Cid and Company: Introduction: The Guild War

hello hello hello. first off, i know the title sux. any suggestions are welcome. second, like my other stories, this is based in BG2 settings, with the characters and in Athkatla as BG2 portrays it. the intro is a lil long, and the parts (or at least part 1) is shorter than it. but i had a lot to say in the intro, and not enough, or as much rather, than the intro. ok, without further ado, here it is.....



Introduction: The Guild War

Cid the wizard slayer sheathed his bastard swords into their scabbards across his back, and went down on one knee, taking a well-deserved breath. Jaheira also took a deep breath, leaning on her spear. Imoen sat down and bowed her head, letting the mana regenerate inside of her. Yoshimo sheathed his precious magical katana and closed his eyes, silently meditating. Minsc rested his war hammer on his shoulder, threw his shield on his back and pulled Boo out. Viconia stood standing, also recovering lost mana. They were, not including Cid, the last of what was left of the Bhallspawn’s party. Cid had stepped in after he died, and the party had accepted him and abandoned their quest for answers shortly after.

They all had fought the biggest battle of their lives.

One by one, their heads lifted and looked at the carnage before them. It mattered not what side they had taken in this guild war- they hadn’t even taken a side- for now they were caught in the middle of it. They had walked into a huge battle between the Shadow Thieves and the fastly rising Werewolf Guild. It mirrored the Vampire/Shadow Thief Guild war four years ago, only this time it looked as if the Werewolves were going to win. The party had been walking through the Docks District, when the Werewolves had charged at the Shadow Thieves Guild house, taking the party with them. The group had formed a tight circle, and had fought for their lives. Partly because of the confusion, party because of their might and magic, they came out alive, unlike most of the Shadow Thieves and all of the Werewolves. But the Werewolves had done what hey came to do- kill all the Shadow Thieves they could. And there was plenty more Werewolves to finish the job and take the Athkatla Underground for themselves.

Cid spoke up. “It is almost dawn. We should find a house and get some rest.” All of the party nodded their heads in agreement, and they walked down the street, trying the doors. Most of the district’s inhabitants had fled, fearing the huge guild war. Most of those that had stayed had been slaughtered either by Shadow Thieves looking for vastly depleting supplies or by roaming werewolves satisfying their bloodlust.

They walked into a dark room, and Imoen lit it up with a simple spell. Yoshimo and Cid left the group and went upstairs, searching for supplies. They came down with the gold sack a little heavier and some almost stale food. The party ate hurriedly, hungry after the long battle, and quickly fell asleep.



Cid awoke with a start. He heard unfamiliar voices up the stairs, and quickly jumped up, pulling out his twin swords. All of the party lay around him, and he cautiously stepped over to the stairs, now knowing that the voices weren’t from the group. He thought of waking them, or at least his buddy Yoshimo, but he felt that this was for him. Only him.

He stealthy moved up the stairs, using all that Yoshimo had taught him when they had exchanged brief trainings in their differing professions. Cid tilted his head around the corner, looking into the room, and saw two men with black hoods pulled up coming in the window. ‘Shadow Thieves,’ thought Cid, staring at them. They whispered, but their voices rose every once in a while.

Cid, with his trained ears, heard what they were saying clearly. Through their mumblings, he caught that they were here to find him and tell him something. The Shadow Thieves walked across the room, heading for the stairs. Cid jumped out in front of them. They weren’t the least bit surprised.

“Lookin’ for me?” he asked them.

“Yes, we are. Master Bloodscalp wishes to see you. Come with us- it will only take minutes.” one answered.

“If he wishes to speak to me, bring him here.” Cid answered. He had done business with Renel Bloodscalp before, and Cid now enjoyed having the upper hand. Bloodscalp’s guild was now hunted on every corner, and he needed Cid’s help. The thieves looked at each other, not expecting this type of comment.

“You shall come to him. The Shadow Thieves are still strong, and-“ the thief stopped when he heard Cid’s laughter.

“Strong?” Cid asked them. “Strong? If you call the Shadow Thieves strong, than what do you call the Werewolves? Bring him here if he wishes to talk. Go!” One of the thieves scrambled out the open window. Cid sheathed his swords, then looked after the thief and out the window, seeing the early morning sun. Normally people would be out and about, but now there was no one. Only carcasses lying on the street.

A few moments later the thief returned, again through the window. But no one proceeded or followed him. “Where the hell is he?” Cid asked, now growing tired, though he slept little. A sly grin spread across the thieves’ faces and he looked past Cid, to the door. Cid grabbed for his swords as he spun around, but felt no metal against his hand, just air.

Renel Bloodscalp stood in the doorway, holding the swords out and inspecting them. He let out a laugh at Cid’s astonished face, and threw the swords back to him. “Their nicer than the ones you had when you first performed for me.” he said as he tossed them back.

Cid caught them and sheathed them, saying “Yeah, I bought them with the reward. Now what’s this business?”

“Ahh,” answered Renel, “Right to the point, as always. But I’m afraid I lost contact with my spies when the guild war changed tides. They left me without eyes and ears. So, you see, I know nothing of you and your party’s current state. Please, inform me. Tell me of your ties, your relationships, and of your current travels. We’ll see if your party is right for the job.”

“The job? What can you give me that I can’t get by helping the werewolves?” Cid asked, not understanding how a failing guild that was about to be annihilated could help him.

“Balance,” answered Renel without hesitation. “You are neutrally aligned to almost all guilds and important persons. When the Shadow Thieves ruled, your world was perfect. We ruled the land with neutrality. You told me this yourself once. Look out the window. Does that look like neutrality? Are hundreds of werewolves swarming and pillaging without any gain of it neutrality?”

Cid could not argue. It was true. He had said the same thing to himself once. Cid swallowed, then spoke up. “How much will you be paying? We are short of money as late.”

“Money, money, money. Is that all we humans think about? Along with women, of course. Ah, I had almost forgotten of your woman. Jaheira, if I am not mistaken. How are you two these days?”

“We’re apart,” Cid said through clenched teeth. He had been with Jaheira for well over a year, but they had broken a part after Jaheira felt like she was “losing him.” Cid had lost a part of himself as well. He had pulled all the memories of their love out of him, and tucked them in a dark corner in the back of his mind. But with her mentioned they all came rushing back.

“Too bad, too bad. She was quite beautiful though, eh? But enough of this talk. How are you now? A new lover perhaps?” asked Renel. The last question made Cid tense up all the more. He hadn’t been able to bring himself out of his little nutshell, not again. He didn’t want to be hurt once again. He still held out hope that Jaheira would come back to him, but that was but a dream, he knew. The group had been forming into pairs after he and Jaheira had broken up. Yoshimo and Imoen had started to show their interest in each other, and Viconia had begun to open up to Cid. But Cid hadn’t been able, even when he and Viconia were talking, which was as far as they had ever gotten, to tear his eyes off Jaheira and Minsc.

“No?” asked Renel, trying to get off the subject and knowing he had opened up a deep wound. “What about adventuring and fighting? I saw you yesterday, slaying my men.” Renel smiled as Cid looked up to him and gave a smirk.

“We have been…around,” Cid answered. “We have been performing quests inside the city for a while, but with this werewolf scare, our business has gone down considerably. That’s why we’re here- to report to a merchant how the war is going, for he is worried that he will have to flee, and some people are already doing in the other districts.”

This brought a curious eye-lift to Renel’s face. “They are fleeing? Have any werewolves even reached those districts?”

Cid answered, “Yeah, some rogue bands have gotten through the especially high guard, though they were killed in the city. Now, the payment. And my quest. What must I do?”




now...what say you??? all comments and crits are welcome.

Hi there!

Allow me to be the first to review your story


[quote]Minsc rested his war hammer on his shoulder, threw his shield on his back and pulled Boo out. [/quote]

Minsc...warhammer?

No, Minsc...Big sword


[quote]Viconia stood standing, also recovering lost mana.[/quote]

Just a side note.
Mana doesn't have anything to do with spellcasting in forgotten realms. It is about scribing and memorizing. Just thought you'd like to know.

[quote]Cid, the last of what was left of the Bhallspawn’s party. Cid had stepped in after he died, and the party had accepted him and abandonedtheir quest for answers shortly after. [/quote]

A nice twist


[quote]
One by one, their heads lifted and looked at the carnage before them. It mattered not what side they had taken in this guild war- they hadn’t even taken a side- for now they were caught in the middle of it. They had walked into a huge battle between the Shadow Thieves and the fastly rising Werewolf Guild. It mirrored the Vampire/Shadow Thief Guild war four years ago,[/quote]

A good idea to make it take place years after the TOB incedent.



[quote]Yoshimo and Cid[/quote]

How con Yoshimo be alive after the whole geas thing?
A plot twist, perhaps?



[quote]“If he wishes to speak to me, bring him here.” Cid answered. He had done business with Renel Bloodscalp before, and Cid now enjoyed having the upper hand.[/quote]

Hehe. He has a mean streak.


“[quote]You are neutrally aligned to almost all guilds and important persons. When the Shadow Thieves ruled, your world was perfect. We ruled the land with neutrality. You told me this yourself once. Look out the window. Does that look like neutrality? Are hundreds of werewolves swarming and pillaging without any gain of it neutrality?”[/quote]

I take it he's either true neutral, lawful neutral or choatic neutral.

Nice explanation BTW.




[quote]“We’re apart,” Cid said through clenched teeth.[/quote]

Awww


[quote]Jaheira and Minsc.[/quote]

Haha, a pair i'd like to see. The calm and rational Jaheira and the not-so-calm and and not-so-rational Minsc.




It was very good, i look forward for more!

-Conrack




now...what say you??? all comments and crits are welcome.[/quote]

Cid the wizard slayer sheathed his bastard swords into their scabbards across his back, and went down on one knee, taking a well-deserved breath. Jaheira also took a deep breath, leaning on her spear. Imoen sat down and bowed her head, letting the mana regenerate inside of her. Yoshimo sheathed his precious magical katana and closed his eyes, silently meditating. Minsc rested his war hammer on his shoulder, threw his shield on his back and pulled Boo out. Viconia stood standing, also recovering lost mana. They were, not including Cid, the last of what was left of the Bhallspawn’s party. Cid had stepped in after he died, and the party had accepted him and abandoned their quest for answers shortly after.

So... lemme get this straight - Cid is not the Bhaalspawn, for the Bhaalspawn is dead? Interesting. Will you elaborate on how that happened?

And, I agree about Conrack about mana, but just wanted to add that only mages have to scibe and memorize their spells, priests pray directly to their god to grant them the spells.

They walked into a dark room, and Imoen lit it up with a simple spell. Yoshimo and Cid left the group and went upstairs, searching for supplies. They came down with the gold sack a little heavier and some almost stale food. The party ate hurriedly, hungry after the long battle, and quickly fell asleep.

Heh, why bother paying for the room in tavern.

“If he wishes to speak to me, bring him here.” Cid answered. He had done business with Renel Bloodscalp before, and Cid now enjoyed having the upper hand. Bloodscalp’s guild was now hunted on every corner, and he needed Cid’s help. The thieves looked at each other, not expecting this type of comment.

Good to see that Renal is still alive. I kinda like that thief.

Renel Bloodscalp stood in the doorway, holding the swords out and inspecting them. He let out a laugh at Cid’s astonished face, and threw the swords back to him. “Their nicer than the ones you had when you first performed for me.” he said as he tossed them back.

should be 'These are nicer'... and yep, can't afford being sleepy with all those thieves around...

“Balance,” answered Renel without hesitation. “You are neutrally aligned to almost all guilds and important persons. When the Shadow Thieves ruled, your world was perfect. We ruled the land with neutrality. You told me this yourself once. Look out the window. Does that look like neutrality? Are hundreds of werewolves swarming and pillaging without any gain of it neutrality?”

Well, Shadow Thieves do mess in Amnian politics so I could hardly call them neutral. But on the other thought, this city is like a hen than constantly hatches them golden eggs - why would they harm it...

“We’re apart,” Cid said through clenched teeth. He had been with Jaheira for well over a year, but they had broken a part after Jaheira felt like she was “losing him.” Cid had lost a part of himself as well. He had pulled all the memories of their love out of him, and tucked them in a dark corner in the back of his mind. But with her mentioned they all came rushing back.

Awww. Jaheira is the kind of woman you have to fight for, she's well worth it...

“Too bad, too bad. She was quite beautiful though, eh? But enough of this talk. How are you now? A new lover perhaps?” asked Renel. The last question made Cid tense up all the more. He hadn’t been able to bring himself out of his little nutshell, not again. He didn’t want to be hurt once again. He still held out hope that Jaheira would come back to him, but that was but a dream, he knew. The group had been forming into pairs after he and Jaheira had broken up. Yoshimo and Imoen had started to show their interest in each other, and Viconia had begun to open up to Cid. But Cid hadn’t been able, even when he and Viconia were talking, which was as far as they had ever gotten, to tear his eyes off Jaheira and Minsc.

Jaheira and Minsc? Now I've seen everything... I wonder what does she see in him... and how comes that Yoshi still lives if this is after the Bhaalspawn saga?

now...what say you??? all comments and crits are welcome.

Quite intriguing, I say... liked it

“If he wishes to speak to me, bring him here.” Cid answered. He had done business with Renel Bloodscalp before, and Cid now enjoyed having the upper hand. Bloodscalp’s guild was now hunted on every corner, and he needed Cid’s help. The thieves looked at each other, not expecting this type of comment.

Besides, who would be dumb enough to follow two strangers, in the middle of the night, and have absolutely no secrurity? Except adventurers ofcourse.

“Ahh,” answered Renel, “Right to the point, as always. But I’m afraid I lost contact with my spies when the guild war changed tides. They left me without eyes and ears. So, you see, I know nothing of you and your party’s current state. Please, inform me. Tell me of your ties, your relationships, and of your current travels. We’ll see if your party is right for the job.”

He's lying, he would never openly admit such a thing.

“Too bad, too bad. She was quite beautiful though, eh? But enough of this talk. How are you now? A new lover perhaps?” asked Renel. The last question made Cid tense up all the more. He hadn’t been able to bring himself out of his little nutshell, not again. He didn’t want to be hurt once again. He still held out hope that Jaheira would come back to him, but that was but a dream, he knew. The group had been forming into pairs after he and Jaheira had broken up. Yoshimo and Imoen had started to show their interest in each other, and Viconia had begun to open up to Cid. But Cid hadn’t been able, even when he and Viconia were talking, which was as far as they had ever gotten, to tear his eyes off Jaheira and Minsc.

Those two!!!!!!

now...what say you??? all comments and crits are welcome.

It's an interesting start

Hunter