These are new

Balthier had brought them into Ravenloft and out again in this quest.  He had a key that could open any lock. He was suppose to take it back to the goddess Nocturn's temple and use it to unlock the barrier between two realms allowing her fountain to refill and her influence on luck to reenter the world.  In exchange the goddess would let him drink from the fountain and always have the benefit of good luck.  Not a bad deal.

He happened across the temple by lucky accident the first time.  There he found that the super assassin Ghost had killed the Nightengale guardians of the temple and stolen the key for the the Fox.  From there the Fox must have organized some elaborate way to attempt to smuggle it into Ravenloft to free the Dark One.  There he had intercepted it.  So add Forsaken to the list of people to run from. He smirked to himself.  He could certainly use some luck if he was going to stay one step ahead of them.

Although, he may not need 'luck' if he had a key that could unlock anything.  The possibilities of what to do with that nearly overwhelmed him.  Plus having the key remained a bargaining chip for when the Forsaken eventually caught him. . . still hard to over estimate the importance of luck in his line of work.

"Balthier, Raven, something is ahead of us."  Mist called out using whispering wind.  The Darkwood was full of vile creatures it could be anything.  Balthier crept to where mist and Souske were positioned.  Through the trees they saw a wide variety of disgusting creatures.  All fearsome and terrifying.  "What are they?"  Souske asked. "Repulsive" Balthier answered.  Mists response was more helpful, "They look like a colony of zerg.  Its a breed of demonic creatures used in the Raven wars against the isle.  They are connected psionically and work as a hive mind.  We best avoid them."

Balthier pointed through the hive a strange stone structure they were surrounding.  It was all covered in a purple film like the ground around it.  "We need to go right there." Standing and placing his hands on his hips, "Then its decided.  We keep the key."

Just then, Raven winced and pulled a hand to her head as if stuck. Then the swarm started at them.  What looked to be hundreds of little monsters charged through the trees with devastating force. The ground shook and shrieks pierced the air.  Raven was gone to the trees and Balthier took to a shadow.  From where he was he could see Souske pull a sword to defend Mist as she released a fireball into the charging mass.

The flame turned dozens of them into ashes but they were replaced by more.  Another fireball the same result.  Balthier fired his cross bow into the approaching swarm but did not see the result.  Its like the air in front of them was moving as the zerg rushed them.  "We need evac." Mist said as she turned to run but was overran with the ravenous creatures.  Souske deflected a claw and released his own fireball measured to leave just a foot of clearance from the ground.  It eliminated the zerg to reveal Mist who had nearly be eaten by the beasts.  An acid spitter hit Souske full in the chest, as it moved it for its kill Balthier sprung from his hiding and ran his rapier through the creatures back killing it.

"We have to leave."  Balthier told Souske just as more acid spitters flooded the area.  The sound of flesh melting off was truly horrid.  Balthier tried not to think about his shirt as he fired his cross bow into the open maw of a zergling.  "Where is Raven?"

A flurry of arrows rained down followed by a wave of lightning.  There was a moment of silence as Raven dropped down beside them.  She looked ravaged from top to bottom but not in a good way.  Through an exhausted breath she said, "I can hear them,thousands of voices. Asking for a queen asking for me."

The lull in the swarm stopped and chaos again resumed.  "Souske, anywhere please" Balthier said just as Souske finished a teleport spell.

That was lousy luck.