Peri's Flair for Diplomacy

- "What do you think people will say when they see us together?" Sarevok grinned at Peri.

- "Something along the lines of 'Raaagh! Purge this unholy abomination!', I'd wager," Winski said dryly.

- "Is goody-two-shoeses lady with us! Has all whitewhitewhite aura of goody!" Cespenar said.

- "I doubt that will stop any fanatics convinced of their righteousness," Jelena said ruefully. "But the power they know us to possess, and also emanating from us, might."

- "I am very tired of idiots who try to kill me or my friends because we exist," Peri said in a matter-of-fact tone. "If someone attacks us, I will kill them. It is that easy."

- "Do not say that, sister," Sarevok said. "That city suffered under my iron fist as well."

- "Oh bullshit!" Peri exclaimed. "What do you owe to any of those sycophants? They are cowardly opportunists, and they sucked up to you because they wanted to squeeze you for what you were worth and you to solve all their problems. Have you any idea how quickly they started screaming for your blood once your plans went awry?"

Sarevok nodded. He had all right. But he didn't feel the resentment he had felt at the time, and Peri seemed to feel still.

- "They are just people," he said.

- "That's right. And unfortunately I don't always have a very high opinion of people," Peri said grimly.

- "But I still would much prefer if there was no bloodshed," Sarevok said. "Promise me that you will try to avoid that."

- "I totally agree with Sarevok," Imoen said seriously, looking Peri into eyes.

- "Oh all right," Peri sighed.

They rode the bridge leading to Baldur's gate. A pair of horses in the lead, two muscular and predatory people riding them. A huge man with eyes shining like gold and amber, his head bald and shoulders wide. A woman with glossy veil of reddish-brown long hair, greyish-green alert eyes and full mouth. Followed by a lean, feline man clad in uniform black, his yellow eyes ancient. A woman wearing a simple, brown monk garb, her blue eyes gentle and wise. And most shocking of all, a brattish young girl with disarming grin and shockingly pink hair, an imp perched on her shoulder.

The folks walking the bridge swallowed in fear and made way. Peri recognized the attire of the guardsman, a footsoldier of the Flaming Fist. The young man seemed to shiver of horror, his eyes large, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously.

- "W-w-what's your business in the city?" he tried to ask nonchalantly.

- "Before you run to give your panicky report to your superiors, let me confirm what you see," Peri said imperiously. "Yes, it is I. Peri of Candlekeep, who once saved Baldur's Gate from a war and such. Yes, this is Sarevok, once known as Anchev, and he is my ally and beloved brother, traveling with me now. We have business in the Undercity of Baldur's Gate. What exactly it is is no concern of yours. We do not care about this city and will not harm it, and will leave as soon as our business is over. But if someone bothers us, they will know just why I am called the 'Terror of Sword Coast'. Is that clear?"

The boy nodded and blinked, shivering.

- "Good."

As they made their way to the Undercity, Winski spoke.

- "It seems you have a flair for diplomacy matching your brother's, Peri."

- "I am tired of diplomacy. It is better suited for those who have patience for idiots. What we need here is to get Tamoko's urn, and to get out of the city unpestered. And trying any diplomacy with these scattering, scared fools would just hinder us and take time. Better that they are scared and leave us alone."

- "But Peri, people may think that we are evil if you talk to them like that," Jelena said.

- "Does it really matter? What they think makes little difference when we are somewhere in Kara-Tur where no-one has even heard of us. And if they think we are evil they won't come and ask us to rescue their nephew or something like that, distracting us from our purpose."

- "Rescuing nephews, even kittens for that matter, would mean something to me, however," Sarevok said. "To give me an opportunity to pay back for the disregard for the lives of ordinary, powerless people I demonstrated in my earlier life."

Winski also nodded.

Peri sighed, rubbing her forehead.

- "All... right. But I find it highly unlikely that anyone will ask you to rescue their kitten here. I promise we will do a lot of heroic and unselfish stuff in Kara-Tur so that you get your peace. But now, please, bear with me. Just let's get the urn and get out of here. I don't like this city."

The group found themselves facing the door of the Thieves' Guild of Baldur's Gate.