Happy birthday to Imoen.... (On)

Just felt inspired and thought I'd do a bit of flashbacking. This is when Talek is about 16 years old.


The only inn of Candlekeep was in a festive mood. Most of the youth of the keep was present, and even with the advanced age of the average Candlekeeper the common room was quite full. And at the centre of attention was the reason for the celebration. Imoen was surrounded by girls and boys, some looked about ready to be called woman or man. Laughter sounded whenever someone said something funny. Some watered down wine and ale helped to make sure that funny things WERE being said. Winthrop had an eye open though, but he too smiled at the celebration of the 17th birthday of his favourite visitor to the inn. But this was a celebration for the young ones, so he contented himself with serving drinks.

And then the door opened. Eyes went expectantly to greet the new arrival. When the black haired boy entered the room it was as if someone had just keeled over and died. All the laughter faded to dissapproving whispers, and all eyes, including Winthrop's, seemed to say the same message. 'what are YOU doing here?' All eyes but the celebrated one.

Talek shot some of the louder whisperers a dirty glare before turning to Imoen with a smile on his face. "Happy birthday Imoen!"

"TALEK! I'm so happy you're here!" The words sounded awkward in the dissaproving slence. Imoen's smile looked out of place among the hostile looks.

"I got you something." Talek raised a piece of parchment and started walking towards her. The following scene was a usual one. As Talek would approach Imoen, all people around her would leave, but they'd walk towards him, as a narrow but thick wall between him and Imoen, only stepping aside at the last moment. Their eyes would try to stare down the newcomer, but woud fail. Talek's eyes were forcibly fixed on Imoen. The only thing that suggested he noticed the people were the tensing of his face and the occasional quickening of his step, bumping one of the lighter built kids. Finally he stood near Imoen, half a circle of people behind him staring at him as if they expected him to slap her in the face at any moment. Winthrop narrowed his eyes from behind the bar.

"Oooh...lemme see, lemme see." Imoen exlamed enthusiast. There wasn't a trace in her voice betraying forcedness, and it seemed to infect Talek, who smiled happilly again.

"Heh... I worked on this one for quite some time now." He raised the parchment. Unlike the usual cheap parchment he used for drawing, this was high quality, fit for a mage's spell book. It was bound with a pink silk ribbon. "I hope you like it."

"So who dies this time?" It was spoken in a soft voice, but clearly meant to be heard. Talek's smile broke and he looked behind his back snarling. Imoen quickly intervened.

"Eminda! Don't be a jerk!" She got Talek's attention again with a pull. "Now come on Orc-brain. You're gonna keep that picture till my 18th birthday or what?"

Talek gave one more glare at the named girl and handed Imoen the scroll. She unrolled it and gasped in honest amazement. "Talek! It's beautiful!" The drawing depicted Imoen as a rogue, holding a crown in one hand, running to the foreground with a mischieveous grin on her face. On the background a fat man on a carrying chair was pointing at her and yelling. The picture was filled with other people, looking at the thief in awe and confusion. It was clear that every single one of them had been spent time on.

"Well... it's about the only thing I can get you... unless you'd like me to use my sword on someone." Talek gave a short laughter that was answered only by Imoen.

"Ahw, I'm just glad you're here Talek." She put the parcgment with the drawing in the centre of the table that contained all kinds of gifts, varying from modest jewelry to outrageously pink clothing. "So... did Gorion say anything before sending you off?"

"He told me to tell you that whatever it is you did, you'll get away with it only because it's your birthday."

Imoen mock sighed. "Drat, it's no fun when they're not even trying to stop my jokes anymore." Her face brighthened. "I know, next year I'll just be a good little girl, and they'll all be sweating as they try to wonder what I pulled this time. YES!"

Talek looked confused. "Oh...Gorion told me to tell you he knows you'd say that. But I don't know how..."

Imoen balled her fists. "Oh.... that old sneaky wizard. That's it. I don't care if I clean horsedung till my next birthday, I AM going to steal his tobaco."

Talek was about to say something when the door opened again and another one of Imoen's friends came in. Imoen gave Talek a conspiratory wink. "Whoops... duty beckons as a paladin would say. Go have a drink Talek. I'll talk to you later."

"Yeah, I'll just have a drink." Talek's mood seemed to darken slightly as the mood among Imoen's other friends seemed to improve. As the cheerful girl walked away the kids formed a circle around her. They had done it before, and someone as lively and talkative as Imoen could talk for hours to them and completely forget the time. A couple of people didn't join the group but stayed at tables, talking to each other while throwing glances at him. Talek ignored them and sat on a deserted table, taking a clean glass and pouring himself some watered down wine. His eyes were focused on the group with Imoen, and he only occasionally sipped the weak liquid.

The people at the nearby table smiled as they looked at him, but Talek's attention was undivided. So he didn't see that some boy had sneaked under the table and had a few bottle with him. So he didn't notice that after the first sips, the wine seemed to grow stronger. Nor did he notice that his glass didn't get empty. And by the time he was too drunk to focus on anything, he didn't notice that Imoen had been ushered out with the promise of a small theatre play in the moonlight.

Talek grabbed his head and checked his glass. It was still half-full. In the meantime, the boy under the table turned the last bottle upside down in front of him. Only a few drops emerged. The drunk youth got of his chair unsteadily, holding the table for support. "Wha...Only had one glash... Shnot right..."

"Hey Talek... need some help?" A sarcastic voice came from his right.

"Ssssod off." Talek slurred.

Another boy appeared at his left. "You look a bit drunk Talek, think it's better if we get you something from the kitchen." WIth those words they grabbed Talek by the arms and led him into the kitchen. Talek was stronger then the two older boys, but his mind, usually slow, was numb with alcohol, and he was still figuring out how he got drunk when he was pushed against a kitchen wall. A female face appeared in front of him.

"E...Emishomethin... the stuck up bitch..." He managed. "Whaddayouwant? I gotta....gotta get some fresh air..."

"Stuck up bitch huh? Well I'd rather be a stuck up bitch then anything like you, you creep!"

"euh...wha...?" Talekseemed to have zoned out of her response."

The girl sighed. "Never mind. It's wasted on you. I just wanted to tell this to your face. I care about Imoen. And I will not let her get hurt by someone like you."

"I...don't *hic* hurt Imoen... she'sh my friend."

"She isn't Talek. Friends have something in common. And there's NOTHING what a girl like her could have in common with a creepy thug. You're not a friend, you're a pity case. And for her sake I'll make sure you won't even be that anymore." She held another bottle. "After another bottle of this, I'm sure you'll show your true colours soon enough. Finding you totally drunk in your own pile of vomit should change her oppinion of you." Talek's eyes showed he didn't get the point. "Oh...and one more thing. This is for breaking my Kelian's nose." With that she slapped the boy across the face.

Until then, the pulls of Talek's arms had been mroe testing then anything else, but the slap caused to have adrenalin join the alcohol in the bloodstream. Talek screamed and pulled one arm free from the boy that was holding him and struck the girl in the jaw. The boy that had released the arm cursed and tried to grab it again, but even while drunk Talek was a decent brawler. His hand evaded the attempt and took a fistfull of hair from the boy. With another roar he pushed the face down in the path of his raising knee. The victim clenched his face and fell down. The other one had been holding to Talek's left arm in the hope they could resume their hold, but now was left in a helpless position as Talek's fist hit him in the nose and caused his head to bounce on the kitchen walls.

Eminda had been holding her face and crying. It stopped abruptly when Talek hauled her off the ground and pushed her against a wall. His eyes were still unfocused and his breath smelled of wine. "I'm a...tipy case am I...well...maybe I should make a bloody thingy case of you, you BITCH!" He slammed his fist in her stomach. The girl's breath was taken away, so she could only manage some small sobs. Her eyes were terror filled.

"Please...don't..."

"To hell with you..." Talek reached out and backhanded her and she landed near the door to the common room. She started to crawl towards it when Talek rammed his foot down on her ankle. There was a discrete sound of bone breaking, drowned out by Eminda's scream. He grabbed her by her hair and skirt. There was the sound of people running to the door.

"You wanna go to your friendsh?" Talek's voice sounded angry, shaking with tears. "Then damn well GO!"

As the door opened Talek threw the screaming girl at the people. As they fell back Talek charged them. His teeth were bared and his eyes were now filled with drunken rage, combined with old pain and something else. He grabbed a chair and slammed it on the head of the closest assailant. "Come on then! I'll bloody kick all of your asses!"

....

"Okay, okay..that was a REALLY good play. But was really long though. You wanted me to freeze outside or what? Can't applaud if I can't move now can I?"

One of the players, a boy, shrugged. "Well... we did offer to keep you warm."

Imoen laughed. "You just keep dreaming Fardos... Hey...What on Faerûn...?" They had just got in sight of the inn. The windows were broken and the space in front was filled with miserable looking youths. Many of them were rubbing hurt spots on their bodies. Others were sitting on the ground like they were about to fall unconscious. Some of them were. Winthrop was holding a black eye and walked up to Imoen as she ran up to him.

"Kiddo. You mustn't go inside. It's that Talek. He's trashed the place completely." He moved to block Imoen's way, but that had rarely stopped Imoen before.

"Talek!" Her voice sounded concerned. Seeing her friend didn't help. Talek looked worse off then any of he people outside. One of his arms hung from a strange angle and the way Talek winced suggested it was broken. His face was covered with wounds and bruises, and he looked all around miserable, standing unsteadily on his legs. He was stammering to the Gatewarden, who had arrived with a few Watchers. Two of them were restraining he beaten up youth. There was scarcely a piece of furniture that wasn't broken.

"I just drunk...one glass of wine.... sall her fault...Emishomehing..."

"Explain it to Ulraunt tomorrow drunkard." The Gatewarden replied harshly. "Take him to the brig, and see if one of the priests has a healing spell to spare." The two guards moved to obey the command. Talek didn't resist until he saw Imoen through his eye that wasn't swollen shut. His feet dug in the round, and the guards couldn't move him without risking to worsen the fracture.

"...Moen..I'm really shorry...didn't mean to.... the shtuck bitch she...I'm really shorry... I just had..one glash I swear." Talek stammered incoherently.

Imoen swallowed and managed a smile. Her voice wavered slightly. "D...don't worry Talek. I trust you. Just explain things to me in the morning. It'll all look better then. You... you go to sleep now."

Talek nodded and halted his resistance so the Watchers could carry him off. The Gatewarden gave Imoen an unanswered greeting and left as well.

Imoen walked towards the presents table, broken when Talek had thrown someone on it. Somewhere on the ground she found the parchment. It was laying in a puddle of wine. The ink had been washed out and smugged. You could barely recognise the humanoid shapes. The white parchment had absorbed the wine and turned red. Imoen struggled against the tears, lost and let her tears drop down on the ruined picture.

The only inn of Candlekeep was in a festive mood. Most of the youth of the keep was present, and even with the advanced age of the average Candlekeep the common room was quite full. And at the centre of attention was the reason for the celebration. Imoen was surrounded by girls and boys, some looked about ready to be called woman or man. Laughter sounded whenever someone said something funny. Some watered down wine and ale helped to make sure that funny things WERE being said. Winthrop had an eye open though, but he too smiled at the celebration of the 17th birthday of his favourite visitor to the inn. But this was a celebration for the young ones, so he contented himself with serving drinks.

So, Imoen is the older of the two in Talek's continuity? Unusual, but makes sense.

"I got you something." Talek raised a piece of parchment and started walking towards her. The following scene was a usual one. As Talek would approach Imoen, all people around her would leave, but they'd walk towards him, as a narrow but thick wall between him and Imoen, only stepping aside at the last momen. Their eyes would try to stare down the newcomer, but woud fail. Talek's eyes were forcibly fixed on Imoen. The only thing that suggested he noticed the people were the tensing of his face and the occasional quickening of his step, bumping one of the lighter built kids. Finally he stood near Imoen, half a circle of people behind him staring at him as if they expected him to slap her in the face at any moment. Winthrop narrowed his eyes from behind the bar.

Bah, what a bunch of narrow-minded fools! Strange though, Theo says that he didn't get such awful treatment back in Candlekeep. I wonder why.

Talek gave one more glare at the named girl and handed Imoen the scroll. She unrolled it and gasped in honest amazement. "Talek! It's beautiful!" The drawing depicted Imoen as a rogue, holding a crown in one hand, running to the foreground with a mischieveous grin on her face. On the background a fat man on a carrying chair was pointing at her and yelling. The picture was filled with other people, looking at the thief in awe and confusion. It was clear that every single one of them had been spent time on.

Awww, that's rather sweet! Heh, I do believe he is better than Prism... at least when it comes to choosing models... Ellesime, yuck!

Imoen mock sighed. "Drat, it's no fun when they're not even trying to stop my jokes anymore." Her face brighthened. "I know, next year I'll just be a good little girl, and they'll all be sweating as they try to wonder what I pulled this time. YES!"

Talek looked confused. "Oh...Gorion told me to tell you he knows you'd say that. But I don't know how..."

Imoen balled her fists. "Oh.... that old sneaky wizard. That's it. I dont care if I clean horsedung till my next birthday, I AM going to steal his tobaco."

LOL! The whole exchange was very funny! And Gorion is hard to trick!

The people at the nearby table smiled as they looked at him, but Talek's attention was undivided. So he didn't see that some boy had sneaked under the table and had a few bottle with him. So he didn't notice that after the first sips, the wine seemed to grow stronger. Nor did he notice that his glass didn't get empty. And by the time he was too drunk to focus on anything, he didn't notice that Imoen had been ushered out with the promise of a small theatre play in the moonlight.

Someone's planning to pull something dirty.

"E...Emishomethin... the stuck up bitch..." He managed. "Whaddayouwant? I gotta....gotta get some fresh air..."

"Stuck up bitch huh? Well I'd rather be a stuck up bitch then anything like you, you creep!"

Well... gotta agree with her - I don't think anyone wants to be a Bhaalspawn!

"She isn't Talek. Friends have something in common. And there's NOTHING what a girl like her could have in common with a creepy thug. You're not a friend, you're a pity case. And for her sake I'll make sure you won't even be that anymore." She held another bottle. "After another bottle of this, I'm sure you'll show your true colours soon enough. Finding you totally drunk in your own pile of vomit should change her oppinion of you." Talek's eyes showed he didn't get the point. "Oh...and one more thing. This is for breaking my Kelian's nose." With that she slapped the boy across the face.

Hmm, think Kelian brought it upon himself, most probably.

Eminda had been holding her face and crying. It stopped abruptly when Talek hauled her off the ground and pushed her against a wall. His eyes were still unfocused and his breath smelled of wine. "I'm a...tipy case am I...well...maybe I should make a bloody thingy case of you, you BITCH!" He slammed his fist in her stomach. The girl's breath was taken away, so she could only manage some small sobs. Her eyes were terror filled.

Umm. Err. Ugh.

"To hell with you..." Talek reached out and backhanded her and she landed near the door to the common room. She started to crawl towards it when Talek rammed his foot down on her ankle. There was a discrete sound of bone breaking, drowned out by Eminda's scream. He grabbed her by her hair and skirt. There was the sound of peoplerunning to the door.

Umm, I hope that priest of Oghma is not drunk...

Imoen laughed. "You just keep dreaming Fardos... Hey...What on Faerûn...?" They had just got in sight of the inn. The windows were broken and the space in front was filled with miserable looking youths. Many of them were rubbing hurt spots on their bodies. Others were sitting on the ground like they were about to fall unconscious. Some of them were. Winthrop was holding a black eye and walked up to Imoen as she ran up to him.

Whoops. Well, at least they learned that Talek and alcohol is a deadly combination.

Imoen swallowed and managed a smile. Her voice wavered wlightly. "D...don't worry Talek. I trust you. Just explain things to me in the morning. It'll all look better then. You... you go to sleep now."

I'm looking forward as to what explanation Talek will come up with.

Imoen walked towards the presents table, broken when Talek had thrown someone on it. Somewhere on the ground she found the parchment. It was ina puddle of wine. The ink had been washed out and smugged. You could barely recognise the humanoid shapes. The white parchment had absorbed the wine and turned red. Imoen struggled against the tears, lost and let her tears drop down on the ruined picture.

Awww. Poor Imoen. And liking and following Talek is not going to make her life easy...

[quote][quote]
The only inn of Candlekeep was in a festive mood. Most of the youth of the keep was present, and even with the advanced age of the average Candlekeep the common room was quite full. And at the centre of attention was the reason for the celebration. Imoen was surrounded by girls and boys, some looked about ready to be called woman or man. Laughter sounded whenever someone said something funny. Some watered down wine and ale helped to make sure that funny things WERE being said. Winthrop had an eye open though, but he too smiled at the celebration of the 17th birthday of his favourite visitor to the inn. But this was a celebration for the young ones, so he contented himself with serving drinks.
[/quote]

So, Imoen is the older of the two in Talek's continuity? Unusual, but makes sense. [/quote]

Heh, even if Talek would have been the older one their relation would be big sis/litle brother probably.

[quote] [quote]
"I got you something." Talek raised a piece of parchment and started walking towards her. The following scene was a usual one. As Talek would approach Imoen, all people around her would leave, but they'd walk towards him, as a narrow but thick wall between him and Imoen, only stepping aside at the last momen. Their eyes would try to stare down the newcomer, but woud fail. Talek's eyes were forcibly fixed on Imoen. The only thing that suggested he noticed the people were the tensing of his face and the occasional quickening of his step, bumping one of the lighter built kids. Finally he stood near Imoen, half a circle of people behind him staring at him as if they expected him to slap her in the face at any moment. Winthrop narrowed his eyes from behind the bar.
[/quote]

Bah, what a bunch of narrow-minded fools! Strange though, Theo says that he didn't get such awful treatment back in Candlekeep. I wonder why. [/quote]

Might becayse Theodur wasn't so ready to prove people right when they insinuated he was violent and near-murderous.

[quote] [quote]
Talek gave one more glare at the named girl and handed Imoen the scroll. She unrolled it and gasped in honest amazement. "Talek! It's beautiful!" The drawing depicted Imoen as a rogue, holding a crown in one hand, running to the foreground with a mischieveous grin on her face. On the background a fat man on a carrying chair was pointing at her and yelling. The picture was filled with other people, looking at the thief in awe and confusion. It was clear that every single one of them had been spent time on.
[/quote]

Awww, that's rather sweet! Heh, I do believe he is better than Prism... at least when it comes to choosing models... Ellesime, yuck! [/quote]

Heh...well, guess there's no accounting for tastes eh? And Talek won't be very impressed either.

[quote] [quote]
Imoen mock sighed. "Drat, it's no fun when they're not even trying to stop my jokes anymore." Her face brighthened. "I know, next year I'll just be a good little girl, and they'll all be sweating as they try to wonder what I pulled this time. YES!"
[/quote]

[quote]
Talek looked confused. "Oh...Gorion told me to tell you he knows you'd say that. But I don't know how..."
[/quote]

[quote]
Imoen balled her fists. "Oh.... that old sneaky wizard. That's it. I dont care if I clean horsedung till my next birthday, I AM going to steal his tobaco."
[/quote]

LOL! The whole exchange was very funny! And Gorion is hard to trick! [/quote]

Imoen (eyes glowing an eerie pink): Next time, Gorion, next time...

[quote] [quote]
The people at the nearby table smiled as they looked at him, but Talek's attention was undivided. So he didn't see that some boy had sneaked under the table and had a few bottle with him. So he didn't notice that after the first sips, the wine seemed to grow stronger. Nor did he notice that his glass didn't get empty. And by the time he was too drunk to focus on anything, he didn't notice that Imoen had been ushered out with the promise of a small theatre play in the moonlight.
[/quote]

Someone's planning to pull something dirty. [/quote]

Evil, clever and VERY foolish. Talek's violent when sober and they get him drunk.

[quote] [uote]
"E...Emishomethin... the stuck up bitch..." He managed. "Whaddayouwant? I gotta....gotta get some fresh air..."
[/quote]

[quote]
"Stuck up bitch huh? Well I'd rather be a stuck up bitch then anything like you, you creep!"
[/quote]

Well... gotta agree with her - I don't think anyone wants to be a Bhaalspawn! [/quote]

Pretty sure I don't.

[quote] [quote]
"She isn't Talek. Friends have something in common. And there's NOTHING what a girl like her could have in common with a creepy thug. You're not a friend, you're a pity case. And for her sake I'll make sure you won't even be that anymore." She held another bottle. "After another bottle of this, I'm sure you'll show your true colours soon enough. Finding you totally drunk in your own pile of vomit should change her oppinion of you." Talek's eyes showed he didn't get the point. "Oh...and one more thing. This is for breaking my Kelian's nose." With that she slapped the boy across the face.
[/quote]

Hmm, think Kelian brought it upon himself, most probably. [/quote]

Likely, though with Talek, you don't need to try hard.

[quote] [quote]
Eminda had been holding her face and crying. It stopped abruptly when Talek hauled her off the ground and pushed her against a wall. His eyes were still unfocused and his breath smelled of wine. "I'm a...tipy case am I...well...maybe I should make a bloody thingy case of you, you BITCH!" He slammed his fist in her stomach. The girl's breath was taken away, so she could only manage some small sobs. Her eyes were terror filled.
[/quote]

Umm. Err. Ugh. [/quote]

Yes, when around people he despises, Talek can be a VERY mean drunk.

[quote] [quote]
"To hell with you..." Talek reached out and backhanded her and she landed near the door to the common room. She started to crawl towards it when Talek rammed his foot down on her ankle. There was a discrete sound of bone breaking, drowned out by Eminda's scream. He grabbed her by her hair and skirt. There was the sound of peoplerunning to the door.
[/quote]

Umm, I hope that priest of Oghma is not drunk... [/quote]

Nah, party for the young people.

[quote] [quote]
Imoen laughed. "You just keep dreaming Fardos... Hey...What on Faerûn...?" They had just got in sight of the inn. The windows were broken and the space in front was filled with miserable looking youths. Many of them were rubbing hurt spots on their bodies. Others were sitting on the ground like they were about to fall unconscious. Some of them were. Winthrop was holding a black eye and walked up to Imoen as she ran up to him.
[/quote]

Whoops. Well, at least they learned that Talek and alcohol is a deadly combination. [/quote]

Yes, though if Talek would have been armed on that party you could have taken 'deadly' literarely.

[quote] [quote]
Imoen swallowed and managed a smile. Her voice wavered wlightly. "D...don't worry Talek. I trust you. Just explain things to me in the morning. It'll all look better then. You... you go to sleep now."
[/quote]

I'm looking forward as to what explanation Talek will come up with. [/quote]

With his wine-soaked memory and lack of intelligence it'll probably be a poor one.

[quote] [quote]
Imoen walked towards the presents table, broken when Talek had thrown someone on it. Somewhere on the ground she found the parchment. It was ina puddle of wine. The ink had been washed out and smugged. You could barely recognise the humanoid shapes. The white parchment had absorbed the wine and turned red. Imoen struggled against the tears, lost and let her tears drop down on the ruined picture.[/quote]

Awww. Poor Imoen. And liking and following Talek is not going to make her life easy...[/quote]

Nope, my Imoen is gonna have far less fun then your average Immy.

A good story, I enjoyed it muchly. Talek was on the receiving end of some rather harsh treatmment though

A good story, I enjoyed it muchly. Talek was on the receiving end of some rather harsh treatmment though

Thanks. And yeah, he was. But he gave as good as he got.

A good story, I enjoyed it muchly. Talek was on the receiving end of some rather harsh treatmment though

Thanks. And yeah, he was. But he gave as good as he got.

He did didnt he but I still had to feel sorry for poor Imoen

I liked this. It makes the point well that sometimes getting drunk isn't fun, or amusing, or harmless. Sometimes it doesn't turn out well at all. Good work.

I liked this. It makes the point well that sometimes getting drunk isn't fun, or amusing, or harmless. Sometimes it doesn't turn out well at all. Good work.

Thanks, I figured that while Laska usually gets drunk around people that she can trust, Talek doesn't have that many people. Not to mention, there's a lot of anger that can be unleashed by a copious amount of alcohol. Luckily Talek uses other things to keep his mind of his problems, or he might change into a Cor.

"Talek!" Her voice sounded concerned. Seeing her friend didn't help. Talek looked worse off then any of he people outside. One of his arms hung from a strange angle and the way Talek winced suggested it was broken. His face was covered with wounds and bruises, and he looked all around miserable, standing unsteadily on his legs. He was stammering to the Gatewarden, who had arrived with a few Watchers. Two of them were restraining he beaten up youth. There was scarcely a piece of furniture that wasn't broken.

Poor Talek. Seems that even when he starts off with the best intentions things manage to go wrong for him. And poor Immy too - being Talek's friend isn't easy.

Nice story .

"Talek!" Her voice sounded concerned. Seeing her friend didn't help. Talek looked worse off then any of he people outside. One of his arms hung from a strange angle and the way Talek winced suggested it was broken. His face was covered with wounds and bruises, and he looked all around miserable, standing unsteadily on his legs. He was stammering to the Gatewarden, who had arrived with a few Watchers. Two of them were restraining he beaten up youth. There was scarcely a piece of furniture that wasn't broken.

Poor Talek. Seems that even when he starts off with the best intentions things manage to go wrong for him. And poor Immy too - being Talek's friend isn't easy.

Nice story .

Thanks, and yeah, not enough that most people of Candlekeep wish him ill, he's got his own temper and part of a dead god to screw things up too. And yeah, being Talek's friend in Candlekeep is not a job that generally makes you happy. But if it wasn't for Imoen, Talek would have snapped a long time ago. He's no Adrian.