He Is a Better Man Than You Are
- "... Elminster this, Elminster that... give me a thousand years and a pointy hat and I'll kick his arse!" Edwin mumbled, barely able to control his shaken nerves.
- "I agree, he was quite annoying," Peri nodded. "But at least he had some semi-useful information. Though..."
She was quiet for a moment and started to mimic Elminster's sage-voice.
- "'Have you any idea what kind of havoc you Bhaalspawn, and you personally, have caused in all Faerun?' Well, DUH! Saradush and that business with Tethyrian and Amnish army was kind of a hint."
- "I always got the feeling that he tries to be a wise and kind and playful old sage like Gorion is, but he just really isn't," Imoen said. Peri nodded to that.
- "Besides, you can't kick his arse just yet, Edwin," Sarade pointed out.
- "Oh, and perhaps you would like me to offer my uncomparable erotic pleasures to Mystra so that she would give me similar powers instead of relying on my own nearly limitless brain capasity and arcane prowess?" Edwin retorted, indignant.
Sarade hid a smile.
- "No, I wouldn't. You know that. I almost pity all those concubines who now have to do without your erotic onslaughts," she said gently, and the wizard's face softened.
- "Who was that Saemon fellow anyway?" asked Sarevok, frowning.
- "Trust me, you really don't want to know," Peri sighed. "He is a... pirate, thief, mercenary and con artist, and has betrayed me every time I have encountered him. And still I kind of like him. Now I wouldn't trust him with my old rusty cursed dagger, but he is just so endearingly guilt-free, so pleased with what he is... it is hard to explain."
Saemon Havarian, as Elminster the sage had pointed out to Peri before the party had entered Amkethran, had helped them enter Balthazar's massively defended monastery under a disguise. Of course, he had sold them out to a group guarding a backdoor entrance, but hadn't drugged them as he had promised to do. Peri supposed that she was supposed to be grateful.
- "It seems that the battle went undetected, but we'd still better hurry. We need to reach Balthazar and hope that he is reasonable."
- "I really don't like this," Sarevok said. "I have a very bad feeling about that man, because I can't figure him out. Those others, they were like I was when I was... mad. Power, power, power, and anything can't stand between you and it. Everyone else, just a tool. But he is after something different."
Keldorn nodded.
- "What is puzzling is that he emanates some sort of purpose and altruism like many especially worthy paladins I have met. But... he lets these people starve, neglects the monastery's age-old duties..."
- "Minsc doesn't like this. Where is the buttock of evil in need of the bootprint of justice?"
- "That's what we all are trying to figure out, Minsc," Peri sighed.
They sneaked into the monastery. It was bare and ascetic, and they were able to move without attracting attention, as they were still wearing the robes of the brotherhood. They found Balthazar's throne room, if it could be called such, with ease. Nothing gaudy or gilded, just a simple, large room with a wooden chair and a table. Balthazar, unlike the few monks they had encountered, recognized them immediately.
- "So you have arrived, Peri. You and your followers."
- "(Another monkey talented in the all too common art of stating the obvious.)" Edwin wasn't impressed.
- "So I have. It seems that all the other Bhaalspawn are dead now. It is just me and you, and the tiny stream of Imoen's. You want a battle of titans? To the victor the spoils?" Peri said, unsmiling.
- "Not quite like that," the man answered. His eyes were gleaming like the eyes of one who has a purpose, and whom nothing can persuade to change his course. Kind of like Wisnki, in the end, Sarevok found himself thinking and shuddered. "Melissan has been the puppetmaster pulling your strings in this staged production. You have played the game exactly like she intended to."
- "Pardon me if I don't gasp in deep surprise," Peri said dryly. "I never bought her act to begin with. So are you going to spill the beans then? For some reason unknown to me Melissan wants you to be the one to ascend and now I have killed the competition in lack of opportunities?"
- "I joined The Five, true... Melissan lured me with promises of power and riches. But my motives are far more altruistic, though I pretended to be impressed with her promises. Bhaal's evil must never be resurrected to the face of the Realms. I will see to it that everyone carrying his evil in his veins is dead, until I alone remain."
- "How presumptuous of you!" Keldorn exclaimed. "You think that you alone would be above reproach to the extent that you could resist the innate evil of the taint and use it as a force of good!"
- "Oh no, dear faithful of Torm. When I am sure that I am the last one, I will commit a ritual suicide. Then there is no chance that Bhaal will ever again plague this plane with his foulness."
- "And you would kill Imoen as well? The sweetest and nicest person there is, just because she has some Bhaal blood in her system?" Peri asked, starting to pale.
- "Regrettably, yes," Balthazar answered.
- "You are not big on freedom of choice, are you," Peri snarled. "You think you are good because you are willing to kill yourself and give up the godhood? Never mind slaughtering anyone who disagrees, never mind that you have helped Bhaal in his goals far more than Sarevok or any of the so called 'evil' children of his!"
- "I must bear this burden because I am not willing to be a god. It should be telling what kind of person wants to be a god. Irenicus. Sarevok. Better that I bear the responsibility."
Peri stepped ahead, pale, the familiar murder shining in her eyes. She grabbed the monk at his collar.
- "You speak Sarevok's name as if he was some kind of filth beneath you. Let me tell you, he is a better man than you are! He would give his own hard-won life back for Imoen, and would never be as presumptuous as you are."
- "This just proves my point. There is no freedom of choice - all spawn of Bhaal are evil by nature."
- "FINE!"
Peri drew her blade and slashed at Balthazar. But the monk evaded the slash easily, leaving her wide-eyed.
The battle was long and hard. The group was unaccustomed to battling monks with the mysterious techniques brought from Kara-Tur. Fortunately Sarevok remembered some of the tricks Tamoko had taught him when they were so very young and loved both the sparring and the aftermath. Keldorn's ability to dispel illusions and invisibilities proved to be valuable again. Finally Balthazar and his guards were subdued, Balthazar still breathing uneasily.
Peri walked to him, regarding him with a mixture of hatred and respect.
- "I must acknowledge your courage. I will give you honorable death for that. But you must be the most presumptuous fool I have ever encountered."
And yet again she, who was not yet 22 years old, beheaded a man like she had done so many times before.
