Mishi's Journal of Stuff

So even though we had to pay the scumbag, we got the antidote and we went back to Alanna and her boyfriend. There was a bit of dialogue that I forgot to screenshot but it's not particularly important. Alanna gives the antidote to Eltolth and they have a reunion that was way too long to transcribe but I did it anyway.



Alanna: How could this happen, Eltolth?

Eltolth: Well, I... You know, there was this elixir vendor and he said...

Alanna: yes, go on?

Eltolth: Oh my lady, it's exactly this look in your eyes that made me drink this potion! I wanted to impress you, Alanna, my lady.

Alanna: To impress? Me? What...

Eltolth: Lady Alanna, I have to tell you now, after you saw me like this. I bought a potion that is reputed to... make a man more, well, masculine. You know, more muscles, broader shoulders, flatter belly... Alanna, today I wanted to impress you so much. I wanted you to be stunned by my appearance, not only intellectually but also by my *ahem* looks. Well, after drinking from the elixir, everything was going well, but somehow I wanted more and more, finally I drank too much. The process of body-reshaping got out of control and... well, you saw the result. What an awkward situation! I only wanted to change my looks into something more...

Alanna: There's no need for that, Eltolth.

Eltolth: ... you know, more masculine...

Alanna: I like you the way you are, Eltolth.

Eltolth: ... to make my appearance a bit more... What was it you said?

Alanna: I said, I like you the way you are! *tender smile* You beautiful, naive fool! Did you think I would listen to a lecture about plants if I'm not interested in the man talking?

Eltolth: Alanna... Is... is that true?

Alanna: As true as the sun rises every morning.

Eltolth: Oh, sweet Alanna! You have made me so happy! Come into my arms!

*sitting cross-legged on the floor with Imoen, eating popcorn* Now kiss!

Eltolth: Er... Who are the people standing beside us, by the way?

Alanna: Oh, this is Jimothy, the one who rescued you, Eltolth!

Oh, don't mind us. Carry on.

Yeah, it was just getting good!

Get up, you two. Stop acting like children. Greetings, Eltolth. We are glad you are well again. Here is your journal back. We are leaving now. Balance be with you.

Eltolth: Wait, noble helpers! I'm very thankful indeed. You did more than it might seem for us. Please, let me give you these 200 gold pieces to cover your expenses! I would very much appreciate it if this incident would remain our 'little' secret. Now please excuse us. Alanna and I have a lot to talk about. Farewell.

We leave.


See, I told you they weren't together yet.

Weren't you the one who assumed the potion was for sex?


You did too!

I cannot believe they weren't already boning.

We do indeed get 200 gold from the deal, so we come out 100 ahead minus the expense we incurred for the elixir. We also get 500 experience. And, despite Eltolth's asking us to please keep this whole thing to ourselves, SOMEONE must have blabbed because our reputation gets a 1 point boost. I blame Garrick.



Ajantis continues being sweet.



Garrick continues to not impress Jim by starting a conversation while she's robbing from the rich. I can only assume he's yelling his lines from outside the house. Imagine Jim's lines are dripping with sarcasm.



That's good. I've been having a lot of problems with bandit activity lately, but they've always only taken the cargo and let the caravan go afterward. I've been catching flak from the family of some of the passengers of this caravan, after all it was the job of my mercenaries to make sure everyone got safely to Baldur's Gate. Normally i wouldn't give one damn about some stupid whiner, but one of the passengers was the son of Entar Silvershield, and in this part of the world, his word is law. So, do you want the job or not?

Well, there sure is trouble on the roads. I have seen some myself.

Never is enough hirelings around t'do the job proper. D'ya have any experience?

We battled a bandit group that had just killed everyone in a caravan up north. Any chance this pin was from one of yours?

Well, this is Silvershield's son's marker. Dead, y'say? That was one of my caravans. Guess I'm in a lot of trouble now. With him dead, I'll be a wanted dwarf. Well, since my reputation is now mud, how 'bout I help you gain revenge on those scumbags? P'rhaps you can put in a word for me with the Silvershields. Whaddaya say?

Sure, we could use your skills.



Kagain pronounces his name KAY-gan, which bugs me, because I always want to pronounce it Ka-GAIN. He's another recruitable character, and he's evil so we won't be taking him with us. So why did we chat him up and let him join, only to immediately kick him out? Because Kagain has one thing that none of the other potential party members have: a home of his own with plenty of empty shelves we can use as a place to store our extra things. We can leave quest items that are no longer useful, like the empty antidote bottle and the wanted notices we got from Tarnesh and Karlat. This is also a good place to leave Eddard Silvershield's Fibula so it doesn't clutter up our inventory for four chapters. We might be able to use his place without making nice with Kagain, but I've never tested that out. Also it would be weird to leave your stuff in a stranger's house. So now Kagain is our quartermaster.

While we're stashing our shit, Ajantis decides we have a moment to talk about his Lord Helm.



Are you so sure, my lady? What powers your body and soul in the never-ending battle that is our life?

...People I know I can rely on to fight at my side. Like Imoen, but don't tell her that, it'll go to her head. And Jaheira and Khalid. And you.

... And we are fighting loyally at your side, Lady Jimothy. Yet I think you will see the truth of my words one day.

Maybe. So what's so great about Helm, anyway?

Helm, the Vigilant One, is the god of duty, vigilance, and protection. He is the eternal sentry, the ever watchful, the protector never distracted from his duty. His symbol is the staring eye with a blue pupil on an upright war gauntlet. Helm is neither cold nor emotionless. He dedicates himself to his appointed task with stern discipline, but he is fond of children, my lady. They are the only ones with whom he is tolerant if they offend his rules.

Helm's rules are: Never betray those who trust you. Be vigilant. Be fair and diligent in the conduct of your orders. Protect the weak, poor, injured, and young, do not sacrifice them for others or for yourself. Always obey orders, providing that those orders follow the rules of Helm. Demonstrate excellence and loyalty in your role as guardian and protector. We helmite clergy and followers are always vigilant and prepared for attack from our enemies. We never act on an impulse, as careful planning has been proven to be better in the end. We defend the weak and young, and never betray our duty. Duty to one's cause outweighs all.

Does it?

During the Time of Troubles, the gods wandered as mortal avatars on Faerun, and Helm was the only deity that retained his godly powers. His role was to confine the other deities to Faerun, and he served in this task faultlessly. Nevertheless, the avatars caused much destruction, and people blamed Helm for it.

Some say Helm let people down during the Time of Troubles, Ajantis.

But he did not! During the time of Troubles, Helm did nothing but his duty, my lady.

If Helm could have spared the destruction caused by the gods by allowing them to return home, then it was precisely because he did his duty that he let the people down.

It is regrettable that you feel that way, my lady, but I fear I cannot change your opinion right now. Maybe you will reach a different conclusion during the course of our travels.



NEXT: Nothing Much Happens