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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 41737" data-attributes="member: 143">Book II, Part 3They returned when the first rays of winter sunshine were just illuminating the bright dome of the Lady’s Hall, as the city was just beginning to stir from its night’s sleep.  The companions were silent, each nursing their own private fears and anticipation as they entered the outer precincts of the temple.  They were early, before the temple normally opened for the day, but they were not entirely surprised when an acolyte was waiting for them in the columned portico, and waved them inside through a side door.  They were escorted directly to the same chapel in which they had met the high priestess the afternoon before, and left to wait there.  “I didn’t get any sleep at all last night,” Delem said, fidgeting slightly with the hem of his cloak.“I know,” Lok said, his manner a reassuring stability that bolstered them all.  “I hope that everything goes well.”“Indeed,” came a voice from the rear hallway.  They turned as one as Ilyessa Beldarin walked into the room.  She was clad in a simple robe of shimmering silk that brushed on the polished stone of the floor as she walked.  She looked tired, with faint hints of rings under her eyes, but there was a gleam in those eyes that matched her smile as she greeted them.  “Good morning,” she said.  “I believe there is someone here who wishes to see you.”She stepped aside, and for the first time they could see the small figure who stepped up in her wake, dressed in a plain wool robe.  “Cal!” Benzan and Delem cried out together, as all three friends rushed over to their risen comrade.  “Hey guys,” the gnome said, his own smile weary but full of warmth.  If the high priestess looked tired, Cal looked exhausted, but he clasped arms with each of his friends, and for a moment everyone was talking at once, and laughing.  It was Benzan who first looked up at the high priestess, whose normally cool expression had cracked on witnessing the open display of camaraderie.  The tiefling said to her, “But—you haven’t cast the questing spell yet, the one that you mentioned last night.”A hint of wry humor twisted the woman’s smile.  “No, I haven’t,” she said.  “Actually, that spell is beyond my abilities, you see.”Benzan nodded, understanding, and he bowed to the woman with respect.  “Well, the duties of the day are calling me, and I am sure that you have many things to discuss,” the priestess said to them.  “I will send an acolyte to the inn where you are staying in a few days, with more information about your upcoming journey.  Remember that the Raindancer departs on its voyage in a tenday.”  “We’ll be there,” Lok said, and with another round of heartfelt thanks to the priestess, the companions, reunited again, departed.* * * * * The tenday passed quickly, as the companions rested from their ordeal, enjoyed the pleasures of the city, and made preparations for their next adventure.  Cal was briefed on what had happened since his demise at the hands of the evil cleric—as Lok had put it, “Now, for once, someone else gets to be the storyteller.”  The gnome was happy to be back among his friends, but there was a shadow that crept into his expression at times when he was alone, and some of his previously mastered abilities were no longer available to him, drained by the ordeal of being restored from death back to life.  They were wealthy, now, with the reward they’d received form the Town Council of Elturel and the treasures they’d found in the hidden shrine of Cyric.  Their combined treasure, once they’d sold the gems taken from the evil priest’s quarters, came to just over two thousand gold pieces for each of them.  Cal tried to insist that his share should be divided among his three friends, given all they had sacrificed for him, but Lok and Delem (and, belatedly, Benzan as well) vetoed that suggestion.  They also had accumulated several magical items that they hadn’t taken the time to examine closely before, including the black sword wielded by the shade warrior, and a silver ring that had been worn by the gargoyle leader, and which proved to be a minor protective item.  As the sword proved to be inferior to Benzan’s scimitar and Lok’s axe, and neither Delem nor Cal could use it, they elected to sell it trade it for something more useful, and they collectively agreed that Delem should wear the magical ring.   “You need some protection, to keep you from going down with the first blow of the battle,” Benzan teased him, referring to their encounter in the warehouse with the shade.  Benzan located a wizard who specialized in enchanting magical armor, and traded him the potent magical breastplate that had belonged to Lamber Dunn for lesser enchantments upon his mithral chainmail and Lok’s suit of full plate.  Lok added a tall pile of gold coins and placed his shield into the transaction, requesting a similar enchantment upon it.  With that hefty cash incentive the wizard was able to complete the task within the allotted time, and by the end of the tenday the two warriors were outfitted in their newly enhanced protection.  Benzan kept the magical chain shirt that he had previously used, for it was light and easily stored.  They took advantage of the high priestess’s offer to sell them items created by the clerics of Tymora, and soon they had equipped themselves with potions and scrolls containing potent healing magic.  Cal also purchased a new magical wand, a slim rod of polished ivory that could cast a protective ward against evil.  After their battle with the demon, all of them welcomed the addition of that item to their arsenal.  While exploring what the city’s shops had to offer, Delem found one other item of note.  After sharing his discovery with his companions, they agreed to pool much of what was left of their cash and purchase what he had found: a magical bag of holding, a remarkable device that could store goods inside much in excess of what its outside dimensions seemed to indicate.  They all agreed that such an item would prove very useful on their upcoming journey, and were soon placing carefully packed sacks of supplies into the magical bag.  Benzan in particular seemed interested in filling the bag with expensive foodstuffs and quality wines, so much so that Cal had to covertly remove a few of his additions to make room for more fundamental gear like rope and lamp oil.  Lok took custody of the bag, as they all agreed that the item would probably be safest on his person.  Toward the end of the tenday another winter storm blew in off the Sea of Swords, soaking the city with a deluge of cold rain and blustery winds.  People without urgent business out in the streets remained in the warm shelter of the indoors, and as the day passed into the night in Baldur’s Gate, the four companions were no exception.  Cal came down the stairs of the inn, and waved at his friends, who were already seated at a table near the massive stone hearth.  The common room was crowded, but people made way for the gnome, who quickly moved to join his companions. “He’s been spending a lot of time alone, lately,” Delem said in an undertone to his friends as Cal approached.  “Give the guy a break, he’s just been dead for half a tenday,” Benzan said, then turned to greet the gnome as he finally reached them.  “Hey, Cal, buy you a drink?”“I should be the one buying drinks for all of you,” Cal said, as he seated himself at the table.  He smiled at them, but it was a wan smile, lacking the typical energy that they were accustomed to seeing in their friend.  Still, there was a mischievous hint of something in his eyes as he turned to Benzan.  “So, I was putting a few of those wine bottles you left out back in your room, and I found something… unusual among your things.”“Oh?” Benzan said, but he clearly looked uncomfortable.  “Not that it’s any of my business, or that I want to pry, but do you want to talk about it?”The tiefling looked over at Lok and Delem, who had turned to him with curious looks on their faces.  “Oh, all right, it’s not like it’s a secret or anything.  I bought a spellbook, and some minor spells from that wizard who enchanted our armor.  I thought I’d take some time to study them on the voyage—not like we’re going to have much else to do with the time, especially with you taking most of my wine out of the bag of holding.”“You, a magic-user?” Delem asked incredulously.  “Yeah, me!” Benzan said.  “I grew up in Unther, where the gift is commonplace, and my mother… spent some time with a wizard friend of hers, when I was a child.  I didn’t think that I learned much then, but I guess some of it must have stuck.  Anyway, if you can become a cleric of Kossuth, then I can become a wizard.”“Well, maybe Lok will become a paladin, next,” Cal chided lightly.  With more seriousness, he added, “It is every man’s right to develop his talents in whatever direction they may lead.  Let me know if I can be of any help in your personal explorations into the Weave.”Benzan opened his mouth to reply, but his thought was interrupted as he caught sight of someone approaching them through the crowd.  The others saw his expression of surprise and turned to match his gaze, recognizing the individual who stepped up to their table and greeted them.  “Hello there,” Lady Dana Ilgarten said to them.  Cal recovered first, and replied, “Well, hello, Lady Ilgarten—Dana.  What a surprise to run into you here; I mean, we knew you were headed to Baldur’s Gate, but we certainly didn’t expect to see you.  Please, join us.”  He looked around for a vacant chair that they could appropriate, but all of the ones around them were occupied.“I have a favor to ask of you,” the young noblewoman said.  “Well, of course,” Cal replied.  “What can we do for you?”Her gaze traveled over each of them in turn, fixed with determination.  “I wish to accompany you on your journey tomorrow,” she said. For all of the noise in the crowded common room, there was shocked silence at one table, at least.</blockquote>

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