Which One Is More Trustworthy?
Joneleth. Irenicus, the Shattered One. The man, once an elf, greeted Peri and the shivering Imoen again, a leathery mask in the place of his face, his blue eyes so cold and unemotional. Still his voice was so cultured, crisp and intelligent, chillingly pleasant.
- "How fitting that we meet again, child of Bhaal, deep in the bowels of the Abyss," he said, observing.
- "Irenicus. Hm, killing Sarevok has proved to be only a minor hindrance for him turning up so I suppose this is not very surprising," Peri said, arching her eyebrow and waiting.
- "This is the Irenicus I have heard so much talk about?" Sarevok said incredulously. Her sisters had suffered tremendously in the hands of this madman, and it stirred his hatred and contempt, his emotions once again getting out of control before he could think if expressing them was beneficial. "Here I thought I would meet someone truly epic, and not yet another wizard."
- "Oh, it's you," Irenicus said in a bored voice. "I discarded you as a potential soul donor long before you lost your divinity out of the fear that a too close contact with your pathetic soul would damage my brain and credibility. After Peri so soundly defeated you - twice - I cannot imagine what you are even doing here."
- "Yet had I had her completely in my power not once but twice, I certainly would have not let her escape," Sarevok retorted. "But then, I imagine you were too busy invading mental asylums and making vampires out of thieves for absolutely no reason."
- "Better that than your pathetic plan to conquer the Sword Coast by defiling iron! But ah well, if a once-been wants to ride hanging from Peri's coattails it makes absolutely no difference to me - what dull fangs you once possessed have been pulled long since. Bark all you wish, mongrel."
- "Barking hounds also bite," Sarevok growled and lunged at the mage, when Peri pulled him back.
- "Keep that ego down for a sec, if you will, bro," she said. "So Irenicus, what did Melissan promise you? Why would you fight for her?"
- "What did you think she promised to me, little one? Something only a goddess can provide. A soul. As you will recall, my former lover took mine away, and I still don't have one. With the kind of power she has, she can do that."
- "That is right, Irenicus! Remember how she robbed you of your victory! How she refused to cooperate!" Melissan goaded.
- "I doubt many would willingly cooperate under the circumstances," Peri said dryly.
- "No, priestess of Bhaal!" Keldorn suddenly shouted. "Even you should have a modicum of honor! Do not try to motivate the former enemy of Peri's by fueling his anger! He should be allowed to decide rationally by himself!"
Peri gaped at Keldorn, her eyes large. He hadn't said anything that paladinish in ages, and he really should know that Melissan couldn't care about such sentiments.
Indeed, the woman was gleeful and infuriated at the same time.
- "Idiot paladin! I do what I wish! I am a goddess! I will live forever! Right, Irenicus! Think about it! Think how she humiliated you! You, who are of the ancient Suldanesselar! Crush her!"
Peri started to smile, realising what Keldorn was doing.
- "Yes, Irenicus. You want a soul, and you really don't give a damn who gives it to you, correct? What she rants about makes you no difference, as you can't really feel anything but frustration and emptiness. What if I win? I will control the essence then. Join me and I will use the essence to give you a soul."
- "How could I trust you?" Irenicus asked.
- "Well. Which one is most trustworthy, Melissan or me? After all, my dear divine daddy trusted her with the secrets of his resurrection, but she dumped him like a dungheap and intends to take the essence herself. I am just a devil-may-care sword for hire, and I want to go on adventuring. I have no reason to betray you."
- "Don't listen to her! She hates you! She seeks revenge!" Melissan shouted, now considerably less smug than she had been before.
- "Do you?" Irenicus asked, his intelligent, cold eyes staring straight into Peri's.
Peri hesitated for a moment.
- "I... I would have. But I have learned things about revenge, and second chances. What has been done, has been done, and perhaps you would have done differently if you had your soul." She was calculating rapidly. She felt bound by the promise, and any kind of revenge felt unimportant now. She wanted to survive the fight, she wanted her friends and family safe to continue their lives, and if Irenicus got a soul and a new life in the process, it really didn't bother her.
- "I... you speak the truth. I have little to lose either way, as your brother will attest. I will join you instead of Amelyssan," Irenicus said.
Melissan's face twisted in rage, and she screeched.
- "All right then! Perhaps I will use you instead, Imoen!"
- "What do you mean, psycho? I will never help you, are you out of your mind?" Imoen answered.
- "Oh, but you will, sweet, little Imoen. Come, become the dark murderer. Come, little one, I call your soul..." her voice was low now, so mean.
- "No! NOOOOO! Nobody touches my soul, not again!" Imoen screamed, her words echoing twice as bad in Sarevok's and Peri's soul as Irenicus had just joined their side.
Imoen was in anguish, gasping and weeping, and started to deform, her body transforming into hideous humanoid without skin.
