Adrian: Baldur's Gate

Adrian was leading the party towards the gates, meaning to head back down, temporarily, to High Hedge. Now that they had access to Sorcerous Sundries, they had no need of that inferior mage shop, and he had a personal hatred of the Golems that guarded it.

But he never got a chance to leave the city.

"May we have a moment of your time," snarled a voice. Two figures stood in the entrace way of the city.

"Adrian, that be him!" said Kagain. "The one that tried to bribe me!"

"Aye, fool," agreed Lothander. "And ye should've taken it while it was on offer. My name is Lothander, and this is my associate, Marek." He gestured to the thin, pale faced theif beside him. "We serve the Iron Throne. Your time, Adrian, has run out."

Adrian laughed. "Please, raise arms against me. It would be a pleasure to cut you two down."

"Nothing so direct. And credit to ye, yer good at staving off our enforcers. No, an entirely different method has been employed. Last night, that sumptous meal you enjoyed? It was poisoned. Indeed, all of you were."

Adrian stiffened, but Kagain sneered. "I told you, you know us not. I myself heal from most anything."

"Your troll like abilites have been noted, Dwarf," Lothander sneered. "As has the heritage of your paymaster. Yes, Adrian, we know what you are. Sarevok sends his regards to you."

Adrian stared at him. "Sarevok?"

"I beleive you met him outside Candlekeep. Briefly." Lothander chuckled. "Wish I could have seen it."

"So that is his name," Adrian nodded. "Good, I almost should spare your life for that. Almost."

"The poison," said Marek, speaking for the first time, in a weak, quiet voice. "It will resist any normal cure. You have not the time or means to counter it. You will die within a tenday. The weaker of you, the Zhent mage for example, sooner."

Xzar sneered. "I am a Necromancer. I know more of poisons than you jumped up Throne fools will ever dream. And by the way, my masters wish to tell you precious Sarevok and Reiltar: It is your time that is done. This Throne enclave will not survive."

"Nay, it is you who will die," said Lothander. "It will be a pleasure to watch your dying bodies twiching. Enjoy your last tenday." The two Throne employees walked away, Marek staring at them a moment longer as they went.

There was a long pause.

"Tiax admits that he did not forsee this," the Cyricist said weakly.

"We will find a cure," said Adrian calmly, though even he was a bit unsettled. "If needs must, we'll go through the Zhentarim, who as Xzar said, are better versed in the ways of poison than the Throne."

"I said that about myself," said Xzar.

"Is it not true of the Black Network as a whole?"

Xzar smiled a little. "Aye."

"Yes, this is all very nice," sneered Edwin. "But shouldn't we start seeking this cure, rather than talking our lives away in a most literal sense? (Foolish monkeys. No vision.)"

"For once I agree," said Viconia in her silky voice. "I wish to live."

"And I too," agreed Adrian. "One more question though, Xzar. Who is Reiltar?"

"The head of the Throne in this city," said Xzar. "No doubt he and this Sarevok are in collusion."

"Aye," nodded Adrian. "All right, Edwin has the truth of it, we must seek the cure now. I wonder though....that Marek....something about him."

"Yes," Edwin agreed, "I noticed it too. Something about the eyes...."

"An enchantment," said Xzar, nodding slowly.

"Something to look into," agreed Adrian. "We'll try the temples first. Even if they cannot help, they may point us in the right direction."

The party moved on, back into the city, each of them dealing with his or her own degree of fear.