After Sarevok (on)

After Sarevok

She might as well be dead. Imoen couldn’t help thinking as she stared at the unmoving body of Anni. She was still breathing and every so often she would wind the music box but otherwise she didn’t respond to anything. Imoen couldn’t help noticing the silent tears that kept running from her eyes, she would have never of thought that anyone could cry that much. And what exactly was she crying about? Was it over Gorion’s death or that bastard Sarevok? She couldn’t understand why Anni would cry over him. He had murdered their only father. How could she care about him? It didn’t matter if he had been her real brother, he wasn’t the one who raise her, Gorion was. Imoen sighed and reviewed the events that had happened in the past two months.

Sarevok had been killed, by Anni no less, it was a wonder when she had pulled the bastard’s heart right out but then she started crying and beating her fist on the ground where the dust of his body laid. Her eyes usually a welcoming sight, full of light, blazed golden full of Bhaal’s power. Imoen was the only one who moved, she had rushed over to stop her from hurting her self. There had been so much power in her small hands, and Imoen could feel her holding back as she grasped her wrists. She felt Anni come back to herself but when she looked her in the eyes, she could feel and see it. The power behind Sarevok and the others. A creature of red scales, black spike protruding from the spine of the creature and black eyes that looked right at her and smiled at her. Imoen now had dreams of that creature or more accurately she had dreams of her becoming that creature. She couldn’t rid herself of that image. When she looked in the mirror sometimes she could see it in her eyes.

No, no. She would not think of it. She wouldn’t think of the death and power it offered. It was Anni’s demon, not hers. She didn’t have the curse of Bhaal in her veins. She let her thoughts slide over her companions, Edwin she was glad he was gone but the others she missed. Jaheira and Khalid were off on a mission for the Harpers, while Minsc had taken the body of his witch back to his homeland. She had to get out of this room. She thought as she watched Anni turn the sword charm on the music box. Imoen was hoping that the damn thing would break, it had belonged to Sarevok. They had found it when they went to Reiltar’s house to find Tamoko. They had found her alright. She had killed herself with the Sword of Chaos surround by his things. Anni had cried for her too, saying that the lovers had deserved better. She thought they got exactly what they deserved.

Imoen went to the door, needing to be in the fresh air, immerse herself in the city. Maybe pick a few pockets. Something, anything was better than watching her friend wallow in misery. They had been given a house for a reward from the Grand Duke, it was in the heart of the city. It had a nice view and a yard with a beautiful garden. She loved it here and hoped they would never have to leave. She was surprised when she opened the door and found Duke Eltan about to knock.

“Heya! You’re looking back to normal or at least better than when we carried you to your friend’s place.�

“Thank you Lady Imoen. I have news that I believe your friend should know about. Please may I come in?� She stepped out of the doorway and allowed him inside. No alarms went off, she knew that he was the real Eltan, the wards would have told her if he was a doppleganger, though none had been seen since the bastard’s death. He looked healthier but weary, as he glanced at her she could see sadness in his eyes.

“Maybe you should just tell me. Anni isn’t up to receiving visitors at the moment.�

“The Grand Duke will declare all suspected Bhaalspawn to be contained from the population.�

“You mean they’re going to lock up Anni after she saved Baldur’s Gate?� She was outraged. This could not be happening.

“I’m afraid so. She admitted freely that she was Sarevok’s sister. The Grand Duke believes that others will become violent.

“I’ll become violent if anyone hurts Anni!�

“He sent me ahead, there are too many who are willing to commend her on her lineage. You must get her out of the city. The city owes her a great debt and the best we can offer is giving her a running chance. Take her away from the Sword Coast, head north or south into Amn. I owe her and your friends my life, I cannot just stand by and watch them lock up the heroine of the Sword Coast.�

“What if my friends come back? Will they be suspect?�

“Yes, I suspect that all who are acquainted with Bhaalspawn will be subjected to... enquiries.�

“Gods, everyone is suppose to come back! Is there anyway you can watch for my friends and tell them we went south. Yes I think south will be the best. Anni needs a tan you know?� She tried to joke, the smile not quite reaching her eyes.

“I will try my best, do you know what city you will go to?�

“I’ll send word once I-we pick a city. I’ll go get Anni and we’ll start out before night comes.�

“Thank you Lady Imoen. It puts my heart at ease.� He said as he exited the house. She leaned against the closed door. This was bad, this was very bad. She passed by the mirror and could have sworn she saw someone looking at her. She went back and stared into it, trying to understand what she saw. She focus on her eyes and saw a shadow pass in her eyes and for a moment they glowed golden. She blinked and her eyes were back to normal but she was throughly creeped out now. She didn’t want to know what just happened as long as it never happened again. She went back into Anni’s room to find her sitting up, her hands clasped in prayer. Her brow was scrunched tight in concentration, she was rocking back and forth on the bed. At Imoen soft knock she opened her eyes and stared at her, her eyes wide, showing far too much white.

“I heard everything. He’s coming for us, it doesn’t matter where we run, he’s determined to find me...us.�

“Anni don’t talk like that, we’ll get out of here and meet up with Jaheira and Khalid and Minsc, oh and Boo!� She stood in front of her friend and took her hands. “And hey you’ll find someone better than Edwin to love. Maybe he’ll be from some foreign land, just like Edwin was. You can do much better than him. After all you did have me at one point and I’m prettier than him. That’s what you need someone who can make you feel pretty and forget about all this Bhaalspawn nonsense. Let’s see, he has to be very handsome, he must have been on lots of adventures, he has to be tall, has to know how to please a woman.� At Anni’s blush she added, “You know buying her gifts, you have such a gutter mind.� The crying girl was smiling slightly at her friend’s words and hugged her.

“Thank you Immy. I-I had a vision and Bhaal interrupted it. He’s been talking so much to me.�

“You have to ignore that old ghoul. He’s dead, he can’t affect your life unless you let him.�

“Others will know, there will always be a Child that wants his Throne.�

“That’s why you need to get yourself together. You’ve been crying over a murderer. You-“

“I know he was a murderer. When the two of us ran away, mother caught us and snatched me off his back, she was the one that broke my arm. Anyhow, he hit her and he was strong for his age, I think he had been tapping into the power since I was born. I told him I never wanted her to hurt me again. He killed her to protect me. I started his downward spiral and I finished it. He use to be a good person. He took care of me but Bhaal couldn’t let him live down that he lost me. And when I didn’t recognized him when he visited, it killed a part of him, h-“

“I don’t care about all this! He could have chosen differently, no matter what you think. He murdered our only father. Gorion did nothing to him, I know what you’re going to say but it doesn’t matter. The case is close as far as I’m concerned, and if Sarevok could be resurrected I’d kill him myself for ruining our family.� Anni just sighed at her friend’s rant. This would be a subject that they would always argue over, she just dropped it.

“Let’s just pack.� She said as she kissed Imoen’s lips. She started around the room and collected the few things of importance while the other girl did the same. When they were packed, they took one last look at what they had called their home for a few months and started out of Baldur’s Gate.

“By the way, whatcha see in your vision before the ghoul showed up?�

“An elf, she has something to do with our future.�

“What was her name?�

“Ellesime.�

Very nice story.

After Sarevok

She might as well be dead. Imoen couldn’t help thinking as she stared at the unmoving body of Anni. She was still breathing and every so often she would wind the music box but otherwise she didn’t respond to anything. Imoen couldn’t help noticing the silent tears that kept running from her eyes, she would have never of thought that anyone could cry that much. And what exactly was she crying about? Was it over Gorion’s death or that bastard Sarevok? She couldn’t understand why Anni would cry over him. He had murdered their only father. How could she care about him? It didn’t matter if he had been her real brother, he wasn’t the one who raise her, Gorion was. Imoen sighed and reviewed the events that had happened in the past two months.

Thank you for this. All to often we ignore the fact that what our characters do is kill other people (Justifiably so or not is beside the point) and yet it is rare that our characters suffer any emotional after effects of these killings.

More specifically I think it is great that the after effects being felt are for the death of Sarevok. Yes he was a really bad person and yes he killed Gorion and would have happily ended the life of the PC and everyone the PC cares about, but he was still the PC’s brother and as ToB shows he is not beyond redemption.

Sarevok had been killed, by Anni no less, it was a wonder when she had pulled the bastard’s heart right out but then she started crying and beating her fist on the ground where the dust of his body laid. Her eyes usually a welcoming sight, full of light, blazed golden full of Bhaal’s power. Imoen was the only one who moved, she had rushed over to stop her from hurting her self. There had been so much power in her small hands, and Imoen could feel her holding back as she grasped her wrists. She felt Anni come back to herself but when she looked her in the eyes, she could feel and see it. The power behind Sarevok and the others. A creature of red scales, black spike protruding from the spine of the creature and black eyes that looked right at her and smiled at her. Imoen now had dreams of that creature or more accurately she had dreams of her becoming that creature. She couldn’t rid herself of that image. When she looked in the mirror sometimes she could see it in her eyes.

A terrifying image. And a thoughtful way of writing about the taint.

I would guess that if Imoen does not know she must suspect that she is one of the children as well.

No, no. She would not think of it. She wouldn’t think of the death and power it offered. It was Anni’s demon, not hers. She didn’t have the curse of Bhaal in her veins. She let her thoughts slide over her companions, Edwin she was glad he was gone but the others she missed. Jaheira and Khalid were off on a mission for the Harpers, while Minsc had taken the body of his witch back to his homeland. She had to get out of this room. She thought as she watched Anni turn the sword charm on the music box. Imoen was hoping that the damn thing would break, it had belonged to Sarevok. They had found it when they went to Reiltar’s house to find Tamoko. They had found her alright. She had killed herself with the Sword of Chaos surround by his things. Anni had cried for her too, saying that the lovers had deserved better. She thought they got exactly what they deserved.

I really like how Imoen vacillates in this piece. At one time she is the sweet innocent we have all come to know and love…and at others she is bitter and vengeful…and working very hard to deny just who she is.

Imoen went to the door, needing to be in the fresh air, immerse herself in the city. Maybe pick a few pockets. Something, anything was better than watching her friend wallow in misery. They had been given a house for a reward from the Grand Duke, it was in the heart of the city. It had a nice view and a yard with a beautiful garden. She loved it here and hoped they would never have to leave. She was surprised when she opened the door and found Duke Eltan about to knock.

The fact that she loves it is the biggest clue that they wont get to stay.

“The Grand Duke will declare all suspected Bhaalspawn to be contained from the population.�

“You mean they’re going to lock up Anni after she saved Baldur’s Gate?� She was outraged. This could not be happening.

“I’m afraid so. She admitted freely that she was Sarevok’s sister. The Grand Duke believes that others will become violent.

Such an act had to be in the making. Though one would have to wonder just how anyone would know who is and who is not a child of Bhaal.

“Thank you Lady Imoen. It puts my heart at ease.� He said as he exited the house. She leaned against the closed door. This was bad, this was very bad. She passed by the mirror and could have sworn she saw someone looking at her. She went back and stared into it, trying to understand what she saw. She focus on her eyes and saw a shadow pass in her eyes and for a moment they glowed golden. She blinked and her eyes were back to normal but she was throughly creeped out now. She didn’t want to know what just happened as long as it never happened again.

What is that old saying about escaping destiny but not fate?

She went back into Anni’s room to find her sitting up, her hands clasped in prayer. Her brow was scrunched tight in concentration, she was rocking back and forth on the bed. At Imoen soft knock she opened her eyes and stared at her, her eyes wide, showing far too much white.

“I heard everything. He’s coming for us, it doesn’t matter where we run, he’s determined to find me...us.�

Just who is determined?

It is also refreshing to see a character praying. Religion is such a huge part of life in the realms and the Gods are not just an object of belief but of fact.

“Thank you Immy. I-I had a vision and Bhaal interrupted it. He’s been talking so much to me.�

“You have to ignore that old ghoul. He’s dead, he can’t affect your life unless you let him.�

Well…that is half true…he’s dead, but he is still running this game

“I know he was a murderer. When the two of us ran away, mother caught us and snatched me off his back, she was the one that broke my arm. Anyhow, he hit her and he was strong for his age, I think he had been tapping into the power since I was born. I told him I never wanted her to hurt me again. He killed her to protect me. I started his downward spiral and I finished it. He use to be a good person. He took care of me but Bhaal couldn’t let him live down that he lost me. And when I didn’t recognized him when he visited, it killed a part of him, h-“

An interesting take on the relationship of the three children.

“Let’s just pack.� She said as she kissed Imoen’s lips. She started around the room and collected the few things of importance while the other girl did the same. When they were packed, they took one last look at what they had called their home for a few months and started out of Baldur’s Gate.

“By the way, whatcha see in your vision before the ghoul showed up?�

“An elf, she has something to do with our future.�

“What was her name?�

“Ellesime.�

Sadly… Ellesime will bring nothing but trouble

Poor Anni, she's really not getting an easy run. And now you've gone and thrown Ellesime into the mix too!

It's a sad story, both from the feeling of loss and fear she experiences and from the harsh treatment she gets from the city.