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[Arcalian]

In the vastness of the planes, there are many places and things that are simply not discussed by the sages. Not because they are forbidden or frightening, but simply because hardly anything ever happens there.

One of these places is close to the higher planes of the afterlife, relatively speaking. If mortal eyes could comprehend it, they would see it as a neverending waterfall of light, mostly bright blue, of energy from the higher planes. The closest thing to the essence of Good, regardless of law or chaos, anywhere, ever.

Hardly anything happens here, as has been stated. But hardly anything is not the same as nothing at all.

So it was that as Adrian's split party left the sites of their two objectives to return to Bhodi, something woke from a long slumber in this place of waterfalling energy.

If it could be said to have a gender, it would be female. At least, mortal eyes would perceive "her" that way. "She" did not concern herself with such things.

She had existed for almost as long as the current cosmology of the planes. There had been at least three different cosmologies preceeding it, but that is not the concern of this narrative. What is important is that for almost as long as Ao had been Overfather, she had existed. She had slept for most of that time. Most, but not all. She had woken some time before, to guide the prophet Alaundo, and with his death had returned to her slumber. But now it was time again.

The Solar woke.

She unfurled her vast wings and fluttered down dowards that crystal sphere which contained Faerun.

The Bhaalspawn were gathering. Her time had almost come; she must watch events most closely from now on.

-----

"Excellent." Bhodi smiled with closed mouth, not baring her fangs. "Both objectives almost simultaneously. My position is much stronger now. I should've forseen dividing the party, as it will sere your next objectively nicely."

"Already?" Adrian was nonplussed. "We need to rest, at least."

Bhodi nodded. "You can rest here. but tomorrow, the time will come to begin the process that will end in the elimination of the third faction, the Night Knives. It will require infiltration rather than attack, at least to begin with...."

As Bhodi began to explain what she had learned of the Night Knives and their current situation, Adrian began to nod. He looked at Edwin and Jan, and thought long and hard. Each in their own way clamored for the position, Edwin through proud proclamation of his abilities, Jan through a tale of the Bunds, a clan of gnomes related to the Jansens through marriage, who were adept at spying.

Both mages had the skills neccesary for the taks. But Jan was too well known in the city; and it was Edwin who pointed out they could use Frennendan for this. That decided Adrian, as they bedded down for the night under Bhodi's glittering eyes.

--------

So it was that Edwin left the party the next day, for an indefinite period. Subversion was not his normal tactic, but it wasn't as though he would be going in as anything other than what he was, an outcast and renegade of Thay. Besides, he would have help.

He went first to the Copper Coronet in the slums. Sure enough, Frennendan was still there. The doppleganger was still wearing the form of a tall blond human warrior.

Edwin stalked right up to his table. "Do you still wish to help Adrian?"

"If I can."

"Come with me then, and I shall tell you of this gambit as we go...."

-----

Edwin and Frennendan went to the other side of the docks district this time, almost right on the very waterfront itself. The building appeared similar to Shadow Thief HQ. Similar, but not identical. Clutching the scroll Bhodi had given him in a pocket of his robes, he strode through the front door, to the fat storekeeper who waited.

That worthy smiled a generous, happy smile. "Yes? What can I sell you gentlemen today?"

Resisting the urge to make the usual proclomations, Edwin simply handed over the scroll. It was no forgery; Bhodi's vampire minions had stolen it from an actual Night Knife courier just outside hte city walls.

The storekeep read the scroll, and his smile faded. His eyes turned cold, and alltogether different smile crept across his features. "Ah good. We've needed help for some time. Go downstairs, they'll be pleased to see you."

A secret door was opened, and Edwin and Frennendan trooped down the brick steps into a vast ampitheatre. The screams of torture echoed back to them; both were uncomfortably reminded of Irenicus.

But they held their composure when the master torturer turned from the rack and surveyed them with the coldness of a snake eyeing a hare.

"I hope you've got a good reason to be bothering me," Mae'Var, leader of the Night Knives in Athkalta, traitor to the Shadow Thieves, said. "Because, I'm quite busy as you can see....."

[Arcalian]

You know, all the usual things I say about your 'wide-scope' cutscenes apply here in super-magnification. Also, for some reason I get the feel of the scene from the Transformers Movie where Unicron is just like floating around in space, 'watching' the other characters in his TV screens in his brain, with the eerie space music. Or maybe the scene where Megatron/Galvatron is reborn.

Having lost track of Transformer in the ooooold days, I will just have to take the general compliment here.

Bund....Jan Bund. Turnips, not stirred.

Crossboy shot in the eye-tunnel....

If one can keep the many pieces of your puzzle on the table, one can only see they fit nicely.

One thanks you. The most frightening thing is, a lot of this stuff occurs to me as I go along, Tree being the most obvious example.

YES! It seems so obvious now; that you were going to manifest the Third Faction with this....it is, after all, a third group of thieves in the city. *smacks forehead* Nice.

Especially since in the game, Mae'Var wanted to kill Renal in order to join the Knight Knives in the first place.

But seriously, thank you.

[Arcalian]

Spouting out chapters at breakneck speed

Sometimes one had writers block....and sometimes you have the total opposite.

I hope his death is an EXTRAORIDINARY painful one!!!!!

Well it will be a big fight, I can promise you that. But in hte meantime Eddie and Frenenndan will have to sneak around VERY carefully. And no, Frennendan doesn't dare betray.

Besharidan is back!
That was one thing that i did *not* expect. I thought that he was gone and forgotten.
Seems the tough Zhentarim is harder to bring down than that.
Besharidan and Sarevok is a great match. They'll be sure to kick some serious ass in the blood war.
So when Sarry returns, Bessy will follow, right?

I Sincerly hope so. Adrian, Sarevok and Besheridan would defenetly be a force to be reckoned with.

Alas no, Besheridan is dead in a way Sarevok is not, with no "extenuating circumstances". He DOES help prepare Sarry for his return, though.

And while Besheridan will not live again, certain others will.....