Adrian: Baldur's Gate

They reached the town of Beregost without incident, a cold mist of rain coming down when they arrived. Adrian had never seen a city before that wasn't walled in with defensive ramparts; his tactician's mind was wondering how it survived at all. It certainly seemed to have all the amenities, however.

Between the bright sunlight that burned her skin, and the fact that they didn't want her attacked, Adrian had given Viconia the helm of the Flaming Fist warrior they'd killed (though he'd ripped out the plume so it couldn't be identified). It covered her face nicely. The armor, of course, he'd kept for himself.

So far Viconia was doing well, trading easy banter with Montaron, sneering down her nose at Xzar, being honestly puzzled why, if he and Imoen had been friends for so long, they weren't lovers. Imoen had been both embarrassed and amused by that; Adrian had just shrugged.

They could have gone on through the town, but Adrian wanted to explore it; perhaps some mercenary commissions could be gotten here. He stepped through the door of a large shop, the others in tow.

"Greetings," said a thick, aged voice. "I am Kagain. What can I do for you?" Adrian was surprised to see the shop owner was a dwarf; this Kagain stood behind his counter on a stool, full bristling beard rounding out as he gave an insincere smile.

"What sort of shop is this?" Adrian asked him.

"An escort service. I hire mercenaries to protect merchant caravans."

"Do you, now," Adrian said, thoughtfully. "Any caravans need to go to Nashkel?"

"Not today, son," said the Dwarf. "And usually the caravans come from Nashkel. Or at least they did, till the iron crisis started. Very bad for business, that."

Adrian nodded. He understood Kagain. Like himself, the Dwarf appreciated the necessity of making a living. "What do you have, then?"

"Well, one of my caravans was headed for the Gate, carrying the son of one of the Grand Dukes. It never reported in. I need to find it."

"We don't have time for this, Adrian," wheedled Xzar. "We need to get to--"

Adrian took Xzar aside. "Remember that wrecked caravan we saw on the outskirts of town? Easy money."

"Ahhhhhhh," breathed the mage. Adrian shook his head and returned to Kagain.

"Yes, I think we can accept that commission. What's the pay?"

"Five dollars for every bandit scalp, if any need repelling from the caravan. And I'll accompany ye. My assistant--" he nodded to a thin boy in a corner--"Can run things while I'm gone."

"Torm," Kagain spat when they "found" the caravan. "This is the one, all right. Well, that's that then. Sorry to have wasted your time."

"Not at all," said Adrian. "You know about the trouble in Nashkel. Perhaps there's some money to be earned there, hmmm? That's where we're going."

"My assistant can run things for a while..." Kagain agreed, nodding thoughtfully.

Adrian smiled his first genuine smile since before Gorion's death. "Then we have a deal." He shook Kagain's hand.