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[Yovaneth]

Just FYI: the chess game is bollixed. Everything available in the game files suggests that Bioware set out to create a simple game of chess but then time caught up with them. The melee is the result.

 

-Y-

[Usurper]

29 Eleint, 1370

After we are rested and prepared, I take a look at our latest pile of loot. Looking into a Bag of Holding is such a trip. You'd think you get the hang of it after a while, but no. I notice again the Tome of Understanding that we looted before.



Then I take a little time to cast Break Enchantment and take off the robe I'm wearing.



Taking it off is like stretching out my mind after it has been too cramped for too long.



Gameplay note: Remember, at this point the Robe of Apostrophes actually reduces Syvisthar's INT by 2. He is outgrowing this low-level epic equipment. Soon he'll be too big for these britches and he'll have to go on to bigger, better things! *sniff*

I am kindof curious about what's in this tome. I crack it open, and before you know it I've read everything in it! The book disappears in a poof.



Oh, so just saying that something is true over and over doesn't actually MAKE it true? Repetition doesn't matter? Hmm... the book may have a point there.



Then I turn to my companions. We are rested. We are prepared. Well, as prepared as we can be for this dungeon of insanity. It is time to take the plunge. The plunge into further insanity. I suppose that implies that insanity is some kind of liquid. Liquid that soaks your skin and your hair, staining you for eternity. Liquid that covers your mouth and nose, blocking you off from ever sucking in a breath of cool, pure, untainted air ever again. Liquid that drowns.

Yes, so, like I said. We take the plunge.



We are immediately asaulted by a phase spider stepping out of a dimensional portal.



And we are also addressed by a ghostly, diminutive form.



Who are you? Are you Durlag himself?

Am I... Durlag? You have cause to wonder... you have seen traps and illusions and phantoms... but the spirit of Durlag has long since passed... to whatever fate the dark veil holds... this place... this place is his fear... his anger... his torment. You wish to conquer this place? You will have to understand what created it... remember well what you have already seen... or leave now and live life long and natural... three paths lead away... all must be taken...

After that conversation, Kagain shows that he brooks not phase spiders.



Moving further down, we see a door and an open hallway.



My dungeon instincts tell me that the open hallway should be explored first. So down the long hallway we go, past a secret door that Kagain points out, and into a storage room. A storage room with the ghost of Islanne in it!



I consider for a long moment.

Thanks just the same, but I will stay.

The light calls... you do not go... you are as stubborn as my Durlag... I will send when you wish... would that I could send the weight from his shoulders thus...

Gameplay note: If we were to leave, there would be no way back to these levels. We were teleported here by cutscene after killing all the denizens of the rooms of fire, cold, acid, and earth. Since they don't repopulate, we can't get back. We are truly committed.

Behind the ghost of Islanne is a normal door. We decide to go in there first.



I'd been wondering what my companions thought of this whole ordeal, but they hadn't said much up to now. But before we go through the door, Mur'neth exclaims.

Ah, how glorious a place we are in!

So I guess he likes it?

Imoen finds through the door and hallway a forge, guarded by two Helmed Horrors!



They are hard to hit, and it is hard for them to damage us. Then an Astral Phase Spider teleports in and poisons Imoen.



I throw her an Elixir of Health and she drinks it. She's fine. Then she switches to her staff and takes out the spider.



The blood-red light of evil shines up into the nothingness when Kagain takes out one of the Helmed Horrors.



A short while later he also takes out the other.



Watch out Finch, you have a contender for most-badass title!

Imoen takes a look around and finds a trap in the forge nearby. She disarms it.



There are just a couple of potions, and a Bone Wardstone.



Since there is nothing else in the room, we go back out to the opposite wall where Islanne's ghost is. It has a secret door!



But it seems like we can't get in there.



So we have to go halfway back down the long hallway, to the other secret door we found.



We find a greenish, oozey passageway.



There's a little loot here, but there's also some undead!



Kagain starts chunking them, ghoul bits flying everywhere.



We also see crypt crawlers and mist mephits in this environment. We attack.



I notice that one of the mephits tries to open what looks like an interplanar gate, but fails?



Then almost everyone in the party is blinded by mist, and I have to save them all.



We manage to kill everything, and then find a couple more secret doors on the eastern side of the area.



There's surprisingly nothing special in the room beyond, though. So we keep making our way through the oozy places.

[Usurper]

This area seems repetitive. There are a few potions to be had in little puddles of ooze, and secret doors everywhere.



Behind the secret doors are one or two monsters, but also a small stash of... more potions.



We do find a trapped door, though. That's interesting.



Behind it is another greater ghoul. We attack!



But after killing them, we find... just a few more potions.



Somebody slimy thinks that potions need to be stashed. Okay. We get that.

Then we start noticing that the green goo is hurting us, burning our feet.



So is this whole area some kind of slow, elaborate trap, drawing us in further and further just to digest us some time?



We uncautiously open one more secret door, ready to loot one more stash of ill-placed potions, when a voice addresses us from the far side of the cavern. Oh?



What manner of beast are you? Speak, poor creature.

Poor creature? Poor creature?! Words of sympathy I not need! This place is an eternal tomb for the victims of battle long forgotten, and you offer pity?! Even untwisted I would laugh, but now I even hate! You who walk here just as I did; you will fall as I did from an enemy just as unthinkable! The difference is that Durlag will not be there to take the credit of victory! We fought the demon also! We fought also!! Legend speaks of him, not of undead also-foughts!

An unthinkable enemy? Of what do you speak?

An evil so grand only fools chase and fight. A Tanar'ri true and horrible. Its name you do not speak unless its attention you wish to bring. Long before it walked and stalked, long before even the fall of the tower. We fought along with Durlag to encase the evil away. His was the blow that won, and ours were the souls that lost. Here we stay, turned to evil and unredeemable, but heroes still and not to be killed! A cruel charity! Durlag is legend and we are a pity! Beware the gaze that is not a gaze, but a look into your soul!

So... Durlag fought a demon. And the demon turned many of his companions into ghouls. And he didn't kill them off, but placed them in here, in his sub-sub-sub-basement, in a green ooze-room, to live forever in undeath? I ... I don't know what to think of that. Would I ever preserve any of the Golden Company if they became undead?

It's something I have never considered before.

I wish I could help you and restore your hope. Is there nothing I can do before I go?

Is there anything? You can do nothing! You can do nothing except... you can take my name from this place. You can take the memory of battle and my name and I will be free from the shadow of Durlag and that damnable demon. Fight now, that you can say true that we battle ferocious! You will take the memory from here!

Hey, if that's what the undead abomination wants, then very well. Let it be done.



Carrion crawlers and magma mephits fight at his side. One of them also looks like its trying to open an interplanar gate, and also fails. Hmmm....



We try to reposition, but Grael takes advantage of the situation and absolutely destroys Mur'neth.



Eventually, Imoen's arrows are what brings the old warrior down.



A phase spider tries to take advantage of the situation, but we take it down too.



Then after thinking about whether or not I want to carry Mur'neth's stuff everywhere, I decide to raise him. He can carry his own equipment.



The ghoul has the Compass Wardstone. We take it as well.



And I have to admit, it was a much more difficult fight than normal ghouls. So, there's that. Grael was one badass ghoul.

There's still more to this ghoul aquarium around the corner. We explore more and find a few more mephits to fight. One of them looks like it succeeds in summoning something!



It is... another mephit!



How cute! They bring buddies!

But we end up taking care of them all without trouble. And, we realize that we have found the end. The full extent of this terrible place is complete.



Time to go see what was behind that other secret door.



The first room we find behind the secret passage reminds me of Kael's bier. Perhaps it was intended for Islanne?



But the chest is almost empty, save for a few gold coins. This is an unfinished grave.

Behind yet another secret door we find a trapped hallway.



A VERY trapped hallway.



And down a side passage, we find a very impressive door.



Good thing it is a wardstone that we have!



Imoen squeals with glee when she looks at the treasure pile!

We count out 5,700 gold, 15 gems of various sizes, and 20 Arrows of Detonation +1! Imoen takes them, but I caution her against using them frivolously. They are basically a Fireball in an arrow.



We return to the hallway. There are a few more traps...



And then the hallway just... ends.



There's gotta be something more than this, right? We go back to the throne room and take another look around.



I think there's something magical about the throne, so I approach it and lay a hand on it. Magic fills the area and we are whisked away on the wings of teleportation magic.



We find ourselves in a strange, circular room. There is what looks to be a compass on the floor in the center. And at the four points of the compass are four statues.

Actually, one of them moves. I think they are stone golems, not statues!



The golem to the northwest looks like a hideous monster. I approach it to see what it will say.



So, the dopplegangers said they had their reasons. I think that just makes it worse. A monster bent on your own destruction is bad, but a monster that tries to argue? Tries to justify your destruction? That is worse.

[Usurper]

I turn to see what the next golem will say. This one looks like a dwarf.



This golem's story strikes me hard in the chest. They trusted him, and he betrayed them. They believed in the good life, and were taken unawares. The innocents were slaughtered by the evil, and the strong could not stop it.

A tear rolls down my cheek. I don't know where it came from. I blink, and move to the next voice.



The voice of the builders? What are they doing here? Do they share some blame? Do they desire some? I never really thought about it before, but someone must have built this place. Someone must have designed it. Plans must have been rejected for being too impractical. I guess the builders might feel guilty for the deaths of the many adventurers who came here, never to leave again.

Hrm.

Then I approach the last golem. He speaks longer than the others.



Ahh, so this is the site of Durlag's last stand. This is where he lost his mind. (This is where he survived and proved his strength. This is where he triumphed!)

I consider the many possible interpretations of the events here. Different minds could answer many different ways for where the blame has fallen. A weak mind could simply spread the blame equally between everyone. It is the simplest solution, for the impatient and childish. They could say...



An equally simple mind, yet more selfish, could blame everyone but themselves for it. That is, of course, so tempting. You could claim to live without blame and lay the blame for people's deaths at their own feet. You could do that. You could say...



The stoic could take the path of no blame for anyone. He could say that it all played out as it should, and there could be no other way. He could say...



One could argue that monsters do not have the ability to make decisions, while people do. One could say that the monsters were only following their nature, while the dwarves living here made the bad decisions. One could say...



Someone more innocent would place the blame firmly on the shoulders of the dopplegangers. Someone like Imoen would blame the obvious evil; would decry them and kill them and be done with it. Imoen would probably say...



But Durlag and I, we understand each other. We know where the true blame lies. We understand the complex weaving of events that influence and reinfluence and ripple across the tapestry of lives. We know who is truly at fault here. We know who is truly to blame. So I say...

The blame begins with the invaders, but they attacked with supposed good reason. It could be on your people, but they were in the shelter of your confidence. The craftsmen only did their jobs as directed. In your eyes, you are the one to blame for all that has happened.

You have understood. You may yet survive what I could not.

And with that, we are teleported out of that room, and back to the entrance of the level.



Durlag's rage-ghost is still here. I approach it again, to ask what to do next.



So we must do this again, must we? Very well. I will do it for my partner in guilt, Durlag Trollkiller.

I have Imoen pick the lock on the door behind us, and we move into a lava room.



Beyond that room Imoen finds a spider lair!



We destroy them easily enough. My sword quite enjoys it.



The room turns out to be semi-circular on one side. In the center is a huge pit.



Is this where Durlag dug too deep? Is this where he went too far? There is no way to tell, now.

Or is there? We see what could be another talking statue set in an alcove.



I approach it, and it speaks to me.



Pose your questions, golem.

If you count Durlag, son of Bolhur 'Thunderaxe,' as your kin, you will know well the family that built this place. The mother of the sons, the matron of th clan: what is her name?

Islanne.

Your answer satisfies. Another question remains. Durlag, builder of the home, founder of the clan, had a name not from his father but his own deeds. The tower was built with the fortunes of hordes, but the last name of Durlag came from the fortune of battle. With axe and fire he cleansed the land of beasts he loved to fight, when axe alone would not suffice. I ask the second name of Durlag.

Trollkiller.

Your answer satisfies. A question remains. The father of this place formed the clan that fell in times of treachery. False faces claimed the future, and clanless became Durlag. This he shared with his own father, a wanderer that lived by the strength of his weapon. The second name of Bolher is what I ask you. Sense most common is all you need for this answer.

Thunderaxe.

Your answer satisfies. Here is the key to what you need. Here is the secret for what comes. The bones will walk where flesh cannot. The ward will walk the bones.

And then the statue teleports me back to the compass room.



Durlag said that I would have to come here again. I should speak with the Stone Golems once more. I approach the first.



Hid among the children!? Those bastards!

I speak with the second golem.



Well, we know the answer to that question. What would be left is rage, pain, guilt, and a huuuge fortress.

The final golem also has a story to tell.



And finally, I approach the question-asking golem.



This one is a bit more tricky. I know it starts in the west, because the doppleganger-golem says so. And if the doppleganger-golem is standing on the west side of the compass, then after that was the south. The family came next. Finally the east, the builders. I guess? I decide to test my theory.

From the west it came, and then the south. The east held it next, and now it rests in the north.

You have learned a little. You may yet survive.

We are once again teleported back to the entrance to the level. There is a door we did not go through before. In the room with the spiders. We check it out now. Imoen finds it trapped!



Behind the door and down a little hallway we find some kind of machinery.



Imoen checks it out and finds a slot that looks like a wardstone slot. She gets the wardstones from me and puts the Bone Wardstone in. It fits!



Well then lets go find out what changed!

We continue down the winding hallway and find a strange room with a rune carpet in it.



Ahh, the machine must have been powering this rune carpet! Good thing we turned it off, otherwise it could probably have fried us to death.

[Usurper]

Beyond the carpet are three more biers. They are also empty.



One has a chest that is packed with treasure!



We also find a Staff of Striking +3, and some Mithril Gauntlets of Fighting.



Gameplay note: The staff is extremely powerful, doing 1d6+9 damage. Mage/thieves use these staffs for backstabbing. If we ever find a high-level mage/thief we should get them to try it.. oh hey Imoen!



I offer the gloves to Kagain and/or Finch, but they are both wearing the superior Warrior Gloves, and don't want to switch. That must be one of the reasons why Finch is so good at combat right now.

Kagain comments that he is finding this whole experience fascinating.







Gameplay note: 87 hit points? not too shabby!

I feel like there is something special about one of the beds. I approach it and lay a hand on it.



Once again we are lifted on the breezes of the Weave and deposited in the compass room.



I wonder what story the golems will tell this time?



This story is about fear.



His people were his fear?



This place is built on fear. I think I know what the last statue will ask.



It began with you and your need for a home. It grew with your clan, as you feared losing them. It manifested in the invaders that came, but you feared their coming already. It became your home, where it keeps you safe.

You know a ilttle more of me. You may yet live.

That's... that's true, isn't it? Durlag's actions were motivated by fear. Not just the creation of this monument to fear, but his actions before. Fear of losing his people. Fear of not having a family. Fear of invaders. Fear of loss.

Is that what motivates me too? Fear of being hunted? Fear of blame for others' deaths? Fear of being deserted by those who now follow me? Am I... am I just on the run from nameless fears? Is that all I am?

I ... I do not know what to think about that. I turn to look around and see that we have all been teleported again during my reverie. I go to speak to the fear-ghost of Durlag again. What will he say this time?



I feel this dwarf's pain. I know what he must have gone through. I have started down his path already. If he wants something destroyed, I probably want it destroyed too. We are much alike, Durlag and I.

If there is evil to be fought, I will defeat it.

There is always evil to be fought... within and without... do as you will... the way is clear... follow me...

And with that the fear-hate-rage phantom of Durlag slowly makes his way up the hallway, towards Islanne.



We follow at a respectful distance.

He opens the locked secret door, the one that Imoen could not budge, and disappears. My sword seems to anticipate what lies ahead.



Gameplay note: The sword says eerily appropriate things sometimes. I wonder if it is intentional.

We move into the next room, wary for anything. So we spot Clair De'lain almost as soon as she spots us.



Calm down, I am not your enemy. Who are you?

Who am I? I am an idiot that thought I could assault this tower like it was some pissant kobold warren. You are a like-minded fool then? Best you make your will if you intend to stay. My fellows went forward but a short ways, while I rested here after a blow to the head. Dead, they are, and we will follow. My name is Clair De'Lain, and I should be dead.

And what happened? I saw signs of your group, they must have been competent enough to make it this far.

We were neither weak, nor cowardly. Inexperience and stupidity brought us down. They went ahead while I rested only a moment, and I heard their deaths... I heard... I should not have brought such youth to this place. They were willing, but could not understand the danger. We can diarm traps and kill simple monsters, but true evil... I should not have brought them.

This woman also shares the guilt of Durlag and myself. We three should start a support group.

Perhaps they have not all been lost. You should not give up hope so easily.

Hope? I lost hope when I heard their screams, and knew that I could not help. I cannot even attempt the creature that is to come. Have you not seen? Or heard? The worst is that it did not even bother to lift a finger itself. They fought themselves, or monsters shaped as such. I suppose it was fitting, given the history of this place. Don't speak to me of hope. My friends are dead.

Thre is so very much pathos in here, someone has to have a dissenting opinion.

Perhaps you are not up to the task, but I am still here and willing. If they live, perhaps I can save them.

You have no idea what is ahead, do you? It is a Demonknight! A Demonknight!! Such a thing is as rare as it is evil! Alone it could destroy all of you, but that's only if it decides you are worthy of the effort. My friends went ahead and challenged it like it was some shambling skeleton, and it LAUGHED at them! It didn't even bother to lift its sword!

Something vicious inside me stirs at the description. (I will destroy it!) I sneer involuntarily as I say my next words.

It will know I am a threat. I will command its respect.

What am I saying?

Even I have to laugh at that comment. You should pray that it finds you just as funny. You just don't know...

(She is weak, like the rest). If fear is what has been driving me, I cannot keep on this way. In that path lies defeat. (Durlag is a loser)

So you think there is no way to defeat it? Why did you come down here then?

We weren't complete idiots. We didn't come down here to fight a Demonknight, we came for the dungeon. Equally stupid I guess, but you never expect to die. Wouldn't leave the house if you did. My friends missed their one shot and paid for it, and now I can't help them.

A pride, a rage, a confidence rises within me. (I am more fearsome than a demon!)

Then I will succeed where you failed. I'll do a direct assault and kill it before it even realizes!

Then I might have a plan to make it possible...

She's changing her tone. Good girl!

Very well, let's hear it.

I've had some time to think about it. I couldn't go forward and I couldn't go back the way we came. That thing in there might even know I'm out here. I doubt it cares, but something it said made me think. The Mirror of Opposition it used must be very powerful... maybe it's powerful enough to do the same thing to the Demonknight itself. The legends I've heard is that they have some resistances, but who knows with magic? The rules are not always carved in stone.

So I should find the mirror and turn it on him? That sounds too easy.

I know. I doubt the mirror will be easily accessible, and even if it is, you may be exposed as well. I got a peek at the room and it is not large. Everyone inside may be affected.

Hmm... I think I'll try it my way first. A little direct action to put this beast in its place.

If you wish, though I am quite sure you will die horribly. Good luck, you will need it.

We search out the room. Imoen finds a trapped chest. There are several awesome magic items inside!



They are the King's Plate Mail, the Dwarven Large Shield +2, and the Cloak of the Shield.







All acceptable items, nothing better than we have now.

[Usurper]

So, a Demonknight. Why does the mere thought of a Demonknight evoke such rage in me (I will destroy it!)? Why does the thought of another demon being more powerful than me fill me with such rage?

Ahh, who cares, I'm just going to roll with it. Anything is better than fear being at the core of my being. I don't want to end up like Durlag!

I sit everybody down and we go over our strategy. First of all, I pass out Potions of Fire Resistance. Everybody gets one. Then I pass out Oils of Speed and Potions of Invisibility. We're going to drink the speed ones first, and the invisibility potions are for escaping. I give Kagain a Potion of Cloud Giant Strength. He's going to hit like a, well, like a giant.

I make sure that the clerics are ready to go, and so am I. We are going to wreck this fool.

We rest, heal, and cast our defensive spells.



Then we attack!

We rush up the stairs and find ourselves in a small, arena-like room.



We spread out to try to find the demon-knight.



I look at him and feel aggression, almost bursting out of my ears. He will die!

Your bravado is wasted; I do not fear you.

You will by day's end, you will. You are all as insects. You are worthy of no more thought than these whelps behind. Children, playing where they should not. Death is welcome when hey waste their lives. Served their purpose, as did you.

Served my purpose? I will do nothing for you, monster!

You have done just what I wished. I need a base that is fortified and secure, and I also do not wish my hirelings to die with every step. I bait some foolish adventurers in and they make the floors safe. They come this far and die, and I do not need to sully my hands removing traps. I need not dirty hnds at all. Foolish flesh kills itself with my Mirror of Opposition. Durlag has built me a fine home, and you have been excellent maid service. It is the duty of the flesh to toil and then be laid to rest. Perhaps you will forsake the flesh and return, but I doubt you to be that privileged.

Haughty fool, you have let slip that you need this place for a base. What are you planning here? Do not make me beat it out of you!

You may ask what you wish, but you will get no answers. Die you will, but I know well that the dead do not hold their tongues as well as they should. Understanding is beyond you; dying, your only option. I will take your heads with my own blade; you have served well and have earned the honor.

The demon knight stops talking, and Kagain and Finch rush in to fight. I give the signal to Imoen. We both move into position and begin casting, our mirrored movements echoing throughout the chamber. We are casting the exact same spell, you see. We both cast Greater Malison.



I follow it up with a Glyph of Wild Magic. Let the demon, his magical resistance twice lowered, deal with the wild will of the Weave!



The demon stuns Kagain, and he stands there motionless. Both he and Finch begin to weather the wild magic storm along with our enemy.



I begin throwing random magics at the demon knight, as fast as my fingers will fly. Imoen also lets loose with a Hold Monster.



The Demon Knight's magic resistance is still great! Spells just wash off of him like rain.



Imoen summons a fire elemental to help in the melee. I keep throwing random magic at it, which includes my own fire elemental and my own Hold Monster. I pray that they work.



Ogre berserkers spring into life around the Demon Knight, summoned by my magic. Fingers of Death speed towards it, and a Cone of Cold sprays forth from my hands. The Cone of Cold catches Mur'neth in the back, killing him instantly.



The first casualty of the fight.

Nothing I do seems to matter to this demon knight! I cast a Teleport Field into the center to try to throw it off-balance.



Imoen uses her Orb of Lightning on it. It works!



The Demon Knight succumbs to my teleport field, being teleported to the edge of the platform. This is good because it is away from Finch, who is rooted to the spot and injured. It is also good because Jet'laya gets an excellent hit in with her Mace of Contrition.



The Weave gifts me with a Lower Resistance. Yes! I throw it at the Demon Knight.



Imoen tests out his spell resistance with a Magic Missile. But even with a Lower Resistance on him, the Demon Knight still withstands her assault.



The Demon Knight seriously injures Jet'laya, and she retreats to heal.



The Demon Knight almost closes with her but is teleported away at the last moment, to nearby me. HA!



Some of Imoen's Arrows of Piercing seem to be getting through! She abandons magic casting and continues shooting. Also, the Demon Knight hits Jet'Laya with a Symbol of Pain?! I don't even know what that does.



The battle continues to be a chaotic mess. I use up all my Random Spells. I decide that I'll try some good old Nahal's Reckless Dweomers. If we have one demon here, how about a second?



I guess the Weave doesn't agree that it is called for. Okay, how about a Sphere of Chaos?!? It doesn't work either. Imoen's arrows are doing awesomely!



I try one more thing. ARC OF DEATH!!! But the only thing that comes out of me are pretty colors...



The teleport field disappears and with it my only contribution to the fight so far. How can it be possible that this Demon Knight has resisted everything I've thrown at it? That's... that's... evil!



Ok, I will try once more. Once more I reach into the Weave in the old method of Nahal and try to shape something... And it works! A perfect Varashar's Life Drain shoots out at the Demon Knight. But... nothing.



It even takes a chunk out of Finch as if to taunt me.

Finch moves off to heal and it goes after Jet'Laya.



Jet'Laya moves off to heal, and Finch comes back into the fight. She strikes it one more time with her Flail +3 "Flaming Death", and the Demon Knight falls!



Gameplay note: FIFTEEN THOUSAND EXPERIENCE POINTS!!

I stand in stunned silence for a moment. The evil is dead? Truly? But... but I wasn't the one to kill it. It was Finch. I feel inside of me a slight disappointment, but still a triumph. In a sense, I did defeat the demon. Finch did, and Finch follows me. So, you could say, Finch is one of the weapons at my disposal.

Yes, Finch is a weapon. My weapon. I smile a little on the outside, and grin a huge grin on the inside (She has served me well this day).

On the corpse of the Demon Knight is a set of Full Plate Mail +1, the Helm of Ethical Insight, Rashad's Talon +2, the World's Edge, and the Soultaker Dagger.









This is what we were sent here for. This is what we need to return to that dude back in Ulgoth's Beard. This is what it's all about.

Then I turn back to Mur'Neth's corpse. Do I have to resurrect him again? He is so weak! Why do I have to suffer the presence of fools like him? Yet he follows me too. Perhaps he is just a weapon that needs more sharpening?

[Usurper]

Then, finally, in curiosity I look at the Mirror of Opposition standing there, covered. I wonder if it still works? On a whim, I flip back the cover and look at the mirror. But nothing happens.



I wonder if it would have been a help or not during the fight?

Gameplay note: The mirror would have made a copy of the demon knight, but also of each one of the party. We would have to defeat our mirror opposites and then the demon knight. It is debatable whether this makes the fight easier or harder. Plus if the demon knight's mirror opposite kills it, you don't get any xp.

I'm feeling pretty happy with myself. I defeated a demon knight. I only lost one person. I have fully explored Durlag's Tower. I'm pretty awesome!



With a spring in my step, we exit the arena. We have won! We run smack into another adventuring party in the next room, no preparation at all.



Hi yourself.

That is a fine looking dagger you have there. Hand it over please. Also your armor and weapons too, they look expensive.

Are you some kind of nut? I'm not handing anything over.

Oh gee, I guess we have to do things the hard way. Ok boys time to earn your pay.

What?! Well, we're already protected from Fire. I turn to Imoen and nod. She knows exactly what I mean.

What I mean is that I've authorized the use of Arrows of Detonation. She nocks the first one in her bow and lets it fly.

BOOM!



I help out with one of the few spells left in my mind - Horror. It hits them all.



Maria Darkblade falls first, to Kagain's axe.



Imoen's next Arrow of Detonation kills Gorth. Good riddance.



Garak the Banelord and Khan Noonian Singh also die soon after.



Then, after they all fall, I laugh. I actually laugh! I can't even remember the last time I laughed. They were so much not a threat that it only fits. They were like children, playing where they should not. BAH!

After we finish with them, we realize that Clar De'lain is still in the room. I approach her.



She leaves, and we think we have the room to ourselves. But we don't yet. One of the child's party is still around.



Jet'laya is attacked, backstabbed! But that was the rogue's only chance. We mob him and beat him down, Finch most of all.



In one pile of loot there is a Light Crossbow +1, some Shadow Masters Leather, and a Thieves Blade.





In another pile is Mithril Chain Mail +4, the Helmet of the Dead, and a Bec de Corbyn.



Gameplay note: Our first +4 armor, I do believe!





Gameplay note: Ok this is a weird weapon. Proficiency blunt weapons/small swords? 5% chance of killing with a single blow? 25% chance of knocking unconscious? I don't even know how this is supposed to work.

A third corpse pile gives us another Sling +1, 5 scrolls of Fireball, some Fire Bullets, a robe of fire resistance, and the Ring of Fire - "Burn On".



Gameplay note: A sweet ring! Aganaazar's Scorcher, Burning Hands, Fireball, and Flame Strike! Sounds like fun! And unlimited charges too!

Another pile only has Boots of Speed and a Medium Shield +1. He must have been the newbie of the group. Or maybe it is the fool that only has Gauntlets of Dexterity.



Then, with a light heart and a predator's step, I take the group to Islanne's ghost. We speak to her once more, and she seems grateful.



Yes, I need spend no more time here. Send me to the surface.

Back to the sky and light with you... here will stay the ghost of failure... my strong, stubborn Durlag... let the ages take the weight away... as swiftly as I send these children...

And quickly we find ourselves outside the front gate of the Tower. Durlag's Tower.



Gameplay note: And so ends the greatest dungeon in all of Baldur's Gate, and what may have been the crowning RPG experience of all time circa 1998. It has only been surpassed, in my opinion, by what comes next in Baldur's Gate II!

With lightened hearts we take our leave. Durlag has to stay in the tower he buit of fear and guilt, but we do not. We can go on out way, burdens lighter, and see the light of another day.

Edited by Usurper, 09 October 2013 - 06:03 PM.

[Usurper]

30 Eleint, 1370

We walk underneath the outer gate to leave Durlag's Tower, and I feel like I'm leaving something behind. I feel lighter.



This whole brown monstrosity is a gigantic testament to one hero's bad, bad end.



He cared for those around him too much, and didn't protect and arm them enough. He felt guilt and fear and more guilt for the bad way things ended, so much so that his ghost haunts those halls still. Hell, his WIFE's ghost haunts those halls still. How unquiet of a dead thing do you have to be to keep your wife's ghost up too?

I can't... I just can't end up like that.

There's going to be some changes around here. People are going to have to learn to deal with Archmage Syvishtar, Last Student of the Lost Magical School of Ulcaster, Golden Avatar of the Wild Will of the Weave, and Slayer of Demon Knights!

Especially the Golden Company. Can't have them pussyfooting around anymore. They knew what they were signing up for when they read the contract. Well, okay, some probably didn't. And there never was a contract. But they do now. Or, at least, they will. Ok I'll tell them, just as soon as I get back there. And make a contract. At least I'm sure people will soon hear of my demon-slaying exploits and other great adventurers will be asking for my... Drizzt? What's he doing here?



Drizzt, my friend, I would be happy to join with you, however first I must find a suitable abode for my current travelling companions. Meet with me at the inn at Ulgoth's Beard in three days time and I will happily go with you.

Very well then, I will see you there.

SEE!! It's happening already!!

I hurry back to the Elfsong Tavern to drop off the Golden Company. They deserve a vacation after what they've been through anyways. Daddy's gotta take care of a little business, so they can just have a little naptime.

We are only ambushed once on the trip home.



It's not a problem.

Coming back to civilization after so long slogging through a dwarf's sadness is like spring after a winter of discontent.



When we get back to the Elfsong Tavern, I let everybody stand down. Then I give them a little speech. "Listen," I say, "There's going to be some changes around here in the Golden Company. I'm not going to mollycoddle you lot like I have been. There's going to be responsibility, and discipline, and other important stuff. Just as soon as I get back. Don't burn the place down while I'm gone."



Everybody seems to understand the point. I think it went well, actually! I'm not sure why they were all kindof looking sideways at Imoen and not me but oh well!

After a good night's sleep, I head off to Ulgoth's Beard to meet up with my new best buddy, Drizzt!

The trip is uneventful. But, when I get to Ulgoth's Beard, a strange mage confronts me.



Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the dagger.

Why should I give you the dagger?

That dagger holds the focus of all our prayers. Our god may finally return. I must have it!

Wait a second, isn't this the dagger that Islanne trapped a demon in? Isn't that the demon that turned Durlag's friends into ghouls? I don't think I should give it to someone who PRAYS to it!

I will never give you the dagger.

It will be mine!

Then the cultist and a friend of his try to start casting at me. At ME!



I pull a Scroll of Cloudkill from my backpack and read it aloud.



Then it is a Fire Shield: Red.



And after that, a little djinni help.



The djinni begins to cast his own spells to aid him in battle.



Including summoning his own minion to aid him. My minions summon minions!



As my djinni servant casts Haste on all 3 of us, I do something I rarely do, summon Divine Might.



I still don't really understand how I do this. It just seems to come naturally.

The assassins who are fruitlessly trying to reach me through the flames wreathing my form don't look so hot.



Heh, bad choice of words.

I casually throw out chaos shards at my assailants next. Two of them fall.



I manage to kill another with my sword. En garde!



The last cult assassin seriously injures the djinni, so what does it do? It does what all djinnis do when they are hurt, turn into a puff of smoke!



The djinni's summoned elemental finishes the job.



Then we are alone. There is nothing special on the cultist corpses. I check for the dagger... but it is gone! That first cultist teleported away, he must have stolen it somehow! Crap!

Well hrmm, I wonder if Drizzt is in the Inn? He is!



I'm as ready as I'm likely to ever be. Let's go, shall we?

Let's go!

And I join Drizzt's party.

Gameplay note: The little shiver down your spine should be familiar from back when we joined up with CuChoinneach. Once again the plot armor is leaving us and latching onto Drizzt. We are now the party wizard to a 15th level ranger!



Gameplay note: He is also something that we have never seen before - a Ranger that can cast spells!







Gameplay note: He also has a few nice items.



Gameplay note: The swords are unmovable, so we can't steal them. He's got a Chain Mail +1, a Cloak of Elvenkind, and a Black Panther Figurine.







I have better stuff in the Golden Company armory, but hey - I'm just the party wizard now. Time to take a break from all that equipment management. Just sit back and cast some sweet, sweet wild magic.

[Usurper]

So, I guess we're headed off to Icewind Dale? We step outside the Inn and I begin to ask him which direction we should go, when a halfling shows up.



What? The Nine Hells!

No time for chat, I nicked a scroll in all haste just before a Tanar'ri was about to chop me head. Quickly follow me, the scroll grants one a passage into the foul pit of the Nine Hells.

Oh yeah, this is the big time now baby!

Into the heat then, so to speak!

The scroll has already been cast, it is up to you and Drizzt now. Forgive me for not following, however, I would not be of any use there. Come now, good speed!

And with that, the swirl of magic grips me and we are thrown outside of space and time and into... The Nine Hells!



An imposing, scary figure emerges from the red glare and addresses us. I first think demon, but then, no, not demon.



From a battle with some gnolls who could have guessed that it would lead me into the Nine Hells.

That is a common thing if one takes the adventuring road side by side with Drizzt. Come now, let us combine our steel and bury it deep into the flesh of these demonic beings.

Gameplay note: And Wulfgar, level 18 barbarian, joins us next! Woohoo! (Remember, I am only level 11.)



Gameplay note: He has much, much better equipment than Drizzt. I don't exactly know why.



His weapon is the famed Aegis-Fang!



Gameplay note: Is it famed? I actually don't know. Also holy shit a +5 weapon! Did Bruenor Battlehammer really stop making stuff after this hammer? Also, he wears some Mithril Chain Mail +4.



He carries with him, but does not use and refuses to let go of, his old fur armor too.



On his back is a perfect winter wolf pelt.



His helmet and small shield are unremarkable.

Since there are only 3 of us, Drizzt summons his black panther, Guenhwyvar.



And then we begin to explore this disgusting place (I like it). Immediately we see a demon!



A *lesser* Demonknight? Pssshhhhhhh please! He is down in a moment.



A little further down the passageway are some Demonic Guardians. But the mad duo just charge into those too.



Wulfgar beats them to pieces and the pieces fly everywhere!



I see a corpse half melted into/eaten by the wall. Disgusting!



It has a nice axe, though.



Gameplay note: Okay we don't have very many of these throwing axes. And one that isn't quite complete yet and requires a scroll to fully unlock its potential? OOooh!

Drizzt and Wulfgar don't play around, though. They charge on down the passageway. I follow behind them to see... another demonknight! Crap!



As the black panther charges it, the demonknight dispels magic on us. Good thing I didn't put any on yet, eh?



It immediately follows that up with a fireball, but that doesn't even faze me or drizzt or wulfgar. It destroys the panther, though.



Wulfgar and Drizzt attack and the demonknight gets an incredible hit on the drow!



But I throw him a healing potion and he keeps on trucking.

I decide to try out my new ring on the Demonknight, but Drizzt kills it before my spell is finished. I flamestrike a corpse.



See, if I had this kind of help just yesterday, things would have been sooo much easier!

I trot after Drizzt and Wulfgar, who waste no time jumping from rock to lava-surrounded rock. I gasp as a Greater Tanar'ri demon rushes at us, too fast for a human body!



The two engage for a while, but it looks like the demon is getting the best of them. I don't quite know what to do vs. a demon, so I just watch. They are injured, and retreat back across the rocks.

I decide to give Wulfgar a bunch of potions. Potions of Defense, Speed, Stone Form, Invulnerability, Magic Blocking, Cloud Giant Strength... he takes them all.



Then he goes in alone.

It doesn't go so well for the tanar'ri, but also not so great for Wulfgar.



The demon can't follow for some reason. Maybe the rocks are too weak for its weight? At any rate, it stays in the center of the lava room while we heal Wulfgar back up with spell and potion.



Then we send him in again for round 2. And this time Drizzt finds the footing to back him up. They take the demon down!



I wonder why it didn't just teleport. Don't demons teleport at will? Well, who knows. We have killed a tanar'ri!

We decide to take it easy after that, replenish our spells.



We drink Oils of Speed and rush down the next passageway. The lesser demonknights don't know what hit them.



Then we see that the mouth widens into an open area. We walk in and see the grotesque insectoid form of Belhifet!



The only head that will be removed is yours! Demons far worse than you have fallen by Drizzt's Twinkle.

Why did I just say that? Anyway, I am going to need to help this time, so I cast some random magic at the big insectoid dude.



At the same time, Drizzt summons Guenhwyvar again. We retreat to give the bad guys some time to take the bait.

[Usurper]

Belhifet takes it a little TOO well.



My next spell is no help either.



Drizzt and Wulfgar take out the two lesser demonknights, while Belhifet continues on to try to kill the Hakeashar. But the demon seems unable to touch the misty... magic-draining... creature. What exactly is a hakeashar again?



But Drizzt, we ARE IN the Nine Hells. I don't follow...

Drizzt and his friend attack the demon, which turns around and tears into Wulfgar. Ouch!



Wulfgar is being killed by an extremely fast-acting poison. I throw him an Elixir of Health and he drinks it while running away. Also Belhifet manages to connect with my Hakeashar!



My next random spell is Chaos, which really doesn't do us much good. Drizzt is now poisoned.



He is barely able to drink the elixir and get out of there without dying. Man, that's some virulent stuff!



Belhifet has the same weakness to lava as the tanar'ri did. We are safe for now. We consider how to beat this one. I think the key is summoned minions. With great reluctance I open my spellbook and replace Random Spell III with Conjure Lesser Air Elemental, Conjure Lesser Earth Elemental, Conjure Lesser Fire Elemental, and Animate Dead.

Then I suggest we rest. Wulfgar and Drizzt nod without a word - I guess they're used to being party to a caster?



After resting, I go on ahead of the party and prepare my little army.



Belhifet sees them rising and rushes as the third is being summoned.



I finish summoning the Air Elemental, then go for Animate Dead. Usually you get one skeleton with it, but sometimes you get two. I smile in personal satisfaction as two rise to answer my call.



A few seconds later I am less satisfied, as my elementals start to fall! I tell Drizzt and Wulfgar to get in there quick.



I try some direct damage with Rhialto's Random Missiles. Some get through.



Wulfgar is poisoned again and must retreat. Drizzt heals him while he drinks a potion, and I try to Flamestrike the demon. It doesn't work.



I feel increasingly desperate, so I start going back to wild magic. It is what it is.



I manage to bring more monsters to the fight.



The Weave takes pity on me by lowering the demon's magic resistance!



I try the Weave again, and Hold Monster comes out. But it doesn't work.



Drizzt and Wulfgar are dealing with Wulfgar's third poisoning. I manage to bring in another elemental.



And some additional cannon fodder.



My last random spell might have made Behlifet feel bad. But that's about it.



I turn to Drizzt and Wulfgar and tell them to wait until the demon has beaten down all the cannon fodder. They nod. While we wait, I help heal Wulfgar up.



Then as the last of the ogres are falling Drizzt and Wulfgar run right back into melee, newly potioned up.



This time, this time it is enough. Wulfgar deals the killing blow, and Belhifet drops.



He drops a weapon, which I immediately recognize as Belhifet's Sword of Grief +5.



So that's what was doing all the poisoning. I pack that little bastard away for a rainy day.

We see some interesting places to investigate in Belhifet's lair.



Unfortunately there's just a healing potion and one gold piece. Cheapskate!

We decide to move on, but the way ahead is guarded by another demonknight!



He removes the Haste and Fireballs my companions!



Wulfgar takes several hits and falls back to survive. The demonknight comes after him, but Drizzt takes it out before it does.



Gameplay note: Each of these demon knights has been dropping the same equipment that we got from the one in Durlag's. A +3 sword and a +1 full plate mail. We're going to be drowning in +3 swords soon.

We decide that perhaps it is time yet again to rest.



I've been in hell one full day so far. I didn't know the place was so ... crowded.

We pop potions of speed and move forward. We are assaulted by a couple of Slayer shadows. I've never heard of that type of demon before...



They take about 20% of Wulfgar each.



After we are done with them, Drizzt heals Wulfgar up.



And we take a look behind.



Gameplay note: Man we just carved a fucking swathe through Hell yah?

[Usurper]

Then, not looking back any further, we decide to move on.



We stop when we see boobies.



After what we've just been through? HA!

Drizzt has sparred with demons before so the threats from your foul snake tongue ring hollow!

Yah! Take that snake-arm-boobie-woman! I test her magic resistance with Rhialto's Random Missiles.



No dice. Time to summon again. I like Earth best I think.

But, sadly enough, by the time I get the portal open the snake-arm-boobie-woman-demon is dead.



Uh.. go team? I occupy myself by picking through the evil eyes that are scattered around the room.



I find the motif of the Nine Hells to be quite disturbing (soothing). And I find that one of the eyes is wearing a helm!



I'm sure this will not be necessary very soon.

We decide to rest here again before moving on to wherever.

Gameplay note: This run through of hell may seem to be too easy, and that is because I ended up having to reload whenever Wulfgar died. His non-removable hammer screwed up any time I resurrected him, so he ended up punching demons instead of hammering them. I couldn't figure out how to fix that and actually select the hammer, so I just reloaded if he died.

After we rest, I notice that there's what looks to be a demonic scull sticking out of the wall.



I think it is like some sort of hellish maid, probably a floor-cleaner. I decide to go talk to it.



What's this? A riddle? Sounds easy.

Soul.

You have learned a little. You may yet survive.

Hey you little shit! That's Durlag's line! This little demon thingie is trying to make fun of him!

But before I can smack it upside the head, it teleports us away. Once again we are caught up on the black wings of magic and transported back to Ulgoth's Beard.

Ulgoth's Beard where, apparently, Elminster is waiting for us.



It seems that our roads cross once again. I surely hope that you haven't come with anything leading to something along the lines of the trip I just barely survived.

The words I hold are meant for Drizzt. Syvishtar has another path to wander.

The road Syvishtar chooses to wander should be decided by his own mind, and not by another.

Fair enough child, now Drizzt you must journey to Icewind Dale with all haste to your companion Bruenor's house. The Dale is covered with darkness. The balance has been replaced with chaos. I am not in a position to interfere. I can only offer myself to teleport you outside his house.

You speak of darkness, but what does that involve?

My eyes are sealed to reach that far. The answers are yet to be found. Though the time is short, so let the teleportation begin.

And with not another word...



Wow, snow! I wonder if this counts as the furthest I've been away from home?

[Usurper]

Oh man, I'm two updates behind on this thread.

[Usurper]

5 Marpenoth, 1370

We are attacked by winter wolves!



By we of course I mean my new best bud Drizzt and his best bud Wulfgar. Who have no problems beating the wolves to death.



Four new winter wolf pelts should fetch some good coin back home!

I think we're all done here and are ready to move on, but just a few more steps into the woods shows us a clumsy ambush of orcs, ogres, and even a cyclops!



It's enough to make us pop Oils of Speed.

I see some magic flashing off to the side, and suspect ogre mages. I throw a Dispel into the mix as they reveal themselves. Ha!



The cyclops is one of the few remaining combatants then, so I rip the last remaining drops of life out of him and let the murder twins focus on the mages.



Wulfgar turns the last one into a fine red mist, and the snow-covered forest is once again quiet.



Then we see a small cabin in the woods ahead, so we move forward to get a clearer picture. A man on the ground cries out.



You are wounded badly, what has happened? Your words are unclear, try again.

I feel cold... I'm dying... As you are the last living ones I will see before I pass on... let me mark the location of our village on your map. We have always been able to take care of ourselves, driving away any threat though now... we... we... May the Bear Spirit bring us strength against th.....

May he indeed. I guess. Who's the Bear Spirit again?

Poor guy didn't even have any good loot. Only a jade ring.

We decide to check out Bruenor's cabin. That's where we just got teleported to, after all. We go iniside.



And are immediately greeted by that cowardly thief from before!



How did you manage to get to Icewind Dale with such haste.

The same way as you I figure, no less than Elminster of course. We could chatter all day but urgent matters call. Neither Bruenor nor Catti-Brie are to be found and the sun has an unnaturally piercing gaze today. We should check Bruenor's chest to see if perhaps there are any clues to be found.

Agreed.

Gameplay note: When I spoke to Elminster and again during this conversation I have had the option to say the equivalent of "well good luck with that!" I assume its a conversational way to get done with the mod early. But who would want that? It's Drizzt! And company! (Full disclosure: the Baldur's Gate games are the only time I've ever encoutered these characters. I never read their books.)

Gameplay note: In other news, Regis is a level 12 going on 13 thief.



Gameplay note: He's got excellent thief points all around and complete crap for equipment.



Gameplay note: Sucks to be him, cuz he ain't gettin' any of my lewts!

Little thiefman seems to know what's up, so we check the chest and find a few healing potions and Bruenor's Diary!

Quote

Day 3
I haven't heard any news from Catti-Brie today, though only one day has passed of course.

Day 4
There is still no news, not even a messenger telling me how it all goes.

Day 5
Still no news, Catti-Brie told me she would return in two days. If she had been delayed then some sort of message should have been sent.

Day 6
I sense that something ain't right; I will try to track Catti-Brie. I also told Regis to try to find Drizzt. I heard that he is on his way back to the Dale from an errand on the Sword Coast. Tried to find Wulfgar but he seems to have gone up in smoke.

That makes me wonder, how did Wulfgar end up the Nine Hells to begin with? Why hasn't anybody asked him that? I don't know.

We decide to head out, so we leave the area of Bruenor's cabin and start walking.



Gameplay note: For the first time in ever, we are finally at a corner of the map! This Icewind Dale area is in the NW corner of the gigantic map that we've been traipsing around in for literally years. I feel that running up against a boundary in this gigantic Let's Play is something to be celebrated.

Sixteen cold, grueling hours later, we end up at Bear Tribe Village.



Oh crap, what's attacking?



Holy shit what is that thing?!



Ahh, a Frost Giant. Never seen one up close before. Or far away. Or even in pictures, for that matter. Just heard about them via their potions.



They don't seem to be THAT tough, though. At least compared to Wulfgar.

We walk further into the village. We see scenes of death and destruction, dead bodies and even dead horses! Then we see another Frost Giant.



He is also quickly felled by my intrepid comrades!



We find a third Frost Giant behind the houses. He attacks the thief first!



We take him out too with minimal loss of health.

This place is pretty small. There are four houses and a lighthouse. All of the doors to the buildings are blocked by rocks, save for one. Perhaps the Frost Giants were sieging the town?



We go into the single accessible dwelling, searching for clues. It is the Inn!



Gameplay note: Hey, its the Inn from Icewind Dale 2!

I heard the words from your messenger, the words were broken but I have now witnessed what he was talking about.

A river of blood has drowned our tribesmen. We are the only few survivors left. Our great tribe leader has joined the fallen... the future of our tribe is on its way to be unwritten. The only hope lies with the child of our leader now in the hands of the giants.

What has awakened this bloodbath and the action of capturing this child?

The balance once held between our Bear Spirit and the Winter Wolf Spirit has broken. The Winter Wolf Spirit now lusts eagerly to sit alone on the throne of the forest. The Frost Giants act as its henchmen and the child of our tribe leader holds the source of the Spirit Bear within him. By killing the child in a certain ritual the Bear Spirit will be no more. Our future lies within this child...

I see...

Our last warriors fight to save the village and I can only stay here to guard our last survivors. I have cast a spell upon this house that holds the Frost Giants at bay but I couldn't hinder them from capturing the child. We are now in a desperate need of a heroic act from such as you.

Child-sacrificing giants? No way am I gonna let that stand!

I will find the child before they manage to start the ritual. Don't worry, I have managed to overcome dangers far worse than this.

May the Spirit Bear guide your path and if the wounds of battle come over you then I will aid with healing.

I thank you for this.

[Usurper]

Then, before we venture out again, I talk to the locals. They are very hopeful.



There's also a little one who doesn't look like a local. I go talk to him too.



And who might you be if I may ask?

You can call me Dipnose, and by all rights I surely have dipped my nose in the wrong place this time. Thought I had a fair escape plan from here with this windwalker scroll.

A windwalker scroll?

Aye, a windwalker scroll is a kind of teleportation scroll that already has a written destination on it.

And what prevents you from using it then?

Because its written location is the Storm March Mountains. I wouldn't trade this location for that, but you look like an adventurer that might be interested in such a matter. I could teleport you there with the use of the scroll for a sum of 100 gold coins.

Why can't you just sell the scroll to me?

It is bound to its finder and can not be cast by anyone else.

Mayhaps later when the time is right and my pockets allow it.

Do I even want to go to the Storm March Mountains? Place is probably full of, like, storm giants. Marching around. All the time. We need to save the child first! Onwards!



Looks like we have two new possible destinations, the Dragon Caves and also the Frost Giant Hills. I'm pretty sure the Frost Giant Hills are where the Frost Giants are, so we go there first.



Four hours later, we stand before more decimation.



We quickly come across a Frost Giant and his winter wolf companion. We attack!



They go down pretty quickly, and we drink a ton of tiny healing potions to recover from the ordeal.



But there are two of them at once guarding the passage north. These might be dangerous.



We fade back a bit, trying to get them separated. One does come after us faster than the other, and we surround him and take him down quick.



We fade back, drink a potion or two, and attack again. The second one goes down just as fast.



We find still another Frost Giant just around the bend. It's amazing how still and silent they can be.



Before our next fight, I decide to summon a fire elemental to help out.



I'm not sure it really helps that much.



Regis says he has a great plan to climb up one of the rocks while staying hidden and then stabbing one of the giants in the neck. We nod, and tell him to go for it.



I don't think that went according to plan.

Gameplay note: These giants hit like several trucks.

I have to resurrect him in my normal way.



It costs 1200 gp. I am suddenly very self-conscious that the Vault Sentry calls me Nosferatu. What if Drizzt gets it into his head that I'm evil?

We check out the wagon behind the giant corpse, but there is nothing good.



I try to help out with Rhialto's Random Missiles for the next fight. I am happy with the results.



Quite a crop of young missiles we have this year!

The rest of the team is able to take the giant out no problem. Near the site of the battle is what looks to be half of an old ship. Way up here?



We go inside and get burped at.



Who are you and how did this ship get here since there isn't water closer than miles away from here?

This ship does not travel by water, it takes its journey through the sky.

Awesome!!!

The sky eh?

Eh... yes, of course a finely crafted airship it was before those filthy frost giants threw a rock of ice on it. My cousin Jan Jansen in Waterdeep will be rather upset, since he built more than half of this ship.

You gnomes never stop surprising me with your inventions...

Is that so? Though, since my pockets need gold to rebuild this piece then perhaps you would be interested to see my wares?

Yes, show me what you have for sale.

He sells holy symbols of Lathander, Helm, and Talos. Wonder where he got those? And potions of healing and death ward. He also sells two weapons, the Ice Star and the Warblade. Both of them are +4 weapons. Finally he's got an amulet called Amulet that is +20% to Find Traps and Pick Locks, and +3 to AC. I might have to visit this guy again sometime!

But for now we have a child to save. North of his wreck is a cave, which we decide to enter. Children are often sacrificed in caves, I hear.



Through the cave and out the other side we find a strange wooden walkway.



Some winter wolves draw us out onto a bridge, and a giant attacks us there. He almost completely destroys Regis in one blow!



But we retreat and heal the poor little halfling, and get our revenge.



Then we heal up and follow the bridge west. There is of course another Frost Giant/Winter Wolf strike team. We take them on.



And, of course, we take them out. Things take a turn for the worse, though, at the end of the bridge. That's when we see several winter wolves, two Frost Giants, and a Were Winterwolf. Oh my!



I decide that this needs the intervention of the Weave, so I ask everyone to stand back.

[Usurper]

Then I invoke its wild will.



The Were Winterwolf Spirit comes after us, while the others are distracted by our summons. Drizzt and Wulfgar take it down together.



Another random spell from my hands becomes Cone of Cold, but Wulfgar is the only one I hurt. The Were Winterwolf Spirit and Drizzt are both resistant.



I am able to introduce more random elements into the fight. I hope it helps!



Unfortunately it does not seem to help Regis.



That's two times now. Ouch!

The rest of us are able to take out the rest of them, though.



Maybe I should give Regis a bow.

At the end of the bridge, we find... a baby!



He looks so cold and vulnerable sitting on the bare rock in the winter on top of a mountain. I scoop him up right away.



There's nothing else left to do here.



So we go back to the Bear Tribe Village.



I feel more popular with the locals as well (+1 rep!). The Bear Tribe Horn seems pretty cool.



I kinda thought we'd find Drizzt's friends during that quest, but we haven't found anything. I wonder if they are somewhere else. We rest, recuperate, and then go back out to explore further.

We decide to check out... the Dragon Caves!



When we arrive we are attacked en masse by goblins and worgs. We all pop Oils of Speed.



The chunks never stop raining down.



Strangely enough I find myself in a position that I haven't been in for a long while - alone and surrounded by goblins. I do now what I did back then, which is to summon my wild horde to protect me.



But now I don't have to run from them. Their fiery vengeance will wash over me like water and I will laugh, and laugh, and laugh...



Oh yes. It has been too long since I used the suicidal death bunnies. Why did I ever stop?

The heroes of the Dale wipe up everything else.



Then the hardest part of this fight begins. Looting everything.



We head north and eventually find a duo of cyclopses, barring the way forward. I guess together they make a whole person.



A werewolf sneaks out of the trees and ambushes us while we fight them.



Still, they are all dead in a moment.



More werewolves later and Drizzt makes a comment about not breaking a sweat.



The werewolves keep coming, and we keep mowing them down.



They all seem to be coming down this forest path. We go back down their tracks and find a stronger one at the end of the path.



We kill the last one too. I think we just took out another tribe of werewolves. I feel no regrets. Werewolves are assholes.

Another cyclops falls to Drizzt's blades a bit later.



And before his corpse is even cold, a swarm of werewolves ambushes us. I guess they aren't all dead yet?



Some of them come after me personally, so I Mirror Image myself and prepare for combat.



I run to the other side of the melee, and by the time its all done everyone is covered in blood.



I'm trying to decide if werewolves not carrying loot is good or bad. On the one hand I don't have to pick it all up. On the other hand it makes killing them feel more pointless. Hmm, deep insights to contemplate.

We find a cave at the far edge of the forest. But we decide to loop back and check out the rest of the surrounding area before going in.



A few isolated goblins annoy us.



Then we are surprised to see a baby dragon flying around plain as day!



It attacks! But Wulfgar manages to slay it.



Looks like a mother dragon died here. Did the babies hatch after she passed? No way to tell.



We find a second baby dragon on the other side of the mother, one that breathes fire on us. It hurts Wulfgar.



Behind the mother is a second cave that we could enter.

[Usurper]

I guess that's why they call this area the dragon caves rather than just cave. Well, with the whole forest thoroughly explored, we have no reason to stay out of the cave.



So we go in. Once we get inside I see a hostile version of my spirit bear buddy.



A couple of them, in fact.



But Wulfgar and Drizzt take them out, just like everything else.



The place is also haunted by ghosts. Spooky!



They try to frighten us, but Wulfgar just kills them like he has killed everything else.



One of the ghosts gets off a kind of cone of scary cold spell. It frightens Wulfgar and Regis.



But magic doesn't really affect Drizzt and I all that much, so we take care of business together.



After the last ghost is dead, we find a passage leading further into the ice.



So we drink all our healing potions and move on ahead.

We come out of the tunnel into a widening area that my sword seems to be impressed with.



It must be a tomb, because there is a ghoul here.



Some skeleton warriors also join in the fight.



Regis seems to fall under the sway of one of the enemies. Do ghouls do that?



No, no they don't. VAMPIRES DO!!



I dispel the mind control from Regis. I gotta be careful about that. The poor halfling dude is pretty vulnerable to vampires.



I don't really think that this is a place where traps would be, so I'm really surprised when one triggers and hits Regis with a lightning bolt.



He is able to find and disarm the thing, though.



The locked altar, though, doesn't seem to have anything cool in it.



We find a door leading north, and Regis finds a trap blocking it. He's useful after all!



Through the door is a true tomb, one that looks ancient.



The sarcophagus looks like it could be opened. But there's probably some kind of undead monstrosity in there, so I cast some preventative spells.



Then Wulfgar tries to open the sarcophagus.



Hmmmm, an intelligent undead thing wants us to bring it it's skull. I don't find anything suspicious about this at all. But where would we find one? Probably in the other cave.

We wind our way out of this cold prison of death and back out to the bright snowy world outside.

Another ambush by werewolves eats up a little of our time.



Then we enter the other, larger cave.



In this cave we find the greater werewolf leader. He falls too easily.



We do find a skull in his lair, though.



The cloak is another Cloak of the Werewolf. I put it into the Bag of Holding. The skull is appropriately creepy.



This must be it! We head back to the other cave. More werewolves ambush us, and again we turn them into a fine mist.

When we get back to the tomb, I begin to suspect treachery. So I summon some backup and get ready for a fight.



Then I hand the skull over to Drizzt, who hands it to Wulfgar. He places the skull in the sarcophagus. The voice says, "You found it, free at last!" Then the body gets out of the sarcophagus.



What foul trick is this?

Here you will fall!

Then he bursts with magical energy and strikes us all with a lot of... stuff.



I rarely see anyone who can approach my level of proficiency with the Weave, so I am incredibly shocked. He stripped us of every protection and hit us with a half a dozen offensive spells all at once. What can I even...

Before I even realize it I have cast a random spell at Kangaxx. The Weave gifts me with Breach.



But Kangaxx hits AGAIN with a terrifying barrage of offensive magics.



Regis looks rather singed. Drizzt is stunned. I try for another random spell, praying that the Weave helps me and not Kangaxx.



On the third round I begin to wonder if this was a mistake.

[Usurper]

I have only been able to cast, what 2 spells? And Kangaxx has cast at least a dozen.



On the third round both Drizzt and Regis are down.



I abandon my plans to cast a spell and Wulfgar and I just try to drag our comrades' bodies out of this room of death.

We barely make it. Resurrecting Drizzt is 1400 gold,



and Regis is again 1200.



Wulfgar managed to get Drizzt's weapons, but not any of the armor. Regis is completely naked. I tell them not to worry about it. I suggest that we focus on finding Cattie-Brie and Bruenor first and then come back to this guy later. They nod in agreement. Then I decide to show them the Armory. It is time to suit up.



I welcome them to my personal pocket plane. They look around in amazement. But they react with disbelief when I show them the catalog of magical equipment I've managed to collect. Armors of every shape and size, weapons of every type. Magical rings and amulets beyond anything they'd encountered so far.

They start to compare me to Elminster. I have to smile at that. Does even Elminster have this kind of a stash?

I don't feel comfortable putting them in the Golden Company uniform. They aren't part of us, after all. So I just show them the normal armors we have found.

After several hours of arranging, identifying, comparing, and other equipment-related business, we get the high-level guys decked out in appropriate gear.

Drizzt ends up wearing the Woodland Armor, with the Gift of the Woods on his hands, a Wyvern Head helm on his head, and a Bluestone Necklace of Dexterity on his neck. On his fingers are The Unfailing Missile Deflector and a Ring of Regeneration. He has a Cloak of Protection +2 on his back and the Improved Girdle Elves' Bane on his waist. He walks in Boots of the Forest. He uses the Mirror of Illusion and Imoen's Artifact, but promises to give them back. He of course keeps his scimitars.



Gameplay note: He is a beast with -24 AC, 85 hit points, 24 STR and 24 DEX.



Wulfgar the barbarian keeps his Mithril Chain Mail +4, but adds to it with Warrior Gloves and the other Bluestone Necklace of Dexterity. He carries our favorite tanking Shield of the Falling Stars +1, and with the Boots of Health and the Helm of the Flame he is a solid wall of barbarian. He has a Ring of Protection +2 on each hand, and a Girdle of Defense to round things out. He keeps his hammer and his Winter Wolf Pelt cloak.



Gameplay note: The combo of shield, helm, and boots push his hit points up to 161. Insane.



Regis has the most radical change. The best item he had before was an excellent short sword. Now he has Bala's Leather, the Bracers of the Night, a Deep Red Ioun Stone, and a Greenstone Amulet. On one ring finger he has a Ring of Protection +2, while on the other he has a Ring of Invisibility. He drapes the Cloak of the Assassin around his shoulders, and wears Boots of Displacing that we got from those assassins in Durlag's Tower. He also wears a Girdle of Defense. Finally, I give him Arla's Dragonbane +3 sling, and a plethora of magical sling bullets. The little dude won't die again.





Now let us leave this ridiculous lich for a while and go find Drizzt's other friends. Perhaps they are in the Storm March mountains?

Gameplay note: Both of the maps I've traveled to after the Bear Clan Village have lacked world map transition exits. I've been having to use cheat codes to move back to the village. I hope this doesn't screw any quests up.

When we get back to Bear Tribe Village, we talk to Nibby Dipnose again.



Very well, cast the spell, but my blade will respond to any foul tricks.

No foul tricks seem to occur, though, and we are wisked with the gentle whisk of the Weave to our destination. An ettin greets us coldly.



Two more ettins back up the first, but they all three die quickly to our might.



I climb the little stairs nearby to see what there is to see. I find a thieves' hood. Very interesting!



This is much better than anything else we have for thief heads, so I give it to Regis. He puts it on immediately.

This place also seems to have a harpy infestation.



But of course the two powerhouses take them out.



An orc of all things comes up to back up the harpies.



And then ettins back up the orcs. This is quite a strange menagerie.

They leave blood-red chunks on the snow.



We find even more cyclopses behind a hill. I'm not sure how, but Regis ends up behind them, and they step on him. He dies.



Gameplay note: I think it was a scripted event. Any time I walked my party anywhere near these guys, Regis just seemed to teleport instantly into the middle of the cyclopses, and then get himself killed the next round. Is this some sort of inside Drizzt joke I'm not getting?

I hoped this guy would stay out of trouble, but no. After the cyclopses are dead,



I resurrect him.

The area is full of twisty turns, and it is hard to see far ahead. So when a bunch of orcs ambush us I am not surprised.



I am also not surprised when we kill them all instantly.

There is a door at the top of the path. I guess we go in?



The horror that I see when we enter the door chills me to my very bone. Not 1, or 3, but 5 Cornugons gaze at us.



Before I can cast anything, though, one of them speaks to us.



I have to keep up a brave front.

Step back, I hold more power than you could ever imagine.

Ahh, now I smell the presence of Syvishtar, the result of Bhaal's seed. Your death will grant me the power I need to come out as the champion of the ongoing Blood War. Come now, Cornugon brothers, we have ourselves the finest blood to drink here today!

Then the speaking demon hits us with some dispelling magic.



Regis summons a Spirit Bear and then enters melee for some damn fool reason. I summon an elemental and tell him to pull back, but not before he is hit.



I try to call another elemental while the Cornugons bear down on me, but the Weave causes roots to entangle my feet! Is it trying to kill me?!



I quickly wrap myself in Mirror Images and pray that the Cornugons aren't that smart.



I manage to make it until Drizzt and Wulfgar can kill all the demons. It doesn't really take long.

[Usurper]

I don't even know what this place is, but there is a dragon statue with something in its mouth at the far end.



Inside is a Cornugon's Goblet, and a Rod of Resurrection!





This will definitely come in handy! Now I will be able to resurrect people in combat! I have no idea what the Cornugon's Goblet does though, and I'm not sure I want to.

I look around the room, idly wondering what the Cornugon tried to imply about me. Bhaal's seed? What does that even mean?

I'm disappointed that there are none of Drizzt's companions here. Where could they be? Do I have to fight the lich first?

We go back to the Dragon Caves and look for other clues.



Gameplay note: Okay, after long experimentation I determined that there should be an exit from the north of the Dragon Caves map, but there isn't, just like there isn't an exit in the south where we start out after traveling there. So I'm going to teleport us to the correct location after killing the lich.

We make our way back to the lair of the lich. With our new equipment and preparation I'm sure we can take him out now.



I give everyone potions of fire resistance, absorption, invulnerability, speed, and magic blocking. We drink them all.



Then we charge in.

As soon as we enter the Lich hits us with his Fireball/Lightning Bolt/Cloudkill superspell, but this time it barely fazes us.



Wulfgar gets stunned, but Drizzt and Regis are okay. I use the Orb of Storms that I decided to pick up earlier. It is quite impressive-looking.



And, a few moments later, Kangaxx the Lich is dead by Drizzt's hand.



On his corpse I find nothing but a single ring.



Of course I put it on. Now on my left hand, the Claw of Kazgaroth. On my right, the Ring of Kangaxx. In my hand, a Rod of Resurrection. Surely all must fear me now!

We go back outside to the fresh air. After some deliberation, Drizzt thinks he has found a trail, which leads north. We leave these caves and journey north again.



We follow an increasingly obvious trail, one that leads us straight towards some towering ruins. When we get there, a dwarf calls out to Drizzt.



The demonic content seems to appear as a common pattern...

Demonic or not, whoever is responsible for Catti-Brie being lost will answer with an axe cleaving their skull! I found the dead bodies of the rangers Catti-Brie traveled with, though no signs from her except for some small clues leading me to this location. But the tracks end here. We must proceed with haste. I suspect the worst.

Agreed to that.

Gameplay note: Again I had the option to say "fuck this noise" and peace out. But I chose to stick with the quest. And with that, we are joined by Bruenor, level 18 dwarven fighter!



Gameplay note: He's got some pretty good equipment already. A Mithril Field Plate Armor +2, his own helmet, and his own Battle Axe +3.







I greet him and look over his equipment. He seems to be pretty well kitted out. But if he runs into any trouble, I'll hook him up with some extra stuff.

Beyond where Bruenor was standing, though, things get really... weird. He wasn't joking when he said the Nine Hells were bursting out onto Icewind Dale!



A Demonknight guards the entrance to some literal hellhole. But we know how to deal with his type.



He falls before he can get his first Fireball off.



I bag his equipment, and we enter the demon's nest.



Lava. Lava everywhere.



Regis finds a trap.



After it is disarmed, we move forward on this unsteady bridge.

We are confronted with drow warriors!



Oh, so THAT's who is behind all this. Too bad they die so quickly.



We gather on the far side of the lava-spanning bridge, and that's when a Tanari demon attacks with a Fireball!



We move in to attack and that's when I see my nightmares from the darkest pits of my own fears become real and attack my friends.



Gameplay note: HOLY SHIT Demonic Astral Spiders the size of dragons with the long spindly legs and you can't hear it but they have this horrifying keening wail when they attack my god who thought this up I don't know whether to shake their hand or kill them before they implement any other ideas.

Kill them kill them kill them aaaallllll!



Gameplay note: Their keening wail repeats and repeats its like some sort of flock of demonhellbirds with too many legs goddamn this is freaking me the fuck out.

I don't even know what I'm casting. I just try to cast it all and right away. I just plead with the weave to burn them, burn them all, burn them until their ashes fly away never to be seen again.

Meanwhile, Drizzt and co. are cleaning up.



I don't know what's wrong with me, but I can't seem to put any magic together.



I'm close to full-on panic here. What can I possibly do if I can't cast spells?!

With a moment of inspiration i remember the Ring of Fire. I pull off Kangaxx's Ring and put the Ring of Fire back on. Surely it must work?



Bruenor manages to break out of the webbing sticking to him, and a good thing too, because he had just been poisoned. He drinks an Elixir of Health and clears his system.



The ring isn't working for me either. I stand and do nothing, uselessly trying to get the Weave to work for me, as Wulfgar kills the demonic spider queen.



I hope that is enough to stop the spawning of my nightmares.

[Usurper]

I finally get something to work for me, as I call up my Divine Might and switch to my sword.



There WILL be burned spiders this day.

Bruenor kills the spiders going after him and runs up to help me with the two on me.



Drizzt and Wulfgar seem to be thinning out the ranks of the demonspawn near them.



And Bruenor kills one of the ones on me.



I think we might be able to get through this!

In a few rounds, the only demonic spider is the one attacking me.



And then, we are alone, free to survey this horrifying battlefield. I manage to loot something off of the demonic spider queen's corpse.



Only phase spiders? Please let them be only phase spiders.

We take a look around. There seems to be some sort of exit behind where the demonic spider queen was standing. We take it with some trepidation.



Immediately more Demonic Astral Spiders teleport to all sides of us. We are surrounded!



And while we are occupied with that fight, Fireballs start shooting in from far away. Regis realizes that they are fireball skull golems.



He rushes the first one to try to put it out of commission. But he gets hit with 2 Fireballs in answer.



He turns indecisively as if thinking about going back, and then once again turns towards the nearest skull. That indecision costs him his life, for another Fireball takes it.



Gameplay note: Regis has some really wonky AI going on. I think he has the undocumented ability to teleport behind enemies. Maybe trying to simulate a backstab? But he gets really indecisive in battle and keeps ending up backing the wrong target. In this situation his AI seemed to want to fight spiders, while I was trying to order him to attack those fireball golems. I lost that fight. But so did he I guess?

Bruenor and Wulfgar disengage with the demon spiders and rush to try to take out the Fireball golems themselves. The golems seem to cover each other, each one sending a Fireball to hit the combatant going after the other golem.



Drizzt kills the last of the demon spiders, and he and I also split up to try to kill the Fireball Golems. One of them goes down.



We resist a couple more Fireballs trying to take down the second golem. It isn't looking pretty for us, but also it isn't looking pretty for the golem.



Finally Wulfgar manages to take it out.



I don't have enough money to resurrect Regis through the Vault Keeper, so I do it via the Rod of Resurrection. He's fine.

We get our act together, heal everybody up, rest in the pocket plane, and are prepared for the next stage of our Hell invasion.



No, please, not more Demonic Astral Spiders.



But a loud voice addresses us from further away. It is some sort of drow spellcaster.



Is that what all this is? A bounty hunt? Well, good to know that I'm not the only one with bounty hunters constantly on my ass. Although none of them are demons... yet...

I don't know what this drow mage is capable of, so I take the defensive. When he casts protective spells on himself, I Remove them.



Then I throw a wide scatter of random magic missiles at him.



That is enough to make sure that the melee dudes kill off everyone. I need do nothing more.



The poor little drow mage had nothing more than a Robe of Fire Resistance. I almost pity him.

This is not the end of the ordeal, though. There is another door here, one that leads deeper into the maw of madness.



We take it. When we enter, we finally meet Catti-Brie.



Catti-Brie, at last we have found you! We had to battle our way through the Nine Hells and old foes. And not to mention all the drow that seem to be involved in whatever has fallen upon us here.

And there is more to come. The darkness from the sky has been drained and used to open a portal to the Abyss, with the intention to summon forth the Tanar'ri Balor known as Errtu. The one Drizzt banished to the Abyss for a hundred years. Artemis and Jarlaxe are the ones behind it all because of their hatred for Drizzt and their struggle to see him joining the fallen. The beast has awakened! Friends, the final fight is on!

Then Jarlaxle, who stands next to a Tanar'ri demon on the other side of the room, speaks up.

Our plan worked like a charm, and Drizzt has taken the bait. His loyalty to his friends is his weakness. Today it will result in his death. Say hello to your old friend Ertu, Drizzt. He is rather upset with you, and I am just here for the pleasure of witnessing your fall at last! Oh, and don't forget Artemis, my old friend. I understand that you two have some issues to settle. Yes indeed, he like me is rather sickened by your unnatural loyalty to your friends.

You and your sidekicks better be able to back up the words spewing from your foul tongue.

You will see that I do in a few moments when the last thing you witness is my handsome grin as you die!

Finally, Catti-Brie joins the party just in time to begin the fight.



She has a quiver of arrows that never runs out, a good bow, some good chainmail, and the will to use them. What more could you ask for when demons are coming after you?



BAM! Spiders in everybody's faces!



Everything happens so fast that it is hard to record what's going on. All the drow and the demon rush us, and the grand melee starts. I try to break things up with Horror, but it doesn't seem to affect anyone.



Bruenor is sorely hurt and retreats to try to patch himself up.

The drow Jarlaxle comes Bruenor's and my way, so I summon the bunnies to block him in his tracks.



But it doesn't work. Jarlaxle cuts down Bruenor with an axe maybe?



I also notice that the demon Errtu is no longer present. I wrack my recent memory for what happen, and seem to recall Wulfgar striking the killing blow.



My bunnies are distracting Jarlaxle for now, so I retreat and reach deep into the weave, to the deepest level, and try to throw out an Arc of Death at him.



I try again, through hiccups.



But it looks like it was unnecessary, because Catti-Brie manages to take him down. Sweet!



The teleporting phase spiders are quite instrumental in mopping up the remaining drow warriors.



Heh, I bet those fool drow thought that their goddess turned on them today. Good.

We stand victorious in the heart of drow darkness - my bunnies, my spiders, and Drizzt and company.



Artemis' body yields good loot - Snake Soul, Snake Bite, and Boots of Haste.







Jarlaxle's body also has some good stuff.





Gameplay note: This is an awesome weapon!

On an altar at the far end of the room, we find a Winter Rune Scroll.



I wonder how I can combine these two things? I guess I'll have to find a blacksmith or something?

I resurrect Bruenor with the last charge of the Rod of Resurrection, which crumbles to dust in my hand. Oops? Then we decide to make our way out. But on the way out I realize that there is a door that we missed before, to the right of the way we came.



With drow guarding it I guess it is important.

[Usurper]

We attack!



Then we enter this other door cautiously.



We see some strange kind of drow chamber, bathed in the light of lava.



There are priestesses here, who summon skeleton warriors.



Somehow Regis gets behind everyone again. I gave him some potions of invisibility earlier, hopefully those will keep him alive in his damn fool quest to get himself killed.

I stand beside Catti-Brie and call lightning down on our foes, as Wulfgar, Bruenor, and Drizzt clean house.



Every time Regis attracts the attention of an enemy, he drinks a Potion of Invisibility. It keeps him alive.



Long enough for the rest of us to wipe out everything.



There's nothing special in this room except for a plain quarterstaff and some healing potions. Strange.

We make our way out through the lava-infested rooms.



And then we go out and back into the winter wonderland of Icewind Dale. We see a robed figure waiting for us as we exit. I brace for combat.



But he seems nice enough.



Yep, this is officially Drizzt's adventuring party. Not mine. No way. So I let Drizzt do the talking.

And who might you be then?

No less or more than a wanderer, though at this time also a bearer of a worried mind...

And why is that?

The dark creatures crawl up from their ancient graves, the artifact is within their dark tomb. Troubled times in the Dale... troubled times. Light we had every moment of the day, though now it is turning the other way. They have awakened. The artifact, this statue with its heritage from the Abyss itself, awakens them and commands them to wander the surface with the intention of pulling us all into its dark chambers. The only way to stop all this is to remove the artifact from the dark pit within the Mountain of the Dead.

Either you are a very good teller of fairy tales or mayhaps you lack common sense. But if there is a portion of reality in what your tongue shares here then I would like to know how to get to where you have witnessed all this.

I am a holder of true words. I can teleport you to the location outside the mountain where this darkness lurks within.

Very well, but be assured, I am prepared for any tricks that you might try to pull on me.

SOMEONE doesn't trust teleporters. I don't know why he'd have to pull a 'trick' per se, when the greatest trick of all is to unceremoniously dump us into a hostile location with nothing but a few sentences of exposition to prepare us. Which he does.



We try to rest before taking on this next challenge, but we are awakened by a wail.



It sounds like the call of a siren, but there is no water here. Only ice and death.

We kill it, then head to the pocket plane to rest. After relaxing for 15 or 16 hours, we come back to see what we've got to take care of.

Skeleton warriors come from all over and attack us. The battle is on.



It is another knock-down drag-out fight with little hurt on our side.



These guys almost seem to simply not need my magic. That takes some getting used to. I am sitting back and hoping they save me from the horrors we face, and not the other way around.

Also, the trees look like bodies and there are faces hidden in the ice. Creepy.



We find a way down into a cave.



We descend a staircase, deep into the earth. At the bottom we find a shadow fiend!



Many shadow fiends!



But they are no match for us.



Regis scouts ahead and tells us that he sees wonders!



We go to check them out. We find another dwarf down here, Varlag Silverhammer.



Greetings, how come you still inhabit this mountain even though it seems the undead walk in every shadow?

Because of the excellent ore it offers of course. The undead don't seem to show any interest in me, and if they start to then I would greet them with my hammer, crushing their rotten skulls!

Words of truth I suspect. Mayhaps do I carry anything that you could forge into an item?

Well, show me what you carry then.

Here, I possess the Ice Slasher and a Winter Rune Scroll.

By Moradin's Hammer, the old recipe of Frostbeard. I could forge this weapon into one of the most devastating weapons made of the finest steel ever to be known in this realm. Dwarven smithy at its highest level. It would cost ye 10,000 gold.

My pockets won't allow it for the moment.

Here, have a look at this winter wolf pelt.

Aye, I could enchant it so ye would never freeze again, and any magic with coldness involved in it would slip ye by leaving you unhurt. All for a sum of 3,000 gold.

My pockets won't allow it for the moment either.

I need to raise some money. I've been collecting tons of equipment off of fallen Drow to sell, but I've found no one to sell it to. And that crazy gnome Jansen guy doesn't buy anything I want to sell. I'm going to have to look for someone and come back here later.

We decide to explore this mine further. We find more vampires around the next corner.



Surprisingly enough, they are also dead before they can hurt us.



Some ghouls attack also and meet the same fate.



Four more vampires ambush us next to a trapped sarcophagus.



Regis manages to disarm the trap, but the vampires also manage to dominate Wulfgar.