CHAPTER TEN:  The ACCUSATION

Che
Che awakens after a long night of new year's celebrations. "Ow, me's head feels heavy."

The dwarf looked around the bar to see if anyone else was up. He couldn't find a soul moving. "Where's everybody be?"

Ravenwind
Ravenwind lifted her heavy head from where it lay on a table. "Hello, Che," she managed. "Maybe I need to swear off the tequila there. Seems like I blacked out for the better part of an afternoon, there."

"So did I!"

"And I!" 

People all around the tavern agreed. Planar winds had struck again.

Che
"Aye, me's think that last batch o' tequila wasn't quite cured right." Che looked around to find any of his agical healing herbs, but none could be found. Emerith entered from the kitchen.

"Morning, papa. Well, more like good afternoon, father. You'll not find your herbs anywhere, the priests confiscated them from you. Let me see if I remember their words correctly....'That dwarf knows nothing of the magic within these herbs and it would be shameful of me to allow Che to continue to use them.'.......yes that is what they said."

"Bah! Me's knows things of those herbs the priests would never 'ave dreamed of. Like gettin rid o' a dozen dwarven war grinders a flailin' in me head. Ohhhh, me's thinks me should sit fer a wee spell."

B_FH
B_FH is collapsed over the counter to the kitchen. He temporarily wakes up just in time to hear that last comment. "Nonsense (hic), lets take the herbs from the priests. Just burst (hic) in, swords (hic) blazing (he holds his hand high over his head) and (hic)..." His voice trails off and he falls back asleep over the counter. "Che maybe you should check how much he’s had to drink." Ravenwind remarks.

Quietus
Quietus wakes up happy and chipper after a long night's sleep. The Rusty Sword serves the best milk he's had in years.

"So, what are we all up to today?"

He looks around and sees that everyone is staring daggers at him.

"Uhhh, I'll just go sit over there."

Figaro
Sits at the table near Quietus.  “Don't worry about the others, they just need some more time to wake up.... 

pure_ultima
Ultima blearily looks up from the table. Bob the Kobold is lying, surrounded by empty Tequila bottles and mumbling.

"No... not the spoon... Arrgggg!... that’s better... no don't bury it, needs to be placed... atop a Temple roof... with a... jug on its head... singing "She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes..." the rest of the speech disappeared unto a series of snorts. The kobold turned in his sleep, sending a waterfall of empty bottles to meet their doom on the Inn floor. 

Che
Che roused himself, and became quite chipper with a spring in his step. Now that Muriel and Hack were beginning their new life together the dwarf's staff consisted of his remaining 8 daughers and now only 5 orcs. His brother Tho had left the evening previous, and wished Che all the best in his adventuring, but did comment that he may need some help with the tavern if he is to be away.

"Hmmmm," Che thought aloud, "maybe me's should take on a partner in the tavern. ‘Tis a business that does a make good gold, and maybe a few fresh ideas might a bring an expansion down a the road."

As the daughter barmaids cleaned the strewn tequila bottles and the orcs replenished the stock of milk, Che sat at a table scribbling down some notes.

Ravenwind
Ravenwind was a little uncertain of what all she should be doing. The tavern seemed slow, and she was aware that it would be fool-hardy at best to begin a new adventure, with the deadline for the destruction of the Rod of Zantalya looming before them.

On that thought, she realized that she would need to be as pure in her self as she ever had, to ensure that her part in the ritual, if any, would not go off amiss. "How long has it been since I performed the ritual of the Table of Torm?" she wondered softly to herself.

Seizing her staff, she strode forth from the tavern. Some time later, she came back with a beggar. "Please serve my friend Raithess here a fine meal," she asked one of Che's remaining daughters, handing the girl some coin. "Nothing for me, although I'll sit with him."

Che's daughter looked at the coins in her hand. They were platinum. The kitchen rattled for some time, and then course after course was set before the beggar, from ostrich eggs boiled in wine to stargazy pie, and back again. Throughout the meal, Ravenwind did not speak, eat, or drink. When the man could eat no more, she sent him on his way, laden down with the remains of the meal.

Turning back towards the others, who had watched in none-too-discreet fascination, she asked, "What will you today, my friends?"

B_FH
B_FH has sobered up a bit after spending 5 minutes with his head in the horse's water, then 5 more minutes more hacking and coughing. B_FH decides to respond to Ravenwind's question. "Well I don't know about you people but I think something to do has already found us." B_FH points to the door. Outside the door are several guards approaching the tavern. 

Quietus
Figuring that the guards couldn't possibly want him, Quietus decides to head outside to see what the guards want. If they want to do something unpleasant to one of his fellow questors, he figures this will give them time to prepare.

Quietus: "Greetings, uh, officer. How may I help you?"

Officer: "Excuse me, citizen, I have been instructed to arrest Ravenwind of Torm."

Quietus: "Might I ask why, sir?"

Officer: "I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but she has been seen giving aid and assistance to a known killer. Now, if you'll please stand aside, I have business to attend to."

As the guards move towards the tavern, Quietus pitches over, cries out weakly, and starts thrashing about.

Che
Emerith rushes over to her father," Papa, there be a commotion outside of the tavern."

Che quickly stood up and went outside to view the situation. To his surprise he saw Quietus buckled over, in what seemed to be obvious pain. "What be yer problem young, Quietus?"

"I think I ate something that doesn't agree with me."

"Well, wha' did yers eat?" questioned Che.

"I think it was the .  . . crow pie. You know, the black bird that we had, I think it should be taken to the cellar and cured some more," responded Quietus as he attempted to wink and nod towards the tavern. Che was on to the obvious hinting but couldn't understand the blinking. The dwarf then whispered something to Emerith and she ran back inside the bar. As Che helped Quietus to his feet, he was whispered the intent of the guards. Che turned to the officer.

"So yer be after someone fer helpin' a possible killer. Well, me's a killed many on the battlefield and in times o' self defence. People 'ave a 'elped me ..........are they all to be arrested also? Yer must a explain yerself officer if me is to be any 'elp to yer."

As Che continued to talk with the guards, Slash and the other orcs crowded in front of the tavern entrance pretending to be sweeping.

B_FH
B_FH sees all the commotion and gets the idea of that one of us is to be arrested for assisting a killer. "Was it I?" B_FH thought, "Tyriel had no idea that the blanthea was poisoned! If we'd known we wouldn't have let the Duke eat it! Don't take me!" B_FH shouts. He apparently cracked. 

The guard gives him an odd look and says, "What are you talking about?" B_FH realized he's not about to be arrested but he might if he doesn't cover that last comment. 

"Um... well.... you see...." Che interrupts B_FH and covers for him, "He never feels quite alright after a few whiskies. He can't hold his liquor." 

The guard nods and tells him B_FH he's not here for him, he lets then addresses everyone in the tavern, "Now show me to Ravenwind or you all will also be tried for harboring a criminal." The tavern grows silent.

Ravenwind
Ravenwind stood, her face composed. "I deny these charges," she said politely but equitably, "and as a paladin in good standing, I demand my right to trial by combat. Torm's hand will prove my innocence."

The guards stepped back, knowing of the woman's heretofore-unblemished reputation, high standing within the faith, and exceptional skill at arms. Even though she carried but a simple staff now, and not the blazing swords she once had, it would not be a good idea to cross her.

"Raeython, will you be my second for this duel?" she asked, very much needing the support of a long-held companion.

"But before you take me to face whomever has the courage and faith to face me in combat," she added,
"allow me to do one small service for this poor man here." She chanted a soft-voiced prayer to Torm, and laid a glowing hand on Quietus' face.

She frowned, puzzled, when he continued to trash around uncomfortably. "Um, Quietus?" she said. "Either the poison that afflicts you is beyond the power of the gods, or you're faking. Stop it."

Quietus stood up, looking sheepish. The guards warily flanked Ravenwind, who smiled and waved farewell to her friends in the tavern in peace and goodwill.

B_FH
The guards ride off with Ravenwind in the back of the cart. When they disappear from sight B_FH is the first to pipe up. "We aren't just going to let them go are we?!? If any of you have a sense of loyalty you'll follow them with me now". B_FH sticks a saddle on his horse and rides off after them. Everyone else joins him.

Quietus
"Are you sure that's a good idea, Lord Bufa? She probably knows what she's doing, eh? And she might not appreciate our interference, especially that of a nonbeliever. Honor and pride and whatnot." 

Begins mumbling, "I just don't understand those paladins...pefectly good distraction...could've escaped easily..."

More distinctly, "Well, how long do you all think this is going to take? Is she in any danger? Should we do something? By the way, Che, do you have some work I could do for the time being? I'm a bit strapped for cash."

B_FH indicates with a snort what he thinks of Quietus's words. He begins to ride off after Ravenwind, and looks back to see who is following him.

"I'm not suggesting that we interfere, but I think we should be there. Besides whoever is challenging Ravenwind must know what they're doing. Now are you coming or not?"

Figaro
“I am, as always, ready. With bow, or sword, I shall be there.”

Ravenwind
When the guards attempted to put Ravenwind in the cart, she gently refused, once more asserting her prerogatives as a servant of Torm. "I will walk," she replied. "Likewise, you may not incarcerate me. I will remand myself to the holding of my Order." A little bemused by the fact that they were escorting a prisoner who knew the law better than they did themselves, the guards trailed along behind her until she reached the temple of Torm.

Back at the tavern, Che issued orders left and right. "Raeython, gather up the lassie's formal armor—‘tis up in her room. Figaro, come with me. We'll need to be meeting with her superiors in the Order to start figuring this wee mystery out."

Upon reaching the temple of Torm, Che and Figaro were immediately ushered in to see Prelate Dreosan. The priest was distraught. "This is, of course, a foul lie," he told them. "I can only think that someone has sought to implicate her out of jealousy for her swift rise within the Order of the Hand of Torm. I will search for evidence to clear her name, but there are places I cannot go, and things I cannot do. Will you assist me?"

"Aye," they both agreed. 

"Good. Here is where I think the trail begins," the prelate explained, showing them a small scrap of paper. . . 

pure_ultima
Ultima stood outside the tavern with Bob the Kobold sitting on his shoulder.
"Er.... What do we do?" the kobold asked.

"Erm... Well we, we er..." Ultima coughs embarrassedly.  He then he heard a cry down the street.

"Me Lord, he is upon us... He will surely kill us all" the man that had run up behind him looked like a peasant, but his eyes, they were glowing a blood red.

"Malus..." Ultima muttered. Ultima drew his sword and held it in front of him. From nowhere a sword slashed down the peasants chest. Ultima looked at his sword. It was coated with blood, running quickly to the hilt. But he had not done it. He looked quickly around. No-one seemed to have noticed them, no the place was not moving, everything had stopped. The corpse rose off the ground and faced Ultima.

It punched... Ultima flew across the street into a fruit-sellers cart. Still, nothing moved.

"No, this, Ultima" the body spat "y master will destroy for sure. He will unlock your power and use it... But no, wait the rest will come as a surprise to you..." The corspe fell to the floor. Everything bustled once more... The peasant was gone, but Ultima's blade had turned a dull red.

Raeython
Raeython runs up the stairs to Ravenwind's room to get her armor; per Che's request. He gets to her door only to find it locked. Thinking to himself that Che wouldn't mind since he was the one who told him to get
 the armor, he knocks the door open with three well placed kicks. He then gathers up Ravenwind's armor, and starts down the stairs; only to see Che's brother Tho looking with disbelief at him. Raeython quickly explained the situation to him, at which point Tho pointed out that he could have asked him for the key.

Raeython gives him a sheepish shrug of his shoulders, guess you can't be right all the time, and hurries off to the temple to catch up with the others.

Quietus
With B_FH, Figaro, Raeython, Che, and Ravenwind all gone from the tavern, Quietus sits at a table in the Rusty Sword, chatting with the help.

Tiring of the conversation, he walks outside, prepared to explore the town. He sees Ultima getting up from a vendor's store, looking stunned.

"Hey, Bob, what's going on with Ultima?"

Bob looks over, and says, "Dunno. Seems to 'ave thrown hisself o'er there. Gonna get me some free grub."

Bob runs over and scoops up some fruit and then dashes back to the tavern.

Ravenwind
Che, Figaro, and Raeython shouldered through the doorway of the chapel which lay in the heart of the temple of Torm. The sanctuary itself was small, and austerely decorated. Plain gray marble pillars, roughly dressed, supported an unpainted plaster ceiling, which did have symbols impressed into it in abstract swirls. The floor was more elaborate, dark and light pieces forming the pattern of hands, marking the aisle up to the altar, on which a sword lay, and behind which towered a statue of Torm worked in alabaster. They saw Ravenwind kneeling at that altar, her hair down, and wearing a simple white shift.

"Be ye all right, then, lassie?" Che asked.

She shook her head slightly, not looking at them. "My honor has been besmirched," she answered. "I do not know why, or by whom, but I know the Inquisitors are sharpening their knives in anticipation." There was just a hint of bitterness in her tone. "And I found this in my quarters."

She flung what she held on the floor. A white rod, marked with a twisted rune. "Do you know what this is?" she asked, a rage in her voice so cold, the others flinched. "It's a rod of Loviatar. The Maiden of Pain. It's only granted to her worshippers who have inflicted great suffering." Her voice started to shake. "I've seen its like before, when I was very young. Someone is trying to set me up."

Turning towards them, she managed to meet their eyes, although they could see it cost her dearly. "I must ask you again to help me, my friends."

Figaro
“This is indeed most curious... It would seem to have to originate from inside the order, if jealousy is the motive, of course.”

As the group heads back outside, they see Ultima laying amidst fruit “Uhhh, Ultima, why is your sword pink?”

Raeython
Raeython meets his friend's eyes, and can see the terrible pain lying beneath those tortured orbs. Anger, burning brightly inside of him, causes the noble ranger's hands to clench in rage; his knuckles turning white from the strain. Raeython does not yet know what role he will be playing as Ravenwind's second in the upcoming duel, but he hopes for the challenger's sake it's non-combative. 

"Worry not, Ravenwind. We'll just have to ensure that justive prevails", Rayethon responds trying (without much success) to keep his voice light and his anger out of it.

Che
"Aye, yers got a good friends that a 'ill help yer. The priestly man a showed us this paper. May a be a map o' some sort, but the notations a be no where around these a parts." Che placed the small parchment beside Ravenwind where she knelt.

Meanwhile back at the tavern, Tho was back after stretching his legs. The old dwarf proceeded to gather Quietus for a discussion. "You know young Quietus, Thi....I mean Che was thinking of adding some entertainment to The Rusty Sword. He was thinking of offering a place to harbor some gambling entertainment. He also mentioned that you have some expertise in the games of chance. Che would offer a fine commission if you could develope an honourable casino within the tavern. Feel a free to use anything and anybody, for all is at your disposal."

Slash and the orcs overheard the discussion between Tho and Quietus. "Oh yes, me and the orcs play Gamami quite a lot." Quietus gave a quick frown in the direction of Slash for the rude interruption, but politely entertained the suggestion of the orc. "And just how is this Gamami played?'

"Well, me and the orcs take a stick. Are you with me so far?" Quietus nodded. "And then we each bet on an end of the stick. Tell me if I'm going to fast for you." The nod was repeated. "Then we throw the stick into the air spinning. Now here comes the tricky part. Which ever end of the stick hits the ground last is the winner. Ah yes Gamami is a game of cunning and skill. Has entertained me and the orcs for hours. Funny though, Che only laughed at us when we were playing it."

Tho attempted to rail the discussion back on track. "Yes Gamami is an interesting game, but I think Che had other games of chance in mind. Some that I'm sure Quietus is more familiar with."

B_FH
After the others reach pure_ultima B_FH goes to Che. When B_FH reaches Che he sees that he has a part of a map of some sort. There's a distraught look on his face. B_FH recognizes it soon enough. "Hey Che" B_FH says while walking from behind, "What are you doing with a map of Baldur's Gate?" Che respondes astonished "Are you saying you recognize this?" "Sure, it looks like the area around the Wizard's shop, Sorcerer's Sundries." B_FH says. Che, Ravenwind and Rayethon all slowly look up at B_FH and a glimmer of hope enters their eyes. 
Che
"Hmmmmm...Baldur's Gate eh? Me's only been there once to a bar called the Helm and Cloak. Tried to peddle me tequila there. Sadly no takers..........but they got a these barmaids that will do things......."

The dwarf's speech was abruptly cut by the gazing frowns cast by others upon him, for talking of less important matters.

"Aye Baldur's Gate be a fair distance away. We'll a need some o' speedy travel to a git there, if we do go."

B_FH
Perhaps we could hire a mage to teleport us there. If we rode or sailed we might miss whoever did this. We'll want to cut them off.

Ravenwind
"Alas, were I to accompany you without permission, I would violate the terms of my bond," Ravenwind replied. "Unless given permission, I must stay here, in sanctuary, until four days from now, at which point the trial by combat will begin."

"Who can give you permission to go?" Figaro, ever practical, asked, while Raeython said simultaneously, "What's exactly involved in this ritual combat, anyways?"

Ravenwind smiled, but there was no joy in it. "Prelate Dreosan has the authority, but it is solely within his judgment. If he thinks it would prejudice people against me, he will likely not allow me to go. But you can ask one of the guards outside the chapel to see if he has a moment to speak with you."

Che grabbed one of the guards by the arm and sent the young man off--at a run--to fetch the prelate. Ravenwind continued, answering Raeython, "As to the combat, there will, likely, be only one opponent, appointed by someone who feels themselves to be wronged to be their champion. We will both pray before the fight, and whomever fights for the most just side will win. It is," she added, seeing their incredulous looks, "far more civilized than holding a burning coal and seeing if the skin scorches, and it's less costly then a barrister. Your role, my friend," she said to Raeython, "would be to check my opponent's weapons
 for enhancements or deceptions, and to make sure that nothing I use has been altered in any way, either. We are allowed a choice of weapons, but they cannot be magical."

Just then, an alarm bell began to ring, high above their heads. Ravenwind looked up in shock, listening to the sequence. The young guard they'd sent to fetch the prelate bolted back in. "The prelate's been murdered!" he shouted.

pure_ultima
Ultima snatched Bob the Kobold by the fleeing tail, tripping him and making him land face down in the pomegranate he had stolen. Ultima rushed off to the Temple of Torm in time to see the Guards running about and bells being rung.

B_FH
“Looks like someone doesn't wan't you leaving Ravenwind. If these people are still here to murder the Prelate then what is the significance of the Baldur's Gate map? Wait, if you're here and they're here while we're in Baldur's Gate chasing after them. Chances are you'll be murdered Ravenwind. This can't be one person but a collaboration of people. Maybe assasins, bounty hunters, but then who wants you dead?

Ravenwind
They stood in the study, surveying the wreckage, while Inquisitors and guardsmen studied the scene for evidence.

"It's pretty clear to me that they don't want me dead, so much as dishonored," Ravenwind said slowly. "This was fairly clumsy of whoever did it; I ws under guard in sanctuary, so no blame can be attached to me. Were my friends the last people in to see the Prelate?" she asked one of the Inquisitors, a dark-haired man with a twisting scar on his face.

"No," he replied, a bit curtly, but still politely. "An envoy from the Radiant Heart--or so we thought—had arrived to speak with him. HE went in, but no one saw him leave."

"With your, permission, Inquisitor, I would like to follow up on the Baldur's Gate lead with my friends. I give you my word of honor to return for the trial by combat."

A long pause ensued. "No," the Inquisitor finally said, somewhat reluctantly, it seemed. "We need to keep you under observation, for two reasons. One, if any other attacks on you or other servants of Torm, we might be able to uncover new evidence. Second, we need to ensure that your guilt or innocence in these matters are made plain. I regret the necessity."

"As do I," Ravenwind replied. As they left the prelate's study, she tried not to look at the man's body, where it sprawled on the floor. There was. . .a lot of blood. She turned her face aside. "He was my oldest friend," she said softly. "He took me out of the stables and into the Order. His death will not go unpunished--or unavenged."

"If I cannot go, find Ranna, my sister," she added in a whisper. "Last I heard, she lived in the docks area--I suspect you'll know where."

Raeython
Raeython turns to the rest of the companions:

"I had better stay here. Things are starting to happen at an alarming rate, and I had better stay in case some other attempt to harm or dishonor Ravenwind comes to light."

Raeython then turns to Ravenwind.

"Perhaps we should have a closer look at the Prelate's room as something may have been overlooked. We will also want to question any of the guards or servants who came into contact with this supposed envoy from the Radiant Heart. We should also contact the Radiant Heart to see if they did have somebody scheduled to see the Prelate today."

Raeython waits to see what Ravenwind wants to do.

Ravenwind
Raeython's loyalty fills Ravenwind with joy. "Agreed. We should investigate the study more closely. I do not entirely trust the Inquisitors; they walk a fine line between doing what is needed for the greater good, and doing what they think is right. . .but might not be."

The others, including Ultima and Bob the kobold, who had just arrived, made their way out. Che carried the map and the vile wand of Loviatar out of the temple complex, keeping the wand well-wrapped and away from his skin.

B_FH
“Well then it looks like we're going to Baldur's Gate. I'll go into town and see if I can hire a mage. If we get to the city before our unknown assailants we'll catch them with ease, and of course within four days. I'll return soon enough.”

Figaro
“I trust you will not think badly of me for giving what may be simple advice. While the current goal is clearly to discredit you, it may not always be so. As we start investigating they may simply decide to umm, remove some of the pieces from the board. I would suggest going to two people that you trust completely. Sleep in shifts and establish passwords and hand signals. Illusions only need to fool you for a few seconds to give the advantage. Be careful what you eat and avoid spicy food. Many poisons are identifiable by taste before being fatal. If you wish me to stay here I will be happy to help guard. 

B_FH
B_FH returns, for a moment, “He's right. No matter how skilled you are at combat and how skilled Rayethon is, it won’t stop the blade of a paid assassin in the night or one well-placed crossbow bolt. Oh, by the way, we are to meet with the mage tommorow on the streets leaving the city to Baldur's Gate so we'd better figure out if Figaro is going or staying.

Ravenwind
"An excellent idea, Figaro," Ravenwind agreed, hesitating a little bit. She did not know this new ranger very well, but had not picked up any ominous sensations from him. However, it was fairly evident that someone within her Order was part of a conspiracy, and she had not felt any sensations of evil emanating from any of them, either.

"You had best leave today, my friends. I will gain permission from the head of the Order to retire to my small home in the country to prepare, and to stay in safety. He will, doubtless, want to send along a few guards as a precaution," she added with a sigh. "But before we go, as Raeython said, we should investigate the prelate's room before any evidence can vanish from there. Perhaps we'll find something the Inquisitors missed."

They returned to the prelate's chambers. The man's body still lay on the floor, but now had been covered with a sheet. Ravenwind braced herself visibly, and lifted the cloth. "Strange," Raeython said suddenly.
"Would he have carried any sort of a weapon--a dagger, perhaps?" He pointed at an empty sheath at the man's side. "He shows very little sign of having fought with his attackers; only the one blow seems to have killed him. Could they have taken it from him after he died?"

Raven wind nodded. "So, he may have been able to defend himself," she said, a note of satisfaction in her voice. "The dagger was distinctive; he was a member of a very noble family, and it was one of the few vanities he permitted himself. It had his house's sigil, a gyphon, and was studded on the crosspiece with rubies."

"Then if we find the dagger," Figaro said, rubbing at his face, "we may have a lead on the person or persons who killed him. Especially if any of them seemed to have any recent wounds."

They all looked at each other. "To the docks," they chorused. 

Che
Che and the others going to Baldur's Gate met with the hired mage. The dwarf gave a payment of two rubies for his efforts although nothing of service had been offered yet. But Che was a rather trusting soul today. The mage explained that he was giving them a wand of teleportation, which contained 5 charges. The first charge would transfer the party to the front gates of Baldurs Gate. The last charge would bring them back to this spot. Che grabbed the wand and kindly thanked the mage.

"Here B_FH, you take the wand, yers know more about magic than me."

With that B_FH encircled the party with the magic of the wand. "Poof"

pure_ultima
Ultima reached the city gates just as the dwarf and elf disappeared in a flurry of magic.

"Oh," said Ultima

"Oh," said Bob.

Ultima and the kobold turned around slowly and headed to the docks district to catch up with Ravenwind, Raeython and Figaro.

Quietus
"That sounds like a great idea, Tho. I'd love to set up my own (sort of) casino. We'd probably want to start small... Hmmm. Slash, I'm not sure if your game would offer an advantage to the house. I'll have to think of a way to make it work, and we can perhaps add it to the second group of games. First, I think we should maybe set up a couple of card tables and maybe some dicing games. Unfortunately, we'd probably need to hire some croupiers. Attractive men and women (of whatever race patrons would find most appealing) to run the dice games and one of the card tables, and perhaps one skilled gambler to run the other...although I could perhaps fill this role."

He looks around and thinks for a second.

"You know, Tho. The casino probably won't be spectacularly successful at first, until word gets around. Also, I'd imagine that with the seizing of Che's herbs, cash-flow may be a problem around here...as it happens, though, I have a plan to solve the herb problem."

 (It should be noted that Quietus always has a plan to solve any problem. The plan even works about a third of the time...)

“Normally I don't condone stealing. However, since they stole the herbs from The Rusty Sword first, I wouldn't mind. Anyway, it just so happens that I have a skill that would enable The Rusty Sword to continue using the herbs without the priests knowing a thing. It would help if I had a second person to assist me in my endeavor...preferably someone skilled in sneaking, picking locks (although I can do this myself), and detecting different kinds of traps... What do you say, Tho, do you think you or your brother would be interested?"

B_FH
B_FH whirls the wand around his head and he and Che are enveloped in a gray mist. After a few seconds the mist dissipates and they're in Baldur's Gate. 

"Where in the bleedin' blazes did ye' come from?!?" a peasant asks. 

"Excuse me, are we in Baldur's Gate?" B_FH counters his question with a question. 

"Well if it ain’t then may Umberlee strike me down for leaving me kids for two years." he says. 

"Thank you," B_FH says, and then he and Che walk to the nearest Flaming Fist barracks.

"Do you know where Sorcerer's Sundries is?" Che asks. "Just south of here. Oh, and be careful if you run across any knights of Radiant Heart, report them. They're wanted for murder." the guard says.

Che
Tho gave, what Quietus thought was, a peculiar look. He then realized that's the way Tho looks all the time. The elder dwarf quietly spoke,"Aye, young Che wouldn't be offended if his herbs were back beside his tequila stills. But I'm not from around here and don't know too many, ahem, thieves. The ones at the wedding I do recall. Aivanther was one, but I think he is out of town. If he was here he would surely help.
The other was one of the female friends of Ravenwind, ah, Ranna, yes Ranna. You remember, the one drooling over Dravin. But I don't know anything of her."

Back in Baldur's Gate, Che and B_FH were among the throngs in the streets. "Me's wished me's had this a kind o' foot traffic in front o' me tavern. But this a warning o' the Radiant Heart a worries me, not too much but a little. Let's head to the magic shop."

Che continued to clutch onto the rod of Loviathar, trying to remain inconspicuous to the fact he was carrying it. B_FH seemed to enjoy the many wonders around him, as he looked at the hustle and bustle in the streets. The two of them eventually reached the Sorcerer's Sundries.

Once inside Che was a little overcome by the smell of incense burning throughout. "Wha....are ye's trying to flush out some a rats in here? Me's can a barely breath." An apprentice mage rushed to the side of the
 two adventurers and led them to a side room. "Oh, forgive me, but one of our.......experi......potions got out of hand. Please sit, how can we help you?"

B_FH decided to lead the dialogue with the mage, since Che wasn't very adept at good first impressions. "We have an item of interest that we wish to know more about." Che looked around the room first to make sure that they were alone. He then carefully unravelled the covering from around the rod. "What yers make o' that?" 

The mage immediately leaned in for a closer look, but was halted by the forearm of B_FH, "No, don't get too close to it."

"Yes, yes, I know. But it isn't here that you can get help about the rod of Loviator." The mage seemed at little anxious and reached under his robe and withdrew a small piece of paper and handed it to Che. As the two adventurers perused the paper it revealed just an odd symbol. It was three six-pointed stars arranged in a triangle with their points touching with the orange star mounted atop the left yellow one and the right red one. B_FH looked at Che, "What is it?"

Che turned to question the mage, but noticed he was gone. "Me's not quite a sure, priestly in origin but me's can't remember the deity. But a first me's think we should a leave here." B_FH tried to question why, but the dwarf was quick in gathering the rod and leading B_FH out of the building.

"Me's smells somethin' afoot here."

"What do you mean, Che?"

"Don't yers find it a wee bit strange that the mage met two strangers off the street, and a had the answer to their question, already a written out in a 'is pocket?"

Figaro
The local guilds would likely know some rumors that could help. *Wry grin* Normally I dislike relying on the mistakes of others but it is a tactic which works as often as not.

In a quiet tone, “Hummm, there is a chance that they may have tried to sell the dagger, in which case the local Thieves Guild should be able, if not entirely willing, to provide some answers. Though honestly I doubt if a professional would make should a blatant mistake as selling the whole thing, sometimes the lure of quick cash is too much to bear. More likely the jewels were sold separately.

Che
Ravenwind, and ultima (?) is in another part. These two should (hopefully tie in at one point).

Quietus, Tho, and for now it seems Angelo is on the other thread (tavern). If I've got this wrong, let me know.

Che
"You're right Che that is suspicious. That piece of paper he handed us, check if it fits onto our part of the map." B_FH said. "Aye, it does. Perhaps we should return, at night. Neither of us are theives though so it will be tough." Che responded.

"Yes, perhaps we can get a thief to help us for a time. Che, I've been rolling around in my mind what the soldier said. He said that some Knights of the Radiant Heart were wanted for murder." 
"Aye, if I remember right, that's what he said." Che responds. 

B_FH continues, "Well Che, wasn't it Knights of the Radiant Heart that last saw the prelate up in Waterdeep?"  

"Aye, they were! The guards said so."

"Well, Che, this will go faster if we split up. You should search for a thief to assist us in tonight’s search of  Sorcerer's Sundries. I'll look into the Knights of the Radiant Heart of the city. I suspect there aren't that many as they are situated in Amn mostly."

Che agreed with B_FH and the two of them separated temporarily. The dwarf stood in the street eyeing the two pieces of paper trying to recall the strange symbols on the second piece. A small urchin boy came up behind Che and attempted to pickpocket the fighter. The dwarf's rusty sword began to hum as the small hand neared Che's purse of gold. "Wha! Why yer little fetterin' hobgoblin. Me's oughta break yer fingers 'ere on the spot." Che quickly grabbed the boy's arm and held it firmly.

"Please let me go. I didn't know you were something."

"Wha....do you mean, something?" questioned Che.

"I thought you were just a grumpy old dwarf pretending to read papers in the street for every to see that you could read." Che raised an eyebrow in mild amazement. "But I see you carry strong artifact weapons and are something of importance." Che released his grip on the boy, and let his pride get the better of him.

"Well, me is something o' importance, me thinks, and me is grumpy at the moment." Flashing the second piece of paper in the boy's face,"Der yer knows wha' that a symbol is?"

"Yes, sir, that is the symbol of Lliira, the diety of joy, happiness, and carefree celebration."

Che was more perplexed than before. Loviator and Lliira, two opposite dieties coming together on this path of discovery. What could it mean?

B_FH
B_FH thinks the best place to ask about the Radiant Heart in the city is in the Flaming Fist HQ. When he gets inside he is directed upstairs.

B_FH is greeted by a figure behind a desk.  "Greetings, I am Duke Eltan. What brings you here?". B_FH is astonished he was sent straight to the Grand Duke. "I was wondering if you have any information about the Knights of the Radian...."

"What do you know of the Knights?" Eltan asks demandingly.

"Well they're not Knights. We think they may be worshipers of Loviathar. We followed them here from Waterdeep for besmirching the honor of one of my friends. She is very honorable and if we don't get them to Waterdeep in a three day deadline she'll have to face a trial by combat." B_FH said.

The Duke begins, "I understand your situation, but the matter is out of my hands. You're out of Waterdeep's jurisdiction and should we catch them they will have to face trial here. Should you take them to Waterdeep, the law says you will be no longer welcome in Baldur's Gate under penalty of death for assisting the escape of a criminal. No matter how much I feel for you there's nothing I can do. I can speed up your chase for you, you should try the sewers. Every criminal I know of in Baldur's Gate hides there from time to time, and the guards are scared stiff to go down. You should start there. Good luck and may Helm watch over you."

"Thank you," B_FH said. He then left the flaming fist HQ. Suddenly his familiar jumped from his pack. B_FH bent down to pick him up. Suddenly a crossbow bolt flies over where his head was a moment ago and hits a barrel behind him. He glances up to the top of the building where the shot originated to see a knight turn and run. B_FH thinks, "I must be getting close". He shoots a spell of hold person but he's out of range. He leaves the area quickly in search of Che.

Ravenwind
Figao and Ultima split off from Ravenwind and Raeython, and head for the docks, a quick sketch of the dagger in question in their hands. Ravenwind and Raeython make their way to the local chapterhouse of the Order of the Radiant Heart.

Ravenwind pulled her amulet out so that it lay in plain view on her breastbone before entering the chapterhouse. Her expression was a little grim. "What's wrong?" Raeython asked.

"My Order is quite a bit smaller," she answered, "And we have never sent our best people to join the Radiant Heart, as all the other orders do. It's led to some strain over the years."

"Rather that going to all this trouble, why can't we just resurrect the prelate and find out the answers from him?" Raeython asked, sensibly and practically.

Ravenwind raised an eyebrow. "Other gods are more lenient about returning their chosen to the living realm. Torm is not one such. However," she added, "we might be able to find a trustworthy cleric to speak to his spirit--an excellent notion, my friend."

“We're here to see the envoy that was sent to the Hand of Torm today," she told one of the guards respectfully.

"We sent no one to their temple," came the immediate, predictable denial. 

Ravenwind's hands clenched into fists. "Has this man, Sir Annalath of Comyr, left your precincts today?" she asked, showing him a sketch of the man's face.

The guard blinked. "That man is not a servant of Torm, and his name is certainly not Annalath!" he exclaimed. "He claimed to be a servant of Lliira, but the master of the guard had a bad feeling about him, and denied him entrance yesterday. Said his eyes glowed red," he added softly. "What has passed?"

Ravenwind quickly filled him in on the death of the Prelate. THe guard considered it, and conducted them immediately to the Master of his Order, and remained to stand guard over them while they spoke.

pure_ultima
As the smell of salt and the cry of gulls begins to fill the air Ultima turns to Figaro and says,  "So, Figaro, tell me something of your past. It looks like we will be sticking together for a while." Bells ring in the distance as a pause falls over Figaro for a moment.

Figaro
Reflecting for a moment.  “Not much to tell really. I am an only child. When I was little more then a toddler, threats of war became too much for my parents and we moved out into the surrounding woodlands. This is where I spend most of my days, wandering throughout the countryside. My Uncle's house was small but comfy, and he did spend quite a lot of time teaching about the ways of the forest. Fortunately my parents did have the foresight to hire a tutor so that I might get something schooling. While honestly I did not enjoy it at the time, I now see the wisdom of that decision. In time my parents moved back into the city and I discovered that many of the skills that were taught to me outside of the classroom, were of great use here, “ He stretches slowly.  “Nowadays, there isn't much work for one such as myself. I still manage to catch the occasional murderer or thief. I believe the local guilds put up with me because I help remove some of the deadwood from their ranks. The professionals don't get caught and know how not to leave tracks. I suppose this was why I was focusing on poison. Any idiot can poison, but if you don't do it right the victim can linger on for days, instead of dying quickly and cleanly,”  He chokes slightly.  “Umm, sorry about that, Ravenwind.

“Well, other then that, my life has been pretty normal. I kept my nose clean, for the most part, and worked day to day trying to improve my skills. I am pleased to be of some use. It is not often that I get to test my skills against a cause that is just.”

Che
B_FH returned to where he had left Che and recounted the occurrences at the Flaming Fist headquarters, including the close call with the crossbow bolt. Che momentarily thought to himself in silence, then motioned for B_FH to follow. The two of them wandered over to the Three Old Kegs tavern. "Che we're not going to drink at a time like this?" questioned B_FH, "Besides I think someone is following us."

"Ah, me feet needs a rest. An me's knows that there be no good tequila in these parts but a wee drop o'milk will a calm me stomach on this hunt." The two of them sat at a table far in the corner of the bar and began discussing their accomplishments so far.

"As me's sees it we got a few strange things a happening. We's got our friend Ravenwind bein' wrongly implicated in a crime. We's got a rod o' Loviator. We's got some talk about bad Radiant Heart fellers, if they be true Radiant or 'ust imposters. We's got a fearful mage at the Sundries that gave us a note o' Lliira. We's got someone takin' shots at yer, maybe to scare, maybe not. We's got poor service in this a bar. Where's me milk?!"

"Yes, Che, I think maybe we were expected, and we're being followed." added B_FH. "And even as we entered this bar, I felt a lot of eyes upon us."

"As they should be, me friend. While you were away me's 'ad a wee discussion 'ith an urchin boy. Me's paid him and his friends to a watch us........well not a really us, but to see who is a watchin' us. Always a like to 'ave me back covered. But we's a can't just a sit an' wait fer somethin' to happen. We's a got to take the initiative. The ways me got it figured we's a can try to hunt fer one o' these Radiant Heart buggers here, or venture to a temple o' Lliira to question them of any peculiarities within their fold. Which be it young B_FH, or does yers 'ave another suggestion?"

Quietus
As Ravenwind and Raeython enter the Master's room, they turn away from the guard. Had they paused for a few more moments, they might have noticed his eyes flash red...

B_FH
B_FH responds "I think the temple is a better idea for now. Though once it gets dark, we have two things to do. One, we need to get into Sorcerer's Sundries. Now it might be a trap or it might lead us exactly where we want to. Second, we need to search the sewers. If we're going to get these imposters or whoever they are, we'd better get them while they sleep. They're too smart to rest in an inn lest they be caught."

Ravenwind
Ravenwind's fingers flew to the amulet at her throat, which suddenly burned white-hot against her skin. Something was not right here. 

The head of the Radiant Heart was a large, strongly built man, who wore brightly burnished armor with a blue tint to it, signifying his high rank. The expression on his face as he greeted Raeython, and then Ravenwind, however, was peculiar. His lips hung a little slack, and his gaze seemed a touch vacant. While he was occupied greeting Raeython, Torm's hand maiden gestured swiftly, and mouthed a silent prayer for insight.

This time, the amulet did not burn, but it felt heavier and heavier around her neck as she glanced around the room. When her gaze fell on the guard, who still stood behind them, she caught a glimpse of a sullen red aura around him for an instant.

How, she wondered, was she to let her companion know what was going on, without letting the others in the room know that she knew? 

Meanwhile, Ultima and Figaro were not having a fun time. The docks district reeked of rotting fish, and they'd spent the better part of their morning being hassled by merchants hawking goods of dubious worth.

"Look," Figaro said, "I'm not interested in a cheap, unremarkable dagger with a needle point for punching through a guard's chainmail," he paused, perhaps wondering at his own words, "I'm interested in something a bit more, more--"

"Something flashy," pure_ultima said, rescuing his new companion. "He's got a fancy dress ball coming up at court, and can't go looking like, well, like he looks now."

Figaro frowned at him. But the merchant snapped his fingers. "I've got just the thing," he announced. "Silver-hilted, with rubies. Some toff sold it not too long ago; probably needed to cover his gambling debts, or some such."

Figaro grabbed the merchant by the collar. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you for this 'toff's' name, and a description," he said pleasantly."

Quietus
The server (Edward) comes over carrying Che's milk. Someone jostles Edward and he spills the milk on Che.

"Oh, so sorry. Please forgive... Oh, I'm going to be fired..."

Edward rushes off to get a towel and a fresh mug of milk.

Raeython
As they had passed by the guard, the hairs on the back of Raeython's neck stood on end. He was going to comment on that fact to Ravenwind, when they came face to face with the leader of the Radiant Heart.  Looking at the leader pushed the feeling of unease that Raeython had been feeling up one more level. Something didn't seem quite right with his eyes. Even though he was talking to Raeython, his gaze seemed somewhere far away. Raeython then heard the whispered murmuring of Ravenwind, and heard a slight intake of breath when she was finished.

Raeython turns to Ravenwind and gives her a slight nod of his head to let her know that he knows something is up. Since he is not quite sure what is going on, Raeython decides to let Ravenwind make the first move. Raeython prepares himself to leap on the master.

Che
Edward returns with a towel and begins to clumsily clean Che. "Wha...stop that, me's a can clean meself."

Edward accommodates the dwarf and hands him the towel, "Oh please sir, do keep your voice down, I don't want to be fired. My days of thiev......adventuring are over, and I'm trying to start afresh."

Che and B_FH looked at each other with the silent agreement that fate is presenting itself on this day. "Adventurin' is in the blood, my good man, isn't the so Bph, Bfff,........oh I'm just going to call you Buffeh." B_FH was taken aback for a moment, realizing that someone had finally pronounced his name properly.

"Oh yes, adventuring is something that never leaves the soul. Kind of the same with.....ah.....thieving, wouldn't you agree?" questioned B_FH.

Edward's ears perked up at what he was hearing. "Are you two trying to tell me something?"

Che thought to himself, that the Edward fellow didn't seem too swift, but a thief was needed for the upcoming plans of theirs. "Well a yes we's are. Buffeh and I have a proposition fer yer to consider. One that a will a bounce a few gold coin in yers pocket. Be interested are ye? Or would yers rather a be continuin' to douse the customer's with more drinks?"

Edward thought that his skills, or lack of them, had no place in a tavern. B_FH anxiously awaited his answer.

Ravenwind
Ravenwind breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that Raeython had somehow picked up on the same things she had. She watched as he leaned slightly towards Sir Renaldo, leader of the Radiant Heart, freeing her to deal with the evil one behind them.

Taking the enemy completely by surprise, she whirled and slammed her staff into the guard's face, resulting in a satisfying crackling sound as his nose crunched under the blow. Stunned, he fell back against the wall, clutching at his face. Given that moment of time, Ravenwind hoarsely cried out, "Protect thy handmaiden and all her companions from evil, mighty Torm!" and a shimmering light enclosed them all.

Renaldo lurched to his feet, groping for his sword. He seemed to be fighting against his impulses however, and his reflexes were slowed.

The guard recovered from Ravenwind's surprise attack, and, astonishingly, began to incant a spell at her--which she promptly disrupted with a barrage of quartstaff strikes in various painful--but not life-threatening--parts of his body.

Quietus
Edward speaks in a loud whisper, "Now, sir, I don't no nothing about thieving. However, I once had a job as a...uh...locksmith, yeah, that's it. And I used to...er...hunt a lot, and we'd set traps and stuff for the animals and sneak up on them...What would you like me to do?...And what would it pay? So long as it's legal, of course. I've never done nothing illegal. Nosirree."

Raeython
Raeython charges Renaldo and crashes into him; locking him into a bear hug before he can finish drawing his sword. Raeython then picks him up off the ground and begins to arch his back lifting him higher until he can decide what to do with him. Renaldo grabs both of Raeython's arms and begins forcing them apart! Raeython tries to keep Renaldo in his grasp but, strong as he is, his arms are forced apart, until Renaldo drops back to his feet. Maintaining his grip on Raeython's arms, Renaldo picks up the ranger and throws him across the room where he crashes into the wall.

Raeython stumbles to his feet where he can see Renaldo has just finished unsheathing his sword, which seems to glow with an eerie black light. Looking into Renaldo's eyes as he draws his swords, Raeython notices that the eyes are still far away, not even focusing on the current situation. Raeython yells to Ravenwind, who seems to have her opponent well in hand, "Bar the door". A shimmering light engulfs him, and he mutters a quick thanks to his paladin friend. 

Raeython squares off against Renaldo who seems almost reluctant to close with him after Ravenwind's spell. Raeython does not want to seriously hurt Renaldo until he can find out what is going on, so he figures his best option is just to subdue this strange person. Holding the once-magical Forest Friend in his right and his shining blue shortsword in his left, Raeython advances on Renaldo. 

Raeython launches FF in a left to right diagonal slash, which skates across Renaldo's armored chest, at the same time bringing his shortsword straight forward, piercing through Renaldo's armored left arm, and sinking into the flesh beneath. Renaldo seems not to notice the fact that his left arm is now impaled as yanks his arm back, freeing it of Raeython's sword. He then launches his own attack, a slash at Raeython's chest. Raeython raises FF to deflect the blow, and almost loses his sword as the force of the blow numbs his entire right arm.

Raeython backs away and realizes that he is not going to be able to trade blows with this 'person'; his strength is incredible. Better to end this quickly. Raeython launches an incredible volley of strikes against Renaldo:  Raeython begins a spin to his left, FF lashes out at Renaldo's neck, which was parried by Renaldo; Rayehon bends his back down low and, finishing his spin, brings his shortsword down to the joint at Renaldo's left knee, where it bites through the armor and deeply into the flesh, bone, and sinew beneath. Renaldo promptly falls to the floor, his crippled knee no longer able to support his weight.

Quietus
Raeython stopped for a second after the struggle. Now that Renaldo was down, he could no longer harm anyone.

Meanwhile, Ravenwind continued to punish the 'guard'. The 'guard' drops his sword and laughs.

"GUARDS! Come quickly! Sir Renaldo is under attack. Oh no! She's casting again. Torm prot...ARGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

He winks at Ravenwind and then withdraws a dagger. Ravenwind stands stunned for just a second, while the 'guard' impales himself in the heart. His body pitches forward.

Raeython sees Sir Renaldo lift his sword. Being an intelligent fellow, he realizes what is going on and dives forward in an attempt to stop the leader from harming himself.

B_FH
"Tell me Edward" B_FH asks, " When do you get off work?". "About 6:30 pm" he answers. B_FH tells Edward of what is planned. "...but remember we're not stealing anything. Now will you help us?" B_FH asks.

"Edward responds after a minute of silence. "You know I could turn you in right." B_FH retorts "And Che could get you fired. Now are you helping us?" He responds with reluctance, "I suppose I have little choice. I would have said yes anyway. I'll meet you outside Sorcerer's Sundries later then?" "Right" B_FH says, during twilight."

Edward walks off into the crowd of people.  "Che, about these Radiant Heart" B_FH says, "I'm almost certain that since the noble knights wouldn't do this, they're probably worshipers of Loviathar disguised as Knights of the Radiant Heart trying to get blame placed on the knights. They probably set up Ravenwind to show the might of their God, or something like that. The symbol of Lliira is maybe another sect that they have targeted. One of Lliira's most valiant warriors and priests is probably facing the same fate as Ravenwind. My point is I think they are maligning all the other Gods in some sort of church war. I think there's another part of that map with a symbol of Torm on it, and another with the symbol of the Radiant Heart." 

Ravenwind
Ravenwind smacked her hand down on the guard's gaping wound and cried out a prayer to her god, almost wordless, but filled with power. The air sizzled, and white light bathed the wound. The flesh pulled together reluctantly, and the man gasped, "What? What happened? Lord Renaldo, I charge you, hold!"

Renaldo seemed beyond hearing. "Call off the rest of the guards," Ravenwind ordered the man, who nodded sharply and bolted out the door. In the distance, she could hear him telling his companions to wait, that the Master of the Order was under some form of enchantment, and to find the highest-ranking priest they could.

Ravenwind stepped forward, her staff describes tiny circles in the air as she tried to plan how to take Renaldo--or whatever now possessed Renlado--down as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Che
"Or maybe, me little friend, they could be worshippers of Loviathar disguised as worshippers of Lliira disguised as Radiant Heart members. Oh, tis web is a lot fer a dwarf to figure. But me's know a one thing, that sittin' a 'ere won't answer any o' our questions. Look tis be gettin' dark, maybe's we's better go meet Eddie. C'mon Buffeh, me rusty sword is a twitchin'."

B_FH
They approach Sorcerer's Sundries and, as B_FH expected, Eddie wasn't there. "Eddie ain't here!" Che notices. 

Suddenly they feel a tapping on both their backs and when the adventurers turn around they see a figure dressed in Shadow Thief garb. "Glad you could make it" the man said, “are you two ready?" 

B_FH feels as if he's about to faint. A look of astonishment is on Che's face. "But you're... how are you... OK what's going on!" Che demands with his hand on his sword hilt. 

"You we're supposed to meet me here" he says. 

B_FH blurts out "But you're a..." his mouth is covered by the man's hand. 

"I know what you're thinking and you're right, so lets just get this done. They all carefully approach the door together.

Quietus
Edward: "Oh. Before we go, I just wanted to let you know that if you wanted to pay me double, I wouldn't mind. It looks like half the town is following you. I could, uh....., persuade some of those following you to leave you alone, if you'd like... for a price."

Che
Che's face grew red with frustration. "Wha.....pay you double? Eddie, me's a man o' my word when it a comes to the deals. Me's a will pay yer double, if me's are allowed to sharpen me rusty sword between yer ribs." Che stared sharply into the eyes of Eddie, waiting for him to consider the new offer.

Edward began to stutter," Oh ah no, did I say d-d-double.......I meant you c-c-can pay me tomorrow."

"And as fer the crowd a watchin' us, they's a be on me side. Fer they also a be watchin' you too, Eddie." B_FH glanced back and noticed that there were many small eyes peering at them from the darkness. Many small boys were darting their glances in many directions. Finally one of them gave a short whistle.

Che acknowledged with a small belch. "Ah, the way be clear now. Tis time fer yer locks pickin' abilities, Eddie. No pressure a now, me's rusty sword is a coverin' yer back." Che was a little reluctant to use the strong-arm tactics on the quivering thief, but he had no choice but to keep himself and B_FH on the move. Eddie continued to fumble with the lock, until he heard a click. *click*

"There, got it," prided Eddie. The three of them entered the Sundries. It was a calm silence that greeted them. The moonbeams through the windows lit most of the interior with a white hue. "What are we looking for?" asked B_FH.

"Me's a goin' to guess that we be lookin' fer more pieces o' paper to add to our collection of clues. But a keep on the lookout fer anything that doesn't a belong in a magic shop."

B_FH
B_FH, out of the corner of his eye sees Eddie getting light-fingered. He decides to let it slide for now.  "Now, Che," B_FH whispered, " they wouldn't keep anything important on the shelves. We''l have to check the back rooms."

"Eddie, get up here and check this door." Che whispers loudly. "Hmmm...." Eddie says, "Looks clear to me."

B_FH opens the door and sees gold piled to the roof. 

"It's amazing" B_FH says. He walks toward it in awe. Eddie half whispers half shouts "Watch out it might be a....!" B_FH takes another step and hears a click. All the gold fades away and reveals nothing but a storage shelf with a hole in the back. Out of the hole shoots and acid-tipped arrow that hits B_FH hard in the shoulder. B_FH cringes in pain, but makes no sound. Instead he grabs hld of the arrow, staggers back and collapses to the floor. Eddie finishes his what he was going to say "...trap."

Out of B_FH's pack hops his familiar. Its hand ready a spell. Within moments of the incantation’s completion, B_FH's body expells the arrow and begins to heal. B_FH picks up his familiar and keeps hold of it in his clasped hands.

"Look you guys," Eddie says, "the hallway splits in two, which way should we go?"

Che
Che was looking intently at the contents upon a table," Ah, here it is!" the dwarf announced. B_FH ran over to the side of Che," What is it? Did you find something of importance?"

"Well, ah, yes,......my toothpick. Me's dropped it when that arrow shot through the air and hit you. Oh, by the way, glad yer familiar be about to 'elp yer there. Hmmmm, two ways to go. One up an' a one be down. Dwarves don't a like a goin' up, so we's a go down. And a stay a close to me, tis be dark 'ere."

The three entered the opening that led down a dusty stairwell. The darkness was a bit troublesome for B_FH and Eddie, but Che's limited infravision and signaling grunts seemed to assure them that they were secure on a path to somewhere. "Hmmmm.....smell that Buffeh? Sewers. Odd isn't ta it, that a sewer be leadin' into a magic shop. Tis me's think we should a be prepared fer company soon."

B_FH and Eddie could almost taste the disgusting smells they were entering into. The darkness also seemed to thin the stronger the stench became. They then began to hear voices.

Quietus
Edward unsheathes a nasty looking dagger. 

"You two wait here. I'll go check it out. Do you want me to do this the violent or the non-violent way?"

Che: "Me's be thinkin' the non-violent ways be best, Eddie me boy."

B_FH: "Best not to leave a trail if possible. I could make you invisible if you want."

Edward: "That won't be necessary."

Edward slips down the stairs, moving deeper into the wretched smelling sewers, dagger at the ready.

Ravenwind
A sudden thought struck Raeython—the helmet Renaldo wore  looked as out of place as the black-glowing sword. A high-ranking priest of Torm burst through the door behind Ravenwind. "Can anyone get his helmet off?" Raeython called. "I don't want to get my sword too close to anything vital!"

Ravenwind shrugged, and dodged behind the other paladin, tossing her staff to the floor. Her lighter
chainmail let her move more quickly, and she was able to get her hands on the man's helmet before he could turn on her with his sword. She tugged uselessly as he snarled and yanked away. "Stuck!" she cried, diving for her staff again.

The priest frowned, finding the whole scene disquieting. He raised his hand, and commanded, "Sleep!" to Renaldo. The man collapsed with a rattle of his armor. "Hurry," the priest directed. "I can see there's something wrong with him, but the command will not hold him long."

Raeython pinned Renaldo by the shoulders, while Ravenwind exerted herself, trying to remove the helm. "It's like it's attached to his scalp," she reported, "or fused to the bone." She glanced down at her left arm, thinking of the scar there.

Renaldo stirred, and groaned. "Remove this curse from him," Ravenwind implored the priest, who nodded, and placed his hands upon the helm and began to chant softly. Renaldo heaved, and it took their combined strength to hold him still. Finally, the priest removed the dark-colored helm. Ravenwind held her breath as Renaldo fell still. Had their efforts been enough, or would this paladin still be controlled by some other force than his own will?

B_FH
"Okay guys, it's clear." Eddie yells. "I told ye' not to yell" Che says. The adventurers go down and turn the corner and start walking. After a while of walking they see Eddie standing there, and three more Eddies behind them. Plus, an unconscious Eddie on the floor.

B_FH answers nervously, "Eddie, I didn't know you were a mage." Eddie says in an inhuman voice, "I'm not a mage, monkey...". Suddenly all the Eddies begin to change form except the unconscious Eddie on the floor.

"Your time is done, primate!" is what the Dopplegangers yelled into battle. "Che! Cover me!" B_FH steps back and readies a spell while Che gets the major beating of the Dopplegangers...

pure_ultima
The merchant gasped in Figaro's grip. His eyes gaped at Ultima's. Ultima shrugged his shoulders. The man tries to struggle but was left with a vicious kick to the ankle by Bob! "'Ere you can't do this. Tis ‘arassment  or some such legal mumbo-jumbo, this!" 

Another tibia-high kick. 

"Ouch - Ok, I don't know who the guy was. He had - Outlandish garb of some such on!"

 "Hummph - Well lets see this dagger then!" said Figaro, letting go.

The man quickly searched under his stall and came up again with an ornate silver dagger. Ultima's eyes scanned it - there was the symbol of Torm. But it didn't mean that it was authentic and not just planted for them to "find.”

"We'll take it. How much?" asked Figaro.

"250 in gold - remember ‘tis a fine dagger! and I'm cutting me own throat!" (sorry, couldn't resist! )

Grudgingly Ultima and Figaro raided their gem bags and retrieved the dagger. Now they only had to find Ravenwind and Raeython. Perhaps Ravenwind would be able to state whether the dagger was truly legit or not...

Che
Che darted into the front lines of the foray, with his shield propped along his left arm and his rusty sword in his right hand. A fearsome cry of battle followed by many words of dwarven profanity rained from the
dwarf,"Arrrgghh! Sevvit, bracklee...yer good fer nothin' steggel!" Che made his sword sing a wild hum as the dopplegangers met the edge of the crusty blade. The enemy was at first surprised by the ferocity of the attack and the group soon realized that a direct assault would prove deadly. They paused momentarily to assess their wounds and then regrouped to either side of Che, in order to outflank him.

Che stood firm in his position, glancing back and forth to either side of him, prepared to weather the next wave. But what was more concerning at the moment, was the delay in the magic that he knew was being prepared behind him.

"Buffeh, tis be a no time fer a stutterin'.....me's can take out most o' them but not a all o' them."

Figaro
After getting a fairly complete description of the apparant thief's attire, Figaro and Ultima leave the shop. After going only a short distance, they double back down the street and each take up a position to watch the exits. Sure enough after a short while the merchant closes shop and starts to walk nervously up the ally.

B_FH
B_FH finishes his spell. "Che, duck!" were his first words after the incantation. Three bolts of lightning flew from B_FH's hands. They just barley missed Che and struck down one of the Dopplegangers. The bolts hit the opposite wall and flew back. They struck down one more Doppleganger before they fizzled out.

B_FH unsheathes his katana and lets loose his fury. Che and B_FH strike together and take down another one. The last Doppeganger has already cast Haste and Mirror Image on himself. Che and B_FH work their way in on the illusions. Before they reach the final image, the Doppleganger makes a quick slash and B_FH's once-glistening katana is no more. B_FH readies another spell but is slashed across his forearm before he can finish the spell. 

All at once B_FH finds himself with no weaponry and, in this state of panic, unable to remember any spells. He sinks to the ground and awaits the ending blow but instead he feels Che's heavy hand helping him up. Before B_FH can thank him, Che is away helping to heal Eddie.

Quietus
As Che attends to him, Edward moans a bit.

Edward: "Sorry about that. I must be losing it. Either that, or they were waiting for you."

Che notices that Edward is bleeding rather heavily out of his head.

"Don't worry, me boy, 'ead wounds always looks a worse than theys are."

Che casts B_FH a worried glance.

Ravenwind
The oily black sheen seemed to drain from Renaldo's blade, and he sank limp against the floor. Ravenwind and Raeython traded wary glances, and continued to hold on. Renaldo began to weep, sobs wracking his armored form. "It was inside my mind," he said, "forcing me to do things. I feel unclean."

The companions released him, but continued to stand near as others of the Radiant Heart filtered into the room to listen. Renaldo reached for his amulet of Torm, which lay on his desk nearby. "It made me take this off," he added, then cried out in pain as the amulet flashed under his fingers, burning them. He slumped in on himself, and refused to speak.

"May Torm forgive you, my son," the priest murmured. Most of the paladins present looked ill. Some turned their faces away resolutely, not wishing to stare at their fallen leader and thus add to his shame. Ravenwind, member of a completely different order, patted the man on the shoulder—her gauntlet made a faint ringing sound against his plate mail. "I'm sure in the fullness of time, you can find redemption, Renaldo," she said softly. "Take the first steps towards it, and tell us everything you can remember. And the guard who brought us to you seemed to be under a similar compulsion-let him be brought forth to bear witness as well."

Their consternation was great when they realized that the guard was no where to be found. Whatever force had possessed him and Renaldo had apparently reasserted its control over its tool.

B_FH
B_FH nods his head and stands near Eddie. B_FH begins to cast a spell, but because B_FH isn't a cleric, he cannot heal Eddie. "What are ye' doing?" Che whispers. A shimmering dor appears behind B_FH and he and Eddie disappear into it. In about a minute the door reopens and B_FH steps through. "I left him in the temple of Helm to be healed, we should be just in time to meet with him when we're done." 

B_FH and Che travel the sewers for a good half-hour dispatching the occasional kobold or mustard-jelly. Then they hear snoring around the next corner. B_FH takes his familiar out of his pack and sends it to investigate. The familiar peeks around the corner then goes back to B_FH and says, "It just some Knights of the Radiant Heart.

B_FH and Che step around the corner and observe at least 15 Knights. "Too much for us to handle" Che whispers. B_FH continues, "We don't need to wake them up". 

B_FH raises the teleportation wand high above his head. "HALT! In the name of the law I hereby place all of you under arrest from the besmirching and murder of a follower of Lliira. You will come with me." A Flaming Fist shouts from the end of the hall. All of the Knights wake up at the shout and a red glow is in their eyes. A three-way battle ensues. 

Ravenwind
Ravenwind and Raeython tie up a few loose ends at the Radiant Heart's head quarters, and return across town to the smaller complex belonging to Ravenwind's order. Torm's handmaiden had two scant hours left in which to prepare herself for combat.

Ultima and Figaro caught up with them. "Why do you still have to fight?" Figaro asked, sounding bewildered. "Wouldn't the testimony of the knights at the Radiant Heart be enough to cast doubt on the case against you?"

Ravenwind shook her head. "No, we've found evidence that clears them of planning my prelate's death," she said sadly, "but nothing about the original accusation, which implicated me in harboring a murderer. I know this is a lie, but I still must prove it. Any mark on my reputation casts a shadow on my order, and thus, I must prove that no shadow exists."

The others all shook their heads, not quite knowing how to respond to her. "So, what have you two found?" she asked.

Glumly, they showed her the (rather costly) dagger. Without them saying a word about it, she for her coin purse, and handed it to them. It jingled gently in Figaro's palm. "Yes, it is indeed Dreosan's dagger. If you would, please, take it to a trustworthy temple—perhaps that of Lathander—and have a priest summon Dreosan's spirit with it as the focus. Perhaps that will shed some light on the matter."

Ultima briefly relayed the description of the man who'd sold the dagger. Raeython missed a step. "Dark hair, scar over the left eye, and a signet ring bearing a three-circled sigil?" he said, astonished. "It sounds like the guard we saw today!"

Ravenwind looked troubled. "But it doesn't match the description of the supposed envoy who killed Dreosan," she replied softly.

They arrived at the complex, and she checked in with the guards there, and went immediately to the sanctuary to prepare herself for the battle to come.

Che
"Argh, Lliira again. Me's thinks that this would be a good time fer a quick exit. The Fist 'ave a found their bounty, and we've a been given a lead." Che grabs the arm of Edward and draws him near to B_FH. The dwarf raises his shield to protect his fellow adventurers. The Flaming Fist soldiers raise their crossbows readying to fire. The Radiant Heart men all change to dopplegangers.

"Oh dear," gasped Che, "Buffeh, transport us to a temple of Lliira, quick!"

"I don't know where it is!" cried B_FH.

"Just a look at the symbol on the paper 'ere, and a concentrate........and make a sure you keep a that wand a wavin’."

*POP*

B_FH
The mist subsides and they find themselves standing before the symbol of Lliira. The adventurers turned around and saw an alter in which a priest was praying before.

Che
The startled priest turned around and saw Che and B_FH propping up the wounded Eddie. "We's a could use a hand 'ere, governor. A healin' 'and if you may?" prompted Che.

The priest was silent as he approached the adventurers. He looked cautiously at the three of them, and then noticed the wounds of the slumping Eddie. With quiet, incomprehensible whispers, the priest of Lliira laid his palm across the chest of Eddie. A sudden gasp for air came from the thief as he regained some of his strength. "What happened? Where are we?" questioned Eddie.

B_FH answered in a calm voice," It's all right, Eddie, you had a close call in the sewers. You're safe now."

"Oh, this be a wonderous event. A time for celebration." proclaimed the priest. Suddenly from nowhere it seemed, music began to fill the massive hallway of Lliira. The melodic notes echoed throughout the cavernous alcoves of marble. No one else was present with the four persons, but Che felt a sense that many bodies were about and well hidden.

"Ah, before me starts to dance a jig, me's was wonderin' if we could a ask ye a couple o' questions?" asked Che to the priest.

"Oh, of course. Your friend will need some time to gather his resolve. Questions would be welcome to fill the time."

Both Che and B_FH retold of their previous adventures to the priest and questioned if he knew of any foul or evil developments concerning the deity of Lliira. "Hmmm." thought the priest, "No direct conspiracies have come to my attention against our deity. But there has been some talk of some impersonating followers of Lliira. As you know Lliira is not a violent deity and she is well trusted by many. It is that universal trust that evil-doers sometimes use against their prey. But let me see if I have understood you wholly. This friend of yours, ah, Ravenwind, you said......you wish to clear her name." Che and B_FH nodded. "So you think that someone has wrongly guided the eyes of guilt her way. Hmmmm. Tell again, what was the item that she gave you to help her cause?"

"Oh, Che has it on him," piped B_FH. The dwarf brought out the wrapped rod of Loviathar and placed it on the floor. The priest slowly pulled back the layers of wrap to reveal the instrument of pain. A glow came from the priest's hand as it approached the rod. Che and B_FH looked at each other eagerly anticipating an answer to this adventuring riddle. The priest then withdrew his hand and spoke. "I cannot tell from whom this device originated from. But if you let me, I can have it cleansed and blessed and then enchanted it."

"Enchanted!? What a good is a that to us?" questioned Che. 

"Well my good dwarf, once the rod is purified enchanted, it can be used to trace its origin. But you won't be able to use it. Only the one that it was given to could heighten the enchantment and thusly direct them to the bearer of this evil instrument." Che and B_FH briefly discussed the priest's offer and agreed to have the rod enchanted.

"Very well, then. The purification will take some time. Why don't you take your friend to the kitchen for some nourishment." With that the priest left with the rod and exited to a side room. Che, B_FH, and Eddie made their way to what seemed to be a kitchen and helped themselves to some fruit. Eddie finally piped up, "Where in the Realms are we, exactly?"

B_FH
"We're in the temple of Lliira, Eddie." B_FH says. After a few minutes, and after Che took a dip into the sacremental wine, the priest entered and let them know it is done.

"Che?" B_FH says. 

"Aye?" he replies. 

"We get the now-enchanted rod back to Ravenwind to use right?"

Quietus
Edward appears disgusted with himself, "You know, I don't think I accomplished a single thing for you guys. Feel free to deduct from my fee whatever it cost to heal me, and keep the rest for yourselves. I don't deserve anything. I'm going to head back to the tavern before they fire me... er, I am still in Baldur's Gate, right??"

Ravenwind
Raeython found her once more kneeling before that altar. This time, however, the white shift was gone, and she still wore her light chain mail. Her staff rested before her on the ground. "Shouldn't you be getting ready?" he asked. "Perhaps putting on the plate mail, sharpening your swords, whatever?"

One shoulder lifted in a shrug. "I tried putting on the plate, but I haven't quite gotten all my strength back yet. It's only been a few days, remember? Besides, I can't very well fight with a staff in plate mail. And I haven't been released from the trial yet, so I can't use a sword."

Raeython occasionally had problems understanding the way his friend's mind worked. This was one of those times. Shaking his head, he replied, "Well, I'll have Kaltseax and the armor ready for you, if you decide otherwise."

"Thank you, my friend," she replied, her smile showing that she understood his reservations. "Shall we go, then?"

The combat arena was located just outside the practice field, and beside the tiltyards. Open-air stands enclosed a flat, slate floor, and those stands were completely filled by the time they arrived. Across the way from them stood her opponent and his second, both wearing gleaming plate mail, and visored helms that masked their faces.

A warning tingle ran down her spine when she spotted them. "Raeython-"

"I know, I sense it, too."

Raeython
Raeython exchanges a glance with Ravenwind upon seeing the opponents. The hair on the back of his neck is standing up again...the same way it did back in the office with the possessed people. Raeython murmers a simple prayer under his breath...only to find it blocked by something! He leans over to whisper into Ravenwind's ear:

"This is very bad. I get the same feeling that I had with Renaldo back in the office. I uttered a prayer to Mielikki to grant me sight of their magic, and my prayer was blocked! I could feel Mielikki granting my request... then nothing. I can't detect any magic, but we both know they will be wearing something that steals their will. Additionally, they may have that same supernatural strength that Renaldo possesed. What is the protocol in this situation?"

Ravenwind
Ravenwind swallows heard. "Usually," she said, "the second of the duel would present a protest to the head of the Inquisitors."

"Usually, but not now?"

"My opponent is his second in command, and his brother."

Raeython nodded. "That would present a problem," he agreed. "Any suggestions, my friend?"

"Ask Mielikki to smile on me?" she said, he face going a little ashen. "And while you're at it, ask Torm to forgive me for breaking a vow; he may be too annoyed to listen to me."

She gently placed her staff on the ground, and took Kaltseax from him.

Che
"Me's has a no ideas o' where we be in the Realm, there Eddie, but yer does a seem well o'nuff to travel. Buffeh, warm up the wand o' teleportation." Che thanked the priest for his services and made a healthy contribution of small gems to the coffers of the temple. "Well, Buffeh, back to near a where Ravenwind be."

With that command B_FH waved the wand above the three of them and ..........*POP*

Che, B_FH, and the rather reluctant Eddie were back where they started. They rushed to find Ravenwind to announce their findings. They soon arrived at the complex where Ravenwind was preparing to battle. Che ran to the side of Raeython and questioned, "Wha' be a happenin' 'ere?" Raeython quickly filled in the fighter of the bleak situation. "She's not allowed to 'ave a sword, ‘tis not fair. Raeython, take me rusty sword and ask if Ravenwind be allowed to use it."

Raeython looked strangely at the dwarf," Che, my good man, her staff be stronger than that piece of deteriorating metal."

"Aye, that be part o' the permanent illusion o' me sword. Yer'd be surprised how a many times me gets underestimated wieldin' me weapon. But if she be allowed to use it, tell her that she must 'will' its actions, and then the sword will follow. Me knows it sounds complicated, but truly it ain't. Now go."

"And a Buffeh, yer better be a ready 'ith yer bag o' scrolls there, 'cause if she canna wield me sword, she's a gonna need a little magical boot in the butt, to 'andle those two competitors."

B_FH began rumaging through his satchel trying to inventorize what scrolls he had left.

Eddie was at the least bewildered at where he was. "Che, I'm hungry and I want to go home."

Quietus
"What is going on? They're fighting a duel? Are they a couple of six-year-olds?" He sighed. "Would it help expedite things if I assassinated her opponent? Would I then be allowed to at least have a sandwich?" He sighed again, then realized that everyone was totally ignoring him. "I knew there was a reason I gave up, uh, adventuring."

Raeython
"Che, I will see if it will be allowed, but I don't think it will be. This is a trial for honor, and I don't think Ravenwind will use anything that might cast a doubt on the outcome of the battle. What you can do, is get everybody ready for battle. If things go down here badly, we have to be ready for the fight of our lives."

Raeython leans closer to Che:

"No matter the outcome of the fight, I will not allow Ravenwind to be killed. If it comes down to it, I will personally kill anybody that tries to harm her. You can follow my lead or not, I will not blame you for upholding the law."

Raeython hangs his head for a moment.

"Enough of this; Ravenwind is a skilled fighter and chances are good that she will win despite the trickery. Just remember, at the first sign of treachery I will already be in motion. Be wary my stout friend as I have a very bad feeling about this situation." 

Raeython goes over to take his place in the arena.

Che
Che stepped back a bit feeling rather naked without his prized weapon, but felt that his friend needed more at this moment. "And a lass, about me sword, remember that you must think its actions through, and they will a 'appen. Oh, and another thing, the blade willa not kill the opponent, but just a hurt 'im badly. The point a must be used fer finality."

Che then prepared his crossbow under his cloak, and kept it well hidden. Raeython's guidance to protect the well-being of his friend was of greatest concern to the dwarf.

B_FH continued to sort his scrolls and found a sandwich, which he promptly offered to the hungry Eddie.

Ravenwind
Ravenwind blinked as Che pushed the rusty sword--rather insistently--into her off-hand. "Father Dreosan, forgive me," she muttered, and presented her blades to the head Inquisitor and her opponent's second for their inspection. Kaltseax got an approving nod, the rusty blade got a chuckle. "Are you sure, daughter, that you will choose to give up the staff?" the Inquisitor asked. "Dreosan would be most disappointed, you know."

Swallowing, she replied softly, "He gave me leave to follow the ways of a cleric for a time, that I might know my own heart. I will ever serve Torm as one of his swords and hands."

"Will you not at least take up one of the provided weapons?" her opponent asked, a bit woodenly. Raeython shrugged, where he was investigating the various swords, maces, and axes lying to one side. He could not tell if any had been tampered with, but had a bad feeling about them all.

Ravenwind smiled beatifically at her visored opponent. "Should I win, Torm's hand would never be so apparent. Shall we all now pray for Justice to be served this day?"

She reached out her hand, and blessed the armored knight.

The other paladin stiffened and stepped back as her glowing hand came near him. A gasp ran through the crowd, since almost all there could sense the holy purity of her spell.

"Do you fear Torm's blessing?" Ravenwind asked. "I do not." She touched her own forehead with her hand, and the glow suffused her, enveloping her in warmth and light.

She stepped forward, Kaltseax in her right hand and Che's rusty blade in her left. "Come now, bless yourself and this battle," she said lightly. "Submit yourself to the Lord of Duty."

A low sound, almost a snarl, echoed from behind the helmet's visor. And her opponent spat out three short, sharp words, all arcane. And a sickly yellow glow wrapped around him.

Ravenwind leaped into the fray, not noticing the gasps from the crowd. It felt very, very good to have swords in her hands once more. She lashed out with Kaltseax, biting at the enchantments surrounding the man with its blade, and tried to master Che's sword with her thoughts-a more difficult task than one could imagine, to someone accustomed to more physical reflexes. The delay cost her, and her opponent's two-handed sword swept towards her. She barely dodged the humming steel.

The Master of the Inquisiors sat stiff, and still, not moving to halt the combat. Slowly, her opponent's second began to move, drawing his own sword, and lifting his shield.

"You must stop this!" Ultima shouted at the Master of the Inquisitors. "It is not just, it is not right!"

But the man sat silently, motionlessly, staring down at his brother on the floor of the dueling arena.

Raeython
Suddenly, Raeython is standing in front of the second fighter.

"Put the blade down, and stand back."

Ravenwind
Raeython could barely see his opponent's eyes through the visor, but for an instant, he can see the red flare. Then the man attacked him, moving a good deal faster than he'd ever thought someone bulked down by plate mail could. The man moved like a jungle cat. A flurry of blows were exchanged.

On the other side of the arena, Ravenwind's concentration had to be absolute as she worked her two short blades against her opponent's massive sword. Again and again, she had to dodge massive overhand strikes, and Kaltseax's spellbreaking power seemed ineffective against the enchantment--if there were indeed, any enchantment--lain on this man. 

Another overhand blow, which this time she caught on her swords, defensively crossed in a X. The shock waves resonated down her arms, and the left one, still scarred from the shield of Arness, ached fiercely. And again. And again.

With a shout, she rolled away from the last strike, and let her mind wrap around Che's rusty blade. "Torm, forgive me," she whispered. And she released the blade.

The sword hovered there, a little uncertainly, and began to strike and feint at the man, and even as she circled left, it circled right, snapping at the man's visor. She caught Che's dumbfounded expression out of the corner of his eye. Perhaps he had not known the weapon's full capabilities.

As if in the distance, she could hear the voices of the crowd, screaming at the Grand Inquisitor to stop the combat. But the trumpets did not sound. Until that time, the fight had to go on.

pure_ultima
Ultima's hand fell heavily onto the hilt of his sword - it felt good to know it was there just in case. He noticed however, that it was all becoming quieter. The yells and gasps of the crowd, the clangs of battle below and even the incessant whining of Eddie faded.  Ultima felt suddenly full of energy. Then to his amazement realized a transformation that had happened. It seemed that time itself had slowed. Other people seemed to be acting normally though. No-one seemed shocked or fearful. Then the truth hit Ultima like an enraged battering ram. It was residue power – left over from his brush with Malus. 

Down below Ravenwind barely managed to dodge a blow but swiftly regained to bring around the sword, biting lightly into the plate. Ultima stood up. It appeared that he himself was not affected as much as everyone else. 

He looked over to the Inquistors, there was a figure standing behind them. "Malus," Ultima whispered.  The combat continued in slow motion below him...

Ultima felt that he should make a contribution—before Malus did. He leapt off the parapet and into the dusty arena floor. Bob was making a contribution as well—rushing around and stealing any loose belt pouches.

He awaited to his if Malus would make his move.  He surely would not resist trying to strike Ultima down – it seemed even here he possessed power over mens’ minds

Raeython
Raeython was on his heels as the person launched the attack. 

I told myself to be ready for anything, the ranger thinks to himself. The sheer speed of this opponent shocked Raeython as he just managed to step out of range from a vicious swipe of the sword. As the person advances on Raeython again, Raeython manages to kick a rock from the ground at his visored forehead, giving Raeython enough time to pull his swords from their sheathes.

Raeython has had enough of this supernatural BS, it's time for somebody to pay the piper. Raeython squares off against his opponent, and launches a probing slash at his knees, and is almost gutted as the guy blocked the sword with his shield, and riposted with a lightning fast slash of his sword. Raeython backpedals to gain some distance between himself and his opponent. 

For the first time in his life, Raeython is faced with an opponent who is faster than he is. 

Can't let that thought get me down, Raeython thinks to himself. Faster does not mean better.

Raeython jumps to the attack: Forest Friend launches a left to right diagonal slash at opponent’s helmet, blocked by the shield. His shortsword follows up with a poke to his stomach, parried by opponent’s sword. 

Turning to his left, sweeping his shortsword at his opponent’s knee, he found the  longsword strike blocked by the shield as it dropped down from the helmet. Forest Friend slashes from right to left at his opponent’s stomach, but is partially parried by opponent's sword, only to scrape across the armored chest. 

Raeython changes his turn into a rolling dive as his opponent's sword angles towards his knee after its partial parry.  He hits the ground and rolls to his feet, springing backwards, as his opponent is already there, slashing at his chest. 

His opponent's blade scrapes off his armor, and bites into Raeython's right arm; drawing a line of blood.  Then the man lunges straight at Raeython with his sword extended. Raeython locks his opponent's blade to his outside with his shortsword, and spins along his opponent's body and shield to his left and tries to impale him. 

His opponent will have none of that and spins around impossibly fast to catch Raeython's shortsword on his shield, and administers the ranger a glancing blow with his sword, which draws blood form Raeython's cheek as he turns to his right to avoid the attack.

When he was fighting Renaldo, Raeython was careful not to hurt him and that almost proved his undoing. The same thing was happening to him now.

"It's either him or me...he is just too fast to try and disable."

Quietus
Edward ceases his whining, finishes his sandwich, and decides to contribute. Maybe they'll reward me, he thinks.

Ignoring the shouting audience, he sneaks up behind Raeython's opponent and waits a moment. Then with a lunge, he stabs him in the back. His sword punches through the plate armor and goes entirely through the man's body.

The man whirls around violently, wrenching the sword out of Edward's hand. Edward stares stunned at this unexpected event. The man (with a sword sticking clean through him) lashes out with his blade. Edward's left arm is completely severed, and the blade slashes into his side.

Edward falls to the ground. He tries to gasp out some last words, but after choking out some blood, decides it isn't worth it. He collapses to the ground, and the warrior returns his attentions to Raeython.

Raeython
Raeython is about to launch another series of attacks on his opponent when some loony backstabs his opponent, and punches the sword clean through his body. The most amazing thing is that he seemed not to notice in the least as he lopped off the offender's arm. Raeython thinks to himself

"Man, that's some pretty messed up stuff right there. Ok, time to change tactics."

Che
Che is standing back alongside of B_FH. The two of them watch the battle unfold. The dwarf is amazed at how well Ravenwind is picking up the intricacies of the rusty sword. "Hmph. Show off!" 

B_FH comments," You know, Che that Eddie sure does like to enter situations on his own." 

"Aye, that he does little one. But that severed arm there may be a wee bit too much fer a priest to handle." 

B_FH nods in agreement. "But Che maybe we should do something."

"Aye, me crossbow is all prepared 'ere. But let a me finish wha' me be doin' 'ere first. You know Buffeh, these a here sandwiches are a really good!"

Quietus
Malus makes a gesture and Edward stirs and rises to his feet. He looks right at Ultima and charges him. Ultima can 'hear' a voice in his mind.

Alive or dead, they will all serve me.

Ultima can't figure out why no one else is responding, but with his new-found speed, he feels confident he can handle any challenge.

B_FH
B_FH continues shuffling through his scroll case, "Time stop, disintegrate, melf's minute meteors, ah here it is! Monster summoning III! All I need to do is wait for the proper time and... hey! Why is Eddie helping the enemies? B_FH casts Dispel Magic. "That's odd that it didn't work. Che, Eddie wouldn't do this, I've to get him out of there." B_FH says. 

The young man Dimension Doors down to Eddie, grabs him and Dimension Doors back up next to Che. "Hold him! He's trying to kill me!"
 
Che
"Aye good work there, Buffeh. Can't a 'ave any outside interference......yet." Che straightens Eddie out and notices that he is quite pale. "Can me gives you a hand there Eddie." The dwarf picks up Eddie's lost appendage and offers it back to him.

"Ah, Eddie a won't be running away too fast,....give 'im another sandwich to occupy him."

Figaro
Figaro takes up an ambush position.  Okay, next person take tries to upset the duel is going to get a surprise. And that includes Malus casting more possession spells.

B_FH
"Che, it's already quite obvious Malus is behind this. So maybe we can get Malus to appear so Ravenwind and Rayethon have a chance to disrupt him enough and undo all the charm spells. Then the charmed knights will be able to testify and let the authorities know they were under a charm spell during the alleged crimes. What do you think?"

Ravenwind
Ravenwind could only watch in shock and dismay as her opponent reached out, seized the rusty sword as it danced in midair, and brought his own blade down on it. A blast of magical energies erupted, throwing all the combatants to the ground. 

Shaking her head, she managed to regain her feet—and the initiative—first. She now faced off against a man with a two-handed sword, in plate armor, who was head and shoulders taller than her, while wearing chainmail and carrying a shortsword herself. Not good,  she thought.

Dancing back from where her opponent was slowing levering himself off the ground—and ignoring B_FH and Che, who were shouting for her to end the man's life while he still sat on the ground—she glanced over to see how Raeython was doing against his opponent. She saw the gaping wound in the man's side, and how quickly and lithely he still moved. Even as she watched, he managed to slap one of Raeython's swords away, and sliced at the ranger's throat. Raeython dodged, but barely. 

A glint of gold on the paladin's wrists caught her eye. "The bracers!" she shouted. "Raeython, aim for his bracers!"

The paladin feinted, and Raeython took the bait, overextending as he lunged for the man, trying to plunge the point of his sword into the unprotected joint in the armor, where the arm met the breastplate. Ravenwind cursed, then raised her left hand over her head. "Torm!" she implored, in a voice that carried throughout the arena, "strike down this evil-doer in fire and lightning!"

The bolt that ripped down from the heavens was totally unexpected. It crashed into Raeython's opponent, and his armor glowed white hot. Eerily, he did not scream, although he flinched in obvious pain, recoiling from the holy fire.

A scrape behind her caught her attention back from the other duel. Her own opponent had regained his feet, and suddenly, she had a lot more on her hands than she could easily deal with. 

Raeython
Just as his foe turns back towards Raeython, Raeython jumps to the offensive:

He starts off with a dual lunge, his shortsword streaking towards the paladin's face at the same time Forest Friend heads for his stomach. 

The paladin manages to catch both swords on his shield and counters with a lightning fast strike of his sword, which Raeython only manages to avoid by throwing himself to the ground. 

He manages to tuck his legs underneath himself as he hits the ground, and turns his forward momentum into Forest Friend as he slashes it in a horizontal line at the paladin's chest. 

The paladin brings up his sword to parry, but the force of the blow was enough to punch past his sword and armor underneath; drawing a shallow cut in his left side. 

Raeython then stabs his shortsword towards the paladin, and the paladin slaps his sword away with his shield and launches an incredibly fast strike at Raeython's throat. 

Raeython just manages to turn his head and avoid the strike when he hears Ravenwind: "The bracers! Raeython, aim for his bracers!"

The paladin feinted and Raeython tried to bait him by seeming to overextend his shortsword as he aimed for the joint in the paladin's armor; reading Forest Friend for a strike at the paladin's head when he hears Ravenwind shouting again, and suddenly a bolt of holy fire descends from the heavens. The blow smites the paladin, and sends Raeython careening off to the side.

"This is getting out of control" Raeython thinks to himself. He quickly corrects that thought: "No, this is already way out of control. Mielikki forgive me, but this must end now."

Raeython turns once again towards the paladin. The paladin begins yet another rush at Raeython, despite the fact that his armor is glowing from the heat of the heavenly bolt, and there is a sword sticking through his body. Raeython jumps forward to meet the assault.

The paladin's sword streaks towards Raeython's head; the blade nearly whistling through the air at the speed and force behind it. Raeython ducks under the blow and launches his shortsword in a lunge towards the paladin's chest.

The paladin catches this on his shield, but Raeython already has Forest Friend sweeping for his leg.

The paladin quickly hops back and begins to lash out with his sword again, only to have to raise it in a parry to the shortsword heading for his eye.

The spectators are amazed at the speed of this paladin. He is easily the fastest fighter they have ever seen, but they are just as amazed at the ranger. Each of his attacks seems to flow into the next. Even though his opponent is much faster, you can tell that his fighting style is much smoother, and sharper.

Forest Friend reaches out for the paladin's arm, blocked by the shield, as Raeython's shwortsword streaks at the paladin's left thigh; parried by the paladin's sword.

Raeython spins counter clockwise in a circle, his shortsword whipping around in sweep at the paladin's knee, taken on the paladin's shield.

Unfortunately for the paladin, the shortsword strike was just to set the shield's position, as Raeython finishes his circle; his momentum once again behind Forest Friend as it just clears the top of the paladin's shield, and tears through the throat of the paladin.

Two distinct thuds can be heard: the first was the paladin's body hitting the ground. The second the paladin's head landing some distance away. 

Raeython then looks to see how Ravenwind is faring.

Ravenwind
Ravenwind heard the clatter of armor striking the ground behind her, but she didn't dare break her concentration to see who had won that duel, but she prayed that it had been Raeython.

A voice lifted in the crowd—the voice of one of her long-ago instructors, Arden. "Catch, Ravenwind!" He threw a longsword down into the arena.

She glanced up momentarily, and managed to snag the sword out of air. Alas, the longer blade was now in her off-hand, but it would have to do. To buy herself time, she launched a flurry of sharp attacks to throw her opponent off-balance, and then, when she had him back on his heels, she kicked him in the mid-drift. He was thrown back, giving her the precious seconds she needed to switch hands. While she was one of very few paladins who preferred double-handed attacks, she was not as good as Raeython in this style, and could not allow even such a small thing to throw her off.

For a moment, she truly regretted having given up the Flame of Justice. Surely, with that holy weapon of Torm in her hand, she could have prevailed here easily. Then her faith returned. Almost without knowing it, she began to sing as she swung, a soft, contralto hymn of thanksgiving and devotion. Her movements suddenly smoothed out, as if the fight had become a form of meditation or contemplation for her. A faint, shimmering light hung about her protectively. Each strike began to land with methodical precision, beating away her opponent's blade, hammering against the armor and bruising the flesh below. Slowly, inexorably, she took control of the battle. The shimmering light expanded, until it almost seemed to the onlookers as if she were securely wrapped in a giant hand.

Her opponent screamed as some of that light touched him, and seemed to panic. His swings became wilder and wilder, unbalancing him. Finally, she saw her opening, and took it. A chance motion on his part brought the slit of his visor in perfect position for Kaltseax. She thrust, piercing through his eye and into his brain. When he stiffened, but did not fall, she swept her borrowed longsword around, and neatly beheaded him.

This time, the body did fall. The light faded from around as she knelt and prayed by her fallen opponent's side for a moment. As she did, she noticed something around his neck. She pulled the amulet there off with a snap. "Can anyone here deny that justice has been done?" she demanded hoarsely. "For look you here!" she said, shoving the amulet into the face of the Inquisitor. The silver amulet was not the hand of Torm, but the symbol of Loviathar, paired with some other sigil that only one person present recognized.

Ultima swallowed uncomfortably, and looked around. Malus had vanished. Ravenwind and Raeython, both sweating and sore from the combat, exchanged a significant look. For the moment, their problems were resolved, and they could return to the tavern, and subsequently, to the destruction of the Rod of Zantalya. But these problems, Ravenwind feared, would return to haunt them.

Raeython
Raeython, battered, sore, and bleeding from a few shallow cuts he received during the combat, walks over to Ravenwind and looks at the corpse at her feet.

"You know, just once I would love to have a 'normal' day. You know, a day without all of this supernatural mumbo-jumbo we have been dealing with. People strong enough to throw me across the room like a rag doll, people fast enough to make quicksilver look slow, and people who don't die with a sword sticking through them."

Raeython leans on Ravenwind in a moment of mutual support. He then straightens himself and asks her: "Does that wrap up the trouble you were in."

Ravenwind responds: "Yes, the tarnish has been removed from my name."

Raeython nods his head in thought for a moment. He then raises head and stares into Ravenwind's eyes; his eyes shining with some emotion Ravenwind can't fathom. He then asks: "What time do you judge it to be?"

Ravenwind responds: "About two hours before sunset. Why do you ask?"

Raeython responds: "IT'S MILLER TIME!"  "Come on, the first rounds on me."

Ravenwind laughs and responds: "No, you got the first kill, the first round is on me, my friend."

By this time the rest of the companions have made their over to them. Che responds: "Bah, you've both got it wrong. The first round is on me, and I will punch anybody who says different right in the nose. To the Rusty Sword!"

And that's just what they did. 

pure_ultima
With the disappearance of Malus time seemed to be slowing down for Ultima. That period of time working at a high speed had left him with a tired feeling, although not too bad. Ultima walked slowly over to Ravenwind and Raeython.

"Well done, any who still have any doubts about you must be mad indeed!"

Che
Che first walked over to the tired Ravenwind. The dwarf gentled put his hand on her shoulder. "That be a fine use o' me sword there lassie." He then closed his eyes momentarily and the trusty rusty sword flew in the air and then resheathed its alongside its master, Che. "Ye see dearie, me sword is like a little pet, me's can will it to yer commands fer a brief while, but it be more comfortable where she a belongs. Me's a glad she could a be some 'elp in this a situation."

"Yes, thank you Che for the use of the, um, pet sword." commented the paladin, still wondering at the origins of such a strange weapon. "But I am cleared now, and that is what counts in the eyes of Torm."

"Yes, we's a should a gather ourselves fer some rest and a relaxation at the tavern. Me's don't a like a bein' too long from me abode. A somethin' always changes upon me return."

Che then approached Raeython. "Ye knows, there, ye be quite a quick movin' ranger if me does say so meself. Ye must a wow the ladies on the dance floor." Raeython paused to reply, but soon realized that this was Che's way of complimenting him on his expertise. The ranger gave the dwarf a quick nod and wink instead.

As the adventurers gathered themselves and their equipment B_FH ran to Che. "Hey, shouldn't we tell Ravenwind about the enchanted rod of Loviathar?" Che looked at the mage, "Aye, yes, in time. We should a rest and gain our resolve first though. A lot a 'as 'appened today. Here you carry the rod and a keep it with the teleportation wand. If memory serves me, we still a 'ave two charges a left in her. On another day we's can continue the chase with these." B_FH cautiously accepted the wrapped rod and placed in within his satchel.

"Ah, Eddie me boy, I see that one o' the priests stopped the bleedin' fer ye. We's a be a ways from Baldur's Gate in these parts, but me's a could use a one armed bartender in me tavern. Would be one less 'and fer me to worry about dippin' into me coffers. Ha, ha! What do yer say to that offer?"

Eddie thought for a bit, and said that he would catch up to them with an answer.

"Fine then, we all be goin' back to the Rusty Sword."

Figaro
 Heads back towards the Rusty Sword. . . . and grumbles under his breath, “Never get to kill anyone.. Is one decent backstab to much to ask?... Ah, well I'll have some Ruby wine!!!!”