me like a child? I'm not a kid anymore!" "Well you sure are behaving like one!" Brian replied evenly. The two stared at each other for a moment or two. Finally Brian relented and sighed. He knew Nick long enough to recognize when he is being rock-hard stubborn. "Nick, I'm your best friend. I admit, I don't know the extent of the pain that you are going through right now. But I want to help you as best I can! I want to try lessen that pain in anyway I can! And I cannot do it if you shut me out! Now talk to me!" Nick remained silent. "I thought we are close enough to be brothers. And brothers help each others." Brian continued softly. "Maybe I was wrong." A drop of tear trickled down Brian's cheek and Brian looked away in silence. Then, he felt a finger brushing the tear away. Brian looked up at Nick. Nick's face was expressionless. Anger and vengeance still burned in his eyes. At that moment, Brian was thankful such anger was not directed to him. "Brian, don't cry." Nick said softly. His voice was flat, almost devoid of any feeling. "Look at me. I'm not crying. And I am in worst pain than you are." "I am done with crying." Nick continued. "I have no more tears no spare." "What are you saying?" asked Brian. "Before Andy was taken away, he gave me... something. A link to a greater source of power. And through that, I saw his past. I understand him now... his pain, his grief, what he is..." "I have seen his past... and I have no more tears to spare." Said Nick, grimly. "I'm going to the Citadel of the Ravens and I am going to get him back." "But, Nick..." Nick stopped Brian with a look. "Brian, if Leigh Ann is taken away from you, would you do anything, even risking your own life, to get her back?" Brian stared at him quietly for a moment before nodding reluctantly. "Then you understand what I have to do, right?" asked Nick again. "But it's too dangerous..." said Brian. "Which is why I appreciate any help I can get, B. Including yours, if you would help me. I am prepared to go off alone if I need to, but it'll make my task harder. Will you help me in this, B? You did mention that you want to help and that brothers help each others." Brian looked at him in silence for a moment more before nodding reluctantly. Nick hugged him. "Thanks bro. I owe you one." "You owe me big time." Brian replied. He looked at Sarelle and the rest at the other end of the area. "What about the others?" "I'll not force them to go through this, B. Talk to them of my intention, and let them decide. If they choose to leave, so be it." Nick replied. "You've changed Nick." Said Brian. "I've never seen you this serious before." Nick looked up at him from his spellbook. "Nothing stays the same forever, B. Maybe I am finally growing up." Nick replied. "Anyway, you've never seen me falling in love before too. Maybe love changes me." "Or maybe it was this... something... that Andy gave you. What is it? A new source of magic? A new power?" asked Brian. Nick stared at the space before him thoughtfully. Then, slowly, a grim smile emerged in his face. "Ask Muragh. He was there when all of these happened. I've always thought that annoying little skull was hiding something from me." ****************************** Amidst the Star Mountains, in the North... Lynxal, Halaster's youngest apprentice, cursed as he looked up in the sun. It has been more than two nights since the he has been assigned to lead a group of Dragon Cultists into the High Forest for a security round. The young illusionist obviously prefers being in the solitary confines of his room where he could do his magical studies in peace. Obviously that was too much to ask. Instead, they set him off on this ridiculous, not to mention uncomfortable, and tiring 'grand' mission of patrolling the woods. The time spent in the company of the warriors that accompany him does not improve his mood either. He had never been a soldier, not really. His talents, his genius, lay elsewhere. The powerful illusion that hides the mouth of the caves leading to the vast underground maze beneath the Star Mountains has been his creation. In the years in service of Halaster, he has crafted many new spells, mostly illusionary spells, which, although not as potent as spells of other magical fields, it is potent enough to earn him at least some respect from the rest of his peers. His peers. Bah! Lynxal spat on the ground in disgust. He admitted that he greatly envied and hated all of them. He envied the amazing feats they could perform with their powerful magic. He envied Orannon's ability to summon great fiends from the Abyss and Nimron's ability to kill a being with just a point of his finger. He envied Diana's ability to call upon a Meteor Swarm to destroy her foe and it was no wonder he rejoiced greatly when news of her demise reached his ears. And worst of all, he despised the fact that he has to bow his head every time they passed by. To them, he is nothing. His mastery in illusionary spells is a measly thing to them - hardly an acknowledgeable achievement. But one day he will show them all. One day he will render them trapped and helpless within his illusion and torment them all at his leisure. But now, he has to be patient. The waves in the sea can erode even the strongest rock in time. The roots from a tree can erode even the strongest of stones. He will lie down and bide his time until it comes. And when it finally arrives, he will show them all what he truly is. He cursed again as the warrior beside him stumbled against a rock and pushed him aside. "This is ridiculous! How by Talos, Talona and Loviatar, am I to find anyone in miles of tangles wilderness?!" Lynxal snarled. "They'd stay on one of the Druids Path, Lord." One of the hitherto grimly silent cult warriors told him. "Look at the tangled shrubbery and bushes and trees. I doubt even they would go through that. It'd takes nigh a day for even them to get through all that." Lynxal whirled around to face him. Looking back briefly, he noticed that the rest of the warriors have fallen behind a slight distance from where the two of them stood. "So you think!" he snarled. "So Halaster and the others think too, but I cannot believe a group of adventurers who have defeated Halaster himself, killed Diana, and Shargrailar the Great can be quite stupid! Why would they hide and run, if they have such strength to defeat such foes? No, I think they will turn aside and creep quietly about the wilderness, slaying those of their enemies they come upon, while the rest of us search futilely elsewhere, until we are all slain or overmastered! No, we must find them and brings the battle to them before they find us!" A rustling sound from above them stopped them in their track though. "Well, I must say, that since I am already up here and you are down there, technically you can say that you *have* found us." A voice rumbled from the overhead branch of the tree beside the wizard. "Eh?" Lynxal looked up, startled. "It's Cultist-killing time!" Garth announced gleefully as he launched himself off the branch. His not inconsiderable bulk crashed down atop the warrior beside Lynxal, who crumpled to the ground under the fat cleric and did not move again. "Truly, the loads some of us bear in life are heavier than others." Garth smiled from the dead warrior, up to the startled illusionist. Lynxal, looking at the stout cleric in surprise and anger, never saw the slim thief lean down from the nearby branch of the same tree, with Garth's borrowed mace in his hand. "Temper, temper." Alvin said soothingly as he clubbed the wizard on the side of the head. Blood flew and the man fell without a sound. "Poor thing. I wonder if there is any woman amongst these cultists. After that witch's attack two days ago, my lip aches for a kiss from dangerous woman." "Not half so much as yon wizard's head aches for another hit o' my mace, I'm thinking." Garth rumbled, taking back his mace from the thief hand and bending forward to finish the task. Shouts came from the distance as the rest of the patrol realized what has occurred and fifteen Cult warriors came charging towards them. Two arrows streaked from the nearby bushes as Ken and Kevin made their attacks. The arrows hit one warrior each, bringing them down in mid-charge. Keres and Lamelle burst out of the bush before them at that instant, the paladin swinging his sword expertly, cutting a warrior's surprised shout almost instantly. Lamelle stood behind the paladin; a dagger in her hand but her real weapon is her magic as she hurls magic missiles on another warrior. Delg and Myra burst out behind them, attacking from behind and preventing any retreat. With the skill of a seasoned warrior, the dwarf wields his axe methodically as if he is cutting off trees. Myra watched his back by striking any approaching warriors with her staff. "Hey! Save some of those Cultist for me!" Garth roared as he wades into the battle, bashing the helmed heads of every Dragon Cultist warriors that he comes upon with his mace. He was dealing a crushing blow upon an unfortunate warrior when another Cult warrior rose up behind him, sword upraised. "Garth, look out!" Myra shouted. The priest looked up, puzzled and then shrugged as the warrior tumbled back down with a dagger embedded in his back. Alvin grinned at him. "Now is that nice?" said the thief cherrily as he blocked a sword thrust of another warrior with his own sword. "You could've waited for me to get some blood. You could have let Alvin - much thinner, handsomer, and younger than a certain priest of Tymora - strike first! You could have busied yourself at some ritual or other; the one where you wear ladies' underthings and pretend to be a paladin, perhaps (Keres looked at him incredulously and Kevin laughed out aloud at that) - but oh no! The clarion call of battle was too strong. The..." He broke off to duck frantically aside as two Dragon Cultists blades crossed in the space where the thief's face had been a moment earlier. Puffing, Garth smashed his way through another Dragon Cultist. As the man fell, spraying blood from his crushed face all over the cleric's knees, Garth turned to parry off the attack of another Cultist. "Oh aye, let ye strike first and grab all the glory. Betray the commandments of the Lady Tymora to dare all and leave my life to chance. Let a clever-tongued thief go ahead of a respected, dignified - nay, even rotund - pillar of whatever community I'm currently passing through. Not by Tymora's laughter! When the bards sing ballads of this day, when the Red Wolves went up against almost a dozen Dragon Cultist sword-swingers in the forest, 'tis Garth whose deeds will awe. Garth who'll get the beauteous maiden as his rewards. Garth who'll..." "Take his usual pratfall," Kevin suddenly appeared beside him, his blade finding the throat of a Dragon Cultist whose frantic swing had made Garth stumbled back hastily. The fat priest tripped over a tree root and sat down heavily. "Oww!!" he complained as the ground shook. "You two talked too much you know," said Kevin as he took on another warrior. "Hey, I thought you prefer to attack from afar with your arrow." Said Alvin as he frantically blocked another swing. "And let you have all the fun? No way." Said Ken as parried a warrior's swing and thrust his feet forward, sending the warrior stumbling back to be finished by Myra who struck him down with her staff. "Hey Delg! Mind if I finish that one for you?" said Kevin as he dodged another swing. "Nay. I can handle it. You take care of yours. That Cultist look a mite angry with you." The dwarf replied. "Don't they all now?" Kevin answered as he finished off the warrior he fought with a series of sword swinging. For the next few breaths, the adventurers were too busy slaying the last few Dragon Cultist to notice the small Wizard's Eye floating about a small distance from them. Back in the caverns underneath the Star Mountains, Halaster, Galina and Maria watched the unfolding battle through the Wizard's Eye in silence. "Lynxal is dead," Galina muttered. "What are your orders, milord?" "Maria, maintain your Wizard's Eye and keep a watch on their every move." Said Halaster. The diviner nodded quietly. "Galina, inform Orannon and the others to be ready. Order them to get into position and alert the priests to be ready too. These are formidable foe." "As you wish, milord." Replied the enchantress. "And come back here quickly. We'll begin harnessing the portal's power immediately after Melthis has completed all the runes." "What about the Sacred One? Should we inform him too?" asked Maria. "I shall inform Him myself." Halaster replied. *******************************