Disclaimer:
I don't own Baldur's Gate, the great masterpiece of role-playing.
The story on hand, ‚The revenge' is fan-fiction. I wrote it, because I love to write, but I will not use ‚The revenge' in any commercial way.
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Rating: 'M'. Some scenes may be a 'T', but I had the feeling that a few scenes should be rated as 'MA'. I think, in general it's OK, to give 'M'. If you don't like that or if you are too young, don't read!
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Chapter4 - 1
Nightal 16th, 1369
Athkatla, Amn
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The sun set over the headquarters of the Order of the Radiant Hearts.
Three days ago the clouds from Trackless Sea had brought lots of snow, but now in the early evening, the snowfall was heading to the east.
Shelara smiled when she entered the temple of Lathander through its main gate. Since they had come back from Tethyr, Shelara had decided to stay in the temple and to help the people of Amn in the name of the Lord of the morning dawn.
Of course, first of all she still prayed to her goddess, to Sune, the goddess of beauty and love, but that wasn't a problem. The priestess was sure that Sune was proud of the actions she made in the service of Lathander. Both of the gods were powers of the good and no one of them was a jealous god.
Lost in thoughts, she walked to her rooms and thought about the work she had to make this evening: First, a herald from the Talos-temple wanted to see her. She didn't know what he wanted, but she wanted to make it fast… She didn't like the Talosians and since she and her old party had killed the high priest of Talos their relationship was very fraught. She had performed this murder for the temple of Lathander to prevent a bloody conflict between the two temples and neither the Lathanderians or she were proud of this action, but it had been necessary, unfortunately. Anyhow, she could be glad not to spend too much time with one of the Talosians.
After that Lord Deril, one of Athkatla's nobles had asked for an audience. She had got some trouble with him in the past when she had helped Cernd to find his child, but she was sure that the lord had forgotten this argument. The nobles of Amn, except for Nalia, were too ignorant to remember common people.
Then she had to meditate for Lathander and at the end of the day she wanted to pray to Sune.
Shelara walked to her room, preparing for the herald.
The public hall of the temple was quite empty: there just were two guards. Most of the clerics and guards were in the evening service or made their works in the city.
She passed the guards and gave them a short smile. It was good to have protection, although she was able to defend herself better than these two green rookies could ever do… But she didn't want to fight again: After the defeat of the Amelyssan she had decided to finish with her time as an adventurer once and for all.
She entered her room, prepared for the Talosian, tidied her desk and placed a potion for Deril on the table. Suddenly she heard steps, looked up and saw the herald.
He was a dark haired and tall man with a restless expression on his face. Shelara eyed him shortly: Black trousers, black boots, combined with a brown shirt and a grey cape, but with a richly ornamented ring on his finger. Hm, Talosians. No feelings for fashion.
He bowed and smiled in a way, Shelara didn't like, "The gods may bless you, sister Shelara."
"And so they will with you, brother."
He made a step to the desk, "I'm glad that you gave me this audience. I'm asking you for a service in the names of Talos and of Lathander."
"Yes?"
"Sister, we are tired of fighting against you: I want to invite you to a morning prayer tomorrow."
Shelara looked to him with surprise. He kept on talking, "I'm sure you will accept this offer of peace, although our gods are different. And as a sign for our friendship we give you this amulet…"
He opened a bag of his cape and handed her an amulet.
"Thank you. But tell me: What is it for?"
"It has the power to recover a person's health after a fight."
Shelara nodded, "Very useful. I want to thank you in the name of Lathander and I accept your offer. I will visit your morning prayer tomorrow."
The Talosian smiled, "That's good… But I wanted to ask you for a gift to us, so that Talos sees your friendship… Perhaps you could give me the ring behind you?"
She sighed, turned around for a moment, took the ring and gave it to him. It was a protection ring and belonged to her personal property.
Then she heard steps again and saw Lord Deril coming close. The Talosian bowed, "It seems your next guest awaits you. So I want to say goodbye, sister Shelara."
Lord Deril gave him a short, disparaging glance when he entered the room and turned to Shelara immediately, "Where is it?"
The cleric of Lathander pointed to a small bottle on the desk.
"Does it help?"
"Yes. I've made it with my own hands from the best herbs I found. Do you want to take it with you, my Lord?"
The Talosian still was in the background and Deril shook his head, "No. I don't want to while away my time, priestess. I will drink it right here…"
Without any hesitation he took the bottle and emptied it.
Silence.
Nothing happened for a moment.
Then the pain exploded in his stomach and with a painful cry he felt down to the floor and writhed himself with screams.
The eyes of the Talosian widened and he stared to Shelara, "All gods! You poisoned him!"
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Chapter4 - 2
Nightal 16th, 1369
Forest of Tethyr, Amn
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"Tell me, where we can find her!"
The human pirate from Brynnlaw stood before the elf, but Divalir shook his head and stayed still. The pirate sighed and eyed his prisoner: His loyality to his wife was exemplary – and very stupidly. They had tortured Divalir since the early morning and now, the elf was almost lifeless, "You're a stupid, man. I promise you a quick death, if you tell me, where we can find Yasraena."
"I will NOT betray her!"
"She's a drow. She's not worth your love."
"NO!"
"Do you think that someone out there will accept the marriage between you and her, between an elf and a drow? Be honest: The only reason why you're wandering in this forest is because your people disowned you. Yes, the gates of your hometown, of Suldanessalar aren't open for you, while the drow is at your side."
Divalir stared to the snowy ground and didn't answer.
"You want to go back to Suldanessalar, don't you?"
No answer.
"Tell me, where we can find her and you're free to go back to your beloved city."
No answer.
The pirate sighed again and looked to one of his men, "Bring me the…"
"Stop!"
He whirled around and saw a person between the trees. Divalir's eyes widened, "Yasraena!"
The drow focused the commanding pirate with her eyes, "If I come with you, do you swear that you will spare Divalir."
He grinned, "I swear to you."
"No! Don't do that!" the elf cried in panic.
Yasraena ignored him and made a few steps towards her enemies. They surrounded her and one of them tied her hands on her back. The pirate grinned, took a knife, made a step towards Divalir and attacked…
Yasraena eyes widened in panic and fury when she saw Divalir's corpse falling in the snow. She looked at her enemies, "You… you promised!"
"Hm, you see, I've lied… But enough of this. We have to hurry. They await you in Ust Natha. Your cursed drow sisters haven't forgotten that you were one of Shelara's helper!"
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Chapter4 - 3
Nightal 16th, 1369
Smallteeth pass, Amn
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"Behind you!"
Saerileth jumped to the side, when she heard the warning shout. She gave Lord Edorem, her fiancé, a grateful glance, threw Carsomyr again and attacked one of the Tanar'ri who had ambushed them on the pass. The demons feared the Holy broad sword which was blessed by Tyr. And the paladin knew that they were right to fear this sword: Carsomyr was a sword of legends and one of the greatest weapons Faerûn had ever seen.
Without delay, she hit and saw one of the demons falling.
But new enemies replaced the dead one.
In this moment she accepted her fate to die here on this place and when this thought flashed through her mind she relaxed. She would fight to the end, dying in a glorious battle without whining for her life or for the mercy to die fast.
She smiled and Carsomyr broke through the armor of her next enemy. In her back she heard the death cry of another Tanar'ri: Edorem had killed it. When she had been in Shelara's party, Edorem had helped to save her from the claws of a devil and had confessed her his love.
It was hard that she would die now at such a young age. She would have loved to live longer by his side…
Suddenly she heard his cry: Edorem started and fell. She closed her eyes.
No.
He was dead, killed by those… monsters. She wanted to…
She felt a hard punch on her head; went down to her knees and lost her consciousness.
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One of the demons laughed evilly, "That was nice. Shouldn't we kill her?"
Another Tanar'ri shook his head, "No. You know the plan. The master wants to see her in Sigil. He wasn't amused that a group of ordinary adventurers freed those bards from his planar prison. Saerileth will pay for that in the cells of the master."
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Chapter4 - 4
Nightal 16th, 1369
Druid grove near Trademeet, Amn
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Jaheira looked at the two men in amusement.
As the Grand Druid of the grove she had to settle disputes among their druids and this argue she witnessed was real fun… and pretty ridiculous. It was between two of her shapechagers. To say it in a few words, both had tried to morph into a snow bunny to impress a female druid, but both bunnies were similar ragged and before they did anything stupid to impress her, like to challenge themselves to a deadly fight, Jaheira interrupted their pathetic courtship.
She sighed, "Perhaps…"
The two froze, awaiting her words.
Jaheira grinned, "Perhaps you should try to win her heart with a poem. Women love to hear poems that were made just for them."
They stared at the Grand Druid and one of the asked skeptically, "Is that your… order?"
"No, that's no…" she stopped and grinned, "Yes, that's an order. Try it with poems. If it doesn't work, come again."
They nodded and left the room.
In the background she saw Cernd, who turned to her, "Why did you tell them to come back?"
Jaheira smiled with an evil grin, "I don't believe that these two idiots can win a woman's heart with something complex like a poem."
"But why did you tell them to do it?"
She shrugged her shoulders, "Why not? It's fun."
Cernd nodded: Jaheira was a serious person, but in special moments a black humor flashed in her eyes. He had heard that she had lost her husband in this year. Perhaps this was her way to handle her grief.
The shapeshifter looked at her. Jaheira had been a part of the group which had freed this grove from the hands of dark druids. It was said that she also had defeated a mighty wizard and had stopped a war in the south, before she came back and took the position as the Grand Druid.
"Anyway, shell we go to eat, honorable Grand Druid?"
"Yes, this seems to be a good id…"
Suddenly, from one second to the other, an explosion ripped them off their feet. Jaheira felt as the blast pressed the air out of her lungs, and then she whirled through the room and felt to the floor. Cernd lay on the ground – unconscious, or dead.
Persons came in the hall. The cries of dying druids everywhere… and too many attackers. This wasn't an amateurish raid… it was a well-planned invasion.
One of the attackers came close to her and grinned evilly, "Jaheira, aren't you?"
She looked to him and tried to fight the dizziness in her head. Two more attackers came out of the shadows, kept her down to the ground and fixed a collar of mind control around her neck.
The one who spoke knelt down to her, and whispered, "I'm glad to meet you. This attack is a gift by my master. He wants you to know that we'll destroy your grove and kill every living we can find here. But… your fate is different. We will sell you to a slave plantation in Dambrath."
He stopped, grinned and kept talking, "But first I want to introduce myself: I'm a slave trader and I was a good friend of Baron Ployer."
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-tbc-