Act 2

Find Proof of Mae'var's Treachery

Jayda inhaled deeply and stared up at the orange building in front of her, large and windowless. Even in the middle of the morning, it somehow seemed a foreboding place. Of course a shady character like Gaelan Bayle would send her to an even shadier location for work. She slowly exhaled, reminding herself she didn't have time to be picky, and drew toward the one man posted watch outside the door.

"Ay now, you there!" he began as she approached. "You a friend of Gaelan's? Me boss says yer welcome to enter, if ye likes."

Jayda tilted her head to the side and narrowed her gaze on him. One night in town and she was already labeled "friends" with Gaelan Bayle, already connected enough for strangers to know her name. It didn't surprise her. Baldur's Gate had been a similar experience. But now that she had seen it, her suspicions were confirmed.

"Thieves…" she mumbled and went inside.

The glances in her direction did not go unnoticed; she detected the eyes in the shadows watching her every step as she was noted and escorted up two flights of stairs. She was pointed around a corner and visibly left alone, but she knew they were still there, observing. Confidently, Jayda strode forward and rounded the corner.

Renal Bloodscalp was easily picked out of the crowd. Surrounded by thieves—one whom he was conversing with—he was dressed as they were, but his demeanor was self-assured. His shaven head and small, dark eyes were deceptive, but not in a sinister way. She approached and he turned to her, silently dismissing his aide, and grinned with amusement as he scanned her.

"You'll have to excuse me if you're not quite what I was expecting. From all I've been told, I expected something," he scanned her again, "grander."

She casually shrugged. "I was expecting more from the leader of the Shadow Thieves, myself."

He chuckled. "Yes, well, when you earn a name like 'Bloodscalp', you do tend to raise expectations. I assure you that I am more than I seem. I am sure the same is true of you."

They shared small, knowing grins, silently approving of one another. For the moment.

"I've been told many tales of your exploits," he continued, casually pacing in front of her. "Some bits of your activities here in Athkatla as well as… further north." He glanced at her and went on. "You must understand, naturally, that an organization like mine thrives on information above all else. He who is ignorant quickly becomes a target, and all that."

"Naturally," she agreed. "So what is it, then, that you wish from me?"

"Right to the point, eh? Refreshing. I am sick of underlings who shift from foot to foot. I find a bit of directness to be a… nice change." He strode forward and hooked an arm across her shoulders, slowly leading her away from the others. "To be short, Gaelan recommended you, and I trust his word. I am in need of a mercenary to perform a particular task. On a normal day, I would not consider it necessary to look beyond my own guild; any of my available assassins or thieves are quite capable."

She mentally noted that it was a warning. This was a world she understood and, once in her life, had enjoyed. She almost got caught up in it again, probably because she already liked Renal; his deceptive language, his hand motions as he spoke, and his friendliness—he was well-acted, but she sensed that part of his performance was true to his nature. He reminded her of someone she might've worked with in the past, when things were simple… or, at least, when she believed them to be.

"In this one instance, however, my men are limited," he continued, pulling her from her thoughts. "I need someone of skill who is not one of the Shadow Thieves… someone more or less unknown to us. Someone, I trust, like yourself." He stopped walking and eyed her intently.

"Your trust is well-placed," she told him, accepting the task. "And what is it, exactly, that you would have this outsider do?"

"Yes, the details!" he exclaimed, leading them back into the slow walk across the room. "How shall I put this? One of my guildhouses to the south is run by a rather ambitious fellow named Mae'Var. Good thief, but I never liked him. Now I know why."

"He's getting too big for himself," she guessed and Renal nodded.

"Thinking of taking my place, I suspect, but I've had no real evidence to say that this is so. Now, you're likely thinking: why not just eliminate him? Yes, yes, I suppose I could."

"But without proof of betrayal, the other guildmasters would be angry and you'd have a war on your hands," she finished for him and he stopped, withdrawing his arm as he studied her. "A war with the guildmasters would be too taxing when the Shadow Thieves are already at war with a rival guild."

"I think you and I understand one another very well, Jayda. I like your perceptiveness. You're smart. Perhaps… too smart for a thief," he mumbled suspiciously.

"Would you prefer I shuffled foot to foot?"

He grinned again. "I think I prefer this. Since you understand things so clearly, when the time comes, I feel certain you will know what to do… the right thing to do. You remind me a bit of myself when I first arrived here." He cleared his throat and started walking again, leading them to a table with several items laid neatly atop it. "Where was I? Oh, yes, your part in this. I would like you to go to Mae'Var and join his guild. I will give you these papers," he picked up a thick scroll of bound parchment, "saying you are being transferred by the Shadow Master. You will spy on Mae'Var from the inside and find me the evidence I need."

"And once he is damned with proof?" she asked as she took the papers from him.

"Take care of this nuisance and eliminate Mae'Var," he replied and added bitterly, "one less headache for a busy man such as myself to be concerned with." He motioned toward the stairs and they started walking again. "You'll need to reassure Mae'Var, naturally; he won't know who you are. But I am confident that you are more than capable of this."

"Naturally," she echoed and they stopped in front of the stairs. "Now what's in it for me?"

"Ah yes, we arrive at this point eventually." He smiled. "I hear an interesting rumor that Athkatla's newest stranger is in dire straits for gold… so gold you will receive. A fair sum, I promise. Let's say… ten thousand pieces. Fair?"

Jayda reminded herself not to reveal her elation, but inside she was renewed. She didn't know how complex proving Mae'Var's treachery might be, but once done, she would be halfway to her goal. With whatever work Jaheira and Minsc found, she was sure they would be to the promised amount in no time. She made a note to remind Jaheira just how profitable thieves could be.

"Fair," she agreed casually, "depending on just how much trouble this Mae'Var proves to be."

"Well, since this is a delicate mission… ten-thousand gold pieces… for now." He studied her cautiously, thinking something Jayda had no clue at. "As for what else… we will see. You have a reputation and I wish to see if it holds true. I have been looking for someone of your particular… talents and abilities." He cleared his throat. "In the central Docks, there's a storefront called The Quiet Cretin. Show the papers to the storekeeper, Gorch, and he'll let you into the guildhouse proper."

"The Quiet Cretin, Gorch… got it."

"Work for Mae'Var as long as it takes to collect your evidence," Renal instructed her. "I'm sure I don't have to tell you to be careful, do I? No, I didn't think so." He nodded to her. "I will be waiting most eagerly to receive whatever you find."

Jayda smirked and tucked the papers into her belt. "You won't be waiting long…"

/

It was near lunch-time when Jayda located The Quiet Cretin, flashed her papers to Gorch, and was escorted to the cellar. The gossip mumbled the moment she walked in the back door revealed to Jayda that she was taking the place of someone called Lin. In the cellar, a secret door was opened for her and she was encouraged inside. And alone, she noted. She stalked past a series of cells and, at the end, was her target.

Mae'Var was hunched over a torture table, knife drawn and poised over a prone figure. Several thief guards stood at the edges of the room, far from the abuse. For a moment, Jayda recalled the torments she witnessed in Irenicus's dungeon—at the torture inflicted upon her and Imoen, at the cruelty that had murdered Dynaheir and Khalid! Her heart began to beat wildly as images of that horrible place assaulted her memory and she nearly lunged at Mae'Var then and there. But some part of her brain that retained self-control bid her to calm down, and she was able to pull her hands away from the swords on her hips and relax her breathing.

"Hello there," Mae'Var began in a low purr without even looking up from his work. "I certainly hope you've got a good reason to be bothering me," he looked up at her and she resisted recoiling from his snake-like face, "because I'm quite busy, as you can see." He looked back at this victim and sighed. "Ah, poor Lin has passed out." He gingerly laid the dagger on the table and carefully wiped his hands off on a rag. "I've a few minutes to spare then. Who are you and why shouldn't I kill you?"

The calm, soft way he spoke made her skin crawl. No wonder Renal didn't like him. Thieves were slippery and trustless enough without being so creepy. But she couldn't reveal her disgust. She had a job to do, for Imoen's sake.

"I'm the new owl," she declared, using the street term for thief. "Or do the Shadow Thieves turn on their own?"

"Ask my cousin here," he sneered, motioning to Lin. "He relied on sentiment; thought it would get him out of stealing from guild coffers. Perhaps," he purred with his glazed eyes, "but not before he's learned about crossing his betters." Mae'Var slowly approached her, his cloudy gaze locked on hers; he picked up a clean dagger from a nearby table. "Perhaps you'd suggest a kinder, gentler punishment for my kin? Or perhaps I should introduce you to the rack instead," he mumbled as he turned a full circle around her, "so we might determine your true kinship."

Jayda hardened her expression as he came to stand in front of her, his face inches away; she could smell his foul breath and the blood on his tunic. Scars marred the right side of his head, creeping onto his face, and she wondered what had happened to him. His thin lips twitched as his eyes shifted back and forth between her gray orbs. He was trying to read her. In a moment, a grin slithered across Mae'Var's lips.

"Or perhaps not," he whispered. "Scared you, did I? Fear will keep you honest. You don't want to end up like Lin here," he motioned with his head toward his cousin, "with me having to test your honesty. Difficult to do with certainty."

"Better he die an honest man," Jayda murmured, "than to live a liar and endanger us all."

Mae'Var's grin widened and his head tilted to the side, leading the rest of his body away from her. She was relieved.

"Such thoughts are akin to my own," he told her, "but I will hold you no closer knowing you are as cold as I. Instead, a simple task to test your worth and pad our coffers." As he strode a full, slow circle around Lin, idly staring down at his unconscious cousin, he tapped the knifeblade on the tips of his fingers. "I suppose I should make the task something you wouldn't balk at completely. How about a little petty larceny amid the stuffed robes over at the Talos temple? I require…" He paused to think and used the blade to tap at his chin. Suddenly, a thought came to him and his serpent-like eyes lit up with intrigue. "The amulet worn by the Weathermistress… Yes, it looked lovely on her," he purred and the sensuality in his tone almost made her shiver. "I've a beautiful sheltie-spaniel cross that it will adorn just as well. Now, get moving!" he barked, coming out of his reverie. "I've told you the mark, you do the rest! Do not bother me again until you've done so!"

Jayda dipped into a shallow bow of acceptance and quickly evacuated the cellar; her stomach clenched as she heard Lin groan, knowing more torture was soon at hand. She took the steps in twos until she reached the top, then left the building as quickly as she could without rousing suspicion.

/

The night once again filled the Copper Coronet and Jayda had to squeeze past several large groups of slum-dwellers to get to the table Jaheira and Minsc had claimed. As she plopped down, Jaheira sat up straight.

"Good, you are here," the druid began, tongue rolling with her exotic accent. "How went your day?"

She shrugged. "Productive. And yours?" She looked to both her friends.

"I tried contacting the Hapers of Athkatla, but no word yet. Minsc has found some dockwork, but it pulls in very little, I'm afraid. I put out feelers for some of my old contacts. In a few days, we shall see if any of them remain in Amn and if they have work for us."

"I do not like this waiting around," Minsc declared. "We should be out there searching for this evil wizard and Imoen! We will turn over every stone if we have to and then this Irenicus will know our righteous fury!" He slammed his palm onto the table and it shook violently under his strength; their dishes clanked together, provoking a few stares in their direction. "Live by the sword, live a good, long life!"

"You know I agree," Jayda said, quickly trying to calm him, "but turning over every pebble and stone could prove just as lengthy an endeavor as earning the coin."

"That… makes sense," he conceded. "I still say action is required of us."

"Cheer up," she encouraged them. "We'll be halfway to our goal in no time."

"Oh?" Jaheira asked with a small smile. "And what makes you so sure?"

"That contact gave me a job, and that job pays well." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Ten-thousand…"

Minsc gasped.

"By Silvanus," Jaheira murmured, and Jayda couldn't tell if she was angry or pleased. "You're working with the Shadow Thieves, then? And what is it they have you doing?"

"It's best you don't know."

"Tch," she hissed, clearly disapproving. "While I do not agree with Minsc that we are a righteous force for good and justice, this is too much. I do not like it."

"So we do the bidding of thieves now?" Minsc groaned and patted his stomach, looking uncomfortable. "Ehhh… this churns my belly like a hamster endlessly running on a wheel."

"We do nothing," Jayda reminded them. "I do, now eat and put it out of mind. This is for Imoen. Every moment we delay is another moment her life is in danger."

They silently agreed and talked of other things until Jayda ran out of water and excused herself. She made her way to the bar and claimed an empty spot, motioning Bernard over. When he leaned toward her, she requested more water, and he nodded with promise to get it as soon as he had a moment.

As she waited, a figure suddenly appeared next to her. She looked up into the smirking face of Gaelan Bayle.

"Coo! Evenin', me Lady," he began. "Ye clean up well, if ye don't mind me sayin' so."

"I wish I could say the same for you," she countered. He put his hand to his chest as though she had wounded him.

"If I'd tried, I might've. Only then, what kind of respectable person might I be mistaken for, ay? Not a good thing, I think; not 'round these parts, anyway." He nodded to her, and she could tell he was resisting a smile; she was also smiling, on the verge of laughter. "An' just ye remember who cleaned the mud off ye face."

"Who asked you?" she joked. "And you? Respectable? In what realm could that mistake be made?"

"Aye," he agreed, nodding. "Not truer words be spoken if I'd said 'em meself. But let's not confuse it with respected, ay?" He tapped the bar and motioned to a nearby mug. "Can I buy ye a drink?"

"Not tonight," she replied. "Tonight, I'm working."

"Aahh, so ye met with Renal, ay? Good man, he is. I told ye that ye'd find work easily enough, didn't I?"

"Speaking of that, I suppose I owe you my thanks." She remembered him telling her that soon it would be a comfort that she knew him. "Though I didn't realize we were friends, your name has opened a number of doors for me."

"Now usually I don't like being the one to say 'I told ye so'," he began rather smugly, "but in this case, I won't mind it so much."

"That's big of you."

"What can I say?" he asked as Bernard brought Jayda's water and an ale for Gaelan. As he took his drink, he said, "that just be the kind of guy I am." He raised his mug to her and disappeared into the crowd.

Jayda rolled her eyes as she took her drink and retreated back to her table. Somehow, his witty banter had lifted her spirits after meeting such an offensive character like Mae'Var. Deep down, she wished she had more enjoyable men to interact with at work—like Gaelan and Renal. Of course, that would mean she would have to put down someone she liked. Perhaps, she realized, it was a good thing Mae'Var was such an unlikeable sort.

"What kept you?" Jaheira asked as Jayda sat back down.

"Nothing," she replied. "Nothing at all."

/

The Temple district was utterly silent at that time of night. A crescent moon hung lazily in the sky, mostly hidden behind wisps of dark clouds. The City Guard were peppered throughout the streets but Jayda found it easy maneuvering as she slunk from one shadow to the next, silently making her way to the Temple of Talos. The building was easy to spot with its domed tower and the two electric spheres floating over the water to either side of the bridge entrance.

As she waited for the guards to grow bored, she crept around the city and scoped out all the entrances. So far, there was the front door. She did notice a balcony hover over the river and, as she was studying the wall to get a better look, she heard strange crooning. Glancing back, Jayda caught movement in the darkness and heard strange mumbling. She stilled to listen and focused on the hunched form rocking back and forth in the alley. She realized she was hearing a strange poem.

"Pretty, pretty walks the night. Pretty, pretty fears the light. Pretty, pretty has no soul. Pretty, pretty black as coal. Step in shadow, left a husk, killed in moments after dusk. Step in shadow you are prey, pray you live to see the day. Sleep the street and see the dark, death becomes a lyric lark. Walk in Shadow as the guild, see the war that leaves them killed." The voice croaked and whispered eerily, as though in a trance. "See the flow from wound and neck! Was that your friend? Well best you check! Members gone and guild will fail! Best you fight the tooth and nail! Run you can't, the war will find! To haunt your dreams and haunt your mind! Watch your friends and watch the death! Watch their eyes and hold your breath!" The frantic, terrified Foole came spilling out of the alleyway, looking wildly around. The poor, tormented creature locked eyes with Jayda, even as she was hidden in the shadows. "Join or die! You cannot flee! Watch the death..." he whispered, "in front of me… in front of… me…" Then, his eyes grew wide and he visibly trembled. "Run you can't! The war will find! Run you can't! The war will find! AHHHHhahahahahahaha!"

Jayda watched, unnerved, as the Foole flew away down the street. She had to take several breaths to steady her heartbeat. Suddenly, a grumble of thunder sounded nearby and she knew her window to act was closing. She waited until the patrolling Storm Knight passed and darted from her hiding place; she flipped over the railing and caught herself on the jutting ledge. She paused and listened but heard nothing, so she dug her boots into the weathered mortar between stones and inched toward the globe, waiting for the Knight to pass back, and lunged for the iron ring that supported the sphere.

With quiet grunts, she shimmied around the side of it and dropped down onto the exposed roof of the submerged tunnel that connected the sphere and temple. She scurried along the top, careful not to slip even an inch into the water. More thunder rumbled angrily as she leapt up onto the wall and scaled it just beneath the bright-burning windows, which provided her a deeper darkness to hide in. She switched walls and shimmied toward the balcony.

Her foot slipped on one of the loose bricks and she dropped two feet, catching herself only inches above water. With a rapidly beating heart, she waited and listened. Nothing… Nothing but more thunder and a flash of lightning. Jayda bit her lower lip and forced herself to move. Even if a guard was watching, she had little choice but to go; her fingers were tired and wouldn't hold her much longer and she would be sure to attract attention if she plopped into the river.

She made it to the balcony, slipped over it undetected, and ducked inside the unlocked door. The patter of the evening's first raindrops on the window made her sigh in relief. Inside, she heard the loud cranking of the Storm Lord's weather vane and wondered how anyone could possibly sleep in the Temple. She surveyed the room she occupied and noted a sleeping woman curled up on the bed.

"Mask, I'm good," Jayda whispered to herself, sneaking over to the chest near the bed. She slipped some thieves' tools from her belt and picked the lock on the small trunk. No necklace. She made her way around the room, quietly investigating drawers. Finally, the Necklace of Talos—in all of its heavy and glittering glory—was discovered. She quickly pocketed the extravagant piece, secured it into a pouch on her belt, and ducked out of the room.

Outside, the rain had quickly begun to pour. With the noisy crash of the droplets into the water surrounding the Temple and the howling of the wind, Jayda knew her actions would be masked. So she hopped over the balcony and plunged straight into the pool below.