The Sorcerer Who Started Haughty and Ended Humble

Hearing this request, Liana smiled.

"Your caution is truly astounding, Mr. Rodhart. Though I don't think a Mind Flayer would pay special attention to a minor figure like you. Still, your terms also serve my interests. I agree."

Because of the power struggle among Baldur's Gate's upper ranks, Liana had been promoted in name while demoted in practice, exiled to Friendly Arm.

But the sudden Mind Flayer threat gave her an opportunity to reclaim military command.

The Portyr Family might even be able to use this to reverse its decline.

Although her uncle was one of Baldur's Gate's four grand dukes, he had not been having an easy time lately. The newly risen Vanthampur Family had been pressuring him step by step.

She had heard they were close to an arms dealer named Gortash and had profited handsomely from the association...

"The report must be worded carefully. Best if it can connect the Mind Flayer to the kidnapped young lady knight of House Stelmane..."

With that thought, Liana extended her hand. "I accept your terms. From this point on, Flaming Fist Seventh Battalion, Sixth Company will fully support you in eliminating the Mind Flayer's minions."

Marvin also reached out and shook her gauntleted hand.

"And me! I have something to say too!" The gnome proprietor jumped up and down between the two towering humans, waving both arms.

"Those octopus-heads hiding in the Underdark actually dared set their sights on the Friendly Arm Inn! This is ancestral property my parents seized through bitter struggle at the risk of their lives!"

The gnome proprietor clenched his fists. "I'll write to my parents right away and ask them to seek help from the Harpers' Alliance!"

Only through his recent chats with the gnome proprietor had Marvin learned that his parents were the gnome illusionist couple who had defeated Bhaal's followers and taken the Friendly Arm Inn all those years ago.

Gnomes lived for around four hundred years. That gnome illusionist couple, who had risen to fame on the Sword Coast during the Time of Troubles and even crossed paths with the great hero Charname, must have built up extensive connections by now.

The "Harpers' Alliance" mentioned by the gnome proprietor was a famous secret organization in Faerûn. Chaotic Good in alignment, its members operated much like chivalrous outlaws who robbed the rich to aid the poor.

Rulers who pursued order might not necessarily like the Harpers, but when it came to fighting evil, they truly were a reliable force.

Especially considering the Harpers' Alliance's backers, who were extraordinarily formidable.

They had several legendary powerhouses, including Faerûn's most powerful human wizard at present, Elminster.

A mere Mind Flayer was not enough to warrant the intervention of a legendary powerhouse. But if the Harpers' Alliance sent a few high-ranking members, together with Flaming Fist reinforcements, the town's safety would be assured.

Even if all the adventurers went to Cloakwood Forest to rescue the young lady knight, the Mind Flayer would gain no advantage.

There was no need to worry about such long-term matters for now.

For Marvin's immediate task, winning over a powerful ally like the Flaming Fist would make things much easier.

When they later entered the tunnels to clear out the Cranium Rats, having Liana, a level-ten fighter, as a companion and meat shield would send the mission's success rate soaring.

However, the Cranium Rats' Mind Blast required high Intelligence to resist, making it especially effective against fighters.

Marvin had to find a way to weaken the enemy's psionic threat.

After leaving the Flaming Fist garrison, he immediately headed for the Eastern Warehouse, hoping to find a solution.

He had barely stepped into the shop and had not even had time to greet the bald uncle before someone else stopped him.

"Oh, my friend, long time no see!" A man with chestnut hair parted down the middle stood before Marvin.

A ruby staff, a gold-threaded robe, and magical fluctuations radiating from a surge of wild magic.

Marvin found him somewhat familiar. "You are...?"

"Ah, forgive my rudeness. I haven't introduced myself yet." The man gave a noble's bow. "My name is Kael von Baierboheng. I come from a long-standing family of spellcasters in Waterdeep, and I am a sorcerer who commands primal magic. I have two virtues: wealth and generosity."

Only then did Marvin remember. This was the wild sorcerer he had encountered when he came to the Eastern Warehouse to buy white mice.

At the time, Kael had spent lavishly on supplies, full of confidence that he would save the young lady knight trapped among the goblin tribes.

He had even tried to recruit Marvin into his adventuring party.

But Marvin only wanted to lie low in town and develop at his own pace. Besides, the man's attitude had been far too arrogant, so he had refused outright.

Only ten days had passed, yet Mr. Kael had already returned to town. And judging by his appearance, he had not successfully rescued the young lady knight.

Marvin gave the wild sorcerer a once-over.

There were scorch marks at his temples, and his expensive mage's robe had several holes in it—clearly punctured by crossbow bolts.

He immediately reached a conclusion: this guy had failed. Not only had he failed to rescue the young lady knight, he had likely suffered quite a bit himself before fleeing back to town in disgrace.

Yet he was capable of bending when necessary. Now that he faced Marvin again, he put on a perfect performance of starting haughty and ending humble. Who knew what he wanted by coming over to ingratiate himself?

"Mr. Baierboheng..."

"Kael. Call me Kael. We're friends, so why be so formal?"

"Fine. Kael. What do you want?" Marvin spread his hands helplessly.

"Uh..." The wild sorcerer looked embarrassed. After gathering his words, he half-concealedly revealed his purpose.

Earlier, Kael had led a five-person adventuring party, with an average level of five, into Cloakwood Forest. The group consisted of himself, a sorcerer, along with a barbarian, ranger, cleric, and fighter.

They had been well supplied and had a balanced party composition. No wonder Kael had been so confident, believing he would surely become the hero who saved the beauty.

But on the third night after entering Cloakwood Forest, they were ambushed while making camp.

First, thick fog began to spread. Then the ranger on watch was killed by a bolt of lightning.

Unable to see their hands before their faces, the rest fought and retreated under siege until they were driven into a dead end.

Kael's wild magic proved its worth in that desperate moment. While casting Magic Missile, he somehow summoned a portal that sent the remaining four people back to town.

The fighter in the party felt the mission was too dangerous and left the group.

But Kael did not want to give up. He was buying supplies while recruiting new companions, preparing to enter Cloakwood Forest once more.

When he came to the Eastern Warehouse to purchase supplies just now, he learned that every magic shop in town was currently out of stock.

After he pestered him for quite some time, the bald uncle finally told Kael that the mage he had previously tried to recruit was skilled at making scrolls.

So Kael had deliberately waited in the shop, hoping to buy a batch of scrolls from Marvin. Preferably at a discount.

After learning Kael's purpose, Marvin nodded. "I can sell you half my scrolls. The rest have to go to the Eastern Warehouse. After all, I have an agreement with the proprietor. My stock is all first-circle scrolls, thirty gold each."

"Weren't they twenty-five gold each before? Uh... I need a lot of them. Could you give me a discount?"

It seemed his previous failure had cost this wealthy sorcerer dearly. He had even learned to haggle.

"No. Spell scroll prices are rising every day. Selling them for thirty gold is already charity." Marvin shook his head and refused.

In truth, even if he sold his scrolls for twenty gold each, his profit would still be twice that of everyone else.

But his scroll production was already high. If his prices were too unusual as well, he would easily draw unwanted attention.

Kael rubbed his hands awkwardly. Finally, he gritted his teeth. "I'll take all your scrolls. Wait here. I'll go borrow money from the temple."

The Waukeen Temple also functioned as a bank. The priests of the Goddess of Wealth were the best money-makers in Faerûn.

Or rather, only those who understood how to make money qualified to become priests of Waukeen.

Marvin raised a hand to stop Kael. "If you don't have cash, we can trade by barter. Aren't you from a spellcaster family in Waterdeep? I imagine you have something I'd be interested in."

Kael looked at the staff in his hand, then at the mage's robe on his body, his face filled with reluctance.

Then inspiration struck. He took a booklet from his storage bag.

"How about this alchemy manual? I can't memorize those complicated reaction formulas and material ratios. Alchemy is something you wizards are better at."

Gordon opened the manual and gave it a quick read. It recorded the formulas for two potions: Lesser Arcane Nourishment Elixir and Mechanized Mind Potion.