Adrian: Baldur's Gate

Adrian closed in on Tamoko, blade raised.

She spread her hands. "Sarevok doesn't know I'm here."

"Why should I beleive you, who helped kill Gorion?" Adrian snarled.

"Because it is in my best interest to help you...insofar as I can," she said.

Adrian lowered his blade, but held it in a guard position, not giving Tamoko an inch. He knew she was good. He had seen enough of her in that battle against his foster father to know.

"In my insterest how?" he asked, through gritted teeth.

"You have no compunction about killing him, I know," she said. "But to do so would serve Bhaal, and I know that you do not want."

"Are you here to plead for his life?" Adrian sneered.

"Not exactly. I am here to ask you to try to rescue him from his madness. To restore....honor to him. I am sure that means something to you."

Adrian stepped closer, fury writ in every line of his frame. "Was it honorable for you to help him kill Gorion?"

"Yes," said Tamoko, gaze focused. "To serve my lord."

"Well I want your lord dead."

"Even if that means doing what Bhaal wants of you?"

"I deal with that every time I'm in the field," said Adrian. "And I'll be removing Sarevok, who serves the father far more than I do."

Tamoko sighed and lowered her eyes. "A trade then, mercenary. Information for your assistance."

"I'm listening."

"Cythandria, another of....Sarevok's followers, has his personal journals in the Throne tower."

"We were heading there anyway," said Viconia, staring at Tamoko with her red eyes.

Tamoko nodded. "A sensible move. Though you may be surprised at what you find there."

"Do you have any *useful* information for us?" Zavrian asked.

"Yes. Sarevok's aim. He wants war between Baldur's Gate and Amn. Not to conquer, though he'd be happy with that as well. But he just wants as many deaths as possible."

"Because...." said Adrian, staring at her.

"He hopes mass bloodshed will rise him to the position of Lord of Murder."

There was a moment of stunned silence, then Besheridan broke out in harsh laughter. "What?!? Does he honestly think he can sweep Cyric aside just by killing lots of people?"

"He's lost his perspective, and his honor."

"And you honestly think I can give those back to him?" said Adrian.

"I can only ask you to try."

Adrian sighed. "I suppose."

Tamoko bowed and stepped back into the shadows.

Emirikol was standing at the cliffs that abutted the sword coast, fists clenched in fruststration. He couldn't follow the prey's trail through water.

Storm clouds were gathering overhead, moving northwards towards the city. Thunder rumbled, illuminating the clouds from within.

He would have to track them by other means. He was still a spellcaster of power, after all. Divination was not his speciality, but he could gather teh releveant components....

"No," said a voice behind him. "You shall not harm them."

Emirkiol turned. It was Tree, the Druid that Adrian had met earlier, though of course Emirikol did not know that.

Normally Emirikol would just attack, but he cocked his head in curiosity. "Why should you care? And how did you know I was following this prey?"

Tree only smiled enigmatically, and attacked, thrusting her staff at him.

Emirikol bent almost supernatrually backwards, and the staff missed, arcing over him. He spun to the left and kicked at her, but she had already stepped back also.

So, being able to cast spells with unnatural speed, he hurled a lightning bolt at her.

He was shocked, then, when her staf absorbed the lightning bolt.

She held it above her head, still pointed at him. "You are more than a mere mage, yet you do not understand nature's power," she said. "Dodge this," she snarled.

The lightning bolt erupted out of the staff, struck him, and sent him flying into the ocean.

Tree stalked off northwards.

Emirkiol was getting tired of being thrown in the ocean.