Aegon convinced the Troupe to travel back to Adoy’s Enclave in order to avenge Neera’s death. While rescuing the wild mage, Adoy, they were attacked by Red Wizards of Thay. Rose and Aegon won the battle, but they were the only survivors.

22 Flamerule 1368

It’s surprising that we can fit the bodies of our companions into the Bag of Holding. I wonder if their corpses will survive in there. I don’t have any understanding of how the magic works. Something to do with a pocket dimension, I think.

We aren’t interested in the bodies of the Thayans, only in what we can loot from them. They weren’t carrying anything of value, except for Ekandor himself who is wearing a Traveler’s Robe.

In his robes we find a Scroll of Stoneskin that he didn’t use during the fight. I wonder if we would have beaten him if he had protected himself with this. Now we’ll never know, but it could save us one day.

Rose looks at the belt Adoy gave to us. It provide the wearer protection against shapeshifting magic. Rose puts it on around her Arcane Attire.

We didn’t actually get this item since Neera wasn’t in the party. It seems like these quests are bugged in the base game (as we’ll see later). I decided this was a bug, so I used EEKeeper to add this item to Rose’s inventory.

We don’t talk as we leave the caves. Outside we find the goblins still ignore us. Since Adoy isn’t with us they have no idea what just happened to him. We should leave before they realise anything is wrong.

We remain silent as we walk through the enclave. I break the silence when I am attacked by a wolf, calling on Rose for help.

The wolf is hurt and decides to run away. We chase it down, but it is too fast for us and escapes. Before we leave the enclave we pay one last visit to Magreb.

Magreb: Did you find where the goblins buried my Rilsa?

Rose: Not yet, but I’ll get to it soon.

So this is another bug which seems to happen in the unmodded game. I can’t click the body in the caves to bury Rilsa, and thus can’t complete this quest. I found others had this problem even in the base game, but I couldn’t find what causes it to happen, nor a way to fix it.

As we walk away Rose doesn’t need to say it. I know what she’s thinking. We’ll never find out what happened to Rilsa, and Magreb will never get the closure he needs. He’s cursed to live the rest of his life among goblins, mourning his lost friend. Assuming he chooses to live at all.

---

We travel half a day toward Nashkel. There are no roads here, only large plains. Unfortunately that gives us very few places to hide, and we are spotted by a group of kobolds yipping as they charge toward us.

Rose immediately rips one of them apart with her Spear of the Unicorn. I attempt to put the rest to Sleep.

Some of the yipping lizards fall into a slumber, so I attempt again to put the rest into a slumber.

They all fall asleep except for their leader. Now it has to fend off Rose and I alone.

It poisons me so I try to Slow the poison. Unfortunately it is quick with the blade and interrupts my spell.

Rose forces her Spear into its chest.

We manage to kill two others before the kobolds wake up again. Rose draws her crossbow to kill off the archers while I distract the last fighter.

She kills them both, leaving the last warrior alone, knowing it will be next.

Rose is turning out to be a pretty powerful fighter for a bard.

We loot the bodies as quickly as we can so we can leave the area. We don’t want to encounter any more kobolds along the way.

---

23 Flamerule 1368

Nalin accepts a 1200 coin donation to raise our companions. They survived our journey in the Bag of Holding well enough.

Kagain lets us know we can find him again if we ever need his strength.

Morwen also says her goodbyes.

Aegon: Fare thee well too.

Valerie doesn’t want to quit. I like her eagerness, but she needs time to recover from her resurrection.

Aegon: I think it’s for the best if we part company now.

Rasaads leaves the temple without saying much. Returning to teaching about the Order of the Sun Soul, I guess.

Rose and I need a new party. We’ll try not to get them killed. There are some of our old companions here after the last time I got them killed.

Edwin is angry when we approach him, but I can tell it’s only because he’s happy to see us.

Aegon: Though I do not enjoy your manner, I do have need of your talents. Welcome back.

Edwin: Save your pleasantries. (I will suffer their company merely because they are useful.)

I decide it best not to tell Edwin about Ekandor. Maybe he doesn’t care, but why risk it?

Edwin isn’t well equipped so we see what we can give him from our Bag of Holding. He takes some Bracers of Defense as well as an Orc Shaman’s Cloak and a helmet for defense.

For his main weapon he uses a powerfully enchanted quarterstaff.

To keep enemies at range he takes the Long Bow of Marksmanship we stole from the bandit camp.

Edwin’s THAC0 is terrible since he has no proficiency with ranged weapons, but he’s too squishy to send into close combat.

The rakshasha is still here. I’m surprised Helm is willing to protect a creature borne of evil like VerrSza.

Aegon: Yes.

Verr’Sza takes the Protector of the Second to better protect himself in a fight.

He switches out his weapons for the Kundane and another enchanted short sword.

He has two +2 weapons with 3 attacks per round now.

He tries out a few ranged weapons and chooses an enchanted light crossbow.

Since Khalid is also here, we ask him to join us again. It will be nice to travel with one of father’s old friends again.

Aegon: I would be more than happy to have friends such as you back in my company.

Khalid: E-excellent! It shall be as though we were never separated.

Khalid takes the enchanted splint mail from our Bag. It’s easier for him to move around in this than it was with his plate mail.

He takes the Varscona we found on the bandit leaders for his main weapon.

And as an archer he picks out the other enchanted longbow from the Bag.

I update Khalid on all that has happened since we parted ways. He is especially interested in Mulahey and the mines.

Aegon: Of course. Until the bandit threat is eliminated, the iron will just pile up in Nashkel where it can’t be used.

Khalid: But the b-bandits are scattered all over! Hunting them all down could t-take months!

Aegon: Hmmm. I guess it could. What do you suggest?

Khalid: So many of them… and so p-purposeful… there must be an organisation behind it. Perhaps that c-contact in B-beregost could lead us to the heart of it, so we might avoid more of the limbs.

He’s a little disappointed when I tell him we’ve already done that, and located and raided the Bandit Camp twice.

He’s right though. We only cut off a limb. The head, is still out there. We thought it was Tazok, but that new name lingers in my mind. Sarevok.

Khalid says that his wife is waiting for him at the inn so we leave the temple to go find her. As soon as we go outside Verr’Sza is approached by a strange creature. It looks like a small human with a horned head and leathery green skin. It flies toward us on bat-like wings, its tail whipping from side to side as it starts to talk.

Verr’Sza: Eh, it’s you. I understand it’s rather urgent? As you can see, imp, we’re exactly not on vacation here.

Torin: It’s a small task, Verr’Sza, nothing important. And you know we wouldn’t be very happy if you refuse.

There is a woman who wishes to deliver a book to her master – Akeriash. That would be very unfortunate. We promised our client the tome would never reach that person. We want you to kill her and get the book. You may keep it, since we just don’t want *him* to get it. It should be safe with you, though, now that I see you have some… company.

Rather unusual behaviour for you.

Verr’Sza: That’s none of your business. Fine, I will fetch the book. Give me some details. Where is this… woman?

Torin: Near the mining town. There is some kind… festival going on there. Tildiash informed us that they are to meet there in less than seven days. She may already be there.

This will be the final job, Verr’Sza. Once you have completed it, you’ll be free to go and we will bother you no more.

Verr’Sza: Fine. So, Aegon, there is some work to do. Help me, and then we shall continue our mission, and if we can keep the book and use it – heh, I bet you’ll come up with an idea on how to use it properly.

Aegon: That sounds fair.

Torin: Good! I promise to leave you be once it’s over. You have helped us more than enough.

Verr’Sza: Great. Go then, and tell them that they needn’t consider this a problem any more. The book will never reach the girl’s master.

Let’s go, Aegon – and remember. We have seven days. If you won’t help me, I will go there on my own.

Torin: We’ll know when you’ve finished your task. I trust you know how to deal with our problem, so… that will be our farewell, I suppose. Good luck.

There is more to this than meets the eye. The imps don’t just want to prevent the book from reaching Akeriash, they want blood. They want us to kill. Verr’Sza doesn’t have a problem with it. And I’m getting used to endless deaths these days.

Verr’Sza agrees to let us rest before we go to the carnival. We can find her after a good night’s sleep. We go to inn and book a room. During the night I have another dream, this one as vivid as the others I’ve had since I lost my father.

As darkness falls, my mind drifts back to events past, and to conquests well won indeed. The feared and fabled bandits that have plagued the entire coast are as dust beneath you. I stride through their camp, ignoring their attacks and scattering tents and bodies as I go.

My recollections are interrupted without impact or fanfare, as the earth opens to accept my passage. The cascading rock and gravel prevents my escape, and in a moment all is black. For all I know, I have descended to the very core of the world.

The walls around me illuminate, and a cavern slowly takes shape, though I can see no more than a few steps ahead or behind. Stumbling forward, I find myself face to face with… myself.

Before me is a likeness in stone exact to the smallest detail. A voice in the darkness accuses me, even as it seems amused. ‘Such pride undeserved, great conqueror, when your whole being is borrowed. Credit where it is due, and dues where payment is demanded.’

A dagger of bone flies from the blackness and strikes the statue, square. It cracks slightly, but the pain I feel is as though you were rent asunder.

‘You were made as you are,’ taunts the voice, ‘and you can also be broken.’ I fall backward into the void, and do not come to rest until morning wakes me.

Morning comes and I still feel the sharp piercing of the dagger of bone. But I feel something else. A gift from somewhere. From Corellon, perhaps?

I wait for my head to clear and leave the room. I find Khalid breaking fast with his wife. Jaheira has already taken a look at the equipment in our Bag and swapped her armour for some enchanted studded leather.

Edwin took her Chainmail of Transgression. It is light enough that it doesn’t hinder his spellcasting when he wears it.

Verr’Sza is eager to finish his mission, so we leave for the carnival to find his target.

---

The carnival is still lively – people seem excited to know the mines will be operational again soon. Performers sing their tragic poems.

Performer: …’midst coffers full and coffins bare,
there came the fearsome devil-bat!
Red blood, red eyes, and ruddy hair
but none more red
than two sharp teeth that glistened there…

There ends Galahynne’s last and best-loved work, “Nosferatu.” Enjoy the rest of the carnival ladies and gentlemen. A finer one I have not seen in years.

But we aren’t here to see a show. We’re here to find someone. Verr’Sza thinks he spots the target, so we make our approach.

Shantia: Wait–

Verr’Sza: Is something wrong woman? Do I frighten you?

Shantia: I was told that someone might want to see me fail. You’re here because of the book, right? You- -you won’t get it!

Verr’Sza: You’re going to sacrifice your life to protect the book for the one who desires it? How foolish. Fine, I’ll just pry it from your cold, dead hands.

Shantia: You- -you’ll do no such thing!

We have our target. Rose keeps her at bay with the Spear of the Unicorn, while Edwin Drains some life out of her.

I follow this by sapping her strength. A circle of flames rises around the woman.

Then Verr’Sza Blinds her.

The flames burn Rose as she thrusts her spear at the woman. Verr’Sza drains her life some more.

I attempt to Hold her in place, but she is able to resist the effects of the Weave.

So I fall back to launching Magic Missiles at her.

A second volley of Missiles finishes her off.

With her gone we can search her and recover the book. She was also wielding an enchanted flail.

She was also carrying a ring that improves her skills with a halberd. Rose puts the ring on her finger.

With the ring equipped, Rose feels like she could wield one of the halberds obtained from the gnolls to the west. She chooses the Chesley Crusher.

Verr’Sza seems content now the task is complete. He doesn’t care about keeping the book for himself.

Aegon: We’ll see. I’m more curious as to why we had to do this task. Who was that imp? A friend?

Verr’Sza: A friend? Ha! You have quite an imagination!

There is a group of adventurers, or perhaps you could call them mercenaries. They once worked with another rakshasha, but he died, so they hired me. We worked together on many different cases until they started to consider me part of their little club. I left them, though, in the end. I need no support from any guilds or teams.

Aegon: Yet you adventure with me.

Verr’Sza: This is different. You’re more like a… digression.

Aegon: And you’ve never really wanted to work with a trusted companion? Someone you can depend on?

Verr’Sza: First of all, trust is very different to “depending on someone”, as you call it. Secondly, no. I’m usually better off working on my own.

Anyway, we’re done with the work. I’m sure the group already knows that the book won’t reach the woman’s master. We can get back to dealing with your problems.

So, be a leader and show me the way hmm?

Which way to go? Well none of us can figure out this book. It seems magical in nature, but even I can’t tell what it’s saying and I grew up in a library. There is someone nearby who could help us, though.

Sure enough she knows what our book is. It can summon an entity known only as the Storyteller, who will conjure characters from their stories. I’m not sure why the imp wanted to keep this out of someone’s hands, or if we’re missing something. I hold onto it for now. We will find out soon enough.

We are at a crossroads now. I don’t know where to go next. “Show me the way”, the rakshasha said. But to where?