Baldur's gate II_ throne of Bhaal - Drew Karpyshyn [63]
His fawning answer seemed to assuage the irritation his last-second arrival had caused among the collected dragons.
"We shall listen to your offer," Sablaxaahl, a large but relatively young black dragon blurted out, exposing the impetuousness of youth by speaking out of turn. "Though what a manspawn such as yourself could have to interest us we could not imagine."
The other wyrms accepted the black's breach of etiquette without comment. Another sign they didn't feel Abazigal worthy of proper respect.
"Ah, there is where the potential lies," Abazigal replied. "I am not the offspring of a mere mortal. I am a child of the god Bhaal."
The assemblage rumbled with laughter. "The lineage of a human god? And a dead one at that?" There was amusement in Saladrex's voice as he spoke. "This is meant to impress us, half-breed?"
Abazigal bit his tongue to keep from speaking out of turn.
"You have yet to hear my offer, mighty Saladrex" he replied once he had quelled his anger. "Bhaal was indeed a god of the man creatures, but he was also a god of death and destruction, the Lord of Murder. When he rises again, he will be a god bent on vengeance."
"You speak as if the return of Bhaal is inevitable, but we know the future of this matter is not yet decided. Now our patience wears thin," Saladrex warned. "And we have yet to hear how this will benefit dragonkind."
"Are not dragons the most majestic of beings to grace the face of Faerun?" Abazigal asked rhetorically. "Are dragons not the most powerful? The most intelligent?" The wyrms could not resist nodding their heads in agreement. Dragons were truly intelligent creatures, but even the wisest was not above allowing himself to be shamelessly flattered.
"Yet dragons do not rule," Abazigal continued, knowing he had captured the wyrms' attention. "The lesser creatures-humans, halflings, orcs, goblins-they breed like insects! They spread like the plague across the face of Faerun, burning forests and turning your hunting grounds into pastures and towns. They steal from your hoards, their foolish heroes band together and track you to your lairs, plotting to end your existence so that they may seize your hard-won treasures for themselves and advance their own petty reputations with the title of dragonslayer."
There were murmurs of assent from his reptilian audience.
"Through sheer numbers these undeserving vermin have pushed dragonkind farther and farther into the wilderness as they expand their territories. How long until they seek to exterminate your kind forever?"
"Impossible!" a fiery young brown spat out. "Our species will never be destroyed by these pathetic little bipeds!"
But the other dragons did not second her hasty protest. They were old enough to have experienced the spread of the lesser creatures. They were wise enough to see Abazigal's ominous prophecy was not so far-fetched.
"And you claim you can stop this, Abazigal?" Saladrex challenged.
The half-dragon nodded. "When Bhaal returns, he will begin a campaign of bloody vengeance, a war to make Faerun suffer for his death. He will slaughter the humans and their two-footed cousins in numbers history's most infamous tyrants could not even begin to comprehend.
"That is when we will act! With their populations ravaged by war, the lesser creatures will not have the numbers-or the will-to stand up to the united might of the dragonkind! You will loot and plunder the gold of their cities! The humans and their ilk will bow before you! Those who submit will be enslaved, those that do not will be driven into the seas and oceans by the combined might of our army of wyrms. Dragons will once again rule Faerun!"
There was only silence in response as the dragons contemplated Abazigal's glorious vision. It was Saladrex who asked the question Abazigal feared most.
"And why exactly do we need you, half-breed?"
"I will be the liaison between the dragon army and the forces of Bhaal. I will guide my immortal father's war