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Adrian Shadows of Amn 38


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#1 Arcalian

Posted 02 July 2003 - 12:31 AM

"Lord Adrian," Adrian said aloud to himself, for perhaps the fifth time that day, hearing the words echo back in the large main audience chamber. He smiled, hugely. Viconia marveled at that smile; she had never seen such an open, toothy grin on his face.

"It's what you've always wanted, isn't it, ssinsring?" she asked him, leaning on his shoulder.

"Not the power over others per se, bebe," he answered. "The Rule of Might has never appealed to me. But to be lord of a castle to call my own, my home....oh yes, that I have waited long for."

It was two days past the liberation of the Keep. Lady Delcia, of course, had not been pleased when she had heard, but there was nothing she could do.

Nor was there anything Nalia could do, now that she had unleashed the mercnary and given him her lands. She could, by right of law, take the Keep back from him. But she did not know how he would respond to such. And besides, even if he handed it back to her, she would once again be at the mercy of the Roenalls. She needed his protection.

Nalia realized, now that it was too late, that the moment when he had expressed guilt over failing to save her father had been her only chance to bargain. When she had not pressed the matter, appealing to his strange, twisted personal code, and instead praised him, she had essentially surrendered the Keep to him, even before she made the formal offer. She had become a helpless tenant in her own ancestral home. De'Arnisse Keep was Adrian's Keep now. It was better than being forced to join the Roenall clan, but by how much?

If Nalia was discomfited, the newly reinstated major domo was properly terrified. He saw Adrian as nothing more than a barbarian, little better than the Trolls he had ousted. But he showed neither anger or scorn, he was simply afraid. His face was pale above the black livery he wore. It was though he expected Adrian to have him excecuted at any moment, or slaughtered for his own personal amusement. Adrian had tried several times to reassure him, to no avail.

"It will please you to know," Adrian said to him, "That we will be leaving today, heading for Trademeet to root out the troubles we have heard of there. Send a runner to the town if anything needs my attention. In any case, it is my intention to come back this way before returning to Athkatla."

The major domo bowed, sweating in fear. "Yes...lord."

"I shall retire to the roof for the moment, with my companions. We shall leave before the sun is high."

"Shall I have the kitchens prepare a feast, lord?"

"No, but do have them make some cold cuts for the party to eat on the road."

The major domo bowed once more.

-------

Adrian took a deep breath as he stepped onto the rooftop, and gazed at his lands in the morning sun. His heart swelled in his chest. Not even first sight of Baldur's Gate had brought him such contentment.

"I envy you," Anomen said to him. "A home to call your own, without strife or trouble."

Adrian looked at him. "Something has been troubling you for a time now. Almost since you joined me. Do you want to talk about it?"

Anomen shook his head. "That dream vision Helm gave me...eventually I will wish to talk to some friends of mine about it. And also to check in on my poor sister Moria. But that will come later."

Adrian nodded. "For now we shall follow your other counsel, and head to Trademeet."

"Do that be what ye dragged us up here so bloody early to talk about?" Korgan asked. The rest of the party had taken their own views of the countryside, and had come back together, listening.

Adrian smiled coldly at the battlrager. "Don't tell me you want to stay?"

"Nay, nay. There be no good ale in this pile o stone, only wine. And donnae be forgettin I be owin that prissy masked mage me own weregild of hate. It only be the rousting at dawn I object tae."

Adrin nodded. "I want to get moving for Trademeet as soon as possible. It is more than a day's journey."

"And then back to Athkatla?" Tree asked him.

Adrian shrugged. "Depends on what we find. I am mindful of the fact that there is a druid grove near Trademeet, and that your mother's tree can be replanted there."

Tree nodded, mollified. But Adrian had not spoken of his real reason. That, simply, was because as with Sarevok before, he would need to be more powerful and experienced before confronting Irenicus and rescuing Imoen. He was quite sure the archmage would have escaped whatever cell the Cowled Wizards had put him in, but what then? Would he take Imoen with him? Too many unanswered questions. He needed to be more powerful, even as he searched for the answers.

On their way out he was pleased to note that the seamstresses of the catles were making the standard he had asked for to fly over the Keep. His standard. Another surge of pride swelled in him as he led the party away.

----

Lady Delcia Caan was in the Roenall estate in Athkatla.

"Our plan failed, even though it was sucessful in the particulars," she told Lord Roenall. "Tor'Gal killed my foolish kin, and adventurers cleared the place out, but now Nalia has given the Keep to the mercenary mongrels as a reward! We have to do something!"

Lord Roenall paused, considering. He had not made it to where he was by being rash. A pity his son Isaea had never learned that lesson.

Finally he answered her. "Not....yet."
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 02 July 2003 - 07:20 AM

Nor was there anything Nalia could do, now that she had unleashed the mercnary and given him her lands. She could, by right of law, take the Keep back from him. But she did not know how he would respond to such. And besides, even if he handed it back to her, she would once again be at the mercy of the Roenalls. She needed his protection.


Poor Nalia...I hope she'll be OK.


Adrian took a deep breath as he stepped onto the rooftop, and gazed at his lands in the morning sun. His heart swelled in his chest. Not even first sight of Baldur's Gate had brought him such contentment.


Ah, very nice! :twisted:


Tree nodded, mollified. But Adrian had not spoken of his real reason. That, simply, was because as with Sarevok before, he would need to be more powerful and experienced before confronting Irenicus and rescuing Imoen. He was quite sure the archmage would have escaped whatever cell the Cowled Wizards had put him in, but what then? Would he take Imoen with him? Too many unanswered questions. He needed to be more powerful, even as he searched for the answers.


Very good idea.

On their way out he was pleased to note that the seamstresses of the catles were making the standard he had asked for to fly over the Keep. His standard. Another surge of pride swelled in him as he led the party away.


Oh, a standard? I'll be very curious to see what it looks like...
Rogues do it from behind.

#3 Arcalian

Posted 03 July 2003 - 02:19 AM

>Poor Nalia...I hope she'll be OK. <

Yah, it's just that she realized too late that she coulda gotten a better deal. Adrian has no reason to harm or betray her.


>Very good idea.<

I felt I should explain why Adrian isn't rushing off to save Immy.

>Oh, a standard? I'll be very curious to see what it looks like...<

At first I thought of a green lightning bolt on black; but that's too much me, not enough Adrian. Still figuring the details.
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.

#4 Weyoun

Posted 03 July 2003 - 10:41 PM

"Lord Adrian," Adrian said aloud to himself, for perhaps the fifth time that day, hearing the words echo back in the large main audience chamber. He smiled, hugely. Viconia marveled at that smile; she had never seen such an open, toothy grin on his face.


"It's what you've always wanted, isn't it, ssinsring?" she asked him, leaning on his shoulder.


"Not the power over others per se, bebe," he answered. "The Rule of Might has never appealed to me. But to be lord of a castle to call my own, my home....oh yes, that I have waited long for."


Well, it's a nice place to live, if you don't mind living in a damp old castle. :twisted:

"No, but do have them make some cold cuts for the party to eat on the road."


Hey, why no chicken sandwiches and coffee? :twisted:


Lady Delcia Caan was in the Roenall estate in Athkatla.


"Our plan failed, even though it was sucessful in the particulars," she told Lord Roenall. "Tor'Gal killed my foolish kin, and adventurers cleared the place out, but now Nalia has given the Keep to the mercenary mongrels as a reward! We have to do something!"


Lord Roenall paused, considering. He had not made it to where he was by being rash. A pity his son Isaea had never learned that lesson.


Finally he answered her. "Not....yet."


Ah, duplicity.

Great stuff,
---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

#5 Guest_Broken Phoenix_*

Posted 07 July 2003 - 09:49 PM

"Lord Adrian," Adrian said aloud to himself, for perhaps the fifth time that day, hearing the words echo back in the large main audience chamber. He smiled, hugely. Viconia marveled at that smile; she had never seen such an open, toothy grin on his face.

A boy's dream come true?
(A boy with a huge sword and a temper to match, that is).

It was two days past the liberation of the Keep. Lady Delcia, of course, had not been pleased when she had heard, but there was nothing she could do.

Um... what liberation?

She had become a helpless tenant in her own ancestral home. De'Arnisse Keep was Adrian's Keep now. It was better than being forced to join the Roenall clan, but by how much?

Well, at least he's not a twit, neither does she have to bear his children. As for the rest... well, let's hope he feels the pull of adventure a lot.

"Nay, nay. There be no good ale in this pile o stone, only wine. And donnae be forgettin I be owin that prissy masked mage me own weregild of hate. It only be the rousting at dawn I object tae."

Sounds like DwarfTalk© alright.

On their way out he was pleased to note that the seamstresses of the catles were making the standard he had asked for to fly over the Keep. His standard. Another surge of pride swelled in him as he led the party away.

Um... well, at least that makes clear that Nalia isn't resposible for his actions :shock:

"Our plan failed, even though it was sucessful in the particulars," she told Lord Roenall. "Tor'Gal killed my foolish kin, and adventurers cleared the place out, but now Nalia has given the Keep to the mercenary mongrels as a reward! We have to do something!"

Tsk, vicious old tart. Nalia is way too kind to her.

He had not made it to where he was by being rash. A pity his son Isaea had never learned that lesson.

Finally he answered her. "Not....yet."

No, Isaea is too dumb to become a scheming noble.

Well, let's see where the journey heads next...

#6 Guest_Oryx_*

Posted 19 July 2003 - 08:37 AM

Nice! Do tell - what *is* Adrian's standard?

Interesting plot with Delcia. I've heard different takes on whom 'Stronger' was, looking forward to how this plays out.




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