Entry 51 (30 Hammer, 1359DR): Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Maralith
I have managed to survive several encounters with Balors, even while being the maralith magnet, and stood on death’s doorstep several times (though fortunately not long enough for Him to actually answer the door). Yes, I endured long enough to find myself at last face to face with Leech-infested Jarl.
I lied in wait for Jaran to lower his spell resistance so that I could hurl my most powerful and seductive version of her demonic de-possessing spell. Unfortunately, Jarl seemed braced for such an attack, Leech digging his claws into Jarl’s soul tighter than ever. He resisted the effects of the spell, and I had no recourse to do another.
Jarl then turned to G’kar, who, in his own affection for his former friend, had tried to hold him still rather than attack him. He was now fenced in an arena of whirling blades, his friend now turned into his most deadly foe. With a tri-material alloy sword forged naively from Delven’s own hands, Jarl cut deeply and cleanly through the magical barrier Jaran had cast around his dwarven body, and within seconds G’kar’s body lay lifeless in a pool of his own blood. Everyone looked on aghast, almost unable to act at the sight. All appeared lost.
None-the-less, I then utilized the opportunity given me by G’kar’s sacrifice and sent my spectral hand through the blades to touch him from behind while Jarl’s attention was, well, elsewhere. Unsure I might change anything, I held up my beloved golden ring and shouted over to the pixie, “Quickly, use the ring to revivify G’kar’s body!”
However, reality did change. It had changed to one where Jarl was indeed momentarily distracted, and had not the will to resist my spell.
As often as it has happened to me, I am always in awe of the sight of time running backwards, of watching events become undone, and then redone differently based on different circumstances. The large winged beast, once gloating over his prey, now yielded a black fog and shrunk down to a man I’d not yet met but whom my friends immediately greeted as Jarl. G’kar, who once lie in pieces on the floor, queerly fell upwards to standing and held his bastard sword at the ready, his fervor fueled with his comrade once again at his side. An arrow sailed backwards from the wall and ricocheted in reverse off Jarl’s armor onto Gwynn’s bow, and then as time turned forward on itself she instead unleashed her sword on the maralith nearby. Jaran both times sent blasting ice at the maralith, but the second time she also flung herself through the wall of blades and with a flick of her wrist enveloped Jarl in a magical protection from Leech’s evil. Murdock, who had presumably been so shocked at his ‘friend’s’ demise that he did nothing but utter ‘Should I open the Gate now?’ now held a conviction of will to open a Gate for our escape. The tear that before glazed Delven’s face as he pleaded “Jarl! Don’t you recognize your own brother?” was oddly sucked back up his cheek, and then it streamed down again as he exclaimed “Brother! How wonderful to see you again!”
It was only Kalcrix, who was busying himself with the Glaberzu on the ground, who seemed unaware that circumstances were vastly different. Oh, and the pixie? Well, once again Rowen’s plain utterance held humor for no one but myself. “Revivify G’kar? Shouldn’t I wait until he’s dead first?!”
Yes, it would have been more humorous indeed if, in the moments following, I did not stand helpless to watch the leech cloud then inhabit the maralith—who had now doubled in size. And who turned his gaze….to me.
Knock knock.