With the second Ring of Wizardry and Helm and Cloak of the Balduran crossed of my checklist, I checked what else I wanted.
-In the city, before preparation for poison quest
W district: Nmyph cloak (Ragefast)
N district: Helm of Glory (Jardark's home), Tome of Clear Thought (Ramazith's Tower)
SE district: second Boots of Stealth (Nadarin, need to drink Potion of Master Thievery.)
Central district: Necklace of Missles 3 & 4; one from Nadine, another from Delorna, one of Shandalar's Daughters. Delorna's necklace is tricky as it needs a Potion of Master Thievery and means to escape after she turns hostile.
-In the city, after preparation for poison quest
NW district: Large Shield +1(+4 vs Missiles),
Poison quest, to do after getting Large Shield +1 (+4 vs Missiles): Tome of Understanding, Shortbow +2. Need to drink Potion of Master Thievery.
To save a Potion of Master Thievery, I'll defer grabbing Nadarin's Boots of Stealth and Delorna's Necklace of Missiles until I was ready to use it for the poison quest.
-Outside the city, later
Manual of Bodily Health, Bracers of Archery, Helm of Defence, Girdle of Bluntness, a Ring of Fire Resistance, Warhammer +2 and Shortsword +2. Bassilus, Brage and Bjron's half-ogres were still waiting for us too.
Based on these considerations, I figured I could make a stop at Ragefast's then Jardak's before doing the preparation for poison quest. I'll grab the reward from Nadine in the central district too if I can avoid Lothander and the poison quest there. Then will come preparations for the poison quest.
---
West district, Ragefast's home.
"Okay, the house northeast of the Hall of Wonders. This time we're sure we've got the right place," I said to the rest.
"Yes, THIS time," Jaheira said, dryly.
I raised my hands in surrender. "Okay, I admit the last time was my bad," I said, then added, "Why don't you show us you can reach a peaceful outcome this time around, given the right location."
To my surprise, Jaheira hesitated. "Considering this is a mage who is holding a nymph against her will, I cannot guarantee a peaceful solution. I'm of a mind to punish him for committing this afront to nature myself," she said with chilling conviction.
Well, I wasn't going to argue with that logic. I gave Jaheira an appreciative nod.
Khalid coughed. "M-m-mayhaps we should talk to him first. Try to reason with the man. The beauty of a nymph has led even decent men to commit terrible acts."
So Khalid, of all people, was in charge of talking Ragefast down. I sneaked into the home first and took position, of course.
Because I had sneaked in quietly without the rest, I got to hear Ragefast, an old mage, speaking sweetly to a creature of great beauty, green skin non-withstanding. Nymphs are renown for their beauty, of course. But something seemed wrong with the nymph, her colors dimmed and faded. She was laying on a bed, exhausted.
"Know thee well I cannot let thee leave. We are meant to be together, whether ye know it or no," Ragefast said gently into her ear as he sat by the bed.
"Destiny or no… I am not long for this place," the nymph said, her voice weak.
When the rest of my party walked in, Ragefast got up and stood between the party and the nymph. "What?! What bandit dares enter the home of Ragefast?! Identify your purpose here, that I might know what to put on they tombstone!"
Khalid let out an 'Eeep' and shrunk back.
Jaheira sighed, and stepped forward. "We have come seeking evil-doers who dare commit crimes against the natural world! You hold this beauteous creature captive against her will and her nature!" she said, pointing to the nymph behind him.
"No! This wondrous being is my love and life! I would be hers as well, but it takes time! She will grow to care for me, as I care for her!"
"Liar! One does not cage those he cares for!" Jaheira said with an accusatory finger. "You may break her spirit and she FORCE her to serve you, but this is not-"
"Please, listen to your love," Imoen said suddenly, her eyes brimming with tears. Jaheira startled, but let Imoen take over. "Won't you do that much for her since you love her?" Imoen said further.
The light in Ragefast's eyes faltered. "I, she… she will learn to be happy here! We shall grow old together," Ragefast insisted.
"No, Ragefast. I will not survive much longer here, much less grow old with you," came the weak voice of the nymph by the bed. "Look unto me. My beauty fades even now."
Everyone's attention focused on her. Ragefast returned to her side. "Abela, say not such terrible things. Thy beauty is as brilliant now as the day I found you."
Abela smiled slightly, in spite of herself. "Oh, Ragefast. 'Tis flattering, but you are blinded by your passion. Truly see what is become of me. I should not age, but my spirit fades in this ugly place."
Ragefast looked at her in horror, perhaps only now realising what was happening to his lover. "This, this cannot be. We were meant for each other! Thy very words had said so!"
She touched his face. "I did indeed. We were meant for each other, once. But in my glade amidst stars and moon. I cannot survive here."
"Don't you care what is to become of her?" Imoen cried. "If you truly love her, shouldn't you let her be where she can live to her fullest?"
Neera was crying too. So was Branwen. Jaheira had stepped back, and was allowing Imoen to do the talking.
Ragefast looked at his former love with regret. "I… it is so. Forgive me, Abela, I have been a fool. I release you from my enchantments, and you are free to leave. Please do not think too harshly of me. I am but a foolish old man."
He performed some incantations and we could see whatever magic he had placed on the nymph to hold her back dissipate.
Only now did my grip on my quarterstaff relax. I stepped away from my position behind Ragefast, and silently joined the back of the party unnoticed.
Abela the nymph thanked us and gave us a lock of her hair as a gift to remember us by, before teleporting away to safety.
Since we didn't kill Ragefast, I made a note in my journal to have him, uh, donate his belongings to us later. As restitution for his crimes, of course.
After we had left Ragefast, Imoen said to Jaheira, "Thank you for showing mercy to Ragefast."
Jaheira snorted. "I'm not completely heartless, you know. I can be harsh on those that deserve punishment, but I'm still a woman."
---
Central district
Nadine lived in a home in the eastern side of central district. She wanted us to help her look for her son Euric.
"He's always had a touch of the wanderer in him and he knows how to take care of himself, but… Oh, I'm just worried sick. This city gets more dangerous every day… If you find him, could you give him this good luck talisman? I'm sure we'd all sleep a little better."
Said good luck charm was apparently an Amulet of Protection +1.
Fortunately, we had already met Euric and marked which tavern he was hanging out in, in the southeast district.
---
North district
Petrine was a little girl who was living with her uncle Bheren after her parents died. She was running away from home because said uncle was being 'real mean'. She misses her cat though. Petrine wanted us to help her get a ring in her uncle's house that the cat loves to play with.
Hrm. In the game, I would just go ahead and follow her request without hesitation. In person though…
"Can a child really survive in Baldur's Gate on her own, even with a cat? Isn't staying with this uncle, even a mean one, preferable to not having a roof over her head?" Neera asked, mirroring my own thoughts, while we were discussing what to do out of earshot of Petrine.
"Perhaps we can find her a better home. The cat is a separate issue," Branwen said.
We agreed to Branwen's suggestion, so I sneaked in, past the drunken man snoozing downstairs, up the stairs where an elf woman with a severe face was sleeping. In the chest I found the ring in question, which I held out to Petrine outside.
"Thank you so much ser, I-"
I held the ring out of reach. "I have a condition."
Petrine pursed her lips but listened.
"We're going to bring you to a local tavern and pay for a room for you. This is a temporary arrangement for you until we can find a better foster home for you. Sounds fair?"
She agreed to our terms. We brought her back to the Elfsong in the , and asked the folks there to look out for her.
"Maybe Rill? Yeslick?" Jaheira considered. "We'll have to keep knocking on doors until we find someone suitable."
---
Still in the north district, I knocked on the door of one of the homes next to Petrine's uncle Bheren's place.
"I didn't mean knock on random doors!" Jaheira protested.
"Maybe the closest neighbour knew her family and is willing to take care of her? I figure it's worth a try," I explained.
This was the home of Rinnie the bard, who unfortunately travels for work often and isn't able to take care of a child. Rinnie did however want a copy of the book "History of Unicorn's Run". Eh. Only if we happen to find one. Not going to make this a priority.
We tried a few different homes, then settled on an affluent looking place. "Hello there. We're looking for willing foster parents of a girl looking for a forever home!"
"Go away, fools!" came the answer from the door.
I unlocked it myself then swung the door open. "You don't need to be so rude!"
To my surprise, a hooded figure in green and brown clothes stood before us, posing with a deadly-looking shortsword in one hand and mystical energy glowing in the other.
This was Drelik, Jardak's manservant. I think? I don't remember him being so cool-looking.
I blinked. "Uh, have we met-"
"You shouldn't have broken into my master's home," Drelik said, his eyes flashing with arcane power. He took a moment to change his pose, shortsword drawn back and mystical energy in his other hand held out threateningly. "Master Jardak will be quite displeased when he learns that ruffians have disturbed the order of his-"
"Are you related to Nimbul?" I blurted out.
Drelik froze in place. "…No. Never heard of that poser."
"Are you sure? Because both of you do the same poses. Heck, your fashion sense is the same."
Imoen raised a hand. "Hold on. Did you call him a poser? I thought you said you didn't know him."
"I don't, I don't know what you are talking about," Drelik started to defend himself, then cried out, "None of that matters! All that matters is you're going to die!"
Drelik, like Nimbul, is a mage/rogue lvl 9/10 armed with an enchanted shortsword. He has 58hp and AC0. He does cast Horror after opening with Mirror Image, and has 100% Magic Resistance for no apparent reason so he is immune to Magic Missiles.
Really though, once we're immune to his Horror spell (thanks to Branwen's Remove Fear spell) there's nothing in Drelik's arsenal (Magic Missiles) which was a real threat to us at our current level.
---
We went upstairs to talk to Drelik's master, Jardak, concerning his servant's behaviour.
"Un-un-unfortunately, we had to defend ourselves," Khalid tried to explain.
Jardak was doing the Conan pose, the one where the sword is held above his head and the other hand is stuck out forwards. "And now you shall have to do so again! Die, fools!"
Jardak was a level 11 fighter with GRANDMASTER +++++ in swords, Thac0 4, 1d8+10 damage, APR2.5, AC-1 and 103 hp. For no apparent reason, he also has 50% magic resistance. Not nearly as big a threat as Larze, but enough to do some hurt to us.
Jardak managed to get a hit on Khalid in spite of Khalid's impressive defences (AC -14 vs slashing), but Khalid gave him back as good as he got. I was waiting in the bathroom just behind Jardak, and got in a good backstab of my own. Branwen's Chant worked on Jardak but Jaheira's Doom bounced off his magic resistance. I went back around the corner, hid again, then backstabbed Jardak again, and that was enough.
Loot:
Long Sword +1, Short Sword +1
Plate Mail, Helm of Glory
Mage scrolls of Dire Charm, Monster Summoning I
Potion of Frost Giant Strength, Potion of Genius
The Helm of Glory gives +1 AC (stacks with Rings of Protection and the like) and +1 to Charisma. I was already getting near the maximum benefit from Charisma as far as discounts went, so this was given to Jaheira to improve her AC as Khalid already had the Helm of the Balduran.
---
Finally, still in the north district, we paid Ramazith a visit in his tower.
"Certainly you are foolish to have come here after breaking our deal! I have many spells waiting for parts of nymph, and will be a long time looking for another. An expensive delay you have cost me, and compensation be from your hide! Come get me at the top, if you dare!"
He teleported away just before my staff could strike his head from behind. I clicked my tongue in annoyance. "You should have let me kill him before he went up."
Ramazith had teleported to the top floor, naturally. If only I had taken out Ramazith here on the ground floor, I could sneak past the many layers of guardians above and loot the top floor at my leisure. I did consider going up myself and assassinating Ramazith alone on the top floor, but I wasn't sure that I could at this point. So we were going to have to fight our way through.
"Sonny, please," Khalid said with pleading eyes.
Ah, Khalid and Jaheira are both aware of my lineage, aren't they? Or have some sort of idea by now. After all, Elminster and Entillis had been dropping vague hints about it. So, no murderhobo-ing for me.
Ack, well, not so much murderhobo-ing anyway. I admit that I had provoked Drelik and Jardak on purpose so I could get his wonderful unique magic item. In my defence however, if Drelik and Jardak didn't overreact like that they would have left me with no choice but to let them live.
I would have just stolen the Helm of Glory instead.
I looked to Khalid and clicked my tongue. "Fine, we shall endeavor to give peace a chance whenever possible. Even if it is unlikely."
Neera moved next to me and whispered in my ear. "You knew peace wasn't an option, right? Just nix him next time."
"I've learned that I can't keep getting away with premeditated murder. Even you protested with the assassins back then," I whispered back. "It's fine, we'll take out this wizard without an issue."
1st floor was guarded by 2 mustard jellies. Mustard jellies are normally considered powerful foes, but they're not too much trouble at our current level. We all had magic melee weapons that did bludgeoning or slashing after all.
2nd floor had 5 ghasts. Five ghasts in close quarters are not normally something an adventuring party would want to encounter. However, Khalid and Jaheira had excellent defences and Branwen had prepared both Dispel Magic and Free Action in case we needed it, which thankfully we didn't.
3rd floor had 6 hobgoblin elites. Susceptible to sleep and weak at our current level.
"Is it me imagining it, or are the defenders getting weaker with every floor?" Imoen asked.
"Well, I suppose it makes sense to have the strongest guardians first rather than later," I replied.
It goes against gaming conventions, sure, but why would Ramazith sacrifice his weakest minions unnecessarily if his strongest minions can take out intruders off the bat?
4th floor had 6 kobold commandos
"Just kobolds? At this point I doubt Ramazith has anything left to defend himself with."
5th floor had Ramazith himself.
Ramazith had his back against the wall so I couldn't backstab him, but with his minuscule 21hp it wasn't necessary. We interrupted his Improved Invisibility spell and took him out before he could retaliate.
Loot:
Knave's Robe, Bracers of Defense AC 7
Mage scroll of Blindness, Invisibility, Blur, Mirror Image,
Elixir of Health, Protection from Magic Scroll, Protection from Poison Scroll, A cursed scroll
Wand of Paralyzation, Tome of Clear Thought (Intelligence +1 permanently)
If I had not already had Ramazith donate his Ring of Protection +2 and Amulet of Metamagic Influence to me, I would have picked it up from him now. Apparently in some versions of the game he would be wearing another copy of these potent magical items now even though I had already stolen them, but that wasn't the case here.
Among the books in the shelves was a copy of a History of Unicorn's Run, the book that Rinne the bard asked for. I also found a book about the Chosen of Mystra, which I showed to Khalid and Jaheira for laughs.
Rinnie rewarded us with a scroll of Protection against Poison. I'm not totally sure what poison we're going to face beyond this point though, seeing as how we had cleared the wyverns already without needing these scrolls.