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antishurtugal_rebornWarning: This chapter contains some deaths, violence, and mention of torture.
MG: Well, everyone, it’s time to continue our journey through Ed Greenwood’s All Shadows Fled! Last time, we had some extended “comedy” while Lorgyn and Bralatar interrogated their prisoners and Amdramnar and Argast wandered around Shadowdale. Today, we’ll follow up on the Malaugrym’s plans while the Rangers Three meet some unexpected company on the road as we barrel towards the trilogy’s grand(?) climax. Joining us once again will be Errezha and Calassara!
Chapter Sixteen: Shadows So Sharp
Errezha: *glares at MG* I hate this, and I hate you. Just so we’re clear where we all stand. But I suppose the positive side is that we’re almost done with… this… and the chapter title isn’t terrible, all things considered.
Calassara: *in mock surprise* And Errezha is looking for a positive side! Will wonders never cease?
Errezha: *flatly* Don’t get used to it. We open with Lord Mourngrym himself as he returns to the Twisted Tower and heads straight for the kitchens. We learn he’s apparently fresh from patrol, he’s disheveled and tired – Asmodeus, please tell me there isn’t going to be more comedy this time around! – and he has fresh Zhent blood staining his armor. Lovely. He starts barking orders, calling for someone named Belmer to fetch something hot… and a bottle of zzar to send to the Old Skull inn, where someone is currently giving birth. He’s sending Belmer specifically because the guest’s – husband? Lover? I’m not sure – is in a state and could use the company of someone who has been a father, and apparently Belmer qualifies. Belmer agrees, and Mourngrym fetches some stew from the kitchens before heading towards his audience chamber, which is apparently full of petitioners waiting for him. It seems he plans to eat and pass judgment at the same time. Hmmm; on the one hand, lords that are attentive to their duties are a sadly rare thing, and it’s good to see that Mourngrym cares for the concerns of the common people. On the other hand, him not only eating on his throne in front of everyone but clearly not even bothering to wash or change – or wipe the blood of his enemies off his armor, even – could well be viewed as crass and even insulting, especially in a place very concerned with hierarchy and propriety, such as my own homeland. *she wrinkles her nose in disgust* Perhaps the Dales are more… laid back…
Calassara: Errezha, everywhere is more laid-back than Cheliax. Mourngrym is at least good enough to order the servants to check and see if any of the waiting petitioners are hungry too, and to make sure they’re fed if so. He also orders his new guards to shorten their shifts so they can get some sleep, which pleases them, and heads into the audience chamber. We then cut to Amdramnar and Argast, observing Mourngrym and being darkly amused by the idea of a lord who serves the people rather than ruling over them, though they both admit they rather like him in spite of themselves. We learn that the Malaugrym killed and replaced a couple of the new guards but are wary of speaking loudly where they can be overheard, since they’re not sure they can imitate the voices, which they didn’t hear much of, properly. We then cut to Belmer leaving the tower and passing Shaerl, who is accompanied by a priest of Tyr. The priest thinks Shadowdale is as dispirited as he’s ever seen it, though Shaerl reminds him they only recently turned back the armies of Zhentil Keep which, according to the Simbul, were led by Bane himself, and that Elminster and possibly Mystra herself have been reported dead. So, summarizing things we already know, then? And which were no doubt much more exciting to see in person in that other trilogy. The priest can’t believe it’s true; Shaerl says she can produce more witnesses if he doubts it, and he tells her to go on. She further explains that many of their soldiers are dead, magic is going wild (as if that will actually matter…) and Storm has been missing for several days. The priest is very shaken by this, since he and Storm were apparently close when he was young and he’d hoped to see her tonight. This… would be a lot more powerful if I had any idea who this is, and if this whole conversation wasn’t a pile of very awkward exposition about things we already know… located near the end of the book!
Errezha: Ever does Ed Greenwood find new ways to disappoint; if that isn’t a proverb, it should be. Apparently, Storm also spoke highly of the priest, and he’s incredibly touched to hear it, and again, who is this person, and why should I care what Storm thinks of him? Shaerl gives him some words of reassurance, and Argast, watching, tells Amdramnar that she’s smooth. They then turn towards the audience chamber, where an old woman is calling on the gods to bless someone – Mourngrym, I think – while her attend adds if he keeps his promise. The old woman… launches into a lengthy monologue, for some reason:
“Now ye list and learn, Thurton! If there’s one thing this young lord of ours does, it’s keep his word! When my man, Undlejack, was still alive, he won a hand of cards off Mourngrym, playin’ the night away at the Old Skull, and the lord asked him his price.… A new roof, my man says, as bold as anything—’cuz that’s what we needed, in truth—an’ the next day, gods be blowed if the lord doesn’t show up with half a dozen guards, n’ do the roof right then! The lord himself, up on our cottage, sweatin’ along with the rest of ‘em! And when he’s done, he asks if we want the fence set straight, seein’ as they’re here … an’ up comes a cart, after, when we’re talkin’—and out of it he serves us a feast, an’ the neighbors what come to watch, too! Tells us it’s no more’n we deserve!”
Errezha: She continues that there’s no lord between the Sword Coast and the weird lands past Thay who would do the same, and I suppose I’ll take her word for it. Two other people leave the audience chamber, one weeping; apparently Mourngrym had promised to help find the body of… someone important to her, to see if they could be raised. Then Mourngrym himself appears, kisses Shaerl, and tells her that someone’s grandfather – the people we just saw, perhaps? – is missing, and asks for her help finding him. Then he notices the priest of Tyr, who he happily greets as Most Holy Arbeth – finally, a name! – who would like to meet and dine with Mourngrym and Shaerl, and we’re told once again is saddened that he probably won’t be able to see Storm. Mourngrym invites him in – assuring him that he and Shaerl rule jointly, though why that’s important at this exact moment, I don’t know – and they head inside. Amdramnar and Argast, watching all this, agree that Mounrgrym is a good ruler and can manage the cattle here until they’re ready to harvest. In the meantime, they can wait here for the Rangers Three *gag* to return. And Argast has plans: I mean to eat them alive, limb by limb, slowly, while they plead. We’ll use our everfire wand to seal the joints and keep them living. They may last several days.” “And then?” “Then we’ll reveal ourselves, and start on the rest of these cattle.” *flatly* Charming fellow. And one might think Amdramnar would have more reaction to hearing his friend means to literally eat the object of his infatuation alive…
Calassara: …but that would require Greenwood putting more than the bare minimum of effort into this. And at that moment Storm Silverhand herself appears, blowing a kiss to Guthtar, the guard officer Mourngrym spoke to earlier. Argast tries to stop her, but Guthtar warns them to never interfere with Storm (there are shapeshifters around! How do any of you know that’s actually Storm?). The Malaugrym watch just long enough to see Storm enter the audience hall, literally pick up Arbeth and twirl him around, and then kiss him on the lips. I can’t help but wonder why, if Arbeth is so important, we never heard of him before? But the Malaugrym watch and Argast loudly proclaims that this job is more interesting than he thought it would be, while he and Amdramnar both quietly reflect that These folk of Faerûn seemed to care for each other a lot more than any of the blood of Malaug ever had … and laughed a lot more, too.… Which is something I would find far more meaningful if I wasn’t afraid it was just more an excuse to show how wonderful Greenwood’s pet characters are… and if Greenwood’s pet characters didn’t have the maturity of particularly obnoxious adolescents. Has Mourngrym washed the Zhents’ blood off himself yet, by chance? Regardless, the scene ends there.
Errezha: And so, we cut to Tower of Mortoth, Sembia, Flamerule 29 as Irendue finds herself once again pulled from the magical fire and staring up into the face of one of the Malaugrym, a human face whose eyes were two dark flames. He slowly lowers her to the floor and she asks if he’s going to hurt her; he says he won’t yet (how reassuring!) and leads her out of the room, introducing himself as Bralatar as they go. In Mortoth’s study they take seats, with Bralatar using some of his tentacles to tie Irendue to her chair; she asks what he wants, and where his companion is. Bralatar says Lorgyn is off exploring the estate, and while he’s gone, Bralatar wants Irendue to show him how to use Mortoth’s crystal ball. He promises again that he won’t hurt her yet – not if she helps him – and the scene ends. That… wasn’t much, though I suppose it could be setting things up for later, not that I trust Greenwood much on that front?
Calassara: And so, we cut to Blackstaff Tower, Waterdeep, Flamerule 29 and, oh, we haven’t seen Khelben and Laeral in a while! Which makes their showing up here, so late in the last book, feel rather… random, doesn’t it? Still, when it comes to archmagi I’d certainly rather spend time with them than Elminster! Apparently, Khelben is annoyed because Storm has been using silver fire to kill Malaugrym (like she did at Low Rythryn, I guess?) since while it does ensure they’re dead, it doesn’t leave much behind to study. Laeral reminds him that the Simbul turned a bunch of Malaugrym to mushrooms and dropped them from the sky in the previous book, so there might be something left to work with there. Khelben suggests that she go to the Cavern Perilous, wherever that may be, and there work whatever spells she needs to bring them some of that residue; Laeral seems to agree, as she kisses him and heads off. Once she’s gone, the magical construct she and Khelben were working on collapses. Khelben himself, sipping some wine Laeral enchanted to be ringed with flashing lights, muses about how they’re trying to create spells to track the Malaugrym and prevent them from shapeshifting, but so far aren’t having much luck. We learn that the “Cavern Perilous” is a cave at the heart of Mount Waterdeep that the two of them like to use as a location for their most powerful workings, and he wonders if he should have gone with her, considering the risk of wild magic these days (oh, please, you’re Greenwood’s precious Chosen, nothing will actually hurt you). But before he finishes the thought, Laeral reappears, holding a rock with splattered mushroom residue all over it. That was fast! Khelben is excited by the chance to create new magic, but then he notices the tears in Laeral’s eyes. As the scene ends, His lady sighed as she came into his embrace. “I wish Elminster were still with us. Even more than holy Mystra, his presence—gruff ways and all—made me feel all was right in Faerûn, underneath the troubles of the day.” *she sighs* And thus even a scene that has nothing to do with Elminster ends up suddenly becoming about Elminster! Savored Sting, enough is enough!
MG: To be fair, Elminster raised Laeral (and Storm, and Dove); iirc, Laeral was a toddler when he took them in, so he’s probably the only father she remembers. I suppose she has the right to have genuine affection for the old goat if anyone does. Not that it makes the shilling of him here any less random, that is.
Errezha: *sniffs* I, for one, somehow doubt Elminster was much use as a foster father… but I suppose that’s neither here nor now. We cut to Elven Court Woods, Flamerule 30 where Shar – that being Sharantyr and not the goddess Shar, sadly – tells Belkram and Itharr she just saw someone nearby. Itharr asks if they were human, and Sharantyr confirms it was a young-looking man in robes, who she guesses was heading off to relieve himself. Belkram guesses he likely has companions nearby, and they should be cautious. The rangers then hear something else moving, but this time it’s only a badger. But Sharantyr thinks she saw it shift into the form of something on two legs, with eyes on stalks, which probably means Malaugrym, since doppelgangers tend to prefer cities and other large, populated areas. And if a Malaugrym is here, they’re probably stalking them. Now, which of our surviving Malaugrym could this be, I wonder? Hmmm… Itharr is glad they know what’s probably going on but wonders by the skulls of the Seven Lost Gods what they can do about it. Before they can react, they hear a shout from the direction the Malaugrym went and the sound of a magical blast. Belkram thinks they should sit and watch – oh, and not help the people being attacked? Some heroes you are! – and the scene ends.
Calassara: And so, we cut to Thuruthein Tlar, who is determined to impress his master, Orth Lantar was the wisest Red Wizard Thuruthein had ever met—and wise Red Wizards guarded and rewarded those who were truly loyal to them, for there was no more rare commodity in all of Thay. Hmmm; was our robed young man from earlier not merely a wizard’s apprentice but a Red Wizard’s apprentice, then? Now, this has potential to be interesting – if the book wasn’t almost over, and I actually trusted Greenwood to do anything with it, at least! We learn that Thuruthein thinks little of his fellow apprentices, who he views as a grasping, treacherous bunch, and suspects that their master thinks much the same of them and brought them along only as fodder for their expedition to Myth Drannor. Apparently, Thuruthein had also noticed the rangers when they noticed him and had been spying on them and preparing to cast magic – though of course, he also spent some of that time ogling Sharantyr and feeling sorry for having to hurt her – when he suddenly turns around and finds himself facing a duplicate of himself! Who then attacks him with tentacles, leaving us with no doubt of what we’re facing here. He blasts the Malaugrym at point-blank range with his wand, but it manages to slip under the blast with a shapechange and then springs at him again. He blasts it with the strongest spell he knows, but the Malaugrym quickly reforms into something with seven mouths, leaving poor Thurthein to fall backwards, crying out for his master and insisting he was always loyal as the scene ends.
Errezha: And so, we cut back to the rangers, who seem to be listening to all of this with amusement – really! – as Belkram comments that a loyal Red Wizard apprentice is a rare thing. Sharantyr wants to get out of here – very heroic indeed! – as she doesn’t want to get caught between an angry Malaugrym and an angrier Red Wizard (put that way… that might actually be wise). But Itharr wonders where her sense of adventure is (Itharr, your sense of adventure involves killing people, you’re in no position to talk!) and the scene ends. We then cut to the Red Wizard Orth Lantar himself as he’s studying a map that’s being held in the teeth of four flying skulls - *arches her eyebrow* a necromancer, I presume? – and thinking he’s on the verge of deciphering it when the crystal ball on the top of his staff suddenly starts flashing and vibrating and feels something snap in his mind, as he realizes his apprentice is in danger. He grabs a wand and summons his staff to hand, but before he can do anything, he senses that Thurthein is dead. Alas, poor Thurthein. We barely knew you. But perhaps you shall yet be avenged. In his staff’s crystal, he summons the image of Thurthein’s body being savaged by a creature that resembles a wolf before it twists itself into some horrible hybrid of bear and spider *she shudders*, laughs to itself and shambles off. Lantar declares that Thurthein’s death must indeed be avenged, lest his rivals think a Red Wizard who can’t protect his own apprentices is weak, and as he does one of his skulls rattles off a bit of doggerel verse. Lantar is stunned, realizing that this must have been a joke of Thurthein’s before he died, and then finds himself on the verge of tears from sudden grief. *stunned* Greenwood… why do I suddenly feel more for this murderous wizard than I do for your actual protagonists? Lantar sets wards to protect his campsite and vanishes, leaving his other apprentices wondering what happened. One of them accidentally triggers another prank, causing the floating skulls to taunt him and flash lights at him until he flees, and the scene ends.
Calassara: We then cut to Belkram who wonders where, by the beard of Elminster (Savored Sting! They’re swearing by Elminster like he’s a god now! Surely that’s some sort of blasphemy?) they’re running to. A good question, and Itharr says to ask Sharantyr, when suddenly the Malaugrym, in bear-spider form, pounces from a ledge on top of them. Belkram hears Sharantyr scream and charge, and fumbles for his own blade as something large and dark and hairy clawed him … something that was crouched atop Itharr, raking its talons and surging forward to bite down at the ranger beneath it with a horrible wet crunching sound that made Belkram wince as his blade finally grated free of its scabbard. Too late. Alas, I don’t really believe that Greenwood is going to kill Itharr, and so it’s hard to care about this cliffhanger. And indeed, on that note, the chapter comes to an end.
MG: This one… is better than the last one, but that’s a low bar to clear. On the one hand, much of it is taken up with Mourngrym’s audience and the events surrounding it, and in particular the arrival of a priest of Tyr who everyone acts like is very important, in a scene that could be genuinely touching if we’d ever heard of this guy at all and had been given any reason to care about him. Amdramnar and Argast’s observations about camaraderie among humans, and how the Malaugrym rarely experience that, could have been a genuinely effective, even somewhat powerful bit, if like my sporkers I could shake the feeling that this is just more shilling of Greenwood’s faves being awesome, and if it actually ended up mattering in the long run. The Bralatar and Khelben scenes were mostly just quick setup, and the fight in the woods… does not leave our supposed heroes covered in glory, to be honest, as they seem quite content to leave their fellow travelers to their fates even before realizing they’re Red Wizards. Speaking of, Greenwood somehow manages to make Orth Lantar’s grief and vengeance at the loss of his apprentice feel more real and sympathetic than virtually any other character in just a few paragraphs, so… kudos there? And, frankly, the idea of a Red Wizard ending up becoming an ally of circumstance of our protagonists against a common enemy is actually an interesting one, as is the idea of the Malaugrym accidentally making a powerful enemy like this without realizing it and having to deal with the consequences. Alas, that it’s kind of hard to care because the book is almost done; indeed, from here on we only have three more chapters to go! Not that it actually feels much like it’s moving towards a conclusion, mind. Next time, we find out the outcome of this battle, Irendue makes her move, and Lorgyn makes more plans, while the Nameless Watcher™… gets ready to make his move. We’ll see you then!
I’m also currently reading the Star Wars Expanded Universe comic series Dark Empire on my journal; check it out if you’re interested! Updates Tuesday and Thursday.
MG: Well, everyone, it’s time to continue our journey through Ed Greenwood’s All Shadows Fled! Last time, we had some extended “comedy” while Lorgyn and Bralatar interrogated their prisoners and Amdramnar and Argast wandered around Shadowdale. Today, we’ll follow up on the Malaugrym’s plans while the Rangers Three meet some unexpected company on the road as we barrel towards the trilogy’s grand(?) climax. Joining us once again will be Errezha and Calassara!
Chapter Sixteen: Shadows So Sharp
Errezha: *glares at MG* I hate this, and I hate you. Just so we’re clear where we all stand. But I suppose the positive side is that we’re almost done with… this… and the chapter title isn’t terrible, all things considered.
Calassara: *in mock surprise* And Errezha is looking for a positive side! Will wonders never cease?
Errezha: *flatly* Don’t get used to it. We open with Lord Mourngrym himself as he returns to the Twisted Tower and heads straight for the kitchens. We learn he’s apparently fresh from patrol, he’s disheveled and tired – Asmodeus, please tell me there isn’t going to be more comedy this time around! – and he has fresh Zhent blood staining his armor. Lovely. He starts barking orders, calling for someone named Belmer to fetch something hot… and a bottle of zzar to send to the Old Skull inn, where someone is currently giving birth. He’s sending Belmer specifically because the guest’s – husband? Lover? I’m not sure – is in a state and could use the company of someone who has been a father, and apparently Belmer qualifies. Belmer agrees, and Mourngrym fetches some stew from the kitchens before heading towards his audience chamber, which is apparently full of petitioners waiting for him. It seems he plans to eat and pass judgment at the same time. Hmmm; on the one hand, lords that are attentive to their duties are a sadly rare thing, and it’s good to see that Mourngrym cares for the concerns of the common people. On the other hand, him not only eating on his throne in front of everyone but clearly not even bothering to wash or change – or wipe the blood of his enemies off his armor, even – could well be viewed as crass and even insulting, especially in a place very concerned with hierarchy and propriety, such as my own homeland. *she wrinkles her nose in disgust* Perhaps the Dales are more… laid back…
Calassara: Errezha, everywhere is more laid-back than Cheliax. Mourngrym is at least good enough to order the servants to check and see if any of the waiting petitioners are hungry too, and to make sure they’re fed if so. He also orders his new guards to shorten their shifts so they can get some sleep, which pleases them, and heads into the audience chamber. We then cut to Amdramnar and Argast, observing Mourngrym and being darkly amused by the idea of a lord who serves the people rather than ruling over them, though they both admit they rather like him in spite of themselves. We learn that the Malaugrym killed and replaced a couple of the new guards but are wary of speaking loudly where they can be overheard, since they’re not sure they can imitate the voices, which they didn’t hear much of, properly. We then cut to Belmer leaving the tower and passing Shaerl, who is accompanied by a priest of Tyr. The priest thinks Shadowdale is as dispirited as he’s ever seen it, though Shaerl reminds him they only recently turned back the armies of Zhentil Keep which, according to the Simbul, were led by Bane himself, and that Elminster and possibly Mystra herself have been reported dead. So, summarizing things we already know, then? And which were no doubt much more exciting to see in person in that other trilogy. The priest can’t believe it’s true; Shaerl says she can produce more witnesses if he doubts it, and he tells her to go on. She further explains that many of their soldiers are dead, magic is going wild (as if that will actually matter…) and Storm has been missing for several days. The priest is very shaken by this, since he and Storm were apparently close when he was young and he’d hoped to see her tonight. This… would be a lot more powerful if I had any idea who this is, and if this whole conversation wasn’t a pile of very awkward exposition about things we already know… located near the end of the book!
Errezha: Ever does Ed Greenwood find new ways to disappoint; if that isn’t a proverb, it should be. Apparently, Storm also spoke highly of the priest, and he’s incredibly touched to hear it, and again, who is this person, and why should I care what Storm thinks of him? Shaerl gives him some words of reassurance, and Argast, watching, tells Amdramnar that she’s smooth. They then turn towards the audience chamber, where an old woman is calling on the gods to bless someone – Mourngrym, I think – while her attend adds if he keeps his promise. The old woman… launches into a lengthy monologue, for some reason:
“Now ye list and learn, Thurton! If there’s one thing this young lord of ours does, it’s keep his word! When my man, Undlejack, was still alive, he won a hand of cards off Mourngrym, playin’ the night away at the Old Skull, and the lord asked him his price.… A new roof, my man says, as bold as anything—’cuz that’s what we needed, in truth—an’ the next day, gods be blowed if the lord doesn’t show up with half a dozen guards, n’ do the roof right then! The lord himself, up on our cottage, sweatin’ along with the rest of ‘em! And when he’s done, he asks if we want the fence set straight, seein’ as they’re here … an’ up comes a cart, after, when we’re talkin’—and out of it he serves us a feast, an’ the neighbors what come to watch, too! Tells us it’s no more’n we deserve!”
Errezha: She continues that there’s no lord between the Sword Coast and the weird lands past Thay who would do the same, and I suppose I’ll take her word for it. Two other people leave the audience chamber, one weeping; apparently Mourngrym had promised to help find the body of… someone important to her, to see if they could be raised. Then Mourngrym himself appears, kisses Shaerl, and tells her that someone’s grandfather – the people we just saw, perhaps? – is missing, and asks for her help finding him. Then he notices the priest of Tyr, who he happily greets as Most Holy Arbeth – finally, a name! – who would like to meet and dine with Mourngrym and Shaerl, and we’re told once again is saddened that he probably won’t be able to see Storm. Mourngrym invites him in – assuring him that he and Shaerl rule jointly, though why that’s important at this exact moment, I don’t know – and they head inside. Amdramnar and Argast, watching all this, agree that Mounrgrym is a good ruler and can manage the cattle here until they’re ready to harvest. In the meantime, they can wait here for the Rangers Three *gag* to return. And Argast has plans: I mean to eat them alive, limb by limb, slowly, while they plead. We’ll use our everfire wand to seal the joints and keep them living. They may last several days.” “And then?” “Then we’ll reveal ourselves, and start on the rest of these cattle.” *flatly* Charming fellow. And one might think Amdramnar would have more reaction to hearing his friend means to literally eat the object of his infatuation alive…
Calassara: …but that would require Greenwood putting more than the bare minimum of effort into this. And at that moment Storm Silverhand herself appears, blowing a kiss to Guthtar, the guard officer Mourngrym spoke to earlier. Argast tries to stop her, but Guthtar warns them to never interfere with Storm (there are shapeshifters around! How do any of you know that’s actually Storm?). The Malaugrym watch just long enough to see Storm enter the audience hall, literally pick up Arbeth and twirl him around, and then kiss him on the lips. I can’t help but wonder why, if Arbeth is so important, we never heard of him before? But the Malaugrym watch and Argast loudly proclaims that this job is more interesting than he thought it would be, while he and Amdramnar both quietly reflect that These folk of Faerûn seemed to care for each other a lot more than any of the blood of Malaug ever had … and laughed a lot more, too.… Which is something I would find far more meaningful if I wasn’t afraid it was just more an excuse to show how wonderful Greenwood’s pet characters are… and if Greenwood’s pet characters didn’t have the maturity of particularly obnoxious adolescents. Has Mourngrym washed the Zhents’ blood off himself yet, by chance? Regardless, the scene ends there.
Errezha: And so, we cut to Tower of Mortoth, Sembia, Flamerule 29 as Irendue finds herself once again pulled from the magical fire and staring up into the face of one of the Malaugrym, a human face whose eyes were two dark flames. He slowly lowers her to the floor and she asks if he’s going to hurt her; he says he won’t yet (how reassuring!) and leads her out of the room, introducing himself as Bralatar as they go. In Mortoth’s study they take seats, with Bralatar using some of his tentacles to tie Irendue to her chair; she asks what he wants, and where his companion is. Bralatar says Lorgyn is off exploring the estate, and while he’s gone, Bralatar wants Irendue to show him how to use Mortoth’s crystal ball. He promises again that he won’t hurt her yet – not if she helps him – and the scene ends. That… wasn’t much, though I suppose it could be setting things up for later, not that I trust Greenwood much on that front?
Calassara: And so, we cut to Blackstaff Tower, Waterdeep, Flamerule 29 and, oh, we haven’t seen Khelben and Laeral in a while! Which makes their showing up here, so late in the last book, feel rather… random, doesn’t it? Still, when it comes to archmagi I’d certainly rather spend time with them than Elminster! Apparently, Khelben is annoyed because Storm has been using silver fire to kill Malaugrym (like she did at Low Rythryn, I guess?) since while it does ensure they’re dead, it doesn’t leave much behind to study. Laeral reminds him that the Simbul turned a bunch of Malaugrym to mushrooms and dropped them from the sky in the previous book, so there might be something left to work with there. Khelben suggests that she go to the Cavern Perilous, wherever that may be, and there work whatever spells she needs to bring them some of that residue; Laeral seems to agree, as she kisses him and heads off. Once she’s gone, the magical construct she and Khelben were working on collapses. Khelben himself, sipping some wine Laeral enchanted to be ringed with flashing lights, muses about how they’re trying to create spells to track the Malaugrym and prevent them from shapeshifting, but so far aren’t having much luck. We learn that the “Cavern Perilous” is a cave at the heart of Mount Waterdeep that the two of them like to use as a location for their most powerful workings, and he wonders if he should have gone with her, considering the risk of wild magic these days (oh, please, you’re Greenwood’s precious Chosen, nothing will actually hurt you). But before he finishes the thought, Laeral reappears, holding a rock with splattered mushroom residue all over it. That was fast! Khelben is excited by the chance to create new magic, but then he notices the tears in Laeral’s eyes. As the scene ends, His lady sighed as she came into his embrace. “I wish Elminster were still with us. Even more than holy Mystra, his presence—gruff ways and all—made me feel all was right in Faerûn, underneath the troubles of the day.” *she sighs* And thus even a scene that has nothing to do with Elminster ends up suddenly becoming about Elminster! Savored Sting, enough is enough!
MG: To be fair, Elminster raised Laeral (and Storm, and Dove); iirc, Laeral was a toddler when he took them in, so he’s probably the only father she remembers. I suppose she has the right to have genuine affection for the old goat if anyone does. Not that it makes the shilling of him here any less random, that is.
Errezha: *sniffs* I, for one, somehow doubt Elminster was much use as a foster father… but I suppose that’s neither here nor now. We cut to Elven Court Woods, Flamerule 30 where Shar – that being Sharantyr and not the goddess Shar, sadly – tells Belkram and Itharr she just saw someone nearby. Itharr asks if they were human, and Sharantyr confirms it was a young-looking man in robes, who she guesses was heading off to relieve himself. Belkram guesses he likely has companions nearby, and they should be cautious. The rangers then hear something else moving, but this time it’s only a badger. But Sharantyr thinks she saw it shift into the form of something on two legs, with eyes on stalks, which probably means Malaugrym, since doppelgangers tend to prefer cities and other large, populated areas. And if a Malaugrym is here, they’re probably stalking them. Now, which of our surviving Malaugrym could this be, I wonder? Hmmm… Itharr is glad they know what’s probably going on but wonders by the skulls of the Seven Lost Gods what they can do about it. Before they can react, they hear a shout from the direction the Malaugrym went and the sound of a magical blast. Belkram thinks they should sit and watch – oh, and not help the people being attacked? Some heroes you are! – and the scene ends.
Calassara: And so, we cut to Thuruthein Tlar, who is determined to impress his master, Orth Lantar was the wisest Red Wizard Thuruthein had ever met—and wise Red Wizards guarded and rewarded those who were truly loyal to them, for there was no more rare commodity in all of Thay. Hmmm; was our robed young man from earlier not merely a wizard’s apprentice but a Red Wizard’s apprentice, then? Now, this has potential to be interesting – if the book wasn’t almost over, and I actually trusted Greenwood to do anything with it, at least! We learn that Thuruthein thinks little of his fellow apprentices, who he views as a grasping, treacherous bunch, and suspects that their master thinks much the same of them and brought them along only as fodder for their expedition to Myth Drannor. Apparently, Thuruthein had also noticed the rangers when they noticed him and had been spying on them and preparing to cast magic – though of course, he also spent some of that time ogling Sharantyr and feeling sorry for having to hurt her – when he suddenly turns around and finds himself facing a duplicate of himself! Who then attacks him with tentacles, leaving us with no doubt of what we’re facing here. He blasts the Malaugrym at point-blank range with his wand, but it manages to slip under the blast with a shapechange and then springs at him again. He blasts it with the strongest spell he knows, but the Malaugrym quickly reforms into something with seven mouths, leaving poor Thurthein to fall backwards, crying out for his master and insisting he was always loyal as the scene ends.
Errezha: And so, we cut back to the rangers, who seem to be listening to all of this with amusement – really! – as Belkram comments that a loyal Red Wizard apprentice is a rare thing. Sharantyr wants to get out of here – very heroic indeed! – as she doesn’t want to get caught between an angry Malaugrym and an angrier Red Wizard (put that way… that might actually be wise). But Itharr wonders where her sense of adventure is (Itharr, your sense of adventure involves killing people, you’re in no position to talk!) and the scene ends. We then cut to the Red Wizard Orth Lantar himself as he’s studying a map that’s being held in the teeth of four flying skulls - *arches her eyebrow* a necromancer, I presume? – and thinking he’s on the verge of deciphering it when the crystal ball on the top of his staff suddenly starts flashing and vibrating and feels something snap in his mind, as he realizes his apprentice is in danger. He grabs a wand and summons his staff to hand, but before he can do anything, he senses that Thurthein is dead. Alas, poor Thurthein. We barely knew you. But perhaps you shall yet be avenged. In his staff’s crystal, he summons the image of Thurthein’s body being savaged by a creature that resembles a wolf before it twists itself into some horrible hybrid of bear and spider *she shudders*, laughs to itself and shambles off. Lantar declares that Thurthein’s death must indeed be avenged, lest his rivals think a Red Wizard who can’t protect his own apprentices is weak, and as he does one of his skulls rattles off a bit of doggerel verse. Lantar is stunned, realizing that this must have been a joke of Thurthein’s before he died, and then finds himself on the verge of tears from sudden grief. *stunned* Greenwood… why do I suddenly feel more for this murderous wizard than I do for your actual protagonists? Lantar sets wards to protect his campsite and vanishes, leaving his other apprentices wondering what happened. One of them accidentally triggers another prank, causing the floating skulls to taunt him and flash lights at him until he flees, and the scene ends.
Calassara: We then cut to Belkram who wonders where, by the beard of Elminster (Savored Sting! They’re swearing by Elminster like he’s a god now! Surely that’s some sort of blasphemy?) they’re running to. A good question, and Itharr says to ask Sharantyr, when suddenly the Malaugrym, in bear-spider form, pounces from a ledge on top of them. Belkram hears Sharantyr scream and charge, and fumbles for his own blade as something large and dark and hairy clawed him … something that was crouched atop Itharr, raking its talons and surging forward to bite down at the ranger beneath it with a horrible wet crunching sound that made Belkram wince as his blade finally grated free of its scabbard. Too late. Alas, I don’t really believe that Greenwood is going to kill Itharr, and so it’s hard to care about this cliffhanger. And indeed, on that note, the chapter comes to an end.
MG: This one… is better than the last one, but that’s a low bar to clear. On the one hand, much of it is taken up with Mourngrym’s audience and the events surrounding it, and in particular the arrival of a priest of Tyr who everyone acts like is very important, in a scene that could be genuinely touching if we’d ever heard of this guy at all and had been given any reason to care about him. Amdramnar and Argast’s observations about camaraderie among humans, and how the Malaugrym rarely experience that, could have been a genuinely effective, even somewhat powerful bit, if like my sporkers I could shake the feeling that this is just more shilling of Greenwood’s faves being awesome, and if it actually ended up mattering in the long run. The Bralatar and Khelben scenes were mostly just quick setup, and the fight in the woods… does not leave our supposed heroes covered in glory, to be honest, as they seem quite content to leave their fellow travelers to their fates even before realizing they’re Red Wizards. Speaking of, Greenwood somehow manages to make Orth Lantar’s grief and vengeance at the loss of his apprentice feel more real and sympathetic than virtually any other character in just a few paragraphs, so… kudos there? And, frankly, the idea of a Red Wizard ending up becoming an ally of circumstance of our protagonists against a common enemy is actually an interesting one, as is the idea of the Malaugrym accidentally making a powerful enemy like this without realizing it and having to deal with the consequences. Alas, that it’s kind of hard to care because the book is almost done; indeed, from here on we only have three more chapters to go! Not that it actually feels much like it’s moving towards a conclusion, mind. Next time, we find out the outcome of this battle, Irendue makes her move, and Lorgyn makes more plans, while the Nameless Watcher™… gets ready to make his move. We’ll see you then!
I’m also currently reading the Star Wars Expanded Universe comic series Dark Empire on my journal; check it out if you’re interested! Updates Tuesday and Thursday.