Easy Betrayals

Easy Betrayals by Richard Baker is the eighth novella in the Double Diamond Triangle Saga series.

“

A mixed company of paladins and mercenaries race back to Faerûn after the object of their quest is revealed as a threat to peace and order throughout the Realms. But beware! The evil will lead them on a chase that ends in the last place any of them expected.

”

Summary[]

While battle against the Fallen Temple raged in Doegan, pirates Belgin Dree, and Nargin "Rings" Olnblade, along with paladins Jacob and Miltiades pursued the greater doppelganger in the guise of Eidola Boareskyr. The warriors pursued her to an ancient crypt deep under the palace of Emperor Aetheric III. In the heat of battle, ancient Netherese glyphs sprang to life and opened a gate through which Eidola escaped. The mercenaries and paladins had no other choice and followed.

The group found themselves in dust-swept Netherese ruins of Ularith in the desert of Anauroch. Belgin's training in the arcane revealed the origins of the ancient temple – the center of death cult worship with numerous portals that led to hidden tombs across Faerûn, Utter East, Chessenta, and more. The warriors chased the cunning doppelganger across the temple complex, eventually being confronted by its lich-lord protector. Miltiades stood up to the undead sentry but was protected from its deathly magics via Miltiades's own, somewhat undead nature. The paladins were given time until the sunrise to find Eidola and leave.

Tracking the shapeshifter and surviving several encounters with undead guardians, Eidola's deceptions, paladins, and mercenaries discovered the gate she escaped through – into Undermountain. Miltiades and Belgin Dree followed. Jacob and Rings eventually reached the gate. Jacob revealed his doppelganger nature, replaced when the paladins traveled through Skullport, the "human" stabbed the pirate and left him to die in the desert.

Eventually, the paladins and mercenaries reached Skullport once again. They came across a familiar face, Aleena Paladinstar, who was investigating the shapeshifter plot against her father. She revealed that Blackstaff Khelben Arunsun‎ knew of Eidola's nature sometime after the doppelganger consumed the young woman and took her shape. To render her harmless, Aleena and Blackstaff created a powerful girdle of righteousness that clocked the greater doppelganger into Eidola's body and personality. Along with survivors, Aleena traveled to a seedy bar Broken Pike. Its proprietor was a known agent of the Unseen, and he was likely to know where to find the organization's safe house and Eidola herself. In the process, Aleena and Miltiades were able to cure Belgin Dree of the gravely accursed disease that was killing him like everyone in the Utter East – a curse of the bloodforges.

Later, the group was ambushed by a gang of doppelgangers wearing familiar faces and led by Jacob. In a bloody scuffle, the shapeshifter almost got the upper hand but were saved by Nargin "Rings" Olnblade's magic axe. The dwarf was left to die, but with a ring of regeneration pierced onto his face, he survived and came back for vengeance. With Jacob's death, his betrayal and replacement became known to all.

After the heroes reached the safehouse of the Unseen, they fought through its doppelganger defenders and faced Eidola once again. They chased the monster into a maze of ancient tunnels underneath and cornered her. Eidola revealed the reason for Piergeiron Paladinson's condition after the bride's abduction – a soul gem. She threatened to shatter it, destroying the Open Lord's soul unless the warriors left and allowed her to escape. Miltiades refused, and the doppelganger started chanting the spell to trap the paladin's soul in the gem; however, Belgin's throwing knife interfered. The spell failed, and Eidola's own soul was consumed by the magic gemstone.

Index[]

Click here for page index

Characters[]

Aleena Paladinstar • Belgin Dree • Eidola • Jacob • Jarin • Kern Desanea • Marks • Miltiades • Nargin "Rings" Olnblade • Trandon

Referenced only

Aetheric III • Artemis Entreri • Brindra Arrose • Dereth Caelwindar • Halaster Blackcloak • Ikavi Garkim • Ingrar Welven • Jaele Serwid • Jolloth "Anvil" Burbuck • Khelben Arunsun‎ • Piergeiron Paladinson‎ • Kastonoph Nesher • Kurthe Lornar • Sharessa "The Shadow" Stagwood

Creatures[]

balor • bat • cuttlefish • death knight • doppelganger • drow • dwarf • elf • fiend • greater doppelganger • human • human (Ffolk) • human (Mar) • hook horror • leucrotta • lich-lord • minotaur • mummy • octopus • skeleton • skeleton warrior • shadow mastiff • vrock • werefox • zombie

Referenced only

crocodile • dragon • orc • titan

Locations[]

Anauroch • Broken Pike • Doegan • Hall of Swords • Lake Stygian • Netheril • Skullport • Ularith • Undermountain • Utter East

Referenced only

Abyss • Chessenta • Cormanthor • Edenvale • Konigheim • Menzoberranzan • Moonshae Isles • Mount Waterdeep • Mulhorand • Myth Drannor • Phlan • Silverymoon • Waterdeep

Magic[]

Spells: comprehend languages • cure disease • fairy fire • finger of death • hold person • light • lightning • locate object • magic missile • Melf's acid arrow • gate • remove curse • shatter
Magic Items: dispel magic • everbright axe • Harper pin • girdle of righteousness • lasso of truth • ring of regeneration • soul gem • wand of lightning bolts; Referenced only; Bloodforge

Organizations[]

Harpers • Unseen • Skulls of Skullport

Religion[]

Tyr • Moradin • Mystra

Miscellaneous[]

Vegetation: moss
Food & Drink: sausage; Referenced only; tea
Materials: plaster
Diseases & Afflictions: Gray Malaise • palsy
Other: Dwarvish • foxfire • Netherese • Kissing Shark

Appendix[]

Notes[]

↑ The Abduction, p.6 states that the wedding of Piergeiron the Paladinson and Eidola took place in the Year of the Haunting, 1377 DR. However, that date is implausible. Khelben Arunsun died in 1374 DR as depicted in Blackstaff (novel). Furthermore, Aleena Paladinstar was stated to be gone from Waterdeep by 1372 DR, planeswalking (City of Splendors: Waterdeep). On the other hand, the events of the Descent to Undermountain took place in 1370 DR, during which Aleena was actively banned from adventuring and any danger by her father. In the events of The Paladins, as well as the finale of the DDTS, Aleena took a central role, no longer bound by her father's rules. She later, with all the experience she received from battling the Unseen and hordes of Tanar'ri, felt confident enough to use her magic to traverse the planes. This places DDTS events likely in 1371 DR. This also does not conflict with appearances by Artemis Entreri, and the Neshers.

References[]

↑ J. Robert King (February 1998). The Abduction. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 6. ISBN 0-7869-0864-5.

[DDTS-1-2] The Abduction, p.6 states that the wedding of Piergeiron the Paladinson and Eidola took place in the Year of the Haunting, 1377 DR. However, that date is implausible. Khelben Arunsun died in 1374 DR as depicted in Blackstaff (novel). Furthermore, Aleena Paladinstar was stated to be gone from Waterdeep by 1372 DR, planeswalking (City of Splendors: Waterdeep). On the other hand, the events of the Descent to Undermountain took place in 1370 DR, during which Aleena was actively banned from adventuring and any danger by her father. In the events of The Paladins, as well as the finale of the DDTS, Aleena took a central role, no longer bound by her father's rules. She later, with all the experience she received from battling the Unseen and hordes of Tanar'ri, felt confident enough to use her magic to traverse the planes. This places DDTS events likely in 1371 DR. This also does not conflict with appearances by Artemis Entreri, and the Neshers.

[DDS1-p6-1] J. Robert King (February 1998). The Abduction. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 6. ISBN 0-7869-0864-5.

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