Adrian: Baldur's Gate

As "ordered", they marched over towards where they had been told "Ten Hammer" was. They weren't exactly sure who he was, but he solved that problem for them.

"You there! I would speak, and best you listen well!" the man was tall and mustached, marching towards them in full plate mail armor.

"Charming," Safana murmured dryly.

"Tuogasz Ten Hammer has no need of 'people skills'!"

"Because of the ten hammers, one would assume," said Kagain.

"Not ten hammers, but ten killed with one blow of my hammer!" he hefted it high. Adrian was not impressed. He was no student of the magical arts, but even he could tell from here that it was not as impressive a weapon as the one they'd taken form Bassilus. It was clearly more shoddily made, of an inferior metal.

"You've my respect, but I'll not fear you," said Adrian. "Fear belongs to our quarry."

Ten Hammer laughed. "Good attitude! Now to business. Take orders only from me. Stay clear of the Chill, they are friends only until the job is finished. In the event of capture by the Fist, tell them you serve the Zhentarim. The Iron Throne are our true paymasters, but you divulge that name and I will personally find you and pound you down. Understood?"

"Aye," said Adrian, and the others chorused their agreements.

"Good. I will have instructions for you in the morning." Ten Hammer marched off.

"The Iron Throne..." Xzar hissed.

"I've done business with that lot," said Kagain. "Tight-fisted bastards."

"Iron crisis, Iron Throne...." mused Adrian.

"Not likely to be a coincidence," agreed Safana.

"Come," said Adrian. "We must continue our reconnoiter."

They found there were about twenty bandits in the camp, human anyway. Then a foolish brat informed them that Tazok's main lieutenants were in the big tent.

Then they met the leader of the Chill Hobgoblins, the other big bandit group. Ardenor Crush. He seemed to have unusually red skin for a Hobgoblin, seemed stronger and tougher. Xzar and Edwin exchanged a glance.

"Ah, a few more ham fisted fools for the Talons," said Ardenor. "Stay away from my followers; they might decide to eat you."

"Oh, that's not advisable at all," said Adrian. "I'm a little on the tough side; they might bust a tooth or two getting me down."

"Hmm! They might at that. Watch that tongue around Tazok. He is not known for appreciating the subtleties of Human humor."

There were about thirty hobgoblins. Heading south of the camp proper, they fond a small abandoned temple of evil, guarded by a handful of undead that Viconia was about to turn; but Adrian stopped her. "We'll need them later," he said.

"Forming a plan already?" Viconia asked him.

"Aye."

They retreated.

They found out the hard way that twoscore Gnolls were also in camp, when they entered their cave. Forced to kill all of them before they were prepared, Adrian cursed his lack of foresight.

"It's just as well," he said in the echoing dark space. "We've seen everything, and now we have a secure place to sleep. Let's do it."

"It's a bit early to turn in," Edwin protested.

"Aye, but I want to get up early too. We want to take them by surprise."

"Your plan is formed?" asked Viconia.

"It is. Viconia, Edwin, Xzar, to me. Here's the plan..."