"There is an old illusion. It is called good and evil."

― Friedrich Nietzsche


Ralis and his party stood idle as they watched the dozens of elven warriors approach them. The ones armed with shortbows, longbows and crossbows had their ranged weapons trained on them, ready to fire arrows and quarrels at the first sign of movement that indicates a threat. The only individuals in Ralis' party of 20 people who were preparing for a possible fight was Dorn, who held his Abyssal Sword tightly, and Althir holding his swords at the ready. Peanelian, who Tashia had summoned when they were fighting their way past the camps of drow warriors on their way up to the surface stood ready for fight, growling a warning at the approaching elf warriors. The elven warriors had their weapons drawn, but they were not charging towards Ralis and his party. Ralis sensed that some of his party members are tensing up for a fight, so he turned his head to the right slightly while keeping his eyes on the approaching elves.

"Easy... easy..." He warned his companions to calm down, as he had a feeling that the elves are just approaching them for questioning.

The elven warriors stopped 12 feet in front of of Ralis and his party, leaving the gap of short grass and stones of varying sizes between them untrampled. One elven soldier who does not wear a helmet, revealing his long green hair and emerald green eyes stepped forward and declared with a strong voice:

"I speak the common tongue that you might hear and be warned! All that breach the surface will be fought back!" The warrior paused for a moment and took a closer look at the newcomers, squinting his eyes.

He saw... not quite what he is expecting. He saw eleven humans (Ralis, Minsc, Abdel, Rasaad, Hexxat, Imoen, Anomen, Cernd, Edwin, Valygar, Nalia), three half-elves (Jaheira, Neera and Althir), two elves (Aerie and Tashia), one gnome (Jan), one dwarf (Korgan), one halfling (Mazzy), one half-orc (Dorn), and one dark elf drow (Viconia). "Wait, you... you are not drow!" Then his eyes focused on Viconia. "But... you travel with one among you! Are you collaborators? Have you betrayed us all to the darkness below?"

Ralis raised both of his hands up at his chest level and said: "Calm down. Viconia here is a rogue drow that I have known for nearly three years and has fought hard against the darkness of the Underdark as we all have. Now we seek Irenicus, if he has passed through here."

The elven warriors were surprised to hear the young human knows about Irenicus began to murmur among themselves for a moment, while the elven warrior who was brave enough to speak to them looked a Ralis with wide eyes.

"You know of Irenicus?" The elven warrior who spoke up first to them asked, and Ralis replied by simply nodding his head. "You will speak with Elhan immediately. He will determine your relationship with the fiend!"

Ralis wondered how do these elven warriors know of Irenicus, but he had a hunch that he may find out eventually. It may give him some clue on his talk about revenge from his short "journal".

"By all means," Ralis said with a passive shrug. "If this Elhan can tell me of Irenicus, I am eager to meet him."

The warriors armed with swords, spears and other melee weapons relaxed a bit, but the ones armed with ranged weapons still aimed at Ralis and his party. The helmetless green-haired elf nodded in satisfaction.

"Your fate will be decided shortly. You will remain under guard until Elhan sees you. Make no move, you will be watched closely," he said, then signaled Ralis and his party to follow him, then turned his back on them and walked away, passing between two warriors armed with longbows, disappearing behind the crowd of elven soldiers.

Ralis and his party cautiously approached the crowd of elven warriors warily keeping an eye on them. They parted, allowing Ralis and his party to pass through and follow the young elven warrior who had the courage to speak to them. Ralis and his group were escorted through the elaborate circular patterns embedded on the ground that vaguely looks like a broken spider web net, and past the defiled, broken statues in front of the temple ruins. The stone statue of the unidentified woman armed with two short swords caught Edwin's eyes for obvious reasons, and he silently wondered who is this buxom woman that the ancient elven people have made a statue in honor of.

"(They did a fine job sculpting her chest, didn't they, Edwin?)" Abdel whispered to Edwin, making it clear that he is not the only one who noticed.

"(Indeed)," Edwin nodded in agreement.

They were escorted into the cluster of trees to the west of the temple, and they had to navigate the forest a ways until they they came to the campsite of the elven soldiers. They were led to the biggest stone tent which likely belongs to the general of the elven warriors. The green-haired elf met with the general and they began to speak Elvish to each other. General Sovalidaas is the most physically strong wood elf Ralis, Valygar and Cernd have ever seen in their life. Having copper skin, red hair and hazel eyes, Sovalidaas' appearance commanded respect from his soldiers. But there is an air of calmness around him, as if though he seems to be a formidable fighter, it is his high charisma that his soldiers respect, not just his prowess. The only people in Ralis' party who understood the Elvish language were Aerie, Althir, Tashia, Jaheira, Neera and Cernd. After a two minute conversation between the green-haired soldier and the general, but they never bothered to explain to those who don't know the elven tongue what they are talking about. No translations were needed. The green-haired solider is informing his general about the strange assortment of people that came out of the Underdark, and that they know of Irenicus. General Sovalidaas nodded and dismissed the green-haired elf after they said what they needed to say to each other, and he walked away. Now Sovalidaas approached Ralis and his party with inquisitive, unblinking hazel eyes.

"Welcome," he said by way of greeting in the common tongue.

Ralis wasn't expecting a lukewarm greeting from someone who does not trust him or his party yet. Sovalidaas saw the confused look on Ralis' face and said: "Yes, welcome."

Ralis nodded in acknowledgement, as did Valygar, Rasaad, Abdel, Jaheira, Cernd, Tashia, Aerie, Hexxat, Nalia, Althir and Anomen. Korgan simply spat saliva at the ground near his left boot, but Sovalidaas never noticed because Korgan was standing partially behind Nalia's right leg. Then Sovalidaas began to slowly pace around in front of them with his hands clasped behind his back.

"I'll have you know I do not trust you. Any of you. I have no reason to trust you. I do not feel that I *have* to trust you. No doubt the same applies from your perspective," he said to them.

Ralis respected that this elf is trying to be neutrally fair to strangers such as themselves. At least nobody is jumping to conclusions, everyone is trying to be reasonable. All he has to do is prove that he is a potential ally, and hopefully that will be easy.

"I only wish to help, though I won't be much use if I don't know what is going on," Ralis said.

"You will be of use if you supply answers to our questions," Sovalidaas replied to Ralis in a tone that sounded a little too harsh in Ralis' ears, but he nodded at the elf general, though he felt slightly offended by the elf's tone. "Perhaps you will bring enlightenment, perhaps not. Perhaps you are in league with the enemy, perhaps not." Sovalidaas raised a hand up at chest level to Ralis to tell him to stay calm and try not to speak out of turn as he said: "I am undecided." Then he lowered his right arm. "Elhan will see to you. He will make sure you are comfortable and that you reveal what you must of yourself. He is experienced, and... and he has knowledge of the enemy."

Ralis nodded again to show the elf general that he is following everything that he is saying, that nothing is going in one ear and out the other.

"Mind that you obey him. Regardless of your intent, if you attack ANY of my elves here, I will have you and your allies killed on the spot. We are legion, rest assured," Sovalidaas said.

Ralis nodded again. "You will have no trouble with us, you have my word," he said.

Sovalidaas crossed his arms somewhat skeptically and said: "We shall see."

Then he walked away, going somewhere to his right. Ralis and his allies stood where they always stood, turning their heads to watch Sovalidaas leave. He disappeared behind the small crowd of archers training shortbows and crossbows at them. Then Ralis and his entire party had to wait six minutes, standing on their feet, trying not to show any sign of hostility to the elven warriors of both genders and classes surrounding them, fighters and archers. They didn't even try to whisper among each other. Tashia kept Peanelian close even though she stood ready to attack an elf if one attacks them.


But, six minutes later, their agonizing wait paid off as a new elf arrived from the spot where Sovalidaas departed. This new elf, named Elhan, arriving with Sovalidaas and two sage classed female elves is a tan skinned male wood elf with long black hair, brown eyes and standing five feet, three inches tall. Though he doesn't appear as strong as Sovalidaas, Ralis, Tashia, Aerie, Rasaad, Valygar, Jaheira and Cernd could easily see that Elhan's true strength lies in his dexterity and agility. And Edwin recognized the strange scimitar sheathed to Elhan's waist as Shazzellim, a +1 keen scimitar created by the Red Wizards of Thay because of the dull appearance of the blade's steel and the iron guard curving into rearing serpents and a dyed red leather grip that either browned with age or had possibly been replaced. In his astonishment upon recognizing the scimitar, Edwin couldn't help wondering how in the Nine Hells did this elf claim ownership of a sword created by the Red Wizards. When he was a few years younger before he was exiled from the Red Wizards of Thay, Edwin had heard a few stories about Shazzellim, that it was Lauzoril, the Zulkir of Charm and Enchantment who had a hand in its creation back in 1354 DR to defeat the Harpers.

The scimitar was first owned by Ahlzul, an army captain of Thay who had been ordered by his superiors to travel to Archendale and slay one of the Seven Sisters, Dove Falconhand. Unfortunately for Ahlzul, he mistakenly attacked another female knight, who went by the name of Jasilmer and was killed in battle. Ahlzul's men recovered his body, along with the sword, but they were in turn killed by the forces of the Dalelands. The sword was lost for a few years but was recovered by the Zhentarim caravan master Lhemako Tarsakh and identified the sword with the assistance of the sage Helavaster, in the city of Hillsfar. One the sword's identity was verified, Lhemako presented it to his superior Meer, who in turn mysteriously disappeared. Eventually Shazzellim made its way to Zhent superiors in Zhentil Keep. And of course, Zhentil Keep was destroyed in early 1369 DR. Even with this knowledge, Edwin couldn't piece together how this scimitar ended up in the hands of an elf so far away from its previously known location.

Elhan, escorted by General Sovalidaas and the two female elf sages dressed in dark green robes with golden outlines on the edges of the sleeves made their way towards Elhan or Sovalidaas' tent, positioning themselves between it and Ralis and his party. Elhan fixed his eyes on the young brown haired human with the beard, mustache and sideburns that are in need of trimming after spending several months in the Underdark.

"Well, I thank you for coming," Elhan said to Ralis by way of greeting with a single nod.

A thanks wasn't necessary, but welcome to Ralis' ears.

"Thank you for proving friendly. I was not looking forward to another fight," he replied.

Elhan shifted his body slightly after Ralis spoke, and Ralis took that as a sign that Elhan shares the same sentiment, but judgment must be passed.

"Yes, well, I am here to determine what it is you *were* looking for. A battle may yet be warranted. I shall keep this brief, as I have little time to waste on you. A few questions are all I need regardless."

Ralis nodded. "Ask what you will. I have nothing to hide from you," he said, his tone calm and even.

Elhan nodded approvingly and replied: "I will ask some things of you, and you will speak what you know." Then he gestured to the two female sages flaking him from behind. "My sages will detect any falsehood. They are very good at that sort of thing." Elhan paused for a moment, noticing hoodless Viconia standing behind Ralis to his left between Hexxat and Jaheira, then he turned his eyes back to Ralis. "They will pay close attention to your next statement, especially since you are already damned for having a drow traveling with you."

After he said that, Ralis exhaled softly, commenting in his mind: (I'm sure you'll damn me twice if you knew that Viconia and I willingly coupled together three times in the past.)

The two sages behind Elhan began to move their arms while holding an orb of sand in the shape of a sphere in their hands and chant the verbal component needed to cast whatever spell they are about to use. When the spell was completed, small arcane orbs of energy surrounded the sphere shaped balls of sand, magically transforming them into a glass crystal ball. Nalia and Edwin realized that these two elven women must be worshipers of Savras, the god who is known to be the Lord of Divination. Elhan looked back at his two sages for a brief moment then turned his head to face Ralis again, and Elhan rubbed his hands together for a brief moment after Ralis' exhalation.

"Now then, something simple and direct to begin with. You emerged from the home of the drow. Were you fleeing, or are you in league with them?"

"Neither. Any association with them was a means to an end. My goals are separate," Ralis replied without hesitation.

The two sages saw in their crystal balls flashing images showing Ralis and his companions wandering through the Underdark, trying to survive on what little food and water they could find and get and avoid all the dangerous monstrosities that can be found in the Lowerdark and Middledark regions. The flashing images stopped at the point where they met Adalon.

Elhan looked back at the sage behind his right shoulder as she blurted out the word: "Truth."

"I concur. Truth," the other sage said, drawing Elhan's attention for a brief moment.

Elhan looked at Ralis with a pleased smirk. "A truth. Well, a good start. You are currently not an ally of the drow." At this point Elhan's pleased smirk faded to a serious frown. "This tells me nothing of your motives, though," he added.

Ralis nodded to show that he understood.

"Let us continue. A name, then, that you may know something of. Irenicus. Do you know of him?"

A flash of anger quickly displayed on Ralis' face which made Elhan blink in surprise.

"I battled my way through the Underdark seeking his black heart! Yes, I know him!"

Ralis' angered outburst made half of the elven warriors around them gasp in surprise, even General Sovalidaas' eyes widened in shock.

The sages saw the same thing in their crystal balls. Flashing images of Irenicus stalking Ralis as he fought Caelar Argent's crusade, the murder of Skie Silvershield, tarnishing Ralis' reputation among the people of Baldur's Gate, and the torture he put Ralis and Imoen through in Amn, and the torture he put them through again in Spellhold.

"Absolute truth," the sage behind Elhan's left shoulder said, causing him to immediately glance back at her.

"No doubt at all, on both answers," the other sage woman said, and Elhan glanced at her for a brief moment too.

Now all the elven fighters and archers began to murmur among themselves. Not only has Ralis' angered outburst and answer shocked most of the elven warriors, his answer surely caught them off guard and got them murmuring among themselves. Ralis made himself calm down, feeling pleased that he did not transform into the Slayer unintentionally. As for Elhan, he was looking around at the commotion Ralis accidentally caused, but he eventually turned his attention back on the young human after his mind absorbed the unexpected impact of the answer to his question.

"Well, that is somewhat reassuring. Your bloodlust certainly illustrates your true feelings about him," Elhan told Ralis while smirking.

Ralis raised his head high slowly, feeling rather vindicated.

"This has put me more at ease. Whatever manner of creature you are, we are on the same side in this instance at least," Elhan added.

"I have no reason to lie to you. Why were you so suspicious of us to begin with?" Ralis asked the elf, his tone easily conveying his offended emotion very well to everyone around him.

Elhan crossed his arms and replied: "You are certainly less of a threat than I first imagined, but do not think you are welcome yet. This area is still at risk, and I will not take chances. Especially since there is the matter of the vampire..." Elhan pointed a finger over at hooded Hexxat. "... and the drow you travel with," He pointed at Viconia next.

What the hell? How did he know Hexxat is a vampire? Ralis wondered as he glanced back at Hexxat, then turned to face Elhan once more.

"I will return to them later, rest assured," Elhan promised Ralis with an inquisitive scowl, as the young human still looked confused at Hexxat being exposed as a vampire. "For now, I will apprise you of the situation, and you will realize why travel in this area is to be restricted. You might have received a warmer welcome, but Irenicus has triggered the strongest of emotions wherever he has trod. He has stepped beyond all bounds of decency, and our city is under the weight of his thumb. Suldanessellar is simply gone."

Shock spread among Ralis and some of his party members, only a few spoke up.

"Gone?" Ralis repeated.

"I find that difficult to believe," Hexxat said.

"Suldanessellar is... gone? Just GONE?! Like that?!" Neera asked with her eyes wide in shock as she snapped her fingers to emphasize her point of a city magically disappearing. "How do you lose a city?!" She exclaimed in utter confusion and fear.

"We must do all we can to recover it," Rasaad said.

"Hmm. One of the greatest elven cities of the age, and it disappeared right in front of your eyes. Ha!" Dorn grinned, showing both his human teeth and orc tusks.

"Irenicus is the most vile of villains if he dared destroyed a whole city! I can't believe that, and I have believed some amazing things, let me tell you!" Minsc exclaimed to Elhan next after Dorn spoke.

Elhan raised both of his hands up at his chest level and said: "Calm down, all of you." He paused for a moment, watching Ralis and his party settle down. "It has only been concealed, but we cannot penetrate the magics that have hidden it. We are forced to remain here, pestered by drow while supplies falter."

While Elhan was speaking, Ralis searched his memories for anything he remembered about Irenicus, something that hints his motives. After Elhan was done speaking, Ralis recalled reading Irenicus' journal back in Spellhold. In the journal, he mentioned being enraged at the hypocrisy of the people of Suldanessellar and the betrayal of some woman named Ellesime.

"From what little I gathered, he bears some great hatred for this city and someone named... Ellesime?" Ralis told Elhan, slowing down in the end because he was afraid he pronounced Ellesime's name wrong.

"Truth," one of the war sages immediately said.

"Yes, he knows much of this," the other sage told Elhan.

Elhan smiled approvingly at Ralis now.

"It would seem your travels have given you quite a bit of insight into the plans Irenicus has made. I wonder if you might be of service to us," he said.

Ralis nodded in agreement. "I might be. If you think you can trust me and my allies," he said.

Elhan placed his hands on his waist, standing prouder than before, and now had this look on his face that told Ralis that he is glad to see that they have a common enemy.

"You obviously bear no love for Irenicus, making you the enemy of our enemy. Classically speaking, this might make you our friend."

"That's common sense to look at it that way," Ralis said with a shrug.

Elhan raised an index finger up briefly as he started to pace around a couple times.

"And even if you are not, you cannot reach Irenicus without helping us. He is untouchable, save for one possibility. Within the temple was an artifact of great power: the Rhynn Lanthorn. It is an ancient lantern, etched with the oldest of runes. The Lanthorn is attuned to the elven nation, and no magic can bar its return to elven lands. We could simply walk to Suldanessellar if we had possession of it."

"What happened to the Lanthorn? Was it destroyed?" Ralis asked.

"No," Elhan shook his head. "Someone stole the relic when the temple fell to the drow. Obviously it was a servant of Irenicus capitalizing on the chaos of the battle. We have not been able to determine where the thief went, despite the best efforts of our sages. It makes me think that the Lanthorn is no longer in elven territory."

Ralis and Abdel both knew there is only one person Irenicus would entrust to do such a thing. They came to the same conclusion, but it was Abdel who spoke up before Ralis could.

"I think it was Bodhi, Irenicus' sister. I know her stomping grounds well," Abdel told Elhan, causing everyone to look at him except the two sages who gazed into their crystal balls, and murmurs began to rise among the elven warriors, even General Sovalidaas was whispering to a soldier next to him.

"Truth," one of them said after seeing the few images of Abdel working for Bodhi.

"Grr, by Torm! Shut up with that "Truth or Lie" schtick, dammit!" Abdel angrily exclaimed.

Ralis closed his eyes raised his right hand to signal his half-brother Abdel to calm down.

"As I said, we cannot help you if you don't trust us," Ralis reminded Elhan after opening his eyes and lowering his right arm.

Elhan crossed his arms under his chest, rested the elbow of his right arm on his left forearm and started rubbing his chin in thought.

"Hmm... Bodhi... That's a name I did not expect to hear. You may know more than we about this situation after all. I propose we exchange our services," he offered.

Ralis held his right hand up at his chest level for a moment then said: "I have reservations about this. Why does Irenicus hate you and your city? What have you done to him?"

Elhan shrugged. "I cannot say more than I have. Perhaps if I had access to the city, I would have insight, but as it stands, I am in the same situation you are. The attack came without warning, born in the mind of a human we did not know. This was not in the realm of possibility, and it remains as such." Now Elhan's eyebrows began to frown in brewing anger, and his arms trembling in barely constrained rage as he counted Irenicus' transgressions on the fingers of his right hand. "He has dealt with the drow, defiled our temple, and violated our city. His name is to be spit and spoken of as rarely as possible. He is all that elves are not!"

Ralis had a strong hunch that Elhan is lying to him. He knows more about Irenicus than he wants to openly admit. Initially he said that Irenicus is a human they do not know, but the fact that he said that he is everything elves is not implies that Irenicus may look human, but he somehow, he wasn't always human, which doesn't make sense. If you are born human, you are always human. If you are born an elf, you are always an elf. So Elhan's claim that Irenicus is everything elves are not is an eyebrow raiser for someone perceptive enough to catch the discrepancy. But pressing Elhan for further information about Irenicus will do no good if he is unwilling to reveal everything.

"If you know how to find the the treacherous servant of this fiend, I suggest that you do it. You seek Irenicus; we seek Irenicus. To help us is to help yourself. Find the Lanthorn. Seek outside elven lands in whatever location you think an important servant of Irenicus would be. Only then will we reach this man."

Ralis nodded in agreement, but then a thought occurred to him. Surely Bodhi's vampire guild would have swelled significantly after crippling the Shadow Thieves of Amn a year ago. Bodhi must have complete control over Athkatla by now, having hundreds of vampires on her side. Twenty-one adventurers will likely not be enough to face Bodhi and her army of vampires. They need assistance from anyone they can find.

"I will need supplies, and I might need help facing Bodhi," Ralis suggested.

Elhan shook his head in depression. "Apologies, but we cannot march on human territory," he confessed. "As great our problems are, they would only get worse if we appeared to be sending agents into the cities of Amn."

Then, as if on cue, Minsc stepped forward with Aerie standing close beside him. Minsc stood between Ralis to his right and Aerie to his left and told Elhan: "Boo does not favor the odds, but I have no doubt we will succeed!"

Elhan smirked and nodded at Minsc in approval. "I admire your fervor, tall one," he said, then turned his attention to Ralis. "No doubt you and your allies have seen much up to this point. Return to groups that you have already encountered and ask for their aid. You do know of some groups you can ask for assistance, do you?"

Ralis broke eye contact with Elhan and started thinking very carefully, but Elhan did not wait for him to answer.

"I am confident you have met someone that can aid you. They need not know the nature of the emergency, only that a great evil must be routed. The less who know of the shame brought by Irenicus, the batter."

Ralis licked his lips for a second. "Well then..." he muttered while trying to think of something else Elhan can possibly offer him. "... Can you help with special supplies? Holy water and stakes come to mind," Ralis suggested to Elhan.

Elhan smiled and nodded.

"I have such things," he said, then he looked over at General Sovalidaas and snapped his fingers.

General Sovalidaas started barking orders in Elvish, likely commanding a warrior or two to go fetch some vials of holy water. Four soldiers, two men, two women, departed, then a few minutes later, returned with three small container bags that look strikingly similar to Ralis' potion bag which is currently being carried by Rasaad. Each container holding 30 vials of holy water. They placed the three bags in front of Elhan's boots, then moved away. Elhan glanced down at the containers then looked back at Ralis with a smirk on his face.

"This water is exceptionally potent and will prove effective against those that wronged the temple. The wrath of the Seldarine is in each vial. Use them well."

Ralis looked over his shoulder and said: "Nalia, Imoen, Jan, take them," he ordered.

Jan, Nalia and Imoen stepped forward towards the holy water bags and took each one, then they returned back to where they stood, several feet behind Ralis, Minsc, Aerie, Abdel, Jaheira, Viconia and Hexxat.

"It pleases me to know that you understand the nature of the the creature you must face. Your service is now doubly appreciated," Elhan nodded in approval at Ralis.

"Before we go, what did you say about shame? What shame has Irenicus caused you?" Ralis asked.

"It is not your concern," Elhan waved his hand dismissively. "His deeds will be apparent when we reach him. Until then, you should begin your task."

"Thank you. We will begin immediately," Ralis said, then checked his person to see if he still has his swords, longbow, inventory bag, the bag of holding containing Dragomir's Respite and several other useful items in the small pocket plane, and the small ice box containing Yoshimo's heart.

He still has them all, fortunately.

"We have talked long. I will make sure the guards know you are free to come and go," Elhan said.

As Ralis and his party motioned to leave, Elhan raised a hand up, signaling them to hold for a moment. Ralis had a feeling that he knew what he is going to say.

"Unfortunately, I must bring up a final point of contention. I refer of course to the drow and the vampire. They cannot accompany you," he said.

"You question the company I keep after everything I revealed?" Ralis asked with incredulity.

Hexxat stepped forward, her hood still over her head to protect herself from the noon sunlight.

"I owe Ralis my life. I will not betray him, nor your quest," she said firmly to Elhan.

Elhan raised an eyebrow in amusement for a few seconds, then looked over his left shoulder at his female war sages checking their crystal balls to see if Hexxat is truthful. And from the images the glass balls showed them, Hexxat is honest.

"Truth," one sage said.

"Yes," the other confirmed. "There is malice in her heart, but it is not directed at us," she added.

Hexxat held her head high, feeling rather vindicated.

"Are we finished, then?" She asked.

Elhan shook his head.

"There is also the matter of the drow," he reminded everyone.

Everyone turned their eyes on Viconia as she pulled down her hood, revealing her shoulder length white hair, ruby red eyes and the ebony skin of her face, which currently appears somewhat gray in the noon sunlight. Murmurs of concern and suspicion rose up among the elven warriors, and half of them turned their shortbows and crossbows away from Ralis or one of his companions to aim directly on Viconia. She didn't feel nervous at all, being stared down by everyone in the vicinity. In truth, she felt like an actress on stage. She just smiled and said to Elhan in an indifferent, condescending tone:

"I was wondering when you would give voice to the looks you have been giving me all eve. Poor Elhan, hating me so."

"You are an unhealthy risk. I will not allow it," Elhan said with malice in his tone.

Ralis stepped closer to Elhan, blocking his view of Viconia, getting two feet close to him while glaring into his eyes with all the ferocity he could muster and said: "If you order your people to shoot her, in Tyr's name, I will fight you and your people to the death over the murder of a drow that does not need to be killed, consequences and my service to you be damned."

Ralis' words and actions caused some of the archers to train their ranged weapons on him, even General Sovalidaas was about to draw his sword for combat, but he never pulled his sword out, he just kept his hand on the handle, waiting for Ralis or Elhan to make a move. Elhan was confused at first, wondering why Ralis is coming to the defense of a drow woman. He wanted to ask Ralis why would he lay his life on the line for a drow woman, but he decided in the end that it is not his concern.

"Very well, there is one way that I will allow her to partake in our plans," Elhan said.

Frowning in confusion, Ralis stepped back, putting 4 feet of space between him and Elhan now.

"She must first swear loyalty to you and your cause, Ralis," Elhan announced.

Ralis was about to speak, but Minsc interrupted him.

"Boo would have sensed any treachery long ago! She fights well with us!" The tall human declared brazenly.

"I have known Viconia for three years, Elhan. She and I have developed a relationship based on mutual respect," Ralis said, jumping at the opportunity to back Minsc's statement up.

Seeing Ralis and Minsc stand up for Viconia was a relieving thing for Hexxat to see, even though she has no romantic relationship with Viconia, she still considers her a friend.

"Bah, such statements is unnecessary," Viconia shook her head at Ralis and Minsc, then turned her face towards scowling Elhan.

"I am loyal. But if it will help your doubts, I do so swear my loyalty to this cause," Viconia said.

Ralis began to realize that maybe Elhan challenging her loyalty is probably a good thing. They are out of the Underdark and back to the surface now, and before they departed to Brynnlaw several months ago, Viconia warned Ralis that after she helps him rescue Imoen, she intends on leaving him because sooner or later it will grow hard to resist her desire to rekindle their romantic relationship even though she knows that as long as Lolth wants her head on a platter, their romance will be deeply fraught with danger. Elhan doesn't know it, but his efforts in ensuring Viconia does not betray them is helping Ralis by further prolonging her inevitable departure.

"And she must agree to a geas. That is the only way," Elhan said.

Ralis felt his heart sinking low in his chest.

"What?" He said.

Though he wants way to keep Viconia with him as long as possible, he did not like the idea of binding her to a geas. That spell is what enslaved Yoshimo when he was alive, forcing him to attack Ralis regardless of knowing the truth of what happened to his sister Tamoko. The thought of making his former lover willingly bind herself to a magic spell that is instrumental to the death of one of his closest friends felt like a deep betrayal to Viconia's personal freedoms. Even Viconia was stunned at the idea.

"Your distrust is such that you require magical bonds to ensure I commit no treachery?" Viconia crossed her arms under her bust and pouted. "I wonder if the drow are the only elves with darkened hearts..."

"Such talk does not endear me to you. Do you agree or do you not?" Elhan asked.

Viconia paused for a few seconds, rolled her eyes, then loosened her crossed arms, resting them on both sides of her body.

"Very well. Have your spells cast and secure my will to the task. i imagine spitting on you for the indignity will be restricted as well? A pity."

Elhan dared not to respond to Viconia. He stepped aside and allowed one of his war sages to come forward. The one with the gold hair who always says "Truth" stepped forward, handing Elhan her crystal ball. Then she prepared to cast the geas spell on Viconia, chanting the verbal components needed to cast the spell without moving her arms. A few seconds into the casting of the spell, nothing seemed to be happening, no arcane energy orbs were swirling anywhere, but Viconia felt a dull ache growing inside her heart, and it caused her to wince briefly.

"Viconia, drow of the Underdark, from this day forward, you are bound to the human Ralis in his quest to destroy Bodhi, return the Rhynn Lanthorn to us and destroy Irenicus. Until this task is done, you are forbidden to harm Ralis, his allies and any elf you may come across. Once Irenicus is dead, you will be free from the geas. Until then, any act of treachery will be punished by death," the sage said to Viconia as part of casting the geas spell. "Do you agree to these terms?" She asked the dark elf.

"Yes, I do," Viconia said with a single firm nod.

Elhan nodded in approval and handed the crystal ball back to his war sage.

"With the casting of the spell, all my doubt is removed. Viconia, you are bound to the task, and I fear no treachery. Let death be the threat if I am wrong," he said to the dark elf.

"All right, it is done," Ralis sighed. "Now tell, me, which direction is Trademeet, and how many days will it take to get there, Elhan?"

Elhan pointed to what Ralis thought was west, but in actuality it is directly northwest.

"Keep moving northwest from here, and I believe in twelve days or less, you will be out of the Forest of Tethir and find Trademeet," Elhan said.

Ralis nodded in approval. "Fine. We'll be leaving then," Ralis nodded gratefully at Elhan.

Sovalidaas started shouting orders in Elvish, telling all the elven warriors to let the strangers leave the camp. When Ralis and his party took seven steps away from Elhan, he stopped them by saying: "Hold a moment."

Everyone stopped and looked at him as he approached Ralis. He had no idea what this elven commander wants now, but judging by the warm smile on his face, it seems that he just wants to wish them good luck. And he did.

"Ralis, I wish you well in you goals. All Suldanessellar depends on your success," Elhan said as he placed his hand on Ralis' right shoulder for a brief moment.

"Thank you," Ralis said, glad to see that he has finally earned Elhan's full trust finally.

Right when Ralis and Elhan were about to go their separate ways, Ralis called Elhan back over to him.

"Oh, hold, Elhan," he said.

"Hmm?" Elhan turned to look at Ralis in curiosity.

"I have something I want to tell you," Ralis said while scratching his beard, then gestured with his finger to tell Elhan to come closer to him.

Confused, Elhan approached closer to Ralis until there is only a foot long gap between them. Ralis leaned close to Elhan's right ear.

"I want to whisper it to you," Ralis whispered.

Elhan nodded giving Ralis permission and leaned in a little closer to him. Then Ralis proceeded to tell him a secret that he can no longer resist in telling him. He told Elhan that he is very grateful for discouraging Viconia from leaving his side, and the reason why he is thankful is because they used to be lovers. Hearing this caused Elhan's eyes to shoot wide open in utter shock, and he had to resist the urge to shout "What", otherwise his fellow elves nearby will grow more curious. But Ralis' group and the soldiers watching their departure were already curious as to why Ralis and Elhan are whispering to each other.

"(Y... you... tell me you are joking, Ralis! You and Viconia have coupled together?!)" Elhan tried to keep his voice low.

Ralis nodded, relishing the look of shock and disbelief on Elhan's face.

"(Three times)," he admitted.

Elhan recoiled back in shock, backing away 8 feet from Ralis and his party.

"Oh wait! Before I go, what is today's date? The day, month and year?" Ralis asked.

Elhan snapped out of his stunned state and scratched his head for a moment.

"I think it is the 4th day of Ches, 1371 DR," he confirmed, then stepped back, allowing them to go into the cluster of trees 13 yards ahead. As Elhan watched them depart, he never noticed General Sovalidaas approaching him from behind.

"Commander Elhan," Sovalidaas called to Elhan in Elvish.

Hearing a voice behind him startled Elhan because his astonished mind was focused on the shocking truth of imagining a human man and a drow woman in bed together having fun.

"What?! What?!" Elhan exclaimed in alarm as he turned to face his general. "Oh, it's you, general. You startled me." Elhan placed his hand on his chest, feeling his rapidly beating heart.

"Apologies, commander, but what did that human say to you?"

Elhan turned to look at Ralis and his group as they began to disappear among the trees.

"Something I never expected," he said.

"What did he tell you?" Sovalidaas asked.

Elhan shook his head. "I respect Ralis' private matters too much to tell you. Let's just say I learned that Viconia, the drow woman with them is a sign that some, if not all drow might be changing for the better," he said.


Ralis and his party moved deeper into the forest further and further away from Elhan's campsite, moving northwest towards Trademeet, which may take ten days or more to reach, considering how far away the elven city Suldanessellar is from human civilization. While moving past tree after tree, stepping over flat and slightly uneven terrain, Ralis couldn't help looking up and relishing the sight of seeing the bright blue sky marginally obscured by the branches and leaves of the fat trees around them- a constant reminder that he is no longer in the Underdark anymore. He inhaled cool, fresh winter air slowly, then exhaled with a smile on his face. It felt like it has been years since he has seen the blue sky high above his head, the trees, ivy, and berry bushes around him, the semi soft soil that his boots stomp over, the low humidity, and the familiar wildlife like rabbits, ferrets, hedgehogs, deer, etc. It's like he had finally left a realm of nightmares behind and walked back into the familiar embrace of reality, which has its share of dangers. The only thing Ralis noticed unusual about the trees in these deep parts of the Forest of Tethir many days away from Trademeet and what's left of the wild mage refugee camp is that they are much thicker than the trees of Cloak Wood and the Forest of Wyrms, and their wide trunks stretch to heights greater than most trees he has seen in the past, probably 180 feet or closer to 200 feet. Cernd and Jaheira as druids, could tell that these extremely thick trees are are very old. Cernd could identify most of the trees as they ventured on through the forest: Duskwood, cedar, oak and maple.

"Damn, it feel so good to be out of the Underdark finally!" Ralis heard Neera say somewhere behind him.

"Bully for you. It means I must wear this again," Hexxat said, referring to Dragomir's cloak which she must wear to protect herself from the sunlight.

Ralis looked over his shoulder briefly to catch a glimpse of Neera while Hexxat was speaking, but he couldn't see her with Jaheira, Valygar and Anomen blocking his view.

"I didn't think we'd survive to see the surface again. All this time I thought we would die for sure in the Underdark," Aerie admitted.

Before she knew it, Mazzy came up beside her.

"Aerie, you should have more faith in your allies and friends and your own abilities. The struggle was long and difficult indeed, but we survived. I never had any doubts we would survive," she told the wingless avariel.

"Mazzy is right," Cernd said as he walked up next to Aerie's right flank, causing her to turn her head in Cernd's direction. "There was once a moment when I was about to give in to doubt and fear, but stalwart Mazzy's confidence is what brought me back from the brink."

Aerie nodded in approval at Cernd and turned to look at Mazzy smiling up at her as they continued wlaking with the group.

"I know, I remember hearing you two back then," Aerie said.

Then she gasped when she felt Neera wrap her right arm around her neck in a friendly hug.

"So why the long face, my wingless winged... uh, relative? Today is a day to celebrate! We could have faced certain doom back in the Underdark, like that time Ralis got swallowed by that dragon-looking monster..."

"Don't remind me of that, Neera, please..." Ralis retorted calmly.

"Oops, dang it! Sorry!" Neera apologized.

Ralis sighed in depression, and he noticed up ahead is a large fallen tree laying on the ground, too big to climb over. The group stopped eight feet in front of the felled tree and they looked around.

"Whew. That's one of the biggest trees I've seen so far in this place," Abdel said, then scratched an itch off his nose.

"What do you think knocked it down?" Nalia asked.

"Whatever it was, it must be big enough and strong enough to push or cut it down," Althir guessed.

Ralis knew that no matter the tree's size, it can't stretch far on both sides forever, obscuring their path forward.

"We aren't going to get past this thing by standing here and talking. We either head towards its upper parts, or down towards the stump it was cut down from," Ralis said, then he signaled his group to follow him to what he thinks is southwest, which is the correct guess.

Two minutes later, they found the tree's stump. They made no comments about it, or guesses on whether a group of lumberjacks cut the tree down, they just moved past the fallen tree and the stump it fell from, and kept going northwest. Besides, Jaheira and Cernd know that the wildlife of the Forest of Tethir and the elves would not condone a group of humans to just come into the forest and cut a tree down for firewood, if that is what happened.

Many minutes passed since they passed by the large fallen tree, and now they came across a pond that has 20 or 25 lilies floating on the water's surface, and on the other side of the pond, a doe and fawn were drinking the water, but they ran off together as soon as they spotted Ralis and his party approaching. Ralis rolled his tongue in his mouth as he approached the pond, then he got down on his knees, cupped his hands together to grab a small amount of water, and he brought it up to his lips and drank the water. Because of the brief days of winter precipitation prior to Ralis and his group escaping the Underdark, rain and a little sleet, the water has been cooled to the touch, and Ralis enjoyed feeling the cool water in his hands, and in his mouth, it is a nice change of pace from drinking the water from the Underdark, which tastes a little different compared to surface water. Then Jaheira and Cernd joined Ralis and drank some of the water as well. Jaheira stood to Ralis' left, Cernd to Ralis' right. Everyone stood behind, watching the three of them drink patiently.

"Sune's kiss, I just realized how different surface water tastes compared to water from the Underdark," Ralis said, then turned his head towards Cernd, who had just finished drinking the water in his hands, and he smiled at Ralis.

"You've noticed the difference too? The difference is this pond has seen many seasons go by, while the ponds of the Underdark have seen nothing but bleak caverns," Cernd explained.

Ralis knelt down again, cupped his hands together again to collect more water, and this time, instead of drinking it, he splashed it all over his face, savoring the wet coolness.

Jaheira chuckled and shook her head watching Ralis close his eyes in content. Then everyone else who is a bit thirsty walked up to the pond and drank some of the water too, Aerie was first, Viconia second, Minsc third, and so on. After they had their drink, they kept moving northwest. About 40 minutes later, Viconia, tormented by her hunger pains grew more and more desperate to find food for herself and her soon to be born child. She found a cluster of vines hilding many juicy berries and she felt sorely tempted to collect the berries. Cernd, seeing what kind of berry vines they are, urgently warned Viconia not to get close to the berry vines, but he shouted his warning too late, because as soon as Viconia got close to the cluster of berry vines, the vines suddenly lashed out and grabbed both of Viconia's arms, trying to pull her closer to it as its sharp thorns bit into her wrists, drawing blood. This plant is known as a "bloodthorn plant", also known as "vampire vines" because of their sanguivorous diet, feeding on blood of living creatures. Everyone was alarmed at seeing the large plant suddenly spring to life and grab Viconia's wrists, pulling her closer to it as its thorns cut into her skin. Ralis quickly sprang to action, unsheathing only his +3 Blade of Searing then charged forward and cut the plant apart with his fiery blade, setting the plant ablaze and freeing Viconia. Though her wrists were bleeding profusely, Aerie refused to use her healing magic to help Viconia, regardless of Ralis' pleas, much to his disappointment. But Ralis remembered that he still has a potion bag that he doesn't use often, he took a healing potion out of the bag and let Viconia drink it, and the cuts on her wrists magically healed.

Then many hours later to the evening, the group got started setting up camp. However, once the campsite was halfway completed, they were ambushed by a small group of mist horrors, about seven of them, but they had no chance of defeating 22 organized adventurers, some of them armed with weapons of +2 enchantment or higher, which is good news. If no one had weapons with +2 enchantments, they would be in big trouble. Mist horrors are spirits of evil beings that come from the Demiplane of Dread, also known as Ravenloft. They have no fixed shape, but the can take whatever form and size they like. They usually take the form of that which their enemies fear the most. for example, one mist horror took on the form of a drider when it attacked, which is what Viconia fears the most. Another mist horror took on the form of a Red Wizard, which Neera fears. Another mist horror appeared in the form of Gamaz as a Dark Moon monk, which Rasaad fears. Another mist horror appeared in the form of Irenicus, who Imoen fears. Another mist horror appeared as a juvenile version of a behir to mirror Ralis' fears because being swallowed whole by a behir back in the Underdark is by far one of the most traumatizing experiences Ralis has had.

After the mist horrors were defeated, everyone resumed setting up their temporary campsite. Aerie went with Cernd to collect some berries, Korgan and Mazzy gathered firewood, and everyone else set up the campsite. By the time they were finished, evening had arrived, raising the winter temperature a 20 degrees higher than it was during noon, and the air became a little more humid. By the time everyone fell asleep, the campsite got attacked by a group of 33 stirges, bloodsucking creatures that resemble a monstrous cross between a large bat and a large mosquito. Anomen, Dorn, Abdel, Jaheira, Althir, Nalia, Cernd, Mazzy and Valygar were all bitten by the stirges, and their shouts woke up everyone, alerting them to the presence of the stirges invading the website. For those having their blood sucked by stirges, they found that it is hard to remove a stirge once it is sucking your blood. Those who are not yet being attacked by stirges had to come to the aid of those who are having their blood sucked. Jan was firing his Flasher Master Bruiser Mate bombs at the stirges while Ralis rushed over to Anomen to aid him. Ralis had to stab the two stirges clinging to Anomen's body with his dagger three or five times then pull them off. Abdel helped Jaheira after Minsc helped him, Aerie and Neera came to Nalia's aid, and Tashia and Hexxat and the others busied themselves in attacking the other stirges. After eleven minutes of frantic fighting against these monstrous vermin, every stirge had finally been killed. The wounded got healed, and everyone fell back to sleep on their bedrolls, but Minsc had to make sure the campfire had been fed more firewood before falling asleep, otherwise they would be sleeping in total darkness. Ralis, Viconia, Hexxat, Rasaad, Valygar and Neera eventually noticed that their drowcrafted armor and clothing have been dissolving, so since they now have time to change their armor or clothes, they did so before falling asleep, Ralis put his usual clothes and the new body armor he confiscated from Deirex's stronghold, Armor of the Viper +5, and he found it much more comfortable to wear than his old ankheg body armor since it is a heavily enchanted suit of studded leather armor that protects against poison and paralysis. Ralis never imagined that he would be going back to wearing leather armor again.


The next morning, the adventurers have long since deconstructed their campsite, gathered their bedrolls and continued moving through the forest. The air in the morning hours was cold, and the winds were blowing at 35 mph, so staying warm was a bit of a challenge for Ralis and his group up until highsun. Throughout the morning hours, the group had been waylaid by various dangerous creatures that wander the forest. First, they stumbled on a group of hibernating ankhegs and had to fight them. Then 29 minutes later they were waylaid by a pack of wolves near two hills. The next hour afterwards they encountered harmless animals for a while, but when they found an owlbear petrified as stone, they took that as a grim sign that there is a basilisk nearby, and the worst thing about this is, the group is not prepared to protect themselves from being petrified by a basilisk, so they had to proceed forward with great caution. Minutes passed after finding the petrified owlbear, and they have not encountered a basilisk yet. However, when they found a river, they found the basilisk. But fortunately for them, it is drinking the water from the river, with its body turned on them, so it doesn't know they are there. So Ralis and his party quietly walked downstream away from the basilisk until they were far enough to feel confident to wade across the river and continue northwest. By nightfall of the 5th day of Ches, they set up a new campsite near a large pond with fewer lilies than the previous one they found, but contains a family of frogs.

As they were setting up the temporary campsite, Jan, who is busy building more Flasher bombs on a flat rock as a workbench noticed that Edwin is close by reading his spell book, memorizing any spells he deems useful tomorrow, and decided to talk to him.

"So, mageling, how goes the battle against all that is good and right in this world?" Jan asked him.

Edwin lowered his spellbook and looked down at the gnome with a condescending scowl.

"(It would surely go better without annoying gnomes asking questions)," Edwin muttered under his breath. Aloud, he then said: "Question not my designs, else you, too, will become an unwilling part of them."

Jan was not fazed by the mild threat. He scratched his bulbous nose and replied: "I sometimes believe it is my destiny to become a part of some incompetent mage's fizzled schemes. Golodon the Unmanned being a case in point. You too, I suppose."

Edwin rolled his eyes. "Am I to be continually plagued by fools? Conversation with you does not rate highly on my list of things to accomplish. Run along now." Edwin made a shooing motion with his hand at Jan, then brought his spell book up towards his face, almost obscuring his face form Jan's view. "(Yes, that will do,)" Edwin muttered almost quietly to himself afterwards.

Jan shrugged, picked up his small screwdriver, and continued screwing in the bolts on his Flasher Master bomb. "Truth be told, I feel a bit sorry for you," Jan said to Edwin without looking at him, then he pulled the magnifying lens down over his right eye to examine the bomb more closely. "It must be frustrating to see your entire life's goals amount to absolutely nothing."

Edwin abruptly lowered his spell book and looked at Jan with some consternation showing on his face.

"What do you know of my goals, gnome?" Edwin sked him, trying to keep his tone even.

Jan never looked up at him, still focused on building his bomb. "If you say so. Let me know when it is time to bow. I might not notice it."

After camp was made, everyone relaxed near the campfire or a few feet away from it. When half of the group already fell asleep, Ralis and Imoen, who were one of the few people still awake, sat down next to each other and talked for a while.

"I can't believe you've been through so much in less than two years before you finally got to Spellhold," Imoen told Ralis, and he nodded.

"There were good times, and there were bad times..." He admitted.

"Yeah, I bet you had plenty of good times. You lost your virginity to Viconia, after all," Imoen reminded him with a dry smile.

Ralis shook his head, feeling rather embarrassed. "For your information, I did not expect that to happen, you know," he said while gently scratching his beard.

"Who said you could?" Imoen gave Ralis a playful slap on his right shoulder. "No one can predict the future, not even Gorion. But you know what else surprises me?"

"What?" Ralis asked.

"Jaheira being a couple with Abdel," Imoen pointed ahead beyond the campfire, then she and Ralis caught a quick glimpse of Abdel leaving the campsite with Jaheira to be alone together. "I never imagined that they would end up being together. I'm glad to see Jaheira has gotten over Khalid's death. If he could talk to us from beyond the grave, I bet 50 platinum pieces that Khalid would tell us to tell Jaheira to move on with her life, that he will be happy only when Jaheira finds happiness with someone else. That's true love right there."

"Yeah," Ralis agreed, reminiscing with Imoen for few minutes, watching the campsite fire burn brightly as it consumed the firewood Rasaad and Valygar collected.

Imoen then looked at Ralis and found herself staring into his brown eyes.

"So, enough about Abdel and Jaheira, let's talk about you and Viconia a bit... do you love her?"

Without hesitation, Ralis nodded. "Yes. I do. This may surprise you, but there is more to her personality than you may think," Ralis said.

"Like what?" Imoen raised her eyebrow in curiosity.

Ralis exhaled and ran his right hand through his long hair before replying.

"She had a brother once, but he died saving her life."

Imoen gasped softly. "Viconia had a brother...?"

Ralis nodded. "And she has trust issues because she grew up in a society where treachery and absolute subservience to the Spider Queen even at the cost of betraying your own family is normal. Through our romance she has learned to trust me. That's why we made a good couple, I think," he said.

Imoen sighed, looking at the burning fire.

"I envy you, you know," she said forlornly. "I'd trade all the months of torment Irenicus put me through to experience the fun times you had..."

Ralis sensed that Imoen is about to cry, and he quickly put his right arm around her neck.

"Hey, hey, it's all right, it's over," he consoled her.

Imoen gently brushed his arm away as she replied: "No! It's not over. Don't you understand? He took away something inside of us. He took what belongs to you and made it his own, and he gave what belongs to me to his vampire friend. We are almost like dead people walking," she said.

"Not so," a feminine voice nearby said.

Ralis and Imoen looked over their shoulders to see a blonde haired elf woman approaching them.

"Oh. Hey, Tashia. This is my half-sister, Imoen. We grew up together in Candlekeep with Abdel."

"Yes, I know, talked to her a couple times on Saemon's ship," Tashia said as she sat down next to Imoen, to her right. "How are you feeling?"

"Cold," was Imoen's only reply as she wrapped her arms close to her chest as if she actually is freezing.

Ralis looked up at the night sky partly obscured by the branches of the tall oak trees around them.

"Well, it is still Winter. But Spring should be coming in a few tendays," Ralis said.

"No, I mean, I've been feeling cold ever since Irenicus took half of my soul and gave it to his vampire friend. Something inside me has changed, I don't know what it is, but I don't feel like the same Imoen anymore."

"How so?" Tashia asked.

Imoen shook her head.

"Last night, I had a dream. No, it was more like a nightmare. I've never had a nightmare before..."

Ralis felt his stomach lurch when Imoen said that, even Tashia felt a bit uneasy as she listened to Imoen.

"In the dream, I found myself standing in front of the gates of Candlekeep. The skies were dark gray, almost as if a thunderstorm were coming, and no matter how many times I banged my fists on the gates, no one opened them and let me in. I kept calling, pleading for someone to let me come in until a voice boomed in my ears. It said: "Your past is not your future. Your blood is. Leave the past behind and learn about your future". So I had no choice but to turn my back on the home I grew up in, and walk off into the forest." Imoen said.

Ralis blinked twice. "That sounds a lot like the first strange dream I had, before I learned about my heritage as a Bhaalspawn. A false image of Gorion told me that the way into Candlekeep is not the path I should be going. I had no choice but to leave Candlekeep, just like you did, Imoen."

Silence fell over them for a few seconds. Ralis and Imoen looked at each other, realizing that this is no a coincidence. Imoen's nightmare is the beginning of a series of Bhaalspawn nightmares that she soon will have to endure.

"Stay positive, Imoen. Don't give in to the bloodlust," Tashia warned her.

Imoen looked over at her and went: "Huh?"

"My ex, Arilistan, is a Bhaalspawn too. I don't know why, but he refused to resist his nightmares, and he turned evil because of it. Whatever the nightmares will show you in the near future, Imoen, don't give in. Fight it. Your half-brother here is proof that it can be fought back," Tashia said, gesturing to Ralis.

Ralis nodded in approval, then turned his head away from Imoen and coughed.

"I suppose you're right, Tashia. Thank you. I need to rediscover my cheerful self, but it won't be easy," Imoen said.

"I never said it would be," Tashia replied, then stood up on her legs and walked away.

Ralis and Imoen watched her go over to her tent and crawl into it.


A day afterwards, Ralis and his party passed by the ruins of Talltrees. A mile north from the spot where Talltrees used to be, Ralis and his party found a lone cabin. Curiosity struck them as they wondered what is a cabin doing out here so deep into the Forest of Tethir so close to the ruins of an elven city. Before they assumed that the cabin is abandoned and safe to check out, they saw the front door swing open, and a familiar face come stepping out into the cabin's front porch.

It is none other than Coran. He still looks the same as he did three years ago, having semi long brown hair that stretches down to the right side of his neck while the other side is shortened, and he still wore that green bandit mask shaped face paint around his eyes. He immediately saw the large group of people standing several feet in front of his cabin and gasped in alarm. Ralis recognized coran before he could recognize anyone familiar.

"Coran...? Is that you?" Ralis asked.

Coran frowned at Ralis and examined him carefully, because he did not recall Ralis having facial hair and shoulder length hair, he looks like a completely different person.

"Ralis...? Is that really you...?"

Ralis nodded in reply. "Surprised?"

A grin spread across Coran's lips now.

"Surprised? Hah! That's the understatement of the year!" Coran said.

"Coran! Good to see you my friend!" Minsc said happily.

"Friend Coran, it is an unexpected, but a welcome surprise to cross paths with you once more," Rasaad said.

Coran took a moment to acknowledge Ralis' companions, seeing familiar and unfamiliar faces around him.

"And I see you brought some familiar and new friends with you! Come in! Safana and I are about to have lunch before we head out!"

Ralis blinked in surprise. "Huh?! Safana is here too?!"

Minutes later, Ralis and his party were all crowded in the dining room of Coran's cabin. Fortunately it is big enough to hold 32 people, Coran's cabin is two times bigger than the cabin belonging to the ranger that protected the small village near the Umar Hills, Shepherdston. Ralis, Imoen, Neera, Rasaad, Safana and Coran sat at the dinner table eating toast, scrambled eggs and cooked broccoli while everyone else stood up on their legs. Ralis could not believe that Coran is back together with Safana. He is so surprised that he had to know how they made up. Safana looked a little different too. Her long hair is tied into a ponytail, and she doesn't look like the wild, sultry woman she used to be, which surprised not only Ralis, but also Neera.

"... Okay, Coran, I have to know. How did you and Safana get together again? The last time I saw you two together was before I left Baldur's Gate to face Caelar Argent. I don't know what happened between you two, but you two didn't part on good terms," Ralis said, then drank his glass cup of water.

Safana looked over at Coran, and he looked at her with a sheepish grin then turned his grin to Ralis.

"That is a long story, Ralis. Let's just say we met again by chance a year ago, and she learned that what she thought I did that made her angry at the time..." Coran let his voice trail off and he shrugged while smiling and said: "... I was framed, of course. An old friend of mine who had his eyes on Safana set me up to make me look bad. Anyway, what happened to you? I-I barely recognize you!"

Ralis rubbed his beard. "Oh, this?" He grinned. "I'm not shaving it all off, just keeping it trimmed. A lot has been happening to me, Coran, it has been a while since I last saw you. You'll have to be more specific with your questions."

Coran drank his water and said: "It *has* been a while. I got bored and tried to find you, but but I lost you after your victory in Baldur's Gate... You seemed to drop off the face of Faerun. I asked around Baldur's Gate for you, but no one wanted to tell me anything about you. What happened?"

Ralis rubbed his forehead as if he had gotten a headache now. He looked around and saw that everyone in the room is looking at him.

"Well, Ralis? Are you going to tell Coran what happened?" Safana pressed.

Ralis looked at her incredulously. "You mean... you didn't tell him?" He asked her.

Safana shook her head and put a fork full of scrambled eggs into her mouth and started chewing.

Coran looked at Safana with concern on his face.

"Safana? Dear, what is he talking about?"

Safana darted her eyes back at Ralis for a second while still chewing and refocused her eyes on Coran who is still waiting for an answer. Ralis got the feeling that she is telling him that he needs to tell the story himself. After sighing in resignation, Ralis began to explain everything.

"Okay. Ready, Coran? Here is what happened. After Safana, Viconia, Rasaad, Dorn, Neera, Khalid, Jaheira, Rasaad, Minsc, Dynaheir and a few new friends and I helped the Flaming Fist and the military armies of Waterdeep and Daggerford defeat Caelar Argent and her crusade, something terrible happened. This mysterious mage, Jon Irenicus, who had been stalking me as I journeyed to Dragonspear Castle killed Skie Silvershield using a dagger that absorbed her soul into the blade..." Ralis pointed over at Abdel, and Abdel, standing on his feet near the dinner table showed Coran and Safana the Soultaker Dagger.

Safana's eyes widened upon seeing the dagger, marveling at the gem mounted on the hilt.

"Oh! It's so beautiful!" She said in awe.

"... and he tricked everyone in Baldur's Gate into believing that I killed Skie," Ralis concluded.

Coran gasped. "So that explains why no one at Baldur's Gate wanted to tell me anything about you! It all makes sense now!"

Ralis nodded in agreement. "There's more to it, Coran. After someone paid a member of the Shadow Thieves guild to break me out of prison, I escaped Baldur's Gate with Khalid, Jaheira, Imoen, Minsc and Dynaheir. No one else went with us because when I was arrested, everyone went their separate ways. However, a group of assassins hired by Jon Irenicus knocked us out and took us to his stronghold in Athkatla. There, he did... unspeakable things to us..." Ralis let his voice trail off then he looked away from Coran, staring down at the floor.

Coran felt bewildered, and he looked around to study the reactions of everyone. He saw Minsc grimace, he saw Imoen lower her head as if feeling ashamed, he saw Jaheira turn away, and he saw Abdel and Neera shift uncomfortably. Then he turned his attention back to Ralis.

"Ralis... what happened? Please tell me..."

Ralis slowly refocused his eyes on Coran, looking rather pensive.

"Coran... Irenicus killed Dynaheir and Khalid in his brutal experiments..."

Coran recoiled in shock.

"No...! It can't be...! Dynaheir and Khalid are dead...?"

Ralis nodded slowly and gravelly.

"And he made me watch the whole thing too..." Imoen added.

"That mage is the evilest of evil, Coran! More evil than Edwin here!" Minsc pointed over at Edwin.

Edwin gritted his teeth and retorted: "You brain-addled buffoon, there is no such thing as good and evil, only power and those willing to seek it at any cost."

"Yeah," Neera scoffed. "And that worked out really well for you, leading you to have some hilarious changes to your body."

"Don't remind me, half-fey freak!" Edwin snapped.

Coran shook his head in disbelief, even Safana looked visibly disturbed by this information, and Ralis has never seen Safana look disturbed before. He has seen her be flirtatious, sensual, happy and angry, but never fearful.

"This..." Coran struggled to find the words he wanted to say. "... This Jon Irenicus is a monster... What does he have to gain by doing such terrible things to you?"

"He wanted half of my soul and Imoen's for some reason," Ralis said. "From what little I've learned during my adventures, he has some kind of vendetta against the elves of Suldanessellar."

Coran's eyebrows frowned. "Suldanessellar? Why?"

"I don't know," Ralis replied.

"So what are you going to do now, dear?" Safana asked while eating her breakfast.

Ralis felt a tingle rise up his spine when he heard Safana call him "dear". Though Safana is with Coran once again, she still retains her flirtatious attitude.

"My companions and I are heading back to Amn," Ralis replied, then paused for a moment to drink some water. "Then when we get to Athkatla, we are going to enlist some extra help in fighting Bodhi's vampire guild. Bodhi is Irenicus' accomplice, she has stolen half of Imoen's soul. Then we are going to kill Irenicus, then I'll have Abdel go back to Baldur's Gate with the Soultaker Dagger and return it to the Grand Dukes so they can revive Skie Silvershield. I can't go back to Baldur's Gate, not while Entar Silvershield has a bounty on my head."

Safana's eyes flared as soon as she heard Ralis mention the bounty on his head, and she smiled mischievously, but no one noticed her reaction, not even Coran.

Coran chuckled. "Well, in that case, my friend, you are many days away from Trademeet, so I suggest you stay here for a day before you head out tomorrow. The Wealdath is a dangerous forest to venture through if you don't know where you are going."

"I know. We got attacked by a swarm of stirges a couple nights ago," Ralis agreed then continued eating more of his toast.

Coran smiled and pointed at Ralis. "See? My point exactly." now Coran turned his attention to the people crowding around the dinner table. "I suggest all of you get some rest. You will need it for the long journey ahead of you," Coran said while turning his head left and right to show that he is addressing everyone.

"But where will we sleep? This cabin isn't big enough for all of us to sleep in!" Abdel said.

"Some of you can sleep outside, if you have a bedroll, that is," Coran replied.

"That sounds acceptable. Thank you for your hospitality, Coran," Rasaad nodded gratefully.

"Ah, no need to thank me, Rasaad. Any of you who is a friend of Ralis is a friend of mine," Coran said.

In the hours that followed, half of Ralis' companions went out to gather firewood for Coran's cabin while the others rested and got to know Coran and Safana. The ones who have never met Coran and Safana before, and don't mind talking to them.


Later that night, when the stars were plenty in the night sky high above the trees of the forest, everyone lit up torches around Coran's cabin and those who could stay inside the cabin sat near the fireplace to stay warm. Coran was eager to catch up on what Neera, Imoen, Minsc, Jaheira and Rasaad have been doing these past three years. Ralis also made sure to introduce Coran to Abdel, and reveal that he and Jaheira are lovers now, which amused Coran. Though Coran felt uncomfortable being around Hexxat and Dorn, he didn't mind getting to know everyone else except Dorn and Althir, they kept to themselves. A couple hours later, when almost everyone was asleep, Coran invited Ralis to sit up on the rooftop of his cabin and stargaze with him for a while. Safana, however, departed the cabin, telling Coran that she is off to meet with the wizard who lives alone in his own cabin not far from their cabin to magically transport her to Mosstone so she can go buy some extra food for their guests. When Coran told Ralis that sometimes Safana goes off on her own in the forest, Ralis asked him is that a good idea with all the dangerous predators in the forest, but he assured Ralis that sometimes she can be restless... in more ways than one. Ralis sat next to Coran to his left, looking up at the stars in silence for the first three minutes.

"Why Mosstone? Why not Trademeet?" Ralis asked.

Coran frowned in confusion briefly. "Oh? You haven't heard?"

"Heard what?" Ralis asked.

Coran paused for a moment, slowly swallowing some spit in his mouth before telling Ralis the shocking information.

"An army of ogres, kobolds, hill giants and goblins led by an ogre mage named Sothillis has all but destroyed Trademeet," Coran said with a sad look on his face.

Ralis blinked in surprise. "What?! How?! When?!"

Coran shrugged. "I don't know all the details, but starting sometime last year, the war against Sothillis' armies began. Esmeltaran and Imnescar got sacked a year ago, and they demolished Trademeet on their way to Murann."

Ralis found this information all hard to believe. He slowly shook his head, wondering how could he not have heard about all this.

"This must have happened sometime after I departed Athkatla to Brynnlaw..." He guessed.

Coran nodded in agreement. "Yes, that would explain why news of what has been happening in Amn hasn't reached your ears yet..." Coran paused then looked at Ralis, smiling. "... And then you traveled through the Underdark to get here. Wow. You've come a long way from being that young human I met back in Cloak Wood," he said in admiration.

"The journey sounds easy, but believe me, Coran, the Underdark is no place for average people. We are lucky we made it through to see more sunrises and sunsets," Ralis said with a faint smile on his face.

"Great perils yield great beauty, Ralis. Remember that," Coran said.

Ralis grunted then looked up at the stars, and Coran joined him in looking up at the night sky in silence for about five minutes until Coran felt the need to say something else.

"... You know, after everything you told me, Ralis..." Coran began, causing Ralis to look at him. "I get the feeling you have been through plenty of adventures. Have you found a woman that caught your hear yet, Ralis?"

Ralis chuckled. "Yes," was his only reply.

"Is that so? I knew you would find a woman that catches your interest sooner or later. Is it Neera?"

Ralis shook his head, which caused Coran's eyes to widen in surprise.

"What? Really?"

"Would I lie to you, Coran? Have I ever lied to you?"

Coran paused, thinking over his adventures with Ralis during their fight against the Iron Throne three years ago.

"... No, you haven't," Coran finally conceded. "But I still want to know who is the woman that caught your heart," he added.

"You already know her," Ralis replied.

Coran's eyes around his green face paint widened in surprise.

"I do? This is amusing. Don't keep me in suspense, Ralis, tell me," Coran pressed.

Ralis couldn't help but smile softly. He had to admit that he loved to tell his friends this bit of information about himself.

"Viconia is the woman I fell for," he admitted.

Coran gasped softly. "The beautiful drow?"

Ralis nodded, and Coran opened his mouth to make a comment, but at first no words came out, as if he suddenly lost his voice.

"I... I... I don't believe it. I never expected that. How did you two...?"

"It's a long story, Coran. But to shorten it, let's just say the longer Viconia adventured alongside me, the more she learned to trust me. She isn't as evil as you may think, Coran. There is a soft side to her."

"Oh, I don't doubt it, my friend. For behind every callous shell over a woman's heart, there is warmth," Coran said with a knowing smile.

Ralis chuckled. "I never expected to hear words of wisdom from you, Coran."

Coran scoffed modestly. "Ah, 'tis not wisdom, my old friend, but merely common sense." Coran paused to take a deep breath and sigh contentedly while looking up at the sky partially obscured by the forest branches around them. "Ah, the wonders and mysteries the life of adventuring brings..."

"And tragedies," Ralis blurted out, his expression darkening.

"Huh?" Coran looked at Ralis in confusion.

"Adventure is not fun and romance, Coran..." Ralis said disdainfully.

Coran felt confused and bewildered by Ralis' answer.

"What...? What are you talking about, Ralis? Remember what I told you before? "Life is an-""

""-adventure or nothing". I haven't forgotten, Coran, but reality woke me up to what adventures really is." Ralis said in annoyance, rudely cutting of Coran, which stunned him completely.

Coran was so surprised that he didn't know what to say to Ralis. When the young human turned to look at the elf, he continued talking.

"It is death and misery, plain and simple," Ralis said curtly, scowling at Coran. "For the past three years, I've lost several people I knew in my adventure of misery. I lost Xan, Skie, Dynaheir, Khalid, Ajantis, Haer'Dalis, Yoshimo... How many more people will I lose tomorrow? Next tenday? or next month, even? Who is next to die on my watch? How can I stop it from happening?" Ralis' voice gradually rose as he spoke, hinting his grief and weariness to stunned Coran. "Adventure is a headache for me, Coran. You wouldn't understand because you have not experienced loss yet."

Coran was still speechless, even when Ralis paused for a moment to let him say something. But when Ralis discovered that Coran did not know what to say, he continued on.

"Loss is a painful thing, Coran. It changes your perspective on life. And life can be unjustly cruel. It is so cruel to the point where Viconia's life is short lived because Lolth the Spider Queen wants her dead. My love with Viconia is not meant to last forever, and she knows it. She is living on borrowed time, and there is nothing I can do to stop it."

Coran thought over his words carefully before speaking.

"Maybe you aren't meant to stop it," he said.

Ralis blinked in confusion and looked at Coran with an incredulous expression all over his face.

"What...?" After uttering that single word in a threatening tone unintentionally, his right eyelid twitched for a second.

"Maybe it is not in your power to do such a thing," Coran clarified, then he paused for a moment to see that his remark has made Ralis almost livid even though he appeared mostly confused, his anger is just restrained, but Coran could tell by looking into Ralis' eyes that there is a lot of turmoil going on within him. "Hear me out. The only thing that is in your power to do is to cherish what time you have with Viconia instead of worrying about what is to come days, tendays or months from now, that way when her time here in the mortal plane is up, you'll live your life without much regrets."

"What the hells are you talking about, Coran?" Ralis asked him with an outraged glare. "I am a child of Bhaal! I have power deep within me! I just need to strengthen it and refine it, and-"

"Stop!" Coran shouted abruptly, surprising Ralis, then Coran stood up on his feet, standing high above Ralis as he looked up at his face. "Listen to what you just said! What you just said is *not* what the Ralis I knew would say!" He paused for a moment to let his words sink into Ralis' ears, and he saw that it is working, Ralis now looked shocked, as if he realized he had said or done something terrible and never realized it until now. "Your grief is changing you for the worst! Look, I understand you fear for Viconia's life and the lives of your other friends, but you need to be very careful, Ralis. Our emotions change us for better or worse. In your case, it isn't looking good. You are walking down a very dark path, and if you don't find a way to change your course... you'll be lost forever, and I don't need to be a paladin to see that."

Silence fell between Ralis and Coran for a few seconds as Ralis struggled in his mind to explain to Coran why he had that emotional outburst. Deep down, he knew Coran is right, but what can be done about it? How can he possibly cope with the knowledge and emotional pain that sooner or later, he will lose someone else in his group?

"Hey!" A voice down below called.

Ralis and Coran peered over the edge of the roof to see Abdel on the ground looking up at them.

"Is everything all right up there?" He called.

"Yeah, we're fine, Abdel. Our conversation just got a little heated, that's all. Right, Coran?" Ralis said, looking at Coran for support.

Coran reluctantly nodded. "Yes," he simply said.

Abdel nodded. "All right. I'm going to bed, sleeping on my bedroll on the porch," he said then walked towards the house disappearing under the roof's edge.

Ralis looked over at Coran and said: "It's getting late. I need some shuteye."

"I'm with you. I'm glad we could catch up after three years," Coran agreed, then they climbed down off the cabin's roof and entered the cabin,


The next morning, Coran woke up in his bed expecting to see Safana sleeping beside him, but... Safana is not there. She is nowhere to be found.

"What the...? Safana?" Coran called while climbing out of his bed.

He undressed out of his pajamas and put on his clothes and studded leather armor and walked out of his bedroom. In the living room he saw Ralis sleeping on the couch and Minsc, Aerie, Jaheira, Althir and Rasaad sleeping in their bedrolls on the floor. But once again, he saw no sign of Safana.

"Ralis! Everyone! Wake up! Safana has gone missing!" Coran called as he walked into them iddle of the room, standing between the couch Ralis is sleeping on, and the spot on the floor where Rasaad was sleeping.

"Huh...?" Ralis groggily woke up along with the others.

"What happened? Are there evil butts that need kicking?" Minsc asked while sitting up straight and scratching his bald head.

"I don't know, Minsc, all I do know is Safana is gone!" Coran replied.

"That's terrible!" Aerie said.

"Where should we go looking for her?" Jaheira asked.

"Let's visit the wizard, he is supposed to be the last person to have seen her," Coran suggested.

After waking everyone up, Coran led Ralis and his party to the wizard's house about two miles west from Coran's cabin. When they got there, they noticed that the cabin is smaller than Coran's cabin, leading Viconia, Hexxat and Valygar to believe that he lives alone, which they are correct in assuming. Coran, with Ralis by his side, approached the front door and Coran knocked on the door five times.

"Hello? Is Safana in here? She hasn't returned to my cabin, I need your help!" Coran called as he knocked on the door.

A few seconds later, the door opened, revealing a 36 year old fair skinned human man with a trimmed black beard and black hair styled as a mullet with a circlet around his forehead and dressed in lime green wizard robes. This man did not look like the kind of hermit Ralis expected him to be, he expected the wizard to be older and look like he hasn't shaved or bathed much.

"Are you the one called Coran?" The wizard pointed at Ralis.

"No, he's Coran," Ralis corrected him, pointing at Coran.

"Where is Safana? did she come by here?" Coran asked, trying to keep his tone calm.

The wizard nodded.

"Yes, she did. She asked me to cast a dimensional portal to Mosstone so she can go shopping at the market there."

"And then...?" Coran pressed.

"An hour later she returned, but as soon as she returned a pack of werewolves or wolfweres attacked my cabin before she could leave."

"Oh no!" Coran gasped in horror. "My beloved Safana... no...!" He began to cry, and Ralis tried to comfort him.

"Don't worry!" The wizard quickly assured Coran. "You still have a chance to save her!"

Coran wiped a tear from his eye. "What?"

"The leader of the wolfweres had a message to send to me. It told me to tell Coran that if you want to see Safana again, you must come to its den alone with somebody named Ralis. It said that if you do not meet its demands, Safana will die."

Ralis looked down and noticed Coran's right hand curl into a fist and tremble with brewing rage.

"Where is its den?" Coran asked impatiently.

"The wolfwere told me its den is near a grove about two miles north from here," the wizard replied, pointing to his left towards the direction past where his wood shed stood.

Coran nodded then checked his person to see if he still had his longsword, shortbow and quiver full of arrows with him, and he did.

"It's a good thing I brought my weapons with me," he said.

Ralis nodded. "All right." Then he turned around to address his group. "Coran and I will take the lead far ahead. All of you stay about 200 feet behind us. We don't want the wolfweres to think Coran and I brought backup, they might kill Safana."

After the plans were laid out, they started to move north towards the grove the wizard mentioned.


A few hours later, Ralis and Coran saw a grove about 27 feet ahead of them. It is the only part of the forest they have seen so far with no undergrowth. They didn't see anyone or anything in the grove, and Ralis began to suspect that Coran may be walking into a trap. Coran was about to fearlessly walk into the grove but Ralis stopped him by pressing the back of his left hand to the breastplate of Coran's studded leather body armor.

"This might be a trap. Let me go first," Ralis suggested.

Coran silently nodded in agreement and allowed Ralis to move forward. Ralis cautiously stepped closer and closer to the grove's edge until he found himself at the grove's edge. Before he could step further into the grove, he heard a low growl nearby. Ralis froze where he stood and began to reach for his swords. Up ahead, on the other side of the grove's edge, two figures appeared from standing behind one of the trees. A wolfwere in its humanoid-wolf hybrid form, and Safana herself. The wolfwere next to Safana is female, Ralis could easily tell because of her hourglass body shape. They slowly approached Ralis with three other wolfweres also in their hybrid forms behind them, all three masculine in their physical appearance.

Wolfweres should not be confused with werewolves. They look alike, but the difference between a wolfwere and werewolf is wolfweres are known as "antherions", a normal animal with the ability to shapechange into a humanoid or animal-humanoid hybrid. Werewolves are lycanthropes, humanoids that are given the ability to shapechange by being bitten by a werewolf. Antherions pass on their ability to shapechange through their offspring, not by attacking their foes.

"You!" The female wolfwere next to Safana exclaimed, pointing at Ralis. "You intrude on my domain, human!"

"No, no!" Safana protested to the wolfwere. "This is the one I told you about, Lanfear! This is Ralis! Kill him and the wizard will reward you and your pack with riches beyond your wildest dreams!"

Ralis couldn't believe what he heard Safana say. Wasn't she kidnapped? How does she know the wolfwere by name? Lanfear the wolfwere looked at Safana in confusion for a moment, then back at Ralis.

"This?" Lanfear pointed at Ralis, and Safana nodded with an expectant grin on her face that sent a cold shiver of doubt and fear down Ralis' spine. "This is the creature you spoke of?"

Safana nodded again.

"Bah!" Lanfear waved her arm dismissively. "He is of no interest to me! And where is Coran? You said that Coran would would accompany him! You said this human would bring Coran to me!"

"Safana? What in the Nine Hells is going on here? Weren't you kidnapped by these creatures?" Ralis demanded.

Before she could say anything, Coran entered the grove, taking his spot by Ralis' side. When he saw Safana standing with the wolfwere pack as if they are friends, he found himself dumbfounded just like Ralis.

"What...? My darling Safana... what have you done?" Coran asked.

"Don't be a fool, Coran. Do you understand why I did this? I was never kidnapped. I struck a deal with Lanfear and her pack before I went to the wizard to lure Ralis to a trap! Do you remember the bounty that is on his head?!"

The horror and realization set down on Ralis and Coran as they realized that Safana is acting this way because of hearing that the Grand Dukes of Baldur's Gate have put a bounty on Ralis' head, and she wants the reward so badly that she is willing to betray the young man that she volunteered to travel with back when the Iron Throne were causing trouble in the Sword Coast.

Unbelievable! Wasn't she attracted to me before? Ralis wondered, apparently forgetting that though Safana has made flirtatious moves on him in the past, that doesn't mean she wanted to have him as her lover, she takes advantage of her beauty to get whatever she wants from men who are charmed by her so much they are willing to give her whatever she wants to earn her love or approval.

"Safana, no! I won't let you do this!" Coran protested as he defiantly stepped a few inches ahead of Ralis.

Safana shook her head in denial. Seeing this, Ralis had a hunch that a part of her doesn't want to make Coran sad by killing his best friend, but it is clearly obvious that her desire to get rich from the reward is stronger. Safana lived most of her life taking what she wanted, even if it meant charming men. She never had a strong moral compass.

"Just get out of the way, moron!" She snapped at Coran, causing him to flinch, then she turned her head to look at Lanfear next to her. "Lanfear, kill Ralis, as per our agreement!" She ordered like an impatient, arrogant queen jabbing her finger in Ralis' direction as if the wolfwere doesn't know which one is the target.

Lanfear the wolfwere growled at Safana in annoyance, baring her teeth.

"I do not follow your orders, human witch! I care nothing for this bounty! All I wished for was that Coran would come to me at last!" She barked.

Ralis looked over at Coran and asked him: "How does she know you?"

"I don't know, I swear!" Coran replied.

Though he has interacted with many female humanoids in the past, human, elf, half-elf, halfling and such, he does not recall ever meeting a female wolfwere at any point in his life.

"No! Kill him now! I demand it!" Safana demanded impatiently while Ralis was questioning Coran about Lanfear.

"You demand nothing from me! I curse you with oblivion, human!" Lanfear retorted, and somehow, cast the Death Curse on Safana.

Ralis knows nothing about the Death Curse, but Coran heard that the curse not only kills a target as easily as the Finger of Death spell would, but it also prevents the person affected by the spell from being resurrected, meaning after Safana dies from the curse, no cleric, no matter how powerful, can bring her back from the dead. As soon as Safana started to collapse like a rag doll, Coran came running towards her.

"Noooo!" Coran wailed as he sprinted across the 40 foot gap between him, Safana and the wolfweres, and when he got to Safana's body, he quickly dropped down to his knees on the ground and cradled her body in his arms. She died less than two seconds before he reached her.

"Safana, my love! Please! Come back to me...! Please...!" Coran pleaded, trying his hardest not to cry, but Safana never opened her eyes, and her jaw is slack.

Ralis lowered his head in disappointment as Lanfear slowly approached Coran who is still on his knees, cradling Safana's body sobbing softly, and the other three wolfweres stepped further back, giving the three people ahead of them more space. Lanfear crouched slightly beside Coran and said softly in her husky voice:

"Do not wail for the human, my Coran... she betrayed you and never loved you. Not as I do."

Coran looked at the wolfwere next to him, his eyes are partially bloodshot, his tears stained his face, brightening the lower parts of the green face paint around his eyes.

"You... you *love* me? How is it that a... a beast *loves* me?" Coran questioned the humanoid she-wolf.

Lanfear looked at Coran in confusion. "You do not recognize me, my love?" Lanfear paused for a moment and noticed that her arms and entire body is covered in wolf pelt, and she recalled that the last time she was with Coran a few years ago, she was in her fully human form, not her hybrid form, otherwise she would have scared him off. "No, not in this form. We have lain together once before, you and I, my love, and I have sought you out ever since," she explained to Coran, hoping that he will accept her for what she really is.

Ralis could barely hear the conversation, but he heard enough to be confused as much as Coran is right now.

Coran knocked up a wolfwere? Dammit, you stupid, horny elf, for the sweet love of Sune, is there any female humanoid that you will *not* penetrate? Ralis wondered silently while eavesdropping on Lanfear speaking to Coran.

"My hounds have been searching for you on my behalf for years, my love, but we've found your woman, and I pretended to follow her wicked plan because it served my needs far more than hers!" Lanfear spread her pelt covered arms wide, welcoming Coran for a hug. "Come to me, my Coran... let us be together at long last!" She said.

Coran still felt confused by all this. While Lanfear was speaking, he searched his memories trying to find out at what point in time did he every lay in bed with a creature that resembles a werewolf. He could not imagine ever being in bed with a werewolf or wolfwere woman. Besides, Lanfear smells like wet dog.

"I will not!" Coran shouted in defiance, startling Lanfear. "I will never take part in such foulness, creature! Safana was my beloved, not you!" Coran looked over his left shoulder to look back at Ralis. "Ralis, destroy this murderess and all of her vile pack!"

Ralis couldn't blame him, the wolfwere cast a death curse on Safana, the only woman Coran had every intention on settling down with. Lanfear dropped her arms in disappointment and resignation.

"Very well, Coran... if I cannot have you, then *no one* shall!" She snarled, baring her teeth and readying her claws to strike Coran.

Coran is still kneeling down cradling Safana's body in his arms, he is completely unprepared for a fight, and Lanfear is close enough to attack him seconds before Ralis can come to his rescue with his swords. Coran gasped in horror, realizing that he made a big mistake causing Lanfear to get hostile towards him because Ralis will not reach him in time to save him from getting mauled, bitten or clawed to death. Lanfear towered over Coran, preparing to strike him with her right claw. Coran held Safana close to his chest, turned his head away and closed his eyes, bracing himself to feel the searing pain of sharp claws tearing into him.

An arrow of piercing flew through the air and pierced Lanfear's right wrist before she could bring it down on Coran, causing her to howl in pain. She looked at her injured arm and saw that the arrow pierced clean through her wrist down to the middle of its shaft. She turned to the direction of where the arrow came from and saw Ralis running towards them with a longbow in his hand. He dropped his longbow and pulled out both of his bastard swords, one blade is burning hot with fire and the other seemed normal. While Lanfear fought through the pain of trying to break the arrow lodged into her wrist in half, Coran put down Safana to ready himself for combat.

"Kill him! Kill the human!" Lanfear commanded to her three packmates after snapping the arrow in her wrist into two pieces and pulled them out.

The three wolfweres reacted immediately, moving past Coran and Lanfear and heading straight for Ralis. The first wolfwere that got close to Ralis swiped for his head, and Ralis dodged aside, then motioned to slash at the next wolfwere coming at him, and the Blade of Searing 3 nicked the left side of the wolfwere's hip, causing him to howl and whine in pain. The third wolfwere tried to jump on Ralis but he rolled forward, rolling underneath the jumping wolfwere swiftly then came back up on his feat to face the attackers he dodged that are coming at him again.

Coran was busy fighting Lanfear, armed with only his longsword. He started out with an all-out offensive, striking at Lanfear with vicious strikes, which she is dodging. Apparently he is feeling vengeful, wanting to end Lanfear for ending Safana. When the opportunity presented itself, Lanfear ducked past Coran's overhead strike then came at him with a claw strike at a spot he left open. Her claw tore through the leather protecting Coran's abdomen as she moved swiftly past him, and he yelled in pain and turned to face her, refusing to give her another opportunity to strike him.

"Come on, monster! Meet your maker!" Coran snarled.

Lanfear frowned and relaxed from her battle stance slightly. "Monster? I am a monster to you now? When we were together, when we were lovers, I was no monster to you. But now... that does not matter anymore! RAAAH!" Lanfear lunged at Coran with a ferocity he never expected.

Startled by this, Coran fell towards the ground on his back with the hilt of his sword pressed on the spot where Lanfear damaged his leather armor, the sword's blade pointed upwards, and Lanfear's body sailed over Coran as he fell towards the ground on his back, but something unexpected happened. The tip of Coran's blade injured Lanfear almost by accident, cutting her flesh down her chest and the space between her breasts and ending close to the upper part of her abdomen as she sailed over him, and she howled in pain and tumbled to the ground. Coran quickly scrambled back up on his feet and turned to face the wolfwere, and he found her writhing in pain on the ground from the injury she suffered. Coran also spared a quick glance over at Ralis fighting the three wolfweres nearby and saw that he is handling himself just fine for now, then he turned his attention back to his quarry as she slowly stood back up on her feet and faced him, a long, bleeding vertical cut ran down her body.

The three wolfweres tried to gang up on Ralis, using their numbers to overwhelm him, but he always made sure to swing his swords in a wide arc to keep the wolfweres back while trying to attack one of them. During the fight, Ralis silently hoped that his companions would reach them in time to see that the rescue of Safana has gone awry. Ralis paused in his battle stance after wounding another wolfwere with Albruin, then the wolfweres began to circle around him, trying to find some weak spot in his defenses while Lanfear battled Coran.

"I don't have time for this!" Ralis snapped then chose to attack the wolfwere with the injured hip.

He jumped at the wolfwere intending to strike with both swords, but the wolfwere dodged aside, and Ralis missed, landing on the ground in a kneeling crouch, then he rose up on his feet spinning with both blades, injuring one of the wolfweres who thought he would be defenseless once his attack missed, and ended up getting cut in the chest. The other two wolfweres were distracted by Lanfear's pained yelps when Coran "accidentally" injured her, and they let their guard down one moment, allowing Ralis to lunge at one of the wolfweres with both swords, piercing its chest with both blades, killing it. Ralis kicked the wolfwere he stabbed with his right leg, and the wolfwere slid off of Ralis' swords and collapsed to the ground dead. Angered by the death of their packmate, the other two wolfweres redoubled their efforts in trying to bring down Ralis, coming at him from multiple sides, keeping him on his toes and guessing where they may strike next.

Although injured, Lanfear did not let up in attacking Coran, trying to scratch him up with her claws, but the elf is nimble, dodging every strike and nicking the wolfwere in different parts of her body. Lanfear grew more and more frustrated as the fight progressed, she received more cuts on her body than Coran, all he got is a scratched up leather armor and a scratch mark on the left side of his face, a small stream of blood running down to his chin.

"Damn you, Coran, I loved you! Part of me does not want to kill you, but I have no choice! You are a fool for forcing my hand like this!" Lanfear growled in frustration.

"If you truly loved me..." Coran paused and brought his blade up horizontally in front of his glaring eyes. "... you wouldn't have killed my beloved Safana," he concluded with cold malice in his voice.

Lanfear could see that Coran's heart truly is with Safana. This realization made Lanfear more angrier than ever.

"Then your corpse will lay beside her!" She said.

Ralis began to feel more and more fatigued. The two wolfweres were tiring him out, he couldn't keep up with two moving opponents all at the same time. The wolfweres knew that their strategy is working. The key to beating Ralis is not by trying to injure him, but by tiring him out. One of the worlfweres grew bold enough to attack Ralis and came at him with a left hook punch. Ralis never saw the blow coming. Wham! A pelt covered fist smashed against his face, sending him reeling. Ralis tried to get his bearings back ,but he couldn't in time because the other wolfwere punched him in the stomach. Even in wearing enchanted studded leather armor, the blow felt so painful it felt as if his stomach is on fire. Ralis dropped his swords and collapsed on the ground in a fetal position. Ralis began to believe that this may be the end of his life as the two wolfweres towered over him, getting down on all fours as they changed into their fully wolf form and readied themselves to taste human flesh. Ralis closed his eyes as he felt their hot breaths against his face, and then suddenly, he heard a bear roaring nearby. The noise caught the attention of the wolfweres, including Lanfear and Coran.

"Is that a... a grizzly bear...?" Coran said.

Ralis fought through the pain in his stomach to turn his entire body around and he saw a big, strong grizzly bear running towards him and the wolfweres. The wolfweres backed away from Ralis, believing that the grizzly bear must be coming to claim Ralis as its kill. But to their surprise, the grizzly bear made sure its front legs did not trample Ralis, and it stood over Ralis and roared at the wolfweres. Coran smiled, realizing this bear must be here to help them fight.

"Well well, Lady Luck is with us today," Coran grinned.

One of the wolfweres attacked the grizzly bear while the other shapechanged back into its hybrid form. Ralis rolled away from the grizzly bear as it fought the wolfwere still in normal wolf form and grabbed his swords off from the ground. After he stood up, he looked over his shoulder and finally saw the rest of his companions arriving into the grove, though they are little more than 40 feet away. The grizzly bear and wolfwere clawed and bit each other, but the bear is bigger and stronger, its claw strikes dealt more serious injuries to the wolfwere, then the grizzly bear finished off the wolfwere by snapping its neck while holding its head in its mouth.

Ralis fought the wolfwere who reverted back to hybrid form. and when the grizzly bear came to Ralis' aid, double teaming against the wolfwere, the wolfwere lost all confidence and tried to run away, but the grizzly bear mauled the creature the moment it turned its back on them.

Now the only wolfwere left alive is Lanfear, but that did not last long. With Coran, Ralis and the grizzly bear teaming up against her, she did not last long, but she did not go down without fighting viciously. Knowing that she will lose and die, she made one desperate attempt to attack Coran, ignoring Ralis and the grizzly bear as if they weren't there, but Ralis created a huge gash on her back using the Blade of Searing, and she collapsed on her knees, and fell face down into the ground, finally dead and defeated.


By that moment, Ralis' entire group finally caught up with them.

"What happened?! Where is Safana?" Jaheira demanded.

Coran pointed over at Safana's corpse nearby, too sad to look at her.

"Safana tried to betray us," Ralis explained to his group. "She met a group of wolfweres last night on her way to the wizard's cabin, and she made a deal with them, pretending to kidnap her so that she would lure me to them and they would kill me, and Safana would get the bounty that's on my head."

Aerie, Neera and Imoen gasped in shock.

"Safana tried to have you killed?" Rasaad asked in minor disbelief.

"Even more unbelievable," Coran added, "is that the wolfwere pack leader claimed to love me. She killed Safana and claimed to have known me before."

"Have you?" Jaheira sked inquisitively, knowing Coran's tendency to fall in love with any woman that catches his eye.

"No!" Coran protested.

Ralis turned his attention to the bear next to him, that is looking up at him and breathing heavily.

"Coran and I would have been killed with Safana if this grizzly bear hadn't got here," Ralis explained to his group.

Everyone looked at the bear, nd the bear looked at them, and grunted with a nod.

"Who is this bear, and where did it come from?" Cernd asked in curiosity.

Then, from out of nowhere, a voice nearby said: "The bear's name is Wilson."

Everyone turned to the direction of the voice and saw an elf approaching them casually. Ralis immediately recognized the elf as one of the wild mages from Neera's refugee camp, Zaviak.

"Hey, I know you. You're one of Neera's wild mages, Zaviak," Ralis said.

Neera gasped in surprise, then shoved her way through her companions then rushed over to Zavik and gave him a warm hug.

"Zaviak! Gods, it is so good to see you again!" She said happily while hugging him so tightly that he could hardly breathe.

"Whoa, hey, settle down, Neera, it's good to see you too," Zaviak gasped.

"Oh!" Neera released Zaviak from her grip and gave him some space. "Sorry about that. I got all caught up in the moment."

"Water under the bridge," Zaviak said.

Then, Ralis, the bear name Wilson and Cernd approached Neera and Zaviak.

"So, you said this bear's name is Wilson?" Ralis asked.

Zaviak nodded. "I sure did, man," he admitted.

"But how do you know that? You can't speak to him, and he can't speak to us," Anomen said.

Zaviak grinned while walking over to Wilson, then gently rubbed his head. "Because knowing nature is kinda my thing, man. I'm like a semi-druid wild mage, get it?"

Jaheira rolled her eyes. "I suppose he is making some sense," she said.

Wilson grunted and huffed a few seconds, then Cernd stepped forward.

"Allow me to translate for Wilson," he said. "He says that he would like to accompany us, because he is grateful to Ralis for rescuing him at the Twofold Trust palace two years ago."

Ralis' eyes widened as soon as Cernd said that, then he looked at Wilson with wide eyes. "You are the bear I rescued back then?!"

Wilson grunted with a single nod at Ralis. The young human laughed and petted Wilson's head.

"Then I guess that makes us even!"

While everyone was talking, Coran walked back over to Safana's body and knelt down next to her. He knew that there is no way he can bring her back, so he might as well say his final goodbye to her.

"Goodbye, my beloved," Coran whispered sadly, then he stood up and wiped the tears from his face. "I feel the need to be honest with you about something, my beloved Safana. In the past, there have been many women I've met during my many adventures, and I've been infatuated by all of them... but on the day I met you, Safana, I..." Coran paused to wipe more tears from his face. "I had this feeling in my heart that I never felt before, and I'm sure you felt it, too. I had this feeling that I truly belonged with you. That I was meant to be with you until the day you would die from old age." He wiped more tears from his eyes.

"This is something I dread every day..." Ralis said from behind Coran, startling him,

Coran gasped and turned around to see Ralis behind him.

"Oh. It's you," he said calmly.

"Sorry if I scared you," Ralis apologized.

Coran shook his head. "No, no, you are quite all right. I'm just..." Coran paused ot inhale slowly, then exhale slowly. "... I'm just feeling emotionally wrecked right now."

Ralis nodded without uttering a word.

"I... I thank you for your aid, Ralis. It pains me that I was blind to Safana's true nature, and I... I apologize for getting you involved in this."

"You're a friend, Coran," Ralis said. "I never let my friends down."

Coran smiled dryly. "Thank you again. I now understand why you are so afraid of losing Viconia. Having your heart broken is no fun thing," he said.

Ralis nodded. "Adventures have tragedies, Coran, and you just experienced your first tragedy. What are you going to do now?"

Coran shrugged. "I don't know. The future is a difficult thing to predict. Perhaps I should drown my sorrows in a keg of wine and a few buxom lasses, eh?" He began to grin.

Ralis smirked and shrugged. "Sounds good to me," he said.

"Let's get back to my cabin. I've had enough adventure for one day," Coran suggested, then they rejoined Zaviak, Neera, Wilson and the others and they all departed the grove with Ralis and Coran leading the way back to Coran's cabin, leaving the bodies of Safana, Lanfear and the three wolfweres where they lay in the grove.