General disclaimer: I own nothing, even Maiyn generally decides her own path.
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Promises Made
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A cold fog hung in the air the following morning. Khalid and Coran followed Jaheira and Yeslick as they strode up to the guard standing outside the Flaming Fist. They'd been relieved to notice that none of the bounty notices put up had described any of the group in detail except for Maiyn and Imoen, so the two girls were resigned to staying within the Elfsong Tavern, preferably safely in their rooms. Maiyn had gone over the details with them before they left that morning. For want of a better plan, Jaheira and Yeslick were to introduce themselves as healers, sent for by the other Dukes on short notice to see if they could offer any assistance. As travellers, Khalid and Coran were their guards.
Jaheira quickly accosted the daydreaming guardsman. "You there! We are here to see Duke Eltan."
"Oh, er, ah, the Duke is not seeing visi-"
"We are not visitors!" exclaimed Jaheira impatiently. "We are healers from Cormyr and we have travelled several days to reach the city." The mercenary just stared at her blankly, and the druid sighed. "A messenger arrived from a Duke Belt, asking for our immediate aid with an affliction that had cursed one of his equals. Is Duke Eltan infirm or not?"
The guard looked confused, and Jaheira inwardly prayed she'd used the correct name. "Well yes, he is, but I haven't heard anything about Duke Belt sending mess-" he began.
"Would you rather we just turn and leave then?" snapped Jaheira irritably. "We have endeavoured to reach the city with all haste, and treated the request as a matter of urgency. If we are to be turned away by a guardsman who has not been properly briefed, then I am sure we will not be as willing to make the journey again."
"No, it's not that-"
"Then what is it, man? Your commander lies dying, and you seek to prevent healers from reaching him all because you have not been informed of our arrival? Perhaps your superiors expected us to take longer, but we have travelled overnight when possible to reach here as soon as we could." Jaheira's glare was fixed firmly to the guard.
"I... I am sure it would be alright for you to go in," faltered the guard, giving directions to the stairway leading up to the Duke's quarters. Jaheira thanked him sharply, and Yeslick nodded amiably enough as he passed, their bodyguards following them in silently. The Flaming Fist mercenary watched them as they disappeared into the building, and almost pitied the three men travelling with the woman.
The Flaming Fist headquarters was surprisingly empty, and they were ignored by what little presence there was. The guard at the bottom of the stairs waved them on up when they approached, much to Jaheira's surprise, explaining that that someone would be with them as soon as they could. She had been expecting even more resistance within the building itself, but she carried herself past the guard confidently, and swept up the stairs with her companions behind her.
Duke Eltan's reception room was empty, two doors leading off into his bedroom and his study. A quick glance showed the study to be empty, and Jaheira cautiously pushed the door of the bedroom open a little more. Noting it was safe to enter, the companions quietly filed in; the druid and cleric immediately approached the Duke, instantly beginning their healing murmurs while Khalid and Coran stood guard at the door.
Within minutes their healing had helped bring Eltan back to consciousness, and he faintly regarded Jaheira with recognition.
"I am again within your debt," he managed to say faintly as Yeslick continued with his prayers. "The creature masquerading as my healer has kept me helpless for too long. If I had not been incapacitated I may have been able to prevent Scar's death..."
"So it is true?" asked Jaheira quietly. "Scar was assassinated?"
Duke Eltan nodded wearily, but he seemed stronger with Yeslick's continued tending. "I know not who was responsible, but they will be found and tried for it. I also know of the accusation burdening your shoulders; before I was struck down with the fever I received a messenger from the First Reader of Candlekeep who warned me of the falseness of the charges. I will do what I can to assist you with this injustice, but you must help me away from here. Scar's replacement, Angelo, will soon hear of my recovery if I stay here, and I am not yet fit to deal with him."
"We will help you get away from here however we can," said Jaheira firmly.
"I thank you again then," smiled the Duke, sitting up with Yeslick's help. "I can manage to walk, although slowly. The Harbourmaster's building is where I ask you to escort me - he has long been my friend, and I will be safe there."
"Someone's coming," called Coran quietly, as he and Khalid retreated behind the large oak door. Yeslick stood protectively by the side of the Duke, and Jaheira stepped forward to meet the lithe man who entered the room, regarding the half-elf and the dwarf with surprise.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"We are here to protect the Duke," said Jaheira boldly.
The man laughed. "Stupid primates," he hissed as his body began to tremble, changing shape drastically. "It was your last mistake to come here! Let us see how your skills perform against one who was born an assassin!"
The doppelganger swiped ferociously at Jaheira, knocking the druid to the floor. Khalid and Coran leapt to attack, but it turned quickly and parried their blows with the tough skin on its arms. It laughed as their weapons had little effect on it, and it quickly reached out, grabbing the half-elf around the throat and beginning to constrict.
Jaheira was back on her feet, and she brought her club down heavily on the creature's head, causing it to be slightly stunned. Its grip around her husband didn't relent though, but Coran took advantage of its weakened state to drive his blade firmly into its side. The creature pulled the sword free and tossed it aside, still concentrating on the struggling Khalid. Jaheira desperately clubbed at its torso and legs as Coran ran to retrieve his weapon; but suddenly the creature paused and fell limp, crumpling to the ground in death. Yeslick drew back his hands from the beast, having materialised at its side only seconds before. He grunted as he helped Khalid steady himself and catch his breath, and his eyes twinkled at Jaheira's questioning gaze.
"Clangeddin graced me wi' the power o' healing," he said thoughtfully. "He also graced me wi' the power o' harmin' as well - and I dinnae always need ta use me mace fer it."
Jaheira grinned, and removed a cloak from her pack. She passed it to Duke Eltan, and he gratefully swathed it around him, drawing the hood up around his face. Coran had picked up a note from the body of Duke Eltan's doppelganger healer, and handed it to the Harpers with a concerned expression. They read it grimly, and passed it on to Yeslick and the Duke.
Kizska,
I must commend you for a job well done. Without your careful ministrations Eltan would have remained a most potent foe. I must now ask another favour; some of your brethren are gathering at the sewer entrance by the Duchal Palace. They are preparing to take part in the demise of the two remaining Dukes - Belt and Liia Jannath. It is with a great deal of satisfaction I can reveal that Entar Silvershield fell to the attack we planned several days ago.
I need you to assist in this next stage, and work with the others. You are by far the craftiest of your kind, and your assistance in this matter would be invaluable. This is the moment I have long waited for; as I am sure you have as well. The bloodshed that will result when I declare war on Amn will be most glorious.
Meet K. and S. at the Undercellar. They can tell you of the details.
Sarevok
Duke Eltan gasped. "He is a madman," he exclaimed weakly. "Entar has fallen... and now he plans to remove Liia and Belt in one fell swoop to then begin a pointless war!"
Jaheira placed her hand on Eltan's arm soothingly. "We will do what we can to disrupt these plans," she said confidently. "But for now we must get you away from here, and return to our companions."
"Yes, yes of course," said Eltan, sounding tired. "Let us leave with all haste."
Jaheira managed to convince the guard at the entrance that he was needed in the back cells due to an outbreak of violence, and the young man immediately rushed off to give his comrades a helping hand. Coran and Khalid appeared from the shadows as he passed, both semi-carrying the Duke as they swiftly left the building, Yeslick following them closely as Jaheira leading the way to the nearby building.
The Harbourmaster gasped and gawped when he saw Duke Eltan being carried into his office, but he quickly opened a door that led through to his personal chambers, and Eltan was lowered gently onto the bed.
"By the bitch queen's breath," muttered the small man, "ya look in bad way Eltan."
"I would have looked a lot worse had it not been for these people," said the Duke, smiling to Jaheira. The druid nodded warmly in return, informing them that they would return when they were able.
"We are c-close to the end," said Khalid quietly as they made their way back towards the Elfsong. Jaheira nodded grimly, but said nothing, and Yeslick sighed. Khalid turned to look at Coran; the elf was walking behind them slightly, his eyes fixed to the ground. The half-elf could see sadness in them; Coran was lost in his own thoughts and was paying little attention to the others. Khalid recognised his expression though - it was fear, but not fear of the inevitable fight itself. It was the fear of losing someone to it.
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Maiyn read the letter, and passed it to the others who had crowded into the room she shared with Coran. "The time for being overly cautious has passed," she said firmly. "We must all act to prevent this from happening."
"I agree," said Jaheira, causing some mild surprise in the ranger. "The assassins are gathering at the palace to infiltrate the ceremony surrounding the election of a new Duke to replace Entar - it is being done quickly due to Eltan's poor health and the fear that the city's hierarchy would be depleted."
"Why not take out the new Duke too?" queried Maiyn inquisitively.
"Because it is likely to be Sarevok," said Jaheira quietly. Alora gasped, and Imoen gawped. Xan just groaned.
"It was Perin the Harbourmaster who informed us," continued the druid. "He is not hanging back to wait for our capture, and I suggest we do not hang around and wait for his ascension."
"We should seek out these 'Undercellars' then I guess," mused Maiyn. "If we can eliminate the assassins there, then it will disrupt his plans."
"The ceremony is t-to take place this evening," said Khalid. "We d-don't have much time."
"I... think I know where the 'Undercellar' is," said Coran sheepishly. Maiyn looked at him with amusement.
"Tell us then!" she exclaimed as he stood in prolonged silence.
"Well, you know the inn we stayed at when we were previously in the city?"
"The... Blushing Mermaid was it?"
Coran nodded and coughed slightly. "There is, erm, a doorway at the back that leads down into the cellar. From there you can go out into the sewers, and a short distance down is another door that leads into the 'Undercellar'."
"Why is this making you appear to slightly flush?" Maiyn had her suspicions, but quite enjoyed seeing Coran shift uncomfortably.
"Well, the nature of the place..."
"It's a whorehouse then laddie?" asked Yeslick gruffly.
"It, well, I guess, ah..."
Maiyn burst into a fit of giggles, and Coran looked at her with a hurt expression. "You deliberately made me uncomfortable, worried that I'd somehow offend you by knowing of its existence, only so you could laugh at me."
"Yes," admitted the ranger as she calmed down. "Oh come now, don't sulk. I had long accepted there must be some establishment to serve such needs in the city, because you'd have to have had somewhere to go when you ran out of innocent daughters and maidens..."
Coran glared at the ranger as she smiled brightly to him on her way out of the room. She called for them all to meet downstairs as soon as they were ready as she bounded down the steps and into the Elfsong's common room. She stopped suddenly as she noticed one of the patrons was Tamoko, and as their eyes met Maiyn signalled to a vacant table.
"You have returned," noted Maiyn calmly as they sat down opposite each other.
"I have things that must be said," said the woman calmly. "I have heard of Duke Eltan's abduction, and I applaud your abilities. The things I wish to say may benefit us both, but I have one condition to my discourse. A promise I seek, and I will accept no less before I speak."
"Why should I make promises for information unheard?" asked Maiyn.
"My promise will not harm you," replied Tamoko quietly. "Ignoring it, however, could. Indeed, my information can only benefit. You will gain if you did not know it before, you will gain if you knew it already but needed confirmation. The choice I pose is the only option - do you agree, or not?"
Maiyn kept her gaze firmly on the woman sitting across from her. "I shall offer my promise, and follow it as best as I can," she said carefully.
"I thank you," sighed Tamoko, looking visibly relieved. "This is my request - that you defeat Sarevok, the man behind all your woes. You must destroy his plans and stop his scheme in its tracks. You must strip him of the belief he can succeed in the path that he follows, and you must do this for me - leaving him his life. I will... I will help him to live his life as a man, not as the God he thinks he can be." Tamoko choked at her last words, and Maiyn could see tears in her eyes, but the ranger's mind was swirling over the woman's words.
"He... he is the same as I?"
Tamoko nodded.
"It cannot be."
"Why else has he singled out you? Why else do you think he seeks a war? You must have suspected this already."
"I do not see how I can stop him," Maiyn said, still reeling inwardly. "He has sought to destroy me and I have only responded in kind.
"Ultimately, he seeks to destroy everyone, not just you. You only receive special attention because you share origins with him. You are a possible rival, one of the few worthy of his personal attention. Above all else, you are family."
"No!" Maiyn's shout drew looks from some of the other customers, but she ignored them, her glare fixed on Tamoko. "He is nothing to me."
The woman smiled slightly. "Does the thought disturb you? It should not; monsters are often closer to us than we like to think," she murmured. "Whether you like it or not, you are siblings, and the paths open to him are also open to you. You, however, had Gorion to guide you - he had no one. He's drawn his strength from his hatred, from the thought of rising above those he knows to be his inferior. His divine blood hungers for conquest, and that is why he must be defeated but not killed. He serves another, but he does not realise it."
Maiyn frowned. "Serves another? Of what do you speak?"
"The child becomes the father," said Tamoko simply. "Or so it desperately wishes. The blood pulls and calls and demands. Alaundo did say unto the ages that the Lord of Murder would perish, and in his doom he would spawn his mortal progeny. Chaos would be sown into their passage, but to what purpose? You have felt the hunger and heard the offerings of power? Sarevok has, and he believes them to be true so he seeks a senseless war, and a slaughter so grand as to defy description. He thinks it will launch him to... to what?" She sighed. "Possibly he is right, but I cannot lose him to this."
"Why do you oppose him?" asked Maiyn suddenly. "You clearly care for him, and you seek to protect his life, but not his ambition."
"Sarevok is..." Tamoko's voice faltered, and she took a moment to compose herself. "I share his company, and I would do so until I die, given the choice. That is all you need to know. I... I would save the man within the beast if he wishes to be. I do not believe he will survive his plan; it is all based on conjecture at best. He feels that he will become more powerful than he is, but I do not share that belief. "
Maiyn sighed and averted her eyes from the woman's pleading stare. "I... I shall strive to stop him, and I will do what I can to see he lives."
"You have my thanks," said Tamoko formally, bowing her head slightly. "He can be redeemed, I know he can. I will tell you what I know, though most of it I think you are aware of. Duke Entar Silvershield was killed by two of Sarevok's assassins - people known as Krystin and Slythe. They are resident in the 'Undercellar' now, preparing to assault Duke Belt and Duchess Liia at Sarevok's election ceremony tonight. He also has several shapeshifters ready to get into the palace alongside him; they have taken the faces of several known noblemen."
"We intend to go to the Undercellar now to find the assassins," said Maiyn quietly.
"Then search their bodies well when you kill them," advised Tamoko. "No one shall be admitted to the Palace without an invitation, and they will be in possession of one. Should you manage to disrupt Sarevok's plan enough, he will retreat to another place under the ground. He found an old town, the Undercity. There is a temple there, a Temple of Bhaal from the olden days. He says he can draw power from the surroundings, and it is there he will run to if he feels his plans are in danger of failing. I am not sure how exactly you would get there though."
Maiyn nodded. "It is still helpful to know," she said.
"There... is one other thing," said Tamoko hesitantly. "There is another. Atop the Iron Throne citadel there is a woman whose... whose influence is a poison in Sarevok's soul. If she were removed... I know he would listen to my reason. To my pleading."
"What is her name?"
"Cythandria," said Tamoko softly. "She holds much power in this matter, and she seeks his favour. She will gladly see him self-destruct as long as she profits."
Maiyn nodded. "We shall find her," she assured Tamoko. The kensai nodded and stood.
"I must go," she said. "He cannot know I helped you. Good... good luck."
Maiyn noticed her companions had gathered beside the bar, and she moved over to them, briefing them on her discussion with Tamoko.
"We will be pushed to get to the base of the Iron Throne as well as these 'Undercellars' before the ceremony is due to begin," noted Jaheira.
"Not if we use the sewers," said Coran thoughtfully, ignoring the disgusted looks from Alora, Dynaheir and Imoen. "We will not need to worry about the Flaming Fist down there, and I have used them often enough to know my way around them quite well. There is a pretty direct route between most places."
Maiyn nodded. "Then we will go to the Blushing Mermaid now, and decide from there what we do next. Coran - lead the way, but avoid the more well travelled routes. The Flaming Fist may be busy with preparations for this evening, but we cannot run the risk of encountering them."
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"Are ye lookin' fer a good time then honey?" Maiyn stepped between the courtesan and Coran and glared coldly at her.
"We're looking for two people," she said frostily. "Perhaps you could tell us where they are."
"That depends on who it is, doesn't it? And time is money..."
Maiyn grumbled and offered the girl a few gold coins to point out Krystin and Slythe. The girl pointed down to the end of a dark corridor, explaining that the 'pleasure pit' lay beyond it and they'd find the visitors partaking within. Maiyn looked helplessly at Jaheira, and the druid grinned wryly at the ranger's worried expression.
"Follow me," Jaheira said softly, leading the way past the rooms that branched off, some with their doors left brashly open, the sights causing Xan and Yeslick to blush furiously. Dynaheir was carrying herself straight, deliberately focusing on the ground directly ahead of her; almost as if she was pretending she was somewhere else. Maiyn gave Coran a curious look when they passed one particularly extravagant display, and the elf shrugged uncomfortably in return, carefully avoiding eye contact.
Maiyn could slowly make out a room at the end of the passage; gaudy drapes hung on the walls, and matching cushions and blankets were strewn across the floor. Atop these were several people, all in a state of undress. Jaheira paused, and turned to Maiyn.
"Would you prefer Khalid and I to see to this?" she asked. Maiyn nodded, feeling suddenly self-conscious. She shifted back uncomfortably, her eyes fixed to the ground. Jaheira signalled for Khalid, Minsc and Coran to follow her, and the four fighters set off down the passage. The others waited in an uncomfortable silence, only looking up when a bright light flashed up in the distance. Shortly after a scantily clad young woman ran past, screaming in terror and ignoring the group standing around, littering the corridor. Not long after their companions returned.
"It is not hard to bring down foes who appear to have mislaid both their clothing and spellbooks," remarked Jaheira dryly, handing some parchments to Maiyn. The ranger noted that one was an invitation, and the other was a letter, which she quickly read.
Slythe,
The time to strike is now. An invitation to the party is enclosed - you will meet the others at the sewer entrance by the palace. Insinuate yourselves into the crowd in the ballroom and wait for me to finish my speech. When I am done, act. The assassins shall go in ahead if you do not show up on time, and your pay will be forfeit. It is in your best interests to partake in this operation.
Sarevok
"We have time to get to the Iron Throne," said Maiyn calmly, putting both parchments safely into her pocket. She idly wondered on the collection of correspondences she'd managed to gather over the past few weeks. "Coran, can you lead us there?"
The elf nodded, and led the way quietly. Several working girls were peering out from their rooms, watching the adventurers leave; too scared to say anything, but having been alerted to the fact that things weren't right by the screaming harlot. Maiyn and her friends ignored them, plunging back into the slimy effluent of the city sewers; Dynaheir's complaints being the only noise around them, other than the sloshing of the murky water, as they half-walked, half-waded.
