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#21 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 29 September 2007 - 01:49 PM

Note: I ended up splitting what I was going to do as one big chapter into two slightly smaller chapters. I'll be taking the time to rewrite what was going to be the second half of this chapter later.


Chapter XXI: Crush Depth


?Alaundo? The prophet?? Ajantis asked.

?Yes indeed. But that also begs the question of what relevance Alaundo or his writings have to our situation.?

?Alexandria. Imoen.? Xan addressed. ?You grew up in Candlekeep. Are you familiar with any of Alaundo?s writings??

?Of course we are.? Imoen responded. ?The monks were always chanting some prophecy or another-you wouldn?t believe how many different prophecies he made.?

?I would, actually. Alaundo the Seer, most favored of Savras, never made a false prophecy, though many of those prophecies are lost, even to the scholars of Candlekeep. Evereska recognizes well over two hundred prophecies he made-some trivial, some not. The problem is that one of those prophecies evidently concerns us, and fatally so. One of those prophecies will be our doom.?

Alexandria shook her head, thinking. She had had many of the endless prophecies burned onto her brain, her mind sometimes playing them back and forth in the rhythmic chant of the monks. But none of the lines she could think of seemed to have anything to do with their situation.

?I guess that means we have something else to worry about, but not now. We have more immediate problems than a dying druid?s whispers. Faldorn mislead us-we have no idea where the mines are.?

?Not quite, child.? Jaheira responded. She was looking through the burnt remains of the items Faldorn had been carrying, and was unfolding what looked like a map. It was charred in many places, but it appeared to be a map of the Cloakwood. Immediately standing out on the map was a large red circle. There was writing next to the circle in a language Alexandria couldn?t recognize, and some of the words were illegible, but Jaheira studied it intently.

?This place on the map? its note is written in druidic, a secret tongue we are not allowed to teach outsiders. The wording cannot be fully deciphered, damaged as the map is, but I suspect this may be our destination. If not, then it is at least worth investigating.?

?Why? What?s it say??

?The druidic tongue does not translate easily to common, child, but the markings indicate danger and a wound in the earth. I believe this might be what we seek.?

?Can?t hurt to take a look, I guess, but the sun will be setting in another hour or so. We?re in no condition to fight another battle. Let?s see if we can find a spot to make camp.?


It didn?t take long. Jaheira found a path that wound down the cliffside and into a small cave. Confirming it was empty, the adventurers moved in for the night. But for her part, Alexandria left the cave early in the evening, finding a secluded part of the cove, well concealed from view, where she sighed and stripped off her armor and clothing, then stepped into the placid water.

The sea washed away all manner of things that had been clinging to Alexandria-dirt, grime, sweat? and blood. She hadn?t realized how much had splattered on her, past her armor-her face in particular was covered in the red-brown crust. Some of it belonged to her enemies, but some belonged to her. As the tiefling bathed, she could feel new scars on her body-a neat circular scar on the top of her right foot with a matching scar beneath, courtesy of the sword spider. A thin scar below her left ear from a wound she hadn?t even noticed. And the smell of her travels clung to her-it was a smell of adventure and battle, of dust and blood. How jaded had she become, to not even sense such things?

?It is not an option at this time, child, but salt water is not the best to cleanse yourself with.?

Jaheira?s voice carried across the isolated cove, followed by a soft splash of water. Alexandria was always a little intimidated by the druid in situations like this-strong and honed as the tiefling?s body was, she would always tend towards bulkiness, while Jaheira carried herself with a liquid grace. Alexandria could never begin to approach the stately elegance the elder woman carried. But for once, she was glad of Jaheira?s presence.

?To cleanse the body is one thing. But to cleanse the soul??

?To cleanse the soul is not an easy task, no matter what water you have available.?

?What?s happening to me, Jaheira? There was a time when I almost fainted at the sight of blood and thought the stables of Candlekeep smelled bad. Now I regularly bathe in blood and don?t even notice when I smell worse than the manure pile outside the walls.?

?You are maturing, Alexandria. Some spirits are never meant to be locked behind walls of stone. Gorion always knew Candlekeep could not hold you forever, so he did the best he could to prepare you for what you would inevitably seek.?

?Then what am I seeking? All I?ve been finding is death.?

?No, child, you have been finding much more than that, if you would only step outside of yourself.?

?How do I step outside of myself??

?Allow yourself to float in the water, Alexandria. Do not think, do not act. Let go of your body and of sensation. Let yourself go.?

?I? I?ll try.?

Alexandria closed her eyes and gave herself to the water, letting it hold her and take her. One by one, the things of the world faded away. The protests from her tired muscles disappeared, then the soreness of her feet, then the rest of herself. She drifted on an ocean of nothingness. She could feel the sea, both water-based and otherwise.

The top layer was chaos-filled with crashing waves and spray. Frustration at the increasingly murky and ominous situation she found herself deeply involved in, weariness of the battle and intrigue, gratitude to Jaheira for the role she played in her development, even the mixture of interest, nascent affection, and lust she had for Ajantis? the day?s fading light danced across it all, changing swiftly and almost at random. It all ran at and near the surface, boiling across her soul as though whipped up by a storm.

She pushed herself down into the sea, entering a region where the light still shined, but dimly-more a diffuse glow from above than anything else. Here she found her sisterly love for Imoen, her unease at her role in what had happened and what was continuing to happen, her irritation with her step-father for the secrets he kept, her pride in her mental gift and skill with the mind blade? these things all ran deep in Alexandria?s soul. They saw the direct light less frequently, but still surfaced on occasion and were no strangers to her mind.

But she could sense something deeper. Something so far down that it almost lay beyond conscious thought. There were depths to this final part of herself, she sensed. The parts that she knew where black as ink, but in truth they were only the shallowest plains in the abyss. She realized that she had been in these depths before, but never intentionally, never of her own will. Whatever this part of herself was? it was waiting for her. There was a malevolence to it, a hunger she could feel all the way from the surface on occasion.

?What?s the matter?? She called into the abyss, uncertain of whether the words escaped her mouth or not-she had completely lost herself in the ocean. ?Are you too afraid to come into the open?!?

It was then that she realized her mistake-her terrible mistake. At the heart of this abyss lay a void. A void that had taken her into its unknowable reaches once before, and nearly consumed everything that she held dear. The same chilling laughter that had accompanied her dreams before sounded in her mind now, and the void reached out to her, drawing her down inexorably?


Alexandria?s head swam in visions. She saw a gathering of three supremely evil men-a tyrant, a necromancer, and an assassin. She could feel their ambition-their desire for the power of the gods. Together they destroyed an entity with the spark of the divine and stole its power for their own. Then the endless fields of the dead-endless ranks of skeletons, wights, shadows, banshees, vampires, wraiths, liches? the three fought through them all, fighting and winning. Then the castle. The castle of bone. And within, the great throne, and its occupant. First the three battled amongst themselves, then the game of bowling, and finally that of knucklebones. The laughter in her mind reached a fever pitch as the visions took her? elsewhere?

She returned to the world she knew, still lost in the tides of the void. She saw a prophecy, words unknown but meaning unmistakable. There was an urgency in the void, tempered by cold disposition and calculating mind. From it was birthed a determination-to cheat death and rewrite the course of destiny. She saw countless atrocities carried out across the Planes, foul and depraved acts that sickened her to the core. But none of it was accidental. Everything, every drop of blood spilled did so towards an end. Every death was calculated, every act part of a plan. But then a young man with a red sword that glowed with power? and oblivion?

Vision returned, but this time she did not seem to be inside anything-she was floating in the air in a dark building. Collapsed on the floor of a cage was? her. Alexandria?s dream self was beyond weary-she was beaten. The tiefling groaned as she slowly rolled onto her back, and a flicker of energy appeared in her hand, but it dissipated before it could form. Then her vision shifted. She saw Khalid, forcibly restrained on a table as he fought tooth and nail to escape, but to no avail. Then a figure in the shadows raised a knife high and began to work on him? she saw Imoen, naked and helpless on an elven bed, befouled and desecrated. But as always, each atrocity was a carefully weighted act, each violation performed with cold, methodical precision. She saw Ajantis, covered in blood and filth as he lay trapped in a cage, praying desperately to Helm for strength. Jaheira, cradling her husband in her arms. Xan, watching it all occur, each act pushing him further and further into the endless pit of despair. A high, cold voice echoed out of the abyss.

?Do you see? DO YOU SEE??

?NO!!!? Alexandria screamed.


She felt strong hands on her as she thrashed, abruptly returned to the water. It was Jaheira, struggling to keep the flailing young woman under control. Alexandria opened her eyes, saw the luminous gray eyes, and she stilled herself. There was a surprisingly open expression on Jaheira?s face, care and concern finally in the open.

?By Silvanus, what happened, child??

?I? I saw things. Horrible things.?

?Can you tell me what you saw? It is almost daybreak, Alexandria-you did not seem to come out of your trance, even with the aid of my magic.?

?Blood. Death. Murder. Jaheira? what is happening to me? This is not natural.?

?No, it is not. What it is, I do not know, but I pray we will be able to find out.?

?No. I? I don?t want to know what?s happening.?

?Yes, you do. You cannot fight what you do not know, and it is clear to me, at least, that there is something terrible happening. In you, in the Realms? Faldorn was correct about one thing. There is something deeply amiss in the balance, something unnatural. Gorion was perhaps one of the most powerful diviners and seers to have lived for quite some time-it is why he chose to live in Candlekeep, home of Alaundo the Seer. But even he, with all the resources of the Harpers and Candlekeep at his disposal, and his own great skill and power, could not determine what would happen in what was then the future and now the present. All he could sense was that this would be a time of tremendous upheaval and change, but a time so complicated, so dependent upon countless decisions made and yet to be made, that all efforts to divine what would happen were in vain. This is the time we live in, child.?

Alexandria looked down at herself, considering herself without armor, without blade, without adornment of any kind. She seemed pitifully unprepared for the kind of upheaval Jaheira spoke of. But she could not dismiss a sense that had been nagging at her for some time-a tiny part of her that wondered if she was truly meant to do great things. It wasn?t ambition, but the part of her that always wondered if she would become a great person, a heroine and a woman of great fame. She couldn?t say for certain, but it was starting to look like that part of her might just be right after all. But what price would she have to pay for glory?

?Good to see you awake, sis.?

Alex snapped her eyes upwards. Sitting on the rocky beach was Imoen, Xan?s spellbook open before her and motes of light dancing around it.

?Imoen? how long have you been here??

?Ever since you fell into that trance. I don?t know why, but I felt a tug of some kind on me, felt like something important was happening. Jaheira told me what you did, and I thought I might try it myself. Didn?t do anything for me, but you?ve always been a little different.?

?That I have been, for good or ill. You?ve been here all night??

?Yep. She hasn?t said it outright yet, but Jaheira?s been here, too. We?re worried about ya, sis.?

Alexandria impulsively swam over to the shore and hugged Imoen. That Imoen still cared was important to her.

?Well, thanks for ruining this perfectly dry change of clothes.?

?Remember who you?re talking to, Im. I know you, and you?re incapable of keeping a set of clothes clean for more than a few hours.?

Imoen giggled. ?True, that.?

Imoen?s amusement brought another dark shadow across Alexandria?s mind. She remembered what the vision had shown of Imoen, remembered what had been done to her in the vision. Her sister?s brightness and cheerfulness was doomed to turn into shadow, just as Alexandria?s lingering cheer was in a precarious position. Whether those visions would actually come to pass, she didn?t know, but she couldn?t shake the feeling that they would.

?What?s the matter, sis??

?Oh? it?s nothing.?

?Try again.?

?Imoen, Jaheira? I saw terrible things. Some were of the past, but some I think lie in the future. The visions I saw? I think they?re what will happen to us. To you. To me and everyone around me.?

?Nonsense, child. Why would your presence alone be the harbinger of such things??

?I don?t know. But like you said, something terrible is happening. I think I saw something of what lies ahead, saw the horrors in store for me. For us all.?

?Even if your suspicions are correct, child, that leaves but one question for you. What will you do??

Alexandria took a deep breath.

?I will fight it. I will fight it with every fiber of my being, with every bit of willpower and strength I possess. I have never bowed before fate, destiny, or anything else that would determine my path for me, and I have no intention of starting now. Imoen, you?re my sister. Jaheira, you?re my dear friend. I will fight this not just for my sake, but for yours. For Khalid, for Ajantis, for Xan. For everyone involved and who will become involved in this. I don?t know what role I?m playing in all this, don?t know if I ever will know.?

Jaheira beamed at Alexandria, and even Imoen grinned as Alexandria finished her declaration.

?But I do know what is good and what is evil. The void in my soul, the storm approaching the Realms? those are evil. Whatever comes, whatever price I have to pay, I will pay it.

?I will fight.?

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#22 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 03 December 2007 - 07:38 AM

Chapter XXII: Notes of a Dirge Foretold


?Another one, attempting to attack us from the rear!? Xan shouted.

?I?m on it!? Alexandria responded.

The wyvern banked as it skimmed above the trees, clearly aiming to kill Imoen and Xan, who continued to fire arrows and spells at the three wyverns kept busy by Jaheira, Khalid, and Ajantis. Wyverns may not have been the most intelligent of creatures, but they were not stupid.

Alexandria waited for the wyvern to emerge from behind the trees, mind blade at the ready. When it did, she hurled her blade upwards at the incoming reptile. The whirling azure blade hit, but didn?t do any significant damage. Still, it did what Alexandria needed it to do-it got the wyvern?s attention. It banked and swooped in low and fast. The tiefling gauged the arc she would need, and lobbed a vial of lamp oil with a flaming wick into the air, then threw herself to the dirt as the wyvern swept overhead, grasping talons attempting to seize the soulknife.

The maneuver worked. Sort of. Alexandria evaded the wyvern?s attack, and the left wing of the beast smashed apart the vial in midair, spreading flame over it. Unfortunately, only a small amount of the oil splashed on the wyvern, with the rest falling to the ground near Alexandria.

Write that up as one of my less-than-intelligent moves?

The wyvern didn?t seem to mind the small patch of flame much. It came about, and Alexandria moved to get out of the way, but found her path blocked by the same oil she had tried to use as a weapon.

?Gods damn it.? She cursed.

That was also the last thing she got off. Surrounded by the fire from her errant throw, Alexandria made a deliciously easy target for the flying beast, and it seized her as it swooped past. She heard cries of alarm from the rest of the party, but Alexandria struggled as hard as she could in the wyvern?s grasp, and felt a solid thunk as the creature?s stinger-tipped tail attempted to sting its helpless prey, but intersected the soulknife?s heavy backpack instead.

?Alexandria! Are you alright?!? A voice shouted from below.

The tiefling responded by freeing one of her hands from the wyvern?s talons and manifesting her mind blade, stabbing into the creature?s leg. It shriek and turned towards the ground, where Alexandria saw an incredible sight. Khalid was rising smoothly through the air, both blades at the ready. He set himself in midair to receive the wyvern?s charge, an act that under other circumstances would seem comical. But there was nothing in Khalid?s eyes save hardened determination.

As the wyvern charged, it also released its talons, dropping Alexandria into freefall. Her descent was abruptly slowed however, as Xan quickly uttered a feather fall incantation. From her airborne perspective however, she saw the wyvern crash into Khalid, whom she saw now had been levitated into the air by another of Xan?s spells. There was no artistry or grace to the battle of half-elf and wyvern as both plummeted to the ground-it was a purely close-quarters fight, and Khalid quickly abandoned his swords, drawing daggers from his baldric for the close range fight. He worked the small blades overtime, slipping blade-tips between scales and piercing armored hide.

It was far from a one-sided battle, however. The wyvern?s stinger struck Khalid repeatedly, injecting what Alexandria knew to be a powerful venom into the half-elf?s system, and even from her distance, she could see Khalid?s furious attack begin to falter. A cry of rage sounded from the ground, and Alexandria turned to see Jaheira readying a long, thin spear she couldn?t recall the druid carrying before. The elder woman tensed herself, preparing to throw the javelin the instant her target came back into range. When it did, she hurled it into the air, catching the wyvern in its side, right where its left wing joined the body.

The wyvern shrieked again, but the wounds it had accumulated from Alexandria, Khalid, and Jaheira were too much. It crashed into the ground, still carrying Khalid in its clutches.

Jaheira immediately ran over to the fallen wyvern, spear at the ready and what Alexandria could now see to be a quiver full of javelins on her back. Khalid groaned in the beast?s clutches, but the wyvern shrieked at Jaheira and attempted to snap at her with its jaws. The druidess simply held her spear high, then rammed it down into the fallen wyvern?s head, piercing its eye and stabbing the spear-tip deep into the creature?s brain. Another long wail and many spasms later, and the wyvern finally laid still in death. Jaheira immediately set to work pulling Khalid free, and Alexandria pitched in, hacking off the wyvern?s stinger-tipped tail with her mind blade. She could see that the tip was streaked with blood.

After a few minutes of frantic work, Jaheira finally pulled her husband from the wyvern?s clutches. He had been badly injured-his plate mail did little against the wyvern?s attack, most of the claws and stings having neatly found the gaps in the metal plates at such close range. Khalid?s chest rose and fell, but sluggishly, and his breath came in slow, rattling gasps.

?He is badly poisoned.? Jaheira reported tersely. ?Alexandria, I require your dose of the antitoxin as well.?

The tiefling nodded and tossed the glass vial over. After a spell to mend the more mundane wounds on Khalid, Jaheira opened her husband?s mouth and poured the contents of the vial in, along with another vial she had been carrying. Alexandria hovered anxiously in the background-Jaheira?s expression was an unspoken warning against coming between her and Khalid. The open love and fear on her face spoke for her.

For a moment, Alexandria wondered what it must feel like, to love someone so deeply, yet face the possibility of them dying. The soulknife had loved Gorion, and loved Imoen, certainly, but those were familial loves-the love of a daughter for her father, even if she had known for some time that he was not her true father, and the love of a girl for her sister, loves brought about through long exposure, commitment, and faithfulness. She couldn?t imagine what it would be like to truly fall in love with someone else her own age-a contemporary, an equal. Yet love, from what she knew, also brought with it costs she felt unwilling to pay-being tied to one person, no matter how good, was a mistake.

Alexandria shook her head to clear her thoughts-the rest of the battle had finished while Khalid fought the wyvern, with a total of three of the beasts dead. Recalling the sizable bounty on wyvern heads, the soulknife manifested her mind blade and began hacking away at the neck of the fallen wyvern. The scaly hide was resistant to her blows, and the bone beneath even more so, but after a minute or two of incessant chopping, Alexandria removed the severed wyvern head and wrapped it in a burlap cloth before sticking it in her backpack. The head was fairly heavy, but Ajantis had already collected the other two wyvern heads.

?I must say.? Xan stated, brushing a bit of blood from his robes. ?Ajantis, you appear to take an unholy delight in tempting fate.?

?Is that so?? The knight responded, a wry grin on his features. ?A paladin does not bow before fate, and if Beshaba wishes to bring us harm, I suggest she try harder next time.?

?I dare say she will. And one day, she will succeed, no matter how brave and valorous you are.?

?Oh, I already know when Ajantis is going to fall a little.? Imoen piped up, grinning at the paladin. ?How many knights can claim to have been kissed by a tiefling without drawing their sword??

?Imoen?? Alexandria warned.

Imoen?s grin went from ear to ear, but the sound of coughing behind her saved Alexandria from having to respond. Color had returned to Khalid?s features, and he was slowly sitting up, supported by Jaheira. The druid?s face was stern.

?Khalid, you are such an idiot! Next time the child makes a tactical decision appropriate for a diseased shrew, you stay on the ground and fight! No more of this heroic nonsense!?

?Of? *cough* of course, my dear.? Khalid responded weakly, a smile already working its way onto his face. ?Just like-like last time.?

?Khalid, you magnificent imbecile?? Jaheira leaned in and kissed him. ?Every now and again, you remind me why I married you.?

?I-I would hate to disappoint you, my love.?

?Just promise me you won?t let yourself die on my watch-you hear me, Khalid?! I will *never* let you hear the end of it!?

?I will-will try my best, my dear.? Khalid laughed weakly.

Slowly, the half-elves attempted to come to their feet, but Khalid collapsed before he made it most of the way up.

?Is the antidote not working, Khalid??

?I think it is wor-working fine, my dear. But I think I may need some r-rest for it to work through my sys-system.?

?Silvanus damn it! I wanted to get a move on to that mine today, but we?ll have to wait because of you and your idiot attempt to be a hero! According to Faldorn?s map, we should be close to the mine now-we will set forth at dawn.?

Alexandria nodded mutely-she wasn?t foolish enough to try arguing with Jaheira with the druid in this state, and none of the others were, either.


The adventurers concluded their post-battle activities quickly, and Jaheira immediately began searching for a safe place to rest before the party?s assault on the mines. She found a cave along the central ridge that ran through the Cloakwood, and after a careful search for any creatures already using the cave, signaled the others to come in. Khalid had to be half-carried by Jaheira, but she set him down near a magical fire Xan quickly conjured up, also casting an illusion spell to disguise the encampment.

The others set to their usual activities, Xan in particular examining the wyvern stingers and venom glands he had gathered, and digging out his alchemy equipment. But Alexandria approached Khalid, lying by the fire, somewhat uncertain of what to say.

?Khalid-I want to thank you for saving my life-both today, and when we were at Nashkel.?

The half-elf smiled, though there was a definite tinge of embarrassment. ?You h-have nothing to thank me for. I-I trust you would do the same for me.?

?I certainly would, but this is the first time I?ve ever thanked you. I know we haven?t exactly spoken much over the last month or so.?

?You are r-rather like my wife. She-she seldom consults me, and prefers to simply p-plow through whatever stands in the way of g-good. Y-you are both rather alike.?

Alexandria shook her head. ?You and Jaheira are both Harpers, and she?s a druid, to boot. I?m no Harper, and I?m certainly no druid.?
?You would m-make an excellent Harper, I think. You are-are everything we believe in, in y-your own way. Gorion would be proud of your actions, Alexandria. P-perhaps not the way he would have liked y-you to turn out, but he would be proud nonetheless.?

?Why-how did Father hope I would turn out??

Khalid sighed, a frown creasing his features. ?Jaheira and I knew Gorion for many years-we adventured together a long time ago, before you. I think he wanted nothing more than to live a peaceful life in Candlekeep, and raise you as an obedient daughter, also content in a peaceful, secluded life.?

?He wanted me to live my life in Candlekeep? But he encouraged me to explore my gifts when I first started manifesting my mind blade-it makes no sense.?

?Gorion had his reasons, Alexandria. What those reasons were, neither Jaheira nor I ever knew, but I think he was trying to protect us-and you. Gorion?s letters were always sad-he spoke much of duty and destiny. He spoke of those things much during his adventuring days as well. But I think in the end, he wanted to live the rest of his days in peace, after a lifetime of adventure and danger.?

?Wait a minute? Father was an adventurer? An active one??

?Yes indeed-he was quite a powerful diviner, and always welcome among the Harpers. I think he wanted to take you into the Harpers, someday, when you were old enough.?

?That sounds just like Father? always trying to guide my life. I don?t want to be guided.?

?Gorion was a good man, Alexandria, and I believe he had his reasons for what he did. Whatever those reasons were, he told not even Jaheira.?

Alexandria studied the ground briefly. Another piece of the puzzle had fallen into place, but she still couldn?t get much out of it. So much she had taken for granted now appeared to be nothing more than a careful plan. As always, though, she appeared to have no recourse but to go along with the flow. She decided on an abrupt change of subject.

?Jaheira? you love her very much, don?t you??

?Of-of course I do! I could not imagine being without her! Why-why do you ask??

Alexandria blushed, and made a discrete check-Ajantis was busy with his sword and a sharpening stone on the other end of the cave, but she kept her voice low nonetheless.

?Can I ask you what it feels like??

Khalid also blushed furiously, but understood the question. ?I do not think you are in love with Ajantis. Love is a difficult thing to describe, and everyone has a different definition of it. Jaheira has hers, wrapped up in nature. Ajantis no doubt has his, which he doubtless defines in honor, duty, and all that he believes in. Such things as love have no universal definition, Alexandria. What it means to a person is often defined by their other beliefs, but there are always a few similarities. You breathe because they do.?

Alexandria did not respond, as she began to think to herself. Hardly had she begun when Khalid laughed and resumed talking.

?Do not worry about love, Alexandria. You are young-it is nothing you should be in any hurry to find. You will know it when it comes.?

?I take it you?re talking from experience??

Khalid blushed even harder than before, and Alexandria chuckled as he struggled to respond. She grinned at the rather embarrassed half-elf.

?I was just teasing, Khalid.?

?Oh-oh that?s alright. I w-was worried what Jaheira might think.?

?About what?? A female voice interrupted. Both Alexandria and Khalid looked up-Jaheira was standing next to them, an imperious frown not quite able to hide a hint of amusement to her features.

?Er-nothing, my dear.?

?That is good. Khalid, I must borrow your blades-Xan has been working on distilling the wyvern venom for use on our weapons, and he would like to apply a base to your swords to prevent the venom from easily wearing off.?

?I s-suppose there?s a certain irony in that. You are welcome to them.?

?Good. Ajantis was most stubborn about poisoning his blade, though he eventually bowed before common sense. Alexandria, if there is anything you come away from tonight having learned, it is that it does not matter how reluctant you are to do the right thing, or what your reasons for doing the right thing are, so long as you do it. All that matters in the Balance is your actions, not your justifications.?

?That makes sense, I guess. I assume you do not wish to envenom my mind blade as well??

?Unless you have discovered a way to keep it permanently manifest since we last spoke.?

?Not quite there yet, Jaheira.? The tiefling responded with a grin. ?But further down the road? who knows??

Edited by Tempest, 03 December 2007 - 07:38 AM.

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#23 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 10 December 2007 - 08:32 AM

I promised action, yes? :)

Chapter XXIII: In the Footsteps of Valkyries


?Our quest is vain.?

?Thank you for that amazing tactical insight, Xan. I?m sure Ajantis and Jaheira will be pleased to hear your assessment. Now, did your familiar learn anything more about the patrol patterns??

The elf sighed. ?Alexandria, do you have a death wish? Ettercaps, sword spiders, wyverns? we will not always be here to pull you out of the fire.?

?Hey, I was doing just fine in all of those situations!?

Xan rolled his eyes. ?I?m certain. But no, my familiar did not discover anything new.?

The tiefling and elf went back into the cave, where Xan?s illusory magics had replicated the mine, writ small, on the dirt floor. Ajantis and Jaheira were walking around the illusion, tracing lines and placing markers in the dirt to represent guards, patrol patterns, and points of entry.

The mine would not be easy to crack. It consisted of two islands formed by redirecting the Cloakwood River, linked by wooden bridges to each other and to the dirt trail that served as the road for the mine, with a wooden palisade surrounding the entire complex. The first island consisted of a stable and small field. The second, smaller island had a small shed and a taller, more solidly built structure with an open, fortified roof. Ajantis had identified the smaller building as the actual entrance to the mines, and the taller building as a barracks. The paladin paced around the illusion, studying the situation.

?So, how do you propose to accomplish our inevitable death?? Xan asked.

?I?m thinking a frontal assault might be in order.? Ajantis responded.

?Then we?re all doomed.?

?Not exactly. I said a frontal assault was in order-not that it would be our entire strategy. I think I?ve located a blind spot, on the second island. The only bridge into the complex is on the first island-the facility is designed around three chokepoints on the surface. The first bridge, the second, inner, bridge, and the entrance to the mine itself. But Jaheira says the river around the mine is actually fairly shallow, and could be easily swum across. And those walls are a wooden palisade-enough to stop a casual attack, but? hmmm? Imoen, you?ve said that you and Alexandria used to climb the walls of Candlekeep, did you not??

The thief looked up from where she was sharpening her dagger. ?Yup. We used to make a pretty decent grappling hook from stuff we stole-Alexandria always threw it up, I made my way up the wall first, and she climbed with me pulling.?

Ajantis nodded, stroking his chin as he thought. ?We certainly have rope, but making an improvised grappling hook could be difficult.?

?Erm, excuse me, but I-I carry a head for a grappling hook, for wh-when it is needed.? Khalid spoke up.

Ajantis grinned. ?Then I think I have a plan. Imoen, Alexandria, at nightfall, you think you can get across that river and sneak into the blind spot?? The knight indicated with his sword where they would need to be-right on the other side of the wall from the barracks.

?Jaheira said the water is only five feet deep or so-used to provide water power for something in the mine, right? I can ford that, even in my armor. Im and I could certainly pull it off.?

?Good. I want you to take the grappling hook and several vials of alchemist?s fire with you. Your job will be to climb the walls and set fire to the barracks and everything else you can. Imoen, we need you to get inside the mine building and disable the lift. There?s probably a sizable detachment of troops further down in the mine, if what we suspect is true. Disable the lift, and they?ll be completely cut off, letting us deal with the rest of the surface installation at our leisure.?

?Sounds like fun.? Imoen replied.

?The rest of us will charge the gates-we?ll buy you time to cut them off. We need to strike hard and fast if we don?t want reinforcements boiling up from below.?

?I approve.? Jaheira stated, nodding her head. ?We should strike at daybreak, so Alexandria and Imoen can be in position and the guards at their lowest ebb.?

?It?s a plan, then.?


Alexandria and Imoen spend the rest of the day practicing with the grappling hook on nearby rock formations, preparing for the assault on the mines. The tiefling was noticeably stronger than her days scaling the walls of Candlekeep-at most, it took a couple throws of the hook to get it to snag comfortably on something. Imoen herself was a much more adroit climber, finding hand and toe-holds in every cranny and fracture in the rock. She probably could have simply free-climbed the walls. But the pair worked as a team, Alexandria?s strength and Imoen?s agility neatly compensating for each other?s weaknesses, and they worked as only sisters could-with a great deal of arguing and competition, but also near-telepathic understanding of each other. More than once, Jaheira would come out to inspect their progress, only to find them laughing while they scrambled up the rock walls, the grins and smirks on their sweat-streaked faces speaking more than any number of words.

Finally, darkness started to fall, and the party retired back to the cave, all enjoying fresh venison from a deer that Khalid had stalked and slain. Another evocation or two from Xan, and the meat was well done in a matter of minutes. Spirits were surprisingly high as the adventurers ate and talked. Alexandria tried not to think to much about the battle that was going to happen the next day, and laughed along with the others as Jaheira recounted an entertaining story of the time she adventured with Gorion. The half-elf may not have looked that much older than Alexandria, but Jaheira had still been adventuring longer than Alexandria had been alive. The tiefling felt glad to have her experience with them. They?d need it.

Finally, Alexandria bade the others good night. She was due for an early morning.


Morning came earlier than she would have liked, but Alexandria cursed and dragged herself out of her sleeping bag. Dawn was still an hour or two off. Along with an equally grumpy Imoen, Alexandria pulled out a waterskin and some jerky for her meager breakfast. Jaheira had taught Alexandria some field cooking skill, but they couldn?t risk a fire. The two young women slipped out of camp shortly thereafter.


So far, so good? Alexandria thought. Ajantis? plan had gone perfectly thus far. Imoen and Alexandria had managed to approach the fortifications completely undetected, and the water had been shallow enough for Alexandria to slowly wade across. Imoen, not encumbered by heavy armor, had simply swum across. The pair were crouching at the base of the wooden palisade, and their chosen spot did indeed seem to be a blind spot for the handful of guards. After all, how likely was it that a relatively small complex buried in the heart of a vast and dangerous forest would come under any sort of attack?

The soulknife rechecked her belt and leather baldric, making sure she remembered where the alchemist?s fire, healing potions, wand of lightning, and, most importantly of all, a potion of haste were located. Jaheira?s precautions at the Friendly Arm Inn had not been misplaced-Alexandria hated to admit it, but the druid truly did know what she was doing. Both she and Khalid had come prepared with supplies for all sorts of occasions, including the grappling hook as well. Alexandria made a mental note to bring Jaheira with her on all future shopping trips.

Kyreeeeeee!

The bird cry would have been innocent enough in the forest, with the sun bathing the landscape in its warm glow, but not this time. Alexandria and Imoen looked at each other, nodded, and the tiefling began whirling the grappling hook, building momentum for throwing it up and onto the wall. A cry of alarm arose from the other end of the complex, and Alexandria released the hook, sending it sailing high into the air and over the palisade wall. After a quick tug to make sure the hook was secure, Alexandria downed the haste potion in one gulp.

Alexandria felt the effects immediately. She shot up the rope in a flash, feeling herself move far more rapidly than her body was normally capable of. Another cry of alarm went out as the palisade guards realized they were being flanked, but the vocal mercenary had barely drawn his sword when the intruder crested the palisade wall and jumped down onto the elevated walkway. He immediately charged Alexandria, but to her, he seemed to be moving in slow motion. She ran along the walkway towards him, but effortlessly sidestepped his attack and with a healthy shove sent him falling down the wrong side of the wall.

With the guard down, Alexandria drew and launched three of the vials of alchemist?s fire into the barracks in rapid succession, one splattering over the roof, another crashing on the walls and setting them afire, and the third hitting the ground. Unfortunately, guards were already spilling out, and several turned to fire a hail of arrows at the tiefling. Realizing her position was dangerously exposed, she fired off a bolt of lightning from her wand and leapt off the walkway onto ground level. The impact knocked the wind out of her lungs as she landed with a distinct crunching noise, but a light healing potion quickly took care of that.

Her world slowed as the haste potion wore off, and Alexandria quickly got to her feet again and ducked behind the corner of the barracks. The cover wouldn?t last long, unfortunately-the fires were spreading. The sounds of battle were ringing loud in the same direction the guards had been heading, which could only mean that the rest of the adventuring party was putting up a fight. Alexandria readied another vial of alchemist?s fire.

Three guards raced around the corner before she could throw it, however, and she manifested her mind blade instead, throwing it immediately. The ethereal blade struck the lead guard?s leg, but did no real damage. Alexandria could see they were all wearing fine chain mail, and wielding a long sword and shield. Understanding she was outmatched, she dropped the vial of fire, then drew her wand again and fired, catching one guard in the face and the air stank of ozone as he screamed. The wand dropped out of her hand, however, as she was forced to dance backwards to avoid the other two.

No sooner had Alexandria reached the interior side of the palisade than another blast of magic hit the remaining guards, this one a blast of utter cold that froze the grass under their feet solid and sent them shrieking in agony. Alexandria took advantage of the attack and darted forward, finishing both off with quick, clean strokes of her mind blade. She turned to kill the remaining guard, injured by the wand of lightning, but a pink-haired figure leapt gracefully down from the wall, sword in hand, and caressed the man?s neck with the razor edge of her sword. Imoen grinned at Alexandria as she picked up her fallen wand, then both moved forward and around the burning building.

The battle had degenerated into a stalemate at the bridge between the first and second islands. Khalid and Ajantis were holding fine, but also unable to push forwards. There weren?t as many guards as one would have thought, which likely meant bad news. Xan turned to Alexandria and quickly cast a spell.

Not all of them. Disable the lift immediately. They?re simply buying time. Don?t give them any.

Alexandria nodded, and turned to head into the smaller building when a man stepped out, leading another echelon of guards. He looked very strong, with long black hair and beard, but was otherwise physically unimpressive. What was impressive was the plate mail armor and two-handed sword he carried, along with a cruel expression on his face.

?Black Talons, you WILL push forwards, or I will kill you myself! Kill them all!?

Imoen chose that moment to dash out from her cover, heading for the mine building. She stopped as soon as she saw the Black Talon commander. The man grinned, drawing his greatsword.

?I have to give you credit, little girl. You?ve got more guts than half the men in my company. But you should have stayed home, little girl.?

From her covered position, Alexandria could only watch the battle.

Imoen immediately fired another blast from her wand of frost, but it barely slowed the man?s advance. He brought his sword around in a grand sweeping blow more than capable of separating the upper and lower portions of Imoen?s anatomy. The thief gracefully ducked the blow and drew her own blade. The short sword seemed pitifully small in comparison. Another blow, and she again dodged it with ease, then darted forward into the exposed man?s exposed guard and stabbed with her short sword. Imoen winced as it failed to pierce the plate armor.

The man?s next attack was completely unexpected-a mailed fist that came directly at her face. Imoen briefly saw a galaxy of stars before her eyes as she fell, but retained enough sense to roll away as soon as she hit the dirt, evading the falling two-handed sword. Something seemed to change in Imoen-the dark expression that worked its way over her face was not at all the Imoen she knew. The thief?s countenance reminded Alexandria more of herself than anything else as the girl tossed her sword onto the ground, drawing her dagger instead. She charged.

By the time the man recovered his guard, it was already finished. Imoen was all over him, working her dagger double time with a speed and skill Alexandria had never seen before-in anyone, let alone Imoen. She expertly slid the dagger between chinks in the plate mail, the razor tip having little trouble piercing the underlying layer of chain mail and drawing blood. Off-balance from a dozen stab wounds received in the span of a few moments in the furious assault, the man fell to his knees, only to receive a dagger in his throat for his trouble, driving up into his head and piercing the brain. He died in a matter of seconds after that.

Imoen didn?t miss a beat. ?C?mon, sis! Let?s get in there!?

Alexandria nodded and followed her sister. Their charge through the mine entrance could hardly be called a battle. In such close confines, their wands had devastating effects, and between the wands, Alexandria?s mind blade, and Imoen?s newfound skill with the blade, none of the surprised guards put up significant resistance, and the women soon found themselves at the lift. It was big, and much more complicated than the one in the Nashkel Mines. It seemed to be operated by water power-there was a valve that apparently controlled the flow of water in from the surrounding river to raise or lower the platform. Imoen made to mess with the valve when Alexandria stopped her with a grin.

Mind blade and short sword both began hacking through the ropes that operated the whole contraption. No one attacked them further, and Alexandria found breath to talk as they dismantled the lift.

?Im-what happened to you out there? Never seen you do anything like that.?

The thief blushed a little. ?Well, I kinda talked Khalid into teaching me how to fight a bit. I didn?t practice in front of you, cause, well, yer really good with yer blade, and I didn?t want ya teaching me.?

?Why not??

?Cause I?m your sis, not yer sidekick.? Imoen grinned. ?I do have a life of my own, mind you.?

Alexandria?s reply was lost in a rush of noise as the lift finally fell from its ropes and went sailing down the shaft, crashing at the bottom far below. She settled for simply smiling at Imoen.

?Well done!? Ajantis called, entering the building. ?We?ve bought ourselves some time, and killed a fair few guards, but no one?s foolish enough to dig a mine with only one way out. Recover your strength quickly-we need to get below and find whatever we can before they send out word that they?re under attack. Just like Nashkel, eh, Alex??

The tiefling didn?t reply, and looked down the lift shaft, the mention of the Nashkel Mines bringing a chill down her spine as she thought of the void. There was the faint glow of torchlight far below.

?At least we?ll have better lighting this time.?

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#24 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 18 January 2008 - 08:06 PM

Chapter XXIV: Once More Unto the Breach


Imoen?s impromptu hair-dye be damned? this is the oddest spell I?ve ever heard of. And I grew up in Candlekeep.

Alexandria certainly did make for an unusual sight. She was carefully climbing down a rope in what had previously been an elevator shaft-nothing unusual in and of itself. What made it strange was the upper end of the rope, which appeared to simply end in mid-air at the top of the shaft. Xan?s spellbook had included a wide range of esoteric spells, but one of them, simply titled rope trick, had done, well, the trick. Ajantis and Jaheira were already below, having carefully negotiated the wreckage of the elevator Alexandria and Imoen had sent crashing below some hours earlier. The adventurers were forced to descend one by one-Xan had informed them that even though the rope was quite strong, it would automatically fail if more than one person attempted to climb it.

Thank? well, thank whatever that Father?s attempt to teach me magic was a dismal failure. There?s probably some good, magical reason why this thing could be climbed by a single troll, but would break if two halflings climbed it. But finding out why would mean talking to Xan. So I guess it?ll remain a mystery.

Finally, her armored boots hit the ground. Alexandria gave the rope a sharp yank to let Khalid know it was his turn to rappel down, and turned towards the paladin and druid who had already arrived. Jaheira was down on her knees, making chittering noises to a rather fat rodent, which was responding in kind. Alexandria looked quizzically at Ajantis.

?She?s talking with the rat.? He said simply.

The tiefling shrugged and took a look around while Jaheira finished? interrogating? the rat. After her experience south of Nashkel, she?d gotten to know the appearance of a mine from the inside, but this place was different. The walls and ceiling were bare stone, and underfoot was a hard-packed layer of dirt and gravel, but those were the only similarities. The stone was smooth and clean, easily the equal of fine masonry on the surface. And as her gaze wandered, Alexandria became acutely aware of other anomalies. The proportions of the tunnels were wrong-the ceilings were lower and walls farther apart than the Nashkel Mines, and rather than torch brackets drilled into the walls, spaces for torches here were set into the walls themselves, allowing the same illumination without sticking torches into the passages themselves. It was very efficient, and contrasted sharply with the rough elevator shaft. Ajantis noticed her gaze.

?Dwarven tunnels, I think. There are plenty of dwarves in Waterdeep, and their homes are all built into the ground whenever possible. Even those aboveground do their best to make you feel like you?re in the earth?s womb. No two clans carve their tunnels quite the same way, but they always have the same feel to them. I?m guessing our mysterious friends here broke into these tunnels-no dwarf would ever surrender their clanhold to a group of humans, for any price.?

?Strange.? Khalid said as he touched down on the tunnel floor. ?I cannot recall any dwarven clans in the Cloakwood. It is not a place they would live in by choice.?

?Well, whatever the case, the Black Talons were guarding this place, and it?s a source of iron ore-maybe for this Iron Throne we keep hearing about.? Alexandria responded. ?Doesn?t look like we have much choice but to charge straight ahead.?

?Actually, child, that may not be necessary.? Jaheira said, rising. ?From what I was able to gather from this rat, our enemies have fortified themselves on the level below. I believe this level of the mine is a production level, designed for access and transportation. It would not be readily defensible. However, there are at least two levels below, which I believe were converted from dwarven habitations, and they are likely to be much more defendable. We must strike, and strike swiftly-they have the supplies to endure a prolonged siege, while we do not.?

?I concur.? Ajantis agreed, and opened his mouth to say more, but a loud crash rang out. Xan and Imoen were collapsed on top of one another in the shaft, Imoen laughing at the elf. They quickly got up and separated, Xan carefully brushing dust off his robes.

?Imoen, do you have a death wish? I told you not to take hold of the rope until I let go.?

?Yeah, but you don?t learn anything until you try it.? The thief replied with a wide grin. ?Oh, come on, mister I?m-so-gloomy-I-can?t-have-fun. If you really wanted to discourage me, you wouldn?t have taught me that feather fall spell.?

?You successfully performed the incantation?! That?s extraordinary for someone with your lack of experience and sense. Perhaps teaching you will be less painful than it has been in the past-perhaps even pleasurable.? As though aware of the others? gazes, he then quickly added. ?Of course, we?re all still doomed, no matter what pitiful accomplishments you manage.?

?Well, if that?s settled, we should look for the way down. I would suggest you draw your weapons.? Jaheira said flatly.

Xan blushed slightly and nodded, following the druid. As Imoen passed, however, Alexandria arched an eyebrow at her sister. Imoen flashed a perfectly innocent smile, but the mischievious glint in her eyes did little to grant her any sort of innocence. Alexandria simply shook her head and gave Imoen a knowing look before manifesting her mind blade and moving on, to the sound of someone trying diligently but unsuccessfully to suppress their giggling behind her.


One fireball from Xan?s fingertips later, and the adventurers breached the Black Talon barricade below. Alexandria led the charge, dashing through the smoldering wood and into the surprised mercenaries behind it. One fell before he could even draw his sword, neck slashed open by the ethereal blade, and the other barely had time to yell for help before the tiefling engaged. The fight ended quickly. Surprise, ferocity, and momentum all belonged to her. She easily parried the mercenary?s attempt to stab her, then drove her blade into his chest. Chain mail was effective for stopping cuts and glancing blows, but it offered little protection to a blade-thrust to the chest, even one so awkward as the scimitar shape of Alexandria?s mind blade. She charged into the room beyond.

At which point she received an impromptu haircut from the guard waiting for her with an axe. Alexandria threw herself flat against the ground as the cleaver-like blade whistled through the air. The floor here was still dirt, but as she looked around for a way to get back up, she saw that the room was well lit by torches, and home to about a dozen mercenaries. She quickly rolled aside to avoid a spear, and rose to her feet. A mercenary to her left fell to Ajantis, who had charged in right behind her. The paladin hadn?t bothered with finesse-he?d simply impaled the spearman on his sword. Unfortunately, his comrade went straight for Alexandria.

The spear glanced off her armor, and she quickly darted in and slashed her mind blade across his hauberk. The blade tore chain links, but failed to do any harm. The adventurer followed through with an armored gauntlet to the man?s face, which connected solidly and broke his nose. He reeled and faltered, and Alexandria pressed the attack, quickly finishing him with a blow at his unprotected neck.

Her strike left her dangerously unguarded, and fire raced up her leg as a crossbow bolt struck, easily punching through her plate greaves. She bit her tongue against the impulse to cry out in pain, and turned towards the attacker. He was standing at the end of a long corridor, armed with a peculiar crossbow that sent a hail of bolts into the room. Not terribly accurate, but the volume of fire made up for it.

?Alex, get out of the entryway!? Xan shouted.

The tiefling did so, and Xan quickly began casting a spell. The entryway into the corridor was promptly disrupted by a wall of wind, sending the mercenary?s crossbow bolts sailing in every possible direction but forwards. Alexandria nodded a quick thanks before finding another target to engage. More than a few Black Talon corpses were scattered on the ground, but more kept coming, determined to stop the adventurers here. Alexandria?s mind blade rose to meet the blade of another attacker, and the battle resumed in earnest.

For what felt like at eternity, but in truth was only about twenty minutes, the fight continued. Disciplined as the Black Talons were, they were outmatched by the adventuring band, and their officers decided to fall back to other positions. But it was not a victory without cost. After Xan set up a defensive perimeter, Jaheira found Imoen on the ground, bleeding and barely conscious. Before Xan?s wind wall had disrupted the crossbowman, Imoen had taken two bolts to the gut, effortlessly piercing the light leather armor she wore. Much of the ground was covered in Black Talon blood, but Alexandria was now acutely aware that a great deal of the ichor was Imoen?s as well.

?Will she be all right?? She asked Jaheira.

The druid nodded. ?Both hits were relatively shallow-there was not a great deal of internal injury. Once I remove the arrows, I believe curative magics will bring her back to full health. It would appear that extraordinary luck runs in your family.?

Despite her injuries, Imoen managed a full laugh. ?I just wish it was good luck only, not good and bad together.?

?Then there would be no balance-I doubt we could long stand the presence of one of Tymora?s Chosen.? Jaheira replied with a slight smile. ?Please excuse the pain, child, but I must remove the arrows before my spells can be properly applied.?

Imoen nodded, and Jaheira worked swiftly, removing the arrows and applying the healing spells. When they finally stood back up, Ajantis returned to the room-Alexandria had been distracted enough by Imoen?s injury that she hadn?t noticed his departure.

?My lady, I have taken stock of the rest of this level. It has been abandoned. There?s a stairway down on the south end of this complex, but I barely poked my sword into the stairwell before a hail of arrows leapt forth. I also saw that the stairwell had a slippery coating on it-we are facing either clever defenders, or a wizard. I?m afraid I do not know how we could breach their defenses without cost.?

?That may not be necessary.? Jaheira murmured, somewhat absently twirling her hair as she thought. ?The rodent I spoke with said it usually ran through passages, including a staircase, free of people-passages it could reach through a tiny hole in the wall, near a place it only knew as home to many bangs and clashes.?

?Wonderful.? Xan said dryly. ?We are most assuredly doomed-the enemy has fortified the level below us even more heavily than a battle that nearly cost us one of our number, and our only hope is a hidden network of passages a rodent told us about, which are reached by a room filled with noise. I can almost feel Sehanine Moonbow now, calling me to Arvandor.?

?Would you prefer the same situation, without even that hope?? Alexandria asked. ?Let?s take a look around, see if we can find any place that might fit.?

The others nodded.


It was after the ninth trap that Alexandria was glad they hadn?t split up. Already, Imoen was carefully examining the door, searching for trip wires, hidden trigger stones, smeared contact poison, and myriad other unpleasantries they had found so far. The Black Talons may have fallen back, but they had prepared ahead of time. There had even been a few deviously contrived traps that seemed to have been a part of the original dwarven excavation-such as an entire section of a room, including dwarf-sized chairs and a table hewn out of the solid rock, had in fact been a trap, triggered by sitting in any of the chairs or setting something on the table. Imoen appeared to be genuinely enjoying herself, however, none the worse for the crossbow bolts she took. She gave the party the go-ahead signal and opened the door.

They found themselves, after Xan cast a light spell, in a smith. On one end of the room were several mannequins, sized for both humans and something larger-hobgoblins, possibly-though all had been stripped of whatever armor might have been placed on them. The Black Talons had not considered weapons so valuable, though-rack upon rack of weapons filled the far wall. Most were swords, axes, spears, and halberds, but Alexandria spotted maces, warhammers, flails, and all manner of other weapons. Ajantis whistled softly.

?With the iron crisis, all these weapons would make anyone a good-sized fortune. Or equip an army.?

?I th-think the latter is more likely.? Khalid commented. ?It would be more p-profitable to sell iron in in-ingots.?

?Then who the hell are all these for?? Alexandria asked. ?Sure, the Black Talons have been heavily armed, but they wouldn?t need anything like this kind of power. The variety in the weapons is odd, too. It isn?t like a mercenary company to be like that-they would have standardized units, with the same weapons.?

?Alexandria.? Xan intoned. ?Do not ask questions to which you do not wish to know the answers.?

The tiefling was about to respond when a section of the wall in front of them suddenly swung outwards, sending two weapon racks crashing to the ground. Alexandria immediately formed her mind blade and the others readied their weapons, carefully eying the passageway behind the hidden door.

?Ah, excuse me. I?m so sorry-I mean you no harm.? A voice called out.

Alexandria moved forwards, looking closer, and to her surprise, a dwarf walked out. He was bare-chested, clad only in a ragged pair of shorts, and his frame was emaciated-if such a thing were possible for a dwarf. He looked from Alexandria to the other adventurers and back again.

?I take it the rest of this level is safe??

?Erm, yes, but??

?My name is Yeslick, of the clan Ironsmelt. This place was our clanhold, once, before we moved to Baldur?s Gate. I don?t have much time, so forgive me if I make explanations quick. The passages behind me are what you might call an escape hatch-hidden passages to and from all of a clanhold?s major rooms, allowing for secret movement in the event a clan must evacuate, as well as allowing warriors to strike from the rear during an invasion. This room was once our dining hall-always important to a dwarf.?

Alexandria chuckled politely. ?But what on Ao?s green Toril are you doing here??

The dwarf turned ashen. ?It?s a long story, lass, one I don?t have time to tell. But I have to ask-why are you here??

?To stop the Black Talons and whoever they?re working for, at the moment. It?s a long story.?

Yeslick smiled at that. ?Always seems to be the case-every slave here says the same thing. They always ended up offending the wrong person, and ended up down here.?

?Slaves?? Alexandria asked, unease seeping into her gut.

?Aye. When you started all the ruckus with the guards, they locked us all up on the level below. I was able to bribe the goon they left guarding us with promises of dwarven treasure if he?d let us out and let me bring us all into the passages. I told him where to find the treasure, and last I saw him, he disappeared beneath a pit trap I neglected to mention.? Yeslick grinned. ?The one running this place, a wizard they call Davaeorn, has taken over a level two down. You can get down there through these passages. But I have to ask something of you, lass.?

?What is it??

?Destroy this mine. My clan has no need for it anymore, and as long as it produces iron, people will fight over it. Might be more slavers, might not. But this place will bring nothing but chaos if it is allowed to exist.?

Alexandria thought about it for a moment. The dwarf was certainly right, but the Cloakwood *was* the only place on the Sword Coast producing clean iron.

?I believe we should abide his wish.? Jaheira said softly. The tiefling nodded in response.

?Very well. How would we destroy this place??

?Flood it. One level up, there?s a magical gate-you?ll know it when you see it. The Iron Throne controls it to power machinery in the mine. But Davaeorn keeps a key on himself that operates it-if you could get the key, you?d be able to open the gate completely and flood the entire mine.?

?But what about the slaves-and you? We, ah, destroyed the elevator.?

Yeslick laughed. ?Don?t worry, lass. You really think I would?ve said something without having an escape route in mind? Good luck.?

?Thanks, but I hope we don?t need it.?


Yeslick was true to his word. The hidden passageways were small and twisting, but there were quite a few doors scattered through the passages. Examining one of them, Alexandria was astounded at the dwarves? craftsmanship. Each door was as solid as the stone wall it was built into, but also had extraordinarily well-concealed holes for observing the other side. Even the door in the armory, which she had examined after the fact, knowing exactly where the observation holes were, had stumped her.

It was only a matter of minutes before they found the door Yeslick had indicated as being the door to Davaeorn?s office. Alexandria was about to open it when she heard voices on the other side. She made the motion for the others to be silent, and listened carefully. There were two voices on the other side.

?-Sarevok himself is asking questions, Davaeorn. He placed you in charge of the Iron Throne?s operations in this area for a reason-you appeared competent at it. Yet you did not even mention that your operations have almost completely failed, and now you have adventurers running loose somewhere in this mine.?

?Then perhaps you should learn something of business, Semaj! You can prepare for as many emergencies as you like, but you have to plan for the likely ones, not crazed adventurers coming out of the woodwork! I don?t even know why this Alexandria girl is interfering with our operations!?

?Alexandria?? The voice went silent for a long moment. ?That certainly puts a different spin on things. Your failures are almost forgivable in this light.?

?My lord??

?Sarevok will want to know about this. But let us be frank-you are of little further use to us, and I suspect your merry little adventurers are going to come knocking on your door soon. Why, I wouldn?t be surprised if you still had Yeslick alive. If you do, he?s almost certainly escaped your inept guards by now.?

?The slaves know nothing about our plans, Semaj. I made sure of that.?

?I?m certain. But you know much about our plans, Davaeorn, and I lack confidence in your ability to stop Alexandria and her allies. She has already slain Taugosz Khosann, which will make Lord Roenall most unhappy, and even my pet, Ardenor Crush. I did not waste those years of research at Spellhold for him to be slain by an adventurer, and not because of your idiocy. And fortunately for us, we no longer have need of this dismal little place. Or of you.?

?You dare threaten me?!?

?Oh, I do considerably more than dare. You?re a businessman, Davaeorn. Can?t run the risk of you being captured, or of those adventurers getting hold of your information. Even in Baldur?s Gate, the consequences could grow rather uncomfortable, even for Sarevok. Consider this eliminating an unnecessary risk.?

Arcane words were chanted, and a scream tore through the concealed door. The adventurers winced.

?Tut tut. Idiot. You haven?t received any reports of attacks from the third level, which means they?re trying something clever. Luck does appear to run in the blood, so I suppose I should inform Sarevok she?ll be in Baldur?s Gate before long. Really, a horrible waste of wizard-flesh, but Bhaal will be pleased, I think.?

After another spell, Imoen quietly swung the hidden door open. The thief grimaced as she saw a circle of ash in the middle of the floor, surrounded by a handful of metal objects, apparently unaffected by the fire that had slain Davaeorn. She lifted up a metal rod, inscribed with strange symbols, and handed it to Xan.

?Think that?s the key we?re looking for??

?I would assume so. But we?re?-

?All doomed, I know.? Imoen grinned. ?But you can save that for when we pay a visit to Baldur?s Gate and this Sarevok creep.? The thief slipped back into the passages and began skipping as she retraced the adventurers? steps.

Xan sighed.

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#25 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 24 January 2008 - 04:33 PM

Chapter XXV: A Question of Blood


Ker-cheee!

Alexandria mumbled a curse at the bird?s call. She rolled over in her sleeping bag and tried to go back to sleep.

Ker-cheee!

The tiefling groaned again and clapped her hands firmly around her ears.

KER-CHEEE!

The noise of the bird was finally too much for her. She threw open her sleeping back and fumbled for the knife she kept near her sleeping bag, sitting up in the process. Alexandria had finally stood up when she heard the sound of girlish laughter behind her. She turned at the familiar sound to see Imoen with a triumphant grin as she laughed, and a rather exasperated Xan beside her. It also finally registered in the tielfing?s mind that it was daylight, and that the bird had not called again.

?Imoen.? She said flatly.

Another round of laughter answered the question. Xan sighed. ?I am sorry, Alexandria. Imoen wished to demonstrate a spell she had mastered, and I was helpless to stop her.?

?It?s all right, Xan. Jaheira would have been waking me up pretty soon anyhow. Where is she, by the way??

?Jaheira and Khalid are examining the traps they set last night for any game they might have caught. Ajantis departed to bathe.?

Alexandria nodded. Three days had passed since they had destroyed the Cloakwood mines, and the adventurers had been slowly making their way out of the forest. Progress was faster leaving, and there were considerably fewer attacks along the way, but they were still a couple days from the Friendly Arm Inn. Their supplies were running low, but Jaheira was in her element deep in the woods.

?Sis, you should be glad Ajantis wasn?t here. He?d turn red as a Thayvian?s robes to hear you curse like that.?

?I bet he?d be cursing too if his half-imp sister used him as practice for magic. Honestly, Im, couldn?t you have turned your attentions to more practical things??

?What?? Imoen responded with a smile entirely devoid of innocence. ?Like talking some gloomy but handsome elf into teaching me??

Xan groaned. ?You do have great potential as a mage, Imoen, but none of my tutors in Evereska ever told me having an apprentice could be so frustrating. Though I do suppose that the brighter they are, the harder your task, as my tutor once told me.?

?Wait, I?m an apprentice now? Does that mean I have to call you ?master??? Imoen asked, batting her eyelashes.

The elf blanched. ?That is traditionally what I would be called, but I really don?t think that?s a good?-

?Nonsense! You were always saying I have to learn and respect the traditions of magic, so I will?? Imoen paused for a moment, before adding with a grin ?Master.?

?Alexandria, could you please talk some sense into her?? Xan pleaded.

The tiefling laughed. ?And what makes you thing Imoen listens to me, Xan? If you want my advice, just put up with her until she gets bored and wanders off to do something else. That?s about the best you can hope for with Im.?

?Now, what is that supposed to mean?? Imoen giggled. ?I?m perfectly capable of being reasonable and steadfast and caring, I?ll have you know!?

?In theory, perhaps.? Xan said dryly. ?I am simply going by the evidence before me.?

?Then maybe I need to teach you about me-especially that caring side.? Imoen giggled. ?But I think I?ll go snoop on Ajantis now. He?s handsome, too.? The thief winked at Xan and walked away from the campsite.

Xan groaned again. ?I?m doomed, aren?t I??

Alexandria laughed. ?She?s just having fun with you, Xan. If you weren?t so straight-laced and uncomfortable with her flirting and teasing, she probably wouldn?t do it so much. But don?t be fooled-there?s more to Im than meets the eye.?

?I know. She really is quite gifted with magic-her progress in the last few weeks has been extraordinary. I must confess my surprise-she is more intelligent than I initially thought her to be.?

?That?s something I?ve always noticed about her-when something grabs Imoen?s attention and holds it, she focuses on it with amazing intensity. Take her pickpocketing, for example. One day she noticed something shiny hanging out of Winthrop?s pocket. She tried to grab it and got caught. But a few weeks later, the captain of the Watchers had to issue a public warning against arcane thievery in Candlekeep. Don?t mistake her penchant for jokes and teasing for her lacking focus.?

Xan nodded. ?That would be something you yourself know a great deal about, would it not??

?It would indeed. Luckily for me, I have a very pointed tool to remind me of the value of focus.?

?Yes, your mind blade. I have been meaning to ask you a few questions about that, if you don?t mind.?

?Of course-what?s on your mind??

?During our earlier stop at the Friendly Arm Inn, I purchased the aid of a more experienced wizard, sending word to my colleagues in Evereska about you, and your abilities. Though my studies as a youth included knowledge of magic and even psionics, your particular gift was something new in my experience. Two days ago, I received a sending spell-several, to be honest, informing me of what my colleagues had uncovered. And I?m afraid what I learned raised more questions than answers.?

Alexandria sighed. ?Well, can?t hurt to ask.?

?As I believe you know, psionic abilities of any sort are very rare among most races-less common than magical ability in most. Only a handful of peoples demonstrate any innate affinity for the Invisible Art, such as the duergar, the maenads, and the xephs.?

?I read about those races when I first learned about my gift, Xan. What are you getting at??

Xan paused to take a deep breath before continuing. ?You have never spoken of it, Alexandria, but you have demonstrated a number of other unusual powers since I have joined your company. I?ve seen you heal yourself, without invoking a spell. I saw the clouds of darkness you spilt forth in Nashkel. I know the only reason Ajantis did not die of ettercap venom was another strange gift of yours.?

Alexandria?s expression turned to a frown. ?Just what are you asking, Xan? If there?s something I?m hiding from you??

?No-if you are hiding something from me, I know I am doomed regardless. I would just as soon my death come from a woman I am coming to respect as from an enemy. But what I put to you is not a question of truth. It is a question of blood.?

?What are you implying? I have my suspicions, but I?d rather we get this out in the open-the sooner the better.?

?Very well. I am fully aware that you are heir to fire and brimstone, but that touch of the Lower Planes can only go so far in a mortal, diluted as your demonic ancestry is. It could account for one of your strange abilities-the darkness, perhaps. But not all of them. I believe there is something else in your heritage-what it is, I do not know, but even explaining your mind blade as a consequence of your extraordinary luck, both good and bad, that still leaves your other abilities, the ones you have never explained, a mystery. Do you have any idea where those particular gifts are coming from?? Xan finally asked.

Alexandria did not respond for a very long moment. She had told everyone but Xan-in private confidance, but it remained that Xan was the only one among them who did not truly know about the void. It had continued to remain beyond the fringe of her awareness, but it was there.

?I have a few ideas, none of them pleasant. Allow me to explain??

When she finished, Xan had turned even more pale than usual.

?When was the last time you called upon this? void?? He asked.

?During the big ambush last week-when Faldorn attacked us. I did it to save Ajantis? life.?

?And it has remained quiet since??

?Yes-and that makes me uneasy. I like my enemies where I can see them.?

?I always knew we were doomed, but this puts us in an even darker matter. There are entirely too many coincidences for my liking-Faldorn?s dying word, the place you were raised, your father?s research, your void, your mind blade, your demon blood, your father?s murder, these strange intrigues that will undoubtedly kill us all??

Alexandria?s blood chilled. ?You think everything that?s been going on-including whatever?s been happening to me-is all part of a plan.?

Xan nodded slowly. ?I cannot fathom what that plan might be, what ends it could possibly hope to achieve, or who would contrive such a scheme, and in truth I do not think I would ever wish to know.?

Alexandria stroked her jaw as she thought. There were several possibilities, none of which were pleasant.

?Well, we have two more names and a location now-Sarevok, Semaj, and Baldur?s Gate. I remember hearing that first name before-Sarevok. He was a big politician or something up in Baldur?s Gate. It?s pretty clear he?s behind this.?

?Behind the Cloakwood plot, and the iron crisis, perhaps. But I believe he may simply be a pawn of someone else?s plot. If what we think is true, then this has been planned since before you were born.?

An idea suddenly occurred to Alexandria. ?Or maybe we?re dealing with two different plans completely. The iron crisis, and whatever?s going on with me. But the problem with that is the idea that someone-someone planned me. And I just don?t buy that. Sure, I?m a freak among freaks, but had I stayed in Candlekeep, I think I would have become one of the Watchers, not an adventurer. Interesting as my gifts are, they?re really not that significant.?

?Agreed. Which means we?re missing something. We?re doomed.?

?Or did ya ever think yer thinking too much about it?? A familiar voice called.

Imoen slipped out of the tree she had been perched on, but her expression was more curious than anything.

?I was listening for ya for a while-Ajantis will be real unhappy when he finds out what I did. Did ya ever think we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, sis??

Alexandria shook her head. ?The man who killed Father did so for a reason, Im. What bothers me is the burgeoning war with Amn. My gut?s telling me this is all related, but I?ll be damned if I know how.?

?You got a point, sis. But remember what that Faldorn lady said before she attacked us? She said you weren?t the only strange one-she pretty much said I had something ta do with it, too. You bein mixed up in some big plot, I can buy. No offense, sis, but you got me pretty beat when it comes to getting into real trouble.? Imoen grinned. ?But if I?m supposed to be mixed up in all this, too, then maybe it?s just all chance. Maybe Father himself was who they were really after, and they?re just after us to clean up the mess.?

?And there?s the problem.? Alexandria shook her head. ?You know I loved Father, sis, but he kept a lot from me-maybe from you, too. We?ve had this discussion before. This would all be so much easier if he left a note telling us exactly what?s been going on, what got him so scared, and where we both come from.?

?Yeah, but knowin our luck, he kept it in a trunk in his room in Candlekeep, probably with some soppy ?If you?re reading this, then I am already dead? thingie.?

?Nah. He wouldn?t be that obvious. More like he?d write a note explaining some of the truth, but lying in other parts in order to ?protect us?. And then Ulraunt would accuse us of a crime of some kind, and Tethtoril would have to come to our rescue.?

?Oooh, and then we?d find out everyone in Candlekeep had been secretly murdered and replaced with monsters that could take their form!?

Even Xan laughed softly at that. ?You both have exceptionally vivid imaginations. Were your predictions the case, we would be most assuredly doomed-even more so than we are now.?

?Depends on your definition of doom, master.? Imoen smirked, to the elf?s groan again.

Xan was about to reply when a loud, male voice cried from the direction of the river: ?IMOEN!!!?

?Just what did you do to Ajantis?? Alexandria asked.

?Oh, nothing too bad. He?s just going to have a hard time finding his clothes, that?s all. Unless you?d like to go help, sis.? Imoen teased.

Alexandria looked at Xan and rolled her eyes.


Half an hour later, and the smell of rabbit stew filled the air. Jaheira carefully tested a spoonful of the stew, and frowned.

?It requires a touch more seasoning, I think.?

?Helm have mercy on us.? Ajantis deadpanned. ?A druid making commentary on her own field cooking.?

?I will not beg your pardon if I indulge in one of my past-times, Ajantis. I am the only cook worth a damn you?ll find in two days? walking distance, so you will eat what I make and you will like it!?

Jaheira snorted as the paladin laughed. Popular image of druids be damned-she liked cooking and she was good at it, particularly in the field with scarce supplies. One thing she had to hand to civilization-it did make her favored pastime easier to pursue. She was also quite glad Alexandria hadn?t managed to find the company of a cleric yet-they could summon their own food in the field. Bland, but Jaheira would brook no competition.

?Well, we should be reaching the Inn tonight, maybe tomorrow morning.? Ajantis said. ?Alexandria, I assume you intend to pursue this matter to Baldur?s Gate??

?Of course. I have no idea what we?ll find when we get there and start poking around, or who we?ll find, but I?ve got nothing better to do.?

?I concur.? Jaheira replied. ?We should purchase whatever we need at the Friendly Arm Inn before we travel to Baldur?s Gate. We?re likely to find everything we need, for less expense than in Baldur?s Gate.?

?You ever been there, Jaheira??

?A few times, child. It is benign, as far as cities go. Certainly better than other cities I could name, such as Athkatla or Westgate.?

?Indeed.? Xan agreed. ?Among other things, we will need to purchase new arcane supplies for Imoen, if possible. Were this Evereska, I believe I would be congratulating her on her graduation to the status of true mage. And I would be relieved at finally being rid of such a nuisance, which alas is not the case here.? The elf turned to the pink-haired girl without missing a beat. ?Not a word out of you, Imoen.?

The girl giggled but complied, and Xan simply shook his head.

?Imoen obeying me? will this be my last wonder before oblivion??

?Nah.? Alexandria cut in. ?Fate seems to have taken a more perverse interest in us than that.?

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#26 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 30 January 2008 - 06:21 AM

Well, the next chapter came out faster than I had expected. It's a longer than usual one.

Chapter XXVI: In the Pale Moonlight


The adventurers made good time without bandit attacks, or perhaps they were just closer to the Inn than they had thought. Whatever the case, the sun was only beginning to set when they finally reached the familiar walls of the Inn. The informal city of caravans outside the walls only seemed to have grown in their absence-the Inn was a popular waypoint for caravans plying the Sword Coast, close enough to Baldur?s Gate to avoid any harm from major conflicts, and well fortified in the event of bandit attacks.

With no more than a wave at the guards, Alexandria and the others returned to the same smithing shop they had visited before.

?Back again?? The gnomish priest asked.

?Yep.? Alexandria replied. ?Same order as before-armor and some weapon repairs.?

After a few minutes of haggling, Alexandria, Ajantis, Khalid, and Jaheira left their armor and metal weapons for repairs while Imoen and Xan sought out the leatherworking shop and tailor. For her part, Alexandria marched right up to the Inn proper, fully intending to get drunk. Bentley Mirrorshade evidently remembered her from her prior visits.

?And good to see you again, lass. Been making more trouble out on the Coast??

?You could say that. For now, though, you have any of that Amnish mead still??

?Of course-a few stragglers from that Amnish trade delegation are here tonight. They like their meat. Speaking of which, we even have a special event planned for tonight.?

?What kind of event??

?A dance-we?ve got several bards on hire, and it will be a mix of folk and upper-class music. Everyone? welcome to come.?

Alexandria groaned as a source of feminine laughter drew closer. The tiefling turned to Imoen, and noting the mischief in her sister?s eyes, immediately threw up her hands in surrender.

?Okay, Im, I give up. I?ll go buy a dress, and see if there?s a certain paladin who would care to dance.?

?Oh, come on, Alex. This, coming from the girl who kissed Ajantis without warning??

?That was completely different and you know it.?

?Yeah, but you do know I?m going to run off and tell him in just a few minutes, right??

The soulknife sighed and turned back to Bentley Mirrorshade. ?So, how about a mug of that mead??


Alexandria considered the outfit before her. Before buying it, she had made sure it fit, and it certainly did complement her coloration and figure, but? dressing up to make herself look good for Ajantis struck her as the height of idiocy.

Okay, maybe not idiocy. You can sometimes be too self-conscious for your own good, Alexandria of Candlekeep?

?Attractive? and ?feminine? were not words that sprung readily to mind when considering Alexandria. She would always be a large person-not even especially muscular, but she would never have the grace that Jaheira sometimes displayed, nor the girlish charm Imoen cultivated. And whatever Ajantis might say, her feline eyes, blood-red in color, lent an air of unearthliness to her face, her extraplanar blood plain to see for anyone who cared to look. Blood-red was the color that defined her, in her more introspective moments. Her skin was brown, like dried blood. Her hair was likewise reddish-brown. After a lengthy discussion with the tailor, she had settled on a dark red outfit for the dance. Red, for the blood that always seemed to surround her and follow her, wherever she went.

?Hey, Alex, you going to ever put that dress on, or just stare at it??

She sighed. ?How on Toril did I ever let you talk me into this??

?Because you knew you were doomed??

?You?re spending a bit too much time around Xan, sis.?

Imoen giggled. Unlike Alexandria, Imoen looked perfectly natural in her dress, a soft orange in color. Though modest in cut, it emphasized Imoen?s lithe, toned figure perfectly. Girlish as her demeanor was, Imoen was a very beautiful young woman, and as her magical studies proved, a highly intelligent one as well.

Finally, Alexandria sighed again and started putting on the outfit. The long-sleeved tunic wasn?t cut at all, but it suited the tiefling fine, followed by a widening skirt, a belt, and a golden necklace Imoen had saved from their looting in the Cloakwood. After a few minutes of trying and failing to do something with her hair, she decided to simply let it fall free to her shoulder. She wouldn?t go that far to look good for Ajantis? not yet, at any rate.

She looked at herself in the mirror again. The outfit did have its desired effect-nothing elaborate, but the dark red and gold color scheme worked well. Imoen definitely outshone her big sister, but for once the tiefling decided she could hold her own.


By the time the women got downstairs, the dance was already in full swing. A group of bards off to one side were playing a lively folk tune, and the center of the tavern had been cleared to serve as a dance floor. Alexandria picked out Jaheira and Khalid near the edge of the floor, both moving with energy she hadn?t seen before-Jaheira in particular, clad in a simple brown dress, looked happier than Alexandria had ever seen her. Even Khalid, in an elegant, dark green tunic, wore nothing but happiness on his face. Imoen, on the other hand, zeroed in on a somber figure at the bar, wearing purple robes. Alexandria followed, not needing to see her sister?s face to know the glint of mischief in her eyes.

?Good evening, master.?

Xan turned around and after a brief but noticeable double-take at Imoen, stood up. ?I?m doomed, I would assume??

?Oh, come on! Can?t you have a little fun now and again??

?But you aren?t even a?-

?A what? A mage even you said was good? A young, gorgeous woman who happens to have a thing for depressed elven mages??

Xan shot a pleading look in Alexandria?s direction, which she simply returned with a grin. The elf rolled his eyes and let the pink-haired girl drag him onto the dance floor. Alexandria took the mage?s vacated seat, and began scanning the crowd intently for a certain brown-haired paladin.

Some twenty minutes later, there was still no sign of Ajantis. Alexandria occasionally caught sight of Imoen and Xan-the elf appeared to be reluctantly enjoying himself as the pair danced, even taking the lead on one song. She wondered if Ajantis had found a better offer for the night-certainly there were any number of women at the dance who were considerably more attractive than a lone demon-blooded adventurer. So intent on scanning the crowd as she that the presence of a man at her side took a minute to notice. She turned to face him, finding a handsome man standing before her.

?Oh-good evening.? She said hesitantly.

?Fair evening to you, good lady. Were you looking for someone??

Alexandria paused before answering. The man had short, carefully groomed black hair and short beard, and wore a dark blue tunic over black pants. He carried himself with supreme self-confidence, and Alexandria?s eye picked out a small scar running from the corner of his mouth to his chin. He was definitely handsome. And if Ajantis hadn?t shown for twenty minutes, and Alexandira herself had been slow to dress?

?I was, but I don?t think he?s coming. My name is Alexandria.?

?Then we are well met. I am Anomen, warrior-priest of Helm. Would you be the adventurer those in Nashkel were speaking of? Who cleansed the mines??

?That was me, yes, but also my friends. It was as much their victory as mine.?

?Your humility is commendable, as is your valor. Lady Alexandria, I would be honored if you would join me for this dance.?

Alexandria thought about it for a moment more, and nodded. ?The honor is mine. I should warn you, though, I?m not an experienced dancer.?

Anomen smiled. ?Just follow my lead, my lady.?

Something twinged in the back of Alexandria?s mind at another man addressing her as his lady, but she ignored her better judgement. They walked onto the dance floor as the bards began playing a new tune-she didn?t recognize the melody, but Anomen apparently did, and he led her into the dance. Gifted with elven grace, Alexandria was not, but a month featuring more than a few hard-fought battles had taught her some measure of footwork, and she followed Anomen?s lead.

A few mis-steps and errant hand signals later, a smile creased Alexandria?s face. She had always dismissed dancing as the past-time of vain idiots, but with Anomen, she had to admit she was having fun. Dancing was a more complicated activity than she had imagined, but she set to work learning the steps, the flow and rhythm of the dance. Anomen himself was a good teacher, always wearing a broad smile and quickly showing her the correct step when she went awry-an occurance that was frequent initially, but rapidly decreasing in frequency.

?You are learning quite quickly, Lady Alexandria.? Anomen commented as the music began to change again.

?Anomen, if there?s one thing I?ve learned in my travels up and down the Sword Coast, it?s that a successful adventurer is an adaptable adventurer. You never know when you?ll need to burn down a bandit camp, climb walls, or flood a mine. Adventuring keeps you on your toes.?

?If I may ask, in whose service are you??

?What do you mean-whose service??

?I am a squire of the Order of the Radiant Heart, and a priest of Helm. In whose name do you fight??

?My father?s, I suppose. He was murdered at the start of all this-I guess you could say he?s the reason I became an adventurer.?

?But you serve no higher purpose, no god?? Anomen?s face creased with puzzlement.

?I bow to no one. The shadow of war looms over the Sword Coast, Anomen. I?m trying to stop it.?

?War? I had not heard things were deteriorating that far.?

?They have been, and worse. Surely you?ve heard about the iron crisis.?

?Yes, of course. My family, the Delryn Family, is built on the trade and manufacture of goods. We? we have been hit hard by the crisis, my lady.?

?Well, then I have some good news-the source of the iron crisis has been dealt with, I think.?

?But you do not know for certain??

?I wish I did. Wait a second?? Alexandria paused, a memory of an earlier conversation in the Friendly Arm Inn passing through her mind. ?You are of the Delryn Family??

?It is as I said, Lady Alexandria.?

?Then is one of the Flaming Fist commanders related to you? Angelo??

?Angelo?? Anomen asked. ?My sister and I were the only children my mother had before she died. Angelo was my grandfather?s name?? The knight?s words trailed off as thought, taking advantage of a lull in the dance. ?My father has mentioned someone by the name of Angelo more than once while drunk, which is an unfortunately common state for him. I never thought anything of it before, but perhaps this Angelo is a nephew or cousin of his. My father never spoke of his family to my sister or I before. Not that he?s spoken more than a handful of sober words since my mother died.? Anomen stopped, sadness creasing his face.

?I am sorry about your mother.? Alexandria said softly. ?I only recently lost my own father. Losing a parent is not easy.?

?No, it is not, my lady. But you do not know what it is like to be raised by a drunkard, who spends all the fortune his family worked hard to achieve! I do not know how my father even arranged for us to be invited to this trade delegation, let alone have the coin to finance the trip! If not for my sister, I would be tempted to abandon him completely!? Anomen said loudly, anger coursing through his voice.

?Anomen, this trade delegation is to meet with the Iron Throne in Baldur?s Gate, right??

He looked up at her, anger still clear on his face. ?Yes, the Iron Throne and other trading costers. What is your point??

?I have certain suspicions about the Iron Throne, Anomen-more than just suspicions, to be honest-and I?m heading up to Baldur?s Gate to investigate. I promise you, if I learn anything about your father?s involvement or lack thereof, or anything about the nature of Angelo, I?ll get word to you as soon as I can.?

?You would do such a thing for me?? Anomen asked, surprise and puzzlement taking stage.

The soulknife grinned. ?Not for you, necessarily, but if you can offer insights into what?s going on, it would be most appreciated. Every problem I solve leads me to still more.?

?Thank-thank you, Lady Alexandria. The music is beginning to play again-shall we stop these worries, for a time at least??

She nodded, and the pair stepped back onto the dance floor. The music this time was much livelier, and they flowed into the dance. How much time passed, Alexandria wasn?t certain, but her blood was pumping and sweat from the exertion began to collect on her brow. Anomen himself was apparently in better shape still-despite the energy of the dance, he somehow managed to remain perfectly groomed, but his smile began to change as the dance continued. It melted into something natural, not the gallant (albeit very good-looking) grin he had affected when meeting Alexandria.

Finally, as the dance began to reach its climax, the pair leaned in towards each other, with no question of what they intended, when Alexandria froze. A man clad in sky blue had come down the stairs, and the man?s dark green eyes locked onto the tiefling?s own inhuman pupils in recognition. She was vaguely aware of Anomen stumbling and cursing as the man slowly turned around and retreated up the stairs.

?My lady?? He asked.

?Ajan-er, Anomen. I need to go, now. I?m really sorry.? She said hurriedly, and without waiting for a response, broke Anomen?s embrace and quickly fled the dance floor, heading for the stairs. She found him pacing back and forth in an public room at the end of the main hallway, looking down at the ground with a troubled expression. Handsome as Anomen had been, she realized, it had in hindsight been somewhat artificial. Ajantis wore a simple light blue tunic emblazoned with the symbol of Helm. If anything, Alexandria was the overdressed one.

?Ajantis, that-that wasn?t-isn?t, what you think it was.? She said quickly.

The paladin looked up at her, his face reflecting emotions the tiefling couldn?t identify. ?Lady Alexandria, I understand. We have only known each other for less than a month. I-I had no business wishing to dance with you.?

?Oh, don?t say that, idiot.? The tiefling retorted, her voice beginning to rise. ?Where were you?! I waited and waited for you to show up-didn?t Imoen tell you I wanted to dance with you??

?Imoen??Ajantis asked, puzzled. ?I have not seen her since our arrival.?

?That?s it. I am going to kill her, after I kill you for being such an idiot. Why didn?t you say something??

?Because you deserve a man who would appreciate you more, my lady. We could not be more different, you and I. I spent perhaps an hour in my mirror, attempting to prove myself worthy-I wore my finest garb, until I realized you are not a lady of Waterdeep. Unlike them,? Ajantis went on with an embarrassed chuckle, ?You have my deepest respect.?

?So let me see if I can cut through all the crap here-you wanted to impress me, you were nervous, and you forgot I don?t give a damn what you look like.?

Finally, the paladin laughed. ?You may have corrupted my speech to a degree, my lady, but clearly you have a ways to go. Helm forgive your euphemisms, but you are correct.?

?Wouldst thou preferest I doth speaketh to thine self in such a manner as this?? Alexandria asked with a grin.

?Who in Helm?s name are you?!? A familiar male voice interrupted the conversation.

Both Ajantis and Alexandria turned to face the raven-haired knight, who had just come up the stairs. Ajantis kept his expression neutral, but Alexandria had been around him long enough to recognize that he was uneasy.

?I am Ajantis Istvarr, paladin of Helm and knight of the Order of the Radiant Heart. If you are also a follower of Helm, then identify yourself.?

Anomen?s face darkened as blood rushed to his face. ?I am Anomen Delryn, Watcher of Helm, and squire of the Order of the Radiant Heart. You claim to be a full knight??

?Yes.? Ajantis replied tightly. ?I only recently passed my Test, and have been assisting Lady Alexandria in her efforts to destroy the shadow of war that lies upon the Sword Coast.?

?Lady Alexandria, is this true??

She nodded. ?Ajantis has been traveling with me for the past month, Anomen, along with my sister, my father?s friends, and a Greycloak of Evereska. He has been my trusted comrade, and my friend.?

At that, Anomen?s face resembled an overripe tomato. Whether from embarrassment or anger, Alexandria couldn?t tell.

?Then-he was the one you were waiting for??

?I am sorry, Anomen, but yes. But please understand, I enjoyed the dance, and I do intend to find out what I can about Angelo and your father?s involvement in this, if any.?

?This-this?? Anomen choked on his words, but another voice chimed in.

?Calm down, brother. He?s a warrior of Helm, like you. You have to commend her taste in men if nothing else.?

Alexandria quickly located the source of the voice-it was a woman, leaning against the wall behind Anomen with an amused smile on her face. She was tall and lean, with long tresses of dark golden hair. She wore a simple white dress, and her manner radiated kindness. Anomen turned towards her as well.

?I-I am sorry, Moira.?

?You have nothing to apologize for, brother. I saw you dancing, and what happened afterwards. The night is still young-I?m certain there?s another young lady waiting to be swept off her feet by a gallant knight.? She answered with a smile.

Anomen blushed even harder at the woman?s words and managed to nod before bidding them a hasty farewell and retreating back downstairs.

?I am sorry about my brother, Alexandria.? The woman said, shaking her head in the stairs? direction. ?Anomen is a good man, but he still hasn?t learned to think before he acts. I reserve hope he?ll run into a woman as stubborn as he is someday.? She smiled, and offered her hand to Alexandria. ?My name is Moira Delryn.?

The tiefling returned the handshake, which was then offered to Ajantis.

?You resolved that situation quite well, Lady Delryn.?

Moira shook her head. ?Looking after my brother and my father is quite a chore, I?m afraid. Neither of them were ever the same after my mother died, especially my father. My father has lost himself in drink, and my brother in his effort at knighthood. My mother?s death left them without purpose. Some days, I think I?m the only reason the Delryn name hasn?t fallen entirely.?

?That is extraordinarily noble of you, Lady Delryn.? Ajantis replied, sincerity etched in his voice.

Moira made an embarrassed smile. ?Thank you, but I believe my brother interrupted something here. Farewell, Lord Istvarr and Lady Alexandria.? She bowed to the couple and swiftly retreated downstairs.


After Moira had disappeared, Alexandria and Ajantis stood silent for a long, awkward moment.

?Now, where were we again?? Alexandria asked.

?I believe you were taunting me about my diction, my lady.?

?Nah-I think you were about to ask me to the dance.?

?Are you certain that would be a, ah, wise idea??

?Good point.? Alexandria agreed. ?But let?s go downstairs and see what?s going on anyhow.?

The adventurers passed through the main floor of the tavern, pointedly ignoring Anomen, who had already found another young woman to dance with, and found themselves outside, in the Inn?s courtyard. The music could still be heard here, and a handful of couples had come outside for the more peaceful, intimate mood. The moon bathed the entire scene in its soft radiance.

?It appears to be a full moon.? Ajantis remarked, his voice naturally dropping to a whisper.

Alexandria looked up at the moon and nodded, also whispering. ?Not quite, but it will be in a few more days, I think.?

?It is appropriate, my lady. The moon is said to guide those who wander-those who quest. Your search may well be over in a few more days.?

The soulknife laughed quietly. ?I?ll believe that when I see it. And Ajantis, tonight, I?m not your lady. I?m not Lady Alexandria. I?m Alex.?

?As you wish? Alex.?

The two stood a pace apart from each other for a long moment before embracing tenderly. It was a feeling that had been so long put aside that the break in tension came as a sudden relief to them both.

?I am not worthy of you, Alexandria.? Ajantis whispered in her ear.

?No, you?re not.? She teased. ?But for a righteous paladin from a noble family, this tiefling adventurer, born as common as they come, will make an exception.?

The couple remained together for a long time, illuminated only by each other and the moon?s argent glow.

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#27 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 02 February 2008 - 12:00 PM

A shorter chapter than usual, but just cleaning things up before the next big one.

Chapter XXVII: Learning Curve


?So, how?d things go last night?? Imoen asked.

Alexandria glared at her sister across the breakfast table. ?And why should I tell you, considering you just about kept anything from happening??

?Because I?m your sister and I know you can?t stay mad at me for long?? Imoen replied with a grin.

?Damn you.? Alexandria agreed. ?Well, we didn?t have sex, if that?s what you?re asking.?

Imoen laughed. ?Seriously, Alex, if you had gone to Ajantis? room last night, I would have known. Xan taught me a neat alarm spell-it woke me up when you came back in. Which was pretty late in the evening.?

?Well, we danced a bit, and we talked, and just stood there for a while, enjoying the night.?

?But did the big word come up??

?What big word?? The tiefling asked, though she knew prefectly well what word Imoen meant.

?You know? the word that usually comes up after a long, romantic evening.?

?Sorry, still don?t know what you?re getting at.?

?Oh, come on, sis!? Imoen giggled. ?Do you love him??

?Interesting you would ask that, and not the logical counterpart hitherto.? Alexandria replied dryly. ?The word ?love? never came up last night, no.?

?But do you?? Imoen pressed.

?To be honest, Im, I don?t know.? Alexandria admitted. ?I mean, I like Ajantis a lot. I like him more than anyone I?ve ever met.?

?More than me??

?You?re my sister, Im. Ajantis is something else. I love you dearly, sis, and I loved Father, but I just don?t know if I can say the same for Ajantis. Sure, he?s a very dear friend, and he?s saved my life and I his more than once this last month or so. But do I love him?? The soulknife took a long draught of water. ?From what the stories and books back home always said about love, I don?t think I do love him. But it could be moving in that direction, I guess. And to be perfectly honest, he?s a very attractive man-if he had offered last night, I think I would have accepted. A romantic evening can do funny things to your judgement, both in the moment and in hindsight.?

?It is good that you are giving much thought to this, child.? A familiar voice interrupted as Jaheira sat down at their table, her breakfast lighter than either of the younger women. ?There is a time for making choices quickly in pressing need, but never in haste.?

?Oh, by the gods?? Alexandria muttered. ?Why is my love life-or lack thereof-such a big deal now??

?Because of who you are, child.? Jaheira replied simply.

?You just love being obtuse, don?t you, Jaheira??

?Or perhaps I seem so because you do not think enough before speaking. Alexandria, whether you like it or not, you are very much the heart of this group. I cannot say your leadership has always been the wisest, and cannot say I entirely approve of the decisions you have made, but you are a born leader nonetheless.?

?I sense a sermon coming on.? Alexandria observed.

?This could be a fun one.? Imoen giggled. ?Aunt Jaheira versus Alexandria in the arena of love, round one!?

?There is nothing funny about this, Imoen.? Jaheira warned. ?And you would do well to pay attention as well, for that matter.?

The sisters groaned and shared an unspoken look. Better to get the druid?s sermon over with. Jaheira glared at them both.

?Alexandria, this is the first time you have ever been seriously drawn to a man, is it not??

?I?m not making much of a secret of that.?

?Then I can safely guarantee your relationship with Ajantis is doomed. You have begun to learn a new battlefield, one far more treacherous than any you are likely to fight with your mind blade. Relationships are not easy things to maintain, child-there must be a balance, and a peace. But love itself is perhaps the most complex emotion to vex sentient creatures, no matter what Sunites might claim. It is an inherently unstable and unpredictable emotion-with time and effort, it may be tamed, but not without experience.?

?Your point being??

?Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.?

Anger flared in the tiefling. ?So you?re saying my relationship with Ajantis is nothing more than bad judgement.?

?I believe so, yes. Whether you believe you love Ajantis or not, you are infatuated at the least, consciously or otherwise. And perhaps worse, I suspect Ajantis feels the same way about you.?

If looks could kill, Jaheira?s continued existence would have found itself questionable. ?Then what, pray tell, are you trying to tell me to do??

?I am not telling you to do anything, child.? Jaheira said gently.

?Then what are you implying would be the best course of action??

?To proceed in your relationship, of course.?

Alexandria?s knife and the piece of pork impaled on it fell to the table.

?What did you just say??

?It is as I said, child. Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. You are learning good judgement in many areas-combat being a notable example-but your good judgement is only coming after making childish decisions. I, too, made such childish decisions, once upon a time.?

?Then tell us a story about your bad judgement in romance when you were younger.? Imoen chimed in. ?I, for one, learn best from experience.?

The druidess froze, uncertain if she had heard the thief-mage correctly.

?I agree.? Alexandria grinned. ?Unless you?re saying Khalid is a result of bad judgement.?

?Don?t you dare besmirch Khalid!? Jaheira snapped. ?He is the most fortunate thing to have ever happened to me!?

?Then by what you?ve been telling us, if he?s the result of good judgement, you?ve had bad judgement in the past.? Alexandria reasoned.

?Unless you?re just lecturing us for the fun of it, auntie.? Imoen teased.

Jaheira glared at them again. ?You will understand what is between Khalid and I when you get older.?

?Not going to work, Jaheira.? Alexandria warned. ?You can?t be that much older than us, and most women in Faerun at our age are married with a kid or two.?

?Silvanus, spare your servant from the agony of a daughter?? Jaheira muttered darkly.

?So how about it?? Imoen asked.

Finally, the druidess groaned. ?Silvanus help whoever you do fall in love with, Imoen. Khalid and I are older than you might think-we are both half-elven, and our lifespans are rather longer than either of yours. But if it will manage to cease your pestering, I will tell you a brief tale from when I was younger.?

The soulknife and thief-mage nodded, and Jaheira continued.

?I originally hail from Tethyr, a nation far to the south, beyond Amn. When I was a young woman-several years younger than you two, really more of an older girl-Tethyr?s government collapsed, an unfortunately common event in that nation. My parents were nobles of some stature with the old regime, and the new was unfavorable towards them, to put it mildly. They were murdered, and I was taken in by a druidic enclave, to be raised as a druid. The enclave was mainly devoted to Silvanus, but there were also adherents of Mielikki, Eldath, and Chauntea. The druids there sought to heal the wounds nature suffered during the frequent civil wars in Tethyr.

?I was not alone there-the druids had taken in a number of other children orphaned by the war. My home is wherever I can feel the Oak Father?s embrace, but that sanctuary remains special to me. I was the eldest of the children taken in, and I alone held onto the memory of my parents and my former home. Though we were all taught to revere nature, it was a more difficult thing for me than any of the others. I had been born in a city, and the woods were a mysterious, frightening thing to me. Even by the time I was your age, when most of those I had come to call my siblings had become true initiates in the ways of nature, I still held back. I was afraid.?

?So what happened to change that?? Imoen asked.

?Poor judgement, though in the long run, my lack of judgement was but another servant of the balance and the fate Silvanus intended for me. However, my lack of judgement was only the door for Silvanus. Surely the priests of Candlekeep taught you that some people learn in different manners than others.?

?Oh, yes.? Alexandria groaned. ?All those stupid tests made up by some obscure follower of Oghma-Jung, Sigmund Freud, and more names I could never keep straight.?

?You would be surprised how valid some of those theories can be, child. However, back to my tale, such as it is. Please understand that while I was roughly your age by the seasons I had lived, I was in many regards a younger woman, and I had not yet met Khalid.?

Imoen grinned as Jaheira?s voice dropped to a whisper. ?An older initiate at the enclave, who had pledged himself to Eldath, had taken, shall we say, an interest in me. In time, he asked me to go with him into the mountains, a place I had not been to, as I still fought to retain my ties to civilization at the time. However, hormones can play a significant role in impairing one?s judgment. I agreed.

?When we reached our destination, we were at a high mountain lake, far removed from civilization, or watching eyes. It was my eyes that were of importance there. I saw beauty, beauty I had not believed could exist in nature. The druids? instructions and teachings on the beauty and the rightness of nature had never truly been felt by my mind until I saw that secret place among the mountains and the forests. I suspect now that that had been my companion?s intention all along-to show me the beauty of nature in a way I had never grasped before.?

?The beauty of nature, or the beauty of your friend?? Imoen giggled.

Jaheira glared at the pink-haired woman. ?I do not hide that I was deeply attracted to him-perhaps not in love, but close enough to break through my preconceptions of the world, the notions I long held on to. My point is that I learned that day, learned something I had long been taught, yet never heard. I asked if you knew that some people learn in different manners than others-this was the time and place I learned that lesson as well. My fellow students had all learned in different ways than my own-they could grasp what I could not. A lapse in judgement was ultimately what brought it about, and that is what I am attempting to pass on to you, Alexandria and Imoen.

?If you are correct all the time, and always succeed, you will learn nothing. To learn is to be wrong, to fail, to miscalculate, and yet become stronger for your failure and misfortune.?

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#28 Tempest

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Posted 10 February 2008 - 09:06 PM

Chapter XXVIII: Baldur?s Gate


The adventurers? stay at the Friendly Arm Inn was brief-the gnomes at the forge had apparently taken a hint from someone, as the armor and weapons were repaired by the following day, and even the tears in Xan?s robes had been neatly repaired. On Ajantis? advice, they also decided to restock on provisions and supplies, instead of going to the likely higher-prices stores in Baldur?s Gate.

Alexandria?s reputation had evidently been getting around-several merchants offered the adventurers small discounts on their wares, which proved very handy when the time finally came for Xan to drag Imoen to merchants specializing in the arcane. She kept her shortbow, but decided to sell off her leather armor in favor of a set of enchanted robes, maximizing her mobility and ease of spellcasting, as well as buying a spellbook, and the myriad components required for her spells. The others had been busy as well. They were sufficiently wealthy at this point to be able to afford magical arms and armor. For obvious reasons, Alexandria had no need of a new weapon, but by the time they needed to leave, Ajantis, Khalid, and Jaheira all bore enchanted weapons. The only concession to the merchants Alexandria herself made was a small spyglass, imported from Lantan.

Finally, two days after returning from the Cloakwood, it was time to set off again. Alexandria and Ajantis were seldom found far from each other on the road north.


It was noon when the band finally reached the great stone bridge that crossed the great inlet to Baldur?s Gate. Several squads of the Flaming Fist stood guard, with a pair of what looked like oversized crossbows looking over the beachhead. One of the mercenaries approached the adventurers as they drew close.

?Halt, travelers. What mercenary company are you affiliated with, and what is your nation of origin??

?We?re not mercenaries.? Alexandria responded. ?Per se. We?re adventurers-the pink-haired mage and I are from Candlekeep, the paladin is from Waterdeep, the druid is from Tethyr, the man with two swords is from Calimshan, and the elf is from Evereska.?

The Flaming Fist sergeant frowned, as though not sure if he should laugh or not. ? Would you be the one they call Alexandria, then??

?I would.?

?Good. Got word from the Captain that you were due up here sometime soon. He?s at the guard tower on the other end of the bridge-he wants to talk to you. Good day.?

He waved the adventurers past, but Alexandria noted the Flaming Fist crossbowmen kept aim at them until they they were halfway across the bridge. The great stone construction was wide and solidly built, perfect for handling large caravans, but it had not been built without an eye for defense. Two gates divided the bridge into three stretches, with watch towers and more of the oversized crossbows atop each. All of the towers were fully manned.

?This place looks ready for war.? Alexandria whispered to Ajantis.

?It is.? The paladin agreed. ?This trade summit is the last chance for peace-if it falls through, the Flaming Fist will move south in force. Those ballistas are almost certainly rigged to fire incendiary or explosive javelins, and it would not surprise me if Flaming Fist sappers have made preparations for destroying the bridge, should it be necessary.?

On that somber note, the adventurers reached the end of the bridge, standing before the great gate that led to Baldur?s Gate. Another detachment of the Fist waved them to a halt, led by a familiar face.

?Lieutenant Donos.? Alexandria called. ?What have we done this time??

?It?s Captain Donos, now.? The officer replied with a grin. ?Commander Scar gave me Third Company when I returned-we?re assigned to policing the city. But Scar himself sent word that if you were to find your way up here, he wanted to talk to you. He?s quite impressed by your work, Alexandria. Even Duke Eltan?s heard of you.?

?How did you know we?d be coming up here, anyhow? Last we saw you, we were heading into the Cloakwood.?

?I wouldn?t be a very good Captain of the Fist if I didn?t have my ways.? The officer replied with an enigmatic smile. ?But I?m damn glad to see you arrived, even if you?re a little worse for the wear. The trade summit?s been pretty frosty, and Sarevok himself is scheduled to speak in the Wide in a couple hours.?

?Sarevok? I keep hearing that name. Can you tell me anything about him??

?Sure.? Donos replied, but a trace of suspicion worked its way across his face. ?He?s a big political figure here in the Gate-second in command of the Iron Throne. Sarevok is also pretty much the center of the movement pushing for war with Amn, and he makes a damn good case. Very popular with the crowd, and lately, more and more mercantile groups have been throwing their support behind him-the Seven Suns Trading Coster being the most recent example. With word going around that old Duke Silvershield is thinking about stepping down, Sarevok is the most likely candidate for replacement.?

?Your thoughts on that??

?I?m of two minds, like most of the Fist. He?s young-not much older than you, I?d wager-but he?s smart and clever. He has some powerful supporters, like Commander Angelo, but most of his power comes from the merchants and peasants of the Gate, which are two very powerful organizations to have on your side here. He wants the Fist to enforce freedom of trade on the Sword Coast-with Amn, Berdusk, and others. That?s a popular message here.?

?But you personally don?t like the man.? Alexandria inferred.

?In a word, no. Do I believe he?s got the right idea? Absolutely. Do I think he?s going about it the right way? Absolutely not. But between Sarevok here in the Gate, and several of the big families in Amn, well, let?s just say I?m not planning on spending much time with my wife anytime in the near future.?

?I?ll do what I can.? Alexandria promised.

Donos laughed. ?Well, given your record so far, I?m happy with that. Commander Scar and Duke Eltan won?t be available for a week or so, I?m afraid, so I hope you can find something to do. The Duke is locked solid in meetings and negotiations, and Scar is out on field exercises. Commander Angelo is in command in their absence, but I wouldn?t recommend talking to him-he?s still hunting for reasons to arrest you, and probably isn?t above getting a little creative with the paperwork. The Flaming Fist compound is in the southwest corner of the city-you?ll need this to be allowed entry.? He handed a small badge to Alexandria, of a fist shrouded in yellow fire. ?Good luck, lass. I hope you won?t need it.?

The adventurer grinned at the officer. ?Well, one last thing-where are the trade delegates staying while in the city??

?The Helm and Cloak, the most pompous inn Baldur?s Gate has to offer. It?s located in the northwest part of the city, not far from the ducal hall. But if you want my advice on where to stay, try the Three Old Kegs, near the ducal palace. Good day.?

Alexandria thanked him, and the adventurers stepped through the fortified gate and into the city of Baldur?s Gate.


?Pick your jaw up off the road, children. You border on dumbstruck status.?

?Sorry, Jaheira.? Alexandria replied quickly. ?I?ve never seen a city before-are they all this crowded??

?And loud?? Imoen chipped in.

?Unfortunately, yes. The given week we are supposed to remain here already grates on my nerves. Baldur?s Gate does not disrespect nature as much as some cities, but I would level this place had I the power.?

?Surely you don?t mean that.? Ajantis criticized. ?Cities are the lifesblood of Faerun. Aren?t you city-born as well??

?City-born, yes. We cannot help the circumstances of our birth, unnatural as they may be. Let us be on our way.?

The adventurers nodded at that. Baldur?s Gate in the afternoon was crowded and noisy-a novel experience to the two young women in the party. Shops lined the streets near the city gate, offering all manner of amenities for travelers, from a weapons shop to a small inn. Some had barkers standing outside, shouting advertisements for the shop?s wears, while others were more sedate. And everywhere was the bustle of people and animals-a large, gilt carriage slowly moved down the center of the street, drawn by a team of regal-mannered horses, and throngs of people of many races moved up and down the open spaces, from humans to dwarves to the occasional groups of high-nosed elves. Completing the racket was the omnipresent noise of seabirds overhead, many swooping down to steal whatever bits of food they could find.

Alexandria was still staring when Ajantis took her hand with a grin and set off down the street, guiding the dazed tiefling and the rest of the party through the city. Baldur?s Gate was shaped like a crescent moon around the city harbor, with a great wall dividing the city into northern and southern sections. The city?s great docks lay to the west, and the great Seatower of Balduran was visible from even the east end of the fortified city. Despite the crowds and activity, the city streets were clean and organized, with posts of the city watch and Flaming Fist at regular intervals. Periodic sewer grates were also found along the sides of the streets, and signposts were located at every intersection.

By every indication, Baldur?s Gate was a peaceful and prosperous city, as befitting its location along the Sword Coast. But Alexandria could sense that something was amiss-a sense of anxiety was pervasive in the city, people moving and talking with an undercurrent of nervousness. What little she could pick out of people talking on the streets was almost all worries of politics and future events. The other adventurers noticed it, too. Khalid noted that the city watch and Flaming Fist troopers all appeared unusually tense, and their weapons and armor were freshly polished and sharpened. Alexandria and her companions may have been somewhat unusual in their full battle dress, but they were far from alone-almost everyone in the city was carrying a weapon, and many wore light armor. The shadows of war loomed long across Baldur?s Gate.

?They?re all doomed.? Xan noted as they passed through the gate in the center of the city-the fabled Gate of Balduran itself.

?So for once it?s everyone else that?s doomed, and not us?? Imoen joked.

?Xan, if you reply with anything remotely along the lines of ?we?re all going to die?, and Imoen, if you keep egging him on, I am going to personally go out to an alchemist?s shop tonight, buy some vigor-enhancing potions, force-feed them to you and Imoen, then lock you both in the fanciest room we can afford at the inn tonight.? Alexandria threatened.

The elf stood still for a moment, as though unsure if he should laugh or not. Imoen solved the problem for him, doubling over with laughter.

?Enough, children.? Jaheira cut in, managing a far more stern tone than Alexandria would ever achieve. ?Alexandria, I clearly need to keep you further away from your sister. The Three Old Kegs is just ahead.?

The soulknife rolled her eyes. ?Yes, Aunt Jaheira.?

?I don?t know.? Ajantis deadpanned. ?If we are to have a week before Commander Scar returns, you might wish to perform a marriage ceremony, so that Imoen will settle down some by the time we continue our investigations.?

?An idea not without merit.? The druidess sighed.

?C-come now, dear.? Khalid stuttered. ?They?re-they?re having fun at your ex-expense.?

?You think I don?t know that?? Jaheira muttered. ?My love, I think traveling with these two is all the exposure to children I wish for some time.?

After a few more minutes of bickering, the adventurers finally walked the last twenty feet to the inn. The Three Old Kegs was immediately identifiable by its namesake-three wooden kegs stacked outside. A guard waved them to a halt as they approached.

?Travelers, the Kegs has strict rules about weapons-if you?re here to purchase a room, you must immediately store your weapons, including knives, wands, hand crossbows, and similar items. You may retrieve them when you leave. If you are not here to purchase a room, you must leave your weapons here before entering.?

?That?s alright.? Alexandria replied. ?There rooms available??

?You?ll have to ask the innkeeper, ma?am.?

Alexandria was surprised at the interior-it was very quiet, decorated in warm brown shades, with thick fur rugs, sturdy wooden furniture, and stacks of books along the walls. Several sets of eyes were raised at the heavily armed adventurers, but Alexandria quickly purchases four rooms for the next week. Jaheira and Khalid would share a room, of course, as would Alexandria and Imoen. The tiefling winked at her sister as they dropped off their weapons-Alexandria herself obviously never went anywhere without her mind blade, and Imoen was starting to develop her own array of unseen weapons. After a few minutes of consultation with Ajantis and Jaheira, the team decided to leave their armor and heavy weapons before heading downstairs.

?So, where to now, fearless leader?? Jaheira asked pointedly.

?Captain Donos said Sarevok was scheduled to speak in the Wide in a couple hours-which should be pretty soon now. Know your enemy.? Alexandria suggested.

?Agreed. You are learning, child-Gorion would be proud that you no longer require me to hold your hand.?

?I?ve never needed you to hold my hand!? The tiefling flared.

Jaheira looked her square in the eye. ?Yes, you did. But your suggestion was sound.?

Alexandria sighed. ?Arguing with you would be pointless. Let?s get moving.?

?As I said, you are learning, child.? Jaheira stated, but Alexandria could have sworn she saw hints of a grin on the corners of the older woman?s face.


When the adventurers arrived at the Wide, the main public space of Baldur?s Gate, there was already a debate in full swing on the center stage. Two well-dressed figures were talking back and forth, and the adventurers quietly took a seat with the rest of the crowd.

?Since when has an Amnish man?s word meant anything?? The first debater asked. ?They don?t call Athkatla the City of Coin for nothing-the clink of gold is what matters to them. And I ask you, have you seen them trying to befriend us with coins? No-they?re too busy coping with ?bandit raids? and ?corrupted iron?. It all smells like an excuse to bring their army northward to me.?

?What army?? The other scoffed. ?Word has it that Amn?s been having lots of its own troubles lately. Say, ever heard of the Corthala Family? One of the more powerful families down there, and the heir to the family is said to have gone mad last week and killed the lot. They?ve got problems of their own.?

?They say they?ve got problems of their own. Blessed Waukeen, Athkatla?s the home of the Shadow Thieves-you really think Amn?s got serious problems? They can always hire the right people to make their problems go away. At the moment, we?re Amn?s biggest problem. They take the Gate, and their coffers overflow. That?s all that matters to Amn-gold.?

?And all that coin means there?s plenty of people who?d like to take a bite out of Amn. They need iron-who are we to begrudge them for that? We need iron, too. We?ve all heard the stories of those adventurers ripping up and down the Coast, trying to fix things. They?ve got the right idea-when iron flows again, trade will return to normal.?

?Adventurers?? The first man laughed. ?I?d ask you don?t make me laugh, but too late. More like Amnish operatives. Aye, I?ve heard the stories-fighting a thousand kobolds in Nashkel, and a hundred bandits in the Wood of Sharp Teeth. If there were bandits operating that close to our city, the Fist would have crushed them. The tales say those adventurers are led by a lass with demon blood, and you really think a tiefling would be working for peace and trade?? He laughed again. ?Demon blood never means anything good, so I?m not surprised one would be working for Amn. And they say she travels with an elf, a tree-hugger, and a paladin, too! I love a good tavern tale as much as the next guy, but that ain?t even a half-decent one!?

?The bandit problem was Commander Angelo Delryn?s job, wasn?t it? Wasn?t he the one who said he couldn?t find any trace of bandits operating anywhere near Baldur?s Gate? Tiefling or not, those adventurers found something. Duke Eltan and Commander Scar have things well in hand.?

?Those idiots wouldn?t know war if it marched on Baldur?s Gate, which it very well might!?

?I beg your pardon.? A stage attendant interrupted. ?But your debate is over. Lord Anchev is due to speak.?

The two men nodded and stepped down, still arguing as they left the stage. Replacing them was the largest man Alexandria had ever seen-she estimated six and a half feet in height, easily clearing her by a few inches, and powerfully muscled. Several scars were etched across his face, which was roughly chiseled and cool in expression. Like Alexandria herself, his eyes were unusual-a dull topaz in color. He was bald, and wore surprisingly simple clothing that did nothing to diminish his bulk. Without saying a word, the crowd fell silent, cowed by the sheer presence the man emanated.

?I am Sarevok Anchev.? The man stated with a deep, resounding voice.

Alexandria?s blood froze in her veins. For a long moment, she wasn?t sitting at the Wide in Baldur?s Gate. She was standing in the woods outside Candlekeep, watching a massive figure encased in armor threaten her father. His eyes burned like flames in the moonlit night, and his voice filled with the promise of destruction. The same voice that spoke now in Baldur?s Gate, wearing the face of an ordinary man.

?Are you all right, sis?? Imoen asked, seeing Alexandria?s expression.

?I? That?s the man who killed Father.? The tiefling said with abrupt and total certainty.

?Are you certain?? Ajantis cut in, sitting on the other side of her.

?Positive. The figure, the eyes, the voice?? Alexandria wasn?t even aware of the sudden surge of hatred in her until she saw the crimson blade in her hand-the familiar scimitar form taking on a dark hue and appearance she had never seen. When simply enraged, it had been a light red with a serrated edge. Now it was turning a dark scarlet, and vicious barbs began to form along the cutting edge. It was only when Sarevok spoke again that her attention was forced away from the dire blade.

?Some now call me Lord Anchev, but I seek no title. My father taught me to care nothing for titles, only for what a man stands for. After I assumed leadership of the Iron Throne, I took my father?s words to heart.? Sarevok began to slowly walk back and forth along the stage, holding the crowd?s attention fast. ?This principle has not always made me a popular man-Cormyr has banned the Iron Throne from operating within its borders because I did not give dishonest men the respect they felt they deserved but did not earn.

?This was a humbling experience for me, to learn that honesty is not always rewarded and that some men let petty ego and ambition blind their eyes and mislead their hearts. And so I returned to the proud city of Baldur?s Gate, the city which I am privileged to call my home. It is a good city-a city built by people both hardworking and honest. In all my travels, I have found those two qualities difficult to find-I found them not in Cormyr, nor in Waterdeep, nor in Sembia. And most of all, I did not find them in the nation of Amn.

?Rieltar, my father, told me Amn is known as the Merchant?s Kingdom. It would be better called the Kingdom of Thieves. For as I have come to learn, there is a difference between those labeled merchants, and those truly worthy of the term. The men and women of Baldur?s Gate do not deserve to be painted with the same brush as those of Amn. I walked the streets of Athkatla, and did not feel safe at night-it is a city governed by greed and fear, where every man lusts for gold yet is afraid of those with it. And were that man to find gold, others would fear him, too, and with reason. Amn knows nothing of good, honest people. It breeds those qualities out of its people, for they do not help a man to survive in the Kingdom of Thieves.?

Several murmurs of agreement ran through the crowd throughout his speech, and still he continued on.

?Those before me spoke of the adventurers we have all heard of, and I assure you that the tales are true. It is even true that they are led by a demon-blooded woman named Alexandria. Now what, I ask you, is the difference between you, and these adventurers? Like all of you, they know what the right thing to do is-to protect this great city, to shield this land from those who would plunder and despoil the land and its people for the sake of coin. Again, I ask what makes them so different? Is it their martial skill? No. Their persistence? No. Their courage, their daring, even their luck? No to all!? Sarevok declared, his voice and motions filled with energy.

?The only difference between you and those adventurers is that they are willing to cross the line and do what is right! The shadows hang over this land, but I say that there is light yet! There are still good men and the ideals for which they stand! Men like Commander Angelo Delryn of the Flaming Fist, who even now readies his men to give their lives for yours! Why, I was even approached by a half-ogre named Tazok and his band-they know that if Amn pillages this land, there will be nothing left! And there are still sane minds left in Amn-Duke Farthington Roenall and Baron Ciaphas De?Arnise still fight for you all from the other side! Many brave men and women alike stand ready to face this devil that wears Amn?s face, and we will never submit!? Sarevok roared, to thunderous cheers from the crowd.

Then more softly, but no less seriously, he concluded. ?I love this city of Baldur?s Gate. I love its land and its people. And I promise you, so long as Sarevok Anchev still draws breath, I will fight for you.?

With that, he turned and walked off the stage, to another cacophony of applause and cheering. Alexandria turned and looked at her companions, who shared the same troubled expression as she.

?We are in serious trouble.? She concluded.

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#29 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 16 February 2008 - 07:49 AM

Chapter XXIX: A Fire in the Night

After spending the rest of the day in futile speculation and pronouncements of doom, the adventurers had eventually returned to the Three Old Kegs. But for reasons unknown, even to herself, Alexandria quietly slipped out of the common room and onto the streets. Night had fallen swiftly, and the glow of the moon was bright, as it had been the past few nights. A system of magical glow-orbs floated up and down the streets, adding to the soft illumination of the city streets. None of it was necessary for Alexandria to see, of course. Her eyes pierced the darkness as though it were daylight. The streets were quiet at night-even the occasional patrols of the city watch kept their noise to a minimum.

Her path took her throughout the city, turning corners on whims, and not actively thinking about where she was going. She had a strange feeling, though? it was a yearning she knew she had felt before, though she could not say when or where. It wasn?t the hollow she had felt after Gorion?s death, the iron grip of the void, or even her feelings toward Ajantis. It was more like an attack of wanderlust, only a thousand times deeper. Something was plucking the strings of her soul, and she continued to walk in the seemingly random directions she was drawn to.

It was when she heard the sound of singing that she realized she had paused in front of a large building on the docks, emblazoned with an odd symbol in front. Two stylized human eyes, surrounded by seven stars, all in bright silver. But she definitely heard noise coming from within, and she slowly pushed open the doors. It was a temple, and in the middle of a service. A bewildering variety of individuals were seated on benches in the temple, people ranging from sailors to noblemen. The priestess leading a chant wore elaborate silver robes, with the same insignia on them that had appeared on the front of the temple. Alex?s natural inclination was to duck back out, but for some reason, she quietly took a seat in the back of the temple and listened.

It was a temple of Selune, she learned. She had heard about the deity, of course, but never paid much mind. But she listened to the priestess intently as she began to preach. Her words startled Alexandria. She preached about overcoming the night with the light of the moon, bringing light to dark places, secrets to light. But even more unusually, she preached about the importance of tolerance and acceptance of others, no matter what background they had. Even lycanthropes could be good people, but you would never know it if you never gave them the chance.

Alex was surprised to find herself thinking hard about the priestess?s words. She had never liked secrets, or people who kept them. It was why she and Gorion had become somewhat strained when speaking with each other-Alex had known Gorion kept secrets, very important ones, and ever since his death, she had been slowly piecing together the answers to some questions he?d never answered. But more than that was the message about tolerance and acceptance. Alex had never been truly accepted by anyone, save a very few. Between her demonic blood and mind blade, only Imoen, Gorion, Winthrop, and Tethtoril were ever truly comfortable around her in Candlekeep.

Even amongst her friends who had accompanied her since Gorion?s death, she found acceptance a thing hard won-not granted out of course. The void, her infernal heritage, her fiercely individualistic outlook? only Imoen had trusted her completely from the outset. She thought the others did, now, but only after quite some time at her side. To simply accept someone-to simply accept her-was a new idea. But it was not an idea without merit, she sensed. She could feel the truth of the Selunites? words in her bones-in her very soul.

How long it was after entering the temple, she didn?t know. But she did know that when she opened her eyes again, the temple was empty, save for the priestess, who stood before her.

?Would you like to speak with me, young woman??

?I? think I would. I am Alexandria of Candlekeep.?

?I greet you in the name of Selune, Alexandria. I am Calanire, Priestess of the Night Fire. Please, come with me.?

Alexandria rose, and followed the priestess. They found themselves on a small balcony, overlooking the sea. The moon was bright as ever, light shining down on the temple. She looked over at the priestess, who had a serene expression on her face.

?I am sorry if I caused a disruption, priestess. I? I was thinking. About a lot of things.?

?I have seen the look on your face before. The look as a person who thought they knew what life was and what they wanted out of it had their beliefs destroyed in a single night of revelation. Please, tell me what you were thinking.?

?I?ve? never worshipped a god in my life. Although I was raised in Candlekeep, holy ground to both Savras and Oghma, I have always felt myself an outcast in life. Very few residents of Candlekeep ever truly accepted me for what I was, even though I lived there my entire life.?

?You are a tiefling, Alexandria. You have been blessed with extraordinary gifts.?

?Yes, I have been. More than you think??

Alexandria paused for a moment, and her mind blade sprung forth into her hand. It glowed deep indigo, with traces of silver rippling across it at random. She had never seen it look that way before, but she concentrated and played tricks with it, splitting it into two smaller blades, reforming them into one larger blade, shrinking it and growing it, dropping it and recreating it. She looked up at the Calanire.

?I?ve been able to do this ever since I was a little girl, and my capabilities with it have only grown stronger as I grew up. At first it was just a sword I could only create after several minutes of intense concentration. Then I could do it in a few minutes. Then a matter of seconds. I learned to reshape the blade as I wished. People were afraid of me, and I don?t blame them. The first time it happened, I almost killed a boy in anger, even though I was years younger than him. Everyone was afraid of what might happen if they made me mad, especially once they found out I was practicing and meditating, learning to create it at will.?

?People are afraid of what they don?t understand. To most, a lycanthrope is a hideous, deranged beast. But the Moonmaiden accepts them to her bosom. She knows they are simply people gifted with an extraordinary ability, just as you are.?

?No? I don?t blame them for being afraid of me. I?ve always had a brutal temper. I try to keep it from happening, but people knew what I was capable of when I got really, really angry. They knew that, even when I was a little girl, I could kill them. I never wanted to, I always tried desperately to stay calm? but only a few people ever accepted me for who and what I am, as who and what I am. My foster father, Gorion, my little sister, Imoen, and two people I always called my uncles, Tethtoril and Winthrop. But Gorion?s dead, and the others are so far away? Imoen?s the only one left. I?ve made a few friends since, but people whom I called family? they?re almost all gone.

?What happened??

Alexandria thought back to the night her father died. Though she had revisited it often in her nightmares, she seldom thought about it by choice. A night under a full moon, lit by the moon?s glow? and the fire of the armored man?s-Sarevok?s- eyes. Slowly, hesitantly, she told Calanire everything that had happened. Not just the battles she had fought with her friends, but how no one ever really trusted her. She told her about the dark urges she fought, how her mind blade had sometimes been a weapon of blackest anger and hatred. She had never told the full story of what had happened to her, and not even Imoen knew the darkest secrets-the voice, and the will, behind the void. Behind the fabric of her being. Calanire listened to her tale intently, a deep and concerned look on her face. But never once did she interrupt Alexandria?s story. Eventually, Alexandria finished, and Calanire looked at the tiefling strangely, then upwards, as though she had seen a ghost.

Alexandria followed Calanire?s gaze. Dancing above them were several silver motes of light, seemingly coalesced out of the moonlight itself. Calanire?s eyes came back to Alexandria.

?Alexandria, didn?t you say you had seen something like this before??

?Yes, the night? Gorion died. As I was running, silver motes appeared in the distance, much like those. I? I ran towards them. I don?t know why, but I did.?

?Alexandria, I apologize if this offends you, but? would you like to join me in a prayer to Selune??

?I? I?ve never prayed to anyone in my life.?

?There?s no trick to it, Alexandria. Just open your heart to the Moonmaiden.?

Alexandria nodded hesitantly, and closed her eyes. Calanire began to speak, and Alexandria?s voiced joined her in prayer. The tiefling simply began to speak from her heart, and didn?t even notice when Calanire?s voiced dropped out. She simply continued to pray, her voice turning raw as emotions, thoughts, fears, and hopes spilled forth in a raging tempest. In her voice, Calanire heard joy, sorrow, regret, triumph, pride, humility? she was astounded at the young woman before her, a woman who had never even used a god?s name in a curse, pouring out her soul to the Moonmaiden. But what rang through most of all was the woman?s strength of spirit and unrelenting determination. As much as evil tugged at her soul, as much as she struggled sometimes to simply keep herself as shallow as possible in the ocean of darkness, she had never once lost hope or her spirit to fight for good. Calanire realized that the young woman standing before her was a person of extraordinary strength and piety.

Finally, Alexandria finished. Her voice was raw, and her body shaken, but there was a peace in her mind and soul. She had finally found what she had been looking for all her life-peace. It wasn?t a peace that could be found in one?s own mind, or in the minds of others, but the peace of faith. And faith now intertwined itself with Alexandria?s soul. At last, she opened her eyes again. It was as though everything was bathed in a new light. She would never be the same again. But there was something else?

?Alexandria, Selune has had her eye on you for a long time, I think. The night you first manifested your mind blade-what was the moon like??

?I remember that night vividly. It was a new moon.?

?And it?s been nearly a full month since you left Candlekeep, almost. You said it was the full moon that night.?

?Yes.?

?It will be the full moon again tomorrow night, Alex. The motes of Selune dance above us tonight. You enjoy strong favor indeed from the Moonmaiden, and I can see the newborn flame of faith in your eyes. The signs are unmistakable. Alex, would you like to take your faith further, to explore the mystery of our Lady of Silver??

?What do you mean??

?This is unprecedented, but so are the signs surrounding your journey here. I know it is very sudden, but I would like to offer you the opportunity to join the church of Selune.?

?I thought I already did that. And this? faith? is? it?s like ten pounds of life squeezed into a five-pound bag.?

?Yes, and I am offering you the chance to truly become part of something more. I am offering you the chance to begin your path as a priestess of Selune. If you decline, I understand, but Alexandria, whether you knew it or not, Selune has guided you for your entire life. The holy histories mention only five times before when she has taken such an active hand in guiding someone to her, and none of them failed to have a great role to play. She doesn?t care that you?re a tiefling, or that you?re gifted with an incredible power of the mind. She knows you and accepts you for what you are? all that you are.?

Tears began to run down Alexandria?s face. ?But I?m an adventurer-I swore I would bring my father?s murderer to justice, and I intend to follow the trail of the Iron Throne wherever it leads. And this is all happening so fast??

?Many acolytes are adventurers, and we would not wish to detain you from your course. We aren?t as heavy on rules and obedience and ceremony as other churches, Alex-all that matters are your faith and your willingness to serve and bring Selune?s light wherever you tread. Tomorrow night is the full moon, and it is on the full moon that we induct new acolytes into the priesthood. You will be free to go to travel wherever Selune guides you, and you need not take up a sedentary position within the church. You would need stay here for no more than a week at most-I have no doubt you would be a quick learner. To be an adventurer is to be a servant of the Moonmaiden where none else travel, bringing darkness to light, and destroying evil. The choice is ultimately yours, but the Moonmaiden has guided you here for a reason tonight.?

Alexandria turned away, silvery tears running streaming down her face.

?Selune is calling you, Alexandria. Will you answer??

The tiefling did not respond for a long time. She looked out over the waves, and up at the dancing figments of silver. She had adamantly refused to bow to anyone in her life-not to any who would call themselves her superior, and not to the gods. But it occurred to her that there was a difference between that and the calling before her. To have her loyalty commanded of her-that she refused to yield to. But to voluntarily give herself to a cause-a higher purpose?

Memories of conversations flashed through her mind. Imoen, Jaheira, Khalid, Ajantis, Xan? they all knew the difference. Jaheira in particular had tried to explain, but Alexandria had always refused to listen. And whatever the tiefling may have said, she had given her loyalty, and indeed risked her life, for a higher purpose than herself. She had vowed to bring her father?s killer-Sarevok, now that she knew the name-to justice, and to stop the war that had not yet come to pass.

Again, Jaheira?s words repeated themselves in Alexandria?s mind.

?Even if you do someday kill the man who slew Gorion, what will you do after that? Everyone finds a balance, a reason for existence beyond merely fulfilling some vow? What will you do, Alexandria? Will you accept a meaningless day-to-day existence, or will you seek to live for a purpose, a cause? In short, what will be your reason to live??

For better or worse, matters were moving swiftly now, and Alexandria couldn?t shake the suspicion that Sarevok knew she was onto him. One way or the other, it was looking like the cause, the adventure she had thrown herself into for the past month was drawing to a close. Probably a very unpleasant close with a substantial chance of Alexandria getting injured or killed, but a close nonetheless. Avenging her father had seemed an impossible task a month before, likewise stopping the war from ever starting. But if-and when-she succeeded, what would she do?

?Jaheira, you were right?? The soulknife-maybe more than just a soulknife, now-whispered.

The night Gorion died, the night Alexandria fought off the void for the first time, even that quiet night at the Friendly Arm Inn with Ajantis? Alexandria?s path had always been guided by the moon. She began to speak, but not to Calanire.

?Selune, I suppose you?re laughing now-you knew this was coming. You knew since before I left Candlekeep, probably. I tried so hard to live my own life, but I guess I?m meeting destiny on the road I took to avoid it. No one?s ever called me a slow learner, and I think I?ve gotten the hint. Never imagined this is what I would be called on to do in life, but I guess this life never really was mine to decide. So please forgive me if I?m a little rough at this at first-never been in a position to become a priestess before, and none of the books in Candlekeep said anything about how to be one, either.? She stopped for a moment and laughed to herself. ?But this feels so wonderful! If you?re really calling me, then here I am.?

Calanire smiled at the young woman?s enthusiasm. She?d seen stranger people enter the faith, but not many, and none showed the potential-or the favor-this one did.

?Then return here tomorrow evening at moonrise. I encourage you to spend the next day contemplating your decision-we will not look unkindly upon you if you rescind your decision. If you do come, bring only what you feel you need, and we will provide what else is required. Your companions will also be welcome to attend the ceremony. Go with Selune?s blessing, Alexandria of Candlekeep, and take this-I feel you may have need of it in the future.?

In Calanire?s hand was a silver holy symbol of Selune.


Alexandria wandered back to the streets in a daze. No longer was the omnipresent moonlight simply a thing of beauty to her-it was? her goddess made manifest. So strange to think of it like that now. So strange to undergo such an epiphany-a single searing night of revelation. From atheist to priestess, from soulknife to holy representative? fate-or Selune-had a sense of humor, the tiefling had to admit. And a week to learn amongst the faith, when the adventurers had been given orders to remain a week before reporting to the Flaming Fist? Someone with a hammer made of plots had spoken.

So intent was she on her own ruminations that she did not see the danger before it was almost upon her. Three brigands-petty thieves by the looks of them-had cornered a young woman and boy to the side of the road, hidden in shadows, but betrayed by the woman?s sobs.

?Leave us alone-we have nothing for you to take!?

?What kind if idiot walks the streets without any coin?? The brigand?s leader asked, voice filled with menace.

Alexandria didn?t bother listening to the rest of the conversation. A moment of concentration, and her mind blade grew into her hand. The first brigand, intent on the prey before him, never saw his assailant before the ethereal blade stabbed deep into his back, instantly severing his spinal cord and penetrating into his chest cavity. He dropped without so much as a word.

Unfortunately, it was more than enough for the other two. Their eyes went wide at their new attacker, but a streak of light from behind Alexandria smashed into one of the two survivors, turning him into a blazing torch. He began to roll on the ground and scream in agony, frantically trying to put the flame out. Alexandria calmly reformed her blade into its scimitar configuration and delivered a mercy stroke to the fallen brigand.

The remaining brigand died quickly, struck down by psionic blade and another blast of magic.

?Are you alright?? Two feminine voices asked simultaneously.

Both Alexandria and the would-have-been victim looked around, at the source of the unexpected magical attacks. It was a young woman on a horse, wearing a thick cloak with its hood down. Alexandria?s color perception was off in the odd lighting, but she saw aristocratic features, dark green eyes, orange-red hair, and an anxious expression.

?I?m-I?m fine.? The peasant woman responded. ?Thank you both. I really have to get going.?

She did, leaving the two other women standing there. Alexandria gave the horsewoman a curious expression.

?I didn?t need the help, but thanks.?

?Oh, Auntie?s going to be so displeased if she finds out what happened tonight.? The other woman replied, more to herself than anything. ?Er, I?m sorry.? She said, looking up (or down, rather) at Alexandria. ?I just couldn?t let that poor woman, well, whatever would have happened to her, I stopped it.?

Pretty as the young woman was, her manner was starting to grate on the adventurer. ?Look, thanks for the help, and now I?m sure you?re proud of yourself, but we both need to get going-the city watch should be here soon, and since you?re a noble, unless I?m very much mistaken, I doubt you want to get caught at a crime scene with three dead men and a tiefling.?

?You?re right-Auntie would have a heart attack if she knew what happened tonight, though I think my father will approve. He?ll be happy to know there are still good people among the poor and needy.?

?How very good for you.? Alexandria replied, not choosing to let a choice selection of other words escape her lips at an audible level. ?I?m neither poor nor needy, your highness. I am an adventurer, and a good one, if I do say so myself.?

The noblewoman made a sound that Alexandria decided to classify as a hastily and poorly suppressed laugh. ?Don?t call me ?your highness?. Isea does that when he?s trying to be sweet, and unless you want me to vent my frustration on you, I think we should part ways. Oh, and by the way, my name?s Nalia.?

?Charmed.? The tiefling deadpanned. ?I am Alexandria.?

After another awkward moment, the two simply turned to their separate paths and walked away into the night. The soulknife-perhaps acolyte now-was tempted to write the whole incident off as a coincidence, but she had a newfound suspicion of mere chance and luck. For the time being, however, she had more pressing matters to think about.


Jaheira kept a watchful eye on the inn?s door. She had seen Alexandria depart, of course, but chose not to stop her. Her prayers and meditations had allowed her a glimpse of something important for Alexandria in Baldur?s Gate-something that would change her life forever. What it was, the druid could not say-all her auguries had revealed was that it would occur under the light of the moon. Khalid had silently agreed that Alexandria was best left to her own devices. Finding the balance in oneself was not a group activity-it was a deeply personal thing, and any guidance the Harpers might have tried to impart to Alexandria would only have met with hostility.

It was a pity, she reflected. Alexandria had depths that did not always make themselves known-reserves of wisdom and intellect that she used like a scalpel, only when and were they would do the most good. Though the child?s judgement in choosing those times could be deplorable. In another time, another place, Jaheira would have strongly considered attempting to recruit Alexandria for the Harpers-she had the spirit and the drive-but such fantasies were of no use now. Alexandria would regard Jaheira?s guidance as manipulation, which the druid supposed was true to some extent. Perhaps in time?

All such ruminations were put aside when the inn door opened again, and Alexandria stepped through. Jaheira needed no auguries to know that something had indeed changed, and something for the better. The druid could not put words to what had changed, though there was certainly evidence-she had a strangely happy expression, something quite at odds with the day?s events. Imoen saw it too, Jaheira noted. The thief-mage immediately jumped out of her chair and ran towards her sister.

?What happened, Alex? Where were ya??

?I was at a temple of Selune.? Alexandria responded, her tone carrying the happiness she had found, feeling none of the hesitation that had marked her talk with Calanire. ?I found something, sis. Found what I?ve been missing all my life.?

Without further words, she simply showed Imoen the holy symbol she had received-the stylized eyes-and-stars symbol of her goddess.

?Oh, wow!? Imoen hugged her sister. ?Somehow, though, I?m not real surprised-Jaheira called it.?

?She did at that.? Alexandria admitted, then lifted her gaze to the druid. ?You were right, Jaheira. You were right.?

?What will you do now, child?? Jaheira asked gently.

?I haven?t made my formal decision yet-the ceremony will be tomorrow night. If I go, I will be initiated into the church of Selune as an acolyte. Calanire, the priestess there, told me that if I do become an acolyte, I would need stay no more than a week. She encouraged me to continue my adventures, and my quest.?

?A week?? Ajantis murmured, though his heart was overjoyed to see the change in his lady. ?We were told to wait a week to speak with Commander Scar. I do not know much of Selune, my lady, but it would appear she has a very apropos sense of timing. I would not dare attempt to persuade you to change your path-I expect we can survive in your absence.?

?You?re not upset?? The tiefling asked quizzically.

?Far from it-I am overjoyed for you, my lady.? Ajantis put proof to his words with a quick kiss. Alexandria blushed, but returned the emotion.


The next day passed quickly for Alexandria. Aside from a quick trip to the Helm and Cloak to fill in Anomen and Moira on what little she had learned, as promised, she spent most of the day in the Three Old Kegs, nominally staring at her book, At the Edge of the Soul, to learn more about her mind blade?s abilities, but that part of her had faded in importance. She would always be a soulknife, and her mind her deadliest weapon, but the idea of spending her life mastering that gift now felt shallow. It was powerful, yes, and a truly rare gift that she would always cherish, but it was ultimately a gift restricted to her alone-a tool to be used by her. What Alexandria was coming to know in her heart was that she herself was to be a tool-a servant of the Moonmaiden. Just as the mind blade served Alexandria, so would she serve Selune.

Alexandria couldn?t pretend to be completely peaceful about the idea, though. Sarevok?s influence was growing with every passing day, and she remembered all too well how his gaze had shaken the void loose in her soul. As it had been for the last week or so, the void was quiet, and the tiefling almost hoped her faith had driven it from her soul. But that was wishful thinking. She had felt the will behind the void, and she doubted it would be defeated so easily. There was a connection between her, the void, and Sarevok-that much, she knew. The connection had led to druids being willing to murder her-and others. It had led to her father?s death. But even after talking with Jaheira, Ajantis, and Xan, the only clues towards the void she knew of were those flashes of dreams she had had in the Cloakwood-visions of death and pain on levels unimaginable to her. Thinking back to the Cloakwood, she couldn?t dismiss Faldorn?s implications that Imoen was involved on some level, too.

Alexandria, Imoen, Gorion, Sarevok, Roenall, Semaj, Angelo, Alaundo? all involved somehow. Tiefling, thief-mage, archmage, politician, nobleman, wizard, mercenary captain, prophet? Baldur?s Gate, Amn, and Candlekeep? none of it made any sense. Alexandria had learned a great deal, and she had learned nothing. She had no doubt Sarevok could kill her if she tried assassinating him, and doing so would likely just make the situation on the Sword Coast even worse. A month of battle, intrigue, and death, and Alexandria still hurtled through the darkness.

But now, there was a difference in her journey through the uncharted seas. Faith.

Eventually, she looked out the window-night was falling. Or Selune was rising, she corrected herself. For her presentation to the temple, Alexandria decided to forgo her armor, clad in the simple silvery tunic, brown leather pants, and hiking boots she had worn a lifetime ago in Candlekeep. She looked at herself in the mirror. Still Alexandria. But a very different woman.


Still carrying the holy symbol she had been given the night before, Alexandria returned to the temple with her companions. Calanire was waiting for them. Alexandria would be one of three to become acolytes of Selune that night. Calanire bade them all enter, with Alexandria moving to the front of the temple, where three priestesses waited, along with two other individuals. Alexandria mentally recorded them both-a young woman, perhaps five years younger than Alexandria, and a man a few years older. They wore expressions of open wonder. Alexandria?s was more reserved, but her heart beat with the same emotion. They waited for a time, as the priestesses explained the ceremony and their parts in it, but Alexandria?s mind wandered, still looking inward and onward. Eventually, it was time. The priestesses handed new robes to the acolytes-robes of plain silver, without decoration. Part of Alexandria?s mind noted that the robe issued to her was larger than the others-bulky enough to be worn over armor.

The ceremony was simpler than she had expected. Selune and her servants did not stand much on ceremony and ritual. Alexandria and the two others stood before the altar, which bore a large bowl of milk-she wasn?t certain why milk was important to Selune, but her doubts were washed away by the moment almost before they formed. Calanire, resplendent in the elaborate bejeweled robes and moonstone earrings befitting the high priestess of Selune in the city. She went to each acolyte in turn.

?Who comes before the moon?s light, returning from a lifetime of darkness?? She asked the young woman.

?Vitalia Vespasian comes. She has been lost in the endless shadow, but now has found the light, and her faith.?

Calanire then went to the older man, and asked the same question.

?Aern Charmosian comes. He has sought answers to questions in his soul, but sought them only in darkness. Now he beholds the source of wisdom and knowledge.?

Finally, she came to Alexandria, repeating the question.

The tiefling took a deep breath. ?Alexandria of Candlekeep comes. She has fought the darkness with sword and fist and fire, but now understands that it is only through light and through faith that the darkness may be vanquished.?

?Then kneel before the altar, young faithful. Let Selune?s grace pour into you.?

The acolytes did so, and from the hole in the center of the ceiling, the moonlight suddenly intensified, bathing the acolytes in a fierce silver radiance. Alexandria?s heart sang even as a discordant part of her soul rebelled, singing a broken wail. Then a voice emanated from the light itself, feminine but hinting at endless wisdom and power.

?Let on all whom my light falls be welcome if they desire to.? The voice charged. ?As the silver moon waxes and wanes, so too does all life. Trust in my radiance, and know that all love alive shall know my blessing. Turn to the moon, and I will be your true guide.?

The moment finally overloaded Alexandria?s battered emotional controls. Kneeling in the brilliant argent radiance, she wept.

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#30 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 22 February 2008 - 04:16 PM

Chapter XXX: Sleight of Face


Alexandria had been accused of many faults in her life-rash behavior, irrational stubbornness, and a violent streak to name a few-but being a slow learner had never been among them. The week she spent at the temple of Selune was one of the most fascinating of her life. True to Calanire?s word, and perhaps due to the obvious favor the tiefling enjoyed in Selune?s eyes, the week was largely a crash-backgrounding course in the faith.

At the core, though, Selune?s will really wasn?t that complex. Acceptance and tolerance were among the highest virtues, but humility and self-reliance were also highly encouraged-all together, virtues that married well with her adventuring lifestyle and status as a racial pariah among those aware of the source of her feline eyes. There was also a very strong reliance on personal faith, as opposed to ritual-true to the chaotic nature of their goddess, the Selunite church let its clergy go where they willed as they felt called to go-Alexandria?s burning determination to continue her adventuring and crusade was not only tolerated, it was lauded.

Even so, the end came all too quickly. Alexandria stood at the doorway of the temple, wearing her deliberately oversized robes-designed to be worn over her armor when required-and looked out at the streets, and her friends who were waiting for her. The world looked very different to her now.

?Alexandria, we would be pleased to have you stay with us longer, but the Moonmaiden calls.? Calanire said from where she stood at the acolyte?s side. ?The doors of any temple of our Lady of Silver are open to you, and I dare say the next time you enter will be to be confirmed as a full priestess.?

?How will I know when I?m ready?? The tiefling asked.

?I think you?ll know when you are-or Selune will. She?s guided you here, and she will be your guide for the rest of your life.?

?I suppose she will at that. I am sorry-my mind has not quite caught up to my heart and my spirit.?

?It?s quite alright. Farewell, Alexandria. May Selune guide your steps in the night, and bring them to the new dawn.?


Alexandria quickly rejoined the others and returned to the Three Old Kegs for breakfast. She found herself speaking to Jaheira across the table.

?So, what?s happened while I was at the temple??

?Matters continue to deteriorate, as you might have expected. Rumor has it that one of Sarevok?s allies in Amn, one Lady Corthala, has died recently under suspicious circumstances, but that is perhaps the only good news I have for you. We have performed a number of other tasks in your absence, and have accumulated more gold, but a messenger from Captain Donos came this morning, requesting your presence at the Flaming Fist compound this afternoon-it appears that Commander Scar has returned, and he wishes to speak with us.?

Is this what we?ve come to? Treating the death of a woman we don?t know as good news?

?Good timing.? Alexandria agreed in between spearing mouthfuls of sausage on her knife. Good food for acolytes was one thing the temple had lacked. ?Jaheira, I wanted to thank you.? She said suddenly.

?For what, child?? Jaheira?s eyes locked onto the tielfing.

?For telling me the things I didn?t want to hear. For not giving up on me despite my own nature. I?ll be perfectly honest-I didn?t like you when we first met, and I thought for a long time you were a meddling pain in my backside. Not that I?m saying I don?t think you aren?t now,? The acolyte grinned. ?But Jaheira, thank you.?

Jaheira then did something Alexandria had never seen before. She laughed.

?Oh, by the horns of Silvanus, who are you and what have you done with Alexandria??

?It?s still me. Just? changed.?

Jaheira?s momentary smile faded back into her usual near-frown. ?I was only jesting, child.?

?You, making a joke? Now who are you and what have you done with Jaheira??

?Point taken. You might as well finish eating-we head for the Flaming Fist compound this afternoon.?


If Alexanria had ever doubted that Baldur?s Gate was a city on the edge of war, the southwest district of the city, home to the Flaming Fist, would have dispelled those doubts in an instant. A large gallows had been erected, and it was in use. Several soldiers of the Fist were marching a tall, red-robed man towards the gallows, where the hangman already waited. Alexandria noted a strange sensation as she drew near-something seemed to dampen her spirit, though she did not know what.

?Antimagic field.? Xan noted. ?Renders attempts to make use of the Weave all but pointless. That man is doomed, if he is a wizard.?

?Just out of curiosity, would my spells from Selune be affected?? Alexandria asked.

?You and Jaheira alike would encounter difficulty attempting to cast magic, yes, but not to the extent of Imoen or myself.?

?Attention, fair people of Baldur?s Gate!? A voice called from the Flaming Fist contingent at the gallows. ?Today we bear witness to the fate of Edwin Odesseiron of Thay, a criminal most foul. Arrested by the Flaming Fist, the fair courts of the city have found this man guilty of slave trafficking, of the murder of three innocent merchants and one city watchman, of conspiracy against the city, and of treason. And so by the grace of Tyr, it is ordained that he be hung by the neck until dead.?

Alexandria looked closer at the man. He wore an elaborate uniform of silver and purple, with the prominent symbol of an iron fist sheathed in red fire on the chest. The man was of average height, but had the wiry look of a trained archer, and enjoyed thick, dark blonde hair. He personally marched the prisoner up to the gallows, and let the hangman place the noose around the condemned man?s neck. The officer then turned to the crowd again.

?Know that the Flaming Fist does not tolerate the practice of slavery within Baldur?s Gate, nor the evil of the Red Wizards of Thay. This man?s fate is what awaits all who would commit such trespasses.?

The hangman pulled the lever, and Edwin Odesseiron fell. The rope jerked upwards as he hit the bottom of its length, but there was no telltale snap of a breaking neck. Instead, the Red Wizard simply hung there, struggling against the rope around his neck, and that which bound his hands. Alexandria watched in morbid fascination for the next few minutes as the wizard?s face turned red to match his robes, then purple as the rope cut off his air supply and slowly strangled him to death.

Only when the Red Wizard was dead did the crowd disperse. Alexandria and her friends went directly towards the Flaming Fist compound. As expected, it was a formidable structure-one of the two primary defensive citadels within the city. Soldiers patrolled the walls, and several heavy ballistas were fully manned. After showing her badge of entry to the outside guards, they waved her through and into the central keep.

Alexandria recognized Commander Scar immediately upon entering the primary floor of the keep. He was aptly named-a jagged scar ran across the extent of his face, from the upper-left corner of his forehead to the lower-right corner of his jaw, and a large portion of his nose was missing. Other, less promiment, scars gave him a roughly finished appearance, but his voice was loud and authoritative as he gave orders to others present.
Even as the adventurers entered, his attention was focused on two young women in black leather, one with long brown hair, one with short black hair and blue tattoos on her face. They closely resembled one another, and Scar?s next words confirmed Alexandria?s suspicions.

?Jaina and Annie Fletcher, the Fist has had enough of your antics. We know who you?re working for, and have more than enough evidence to sent you both behind bars.? The commander snapped. ?Which is just what I?d do, but the Dukes have something new in mind. You are both hereby sentenced to two years of *hard* labor for the good of the community. And don?t think your guild will be able to get you out of this one-see those six men in the shiny plate with red helms? Those are representatives from the Citadel of Strategic Militancy, and they will oversee your labor for the good of the community around the Citadel. Don?t even think of trying anything funny-the priests of the Red Knight would love to put a stop to anything you can think of. Next!?

Finally, Alexandria stepped forward.

?Excuse me, Commander Scar, but Captain Donos said you wanted to see us? I?m Alexandria of Candlekeep, and these are Imoen, Ajantis, Jaheira, Khalid, and Xan.?

The Flaming Fist commander snapped his gaze towards each of them in turn, and Alexandria had a distinct impression of being appraised, evaluated, and sent to judgement in an instant when that gaze traveled across her.

?For all the trouble you?ve been causing me, I hope you have a good explanation.? He said icily.

?Yer not looking for an answer, are ya?? Imoen piped up. ?You?re just testing us.?

Before Alexandria and Jaheira could turn around to shush the thief-mage, Scar broke into a grin.

?I was at that. You?ve been causing me a lot of trouble, kiddies, but you?ve been causing that bastard Angelo more, so that means I?m happy to see you. I don?t have time to beat around the bush, girl, so I?ll make things plain. The Duke has asked me to investigate Sarevok and his allies, but we can?t do that for political reasons. Nathaniel trusts you and the Duke agrees, so *you* can investigate. It won?t fool anyone, but it will be enough of a veneer to keep things from going too far south. I?ve got a job I?d like you to handle-it will almost certainly be very dangerous, but I?ve got a reward on the order of one thousand gold pieces if you pull it off. It will mean striking against Sarevok and his allies. Interested??

Seeing agreement on the others? faces, Alexandria nodded.

?Okay, here?s the deal. I want you to investigate the Seven Suns Trading Coster, located right here in the southwest district. They were very vocal opponents of Sarevok up until about two weeks ago, when they suddenly threw their weight behind him. Magical scrying didn?t reveal much, but we got approached a few days ago by a lieutenant in the Coster who just came in from Waterdeep. He thinks something odd has happened-he swore that the folks in the Coster weren?t the same people. I want you to check this out.?

?Any recommendations on how to approach this?? Alexandria asked.

?Can you handle a direct approach?? Scar grinned.

?I think we can work something out.?

?Good. I want you to bull your way in, girl. The Duke and I intend to send Sarevok a message-if he?s been bewitching the minds of innocent people, we are going to stop him.? Scar handed Alexandria a small scroll. ?This is a ducal pardon, girl-the gloves are officially off. If my men try to arrest you, give them that, and you?ll be on your way. Good luck. Next!?

With that brusque dismissal, the adventurers turned and left the compound. Xan, oddly enough, made a point of walking beside her as they started towards the Seven Suns.

?You have any idea what might have caused such a sudden change?? She asked.

?Many ideas, Alexandria, all of them spelling doom for us. Powerful arcane spells, properly applied, can have such effects, as could appropriate psionic powers and eldritch invocations. Doppelgangers or other shapeshifting beasts, perhaps. An elaborately executed charade. Or perhaps they were simply bribed. Our situation is hopeless, Alexandria. Our enemy musters far greater resources than we could ever hope to, and has been ten steps ahead of us the entire time. That is something I do not believe I have ever understood about humans-your insistence on fighting against the inevitable, when all hope is lost.?

?Why, Xan, you almost sound envious.? Alexandria grinned.

With a long glance at Imoen, Xan sighed. ?Seeing virtue in idiocy is the perogative of the young.?

?Idiocy it might be-and quite often is, for that matter.? The acolyte agreed. ?But it?s worked for the human race so far. And not to change the subject, but I think we?re here.?

A discrete but unmistakable enchanted signboard confirmed their arrival at the Seven Suns Trading Coster. A large golden coin, emblazoned with the profile of Waukeeen, slowly turned on the sign, surrounded by seven golden stars. The building was unremarkable for Baldur?s Gate-tall and built of stone, with narrow, shuttered windows and a layer of dull red brick veneer. Remembering Scar?s recommendation, Alexandria simply grinned and slammed the door open.

The interior of the building was lavishly appointed, and Alexandria found herself in what appeared to be a lobby or meeting room of some sort-two flights of stairs went towards the second floor and a cellar off to the side, but the Seven Suns antechamber was richly carpeted in a yellow pattern, with several soft couches along the sides, all oriented towards a large fireplace and low table in the center. Occupying the antechamber, however, was a group of about a dozen men, wearing finery. They had snapped around to look at the intruder, and one of them strode forth.

?Who are you?? The man demanded in an irate voice. ?The Seven Suns is not looking for new trade opportunities at this time.?

?Ya would if ya were in your right mind.? Imoen cut in. ?But I don?t think ya are.?

?The Seven Sons does not need to explain its actions to overly nosy little girls.? The man replied stiffly. ?Now, explain yourselves, or leave.?

?Nah-I think we?ll stay, if ya don?t mind. Ya see, we kinda know ya aren?t who ya say ya are-maybe just magic, maybe something more. But we got friends who?d like to ask you a few questions. Off the record.? Imoen flashed a malicious grin, and Alexandria quietly stepped out of the way-Imoen clearly knew what she was doing, and was definitely better at it than the tiefling.

?Oh, really? I wasn?t aware the Seven Suns had broken any laws.?

?Ya haven?t.? Only then did Alexandria realize how thick Imoen was laying on her act. The thief-mage was quite capable of normal speech, but this was the same Imoen that had drive Gorion insane. ?But ya see, the guy ya work for has. He?s been doing thinks like killing people and going mad with power, so ya?ll understand if we think you?re shoveling us manure faster than a farmhand.?

Imoen and the merchant continued to trade words back and forth for several minutes, but Alexandria?s nerves were getting frayed.

?Ajantis.? She whispered. ?I?m getting damn tired of this. Do your paladin thing and detect evil, will you??

?But wouldn?t you like to do the honors in Selune?s name?? The paladin replied with a grin.

?I?d like to just kill this bastard. But let?s keep this up our sleeves for now.?

Ajantis nodded, and closed his eyes briefly. A moment later, he nodded.

?Alexandria, all those men radiate evil, and much more strongly than simple merchants with an evil bent. What do you intend to do??

?Scar recommended the direct approach,? The tiefling made an evil grin. ?It would be most disrespectful of me to disobey my employer, wouldn?t it??

Ajantis rolled his eyes, and Alexandria focused her will for a moment of her own. The familiar azure blade sprung to life in her hand. Imoen and the merchant stopped talking as they saw the mind blade manifest, and Alexandria leveled it at the merchant.

?You?re beginning to annoy me.? The acolyte stated in a level voice. ?Now, I?d prefer to do this without fighting, but I won?t object too much if you have other plans. What the hell is going on here??

The man?s grin extended further still? until it was rather wider than a human was capable of. ?Those who preceded us didn?t realize the danger until it was rather too late. We see you are made of rather sterner stuff. But don?t worry, primate. No one else will ever know what happened here.?

The man?s form began to blur, which was enough for Alexandria. She brought her mind blade around in a simple crescent blow that maximized her striking power against the vulnerable target. The ethereal edge of her blade caught the man-thing directly on the neck and bit deep into the shifting flesh, stopping only when it hit bone. The man-thing made a horrid gurgling scream as dark blue blood sprayed out in an arc from the blow, staining the carpet and upholstery, and then it fell. Alexandria stared at the falling creature in morbid curiosity-its clothing seemed to fade directly into its flesh, as thought it were simply part of the creature. Even its golden earrings and sword-belt faded, until all that lay on the ground was a tall, grey-skinned creature with muted features and large black eyes.

?There are times I loathe being right.? Xan groaned. ?Doppelgangers.?

With that, the rest of the adventurers quickly drew their weapons, and the rest of the Seven Suns merchants blurred into action. Two blasts of magic sailed past the charging adventurers from Xan and Imoen, but they arrived too late. The doppelgangers had all assumed the same form-that of humans clad in full plate and brandishing a variety of weapons.

?Blessed Selune.? Alexandria prayed. ?What the hell are these things capable of?!?

?Precisely what you see, child.? Jaheira answered, now watching the things wearing Ajantis? form carefully.

?These monstrosities are an abomination in Helm?s eyes.? Ajantis spat. ?No amount of trickery will spare them their fate.?

Finally, Khalid warned. ?B-be careful. They will-will seek to con-confuse us.?

They charged.

Alexandria picked out the first doppelganger and quickly parried its thrusting blade before making a return blow that glanced off the thing?s shield. It came at her again from a high striking position, but the acolyte quickly moved under its guard and prayed for a spell from Selune. Energy filled her body in response, and her fist lashed out. The mailed punch encountered less resistance from the plate armor than she had expected-the doppelganger clearly could not mimic the skill of the warriors whose forms they wore, and perhaps their adoption of armor wasn?t perfect, either. It didn?t matter-the contact between Alexandria and the doppelganger was more than enough to discharge the inflict light wounds spell she had cast, and the shapeshifter?s flesh and armor blackened around the point of impact.

Her target returned the attack with another sword blow, aimed high. Alexandria twisted her upper body around to avoid the worst of the attack, but took a glancing hit on the shoulder, ripping loose several links of her chain mail and leaving a broad but shallow wound. In response, the tielfing snapped herself back and brought her mind blade up, then quickly reversed the momentum of her arms and bringing the ethereal blade down into a graceful arc that cut across the doppelganger?s torso. The mind blade met resistance from the thing?s armor, but the shapeshifter?s imitation of full plate mail wasn?t perfect, and Alexandria worked a jagged cut across the doppelganger. It began to bring its sword around for another blow, but the thing?s chest exploded as a spear struck it from behind. Nodding a quick thanks to Jaheira as the doppelganger fell, Alexandria turned around to find herself facing? Ajantis.

Warning bells rang in her head-she couldn?t put a finger on it, but somehow the man seemed? off. She began to reform her mind blade, but her moment of hesitation was all the doppelganger needed, and it drove its long sword into Alexandria, slipping in from the side to avoid her steel breastplate and easily piercing the lighter chain mail that covered the side of her abdomen. Fire burned in the tiefling?s gut as the blade struck home, and she cried aloud, falling to her knees before the doppelganger. It silently withdrew a blade covered in blood-Alexandria?s blood.

Caught in the agony of the moment, she instinctively reached for the same power that had saved her in similar situations before-the dark call of the void. But rather than the surge of power that had always accompanied that abyssal summon, Alexandria felt-and heard-only a contemptuous laughter radiating from inside her. She pulled again, attempting to force the dormant power out of herself. The laughter grew stronger and the monster wearing Ajantis? face raised its sword to finish the blow.

It never got the chance. The air crackled with energy and a powerful stroke of lightning lanced across the room from the entrance, intersecting the doppelganger before passing over the kneeling tiefling?s head. Alexandria looked away hurridly. She knew what a being struck by lightning looked like, and had no desire to see even an image of Ajantis die in that particular fashion. The air stank of ozone and cooked meat, while Jahiera?s voice chanted a familiar incantation.


The healing spell?s warmth flooded into her and restored her strength as the tiefling slowly picked herself back up, nodding a silent thanks to Xan for his spell. Around her, the rest of the doppelgangers had been slain during the battle by the blades and spells of the adventurers. In death, they had all reverted to the muted gray creatures the first one had, marked by vaguely reptilian features.

?Are you all right, my lady?? Ajantis asked as he approached and drew her into a hug, their sweat and blood from the battle irrelevant.

?I think I?ll be okay.? She replied, and took a deep breath of air. ?You know,? The acolyte mused in Ajantis? embrace. ?I think that?s what I knew was so off about the doppelganger.?

?What, may I ask??

?The smell.? Alexandria laughed. ?The doppelganger didn?t smell like anything. But you need a bath.?

?I will take that under consideration.? Ajantis replied with a grin.


After the battle with the doppelgangers, the adventurers had happily looted the Seven Suns and presented their write of pardoning to the Flaming Fist soldiers who had come to investigate. They spent the rest of the day selling off the goods they had accumulated, and night eventually fell.

Alexandria was almost unsurprised to find herself in a dream that night. She stood atop one of the watchtowers on the great bridge into Baldur?s Gate, watching the crowds pass back and forth between the city and the rest of the Sword Coast. But her attention was drawn towards the sea beyond. There was a red tinge to it, and the coloration grew stronger as she watched. Alexandria was no stranger to seeing red tides from the walls of Candlekeep, but this wasn?t any ordinary tide. The sea was turning as red as the blood that had covered the doppelganger?s sword.

Soon, the ocean was not made of water-it was the ichor of life. But as she continued to watch, the tide began to rise. The blood rose over the shoreline and rushed inland. The crowds on the bridge began to wail, but the blood could not be stopped, and soon they were silenced as well. The sea overwhelmed Baldur?s Gate, drowning the city in its red-black embrace, and Alexandria doubted it was different anywhere else. She looked downward, and saw the blood rising to met even her, perched at the top of the tower. The tiefling discarded her armor in the face of the blood tide. No sooner had she done so than it jumped ten feet in an instant, sweeping her under the surface.

Alexandria quickly fought to the surface of the blood tide, and saw that there was nothing left in the world-nothing but blood. However, from her position in the tide, she also sensed that it was not a coherent whole-there were ripples and eddies, currents and whirlpools. She knew the layout of the flood, for she had been here before. Memories of the void under the Nashkel mines swam before her eyes, and once again she knew how to escape. But escape was not on her mind. More than ever, she was determined to conquer this tide, and she forced onto herself the same discipline and strength of will that was inherent in her mind blade, forcing her mind to obey her will.

Rather than form a blade, however, Alexandria?s will manifested in a sailing vessel on the river of blood. She pulled herself up onto the deck, and saw nothing but the same sanguinary tide in all directions. Lacking any better option, she simply smiled and set course in a random direction. She was surprised to find herself laughing as she set sail-perhaps she had overestimated the influence of the void. After all, she had become a much stronger person since Nashkel.

?Such great pride, hunter of men.? The familiar voice called from the sea. ?But all your renowned spirit and courage will count for nothing, in the end.?

?So you?re talking directly to me.? Alexandria mused, arms crossed. ?Your earlier tricks unnerved me, but you won?t scare me so easily anymore.?

?Oh, there?s nothing to be scared of, predator, for all you face here is yourself. Such conflicts within your soul. You hated your foster father for the secrets he kept, yet honor his memory. You have no mercy, but you also have compassion. Shall I go on, for the last times we spoke??

?You?re the void, aren?t you?? Alexandria sidestepped.

?What is a void, murderer, but an absence? You felt a void at first, for it was an emptiness in your soul. But you have been feeding that emptiness, and it has been a meal fit for a king. All your efforts to avenge your father? why, they have been making me stronger. And priestess, I see now. You will bring more blood still for your faith. The light cannot exist without the dark.?

?No!? Alexandria screamed abruptly. ?I refuse this!?

The voice was amused. ?You cannot refuse your blood, priestess of Selune, murderer of men, destroyer of worlds. I already proved myself stronger than you today-denied you the power that would have saved you. It seems the slave has mistaken itself for the master.?

?No!? The tiefling repeated. ?I can beat you again, whatever you are, because I?VE DONE IT BEFORE!?

Mocking laughter reached her ears. ?Have you??

It was only then, far too late, that Alexandria saw what was coming-a titanic wave of blood rushing towards her. She braced herself on the boat?s deck, but nothing could have prepared her for the wave?s blow.

Alexandria was hurled into a perfect storm of blood and darkness.

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#31 Tempest

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Posted 29 February 2008 - 02:44 PM

Chapter XXXI: The Mask Slips


Alexandria doubted that she?d ever been as grateful for a cold shower as she was that morning. She could still feel the blood covering her from the dream, though her brown skin was unmarred save for the scars she?d been picking up over the past month. More than any of the other dreams she?d had, this one left her deeply unsettled. The idea that the void had simply been inert and natural, perhaps an extension of her demonic ancestry that only manifested itself in times of duress, hadn?t really bothered her. Certainly, she enjoyed fighting, but that wasn?t a terribly uncommon character trait in humans of any description.

This, however? this was different.

?Was it another dream, sis??

Alexandria turned to see Imoen entering. The Three Old Kegs? bathhouse was all but empty in the early hours of the morning, but even so, Imoen kept her voice quiet.

?Yeah. It was a bad one.?

?Are yer dreams ever not?? The thief-mage grinned. ?Maybe ya should ask Ajantis to keep you company one of these nights.?

?Im, are you insane?!? Alexandria asked quickly, then caught her breath. ?Okay, well, I certainly wouldn?t object, but I think Ajantis is a stickler for certain formalities before we do anything like that. Or should I ask the same of you and Xan??

?I don?t think Xan?s ready for that yet.? Imoen giggled. ?He?s a much deeper man than you?d think, once you get to know him. I like him a lot, but he ain?t too comfy with me. I don?t think he likes that I?m not an elf.?

?He does know that if we don?t all get killed at some point, and if you keep developing your magic, you?ll eventually be able to live as long as him, right??

?Yeah, but there?s a lot he doesn?t say. Lucky me, he doesn?t know I bought a scroll for a spell to detect thoughts, which I?ve put to use on him. There?s a lot I don?t understand, but he really hates the fact that I don?t have the elven spirit or something-he likes me, and I think he?s even got some certain male appetites he?s keeping to himself.? Imoen smirked. ?But he hates himself for liking me-he hates that he?s falling for me, and I for him.?

?Now who?s the one overreacting about things like that?? Alexandria grinned. ?Jaheira would have a field day with the two of you.?

?Don?t ya even joke about that, sis!? Imoen punched her sister playfully.

?Then you don?t joke about that, either.? Alexandria parried.

?Oh, fine.?

The rest of the morning shower proceeded without further conversation. Even when she stepped out and dressed, however, Alexandria couldn?t get rid of the sensation of being covered in blood from the dream.


The gallows in front of the Flaming Fist fortress had been taken down, Alexandria noted with some relief. Other than that, the southwest district of Baldur?s Gate looked much as it had the day before. The guards at the entrance to the fortress waved the adventurers on through after they saw Alexandria?s badge. She found Scar and Captain Donos talking heatedly as she entered the courtyard.

?Scar, Angelo has gone too far. We do not need two companies of the Fist in Beregost! Especially not when one of them is a siege company!?

?You?re not telling me anything I don?t know, Nathaniel. But the public-and the Dukes-demand action, no matter how foolish! I predict we have a month at most before we?re in open war-the trade summit has almost completely failed. The only good news we?ve had recently are of certain disruptions in the Shadow Thieves? operations in Athkatla.?

?Oh? That is certainly good news, but I haven?t heard anything.?

?Our contacts have only sketchy information, but it looks like a turf war. A group called the Night Knives, for one, but also a new organization from within Athkatla that has been stealing away members of the Thieves. There are reports of open fighting on the streets at night between them.?

?An attack on the Shadow Thieves? home turf? Ask our informants to let us know what develops.?

?Yes, sir.?

Scar looked up, and saw the adventurers. ?Girl, I hope you have good news for me.?

?Some good, some bad. ? She reported sourly. ?But we need to talk someplace private, Commander.?

Scar nodded, and they filed into a small side room, along with Captain Donos. The latter quickly muttered a few arcane words.

?Don?t be surprised, Alexandria.? The officer said with a grin when he finished. ?I am trained in both the sword and the spell. Unfortunately, Angelo is as well, but I?m a bit more talented at it then he is. You said you had both good and bad news. Start talking.?

?The good news is that you don?t have to worry about the Seven Suns supporting Sarevok anymore.?

?And the bad??

?They?re all dead. They were replaced by doppelgangers-they attacked us and we killed them.?

?Doppelgangers? By the Lord of Battles, I hope you?re not being serious.?

?I?m being dead serious, Commander. The head merchants of the Seven Suns were replaced by doppelgangers, and it looks damn likely that they did so under Sarevok?s orders.?

?That would seem the logical explanation.? Scar agreed. ?Unfortunately, girl, you just handed me a great big can of worms. A replacement operation like what happened with the Seven Suns almost always includes the death of the people you?re replacing, unless you?ve captured them and are holding them for some reason. That means the blood of the Seven Suns is on Sarevok?s hands.?

?So can you not simply arrest him?? Ajantis asked.

?Unfortunately, no. Doppelgangers have been known to assume the identities of wealthy individuals completely on their own initiative-they could simply have supported Sarevok of their own volition. I don?t believe that interpretation of events for a Waterdhavian second, but we?d need utterly irrefutable evidence to arrest Sarevok. It just so happens, however, that Sarevok left the city yesterday, along with the leaders of the Iron Throne. Where to, we don?t know.? Scar turned to Captain Donos. ?Nathaniel, I want you to start screening the Fist for doppelgangers, as quietly as you can. You?re my only captain I trust with this.?

?Understood, sir. Should I leave operational command to my senior lieutenant??

?No, Nathan. I want this investigation to be completely off the record-I don?t want Sarevok getting wind that we know about the doppelganger connection.?

?With all respect, sir, I don?t think it will fool him for long, if at all. Sarevok is not a foolish or stupid man.?

?I know. But every second counts at this point, my friend. I doubt Sarevok would leave Baldur?s Gate unless he has a plan in mind.?

?I?ll begin at once, sir.?

?Good man.? Scar turned to the adventurers. ?You?ve got your orders, too. The Duke wants to see you. Main keep, top floor. And no offense, kids, but I really hope I never see you again.?

With that brusque dismissal, Alexandria and her friends walked off in the directions indicated.


Alexandria?s first impression of Duke Eltan, Lord Commander of the Flaming Fist, was that of an old wolf. Eltan?s hair was a thick mane of dark gray, and scars crossed his face. His dark green eyes were intelligent and observant, missing nothing they came across. Though clearly not in his fighting prime, Eltan was still very fit, and carried twin bastard swords, each larger than Ajantis? longssword, on his back, in addition to his suit of full plate armor. His office was sparse, with a plain wooden desk and set of cabinets, and the only decoration in evidence was a massive eyeball from some unknown creature, preserved no doubt through magic.

?Ah, so you?re the ones who?ve been causing my commanders so much trouble. Alexandria of Candlekeep, Imoen likewise, Jaheira of Tethyr, Khalid of Calimport, Sir Ajantis of Waterdeep, and Xan of Evereska. We are well met. As you are no doubt aware, I am Eltan, Duke of Baldur?s Gate and commander of the Flaming Fist. While you are in my office, know that all spells you might cast or that might be cast from elsewhere on this location are inoperable. That eye was salvaged from a beholder I slew as a younger man, and maintains its antimagic properties.?

?What did you want to see us about?? Alexandria asked.

?Right into the heart of the problem. Good. I have a very special, and sensitive, task for you all. It is liable to be dangerous in the extreme. As such, I am authorizing a reward of five thousand gold for successful completion.?

Imoen whistled, and seeing the nods from her companions, Alexandria quickly replied.

?Okay, we?re hired.?

?As Commander Scar no doubt told you, Sarevok and the leaders of the Iron Throne have left the city, destination unknown. They appear to have at least one very powerful wizard amongst them-powerful enough to foil every attempt to scry them we have made, and somehow, all informants and spies we have attempted to place within the Iron Throne have failed, most often in a permanent fashion. As such, it is time to employ a more direct approach. With Sarevok?s departure, our diviners have been able to scry the Iron Throne headquarters within the city for the first time. They indicate most of the planning and records of the Throne are to be found there, on the top level. You will penetrate their headquarters and retrieve any and all useful information.?

?And if we meet resistance??

?I would prefer you avoid casualties if possible, but you are authorized to use any means you deem necessary. I cannot impress enough on you the importance of learning what Sarevok?s ultimate aims are-Entar, Duke Silvershield to you, has been in extremely ill health recently, and may die soon. If he does, there is little I can do to prevent Sarevok?s election to replace him. The other Dukes, Belt and Liia Jannath, likewise have their hands tied. It is possible Sarevok has no hidden intentions, but that is an increasingly remote possibility, and you may well be our best, if not our final, hope for stopping whatever Sarevok is planning.?

With Eltan?s words, the crushing weight of the situation finally began to descend on Alexandria. Here was Eltan, Lord Commander of the Flaming Fist, and Grand Duke of Baldur?s Gate, admitting she, an ordinary tiefling adventurer, was the Sword Coast?s best chance for peace. As though reading her mind, Eltan spoke.

?Words may be among the deadliest weapons at your disposal, but never forget that there is a time when words will do nothing, and steel must be your language of choice. Whatever renown, whatever station you attain in life, do not ever let yourself be ensnared by the trappings you have acquired. People may like a leader well-spoken. They may respect a leader who has mastered cunning stratagems and careful planning. But a leader who acts without concern for appearances, and acts for what he or she stands for without hesitation, is one they will follow to the death.?

?I?m no leader.? Alexandria scoffed. ?Just an adventurer who keeps finding herself in the wrong place at the right time.?

?Only politicians call themselves leaders, lass. The mark of a true leader is that when he or she acts, others follow. You are dismissed.?


As the adventurers made their way out of the Flaming Fist citadel and towards the Iron Throne headquarters, Khalid made a point of walking next to Alexandria. After several failed attempts to say something, he simply spoke.

?Y-you made quite an-an impression on th-the Duke.?

?I guess. Khalid, if you don?t mind me asking, how the hell did I end up here? In five weeks, I?ve gone from a nobody atheist girl with a neat ability to being an acolyte of Selune to whom one of the Grand Dukes of Baldur?s Gate is telling that I?m last hope for peace on the Sword Coast.?

?The s-same way G-Gorion did.? Khalid said simply as they approached the Iron Throne headquarters. ?You have done wh-what you thought was r-right.?

Their talk was muted as they saw the building Duke Eltan had identified as the headquarters of the Iron Throne in Baldur?s Gate. It was an intimidating piece of architecture, built more like a fortress than anything else, and towering over the smaller buildings near the southern rim of the harbor. The tower-Alexandria estimated it as perhaps five or six floors-was constructed of a dark gray stone, and equally dark wooden shutters covered all windows into the building. A wall surrounded the structure at ground level, with a very solid-looking iron gate barring the sole entrance. Imoen skipped ahead of the adventurers as they approached, which Alexandria silently agreed with. Her little sister was by far the party?s best choice when dealing with the guards peacefully.

?Halt!? The guard?s shout was right on time. ?State your name, your point of origin, and your purpose here.?

?I?m Jolyth.? Imoen lied smoothly. ?We?re just in from Sembia, and need to make our report.?

?And of the armor and armament you bear??

?Protection. Things have been growing unstable lately.?

?Point. Very well, Jolyth. Here is your identification badge-there have been some changes recently. You?ll find the main office on the third floor, and a small bar on the fourth. Do not under any circumstances attempt to breach the fifth floor. Good day.?

With a wave to the guard on the other side, the heavy iron gate swung inward, allowing the adventurers to pass into the main structure.

Alexandria wasn?t sure what to expect from the headquarters of the Iron Throne, but she found a large, elegantly designed hall with several statues lining either side. A large mosaic depicting a clenched gauntlet holding a scepter dominated the floor-apparently the symbol of the organization. Several potted plants were scattered strategically through the hall, as were windows that gave the Iron Throne headquarters a subdued elegance. Light grays and blues were the dominant colors in the stonework and decorations, with the statues being the exceptions, carved out of pure white stone.

After showing her badge from the gate guard to the Iron Throne guards inside, Imoen led the others to the stairs at the far end of the hall. No one paid them any mind-it seemed that heavily armed individuals moving with speed and purpose towards the stairs was not a remarkable activity in the Iron Throne. Which, Alexandria mused, spoke volumes. They went unchallenged past the second and third floor, until they found themselves on the fourth, which, as the gate guard had mentioned, had a small bar. Alexandria went straight to the bar, but a large, heavyset woman in finery interdicted her.

?At last, someone who looks like they could be of some assistance!? She announced. ?The assorted boobs and dimwits around here have been of very little help.?

?I?m afraid you have me mistaken for someone else.? Alexandria replied with a perfectly straight face. ?I?m Dimwit, this is my good friend Boob?-the tiefling indicated Imoen-?And behind us, you?ll find Brainless, Moron, Stupid, and Dunce.?

The woman laughed, and Imoen quickly picked up. ?Actually, we?re just in from Sembia.?

?I hope you?ve been having better luck than the Dragon Coast division, girl. That idiot Sarevok has been spending coin on all sorts of silly things! If I didn?t know any better, I?d swear he has no interest in making money at all! Good day.?

More suspicions welled up in Alexandria?s mind, but the adventurers shrugged, and proceeded up into the forbidden fifth floor.


They were greeted by the familiar smell of fresh blood. Seven corpses lay on the stone floor, all near each other, and all with expressions of surprise frozen on their lifeless faces. Two appeared to be nothing more than guards, but the other five wore much more elaborate armor-one in full plate, one in chain, one in light leather, and two wearing robes. Alexandria had seen enough death over the past month to recognize the wounds on their bodies as having been left by bladed weapons of some sort-swords, axes, or something else with a cutting edge.

She looked up from the corpses, and saw a woman standing behind them. The other woman was roughly Alexandria?s height, and wore a suit of full plate armor. In each hand, she bore a long, curved blade-far more elegant and exotic than the scimitar form Alexandria?s mind blade took-and each had the distinctive sheen of blood on their edges. Finally, the tiefling registered the woman?s face. She was exotic in appearance, with peculiar slanted blue eyes, and long, straight black hair. Even her skin was somewhat off, with a vaguely yellow tone.

?I have been waiting for you.? She said with a strange accent Alexandria didn?t recognize.

?Who are you-what do you want??

?To see if you are who you claim you are-if you are able to do what you seem to be determined to do.?

?Oh? And what am I determined to do??

?Stop Sarevok.? She replied bluntly. ?You have been of no small amount of interest to him, and I must say your talent for disrupting his operations is impressive. But I am not certain whether you are able to stand against Sarevok himself and live.?

?I can, and I will.? Alexandria asserted.

?Only if you can keep yourself alive until that point.? Xan muttered, watching the interaction with the rest of Alexandria?s friends.

?Perhaps. I am unconvinced. Let us settle this as it is done in my homeland-a duel, between you and I alone, and unarmed.?

?Why would I agree to this? I don?t even know who you are.?

?Because we work towards the same goal. These men you see lying on the ground before you were among Sarevok?s lieutenants. I extracted information from them before they died-information you will need if you are to stop him. I will surrender this information, and my name, only after honor has been satisfied.?

The priestess sighed. ?Very well. I will duel.?

?Then to you goes the first blow. Strike me down-if you can.?

The two women bowed to each other, and stepping over the pile of corpses, began circling. Alexandria took the time to study her opponent more carefully-the woman didn?t appear to have as much raw physical strength as the tiefling, but seemed capable of moving much faster, even encumbered by her heavier armor, which could be a fairly telling advantage. There was only one way to test it.

Alexandria lunged forward at the same moment her opponent did, and the tiefling realized she was horribly outmatched around the same time a low fist slammed into her gut and knocked the wind out of her lungs. She staggered backwards, attempting to regain her breath when her attacker pressed the assault, sending her other fist towards Alexandria?s head. The priestess quickly ducked and seized the arm, forcing it back towards her opponent and placing as much pressure as she could on the woman?s upper harm, hoping to break her arm, or at least put enough pressure on it to relieve the attack.

The strange woman had other plans, however, and even with her left arm in Alexandria?s hold, managed to slip behind her and drive her boot into the back of Alexandria?s right knee. The tiefling cried and released her hold on the arm, but rather than attempting to flee, charged from her half-kneeling position, headbutting the woman?s abdomen. She recoiled from the blow but kicked upwards with her left leg, instantly snapping Alexandria upright, then rebounding and striking Alexandria?s throat with a stiffened-finger blow.

Alexandria?s vision turned red and her lungs began to burn as she choked and fell, struggling to get air to her lungs. Each breath, was an intense, painful effort, and only after several minutes did her throat open fully again. From her position on the ground, the priestess looked up at the strange woman.

?I am satisfied.? She said with a touch of a smile. ?I saw all I needed to see. Observing someone when they are at rest can be difficult, but in the heat of battle, even the most one-sided engagement, masks slip and fall away. You asked my name and now you shall have it. I am called Tamoko.?

?You-you said you had information on Sarevok.? Alexandria choked out as she slowly tried to pick herself up off the ground.

?Yes. First of all, know that your Lord Silvershield is to be slain by Sarevok?s most trusted assassins, as is Lord Eltan. Sarevok also made reference to requiring the death of one Commander Scar.?

Alexandria?s blood began to chill. Just how far was this going to go? Tamoko continued.

?Sarevok himself, his foster father Rieltar, and the rest of the Iron Throne?s leadership departed for Candlekeep yesterday.? She concluded.

The chill in Alexandria?s blood graduated to a glacier sitting in her guts.

?Whether you wish it to be true or not does not matter.? Tamoko said flatly. ?If you would stop Sarevok, you must go to Candlekeep. How, I leave to your discretion.?

?But why are you telling me this? You obviously know Sarevok.?

Warmth sparkled for a brief eternity in Tamoko?s eyes.

?Because I love him, and there is nothing I would not do to save him.?

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#32 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 05 March 2008 - 10:38 AM

Score one for spring break giving me lots of time to write. :)

Chapter XXXII: Full Circle


Candlekeep. Home.

Those two words rang throughout Alexandria?s mind as the adventurers made their way out of the Iron Throne headquarters, guided by Tamoko. She had barely registered the looting of Sarevok?s lieutenants, which had added several useful enchanted items to the adventurers? arsenal. Home. Somehow, the adventure had finally come back to where it began, and while she now knew the stakes were no different from her life before, this time she would be aware of them.

The man who killed Gorion, walking the same halls she had skipped down as a child? Alexandria had always thought of Candlekeep as a safe bastion, isolated from the events on the Sword Coast. Apparently, that was no longer the case-though what Sarevok might hope to find there, she could not guess. Sarevok had been so far ahead of her that only recently was she even aware they were in a race. The priestess had been gaining ground steadily, but the fact remained that Sarevok was the one choosing the race?s path-every twist and turn Alexandria found was of Sarevok?s choosing.

In the halls of Candlekeep, Alexandria had in time read a fair chunk of the library?s books, and some of them concerned practical science. In a distant part of the Realms, scholars tested the intelligence of rats by placing them in a maze, guided by the smell of food to a goal. The scholars would observe the rat?s progress, sometimes placing additional obstacles in the maze. Was this perhaps what she had become? A rat in a maze, unaware of her total insignificance in the grand scheme of things?

Silently, Alexandria prayed to Selune for guidance as she continued to walk. Even during her crisis of faith at the temple, she had had total confidence in herself, and that she truly could make a difference in the world. Every step she had taken against the tide of darkness, she had been renowned for it-purging the Nashkel mines, laying waste to the bandit camps, even her battles in the Cloakwood. Indeed, Alexandria always felt at home in the darkness-so much of her life took place at night, lit only by the moon. She had proven herself equal to intrigue-slicing through it with the blade of her mind. Strangely, it was the overt problems that now gave her far more pause-battles that did not hide from her, that struck openly and in daylight.

Tamoko was equally silent when asked about anything else-she simply led the adventurers out of the Iron Throne headquarters. Indeed, the guards were all too quick to move out of the enigmatic warrior?s path, apparently quite afraid of her. Which was, Alexandria reflected, a reasonable response. The simple fact that Tamoko was in love with Sarevok was more than enough to give the tiefling pause herself. Admittedly, Alexandria knew very little of Sarevok, beyond his plans that the adventurers had compromised, but everything she had seen and heard pointed clearly to a man of great intelligence, resourcefulness, determination, personal strength, and charisma. Unfortunately, those attributes were matched by his ruthlessness, malice, ambition, and all-around darkness. Alexandria still didn?t know why Sarevok was doing the things he was, and in all honesty, she didn?t want to know. Fortunately, she was not exactly renowned for letting her common sense override her desire to do the right thing.

Finally, they reached the outer gate of the Iron Throne compound. Tamoko bowed gracefully to the adventurers.

?This is where our paths must part. I will continue to work against Sarevok?s machinations in whatever manner I can, but you must follow him to Candlekeep-I am deathly afraid of what he may find there. Matters are coming full circle, Alexandria of Candlekeep. Farewell, and good luck to you.?

The woman twisted a ring on her right hand and disappeared.

?So what now, my lady?? Ajantis asked.

?We need to report this to Duke Eltan-Sarevok?s ordered his assassination, as well as that of Duke Silvershield and Commander Scar. We?re heading to Candlekeep no matter what. I will *not* let my home be violated.?

?I would expect nothing less, my lady.?

?If anyone has any objections, the time is now.? Alexandria stated.

?Your home is lost, Alexandria.? Xan replied. ?The best you will be able to do is bury the dead, shortly before you have need of your own grave.?

In an eyeblink, a red mind blade was at Xan?s throat.

?Xan, don?t you ever say that again!? Anger boiled in Alexandria?s voice. ?My home is not lost, and never will be, so long as I draw breath! All things pass into Selune?s hands in time, but Candlekeep will never fall to Sarevok!?

The elf fought every temptation to roll his eyes at the tiefling?s anger, but decided to sigh and relent. She would learn the truth in time.


As the adventurers proceeded onward after the brief incident, they paused suddenly as they passed a great statue near the harbor-a statue that had definitely not been there when the adventurers had walked past this very location to the Iron Throne headquarters. It was carved in the finest, purest white marble they had ever seen-a statue of an elderly, bespectacled man lost in thought. But there was something undeniably compelling about the statue, and the adventurers were all simultaneously struck with the insane idea that they somehow owed the man their lives.

Alexandria moved closer to the base of the statue, close enough to read the inscription at the base.

He is our father, he is our creator. Without him, all this world would be dust before the wind. Now the wind carries his dust to the farthest reaches of creation. Let all know him, and honor him.

Gary Gygax. Born July 27, 1938. Died March 4, 2008.


Without a spoken word, the adventurers, like so many others who passed by the statue, dropped to their knees. How long they remained there, they, like all others, would not be able to guess. All they knew was that as they left the great statue, the world seemed dimmer, somehow-as though some vital spark had gone out.


It was in that somber mood that the adventurers returned to Duke Eltan.

?I hope you have some good news for me, girl.?

?Got your pick of good news and bad news.?

The Duke sighed. ?That?s the way it always seems to be, these days. What?s the bad news??

?Sarevok?s ordered the assassinations of you, Duke Silvershield, and Commander Scar.?

Eltan simply nodded. ?Can?t say I?m surprised. Threat of assassination is a fact of life for political figures, but ordering an assassination is recognized as stepping over a certain red line in politics-it is the equivalent of taking the gloves off. In a way, this is actually good news-it gives me more freedom to operate.?

The priestess stared at the Duke. ?You call the most dangerous man I?ve ever met ordering your assassination good news?!?

He chuckled. ?Yes, girl, as a matter of fact I do. It?s just politics. I also hate to admit it, but my old friend Entar is as good as dead now. It saddens me, but he is dying regardless, and when he does, Sarevok will be elected to be the new Duke-when I die, with Scar also dead, Angelo will likewise become a Duke. Quite honestly, girl, I like it better this way-I know exactly how Sarevok will be moving now. Oh, and what?s the other good news you had for me??

?I know where Sarevok and the Iron Throne leaders are going-Candlekeep. I don?t give a damn what you say about that-I am going after them.?

?Your home is under threat. I would expect no less.? Eltan smiled, and picked up a heavy book from where it rested on his desk, then pressed it into Alexandria?s hands. ?I?ve been anticipating this move, but I had to know for certain. As you know, Candlekeep will not allow you entry without donating a tome of great value. This is a tome Captain Donos gave me about a week ago-he said it would be needed. I don?t know why or how he knew about this, but it will suffice. Now, is there anything I can do for you before you depart??

Alexandria paused for a moment, then remembered a promise she had made.

?Do you know what the story with Angelo Delyrn and his family is? I promised a friend, Anomen Delryn, a squire of the Order of the Radiant Heart, I would find out what I could.?

The Duke thought for a moment, and nodded. ?As Lord Commander of the Flaming Fist, I have wide resources available to me-it?s my perogative to know what is going on with my top lieutenants. Angelo Delryn has always struck me as odd-he is indeed the illegitimate son of one Cor Delryn. Apparently, this man was an Amnish noble, and could not show any support for an illegitimate son. Angelo came north, and joined the Fist, rising through the ranks in time. Make no mistake-Angelo is quite intelligent, and a canny tactician. That?s what got him a captaincy in the Fist. But it appears that Cor Delryn has been covertly supporting Angelo, with wealth and political connections. Those, and Angelo?s connections to Sarevok, are what?s gotten Angelo a position as one of my Commanders.?

?Thank you. And what?s the story with Captain Donos? He?s been annoying prescient more than once.?

Eltan laughed at that. ?Girl, you?re not asking me anything I haven?t asked my informants many times. Quite frankly, I don?t know who or even what Nathaniel is. He appeared about two years ago, seeking a position with the Fist. He?s a very good man, also smart, wise, very powerful with magic, and seems to have access to more gold and information than me. No one but Scar and I seem to have really twigged to that-he?s charmed most of the Fist into overlooking his discrepancies. He claims to have a wife and children, but I?ve never seen them, and none of my spies have ever been able to locate them. I?m fairly certain Nathaniel isn?t even human, but all spells have indicated he is very much a good man, so he?s like the assassination order for me-if I really wanted to deal with it, I could, but it?s something I?m managing to live with.

Now, is there anything else??

?No, I don?t think so. Thank you, Duke Eltan.?

?Don?t thank me-I may have signed your death warrant, girl. Tempus be with you.?

?Or Selune.? She smiled, and turned to leave.


?Alexandria, I need a moment to speak with you.? Jaheira stated.

The tiefling nodded. They were back in the Three Old Kegs, getting ready to leave. Alexandria and Jaheira were up in the priestess? room, while the others were below.

?What?s wrong??

?Imoen. If you haven?t noticed, she?s been very quiet since we found out your home is under threat.?

?And you?ve been talking to her.? Alexandria made a face.

?I have been trying to.? Jaheira admitted. ?She has been unresponsive. I? I would like you to see what you can do. She is your sister.?

?Yeah, but Imoen?s always been one to handle bad stuff on her own. Mischievous and happy as she can be, Jaheira, Imoen?s deeper and stronger than you?d think. She tries to bury stuff away when it bothers her.?

?But that cannot last forever, child. You, at least, are more experienced dealing with this sort of thing than she. You are angry, but at least you are coping.?

?All right.? Alexandria relented. ?I?ll talk to her.?

?What do you plan to do?? Jaheir asked.

The tiefling grinned. ?Watch and learn, Jaheira. Watch and learn.?


The two tankards of ale clunked down in front of Imoen. She was sitting apart from the other adventurers, an unhappy expression etched across her face. Alexandria sat down beside her and interposed herself between Imoen and the rest of the party.

?Imoen, I got you something to drink.?

?You know I don?t drink real ale, sis.? Imoen replied weakly.

?There?s a first time for everything.?

?Yeah? like running away from home.?

?We didn?t run away from home, and you know it.? Alexandria stated sternly. ?What the hell has gotten into you??

?Home. Up until now, I thought? I thought I could always go back if things got too tough-Puffguts, Uncle Tethy, even Reevor, Jondalar, and the others.?


?Imoen, they?ll be safe. We?ll see to it.?

?Hmph. Easy for you to be so confident, being a priestess and all.?

?Didn?t we have this discussion five weeks ago, Im? Except you were the one consoling my doubts??

Imoen reluctantly chuckled. ?Yeah, guess we did at that. Ya made yer point, sis.?

?Good. Now drink.?

The thief-mage nodded, and started to drink. Alexandria stood up and made her way back to Jaheria.

?Just keep her drinking, Jaheira. Getting drunk will at least take her mind off things.?

?A most unorthodox solution, child, and not likely permanent.?

?I know, but it?ll work for now. I need to head over to the Helm and Cloak, let Anomen know what I?ve learned about Angelo. We leave at first light in the morning, Jaheira.?

?Agreed.?

?I will come with you, my lady.? Ajantis intoned.

?What, you worried about Anomen?? She asked with a smile.

?Not about Anomen. About you.? The paladin replied with total sincerity.

?Okay, dear. The Helm and Cloak isn?t a long walk.?


And indeed, it was only a ten minute walk to the Helm and Cloak, renowned as the most luxurious inn in Baldur?s Gate. A quick inspection after entering confirmed the reputation. Even the common room was richy appointed-thick drapes hung over all windows, chairs and tables were made of the finest, polished wood, and numerous works of art hung on the walls.

?Ah, so the raven calls again!?

Alexandria and Ajantis turned to see a face they both recognized-Haer?Dalis, the bard from the Friendly Arm Inn, striding to meet them.

?You again?? Alexandria asked. ?Didn?t you say you were on your way to Amn??

?This sparrow?s flight has been somewhat erratic as of late-the winds blow stiffly. Indeed, this sparrow roosts here for the moment. And what brings the raven and her hound??

?Does one Anomen Delryn stay here??

?Indeed he does. Does the raven seek her mate??

Alexandria blushed furiously, and Ajantis stiffened behind her.

?No-I just made a promise to him, and I?m going to keep it.?

?Honor-born and honor-branded, is it? If the raven is willing, I can deliver this verse to him.?

?No, thank you.?

?Ah, such a curious turn of phrase, that! To decline and yet thank for services not rendered! This bird of flight is curious-you are plane-touched yourself. Do know know from whence your feathers come??

Alexandria stared at Haer?Dalis, turning his words over in her head and attempting to make sense of them. Eventually, she gave up.

?I don?t know who any of my ancestors are, if that?s what you mean.?

?Then surely it must be a succubus, or perhaps an erinyes to give you such a beauteous countenance.?

Blood continued to rush to the priestess? face. ?Erm, weren?t you hitting on Imoen last time we met??

?The sparrow would fly with the raven rather than the flamingo for the simple reason that the raven?s course has drawn her to the sparrow, and the flamingo?s has not.?

?Okay, I?ve had enough of your riddles. What on Toril is a flamingo?!? Alexandria demanded.

?The flamingo, kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Aves, order Phoenicopteriformes, family Phoenicopteridae, genus Phoenicopterus. Widespread wading birds, notable for pink-to-red plumage, known for an awkward grace and common in zoos.?

Both the priestess and the paladin stared blankly at the bard.

?Ah well. This sparrow must now depart-farewell, brave little raven and good hound!?

And with that, Haer?Dalis flourished his magic again and vanished.

?Excuse me, you were looking for Anomen?? Another familiar voice asked.

?Ah, hello again, Lady Moira Delryn.? Ajantis bowed to her.

?A proper gentleman!? Moira smiled, then looked at Alexandria. ?You?ve found a keeper.?

?I didn?t really need your approval, but I do agree.? The tiefling grinned. ?Now, I?m afraid I?ve got bad news. I found out that Angelo Delryn is in fact your brother??

Eventually, Alexandria left the badly shaken young woman. Her promise to Anomen was fulfilled, but now she had more important issues to take care of. She had set more pieces in motion, and she could do no more. With a bow to Moira, Ajantis turned and led Alexandria back to the Three Old Kegs. The scene that awaited them, however, was anything but what they expected.

Alexandria?s eyes scanned the common room just in time to see an obviously inebriated Imoen lean into Xan?s arms and kiss him.

?A strange day.? Ajantis concluded.

?Very strange.? Alexandria agreed.

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#33 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 23 March 2008 - 11:36 AM

Chapter XXXIII: From the Lightning and the Tempest


?You feeling alright, Im?? Alexandria asked with a grin.

?Ugh?? The thief-mage moaned. ?Feels like someone?s been smacking my head with a warhammer.?

?Didn?t Jaheira warn you not to drink too much??

?Ack. Yeah, I guess she did.?

?And did you listen to her??

?Of course not.? Imoen retched into the room?s sanitary basin.

?I didn?t expect anything less of you.? Alexandria smiled. ?Though I wasn?t really expecting you to get drunk enough to kiss Xan.?

?It seemed like a good idea at the time.?

?I bet it did. Never seen an elf turn that particular shade of red.?

?Sis, would ya excuse me? I? I think I?m sick.?

?Nah-just hung over. But I think I?ll spare you the ignominy.?

Alexandria softly chanted a prayer to Selune for a healing spell. She doubted it was precisely the use Selune had imagined for the spell, but she hoped the Moonmaiden would forgive her. They didn?t really have time for Imoen to recover from her first hangover the old-fashioned way.

As always, the sudden surge of energy made the tiefling feel giddy internally, even as she pressed her hand to Imoen, and the energy jumped into the girl, circulating through her body and purging the lingering effects of the ale.

?Thanks sis. Didn?t know there was a cure hangover spell in Selune?s teachings.? Imoen grinned.

?Technically, it?s a spell to remove distracting irritations and the like, so a priestess can concentrate better while suffering from distractions. But Selune doesn?t seem to mind bending the rules as long as your heart?s in the right place. Wish I had that spell during my first hangover.?

?You?ve changed a lot, sis.? Imoen agreed.

?Not sure if you have. Imoen, I want to make sure you?re really all right. You know there?s a risk of the people we know being dead.?

?I do know that.? The thief-mage admitted. ?I?ve been hoping and hoping it won?t come to that, but I?ve accepted that risk. Just because I don?t talk about it doesn?t mean I haven?t thought about it.?

?Im? I?m worried-you can share your doubts with me.?

?I?ve been sharing them with Xan, actually.? Imoen made a weak smile.

?I?ve always been here.?

?It?s not that, sis.? Imoen turned away and began to pace back and forth. ?You?ve got Ajantis and this whole big conspiracy thing always seems to come back to you. Me? I?m a nobody-the heroine?s little sister, the sidekick, even. It?s nice to have someone who appreciates me for? me.?

?Imoen. I?ve never felt like you were my sidekick or anything like that-I value you, and your opinion.?

?Not sayin I mind being a sidekick, sis.? Imoen replied with a weak grin. ?Ya couldn?t pay me enough to take your place in all this.?

?So what do you want out of life, Im?? As soon as the words left her mouth, Alexandria realized she had never asked her little sister that question. ?I never asked you to come with me after Father?s death.?

The thief-mage shrugged. ?I don?t know, really. At the moment, what I want is Xan.? An honest grin finally returned to Imoen?s features. ?Just feels kinda strange, that.?

?That what??

?That you?re turning into Jaheira, and now I?m right where you were on the road south of the Friendly Arm Inn.? Imoen punched Alexandria?s shoulder playfully.

The tiefling laughed. ?I don?t think you?re in any danger of turning into me-or Jaheira, for that matter. She at least had something to work with in me, and I was getting a double dose of duty and spirituality from her and my boyfriend.?

?Guess that?s a point in Xan?s favor.? Imoen smirked.

?If you don?t mind constant doom and gloom in exchange.?

?Nah-I don?t.? Imoen?s face turned thoughtful. ?Ya know, they say opposites attract, but I don?t think that?s quite it. Remember those dwarven puzzle boxes Reevor liked to torment us with when we were kids??

Alexandria groaned. The gruff but good-natured dwarf who maintained the grounds at Candlekeep had loved giving the girls puzzle boxes when their father felt they needed tutoring in logic and problem solving-skills Gorion had pushed on them for reasons that had become rather clear lately. A puzzle box was, as one might guess, a box, but it was covered in layered metal plates in varying shapes. The point of the box was to slide the plates into the correct configurations on the entire box so that they all clicked evenly into place on the box?s surfaces. Only when all faces of the box were completed did the box open, revealing whatever lay inside-usually a coin or other small prize. To make matters worse, once you shut the box again, the plates sprung back up, and Reevor always seemed to have an endless number of the boxes, so the girls couldn?t simply remember the configuration of the puzzles. Imoen had always been a bit better at solving the boxes than Alexandria.

?How could I forget those damn things??

?Well, you know how a box surface could look when you figured out two halves of it, but still had to figure out how to get the two halves to lock into place together??

?Yes.? Alexandria could see where Imoen was going with the example, but let her finish.

?The two halves aren?t really opposites, but when you slide them into place, every protruding corner, every hole and slot and gap, everything clicks into place, forming a complete whole. Where one has a gap, the other has an extension. Where one bends outwards, the other curves inwards, and sometimes they both run straight. I think that?s kinda how Xan and I are.?

?Great?? The tiefling groaned. ?You, lecturing me about philosophy and romance. I think I?ve seen just about everything now.?

?As have I, children.? A richly accented voice commented, though it was struggling to contain laughter. With neither the priestess nor the thief-mage noticing, Jaheira had been standing in the doorway. ?Alexandria, you did specify that we depart this morning, so you had best prepare yourselves for traveling. Speed will likely be of the essence, so I suggest you make haste in your preparations.?

And with that, the sisters shrugged and started gathering their gear for traveling.


Baldur?s Gate hadn?t changed much since Alexandria had arrived, but as Ajantis quietly pointed out, it had changed some-and not for the better. Several shops and inns the adventurers passed now had discrete but unmistakable signs that amounted to a common message: Amnish gold is not welcome here. The lone group of Amnish merchants the adventurers did see moved in a tight knot, and several passing citizens of Baldur?s Gate shot them unfriendly looks.

?It is only a matter of time before the lynchings begin.? Xan murmured as they passed by the merchants. ?Intrigue leads to distrust. Distrust leads to fear. Fear leads to hatred. And hatred leads to violence. I am surprised war has not already broken out.?

?It has already-it simply has not been dignified with a declaration of war yet.? Ajantis replied sadly. ?While you were eating breakfast, I talked to some of the tavern patrons. There are reports of skirmishes erupting between advance units of the Flaming Fist and the Amnish Army in the south. The Fist is massing in Beregost, and Nashkel is serving as the staging grounds for Amn. From the rumors, the land between those two towns is rapidly turning into a no man?s land, and the Fist?s naval force left harbor three days ago, heading south. Amnish merchants north of the line of battle are trapped here, as are Baldurian merchants south of the line. Merchant ships have been hit by privateers from both sides.?

?Is this just a localized conflict, or are both sides bringing in allies?? Alexandria asked.

?Localized, for now. Trade wars between city-states are not unknown on the Sword Coast-it?s part of how this region acquired the name.?

?You said it was localized, but then you said ?for now?. You think this will get bigger??

?I?m certain of it, unless we manage to stop it.? Ajantis sighed. ?The forces at Beregost and Nashkel are already far larger than necessary for a mere trade war-they are evidently prepared to strike at Baldur?s Gate and Athkatla. A contingent of the Company of the Red Falcon-the elite warriors of the Red Knight-is due to arrive in the city sometime in the next few days, as are reinforcements from other allies of Baldur?s Gate. Strategically, Baldur?s Gate is in a very poor position, Alexandria. To push south and attack Athkatla would mean transversing the Cloudpeak Mountains, and that is not a prospect to be undertaken lightly. The Sword Coast is a coastal plain-if Amn takes Beregost, the only fortification of any description left before the walls of Baldur?s Gate itself is the Friendly Arm Inn, and Amn could simply bypass the Inn entirely-skirt to the east, or pursue a naval strategy and attack from the sea. It is not even necessary for Amn to destroy Baldur?s Gate itself-if Amn can take Beregost and defeat the Baldurian navy, they could simply cut off the city from supplies and starve the city out.?

?And what is the likelihood of Amn winning at sea?? Xan asked.

Ajantis stroked his beard for a moment in thought. ?Difficult to say-I am not a sailor, and know little of naval strategy. Amn?s fleet is said to consist largely of privateers and hired pirates, but a city as wealthy as Amn does not keep that wealth without a powerful navy of its own. Amn does much far-flung business with Chult, Calimshan, and Maztica, so a navy is also necessary to protect its investments. However, on the other side of the coin, Baldur?s Gate is a city founded by sailors, and its maritime strength is vital to the city?s survival-even more so than Amn. If anything, Baldur?s Gate is more heavily fortified against an attack from the sea than it is against a land-based attack, and the city likely has impressive magical defenses against naval attacks. I think it might come down to a question of quality versus quantity, but quantity as a quality all its own.?

?Whoever wins this futile war, however, a great many people are going to die.? Xan replied.

?Unfortunately, yes.? Ajantis agreed sadly. ?Alexandria, you see how tense the city is-how edgy its populace has grown. This is no ordinary trade war on the horizon. Even laying aside our suspicions of ancient prophecies and supernatural involvement, this appears to be a true war for survival. I am glad you continue to fight this war, my lady-there is no higher duty than defending one?s people against their enemies.?

?Your duty be damned.? The tiefling replied with a smile-there was no venom in her words. ?You know I can?t let this war happen, and that I would do just about anything to protect all the innocent people endangered by this storm, but would you at least let me maintain the fiction that I?m in this only because Sarevok killed Father??

?And if I do not?? The paladin grinned as the adventurers stepped onto the bridge leading back to the mainland.

?Remember what happened the last time we had a conversation like this??

?Yes, my lady.? A tinge of red came across Ajantis? cheeks as he continued to grin.

?Oh, get a room, you two!? Imoen laughed.

?I?m sure you could talk Xan into casting one of those tiny hut spells if you really wanted to.? Alexandria winked. ?Though whether he?d be casting it for us, or for the two of you is an open question.?

?Corellon Larethian preserve my sanity amongst these N?Tel?Quess children?? Xan muttered loudly.

?You are hardly one to be calling them children, Xan.? Jaheira stated archly, though a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as well. The rest of the party stared at the druid. ?You are not much older than they, for an elf, and I have noted you praying more than once to Hanali Celanil recently. Would you care for me to go into more detail??

Before the elf could respond, Imoen chipped in, a demonic grin on her face. ?Hanali Celanil? Isn?t that the elven goddess of beauty and romance??

Alexandria grinned as she saw that it had finally become too much for the dour elf. He threw up his arms in surrender. ?Yes, by the Coronal of Arvandor! Yes, I think you?re a beautiful young woman with a great talent for the Art, if an extreme nuisance at times! Yes, I?ve been praying to Hanali Celanil many times recently for guidance in dealing with you! Is there anything else you wanted to know?!? The elf shouted.

The entire adventuring party collapsed into laughter, and after a few minutes, Imoen was finally able to answer. ?Nah. I think we?re good.?

?Good. Now leave me alone while I perform a cleansing rite after this debacle?? The elf groaned.

?Okay. I think you?ve had enough for now.? Imoen grinned.

?Now this will make an interesting story to tell Winthrop in a couple of days.? Alexandria smirked to her sister.

?You wouldn?t dare!?

?Wouldn?t I?? The priestess grinned.

?On second thought, I did just kinda guarantee that you would tell Puffguts, didn?t I??

?Oh, yes indeed.? Alexandria laughed. ?But somehow, I don?t think he?ll be surprised. You really haven?t changed, sis.?

?Okay, but just so long as I get to tell a slightly embellished story of your first kiss with Ajantis in return.?

?I get the feeling you were planning on telling him such a story anyhow.?

Imoen tried to look as innocent as she could. Needless to say, it failed to accomplish the desired effect.

?Well, home?s just a few days walking from here. A week at most, if we have more scenes like that."

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#34 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 29 March 2008 - 09:31 PM

Chapter XXXIV: The Precipice


The walls of Candlekeep rose high against the horizon, and Alexandria once again heard the familiar roar of the ocean waves against the rocky cliffs, the cries of seabirds, and the smell of the salt air. She breathed deeply as the adventurers approached the outer gate-it had been quite some time since she had breathed the familiar air of home. It was getting near six weeks since she had left, and it had been the most eventful month and a half of her life.

I?ve been away far too long. If only I could be returning here in peace-telling tales of my adventures to Winthrop, probably with one of the cats in my lap while I scratch his belly, even finally having some appreciation for all the clerics and priests there. Wouldn?t they be surprised what?s become of me since I left. Heck, I think I could knock Jondalar flat without breaking a sweat. But no, I can?t pretend everything?s alright, much as I?d like to pretend otherwise. Damn Father for trying to keep secrets from me-he had to know I knew something was? off. Damn the Iron Throne for forcing me to come home armed. Damn Sarevok!?

It was just past noon when the adventurers finally drew up to the gate. Alexandria heard a shout of recognition from the walls, and a familiar face appeared on top of the gate.

?Alexandria!? Cernick, the Captain of the Watch, yelled. ?Damn glad to see you still in one piece!?

?Even better to be that way!? She yelled back.

?Unfortunately, you know the rules about entering Candlekeep. I?m afraid that after your rather sudden departure, things have only gotten more strict.?

?That?s fine. I came prepared.? Alexandria withdrew the heavy tome Eltan had given her, and lifted it up. With a nod of recognition, the gates of Candlekeep were raised, and Cernick swiftly came down to meet her. The Captain had always been tall and grizzled, and from the looks of things, not much had changed.

?This?ll do, I think. You and your companions can remain here for a month, if you so choose and are willing to pitch in.?

?I don?t think we?ll be here that long, Cernick. I?m afraid we?re here on something of a mission.?

?I figured-you don?t get tomes like that every day.? Cernick?s eyes gleamed with interest, and without warning, he hugged the tiefling. Which was odd-Cernick and Alexandria?s relationship when she had left Candlekeep had been more cordially adversarial than anything else.

?It?s damn good to see a friendly face around here.? Cernick said after he released her.

?Why-what?s happened??

?Well, I?m not real sure.? Cernick removed his helmet and scratched his head. ?Jondalar disappeared a couple days after you did-went to go talk with him one morning, and he was gone. Even his room had been cleaned out. You remember old Firebead Silverhair??

Alexandria?s mind brought forth an elderly man-a wizard long past his prime, but still active, with a silvery sheen to his grey hair that gave him the name.

?Yeah-he visited here a lot.?

?Bout three weeks back, he was traveling back to Beregost when he disappeared, too. The Fist found his body a couple days later-bandits got him.?

?But that?s stupid!? Imoen interjected. ?Firebead was just an historian!?

?Funny thing, too-he?d been working on a manuscript when he died, and that manuscript was missing when the Fist found his body.?

Alexandria?s blood began to chill. The same evil she had been fighting had been trying to dig its way into her home. And that, she would not allow.

?But gods damn it, Alex, you shoulda seen the way old Tethoril and Ulraunt lit up when we heard bout you and Immy in the Nashkel mines! Killin a thousand kobolds and their king!?

?It wasn?t really?-

?Then suddenly we hear bout you two wiping out the bandits that?ve been hitting every other caravan from Baldur?s Gate! And *then*, it?s something about fightin a dragon in the Cloakwood!?

At that point, the entire adventuring party broke down into laughter.

?We fought a dragon?? Ajantis choked out amongst his laughing. ?That is indeed news to our ears.?

?Oh, and you?ll have to introduce us to your friends, too, Alex.? Cernick grinned. ?You and Immy are Candlekeep?s own home-grown heroes.?

Alexandria groaned and let Cernick lead her towards Candlekee?s meal hall.


Three hours later, a team of rather dizzied adventurers staggered out of the hall. Cernick, Tethtoril, Reevor, and many other of Candlekeep?s residents had made the adventurers recite what felt like every step of their journeys on the Sword Coast. By unspoken consent, not a word was spoken of Alexandria?s darker nature, or the hints of the supernatural and the prophecies that kept cropping up, but by the time they were set free, the relationships between Alexandria and Ajantis, and Imoen and Xan, were public knowledge-if anything, the men in question were the more mortified. Even Jaheira had relented and told her own stories, which Tethtoril helped fill in-they had both long been friends of Gorion, but had never actually met each other.

Ajantis shook his head roughly as he stepped back into the courtyard with the others, a dazed smile on his face.

?That was a most warm welcome, my lady.?

?That it was.? The tiefling agreed. ?Guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder-I wasn?t that popular when I left.?

?You have changed, my lady-the malcontent you once were is no more.?

?Malcontent?? Alexandria arched an eyebrow at the paladin.

?In only the most literal sense of the word. You were dissatisfied with existing conditions and decided to strive to change them.?

?Doesn?t that make you a malcontent, too?? Imoen grinned.

?Erm, well, yes, I suppose it does. On a different note, Alexandria, would you care to show the rest of us around your home??

?Certainly, but there?s not much to show. Candlekeep?s a small place, dear. Always has been. That building over to our left is the priests? quarters-in addition to the big temple of Oghma, there are shrines to Azuth, Mystra, and Deneir along the west wall, and a large shrine to Savras inside the main keep.?

?Was your father a follower of one of those deities??

?Yes-he was an influential follower of Azuth. Don?t think he actually held a position in their clergy, but the shrine?s caretakers always treated him with utmost respect. Candlekeep?s sacred ground to Savras, though-Alaundo was dedicated to Savras when the Sibylites had all but died out during Savras? imprisonment by Azuth, and so Savras gave Alaundo only true visions. Thus, Alaundo is the only true prophet the Realms have ever seen-all of his prophecies are recorded and kept here. They also say Alaundo was buried here, but Im and I never saw any hints of crypts or something like that, and the monks always told us it was fanciful nonsense-a popular legend that?s never quite died out.?

?I must say I envy you, Alexandria.? Ajantis stated as the priestess began to lead the group around the great circle of Candlekeep. ?You were exceptionally privileged to grow up in a home like this-surrounded by so much knowledge.?

The tiefling chuckled. ?Can?t say I appreciated it that much when I was younger, but I can definitely do so now. That big building with the blank scroll set into the stonework is the temple of Oghma-Candlekeep is about the only place in Faerun that both halves of the Oghmanyte church can get along. The three buildings to our right, now, are the main storehouse, the apothecary and alchemists lab, and the stables. To our left is the barracks, and across from it, the smithery??

The tour continued for several more minutes as the adventurers finished the walk around Candlekeep?s outer courtyard. There weren?t many people around, which struck Alexandria as odd. Even late in the day as it was, Candlekeep should have been busy-the Chanters at least should have been reciting the prophecies of Alaundo, as they had for Selune-knew-how-long. Something definitely felt wrong, though Alexandria would be damned if she could figure out what.

Her ruminations, however, were ended at the entrance of a large wooden building. It showed signs of recent repainting, but it was the same dark brown, with the same sign of an empty bed, as the Candlekeep Inn had bore when Alexandria and Imoen left. Without a word, the smaller of the women rushed ahead and pushed the door open. The interior was appointed comfortably if not luxuriously, and the main hall of the Inn was curiously empty but for a large man sweeping in the corner.

?Damn wizards and their fancy magic ain?t got nothing on good, honest sweepin?? The man muttered in a familiar tone.

?Excuse me.? Imoen asked, a hint of mischief creasing her face. ?Are you the innkeeper??

The man looked up without actually looking at the adventurers. ?Aye. We got plenty of empty rooms, and quite affordable, too. But this damn place ain?t never been as clean since my little devil-helper left.?

?Awww! Never knew I helped that much, Puffguts!? Imoen said excitedly.

At the name only Imoen had ever used for him, Winthrop finally looked closely at the adventurers. A grin as broad as the horizon broke out on his face, and he dropped the broom and enfolded Imoen in a bear hug.

?I?ll be damned! My little Imoen, lookin like a proper lady! Never thought I?d see the day!?

?And you haven?t changed a bit, if you?ll stop choking me!? A muffled voice came from the midst of Winthrop?s embrace.

The old innkeeper released Imoen with a guffaw.

?Ain?t much chance of that, Immy. You?ve always been a slippery one. Gorion didn?t like that much, but nonsense, I always said! Better I keep you preoccupied with stealin my lockbox than you actually try to learn something new!?

?Was I really that obvious?? Imoen asked with an embarrassed expression.

?Haw! You really think you could slip something like that past me? I?ve been runnin this inn since before you were born!?

?Well, it was nice to think I could outwit you.? The thief-mage admitted.

?Haw haw. You were good, Immy, you weren?t that good. And who?s the elf who keeps staring protectively at you? He?s tryin real hard to look like he?s not lookin at you.?

Imoen laughed and turned to Xan. ?Puffguts, this is my boyfriend, Xan. He?s also the one who?s taught me everything I know about magic.?

Winthrop enveloped Xan?s hand in his with a hearty handshake. ?Magic, eh? Always knew she was a clever one, but I don?t have much use for magic tricks. Doesn?t get the floors any cleaner, no matter how hard you try. Guessin that?s how Immy got her hair dye, too.?

?You are correct.? Xan replied diplomatically, though he was clearly uneasy with the innkeeper?s warm reception.

?Haw! She can be a handful!?

?That she can.? Xan agreed darkly. ?As she told you, I am Xan, a Greycloak of Evereska.?

?Gotten some visitors from there before-picky bastards, the lot. Never thought I?d see my little Immy come home with a man, much less an elf. But you?re alright, Xzar!?

?Xan.? The elf corrected.

?Do you want to hear any stories of our adventures?? Imoen asked brightly.

?Naw-I?ve heard so many stories of you and your friends that I don?t know where the truth ends and the tales begin, and I don?t care much for what really happened. You got some scars, you got a boyfriend, you did some good in the world, Immy, and that?s good enough for me. Maybe it makes me small, but that last one means more to me than hearing tales of you fightin dragons.?

Imoen impulsively hugged Winthrop. ?It was good seeing you again, Puffguts.?

The innkeeper gently patted the top of Imoen?s head. ?You?ve done good, Immy.? Releasing her, Winthrop turned towards Alexandria. ?And our resident demon, a woman of the cloth! Well, all I got for you is something your father told me before he left. He told me that if you were ever to come back without him, he left something in his room for you. As usual, he didn?t say what, but it sounded like it was important, whatever it was.?

?Yeah, Father might have died on the spot from breaking the rules of the universe if he ever flat-out told the complete truth. Oh, and do you know anything about a group of merchants from Baldur?s Gate visiting??

?Yep-they?re supposed to be talking to Ulraunt in the main keep.?

The tiefling winced. ?That?s just lovely. It was good to see you again.?

?That it was. Take care, lass.?


Books. That?s what defined the great central hall of Candlekeep?s main keep. Row upon row of books. All neatly shelved and organized in bookcases reaching from floor to ceiling. Monks were constantly moving down the aisles, retrieving books here, putting back tomes there. Fiction and nonfiction, powerful books of magic and romantic poetry-all neatly placed, catalogued, and organized. There were a great many other chambers within the fortress? central keep, from the great shrine of Savras to several sets of resident?s quarters, but the central hall dominated the keep on the first several levels.

Alexandria?s companions paused at the entrance to the library-even Xan was stunned by the accumulated knowledge of Candlekeep.

?Th-this is m-most impressive.? Khalid stuttered.

?Agreed.? Jaheira noted. ?I have heard stories of Candlekeep for quite some time, but this is the first I have ever seen the grand collection.?

?Indeed.? Ajantis chimed in. ?The Order and many noble families endeavor to collect large libraries, but they are not a tenth the size of this place.?

?Child, is it true that this collection goes on for several floors in the keep??

?Five, as a matter of fact. Father?s room was up on the fourth floor, as was mine. But I don?t think anyone, even the monks, have ever read more than a fraction of the books in this place. Even an elf would be hard-pressed to read all the works of Candlekeep in a single lifetime.?

?There may well be some truth to that.? Xan agreed. ?Such an accumulation of knowledge among N?Tel?Quess is quite extraordinary.?

Extraordinary as it was to them, it was also home to Alexandria and Imoen, and they made for the stairs. It was on the third floor that they were interrupted by a large man in monks? robes.

?Hello, Alexandria.? The man stated as he walked towards the adventurers. The man was tall, strongly built, and bald-headed, though his skin tone was a rich earthen brown.

?Do I know you?? Alexandria asked. ?I don?t recognize you.?

?No, you don?t know me-I?ve been traveling for some time. I was a friend of your father?s, and I am sorry to hear that he died.?

?Thank you.?

?I?m curious-I?ve heard so many tales of your adventures on the Sword Coast. Are you still attempting to hunt down whoever or whatever slew your father??

?Yes.? The tiefling said simply.

?Dangerous-very dangerous. But I think you should have this.? The man extended his hand towards Alexandria. In his palm was a silver ring with a dark emerald set into its center and a strange design etched onto the gem. ?It was a ring your father gave me a long time ago-he enchanted it himself to protect its bearer, and I?ve been keeping it as a good luck charm of sorts, in addition to its practical value.?

?Erm, thank you.? Alexandria took the ring.

?Good luck, lass. Now if you will excuse me, I?m late for a meeting with one of the chanters. My name is Koveras, by the way.?

The man quickly disappeared down the stairs. Alexandria raised an eyebrow at Jaheira.

?That was an odd encounter.?

?Indeed. I suspect that was no random meeting, but I cannot imagine why.?

?Well, when your father?s a Harper, ?coincidence? is a word that doesn?t mean much.?

Jaheira scowled at that, and followed Alexandria up the final flight of stairs.

Gorion?s room was precisely how Alexandria remembered it-a large desk dominated the room, accompanied by a bookshelf and small chest. The bed in the room was almost an afterthought-small and bare. The tiefling immediately set to work looking for whatever Gorion had left for her, and found it after a few minutes of searching-it had been buried at the bottom of the chest, beneath a spare set of robes her father had never had the chance to wear. A flick of her belt knife parted the wax seal on the scroll, and she began to read.


Alexandria?s knees gave way abruptly and she fell to the small bed-an action that never registered on her senses. Blood drained out of her face, and all warmth at being home, curiosity at who Koveras had been, everything, fell into the background in her mind as the last piece in the puzzle clicked into place and everything, every last riddle and clue, every unexplained event, became perfectly, horrifyingly clear.

?What?s the matter sis?? Imoen asked urgently.

?The Lord of Murder shall perish,? The words sprang unbidden to Alexandria?s lips. How many times had she heard the chanters sing them? ?But in his doom he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny. Chaos will be sown from their passing. So sayeth the wise Alaundo.?

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#35 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 05 April 2008 - 07:49 PM

Chapter XXXV: Storm Front


Alexandria, my daughter, I pray nightly you never read this, but I fear you will someday. When, even I do not know-and I am honest to you when I say that I do not know. Not ?You?re too young to understand?, not ?That is not for me to say?. I genuinely do not know. Even divinatory magic has its limits. I am sorry for not telling you what I am about to-you wanted answers I could not possibly give you at the time. This was no slight against you or Imoen-I knew you could handle the information I am about to give you. The problem was the rest of the world.

You will want to sit down for this, my daughter.

My daughter. Heh. Alexandria, I have come to genuinely think of you as my child, though you?ve known for some time now, I think, that you do not share my blood. You share the blood of the divine, and I am not talking about your tiefling blood. Your father was Bhaal, Lord of Murder, god of assassins and violent death. I made sure you knew the history of the Time of Troubles for a reason, but there is something I left out in our lessons-before Bhaal died, he somehow learned of his coming death during the Godswar, and undertook plans to survive. Before his avatar?s destruction at the hands of Cyric, Bhaal forced himself on mortal women-how many, I cannot say. Dozens, certainly. Hundreds, probably. In each woman was a seed sown-a Bhaalspawn. You are one of these children, Alexandria.

Your mother was a friend of mine, a close companion and confidante-and yes, a tiefling. We had been separated for some time on our own business with the Harpers when she was captured by the Deathstalkers of Bhaal. Such were their elaborate preparations and defenses that it was nearly eleven years before we found her, and many of the other women taken. The battle, which gave you nightmares when you were younger, was bloody, and your mother died in the process. But in the process, I found you, and took you to raise as my own.

This was how you came to be at Candlekeep, and why I could not tell you what you were. You know the prophecies as well as any scholar-the Bhaalspawn will lay waste to Faerun, and you and the others are coming of age. It is the threat of one of your siblings that has lead me to conclude we must leave soon. I did the best I could to prepare you for what is to come-much as I would have liked to see you remain in Candlekeep for all of your days, I knew that could not happen. Wishful thinking, my beloved daughter, has never helped anyone conquer a hostile reality.

Unless I?m very much mistaken, Imoen will have found a way to sneak out and accompany you as well. She is more resourceful than Ulraunt gives her credit for. Tell her to be careful-James, whom you know as Winthrop, would never let my ghost rest if anything were to happen to her! Granted, it is unlikely any warning could convince her to use caution, but no one is invincible.

Alexandria, I know you must be in shock by now-and when the shock passes, you will be angry. Angry at whom, I cannot say-perhaps even myself. And so, before you become incapable of reason, I will simply say this: I knew taking you in would result in my death, and it is a consequence I gladly accept. Not all prophecies come to pass, at least not in the manner foretold. I have seen fate bent and broken before-a feat you *must* repeat.

I love you, and I have faith that you will hold onto goodness in this time of trial.

Gorion



How long Alexandria sat on the bed, reading the letter over and over again, she would never be certain. Her eyes never stopped scanning the parchment, and her mind never stopped repeating the same circle. Finally, she knew the secrets her father had been keeping for so long? and she would give anything to not know them.

?It is true, isn?t it?? Jaheira asked.

?Is-is what true?? The tiefling?s voice was hollow.

?You are one of the Children of Bhaal.?

?I? it? yes, I am.?

Jaheira?s face was one of undisguised sorrow, and she sat down on the bed next to Alexandria.

?Child, you deserve to know that I did know more of this than I told you. Gorion was extraordinarily secretive about his work, but Khalid and I eventually formed suspicions that you were one of the Children-suspicions that were all but confirmed as you began to manifest your strange abilities-the void, as you called it after our battles in the mines of Nashkel.?

?Then the void is-was? Bhaal??

?I do not know for certain, but it appears that yes, a fragment of Bhaal?s consciousness is embedded in your soul.?

?Then what should I do??

Jaheira laughed-a sudden, alien sound in the grim mood. ?You truly have changed, child, and that gives me great hope. I believe you must do what you always have done-the right thing.?

?But what is the right thing to do in this case? Gorion?s right-I know the prophecies forwards and backwards. Nations are going to fall in this storm, Jaheira. The monks think Dambrath and Tethyr will be destroyed during the prophecy, to name just two.?

?You are very calm about this, child. Have you adapted so quickly.?

?Hardly.? The tiefling made a weak smile. ?I think my mind still hasn?t quite registered what the letter said.?

With that, she focused her awareness outwards again, and her mind blade sprung to life. It was still predominately azure, but as she watched, she saw ripples of violet and red flash across its surface, slowly increasing in intensity. And already, the hilt of the ethereal scimitar glowed a dark, violent purple.

?This blade is a reflection of my mind, Jaheira. I?ve grown to know what it represents, and it allows me a glimpse at my own mind from the outside. But if Father?s letter is true? then I? I don?t know what the right course of action is.?

?But I do.? A strong voice stated from the doorway. It was Captain Cernick, flanked by four Watchers.

?What is going on, Captain?? Ajantis asked.

?Alexandria, you and your companions are under arrest for the murders of Baron Rieltar Anchev and the rest of the Iron Throne delegation.?

?What?!? Alexandria shot upright.

?Turn out your pockets, Alexandria. I don?t want to make this any harder on you than I have to.?

?Do what you will, Cernick. I?ve done nothing wrong.?

?I will be the judge of that.? The captain snapped.

?Cern, what?s going on?? Imoen asked. ?We came straight from Puffguts to here-weren?t the folks from the Iron Throne supposed to be talking with Ulraunt??

?They were.? Cernick confirmed. ?But when they were late, Ulraunt went to investigate. He found them in the storehouse, butchered to a man by bladed weapons. I am the only person in Candlekeep permitted to carry a sword under normal circumstances, but we were lenient on you lot because you used to live here. And both you and your sister know how to get into the storehouse. And now, I see Alexandria?s mind blade is turning red. Ulraunt made sure we knew that that meant you intended to kill or had recently killed. Turn out your pockets!? He commanded.

Alexandria did so, and Cernick carefully inspected the assortment of coins and other miscellaneous items. His face was thunderous.

?I see coins minted in Amn-bearing the Council?s seal, no less! Are you being paid by Amnish authorities??

?We were.? The priestess snapped. ?Kinda goes with the territory when you?re adventuring in Amnish lands.?

?Hmph. Excusable enough, then, but? dear Oghma. That ring bears the Baron Anchev?s own seal!?

The ring Koveras had given her? once again, Alexandria felt the now-familiar sinking sensation of being horribly outwitted.

?Koveras?? The tiefling moaned. ?Just ?Sarevok? backwards.?

Jaheira sighed. ?Too obvious for any of us to catch, child. When casting a web of elaborate deception and carefully calculated misdirection, blatant simplicity has a subtlety all its own.?

?Whether you were manipulated into the murder of the delegation is irrelevant.? Cernick reminded them. ?Our rules are strict, and you will face inquisition by Ulraunt himself.?

?Very well.? Alexandria shook her head. ?We?ll come quietly.?

?We will?? Imoen asked. ?We didn?t do it!?

?Sis, Cernick?s just doing his job, and I?m not going to hurt my friends. Besides, would I be mistaken to assume we would be sent to Baldur?s Gate for full trial??

?You would not be mistaken.? Cernick allowed.

?Good. I?m not worried.?

And with that, Cernick marched the adventurers downstairs, flanked by the Watchers.


Again, Alexandria was struck by how few people were in Candlekeep-the library in particular was usually teeming with monks, scholars, acolytes of Oghma, and other visitors, but the adventurers saw only a handful of monks furtively moving up and down the long aisles. Cernick led them past the main library hall and into a hallway, towards a door Alexandria had never seen opened. He produced a key from the ring at his waist, and opened the door.

Inside was a large room with a ready identifiable function-it was a jail, divided into ten cells. Alexandria felt a peculiar sensation come across her as she stepped across the threshold-similar to the antimagic field the Flaming Fist had used when they executed Edwin Odesseiron, but much stronger.

?I?m sorry to have to do this to you, Alex.? Cernick said as he motioned her towards one of the cells. ?Ulraunt himself enchanted this room with an antimagic field-only he can cast spells here, including divine magic. He added an antipsionic field as well, not long after your ability first manifested. He should be here shortly.?

?Great?? Alexandria muttered.

?I know you don?t like him, Alex, but Ulraunt has never been anything less than fair-not just, perhaps, but fair. He will decide your guilt or lack thereof-but I can safely say that it doesn?t look good for you.?

?Come on, Cernick. It?s Alex, remember??

?You?ve changed, Alex.? Cernick shook his head sadly. ?When you left, you were adamant about not bowing before any gods. You?ve returned an acolyte.?

?Of Selune! It?s not like I started worshipping Iyachtu Xvim or something!?

?And Imoen has returned a wizard, who?s been courting an elf of all things.?

?She-she has done n-nothing wrong!? Khalid stammered.

?My personal experience says that a deed like this is beyond her, but my vow as a Watcher specifies that I could act only by what I see and know-not feel.?

?B-but what about all sh-she has done??

?All the tales of her adventures have done is confirm that she has the ability to have murdered the Iron Throne delegates, especially with allies like you. I wish dearly it had not come to this, but it has, Khalid of Calimshan. All you can do now is await Ulraunt.?

And with that, Cernick closed the door behind him.


It was only a few minutes before the door opened again and Ulraunt stepped in, wearing his customary robes-an elaborate affair of white with gold trim, marked with the symbol of Oghma on his breast. His white hair was trimmed short, and the long, hooked nose that had earned him a variety of less-than-complimentary nicknames jutted prominently past his face. His expression at the adventurers was stern.

?So, tiefling, this is what your journeys have ultimately led you to-murder of seven innocent men and women??

?I didn?t murder them!? Alexandria shouted.

?I?m disappointed. At least before you and your ?father? left Candlekeep, you were courageous enough to take responsibility for your actions-it was one of the few things I rather liked about you, lack of respect for your elders notwithstanding.?

?So is this how it will be?? Jaheira asked bitingly. ?Have you already condemned us to whatever punishment you have in mind??

?No, I have not.? Ulraunt allowed. ?Two Harpers, a paladin of the Order of the Radiant Heart, and a Greycloak of Evereska-no, all formalities will be observed. What you all see in Alexandria is beyond my comprehension, but this investigation commences now.?

With that ominous intonation, Ulraunt swiftly cast a spell unfamiliar to Alexandria. A blank scroll appeared in midair before Ulraunt.

?This is one of the more helpful spells I have encountered in my time-a spell formerly unique to the church of Tyr, but modified in a cooperative effort by the faithful of Oghma and Savras. You are perhaps familiar with the zone of truth spell??

?I am, and can cast it myself.?

Ulraunt?s eyes flickered in momentary surprise before continuing. ?So be it. But you see, this spell is a far more potent means of analyzing the truth. It does not merely detect falsehoods you utter, but indeed determines truth. It will inform me not only when you lie, but when you utter incomplete truth, attempts to purposefully mislead me with the truth, and when you truly believe what is not ultimately the truth. I do not believe in wasting time, so let us begin. Alexandria, did you or your companions murder the Iron Throne delegates??

?No.?

The scroll remained motionless and unchanged. Ulraunt?s eyes again registered a moment of surprise. ?Did you have any hand in bringing about their murders??

?No.?

Again, the scroll remained unchanged. ?Do you know who did??

?No.?

This time, the scroll furled up in the air into a single parchment roll.

?You do know who murdered them.? Ulraunt corrected. ?Or at least you have some suspicion of who did.?

?Yes.? Alexandria admitted. ?I believe it was Sarevok Anchev, in the guise of a monk named Koveras.?

The scroll returned to its open and motionless state. ?Do you have any idea why the son of Baron Rieltar Anchev did this??

?Yes. I believe he intended to frame me for their murders, and have me arrested at best, executed at worst.?

Ulraunt?s eyes narrowed as the scroll remained stationary. ?What history do you and Sarevok Anchev have? Do you bear any relation to him??

?I?ve been interfering with the Iron Throne?s plans ever since I left Candlekeep-which were not perhaps the Iron Throne?s as much as they were Sarevok?s.?

The scroll furled up again, and Alexandria quickly spoke.

?And? he?s my?? Did she dare voice her suspicion? But in the presence of the truth spell, could it do any harm? ?He?s my brother.? She finally said.

The priestess heard a gasp from Imoen as she stated her relation to Sarevok, but the truth spell returned to its open state. Alexandria?s suspicion was true. What it meant? she didn?t have time to ponder.

?So it is true.? Ulraunt said quietly. ?Then I only have one course of action?-

The door suddenly slammed open, and Cernick walked into the room, flanked by Winthrop, Phylidia, Reevor, and several other residents of Candlekeep.

?Captain, what is the meaning of this?!? Ulraunt snapped.

?Have you reached a verdict on her guilt??

?I have.?

?Good. Then she will be executed now.?

?Executed?!? The adventurers shouted simultaneously. ?Cernick, have you lost your mind?!? Alexandria yelled.

?Actually, Captain, though I can scarcely believe it, they are innocent. The real killer was Sarevok, it would seem.?

?So it would seem.? Cernick nodded. ?In fact, I can tell you know that it?s the truth.?

?What-how did you know?!?

?That is not for you to know. I tire of this charade-I can smell the hatred.?

Before Ulraunt could ask what he meant, a sword-blade suddenly appeared in his chest and blood began to pump out from below the thrust, staining his robes red. The cleric/wizard fell with barely even a gasp, only to reveal Winthrop standing behind him, a second blade in his other hand.

?Puffguts, what the hell is going on!? Imoen shouted.

?Your adoration was amusing, primate, but our employer thought it better to include a contingency measure in the event his plan failed.? Winthrop answered in a stranger?s voice. ?Ulraunt was such an uncertain quantity-we could not know whether he would allow his personal feelings to get in the way of his better judgement or not. Too bad for him, meat.?

?No-it can?t be true!?

?Oh, but it is.? ?Winthrop? answered with a ghoulish smile, and his flesh began to ripple with a familiar effect.

Doppelgangers.

?Ill?? Ulraunt?s voice caughed from the floor, catching everyone?s attention.

?Yes, you are rather ill.? The lead doppelganger smirked. ?I rather like my meals warm.?

?Ills? illseramavin?? Ulraunt choked out.

Whatever arcane word that was, its effects were as immediate as they were stunning. The half dozen candle sconces in the room immediately glowed bright with emerald fire and a strange haze filled the room. The next instant, light flashed before Alexandria?s eyes, and faded almost as quickly. With the light vanishing, so did the doppelgangers, and the sconces faded back to their normal copper glow.

Even as the adventurers watched, a dimension door formed in the air in the center of the room, and Tethtoril emerged.

?Alexandria?? The wizard asked. ?Why was Candlekeep?s internal defense enchantment triggered? And why are you in the jail cells??

Another hacking cough from Ulraunt caught Tethoril?s attention, and the older wizard quickly tipped a potion vial into Ulraunt?s mouth, at which point the fallen wizard slacked entirely. Tethtoril rose and stared directly at Alexandria.

?Alexandria, Ulraunt is badly injured, and he activated a certain ancient defense mechanism of this keep. What the hell happened here??

?I?m not sure.? The tiefling admitted. ?Cernick arrested us under suspicion of killing the Iron Throne leaders?-

?Which I know you didn?t do.?

-?Then Ulraunt began to interrogate us, using some kind of spell that looked like a scroll floating in mid-air. It wasn?t like anything I?ve ever seen before.?

?Ah, Ulraunt?s Scroll of Justice-I had a hand in creating that spell, as did your father. Or foster father, as you no doubt no by now.?

?And he determined us innocent. Then Cernick, Winthrop, and several others came in, and when Ulraunt said we were innocent, Winthrop stabbed him.?

?Winthrop?!?

?It?s true!? Imoen pleaded. ?But he wasn?t Winthrop-he was a doppelganger!?

Tethtoril?s face froze for several long seconds before he finally nodded. ?That makes altogether too much sense. Candlekeep hides more secrets than you would ever dare to guess, children-the spell Ulraunt invoked was one of them. It instantly cast an imprisonment spell on any beings in the room that were detected as evil and signaled me to come here immediately. It is a defense known only to myself, Ulraunt, and your late foster father.

?Unfortunately, I do not have any good news for you. Koveras has fled Candlekeep-at least two mages of power were assisting him, though I was unable to determine their identities.?

?We can make accurate guesses, Tethtoril.? Jaheira answered. ?Commander Angelo Delryn of the Flaming Fist, and Semaj of the Cowled Wizards.?

?Then you know more about this than I do. It appears that the only thing I have left to tell you is that the letter Gorion left for you was enchanted, Alexandria.?

?How??

?A version of the calm emotions spell. Your foster father was perhaps the greatest diviner the Realms have seen since Savras, but he was quite adept at enchantment magic as well-he always told me that you would need to be focused in the immediate aftermath of reading that letter. How, I don?t know.?

He paused briefly, letting Gorion?s foresight sink in before continuing.

?Alexandria, I wish I had good news for you, but I was reading a letter an elemental servant brought me-there is news from a friend of yours in the Flaming Fist, one Captain Nathaniel Donos.?

?And??

?The day you left Baldur?s Gate, Duke Entar Silvershield died. Three days ago, Sarevok Anchev was voted to replace him as Duke of Baldur?s Gate.? Tethtoril either didn?t see or didn?t care that the adventurers flinched as one at that announcement. ?And yesterday, Duke Eltan was assassinated, leaving one Commander Angelo Delryn in command of the Flaming Fist.?

?We?re doomed.? Xan intoned.

It was telling that for once, no one disagreed.

?Alexandria, he did, however, acquire these for you.? Tethtoril unlocked the adventurers? cells and handed each a magically sealed envelope, marked with the sigil of the Grand Dukes of Baldur?s Gate.

?There is an Inauguration event scheduled in three days for Sarevok Anchev, and Captain Donos believes it to be of paramount importance that you be present-those envelopes are invitations to the Inauguration, signed by Duke Eltan himself. You must make haste, Alexandria.?

?Can?t you do anything to help us?? Imoen asked.

?I cannot-I must remain here at Candlekeep, determine our situation, and hunt down any remaining doppelganger presence. Then I must inform certain old allies of what has transpired here.?

?But the Inauguration is scheduled for three days from now! We can?t walk that fast!?

?You won?t have to. Another of Candlekeep?s lesser-known defenses is a teleportation network-it will deposit you not far from Baldur?s Gate.?

Gorion?s calm emotions spell was clearly working on the adventurers, as the only response Alexandria gave was ?Alright.?

?Godspeed, Alexandria. I think you?re the only one left who can stop whatever?s going on.? The wizard sighed sadly, and uttered an arcane word.

They landed in darkness.


Author's Note: Don't worry, folks. That calm emotions spell is going to wear off before this goes any further. :whistling:

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#36 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 29 April 2008 - 12:45 PM

Chapter XXXVI: Pandora Unchained


Darkness. Twilight. Night.

For twenty years, Alexandria had considered them her native element: between her keen darkvision, limited ability to use her mind blade to shed light, and ability to call upon her fell ancestry to produce clouds of magical darkness, the dark had never held any fear for the tiefling. More recently, the relevations of Selune?s eternal light had only further intensified her fearlessness amidst the night and gloom.

Even the deep night, far out of sight from the adventurers? camp near Baldur?s Gate, was clear as daylight to her. But her vision was clouded by a darkness of an altogether different sort.

?Hello, my daughter.?

The voice crept into her mind, familiar as ever. Perhaps it had only been a matter of time before it entered her waking time.

?Bhaal.? Alexandria spoke into the gloom, addressing the voice in her mind.

?At last, you understand the truth.?

?I understand you?re nothing more than an echo of a dead god. I am not afraid of you.? The declaration sounded hollow even to her ears.

?Oh, I?m considerably more than an echo, my dear. If anything, I?m considerably more alive now than I ever was before-pumping in the hearts of brave little bodies like yours. Rushing through veins. A perfect mirror, shattered into countless shards. Each shard, as potent as the whole-but limited by their size. Each shard, returning to its place in the whole and feeding the mirror?s reconstruction.

?Mortal bodies are so easily destroyed, my brave little daughter. By blade and spell, certainly-as you know too well. But also by more mundane means-accidents, disease, famine. Even simple old age eventually serves me. I did not become a god by being impatient.?

?What-what do you want from me?? Alexandria asked the dark quietly.

?Ha ha ha! How the mighty have fallen, little priestess, for you to ask that.?

?If I know what you want, I?ll better be able to stop you.?

?True. You know, I?m rather impressed with you. For all that you cling to your goddess, for all your noble ?intentions?, your capacity for murder remains almost unparalleled. It?s one of the things I truly loathed about being a god, my dear. Lord of Murder, God of Death, Master of Assassins? bah. Murder for its own sake is not the point-it never was. Oh, my priests and those who whispered supplications to me certainly thought it was. So did many of those pathetic excuses for greater deities. And what?s more, it even was true to an extent-godhood can be such a confining thing sometimes. Ascension to divinity is, I think, the ultimate cosmic joke.?

?Then what is the point?? She whispered.

?Now if only more than a handful of my clergy asked me that! The point, my dear, is that I?ve always had more in common with Gond and Sune than any other deities. Murder is but a tool-for what purposes is for you to decide. But like any tool, it must be honored and perfected-you must be an artist. Common murders never held any interest from me-those whom I favored were those who enjoyed their work, who were artists of death and blood. And such art is never so pleasing as when it is done for a purpose. Noble crusade or black vendetta-I have never cared. Of course, I?ve always preferred those who devoted their lives to their art, rather than cloaking them in ?nobility?. Your mother in particular understood this.?

?My mother?!?

?Ah, yes. Alianna was not a priestess, but she understood my aims better than most who did call themselves Deathstalkers. She was a tiefling like you, though rather more in touch with her blood. She was a warrior and sorceress of great power who terrorized several cities in Mulhorand for many decades-they knew her by a great many names, the most common being the Walker in Blood, as her signature was always a series of footsteps made in the blood of her victims. She never made any claims to nobility or a higher cause-I have always said to let each man do what they do best, and your mother?s particular talents lay in murder. Simply put, she was good, she was very, very good at it. But my daughter, do you wonder why, perhaps, she did it??

Without waiting for her to respond, Bhaal?s voice continued.

?She did it for entertainment. Her own, mostly, though occasionally she would ?invite? friends and family of her victims to watch. For her, the trail of blood she left across Mulhorand was simply a matter of enjoying herself. Or in colloquial terms, she killed because it was fun.?

The venom dripping from Bhaal?s voice had finally worn away Alexandria?s patience.

?Monster!? She shouted into the gloom. ?Get out of my head!?

?But how can I leave your head when I live in your soul?? Bhaal taunted. ?And it is hardly as though I want you to start murdering people at random.?

?Then again, what the hell do you want?!?

?For you to keep doing what you have been doing and what you intend to do, of course.? Bhaal laughed. ?You really think you could resist me if I truly decided you would do something I did not wish you to??

?Yes.? Alexandria declared firmly.

?Ah, that pride again. Have you listened to nothing of what I?ve said, my dear? I would be rather displeased if you were to divert from your intended course-the murder of Sarevok, Angelo, and Ao-knows-who-else. Even your worship of Selune rather pleases me.?

?What?!? The tiefling was caught short.

?Your blood and soul might enjoy it more if you were to engage in an orgy of murder, but you would not. Why kill without purpose when the purpose you already have has carved a trail of blood across the Sword Coast and will continue to do so? A purpose that has even brought you some measure of joy? Ah, even your feelings for the paladin are rather welcome to me. Of all the forces in the world that can lead to remorseless bloodshed, love and religious faith are among the most potent. Remember, my dear, that my porfolio is murder, not mere killing. That is the lot of Mask and Garagos. I am a rather more? civilized deity.?

?There is nothing civilized about murder!?

?Oh, but there is. Again you fail to see the difference between murder and killing, my dear. Murder is death with purpose, killing is death for its own sake. Have you ever wondered why it is only in the most civilized of nations that you will find assassins? guilds, not mere gangs of brutes or thieves? guilds? You would find assassins amongst the nobles of Waterdeep and Calimshan, not in the Dales or Rasheman. Assassins and paladins alike paid their homage to me and fed my strength, whether they knew it or not. A mere street thug mattered not to me.

?You see, my brave little daughter, I am rather proud of you. Before my consciousness was able to reform itself in this cozy little corner of your soul, there was nothing but that terribly uncivilized business with the void-mere bloodthirstiness and anarchy. But to my delight, you resisted that void? for the most part. It is one of the most uncivilized parts of being a deity-there is always that dissonance between your conscious mind and the raw, distilled essence of your portfolio. I felt that hunger every day of my life as a mortal, and it only grew stronger as a god. It will only grow stronger in you, my dear, as you grow more powerful. You must not let yourself submit to that hunger!?

Alexandria laughed into the night. ?Let me get this straight, you want to help me??

?Why would I not? You are my daughter, Alexandria, and as a more pragmatic matter, this shard of myself exists in your soul. I?ve been working, on the side, to shore up your defenses against the-void, you call it? A rather apt description. Oh, make no mistake-for my grand purposes, you giving into the void would honestly be the best result for me.?

?But you don?t want the ?best result???

?Not necessarily. You neglected a rather crucial element, my dear-my own amusement. Watching a nonstop orgy of destruction would further my goals quite rapidly, yes, but it would also be rather boring. It is so much more entertaining to watch you struggle and fight and continue your grand little crusade. Ah, favoring my own amusement over efficiency? such sins were what lead to my destruction at the hands of that brash little upstart Cyric. But I think we?ve had enough of a heart-to-heart chat for now, my dear. Do be careful.?

And with a faint sound of mocking laughter, the alien presence in Alexandria?s mind withdrew, leaving her alone in the dark once more.

?My lady.? Another voice called almost as soon as Bhaal?s laughter faded in Alexandria?s ears.

She spun to face Ajantis, the confusion still plain in her face.

?Whoever-whatever-you were talking to, it was Bhaal, wasn?t it?? Ajantis asked pointedly.

?How did you know??

?You always betray a vestigal sense of evil to my senses, my lady. Consciously, I have no doubt that you are of a pure heart indeed. But when I watched from among the trees, I sensed nothing but pure evil emanating from you. Not chaotic, but lawful and with purpose-methodical and intentional evil.?

?If you were listening?? Alexandria started, but realized she had no idea how to finish the statement. What conclusions could Ajantis not draw?

?I know you still fight the evil you bear with you, my lady.?

?Ajantis, I? I don?t know what to say anymore. I-I don?t know if I can stand against this. Maybe in the beginning, but we?ve killed a lot of people. We met with your sword impaled through someone?s ribcage. Imoen and I were forced into adventuring when my?foster? father was murdered. We met Jaheira and Khalid over the fresh corpse of an assassin. Xan?s freedom was won with blood. Can we truly say we aren?t murderers? Killers with purpose??

?No, we are not murderers.? Ajantis replied slowly. ?We do not relish killing-it is a necessity, nothing more. If a peaceful solution were possible, we would take it. But peaceful solutions are not possible, so we turn to the sword.?

?But that?s the point! Why does everything have to be resolved in blood?! If my journeys have taught me anything, it is that ?peace? is a fundamentally foolish concept. Good and evil, law and chaos. They cannot exist without conflict, and conflict seems to lead, inevitably, to violence.?

?You speak the truth, my lady. Such realities are why those like you and I exist-to stand between evil and those unprepared to face it, to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Alexandria, my lady, please-do not listen to this evil in you!?

?Believe me, I don?t want to.? Alexandria replied with a bitter smile. ?But I?ve never made any claims to idealism-sure, there are those things I?d like to happen, and I will cherish Selune?s grace and hope for all time, but facts must be faced. You know this will end in death-either mine, or Sarevok?s. There is no alternative.?

?I know your heart, and I know that to be true. And that is why I came to speak with you tonight-not because of the shadow in your soul, but because of you, my shining light.?

The mood shifted abruptly between the tiefling and the paladin. Suddenly they were standing close, Alexandria?s blood-red feline eyes staring into Ajantis? dark blue gaze.

?Ajantis, you always have been there-been at my side.?

?And I always will be, Alexandria. But there always comes a time when one must choose between what one knows is right, and what feels right.? Ajantis said softly.

Alexandria opened her lips to speak, but Ajantis quietly continued.

?I have always known you to be a shining light tinged forever by shadow. For the past month, I have prayed and meditated on this? on you. My lady, my shining light, you are perhaps the strongest, most willful woman I have ever met-to acknowledge one?s own weakness is a strength few ever find. I rejoiced from the bottom of my soul to see you forever accept the higher call that Selune blessed you with.?

?Ajantis, you say things I don?t deserve.? The tiefling replied sadly, tears beginning to trickle down her cheek. ?All I have ever done-all I have ever tried to do-is the right thing, or the closest to it I could find.?

?And that is why I admire you so much, my shining light. I have always looked more towards the grand goal, the ideal. You do what you must-a good woman in a storm. We are both beacons in the night in our own ways.?

?I? I think I?.? Alexandria could not bring herself to finish the sudden, emotional impulse.

?I know how you feel.? Ajantis replied, looking straight into the priestess? scarlet eyes with a look that communicated far more than his simple words.

?Then-what??

?Alexandria, I? I feel the same as you do. But I cannot remain at your side any longer.?

?Why?!? Alexandria snapped.

?I told you there always comes a time when one must choose between what one knows is right, and what one feels is right. Alexandria, I love you.?

Those four words hung in the air for a brief eternity before the paladin continued.

?But I cannot stay with you. No matter how I feel, you are an heir to a fell power beyond anything I would dare imagine. And? my honor is my life.? Ajantis concluded simply.

It was a long time before either one of them acted-a curious still life of paladin and priestess, until it was suddenly broken. All Ajantis knew was that the tears in Alexandria?s eyes never stopped, but the normally soft blood-red hue turned into molten flame. Having fought at her side for the better part of a month, he was well aware of her movement and reaction time. But even so, he had never seen her move so quickly.

The steel gauntlet that encased her right hand lent it a formidable amount of power, all of which was directed into the strike that hammered into the side of Ajantis? face. Between the surprise and force of the blow, the paladin dropped to his knees.

?Get the hell away from me!? Alexandria hissed.

As Ajantis rose to his feet, nothing but sorrow and compassion could be seen in his eyes.

?I am sorry it had to come to this.? He said softly. ?I love you, Alexandria. For all that you are, for all that lurks within you, I love you. I?m sorry.?

And with that, he walked away, leaving Alexandria alone in the dark.


For how long Alexandria stood there in the dark, she would never be certain, even years later. An introspective person by nature, the sheer emotional barrage of the day and night was unlike anything she had ever faced before, though it would not be the last time she would ever face such an onslaught. What followed was the inevitable.

She screamed and ranted and cried and raved. Hatred, love, regret, relief, depression, hope? all took their place in turn as the emotional tides smashed through Alexandria?s faltering self-control. What remained quietly stepped out of the way in the tiefling?s mind, letting the tides sweep across and submerge her mind. On some level, she knew this was what had to be.

Of the three figures watching her, hidden in the dark, one would have smiled, if the form it wore was capable of smiling. One of the other figures had wanted to interfere, but in the end, the only person capable of resolving Alexandria?s conflicts was, ultimately, Alexandria herself. How it resolved was not for any of them to decide. Two had exchanged much more than simple glances, amused on one part and wary on the other, at the exchange between Alexandria and Ajantis, but what was done was done.

But some things were yet to be done. The large owl perched in the tree began hooting softly in a distinct pattern, with a wood symbol carved to resemble an oak leaf clutched in its talons, and a wind began to blow through the woods and into the overcast sky.

The moon?s sudden radiance as the clouds parted dazzled Alexandria, and she immediately turned to stare at the argent orb in the heavens. Every time in her life she had been shrouded in darkness, Selune had been there, she knew. Something so simple as a sudden wind? almost unconsciously, the tiefling began to sing in the night. It was a song popular with the Selunite church that she had learned during her stay at the temple in Baldur?s Gate, and while Alexandria?s singing voice left much to be desired, the words, and the meaning, rang clear through the now-cloudless night sky?


?Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
This grace has brought me home thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

Selune has promised good to me,
Her word my hope secures;
She will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The moon forebear to shine;
But Selune who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

Will be forever mine??


Author's Note: The preceding song is a slightly modified version of the Christian folk song "Amazing Grace"

Edited by Tempest, 29 April 2008 - 06:26 PM.

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#37 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 19 May 2008 - 10:03 AM

Chapter XXXVII: You Take the High Road


The morning came suddenly for Alexandria. After shedding her armor the night before, she had almost immediately fallen asleep in the woods where Tethtoril?s spell had deposited them. Now that she was awake, she could see that they were in an isolated coppice in a patch of heavy forest, centered on a large rock in the center of the coppice. A quick examination of the rock revealed a symbol carved into it: an open book, in front of a lit candle. The icon of Candlekeep.

?Hey, sis. How are ya feelin this morning?? Imoen asked.

?I?m okay, I guess.? Alexandria replied softly. ?I don?t know what I?m going to do about this in the long run, let alone about the ramifications of Alaundo?s prophecies. A score of mortal progeny? if we?re right, and Sarevok is a child of Bhaal, then he?s only the beginning.?

?Shouldn?t you be? upset or something??

The priestess paused for a moment before replying, then swiftly kindled her mind blade. The ethereal blade still bore its familiar scimitar configuration, but it was a much darker shade of blue than normal-tinted towards a dark violet. But the blade?s form was, for once, perfectly normal-not a serrated edge in sight.

?Imoen? I always wanted to know what Father? Gorion? hid from me-what he wouldn?t tell me. Heh. How little I knew. You know me better than to think I?m okay with this, but for now, stewing over my blood will do no good. We?re down to what-hours-before the Inauguration??

?Yeah, but shouldn?t you worry about yourself for the slightest instant?! You drove Ajantis away, and who knows what?s going to happen if you let this destroy you!? Imoen shouted.

?Why?! Sis, we don?t have time for this-in case you haven?t noticed, Sarevok?s about to win whatever he?s after, and if he does, hundreds of innocent people are going to die! Don?t you understand that?!? The tiefling snapped back, but quickly softened her tone. ?After this is over, after Sarevok is stopped, I promise you can take me to a temple of Sharess and treat me to whatever your devious little imagination can come up with. But for now, what I am doesn?t matter-there is a higher call that I must answer.?

?W-well spoken, Alexandria.? A stuttering voice intruded.

The priestess and thief/mage turned, seeing Khalid with a hesitant smile on his face.

?You?re still coming with us?? Alexandria asked, incredulity clear in her voice.

?Y-yes, of? of course. This S-Sarevok is a frightening, erm, man, and I w-would be lying if I said I wasn?t, a-afraid. B-but the only d-difference between a brave man and a-a coward is the numer of people who know h-he is afraid.? Khalid managed, then stood a little straighter in his plate armor. ?Gorion would be p-proud, Alexandria. It?s an, ah? erm, I mean to s-say: Jaheira and I w-will stay by you to the end.?

?That, we will.? The half-elf agreed. ?Alexandria, I examined the Inauguration invitations we were granted, and we are down to five hours. As we are wanted for multiple counts of murder and other charges, the Flaming Fist has orders to slay us on sight.?

?I take it you have an idea??

?Indeed. However, it will be a two-stage plan, and it will not be comforting to you.?

?How bad can it be?? Imoen asked.

?Decide for yourself. I have inquired about the city?s vulnerabilities from the local wildlife, and it appears our best wager will be to breach the city through the sewers.?

?The sewers?? Alexandria asked flatly.

?While you were carousing with Ajantis and Anomen during our earlier visit to the tavern, Khalid and I made certain inquiries. The filth of Baldur?s Gate?s sewers filters into an underground river that has a mouth under the harbor. Xan is currently scrying for the mouth?s location. We will navigate the underground river into the sewers.?

?Not to be a downer, Jaheira, but I can see a couple of problems with that plan. First, how are we going to hold our breath that long? Second, I don?t know about you, but me in wet, filthy clothing and armor would stick out in a ducal party like an ogre in a pixie convention.?

?To answer the first, Xan and I both possess knowledge of water breathing spells. To answer the second, it is something you may find unpalatable.?

?Go on. How bad can it be??

?Between us all, we have accumulated a great deal of coin, and Ajantis has left most of his share. There are certain merchants for high-end clientele that are known for not asking questions-merchants whose wares include illusory glamers and clothing. We will arrive as a group of merchants invited to the ball.?

?Wait-why not go one better?? Imoen asked.

?Explain yourself, child.?

?With a nice illusion trick, wouldn?t it be possible to make my features look like I?m your daughter??

?Y-yes, and you c-could easily pass for y-younger than you are.? Khalid answered, despite Jaheira?s scowl.

?Well, we?ve got one invitation for a group, and it seems to me we oughta have a better plan than that. Would it be odd for two noble parents to bring their daughter and her husband or fiancé to something like this??

?It wouldn?t merit a second glance.? Jaheira nodded with a smile. ?And such a group would be remiss to not have a family retainer with them-perhaps an elite guard, perhaps another favored servant or agent. Alexandria, I believe you could fulfill such a role admirably.?

?Clever as this plan is, it is also doomed.? A familiar voice pronounced as Xan walked into the coppice. ?We may succeed in infiltrating this event, but how can we stop it? We have no proof of Sarevok?s deeds.?

?I was thinking of slightly more direct intervention, myself.? Alexandria grinned, brandishing her mind blade. ?And between everyone but Khalid, we?ve got plenty of magical power.?

?You do know this will result in the Flaming Fist immediately targeting us.?

?Okay, so there?s another hole in Jaheira?s and Imoen?s plan. But I think we can make things up well enough as we go along.?

?Wait.? Imoen interrupted. ?You said the underground river mouth was underwater, right??

?I said Xan was scrying to determine the location.? Jaheira replied. ?What were the results??

?The river mouth is under the harbor. It has a worked stone mouth near the southernmost pier.?

?Then I don?t know about y?all, but shouldn?t we dump our armor and most of our weapons? They?d attract attention at the party, make it hard for us to swim, and we can come back for them later.?

Jaheira pondered the idea for a moment and nodded. Xan quickly unleashed a spell to scoop a hole out of the ground, into which the adventurers tossed their armor and most of their gear, holding onto rings, amulets, wands, and a handful of potions that could be easily concealed. When the job was finished, Imoen cast an illusion across the hole, returning the ground?s appearance to whole and unmarred.


Traveling underwater under the influence of water breathing spells was not an experience Alexandria would care to repeat. She had hastily remembered that water breathing was also a spell Selune granted and applied it to herself, but the spell?s effects were unnerving to say the least. Breathing water was harder than breathing air, and something about it felt distinctly unnatural.

Making matters worse was the shallow underwater terrain. The sandy floor under the waves quickly deteriorated into muck and mud as they had approached Baldur?s Gate, and now, with the sun blocked by a ship passing overhead, the adventurers had to carefully navigate cluttered and unpleasant obstacles-sunken pilings, dredged channels, a stone breakwater they had to work their way around, and even the odd sunken rowboat and other debris lost overboard.

However, the tiefling admitted the bottom of the harbor was also interesting, in a way. The sea had never held much concern for Alexandria, and she knew little about it or the things that lived in it. The variety of life in the harbor was astounding to her-seaweed growing on just about everything, but kept in check by starfish, sea urchins, and snails. There, too, were things kept in check-crabs and fish and other sorts of marine animals were abundant, as were shellfish of all sorts. Even with the water breathing spell, communication was impossible among the adventurers, but Alexandria thought she saw Jaheira mouth the words ?marine druids?. She shrugged and continued on.

They found the entrance to the underground river without much difficulty-a worked stone portal looked conspicuously out of the muck near the pier pilings, and as the adventurers approached, they could feel a slow current coming from the seaweed-covered opening, perhaps eight feet in diameter. Motioning the others forward, Alexandria moved into the tunnel, her darkvision automatically adjusting to the near-total absence of light.

The stone tunnel of the river wound a serpentine path for perhaps sixty feet before Alexandria abruptly found herself walking into a deep pool, built out of stone and entirely absent of light. It was roughly twenty by ten feet in size, and she estimated it was about thirty feet deep. Even more peculiarly, there was a set of steps on one end of the pool.

This wasn?t an underground river? what the heck is it?

?Any ideas what we stumbled into?? Alexandria asked when the rest of the adventurers emerged from the water. The room above the pool was large, and resembled a warehouse-complete with several rotting boxes and pallets of unknown content.

?It appears to be a smuggling station, though I believe it to be abandoned. The underwater passage might have served as an escape tunnel. Imoen, I believe I see a hatch of some sort at the far end of the chamber. I think this area might adjoin to the sewer system.?

Alexandria wrinkled her nose. ?Sure smells like it. But it looks like this place was abandoned some time ago.?

?That does appear to be the case, child.?

A sudden scream of metal announced Imoen forcing the hatch at the far end of the chamber open.

?Aunt Jaheira!? Imoen called. ?Got the door open, but there?s a cave-in just on the other side! I think I can blow it!?

?Be careful!? Jaheira shouted.

Imoen nodded, and carefully placed three alchemical vials among the rocks-potions of exploding. She retreated a safe distance and chanted an arcane incantation. The magic missile darted forth from her hands and a massive explosion ripped through the abandoned warehouse. The smoke had barely cleared when Imoen looked back, and pronounced it clear. The adventurers piled through.


Ten minutes later, and Alexandria was wondering if the lives if hundreds of innocent people were worth it. The sewers were not well ventilated, to say the least, and the fumes burned in the tiefling?s nose. Not even the supposedly clear upper stone walkways along the sewer were clean-most were covered in scum, but there were distinct signs of footprints. Jaheira identified them as mainly vermin, but she also noted numerous prints that belonged to humanoids.

?Any idea where we are?? Imoen asked as they came to another intersection of sewer tunnels.

?I believe we are beneath the south-central sector of the city.? Xan reported. ?Our goal should be the Blushing Mermaid in the northeast sector. Disreputable, even for humans, but I believe it serves our purposes admirably.?

Alexandria grinned. ?It had better be disreputable to take anyone like us. I think it?s about time to retire this tunic.?

To her surprise, Xan nodded. ?Indeed. A know direction spell, Jaheira, if you would.?

The druid promptly cast the spell, and indicated the tunnel they were to take, continuing into the gloom of the Baldur?s Gate sewers.

Fortunately, the adventurers managed to avoid running into any of the sewers? larger denizens as they worked their way across the city from below. Of the smaller varieties, the chitter of rats was incessant, and the rodents quickly darted out of the way whenever they saw the adventurers approaching. There was also all manner of insect life and other vermin, and by the time they reached the sewer hub beneath the northeast sector of Baldur?s Gate, all of the adventurers were streaked with filth.

Imoen was the first to shimmy up the ladder, followed by the rest. They found themselves in a small dead-end street, with no one in sight, save for a man in leather armor at the road intersection. He immediately advanced towards them.

?Sewer runners, eh? You?re early.?

?Don?t know whacha mean.? Imoen replied brightly, despite the muck covering her robe. ?We?re adventurers.?

?Ah. You be seekin the services of the Blushing Mermaid then, if I not be mistaken.?

?Yup, assuming you got the coin.?

?We?ve got plenty.?

?Good. Then follow me.?

Imoen glanced back at the others, who shrugged and followed.


One good thing about the staff of the Blushing Mermaid was that its proprietors didn?t ask questions so long as you had the coin to pay. In only a matter of minutes, the adventuring party had a suite of rooms to themselves, a handful of rings that projected minor illusory glamers, and directions to a wide range of high-class merchants that weren?t particularly discriminating in their customers.

?Are you sure these illusions won?t make us targets?? Alexandria asked.

?N-no. It is-is common for nobles to use m-magic to conceal flaws in their? ah, appearance. N-no one would question m-minor illusions.?

?Alright. Im, you?re the one who planned this, so you call the shots on where we go from here.?

?Watch and learn, sis!? Imoen laughed. ?We got three hours, so the first thing we all need is some fancy outfits. Then, the jewelry and stuff. Then, we cram as many wands, potions, and other stuff as we can into the outfits.?

?Very g-good.? Khalid agreed. ?Alexandria, as a family r-retainer, you will need a w-weapon to surrender. It? it would look o-odd if you didn?t have one.?

?Okay, then Alex, you should get yer dress from somewhere lower-class than us. This?ll get expensive.? Imoen grinned maniacally.

?That it will.? The tiefling rued. ?So put on these glamers, split up, and come back in two hours??

?Yup. I?ve always wanted to go shopping on a big expense account!?

Jaheira, Alexandria, and Xan shared a simultaneous groan.


Alexandria had been accused of many things in her life, but having a sense of fashion had never been among them. Fortunately, the courtiers of a tailoring shop called The Finest Cut did the job well enough. They didn?t pay Alexandria a second glance until she put a pouch of coins on the table. The illusion that hid her identity had resulted in an elegant but not aristocratic face-her feline eyes were gone and replaced by soft grey eyes, though the tiefling retained her darkvision through the illusion, and her hair had become straight and an icy blonde.

After forty-five minutes of being measured and asked a battery of questions that ranged from reasonable to bizarre, the staff of the tailoring shop had put together an outfit for her-a simple, dark red velvet dress with long sleeves and a very modest cut. Clean and no-nonsense black shoes with only a slight heel completed the ensemble. After paying for the outfit and starting to make her way back to the Blushing Mermaid, Alexandria made her own additions to the outfit. Her holy symbol of Selune went on a silver chain around her neck, and a ring of protection easily masqueraded as an ordinary ring. Altogether, the effect was formal and feminine, but also very subdued. Perfect for her part to play in the ruse.

Looking back in the direction of the Blushing Mermaid, the tiefling smiled slightly to herself.

Once Im and the others get done, I guess it?ll be time to crash us a party.

Edited by Tempest, 21 May 2008 - 06:41 PM.

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#38 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 26 May 2008 - 05:37 PM

Chapter XXXVIII: Domino Theory


For once, things were finally going as planned. The party?s illusory glamers worked perfectly, and the party, after stashing wands, rings, and other small items wherever they could, had been able to walk directly to the grand hall without any unusual glances.

Not to say they didn?t attract attention, however. Subdued as Alexandria?s attire for the Inauguration was, even with a leather belt that kept a longsword safe at her side for appearance?s sake, the other four members of the party were? less than subdued. Xan and Khalid both looked like nobles indeed, with long petticoats and rich accoutrements Alexandria lacked the terminology to describe. Xan?s was patterned a silvery gray, while Khalid favored dark blue, shaded with green. They both possessed a strong military bearing, and Khalid had assumed an imperious air quite unlike him.

Imoen and Jaheira, however, were simply stunning. Jaheira led, and the druid wore a bilayered dress-an elegant white dress of an imported fabric called cotton that smoothly terminated high on her chest, leaving an alluring hint of what lay beneath and keeping her shoulders bare, while matching white sleeves of the same material encompassed her arms from her wrists to high on her upper arm. Over the white dress was a layer of bronze silk, open down the middle and tied at her torso. The entire dress clung tightly to the druid?s figure, emphasizing her feminity. Imoen, by contrast, wore a satin dress with petticoat-a soft orange around her chest and waist, but billowing out in cream-white satin below her waist. The dress left her shoulders entirely bare, and Alexandria had to admit her sister? foster sister? wore the dress extremely well.

?Keep your eyes on the crowd, child.? Jaheira said softly. ?This is a play, and your part to play is that of the guard. Be alert, be wary, be ready for action-but do not act unless directed to do so. If approached by another, indicate that you are but a servant and attempt to direct the individual to myself or Khalid. Avoid the dance floor, do not approach others, and do not under any circumstances deactivate your illusion.?

?Yes, Jahiera.? The tiefling muttered as the disguised adventurers approached the outer gate of the palace.

?How many times have I told you-do not call me or any of us by our real names. We may be disguised by illusion, but our names remain known. And most of all?-

?Don?t manifest my mind blade, don?t create clouds of darkness, don?t cast spells, and profess lay membership only if asked about my holy symbol.?

?Good. Now be silent, child.?

Alexandria nodded as they moved through the courtyard. Eight men in full plate, bearing halberds at attention, stood on either side of the main aisle through to the main castle. Near the grand doors, another quartet of guards and two additional figures stood, one in arcane robes, the other in plate armor polished so heavily it threatened to blind anyone who looked in his direction. The adventurers found themselves behind a pair of women, one human who moved with authority and wore purple, and a green-haired elf with a longbow whose actions were stiff and uncomfortable.

?Halt. Identify yourselves and present your invitations.? The shiny-armored guard ordered.

?As thou dost wish.? The human woman replied in a thick accent as she presented the white envelope. ?Mine name is Tyrisin of Rasheman, and this ist mine bodyguard, Shyaern.?

?Surrender your weapons.?

The green-haired elf inclined her head, and handed over the longbow and quiver of arrows, in addition to a dagger in a shoulder sheathe, another dagger in her boot, and a rapier in its scabbard from her side. She handed them to the robed man, who opened a small bag and managed to place all of the weapons inside, oblivious to the physical impossibility of the act.

?Your weapons will be returned after the end of the Inauguration. You may proceed.?

The two women stepped through into the palace, and the adventurers took their place.

?Halt. Identify yourselves and present your invitations.?

Jaheira took the lead. ?I am Lady Istrienelle Ulbrech, recently of Cormyr. This is my husband, Lord Alexander, my daughter, Brelaina, her fiancé, Xaras, and our bodyguard, Nimue Alban.?

The guard examined the envelope and seemed to find it satisfactory. ?Surrender your weapons.?

Alexandria quickly did so, surrendering the longsword she wasn?t sure she knew how to use properly and three daggers stashed elsewhere on her person.

His expression was almost bored as he waved the adventurers through. ?Your weapons will be returned after the end of the Inauguration. You may proceed.?


The interior of the ducal palace was, to put it mildly, impressive. A wide central floor of polished marble dominated the hall, with a raised platform on the far end where three individuals kept watch: Commander Angelo of the Flaming Fist, a woman in bright robes who carried a staff carved with arcane sigils, and a man in chain mail bearing a sword and tower shield. Alexandria matched them to the descriptions she?d heard of Liia Jannath and Belt, the two Grand Dukes. That Angelo stood with the other Dukes seemed to confirm the worst, but the adventurers? sight of who might have been on the floor was lost in the throng of nobles-mostly split up into small groups as they awaited the official inaugural event.

?Split up.? Jaheira whispered. ?We?re supposed to be taking the time to politick and make deals. Alexandria, make yourself useful.?

The tiefling nodded, and quickly moved towards the back of the hall, and a hand automatically went to the side of her skirt, where a hideen pocket Xan had added concealed a wand of frost. Barely had she gotten out of sight of her companions when another voice addressed her.

?Hello again, Alexandria.?

She turned, and saw a young woman working her way towards her. The interloper wore a sleek and elegant dark green dress, accented by a gold necklance and bracelets. She had dark brunette hair, but the face was somehow familiar?

?How do you know my name?? Alexandria asked quietly.

?My father has a gem of seeing, and it?s strange for it to reveal an arrival to have inhuman eyes. After he saw that, he examined those you came with. It was really rather simple.?

?Then who are you, and what do you want??

?You already know me. I am Nalia De?Arnise, daughter of Baron Ciaphas De?Arnise. We met once, helping a peasant. Don?t you remember??

Alexandria thought for a moment, and nodded. ?I remember you. What do you want??

?I was about to ask you the same thing. You?re not a noble, so why are you here??

?You?d be happier not knowing, to be honest. But I suggest that when things start happening, you keep your head down.?

The noblewoman laughed. ?I?m far from helpless-my mother taught me a great deal of magic, and I?ve spent enough time slumming to know my way around a sword and pistol.?

?Uh huh. Your highness, I doubt you?ve ever been in a real fight, and if things go the way I think they will, all hell is going to break loose within the hour.?

?Don?t call me ?your highness?!? Nalia snapped quietly. ?That?s what Isea calls me, and I?ll have none of it from you! He?s here, and I won?t have you make a fool of yourself in front of him, either.?

?How touching. But I?m not kidding, Nalia-it?s a safe wager that battle is going to erupt in the very near future, and it will be lethal. You think I?d be here without a very good reason??

?Well, yes. You?re born to the lower class, and while you?ve clearly done quite well for yourself, trying to live out that children?s story-what?s it called? Cinderalla-won?t serve you very well.?

It took a supreme effort of will to keep Alexandria?s fist from intersecting with Nalia?s pretty face. ?Then if you?ll kindly get out of my sight, this peasant has something important to be on guard for.?

Nalia winced. ?I?m sorry, I didn?t mean it that way.?

?Like hell you didn?t.?

Before Nalia could respond, a male voice called to them.

?Nalia, my dear! Who is this lovely creature you?ve found? Not thinking of violating your vows, are you??

?Those ?vows? were made in absentia, Isea, and you?re hardly a paragon of integrity yourself.? The noblewoman snapped at the interloper, then sighed at Alexandria. ?I?m sorry. This is Isea, my betrothed.?

?Yes, it is.? The man acknowledged as he approached. He was an inch shorter than Alexandria, which made him slightly taller than Nalia, but he moved with a positive swagger-he was clearly accustomed to being in a position of power. His straw-colored hair and beard were very carefully trimmed, and his garb was extravagant.

?As my wife-to-be said, I am Lord Isea Roenall. Who are your masters, peasant??

?I know who you are.? The tiefling replied tightly. ?Been a long time, Isea.?

?I beg your pardon? Have we met?? Isea?s disbelief was clear.

?Considering I nearly killed you several years ago, I should think we did.?

Isea and Nalia both stared at the young woman for a long moment, before Alexandria sighed and turned off the illusion, revealing her natural appearance.

?You!? Isea hissed.

?The same.?

?Alexandria, am I missing something here?? Nalia asked.

?Nothing of relevance.? Isea stated, reasserting his confident pose. ?Merely a little demon whelp?s one moment of glory against her betters.?

?My ?betters??? Alexandria laughed softly. ?Nalia, your taste in men could use some work. Did you know this guy?s been involved in the iron crisis and the looming war??

Nalia?s reply was cold. ?Yes, and Isea is hardly my betrothed by choice. I also know he and his father are behind the assassination attempt on Liia Jannath and Belt scheduled for about five minutes from now. My father doesn?t think they came up with the idea, but they hired the assassins.?

?Very clever of you.? Isea acknowledged. ?But neither you nor the demon whelp have a prayer of stopping us, or of stopping Sarevok. Semaj, Tazok, Angelo, and Tamoko would all follow him to the death, and neither Sarevok nor the Black Hand fear a demonspawn and whatever allies she can gather. Take a look at Anomen and Moira Delryn over there. The right word to the right person, and their mother died, leading the family to self-destruct. One rival down, but why break an enemy when you can break them to your will instead??

?What?s this about, Isea? You?re destroying good people-fellow nobles, even-for wealth and land??

?Not quite, my dear. The Delryns hardly qualified as nobles-the work of two generations, no more. They could barely afford a home in the government district, let alone an outpost there and a larger manor outside the city. ?Lord? Cor Delryn?s title was little more than a formality.?

?We?ll stop you, Isea. You and your father and whatever allies you have. That lich you allied with-Lady Corthala-has been destroyed, and others will stand against you, like Alexandria!?

?I will?? The tiefling asked sardonically. ?Okay, granted, Isea-you are heavily involved in the activities of a man who will bring ruin to this region. Sarevok is my main concern, but were it not for one other thing, I?d be happy to help Nalia tie up some loose ends after we stop Sarevok.?

?And what other thing would that be, peasant??

?That my concerns with Sarevok are personal. Unless you?d care to get in the middle of the nastiest sibling rivalry since Selune and Shar, stay out of my way. I just hope the bystanders are sensible enough to get out of the way.?

Isea chuckled. ?What bystanders? Look around you.?

Reluctantly, Alexandria did so. The number of people in the room seemed smaller, and all the doors were shut-the Delryns, a regal man who must have been Nalia?s father, the Lord Ciaphas De?Arnise, and Lord Roenall were the only ones she recognized. Imoen, Xan, Jaheira, and Khalid were all acting in their covers, but Jaheira shot the tiefling a look. Something wasn?t what it seemed?

?Ah, that look on your faces. Both of you silly girls, outmaneuvered and outplayed. But let?s not talk anymore. Sarevok has arrived.?

As though summoned by his words, Sarevok stepped onto the grand stage with a grace and noiseless step that belied his size. He was clad in plate mail that seemed inhuman in its bulk, and Alexandria suspected his armor alone weighed more than she did.

?Fair citizens of Baldur?s Gate!? Liia Jannath announced, her magically amplified voice instantly silencing the hall. ?We are gathered here today to celebrate a grand event for our great city! Although the deaths of Dukes Entar Silvershield and Joseph Eltan are to be regretted, they will be honored forever in our memories??

About ten minutes later, she concluded, ?And so it is our great honor that we welcome our two new Grand Dukes-Angelo Delryn, Lord Commander of the Flaming Fist, and Sarevok Anchev, Lord of the Iron Throne!?

On cue, the audience exploded into cheering, but almost as soon as the noise subsided, Alexandria saw Anomen run to the base of the stage, injury and anger in his voice.

?It is true, isn?t it?! Angelo, you who are unworthy of the name Delryn! I, Anomen Delryn, squire of Helm, challenge you to honorable combat!?

?It is true, and he is a far worthier son than you, Anomen!? Another voice replied, by appearance and assocation, Alexandria supposed he was Anomen?s father.

?What?!? Anomen turned to the man. ?Why? how??

?Does it matter? He has done something useful with his life, Anomen! You couldn?t approach his success if you tried! A priest of Helm? Bah! Helm couldn?t keep Marianne safe!?

?Correct.? Angelo cut in, his voice creased with an aristocratic accent. ?Sarevok, my lord, permission to tie up loose ends??

?Granted. In fact?? Sarevok trailed off ominously, ?It is time to tie up all loose ends. The doors are sealed, windows projecting illusions, and appropriate sonic illusions in place, correct??

?Yes, my lord.?

?Then it is time. Liia, Belt, you have served your purposes. In fact, without you,? Sarevok chuckled. ?I couldn?t have come as far as I have. But I?ll give you one last indulgence-I will thank you once I take my father?s place!?

With that pronouncement, Alexandria?s warning to Nalia came true.


Several things happened at once. With inhuman speed, Angelo drew a longbow and fired an arrow that exploded into a sheet of flame when it hit the ground between Anomen and his father. Alexandria drew her wand of frost from her hidden pocket and spoke the command word, launching a bolt of ice that hit Sarevok full in his unprotected face. Jaheira chanted the fastest prayer Alexandria had ever heard and rushed to the Dukes? side, staff shaped of pure force in hand. Three voices chanted arcane incantations simultaneously, Imoen launching an acid arrow at Sarevok while Xan unleashed a hideous laughter spell on Angelo. The third voice was Nalia?s, casting a hold person spell on Isea and his father. Khalid flipped a dagger from Alexandria knew-not-where into his palm and ran in the direction of Angelo, and Lord De?Arnise drew a peculiar artifact of wood and iron consisting of a long barrel and curved handle from his side.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment, then exploded into action again. Sarevok was disrupted by Alexandria?s wand-thrown bolt, and as he recoiled a half-step backwards, the sword he had been in the process of drawing went wide, slashing across Liia Jannath?s right arm but failing to inflict a fatal injury. Jaheira smashed the end of her conjured staff into Sarevok?s chest, but the armored man hardly seemed to feel the blow. Alexandria quickly prayed to Selune, creating the effect of a prayer spell and bolstering the strength of herself and the other adventurers, additionally including Nalia, her father, Belt, and Liia Jannath in the spell?s effect.

The battle was soon joined-the other bystanders, who had stood perfectly still during the initial explosion of violence, blurred in a familiar effect. Without a word, Imoen and Nalia both completed fireball incantations, and two stars were born in the hall, which promptly detonated in flame, mirroring the effect of Angelo?s magical arrow. Most of the doppelgangers disappeared in the explosions, along with Lord Delryn and Anomen. The survivors immediately charged towards the Dukes, but one fell when a bang like a clap of thunder erupted from Ciaphas De?Arnise?s strange artifact. With a contemptuous grin, Sarevok?s blade flashed forward, smashing into Jaheira?s guard and wrenching the staff from her grasp, which instantly dissipated. With a roar, the Duke known only as Belt charged into the fray, and both of the Roenalls fell away, paralyzed by Nalia?s magic.

Another instant, and a bolt of lightning leapt from Xan?s hands, striking down three more doppelgangers, Nalia fired a fusillade of magic missiles at Sarevok, punctuated by another blast from Ciaphas De?Arnise?s artifact, Belt?s charge forced Sarevok to cease attacking and begin to parry, Jaheira?s hands flashed into a call lightning spell, Alexandria completed a prayer for a spiritual weapon spell, adding a mace made of pure force to the battle, and Imoen launched a fireball at the hall?s doors.


And suddenly it was over. Seeing the doors blast away and the stunned faces of the Flaming Fist outside, Sarevok, Angelo, and the Roenalls disappeared in flashes of light. The entire battle had taken less than a minute.

?Everyone okay?? Alexandria called out as adrenaline faded from her system.

?We?re alright!? Imoen answered for herself and Xan.

?My daughter and I are unharmed.? A deep bass voice emanated from Ciaphas De?Arnise.

?We?re, ah, we?re alright.? Khalid managed. ?The, ah, Duchess is wounded, but Jaheira is tending to her.?

?Wait, what about Anomen and his father??

?See for yourself.? A quiet, feminine voice answered.

Alexandria turned, and saw Moira, pale as freshly fallen snow, standing over two badly burned bodies. Neither one was moving. Anomen had taken the worst of the blast-it was only by his frame that he could be identified at all, so badly had his face been burned. Lord Delryn was still recognizable, but even a cursory examination could see the stillness of his death.

?There will be time for grief later.? A strong woman?s voice announced. ?Sarevok could not have cast that spell, and it appears true that he was behind the deaths of Entar and Joseph.?

?Agreed.? Belt nodded. ?Alexandria of Candlekeep, Imoen likewise, Jaheira of Tethyr, Khalid of Calimshan, Xan of Evereska, Baron Ciaphas De?Arnise and his daughter Nalia, it seems we owe you our lives. The former five, you are as troublesome as your reputations indicate, but there is no time to waste. Sarevok Anchev is a traitor to Baldur?s Gate, and while his plans for now are no doubt in ruins, I will not give him a second chance. I can call upon Tyr?s power to divine his location, and I believe we can arrange for you to purchase or retrieve whatever equipment you need. You?ve done more than I could ask of the greatest knight of this city, but I must ask that you hunt down this traitor and destroy him. If you desire, you will be amply rewarded.?

Alexandria kindled her mind blade in response. Her gaze went from Moira, to Nalia, to Imoen, and finally to Belt.

"This ends today."

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#39 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 04 June 2008 - 10:56 AM

Chapter XXXIX: The Pale Horse


Twenty minutes later, and the adventurers stood in the ducal hall?s private chambers, along with Moira Delryn, Baron Ciaphas De?Arnise, Nalia De?Arnise, Liia Jannath, and Belt-the only witnesses to the assassination. A flurry of spells from Jannath had quickly retrieved all of the adventurers? gear, and Alexandria carefully locked her left gauntlet into place while the others went over last-minute preparations.

?Sarevok and Angelo are in fact located directly beneath us.? Belt reported. ?Albeit two hundred feet down.?

?How is that possible?? Alexandria asked.

?The Elder City. Baldur?s Gate is built on top of a huge natural cavern, and there?s a city still buried there. It was completely sealed off during or shortly after the Time of Troubles, and our records indicate there was a suspicion of a major center of the church of Bhaal in the Elder City.?

?That?s where he is, then. Nevermind how he got there.?

?Wait. My divinations indicate that Sarevok isn?t alone. There are four with him.?

?Angelo?s one, obviously. Probably that Semaj and Tazok he?s mentioned before, too.?

?And perhaps Tamoko.? Jaheira observed quietly.

?How are we to get there? If it is sealed, then without any connection to the Bhaalist cult, our quest is vain.? Xan mused.

?My esteemed companion didn?t say it was sealed off by magic.? Jannath replied. ?I can teleport you to the Elder City once you are ready-the spell will also create a small gem that you need but hold tightly and envision in your mind the place you wish to return to. I cannot guarantee any great accuracy in the spell, however.?

?Then I guess we?re ready.?

?Wait, I?m coming with you!? Nalia exclaimed.

?Nalia, no!? Baron De?Arnise replied instantly. ?It?s too dangerous for you!?

?Father, please! The adventurers need our help!?

?Do we now?? Jaheira asked dryly.

?I think your father has a point.? Alexandria agreed. ?Nalia, we could always use another spellcaster, but let?s be frank. People are going to die down there, and it will not be pretty. Unless you?re willing to run the risk of seeing your own guts spilling out of your body and see a sword with your blood come swinging at you, stay here.?

?I don?t understand. What makes you willing to run those risks? Good people shouldn?t have to do things like that!?

?Good people,? Alexandria said slowly as she affixed her right gauntlet, ?Is a term that encompasses more people than you?ll ever meet in a ducal ball, Nalia. Common footsoldier, peasant laborer, questing priestess-nobility is not a quality reserved for those who wear it as a title. As for why I?m running these risks, you?ll sleep better if you don?t know the whole story.?

?But?? Nalia began, then stopped when she saw the adventurers and her father all giving her warning glares. ?Alexandria, take this. I think it will help.?

Nalia held out a strange artifact-the same sort of item Lord De?Arnise had used in the assassination attempt.

?Thank you, Nalia, but what the hell is it??

?It?s called a pistol, imported from Lantan. Most of the De?Arnise wealth comes from our close trading network with the Lantanna, and my mother enchanted a few of these many years ago, making them safe and reliable. Without knowing how to reload, you?ll only get one shot, but it might make the difference. To fire, hold it in your hand like this and pull back on this metal spur to ready it. Then aim at your target and pull the trigger to fire.?

?I don?t know.? Alexandria mused. ?Seems like an awful lot of work for an effect you could just as easily duplicate with a good wand.?

?Yes, but these will be much more affordable for the common people, once smokepowder becomes more available.?

?I doubt that such power in the hands of common humans would accomplish anything but chaos.? Xan observed.

Alexandria sighed and took the pistol, fitting it into a loop on her leather equipment belt. ?Well, I?m as ready as I?ll ever be. I guess you guys don?t need to come with me if you don?t want to, but??

?Say nothing more, child. I did not come this far with you, see you come so far, to abandon you now.?

?My-my wife speaks t-truly. Gorion would be p-proud.?

?So we walk into our own graves. Could be worse, I suppose. We might have had to force someone to dig those graves for us.?

?Oh, be quiet, Xan! I?m with ya all the way sis!?

Alexandria took one last look around, at her friends, at Nalia, at Lord De?Arnise, and nodded to Liia Jannath.

Her world exploded in light.


*********************


?Nice idea, and she certainly deserves it, but you do know she?s going to hate it and probably hate you, yes??

?About time you showed up, Nathaniel. You missed the party.?

?I?d ask you forgive me, but my mate really doesn?t appreciate it when I?m away from home for too long. You know how women get at this point in their life.?

?Too true, my friend. Seren never let me out of her sight when she was with Nalia.?

?I don?t blame her. You know how you were as a younger man.?

?Ha! I?m a bit old for that sort of thing these days. Don?t even keep the Flail in one piece anymore.?

?Probably a wise idea, considering who you got that thing from. They ever come looking for it??

?No, thank the Wonderbringer. A shame about Alexandria, though. She was a good kid when she was little, at least. Hate to see this happen to her.?

?You knew Gorion??

?Seren did-she used to adventure with him and Jaheira and Khalid way back when.?

?An uncanny connection. If I were a suspicious man, I?d say there might be more than mere coincidence at work.?

?And you are a suspicious man, so you do think it?s more than just a coincidence.?

?Ha ha! Point taken. Anyhow, one bottle of frostwine, fresh from the snow elves, says Alexandria?s back up here in fifteen minutes or less.?

?Tough wager, but I think I?ll take it.?


*********************

The light of the teleportation faded, and Alexandria?s eyes widened as they took in her situation. Wherever they had landed, it was dark-not quite pitch black, but close to it. As her pupils adjusted to the extremely dim lighting, the tiefling noted more details about the area-she stood in what was apparently a central road through a ruined city. The architecture seemed conventional, but it was a rare building that existed above shoulder height-the city had fallen into ruin. A glance above, and Alexandria observed that they were indeed on the bottom of an enormous cavern, worked stone walls stretching far above their heads.

?Everyone here?? She asked.

?We are, child.? Jaheira answered promptly. ?You would appear to have the best vision in this lighting, so lead the way.?

?Any idea where we?re going? I don?t see Sarevok standing around.?

?Sis, how about right over there?? Imoen asked with a laugh.

Alexandria turned, and saw what she had missed. Immediately behind the party was a large structure, still completely intact and made of finely worked and ornamented stone, surrounded by a wrought iron fence. Spikes and skulls were prominent in the building?s ornamentation, and standing at the base of the steps up to the building proper was a familiar woman. Odd skin tone, lithe build, twin blades of exotic design, and long black hair?

?You here to fight me again?? Alexandria asked.

?Why have you come?? Tamoko asked sharply.

?To finish this.?

?Sarevok awaits you inside the temple, and he is not afraid. One of you will not leave this temple.?

?I know. Step aside-this is between Sarevok and me.?

?But as it is between you and Sarevok, so it is between you and I.? Tamoko?s words were punctuated by the sound of her blades being drawn. ?I told you I would save him. You would destroy him.?

Alexandria manifested her mind blade in response. ?You can?t save him, Tamoko. I know the power that has him, and it won?t surrender its grasp. Stand aside-there?s no need for you to get hurt in this.?

?You would tear my heart from my chest while it still beats. This is the more merciful act.?

?There are five of us and one of you-you?ll die. I don?t want to do this.? Alexandria replied even as she brought her mind blade to a ready guard.

?Then you will do as you must, not as you wish.? The woman replied as her blades flashed into action.

One blade was parried neatly by Alexandria?s flashing mind blade, shunting it to the left and down, away from her body. The other glanced uselessly off her left pauldron with the screech of metal on metal. The first sword safely parried, Alexandria split her blade with a thought, reforming it into the two daggers and lancing the shards of mental energy towards Tamoko. The Kara-Turan twisted her body expertly, leaving the left thrust to go wide and the right to scratch her breastplate but inflict no harm.

Then a bolt of flame screamed over Alexandria?s shoulder from Xan?s fingertips, catching Tamoko in the shoulder. Already on a very delicate balance, the combination of Tamoko?s momentum and the spell?s energy carried her too far, sending her spilling backwards. Alexandria moved in with her blade, joined by Khalid and Jaheira on either side, but Tamoko turned her fall into a languid backwards somersault, bringing her blades up again.

Jaheira was the first to respond. She gracefully drew a javelin from her back and threw it in an uninterrupted motion, striking Tamoko square in the abdomen and punching clear through her armor, directly under the breastbone. Khalid moved instantly, hurling the blade he normally kept clenched in his left hand. The throw was poor, but it did the job-the blunt haft of the sword struck Tamoko on the side of her head and sending her again to the ground.

This time, the exotic woman didn?t get up. She turned her head to the side and coughed blood onto the stone floor of the fallen city, and reached her hand to the javelin impaled in the center of her body. As her hand slowly fell down towards the point of impact, she coughed again.

?There is still time for you to be healed, young woman.? Jaheira said softly as she crouched at Tamoko?s side, taking her falling hand in her own.

?I? I would sooner take pain of? of body than pain of soul? tell him and my brother? I chose this.? Tamoko choked out as life finally fled her body.

After a long moment of silence, Alexandria spoke. ?I don?t understand, Jaheira. Why did she insist on fighting us? She knew-she must have known-she couldn?t beat us.?

?I do not know, child.? Jaheira replied simply.

?Then after this is over, if we?re still alive? I?d like to give her a proper burial. She didn?t deserve this.?

?So few ever do. But now is not the time.? Jaheira replied as she pulled the javelin out of Tamoko, then quietly whispered a spell that erased the blood from the javelin?s tip.

Alexandria nodded, and walked up the short flight of stone steps in front of the temple. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the doors open.


The interior of the temple was lit by a series of sconces set into the walls, creating an ominous series of shadows. The walls were black stone, and four great statues stood against either side-each seemed to be a depiction of a specific person, but they weren?t anyone Alexandria recognized. Judging by the vicious expressions and arrangement of bladed weapons on each statue, they were possibly figures from when the temple was active.

However, the dominating feature of the temple of Bhaal was a great seal in the center of the temple-of a skull surrounded by a circle of flowing blood drops. On that seal were four individuals, one in a familiar heavy armor.

?Sister.? Sarevok?s powerful voice echoed through the temple.

?Murderer.? Alexandria replied simply.

?Yes, we both are, dear sister. How fitting our final battle should be here, where our hymns were once sung in our father?s name. You can feel his presence here, can you not??

?No, I don?t.? The priestess replied with a forced smile.

Or do you? A familiar voice rolled into Alexandria?s mind. Though I think I?ll be quiet for now. This promises to be quite entertaining. Do try to survive, my brave little daughter.

?You?re lying, dear sister-I can see it in your eyes. Only one of us can rise to take our father?s place, and that place will be mine!?

?Take our father?s place?! Are you insane?!?

?Ha ha ha! You mean you have come all this way, for all that you are, and you refuse your blood?! You would reject your birthright?!?

?Our birthright is nothing but ashes and blood! And didn?t you even read the damn prophecy?! We?re not the only two, brother! This is only the beginning!?

?So be it!?

And with that, the battle began.


The temple?s darkly beautiful décor was destroyed seconds into the fight as a flurry of spells erupted from both parties. Imoen, Xan, and Semaj launched fireball spells, Jaheira cast the opening of a call lightning spell, creating ominous electrical discharges along the roof of the temple while the spell?s energy built up, Angelo fired explosive arrows with inhuman speed, and a searing light spell, appearing as a bolt of moonlight, lanced from Alexandria. Then both parties dove for the stone floor to avoid the discharges.

Two blast waves rolled across Alexandria and she smelled her hair smolder and burn from the flames, though she took no significant harm. She rose and fired another searing light spell as she did so, burning bright on Sarevok?s armor, but when the light faded, there wasn?t a single sign that the spell had hit at all. He smiled through the open face of his armor, and swept his blade forward.

Alexandria ducked under the massive sword and slashed with her mind blade at Sarevok?s left leg. The ethereal scimitar hit, but only left a slight dent in his armor. Taking the opportunity to press the attack while Sarevok recovered from his swing, she darted forward with the mind blade again, striking at a chink she noticed in his armor-the knee joint of Sarevok?s armor. The blade came down, sliding behind the greave and below thigh armor. Alexandria could sense the blade biting into flesh, but Sarevok thrust his leg forward in a powerful kick, wrenching the blade out of Alexandria?s grasp as the blow lifted her into the air, coming crashing down six feet away.

?Is this the sum total of your power, dear sister? A useless spell and ineptitude with a blade?? Sarevok taunted as he advanced towards the fallen priestess.

The tiefling tried to reply as she picked herself off the ground, but only managed to grunt. Rather than returning to her standing position, she chanted a spell as she crouched, and rolled forward into Sarevok?s advance, lashing out with her fist. It connected, and the energy of her inflict wounds spell jumped into Sarevok in a blur of light. The spell didn?t slow Sarevok down for an instant, and reaching down with one hand, he picked her up by the collar of her armor and hurled her against the stone wall.

She hit the wall hard, and felt at least one of her ribs snap as her armor crashed against the cold stone. Alexandria coughed as she fell to the floor, and had she had the energy to do so, she would have winced at the blood that came out of her mouth in the process. She reached for a healing potion on her belt, but a massive iron-clad foot clamped down on her wrist before she could do so. Sarevok looked down on her with a contemptuous smile.

?Pathetic. I had envisioned a grand battle-sword against sword, blood against blood! But you disappoint me, dear sister. Perhaps one of our other siblings will be a worthier foe.?

Alexandria?s free hand scrabbled across her belt for something-anything-that would help, and a smile worked its way onto her features as Sarevok threw her to her feet.

?Maybe one of them will.? She choked out, ignoring the blood streaming down from the corner of her mouth, drawing back a spur on the artifact her hand had found. ?But you won?t be around to find out.?

?Defiant until the end. Like father, like daughter.?

?Always.? Alexandria said with calmness she did not feel as she raised the object in her hand and aimed it at Sarevok?s smirking face.

The blast of the pistol going off was the loudest sound Alexandria had ever heard.

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri


#40 Tempest

Tempest

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Posted 06 June 2008 - 07:40 AM

Writer?s note: this is an epilogue, not a true chapter, so expect it to be shorter and disjointed.

Chapter XL: Eversor


Sarevok fell.

Alexandria?s pistol shot tore through right side of his face, piercing his eye and shattering the piece of his skull that framed the eye socket, before flattening itself on the back of the helmet?s interior. With a roar that was almost more surprised than hurt or angry, Sarevok reflexively dropped his sword and fell to the cold stone floor, flat on his back.

And yet, he was still alive. Blood still dripping out of her mouth, and ignoring the pain of her broken ribs, Alexandria stepped over Sarevok?s fallen body, looking down at his face. Sarevok?s remaining eye burned with hatred even while his chest slowly rose and fell, struggling for breath. The pistol Alexandria had been clutching fell to the ground with a soft clatter.

?It?s over.? The tiefling said softly, watching out of the corner of her eye as Khalid drove both his blades clear into Angelo?s chest.

?Kill me? if you have the courage.? Sarevok spat, along with a great deal of blood.

?Killing you would be a privilege you don?t deserve.? Anger burned low in Alexandria?s voice. ?Suffer, Sarevok. You wanted the power of our dear father? His power was and is murder-death with purpose. No would-be ruler should reach his station without first tasting the power he would wield. Consider this a learning experience. And retribution. I?ve got other plans now. Everyone okay?? She called to her friends.

Though her friends answered in the affirmative, Alexandria could see they were lying-they all were. Xan supported Imoen on his shoulder-her right leg wasn?t burnt: it was charred. One of Jaheira?s arms hung limply at her side. A massive rupture ran down the torso of Khalid?s armor from his left shoulder nearly to his waist, courtesy of Tazok. In truth, only Xan appeared unharmed.

?We?ll get healing on the surface. Let?s get out of here.?

A command word was spoken, and the party vanished from the forsaken temple.


Through the cloud of red that hung over Sarevok?s eyes, he saw his sister and her allies vanish into the air, leaving him alone in the dark as he died.

Not alone.

His brain barely recognized the effect of an improved invisibility spell fading in front of him, resolving into a dark figure he couldn?t identify.

?So, she couldn?t bring herself to finish the job.? The apparition spoke. ?Hard to believe she might be the one the prophecy speaks of, but Bhaal was always more clever than was widely known. Given a change of fate, she might have been a very welcome ally, but she will be equally useful as she is. But she needs to learn that cruelty is a luxury, not a wise course of action. Never leave an enemy alive.?

The last sensation of Sarevok?s mortal life was of something very sharp entering his throat.


?I don?t know.? The nondescript man said slowly. ?Baldur?s Gate is on a full military alert, as is the Amnish Army. And she?s going to be in or near the Ducal Palace, to boot. That?ll be tricky.?

The other figure, his features cloaked in shadows, extends a hand bearing a heavy pouch. His voice is cold and clinical.

?Will this be sufficient to compensate for your difficulties, or perhaps I should contract another organization, if the task is too difficult.?

?No, no. This should be plenty, over and above the standard fee. Heck, I think we can toss in something extra.?

?Good. I want her and her allies as soon as possible-tonight, if it can be done.?

?Don?t know about tonight, but the job is as good as done.?

?Good. Once you have them, unconscious as specified, I will take them.?

?Pleasure doing business with you.?


**********


A battery of healing spells later, and Alexandria was feeling almost human again. Liia Jannath and Belt had discretely brought in several clerics from temples in Baldur?s Gate to attend to the adventurers? wounds, and in short order, the party was whole again. For the most part, anyway. Imoen?s burned leg and Jaheira?s dislocated shoulder had required some creative prayers to heal.

?Truly, I am impressed.? A familiar voice rolled into her head as she sat in a well-appointed chair for the Dukes to return.

?Any why is that, ?father?? I left Sarevok alive, and he was far more than a match for me.?

?You may not have swung the halberd that killed him, my dear, but his blood is on your hands. You murdered him, whether you like it or not. Don?t let any notions such as him outfighting you at every turn dissuade you-you are alive, and he is not. Yes, you are weary-I can sense it, even if those irritating healing spells made your body vigorous again-and without your hidden weapons, or your friends to fight his allies, he most definitely would have killed you. And yet? you still breathe while Sarevok has turned to dust. Well done, my daughter, well done.?

?Thank you, I guess. But what about the prophecy? Sarevok and I aren?t a ?score of mortal progeny?.?

?Indeed you are not. You need not get too alarmed over the prospect of more fratricide and quite possibly sororicide, though it is certainly going to happen. Comely women who could bear my seed were hardly limited to the Sword Coast-or limited to Abeir-Toril or even the Prime Material Plane, for that matter. You will encounter more, yes, but you?ve proven yourself quite the adaptable young woman, my daughter. Mind blade, explosive potions, your bare hands, that new-fangled pistol of that De?Arnise girl-a versatile fighter, using whatever is at hand. Good trait, good for assassins.?

?I am not an assassin.?

?Who says you aren?t? You? The mortal ability for self-delusion is endlessly entertaining. Correct me if I?m wrong: an assassin is someone who makes a career out of killing, either for profit or for a goal.?

?Well?-

?Thank you. How many people have you killed, my daughter? In all your adventures so far, which in fact have barely just begun? Dozens, certainly. Hundreds, maybe not yet, but in the future, oh yes indeed. Perhaps even thousands. Let us the consider that most of these killings will ultimately be for some purpose or another. Saving some settlement or another from devastation, rescuing a friend, cleansing evil in the name of your goddess, even a few no doubt for love. You are by every definition an assassin, and quite a good one, if I do say so myself.?

Alexandria sighed. ?I?m not going to win this argument, am I??

?Ha! How very jaded you sound! Strange. The wearier you are in your heart, the more entertaining you become.?

?Could you just go away? I really don?t want to think about this right now.?

?But my dear, if you don?t think about it now, you won?t be able to think about it for some time, if I?m not mistaken.?

?Why not??

Whatever Bhaal might have said in response was stolen away in the sound of the door opening. Lord De?Arnise, resplendent in his finery, smiled at her through the doorway.

?Alexandria, the Dukes request the honor of your presence.?

?Okay, I guess.? She shrugged, and got up to follow Lord De?Arnise.


?What?s this about?? Alexandria asked as Lord De?Arnise lead her through the winding halls of the palace.

?I dare say you?ll see.? The nobleman replied with an enigmatic smile.

?No, really. What?s this about??

?A reward, though I?m honestly not sure if you?ll like it very much. It?s the least we can do for everything you?ve done.?

?Have I really done all that much? I mean, I know Sarevok and Angelo are dead, but did that really stop the war everyone was so afraid of??

?It did. Nathaniel Donos has already taken up Joseph Eltan?s station and sent orders for the Flaming Fist to stand down and return to Baldur?s Gate. Liia Jannath has been in contact with a Cowled Wizard by the name of Teos, and I believe we?ve negotiated a return of the Amnish Army and a resumption of normal trade activity, though you can never be certain with the Cowled Wizards. And with Sarevok?s death, Belt?s agents are being dispatched as we speak to round up what little of the Iron Throne that survived your efforts and Sarevok?s madness. In short, it?s over.?

Alexandria laughed softly. ?I still can?t believe it. Just a few minutes ago, Sarevok was breaking my ribs and being on the verge of killing me, yet it also feels like a year has passed.?

?I wouldn?t get too comfortable. If anything, you sound like a case of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome.?

?I beg your pardon??

?Also known as spell shock-or shell shock, in Lantan. It?s a common reaction to extreme stress, or so I?m told.?

Lord De?Arnise paused as they reached a set of doors at the end of the hall.

?Alexandria, should you ever find yourself in Amn, I maintain a keep a few days journey outside of Athkatla. House De?Arnise could use a woman of your talents.?

?I?ll think about it.? Alexandria promised as De?Arnise pushed open the doors.


Whatever she had been expecting, it wasn?t what she found. It was the same hall in which Sarevok?s inauguration and subsequent assassination attempt had taken place, but this time, it was filled to the brink with people, and on the platform at the far end, Liia Jannath was speaking.

?Many of you have heard rumors and bard?s tales of who?s been responsible for the events of the past two months-a path of destruction and heroism that has stretched from Nashkel to this very palace only an hour past.?

?Don?t be alarmed-almost all of the people are simply magical illusions.? Lord De?Arnise whispered in Alexandria?s ear as he saw the tiefling?s jaw drop. ?Liia does love her ceremonies, whether anyone but she will see it or not. An official explanation will be released in a day or two, though you and your companions will be required to remain here until then.?

Liia continued, apparently unconcerned with De?Arnise?s advice to Alexandria until the tiefling finally approached the Dukes? platform. Lord De?Arnise left her side to take station on the platform while Belt approached her with his sword drawn.

?Kneel.? The Duke ordered.

Alexandria did so, but arched an eyebrow at Belt?s next words.

?This is somewhat out of the ordinary, but this is an unusual situation. Alexandria of Candlekeep, do you deny slaying Sarevok Anchev, Angelo Delryn, Tazok of the Cloakwood, and the Cowled Wizard Semaj??

?No, but my friends helped?-

?And they shall also be justly rewarded. Do you deny eradicating the bandit organizations known as the Black Talons and the Chill??

?They weren?t exactly bandits?-

?Do you deny cleansing the iron mines of Nashkel??

?Well, no?-

?As such, we, the Grand Dukes of Baldur?s Gate, have only one question for you. Why did you perform such extraordinary feats of heroism??

?I wouldn?t call it heroism. All I?ve tried to do is the right thing, near as I?ve been able to tell.? Alexandria shrugged.

?Then we have but one choice for how to deal with you. Alexandria of Candlekeep, do you accept the defense of the people as your highest goal, the protection of those who cannot protect themselves, and the purgation of those who would threaten the innocent, in the name of this proud city of Baldur?s Gate??

?I accept no goal that is bestowed upon me-only that which I accept for myself. However, not to spoil the moment, but my goals amount to those charges, yes, with the addition that I don?t do it in the name of Baldur?s Gate. I am a priestess of Selune-I accept no calling above hers.?

Belt smiled. ?I?d be disappointed if it were otherwise. As such, it is my honor to name you Alexandria Eversor, lady-knight of Baldur?s Gate and heroine of this city.?

Alexandria?s strained nerves had finally had enough. Belt?s words did what Sarevok?s onslaught and Bhaal?s whispers did not.

She fainted.



Writers notes: And so concludes At Soul's Edge, but Alexandria's journey is far from over. It will be begun anew in ASE, Book Two: Malleus Animorum

"The righteous need not cower before the drumbeat of human progress. Though the song of yesterday fades into the challenge of tomorrow, God still watches and judges us. Evil lurks in the datalinks as it lurked in the streets of yesterday, but it was never the streets that were evil." - Sister Miriam Godwinson, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri