Adrian: Baldur's Gate

Adrian slept deeply and without dreams, which he was very grateful for. He had given himself a merchant-level room, not too fancy but comfortable.

The next morning he was wolfing down a breakfast of eggs, fried potatoes, and honey on toast when Jaheira found him.

"Let me get this straight," he said, between mouthfuls. "Imoen tells me you found this woman who lost her ring to some Hobgoblins, who wants us to get it back, but has no money to pay us?"

Jaheira nodded.

"If she can't pay us, then why, exactly, are we doing this?"

"Because, after yesterday's events, we need something to make people think better of us, rather than worse."

"Yesterday would not have happened if you had told me what I want to know."

"I told you as much as I could. Besides, look at it this way; it will give you some more combat experience."

"Hmmmm," Adrian grunted thoughtfully. "All right, I'll get the others as soon as I'm finished here. Xzar is still asleep!"

Xzar explained that he had been memorizing the magic missile spell for use, and Adrian accepted that; he wanted the mage to be useful, since he was getting the idea that Xzar had more than a few screws loose.

The Hobgoblins proved to be easy to find. "Spare no one!" they roared, as they charged in a group of three.

"As you wish, none of you will be spared," Adrian agreed as he coldly shot one down. Montaron and Khalid defeated the others in melee combat. Adrian noted with real interest how Montaron used his small size and speed to his advantage, dancing around the Hobgoblin's morningstar attacks, lunge in and stab.

"The ring's not on any of 'em," Imoen reported.

"Well, take their gold and let's go, anyway," Adrian said.

They encountered several more Hobgoblins in groups of one and two, finding the ring on the last one.

"Now we can head back," said Jaheira.

"No," Adrian corrected her. "Now we scout the area."

"But we found the ring," she protested.

He eyed her in irritation. "You insisted on this little side mission. Now that we're doing it, we're going to do it right. I have no wish to be ambushed by any of their friends, thank you." He was genuinely surprised that neither she nor her husband had thought of such a basic bit of tactics.

Jaheira dropped her eyes. "As you wish, O Authority figure."

Adrian snorted. He and Imoen shared a glance; Jaheira was an even worse blowhard than Winthrop, the innkeeper, back in Candlekeep.

They continued around the fortress of the Friendly Arm and began doing a perimeter sweep of the woods, when they heard the sound of running feet.

"Help me," called a silky feminine voice. "If you don't help me, they'll kill me!"

She came running out of the forest, and Adrian stared at her. A Drow! Midnight-blue skin, bone-white hair, and cunning red eyes stared out of a lovely-yet-wicked face. She was armed with mace and buckler, and wearing chain mail.

"Easy, there," Adrian muttered. "We'll help you."

Imoen and Khalid seemed shocked at this, Jaheira merely thoughtful. Xzar looked excited, Montaron amused.

"My name is Viconia," the Drow gasped. "I'm...not from around here."

"That I can see," agreed Adrian. "Who are you running from?"

"Him," Viconia said, pointing at a warrior emerging from the woods.

"I serve the Flaming Fist!" this newcomer roared in an uncouth voice. "Surrender the Drow to me!"

"And if we do, what will you do to her?" Adrian asked.

"Why, kill her, of course. She's Drow, she deserves to die."

"And what reward will you give us for her?"

"Reward? Hand her over and I won't attack!"

"Wrong answer," said Adrian, and fired a crossbow bolt at him, which spanged off his armor.

"I AM the law!" this idiot roared, and attacked Khalid, who was closest to him. Jaheira and Montaron moved in to help, and Viconia swung her mace at the fool's head.

This was no Hobgoblin. Xzar pelted him with magic missiles, Adrian and Imoen shot him again and again, and the others attacked directly, but he could take a lot of punishment. It was his armor, mostly. They finally began to wear him down, but then he got in two lucky strikes on Khalid.

Finally, Montaron's short sword found it's way between his ribs.

As he fell, Jaheira was busy fussing over Khalid, who obviously needed more healing spells than she had. He wasn't critically injured, but wasn't in any shape to travel, either.

"Khalid, wake up!!" Jaheira all but screamed into her husband's face.

"Guh," Khalid managed, and coughed up a bit of blood. Not a good sign. Xzar snickered. Montaron had already turned to leave the fool behind.

"This will delay us another day," she cursed.

"No," said Adrian. "It will delay you another day. We will be going now."

Jaheira stared at him. "You're not serious!"

"Deadly serious," Adrian agreed. "Viconia will be a more than worthy replacement for the pair of you."

"It will be my honor to accompany you, rivven," said the Drow, smiling.

"Gorion would not have wanted you to leave us," said Jaheira.

"Gorion was killed for what he wanted," Adrian snapped. Then he hesitated. "Unless, of course, you want to tell me what that message was about."

Jaheira dropped her eyes.

"That's what I thought," Adrian sneered. He looked to the others. Montaron and Xzar were grinning. Imoen pouted, but said nothing. Viconia nodded in approval.

As the group set off, leaving Jaheira to help Khalid hobble back inside, Adrian turned back. "Oh, by the way, here." He tossed the ring to Jaheira, who had to let Khalid stumble to his knees to catch it.

"You've earned it. For all the good it'll do you. Try to catch up."

Jaheira watched his retreating back with sad eyes, as Adrian led a group he was much more comfortable with southwards.