Adrian: Baldur's Gate

"Brother?" asked Jessa after a long pause.

"Yes...." said Adrian. "We grew up together, and recently found out we were truly related." He was tense. Very tense. Had Imoen come for him? Had the rift between them split that deep? He wouldn't kill her. Couldn't kill her. But what if she could kill him? Was that his end?

"We need to talk, Adrian." Imoen said.

"Alone," was his only response."

"We will not allow you to--" Jaheria began.

"Shut up, Jaheira," said Imoen. Jaheria was surprised; Adrian was flabbergasted.

"What? You are only--"

Imoen turned and glared at the Druid. "Let me clarify. Shut up, you stuck up, snotty, uppity, pretenious tree-hugger."

Adrian was stunned. Imoen had never spoken that way to anyone.

Apparently Jaheria never had heard such from her either. "Don't let your own--"

"I'm not letting anything," said Imoen, in a sad voice. "I'm just not letting you decide where and how I discuss anything with my brother. It's that simple."

Adrian found himself in the unusal position of peacemaker. "Perhaps, Jaheira, our respective groups could continue without myself and Imoen for a while, to sucessfully conclude this mission." He made a gesture towards Jessa. "This is Officer Jessa Vai of the Flaming Fist."

Jaheria looked at Jessa, who nodded. "We are seeking the fate of several citizens who were lost in these sewers," she said.

Jaheira nodded slowly. "We were just on a monster hunting expidtion."

"Let us join forces while the others leave for the time being, then," said Jessa.

Adrian stalked over to Jaheria, and spoke in a whisper. "Jessa doesn't know, the others do."

Jaheria nodded. Then to Imoen, "We will speak of this later."

"If we speak of this later," Imoen returned, "I will say the same again. And it will still be true. If you can't handle that, I will leave...your company. It's that simple. Together or not, you will never attempt to command me again."

Jaheria looked down. "We only want what is best for you."

"What you think is best for me, in terms of how it also benefits you," Imoen retorted. "And in any case, I was not speaking of our shared group. I spoke exclusively of you, save in terms of my leaving. Understand?"

Jaheira just nodded.

"Good then," said Imoen. She turned to Adrian. "Brother?"

"The Elfsong," was his answer.

They separated from the groups and made their way to the nearest ladder. Adrian's party understood to report back to him there, without being told.

They arranged separate baths; neither wanted to reek of the sewerpits during such a conversation. Adrian spent rather longer in the baths than Imoen, using more hot water, but she expected this.

They met, wearing nothing but their civilian garb, on the second floor common room of the Elfsong. There were fewer people up here, and it was quieter.

"So," said Adrian after an uncomfortable pause. "The Harpers told you."

"And the Zhentarim you," she returned.

"Not about you; I found that out later."

Another pause.

"You've grown," he said, and their was real respect in his voice.

Imoen sighed. "In some ways I wish I hadn't."

"It is not easy," Adrian agreed.

"No, it isn't."

"That cold-based attack...I've never seen it's like."

"It's one of my powers," she said. "I gained it after I used an ice wand to kill another of our siblings, north of the city. After he died, he exploded, and the coldness became part of me. It chills my bones, my soul. I hate it. But sometimes I need to use it. Mostly I just use the power to heal."

"You killed one of us?" Adrian gasped, and his respect for his sister went up several more notches.

She nodded, and a single tear trickled down one cheek. "A Wild Mage. I didn't want to. But he wasn't interested in talking."

Adrian touched her hand. "I'm sorry."

"You are?" she was honestly surprised.

"Yes. You were sweet, and innocent. It was not a bad thing. I miss that spark in you."

"So do I," she sighed. "But I'm not like you, either."

"No," he agreed. "You're not."

Another pause.

"Another of our siblings is in the city, working in the Throne. He's the one that killed Gorion. His name's Sarevok."

Imoen flinched. "I've heard the name. Second in command, foster son, and heir to the head, Reiltar."

Adrian made a noise that was supposed to be a chuckle, but there was no humor in it.

Another pause, longer this time.

"What did you want to say to me...sister?"

She sighed. "One day we will travel again together, despite our differences. I think we'll have to."

Adrian nodded, slowly. "So long as we stay loyal to eachother, we will defy the father's purposes.

"Yes, but not only that. It is...lonely being with people who don't understand."

"Yes," Adrian agreed. Imoen needed someone to hold her. He had Viconia; where was her man? She needed one, in a way the cute flirt she had been never did.

"But," he finally said, "Not today."

"No," she agreed. "Not until we've paid our debts to our respective organizations."

He nodded, they stood, and hugged.

"Well what a sickening sight that is!" said a new voice. A hard, nasal voice. A voice they both hated.

"Abdar," said Adrian, standing, and staring in the direction of the voice.

Abdar was standing on the last two steps. His hair was long, shoulder length, and black. His eyes were a watery, pale blue. He was a warrior, but not an impressive one. About as muscular as Khalid. He was...not stupid exactly, but he couldn't focus on anything for any period of time. He had grown up in Candlekeep too. He was no spawn, both of them knew that immediately. The inbred offspring of a farming family near the keep, he had been brought in to be part of the guards. He had never bullied Imoen like Beurros had. But when she began to grow into womanhood, he had made fumbling attempts to win her. He disgusted her. And still did now.

"Oh, yes," said Adrian in a voice of ice. "You are indeed a sight to turn the stomach, Abdar."

"Did they kick you out, loser boy?" Imoen asked him, giving him an insincere smile.

He spat at them. "Nah, I just knew that if I left too, I could be better than either of you pathetic scum. Specially you girl, after refusing the advances of a real man."

Adrian and Imoen looked at eachother, then they slowly walked over, Imoen in the lead.

He looked up at them from the second step, still sneering.

Until Imoen kicked, swiftly, with good aim. Abdar squealed, and doubled over in pain.

Adrian leaned forward and gave a little Bhaalscream. Not much of one, he didn't want to announce his abilities to all and sundry. Just a little shout with Bhaalpower backing it up, which sent Abdar flying down the stairs. He hit the ground and rolled, slamming into the bar. Several patrons laughed, and deliberately spilled their beer on him.

The siblings looked at eachother, and gave a little smile.

Their respective parties arrived about twenty minutes later. They had found the cause of the trouble; an Ogre Magi and his pet carrion crawlers, which paralyzed their victims. Adrian's group had taken the reward for the quest; Imoen's group, being sanctimonious fools, hadn't.

Adrian and Imoen hugged again. She winked and grinned, a little of her old nature showing through.

"Oh by the way," he asked her. "The hair, why?"

She smiled sadly. "To remind me of my old self," she said. "As I don't wear pink anymore."

He smiled sadly too, and reached out and tousled her pink locks. "See you around."

"Sooner or later," she agreed, and departed with Jaheira and the others.

As his own group crowded around him, Adrian noticed Abdar sitting in corner, holding his head in his hands.

"Xzar," he said to the mage.

"Yes?"

"I think I've found something of interest to you...."

Later that night, when Abdar made to leave the Elfsong, Xzar followed him outside. In an alley nearby, there was a scream, followed by a choked gargle. Not long after Xzar was seen walking back to the Elfsong, but he seemed to be walking oddly...almost as if he was dragging something invisible.

Branwen turned to Imoen and the others. "You have spirit," she said to Imoen. "But the rest of you annoy me. I am leaving."

"Leave then," said Jaheira.

Branwen sniffed, bowed once to Imoen, and marched off.

"Are you leaving too?" Jaheria asked Imoen.

Imoen shook her head. "Not yet, at least. But remember what I said."

"I could hardly forget," said Jaheira, tonelessly. They walked to Harper headquarters in silence.

Jessa had remained with the party that night, though she would return to duty the next day.

"Jessa..." said Edwin. "Would you stay the night with us?"

"Why not?" she grinned, and followed him upstairs.

Viconia lay in Adrian's arms.

"So did it go well?" she asked him.

"Quite well," Adrian agreed.