Figures

Amazingly enough the mighty Abazigal proved to be easier to defeat than his son had been. The ice salamanders aiding him were a mere nuisance, and without the ability to turn invisible at will it was merely a question of hacking him down. The half-dragon snarled in rage in his death throes.

- "Damn you, puny human! But I'll spoil your victory... know that you have been but a tool, merely bringing Bhaal closer to his goal! Did you really think Melissan was a friend and a protector to you?"

No, I didn't, Peri thought dryly, but just listened. Sarevok was grinning beside her, guessing what she was thinking about.

- "She has been luring all you insignificant spawn of the Father against each other so that we remain. We, who matter. The Five..." his strength was starting to wane, and he could talk no more.

Sarevok regarded him almost gently.

- "Insignificant spawn, is it? How insignificant can you be, then, maggot, to be casually slain by us?" he smiled viciously and ended the life of the wyrm.

- "Get ready for another solar chat, sis," he said to Peri. "We'll collect the scales."

As Peri was pulled to the pocket plane, she mock-saluted the solar. Perhaps she should give the creature a break. Perhaps she was just as weary of this as she was herself.

- "That innocence thing stank. I suppose it is not your fault, but I hope it is something better this time," she said.

- "I believe you will find both the revelations and the challenge more worth your while, godschild," the solar answered. "Meet now the spirit of one slain by your hand."

She gestured, and Yaga-Shura emerged, no more emanating the Bhaal essence but still impressive in his massive build and feral, cunning posture.

- "What is this about? Why is Yaga-Shura disturbed?" the giant boomed, apparently very displeased.

- "You have been brought here to answer some questions to the one who slayed you," the solar answered.

- "Hmph. If that one slayed me, then I owe her nothing," the giant said, his eyes malevolent.

- "Regardless, you shall answer our questions about The Five," the solar stated in the presumptuous manner Peri found so irritating.

- "The Five..." Yaga-Shura's voice was pensive. "Yaga-Shura owes them all right. Very well. It was Melissan who created the Five, collected five of the Bhaalspawn among the most powerful of them. We were supposed to slay all the others and resurrect Bhaal, then act as demi-gods right under his rule. Har! Yaga-Shura thinks it was worth taking the chance!"

What is it with these guys and referring to themselves in third person, Peri thought wearily.

- "Yaga-Shura didn't trust the others, though," the giant continued. "Figured they'd turn against each other sooner or later. So I started the campaign of my own."

- "I suppose it would be too easy to assume that Bhaal is dead and buried now and I can just leave to do what I wish to do," Peri sighed.

- "Ha! That's right! If anything, you have only stirred Bhaal in his slumber," Yaga-Shura laughed. The solar waved her hand, and the giant vanished.

- "He is right. He is dead by your hand, as is Illasera. So is Sendai, and Abazigal too. That is four. Who has a strong Bhaal essence? You, certainly, but who else?" The solar kept looking at Peri as if it was a significantly difficult logical riddle.

- "Gee. Must be Balthazar."

- "Indeed. You must seek Balthazar again. I know he is not willing to talk to you, but you may have help from an unexpected source. You can not turn your back to your destiny, and the solution lies within Balthazar."

- "Solar? What is it with Balthazar? He isn't like those others. These are all ambitious megalomaniacs, but his agenda is different," Peri said, frowning, hoping that the solar would for once part from actually useful information.

- "That, unfortunately, is not for me to tell. Forces greater than I have a hand in this," the solar answered, some genuine regret in her voice.

- "Figures," Peri sighed. "Bye then. I suppose there is a challenge I must fight before I can continue my quest. I'm beginning to see a pattern, you know."

- "Commendable," the solar smiled. "You may actually find this particular challenge pretty interesting."

As the others emerged, Cespenar flapped to greet them enthusiastically. Then he wrinkled his nose.

- "Euuugh! What is bad smell? You've been killing dragons, maybe?"

- "Uh-huh," Sarevok said. "Could you perhaps make... how do you put it... a 'shiny one' of these scales?"

- "... smells bad... always must make shiny ones," Cespenar grumbled. "But Sarevok my best friend! Makes very very pretty shiny one for Sarevok, a blue one!"

- "Well, thank you Cespenar," Sarevok smiled. "Anything useful this time?"

- "Sort of. Sit down so that the shock won't make you faint, but Melissan wasn't a friend and protector after all. She had this coalition called The Five, and they sought to resurrect Bhaal, then act as demigods under his rule. We have offed all of them but Balthazar."

- "Yes. The secret pact the prophecies talk of. Is Balthazar the traitor then? Or Melissan? Bah, I imagine there's only one way to find out. In my time, it was not unusual to be approached by those who sought to play the Bhaalspawn against each other… I always… well, gutted them in a gruesome way as a warning. Perhaps she was one of them - that would make sense."