Adrian: Baldur's Gate

They made their purchases (Adrian paying paticular attention to enchanted and poisoned crossbow bolts for himself) and then they got underway.

But before he could even leave the city, came that damnable hail.

"Ho there wanderer."

"Elminster," said Adrian, trying to keep a straight face.

"I cannot in honesty say that I approve of thy company or thy path, but neither will I try to stop you. There's bad blood in thee, child."

"I know. I've found out who my 'dear father' was."

Elminster stared at him, a measuring look in his eye. "And how does that make you feel?"

"At the time, nauseous. I've since gotten over it."

"Have you? Can one truly 'get over' such?"

Adrian sighed. "Well I can't let it dominate my thoughts, can I? I have to move on."

"And what will you do?"

"Whatever is best for me."

"Even if that is bad for others?"

Adrian returned Elminster's stare. "What did caring for others ever do for Gorion?"

After a beat, the old mage said, "Well, it helped you."

"At what cost to himself? I neither know nor care how much you know of me, old man. But I tell you true, aside from Gorion and Imoen, all I knew in Candlekeep was hate and fear. I ask you, what is one supposed to learn from that?"

Elminster nodded sadly, then leaned forward on his staff. "I dispute it not, Adrian, I dispute it not. Yet you must learn to rise above it. To be more than your father intended."

Adrian gave a small, unpleasant smile. "On that point at least, we are in agreement." Though not of course, in the way Elminster meant it.

Elminster seemed to understand this, for he sighed and nodded. "It will be long before I trouble you again."

Adrian nodded. "No disrespect, but that will be a good thing."

Elminster nodded, and hobbled off.

All three of the 'new recruits' knew who Elminster was, of course. Their espressions ranged from disgust to scorn. But after the old fool was gone, Besheridan said, "Your father?"

Before Adrian could answer, Kirya smiled. "How does it feel, to work for a Bhaalspawn?"

Rakal merely blinked. Besheridan gasped, then a smile slowly filled his features, and he gave Adrian a little bow.

Adrian eyed Kirya. "You knew."

"Aye," she said. "I knew even before dear Xzar did. Or at least, I knew there was a Bhaalspawn afoot. As soon as he met you and told us in his reports, I knew it was you."

"I'm not the only one," he responded. "There's also Sarevok."

Kirya nodded. "Xzar has conitnued his reports," she said, frowning in distaste.

"Yes yes, this is all fascinating," said Edwin. "Shall we get on, to fulfill your paymasters commands?"

"Right you are, Edwin," said Adrian. "Let's march."

As the day wore on and they marched north, Adrian began to gauge these new companions.

Rakal was in many ways like Adrian himself, in it for the money. Unlike Adrian, however, he had no long term plans. He simply spent all his gold on booze and women while "off duty". His loyalty to the Zhentarim was based on theim being the best paymasters, nothing more.

Besheridan was another matter. He was a true Zhentarim. Raised in Zhentil Keep itself, before it's power in the Zhentarim sphere of influence began to wane, he now lived in their new base, Darkhold. Lived being a loose term, as he was often on the road. He wasn't a Zhentarim zealot, exactly, but he had been raised in the organization and quietly beleived in their superiority and eventual destiny to conquer. He wasn't arrogant or loud about this, but you could see it in his glittering black eyes, a certainty that gave focus and drive to his life. Adrian found himself genuinely liking the man, he was evil and made no apologies for it. And like the much more noble pirate captain Zavrian, he had a zest for life. He enjoyed what he did for a living. Adrian couldn't help but admire that.

Kirya was creepy and sensual at the same time. She would not, yet, divulge her full history with Xzar. But it was clear that, like Besheridan, she had been a Black Network operative most of her life. She clearly was more mentally stable than Xzar, but that only made her nastiness more focused and frightening. She was cheerfuly evil, the sort who would cackle with glee over the corpse of an enemy. Adrian was glad she was on their side. She also seemed to have a stabilizing influence on Xzar, the way Montaron used to do. She too, seemed sorry the little bastard was dead, and for her part, seemed to appreciate that Adrian had done what he could to keep Xzar grounded.

Xzar, of course, was absolutely delighted to have her around. He was indifferent on the soldiers. Edwin, for his part, was reserving judgement until he saw them in action. Kagain, not surprisingly, got along best with Rakal, Viconia was getting along with Kirya so far, but in a purely professional "we're superior to the males" way. While glad to have a female in the group who was not a rival for Adrian, she also didn't trust Kirya further than she could spit. Tiax, of course, saw them all as just more pawns in his plns to rule the world. Kirya put up with the gnome in a good humored way, and both soldiers gave him some respect as a priest of Cyric, but none of them took him too seriously.

They encountered no foes the first day. Adrian's plan, such as it was, was just to follow the trail, playing bait, until the Throne raiders tried to bite. When they did, they knew they would be close. The Zhentarim Trio, plus Xzar, had approved the plan, though Kirya and Besheridan had pointed out that eventually they'd have to be proactive.

They camped that first night a few miles north of the keep, the Zhentarim subgroup slowly integrating with Adrian's party. Adrian had the feeling that this little side mission wouldn't be the last time he'd work with them.