Into the Chasm

[dragon wench]

"Intruder detected!" it stated, sitting up and swinging its legs down to the ground. Valygar slunk into the shadows, his insides curled up in loathing at everything the golem represented.


The golem ignored the party and with single-minded determination it strode toward a series of doors which slid open without protest at its presence. Not sure what to expect, the group followed with drawn weapons and uneasy expressions. Valygar looked as though he'd have been glad to end the golem's existence as soon as it opened the doors, but he held back. They did not know the nature of the enemy ahead, so the golem might be useful. However, more to the point, he was not keen to ignite the wrath of either Kilyannamaia or Jaheira.

The sight that met them once they had emerged from a winding passageway made them gape. A hefty couple, clad in the most colourful garments the group had ever seen were assailing the hapless golem in indignation.


"Ahm telling you," gesticulated the man, "W'all paid good money for this here vaecaeshun, and we'se demanding a refund! Werent nuttin said in the broshur bout visitin some Planar whatzit."

The woman turned to her husband, "Oh hush you Jethro, Ahm shur them nice baggage carrier folks o'er there could help us sort out thangz, therz juss some mestake, Ahm shur.."

The pair made their way to Kilyannamaia and the rest of the group, the golem following in hot pursuit.

"Well I'll be danged Bobby Jean!" exclaimed the man called Jethro, "They ain't no baggage handlerz! They's a bunch o' dirty hippies, proly from Californie!"

Kilyannamaia blinked, and attempted to make out the familiar, yet foreign, language. Finally she asked, her tone tentative, "What's a hippy?"

"Why, one o' them funny people, y'know, who dressez in robes an beads and thangz, an ya'll look like o' bunch o' them."

"I am not wearing robes," stated Anomen stiffly.

"Thetz true, but y'all look like yer wearin a quarter-panel ur sommin. Hey, y'all getting ready fer the Nascar parade?"

Anomen, suspecting that both his honour and his armour were being insulted, began to bristle, and he reached for his mace.

Stepping forward and into the breach, Jaheira enquired, "Where are you from?"

"Ware we'ze all from? Why, weze all are from Arkansas."

"Arkansas?" asked Jaheira, a puzzled frown on her face.

"Yeah, Arkansas, ain't you nevaa heard o' Arkansas?"

Minsc, who had been following the whole conversation with an expression of intent concentration, broke in. "Arkansas! Minsc can saw too!" he roared, making rapid sawing motions with the Sword of Chaos."

Valygar and Yoshimo, agape, just stared

The couple stepped back, alarm registering on their features. Nervous, Kilyannamaia, tried to think of how to diffuse the escalating situation.

The golem, however, soon put her fears to rest by picking up Jethro and Bobby Jean with two massive hands and marching them down a dark corridor further ahead. Even once the golem was out of sight shouts of "Y'all goin t'be hearin from mah congressman boy!" could be heard reverberating against the stone walls of the corridor.

Anomen spoke first, "What in Helm's name were they?"

"Maybe they are the natural wildlife of whatever plane Kilyannamaia has brought us to," remarked Valygar drily.

All eyes turned toward the mage, and as one Jaheira, Anomen and Minsc asked "What plane?" Even Boo managed an interrogating squeak. Glaring at Valygar, Kilyannamaia explained how she had managed to snag her hair on a mysterious set of controls in the other room.

"Child, how many times have I told you about tying your hair back!" stated Jaheira in exasperation. Kilyannamaia turned to look directly at the druid. Keeping her voice level she said, "First of all, I am not a child, and secondly that's a just a bit rich coming from somebody who always rushes off into the thick of battle with hair flying everywhere!"

Looking confused, Minsc burst out, "Boo says maybe little Kilyannamaia should shave her head like Minsc! Minsc could even give special tattoo!"

Even though she was still angry with Jaheira Kilyannamaia began to giggle at the thought of shaving her head and wearing a Rasheman tattoo upon her scalp. The rest of the group joined her, and soon their laughter echoed around the cavern they now found themselves in.

[dragon wench]

Perhaps it were the lingering tensions of the day's events, or maybe in the back of her mind Kilyannamaia felt it would be best if the group were well rested before continuing forward, but the mage realised she was spent. The warriors who had been responsible for handling the heavy golem parts appeared even more exhausted.

"I think it would be a good idea to return to one of the chambers back there, to get some rest," she stated in a tone that brooked no argument. "I'm sure that we will be safe, the rooms have already been cleared and that golem will be on the prowl, no doubt."

Even Jaheira could find no reason to object, and the party trooped back toward one of the more comfortable areas of the sphere. This time they spread out bedrolls, and after a quiet meal of dry rations the entire group slumped back and allowed weariness to claim them.

Ensconced in the privacy of her bedroll and approaching slumber, Kilyannamaia allowed her thoughts to drift back to the memories that had surfaced earlier while cursing Yoshimo for having acted as the catalyst for their reappearance. The life of constant travel that she had known since that flight from Candlekeep so long ago had, for the most part, prevented the pursuit of relationships or even the simple pleasure of an occasional bedtime companion. Yet... there had been encounters and stolen moments; she had been discreet, however. Only two people had ever known her secret...

"And now only one," she murmured thinking of her abducted sister and the desecrated corpse that had become Jaheira's husband. Kilyannamaia fought back a sob and remembered that afternoon when the gentle fighter had stumbled upon her and her previous lover in a sheltered glade of weeping willows:

Lambent afternoon sunlight filtered through a verdant, cascading screen... bathing them in its champagne glow. Delicate patterns flickered upon bare, silken skin. "These leaves are the same colour as your eyes," whispered Shandra her hand tracing a fresh scar. Kilyannamaia shivered, and reached for a mass of wild red curls, "Kiss me," she commanded, hungry for the feel of full, soft lips upon her own... Shandra, just as impatient, complied. Eager, Kilyannamaia explored familiar curves and hollows, she arched in exquisite pleasure, as her lover reciprocated.. fondling and teasing.... Heart beating fast, Kilyannamaia sought the secret places tormenting her dreams and her every waking moment.

"I want you, always..." moaned Shandra, beginning to writhe and buck beneath her touch... "I wish..."

"I know...." murmured the mage, "If it were possible... If I wasn't hunting my foster father's killer... But enough of that, let us enjoy the time we are allowed."

Shandra started to say something, but Kilyannamaia, eyes glowing with feral ardour, placed a finger over her lover's lips and lowered her head... Allowing dark locks to graze Shandra's spasming flesh Kilyannamaia tantalised and kissed until their shared arousal could no longer remain contained...

The sudden sound of a twig snapping made them sit up. An elf in full armour had just entered the clearing, and his expression spoke more loudly than any words. His eyes, full of compassion understanding, and respect, met those of Kilyannamaia. They stared at one another for a long moment, then finally Khalid turned away toward the direction from which he had come.

They did not speak of it, and Kilyannamaia knew he had never told Jaheira what he had seen. The druid, always obsessively worried about her charge had asked him to tail the mage owing to her increasing tendency to disappear for no explicable reason. After intruding on her privacy, Khalid had never followed her again, he had simply walked in the forests far away from wherever Kilyannamaia might have been.

A bittersweet pang of loss began to overwhelm her. "The past is in the past," she murmured, and forced herself to think of present circumstances, yet that brought still more pain. She looked across the room at the sleeping rogue, and tried to ignore her naked desire. Angry at her lack of control, she turned away, and attempted to relax so that sleep might come.

"Kilyannamaia..." He spoke her name with longing, his voice husky with need. She looked to see slanting golden-brown eyes gazing into her own. She pulled down his head her mouth finding his. A brown hand began to caress the length of her body. She moved closer, brushing compact, coiled muscles with delicate fingers. Groaning, Yoshimo shifted his position and began to bite lightly at her neck. Kilyannamaia let out a gasp, her breath beginning to come in rapid pants. Urgent, her legs entwining around his, she explored sensitive nerve endings and salty skin. Yoshimo shuddered and began to kiss her again. Kilyannamaia parted her lips, welcoming his probing tongue. As she quivered against his embrace, a low purr escaped from the back of her throat; she began to call out..."

Without warning, the touch upon her changed from a gentle caress to savage grasping... In pain, Kilyannamaia opened her eyes.... and met a glinting, golden leer. Scaled claws had replaced agile, sensitive hands. A fine trickle of blood formed a crimson pattern across healed over scars. The creature laughed in a voice she heard before, a voice that fought to consume her during battles. It was the voice that was her heritage.


"I will claim you yet daughter," it breathed, enveloping her in its foul stench. Claws raked deep into her flesh. "I will mark you as mine... mine..." it hissed. Mute with horror, Kilyannamaia looked down to see her feet becoming cloven, her legs beginning to bow... Brownish-red scales started to replace creamy skin...

Kilyannamaia's scream pierced the chamber. She jerked up, her expression wild, sweat pouring from her brow. Anomen and Jaheira, who were nearest, wrestled to still her flailing arms and attempts at casting.


"Child, you were dreaming. Hush.." whispered Jaheira, trying to rock the struggling elf. Terrified and shaking, Kilyannamaia pushed at Jaheira and continued to sob, her thrashing increasing in violence.

"No! You won't have me! I will never submit! I won't!" screamed Kilyannamaia, now hysterical.

Yoshimo, Minsc and Valygar looked on, powerless, their expressions desperate.

"Sshh.. " whispered the druid, giving Anomen a helpless and imploring look. Anomen nodded, there was only one thing that could be done in a situation like this.

Dropping to his knees, one hand light upon Kilyannamaia's back, he began to chant. His eyes closed, he invoked the presence of his god, and asked for a boon that would restore Kilyannamaia to a state of calm.

After what seemed an eternity Kilyannamaia's shoulders started to slump, and her wild sobs began to subside.

"Here child," drink this," commanded Jaheira in a firm, yet gentle, voice, forcing a cup of something herbal into Kilyannamaia's hands. Dazed and mute, she downed the liquid and allowed the druid to ease her back down.

Minsc, somewhat wary, approached, holding his hamster upon his palm, "Boo says he will sleep beside little Kilyannamaia tonight," he stated, his voice unusually soft. "Evil will not stand a chance with Boo there to kick its tender parts."