IIRC, the mercenaries whom Balthazar hired were part of the Twisted Rune. Obviously, I know about the Twisted Rune non-quest in SoA. In ToB there is only one reference to the Rune (being hired by Balthazar) made by the mage in the tavern. Did I miss something, or was that it? If so, dang, that's disappointing.

Well this is the first time I'm hearing this, so you got me interested alright. Where exactly is this mage in the tavern?

I do know that the Twisted Rune is connected to the Guarded Compound in the Temple District (because of the Rogue Stone over there that directs you to the Bridge District) and that the Guarded Compound (Sion and his friends) are probably some high slavers, but I never knew the total connection between everyone.

In the tavern in Amkethran (before you do away with Sendai and Abazigal), there are three mercenaries - two fighter types and a mage. They have a few "pre-recorded" lines (i.e. they're not talking heads). If you try talking to the mage a few times, I could have sworn that he says something about the Twisted Rune. It's been a little while, but I'll try to check it tonight and post the actual quote.

I'll go and check it out myself too [img]smile.gif[/img] Gonna dust off them CLUA codes again :D

EDIT: Checked it, and you're right Feral! He says the following:

"You seem like a learned type. Are you part of the Twisted Rune hired by Balthazar? I don't recognize you..."

Doesn't mean that Balthazar and the Twisted Rune in Athkatla are in league with each other, but it sure makes things interesting. The Twisted Rune, after all is a highly secret group involved in all kinds of horrid things.

[ 01-14-2004, 05:48 PM: Message edited by: Link ]

Right - what's really odd is that the Rune is (pretty clearly) evil, whereas Balthazar is not (just very misguided and quite mad). Hmm... I suspect it's another Twisted Rune dead-end. Thanks for confirming that I'm not off my rocker, though!

Balthazar seems to believe that the ends justify the means in all of his dealings. If that means his monks get to terrorize a vilage, so be it. If it means dealing with evil to eradicate a (percieved) greater evil, so be it.

Indeed. Don't forget that after whiping you out he intends to commit suicide so the essence of Bhaal will not become a God once again.

The problem with that gesture however, is that he's making it <span style="color:#FFFFFF">~easier for Queen Deluded~ the Blackhearted a lot easier: instead of having to kill Balthazar, she would become a goddess just like that.

[ 01-15-2004, 05:12 AM: Message edited by: Dundee Slaytern ]

Nobody said his thought process was logical. He was ready to kill Mara of Candlekeep, one of the most benevolent and powerful people to walk the Realms. 20 rep, hands gold to beggars like it's worthless..

(Queen Deluded, Dundee? That's an awfully nice way to put it...)

(Puts aside hurt feelings over being perceived as greater evil than slavers and who-knows-what-else) Really wish someone would connect the dots and create (re-create?) a Twisted Rune quest/plotline. There is enough in the game to make me really curious but not in that "let your imagination fill in the rest" kind of way.