Bondari thanks for the review. Yeah I feel bad giving Imoen a rough go of it given what happens in BG2 but what can you do? She has a tough time in this chapter as well.
Chapter 26 – The Blushing Mermaid – Day 91
"Lieutenant, please take this bag to Captain Scar with our complements and inform him that the menace from the sewers is no more. We will come by the Flaming Fist compound tomorrow to provide a more thorough briefing. In the interim the contents of that bag should provide him the necessary information and evidence of our success."
"And tell him not to forget our payment." Ajantis glared at Imoen, annoyed at her interruption, before continuing.
"As I was saying lieutenant, please head straight back to the Flaming Fist compound, report to Captain Scar and we will be there tomorrow."
"Very well Sir Ajantis we will leave straight away."
"I am just a squire good lieutenant, I am not yet a knight on the Order."
"My apologies, Squire Ajantis. Would you like me to leave a few soldiers with you to serve as an escort?"
Minsc clapped the lieutenant on the shoulder and the mercenary flinched from the strength of the friendly blow. "We have no need of assistance from the brave Flaming Fist soldiers. We are heroes of goodness and will celebrate our victory with much food and drink; there will be no more excitement for today."
"Very well. We will return to the Fist headquarters and notify Captain Scar about your success." The lieutenant bowed slightly, formed up his squad and marched them down the street.
The group watched the soldiers march away while Minsc replaced the sewer cover in the middle of the street.
Ajantis rounded on Imoen and glared at her.
"Imoen, please show more respect to the soldiers of the Fist, they are the authority in Baldur's Gate."
"Stuff it Ajantis. I am in no mood to mind my manners or listen to a lecture from a stuffed shirt like you. My clothes are ruined, my favorite boots are ruined, I smell like an ogre's chamber pot and Dynaheir knocked me out. So I am not having a great day."
"I did not knock you out Imoen. I merely cast a sleeping charm on you to stop you from endangering the group. You were quite out of control."
"I was not out of control Dynaheir. I was angry, there is a difference."
"There is anger and then there is out of control rage and that was where you were my dear. If you were more in control of your emotions you would have noticed me casting the spell and could have countered it easily with a minor disruption charm. Any novice apprentice learns disruption charms in their first few months of training and you have already learned them quite well."
Imoen stomped her foot on the ground and it squished when it struck as foul liquid pooled on the street.
"Fine. So I am rude and full of rage. And on top of that I am apparently a lousy apprentice. Well you know what this rage filled girl wants right now? She wants a drink, a bath and some new clothes in that order."
"That sounds like an excellent idea sis, when we get back to the Elfsong drinks and baths are on me. I will even chip in to get you new boots."
"Sod that Jeral. First of all you are definitely paying for the boots and a new outfit, that is not open for discussion. But the Elfsong is almost an hour walk from here. I need a bath and a drink and I need them now. And what do I see right there? Why a tavern called the Blushing Mermaid. It is like the Gods want me to have a drink. I am going in there and no one can stop me."
Imoen stuck her tongue out at the group, tossed her hair over her shoulder and sauntered into the tavern.
"Well I guess I could use a drink, anyone else want one? Apparently I am buying so let's go catch up with Imoen."
Jeral did not wait to hear any responses and headed for the tavern door. His hand reached the door handle when a cry of alarm from Imoen pierced the air. Her scream was quickly followed by a few loud thuds that were quickly followed by an inhuman roar and the sound of splintering wood. Jeral caught a flash of color in his peripheral vision and watched in horror as Imoen was launched through the front window of the tavern in a spray of shattering glass. She landed in a heap in the road and blood flowed from dozens of small wounds.
Imoen held up a trembling arm and pointed at the tavern. In a weak voice she croaked out a warning, "Assassins looking for us and this lot have a giant. You can handle the rest, I am just going to lay here and relax." She sighed deeply and passed out on the ground.
Dynaheir and Yeslick raced over to tend to Imoen while the remaining three drew their swords.
With a roar the entire front wall of the tavern shattered as a hill giant forced his way outside. Almost 12 feet tall the massive creature lumbered towards them. Heavily muscled and twice as broad as any man the creature wore a set of fine black chain mail that was clearly custom made for him from a master armorer. In his hands he carried a large club with iron studs imbedded throughout.
Minsc and Ajantis charged to engage the beast. They were immediately placed on the defensive. Despite the giant's immense bulk he was incredibly agile and wielded his club with dizzying speed. Minsc and Ajantis were forced to parry blow after blow and slowly yielded ground to the creature. The pair was fighting to remain upright and had no chance to land an attacking blow.
Jeral slowly slid to the side, looking to position himself behind the creature to strike. As he was moving the tavern door burst open and a pair of mercenaries emerged. Sighting Jeral the pair charged him. Both were tough looking men who were wearing sets of fine black chain mail. One man wielded a scimitar while the other carried a trident. Both charged Jeral and he was soon twisting and parrying to keep himself from falling to their attacks. The greater reach of their weapons ensured that he could not get close enough to strike a blow. Jeral was more than a match for either one but he was outclassed by the pair of them together.
Yeslick muttered the incantation for a minor healing spell and felt the healing magics flow out of his hands and into the downed girl. The worst of Imoen's wounds closed and she appeared out of danger. Yeslick patted Imoen on the face and looked at Dynaheir.
"This lass will be all right. Please keep an eye on your apprentice for a bit. I will be right back."
Hefting his war hammer he quickly got to his feet and smiled as he contemplated his first ever combat with a traditional dwarven enemy. Uttering a battle cry he charged the giant. Rolling under a strike from the creature's club Yeslick regained his footing and slammed his hammer into the inside of the creature's knee. The hammer struck with a sickening crack as the knee and upper shin shattered. Losing his balance the giant dropped to one knee and reached out to steady himself before he fell to the ground. In such a position one swing from Spider's Bane ended the fight. The giant fell to the ground dead with the massive war blade embedded half way through its neck. Despite the ranger's immense strength and his razor sharp blade he was unable to decapitate the creature in one blow.
Minsc placed a leg on the corpse and slowly worked his blade free. Yeslick stood stock still admiring his handiwork and wiping his hammer off on the giant's clothes.
Seeing that Jeral was outnumbered and on the defensive Ajantis joined him and quickly ran the scimitar armed mercenary through with a well placed strike to the torso. Despite the quality of the man's armor the Paladin's enchanted blade sliced through it with ease. Undeterred by the loss of his companions the remaining mercenary stabbed out at Jeral with his trident. Pivoting sideways to his left Jeral deftly avoided the strike and stabbed out with his sword arm. His short sword barely reached but it was enough to stab the man in the stomach. While not a mortal wound it was sufficient to cause the man to drop his trident and fall to the ground as he attempted to staunch the bleeding.
Jeral watched dispassionately as the man bled out in front of him. Yeslick and the others were too distracted to notice and Jeral had no interest in tending to a man who was trying to kill him. Jeral shivered with excitement as he watched life depart the man's body. Ashamed of the enjoyment he felt, Jeral walked inside the tavern in search of a drink.
Jeral entered the tavern and was stunned to see three more mercenaries dead on the floor of the tavern. Jeral examined the bodies in turn and was startled to see that each man had been killed by one of Imoen's throwing knives. Two of the men had taken knives to the chest while the third had her blade buried in the center of his forehead. Somehow Imoen managed to take down three mercenaries while surprised and outnumbered six to one. He felt an immense pride and fondness for his sister. Despite all of her whining and childish antics she was still where she belonged. Under the brightly colored clothes and the purple hair lay the soul of a very dangerous woman.
The walk back to the Elfsong took longer than expected. Minsc carried Imoen since she was still too weak to walk on her own. Ajantis and Dynaheir stayed behind to provide an accounting of the events to a Flaming Fist patrol that had arrived just as the group was ready to depart. Jeral, Yeslick, and Imoen were all drinking and talking excitedly as they walked along. Imoen had refused to leave unless she got a drink so Jeral bought the bottles and brought them along on the walk.
"I cannot believe that I was bashed through a tavern window. How could I let myself get hit by that hulking beast? I am supposed to be quicker than that."
"Ahhh fear not lass, that beastie and his companions caught all of us by surprise. Additionally, they were well paid and highly trained mercenaries. There is no shame in getting caught flat footed by a group such as theirs when they were spoiling for a fight. But what a fight that was, I have never fought a giant before but my people sing tales of combat against armies of the beasts."
"Little Imoen fought bravely. Minsc and Boo saw the three men you killed in the tavern before you were injured. Even Minsc could not have done that well so quickly."
Imoen blushed at the flattery from the dwarf and ranger.
"Im, I think I know how the giant was able to hit you so easily. He cheated." Jeral was closely examining the large silver bracers that the hill giant wore into battle.
"These bracers are heavily enchanted. I believe they are designed to make the wearer more effective in battle. They are very similar to those worn by Minsc."
"I knew it, there was no way he could have hit me otherwise. That makes me feel so much better." Imoen kicked her legs in delight and she squired around in the ranger's arms.
"So glad your confidence is restored Imoen. Yeslick, I believe that you can make the best use of these."
The dwarf took the offered bracers and eyed them critically.
"Laddie, these are a wee bit too large for me as you can see."
"Trust me master dwarf, just touch one to your forearm." Yeslick removed the gauntlets from his own mail and tucked them into a pouch at his side. He then tentatively touched one of the enchanted gauntlets to his left forearm. As soon as the gauntlet encountered flesh is quickly started to shrink until it fit Yeslick perfectly. Yeslick then placed the second gauntlet on his right forearm and it too quickly shrunk to fit Yeslick's other forearm.
"Ahhh, I can feel energy racing through my arms."
Yeslick pulled his war hammer off his back and took a few practice swings; he then spun his hammer around in his hands.
"Very nice, these do make everything move a bit more quickly. I will surely put these gauntlets to good use. You have my thanks Jeral."
Day 92
Dynaheir quietly slid into a seat at the table next to Minsc. The ranger was wolfing down a large bowl of stew and half a loaf of freshly baked bread. Yeslick was eating a similar meal with near equal enthusiasm and crumbs and stew decorated his beard liberally. Jeral sipped a mug of hot tea and nibbled on some fruit as he watched the other two eat heartily. Dynaheir smiled as she watched Minsc wolf down his food and watched as Boo happily scampered across the table feeding on the crumbs the two men had strewn all over the table.
"So Jeral, what should we do today? Besides watching these two wolf down their breakfast of course."
"Imoen is in no shape for any excitement today so Yeslick has agreed to tend to her and ensure she gets the rest she needs. Ajantis is woefully behind in writing his reports to the Order to he plans to visit the Temple of Helm to pray and prepare his notes for dispatch."
"So that leaves the three of us."
"Well four if you count Boo."
Dynaheir fought back a smirk, "of course we cannot forget Boo Minsc. So what shall the four of us do today?"
"I think we had best pay a visit to the Seven Suns merchants consortium today. With assassins on the watch for us we cannot afford to waste a day sitting idle."
"Is it wise for us to go into potential danger without Ajantis, Yeslick and Imoen?"
"I think the risk is minimal. Jhasso is in his home so it is likely a simple matter of gaining his confidence or understanding why he is refusing contact with his old friend Commander Eltan. Besides, a smaller group can maintain a lower profile. In fact this may work to our advantage It may make it easier for us to avoid other assassins as well."
"How so Jeral?"
"We can pose as an affluent couple and Minsc is our ever present body guard."
"Excellent, I so love the opportunity to dress up in my best finery. If we have time I would also love to visit the Sorcerous Sundries. It is the finest magic shop this side of the city of coin."
"Ok, let's meet back down here in thirty minutes ready to go."
"Make it two hours Jeral."
"Two hours? That is ridiculous."
Dynaheir twirled her hair around her index finger. "Beauty takes time. But rest assured I am worth the wait."
Jeral decided to take advantage of the time to make himself as presentable as possible. He called down for a bath and also asked them to send for a barber. After a soak in a hot tub and a good scrubbing Jeral felt renewed. The baths the day prior were to remove the stench of the sewers; this bath was just an indulgence. After the bath Jeral sat while the barber shaved him and neatened up his hair. When complete Jeral tied his hair back with a small black cord. Wearing his hair up sharply changed his appearance and made him look much more respectable than he usually did.
After paying the barber and sending him on his way Jeral turned to his wardrobe. He had very few good clothes available as options. He brought few clothes with him when he departed Candlekeep and had only picked up a few items in Beregost. Fortunately Bentley had provided him with some additional clothes during his most recent stay at the Friendly Arm Inn. Apparently they were clothes owned by traveling companions of Bentley and his wife; companions that never made it home.
Jeral pulled out a pair of dark grey breeches, a sky blue shirt of the finest silk and a short waisted black jacket with buttons of solid electrum. Jeral buckled on his sword belt and hung his short sword on his left hip. He added a pair of throwing knives in his highly polished black leather boots. He tucked his wand of lightening into the inner jacket pocket and slung his zink over his back. Eyeing himself in the mirror he looked every inch the foppish young noble out for a stroll.
The scar over his left eye could be explained away as a dueling accident from his youth, which in Jeral's case was actually the truth. Jeral frowned when he realized that going out on town as a foppish member of the nobility did not allow for any armor or his long bow so he left his mail folded neatly beneath his bed next to his long bow and quiver. Tucking a heavy coin purse into his jacket Jeral left his room and headed downstairs to await Dynaheir.
Jeral and Minsc sat quietly at the table in the common room. It was almost time for patrons to start entering for the noon meal. Dynaheir was late. Jeral strummed his fingers on the table impatiently while Minsc chatted happily with Boo. Boo sat up straight and let out a long squeak as he stared at the stairs. Minsc and Jeral turned to look and they watched as Dynaheir descended the stairs. Jeral's mouth dropped open as he watched Dynaheir enter the common room of the tavern. Dynaheir had forsaken her traditional mage robes and was wearing an outfit that made her look like a member of some foreign noble house.
Her feet were clad in golden slippers. Instead of robes or a dress she wore shimmering blue pants that were tightly gathered at the ankle but billowed out loosely and were tied by a red sash at her waist. She wore a sleeveless white top with a high neck and covered it with a golden shawl. Around her neck she wore a simple platinum chain that supported an emerald the size of a robin's egg. Her hair was pulled up and worn in a top knot on her head, giving her the illusion of height. The outfit served to soften her normally harsh features and make her look even more exotic than usual. Jeral has always known that Dynaheir was a handsome woman but he had never considered her as particularly attractive…..until today.
Thinking of Dynaheir in that way made Jeral think fondly about another exotic dark skinned woman but he quickly put that thought out of his head. He would probably never see her again so she was best forgotten.
Smiling Jeral stood up and held out his arm. "Milady you look lovely. Care to join me in a walk around our fair city?" Dynaheir rewarded Jeral with a flash of teeth as she smiled. "You clean up nicely as well my good sir. It would be a pleasure to accompany you on a stroll."
The pair walked arm in arm out of the tavern and Minsc trailed them by a few paces. To all appearances they were a well off couple taking a stroll followed by a body guard to ensure their safety. In that way they appeared just like any other wealthy person moving around Baldur's Gate. As they walked through the city Jeral noticed a few ruffians eying them hungrily, at least until they saw the massive body guard trailing the couple. At that point they clearly decided to look for easier prey and moved along. After a leisurely walk they arrived at the Seven Suns merchant consortium. The large red stone building stood four stories tall. All of the windows were shuttered making the entire building look unwelcoming.
"Well it looks like Commander Eltan may be on to something. This does not look like any merchant house I have ever seen. Normally they work to look welcoming and prosperous in order to attract customers and investors."
"Very true Dynaheir and they should also have guards posted out front as well. Something is very clearly wrong here."
Jeral and Dynaheir walked up the steps to the double doors hand in hand. Smiling at Dynaheir Jeral lifted the door knocker and let it drop against the door with a loud thud. After a few minutes Jeral lifted the knocker and dropped it again, and then again.
"Not very receptive to customers," Dynaheir noted wryly.
"Well I am not leaving." Jeral knocked again, and again and again. Tiring of the lack of response Jeral realized that more aggressive actions might be needed.
"Minsc, be a good man and let these people know that we are here and would like to come in."
Smiling Minsc strode up the stairs and looked at the doors critically. He examined the doors, the locks and the hinges. Eyeing the seam where the two doors connected Minsc lifted a large mailed arm and slammed it into the door. The doors give slightly from the blow and red stone dust drifted down from the top of the door frame. Despite the clearly audible blow there was no movement or sound of any kind from inside the house.
Jeral eyed the street warily and was surprised to see that most in the street were paying no attention to the scene on the doorstep of the merchant house.
Dynaheir nervously asked, "Is it possible that no one is home Jeral? Perhaps we need to come back another day."
"Anything is possible I suppose, but that seems rather unlikely. A home this large requires a large staff and it seems kept up reasonably well. Besides I for one did not get dressed up for nothing."
"Boo says that the house is not empty and they want us to go away."
Smiling Jeral could not resist asking, "So what does Boo think we should do?"
"Boo says that the direct approach is best. Pretend that Jhasso owes you money and that we are here to collect."
"Actually that is a great idea Minsc. Did Boo also say how we should get in?"
"Of course he did Jeral. Boo is very smart. Please hold Boo for a minute and then step away from the door. He does not wear armor like I do so what happens next may not be safe for him."
Minsc handed Boo over to Jeral and then bounded down the steps. Pivoting on his heel he accelerated rapidly, ran up the steps, and slammed his plate clad shoulder into the center of the double doors. He struck the door with an audible crack and the doors shuddered from the impact. Frowning and muttering that it normally only took one hit Minsc trotted back down the stairs, turned around and hurled himself into the doors again.
This time the beam barring the doors closed shattered and the doors swung open in a spray of splinters and fragments of stone. Minsc drew his sword from the scabbard on his back and slowly moved into the mansion looking around warily. Jeral and Dynaheir entered the room after the ranger and looked around the entry foyer. Jeral patted Minsc on the back and silently handed the hamster back to him.
The foyer was opulent with rich carpets, well made furniture and expensive tapestries on the walls. Dynaheir quickly muttered a few words of power and a half dozen globes of light winked into existence and spread out throughout the room. The entire interior of the building spoke to wealth, power and opulence. Despite the rich furnishings everything was covered in a thick layer of dust and the house looked as if no one had tended to the house in weeks.
Minsc sniffed the air and wrinkled his nose.
"This house smells of death Jeral, something is very wrong."
The sounds of a door slamming upstairs startled the trio and they whirled to face the threat. The sounds of shuffling feet were followed by muffled steps on the carpet as someone slowly descended the stairs. The three watched warily as a stooped grey haired man slowly descended the stairs clearing a narrow path through the dust as he approached. His skin hung loosely off his face and looked too large for his body. He was clad in the black attire worn by servants; however his clothes were faded and badly soiled. No master of a merchant house would allow anyone to work in such sloppy livery.
"Why are you here? We are not welcoming vissssssitorsssssss today."
Putting on his best aristocratic sneer Jeral stepped forward.
"How dare you keep us waiting? I have business with your master. Get Jhasso immediately."
The servant's eyes moved rapidly from one person to another as he formulated a reply.
"We are clossssssssed. Go away."
"Get your master, or I will send my bodyguard here to go get him. I do not engage with my lessers."
The man's eyes drifted to Minsc and he licked his lips nervously.
"Very well, please come with me to his ssssstudy and I will fetch him." He turned on his heel and started slowly walking up the stairs. Jeral started walking forward followed by Dynaheir and Minsc.
"You two must wait here! The master will only see this one! He will not see anyone else."
The old man was shaking as he faced the three visitors. Jeral motioned to the other two and followed the servant up the stairs. He looked back at Dynaheir and mouthed 'be ready' as he followed the old man up the stairs. Wordlessly the servant opened the doors to the study and walked away without a word. Jeral walked into the room and looked around, feigning a bored look. The study was even more richly appointed than the downstairs. Two entire walls were filled with bookshelves and Jeral recognized dozens of incredibly valuable works, all covered under a thick layer of dust like everything else in the house. Forgetting himself he picked up a couple of the tomes and started absently flipping through them. For a moment he was back in Candlekeep, surrounded by all the knowledge of the realm.
The door on the far wall swung open and a grotesquely fat man shambled into the room followed by the servant. He was nearly bald and a thick chain of pearls struggled to encircle his neck and his number of fleshy chins. He was barefoot and wore nothing save a thick robe of fine grey furs. Jeral was shocked to see streaks of blood on the collar of the robe.
"Why are you here?"
Jhasso's voice was unsettling and Jeral knew something was very very wrong.
"You owe me money, a lot of money."
"Impossible! I do not know you. I am a rich man, I owe no one anything."
"You are wrong on both counts fat man. You know me; I have been in this house many times. I am the nephew of Commander Eltan and you borrowed money from me for some disreputable purchases from Thay. I am here to collect what's mine."
"Impossible, None of this was in Jhasso's mind."
"Uh, want to think that last statement through?"
"What? I mean my mind."
"Sure. That is what you meant. So where is my money?"
"Enough! I tire of this. Time to end this façade and show you which one of us is lesser."
Jhasso's body started to tremble and his skin turned grey. His body started to reshape into a long limbed humanoid.
Jeral watched the pair in front of him transform. He was unable to move as he was overwhelmed by the sight in front of him.
"Doppelgangers," he whispered to himself as he started to backpedal away from the pair of creatures.
The creatures completed their transformations and ripped the clothes from their bodies. They gazed at Jeral through narrow yellow eyes and their mouths watered at the thought of human flesh. The pair slowly advanced on Jeral, confident in their ability to handle their sole opponent.
"You will die thisssssss day fleshling. Your friendsssssss will die as well."
Jeral quickly muttered to himself and was pleased when three copies of him came into being.
The pair of creatures stopped and stared at the four men standing in front of them. Jeral quickly drew his wand of lightning and aimed it at the lead doppelganger. A bolt of lightning launched out, striking the creature in the chest. The smell of burned flesh filled the air as the creature cried out in pain and staggered back. Though injured it kept advancing and lashed out at Jeral. As the creature attacked one of Jeral's duplicates winked out of existence. Jeral activated the wand again and a second bolt struck the beast and it howled in pain again as it fell to the ground dead.
Jeral turned to face the second creature and launched a bolt into it as is slashed at Jeral. The creature staggered back from the electrical bolt and it stuck once and then again as Jeral's remaining images winked out of existence. Jeral smiled as he aimed his wand at the beast and activated it again. The wand vibrated in his hand and snapped in half.
'So that is what happens when a wand is exhausted of all its charges,' Jeral thought, 'fascinating.'
Jeral dropped the wand and threw himself to the side as he twisted to avoid the creature's claws. Quickly regaining his feet he drew his short sword and faced the beast. Snarling the creature clawed at Jeral. Ducking under the claws he stabbed out and cut deeply into the creature's stomach. Black fluid gushed out of the open wound. The creature clutched its hands to the wound in an attempt to stop the flow of blood. Seizing the chance Jeral lunged forward once and then again leaving a pair of puncture wounds in the creature's chest. The doppelganger fell to its knees and pitched over into the plush carpet, black blood soaking into the rich fabric.
Jeral wiped his sword on the rug and raced downstairs to check on Minsc and Dynaheir. Jeral was halfway down the staircase when he stopped in his tracks. The entry foyer was a scene of utter devastation and carnage. There were a dozen doppelgangers strewn across the room, their black blood sprayed everywhere. Many were hacked to pieces while others were smoldering or still on fire. There was not a single piece of intact furniture in the room. Minsc stood in the middle of the room. His armor was scratched in dozens of places and he was breathing heavily. Spider's Bane was held in the guard position and coated with black blood. Dynaheir stood next to Minsc with a dagger in her hand. Her hair was mussed and one leg of her pants was ripped open.
'Thank the Gods they are all right. Where was she hiding that knife? Nice leg.' Jeral shook his head to clear his thoughts.
"You two ok?"
Dynaheir swallowed once and nodded tightly. "Yes, we are unharmed. I feared that we would be overwhelmed but Minsc was magnificent. The creatures poured out of the basement and Minsc held them back, allowing me time to prepare some surprises for them."
"Well judging by the scorch marks I suspect you put your affinity for fire to good use."
"I would be a fool if I did not use my gifts to their greatest advantage."
"Do you think there are any more of them?"
"I do not know Jeral, but I think it is unlikely. With all of the commotion we have made I would think anything here would have already attacked us."
"Very well Dynaheir. Let me get a few things from the library upstairs and then we can search the rest of the house for Jhasso."
Jeral returned to the office and picked up the pearl necklace from the doppelganger corpse. He also grabbed a pair of priceless tomes from Jhasso's library.
'If I keep one and give one to Imoen then we may be able to return to Candlekeep someday if we so choose.'
Jeral was unsure if he ever wanted to return home but having a priceless tome would allow him the option to make that decision.
After a rapid search of the upper floors turned up nothing of note Jeral returned downstairs to rejoin Minsc and Dynaheir. The door to the basement was open and the wooden stairs descended into darkness. Dynaheir conjured a couple more floating globes of light and sent them down into the basement ahead of Minsc. Minsc slowly descended into the basement closely followed by Jeral and Dynaheir. As they moved down the stairs the stench of death and decay was heavy on the stairwell and became more pronounced as they descended. Jeral fought back the bile rising in his throat as he descended into the basement.
Unlike the rest of the house the basement was unadorned and designed for simple functionality. Lacking any pretence it was a simple stone floor and brick walls. Interior walls were brick as well and doors were unfinished wood. Minsc sniffed the air and headed towards the back of the basement. Moving through a narrow archway Minsc entered the larder and descended a few steps into the cold room. Wheels of cheese, casks of ale and sides of salted meat were piled high on each side of the room. In the center of the room lay a pile of bodies and bones. By a quick count Jeral saw over three dozen men, women and children piled in a heap. Scraps of clothing and flesh were strewn everywhere.
Jeral eyed the pile of corpses and fought back a wave of nausea while Dynaheir vomited softly in the corner. "Who could do such a thing?" Dynaheir croaked in despair.
"Doppelgangers keep their hosts alive if they wish to listen in on their thoughts in order to maintain a more convincing illusion. Apparently this lot did not feel the need or were unconcerned about discovery. These poor souls look like they have been dead for at least a couple of weeks."
"That is all well and good Jeral but who would set out to destroy the Seven Suns?"
"Well they were competition to the Iron Throne so that is the most likely force behind all of this."
"Well Jeral the Iron Throne must be dark indeed, for as bad as slavery is using creatures such as these is far worse."
Jeral took one last long look at the pile of bodies and then turned to head back upstairs.
"I suspect before we are done with them they will regret many things. Let's get out of here, I think we all need some fresh air."