Makings of a Monster

Sarevok stood his head higher than anyone else, regarding the assortment of nobles from above. This was now it. An assortment of doppleganger assassins had infiltrated the party masquerading as nobles. Once the two attending dukes were taken down, he'd assume the control of the city and start the war. And then, the ascension. Sarevok had only a very vague idea what he actually do once he was the new Lord of Murder. But surely he would figure that out.

He started the speech, stressing that the rumors of the war were true and that Baldur's Gate would need to take the war to Amn, to act proactively so to speak. The stockpile of pure iron and Throne's mercenary forces would be in the city's perusal, he continued. The current dukes seemed not to agree with this at all, while many of the nobles were impressed with the idea. Well, disagree all you want for the last minutes of your life, thought Sarevok and went on, feeling the surge of power.

Suddenly someone stormed in.
- "Who dares to interrupt?" barked Sarevok. This was a crucial moment.
It was Peri with her group in tow. Their eyes met and Sarevok knew at once. She had managed to flee from all his traps, and now she had the evidence to bring him down. Unfortunately the dopplegangers took the sign of her appearance as a sign to attack, transformed back and attacked the dukes. Not much to do if Sarevok still wanted to keep his cover. So he observed, quickly coming up with a desperate plan. In spite of himself he couldn't help observing Peri fighting. Her hair flowing, her eyes wide, smiling... She loves it too, like I do...

The group quickly disposed of the beasts, managing to protect the dukes, who, stunned by the suddenness of the attack, thanked them.
- "It was Sarevok who tried to murder you! We have proof, right here!" shouted Peri, brandishing a pile of paper and what looked like Sarevok's diary.
- "They are wanted for several murders! Quickly, kill them!" yelled Sarevok to Angelo, the head of Flaming Fist mercenaries who actually was his underling.
But the Grand Duke Belt was not having any of it.
- "They will not be harmed until I finish reading these documents."

Sarevok snapped, seeing his carefully crafted plan in ruins. He welcomed the familiar rage, and drew his sword. Oddly part of him was relieved. This was Sarevok. The natural born fighter. The months of negotiations, diplomacy, making nice with the nobles and pretending to be interested in mercantile concerns had worn his patience quite thin.
There was a certain relief in not having anything to lose and dropping all pretences.
- "You don't need to read those documents, but as you are too stupid to take my advice, I'll take your head instead," he snarled, advancing.

Sarevok saw all his life before his eyes, when a dawning realisation hit him. How could Peri have ruined his plans? Tamoko. She had betrayed him, Tamoko, his beloved he had wanted to be his Lady of Murder. The bitterness almost made him cry so he welcomed hate instead. He'd go down fighting, he'd kill the arrogant dukes at least, and the sibling who had ruined his plans.
- "Killing is our father's work," he snarled to Peri, approaching her, his face frozen in a mask of insanity and hatred. "Embrace it, as I have."
The place was swarming with mercenaries, and more were on their way. Sarevok didn't care. All the pain and hate that had fueled him made his blood too hot in his veins. Suddenly he felt a pull of magic and was teleported away.

Disoriented for a moment, he realized he was at the entrance to the Undercity with Winski.
- "You teleported me away," he snarled.
- "Not even you could have fought all those mercenaries and Peri's party. You would have died there," answered Winski, his face pale and eyes burning.
- "You made me look like a first-class coward," snarled Sarevok. "Everyone... everyone I trusted betraying me. Tamoko... and you!"
In a flash of rage he stabbed Winski and pulled his sword off, Winski slowly sliding down supported by the wall.
- "You... stabbed me. Sorry for stating the obvious..." whispered Winski, his eyes wide with disbelief.
- "That's right. Die here, Winski, the only mortal father I ever had," said Sarevok, fighting back a sudden urge to cry, and stormed away.

Didn't go exactly as planned, thought Winski. I'm dying, and he's not in control of the town, but instead hunted by assortment of powerful organisations, his allies fleeing in droves and his sanity long gone. I remember him as he was as a little boy, so full of passion and so full of promise. He mattered to me like nothing else save his mother later on, and I risked everything to protect him. I only wanted the best for him... and now this. Where did we go wrong? I loved him so, I love him still. Now, with my life fading away I finally see that love does exist, after all, and it is more powerful than anything. The things we do to avoid it...