Return of the Bhaalspawn

I travelled overnight reaching Beregost as the shops opened, Black Shadow Armour was the objective. It's black, it's leather, there are no downsides to this decision and it being magical, Alan or Ayla both looked pretty damn good wearing it. In fact looking in the mirror as it was fitted, have to say "Alan" was eminently fanciable. Now that was a weird perspective, slightly disturbing, no not slightly, totally mind blowing and something which I put aside to consider...when I had more time...and some privacy.

After breakfast I carried on south hanging to the east of the Lion's Way. Of course there were things to kill and people to help. At one point I saved a cow, probably not the greatest feat ever recorded, but the cow was just so helpless it gave a warm glow fighting off the "farts" who were attacking her. I killed a billion ogres and assorted monsters who go "arrggh" and always attack even when they can quite clearly see they are going to come off worst. Quite what so many are doing hanging around in groups with no discernible settlements or means of production I never got a chance to ask before being attacked. No women monsters either, perhaps it's the local hangout of the YMCA? One small group demanded I give them my "iron", how about "no, die scum?".

Ever southwards, I skirted Durlag's Tower. Shame I won't get to explore the rest of it, maybe one day in the future. I killed various groups of wolves, nowadays I chunk them up quite easily compared to having to down an oil of speed and running like crazy to keep out of their way while shooting them with arrows. I wandered through the valley of death and feared no evil. Not strictly true, I gave the ominious cave mouths a wide berth, especially after meeting a distraught man who was being hunted by some kind of ghost because he had taken his dagger. He asked me to give it back for him, not quite sure why he didn't do it himself as the revenant was perfectly reasonable and just died politely.

Further on I met a woman who asked me to take her ill companion to the Friendly Arm Inn, I had just came from there it's miles away. Talk about relying on the kindness of strangers. I refused but gave her some potions to help her injured companion out, and she gave me a ring of fire protection in return. And I didn't turn them into the FF Guard hunting for the injured companion, Samuel. I know what it's like to be hunted. I decided to cut across to Nashkel and stock up before heading over the Cloud Peaks and further into Amn.

After a night in Nashkel in a private room, (hmm, definitely faster, more straightforward and rather draining, no wonder men fall asleep so fast after, just when you fancy a chat and something to eat), it was down past the mines and the eyeless face in the cliff. Now I was really on my way, unknown territory. Marching along, whistling a merry tune (not really but trying hard here to set the scene), minding my own business, when I was accosted by a group of women, (bloody ugly women at that). And although I was Alan at the time, told them, "their clothes were attrocious" when they catcalled me. Ooops, way to blow my cover.

They demanded my name and I didn't get the impression that it was so they could get the autograph of one of the "Heroes of Nashkell".

I said, mind your own business,

They said, no matter we know who you are,

I said, then why ask,

They said, it's not personal we have to kill you,

I said, why,

They said, because it's how we earn our money,

I said, hadn't they thought about getting some qualifications and breaking that glass ceiling,

They said, look at the corporate world and how the patriarchy was holding them back,

I said, that's just an excuse,

They said, now you're just mansplaining,

I said, but you just identified me as a woman,

They said, you're a hostage to the patriarchy you even dress like one,

I said, they were being insulting by their innability to accept my right to be considered male or female as I choose and that gender is fluid,

and They said,

"NOT AS FLUID AS YOU ARE GOING TO BE AFTER WE HAVE FINISHED WITH YOU."

Meanwhile, I had sorted my potions, so tossed an oil of fiery burning at them and promptly disappeared.

Then it was just a matter of picking them off one by one, arrows of biting stopping the spell casters giving any problems, arrows of fire to cause elemental damage, another burning oil to keep their attention. The invisible backstabber couldn't do much damage through my armour, I knew it was a good investment. Finally there was just one left, slowly being poisoned by an arrow. I dangled the antidote just out of her reach as she rolled around on the floor in agony.

"Tell me who sent you after me and how did you recognise me".

"It was the Iron Throne and they have spies planted throughout the sword coast"

"Why are the Iron Throne after me?"

"You destroyed their plans to build an iron monopoly and took down the bandits"

"I was forced into that, they attacked first"

"They don't care, one of the heads of the Iron Throne has it in for you personally"

"Why"

"I don't know, they have other groups like us hunting you, and he won't stop"

"Who is "he"?

"I don't know the name but he's mad, quite mad"

"What does he look like"

"Tall, very tall and has golden eyes"

As she drank the antidote I stabbed her through the heart. I could feel a great blinding rage rising up within me. This was the same man who had killed Gorion I was sure, who had sent bounty hunters after me, who was now sending professional groups to hunt me down. Even if I didn't know the "why", one thing was sure. This wasn't going to stop until I stopped it, running away was not going to work.

I picked through their stuff taking the best pieces to sell, and turned back towards the north. Athkatla would have to wait.