Fanfic based on the game Neverwinter Nights

Good day to all! Want to submit your own fanfic based on the first part of the game Neverwinter Nights. I wanted to reveal more playable characters (Aribet, Nasher, Pentica, Dester, etc.) and write about events that happened before the game. There will be Parallels with the expansion pack Hordes of the Underdark.

While the spread of Prolog. If anyone is interested, continue on.

NEVERWINTER NIGHTS

Prologue

In which the edge of an immense Weekend you would not have been born, whether the West, with its picturesque shores of the Sea of Swords, or South of the Kingdom, lying in the midst of deserts, or the North, the vastness of the Valley Icy wind, where the howling of the icy storms; or the distant mysterious realm of the elves in the dense forests of the East; I'm sure many of you have already heard this story. In what manner it is presented and what parts are not overgrown! But I will tell you now the truthfulness of all the stories.

It happened two thousand years ago, when across the continent of Faerun stretched beautiful tropical forest with plants and animals, which knew no cold, nor snow. But the brutal war tore this heavenly land. However, everything in order.

One fugitive slave, the convict left the quarry at dawn and ran with all his strength. Among the slaves he was known under the name Helmet Nevers, and among the lizardmen, which will be discussed further, he was listed at number 1111.

His burned shoulder, and the abdomen protruded chip arrows. The wound oozed blood. Pain plagued his body, his legs gave way from fatigue. It was already evening. But in those days did not live, these people could stop the fatigue and pain. He insists on running ahead, without slowing the pace. The severity of the shackles tempered it. He was used to pain and toil. So he had been taught. So he was born.

Several times he tried to kill lizard men, but he was a good marksman. His arrows with obsidian tips, (created specifically to penetrate a bone, the scales of reptiles), launched with a mighty hand and driven super acute vision, found its target.
Lizard men nowadays better known under the name of a Race of Creators, because, according to legend, they created elves, dwarves, gnomes, orcs, humans and all other beings. In their thirst for power, they went too far, turning into slaves all whom have created. And though lizardmen are long gone, the mention of this cruel race causes tremors in all living things.

He was a vile creature with a huge tail and a scarlet membranous crest on the nape. Crushing everything in its path. Not recognizing anyone but their own kind. Mighty warriors with a flexible and strong body covered with natural armor of impenetrable scales. With intelligence, much superior to slaves. Endowed with a primordial magic and devoid of all pity. Greedy and bloodthirsty killer. Terrible and majestic in their fancy armor with intricate designs. The armor of the lizard men was worn for protection from spells. From the blows of swords and arrows they were protected by scales, which, as mentioned above, could penetrate only weapons of obsidian. Their faces were similar to the serpent: acuminate, with green, unblinking eyes with vertically elongated pupils. And their language, incomprehensible and alien to our ears, was like the hissing of a snake.

Commanded the people-lizards, the Queen, on behalf of SIDS. Tall, chiseled torso, covered with bony scales, shiny dark mother of pearl. Her hair was writhing black snakes. Chest and shoulders – clad in delicate but sturdy armor made of an unknown alloy, muscular long legs in spiked leggings ended in three-toed leathery feet. On top of her body writhing dark green transparent fabric, air, strong as chain mail. In the right hand Morag was holding the halberd with a curved tip of obsidian. (Obsidian was equally detrimental for both lizards and their demon enemies, which will be explained later). From the blade to the shaft stretched a gold chain with inlays of gems. On the head Morag was crown in the form of a snake with red bead eyes. And Morag was a great power and the wisdom of the ages, and they were eclipsed only by its cruelty.


"They imagined themselves to be godlike. Why everyone believed this except me?" - repeatedly asked myself Helmet.

"Your hour has come. Today you will disappear forever. I'll put the beginning, and I will put an end to this", he thought while I was running.

Among the thousands of obedient slaves why he came up with the idea of freedom? He was better than others? Yes, he was clever. Stronger. "Clever slave" - as it was sometimes called the lizard. But that's not it. Why is he the one who was furious when he was beaten and burned with a hot iron, and all the others, silently endured the beating? Which one did he was hurt? No, it hurt all the same. Simply because of all of the slaves he was the only one with PRIDE.

At first they were no more than ten. And then all of the enslaved race has caught the idea to overthrow the Lord and to live by their rules. "Bad ideas are pathetic maggots spread like a plague" - said to be lizard men. If they had known. But they knew nothing about the aforementioned rebellion, the emancipation proclamation and the killing of their relatives at one of the remote pits, and on escaped convict, because at this time they had better things to do.

In those days, when demons still did not share the hatred for each other, when they have not yet expelled from the Game, and when they had material form, they were the only enemies of the lizardmen. Their army was commanded the winged devil Mephistopheles with flaming blood in my veins, spewing flames like a dragon. Uglier and scarier it there was nobody in Faerun or in the astral world, nor in the Nine Circles of Hell. But the worst was not the horror and destruction which it carried on its wings, and how he was able to deceive others. Lizard men did not succumb to its hypnosis, because he could see the truth behind his false words. Besides, they are too fond of themselves to someone else to serve. But mortals with a multitude of passions, not able to see the future and are not able to distinguish between good and evil, and Mephistopheles was easily able to deceive.

But Heluta Nevers Mephistopheles to deceive was not necessary. He came to him for help. He asked the devil to give him strength and magic to overthrow SIDS. Mephistopheles like any self-respecting devil, was not going to do anything just. He wanted to build his Empire around Faerun, and for that he needed was a smart and obedient servants. He wanted to seize the slaves of a race of Creators, because the one could not establish, and the small demons were stupid and incapable of hard work. Not obligated to keep his word, the devil agreed. It's made of Helota strong and powerful, but in exchange, made him take an oath that he would serve him in life and after death.

Haluat not relish the thought of having to change one slave owner to another, but he was left with He longed to escape from the shackles and from that miserable existence that was doomed to death. In the end, if he will cope with Morag, we will find a way to deal with Mephistopheles. So he thought. And he agreed to a deal with the devil. He chose to serve one master than all the dinosaurs. There was no one at the moment who would Haluat hated most of them. Besides, despite his selfishness, he truly wished freedom to all slaves. And Mephistopheles has promised that will release not only him, but all the slaves. Helmet, delighted, informed him of the location of all mines and quarries slaves. And they agreed on the day and the hour.

And when the opposition of demons and lizards has reached a point, Mephistopheles freed Helota. And Helmet escaped from the quarry. Freed slaves killed the guards (it was the weakest of the lizardmen, and they were few, because all others were taken to war). Running near the two warring camps, Helmet saw two vast armies stretching to the horizon. He knew the war would be for life and death. But doubt crept into his soul. He could not turn back. There, behind us, left thousands of eyes staring at him with hope when he left. No, he could not turn. He was from another test. So he was born.

About his contract with Mephistopheles Helmet said nothing to anyone. And the spell that gave him Mephistopheles, he was ready to use only in extreme cases. If something goes wrong. The slaves called him "the sun", and he didn't want his sun fell some shade, and a nasty contract he kept secret.

It was the Northern front of a huge Empire lizardmen. Here there was a fierce war with Mephistopheles for ore-bearing veins, which have produced miraculous metals, whose names are not preserved. Now they are considered extinct and lost forever.

Helmet was sure that the lizard men lose Mephistopheles, who led an army more numerous and sophisticated in guile and cunning. And Yes, the climate is changing is not in favor of reptiles. Huge glaciers crept from the North and over the mountains on the borders of the Empire of dinosaurs constantly hung black clouds yielding snow. The cold is slowly but surely destroyed the mighty race were neither fire, nor iron.

By order of Queen Morag summoned all the scholars and sages which were in the Empire, and they worked day and night over the creation of the artifact of protection from the cold. To Helveta heard rumors that the artifact has already been created, and in their camp ready to show the Queen the first sample. Helmet could not allow this to happen. There and then he fled.

He entered unnoticed into the fortress lizards, and stole the artifact. When it is time to give a gift to the Queen, the scientists lowered his head and confessed that he stolen. Great was the wrath of Morag. With a wave of fire she blew the dust all over the place and clawed to shreds anyone who came her way. Anger filled her to the brim, and she led troops to war before the deadline.

Squads of reptiles soon overtook the borders of the camp of Mephistopheles and with the fury came on him. While Mephistopheles was not in camp because he freed the slaves from quarries and mines. The demons, caught off guard in the absence of his master, could not hold the defense and, contrary to the expectations of Helveta, this battle was lost. With the remnants of his army and the efforts of wizards lizardmen, the devil was kicked out of the Game and with the material plane. This Helmet never knew. But even when Mephistopheles was gone, his strength stayed with Helveta. Who knows, maybe he left it on purpose to eternally have a relationship with Helveta and torture his soul after death until the end of time as revenge for his defeat.

When demon was done, Morag herself took up the search for the thief and caught him behind the spine of the World on the edge of the large basin (which is then called the valley of the Icy Wind). Seeing the Queen, Helmet realized that the lizards won, and he had no more to kill Morag himself. All the consequences of the defeat of the uprising would lay a heavy burden on the shoulders of Heluta, and even after death his soul would not rest for all ruined their lives because lizard men never forgive the rebellion and the massacre of the slaves will be bloody.

Find Heluta, and with it the artifact, Morag was surprised because between her and Helveta there was a secret love affair. Some say she really loved the man because he was handsome and stately, witty and courageous. So the answer to the how had disappeared amulet, because of her own misstep Helmet well knew all the entrances and exits of the fortress. On each date of his resourceful mind came up with new questions that Morag gave answers, and, in the end, she began to share everything and seek his advice. He was very careful in his words, because for them the Queen could guess the flattery, pretense and lies, so everything he said was sincere. Fortunately, the lizard men did not know how to read minds.

Describing the final battle, not to mention how much blood shed each other's former lovers, and how many curses rent the air. Helmet, endowed with the power and magic of Mephistopheles, was equal to SIDS in the force. Her spells didn't affect him thanks to the powerful charms. He shattered the artifact that scientists invented to protect from the cold, and the whole race of reptiles was now doomed. No more lab, no scientists and no artifact.

When Helmet Morag plunged to the ground and skidded over her obsidian sword, her dark snake eyes were bloodshot, and Helmet saw all the pain and despair of the deceived mistress. Deceived the Queen.

And in these moments, from the sky fell flaming meteors, and thunder bubbled over Aeronom. Branched lightning, and breaks mountains and rocks. The sea overflowed, and the river overflowed its banks. The four elements changed the face of the old world. And that was the sign. The end of the old era.
And then it snowed. First in Faerun. Lizard men defeated the demons, but lost nature. One by one, they died from the cold. Those who were more hardy, killed freed slaves.

At the last moment Morag begged of Helota not to kill her. She promised to put at his feet the whole of his Empire, where people are ruled by lizards would be on a par, and he would be their leader. According to the ancient law it was forbidden to kill someone who begged for mercy in a duel. But the victory has clouded Heluta, and he remained adamant. Now, when Mephistopheles and lizardmen are no more, his soul inflamed the lust for power.

And yet, when Helmet struck, the blade treacherously slipped off the scales SIDS, and Helmet fell on her chest. Morag grabbed his claws at the throat. And then Haluat have used backup plan: he used a spell of Mephistopheles.

The Queen writhed and howled. Her body no longer belonged to her. It was convulsing, burning from the inside, and destroyed itself

- Well, what it's like when the creature kills the Creator? asked Helmet triumphantly.

Again and again he thrust his sword into the body of Morag, while her scales were torn to shreds and the whole thing was covered in black blood. One can only imagine what cruel and unbearable pain tortured Morag, but instead of screams of agony, she evilly laughed and Helmet marveled at her endurance and composure in the face of death. These lizard men know how to die beautifully.

- You fool! Can there be a happy world, won meanness? she said. – Freedom is not for such as you. You will not be able to control it and you won't know what to do with it. Will wander at random, as if you gouged out his eyes, and you will throw from side to side, like those who drink wine, and the day will come when freedom will destroy you. And then I'll come back. And you will see the death of their descendants and ancestors. And the hour will come when the Creator will kill his creation.

Her eyes swept the deadly mist and the breath froze in his chest. And in that moment, the black soul of the Queen was separated from the torn body, leaped skyward, flashed like lightning and hit the sword Helota. The sword escaped from his hands, as though some unseen hand lifted him up, and then with great force thrust into a huge tree growing nearby. Sword firmly entered the trunk via the handle.

Then came the screams. Army of freed slaves declared victory. They all knelt in front of his hero. They were no longer slaves.

But a dark cloud fell on the soul of Helota. He knew that Morag was still alive, but vanity kept him so liquidia to tell people the truth. Fear had overcome him, and just before he died, he entrusted the secret to his successor. It is this mystery and handed down from generation to generation to persons of the Royal blood of the tribe Thunderous Tree that settled around the tree, engulfed the sword.

Descendants of Helota Nevers and still live there, faithfully honoring their traditions and the memory of the legendary hero. But was he so legendary? Morag curse still hangs over this tribe. For two thousand years have passed since then, and their number never exceeded five hundred people. Maybe after killing Morag with magic, Helmet attributed to themselves and their tribe, and to the whole future peace death sentence? For the soul of the Queen was alive and waiting for revenge.



***

The audience sat open-mouthed.

- Yes, it's a mockery of the Holy faith in Thira! – came a voice from the back rows. – Who can hear it?!

"Well, someone from the Neverwinter guys doing here", thought Deakin.

The Kobold struck his animal paw with filed nails across the strings one last time and left the lute. The audience sat motionless and digested. The only one indignant at the back, cursed at last and the noise cleared away, knocking over empty chairs. But everyone else was delighted. At such moments he, a poor Kobold, barely comes up to the man's chest, felt himself the equal of the nobleman, and even the king. For those rare moments of happiness worth living. Because both kings and beggars alike love a good story. So, the poor, despised by all losers, find the embodiment of their dreams to the heroes of the various stories and compose ballads about those who would like to become.

After a few seconds the faces, fading listening, back in reality, will see a "vile Kobold" and will be twisted with disdain. And so it happened. It was time to leave the scene.

- Hey, come on down! What are you doing? Time's up! – exclaimed the landlord.

The scene at this time crowded daubed actors and working with scenery for the next act.

Deakin sighed and went down like a sad little crocodile.

"Maybe Ticino to put on a play about Helvete Nevers?" he thought about himself in the third person. – "But that's only mountains, snow, costumes lizardmen... How much will cost such scenery? Ticino it's not exactly expensive. Yes unless people agree of the actors to command the Kobold?"

Once again sighing, Deakin went to the cashier to collect your pay.

Today the owner was not in the spirit, and counted him less than usual.

The Kobold went outside and dragged the cool night air.

"And what Deakin all whines and whimpers? At least it's better than the old boss!"

It should be noted that because of this "the truthfulness of all the stories" and began all his misfortunes. He first settled in Neverwinter, and that was the first mistake. Where this story didn't work because neverwinters revered Haluat Nevers, though nothing really did not know about it. By the time this legend was many variations with very different ends (as mentioned in the beginning). Fans of alternative histories, of course were, but in the most low and vile societies. But Dicino had something to live for, and he did not hesitate to tell her thugs and scoundrels, until one day, in a kind of brothel, accidentally (or not accidentally) was the priest of the temple of tyre. He sat in the arms of the beauty of questionable character and listened Deakin, often changing countenance. Unexpected for his / her hearing story turns and he then blushed, then paled, then started, then blushed again, and Ticino do not just come up with the idea that it is time to finish, but he really needed the money, but for an unfinished story to pay no one would. In the end, filled with righteous anger, the priest sprang to his feet, throwing the beauty and Deakin had a jug on the head. Poor Deakin week were neither alive nor dead, and when I finally pulled myself together, collected my things and vowed never to return to Neverwinter.

And then he went to Luskan. But there was not sweeter. At the first performance he was seized by some goons and taken to the tower of the privy Council, where he introduced the new boss. Deakin swore that he wrote the story himself, but a lousy boss didn't believe him. The boss didn't understand that Deakin wanted to be a great playwright. He took all of his manuscripts and put him in prison where he was tortured. And then he made a joke, and he wrote pahabnoe songs for the sake of its nasty environment. And it was hard to say that Deakin was worse – torture over his body or the mockery of his profession.

In the end, he ran away from Luskan, and ran long enough for the Kobold, already in Waterdeep. But here he liked. No one would blow the head off even for making fun of Helota Nevers. His story relished various cynics (what a lot of divorced) and supporters of liberal views. In General, here he felt safe.

But I myself cannot feel safe until you are alive. Only Deakin thought of it as someone's paws popped out of the darkness and grabbed him.

- Decided to escape from the owner, you filthy rogue? Well, I'll give you a dog's life, graphomaniac damn! – only had time to hear it, as it was enough on the head with something heavy.

Lute slipped from Kobold from his hands, flipped in the air and fell in the mud, sobbing sadly as the funeral. Someone stepped on it and the neck broke in half. Lute for the last time, aching snatches of strings, and the sound drowned in the mud.