Adrian: Baldur's Gate

Captain Shadrach Karvantas Zavrian stood aboard the deck of his ship, the Wailing Banshee. It was a fine night, and when not out to sea, Zavrian was late to bed and late to rise.

And they were at dock now, though if those damnable Flaming Fist took a good look at his ship there would be problems. As far as they knew, it was a simple merchant boat. And Zavrian hoped to keep it that way.

"Oy, Captain!" called the lookout. "Visitors!"

"Trouble?" asked the Captain, hand on the hilt of his cutlass.

"Maybe....nay! Captain, it be Safana!"

He raced to the port side, and indeed it was Safana, coming out in a rowboat with company, two boatfuls of it.

"Safana! Lassie, I wondered if we'd ever see ye again!"

She looked up and grinned at him. The elven archer and grim warrior with her both raised an eyebrow.

"Did ye get the treasure?"

"Aye, Zav, and more besides. We've some stout help here, while it lasts! Bring us up!"

Adrian eyed the pirate captain. He looked the part, almost. The big hat and hoop earings, all in character. The bird was replaced by a small black cat, but that detail was right too, as well as the regal yet shabby clothes of a captain too long at sea.

But the face was smooth and unbearded. Long red hair framed the elegant high cheekboned face of a Half-Elf. Piercing green eyes stared back at Adrian, measuring, probing. Then he grinned. "Ye been helpful enforcers for our Safana?"

"You could put it like that," agreed Adrian, bemused. He decided he liked this Zavrian. Neither unneccesarily vicious nor innordinately cheerful, he nevertheless exuded a joy in life and in his work as a seagoing thief.

But more amazing than him was the change in Safana. As soon as they stepped on the deck she took a deep breath and smiled, casting back her thief hood and letting her hair flow free. She stretched, not sensually as she was wont to do, but with the air of someone returned home after a long time away.

"It's quite a tale, Zav," she said, grinning. "I met an old friend--Coran here--and Adrian's own tale is fascinating to tell."

"Come below then, and let's talk!"

Leaving out the details of his Bhaal heritage, Adrian told his tale to Zavrian and a handful of other pirates in the mess. There was fish, and that was no surprise. What was surprising was the lack of ale; sweet wine instead. And while there was fish aplently, there were no shelled sea-creatures at all; crab, lobster and shrimp were entirely absent. In their stead, there was an abundance of noodles boiled in various broths, and an almost as wide variety of flavored rice, such as there was in the Kara-Turan regions.

Adrian finished his tale, telling a far more truthful and accurate version than he had shared with Scar, aided and abetted by Safana and Coran.

It transpired that the pirates had dropped Safana off some six months ago, in hopes of finding the treasure Adrian had helped her gain, not only for herself but for Zavrian's coffers as well. She was a regular member of the crew, and no ship wench; indeed, her cloak of sensuality seemed entirely gone. Not that she still wasn't a beautiful, sexual woman; but she no longer advertised it so prominently. She was just one of the crew, albeit a talented one at the more land based type of theft.

"A rum tale!" said Zavrian when Adrian had finished. "Ye be havin a fascinating feud with this golden eyed fella!"

"It smells of Gods," said a voice to his left. "But Tiax shall rule!"

Adrian eyed the strange Gnome. A pirest of Cyric, or so Zavrian said, and thief as well. Always referred to himself in the third person, and quite clearly even more mad than Xzar, and that was going some. Unusual amongst pirates to say the least, who usually bowed to Umberlee, willing or no.

"You," Adrian said to both Tiax and Zavrian, "Are not the normal sort of pirates."

"Oh, we are in most ways, lad," said Zavrian, chuckling. "Just have bigger long term plans, that don't involve just burying treasure on some desolate beach."

"Tiax serves with the sea-raiders only for a time," said the Gnome. "Eventually Cyric shall show him the path to destiny!"

"I'm sure he will," Adrian agreed.

"Say, lad, I know ye be wantin to find Golden-Eye. But wouldnae it be good to get the Throne off your trail for a few days? Throw them a move they wouldn't expect, and help Safana as ye said ye would into the bargain?"

"You want us to join you?" Adrian blinked. "I have no seamanship."

"Only for a bit lad, a tenday at most. Perhaps a couple days longer if the weather be bad. The Gate be one of the few safe harbors fer us, we never plunder there, and keep our profile low."

Adrian paused, then looked to the other party members. For the first time, in this new cautious way of his, he wanted their opinions.

"I cannot demand this of any of you. I've a mind to, but will not order. This is your own choice."

Kagain's eyes gleamed. "It's gold, my friend," he said. "To be gained in a way I've never done before. I'm in."

"While this is a diversionary tactic," said Edwin, "And not part of our true endgame, to avoid the Throne monkeys for a time is a sound gambit. Though I'll need to get my sea-legs, as I'm much a land-borne soul as yourself."

"Yes," groaned Xzar. "I'm green already. But this Tiax fascinates me!"

Tiax chuckled at that.

"The sea is strange to me as well," said Viconia. She had removed her helmet, and the pirates did not object. They seemed almost to approve, once it was clear she was not a follower of the Spider Queen. "But a ship is an excellent place to hide from the sun. I misjudged you, Safana," she said.

Safana shrugged. "Each of us had other thigns to worry about."

"Yes, and I see where that is going now. Interesting."

"So long as our targets are not innocent victims, it could be a grand adventure," said Coran. He was wary, but thoughtful.

"Oh we be goin after worthy prey, I promise ye that," Zavrian pledged.

Adrian looked at Safana.

"I am home," she said, simply.

Adrian turned back to Zavrian. "We accept, Captain."

"Excellent. Sleep well tonight my friends. We'll leave sometime after the sun's high."