Cursed Heritage 1 - The Dark Half
Chapter 9 - A taste of Karmageddon
The dawn, at least, was beautiful.
The companions had been given the morning watch, predictably because new recruits got the worst chores. But they couldn't have asked for a better assignment, considering that their true task was to find out who the bandits' mysterious employer was.
Aidan and Imoen had "asked around", but it was hard to not appear too curious. They had finally gotten useful information from a young bandit named Knott, who Jaheira had threatened with bodily harm to get answers.
Tazok's tent.
It would have been too strange to inquire about it's defenses considering their newness at the camp, but the companions had come to a conclusion that it wouldn't be too heavily defended. More likely traps and the like, or perhaps guard dogs. Imoen was prepared to deal with the first, while Jaheira and Kivan assured they could charm/befriend the animals, even if they were well-trained.
Aidan felt eager to test out some of his newer magical powers, including the defensive illusion "Mirror Image". It would enable him to survive dangerous encounters without being harmed. At the same time he felt apprehension towards their coming task.
If all went well, they would leave with the information they had come for and leave without engaging all of the camp. It would be more sensible to give the location of the camp to Officer Vai back in Beregost. She could then gather the town militia in silence and make a sneak attack to the camp.
A quick glance toward his companions only served to dampen his spirits further. Was he the only one having uneasy time with this?
Jaheira looked fearless and calm, as did her husband. Business as usual for them, the wizard thought sourly. Imoen was fidgety, but Aidan knew she was merely anxious to get the plan underway, so she could pilfer the tent's riches. He briefly wondered if Imoen knew the danger they were in? It was unlikely, he decided, sighing partly in envy, partly in sorrow. When the eventual wake up call came to Im, it would hit her hard.
Kivan on the other hand wasn't after riches. He wanted to kill bandits. The cold eyes of the elf made Aidan shiver in dread, as he remembered Kivan's earlier assessment of his own existence. Living for revenge against bandits in general, Tazok in particular.
As Aidan shifted his gaze to their newest companion, he found that Viconia was looking straight back at him. Seeing him shift his gaze, she smiled back. Not a pleasant smile, but a cruel one in anticipation of possible bloodshed, Aidan thought. The drow was most likely going to do something hideous to the corpses of their enemies, if they managed to win the possible coming battle. She was armed with a wicked mace and wore a studded leather vest beneath her cloak.
Though he didn't know it, Aidan wasn't the only one who was having hard time quelling his fears.
Khalid tried to mask his nervousness as best he could. Though an experienced warrior, the half-elf had become a soldier mostly because he hadn't managed to think up anything else to do with his life. In his youth Khalid had often felt unwanted by his rich Calimshite father. He had grown into an insecure young man, but still luckier than most. He had a loving wife now, and a great cause. Both worth dying for. So why, Khalid asked of himself, did his hands tremble like a camel in Vaasa before each battle? Even after years of experience.
He bit his lip, angry at himself and his self doubts. Surely he had joined the Harpers because he had wanted to? It had to be. It was just that he couldn't say no to whatever scheme Jaheira thought up next. They wouldn't have let him in, had they not perceived his value, Khalid decided. And for a time, it was enough for him.
Drawing a deep breath, he steadied himself.
*-*-*
[Four ugly brutes, my lord]
Aidan scowled in anger. Mara, having turned invisible (she could do it at will), had snuck inside the tent to do a little scouting ahead.
[A stinky gnoll, a smelly hobgoblin and two men. I believe one of them is a wizard... Or something else with a horrible fashion sense.]
Aidan's scowl deepened and not from Mara's wisecracks. A wizard meant that things had turned more complex. Hopefully the fellow wasn't too experienced, or many different sorts of inconveniences could befall the group, ranging from Tazok getting teleported back in deal with them to getting turned into a squirrel.
The sun was rising, soon the camp would be wide awake.
After quickly relaying the news, Jaheira rubbed her temples and made the decision for them.
"We have to move on with our plan. If that wizard is only even somewhat experienced, he can discern our true identities or the fact that we lied about our reasons for joining easily. And I don't have to tell you what that means."
She looked at everyone in turn, and got five nods.
"Very well then, here's what I suggest..."
*-*-*
"I don't care who you are, no one's to enter Tazok's tent, under penalty of death."
The tall red bearded man demanded angrily, as Jaheira entered the huge pavilion.
"We're here under Tazok's own instructions. He requested that we retrieve his files and documents and deliver them to him as soon as possible." She replied, as per their plan.
The man scowled and drew his sword. His companions, a short fat man dressed in yellow robes, a burly hobgoblin and a tall gnoll followed his lead, drawing their weapons.
"Your petty lies are wasted on me, spy. Like Ender Sai, here, you've crossed the Iron Throne for the last time." The man growled, pointing to a chained prisoner in the corner.
But Jaheira had been expecting this.
"NOW!" She yelled, at the top of her lungs.
Precisely at the other side of the tent, a dark blade shimmering with blue energy effortlessly slashed a huge gap into the thick hide wall, causing the yellow robed man and the bow wielding hobgoblin to spin around to face this new threat.
Jaheira met the red beard's swing with her magical quarter staff and dodged the gnoll's attempt to skewer her with his halberd's spike. Kivan burst into the tent wielding his own sword and managed to nick the gnoll drawing some blood and a howl of pain.
Aidan entered from the hole Khalid had slashed. He had cast his first "Strength" spell, and marveled at it's potency. Even with his enchanted blade, Khalid couldn't have managed to cut such a hole without the aid of his magical powers.
His grin faded as he saw the yellow robed wizard begin casting. Quickly, he started his own spell casting.
The yellow robe finished first.
Suddenly, in a huge blur his image shimmered brightly and in his place were four identical figures. Aidan recognized the spell, "Mirror Image"! He had the same defensive illusion memorized himself.
Completing his own spell, he launched two "Magic Missiles" at the other wizard. As guided by his will, the purple energy missiles struck different figures, causing each to blink out of existence.
The yellow robe's face darkened in anger, and he begun casting anew. Aidan hastily followed his lead.
Khalid dodged his foe's last, desperate swing and thrust Varscona through the hobgoblin's midsection. He turned quickly towards the yellow robed mage, but saw that Viconia had already sealed his fate. The dark elven priestess had created a zone of silence around the wizard and his illusionary double, causing him to miscast his spell. At the same time Aidan finished his own spell, causing a "Chromatic Orb" to fly from his hand into the last illusion.
Terrified, the yellow robe futilely backed away from the advancing drow. His soundless scream was cut short by a solid hit from Viconia's flanged mace.
At the entrance, the battle was likewise nearly won.
The red beard had been a fine opponent, but he hadn't managed nothing except to nick Jaheira while he himself was battered from multiple hits. It was only a matter of time now.
Realizing that his end was near, but not about to surrender, the man launched a final desperate assault against Jaheira, hacking with his blade like a madman. Jaheira saw from the corner of her eye that Khalid had finished his foe, and concentrated on merely defending herself.
The red beard never saw the blow that took his life.
*-*-*
"Hurry now!" Jaheira snapped at Imoen, who had kept watch out side during the battle. The girl was attempting to disarm the trap she had found from the huge chest in the tent, while Kivan had taken over the watch, having first scalped the four dead bandits.
Aidan was alerted to the jingle of chains from the corner.
Quickly turning, he saw the prisoner who had kept quiet during the fight. He was a slight, dark complexioned man. Motioning to Khalid, Aidan edged closer.
"As you can plainly see, we're not Tazok's lackeys. What's going on here?" the wizard offered, hoping to gain some insight from the chained man.
"Aye, you're not..." he grinned.
"Well, this whole place is dirty to the core, that's what's going on. These aren't your ordinary bandits. They're part Black Talons and part Chill, Chill being a demihuman band, mostly hobgoblins, and led by that creepy smart one, Ardenor Crush."
Aidan remembered the strangely eloquent hobgoblin who presided over half the camp.
"There be others elsewhere, like that priest Mulahey sent to poison the mines of Nashkel. Set himself up as a kobold god returned and legions of the brainless barking fools believed him, ready to do his bidding 'til death do they part..." the prisoner continued.
"M-Mulahey's dead. He was w-w-working for Tazok, I understand." Khalid joined the conversation.
"Question is, who's Tazok working for?" Aidan half asked, half mused to himself.
The dark haired man looked at them with new admiration in his eyes.
"That's the trick, see?" he answered with a short bitter laugh.
"Crush and Taugosz Khosann, leader of the Black Talons, both think he's getting orders from the Zhents and Tazok doesn't do much to discourage that particular line of thinking. But the Black Talons and Chill are bandit groups, see?" he continued his earnest prattle.
"They ply the trade routes, avoid the cities, and that's where they go wrong. I'm from the Gate and I can tell you dead as leather that the Zhentarim aren't behind this."
Aidan noticed that Khalid and Jaheira looked thoughtful at this bit.
"How can you be so sure?" he asked the man.
"A desire for silence isn't the only reason I wear soft-soled boots." The prisoner grinned.
"I wear 'em so I can tell who's toes I'm treading on. I didn't mess with no Zhentarim. I picked my enemies and I messed with one group and one group only--the Iron Throne. And, right as rain, here I am as Tazok's personal prisoner. You do the math." He finished, looking at Aidan expectantly and presenting his chained leg.
Jaheira tossed the man a key she had found on a chain around the gnoll's neck.
"The Iron Throne. Where can I find them?" Aidan asked the man, as he was busily unlocking his chains.
"Tazok's been making regular visits to the Cloakwood so that's where I'd start if I were you. There are some documents in that chest that might be worth taking a look at, too..." he answered with a groan, massaging his stiff limbs.
"Now go step on some toes, alright? And you can tell them Ender Sai sent you." He grinned and gave theatrical bow to the party before slinking out of the gap Khalid had created.
"Hurry!" Kivan yelled from outside.
Their time as "bandits" was just about spent.
*-*-*
"Watch out!"
Aidan hit the ground, as three arrows flew over his head.
Their stealthy raid had degraded into a major melee. Dozens of bandits, both human and hobgoblin had rushed them from all directions. If not for a few well placed spells, they would have been dead a long time ago.
Aidan and Viconia had cast their incapacitating "Sleep", "Web" and holding spells, evening the odds in a major way. But the greatest stroke of luck had come from Jaheira's druidic abilities.
Taugosz Khosann, charmed with the enchantment she had intended for the anticipated guard hounds of Tazok, now fought against Ardenor and his hobgoblins. It hadn't taken much in the way of persuasion, Taugosz had hated the hobgoblin leader before and only worked with him under Tazok's orders.
The seeming desertion of their leader had caused mass confusion among the Black Talons, some of whom had deserted and some who had taken the opportunity to kill their hated hobgoblin and gnoll "fellows". The odds were still heavily stacked against the companions, however.
Everyone was already wounded, and most of their healing magic had been spent.
Every breath Aidan took felt painful, as he had been bashed to the chest by a hobgoblin's mace. Without his "Armor" spell and the usage of his own mysterious healing powers, he would have passed out from pain and most likely died already.
Grunting from pain, he struggled to rise. Imoen fired a quick arrow that stopped the charging Talon in his tracks. Seeing no further immediate targets, the girl ran to Aidan's aid.
"Are you all right, chum?" she asked anxiously, seeing his pained expression.
Seeing the wizard give a hasty nod, Imoen ran off again, having seen a few flanking hobgoblins attempt to blindside the magnificently fighting husband/wife half-elven team.
Attempting to gain his breath, Aidan saw Ardenor fall under Taugosz' mighty war hammer. The remaining Chill bandits fled from the seemingly impervious mercenary captain. The young wizard opened his mouth to alert Jaheira and Khalid of the improving situation, but his words died in his throat.
The charm had worn off.
Shaking his head in daze, Taugosz looked at Ardenor's crumpled form lying at his feet. Then he saw the dead Talons lying all over the devastated camp.
"Jaheira! Look out! It's Taugosz!" Aidan finally managed, his throat parched.
The druidess finished the Talon she had fought with a avenging blow to the head and turned to face the new threat.
Bellowing like a stung ox, Taugosz literally ran her over.
Wearing intricate black full plate mail, the few weary blows Jaheira managed to land didn't even faze the powerful mercenary. With a thunderous slap he collided with the tired half-elf. Before Khalid or anyone else had the time to stop him, Taugosz had hit the helpless Jaheira with numerous crushing blows from his war hammer.
Screaming his wife's name, Khalid ran to her aid, ignoring the last few Chill hobgoblins in his way.
Leering evilly, Taugosz met Khalid's challenge.
Biting his lip in pain, Aidan realized just how outmatched the battle weary half-elf was against the enraged mercenary leader, as he limped towards Jaheira's crumpled form. Taugosz blocked each of Khalid's swings and landed several brutal hits of his own, the last of which impacted against the side of Khalid's helmet.
The half-elf flopped to the ground.
Taugosz let out a thundering laugh, and began to holler at the remnants of his troops, waving his hammer like a standard above his head:
"Black Talon! To me! Rally now to your captain, or by Cyric I shall flay your skins and feed your meat to the wolves of the forest!"
Aidan knew that if the mercenaries managed to regroup, they were doomed. It had to end now.
He fumbled out his Wand of Frost from his belt and whispered the command word. A ray of supernaturally intense cold cut Taugosz's words off and knocked him over.
The cheering Black Talons slowed their advance seeing their leader fall to ground. They halted all together when Kivan killed two with his arrows. Imoen and Viconia were advancing too, having dealt with the last of the Chill hobgoblins.
"Damn you, cur of a wizard!" The huge form of Taugosz rose again.
This time Aidan yelled the command word.
And again the mercenary captain fell, icicles forming on his armor.
Now only a few steps from the still, armored figure, Aidan blasted him again.
The wand withered, twisted and died in his grasp, it's power spent.
A stillness reigned over the battlefield, no one moved. Almost no one.
Holding her mace in both hands, Viconia struck the frozen, helmeted head of Taugosz cleanly off his shoulder, accompanied by a nasty sound of cracking ice. It flew in a great arc and landed amidst the terrified mercenaries. A few slivers of frozen blood shimmered as they melted in the grass.
Kivan's bow twanged, and the closest mercenary fell, his pierced throat gurgling horribly.
The rest fell back in disarray, turning the faltering advance into a complete rout.
*-*-*
The companions had been relieved to find out that both Khalid and Jaheira had survived. Khalid was merely out cold, but Jaheira had been near death and had been saved only by the timely intervention of their newest companion.
Aidan had gained new respect for Viconia. She had single handedly held off several gnolls before Imoen had come to her aid, proving that she could be counted on in a fight.
Even more impressive were her healing powers. The terrible injuries that Jaheira had suffered would have been incurable with her own druidic powers and far beyond Aidan's mysterious healing abilities. Jaheira was out cold, but the drow priestess assured Khalid she would recover in a cold, matter of fact tone.
They had gained impressive treasure's from the brief looting they visited upon the camp before fleeing. It would take some courage for the Black Talons to return though, for a gruesome sight awaited them.
Kivan no longer had scalps hanging from his belt. Instead he carried a sack over his shoulder.
The companions fled as far as their feet carried them before stopping out of sheer exhaustion. Carrying the unconscious Jaheira in addition to the hard won loot would have fatigued them even in normal situations, but even more so now that everyone was wounded. Aidan had only managed to stumble onward using a Potion of Fortitude. Once it wore off, he fell to the ground, unconscious from exhaustion and pain.
*-*-*
Some eight hours later, the young wizard was up again.
Jaheira was still fast asleep, as was Khalid who had kept watch ever since Aidan had fainted. Imoen and Viconia were awake, sitting some distance from each other.
Groaning softly, Aidan asked his childhood friend to bring him up to date on the current situation. Imoen informed him that Kivan was patrolling the forest and covering their tracks.
Aidan could see how tired the girl was as she tried to cover her yawn and keep her eyes open.
"Go to sleep, Im. I can keep watch for now." He said to her, smiling fondly at her grateful smile.
"Yeah, you have such excellent company over there." She whispered sarcastically, glancing towards the hooded figure sitting some distance away.
"I tried to chat with her, but she blew me off. No sense of humor, at all! Stuffy ol' dark elf. I bet ol'Puffguts Winthrop and her would get along nicely." She giggled, giving Aidan a quick hug before crawling to her bed roll.
Aidan chuckled to himself as he imagined the chipper Imoen trying to strike casual conversation with the cold dark elf. He reached inside his backpack and dug out the documents they had found from Tazok's chest.
"Tazok,
I hope that everything moves along smoothly. I have written to give you instructions from our superiors. I have been told that a small band of mercenaries might cause the Iron Throne some trouble in the future. You are to insure that they don't live to upset our operations. Obtain the services of the assassin Nimbul, he should serve you well.
DAVAEORN"
Davaeorn. A new player in this bizarre game. Tazok was merely a pawn of the Iron Throne and this Davaeorn, it seemed. The name Nimbul Aidan recognized, he had been the magic using assassin who had attempted to attack them in Nashkel, but had been thwarted thanks to the efforts of Dynaheir and Minsc.
Aidan swallowed painfully. He could have used the company of those two now, Dynaheir's calm wisdom and the cheerful berserker's sheer fighting power.
The use of the word "mercenary" to describe him and his friends puzzled him. Neither he nor Gorion had ever been sell-swords. So why was he a target for these bounty hunters?
Perhaps the other letter would give some insight? He fished it out and read it in the campfire's light.
"Tazok,
I have noticed that your shipments of iron have slowed as of late. It is imperative that we receive another ton of ore. Step up your raids, and get a shipment to our base in Cloakwood within the next week. We need to stockpile as much ore as possible before our ultimatum is given. Also, Sarevok wants to know what has happened with the band of mercenaries. Have they been killed? You had better insure that they have been, as Sarevok will not take kindly to any other news.
DAVAEORN"
Sarevok? Who was he? This Davaeorn's superior? Was Sarevok the leader of this Iron Throne? Or was he yet someone else's underling, carrying only orders for even greater masters?
Whoever he was, Davaeorn seemed to be quite anxious to fulfill his wishes.
Aidan smiled grimly, hoping that Tazok got what was coming to him when he reported that the "mercenaries" were still alive. And after the devastation the companions had visited upon both bandit companies, including the death of their leaders, it was more likely that once Tazok returned he would only find the looted remains of his former base. Without the charismatic Ardenor and the forceful Taugosz, it was unlikely the Black Talon and the Chill would co-operate ever again.
As the young wizard pondered upon his recent findings, he became aware of someone watching him.
Turning around in alarm, Aidan saw that Viconia was sitting beside him, looking at him with her dark eyes and wearing a sardonic smile.
"Bloody hell! Don't do that to me!" he said angrily, blushing at his own alarm.
The drow's smile only widened as she saw the wizard's embarrassment.
"Be at ease, faern." She said in her throaty voice.
"I merely wished to thank you for saving my life." She continued, taking off her hooded cloak.
For the first time, Aidan saw Viconia clearly. Slender but shapely, she was also perhaps the most exotically beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her silvery hair glinted in the fire light, and for the first time he thought of her smile as something other than cold or predatory. At the moment, her smile was reflected in her deep, dark eyes...
Becoming aware of his rather intense thoughts, the wizard coughed in even further embarrassment and rose from where he had sat.
"You already thanked me. us, Viconia." He managed, walking to his bed roll in the pretense of being thirsty. Grabbing his wineskin, he headed back and saw that Viconia was still looking at him.
If she had been aware of his thoughts, she didn't show it.
"No, foolish rivvil. I wanted to thank you for defending me from that mal'ai darthirii. Or trying to, at least." She said with a small laugh.
"Malai... what?" Aidan didn't speak drow.
"The elf. That bigoted wael." She replied.
"I was listening, I heard your conversation. He didn't let you, but I saw that you tried to speak." She continued.
"Oh no..." he had forgotten Kivan's threat.
Aidan suddenly felt a lump in his stomach. He was sure that Kivan would carry out his threat. Perhaps he intended to do it as soon as he returned.
"Yes." Viconia spoke again.
"You needn't worry, I'll talk to Imoen and wake Khalid up, we'll..." he begun, thinking furiously.
"No need for that, either. I have repaid my debt to you by saving that tu'rilthiir female." She remarked, her voice growing colder again.
"It is best if I take my leave now." She continued.
"I am a drow, and sooner or later one of us, that darthirii or me, would end up dead."
Aidan knew she was right, but suddenly didn't want to part company with her quite yet. Feverishly he tried to think of a convincing argument, until he became aware of Viconia's gaze again.
She looked amused, but not in a scornful way. Rising up, she gathered her meager belongings and put on her cloak.
"Goodbye. And thank you." Aidan meant it.
They wouldn't have survived without her. It angered him that they couldn't travel further together, that she was forced to leave because of senseless hatred. Being a human, raised by humans, he had no idea how deep the rift between the elven races of light and darkness was.
She smiled at him again.
"Aluve."
And then she was gone, seemingly melding into the darkness.
*-*-*
Viconia pushed her way through the thicket, cursing softly as a branch hit her in the face, rather painfully.
She knew how to move silently, like all elves and had no difficulty operating without light. But forests were still strange and new to her, which made quick and easy movement difficult.
Her life on the surface hadn't been easy, this latest chapter included.
Still, for the first time in weeks she had felt a few moments of peace.
Peace?
Viconia laughed out loud at the thought.
Battling against bandits with surface scum and saving the life of a half- breed mongrel. She had fallen far. Oh so far.
Even so, she couldn't deny that she had appreciated the camaraderie of some of the companions. That young wizard in particular. He had seemed almost regretful that she had left...
"Foolish humans!" she snarled aloud in her own language.
It was better that she traveled alone, only the voice of her new goddess to guide her with.
She smiled at the thought. Shar, the Night Singer.
She had much to thank her for...
There was someone ahead!
Like all elves, Viconia had the power of infravision, being able to see the heat outlines of living creatures in the dark. And right now, there was someone hidden behind a tree straight ahead.
Drawing a quick breath, she drew her mace from her belt and made a quick prayer to Shar.
The figure stepped forward from it's place of hiding, and Viconia knew instantly who it was.
"Kivan." she said, and spat to the ground.
"Viconia" the ranger replied in his raspy voice. The drow saw he had his bow already pointed at her heart, arrow on the string.
"You know what will happen now, don't you witch?" he asked her.
"Yes, you know. I saw you listening to Aidan and me, hiding in the bushes before we infiltrated that camp. You should have escaped earlier, drow." He remarked in his cold voice.
"I could have fled, but your mongrel female would be a corpse now if I had done so!" she snarled.
"And you would have hunted me down then, tracker! I saved her life!" she finished, glaring at the ranger with hateful eyes.
Kivan was silent for a moment.
"You are correct, of course. Still, it changes nothing, witch. A priestess of Lolth, former or not, deserves no mercy."
Viconia expected none. She knew her life would end a few moments later, at the hands of this bigoted bastard.
Sneering cruelly, she spat towards him again.
"Do your worst, iblith! Kill me then, you murderer! I can't stop you, but you will have to shoot an unarmed woman. In the back."
With that, she threw down her mace, turned around and started walking away from the elf, praying silently for Shar to take her faithful servant to her side in afterlife.
Not a muscle moved on Kivan's emotionless face as he took an careful aim.
"You place too much faith in my feelings, witch." He spoke in a quiet voice and fired his arrow.
"The day my wife was slaughtered I died inside, and the dead..." he paused, and drew his hunting knife from it's sheath.
"The dead have no feelings."
*-*-*
Aidan awoke with a start.
He had dozed off when he was supposed to be standing guard. Embarrassed, he noticed that Kivan was sitting across him, on the other side of the camp fire.
"How... how long have you sat there?" he asked the elf.
"Long enough." Came the reply, delivered in ice cold, raspy monotone.
"You should have woken me!" Aidan snapped, feeling somewhat angry towards the ranger.
"You needed the rest. Besides, I ambushed and killed the search party sent to track us down. We have no enemies nearby." He said, smiling grimly and glancing down at his feet.
Aidan followed his gaze, and saw the sack the ranger carried with him, presumably filled with the grisly trophies requested by Officer Vai, was sitting beside him.
"You missed your chance by the way, Viconia's gone." He said, heading back to his bedroll.
Kivan's face didn't move from the deathlike mask it had settled in, but if Aidan had seen his eyes he would have had a thousand questions. The edges of Kivan's hard mouth cracked into a secret, thin smile.
His voice a mere thin whisper, not meant or heard by Aidan anyway, wasn't hard as he spoke into the fire. It was tinged with what could have been either relief or sadness:
"No, friend Aidan. I didn't."
Chapter 9 - A taste of Karmageddon
The dawn, at least, was beautiful.
The companions had been given the morning watch, predictably because new recruits got the worst chores. But they couldn't have asked for a better assignment, considering that their true task was to find out who the bandits' mysterious employer was.
Aidan and Imoen had "asked around", but it was hard to not appear too curious. They had finally gotten useful information from a young bandit named Knott, who Jaheira had threatened with bodily harm to get answers.
Tazok's tent.
It would have been too strange to inquire about it's defenses considering their newness at the camp, but the companions had come to a conclusion that it wouldn't be too heavily defended. More likely traps and the like, or perhaps guard dogs. Imoen was prepared to deal with the first, while Jaheira and Kivan assured they could charm/befriend the animals, even if they were well-trained.
Aidan felt eager to test out some of his newer magical powers, including the defensive illusion "Mirror Image". It would enable him to survive dangerous encounters without being harmed. At the same time he felt apprehension towards their coming task.
If all went well, they would leave with the information they had come for and leave without engaging all of the camp. It would be more sensible to give the location of the camp to Officer Vai back in Beregost. She could then gather the town militia in silence and make a sneak attack to the camp.
A quick glance toward his companions only served to dampen his spirits further. Was he the only one having uneasy time with this?
Jaheira looked fearless and calm, as did her husband. Business as usual for them, the wizard thought sourly. Imoen was fidgety, but Aidan knew she was merely anxious to get the plan underway, so she could pilfer the tent's riches. He briefly wondered if Imoen knew the danger they were in? It was unlikely, he decided, sighing partly in envy, partly in sorrow. When the eventual wake up call came to Im, it would hit her hard.
Kivan on the other hand wasn't after riches. He wanted to kill bandits. The cold eyes of the elf made Aidan shiver in dread, as he remembered Kivan's earlier assessment of his own existence. Living for revenge against bandits in general, Tazok in particular.
As Aidan shifted his gaze to their newest companion, he found that Viconia was looking straight back at him. Seeing him shift his gaze, she smiled back. Not a pleasant smile, but a cruel one in anticipation of possible bloodshed, Aidan thought. The drow was most likely going to do something hideous to the corpses of their enemies, if they managed to win the possible coming battle. She was armed with a wicked mace and wore a studded leather vest beneath her cloak.
Though he didn't know it, Aidan wasn't the only one who was having hard time quelling his fears.
Khalid tried to mask his nervousness as best he could. Though an experienced warrior, the half-elf had become a soldier mostly because he hadn't managed to think up anything else to do with his life. In his youth Khalid had often felt unwanted by his rich Calimshite father. He had grown into an insecure young man, but still luckier than most. He had a loving wife now, and a great cause. Both worth dying for. So why, Khalid asked of himself, did his hands tremble like a camel in Vaasa before each battle? Even after years of experience.
He bit his lip, angry at himself and his self doubts. Surely he had joined the Harpers because he had wanted to? It had to be. It was just that he couldn't say no to whatever scheme Jaheira thought up next. They wouldn't have let him in, had they not perceived his value, Khalid decided. And for a time, it was enough for him.
Drawing a deep breath, he steadied himself.
*-*-*
[Four ugly brutes, my lord]
Aidan scowled in anger. Mara, having turned invisible (she could do it at will), had snuck inside the tent to do a little scouting ahead.
[A stinky gnoll, a smelly hobgoblin and two men. I believe one of them is a wizard... Or something else with a horrible fashion sense.]
Aidan's scowl deepened and not from Mara's wisecracks. A wizard meant that things had turned more complex. Hopefully the fellow wasn't too experienced, or many different sorts of inconveniences could befall the group, ranging from Tazok getting teleported back in deal with them to getting turned into a squirrel.
The sun was rising, soon the camp would be wide awake.
After quickly relaying the news, Jaheira rubbed her temples and made the decision for them.
"We have to move on with our plan. If that wizard is only even somewhat experienced, he can discern our true identities or the fact that we lied about our reasons for joining easily. And I don't have to tell you what that means."
She looked at everyone in turn, and got five nods.
"Very well then, here's what I suggest..."
*-*-*
"I don't care who you are, no one's to enter Tazok's tent, under penalty of death."
The tall red bearded man demanded angrily, as Jaheira entered the huge pavilion.
"We're here under Tazok's own instructions. He requested that we retrieve his files and documents and deliver them to him as soon as possible." She replied, as per their plan.
The man scowled and drew his sword. His companions, a short fat man dressed in yellow robes, a burly hobgoblin and a tall gnoll followed his lead, drawing their weapons.
"Your petty lies are wasted on me, spy. Like Ender Sai, here, you've crossed the Iron Throne for the last time." The man growled, pointing to a chained prisoner in the corner.
But Jaheira had been expecting this.
"NOW!" She yelled, at the top of her lungs.
Precisely at the other side of the tent, a dark blade shimmering with blue energy effortlessly slashed a huge gap into the thick hide wall, causing the yellow robed man and the bow wielding hobgoblin to spin around to face this new threat.
Jaheira met the red beard's swing with her magical quarter staff and dodged the gnoll's attempt to skewer her with his halberd's spike. Kivan burst into the tent wielding his own sword and managed to nick the gnoll drawing some blood and a howl of pain.
Aidan entered from the hole Khalid had slashed. He had cast his first "Strength" spell, and marveled at it's potency. Even with his enchanted blade, Khalid couldn't have managed to cut such a hole without the aid of his magical powers.
His grin faded as he saw the yellow robed wizard begin casting. Quickly, he started his own spell casting.
The yellow robe finished first.
Suddenly, in a huge blur his image shimmered brightly and in his place were four identical figures. Aidan recognized the spell, "Mirror Image"! He had the same defensive illusion memorized himself.
Completing his own spell, he launched two "Magic Missiles" at the other wizard. As guided by his will, the purple energy missiles struck different figures, causing each to blink out of existence.
The yellow robe's face darkened in anger, and he begun casting anew. Aidan hastily followed his lead.
Khalid dodged his foe's last, desperate swing and thrust Varscona through the hobgoblin's midsection. He turned quickly towards the yellow robed mage, but saw that Viconia had already sealed his fate. The dark elven priestess had created a zone of silence around the wizard and his illusionary double, causing him to miscast his spell. At the same time Aidan finished his own spell, causing a "Chromatic Orb" to fly from his hand into the last illusion.
Terrified, the yellow robe futilely backed away from the advancing drow. His soundless scream was cut short by a solid hit from Viconia's flanged mace.
At the entrance, the battle was likewise nearly won.
The red beard had been a fine opponent, but he hadn't managed nothing except to nick Jaheira while he himself was battered from multiple hits. It was only a matter of time now.
Realizing that his end was near, but not about to surrender, the man launched a final desperate assault against Jaheira, hacking with his blade like a madman. Jaheira saw from the corner of her eye that Khalid had finished his foe, and concentrated on merely defending herself.
The red beard never saw the blow that took his life.
*-*-*
"Hurry now!" Jaheira snapped at Imoen, who had kept watch out side during the battle. The girl was attempting to disarm the trap she had found from the huge chest in the tent, while Kivan had taken over the watch, having first scalped the four dead bandits.
Aidan was alerted to the jingle of chains from the corner.
Quickly turning, he saw the prisoner who had kept quiet during the fight. He was a slight, dark complexioned man. Motioning to Khalid, Aidan edged closer.
"As you can plainly see, we're not Tazok's lackeys. What's going on here?" the wizard offered, hoping to gain some insight from the chained man.
"Aye, you're not..." he grinned.
"Well, this whole place is dirty to the core, that's what's going on. These aren't your ordinary bandits. They're part Black Talons and part Chill, Chill being a demihuman band, mostly hobgoblins, and led by that creepy smart one, Ardenor Crush."
Aidan remembered the strangely eloquent hobgoblin who presided over half the camp.
"There be others elsewhere, like that priest Mulahey sent to poison the mines of Nashkel. Set himself up as a kobold god returned and legions of the brainless barking fools believed him, ready to do his bidding 'til death do they part..." the prisoner continued.
"M-Mulahey's dead. He was w-w-working for Tazok, I understand." Khalid joined the conversation.
"Question is, who's Tazok working for?" Aidan half asked, half mused to himself.
The dark haired man looked at them with new admiration in his eyes.
"That's the trick, see?" he answered with a short bitter laugh.
"Crush and Taugosz Khosann, leader of the Black Talons, both think he's getting orders from the Zhents and Tazok doesn't do much to discourage that particular line of thinking. But the Black Talons and Chill are bandit groups, see?" he continued his earnest prattle.
"They ply the trade routes, avoid the cities, and that's where they go wrong. I'm from the Gate and I can tell you dead as leather that the Zhentarim aren't behind this."
Aidan noticed that Khalid and Jaheira looked thoughtful at this bit.
"How can you be so sure?" he asked the man.
"A desire for silence isn't the only reason I wear soft-soled boots." The prisoner grinned.
"I wear 'em so I can tell who's toes I'm treading on. I didn't mess with no Zhentarim. I picked my enemies and I messed with one group and one group only--the Iron Throne. And, right as rain, here I am as Tazok's personal prisoner. You do the math." He finished, looking at Aidan expectantly and presenting his chained leg.
Jaheira tossed the man a key she had found on a chain around the gnoll's neck.
"The Iron Throne. Where can I find them?" Aidan asked the man, as he was busily unlocking his chains.
"Tazok's been making regular visits to the Cloakwood so that's where I'd start if I were you. There are some documents in that chest that might be worth taking a look at, too..." he answered with a groan, massaging his stiff limbs.
"Now go step on some toes, alright? And you can tell them Ender Sai sent you." He grinned and gave theatrical bow to the party before slinking out of the gap Khalid had created.
"Hurry!" Kivan yelled from outside.
Their time as "bandits" was just about spent.
*-*-*
"Watch out!"
Aidan hit the ground, as three arrows flew over his head.
Their stealthy raid had degraded into a major melee. Dozens of bandits, both human and hobgoblin had rushed them from all directions. If not for a few well placed spells, they would have been dead a long time ago.
Aidan and Viconia had cast their incapacitating "Sleep", "Web" and holding spells, evening the odds in a major way. But the greatest stroke of luck had come from Jaheira's druidic abilities.
Taugosz Khosann, charmed with the enchantment she had intended for the anticipated guard hounds of Tazok, now fought against Ardenor and his hobgoblins. It hadn't taken much in the way of persuasion, Taugosz had hated the hobgoblin leader before and only worked with him under Tazok's orders.
The seeming desertion of their leader had caused mass confusion among the Black Talons, some of whom had deserted and some who had taken the opportunity to kill their hated hobgoblin and gnoll "fellows". The odds were still heavily stacked against the companions, however.
Everyone was already wounded, and most of their healing magic had been spent.
Every breath Aidan took felt painful, as he had been bashed to the chest by a hobgoblin's mace. Without his "Armor" spell and the usage of his own mysterious healing powers, he would have passed out from pain and most likely died already.
Grunting from pain, he struggled to rise. Imoen fired a quick arrow that stopped the charging Talon in his tracks. Seeing no further immediate targets, the girl ran to Aidan's aid.
"Are you all right, chum?" she asked anxiously, seeing his pained expression.
Seeing the wizard give a hasty nod, Imoen ran off again, having seen a few flanking hobgoblins attempt to blindside the magnificently fighting husband/wife half-elven team.
Attempting to gain his breath, Aidan saw Ardenor fall under Taugosz' mighty war hammer. The remaining Chill bandits fled from the seemingly impervious mercenary captain. The young wizard opened his mouth to alert Jaheira and Khalid of the improving situation, but his words died in his throat.
The charm had worn off.
Shaking his head in daze, Taugosz looked at Ardenor's crumpled form lying at his feet. Then he saw the dead Talons lying all over the devastated camp.
"Jaheira! Look out! It's Taugosz!" Aidan finally managed, his throat parched.
The druidess finished the Talon she had fought with a avenging blow to the head and turned to face the new threat.
Bellowing like a stung ox, Taugosz literally ran her over.
Wearing intricate black full plate mail, the few weary blows Jaheira managed to land didn't even faze the powerful mercenary. With a thunderous slap he collided with the tired half-elf. Before Khalid or anyone else had the time to stop him, Taugosz had hit the helpless Jaheira with numerous crushing blows from his war hammer.
Screaming his wife's name, Khalid ran to her aid, ignoring the last few Chill hobgoblins in his way.
Leering evilly, Taugosz met Khalid's challenge.
Biting his lip in pain, Aidan realized just how outmatched the battle weary half-elf was against the enraged mercenary leader, as he limped towards Jaheira's crumpled form. Taugosz blocked each of Khalid's swings and landed several brutal hits of his own, the last of which impacted against the side of Khalid's helmet.
The half-elf flopped to the ground.
Taugosz let out a thundering laugh, and began to holler at the remnants of his troops, waving his hammer like a standard above his head:
"Black Talon! To me! Rally now to your captain, or by Cyric I shall flay your skins and feed your meat to the wolves of the forest!"
Aidan knew that if the mercenaries managed to regroup, they were doomed. It had to end now.
He fumbled out his Wand of Frost from his belt and whispered the command word. A ray of supernaturally intense cold cut Taugosz's words off and knocked him over.
The cheering Black Talons slowed their advance seeing their leader fall to ground. They halted all together when Kivan killed two with his arrows. Imoen and Viconia were advancing too, having dealt with the last of the Chill hobgoblins.
"Damn you, cur of a wizard!" The huge form of Taugosz rose again.
This time Aidan yelled the command word.
And again the mercenary captain fell, icicles forming on his armor.
Now only a few steps from the still, armored figure, Aidan blasted him again.
The wand withered, twisted and died in his grasp, it's power spent.
A stillness reigned over the battlefield, no one moved. Almost no one.
Holding her mace in both hands, Viconia struck the frozen, helmeted head of Taugosz cleanly off his shoulder, accompanied by a nasty sound of cracking ice. It flew in a great arc and landed amidst the terrified mercenaries. A few slivers of frozen blood shimmered as they melted in the grass.
Kivan's bow twanged, and the closest mercenary fell, his pierced throat gurgling horribly.
The rest fell back in disarray, turning the faltering advance into a complete rout.
*-*-*
The companions had been relieved to find out that both Khalid and Jaheira had survived. Khalid was merely out cold, but Jaheira had been near death and had been saved only by the timely intervention of their newest companion.
Aidan had gained new respect for Viconia. She had single handedly held off several gnolls before Imoen had come to her aid, proving that she could be counted on in a fight.
Even more impressive were her healing powers. The terrible injuries that Jaheira had suffered would have been incurable with her own druidic powers and far beyond Aidan's mysterious healing abilities. Jaheira was out cold, but the drow priestess assured Khalid she would recover in a cold, matter of fact tone.
They had gained impressive treasure's from the brief looting they visited upon the camp before fleeing. It would take some courage for the Black Talons to return though, for a gruesome sight awaited them.
Kivan no longer had scalps hanging from his belt. Instead he carried a sack over his shoulder.
The companions fled as far as their feet carried them before stopping out of sheer exhaustion. Carrying the unconscious Jaheira in addition to the hard won loot would have fatigued them even in normal situations, but even more so now that everyone was wounded. Aidan had only managed to stumble onward using a Potion of Fortitude. Once it wore off, he fell to the ground, unconscious from exhaustion and pain.
*-*-*
Some eight hours later, the young wizard was up again.
Jaheira was still fast asleep, as was Khalid who had kept watch ever since Aidan had fainted. Imoen and Viconia were awake, sitting some distance from each other.
Groaning softly, Aidan asked his childhood friend to bring him up to date on the current situation. Imoen informed him that Kivan was patrolling the forest and covering their tracks.
Aidan could see how tired the girl was as she tried to cover her yawn and keep her eyes open.
"Go to sleep, Im. I can keep watch for now." He said to her, smiling fondly at her grateful smile.
"Yeah, you have such excellent company over there." She whispered sarcastically, glancing towards the hooded figure sitting some distance away.
"I tried to chat with her, but she blew me off. No sense of humor, at all! Stuffy ol' dark elf. I bet ol'Puffguts Winthrop and her would get along nicely." She giggled, giving Aidan a quick hug before crawling to her bed roll.
Aidan chuckled to himself as he imagined the chipper Imoen trying to strike casual conversation with the cold dark elf. He reached inside his backpack and dug out the documents they had found from Tazok's chest.
"Tazok,
I hope that everything moves along smoothly. I have written to give you instructions from our superiors. I have been told that a small band of mercenaries might cause the Iron Throne some trouble in the future. You are to insure that they don't live to upset our operations. Obtain the services of the assassin Nimbul, he should serve you well.
DAVAEORN"
Davaeorn. A new player in this bizarre game. Tazok was merely a pawn of the Iron Throne and this Davaeorn, it seemed. The name Nimbul Aidan recognized, he had been the magic using assassin who had attempted to attack them in Nashkel, but had been thwarted thanks to the efforts of Dynaheir and Minsc.
Aidan swallowed painfully. He could have used the company of those two now, Dynaheir's calm wisdom and the cheerful berserker's sheer fighting power.
The use of the word "mercenary" to describe him and his friends puzzled him. Neither he nor Gorion had ever been sell-swords. So why was he a target for these bounty hunters?
Perhaps the other letter would give some insight? He fished it out and read it in the campfire's light.
"Tazok,
I have noticed that your shipments of iron have slowed as of late. It is imperative that we receive another ton of ore. Step up your raids, and get a shipment to our base in Cloakwood within the next week. We need to stockpile as much ore as possible before our ultimatum is given. Also, Sarevok wants to know what has happened with the band of mercenaries. Have they been killed? You had better insure that they have been, as Sarevok will not take kindly to any other news.
DAVAEORN"
Sarevok? Who was he? This Davaeorn's superior? Was Sarevok the leader of this Iron Throne? Or was he yet someone else's underling, carrying only orders for even greater masters?
Whoever he was, Davaeorn seemed to be quite anxious to fulfill his wishes.
Aidan smiled grimly, hoping that Tazok got what was coming to him when he reported that the "mercenaries" were still alive. And after the devastation the companions had visited upon both bandit companies, including the death of their leaders, it was more likely that once Tazok returned he would only find the looted remains of his former base. Without the charismatic Ardenor and the forceful Taugosz, it was unlikely the Black Talon and the Chill would co-operate ever again.
As the young wizard pondered upon his recent findings, he became aware of someone watching him.
Turning around in alarm, Aidan saw that Viconia was sitting beside him, looking at him with her dark eyes and wearing a sardonic smile.
"Bloody hell! Don't do that to me!" he said angrily, blushing at his own alarm.
The drow's smile only widened as she saw the wizard's embarrassment.
"Be at ease, faern." She said in her throaty voice.
"I merely wished to thank you for saving my life." She continued, taking off her hooded cloak.
For the first time, Aidan saw Viconia clearly. Slender but shapely, she was also perhaps the most exotically beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her silvery hair glinted in the fire light, and for the first time he thought of her smile as something other than cold or predatory. At the moment, her smile was reflected in her deep, dark eyes...
Becoming aware of his rather intense thoughts, the wizard coughed in even further embarrassment and rose from where he had sat.
"You already thanked me. us, Viconia." He managed, walking to his bed roll in the pretense of being thirsty. Grabbing his wineskin, he headed back and saw that Viconia was still looking at him.
If she had been aware of his thoughts, she didn't show it.
"No, foolish rivvil. I wanted to thank you for defending me from that mal'ai darthirii. Or trying to, at least." She said with a small laugh.
"Malai... what?" Aidan didn't speak drow.
"The elf. That bigoted wael." She replied.
"I was listening, I heard your conversation. He didn't let you, but I saw that you tried to speak." She continued.
"Oh no..." he had forgotten Kivan's threat.
Aidan suddenly felt a lump in his stomach. He was sure that Kivan would carry out his threat. Perhaps he intended to do it as soon as he returned.
"Yes." Viconia spoke again.
"You needn't worry, I'll talk to Imoen and wake Khalid up, we'll..." he begun, thinking furiously.
"No need for that, either. I have repaid my debt to you by saving that tu'rilthiir female." She remarked, her voice growing colder again.
"It is best if I take my leave now." She continued.
"I am a drow, and sooner or later one of us, that darthirii or me, would end up dead."
Aidan knew she was right, but suddenly didn't want to part company with her quite yet. Feverishly he tried to think of a convincing argument, until he became aware of Viconia's gaze again.
She looked amused, but not in a scornful way. Rising up, she gathered her meager belongings and put on her cloak.
"Goodbye. And thank you." Aidan meant it.
They wouldn't have survived without her. It angered him that they couldn't travel further together, that she was forced to leave because of senseless hatred. Being a human, raised by humans, he had no idea how deep the rift between the elven races of light and darkness was.
She smiled at him again.
"Aluve."
And then she was gone, seemingly melding into the darkness.
*-*-*
Viconia pushed her way through the thicket, cursing softly as a branch hit her in the face, rather painfully.
She knew how to move silently, like all elves and had no difficulty operating without light. But forests were still strange and new to her, which made quick and easy movement difficult.
Her life on the surface hadn't been easy, this latest chapter included.
Still, for the first time in weeks she had felt a few moments of peace.
Peace?
Viconia laughed out loud at the thought.
Battling against bandits with surface scum and saving the life of a half- breed mongrel. She had fallen far. Oh so far.
Even so, she couldn't deny that she had appreciated the camaraderie of some of the companions. That young wizard in particular. He had seemed almost regretful that she had left...
"Foolish humans!" she snarled aloud in her own language.
It was better that she traveled alone, only the voice of her new goddess to guide her with.
She smiled at the thought. Shar, the Night Singer.
She had much to thank her for...
There was someone ahead!
Like all elves, Viconia had the power of infravision, being able to see the heat outlines of living creatures in the dark. And right now, there was someone hidden behind a tree straight ahead.
Drawing a quick breath, she drew her mace from her belt and made a quick prayer to Shar.
The figure stepped forward from it's place of hiding, and Viconia knew instantly who it was.
"Kivan." she said, and spat to the ground.
"Viconia" the ranger replied in his raspy voice. The drow saw he had his bow already pointed at her heart, arrow on the string.
"You know what will happen now, don't you witch?" he asked her.
"Yes, you know. I saw you listening to Aidan and me, hiding in the bushes before we infiltrated that camp. You should have escaped earlier, drow." He remarked in his cold voice.
"I could have fled, but your mongrel female would be a corpse now if I had done so!" she snarled.
"And you would have hunted me down then, tracker! I saved her life!" she finished, glaring at the ranger with hateful eyes.
Kivan was silent for a moment.
"You are correct, of course. Still, it changes nothing, witch. A priestess of Lolth, former or not, deserves no mercy."
Viconia expected none. She knew her life would end a few moments later, at the hands of this bigoted bastard.
Sneering cruelly, she spat towards him again.
"Do your worst, iblith! Kill me then, you murderer! I can't stop you, but you will have to shoot an unarmed woman. In the back."
With that, she threw down her mace, turned around and started walking away from the elf, praying silently for Shar to take her faithful servant to her side in afterlife.
Not a muscle moved on Kivan's emotionless face as he took an careful aim.
"You place too much faith in my feelings, witch." He spoke in a quiet voice and fired his arrow.
"The day my wife was slaughtered I died inside, and the dead..." he paused, and drew his hunting knife from it's sheath.
"The dead have no feelings."
*-*-*
Aidan awoke with a start.
He had dozed off when he was supposed to be standing guard. Embarrassed, he noticed that Kivan was sitting across him, on the other side of the camp fire.
"How... how long have you sat there?" he asked the elf.
"Long enough." Came the reply, delivered in ice cold, raspy monotone.
"You should have woken me!" Aidan snapped, feeling somewhat angry towards the ranger.
"You needed the rest. Besides, I ambushed and killed the search party sent to track us down. We have no enemies nearby." He said, smiling grimly and glancing down at his feet.
Aidan followed his gaze, and saw the sack the ranger carried with him, presumably filled with the grisly trophies requested by Officer Vai, was sitting beside him.
"You missed your chance by the way, Viconia's gone." He said, heading back to his bedroll.
Kivan's face didn't move from the deathlike mask it had settled in, but if Aidan had seen his eyes he would have had a thousand questions. The edges of Kivan's hard mouth cracked into a secret, thin smile.
His voice a mere thin whisper, not meant or heard by Aidan anyway, wasn't hard as he spoke into the fire. It was tinged with what could have been either relief or sadness:
"No, friend Aidan. I didn't."