I pulled Mixia out of the way of the beam of energy, which missed her by inches. She was momentarily surprised by the motion, but didn't break her counter chant. The strange ritualist in white with strange goggles on his head continued to attempt to open the portal. Mira was trying her best, but couldn't get close enough to the ritualist without contending with his strange minions: golems with glowing orbs floating in place of heads, which fired off beams of energy at the adventurers. I hadn't seen Marcus since the battle started, but the rogue sometimes took a few moments to get into position before attacking from an unexpected angle.
I wished he'd hurry up. We had already had to make several desperate plays to stay in the fight, and I didn't have many more spells in me, despite my goddess, Mystra's support.
My name is Krim, and I'm a changeling. Most of my race do not follow the light of good, but I like to think I blaze the trail for all of them, to maybe get them to see it. I am a devout follower of the goddess, Mystra, the Goddess of Magic, who has granted me some of her power as one of her clerics. I have used it to aid my party in overcoming many foes, and most importantly, keeping them alive when all seemed lost. Now, it seemed that our story was going to come to an untimely end.
Unless... what was Mira doing? What was that light coming from her? She straightened, and took a battle stance, before rushing forward, grappling the dark ritualist and carrying both of them off the raised platform where he had been conducting the ritual.
The portal immediately expanded, lightning forking from it. The other side, no longer showing the strange demonic realm the ritualist seemed to have been trying to go to was clouded by mist and light.
I knew the portal as it was now would not lead to anywhere, destroying anyone that went through it. Out of options, I sank to my knees and prayed with all my heart to the goddess. I did not pray for my own salvation. The atrocitites I comitted before entering Mystra's clergy made me hesitant to think I deserved such salvation. No. I prayed for those that accepted me no matter my origins. Marcus, Mira and Mixia. Brothers and sisters not in blood, but in the bonds forged as we walked through fire to save people who could not save themselves.
The portal's energy seemed to freeze, and as I looked around, I saw that everything had frozen. I saw Mira, pulling Mixia back from the portal, both just out of reach of the energy. I did not see Marcus, or the ritualist.
Suddenly, a woman appeared beside me, and I sank to my knees before her. The woman was young, and ordinary looking. Her clothes were well-made and tailored, which suggested noble background, and there was no doubt she carried herself as if she were one. I knew better however. The very weave of magic seemed to flow through her, and from her and into her very being. This was an avatar of my goddess, Mystra.
"I cannot save your friends," she said "One is beyond my reach already. The others are close to it. I can, however, grant one of your friends the ability to help herself, but it will leave her without memory or knowledge for a time. You, too, I will save, though you did not ask for your own salvation. I will modify the ritual to aid in this endeavour."
Without waiting for an answer, she moved forwards. She placed a hand on Mira's shoulder, and both her and Mixia vanished.
As she approached the ritual, the explosion seemed to fold away from her, as if she were opening a door and she stepped into the ritual circle. The runes glowed purple as they changed and rearranged themselves, new runes and entire rune sequences being added to it. I was staggered by the level of magical power in the goddess's actions, though she made it seem as if it were easy.
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