Adrian: Baldur's Gate

They returned to Beregost, and resumed the business of gathering supplies. With Kagain's local knowledge, they were easily able to get what they needed. As they went to find an inn--Kagain said the Red Sheaf was reasonable--when a voice hailed them.

"Hello there! I have a pretty proposal for you."

Adrian eyed the speaker, an overly cheerful young man with a harp, blonde hair, and distant blue eyes. A Bard. He felt a surge of irritation. Bards annoyed the Hells out of him. Nevertheless, money was money. "What proposal would that be, pray?" he asked.

"My name is Garrick. My mistress, Silke, would like to offer you a contract."

Money was money. "Lead the way."

Garrick led them into the next street, where a pretty woman stood in mage robes.

"Greetings mercenaries, I am Silke, thespian extraordinnaire!" she spoke in a high pitched, nasal voice that annoyed Adrian more than Garrick did. Looking around the party, he could see this reflected in virtually everyone's face.

"What's this business offer" said Adrian to Silke.

"Three of Feldepost's thugs have been sent to kill me! I want you to protect me from them, by any means necessary. for this favor I will pay you 300 gold."

Kagain's voice whispered in his ear. "She's lying. Feldepost has been dead for years."

Adrian nodded thoughtfully, and gave the Dwarf a meaningful look. Taking the cue, Kagain smiled and stepped over to Montaron, and the two began a low voiced conversation.

"And when do you expect these...ruffians....to attack you?" Adrian asked Silke.

"Soon. Within hours, in fact. Just guard me here."

Adrian nodded.

It was less than an hour, in fact. The three men came up the street, greeting Silke with a casual familiarity. "Greetings Silke, we have--"

"Oh no, you don't!" She shrieked. "I'm prepared for you now, I've brought friends!"

"What? We've brought the gems--"

"Now! Kill them now!" Silke cried.

Adrian stepped forward and thrust his sword into the first man's chest. Viconia's mace felled the second, and Xzar's magic missiles struck the third.

"Excellent!" Silke cried. You have earned your pay."

"Have we, indeed?" said Adrian. "It occurs to me, since Feldepost is dead, that you probably just wanted those gems off these men , that you have more than 300 gold on your personage."

Silke's eyes widened. "You knew--"

"One of us did," Adrian agreed.

Silke began to cast a spell, but Kagain and Montaron struck her from behind, and the simultaneous blows killed her.

She was carrying 400 in fact, and Adrian thought her staff would either be useful or could be sold. The corpses of the men yielded the gems and several potions.

"A good day's work," said Adrian.

"What about him?" Viconia asked, pointing at Garrick, who was standing there trembling.

"I...I didn't know what she planned!" Garrick pleaded.

"You're either a liar, or a fool," said Adrian dismissively.

Garrick whimpered as Drow hands settled around his throat and squeezed.

They entered the Red Sheaf, Kagain in the lead.

"Hail, Kagain!" called a fellow Dwarf.

"Karlat, ye old bugger," Kagain chuckled. "What brings ye back here?"

"Business, I'm afraid. Are them folks with ye?"

Kagain looked back at the group, then at Karlat. "Aye, they are."

"Pity, old friend, a true pity. That means the bounty's on you, too. Sorry, but business is business."

"I'm sorry too," said Kagain grimly. All conversation in the inn ceased as the two dwarves raised their axes and charged each other.

For a moment, Adrian stood watching, surprised at the skill of the axe duel. Both of the Dwarves were fast and dexterous for their size and build. The axes clashed together again, again, again. Then he recovered himself, and brought up his crossbow. He and Imoen pelted Karlat with arrows and bolts, wounding him several times, and given Kagain the edge he needed to finish him.

"Well," said Kagain in frustration. "We won't be staying here."

"Were you two close?" Adrian asked him.

"We got along." Kagain looted the corpse. "Aye, a bounty it is on ye, Adrian, and yer party. For 500 gold!"

"Movin up in the world, kid," Montaron said behind him.

"Nice to know I'm not the only one hunted," said Viconia.

"Having second thoughts?" Adrian asked Kagain.

"Nah. They keep sending lone hunters after us, we're liable to make a killing while we're making a killing, if you see what I mean."

Everyone laughed...except Imoen.

Next they tried Feldepost inn, named for it's dead founder.

"Here, get out! I don't like your type in here!" said a rough-faced commoner, pushing Adrian back into Xzar.

"Heh, you tell 'em, Marl!" another called.

"And what type would that be?" asked Adrian, staring at the man.

"Adventurers!" Marl spat.

Adrian smiled into the man's face...and buried his sword between his ribs.

"Not stayin here, either," sighed Kagain.

A thief tried to accost them as they entered the Burning Wizard, but Montaron, knowing his own kind, caught the gnome's hand and broke it. The thief whimpered and scuttled away.

They finally managed to get rooms, and Adrian was turning in for the night when there was a knock on the door.

He gripped his sword. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Imoen."

Adrian relaxed. "Come in, Immy."

She came in, and closed the door behind her, face down. She sat down on the edge of the bed.

"What is it?" Adrian asked, though he knew.

"Adrian...we killed innocent men today. Innocent men."

"You didn't lift a finger, Imoen."

"No, but you did, and I didn't try to stop you."

"Of course you didn't."

"Adrian, that's night what I mean--"

"Shhhhh," he interrupted her. "I know."

He sighed, and they were silent for a minute.

The harsh planes of Adrian's face softened a little. "I'm not a nice person, Immy. I never have been. I never will be."

"You always stood up for me," she protested.

"Because you're the closest thing to family I have, even more so now that Gorion's gone," he said. "The rest of the world can go to the Hells. You have to understand, that's who I am. You.....you might want to wait here until Khalid and Jaheira come, and go with them. They're more your sort of people, and they knew Gorion. They'll protect you."

Imoen raised her head and looked at him with wide, sad eyes.

"No," she said. "I'll stay....for now."