Sword's Wrath Part 3 - Recuperation Makes It Happen

Right, well, here's part 3. We're out of Chateau Irenicus and into the wider world. Basically a connecting chapter really, as some of them have a much-needed rest. Next chapter, an old friend appears...bets, anyone?

***

Chapter 3 – Recuperation Makes It Happen


Fate. Bloody fate, thought Edgar. We struggle against the odds to escape that dungeon, and the first thing that happens is Imoen getting kidnapped. Somebody up there is laughing at me. He winced at the memory of a few minutes ago.

Irenicus had killed the assassins sent against him, and slaughtered the wizards sent to subdue him. Then suddenly, he’d given up, allowing himself to be arrested. And Imoen, poor Imoen, had been taken too, a victim of the Cowled Wizards and their draconian legal code, which evidently lacked a section on ‘mitigating circumstances’.

And now they were four again. He looked around at the other members of his group. Jaheira was sitting in the rubble, singing softly to herself, tears streaming down her face. Minsc was raging up and down, ineffectively restrained by Yoshimo, who alone of the party seemed to be keeping calm. Edgar felt a surge of hatred for the man – how dare he stay calm, when so many friends have been taken from us?

He realised that he needed to clear his head. Yoshimo hadn’t known Khalid or Dynaheir. He’d barely known Imoen. Blaming him would get them nowhere. What they needed now was rest. He looked up to see a guard eyeing him suspiciously, and beckoned him over.

“What is this place?” he asked. He expected the man to look surprised, but he took the question without blinking. I suppose when you’ve seen a building destroyed in a magical firefight, tourists with stupid questions are barely worth the interest.

“Athkatla, sir, city of coin.” The guard replied.
“Ah.”
“Capital of Amn.” The man prompted.
“I knew that!” snapped Edgar, who hadn’t. Seeing the sceptical look on the guard’s face, he tipped him a gold piece and indicated that the conversation was over. Only after the man had wandered away again did it occur to him that he should have asked about nearby inns. Well, Yoshimo, unlike them, wasn’t far from familiar territory. He called him over and asked. The thief paused for a moment in thought.

“Well, this area as a whole is called Waukeen’s Promenade. There are a few good places around. There’s the Mithrest, though it’s a bit too upmarket for the likes of us. Oh, and the Den of the Seven Vales. Which is nowhere near as exciting as it sounds, by the way.”

Edgar handed him a bag full of treasure from Irenicus’ dungeon. “Is there a place where you can sell this nearby?”

“Most certainly, the Adventurer’s Mart is just over there.”
“Fine. Get something for that stuff, and meet us in the Mithrest. I think after what we’ve just been through, we deserve the best.”

***


The following morning, Edgar awoke to bright sunlight, streaming through his window. He got up, wincing at the aches that refused to go away, and indulged in a wash, a shave and a clean set of clothes – luxuries after his time in Irenicus’ dungeon. He hoped that the others were enjoying their first day of freedom. As if to spite him for thinking positively, the image of Imoen’s tear-streaked face as she was spirited away appeared before him, reminding him that their problems weren’t over by any means. In any case, Jaheira was still grieving, as was Minsc. As was Edgar himself.

They gathered downstairs for breakfast. The innkeeper had tried to tell them that he’d stopped serving breakfast some time ago, but with the looks on their faces he hadn’t had the nerve to insist.

Edgar looked around the table, examining the faces of his comrades. Only Yoshimo met his gaze, raising an eyebrow quizzically. Minsc was staring into space, lips moving slowly, though Edgar couldn’t hear what he was muttering. Jaheira, though, was deliberately ignoring him, refusing to look up. He couldn’t tell if she was crying, but it was clear that she wouldn’t be in a fit state for much action today. He suddenly felt guilty for having a full night’s sleep – he doubted that she had slept at all.

He cleared his throat to speak. Again, only Yoshimo took any notice, but he sensed that Jaheira and Minsc were both listening.

“I think we should spend today resting and preparing. Yoshimo and I will explore the city and do what we can to gather information. And tomorrow, our task begins. We will find Irenicus. We will kill him. And we will get Imoen back.”

Jaheira raised her head sharply and looked at him. “And that’s it? That is our great leader’s glorious plan? ‘Find him! Kill him!’” she echoed mockingly. “Do you have even the faintest idea of where to begin? Well?”

Edgar flinched. He knew he wasn’t good at speeches. “I don’t rightly know,” he confessed. “I suppose I’m taking suggestions.”

From the look on her face, this made things worse. “Then perhaps you will keep your mouth shut until you have something sensible to say. And never again say ‘Don’t rightly know’. You sound like you were dropped as a child. Or kicked!”

He looked down, unable to think of a response. But her scowl disappeared, and she slumped against her chair, looking more tired than ever.

“I…I am sorry, Edgar. I know you mean well. It’s just…I…”

“I know, Jaheira. I think you should stay here and get some rest.” She nodded slowly, unable to argue further, and got up from the table. He watched her as she slowly made her way upstairs, then turned to Minsc, who by now was looking at him solemnly. It didn’t look as if he’d had much sleep, either.

“Minsc, I think you should stay here too. You need rest.” He saw the ranger open his mouth to protest. “And Jaheira will need someone to guard her,” he added hastily. Minsc just nodded. Edgar had another twinge of guilt as he realised that he was playing on Minsc’s tragedy: never again would the ranger allow himself to fail in a duty of protection, no matter how trivial.

Edgar motioned to Yoshimo, and they got up and walked towards the door of the inn. Outside, they split up. It was decided that Yoshimo, with his knowledge of the city, would revisit his old haunts and find out where the wizards might have taken Imoen. Since such information was unlikely to be free in Athkatla, he was to keep one eye open for possible commissions. Edgar wanted to do something to help, but first he needed to know his way around the city. He set out to explore.

Good chapter...seems like a good story. Hasnt read the earlier parts, but will now

Right, well, here's part 3. We're out of Chateau Irenicus and into the wider world. Basically a connecting chapter really, as some of them have a much-needed rest. Next chapter, an old friend appears...bets, anyone?

Hmm, if he goes scouting to the Government district, then there is an old friend. Hmm, I suppose it could be Viconia, then. A somewhat lame and uninspired guess, but what the heck.

From the look on her face, this made things worse. “Then perhaps you will keep your mouth shut until you have something sensible to say. And never again say ‘Don’t rightly know’. You sound like you were dropped as a child. Or kicked!”

My favorite line in the whole game. Honestly. It's great!

Nice chapter, realistic characterization, and a bit on the sad side too. Thoughtful of him to give Jaheira and Minsc at least some time off, they certainly need it.

Good chapter...seems like a good story. Hasnt read the earlier parts, but will now

Thanks! Glad to bring in a new reader.

My favorite line in the whole game. Honestly. It's great!

My favourite's "And now you would like a hamster", but yes, it is pretty good.

Nice chapter, realistic characterization, and a bit on the sad side too. Thoughtful of him to give Jaheira and Minsc at least some time off, they certainly need it.

Thanks! They all really deserve at least a week off to rest after something like that, but I'm not sure you'd appreciate the next six chapters consisting entirely of 'Zzzzzz'...

Chapter 3 – Recuperation Makes It Happen

(*sigh*) Now there are Muppets dancing in my head. I hope you're happy.

“Athkatla, sir, city of coin.” The guard replied.
“Ah.”
“Capital of Amn.” The man prompted.
“I knew that!” snapped Edgar, who hadn’t.

LOL! Been skipping your geography lessons in Candlekeep?

“Well, this area as a whole is called Waukeen’s Promenade. There are a few good places around. There’s the Mithrest, though it’s a bit too upmarket for the likes of us. Oh, and the Den of the Seven Vales. Which is nowhere near as exciting as it sounds, by the way.”

I always wished the place had had a belly dancer or two.

Only Yoshimo met his gaze, raising an eyebrow quizzically. Minsc was staring into space, lips moving slowly, though Edgar couldn’t hear what he was muttering. Jaheira, though, was deliberately ignoring him, refusing to look up. He couldn’t tell if she was crying, but it was clear that she wouldn’t be in a fit state for much action today. He suddenly felt guilty for having a full night’s sleep – he doubted that she had slept at all.

Awwwww. Very touching portrayal here.

Jaheira raised her head sharply and looked at him. “And that’s it? That is our great leader’s glorious plan? ‘Find him! Kill him!’” she echoed mockingly. “Do you have even the faintest idea of where to begin? Well?”

Edgar flinched. He knew he wasn’t good at speeches. “I don’t rightly know,” he confessed. “I suppose I’m taking suggestions.”

Heh. I really like your main character. It's refreshing to see one not used to leading.

Edgar wanted to do something to help, but first he needed to know his way around the city. He set out to explore.

Good idea! And thanks for letting Minsc and Jaheira have some rest.

(*sigh*) Now there are Muppets dancing in my head. I hope you're happy.

They've been dancing in my head for ten years. Perhaps I can finally pass on this curse to someone else.

LOL! Been skipping your geography lessons in Candlekeep?

Well, even heroes don't like doing homework.

I always wished the place had had a belly dancer or two.

So does Edgar...

Awwwww. Very touching portrayal here.

Thanks.

Heh. I really like your main character. It's refreshing to see one not used to leading.

Thanks. He can lead, but he has on-and-off moments. This is definitely an off moment.

Good idea! And thanks for letting Minsc and Jaheira have some rest.

Thanks for reading!