0603 Alturiak, 1370: Key Event: Into the rear entrance into the Tween Deck of the Slavers Ship we came into the cabin we’d been in before. No one else was there so we started investigating. Inside a large, circular cell were two trolls that we dispatched fairly quickly. Inside the cell was a little girl & Auren talked w/her & found that she’d been captive there for a while & had seen some ugly things. We showed her the way out & handed her 100gp to help her (& any other children she could gather). Further on we cut down two Yuan-Ti before coming amidships in a dining room where we met two Slaver Wizards, four Slaver Guards, & an Ogre & found ourselves in a long, tough & crushing battle. I really thought I had a solid battle plan. Jan had been casting Invisibility/Improved Invisibility on all of us as we moved through the ship, As such, we saw what we were up against clearly as Jan scouted all the way around them & came back to report. So, Auren & I moved to either side of the door ready to ambush Slavers coming thru. Anomen blessed us all & Auren & I likely (can’t remember now) quaffed a potion. The initial strike was to be a Fireball from Tyris who standing way back could not be seen &, I think Anomen cast a Flame Strike on one of the mages. The Fireball caused damage but killed no one as did the Flame Strike. Tyris surrounded herself w/Fireshield Red while Jan summoned an Efreeti from a scroll. The Efreeti went into the dining room & started battling one of the Slaver Wizards & most of the rest of the slavers concentrated on him. A couple of the Slaver Guards were trying to get through the door & Auren & I were tearing ‘em up. Anomen likely tossed a Dispel Magic in the dining room while my companions & I stayed in an empty room just off the dining room. The battle was going well, I thought. I don’t know how it happened but I realized the Efreeti was in the room w/us & I hollered @ Jan to direct him back to the Wizards but then Confusion reigned supreme. A couple of my lance were confused, Tyris & Anomen, I think…& also the Efreeti. I tried to focus on defeating my enemies but w/an Efreeti carrying a giant sword in the midst of us, Anomen wandering down the hall toward the Stern where we’d come in…but worse, Tyris was standing wounded, comatose & the Efreeti started to wander aimlessly toward her. My heart was filled w/dread & yet I had to fight. Anomen was knocked unconscious and then…my sweet Tyris was killed outright. I loved Tyris so much & more each time she smiled @ me & now, once again, my love is gone. This time, in the very combat I brought upon her. Somehow I finished the battle & when finished off our foes but to what end? Just a few short days ago, she sat beside me as I held court @ De’Arnise & I held dreams that she might always be so & now that dream will never be. I got out of there struggling to contain my emotions, got Anomen quickly to a Priest of Helm & then carried my love, Tyris w/me to De’Arnise where we laid her in a grave near the castle in the Licburg where now Nalia & the De’Arnise family rests alongside my dear Tyris. Anomen, as my Priest buried my dead in the manner of Helm. Tyris was prepared & buried in a full, sealed, stone casket, (with pitch and other substances) with her weapons & armor and a Holy Symbol of Helm. We stayed @ De’Arnise for a few days afterward as I mourned my lover. What a way to start the year, Alturiak, the Claw of Winter. How lonely I am.
I needed to stay busy & focused to keep from dwelling in my misery. My first order of business was to get another to round out my retinue. I reluctantly decided to go back & see if Quayle’s adopted niece was still able to join. Aerie joined me & has been very helpful. She has more spells than I’ve ever seen in one person. As both a Cleric & a Mage she is constantly aiding our battles w/spellcasting, both Arcane & Devine. A HUGE plus in her repertoire is anti-magic spells to help us counter other spellcasters. Now she has Breach, Lower Resistance & Greater Malison. I’ve always had specialist Mages, an Invoker & two Illusionists but Aerie can use any spell & I need her, more than ever now, to counter other mages defenses & allow us to kill them.
Before I lost Tyris, I redirected my focus to stopping the Slavers as requested by my friend Hendak, the new proprietor @ the Copper Coronet. Stopping the Slavers might help me to prepare for the assault on Bodhi’s lair with increased arms, armor, potions, etc. After all, that is one of the benefits of defeating bad guys...we get to keep the plunder. I also decided that I might just keep Jan around a while longer than I originally thought. His thieving skills are very beneficial to my efforts & his Illusionist spells are helpful also. I feel he will enhance my efforts to eventually destroy Bodhi which is the only way I know to find Imoen. Despite my reservations, he seems to get along w/everyone just fine (well, maybe not Anomen) & doesn’t question my authority.
By this point, I had enough gold to free the Solamnic knights & so I went straight to Ribald to do so. Ribald had us go back to the Planar Sphere where the sorceress would be the next day. I passed on the good news to the knights and the next day she arrived. She got them home & they were truly thankful. They gave us a Golden Girdle in thanksgiving. After they were gone, I started thinking about the next assault on Bodhi’s lair. I decided to go to the city jail first b/c I’d heard it mentioned somewhere that the Athkatla Guard had captured a demon & were keeping it in the city jail. Auren, who speaks for me in most cases, spoke w/the guard about taking the demon into my custody. The Guard sent me to the Council of Six Building to see Chief Inspector Brega who sent me to a Public Servant who sent me to someone else & after two more trips to Chief Inspector Brega I was finally given permission to take the demon into my custody. I showed the scroll w/the inspectors mark to the guard who couldn’t read it anyway but said it looked official enough & he was ready to be rid of it as soon as he could, it was obvious. The terrible demon was a Tiefling named Amber. Tiefling are distant kin of the union of a demonic creature w/a human or other humanoid. I wanted Amber to join me after speaking w/her so, now that I’ve completed my promise to Valygar, I decided to let him go home & add Amber to my retinue. Next up I was going to probe Bodhi’s Lair again.
And so, back under the Graveyard District & wherever else it extends to, we battled a total of four Sword Spiders, four Phase Spiders, four Giant Spiders & what I call, 12 ‘big’ Spiders as we went back & forth to rest & heal between the several forays we made. Unfortunately, as often in this place, we had to back out time & again after some tough struggles w/the Spiders & Vampires. In between, we battled & defeated three Bandit Clerics, two Bandit Mages & four Bandits in the streets of Athkatla. We are constantly, attacked. This place makes Baldur’s Gate look like the Nashkel Carnival .
Finally getting back into Bodhi’s lair we made it into the room where we’d ‘staked’ the first the first full vampire & were attacked immediately by another Vampire (Note: Durst) who, once again we defeated rather quickly only to have trouble w/a Fledgling Vampire that gave us all we could handle and by the time it was over, Amber, Aerie, & Anomen were unconscious. The battle was even more costly b/c I didn’t get Anomen’s equipment & by the time I realized it & returned it was gone.
After re-outfitting Anomen & resting/healing, I led us back to try & penetrate deeper into Bodhi’s lair. I’m till hesitant to attack her lair full-on, let alone her & our next battle bolstered my wariness. Jan scouted down a hall opposite that of the room we’d battled in last. I’ve decided the large entrance room is more of a room for those who seek audience w/Bodhi rather than a Banquet Hall (which wouldn’t make much sense for the lair of a Vampiress). As Jan searched for traps covered by Invisibility, he scouted a Vampiress & came back to warn me. I had Aerie cast a Fireball down the corridor simultaneously w/Anomen casting Dispel Magic hoping that wound weaken the Vampiress enough that we could deal w/her easily. Not to be. I began a long cat & mouse game w/a powerful Vampiress (Note: Tanova) after killing a very irritating Greater Ghoul. We pulled out of the fight after taking some injuries & loss of ‘life force’. After resting inside the lair (but near an exit) & having Anomen cast Lesser Restoration on those who needed it, I led us back to where we’d encountered the Vampiress but she wasn’t there. We continued to the end of the original hall (where we’d cast the Fireball/Dispel Magic) & the hall turned 90’ right & led into a large circular room w/spikes on the floor & blood, both dried & fresh, staining the floor. We were already hidden by Invisibility so I tried the same Fireball/Dispel Magic combo while Auren & I quaffed Potions of Invulnerability. This time we realized there was a Female Fledgling Vampire too but luckily she didn’t follow as we conducted a second retrograde against the Vampiress we’d fought before. Once, we had her down to where one or two more blows would finish her, but we couldn’t land even one & she was suddenly completed rejuvenated. I’d thrown everything I had to beat her down THAT far, staying on would have been suicide so I left the tombs hoping she would follow us out & she didn’t. We escaped worn completely out but all conscious. This next battle here here would have to wait for another day.
WE JUST CAN'T DESTROY HER YET
There’s been a guy @ the Copper Coronet hollering @ me that he had an offer if I hear it. I decided to take a break from Bodhi’s lair & listen to his offer. Lord Jierdan Firkragg, he called himself, hired me to destroy some Ogre’s that were besieging his land in the Windspear Hills. It seemed odd that a man that seemed powerful enough to hold land that far from the city would not be able to defeat Ogre’s, a rather simple enemy to defeat…but I guess, at one time, Ogres were a challenge for me too, so I decided to do it in exchange for the 10,000 gold he offered.
So off I led us there w/after a stop @ De’Arnise to enjoy & enjoy a banquet. Upon arrival @ the Windspear Hills Firkragg’s Ogre problem seemed, at first, to be for real. No sooner had we stepped for there, than we were attacked by what appeared to be, by I think I counted an Ogre Berserker, an Ogre Mage, an Ogre, a Baby Wyvern & a Kobold or something. Appeared being the key word! The moment they fell, what fell was not the carcass of a beast, but the Armor & Weapons of a Knights although in the heat of battle I didn’t notice as I would finish one foe & move straight to the next. They were knights, more specifically, Knights of the Radiant Heart, including my friend & companion Ajantis who’d been @ my side to defeat Sarevok. He’d returned to The Radiant Heart to report that he’d completed his mission of stopping the Bandit's around Baldur’s Gate & was, now I know, on a subsequent mission in the Windspear Hills. Now he lay dead @ my hands. It was only b/c of one eyewitness, Garren Windspear that we were assured he saw the same thing we did. It turns out these hills are named for him & the man that hired us, Firkragg, actually wrested these hills by engineering Lord Windspear’s downfall. Windspear took us to his cabin & said he would go to the Knights of the Radiant Heart to assure them of our innocence while we used his cabin as a respite until he returned. Shortly after he left, we settled down to rest w/Windspear’s daughter, Iltha, who’d remained w/us. But during the night, after a breathless runner burst in warning of bandits, suddenly a Bandit Mage a Bandit Dwarf berserker & an Orc teleported in to the cabin. While we killed them, by the time the battle was concluded Iltha was gone, kidnapped from under my nose. Before I’d had time to come up w/a plan, Baron Windspear, the true Lord of these hills, returned to learn of Iltha’s disappearance. He’d been successful in his effort to convince the Radiant Heart of my Innocence, especially considering that one of their own, Sir Anomen, serves me. Baron Windspear thinks Firkragg is trying to do the same thing to me that he did to him, i.e., discredit me for the kidnapping of his daughter, thereby, making a play for my own lands @ De’Arnise.
After discussing ‘what next’ w/Lord Windspear, we decided it best to search in a huge temple north of the cabin. We headed out. On the way we came across a bunch of Gnolls (~20) battling ~ seven knights. We watched since the knights seemed to have things in hand & once the battle was done we listened to the knights argue amongst themselves for a few moments but it was a strange conversation. Then…they spoke to us & quickly revealed themselves to be Werewolves. After the Battles of Balduran (North & South) a few months ago, Werewolves are a breeze, as were these. We collected up the loot carried by the Gnolls & then entered the Temple where we were accosted by Hobgoblins. By the time we had to leave we’d killed two Hobgoblin Captains, two Hobgoblin Shaman, a Hobgoblin Wizard, three Hobgoblin Elite & two Hobgoblin Archers. After the first batch of Hobgoblins (those above were two separate encounters) we destroyed a Crimson Death, & I think, seven Vampiric Mists & three Orcs before swatting two Kobold Commando’s & four Kobolds led by a mage, I think it was a Rakshasa, but regardless we just couldn’t handle him at that time (after the previous battles) & had to bail out of the temple for rest. I had no idea how long it’d be before I returned. I left, deciding to rest a night @ the cabin before heading back to Athkatla.
As soon as we arrived we were attacked Slavers (I can’t recall the makeup) & before I knew it, Amber had been kidnapped. In the little time she’s been w/me I’ve grown fond of her friendship, much like Auren & I had before Tyris & I fell in love. Auren & I are pretty much all business now but I enjoy talking w/Amber & I feel protective toward her ever since the wench that runs the Inn of the Seven Vales insulted her openly for being a Tiefling & wouldn’t serve us @ b/c she was w/us. Amber is good, whether Human or Tiefling, & hated to see her ostracized like that.
We killed the attacking slavers & one of them had a map that led to the seediest parts of Athkatla on a long twisting route down back alleys.
MAP TO YMMYRT
SEARCHING FOR AMBER
We finally found the location we were looking for where we were confronted by a number of Guards (again, didn’t count them) & a Cleric/Ranger who we later came to know as Lorraine. Once we’d killed all the Guards & Lorraine was on the verge of death she broke out of a spell she was under & it turned out she’d been forced into the service of a mage named YMMYRT who’d trapped her son’s soul in soul-stone. I agreed to help her find the soul stone & she agreed to fight w/us from the inside. After a break for rest back @ the Five Flagons Inn (staying there again after the Innkeeper @ the Inn of the Seven Vales insulted Amber) I headed back down those back streets & assaulted the building where this YMMYRT supposedly resides. Inside were a Guard Captain & some ~ 20 guards that we defeated in a protracted battle w/Lorraine helping immensely. After the battle it was back to the Five Flagon’s again after selling what bounty we’d gathered from the battle. Returning w/a Wardstone Lorraine had given me earlier, we ascended a stairway to a very fine upper floor w/three rooms. The first was of little interest but contained a couple of minor treasures, the second a library w/a cheerful Imp happily acting as a maidservant & cleaning anything that was dusty – including my boots. The last was a bedroom w/four evil Dryads, maybe charmed, but regardless they were no friends to us. We realized immediately we were in for a battle, made that much worse by traps around the room that even Jan couldn’t detect. We defeated the Dryads by isolating them & sending pairs of us against one of them. We took some injuries, including from the traps, but escaped w/a key to a door that we later found to lead to YMMYRT’s lab. Another rest @ the Five Flagon’s & it was back to YMMYRT’s home & lab where it was directly to the door & into the basement where the lab was located. An outer room was unspectacular as was a second, although Lorraine was there but now she was muted, undoubtedly by YMMYRT. Before we entered a door to the east of the room Lorraine was in, I had Jan use Invisibility and/or Improved Invisibility on us all & upon entering, we saw a man I was sure was Ymmyrt.
FINDING YMMYRT
So we crept back out & closed the door since the mage had not detected us. I had us prepare for what I thought might be a huge battle w/a tough wizard so in addition to Invisibility/Improved Invisibility Auren & I quaffed Potions of Invulnerability while Sir Anomen added both Bless & Chant & Aerie, Speed. I added Call on Holy Might & Auren used her Bust ability. Then we slipped back thru the door, which was hidden from the direct view of YMMYRT where he stood. I positioned us all for the best possible use of our assault & then we executed a nearly perfect ambush, Auren & I going right up to him! While he had some pre-cast defensive spells already cast, Aerie made him more vulnerable w/Breach & Greater Malison back to back. The mage, obviously, very powerful, was so surprised he was unable to respond & could not react to Auren & my blows & Sir Anomen’s spells, including his favorite, Flame Strike. Jan used Blindness & then fired his doubly-enchanted sling stones. YMMYRT was gone in no time & the aid he called for from a Yuan-Ti & an Umber Hulk were too late & ineffective regardless. I know there was one more monster in one of the cells that lined the room but it was so insignificant I can’t recall what it was.
YMMYRT DEAD
I went back into the last room, found Lorraine, now able to speak, & gave her the soul gym with her sons’ soul inside. She was extremely thankful but she obviously has a long road of repentance for the things she’s done under YMMYRT’s control. After that, I tore the place apart looking for Amber, finally getting the idea after a couple of hours to look outside to see & I’ll be darned if she didn’t come walking up to me having already escaped. Obviously she can take care of herself but, either way, now she was safe & we could head back to the Windspear’s. Before we headed back, I led us to the Council of Six building & had Aerie purchase a Magic License for 5000gp – it seems everything is 5000gp here. We need to be able to cast spells here w/o being accosted by the damned Cowled Wizards every time we get attacked & try to defend ourselves.
FREEING LORRAINE & RETURN THE SOUL-STONE W/HER SON'S SOUL
Before we headed back, I led us to the Council of Six building & had Aerie purchase a Magic License for 5000gp – it seems everything is 5000gp here. We need to be able to cast spells here w/o being accosted by the damned Cowled Wizards every time we get attacked & try to defend ourselves.
Just as I emerged from the Council of Six building a runner from De’Arnise approached me breathlessly, imploring me to return immediately b/c Lord Roenall was on the move w/his forces approaching my lands. I headed back w/o delay, with my loyal retinue ready to serve me faithfully in the defense of my home & the land entrusted to me by Nalia. On return, Major Domo laid out the situation, I talked strategy w/he & Captain Cernick. We decided that unlike my forces who are loyal, Lord Roenall’s are there for their pay only or are there fighting against their will. It was obvious to the three of us, & also to Auren & Sir Anomen that the Center of Gravity in this battle was Lord Roenall himself. Defeat him & his army will dissolve! And so, Captain Cernick organized my troops and my retinue stood w/me @ the front. A couple of my Guards dropped the drawbridge & I headed out w/only one foe to find – Roenall. I found him & w/o taking note of any other threat on the battlefield, I moved toward him w/arrows & spells all around me. My retinue took care of other immediate threats he had at his side, i.e. Mages, Clerics, other warriors, etc., (I hazard to call them knights b/c there’s not a shred of nobility in his army). I battled Lord Roenall & defeated him man to man, w/ease. Sure enough, upon his death, his forces panicked & dissolved in retreat. My soldiers performed very well against those of Roenall’s & there were many Roenallian’s scattered about the battlefield outside the drawbridge to prove it.
FINISHING ROENALL & HIS FORCES
Treasure of Note: (Purse = 642gp) Armor/Weapons: Ymmyrt’s Robe (sold); Bracers of Defense (AC5)(Aerie); Necklace of Opposite Alignment (sold); Dagger +3 (sold), Snow Leopards Skin (sold); Wyverns Skin (sold); two Studded Leather +1 (sold); Jewelry/Gold: 312gp; 250gp; Golden Girdle (Anomen); Potions: Magic Blocking (Gawain); Superior Healing (Gawain); two Invulnerability (Auren); five Extra Healing (General Use); Speed (General Use); Scrolls: Improved Mantle & Protection from Evil (Jan); Wands: Abyssal Pipe (Jan)
ABYSSAL PIPE (ONLY JAN CAN USE)
Current Disposition: Back @ Lord Windspear’s cabin, readying for another foray into the Temple.
Next Steps: Attack that Rakshasa, or whatever that thing is, & find out what lies beyond the door behind it.
Level Up:
· Auren: has increased her skill & is now a Lady (Apprentice/12) & continues to crush opponents w/her Long Sword
· Anomen: In addition to recently becoming a Senior Steeleye of Helm/10 (Cleric or Helm/10), Anomen is now equivalent to & holds the official title of Lord/10 (Fighter/10) himself, although as a member of the Knights of the Radiant Heart he is not allowed to keep any wealth or land for his own. Anomen is now a Knight of the Radiant Heart, Senior Steeleye of Helm & a Lord (Honorary) in his own right.
Current Party (In Order of March): (Reputation: 14 – Popular)
· Gawain: Ftr/12, (HP119); Full Plate Mail w/Shield of the Stars +3, Helm of Balduran, Ring of Protection +2, Ring of Fire Control & Girdle of Bluntness, Cloak of Reflection & Periapt of Proof Against Poison ; Bastard Sword +1*****, Hammer of Thunderbolts +3*, Flail of the Ages (Acid); Bastard Sword***** (Bone Golem)(1)
GAWAIN RECORD
GAWAIN INVENTORY
· Auren Aseph: Ftr (Apprentice//12), (HP77); Studded Leather +2, Girdle of Piercing & Ring of Invisibility w/ Long Sword (Ras +2)***** (SWS**); (Shade Lord)(SCS Ease of Use, Setting 1)(2)
· Anomen: Ftr/Watcher of Helm//10/10, (HP57); Plate Mail w Large Shield, Golden Girdle & Amulet of Power; Mace (Mauler’s Arm +2)***, Warhammer**, Staff of Curing, (SSS**); (Greater Fire Elemental)(Cleric Aggressive)(3)
· Jan: Illusionist/11//Thief/12 (HP34); Jan’s Adventure Wear, Jen’s Techno Gloves, Jan’s Spectroscopes & Flasher Launcher w/Flasher Master Bruiser Mates & Abyssal Pipe; (Thief Adventurer)(Spider)(6)
· Aerie: Cleric/11//Mage/12 (HP35 ); Cloak of Protection +1 & Bracers of Defense (AC5)(w/ Sling +2* & Club* (Warhammer*, Staff*), Wand of Fear & Black Spider Figurine; (Roenall Guard)(Mage Defensive)(5)
· Amber: Thief/15//Fighter/6 (HP87); Leather Armor w/Amber’s Earing’s & Gillian’s Bracelet; Long Sword (Slaver Guard)(Amber’s Combat Script AI)(4)
· Tyris Flare: Fighter (Amazon/9)//Mage [Fire Only]/10; HP31; Tyris’ Leather Armor, Cloak of Protection +1, Buckler +1; Rings of Acuity, Fire Control; Sling +2**; Spear +2** Spear**; (Skeleton Warrior)(Ranged)(4)
Mods Used: BG2 FixPack _v10; Amber_v4; Auren Aseph_v9; Sarah_v4; Haldimir_v2; : Tyris Flare_v6; Gavin_v20 & Hotfix; scs-v30 (- Tactical Challenges); MegaModKits v1.01L (Anti-Paladin, Charming Rogue, Priest of Sylvanus, Bladesinger, Amazon, Apprentice, Ninja, Samurai); Divine Remix_v8 (Nightcloak of Shar, Holy Strategist of the Red Knight, Batleguard of Tempus, Strifeleader of Cyric, Bowslinger, Forest Runner, Wilderness Runner) ; Rogue Rebalancing; bg2_tweaks-v16; Item Randomizer-v6.8; level1npcs-v1.9
Blue Font: New information;
Red Font: Monster encounters (first use)
(Best kill)(Current AI)(Chain of Command)
* Name Levels are ancient, AD&D titles that used to represent each new level in a class
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Kickin' her to the curb. lol
) since I started BGI/TotSC. 
). Firkraag was buffed with Minor Spell Turning so Impish Face fired Spell Thrust followed with Breach. Firkraag tried Remove Magic twice and Lower Fire Resistance but SI:Abj blocked both.
... In the very boring round dungeon, I didnt know the puzzle so I thought Hexxat was trapped. So I made her backstab the enemies to death..
..
