BBG: Chapter 49

I charged forward into the Fray, Discordant Note out and thrusting. My blade thundered into the flank of one of the Gnolls that had been swarming Drizzt, biting deep into the shaggy, matted fur of the thing. Oddly enough, it didn't penetrate the whole way through, instead punching a shallow wound into the meat of the Hyena-like beast's thigh, beneath the mail fauld. It let out a yip of pain and turned to strike at me with its Plus Three spiked flail of Icy Burst, and I barely managed to get my shield in the way of the strike to avoid having my head staved in. Unfortunately, it sent a follow-on attack with its off-hand, a wicked-looking Scimitar that I couldn't identify flashing out at me and carving a trench into my upper thigh that sent me to one knee.

Suddenly, I realized exactly what was going on here. These Gnolls were all much more powerful than we were. Maybe not as strong as Drizzt, but together, they could give Drizzt enough trouble to be a problem. Either way you sliced it, they were more than capable of kicking the asses of my companions and I. To make matters worse, the Scimitar hissed as it sliced through my thigh, searing the wound shut with heat and doing additional damage to my leg. My vision swam as this all happened, pain flaring up from my leg and radiating up my spine. Fortunately, Drizzt took advantage of the Gnoll's distraction to strike the head off its shoulders, his blades shearing through the chain of the Gnoll's Flail as it tried to parry before decapitating it.

"Can you still fight?" Questioned Drizzt, even as he parried an incoming strike of another Gnoll's Halberd with his off-hand Scimitar, the famed blade known as Twinkle.

"I can." I confirmed.

"Then do so!" Intoned Drizzt, moving in to disembowled the second Gnoll with his main-hand Scimitar, the famous sword, Icingdeath.

I pushed myself to my feet, wincing as I realized that I was going to need healing something fierce when this was all over. Thankfully, I got to my feet just in time to parry an attack from another Gnoll's scimitar. As we locked blades, I pushed forward, ducking beneath the attack it sent my way with its left-hand blade, a wickedly curved, razor-sharp admantine dagger of Shock and Flaming Burst plus three. Somehow, I managed to bowl the Gnoll over and thrust my blade down into its throat, punching through its neck. Surprisingly, the Gnoll was somehow still alive and struck at me with its dagger twice, the first cut bit into my other leg, and the second only missed me because I was too busy falling to the ground in pain, the edges of my vision going white. Fortunately, I had enough presence of mind to strike out blindly twice in rapid succession, both cuts carving into the Gnoll and felling it.

Thankfully, Jaheira was there shortly afterward, chanting in Druidic to heal me, even as Imoen cast spells at a third Gnoll, while Mei shot it with a trio of arrows. Both the Magic Missile that Imoen flung at it, hit the Gnoll, as did two of the three arrows from Mei, but it still kept coming toward us, only for Khalid to meet its charge. I felt my wounds begin to knit as Jaheria's druidic magic began to work on me, a resurgence of energy filling me as I pushed myself to my feet in time to see the Third Gnoll fall under the onslaught of Mei, Imoen, and Khalid. I shoved myself to my feet and launched myself at a fourth Gnoll, even as Drizzt began to duel the Flind Leader in the background, the remaining Four Gnolls watching the duel and yipping and snarling encouragement to their Leader.

Between myself, Khalid, Jaheira, Mei, and Imoen, we managed to carve the Fourth Gnoll apart, though we all took wounds to do so. I was dropped down to the grass once again, clinging to consciousness by my fingernails, and both Jaheria and Khalid had taken flail strikes that had clearly broken bones. Mei, meanwhile, was hit by a thrown dagger in the left shoulder, and Imoen had taken a blow to the head that would have cracked her skull if not for the headgear she was wearing. She was still bleeding from her scalp, though. As we huffed and puffed, clearly unable to do much any longer, Drizzt won his duel, cleaving through the chains of the Flind's Flindbar with Icingdeath and slashing the throat of the Flind open with Twinkle. The remaining Gnolls, seeing this, ran off.

Drizzt, thankfully, reached into a bag of holding at his waist and pulled out a number of healing potions as he approached us in the aftermath, handing them to us as he did so. I downed mine without question, as did Jaheira and Khalid, though Imoen and Mei looked dubious about drinking anything handed to them by a Drow Elf. They clearly weren't aware of Drizzt, or at least not that this was Drizzt. That was soon to be rectified, however, as Mine, Jaheira, and Khalid's wounds healed from the potions and Drizzt introduced himself.

"Well met, Friends. I am Drizzt Do'Urden of the Companions of the Hall. It was well that you arrived when you did. Individually, neither those Gnolls nor their Flind Leader stood much of a chance. Together was another story, however." Nodded Drizzt

"Where did they come from, anyway? There shouldn't be any Gnolls that strong around here." Questioned Jaheira.

"The recent successes of the Flind Warlord Tryrr Blackfang in the south of these lands have emboldened some of the more powerful Gnoll Bands of the Cloudpeak Mountains to raid further North. This one was one I had been tracking for several days." Informed Drizzt.

"You're Drizzt?" Queried Mei.

"I am. Why do you ask?" Asked Drizzt.

"Nothing, just we didn't expect to run into someone like you." Responded Imoen.

"And what precisely does that mean?" Questioned Drizz't.

"G-good Question." Stammered Khalid.

"Indeed. I'm sure they didn't mean it in a speciesist way." I tried.

"Then what way did you mean it?" Queried Drizzt.

"It's just, you're famous." Explained Mei.

"Yeah, we didn't expect to meet someone famous!" Added Imoen.

"Sometimes, I forget we are traveling with Children." Muttered Jaheira.

"They're b-both Adults, Love. Eighteen is m-maturity for Humans." Reminded Khalid.

"I see. Well, I'm certainly flattered, but I am a touch confused. When reputation precedes me, it tends to be that of the Drow, not that of myself personally." Mused Drizzt.

"You are famous, now, Drizzt. You personally, I mean. Arguably, you were already famous a few years ago, but your fame hadn't spread quite so widely yet. Now, however, well, there are songs written about you and your companions." I informed.

"I was not aware of this." Opined Drizzt.

"At any rate, I am known as Robar the Red, and these are my companions, Jaheira and Khalid of the Harpers, as well as Mei and Imoen of Candlekeep." I introduced.

"Well met. Candlekeep, you say? How fares Gorion?" Asked Drizzt.

"Dead." Huffed Imoen.

"Oh. I am sorry to hear that. I had heard he was a Great Man." Consoled Drizzt.

"He was. And a good father." Nodded Mei.

"Mei was Gorion's Ward from the time she was a child." Informed Jaheira.

"Y-yes, they were v-very close." Added Khalid.

"Once again, you have my sympathies." Offered Drizzt.

"Thank you." Accepted Mei.

"Unfortunately, I must take my leave. Those four Gnolls who fled need to be hunted down. Feel free to help yourself to any of the equipment left behind." Intoned Drizzt.

"Aye, we have our own quests to get on with as well." I agreed.

"Y-yes. Time is w-wasting." Chimed in Khalid.

"I would've thought to hear that complaint from Jaheira. You're usually the one holding her back." Smirked Imoen.

"I do not complain!" Grumbled Jaheira.

"You do, actually. Quite a bit." I retorted.

With that, however, Drizzt took the opportunity to leave, chasing after the four Gnolls that had fled. Jahiera just mumbled something under her breath about sneaky Drow and how she could have let me bleed out on the ground in response to this and my comment. In the meantime, I began sifting through the dead Gnolls. Unfortunately, a lot of the equipment they had was broken in the fighting. We couldn't afford to be particular about preserving equipment for loot against such powerful enemies, after all. But we managed to salvage the First Gnoll's Scimitar, the third Gnoll's Dagger, and one suit of Wyvern Hide Armor Plus Two, which, between the way the material had been prepared and treated, was as protective as a suit of half-plate Plus Two would have been, without sacrificing any of the dexterity that would come from wearing Hide Armor, while also providing the wearer Poison Resistance.

Meanwhile, I managed to identify the Scimitar, though it took me a bit to do so. It was a Scimitar called Razoul's Wrath. Forged for a Calimshite General, Razoul El Ashrah of Calimport around hundreds of years ago, Razoul used the weapon in campaigns against Tethyr, Tharsult, and the Border Kingdoms. It was said that no foe could long withstand the bite of Razoul's Wrath, for its power would surely lay them low eventually. However, the Blade was lost during a disastrous war against Amn in a campaign led by Razoul's Descendant, General Haytham El Ashrah of Calimport, known as the Young Eagle thanks to his penchant for Hawking and his string of crushing victories against the Border Kingdoms. Unfortunately for Haytham, the Young Eagle found his wings clipped when he tried to attack Amn.

The Blade was supposedly lost to the waters of Lake Esmel in the aftermath of the battle, but turned up eighty years ago in the hands of an Adventurer in the Western Heartlands named Rolan of Greenrest. Apparently, Rolan used the blade during his career and took it with him when he retired, only to run afoul of these Gnolls, now an Old Man completely incapable of using it to defend himself. The Gnolls slaughtered Rolan's daughter and grandson, burned down Rolan's Homestead, killed the aged former-adventurer, and stole the Scimitar. Razoul's Wrath was a Razor-sharp, Adamantine Scimitar of Flaming Burst Plus Three, which forced anyone hit by it to suffer from wracking pain that hampered their ability to fight, similar to a spell of Angry Ache.

Jahiera took both the Hide Armor and the Scimitar, leaving the Dagger up for Grabs. Nobody really wanted it, so it went into our Bags along with Jaheira's old armor and scimitar. By the time we were ready to head out again, Jaheira had already gotten a bunch of new stuff. The armor may or may not be rendered pointless by the stuff we picked up from the Thunderhammer Smithy on our return to Beregost, though. Either way, we'd have armor ready for Minsc and Branwen when we arrived at Nashkel to grab them, so that was good.

As we headed out, we traveled for a few hours, the sun finally fully setting as night crept upon us before we managed to find our Target. Bassilus was a red-haired man with a wild look in his eye, wearing Nimble Chainmail Armor Plus Three and an Amulet of Natural Armor Plus Three, as well as wielding a Magic Warhammer I couldn't identify, plus a Large Steel Shield Plus Three. At his hip, a square amulet hung on a silver chain that was emblazoned with the Skull and Purple Sunburst of Cyric, clearly the Holy Symbol we were sent here to collect.

Of course, Bassilus was seemingly quite mad, in more ways than one, as when we came upon him, he was having an argument with a Zombie wearing rusty plate armor and wielding a rusty greatsword. I decided we ought to skip the preamble and just attack him, letting the others know as we crouched down behind some boulders that had been strewn about. Clearly, if we let him finish his conversation or worse, engage him in conversation ourselves, it would only give him time to raise more undead.

"After you." Snorted Jaheira.

"I have no problem leading by example, Jaheira." I insisted.

"Right, we'll just see how that goes for you. Crazy folk are the worst to deal with." Snarked Imoen.

"I think it's rather brave." Mused Mei.

"I'll b-be right behin y-you." Nodded Khalid.

"I didn't say that we wouldn't attack with him." Huffed Jaheira.

"Yeah." Added Imoen.

"But you were all too happy to let me go first." I frowned.

"It is your quest, after all. You did get us to do this when we could have simply dipped into stored coin to pay for healing instead." Pointed out Mei.

"That extra healing was for you, you know." I grumbled.

"Spirits! I can hear you chattering! Come out and greet me properly!" Came a maddened voice from nearby.

I could only sigh in response. Any ambush had been ruined by the constant ribbing that our party kept giving each other. I would have to cut down on it all in the future, if we survived. I still cast a glare at Jaheira, though. It was her abrasive personality that had started this round, after all. Still, Imoen didn't have to run with it.

"I'll give you till the count of three before you force me to begin using my summons!" Shouted the Voice.

"On three." I ordered, getting a round of nods.

"One! Two! Three!" Counted out Bassilus for us.

We stood, charging around the boulders as Bassilus reached for his Holy Symbol. I let out a metal screech, using Spellsinging to channel mystical power into the sound and turn it into a spell of Ear Piercing Scream as we charged. Bassilus staggered, eardrums bursting under my aural assault, but his Zombie companion ruined my follow-on strike, parrying my thrust of Discordant Note with its rusty greatsword. It let out a groan as it was dogpiled by Jaheira and Khalid, even as Bassilus summoned a group of Skeletal Warriors, pulling themselves out of the ground at his feet and charging Mei and Imoen.

I snarled, lashing out with Discordant Note and taking a pair of chunks out of the Zombie's rotten flesh, only to be struck in the mouth with the brass crossguard of the Zombie's greatsword, splitting my lip and smashing one of my teeth out of my mouth. I spat the blood out on the ground and tried to reset myself just in time for a chanted spell from Bassilus to be cast. Suddenly, the Zombie's Greatsword glowed with a powerful enchantment, and I could only groan as I realized that Bassilus had cast a spell of Greater Magic Weapon on his minion's rusty blade. With a groan, the Zombie hacked out low for my right leg, and I didn't manage to completely avoid the blow, a chunk being taken out of my right calf as the newly glowing blade carved across my leg.

I had to choke back a scream at that, but thankfully, Khalid managed to cover for me, parrying the Zombie's second strike on his shield and thrusting his greatsword into rotting flesh. Meanwhile, Jaheira hacked out with Razoul's Wrath, carving up the Zombie, even as Mei and Imoen managed to down half the skeletons that had lunged for them.

"No! My Friends! Not again!" Screeched Bassilus, before chanting again.

This time, when his chant completed, his own Warhammer was wreathed in crackling black energy. He had clearly cast a spell of Inflict Critical Wounds, judging from the power. Bassilus waded into the fray and smashed aside Khalid with his Warhammer. Crackling black arcs of Necrotic Energy surged into Khalid and were joined by surging arcs of blue electricity as the Warhammer's own enchantment added to the damage. Khalid was sent flying backward into the Boulders we had previously been hiding behind, armor smoking from the power. He hit his head on the rock and slumped to the ground, groaning in pain. As he pushed himself to his feet, the Zombie surged forth and hacked into Khalid, denting the Mithril Breastplate and smashing Khalid back to the ground. It raised its greatsword for a final blow, and both Jaheria and I surged into action. Bassilus could only intercept one of us, and his shield slammed into Jaheria's side, leaving me to tackle the Zombie to the ground.

We wrestled for a bit, but eventually, I managed to get the upper hand, just barely, by utilizing a spell of Ear-Piercing Scream again. The Sonic Force couldn't daze the Zombie, of course, but it could give me an opening to strike. Unfortunately, a second hilt smash from the Zombie crashed into my temple as it swung its weapon wildly. My helmet protected me, mostly, but stars still exploded behind my eyes from bleed-through damage. It made my cut with Discordant Note miss, but thankfully, my follow-on lunge struck true, punching into the Zombie's face and allowing me to withdraw it with a twist to pop the top of the Zombie's head off. It stumbled forward, still in motion, swinging its greatsword for me again, but even wounded as I was, I was able to leap up over the low cut, ducking down to avoid a follow-on high cut as I did so. I lashed out with Discordant Note, severing the Zombie's hamstrings with a pair of cuts to the ankles and backing away from the riposte.

My next attack was more mystical in nature, sheathing Discordant Note and pulling my Bandore as I channeled mystical power into my playing, strumming out a riff of B-Five, D-Five, E-Five, G-Five, D-Five, and E-Five, as the power of Spellsinging turned the main riff of Iron Man by Black Sabbath into a jagged bunch of sonic shards through the Medium of the Spell of Chord of Shards. The Jagged Shards of pure sonic power sheared into the Zombie, finally putting it down even as it tried desperately to swing its blade at me while I was out of reach, unable to move forward because its meat was damaged in too critical a way for that.

I took a deep breath before moving over to where Khalid was still slumped against the Boulder on the ground. With no time to think of an appropriate song, I raw-dogged a spell of Cure Light Wounds, sending the healing magic into Khalid. The most severe of his wounds healed before my eyes, and I helped him to his feet, nodding at him. He nodded back at me, somewhat more shakily, and I put up my Bandore and re-drew Discordant Note, before we both charged back into the fray.

"No! What happened to Brother Thurm? You killed him! I hate you!" Screeched Bassilus, madly.

Even as Bassilus raved insanely at us, he sent his next strike with his Warhammer thundering into Jaheira's side, crackling with a spell of inflict moderate wounds. Jaheira was sent staggering back, not quite as down and out as Khalid had been, but still wounded badly. Fortunately, I was there to intercept him, parrying his next strike even as Khalid cut out with his Longsword, carving into Bassilus' Leg. By this point, Imoen and Mei had finished with the skeletons, and Mei sent a trio of arrows into Bassilus, even as Imoen circled around to stab him from behind. Bassilus twisted with the blows, lessening the impact as best he could, but the writing was on the wall, even though he still ranted and raved about how he would flay us all alive and sacrifice our still-bleeding bodies to his God or some other such lunacy.

The combination of attacks began to wear at Bassilus, though he got in his own licks as well, largely from that warhammer of his, though he also managed to get one or two spells off as well. Unfortunately, five against one was no even fight, not this time, at any rate, and eventually, Bassilus went down to our combined attacks, his head sheared clean off his neck thanks to a cut from Razoul's Wrath thrown at him by Jahiera. We were wounded, some of us badly, but we had won, collecting the loot for ourselves. The Zombie's gear was worthless, of course, but Khalid took the Shield and Chainmail, as his Mithral Breastplate was pretty well trashed from the damage it had taken in the fight.

In the end, Imoen had to use a spell of Identify to figure out what the Hammer was. It turned out to be Ashideena, the famed warhammer of Dergat Wiltoon, one of the heroes who had fought the Black Horde of Orcs that had threatened the Sword Coast as far south as Amn in the Eponymous Year of the Black Horde of Twelve-Thirty-Five Dale Reckoning. Dergat Wiltoon had been the field captain of the army of Lady Ashideena of Waterdeep and had named the Warhammer in her honor, as the pair had fallen in love during the war. How it had wound up in Bassilus' hands was a complicated series of ruses and bad bargains that effectively just boiled down to Zhentarim Shenanigans. He had taken it with him when he fled the destruction of Zhentil Keep earlier in the year and had gone quite mad since then, using it to aid him in his destruction of a number of villages. Ashideena was an Adamantine Warhammer of Shocking Burst Plus Two.

Unfortunately, none of us were specialized in using Warhammers, though I knew Branwen would be when we finally got to Nashkel to free her from her Stony Imprisonment at the Nashkel Carnival. It went into our bags for later. However, at the moment, we were just a tad too wounded and exhausted to do more than heal what we could and make camp for the night in a sheltered area flanked on three sides by rocky outcroppings. Mei, largely unwounded and still able to go, volunteered to take the first watch. We would continue on our quests tomorrow morning, heading North to High Hedge to deliver Melicamp to his Master. For now, though, it was time to rest, a rest which turned out to be thankfully undisturbed by monsters or other issues.

We would get on the road just as soon as we finished healing, ready to face whatever challenges the new day would bring. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here's the next chapter. In it, we get the end of the Drizzt encounter, as well as finish up Bassilus the Murderer. Bassilus was a tough fight, as were those Gnolls. By all accounts, Robar and Company shouldn't have come here yet. After all, any group of Gnolls that could stall Drizzt Do'Urden has to be some kind of elite warband. Bassilus, meanwhile, was the only survivor of the destruction of Zhentil Keep, even if it did wind up driving him insane to do it. There's a reason for that.

At any rate, the next chapter will be High Hedge for the Melicamp the Chicken and Purdue's Shortsword Quests, then we'll finally head South to Fisherman's Lake to do the Bjornin's Ogres Quest. Then it will be time to turn it all in and go back to Beregost to pick up the new gear. I'll also have character sheet updates out before then, as the Party leveled up from this and will likely do so again by the time this is all said and done.

Stay tuned. . .