Baldur's Gate 2 SoA: Shadows Within Ch9 part 1 (1)

Baldur's Gate 2 SoA: Shadows Within
Chapter 9: Imprisonment & Slavery part 1


That night at the Mithrest Inn, Jaheira, in her room tossed and turned in her bed, mumbling. In the nightmare, she is running towards Khalid in a dark gray void. She can't reach him because a black claw is pulling him away from her.

"D-d-dear! Help me!" He pleaded.

"I'm trying, Khalid, I'm trying!" Jaheira wailed, forcing her legs which are burning from fatigue to move faster to catch up with Khalid and the black claw pulling him away. "Damn it, Khalid, don't you give up on me! Fight it, you stuttering fool! Fight it!" Jaheira exclaimed, trying to cry, but miserably failing.

Khalid couldn't reach for his sword and strike at the claw, so its up to Jaheira to free him. But it seems that no matter how fast Jaheira tries to run, the black claw seems to be faster. It will eventually escape with Khalid in its clutches and Jaheira knew that, much to her dismay. Soon the claw rose up into the air and disappeared into the gray void with Khalid, too fast for Jaheira to catch up.

"Noooooo!!" Jaheira fell to her knees.

Outside her dream, Jaheira is dangerously close to falling out of her bed as she thrashed about.

"Mmmph... nnno... Nnn... no... NO!!" Her eyes sprang wide open just seconds before she fell out the bed! "Oomph!" She landed on the wooden floor. Shaking the headache out of her pounding head, she looked around in bewilderment, trying to get her bearings. "Wh... wh... what?" Jaheira didn't know where she is at first.

She heard the door open and she saw Abdel step in. Fortunately his hotel room is close to hers.

"Jaheira, are you all right? I heard you thrashing from my room all night," he said as he helped her stand up, grabbing her by her armpits and helping her sit up on her bed.

"I... I had a nightmare..." She said.

"I know. Relax, there's nothing wrong with nightmares," Abdel tried to comfort her.

"No, there is something very wrong," Jaheira shook her head. "This shouldn't be happening to me... I thought I was stronger than this."

"You are a strong woman, Jaheira. I respect that, but even you can be vulnerable as Aerie. There's no weakness in honest sorrow," Abdel sat next to her on the bed.

""Only in succumbing to depression over what cannot be changed"," Jaheira said.

Abdel frowned. He hated reading books, but he found those words oddly familiar... said by someone from Candlekeep.

"That is one of the writings of Alaundo. I learned likewise as a child. We have more in common than I thought," Jaheira clarified for Abdel.

"Sounds like you and Father were close friends. I had no idea," Abdel said.

"Gorion never told me about you, but I feel honored to have met you, Abdel. Yes, well, we should be going. I am fine now. Thank you," Jaheira stood up and headed for the door to leave.

"Happy to help," Abdel said with a soft sigh.

He felt bad for Jaheira. He respects her strength as a woman, but emotionally, she is just as troubled as Aerie is. Aerie has Ralis to comfort her, but Jaheira has no one.

Jaheira... I don't know if I will be able to replace Khalid, but I can try. You deserve better, Abdel thought to himself, strengthening his resolve to help this strong and beautiful half-elf.

-----

Ralis, Dorn, Neera and Viconia returned to Mithrest Inn to get what little rest they could obtain before dawn breaks. Early in the morning, Ralis prepared to introduce Dorn to his companions as they stood outside of Mithrest. Jaheira is not pleased to see Dorn again, and Aerie is scared of him as much as she is scared of Korgan and Viconia.

"Oh no. No no no no, not him!" Jaheira protested.

"Dorn, I'm sure you remember Jaheira, Neera, Minsc and Viconia from our previous travels, so allow me to introduce to you Althirion, Hexxat, Nalia, Abdel, Jan, Haer'dalis, Yoshimo, Korgan, Aerie and Anomen. Everyone, this is Dorn Il-Khan," Ralis said.

Dorn looked at Ralis's old and new companions, believing that either one of them could betray Ralis one day.

"I see that you are traveling with more companions than before," he said to Ralis.

"Yeah. but the more allies you have, the more support you'll get," Ralis replied.

"And not to mention the chances of betrayal are more likely. You must know they will aid you only while it is convenient. You can trust no one but yourself," Dorn added.

"You talk about betrayal as if you are the only one worth trusting, half-orc," Althirion said, leery of Dorn's motives.

Dorn smirked at him. "I can be trusted, half-elf. My relationship with Ralis is one of mutual benefit. I have experienced betrayal once before. And those who left me for dead met their end at the tip of my blade. I will not betray any of you as long as none of you do not betray me."

"When you break ties with your patron, then we'll see if you can be trusted," Jaheira snapped.

"I have done nothing to earn your scorn, druid. I will travel alongside Ralis as long as he does not prevent me from fulfilling Ur-Gothoz's desires," Dorn said.

"I... I don't like him, Ralis. Having Korgan and Viconia in the group is bad enough, but why him? He's worse than Korgan!" Aerie whispered to Ralis as she nervously approached his side.

"I'm trying to save him, Aerie," he whispered back. "He is a slave of his master, but he doesn't care. I'll try to teach him to care."

Aerie was clueless at what Ralis meant, but her heart jumped when she saw Dorn's eyes gaze on her.

"You, girl," Dorn called.

"Um, me?" Aerie pointed at herself nervously.

"Aye. What are you doing here?" Dorn asked.

"I don't... I don't understand your question..." Aerie stuttered.

"The Bhaalspawn's side is no place for a simpering child," Dorn said.

"I'm... I'm not a simpering child," Aerie said meekly.

Dorn snorted. "Spoken like a simpering child. Begone, there's no place for you here," he ordered.

His presence unsettles her, but Aerie did not want to be frightened away by this half-orc. Besides, Ralis has proven himself to be a very good friend, and leaving his side won't make matters better.

"You don't order me around. I'll go when Ralis says to go. And I don't think he will say that," she said with a little confidence, taking one small defiant step towards Dorn.

Korgan raised an eyebrow in amusement, and Dorn smiled. "Hah! You've some spirit in you. Maybe you're worthy of the Bhaalspawn's attention after all. Maybe..." He said, though he couldn't help wondering what sparked Aerie's hidden confidence.

"You are a delight to behold, Dorn Il-Khan," Haer'Dalis said.

"Yes," Dorn simply said, nodding.

Haer'Dalis felt confused, expecting a longer answer, a glib remark, even. "No witty repartee? I had hoped to find a man behind the monster."

"There is, planewalker, but you want no part of it," Dorn said.

"Ha! I am not so sure about that, my friend," Haer'Dalis laughed.

"I am not your friend," Dorn said.

"Then what are you?"

"An ally, for now," Dorn told the tiefling.

"So where should we go now, fearless leader?" Jaheira asked Ralis, still in great disdain over the company of Dorn.

"... Let's head back to the docks. Hexxat, did you get that amulet Mae'Var wanted from Talos's temple?" Ralis replied.

"I have it right here," she showed it in her hands.

"Good. Let's go," Ralis nodded, and he led his group out of the promenade quickly because it is likely that Hexxat sucked someone's blood last night, and they started to head west.

"Wait! My father's funeral is today, I just received a message today about it. Could we take a quick detour to the Graveyard District?" Nalia asked Ralis.

"Right! I forgot your father died. Why wait so long for his funeral?" He slapped his forehead.

"So that the Roenalls can get to Athkatla. They are guests of my father's funeral, after all..." Nalia said, lowering her voice.

Ralis could sense that Nalia is hoping that Isaea Roenall had fallen too sick to attend the funeral. It's still early in the morning, so not everyone has awoken to walk around the streets yet.

"You know, Dorn, there are times I wish I could still speak with my great-uncle Hans Jansen. A great alchemist, he was. He could turn donkey dung into gold. Funny thing, though... few people want gold that smells like donkey dung. Also, the effect was only temporary. He mistimed one transaction and found himself in a world of..." Jan started rambling.

"Tell me, gnome... is there a contraption in that pack of yours that will reattach your endlessly blathering head once I cut it from your shoulders?" Dorn asked Jan.

His eyes lit up as if he just had an idea. "Actually, now that you mention it..." He began rummaging in his pack, but all he felt inside was his Flasher Launcher and dozens of crossbow bolts and Flasher Master Bruiser Mate bombs. "...Wait. Must've left it in the other pack. And there's a story for you..."

"Keep talking and you'll be telling it to the demons of the Abyss," Dorn threatened.

"Eh, wasn't that good a story anyway," Jan said sullenly.

As Anomen continued to look at Dorn as he walked with his companions down the empty streets of Athkatla to the docks, he could easily see that Dorn is the type of person who represents everything his Order fights against. What troubled him even more is why Ralis chose to let him travel with the group.

"This is unsanitary, Ralis! This vile beast does not belong in our group! We follow a righteous path! He obviously does not!" Anomen exclaimed to Ralis.

"That much is true, but I am not going to toss him out simply because his morals don't match ours. He has no sense of compassion, I admit that, but he is a powerful ally that I believe I can help..." He responded firmly.

Anomen wouldn't give up. "I question your course of action, Ralis. You keep a vampire in your company, and now a half-orc blackguard?? If Gorion were here, he'd--"

Ralis spun around and grabbed Anomen by his neck, causing everyone except Althirion and Dorn to jump in surprise. "Do not speak of Gorion as if you respect the man! You always spit his name from your lips when you have a problem with my decisions, but you don't always follow his teachings yourself, let alone the lessons your Order has taught you! My morals are my own, his teachings are the foundation. This half-orc, like some of us, has endured the pains and injuries of racial prejudice and betrayal. He became what he is to get back at those who betrayed him. I would have done the same if I were in his shoes, but I wouldn't have made a pact with a demon. Regardless, I have no intention of making him relive the pains of betrayal again. Do not test me again, squire-knight," Ralis sneered then released his grip on Anomen, and continued walking.

Anomen rubbed his neck while eyeing Ralis in cold disdain. He started walking with the group after Yoshimo walked by him.

"So here we are again. The distrusted, much-loathed outsiders," Viconia said to Dorn, feeling the vibe that not everyone in the group is happy that Ralis has welcomed Dorn in, and she can relate to that.

"Say what you will about Ralis, he's no fool," Dorn shot back at Viconia.

"You say only fools will trust us?" Viconia frowned, trying to understand Dorn's meaning.

"Only fools trust us to go against our best interests," Dorn clarified.

Viconia sighed. "Then we are in the company of fools, I fear."

"They're fortunate that we're here to guide them," Dorn said, smirking.

"What can we guide them to?" Viconia looked up at the half-orc.

"Victory and power. What else is there?" He replied.

Viconia thought over her answer quickly and carefully. "There's love," She finally said.

Dorn frowned, then looked down at Viconia. "Love? Have you lost your mind, you..." He paused, understanding that Viconia pulled a double meaning of the word on him; after all, Viconia doesn't believe in love as in emotional affection, only in lust-- the unchecked passion of the sex drive.

"...Ah. I get it now," Dorn cracked a smile which looked more unsettling than him scowling.

Viconia smiled too. "I had you going though."

"You did, I admit it," Dorn chuckled.

"I can't believe you fell for that," Viconia laughed.

"I guess I'm just a fool for love," Dorn continued smiling.

Ralis looked back, surprised to see Dorn actually smiling.

"A fool at any rate," Viconia stopped smiling.

"Have mercy, Drow! I admitted you got me," Dorn exclaimed.

"I'll show you as much mercy as you show your enemies," Viconia said with a smug grin.

Dorn's eyes widened.

"The Nine Hells hath no fury like that of a dark elf woman, I hazard a guess," Ralis warned Dorn.

"Gods help me, I'm doomed..." Dorn moaned.

As they walked on, Korgan grew increasingly restless. He wanted some action! It's been a few days since he and his companions have been in an intense fight.

"There not be enough critters in all the world to stain me ax nearly enough. I've killed aplenty already, an' I yearn yet for more," Korgan growled to himself. "Come then, and face this dwarf! Aye, come!" He raised his voice a few notches, causing Dorn, Ralis, Abdel, Haer'Dalis and Yoshimo to look at him as if he has some kind of mental disorder.

"My hound, my hound, my dog of war, do not invite death to come knocking at your door. I am sure there be plenty of diversions awaiting your keen edge anon," Haer'Dalis tried reasoning with Korgan.

He scowled disdainfully at the tiefling. "If there be more of ye out skulking in the shadows, then show yerselves! I have to have some fun... I cannae go about tough and unfeeling all the time!" He retorted almost like an angry child deprived of candy for too long.

"You do have a certain invective creativity, Korgan. Now, if only you could direct that skill for invention into something more cerebral, less bravado."

"Cease yer jabber, fool! Blasted actors! Even nae a script or play and still ye need to be the center of all! Strewth!" Korgan spat.

Anomen understood Korgan's frustration-- it has been too long since they've been in a heart-pumping battle. As he watched Hexxat walking in front of him, thinking of his times of glory fighting alongside his paladin comrades, he couldn't help but admit that for a evil creature that used to be more alive and human, she is still attractive. Even her chocolate colored skin adds to that beauty.

"Your dusky beauty is compelling, Hexxat," Anomen said, making no attempt to hide his admiration.

"I'm glad you think so," Hexxat rewarded him with a soft smile.

"But it cannot hide the darkness within you," Anomen said with icy disapproval in his voice.

"There is no darkness within me, Anomen. I am just a woman making her way in the world," Hexxat admonished him.

"You are a devil in disguise. I should slay you where you stand."

"I'd rather you didn't," Hexxat said, pulling the hood of Dragomir's Cloak further over her head as Anomen started to reach for his mace.

"Keep your mace sheathed, Anomen. Hexxat is a friend," Ralis advised Anomen, reminding him that she is part of this group.

"This monster is no friend of mine," Anomen retorted.

"Give me a chance to change that, Anomen. I promise you won't regret it," Hexxat said.

Anomen had this feeling that Hexxat is being sincere. After all, she didn't choose to be a vampire, and she does not like sucking blood either, she only does it because it is necessary for a vampire to survive. She values her survival first above others, and that's the only thing that makes her evil.

"Perhaps... No!! You'll not tempt me, witch!" Anomen moved away from Hexxat and instead decided to try courting with Neera to take his mind off of getting friendly with a vampire, regardless of her close relationship with Ralis.

"A moment of your time, my dear lady. Excuse my dull and graceless talk, but..." He started to say to her, still a bit rattled that he almost got friendly to a vampire.

"Okay. You're excused. That it?" Neera asked him, knowing what he is trying to do.

"I would ask a boon of you," he said.

Neera sighed. "Please don't, Anomen."

"There! You have granted my boon without even knowing it. To hear my name upon your lips was all I desired," he smiled.

"Great. I hate having syllables on my chin," Neera rolled her eyes.

She moved away from him, walking past Yoshimo, Nalia, Aerie, Dorn and Jan to reach Ralis.

"Heya," she greeted him.

"Huh? Oh, hey, Neera. So, how are you feeling? Do you like traveling from one place to another?" He asked her.

Neera shrugged then said: "Life on the road is great, but it makes having friends harder. Before I met you again, Telana and I were thick as thieves. Really fat thieves!" She giggled.

"You aren't so close now?" Ralis asked her curiously.

The smile disappeared from Neera's face. "No. Even when we're together, it's different. If I had to decide, I think I'm probably better at being on the road than I am at being a friend. I don't necessarily WANT it to be that way, but there you have it."

"Hearing you say that makes me realize something. Friendship is a sacrifice all adventurers have to make," Ralis told her as they and the rest of the group passed by a bakery that isn't open yet.

"I guess so... I've... never really had a lasting friendship. I've always driven my friends away. The last friend I had before I left High Forest was a tressym," Neera told him.

"Seriously? You had a winged cat as your friend?" Ralis asked her in disbelief.

He has never personally seen a tressym before, but he always wanted to.

Neera nodded. "Yeah. Around the time when Turlang the Treant banished me, our friendship ended because I accidentally set some of the forest on fire when I defended myself against a group of orcs, and because I turned my hair pink. I'm pretty good at wandering around aimlessly, though. But hey, we're friends, right?"

"Of course!" Ralis said.

"We're friends? Good! Glad to hear it for the most part. I mean-- yes, glad to hear it! Anyway, the road calls. Off we go."

"And off we walk," Ralis said in agreement.

Korgan found Dorn to be a very interesting character, a man who enjoys the heat of battle as much as he does.

"What do you want, dwarf?" Dorn asked Korgan when he noticed him.

"Aye, me name's Korgan. I get the feelin' that you and I got somethin' in common," he said.

"Hrmm. And that would be...?" Dorn pressed him for an answer.

"We both recognize the pure joy of battle," Korgan announced.

Dorn lifted an eyebrow in amusement. He didn't think Ralis would travel with anyone else like him.

"Hmm... You are correct in your assumption that I enjoy bloodshed. Tell me, dwarf, what was the most powerful foe you've slain in the past?" Dorn wanted to know.

"I should've seen this coming..." Ralis sighed.

"At least Korgan has found a playmate," Abdel said.

Aerie sighed in disgust, covering her ears as Korgan explained to Dorn about his fight against the three-heads of Dannak.

"C-calling these two brutes "playmates" is a-an understatement, Abdel," She said.

"I'm only pointing out the obvious fact that Korgan and Dorn will get along just fine," Abdel replied.

"We can see that just fine," Althirion said disdainfully.  

"... And that's how I turned the three heads of Dannak into the two-and-a-half heads of Dannak!" Korgan concluded.

Viconia sighed. "Why is it all your stories end with you hitting someone with an ax?" Viconia asked Korgan.

"All the best stories end with someone getting hit with an ax!" Korgan replied.

"A fine tale, dwarf. I'm reminded of the time I slew a pack of lycanthropes in the Forest of Wyrms." Dorn said, smirking in approval, thinking back to the time when he was on his way to Baldur's Gate's region of the Sword Coast hunting for Senjak, Dorotea, Kryll and Simmeon, he took a detour to the Forest of Wyrms, a cool and damp forest in the Western Heartlands.

The forest is inhabited by Green Dragons, but Dorn had never encountered and fought one because he only explored a few of the western parts of the forest, and Green Dragons can only be found in the eastern parts.

"Oh, aye? What happened?" Korgan became curious to hear Dorn's tale.

"I slew a pack of werewolves in the Forest of Wyrms," he simply said.

"Ha! Ha ha ha ha!" Abdel laughed because he can see that unlike Korgan, Dorn is no storyteller-- he's straight to the point.

"You call that a tale? It was barely a sentence!" Viconia exclaimed.

"Hah! Y'know how to tell a tale, I'll give ye that, half-orc! It's nice t' have someone in this wretched crew that understands the finer things in life, like the many enjoyable ways there are to end it," Korgan said.

Dorn nodded in agreement. "You and I are cut from the same cloth. We both know the sublime joy that can only be found in unrestrained slaughter."

"Someday, you'n me'll have to sit down with an ale or two... Dozen, an' then we'll really tell some tales," Korgan offered.

"Indeed. I look forward to it," Dorn nodded.

"Tell me of your nest, my dark dove," Haer'Dalis said to Hexxat.

"What would you know?" She replied.

"All there is to know. You flew here from Mezro?"

"I took a boat," Hexxat replied.

"What winds blew you here?" The tiefling remained curious much to Hexxat's chagrin.

"Ill winds. I prefer not to speak of them," she said.

-----

They reached the Graveyard District a couple hours later. It is still morning and the sun has already risen from the horizon. Near the entrance of the district, they met with the messenger who sent a message to Nalia back at Mithrest Inn that the Lord Arnise's funeral is today. He is a middle aged man with a perfectly trimmed dark blonde beard.

"Miss Nalia, allow me to show you and your companions to the funeral," he said, then he led Nalia and the others to the cremation building, which is near the heart of the district.

The messenger opened the double doors and stepped inside. Ralis, Nalia and the others followed him. Inside, they found themselves in a room lit by torches where the ashes of the dead are kept in jars that resemble urns. Ahead of them is a stairway that leads to the 2nd floor, which is likely where Lord Arnise's body is being cremated.

"They are waiting for you upstairs," the messenger told Nalia.

"Thank you," she nodded courteously at him then proceeded to climb the stairs. Ralis told the his companions to stay down in the 1st floor, just in case.

He followed Nalia upstairs and in the 2nd floor, they found themselves in another room, and they are not alone. 3 humans and one dwarf were here watching the fires on the pyre slowly turn Lord Arnise' body into ash. The smell of cooking flesh filled the room, and there are no windows either, so that the cooking corpse won't attract any hungry undead. Besides, cremating a corpse is much better than burying one-- that way the person who died won't become a hungry undead creature. Nalia's eyes were glued on her father's burning body on the pyre and she slowly walked towards it.

"I'm so sorry, Nalia. We did the best we could..." Ralis put his right hand in a comforting way on Nalia's left shoulder.

She sniffled a few times and nodded. Then suddenly, the dwarf next to her loudly blew his nose on a handkerchief, startling Nalia, then he sobbed.

"Damn ye for dyin', Arnise! Ye still owed me a keg and a hunt since me last visit. To yer health, wherever ye are now!" The dwarf, named Hurgan Stoneblade exclaimed.

Nalia looked down at the dwarf. "Bonchy? Is that you?"

"Who would know me nickname?" Hurgan looked confused at first. He didn't immediately notice Nalia, but when he did, he smiled.

"Little Nally Nalia! Oh, ye're a sight for sore eyes, I tell ye! Oh, but girlie, I am so sorry for what has happened."

"Don't be, Bonchy. Father would love that you came. You scare the nobles something fierce," Nalia hugged Hurgan.

Ralis noticed the Roenalls ahead of them. It is clear that they want to speak to Nalia, but not while she is talking to the dwarf.

"That I do, and rightfully so!" Hurgan paused for a second to use his handkerchief to wipe the tears from his eyes. "Someone has to liberate the people beneath the yoke of the nobles! Soon comes the time to strike!"

"Bonchy!" Nalia exclaimed, almost like a mother telling her child to behave himself.

Hurgan looked back at the Roenalls fidgeting nervously and it made him giggle. "Look at 'em squirm. Oh, I don't mean no harm, but they don't know that."

"Thanks, Bonchy. You made me smile," Nalia hugged him again.

"Then my work is done for the tenday. I will leave this on a good note, before we start to crying and backslapping," he said.

"If you must, Bonchy. Stay safe."

"Aye. May your heart and troubles both be light, Nally Nalia," Hurgan smiled a warm smile then left, heading downstairs.

As soon as Hurgan left, Isaea Roenall almost immediately approached Nalia. Isaea (pronounced similarly to the name "Isaiah") appears to be around Nalia's age, if not a couple years older, in flowing blue robes that are brighter than Nalia's dirty out robes. He is a fair skinned man with bright hazel colored eyes, and his long dark blond hair extending down towards his navy blue cloak. And like Ralis expected, Isaea has the exact face of a snobbish person-- a person who is very proud of who and what he is and has no problem at laughing at the misfortunes of the less fortunate.

"Nalia, my dear! I have been worried sick about you!" He called out to her.

Nalia's eyes widened in shock and she cursed inwardly. She was hoping he would be too sick to attend the funeral, but it was too good to be true.

"Oh no! It's Isaea. Let's get out of here," Nalia muttered to Ralis even though she knew there is no escaping him, so she turned her back on approaching Isaea.

"No, do not turn away," He said as he gently put his hands on Nalia's shoulders and gently forced her to face him.

Nalia made no attempt to make eye contact with him, turning her face to the left.

"It has been so long since I have seen your face. So regal and... uh... a bit dirty, actually. And your beautiful robes look absolutely dirty and dreadful! Have you been slumming again, naughty Nalia?"

Nalia scowled but she still did not look at him. "Kindly place a cork in it, Isaea. I do not "slum". Foppish fools looking for thrills "slum". I help people," she told him almost curtly.

Isaea removed his hands from Nalia's shoulders and chuckled. Ralis didn't like the look on his face.

"Of course, one must have one's little hobbies, but it is just about time you honored our... ahh... agreement? With Lord Arnise's death, the honor of your house is at stake, if you recall!" Isaea reminded her.

Ralis didn't like the tone of his voice for some reason-- it made him think that Isaea cares nothing about Nalia and is only trying to take advantage of the situation.

"My home has a new head that owes you no allegiance," she rebuffed Isaea, gesturing to Ralis standing behind her. "Do such agreements carry beyond the death of the makers? No, a master of weapons may assume title to..."

"You know as well as I do that the arrangement is a fabrication!" Isaea snapped in anger, interrupting Nalia. Then he looked at Ralis. "My word, I don't believe it. You let this... orc rule your house? Ridiculous!"

His insult caused Ralis and Nalia to scowl sharply at him.

"No more ridiculous than you forcing the issue of this "betrothal". No, Isaea, I will not marry you. Above all else, I do not find your company enjoyable," Nalia said flatly.

Isaea's face began to turn a little red in frustration. Ralis could tell that he is angry about this unexpected turn of events.

"You may be entitled to ruin your own reputation, but I will not have you drag me down as well by denying what is rightfully mine! I won't stand for it!" He snapped, pointing an accusing finger at Nalia, but she didn't even flinch.

"Was that a threat? And how exactly is she ruining her own reputation, huh? By being kind to the less unfortunate? I think not," Ralis said to Isaea.

He widened his eyes in surprise at Ralis and gasped in surprise. "It can speak! Nalia trained you well."

Ralis growled, then started to reach for Avenger, his two-sided dirk in his belt.

"Oh, did I provoke you?" Isaea taunted.

"I see your arrogance knows no bounds. Let's see how haughty you are at the end of a blade," Ralis sneered.

Isaea wasn't scared at all. "On your first move, I shall have my guard cut you to p--"

Before Isaea could finish, his father, Lord Farthington Roenall came to see what the commotion is about.

"What is going on here?" He demanded.

His eyes locked on Ralis at first. "Who is this...?" He started to say, then he noticed Nalia standing next to him. "Oh, hello, Nalia. My deepest sympathies to you this day. Your father was a fine man."

"Thank you, Lord Roenall. He would be pleased to hear such praise," Nalia nodded courteously.

Lord Roenall held his right hand up at chest level, showing Nalia that he doesn't accept being called "Lord Roenall".

"Stop this "Lord Roenall" business. I'll not have such formalities. Farthington is my name among friends," he said. ""Farthy", if out of sight of the missus," he said in a whisper so that his wife nearby wouldn't hear him, concluding with a humored chuckle.

Ralis could see that even though Nalia severely dislikes Isaea, she has little to no hard feelings toward his father.

"Lord Roenall, you are such a positive cad!" Nalia smiled.

Farthington nodded, smiling as well. "Yes, well... Oh! Is it true your home has been overrun by barbarians? My guards will have you home and safe in no time... there are none finer!"

"I fear you have been misinformed, sir. No, with my father's death, it was best to defer to the weapons master that saved the keep," She said.

Ralis took this as an opportunity to introduce himself.

"Well met, Lord Roenall. I am Ralis Rutela. I am an adventurer from Candlekeep, and I'm also expert of bastard swords. I met miss Nalia at the Copper Coronet searching for someone to help save her keep which was under siege by trolls and yuan-ti," he said.

"Hmph... "bastard" swords indeed..." Isaea mumbled, crossing his arms.

"...You are the new head of miss Nalia's keep?" Farthington asked, almost in disbelief.

"You know the old customs, do you?" Nalia questioned.

"Of course, a fine tradition. I know many a name that was started in that way... the Curstwerds of Murann, for example. I'm glad to see you follo--"

"THANK you, Father, but it's NOT that simple," Isaea interrupted his father in an odd blend of politeness with undertones of frustration in it. "Nalia made a rash decision and we'll sort it out shortly. Aren't the Curstwerds downstairs? Give them my best," he told his father.

Farthington cleared his throat. "Quite, quite," he said in agreement. "All the best, my dear," were his parting words to Nalia before leaving.

Nalia sensed that Isaea is up to something, and that he likely told his father fabricated lies.

"What have you told him, Isaea? That I ran off, afraid to come back? Is that how you intend to take control of my home and my life? I'll not have it!" She exclaimed.

Isaea laughed. "Nalia, if you continue to descend into your whims, you shall eventually become the laughingstock of all nobles in Faerun. Come now, our combined names would carry quite the weight. What do you say?"

"I say... I say take your name and eat it! I'll not be your puppet!" Nalia snapped.

Isaea rolled his eyes, cursing silently to himself that he should have known she would say that no matter what. Diplomacy has failed, now to get serious.

"Do not anger me, Nalia," he warned her, his voice low and ominous. "I can help or hinder. I've done it before," he added.

Hearing those words caused Ralis to raise an eyebrow, and he had a feeling that Isaea might be hinting that he has something to do with the keep being besieged before.

"I don't like your tone, Isaea. I'm watching you. Best hope I don't find something I don't like. Understood?" He said.

"Kindly turn your eyes downward, your gaze makes me feel unclean," Isaea ordered Ralis.

"I'm gazing at you because you are unclean, you snake," Ralis retorted.

"And as for your threats, you should really know whom you are addressing before you do such things. If I wished a scene, I would have you flogged where you stand. For now, I will leave this be. It is unfinished, however," Isaea said, then he left, heading downstairs, and so did his mother and their bodyguards.

Nalia sighed.

"I clearly see why you hate that creep," Ralis told her.

She nodded apologetically at him. She also felt frustration raging inside her. So much frustration that she almost felt like punching a wall.

"I know. He is such a... bounder, such a... a manipulating... such a... Oh, to Hades with the manners, he is a complete bastard, and calling him that insults bastards everywhere!" she exclaimed.

"Has he always been so... driven? He seems quite intent on enforcing your betrothal," Ralis asked her.

"I don't understand him at all. If he were not the son of Lord Roenall, I would think him capable of anything. Anything short of the criminal, of course," Nalia replied.

"But what if he is taking advantage of his noble upbringing to hide his... illegal activities?" Ralis wondered.

"I... I don't know. This has been too much to take in. Let's get out of here," Nalia said wearily, holding her forehead as if she has a headache.

-----

Afterwards, they left the graveyard district and headed to the docks of the Center District. When Ralis requested Hexxat to give him the Necklace of Talos, he was surprised at how large the necklace is. They reached the docks an hour close to highsun. The air is filled with the stench of fishing boats and fishermen hauling in a large catch of fish, and other city odors Ralis couldn't identify. There were also a few beggars around in the street too, asking people for either 10 copper coins or 10 silver coins or even 10 gold coins so they can buy some food or drink that would last them for a few days or even a week. One weary looking old man with a half empty bottle of Amnian wine and wearing dirty, tattered clothes that smell somewhat like urine approached Nalia.

"Please spare a few coins for a tired, weary old man, please?" He wheezed.

Nalia most definitely did not have the heart to refuse him.

"By the Nine Hells! This man has been stricken by nothing but bad luck!" Ralis exclaimed, seeing how rotten the old man's clothes are.

"Whatever terrible curse has afflicted you, sir, I assure you, I will do all I can to help you," Nalia said sympathetically as she began digging into her pockets.

Viconia sighed in disgust.

"What a waste of good coins!" Korgan huffed.

"We need those coins to further our own cause... but then again, who am I to argue?" Yoshimo chimed in.

"I wouldn't leave a poor soul like him without a coin either," Aerie said.

Nalia pulled out of her pocket 30 gold coins and held them out to the old man.

"These should help you. Go buy some fresh clothes and food, good sir," Nalia smiled.

The old man smiled in return, showing his partially yellow teeth. 3 of his front teeth are missing. "Bless you lass, you're like an angel come to save my life," the old man said gratefully, his right hand reaching out for the coins in Nalia's hands.

Before the old man could take the coins, Anomen suddenly jumped in between Nalia and the old man, facing the old man and startling Nalia.

"What is in your hand, old man?" He demanded.

The old man looked confused and nervous. He glanced down at the wine bottle in his left hand.

"...Water..." He simply said.

Judging by the frown on Anomen's face, he didn't buy the answer.

"'Tis that a fact? Let me see it," He ordered.

The old man reluctantly handed Anomen the glass bottle. Anomen took the bottle into his right hand and lifted it up to his nose and sniffed it to see if he could detect the scent of beer or wine. He definitely detected the scent of beer; a local brew.

"Since when did water smell like beer, drunkard?" Anomen questioned the old man in a way that made the old man too scared to answer.

"Let me guess: you spent all the money you've been given to you for liquor, not food or clothes, am I right?" Anomen inquisitively asked him.

"No... n-no..." the old man stammered nervously.

"Anomen, what are you doing?" Nalia called to him, but he ignored her.

"What do you really spend the coins you've been given on, hmm?" The old man darted his eyes left and right, unable to meet Anomen's piercing gaze.

"I... I... I've never b-b-been given enough copper to buy fresh clothes, only food or drinks..." The old man stammered.

"LIAR!" Anomen shouted, raising the bottle over his head and slamming it down to the ground, causing the glass to shatter and what little liquor was in it to spill on the concrete.

"Nooo!! Not my wine!!!" The old man wailed loudly, falling to his knees touching the broken pieces of glass and the wet spots.

Nalia stared at Anomen, speechless.

"Anomen! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Ralis exclaimed.

"I know exactly what you've been doing with the money gullible people like her give to you," Anomen chastised the old man, pointing to Nalia behind him. "You spend it all on wine and beer!"

"No! No, that's not true!" The old man shook his head, sobbing.

"Isn't it? If you'd learn how to save the money you leech off of from other people, you wouldn't be in this predicament! Better yet, go find a job! People like you are the reason why great cities fall apart!" Anomen sneered.

"Who... who would want to hire me...? Nobody!" The old man sobbed.

"Aren't you being a bit too harsh?" Neera asked casually.

"This is not justice, Anomen! You are acting like a bully to the poor man!" Minsc exclaimed.

"Don't patronize me and my methods! Drunk lowlifes like him are worthless, not even worth our attention! If we try to help people like him who care only about what they can drink the next day, then they will learn nothing of their folly and improve themselves," Anomen pointed an accusing finger at Minsc.

"Listen to yourself, young human! Are you the paladin of Helm you claim to become soon? Or is your arrogance causing you to forget everything you've learned?" Althirion questioned Anomen.

"When the day of my final test arrives, you will soon see that I have forgotten nothing," Anomen retorted.

Ralis, Aerie, Nalia,and Minsc couldn't believe their eyes and ears. How can a knight who claims to be righteous bully an old man who only needed a few coins to get by in his difficult life? It doesn't make sense!

"Please... can I at least have a few silver pieces...?" The old man pleaded.

Anomen stopped Nalia before she could say or do anything.

"He deserves nothing. Let's move onward. I tire of the spilled wine's stench," he said coldly.

"Anomen!" Nalia exclaimed.

"We've wasted enough time here already," Ralis said in disgust over Anomen's behavior.

"I agree. Men like him with no direction in life have a tendency to do that to you," Anomen said disdainfully, looking back at the sobbing old man as they walked away.

-----

As Viconia looked over at Nalia, she could see the sadness in her eyes, the sadness that stems from not only being unable to assist the poor old man, but also confusion at Anomen's reaction towards the beggar.

"So, Nalia, saved any poor from their impoverished status recently? Perhaps that peculiar urgency of yours could be put to better use by passing out noon meats to vagabonds and coins of the realm to every cutpurse, hm?"

"Viconia, it's simply a matter of even distribution of goods. There are those whose consumption is a crime against nature. And that injustice should be corrected whenever possible," Nalia replied.

"Your egalitarian streak is an affront to determinism. The poor remain poor because they are lacking in the self-will and determination to seek higher stations. Your pity and endowments only serve to perpetuate their condition and diminish their motivation to improve their lot," Viconia scoffed.

Nalia hated the idea of ignoring those in need of help. "My kinship with the disenfranchised is my own affair, Viconia. To deny the need to help our fellows is cruel arrogance. And I am simply not that type of person," Nalia said disdainfully.

Viconia shook her head in derision. "That bleeding heart of yours must cost you a fortune in laundering. Child, you're adrift in denial."

Hexxat smiled as she looked at Nalia. "You remind me of an old friend of mine," Hexxat told Nalia. "She was much like you... naive, optimistic, altruistic. It did her no good in the end."

Nalia scowled at Hexxat. "You're an evil woman," she remarked.

"Not evil, Nalia, just realistic," Hexxat politely rebuffed Nalia's claim.

"Keep telling yourself that, Hexxat, and you'll lose what used to make yourself human faster," Ralis warned her.

Nalia shook her head in pity at Hexxat. "You know, you talk as though the world has done you some great wrong. And the women you killed somehow deserved what you did to them. Do you know what I think? I think you are lying to yourself, because it's easier than facing the truth of your own existence. I think you're pathetic, and this conversation is over." After Nalia said that, everyone continued walking in complete silence through the empty streets of Athkatla's slums.

Ralis, Yoshimo, Dorn, Nalia, Hexxat and Neera continued on to Mae'Var's thief guild while the others stayed in a nearby inn awaiting their return. Ralis found Mae'Var in the cellar again. He saw some of Mae'Var's men stuffing the man they were torturing during his last visit into a body bag.

"Well well. It appears that you have returned with the Necklace of Talos. I see now that you are too useful to kill or torture... for now. *chuckle*"

Ralis had forgotten, but now remembered how twisted Mae'Var's sense of humor is.

"Here it is." He passed the necklace to him.

Mae'Var looked at the necklace in his hands in amusement.

"It's a mystery how they walk with a dinner plate around their necks. I'll file it with the other garbage sent to Calimshan. They like jewelry big, I hear."

"What's next?" Ralis wanted to know.

Mae'Var placed the necklace on the table to his right, then rubbed his hands together.

"Now, let's put you to some real work. I haven't the time to piddle around with you, so my right hand man will keep you busy until you can work for me personally. His name is Edwin. You'll find him upstairs." Mae'Var advised him.

Ralis frowned. He has met a man named Edwin many months ago and hoped that this is not the same Edwin, not the one who wanted to go to the gnoll fortress in the Sword Coast to kill Dynaheir, who was once a captive there.

On the way to the level where Edwin's office is, Ralis and the others found themselves in a large room were members of the Shadow Thieves practice lock picking on different types of doors propped against the walls. Ralis felt like asking them for directions to Edwin's office, but he didn't feel like disturbing them. He and Yoshimo and Hexxat are new recruits after all.

"It would be wise to ask for directions," Yoshimo advised Ralis.

He shrugged and sighed. "I suppose you're right."

He decided to approach one of the thieves who is practicing on lock picking a jail cell door.

"Uh, excuse me, I hate to disturb you, but..." Ralis uneasily said to the thief gently twisting the lockpicks in the door's keyhole.

The thief slowly pulled the picks out the key hole, stood up and turned to face Ralis, revealing that she is a fair-skinned woman. Ralis couldn't tell with her back turned because she is wearing a hood over her head. She pulled the hood off over her head, revealing her short red hair and smiled at him. She is almost about his height, and she is 8 years older than he is, but Ralis didn't know that.

"Why, hello there. Mmm, if it isn't a new face? How very thrilling." Her sensual voice reminded him of Safana, and that made him feel uneasy.

"And what is your name?" Ralis asked her, feeling that it is more polite to make introductions first before asking for directions.

The woman smiled at him. "Well the real question here is what is your name, darling? I could tell you that my name is Anishai, but that would prevent me from hearing the delectable tones of your name first," She replied as she twirled the lockpicks in her right hand in such an expertly fashion.

Ralis now realized that she is flirting with him, and that didn't make him feel any better. "... My name is Ralis... pleased to meet you," he said.

"Ralis..." Anishai let the name sink into her mind.

She closed her green eyes as if hearing his name brought her some form of pleasure. "... how utterly delicious. I shall recite it over and over to myself in between each of our meetings. Which, I do hope, will not be too far between, hm?"

"Uh, we'll see, my schedule is pretty hectic," Ralis replied, scratching the back of his neck nervously. "But first, tell me where Edwin's office is."

"He's upstairs on the next floor. You should have no problem finding him, darling." Anishai said.

"Thanks. I should go," Ralis nodded courteously and left.

"Already? How sad." She looked genuinely sad, but quickly got over it. "I look forward to our next meeting... Ralis," she winked at him.

Ralis forced himself to smile at her, then he signaled to Yoshimo, Hexxat, Dorn, Nalia and Neera to follow him to the stairs.