Shandalar wasn't too happy that we had delayed his important quest for SO LONG.
"If it was such a big priority, you could have done it yourself," I said. "Surely you haven't been busy with BIGGER priorities this whole time. Or are there reasons you don't want to do it yourself which you have neglected to mention?"
Shadalar scowled at me. "When you have located my cloak, return to where you arrived and this ward token will effect your release… er… your passage back. Off you go now."
---
Shandalar was going to send us to the Ice Islands, which was choke full of mages in particular. So preparing anti-mage spells was the most important. I had our spell casters prepare 3 Detect Invisibility, 2 Remove Fear, 2 Invisibility, 4 Silence and plenty of Magic Missiles. We may not use them all, but it was good to have.
---
Shandalar hadn't told us where we were going, so the party was rather surprised to find themselves on a tiny island surrounded by ice as far as the eye can see.
...island? It was more like a large rock. The only things on the island was a cavern that led down, and a polar bear. We stayed clear of it, obviously.
"He COULD have mentioned we were going somewhere so cold!" Neera complained as we stepped down the cave, shivering.
"Where even ARE we?" Imoen asked.
"Judging from all the ice, we must be near Yal Tengri in the far north," Branwen suggested. "...I think. 'Tis hard to say."
The first thing we found downstairs were two winter wolves. The wolves bit and tore at Khalid, who parried and blocked and dodged.
Watching Khalid twist and dodge, I couldn't help but comment. "Khalid, you do know they can't hurt you right?"
Winter wolves are so attuned to the element of ice that even their fangs and claws did not actually bite and tear, but instead inflicted bitter chill on their victims. Thanks to Gorion's Belt of Antipode, Khalid was immune to even the most fatal of cold.
Meanwhile, the rest of us were provided supporting fire from afar. Winter Wolves aren't too smart.
"I-I-I'm not going to let them bite me! That's, that's too scary!" Khalid said, almost whimpering.
Jaheira and I sighed. To be fair, he had a point. The cold imbued fangs and claws may not be dangerous, but it absolutely LOOKED dangerous.
Once we were done with the winter wolves, we took a look around. We were in a network of caves made of ice. But the walls were smooth and cut out in flat shapes rather than naturally dug out by water.
"Artificial? Dug out on purpose?" Jaheira asked, looking around. "The ice is natural enough."
It was actually warmer here than upstairs, somehow. But perhaps that could be attributed to the warmth of the creatures that lived here.
---
Such creatures included the three mages I had scouted ahead of us. They heard our battle with the winterwolves, and they've prepared defensive spells already.
These three mages were Andris, Beyn and Marcellus. Their spells included Horror, Confusion, Fireballs, Flame Arrow, that kind of stuff.
Andris was a level 11 mage, who started the battle with Protection from Normal Missiles AND Mirror Images. His opening spell was Dimension Door, which he would use to teleport around the map (just like Davaeron, really).
Beyn was an 8/8 fighter/mage. He was protected by Minor Globe of Invulnerability. His opening spell would be Shadow Door.
Marcellus was a level 6 mage. His opening spell was Horror, and he was too low level to have the Confusion spell prepared.
---
Andris regarded the oncoming four adventurers. They did seem well equipped. Lots of magic items, which could be very useful. "Well, well, well. I sensed the ripples, and there you are, but… you are something new. Tell me, friend, how come you to this place," he said to the half-elf at the front of the group.
"Probably the same way you did. Why don't you tell me yours story and see it it's the same as mine?" she replied back.
"You are the latest teleporting fool to be captured. This place seems a magnet of sorts. If you are powerful enough to transport without error across an ocean, you are apparently of sufficient power to be caught and dragged here. It is the very place that does it… seems to ensnare the energy. Needless to say, leaving the island by magical means seems entirely impossible. You will get used to seabird eggs if you wish to survive."
"Who constructed such a place? What is its purpose?" she asked further.
"I don't know an answer to either question. It could be a joke of the gods or a test… or both. It is hard to tell with gods. It could be a natural phenomenon, though these tunnels certainly are not. Trapped mages may have fashioned them for shelter however. There is little else to do here except ploy, study, or go mad. I prefer to plot. On that note, if you would be so kind as to strip down and give me what you are carrying I would be ever so grateful."
The woman scoffed. "If you want my equipment, you are going to have to take it!"
"Certainly. First you, then the others here. I need all the power I can get, and I don't mind taking it by force- WAAAARRRGH!!!!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, my Dagger of Venom +2 ran up Andris's butt and Imoen's Shortsword+3 into his back, both of us ignoring all his Mirror Images. He went down immediately to our double threat before he could teleport away, recoiling in pain from the venom surging up the wound in his backside.
Marcellus cast Horror before Jaheira and Khalid could reach him, but the spell was completely ineffective on the whole party. Remove Fear does that.
Beyn's Minor Globe of Invulnerability had long since run out (it doesn't last long), so Neera could interrupt his cast of Shadow Door with Magic Missiles. Khalid did the rest with Varscona+2.
Branwen's Silence didn't connect on Marcellus. Because of that, Marcellus got another spell off, Melf's Acid Arrow, on Branwen. The party cut him down easily enough soon after.
I used my Cure Light Wounds ability (courtesy of deadbeat dad) on Branwen rather than use a potion. Based on how this battle went, I forsaw that we were not going to see much need for it otherwise.
---
Imoen and I had already scouted out all the threats in the ice caves, actually, while invisible. Imoen went around dismantling traps, I went around marking the real person out of Mirror Images for those sneaky mages had pre-casted Mirror Images on themselves. Imoen also drunk a Potion of Strength, as considering there were so many fights with mages, backstabbing would work well.
---
Andris was carrying a journal, no doubt scribbling helped while the time and keep him sane. Somewhat sane.
"The Journal of Andris of Iriaebor
Would that I had more paper to write upon, but much was burned in haste for warmth. Little there is to document anyway, and so I leave this small writ for any that might find my corpse, for that is the only way it shall part from me. Know that Andris does curse you for your life, and that should I return in some fell form, I will hunt you for the sheer spite of you seeing my decimated body. The business of that aside, I hope that you who read this have suffered the same fate as I. The indignity of this condition! With all the power at mine fingers, I must huddle around a dung-fire eating seal fat! The forces behind this place have no respect for my stature, my power! I have slain beasts thrice my size with a glance and traveled[sic] as a bird over oceans! Here my magic is sucked to the earth and I am held, as others are. Some have escaped, and I swear I shall hunt them and take the power they must have. To do what I cannot, they must be great indeed. I curse them for leaving, I curse this place, and I curse that I have not the might to follow.
Andris of Iriaebor"
"Iriaebor? Okay, that's a place I'm not familiar with," I admitted.
"Overland City, City of a Thousand Spires," Jaheira said, "The city lay to the east of this region, pardon, to the east of the Sword Coast, past Reaching Wood. Along the way to Corymr. You can get there by sailing up the River Chionthar from Baldur's Gate."
"One of many city-states in the region," Khalid added.
Gotta appreciate the Harper agents for good geography.