Disclaimer: The only thing I own is Essande E'lenei and Terrill Sollec, Bioware owns the rest.

Author's Note: Thank you Fhulhi the Crazy, Guan and VaguelyFamiliar for your reviews. VaguelyFamiliar I will try to keep your advice in mind for this chapter

Things To Do Before I Die

Chapter Two

Meet the Gang

Essande cracked her knuckles, contemplating an elbow drop on the young man who'd commented about her attire. A glance over at the group Sharwyn was in told the half-elf the kick to the gut had been enough. Her gaze caught sight of Terrill, who was grinning at her and she rolled her eyes. Approaching the group she shot a glare at Terrill who gave her a look of feigned innocence.

"Just what happened to you?" Sharwyn asked hastily before the two former companions could start trading insults, a childish act that annoyed her to no end. Terrill started to answer for the skald but Sharwyn held up a hand to silence him. Hero of Neverwinter or not, Sharwyn wasn't going to let him get any cheap shots in.

"A drow snuck in my room and stole my stuff, first chance I get I'm buying new things." The room quieted slightly at the mention of the drow. "What? Ya think I'm lyin' ask Tamsil she'll tell ya, or if you want the body's still there." Essande shot a glance at Terrill and wasn't surprised to find an amused expression on his face. "I didn't talk her to death if that's what you're thinking Sollec." The elf just shrugged and disappeared again. Another elf wearing the robes and markers of a cleric devoted to Sehanine Moonbow stepped forward.

"Oh you poor thing. Are you all right dear?" Essande just nodded sighing, wondering how many more people would ask her that question. The genuine concern on the cleric's voice was the only thing that kept the sarcastic remark Essande had prepared in check.

"Oh, pardon my manners." Sharwyn suddenly said after a moment of silence. "Everyone this is the girl I've been talking to recently as you've probably noticed she was Lord Terrill's accomplice during the plague in Neverwinter. Essande this is Linu, Daelan and…Tomi." The bard's voice dropped a notch in enthusiasm when pointing out the rogue, Essande blinked at her. A quick sweep of the other two told her Tomi wasn't exactly the welcomest member of this team.

"Very pleased to meet you dear." Linu said smiling, if she was going to say more Daelan cut her off.

"I'd prefer it if we didn't all stand here chatting. We'd best go see what Durnan wants now that Sollec's shown himself." The others nodded and moved to follow the half-orc as he exited the room. Essande moved to follow and caught sight of the halfling turning to meet her gaze before he left the room. Winking at her, Tomi disappeared from the chamber in time to miss seeing Essande roll her eyes. 'Hoo boy, it's gonna be a looong day.'

Upon entering the next room Essande noticed the group was already getting a speech from Durnan. Sighing Essande plodded over trying to pick up from where she was but the talk of wells, drow and how Durnan was somehow in charge of this when the Lords of Waterdeep should be didn't really string together. Scanning the group for someone she could get the start of the speech from the half-elf sighed when the only one she could catch the attention of was Tomi.

"So what can Tomi do for ya?" The rogue said grinning as Essande waved him over. At this Essande began looking about, she'd done this trick enough to annoy people who spoke in third person into speaking in first person. How hard was it to say "I"? "What are ya gonna describe it to me?" Essande sent him an incredulous look and the rogue shrugged. "Can't hurt ta ask."

"Look Tomi, all I want to know is what's up okay? And if you pull a 'Sage' on me and start naming bird species I'll gut ya like a kipper." Essande said, more than a hit of warning in her voice.

"Who's Sage?" The halfling asked making Essande regret referring to her old friend. The way the silver haired elf acted stupid was funny, even witty at times. Having this sad example of Ferra's race trying to act "witty" about Essande made the skald want to kill him for mocking Sage, despite the fact Tomi had no idea who Sage was.

"Sage is a friend okay? Now what's up?" Essande said through gritted teeth. Tomi shrugged, indicating he was following Durnan's speech as much as she was. The bard sighed, ignoring Tomi completely now, fearing if she traded more words with him one of them would be direly injured. The conversation between Terrill and Durnan suddenly stopped though and the shadowdancer evaporated from sight as the door to the well room burst open revealing several drow. A wry smile formed on Essande's face as she moved into a defensive crouch, drawing the dagger and longsword. Perhaps the drow would take care of Tomi for her…