Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

1 Tarsakh 1349

It had been a busy few days, and Malanis was eager to return home for some rest. Entering the enclave he found another of his brethren, Drakvoz, sitting across from an exotic woman of dark complexion. The emblem of Kossuth hung from a thin chain around her neck, denoting her as one of his priestesses.

Introductions were made and Malanis was just about to withdraw from the conversation when two new figures entered the grand foyer. A woman clothed in red robes, though not those of the wizards, followed by a rugged man who wore the trappings of one who lives among the animals. A brief sigh escaped his lips as he dutifully crossed the marble floors to greet the newcomers, followed closely by Drakvoz and Ekaterina, the fire priestess.



The woman, well versed in Thayan etiquette, introduced herself and presented her companion, a man she'd only recently met on the road with an unusual quandary: A bow he plucked from the bones of some creature in the Fields of the Dead had attached itself, quite literally, to his hand. No matter what methods he tried it remained bound, not allowing him to even open his fist. The knuckles were white from clenching the innocent curve of the wood. He appeared very uncomfortable in the lavishly decorated room.

Malanis carefully observed the bow without touching it, weaving a spell over its edges to identify the curse. Ekaterina set her drink down and offered to aid him through the purifying flames of the Tyrant. She cast her spell and the bow dropped immediately to the floor, the druid backing away quickly lest it jump into his hands once more. He declined to keep the now inert weapon, so Ekaterina threw it unceremoniously into the fireplace to send the flames ever higher in honor of her god.



The red robed woman, also a priestess of Kossuth coincidentally, stayed and conversed with Ekaterina for a time about their shared faith. Malanis, relieved that the afternoon's excitement had concluded, collected his things and made his way to his chambers for a nap.

9 Tarsakh 1349

Tensions were high this afternoon. Malanis, Drakvoz, and their knight-in-training, Atilius, sat around a campfire outside the Friendly Arm Inn discussing trade and politics when an ambush was sprung. A band of vagabonds, common to the trade way as of late, leapt from behind the rocky outcropping on the hill and rushed straight for the unprepared wizards.

Atilius was slow to react as he was keeping an eye on the elves of Doron Amar across the road. Before he was able to draw his sword, a dagger had been driven squarely between Malanis' ribs, a deep red pouring ineffectively staining his robes. The bandit grinned and turned to Drakvoz when a well-placed arrow from Alsarias, a prominent member of Doron Amar struck the bandit between the eyes dropping him to the ground. The others were dispatched in short order.

One of the elves, a rather barbaric looking fellow, approached with hostility throwing slanders and insults at the Thayans. Despite the aggravation, the elves aided in raising the fallen mage. Malanis sat up dizzily and saw his brothers, accompanied by Lady Vol, standing in a protective formation around him as a crowd of elves pressed forward, knives and spells yearning to be released. Onlookers gathered and stirred uncomfortably with eager yet horrified faces.

Alsarias offered words of reason to all; a fight on the trade way was not the way to settle differences. Erandis began preparing herself for a fight, but Malanis gently touched her shoulder, silently urging her to stay her hand. With whitened knuckles, both groups slowly backed away from one another and returned to their respective discussions. Some watching walked away with disappointment, but one thing is for sure: The peace struck today is tenuous at best.

A gaudy notice appears on numerous boards around Baldur's Gate and the Friendly Arm Inn. Many travellers have also spoken of meeting Red Wizards on the Tradeway who do not meet the traditional stereotype, being polite, courteous and seemingly only interested in honest trade.

Do you long to purchase high-quality scrolls, potions and wands, but all too frequently find they are too expensive? Perhaps you have purchased cheap magical items in the past, only to find them poorly made, faulty or leaking charges?

The Red Wizards of Thay can help! Our artisan arcanists work diligently to ensure only the finest goods reach you, the honest consumer, and because we manufacture in bulk, we can pass the cost savings on to you.

Don't delay, find a Red Wizard today!

The notice goes on to list details of how to contact the Enclave.

*A note is left at the thayan compound in baldur's gate, the note is wrapped in a pair of prisoner chains with cuffs attached to the ends. The letter is written in the common tongue and reads...*


Me believe these shackles belong to you, me think to return such property to its rightful owner. It time you feel the cold iron around your own wrists for once, me be glad to help you put them on, hope them is to small so they hurt your wrists just like the ones you put so many chains on. Red wizards life can be long, but not to long with me around, me think beholders would like such evil people, mabye even grant you another eye for service to them. You best hope because you will need eyes in back of you head from now on.

*A lore or spellcraft check would reveal the chains to be a cursed item, scratched onto one cuff is "property of a Thayan slaver".*

One of the Knights on duty stops the large, toothy visitor as he departs, reminding him that under their covenant with the Dukes, the Enclave is Thayan soil and that all anonymous packages will be subject to extensive magical testing to ensure their safety.

Once they are certain that the visitor and his lingering odour have departed, apprentice Dhalmas is sent to carefully collect the shackles and take them to the 'staff' quarters for 'testing'.

narcaleptic wrote:*A note is left at the thayan compound in baldur's gate, the note is wrapped in a pair of prisoner chains with cuffs attached to the ends. The letter is written in the common tongue and reads...*


Me believe these shackles belong to you, me think to return such property to its rightful owner. It time you feel the cold iron around your own wrists for once, me be glad to help you put them on, hope them is to small so they hurt your wrists just like the ones you put so many chains on. Red wizards life can be long, but not to long with me around, me think beholders would like such evil people, mabye even grant you another eye for service to them. You best hope because you will need eyes in back of you head from now on.

*A lore or spellcraft check would reveal the chains to be a cursed item, scratched onto one cuff is "property of a Thayan slaver".*

A rather small, frail-looking pale man wearing the red robes that mark one's status as a legendary Red Wizard of Thay reads the note with icy cold eyes. Upon completion of his examination, which could or could not have been made more annoying by the horrendous prose of the inferior mind that conceived it, it is said he laughed in disbelief at the threats: "One that cannot even write, dares threaten me? ME?. The local authorities will hear me about this..." and then he turned away, straightening his rich mantle and mocking whoever "this idiot" was with an apprentice

narcaleptic wrote:*A note is left at the thayan compound in baldur's gate, the note is wrapped in a pair of prisoner chains with cuffs attached to the ends. The letter is written in the common tongue and reads...*


Me believe these shackles belong to you, me think to return such property to its rightful owner. It time you feel the cold iron around your own wrists for once, me be glad to help you put them on, hope them is to small so they hurt your wrists just like the ones you put so many chains on. Red wizards life can be long, but not to long with me around, me think beholders would like such evil people, mabye even grant you another eye for service to them. You best hope because you will need eyes in back of you head from now on.

*A lore or spellcraft check would reveal the chains to be a cursed item, scratched onto one cuff is "property of a Thayan slaver".*

Arizima does not even finish reading the first sentence before she chuckles and walks off to do something more productive.

A woman in red robes observes the reactions of her fellow magi as they read the note. Triggered by a slight form of curiosity she walks over to see what is so funny about it.

She reads the note and raises an eyebrow. 'Right... Why did I even bother...'

She discards the note and walks off muttering something about blue and green.