Adrian: Baldur's Gate

Tiax quickly whispered in Jessa's ear as they led the party down the stairs. As he was three steps behind her, it was easy for him to reach her ear. She nodded, and, as she reached the floor, went down on all fours. Tiax leaped onto her shoulders and jumped again almost immediately. He flew, and connected with the lead doppleganger's head, breaking it's neck.

Jessa got up to a crouch and threw her sword, impaling the second doppleganger against the wall. A crossbow bolt from Adrian dispatched the third.

Yanking her sword out of the monster, which fell lifeless to the ground, Jessa said, "We must explore."

Adrian nodded. "There must be cellars here."

Down below, there was another, more powerful doppleganger, which Kagain bested. A wiezened old man crouched in a corner, shackled to a wall.

"Come to torment me some more, you shape-changing bastards?" he croaked.

Adrian broke his chains. "We're no dopplegangers. We've killed them all."

The old man stared at him a long moment, then nodded. "My name's Jhasso. I used to run this place."

Adrian nodded. "We know. Can you walk?"

The old man grimaced. "Barely."

"Viconia, heal him."

Tiax frowned. "Why should we--"

"Because it's a sound business investment," Adrian snapped.

Viconia had already moved over and begun the spell. Adrian turned to Jessa and smiled falsely. "I must apologize for Tiax."

Jessa waved it away. "I know you're not altruists. You're being paid to help us, no more. Remember, the Fist itself is not idealistic."

Adrian grimaced. "Tell your field agents that." It was a dangerous slip, but Jessa didn't pick up on it, thankfully.

She smiled thinly instead. "Outisde of the home base of the gate, more caution is needed. Sometimes too much is taken."

Viconia glared over her shoulder at her, but did not speak, as her spell healed Jhasso.

"Better now?" Adrian asked Jhasso.

"Aye."

"Then go to Fist Headquarters. Scar will be happy to see you."

The old man nodded and hobbled out.

Jessa turned to Viconia. "Let me guess, you killed Thent."

Viconia gaped. "Who?" she managed.

"Thent. Very foolish soldier who worked in the field. Hated Drow. Hasn't reported in in several tendays. I suppose he ran afoul of you."

"We rescued her from him," Adrian agreed.

Jessa nodded. "Well, no attempt was made to find him. I won't tell." And amazing them all, she winked at Viconia.

Viconia had a very thoughtful look on her face as they left the Seven Suns.

"Ho there old friends!" came a wavery voice. It was Aldeth Sashenstar, the man from Cloakwood.

"Hail, Sashenstar," replied Adrian, formally. "We are on Fist business." He indicated Jessa.

"Good, I need Fist aid! There is something very wrong at my Trading Coster, the Merchant League!"

Adrian stopped and looked at Jessa, who nodded slowly. "The League is one of the Sun's leading competitors."

Edwin eyed Aldeth. "So, old one, are your colleages acting strangely?"

"Very!" agreed Aldeth, bobbing his foolish head vigorously.

"Sounds like more of the same," giggled Xzar.

"This would qualify as Fist buisness, I think," said Adrian.

Jessa nodded. "Yes, I think so too."