Adrian: Baldur's Gate

They marched on, past a small farmer's house, a lonely old man tilling in the fields. It occured to Adrian that the old man might be a relative of the boy's, but what concern of it was his?

They faced another pair of Ankhegs; their way of erupting from the ground was more than a little disturbing. But they were becoming accustomed to their tactics now, and so were able to dispatch them. Putting Kagain in the fore, with his regenerative abilities, helped considerably with this. Though he did need a bit of healing afterwards.

"Stop! Stop!" a fretful voice called out to them. A woman in chain mail came stomping over. "What do you think your doing?"

"Squashing bugs, what does it look like?" Kagain sneered.

The woman raised her pike threateningly. "As a ranger, I must warn you not to interfere with the Ankheg's mating season!"

Xzar did the honors this time, blasting the foolish woman with an ice wand from behind. Adrian chopped her into lots of little frozen chunks.

"Hey, eh...adventurers?"

Coran smiled and opened his mouth to answer, but Adrian elbowed him, hard.

"We're mercenaries," Adrian agreed.

"Eh, good." There were three men, two tall and skinny, one short and fat. Fishermen, by the look. The river could be heard burbling loudly in the background. One of the thinner men stood in the front, as spokesman. "This witch, eh, she be poisoning the river, calling, eh, upon the madwoman Umberlee to attack us! Help!"

"And why should we help water-sloppers like you?" Edwin sneered.

"We, eh, have an old enchanted mace we could give ye."

"And 200 gold," said Kagain.

"We dinna have--"

"200 gold," said Adrian, supporting Kagain. "Or the witch can have her way with you."

"Eh, all right."

"Where does she live?" Viconia's musical voice drifted from under her helmet. (This close to the city, Adrian had advised her to hide her identity).

"Up the road a piece," said the fisherman. "Near the bridge into the city."

"Stop! You are tresspassing on my land home!" this warning was screamed by a small girl, no more than twelve years old.

Viconia stared at her. "You are the priestess of Umberlee, little one?"

"Aye, she guides my way."

"You have a feud with the fisherman?" Adrian asked.

The little girl clouded up and stomped her foot. "They have stolen my ritual bowl! Kill them and return it to me!"

Adrian looked at Viconia, who nodded slowly. Then in one swift motion, he turned and shot the Umberlee whelp in the eye. She made a noise like "Ngeeek!" and fell over.

"Honoring the contract? I kind of beleived her," said Coran.

"Oh, she was telling the truth," said Adrian. "And so were the fishermen. We're going to go back."

Coran and Safana stared at eachother, feeling left out of the duplicity of the other party members.

"So, eh," said the spokesman fisherman. "Have ye dispatched the--"

Adrian reached out with a glowing hand and grabbed his throat, paralyzing him and strangling him at the same time. His two friends turned to run. Viconia pounded down the fat one, Kagain chopped down the skinny one.

"Search the houses," Adrian said to Edwin, who raised an eyebrow, but went without argument.

"What sort of madness is--" Coran began, spluttering.

"Wheels within wheels, plans within plans," said Adrian. "You'll see."

Edwin came out of the first house, a bowl in one hand, a mace in the other. "There's a temple to Talos in there," he said, face grim.

"The storm god?" asked Safana. "But--"

"There was something odd about them," said Adrian. "I couldn't put my finger on it at the time. But then the witch confirmed herself to be of Umberlee. Rival evil gods in opposition through their followers. Certainly not unknown."

"I know backstabbing rivalry when I see it," Added Viconia.

Edwin and Xzar grinned. Safana was surprised, but amused. Coran looked blank, and a little sad.

"Now, on to the city," said Adrian.

The party marched on, but Safana and Coran lagged behind, each lost in their own thoughts. Each knowing that everyone else in the party had grasped the situation, but them.