Adrian: Baldur's Gate

The sea.

It was vast, one great circular horizon surrounding the Wailing Banshee. The ship rose and fell in the waves, spume spraying the deck. The day was hot, clear, cloudless.

Adrian hauled back on a sailing line, joying in the pure physical act, savoring the sun on his skin.

Gods....this was the closest to peace he'd known since Gorion's death. Maybe the closest ever.

"Aye, Adrian!" Came Captain Zavrian's call. "Haul it!"

Haul it he did. It was just another contract, though for simple labor rather than fighting. Though of course, fighting might come later. They had each been promised a share of the spoils.

Zavrian had directed his ship southwards, saying that Amnish merchant vessels travelled these waters on the way to the Gate, and pirating by Zavrian and countless others had persuaded the Amnians to send naval warships as protection with them. The recent tensions between the Gate and Amn had only hightened the protection. Adrian was worried about increasing the war tensions, but Zavrian assured him that The Gate didn't hire privateers against Amn.

"With this iron crisis," he'd said, "The Gate is saving up all their coin. That much the Amnians know themselves. It'd be the Amnians that would hire privateers, not the reverse, in any case. Both the Gate and Amn would go to war by land, if it came to that."

Zavrian preferred fighting the naval warships in any case, he said. Better combat, and while they had less gold, there was more likely to be a magical weapon or two in the spoils.

But so far today there had been no other ships at all. Just the sun, and the sea, and the work.

They had set out from the Gate shortly before noon, rapidly leaving the city and then the coast behind. First southwest, now directly south.

The wizards had spent a good portion of the morning being sick over the side of the ship, Xzar rather longer than Edwin. But both had come around. Adrian himself had only felt a mild queasiness for the first few minutes of real sailing. None of the others had had any problems.

Safana, of course, was in the thick of things, savoring being back amonst her kindred. She had said, breifly, that she had spent many of her years as a pirate, but had fallen out with her original captain and crew. But here she was truly happy.

As was Adrian himself. Teeth shining in a grin, he looked around. Kagain was down by the prow of the ship, staring out at the water with bemusement. Dwarves had no fear of the sea, but neither did they love it. He seemed more puzzled than anything else.

Coran's eyes followed Safana. He was helping Adrian currently, but his heart wasn't in it. Not that Adrian minded; he was fine on his own with this.

Tiax, the mad gnome, was up in the Crow's next, surveying the world he was certain was his to rule. Adrian was vaguely worried that a priest of Cyric might not like the idea of one of Bhaal's children running around, but so far he'd given no sign. Which was no reassurance where a Cyricist was concerned, of course.

Viconia did not like the hot, bright sun, and had retreated below decks. But by all accoutns she was being helpful down there.

Adrian wondered how long it would be before they became more intimate.

"Aye, that be good!" called Zavrian, his cat stalking over his shoulders. "Now come over 'ere!"

Darkness.

Fear, hate, pain, rage, despair.

Alone. He was alone, crushed by a giant weight that made him feel smaller and smaller and smaller.

Adrian was being crushed to the tiniest of sizes by Bhaal's giant fist. First Elf sized, then dwarf, then halfling, then pixie, then......

The pain, Gods, the pain!

"NNNYYYEEARRGGHHHH!" Adrian screamed, sitting bolt upright in his hammock, sweat standing out all over his body.

Sleepy pirates eyed him. "Bad dream," he muttered. "It was a bad dream."

He lay back, panting and gasping. It seemed he was not yet over learning of his heritage. They joy of the day was gone, here in the darkness.

He was sleeping alone, and had had no problems with that when going to bed. But now, he missed Safana. Not carnally, but he could've used someone to hold him close just then. Some companionship.

He sighed, and began to relax, his heart slowing from it's frantic pace. It was very dark. He could see the nearest few hammocks, but after that true darkness swalloed sight. Not that darkness in itself bothered him, of course. but given the nightmare he could've used some light just then.

He sighed and closed his eyes. The rocking of the ship slowly soothed him back to sleep.

Not too far away, Tiax lay awake, watching Adrian.

Thinking.