Abdel stands in front of Candlekeep Inn, ready to purchase what he needs for an unexpected and unplanned journey.
Abdel steps into the inn and is greeted by the boisterous voice of Winthrop, the inn's proprietor.
Winthrop boasts: "My hotel's as clean as an elven arse! What can I do for you Abdel? Don't forget to pay the 5000 gold you owe me..."
"You were always a big kidder Winthrop", you retort, and you gesture over to the wall and indicate to him that you want to see his merchandise.
Abdel selects a dagger crafted of the finest Sword Coast iron, a suit of sturdy studded leather affording a modicum of protection while still allowing him to move in relative silence, and one of the modest bucklers Winthrop has laid out.
He then grabs a second dagger, "just in case" he thinks to himself, and an unadorned pot helmet. "That old coot Firebead is giving me that I-have-a-fetch-and-carry-job-for-you look, I think I better get out of here"
Abdel fits himself into his armour, puts his two daggers into easily reachable sheaths, and then grabs his new buckler and grips it with his off-hand
Before turning to pay Winthrop, his eye rests on a bandoleer of throwing daggers and light up with a sparkle.
Having bought everything he needs, Abdel walks over to Firebead and proceeds to engage him in an lengthy, if annoying conversation. Out of sheer desperation to be rid of him, Firebead gives Abdel 300 gold and asks that a scroll be picked up for him from Tethoril.
Abdel dons his helmet, straps on a brace of throwing daggers, tosses Winthrop a spare purse of coin (precisely the amount owed) and walks out into the sun. Turning defiantly south, he heads to the Barracks to see if Fuller needs anything.
Stepping into the barracks Abdel scans the room for Fuller. He sees Fuller standing, though just barely from the looks of things, to his right. He strikes up a conversation with Fuller and determines that Fuller is in need of someone to fetch him bolts from Winthrop.
Fuller also requested that someone take Hull his longsword, Abdel figures he might as well take the long way around Candlekeep and pick up the Identify scroll too. He grabs the potion of antidote from Hulls chest too, just in case.
While on his way to deliver the sword to Hull Abdel drops by the Clinic and convinces one of the priests there to provide him with a potion of healing for his journey. He then gives Hull the sword, who while surprised still only gives Abdel 10 gold for the effort.
Walking past Alaundo's chanters, Abdel mimics their droning prophecy: "The Lord of Murder was Imoen's father. So sayeth the wise Alaundo." His mimicry is met with sullen sidelong stares as he passes the chanters, chuckling, then spying Tethtoril rushing to meet him in the garden.
Tethoril pulls out the scroll of identify and hands it to Abdel, mumbling in the process about how he has no more need of it. Abdel puts the scroll in his inventory and heads back to Winthrop's inn.
Entering the Inn, Abdel converses with Firebead who in exchange for the scroll casts a spell of Protection from Evil on him. He also purchases some bolts for Fuller and heads back outside.
Abdel decides to check the bunkhouse, just in case anyone in it may need errands run. Upon entering he notices a stranger who turns his head just as Abdel walks into the room. "That's odd" he thinks to himself, "what is he doing in here?".
"'Ere there. You're Gorion's little whelp, aren't ya? Yeah, you match the description. You don't look so dangerous to me."
"And why might that be of your concern? Do I know you?" Abdel asks, feeling a bit uneasy.
"I'll make it my business if'n I please!" the stranger snarls. "Me name's Carbos, and yer my ticket out o' the gutter!"
That said, Carbos quickly draws his dagger and leaps forward. 
Carbos takes a swing at Abdel. Startled by this sudden aggression, Abdel manages to deflect the swing with his newly bought buckler. He unsheathes his dagger and makes a quick and successful counter attack against Carbos's extended arm.
Carbos drops dead to the floor, blood streaming forth from the lethal wound at his arm. Abdel is paralyzed. He stares at dead Carbos and the blood... so much blood...
Abdel stares numbly at the rivulet of blood running down the hilt of the broken dagger in his hand. How did that happen? he wonders, dropping the ruined weapon and continuing to stare at his emptied hand, a small remnant of blood seeming to flash brightly as it traces a path along his fingers.
Both the assailant and the fight that just took place are removed from his mind as he follows the crimson line in his hand. Instead, an eerie feeling of accomplishment seems to rise, as does the horror of the realization he's crowing over the death of a human being.
He rushes out of the bunkhouse. Still in shock he barely notices his tutor amongst all the other monks dressed in green coming over to him with a concerned look on his face.
Karan immediately notices that something is wrong with Abdel: "Abdel are you alright? You look troubled."
Karan eyes Abdel closley, his expression worried.
"He's dead whoever he is... He lunged at me with a knife! Oh Karan, what is happening to this place?!" said Abdel, his voice steadying as he already began to calm down.
"It's not this place my child. They're after you. Gorion is awaiting you at the entrance to the library. As soon as you have bought everything you need you should seek him out quickly." With that Karan turns towards the bunkhouse, intending on removing any signs of the incident.
Abdel went to the baracks to deliver the bolts to Fuller. Noticing he had no weapon in his hand, Fuller gave Abdel his father's old dagger, along with a tall tale involving a hobgoblin, and wished him well on his journey.
Abdel ponders to himself on what to do now "well, I did promise Reevor yesterday that I'd clear out those rats. I guess I better just go deal with it." Abdel leaves the barracks and walks in the direction of the eastern storehouse.
Abdel is on his way to Reevor. "Our rules are very strict," the gatewarden greets Abdel. "Greetings, Abdel. Gorion has asked me to teach you the arts of mass combats. I can unlock Obe's Warehouse for you where you can train that if you wish."
"Thank you, Gatewarden, but I'm afraid I have urgent business with Reevor, and you know how he gets. I'll be back later." Abdel quickly walks towards the Storehouse before being stopped short by Jondalar.
"By Moradin's Hammer!" Reevor's voice rumbles like a thunder. "I thought I asked you yesterday already to clean out the Storehouse from those rats! Get in and be done!" Jondalar who was just about to talk to Abdel is met by Reevor's grumpy gaze. Jondalar decides it's better to wait.
Abdel goes to battle against the highly unusual berserker rats of candlekeep which attack all who enter their territory on sight (excluding cats). After making short work of them he ponders how Candlekeep managed to produce such odd cratures...
Blood. Again. Abdel watches it as it streams forth from the killed rats. Images of Carbos flashes before his eyes. At first Abdel is shocked, and a bit frightened. And yet... Can it be? The sight of blood has something comforting... Abdel becomes aware of his thoughts and shudders.
As he leaves, Abdel walks straight into Reevor, "Oh sor..." "Your chatterins startin to wear on me nerves! Just take yer 5 gold and leave!" Abdel runs away to the temple of Oghma before either Reevor or Jondalar can catch him.
"These walls contain the worlds knowledge," says the priest. Abdel asks to browse his wares, and thinking of the coming journey, purchases a potion of healing."Uh oh, Dreppin is giving me that look now, better see what he wants," he mutters.
Dreppin says his cow is sick from eating bits of Pylidia's books which she keeps leaving in the hay. Abdel gives him the potion of antidote and finds yet another book in the hay. "Probably should take this back to her, but first I should say goodbye to Parda in the priest quarters." he thinks.
"Oh goodie goodie! I've found you! You are Gorion's ward no doubt", a stranger addresses Abdel inside the priest quarters. Abdel instantly is reminded of his meeting with Carbos, his hand instinctively tightening the grip on his dagger.
The dagger that once belonged to Fuller's father, stabber of hobgoblin back, feels light in Abdel's hand. "I don't recognize you!" Abdel cries. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
"Who I am is unimportant," the stranger replies. "All that matters is that your death means a huge amount of gold for... GRGG." Before the stranger has even finished the sentence Abdel stabs his dagger into the man's heart.
Abdel, still unaccustomed to killing men despite his previous bloodbath with Carbos, flees the priests quarters, nearly knocking over the approaching Parda as he does so.
Parda notices a scratch above Abdel's brow. Even though this came from the berserk rats and not Shank, Abdel tells Parda "There was a man in there who smelled like the stables and he tried to kill me!"
Parda's expression darkens. "Hurry, then, child. Equ…er, go join Gorion on the steps of the library… I had a sense something like this might happen."
Before hurrying to meet Gorion, Abdel stops to say goodbye to Philydia. "I must leave soon, but, I did find your book for you first! Thank you for all you've taught me!"
He shows the book to Phlydia, who is taken aback. She had only recently realised it was missing. She does however correctly guessed that it was in amongst the hay.
Abdel contemplates trying to figure out a way to get Obe's mass combat friends gear from them, but realizes that he has kept Gorion waiting, so he figures he better get out of his now unsafe childhood home. "Heya, its me Imoen" he hears as he nears his foster father.
"I will probably miss Imoen most of all." He thinks to himself. "I truly wish she could come with me." He decides to go talk to her.
Slipping the gem Phlydia gave him for returning her book into his pocket, Abdel greets Imoen. "I'm afraid I can't chat today, little one. My foster father wants me to prepare for a journey, but won't say to where."
After reminding Abdel that she is not much younger than him, Imoen, being as curious as ever, tries to pry some information about his trip saying: "sure wish I could go with you; wherever you are going."
"Ah alright alright let's go and seek Gorion out together. We'll ask him if you can come along." Talking to Imoen and seeing her playful attitude, just being around her eases Abdel considerably, distracting him from the not so good memories of this day. "Don't be silly Gorion would never allow that. Just go to him, don't let him wait".
Abdel reluctantly bids goodbye to Imoen and climbs the stairs to speak to Gorion. Gorion lectures him about the dangers they face as they walk toward the gates. "If we ever become separated, it is imperative that you proceed to the Friendly Arms End. There, you will meet Khalid and Jaheira. They have long been my friends, and you can trust them."
Abdel is healed and he and Gorion depart. They find themselves shortly thereafter in a clearing, with rocks scattered about in an odd, if intentional manner. "Prepare yourself" Gorion proclaims, "we are at an ambush." Out of the darkness a towering figure emerges.
"You are perceptive for an old man," the menacing figure says, demanding Gorion hand over his ward. Gorion refuses, tells Abdel to run, and the battle is on!
Abdel, now terrified, runs as fast as he can taking a few arrows in the back. From a safe distance he watches as Gorion slays all the attackers with his powerful magic save for the armored man and a young woman with a sad look on her face. Then the woman dispells Gorion's protections and the armored figure slays Gorion with a single blow.
Abdel, lacking familiarity with his surroundings and mortified at what has just transpired decides to camp out for the night just off of the road leaving Candlekeep. Perhaps in the morning he can gather friendly assistance from a passing merchant. In the meantime he struggles to sleep.
Gorion dead. Murdered. Slain. What in the world is happening? Abdel finds no rest. The images repeat themselves in his head. And the blood. It started with Carbos... Then the stranger in the Priests' Quarter and now this...
"Why is all this happening?" Abdel thought to himself. "That fiend was after me and me alone! Who could possibly want a nobody like me dead? And why? Even if I tried to get back in to Candlekeep they wouldn't let me in without Gorion's Influence. Now I'm all alone..."
Abdel does end up falling asleep and wakes up the next morning. A feeling of dread washes over him, as he realises that he has no answers for why they left Candlekeep.
A voice calls out "Heya!" He turns. Imoen. Abdel has never been so happy to see his annoying friend in his whole life. Abdel quickly tells Imoen what happened the night before. She pales. "Go-Gorion? Dead? Naw, couldn't be. Don't joke around like that, okay?"
"I... we... should go see if he has anything on his body that could help us. Maybe it can give some insight to what happened." The two head to the northwest to Gorions remains.
They quickly find the body, and Abdel finds a letter Imoen mentioned the day before, penned by "E.". After looting the bodies of the bandits and Ogres that accompanied the Armored Figure, Abdel and Imoen move on, looking for a place to read the letter more closely.
Adventuring west, the duo wander right into the sights of a group of 5 gibberlings! A furious battle commences; Abdel throws a dagger at a gibberling towards the front, stopping it dead in its tracks, while Imoen shoots a bolt of pink energy out of her wand.
Lacking your skill in up-close fighting Imoen falls back and takes up a ranged position. This leaves you, buckler and dagger +1 in hand, to hold back the remaining three gibberlings.
Abdel slashes at a gibberling but critically misses. Imoen manages to put an arrow through the eye of another.
Seeing another gibberling fall causes the remaining two gibberlings to go into a panic. While one choses to flee into the woods, the one Abdel had previously attacked makes a successful but weak attack against Abdel.
Abdel, surprised and angered by the damage he has taken, strikes out, hitting the Gibberling in the eye for a critical hit. As it dies, Imoen pins the fleeing Gibberling to the ground with a shot arrow, killing it as well.
"Lets get out of here before more of those things attack" exclaims Abdel. "We should try to get back to the road and follow it to the Friendly Arm Inn."
Abdel and Imoen started running south along the coastline to get back to the path. About half way there they found a young man standing on the edge of a cliff who shouted at them something about genres and to stay back or he would jump.
Taken aback by his forthright attitude towards suicide, Abdel only manages to mutter "okay" to the man's statement. Thankfully the man appears to take the response positively. He soon leaves, joyous at his apparent "new will to live".
Abdel and Imoen proceed back to the road. After a short while, they come upon a man in a green robe and a leather clad halfling. There is something odd about the green-robed man's expression, and his eyes. Abdel, not one to be afraid or hesitate to take action, walks right up to him and greets him. "Ho, there, stranger, well met."
An argument seems to be going on between the green-robed man and the halfling, the former complaining: "Montaron, you are so aggravating! 'Tis disturbing to my demeanor!" As he hears Abdel's greeting he turns towards him: "Your voice is ambrosia." Abdel and Imoen exchange a doubtful look.
"Ye already be disturbed, now leave me be! Yer company is toil enough as it is," the halfling spits back.
"Monty! How could you?" The wizard looks aghast and starts whimpering.
"I want my Mommy!" the wizard suddenly cries, before coming back to himself and greeting Abdel and Imoen. Neither feel entirely pleased at meeting these two strangers.
"Hello there. Would you like some potions?" The wizard hands Abdel and Imoen each a potion of healing before they can respond. "Nothing to fear from these simple potions." Montaron adds. The wizard then becomes demanding. "Perhaps as payment you could accompany us."
"Your conscience shall guide you", the wizard adds, while trying to smile which leaves an awkward, twisted expression on his face. It sends chills down Abdel's and Imoen's spines.
Abdel looks at Imoen and can tell she wants to get away from these two. Not being entirely comfortable around them himself he says "uh, Actually we have some urgent business to attend to now. Perhaps you should go to... where you are going... and we will meet you there. Yeah!"
"Mommy!" the wizard cries again. "Bad child! Bad child you are. Someone will have to hurt youuuu." Montaron sighs "Now ye set him off again. He will cry for hours. Be gone! I will not suffer him AND ye. Let's go, Xzar." With that Montaron and Xzar move off.
"Well... that happened," Abdel muses to Imoen. Imoen looks like she's just eaten something unpleasant but forgot to spit it out. Wandering north, the two come to a small grove of trees and a sign-post. Something is glinting down on Imoen from a tree. She squints.
"Hey, Abdel... give me a boost, will ya?" Abdel boosts Imoen up, and she removes a small, sparkling stone from a knot in the bole of the tree. "Nice!" she says in admiration.
From there they headed directly east. As they rached the end of the Lions Way road an odd looking old man with a pointy hat and a strange demeanor greeted them saying: "Ho there wanderers! Stay thy course a moment to indulge an old man."
Abdel rests his hand on the hilt of his dagger and snaps, "I am not so stupid as to listen to stangers* in the middle of nowhere, no matter how infirm they appear to be! Off with you!"
"That wasn't very nice, Abdel!" Imoen says to Abdel. "I'm sorry sir, he had a really bad time recently and is a little grumpy." She says to the stranger as Abdel rolls his eyes. "That is quite alright. One of these days I should learn to mind my own business anyway." says the stranger before he walks away.
They continue on walking along the road and take the road leading northward towards the inn. They meet a few odd people along the way and arrive at the gates of the Friendly Arm Inn shortly before nightfall.
"Oh, thank the gods, Imoen! I'm so tired!", Abdel breathes with relief. "At last, the Friendly Arms Inn! And we should find Gorion's friends here as well!" Abdel and Imoen walk into the fortified, walled town and find the inn - which is a huge structure made of stone, with stairs up into the common room. A man in a black robe comes down the stairs and greets them. "Ah, are you perchance Gorion's ward?"
Abdel says yes and immediately he and Imoen get stricken with an uncontrollable panic. As they try to run away magic missiles get fired at them. All seems lost when suddenly an arrow and a bullet dart out of the common room, hitting the mage and killing him. Two half-elves step out of the inn.
The half-elves are a man and a woman. The half-elven woman is clad in heavy studded leather with green trim that appears to be made out of leaves. The half-elven man is wearing heavy splint with a helmet and a red scarf
"You must be Abdel," the woman says, then looks around. "Where is Gorion? I thought he'd be travelling with you?"
"O-Of course, he r-resembles the letter to a fault," the man stutters. Abdel notices the man's strangely pointed ears. Abdel bows his head before turning to address the pair, pausing. "Well, then, speak up," cajoles the woman impatiently.
Abdel hesitates. Images flashes back. When he saw from a distant Gorion being slain. On that day two other men had tried to kill Abdel. Then the ambush... then... this man. Abdel looks down to the corpse of the mage in dark robes. "Speak up," the woman reiterates.
Imoen gives Abdel a nudge, bringing him out of his thoughts. "He was killed by this really big man with a deep voice..." Abdel says, his voice trailing off. The two strangers look at each other, somewhat surprised, but also like they expected as much. "Are you Kahlid?" Abdel asks the woman.
"No, I am Jaheira, and this tongue tied fellow is my husband, Khalid," states the woman. "Gorion was a dear friend of ours, and we feel for your loss. Would you allow us to accompany you for a time while you find your way in the world?"
"You company would be welcome" Abdel replies. "I forgot to introduce her, but this is Imoen. She's a good friend of mine and apparently one of your new travelling companions." Following a discussion about your travel options, Imoen suggests resting in the inn tonight.
Abdel agrees, and as they head inside, Imoen has the idea to check the dead guy for loot. "Hmm, a staff, a couple scrolls, and some sort of note," she scans it and hands it to Abdel "You should read this."
Abdel opens the parchment and gazes at it in horror. "Be it known to all those of evil intent" it reads" that a bounty has been placed upon the head of Abdel, the foster son of Gorion."
For a long moment, Abdel was horrified. Then, with a certain sick amusement oozing through him, he said, "Well, that explains all the people trying to kill me..."
"A-a bounty? Really?" Imoen looks around nervously. "Come child, none wil harm you here, in the Friendly Arm Inn," soothes Jaheira. Abdel replies, "and so that mage back there was just being, as you put it, friendly?"
Inside the common Room, Abdel is awed by the boistorous, heavy-drinking clintelle. "Well, this is a huge difference from the quite halls of Candlekeep", Abdel thinks to himself as he tries to find the landlord.
"Although Winthrop might have a competitor in his "Clean as an Elven arse!" boast," Abdel mused as he walked through the clean, well-appointed common room towards the bar and the gnomish man standing behind it.
Imoen, having worked for Winthrop seems more at ease in the Inn: "Let's order some wine and see if we can pick up on what's been going on around the sword coast - maybe someone knows anything about the bounty?"
Suddenly Imoen is pushed from behind. A dark voice thunders "Heh! Servant! Bring me another flagon of ale!" Imoen turns around only to see a tall, strong half-orc with a stern expression looking at her. She is shocked and the bounty notice falls off her hand. "What's this?" the half-orc grunts, picking up the notice.
"Private" Abdel says, quickly snatching the notice out of the man's hand. "Then you should do better to keep it so. Especially if you want to keep that head of yours. Now get out of my face." booms the stranger. As they leave he adds: "lucky for you I have no interest."
"We'd like a room for the night, and a round of drinks first, please..." Abdel said with a smile. "'Course!" Bentley said with a smile, "I also buy treasures, if ye be needing ready coin, and if you need healing, see me wife, Gelana, in the temple next door."
"Its been dreadful slow business lately" Says Bentley. "At least it isn't dead yet." Said Abdel. "Give it time." said Bentley with a sigh. "With the Iron shortage and those bandits it will be soon. And that is on top of the 'normal' troubles in this region. Like the ogres and spiders some of my patrons are troubled by." 
Bentley tells the group of the troubles that Landrin, a gnome, and Unshey, a dwarf, face and that those two would probably pay a nice reward for anyone solving them. Our heroes enjoy their drinks and finally retire to rest.
On heading upstairs, Abdel mistakenly enters a room occupied by a nobleman. "I need these tunics cleaned and pressed by this eve, and be extra careful with the golden pantaloons," stated the Nobleman. Abdel stands there shocked for a moment at being mistaken for a member of the staff, before he responds.
"err, yes of course" Adbel says to the arrogant noble. Imoen gives Abdel a sly look as they make their way to their rooms.
The next morning. Abdel has not slept all too well, images of the ambush were haunting him in his dreams. "Heya, so we're going on ogre hunt today?" Imoen asks Abdel, playfully taking her empty bow and pretending to shoot at Abdel.
"Heh, perhaps." Said Abdel smiling. "Sure was nice of Landrin to give us all those antidotes." Imoen said. "But I'm really scared of giant spiders." "I'm sure we will be fine." Said Abdel, reassuring her. "Besides I'll be there to protect you."
After breakfast the group sets off. They're leaving the Friendly Arm Inn towards the south, determined to return once they have dealt with the ogre and the spiders.
As they head out Imoen spies a glint at the base of a spruce tree. She goes over to investigate and returns to the party with a ring. "Neat huh?" She says. "I would be careful with that, child. I can sense magic about it and it could be dangerous." Jaheira cautions.
"Aww" Imoen pretends to pout. "C'mon, where's the fun in that?" That said Imoen puts on the ring. Nothing happens. "Magic huh? Nothing happened. But at least we know. See, that's the way to deal with "magical" items! When you don't know what they do, just try them out!"
The party travels south for most of the day. Upon entering the central Lion's Way area, they meet a ranger who tells them that he has seen territorial markings of an ogre living in the hilly area to the east of the road. The party thanks him, and heads into the hills in the indicated direction. Jaheira picks up the trail.
The party heads into the deeper woods before hearing a sound that filled them with dread, or that would fill them with dread did it not sound so effeminate "Me crush you, crush you to goo!" A giant lumbering female ogre stomps towards them, club raised.
Jaheira begins casting a spell. Soon the grass and shrubs in the area around the ogre grow to an enormous size. The ogre's feet get caught in the plants preventing it from coming any closer. "Now!" Jaheira shouts as Imoen and Khalid start firing arrows and Abdel hurls his daggers.
The Ogre roared and swung her club, but the Trees and undergrowth held her fast, and soon she was dead, crumpled to the ground. Two belts adorned her massive waist, and they also discovered a selection of other small treasures, along with some gold.
Abdel and his and has killed their first large monster! "Oooh, these belts seem magical", Abdel muses aloud as he examines the corpse. Perhaps they are powerful?
"Let's try them out!" Imeon suggests "Hmm... maybe we were just lucky that the ring did nothing and we should heed Jaheira's advise on magical devices?" Abdel says. "Don't spoil the fun!" Imoen replies. While they are discussing Jaheira takes a look at the dead ogre and notices a sudden change on HIS corpse...
"Ok. That settles it, we'll get these identified before we try anything" All party members nod silently.
"B-b-but how do we d-d-do that?" asked Khalid. "We don't know any w-w er m-mages." "He makes a good point." Jaheira adds "We don't exactly have enough money to pay someone either." "Well..." Imoen says hesitantly. "I kinda accidentally cast a spell from a scroll I found in Candlekeep once..."
Abdel says while furrowing his brow, "Sigh. Hmmm. I don't know, Immy. We really need you to focus on getting us past locks and traps between us and all the treasure I'm sure we're going to find in various caves, and indoors. Unless, maybe we could get you to study scrolls and stuff, but then we'd need another locksmith and trapfinder."
That settled the group moves on, southwards. After hours of traveling they finally reach the small town of Beregost in the late evening. "What do you need? May I help with any directions?" a stranger asks addressing Abdel.
Abdel says "Ah. We are exhausted! Do you know of a good place to enjoy some fine spirits and a comfortable bed? Umm, oh, also, we have been sent by a lady who wanted us to go to her house and take care of a spider infestation for her. Do you know anything about that?"
"Ack!" the stranger answer "That'd be Landrin's house! Terrible beasts that, the house is on the south side of town. As for accomodations, the Feldepost Inn is the best we've if yer tounge is parched".
Abdel decides that it would be a good idea to stock up on healing potions and any needed items before attempting to exterminate the spiders in Landrins house. He asks the stranger if there is a smithy or temple anywhere around town. "You'll be wanting Taerom Fuiruim's smithy and the Lathander temple. Both be on the east side of town."
"The temple," Abdel says in a decisive tone. "Then, to the Inn, to plan."
Abdel and his party arrive at the temple. The priest there, Kelddath Ormlyr, capably provides the group with four healing potions in exchange for agreeing to kill a cleric of Cyric by the name of Bassilus.
As the group makes their way to the Thunderhammer smithy a young woman runs by them, nearly blowing Abdel over. She suddenly stops and turns around and looks at Abdel. "You there! Yes you! You have to help me!! I'm being chased by bandits! Well, magical bandits... well, its complicated!" She shouts.
Abdel looks at Imoen and rolls his eyes so that the woman doesn't see it. "It *sounds* complicated," he agrees. "Why don't you have a go at explaining?"
She replies "Well my name is Neera and... oh no, they are here!" Two red robed figures and some associated riff raff advance towards the party... menacingly!
"You there, stop." one of the red robed figures yells. "Who are you?" Neera asks before answering her own question "You know what I don't even want to know at this point, just leave me and my new friend here alone."
The obvious leader of the wizards addresses Abdel: "Would you really throw your life away protecting this girl? She is a wild mage you know..." Abdel looks at her for a second and turns back to the wizard saying: "She does look a little crazy, but what do you want with her?"
"What I want with her is none of your concern. Step aside now, before I kill you myself." the wizard responds. Though somewhat apathetic towards this woman's plight, Abdel decides that this "Neera" could be a powerful ally.
With this is mind, Abdel steps toward the wizard and unsheathes his dagger. However, before he can get into striking distance Neera yells "away with you, you pompous creep" and casts some kind of magic. Suddenly a bright flash appears before Abdel 's eyes. The wizard, it now seems, is nowhere to be found.
"Ekandor? Where did you go?" asks the only other wizard before turning to the thugs. "Slaughter them all! We will sort this out once we find him!" With that the battle began. Khalid and Abdel rushed the wizard while Neera cast a colorful spell that knocked out the thugs. The battle was soon over with Abdel's group victorious.
"I am really, really, really, really, really sorry about what just happened. I didn't want to involve you, but if I hadn't run into you when I did, they'd be elbow deep in my brains right now." says the strange crazy girl.
"That's alright, I was happy to help." says Abdel. "Really? Most people don't want to be anywhere near me. Perhaps since you don't seem to have this problem you would let me join your group for a while." Neera says. "We would love to have you join us. Welcome aboard!" says Abdel.
After introductions and some brief discussion of the group's current quests, the group heads into the smithy to restock on some supplies. While inside Abdel eyes a very fine looking magical dagger. He decides that this will be his main weapon one day if he can ever afford it...
While Abdel admires the dagger Jaheira goes over to him. "You don't know what a wild mage is do you Abdel?" She asks in a low tone so no one else can hear her. "Err, that actually means something? Is it bad?" Abdel asks. Jaheira shrugs. "Not necessarily. But you should know its meaning. Ask Neera about it some time."
"Thanks, I will," Abdel said, glancing meditatively at Neera nefore looking longingly at the Dagger once more. After the party is done buying supplies, they head for the Spider-infested house. With Neera's spells to back them up, surely they will not have any problems dispatching the beasts...
The group enters Landrin's house. 4 huge spiders start attacking them. Eager to prove her worth to the group, Neera shouts: "I got this one!" and starts casting a spell. Suddenly a blast of fire covers the room killing all the spiders and severely wounding the rest of the group.
Knocked to the floor from the blast, disoriented and aching all over, Abdel and the rest of the group slowly rose to their feet again and simultaneously turned to glare at Neera. 
"Um..*cough*.. sorry about that. Maybe you should know that I, um, am not always in full control of my magic... Is everyone alright?"
Abdel looks around "Barely, I am scorched all over". Jaheira starts casting healing spells. "See if you can find them some old boots and wine in here, Neera, since you are not as badly bruised".
"I'l do it!" Imoen calls and jumps forth to handle the locks on the chests. "Got 'em, Ab! Let's find an inn for the night, shall we? I'm exhausted."
The party readily agrees, and hurries out into beregost looking for a nice establishment. Kahlid points towards the "Jovial Juggler", "here seems like a good spot".
Imoen, meanwhile, is checking out Feldepost's Inn. "Wow, look at this place! All the people I could liberate stuff fr... I mean, this place is really nice. Let's stay here!"
A man growls at her, what are you doing here, fancy pants? Leave or i beat the living stuff out of you!
"Ehe! You tell'em Marl" Another drunkard shouts from across the room. But before the party have a chance to respond, the first man has stumbled across the room and grabbed a hold of Abdel's tunic. "Hey, I told you to GET MOVIN' DIDN'T I?! Ain't no place for you troublemakers here" he hisses.
"No need to get bent out of shape," Abdel says. "There's plenty of bar for us all." When Marl responds with more blustering, this time about adventurers, Abdel says, "I just do what I think is right. We solve a lot more trouble than we cause, well, nearly anyway. Heh heh."
The comments seem to make the man even more angry for some reason. Jaheira steps between Abdel and Marl, "now quite down, no reason to make a fight here". If it due to the scimitiar hanging from Jaheira's belt or her icy look the man quiets down, "what do you have against adventurers anyway?" she says.
After further ranting on the bad behaviour of adventurers, Marl snaps that somebody should be punished for inspiring "somebody's son" to think it's all a game and end up getting killed. In a sudden flash of insight, Abdel sees the real grief of this drunkard who apperently just lost his son, "Hold on!" he urges, "Surely you are aware that all must go their own paths, and we cannot be held accountable for the great misfortune that fell upon your son!"
"He was a good boy 'til your kind came through town!" Marl insists. "Filled his head with nonsense they did and because of it, he's dead! Now why shouldn't I take THAT out of your hide?"

Filled with compassion for a father that had lost his son, just as he had recently lost his own foster father, Abdel says, quietly, "If you knew him like you think, then ask yourself if he wouldn't have gone anyway." His voice goes a little quieter as he thinks through his own reasons for being on the road. "It's a calling your born with. Nobody gives it to you."
"Tain't true!" Marl bellows "He was going to take over the farm and settle down! He never wanted to adventure! He was..." 
"Nay, Marl" the other man says quietly. "Your son indeed was adventurer born. Don't you recall when he cleared out the kobolds lurking around Ulgoth's Beard? A firebrand he was, and a bloody good lad too."
"By Chauntea!" Marl bursts out. "Why couldn't he just stay home?!"

Abdel shrugs. "The Realms call, and you go. He sounds a fine lad taken too soon, but doing what he was meant." He paused, feeling a real kinship with this drunken and obviously grieving man, "If you'll suffer my company, I'll buy a round and toast his memory with you."

Tears began to streak Marl's face, but he was no longer angry, and seemed somehow... calmer. "'Twould be fitting, I suppose." He retrieves a full mug from the barkeep and hoists it high. "To Kennair Nethalin! Rest... rest ye well." He pauses and turns away, his face gone slack, his eyes dull. "I... I would be alone awhile," he muttered as he walked off.

The man who had been egging him on turns to Abdel. "Well, that be the calmest I done seen him in a week. Still, best to move along right quickly. Marl's not known for his steady moods."

Abdel nodded, feeling as if he'd learned something from the encounter. (Experience, yay!) Imoen was already negotiating with the Bartender for a room, and knowing Imoen, she'd sprung for the most expensive so that she could take another long bath...
Imoen, wearing her normal carefree grin, dances gracefully up the stairs to lead them to the room she just hired. But what first meet them once they reach the second floor is a common room, bustling with the inn's more wealthy guests. 
Imoen's eyes begin to gleam as she studies all the wealthy people and a rather heavy man with colorful clothes soon gets her full attention. Before Abdel -who knows Imoen far too well to think her intentions to be innocent- is able to grab her, she leaps into the room and head straight for the heavy man. "Don't wait up!" She calls over her shoulder and laughs easily at their expressions. 
"Oh my, that's a beautiful cloak, sir..." They hear her say as they resignedly leave to find their room.

A few hours later, when all but a slightly worried Abdel is fast asleep, Imoen returns with a gleaming cloak hanging over her arm and pockets which seems to be bursting to their limits with valuables. Abdel sighs. "We'll be leaving really early tomorrow then, I take it."
Very early the next morning the party made ready to depart. Muttering a few hurried words of farewell to the Innkeeper the party left. Mr and mrs Jaheira seemed to be eager to depart, wishing to get to Nashel as soon as possible to investigate the troubles there. However, just as they were making their way to the edge of town a man with a lute on his back, and the most cheesy wink imaginable directed towards Imoen, introduced himself: "Greetings mighty adventurers! I am Garrick, might I entice you with a lucrative and uncomplicated affair?"
Imoen, dressed in her newly attained cloak, dashes forward to speak to the handsome stranger. But one stern look from Jaheira sustains her for the moment, this morning's scolding for last night's events apperently still in fresh memory. 

Jaheira turns to the dashing stranger with an unimpressed eyebrow arched. "We are not for hire as mercenaries, boy." She snorts.
The smile from the young man's face fades. "But please, hear me out dear lady! My mistress is in grave danger from men who wishes her harm! Surely that is a cause anyone with a noble heart would sympathize with?" And with a glance to the groups' still scorched outfits, he adds "And she pays handsomely for protection as well, my dear lords and ladies. 300 goldpieces is the offer, what do you say?"
"Jahe-he-hera, m-m-my dear, surely it would n-n-n-not hurt to meet with this p-p-poor woman?" Khalid carefully states with a wary glance at Jaheira's grim expression. 
"Oh, all right! She snaps. "But then we WILL make haste to Nashkel. The mayor awaits us Khalid." 

The young man brighten instantly and hurries forward to offer his arm for escort to Imoen. "Might I inquire what name belongs to such a lovely face, m'lady?" He asks with a bright smile at Imoen and she manages to Abdel's amazement say her name, wave her eaylashes and giggle sweetley at the same time. 
"Ah, a beautiful name for a beutiful girl." He states. "This way good folks!" He continues as they start to walk. 

As they follow Garrick and Imoen, Abdel feel an increased dislike towards this stranger to whom Imoen is clinging.
As they follow Garrick and Imoen, Abdel's feeling of unease does not subside. "Oye! Where are you taking us?" He calls suspeciously to Garrick's back.
"My mistress Lady Silke await us just outside the Red Sheaf Inn, good comrades! Just follow me." Garrick says in a light tone.
Abdel frowns and share a look with Jaheira and Neera, both seem to be as concerned as he about this stranger. Khalid walks in the back of the group with a small smile on his lips, content it would seem, at the thought of their upcoming good dead of rescuing a damsel in distress.
But as they approach Silke, Imoen steps close to Abdel and whispers Garrick's real intent. Abdel is curious to what the ploz actually is, but now he knows about the true intentions of this "mistress" at least. Around the corner stands Silke, "Are these the best you could find Garrick?" the beautiful woman asks.