My Gaming Journey: Icewind Dale II - Journal Entry #18

Hello, everyone, Animeman73 here. It’s time for another chapter of My Gaming Journey. This time the P.O.V. shifts over to Brianna, Monk of the Order of the Broken Ones. We pick where we last left off with the team deep within Dragon’s Eye. Things will only get more intense as we draw closer to the big final.

But before we begin, I’d like to Welcome @hobbybrr and Maybe Fakey News @Cameleo, @Art_lover81, @christopherpack, the good people who do @Pedia10 with their Top ten lists, Loxodon @ashepherd89, @alvina2, @earthsmile, and MOT @mnotluko to my growing list of subscribers. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to subscribe to me and god bless all of you. Every one of you who subscribes to me brings me that much closer to fulfilling my goal of 100 to 250 subscribers or more by the end of the year.

Now get ready as Brianna of the order of the Broken Ones, relates more of their story as My Gaming Journey: Icewind Dale II - Journal Entry #18 begins now!

Brianna, Monk of the Order of the Broken Ones

So much has changed since I left the Monastery, between Neverwinter and Luskan I called home for many years. While it has only been a short time, it feels like a lifetime ago. The ramifications of what has been discovered have left my Brannon, and Mali visibly shaken. Terrax for his part has been very annoyed. He keeps muttering something about, “Can’t the competition just put all their eggs in one basket and fail, gnats!”

While I still do not trust the Thayvian it’s evidently clear he won’t betray us as he also seeks the demise of the children of this Belhifet.

We broke camp and Mali snuck into the lab. The alchemist blissfully went about his business as Mali switched out the mandrake root with the modified root. She then popped those four wyvern stingers on to a nearby table for processing then we just needed to stand back and let the Alchemist do the work.

The level two Alchemy Lab is important. Don't kill the Alchemist!

Once the alchemy lab was done, we not only had the modified Mistachii potion Nheero had sought and four vials of wyvern poison. Taking them all the alchemist finally saw us…and called for some backup…which the group had no choice but to deal with.

The group then went into the library and we scoured every shelf for anything useful we could find. We found a number of potions and some scrolls. That’s when we noticed the scroll cases and our packs were becoming full.

Before we returned to the first level we had to deal with a problem. Nathaniel, or rather what looked like Nathaniel had been standing around in the cave trying to coax us into bringing anyone we found to him. My Brannon could sense evil coming from Nathaniel. And I knew enough about the real Nathaniel to ask, “Why would he be here when he should be back in Kuldahar?’

We listened to his story about how he’d had to do terrible things since we’d last seen him. However, Brannon could sense this “Nathaniel” was lying. So, we attacked him…and my Brannon’s instincts proved correct! It wasn’t Nathaniel at all, it was a Rakshasa Maharajah disguised as Nathaniel. I know enough about Rakshasas from the Monastery’s library to know the kind of sneaky and treacherous creatures they are. 

Beware the trechery and guile of the Rakshasa!

Once we had dealt with the Rakshasa and his force of large cats, returned to the first level and gave Nheero the potion. He thanked and immediately headed off to transform and then head for the breeding chamber on level 2. We then returned to Level 3 and began systematically making our way through the level. We poured the vials of Wyvern poison into the holy fountains. Making slow and at time studious progress We made our way into the Pit of Snakes and fought against Yuan-Ti Archers, a Champion, and even a couple Yuan-Ti Priests, as well as some Armored Skeletons. The undead are an abomination to me!

Armored skeletons are a hassle, but still present a danger.

Once that was done, I noticed Terrax launch into another of those unpleasant laughs of his. When Terrax of Thay starts laughing like that it means some of us may be in for some pain. The Thayvian sent me down the southwestern passage…and I nearly got killed by a group of Mustard jellies and olive Slimes. One of those things even drained me of some life energy. Thank Illmatar, literally, that Garrett was there with a restoration spell. As is stood my magical immunity protected me when Terrax was throwing those fireballs at the slimes. 

The Slimes and Jellies of Faerun can be a real problem without  acid and fire atatcks!

I know those things are vulnerable to fire but still that Sorcerer endangered me! Thankfully Mali lent a hand. Brannon has been giving Terrax looks that tell me he’s going to have a few words with that Sorcerer soon enough!

We then made our way downwards…and Brannon got nailed by a trap Mali was unable to find. I’ve been noticing the traps are getting harder to spot and poor Mali looks visibly flustered. 

Making our way up on the western end of the 3rd level we came to a study that had an Armored Skeleton and a couple Histachii in it. We took them all down before we set to scouring the chamber for anything useful. We came across an engineer’s tome. I recall Brannon told me that his Uncle and Aunt came across such a text when they were exploring and clearing out Wyrm’s Tooth years ago. Between that and the coiled ropes we’ve been gathering I suspect we’ll be finding a use for them soon enough.

Taking the Southeast passage, we went downwards and came across another Histachii, an Armored Skeleton…and an Iron Golem! Even though we now have much better weapons for dealing with such creatures that doesn’t make Iron Golems any less dangerous. 

Even with enchanted weapons that can harm them, Iron Golems with their poison gas and physical atatcks are still dangerous!

Then we went into where the prayer chamber was…and got driven back because of the Eye of Ssseth. Once we’d gathered our senses, we returned to level 2 and had a talk with Nheero who had just transformed back into a human from his Histachii form. Words, as he put it, could not describe the sensations he went through. Wizards are a strange lot, even the wizards who would come to the Monastery to consult father. I realize he is with my mother in Selune’s realm now, but I still miss him. Mentioning that there was a library on the level he could check out we sent him on his way…and then made a return trip to Kuldahar.

A quick trip back to Kuldahar to drop off some unnecessary items.

It was necessary because we had a whole bunch of scrolls, potions, and even armor and weapons we needed to get off our back. We then rested up and returned to Dragon’s Eye. We found Nheero in the library on Level 2. When we talked to him, he confirmed that earlier we had indeed been attacked by Feyrs. From what I understand they are made from magic and the leftover remnants of nightmares.

However, for all the information this library provided he needed more information. When we mentioned the library/study of the third level we sent him down that way.

When we returned to the third level, we cleared out some more of the area and fouled the sacred fountains in the Abomination chamber and the Study Including the one we fouled earlier in the dining room that made three of four. Though Dar’Kandra seems to have taken an interest in the bodies on the table, though why so I don’t know. It’s rather macabre as I think these bodies should be buried and given proper rights. Whatever happened to respect for the dead?

We had to wait a while as Nheero did his research. But the information he gave us was very enlightening. 30 years ago, after the events with Yxonomei the volcano had a massive eruption that was somehow stopped. From what I understand the Lord of Fire a creature I believe was called Lothor or something decided to cause the eruption in violation of an agreement the Yuan-Ti had. Still the eruption was strong that it caused massive damage to the third level, probably why it looks from when Brannon, Mali, and Terrax’s parents were here all those years ago. Still, Nheero made mention of Izbelah and a Thorasssskus, a high Priest of immense power. When we mentioned the problems, we were having with the Eye of Ssseth he gave us the modified Histachii brew.

Brannon stripped down to all but his basic clothing and handed over his items to us to hold. He then quaffed the potion and transformed into a Histachii with all his senses intact. Brannon later explained he made his way into the Prayer room none of Histachii there the wiser. He flipped the hidden control for the last area of the 3rd level and then returned.

To get into the prayer chamber past the Eye of Ssseth you'll need the Histachii brew you gave Nheero.

We then rested until the potion wore off. Then my Brannon put back on his armor and gear, and I must say it was a relief to see him back to normal. I wouldn’t want him nay other way then who he is. We then readied our defenses including a new Death Ward he cast on Garrett. That I think is a good idea, no telling if and when we’ll come across a wizard or sorcerer who can cast death spells. Once we had our defenses up, we carefully made our way to the chamber…and to face the hardest fight of our lives against a group from Fireshielded Efreeti who looked like they were out for bloodshed! 

Make sure to have some good fire protection before messing with Efreeti

We barely survived the fight besides the fact those Efreeti can hit the Fireshields provided an extra sting when we hit them. Once the fight was over, we had to retreat and get healed. It was a good thing too.

Next, we saw a little boy who looked like he’d been attacked by the Efreeti. Now remembering the stories of Yxonomei and the child form she’d taken the group recognized that things were not as they seemed. Still, the group played along until we had gotten everyone into the chamber and prepared. Once we were prepared then we told the “Little boy” named Thorassskus we were on to him. He immediately transformed into his Yuan-Ti form and used the spell Sticks to Snakes.

Beware the power of the Yuan-Ti high Priests.

Not only did we end up fighting the Priest but an increasing number of snakes that came from arrows in the room, including arrows we carried. Good thing Terrax cast that mass haste spell on us otherwise we might not have survived!

Think one giant snake is bad? try dealing with a small legion of them!

With the priest dealt with we went into the chamber beyond…and found ourselves in a chamber full of coin, jewels, and all sorts of incredible items. Dar’Kandra got a new shield. Ironically it was one worn by a tyrannical king. Ironic that such a power and diabolical shield falls into the hands of a Drow woman who I fear is increasingly becoming one of the deadliest warriors I’ve ever seen. What really caught our attention was the pommel jewel.

Jackpot!!!

We recognized it as the one belonging to Holy Avenger, the sword Hiephereus, that Banite had been searching for. Thorassskus had it the whole time and didn’t even know it. We returned to Kuldahar to sell off some of the excess items we found.

Still, I recognize the look on Brannon’s face, I believe he means for out group to go after Holy Avenger. 

Fit the pommel jewel in Holy Avenger and unleash the six servants of Bane.

In his hands such a sword would be a great asset. However, it was also mentioned the spirits of the Six powerful Banite followers were imprisoned in the sword. When we reunited the sword with the jewel the ix Banites will be released and chances are they will not be happy. I fear this shall be one of the most intense combats of this group’s short time together. I fear for our future. I will hold Brannon closer than usual tonight…after he has that little talk with Terrax. I fear that this mission will get even more intense before it is all said and done. As I said, tonight when we camp, here in Kuldahar, I will hold Brannon closer. And from the look on Mali’s face, she’ll do the same with Garrett. As for the Drow, Dar’Kandra, and Terrax who can say. All I know is that tomorrow will be one of the most intense and I dare say terrifying days of our lives!

Well, there you have it, folks there’s Journal Entry #18. Don’t go anywhere, folks because things are about to get interesting. Next time the group faces off against six exceptionally powerful followers of Bane! Things are getting really intense. You’ll just have to come back next week to see what goes down.

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