Merchant's Destiny
Disclaimer: We do not own any rights to Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir, or Forgotten Realms.
Summary: Storm of Zehir. It is I, Volothamp Geddarm, that will guide you through the the unwelcoming lands of Samarch! I have returned from the harsh lands of Samarch alive and intact. I wish I could say the same for the four daring adventurers that accompanied me for the pursuit of the truth! My tale isn't for the faint of heart!
Chapter One: Fate's Meeting.
"Lord Milner!" A stubby dwarf covered in blood yelled at the top of his lungs, "Lord Milner! Where are ye bein'?! If aye get me hands on yer corpse, aye swear aye'll beat ye until even yer dead mother feels it!" The dwarf's hardened expression softened as he saw a frail elf leaning on his long bow. "Lord Milner, it's good ter see ye alive. I was beginning ter worry the stinking orcs got ye."
"Nevak, we don't need any formalities on the field of battle." The elf squinted in pain and used his bow as a cane, "you know where the cleric is? An orc ambushed me from behind while I was taking down this troll. Can you do me a favor and take this dagger out of my thigh?"
The dwarf leaned over and inspected the dagger, he whistled. "That blade is deep sir. Grit yer teeth. Ayem not needin' an elf yelpin' to attract any more damn orcs." The dwarf spat on his palms and rubbed them together. "Alright, here we go, sir." Nevak took grip of the daggers handle, and grunted as he ripped the dagger out.
Leoian Silentread Milner flinched at the pain and collapsed onto the ground.
"Go get the cleric," Leoian requested faintly, watching as Nevak saluted and ran off.
Five agonizing minutes passed until the dwarf came back. He held several bandages, and was panting.
"Lord Milner. Sir Briarwood is dead." The dwarf was teary eyed as he bent over and applied pressure to the bleeding wound, "there was nothing we could do for the lad."
"By Mielikki's Grace, how many men must die for this expedition," Leoian muttered between clenched teeth.
When the dwarf's makeshift dressing was done, Nevak helped Leoian to his feet. Despite being an elf, Leoian only stood a few inches higher than the four foot tall dwarf.
"Yer humans and their silly need for more land. Live in a mountain and ye'll learn to appreciate yer land!" The dwarf ranted, as the limping elf leaned onto him for support, "come on ye pansy elf. Let's get ye to a cleric before yer sweet blood starts attractin' some more orcs."
"Lord Milner, Lord Nasher requests an audience with you," Nevalle commanded, gesturing for the elf to move into the Neverwinter throne room.
Nasher, the lord of Neverwinter sat on his throne. His cold eyes followed the visitors of his throne. "Ah, sir Milner, I must thank you for your contributions with helping the Neverwinter Grey Cloaks. Your late father would be pleased to know his son has taken to the service he devoted so much of his life into."
Leoian bowed, "I am humbled at such a comment milord."
The elf slightly sneered before facing the Lord of Neverwinter again.
Nasher chuckled lightly, "your father has rubbed off on you. I remember back in my youth looking up to your father. He was a truly great man." Leoian smiled awkwardly. Nasher stood up, "continue your work in Old Owl Well. Who knows, you might be an excellent candidate for the opening in the Neverwinter Nine, to replace Sir Cairon. I would highly recommend you to such a position."
"You should be thanking the late Knight-Captain and his party that managed to deal with the orc leaders. It's because of them that we managed to regain Old Owl Well. My few months of help in freeing Old Owl Well shouldn't make me worthy for such an honor."
"Lord Nasher." A quiet old man approached the throne from the left. "I'm sorry to interrupt you but the Waterdeep Emissary has just arrived."
Nasher sighed, "I have my duties to attend to. I'll expect a full report first thing tomorrow morning about Old Owl Well's progress. Good day, Sir Milner." Leoian bowed and took his leave from the throne room.
Nevalle followed closely behind the elf, "Lord Milner, I was the one that recommended your name to Nasher as a possible candidate for one of the Nine."
"Sir Nevalle, I do not wish to have obligations tying me down to these city walls. I'm grateful that I'm a candidate but I will have to decline the offer."
The human stopped the elf, "what about your help with the Grey Cloaks?"
"I am more than willing to help those that are in danger, but I do not wish to join a lord's private body guard. I will not be cooped up in this city. I have obligations to attend to. Good day, Sir Nevalle." The elf continued to walk outside of Castle Neverwinter while the human just watched him leave without saying a word.
Leoian made his way to the Neverwinter academy, a prestigious school that taught the arts of magic. He entered the lavish garden of the school. By the fountain, a woman in a yellow silken robe was standing as still as a statue. Her right hand clenched the staff to the point her fingers were snow white compared to her lightly tanned skin. The woman's face was a void of emotion and her medium black hair danced in the slight breeze.
"Nalina Briarwood?" Leoian removed his oversized hat that had a huge purple feather attached to it. He took a deep bow, "you have my condolences about your husband's death."
Nalina eyed the elf, "so you're my husband's friend that wrote me that letter?" She paused, "you seem rather short from what he described you as." The half-elf woman frowned, "You're pity isn't needed here. Unless you were involved with my husband's death, I have no desire to speak with you. Shouldn't you be out entertaining in a tavern. You are dressed for the part." The woman started to walk off.
"You're just as your husband described you." The elf sighed, and continued to make his way to the tavern.
In the temple of Lathandar, the body of Sir Briarwood was the center of attention. His body was located on the marble white alter, dressed in the traditional cleric robe. Only a few attended the funeral, among the attendees were Sir Nevalle and Leoian. The elf was dressed in fine, black hunting leathers that had expensive fur around the collar and cuffs. His brunette was elegantly braided, not one hair strayed out of position.
Leoian noticed Briarwood's widow standing next to the altar. Her eyes were glassed over and just stared at the corpse of her beloved husband. After the final prayer was cited, Nalina took the cold dead hand of her lover. Whispering a last word to her husband, the corpse erupted into flames. A minute later there was just the smell of burnt flesh and ashes left near the altar. She walked towards the door of the temple, Nevalle jumped out of his seat and stood in front of her.
Nalina scowled, "I do not need any sympathy from you nobles. You can't bring back my husband so there is nothing I need from you." She pushed on the knight to signal for him to move out of her way, but he didn't budge.
"Lady Briarwood, on behalf of Neverwinter, we'd like to compensate you for your husband's death. Here is one thousand gold." Navalle placed the bag of coins into the woman's hands. She was at a loss for words, "if there is anything you need of me. I will answer any request from milady." Nevalle grabbed her hand and tried to kiss it but Nalina retracted it back before contact was made.
He blinked stupidly, gazing at the woman, "milady, have I offended you?"
Nalina ignored his question, tucking the bag of gold into one of her sleeves, "get out of my way before I'm forced to ignite you, too."
Leoian got from his seat and intervened, "don't you have a city to save from the brink of destruction, Navelle?" The elf smiled slyly, "this lady clearly doesn't want you as her knight in shining armor."
The knight turned to the elf, shocked. Nevalle took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts again. "Lord Leoian, Lady Briarwood. I will take my leave." While biting at his lip, he left the temple.
Nalina smiled, "and here I just thought you were another pampered noble. Lord Milner, I presume?"
"Please don't call me by that title, I'm not even blood related to the late Lord and Lady Milner," he rubbed the back of his neck. No matter how many times people referred by his adoptive parents surname, it felt awkward for him.
"Oh?" Nalina lifted an eyebrow. "You still inherited the whole Milner fortune, blood related or not." There was a slight sparkle in her eyes.
Smiling nervously, Leoian made an offer to the woman, "I'm parched, want to join me at the tavern for a keg or two of ale? I think it would be a better environment suited for talking. The monks and clerics at the temple are starting to stare."
"An elf that drinks ale?" Nalina exploded into laughter, it echoed throughout the stone walls. As they exited the temple the Half-elf was starting to calm her laughter. She finally recomposed herself and stopped laughing at the elf's expense. "I'll take up any free dinner a noble is willing to offer me."
After an expensive meal courtesy of the Milner family fortune, the two began to talk. They exchanged stories of the late sir Briarwood, and Nalina tried to pry into more information about the Milner families standing.
Leoian swished a huge tankard around while recalling a story of his 'heroic' exploits with Nevalle. "There was a woman by the Moonstone mask, just sitting out on the seat corner. The man meant well and always has, but he doesn't know a thing about women. We were in the middle of an investigation on a small gang ring and Nevalle goes up to the women and asks if there is anything he could do for her. Chivalry should be used with caution, more so because the woman lead him into a house nearby."
The elf paused, and took a huge swig of his ale. "It was a whore house… Nevalle has a high pitch shrieked when he's startled. Never crossed his mind the woman he was being chivalrous to was a prostitute."
Leoian sighed happily, "It's those moments that make me enjoy civilization."
Nalina chuckled, "one of the richest benefactors doesn't enjoy civilization?" The sorceress was a little intrigued, "explain the lure of the wilderness."
"I enjoy solitude and the woods give me just that. If I didn't have obligations to my family's name, I doubt I'd ever set foot into Neverwinter again." The elf took a huge gulp of his ale.
"I've noticed you have taken an interest into my family fortune. Most women that inquire about my fortune… Well, they always propose a marriage." The elf took a sip, letting his eyes meet his drinking partner. He eyed her suspiciously for a while.
Nalina was at a loss for words for a moment, at what the elf had just said. "I just lost my husband; I have no interest in starting any relationship. Especially to an elf that drinks ale and dresses up as a bard." She took a sip of her wine.
Leoian breathed a sigh of relief, "I get marriage proposals just about every tenday. When someone inquires about my fortune…" The elf started to grumble about the hectic life of an unwedded noble male.
Nalina smiled, "I have a proposition for you." Leoian looked up, "I'm leaving the academy for a more fulfilling life. There's plenty of merchants that need body guards in the Sword Coast. I won't bore you with unnecessary details, but it would be suicide for me to head out adventuring on my own. I need someone with the skills to survive on the road and that can watch my back. I'd rather travel with someone I know and can get along with." The half-elf took another sip, "do you accept my offer?"
The elf tipped over his mug and drained the rest of the ale. Pounding the table hard with the mug, Leoian smiled. "I'm always up for anything outside of these city walls. I'll accept under one condition; that my animal companion tagging along."
"Animal?" Nalina asked in disbelief, she sighed. The half-elf knew that she could rely on her late husband's friend as a companion. Animal or no animal, she needed him and his fortune to work towards her adventuring dreams. "As long as it your pet isn't some big rampaging bear." She muttered.
Leoian smiled, "oh! Don't worry. Molo is very friendly."
