Baldur's Gate 3: Raven's Bluff, Chapters 1 to 4

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This is a story I've posted before, with chapter 4 new, edited and changed to be more accurate. Give praise, curses, and PLEASE nit-pick. I want this story to be smooth, sensible, logical and accurate. All constructive critism is accepted, except, no Oaz, I don't want to 'break it down.'

Neal Smith (Smyther)
CHAPTER 1

10:00 AM, 12 Flamerule
It was a bright day in Raven’s Bluff. The birds were chirping, children skipped along the side streets happily, even the thieves usually sneaking along the eves seemed to be taking a day off to celebrate Mask in the pubs. Nothing at all on that glorious day foretold of the impending doom to settle on the city. Nothing except a simple omen that only one person saw.
A few Moon Rats crept along the sewers. The full moon not being for another week or so, the rats were in a demented state of mind. Yet they were controlled. The leader, under the moon called Beamrot, carried a small wardstone in its mouth. The pack of twelve reached a bend in the sewers leading to a cul-de-sac with a grate overhead. It was the work of a moment for the rats to remove a few loose bricks leading to the chamber they had been mindlessly carving out for the past few months. In the center on the now thirty-foot chamber was a pedestal. Beamrot cautiously approached it and put the stone in the center. A fell wind swooped around the room, settling in a swirling mass at the head of the chamber.
Tallgron, a wererat belonging to the local thief’s guild, watched in awe at this ceremony. He had spotted his moon cousins on a patrol through the reaches of the pipe-ways and followed them there. A hiss escaped from the mass of wind and all the beady eyes in the room focused on Tallgron.
He scrambled backwards, away from the hole in the wall and hastily made an arcane mark in the air. It was one of the few cantrips he had learnt under the tutelage of his sorcerer master, and was only visible to those of his guild. He knew death was approaching him and so he left his final message to the world in a small rune. It was his personal signature, a lasting message to proclaim the spot where he left his life.
Wave after wave of Moon Rats descended on him, pouring out of crevices and pipes, holes and grates. In a last move of desperation, he shifted to rat form and tried to flee. Several Dire Rats met him at the end of the tunnel. He spun around and faced the Moon Rats. Looking up he saw a few regular rats; not much of a threat. He charged up the wall, his tiny claws sinking into every hold he could find. At the last moment, the illusion of the normal rats was lifted and Tallgron saw to his horror his mistake. An abyssal dire rat sat there, folds of fat leaking over its sides. The flab didn’t fool Tallgron for a minute; the rat was one of the most potent spellcasting rats possible. As the bolt of lightning let off by the rat flashed through his body, he had only one thought in his mind. What on the face of Faerun could control all these rats?
The horde of rats swarmed back to their hiding places. One of the dire rats approached the windy mass and in its own tongue, reported the outcome. A wisp of smoke from the whirlwind departed out of the lair. It took less time than the duration of a Time Stop spell to uncover the arcane mark. The whirlwind gave out a puff of air and blew the mark away. No one would ever know what was in store for them.

1:00 PM, 1 Eleasis
Argrath took his first step into Raven’s Bluff. An assault of smells, sights, sounds and sensations bombarded him in a way nothing ever had before. He understood his father had arranged him a home in the Foreign District. Said it was the most peaceful area around. He was right. Hardly anyone was about, and those that were, were either guards or emissaries from the various Embassies in the district. Gazing towards the center he saw a ring of stones surrounding a giant tree and several smaller ones. Apparently this was the famed Ring Park. As he approached, he noticed many guards taking lunch breaks on the shady benches. He needed directions to Lion Street where his new home was located.
“Hey you! Guard! Can you tell me how to get to Lion Street?”
“Gerrof of it kid! Urrp! Shlion shreet ain’t round ‘ere. Iz way over de near Embass-hic of Chess-ess-enty-yuh. Yup. Dat’s a funny wurd alrioght.”
“Don’t bother with him kid,” one of the other guards interjected, “he’s just drunk. Go on two blocks past the Embassy of Chessenta. Street’s posted.” When asked where the Embassy was, “oh, ye can’t miss it. Got a rollicking party going on right now.” Argrath headed on.
There was a party going on. A drunk staggered out of the building in the custody of two of the Watch. “I tell ye, I’m not seeing things! Hic! Dem guys is - ” he stopped as he saw Argrath. “Hey you! Kid of Bhaal! Help me out here!” Argrath stepped back in shock. Was he being accused of being a child of Bhaal? “Cummon kiddy. Help old me out.”
“You know this fraud?” One of the guards asked. “Cummon, pipe up. He needs an escort home.”
“Yeah, I know him” Argrath replied. Something about the man disturbed him. Plus, he wanted to know more about this accusation. The man was roughly shoved toward him. He collapsed on Argrath’s large shoulder.
“Thank ye. Ye won’t be regretting this. No one ever regrets helping old Saemon Haevarian.” Argrath started at the name. He had heard it somewhere before… “Ye know, ye remind me of someone. Used to do a lot of sailing in me old days. Can’t remember his name, but you do remind. Mind if I come with you for a spell?” The two walked on in silence for while. Soon they came to Lion Street and approached one of the homes.
“Number 17,” Argrath muttered, as he looked down at a piece of paper his father had given him. Saemon jumped as he noticed Argrath’s pointy ears for the first time.
“Ye be an elf, son?” Argrath shook his head no.
“A half-elf. Mother was a half-elf and father was human… sort of.”
“Mind if I ask their names?” Argrath was silent for a while. He started up the steps to his home and opened the door. A crash followed as a Halfling jumped while holding a purloined vase. He dashed out an open side-window, and stopped, expecting a chase. As nobody followed, he started off down the street whistling cheerfully. Until a member of the watch clapped her hand on his shoulder roughly and hauled him off to the local garrison. The Halfling was confused. Nobody had seen him come into the house or leave. The man inside hadn’t had a chance to raise an alarm and indeed hadn’t. How could they know?
Inside the house, Argrath collapsed on a low sofa. One of the few pieces of furniture in the house. Saemon sat down beside him, waiting for the man to talk.
“My mother… she died during childbirth.” Saemon nodded sympathetically. He could tell the boy had needed to get this off his chest and waited patiently. “She was supposed to be beautiful. My father raised me, pretty roughly at times. Always talking about her. And his… lineage. Her name… her name was Jahiera. My father was called Abdel.” Saemon stirred. He knew that name!
“Aye, Abdel. Yeah, I knew him. Was a giant of a strong man as I recall. Threw me out of the Copper Coronet in Athkatla once he did. Drunk as stone then, drunk as a dog now.” Argrath’s eyes flashed angrily until Saemon corrected himself in that he was saying that he himself was the drunk.
“I grew up in a monastery called Candlekeep. Had occasional visits to Baldur’s Gate and Beregost. Got in a few brawls, but dad always kept me out of them. Said he didn’t want me growing up like him. Seemed to be famous, he did. Everyone gave him so much respect and treated me like dirt. I got old Winthrop to train me up a bit. He was a really fat old man, but he knew the thieving arts. I got into quite a bit of trouble around the monastery.” Argrath paused and smiled at the memories. “Eventually the time came for me to leave.
“I left the keep quickly and quietly. I was alone for a while, living off the land until I met this stranger. Didn’t tell me his name at first, but he lived with me for a while. He started teaching me magical arts. I at last came to a stage when I no longer needed his instruction, and he told me his name. I suppose anyone could imagine the shock when I was told his name was Elminster. The greatest mage on Faerun.
“I had a lot of natural power. He just taught me to harness it. He was soon patting my back and bidding me farewell when my father came along. He said he arranged a permanent home for me here in Raven’s Bluff. He gave me instructions on how to get there, and his greatest blade.” Argrath drew a blue-shining longsword that had been intricately hidden in the clothes on his back. Glittering in his hand, he held it up to the light and it flashed black as rays of sunlight hit it. “The Equalizer. My dad had it forged for me from a few components he found on his travels. He then told me his life story as I am now telling you mine.” Saemon nodded. He knew some of this part. “He was a child of Bhaal. So am I, in a way. You guessed it back there at the embassy. That took a while. At the end, Elminster gave me a wardstone. It was said to ward off all demonic influences. I began my journey to Raven’s Bluff. Dad said it was one of the most accepting cities in the realms, so no one should really care about my evil heritage. I guess he was wrong.
“I was found out about halfway through the dalelands. Bandits attacked me, supposedly for any godly trinkets I might be carrying. But I know it was because I was technically a Bhaalspawn. They stole the wardstone, but didn’t find my blade. I escaped really miraculously. I don’t know how, but I seemed to teleport out of the danger to middle of the Vast. I then made my way here, and you know the rest.” There was a long silence.
“Wow, that’s some story. I think I’m actually sober now.” Saemon grinned a broken toothed grin. “I really gotta get going. If you ever need me, I’ll be likely hanging around the Sea Spit tavern in the Seaglimpse neighborhood. So long, child of Bhaal.” Saemon quickly exited and slammed the door as the remaining of Argrath’s vases flew at him and smashed upon the wood.
Argrath slept uneasily that night. He dreamt of wardstones and rats and burning flames. Several rocks with green inscribed runes fell in the background, intermingled with the clinking of keys and chains. A dragon roared in the distance as a shrill laugh echoed through the air. A ghostly visage of a heavily armored man appeared. A giant multi-armed demon drifted up behind it and the two became one; a completely solid avatar of the dead god Bhaal.

8:00 AM, 2 Eleasis
The next day, Argrath set about his new life. Food had to be brought in. He headed outside into the welcome glare of daylight. Something struck him as familiar about the sensation, but not in a bad way. He headed down the street, determined to find victuals for his ever-increasing hunger.
He walked a long way without finding anything. Ahead was a crowd gathered around a large statue with a plaque bearing the inscription: THE WATCHFUL DEFENDER. A speaker was up and talking. Argrath moved on to another crowd right next to it. In the center was set up a gallows and the crowd cheered every time the man in the noose jolted and gurgled. He turned away in disgust to the other crowd. This time he stopped to listen to what the speaker was saying.
“The keys to the Elemental Chamber are many. All of them save three are kept by the city council and its members.” Someone in the crowd called out, asking what the chamber was for. “Well, my friend. The spirits of the elements supposedly possesses the chamber. It is said that whomever enters the chamber and masters the elements would control the entire world. There have been many debates on this subject, and many scholars say this is untrue. I however, am of the opinion that it IS true.” Argrath drifted away, he had heard enough conspiracy theories on his travels to last him for a while. On the other side of the crowd he spotted a small merchant’s stall. At last. A place to BUY something, he thought. A person from the crowd looked at him strangely and then turned back.
After a long detour around the dense pack of people, he reached the vendor.
“Ah, the noble sah requires equipment, does he not? The finest chains and platemails a man can find in the grandest city of the realms! Come, you want?” Argrath felt obliged to look through the merchant’s inventory. He ended up purchasing a plain metal helmet and a finely polished set of elven chain. He purchased a large sack to carry it in, and then turned towards the selection of food available. He started as a pair of eyes blinked at him from the pile of Orange-fruit. A girl popped out and immediately started yammering on.
“Oh, you must be that Argrath I’ve heard so much about. Yep, same build and everything.” She went on for a bit as Argrath stared at her. She had a very full body and long auburn locks that reached to her mid-backside. A pair of sparkling blue eyes peered out of a perfect complexion that complemented her decidedly elven features. Her long legs and arms moved constantly as if searching for something to grab. “Oh, you must think me silly. All this talking and I never introduced myself. I’m Merindy. Probably not a name you have heard before, being new to the Bluff and all.
“Hey, are you paying attention? Here, catch!” She tossed a small object at him, forcing him out of his daze to catch it. It was a small green key. Suddenly, another object flew at him and he recognized it as the key to his home. She had pickpocketed it off him. “Betcha’d love to know where that came from. Could get a reward for that, what with the city council looking for them all.” It took a moment to realize that she was talking about the green key. “That’s the key of the plants. One of the elemental keys to the chamber they’re yakking on about at that crowd.”
“How did you get it?” Argrath was suddenly overcome with awe at this tiny object.
“Been in my family for generations. We’d better get going. If the crowd find out we’ve got this key there’ll be a rampage.” She spirited him off down the street, the touch of her hand sending tiny jolts through his body. Before he knew it, she had joined him. For what, he didn’t yet know. All that he cared about was that he’d completed his errand, got a small piece of power, gained information, and was now hanging out with the girl of his dreams.
They slowed down as they neared Lion Street. Argrath was leading, as he was the only one who knew the way to his home. A blur flashed before his eyes. Before he knew it, bandits surrounded them. What? Bandits in the Foreign District? That would never happen! He thought.
“That’s right kiddy. But this ain’t the outsider’s district. You just wandered into Seaglimpse. Not that you’ll need to know that after we’ve robbed and killed you.” What? Can they read my thoughts? The bandits started moving in. One, obviously the leader, zoomed in. Merindy, with her knowledge of such things, surmised that he must be under the influence of a potion of Haste.
Argrath drew his longsword and dropped the bag of items he was carrying. The Equalizer glowed a dark red as it practically leaped forward to get at the bandits. One bandit, a mage, began to cast a spell Argrath recognized as a Fireball. They would be in trouble if that spell got off. He rushed into the offensive against the encircling thieves. Merindy suddenly leaped out of the shadows she had been hiding in and speared a bandit through his back with her wakizashi. The others stared at her in shock.
Argrath took the moment to let off the fastest spell he knew. Uttering a command word and a gesture, a magic missile flew towards the mage, interrupting her casting. The thieves rushed in and Argrath began a maneuver he had invented himself. Weaving his blade up and down in a circle around his body, he ripped into the thieves. He became a dark red blur as the sword hacked and slashed his way to victory. While he was busy with the thieves, the mage recovered enough to begin casting another spell. She smiled to herself. This one never failed her before. Her smile and her spell of Chaos was cut short as Merindy’s blade once again slid out of nowhere into vital organs.
Merindy rushed to join Argrath in melee and together they quickly dispatched the remaining thieves. They stood there, panting for a minute. Then, one of the bodies Argrath was standing on began to shift. He quickly moved off, horrified. The corpse raised itself off the ground, and to the surprise of both, showed signs of true life. The man lifted a blue bottle to his lips and his wounds began to heal. He stood up and looked both Argrath in the eye. They were too stunned to react.
“You haven’t seen the last of me. I’ll get my revenge. There will come a day when BOTH of you will tremor a sound of my name; Denthor. You will rue this meeting, I promise you that.” With that, he lifted another potion to his lips and vanished.
There was much to talk about on the way back to Argrath’s home, and this time they made it. Argrath concocted a fine supper for them both, and they relaxed after a long day. Merindy eventually moved off to wherever she lived and Argrath settled down for the night. Another nightmare came that night. A cabal of black wizards appeared, chanting around a small effigy of Argrath. The effigy went up in flames, as it became the creature that made the name famous. It began to chase after Argrath and he turned and ran. It pursued him across a great gray wasteland, past scrubby bushes and sickly streams. Argrath slowed to a halt as the avatar of Bhaal from his previous dream came to merge with a fearsome dragon. A voice whispered across the plain and echoed inside Argrath’s head, remaining after he woke up screaming. It is inevitable. The merge shall come and you shall DIE!

3:30 PM, 6 Eleasis
It was several days later when Argrath began to again hear things of the mysterious keys. He fingered the green key in his pocket nervous. If they ever found out… Two cloaked figures were conversing quietly in an alleyway. Argrath just caught a snatch of the conversation and moved in to listen. The first figure was speaking.
“Our council member says they are very close to picking up on the next key. Soon there will be only two to go.”
“What keys do we have already? Lieutenant says we need to bring ours in.”
“We? I only have the one. The red key, look.” He held out a small key and the immediately covered it. It shone out brightly red, flames flickering inside the hollow shell of magic. “Soon the boss will be able to open the chamber and gain the power needed.”
“All this to kill one stupid humanoid? We should send out the assassins and get rid of it ourselves.” Argrath suddenly decided. These men were evil. He began to draw his blade and one of the figures stiffened.
“I hear someone! Kill it quick! We’ll have nobody knowing of the council’s treachery!” The two bounced out of the alleyway and attacked.
Argrath drew the rest of his blade quickly. It flashed red, not as dark as before. Lunging at them, he took a swing with two hands. The blade brightened as it contacted flesh. The hood tore and green blood spurted. Green?
“That’s right, green. You didn’t think you were dealing with a simple human, did you?” One of the creatures rasped. The hood flew back and revealed a blood-soaked face of a lizardfolk. It jumped at Argrath, teeth reaching for his neck. The other circled in and began to lacerate his backside. Screaming in pain, Argrath swung his blade at the neck again. More blood spurted out and sprayed in his eye. Temporarily blinded, he flailed out with his sword, cutting the other lizard in the mouth.
The creature foamed, green blood welling out over Argrath’s clothing. The sounds of struggle had not been idle. A guard came rushing in, bow drawn. An arrow let loose and speared the foaming lizardfolk in the arm. It swirled round; cloak flying off as it drew a two-handed sword. The monstrosity leaped forward and completely gutted the guard. While the guard was still falling to the ground dead, the lizard swished around with the sword in its hands. Argrath ducked and the sword took the head off the other lizard and clunked into the wood of the neighboring house. While the lizard struggled to tug the sword out of the wood, Argrath took the opportunity to wipe the blood out of his eyes and begin to cast a spell. A fiery arrow leaped from Argrath’s hands and caught the lizard in the stomach.
Abandoning the sword, the reptile lost all control as it tore towards Argrath’s head. He stepped to the side and held his blade out to trip the creature. It fell headlong into the ground and Argrath stood over it and plunged the blade right through its heart.
He stood there a while, panting and revisiting the battle. Every detail flashed through his mind; the way the blood gushed and fountained, the flaming arrow striking the lizard, the guard getting gutted, but mostly, the way his blade came down in a coup de gras. He stumbled home, thinking that he would have to start wearing his elven chain now. He got a block forward and then realized the fire key was still on the body of the lizardfolk. He returned to find the same Halfling that had been in his house before looting the bodies of the monsters. He looked up, the key in his hand, and met the eyes of Argrath.
Turning and running, the Halfling stumbled as fast as he could away. Argrath was once again too tired to give chase. The Halfling looked back and smiled grimly, looking at his new fortune. As chance would have it, one of the many anti-magic clouds Raven’s Bluff was famous for happened by. The key disintegrated in his hands and went up in a torrent of fire. The blaze left behind by this misfortune lasted several days and took all the members of the Griffin-Riders to put out.
Far away, in the elemental realm of fire, a dusty old door in a forgotten Azer’s home stirred. The keyhole emptied of dust and the lock turned. Unbeknownst to any living, dead, or undead creature, the first portal to the elemental chamber had opened.

11:30 PM, 7 Eleasis
The next night passed uneventfully for Argrath, but Merindy was up all night in the city library, poring over books.
She had been to the library several times over the past few days, each one’s search turning up fruitless. But this time she had found it. Lifting the heavy tome from the shelves in the basement, she plunked it down on a table. A Spectre drifted by on its perpetual search for the meaning of its existence. Creaking the cover open, she blew the inch thick layer of dust away and stared at the title. HISTORY of the LOST REALMS in MYTHOLOGY. The table of contents was still visible, so she opened the book to the page she desired. There, at the head of the page were the words she had been searching for so desperately. THE ELEMENTAL CHAMBER.
There was a lot of text in there about stuff she already knew. The person to master the elements would control the world, infinite power, yada yada yada. Then she reached the section about the keys. They were all listed; Brown: Earth, Green: Plant, Black: Soil, Red: Fire, Pink: Love, Orange: Hate, Blue: Sky, White: Air, Yellow: Sun, Aqua: Water, Grey: Ice, Purple: Soul, and Rainbow: Change.
Argrath already had the green key, from the tales the fire key had been destroyed, the council had all but three keys (no longer including the red), and two were unaccounted for. She could not know that at that moment, one of those two WAS accounted for.
Deep beneath the earth in the rat chamber, things had changed. All the rats were dead due to a plague. The windy mass didn’t care; it had found other servants. A score of Umber Hulks were lined up and sleeping against the wall in the new chamber. It was a gigantic cavern that had been discovered during excavations. Several Drow were in a corner playing with a deck of many things. A beholder was now facing the throne where the wind rested.
“I have it master. The purple key of the soul is now at thy disposal.” At these words the wind picked up speed a stormed around the room. Chaos was everywhere as the Umber Hulks woke up and began to rampage. The glares of several caught others and those in turn glared at the Drow. Soon confusion reigned, the Drow using the deck to conjure a djinni. At a command word, the Beholder halted everything with its anti-magic cone. Creatures settled down and the djinni was banished.
The wind mass gradually settled down to the throne and the Beholder presented it with the key. The wind shifted and slowly began to take shape as an androgynous humanoid formed.
“Very good, my servant,” it hissed, “you may have your reward.” The Beholder drifted off to dine on its favorite meal: Mind Flayer. “Things are now going exactly according to plan.”

7:30 AM, 8 Eleasis
It was morning now on the surface. Merindy was now having breakfast with Argrath and showing him the book she had ‘liberated.’ Argrath had been amazed at the incredible research she had done for what to him seemed such an obscure topic. She had done additional research and found out which council member held the white key. The key of Air.
“If we set off for Gendroth’s tower now, we can make it by noontide and be back for supper.” Merindy was presenting to him her argument to get involved. Argrath tended to want to stick to true neutrality and leave this matter to those concerned about it. It took a while, but he was soon semi-convinced that it was the right thing to do. After all, as Merindy had put it, the power spoken about was not a thing to be taken lightly, certainly not to be given to all one person, as was most certainly going to happen with the council.
A little later, they were out on the street and heading towards the district that Gendroth lived in. They were passing the headquarters for the Griffin Riders when they first heard of the new conspiracy just to have come out.
“They say he murdered a watch member. Gutted him cleanly.” One of the peasants in a circle was saying.
“Aye, and he stole a good bit of valuable elven chain. Wouldn’t mess with one that could pull that off under the nose of such an owner.”
“Reward for him too. 300 gold pieces for the one that brings him in alive. What was ‘is name again? ‘Twas so bizarre its completely left me.”
“Argrath. Aye, that’s his name. Loike te get me ‘ands on ‘is carcass.”
“In the Nine Hells, NO! The rewards only for catching him alive. Bring him in dead and you’ll join him in the other plane.” Argrath slowly backed away from these people. If they found out it was him… Thank the gods they haven’t posted my portrait up.
One of the peasants spun around to face him.
“Aye mates! I just heard him! Git ‘im an’ we’ll split the reward!”
“More likely he’ll split our skulls,” one of the others muttered. But, nevertheless, the mob charged him. He and Merindy turned tail and ran. There was no need to be slaughtering innocent peasants! Yet something called at him… He slowly turned to face them against his will. Shakily drawing his sword, he faced them.
One of the mob stopped and began a prayer to his god. The others charged in heedlessly of the weapon in Argrath’s hand. He felt himself surrendering to his inner desires and charged in, elven chain clinking against his chest. He barely had time to skewer a peasant before a bolt of lightning rocketed down from the sky at him. As the shocks convulsed through his body, he barely noticed that his sword hadn’t changed color during the attack. In fact, it seemed to be functioning as just a standard longsword.
Merindy paused up ahead. She looked back and saw to her horror Argrath slaughtering the peasants like cows in the jaws of the Tarrasque. She rushed back and pulled him out of the fray, heading for the nearest exit she could find. The open sewer grate seemed good enough for a quick escape. She began to force Argrath down the rungs. He struggled violently, trying to return to the fight. But she thumped him on the head and he tumbled down the shaft. She began her own descent as some foolish peasant thumped her own head with a quarterstaff that seemed to have been handy. She herself fell down the rough chasm unconscious. A good thing too, what with the jagged edges she caught on and the dead Moon Rats she passed on the way down.
It was a long time before either of them woke up, but Merindy was the first. She opened her eyes and saw that she had landed on the body of Argrath, lips pressed against his own. She lifted herself up and rubbed the taste out of her mouth. She certainly didn’t feel like making out with an unconscious man. Looking around, she saw flows of sewage swilling down the large pipe-way. Rat bones littered the area and out of the corner of her eye she swore she saw a giant spider. Looking up, she saw a small circle of light, way to far to reach from her current position.
She would have to find another way out. Beside her, Argrath stirred but did not get up. He opened his eyes and turned his head about. To him, it seemed he was back in his dream world and was none too eager to explore. Then he saw Merindy and he knew he was not in a dream. Not in a nightmare, anyway.
It took some time, but the two eventually made their way through the sewers, occasionally fending off a spider or two. They came to an exit that could be accessed and started to go up. A noise behind them caused them to stop. An Ettercap was crouched behind them.
Jumping down, Merindy boldly stared down at the evil creature. She knew from personal experience that Ettercaps could be backed down if you did not show any fear. She banged the wall behind her to try and frighten it away, but the wall gave way and she fell backwards into the gap. The metal ladder fell downwards as well and Argrath jumped off, lurching at the Ettercap, sword first. He flew through the air and tripped a miniscule spider silk thread that connected to the trap the Ettercap had just quietly set up. Webs erupted from the walls and completely entangled him. It would have done him no good at the moment to know that his father had been through a very similar incident on his travels.
The Ettercap jumped as if something had startled it. It lost its composure and scuttled off, leaving Argrath to the dire spiders now crawling in. Merindy stood up and shook the brick dust off her and saw the predicament her friend was in. She rushed forward, dodging the web now being slung at her. It was hardly any work to dispatch the spiders to whatever fate awaited them. She began to slice away the webbing covering Argrath as a tiny spider leapt off the web and bit his arm. It quickly scuttled away and Merindy returned to work.
It had been a long day for the two, so they did not continue towards Gendroth’s tower for now. They rented a room at a nearby Inn for the rest of the day and night. Argrath was soon sitting in the room polishing his blade and reminiscing about the fights they had had that day. Merindy was done in the bar, looking for a few purses to cut. She soon returned to the room after being caught by the innkeeper.
“I was going to return it. I was just practicing” didn’t seem to convince to fat old man that she was innocent. She lay down on the bed for a while, knees bent and hands behind her head. Argrath snuck a glance at her figure and returned to using his whetstone.
“You know, you could just ask,” Merindy said out loud. Yeah. Right. You really think that don’t you. “No need to be rude. I wouldn’t mind.”
“How – did you read my thoughts?” He asked, puzzled.
“Read your thoughts? You said it out loud, silly!” Now Argrath was even more confused.
“No, I thought it in my head. This IS strange. It’s been several times now that people have seemed to read my thoughts.” Merindy paused to consider, sucking on a strand of her hair.
“Maybe you’re psychic. Or… I’ve got it! You’re telepathic! Any family history of the trait?” Argrath shook is head no and then thought for a minute. Hey, wait! I’m a child of Bhaal! Would that give it to me? “You’re a Bhaalspawn? That would solve a lot of mysteries!”
“Like what?”
“Like why you look at me like you just did and not kiss me when I offer it.”
“Oh.” Argrath sat quietly for a minute and Merindy came over to sit beside him. She looked at him and after an instant they shared a kiss. Argrath’s first, incidentally.
“Well, you should do this more often. Got something to be proud of there, you do.” Merindy returned to the bed. She winked. “See ya tomorrow, big guy.” She turned over and went to sleep.
Argrath stayed up for another hour thinking about Merindy. Finally, he went to his own bed and turned in for the night. The last thing he saw before he slipped into slumber was a large full moon in the sky. Not one single Moon Rat was to be found in the city. Not one.

CHAPTER 2

8:30 AM, 8 Eleasis
The morning broke to reveal a dismal day. All that good weather couldn’t last. It was actually a good thing, the weather. It kept most people indoors that might have seen Merindy and Argrath creeping towards the tower of Gendroth. After a long haul through puddles and various wet spots, they reached the tower. Argrath stared up at the dark and windowless monolith, wondering how anybody would choose to live in such a dismal place.
Merindy unwound the grappling hook and rope she had been carrying. The wizard used no door, preferring to levitate to top and enter there. Merindy snickered to herself as she remembered the time Gendroth was levitating to the top when an anti-magic cloud drifted by, causing him to fall unceremoniously to the ground with a resounding THUMP! It soon got out that Gendroth had been visiting the city’s hospitals to get implants of fat in his buttocks, however strange a concept that might be. It was these sacs that had saved his life, no mistake. After the incident, the hospitals began an unsuccessful campaign to increase patients of this type with the life-saving theory as its core. That did NOT last long at all.
The grappling hook swung up and wrapped around one of the various pole-arms in circumference around the center tower. The two began the haul up, not using magic due to the knowledge of many magic-detection spells cast around the tower that would alert the wizard to the presence of any rivaled spell-casters.
It took longer than expected to climb the tower, due to a watch patrol coming close. Argrath covered the two with his dark cloak and dropped a smokestick to the ground, hoping it would seem like one of the wizard’s traps. It worked and the guards, coughing and cursing the wizard’s name, left. At long last, the walls were breached. At the top they halted for a moment to catch their breath when with a flash, the wizard was there.
“So, you did decide to pay me a visit. My Oracle said you would. And here you are, playing into my old, withered hands. Did you foolishly think you could beat me? Alas, the time for words has ended. Your carcass will fetch me a pretty penny at the wizarding convention next ten-day, Bhaalspawn. Good-bye.” With that, red and blue flames erupted around the wizard, creating an impenetrable shield.
The wizard began a chant, focusing on the two. Merindy tried to charge in, but was struck with burns and cold sores as she passed the flames. There was nothing the two could do! Or, at least, nothing Merindy could do. Argrath straightened up and began his own chant. It had become a contest of spells.
The enemy’s spell got off first. Aimed at Merindy originally, the Prismatic Spray caught her on the red, causing massive damage. Pained and helpless to retaliate, Merindy called on the only thing that would protect her from the merciless onslaught of this powerful mage. She rubbed a small amulet around her neck, invoking the protection spell imbued on it so many years ago. Slowly, a shell of protection crept around her. At that moment, Argrath’s spell went off. He had tried for the most powerful offensive spell he knew: Finger of Death. The green bolt sped towards the wizard, contacting and with an explosive whoosh, managed to barely damage him.
Cackling with glee, he focused on Argrath. He had a surprise in store for this impertinent intruder! Drawing a small white globe, he spoke the command word. Three Magic Missile spells sped towards Argrath, quickly exiting the spell sequencer they had previously inhabited. Fifteen bolts of pain tore into Argrath and he felt his mind slip once again. He lumbered towards the mage, heedless of any flames. The wizard’s eyes widened as Argrath drew his blade and tore off the meager rags covering the elven chain. Argrath came in, wildly swinging his blade. It cut into the feeble flesh of the wizard’s projected image. Argrath knew instantly something was wrong, but as the illusion collapsed he turned and saw the real mage. He charged in past the newly roaring blue and red flames toward the wizard’s throat.
“You – you can’t do that!” Those were the words of the mage as the blade slit the throat of the simulacrum cast only seconds before. Now Argrath was mad with rage. Enough of these tricks! He broadcast telepathically, face me like a true man and fight! “Very well. I SHALL face you in combat. Prepare to meet your worst nightmare!” Grabbing a potion from his belt and swigging it, Gendroth began to loose his wizardly features. The fogginess of old age shrank away, and his muscles rippled. Drawing a newly created blade, the Tenser transformed mage roared into battle, ripping at Argrath.
Fear began to seep through his lost mind and Argrath began to really wonder if he could win this fight. It was then that Merindy stepped in. Noticing that the flames surrounding the man were now exhausted, she drew her blade. Instead of using it as a normal weapon, she drew a secret slot out from the handle. Soon, she was hurling throwing stars at the back of the Tenser. Gendroth screamed in pain and turned round to face the girl. Unlike Argrath, he was in full command of his extraordinary abilities.
Argrath began to feel something come over him that had not occurred in quite a while. He felt the atoms of his body slowly slipping away, but then going faster and faster. His body’s molecules got swept up in the wind, his senses still intact he teleported to a place he had heard about only in legend.
Merindy was now left to fight the good fight. Gendroth ran at her, sword swinging. She grimaced and held her wakizashi tip first at the wizard. He swerved around it, avoiding the obvious ploy. It was then that she swung the sword around to catch the wizard in the ribs. Gendroth swirled out of the biting weapon, bringing his own down to clash with Merindy’s. They began to parry, Gendroth having power but little experience, Merindy having much expertise but unable to match the ferocious strength. CLANG! SLASH! CRASH! FWAAP! The two parried back and forth for a long time. Eventually, Gendroth began to feel the potion’s effects slipping away. He began to mutter an incantation to deliver him from this exceptionally equal match. That was where he made his mistake, as he gave most of his concentration to the spell his fighting skill started to slip up. He had one arcane word left to utter to remove him from the match when Merindy did a surprise jab right through the heart of her opponent. Gendroth died with the syllables still on his lips.

1:00 AM, 9 Eleasis
Argrath surveyed the carnage around him as his blood lust subsided. He had arrived in one of the nine hells of Baator. As soon as he had arrived, imps and devils descended on him in waves. Now, slain on their home plane, the spirits had nowhere to go. The semi-immortal souls of the damned dissipated, forever gone. Had he any sense left at the moment, Argrath would have packed in his pride over his work and fled. But now he was standing there, easy prey for the one that watched him now.
The Erinyes descended on him with glee. Argrath’s eyes widened as he saw the temptress fly down to him. He did not move a muscle as she ‘inspected’ him. She licked her lips at the thought of the succulent morsel she would have tonight if her plans went through. Argrath visibly gulped as he saw this happen. Just go away and leave me alone! He commanded the creature. It seemed unfazed. Look, I’ll… do something despicable if you will just leave me alone! Usually, at these kinds of words a devil would begin its negotiations for the soul of the person, but the creature again seemed clueless.
“CAN’T YOU HEAR ME? GO AWAY!” He screamed. The Erinyres jumped about five feet into the air and stayed there, hovering.
“El noxo a qen car de lon boulya?” It screeched. “You mortals think you are so much better than the rest of us! You’ve insulted me so much, I won’t perform my service for you,” she snorted primly.
“What, steal my soul? You must think me mad.”
“No, no. I would return you to your mortal plane. It is obvious you have no other way to return. I would do this for you only in return for the most simplest of services.”
“What kind of service?”
“Why death of course! I see it is bred in your bones, I – ” she took a moment to sniff. “I smell the blood of Bhaal within you! It is most probable now that I will not do as I claimed! Unless… Yes! Two services for my one. Just because of your abyss tainted blood!”
“Well, explain! One creature killed and what?” Argrath was annoyed at the prejudice against his blood even in the reeks of hell.
“You must find and kill for me my favorite meal for the death, and the other too shall be another death. I have a… nemesis. He must be slain. His name… Grasktu. Do not use the name lightly, he loves to come to the calls of mortals. Go now, I shall wait at yonder mountain for your return. If you succeed, I grant you passage back. If you fail, you will become my slave for a century and then you will feed me with your body.” With those words, she flew off towards a smoking volcano in the distance. Argrath looked in that direction with hatred. He certainly had his work cut out for him. The Erinyes had forgotten to tell him her favorite food.

10:00 PM, 8 Eleasis
Merindy was in a very big pickle now. After slaying Gendroth, she had quickly collected the white key and a letter she found on the body. She hadn’t dared to enter the wizard’s warded and trapped tower now. The letter, however, had interesting things to say. It read, amongst much rambling of affairs of no interest to her, the next council member to have a key. The others, apparently, were being held in a safety deposit under heavy guard at the council building. The woman holding the pink key of love was apparently an ordinary noble residing currently at the Embassy of Impiltur.
She had traveled back to the Foreign District and crept into the Embassy to discover the labyrinth in with the lady was located. Eventually, she had come to the center where a nice inn room had been set up. Lady Dyaslin was sleeping and it was not hard for Merindy to simply take the key off her bedside. Though as she turned around, she realized she had not anticipated the return of the one the Lady had been using the charms of the key on.
“Get back here, you thief!” The burly man called out. Merindy decided to do the unexpected and turned round to face the man as told. Their eyes met and Merindy realized the infinite trouble she was in. The man was Denthor, the thief from the streets. “You little witch! I knew I recognized you!”
Denthor charged at her, although unarmed. Merindy decided to make a fast exit and sped around the nearest bend. Denthor, following her, lumbered right into one of the labyrinth’s traps that Merindy herself had just barely avoided. A poisoned dart twanged out of a wall crevice and into Denthor’s neck. He pulled it out roughly and charged Merindy. She turned tail and ran, heedless of the direction she was taking. Many turns and several traps later, she had escaped Denthor but was now thoroughly lost.
Back with Denthor, things were much the same. He had taken opposite paths than Merindy by accident and was now lost as well. He stopped to rest against the wall, him palm resting on a slightly loose brick. It pushed in and a cage collapsed down on him. Too tired to care, he succumbed to the dart and fell into slumber. Luckily for him, the dart that hit him was nothing more than a sleeping dart.

5:00 AM, 9 Eleasis
Argrath was having a little trouble back in the hells. Negotiations were failing with a little Imp he had caught for information. It was refusing to divulge the secret as to what the Erinyes’ favorite meal was.
“Lemmego yiw big monstrosity! I dunno nuthin about no foods around here!” Argrath twisted its tail around its neck and tugged. The sharp spines dug into the Imp and it squealed. “Awright, awright! Jest gimme a decade te think.” Argrath twisted it a bit more. “Ah! Ah! Heys, I doesn’t know. I does knows an Imp whose mights! I gets Cespenar, yes? Hes beens stayings here since his abyssal realm collapsed. Hes knows lots! I get!” Struggling free, the Imp skipped off. Soon he was back with another, even more annoying Imp. “Youse owes me. I doesn’t usually keeps word! I gos befores you twists my tail again.” He then flew off for good.”
“So, whats can Ise does for the sons of great Bhaal? Youse needs equipment? Youse needs little crunchy things that are oh-so-good for the teeths?” Argrath decided to wait on the information. The Imp could be of other use. He conceded the Imp to look through the stuff that he was carrying.
“Hmms, whats you gots here? No, is only stinky rags. Cespenar’s bath towel better condition than those. Ahh! We has Equal sword! Can’ts does nothin with than no more. Just one big toothpick. Hmm… Elves’ chain! Wes can does something with that! Goes bippity-boppity-boo and… presto! We gots double tubble soil and rubble, stinky feet and all thats. Heres you goes! Nice’n shiny thieveses armors. Gots rid of liddle chains and turns ‘em to studs, put a liddle rothe hide in, and a few bits of stuff found in bottom of plane traveler’s shoe. Gots youse some nice Greenstone Leather you does. Gives protections from normal weapons and bitses of magic protections.” Argrath was flabbergasted. He didn’t know what to say. Except one thing.
“All… right. Do you know what the Erinyes’ favorite food is?”
“Hmm… I gives up. Whats is the Erinyes’ favorites food?”
“No you dolt! Not a joke, a question! The fiend who lives in the volcano!”
“Oh! Wells, I guesses it mights be the Carrion Crawlerses that lives in the cracks. Theys hard to kills they is. Wells, if you no be needing me no more, I guesses I can goes an have tea with Martha. She around here somewheres, best interior decorator in the nine hells she is.” Argrath was exceptionally pleased to see the annoying imp leave, although he knew his telepathic communication was gone; he had been hurling thought insults at the imp throughout the entire time. But now he knew what he had to do. Carrion Crawler? Those things were one of the easiest things in the realms to kill. What trouble could there be?

5:00 AM, 9 Eleasis
Merindy was having a lot of trouble finding the way out of the maze. She was now at the point where madness was beginning to set in. She had to find a way out of this place! This small, confined, tight, underground place… Shaking off her claustrophobia, she looked around her. She saw her footprint in the mud and realized she had been this way already. Mud? That implied water, and that implied a way out.
A small stream of water trickled out of the wall. It wasn’t much, but it was her best lead. She took out her set of thieves tools and began to work away at the brick wall. The brick came in and water began to come out in a stream. Even though she questioned the wisdom of her idea, she continued on to excavate another brick. Suddenly, the wall burst open and a torrent of water rushed in. It knocked her against the wall and began to flood throughout the maze. After a while of pummeling water in the face, it began to level off. There was just enough of a gap at the top of the tunnel to gasp in a few breaths of precious air.
Merindy began to swim out of the hole she had created into blackness. It was pitch-black in this water until a strange fish swam up. It had a weird light attached to a pole sticking out of its head. Certainly nothing like that had ever been seen before! As Merindy swam out deeper, she began to feel immense pressure, as if the waters of the world were on top of her. She could barely swim now. The Lightfish, as she decided to call it, stayed beside her, as if waiting for the right moment to attack. There was a disturbance in the water in front of her and the Lightfish swam away. She was beginning to feel lightheaded from lack of air. Red and yellow flashes appeared in front of her eyes, the pressure really began to get to her. Then, everything went dark.

2:30 AM, 10 Eleasis
Merindy awoke in an extremely hot chamber. It was still pitch black but she could now breath. She climbed to her feet and began to feel around blindly. A curved wall met her hand and she slumped down on it. The floor began to shift beneath her, moving her in an unknown direction. A faint thumping sound met her ears and she realized the wall she was against was very moist. The same as the air.
She screamed at the top of her lungs as she realized where she was. She began thumping her hands against the throat of the beast in desperation as she was pulled deeper towards the throat. A blast of fell wind blew against her, knocking her down. The monster had belched! Another scream echoed through the damp air and reached the limited hearing organs of the monster.
The leviathan was unaware that it had swallowed something. It had just opened up to take a sip of water as far as it knew. Then the scream sounded. The colossal creature cringed as another scream went off. That was it, it decided. No more deep-sea dives. It was time to go back to the surface and stay there where it could happily terrorize some huge slave galley headed for Maztica. It rose quickly when it decided it needed another breath of air for its next century of life.
Breaking the surface, it expelled a giant spout of water out of its blowhole and took a giant breath in through its mouth and it's now-empty blowhole. It once again dived down to about 500 meters depth; a happy medium for the simple creature. Beyond its notice, Merindy was hurtling through the air out of the blowhole. She landed splat hard on the water and blood began to leak out of her nose. She knew that was a bad thing, Megalodons loved to come to the scent of blood and feed on the injured victims. An island was in sight some distance away, so she swam for it. Later she would realize that she had no clothes on: the belch of the Leviathan had blown them off.
A Megalodon was indeed nearby and even swam upwards to the swimming human, mouth wide open. But it decided it wasn’t hungry, and besides. Something about this scene bothered it. Merindy eventually reached the shore of the island and went about searching for something to cover herself in. Leaves carefully constructed would do.
Looking about on the island, she could see no signs of any life other than vegetation. She would just have to make the best of it.

4:00 AM, 10 Eleasis
Argrath was having his own troubles. He had found the Carrion Crawlers, but somebody had neglected to tell him that they were fiendish. Stood to reason in the realm of Baator, but still someone could have warned him. Argrath was standing in a crevice in the ground; keeping his sword in front and a wall to his back. He was cornered by three fiendish Carrion Crawlers intent on his blood. No normal crawler would attack a fully living creature like himself, but scarcity of cadavers had forced otherwise.
One of the crawlers, either more hungry or adventurous than the others, came in closer, red drool dripping. A spot got on his leg and Argrath felt it go numb. Waving the Equalizer, he sliced the head off of it and the others began to cannibalize. Obviously drawn by the smell of death, two other crawlers attacked Argrath. He jumped out of the crevice to level land, black hair flying in the breeze. He would have to cut it if – when he got back to the material realm.
He landed on his numb leg and slipped to the ground. His head was now in easy reach for the mandibles of the crawler. He knew he had not a hope on the face of Faerun that he would survive, but he still fought valiantly. His sword managed to cut a few legs off of one, but the other came in fast, paralyzing drool coating his torso. He tried to will on the immortal fury of his dead grandfather, but it would not come. He knew he was doomed; a creature killed here had no other place to go.
He opened his eyes and saw the crawlers lying dead. Had he seriously defeated them? Turning his head around he saw a man, wiping the red guts off of his warhammer.
“Greetings. I had begun to fear you would never wake up. I am glad to see you well, master carrion slayer,” the man talked in such a heavy accent that Argrath could hardly understand him. “I helped to the minimum I could, eager to see your skills for myself. I am sorry to say it almost cost your life. I am Harador Tarmoron, Priest of Tyr on the planes. And you are?”
“Argrath. Nothing other.” Argrath was unwilling to divulge his full nature until he knew more of the man.
“It would please me to accompany you while you are on this plane. If I may comment, you have a certain knack for attracting the vile scum of this world that I have sworn to slay. Of course you would have me! Nobody would not!” Harador would not accept any argument, he was going to stay with Argrath through thick and thin. Resigning himself to his apparent fate of being continually rescued, he agreed. Would he ever finish his own battles ever again?
The two collected several of the corpses of the crawlers. Harador was curious as to what they were for, but Argrath would not divulge the secret that might separate the two, much as Argrath outwardly protested the alliance. Together they set off towards the volcano. A long walk and several devil-slayings later, they reached the base of the cinder cone. They deposited the bodies there and left. This time Argrath told Harador what they were about to do.
“I am laying a trap for a devil. We should secure the area and set up the landscape to our advantage. Then I will call the creature.” Harador agreed, and began casting spells in preparation such as protection from evil and resist fear, among others. Eventually the time came for the summoning. Argrath summoned up all his willpower to utter the name of the dreaded creature. He hoped that it would be some minor fiend. “Grasktu!” He called out.
A moment happened by and then the winds began to howl. Dust blew in the faces of the two and when they cleared a devil stood there. Fully 12 feet tall, with clawed hands and feet, powerful mandibles, and a long, thick tail covered in spikes, the insectoid Gelugon Grasktu had come. Argrath straightened up his armor and choked up on his sword while Harador swung his hammer from hand to hand in anticipation. Although the hammer was glowing bright white, it was hard to tell whether it was the owner or the weapon that was the most eager. Both of them knew they were in for the fight of their lives.
Grinning a skeletal smile, it raised its claws together and blasted out a huge cone of cold. This unexpected blast left the two defenders shivering, but Argrath soon snapped out of it and rushed in with his now neon green blade. It arced into the scales of the creature and dug deeply. How the Gelugon howled! Never had it seen a blade with such an enchantment! Obviously one that changed with alignment! Determined to preserve it’s own life, it created a magic circle from good around itself. That ought to stop the goodly blade! Unfortunately for Grasktu, the Equalizer was not good but neutral, the same alignment as the devil-hating hammer that now swung at its back.
No! It could not be! Both these warriors were effective against it! Well, a few weapon hits wouldn’t do much damage to the second most powerful species of devil! The Gelugon had one trick up its sleeve for later, only to be used if severely taxed. But for now, he would stick with the cones of cold. Another blast ripped out from the claws, but this time to less effect. Argrath dodged out of the way and only caught the tail wind while Harador took the brunt of the force. Grasktu was beginning to get worried, these two seemed to be an equal match for him, but he didn’t want to use his trick yet.
He charged into melee, an equal option as staying back and firing off cold cones. He whipped his tail about, spikes crashing into Argrath. Cold spread throughout his body, but just as quickly warmth came back. Argrath felt himself slipping again, deeper than before. His skin began to harden and blacken. Claws sprung out of his hands as he dropped his sword and went for the throat. It didn’t take the angry yellow flashing in the monster’s eyes to warn Harador of the danger to his own life. Fear finally overtook him and he ran for his life.
The contest now remained as devil versus demon, a battle many planar scholars died to witness.
“Die Tanar’ri!” The Gelugon screeched as he began to recognize the form Argrath was quickly taking on. What he didn’t know was that this was a lesser avatar of Bhaal, hated nemesis of the nine hells. All it knew was that the human was even more quickly now assuming the form of a Tanar’ri, opponent in the eternal Blood War. The two grappled each desperately tearing the other to pieces. Grasktu knew he had no other option now. He focused his will into a signal, a signal that other Baatezu knew and recognized. Fifteen lemures and three osyluths came to the call. Argrath was now outnumbered, outmatched, and overpowered. Yet, he still drove his claws home.
Argrath was now undistinguishable from other living things. The devils were grappling him and tearing into his skin, covering him with lawful evil monsters. Argrath flung out his arms, flinging the creatures to the ground. He began to transform faster now, assuming a form that the avatar of Bhaal could never have done. The hulking menace he now resembled was far beyond the limits of even an immortal incarnation. His wounds healed faster than the attacks could come, his muscles rippled with unbelievable strength. The power flowing through his veins was surely more than ever the dead god himself had possessed.
The battle was soon over. The Argrath monster tore off the head of Grasku and flung it into the distance. It flew several miles before creating a crater on impact with the side of the volcano the Erinyes was now resting in.
She flew out angrily, squawking like a harpy. Then she saw the head of which she most desired dead and the carcasses of her most favorite of delicacies. She was pleased with the human and flew off to find him; she would honor her word.
Argrath stood amongst the corpses of a thousand. After the death of the major devil, hundreds of creatures came to attack the one that might control the newly released power. All attempts were in vain as the huge monster crashed about seeking more victims. Then the Erinyes flew up.
“Well, you certainly have improved the landscape. Those bones will give a bit of color to this boring world. As to our agreement, you may have your escape. I have captured a creature called a Glimmerskin. It can be found in a cell in my mountain. It will teleport you home, itself leaving in the process. Its key is here.” She threw the key at the monster and it clunked it on the head. Argrath looked up and saw the hateful creature. With one claw, he reached out and squished the life out of the disgusting devil.

6:00 AM, 10 Eleasis
Far away, in another plain, two large red eyes watched the scene in a scrying mirror with great relish. Flames flared around the creature as it decided to have a meal while it waited for the Bhaalspawn to come closer. It would wait.

7:00 AM, 10 Eleasis
Argrath’s fury gradually subsided. His form began to revert back to his human state, as did his mind. What on earth is a Glimmerskin? He remembered the instructions given to him by the now snuffed Erinyes. He held the key in his hands now. It seemed to be a plain ordinary copper key. Not one of the ones he was looking for.
“You made a deal with a devil?” Harador had returned. “It this behavior continues, I’ll have no reason to stay with you.” With that haughty remark, Harador fell in behind Argrath as he made his way to the mountain of the Erinyes.
From a door in the base of the volcano, they climbed up several long, winding staircases. Minor midges and lemures tried to stop them, but it did not take a minute’s work to slay each of these pathetic creatures standing in their path. Eventually, they came to the volcano’s top. A large ledge ran around a gigantic pit filled with seething magma. Many doors leading to rooms had been carved out around the edges. It was in one of these that they found the Glimmerskin.
It appeared to be a dried out shell of light. Since it was obviously incorporeal, Argrath assumed that there must be some magic holding the thing in place or it would have already left through the walls. Harador knew something about these creatures, but said nothing. They were from the positive energy plane, travelling to others in search of worthy combat. But to his knowledge, the died if they stayed too long on a particular plane, and this one had obviously been here for a long time.
The creature looked up and spoke.
“If you are here to torment me, I suggest you get it over with. I shall not last much longer.” The Glimmerskin spoke in a hollow, ringing voice that sounded both male and female at the same time.
“No, we are not here to cause suffering. We are here to strike a bargain. We set you free, and you return us to the material realm.” The light brightened.
“You would do this for me? Oh, how I have longed for a piece of fair combat! That devil was no sport, keeping me caged instead initiating a one-on-one fight. I suppose I cannot refuse your offer, although I would like to sweeten it for myself. How would you feel about going into single combat with me once we return to your world? Of course, I would have to find a host first… but that could be arranged.”
“Ah. I will think about it. Lets just go first and talk later.” With that, Argrath drew the copper key and inserted it into the hole at the side of the doorway. He felt, rather than saw, bars of magic dissipate into thin air and felt the Glimmerskin’s exuberance explode out of its meager hold. The thing floated out as the doorway collapsed inwards and then expanded with a myriad of swirling colors. The Glimmerskin turned to face it.
“Ah, so that was where she hid it.” Puzzled looks on the faces of Argrath and Harador prompted her to continue. “She and I were shadow members of a council back on the material plane. Shadow meaning that we controlled our material representatives from afar, without having to physically be there. Each of us had a key to guard that would open a portal to some new plane or another. Huh, there’s no plane in existence that I can’t shift to. Anyway, this was obviously where she hid her portal.” Argrath then realized that indeed, the key was the one he had been looking for. He turned and rubbed the end of the key. Flecks of copper fell off of it and dark orange sifted through. He felt an emotion come over him so powerfully, it tugged at his soul causing his breath to shorten and his heart to quicken. His fists clenched and turned dark as he began to give in to the roiling hatred coming over him. Quickly, the Glimmerskin covered the key with its light-hand. The emotion calmed and Argrath regained his senses. “That was the orange key of hatred.
“This is the Aqua key of Water,” it said, holding it out for view. The key seemed to be a hollow shell, just as the fire key, but inside it sloshed with water. Argrath put his eye right up to it and saw, to his amazement, many tiny scenes taking place. Typhoons overwhelmed watery islands and hurricanes ripped up water trees and threw them against the wall where the dribbled downwards to enter a whirlpool. “I have now learned that the council is completely corrupt. It does me good to see a change of hands in the keys, it may even inspire some combat for me.” Argrath pocketed the key along with the green and the orange.
“Now, to our agreement. We must return to the material plane.” Tentacles of light snaked out from the Glimmerskin to touch Harador and Argrath. With a small puff of light, they returned home.
The pair of red eyes returned from the meal to the scrying mirror. It left out a primordial scream of rage as it realized that its prey was no longer on the same plane. It would have to wait after all.

9:30 AM, 11 Eleasis
Merindy was in disarray. After her arrival on the island, things had gone fairly smoothly. She had come to a native village and managed to get some proper clothes, had something to eat, and had discovered the truth behind the words of the now-dead lizardfolk back in the bluff. A council member WAS close to picking up the next key. The council member had been, at that moment, trading for the key from some local pirates. She had crept into the room where the member was staying and stolen the key. However, the council member and the pirate lord bust in on her after finishing their negotiations. A fight had ensued and it ended up with the yellow key bursting out with the heat of the sun, the member dead, and Merindy enslaved on a galley.
“Move yer back, ye lazy scum! Yew ain’t fit te be a concubine after whut yew did!” The slave-master lashed his whip against her bare back. Again and again Merindy pulled the heavy oar and received a whiplash. This continued for some time until and old friend showed up.
“Well, bust me barnacles. If ain’t the liddle gal of my pal Argrath. What be ye doing on a leaky tub like this?” Saemon Haevarian had come down below decks after chatting up with his old friend the pirate lord.
“Shaddap Esamon! Yer not to be making comments about this ship and yer not to be talking to the slaves!” The slave-master rounded on the rogue.
“What, this noble girl a slave! How much she worth to ye? I’ll buy her for a pretty penny.”
“Don’t just sit there, ROW!” He shouted at Merindy. “You’ll buy her? I don’t think skipper would be appreciating this load of trouble going off cheaply. Let’s go to my cabin and chat, shall we?” The two went off, bargaining prices.
Merindy sat back, the drummer oblivious to her slack. She began to contemplate her fate aboard this ship. Slave to a galley, or servant to Esamon. A hard choice and one she was glad she did not have to make.
Saemon came out a little later with fewer jingles in his pocket. “Alright lass, let’s go above deck and see where we’re bound. The two clambered up the rickety ladder to the surface and took a glimpse. Land was not too far in the distance, and by all that is lucky, they were nowhere near Maztica. The ship had rowed up the coast from the bluff to Ylarphon.
A racket from the poop drew their attention as the captain stumbled out of the cookhouse followed by a wickedly sharp butcher’s knife.
“Captain ye may be, skipper, but nobody gets rations ahead of schedule in MY kitchen!” The door slammed on the pirate lord’s shirttail.
The pirate seemed to be looking for something to take his anger out on, and Esamon and Merindy caught his eye.
“WHAT? Who let you out, slave? Esamon! You’ll not be stealing my slaves, not after that bit of cheating you did me in the cabin! You two have caused enough trouble! Overboard with you!” At his command, two pirates appeared and tossed the two into the sea. “And good riddance!”
“Man overboard!” A voice called from the crow’s nest.
“Idiot! Moron! I threw those two over! The crew you get nowadays…” He stumbled off to the cabin.
“Lassie! Help, I can’t swim!” Saemon struggled as Merindy, treading water, looked on in amusement. The oar that swung round and whacked her in the back of the head soon shook her out of it. So, for the second time in two days, Merindy found herself swimming for land, this time dragging a struggling idiot. But for all her amusement, she couldn’t help suspecting a smarter mind behind that lopsided face.

1:00 PM, 11 Eleasis
Deep in the chamber of the rats, things were mixed. News of the loss of the two keys held in Baator had reached the genderless creature, and it was not happy. Several Drow and Driders died to appease its wrath. But then its Beholder servant had come with good news.
One of the council members holding a key had been subverted. Black mist filtered into the chamber, emanating from the pitch-black key that the eye tyrant was levitating. Several of the Umber Hulks began to get excited at this apparition. It represented their basic element: Earth.
The figure placed its hand on the key. Lines enveloped the figure, twisting and curling their way up its body. Features began to form, nothing identifying the gender, but definite definitions of humanity. The figure smiled a most inhuman smile. It was one step further to complete solidity. It could then take up the quest for which it had come from the nether world to fulfill.
But for now, a different course of action was in order. The thing gestured its highest-ranking servants around it. A demon thundered out from the shadows, the beholder floated up, a Drow matron mother sauntered up from her table, thinking she would NEVER get to finish the card game, a gnome from the council approached, and a greater doppelganger phased out of an Umber Hulk.
“Inform all your minions. We have a bounty. Bring the half-elf holding the missing keys to me alive. If he dies, you all die. If the keys are damaged, you will all burn in the abyss, saving yourself Fraghar.” It nodded at the demon. “I want that creature!”

8:00 PM, 12 Eleasis
Once in Ylarphon, it was relatively simple to catch a caravan heading down towards Raven’s Bluff. Saemon stayed behind in a pub for a pint of Turmish beer. How he could stomach it, Merindy had no idea.
She reached Argrath’s district by nightfall the following day. She headed to his house to find him and tell him of her adventures. Right now, she didn’t care what the position was between the two; she needed a shoulder to collapse on.
Once inside the house, she lit a lamp and called out for Argrath. Nobody answered and it was then she began to remember the way he left her. She collapsed on Argrath’s couch and began to cry over the perceived disintegration.

1:30 AM, 11 Eleasis
In reality, Argrath had arrived the day before in a small stony corridor. The Glimmerskin was brighter now and excitedly whirling around. Harador was plopped unceremoniously on the hard cobblestones.
A gasp of pain escaped Argrath’s lips and he fell to the floor. He grasped his now putrid green side, writhing in pain. His screams echoed down the hall and certainly brought himself to the attention of his two companions.
“What is wrong with him?” The planar creature asked in its two-toned voice.
“Well, I’m no druid,” Harador said hurriedly, “but I’d say he’s poisoned.” Without another mundane word he set to work casting a spell. “There,” he said as Argrath slowed his twitching, “that’ll slow the poison. It’s not gone, but it will give us enough time to find an antidote.”
“Well, if I may, I’d like to harbor myself in your body. I’m getting quite faint.” It said this literally as well as figuratively. The light was beginning to dim. Harador nodded, and felt himself filled with energy and the desire for battle.
He quickly asserted control. What was important now was to help his friend. Harador quickly flipped a gold piece and it came up golden lion. He would head south down the hall.
The walk was long, and Harador considered turning round and heading back when Argrath, who was leaning, supported on Harador’s shoulder, pointed out silently the cleverly hidden door in the wall. He let the poisoned man down to the ground and quickly set about prying the door open.
It took even longer, but the door was eventually opened and Harador stepped inside. It was a storage chamber of some sort, and he saw several herbs a druidic friend had taught him were used in healing potions. He set to work sifting through the barrels for materials that would help cure poison. He was so distracted that he did not notice the commotion outside the door.
Argrath had been patiently waiting deliriously outside the door for Harador when he heard the footsteps. Pulling his special cloak over his body, he peered out of the folds. To his eyes, the creature striding jauntily down the hall was a Devourer, an eater of souls. In his demented bravery, he did not falter. He quietly began to cast a Death Spell, upon the completion of which he leapt forth and hurled it at the opponent.
“No! I’m not done –” were the final words of the unknown person. In a completely anti-climatic end to a possibly brutal battle, he collapsed to the ground in a heap, not unlike the heap that was previously Argrath.
“Well, I’ve found it friend. The herbs to -” Harador stopped when he saw the corpse on the ground. “You’ve had a bit of trouble I see. Well, I’ll see to it once I’ve fixed you up.” The herbs were then ground up and smeared onto the obvious site of the infection. Harador said a small prayer to Tyr and the wound began to heal. Argrath was soon better.
“Thank you, Harador. It seems it is good you stayed with me.”
“Indeed. Any idea on how the poison spread?”
“No… wait! A while back a spider bit me, but it should have poisoned me far before now.” The two fell silent to their thoughts when Argrath spoke up again. “Maybe, maybe because I was on another plane. The poison couldn’t function there properly. But that was a bit of time after I was bitten. Oh! I suppose some poisons are slow-acting.” Harador nodded his agreements throughout this.
“Yes, I’ve had a similar experience to that on my travels.” More footsteps were heard along the corridor. The two backed into the room, ready for an ambush. The footsteps stopped at the corpse.
“So there you are. We wondered when you’d come.” Argrath peered round the corner and saw a guard standing over the dead body. He sifted around in the robes and pulled out a small green vial. “So this is what you were going to use. Good thing you never got to his honor. Pity your killer isn’t around to be congratulated.” At this Argrath stepped slowly out of the room. The guard lifted his eyes up without moving his body. “I take it by your being here, you would be our hero.” Argrath nodded. “Be proud, you slew the famed assassin Adario Kelvaras. He was on his way to poison our council member.” He drew himself up to his full height, a rather impressive seven feet. “I suppose a reward is in order. I…” Harador stepped out from the door.
“Greetings, Sven.” Harador said with an air of superiority.
“You! My lord, we did not expect you to return from the planes so soon. Indeed, many did not expect you to return at all. Oh, this changes much. As a reward, you are hereby invited to the party at the House Erframond, a friend of your father, I believe Sir Harador.” Argrath did not quite know which registered as more shocking to himself. That he was invited to a party at one of the most prominent noble’s house in the city, or that his companion Harador was a lord.

4:00 AM, 12 Eleasis
After many apologies, thanks and farewells, the two exited the council hall they had been teleported to. They made their long way back towards Argrath’s home while Harador gave his family’s history. They reached his humble house in a daze when Merindy rushed out and gave Argrath a massive bear hug around his middle. All were content now, save the anxious Glimmerskin inside Harador, and were looking forward to reaping the rewards of their adventures.

CHAPTER 3

9:00 AM, 13 Eleasis
It took a long time to get everything sorted out, what with all the stories to tell and things to arrange. The invitation Argrath and Harador received was dated two nights hence, so they had some time to relax and plan things out. However, the day before the party changed everything. The three companions were about to learn why the keys were so important, and why they had to find them.

9:00 PM, 13 Eleasis
“How soon will we reach Raven’s Bluff?” Asked the lady elf Silidain to the caravan driver. They were returning from a long journey to Suldanesselar. Silidain had been there to celebrate her birthrights around the tree of life. It had been a spiritual awakening for the young, by elven years, council member.
“Oh, we’ll be there by nightfall tomorrow.” The driver glanced up at the stars overhead. He did a mental check to determine if they were on the right track. They hadn’t stopped for directions since Elmwood, so he was determined to be right. He tugged the reigns and the Bulette changed its course by a few degrees. The stars were bright tonight, not a cloud in the sky. Silidain settled back on the piles of silk, contented.
She had made the journey to Suldanesselar alone in tradition, but on the way back she had allowed herself the luxury of travelling with a merchant caravan. She fingered the key that hung around her neck. This was what the entire journey was about. Her family had been safeguarding the key for generations. Now, her mother had passed away and she had to return from the far off city of Ravens to the land of Amn. She breathed in the scents of the night, including the primal smell of the earth given off by her key.
Silidain had contacted the council on her retrieval of the key by a magical mirror. She didn’t know what they wanted with it, but she was glad to do her part. Suddenly, the wagon halted, the Bulette shoveling at the ground with its broad toes.
“Hold silent, girl. Bandits are upon us.” No sooner had he spoken these words than a flaming arrow tore out of the night like a bolt of fire from another world into the next caravan’s tent-like covering. Hoots and screeches could be heard all around as a wave of Kobolds rushed in for the kill. Silidain had no intention of letting these vile creatures destroying her transport. She drew a sword from her scabbard, its blade flashing cold under the light of the moon.
“Sila ras’limiel! For Rillifane!” She called her war cry as she leapt from the top of the wagon into the center of some startled Kobolds. Her blade swung in an arc as if of its own accord, slicing open all around her. With the immediate enemies gutted, she rushed for some more. It was only the words she heard next that kept her from slaying a hundred Kobolds that night.
“Nras! Ju jaluk, m’kastalama,” the Drow warrior shrieked as he fell upon Silidain. That, apparently, was the signal. Twenty more Drow roared out of hiding, each intent on the blood of their hated surface cousin. One paused to create a globe of darkness around Silidain. But, with a command word her Moonblade shone bright enough to dispel the evil spell. At the sight of the vile dark elves, her blood went into frenzy, pumping adrenaline charged particles to every inch of her body. She had no control now, and the Drow had no hope.
Carnage erupted as she called forth the strongest powers of her blade of good. Sunlight streamed forth, blinding her enemies and aiding her with the powers of her good god. Dark blood was everywhere, mingled with the wet dog smell that was their slaves. All hope was soon gone from the war party as they scrambled over each other, each desperate to save their own skins from the mad elf maiden. But their courage returned and manifested itself in the form of a Drow priestess.
D’alorako was the name of this favored of Lolth. A dark helm on her head and a tentacle whip in her hand, she was the most powerful of the band of renegade Drow that had abandoned Menzoberranzan decades ago. The blood drained from Silidain’s face, as did her bloodlust as she faced this insurmountable enemy. Her hand automatically gripped the key around her neck as she felt fear wash over her for the first time in two years. The beady eyes of her opponent quickly caught what she had done and held out her hand. Silidain did not hear the command word uttered by the Drow Matron Mother. All she knew was that her life’s work was flying off her neck into the hand of a hated black elf.
Silidain stumbled backwards as the Matron shrieked out with laughter. She stopped and narrowed her eyes as the brown key in her hand began to pulse. The tentacle rod in her hand lashed out at Silidain as if in attempt to make her stop it. A beam of light shot out of the key, hitting her right square between the breasts. The ground beneath her began to give way and she began to sink through the ground.
The Matron, realizing she was about to be cheated of her prey, screamed in fury and began lashing the ground where Silidain had only a moment before had melded with the ground. A small smile crossed the wild elf’s face as she remembered the words of her dead mother. It feels loyalty.
Silidain sank through the ground, deep, deeper than any elf had ever gone before. She soon sank into a cavern. Well, sort of. The cavern was more like an air pocket, that air pocket more like a casket, that casket more like – the mans wild-eyed head turned to face her. He exposed a toothless grin that snaked with centipedes. If Silidain could have shrieked underground, she would have. She realized the nature of the cavern she was in. Willing herself deeper into the ground, she drifted away from the man under the spell of Imprisonment, deeper than any dwarf had ever delved. She sank past the skull of creature that surely would only have existed at the beginning of Faerun. Losing all sense of control, she sank just past the edge of a wall on the edge of a Hive Mother’s lair. The ground began to get warm now. Reality gripped her with iron claws, as she understood the nature of the warmth.
Swimming for her life now, she desperately scrambled through the magically liquefied dirt. She began to pant, not something suggested to do while under the influence of such a spell. Some dirt began to enter her lungs, claustrophobia set in, and her movements became more and more frantic. Slowly, she began to feel the pressure of the earth on her body, a sign the spell was wearing off. The key had obviously not anticipated that she might have sunk so deep. A glowing red worm snuffled up to her, interested in what was causing all the funny vibrations in the ground. Desperately, she clung to the beast as it took off in a startled wriggle. Rock gave way easily to the lava-coated tusks of the Thoqqua. It bucked and gyrated, trying to throw off this unnatural pest. Sounds began to enter Silidain’s ear, sounds of pickaxes striking rock. Exclamations of wonder as some person uncovered more of the gold that the two were flailing in. Then they burst through the current wall.
The Thoqqua flew into the air of the dwarven tunnel, flinging Silidain from its backside. She landed with a thump on the ground as the Thoqqua continued its flying arc and sloshed into the ground a few meters away. Dwarves crowded around the elf, curious as to see what a member of one of their rival species was doing in their mines. She stood up, bumped her head on the ceiling, and bolted, pushing through the wall of dwarves surrounding her. She did not stop ‘till she got to the surface, not even to make an impudent gesture at a dwarf she passed that gave an approving whistle. Most certainly, that dwarf regretted it throughout all the teasing he received afterwards.

7:00 AM, 14 Eleasis
Deep in the cave of rats, the Matron Mother was receiving mixed reactions. The entity that so desired the keys was pleased at the results on the mission, but not as pleased with the failure to kill or capture the elven maiden. A demon servant was summoned to take the matron to a torture chamber while the thing grasped the key with obvious desire.
Brown mist snaked its way around the body, giving shape and form to the being. Soon, the key had completed its work and it was made obvious the gender of their master, considering the lack of clothes. She shook her vibrant orange hair backwards, making it cascade in a sheen of copper down her backside. A Drow servant came up to her, holding out some rudimentary clothes stolen from the surface. He eyed her assets as he handed over the clothing and received a gigantic whip-mark on his back from the now returned Matron. Carrying him off by his throat, the Drow lacerated him with two whips for each torture she had received herself.
The new woman smiled. Revenge would be sweet.

1:00 PM, 13 Eleasis
Back at the home of Argrath, the Glimmerskin, speaking from Harador’s mouth, had finished telling them of the efforts of the council to find all the keys and was now telling them of why.
“One day in council, we were surprised to have an audience. Nobody usually takes interest in the affairs of politics, but somebody was there. A man, with hair as red and wild as the nine hells and the personality of a hawk, came in the middle and demanded an audience. This is not how it is usually done, but the current topic was too boring to refuse him. He then placed us all under a geis that we would search out and collect for his servants all the keys for the elemental chamber. I believe you have many of the keys, while the council has only three remaining to give to those villains. The brown, the blue, and the gray.”
“But if you are under geis, how can you tell us these things?” Interrupted Merindy.
“My human counterpart was, but I controlled from afar, the same as that vile Erinyes. I was not under geis, he was. Now, the party we are going to will have many of the council members there. So, I would advise you use your time wisely there to find the keys. Now, unfortunately, I will leave you. I much desire combat, and with the current schedule I see none. I bid you farewell.” Harador began to glow and then faded, a wisp of blue smoke flowing from his nostrils and out of the window in search of a new host.
“So. What did I miss?”

7:00 PM, 15 Eleasis
Everybody was dressed splendidly for the party. Argrath was a little worried about the bounty on his head, but Harador assured him that since he was known as the savior of a council member all bounties would be forgotten. Harador himself was dressed up in a suit of yellow that mostly obscured the ceremonial chainmail vest underneath. Argrath felt silly in an outfit of shades of green that Merindy said complemented him. A barber had cut his hair during his free time and it now was a snappy, brisk cut that Merindy, again, had said she liked. At this stage Argrath was willing to do anything to impress the ravishing figure that now stood before him. She was decked out in shades of brown and blue, her hair flowing down her backside in a ponytail. Argrath smiled at the though of his peers seeing him with a girl like this.
Argrath had hired a carriage to take them to the House Erframond. They rode in silence, Argrath’s uncertainty at being out in the open now replaced with a knotted stomach at the thought of the party ahead. Eventually, they came to the many pillared home of the famed nobleman. The coachman held open the door for them as they stepped out. Merindy had a quick stomach flip as she recognized the home as one she had burglarized, in practice, a few weeks before. She could only hope they didn’t recognize her.
A doorman greeted them and announced them to the assembly as ‘Sir Harador and his companions,’ which suited Argrath’s need to be anonymous nicely. They mingled for a while, sampling the small delicacies carried around by serving Halflings. A large dinner followed in which Argrath got to listen to, gosh how exciting, long boring stories about the various noble’s personal lives. Somebody familiar caught his eye, but he didn’t seem to be there when Argrath tilted his head for a better look. The dinner soon finished with lavish deserts and the dancing started.
He didn’t feel like getting up there with all the snobbish couples, so he wandered around looking at the various paintings. Suddenly, Merindy grabbed his hand and whirled him out onto the dance floor, thoroughly enjoying the look of mixed embarrassment and joy on his face. The song soon ended and the bards began to strike up another tune, this time slower. Argrath could not believe that he, referred to back in Candlekeep as the womanless wonder, was dancing with this woman. The music ended after many long minutes. Argrath dashed to the seats to get a grip on the reality that was swimming before his eyes. Soon, Harador came up, accompanied by an elven lass.
“Ho there Argrath! I’d like you to meet a friend of mine. She’s a wonderful elven lady by the name of Silidain just returned from a terrible time on the way home from a celebration. Silidain, I am pleased to introduce to you Argrath.” Silidain smiled at him and then returned to adoringly clutching Harador. The two then sat down and called for some black wine. “Ah, my Silidain. She is a wondrous fighter, if not downright wild at some times. She’s a wild elf you see, and they have a – a sort of barbaric society. She herself though, was born in Suldanesselar.” Argrath jumped off the stool at the name.
“Oh yes? My father saved that place once you know.” This comment seemed to stir the silent Silidain into speech.
“Ah? The only person of your -” she paused for effect, “lineage would be that nasty human Abdel. Mother never did agree with Queen Ellesime’s decision to award the thanks of the Seldarine upon him. I suppose he got his comeuppance when he was killed.” Normally this sort of statement would bring him into a flying frenzy, but something struck him about what she said.
“KILLED! When did this happen? Why was I not informed about my father’s death?”
“Oh? I suppose people deemed you too inferior to share the news. It was all along the sword coast. All that rot about him being famous I suppose.” The rage inside Argrath towered as she went on obliviously. “Ah yes. He ran into a dragon I heard, and it consumed him. Something about a ritual or some sort. Not that I’m friendly towards Dragons, but I’d like to meet the beast that could to that to a legend and not worry.” Argrath barely managed to excuse himself to go to the privy, what with his hardly controlled anger. He stumbled off down the hall to a room that had several doors leading to chamber pots. He collapsed on the magical fountain used for cleaning oneself up after doing their business.
He used a small spell of his own invention to pour out all the rage and grief kept locked inside him. Red and blue fluid poured from his fingers down the pipe that led to the sewers. He felt himself collapsing inside and he gripped the porcelain so hard that a chuck tore off in his hands.
Behind him, a door swung open and its occupant stepped out. Argrath glanced upwards to the silvery sheet of glass used to look at your face with and saw behind him the second last person he expected to see. The first last was his father. The second last was Denthor. A flicking sound forced Argrath to turn around and face the switch-dagger that was now pointed at him.
“I’m glad we’ve met at long last. I was beginning to obsess over yours and your lady’s lives. Come Argrath, don’t make a sound. We’re going to take this where it will not be held against us – me.” Argrath walked out of the building with the dagger at his back. Due to the nature of the occasion, he had left the Equalizer at his home.

8:00 PM, 15 Eleasis
“I’m just going out for a breath of fresh air,” Silidain told Harador. Indeed, the air was now thick with the smoke of exotic weeds and the beer was getting broken out now. A few people with weak constitution were already drunk, the guards slowly advancing on them. Silidain walked out with an air of dignity and leaned on the rail outside the monstrous doors that were the entrance to the noble’s home. A strange sight met her eyes. The lowly half-elf she had so little respect for was being marched along and down the street by a man with a dagger at his back. What contempt she had for him before was doubled as she thought that if it were her in that position, she would have spun around and snapped her captor’s neck.
She slipped quietly down the steps, intent on seeing what would happen between the two. She privately hoped that the man would gut the half-elf and the entrails would spill all over the street. The clouds were gathering and started to rumble. Rain was of no concern to the barbarian elf. Soon there were puddles everywhere and she was soaked through. She shed the thin dress she had worn to the party and revealed the hardened leather armor beneath. Yes, she would enjoy this fight.

8:30 PM, 15 Eleasis
Merindy was having some fun of her own. She was a little worried about where Argrath had gone, but she knew he could take care of himself. She now amused herself snipping the strings to the purses hanging off of the swaying drunks in the ballroom. She approached her next victim and surreptitiously began to untie the strings. She had to pretend to be doing something else, so she listened in on a conversation nearby.
“The key is worth a lot, yes? How much will you give me for it?”
“You fool! You are under geis! You cannot refuse.”
“The geis said nothing of not receiving payment for it.”
“You are a fool. The sky key will be ours, and you will not impede this.”
“You kill me, and you’ll never find it. I’ve hidden it until I receive payment. I’m not a council member for nothing, you know. I can handle financial matters.” Merindy heard all this and began to take her hands away from the purse. She had to get away and find the key! This was obviously one of the agents of the enemy.
“Hey you! Get your hands off that moneybag!” A guard had noticed her and was quickly approaching. The man she was trying to pick spun around.
“Hic! I know youse! Youse busted in here one time before! Hic! Gets her guard!” The man was stone drunk, but yet could recognize a thief. Fear gripped her, this wasn’t a simple case of returning the money, apologizing, and leaving. She was marked as a criminal. She took off, if she was going to be labeled a thief, she was going to do it in style.
She ran towards a table that had lost a leg during the party and was being fixed. Using it as a lever, she jumped up and caught a chandelier. She swung back and forth until she got enough thrust to swing to the balcony overlooking the party area. A guard was on this level too, so she dove back onto the chandelier and swung to the balcony on the other side. A guard on the ground floor saw what she was doing and hurried towards the sweeping staircase that led to her level.
Down below, the crowd either oohed and awed at the display of acrobatics or started to freak out at the terrible misuse of the decorations. Merindy caught a heavy streamer that crawled its way up further along the inside of the domed room to the top alcove where the bards played. She swung herself along it upwards, praying to Mask that the streamer did not break. The guards, having no way to go after her, resorted to bows and arrows. One streaked and whistled its way up to sink itself into the shoddy masonry of the ceiling beside her. She doubled her speed as the chunk of plaster fell inwards onto the streamer. The sharp shock caused it to break and Merindy found herself flying through the air on the streamer to one of the small windows in the dome.
She flew outside into the now pouring rain and onto a skylight over a room. She crashed down amidst a cloud of glass shards onto the bed. The mattress folded and the pillow flew across the room to the wall. It slid down and something blue and shiny slipped out of the now torn goosefeather cushion. Blue light danced around casting intricate patterns on the walls, but Merindy was in no state to admire it. The sound of the council member and his compatriot was at the door. She bounded across the room, snatched the cushion up and leaped out the window – into the crowd of people looking for where she might have ended up, had she continued past the skylight. One particularly fat man broke her fall, so she jumped up and made her escape before the startled people could react.
She made her way down a familiar alley to a trash deposit. She stood there, panting and wondering whether she had any godly blood in her to have preformed the amazing stunt she could never have pulled off normally.

5:00 PM, 15 Eleasis
D’alorako was not in the favor of the Entity right now. She had been assigned to ‘confront’ the remaining council member holding a key. The council member, by the name of Jorlan, was terrified by her presence in his home. She grew disgusted at his lack of initiative in handing over he key and slew him. But the key was nowhere to be found. As much as D’alorako searched and tore his home apart, the key could not be found, and the knowledge of its whereabouts was lost with Jorlan’s death. A priest had even been summoned to speak with his dead spirit, but in death he was not under geis and refused that knowledge to be departed.
A lowly servant was sent to fetch her from the torture chambers. He followed orders quickly and left the room containing the distraught Matron and the Entity to have his free time. However, instead of the planned game of the Deck of Many Things that he was rapidly progressing through, he headed for the chambers of the Entity itself. She would be busy for a while punishing D’alorako. Holding forth the wardstone he had pilfered, he stepped forth into the room. It was furnished spartanly; most of the decorations being torture equipment of particular interest to her. Above the bed hung the ring of keys. Fradlan’s eyes shone with greed.
He didn’t want to take them, oh no. That would incur a penalty worse than death. It would incur the wrath of the Entity. He just needed to know what keys where in the Entity’s possession. That information alone could make him richer than any Drow male before him, presented to the right people. Brown, Black, and Purple. He was surprised, by the showings of power from the Entity; he expected more to be in possession. If all that power could be garnered from just three keys, what power would be bestowed with the full set?
Fradlan slunk off to do business. If anybody, willing buyers of this information would certainly be among the small group of surfacers that already had so many of the keys.

9:00 PM, 15 Eleasis
Argrath and Denthor faced each other across a circle drawn inside an arena. Rain was still dumping down and thunder and lighting were still forging a new staff. Adrenaline pumped through Argrath’s veins as he thought of the fight to come. Finally, he would finish his own fight and eliminate this self-proclaimed rival. Denthor stared solidly ahead. He allowed a sense of calm wash over him and prepare his senses. This man and his cronies were continually making a mockery of him by remaining to live. He had never left an enemy alive before and wasn’t about to now. Both prepared themselves for a fight to the death, no matter what the circumstance. CRASH! A lightning bolt hit a torch-post and electrified the water around the two. One sliver of energy, still seeking an appropriate place to sink into the ground hit a barrel of oil some idiot had left around.
The spark ignited the oil as in cascaded around the two, creating a ring of fire. It was almost too perfect to be true, but neither contested the thought. There was no escape. Denthor drew his small dagger. Apart from its enchantment to make it hit even the most invulnerable of demons, it was not magical. But it had served him well in all his fights. Argrath had no weapon, so he called upon the only advantage he had. Slowly, unbeknownst to Denthor, thick spines had started growing out of Argrath’s back. His skin started to grow dark and hard.
Both stood facing each other, waiting for the other to make a move. Blades grew out of Argrath’s arms, piercing the shirt. Denthor, in the bright light of the fire, mistook it for an advancement. He roared forward to try and pierce the heart of his victim and end the battle before it had begun. Of course, the battle had begun long before then. It had begun that night when Denthor decided to take some prey. On a balcony overhead, Silidain watched on in interest. This would be a battle worth seeing.
The dagger plunged forward and nicked the armor-like covering over Argrath’s chest at an angle. Argrath was startled, the transformation was not complete, and he had to bide more time for the taint to sink in. He took his nail-like claws for hands and grabbed the torso of his opponent. Wrestling him to the ground, the dagger could be no could at such a close range. Abandoning it on the ground, he took his own arms are flung Argrath underneath him. Bulbous eyes had begun to form on Argrath and Denthor wondered what he had got himself into this time. The small demon beneath him just begged to be slain. He took the side of justice for once and poured on the righteous fury to defeat the evil monster.
Argrath was unused to such a reversal of roles. It angered him; he was the good guy here. Ah, a voice in the back of his mind said, but the good guy doesn’t turn into an evil monster. He shut that voice out and poured in his strength. He took the memory of his dead father and pushed it down and brought forth the anger over his death. He took the deep rage he felt at being called a half-breed by that Silidain woman and pushed it forward. He took out his resentment for all the misgivings he had ever had as a child of Bhaal and made it leap out. Deep within the scattered particles of Bhaal’s true spirit, an interest arose. The particles could not come together, that was part of their banishment. But they infused their only remaining prodigy with the very essence of anger, in the hopes that he might eventually do something to resurrect the dead god. The particles of pure hatred flew to Argrath and expanded him.
His body ripped forth in waves of evil. He grew larger, stronger, faster, and more chaotic than even his previous incarnation of the Ravager. The monster was beyond all control, beyond all reason. The gigantic evil demon he had become only cared for one thing – murder. Denthor was terrified, but stood his ground. He had decided that this was a fight to the death, and he was going to kill the monstrosity before him. He leapt forth, snatching his dagger from the ground and bounding onto the back of this ultimate incarnation of murder. He drove his dagger in, again and again. The deep blue blade pierced the pitch-black shell time and time again. He was ripped and torn in many places, but still refused to give up. In a way, he would have been considered a hero if he had not been on the side of darkness to begin with.
Slowly but surely, the ironwood hard scales began to come away. Fury consumed the demon even more, if that were possible. Soon, dark mucus began to well up out of the wound. Denthor held his dagger high and plunged it deep into the wound on the back of Argrath’s head. It went further than intended, sinking deep into the head of the beast like a dagger of bone. The Argrath-monster screamed in agony and hatred. It reached of its eight arms past the normal range and snatched him from its back. Denthor was flung forward as the arm sprung back with bone-grinding snap. Two of its arms reached in front and caught Denthor before he smashed his skull on the paving stones. It held Denthor high above its head, craning its head back and stretching out its mandibled maw. A crunch was heard, but it was not Denthor getting eaten. It was the dagger finally breaking through the inner skull of the demon and slicing the brain in pieces.
The monster froze, the hand getting loose and dropping Denthor to the ground. Its many multifaceted eyes stumbled in a moment of pure agony. Bones shattered and hearts stopped as the thing collapsed to the ground and keeled over, letting out a wail of death that put many in a healer’s care for several weeks. The evil and rage faded as the monster began to slip from the material realm to whatever fate awaited it. Deep inside, his spirit suspended in a vat of evil, Argrath began to awaken. But it was as if he was awakening to a new life.
A shock of cold went through his soul as he got a glimpse of something not even of Faerunian legend. A black hooded figure sauntered towards him with a scythe in its hands. It held out a colorless stone over his body, the stone turning a deep crimson. It nodded and drew back its hood. What was underneath would make even Demogorgon recoil. A face like spawn of evil that was terrifying beyond all skull standards. It smiled, its rotten teeth crackling grisly. The scythe went up, and when it came down Argrath found himself in another world.

9:10 PM, 15 Eleasis
Merindy stood, panting against the brick wall. She could hear roars in the distance, but that could just be the griffin riders doing their police-work. A man cloaked in shadow sidled up to her. She rolled her head and eyes round to face him, but he did not reveal himself. He spoke in what she could only describe as a Thayvian accent.
“I have information. You need this information. You will pay me for this information.” He spoke in the attitude that he knew his ‘customer’ would comply completely. “You will pay me for information about the keys. You will pay me ten thousand gold.” Merindy choked on the spittle she had just swallowed to clear her mouth.
“I do not have ten thousand gold.”
“You can get it. You can get it by robbing the vaults of Kar-Malakon.” Now Merindy choked out loud.
“Either you are insane or wish me dead. Kar-Malakon is invulnerable.”
“I have the stone you need to get in. I require an item of fabulous value that I can sell for ten thousand.” Merindy considered this. She did need information. Whilst she was thinking, Fradlan snuck his hand under her robe and quietly slid the pink key off her belt. “Here is the stone.” He pushed it into her hand, where it stuck. Merindy held out her hand and tried to shake it off. Fradlan laughed evilly, “it won’t come off until I have the stone of Jilradian in my hand. It will also detonate after a day’s time. I should get moving if I were you.” He drifted off into the shadows, fingering the key. Before he handed it in to the Entity, he wanted to use its charms on a certain elusive Drow female.

1:00 AM, 16 Eleasis
After he slipped away, somebody else slipped forward.
“Am I to be continually bugged by evil people?” She asked as the person stepped towards her.
“Only if you do not cooperate. You will hand over to me all the keys in your possession and I shall be on my way.” Merindy noted the difference in voices and realized this was somebody different. The person slid off the hood and revealed the face of Argrath. Merindy squealed with glee and flung her arms around him. She noticed that he did not seem to be reiterating her actions. She looked up into the twisting blob of grayness that stood instead of Argrath’s head. She screamed and backed away as the greater doppelganger assumed its true form.
The thing held out its hand. Merindy, being a more suspicious person than Argrath, had packed her Wakizashi on the trip. She now drew it like the lightning flashing overhead and sliced off the hand of the evil creature. It howled and brought its other hand to bear down on her face. It shifted into one of the creatures it had seen in the cave of rats. An Ettin soon formed and brought its club to attack position. It smashed down the club where Merindy had been a moment before. She brought her blade to thrust into the leg of the creature and sliced it off. It flopped to the ground and reverted back to its original form.
Failing this, the doppelganger went into the form of a Yuan-Ti and began to cast a spell. Again, the blade zoomed in and interrupted the spell of holding. Another spell was soon in action and this one got off a whole lot quicker. A stream of flame burst forth from the hand and scorched Merindy. She circled round, but the flame followed her. The Yuan-Ti slowly began to rotate its snakelike body to face her, but Merindy came up with a plan. She jumped right behind the serpent and the flame followed, striking the thing in its chest. It moved its hand out to the side, so the flame would not intercept its body, but Merindy again got into an angle where the flame hit the snake.
This infuriated the doppelganger; its favorite forms were useless. So it tried and old tactic. When Merindy next looked, she was face to face with – herself. The only way of telling the two apart was the stone still stuck to the real one’s hand. Each Merindy held out its Wakizashi and began to circle the other. One jabbed out the blade, but the other had anticipated it. One flipped open the compartment and began to throw throwing stars, but the other had already done that and was countering the stars in mid-air with her own. The other ducked down low and brought her leg out in a sweeping kick, but the first had jumped into the air and kicked where the other’s head used to be. The real Merindy realized that her own personal tactics were useless here, as did the fake. Each selected some moves that they had personally previously seen in action.
Merindy one rushed forward in the straight-out war attacks of her boyfriend Argrath. Merindy two ducked and weaved and jabbed in the style of a Drow pit fighter. Number two was scoring more hits, but number one, when her attacks did hit, dealt massive damage. Soon, the two were exhausted. Each retreated and watched the other while recuperating. Each decided to go for one last burst of energy to catch the other off guard. This was where the fatal mistake was. Merindy one came in slashing, while the other kept her gaze on number one’s face and brought the Wakizashi in similarly. But, in neglecting to look at the ground, she tripped and fell to the ground. The real Merindy took the opportunity to come in for the kill, but the fake had anticipated that. Merindy brought her blade straight down towards the heart, when the doppelganger swung its blade up from behind and cleaved Merindy right down her spine. All nerve connections were severed and she collapsed to the ground, only her head able to move its eyes helplessly. The doppelganger stood up and, with a grandiose smile flashed the blade down over the neck and decapitated the original.
It bent over to retrieve the key ring. It frowned and returned to its original state, which was minus a leg and a hand. The pink key the entity said would be there was not. Was it possible It could be wrong? All the others were there. A thought crept its way slowly and insidiously into its mind. The person that had left before it, what if it had the key?

1:00 AM, 16 Eleasis
Back at the party, things were wrapping up. In future it would be said, in all honesty, that it was one of the most exciting parties ever held in Raven’s Bluff. Harador had been having a great time. He had been one of the ones cheering for Merindy’s acrobatics.
Now, he was hanging around with the clean-up crew looking for his friends. Silidain said she had just gone out for a breath of fresh air, but Harador knew her well. She could just as likely have gone off and had a party on her own. She was independent in that way, one of the many reasons he liked her. Merindy he had seen exit through a window and he assumed she was now back at Argrath’s home, waiting for his return.
No, what bothered him was where Argrath was. He was gone with no knowledge, something Harador disliked. He sighed as the body of a council member was dragged from his room, dead. These people were dropping off like flies. He resigned himself to go home and await contact from his missing friends. He would just have to wait for them.

9:30 PM, 15 Eleasis
By now, Argrath was used to plane travelling. It was with quite a jolt that he realized he was doing it again. The immaterial scythe had neatly cut his spirit out of his body and it was floating away.
Many planes flashed past his eyes, and once they had done, his life came before him. There was no tunnel, and no bright light to step into. There was only grayness. The gray slowly shifted into focus, becoming plateaus and hills. Ravines and valleys formed before him as he hurtled down through the sky of an unknown world. He hit the dusty ground with a crack and sent up a billowing cloud of dirt.
There was a primal smell about this place, something that appealed to his inner nature. A deep, husky smell reached his nose and he sighed with contentment. The power of Bhaal was strong here.
He shifted his normal vision to low light and things became clearer. More than just the general landscape was available to his eyes now, he could see the creatures. They were all around him, prostrating themselves before him. One stiffened and swiveled its neck 180 degrees around. It let out a screech of terror at what it saw, and the rest of them scampered away.
Argrath could see nothing, so he shifted back to the normal spectrum. A brilliant light hit his eyes as a celestial being descended before him. It was hard to tell whether it was male or female, but he had a sense it was neither.
A voice sounded in his mind, sweet like the fresh dew upon a green leaf on a mountain. The darkness inside him rebelled at such beauty, and he found himself snarling at the new arrival.
“I have come to fetch you. You may return to this, the abyss, if you choose. But for now, you must come with me.” It seemed Argrath had little choice, as the solar held his hand and they began to blur from the plane once more.
The abyss was left behind him, Argrath now seeing from above the infernal pits where the souls of the damned burned for eternity. Now, light entered his eyes two ways. Colors he had never seen before filtered through his eyelids and joined in new ways in his mind.
He wasn’t fully aware of his arrival on this new plane. The sights that were before him now seemed like the conduits that planar travelers enter all the time. He seemed to be divided in to two sections of the soul, but neither was completely evil.
“Welcome to the twin paradises of Bytopia. You may have noticed everything is split. Well, that is why we are here. We are here to split you. And Merindy.”

1:30 AM, 16 Eleasis
Merindy’s soul had been on a journey very like that of her beloved. But she had led a life without taint, and was heading for the state of neutrality that had been decided for her. The Astral plane awaiting her, she hurtled along her conduit when she was intercepted.
Her spirit shuddered to a halt in what became apparent as the plane of air. Her spirit hovered for a second, before plummeting down towards a bizarre flying platform created by some of the land-based creatures that had made their way here. She landed with ease, to the surprise of a few shadowy figures on the bridge.
“What do you want, she-who-falls-from-the-sky-screaming?” The leader asked in raspy common. Merindy was saved from answering by the appearance of a hound archon, sent from the solar. He held out his dog-like paw and touched Merindy. They where instantly transported to the plane of Bytopia.
“Your wish is fulfilled, solar. Do not call upon me again for some time. I have other things to do than play fetch,” it growled. It disappeared in a swirl of mist to do battle with evil.
“Well, I am glad you are here finally. I have just been explaining my purpose to your friend Argrath here.” Merindy looked in the indicated direction and saw a disjointed Argrath sitting on the grass. The reason Merindy didn’t recognize him before was that both sides of him appeared to her. Beyond belief, she could see every aspect of everything in the area at the same time. The solar read her thoughts and answered her unspoken question. “The four dimensions of your usual world are broken in this place. The three base dimensions are split and melded with time to conform to the overall prevalence of the fifth dimension.” To explain this was one thing, for Merindy to understand it was another.
“It is ideal for our purposes. Some minor deities have taken an interest in your many facets. I am here to run some tests with you to determine the prevailing side of your personality. It is tedious work, but the gods demand it. Argrath has agreed to do it. Will you?”
“Yes.” Merindy was surprised by the split sound of her voice, though she should have expected it.
“Good. Or evil, as the case may turn to prove to be. We shall see if your inner personality is the same as the one you wear on your outside.”
The plane of Bytopia began to divide before their eyes. It split into two normal planes, each with either Merindy or Argrath on it. The tests had begun.

1:00 PM, 15 April (Tarsakh), 1978
Merindy found herself in a fine household. She looked down to see she was wearing some ridiculous clothes. She knew she had a better sense of fashion than these bright colors. She looked around to see many strange devices. There was a tall hutch standing against the wall with a pendulum swinging back and forth inside it. There were strange markings around a circle set into the head of the contraption.
Much as a priest of Gond might love it, she had little taste. The smell of tobacco reached her nose and she turned to see a distinguished looking man sitting in a chair smoking a pipe while looking at a large sheaf of paper held in his hands.
Not wanting to disturb him, she crept quietly from the room into what appeared to be a kitchen. The owners of this home surely had to be Gondites, as there were more weird pieces of junk in this room. Suddenly, some children came bounding up to her from another room.
“Mommy! Bonanza’s on!” Cried one of the little ones. What bonanza was, she had no idea. But it suddenly dawned on her that this must be one of the tests set by the solar. She allowed a child to lead her by the hand to a room with a sofa and a strange box.
They sat down on the floor together as one of the kids jumped up and pressed a button. Scenes flashed before her eyes, although not in normal colors. It was all in black and white. She tried shifting her vision, but something was wrong. Under the pretext of brushing hair out of her face, she felt her ears. They were human! A bang shook her out of her thoughts as she looked at the box. A song was playing from it, accompanied by strange humans riding horses and wielding small, strangely curved daggers. Something flew out of the dagger and speared a half-naked human through the chest.
Her new children desired her to watch this brutal mockery of life? No. She got up and told her children that she wasn’t interested today. They seemed disappointed and ran off to play. What a strange world the solar had placed her in.
It was several more days before she finally adapted to the routines in the house. She was expected to clean everything and cook everything while the men did nothing but leisure. She also had to do everything with all the strange contraptions. After a while, apart from the cleaning and cooking, she began to enjoy this life. If the solar wanted her here, there was no point except to make the best of it.
She smiled as she thought this. She bent over to polish some dishes with a rag when she realized that there were no dishes. No rag either. She was standing knee deep in a swamp she had never wanted to be in again. She was in the dreaded Flooded Forest.

12:30 AM, ? ???
Argrath had been subjected to a different test. He was stranded on a desert island. On his first day there, he had explored the tiny place and found nothing. There was just the beach, a small grassy hillock with trees and a pool of water. He spent days on the island, always looking out to sea in hopes of spotting a ship.
He had tried several times to swim away from the island, but had grown tired and had swum back. The sun was beating hard down on him, so he went to sit under some of the shady trees. A great THUMP on his head caused him a few moments of pain. Rubbing, he looked around to see what happened when he noticed a large stone with a crack on it.
He looked up and spotted several more of these stones hanging from the tree. More to vent his frustration about being stranded than anything else, he attacked the rock. It split open further and revealed a milky liquid and some congealed gunk on the insides. Somewhere in his mind, he remembered something about desert islands having large, edible nuts. He assumed that this was one of them.
The thought of food reawakened the ravaging hunger inside of him. He had been unable to find any food on the island. Gulping down the liquid and chomping down on the meat, he sated his hunger. He looked eagerly at the other nuts hanging in the tree.
Wrapping his arms around the trunk, he yanked on the tree and several more nuts cascaded down. He spent the next few hours cracking the nuts and eating them with glee.
Argrath now had a very full stomach. But the urge to eat was still upon him, so he cracked open a last nut. Instead of the life inside that he expected, there was a scrap of parchment. He lifted it out and carefully read it.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what is the one thing you would bring?
This was certainly an abnormal thing to find in a nut. But it gave him a reason to use his mind for the first time in a week, so he seized upon the chance. He sat there thinking of all the things he would bring. He narrowed it down to ten, and then five, and then three…
“A weapon.” He said out loud. He would then at least have something to do: practice his moves. A weapon filtered out of the air and materialized in Argrath’s hand. He smiled. What a useful thing to find in a nut. A roar brought him back to reality. The desert island was gone. He was in a stadium and facing the biggest lion he had ever seen.

11:00 AM, 5 Marpenoth, 167 Dragon-Rule
Merindy sloshed around the swamp. She had been here before by accident, so she knew the way out. Tall trees grew out of the murky water, their canopy obscuring the dim light that usually lurked here.
She hauled herself out onto an island that sat above the rancid mud. A tree branch was over her head so she grabbed a hold and pulled herself up. This seemed to be a much better way to travel than trudging through the mire below. She spread her arms for balance as she walked along the network of branches that crisscrossed above the swamp.
Ahead she saw the old temple of Waukeen that she had encountered the last time she was here. She crawled up on the branches that arched over the sacred place and went up to the next level of the forest. Some people had obviously tried to inhabit these areas, because there were rings of iron bound around the branches in an effort to cultivate them into roads.
It led her up to the top of the canopy. She paused to take a look around and get her bearings, but she stopped. The sky above had an orange tinge to it. The sun was a dark red, as if it was the sun of a dying world. A black shape obscured it, casting the land below into shadow. Merindy glanced up as it passed over and found she could look directly into the sun.
Some form of unknown creature scampered along the tree road up to her. It was lizard-ish, with a frill coming out of the back of its neck.
“Dracis madra carn ferino adramas…” It stopped and stared up at Merindy, cocking its head at an awkward angle. She settled for looking politely bewildered.
“You speak common? Com-mon. You speak?” She asked it slowly.
“Common! You are a rare find. Hard to find anybody that doesn’t speak draconic.”
“Why? I thought hardly anybody could speak the language of the wyrms.”
“Speak not blasphemy! The overlords will surely punish you!”
“Are you saying the dragons rule everything? EVERYTHING?” Merindy was beginning to get a bit hysterical.
“You saying you doesn’t know any of this? You from other place?” The lizard’s curiosity had been piqued. Something twigged in the back of its memory. Something important…
“No, I don’t know. I was transported here, from either a different time or a parallel universe.” These words simply poured from her mouth. What on the face of Faerun was a parallel universe? But it all made sense to the lizard. Everything was clicking into place.
“So you are the one the prophecy spoke of. Come, there are many others waiting to hear your tale.” The lizard scampered away down the branch road and beckoned for her to follow. A prophecy? About her?
She was about to follow when a roaring crash rent the forest leaves from their holds. Along the ground came crashing, a Felldrake thundering through the bushes. Merindy smiled. Felldrakes were universal for their good tendencies.
She continued on down the road after the lizard, but found it staring in horror at the aberration below it. It was medium sized, about a foot longer than Merindy was tall. Viscous studs pebbled its golden body, and a venomous green drool hung from its mouth. The eyes were bright red, its nostrils flared. The thing looked thoroughly insane.
“Quickly! We must hide from Shed’ahras!” Was all the warning the lizard would speak before it squirmed into a nook in the tree and hid.
The Spitter looked up at the tasty morsel above it. A great glob of acid hurtled its way out of the jaws of the dragon and splattered onto the road behind her. She looked around franticly, trying to find some place to hide. There was none. Another blob zoomed past her, closer this time. She glanced down and saw, to her dismay, the Spitting Felldrake climbing up the tree.
It’s tail whipped around for balance as it sauntered up the ancient trunk. Thirty seconds and it would be upon her. Having no choice but to fight or die, she drew her wakizashi. Unlocking a different compartment than the one holding her shuriken, she emptied out several darts. A blowgun was slid out from the hilt. While the dragon was still on the tree, she peppered it with poisoned darts.
Not having much effect, she switched the darts around and blew the other end. The fire end. Several blazing missiles were soon zipping into the hard flesh of the monstrosity. Several smoking holes in its side existed by the time it scrambled on to the road.
Stowing her darts, she held forth her blade in the accepted combat stance. The thing rushed her, spittle flying. A few droplets landed on her sleeve and immediately started burning their way in. The dragon’s claws were occupied with grasping the thick boughs, so its mouth was the only viable option. It opened its maw wide and chomped down on her leg.
With a twist of its neck, it sent Merindy flying into the air where she somersaulted and threw her weapon straight down into its neck. The blade pierced and severed half of the neck. Unfortunately, this was not enough to kill it. She had begun her descent now and the Felldrake stretched its gullet wide open to receive the sky-born treat.
A foot away from the mouth of doom, she grabbed a small branch not the width of a yew sapling and sprung herself upwards. Deprived of its meal, the creature flew into a rage and spat. It connected with the limb and burnt it off. Merindy was still flying, but slower now, the branch still in her hands.
A thick branch connected with her head and she had just enough sense to grab it with her branch hand. She started to slip so she hooked on her other hand. That wasn’t much better as she now had two things between her hands and the branch of life: the shoot and the stone.
The shoot hand slipped and she once again hung by a hand. Meanwhile, the dragon had begun to ascend the main trunk again, travelling to her level. It swung its neck around to snap at her, but in doing so it released Merindy’s blade from its neck. The sparkling blue wakizashi fell several stories to the forest floor, luckily on an island. But it was still out of reach.
Inspiration suddenly gripped her and she swung the stick in her hand to intercept the snapping head. It connected in the already deep wound and she heard the snapping of bone. The neck and head cracked backwards and hung by a few sinews. The eyes gave one last hungry look at Merindy and the body collapsed against the tree. It did not fall; its claws were sunk deep into the bark of the old oak tree.
She swung down and dropped to the road below her. Sensing the danger was over; the lizard crawled out of its crack and gave Merindy a look of great awe.
“You defeated Shed’ahras! There is no doubt now that you are the one to fulfill the prophecy. Come with me, you must meet the resistance group.” It cannonballed off the tree road and into the swamp with a resounding splash. Merindy, however, was not quite as agile. She had to shinny down the tree to the island below. She hopped to the next island and began to wipe the blood off of her precious blade.
The lizard swam up to the side of her and hauled itself up. It shook itself like a dog and pointed to the temple.
“The resistance exists inside the ruins.” It rasped. Merindy followed it across some convenient rotten logs to the overgrown entrance. The lizard pulled a particular vine and an ancient door slid open. It scampered in and Merindy followed.
It took several years for Merindy to fulfill her prophecy and the test. To rid the Sunken Forest of all draconic influence. It was there she met Raldoth, the gnome illusionist. She grew to like him as a friend, even more so. If it weren’t for the fact that she was honor-bound to Argrath… Well, she was glad she did not have to make a choice. Eventually, the same solar that had given her these tests came to collect her. She had to say good-bye to all the members of the Dragon Resistance that she had grown to enjoy the company of.
Merindy also wanted to find out how Argrath had done with his tests. But to her surprise, all the years she had spent in the fetid swamp seemed to have lasted only a few minutes in real time. She had little time herself to dwell on this, as she was immediately subjected to another test. The test, the solar said, that was the final one and would determine the results of all the demi-gods had desired to put her through.

4:00 PM, 29 June (Kythorn), 265 BC
The lion crouched in front of him. The fans roared out their approval for the match. The trumpets blared to signal the beginning. Argrath crouched down, utterly confused.
An obvious noble gave a speech in some foreign language to the crowd and they all cheered. The front row took up a chant and soon the rest all followed. Their shouts seemed to work the lion up into frenzy. It paced back and forth, awaiting some signal. At the top of the stadium, a Cloud Giant took out an enormous drum and struck it once, firmly with a mallet. The waves of sound were enormous and signaled the lion to attack.
It roared forward at Argrath’s unprotected chest when he realized he was protected. A thick leather armor covered his front and a bronze helmet capped his head. He held in his hand the short sword that had been given to him by his coconut wish and he held a buckler at his side.
Although unused to this style of weaponry and fighting, he still managed to graze the lion’s flank with the edge of his sword. The cat landed on all four of his paws, pivoted, curved its body nearly in half, and launched itself headlong onto Argrath. Its paws were outstretched and claws extended. It landed on Argrath and sunk its front legs into the hardened leather while its back legs scrabbled to get a hold, rending his skin raw and bloody.
Argrath fell backwards to the ground upon impact and the lion opened its jaws wide, ready to maul. Argrath willed the Ravager change to come on, but nothing happened. It was as if he was a normal human, and not half-elf. So, he yanked his legs out from under the giant back paws and kicked it in the chest.
The lion toppled off of him as it began to shut its jaws and swallowed a mouthful of dirt. It started spitting it out and Argrath did not loose the opportunity to jump up and plunge the blade into its chest. It let out a final roar and lay down to die.
Argrath let out a scream of pain that he had kept inside of him throughout the match, but the raucous booing of the crowd drowned it out. Another leather-armored man came out of a hidden door in the side of the stadium and dragged him inside. There, his wounds were bathed with a stinging liquid and he was thrown into a cell.
It was several more days before he saw the light of the sun again, and it was in another battle. The scars from his lion fight had healed, but not enough to be very visible to the somewhat smaller crowd that ringed the pit. Argrath looked around for the next beast he would face, but instead his eyes laid themselves on an armored woman at the other side of the pit.
She was dressed like an Amazonian and carried a spear. The glint of battle was in her eyes when the horns blew. The spear in her hand practically leapt forth in a large arc over the ring. Argrath dived out of the way, but the spear followed.
“Hah! You cannot escape the wrath of Garret Lilarcor! Feel my bite!” The spear yelled as it sunk into Argrath’s arm. While Argrath had been busy with the spear, the Amazon charged across the floor and piledrived him into the wall. His skull cracked against the baked clay and he fell somewhat senseless to the ground. The world swam before his eyes as two Amazons raised two giggling spears and hurled them at his chest.
He fully expected to be impaled, but to his shock, surprise, and relative delight, a metal disc was hovering in front of him with the spear transfixed in it. Several armed guards came and hauled both of the opponents away. The spear in the hands of the woman seemed to bend back as it yelled, “I’ll kill you when it’s a battle to the death! Oh, well. I guess I’ll just have to spend some quality time with my chick until then.” The amazon took the spear in her hands and whacked it soundly in punishment for the remark.

2:00 PM, 16 Eleasis
The tests that were going on for Merindy and Argrath were not the only things that would have been of some importance to them. The Entity was gaining another step towards her revenge.
Fradlan now faced the Entity in an audience alone for the first time. The pink key he had stolen had not served him well. The charms of the key, apparently, did not work on Drow females. Jil’koi, his intended victim, had reported him and he was now paying the consequences.
Incensed at his act of disobedience at not handing over the key immediately, the Entity had forgone her usual practice of the torture chamber and was now wracking Fradlan with psychic waves. Every nerve in his body now pulsed with the most excruciating pain possible, but he was now past the point of insanity and did not feel anymore. His lifeless body slumped to the ground and the pink key fell out of his hand.
The moment the Entity touched it, more power swept up her arms and into her body. In the corner, a few miscellaneous servants watched in awe. The already flawless body now warped and changed to be stunningly gorgeous, in accordance with the powers of the key. If she and a nymph looked each other in the eye now, the nymph would be the one to keel over dead.
But, to the surprise of the onlookers, not all of the power was absorbed into her body. Pink tendrils snaked about the chamber, sneaking under cracks and openings until the whole complex was coated in a blinding pink glow. The ground shuddered and a sensation was felt throughout all the many inhabitants of the compound. It was hard to describe, sort of like a lifting and tearing feeling mixed with an overwhelming nausea and weight loss.
The system seemed to sink down a bit as the rumbling stopped. The Entity smiled; this was exactly what she had been wanting ever since that pest of a wererat Tallgron had snuck in. She had used most of the power of the key to create her own pocket plane. She sauntered along to the new chamber she had created in addition to the plane.
She stopped before the portal-like door that flickered in all the colors of the spectrum. She pressed her hand against the semi-liquid door and it melted away before her. She stepped through the hole and into a round room with doors on all sides. One of the doors was already open. Within it blazed an enormous fire that flickered out and around the edges on occasion. She took out the Brown, Black, and Purple keys out of a pocket and added the pink to them.
She walked around the room, pausing at four different doors to insert the keys inside each of them. Dense mist slowly leaked out of the brown door, clods of dirt welled up around the black door, screams of tortured souls echoed out of the purple door, and a powerful sense of passion wafted out of the pink door.
Contentment coursed through the Entity’s body at the thought of her progress. She stepped back through the hole and waved her hand, the transparent fluid washing back over the portal. If anybody stepped through there without knowing the proper hand movements, they would be sucked off to some random plane.
Intending to retire to her Spartan bedchambers, the Entity wandered down the roughly hewn stone tunnel. A rush of movement flew down a connecting passage and connected bodily with the Entity. It was thrown backwards while She remained unmoved.
“Prepare yourself for pain,” was all that She said as She prepared a volley of psionics. But the Ravid began to melt into a familiar shape.
“Please spare my worthless life, your Entityship. I have keys.” The blast halted in mid-preparation. She held out her hand towards the Doppelganger, heedless of any ceremony. The Doppelganger slipped the ring of keys out of his pocket and held it forth.
A gasp escaped the normally perfectly composed Entity’s vocal cords. Apart from the keys She had just used and the gray and rainbow key, they were all there.
“You- you may use my djinn. In reward for your service, you may have any wish you desire. A potion of God’s Wisdom will help you word your wish properly,” she stammered out as she took the ring and replaced it with a gray bottle. The Doppelganger bowed and left, not daring to look back in case the Entity changed her mind.
The Entity however, had other things on her mind. She dashed off towards her portal room to unlock the doors, power flowing in veins out of the keys into her flesh. Soon, her speed was stupendous with the addition of the power of the key of Air. She reached the room and found it blocked by the most unexpected being in her cosmos.

10:00 AM, 30 June (Kythorn), 256 BC
The Amazon faced Argrath nose to nose. Both held their weapons tightly, ready to attack on the first sign of movement from the other person. Audible panting was heard from the woman’s spear. It was obviously holding back all comments in anticipation of being impaled in another creature’s guts.
The horn blew for the last time, so slowly it seemed time was stopping. Perspiration dripped down Argrath’s face as the sun beat down on them from its lofty perch in the sky. This, they had been informed, was a battle to the death. Argrath’s previous battle with the lion had not meant to have been a death match, as animals and competitors were scarce.
Argrath pushed himself away in a flurry of action; time seeming to go hyper-fast, as the sentient spear lunged forward. He pulled out a dagger he had picked off of a cellmate and threw it hard at the exposed neck of the Amazon. She, he had learned, was named Silverquick.
She jerked her head to the side as the dagger whistled past and bulled her way across the field. She held her spear like a lance and neatly sliced through one of Argrath’s love handles. He, in turn, swirled around and sliced at her ribs.
She bent backwards and avoided a major hit, but the blade still sliced through her armor and into her right breast, which fell to the ground with a smack. That was fine with her, Silverquick had not had time previously to begin the Amazonian ritual of slicing that same appendage off to improve her ability to hold her spear.
Silverquick gripped the spear more firmly now, amidst squeaks of compliant from her weapon. She stood her ground, waiting for Argrath to move. He as well stood his ground, fingering behind his back the sickle that one of his other opponents had dropped. He whipped it out and again hurled it forward to her heart and lunged forward with his shortsword at her groin.
She twisted as the sickle severed a minor artery in her neck and swung the spear around sword-like to smack into Argrath’s chest and knock the wind out of him. While he lay panting on the ground, helpless, she tore a strip of green cloth off her dress and bound it around her neck to staunch the blood flow.
Argrath scrambled to his feet and brandished the sword wildly. Silverquick picked up her spear and methodically made her way towards the frantic Argrath. Never before had he been so helpless without his powers.
Argrath scampered towards the edge of the ring, where the wall at his back would be an advantage. Silverquick heaved her spear at Argrath.
“Ha ha! Death shall come from above you stinky thingee! This is gonna hurt!” Argrath had no time to move out the way, so he did the only thing that could help him survive. Grimacing, he held out his hands together as the spear went right through them, slowing down until it was a hair’s breadth away from his heart.
Silverquick was shocked. That act was the kind that would only be performed by her own tribe. She watched with sick awe as Argrath slid his outer hand down and off of the spear to grip it somewhat weakly.
“Hey, that’s not the way it works!” Cried a bubbly voice from beneath the waves of blood that were washing out of the large hole in his hand. Argrath stumbled forward to kill the Amazon, but she calmly picked up his fallen sword and sliced, without any resistance, Argrath’s head clean off.

2:30 PM, 17 Eleasis
Merindy sat in a plush chair located in a posh room filled with oddities. Several bookcases lined the walls, each overflowing with written papers. More books were piled on the floor, several open and showing bizarre magical scenes. A globe was in the corner, showing the continents of Faerun, and several telescopes lined a wall. Charts and posters of all kinds plastered every inch of available wall space, even above a large and ornate fireplace upon which sat a bubbling and frothing cauldron. There was only one window, showing a starry sky and nothing more, and one door. Of all the strange and wonderful things in the room, the door was the most of all of them.
Carvings covered every inch of it, some arcane, some obviously clerical. There were lines depicting famous events in the history of the world and scenes of senseless carnage. Strange decorative symbols coated one corner and various names were inscribed in another. Gems dotted every available space and glittered when Merindy looked at them. In the center was a mirror that showed something different every time you looked at it.
Merindy reluctantly turned her gaze away from the door to the half-orc sitting cross-legged on a pouf in front of her. He was a most unusual half-orc, dressed in the robes of a fortuneteller and glasses twice the size of his fat head. His hair was spiked up into pillars; each one dyed a different color. He was well manicured and spoke in a very polite accent.
“You know why you are here?” He asked in a kind voice.
“Because the Solar wishes me to be tested.”
“Yes, indeed. I am here to test you.” Here, the half-orc held out a scroll and quill. “The questions are on the sheet. You have half an hour.” With nothing more obvious to do, Merindy sat down and started answering some of the most soul-searching questions ever.
Half an hour went by, marked only by the slow trickle of sand in a large half-hourglass sitting on the table in the middle of the room. She put down the scroll and quill and sat back in her pouf. Soon, the door opened, revealing a swirling mass of color out of which stepped the half-orc, bending down so as not to knock his glasses off.
“Very well, the solar will examine this later. Part of the test was even seeing if you could read and write, as you claim. I will now test you with something that, in another world, is called Kim’s game. It is to test your memory.” The half-orc waved at the table and the half-hourglass vanished, a silver tray with a bumpy white cloth appeared in its place. “You will have ten seconds to memorize everything on this tray. At the end, you will repeat all the items you saw. In addition, some of the items will be representative of real world things and you will be asked to say what they are. Ready?” He waited for Merindy to nod yes and then, “go!”
The white cloth vanished and in its place was twenty items. Merindy flicked her eyes everywhere and fast, repeating in her mind the names of everything she saw. Ball, ring, map, sword, gold piece, ioun stone… Then, the ten seconds were up. The tray vanished before her eyes and she turned to the half-orc. He smiled at her to begin.
“Ball, map, ring, head, gold, stone, sword, sun, dust, bone, glass, holy symbol, blood, tooth, mock horse, string, and a nail.” She replied without taking a single breath. The half-orc indicated she did not say three of the twenty, but Merindy couldn’t remember what they were.
“Very good. Details are required about the items, please.”
“The ball was made of marble and had a hole in it, the map showed the northernmost part of Sembia, the ring was bloodstone, the head was of a deep gnome, the gold was a Cormyr Lion, the ioun stone was lavender, the sword was a scimitar, and the dust was admantite. I don’t know what the bone was from, the glass was a blue shard, the holy symbol was for Lathander, the blood was green – probably lizardfolk, the tooth was of an Otyugh, the toy horse was bent and brown, and the string was made from hemp.”
“You forgot the sun and the nail. The ball was a model of a planar sphere, which recently arrived in Athkatla.
You were right about the map, the ring, the head, the gold piece, and the ioun stone. The sword was actually a ninja-to, the dust was ordinary, the bone was from a Pegasus, the blood was of a phase spider, the tooth was of an ogre, and the string was plain rope. Oh, you also got the glass, the holy symbol, and the horse right. The sun was ordinary and the nail was used for an iron horseshoe. Of the original items there were a book, a dead spider, and the eye of Vecna. That one will be returned to its dungeon safe. Your memory is excellent, but not perfect. You are better than many, but some are greater. Now, on to the third and final of my tests. We will each tell each other three riddles. But,” he shifted down low and covered his face from above; “how about we make it a little more interesting. The solar wants me just to see how intelligent you are at answering and making riddles. But I want to make a wager. I know of appointed task to invade Kar-Malakon. It would be suicide. If you answer more riddles than I do correctly, I will make sure the stone makes its way to you of its own accord. If I answer more riddles than YOU do, hmm… let’s see…” He paused for a minute to consider. “If I answer more than you, you will have to find me a suitable mate back on the material world.”
“Alright, I agree. Ask your first riddle.” Merindy was secretly quivering inside. If she won, she would get the stone for that bedratted Drow. If she lost, she would have two tasks to perform back on the material plane. IF she was ever to return.
“What has a bed, but never sleeps. Has a mouth, but does not speak. Has a head but does not think. Always runs, but never flees?” Merindy sat for a few seconds and then answered –
“A river.” The half-orc nodded. It was Merindy’s turn. “It cannot be seen, cannot be felt. Cannot be herd, cannot be smelt. It lives behind stars and under hills, and empty holes it always fills. It comes first and follows after, ends life, kills laughter.”
“Hmm, perhaps you are not so innocent as you might have us believe. “Too bad for you, I have access to every piece of literature written in the entire universe. That riddle you just told me lies in a novel about a Halfling and thirteen dwarves on a hunt for treasure. The answer is dark.” He paused to concentrate, searching for a hard riddle to give him the advantage in the current tie. At last, it came to him, from the same tome that Merindy had unknowingly quoted. “This thing all things devours: monsters, beasts, air, flowers; gnaws iron, bites steel; crushes solid rocks to meal; slays king, ruins town, and shatters towering mountain down.”
“Ah. Hmm… no – yes! The answer is the Tarrasque! Hah, no wonder that was so hard, the Tarrasque hasn’t awoken in years! Good one!” But the hard stare of the half-orc that met her told her she was wrong.
“The answer was time.” Those simple words ran a shock through Merindy that made her grip her wakizashi but then relax. She would just have to come up with a riddle of all her own to fool the well read interrogator. The half-orc, who incidentally was named Peter Parker, took note of everything Merindy did, especially when she gripped her weapon. Obviously there was more of Argrath’s temper in her than she cared to admit. He was shaken out of his thoughts by Merindy’s next riddle.
“Across the spectrum it flies, faster than Phoenix, slower than land. It inspires poets to greater rhyme, happy thoughts to those in its time. A – ” Peter interrupted her.
“A rainbow. That was too easy. My last riddle to you. Ahem. Lighter than what it’s made of, more hidden than is seen, the curse of the sailor, a fang within the sea.” Merindy was shocked that her riddle was correctly guessed even before she had finished, but she was determined to guess his riddle. She thought of everything in the ocean, from sharks to reefs, but she couldn’t think of anything. Was anything in the sea lighter than what is was made of? But wait! Maybe that was the essential clue. It had to be made of something else, in a different form. The three forms were solid, liquid, and gas.
So, it had to be one of those that was in a different form. Solid is heavier than gas, but there weren’t any gases in the sea formed from solids. Liquid is heavier than gas, but again, there were hardly any gases in the sea and none that were formed from liquid. Solids were heavier than liquids, but – wait. There was an exception.
“Ice! Ice is the answer.”
“Correct. You may ask your final riddle. If I guess it, you loose.” He said nothing about if he did not guess correctly. Merindy sat quietly. Her two previous riddles were easily guessed. One because that by chance it was already written, and the other too easy. She needed to come up with a brand new riddle, something that would never be guessed. They sat there for an hour in silence until Merindy thought up one. Something secret…
“Of all your possessions, I am the hardest to guard. If you have me, you will want to share me. If you share me, you will no longer have me. What am I?” She phrased the question in a strange manner as to catch Peter unprepared. But he answered immediately.
“Love, of course. I am afraid you now have another task set upon you.” The half-orc answered dolefully. But Merindy was jumping with glee.
“The answer was a secret!”
“Well, I’ve just guessed your secret. Now, are you prepared to listen to my idea of a perfect mate?” Peter asked impatiently.
“No, that was the answer! A secret! You guessed wrong, and I win – oh, no. It is still a tie. What is the result now?” She asked.
“Another answer will be asked from an impartial source. Whoever guesses it first wins,” he gestured to a brazier at the end of the room. “I will summon a minor imp to ask a riddle. We may both speak at will once the riddle is asked.” Peter beckoned at the brazier and it waddled over. He stood up and opened the strange and wonderful door by pressing his hand against a rune of opening. His hands waved in an arcane symbol and the door opened into a sparse room. He entered and made for Merindy to follow. The brazier waddled in after her and the door slid forward to close.
Merindy looked around the room and saw that it was decorated with arcane runes and symbols of all sizes. In the center was a giant inscribed circle with warding runes all around the edges. The brazier waddled into the middle of this and sat down with a flaming THUMP!
Peter proceeded to summon the imp. The flames leapt high out of the brazier and proceeded to lick at the already blacked ceiling. A moment passed and then the flames parted and an imp popped out.
“And whats can I’se do for the Petester today? Methinks it be something very lowly to impress the lady friend hes gots here today.” The imp bobbed in submission to the half-orc, but it was clear he absolutely loathed the creature.
“Nothing lowly. I need a hard riddle with an answer. Once it is guessed, you may leave.” The half-orc placed himself in a position of meditation to heighten his mind for the anticipated riddle.
“I gots one nobody in Baator coulds guess. Whats black and whites and reds all over?” Peter quickly delved into his mind for the answer, but Merindy got there first. Of all the places she could have heard this riddle before, it was from one of her ‘children’ in her first test. She had heard it when she had decided to look at the mysterious paper her ‘husband’ was always reading.
“A newspaper!” The imp grinned in response and disappeared.
“Well, it appears you have broken our tie. That quick response even proves that you learnt something from the tests you were put through. I have finished my tenure in your testing. You may step through the fire to whatever fate is in store for you. Here, take this stone. You earned it.” He tossed a ruby-like gem to her and left the room, sealing it behind him. Merindy stepped through the flames and was instantly transported to the plane of Bytopia.

4:00 PM, 17 Eleasis
Argrath awoke with his head in his hands. He tried to look around, but he found that he had literally lost his head. This gave him so much shock that he dropped it on the ground where it rolled to a position to look up at himself.
He was a diseased, sickly color, and his skin was rotten and falling off in some places. Bone showed through one arm and stitches ran the entire length of his other. His body was wearing nothing but tattered rags.
It took a while to learn how to control his body telepathically, but he soon had it so his body stooped down and picked his head back up. He held himself close to his chest, near where his heart would have been if he were not a zombie. A sound caught his ear and tugged him from one side. His hands turned his head so he could see what it was.
A group of four adventurers was trooping down the hallway that Argrath himself was in. Not wanting to be spotted and killed, he stood back in the shadows and watched them pass. In the lead was a burly human, idly twirling his giant sword around in the air. The most obvious looking wizard Argrath had ever seen followed him. He was a tall, lanky old man with a white beard and dressed in long green robes. Behind him was a short woman wearing some bizarre contraption over her eyes and wielding a metal walking stick. Several meters behind them was a Halfling-like creature bent over with the weight of all the bags and chests on his back. The front two had just struck up an argument with the woman.
“But Piff, we’ve gotta go into this chamber. Think of all the, er, evil undead monsters we haven’t, er, given a second chance.”
“Artax is right, we have to see if there’s any more monsters to slay and treasures to steal.”
“You two are so shallow. Nodwick can hardly keep up, what with carrying everything we find. You’ve probably scared away all those naughty villains with your crashing about.” The orange dressed lady was putting up a firm stand. However, a call from the back distracted them.
“If we’re looking for treasure, how about we ask that zombie in the corner where some good stuff is. Not that I want anything more.”
“Good idea! Yeager, ‘ask’ him.” The big one grinned and shifted his sword up in his hands. Argrath began to panic and let his head do the talking.
“No! I’m new here. I don’t know where anything is. I just want to get out of here.” He looked at the woman, trying to appeal for help.
“You naughty creature! There’s no cause to lie. That’s not the way to get a head in life.”
“No, indeed. Lets hope you’re quite head strong, for your sake.” Yeager hefted his sword and brought it crashing down on Argrath the zombie. A few blank moments later, he lay on the ground in pieces. The wizard Artax was about to cast a finishing spell on him when four arms jerked out of the air and pulled the four adventurers into a strange, portal-like tear in the sky.
“The council of three-and-a-half desires words with you!” Was all the sound that was heard as they disappeared into nowhere. The pile of junk that was on the short one’s back fell crashing to the ground. Treasure and artifacts spilled every which way, including a golden key.
Argrath directed his remaining arm to crawl along the floor and snatch up the key. It started to glow at the touch of the zombie and flew up into the air towards an unknown destination, the arm with it. His foot started kicking his head down the hall like a ball to wherever the arm was going, so he could see what happened.
The key sped directly to a vaulted door, untouched by the gone adventurers. It sat in the lock with the arm hanging off of it. Argrath willed the arm to turn the key and it did so. The door creaked open and his hand scuttled inside, bearing an eyeball on an upraised finger.
The finger waved the eye around so it could see everything. In the corner was a foaming fountain, in the middle was a small potion bottle with an unreadable label, and in the other corner of the triangular room was a large, spiky devil. The rest of Argrath’s zombie body rolled, waddled, bounced, and shambled its way into the room. The door slammed behind him and a hole in the ceiling opened up.
A ray of light drifted in through the hole, blinding the undead Argrath. A being floated down the stream of light and landed on the floor. It was a bird-winged Celestial, looking intently down at the floor where Argrath’s body was congregated.
“I am here to served the bearer of the key. I am at your command,” she said in a squawky voice. Several thoughts ran through Argrath’s dead mind of what he might be able to do with such an ally. But he decided on information first.
“What are these things in the room for?” Asked half of his head, still attached to his vocal cords, which trailed on the floor. The Avoral gestured round the room in turn.
“You may choose to use one of the things in this room. The fountain is one of life. One drink and you will live forever and in perfect health, provided you are not deliberately killed. The potion in the middle is a potion of wealth. Once consumed, you may turn anything you desire into gold at will. The Hamatula in the corner will grant you your darkest desire, should you wish it. Remember that you may only use of these things. In addition, I may be commanded to perform one service, or two in exchange for not using one of these items.” Argrath let his body parts wander around the room while he considered this.
Long life, lots of money, two services, or Denthor dead. He would live long anyway due to his immortal blood, so that wasn’t really an option. He had a feeling that money was no object, and he could not think of two services. Although he could probably kill Denthor himself, if he had a weapon, Argrath decided that the Hamatula was the way to go.
At once, one of his hands scurried over to the spiked devil and indicated that it was the choice. The nervous-looking creature grinned with skeletal teeth. At once, the fountain and the bottle disappeared and the dastard began to chant. His body parts felt a pull in its direction and they were swept off in a tide of power. The body assembled itself and began living again, not as a service, but as a way to properly extract that dark desire from his heart.
Argrath expected Denthor to appear out of nowhere and fall at his feet dead, like the miraculous things that had already happened to him. But that did not happen. What happened was that he felt a tug on his soul, it strained harder and harder and then ripped from his body. The evil creature examined his soul with terrible claws. He raked through the soul, as if he was plowing a field. His corrupt hands reached the bottom of the soul and came out. Strands of white and blue film clung to its hand and the Hamatula threw them away in disgust.
The Hamatula unfurled its meaty tail and extended the spines. The tail now fissured the soul, leaving behind traces of black and red. Finished, it took the soul and rammed it back into Argrath’s body. The change was immediate, his skin grew wrinkled like a zombie, but it took on the color of evil. It was a color like none possible that could even be created with all the colors of the visible spectrum. His body warped and twisted into grotesque shapes.
Had the Ravager been a smaller and more humanoid demon, this is what it would have almost certainly looked like.
“There,” it rasped. “I gave you your most evil desire. Power! That is what I saw your soul craved. Not political power, but raw, unstoppable strength and power! Of course, such undefeatable power only comes with the most depraved evils imaginable. You had to be sown with the seeds of corruption to fully realize your potential power. I have done my service, and you are no more to me.” The creature of darkness curled up and disappeared in a cloud of infernal smog.
The Avoral turned to Argrath, noting his transformation with great distaste. It waited, and Argrath remembered that it was still to execute a service for him. Ah, execute! That was the word. The Avoral read his mind and became terrified. But, there was nothing it could do. It had to perform the service. Argrath had decided.
The Avoral stood stock still as Argrath tried out all his new infernal powers out on the angelic creature. In the end, all that remained was a single white charred feather.
The world erupted around him, and Argrath found himself swirling into nothingness and then back into reality on the plane of Bytopia. Once again, Argrath could see both sides of everything at the same time, a kaleidoscope of whirling colors. He could even see himself, but what he saw was different. He saw a three-dimensional image of himself. Not split or divided into different personalities, but a single evil-colored monster.
The Solar standing a few feet away also noted this single presence of mind. It meant that Argrath’s tests were complete. It could now complete the judgement it was assigned to do.

2:20 PM, 16 Eleasis
Abdel stood, arms crossed over his chest in front of the Entity. She tried to go around him, but he moved to block Her. Her impatience got the best of her.
“Be gone, slayer of my mother!” Abdel looked surprised at this statement.
“You?” He asked in a sepulchral voice, “you are the daughter of Amellysan the Blackhearted? You, a hollow imitation of a human are the daughter of the most spiteful being in my previous life? Ha ha ha!” The Entity was infuriated with the derisiveness of the ‘killer’ of her mother.
The Entity owed everything to Melissan. Long ago, in the pits of the abyss, Melissan’s soul had been cast down to burn for eternity in the most heated lava chambers. It was there that she met the original Entity.
A furious battle had ensued, caused by the wounded pride of Amellysan that would strike out at anything to relieve the pain. Amellysan had won, but she had no use for the power offered to her with the death of such a powerful being. A plan had crept into her mind, and she took the stolen power and added all of her own that she could spare to create a daughter, one that would bring her revenge to Abdel, beyond the grave.
And thus the new Entity had been born. Its first mission, to set up a devastating downfall for Abdel, had been a failure. As punishment for daring to break the decree made by Abdel’s solar, even though She had no choice, was that She would be reduced to a mere spirit. The spirit had survived, though and gradually gained information about a mysterious plane of elements that could give a being power over the entire world.
The first key to this chamber was gathered, and the Entity had form once again. While in spirit form, She had performed a ritual so that the keys, once in Her possession, would give Her increased powers.
It was then, after the first key, that the Entity decided to act again upon the destruction of Abdel. She learned of where he was and sent Drow assassins after him. Somehow, even without Bhaal’s power within him, Abdel had defeated the murderers. But all this activity had a downside.
The scuffle drew the attention of a Dragon, whom promptly appeared to kill Abdel. So it was that the Entity was denied Her revenge and the Dragon went home unmolested. All seemed lost. She had failed in her reason for being, but she had not yet faded away. Soon, She learned why. Abdel had had a son. How that was possible was not in the knowledge of the Entity, as his lover had perished at the claws of one of the servants of the original Five.
However, she now had a reason to exist again. She would torment Abdel’s spirit by slaying his son. Her servants had so far been unsuccessful at doing this, and now the hated spirit stood before Her. All this flashed through the Entity’s mind at the sight of the detested soul in front of Her.
“My thanks to you. You have provided me with the information I desired. I will now leave.” Abdel began to made away. He had read Her mind! The nerve! But that did not matter. The information could be of no use to the dead human. All that mattered now was getting into her chamber.
She stepped in and inserted all the keys. Now, only two remained shut. The missing Grey key of Ice, and the unknown Rainbow key of Change. They would find the Grey key next, and the Entity would finally have a Name. A Name, one of the most potent things in all of Abeir-Toril.

7:00 PM, 17 Eleasis
The solar stood tall, ready to give judgement. Merindy and Argrath stood before it. Argrath was staring intensely at the solar, and Merindy stared at Argrath, horrified at what he had become in the tests.
“First, I must congratulate both of you for fulfilling the tests. Not many could have completed them as you have done.
Now, it is my painful duty to put judgement upon both of you. Merindy. You went through the tests with relative ease, just as you claim to do with life. You adapted well in the first test, you proved you could do anything if you set your mind to it in the second test, and you answered honestly, remembered well, and proved your intelligence in the third test. All as you are in true life. You have proved your worth and value and are therefore rewarded anything of your choice. Think on it carefully, I will ask you at the end of the judgement ceremony.
Argrath. In the first test, you chose a weapon, showing your violent tendencies. In the second test, you did not show mercy, you battled poorly, and you died. In life, you claim to be nice but powerful. In test, you are terrible. In the third test, you incorrectly faced the adventuring team that found you. And in the chamber of desire, you chose the spiked devil, giving yourself unbelievable power at the price of turning completely evil. As well, your request of the Avoral was that it be a test subject for your new powers. That celestial will never come back to life after the way you decimated it. In life, you claimed to take a purely neutral view of the world. In test, you were evil. As punishment, you will seek out a specific person and turn her to good. I shall inform you on the details later.” The solar turned to Merindy. “Have you decided on your wish?” It asked.
Merindy looked at Argrath with a sick feeling in her stomach. All that she had come to love in the man was completely gone. He was now moaning to himself over the ‘futile’ task of bringing a person into the light. “Yes. I now see Argrath as he always was. I would like to – to,” she choked on her feelings for a minute and then returned with greater conviction. “I would like to have my perfect match. I want true love.” At this statement, Argrath sneered at her and went back to complaining. The solar nodded its approval. With a wave of the hand, three men appeared.
“Each one of these is a perfect match for you, given enough time. I do not wish you to hurry, but please choose.” Merindy studied the men. One was staring off into the distance, his finger up his nose.
“Neober, oh Neober. What have you got yourself into this time?” He mumbled to himself. “Even Noober and poor brother Neeber couldn’t have got themselves into this much of a scrape.” Merindy shook her head no. It would certainly take a long time to get used to that one. She looked at the next. A man in a long bearskin jacket stood before her, looking interested. Merindy could see the appeal in him, but she decided to see the final person first.
“Raldoth!” She cried. For it was, indeed, the gnome she had met in her second test. She flung her arms around the little man and declared her choice.
The solar was satisfied. Its work was nearly done. It dismissed Merindy and Raldoth to the material world and turned to Argrath.
This was going to be a hard trip.

CHAPTER 4

8:00 PM, 17 Eleasis
The solar faced Argrath, its impassive eyes like great saucers of inky darkness. It studied Argrath, trying to decide what precisely it was going to have to say in order to convince him of his quest.
Argrath sat off to himself, grumbling about the injustices of life, and how he would get revenge when he was more powerful. Still too weak, still too weak, that was all that was going through his mind. Unfortunately for him, the solar was listening in on him.
“You. Foul beast, you must pay attention.” Argrath turned his scorn upon the godly servant.
“Bah! I pay attention and I will be sent off to who knows what hell and likely not return alive. No gain in it at all, except killing people.” The newly self-serving Argrath was only interested in one thing: himself.
“Oh, but you will obey. You will obey or die. Jakarasta, bashecthon, walmk, jridon, opthalium. GEAS!” The powerful celestial finished the spell that would ensure cooperation from its charge. “You will perform this deed, to travel into the depths of the Abyss and find the monk Quicksilver. You will convince her to turn over to the powers of light and accompany you back to the material realm, or die trying. You will also die if you do not comply. This is a holy geas, not some feeble wizarding or clerical cantrip. And I assure you, ah…” the solar stopped in its tirade, as if on the edge of revealing forbidden information. “I assure you your death would be disastrous to your continued existence.”
Argrath felt the geas pulling at him, refusing him to give in to his selfish desires. It was a struggle, but he finally agreed to the solar’s terms. He felt the now all too familiar shifting as his body once again traversed the planes.

9:00 PM, 17 Eleasis
His eyes slowly shifted out of focus, and then back into the real world to view the current layer of the Abyss. A demonic sight reached his eyes, a gray wasteland filled with bursting and bubbling pustules of lava.
A sulphurous odor assaulted his nose, waging a minor war within his olfactory chambers. There was not much life here, just some minor demons, all too eager to scamper out of the way of this powerful incarnation of the Lord of Murder. If this was different than all the other infinite layers of the Abyss, then it would be the perfect one to hide an evil monastery.
Without any alternative, Argrath tramped across the gray desert sand to investigate the nearest abscess of magma. No steps led down into this one, no hidden levers were activated upon his approach. Of course, it could not be that easy to find a monastery that did not want to be found. Argrath needed information.
The only source of information that Argrath’s tainted mind could come up with was the true name of a demon. But he only knew one of those, Grasktu, and that fiend was dead.
“Demon! Show yourself and make useful! As a child of Bhaal, I command a demon to come and give me information!” His voice rang out like a cracked bell over the frothing noises of the molten rock. A few minor midges slavishly crawled up to him in obedience. No major demons, the ones that would be of most help, came. Of course it was entirely possible that no major demons presided over this domain. The weak fleshlings would have to do.
“You three disgusting slugs, you will give me information I need. How do I find and enter the monastery of which Quicksilver resides?”
“Oh mighty Bhaalspawn, we have no knowledge of the one named Quicksilver, though there is indeed a monastery upon this plane.”
“Yes, those vile monks have been a pestering nuisance to us, all because they think they are ‘higher life’ than us.”
“But you, oh master, you know our value do you not?” The midges took it in turns to speak. Argrath never heard the other two that weren’t speaking make a single noise while the other spoke.
“I will know your value based on your information. If it worthless, then you are too.” Argrath decided that a thinly veiled threat was what was needed to intimidate these worms into giving information.
“That is a good attitude.”
“Indeed, that is the best attitude to finding out that the monastery lies at the bottom of the biggest north bubble.”
“I concur. You would certainly find out that you only have to say Gager Nathlos to pass safely through the lava.”
“You have been of use, so you will live. I have one last request, you will tell me the true names of all the major demons of the nearby area.” Argrath still desired to have knowledge of a demon, for future help.
“He wants to know the Name?”
“Doesn’t know what he is getting in to.”
“Should we tell him?”
“YOU WILL TELL ME IF YOU VALUE YOUR CONTINUED EXISTENCE!” Argrath thundered.
“Impatient he is.”
“Fraghar would not approve.”
“Why does he want the name I wonder?”
“Fraghar. I suppose he is the only major lord around here.” Argrath stopped as he realized the consequences of saying the name right now. The three midges stepped back fearfully and began to dissolve away. From the smoke and ash rising out of the rapidly disintegrating body, a ghastly face loomed and grinned a most evil smile.

8:30 PM, 17 Eleasis
The Entity stood before her ensemble of villains and monsters. She had just charged them to use all resources to find the missing Grey key. Torture the deceased spirit, scry on locations, meld with minds, and enslave others to carry on the search, everything was allowed to her minions. The lesser troops left the room and She surveyed her generals.
D’alorako was dead, destroyed in the torture chambers of her Mistress. Now, the beholder, a more fearsome and dependable ally, led her Drow forces. Her demon subject was not present, presumably away at some function. Her doppelganger was present, still recuperating from wounds, the two lizardfolk captains were slain by her sworn enemy, her gnome council member ally Pedras was present, and her newest acquisition was in attendance.
Denthor looked around nervously at his companions. He had been approached the day earlier to join in this crusade against Argrath. Apparently, the death of his foe by his hand was inconsequential. But he could do much for this ‘Entity.’ He now had influences with the top guildmaster of the thieves guild, a power that would go a long way. He struggled internally, trying to keep his forces under control.
The glimmerskin, whom he had accepted into his body the night before the infamous party, was now caged within him. A flicker of a smile crossed his face as he remembered how the creature had helped his powers in his battle with his nemesis. But he was not the only one with a personal vendetta involved.
The Entity, of course, was dead set against Argrath. But Pedras, a council member who had run afoul of the now involved Harador was also in this for personal gains. And of course the wounded Doppelganger wanted revenge again on Merindy.
All evidence now pointed to the imminent arrival of Merindy, from where was not known. However, she might be in possession of information on where the gray key might lie. The doppelganger would confront her once again and finish the botched job.
The doppelganger, Korhiris, was exceedingly annoyed at this view. He had executed the woman perfectly, and now they said he had botched the job! Well, he’d show them!
Pedras, the influential council member, was to use subterfuge to undermine his rival Harador and cause the downfall of a potential powerful ally of Argrath. After all, everybody connected to the half-elf would be killed eventually. It was just to the fortune of Pedras that it would be he that would eliminate his political enemy.
Everybody had a role, and the Entity wanted everybody to succeed. Argrath would die alone and helpless.

6:00 AM, 18 Eleasis
Merindy arrived on the scene of a disaster. She and Raldoth had walked hand in hand together to Merindy’s inherited home to find it a smoldering ruin. From the gibbering gawkers, they gathered a monstrous flying creature with the head of a goat, lion and dragon had destroyed it. Presumably, it was the dragon head that destroyed the home.
Merindy groped at her side for the ring that held her heirloom green key as well as the others they had collected. It was not there. A horrified thought took her that they might have been inside the home when it burned down. But… hadn’t they been on her when she died? The doppelganger! It must have taken them from her.
While formulating ways to find out where the doppelganger resided to get back the keys, Merindy and Raldoth walked towards the foreign district to go to Argrath’s home. Since he was travelling on the planes, he wouldn’t need it. The old Argrath would have even offered shelter to them. But as far as Merindy was now concerned, the old Argrath was dead and the new one an imposter. The home would be theirs.
The two passed the Ring Park, when Merindy started to think of all the keys she knew of. The Green, Pink, Orange, Blue, White, and Aqua keys were on the ring; now stolen. The red and yellow were destroyed. As of now, the brown, black, purple, gray and rainbow keys were unknown. They passed the Embassy of Chessenta and arrived at number 17.
The two went inside and made themselves at home. Or, at least, Raldoth made himself at home. Merindy was still upset over the loss of her home.
“This is fantastic! Can you imagine all the things I could create in this place?” Raldoth was raving on about the house. From beneath his cape he produced a small case. He opened it and began taking out tinkering tools.
“What’s so different about the place? You can create the same things anywhere with the same materials, regardless of the place.”
“But not magic ones! This place has atmosphere. Sort of like cousin Jan’s turnip cellar, except not as starchy. The magic in the air can help me imbue special things with magic.” Merindy hadn’t heard anything about this cousin when she had been living with him in the future.
“What can you make in here?” She asked curiously, knowing that in all probability if she asked him about his cousin, he would go into a long, rambling story.
“Many, many things. But – oh, I’ll say no more. It will be a surprise for you.” He immediately strung up a curtain and went to work.

10:00 PM, 17 Eleasis
Fraghar loomed ominously in a red cloud above Argrath. The Zovvut grinned and began to slip out of its gaseous form and into a corporeal form. Out of the gas began to form two wings. The dirty feathers flapped and brought the mist down towards the dust that passed as the ground on this plane. Massive, muscular arms erupted suddenly out of the mist, the ferocious three blade-like claws on each hand seemed to pull back the smog and allow a head to form. The blanched skull, with three glowing red eyes smirked as the rest of the pale body formed. The massive creature fell to the ground on its two massive pillars for feet, causing the entire layer of the abyss to tremble.
“You have called,” it roared in its throaty tongue. Although Argrath spoke only common, he found he could understand this abyssal dialect. “I understand your reasons for calling me. I will help you find the monk, in return for a favor.” Argrath was unafraid of any favor it might ask. If it came to be that he could not, or would not, fulfill this request, he could always kill the monster.
“Yes, I agree to your demand. Show me the way, and I will slaughter.” A glint came into Argrath’s eye; he could already smell the stench of death. The Zovvut admired the evil spirit within this one. It would enjoy the slaughter.
“Good. You will fight me once we are finished our business. On to the north bubble. Oh, don’t look surprised, but I am the only demon on this level. The midges were extensions of me. You actually think the monks would leave any threats alive? Bah! Follow.” The demon tromped off towards the distant bubble, Argrath in tow. He didn’t like being the one following; it would be a pleasure to grant the vile thing’s wish once they had found Quicksilver.
As the two hiked on to the entrance, a little demon popped its head out of the ground and watched them go. The furry red monster burrowed back into the dirt to tell his mistress that intruders were on their way.

11:00 PM, 17 Eleasis
“GAGER NATHLOS!” Fraghar screamed at the giant globule that had just floated up from the crater. It floated down towards them and extended part of itself as a tube inside. Argrath hurried to get in first, while the behemoth followed the entrance stretching magically to accommodate the massive bulk.
The entrance popped behind them and they floated down with the extra weight into the boiling cesspool below. They floated through a mile of magma until they reached the glowing cavern below. It reached on for as far as the eye could see, much grander than any city of the Underdark could ever offer. Balconies were slung from ceiling to pillars everywhere. Hanging effortlessly off of the many bridges hung all over the place were large, ornate homes, connected only by thin string so that they swayed gently in the sulphurous breezes that wafted through the cave.
Stalactites and stalagmites studded the floor and hung from an invisible roof, it was so far away. Regular stone huts dotted the ground, tunnels of rock extending from each one to other houses. Poles were erected at regular intervals to support a massive net that hung over the monastery. But the most noticeable feature of this entire miniature city was the fortress standing smack dab in the middle of the cavern. It was here that the demon led Argrath.
Regular tieflings and other denizens of the planes parted way for the two powerful beings. Then, the two enormous ironclad gates of the fortress swung open without a squeak. Inside were row after row after row of monks. They swarmed out like a hive of bees; indeed, some of them even had the power of levitation.
Fraghar braced himself for the assault, but Argrath charged right in. He willingly let the fury of Bhaal concentrate in whatever was left of his soul and exploded with power. The miniature Slayer form that was his natural grew, quadrupling in size. The Zovvut lifted his gaze slightly upward to meet the insectoid eye of the beast. He grinned his skeletal smile and ripped into the progressing monks.
Grabbing several monks at a time in his massive blades, Fraghar used them as bludgeons to batter into the other monks. Occasionally, he would stop and let his wilting gaze decimate ranks of this army.
Argrath, the brute fiend, used his many arms to snatch the ordered men and shove them into his drooling maw. The crunch of bones was constant as he literally ate into the files of the never-ending battalion. Those that couldn’t be crammed into his mouth were torn asunder and tossed aside like wrapping. The wrapping of a most delicious monk cake.
One monk had the right strategy. He crept out of sight and used his powers to blend in with the shadows of the complex. Even though Argrath could fully smell the monk, it was if it was out of sight, out of mind. He crept around the back of the crab-like carapace that protected the Argrath-fiend. He leapt onto the back and started and started pounding grievous injuries to the monster.
It was then that a previously unknown power came into action for Argrath. The wounds splintered his shell, but they sealed right up again. The legendary regeneration of his grandfather had arrived in its only living incarnation. One of the eight arms snaked backwards and tore the monk from his back, shattering every bone in the man’s body.
Fraghar noticed this awesome regeneration and noted that the Entity was right in saying that he would need the red and black runes carved into the swords that were his hands. Oh, well. That would be later, there were hated monks to slaughter now.
Eventually, after several waves of attacks that almost always ended up looking like an explosion of human flesh, all the monks lay dead on the ground. Argrath’s right mind crept back into his skull and remembered that none of the monks he had slain were female. ‘Her’ the solar had said. If there was one thing this new Argrath was good at, it was attention to detail. The monk must still be located inside. The two clambered inside and took a bearing on the strange place they appeared to be in.

12:30 AM, 20 Eleasis
Merindy was continually exploring, these days. She was always hunting around for information on where she could find the doppelganger with the missing keys, other keys, or the Drow that had wanted the stone she now carried in her pocket. Raldoth was always at home, working on his surprise.
Merindy turned the corner into an avenue, again looking futilely for any help. What she found shocked her. A furnace had obviously been set up here, as a large opening into the wall was filled with merrily blazing flames. A few instruments generally used at a forge lay around on the ground. Why had a forge been set up in an alley where anybody could get to it? She walked towards it, but bumped into an invisible wall. Maybe that was the secret. She felt along the wall for any hidden entrance, but found nothing.
She was on her way for another feel along the topmost she could reach when she tripped over something. She started to fall sprawling, but her training enabled her to tuck into a roll and come to her feet unharmed. Looking down to see what had tripped her, she noticed what had eluded her eyes before. A dwarf, lying dead on the ground behind the wall had his hand stretched out onto the other side of the wall.
Merindy bent down to take a look and noticed something shiny in the hand. She tried to pry the hand open, but the death-grip held on tight. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed that the furnace had disappeared, leaving a reclining chair in its place.
She wanted to investigate, but she had caught her hand in the dead one. A shudder ran through her as she tugged to get free from the corpse. Nothing doing, so she sadly drew her wakizashi with her free hand. It saddened her to have to do this to a dead person, but she had to get free sometime. She slashed the blade into the unyielding skin of the dwarf and chipped a notch out of her blade. The thing was stone hard. A though occurred to her and she invoked her protection charm. The shell of abjuring energy crept around her and forced the hand off of her. She slipped it out and wiggled her fingers to get the circulation back. She took off the amulet, ending the protection spell and sat back to contemplate her problem.
The chair had again shifted, this time leaving a head of a Nethersight Mastiff behind. Merindy quickly jabbed her blade into the hand and levered the shining object out of the hand. It broke in half, with one flying out into the air, and the other remaining completely covered in the folds of dead skin. The piece flickered through the air, Merindy waiting for it to come down to her. But the crystal shard, as she could now see what it was, changed direction and plummeted towards the wall. Merindy leaped to grab it, but again it switched the way it was falling and went up.
Exasperated, Merindy chucked a shuriken at the crystal and it stuck, the dead weight making it fall straight down. She caught it in one hand. When she examined it closely, she saw the razor edge that she had created when it snapped, and another sharp end. It had clearly been broken off already.
An idea snuck its way into her mind. Holding the shard forth, she walked straight through the invisible barrier. The world shifted about her, the colors becoming precisely inverse. The now light blue flickering flames of the fire roared out a bit, beckoning her to step inside. The dancing of the flames had a hypnotic effect on her; she could feel herself being drawn towards them.
A pure white pincer reached out of the flames and snapped at her, the pain brought Merindy back to reality. No way would she go near there!
But slowly, she decided she would go near the pincer. She approached it freely, and the pincer snapped out! But at the last moment, it zipped back into the fire. Something strange was going on here. Everything was changing. She changed her mind, the pincer changed its course, the furnishings had changed, and the key had kept on changing direction in mid-air.
That could only mean one of several things. But the most relevant one might be that the key of change was located here. Right then, she changed her mind about looking for the key and started to leave. It occurred to her that the key could change anything that was not in its best interest. But, the key withheld from changing her mind again, and she had to leave. She looked back at the invisible wall and the dead dwarf. If she could get a piece of the crystal out, so could somebody else.
In reverence to the dead, and to keep other people from accessing the alley, she put the body into a sitting position behind a table. The body would probably change its position, but at least it was now where nobody but she could reach it.

10:00 AM, 20 Eleasis
The doppelganger crept along the streets in the guise of an old cripple. He strategically formed his clothing to show that he had absolutely nothing to hide, eliminating any chance of being taken by thieves. He slowly reached the alley where the Entity had said the key of change might lie. Crouching behind a barrel of waste, he peeked his head around and watched the dwarf within the alley going about his business. The bellows was there, the flames roaring while the dwarf fueled it on with coal from a constantly disappearing pile.
The doppelganger then began to shift into the form of a dwarf. Long, jagged cuts etched themselves into his arms, an eye failed to appear, bloodstains caked on the torn rags, and the beard appeared sizzled. Korhiris crawled out from behind the barrel, moaning.
The dwarf jumped at the sight of him.
“By Moradin’s hammer! What happened to you, friend?” He dashed out of his sanctuary and helped the imposter to his feet. Supporting him with one arm, they walked through the invisible wall. The dwarf, Gerhas, helped the fake to a cushy armchair and began to rummage in a cupboard for healing salves.
Korhiris snickered to himself. He silently drew his complex katar from his belt. It was a pity he did not have the dagger with him when he confronted Merindy! But he’d soon show the brat once more who was the best. His feet shifted to the silent pads of a Halfling as he crept up behind Gerhas.
“Well, I’ve found something that’ll hold off the wounds for a while -” his words were cut short as Korhiris rammed the punching dagger into his back, twisted it, released the hidden triple blades and tore out a hunk of dwarven flesh. Gerhas just had time to grip his crystal for protection when he fell down to the ground, arm outstretched. He rolled over to see the katar dive into his stomach, extinguishing his life force.
The doppelganger reached for the crystal in his hand, needing it in case the shapeshifter ever needed to return. But the dead man’s hand didn’t budge. Korhiris shaped back into his true shape and then began to shift again. He had developed the art so much that he could shift different parts of his body into different things, a feat many doppelgangers could not even begin to attempt. His hand hardened into the diamond-hard claws of a frost salamander. He reached for the crystal with the icicle-like talons and accidentally snapped a chunk off of it. Instead of putting it in his pocket, he swallowed the lump so only he could access the alley.
Korhiris began scouting around the alley for clues as to where the key might be. He was so absorbed in his work that he didn’t notice the second dwarf returning.
Noticing his dead compatriot, Bebrob began preparing a spell for the intruder. As much as he didn’t like the old duffer, blood had to be repaid with blood. Or… because this was important work they were doing, blood could be repaid with much worse. Canceling his spell, Berob noted the frantic movements of the imposter as he moved around. Obviously working for somebody. And likely, that somebody wouldn’t be too pleased if their servant came back with no memory of failure.
A few gestures and an arcane word were all that it took for the dwarven bard to enter the mind of Korhiris. Berob scouted around inside his head for a while, the doppelganger protesting all the time. He found what he was looking for and nearly lost his concentration. This was a big secret. The two stood there for two hours, the amount of time it took for Berob to eliminate all the memories needed to cause this ‘Entity’ to be severely displeased with Her servant.
Finally, Berob broke off his concentration and the Greater Modify Memory spell was completed. He shook off a raven that had alighted on his back and brushed some dung out of his matted hair. He turned to leave for other business, but Korhiris bounded forward and stuck the katar right through Berob’s heart. Evidently, Berob had neglected to eliminate the memory that Korhiris was to kill any witnesses. It didn’t matter that the shapeshifter couldn’t recall why.

8:00 AM, 18 Eleasis
With the battle with the monks over, the two compatriots in evil entered the monastery. It was sparsely decorated and marble gleamed everywhere. A large statue dominated the center of the foyer; it’s stern face glaring down at the intruders. But what was most evident was that there were no staircases anywhere. No means of getting from one floor of the giant hall to the next.
The means by which they could traverse these great gaps quickly became apparent to them. A second step into the entrance lifted them lightly into the air. Floundering a bit at first, Argrath quickly mastered this new mode of transportation. His magical experience told him that the entire insides of this place must be under a permanent spell of Fly.
The two glided around the halls, looking fruitlessly. No monks were left alive, leaving a silence more eerie than probably existed when the monks wandered the place. A sudden rush bowled Argrath over in midair, his head snapping at an angle to catch an image of what it was. Another rushed past, farther away this time. Slowly following them was a dented blue globe floating softly along. Argrath kicked his legs and delivered a kick to the side of the thing. It shattered into thousands of smaller globes, each spinning off in a different direction. It was then that Argrath noticed the warning torch in the wall now flickering a gentle orange.
A slow thunder rolled in from the distance, growing louder and higher. Argrath looked up the chute in the wall the objects had come out of and quickly backpedaled. But he was not fast enough as blue lances and globes of all sizes came roaring down the chute and smacked Argrath in the chest. Not paying attention to anything else, Argrath treaded air as he tried to escape the cascade of blue. He was taken along with the channel until he smacked into a large pillar that the balls bounced around. He crawled up it while the orbs jolted below him. Resting in midair, he noticed that he was extremely damp.
He shook himself in midair and millions of tiny blue droplets flew out from him. It slowly began to dawn on his that this would probably be how water behaved with no gravity to pull it down. The demon floated up beside him, amusedly eyeing his soaked form.
“The monk we seek lies within the pillar!” Fraghar yelled above the noise of the water. Argrath wondered how that could be so, but remembered something his father had told him about monks being able to slip through solid materials at very high experience levels.
The form of the Ravager came quickly once again to him. While the water pounded at his back, the monster began tearing chunks of marble out of the pillar wall in front of it.
Inside the pillar, the meditating monk and her master stood silently, preparing themselves for the coming battle. It came quicker than expected. Chunks of marble exploded into the small chamber as a demonic arm crashed a hole through the pillar, snatched up the master’s most prized student, and retracted itself, causing the entire pillar to collapse on the head of the master.
Argrath slowly slipped back into his natural form as the girl watched. His brain adjusted slowly to the fact that the girl was familiar to him. He had fought her twice before. Quicksilver floated impassively as Argrath finally returned to normal. Her gaze was cool as Fraghar lumbered up to face them. She did not even bat an eyelid as her familiar, the red-haired demon burrowed up through the marble flooring to float beside its master.

1:00 PM, 20 Eleasis
Pedras angrily paced his chamber, his cloth-wrapped feet occasionally tripping up on the roughly hewn stone floor of the council’s hall. Orange hair bobbed at the back of his head as he shook it in frustration about the earlier council meeting. Harador had once again managed to thwart him! What was it the man had against keeping slaves?
The door creaked open slowly, leaving just enough space for a dark shadow to slip in.
“Are you ready?” Pedras asked. Silently, the figure nodded its head. “Harador MUST NOT live to see the morrow.” Pedras began to think about the next meeting. The final one that everyone agreed would decide whether slavery was to be legally permitted or not. A momentous event either way.
The shadow slipped back out of the room, not asking about money. It would be enough just to kill something. And besides, money didn’t matter when you couldn’t spend it anyway. When you were undead.

2:00 PM, 20 Eleasis
Harador reclined in his seat, allowing enough room for Silidain to sit on his lap. The two faces met and several minutes of passionate kissing followed. For all of the human race’s faults, thought Silidain, this one makes them all up. Of course, she’d never consider having kids with him. Just think of the little half-elf abominations they might create! No, simply being with him for the rest of his life was fine. She could always find a male elf afterwards to start a family with.
The kisses over, they just relaxed against each other, reveling in the hot, damp breaths of the other. The Dark Shadow watched this from the crack underneath the door that led to the dark basement of Harador’s manor. Calling on its innate powers, it began to dim the light of the room to prepare for its arrival. Intent on each other, Harador and Silidain did not notice.
Soon, it was sufficiently dark enough for the Dark
Shadow to slip from beneath the door and cross the floor to Harador’s shadow without being blasted from existence by the light. It slipped its cold digits around Harador’s neck and squeezed with its incorporeal hands. The hands passed right through, but left a reminder.
Harador gasped and collapsed under his woman as his strength began to melt away. Silidain gave the most girlish shriek that she had given in a VERY long time. Harador managed to leap out of the chair and grope about for his weapon, but the dark shape rose out of his shadow and attacked from behind. Harador had now barely the strength to lift his favored warhammer.
The world began to swim before his eyes, growing darker than the room. The Dark Shadow kept its hold on his neck, continually draining him, preparing him for life as a fellow shade. It felt a wisp of something go through it and relinquished its hold to see what had happened.
Silidain was wielding her Moonblade like a maniac, slicing away at the incorporeal form. Noting that the weapon did not appear to be able to hurt it, it focused back on its target. Silidain quickly spoke an incantation of power over her blade and once again swung it through the shade. This time it ripped solidly through the shadow-flesh. If it could have screamed, the Dark Shadow would have.
It swung at Silidain, piercing her light blouse and sapping the strength from within. In her rage, Silidain did not even know what happened. She just hacked at the shadow to the best of her ability. Slash after slash, she desiccated the undead monster. In her lust for the kill, she almost struck out at Harador once the thing was dead, but her love for him brought her back to reality.
Exhausted, she fell down, the strength damage finally taking its toll. Through bleary eyes Harador noted their condition and began a prayer to restore them. Halfway through, he completely collapsed on the floor. They lay there together until Sven, Harador’s servant, found them on the next morn.

2:00 PM, 20 Eleasis
Merindy arrived back at her home after an hour walk back from the alley where she found the crystal. The door felt warm to her touch, and upon opening it a rush of heat mingled with the smell of oil assaulted her. The curtain in the middle of the room bobbed up and down to the noise of a mumbling gnome. Occasional puffs of steam rose up to soak the ceiling from behind the veil.
“Eureka! Oh, she’ll LOVE this!” Yelled a happy voice. The curtain parted and the head of Raldoth poked out. “Oh, hello Merry. You’ll just have to ‘scuze me for a sec.” The head disappeared and the sounds of a hasty cover-up erupted. ‘Merry’ stepped inside and closed the door, noting the now peeling paint in her home.
She sat down on a soggy sofa and then got up again, curious as to see what her boyfriend was doing. But before she got to the ragged red curtain, it parted and Raldoth bustled out, wiping his oily hands on a dirty brown rag.
“So what am I going to love? You haven’t invented something else for me, have you?” She asked teasingly. Her hand loving rubbed the ruby talisman in her pocket he had made for her that improved the charisma of the person wielding it. Her face instantly brightened and she became twice as lovely (if that’s possible) as before.
“Oh, you don’t need my talisman to make ME love you,” Raldoth said, noting the effects. “You’re fine the way you are. But as for my… work over there, you’ll have to wait. It’s not quite finished yet.” He came over and gave her a greasy hug around the middle. Merindy smiled, knowing that their bond of elf and gnome was very rare in the Realms.
“So… what did you go out to do? Did you find anything yet?” He asked her.
“Yeah. I found where the key of change is, but I can’t get to it yet. I’ll have to try again tomorrow.” She moved, holding his hand, to another room, where the furniture wasn’t quite so soaked with steam. She noted a small wire sticking out of a covered up corner for later. She bent down to give Raldoth a kiss.
Winking cheekily, he made an elegant pose and puckered up. But, the lips never reached. Bumping into Raldoth’s iron eyeshade, she fell to the floor and slipped along a bit of oil to the wall. The soggy, steam-soaked floor collapsed beneath her and she fell through the rotten boards into the sewers below.
Raldoth’s anxious head popped out over the hole to see what had happened. Wiping refuse from her brow, she grinned sheepishly up at him, and he grinned back. Out of Raldoth’s cloak came a bag out of which he pulled a ladder. Down it went and Merindy climbed back up it. While she went to take a shower, Raldoth stuffed the ladder back into his personal storage plane.
He reclined against the foot of an armchair, considering Merindy. It was to his great luck that she chose him, but obviously that Argrath was her first choice. He’d really have to get cracking on inventions to make her forget about how much she loved her previous boyfriend and focus entirely on him. Mmmm. Focused all on him… What a fantastic idea.

3:00 PM, 20 Eleasis
Pedras could wait no longer. An hour had passed, and if the Dark Shadow had done its job, it should have reported back by now. So, with a guard, he set forth to find information on Harador’s status as alive or dead.
Riding through the Anvil neighborhood to Harador’s estate, he spotted something out of the corner of his eye. He motioned for the guard to stop the carriage and peered out of the curtained window. His slave runners stood panting in the front of the carriage, but beyond that was something interesting.
Pedras exited the coach and kicked the closest slave on his way. Towards him came a slightly lilting dwarf, ears twitching back and forth from elven to orcen. It smiled sloppily and started to sing a foreign song. Pedras stood nonplussed, waiting for the thing to acknowledge him. He started to pay attention to the words, sung in a language that Pedras knew. The secret language of one working for the Entity!
“What the blazes do you think you are doing, speaking like that?” He hissed in undercommon. All the Entity’s servants knew the subterranean language in addition to Entitarian and their native language. It was magically instilled in them.
“Oh don’t worry, I’m just a rambler.” He replied in slurry common. Something about the two-toned voice struck a familiar chord in Pedras’ mind.
“Korhiris? Shouldn’t you be back at the hold?” He asked the doppelganger in undercommon. There was no use in letting anybody listening in on any more than necessary.
“Whooz he? I’m just rambling. You want to ramble?” This sort of banter normally infuriated Pedras, but this member of the Entity’s organization was to valuable to lose. He ushered the changing dwarf into his carriage and directed the guard back to home. The guard didn’t say anything, but he thought there was something mighty peculiar about this scenario.
The calash sped back to Pedras’ mansion where the two quickly rushed inside to his room. Pressing a knot on the wooden frame of his full-length mirror, he entered the plane of the Entity through the shimmering glass.
Bursting in on a patrol, the four involved tumbled to the rocky floor. Two tough orcs, scavenged from some corner of Faerun, scrambled to their feet and hastily took out their spears, which they had never had cause to use before in the totalitarian society of the Entity.
Pedras brushed them aside with a command word, part of a system of magic only powerful within the plane of the Entity, giving great power to anybody that knew it and great disadvantage to any intruder.
At the entrance to the main chamber, a Thri-Kreen guard blocked their path, explaining that the entity was busy. So, Pedras hustled the memory-incapacitated doppelganger off to a side room to await intervention from the Entity. She would not be pleased.

5:00 PM, 20 Eleasis
The Entity stood alone in the center of the main chamber. Lines of power were drawn in concentric circles around Her; arcane symbols etched in intervals indicating levels of power. She began to gesture wildly, but slowly calming down to a fine rhythm. Magic words spilled from Her mouth, surrounding Her in a white glow. For ten minutes this went on, each two minutes, another color adding itself to the kaleidoscope. At the ten-minute mark, all the colors burst and erupted into an eye above Her head, slowly opening. A red beam escaped the lid and swept around the room. Eventually, it came to rest on a spot. The Entity relaxed and allowed the red light to flow into her mind. Images of places flashed through her mind, speeding faster than the speed of light, fading in and out between every single inch of Toril.
The pictures came to a stop on a single place. Cold swept through the Entity as Her view zoomed in to a single, tiny location on the globe. At last, within her sights was now the icy cold Gray Key of Ice.

10:00 AM, 18 Eleasis
“You must join us because it is the only way you will survive. The only way you can gain Power. The only way that will make us leave your world.” Argrath was negotiating with the monk woman.
“Quicksilver does not make deals. I will fight, and I will win.” She was stubbornly refusing to leave her dark tendencies. Argrath had no desire to change her mind, but it was decreed by the solar.
“What, if anything, can I possibly do to convince you to leave the darkness and join my side?” Argrath asked. Fraghar was getting bored with the whole procedure. He wanted to kill something, but had to content himself with scratch doodling on the marble walls of the monastery. He had drawn many scenes of slaughtered monks, and a couple as him as the most powerful demon in the abyss, all others bowing down before him. Especially the ones that could not physically bow. They had expressions of extreme agony on their demonic faces.
“Well, nothing. I would leave this place, but to live a life of goodness? Phaw. I would rather die than become a goodie-two-shoes mewling kind person. But perhaps, you could convince me in another way,” she said eyeing him. At that moment the master monk unearthed himself from the marble rubble. Coughing up dust, he was immediately snatched up by Fraghar, glad of something to kill.
Argrath and Quicksilver went off to talk about their proposed deal whilst Fraghar had his fun. Holding the squirming, powerful monk, he squeezed and relaxed his hand while flicking the head with one of his claws. The monk started to struggle, and in his excitement, Fraghar squeezed a little too hard and flicked a little too strongly and the monk’s head flew off, smacking into a wall some 100 meters distant.
Disgusted that his new toy broke so soon, Fraghar started sharpening his claws on the marble in preparation for the battle to come. Soon Argrath and Quicksilver came back. Resisting all attempts to find out what the deal had included, Argrath simply explained that the mission had succeeded. Indeed, a healthier look hovered about Quicksilver now, an inner glow that seemed to radiate peace and goodness. The only time this mood shattered was when she looked disgustedly at the evil creature that Argrath was.
This was the revelation that Fraghar had been waiting for. He righted himself up in mid-air and stretched. He almost wished the Entity had given him instructions to slaughter Argrath immediately instead of following him on this fool’s errand. For only fools would become good.
Argrath looked at Fraghar expectantly. The deal had been that once the mission was complete, they would fight. And fight they would. Fraghar lanced his body through the air, bladed claws outstretched. Argrath floated, grinning. He now knew the powers of his regeneration. The claws were just about to pierce his body when something struck his mind, making him consider that caution was always advisable.
He glided out of the way, the claw only grazing his arm. But the pain! The unbearable, incredible pain! He gasped as he realized that the wounds weren’t sealing, and that Fraghar could do real damage to him. It was probably something about the red runes on the pearly white claws.
Fraghar roared out an incantation, unafraid of his adversary learning what he was doing. But it was an unknown spell, so Argrath prepared for the worst. A sonic burst rolled over him, seemingly leaving him unharmed. He began his transformation into the slayer, his favorite weapon.
But something blocked him. He felt the rage, he felt the anger, but it couldn’t be released. That was what the spell was! A spell to block transformations. Well, he had more than one favored weapon. He drew the Equalizer from his back and symbolically blew the dust off, to welcome this blade back after many days of non-use.
He raised the blade to strike but it burned in his hand. Ignoring the pain, he swung around, using his momentum to hurl himself through the air at Fraghar. He slashed at him as he blew by, the sword leaving a thin trail of blood droplets hanging in the air. The pain of the sword was now unbearable; the blade was simply rejecting its evil owner, being a blade of true neutrality.
Fraghar pivoted in midair and slashed at Argrath, leaving long, dark lines of floating blood in the air. Argrath dropped his sword and grasped at his only remaining advantage: his spells. It had been a while since he had had to use magic. His hands tingled with the impending release of energy, beginning to crackle as the magic began to form to his desire, finally erupting in a storm of lightning.
Fraghar saw the chain lightning coming and used an innate ability to instantly teleport behind Argrath. The electricity came bounding backwards to strike, running through their caster and bouncing harmlessly off the magic resistant hide of the target. Roaring with glee, Fraghar sliced at the exposed flank of his enemy, leaving spray patterns of blood hanging in the air.
Then Quicksilver decided to get involved. A person in distress, no matter if they were as evil as the one she now protected, deserved her help. Adept at moving in this gravity-less environment from the long years of living there, she perfectly maneuvered herself to the back of Fraghar. Twisting her fist into a strange shape, she nailed the demon as he was slowly turning around.
She launched herself through the air, performing a backflip to float in front of the stunned monstrosity’s face. She launched a volley of incredibly fast kicks, so fast that the light did not have enough time to create a shadow.
Fraghar recovered from the stunning blow and called on another ability of his. A feeling of helplessness washed over the monk and she floated there, despairing. Fraghar turned to attack Argrath and get a mouthful of fire. Erupting inside his mouth, the fireball scorched his insides, rupturing veins.
He belched and a cloud of smoke came out. Argrath whipped out his fastest spell, a lance of ice that pierced the thick white skin of his enemy. Fraghar was now absolutely sick of this fight and started to do something that he would normally have done right at the beginning of the battle.
The color washed out of Argrath’s face as he felt the gaze of Fraghar drain him of energy. He half-heartedly began to cast a magic missile, in hopes that it might overcome the enemy’s spell resistance. He seemed to move in slow motion, forming the hand movements to produce the bolt of energy. Fraghar intensified his stare and Argrath faltered altogether with his spell.
At that moment Quicksilver recovered from her despair and saw what was happening. Reaching in her only pocket of her simple robe, she pulled out a black bar. She squeezed it and a trident appeared in her hands. Monks did not usually carry weapons and none of them carried two-handed weapons. Quicksilver was the exception.
She rammed the three tines into the base of the dirty feather wings, making Fraghar scream in agony. The eye contact of Fraghar’s drain was broken, but it had been long enough to completely heal all the previous wounds to his body. His third eye grew bright red with anger and attempted to destroy her hope once more.
This time she was ready for it and shook it off. She aimed the trident for his third eye, but his hard skull deflected the damage away. He made as if to strike her with his claws, but teleported behind her and struck with his teeth, sinking his filthy fangs into her fair, smooth skin. Blood trickled out of the wound and she tried to staunch the flow with her mind.
The flow slowly stopped and she took a new stance in the air. Fraghar wildly slashed at her, trying to conquer her regeneration, but each time he struck at her a light erupted from her hand, blinding him and blocking him. Quicksilver took the offensive and became a blur of light, flashing every which way and striking again and again against the demon.
Panting and bleeding, Fraghar tried the draining gaze on Quicksilver. However, Argrath had been laggardly crawling his way through the air and attached himself to Fraghar’s back. He covered the monster’s eyes with his hands, giving Quicksilver to start vibrating her hand, kicking her way through the ether of the monastery to attempt to touch Fraghar.
The quivering palm smashed into Fraghar, the potentially killing blow cracking bones. However, Fraghar was still strong enough to withstand the powerful strike. Argrath let go and began to cast a spell. Whilst he was doing this, Fraghar and Quicksilver grappled with each other. Getting one last stab in with her magical trident, Quicksilver wrapped the demon in a crushing grip, attempting to squeeze the monstrosity to death.
Argrath’s spell was nearly completed; powerful dark tendrils of smoke were wreathing his hands. Reaching into a tiny pouch of spell components, Argrath tossed a little powder into his casting hand. The dark smoke flamed at the material component of crushed skull, forming a writhing ball of death in his hand. The normally clerical spell of Destruction hovered in his hand, waiting for him to throw it.
Fraghar and Quicksilver were rolling everywhere in the air in their attempts to slaughter the other, so fast that Argrath could not get a clear shot. A tiny part of his past goodly mind peeked through, thinking that he couldn’t use the spell for fear of hitting his companion. Then that part was quickly suffocated by the rolling waves of evil within his brain. Who cared if the ball hit her? She was a good person, as much an enemy as the demon he faced.
Argrath heaved the ball into the fray, the necromantic spell crackling gleefully at getting to kill something. Through peripheral vision, Quicksilver saw the messenger of death approaching and rolled underneath Fraghar, separating them enough to have room to kick the bloated creature’s belly, making him sprawl into the path of the spell.
The two contacted and a ripping explosion occurred. Black waves surrounded the demon and the spell, cascading inwards to disintegrate every molecule of the creature’s body. If the spell were cast in normal circumstances, surrounding objects would have been sucked into the commotion like a black hole and destroyed. But in the vacuum of the monastery, that did not happen. Instead, everything around was blasted outwards, shattering the impenetrable marble walls and dispelling the anti-gravitational field outwards to the planar town. Buildings ripped off the ground and were thrown outwards, coming back in to the center once the vacuity of the monastery was dissipated.
The spell was powerful, but not enough to shatter the entire plane. However, the ground above caved in and buried everything with coarse red rubble. Fraghar was defeated, but unfortunately, so were Argrath and Quicksilver.

6:00 PM, 20 Eleasis
The Entity stood before Her ensemble, radiating extreme anger. She had found out only now, two days after the event, that Fraghar had been killed. Of Argrath, whom intelligence reported as the co-slayer along with a monk woman, She knew nothing. Intelligence also reported that Argrath had seemingly turned to the side of evil. That mattered little, as Argrath would die anyway.
In Her dreams, the hated spirit Abdel had begun to torment her and she suspected it would only end with the death of Argrath. Now it had come to her that her valuable doppelganger servant Korhiris had lost his memory. Try as she might, the Entity had no further use for him. She raised Her hand and everybody ducked as a lightning bolt flew out of Her first and struck the dumb one dead.
Her one remaining General, the Beholder Wakaorip, floated up to her side. It was time to designate her other General to replace Fraghar. The orange-haired gnome Pedras stood beside the thief Denthor, head of intelligence. Denthor had not been too happy to find out that Argrath still lived. One of those two would become the new General, and it was up to them to show why they would be the best.
Denthor’s test was to capture alive the rogue Saemon Haevarian. Saemon had begun to become an increasing pest in the activities of Denthor’s thieves guild, the basis of intelligence network commanded by the Entity. That would be difficult as nobody could ever get firm information on where Saemon ever actually was.
Pedras, along with his lieutenants, had to go deep beneath the city of Raven’s Bluff to find the lost city of Sarbreen, the town that the new Bluff had been built over. According to the Entity’s divination, that was where the gray key was supposed to be held. It would be difficult, as the city was doubtlessly inhabited by creatures of darkness and the key guarded by far worse. Pedras considered his task to be the worse; he would have to finish it before the next day arrived so he could make it to the important meeting on slavery.
The Beholder was supposed to get to the place where She had previously divined that the key of Change would be and not fail. Korhiris had set an excellent example of failure.

11:30 AM, 19 Eleasis
Argrath forced open an eye and looked around fruitlessly. Pitch-blackness swarmed around him, occasionally bursting into tiny dots of color. Trying to move, he discovered that he was encased in something hard. Using his hand to feel along the surface of his prison was also useless, as his hand was completely numb.
Shifting his body a bit caused a cascade of dust and small bits of rock. At last, memories began to flood back to him, making him realize where he was. In a panic at the thought that he might be an unlimited distance underground since his battle, he sat straight up and crashed his head into a marble slab. He began to hyperventilate, using up precious oxygen. Although on this plane, oxygen was scarce, it was mostly sulfur – Wait! Argrath did not detect any sulfurous fumes in the air. What that meant, he did not know.
Gaining control over himself, he began to cast a simple divination. The light emitted from the glowing pattern he was tracing in the air was incredible, forcing him to squeeze his eyes shut, risking tracing the wrong motions. This had never happened before with this spell.
His hand completed their circles and he spoke the command word, jakhoovikiu, and information began to swamp his mind. Instead of the general helpful information that usually came, his mind received a direct sequence of events that he could do to get out of his vault. He pushed with his hands at a particular section of the wall and it came a little loose. Propping the fragile roof above him up with his elbow, he smacked the wall with his hand. It shuddered, but did not give way.
Perhaps his information was even more specific. He started smacking various locations, each one more frantically as the roof began to get heavier on his elbow. Two locations away from the true target, he struck the wall and the minute cavern collapsed.
A chunk of rock smashed him in the abdomen, knocking the air out of his lungs. Lumpy gravel poured down on to his legs, trapping them. Argrath’s arm scrambled to push the incoming debris away from his and accidentally struck the wall in the right place.
The rock gave out before him and a hole opened up in his capsule. Crushed marl poured out of his cavity into some unknown place beyond his room, leaving him a bit freer. Swinging his body out the cleft a bit as so to get into a better position to remove the shale from his legs, he collapsed. Argrath was hanging out of his hole, unable to turn his head to see how far down it was. He wiggled a bit to get into a better position and slipped out farther. He was now able to see what he was up against.
A cliff extended below him for as far as his eye could see. The noise of rubble falling came from above him. Hauling his body up with his trapped legs, he came face to face with Quicksilver, busy removing the rocks from his legs.
“Oh, hi. I’ll have you un-trapped in a moment,” she said to him. His look of horror at her removing the weight holding him onto the ledge was lost as she shoved aside a big boulder and he slipped off.
Argrath plummeted down, down, down the side of the cliff, scraping his fingers and knuckles raw on the sheer rock face trying to slow his descent. The sound of rushing water below him shook him into sheer terror at the thought of being splattered all over the place upon his impact. Instead of this, however, he landed bouncily in the arms of a demon.
Like the foulest imaginings of any man, the monster demon glared at him evilly. It was cradling Argrath in its massive, red muscular arm while the other; smaller, weaker one tapped the shoulder of its companion. The burlap-robed figure turned around from its business and looked at the new arrival. Considerably smaller than its companion, the robe covered it completely, save a grisly skull face capped with a mop of untidy brown worms. Argrath now noticed that the Marraenoloth was holding a pole by which it was slowly pushing the craft they were all travelling along.
The river below them was not water, but a roiling mass of lava that bubbled constantly. The two demons connected eyes and the Yagnoloth that was holding Argrath set him down on the craft. A small spark jetted out of the lava at that moment, splashing Argrath and infusing him with energy. He looked down and saw that in addition to the lava of the River Styx, several pearly white streams were floating along the top of it.
Argrath bent down to examine the white stuff with his hand and barely managed to get a bit on his finger before the muscular demon pulled him back from the edge.
“You will be coming with us.” The pole-bearing demon stated. Argrath spun round to face his ‘captors,’ readying hands to cast a spell in case of a fight. The Yagnoloth pointed down-river, where a silvery light could be seen. Argrath then remembered the obscure legend about these types of creatures.
Normally dwelling on the plane of Gehenna, these demons were evil. The pole-bearer, the Marraenoloth, always sailed the River Styx, which wound its way throughout all the evilly aligned planes. Up ahead must be one of the places that the river transported to another plane. That might be his ticket out of this plane and back to Toril! But any plans that he had begun to formulate were shattered with the bloodcurdling cry of Quicksilver.
Argrath looked up to see Quicksilver plummeting through the air towards them. He ducked out of the way of her powerful attack, which struck the Marraenoloth off the craft. Its pole sticking straight out of the sulfurous liquid, it could only cling on and watch helplessly as its skiff glide away. It shot a glance at Argrath, as if this was his entire fault and immediately he felt weakened.
Meanwhile, Quicksilver was battling the Yagnoloth, trying to ‘free’ her friend Argrath. Her foot came up, catching the creature in its sword arm. The weak arm gave way and the weapon went flickering through the air to stick point-first, dangerously near Argrath, into the thick wooden planks of the base of the skiff.
Enraged, the Yagnoloth struck out with its muscular arm, raking its claws across Quicksilver’s body. A volley of punches retaliated, striking all over the torso of the demon. Laughing horrendously at the ineffective punches on its bouncily muscular chest, it again tore at the lady monk. With her bludgeoning fists not effective, she drew her personal weapon from her belt. Squeezing it to make the trident extend, she attacked the demon.
The demon brought up its arms to block her, but received the trident in the leg. Roaring with pain, it forced itself up on both legs to bring its tail to bear. It whipped the tail around at Quicksilver, but she jumped over it and jabbed her trident into the main arm of the beast. Thick black beads of blood now began to well out of its wounds.
While it was distracted with this new sensation called pain, Quicksilver leapt atop the monstrosity and started pounding on its skeletal head. Argrath then snapped out of his daze and looked ahead. The gate was not too far away now.
When the Yagnoloth realized it could not attack the monk on its head properly, it turned its attentions away from the futile attempt to get the monk and focused on Argrath. It could see that the half-elf was beginning to come to. It began to inhale the fumes of the river, preparing to blast out. Argrath looked at this, recognizing it as the beginning of a breath attack. He hauled himself to his feet with the assistance of the sunken greatsword. The Yagnoloth reached its fullest capacity of air as Argrath tore the sword out of the fire-hardened wood and held up to take the full blast of corrosive acid that was exhaled by the demon.
He dropped the rapidly melting weapon and dodged out of the mainstream of acidic air, just catching a bit of it on his right foot, leaving it a bear foot while the other was clothed. A shimmering kind of noise occurred behind him and he spun around to face the Marraenoloth that had teleported in.
“Splakia-norotha makequar!” The thing screeched and the air beside it seemed to fold up into space, making that shimmering noise and ejecting another Marraenoloth. One reached over to touch Argrath but he jumped backwards into the torso of the Yagnoloth. Green magic diffused out of the hand of the creature into the wood, causing it to bubble.
The Yagnoloth whipped its tail at Argrath, catching him in the spine, sending him flying into the hands of the second Marraenoth, whose hand began to glow green as it poured its magical poison into Argrath’s body. Quicksilver screamed at the sight of Argrath falling down lifeless and kicked backwards at the Yagnoloth, propelling it into the molten lava beneath.
“Jiko! Help me you fools!” The Yagnoloth called as it submerged into the lava. The Marraenoloths grinned evilly at each other. Neither of them would ever help one of their hated overlords. Quicksilver faced the two demons, putting her body in the appropriate position to call upon her favorite stance.
“Shadow stance!” She called out her move as she completely disappeared from view and her power grew. The two held their positions, eyes flickering back and forth for signs of their invisible attacker. One had the sense to summon a phantasmal killer. A creature that could fight the invisible monk on its own terms. The portal was now dangerously close.
The other, seeing what its companion was doing, replied with its own magic. It gestured at the corpse of Argrath, intending to raise him from the dead as a servant skeleton. But nothing happened. Furious at the failure of the spell, it decided to go with more firepower. It summoned another phantasmal killer and when that was finished, another and another.
Merindy stood at the far end of the skiff, facing the four fearsome monsters. She quaked at the sight of them, each a facet of her deepest fears. One moved forward to touch her as she realized that these were just illusions conjured by the demons. She held back her fear as it touched her. She felt a coursing feeling of cold flow through her body as it resisted the touch of death. Denied, the illusion disappeared.
Quicksilver now knew that these things were not to be feared, no matter what they seemed to be. The remaining three hovered back from her, afraid of being wiped out if they touched her. Quicksilver focused her mind on the creatures, bending them to her will, sending them after their creators. Two of them flew faster than their compatriot, touching their creator. The Marraenoloth’s eyes grew large as it saw its worst fears come to life before its eyes as it died. The two both vanished, as they had contacted at the same time.
The other demon, noticing its companion’s sudden demise prepared itself against the oncoming attack. It focused itself on the inside, blocking out all fear. The phantasmal killer touched it and disappeared. Suddenly, a blinding white light flashed around them as they passed through the portal. Now, both of the skiff’s occupants were locked in a battle of wills, trying to control the teleportation process to their desired planes. Quicksilver focused on the material plane that Argrath had told her of during their ‘negotiations,’ and the Marraenoth focused on its home of Gehenna.
It seemed that the Marraenoloth was winning, having better knowledge of the details of the plane it was focusing on, but then Argrath began to stir. Barely alive and coughing up green blood, he began to dream about the land of Faerun. Although not evilly aligned, it had enough evil on it that the River Styx wound through it at a very short point.
The dreams of the man just clinging to a shred of life were powerful enough to shift the direction of the craft towards the material world. The Marraenoloth could feel control slipping beyond its grasp, but it would not go without a fight. It too now concentrated on the material plane, but not the place that the others desired. The skiff began to move rapidly now towards its destination. A flash of white light again heralded the change from ethereal transport to existence on a particular plane.
The material world arrived and the battle of minds was over. The River Styx now wound its way through open air, with green fields around. The skiff attracted attention from the peasants milling about, as it had arrived through a portal that none of them present had ever been powerful enough to attempt to control. A girl on the bank that had been dangling her does dangerously close to the thick lava of the river screamed as she spotted the demon.
Shortly, a troop of heavily armored men came pounding down the path. The leader halted the company as he saw the plane travelers. Anger burned in his eyes at the sight of supposed demons.
“Onward paladins! For Krynn!” He called out as the troop rushed forward, swords drawn to do battle. A horseman at the back unloaded his lance as he charged the craft. Quicksilver glanced up at the incoming weapon and then glanced down as she felt Argrath grab on to her feet desperately. The Lance of Force connected and sent Quicksilver flying, with Argrath clutching her ankles. The two landed on the far side of the river. Back on the skiff, knights had leapt aboard, dragged the demon off and were now hacking it to bits.
Quicksilver stood up shakily, badly bruised from the magical lance when the mounted knight commanded his horse to leap the river. Panicking, Quicksilver hauled Argrath over her shoulder as the knight landed.
“I am Sir Jorann, and I will be your death!” He yelled, swinging his longsword at them, leaving a trail of blue sparkles in its wake.
Quicksilver ran.
“Faster than the eye!” Was the move she called out as they ran with the power of a haste spell. But Sir Jorann was not far behind. Gripping his horse with his knees, he drew his bow off his back and fitted an arrow to it. He fired and the arrow sped accurately towards the fleeing pair. Shifting Argrath to one side of her back, she twisted and snatched the arrow out of the air and threw it to the ground.
The portal they had come through was just ahead, set into the side of a cliff. “Feet of the wind!” Quicksilver yelled as they teleported right to the base of the cliff and hurled them through the portal. Quicksilver focused on the material world as Argrath thought of Toril, of Faerun, of Raven’s Bluff. The River Styx heeded their thoughts, but could not direct them to the Bluff, as the river did not flow there.
The predicted white flash came and the two were flown out of the portal, over the River Styx running though a cavern in the Earthfast Mountains, and into a hard stone wall and onto the floor.
Momentarily stunned, they laid there. Quicksilver then did the impossible by refusing to give up. She stood up, brushed the dust from her body and helped Argrath up. With the resting period they now had, Quicksilver called upon her healing powers and placed two glowing blue hands on Argrath’s chest. His wounds began to heal, slowly. Soon Argrath was returned of half health, as Quicksilver was not powerful enough to heal him fully.
The two walked together in silence, thinking their own thoughts. Argrath was thinking of Quicksilver and himself, how he was the epitome of evil now and still she helped him. He thought over the reasons this could be. She could be expecting a reward later, she could be… she could be… she could like him. A brief thought of Merindy went through his mind, but then it was gone. She had loved him once, but abandoned him upon his becoming evil. That was not what true love meant. But then this… situation between Quicksilver and Argrath was probably not even love. It had to be for money.
Quicksilver was thinking more practical thoughts, like how to get out of the place they were in. She did not know where they were, or even where they were supposed to be going. The sound of pickaxes reached her ears up ahead. Several dwarves were hacking at the stone wall.
“Hail friend dwarves. Perchance you can tell us where we are?” She called out. Two of the dwarves jumped and dropped their tools in surprise.
“Who be ye? Where be ye from?” The leader asked.
“You answer a question with a question? Very well. I am Quicksilver, recently of the Redrock Monastery, and this is Argrath, come from the monastery but of a city called Raven’s Bluff. Now can you tell us where we are?”
“Hmmph. Ravenar. Yer in the Earthfast Mountains girlie. Ahm Klygore an this is my cavern yer in. Ye be in pretty rough shape there. Normally we’d ‘elp you, but yew gots a Ravenar widje an we don’ help them.” He motioned for two junior dwarves to come forward. “The best we ken do fer ye is fer Burl an Gurruk te show yew the way out. ‘Taint far te the Bluff from ‘ere, if that’s where yer headed.”
“Many thanks to you. Burl, Gurruk, please show us out.” The dwarves trundled off down a passageway, Quicksilver and Argrath in tow.
“This is the ixit, marm. Ye’ll be all right jest following the signs out there to the Bluff. Never mind ‘ol Klygore there. He ‘ates the Ravenar, but most us don’t.” Gurruk motioned for the door to be opened.
“Good luck to ye, friends,” was all that Burl said. As the travelers exit the mountains and the two dwarves turned back to get to their duties, a small hole crumbled into existence in the floor. A small furry red head poked out of the ground and noted the direction its mistress and her companion were going in. It didn’t like this turn of events, but it was determined to follow its mistress – although given the opportunity, it would set things straight again. The scroll of Conversion in its belly pouch would make sure of that.

6:00 PM, 20 Eleasis
Argrath and Quicksilver had been travelling all-day and night to make it to the city and then through the city to the Foreigner’s District. The two now stood at the Ring Park, currently devoid of guards. Argrath motioned for Quicksilver to follow him. Not that she would need encouragement. Doubtless she would follow him anywhere to get the money she undoubtedly wanted.
They passed the Embassy of Chessenta and came up to Lion Street. It seemed strange that this lonely street harbored the place he used to call home. A strange feeling of nostalgia washed over him, although he did not know why.
The two walked down the street to number 17. They walked up the steps and Argrath put his old key in the lock. He turned it and opened the door.