masterghandalf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
masterghandalf) wrote2024-05-24 06:42 am
masterghandalf) wrote2024-05-24 06:42 am
Shadows of Doom Chapter Three: Doomed Not to Walk Alone
This is a repost from Das_sporking2. Previous installments of this sporking may be found here.
Warning: This chapter contains some violence, and brief discussion of a homophobic plot point.
MG: Well, everyone, it’s time to continue our journey through Ed Greenwood’s Shadows of Doom! Last time, Storm mentored some Harpers (and got stabbed), Elminster wallowed in self-pity a bit more and then wandered out of Shadowdale (accidentally traumatizing a small child in the process) before ultimately being attacked by an unknown assailant. Today, Elminster gets a traveling companion, and some Harpers get an assignment. Joining us once again will be Errezha and Calassara!
Chapter Three: Doomed Not to Walk Alone
Errezha: Hmm; the second chapter in a row to have the word “doom” in its title… considering the book is Shadows of Doom, I wonder if that will become a trend? And so, we open as The four brigands, intent on robbing an old man in fine robes, the sort of person who might well have a gold coin or two stitched into belt or boot top, did not hear their doom coming down on them. Excuse me, but fine robes? Elminster has consistently been described as ragged and, indeed, filthy. Even if his robes were fine at one point, I somehow doubt they still are! More likely, the bandits in question would have taken him for a vagabond and passed over him as not likely to have anything worth taking.
Calassara: Perhaps they just really, really wanted his pipe? Well, it turns out the “doom” coming for these particular unlucky bandits isn’t from Elminster himself. One looked up too late. Long brown hair swirled as a leather-clad figure raced through the trees, sword held high. The staring brigand raised his dagger too slowly. He spun to a blood-spattered fall, throat cut open, as the swordswoman stormed into their midst. It’s Sharantyr! …who must have been going after Elminster when she left abruptly last chapter… We’re told how Sharantyr was trained by Storm, and most of the bandits are no match for her (even when Storm isn’t present, we have to hear about how wonderful she is! This is getting rather excessive…) And then, for some reason, we have a digression about how the bandit leader is also a master swordsman. Balrik Daershun was also counted fast and able with a blade. We get several paragraphs dedicated to all the Sembian and Cormyrean soldiers he’s killed and how his fellow outlaws toasted him for it, and how though he fears arrows from afar, he fears no man who attacks him with a blade. After that first whirl and flurry of steel, Balrik began to think he’d not be given time enough to learn to fear women who swung swords. *crossly* Well, considering swordswomen seem to be not uncommon in your world, that seems like quite an oversight, doesn’t it?
Errezha: Or women with magic as well, perhaps – a much more sensible way to fight, in my opinion! We then cut back to Elminster as he twists away from the bandit who was holding him (I thought he was out cold?) since they were apparently too insistent on stealing all the magic items he has on him to bother slitting his throat (speaking of oversights…). He manages to pull himself to his feet and spots Sharantyr fighting the three remaining bandits. These were experienced warriors, not mere hungry hackers and stabbers. They would not fall easily, for all that they still gaped at her in wonder. *she sighs* Of course they did. A woman—and so pretty, too, though her eyes held cold death for them, and her blade hissed like a striking serpent in her hand. And of course, we just have to pause in the middle of the fight to notice Sharantyr’s looks! Because that, clearly, is the important thing.
Calassara: Elminster can tell Sharantyr is tiring, though; suddenly she doubles over and one of the bandits tries to stab her, but Balrik calls out that it’s a trick. And indeed Sharantyr suddenly “recovers,” slashes that bandit’s throat and throws the body at Balrik. While he’s distracted, she turns, that beautiful long hair swirling to kill the last bandit, Albeir, We get several sentences describing how brave and skilled Albeir is, only for him to turn tail and run from Sharantyr; how underwhelming. She tosses a dagger at him, which catches him in the ear, and then he grabs Elminster to use as a human shield. Sharantyr is about to run to help when Albeir collapses. Elminster looked down with evident sadness at the bloody dagger he held. Oh, please, considering all the people you’ve killed without a trace of regret, it’s a little late for me to expect you’re suddenly saddened now!
Errezha: And so now Balrik is left alone facing Sharantyr and Elminster, thinking ruefully about how Tymora has clearly spat on him today. Balrik and Sharantyr trade blows for a bit. Gods, this woman was not human! Where in the name of Tempus had she learned to wield a bla— *glancing down at herself* I wasn’t aware being nonhuman came with inherent skill with the sword – that blade tutor Mother hired, the one who declared me, and I quote, “hopeless,” together with a long string of curses, will no doubt be thrilled to hear it. Balrik suddenly sees an opening and disarms Sharantyr, but she only tells him good fight, carrion and stabs him in the gut with a knife. Sneaky and underhanded – that I approve of. As he’s dying, he manages to gasp out his name, and asks hers, which she gives. And then Balrik collapses to the ground dead. Wasn’t it so important we spend a decent chunk of this chapter on this completely random bandit? He was such a compelling character, too!
Calassara: Alas, he met the fate of all minor Greenwood villains, dying in the same chapter he was introduced! Sharantyr is left staring at where he grazed her arm, thinking she’s getting old (…really? I’d thought she was rather young…) while Elminster stares at the lady in leathers while gathering his things (*sigh* of course he did…). “I wondered, for a time, if life was still worth the living. It is, and I thank you for saving mine to run awhile longer.” Elminster looked around at the trees and added quietly, “How much longer, I wonder?” He shrugged. It’s not even been a day since he lost his powers, and he’s already on the verge of giving up on life entirely? Really? Sharantyr, for her part, asks Elminster why he didn’t use magic, since she’s seen him take down whole squads of Zhentarim, including mages, with no effort. Finally, he admits his powers are gone, and after a moment to digest that, Sharantyr asks what he’s going to do now. He admits he’s got a lot of reading to catch up on - please, I saw you almost burn a priceless historical tome out of sheer frustration not two chapters ago! – and that he used to harp (really, when? And Greenwood, what did I tell you about leaving my profession alone?).
Errezha: Elminster goes on to tell Sharantyr he harped under the skilled teaching of a fair lady, and Sharantyr asks if she was fairer than her and gah, is she flirting with him and if so, stop it! Elminster seems to think it’s rather flirtatious at least, as he responds in kind as she hands him his knife back. “My memory says yes, but what are mind images beside living beauty? She’s long dust, now.” *she makes an exaggerated gagging noise* He admits this was in Myth Drannor before it fell, and beg pardon, I didn’t spork Elminster in Myth Drannor myself, but from what I read about its contents, I don’t think that happened… This seems to stir Sharantyr’s sympathies, for whatever reason, and she tells Elminster he deserves better than this (no he doesn’t!) and he tells her to stop crying into his robes, since they were expensive and he bought them somewhere that doesn’t exist anymore. *she rolls her eyes* What a paragon of compassion, our Elminster is. He then tells Sharantyr that they won’t exist anymore either if they stand around sobbing in the middle of the wilderness; he promises her he’ll be all right, and the scene ends there.
Calassara: We cut to Lhaeo, as There came a knock on the door—not the first time that had happened, nor yet the last. *blankly* Doesn’t that… go without saying? It’s not like Elminster and Lhaeo are hermits – they live in a decent sized village where they’re well known, people come to see them! Anyway, it’s Storm and two strange men at the door, so Lhaeo starts speaking in simpering tones and asks Storm how she’s doing. She asks if Elminster’s home, and Lhaeo admits he’s gone. She thanks him and they exchange farewells, and we cut outside to Storm, Belkram and Itharr as they ask if that was really Elminster’s scribe. Ah… why wouldn’t he be? Lhaeo did or said nothing out of the ordinary that whole conversation!
MG: Ah, well… I might have spoken a little too soon when I said that Greenwood completely dropped the idea that Lhaeo pretends to be a gay stereotype to distract people from the fact that he’s a secret prince, which works… somehow. Because it crops up here again in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene. No, I don’t know how Lhaeo is “simpering” – literally all he did in this scene was answer Storm’s questions, with neither his speech nor his mannerisms seeming in any way out of the ordinary – but apparently it was enough to make Belkram and Itharr have a hard time believing he’s Elminster’s scribe (because they think he’s gay and that gay men can’t be scribes? Or do they think he’s Elminster’s lover as well as, or instead of, his scribe? Or are they just being judgmental, homophobic assholes? *shrugs*). No, I have no idea what the thought process behind any of this is, nor do I want to.
Errezha: And to think, I’d almost wiped my mind of that memory… Storm looked at them both. “Be not hasty in judgment of Elminster’s true friend,” she said calmly. “He is not as he appears, for good reasons, and he is very worried for the safety of Elminster. And of course, Storm berates the Harpers for misjudging Lhaeo… because he’s not really that way, after all! *she makes a disgusted face* And so, she gives them their assignment – to follow and guard Elminster. Itharr asks if she’s coming with them, and Storm looks like she’s about to burst into tears before composing herself and telling them there are reasons she can’t do this herself. Belkram asks if it has to do with Mystra, and when Storm is surprised, he admits he reads a lot, including from old books most people have forgotten (don’t tell Elminster, because he might burn them in a fit of temper!). Storm warns Belkram to be careful with what he knows, for his own safety, and Itharr wonders if that means to be careful with him, too. Storm hugs them both and tells them to get on their way and return to her with news of what’s going on with Elminster. Hurry! For all his years, Elminster walks fast and can find trouble as well as men half his age. Or less,” Well, that’s certainly an understatement… She warns them not to trust the gods or magic right now, because strange things are afoot; Itharr thanks her for the chance to spar with her, and Belkram says this… “If you grow lonely, mind, and want a man about the place …” *spluttering* You barely know this woman… are you proposing to her? But Storm is amused and tells them again to get going as Elminster waits for no one, and the scene ends.
Calassara: We cut to Sharantyr as she and Elminster have reached an overgrown wilderness area, and she asks where they aren’t (beg pardon, but aren’t you a ranger? And isn’t this still in less than a day’s walking distance from your own home? Shouldn’t you know this already?). Elminster says they’re near Daggerdale, which apparently isn’t a place you want to be caught in during the night…
MG: Considering at this point in the timeline Daggerdale was more-or-less in a state of anarchy, being disputed between its traditional lord and the Zhentarim, that’s probably an understatement…
Calassara: …sounds a bit like parts of the River Kingdoms back home. *she sighs* Though I do have some good memories of the River Kingdoms too… where were we? Ah, yes, Sharantyr asks if they should make camp and she can hunt, and Elminster admits he never carries food with him, since he’s always been able to get it with magic (magic can be thwarted – how has this man lived longer than a thousand years?). Sharantyr tells him to wait here and heads off, and the scene ends there.
Errezha: We cut to Sharantyr returning with rabbits, berries, and mushrooms, apologizing for taking so long – apparently this region really is dangerous, and she even had to dodge orc arrows while out foraging (that seems like something to be more alarmed about!). Elminster wonders if they should risk a fire, with orcs around, but Sharantyr assures him they’ll not bother anyone again. *she sighs* And of course, we had a potentially thrilling fight with orcs off-page. Elminster grouses about being ordered around by women – old man you serve a goddess, how is this new for you? But then he winks at Sharantyr, so I guess we’re supposed to take it that he’s not really being a sexist cretin. *she rolls her eyes* He follows after Sharantyr and she leads him to a clearing with an old, ruined house. Sharantyr wants to keep moving, since they’re high enough up here to be clearly seen, but Elminster wants to enjoy the sunset, and makes an obscene gesture at Sharantyr when she tries to get him moving again. What a wonderful person. They end up hiding in the ruins and Sharantyr asks if Elminster can cook; he claims he can if she makes a fire, and the scene ends as she heads off to get some wood.
Calassara: And so, we cut to Belkram and Itharr as they find the bodies of the bandits from earlier and talk about how they likely died. Because clearly, that was a scene so important we needed to go over it all again. Please, Greenwood – it wasn’t all that exciting the first time. They wonder if Elminster was here, since Storm told them he collects troubles as roaming cats find fleas (please; based on how he dresses, I’m quite sure Elminster’s found plenty of those in his time, too). They can’t believe that a feeble old man did this (have they just not noticed Sharantyr’s tracks?) and wonder if this is a false trail; they end up deciding they can’t follow it in the dark, in any case. They drag the bandit bodies off the trail and hide them and make camp near Shadowdale; Belkram complains about how they could have been at Storm’s house tonight; he and Itharr grin at each other as a pack of wolves come across the bandit bodies and start eating them. You know, the juxtaposition of Belkram and Itharr talking about Storm, and scavengers eating corpses, seems like it should signify something… but I doubt it’s what Greenwood meant to signify…
Errezha: And so, we cut to Elminster and Sharantyr, curled up in the ruined house as their fire has gone out. They suddenly see a flashing light outside and realize it’s magic; they go out to investigate, with Sharantyr drawing her sword while Elminster stepped to one side and melted into the dark shadow of what was left of a wall. Presumably, that’s using his thief skills from his youth – who knew he kept in practice? – and not literally melting into the shadows because, of course, he currently has no magic… Perhaps forty paces away, across rising ground, the glow hung in a little clearing amid the trees, forming an upright oval in the air. And of course, it’s a portal. A moment later, a Zhentilar soldier carrying a crossbow comes out, followed by another with a sword. A moment later, another man emerged from the flickering oval. This one wore robes of rich purple, a cruel expression, and a short, pointed black beard. He carried a wand in one hand and was followed by a third armored soldier. *rolling her eyes* Oh, look, it’s a cliched evil wizard – something we’ve never seen before in a Greenwood book!
Calassara: Perhaps this one will be interesting… but somehow I doubt he’ll live past the next chapter, alas. The wizard idly tosses his wand between his hands, and then points with it directly at where first Sharantyr, and then Elminster are standing. His soldiers form up behind him, and then he casts another spell and lights up the whole area, leaving Sharantyr and Elminster clearly visible. The looks directed back at them were not pleasant. In the sudden silence they all heard one of the guards ask, “Lord?” The man in purple replied clearly, “Kill them, of course.” And so, on a cliffhanger I’m absolutely certain will be resolved in an underwhelming way (in fact, this is now the second chapter in a row that’s ended with Elminster being menaced on the road…) the chapter comes to an end.
MG: This chapter… wasn’t terrible. The thing that confuses me most is why we spent quite a bit of time at the beginning developing an entirely disposable bandit crew who we then immediately killed off and literally never amounted to anything except for food for wolves; oh, and Elminster seems like a pretty unbearable traveling companion, and while I think we all probably guessed that already, Sharantyr has my sympathies anyway. Oh, and the “Lhaeo pretends to be a gay stereotype for poorly explained reasons” plot point briefly and inexplicable resurfaced, because we all needed more of that. Anyway, next time, Elminster and Sharantyr fight some Zhents, and learn just what’s going on here (and stumble into the actual plot of the book). We’ll see you then!
Warning: This chapter contains some violence, and brief discussion of a homophobic plot point.
MG: Well, everyone, it’s time to continue our journey through Ed Greenwood’s Shadows of Doom! Last time, Storm mentored some Harpers (and got stabbed), Elminster wallowed in self-pity a bit more and then wandered out of Shadowdale (accidentally traumatizing a small child in the process) before ultimately being attacked by an unknown assailant. Today, Elminster gets a traveling companion, and some Harpers get an assignment. Joining us once again will be Errezha and Calassara!
Chapter Three: Doomed Not to Walk Alone
Errezha: Hmm; the second chapter in a row to have the word “doom” in its title… considering the book is Shadows of Doom, I wonder if that will become a trend? And so, we open as The four brigands, intent on robbing an old man in fine robes, the sort of person who might well have a gold coin or two stitched into belt or boot top, did not hear their doom coming down on them. Excuse me, but fine robes? Elminster has consistently been described as ragged and, indeed, filthy. Even if his robes were fine at one point, I somehow doubt they still are! More likely, the bandits in question would have taken him for a vagabond and passed over him as not likely to have anything worth taking.
Calassara: Perhaps they just really, really wanted his pipe? Well, it turns out the “doom” coming for these particular unlucky bandits isn’t from Elminster himself. One looked up too late. Long brown hair swirled as a leather-clad figure raced through the trees, sword held high. The staring brigand raised his dagger too slowly. He spun to a blood-spattered fall, throat cut open, as the swordswoman stormed into their midst. It’s Sharantyr! …who must have been going after Elminster when she left abruptly last chapter… We’re told how Sharantyr was trained by Storm, and most of the bandits are no match for her (even when Storm isn’t present, we have to hear about how wonderful she is! This is getting rather excessive…) And then, for some reason, we have a digression about how the bandit leader is also a master swordsman. Balrik Daershun was also counted fast and able with a blade. We get several paragraphs dedicated to all the Sembian and Cormyrean soldiers he’s killed and how his fellow outlaws toasted him for it, and how though he fears arrows from afar, he fears no man who attacks him with a blade. After that first whirl and flurry of steel, Balrik began to think he’d not be given time enough to learn to fear women who swung swords. *crossly* Well, considering swordswomen seem to be not uncommon in your world, that seems like quite an oversight, doesn’t it?
Errezha: Or women with magic as well, perhaps – a much more sensible way to fight, in my opinion! We then cut back to Elminster as he twists away from the bandit who was holding him (I thought he was out cold?) since they were apparently too insistent on stealing all the magic items he has on him to bother slitting his throat (speaking of oversights…). He manages to pull himself to his feet and spots Sharantyr fighting the three remaining bandits. These were experienced warriors, not mere hungry hackers and stabbers. They would not fall easily, for all that they still gaped at her in wonder. *she sighs* Of course they did. A woman—and so pretty, too, though her eyes held cold death for them, and her blade hissed like a striking serpent in her hand. And of course, we just have to pause in the middle of the fight to notice Sharantyr’s looks! Because that, clearly, is the important thing.
Calassara: Elminster can tell Sharantyr is tiring, though; suddenly she doubles over and one of the bandits tries to stab her, but Balrik calls out that it’s a trick. And indeed Sharantyr suddenly “recovers,” slashes that bandit’s throat and throws the body at Balrik. While he’s distracted, she turns, that beautiful long hair swirling to kill the last bandit, Albeir, We get several sentences describing how brave and skilled Albeir is, only for him to turn tail and run from Sharantyr; how underwhelming. She tosses a dagger at him, which catches him in the ear, and then he grabs Elminster to use as a human shield. Sharantyr is about to run to help when Albeir collapses. Elminster looked down with evident sadness at the bloody dagger he held. Oh, please, considering all the people you’ve killed without a trace of regret, it’s a little late for me to expect you’re suddenly saddened now!
Errezha: And so now Balrik is left alone facing Sharantyr and Elminster, thinking ruefully about how Tymora has clearly spat on him today. Balrik and Sharantyr trade blows for a bit. Gods, this woman was not human! Where in the name of Tempus had she learned to wield a bla— *glancing down at herself* I wasn’t aware being nonhuman came with inherent skill with the sword – that blade tutor Mother hired, the one who declared me, and I quote, “hopeless,” together with a long string of curses, will no doubt be thrilled to hear it. Balrik suddenly sees an opening and disarms Sharantyr, but she only tells him good fight, carrion and stabs him in the gut with a knife. Sneaky and underhanded – that I approve of. As he’s dying, he manages to gasp out his name, and asks hers, which she gives. And then Balrik collapses to the ground dead. Wasn’t it so important we spend a decent chunk of this chapter on this completely random bandit? He was such a compelling character, too!
Calassara: Alas, he met the fate of all minor Greenwood villains, dying in the same chapter he was introduced! Sharantyr is left staring at where he grazed her arm, thinking she’s getting old (…really? I’d thought she was rather young…) while Elminster stares at the lady in leathers while gathering his things (*sigh* of course he did…). “I wondered, for a time, if life was still worth the living. It is, and I thank you for saving mine to run awhile longer.” Elminster looked around at the trees and added quietly, “How much longer, I wonder?” He shrugged. It’s not even been a day since he lost his powers, and he’s already on the verge of giving up on life entirely? Really? Sharantyr, for her part, asks Elminster why he didn’t use magic, since she’s seen him take down whole squads of Zhentarim, including mages, with no effort. Finally, he admits his powers are gone, and after a moment to digest that, Sharantyr asks what he’s going to do now. He admits he’s got a lot of reading to catch up on - please, I saw you almost burn a priceless historical tome out of sheer frustration not two chapters ago! – and that he used to harp (really, when? And Greenwood, what did I tell you about leaving my profession alone?).
Errezha: Elminster goes on to tell Sharantyr he harped under the skilled teaching of a fair lady, and Sharantyr asks if she was fairer than her and gah, is she flirting with him and if so, stop it! Elminster seems to think it’s rather flirtatious at least, as he responds in kind as she hands him his knife back. “My memory says yes, but what are mind images beside living beauty? She’s long dust, now.” *she makes an exaggerated gagging noise* He admits this was in Myth Drannor before it fell, and beg pardon, I didn’t spork Elminster in Myth Drannor myself, but from what I read about its contents, I don’t think that happened… This seems to stir Sharantyr’s sympathies, for whatever reason, and she tells Elminster he deserves better than this (no he doesn’t!) and he tells her to stop crying into his robes, since they were expensive and he bought them somewhere that doesn’t exist anymore. *she rolls her eyes* What a paragon of compassion, our Elminster is. He then tells Sharantyr that they won’t exist anymore either if they stand around sobbing in the middle of the wilderness; he promises her he’ll be all right, and the scene ends there.
Calassara: We cut to Lhaeo, as There came a knock on the door—not the first time that had happened, nor yet the last. *blankly* Doesn’t that… go without saying? It’s not like Elminster and Lhaeo are hermits – they live in a decent sized village where they’re well known, people come to see them! Anyway, it’s Storm and two strange men at the door, so Lhaeo starts speaking in simpering tones and asks Storm how she’s doing. She asks if Elminster’s home, and Lhaeo admits he’s gone. She thanks him and they exchange farewells, and we cut outside to Storm, Belkram and Itharr as they ask if that was really Elminster’s scribe. Ah… why wouldn’t he be? Lhaeo did or said nothing out of the ordinary that whole conversation!
MG: Ah, well… I might have spoken a little too soon when I said that Greenwood completely dropped the idea that Lhaeo pretends to be a gay stereotype to distract people from the fact that he’s a secret prince, which works… somehow. Because it crops up here again in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene. No, I don’t know how Lhaeo is “simpering” – literally all he did in this scene was answer Storm’s questions, with neither his speech nor his mannerisms seeming in any way out of the ordinary – but apparently it was enough to make Belkram and Itharr have a hard time believing he’s Elminster’s scribe (because they think he’s gay and that gay men can’t be scribes? Or do they think he’s Elminster’s lover as well as, or instead of, his scribe? Or are they just being judgmental, homophobic assholes? *shrugs*). No, I have no idea what the thought process behind any of this is, nor do I want to.
Errezha: And to think, I’d almost wiped my mind of that memory… Storm looked at them both. “Be not hasty in judgment of Elminster’s true friend,” she said calmly. “He is not as he appears, for good reasons, and he is very worried for the safety of Elminster. And of course, Storm berates the Harpers for misjudging Lhaeo… because he’s not really that way, after all! *she makes a disgusted face* And so, she gives them their assignment – to follow and guard Elminster. Itharr asks if she’s coming with them, and Storm looks like she’s about to burst into tears before composing herself and telling them there are reasons she can’t do this herself. Belkram asks if it has to do with Mystra, and when Storm is surprised, he admits he reads a lot, including from old books most people have forgotten (don’t tell Elminster, because he might burn them in a fit of temper!). Storm warns Belkram to be careful with what he knows, for his own safety, and Itharr wonders if that means to be careful with him, too. Storm hugs them both and tells them to get on their way and return to her with news of what’s going on with Elminster. Hurry! For all his years, Elminster walks fast and can find trouble as well as men half his age. Or less,” Well, that’s certainly an understatement… She warns them not to trust the gods or magic right now, because strange things are afoot; Itharr thanks her for the chance to spar with her, and Belkram says this… “If you grow lonely, mind, and want a man about the place …” *spluttering* You barely know this woman… are you proposing to her? But Storm is amused and tells them again to get going as Elminster waits for no one, and the scene ends.
Calassara: We cut to Sharantyr as she and Elminster have reached an overgrown wilderness area, and she asks where they aren’t (beg pardon, but aren’t you a ranger? And isn’t this still in less than a day’s walking distance from your own home? Shouldn’t you know this already?). Elminster says they’re near Daggerdale, which apparently isn’t a place you want to be caught in during the night…
MG: Considering at this point in the timeline Daggerdale was more-or-less in a state of anarchy, being disputed between its traditional lord and the Zhentarim, that’s probably an understatement…
Calassara: …sounds a bit like parts of the River Kingdoms back home. *she sighs* Though I do have some good memories of the River Kingdoms too… where were we? Ah, yes, Sharantyr asks if they should make camp and she can hunt, and Elminster admits he never carries food with him, since he’s always been able to get it with magic (magic can be thwarted – how has this man lived longer than a thousand years?). Sharantyr tells him to wait here and heads off, and the scene ends there.
Errezha: We cut to Sharantyr returning with rabbits, berries, and mushrooms, apologizing for taking so long – apparently this region really is dangerous, and she even had to dodge orc arrows while out foraging (that seems like something to be more alarmed about!). Elminster wonders if they should risk a fire, with orcs around, but Sharantyr assures him they’ll not bother anyone again. *she sighs* And of course, we had a potentially thrilling fight with orcs off-page. Elminster grouses about being ordered around by women – old man you serve a goddess, how is this new for you? But then he winks at Sharantyr, so I guess we’re supposed to take it that he’s not really being a sexist cretin. *she rolls her eyes* He follows after Sharantyr and she leads him to a clearing with an old, ruined house. Sharantyr wants to keep moving, since they’re high enough up here to be clearly seen, but Elminster wants to enjoy the sunset, and makes an obscene gesture at Sharantyr when she tries to get him moving again. What a wonderful person. They end up hiding in the ruins and Sharantyr asks if Elminster can cook; he claims he can if she makes a fire, and the scene ends as she heads off to get some wood.
Calassara: And so, we cut to Belkram and Itharr as they find the bodies of the bandits from earlier and talk about how they likely died. Because clearly, that was a scene so important we needed to go over it all again. Please, Greenwood – it wasn’t all that exciting the first time. They wonder if Elminster was here, since Storm told them he collects troubles as roaming cats find fleas (please; based on how he dresses, I’m quite sure Elminster’s found plenty of those in his time, too). They can’t believe that a feeble old man did this (have they just not noticed Sharantyr’s tracks?) and wonder if this is a false trail; they end up deciding they can’t follow it in the dark, in any case. They drag the bandit bodies off the trail and hide them and make camp near Shadowdale; Belkram complains about how they could have been at Storm’s house tonight; he and Itharr grin at each other as a pack of wolves come across the bandit bodies and start eating them. You know, the juxtaposition of Belkram and Itharr talking about Storm, and scavengers eating corpses, seems like it should signify something… but I doubt it’s what Greenwood meant to signify…
Errezha: And so, we cut to Elminster and Sharantyr, curled up in the ruined house as their fire has gone out. They suddenly see a flashing light outside and realize it’s magic; they go out to investigate, with Sharantyr drawing her sword while Elminster stepped to one side and melted into the dark shadow of what was left of a wall. Presumably, that’s using his thief skills from his youth – who knew he kept in practice? – and not literally melting into the shadows because, of course, he currently has no magic… Perhaps forty paces away, across rising ground, the glow hung in a little clearing amid the trees, forming an upright oval in the air. And of course, it’s a portal. A moment later, a Zhentilar soldier carrying a crossbow comes out, followed by another with a sword. A moment later, another man emerged from the flickering oval. This one wore robes of rich purple, a cruel expression, and a short, pointed black beard. He carried a wand in one hand and was followed by a third armored soldier. *rolling her eyes* Oh, look, it’s a cliched evil wizard – something we’ve never seen before in a Greenwood book!
Calassara: Perhaps this one will be interesting… but somehow I doubt he’ll live past the next chapter, alas. The wizard idly tosses his wand between his hands, and then points with it directly at where first Sharantyr, and then Elminster are standing. His soldiers form up behind him, and then he casts another spell and lights up the whole area, leaving Sharantyr and Elminster clearly visible. The looks directed back at them were not pleasant. In the sudden silence they all heard one of the guards ask, “Lord?” The man in purple replied clearly, “Kill them, of course.” And so, on a cliffhanger I’m absolutely certain will be resolved in an underwhelming way (in fact, this is now the second chapter in a row that’s ended with Elminster being menaced on the road…) the chapter comes to an end.
MG: This chapter… wasn’t terrible. The thing that confuses me most is why we spent quite a bit of time at the beginning developing an entirely disposable bandit crew who we then immediately killed off and literally never amounted to anything except for food for wolves; oh, and Elminster seems like a pretty unbearable traveling companion, and while I think we all probably guessed that already, Sharantyr has my sympathies anyway. Oh, and the “Lhaeo pretends to be a gay stereotype for poorly explained reasons” plot point briefly and inexplicable resurfaced, because we all needed more of that. Anyway, next time, Elminster and Sharantyr fight some Zhents, and learn just what’s going on here (and stumble into the actual plot of the book). We’ll see you then!