Adrian: Baldur's Gate

Tiax was not the sort you'd think of as a diplomat. Being a mad Cyricist, and having this unfortunate tendency to refer to himself in the third person was often a downer in the interpersonal depertment.

But the Iron Throne was not your typical organization. Being run by people like Sarevok and Reiltar, Tiax fit right in.

Tiax circulated amongst the merchants for perhaps twenty minutes, then returned to the party. He could not see them of course, but he knew they would not have moved from their position. They had practiced moving as an invisible group before.

Inwardly, Tiax laughed at them. They were pawns in his game. A game with two purposes. First, to ensure Cyric's continued reign as Lord of Murder by determining which Bhaalspawn to contain and destroy. At this point, the greatest threat was Sarevok. The second purpose, was, of course, to elevate Tiax to rulership of the world.

But back to the business at hand.

"Well?" Viconia's voice hissed at him out of empty air.

"It seems one Emmisary Tar is due to meet some important types upstairs shortly," said Tiax. "Reiltar, the titular head, was just here, he has gone, but no one would tell Tiax where. Sarevok, however, and some mage ally, are still there, along with whomever else the Emmisary is meeting with."

Adrian was silent. Tiax knew him well enough to know now that he was surprised, but also ready, brooding, planning.

"Go up, Tiax," he murmured from the nothing. "See what you can see."

Tiax slipped back into the shadows and crept up the stairs.

He had no liking for what he saw.

A full, competent group of warriors, clerics and thieves, plus a mirrior image of Emmisary Tar. And Tiax, versed in the darkness, knew well what that meant.

Dopplegangers.

Sucking in his breath, Tiax looked over the competent group. Of Sarevok and the dark mage there was no sign, but there apeared to be an opening onto a balcony from here. Sarevok was most likely waiting out there.

Letting his gaze take in the details, Tiax eyed the opposition. Two warriors, two clerics, two theives. all well armed and obviously powerful. No simple assasins or mercenaries, these. Clearly, they were the elite fighting cadre of the Throne. They were no match for the power of Cyric, of course, but there was no telling how many of Tiax's pawns would die.

Tiax especailly wondered about the fate of the Red Wizard, Edwin. Adrian was fascinating in his own way, of course, a child of the dead fool that Cyric had slain in his rise to power. But Edwin amused Tiax. He fancied himself a chessplayer, that HE was somehow the one using the party like pawns, when in truth he himself was the ruler. Edwin was a most a bishop, or more likely a rook. But for now, he played along. So long as this Sarevok lived, it was best to let them harbor their delusions.

Tiax shook his head. He had taken too long ruminating. He must slip back downstairs and bring his followers to battle.

Slipping back down, he whispered what he had seen, using the tactical terms he knew Adrian would approve of.

As Tiax had known he would, Adrian whispered commands, and the group silently trooped upstairs, taking positions in the room.

Tiax hoped Adrian could restrain himself from charing out onto the balcony, wher it was now certain Sarevok was. But Adrian's own plan forebade it, unless Sarevok came to them.

Tiax drew a breath. The real Emmisary Tar was coming up the stairs.

This was it.