[dragon wench]

Kilyannamaia, uncertain about this new addition to the party, motioned to the spot beside her and indicated to Jaheira that she should take the lead, at least for now. She then turned to Minsc, “We will be doing battle in the next room, you should stay here with Imoen while we dispatch the creatures Yoshimo mentioned.”

“Minsc and Boo stand ready to spank Evil’s buttocks! Imoen will stay safe!

It was the first time Yoshimo had heard Minsc speak, and he raised a questioning eyebrow at Kilyannamaia. “Is he...”
The elf, pushing a strand of wayward hair from fiery green eyes, gave him a hard stare. “Minsc is one of my oldest friends, I can trust him.” This less than subtle statement with its layered meaning left Yoshimo no doubt that he was very much under trial, and would be for some time to come.
Jaheira, meanwhile, had been quietly chanting, readying the small group for the battle that would occur momentarily. Realising that she needed to put up some magical protections, Kilyannamaia started to cast some spells of her own, fortunately without mishap. Although they were short Minsc’s sheer strength and Imoen’s casting, it did not take long to disable the portals from which scores of mephits streamed. Once the portals were destroyed the irritating little beasts vanished. Kilyannamaia poked her head through the door to the other room and gave Minsc a thumbs up. With that, the entire group proceeded into the area recently “vacated” by the mephits. This room was familiar --too familiar— and Kilyannamaia faltered as she took in the long tables and the gleaming knives placed upon them. And then, as they came closer, they saw the body.

Jaheira moaned; it was a sound of disbelief mingled with the horror of certainty.
"Kha...Khalid? Khalid! No...this...this is an illusion...a dream...a bad dream. Where are the mirrors...the switches to pull to...to show where he is hidden. Khalid...Damn...damn you...Damn you! I will have the heart of who has done this! I will tear their blackened heart from their...I will...I... no." The party stumbled forward, trying to absorb the dread of the sight before their eyes.
Her voice dry, nearly soundless, Kilyanna murmured something into the shadows that were suddenly much deeper than they had been only moments before.

"Shut up! No more words! Words are nothing!"
"A brave man has fallen here," said Minsc, holding little Boo towards Jaheira, "but that is no cause to hurl insults at the living. Here, Boo shall comfort you."
"Imbecile!" screamed Jaheira. "Affront to nature! What do you and your rodent know! What can you know!! No words! No more words!! Save your speeches, save your proverbs!! The only voice I wish to hear is...is dead!!
Kilyannamaia placed a hand on Jaheira’s arm, “There may be a way to restore him, should we not try?” Jaheira shrugged her hand away, “No... it is too late... he has been mutilated. We live in an age where sometimes the dead can be brought back, but this, this desecration... we cannot.” Jaheira drew a breath in a desperate attempt to steady herself.
“No more!!,” the druid sobbed. “No...No... Sil...Silvanus guide the light...to the source. Take this man to what he justly deserves. By...nature's will, what was given is returned, what was turmoil is now...is now peace. Khalid of my heart, let my love...my love guide the way.... We...we must hurry before we are noticed. We must get out of this...this grave...and seek the light above. Let us go."

Kilyannamaia bowed her head, “We will not disturb his body further. We will honor his loss with future deeds."

"That is the way of things. There will be...there will be payment for this crime, and I shall not rest until it is collected. When we are able, there will be.... Enough. I would leave this place."

Yoshimo was in turmoil, he knew better than to extend trite platitudes to the stricken druid, he would only be spurned. But, he longed to offer some words of comfort. His stomach churned at what he had seen, now even more acutely aware of the monster he was working for. Miserable, he stared at the ground, that he had no choice deepened his distress yet further.

As they continued a dark silence hung over the group. Even Minsc, normally one to intermittently bellow some interjection about fighting evil, was quiet. Only occasional squeaks from Boo, or a barely withheld sob punctuated the hush that weighed upon the party. A few skirmishes with more Duergar, an encounter with a Doppelganger , and a group of hostile Shadow Thieves were all handled with mute efficiency. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Yoshimo halted and pointed to a barely visible entrance. “There! If you look closely you can just see a door.” They all looked at where Yoshimo had indicated, though lacking the ability to see hidden doorways, it took a few minutes until they easily perceived what seemed to be an exit.

Pausing, Kilyannamaia placed her hand on the door. It was with a mixture of relief and uncertainty that she detected a slight draft, the scent of blossoms in spring air, and the obvious sounds of a raging battle. She faced the party, “This is the way out.” For the first time, Imoen showed signs of interest, even twisting herself from out of Minsc’s arms. “Can we go home now?” Her voice, though still dull, seemed a little brighter, and faint hope briefly lit her sunken eyes.

Kilyannamaia began to push at the door, suddenly desperate to escape the shadows and darkness. “Wait!” Jaheira bade them to stop. “There is a battle going on, and Irenicus is probably out there as well, we must prepare first.” With that, the party cast the necessary spells and opened the door.