Documents authored by a man named Sarevok in the Iron Throne headquarters revealed that the local leaders of the local Iron Throne chapter were in Candlekeep meeting with their regional superiors. Amend returned and reported this information to Scar after having a priest of Helm raise Dorn and Edwin from the dead. Scar introduced the company to Duke Eltan, who asked them to continue their investigation in Candlekeep, again offering a sizable reward for their services. Of course, Amend agreed, pleased that his expertise and efforts had garnered the attention of one of the Grand Dukes.
So the company returned to Candlekeep. Just outside the gate, they were attacked a by a band of Ogre Mages in the employ of the Iron Throne. The 4 Ogre Mages were prepared with Mirror Images, but a remove illusions from Imoen quickly removed all the images. Dorn and Kagain both drank potions of invulnerability (Amend had finally opened the purse strings a bit and purchased enough of these so that Dorn had them available as well, in addition to Kagain). 2 Ogre Mages tried to fear the party, but Viconia resisted and removed fear, restoring the morale of the whole group instantly. Edwin began protecting himself with Mirror Image first then minor spell deflection. Imoen followed up with a minor spell deflection as well. Viconia sent one of the ogre mages wandering off with a Rigid Thinking. The group focused their efforts on the remaining 3. With most of the group very resistant to spells (Saves for fighters were at +5 with potions, Viconia had magic resistance, Imoen and Edwin had spell deflection), the battle proved fairly easy; that is, until a tense moment, when the ogre mage who had wandered off regained his senses and held Amend. The ogre mage then bore down on Amend and started into him with his greatsword. The entire group swung their attention to this ogre mage and were fortunate that both Dorn and Kagain were able to score multiple hits on him quickly, killing him before he could kill Amend.
A cursory investigation of Candlekeep revealed what Amend had expected to find: that the keep had been infiltrated by dopplegangers and that the leaders of the Iron Throne were meeting on the 3rd floor of the Great Library. At the behest of several of the monks, Amend began studying some of the parchments and scrolls containing the prophecies of Alaundo, scrolls that pertained to his prediction of a war among the mortal children of the dead God Bhaal. Further revelations from these documents and a scroll in Gorion´s former quarters revealed that Amend himself, along with this Sarevok, was one of the offspring of Bhaal.
This was a startling revelation, but it explained much: strange dreams that Amend had been having, the repeated attempts on his life by assassins, the reluctance of Gorion to speak of his father, and so forth. What should he make of this? Amend decided to rest, along with the rest of the company in Gorion´s quarters and ponder this new information, before confronting the Iron Throne leaders downstairs.
The first thought that entered Amend´s mind was "how do I turn this to my advantage?" First off, his father, the god Bhaal was dead, so there was nothing to be gained by calling on divine assistance. Secondly, this god was nearly universally despised and hated. There was little to be gained by widely pronouncing his lineage. Two members of his friends, however, seemed to take a great interest in his heritage: Viconia and Dorn, especially Dorn (of course it was Dorn, always Dorn!). "Now I see why my patron sent me to you," exclaimed Dorn, "together we shall cut a bloody swath through the Sword Coast." Everything with Dorn was emotion and passion- carnage for the sake of carnage- never thinking, never deliberate or contemplative in his response to anything. Amend felt a powerful and sudden desire to stick his sword right into Dorn´s spine, ending his miserable half-breed existence and showing him what the son of Bhaal thought of him and his patron. But discipline stayed his hand, for the moment, and he chastised himself for thinking just like the half-orc and indulging a bloodlust that he could not deny.
There was no great gain or advantage in his heritage, Amend thought. Rather his lineage was a burden. The attempts on his life would not stop, even he killed this Sarevok. There were others, and they would seek his life as well. He had but one choice. He would have to prevail in this sibling rivalry to survive if nothing else. His whole life would be a struggle for survival, and he despaired for a moment in this thought. Quickly upbraiding himself, however, he reminded himself that he should expect nothing less and that he had known this since he fled Candlekeep; everyone´s life is a struggle for survival.
There were 2 advantages to be gained from this, however. The first was fear. Though Bhaal was hated and despised, the son of the Lord of Murder would be a feared man indeed. This fear would certainly help to ensure that those closest to him remained loyal: second, Viconia. This was the key to her heart. He could use this to excite her, to make her love him.
He would be sure to make all of his companions aware of his heritage, but it would be a secret among them and them alone. They were to share this with no one, under threat of death. He made them all swear an oath of secrecy. Then set off to provoke a fight with the leaders of the Iron Throne.
Everything with Dorn was emotion and passion- carnage for the sake of carnage- never thinking, never deliberate or contemplative in his response to anything. Amend felt a powerful and sudden desire to stick his sword right into Dorn´s spine, ending his miserable half-breed existence and showing him what the son of Bhaal thought of him and his patron. But discipline stayed his hand, for the moment, and he chastised himself for thinking just like the half-orc and indulging a bloodlust that he could not deny.
Wow, your writing is top notch! Tricky with no-reload... I wish Amend a long, profitable life!
Wow, your writing is top notch! Tricky with no-reload... I wish Amend a long, profitable life!
He has had 2 close-calls so far. The first was Drelick (the closest that he has come to dying) that level 9ish Thief-Mage in North Baldur´s Gate. This was his second brush with death in the ogre mage battle. I had forgotten all about that ogre mage. Luckily Dorn and Kagain hit him 4 successive times and dropped him. There is another close brush with death coming in my next update, and Amend will lose another companion. More fun and excitement.
Comments
Documents authored by a man named Sarevok in the Iron Throne headquarters revealed that the local leaders of the local Iron Throne chapter were in Candlekeep meeting with their regional superiors. Amend returned and reported this information to Scar after having a priest of Helm raise Dorn and Edwin from the dead. Scar introduced the company to Duke Eltan, who asked them to continue their investigation in Candlekeep, again offering a sizable reward for their services. Of course, Amend agreed, pleased that his expertise and efforts had garnered the attention of one of the Grand Dukes.
So the company returned to Candlekeep. Just outside the gate, they were attacked a by a band of Ogre Mages in the employ of the Iron Throne. The 4 Ogre Mages were prepared with Mirror Images, but a remove illusions from Imoen quickly removed all the images. Dorn and Kagain both drank potions of invulnerability (Amend had finally opened the purse strings a bit and purchased enough of these so that Dorn had them available as well, in addition to Kagain). 2 Ogre Mages tried to fear the party, but Viconia resisted and removed fear, restoring the morale of the whole group instantly. Edwin began protecting himself with Mirror Image first then minor spell deflection. Imoen followed up with a minor spell deflection as well. Viconia sent one of the ogre mages wandering off with a Rigid Thinking. The group focused their efforts on the remaining 3. With most of the group very resistant to spells (Saves for fighters were at +5 with potions, Viconia had magic resistance, Imoen and Edwin had spell deflection), the battle proved fairly easy; that is, until a tense moment, when the ogre mage who had wandered off regained his senses and held Amend. The ogre mage then bore down on Amend and started into him with his greatsword. The entire group swung their attention to this ogre mage and were fortunate that both Dorn and Kagain were able to score multiple hits on him quickly, killing him before he could kill Amend.
A cursory investigation of Candlekeep revealed what Amend had expected to find: that the keep had been infiltrated by dopplegangers and that the leaders of the Iron Throne were meeting on the 3rd floor of the Great Library. At the behest of several of the monks, Amend began studying some of the parchments and scrolls containing the prophecies of Alaundo, scrolls that pertained to his prediction of a war among the mortal children of the dead God Bhaal. Further revelations from these documents and a scroll in Gorion´s former quarters revealed that Amend himself, along with this Sarevok, was one of the offspring of Bhaal.
This was a startling revelation, but it explained much: strange dreams that Amend had been having, the repeated attempts on his life by assassins, the reluctance of Gorion to speak of his father, and so forth. What should he make of this? Amend decided to rest, along with the rest of the company in Gorion´s quarters and ponder this new information, before confronting the Iron Throne leaders downstairs.
The first thought that entered Amend´s mind was "how do I turn this to my advantage?" First off, his father, the god Bhaal was dead, so there was nothing to be gained by calling on divine assistance. Secondly, this god was nearly universally despised and hated. There was little to be gained by widely pronouncing his lineage. Two members of his friends, however, seemed to take a great interest in his heritage: Viconia and Dorn, especially Dorn (of course it was Dorn, always Dorn!). "Now I see why my patron sent me to you," exclaimed Dorn, "together we shall cut a bloody swath through the Sword Coast." Everything with Dorn was emotion and passion- carnage for the sake of carnage- never thinking, never deliberate or contemplative in his response to anything. Amend felt a powerful and sudden desire to stick his sword right into Dorn´s spine, ending his miserable half-breed existence and showing him what the son of Bhaal thought of him and his patron. But discipline stayed his hand, for the moment, and he chastised himself for thinking just like the half-orc and indulging a bloodlust that he could not deny.
There was no great gain or advantage in his heritage, Amend thought. Rather his lineage was a burden. The attempts on his life would not stop, even he killed this Sarevok. There were others, and they would seek his life as well. He had but one choice. He would have to prevail in this sibling rivalry to survive if nothing else. His whole life would be a struggle for survival, and he despaired for a moment in this thought. Quickly upbraiding himself, however, he reminded himself that he should expect nothing less and that he had known this since he fled Candlekeep; everyone´s life is a struggle for survival.
There were 2 advantages to be gained from this, however. The first was fear. Though Bhaal was hated and despised, the son of the Lord of Murder would be a feared man indeed. This fear would certainly help to ensure that those closest to him remained loyal: second, Viconia. This was the key to her heart. He could use this to excite her, to make her love him.
He would be sure to make all of his companions aware of his heritage, but it would be a secret among them and them alone. They were to share this with no one, under threat of death. He made them all swear an oath of secrecy. Then set off to provoke a fight with the leaders of the Iron Throne.
Tricky with no-reload... I wish Amend a long, profitable life!