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

As I prepare for our trip tomorrow into the Netherese ruins. My confidence level is high for the team we have assembled for the trip. It is a well balanced team of seasoned and battle tested warriors, scouts, and healers. All there to protect our mages, who have the knowledge to translate any information we may find. I am also hopeful to find some Sunstone while we are there. I am a bit concerned with Eldarian though. In the past he has shown some contempt and distrust of the Guide of Candlekeep, Teo. As I do understand his distrust, I do not share it. Guide Teo has always been honest and upfront with the Silver Rose, as far as I know. Therefore has earned our trust.

Over the last week I have gathered the supplies I feel that will be needed for this trip. And have reviewed my past research of the Netherese Ruins and sunstone. Of which I started back when the shadows began to appear across the coast. It was then I became concerned with the sightings of NightHaunts and began to look for a way to combat them.

Now that we finally found a way to get to the Ruins. I only hope we can find some useful information to help fend off the hordes of undead that now threaten the coast.

Yesterday evening , by request, we had a parlay with Selengil, the leader of Darkhold. He claimed to know the truth about Bella's weapon. But his hand was tipped when his true intent was revealed.

It now seems that we have a Third battle awaiting us after the defeat of the remaining Horde. This one will not be of physical confrontation, but one of reputation. A battle of the hearts and minds of the people of the Sword Coast!

He asked of us something that he knew we could not do. Endorse having the Zhentarium join us in the battle against Magmire and the Blight. This request was a ruse , of this I am sure. He further asked us, not only give our endorsement to the War council but to the Dukes as well. Knowing full well we could not possibly commit such an action. But I now know what the Zhentarium's intention is. It will be the revisiting of Triel.

The Zhentarium will wait, just like they did in the battle of Triel. And when we have decimated half of the opposing forces and we are half dead. It is then he will commit his troops to engage. Just like in Triel, claiming they are the saviors of the day. And we know how that turned out in Triel. The town ended up as a literal town of undead. The Zhentarium used the town as a poster of their superiority, even when they were the cause of its downfall.

The Zhentarium have tried many times to infiltrate the Dukes good graces, and the peoples of the coast's good favor. While hiding their true deeds, such as Being behind the Black Orc war. If their intent was true, then they would have accepted the offer that we extend to all factions in which has given reason for question. They may request to join the battle THRU the Dukes request, but will not be admitted into the War Council. To do this they must petition the Dukes themselves. To this Selengil flatly refused.

We must be deligent, and perservere thru the coming storm of public opinion, and show the lies that eventually will be revealed in this war for public trust.

*After the successful defense of Baldurs Gate. Seth returns to his room at the OSR Keep. He walks up to a small box upon a shelf, and opens it. His eyes then slowly shift to his left hand where an empty hole now sits upon the ring on his little finger. He tries to remove the ring that has been there for many months, and with a few twists it slides from his finger. He looks at it a moment more before carefully setting it into the box and closing the lid. He then moves to his chair at the desk and begins to write.*


Now that the city is safe from the Hordes, I have time to write upon the events of the last few weeks. I will try to detail as well as I can the events as they happened from what I know.



First the General.

This Netherese General was the most immediate threat, as he was nearing the Fields of the Dead. Which is just North of the city. We knew that he had to be stopped before he reach the said fields. For if he reached this massive graveyard it would only fuel his advance by replenishing and increase his numbers of undead.
A plan was proposed and then formulated by the War Council. Now just let me interject here. It is funny and disturbing how the minds of some seem to remember what they want to make themselves seem more important. How the petty egos will stand and claim credit where it isn't always due. With that said, I will only mention those that I feel are really worth mentioning. The War Council was meant to work as one, to come together to formulate plans to defeat the onslaught horde of undead. Which we did. The plan was proposed and then debated for many many hours if not days, trying to take into account the many possibilities, and turns the battle may take. On this I credit Rev (Master Revenark) his expertise was invaluable, he looked at all possibilities. The plan was to create two fronts, a soft front and the main front. The Soft Front was to draw the attention of the General and force him to follow us as we retreated back to the main front where the bulk of our forces would lie in wait. But by doing this it would also open an opportunity to strike from the rear. The rear force was to infiltrate from the rear. Driving themselves into the heart of the Horde, to where the Liches could be destroyed. This would be done by Eldarian, who carried some sort of sunstone staff. I don't recall the name of this artifact, but it was powered by a sunstone.
Once the battle commenced all was going to plan, the undead seem to focus upon our position and attacked from every direction. Once it was apparent we were about to be over run, the retreat was called, and the Water elementals were released upon the water of the Ford we used to our advantage. We fell back to our main force and waited. And we waited. And we waited. We then decided maybe more bait was needed, and returned to the Ford. And what we witnessed was truly a blessing. The undead were retreating.
Standing there in disbelief, we then saw the rear force emerge from over the hill. Eldarian and the forces who penetrated from the rear were actually able to make it to the General himself. And Eldarian used the Lathandrite artifact on the General himself! Once done he was apparently convinced to give up and go back to the city of the dead. A bit anti-climatic but a welcomed sight to say the least.

For this Success I credit the council as a whole, but my main credit is to all that fought so Valiantly, and those that were willing too but didn't get the chance. I also Credit Master Revenark, and Sir Clint. But most of all, all those who were in the Rear attacking force including Sir Eldarian. I would also like to include our own knights who's discipline is unparalleled. And of course My love Elvina, without who's knowledge of the Spirit Realm, and support I would never be able to withstand the pressure's of Field Command.

(To be continued....

*Seth takes a Long breath as he sets down his quill. His eyes grow heavy, but he forces himself to continue, He picks the quill back up, dips it in the inkwell, and begins to write.*

The Defense of Candlekeep.

If the general public only knew of what treasures and yes, horrors that Candlekeep possesses deep within their Library....... I know but of only a few. It would amaze even the most jaded of scholars. So when we heard of Cain's desire to acquire a certain artifact, we knew exactly what he was after. And under no circumstances should this artifact ever again see the light of day. Then we heard of Three sisters, Cain was using to bridge the Plane of Fury with ours we immediately moved what forces we had to the defense of Candlekeep.
We arrived a day early to find a Red mist covering the grounds leading up to Candlekeep. And the Sisters were deep in incantations, but unfortunately they were still within the Plane of Fury. So they were far from our grasp. Once they faded from our sight we retired to within Candlekeep to begin formulating plans.

The Plan

As I woke from my uneasy slumber. I came down from my room from within the Inn. I was told of two seperate plans.

Plan 1-
This plan was relayed from Isabella and was supposedly formulated by her and Reine. I was severely disappointed by this plan, as it showed no creativeness on their part. It was an exact duplicate of the plan we used against the General. Using a soft front that would fall back to a hard front. Which is a risky plan even when used as we did against the General. But the difference is, the topography, and numbers. Which made this plan a very poor choice to use here. Personally I was disappointed at the laziness, or perhaps it is just the inexperience of battle that made this plan seem as a good choice to them. To this I cannot say. So it was no wonder I was relieved when a second plan was presented to me By Guide Teo. The Second plan had some merit.

Plan 2-
Firstly I would say I agree with their choice of Field command, Sir Clint. Clint shows some talent towards the planning of battlefield engagements. A strength that serves him well. I assured Clint that I agreed with their assessment of his command, but if he needed help I was there to accommodate. This plan was in 2 parts. Firstly a Hard Front that none shall pass at the choke point leading to Candlekeep. And Secondly another front to confront the 3 sisters and prevent them from completing their incantations to merge the Plane of Fury with ours. Once this task had been completed then this front would move to engage Cains forces from the rear and push our way to join the Hard front to protect Candlekeep. But this would be done once Cain had committed his hand, and thusly take him from two sides until we could defend from one.

The Battle

While a majority gathered at the Hard front. We set out to complete our part of the plan, to confront and defeat the Three Sisters, thereby preventing them from completing the merger of our two planes. To confront the Three Sisters we gathered at the old Druids Circle on the Lions Way. We encircled the circle with Ameris, Tehlia, and Myhun in the Center. They began their incantations to open a gate to pull the sisters thru one by one. When the first of the Sisters was brought thru. There was no discussion, no parley, and no chance given to her. She was put down quickly and mercifully. Upon her demise the other two Sisters were pulled thru, but not singly as we had hoped but together at once. We rushed them with spells being cast and swords and axes drawn. They were ready for our assault. While one cast sanctuary upon them the other cast Vampiric feast on all of us within reach. Luckily our numbers were enough that this did not detour us, the Mages quickly dispelled them and the Two Sisters were put down as well. Phase one was complete, and the Merging of the two planes had been stopped.
While this was going on, Cain showed himself and was confronted by Abel in front of our heavily fortified Hard line of defense. Now, what happened here I can not say exactly, for we awaited the signal from Guide Teo to begin our attack from the rear.
As I waited for the word to attack, I looked around, and I came to a familiar realization, This was almost the exact same plan as when we defended Candlekeep Last time. Upon realizing this I became a bit wary that Cain may realize the same. But apparantly Abel was able to defeat Cain before we could rejoin the main force. But This battle was not over.......
The Signal was finally given and we plowed thru the remaining undead with some resistance. But was able to reach the front line without much problem.
Once we arrived I looked around and saw disarray all around. People fighting in every which direction. After some time we were able to get everyone calmed down and fall into the Fighting force we needed. For all the different backgrounds and all the different walks of life, Discipline became the focus. The line was created and Held. When undead poured in from our right the line shifted to the right. When they encroached from the Left, we shifted to the left. All the while keeping the Line intact.
The Mages and archers behind us would weaken and destroy the undead who approached and the Line put down those that were able to penetrate past their vollies of magic and arrows. It was a sight to behold, adventurers that didn't know one another's names worked as one. We put down all sort of denizens of evil, and when the portals appeared. The focus of attack was on the portals first, to close them.
And when the final cloud of dust settled, it was the defenders that were left standing in defiance to hordes of undead.

Aftermath

After the sounds of War quietened, the Swords were sheathed, and the limited wounded were tended to. I noticed a gathering out front. I walked out to see what was of interest that would create the gathering. What I saw was Sventar Lying upon the ground, Able no where to be found. It appeared Sventar was wounded if a sword could be such, but closer inspection gave me another clue. Its gem in his pommel was gone. I knelt before Sventar and slowly reached for him with my left hand, I could feel, best way I could describe it was like a pin prick beneath the ring on my left hand little finger. But as I reached the stone within the ring gave a slight glow as did Sventar.
Now this is the Ring that was proven to have some sort of bond with Sventar. And I had hidden this ring in plain sight for quite some time now, on my hand for all to see everyday. So these events made me think, “I wonder”........ I removed the stone from the ring and it magically left my hand and placed itself into the pommel of Sventar, and Sventar came to life once more. Sventar realising his task was thru with Able said he was looking for a new master to bond with. As I looked at the Sword contemplating, I heard Sir Clint's name. I can not suggest a more deserving man than Clint for such a task. Sventar must have felt Clint's aura, as he immediately took to him, and created the bond between them.
I only hope that Clint's influence will guide Sventar away from his origins, the sword that was born from vengeance.

*Upon completion of his Journal entry Seth lets out a heavy breath and his eyes move to the small box where the now stoneless ring lies. He sets down his quill, stretches and yawns. He closes his journal and rests his head upon his desk and immediately falls asleep*