A dead woman

The body of a tall dark haired woman can be seen at the entrance to the mine north of Shadowdale. The woman's neck has been partly severed and there are a few puncture wounds from a sharp weapon on her abdomen. The woman wears the insignia and cloak of the Zhentarim, and should be recognised within their ranks.

(The cold body of Shalizeh lies there in a pool of dried blood at the kobold mines)

The halfbreed girl kept by Sergeant Utterminis had gone there to try to train. Fighting the ants had been a failure.

There was a body outside it. The woman's throat had been slit and her belly stabbed many times. It was horrible to see. She also wore a Zhent cloak. It was the young, beautiful and hate-filled cleric of Bane.

She wanted to leave her but knew Sergeant Utterminis would not want her lost. Slowly and with great difficulty she began pulling her back. Half way along a human man come across them and two halflings. One of the halflings tried to help. Misunderstanding Helen pushed him out of the way. He was angry and she realised her mistake. She apologised three times but it wasn't enough. He and his companion were angry and made threats. The girl was used to that by now and simply carried on helping the man carry the woman back.

The harvest mistress brought the woman back to life. She was furious and took it out in words on the singing girl. Five hundred gold was gone from her thin store of coins because she didn't think the priestess of Bane would give it back even if she dared ask. But to her surprise the priestess gave it her back without her even asking.

The priestess staggered back to the barracks trying to stand tall.