DavesGaming

Very little gametime has elapsed since the last update. But it struck as an emotional high point for Brademante, so I thought I would do a short update for an important moment. Fourteen images and a Video later, I have a “short” update.

*****

Arriving back in Athkatla we stopped by the Copper Coronet, and quickly located Yoshimo. He was willing to join with us for the upcoming trip, I had no idea what to tell him for how long this might take or what the risks might be. Is it ever any different with this life? But Yoshimo is no novice, he was ready to join the next step of our adventure.

We then ran over to see Aran, and let him know we were ready to depart. We were introduced to Saemon Havareon, a boisterous sort of sea captain. He had an unremarkable looking cog ready for a voyage.

But that seemed to come to nothing. We arrived at the small harbor town of Brynnlaw. Spellhold is just across the small island from Brynnlaw. As we entered harbor, wow it looked like a rough town. I mentioned to Amyntor ours might be the only non-pirate ship in the harbor. He said “I think there are no non-pirate ships in this harbor”. This could be a rough place.

Funny, coming off the ship, Saemon “apologized” for delivering us into a vampire ambush.

I meant to tell Saemon he owed his apologies to the vampires, but he was nowhere to be seen.

We knew we had a contact in town, a man named Sanik at a bar called “The Vulgar Monkey”.

We found the bar. But the first familiar face was a bit of a surprise.

Funny the people you run into, an ex of Skie’s. Dirt bag was a good description, I’m not sure which of them I protected more by pulling her away.

Soon we found Sanik. He was frantic to get out of town, and was nervous that his wife was late meeting him here.

We got Sanik out of the line of fire and eliminated the assassin. Fortunately, the barkeeper was furious that Lady Galvena had done such a thing at his place. Apparently Lady Galvena was a local madam, not much of a “lady”. Sanik had fallen for, married, one of her girls without permission (I imagine that means he did not pay for her!). He thought it seemed likely Claire would be killed by the vindictive Lady Galvena. No problem, we’ll find her.

First thing out the door we were ambushed by Eldoth and a group of pirates. I’m not sure what reward he thought he could collect on me this time? Or would he be kidnapping Skie again? No matter, none of his plans will ever come to fruition. Ever.

The brothel was not a hard place to find, between the trollops standing outside and the large sign! We entered, security was light.

We were faster. But Claire had slipped off during the brief fight.

Bonus, Sanik waived his fee for information on how to enter Spellhold. There was a representative of the Cowled Wizards right here in town, he would have a wardstone to take us through Spellhold’s landward defenses.

She and her little brother were considered property of a trafficker. She was expected to earn money nightly or she and her brother would be punished.
We settled another family drama in this town, and arranged for Ginia and her brother to be smuggled back to the mainland. In a way this makes things easier for us. What we’re up to is presumably not completely “legal” under Amnish law. But this town is lawless and I feel no qualms about stirring up our own sort of trouble here.

We finally made it to see the Cowled Wizard, Perth by name. He seemed to be under some sort of mind control magic? Whatever it was, he attacked us and we killed him. We now have the wardstone for entry into Spellhold.

We followed a simple footpath across the small island, a bridge continued on towards Spellhold, with an energy shield of some sort across it. But the shield went down as we approached with the wardstone.

We fought a small group of lizard men, and an air elemental guardian before the door. Apparently there were more defenses we hadn’t known of! But neither was a big deal. As we approached, the door opened, we were expected.

He knew us by name and welcomed us, offered a tour of his facility.

Is this place a little warm? I felt more detached as we toured. We came to a last room, a lounge of some sort? I saw Imoen, but why was the floor getting closer?

As I looked around I saw my whole team except Yoshimo was on the floor. Betrayed.

I awoke in a glass prison. Irenicus taunted he would be performing another experiment on me. He would steal my life energy, my soul or something? He said he’d already done the same to my sister Imoen. Did he call Imoen my sister? He claimed by way of Bhaal, we were siblings. Funny that was surprising and not all the same.

And I was back at Candlekeep. Or a dark parallel. Just inside the doors stood Imoen. She said Bhaal was here, but we could beat him together. If I brought him to her, the two of us together could destroy Bhaal.
So I did that. I found him near the outer wall of the fortress. He said he would destroy me! I ran back to my sister. Bhaal followed, and I faced him.

Whatever it was, I knew we had won something.

I awoke this time, on a cold stone floor. In a large room in a dark dungeon. Bodhi was somewhere up above, taunting again. Oh goodie, more from the talky moron vampire. She promised she would be hunting us.
I stood shakily, and saw my husband was right there. And our friends. And Imoen!

Sure, we were deep in an unknown dungeon, with a powerful vampire after us, and something vital had been taken from my sister (!) and I. But my family was all together. And my dear friends! Imoen was surprised to notice Skie was not dead. I assured her Jaheira and Minsc were both fine, just not here. Amyntor and I have new responsibilities now with our Castle and all…
We had a fun and joyous reunion. It was good to surprise Imoen, and see her laugh.

*****

The longest “short” update you’re likely to see! In theory I like the idea of doing more, smaller updates. But somehow I keep coming up with more things I *have to* show. Seriously, I could have easily added another half dozen images to this.