Adrian: Baldur's Gate

The day after Adrian's successful raid, Imoen and the others were still marching north. Imoen and her group--and it was truly Imoen's group now, not Jaheira's; she was In Charge--had meant to return to the Gate immdeiately, but Imoen had insisted they follow the backtrail of Xasoruq's destruction. Now, on the second day after the battle, they had found several shattered Caravans.

"Iron Throne," noted Jaheira. They had learned something of the Throne's plot, though not as much as Adrian had.

"So at least the mad mage did something good before he died," said Branwen approvingly.

"Good?!?" Imoen all but shrieked. "It's Murder. Not war, but simple butchery! Nothing good about it, even if they did deserve it!"

Branwen flinched. "I am a warrior born, Imoen. Death is natural to me."

"Oh, you don't understand!" Imoen turned and fled, weeping.

"You know what she is," Jaheira snapped at Branwen.

Branwen shrugged. "She should learn to use it for her own ends."

"No..." Jaheria shook her head. "That's what Adrian has done."

Imoen found a small cave mouth just off the road. Wiping the tears from her eyes and sniffling, she stepped carefully into the dark.

And gasped at what she saw.

It was a large, two headed giant. An Ettin, she remembered they were called. And judging how little of the body was left....

Yes...she could sense the residual dark energies. Another of their Bhaalspawn kindred. Xasoruq must have taken him. No wonder he'd been so confident.

The two Harper pikemen came up behind her. She turned to look at them, and sighed.

"Let's go home," she said.

Flush with victory, Adrian and his party returned to the Shadow Thief compound, the sun riding high.

Adrian was actually happy. Not merely content, or carnally pleased as he was after a session with Viconia--though he was that too--but truly happy. The raid had gone well, and now they would get their reward.

The same thief as before let them through, bowing and grinning toothily. As they entered the ligthened interior, the Shadowmaster seemed pleased...but the Halruaan did not.

"You got the components?" asked the Shadowmaster.

"And the plans," said Viconia, holding them up.

The Halruaan snorted. "That almost makes me want to change my mind. Almost."

Adrian tensed; the Shadowmaster blinked.

"You made too much noise, the Flaming Fist investigated."

"And found nothing," Edwin sneered. "(Thank you, Jessa.)"

"That is not the point!" the Halruaan exploded. "You were supposed to get the components back, not raise the racks!"

"So you area attempting to weasel out of paying," said Adrian, in a low and dangerous voice.

"Pay? Oh you shall be paid for your failure. With death!"

The mage began to cast, but Edwin and Xzar were faster. A horde of magic missles slammed home, and he staggered back into the wall.

Furious, the Zhentarim and Thayvian stalked forward. Xzar gripped the Halruaan by the neck, and Edwin raised his enchanted staff and started beating the foe about the body with it.

There was the cracking sound of several ribs.

"Halruaa. Will. Never. Thwart. Thay!!" Edwin snarled, punctuating each word with a blow. He had not been this furious when he killed Dynaheir. Adrian never made a move, nor did the others. The mages apparently took this as a personal insult. He glanced around at the Shadow Thieves, but they were, wisely staying out of it. Adrian kept a grip on his dark blade, just in case.

But there was no cause to worry. Eventualy, Xzar stopped choking the Halruaan and thew him to the floor. Edwin raised his staff one final time, and slammed it down so hard it impaled the enemy, killing him.

Edwin's staff was still sticking upright out of the body.

"Please, accept my apologies for the entire incident," said the pale, sweating Shadowmaster.

"Oh, you'll do more than apologize," said Adrian, giving his trademark stare. "You'll pay the forty thousand the Halruaan promised us."

"But that was his contract--"

"And he violated it. You were working with him. You will pay up."

Even despite his obvious terror, the Shadowmaster tried again. "I'm sorry, I truly am, but--"

"I wonder how the Black Network would react to such a breach of contract," said Xzar in a silky whisper. "As the Zhentarim envoy, I myself am not pleased."

"Of...of course. You're right. Let me gather the funds from upstairs."

"Kagain and Viconia will go with you," said Adrian. "No funny business."

"Yes, certainly."

"And furthermore," Edwin snarled, "We will keep the spell components, and sell them in Sorcerous Sundries for an additional profit. I'm sure, Xzar, that the Network will find a use for the plans, yes?"

"Indeed, Edwin, Indeed. And they will not fault us for selling it to the store owner, who owes us in any case."

As they were discussing it, the Shadowmaster went upstairs with the Dwarf and the Drow. They came back down with a small chest. The Shadowmaster opened it, revealing bright gold coins, and a magical wand as well. "Do you wish to count it?"

"Kagain will do that later, at our leisure. But it had better not be short, not even a single coin, or...we will come back," Adrian said, his voice like ice.

"It's all there," the Shadowmaster assured them. "And I feel I owe you this as well."

"What?" said Tiax.

"The Halruaan was not alone. His Skyship is somewhere along the coast. They will come looking for him."

Edwin nodded, slowly. "You are wise to tell us this."

"Let's go," said Adrian.

The party filed out, nervous Shadow Thieves staring at them as they went.

"It seems I owe you an apology Edwin, again," said Xzar.

Edwin waved it aside. "As you said before, the Halruaan complicated things. But in future, I would appreciate you not assuming command as you did earlier."

"Fair enough."

"In any event, we have some more money to make when we sell these, and give the plans to your masters. If that is, Adrian approves." Edwin raised an eyebrow at the Bhaalspawn.

"Naturally, I approve of more money," said Adrian. He had almost recovered his good humor.

"Excellent. (The gambit failed, but we still achieved a successful endgame.)"

"And after that, tomorrow I think we'll leave the city for a bit," said Adrian. "I still want to destroy those Golems at High Hedge."

Unfortunately, those plans would have to wait. For Lothander had found Marek, and the poisons he needed, and even now was making his way to the Elfsong.