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“You cannot just go in and murder everyone. That cannot be the entirety of your plan.”
“Why not?”
Two unlikely allies stand around the table looking at the detailed plans of The Counting House that Enver Gortash obtained. The alliance between servant of Bane and servant of Bhaal has so far been going smoothly. Suspiciously so, given how all the alliances between Bane and Bhaal ended in the past. Luckily, as one might expect from a follower of Bane, Gortash has an unshakable belief that he knows better than anyone who was attempting before him and that his partnership cannot fail or get out of his hands in any way.
“My dear ally, I understand that there is a place and time for slaughter but things sometimes demand a more subtle approach,” Gorthash is starting to get frustrated arguing with his newest accomplice.
“It is the quickest and easiest way. You are the one only trying to pointlessly complicate it,” Dark Urge sounds agitated as well. And they are getting nowhere like this. As happy as he is having someone, he could consider his equal, it is hard for him to come to agreement. By now he is used to just stating his orders and they are obeyed without a question. It is a new challenge for him to try to negotiate plans with someone to both of their liking. Especially since bhaalist is always so happy to choose the most brutal and gory solution to any presented obstacle.
“Lets just take a break from the planning, shall we?”
His ally lets out unhappy scuff but they do not argue back so he chooses to interpret it as agreement. They were quite eager to offer their help with his newest goal, insisting they need to repay him for his assistance with reclaiming bhaalspawn memorabilia from House of Wonders. Gortash needs to obtain some very sensitive documents which this one particular noble was smart enough to place in his vault, naively thinking that they will be safe there. Well, Gorthash intends to prove them wrong, steal it and use it to blackmail them, to get yet another puppet for his rise to power.
And that’s why Dark Urge and himself are now arguing over The Counting House plans. What his new accomplice struggles to understand is that not every heist needs to be a spectacle with carnage and corpses left behind. He very much needs for them to get in and get out unseen and preferably with as little casualties as possible. After what he witnessed, he has no concerns whether Dark Urge could manage to take the entirety of the staff and guards of the Counting House. They have demonstrated their power and abilities quite well. But that is not the point here.
Gortash is starting to think this would really be easier if he has done it on his own... Unfortunately, he cannot tell them that now as their alliance is still fragile and he would hate to offend them.
No matter. They both do need a pause. His plans are not pressing, they can wait a bit longer. It will help them both to clear their heads a bit. Dark Urge is still staring at the plans and even though their face is not revealing anything their tail is restlessly moving from side to side.
Gortash looks around the room seeking something that would offer a bit of distraction to both of them. Hm, maybe…
“Say, have you ever played lanceboard?”
“Lanceboard?” Dark Urge looks at him curiously and… ah, he sometimes forgets that wherever the temple of Bhaal is and whatever it looks like there, is very likely not exactly a place of intellectual stimulation. As brilliant as his partner in crime is, they sometimes lack very basic common knowledge about etiquette, customs or things considered by most to be everyday objects.
He carefully picks up his set from the display. He has purchased it only recently. It was made of no mere cheap wood painted black and white. The white figures were crafted out of ivory and the black ones out of onyx while the board itself is out of marble. So far, he has been only admiring it. He has not deemed yet any opponent worthy enough of his expensive and glamorous lanceboard.
“Shall I explain the rules?” Gortash puts the chess on top of the plans, white figures on the side of Dark Urge, black ones on his. They tilt their head, possibly thinking about their answer. After a brief pause, they nod.
“By all means go ahead.”
“Very well then,” Gortash smiles. He sits down and takes a breath. Where to begin…
It takes him a while to describe in detail the names of all the figures and what kind of movement they have, what is the point of the game and even what are some common beginner strategies. They listen attentively but they say nothing. And so he assumes that his explanation was exhaustive enough that no questions are needed.
Gortash clasps his hands and leans back in his chair.
“Worry not, I will go easy on you.” Not easy enough to let them win of course, but maybe he will let them take a few of his pieces so they can get a proper taste of the game. With some practice he believes that they can become worthy opponent, they certainly have the potential.
Dark Urge does not answer. But they take in their claw one of their white pawns. And so the game can begin.
If one could retrospectively call their quick exchange a proper game, of course…
Despite Gortash’s initiative plans the match is over in less than ten moves. And he is the one who lost and who is in confusion staring at the lanceboard trying to comprehend what exactly has just happened.
“For someone trying to take control over all the planning I would expect you to be a bit better in such a children strategy game…” Dark Urge picks up Gortash’s Cyric in fascination. As if they themselves were wondering how they could possibly get their hands on it so quickly.
“There is no way you could win this quickly if you’ve never played lanceboard before-”
“I have never said I haven’t played the lanceboard before,” Dark Urge grins, fleshing all his sharp dragonborn teeth at him. He used to be a bit uncomfortable by the display but now more than ever he starts to find it just simply infuriating as Gortash finally manages to process what has just happened.
“You had me explaining the rules for almost an hour,” he grits his teeth in annoyance.
“You seemed to be having fun. I didn’t want to interrupt you,” they try to sound as if they genuinely had no idea but there is a sparkle of malice in their scarlet eyes. Bane give him strength. Of course. Of course – to put it simply – they were just fucking with him.
And how dare they waste his time and make a fool out of him. It is so frustrating. Gortash hates losing. Who would not? And they did not even win in a fair fight. And he wants to hold on to the anger and take a full offense in their action but also… also there is the feeling of thrill. Exhilaration. Anticipation. He has gotten so comfortable with always getting what he wants, always mastering everything and being better than everyone.
It is exciting to have someone who can pose a challenge, who is worthy of his effort. Truly an equal in every sense. He looks up to Dark Urge. They are watching him curiously. What a luck Gortash mastered having his emotion perfectly hidden all the time or he would have to worry what his face is revealing.
“What is it, little tyrant? Not used to losing?” they are not bothering to hide their triumphant grin anymore. Gortash summons a smile on his face as well.
“You could say I am out of practice.”
“Lets play again then, to make you more used to it,” Dark Urge suggests, already returning pieces back at their spots. Gortash nods.
“Yes, lets play again.”