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

Kald pulled the branch aside and peered into the small opening between the trees and underbrush made by a fallen tree in the woods of Sharp teeth, after a quick glance Kald slipped in and set his pack on the ground leaning it against the tree.

The pack itself being rather heavy and having both a large shield and tower shield hanging from it. Along the left side hung a hammer. Kald then removed the longsword from his left hip, dagger from his right leg and the shortsword from under his cloak, leaning these next to the pack he then removed his heavy quiver, longbow, heavy mace and Greatsword from his back. All of these joined the smaller weapons except his greatsword which he kept close by at all times. Next he removed the armor made of skins and furs seeming to cover a mixture of chainmail and dragon scales? Once free of it he stood clad only in his dark tunic and leggings for his boots soon followed the armor.

Laying the armor alongside his pack he unrolled his blankets and sat upon them a moment murmering in prayer to Mielikki his Goddess. After a time in prayer Kald removed his tunic and then slid under the blankets and after a handful of breaths Kald slipped into slumber.... and not long after he started to dream of times past.



Kald laughed at Trent's stern look. Trent, Kald's brother and paladin of mystra and guardian of her weave was so uptight Kald often worried for him but today was just in good fun. Kald had cracked a joke about Trent leaving his wife alone with so many Druids and shifters for so long and Trent did not find the joke nearly as funny as Kald did.

The two where walking south along the trade route, Durlags tower showed off in the distance to their left and Nashkell waited for them up ahead. The pair planned to stay the night and continue south to the mountians and wander into the vault of the undead. Trent wished to search it again for a way to destroy the power that controled it.

Upon nearing the tower however they could see the chaos, townsfolk ran north clutching their childern, smoke rose in plumes from the south end of the town and general screaming and unrest told them enough to be ready. Drawing their weapons they charged into the town wading through the throngs of people until they reached the south end of town.

Once there they watched as a small group of adventurers left through the main gate and it was sealed. They ran to those who remained and asked what was taking place. "Undead" Was the one word they could gather from the many answers flung their way. Kald looked about, most of the town's fighting force was helping the townfolk flee to the north. They would need time however, and those who had manned the wall all seemed dead upon it. There where a little more then a dozen adventurers including the pair of brothers. Aside from the main gate there was a smaller gate off to the east.

Kald started to try and direct the others to the best places of defense and courses of action, and was quickly informed he was no in charge that others would be leading the defense. Kald didn't bother to argue, doing as the "leaders" ordered he reamined at the main gate with the larger portion of defenders. Trent went to the east gate with three others. One lookout on the wall and the group was set to make a stand against the undead who attacked.

The lookout on the wall suddenly started speaking then stopped before finishing his first word. His last laboring glurble was cut off, Kald looked up and could see the ghost drifting near the lookout's body. Before he could shout a warning the ghosts came through the wall. The defenders cought of guard started the fight losing ground, they moved back drawing together and attempting to defend themselves. Kald who was trying to move to the gate which was taking heavy strikes from the outside the moment the defenders no longer braced it saw the banshee first. Kald bellowed to the defenders "Banshee!" But it was to late, the creature screamed and all of the defenders at the main gate except for Kald dropped dead before the battle truly joined.

Trent heard the scream and looked to the main gate and saw Kald admist the sea of ghosts as he fought against them to keep a circle about himself. Noticing their gate was still being left alone he warded those with him from death magic and they moved to the main gate in a charge. Trent fought to free Kald's rear flank of the ghosts while his fellows gathered the fallen. A priest among them pleaded with his diety to return them to life that they may aid in the defense.

With Trent and his fellow defenders added to the fray Kald and the others pushed the ghosts back. They reached the gate to brace it, it had held but was now in bad shape. More adventurers had arrived to the scene, but few took any heed of orders and mostly ran about seeking ghosts within the town. The cleric tending the fallen had returned a number of them to breathing and so the number of defenders had grown. The main gate however would not hold long.

Leaving the bracing of the gate to others who wished to take up the task Kald and Trent ran through the town, it was empty. All of the townfolk where gone, traveling north. Returning to the south wall Kald and Trent witnessed a breach in the wall near the east gate. And as one, each and every defender left the main gate and charged to the breach. "Not all of you!' Kald screamed but none listened.

"The town is emtpy brother, there is no point to remaining here. We need to convince this lot to escape to the north." Trent looked to his brother once finished and Kald nodded. But as they Trent ran to the east gate to try and convince the group to retreat Kald went to the main gate to try and hold it fast until he was done. Before he reached the gate however it fell in, and death knights, and skeleton warriors poured in. To make matters worse siege engines started to fire from the hills south of the town shortly after the gate was breached. The convincing was not hard at that point. The defenders took one look at the tide of undead pouing into the town and headed north. Few made it to the northen gate and beyond. Both Kald and Trent and found each other standing with a small force again.

Kald peered at the town and the force overrunning it. "I'm not of the mind to leave this yet"

"Nore I" Trent nodded to him. They decided to circle the town and climb over top of the mine in order to come at the siege engines from behind and once done rush down into the town to try and retake it. Before they set off however a number of foolish adventurers who claimed the ability to destroy the undead alone rushed passed into the town. Kald and Trent tore after them bellowing for them to stop, it did not matter. A foolish Druid ran by still in a Badger form and Kald flung it over the wall to the north. They also found a dwarven warrior running full tilt from a force of death knights and a young woman hiding in a empty building. Having no time to return them to safety Kald and Trent took the pair with them. Kald fighting to the front and Trent holding the rear they made it to the mine and then after a brief rest made the climb over it.

Some time later as they moved to the hills where the siege engine's lay they paused.... along the siege engines was a undead Drake... and behind him a portal from which the undead poured.

" Portal or engines?" Trent asked

"Engines, portals aren't stopped us from holding the wall just yet."

Trent nodded to Kald and the two charged, the dwarven warrior following. How many undead the pair slew between their channeling and Trent's spells they did not know, but Kald made it to the siege engines and smashed them. The Dragon then turned to the pair he had ignored at first and set upon them.

" I have this one! See to the portal!" Kald then lept at the advancing Dragon and they two started smashing deep gashes in the hilltop as they fought.

Trent looking away from his brothers battle and back to the portal started his spell to close it, the dwarven warrior stood to his side and held any undead foolish enough to advance. It did not take long with the protection the others gave him. The portal imploaded and the undead advance stopped. With the portal gone Trent and the dwarf looked to Kald in time to see him cast the dragon down the hillside in ruins. It quickly turned to ash and blew off in the wind.

The three looked at the town, with their supply of undead gone, engines silenced and Dragon no longer controling them the undead where easily being pushed back by the again growing force of Adventurers who where again fighting along the south wall to rescue the town......

Kald gently walked out of the Orphanage in the dark of night. Normaly he did not care to come and go secretly, but he would not bring danger to the little ones. He had come with fresh game, and wild berries for the childern. Staying long enough to store the food and pull fresh water for the caretakers to have in the morning, Kald slipped out quietly and headed out to the stables where he forked hay to the horses and refilling their water supply. Nodding to himself he went to the chapter house and gathered his things and weapons and headed out. Kald traveled into the Cloakwood forest, north of where the Shadow Druids laid claim and found a small knot of trees with space between for him to lay down and made his camp quickly, and without a fire. His weapons laid out and his greatsword by his side Kald lay down in his blankets and quickly faded to sleep.


Kald looked to Trent on the other side of the fire, "Shall we?" He asked, and Trent nodded.

The pair had made a stop at the Friendly Arm Inn's adventuring fire and it was time they moved on. They planned to patrol into the woods of Sharp Teeth, the Banites had been active of late. A older man who had named himself Wendel and seemed to have met Trent before expressed interest in what they did, welcoming him along the three set off.

As any traveler does, they soon wandered near a staue seeming carved of wood and raised in honor to Malar..... Hate, hate is something that darkens one's own soul in the end nothing more, Kald had learned this the hard way much earlier on in his travels. Fury however was allowed, and at times useful if not allowed to burn out of control. And each time Kald had looked upon this Statue he wished to throw it down. But only a fool strikes a blow in anger against something laid claim to by a God, be it beastly as Malar or gentle as Mielikki. On this day though... Kald decided it wasn't foolish. He had Trent by his side, and Wendel seemed able. So after informing Trent of his intent Kald took a small cloth with the symbol of Mielikki and piercing it onto the end of a Scimitar he strode to the staue.

Kald made his way atop the small hill the bear statue was raised apon and holding the scimitar in both hands up over his head he plunged the blade as deep into the wood as he was able. While Kald's strength was great, and dispite the statue being wood, the blade still did not enter far. Kald nodded to himself and stepped back, he would return to fully destroy the statue, but let this be a warning to the servants of Malar who had started to grow bold of late.

Something was wrong... it was evening yes.. but this was to dark, and much to quickly. And that smell! It was awful, rank and wet tasting in the mouth.. The three drew together near the base of the statue and looked about. "Perhaps the Scimitar...." Wendel had started to speak but Trents bellow drowned him out before finishing.

"Werewolves!" Was all Trent said, and even while the word left his lips and he drew the longsword from his left hip a swarm of the beasts flooded from the nearby forest. The number was hard to count, for the simply continued to pour out as the three braced for the onslaught.

"Friend you should not be here! Go and warn those on the road!" Kald finished his warning to Wendel moments before the battle was joined. With his greatsword in one hand and shield in the other Kald waded into the oncoming swarm of foes hacking and smashing he attempted to hold the beasts from pushing him back to the road which lay not far behind him. Trent in turn had his longsword and round shield in hand and battled his own attempt to halt the beasts.

Wendel made his way to the Road, not to get far at first. With a evil cackle and a seeming instant forming of dark clounds and storms a woman stood upon a hill near to the trio and in Wendel's path to the road. She called upon Malar's named and started to chant.

"She is a Druid in his service..." Kald bellowed out just before her first chant finished and lightning fell upon the three friends. Kald was large.. but his goddess lent speed to his feet and he danced among the swarming beasts and the lightning. Trent having warded himself simply stood among the storm still battling his foes, the storm truly did more damage to the beasts the paladins fought then it did to the paladins.

Wendel however, while a skilled mage had been cought unaware in this battle and did suffer harm from the lightning, but while he had fallen over... he pulled himself back up with his staff and correcting his glasses he took measure of the attacking Druid before him. She was chanting again! Wendel while not versed in Druidic magic was a student of Omega, and knew enough of the divine art to disrupt her chant. So while Trent and Kald battered and chopped the endless swarm of were creatures Wendel began his chant against the Druid, hoping to halt her next spell.

Kald in the fray planted his feet when the chance presented itself and with a mighty swing of both his blade and shield in a circle cleared a small space. Small as it was it allowed him a chance to look about and he could see Wendel and the Druid, and just in time to see the Druid suddenly stop chanting and glare at Wendel. With a word a number of the Beasts turned and rushed the mage. " Trent! Killed the Druid!" Kald screamed as he charged to reach Wendel, using both his sword and shield to remove foes from his path Kald moved like a madman to the mage. While he fought to reach him the Druid chanted again and vines grew up from the earch trying to ensnare him. While not halting him they did slow his advance to reach the mage.

Trent hearing his brothers cry admist the sea of foes he fought to halt drew himself together and with a single word a deafening sound exploded from the weave where he stood. A large number of the beasts fell and allowed Trent time to turn and face the Druid who was again casting while looking at his brother. Trent quickly pointed his sword tip at her and chanted his own spell much quicker, and a bigby flew his his blade and pinned the Druid firmly to the ground. Which his free time used up Trent then started battling to wear the Druid was pinned.

Kald was fighting to reach Wendel, but it was to no avail. He could plainly see he'd not reach the wizard before his foes, but the older mage suprised him. Wendel turned and focusing his eyes through his glasses took one look at the beasts moving to him suddenly his feet moved rather well and he cricled. The beasts feel on themselves in their attempt to reach him. No longer did they advance to him in a rush, but in a single line trying to pass one another. Wendel held his staff before him as he had run out of room and as the first beast reached him he smacked it and down it fell it's eyes spinning in it's head. And "smack" down a second foe fell. But then things became dire The third evil wolf had grabbed the staff as the mage had swong it, and now the two both held it. And while they started to fight the others circled their fellow their evil eyes intent on the mage.

Trent had reached the fallen Druid, but the wolves made a last attempt to halt him. Again Trent drew his blade close and spoke a word and again the sound belted out loud enough to send many beasts about him dead to the ground. With his space again free Trent ran forward and thrust his blade into the chest of the struggling Druid. With a cough and sputter she lay still and Trent looked to his brother.

Kald had watched Wendel let go his staff to the wolf as the beast had yanked to free it. The balance was gone and the creature fell backward into the others behind him. Wendel then looked to the wolf coming from his left and a few arcane words later a arrow dripping acid seemed to appear sticking out of it's head. But the beast from his right left on his back and Wendel went down trying to use his arm to protect himeslf form the beast's teeth and claws. Kald watched as the rest of the Wolves attacking Wendel started to pounce and judging the distance Kald lept, and down he came with a heavy smash right atop the pile of wolves atop the Mage. Trent who had started to them added to the effort with a arcane spell that caused dozens of bolts of magic to scatter into the enmies about them pausing the attack. Kald scrambled on the ground with the wolves and saw a human hand sticking out of the tangled mass of Malar's servants. With a snach and pull Kald dragged a rather shaken and dazed Wendel from the throng and continued the pull sending Wendel some feet away from the mass landing on his rear.

Kald and Trent again near to each other fought the again massing swarm of the wolves, Wendel seemed to right himself best he could and taking up a crossbow added what he could to the pressure to hold them back " They are not stopping!" Trent screamed to Kald as he blocked and blow and stabbed his blade through two wolves at once.

"I'm aware!" Kald having lost his shield while trying to find Wendel on the ground used his blade two handed, but his armor deflected near all the blows which landed on him.

Wendel while trying to pick targets with his crossbow watched the Druid Trent had slain stand up, and shortly after started to chant. " The Druid is not dead!" Wendel yelled and then tumbled out of the way as more lighting split the again darkening sky.

The two brothers turned to see the Druid again chanting on her hill, and in that moment a beast lept on Kald's back and took him to the ground, his sword scattering away. But Kald drew a dagger and gutting the beast he lept to his feet and drew a longsword form his hip and point at the mage saying nothing. Trent nodded and again he turned from the melee, handing Kald his shield he started his chant against the Druid as she finished her own. Fire rained down from the sky, but Trent was warded from such as he had been from the lightning and again a Bigby flew to pin the mage.

Using the longsword and Trent's Shield Kald again drove into the swarming beasts as they flung themselves at him. Using his weight and the shield to control them best he could he struck them down, often more then one per swing. But as he pushed them back he could see a Wolf.. not a were beast... but a wolf. Only this wolf stood as tall as the Inn's wall. It seemed large enough to bear a Dragon to the ground like a deer. Kald having scattered the smaller werewolves for the time being tossed Trent his shield and sheathing his longsword took his greatsword up again.

Wendel watched as the two brother charged the huge wolf, the blows from the gleaming and gore covered blades finding blood on it's legs, but still... it was massive. He could also see the smaller beasts starting to amass behind the massive wolf once more... and was that Druid stirring? Wendel made for the statue of Malar darting between the Druid and the brothers battling the massive attacker. " Sirs the Druid stirrs again!" He warned them even as he made his way to his goal.

Trent hearing Wendel's warning spun and looked to see the Druid again rising, this time she saw Trent's glare as he rushed to her and tried to flee, and again a bigby from Trent held her fast to the ground. She looked up and into the eyes of the paladin as he decended and with one single blow her head flew down the hill they stood upon.

Kald battling the beast alone waited until he had a rythem of the beast's method and then struck, his slicing blow aimed and the beasts left front leg while it was braced upon it. Down the beast crashed as Kald severed the leg, but Kald continued his motion and following through the blow he spun about and bringing the whistling sword up and around he severed the beast's head even as it howled in pain for it's leg.

Wendel upon reaching the statue jerked the scimitar free and looked to the woods. All three of them did, and while the creatures remained they did not advance anew. The three drew together again and watched, the beast's moved to the Druid's body... and again she rose, and leaning on one of the beasts started to move to the forest. Kald laid a hand on Trent's shoulder as he raised his sword to chant. " We have held them barely... if we agner them more we may be the cause of their attacking innocent travelers. " Trent looked at his brother a moment after he spoke, but the fury left his eyes slowly and he nodded. The three looked once more to their retreating enemies. All three where wounded, but they still stood. Their ... wish to do good turned to danger for others was over and balance was restored... for now.

As the three headed to the road, and to the Inn to rest Kald looked to Wendel " You new here friend?" .............