Adrian: Baldur's Gate

Tiax made himself useful that night, sneaking into Shandalar's house, and verifying several facts. First of all, Shandalar himself was not at home. Second, each of his three daughters, powerful mages in their own right, were each guarding a component. Additionally, Shandalar's "business partner", another mage, was also present, as were several household enforcers.

Adrian was tempted to let Tiax steal the components then and there, but the mad gnome was just too unstable to be trusted with a solo mission, no matter how much he insisted that it was the "Destiny granted by Cyric" that he accomplish this.

So, having had a relatively quiet day with no sign of the Throne operatives, the group relaxed at the inn before and after their little sortie, planning to strike the next night. The Halruaan had said they'd had ten days to pull it off, so they would have plenty of time to strike.

Viconia lured Adrian up to bed early that night.

The next day, Adrian awoke, laying on his back in bed. It was already after ten, but he knew full well why he had slept late.

Viconia was rinsing her hair in a bowl at the bedside table, still utterly naked, back turned to him. His eyes wandered over her dark flesh.

"That was new," he finally managed. "You didn't even do that with me on the pirate isles."

Viconia smiled over her shoulder at him. "You'll want to try it again, I'm sure."

"Yes," he breathed. "Never had I imagined...."

Viconia gave a throaty chuckle. "There are even some Drow that don't practice that particular technique. Takes some getting used to. Come on now, get dressed."

Adrian sighed and grinned. She was right. They had a busy night ahead.

Imoen, on the other hand, was having a busy day. The most violent of her life to date.

The enemy's name was Xasoruq. He was another Bhaalspawn, but worse, a Wild Mage, his magic skills powerful and unpredictable.

One of his particular gifts was to sense other Bhaalspawn at a distance, and he had felt the presence of several Bhaalspawn in the city, and had come calling, to kill them and increase his own power.

Imoen's party met him on the road, about twenty miles north of the Gate.

It was a War.

He was waiting for them around a bend in the road. Standing next to a great rock. His eyes glowed white, in the same way that Sarevok's glowed yellow. Painfully bright blue hair streaked back from his scalp in waves, and he wore very ornate blue and gold robes.

"So, you have come, sister!" he roared at Imoen in a loud, echoing voice. "I shall slay you and then move on to take the others still in the city!"

Imoen leaped to the left as a lightning bolt flashed through the space where she had just been, then went into a roll along the ground as Xzsoruq followed that up with several acid arrows. The last grazed her shoulder.

Branwen and the three Harper pikemen charged him, which Jaheira tried to cast entanglement upon him. After shooting several innefectual arrows, Khalid--a poor marksman--drew his sword and dashed after.

Jaheira's entanglement spell worked, but Xasoruq just laughed, twitched his fingers, and disintegrated it. as Branwen and the pikemen closed in, he swung his hand in a long, low arc. A blinding ring of energy flew at them. It ripped one of the pikemen in half, and sent Branwen and the other two flying.

"You cannot harm me!" he bellowed.

Khalid closed with him, and swung his blade. It ripped through the mage robes, but did not break Xasoruq's skin. Xasoruq lashed out with a flat palm, and sparks of energy leapd from him into Khalid; shocking grasp. Khalid went down, rolling in pain as the energy arced over his armor.

Jaheira lifted her staff and charged, and Imoen came up on one knee, grimacing at the burning pain in her shoulder. This foe was powerful enough, all right, but he neglected certain basic spells in his arrogance. She twiched her fingers, and a quartet of magic missiles flew towards the enemy.

Xasoruq was occupied with Jaheira, dodging her staff, and so he did not see the glowing red balls until it was too late. They slammed home, and he was rocked back. Jaheira pressed the advantage, breaking his nose with her staff. He staggered further.

"Jaheira!" Imoen called. "Down!" She was pulling a wand from her bodysuit. Jaheira knew better than to ask questions, she just dropped. Imoen pointed the wand at Xasoruq and, before he could cast again, a jet of ice leaped from it and struck him.

Xasoruq froze in place....literally. Turned to ice, he was dead in an instant.

Imoen stared unbeleivingly at him. She had killed a half brother, a fellow spawn.

Suddenly, the ice sculpture that had been Xasoruq exploded into fragments, knocking Jaheira away. A shockwave of golden energy passed outwards, some of it passing through Imoen. She shivered, and suddenly felt stronger.

What had she become?

She dropped to her knees and began to weep, as the party members surrounded her.

"You have power," wheezed Branwen around her bruised ribs, but this only made her cry more.

Far away, in the chamber of statues, Xasoruq's monument exploded into a million fragments.

"She is stronger than I expected," said a deep voice.