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Sword's Wrath 4 - Great Explanations


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#1 Guest_Edgar_*

Posted 01 November 2003 - 10:48 PM

Chapter 4 – Great Explanations


Edgar entered the government district warily. He thought he looked respectable enough – at least for an adventurer – but it never paid to let your guard down. This might be the best-guarded area of Athkatla, but the threat didn’t always come from criminals. At least, not illegal criminals, he thought bitterly, eying the building from which the Cowled Wizards ran their affairs. Furtive enquiries had established that no-one arrested by the wizards was ever seen again. It rankled to be so close to their headquarters but powerless to act against them. He crossed into the main square, observing the people around him.

As he walked across the square, he noticed a disturbance on one side. A crowd had gathered, and he could hear a loud voice haranguing them. He moved closer to get a better look.

“…And now, brothers, the Church of Holy Beshaba shall destroy this foul creature, this filth, this spawn of evil that dared attempt to spy on our city!”

A poor unfortunate in the hands of the Beshabans, he thought. They really didn’t know the meaning of ‘moderation’. Having something of a distaste for spectacles like this, he began to move away. I’ve got better things to do than see some old woman burned to death. As he did so, he caught the demagogue’s next words.

“Bring forth the cleansing flame, brother, and burn the Drow!”

Drow? Edgar’s curiosity was piqued, and he began to move back towards the crowd. You didn’t see many Drow on the surface. Most people counted themselves lucky if they never saw one in their lifetime, but he’d already met two.

Drizzt Do’Urden, and…

He began to walk faster. It couldn’t be. I left her in Beregost…how could she be here?

He broke into a run as he heard, for the first time, a new voice above the chants of the crowd.

“You rivvin are mad!” A strangely accented female voice, high with panic and fear. Edgar started pushing people aside, oblivious of the affronted looks it earned him. One man looked as if he was going to shove back, then saw the sword at the kensai’s side and thought better of it.

He burst through the crowd, and into an open space with a stake at its centre. Surrounded by kindling, the woman tied to it was struggling with her bonds as a stone-faced Beshaban approached with a lighted torch.

“Shar! My deliverance is in your hands!” she screamed, casting her gaze about frantically. Her eyes lit upon the approaching figure, and suddenly hope dawned. “Wait! I recognise you! Edgar Swordwrath! It is I, Viconia DeVir! You must remember! My life depends on it! Please!”

Edgar realised just how desperate she must me. In the two months before they parted at Beregost, he could not recall one single time that Viconia had used the word ‘please’. Pleading did not come naturally to the Drow. Should he intervene? He glanced around. Well, it doesn’t look like anyone else is going to. He lunged at the man with the torch.

The Beshaban, confused by Viconia’s shout of recognition, turned around. His eyes just had time to widen before Edgar’s sword separated head from body.

“Taste your own justice, fool,” muttered Edgar as he kicked the blazing torch away from the pyre and turned to face the other Beshabans.

“Ally of the foul creature! Ally of the drow!” the leader shrieked. “Kill him and burn the creature!”

His two fellows advanced on Edgar warily while the leader began to pray to his god for assistance. Edgar rushed at them.

One slash.

Two.

Three.

Suddenly, the crowd was gone, leaving Edgar to survey the Beshaban corpses that lay around him. He had moved and struck purely automatically, as befitted his kensai training – a welcome sign that the tortures of Irenicus would not be permanent. For a moment, he stood still, surveying the carnage, pausing for thought. Four deaths. Four men who believed they were doing the right thing, but died for it nevertheless. Had he felt any emotion as he killed them? He couldn’t remember.

“Are you going to stand there all day, jaluk, or would you like to cut my ropes?”

Edgar turned around with a start. He’d almost forgotten. With one cut he severed the robes binding the drow, and Viconia DeVir stood before him, free once more.

Viconia.

Her pleading demeanour of seconds before gone, he could see that she really hadn’t changed at all. Still just as sharp-tongued, still just as proud. Still just as beautiful, an insidious little voice inside his head reminded him.

He shook his head to clear the thoughts from his mind, and realised that she was looking at him, a sardonic smile on her face.

“If you have finished ogling me, male…shall we go? I tire of being subjected to your drooling and this is not the safest of areas to linger.”

“What? I wasn’t…that is…” he mumbled, blushing. “Er…you’re right. We’d better get out of this place. I’ve got rooms at the Mithrest, I suggest we head there.”

She smirked. “Good. I am pleased to see that you have at least some sense. I take it you wish for me to join you once more?”

How the hell does she get that to sound as if she’s the one doing me a favour?

“Er…yes. Yes, welcome back, Viconia.” He offered her his hand. She ignored it.

Yup, same old Viconia…

***


Edgar sat in their hired sitting room in the Mithrest, nursing a drink. Getting a room for Viconia had been easy, he reflected. Getting the patrons to stop panicking whenever she entered a room had been slightly harder, and getting her to stop scaring them on purpose harder still. But now, everything was sorted out and in order. Just the way I like it, he reflected as he gazed at the table. Perhaps having Viconia along might not be so bad after all. Except, of course, that he hadn’t told anyone about her yet. Minsc and Jaheira were still resting, and Yoshimo still wasn’t back. Another executive decision that Jaheira was going to tear him apart for, probably. When she woke up, of course.

“Deep in thought I see, male. I don’t recommend you do it too often, you might strain something.”

She sat down opposite him, the smirk on her face again.

“Viconia? I thought you were resting in your room?”

“Lesson One, then, jaluk…never presume to know my actions.” Her foot jabbed him painfully on the shin.

“Ow!” He glared at her accusingly, and she glared back. “Did you want something to eat?”

“Lesson Two…never presume to guess my motives.” Her other foot caught him on the knee.

“Ouch! Look, exactly how many ‘lessons’ are there?”

“Lesson Three…never presume to question me.” Her hand moved to hit him, but his moved faster. He caught it with ease…as her foot caught him on the left ankle.

“Ow! Gods damn it, what did I do to deserve this?”

Suddenly her expression changed. “You saved my life, male.”

“And this is how you show gratitude? Is there some Drow compliment that I’m unaware of that involves severe pain?”

Everything the Drow do involves severe pain, male. Well... almost everything.” She smirked again, knowingly. “But I was just setting out the rules of our partnership. You must know your place.”

Partnership? Already? She’s promoting herself pretty quickly.

“But as to your reward,” she continued, “I’m sure that we could… work something out…” Her fingers traced a lazy circle on his hand. “It is not hard to see that you desire me. Perhaps you would like a night in the arms of Viconia, hmmm?”

He swallowed nervously.

“Viconia, I don’t think that…”

“You do not need to think, male.”

“I j-just…” He was stammering now. “D-don’t feel that it’s…” He trailed off, mesmerised by her burning eyes. His gaze moved downwards, and he suddenly felt less sure of his ability to refuse. Her fingers moved up his arm, tracing the outline of the muscles there.

“Impressive,” she breathed lustfully. “How long has it been since you used your strength for…recreation? How long since a woman felt the onslaught of your godly frame?”

Edgar didn’t feel particularly godly at that moment. Was this really the best way to get reacquainted? “Viconia, this might not be…”

“Pah!” she snorted, rising suddenly. “If you cannot make up your mind even when the prize is before you, male, you do not deserve it. I will go to bed alone, then, and dream of worthier men.”

She turned and strode off, leaving Edgar even more perplexed. Did she truly desire him, or was she simply motivated by a wish to reward him? Or was there a deeper meaning? Did she mean to manipulate him? His head spun with questions. Just like old times, really... He looked up as somebody else entered the room.

“What is SHE doing here?”

“Ah, Jaheira. You’re awake, then? Now, I’m not quite sure how to explain this…”

“Try, Edgar. I suggest you try.”

Yup, just like old times…

#2 Guest_Theodur_*

Posted 02 November 2003 - 07:31 AM

Chapter 4 – Great Explanations


Having fun with Dickens? :twisted:

Edgar realised just how desperate she must me. In the two months before they parted at Beregost, he could not recall one single time that Viconia had used the word ‘please’. Pleading did not come naturally to the Drow. Should he intervene? He glanced around. Well, it doesn’t look like anyone else is going to. He lunged at the man with the torch.


Yeah, and I think this is the last time you hear Viconia saying 'please'. I suppose she knows that her magic resistance won't protect her from being burned...

Suddenly, the crowd was gone, leaving Edgar to survey the Beshaban corpses that lay around him. He had moved and struck purely automatically, as befitted his kensai training – a welcome sign that the tortures of Irenicus would not be permanent. For a moment, he stood still, surveying the carnage, pausing for thought. Four deaths. Four men who believed they were doing the right thing, but died for it nevertheless. Had he felt any emotion as he killed them? He couldn’t remember.


I think killing worshippers of an evil god, directly participating in an evil act, is a job a paladin would be proud of doing. :)

Her pleading demeanour of seconds before gone, he could see that she really hadn’t changed at all. Still just as sharp-tongued, still just as proud. Still just as beautiful, an insidious little voice inside his head reminded him.


Oh, this looks like being a Viconia romance then.

Everything the Drow do involves severe pain, male. Well... almost everything.” She smirked again, knowingly. “But I was just setting out the rules of our partnership. You must know your place.”


Uh... Viconia was trying something similar when she re-joined Theo's party in BG2. In the end, Theo had to threaten her to rearrange her beautiful face, in order to keep her in line. :wink:

“But as to your reward,” she continued, “I’m sure that we could… work something out…” Her fingers traced a lazy circle on his hand. “It is not hard to see that you desire me. Perhaps you would like a night in the arms of Viconia, hmmm?”


Ugh. You know, I really like Viconia as a character, she's great fun. But this is why I don't like her romance - I don't like when she comes at the Pc so quickly and aggressively... it somehow kills all the interest. Let's see if Edgar likes it or not... :twisted:

She turned and strode off, leaving Edgar even more perplexed. Did she truly desire him, or was she simply motivated by a wish to reward him? Or was there a deeper meaning? Did she mean to manipulate him? His head spun with questions. Just like old times, really... He looked up as somebody else entered the room.


Yeah, that is my problem with Viconia. I want trust - but Viconia I never know if she is honest or is she manipulating my PC... her games are very unnerving. Interesting to observe, yes, being part of them... no.

“Ah, Jaheira. You’re awake, then? Now, I’m not quite sure how to explain this…”


“Try, Edgar. I suggest you try.”


Hehe... poor Edgar, facing the task to prevent Viconia and Jaheira to get at each others throats... hmm, maybe a visit to Circus to recruit an ogre-girl in your party for the maximum fun? :twisted:

#3 Guest_Edgar_*

Posted 03 November 2003 - 07:39 PM

I think killing worshippers of an evil god, directly participating in an evil act, is a job a paladin would be proud of doing. :mrgreen:


Except, perhaps, Ajantis?

Oh, this looks like being a Viconia romance then.


Draw your conclusions if you like. But though he's attracted to her, that doesn't mean he'll bite...

Ugh. You know, I really like Viconia as a character, she's great fun. But this is why I don't like her romance - I don't like when she comes at the Pc so quickly and aggressively... it somehow kills all the interest. Let's see if Edgar likes it or not... :mrgreen:


He doesn't like it much either. Or at least, he's too nervous. Bear in mind, this is someone who's spent his life in a monastery...

Thanks for commenting!

#4 Guest_Dark-Mage_*

Posted 03 November 2003 - 10:26 PM

Good chapter. Really liked the way you showed Viconia :mrgreen:

#5 Guest_Silrana_*

Posted 04 November 2003 - 03:45 AM

“I j-just…” He was stammering now. “D-don’t feel that it’s…” He trailed off, mesmerised by her burning eyes. His gaze moved downwards, and he suddenly felt less sure of his ability to refuse. Her fingers moved up his arm, tracing the outline of the muscles there.

“Impressive,” she breathed lustfully. “How long has it been since you used your strength for…recreation? How long since a woman felt the onslaught of your godly frame?”

Edgar didn’t feel particularly godly at that moment. Was this really the best way to get reacquainted? “Viconia, this might not be…”


Woooo! Quite an entrance for Viconia! Things are getting very interesting.

Great chapter!

#6 Guest_Edgar_*

Posted 05 November 2003 - 12:01 AM

Good chapter. Really liked the way you showed Viconia :oops:

Thanks!

#7 Guest_Edgar_*

Posted 05 November 2003 - 12:04 AM


“I j-just…” He was stammering now. “D-don’t feel that it’s…” He trailed off, mesmerised by her burning eyes. His gaze moved downwards, and he suddenly felt less sure of his ability to refuse. Her fingers moved up his arm, tracing the outline of the muscles there.

“Impressive,” she breathed lustfully. “How long has it been since you used your strength for…recreation? How long since a woman felt the onslaught of your godly frame?”

Edgar didn’t feel particularly godly at that moment. Was this really the best way to get reacquainted? “Viconia, this might not be…”


Woooo! Quite an entrance for Viconia! Things are getting very interesting.

Great chapter!


Thanks. Viconia: love her or loathe her, you can't ignore her.

#8 Guest_argan_*

Posted 05 November 2003 - 05:49 PM

Awesome chapter. MORE! :wink:




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