Adrian: Baldur's Gate

In some ways, the Friendly Arm Inn reminded Adrian of Candlekeep; the same high, imposing stone walls. But it was much more welcoming and homely, and not just because it's drawbridge was down. He could hear shouts, laughter, and cheerful music playing inside as they approached.

But there was something else as well....an odd sense of familiarity.

"What is it about this place?" Imoen asked, startling Adrian by mirroring his thoughts. "Gives me the creeps!"

"It was once a temple of Bhaal," said Xzar in an over-dramatic voice. Adrian was beginning to worry about the mage. "Gnomish adventurers forced them out."

"An' turned it into a fine drinkin' hole," Montaron noted, grinning.

The name Bhaal, dead God, lost in the Time of Troubles, sent chills down Adrian's spine, though he couldn't say why.

"Hi friend!"

This hale greeting reached them from a man in colorful robes, obviously yet another mage, coming down the steps of the main building as Adrian's party reached them. Adrian was beginning to wonder if the entire Coast was full of them, they seemed so underfoot today.

"Salutations," Adrian replied, calmly.

"Might you be the people I'm looking for?" asked this fellow.

"Do you know Khalid and Jaheira?" Imoen asked.

The mage nodded. "Aye, there be two who answer to those names within. And you are...?"

"My name is Adrian, and these are my travelling companions, Imoen, Xzar, and Montaron."

"Ah yes, Adrian! You are indeed the one I seek."

"Indeed?" asked Adrian warily, hand drifting towards his crossbow.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. Hold still, this won't take a moment...." then he began twisting his fingers and mumbling in an arcane language. Adrian knew spellcasting when he saw it. The mage was not yet close enough to reach with his sword, so he grabbed his crossbow and aimed it.

"And the rivers run red!" shouted Montaron, and charged up the steps, determined to close the distance. Behind him, Adrian could hear Xzar begin his own chanting, and the twang of Imoen's bow.

Suddenly, there were four mages where there had been one; the Mirror Image spell. Adrian grinned without humor, and fired.

Imoen's arrow took out one of the fakes, Adrian's bolt another, and Montaron closed and struck down the third. The mage had begun to cast another spell, but at that precise moment, Xzar launched his own. Adrian heard a hissing noise from Xzar, and then a ball of blue energy flew past him, and struck the enemy mage in the waist.

"Yessssssss," Xzar hissed.

The foe swayed on his feet, tried to say something which came out as "Guk....." and fell backwards onto the stairs.

By now the guards had arrived, for all the good they'd do. Montaron was examining the corpse, and held up a piece of parchment. "He be a bounty hunter," he said, handing the parchment to Adrian. "Hunting for you."

Indeed, it was so. Adrian's mouth tightened down into a bloodless line as he read the notice, which sought the death of him and all who travelled with him, for one hundred fifty gold pieces. The armored warrior who had killed his father, or those he served, had moved fast.

One of the guards heard Montaron's words, and waved his companions away. "Mind you don't attract other like-minded individuals while you stay here," he warned Adrian.

Adrian just stared at him, until the guard cringed and scurried away.

Xzar was chuckling over a scroll from the corpse.

"What is it?" Adrian asked him. "And what did you cast?"

"Larloch's minor drain," Xzar replied, in a faster, strangely accented voice. "Very useful spell. And what I have here is magic missile."

"Well, be careful who you cast at," Adrian said, grimly.

"I could do no other," Xzar said, pressing a hand to his chest and fluttering his eyes. Adrian gave him a bit of staring as well. It wouldn't do for Xzar to get overly theatrical.

They went on up the stairs.

"How long must we wait here?!?" Jaheira scowled at her husband. "Things stir to the south as we sit!"

"You know why, J-jaheira," stuttered Khalid. "Gorion."

"Yes..." she sighed. "Gorion. We shall need his aid."

Adrian and his troupe stepped up to their table.

"Are you Khalid and Jaheira?" he asked.

"We are," she agreed, eyeing the young man before her. His close cropped black hair was shot through with premature gray, which matched his cold eyes. He was well muscled and well armed. She took in his companions....Imoen, in her purple thief hood and clothes...Xzar in black and green robes, Montaron the little warrior.

Adrian, for his part, saw a thin-faced half-elf woman who looked to be of sour disposition and less than useful combat ability. Her husband looked not much better. Both had brown hair and shared the violet eyes and pointed ears of their mixed heritage.

"I am Adrian, ward of Gorion. We were ambushed leaving Candlekeep, and I'm afraid...that he didn't make it."

"No," Jaheira whispered.

"K-killed?" Khalid stuttered, disbelieving, and Adrian's estimation of him dropped another notch.

"I saw him die. I could do nothing." Adrian sighed wearily. Xzar and Montaron exchanged a glance; this was new information to them as well.

"Well....you may as well come with us, as you would have if he had lived," she said, softly, looking down at the table.

"Where to?" Adrian asked.

"The mines of Nashkel," she replied. "We are going to investigate the--"

"Iron Crisis!" interjected Xzar in a high-pitched voice. "Excellent! We met the young man on the road today, and asked him to join us on that very same expedition!"

"Did you now?" Jaheira asked, raising an eyebrow. "Interesting. Well, it will be good to have a full party to tackle this mystery."

Adrian introduced them to each other. "But I, at least, must rest," he said, heavily. "I got no sleep last night, and it has been a long trek. Are the rooms reasonable?"

"They are," Jaheira agreed. "Though the price rises in relation to quality."

"Good business sense," Adrian agreed. "But there is something else I must ask you."

"W-what?" Khalid managed.

"This was on my Gorion's body," he said, handing the letter over.

Jaheira scanned it briefly, then looked up at him. "It's a very long story that we don't have time for."

"My father died because of this information," Adrian said, trying to curb his anger. "I need to know."

"You are still very upset," Jaheira said. "Perhaps after you have rested--"

Crack

All conversation in the tavern stopped. Jaheira stared down at the table, and at Adrian's fist, which had punched into it. Adrian showed no sign of pain, despite the fact that his fist was imbedded in the wood, and many fissures spread across it's surface.

"Answer. My. Question." Adrian spoke in a voice that was full of stone and ice.

Jaheira, eyes wide, was suddenly as much a stutterer as her husband. "Y-you have a special destiny, A-adrian. A s-s-special heritage. G-gorion sought to pro-protect you from it. Th-that's why he raised you. And why he wanted you to come with us. And that's why he was killed." She regained control of herself. "I can't tell you more than that, now. You wouldn't believe me."

Adrian looked at her for a long, long time.

Then he nodded. "We'll gather our forces in the morning."

He pulled his fist out of the table with a grimace, and turned and walked away. Conversations slowly began again around the room.

Jaheira and Khalid were staring at each other, wondering just what they were going to do now.

Xzar and Montaron were also impressed, but in a different way entirely.

"Did you see that?!?" Xzar said in exited whisper to his companion, as they stepped away from the table. "Such power!"

"Aye, and ye heard what the half-breed was sayin'," agreed Montaron. "A special destiny and heritage....you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"

"That roast duck with hollandaise sauce would be nice?"

"No, ye daft fool! That Adrian might be one of those....special folk our masters warned us of."

"Ah yes...." Xzar's eyes became distant and thoughtful. "What a useful tool."

"More like a double-bladed sword," Montaron warned.

"I'm aware of the risks, chum," Xzar assured him frutily. "But he'll be of great use to us."

Montaron grunted noncommittally.

Imoen followed Adrian to the bar, as he went to order rooms.

"Adrian....are you all right?"

Adrian turned to look at her with those eyes, and she shivered.

"I doubt I'll ever be all right again."