My Gaming Journey: Icewind Dale II - Journal Entry #20

SGreetings and salutations from the Pacific Northwestern U.S, everyone, it’s time for another chapter of My Gaming Journey: Icewind Dale II. First off, I’d like to apologize for the delay, technical issues can be such a drag. But I got it solved and I’m back in the saddle once more. Holy mackerel, everyone! Can you believe we’re up to Journal Entry #20? Wow, it’s been a long journey, but I am ever so grateful to all those who have come on and read my stuff since I started this journey. But now that we’re moving into the endgame phase of Icewind Dale II. I don’t want any of you to think this is the end because there’s more to come, much more. This is only the beginning of My gaming Journey. I’ll reveal more details in next week’s post.

Before we begin, I’d like to say thank you to everyone who liked and reminded Journal Entry #19, I really do appreciate what you’ve done. Also, I’d like to welcome the newest subscribers to my channel. Greetings and salutations to @cocobellameowcat, @devinwilliams, @Willieleev1971, @ladyjusticewins, Pirate Legend @VirtualRacer. The White Phoenix @TheShadowPhoenix, the good people at @everydayprogress, @jhon90, @Urockradio helping to keep the true spirit of real Rock and Roll alive, the good people at @VirtualUniverse, Pudd @budmar, and @frockman232, Sunshine @brandyd, and @thecoffeedetective. Each and every one of you who subscribe me bring me that much closer to my goal of reaching 100 to 250 subscribers or more by the end of the year. Thank you so much, everyone.

Now for this chapter the point of view shifts back to Brannon Steelsong, Paladin of and son of Helm, lord of Guardians. And last we left the party they were in a rather interesting situation. Sit back and get ready as Brannon relates more of the story of the group’s adventure. Get ready as My Gaming Journey: Icewind Dale Ii – Journal Entry #20 begins now!

Brannon Steelsong, Paladin of Helm

“No,” Terrax had snapped. “We’re back at the ice temple in the Western pass, damn it!”

Indeed, we were back at the Ice Temple brought back by Nickademus who needed our help. Apparently, he had been turning this ice temple into a prison for Demons. However, some of the Demons had managed to escape from their Prison and were chasing him across the Temple’s Second Level trying to get him to send them back to their Domain in the abyssal planes or let them out of the temples itself.

Back at the ICe Temple in the estern Pass!

That was until we showed up. Thinking on that experience I send prayers of thanks up to my father, Helm. My Uncle Tien found in the Artisan’s District of Dorm’s Deep the sword Pale Justice. Now in Hrothgar’s Glen I find and acquire Cera Sumat or Six Now Silenced. I am truly blessed to have such a powerful magical sword as my weapon. I made good use of it against the Abyssal Demons. Chapter 10 Verse 5 of the Book of the Vigilant reads, “Blessed are those who fulfill their duty and give glory to me by ending the menace of Demons and Devils.” 

The Book of the Vigilant, Helm's sacred text.

Cornugons, Glabrezu, Gelugpns, and Lemures all fell before the [party and our power Once we had defeated all the Demons and Devils that were freed, we rested up and bid Nickademus farewell.

Once we reached the Fields of Slaughter that’s where things started to get really hard. We encountered Saablic Tan, who looked to eb fully recovered from his ordeal of being an Umber Hulk. The We managed to get him to talk about how he recovered and met up with Isair and Madae before he had his troops come after us…as he disappeared! 

Trouble comes from the start!

Cowardly wretch…you can run all you want but the Vigilant One’s justice will track you down! We took care of tan’s men then had Mali make her way up towards some strange noises we heard. Eventually Mali came running back to us…and she had a whole bunch of Dread Orcs (A former of Orcish undead) chasing her led by a Dread Orc shaman named Krutunk. As much as it grieves me to say so I can’t help but wonder if perhaps Mali should’ve worked more on her bluffing skill. Oh well, we still managed to take care of those evil beasts. We then raided the Dread Orcs camp and got a whole bunch of loot including some incredibly powerful magical crossbow bolts. U have a feeling that as Helm as my witness we’ll need them come the final battle with Isair and Madae, and something tells me it will come down to a final battle, as it’s become evident, they’re in no mood to negotiate even though we’ve foiled the majority of their agenda.

When we reached the Dread Orc fortress, we freed several elves who had come here with a Cleric for the purpose of purifying the Fields of Slaughter. However, they were separated from their Cleric companion as they were captured. After freeing them we went looking for the elf.

If the party is good-aligned free those elves!

. We found him trying to reason with a Lich and its undead servants. The Lich refused to listen and killed the elf. The Lich then spotted us and tried to do the same to us. Fortunately Helm and Illmatar’s blessings saw us through the battle. After looting all the bodies, we found the bottle of holy water the Elf had intended to use to purify the Fields of Slaughter. After fighting another bunch of Saablic Tan’s troops, we found the pond that was the source of the Undead curse in the Fields of Slaughter. Helm and Illmatar be praised it was an honor to be able to free the Fields of Slaughter from its Undead curse.

Free from the undead curse at last!

The battle with Saablic Tan proved to be extraordinarily intense. We ended not just fighting Tan, but another Red Wizard, Neo-Orogs, Accursed Slayer Knights of Xvim, a powerful Neo-Orog general named Wamook, Greater Feyrs and even a couple of Half-Dragons. Gads as if Sherincal hadn’t been bad enough more Half-Dragons. I hope and pray this nightmare will soon come to an end. The more I see of this Legion of the Chimera the more I am convinced that some very unwholesome things are going on with them.

The exit from the Fields of Slaughter contaons a very tough fight!

Once that was done, we tried to rest only to get rudely interrupted by Greater Feyrs. We finally had to retreat back to Kuldahar. It gave us a chance to dispose of a number of items we had been aching to rid ourselves of, including a couple of cursed items Sheemish and his father Conlan assured us they had a magical foundry they could use to destroy those items. With that taken care if was time to enter the Belly of the Beast, the headquarters of the Legion of the Chimera, The Severed Hand. Helm have mercy I remember Uncle Tien and Aunt Talia telling me of their adventures in that place! Between the Undead, and the spectral warriors in that place it was amazing they were even able to reach Larrel. 

the Severed hand, the proverbial belly of the beast!

Once inside we encountered more guards who had been told to expect us. We managed to take them down. After healing up we began our clockwise exploration of the place. The first room we entered we met a man named Jerre Stoh, foreman for the slaves in the Severed Hands. On hearing the word slave Helm help me I was ready to fly into a rage! Chapter 17 Verse 11 says clearly, “The Vigilant One commands that the gravest of all sins is the enslavement of another living being. For Helm commands that in the service of duty all must be free to decide their lives for themselves. For blasphemy is the wicked one who takes away the freedom of living beings by forcing them into servitude.”

It’s also clear to me that Jerre is a worshipper of Illmatarian in his faith, which is a blessing. Inwardly I prayed to Helm that he may guide to free this man and his fellows that they only shed tears of joy and Praise of the Crying God as they’re set free.

Next one level one we came across Ysha, an architect enslaved by the Legion. She was in a panic because of mistake she had made in the plans she feared would cost her and the slaves their Lives. I agreed to help her by getting the plans altered so her mistake would be the actual plan.

Next we chatted with a bureaucrat named Xavier Torsend. The man was friendly enough, for a bureaucrat. We managed ton talk him into giving us a delegate pass so when we went to the upper levels we wouldn’t be attacked. 

Meet Xavier Torsend a friendly bureaucrat witha conscience.

We then talked about the war…and learned the names of the people who had started this whole mess. As Helm as my witness Mayor Betran Weaver of Bryn-Shandar is going to personally answer to me for this. As for his second, Helmite priest Cardarf, he will answer to me and the Church for this…blatant act of sheer idiocy! Helm have mercy, it was all Brianna could do to calm me, I remember now why I hate politics so much! But the bureaucrat surprised me when we told him about the Slaves and Glabrazu guard enchanted by that immortality magic. He talked with Jerre Stoh…and returned to us absolutely furious. It seems he too has a hatred of slavery. Not wanting anything more to do with the Legion of Chimera he filled out a letter and resigned. A bureaucrat who understands the basic ideas of right and wrong will wonders never cease! Once he left, much to my chagrin, Mali’s stick fingers went to work as she raided the cupboards of the Bureaucrat’s office. Next, we headed to the ballroom of the first level and mt Vashti and discovered that she and the other slaves were having their food stolen. Vashti asked us to talk to the cook in the kitchen on the fourth floor. After completing our clockwise trek around the first level we headed for the second level.

On level two we talked with a Gnome named Roga and got a quest to help a young lady named Vylu who was suffering from voices in her head, and has quit working. We also perused the library of the Severed hand and discovered a journal. That journal ahs led Terrax and us to take up a case of a suicide under mysterious circumstances. 

The Library on Level 2 has a journal...and a fascinating mystery.

The person who died was named Zaem. AT the suggestion of the Librarian Cendril Zil we chatted with Zaem’s assistant Kav. I have noted something, Cedril seems to know more about what Zaem was doing than his assistant, intriguing! Mali then swiped from a nearby container a bottle of Virulent Agent and a ring of nourishment We then fought an artificially created Demon made by a Thayvian Wizard’s apprentice. After defeating the thing, we discovered we had been pawns in their test. For our trouble we got a bottle of tainted Demon blood and some gold…but not much else. The Thayvian wizard and his apprentice then headed off to the Wizard’s retreat. I for one do not like being used in some kind of experiment like a lab rat. Terrax seems indifferent calling it typical in Thay. As, my father Helm as my witness, I am glad I don’t live in that evil city.

Once the two left, Mali raided their containers and took what we could find of use. We discovered on a table the Diary of a RuinLord talking about how he stabbed another in the back to get assigned the blessed duty of Guarding the Globe of essence, the very thing that gives the Glabrezu guards watching the slaves and guarding Isair and Madae’s throne room their immortality. Terrax chatted Ruinlord Garuk about Xvim. Not surprised that scheming Sorcerer would be interested in the bastard Godson of Bane.

Next the Terrax talked with another Thayvian wizard named Vese Neji. We got a mission to get into the Wizard’s tower guarded by magic created by…someone my uncle and Aunt knew years ago Orrick the Grey, the wizard of neutrality.

Be careful when dealing with red Wizards of Thay

Next we discovered the quarters of Dracein, a Half-Dragon who is the Mistress of Saablic Tan. A human and a Half-Dragon lovers? Ooh just thinking about it makes me nauseous!

Saablic Tan's mistress is a Half-Dragon woman ew!

Circling around clockwise we then headed for the next level.

The third level was where things got hairy. We raided the bedchambers of Madae and then Isair. Each room had a trap in it…which Mali happily disarmed, and then found two Slayer Knights of Xvim waiting in each. The party took down each Knight and then raided the rooms for Madae’s Illmatar amulet, and an amulet of Iyachtu Xvim in Isair’s. Wet then encountered a group of Demons bickering. Terrax talked to them…and something he said offended them because they came after the party. It was a hard fight but the party somehow managed to defeat the Demons, and got some gold and jewelry for our efforts. Looking into Isair and Madae’s kitchen we found Bonding Agent and took it. We avoided the throne room as we wanted no trouble with the Glabrezu Guards who we are nowhere near ready to face yet. Making our way clockwise around the Sanctuary we came to a hall that had a couple of large and nasty traps in it. Again, Mali’s keen ability with traps allowed us to avoid a potentially gruesome fate.

On the fourth level Darkandra talked with a female Drow rogue named Riki. 

Meet Riki, a female Drow with useful information.

I personally oversaw the conversation as I know the treacherous nature of this Drow. We decided on a noble approach only because I oversaw things. Helm help me, that Dar’Kandra is becoming more ruthless and cutthroat everyday. Still we’ve decided to deal with the guards on tis level we shall create a sleeping potion. While I do not relish having to stoop to such tactics, a direct assault would be harder and more painful. Helm teaches vigilance, not overdoing things. We then talked to Jaebrilla, Zaem’s former fiancée and discovered the man kept secrets even from her and Kav. So Kav and Jaebrilla had no knowledge of his experiments but Cedril Zil did? Very interesting.

Next we talked to hatemaster Drothan who’s faith in Iyachtu Xvim was being question by the Neo-Orog himself.

Hatemaster Drothan seems to be havinag crisis of faith.

A conversation I had convinced him to give us information on an Illmatarian Cleric who could help us, and the Globe of Essence. The Hatemaster then decided to depart the Severed hand. And leave isair and Madae’s service forever. Probably for the best for him.

We then met another Ruinlord named Eradru who provided healing and a resting place. At Roga’s suggestion when we had talked to him after finding Vylu he suggested the Infirmary on this level should be checked. We talked to Eradru and he gave us a potion that would help Vylu. Poor girl, Being Genasi, a child of human and elemental parents isn’t easy.

Vylu,a  female Genasi who hears voices in her ehad. The party can help.

We needed it because we needed to recharge our spells. Avoiding the barracks and the dining hall We made our way to the kitchen and contacted the cook. The woman was in no mood to give out more food because supplies were scarce as it was, or so she said. Personally, based on what I’ve seen in this unholy place I think it’s something else. Nonetheless not wanting to push the argument we left noted a large stash of food nearby and making a note of it for later.

Next, we took the Western passage on level four and headed to the Wizard’s Tower. As Uncle Tien and Aunt Talia had described the first level of the tower had been completely destroyed, the end result of the final battle between the elves and the Orc Hordes ages ago. We also found the puzzle Vesa had mentioned. It was tricky but we managed to solve it and open up the Wizard’s Tower of Orrick. We then headed back down.

Back on the second floor we found Vylu and gave her the potion. The young lady was immensely relieved to be free of the voices in her head. Though she chose to remain with the elementals. We then told Roga what happened and he was appreciative of our efforts, may Helm and Illmatar help then gain their freedom when the time is right!  

We then told Roga what happened and he was appreciative of our efforts, may Helm and Illmatar help then gain their freedom when the time is right! Terrax then confronted Cedrin, and while they looked to be having a laugh over it…as was Dar’Kandra I for one was about ready to unleash divine justice on Cedrin Zil. However, Brianna held me back. Once again, my beloved’s wisdom kept me calm. Helm, Selune, and Illmatar bless her. Terrax talked with Vese, who in turn gave Terrax another task to gain three items Larrel’s Bones, the Book of Mythal, and Orrick’s Spellbook. This is a dangerous game the Thayvian Sorcerer is playing. And I have a sinking feeling Vese will not be keeping his word. Terrax also explained what Cedrin did, Vese punished the other Red Wizard in ways I don’t want to know based on the screaming I heard. We took some items from Cedrin’s corpse before we left. Never underestimate the treachery of Wizards of Thay. On the first floor we delivered the plans for the Severed Hand, which had been altered by Kav, to Ysha who was very appreciative of what we did.

the Severed hand first floor. Lot's to do.

Next up we went to Vashti and explained to her the cook’s refusal to cooperate. We then decided to discover who was the food thief. And we found out who. Apparently Zaem’s creature was alive and it seems he was stealing food because he was hungry. While stealing is wrong I understand now why the creature did it. It seems the creature absorbs food very quickly. If it doesn’t get food it fades from the plane. So, to help it we gave the creature the Ring of Nourishment that we’d been carrying around. The creature was very appreciative of what we did. And it promised not to do anything like steal again. A small good deed in a world that can be harsh. Next we headed back to level two. Using the Bonding Agent, Virulent Agent, and the Tainted Demon’s blood we made the sleep potion by using the lab in Dracein’s chamber, after asking her permission. Fortunately, Terrax’s diplomatic skills had improved. Praise Helm for small favors! We then headed up to the fourth floor and stuck the sleeping agent in the troops’ food. To my surprise and dismay the sleeping potion was so string it killed them! Helm forgive me I had no idea the potency of that agent! We then told Riki what had happened and she gave us another mission to find a Priest of Illmatar trapped in the War tower, probably the same one Drothan mentioned. Mali then went into the barracks and went through the remains of the guards to get what could be taken.

We hen headed up the Wizard’s Tower gathering Orrick’s Spellbook on the second level, the Book of Mythal as well as A sacred text of Illmatar on the third, and finally the Bones of Larrel on the fourth. We then headed back down to where Vese was. As expected, he decided to not keep his promise. What a surprise!

Never trust a Red Wizard!

He did however give Terrax a skill tattoo of Lightning reflexes. Something I think Terrax will need. I did notice however that Terrax was not very pleased. While my ears may not be elven, I did manage to pick up Terrax’s true last name…Nightstorm. I fear that in the years t come that name will be one I will come to regret not dealing with. Returning to the fourth level of the wizard’s tower the party came face to face with Orrick the Grey. Still as neutral as when my Uncle and Aunt had met him. We explained the situation and asked for his forgiveness. However, it seems Orrick the Grey is much cleverer than we thought. He did forgive us but then explained that he’d tuned the puzzle he had created so that the solution we gave would only respond to us.

Orrick the Grey, still as neutral as before.

And the items we gave Vese were shadow clones that would fade when Orrick said so. He’s a clever one I’ll give him that. We then discussed the Mythal and the effect it was having on the Tower and the whole of the Severed Hand. It seems Isair and Madae’s meddling and the corruption from Iyachtu Xvim has changed and distorted the Severed Hand in unhealthy ways.

Next, we headed back to the Fourth Floor of the Severed Hand and moved to the War Tower, at the Northern portion of the fourth floor. on the first floor we battled a whole bunch of Half-Goblins and Neo-Orogs. Once we’d dealt with them and looted the bodies, we upend to first cell. 

Important people to save on this level.

To Garrett’s relief the person therein was a Priest of Illmatar, the very priest that Riki had mentioned. Toral Dorm explained how he had come here to try and bring Madae back to Illmatar’s fold and cleanse this place of the corruption in it. He had however come alone and had ended up being overwhelmed. As a Painbearer of Illmatar Garrett considered it his duty and chose to take up the burden of carrying the Sanctification ritual. Thankfully we already had two of the items needed for the ritual. Heading up to the second Floor of the war tower we confronted a couple of extremely disgusting people name of Hardcourt Rustblade and Pustule the Sick…lovely names! The party sent them and their Lemure servants to the Nine Hells where they belong! Once we grabbed all the valuable items, we found Toral’s Holy Symbol of Illmatar. We went to the first floor and found Jerre Stoh. As suspected, he is a worshipper of Illmatar, we had him cry some tears into a little container of.

With the last of what we needed we headed up to the Fourth Floor rested with the Ruinlord and then headed for the Eastern side and the passage to the Cleric’s Tower. The First floor was where things got interesting. I never knew how intimidating or sadistic Dar’Kandra could be until we encountered Yquog, who we hadn’t seen since the Goblin Fortress, and he had grown and was ready to mature. The Barghast Whelp made ready to attack us until Dar’Kandra stepped forward and, flashing her most charming smile, revealed the corpses of the dead cat, dead man, dead woman, and dead child to the Demon.

Besides Yquog get ready for  a doozy of a fight!

To the amazement of myself and the rest of the party…Yquog was absolutely terrified! So much so that the Demon fled promising never to come after any of us again. Dar’Kandra is a sadistic and dangerous woman! Terrax for his part laughed and applauded her efforts. Dar’Kandra simply flashed him a smile and said something in the Drow tongue. I wasn’t sure what was said but based on the smile on Terrax’s face and the sultry wink and smile she gave him something tells me I don’t want to know.

With that situation having been solved we put protective spells on the party as Garrett had a funny feeling something might happen when he started the Sanctification rite. Garrett’s instincts proved correct. When he started the rite Iyachtu Xvim curse the wretched Godson of Bane and his father manifested and tried to tempt Garrett. Fortunately for us, unfortunately for Xvim, The God of Death and Destruction had underestimated the faith of my childhood friend who listened and then told him to begone. May helm and Illmatar bless him for his strong righteous faith! Iyachtu Xvim did not take well to that. SO much so he manifested himself and summoned some Demons and Devils to aide him. The fight with the God manifested and his Demons was intense…but somehow Helm and Illmatar, with help from Selune saw us through. Once healed and the valuables on the bodies gathered Garrett, as per his duty, finished the rite and received a vial of holy water for it. With the rite completed we take a step closer to taking down the Globe of Essence and weakening Isair, Madae, and their Glabrezu guards enough to take them down and end this war!

We are making camp now in a place where we won’t be spotted. In the morning, we will continue our efforts. I genuinely believe that tomorrow, this battle with Usair and Madae will reach its final climax and something tells me things will get ugly before the end.

Well there you have it, folks. There’s Journal Entry #20 of Icewind Dale Ii. Oh boy this was a meaty one indeed. I hope all of you enjoyed this. Please feel free to subscribe to my channel here on Minds.com. Also please follow me on Gab. I’ll leave links to them along with links to the previous chapter and forthcoming future chapter below. Also please feel free to like and remind this blog entry. Also please feel free to refer this Blog entry on to Facebook and Twitter, or any other site you can think of.

Before I go, I’m hoping sometime in the next couple of months to start putting up some original content, which I hope you’ll keep an eye out for. But just to be safe I’ll leave some announcements. Also, if you’d like to support this channel further, and you’re under no obligation to do so, please feel free to wire me tokens here on Minds for some great rewards which I’ve listed on my channel. Thank you so much and until next time I’m Animeman73 saying stay true to yourselves, stay classy, and God bless you all.

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