Aasimar

Everybody, even Imoen, felt the need to be sombre and quiet as they made their way back to the surface city of Baldur's Gate. Sarevok was carrying Tamoko's urn and daisho in his own non-magical backpack. He wouldn't hear of putting them in the Bag of Holding, as what it was in fact was a portable hole in the astral plane. Peri had pointed out that nothing had ever disappeared from the magic bag, but Sarevok shook his head. He swore a solemn oath to guard the backpack with his life.

The thief woman who had admitted them to the maze had a panicky look on her face.

- "I swear I didn't call them here... they are waiting outside, I barely managed to prevent them from storming the maze!"

- "Them?" Peri's voice was icy, and everyone else looked at her rather worriedly.

- "We are getting impatient here, thief!" A voice boomed outside of the building.

Peri's eyes flashed and she threw the door open.

They were greeted by an apprehensive and aggressive-looking crowd. There were clerics of several temples, paladins, Flaming Fist mercenaries and, at the back, some nobles and merchants.

- "The rumors of the abomination were true!" said a large paladin, the apparent leader of the crowd. He wore the symbol of Tyr. His eyes were grey like Keldorn's, but Peri saw no warmth or doubt in them. This man was like a hunting falcon intent and purposeful on its prey.

- "Sir Marduk, I sense no evil from anyone..." frowned a cleric of Helm.

- "Sorcery, no doubt! Powerful illusions! Deception! This is Sarevok! And yet... not. It is not undead, but it is not living either."

- "I would appreciate it if you referred to my brother as 'he'," Peri snarled.

- "Be quiet, evil spirit! Only that... pink-haired witch is a natural thing. But she is probably a demon-spawn."

- "Look. I have destroyed the Bhaal essence. We got what we wanted and we are going away. I assure you we do not intend to come back. Why don't we leave it at that and nobody gets hurt?" Peri said, straining her already gossamer-thin patience.

- "Sure, so that you get to spread your evil in other parts of Faerun," sir Marduk snorted. "I say we destroy these things for the greater glory of good! They are powerful, no doubt, but together we can beat them... and if not, we die for good and justice!"

- "Well if it's bloodshed you want I'll..."Peri started to draw her sword, when Jelena stepped ahead.

- "Please." Her voice was so soft, but yet very captivating, almost bristling with soothing, divine magic. She put her hand on Peri's arm and smiled at the crowd facing them.

- "It is true that only Imoen is mortal. The rest of us are immortal spirits," she explained. "But that is what each of you will be as well once you enter your afterlife. I, in fact, serve Lord Ilmater, who is allied with several of your deities. None of us has any evil intent. Sarevok, too, is living for redemption."

- "Lies, no doubt. Sarevok is a demon-spawn!" sir Marduk said, but at least he was listening.

- "Actually, quite the opposite," Jelena chuckled. "And his dark essence is long gone with his death. Sarevok, Peri and Imoen are on a quest that will take them to far away East, and we older ones have been sent to aid them with our magical powers."

- "She emanates a very powerful aura of goodness," frowned a cleric of Torm. "I believe her. I can feel even the burning desire for redemption in that... man, who was Sarevok."

- "He is Sarevok," Peri said, but her voice was not as hostile as it had been.

The leader of the group seemed to seriously hesitate.

- "I pray to Tyr that we have not been deceived. Perhaps we had better let them go."

Peri rolled her eyes to that, but much to the relief to the others didn't say anything. The rest of the crowd confronting them seemed relieved, and they began to disperse.

- "I thank you and wish Ilmater's blessing upon all of you. We will leave very soon," Jelena said, her voice again emanating the magic of its own.

Winski exhaled deeply.

- "Peri, I have a humble suggestion and Twiggy wholeheartedly agrees. When the situation calls for so-called 'diplomacy', let Jelena do the talking. I think our success rate would be much better, don't you think?"

- "I... guess," Peri said grudgingly. "Don't know... this city is getting to me. As well as people who want to kill me."

- "I do understand," Winski said. "Let us leave. Why don't we take the boat on the river? I can row some... it is amazing how many things I learned there at the planes."

- "That sounds nice," Imoen cheered up.

- "That depends on your definition of nice," Winski replied. "The river flows through fields of bones, haunted by assorted undead."

- "Mother... what did you mean? Not a demon-spawn, but the contrary?" Sarevok frowned.

- "Oh. That. I am able to recognize certain things now. I am quite certain that your biological mother was an aasimar. That is why you have golden eyes, and such a passionate nature."

- "Aasimar?" Imoen wanted to know.

- "As in having blood of a celestial being," Jelena explained.

- "Quite a cocktail, that," Sarevok grinned, but his eyes were serious. "Does it change anything? I do not know. What I do know is that you are my mother. Not her."

Jelena touched his face, feeling deep love.