Adrian: Baldur's Gate

Adrian set a brisk pace up the stairs of the main Candlekeep stairwell, heading for the top at the best speed he was able to make without running.

"What's the hurry, lover?" Viconia asked, not panting but surprised at his urgency.

"It is clear to me now that Reiltar is going to die wether we act against him or not. Sarevok and his mage Winski have arranged it somehow. If we don't do it, someone else will."

"Dopplegangers," muttered Tiax.

"Shifted to look like us!" realized Edwin.

"Right. Now I want Reiltar, but I want him for *my* reasons. But wether we get him or not, we need to protect ourselves, but it's also clear Sarevok, or rather Winksi, is trying to lure us into a trap."

"And so you wish to talk to this...Tethtoril?" asked Edwin.

"Yes. I had to anyway, but now the matter is more urgent."

They reached the top of the stairs without challenge, by which time the mages were out of wind. Adrian quick-marched to the left, and into a spacious chamber of a powerful mage.

Tethtoril was sitting behind a desk, a scroll in front of him. He was an old, thin man, with bright blue eyes and thin sandy hair. His robe was as bright red as Edwin's, but had a pinkish tone to it.

Tethtoril looked at Adrian without expression. "So, the prodigal son returns. I want a full explanation of what has happened since you departed, particularly to Gorion."

"And I indeed wish to tell you, old man," said Adrian, beginning to remove his armor.

"There is no need, to, er, undress," said Tethtoril.

"But there is, said Adrian continuing to remove his protections. "I'm going to remove every enchanted item I'm wearing, and then you're going to cast a truth spell on me."

"I don't think you the most honest person in the world, it is true," said the old mage. "But is that really neccesary?"

"It is," said Adrian, nearly finished removing his garb. The rest of his party was amazed at his speed and--was that nervousness? Yes, it may well have been. "Because just as important as what has happened, is what is *going* to happen, and I will need your support. And I can't have that unless you know I've been nothing but forthtright with you."

"And he needs to know you're not wearing any magic items that would distort the results of the truth spell," said Edwin, eyes widening.

"Exactly." Adrian had stripped down to his tunic and leggings. He dropped the breastplate of his armor to the floor with a clatter, then pushed it away from himself with his foot. He made shooing gestures at the rest of the party, and they backed away from the table.

Tethoril used several Detect Magic spells on Adrian to ensure there were no enchantments remaining, and then, satisfied, cast the spell of Truth.

Then both of them sat down at Tethtoril's desk.

"All right," said the old mage quietly. "Tell me. I am particularly interested to know how a Red Wizard and a Drow come to be in your company."

"I'll summarize the relevant points, with your permission," said Adrian, and the old mage nodded. "Good. Gorion and I were ambuhed outside Candlekeep...."

"...and that's why Reiltar will die, wether by my hand or not," Adrian finished. He got up and began putting his armor back on.

Tethtoril sat there for a long moment. "I don't like it, Adrian."

"You won't spare Reiltar's life by forbidding me," he pointed out.

"No," the old man agreed. "But I do not like this...I knew what you were, but..."

"And now there's another one worse than me, planning something only our shared Father would've approved of, thought I know not yet what it is," said Adrian, hastily rebuckling. "And I and my allies are the only ones trying to stop him."

"What of Imoen and these Harpers?"

"They don't have the relevant information or the proper framework from which to act," said Adrian. "But beleive me when I say I would like to recruit Imoen again before this is all over."

Tethtoril nodded once, and sighed. "Very well," he said. "I will make the neccesary preparations."

"Thank you."

"Do not thank me," the old mage sneered. "I do it out of necessity, not of any gratitude to you."

They left his office, heading back down the stair well.

"Adrian..." Edwin began, and hesitated.

"Yes?"

"How do you know that Tethtoril wasn't replaced by a Doppleganger?"

"Most Dopplegangers don't know spells, though one of their more powerful kin could have done so." Adrian had anticipated the question. "But in any case, I had a better source of information." He gestured to Tiax.

"Tiax did not smell the false faces on the old man," said the Gnome.

"Leaving beside that he's barking mad," said Edwin, "A spellcasting Doppleganger, or Greater Doppleganger as they're known, could've shielded himself from detection."

"That's a risk we'll have to take," sighed Adrian. "We're going to be accused of those murders regardless, I've taken the only precautions I can."

Edwin nodded, silenced but not satisfied.

"So why bother, if they're going to die anyway?" Viconia asked.

Adrian stopped and looked at her. "Because Reiltar is someone I want the head of, and credit for after it's over."

"That's your father talking," Viconia said.

Adrian smiled thinly. "No dear. If it was my father, I wouldn't have taken the precautions I just did."

"Even so, I'm not sure...."

"If you wish to sit the fight out, you can," he said calmly.

Viconia moved to him. "Lover, please listen...."

"To what? To the same sort of tactics Safana would've used?"

Viconia blanched, then sighed.

The party continued down the stairs in silence.

Sarevok, still wearing the damnable irritating glamour, was standing behind a bookcase, watching Reiltar meet with members of the Knights of the Shield.

The dopplegangers were in position and ready to strike at Winski's order, but both of them felt sure Adrian would move. He was no prude or fool. He would do it. The only question was when.

They didn't have to wait much longer. Adrian and his party came down the steps from above, and clustered next to the entrance archway of the conference room.

Sarevok watched with interest. He'd never seen his brother fight before. He seemed to have a good grasp of tactics.

The Red Wizard vanished abruptly, must've cast invisiblity on himself. Sarevok nodded slowly, waiting.

The Thayvian popped back into reality abruptly, throwing a fireball into the room. Then he ducked and rolled away. As the fireball exploded, Adrian, the Drow and the Dwarf charged around the corner, screaming battlecries. The gnome priest of the usurper, and the other mage followed after, hurling bullets and casting spells. The Red Wizard likewise returned and added his own magic missiles to the fray.

The Iron Throne and Shield Knight contingents never stood a chance. Taken completely by surprise, and wounded by the fireball, they could manage no offensive. Scattered by the group, they fought one on one, save for the mages, who were being peppered with magic missiles and bullets from Adrian's mages and the gnome.

Sarevok was stunned at Adrian's controlled, calculated cunning. He made a note to himself to memorize the maneuvers.

Winski had already left, as soon as battle erupted, to summon the Watchers. But Sarevok watched entranced as his brother hacked through the foe with that bright green blade he'd gotten from somewhere, until at last he backed the alredy wounded Reiltar into a corner, and ran him through with his glowing blade, gutting Sarevok's foster father.

Reiltar died with an expression of pained amazement on his face.

They looted the bodies quickly and efficiently. The dopplegangers, deprived of the kill they beleived rightfully theirs, chose this moment to attack. But they were an assassination party, not a battle group. Adrian and his troupe dispatched of them even more easily than they did the Throne and Shield envoys.

Adrian stared out into the darkness of the library. "Remember brother," he said. "My reasons." Then he turned and led the party away.

Sarevok closed his eyes and whispered, "Thank you, brother."