Just Means

Chapter 3 - A Spike of Silver

It only took Blacksmith an hour to make the silver spike. The doorway required a 'silver spike created less than 24 hours ago' to open, though it did not consume the spike upon opening. Ferras had searched the last week for a portal to Toril, finding only one well known one. Unfortunetly that one, strangely called "Bump in Golden Field: Express Portal" would have dumped him in the middle of some vast plains, that he figured were probably far to the south of where he wanted to be. After doing a lot more digging, some 'service payments', filling out a few forms, and following a small mouse around the streets until early morning, he had finally been pointed to another portal that would drop him off in the middle of a forest in Cormyr (or so said the refering gnome who claimed he was from Toril). This portal was referred to as "Bump in Golden Field: Scenic route".

With the freshly made silver spike clutched in his steel gauntlet, Ferras strode through the crowd of the Great Bazaar on his way to Hive Ward. His red cloak fluttered behind him as people made way for his imposing figure. He was nearly out of the Great Bazaar when he bumped into someone. As Ferras took a step back in surprise, he used his free hand to grab the person's shoulder and steady them.

"Sorry there...." began Ferras, but his words trailed off. His hand pulled back from the figure as if it were about to bite him, and he took a step back. It was Gratok.

Gratok at first just stumbled, and was going to continue without looking at whatever huge armored idiot that had run into him, but two things made him look up. The first thing was the nagging feeling of goodness that was annoying his sub-conscious, and the second was the reaction of the armored imbicile. He looked up, and was surprised to see Ferras. Only this fool would still be wondering around the Great Bazaar while the fearsome "Soul Takers" were hunting him down. Still, Gratok was alone, and this warrior was certainly fearsome. Gratok took a step back from him, so that the two of them stood, facing each other. He flinched at the grimace of anger that spread across Ferras' face. Then he remembered. This moron was so noble, he would never attack an unarmed person, even if that person were Gratok. A wicked smile spread across Gratok's face.

"Hello Ferras. What are you still doing in town?" he said, in slick sweet voice that oozed like honey.

A furow appeared on Ferras' forehead and a dark look came over his face. "I was just leaving." He clenched his hands as he watched Gratok. If the mage made one move to cast a spell, Ferras' would draw his sword. Hurry, thought Ferras, damn you, try something, try it...

Gratok only smiled and spread his hands before him, "Ferras, my boy, no need to look so worried. Everything is going to be ok now. Everything is going to be just fine."

"Let me go Gratok. I have done nothing but help all of you. I just want to go home." said Ferras, his voice taught, his nerves spiked.

"Ferras, Ferras. I know, you have been the most wonderful companion. So it's easy to understand why we don't want you to just run away. Why do you want to go back to Toril anyway? There's no one there for you except that evil master you were always telling Bupor about."

Ferras had not meant to let on where was going. Spite at his stupidness crept into his mind. Gratok continued...

"Oh, and you probably hadn't heard. Poor Bupor...something horrible happened to h..."

Ferras' face went white as he ripped his sword out of his sheath, the silver spike was all but forgotten as it dropped and tumbled under a stall. Gratok took a step back raising his hands before him as actual fear gripped him. Could never tell how far you could push some people he thought hastily as he moved backwards...

"Now now, Ferras, you would strike an unarmed man now would you? Come on, Bup had it coming ever since he sold our old place a few years ago, come on..." he said in a shaky voice.

"YOU SNAKE! I ought to send your soul spiriling into the ABYSS! DAMN YOU! If only...."

"Now Ferras. It was pretty hard to miss that wink he gave you. Come on. He's cost us a pretty penny more than once, and you certainly are wearing a lot of pretty penny's worth..."

"That is truly all you care about. All of you...it is always just coin. You killed him over money. You killed him, I can't believe you killed him...." Ferras' huge two handed sword waved back and forth before him, it blade shimmering blue from it's magical radiance.

Starting to feel less easy about his situation, Gratok motioned past him and stepped away. His eyes darted to where the silver spike had fallen, but Ferras did not notice his glance. "Ferras, go on, I'm letting you go, go ahead, off now, go home, let me be..."

Ferras narrowed his eyes. This person so deserved death, so deserved the riteous hand of Torm to come and release him from his life. But the rules were clear. The rules defined justice, not vice versa. Following the rules despite all the emotion was what defined the Paladin. He lowered his sword. "You will get what you deserve Gratok. I have faith that you will get what you deserve." With that, he stormed past him down the narrow street, his red cloak fluttering behind him.

As he left Gratok behind, Gratok's fear dispersed and a smile creased across his face. He reached under the stall and pulled out the spike. "My brainless friend, I certainly hope so..." he thought to himself. With a quick spell he vanished, and then began to follow Ferras. As he walked, he loosed another spell that summoned his imp to him. "Kotarg, go, go to Thembo and tell him to head....." he looked at the direction Ferras was going, "...tell him to head to where the Hive Ward meets the Market Ward. Tell him to hurry." The imp disappeared with a poof. Gratok smiled as he grasped the still warm spike in his hand. Things were going well today....

Ferras made his way through the last edges of the Great Bazaar and checked over his shoulder. Behind him were only the swarming masses of people, and he was about to continue having seen nothing out of the ordinary, but right before he continued, he saw the shimmering translucent image of Gratok slipping through the crowd. Ferras whipped his head so that he was facing front again, and continued to walk. A grim satisfaction overcame him. So, even Gratok was human. He had forgotten that one of the valuable items that Ferras wore was the helm of perception. The helm allowed him to see hidden or magically cloaked beings, and thus, he could see the invisible form of the evil mage. He acted as normal as he could, though he could feel the adrenaline pushing through his veins. Certainly Gratok was alone. He could not have sent for the others. He just had to make it to the portal and then he could use the spike.....THE SPIKE!!! In his haste and anger he had tossed it aside. He named himself a fool multiple times. Now what. He continued to walk towards his goal. Had the mage picked it up, or had it fallen and been picked up by some beggar. He must lose Gratok...

Gratok watched the paladin for some time. The stupid paladin walked down the street oblivious to anything around him. Gratok smiled and began reading spell components that he would need to 'deal' with this upstart. No one walked away with thousands in coin of magical armor and weaponry just like that. Sure, he had helped them, but he would have been no where without them. Besides, if you counted all the money that Bupor used to buy Ferras free of the demon, then it worked out that Ferras had finally paid that off, and now had earned nothing but his freedom. Still however the paladin counted his magical weapons as his, earned completely, and had never considered the money used to free him as any sort of debt. This was all Bupors fault anyway. That sniveling fool should have died 5 years ago when that demon came for him. Well, no matter, soon everything would be wrapped up just fine. What was the imbicile doing now? He had stopped and was speaking to a tout, one of the small boys that made a living off the streets of Sigil. Gratok kept his distance. Ferras gave the boy a sizable pouch, and the tote boy ran off in a hurry. *** Gratok summons servant, goes after boy. *** About five minutes later, Ferras stopped at a small stall at the side of the road and ducked into the tent. Gratok kept his distance but moved so he could see into the tent. He could see Ferras within, moving about, perhaps looking at items. About 5 minutes later he came out of the tent and continued on his way. Again, he stopped another boy and exchanged words, and a small sack of money. Gratok had no more servants to call upon. What was taking his servant so long?!? Curiousity was burning in Gratok, but there was little he could do to satisfy it. He could only watch as the second tout boy walked away. He would just have to wait until Ferras was defeated, before he could ask him what the heck he thought he was doing.

Ferras was running very low on funds. He had used up most of his money on the first boy for another silver spike, and he had scrounged enough for a pen and paper to write the note. He would have liked to send another boy to get another spike, as backup, but he could not afford it. Ferras realized he had to stall for time and went slowly, stopping to buy a couple snacks and something to drink, using up the rest of his funds. He felt like he was squandering it, but realized he had to stall somehow, and after all, he needed to eat. It was about 30 minutes later when he arrived at the corner of Razor and Pinthork. The intersection was an unremarkable meeting between the two dirty cobbled streets, but it was the alley a few feet away that interested Ferras. Down the alley, a few twisty turns through backstreets, and one ended up at the portal to Toril. He walked to the corner, crossed his arms, and began to stand. He watched Gratok walk down the street and sit on the stairs across from him. He made no motion, and continued to stand. The tout boy would be here soon with his spike, he hoped. And hopefully the other boy....

summary: group comes

confront Ferras, tell him stuff about bad stuff

Mercykillers come out of thin air about them all, arresting them. Battle breaks out. In anger of being tricked, Gratok begins casting finger of death on Ferras, but at last moment Ferras turns and punches him (because Ferras can see him even though he's invisible), disrupting spell. Spike tumbles out of Gratok's belt. Ferras grabs it and runs.

Ferras makes it to portal, opens it, and runs through. He appears in a forest.

Chapter 4 - Lost and Found

Ferras wanders through forest for a couple days. Comes to small town in Cormyr. Goes to larger town. Ends up in the Angry Ogre Inn. He is sitting in corner, sulking, staring at meal, when Elric approaches him. "Excuse me sir". Looks up, realizes it's Elric a little while later. Invited to go and sit with friends. Inviting on quest. Goes along.
Next morning, they leave for Candlekeep on chariot of fire.

In town called blah, time goes backwards.

Next day on road, approached by traveling guy, offers some magical stuff. Kory asks god question about time going backwards. At night, traveling guy attacks with bad guys. After battle going, suddenly start of battle again. We do much better second time around. Ferras deals massive blows to Ogre.

Chapter 5 - Candlekeep and back

Group found the bad guys wagons, and found nothing. Returned to find all bodies gone (woman got away). Scryed on woman, saw her raising dead in a temple of mask. Continued to Candlekeep, investigating for temples of mask along with way. In larger town, found temple of mask (after jumping to conclusion that it wasn't), and found that she had been there. Continued to candlekeep where found that it was 2500 gold to gain entrance, but waived it for keepers of the realm. Investigated guy, and time stuff. Found out we had to go to Zentil keep to find out more. Also, costs 10 000 gold per day to pay a scribe to do stuff. Researched places to get treasure to pay for the scribe.

Left there, with places of treasure along way to Zentil keep. Came to town, where blue dragon and invisible mage were destroying. Ferras charged, party attacks. Ferras sticks his lance into the dragon, and leaps off his phantom steed, two-handed sword arcing back and forth. Party meanwhile attacked by guy. A big demon guy comes out from behind building and attacks. Dragon takes off after Ferras deals another nasty blow. Ferras turns to demon. Demon pelting Wolanin. Things going ok. Dragon sweeps down and gets a bunch of us. Nasty. Ferras dropped by demon, possibly killed. Then dragon killed and wipes out on party and demon. Mage killed. Then Xej turns and acts weird. Walks over to fallen Wolanin, and breaks staff of magi. Xej gone, Wolanin killed. Demon was illusion, Ferras gets up. Dragon, mage body, and everything vanish. (they had same purple time aura. Theorized from future, sent to attack us.)

Elric scryed on Xej and saw him on another plane reading a book. Made plans to have Wolanin raised.

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