Scar was leading us inside into Baldur's Gate city, when I saw a familiar old mage in red robes and leopard skin cloak standing before us near the entrance. He waved at us.
Scar's eyes narrowed. "Is that a friend of yours? Or an agent of the Iron Throne?"
I gave Scar a look, then sighed. After everything that was said, I still didn't get how people don't recognize the realm's most famous celebrity in person.
"Allow me to introduce you, ser, to Elminster, Sage of Shadowdale."
Scar's eyes widened in shock. "You don't mean THE Elminster! The legendary sage, The Great Oversorcerer, Mystra's personal consort and playthi-"
"-AHEM!-" Elminster cleared his throat, very loudly. "Why do they always focus on that part?" he lamented quietly to himself. "A moment of thy time, good officer. I have need to speak your ward's party for a moment."
"Of course, of course!" Scar said reverently.
It was Elminster's turn to speak to us aside from the rest.
Elminster looked at Scar with satisfaction. "Scar is a good man, and well worth trusting. His superior, Duke Eltan, is also a good sort. Both are to be believed when they speak," he said, then eyed Jaheira and Khalid.
Jaheira and Khalid didn't react outwardly, but I could tell they were catching the hint.
He regarded me in particular. "Forgive my continued meddling but I believe it is warranted, especially considering the pressures thou art no doubt confronting. My pestering of thee certainly pales in comparison to the influence thou has felt from others, including thine own self. Gorion raised thee as best he could, but 'tis hard indeed to overcome what is bred in the bone. Much more so in this case, I would imagine."
…Seriously? I crossed my arms and glared at Elminster in dissatisfaction. "After all that we've done so far, is that really all you are going to tell me? Vague hints about what is really going on with me? Perhaps if you had been more honest with me, I would have been able to better defend myself from said influences."
At this point in the game, this vague suggestion from Elminster was the ONLY indication that our lineage was suspect. Well, other than the weird dreams. It's not like I had a dark urge to randomly murder people I met, unlike a certain other game.
"A reasonable conclusion, under normal circumstances," Elmisnter said, "My worry is that thy lineage is harder to escape than most and knowledge of it so far has only cursed its bearers. Thou hast bad, hungry blood in thee, and though Gorion did what he could to teach thee well and true, it will not let thee go without a fight. For better or worse, what's bred in the bone will be dealt with in time. I trust thou hast the will to face what is within thee?"
"Again, it would help if you would tell me what this bad blood actually is. Gorion did say that he was going to tell me before we were ambushed, you know."
I knew already, of course, but only since I played the game before. There just wasn't enough to go on from what we should know so far. I just didn't get why Elmisnter was refusing to tell me.
Elminster rubbed under his hawkish nose with a finger. "Last time we met, thou complaineth when I told what thou already knew. I shall endeavor not to do so again, less I be called E for useless Exposition again," he said with a smug smile. "After all, thou already knows so much."
I already know so much?
My eyes widened. Is that a reference to the fact that I've played the game before? Does he know about the transmigration?
…right, he's Elminster, practically the walking voice of the Dungeon Master. Of course he knows.
My party was listening in to our conversation, and one of them gripped my shoulders from behind. I looked up to see Neera, who stared wide-eyed at Elminster. "You know of the… of THAT?"
The old man grinned, and did a little flourish with his hat. "With that, I take my leave, and wish thee well."
Wait, why did he even visit us? What was the point of this meeting again?
…is Elminster farming aura by showing off how much he knows?!? Is that what he's doing? Damn, he's really good at it too!
---
Scar allowed us to stop by the Sorcerous Sundries before heading to the Flaming Fist compound.
Halbazzer Drin, the proprietor of the Sorcerous Sundries, was both a mage of reknown as well as an experienced shop keeper. Adventurers of all kind have passed through his stores, asking for aid in their quest or exorbitant discounts for the sake of some honorable cause or great quest. Halbazzer had seen them all, and the thought of cunning adventurers trying to swindle him out of brought a smile to his face every time.
When another group of women and a man entered, he was expecting much the same old, same old.
What he didn't expect was the halfling child peering over the counter with twinkling, eyes. "Please ser. I'd like to look at your mage scrolls ser."
Halbazzer was taken aback. Oh, my heart! Those innocent looking eyes!
"You need to have enough money to peruse my wares, young one," Halbazzer said kindly, trying to maintain his decorum.
The little halfling gave him a sad face. "I, I'll try my best, ser."
Halbazzer could barely stand to look at him. Now he's giving sad puppy eyes! This isn't fair!
The halfling talked about his adventures and how difficult it was, and how they really needed to gear up to make up for being so weak. The more he talked about his misadventures, Halbazzer's eyes grew wider and wider.
"Wait, you're Sonny?" Halbazzer asked.
The little halfing nodded.
Halbazzer was in shock. This was the very same Sonny who was clearing the mines of Nashkel, helping those in need and rescuing those in trouble. A truly powerful force on the side of good in the realms. But he's so small and young and cuddly! To think such a great up and coming hero could be someone so tiny!
The halfling placed an order for almost every mage scroll Halbazzer had available, altogether 8055gp. When Sonny heard the price, the halfling's his face sank into a sad, sullen.
Halbazzer gulped, then said, "If that sounds too pricey, how about I give you a 10% discount."
The halfling continued to look sullen. Little tears were forming in Sonny's eyes.
"I, I have to stay in business. I can't go too low otherwise I'll go out of business. 20% is the best I can do!"
The halfling slowly counted out the coins, sniffling and holding back the tears.
"Please, I cannot go lower than 30%!"
What was he saying? Where was his pride as a merchant? But Halbazzer couldn't help it. He couldn't stand the thought of making such a pure and noble soul cry! Lower and lower he went, until he finally cried out in agony, "55% discount! I truly, absolutely cannot go any lower than that!"
The halfling's face lighted up, filling Halbazzer's heart with relief. Thank the gods!
"Thank you, ser. We promise to be good and help everyone we can."
"Of course. Please come again!" Halbazzer said, waving at the party of adventurers as they walked out the store away.
In his heart, Halbazzer was crying bloody tears. Please, for the love of all that is holy, never come again!
Woohoo, 4457gp discount, leaving me 14k after selling the Robe of the Evil Archmagi! With that, I could still afford to go and buy some great items in Ulgoth's Beard next. Maxing out reputation and 20+ Charisma was paying off. What a steal! Tee hee.
I was most certainly going to Sorcerous Sundries again once I had secured what I wanted from Ulgoth's.
---
Our party and the survivors were brought to the Flaming Fist barracks. Not particularly luxurious, but certainly safe as long as Scar was in charge. It would take some time for the Dukes to find a time when they were all ready to meet us, so we spent the time waiting to scribe spells.
We were in our room where Imoen and Neera were both sitting at writing desks near their bedside. The rest of the party waited tentatively. Neera was all smiles, and Imoen was uncharacteristically quiet.
"It's such a pain to be rendered weak by the red potion," Neera said, "But I think I can make this great sacrifice if you are all going to be attending to my every need."
"Don't forget I'll be too busy scribing scrolls to be a part of that," Imoen said to Neera.
Neera pouted, then looked at me.
"Uh, maybe we should do this scribe the scrolls one person at a time then? It isn't fair to the rest of us otherwise," I said. Branwen, Jaheira and Khalid nodded at my words.
Neera smiled at Imoen. "No one is exempted from attending to the one who made the big sacrifice."
Imoen was sullen at first, then smiled right back at Neera. "Don't forget those words."
Neera looked confused, but I knew that look in Imoen's eyes. I checked my pack of potions. "You've already taken it, haven't you Imoen?"
Imoen held up an empty vial of red potion and grinned. "Please, call me Duke Imoen."
---
"I'm feeling hot. Neera, fan me please?" Duke Imoen commanded while sitting upright on the bed. One hand was lazily writing details into her spellbook from the scroll on the nearby table.
"Yes, Duke Imoen," Neera said through gritted teeth while fanning her with a, well, fan. I'm not sure where Imoen got one from but she was certainly well prepared.
"Your grace, please don't stop scribing," I reminded her while cutting some fresh fruits.
"I'd never think of delaying just to be served longer. See, my hand is still moving. Sliced apple please, Khalid."
"Yes, Duke Imoen," Khalid said with a smile on his face, and popped one into her waiting mouth. He didn't seem to mind this entire attending maid business at all.
Imoen continued, "Besides, there's a time limit to the effects of the potion anyway. More wine please, Jaheira."
"Juice, Duke Imoen. So you can work faster while sober," Jaheira said as she refilled her glass with juice. "Work. Faster."
"Of course, Jaheira. But you realize, even if I finish, the effects of the potion last 24 hours?"
The whole party looked at me in shock. I coughed. "I did mention it, you know."
"I should have saved up my own fortune. Pay for the bloody difference," Jaheira muttered to herself, while Khalid rubbed her shoulders with a smile on his face.
Branwen gave me a sidelong glance, then said, "In that case, you really have no reason not to work faster. Then you can just relax the whole way through while we serve your every need."
"That's true," Imoen said. "This is in fact the last one. Another five minutes and I'm done."
Five minutes felt like an eternity. When Imoen finally closed her spell book, she gave a yawn. "And that's that. I do believe it's time for more cookies. Branwen, will you be a dear and fetch them for me?"
Branwen looked at me with a smug smile, which I returned. She turned back to Imoen. "Fetch them yourself."
Imoen was about to retort when Branwen started incanting the spell I had asked her to prepare, Dispel Magic. With that, the effects of the red potion dissipated.
"Hey, you tricked me!" Imoen sulked.
"When did I ever do that? You were the one who picked the red potion without my knowledge! Surely you didn't expect me to leave the drinker vulnerable to attack for a full 24 hours!"
"Awwww," Imoen said, then shrugged. "Oh well! That was fun while it lasted. If we ever find another red potion, let's do that again!"
"NO!"
She winced, then hopped of the sofa. "Cookies, then? Let's raid the kitchen together. I think we all deserve it."
We all couldn't help but smile.
"Well, can't argue with that. Cookies, ahoy!"
---
Eventually, each member of the party got a personal interview with the four grand Dukes of Baldur's Gate at the Duchal palace. We surrendered our weapons, and were under heavy guard, of course.
We waited in a room together but were instructed not to talk or signal to each other while waiting. Those who completed their interview was brought to a separate room. There were drinks and snacks provided however, and we were allowed to make requests to the servants while we waited.
When I was finally called by a guard to come in for my interview, there was no one else left in the waiting room. Guess they saved the best for last. There were three men in armor and one woman in mage robes sitting at a table, and the guard introduced them as Grand Duke Eltan, Grand Duke Entar Silvershield, Grand Duke Belt, and Grand Duchess Liia Jannath.
I bowed and greeted them, then was directed to a chair in front of them but a safe distance away.
The first part of the interview involved telling them about my background. Easy enough. I told them about my upbringing in Candlekeep, and named the various sages who lived there who they could collaborate the facts with.
Then I described our role in halting the poisoning of the mines in Nashkel, how our investigation led us to the bandit camp, and then the illegal iron mining operation in Cloakwood.
The Dukes took their time to listen to every part of my story before asking difficult questions.
"So you have found all these documents, but have not seen Rieltar himself? Nor any other leader of the Iron Throne?"
"That is correct," I answered honestly.
"Yet you are sure these documents you have found are genuine and not planted by another organisation? Such as the Zhentarim?"
"Planted documents would not have allowed me to cause the operations so much damage. Every document I have found thus far has led me correctly to the next step in the operation, allowing me to deal severe blows to the instigator of the iron crisis. I halted the sabotage operation in the Nashkel mines, then used those letters to track the bandit camp. After I raided the bandit camp and killed the leaders of the mercenaries used, I then used the documents I found there to find and flood their illegal iron mine," I explained. "What would the Zhentarim even need the illegal iron mine for? Where was the Iron Throne getting their ore supplies from in the middle of this iron crisis?"
The Dukes pursed their lips, and took some time to consider my logic.
"Have you had any contact with the agents of the Zhentarim?"
Ooooh, tough question. I'd better word my responses especially carefully in case they have any lie detection magic activated.
"How would I recognise one?" I asked. "None have introduced themselves to me. But I have no doubt my activities are being followed by both Zhentarim and Harpers due to the significance of my investigation," I said. "Speaking of Harpers, Scar can confirm that I have been meeting Elminster himself. Elminster appeared to me again when I arrived in Baldur's Gate. He spoke well of you, Duke Eltan."
Duke Eltan beamed with pride. "Did he now? I'm glad to hear of it."
Duchess Liia Jannath gave Duke Eltan some side eye. "As much as the iron crisis is of grave importance to our region, I find it doubtful the Sage of Shadowdale himself took interest in our mundane politics."
"He is also called the Meddler of Mystra for a reason, you know," Duke Eltan said to her.
I put up my hand. "I cannot speak for Elminster's motivations nor concerns. He spoke in riddles and his guidance was useless since he refused to divulge what I didn't already know or conclude myself. I am perplexed why he bothered to talk to me at all."
The Dukes looked at each other, then sighed. That was an oddly heavy and resigned sigh.
"Unfortunately, that does sound like the sage himself and not some pretender. So… FRUSTRATINGLY so, that I'm convinced you met the genuine article," Duchess Liia Jannath conceded.
What kind of reaction is that? Just how many people of importance has Elminster irritated over the years?
"The fact that Elminster himself confirmed your findings is most...," Duke Belt stopped short, frowned. "I would say reassuring or convincing, but frankly 'tis more grating than anything else."
With that, the Dukes thanked me for my time but asked that I make myself available for more questions when called.
"A moment. Duke Entar, may I speak to you alone about a matter that pertains to you personally?" I asked before being dismissed.
He allowed it, and when we were alone he asked, "What is this about then?"
"You see, there's this man named Eldoth Kron. He's been speaking to your daughter Skie Silvershield..."
By the time I was done, Duke Entar Silvershield's face was red hot. "Blackmail, eh. A plan to stealing away my favorite daughter. I thank you for bringing this matter to my attention. I do believe a talk with my foolish daughter is in order."
I bowed. "Glad to be of service, your grace."