Adrian: Baldur's Gate

The Helm and Cloak was good as advertised, truly luxurious and regal. Adrian had half a mind to relocate his base here; surely they'd been at the Elfsong long enough to attract the attention of Throne operatives.

So they rested the night. Edwin particularly found the place "Having an almost Thayvian luxury."

The next morning after breakfast, bathed and dressed (the Cloak had excellent baths as well), they sent Tiax to search the various upper apartments.

The mad gnome scrabbled through the rich rooms, hiding from what customers there were, seeking out any hidden compartments. The others waited patiently on the landing, just past the stairs.

After about twenty minutes, there was the sharp twang of a trap being disarmed, and then Tiax said "Tiax has found it," in a breathy voice.

The others crept in to the corner room, richest of the lot, and found Tiax holding a glittering long-horned helm in his hands.

"It is the one," breathed Kagain. "No doubt."

"The Helm of Balduran," Adrian whispered respectfully. For the first time in a long time, he felt something of an adventurer's awe.

"Wear it well, Kagain."

"Are you sure?"

"Aye, I'm happy with this golden thing we got from that rich fool."

Kagain took of his own golden family helm and wore Balduran's pratically gloating.

"Well that's half the job finished fairly easy," said Xzar.

"Easy? You call what we went through yesterday easy?" Viconia said incredulously.

"He has a point," said Adrian. "We found it much sooner than I thought."

"No doubt the other half will not be so easy," mused Edwin.

"It is our destiny to--"

"Yes yes, thank you Tiax," Adrian sighed wearily.

"Hail there!" said a hearty voice. Adrian up. A blonde warrior in banded mail greeted him from the bar, mug of ale raised.

"Salutations," he replied warily.

"I be Gorpel Hind, and this be my band of merry fools! Be ye a troupe of adveturuers?"

"I suppose you could call us that," Adrian agreed. "I am Adrian. These are Viconia, Edwin, Tiax, Xzar, and Kagain."

"A Drow and a Red Wizard? I be ware of you, friend," said Gorpel, looking a little twitchy. With him were two other humans, mage and cleric, and a halfling thief.

"We mean you no harm so long as you mean none to us," said Adrian. "We strictly follow the money."

"Ah yes, gold. Tell me where your quest has taken you then."

"We found a secret complex under Cloakwood," intoned Xzar in an over-dramatic voice. "We fought long and hard through it's dark tunnels, eventually slaying the power mad fools within."

"Ha! What tall tales ye weave, wizard!"

"Tis our destiny to--" Tiax began, before Adrian clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Forgive the gnome," he said, smilingly falsely at Gorpel. "He has delusions of grandeur."

Gorpel laughed. "No worries friend! Come and drink with us!"

Adrian shrugged and eyed the others. Normally he didn't drink so early in the day. Kagain was already eagerly hobbling over. Edwin shrugged, and drifted after.

But they had scarecely begun to imbibe when new voices assaulted them. "Make way for the Maulers of Undermountain!"

Gorpel grimaced. "Ah, those imbeciles."

"You!" the brawny, unshaven leader of the Maulers bellowed. "Gorpel Hind! I be nae forgivin ye for takin the treasure of Salasand from us!"

Gorpel shrugged. "We got there first. Not our fault you were too busy arguning amongst yourselves about who got the biggest share of the loot."

"I'll take my revenge on you, and all who stand with you!"

"We're not--" Adrian began, but the Maulers weren't listening, they just charged.

It was not a long fight. There were five Maulers, but they didn't work well together as a team. Between Adrian and Gorpel's parties, they outnumbered the Maulers two to one.

Nevertheless, the Mauler's wizard sank an acid arrow into Edwin's knee. Xzar responded by hurling floating skull at him, which exploded in his face, stunning him. Edwin finished him off with a swarm of magic missiles.

As Gorpel's companions moved in on the rest of the Maulers, Adrian went head to head with their leader. He was not a skilled dueler, but he was strong.

Their blades crashed together. Up high, diagonally across, down low. The Mauler was trying to simply overpower Adrian, to knock his blade away. But Adrian was a strong man himself.

Finally, their blades crashed together and locked hilt to hilt. They strained against eachother. Adrian gritted his teeth and pushed. He forced the Mauler to his knees, then brought his own knee up and cracked it into the Mauler's chin. The man's neck snapped.

Viconia was pounding down the last of the Maulers. Gorpel stretched his wounded shoulder. "Aye, thank ye Adrian. Ye were a great help."

Adrian thought that it had been more of a case of Gorpel's fools helping, not the reverse, but said nothing, only shrugged.

"Perhaps we shall meet again," said Gorpel. He saluted Adrian, then limped out the door, followed by his followers.

"Another inn we won't stay in again," said Kagain regretfully.

"Aye," Adrian nodded. "Too bad. But we got what we came for. Let's go."