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The Nether Scroll Disaster: Part 18


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#1 Guest_Silver_*

Posted 29 October 2003 - 01:47 PM

Warning: Some insulting of paladins. Well what else can you expect from an evil/neutral/highly chaotic party? :twisted:

The Nether Scroll Disaster: Part 18

“Aye, that’s me!” the gnome chuckled, not appearing to notice that Kane was angry. “I love the little children, I do. I just want to keep them with me forever.”

“Do you know him, Kane?” Edwina asked, but the warrior wasn’t paying any attention to him. He was totally focused on Neb.

“How did you get out?” he asked. “Don’t tell me they let you go! Even the Flaming Fist can’t be that stupid.”

“Actually,” Viconia said bitterly. “You’ll probably find that they can. Sarevok managed to run rings round them, after all.”

“Old Neb has his ways.” Neb smiled broadly. “Oh yes, indeed he does. Neb is back and looking for more company. Ten have I killed since Baldur’s Gate and more will follow…”

“You bastard!” Unable to listen to any more, Kane swung his sword, the blade just missing Neb’s head. “I’ll kill you!”

The gnome gave a cry of fright and darted off into the shadows. Kane growled and took off after him, leaving his three remaining companions no choice but to follow them.

The chase led right across the bridge, through the small market and into an old derelict house. By the time Benny, Edwina and Viconia had caught up and stepped through the broken door, Kane already had the gnome against the wall, his hand around his throat. Neb, who had a bloody nose, was struggling and kicking out, but the warrior’s only response was to tighten his grip.

“You’re crazy!” the gnome managed to cry out. “Let me go!”

“Not a chance!” Kane spat in his face. “You are a disgusting excuse for a living being, too evil to live any longer. I should have killed you back in Baldur’s Gate. Still, no matter, I’ll just kill you now.”

Neb whimpered as the Bhaalspawn drew a dagger and pressed it against his stomach, holding it so that the gnome could feel the cold metal cutting through his clothes, but not hard enough to break the flesh. As he tried to pull free, Kane suddenly thrust upwards, sending the weapon up into Neb’s chest. The gnome didn’t even have a chance to scream, his eyes went wide but he could only gurgle. With one swift movement, the warrior pulled the dagger free, slit Neb’s throat and let go. The gnome fell in a heap on the floor, surrounded by a pool of his own blood.

“Despicable creature,” he muttered, kicking the body hard as he turned away. “At least he can’t hurt anyone else now.”

“Are you all right?” Benny asked. “That was rather…”

“Violent,” Viconia finished. “Just Kane’s style, really.”

“He deserved it.” Kane put his sword away and smirked, seemingly back to his old self. “And that made me feel so much better. Now let’s see if we can’t find that wizard!”

Benny smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Kane seemed better, killing Neb had allowed him a chance to release the anger that had built up inside him, but that made the assassin very uneasy. Was he angry purely because what had happened with Crystal and Edwina or did Bhaal have a hand in it too? Was Bhaal affecting Kane more than his student knew, or was willing to admit? Knowing that the struggle to keep his mind as his own was one that Kane fought regularly, Benny resolved to keep a close eye on the warrior for the next few days. Better to be safe than sorry.

If only he could sort things out with Edwina…I know it’s upsetting him far more than he wants to admit and I’ll be willing to bet that she’s just upset. But they are both so stubborn. I only hope they come to their senses soon, Kane needs support right now.

******
After the little incident with Neb, the adventurers continued their search through the city. Some people were willing to talk, though a little wary, and it appeared that several of them had seen the wizard, mostly around the docks and in the slums. However, none of them seemed to know where he might be staying, he didn’t seem to have a room in any of the more popular city inns.

Finally ending up in the docks, the party were approached in one of the narrow alleyways by two rather shady looking, middle-aged men. Both were dark-haired, one was clean-shaven while the other had several days worth of stubble. They had a shifty look about them, though they seemed pretty nervous when faced with Kane’s group.

“You’re Kane Theaza, right?” The first asked. “We’ve…heard interesting things about you and your group and we wondered if you’d be interested in…” He faltered under the warrior’s stare. “A business proposal,” he finished weakly. Kane raised an eyebrow.

“How much?” he asked simply. The two men looked at each other and shrugged.

“One thousand, five hundred gold pieces,” the second offered. “It isn’t a difficult job…”

“We’ll be the judge of that!” Benny interrupted. “Tell us what you require and then we’ll decide.”

“We’re…” the first man looked around to check that no one was nearby and lowered his voice. “We’re part of a group of smugglers. We’ve been operating in the city for years without too much trouble, our routine is perfect, the Shadow Thieves don’t interfere and the guards can usually be brought off if necessary. But lately we’ve been…running into problems. There’s a group of paladins who have recently discovered what we’re up to and have decided that we must be stopped at all costs. They constantly prowl the docks, day and night, and our ships can’t land. They need to be disposed of but we fear falling foul of the city guard. But your group…”

“Could probably get away with it,” his companion finished. “So, will you help us?”

“So you want us to…dispose of these paladins?” Kane’s eyes lit up and he smirked evilly. “It would be a pleasure to rid the realms of such scum.”

“Looks like you’ve got yourselves a deal,” Benny smiled faintly. “Show us these paladins and then stay out of sight. We’ll do what needs to be done.”

The paladins, four of them, were on the lower docks, near where the ships stopped. It was out of the way of the general public, not easy for the guards to get to, perfect for smuggler ships to dock, especially under the cover of darkness. As Kane descended down the stone steps, his companions behind him, the men soon caught sight of him. Their eyes widened as they recognised him and they whispered his name among themselves. The warrior took no notice, just paused in front of them and fixed one of them with a piercing glare.

“What do you want?” the man asked. “Leave us to get on with our work and we won’t kill you.”

“I hear that you’ve been causing my friends trouble,” the warrior said darkly, as his companions chuckled. “And I don’t like that. Why can’t your kind just keep your noses out of other people’s business and let them get on with things?”

“It is the duty of a paladin to encourage goodness and righteousness,” the first man spoke up. “Things you know little about, Kane Theaza.”

“Must be great to be a paladin,” Kane taunted them. “Being able to go around judging people you don’t even know, putting on an act, making out that you’re better than everyone else…”

“We are all better than you,” one of them hit back. “That goes without saying. We’ve all heard the stories about you.”

“How nice for you,” the warrior said coldly. “You’re right of course, most of the stories about me hold at least an element of truth to them. And I’m not ashamed of it!”

“Not to mention your present company,” another smirked. “A drow, a Red Wizard, assassins…all creatures of unspeakable evil.”

“None of us here pretend to be something we aren’t,” Benny scowled, spinning his thin dagger between his fingers. “Most of us are proud of what we are. And I don’t see why you have the right to judge any of us. Hypocrites!”

“The Red Wizards are better than any of you have the intelligence to understand!” Edwina couldn’t resist adding her opinion. “And I’d rather not be judged by a group of slobbering idiots who only have one brain cell between them, thank you!”

“You’ll pay for those insults!” the first paladin roared. “We’ll kill you all and do the world a huge favour!”

He drew his sword and charged, the other three following suit. One fell without warning, his throat slit by an assassin’s steady hand. Viconia managed to knock another almost unconscious with her mace and then let Edwina finish him off with an acid arrow spell, but not before he’d scored a hit, cutting deep into her shoulder, almost to the bone. She fell back, biting her lip against the sudden rush of pain. Two more magic missiles from Edwina, one to each paladin, hit hard and threw them off balance. One came to a bloody end impaled on Kane’s swords and the last was stabbed from behind, Benny’s long sword finding a slight gap in the metal armour and piercing the man’s heart.

“They never learn,” he sighed and pulled his bloody sword from the corpse. “Stupid, the lot of them.”

“It’s in the job description,” Kane chuckled darkly. “You all right, Viconia?”

“I’ll live,” their cleric had cast a healing spell on herself, though her arm was still covered in blood. “It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, I’ve had worse.”

“Now that was a good battle,” the four adventurers turned to greet the two smugglers who had left their hiding place. “Mind you, wouldn’t have expected nothing else from a group with your reputation.”

“If we say we’ll do something then it gets done one way or another,” Kane assured them. “Usually violently, as you can see. Now, the money.”

“Here!” The first man pushed a bag of coins into Benny’s hand. “Thank you, you’ve done us a good service. We won’t forget it.”

“It was nothing,” the assassin shrugged, tucking the bag safely away. “Glad to be of service.”

“It was quite enjoyable actually,” Edwina admitted. “And we have done the world a favour by getting rid of a few more paladins.”

“Now that is something you and I agree on.” Viconia laughed and the wizard gave a weak smile.

“Paladins are evil, hypocritical bastards!” Kane said bluntly. “What gives them the right to decide who is evil, who deserves death? Anyway, they’re dead now and good riddance. Now then,” he glanced first at his companions and then back to the two smugglers. “If there was nothing else…”

“Actually, there is something else you could do for us,” the first started, a little reluctantly. He hesitated and glanced at his companion for guidance. Receiving a nod, he continued. “Normally we bring our stuff in through the sewers, from a hidden entrance around here, to avoid the guards. But a wizard has recently settled down there and he’s making things very difficult.”

“We’ve sent our own men down there to try and reason with him,” the second man went on. “But they don’t come back and we can’t afford to lose any more men. He’s got some sort of guardian…he seems rather powerful. Can you get rid of him for us?”

“I suppose we could take a look,” Kane shifted forwards slightly, his eyes fixed on the first man’s face. The smuggler squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze. “If the price was right. How much are you offering?”

“How much do you want?”

“We’ll look into it for…” the warrior paused, considering. “Four thousand gold coins.”

The smugglers exchanged a quick glance. “Two thousand coins.” One of them offered.

“Not worth the risk,” Kane shook his head. “Three thousand, five hundred.”

“Two thousand, five hundred.”

“Three thousand,” Benny ejected calmly, the first comment he’d made during the whole conversation. “No less.”

“Fine,” the first smuggler agreed, a little sulkily. “Three thousand it is. One thousand now, the rest when the job is done.”

“All right,” Kane agreed, getting no objection from his companions. “You’ve got yourselves a deal.”

“Sewers…” Viconia groaned quietly. “Why does it always have to be sewers?”


Next Part: An attempt to help the smugglers further results in a battle with a wizard and a very unfortunate accident…

#2 Laufey

Posted 29 October 2003 - 04:45 PM

“Not a chance!” Kane spat in his face. “You are a disgusting excuse for a living being, too evil to live any longer. I should have killed you back in Baldur’s Gate. Still, no matter, I’ll just kill you now.”


Neb whimpered as the Bhaalspawn drew a dagger and pressed it against his stomach, holding it so that the gnome could feel the cold metal cutting through his clothes, but not hard enough to break the flesh. As he tried to pull free, Kane suddenly thrust upwards, sending the weapon up into Neb’s chest. The gnome didn’t even have a chance to scream, his eyes went wide but he could only gurgle. With one swift movement, the warrior pulled the dagger free, slit Neb’s throat and let go. The gnome fell in a heap on the floor, surrounded by a pool of his own blood.


Good riddance.


Benny smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Kane seemed better, killing Neb had allowed him a chance to release the anger that had built up inside him, but that made the assassin very uneasy. Was he angry purely because what had happened with Crystal and Edwina or did Bhaal have a hand in it too? Was Bhaal affecting Kane more than his student knew, or was willing to admit? Knowing that the struggle to keep his mind as his own was one that Kane fought regularly, Benny resolved to keep a close eye on the warrior for the next few days. Better to be safe than sorry.

¨

I think Bhaal is definitely causing problems, oh yes.


“We’re…” the first man looked around to check that no one was nearby and lowered his voice. “We’re part of a group of smugglers. We’ve been operating in the city for years without too much trouble, our routine is perfect, the Shadow Thieves don’t interfere and the guards can usually be brought off if necessary. But lately we’ve been…running into problems. There’s a group of paladins who have recently discovered what we’re up to and have decided that we must be stopped at all costs. They constantly prowl the docks, day and night, and our ships can’t land. They need to be disposed of but we fear falling foul of the city guard. But your group…”


Can you actually do this in the game? I always wondered if there was an evil counterpart for this quest. Or am I confusing the Fallen Paladins quest with something of your own?


“How nice for you,” the warrior said coldly. “You’re right of course, most of the stories about me hold at least an element of truth to them. And I’m not ashamed of it!”


“Not to mention your present company,” another smirked. “A drow, a Red Wizard, assassins…all creatures of unspeakable evil.”


One point here - recognizing a drow or a Red Wizard is fairly simple, but not assassins. Or do the paladins know who Benny and Cory are from reputation?


“You’ll pay for those insults!” the first paladin roared. “We’ll kill you all and do the world a huge favour!”


I very much doubt that.


“It was quite enjoyable actually,” Edwina admitted. “And we have done the world a favour by getting rid of a few more paladins.”


“Now that is something you and I agree on.” Viconia laughed and the wizard gave a weak smile.


Do I detect a reconciliation coming up? After all, Viconia is no longer after Kane, so she should have no further reason to want to bait Edwina.


“All right,” Kane agreed, getting no objection from his companions. “You’ve got yourselves a deal.”


“Sewers…” Viconia groaned quietly. “Why does it always have to be sewers?”


It always is. :twisted:
Rogues do it from behind.

#3 Guest_Silver_*

Posted 29 October 2003 - 05:58 PM


Neb whimpered as the Bhaalspawn drew a dagger and pressed it against his stomach, holding it so that the gnome could feel the cold metal cutting through his clothes, but not hard enough to break the flesh. As he tried to pull free, Kane suddenly thrust upwards, sending the weapon up into Neb’s chest. The gnome didn’t even have a chance to scream, his eyes went wide but he could only gurgle. With one swift movement, the warrior pulled the dagger free, slit Neb’s throat and let go. The gnome fell in a heap on the floor, surrounded by a pool of his own blood.


Good riddance.


I doubt there's anyone out there who couldn't agree with that.


Benny smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Kane seemed better, killing Neb had allowed him a chance to release the anger that had built up inside him, but that made the assassin very uneasy. Was he angry purely because what had happened with Crystal and Edwina or did Bhaal have a hand in it too? Was Bhaal affecting Kane more than his student knew, or was willing to admit? Knowing that the struggle to keep his mind as his own was one that Kane fought regularly, Benny resolved to keep a close eye on the warrior for the next few days. Better to be safe than sorry.

¨


I think Bhaal is definitely causing problems, oh yes.


Yes, he is. And it's going to get far, far worse.


“We’re…” the first man looked around to check that no one was nearby and lowered his voice. “We’re part of a group of smugglers. We’ve been operating in the city for years without too much trouble, our routine is perfect, the Shadow Thieves don’t interfere and the guards can usually be brought off if necessary. But lately we’ve been…running into problems. There’s a group of paladins who have recently discovered what we’re up to and have decided that we must be stopped at all costs. They constantly prowl the docks, day and night, and our ships can’t land. They need to be disposed of but we fear falling foul of the city guard. But your group…”


Can you actually do this in the game? I always wondered if there was an evil counterpart for this quest. Or am I confusing the Fallen Paladins quest with something of your own?


No, this is something of my own. Mind you, I wish you could do something like this in the game...


“Not to mention your present company,” another smirked. “A drow, a Red Wizard, assassins…all creatures of unspeakable evil.”


One point here - recognizing a drow or a Red Wizard is fairly simple, but not assassins. Or do the paladins know who Benny and Cory are from reputation?


Benny is fairly well known as an assassin in Athkatla, yes. And Kane is known for hanging around with assassins.


“You’ll pay for those insults!” the first paladin roared. “We’ll kill you all and do the world a huge favour!”


I very much doubt that.


*grins* Kane gets killed by a paladin...the end. I don't think so.


“Now that is something you and I agree on.” Viconia laughed and the wizard gave a weak smile.


Do I detect a reconciliation coming up? After all, Viconia is no longer after Kane, so she should have no further reason to want to bait Edwina.


Well there's always just personal dislike...but we'll see how things go. ;)


“Sewers…” Viconia groaned quietly. “Why does it always have to be sewers?”


It always is. :twisted:


Sure is. :roll: Thanks for commenting. ;)

Silver

#4 Weyoun

Posted 31 October 2003 - 12:17 AM

Warning: Some insulting of paladins. Well what else can you expect from an evil/neutral/highly chaotic party? :shock:


Sounds good to me. :shock:

“Actually,” Viconia said bitterly. “You’ll probably find that they can. Sarevok managed to run rings round them, after all.”


“Old Neb has his ways.” Neb smiled broadly. “Oh yes, indeed he does. Neb is back and looking for more company. Ten have I killed since Baldur’s Gate and more will follow…”


Please blast him...

“Not a chance!” Kane spat in his face. “You are a disgusting excuse for a living being, too evil to live any longer. I should have killed you back in Baldur’s Gate. Still, no matter, I’ll just kill you now.”


Neb whimpered as the Bhaalspawn drew a dagger and pressed it against his stomach, holding it so that the gnome could feel the cold metal cutting through his clothes, but not hard enough to break the flesh. As he tried to pull free, Kane suddenly thrust upwards, sending the weapon up into Neb’s chest. The gnome didn’t even have a chance to scream, his eyes went wide but he could only gurgle. With one swift movement, the warrior pulled the dagger free, slit Neb’s throat and let go. The gnome fell in a heap on the floor, surrounded by a pool of his own blood.


Ouch... Well done, though...

“What do you want?” the man asked. “Leave us to get on with our work and we won’t kill you.”


“I hear that you’ve been causing my friends trouble,” the warrior said darkly, as his companions chuckled. “And I don’t like that. Why can’t your kind just keep your noses out of other people’s business and let them get on with things?”


“It is the duty of a paladin to encourage goodness and righteousness,” the first man spoke up. “Things you know little about, Kane Theaza.”


“Must be great to be a paladin,” Kane taunted them. “Being able to go around judging people you don’t even know, putting on an act, making out that you’re better than everyone else…”


Good points, all...

“You’ll pay for those insults!” the first paladin roared. “We’ll kill you all and do the world a huge favour!”


Typical...

He drew his sword and charged, the other three following suit. One fell without warning, his throat slit by an assassin’s steady hand. Viconia managed to knock another almost unconscious with her mace and then let Edwina finish him off with an acid arrow spell, but not before he’d scored a hit, cutting deep into her shoulder, almost to the bone. She fell back, biting her lip against the sudden rush of pain. Two more magic missiles from Edwina, one to each paladin, hit hard and threw them off balance. One came to a bloody end impaled on Kane’s swords and the last was stabbed from behind, Benny’s long sword finding a slight gap in the metal armour and piercing the man’s heart.


Ouch, ouch and ouch...

The smugglers exchanged a quick glance. “Two thousand coins.” One of them offered.


“Not worth the risk,” Kane shook his head. “Three thousand, five hundred.”


“Two thousand, five hundred.”


“Three thousand,” Benny ejected calmly, the first comment he’d made during the whole conversation. “No less.”


“Fine,” the first smuggler agreed, a little sulkily. “Three thousand it is. One thousand now, the rest when the job is done.”


Nice move...

“All right,” Kane agreed, getting no objection from his companions. “You’ve got yourselves a deal.”


“Sewers…” Viconia groaned quietly. “Why does it always have to be sewers?”


Better than dragon's lairs, I suppose. :shock:

---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




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