In The Cards

For the Children of Bhaal, peace is a rare luxury. As soon as one foe falls, it always seems that three more stand in line, waiting and eager to take his place.

Excerpt from ‘Ruminations Of A Master Bard’

The hot blood was soothing as it enveloped her naked body, rich and smooth, and a lovely deep ruby red. Bodhi sighed deeply and reclined in her bath, then raised her finger to her lips and delicately licked it off. She supposed she shouldn’t really taste of the blood in her bath, but it was very tasty and she couldn’t be bothered to summon one of her fledglings to fetch her a fresh victim.

The vampire smiled, revealing her wicked fangs, and her dark eyes shone with contentment. Things were going very well, very well indeed. Her new home had certainly proved excellent so far.

The graveyard district of Athkatla held many dark and forgotten secrets. Ancient tombs and crypts, haunted by various undead. The twisted corpses of those unfortunate souls buried alive, their bodies clearly showing their struggles as they vainly attempted to claw out of their graves. And then this, the hidden tunnels far beneath the graveyard, dark and mysterious, with ancient architecture that definitely wasn’t Amnian. Well hidden and guarded by roaming monsters and impenetrable doors, it was the perfect hiding place for a growing clan of vampires.

Dark and stylish, and large enough for an army of the undead, with a suite of private chambers for herself, several smaller rooms, a large gathering hall, and even a lovely torture chamber that provided her with much entertainment. And then there was the bathtub. The grand, luxurious, lovely bathtub, currently filled to the brim with sweet blood.

Good thing that we’re so close to the slums and the docks. So many warm bodies available there, and so few people to miss them should they disappear.

Immersing herself like this wasn’t only for pleasure though. When prepared properly, the bath enhanced her strength, granting her new vitality and strength of purpose. I must make certain to do this more often.

A shimmering portal forming in the air made the raven-haired vampire frown irritably. Typical. The one time of the day when I try to relax, and who should drop in but my dear brother? Didn’t the Bitch ever teach him how to knock?

“Sweet brother,” Bodhi said, smiling venomously at her visitor. “How good of you to drop by.” She stretched languidly in her bath, displaying her voluptuous body to its full advantage, smeared with blood as it was.

“I do not make social calls these days,” the newcomer said in an emotionless voice as he sat down next to the tub. “There are matters we need to discuss.” The mage’s eyes, the one feature of his face visible behind the smooth, youthful and lifeless mask he wore, resembled chips of blue ice. “Get out of there.”

“I won’t!” Bodhi pouted. “It’s just the right temperature. What’s the matter, don’t you like what you’re seeing?”

“I simply see a colossal waste of resources. Those people might be utilized in a better way.”

“Maybe,” the vampire hissed. “But right now they’re providing me with a beauty bath. Get talking brother, or get lost.”

The mage simply raised an eyebrow. “Do not be ridiculous,” he said. “Would you rather waste your time with idle pleasures than pursue our ultimate goal?”

“At least I can feel some pleasure still, unlike you!”

“Perhaps. And if you keep quiet long enough for me to explain my errand here, you may soon feel all the more.” The wizard’s forefinger traced idle patterns in the hot blood, then came to rest on the vampire’s slender shoulder. “Our goal is almost within reach. I believe I have perfected the process after my most recent series of experiments – and the two Children are soon about to clash. It may be feasible to retrieve both, but if not, we shall at least have the victor. And there is more. As I previously suspected, I have located another Spawn, a lesser one but still useful. Soon, sister, we will both be restored.”

“Aaaaahhh…” Bodhi sighed, and reached up to softly stroke the mage’s face, her finger leaving tears of blood behind on the smooth cheeks of the mask. “To feel again…feel properly…it has been so long.”

“Indeed.” The wizard’s voice was as distant and impersonal as ever as he rose to a standing position. “However, we will not be able to proceed at once after we have acquired them. To free the essence properly, the soul must first be properly prepared, and opened to it. Fortunately, I have the means to do so, and it will also provide me with some interesting data.”

Bodhi smiled again, fangs glittering like needles of ice. “I’m sure it will, my brother. And then…we will go home?”

The wizard nodded, and his voice turned even colder than before. “Yes, my sister. Then we will go home.”

Meanwhile, a caravan was entering the impressive city gates of Athkatla. It was a fairly large one, and it didn’t contain just the regular riders and wagons. No, there were several large cages, containing all sorts of exotic animals. Lions, tigers, bears, a large python, even a moose. A pair of enormous elephants walked sedately along the wagons, one of them reaching its massive trunk down to steal a bag of nuts out of the pocket of the shocked gate guard, and accidentally ripping his uniform pants to pieces in the process.

Jesters cavorted around the wagons, attracting the attention of potential audience by taking pratfalls and making silly faces, as acrobats made handstands and back flips. Already rumor would be spreading that a wonderful circus had come to time.

On the seat of one of the wagons, a blonde elf sat, her enormous blue eyes looking about her with an air of wide-eyed innocence at all the marvels of the big city. “Oh!” she said in a timid voice. “It…it is all so b-big and noisy! All the s-screaming and shouting…it brings back so many m-memories!”

The gnome sitting next to the elf patted her hand and smiled at her, his eyes slightly glazed behind his spectacles. “I quite understand, little Aerie,” he said. “It must remind you of your terrible ordeal with those slavers. But don’t you worry about a thing, I won’t let any harm come to you.”

“Oh, thank you Uncle Quayle!” the elf cooed. “You are ever so good to me!” Actually, she thought, what it did remind me of was the lovely screams of people being flayed alive or having red-hot needles jammed beneath their toenails, or being slowly disemboweled. But no need to tell you that ‘Uncle Quayle’. And speaking of harm, you are the one who should worry about that, once I have no further use for you. I will make my Mistress of Pain satisfied with my work here.

“It is nothing, my dear,” Quayle said, blushing. “You have changed my life, you know.” He looked momentarily puzzled. “In fact, I can scarcely remember what my life was like before we met.”

That, you fool, is because of the Domination spell I used to make you susceptible to a set of new and improved memories. Aerie twirled a lock of golden hair bashfully around her rosy finger and smiled shyly. “I’m so happy to hear that, Uncle Quayle! This circus has been such a good home to me!” And soon it will be time to leave it behind, preferably in pieces. Soon it will have served its purpose in bringing me here and providing me with an adequate cover, and then it will be my great pleasure to see all these idiots torn to pieces. And I know just the way…

The elf turned her head slightly, looking at the wagon behind her. Another gnome was riding there, glaring sullenly at the crowds of people. Kalah, the illusionist. A sad little fellow, constantly ridiculed by the other artists for his pompous ways, feared here in Amn for his magic, scorned by all. By all except kind, sweet, friendly little Aerie of course. She made certain always to have a kind word or an encouraging smile for the lonely gnome, and by now he was practically eating out of her hand. The perfect victim. And the perfect scapegoat as well. How I will laugh when he realizes the truth at last.

Aerie smiled radiantly as she contemplated her plan. Soon now, very soon, as my Mistress Loviatar promised. Soon the Child of Bhaal will arrive, and my own enemies as well. I will serve my Mistress and bring them down, all at once. Yes. They will know pain such as no man has ever known it before, body and soul. I owe them that. And then I will not need this simpering disguise any longer, and I will rise to serve my Mistress in my full glory. Soon, all shall fear me. Except for those who shall love me – and that love shall bring them the darkest despair. As is the way of all love. In the end, it is the servant of pain. So swears Cirindaeriella, Priestess of Loviatar.

“It is good to see you so happy, sweet Aerie,” Quayle doted. “I hope it will last.”

“Oh yes, Uncle Quayle,” Aerie said, her laughter ringing like clear silver bells. “I know that it will.”

Elsewhere, a woman was standing on a balcony, watching the view. Her lustrous brown hair had been piled on top of her head, resembling a crown, but she wore no jewelry. She had no need of it. All those around her knew exactly who she was. The woman carefully smoothed her wide purple skirts out, then leaned on the marble balustrade surrounding the balcony, carved into the form of dancing nymphs, more exquisite than human hands could create. But there is little that magic cannot do, if properly guided and channeled.

The woman smiled, her eyes calm as she watched the serene gardens beneath her. Truly this was a beautiful day, everything just so. Trees in their proper places, cropped into geometrically pleasing shapes. Flowers growing where ordained, in ruler-straight lines. Lawns trimmed to perfection by her loving subjects. And the people below, all of them quietly going about their business. Peacefully, happily, obediently. Just as it should be.

People need gentle guidance, after all. Just as magic, just as the trees and flowers. Imagine what things would be like if they were allowed to run wild all over the place! That would not do at all. And in such cases, the dutiful gardener must make certain to remove the weeds before they can overrun the garden.

The woman tapped her fingers against the balustrade, thinking. Melissan had come again, bringing more news. News of monstrous, evil beings. The Bhaalspawn. They must be stopped. I cannot allow them to threaten the peace. But Melissan has plans of her own, of that I am certain. Still, it will do no harm to go along with her for now and see what she wants. And then, I will do what I must. Am I not the first among equals? The Onulanna, The Chosen One? I have not only the power to rule, but also the right and the purity necessary to do so.

Tracing a pattern in the air, the woman created a glimmering orb, a shining and beautiful miniature version of the world, complete with detailed seas and continents. The larger garden, even more beautiful than this one. I will keep it safe, as I am destined to do. I will allow no weeds into it. They will be cut out, root and stem, and then all will be perfect again, under my gentle rule. For who could be more suited than I for bringing order and prosperity to the world, as I have done to my home? I will make them all see the beauty inherent in perfection, in having everything and everyone in their proper place, productive and placid.

The woman smiled radiantly as she world changed before her eyes, changing to match her vision of perfection. Yes. Everything will be perfect. And the ones who do not see that will have to be taught to do so.