Adrian: Baldur's Gate

They asked around town, each in their own way, for the information on Balduran's Treasures. Adrian and Kagain. amongst the mercenary warriors, Edwin and Xzar in mage circles, Viconia in the darker temples, Tiax in the thieve's guild. It was from Tiax that the most promising leads had come; the Shadow Theives, still mindful of the threat of the Zhentarim hanging over their head, had provided the most information.

Some of the treasures of the legendary sea explorer had been lost with him on his second and final voyage. But both his helm and his cloak, said to be imbued with magical properties, were supposed to be hidden in the city limits....somewhere.

Several candidates were listed. First and foremost, a mage in the rich quarter aof town was willing to pay handsomely for one or both artifacts. Second, the Helm and Cloak inn had long been rumored to hold some of the goods, a coincidence due to it's name no doubt. Not a likely lead, but they'd follow it up anyway. Third, there was a group of adventurers turned to stone in a warehouse somewhere in the building. Apparently they'd been questing for the items when the mage Ramazith, whom Adrian and his group had killed ealier, had enspelled them int stone. Fourth, there was a rumored pleasure complex below the city that could also be a hiding place for one or both items.

Adrian decided they'd look up all of these leads, but that they would first seek more information as a group.

"I am uneasy about splitting the party up as we did," Adrian said. "It took us most of the day, and any of us could've been taken."

"Twas your idea," Edwin pointed out.

"Yes, I know. But I am wary."

"Have to stay cautious, in this business," Kagain grunted.

"Anyway, I want us to stick together as we ask more questions."

And it was well thet he decided so. The next place they went in to ask looked to be a fine merchant business hall, though Kagain couldn't identify who controlled it, save it was not the Iron Throne.

But no businessmen were to be seen. Instead, as they entered, a voice boomed "Die, cattle!"

Everyone in the party knew what that meant; invisible spellcasters. Everyone dived for cover save Viconia, who launched a dispel magic incanatation. Her prayer revealed six Ogre Magi. Six!

Viconia swore and threw herself flat as the first one threw a lightning bolt at her. It bounced off the door and returned the way it came, but the Ogre's luck was in, it missed him and richetted of the stairwell into the ceiling.

Xzar and Edwin hastily threw fireballs at the four Ogres massed at one end of the hall, then Xzar summoned his now truly monstrous undead creature and sent it at the nearest Ogre.

It was then that the party's luck ran out. The one remaining Ogre had more than enough time to cast, and he dropped a fireball right on Adrian.

It was like something out of a vision of hell. Adrian screamed in pain as the very air around him ignited. He was driven to his knees. His armor's magic protected him somewhat, but even so it was hot enough to make him sweat, then dry the sweat in an instant. His thin brush of hair was on fire.

Beside him, Tiax was rolling on the ground, desperately trying to put out the flames...then the pipe in his pack exploded, sending him flying.

Edwin had been at the very edge of the blast. Beating out the flames in his robes, he screamed in fury and an then spat out Words of power. A jet of ice lept from his fingers and froze the Ogre on the spot.

Kagain, Viconia, and Xzar had escaped the blast. The Dwarf and Drow aided the monsterous undead beast of Xzar's making against the Ogre. Xzar meant to add a spell to aid them but there was no need; the Ogre was soon down.

The Four Ogre Magi that had been fireballed were now making their own recovery from the double blast, just as Adrian got off his knees, scalp still smoking, face red and raw. He saw them starting to cast. Fully enraged, he unleashed a Bhaalscream at them, fully focused, nothing held back. Every window in the place shattered, and his companions were swayed on their feet. All four Ogre Magi were thrown back against the wall. Two of them were killed by the concussions of the scream's passage; the other two died when they hit the wall, most of the bones in their bodies breaking.

Tiax was down, and not moving.

Seeing that he was the most badly wounded, Viconia dashed over and healed him to the point where he could heal himself. She then came back to her lover, and healed his wounds, turning his singed flesh back to it's normal health, though the hair would take some time to grow back to even the short close cropped fuzz that Adrian favored.

In a foul mood, Adrian ransacked those corposes that werent frozen or burned beyond recognition, finding a few scrolls for the mages. After that they trashed the hall, finding some gold hidden away in drawers and wall caches. Feeling little comfort from this, the party decamped.

Tiax, it was clear, would be useless in any more fights today, so the timetable for the quest was prolonged. Adrian nevertheless wanted to make at least one more inquiry before retiring for the night; he was nothing if not determined.

They investigated the house of Ragefast, an old rival of Ramazith. Perhaps he would have some information.

The mage was indeed home, but did not like the intrusion. Additionally, he had other matters on his mind.

"We are meant to be together," he said in an accent not too different from Edwin's, "Wether ye know it or not."

His commentary was directed to a stunning blonde woman. Adrian's jaw dropped. A nymph! He shook himself. Viconia wouldn't take kindly to his staring.

"Destiny or no," said the Nymph in a sad voice, "I am not long for this place."

"Who are you?" Ragefast demanded, seeing the troupe for the first time. He was a pompous, short fool in blue robes. "I'll not have my peace disturbed!"

"We just want information on the treasures of Balduran," Kagain said smoothly, "And we'll be on our way and trouble you no more."

"To the hells with you! I'll not be distracted from my prize, my beauty! Get out of my house!"

"I know your voice," said Edwin, stepping forward. "You are an exile of Thay. Ragefast is not your name. It is Raymond Falaast, coward and bufoon who could not complete his apprenticeship. A laughingstock. (Pathetic. They shoul've had you executed for your failure.)"

Ragefast's face purpled with rage. "I know not what brought ye here, but six will take ye out!"

But on his own, Ragefast was no threat, as the Ogres had been. All save Tiax dashed forwards, and made pulp of him in mere seconds. He didn't even get a spell off. Edwin and Xzar both marveled that he had lived as long as he had.

"So you have saved me," said the Nymph. "Or do you plan to use me as well?" She was an attractive blonde, dressed skimpily, with an iron collar around her neck.

Xzar grinned evilly. "Let me have her, Adrian."

"For carnal pleasure, or spell components?" Adrian asked.

The madman blinked. "Spell components, of course."

Adrian shook his head. "You've had more than enough of those lately." He stepped forward and broke the collar around the woman's neck. She smiled, gave him a lock of her hair, and gated away.

Adrian held up the lock of hair. "Can either of you use this to make a cloak of charisma, as I beleive they're called?"

"I can, given enough time," said Edwin. "But better to have the mage shop do it. Would be faster."

"And more expensive," said Adrian.

Edwin shrugged. "It's your business."

Adrian felt his anger fade. "No, you're right. We've got gold enough, these days."

He sat down wearily on what had been Ragefast's bed. Viconia sat by him.

"It's been a long day," she said.

"That it has," he agreed. "We'll rest here tonight. You two," --he meant the wizards-- "Can loot the place for scrolls. Tommorrow we'll seek out that other mage who wants to find the artefacts. Hopefully he'll be more reasonable.

"Tiax needs rest," the Gnome moaned. "Else he will not live to rule the world."

Adrian nodded blearily. "I know. We all need rest. Hopefully the sun will smile on us tomorrow."

The party bedded down in the ex-mage's house.