After the day when Ralis cured himself of the poison that would kill him in two days and peacefully resolving an issue with the merchant prince of the Merchant's League, Dabron Sashenstar, who was actually Elminster in disguise to prove to a fellow Harper that Ralis can and will learn to resist his compulsive desire to murder, the real Dabron Sashenstar's whereabouts remaining unknown, Ralis and his party can now focus on the more serious matters plaguing Baldur's Gate. But first, Scar has tasked them into checking into the Seven Suns merchant house to see what is wrong with them because lately they have been refusing deals that would increasingly make them rich. Ralis initially selected Imoen, Ajantis and Neera to come with him to spy on the Seven Suns, but not long ago today, Coran, Safana and Dorn returned and reunited with Ralis and the rest of his party in Elfsong Tavern, with over 10578 gold and a few interesting items for them to use.
Coran gave Ralis two rings to wear, Topsider's Crutch, a ring that gives the wearer infravision up to 120 feet, and the Ring of Princes +1. Ralis was also given new gauntlets, gauntlets of weapon expertise: Legacy of the Masters, even Minsc was given another pair of the same gauntlets Ralis has been given, and an amulet that wards spells. But the best item that Coran and Safana have given to Ralis is new armor, plate mail armor made out of the scales of an Ankheg. Ralis found that wearing the ankheg plate mail armor to be more comfortable and lighter than his old, rusted splint mail armor. Minsc is given Plate Mail Of The Dead +2.
After that, Ralis decided not only to bring Imoen, Ajantis and Neera, but also Dorn as well, in case things get ugly over there, they'll need a strong blackguard half-orc by their side, whether Ajantis likes it or not, but Ralis gets the feeling that Ajantis doesn't like it at all. He's been tolerant of Dorn and Viconia's presence for some time, but how long can he keep this up?
As Ralis, Neera, Imoen, Ajantis and Dorn walked through the streets of Baldur's Gate, heading towards a different house belonging to the Seven Suns (Not the same building where Sorrem sold out Ralis and his party to the Dark Moon monks), some citizens who saw Dorn backed away fearfully, as they are not used to seeing a half human half orc here, especially one with such an intimidating gaze.
"Hrmmm. So this is Baldur's Gate. This place reminds me of Luskan. Both cities teem with wretches unfit to grovel at my feet," Dorn said to Ralis as he walked alongside him, checking out his surroundings.
"Luskan, huh? I take it you had some dealings there?" Ralis pressed Dorn for more info about his past.
"Perhaps," was Dorn's sullen reply.
Ralis looked up at Dorn. "Look, if we are to be allies, we need to learn about each other. I must know a little more about you. That's what allies do," he said to him.
"As for my past, you have only to know I punish treachery. As for the present, take comfort in knowing that no one shall stand between you and your goals, so long as I remain at your side," Dorn said.
Ralis liked to think of Dorn as a tame pit bull dog. He is definitely not friendly, but he is fairly tame, for a neutral evil aligned half-orc. As long as he keeps him on a leash, only unleashing him to attack his enemies, everything will be fine.
"How did you become such a skilled fighter?" Ralis asked Dorn as they crossed the road to reach the other sidewalk.
"After ogres raided my tribe in the Spine of the World, my human mother and I escaped to Luskan. There, I discovered the nature of... "civilized" men," Dorn told Ralis.
And by "civilized", Dorn meant the people he met along the way to Luskan insulted him, teased and belittled of him because of his half-orc heritage.
"What can you tell me about your time with this band?" Ralis asked, wondering how he teamed up with Simmeon, Kryll, Senjak and Dorotea.
Dorn shrugged. "Those times were not all bad. Riding across the mountains, slaying all challengers, and plundering ancient temples are good ways to start a legend. But now the blood I wish to spill belongs to my former companions."
"How so?" Ralis asked curiously, scratching his head.
"Jealous of our plunder, rival bands spread word that we were tomb robbers and thieves. Local lords sent out men to capture us. Simmeon, our leader, decided it was time for a show of force. We pillaged the town of Barrow, slaying men, women, and children to show their lords not to trifle with us," Dorn said.
Ralis cringed when he heard that. When he looked back at Ajantis, he could see that he is visibly disturbed by this information as well, doing the best he can to fight the urge not to engage Dorn in sword combat, as per his agreement. Ralis turned his attention back at Dorn, trying to swallow his urge not to do anything drastic himself.
"What happened then?" He asked.
"Hrmm. Perhaps another time, Ralis," was Dorn's reply instead of continuing the story.
As they continued walking down the sidewalk, passing by more than a dozen people, Ralis had a bad feeling. He had a feeling that Ajantis would snap at any moment now. And his hunch was correct, as he heard the sound of a sword blade scratching the insides of a scabbard as it is being pulled out. He had already activated Ghoul Touch, which made his hands glow red.
"I can no longer bear this anymore. Prepare to defend yourself!"
As soon as Ralis heard Ajantis say that, he knew Ajantis would attack Dorn after hearing what he did with Simmeon's group. Ralis quickly turned around and touched Ajantis with his right hand before he could prepare to swing his sword at Dorn. Dorn, who is always ever alert had drawn out his sword right when Ralis paralyzed Ajantis with Ghoul Touch. Confused and frightened Baldur's Gate citizens scrambled away fearfully.
"What's going on?" Neera asked.
Ajantis grunted, unable to move any part of his body.
"I knew you were going to do that," Ralis told him.
"I had a feeling he would draw his sword against me sooner or later. It's not safe to keep him here, Ralis," Dorn said.
"He's a squire-paladin, Dorn. He only attempted to attack you because he heard that you've killed men, women and children when you used to be with Simmeon's gang," Ralis told him.
"Even so, a dog that can't be tamed is too dangerous to keep," Dorn said callously.
Speak for yourself, Ralis remarked to Dorn in his thoughts. "You have to admit that what you did with them back then was evil. You killed a hundred defenseless men and women, and on top of all that, kids!" Ralis said.
Dorn apparently felt no shame. "'Evil' is a term wept by the weak and the defeated. What have I done? Well, I have cleansed the world of a band of treacherous dogs. The powers Ur-Gothoz has granted me have accomplished what many would consider... a great good. Do not annoy me with such simplistic notions of 'morality'," He replied to Ralis.
"That's beside the point," Ralis responded, clenching his jaw.
"By Helm... Why did you... prevent me from attacking him...?" Ajantis said through gritted teeth, still unable to move his body.
"I practically saved you. If you attacked him, you would die. Dorn is a force to be reckoned with," Ralis replied.
"You heard the half-orc. He and his old cutthroats have slain countless innocent people to display their ruthlessness to their enemies. I cannot let injustice like that go unpunished!" Ajantis exclaimed.
"Normally I can't either, but this is a special case. I need every strong arm regardless of morality to help me bring down the Iron Throne. Paladin, Blackguard or both, it doesn't matter to me. If we let our personal feelings drive us apart, then the Iron Throne will slay more innocent lives than Dorn and his old companions have. We need to be a team. If we can't be a team, you or Dorn need to walk away," Ralis said.
At that moment, Ajantis could move again. He sighed in relief. "Me? Walk away? Why? We're a team! We are bound by honor! But... you're right, Ralis. I apologize," Ajantis apologized.
"I know Dorn isn't a friendly guy, but he's tame, as long as you don't piss him off..." Ralis paused to look back at Dorn for a second, then back at Ajantis. "...Even though he already looks pissed," Ralis added with a forced humored smile.
As they drew nearer and nearer to the Seven Suns merchant house, they were about to pass by a brothel until three scantily clad women who appeared to be around Ralis's age, two elves and one human stopped them, flirting with Ralis.
"Are you the one they call Ralis Rutela?" One of the elves asked him.
"It's him! I've seen his picture!" The other elf exclaimed.
"I'm Feya, this is my younger sister Viri, and that is our friend Olivia." The elf girl who asked Ralis if he is Ralis introduced herself, her sister and her human friend.
"Nice to meet you all," Ralis nodded courteously.
"We heard that you are the one who stopped the bad guys at the Nashkel mines. How strong are you, exactly?" Olivia asked Ralis, slowly approaching him and when she got close enough, she gently stroked his left arm.
"Uh, I'm not one to brag, but I've taken down more than the average bandit," Ralis admitted.
Neera rolled her eyes.
"And we also heard that you're the one who killed an ogre mage and a few carrion crawlers down in the sewers a few days ago all by yourself... You truly are strong!" Feya exclaimed, getting intimately close to Ralis as well.
That's when his heart started pounding at a faster rate.
"Strength alone wasn't all. Speed, luck and intellect allowed me to vanquish all who stood against me," Ralis said with a sincere smile, feeling his body temperature steadily rising up.
"Why don't you show me how strong you are... in private...?" Feya's sister, Viri said to Ralis, licking her lips.
Ralis nervously chuckled. He could see where this is going. "That's a very tempting offer, but-"
Before he could finish, Feya shoved her sister away.
"Back off! He's mine! Why would you choose her when she doesn't have what I have? Do these make me more woman enough for you?" Feya asked Ralis, pushing out her chest at Ralis, using her cleavage to impress him.
"Get lost!" Olivia pushed Faya away to try to flirt with Ralis herself.
"They don't deserve you. You deserve better, like me," Olivia said, putting her arms around Ralis and lifting her right leg, wrapping it around Ralis's waist.
His face turned red. His mind felt like it is about to overload, he couldn't even think straight. Then Faya and Viri came back, trying to climb on Ralis, trying to seduce him.
"That's it! That's enough! Stop it! All of you, get off him now!" Neera yelled, pulling and shoving Faya, Viri and Olivia off Ralis.
"Who are you supposed to be, his boyfriend?" Olivia asked Neera.
"I... I... I..." Neera didn't know what to say.
"If you're not his girlfriend, then it's none of your business of who he wants. He's man enough to make his own choice, Right, Ralis baby?" Faye cooed.
Ralis couldn't speak. He only squeaked like a mouse or hamster in reply, still in shock from looking at Faya's chest.
"Yeah, so go home, Pinkie Half-Elf!" Viri taunted Neera because she has pink hair.
Neera glared at Viri in outrage now. "Pinkie? Pinkie?! I got a name! And it's Pink... I mean Neera!" Neera growled as she stomped towards Viri, but Ralis snapped out of his trance in the nick of time to stand in between Viri and Neera.
"That's enough! Come on, guys, let's get out of here, we wasted enough time here," Ralis said.
Imoen, Ajantis, Dorn and Neera followed Ralis, leaving Faya, Viri and Olivia sad that they'll never have Ralis to themselves.
"I never realized that you were a ladies' man type," Ajantis said to Ralis.
"Yeah, well, it's not as comfortable as it looks," Ralis muttered back.
And finally, minutes later, Ralis and his party found the Seven Suns merchant house. They were sitting at a dining table outside a restaurant looking at the secondary Seven Suns house from across the road.
"There it is," Ralis pointed out.
"Yeah. So what'cha wanna do, Ralis?" Imoen asked her friend.
"Infiltrate the place. Imoen, you can sneak in, can you?" Ralis asked.
"Yep, I can do it," Imoen nodded enthusiastically.
"Good. I'll go up to the front door, you activate your invisibility ability, and when I open the door, you sneak in. While I question a merchant inside, you sneak as deep as you can into the building and learn what I might not be able to learn from talking to one of the merchants inside," Ralis instructed.
"Gotcha," Imoen nodded.
"What are we supposed to do?" Neera asked Ralis as he and Imoen were about to walk across the road to the Seven Suns merchant house.
Ralis turned back at them and shrugged.
"I don't know. Improvise. Try not to look suspicious around this vicinity. Here, buy some food," he tossed Neera 20 silver coins and so she can buy herself, Ajantis and Dorn something to eat.
When Ralis and Imoen walked up to the front door, he opened it and Imoen became invisible, then she and Ralis entered the building.
The foyer is quiet, not a single noise could be heard.
"Hello?" Ralis called out, his voice echoing.
Imoen, who is still invisible, quietly walked up the nearest flight of stairs. Ralis soon heard footsteps nearby. A door northwest from where Ralis stood opened, and a stout man with hazel colored hair, who is apparently one of the merchants appeared to answer Ralis' call.
"Yes? What can I do for you?" He asked as he approached Ralis.
Ralis cleared his throat before speaking. "Uh, I would like to speak to the owner of the Seven Suns. I have some questions for him about his recent business decisions. Some people find them very questionable."
"Jhasso? You want to speak to Jhasso?" The merchant asked.
"Yes. Is he available, sir?" Ralis asked.
"Unfortunately not. I cannot grant any of your desires, young man. So could you kindly leave?" The merchant gently shook his head in denial and made a fanning motion with his left hand as if he's trying to shoo away Ralis.
"I'm sorry, but I can't leave until I get to see Jhasso," Ralis refused politely.
Meanwhile, Imoen, while still invisible, tip-toed down the hallway on the 2nd floor of the building. making sure her feet doesn't make any noise on the linoleum floor. She heard footsteps but didn't know where it is coming from, so she stopped walking and stood perfectly still. Seconds later, a few yards ahead, a merchant, a man in a red tunic walked out of a room to the left to enter a room to the right.
"Hm. What's that fellow doing?" Imoen whispered to herself, deciding to enter the room the man in the red tunic just entered.
Meanwhile, back where Ralis is...
"Listen, kid, I don't know why you want to see Jhasso, and I don't know where he is, but I gotta tell you, something strange is going on here. He's been missing ever since everything here went strange," The merchant told Ralis.
"Strange? How so?" Ralis' curiosity is obviously piqued now.
The merchant first looked around to make sure no one is looking. Then he told Ralis: "I've seen some of the other merchants change faces when they thought I wasn't looking."
"Change? As in transform?" Ralis asked.
"Yes, you heard me right, they changed faces! Some sort of shape shifters have infiltrated the Seven Suns. If I were you, I'd get out of here while there's still time. That's what I'm planning to do. Don't stick around here, kid. Whatever is going on, it ain't good," The merchant nervously whispered to Ralis.
"I'll take your word for it. Thanks," Ralis nodded courteously at the merchant and left, hoping Imoen can take care of herself.
After the merchant left, he spun around on his right heel to turn around and he saw two of his "fellow merchants" standing in front of him.
"Oh! Quinn! Marvin! I didn't hear you two sneak up behind me!" The merchant smiled in relief.
His "fellow merchants's" faces were emotionless.
"Who was that you were speaking to just now?" The one named Quinn asked.
"Ah, just some kid who wanted to speak to Jhasso. Nothing to worry about. Why?" The merchant replied in a calm tone.
"He will come back," The one named Marvin stated, his stone expression unchanging.
"How do you know that?" The merchant asked.
"He will come back to see Jhasso," Quinn said in a monotone way.
"But we cannot allow him to see Jhasso," Marvin stated.
"And we cannot allow you to expose our operationssss," Quinn hissed.
"You will be copied and replaced," Marvin said.
The merchant cowered in fear when he saw Marvin shape-shift into his natural form. Upstairs, Imoen could hear the merchant scream. The merchants she is spying on, one of them the man with the red tunic turned to face the noise.
"Who was that?" The black haired man asked the man in the red tunic.
"It was nothing. Go back to work," The man wearing the red tunic said, which confused Imoen.
Someone screamed downstairs, but no one wants to check it out?
"I still don't understand why we are turning down a trading deal with miners from Vaasa! The Galena Mountains there are rich with iron and everything! With their help, we could give the Sword Coast a reprieve from the shortage of pure iron!" The black haired man exclaimed.
"Jhasso's orders. Just do your job and don't ask questions," The man in the red tunic said curtly.
Imoen was deeply confused. What in the world is going on here?
When the road was safe to walk across, Ralis walked across the road to reunite with Neera, Ajantis and Dorn.
"What did you learn?" Dorn asked Ralis.
"Shapeshifters have infiltrated the house. I haven't seen them yet, but this man told me that they are there. We gotta report to Scar about this. Come on," Ralis said.
"What about Imoen? She's still inside?" Ajantis asked.
"She can take care of herself for a while, we'll come back. The Flaming fist HQ is only several blocks away," Rallis assured him.
Later, at the Flaming Fist HQ, in Scar's office, Ralis, Dorn, Ajantis and Neera met up with Scar.
"I am glad to see you have returned. So what news do you bring me?" Scar asked Ralis.
"I got something very juicy for you to sink your teeth in Scar, but first, can I ask you a question?"
"Go on."
"Okay. Are the Flaming Fist mercenaries? I've heard many people keep saying that," Ralis said.
Scar banged his fist on his desk. "The Flaming Fist aren't mercenaries! They're this city's police force!" He retorted.
"Sorry. It was just a question," Ralis apologized.
"I apologize for my outburst. What have you learned?" Scar apologized then asked.
"Well, according to one of the merchants I met there, the Seven Suns have been infiltrated by some sort of shape shifting creatures. I don't know what kind of monsters they are, but the merchant I spoke to is fearful," Ralis explained.
"Shape shifters? Hmmm... This is more serious than I thought. Ralis, I must ask you and your group to do another favor. IF you were to return to the compound and kill this infestation of monsters, I would be willing to double your wage," Scar promised.
"Sounds good," Ralis nodded.
"I must thank you once again, you're doing a great service to this city, especially after defeating those carrion crawlers and ogre mage in the sewers a few days ago. Thank you for your help," Scar said.
"I figure I'm here for a good reason," Ralis said humbly.
"I like to look at it that way too. Good luck," Scar said, then Ralis and the others left to return to the Seven Suns merchant house.
A few minutes later, Ralis, Neera, Dorn and Ajantis stood near the front door.
"Okay, I'll go in first. you guys come in when I give the signal," Ralis said.
"What's the signal?" Neera asked him.
Ralis opened his mouth to start describing the signal, but instead, he closed his mouth and decided on something else.
"I'll whistle like a bird, okay?"
"Got it. May Helm protect you, Ralis," Ajantis said.
"Likewise," Ralis nodded before opening the door and stepping in.
There, he was greeted by the same merchant he spoke to before.
"So you have come to visit the Seven Suns, have you...? Yes, I've got your face now, but not your name..." The merchant said.
Ralis caught something that's off here. This is the same merchant he spoke to, but his manner of speaking is different.
"I'm Ralis, though I don't know why you're interested in my name all of a sudden," Ralis said.
"It is customary to know one's face and name, yes? So tell me, what can I do for you?" The merchant asked.
Something is definitely wrong here. This man should recognize Ralis, but he doesn't.
"Hello? Don't you recognize me sir? Or... are you a shape shifter?" Ralis said to the shape shifter in an accusation more than a question.
"It seems I have been unmasked... Come, my brothers, it seems that a feast has been set before us. Let us eat before it cools," The merchant said.
"What the hell?" Ralis frowned, confused at the "merchant's" words.
Then, before his eyes, the merchant's body began to melt a bit and change shape. The colors of his skin and shirt turned gray, and his body fat melted into a very thin figure. The creature that now stood before him is a doppelganger. Doppelgangers are monstrous humanoids that resemble those aliens you might have seen on UFO hunting shows nicknamed "Gray aliens". They may appear scrawny and weak in their normal form, but they are quite strong, agile and cunning creatures who have the ability to disguise themselves as the people they captured or killed. They are generally more neutral aligned than evil, but they are self-centered and likely to taunt or insult their victims as if they are evil. Doppelgangers are feared for their ability to assume the form of any humanoid creature they encounter. They are used as spies, infiltrators and assassins by many people all over Toril.
Ralis reached for his swords, grabbing the handles. He noticed something odd about Kondar when he touched its handle. Kondar feels warmer than Albruin for some reason, as if it has been inside a furnace for 10 seconds. Ralis drew his swords and the doppelganger closed in to melee attack Ralis with its sharp hands. Then another doppelganger in its normal form joined in the battle from one of the back rooms of this floor of the building.
"I'm not going down without a fight," Ralis said, holding his swords ready.
"It is useless to resist. SSSsssss..." One of the doppelgangers hissed.
"Wanna bet?" Ralis charged in at them, dodging a strike from one of the doppelgangers by swiftly ducking while moving forward and he used Kondar to slice the doppelganger's body as he dodged past it.
The severely injured doppelganger screamed an otherworldly scream that echoed throughout the building, possibly alerting the doppelgangers upstairs as the wound burned with severe intensity and blood leaked from it. The next Doppelganger charged at Ralis, but he finished it off by running Albruin through its chest, ending its life. Ralis then realized that for some reason, wounds inflicted by Kondar hurts the doppelgangers a lot more than Albruin does. Then he gave the signal, and Ajantis, Dorn and Neera came inside.
"We should split up, that way we'll cover more ground and not miss any doppelganger in any room. Neera, you're with me, we'll go upstairs. Dorn, Ajantis, you two split up and check every room down in this level," Ralis said.
"With Helm's blessing," Ajantis nodded and left.
"All right," Dorn nodded and left too.
"Come on, I bet the entire house is alerted by now," Ralis told Neera as they climbed upstairs.
As soon as they got upstairs, they saw a merchant coming towards them with a warm, inviting smile. Ralis touched Kondar's handle and felt it instantly warm up in his hand and knew this "merchant" is one of those doppelgangers. The doppelganger transformed into its natural form and rushed at Ralis hissing angrily. Ralis and Neera dodged aside separately and the doppelganger's sharp right hand cut the air between where they once stood, and the doppelganger attempted to attack Ralis because Neera doesn't seem much of a threat to it, and Ralis dodged and ducked the shapeshifter's melee attacks and then stabbed the creature in the heart with Kondar, ending its life.
"Let's go!" Ralis exclaimed to Neera the moment the doppelganger's body collapsed to the floor, and he and Neera ran down the hallway...
until a door to Ralis's left opened up and hit him in the head, causing him to stagger back in pain and drop his swords. Two doppelgangers in their true forms appeared from out of the room and advanced towards stunned and unarmed Ralis who is clutching his forehead in pain.
"It is the end for you, ape," One of the doppelgangers wheezed in its raspy voice.
"Not so fast! Eat this!" Neera exclaimed, casting Burning Hands spell on the two doppelgangers, flames billowed out from Neera's fingers and set them on fire.
They danced around, flailing their arms and screaming out in pain, constantly colliding into the hallway walls as the fire slowly burned away their scrawny bodies, filling the air with the scent of smoke and cooked flesh. Ralis recovered when his headache became less severe and he picked his swords up off the floor.
"Let's go! We gotta find Imoen!" Ralis exclaimed, picking up his swords, sheathing Albruin and taking Neera's hand and running down the hallway past the dying doppelgangers with Kondar in his other hand.
They found Imoen in the conference room fighting four more doppelgangers.
"Imoen!" Ralis called out.
"Ralis! Neera! Come join the party!" Imoen exclaimed before ducking to avoid being hit by a doppelganger's sharp hand, and slicing through a doppelganger's rib-cage, then kicking another in the chest.
Ralis joined Imoen, running towards the conference table, jumped at it, and thanks to his special boots enhancing his running speed, he slid across the table towards a doppelganger and ran Kondar's blade into its chest before it could attack. The doppelganger screamed, feeling intense, scorching pain from being stabbed by the searing hot blade seconds before it passed away. Now there are only two doppelgangers left.
"You call this a party? Where are the balloons?" Ralis joked at Imoen before parrying a melee attack from another doppelganger.
"Who needs balloons when ya got swords and daggers?" Imoen giggled before kicking the doppelganger she's fighting in the face, catching it off guard, then took a throwing knife off of her belt and threw it at the doppelganger, its blade lodged itself into the doppelganger's bulbous head and it collapsed dead like a marionette when its puppet strings are cut.
Ralis cut down the last doppelganger.
"Did we get them all?" Neera asked, scanning the room cautiously while holding her staff with both hands tightly.
"I think so. Let's go downstairs and help Dorn and Ajantis," Ralis nodded in agreement.
They reunited with Dorn and Ajantis down in the basement. They just defeated a greater doppelganger there.
"Hey guys," Ralis said.
He locked down and saw the greater doppelganger's corpse. There is a big gash on its back, a little too big to be from Ajantis's bastard sword. Greater doppelgangers are slightly more muscular than the normal kind.
"Wow. Who did the deed?" Ralis asked Dorn and Ajantis.
"The paladin was almost overpowered by the shape shifter. I delivered the killing blow," Dorn said.
"That thing is a little faster than the other ones!" Ajantis exclaimed.
Upon further examination of the greater doppelganger's body, Ralis saw jail cell keys attached to its waist.
He smirked. "Hmm. What do you bet those keys unlock?" he asked his allies.
Ralis, Ajantis, Dorn, Neera and Imoen were walking down the aisle of jail cells in the basement, looking for Jhasso. They found a human man in the 6th jail cell to the right. Because he has been imprisoned for a few months, his black facial hair has grown shaggy and unshaven.
When he heard Ralis's footsteps, he muttered wearily: "... Come to torment me some more, you shape shifting bastards? Well, you'll get naught from me this day, not a cry of pain nor the knowledge in my noggin. Get away from me, shape shifter scum."
"We aren't the shape shifters. We were sent by Scar to see what's been going on here at the Seven Suns. Who are you?" Ralis replied.
The man lifted his head up to look at Ralis and the others standing outside the jail cell bars.
"You know Scar? I'm Jhasso, a friend of his and the owner of the Seven Suns. You have to help me get out of here!" Jhasso said.
Before becoming the head merchant of the Seven Suns Trading Coster, Jhasso once owned a transport company sometime in the 1340's called Jhasso's Wagons. A few years later, he eventually partnered up with six other merchants, Dzunn of Sheirtalar, Shield of Everlund, Nammna of Milvarune, Pomphur of Almraiven, Chond of Calaunt and Alvundof Ormpetarr to create the Seven Suns Trading Coster, the "Seven Suns" referring to Jhasso and his partners instead of actual suns. The regional base here in Baldur's Gate was converted from Jhasso's old merchant company.
"Perfect! It's good that we found you. Now we can find out what's been going on here. so tell me, what has been going on here?" Ralis asked as he unlocked the jail cell with the key.
He opened the door and Jhasso stood up wearily, stretching his arms and bending his aching torso.
"These creatures, the shape shifters, started infiltrating the Seven Suns some months ago. They must have started with some of the less important members of my coster. Eventually they captured me, and their leader took my face. They've been keeping me alive in order to gain information that they need through torture," Jhasso exclaimed as he slowly walked out his jail cell as if he's trying to remember how to walk.
"What do they want?" Ralis asked.
"I don't know, but they have been running my business very poorly. Anyway, Scar will reward you all handsomely for rescuing me," Jhasso shook Ralis's hand, then Neera's, Imoen's and Ajantis, but when he offered to shake Dorn's hand, Dorn only looked down at Jhasso's hand.
Jhasso withdrew his hand, feeling embarrassed.
"Will you be all right?" Ralis asked him.
"Yes. I must be off now. There is much of the monsters' work to be undone. I assume you've cleared out the monsters all over the building, correct?" Jhasso replied.
"Yes, we took care of them all," Ajantis nodded.
"Good. I'll call the Flaming Fist to make sure there aren't any more left. It'll probably be weeks before we can clean out their stench," Jhasso said.
Several minutes later, Ralis, Imoen, Neera, Dorn and Ajantis were back in Scar's office in the Flaming Fist HQ.
"Back so so soon? How did your battle fare?" Scar asked Ralis.
"We did it, Scar. We got them all, and we saved Jhasso. He's putting the Seven Suns back in business," Ralis said.
Scar grinned.
"Good job! I'm impressed! Then again, I shouldn't be, but I still am! You've proven more than once that you are good as your word and obviously very deadly in your work. I'll give you the wage you deserve, triple our original agreement," Scar offered Ralis 6000 gold!
"Wow...!" Ralis gasped in surprise, placing the gold into his money bag.
"Now, I'm just going to finish up some paperwork. It'll take hours, so don't wait outside my office, you can leave. When you're ready to discuss the Iron Throne, just come back here," Scar said.
"Yes sir," Ralis nodded, then they left, leaving Scar alone to sign 40 stacks of paperwork.
Ralis, Imoen, Neera, Ajantis and Dorn returned to Elfsong Tavern to eat lunch with Khalid, Jaheira, Coran, Safana, Minsc, Dynaheir, Rasaad and Viconia. Dynaheir claimed that while Ralis was gone, she went to the nearest magic shop called Sorcerer's Sundries or something like that and bought a few scrolls to learn how to cast a few new spells, like Confusion, Lightning Bolt and Skull Trap. After eating dressing with cranberry sauce and corn, Ralis selected Dorn, Minsc, Dynaheir, Khalid and Jaheira back to the Faming Fist HQ to talk to Scar about what to do about the Iron Throne. The rest of Ralis's companions stayed at Elfsong.
"This city is a blight on this landscape. It would be much better if nature reclaimed everything," Jaheira said disdainfully.
Ralis forgotten how much Jaheira values nature over civilization. On the other side of the road, Ralis thought he saw two familiar faces. One familiar face of a grumpy halfling, and one of an intelligent but mentally insane human wizard.
"Is that who I think it is...?" Ralis muttered, signaling his group to stop walking as he stared at the human and halfling he believes he recognizes crossing the road towards him.
The halfling was the first to notice Ralis.
"Well I'll be a gorilla's nephew, look who it is!" Montaron exclaimed, nudging Xzar's right leg.
"What?" Xzar was confused at first until he turned his attention to Ralis.
"What?! Wow! Smile, everyone, smile! This is like some great fantasy," Xzar exclaimed in a childlike voice, the edges of his smiling mouth twitching.
"Montaron, Xzar. I didn't expect to see you two here," Ralis said.
"I'm surprised ye haven't got killed yet. Somethin' tells me ye ain't no ordinary goody goodie," Montaron declared.
"Ralis, you know them?" Dorn asked.
"Oh, these are my old travelling companions," Ralis replied.
"Old?! But I'm only 3 1/2 years old!" Xzar protested in his childish voice then giggled, darting his eyes left and right wildly.
"Cease yer mad prattle, mad wizard!" Montaron snapped at Xzar.
"But Mommy, I don't wanna be on time out!" Xzar protested.
Montaron grunted, but simply ignored him. "So, Ralis, what did ye learn about the iron crisis? The mad wizard and I ain't getting nowhere in our investigation."
"Yes, all we've heard are rumors about dragons with feet like rabbits," Xzar added in his normal voice this time.
Ralis and the others looked at Xzar like he's insane, which he is.
"I know of dragons with feet like rabbits. 'Tis true, I swear." Xzar defended himself.
Ralis decided to ignore Xzar's remarks and tell Montaron everything.
"We've figured out that the Iron Throne are behind this, that for some reason they are trying to provoke a war between the nation of Amn, and Baldur's Gate," Ralis said.
"What? Why?" Montaron wanted to know.
"I heard from a... drunk source who told me the names of the leaders of the Iron Throne, Rieltar, Brunos and Thaldorn, and that somehow the Iron Throne will profit from the war, make more money somehow. I also learned that Chill and Blacktalon mercenaries arrested by the Flaming Fist claimed allegiance to the Zhentarim to cover up the Iron Throne's involvement," Ralis replied.
Montaron rubbed his chin in thought, knowing that his superiors from the Zhentarim are going to have a field day with this information. The Zhentarim have been catching a lot of heat because they've been taking the blame of the iron crisis.
"So what are you and yer group plannin' on doing, breakin' in to the Iron Throne building?" Montaron asked Ralis.
"We might, we just gotta go see Scar first," Ralis smiled.
They returned to the Flaming Fist HQ to visit Scar once again.
"Hello again, Scar," Ralis greeted him.
"Hello, Ralis. I have another job for you and your group. This one involves a group you have dealt with in the past," Scar said, standing up off his chair, slowly walking away from his desk towards Ralis with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Let me guess... the Iron Throne?" Ralis knew what was next all along.
"Exactly. Duke Eltan himself wishes to speak to you about this," Scar said.
"This is interesting, having an audience with the Grand Duke," Ralis said.
"Follow me," Scar said, walking past Ralis, and Ralis followed him out of his office, and Khalid, Jaheira, Minsc, Dynaheir, Dorn, Montaron and Xzar followed them to the room where Duke Eltan plans on having a meeting with them.
The meeting would be held in a conference room, where a large opal shaped table lies in the middle of the room. From the opposite end of the room, a 48 year old physically fit man in copper colored armor and steel gray hair emerged from the next room ahead, one of the Grand Dukes of Baldur's Gate and founder of the Flaming Fist organization, Eltan himself. Born and raised in Baldur's Gate, Eltan spent most of his youth with his lover Moruene and best friend Scar himself. As the founder and leader of the Flaming Fist, Eltan, Scar and Moruene were involved in many ventures, like being hired by Sembia to fight the Grand Army of the Tuigan in the Hordelands, and helping the Golden Legion of Amn take down notorious pirate lord Akbet-Khrul. Eltan has seen many battles in his years, and Ralis could tell by simply looking into his eyes.
"Let me introduce you to the Grand Duke Eltan, one of the lords of the city, commander of the Flaming Fist, and member of the Lord's Alliance," Scar formally introduced Ralis to the impressive man in copper colored armor.
Eltan approached Ralis and shook his hand.
"I am glad to see that you have come," he said with a polite smile.
"A pleasure to be here, sir," Ralis nodded courteously.
"I know that such a meeting is unusual, but in these circumstances, it is necessary. I would first but ask what involvement you have had with the merchant society known as the Iron Throne?" Eltan continued.
"We've learned that they're involved in a plot that threatens the stability of your city," Ralis replied, deciding not to tell everything to Eltan at the spur of the moment, only details little by little.
Eltan nodded, crossing his arms.
"Yes. From what I've been told, you and your party have been quite a thorn in the side of the Iron Throne. I'm interested in you because of the obvious hatred they hold for you. Their recent activities have been brought to my attention, and I am very dubious about the intent of the Iron Throne. They've been operating in Baldur's Gate for a few years now, and we still don't know much about them. We don't know the identity of their leader or its backers. also, I heard that the Iron Throne has recently been banished from operating inside Cormyr. I can only wonder why. It's far too easy to blame the recent caravan raids and iron shortage on the Zhentarim. Though the evidence does point to them, they do not have much to profit while the Iron Throne has everything to gain," Eltan paused there for a few seconds and began pacing back and forth every three steps. "I have much to concern me right now, especially with tension rising between our city and the nation of Amn. Unfortunately my hands are tied. I can't act against the Iron Throne until I have hard evidence of their wrongdoing. That's, of course, where you come in. I need a small group of spies to break into the Iron Throne headquarters and see if they can find any proof of the Throne's involvement with the caravan raid. If you do this, you'll be paid extremely well, 2,000 gold to divide among yourselves. What is your answer?"
"We'd be honored," Ralis gave a nod.
Eltan smiled. "You have made a wise decision. It is a difficult mission that I give you, but I am sure that you have the wherewithal to make it through. Return and report to me once you feel you have enough information to use against the Iron Throne," He said.
"We'll be back in one piece," Ralis promised him.
"Come on, guys, let's move," Ralis commanded his group as they followed him out the room.
Not long after the meeting with Duke Eltan, Ralis and his party found themselves staring at the front door of the Iron Throne HQ. Ralis and his party together looked up at the towering building.
"So who wants to bet the evidence we're looking for is at the top floor of the building?" He asked his party.
No one replied.
"... Yeah, I know that's a no-brainer," Ralis admitted, putting his hands on his waist, looking up at the top floor of the building, and whistled in admiration at how tall it is.
Then they entered inside. They walked on top of a purple mat placed in front of the entrance. Ralis looked around. The ground floor of the building looked majestic, with teal colored marble floors that make your footsteps echo in the large quiet room as you walk across it, and the large Iron Throne emblem is embedded in the floor in the middle of the room. Ralis saw a merchant running their way.
"Get out! Out! Run for the hills! There be madness here and I can stand it no longer!" The black haired merchant exclaimed as he headed for Ralis and his party, and then the door.
"Madness, you say? In this much-lauded tower? I knew there would be malice here, but madness? Never," Ralis said to the merchant, wondering what spooked him in here.
The merchant, holding the door open before stepping out turned around and said: "Then clearly you know it not! Madness seethes here and amongst Sarevok's crazed acolytes it overflows. I'm a simple merchant after a pretty coin but I swear it isn't worth it to suffer this place so long."
Ralis reached into his pockets, pulling out some gold and approaching the merchant. "After a pretty coin, eh? Would 300 gold pieces be enough to make you stay a minute and tell me what you know about this tower?" Ralis asked him.
The merchant took the gold into his hands and slowly nodded at Ralis. "Aye, I guess, but I'll not be long about it. The alcolytes I mentioned, they stay with Thaldorn on the 5th floor. Six of them, there are, and their madness comes in pairs. Two priests, two mages, two hardened thugs. But there is something wrong about them."
"Wrong? What do you mean?" Ralis asked for clarification.
"If they were here for the simple joys of a pretty coin, I'd have no quarrel with them. But no, they would not deign to be so human." At this point, the merchant made his voice fall into a whisper to Ralis. "There is something more, some secret agenda and I know not what. Ack, even now I feel their pestilential eyes upon me. Your lucre can keep me here no longer, I'm afraid," The merchant then bolted out the door.
"Sarevok's acolytes? Sounds like a mean bunch. And six of them to kill!" Montaron grinned.
"These acolytes of Sarevok sound like worthy foes to face," Dorn noted.
"Let them come. Evil shall fall to the might of good when Boo scratches their eyes out, and I run my sword through them!" Minsc declared.
"Hang on a second guys. Sarevok's acolytes may be the toughest enemies we'll face so far. We might need a strategy to beat them," Ralis said.
"Want to hear my strategy? I say we carve their hearts out, shove it into their mouths, cut off their heads and kick them out a window!" Montaron grinned, holding his sharpened short sword ready.
"M-M-Must you always be so violent? I know violence is sometimes necessary but don't you ever get tired of being a cold blooded killer?" Khalid meekly asked Montaron.
He glared up at Khalid, pointing his sword at him. "Yer wit be as sharp as my blade! Do we exchange jabs, or will ye cease your prattle?!"
"N... never mind," Khalid sighed in defeat.
They headed for the two stairs up ahead. A guard in gray armor accosted them.
"Hey, who are you? you're not supposed to be here," He said.
"Don't worry, I've got a pass," Ralis said as he walked towards the guard.
The guard sighed, waiting for Ralis to show his pass, but instead, Ralis grabbed his dirk and stabbed the guard in the abdomen, twisting the blade left and right for a few seconds to make sure the blade pierced his armor and flesh thoroughly, then pulled it out, allowing the guard to drop dead on the marble floor. Montaron rubbed his chin.
"Effective. I may not kill ye after all," Montaron said, admiring Ralis's ruthlessness to his enemies.
On the 2nd floor, Ralis and his group met up with a guard, a human named Dra'tan. The man had no reason to suspect them to be intruders, especially since they were coming up the stairs casually as if they are visitors.
"Where do you think you folks are going?" He asked Ralis.
"Oh, uh, to the 5th floor. Sarevok asked us to deliver an important message to his acolytes," Ralis replied.
The guard shook his head. "Hmph. Better you lot than me. Working with that crowd can be downright creepy, some days," Dra'tan said uneasily.
"Creepy? How do you mean?" Ralis became curious.
Dra'tan looked around to make sure no one nearby is looking, then he said: "I've seen people go up there- with one face and- and come back down with another. I don't know how else to say it. I got a keen eye for faces, and I think them people going up and down know it too, 'cause one time one of them caught me looking at him and he winked right at me and the... and he changed the colors of his left eye, right as I was watching him! It started out chocolate brown, but then it went all quicksilver for a moment, like the mercury the mages play with, and then he was gone and out the door, laughing his high pitched laugh," Dra'tan explained.
Doppelgangers! There's no doubt about it. Ralis remembered the color of their eyes in their true forms. It is the same color as mercury. Doppelgangers truly are frightening and effective infiltrators.
"Who were those people?" Ralis asked him.
"Competition of the Iron Throne. Mostly members of the Seven Suns Trading Coster or the Merchants' League. They have both been attempting to negotiate a tentative peace between the different economic powers in the city. I fear it's not peace they are finding, however... at least not the type they come looking for. Something's going on upstairs and I'd rather not think about what it could be. I heard that Emissary Tar has an appointment with Sarevok's acolytes, but I sure don't want to be the one to come face to face with those creeps. I should go now," Dra'tan then left.
Ralis and his group proceeded to go up the next flight of stairs. The 3rd floor is mostly a banquet room, where the high ranking Iron Throne members dine formally and speak about important events and such. There are two 40 inches long rectangular tables covered in violet colored table blankets, wit candlesticks, empty champagne cups, plates, silverware, napkins, etc. and there are 14 chairs lined up around each table, 28 in total. There is also one small table in front of the longer two dining tables and 3 chairs, possibly reserved most likely for Rieltar, Brunos and Thaldorn. Ralis and the others continued upstairs. The 4th floor is half hotel for the merchants of the Iron Throne, and half library. The stairs to he 5th floor were on both sides of the bar. However, not a soul is here.
"We only got one more floor to go," Jaheira whispered.
"This battle is going to get really hairy," Xzar said.
"I know the most evil butts in this place is in the room above our heads," Minsc said looking up at the ceiling.
"It's time for a little bloodshed!" Montaron grinned.
"Wait! Hold on guys! If they are as strong as we think they are, we'll get obliterated!" Ralis exclaimed.
"Are you showing cowardice, Ralis?" Dorn raised an eyebrow.
"I knew it. The kid got cold feet already. Goodie goodies always make me sick," Montaron muttered.
"Two priests, two mages and two fighters vs 2 fighters, 1 ranger, 1 invoker, 1 blackguard, 1 rogue, 1 necromancer and 1 cleric... I don't know," Ralis said with uncertainty.
"But we outnumber the enemy, Ralis! The advantage is ours!" Minsc said enthusiastically.
"I know, but... we need a plan. Something that'll catch them off guard in case they prove too tough for us to handle... Dynaheir?"
"Thy wish my ear? I am listening," Dynaheir replied.
"What were those new spells you just purchased to learn from Sorcerous Sundries?" Ralis asked.
Dynaheir then explained her new spells to Ralis. He grinned. He got a plan.
"Okay, perfect. Now, here's what we'll do, guys..." Ralis said.
A few minutes later, only Ralis, Khalid, Montaron and Xzar walked upstairs to the 5th floor. upstairs, they found themselves in a room with a carved stone statue in Sarevok's image, and they saw Sarevok's acolytes speaking to a chubby woman. The one named Zhalimar Cloudwulfe, Sarevok's best and most trusted acolyte was the first to notice Ralis, Khalid, Montaron and Xzar watching them from near the stairs. Zhalimar is a male human with skin as dark as Dynaheir's, complete with piercing hazel eyes. He wears a helmet with short black and white striped horns protruding from the top, and judging by the color of his his trimmed mustache and beard, his hair color must be black, but because he wears a helmet, its hard to tell how long or short his hair is. He's roughly the same height as Ralis and he wears +2 silver plate mail armor with bright silver gauntlets and greaves, and is armed with a longbow and has a +2 longsword sheathed in its scabbard on the right side if his waist, signifying that Zhalimar is left handed.
"Halt, intruders!" Zhalimar exclaimed. "Fear my wrath, for it is great indeed! Who dares intrude upon our negotiations?" He demanded.
Ralis cleared his throat and said: "My name is Emissary Tar. I am here to negotiate an iron treaty with Thaldorn on behalf of the... Grand Dukes," he said, using his wit to try to lie his way through.
Zhalimar frowned. "How many Emissary Tars do we have now? Two? Fool, Ms. Tar stands right here with us and she was just leaving, weren't you my dear? Honestly, do you think that I'm born yesterday?" Zhalimar asked.
"Damn it. You got me. I'm not Emissary Tar. I'm Ralis," Ralis admitted.
Zhalimar raised an eyebrow, and so did his fellow acolytes.
"It's him, the guy Sarevok was talking about," The muscular blond man in plate mail armor named Gardush said to Zhalimar.
Zhalimar nodded and smiled in a way that exposes his teeth.
"Ah yes, Ralis Rutela. Sarevok mentioned you. He told us how you've been meddling in the Iron Throne's affairs at every turn. But I assure you, your life ends here, by our hands," Zhalimar said.
Ralis scoffed. "And who are you to say so? I've crushed all those before you!" He declared.
Zhalimar stopped smiling and snorted with derision. "Those before us were fools, as you are! Those before us were weak, as you are! Those before us were not Zhalimar, or Gardush, or Naaman, or Diyab, or Aasim, or Alai. Those before us are dead, as you will be," Zhalimar exclaimed as he drew his longsword out of its scabbard, pointing at himself and his allies as he said his name and theirs, then he pointed his sword at Ralis last. "So it has been decreed, so it shall be done. So orders Sarevok!" He exclaimed adamantly.
At that moment, "Emissary Tar" shape shifted into a doppelganger.
"Um, crap, I forgot there's someplace I have to be going. Bye now!" Ralis waved goodbye and ran back downstairs following Khalid, Montaron and Xzar.
"Aasim, Diyab, Tar, let's go after them! Gardush, Alai and Naaman, cut them off at the other stairway!" Zhalimar commanded.
The doppelganger who impersonated Tar and Aasim chased Ralis. Gardush, Alai and Naaman went down the stairs on the other side of the room. Zhalimar and Diyab followed Aasim and the doppelganger.
"Here they come!" Ralis exclaimed as he ran down the stairs to the 4th floor.
Xzar, Montaron and Khalid had already gone down the stiars to the 3rd floor. Dynaheir stood near the stiars, waiting for Ralis.
"Now!" Ralis yelled as he ran past Dynaheir, following Dorn, Montaron, Xzar, Khalid, Jaheira and Minsc down to the 3rd floor.
Dynaheir chanted the command words which placed a metallic skull made in front of the staircase, levitating 5 feet above the floor, then she ran downstairs after her companions. Aasim and the doppelganger rushed downstairs to try to catch up with Ralis and his companions, but they never noticed the floating skull until it was too late.
"Aaah!" Aasim cried out when he saw the floating skull at the last minute when he and the doppelganger approached too close to it.
Then the skull exploded, sending shrapnel of metal flying all over the place, even into Aasim and the doppelganger's bodies, roughly tearing into their flesh and damaging their lungs and heart, causing them to get picked up off their feet and tumble down the stairs in ways that would give them a head concussion if they were still alive. Zhalimar and Diyab rushed downstairs to see that Aasim and the doppelganger were at the end of the stairs, dead and lying on top of each other.
"Aagh! No!" Zhalimar cursed, wanting to pull his helmet off and slam it to the ground.
"This can't be happening!" Diyab smacked his left hand on his forehead.
They got downstairs and saw that on the other side of the room, Gardush, Alai and Naaman have reached the end of their stairs, but none of them are harmed.
"Aasim and Tar are dead!" Zhalimar called out to them.
"Blast! We'll make them pay!" Alai snarled.
"They couldn't have gotten far, but be careful!" Gardush warned his companions.
Meanwhile downstairs, Ralis and the others were preparing to make thier stand there.
"Flip the tables over, that way we'll have cover from arrows!" Ralis commanded.
Dorn Minsc and Dynaheir filled over the table on one side, causing the plates, silverware and champagne cups to shatter on the floor, and so did Xzar, Khalid, Jaheira and Montaron to the other table on the left side of the room. Then they ducked behind their tables, waiting for Zhalimar and his surviving fellow acolytes to show up. In a matter of seconds, Zhalimar came jumping down the stairs with Diyab at his side, firing arrows at Ralis, Dorn and Minsc who are hiding behind their table suppressing them while Diyab began chanting a spell to cast on them. Gardush, Alai and Naaman came down the other set of stairs, but Montaron had something special set up. He laid out a trap for them, and Naaman tripped the wire, and he ended up getting blasted in the chest by three magic missiles, which startled Gardush and Alai.
"Naaman! No! The bastards!" Alai exclaimed as he saw Naaman's lifeless body fall face flat on the marble floor.
"Hrrraah!" Gardush came charging at the spot where Xzar, Montaron, Khalid and Jaheira are hiding with his two handed sword +2, and Montaron, Khalid and Jaheira engaged Gardush in melee combat.
"Move!" Dynaheir yelled when she heard Dyab chant the final command word of his spell, and she and Minsc, Dorn and Ralis rolled away just in time.
A pillar of roaring fire nearly scorched Ralis where he was once crouched!
"Oh gods!" Ralis gasped, noticing how close he came to getting fried.
When the pillar of fire evaporated, some parts of the table's blanket caught sparks of fire, but nothing serious. Sweating from being so close to the pillar of fire, Ralis popped up from behind the table, took aim at Diyab and fired, but missed, only hitting the window. Zhalimar immediately fired his arrow at Ralis and the arrow hit Ralis in the shoulder.
"Agh!" Ralis cried out and ducked back into cover.
"Are you all right, Ralis?!" Dynaheir exclaimed as Minsc kept firing his own arrows at Diyab and dodging Zhalimar's arrows to ensure he doesn't get an open window to cast a more dangerous spell like that.
"I'm hurt, but it's not serious..." Ralis muttered, wincing from the pain.
"Let me try to pull it out," Dynaheir said.
She attempted to pull the arrow out of Ralis's shoulder. The arrow punctured Ralis's armor deep enough to embed itself into the flesh of his shoulder. Dorn, who has worked himself into a rage popped up from behind the overturned table and charged at Zhalimar with his sword ready to cut them down.
Zhalimar gasped. He dodged Dorn's sword because he never had time to draw his longsword. Dorn then shifted his attention to Diyab who is as quickly as possible trying to finish chanting the command words and doing the arm gestures to cast a devastating lightning bolt at Dorn, but Dorn was too quick for him. He sliced off Diyab's arms and then his torso before he could cry out in pain from having his arms cut off. Diyab's dismembered torso jumped a few feet in the air after being severed from his lower body by Dorn's sword, raining blood on Dorn's face as it hovered in the air for a second, then collapsed to the ground.
After Dynaheir pulled out the arrow from Ralis's shoulder, Ralis used his special power to heal his minor wound. After he healed himself, he stood up, drew his swords kondar and Albruin and engaged Zhalimar in melee combat before Dorn could do it first, but he still helped Ralis out. Alai managed to duck, dodging Xzar's Acid Arrow then he casted a Slow spell on Khalid, causing his movements to move in slow motion. Jaheira noticed this and became more aggressive in attacking Gardush with Montaron and Minsc, putting him completely on the defense so he won't deliver a fatal blow to Khalid. Dynaheir responded to this by casting Slow on Gardush as well. Before Gardush knew it, Montaron, Jaheira and Minsc's attacks came at a faster rate and he was too slow to parry those strikes.
They soon brought him down. Xzar managed to kill Alai by casting sending another Acid Arrow spell at him, The arrow pierced his mage clothing, puncturing his right lung. He cried out in pain and desperately gasped for air in the last seconds of his life before he collapsed dead. Zhalimar Cloudwulfe, the last of Sarevok's living acolytes stood no chance against Ralis and Dorn. He couldn't parry Kondar and Albruin and Dorn's sword every second, it made his arms increasingly ache more and more trying to protect himself from three swords, but he refused to give up, even to the bitter end. Dorn's sword eventually broke Zhalimar's sword, then he and Ralis finished off Zhalimar. Ralis slashed his legs off at the same time Dorn sliced his head off.
Ralis wiped the sweat off his face after sheathing his swords.
"That wasn't so hard," He said.
"There's never a dull moment traveling with you, Ralis. You have more enemies than I do," Dorn said with a faint smile.
"Yeah. It's a thrill, isn't it?" Ralis smiled at Dorn.
Then he knelt down, checked Zhalimar's pockets and found a note. It says:
"I have a task for you and those you have selected. You, the first of the faithful, are to stand ground in my stead. Be assured that I would not belittle your devotion with simple guard duty. This chore is of particular interest to me, and thus to you. Ralis has become a thorn in my side, I wish it removed. Do so, and you shall please me greatly. Such is your charge. Do not fail in this.
Sarevok"
"Well, Sarevok, they failed. Haha!" Ralis laughed triumphantly as he folded the letter and placed it in his scroll container in his inventory bag.
Ralis and his companions returned to the 5th floor. They headed down a narrow corridor with three bedroom entrances, which are likely the bedrooms of Rieltar, Brunos and Thaldorn. Ralis saw Thandorn in his bedroom reading report papers at his desk.
"Guard the room," Ralis told his companions and he stepped into Thandorn's room.
Thaldorn is a 46 year old human. He has short dirty blonde hair, a short, trimmed beard, no mustache, cerulean colored eyes, high cheekbones and 6 feet tall. Ralis cleared his throat to get Thaldorn's attention from his paperwork.
"What are you doing here?! Get out of this building before I call the guards!" He exclaimed.
"Can't do that. You might have something I need," Ralis said casually.
Thaldorn frowned, wondering what the heck Ralis wants. Then a grim idea came to him.
"You're here to kill me aren't you? You can't kill me! Do you know who I am? I'm Thaldorn, one of the leaders of the Iron Throne!" He exclaimed, rising out of his chair as if he isn't afraid of Ralis, but he could see that deep down, Thaldorn is almost as scared as a rabbit would be when facing a cobra.
His poor tough guy act is a bluff.
"I thought so," Ralis nodded.
He approached Thaldorn and grabbed him by the neck, glaring into his eyes.
"Where can we find the documents that will implicate your organization for its involvement with the bandit raids and iron shortage? Tell us or die," Ralis hissed.
"P-P-Please don't hurt me! You can find everything you need with Rieltar, he's the true leader of the operation. He always carries everything on his person, but he's not here. He and Brunos left to Candlekeep a day ago. Are you still going to kill me?" Thaldorn whimpered.
Ralis released his grip on Thaldorn's neck, then after a few seconds of staring blankly at his sweating face, Ralis started laughing. Thaldorn was confused at first, but then he reluctantly joined Ralis laughing, believing it's Ralis's way of saying "Now why would you think I would kill you?"
Ralis crossed his right arm behind his back, and quietly activated Ghoul Touch, making his hand glow red.
"Hahahaha... No. No, Thaldorn, of course I won't kill you. ... I'll make you suffer," Ralis's cheerful expression immediately changed into an enraged scowl when he said that last sentence, touching Thaldorn in the left shoulder with his right hand, and the Ghoul Touch spell kicked in, paralyzing Thaldorn.
Now he can't run away. Even if he could, Ralis's companions are guarding the door, watching Ralis interrogate Thaldorn... Or so it seemed.
"What... you said I was free!" Thaldorn exclaimed, struggling to move, but to no avail.
"Now what made you think I was telling the truth?" Ralis asked Thaldorn as he slowly walked around him.
"Do the bandits and brigands you and Rieltar and Brunos hire show mercy to the innocent people you had them harm for their iron? I didn't think so. So why should I show mercy to any of you? What goes around comes around, and it is coming around to hit you harder than you imagine," Ralis said pensively with a subtle mix of rage inside.
"Noooo...! Please don't do this! I haven't murdered anyone!" Thaldorn cried.
Ralis noticed a war axe hanging on the wall as decoration. He walked towards it and grabbed it.
"You didn't commit your crimes personally, but the blood is on your hands. The bandits and brigands you hire are like arrows. An arrow doesn't know the difference between good and evil, only the person who is in control of the bow knows. You, Rieltar and Brunos were in full control of the bow, and therefore knew exactly what you were doing," Ralis accused Thaldorn as he came back near him with the war ax.
Thaldorn cried like a baby. "Please, just give me another chance...!"
Ralis's rage grew bigger. "Do you expect me to fall for that crap?! I know how you bastards think. You take advantage of kindness and mercy to stab the person who gave you a second chance in the back. Well, not me. It's time to pay the price!" He growled.
He prepared to swing the war ax... And cut off Thaldorn's legs!
"AAAGGHH!" Thaldorn wailed in pain as he collapsed to the ground.
Now free from paralysis, he tried to crawl away from the enraged young human. Ralis's companions watched the scene play out. Khalid, Dynaheir, Minsc and Xzar were horrified, and Montaron and Dorn were amused.
"No...! Please...! No...!" Thaldorn cried as tears leaked from his eyes and snot from his nose as he tried to crawl away from Ralis towards his companions for help.
Ralis looked down at Thaldorn with disgust and hate in his eyes. It's pitiful how this man who is one of the leaders of the Iron throne, who played a part in the massacre of so many people who didn't deserve to die is now begging for forgiveness. It's disgusting. Thaldorn sobbed as he kept trying to crawl away from Ralis. Then, Ralis raised the war ax high in the air, and with a shout of rage, he brought the blade down on Thaldorn's head, splitting it in half like a watermelon and splintering the floor as well! After 7 seconds of breathing heavily, Ralis let go of the war axe's handle and looked at what he had done. He cut off Thaldorn's legs, and split his head in two!
A pool of blood formed around Thaldorn's broken corpse. Ralis looked up at his companions. Everyone except Dorn were surprised at what Ralis has done. They've never seen Ralis get so ruthless before!
Xzar looked so traumatized, he began muttering something, saying: "Bhaal strikes unerringly, and his dagger causes the area wounded to wither..."
Montaron looked up at Xzar. "What the hell are ye talking about, ye mad wizard?!" He exclaimed.
Then he turned his attention to Ralis. "Ye got a mean streak for a goody goody. But if it were me, I would rip his spine out first, then cut off his legs, then split his head in two!" He said to Ralis.
"Hrmmm." Was all Dorn said.
"Cover your eyes Boo! Ralis is the meanest evil butt kicker I have ever seen!" Minsc declared.
"Let's go to Rieltar's room. He might have something worth looking at," Ralis said.
Later, Ralis pulled open a side table drawer near Rieltar's bed. He found two letters inside the drawer. He picked them up and read the first one:
"Father,
I received your letter, and I can assure you that the mercenaries led by Ralis will no longer trouble our operations. I have dealt with them personally. Before dying, they were most forthcoming in their revelations. It is as you had surmised: They were agents of the Zhentarim. I am also writing to tell you that I cannot attend the meeting at Candlekeep. some problems have arisen with the Chill and the Blacktalons. They have have trouble working with each other, and I am needed there to smooth over any dissension. I am sorry that I will not be at your side.
Sarevok"
The second letter says:
"Rieltar,
My superiors are intrigued by your proposal. I would like to discuss it further, but not through correspondence such as this. The Harpers and Zhents have been very active in this region as of late; it would be very unfortunate if they tried to disrupt an alliance between our two organizations. If you, Brunos and Thaldorn were to meet with us in the safety of Candlekeep, my superiors would be much relieved. Please send a response ASAP.
Tuth"
Minutes later, Ralis and his companions... ALL of them, returned to Duke Eltan in the Flaming Fist HQ.
"I am glad to have you back, Ralis. So, what have you learned so far?" He asked.
"Not much, but we know that any incriminating evidence would be found with Rieltar, the overall leader of the Iron Throne in Baldur's Gate. He's currently supposed to be at Candlekeep on some sort of business," Ralis told Eltan.
"Then there is only one thing to do: Travel to Candlekeep and learn what they're doing there. Whatever it is, it can't bode well for the fortunes of this city," Eltan said.
Then he walked over to a shelf of books, grabbed one and returned to Ralis.
"Take this book. Without it, the Keeper of the gate won't allow you entrance into the library. Here also is the reward money that I had promised you," Eltan gave Ralis the gold.
"Thank you, sir," Ralis nodded.
"Now, I can commission some of my men to transport you and your companions to Candlekeep, if you like," Eltan offered.
"That's fine, but send some of my companions to Friendly Arm Inn. I don't want to bring everyone with me, it'll draw a lot of unwanted attention to myself," Ralis said.
Eltan nodded. "Very well, I'll have two transports waiting for you and your companions outside," he promised.
Mintues later, Ralis and his companions left Baldur's Gate, transported by wagons pulled by horses, driven by a few Flaming Fist mercenaries. Ralis, Imoen, Neera, Khalid, Jaheira, Viconia and Dorn were riding in the wagon ahead of the wagon that carried Ajantis, Rasaad, Coran, Safana, Minsc and Dynaheir. Montaron and Xzar went their separate way once again. Ralis looked out the window of the wagon at the wildlife passing by. He should be ecstatic that he is returning to his old home, but knowing that such evil men like Rieltar and Brunos are defiling his home with their evil aura disturbed him, and he wished the circumstances of returning to Candlekeep would be different. Nevertheless, he can't wait to see old faces that he hasn't seen in nearly a month... Jondalar... Erik... Dreppin... Hull... Fuller... Karan... Winthrop... Phlydia... Parda... And last and least, Reevor. He can't wait to see them all again.