We arrived in the region to the west of the Nashkel mines. This was the last area around Nashkel on my list.
One of the folks we ran into out here in the wilderness was a gnome with mahogany skin. He was running towards us, asked us to wait up.
I looked to the rest of the group who shrugged back at me. Didn't look too dangerous, so we let the gnome catch up to us.
"Thank you… just let an old man catch his breath… Now then, let me introduce myself. I am Hafiz bin Watat, astrologer, scientist, and mage. Please, tell me your name."
With a name like that, this guy had to be from… what's the name of the Forgotten Realm's version of the Middle East again?... Zakhara? A gnome all the way from Zakhara was pretty rare. I didn't remember this guy being an assassin. So I answered him honestly.
"Sonny! Yes, that's the name I remember. I've seen your face in my dreams," Hafiz exclaimed. "The dreams of you are always ones of blood and death, and there is another man who watches, an evil man. They always end with your death or mine. It is so strange that I should meet you, the focus of these dreams. You must by very special. Tell me about yourself perhaps I can help you."
I blinked, then rubbed my chin. "A lesser man would have attempted to attack me in order to prevent their death foretold by the dream, then died in the attempt. By offering to help me instead, you have effectively avoided such a fate. Very wise."
Hafiz grinned. "Like I said, astrologer, scientist, and mage. I'm well aware that I should try to avoid creating a self-fulfilling prophesy. You still haven't told me about yourself though."
I gave him the short version. Used to live at Candlekeep with foster-father, was being hunted by someone who wants me dead who ended up killing my foster-father, currently trying to solve the Iron Crisis while finding my father's killer.
Hafiz considered my story carefully as I told it to him. "I am sorry to bring back such painful memories. I wish to help you, and in doing so, end these dreams that plague me. Here take this. When you do battle against the six who serve your father's killer, read this scroll and it will protect you from their wrath."
…eh? Who were the six who served my father's killer, exactly? Tazok, for sure, as well as the other two goons who fight in the final battle. That's only three. Does Davaeron count? Mulahey? No, those two serve Rieltar. I doubt Rieltar and the other two leaders of the Iron Throne count. Not the small army of dopplegangers under his command.
We would later identify the Protection scroll Hafiz passed to us as a Protection from Magic scroll.
This particular Protection scroll was an incredibly valuable cheat item which COMPLETELY prevents any spells from affecting the recipient, or cast any spells for that matter. There were exactly six such scrolls in BG1:
- one sold by Thalantyr at High Hedge
- one sold by Halbazzer at Sorcerous Sundries
- one from Ramazith's Tower, which I already have,
- this one from Hafiz here at Gibberling Mountains,
- one carried by Bentan, a priest of Ilmater, at Firewine bridge
- and one in chapter 6 under Candlekeep
…oh. I should probably go collect them all. I'm missing the ones sold by Thalantyr and Halbazzer, and the one donated by Bentan. More items on my bucket list I guess.
Oh, right! Maybe the six servants who served my father's killer Hafiz was talking about were the six acolytes in the Iron Throne HQ? That fight has 4 spell casters, 2 mages and 2 priests. I suppose that would make a sensible place to use the scroll then.
Hafiz also donated to us a scroll of Sleep and Color Spray. It wasn't much, but every bit helps. Thanks Hafiz!
---
A soldier dressed in Flaming Fist issued uniform was tromping around the woods himself, who hailed us from afar. "Hold! I am a member of the Flaming Fist, and require that you identify yourselves."
"We're adventurers," I answered.
He looked me up and down, frowning. He then looked at the rest of my party and nodded.
"Adventurers, huh? Well, you should keep a look out. There's been quite a few reports about bandits causing trouble 'round these parts," he said to Khalid.
"I'm still here, you know," I said, quite cross.
"I've been searching for a deserter. His name is Samuel, and he should be traveling with a woman. There is a bounty of 50 gold for his capture," the soldier said to Khalid, decidedly NOT looking at me.
I made a big show of also not looking at the soldier. "Well, since no one was talking to me, I didn't hear a word. Let's go."
As we left, I grumbled under my breath for a full minute.
---
Finding secret items on the field is so much more difficult in person compared to the field. I had to have the party move across the entire lower section of a cliff wall in order to find what I was looking for; a small crack on the cliff wall. I eventually found the little crack (x=1955, y=2370), and fished out from it a star sapphire, an Iol gem (not a L-O-L gem, an I-O-L gem), and an enchanted ring with a flame motif on it. This was a Ring of Fire Resistance, which provided 40% fire resistance.
Looking at the star sapphire gave me pause. I had actually forgotten about this star sapphire in the cache. Not nearly as valuable as a Staff of Power, but the gem was worth a small fortune. Even I had to admit it was getting more than a little ridiculous that I was finding hidden treasure so easily, even as a thief with good eyes.
Since I was scouting ahead of the group, maybe I shouldn't show my find to the rest? I could hide the gems since I was in charge of the gem pouch and group money, but not for the Ring of Fire Resistance if I wanted someone other than myself to use it.
I could just say that I slipped it of the fingers of the Flaming Fist merchant. It even had a flaming motif, though no fist. Yeah, that was probably a better idea.
In the meantime, since I was using the Helmet of Defence, I assigned the Ring of Fire Resistance to myself to jack up my fire resistance to 60% total. That way, all it took was one Resist Fire and Cold spell from Jaheira to reach 110% resistance, which would work great with a firebomb & backstab combination ambush.
---
Searching the area further, we came upon a rather well-dressed noblewoman standing over a man laying on the ground.
"Please wait a moment, kind sir! You must forgive me for my appearance, but I've been wandering the wilderness for more than a week now. You've got to help me! My friend is badly hurt, and he might die if he doesn't get assistance son. Please, help me."
"The one writhing in pain on the ground. What is his name?" Jaheira asked, suspicious.
"His name is Sam- Samuel. Will you help me, sir?"
"Absolutely!" I said immediately.
Jaheira gave me a look. "Shouldn't we think about this first? Desertion is considered a serious-"
"It's fine!" I declared.
Anything to get back at the idiot who was rude to me earlier!
The woman bid us to bring Samuel to a priest in the Temple of Wisdom at the Friendly Arm Inn, Gellana Mirrorshade.
"So far? Why not a closer priest? Temple of Helm in Nashkel is closest. Temple of the Morninglord in Beregost is still much closer too," Neera asked, eyebrow raised. "You said he doesn't have long left to live right?"
"Gellana is the only one we can trust," the woman said. "Please, you already know he's a deserter. Not any priest will do."
"What even happened to him?" I asked, checking his condition. He had a fever and was clutching at his stomach, and his lips were dry and cracked.
"I… I don't know. He was drinking spring water, and started to throw up and purging watery, uh, excrement. He's been like this for days."
…diarrhoea, really? Wait, no. Diarrhoea can actually be fatal if left severe and left untreated for an extensive period. Modern methods of hydration doesn't exist right now. I guess diseases that would be considered minor issues in the modern era can be deadly in high fantasy settings.
Weighing in at 115 pounds, Samuel was no lightweight. Fortunately we had decided to come here AFTER Khalid had gotten the Gauntlets of Ogre Power. Otherwise we'd be hard pressed to carry him!
Beofre she left, Lena donated a jade ring to us. She could afford it considering the trouble we were taking!
---
Along the way to Friendly Arm Inn ALL the way north, we stopped by the Temple of the Morning Lord at Beregost. There we turned in Bassilus's Holy Symbol to the head priest, Kelddath Ormhyr.
"It must have ben a difficult battle to take down such a powerful man. Yours is a service that will not soon be forgotten," Kelddath said. "It is a pleasure to give you the full reward for which you have worked."
5k gold pieces was a very nice reward for a job which was so easy at our levels. Really, without Bassilus's army of minions, even a low-level party could make this money easily if they have enough means to interrupt his spells.
---
One day and 16 hours later, we safely arrived at the Temple of Wisdom in the Friendly Arm Inn compound. Gellana Mirrorshade was indeed willing to receive the deserter. "I am glad you have brought him to me. Such a fine young man. It's a pity that he let himself be persuaded by Lena to desert the Fist. Well, nothing can be done about hat, but something can be done about his health. For the service that you have provided, I want you to have some potions as a show of my gratitude."
Said potions were a Potion of Heroism and an Elixir of Health too. Funnily enough, word would spread of our deed, but in our favor in spite of helping a deserter. I guess mercy is looked upon favorably than in the realms?
Best of all, I got to spite that rude Flaming Fist soldier from earlier! Mission success!
We were dead tired from rushing up all the way from the realms bordering Amn all the way to the Friendly Arm Inn, so a rest was in order.