Oh man, what a shame! Just imagine how it could have gone if we really managed to confront Koveras.
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Normally, in game, the original script for the encounter with Sarevok goes like this;
Koveras: Ah, I thought I might find you somewhere around here. Allow me to introduce myself…
Player: Please do…
Koveras: My name is Koveras. I used to work for your father, running messages to his Harper friends in Waterdeep. Before he passed on, he entrusted this ring to me and asked that I give it to you should evil ever befall him… Will you take it?
Player: And what evil befell him, Koveras?
Koveras: You were there. You saw it all. A woman, an armored figure, two ogres wielding clubs, and two archers. But Gorion's petty magic was of little use against them, was it not? And you, you fled with your tail between your legs, hiding amidst the trees until dawn broke. And now it comes full circle, doesn't it? The Iron Throne so close that you can almost touch them and wreak your revenge for that night.
Player: You're right, Koveras. I was there. Myself, my father, and six others who tried to kill us. Where were you, if you know so much?
Koveras: If you be so void of trust, I am surprised you have made it this far. It is of little matter. Go seek your vengeance or your doom at the hand of the Iron Throne. I wash my hands of it.
And the party watches him leave.
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Does that make sense to you? The every next line in the script should be:
Player: I don't think so. Everyone, sick 'im.
If Sarevok had blown his cover that much by revealing he knows too much, why in high heavens would anyone just allow him to leave? The fact that Sarevok was using such a telling pseudonym was especially galling for more canny players who had realised Koveras's true identity.
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Worse, the very moment Koveras said something else there was already a problem.
Koveras: Ah, I thought I might find you somewhere around here. Allow me to introduce myself…
Player: Please do…
Koveras: My name is Koveras. I used to work for your father, running messages to his Harper friends in Waterdeep. Before he passed on, he entrusted this ring to me and asked that I give it to you should evil ever befall him… Will you take it?
Jaheira and Khalid: You're a Harper? Yeah, right. Everyone, sick 'em.
That's right, Jaheira and Khalid were RIGHT THERE. Even if they don't know every member of the Harpers, they'd know who worked for Gorion and if he operated in Waterdeep.
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But man, Koveras gets to taunt us with that comment about the main character fleeing with our tail between our legs, and we don't get to say anything back?
I really wanted to say something like this:
Sonny: And what evil befell him, Koveras?
Koveras: You were there. You saw it all. A woman, an armored figure, two ogres wielding clubs, and two archers. But Gorion's petty magic was of little use against them, was it not? And you, you fled with your tail between your legs, hiding amidst the trees until dawn broke. And now it comes full circle, doesn't it? The Iron Throne so close that you can almost touch them and wreak your revenge for that night.
Sonny: I was there, as a matter of fact. So I can tell you that you got some details wrong.
Koveras: What?
Sonny: There were in fact twenty ambushers laying in wait to kill a feeble old man and a tiny halfling. How cowardly! The large guy in the horned helmet was nearly barbequed immediately by Gorion's magics, his life saved only by the cleric's magics. Why, he was sobbing and begging 'Save me! Don't let me die!' the whole time.
Koveras: You!- How did Gorion even die in your absurd version of the story?
Sonny: Sheer numbers. Twenty enemies is too much even for Gorion. Especially that female priest. I have to watch out for her in the future. She's clearly the one in charge, so competent unlike that pathetic man in the scary-looking armor. I'm lucky he was wounded so badly by Gorion, otherwise she may have hunted me down with the remaining ambushers instead of tend to his wounds.
Koveras: That, that is NOT what happened!
Sonny: How would you know? Were you there?
Koveras: ...
Sonny: That's what I thought. Everyone, sick 'im.
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Alas, as any Dungeon Master knows, no plan (or villain) survives an encounter with the party. Any attempt to make the big boss appear in front of the players beforehand to get in some villainous monologue is bound to fail in the face of player savvy and ingenuity, as well as high dice rolls. I cannot count the number of times Dungeon Masters have had their main villain appear in disguise to lead the party astray, only to be found out immediately by savvy players and killed. HEAVY railroading is needed to protect main villains within arms reach of players.