Take A Number

Despite the darkness that surrounded them physically, the spirits of the adventurers could not have been higher as they made their way out of the graveyard crypts. Khan and the rest of the party had just finished an excursion into the caverns and tombs below the Graveyard District, searching out the last few hundred gold they needed before taking off to rescue Imoen. They had done a number of quests here and there, and would soon be heading out after their missing companion. No more dungeon crawling, no more traveling dozens of miles to perform some rescue or battle... their logbook was empty, and they were on their way.

Khan couldn't keep a contented smile off his face as they turned the last corner before reaching the stair that headed back toward the surface world. Aerie and Yoshimo were beside him, the two chatting a bit about their recent battles. In truth, they had been down in the crypts far longer than desired. At least four days; thanks to the energy draining powers of the wraiths and vampires they had killed, rest had been quite necessary and often repeatedly. It had been far too long since they had spied the outside world; Khan quickened his own pace, surging ahead of the thief and cleric as he hit the stairway, almost sprinting up as his head broke the surface of the tomb and entered the fresh, free air once more-

What the party could see of Khan's body jolted, and in a split-second he was descending the stairs again; this time headed the opposite direction with a look of hesitant disbelief. Aerie and Yoshimo frowned, Jaheira pursing her lips. "Tell me, Khan... did you forget what we're doing? The exit is right behind you; we have enough gold, there is no need to return to the crypts."

"No... no, I understand." he forced a smile. "There are three exits to this crypt, right?"

Keldorn thought for a moment and said, "Yes... I suppose there are. Why do you ask? We are already at this one."

"I just... uh, I think we should take a different one, that's all." Khan muttered as he waved the group back into the crypts, the others following in confusion. Khan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief the further they got away from the exit, though he did not say anything to explain his somewhat curious behavior. Keldorn glanced back toward the exit they were leaving behind; he could have sworn he heard noise coming from the outside world, almost like a low clamor, the murmuring of words too low to be made out... but he shook his head and continued to follow Khan. The path leading to the second of the exits to the outside world was not terribly long; they reached the exit within the hour. Minsc headed straight towards it, particularly eager to leave the crypts since their food supply had run out while underground; the ranger was more than a little hungry.

A chill hit Khan's body as he considered a rather frightening possiblity; taking Minsc by the arm, he stopped the ranger. "Just a second, Minsc... I want to check something out real quick."

The ranger shrugged and let Khan creep up the stairs, much slower than he had the first time, all the members of his party still in utter confusion at his actions. Khan's eyes slowly rose above the level where he could see out...

Khan ducked back inside with a curse of disbelief. Darting back to the others, he looked at Keldorn again frantically. "Third exit?"

"Over in the south eastern corner of the tomb, what-"

"No time to explain now." Khan cut him off, moving quickly enough it was all the others could do to keep up, much less inquire as to why they had spurned their second chance of leaving the underground tombs. Khan's face was lined with worry and sweat, a hint of fear in his eyes as he ran. Impossible... they found us. They found us!! How could they track us down? And know where we were? These fiends will stop at nothing to get us all... I can't let them catch us. We have to escape, somehow... somehow without them seeing us. The second they do... no matter where we go or how we hide, they'll take us. And we won't be able to do a damn thing. We'll never rescue Imoen in time if they catch us. One at a time, we could probably handle them... but so many, all at once? Torm help us.

"Did you hear me, Khan? Are you even listening to me?!"

Jaheira's annoyed tone shocked Khan back into reality, the paladin turning to face the irate druid and the admittedly confused rest of the party. "What do you think you're doing, leading us around in circles like this? Have you lost your senses?"

"Don't worry; I've got it under control." Khan assured. "We'll be out soon enough; the third exit is just ahead. We'll take that way."

Khan gestured towards the third exit, the others finally breathing a sigh of relief as they started to head out... until a still suspicious Khan darted in front of them again and said, "Er... hold on just one more moment."

"Khan!!" the irritated cries and exasperated groans of his party barely registered as the paladin snuck over to the door, opened it ever so slowly and peeked his head out... before slamming it shut and slapping his forehead with disbelief.

"It's impossible." Khan groaned in horror to himself. "How could they know? All of them, waiting for us, exactly where we'd come back out? I don't understand..."

"You're not the only one who doesn't understand." Jaheira snapped. "Khan, whatever game you're playing... enough. We're leaving. Now."

"It's not a game, it's for our protection!" Khan pleaded, now being forced to follow the other five as they headed for the door he had just shut. "Trust me, you don't want to go out there, there's way too many of them!"

"Too many of what?" Minsc frowned as they swung the door open wide...

A roar of recognition sounded through the air as a horde of people came running towards the shocked party all at once, enclosing in around them and preventing any further retreat into the crypts.

"Hey! Hey, my Uncle Gaelan has a message for you! You need to meet him at his house in the Slums-"

"My mistress has a message for you... she says if you desire to save much gold and save your friend, meet her in the Graveyards at night-"

"Oy! Higgold says he needs you to come to the Five Flagons straight away, something about the play being cursed-"

"You... you look like warriors, my village in the Umar Hills is in trouble-"

"Hold! Let Harper justice take its rightful course-"

"My Lords! Lord Roenall and his forces have been sighted moving towards the De'Arnise Keep-"

"Aerie? Is that you? I have a message from your Uncle Quayle, something about a friend of his named Raelis Shai-"

"What the-" Jaheira whirled back and forth, recoiling from the numerous people clawing and grabbing for their attention.

"I told you so." Khan cursed disgustedly as he looked on, watching Yoshimo furiously write down each of their new quests in their previously empty logbook. "Damn game-time clock..."