Chapter 121: Shadows of the Past
Harrian drew his cloak further around him as the group entered the Docks District. He knew that he'd be recognised the moment he approached, with his distinctive companions and the fact that most Shadow Thieves would know to look for him, but he still felt vulnerable if he was presenting himself to the world without discretion or protection.
Jaheira stood tall beside him, grey eyes coolly evaluating the area for any possible threats, one hand resting on the hilt of Belm by her waist. He was glad she was there – their aim today was something which was necessary if they were to have a chance in a fight against Bodhi's vampires, but it would require confronting quite a few skeletons hidden in closets. It wasn't the sort of thing he'd particularly like to do alone.
"So… why do we need to be so careful in asking the Shadow Thieves? What have they… they done which makes them so dangerous?" Aerie asked, a little confused as she clutched her quarterstaff, giving some of the thugs in the vicinity wary glances which held none of Jaheira's venom but nearly as much caution.
"Aye, my raven," Haer'Dalis interjected. "In all of the dealings with the Shadow Thieves we have passed upon, you frequently insisted that they couldn't be trusted, that you would lie in your grave before bargaining with them, even for Imoen's sake… why is it, then that you will change your mind now?"
Harrian came to a halt, frowning, and gave Jaheira a pained glance. The druid shrugged slightly, shaking her head and silently telling him that she wasn't going to get involved here. "I'm not really sure this is the time for a history lesson," he sighed.
"No? If we are walking into the lions' den, then is it not the best of times to tell us what we must be wary of?" Haer'Dalis asked, raising his eyebrows slightly. "After all, we do need to make sure they do not repeat whatever foul deed the committed before, and we cannot do so without knowing what the deed was."
The Bhaalspawn sighed, rolling his eyes, evidently not in the state of mind to argue with the tiefling. "They're different Shadow Thieves. I'm not expecting a re-enactment of what happened up north," he mumbled, starting to walk again.
"Then… then why have you refused to work with the Guild this far south if they're completely different?" Aerie pointed out tentatively, her expression flickering only a little as he gave her a sideways rueful glare.
"Because," Harrian replied shortly, plainly deciding to use this as the basis for all of his arguments.
"Because what?" Aerie asked.
He glared again, rolling his eyes. "Alright. Alright. It doesn't matter right now, but none of you will shut up unless I do your evil bidding so…" Harrian's voice trailed off as he shook his head, picking up the pace. "It was in Baldur's Gate, after Sarevok's death. We… the party… were heroes, effectively, and had been looking to split up, go our separate ways. Minsc and Dynaheir were going to return to Rashemen, the rest of us were to stay in Baldur's Gate for a short while. I don't know what you and Khalid planned," Harrian murmured, throwing a slightly guilty glance at Jaheira, "but Immy and I were looking to stay in the city for a while, become involved in the Thieves' Guild. At the time, they were independent of the Shadow Thieves, who really kept their business fairly limited to Athkatla, but as the weeks went by and we performed several tasks, it became clear that there was southern influence here. A war had been averted, and links were being made. The Shadow Thieves had no qualms about letting their ambitions be known by those in the underworld."
Harrian came to a halt as the group reached an alleyway, clearly out of the way of the flow of people enough for him to think that the explanation could be continued discreetly. "Alatos Thuibuld –" A slight smirk at the name "– who was really little more than a puppet of the Shadow Thieves at that point, and I would not be surprised if there had been a real Guildmaster from the south in place at that stage, wanted us to perform a little task. Retrieve some Halruaan artefacts which were exchanging hands at the house of a local noble. An easy task, or so you'd think. It wasn't hard for Imoen and me to steal them discreetly, and the whole party headed back to the guild. Where they then tried to kill us."
Aerie looked shocked. "Why? You'd… you'd done as they'd asked, didn't you?"
"Yes, and that was the problem. A Halruaan mage who had 'encouraged' the guild to get us to perform this task wanted to keep a lid on things. I don't think the Shadow Thieves were to get paid if the lid was not placed. We managed to escape from the guild, then found a bounty on our heads, placed by people a little more competent than Sarevok's lackeys. After two attacks in as many days, it was thought best we leave the city," Harrian related grimly. "So we did, and were shortly after seized by Irenicus. I presume that, in the months we were missing, the Shadow Thieves assumed we were out of the picture, or maybe a group claimed responsibility for our disappearance. Either way, what we had done in Baldur's Gate was irrelevant by the time we got here."
"But they were going to kill you just to keep you quiet, even though you'd done everything right and just knew more than you ought to," Aerie mused, frowning. "That's horrible."
Harrian shrugged. "It's the price of doing business. Just means that I'm not too inclined to do business with the Shadow Thieves anymore, because they have no qualms about double-crossing me if it suits them. I never expected there to be honour amongst thieves, but I really only expected that they'd try to kill me for some reason other than doing all that they asked," he replied dryly.
"But now we must overlook this if we are going to defeat Bodhi," Jaheira pressed, gesturing that they should continue. "And for this, we need to seek an audience with Renal Bloodscalp."
Harrian wrinkled his nose. "Well, yes. At first. But he's not the one we really want to talk to," the Bhaalspawn said hesitantly, picking up the pace once more as they approached the large building Tellis had told them was the Shadow Thief main guildhall.
"Who is?" Aerie asked, but the question fell on deaf ears as Harrian pushed open the door and stepped inside the dark and shadowy entrance to the hall, his cloak still wrapped around him so as to hide the fact that he was doubtless keeping a firm hold on the hilt of the Daystar.
They weren't given that many glances as the four of them stepped in. People would evidently be coming and going all the time in this dark place, bustling with rogues and other unscrupulous characters. A fence stood by a table covered in various suspicious wares. Several shady figures loitered in shadowy corners, only the glint of light falling on metal as they played with blades really giving away their presence to the untrained eye.
But Harrian's eye was not untrained, and it didn't take him much time to evaluate the shadows as not being particularly threatening. They weren't going to attack a small, unknown group without provocation, and these weren't the people Harrian intended to provoke. They were upstairs.
Nobody complained as they moved towards the rickety staircase in the shadowed room, either not thinking them to be a threat, or believing that they were a threat they could handle easily. Either way, the group was effectively ignored, free to make its way to the upper level, all of them following Harrian. He seemed to know what he was doing, though this didn't encourage them too much – it took a lot for Harrian to show uncertainty, even when he didn't have a clue. This worked when bluffing an enemy, but it could lead to a bit of worrying amongst the party. Fortunately, it usually only happened when navigating, and they reasoned it would be hard even for him to get lost in this building.
There were more rogues lurking on this next level, and from their attire and general attentiveness it was quite easy to see them as guards. A few suits of chainmail were in sight, as well as blades which were more than simple daggers. The suspicious and appraising glances they threw around as Harrian pushed his way forwards towards a door at the far end of the corridor did not go unnoticed, but the group did their best to not appear unsettled by them.
At the door, a bulky man who looked a few daggers short of a weapons rack stepped in their way, giving only a grunt to show that it didn't look as if he was going to let them pass. He was a whole head taller than Harrian, and as the swashbuckler had loosened his cloak and pushed his hood back, they'd evidently been noticed and probably recognised.
Harrian looked up at the man, who was probably twice his weight and didn't look as if he'd react too well to any sort of attempt at physical intimidation. "I'm here to see Bloodscalp," the Bhaalspawn snapped, his expression and voice equally hard.
"He's not seeing people. He's very busy," the doorman replied, unyielding.
Harrian drew himself up to his full height, which still placed him over half a foot shorter than the other man, but managed to make him a bit more noticeable. With an unimpressive build, the Bhaalspawn had learnt quite well how to make the most of it, able to summon a fairly commanding presence when it suited him. "Do you know who I am?"
"I don't care," the thug sneered, shrugging.
A slow, slightly predatory smile crossed Harrian's face, and the thief folded his arms across his chest. "My name is Harrian Corias. And I need to see Renal Bloodscalp," he repeated venomously.
The thug looked uncertain. "Corias. As in the Bhaalspawn?"
"That would be me, yes," Harrian replied, ice-cool.
There was a moment as silence fell on the thieves, some waiting with bated breath for the doorman's reaction. Harrian smiled sweetly, which in itself was more disconcerting than the cold glare, and nodded encouragingly as the doorman stepped aside. "I suppose… Mr Bloodscalp… might want a word."
Harrian nodded. "Thank you," he declared smoothly, stepping forwards as the door was opened for him. He passed the thug a gold coin, just for the irritation factor as the rest of the group followed him in.
Renal Bloodscalp was not an impressive man to behold. He was even smaller than Harrian; the sort of size which made one unnoticeable. The only thing about him which made him stand out in this dark and dingy room was his attire – not too bright, but distinctive and evidently expensive. A Guildmaster could afford such things, Harrian reasoned. A Guildmaster could afford to be recognised as well.
The small man stood up, brushing his long dark hair back and smiling a cheerful smile which still held a hint of warning, of threat, which made it evident how such a visibly unimpressive man had risen so far. "Mister Corias. Apologies for Rennier back there; I simply asked to not be disturbed. I had a feeling you might be coming, however, and would be able to deal with a simple doorman."
Harrian's eyebrows lowered. "What made you think I was coming?" he asked suspiciously, darkly.
Bloodscalp shrugged. "I spoke with Tellis. He can be a very useful man. Now, why do you want to see me, exactly? I am not without my guesses, but pray enlighten me."
Harrian folded his arms across his chest and gave the Guildmaster a scathing look, raising an eyebrow and almost sneering. "You? Bloodscalp, you're not the one I want to talk to. You're merely a means to an end." There was a beat of silence as Bloodscalp and the rest of the group looked confused. "Let me see Linvail."