Previously entitled 'The Fail Safe'. The first few chapters of that I wrote were really just the first draft of this. Some bits I've kept the same, but the rest has been overhauled and tweaked slightly. A major change is that there's this whole new prologue that takes place before being captured by Irenicus' minions.
It of course should go without saying that since this is fanfiction dot net, the following is fan fiction and not owned by me. Baldur's Gate 2 is owned by Wizards of the Coast and Bioware. I'm not really sure exactly who owns what.
Out Of The Shadows
Prologue
In the city of Baldur's Gate the people made merry. The celebration that had been planned to mark Sarevok Anchev's crowning as a Duke instead marked his fall and the end of the Iron crisis, his plans to bring about war with Amn and use the bloodletting to bring about his own ascent to Godhood thwarted. Even now, months later, the people who would have been made a sacrifice upon the most vast and bloody altar the world had ever seen sang songs of the heroes who had saved him. And yet, although the names of those heroes were now known to everyone in that city, few had any idea what they looked like. For various reasons, they deigned never to appear at any celebration in honour of them. For it was not in a thief's nature to take centre stage and the band was made up of others who would find it difficult to remain in the same career should their faces become well known.
At least that was the case for most of them. There was one who, although he had only been an acquaintance of the heroes for a short time, was regaling the customers of a small on the very edge of the city with tales of their exploits together, with only a small amount of creative license.
"... and so the Spider Queen unleashed her eight legged minions. The others, whose legs were all entangled in the web, could do no more than reach for their clubs and staves, using them to keep the beasts chattering mandibles just out of reach. But it was only a matter before they all succumbed to fatigue and found themselves surrounded. Only I, Eldoth Kron, with the enchanted boots I was wearing, that could still move freely."
"What did you do?" Asked a member of the entranced audience. Eldoth turned to him, placing his tankard of ale down on the table and putting a foot up on a stool as he stroked his little black goatee beard.
"My first instinct, my friend, was to draw my sword," which he did right there in the tavern, holding it up for all to see, "and rush to the aid of my comrades. But as the Spiders came in from either side, I noticed a gap; a straight path between me and Centeol. In that moment I realised that if I cut off the head, the rest shall fall into confusion. And so I ran and I leapt," he kicked away the stool and flipped his sword in his hands so it was pointing downwards, "plunging my sword through the layers of flabby skin, into the cursed creature's vile heart. She screamed and threw back her head, a black ichor dripping from her lips. With her dying breath she cursed the name of the man who had condemned her to this fate; the man she had once loved, Jon Icarus."
"What happened next?"
"I am sorry, my friends," Eldoth picked up his ale. "But it appears that I am out of drink, and out of time." There were groans of protest all round, bringing a smile to the bard's lips. "But, return tomorrow and perhaps I shall have another story for you then."
The groans continued as he made his bow and disappeared into the crowd of sailors and travellers into a corner of the smoke filled tavern, picking up a plate filled with coins on the way. Waiting for him there was a young brown haired woman, a little dishevelled having struggled to put on her clothes that morning. Although if Eldoth had his way, she wouldn't have had to bother.
"Eldoth... you're so brave," she said starry-eyed, tugging on his sleeve urging him to sit next to her.
"A man just does what he has to, Skie my dear," he put down the plate and leant across pecking her on the neck where he knew she was ticklish.
"St-stop it!" She giggled, "we... we do have a serious matter we need to discuss."
"Don't worry about it," he said, going down her arm.
"I... someone has to," Skie huffed, pulling her hand away. "Since I ran away with you, Daddy has cut me off. My whole family denies I ever existed. And even with all these tips you're getting," she reached into the plate, allowing a handful of the copper and silver coins to tumble through her fingers, "we can barely afford our room, yet alone new clothes. Did you know I've been wearing the same shoes for two whole weeks? I'd really like a bath too... honestly, how can anyone live like this? And I haven't mentioned food or your tab here..."
"I've told you; it's not woman's place to worry about financial matters. All you have to do is make sure the bed is made and that you are on it, waiting for me when I come back tonight."
"But..."
"Shhh," he pressed his finger against her lips, "trust me; after tonight, neither of us will have to worry, and you'll be able to have all the shoes you want."
"Why? You... you're not thinking of doing something dangerous, are you?"
"Not at all. Don't you trust me?"
"Well, I-I," Skie stuttered, unsure.
"Say yes."
"Yes," she said obediently. "I... of course I trust you."
"Good," Eldoth winked and stood up.
"Where are you going?" She asked. He sighed and rolled his eyes.
"I will see you later, my dear," was all he said as he kissed her on the cheek and left the girl there, alone, her eyes watching him suspiciously as he went out the door.
A pale disc hung in the cold night sky. The city docks were busy again and watching all the activity below was a figure dressed in black, stood up on one of the cranes. She had pulled down her hood so that her shoulder length red hair was fluttering in the wind.
From here, Imoen could look out all across, at all the roofs and houses. She could see the wizard towers, the Iron Throne, Hall of Wonders... all places that brought back memories. Not all good, but... all exciting. She could see the Ducal Palace as well, where she and her companions had been enjoying the Dukes hospitality these last few months. But nice a place as it was with all its warm cosy rooms and servants making a fuss of them all the time, Imoen was just... really bored. It seemed like there were no monsters or bad people or insane sorcerers left round here.
It was funny; she'd never thought she'd become an adventurer, yet alone a 'hero' who had saved this entire city. She'd never been very strong and had lost both of the fights she'd gotten into when she was little. But then, she guessed she never thought much about the future at all growing up. She guessed she'd always took her life for granted and that it would always remain pretty much the same. Maybe, just maybe, her foster father Winthrop would have died one day and she would have taken over running the Inn in the fortress library/monastery of Candlekeep, but otherwise... it hadn't worked out like that though. One day her teacher, Gorion, had come in and said they were going on a trip. She'd assumed they were going to the city as part of her education, but then she'd found that letter and then... things started happening so fast and she was pretty much just dragged along with them.
She remembered that first night alone in the woods after Gorion had... after he died. She remembered being chased, stumbling and tripping a few times and getting little cuts and bruises all over her body from all the rocks and branches. But she hadn't noticed the pain, not until much later anyway; she was too busy fearing for her life. But the funny thing was, she'd actually liked being scared. She'd liked feeling her own heart pumping and seeing and hearing the world more vividly and clearly than she had ever done before. After a while, you ended up becoming addicted to that sensation. She guessed that was why so few adventurers ever retired, at least not in the sense of them growing old. Even now, as she stood high up on the crane staring into the dark waters below, she was aware that there was a part of herself that wanted the rest of her to fall, and... ohhh... what was that?
Imoen had caught the moonlight reflecting off something in the water... something shiny. But that little distraction was accompanied by a gust of wind. She wobbled for a few seconds, but couldn't regain her balance, and so she dived.
Moments after she'd been swallowed by the sea, bubbles started to rise by the pier a few metres away. Imoen surfaced there and after a long, much needed gasp, climbed the ladder back onto the pier. As she lay on her back there, staring up at the crane she'd dropped, she experienced a euphoric moment as she contemplated all she'd been through and survived. And she'd gotten herself some kind of compass; she'd seen something like it in the Hall of Wonders. The euphoria did not last long, however.
"You stupid child," Imoen twisted her head and could see Jaheira standing upside down with her arms crossed. The rest of them; Khalid, the huge tattooed warrior Minsc and his witch Dynaheir, were standing just a bit behind her. "After everything, that would have been a stupid way to die, do you not think?"
"Thanks for asking, Jae," the redhead grinned facetiously, "but I'm okay. Really."
"Good. I would have hated for something terrible to happen to you before I have had a chance," the tawny haired druid held out her hand and helped the soaking Imoen to her feet. It didn't sound good though...
"You didn't come all this way just to lecture me, did you?" Imoen stood up and sighed wearily.
"Not just, no," Jaheira pulled out and unwound a scroll she had tucked in her belt, "this is a list of all the items that have 'mysteriously' disappeared from the Ducal Palace while we have been staying there. They include, among other things, Duke Eltan's crown, Belt's shield and Lady Jannath's hair. There have also been a number of very strange occurrences; apparently someone tried to take a bath only to find the tub full of worms, the guards all had their pants shrunk, while they were wearing them, and in the dining hall it started raining lizards. You would not happen to know anything that would shed light on any of these things, would you?"
"Okay, Lady Jannath's hair falling off... that wasn't actually me. But, boy... I wish it had been," the redhead sniggered.
"This is no laughing matter, child!" The half elven woman hissed angrily. "These people extend their hospitality to us, and you repay them like this?"
"Oh, come on Jae. They were jokes; it's not like anyone really got hurt or anything."
"What about Entar Silvershield's valet disappearing?"
"He came back, didn't he?"
"Yes... as a penguin."
"Big improvement, if you ask me. But he got better, didn't he? And all that other stuff that disappeared, it's all still lying about that place somewhere. It's not like I went out and pawned any of it."
"That is not the point, you insufferable, empty headed mooncalf. The point is that those things were never yours to take in the first place!"
"I'm starting to get a chill here... Siccus," Imoen said, holding out her arms. Her clothes and her hair fluttered rapidly as air twirled around her body. Within a moment she was almost completely dry again. "There; now you won't have to worry about me catching a cold."
"I was not worried about that," Jaheira said, her eyes narrowed and pointed straight at Imoen. "Not at all. But, what does worry me is your continuing reckless, irresponsible and childish behaviour."
"Well, y'know Jae," the young redhead shifted furtively, "maybe if you didn't treat me like a child all the time I wouldn't feel a need to be one."
"Oh no... I guide you as best I can, but only you are responsible for your own actions."
"Good. Well then, you can leave me alone now, can't ya?"
"You should not have snuck out of the palace without telling anyone," Jaheira sighed, but Imoen immediately spotted the fallacy in that statement.
"Well, I wouldn't have been sneaking if I told people about it now, would I?" The redhead rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"What if someone out here were to spot you on your own and recognise you?"
"Like who? It's not like there are portraits of me anywhere. And the Imoen they all talk about in the taverns is six foot tall and has breasts each the size of a man's head... they'd never, ever believe it was me."
"Your face is known to some."
"So?" Imoen shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm one of the heroes of Baldur's Gate... what, you think I might be trampled to death by people asking for my autograph? Anyway, I know magic now, so I can take care of myself."
"Oh, really?" Jaheira cocked an eyebrow.
"Really."
"Very well then," the half elf turned as if she was about to walk away, but then suddenly she spun back round swinging her fist. It connected with Imoen's chin, lifting the younger woman and sending her flying back and landing on her arse.
"Owwwwie!" The redhead protested loudly, nursing her injured jaw as her eyes watered. "W-what did you do that for?"
"You said you could protect yourself, and yet I surprised you did I not? You did not even try to block... what if I were some thug who thought I could make a name for myself by killing one of the heroes of Baldur's Gate?"
"I can't believe you..." Imoen sniffed, "I mean, point made, okay? I won't do it again... you bufflehead (sniff)..."
"D-don't you think y-y-you went a bit... t-too far there, my dear?" Khalid, another half-elf and Jaheira's husband, said.
"I have always thought the best way to learn is through experience," Jaheira defended her actions. "This is how I was taught."
"P-perhaps not such a good reason to make the younger generation suffer the same."
"I was never prepared this, my love," Jaheira sighed, closing her eyes. "It was so simple when it was just you and I travelling together... now, having three other people to manage as well. It... it is much harder than I thought it would be."
"You do fine... u-usually. And, y-you h-hardly need to manage Dynaheir, or even Imoen... n-not all the time, anyway. She's just young, and... g-going through a bit of rebellious stage at the moment. Re-remember when you dyed your hair orange just to annoy the guildmaster?"
"Yes," Jaheira smiled, "but... this is hardly the same. You as I that things will only get more difficult from here on. There is so little time left and she must be ready."
"You n-need to trust her, dear... I-I believe that when it matters, she will make the right choices. M-more importantly y-you need to trust yourself, that your influence will help her. I-I'll be honest, my dear, you... y-you can be a little stifling and over bearing sometimes."
"I can?" The druid blinked in surprise. "Well... perhaps I do far on occasion. So... what should I do now?"
"Right now? Well, y-you've made your point so you should go over there, apologise, and... m-maybe say something positive? So that no ill-feeling lingers."
"Apologise?" Jaheira asked like it was some strange foreign word.
"Yes. Apologise."
"Right. I can... do that. I think," she braced herself for doing the unthinkable and marched across to where Imoen was still sobbing and groaning.
"Y-you adlepated ninnyhammer," Imoen sniffed and wiped at her face.
"Oh, stop trying to milk it. I did not hit you that hard."
"I'm seeing stars!"
"Those are stars."
"Oh... well, you're still a bufflehead."
"I... I am sorry," Jaheira said, swallowing her pride. "I... should not have done that. It is just... I know you are a lot cleverer than I am," the druid remembered 'something positive'. "The only way I know to get things done is with my fists. But that is also why I become angry when I see you are not fulfilling your potential."
"Well... I know I'm silly sometimes," Imoen's anger and tears subsided. "It's just... I've been getting so bored hanging about here... I feel like I'm wasting away. Hey... why don't we all go somewhere, together?"
"Where?"
"Anywhere. C'mon, Jae," Imoen sprung up to her feet. "You've been getting restless too, cooped up in that palace all day. You need to have nature around you... and you need some action. I bet you've just been dying to punch someone for ages. Now let's all of us go and bash a few numskulls heads together."
"It would not be wise to go looking for trouble..." Jaheira shook her head, although her hand was tightening around the hilt of her scimitar.
"We don't have to look for it... we're just bound to find some somewhere, right? Remember you used to say, 'if a tree falls in the forest, you'd kill the bastard what done it!'? Well, while we've been resting here I'm guessing there's been a lot of trees and a lot of bastards, just let to run loose."
"Perhaps... perhaps we have rested long enough..."
"Then let's go tonight! We're all here, so let's grab a few horses and see where the road takes us."
"Tonight?" Jaheira repeated, rubbing her throat. It was very tempting, but, they had responsibilities, didn't they? They should at least tell the Duke they were leaving; it was common courtesy after all...
"Your mouth must still be dry from all that yelling," Imoen unhooked the flask from her belt, "here... have a drink while you mull it over."
"We should thank Eltan for his hospitality, first," the druid said, accepting the flask and taking a swig. "And really, we should..." Jaheira suddenly shut her lips and turned red. She looked like she was about to vomit, but was trying to somehow hold it in. She couldn't, and it came out, "...hee-haw..." a very unmistakable equine noise.
"I'm sorry, what was that Jae?" Imoen grinned, putting her hand to her ear theatrically. "Couldn't make it out..."
"Hawww..." Jaheira tried to speak, but immediately shut her mouth as she found this was the only sound that would come out. You could now see the veins on her head starting to bulge as her blood pumped full of rage.
"Oh dear, Jae... did I surprise you? Still, you will nag, won'tcha?" The once again furious druid lunged, but this time Imoen was ready and danced and skipped away, laughing. Jaheira kept lunging after her, but Khalid held her back.
"Now, now, my dear... l-lets not overreact, shall we?"
"Haw, haw... heee!" She said in response.
"Oh dear... I hope you don't sprout a tail. Er, D-D-Dynaheir?" He looked around; Imoen had already disappeared again. The dark skinned witch was standing on the pier looking up at the crane. "I-I-I've a little problem here... could do with your expertise..."
"The magic will wear off in a few moments," she waved him off, clearly busying herself in thought.
"Is... i-is something there bothering you?"
"Hmm... from the height she fell, and the way she hit the water, young Imoen is lucky indeed to have survived with no injury."
"You... think it was not luck?"
"I have noted that Imoen has had more than her fair share of such luck, especially of late. And since I started to teach her magic she has progressed at a faster pace than I would ever have anticipated."
"So, s-she's... gifted?"
"Most definitely, but... hast thou not noticed as well? It is as if little bits of reality are changed around her... only small things, but still..."
"I-I-I don't know what you mean..."
"She seems so normal, that it is easy for us to forget what she is; that she is half-deity like her brother, Sarevok. A God's power grows in response to people's worship and belief... and the people of this city have been singing songs about her."
"So... w-we should leave, then?"
"I am undecided as to what would be best. Surely, a stronger Imoen is better for us all, but," the witch turned around, her dark eyes sparkling as they caught the moon, "one cannot forget that the divine essence in her is that of Bhaal, Lord of Murder."
Imoen looked up as a large crate flew through the air high above her head; tracing its trajectory it looked it had been tossed out of one the warehouses down the way, and would probably land somewhere in the marketplace at the centre of the city. Suddenly there were people panicking; a small group rushed past her and she decided to stop one of them.
"She's lost her head!" The man said.
"Who?" Imoen asked.
"Some little bitch-priestess of Umberlee... just came into the warehouse and started smashing everything. I think she might have summoned an elemental as well..."
"Tenya? Is it Tenya?" Imoen chanced. Of course there were lots of The Bitch Queen Umberlee's initiates in the city; since the Goddess's domain was the ocean, it was natural that all the sailors in a port such as this would make substantial offerings to her. But only one of the initiates Imoen knew by name. "About twelve or thirteen years old, black hair?"
"What! I don't know... could be, I suppose. .."
"It is her!" Another man said. "I make offerings each day at the temple; heard this morning she'd got into some kind of fight with another wave servant. Don't know if that could have caused all this ruckus though..." there went another crate, taking out the mast of a ship. "C'mon, lets just get out of here!" The men ran off.
Imoen put her hands on her hips, sighing as she watched more crates being thrown through the warehouse roof high into the air. She'd encountered this girl, Tenya, the first time on her way into the city. Her mother had been killed and she was terrorizing some fishermen she believed were responsible and... well, she was right. They were very desperate men who had done a very stupid thing. But, what was this about?
While she was thinking about it, Jaheira rushed Imoen, grabbing the redhead by the collar and pinning her against a wall.
"Oh... heya, Jae!" The prankster smiled nervously. "You... you're all better, I see..."
"Give me one reason not to tear out your spine!" The druid spat out.
"I... don't... have one?" The girl whimpered.
"Perhaps we should just see."
"Well, there's... that..." Imoen pointed a finger towards the warehouse; there were now barrels flying out of it, smashing into walls and into the ocean.
"What is that?"
"You know, I think it's probably just attention seeking," Imoen said, but Jaheira just kept glaring. "It's Tenya. Apparently she went in and just started wrecking the place for no reason."
"Lucky you," The druid said, letting Imoen go and then drawing her scimitar. "It seems I will be letting out my frustration on someone else tonight... but do you not think I will not be punishing you somehow."
"Woah... h-hey there," Imoen ran around and stood in front of the druid, making downwards motions with her palms. "Look, there's no need for that, is there?" Imoen indicated the sword, and then ducked as barrel went past her.
"We have to something. If this goes on someone is bound to get hurt."
"Yeah, but... listen, she maybe an evil little... witch," Imoen chose her words carefully. "But she's still a kid. She... just wants her mum. "
"Her mother is dead."
"But, you could go in and just try to talk her. Maybe put your arm around her and tell her that whatever it is, it's all going to be alright. That's what mums are supposed to do, I think."
"Me?"
"Well... you like being all mumzy, dont'cha?"
"You know, child," Jaheira sheathed her sword, "I do believe you may actually have the right idea, for once. But, your plan needs one tiny alteration made to it..."
"Heya!" Imoen beamed as widely as she could in the circumstances. She was careful to make sure she was within reach of cover as she approached the priestess, stepping over all the debris and rubble inside the warehouse. "It's me... do you remember me? Imoen."
It seemed Tenya had grown tired from whatever she'd been doing. The girl was slumped on her knees in the middle of all the wreckage in her blue and green tunic. She looked up, slowly, when she heard Imoen's voice, revealing her dark eyes and tear stained face.
"What do you want?" She said. "To die? Is that it? I would be happy to oblige you..."
"Just checking up on you," Imoen knelt beside the girl, relaxing a bit; it was clear to her now that Tenya had exhausted all of her power. "See how you were doing... oh, and ask if there was any special reason for... all of this."
"What do you care?"
"Oh, I don't care at all. Not really. I just hate to see so much good food and wine go to waste, is all."
"Just leave me be, or I'll..."
"You'll what? Under normal circumstances if it was just me in here alone with you, I'd actually be pretty scared. But right now, I don't think there's anything you can do," Tenya glared at the redhead; she was good at it. In a few more years, she'd probably be able to out glare even Jaheira. But her silence gave her away. "So, I think I shall just sit here until you decide to talk."
"I despise you, Imoen. You are the weakest person I have ever met. You have no will, no ambition, content to just live your life being led around by others like some yapping little puppy. To think that you might one day become a God makes me sick to my bones. So, of all people, why would I want to talk to you?"
"Because I'm here," Imoen shrugged. She would have slapped the little... witch. But then Tenya might slap her back and despite being older Imoen wasn't one hundred per cent sure whose slap would hurt most.
"You would not understand, anyway."
"Well, try me. I know it's hard to believe but, beautiful and charming a person as I am, I have problems sometimes as well. Sometimes things happen that make me feel sad and lonely, and sometimes I get really mad and want to smash things up. Maybe not to this extent, but still..."
"What's happened to you?"
"Well, pretty much all the people I knew and cared about when I was growing up are dead. I found out I had a brother... and then I had to kill him. Actually, I found out I had two brothers; there was another one who died when I was still a baby. See, it turns out none of this stuff was supposed to happen to me; I was plan B. And well... maybe you're right. So many have been fighting and dying because of me and I've just been going along with it feeling powerless to do anything about it. I didn't even find out why it was happening until just before the end... so, all in all, hasn't been a great year for me."
"Why haven't you gone insane?"
"None of it has seemed real," Imoen shrugged. "I keep thinking I'm going to wake up some day and everything will back to normal... I know I won't, but... well, I'm not the type to dwell on things for very long either. Low attention span; I guess it can be an advantage, sometimes. What about you? How's your year been?"
"My mother died."
"Yeah," Imoen bit her lip; that was a stupid thing to forget all of a sudden.
"It doesn't matter; death is a fact life. Everyone must face it at some time or another. Besides, Umberlee is mother now..."
"Uh-huh... but it's not quite the same, is it? Umberlee isn't always there in person to give you the support you need... or praise you when you've done something good like spilt the guts of a little lamb or whatever it is you people do to enjoy yourselves. She isn't always there to put her arms around you when you're hurt or do any of the other things earthly mothers are supposed to do... do you want a hug?"
"Keep your arms away from me!" Tenya hissed a warning, and Imoen took the hint.
"You're lucky though; I never even knew my mother. Still don't know anything about her, but I know she died when I was born."
"It... can happen, sometimes. Even when the very best healers are present." That... that almost sounded like consolation, from Tenya. Imoen was astonished; it seemed like she was actually getting the girl to open up... she bet Jae didn't really think she could, and they were all waiting outside, still, with their weapons drawn for when she inevitably messed this up. "Even when there is a chance of resurrection, it is ultimately the Gods who decide who gets to go on living... although I can't say I always understand their choices."
"Yeah, that's... that's a tough one, all right," but Imoen really didn't like to dwell on things. No point for things like that, anyway. "So... someone said you got into some kind of fight?"
"Yes," Tenya nodded.
"Did you win?"
"Yes."
"So... why do this?"
"I was still angry. She... she insulted my mother. Said she'd died because she was weak. But my mother was never weak; she was the most evil, vile and cruel person I've ever known, and... It's... it's not fair that she's gone!" Tenya started to sob, and before Imoen knew it had allowed herself to fall sideways so that her head was resting on the redheads shoulder.
"Er... yeah. There, there... it... it's all going to be alright."
"Just so you know," the younger girl sniffed, "soon as I've got my powers back, I will kill you in the most horrible way I can think of... it... it'll probably involve snails in some way that I haven't quite figured out yet. But as soon as I do, you're dead."
"What happened?" Jaheira asked when Imoen finally reappeared. Although she had a fair idea already; she had been watching her the entire time in case Tenya did become unruly.
"Oh, well, we talked it over," Imoen explained, "and she's going to be a... well, she's still going to be evil, but she's promised not to demolish any more buildings from now on. At least not buildings she isn't sanctioned to destroy."
"Even though I am, in a way, disappointed," Jaheira said, once again having to sheath her sword, "I must say that for once you have done well. Now, let us return to the palace..."
"Jaheira," Imoen interrupted, "I... I was serious when I said I wanted to leave the city... and now I think I've found another reason to do so in a hurry..." she looked sideways at the young priestess.
"We can discuss it back at the palace."
"Wait!" Tenya said in a commanding voice; it was amazing that such a small girl could generate such tones. "While you are here, there is something I will allow you all to assist."
"What?" Imoen asked, really quite wanting to get away from the girl now...
"Augery; I have an examination in a week, and I need practice. Besides," she turned and smiled cruelly at the redhead, "it might be interesting to see what lies in your future. Assuming you have one, that is."
Reluctantly, Imoen and the rest of the party agreed to have their future read, based on the promise that it would only take a few minutes. And so, they all gathered around a barrel onto a large fish.
"Ewww... you couldn't have found something fresher, could you?" Imoen pinched her nose.
"Around here? No. Now be silent, dog," Tenya was soon falling back into her old habits it seemed. "I need to concentrate."
The teenage priestess took a knife and gutted the fish, allowing its innards to spill out over the top of the barrel.
"Hmm... I see... fangs? It looks like fangs."
"What does that mean?" Imoen raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know," Tenya shrugged. "It's just something with fangs; clearly a big part of your future. Maybe it's how you die."
"Well... at least it's not snails. Does this stuff really work?"
"It's never one hundred per cent accurate," The priestess explained, "the future is made up of many possible paths, but this will this will tell us the things that most likely to happen should things remain on the course they are now and maybe a few things that only might happen should that course be changed... hmm," she kept picking about the entrails, "it says 'the child of the feather shall do battle with the child of scale, and he shall fall by her hand.'"
"Who's that?"
"How should I know? I'm only reading what it says. But this 'child of the feather' is mentioned a few times; she clearly plays an important role in your future. Hm... there are many you may travel with, but... there seem to be six whose power and influence is far greater than the rest. This feather-child is one. Some of the others must be standing here now... but it also mentions a man whose blood is cursed and... your... brother?"
"Brother?" Imoen gasped. "Er... my brothers are dead."
"Those we know of, child," Dynaheir put in, "I find it unlikely that Bhaal would have stopped there."
"In any case, that is what it says. What it means isn't always clear, I'm afraid. I see lots and lots of elves... hm, even dark ones. And," Tenya raised her head, her eyes wide, although it wasn't clear whether that was due to fear.
"What?" Imoen asked, although unsure if she really wanted to know. But, well... she was here now.
"A city in ruins... men, women and children lying dead, and you standing in the middle of it all..."
"What... city?" The redhead asked because she was struggling to think of anything else to say. It wasn't as if it mattered at all.
"I don't know."
"That is enough now," Jaheira said and turned to Imoen who had become very still. "Like she said; these are only things that might happen. Besides, she is inexperienced at this. Probably misreading it entirely."
"Yeah... sure," Imoen answered slowly. "I mean, yeah. Its not like I could be the cause of something like that. I just... I wouldn't... would I... I would never..." although she knew that Bhaal might... and that part of her was him.
"I'm reading it perfectly..." Tenya started protesting.
"I said enough," Jaheira turned and glared at the priestess. She glared back, but yielded, this time.
"H'o there, friends!" Imoen turned at the sound of a new voice; it was turning out to be a very strange night for her indeed. On any other night she would not have been pleased to see that slimy creep Eldoth Kron strutting towards her. "I heard there had been some commotion around here, and thought there would be a good chance I would find you all at the heart of it. Adventurers fly toward danger like moths to a flame."
"What do you want?" Jaheira huffed, clearly not pleased on any level to see him.
"For once, nothing. I was simply wandering the streets on my own when I suddenly started to feel nostalgic. And, so I bought some Berduskan wine and thought to find some of my old friends to share. I know a lovely spot in the woods just outside the city where we can watch the stars and share stories..."
"You mean like the story of how you saved us from Davaeorn? Or killed Centeol all by yourself?" Imoen shook her head. She had no idea what Skie saw in him... he even looked slimy, the way he was sweating all the time. She was afraid to touch him in case she got stuck to him. Just... yuck.
"I may... embellish my stories a bit in the taverns. But that is just what the public wants."
"Doesn't seem to me like you really give them a choice. Besides, what I remember happening was as soon as those spiders appeared you ran, and you hid behind a rock."
"Not so, my dear Imoen. I was there, watching your rear the entire time."
"Ewww! Anyway, where's Skie?" Imoen would have pleased to see her; they really didn't have much in common, what with Imoen growing up doing chores for Winthrop, and Skie growing up having servants to do her chores for her. But Imoen didn't know a whole lot of people the same sort of age as herself. And it wasn't like Jaheira or Dynaheir were ever up for any fun... they were all so grouchy sometimes.
"At home in bed. She's been working very hard of late, the poor dear. I thought it best to let her get some sleep for once. So, will you join me?" Eldoth pinged two of the bottles he had together. "It would be a chance for you to go over my stories and help me to correct any more mistakes."
Imoen and the others all looked at Jaheira; they'd all gotten used to her being the one who always made the final decision.
"Oh, fine," the druid held out her hands. "It is not as if we have anything better going on now."
"Wh-wh-what are they?" Khalid asked as he lay on his back with his hands behind his head, staring dreamily at the night sky from a clearing in the forest. "T-the stars, I mean."
"Celestial spheres... spirits of the dead... gods," Dynaheir yawned. "There are some now who believe that they may be other suns, just like our own, with worlds just like ours around them, but unbelievably far away. Although many churches would condemn this as heresy."
"So... t-there could be another group of adventurers up there, l-looking back at us..."
"Who cares?" Jaheira huffed. "It is not like we will ever go there... they are hundreds and hundreds of miles away, so why think about it?"
"J-J-Jaheira my dear," Khalid tutted, "I r-r-really worry that you don't always make the most o-of your opportunities to fantasize..."
"Heh," Jaheira turned herself over so that she was lying over Khalid, and then started drawing her finger down his chest. "Who needs fantasy?"
"W-wha... oh?" Khalids eyes went wide suddenly. "Oh... oh... oh my... Yes!"
"Hey you two!" Imoen called from the other side of the campfire. "Pitch a tent first, okay? I mean... yuck... and in front of Minsc too? Corrupting his innocent eyes..."
"Actually, Minsc used to be quite the ladies man," Dynaheir started saying.
"Shut up! I don't want to know..." in any case, look at Minsc now; the seven foot warrior was sat cross legged coddling his hamster. Whatever he was before taking all those blows to the head... well, he wasn't now. Imoen had another and laid, looking at the stars... unbelievably far away. Far enough away that the people there will have never heard of Bhaal? Far enough away, maybe, that she could escape this stupid destiny that was never really hers... but Jaheira was right. No point in fantasizing about that... not anymore...
"I... I'm getting kinda sleepy," she yawned, her eyelids starting to flutter.
"I as well," Dynaheir yawned also.
"Minsc too."
"You didn't even drink anything," Imoen noted. But then she noted his hamster, Boo, licking a few drops that had been spilt. "Oh... that's weird."
Eldoth stood up, brushing himself down.
"Where are you going?" Jaheira asked, although making no effort to move.
"Call of nature, friend," he explained and disappeared behind a tree.
Had the party being paying really close attention, they might have noticed that the bottle in his hands was the same one he'd started the night with, and that although he had pressed it against his lips many times the level of liquor within the container had remained unchanged. He disappeared behind a tree, and kept walking; if he followed the moon he should reach the road soon.
But before he did, he was startled. Three hooded figures dressed in black fell from above... although fell was not quite the right word. Their descent was just a bit too slow and unnatural and their feet touched the ground gently and silently. They blocked Eldoth's path, but he was not worried; not much, anyway.
"It... it is done," he told them. "You'll find what you're looking for just a short way behind me in a clearing."
The middle figure reached beneath his cloak, taking out a small sack. The contents jingled metallically when it was tossed to the bard. And without a word, the three figures strolled past him.
"Um... i-is this all?" Eldoth said, being unusually brave. But, when it came to money... "I thought we had agreed on..."
"Hssss!" The lead figure turned on him, bearing some quite impressive looking fangs. "You will get the rest after we have our merchandise."
"Very well," Eldoth thought it wise not to say anymore.
"Come, brothers," the three figures floated into the air, disappearing into the leaves and branches. Eldoth heard rustling all around, and knew it was not the wind. There must have been a dozen or so of the unholy creatures up there.
Eldoth held up and regarded the bag of gold. Was it really worth selling out his former comrades for this? In their current state, they would never stand a chance... he tapped the bag so that it jingled again, and then he thought:
'Oh, well. What's done is done, I suppose.'