BALDUR'S GATE

The Throne of Bhaal

by PJ

The Gathering of Heroes

I shifted uncomfortably on the rough stone beneath me. Sitting up, I rubbed the back of my sore neck and took a look around, I was in a domed, circular cave, with thin veins of molten rock running across the floor in a wheel-hub pattern. A small pool of bubbling lava was set in the center of the cave, above the burning pool was a slender figure dressed in sparkling white robes, an ethereal young woman with long, shining gold hair and matching gold eyes.

*Welcome,* smiled the angel, her radiance blooming with warmth and love.

"Am I dead?" I groaned, struggling to my feet. I wore my plain, travel-worn brown boots, leather breeches, and a snug, white wool tunic. I noticed that my weapons were gone, but in the presence of the floating angel I felt no need for them.

*No, Brave Warrior,* replied the angel with a shake of her beautiful head, *You exist now within a pocket dimension, a refuge created specifically for you until you are ready to complete your great mission.*

"I slew Jon Irenicus in the Nine Hells, what more is there to do?" I asked, my heart already heavy with the knowledge that there was yet another battle to fight.

"Five Bhaalspawn still live, fool, we must slay them before one of them ascends to our father's throne," answered Sarevok, his dark eyes filled with raw anger, his powerful body sheathed in a soft blue light.

"Back for more, eh?" I growled, gathering my hands into blocky fists.

*Sarevok resides between Death and Life, if you seek his aide you must give of your own lifeforce to restore his mortal shell,* explained the floating angel.

"And you need me to find the other Bhaalspawn, brother," sneered Sarevok, resting his hands on his hips.

I looked from my smug half-brother to the waiting angel, I tried to think of any other way to complete the angel's task, but I could think of nothing, I would have to resurrect my hated sibling.

I raised my open right palm, Sarevok mimicked the gesture, when our hands touched I felt a sharp, stabbing pain in my chest. I shuddered while I watched golden fire pour through my arm into Sarevok's. Sarevok gasped with pleasure as his blood warmed, his flesh became solid once more. The blue halo left my brother's tall body, we dropped our hands, Sarevok flexed his bare, wiry arms.

"Alive again," smiled Sarevok, sucking fresh air into his wide lungs. "Thank you, my brother."

"So how do we find the other Bhaalspawn?" I snapped.

"Patience, my brother," chuckled Sarevok. "We require companions to aid us in our grand quest."

"Who can we call upon?"

*Any of your former companions,* replied the angel, her golden wings fluttering behind her.

I thought hard, who would be best? In the end I chose the companions I wanted at my side the most, the ones I trusted, the ones who never let me down.

"I choose Imoen, Jaheira, and Viconia deVir."

The angel spread her graceful, glowing arms apart. There was a flash of brilliant white light, and my companions were there, standing in front of the floating angel.

"Brother!" grinned Imoen, rushing across the cave into my arms. I hugged Imoen fiercely, she was small and lithe, with the agility of a climbing squirrel and the speed of a leopard. Jaheira and Viconia walked up to me while Imoen held me tightly, her face buried in my tunic.

"Greetings," nodded Jaheira with a warm smile, tossing her golden-brown braids over her right shoulder. She wore her forest leathers, and carried a raw staff of wood in her left hand, the weapon still adorned with small branches and bright, green leaves.

Viconia simply smiled, her ivory teeth gleaming within a lovely, elven, obsidian-hued face. I returned Viconia's smile, remembering some of our intimate encounters during our quest to defeat Irenicus. Viconia wore pure black robes, a loose hood over her bone-white hair, and rested her left palm upon the heavy iron head of her belted mace.

"Wise choices, my brother," leered Sarevok, licking his lips as he eyed Viconia's slim, graceful form.

"Aye, they are all fierce fighters, and wield magics to rival our hostess's, I'm sure you remember their battle prowess," I grinned fiercely.

Sarevok's leering smile collapsed, he scowled darkly at me.

"Why did you summon all of us?" asked Imoen, keeping her left arm possessively around my waist.

"We have been given yet another task, my friends," I began. "We must track down and slay the other Bhaalspawn before one of them takes the god of Murder's throne.

"What's that butcher have to do with our mission?" inquired Jaheira, tilting her head at the scowling warrior-lord.

Sarevok replaced his scowl with a triumphant smile, "I possess the power to find my remaining siblings. I will lead us to each of them, so that we may butcher them as you say."

Jaheira grimaced and swung her face away from the murderous warrior.

"Let's get started," I prompted Sarevok. "Lead us to the first Bhaalspawn."

A tunnel mouth filled with jagged stone teeth rumbled open. Sarevok marched confidently through the gaping opening, he quickly disappeared into the hungry darkness.

Jaheira and Viconia looked at me. I smiled reassuringly and took Imoen's small left hand, we walked into the tunnel together, my half-sister was so close to me our arms brushed, I could smell the sweet perfume of her short hair. Darkness enveloped us, and we were pulled into a spiraling conduit of night.

***

We emerged from the conduit into a cold, clear, desert night. Crimson stars flickered in the heavens, two ruby moons cast blood-red light over the white-tiled domes around us.

"Gromnir is the first Bhaalspawn we must destroy," announced Sarevok, crossing his massive, corded arms across his wide, bare chest. "He is lord of Saradush."

"Do you know an easy way into his palace?" I asked.

"It is an indirect way, but I would not call it easy," smiled Sarevok coldly. "Is your sword-arm so weary you avoid a little blade play?"

"I can keep up with you just fine, brother," I retorted through bared teeth.

"Boys, please, let's find somewhere to buy some weapons and armor, and a few cold cups of ale," suggested Jaheira, palms upraised.

We walked the quiet streets of Saradush, until one of the ruby stars plunged from the sky. A small ball of fire exploded in a darkened alley, Imoen cried out, I snatched her left elbow and pulled her forward, running as fast as my legs could propel me. More stars dropped from the skies, fire flashed all around us, the heat washed across my flesh, sweat quickly soaked my tunic. Gasping, fighting to breathe in the suddenly sweltering darkness, we found an establishment simply named "The Tavern". We raced up the short stair and exploded through the doorway, slamming the heavy, iron-bound portal behind us.

The grizzled patrons of The Tavern looked up briefly from their clay cups, then lowered their heads, talking in soft whispers. We made our way to the long bar counter, where a slender, brown-skinned fellow smiled greasily and rubbed his palms together.

"How may I serve you, great lords and ladies?"

"We require rooms for the night, as well as food and drink," said Jaheira, laying several gold coins on the polished countertop.

"Weapons and armor too," snarled Sarevok, glaring at the thin innkeeper.

"Ah! I have a fine selection of arms and armor, the city is dangerous, and the desert can kill in a heartbeat! My humble wares could prove the difference between life and death," boasted the bony man.

Although my previous weapons were gone, I had a full money pouch, so I purchased a fine suit of platemail, a winged silver helm, a well-balanced bastard sword and back sheath, and finally a waterskin with some packets of travel bread and salted beef. I left the common room and climbed upstairs to my waiting bed. Unlatching the door to my room, I sighed when I saw the straw mattress, it still had the reek of sweat from its previous occupant.

I latched the door behind me and set my tall sword against one chipped plaster wall. Lowering my armor and supplies to the floorboards, I sat on the edge of my bed, tugged off my boots, then collapsed back onto the stinking straw. The weariness from my final battle with Irenicus remained with me, it clung to my bones and weighed upon my body like a sodden cloak, I let my eyes fall shut, my mind began to drift away.

"Are you asleep?" whispered Viconia from the open doorway, her graceful figure outlined in the hallway candlelight.

"Almost," I sighed, prying open one eye and grinning.

The dark elf closed the bedroom door and set her own burden of possessions next to mine. Turning to face me, Viconia drew back her hood and tossed her head from side to side, her ivory tresses waterfalled across her slender shoulders. With violet eyes smoldering with lust, Viconia peeled off her black silk robes, her body was gleaming obsidian, but her swollen nipples were blushing pink, as was her shaved, puffy cunt.

"I thought I would never see you again," murmured Viconia as she slipped onto the straw next to me. The dark elf's ebony body was warm and soft, I placed my arm across one curved hip, I cupped one luscious buttock.

"Even though I hate this quest, I'm happy it brought us together," I smiled before I kissed Viconia's moist lips. Viconia hugged my neck, she kissed me hungrily, her naked body molded to mine.

I squeezed the yielding buttock in my palm. I rolled on top of Viconia, kissing her gleaming shoulder and throat, clutching one ebony breast with my free hand. Viconia reached between us and untied my breeches, she jerked my trousers to my knees, then dug her sharp nails into my buttocks. The dark elf woman spread her thighs and pressed her knees into my hips. I licked up the side of Viconia's neck, easing my erection into her wet pussy.

Viconia gasped and dug her nails harder into my skin. I began humping between the dark elf's slim black legs, Viconia arched her neck and moaned, she held onto my waist with her knees, her warm arms draped across my working shoulders. The wooden bedframe creaked dangerously beneath us. Viconia flexed her pelvis, slamming her crotch into mine, shoving my cock further and further into her belly until it was completely buried inside her tight, pink cunt. I hugged Viconia's slim waist, I licked her shuddering breasts, tasted the sweetness of her ripe nipples. I writhed with the dark elf until my member could swell no more, I poured my seed into Viconia's pussy. The dark elf pressed her crotch into mine, shifting sensually beneath me, smiling, then gasping sharply when my seed flowed into her trembling belly.

I slid next to Viconia, who was glittering with perspiration and breathing heavily. I draped a ragged wool blanket over the both of us, Viconia snuggled next to me, I kissed her musky hair, sucked briefly on one pointed ear until Viconia giggled and squirmed. We melted into a warm embrace, then drifted into a peaceful, satisfied sleep.

*****

The Dungeon of Dark Delights

I was awakened by a gentle tugging upon my cock. I opened my eyes, morning light poured in through a glazed window to my right, dust motes glittered like floating stars as I looked down at my crotch. Viconia rested over my bare legs, her obsidian body gleaming in the warm sunlight as she sucked deeply on my erect prick. The dark elf looked up at me when I shifted beneath her, she smiled around my cock, then closed her violet eyes and lowered her face onto my crotch, taking my shaft all the way into her throat.

I groaned blissfully, resting my palms on Viconia's head, my pelvis trembling while the elf woman devoured my manhood, her tongue caressing the blood-engorged vein that ran from the base of my cock to the bloated head. Viconia's warm breasts pressed into my thighs as she began bobbing her head vigorously, her lips making wet, slurping noises as she milked my cock with her mouth. I dropped my hands from Viconia's bobbing head and clutched at the reeking straw, my whole body shuddered, my member ached hotly until I finally poured my seed between Viconia's soft lips. Viconia moaned while she drank my salty cum, she wrapped her fingers around the base of my manhood and pressed her nose into my bush of black pubic hair, swallowing ravenously the entire time.

I quivered weakly as Viconia raised her head and released my member from her moist lips. She grinned at me and licked her mouth languidly with the tip of her tongue, I smiled back and waited for my pounding heart to ease.

***

Descending the stair of The Tavern, I caught sight of Imoen and Jaheira at one of the round tables near the cold hearth. Viconia let go of my right hand and slipped her fingers into her wide robe sleeves before the ladies noticed.

"Already attacking breakfast, eh?" I teased Imoen, sitting on the long bench next to her.

"A girl has to keep up her strength!" declared Imoen before she took a bite out of a warm, buttered roll.

I poured milk for myself into a nearby empty mug, then snatched a wooden plate and filled it with rolls, figs, a hunk of white cheese, and some dark grapes still glistening from washing.

"Where's Sarevok?" I asked, looking across the nearly empty common room as I ate.

"He purchased the services of a young woman before we went to our rooms," explained Jaheira with a grimace of distaste.

I shook my head and concentrated on finishing breakfast. Viconia was eating and sitting to my right, she rubbed her leg against mine, I stifled a smile and rubbed her leg back.

The Tavern door crashed open. Sarevok staggered into the common room, behind him fireballs dropped from the blue sky, distant screams followed the warrior-lord until he swung the heavy portal shut. Sarevok was extremely pale, his skin was clammy white, his dark eyes were glazed as he stumbled across the rush-strewn floor to our table. Reluctantly, Jaheira left her bench and went to Sarevok's side, she supported him until he collapsed onto the bench facing me.

"Rough night?" I grinned mockingly.

Sarevok didn't reply at first, he accepted a cup of milk from Jaheira and gulped it down, then raised his cup for a refill. After devouring several warm rolls and handfuls of sweet grapes, Sarevok sat back a little steadier and wiped his mouth with the back of one hand.

"I scouted out the secret entrance to Gromnir's palace," said Sarevok, boring his sharp eyes into mine. "We can proceed into the fool's lair tonight."

"Why do you look like Death?" I prodded.

"The entrance is a forgotten portal within the city's jail quarter. The ladies who offer their services here at night use the dungeon to perform their duties. They are not ordinary women, my brother, they are vampires, and the dungeon is their dark nest."

"We should assault the dungeon now, while the sun is still up," said Jaheira intently.

"If we wait until nightfall some of the vampires will be out, there will be fewer foes to hinder us when we make our incursion into the palace," retorted Sarevok, glaring at the stern-faced druid.

"How will we attack the jail?" asked Imoen.

Sarevok stared down at Imoen and snorted, "I will pay one of the whores again tonight, when we enter the dungeon, I will slay the guards and signal you that the way is clear."

"No, I will pay a vampire courtesan tonight, you may not be able to resist her supernatural charms in your weakened state," I argued.

Sarevok's hard face creased into a sly smile. "Very well, my brother, I wish you good hunting."

The three ladies each fixed their stern eyes upon me. I swallowed, smiled weakly, then hid my face inside my clay cup.

***

The Tavern was filled that evening. The bombardment of fire had stopped enough for laborers, merchants, and craftsmen to walk the streets and seek a night's pleasure. The vampire courtesans blended in perfectly with the living whores, they swayed from table to table, allowing the flushed men to fondle and grope them, until a price was agreed upon. The courtesans walked arm in arm with their customers, leading them out into the night, into nearby alleys or the infamous Dungeon of Delights, where the most hedonistic indulged in forbidden pleasures of the flesh.

I stood at the crowded bar, holding a cup of watered down ale, dressed in a brown leather tunic with matching trousers and boots. I wore my bastard sword across my back, I had a hidden dagger in my right boot. I watched the courtesans work the room, I left my ale untouched, and finally one of the pale courtesans rolled her shapely hips in my direction.

"You do not drink, my love," purred the raven-maned woman, her skin smooth as alabaster, her lips dark and wet. "Do you hunger for a woman instead?"

"Aye," I nodded, dropping my eyes to her breasts, which lay exposed within her open white blouse.

"Come with me, my love, I will satisfy you," smiled the vampire courtesan, slipping one slender arm around my left elbow.

I allowed the courtesan to guide me outside. The desert night was cold, I shivered slightly, but the pale woman beside me walked as if she strolled in the afternoon sun. We walked south, past the domed Temple of Waukeen, to a blocky, decrepit building with cracked, brick walls and a black, arched entrance. Two courtesans stood on either side of the doorway, one was on her bare knees, sucking loudly on a grizzled laborer's thick cock, the other clung to the gray bricks, her head thrown back as a guardsman squatted behind her, slurping eagerly between her round, ivory buttocks.

"Come," urged the raven courtesan, wrapping my left hand with her cold fingers, pulling me into the pitch-black doorway. The reek of cum, sweat, and musk filled my nostrils when I entered the jail. I blinked my eyes to get used to the darkness, I could see the outline of the passageway, it had an arched ceiling, scuffled dust carpeted the floor, bats nested in the far corners of the roof.

We walked through an open bar gate into a rectangular guardroom. A wooden table on the far wall offered pitchers of ale and bottles of fine wine. In two of the room's corners straw mats had been placed on the floor, on one mat a naked courtesan rode a fat, bearded man with the robes of a merchant, on the second mat a beautiful, blonde-haired woman adorned with jeweled necklaces and glittering rings writhed while a topless courtesan knelt between her open legs, lapping at the rich woman's soaked cunt. The scent of sex and sweat was thicker in this chamber, my guide pulled me to the right, where another open gateway lay. On either side of the beverage table were two barred doorways, shouts and ragged moans emanated from the cells, I could hear the rattle of chains and the sharp, repeated cracking of a whip.

I emerged through the open doorway into a long passage. Small, stubby candles were set in clay bowls at intervals along the bare wall, on the wall facing me was a line of closed cells, most of them were occupied by the sounds drifting from them, ecstatic moans and sighs, the distinctive slapping of flesh on flesh.

The raven-haired courtesan led me to an empty cell. She pulled the heavy, barred door open and floated inside, she spun and pulled her blouse from her pale shoulders, her breasts fell free, heavy and luscious in the flickering candlelight. The woman beckoned to me with her right hand and my cock hardened when I met her smoldering eyes. I walked into the dank cell, the straw mat reeked of spilled seed and sour sweat, my heartbeat thudded in my ears.

"Take me, my love, ravish me," begged the courtesan, taking my slack hands and pressing them over her pendulous breasts. The woman's large, brown nipples rubbed my open palms, I squeezed her pliant tits, my hands filled to overflowing with soft female flesh.

Releasing my fondling hands, the courtesan slipped her slim, bare arms around my neck. She kissed me wantonly, sliding her tongue through my lips, her mouth tender and sweet as wine. The courtesan pressed her lithe body against mine, I crushed her breasts, kissed her roughly until she fell back onto the thick matting of straw.

"Fill me, my love! Ram your stiff manhood inside me!" moaned the courtesan, spreading her slender legs wide for me, hiking up her skirts to reveal her naked, damp pussy.

Blood throbbed in my temples, I panted as I pressed my face between the moaning courtesan's silky breasts, licking her cool, white skin, not caring when she untied my trousers and slipped her fingers into my breechclout. I groaned deeply when I felt the courtesan stroking my cock, I rolled my hips, then nuzzled the sensual woman's soft, black hair, kissed and tasted her graceful, pale neck. The courtesan guided my cock to her open thighs, I yielded to her gentle, caressing hands, I gasped when my manhood pierced her cunt, sliding deep into her enfolding vagina.

The courtesan hugged my neck, she stared up into my eyes, beguiling me as we bucked against each other, my cock ramming to the hilt inside her, her open legs flexing as she pressed her crotch into mine. The courtesan's flaming eyes filled my vision, my chest burned from panting, my heart roared in my ears with every thrust into the prone woman. The courtesan buried her fingers in my short, black hair, she pulled my face towards hers, I opened my mouth to kiss her.

The vampiress latched her lips to the left side of my neck. I shuddered when her icy fangs pierced my flesh, I tried to back away, but her arms were like vices around my neck. The courtesan's legs wrapped around my waist, pinning me to the woman while she sucked intently from my throat. I felt my strength draining away as the vampiress drank more and more blood from me, I reached back and tried to break the woman's grip, but my fingers slipped across her cold, marble flesh.

I planted my feet in the straw and slowly stood up. The vampiress still clung to me with her arms and legs, her grip tightened, I swayed as I listened to the slurping of her mouth, my lifesblood pouring down her gulping throat. I bowed forward and smashed the vampiress against the brick wall. Brick cracked loudly beneath the woman's spine, she shivered but kept her grip, she dug her fangs deeper into my throat, blood poured down my left shoulder. I crashed into the wall again, and then again, the courtesan's deadly embrace slackened, I pulled my head out from beneath her pale arms, dizziness overcame me and my vision swam from the blood escaping from my torn throat. I smashed my right fist into the courtesan's face, she opened her legs and dropped to the straw, she immediately jumped to her feet and lunged at me with extended claws.

I dropped to my left knee and grabbed the hilt of the dagger in my right boot. As the vampiress dove onto me, I slashed out with the small blade, opening the courtesan's slender throat. The vampiress choked and clutched her bleeding wound, I back-pedaled and reached for my swordhilt, the long steel blade hissed as it left my scabbard. I struck quickly, severing the wide-eyed vampiress's head, her body stumbled and dropped to the straw, collapsing on its side upon the filthy matting.

I touched the side of my neck, it was sticky with my blood, but the bite wound had closed. I waited until the dizziness faded, then I left the cell, making my way back to the guardroom.

I caught the two vampires in the guardroom in mid-meal, I swiftly dispatched them, then raced to the jail's outer doorway. My companions waited just within the entrance, Sarevok nodded and grinned, the ladies noticed my neck wound and sniffed dismissively.

"There are vampires in the cells, but they haven't noticed me yet," I gasped.

"Easy meat," replied Sarevok, shouldering past me with a ready long sword in each fist.

I followed after Sarevok before I could get cornered by my scowling female companions.

*****

The First Bhaalspawn

I led the group up a winding stairwell, placing my boot soles as quietly as I could upon each stone step. I held my bastard sword lightly in my right fist. I didn't feel fear or trepidation, but if I could catch Gromnir by surprise, it would make the fight much shorter.

The top of the stairwell came into sight, I glanced down at Imoen, who was right behind me. She grinned and nodded that she was ready, her hands were free so she could cast spells as soon as we entered Gromnir's inner sanctum. Sarevok shifted impatiently behind Imoen, Jaheira and Viconia held their weapons and looked determined.

I faced ahead and raised my right foot. I stopped in mid-step, I could hear voices.

"You said you'd talk to Yaga Shura! Those thrice-damned fire giants of his are leveling my beautiful city!" snapped a gruff male voice.

"I did speak to our brother, he is determined to take Saradush. He is very ambitious," replied a woman whose melodious voice made my blood race.

I crouched and dashed over the last stairstep, bursting into Gromnir's throne room. The tower chamber was circular and spacious, with a slightly raised dais where Gromnir sat upon his high-backed throne. Pedestals with glowing lanterns surrounded the low dais, a rank of four thick marble columns lined the back of the dais, flanking the throne chair.

Gromnir shot up from his throne. The Bhaalspawn was impressive, topping six feet, wide-shouldered, encased completely in gleaming steel platemail yet moving as if he wore simple leather. Gromnir sneered at me as he retrieved his battle-axe from the side of his throne where it had leaned, the sharp, double-blade was edged with glowing blue runes, the axe was enchanted, making it twice as deadly in the powerful king's grip.

The woman who had spoken with Gromnir stood to the king's right. She was dressed in flowing green robes, a raised hood shielded her face from me. The dark interior of the hood turned slightly to face me, I saw a flash of white teeth bared in a smile, then the woman made a quick finger gesture before tendrils of sapphire flame surrounded her and consumed her.

"Slay the intruders! Slay them all!" roared Gromnir, charging from the dais directly towards me.

"Imoen!" I called, pointing at the two black-robed mages who flanked Gromnir's throne, their arms already spinning in graceful casting motions.

Imoen appeared at my left and scribed the air with her fingers. A sphere of red flame grew before Imoen, she pushed out with both open palms, the fireball sizzled across the chamber and exploded across the throne. Gromnir's mages screamed as the flames licked their flesh and robes. One wizard fell writhing to the floor, but the second mage managed to propel a stream of green projectiles at Imoen, who flew back when the magical missiles smashed into her body.

Concern for Imoen became secondary when Gromnir swung down at me with his massive battle-axe. I parried the chop with my sword, the blade chipped and almost shattered under the impact of the enchanted axe. I could hear Sarevok's bellows from the stairwell mingled with the crash of smashing weapons, more guards had answered Gromnir's summons from below, no one could help me against my murderous brother.

Anger swelled within me, I slashed out with my heavy sword, wielding it with both hands, driving Gromnir back towards his burning throne. We hacked and cut at each other, weaving to avoid our opponent's blows, an occasional hit drawing blue sparks from our platemail armor. The sounds of battle from the stairwell, the crackling flames and stench of burnt human flesh, all of it dropped away. I only heard the thunder of my own racing heart, the working of my aching lungs as I battered at Gromnir's defenses, searching for an opening, a weakness to exploit.

Gromnir found an opening first, he chopped across my left thigh, platemail crumpled and parted, hot crimson blood splashed down my shaking leg.

I hopped back, deflecting Gromnir's follow-up slash, then risking everything by dropping forward, pinning Gromnir's overextended arms to his wide chest. My sweating brother's hot breath washed across my face as I drew back my sword and rammed the tip just beneath his scarred breastplate. Gromnir's blood-swollen eyes grew large, spittle fell from his lips when I angled my sword up through his stomach and underneath his ribs, spearing his black heart.

My left leg gave out, I fell to my knee, grimacing while Gromnir collapsed onto his back, my sword still buried inside him, blood frothing from his slack lips.

Imoen knelt next to me. She was pale, and her leather jerkin was blackened from the impact of the magical projectiles, but she seemed well enough. My sister offered me a half-empty blue bottle, I smiled my thanks and drained the potion, the liquid's magic combined with my own healing power quickly closed my thigh wound and restored enough strength to my leg so I could rise and walk.

Jaheira, Viconia, and Sarevok filed out of the stairwell, disheveled and bleeding from minor cuts and scrapes, but otherwise unharmed. Sarevok's ebony breastplate was soaked in the blood of his foes, he flicked bits of gore from his two dripping swords.

Jaheira and Viconia joined me, I nodded briefly before reaching down to yank my sword from Gromnir's cold body.

"We should go before more guards arrive," prompted Jaheira, her almond-shaped eyes flicking to the stairwell.

"Aye," I nodded, before the entire chamber shook from a violent impact.

Bright scarlet flashes filled the room's outer windows. I raced to the closest window, the fireballs that had rained upon the city since our arrival had increased ten-fold. Fire filled the streets, shattered homes with contemptuous ease. The domed Temple of Waukeen collapsed when a dozen fiery missiles smashed down upon it, ravenous flames poured into the Temple's heart, consuming the refugees that had sought shelter within. The glazed window shuddered when a section of the city wall exploded, smashed under the titanic fists of a roaring fire giant. Four towering monsters pushed their way past the broken section of wall, crashing down with tree-sized, spiked clubs, crushing human victims to red mush.

"Yaga Shura's making his move," observed Sarevok, nodding in approval.

"We have to help the people of Saradush!" exclaimed Jaheira.

"Can your nature spirits stop an army of fire giants, elf?" sneered Sarevok.

"We have to kill their leader," said Viconia.

"Dispatching Yaga Shura will not be easy," replied a voice behind us.

We all spun to face the green-robed woman Gromnir had argued with. The woman pulled back her thick hood, brown curls spilled across her shoulders and framed a perfect, heart-shaped face. She held my awed gaze, smiled warmly and gestured towards Gromnir's body.

"Well done, my brother," congratulated the lovely young woman.

"You're a Bhaalspawn too?" asked Imoen.

"Aye, little sister," nodded the woman. "My name is Mellissan."

"What do you know about Yaga Shura?" demanded Sarevok, hefting his blades.

Mellissan dismissed Sarevok and addressed me alone. "He has been warded from all physical harm by his mother, Nyalee. You must go to Yaga Shura's Enclave and retrieve his heart and the heart of Nyalee, with both of these components you will be able to break Yaga Shura's enchantment of invulnerability. You will have to convince Nyalee to perform the necessary ritual of unbinding, but I am sure you can..persuade her to aid you."

"Where is the home of Nyalee?" inquired Jaheira.

"In the dark Forest of Mir," answered Mellissan as she wrapped herself in her sapphire robes. "I will speak with you again, brother, after you have slain dear Yaga."

Green flames blossomed around Mellissan, when they died she was gone.

The tower vibrated and started to tilt drunkenly, large rifts spread across the throne room's walls.

"Time to go, brother," urged Sarevok tensely.

I summoned the Pocket Plane Portal and motioned for everyone to pass through. When my friends had all safely entered the swirling vortex of magic, I cast one last look at the smoldering throne of Gromnir, and at the blood-soaked body of my brother, the second sibling I had ever slain with my own hand.

The stone floor cracked, sections of stone dropped away into space. The ceiling rafters snapped, dust fell in billowing clouds to the collapsing floor. I dove into the closing Portal, drawn away to my waiting companions.

*****

The Forest of Mir

The Forest of Mir was as dark as Mellissan claimed. Fortunately, my sight had grown sharper since I discovered I was a Son of Bhaal, I could still see reasonably well even though the forest was as dark as twilight. Jaheira had her elven sight to guide her through the tall, black-barked trees with their dead, skeletal limbs stretching out above us.

After resting within the Pocket Dimension, Jaheira, Sarevok, Imoen, Viconia and I had decided the best course of action was to split up. Sarevok would lead Imoen and Viconia into Yaga Shura's Enclave to steal the two hearts we needed for Nyalee's unbinding spell. I decided to take Jaheira since her empathy with nature would be very useful in the Forest of Mir, or so was my thought.

So far Jaheira had guided us through the gloomy woods safely. We easily hid from patrols of clattering skeletons, Jaheira spoke to the woods and it sheltered us from undead eyes, wiped clean all signs of our passage. In a short time we reached Nyalee's home, a red stone house set near a glassy pool, a domed portico aglow with golden light upon the house's flat roof.

"There are more skeletons and wraiths guarding the house," whispered Jaheira from my right. We both crouched behind some thick rushes, our boots sinking into the wet mud.

"Ready for a frontal attack?" I asked, drawing my bastard sword from my back sheath.

"Wait a moment," replied Jaheira, digging the butt of her staff into the yielding earth. She clasped her staff and whispered, her beautiful eyes closed as she spoke to the spirits of earth and water.

The pool behind Nyalee's house started to bubble, then it began to froth, spraying water everywhere. Skeletons and a robed wraith left the house to investigate the churning pool, when they did a column of water exploded from the pool and dove down onto the surprised undead. Skeletons shattered under the pressure of the crashing water, the wraith howled, clawing at the silver waves as they dragged him into the embrace of the gleaming pool. The pool's surface calmed and became smooth once more, the wraith never surfaced from the black depths.

"I'm impressed," I smiled, slapping Jaheira on the left shoulder. She grinned and pulled her staff from the sticky mud.

We approached the doorway to Nyalee's house, it was an arched portal that opened into a long, dark passageway. Jaheira murmured to her staff, the green-leafed tip grew bright with soft, golden light, enough for us to see details of the passageway, carvings scraped into the walls, now blurred with erosion and the passage of time. My boots splashed through dank pools of dirty water, I held tightly to the hilt of my sword as I walked through the long passage, Jaheira following quietly behind me. We found a stair that led to the house's roof, I emerged into the cool, damp, outside air, I motioned for Jaheira to stay on the stairs out of sight.

Nyalee sat beneath the stone-domed portico. She was a small woman, with short, blonde hair and a pale, gaunt face. Nyalee didn't react until I reached the slender red stone pillars that supported the portico's graceful dome. Nyalee raised her sad face, her eyes were glazed, it took her several moments to focus on me.

"Who..who are you?" murmured the young woman, who had gentle, pointed ears peeking from beneath her short blonde tresses.

"I am like your son, my father was Bhaal, god of Murder."

"Bhaal," trembled Nyalee, hugging herself as if cold. "He came to me, when I cared for these woods. I was alone, I had..never been with a man, he was so strong, so handsome. When he made his advances, I..succumbed to him, gave him my body."

Nyalee was crying. I sat down next to her upon the stone bench. When I wrapped my right arm around her quivering form, she leaned her head upon my shoulder.

"Bhaal left me alone after that night. I discovered I was with child, I gave birth..to..to a monster. I did my best to raise my son, I made him invulnerable, so he would never know pain like me. Despite all my care and love, Yaga became angry and cruel, so like his father. He left to build an army, he desires to rule the world, he revels in blood and death. I cannot leave the woods under my care, and I do not have the power to stop my horrible child."

"If you did have the power, would you take away the warding that protects Yaga Shura?"

"Yes," wept Nyalee, burying her face in my chest. "I would make him mortal again, but I need his beating heart, and the heart I removed from my own body to protect my only son."

"I know, I will have them here soon."

"Why do you want to kill Yaga?" sobbed Nyalee, clutching my arms tightly.

"He seeks the throne of our father, who is now dead. He will cause the deaths of millions if I allow him to live."

Nyalee hugged me, still crying into my chest. I lightly held the elf woman, I stroked her soft, golden hair to soothe her. Nyalee raised her face and blinked glittering tears from her bright, green eyes. She caressed my left cheek with her fingertips, then kissed me suddenly, her mouth tender and sweet.

Lust awakened inside me. I pulled down the sleeves of Nyalee's jerkin from her white shoulders, I planted hard kisses on her throat and bare shoulder. Nyalee moaned softly and bared her neck to me, her fingers pressed onto my armored chest. I nuzzled between Nyalee's small breasts, licking her warm flesh, cupping and fondling her pliant tits. The small elf woman fell back onto the bench, opening her leather-clad legs for me. I removed my steel codpiece, then untied Nyalee's breeches and tugged them down her slender, ivory legs. Leaning over the naked elf woman, I kissed her parted mouth, my right hand stroking her furry pussy, my fingers combing through her golden bush, then teasing her little clit until her sex was moist with sweet-smelling honey.

"Take me," panted Nyalee, turning her face aside and closing her eyes, her wet lips trembling.

Crushing Nyalee's breasts in my strong hands, I thrust between her spread legs. Nyalee's small cunt could barely take the length of my cock, her hole felt wonderfully tight and warm as I flexed my pelvis and buttocks, stabbing deeper into Nyalee's small stomach. The elf woman whimpered, a tear slipped down her alabaster cheek while I humped her energetically, shoving my prick as far as I could inside the moaning woman.

I released Nyalee's soft tits and reached above her head, grasping her limp wrists. I pinned Nyalee to the bench, slapping sharply between her slack thighs, grunting as I buried my meat in her belly. I licked Nyalee's tiny, brown, left nipple, then let my tongue wander across her left shoulder and over her slim throat. Nyalee moaned louder when my cock grew thicker inside her snug cunt, she could feel my member throbbing inside her, filling with hot seed.

Sucking on the sharp tip of Nyalee's left ear, I smashed my crotch into hers. My cock was nestled inside the elf woman when it exploded in a spray of white cream. Nyalee whimpered in my ear, her small body quivered violently underneath mine. 

Hot and weak-limbed, I climbed off of Nyalee. The small elf woman pulled up her open jerkin to cover her quaking shoulders, she kept her legs tightly closed together.

"That's..that's how Bhaal took me," murmured Nyalee, gazing up into my face with fear and a desperate longing.

I stared down hard at the flushed elf woman. Looking into her fragile, green eyes, I remembered how good it felt to have her under me, helpless, unable to resist my terrible strength. I tore my gaze away from Nyalee's, I didn't like the man reflected in the awed elf woman's eyes.

*****

The Throne of Bhaal

Jaheira writhed back and forth, her head thrown back, her golden braids swaying with the languid motion of her naked body. Above the elf woman, the sky was black and green, flashes of violet lightning forked across the dark, boiling clouds. Jaheira dragged her nails down Sarevok's bare chest, she dropped her chin to her chest, panting, biting her lower lip to keep from screaming and attracting the attention of the others who camped nearby.

Sarevok clutched Jaheira's slick breasts. He twisted her small, brown nipples, smiling when she gasped at the delicious pain. Sarevok bucked between Jaheira's open thighs, ramming deep into her tight pussy, burrowing his cock through the moist folds of her womanhood.

Jaheira set her palms on the pitted rock beneath Sarevok, framing his face with her thin, quivering arms. Jaheira kissed Sarevok ravenously, she pressed her stomach over her lover's, their gleaming flesh slid back and forth while she rode the heavily-muscled warrior-lord.

Sarevok released Jaheira's dangling breasts and seized her flexing buttocks, squeezing both firm mounds of ass flesh, pulling her cheeks apart as he thrust faster and faster into the elf woman's cunt, his cock growing, dripping with the juices flowing from Jaheira's soaked vagina. Jaheira licked Sarevok's corded neck, panting into his ear, slapping her crotch against Sarevok's. The naked warrior-lord gave Jaheira's tight ass one last squeeze, then hugged the elf woman's small waist. Jaheira flexed her pelvis with sharp, ragged gasps, she planted kisses on Sarevok's wide left shoulder. Warrior and druid crashed into each other over and over, their sweat mingling, until Jaheira shuddered and arched her back, thighs clamping over Sarevok's as she climaxed.

Sarevok waited until Jaheira's body relaxed, then he lifted her off of his throbbing erection. Jaheira stretched out between Sarevok's legs, she enfolded his slick cock with both of her hands, she covered the bulging head with her mouth, sucking on the purple knob, her cheeks tightening with effort. Sarevok groaned, his hips shook, he dug his fingertips into the cracked rock while he squirted stream after stream of cum into Jaheira's throat. The elf woman moaned as she swallowed the salty cream, she slurped enthusiastically, drinking every last drop of the warrior-lord's seed.

Sarevok lay limply on the dry stone, spread-eagled and panting, as Jaheira sat up and wiped a few stray droplets of semen from her moist lips. Sarevok glanced at Jaheira, the elf woman appeared astonished, as if she couldn't explain what had just happened between them. Noticing the warrior-lord's amused smile, Jaheira blushed hotly and snatched her discarded leathers from the ground. Sarevok watched Jaheira's shapely rump disappear into the shadows of a jagged upthrust of gray rock, he rested on the cool stone for a few minutes, then sighed and gathered his own discarded clothing and armor.

***

Chewing on his last piece of travel bread, Sarevok rejoined his companions. Jaheira sat slightly away from the others, staring into the flames of the blue campfire that Imoen had conjured, she refused to look at Sarevok when he approached the fire. Sarevok squatted away from the druid, he warmed his palms close to the snapping blaze, regarding his other companions, Imoen, who sat slumped forward, pale and exhausted, her magic nearly spent, and Viconia, who leaned on the right arm of Hero. Sarevok sneered slightly, the intimate relationship between the dark elf and Hero hadn't stayed a secret long after Yaga Shura had died. The last few days had bared the true mettle of all the companions, the sorcerous duel with Sendai, the ferocious battle with Abazigal, that had almost claimed Imoen's life, and the confrontation with Balthazar, who hadn't desired their father's throne, but had sought to slay his siblings to prevent their evil from spreading across the world.

Sarevok swallowed the last bite of travel bread and washed it down with water from his nearly empty flask. Now only the treacherous Mellissan remained, the sister who had manipulated the Bhaalspawn into fighting each other so she could claim their father's mantle. Sarevok spat into the azure flames and listened to the liquid sizzle, they had fought Mellissan three times already in this dark dimension, this Abyss. Each time Mellissan drew power from the evil energies flowing around them all, only by destroying her focuses had they shut off her access to the magic. Mellissan was cornered now, the final battle was almost at hand. The companions had stopped briefly to rest and heal, Imoen had studied her spells, Hero and Viconia had stolen a moment for one last desperate coupling just as Sarevok and Jaheira had.

Hero stood, he rested his left palm on the hilt of his enchanted bastard sword.

"My friends, it is time to end this."

Sarevok rose and faced his brother, he placed his hands on the twin pommels of his magic-forged long swords. "It's about time, my brother."

*** 

Sarevok cleaved a spherical Beholder in two, green ichor splashed across the warrior-lord's ebony breastplate as he searched for another opponent. Imoen held a group of Illithids at bay with a wall of orange fire, she cast blue lightning bolts from her free left hand. Jaheira and Viconia fought off more Beholders, the druid summoned elementals of fire and water to attack the many-eyed monsters, Viconia called down pillars of white flame, immolating one Beholder after another.

Hero dueled with his sister, Mellissan. The daughter of Bhaal had transformed into her Slayer form, a multi-limbed, black horror that slashed and stabbed with spear-like appendages. Hero fought well with his silver blade, blue sparks exploded every time he parried an obsidian claw or spike-limb.

Sarevok sidled past his fighting siblings. Hefting his two, gore-soaked blades, crouching on the balls of his feet, Sarevok charged Mellissan's enormous back. Raising up his glowing swords, Sarevok rammed them into Mellissan's long, spike-crested spine. Mellissan screamed in agony, Sarevok laughed and shoved his swords in deeper, burying them to the hilts inside the obsidian monster's body. Hero gripped his silver-flamed bastard sword with both gloved hands and slashed up with all his strength. The pure, silver blade opened Mellissan's black belly, intestines and organs spilled out in a thick gush of green blood, Mellissan shuddered in her death throes before collapsing onto the violet, acid-burned rock.

The surviving monsters fled the battlefield. Imoen allowed her wall of flame to die, she rested her palms on her trembling knees, gasping violently for breath. Viconia ran into Hero's open arms, Jaheira smiled briefly at Sarevok, but did not embrace him.

The radiant angel that had watched over the companions appeared in a shaft of gold light and fluttering white feathers. She nodded respectfully to Hero and Sarevok.

"You have slain Mellissan, Bhaalspawn. Hero, you delivered the killing blow, you have led your companions in the quest to stop your evil siblings. The choice falls to you, will you take your father's place as god of Murder?"

Hero looked down at Viconia, who smiled up warmly at her love.

"No, I will not take my father's place. I have stopped my brothers and sisters from harming others, that is enough."

The angel nodded and spread her shining arms. Tendrils of gold surrounded each of the companions, wisking them back to their homes and new, peaceful lives.

All except Sarevok. The angel lowered her arms and regarded the warrior-lord gravely.

"Balance must be maintained. Cyric wields too much power, it has been decided that someone must accept Bhaal's mantle." 

"I will assume my father's duties with pleasure," snarled Sarevok eagerly.

"So be it. Welcome to the Pantheon, Sarevok, god of Murder."

The End