Adrian: Baldur's Gate

They marched on, into the dry parched lands that Adrian remembered from futher south, at Firewine bridge. Hot, dry, and dusty.

Adrian hated it. He was no tree hugging druid, but this dry barren emptiness disgusted him.

"I trust your superiors didn't set up camp in this desert?" he asked Edwin.

"Oh no, closer to the Wood of Sharp Theeth," the Thayvian assured him. "A more wooded area."

"Good."

Viconia, too, narrowed her eyes against the dust and grit blown around by the wind. So unlike the Underdark. But then, the Underdark was closed to her; she could never go home again.

Tiax, for his part, was brooding quietly. He knew Adrian had run out of patience with him, and would not tolerate another grab at power. More likely he'd kill him outright. Once Sarevok was gone, he'd have to leave the spawn behind, at least for the time being. Cyric wouldn't like it, but what else was there to do?

Xzar and Kagain had formed an unlilkey partnership now, struggling through the sands together, each in his own thoughts, and going by their facial expressions those thoughts were not good.

Eventually, the land began to become more hard=packed and firm, but still hot and dry. The sun would be going down soon; it had taken them most of the day to get this far.

Then a shrill, unpleasant voice broke in on their thoughts. "Hold travellers, I challenge your best warrior to a duel!"

Adrian stared at the newcomer. She was tall and well built, battle-tatoos on the face. Blond hair blowing out from under her helmet in the wind, hard blue eyes staring at the party. She was good looking, but her face was set in a permanent expression of hatred that even Sarevok couldn't have matched. This was a woman who hadn't seen anything good in years. Maybe since birth.

"And why," said Adrian, "Should we waste our time on such a pointless contest?"

"A simple wager," said the woman. "I am Shar-Teel, and I hate all men. But I love bloodshed. I'll fight your best warrior until one of us submits. 500 gold goes to the winner."

Adrian shrugged. "I accept your challenge."

"Let me take 'er," said Kagain, leering.

Shar-Teel snorted.

"No, Kagain, I'll do it, thanks."

"Hate all men?" Viconia wondered. "Why not use them for what they're good for?" Adrian shot her a glance, and she shrugged back at him.

"The smell of a man makes me sick to my stomach!" Shar-Teel answered.

"You must be vomiting quite often, then," said Edwin, and Xzar giggled.

"Nearly," the amazon agreed. "Let's get started."

Adrian nodded and drew his glowing green blade. The amazon charged him, and their blades met.

Adrian gave Shar-Teel credit, she had powerful strength. But her speed and dexterity were not that great. She parried the first three strikes of his enchanted sword, but the fourth punched through her own weapon and broke it in half.

"I.....er...." Shar-Teel began. "The five hundred is yours, male, much as I hate to--"

Adrian cut her head off.

"Bhaal influence?" Tiax wondered.

"Simple irriration," said Adrian. "Although.....Viconia, can you animate her?"

"Yes, why?"

"I've a mind to add her to Xzar's towering monstrosity."

"Mmmmm," Viconia agreed. She twitched her fingers, and the headless corpse staggered upwards, and picked up it's head almost as an afterthought. A grisly sight.

Xzar took over from there, summoning his pet and grafting Shar-Teel's corpse to it. There was a reddish glow, and the giant skeletal warrior became even taller than before.

"He'll be a giant at this rate," said Edwin, looking up. "Too bad we can't use him inside."

"He'll have his uses, I'm sure," said Adrian.

Then another new voice interrupted them. "Oooh! Korax likes! You make friends with undead?"