Adrian: Baldur's Gate

Sarevok punched the mirror in his personal chambers. It shattered, leaving chunks in his fist. He didn't even notice.

Winski, Semaj, and Tamoko stood three in a row behind him, and all managed not to flinch.

In his mildest voice, Winksi said; "What did I teach you, above all?"

"Control." Sarevok ground the word out.

"I take it," Winksi said dryly, "that our pets failed."

"More than that," Sarevok growled. "They were utterly destroyed. Usless for the war to come. Two more good weapons, lost."

"What will you do now?" Semaj asked.

Sarevok breathed slowly, twice. "Control is indeed the key. Winksi is right as usual. More enforcers are waiting at the mines, if Adrian survives the forest itself. Then there's the Master of the Mines."

"And if he survives all that, and makes it to the city?"

"Then I have...subtler means to deal with him."

The mages nodded, and left.

"Lover..." said Tamoko, hesitantly.

"What?"

"You should get your hand seen to."

Sarevok looked down, and blinked as he saw his wounds for the first time. "Yes...of course."

"Reiltar will also want to see you today," she reminded him.

Sarevok's only reply to that was a derisive snort, as he left the room. Tamoko sighed, and followed him.

Adrian and company made it back to Beregost without incident, following the main road, and rested in the Burning Wizard for the night. The following day, they headed off for the Cloakwood.

Everyone was bickering much less. Even Edwin's sneering and Xzar's insanity had mellowed. They were all in it together now, they realized.

Save one.

Safana appreciated the needs of working together, of course. But she still wanted to control Adrian, and the others, including Viconia. But she knew not how. She needed the party to get her to the city, and hopefully to help with her...endavors beyond it. Wether they would agree, and for how long if they did, was not clear.

She was uneasy. She knew the Drow was waiting her chance to replace her as Adrian's woman. Given the reputation of the Drow, it was miraculous she hadn't been strangled in the night. But then, Viconia also showed a ruthless practicality. In any other party, they might've been allies. Ah well.

Kagain, for his part, was content to follow Adrian's lead, as it always seemed to produce gold. Though he was getting a bit more wary about risking life and limb.

Xzar, of course, was still serving his own mission, which happened to dovetail nicely with Adrian's own objectives. He rather suspected, in his more lucid moments, that his superiors would not only agree on his continuing to travel with Adrian; they would insist upon it.

Viconia was, indeed, waiting for Safana to depart. But she would brook no other rival, should any present themselves. Beyond this, Adrian was her only true ally on the surface world, and even if she had not desired him, that would grant him special dispensations for a male. Besides, having by now heard his own tale, she was curious enough to see it through to the end.

Edwin chafed under the self-imposed restriction of his year's servitude. He too had to report to his superiors about his original mission. He thought, though, that they would approve of his travelling with this group. And besides, who knew what powers awaited those who travelled with...one like Adrian? The longer he stayed, the more powerful he would become, until one day even the Tharchions....but ah, no. He must not let even his innermost thoughts travel that path. Not yet.

In any case, this Throne might eventually prove a threat to Thay's power. Certainly Xzar and...those who had sent him thought so. Another player on the gameboard was the last thing they needed right now.

Adrian himself was focused on finding the yellow-eyed killer, and learning the truth about his powers. He was shrewd enough to know that this plot was related to the murderer of Gorion, though he did not yet know how. But he was getting well and truly sick of going from one enemy base to another. He wanted results.

It was in this mindframe that they reached the outskirts of Cloakwood at twilight of the following day. The first stars glimmered in the sky as they faced the darkening trees.

Far to the south, a shadowy figure hesitated.

"What?"

A mumbling, indistinct voice answered.

"Two, you're certain? Likely to face each other? And a third in close proximitiy, loosely allied to one of the others?"

The mumbling sounded again.

"Very well. Keep watching, and keep me informed. They may be precisely what we need."

The figure found his way to his own personal lounge, sat back in a chair, and steepled his fingers.

"Yes....they should be ideal."