The revenge Chapter 6, a baldur's gate fanfic

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.

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!

Chapter6 - 1

Nightal 18th, 1369

Athkatla, Amn

Jan Jansen walked through the streets of the docks. A fresh load of turnips had come from Calimport and the gnome wanted to inspect the goods. The last load had been spoiled and Jan had got some trouble with his clients. The man, who had sold him the turnips, had already paid for the try to trick Jan. He had got a strange rash that would take a very long while. Jan grinned. The jerk would never a gnome again…

When he came to Cromwell's house, he stopped.

It was silent here: Too silent.

Of course it was silence: It was evening, it was dark, cold and the streets were full of snow. Nobody was in the streets at the moment.

But this silence was different.

He tightened and took his legendary weapon, the mighty skull thrower. Then he saw the four hooded persons who stood in the shadows of Cromwell's house and turned to them, "Hi guys! Eh… I'm just a poor gnome and I have really nothing of value… except for my turnips. My whole family's poor, even aunt Toti who was the wife of Gnorro the Eight, the king of the Amnish goblins. Unfortunately all he left after he had died in his heroic fight against the zombies of the Trademeet's graveyard was a wooden staff, an ordinary short swords and hordes of hungry goblins, which still terrorize poor adventurers…After that aunt Toti'd had the chance to become a mighty warlord and to vandalize Amn, but she decided to stay in Athkatla. I, eh, just want to say, she's still in charge of the goblins and if you hurt me, masses of angry goblins will mob you!"

One of the persons in the shadow made a step forward, "You're still a nuisance, Jan." The person took down her cape and Jan's face brightened when he heard Nalia.

"Oh hello! I feared you wanted to rob and murder me."

Nalia's companions put down her capes and the gnome recognized Imoen, Keto and another woman. Imoen grinned at him, "So you wanted to blab us to death?"

"Immy! How you're doing? Nice to meet you again. I hope you've got your soul back."

"Yes, we've defeated Irenicus."

"That's good… Ah, Keto! How you're doing? I'm really glad to meet you again."

"Eh, why?"

"Do you remember the stories I've told you from my adventures?"

"Oh, yes, of course! And I may say that my audience loved to hear those stories. Your stories are already famous in Turmish and in the Dalelands."

"Ah, I've known it all the time! I'm a public person… Eh, yes, listen, I've began to write down the story of my family, so you can tell it when I've completed this literary work."

Keto's face flashed happily, "That's great, Jan. I would be glad if I can tell the memoirs of your family. That's a great honour…"

Nalia cleared her throat, "Keto, Jan, please…"

Jan looked at her in irritation, but said after a moment, "Eh yes, sorry." He turned to Chloe, "Hm, I'm not sure if I know you…"

"I'm Chloe, daughter of the mighty goddess Arcadia, gnome."

"Nice to meet you, Chlo, I'm Jan, the nephew of the king of the goblins."

"My name is 'Chloe', not 'Chlo'," the kensai said saturnine.

"Oh, yes, Chlo."

Chloe looked at Nalia constrainedly, "Nalia, I don't see the necessity to talk to this… gnome."

Nalia grinned, "Chloe, he's the best illusionist and burglar between here and Waterdeep and we need him!"

Chloe grumbled, but Nalia looked to Jan again, "We need your help. It's about Shelara."

The gnome turned serious and nodded, "I've heard about that. We should go to my house. There are always curious ears in the streets."

Nalia nodded, "Seems to be a good plan… Jan?"

"Nali?"

"Eh, are there really goblins among your relatives?"

"Oh yes! Do you want that I tell you the whole story?"

"No! Please… just lead us to your home."

Ma Jansen hadn't forgotten that Nalia and Keto had been in the group that had saved the daughter of Jan's first love. And Ma Jansen was still grateful enough to offer them Jan's best turnip beer.

Nalia sipped at the jug. The four women had left the keep yesterday after Nalia had given the control over the keep to the Major Domo. She was sure that he and Cernick would defend her lands with all power.

Because the council of the city, the nobles and particularly the Cowled Wizards didn't allow to use magic in public Nalia and Imoen had teleported the group to a small village close to Athkatla. They had bought four pair of snow shoes and wandered to the city after that.

Ma Jansen left the room and the noble cleared her throat, "Jan, I hope you can help us. We know what will happen to Shelara and we aren't willing to let it happen."

The gnome nodded, "The execution is set in the morning in three days."

Imoen stared to the ground and whispered, "What has she done?"

"It's said, she had poisoned lord Deril while he was in… some kid of medical treatment at Shelara."

"Some kind?"

"It was a very… personal treatment. It's said that Deril needed a special potion to fulfill his marital duties," Jan grinned.

Imoen shook her head, "Shelara would never kill a person in such a devious way. And by the way, are there any witnesses?"

"Yes, unfortunately. There was a cleric of Talos who stood just two feet next to Deril when Shelara gave him the potion. The lord died a painful death and I have to admit that just a priestess of Shelara's knowledge can make this poison."

"But she never would do that!" Imoen stated.

"I know. And the whole city knows. But the judges don't see it in that way."

"But…!"

Nalia placed a hand on Imoen's shoulder, "Immy, calm down… Jan, what do you think of this situation?"

The gnome hesitated a moment, "It looks like a put-up job. The Cowled Wizards and the council didn't seem to have a problem with the death of Shelara. The Talosians… you know, the relationship between the Talosians and Shelara aren't the best and it doesn't surprises me that the only witness of the happening is a Talosian. And I know that this poison is also used by Talosions… On the other hand, I have to say that there's evidence against her and it's known that Shelara had an argument with lord Deril in the past."

Chloe asked after a moment of silence, "What tells you heart, gnome?"

Jan sighed, "I can't imagine that she's a criminal. She's a priestess because she wants to help people."

Imoen nodded, "Yeah, that's the point."

"And how do we free her?" Keto asked.

Jan grinned, "That's no problem. It's pretty easy to unlock the doors of the prison."

"Why do you know that, gnome?" Chloe asked skeptically.

"Oh, I was there a few times."

"You're a criminal?"
"Criminal is such a hard word. But the turnip-business is quite dirty and sometimes I have to do things, I'm not proud of."

"Whatever," Nalia interrupted them and turned to Jan, "To get her out of the prison is one part of the job, but how we get her out of Athkatla?"

"That's a problem," Imoen explained. "Besides, I can't imagine that she likes to run away from the Amnish law, especially when she's innocent."

Nalia nodded, "We have to convince the council that she's not guilty."

"And how you want to do that?"

Silence.

"We just need help… A powerful supporter," Jan explained.

"The Radiant Hearts?"

"Yes."

"Sure. We can ask Anomen to help us."

"Ano? As far as I know he will return this evening from the boarder of Tethyr," the gnome said.

Keto stared at the archmage and noble, "Nalia! Anomen is a knight and a priest of the Holy order of the Radiant Hearts! He's a man of honor and all those stupid things. Nobody can persuade him to help an inmate."

"He's still indebted in Shelara. And if we convince him, I'm sure that we can win. The Order of the Radiant Hearts has enough influence."

"But why we have to free Shelara, when Ano witness her innocence."

"We can't wait until the judges set her free. Jan and Anomen have to prove her innocence without us. When we freed her, we go to save Jaheira. She's in danger, too."

The gnome considered for a moment, "All right."

Chapter6 - 2

Nightal 19th, 1369

Athkatla, Amn

Anomen sat in his room with a bottle of wine they had brought from the south. A few soldiers from Tethyr had raided a southern Amnish village and the council had sent troops to settle down this conflict. Anomen had commanded the troops and he brought the negotiations to a peaceful end after he had met the enemy. The Amnish and Tethyrish soldiers went home without losses and with full honor.

But it had been tiring and he was glad to be here again.

He eyed the bottle sceptically. It was a wine from the Purple Hills in the west of Tethyr. The commander of the opposing forces had given him the bottle as a present, to show the new friendship between the two countries.

Whatever.

Suddenly he shook his head: He would never drink alcohol. His father had been addicted to that drug and the knight wouldn't do the same mistake.

He froze immediately.

On the other side of the room he saw a glittering in the air. He drew his long sword when he realized that someone teleports into this room… The headquarters of the order was protected with strong spells. Whoever was able to teleport to this place had to be very powerful.

He relaxed, when he saw Nalia.

The mage bowed, "Greetings, knight Anomen."

Anomen smiled, "It's always nice to see you, Nalia. But why didn't you use the door?"

Nalia smiled amusedly, but turned serious again after a short moment, "I need your help… Shelara needs your help."

He sighed, "Shelara? What had she done this time? Helped a poor thief one more time?"

"Eh, Ano, it's serious enough. You don't have to make jokes about it."
"About what?"

Silence.

"You don't know it?"

"Know what?"

"It's said she has poisoned lord Deril in front of the eyes of a talosian priest… She will be executed in three days."

" Eh… what?? I didn't know! I returned to the city this morning."

"Ano, anybody else can tell you the story. We must hurry to save her life."

He nodded immediately, "All right. What I have to do?"

Nalia nodded, "Go to the council and to ask them to reopen the case."

Anomen rolled his eyes, "The order has no influence on the judges. I can't do that, Nalia. "

"Try to convince them that it was the wrong decision."

"Nalia…"

"Anomen! Remember that you had murdered a noble without our help! She convinced you to follow the path of the good. You must help us! That's your debt."

The knight sighed, "I will do what I can do."

"All right. When you can do it?"

"Hm, the council will hold a meeting in two days, I've heard."

"Thank you."

"Hm… Is that all?"

"No, unfortunately not… Ano, you have to prove her innocence without me. Everyone of our group is in trouble and we can't wait, until she is set free correctly."

He sighed, "I can see what do you want to say and I don't like it… You want that I prove her innocence, but you will free her from the prison on your own?"

"Yes. Believe me, it's important."

"But it's NOT correct!"

"Damn! While we are standing here, Jaheira, Saerileth and Yasraena suffer!"

Silence.

"Please, help us! We will take the penalties for the break after we return. You have my word!"

"Your word as a noble of Amn?"

"Yes."

"All right. I will do what you want."

Nalia nodded, "Thank you. We will not forget that help. Eh… and there's a third point…"

"Yes?"

"I've heard that you're a commander of the order."

"That's right."

"Someone out there tries to destroy Shelara's old party and I'm afraid that my lands will be attacked once more. Perhaps you can send a group of a few knights to my keep, until our enemies are overwhelmed. Nobody will dare to attack the keep if a group of the Radiant Hearts is there."

"That's no problem. I can do it immediately."

"Thank you again, my dear Anomen. I'm indebted to you. But, I'm sorry, I have to go now. I have to see a few other people."

Anomen saw words on her lips, and then she vanished in a flash of pure magical energy.

Chapter6 - 3

Nightal 21th, 1369

Athkatla, Amn

Jan passed the gates of the prison without problems.

As he knew from different situations the locks weren't a great challenge. It was known in the prison that Jan entered and left as he wanted. The first times it had caused problems with the guards, but after an 'unknown benefactor' had began to send a load of fresh turnip beer to the guards in every month, Jan was welcome in the prison, as guest, thief or as prisoner.

The gnome knew that the front door wasn't guarded with magical traps. The soldiers couldn't imagine that anyone sneaked into the prison using the front door.

Jan knew that exactly this fact was his chance.

In the beginning of the 'operation' he had entered a house, cast the spell of the improved invisibility, left the house unsighted and sneaked to the prison. On his way he had to watch that his feet didn't left a clear trace in the snow, but after he sneaked along the sides of some houses towards the door of the prison and after he was sure that nobody had seen him, the easy part of the mission began.

He entered the prison.

But Jan had to admit that the mission bored him. It was too easy and the gnome was tempted to made it more difficult, perhaps by rob the snack of the guards or something else. But… he was still in a debt. Sheli had saved the daughter of Lissa… and by the way, he liked Sheli. The priest always tried to listen to every one of his stories without throwing stones.

He slipped through the passages, winded himself next to the guard commander and looked at his allocation plan… Cell number nine. All right, no problem. One of the normal cells.

Suddenly Jan tightened his body when he saw a guard in front of the passage to the cells… Not good. He couldn't go to the cells if there was a guard… He sighed soundlessly and placed himself in the next corner, waiting for the next moment.

Suddenly he heard a voice behind him, "Come on, let's have a snack."

Jan turned and saw two guards leaving the room. The gnome grinned. There was only one guard at the door and Jan knew what to do…

He waited until the guard looked away from him, and then he cast a sleep-spell.

Without any sign of resistance the guard slumped down. Jan grinned and walked to cell number nine.

He didn't need a lock, one or two skillful moves of his hands and the job was done.

When he opened the doors he saw Sheli, sitting on a lonely pallet and staring to the door in confusion. Jan didn't hesitate and made what Nali had told him… He activated the magical sign with his own magical powers… The sign was a special magical rune the archmage had designed in the last weeks: It was a special help to locate a person. A moment after he had activated it, he saw Nali appearing in the corner of the cell.

The archmage turned to Jan and whispered, "Good job Jan, leave now."

For a second he wondered how she could see him – he still was invisible. But then he grinned and left the prison.

Nalia turned to Shelara and her first feeling was anger. She wore nothing more than dirty grey clothes and she was beaten in the face.

Shelara stared at her and whispered, "Nalia, what have you done?"

"I'm saving you, fool."
"But… if they discuss my case in the council, they will set me free. I've done nothing and it's the wrong sign to break out from here."

Nalia rolled her eyes, "Damn, I don't have the time to discuss that now… I'm sorry, Shelara."

Without any forewarning, she cast the sleep-spell.

Shelara felt into Nalia's hands immediately and then, before the spell worked on her with all it's power, they left the prison with an improved teleport-spell.

Chapter6 - 4

Nightal 21th, 1369

Athkatla, Amn

The temple of Lathander was protected with mighty spells which made it impossible to enter the temple with a teleport spell. Imoen knew that her sister would condemn her action, but for the archmage it was just a thrilling challenge of her skills.

And Imoen was sure she would get what she wanted: No one out there was able to stop her.

She passed the temples and greeted the priest who stood in front of the temples. The building she wanted to get in was in one of the backstreets behind the temples. She wasn't as often in this part of Athkatla, but she knew where to go.

She walked on, made a turn in one of these backstreets and smiled. If it was impossible to crack the temple with magic, she would do that as a common thief…

She speeded her steps, but stayed silent and melted with the shadows under the walls of the houses in this narrow alley. Then she stopped in front of an old door. Imoen opened it soundlessly and looked into the house.

Nobody here.

She grinned and decided to enter the house, but then she stopped, checked the room for traps. After a moment she nodded and crossed the room, reached a stairway which led to the next floor.

Suddenly she froze: She heared two voices beyond the door.

Imoen ignored them and walked up to the first floor. She had broken in too many houses, keeps, dungeons, headquarters or temples to become nervous just of two voices.

She reached the floor and stared the wall.

Anywhere here… Shelara had told her, it was anywhere in the south side of the first floor. Suddenly she grinned. Yeah, she felt it. There was a hole in the wall, covered with a wooden shed.

Shelara had told her that she liked to leave the temple on this way, when she wanted to relax. Imoen could understand it. Those Lathander-guys could be difficult sometimes, she supposed – although she knew that Shelara would see it differently.

She froze.

Breathing.

In the shadows behind her.

Imoen turned around, ready to fight. She hadn't a weapon with her, but she knew that she could cast a fast and deadly spell, if it was necessary. She tried to focus on the person… and relaxed.

A little girl who looked at her with panic in her eyes.

The archmage smiled at her warmly. Suddenly the girl whispered, "Are… you… a thief? Do you kill me now?"

"No… I didn't come for you… or your parents. I just want to go through the house. It's important for me to do that."

Silence.

Imoen went on talking, "But you must promise me not to say anybody that I was here… otherwise I turn you into a… hm… frog!"

The eyes of the girls widened, but in the next moment she looked to Imoen "You don't look like a mage!"

The mage grinned, whispered one word and a magical ball appeared in her palm. The girl stared at it and in the next moment Imoen shot it on a point on the ground… and saw as a flower broke through the ground and evolved a delicate red blossom.

"Do you believe me now?" Imoen asked and added, "Better you leave the house now."

The girl nodded and left the floor.

Imoen smiled for a moment, but then she turned serious, brushed the shed aside and stared out in the evening. There were a few feet of untilled space between this house and the wall of the temple. Imoen slid to the ground and climbed over the wall. As a thief she was familiar with climbing and she knew that this ability was necessary to become a good burglar. A few weeks ago, she had placed a training course in the headquarters of her new thief-guild in Waterdeep to practice such things.

Imoen reached the ground and looked around. She was in the garden of the temple where the priests planted some of their herbs.

She melted again in the shadows and covered her with her cape of invisibility. But she had to take care. Although no one could see her that didn't mean that no one could discover her…

Then she entered the temple.

She sneaked along the walls, tried to check the rooms. Damn! Where it was?

Two guards at the front door were lost in a discussion about anything and one of the priests was listening to them. Another priest stood at a table and prepared ointments, perhaps for tomorrow. Imoen sighed and whispered a simple localization-spell… and in the next moment she knew that the things, she looked for, were behind the left door.

She opened it without a sound… and closed it immediately after a moment.

She froze.

A priest stood in the room and stared at the door: It was clear that he had seen as the door had opened and closed.

The man cleared his throat, "Whoever you are… show and identify yourself!"

Imoen thought a short moment, but then put down her cape. It was better to show her. Perhaps there was a way she could avoid a fight.

The priest eyed her sceptically, but after a moment he asked, "I know you! Aren't you Shelara's sister?"

"Yeah, I'm Imoen."
"Imoen… yes, that was the name… What do you want and why do you come as a thief?"

"Do you really have to ask?"

The priest smiled and hesitated. Then he turned to the door and whispered, "The order of the Lathanderians can't do anything. We know that there's an intrigue against her, but we have to accept the evidence against her, no matter if the evidence is right or wrong. We have to accept the law, even if it's corrupt… My temple has hoped that anyone like you would come… Take as much as you need and free her!"

Without saying one more word, he left the room.

Imoen stared at the door, but then she grinned. Yes. They would free her.

She went to a locked chest and began to unlock the chest immediately. It just took a few moments until she had opened it.

When she looked into the chest, she smiled satisfied.

It was here. She couldn't find every one of Shelara's items, but she found the crimson chain, the staff of Rynn, her gauntlets of ogre power, her girdle of frost giant strength, the amulet of the Seldarin and perhaps her most important item, the ring of human influence, which charmed even her worst enemies.

Without the ring Shelara had this damn arrogant tone in her voice and was insulting sometimes.

Hm, perhaps Imoen should keep the ring.

She grinned. No, it wasn't fair to her sister and, by the way, she didn't need it. Imoen placed her hand on the chest, whispered the teleport spell and with the power of an archmage she left the temple.

Chapter6 - 5

Nightal 21th, 1369

Athkatla, Amn

When she woke up, Shelara stared at the ceiling of the room and looked around for a moment: It was unpleasant, dirty and wet.

Shelara noticed that there was fresh clothing on a chair next to her mat. Suddenly she sighed and yawned: a late reaction to Nalias spell.

The priestess shot up. Nalia!

Her eyes widened when she thought at the archmage. Perhaps she could prevent Nalia from making one more mistake, perhaps she could convince her that that the council would set her free. Perhaps…

She sat up, changed her old clothing with a long white undergarment, opened the door and …

…froze.

She knew the persons who were in this room, but she hadn't believed to see them all together in one room: Imoen, Nalia, Keto, Chloe, Kreel, the dawn master of Lathander and Aran Linveil, the chief of the shadow thieves in Athkatla.

She hesitated, swallowed and stared at them.

Aran bowed with a smile, "Ah, I see, you're awaken. The spell took a bit longer than we thought, so we placed you in the next room. Perhaps it's because an archmage cast the spell."

Imoen began to smile happily when she saw her sister, "Sheli, how you're doin'?"

Shelara smiled to her sister warmly, ignored Aran and turned to Nalia, "What have you done, stupid woman? Why? It's just a trifle, nothing I can't manage. "

"No, it's n…" Nalia began to say.

"They wanted to execute you tomorrow!" Imoen interrupted Nalia.

The priestess stared at her unbelievingly, "But I… I… haven't done…"

"We're the victims of a conspiracy, Shelara. And the initiators of this conspiracy already tried to kill me, Chloe, Nalia and Keto. We don't know what happened to Jaheira, Yasraena and Saerileth, but it's sure that they are in great danger. If we don't help them, they will suffer and die."

Silence.

Shelara's eyes widened, "What?"

Suddenly Kreel cleared his throat, "The archmage is right, sister Shelara. The enemy wants to annihilate your old party."

"But…"

Kreel kept on talking, "The temple can't help you. The evidence against you wrong, everybody knows that, but the temple can't work against the law."

"I… understand, brother Kreel."

"But keep one thing in mind, while you fight for your companions: The temple doesn't believe that you're guilty."

Nalia interrupted them, "Whatever. The most important thing is that we leave the city. We tell you the details later."

"I think, the lady's right and perhaps I might add that it's time to go," Aran told.

Shelara stared at him with an icy glance, "You don't have to order anything, thief."
"Oh, no need to thank me immediately that I helped to rescue now. You can do that later."

She sighed, "I'm sorry, Aran. I'm sure your intensions to save me were honestly in this time, but…"

"…but you can't forgive me that I used you when we fought against Bodhi?"

Shelara's eyes flashed in anger, but she didn't answer. Then she turned to Nalia, "On which way do we leave the city? We can't do it with a teleport. The Cowled Wizards will recognize if Immy and I teleport a complete group out of here. And to leave the city through the gates could too dangerously."

Nalia nodded, "Yes, you're right. That's the reason why we need our 'friend' here."

She pointed at Aran, "He offered me that we can use a secret sewer, which leads out of the city."

"Hm, sounds like a plan although I hate the sewers."

"Like every one of us," Nalia whispered.

Imoen cleared her throat, "But first… we have a little 'present' for you…"

The brown haired archmage pointed at an inconspicuous chest behind her and opened it. Shelara rolled her eyes when she saw her equipment, "Imoen, did you rob the Holy order of Lathander?"

Kreel grinned, "Eh, I wouldn't say that she robbed the order because your equipment wasn't the property of the order. In fact she robbed you."

Imoen smiled at her sister, "Yeah, sis', he's right. But I'm sure that Sune and Lathander will forgive me… But please, don't waste time now and dress ya. Jaheira's dying out there and we have to save her. So put your equipment, take your pack and let's go."

"But my hearings…"

"We asked Ano to handle with this. Don't think about this. He knows what to do."

Shelara looked at them, managed a smile and nodded, "All right… and…"

"Hm?"

"Thank you," she whispered and made her rescuers smile with her words.

-tbc-