Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

VinnytheSquid wrote:Delphinn gives Aearion a weary, but friendly grin. "Well met again, Aearion. It's unfortunate that we see each other again under these circumstances. If you have the ear of the Councillors, I'm happy to talk to you."

Delphinn glances back to the wagons as his own men, dwarves, and elves begin to unload them. Turning back to Aearion, "I can't stay Aearion. I have duties elsewhere. A liason of the Nashkel Trade Emporium, Jon Argentum, should be arriving soon. In fact, I'm surprised I haven't seen him here already. Although amongst all of these people..." His voice trails off and he surveys the group again.

"Anyway, if Doron Amar needs anything, and I mean anything, tell Jon and he'll send word to Nashkel. I'll do my best to send it here, and quick. If Jon Argentum doesn't make himself known to you in the next day or so, or performs poorly in the eyes of Doron Amar, then pick your own man to be liason. They can pass word to me. I'm also going to seek an audience with the Mayor of Nashkel. The Ironfaar helped rebuild our town. The least we can do is repay their aid with our own help in their hour of need."

Delphinn pauses, and looks around again before returning his attention to Aearion. "Do the dwarves have a leader?"

Aearion returns Delphinn's greeting in kind and apologizes, "You'll understand if we'd rather not have a caravan on the entry bridge. Despite all good intentions accidents have been known to happen.

"I will look for this Jon Argentum, I'm sure he'll be up to the task if you recommend him," Aearion's tone, while weary, is quite friendly. "Again, deepest thanks for your help, not only from me but I'm sure from our unfortunate guests. As for leadership, the Slayer Starkad seems to have their respect as he's risen to bring them together. It is to him we look right now."

Aearion reaches out to shake Delphinn's hand.

Delphinn gives Aearion's hand a firm shake accompanied by a slight nod.

"I'll shall see if I can find this Starkad before I leave. I'd like him to know that we can reach out to us, same as Doron Amar, should he need anything. Say hello to your lovely wife for me."

Delphinn then takes a short time searching for Starkad, hoping to find him before he leaves.

The camp seems to be bustling with activity from all corners, and the devastating shock of what has happened is beginning to sink in and even find a measure of acceptance, as the dwarves harden their hearts for what is ahead.

Starkad leans towards a tree picking his teeth with a bone, with a few fellow Slayers around him, some sitting around a fire polishing axes while others take part of the supplies that have been given the refugees. As the man known as Delphinn approaches, a dwarf stops him with his hand, but with a slight nod he is let forward:

Starkad observes him silently.

Delphinn scans the group of dwarves as he approaches. He gives a slight nod to the dwarf that raised his hand, then turns his attention towards the other dwarves until it becomes apparent which one is Starkad.

"Well met, my name is Delphinn Veil. I've come to talk with Slayer Starkad." There is a slight pause around the word slayer. It's clear that Delphinn is unsure if that is the appropriate title and etiquette to address Starkad, but he continues undeterred.

"I head the Nashkel Trade Emporium, and I wanted to find out if there was anything all of you need."

Grumpy looking female dwarf makes her way towards Starkad, she pushes humans and elves out of her way giving them mean glance and rude answer.

Git out o' meh way ye soddin longsanks 'nd wut nay ... oim 'ere ta see meh kin 'nd nay yer sanks er flowrs.

As she reaches the slayer.

Ye need ta git 'em movin' er yer taa daft ta moike tem do mere tan jist drink fer 'em sorrow tis nay beh wut Korgoth er Foinus would 'ave wunted. Tere beh toim fer sorrow but oi soi we 're gunna git out o' tese soddin trees ta proper cave tat we 're gunna turn ta keep. Keep tat nay dark skull er floimin swoiner gunna git in ta !

If ye nay 'ble ta foind un oim gunna foind un 'nd drag every last un tere ... 'ven if it beh ta last ting oi do !

She turns around her heals and head out of the woods still cussing and grumbling by herself.

'll tese floimin trees look 'loike ... tis nay beh ploice fer meh kin ta be surrounded by soddin trees flowrs grass 'nd wut nay !

Delphinn lets out a long breath, his weariness seeming to consume him momentarily.

"All right Starkad, I'll honor your wishes. But you're mistaken... I had no idea that the army was headed to the Ironfaar Clanhold. I only knew about the gathering army in the mine. I sent word to the Clanhold, it went unanswered. I've been telling everyone I could from the very start... My first group of scouts that found the army had a slayer as part of the team. Did he send word?"

Delphinn abruptly stops and seems to regain his calm demeanor.

"Nevermind. Like I said, I'll honor your wishes. If you or yours ever want to talk about it, you know where to find me. Until then, I'll make no more effort to contact you or your kin."

Delphinn looks back towards the wagons in the distance. He glances back to the Starkad with a slight, saddened nod. Delphinn then turns and moves towards his wagons.

When Delphinn returns to the small convoy, he finds a finely dressed woman leaning against one of the wagons and watching him approach with a faint smirk. He seems a little surprised to see her, though he greets her with a devilish grin. No one else seems to notice her.

"Well, now you know how to spell 'moron' with an 'S'." She says scathingly, though her tone is light. He sighs heavily and shakes his head. "Never have I tried to do so much good, and never have I been so despised." He replies.

She pushes lightly off the wagon and wraps an arm around him. "You tried. No one listened, and now you are vindicated and villainised in the same breath. Let the fools slow-boil themselves, if they are so determined."

She accompanies him to the front of the convoy as it departs once more.

Vanira froze as her feet touched the top of the stairs of the inn, seeing a collapsed body on the floor just outside one of the room doors. The feet move her forward again and she begin to realize that she knew the the man on the ground. Toshiro looked close to close to death's doors. Shouting over her shoulder she cried for help. One of the elven healers came hurriedly to her side.

The woman looked quite concerned at Toshiros state and symptoms. Together they managed to drag him into a room and placed him on a recently vacated bed. Flustered at her lack of any sort of knowledge in healing, Vanira, left the healer with him and hurried downstairs to fetch water and clean cloths. There she locked eyes with the Dancing Knight, she tore her eyes off of him as her feet continued to carry her to the kitchen to grab the water and cloths.

Lance, finished tending to one of the dwarves and talking to a healer, greeted Vanira. In a hurry she kissed him on the cheek in a greeting and then hurried him upstairs to the collapsed Scoundrel. In a rush of words the elf went over how she found him as she placed a cool water soaked cloth on his forehead. Lance listened to her ramble on as he looked over the man himself with a deep frown as a sudden realization came to him.

A handful of the dwarves had already passed to similar symptoms. An illness carried up from the Underdark and passed to the dwarves who's immune systems weren't used combating. In Toshiros exhausted state he had some how contracted it as well. Then the really bad news came and hit Vanira hard like a shovel to the face. For the cure they would have to travel to the Underdark and gather a certain type of mushroom.

Fear like no other, a fear stronger then her dislike for cats, gripped itself onto her. Her body shivered and shook despite her will to try and control herself. Supplies would be needed as well as a group that was crazy enough to join them in on this search. This wasn't going to be an easy task and there was no avoiding it. She glared down at the bed he laid on and told him he better fight this thing and remain alive long enough for them to return.

~~~

Doron Amar cleansing event happening that night... kept Vanira's focus on other tasks and Toshiro was left in the care of the healers that volunteered to keep the inn during that battle.

~~~~~
The next day:


A group was put together, not the most ideal for such a venture, but it would have to do. Not that the elf had any doubts or dislikes for them, but she knew what laid before them unlike the rest of them.

Heading off they made their way to one of the most painful journeys any of them had most likely been on. Supply packs full they entered in to the tower... all going well till they slipped into the shadow planes. The ever changing maze with it's cruel folds in the shadows. It did not take long to become lost and disoriented. The longer they lingered there the more Vanira felt herself slipping back to the plane that had tried to keep her over a century ago. Supply bags grew ever lighter and lighter as they attempted to navigate the shadows.

Mind slipping further she argued furiously with her feet. Her arm throbbed with the memories of the wound that had nearly killed her, nearly pulled her into the shadow planes. A hand being placed on her shoulder by the Dancing Knight is all that would pull her back and keep her grounded a bit longer. His ocean blue eyes looking into hers were a stronger pull then the shadows that called for her to return to them.

The attacks never ceased coming, many would fall and they'd regroup and trudge forward. The end goal kept always in sight... the knowledge of what limited time they had to work in before the Scoundrel died to the sickness. In the waters a few fell and in the combat were lost for a time. Forward they had to keep on going or they would die as well and that wouldn't serve anyone any good.

In the end it was Lance, Meric, and Vanira that stumbled into the Underdark. Never had she ever thought she'd be so happy, so relieved to step foot in this place again. After a moments rest to catch their breathes they set out further to gather the needed mushrooms to cure this cursed illness. Find them they did, but at the expense of their very battered bodies.

Through the shadowplanes they traveled back finding and collecting their unconscious companions, finding it an easier go as they moved in great haste. To the sunlight they surfaced, the light kissing their skin in a warm welcome. The group parted ways, Lambe, Lance, and Vanira being the only ones to return to Doron Amar at this time.

To the kitchen Lance moved as soon as they entered the inn and got to work with the aid of another healer of grinding the mushroom and making the antidote. Lance handed one vial to Vanira and Lambe to take to Toshiro while he took the other one to the dwarf. The antidote did it's work and it wasn't too long before some of his coloring began to return to his face. She spoke to him quietly for a bit till she heard a familiar and comforting clank in the hallway and she felt she could keep herself awake any longer. Telling the Scoundrel to rest well she left the room and moved to the side of her Dancing Knight.

Her blue eyes met his own enchanting blue eyes and without any need of words they made their way to her temporary shelter by the river. The adrenaline rush faded along with any energy quicker then desired.... the notion of a romp, a bath, and then another romp disappeared buried under the need for sleep. She managed to slip out of only half her armor before sub coming to her eyes winning the battle to close. Vanira was only half aware of Lance slipping out of his own armor beside her.

The warmth from his arms and body that embraced her as they laid on the furs used as a makeshift bed only called to into a deeper sleep. Sleep not reverie called on her this night. The events from the week all catching up with her... into a land in which she floated along a river of cream while floating and dancing on a giant strawberry. Music drifted on the winds along with light laughter along. She drifted for what seemed like forever before she noticed a silver dragon gazing down at her from another strawberry that floated closer. The look in his eyes was full of sorrow and understanding and yet she couldn't understand why he was looking at her that way.

She began to stir but settled back down as the arms around her tightened as if telling her everything was alright. Turning into the embrace she nuzzled as close as she could feeling a peace she hadn't felt in a very long time.

The dreams of strawberries and dancing continued till late in the morning hours.

Starkad and other Slayers are seen leaving Doron Amar and the refugees behind, for the dwarven summit. They are not likely to come back, having done their part in the defence of Doron Amar and in ensuring the arrival of the refugees. As they leave, Starkad is seen to crumple a piece of paper together he received from a messenger, leaving it behind on the ground as they begin the trek through the woods.

Vanira reluctantly escapes the strong warm arms of the Knight still who is slumbering in her bed. Her hand reaches and pulls up a silken robe that is draped on the bed post. The elf slips on the robe as her naked toes step lightly across the wooden floor moving over to her desk. Quietly she sits and and opens up a well traveled cigar box. Fingers pushing aside a few gems she pulls out a few pieces of parchment to prepare for a battle with the paperwork dragon that never seems to be able to be fully defeated.

It is after she completes the paperwork for the new arrivals that she notices the sealed letter that had been slipped under her door by one of the rangers that likely didn't wish to disturb her so early. Bending at the knees her fingers pick the letter up and bring it back to her desk... opening it her facial expression changes between flattered and troubled.

Her wintery blue eyes glance down at her feet, "Don't know about the we never drag you bit, I think I remember of few times where we forced you to take us a few places."

"That isn't likely how he meant it."

"Perhaps perhaps. Still, surprised this General thinks so highly of us. We are simply doing what must be done."

"I really wish you weren't doing this."

"It ... will in the long run help more of our kin return back home."

"But you are risking him."

"He would be down there anyways, we both know that. It isn't for me that he goes. We'll be keeping an eye out on him while we are there as well. This serves two purposes."

"But you remember the last war we fought in."

A great pain comes to her eyes and a tear quickly escapes her eye and rolls down her cheek. "Like it was yesterday. Though this one is different, we go to save lives, and it is not dhaerow that we will be battling."

"A different enemy, but death will still come to take claim to some of those who battle beside you."

"I know, I know." Her fingers lightly touch and trace the edges of the cigar box; her eyes begin to look a bit more distant as if looking through and past the box. "Still we will not dwell on such thoughts as that will do us no good, doing more harm then good. We continue as planned... nothing changes. We focus on that needs to be done that is all."

"But things have changed, haven't they?"

The moon elf closes her eyes, fighting the urge to look at the Knight in her bed, to avoid acknowledgement or admit anything else to her feet... as if they didn't already know the answer already.