Adrian: Baldur's Gate

The Merchant League seemed normal; moreso than Seven Suns had. But nevertheless Adrian was uneasy, and he could see this reflected in all of his companions save Xzar and Tiax. Xzar was brooding, wide eyes looking down; Tiax held his head high, sniffing the air, as though he were trying to smell dopplegangers. Perhaps he could.

Aldeth, grinning and nodding, led them through the main lobby, which was richer and plusher than that of the Seven Suns. He took them to a richly carpeted stairway, and led them up.

He introduced them to his two business partners, a mage and a skinny old accountant. Neither of them hissed or was as strange as the Seven Suns' merchants had been, and Adrian began to have his first doubts.

"I know, I know" said Aldeth when pressed. "I'm not sure myself. That's why I need you to investigate."

Adrian stepped back and swept his gaze over his companions in a poll of their thoughts.

Xzar was still looking down. "It could be," he mumbled.

Edwin narrowed his eyes and nodded. "The players of this gambit are better than the Suns monkeys. But it is still a gambit. Even if it is not false facers--and I beleive it is--there is still definitely something untoward here, to interest our pet Flaming Fist. (Whom I must admit, is rather cute.)"

Jessa stuck out her tounge at Edwin, then turned to Adrian. "The possiblity is still there."

Viconia nodded slowly. "I too think it likely. I am not as sure as Edwin, but that's a risk I'm prepared to take."

Kagain shrugged. "I neither know nor care, truth to tell, Adrian. But I will follow you in any wise."

"Tiax knows the hidden ones are here," Tiax hissed. "The hidden ones do not worship Cyric as they should. Their deception is his gift, and they appreciate it not!"

Adrian decided not to point out that there had been Dopplegangers long before Cyric had even been born. He turned to Aldeth. "All right, but investigations are not my strong point. Is there any man you can trust in the organization?"

Aldeth nodded and led them to his security head, a forgettable man in leather armor, who grilled them for about five minutes.

"We need evidence," this one said, "But I can't just so sneaking into the offices of Aldeth's partners and riffling through their papers."

"Tiax," said Adrian, "This would appear to be your show."

"Of course!" said Tiax. "Tiax is destined to rule!"

"I mean," said Adrian, "Search for the evidence."

"Tiax will rule, and Tiax will find the evidence, as well." He slipped away, and was gone.

The desks themselves were no trouble to unlock, but one of them was magically trapped with a fireball spell, which Tiax nearly triggered. Chafing at this crude attempt to prevent his rise to power, he disarmed it. Flipping through the papers carelessly, he found what he wanted. Correspondence from an "Earghl", praising the replacement of the business partners, but demanding to know why they hadn't also replaced that fop Aldeth, yet. Grinning evilly, he dissapeared again.

Adrian read the papers, and wordlessly handed them over to the security man, who stared at them with widening eyes.

"It's true, it's true!!" he roared, and drawing his sword, charged the mage, who turned into a Doppleganger before his eyes.

For a moment, Adrian had been worried that the Doppleganger might retain mage spells, but it was not so, thankfully after a breif and furious fight, the security man knocked the creature down, rolled it over and broke it's ankle. Then, as it writhed, he killed it.

Adrian smiled...and was clubbed across the head by the second false partner, who was changing as he struck. Adrian's neck almost broke. Again he dimly sensed that large chamber filled with statues, as he had in Cloakwood...

Then Kagain was pushing past him, chopping and hacking at the monster. A magic missile from Xzar settled the matter.

Adrian's head was still cocked at an unpleasant angle, and he could still feel that chamber. It was close. Too close!

"Adrian, are you all right?" Viconia asked, truly worried.

"No," he croaked, and began to sink to his knees. Viconia quickly granted him a healing spell, and his head came back up level, though it was still sore. She healed him again, and the chamber faded away, taking the pain with it.

"Viconia," he wheezed, "You just saved my life."

She smiled a little, reached out, and ruffled his buzzcut hair. "Always a pleasure, lover." Then she helped him to stand.

"I'll be all right," he wheezed. "Just...give me a...minute."

"Well done!" cried Aldeth, the security man flanking him.

Far away, in the dark chamber Adrian had seen, the statue of him trembled and groaned, but then held.

"NO!" Roared an anguished, frustrated voice. "SO CLOSE!"

A few minutes later, Adrian was back to his old self, though shaken by the experience.

"It's not over yet," he told Aldeth.

The old fool nodded. "They wanted to invite me upstairs, for a party."

"Did they now?" said Edwin, raising an eyebrow.

"I think your associate should accompany us," said Adrian, indicating the secruity man.

As they reached the top of the stairs, a veritable horde of Dopplegangers descended on them. And Adrian felt his confidence drop out again.....