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Adrian Shadows of Amn 92


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#1 Arcalian

Posted 06 January 2004 - 01:11 AM

Lissa and Jan lay together in bed that night, cradling Jaella between them.

Jaella was truly their child now. No matter that Vaelag had been the father; Jan had taken on the child as though it was his own. Something shivered and softened in Jaella's heart at that.

She knew she had made the wrong choice in Vaelag, but she had believed--truly beleived--that there was no choice to make. Life in the slums was unforgiving, and Vaelag had been charming enough at the time. It was only later that the beatings had begun.

She shrugged off these thoughts and settle down to sleep with the man she loged. Yes, loved. It was good to have no more doubt.

In the morning, after a typical turnip breakfast, Jan started working on some of the inventions he had promised to Adrian. A new, special crossbow not unlike his own, and a trollsblood ring of regeneration. Lissa heard him muttering to himself that it would've gone faster with Edwin.

"Who is Edwin?" she asked gently, as she nursed her baby. So healthy now. So safe.

"Another mage in Adrian's party. But he's away on a separate mission, which means I won't have either of these things done before Adrian comes back from the Coronet." He slid his goggles off his eyes and put down his tools, and looked at her. "Kagain let us hire some bodyguards, but that's a stopgap measure, really. I've a mind to train you a bit, Lis, if you're willing. Not now, but when we have time."

"You know I would do anything for Jaella, Jan. But I don't think I could ever be an adventuring thief like you are."

He chuckled. "No Lis, me either. I was rather more in mind of teaching you a few spells. You'd not be an adventuring mage, either, but one doesn't have to be to stuff a few magic missles down the throat of a foe."

She nodded slowly. "What about the Cowled Wizards?"

Jan smiled a little. "Adrian's already.....arranged.....for us to have a liscence from them. No bother."

"He's very powerlful, isn't he?"

"In his own way, yes."

They embraced, and Jan put his goggles over his eyes again and resumed work on the crossbow.

----

Adrian was, in fact, a little late leaving the Coronet. Not because he had overslept--he could sleep little after Viconia's sad story--but because life threw one of those presumptious fools in his path. Born to die, they seemed.

This one's name was Amalas. He had been one of the regular patrons during Lehtinan's administration, and was unhappy that the wenches had rights and demanded higher pay for their services now. So he had found out who had killed his "old friend" and demanded a duel in the pit.

Adrian was tired, but he was never one to suffer fools. So he accepted, and they enter the old gladitorial arena.

Patrons crowded around hte balcony, fascinated. Gladitorial events still took place here, fo course, but few involved the prowess of someone like Adrian.

Amalas actually was not that bad with the short sword, and had learned enough of fighting to duck and dodge Adrian's first attacks. But Adrian was by far the better swordsman. He simply picked up the pace of his swings. He began to inflict small wounds on Amalas, but his patience was wearing thin. So finally he simply kneed the fool in the groin, and then chopped his head off.

Fully awakened by the duel, his mood had improved somewhat.

"What now?" Anomen asked.

"First we go get Jan, and then we investiage that rumored necromancer in the Docks, which we were seeking before Jan's troubles interrupted us."

-----

Edwin, meanwhile, was lounging in his rooms, almost dozing. It was good, working for Mae'Var. Too bad he was such a snake. Once again he reminded himself to suggest to Adrian and Bohdi that they keep these rooms once Mae'Var was eliminated.

Frennendan abruptly loomed before him. "Mae'Var has another mission for us."

Edwin blinked, and riased an eyebrow. "Does he, now? Well it's about time..."
The road to the abyss may be paved with good intentions, but it is those with bad intentions that race down that road as fast as they can.

#2 Laufey

Posted 06 January 2004 - 11:33 AM

In the morning, after a typical turnip breakfast, Jan started working on some of the inventions he had promised to Adrian. A new, special crossbow not unlike his own, and a trollsblood ring of regeneration. Lissa heard him muttering to himself that it would've gone faster with Edwin.


I rather think I'll let Jan do some inventions myself. :twisted: Lots of possibilities there.


He chuckled. "No Lis, me either. I was rather more in mind of teaching you a few spells. You'd not be an adventuring mage, either, but one doesn't have to be to stuff a few magic missles down the throat of a foe."


Sensible approach.


This one's name was Amalas. He had been one of the regular patrons during Lehtinan's administration, and was unhappy that the wenches had rights and demanded higher pay for their services now. So he had found out who had killed his "old friend" and demanded a duel in the pit.


Oh yes, that one...I tend to enjoy killing him. :twisted:


Edwin, meanwhile, was lounging in his rooms, almost dozing. It was good, working for Mae'Var. Too bad he was such a snake. Once again he reminded himself to suggest to Adrian and Bohdi that they keep these rooms once Mae'Var was eliminated.


Frennendan abruptly loomed before him. "Mae'Var has another mission for us."


Edwin blinked, and riased an eyebrow. "Does he, now? Well it's about time..."


Interesting! One wonders what Mae'Var might be planning...
Rogues do it from behind.

#3 Guest_Conrack_*

Posted 06 January 2004 - 09:45 PM

Lissa and Jan lay together in bed that night, cradling Jaella between them.

Jaella was truly their child now. No matter that Vaelag had been the father; Jan had taken on the child as though it was his own. Something shivered and softened in Jaella's heart at that.

She knew she had made the wrong choice in Vaelag, but she had believed--truly beleived--that there was no choice to make. Life in the slums was unforgiving, and Vaelag had been charming enough at the time. It was only later that the beatings had begun.


Yes, life in the slums is very unforgiving.
These sad lives are unfortunatly very common... :)



"You know I would do anything for Jaella, Jan. But I don't think I could ever be an adventuring thief like you are."

He chuckled. "No Lis, me either. I was rather more in mind of teaching you a few spells. You'd not be an adventuring mage, either, but one doesn't have to be to stuff a few magic missles down the throat of a foe."


Ha!
Damn right :)


"He's very powerlful, isn't he?"

"In his own way, yes."


He very powerful in many ways...

They embraced, and Jan put his goggles over his eyes again and resumed work on the crossbow.


Is this the enchantment Jan mentions the first time he and Adrian meets?

----

Adrian was, in fact, a little late leaving the Coronet. Not because he had overslept--he could sleep little after Viconia's sad story--but because life threw one of those presumptious fools in his path. Born to die, they seemed.


If he had a gold piece for every presumptios fool he's slain then... well, he's have a lot of gold pieces. :)

This one's name was Amalas. He had been one of the regular patrons during Lehtinan's administration, and was unhappy that the wenches had rights and demanded higher pay for their services now. So he had found out who had killed his "old friend" and demanded a duel in the pit.


:)

Bad idea Amalas!!


Amalas actually was not that bad with the short sword, and had learned enough of fighting to duck and dodge Adrian's first attacks. But Adrian was by far the better swordsman. He simply picked up the pace of his swings. He began to inflict small wounds on Amalas, but his patience was wearing thin. So finally he simply kneed the fool in the groin, and then chopped his head off.


Great finishing move! :)


Edwin, meanwhile, was lounging in his rooms, almost dozing. It was good, working for Mae'Var. Too bad he was such a snake. Once again he reminded himself to suggest to Adrian and Bohdi that they keep these rooms once Mae'Var was eliminated.


The classical Thayvin lust for luxury, eh? ;)

Frennendan abruptly loomed before him. "Mae'Var has another mission for us."

Edwin blinked, and riased an eyebrow. "Does he, now? Well it's about time..."


Oh yeah :D

#4 Arcalian

Posted 07 January 2004 - 03:25 AM

I rather think I'll let Jan do some inventions myself. ;) Lots of possibilities there.


When the game was in development, they implied he could build stuff for you. I'm just bringing that back. Particularly a crossbow suited to Adrian's taste.


Sensible approach.


Many clerics, mages, theives et al are not adventurers, after all.

Oh yes, that one...I tend to enjoy killing him. ;)


It took me several run throughs before I fought this guy. Couldn't say why...


Interesting! One wonders what Mae'Var might be planning...


So far just the in game stuff...we'll get to new stuff after that. Including his Beholder "friend".
The road to the abyss may be paved with good intentions, but it is those with bad intentions that race down that road as fast as they can.

#5 Guest_Lord E_*

Posted 07 January 2004 - 03:33 AM

I liked the Lissa/Jan part better now. Perhaps you could add a detail about how Lissa had mistaken Vaelag's take-charge attitude for safety in her youthful naivete (assuming that that was what you were aiming for?), and later he threatened to kill her if she left her. It is after all a very common thing for abusive husbands to do.

He chuckled. "No Lis, me either. I was rather more in mind of teaching you a few spells. You'd not be an adventuring mage, either, but one doesn't have to be to stuff a few magic missles down the throat of a foe."


Hmm - gnomes are genetically predisposed to magic in general and illusionism in particular. In 3rd edition in fact all gnomes can cast some cantrips no matter the class. Sounds like an idea.

Adrian was tired, but he was never one to suffer fools. So he accepted, and they enter the old gladitorial arena.


So many suicidal people around.

#6 Arcalian

Posted 07 January 2004 - 03:39 AM

Is this the enchantment Jan mentions the first time he and Adrian meets?


Adrian asked about commisioning a weapon from him at their first meeting, so if that's what you mean, yes.
The road to the abyss may be paved with good intentions, but it is those with bad intentions that race down that road as fast as they can.

#7 Arcalian

Posted 07 January 2004 - 04:07 AM

I liked the Lissa/Jan part better now. Perhaps you could add a detail about how Lissa had mistaken Vaelag's take-charge attitude for safety in her youthful naivete (assuming that that was what you were aiming for?), and later he threatened to kill her if she left her. It is after all a very common thing for abusive husbands to do.


Lissa is going to continue to improve. When people--not just you--had such an initial negative reacction to Lissa here, I was reminded of when I first had Adrian state flat out that he would use the Bhaalpower and not the reverse, and nobody got *that* either. I was like "Huh? Why isn't it obvious?"

You've said my writing is "hardboiled" and I thank you for that compliment, but one thing it doesn't really lend itself to is sublety. Foreshadowing maybe, but not sublety. If I say a thing is x, then it's x, not seeming to be x while really being y. If you see what I mean.

Anyway the answer to your question is that Lissa will continue to grow more sympathetic as time goes on, and Vaelag's cronies aren't done yet. It's all part of the guild war.

And by the way, thank you for coming back and commenting for often. I've always felt taht you, and Laufey and Weyoun were Ade's "core audience". ;)
The road to the abyss may be paved with good intentions, but it is those with bad intentions that race down that road as fast as they can.

#8 Guest_Oryx_*

Posted 08 January 2004 - 05:45 PM

In the morning, after a typical turnip breakfast, Jan started working on some of the inventions he had promised to Adrian. A new, special crossbow not unlike his own, and a trollsblood ring of regeneration. Lissa heard him muttering to himself that it would've gone faster with Edwin.


neat-o

Adrian was, in fact, a little late leaving the Coronet. Not because he had overslept--he could sleep little after Viconia's sad story--but because life threw one of those presumptious fools in his path. Born to die, they seemed.


Heh. Lining up for their turn.

#9 Weyoun

Posted 08 January 2004 - 11:41 PM

Great story. A lovely resolution for both Jaella and JAn.

---Weyoun
TnT Enhanced Edition: http://www.fanfictio...rds-and-Tempers

---
Sith Warrior - Master, I can sense your anger.

Darth Baras - A blind, comotose lobotomy-patient could sense my anger!

---

"The New Age? It's just the old age stuck in a microwave oven for fifteen seconds" - James Randi

#10 Guest_Silrana_*

Posted 09 January 2004 - 04:45 AM

Adrian was, in fact, a little late leaving the Coronet. Not because he had overslept--he could sleep little after Viconia's sad story--but because life threw one of those presumptious fools in his path. Born to die, they seemed.


There are so many, aren't there?

Amalas actually was not that bad with the short sword, and had learned enough of fighting to duck and dodge Adrian's first attacks. But Adrian was by far the better swordsman. He simply picked up the pace of his swings. He began to inflict small wounds on Amalas, but his patience was wearing thin. So finally he simply kneed the fool in the groin, and then chopped his head off.


Quick and to the point.

Frennendan abruptly loomed before him. "Mae'Var has another mission for us."

Edwin blinked, and riased an eyebrow. "Does he, now? Well it's about time..."


And soon Edwin will see some action.

You've been putting out some very interesting chapters. I'm sorry I haven't been commenting enough. But I always read them, I promise!

#11 Arcalian

Posted 09 January 2004 - 04:57 AM

You've been putting out some very interesting chapters. I'm sorry I haven't been commenting enough. But I always read them, I promise!


That is good to know, and thankfully commenting has picked up again. I am most pleased.
The road to the abyss may be paved with good intentions, but it is those with bad intentions that race down that road as fast as they can.

#12 Arcalian

Posted 09 January 2004 - 04:58 AM

Thank you for responding!!
The road to the abyss may be paved with good intentions, but it is those with bad intentions that race down that road as fast as they can.




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