The sun was setting by the time they arrived in Beregost. Silandra had thought it important to make good time in case Tranzig moved on, and she knew her group could handle the fast pace. Yet she did wonder if it would not have been wiser to spend two nights in the wilderness and arrive refreshed for their encounter with Tranzig. She hated that making such decisions was now her responsibility and could only hope things went smoothly.

Before heading down the darkening streets towards their target, they made a brief stop at the Burning Wizard to reserve rooms for the night. They may have some coin now, but not enough to justify the exorbitant prices at Feldepost's.

Silandra drew her hood tighter around her face. She was beginning to realize how important it was to keep herself hidden around people. Because of her efforts to conceal herself, she was more surprised than she would otherwise have been to hear a vaguely familiar voice addressing her.

"Well now young Silandra, our paths cross once more."

She looked up, eyes wide as she realized she had been recognized despite her efforts. Standing before her was a red-robed figure with a matching pointy hat, one she had seen once before.

"Have you been following me?" she asked, unsure whether or not she should be preparing for a fight.

Ajantis, of course, tensed immediately, and Dorn, who had been walking beside Branwen a few paces ahead, turned and moved his hand to his sword, ready to draw it at a moment's notice. Behind her, Silandra was sure her other companions were just as nervous, though she was not going to take her eyes off this man to look.

"Only word of thy deeds," the old man replied. He looked rather amused. "I suppose proper introductions are in order, as we will no doubt meet again. My name is Elminster. It would seem that thou art destined to have quite the impact on the Sword Coast."

Silandra had, of course, heard of Elminster. She was more than a little awed, but remained wary. After all, for all she knew he was Tranzig in disguise. She did feel a tremendous amount of magical energy pouring off the man, getting stronger now as though he had been concealing it before and only now letting his true power show.

"Even if you are Elminster as you say, what would you know about my destiny?" Silandra asked, frowning.

"Alas, that is not something I may share. Thou appear to be on the right path, which is all I care to see at this time. Thou hast surrounded thyself with strong allies, who shall aid thee well in the battles to come. But enough of my ramblings. I understand you have an appointment with a certain wizard. I shall take my leave."

"Wait!" Silandra cried, but the man was already gone. She didn't exactly see him disappear. He was suddenly just not there anymore, and she recalled he had done the same thing the first time she had met him. "Where'd he go?" she asked, half to herself.

"That was really Elminster!" Garrick breathed. "He's probably the most powerful wizard in the world. He can do anything. I wish he would have stayed to answer a few questions."

"We met him once before, on the way to the Friendly Arm," said Imoen. "Wish we'd known who he was then."

"Regardless of what he says, it really does seem like he's following me," Silandra said, frowning. "And he knows my name…"

"Of course he does," said Garrick, still sounding awed. "He's Elminster."

"Well, he made it seem as though we will see him again," said Silandra. "Maybe next time you can ask for an autograph."

Garrick's eyes lit up at the thought, and Imoen looked enchanted by the prospect too.

"Elminster's presence is likely not a good thing," said Xan. "Nor is his apparent interest in you. You should probably tread carefully."

"Well, more carefully than you already do," Imoen added.

Silandra felt ill at ease, but she knew they had to continue. There was no telling how long Tranzig would stay where he was and it was important that they catch him.

"We need to keep going," she said, indicating Feldepost's Inn up ahead.

"We should not all enter at once, just in case he's down in the main part of the inn," Xan said quietly as the inn came into view.

"I agree, 'twould be wise to scout the place first," said Dynaheir.

"I'll go!" Imoen said eagerly. "I can be sneaky, scope the place out. Garrick can go with me."

"I believe I should go," said Xan, sounding reluctant. "I am not overly eager to throw myself into peril but I can communicate from within if necessary."

"How?" Silandra asked, looking at him curiously.

"I can temporarily connect with Dynaheir's mind," said Xan. "We can maintain the channel long enough for me to scout the area and ensure it is safe… and if there is danger and I am physically unable to warn you, I will be able to communicate to her."

Silandra was even more intrigued now. That was something she would like to learn herself, though like so many other things, she suspected it was more advanced than she was ready for. "Alright," she said. "I think that sounds good, if no one else has a better suggestion?"

She glanced around at her companions, and when no one spoke up Xan's plan was enacted. He spent a moment linking hands with Dynaheir, eyes closed, before heading into the inn, his cloak wrapped tightly around him. Silandra found herself feeling anxious for him, despite knowing he was an experienced mage. So far, he had not spoken much of his position as a Greycloak, but she got the sense it was fraught with danger so he was probably used to situations such as this.

Thankfully, a few moments later Dynaheir declared the inn safe, and the rest of the group filed in. Silandra was careful to keep her face covered. It had not prevented Elminster from recognizing her, but she was sure he was a special case.

Dorn and Minsc entered the inn first, followed by the rest of the group. Ajantis was still wary as he stepped inside, looking around the inn himself before relaxing slightly. The common room was full and most of the occupants were listening to music provided by a group of three bards. They were quite good and on some other occasion Silandra would have enjoyed taking a seat to listen, but there was no time for that now. She looked around and saw that Xan was at the bar, speaking with the innkeeper.

"I know what room he is in," he said quietly when he returned to the group. "He is not using his own name, but there cannot be many mages of his power in the area. He rarely leaves his room so he is most likely there now."

"How should we proceed, if he is really so powerful?" Silandra asked, knowing Xan and Dynaheir were much better equipped than she to form a plan.

"I doubt we will be able to sneak up on him," said Xan. "He may have warded his room, so the best we can do is approach with caution and cast whatever protections we can."

"I will cast a blessing," said Branwen. "It will help us to resist his spells. Then when we enter I will attempt to silence him. Without his magic he will be nothing."

"Just remember, we want him alive," said Silandra. "After we have whatever information he can give us, you can do what you want with him. Anything else?"

"He will most likely have magical protections," said Dynaheir. "Xan and I can focus on bringing them down."

"Alright," Silandra said, nodding. She was glad to have people with her who knew how to fight a powerful mage, but she was still nervous about the impending battle. After all, they knew that this man was formidable enough to turn someone to stone, though at least he would not be able to affect the whole group at once with such a spell. "I will try and charm him from the beginning, I think. There may not need to be much of a fight at all. Even if he resists, perhaps I can hold him just long enough to restrain him."

After Branwen's blessing, the group moved up the stairs and down the hall to Tranzig's room. Xan examined the door for a moment and ran a hand over it, then waved Imoen over. He did not speak, instead indicating the doorknob. Silandra couldn't see anything untoward about it, but Imoen frowned and pulled something from the toolbelt at her waist with the kind of silence only she was capable of. There was a quiet click, and then another as she unlocked the door.

The door opened, Dorn and Minsc taking the lead, and a faint alarm began ringing throughout the room. It was hardly necessary for the sole occupant had obviously been expecting them.

He was a rather scrawny and plain man, his dark robes hanging off him loosely. If not for the strong magical aura he emitted, he would be easily dismissed as harmless.

"I was wondering when you would show up," he said. "I'm glad, actually. I was hoping for the chance to kill you myself."

It looked like he wanted to say more, but Silandra was already pressing her influence on him, not wanting to give him the chance to start casting anything. She was not particularly surprised when she encountered resistance, but she decided to press further. She knew that pushing too hard could be dangerous, but she did not particularly care about the future state of this man's mind so long as he gave her the information she needed.

"You should know better than to think I would not have prepared for your… abilities," the man said, sneering. "You will find me a much more competent opponent than the riffraff you have encountered thus far."

There was no further warning before his spell protections sprang into place and he began casting. Branwen was quick with her silencing spell, but it evidently did not take effect. Xan and Dynaheir finished their dispels but some of Tranzig's defenses remained. Minsc charged at the wizard full force, but bounced off some kind of invisible barrier, tumbling to the ground. Dorn and Ajantis approached with more caution, though their blows also glanced off harmlessly. They were not going to be able to prevent his first spell. Silandra could only hope it wouldn't be too devastating.

The wizard's spell finished and a bright golden light issued forth from his hands, enveloping the entire group. Silandra felt the spell still her limbs, so that she was completely unable to move, and saw Minsc freeze in the midst of trying to get up from where he had fallen. Ajantis and Dorn seemed to have resisted the spell's effects, but although she could not see Xan or Dynaheir without turning, she could no longer hear their casting and she did not like to think what that may mean.

"It's pathetic to think that this is the group that has thwarted so many assassins," Tranzig said, apparently unconcerned by Dorn and Ajantis circling him, looking for some kind of weakness.

Silandra thought she may still be able to influence him in this state, but she felt her mind was weaker than usual, and if she could not charm him at her full strength then she did not stand much of a chance now. Still, she tried, since it wasn't like she could do anything else. There was still no movement or sound from behind, which she took to mean that everyone save Ajantis and Dorn had fallen under the same spell she had.

Tranzig took a few steps forward, his magical barrier shoving both Ajantis and Dorn aside. Dorn did not make a sound, preferring to instead glare at the wizard, but Ajantis attempted to put himself between Tranzig and Silandra.

"Stay away from her!" he cried.

Tranzig responded by hitting him with a volley of magic missiles, sending the paladin sprawling. Silandra could not see where he landed, but she did not see him get up and she was instantly even more worried than she was before.

"I must admit that you are stronger than I had expected," Tranzig said. "You will still never be able to influence me like you can so many others. I'm rather tempted to bring you in alive, you know. Someone of your blood and your abilities could be useful, in time. But I have my orders."

Silandra would have been trembling if she had been able to move at all. She wondered how Tranzig planned on killing her, if it would be quick and if it would hurt much. She hoped he would spare her friends, though she was not quite optimistic enough to believe he would.

Then there was the faintest breeze at her back, and a flaming blue blade rushed towards Tranzig's shield. Unlike the attempts of the others, the blade seemed to absorb the shield rather than hit it, though the movement was slowed and the wizard was uninjured. Tranzig looked surprised, but not afraid, at least not until he was suddenly missing an arm. Dorn had not hesitated once the wizard was vulnerable, and the blackguard smirked as he kicked the wizard to the ground.

"Careful, we do need him alive," Xan said.

"He does not need arms to speak," Dorn growled.

"True," Xan replied. "He could still bleed out, however."

He bent down, and there was a sizzling sound and the air was filled with the smell of burning flesh, accompanied by Tranzig's muffled screams. Then Xan began casting, and soon Silandra felt herself able to move once more. She looked down to see Tranzig, bound and gagged for the moment, though he would likely find it difficult to cast spells without his right arm. Steam was issuing from the wound, and Silandra assumed that was what Xan had been attending to.

Branwen was probably itching to address Tranzig, but she took her role as the only healer in the group seriously enough to attend to Ajantis first. Silandra was relieved to see that he was still breathing, and he seemed to recover well enough after Branwen healed him.

Now Branwen came to stand over Tranzig, and he actually looked a little afraid when he saw her.

"I'm glad you remember me, dog," Branwen said, scowling. "By Tempus, my face will be the last you ever see!"

"First, we much interrogate him," Xan reminded her. "Silandra, do you think you could charm him now that he is subdued?"

Silandra tried, and thought it may be possible now that his defenses were down and she herself was not frozen. There was still some kind of mental block in place, perhaps a result of intensive training, but she pushed harder and then it was gone. Tranzig winced, but she ignored his discomfort.

"Answer my companion's questions," she said, nodding slightly at Xan.

"Let's start with something simple," said Xan. "Your name is Tranzig, correct?"

The man nodded. Silandra could already tell that she was not going to be able to make him speak much as he was resisting too hard. This was nothing like when she had charmed Neira, where she had been able to instill a false sense of friendship, at least to a certain extent. This was more like… like a harsh compulsion. She didn't like the sensation; it felt wrong in a way she couldn't quite describe, but she told herself it was necessary and pushed on.

"Who do you work for?" Xan asked.

"Tazok," Tranzig replied, practically spitting out the word.

"Where can we find him?"

Tranzig tried to keep his mouth shut, and Silandra pushed harder, causing him to wince again before he finally answered. "Wood of Sharp Teeth. Don't know where, camp's always moving."

Silandra shuddered involuntarily, feeling a headache coming on.

"Are you alright, Silandra?" Ajantis asked.

"Fine," she breathed. "Yes or no questions are easier."

Xan glanced at her and nodded briefly before continuing. "Have you been distributing the bounty notices calling for Silandra's death?"

The mage nodded.

"Do you know who wants her dead?" A shake. "Or why?"

Tranzig just shrugged. What was that supposed to mean?

"Either you know or you don't," Xan said, frowning.

"Rumors only."

"Explain."

But that was too much, Tranzig pushed back and Silandra had to let him go. She nearly fell, but Ajantis reached out an arm to steady her.

Free at last—at least, mentally—Tranzig's expression returned to the calm façade he had displayed when they first encountered him.

"I could try charming him if we think he has more to tell us," Xan said, glancing down at the wizard calmly.

"If he hath rumors only and knows not who is behind all this then I say he is useless," Dynaheir said.

"There may be truth to these rumors," Dorn said. "Perhaps it would be worth hearing them."

"I can already sense his mind will not be so easy to breach a second time," Xan said. "I doubt it would be worth it. Branwen?"

The cleric did not need to be told twice. She quickly summoned a glowing blue hammer and brought it crashing down on Tranzig's head. Silandra looked away, wincing. Even Imoen looked a little green, and she was usually happy enough to rummage through the pockets of whatever or whoever the group killed, seemingly unaffected by their wounds.

Thankfully, Xan appeared unfazed, and he knelt to search the dead wizard. "We should search the room," he said. "Carefully. There could be more traps."

Imoen nodded and began examining the furniture, looking relieved to have something to do.

Silandra lowered herself to the ground, deciding she was done standing for the time being.

"Are you alright?" Ajantis asked again.

"Just tired," she said. "I need to eat something and sleep."

Imoen's search resulted in a letter, though it only told them what they already knew—Tranzig was working for Tazok, who was somewhere in the Wood of Sharp Teeth.

"I guess that's where we're off to next," said Imoen. "Sounds kinda scary."

"'Tis where I met him," Branwen said, kicking the dead wizard. "Not a bad place. Just a few spiders and wolves."

"Giant spiders?" asked Imoen, likely remembering those they had encountered in the mine.

"Of course," said Branwen, laughing at Imoen's face. "Never fear, I will protect you from them."

"We should leave," Xan said. "It's possible no one heard this through the noise downstairs but we should inform the innkeeper."

Ajantis frowned. "I doubt he will be pleased we killed one of his patrons."

"I'm sure he will not mind if I tell him what Tranzig was up to," Xan replied. "If he gives us any trouble I will charm him."

They headed downstairs, and thankfully the innkeeper was so upset that one of his patrons was in league with the bandits that had been terrorizing the coast that he wasn't particularly angry about the mess he would now have to clean up.

Once they had returned to the Burning Wizard and were eating their dinner, Silandra felt some of her strength return, though she was not in the mood for conversation so she pretended to still be at the point of exhaustion. The memory of her conversation with Ajantis the previous day about potentially discussing religion again may have had something to do with that.

It was not until she was laying down to sleep later that night that she realized it probably would have been useful to know what rumors Tranzig had heard about her. Had she been more aware at the time she liked to think she would have insisted Xan at least try to charm him and find out. But she had been too tired to protest and too trusting of her companions. She could not help but wonder if Dynaheir and perhaps Xan had their own ideas of why she was a target, and she resolved to find out the first chance she got.