1.
The next morning you're woken by the smell of something delicious wafting through the tent. You reach out, eyes still closed, feeling for Astarion but he isn't there. You pout to yourself as you get up, get dressed and braid your hair before venturing out towards that delightful aroma. Outside you find Gale and Halsin at the fire making a hearty breakfast. You spot potatoes roasting in the embers, a skillet filled with eggs, sausages, tomatoes and onions all simmering away. Your mouth waters as you drift closer, hoping to filch a bite, but your hand is swatted away by Karlach. You didn't even notice her crouching next to the food, impatiently waiting for it to be done, insisting she has first served dibs. You decide to hunch down over her, also waiting to be served.
Shadowheart and the fluffy babies soon join you, assumably also drawn in by the smell. You talk with her about the daunting task of having to pack up the rest of everything and then heading out to climb a damn mountain road. She tries to optimistically point out at least it's a road and not just rocky mountain sides you'll be hiking up, that doesn't help much in your mind. Gale insists he will figure out how to make a Bag of Holding so that everything can be easily carried by just one person. You and Shadowheart side eye each other, neither of you believing he'll be able to pull that off.
Halsin pops his head up and announces that breakfast is ready; you and Karlach immediately hop up holding out plates, vying for the first servings of the amazing looking food. Halsin plops a potato on each of your plates, splits it open and then spoons the simmering skillet contents on top… You can barely stop yourself from drooling as you shovel a too hot bite into your mouth. Everyone starts to settle down with their plates and discuss the morning's plan. Astarion comes back from the forest just in time to join the conversation. You smile at him between bites, noting he looks like he's fed well this morning.
Thankfully the final plan for the day is Halsin, having insisted upon it, will be traveling in bear form in order to carry almost everything: he feels bad about how much his grove gave you all. Gale and you sigh in relief at no longer needing to carry quite so much. As the final details are being ironed out you and Karlach drift back to the skillet to see if there's more… Depressingly there's none, everything has been served and you're both turned away to help either clean up or pack up. You quickly move to help with cleaning along with Gale and Shadowheart while Karlach kicks her feet, slowly going to help take down tents.
The entirety of the rest of the day is spent in an arduous half jog pace to make up for the late morning departure. At first you attempt to keep pace with Lae'zel and Karlach: your silly mind thinking that because you're no longer overloaded you can, but no… They're much too fast for you. You end up staying by Halsin and the animals, they keep a much more manageable pace. Shadowheart stays at the back with Gale; poor man still looks like he's barely able to keep up even with a smaller pack. Meanwhile Wyll and Astarion keep trying to see who's faster between Lae'zel and Karlach; each encouraging or egging the ladies on to go faster. As tiring as it is, you're having fun.
As dusk begins to descend your traveling party decides to stop for the night. And not a moment too soon, you're absolutely beat. Seems no one has the energy to unpack and set up tents, so everyone just grabs their bedrolls to put around the fire while Halsin gets to cooking dinner. As soon as you roll out yours you collapse face down into it, you don't even wait for food. Astarion has to bring your dinner to you, insisting you eat something before going to bed. You groan and roll your eyes before complying. You shovel the delicious roasted root vegetables and skewers of roasted meat into your mouth while looking around at everyone. The day's journey has affected them all differently; Karlach, Lae'zel, Halsin and Wyll all look like this has just been a leisurely stroll, Shadowheart and Astarion look a little more run down but nothing too bad, meanwhile Gale looks absolutely haggard. As exhausted as you feel you don't think you look as bad as Gale, maybe you're more between him and Shadowheart. Astarion gets up from your side, excusing himself to find his own dinner. You wish him good hunting and immediately snuggle down into your bedroll and instantly drift off.
You're roughly roused, even before the sun has started to rise, by Lae'zel; she's insisting everyone get up and ready now, that you can all just eat while walking. You try reminding her that not everyone had such a spartan upbringing, but she just makes that annoyed noise at you before moving on to wake the others. You make a mental note not to have your bedroll set up by hers again, lest she picks you to wake first, again. You gently shake Astarion to get him up. Halsin looks sadly at the cold fire pit as he digs out some food suitable for eating on the go. Everyone is grumpy but ready within a few minutes and you venture on.
The road has turned decidedly more mountainous today, making it impossible to keep the same grueling pace as yesterday. The road is littered with long abandoned broken wagons, crates, barrels, trunks, all manner of traveling supplies; why is this all over the place? It's so odd. Lae'zel starts pointing out evidence of her people near the road, she's convinced the creche is somewhere close by.
By early afternoon you spot what looks like a large building nestled into the mountain side and point it out to the others; it looks more like ruins than an intact building. As you continue along the path signs start to be posted saying it's a monastery to Lathander. You wonder why it would be in ruins then, that's a popular god with many followers from what you remember back home. Lae'zel now thinks that must be the location of the creche, so the group follows the signs leading there.
The sun has started to set by the time you begin to approach the monastery. Lae'zel is at the head of the group, her pace, having quickened after finding the signs leading here, has suddenly slowed until she finally stops,
"Halt…" She holds out her hands, stopping everyone, her voice low, "Wait here… Something is happening."
She drops her pack and starts to slowly, quietly creep towards the main doors, Astarion following after she signals him to go with her. Everyone else looks around before deciding to move back up the path a bit to where there was a small pilgrims' offerings altar and bench. You don't wait long for them to return, their faces drawn and tense. Lae'zel tells of the Gith here capturing and killing Absolute cultists, it wouldn't be a surprise considering the cult's use of mind flayer parasites and her people's abhorrence of the monsters. This cult seems to have the creche on high alert, but something still seems off to her. She suggests approaching in the morning to avoid looking like thieves skulking around in the dark.
Once again camp isn't set, but this time you're not even permitted a fire for fear of being spotted by these Gith. Everyone eats a cold meal while Lae'zel goes on about there needing to be guards posted tonight. She also doesn't want the entire group going tomorrow; something about it raising too many alarms. She can safely assume entrance with a few others, it would look as though she had simply acquired local attendants. She chooses Karlach, Astarion and you to accompany her. Karlach you can see, she used to work as the muscle for some crime lord back in the city, she can stand there and simply appear intimidating. Astarion is sneaky, deadly and can be relied upon to be tactful in questionable situations. What you don't quite understand is why she chose you. But maybe it's that; she hates Shadowheart, Gale is a bit too loquacious, Wyll isn't exactly reliable when dealing with situations dubious in nature and Halsin is too new, maybe she doesn't trust him enough yet. Well, if someone needs patching up, you're there…
2.
Just after first light the four of you approach the front entrance where the body of one of the cultists has been left to rot. You try the large metal doors, but they don't budge. Lae'zel makes her annoyed noise while you all start to look around for another way in. Your exploration pays off; down the cliff face there's a ledge with a door that looks like it will take you inside. You climb down easily enough and wait for Astarion to get the door open. You stand looking out over the vista, it's lovely. You try to focus on this cure Lae'zel promises awaits you all inside when you start to feel uncertainty, not your own but from that stupid artifact Shadowheart told you to hold onto. You'd forgotten it was with you. Why is it reacting now?
"Don't go in there. They can't help you. You need to leave this place." The perfect man's voice pleadingly echos inside your mind making you grimace.
You look around at the others, none of them look as though they heard him. Ugh! Why's it only bothering you? Why is it so insistent on you not going inside? You want to be rid of this damned parasite and Lae'zel says that will happen here; so, you push his voice from your head and just ignore him for now. No point in bringing it up and letting Lae'zel know you have the stupid thing on you now. Shadowheart did take it from the Gith, Lae'zel was furious about that, and you don't want to start trouble.
Astarion gets the door open and Lae'zel pushes passed him to get inside first, followed by Karlach and then Astarion, who waits for you to follow him. It's a roughly hewn tunnel that opens into a small cavern. You hear a sharp cry of surprise then Lae'zels's voice speaking in her native tongue. A few more steps and you see where Lae'zel stands, speaking with another Gith woman, who looks rather irritated. You don't understand what they're saying, but something the other one said makes Lae'zel tense her body. The other Gith then looks back at your group before switching to common so that what she says next will be understood by all of you; she tells you where the Ghustil is and that you are to head straight there, you are being watched, carefully. You look to Lae'zel but she just shakes her head before leading you all deeper into the monastery.
The halls are filled with iron faced, armored Githyanki warriors and younger looking ones, all talking in hushed, strained whispers. Between that and the way Lae'zel has her face set in a fierce scowl you know something is very wrong. You catch up to her,
"Um, Lae'zel, is there something we should be worried about?" You speak softly, anxiety starting to knot your stomach.
"This place is not right…" She slows and stops, going to one side, the others huddling around to hear her, "Nothing is as it should be. I should not have surprised the guards at the back there. Where were the scouts that should have informed them of our approach? We should have been disarmed before entering, I've never seen such undisciplined procedures. And there is an Inquisitor here… Something is very wrong. I am thankful that they did not take our weapons. Stay on your guard."
"Inquisitor?" Karlach raises her eyebrows but keeps her voice low.
"Yes. They are my queen's justice, sent to carry out her will. It must be something of dire importance to send one here, to this place. And from how everyone is acting, whatever quest the Inquisitor has been sent on is not going well. But we are here to be cleansed. We must seek out the Ghustil first." She turns and continues down the corridor towards her salvation.
You enter a room filled with science equipment, practically covering every available surface, a woman hunched over some mechanism, muttering to herself as Lae'zel approaches her. She turns to see who has interrupted her work, squinting at all of you before she speaks,
"Do you have a question or are you just going to stand there gawking?" The Gith woman's eyes continue to look at everyone but Lae'zel, her gaze making you squirm, she must be the Ghustil.
"I am a Child of Gith, not discarded rat flesh. Am I not due your respect?"
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. Let the istik with you speak, and I will decide what respect you are owed." Her eyes bore into you.
Why does she want you to speak? Why not focus her attention on Karlach or Astarion? Astarion moves closer to you, almost stepping between you and this Ghustil, but her glare turns onto him as you force yourself to say something,
"I would prefer Lae'zel speak for us, if it's all the same to you." You step further behind Astarion, wanting nothing more than to disappear, your anxiety only rising.
"Lae'zel, is it? Fine, and be quick about it. My work is of vital import." Her steely gaze turns to Lae'zel.
"We carry ghaik tadpoles, and have so for countless days, yet we show no symptoms. We must enter the zaith'isk." As Lae'zel describes your predicament the Ghustil's eyes light up.
"You are infected, but showing no signs of cerebral impairment? Fascinating. Either your tadpole is special, or you are. We must find out which." There's a strange reverence in her voice, "Go to the zaith'isk. I will ensure you are cured."
She and Lae'zel approach the strange machine in the back of the room. It's a horrifying thing of metal, and what looks like flesh, woven through it. It feels hungry.
"At last. My time has come." Lae'zel smiles up at the disgusting thing.
"Sit, child. Let the zaith'isk end your suffering." Lae'zel sits, gripping part of the machine, "You must focus on the parasite at all times. The zaith'isk will do the rest." She turns it on and the thing shifts, beginning to glow, and you feel sick at the words she just spoke… Such vagueries, why did she choose to say end her suffering?
The zaith'isk shudders as the glow intensifies, strange clicking sounds emanating from it as Lae'zel begins to squirm. Sudden pain rips through your mind. It's her pain, caused by this machine; her mind reaching out to you, sharing it with you. But this agony isn't something you'd happily partake in, this is something sinister, it's something meant to kill. Lae'zel shouts out in her language, the Ghustil encouraging her to continue. The pain escalating as her mind begins to rend. How can this be the cure she spoke of? This is no cure. This is death. Astarion sees you doubling over, gripping your hair, your mouth agape in a silent scream as the voice of the guardian commands you to remove her from that thing.
"Aaaaaa! Get her out! Get her out!" This agony is not what your goddess wants. Your mind reaches out, trying to tell Lae'zel to get out, but instead it's Astarion you feel. And he feels your agony.
"Lae'zel, stop this, now!" Astarion grips your shoulders as you whimper, "Whatever that thing is it's killing you! Get out!"
Why are you the one the guardian is telling to stop this? Why are you the one Lae'zel's mind is reaching out to? Why is no one else suffering as you are? Or are they? You can't see anything for the pain. You sink to your knees, hardly aware of Astarion holding you, of Karlach shouting. But it doesn't matter, Lae'zel refuses to hear reason and the rending of your minds continues. You hear the guardian again, and then there's a sudden blinding light as the zaith'isk is blown apart by some unseen force, the pain finally subsiding. You hear Lae'zel shouting at the Ghustil,
"I AM GITHYANKI! I WILL NOT BE GHAIK!"
"My life's work… gone." The Ghustil wails in dismay at the smoking ruin, "And yet she lives, and so does her parasite." This fanatical woman turns an accusing eye on you all, like you did something to that damnable machine.
"How can this be?!" Lae'zel shouts again at the Ghustil, futilely trying to get answers from this maniac.
"I must get my tools… I must…" She trails off, pacing before the wreckage of her machine, her eyes wild, her hands moving erratically, "You will wait here, I must…" The Ghustil hurriedly walks to the door, muttering to herself all the while, the sound of the lock clicking into place echoing in the room.
Astarion holds you, his eyes looking you over,
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah," You nod and smile weakly, allowing him to help you to your feet.
You look at the others' distraught faces, thinking of how the guardian didn't want you coming here in the first place, and for the first time, you fear it was right. This place was a mistake.
"Okay, what the actual fuck was that?!" Karlach angrily gestures to the smoking heap of metal and sinew, at your strained face and then at the locked door.
"I followed protocol. I kept to my faith. Yet the zaith'isk failed! It didn't cleanse me!"
"I don't think that's what that thing was doing, Lae'zel. You were in it; did it feel like it was cleansing you?" You're aghast. How she could think that it was doing anything other than killing her?
"Of course, it was working! You think the process would be easy? Painless?" She marches up to you, looking angrily down at you.
"I don't know what it's supposed to fucking look like! Do you?! Have you ever even seen one of those things being used?!" You scream at her, your own anger rising at her childish insistence.
"No, because I didn't need to. Vlaakith does not abandon Githyanki. Out teachings state-"
"Fuck your teachings, Lae'zel! That thing was going to kill you! And you know it!"
She bites her tongue for a moment, incredulous at what you're saying, her eyes furiously searching yours,
"Then the zaith'isk was tampered with. There is no other explanation! The Ghustil must have tampered with it!" She spits out her words, turning away from you to pace and grumble to herself.
You throw your hands up in exasperation and turn away, looking to Astarion and Karlach,
"What now?"
"I say we get out of here," Astarion offers, his eyes still watching you closely, "But I don't know how we do that."
"I second that. Let's get the fuck out."
"Great, we all want to leave. How? How do we leave? Are you gonna punch a hole in the ceiling and dig us out, Karlach?" You can't keep the irritated sarcasm from your voice.
"I don't know… Maybe? I mean, it could work, right?" She gives you a sweet smirk, having taken your outburst well.
"She's a traitor, and there may be more still! This must be why the Inquisitor's come." Lae'zel rejoins the conversation, "We must go to the Inquisitor and inform them of the Ghustil's sedition. They will correct this situation. I can still be cleansed. This is what we must do."
"Shit…" You mumble under your breath, is that really the only way out of here? Getting involved with more of these people? You want to just walk out the way you came and never set foot in here again, but you also know Lae'zel isn't leaving without doing this first, "Fine... But still, how do we do that with out dying?"
"We will fight our way to them if needs be." Lae'zel makes her way to the door, disregarding the concern you clearly stated.
"Fuck it. I'm ready." Karlach gives her axe a twirl and stands ready to charge.
"I'll get the door," Astarion sighs as he goes to pick the lock and swing it open.
You stand back, sword and shield at the ready, grimacing and preparing yourself to heal on the literal run.
The door swings open, catching the people in the other room off guard, giving the warrior women the edge they needed. Both dash into the room, weapons swinging, cleaving the flesh and bones of the unsuspecting Gith. You spot the Ghustil, she was still in the next room, seemingly speaking with one of the warriors. Astarion runs up to her, driving a dagger into her side and ripping it out, eviscerating her. As the man she was with goes to attack Astarion he is struck down by Karlach. You look over to the other side of the room just as Lae'zel pulls her sword from the last warrior, the room falling silent save for the labored breaths of your companions.
You check the three of them over, making sure no one is in dire need of healing, they're not. You don't want a repeat of the goblin camp, so you hold off on using your magic. Karlach stands by the closed door leading back out to the corridor, listening intently. No one can be heard approaching. How no one heard all that noise is a miracle, but you'll take it. You file out of the room calmly, Astarion is the last to leave so he can break the lock on the door; hopefully slowing down anyone accidentally discovering a room full of dead bodies…
You follow behind Lae'zel as she determinedly strides to where the Inquisitor is. She pauses at the ajar door, listening to whatever is happening inside when a large group of heavily armored Gith file out and pass the rest of you. Lae'zel straightens up and just about barges in ready to speak but she's silenced by the older Gith woman standing by a desk. Once again Lae'zel is spoken to in her language and you understand none of it. The older woman looks over at the three of you before nodding to Lae'zel and continuing to speak, more heatedly this time. The voice inside the artifact speaking to you again, worried about being taken by these Gith, and this time you want to take its concerns seriously. But still, why does it only speak to you? Why is it not telling the others its concerns? You're unsure if saying anything would be helpful right now, who knows how Lae'zel would react.
Their conversation ends, the woman walks over to a glowing doorway and opens it, waiting impatiently for your group to walk into the area beyond it. You look at Lae'zel but she just walks straight through followed by Karlach. Astarion stops and once again waits for you to walk through with him, an encouraging smile on his face. The moment you pass the threshold the glowing barrier returns, leaving you with a sinking feeling…
"Hey, does anyone else feel like this is a really bad idea all of a sudden?" Karlach's voice sounds just a tiny bit shaken.
"Yeah… This whole thing has felt, I don't know, icky?" You can't quite find the words to put to this increasing sense of dread. But starting with that machine everything has gone horribly wrong here, and heading to the Inquisitor doesn't make you feel like it's getting any better.
"No. Everything will be sorted once we speak with the Inquisitor. They will see that the Ghustil was a traitor, and they will help us to be cleansed." Lae'zel continues clinging to the idea that this is all going to work out.
"I agree with Karlach. This is a terrible idea. But we have little choice now." Astarion sounds frustrated.
The walkway ends at a large set of double doors, Lae'zel stands before them, breathing deeply a few times before pushing them open. There is an imposing looking Gith standing at the bottom of the steps leading down into this chamber. His eyes coldly follow Lae'zel as she walks closer to him. You take a tentative look around and see more armored warriors, this whole place is filled with frighteningly well trained soldiers, all as dangerous as Lae'zel. The imposing one, the one you assume to be the Inquisitor speaks with Lae'zel for but a moment before he speaks in common, addressing the rest of you,
"To business. I suspect you plucked something precious from the ghaik ship. Something that belongs to us. The weapon. Give it to me." He holds out his hand to you expectantly.
"The artifact. I know you carry it, Talia. Give it to him."
"I…" How do they know you have it? Had the guardian been talking to the three of them this whole time and no one said anything? Should you give it to the Inquisitor?
The voice pleads otherwise,
"No. Don't give it to them. The weapon is how I protect you."
You hesitate a moment, Lae'zel and the Inquisitor growing ever more impatient. You reach into your chainmail and hold it close as the voice inside of it screams at you. But what else are you supposed to do? Deny having it? Fight them? They'd kill you, surely, and then just take it from your corpse. As you hold it out to them a booming voice vibrates the room,
"So, it is found." A silver contraption on the floor glows, the image of a crowned Gith woman looms over everyone in the room as the other Gith kneel, the Inquisitor and Lae'zel saying something as they go down to their knees, "You are permitted to look upon me. You are invited to kneel."
"The deathless queen has spoken. You will obey." Lae'zel glares up at you from where she kneels.
You look up at this ancient looking woman and sense the strangest thing from her, something almost divine… but it's not… more like an imitation of how your goddess feels to you. It sends a shiver down your spine, but you comply. There is terrible power emanating from this lich queen.
"These attendants you keep, you taught them well. My child. My Lae'zel." Lae'zel looks upon her queen enraptured as she continues, "You seek purity. I may yet grant it. That weapon you carry, the Astral Prism, it is corrupted. There is someone inside. Their mind is warped, broken, a blight. They are an agent of the Grand Design. Sent to sabotage the Astral Prism, our last defence against the return of the Illithid Empire. As long as they live, the Prism is compromised. Kill them. Do this, and I will cleanse you and your allies. Do this and ascend!"
"Ascension? My Queen. An honor gained, a burden borne. We will do as you command." She's utterly breathless at being given a royal decree.
"But… Lae'zel… It's what's protecting us-" You keep your voice low as you try to speak, this feels wrong.
"You are being LIED TO! I will be obeyed!" Vlaakith cuts you off with such a fury it trembles the very ground, "Use the planecaster's power to enter the artifact. Be wary of the creature's lying tongue. Cut it out, if you must." She stops looking at you and Lae'zel, her focus moving to the Inquisitor, "W'wargaz. They are not to leave until it is done."
"As you say, my Queen." He bows before turning to you, waiting for your compliance.
A soft glow is left after her visage vanishes from over the circular device on the floor. You stare at the thing in your hand, at the thing on the floor and chew the inside of your mouth. Why do these Gith speak with such ambiguity? What does the guardian inside of the artifact have to do with any of this? Why are you even here? You just wanted to get the worm out of your head so you could be done with this mess. What care do you have about… what did she say? The Grand Design? What even is that? You don't care about any of it.
Astarion's hand on your shoulder jolts you back from your spiraling thoughts, everyone is waiting for you. You place the artifact in the glow above the planecaster. It bursts open, a blinding, searing light that draws the four of you into it, into a pocket of the Astral Plane, the same place you saw in the dream. You all walk forward but the voice of the guardian echos in your mind, he will only allow you to see him, alone. Lae'zel stares at you, telling you not to fail her queen, to do what must be done. You bite down harder on the inside of your lip, the pain a welcome distraction as you walk forward.
There he stands, the perfectly perfect man in shining armor, a look of pleading sincerity etched on his perfect face. Gods, you hate it here. He opens his perfectly pouted lips and speaks, telling you of how he stole the Astral Prism from Vlaakith, that she's a liar, she's deceiving her people, that she doesn't know how to keep the Illithid Empire from rising again, all sorts of nonsense you have no interest in. And then he kneels down before you, a blade appearing in his hand as he holds it out to you, offering up his life.
It's a pantomime and you know it, but does he know that? You wave him up, you have no intention of killing the one thing keeping you all from transforming, nor do you wish to do what the lich queen wants. Both of these beings using you and your companions as pawns in whatever game they're playing, you hate them both. Why does he insist on using you as an intermediary? Why not simply speak with all of them? You have no idea what he wants from you. The only useful thing you get from this conversation is that Moonrise is the place to go. This thing may have been right that coming here was a mistake, but you still don't trust him.
You return to your companions. Lae'zel looks at you expectantly, but when you tell her what happened she makes to strike you. Karlach steps between the two of you, stopping her. Astarion pulls you closer to him. Lae'zel continues to shout at you, insisting on you showing her what exactly happened; her mind already prodding yours, so you let her in, let her see everything the guardian said. Her face contorts, denial and anger gripping her voice as she refuses to believe it, persisting that she must speak with her queen.
You leave the Astral Plane, and there the Inquisitor and his minions wait,
"You are named Hshar'lak. Bend your head, for my blade is ready." Those cold eyes bore into Lae'zel.
"Ch'r'ai, please, summon Vlaakith! There's much-"
"Irrelevant, ghaik wretch. The queen has spoken, your death is decreed." His tone gives away everything. There was never a chance of coming back from the Astral Prism and being allowed to leave alive.
Lae'zel lets out a guttural scream before lunging at the Inquisitor. Fueled by rage she sweeps her great sword at his side, catching him in the ribs. Battle erupts around you. Everyone's weapons drawn, swinging through the air as you try to run out of the melee. Karlach joins Lae'zel, putting all their focus on the Inquisitor. Astarion all but disappears from sight as you nimbly dodge incoming attacks, narrowly making it out unscathed. You try to support with the few bits of attack magic Shadowheart and Gale have been teaching you, but you're still mostly ineffectual. Instead, you concentrate on healing, the one thing you have confidence in.
The Inquisitor went down rather quickly with the ladies putting all their force on him first, but not without them suffering grievously, it takes so much magic to keep them from bleeding out, to keep them whole. Astarion does a bit better at staying in one piece, but not by much, even he requires your healing. Your reserves are draining but the Gith are falling faster, now that the Inquisitor is dead. Soon after everyone else lays slain, the stone floor slick with blood, filling the air with a metallic petrichor sent.
Lae'zel and Karlach lean heavily on their weapons as Astarion wearily approaches you. You slump onto the floor, looking over at Lae'zel; she looks so distraught. Karlach stays with her, listening to her lamenting her life spent in service to a queen who would reward her loyalty with the death of a traitor. You stop listening when Astarion reaches you, a tired smile on his face when he sees you're unharmed. He makes sure you're OK before bringing you over to the others. They begin to discuss how to get out of here,
"We must go back the way we came."
"I don't know if that's such a good idea, Lae'zel." Karlach looks at her with tired eyes.
"What other way would you suggest?" She raises her brows while gesturing at your surroundings.
"How about we look around and see if there's another way out?" You do not want to even try going out there.
"Doubtful." Lae'zel gives you an annoyed look.
"So your only suggestion is to fight our way out? Have you seen what's out there? Or how we're looking right now?" Astarion thankfully points out what you're worried about.
"We got lucky last time. The whole place is probably ready to kill us now." Karlach helps to prove that going out that way is a death sentence.
"And I don't know how much longer I'll be able to keep you all healed." You bring up what is hopefully another good point, "I can't go back that way."
"Fine, we will look around." Lae'zel acquiesces, reluctantly.
You all start to poke around, Lae'zel going alone into one of the two small rooms that branches off the main chamber. Your eyes look up and around the chamber; it looks to be mostly cave, so there may be some tunnels, hopefully. You, Karlach and Astarion head into the other of the small rooms, scouring the place for anything that looks like it might be a covered over part of the cave. Your exploration pays off. You find a hidden passage behind a stone wall and it looks like it goes somewhere that isn't the way you came. You excitedly run into it, eager to get out, hardly waiting for Karlach to fetch Lae'zel so they can follow you and Astarion.
The tunnel still looks like it's part of the monastery, with tiled floors and ornate doorways that are trapped. Astarion is able to disarm them, but it makes the going much slower. But eventually the place opens up to a cavernous chamber that looks like a giant machine has been built into it; stone pillars rising from the abyss topped with golden mechanisms and crystals, and concentric golden rings with a glowing mace suspended in the center of them. Everyone looks around for some clue as to what to do next, how to get out, but nothing looks promising.
Karlach, Lae'zel and Astarion huddle together to further discuss going back the way you came… You don't need to get into that again. You already told them you won't be of much use soon, you're not proficient with your little sword yet and you can't rely on offensive magic if you're needed for healing. The whole thing feels hopeless. So, you decide to look at the mace, maybe see if that's got some point to it.
You walk around, look up at the pillars around the chasm, the giant golden rings, it all looks connected to this mace… Your hand reaches out to touch it gently…
"What are you doing?" Astarion's voice spooks you.
"I wasn't going to grab!" You yank your hand back, "I just wanted to see if anything happened if I touched it, that's all."
"We don't need your curiosity killing all of us, my dear."
"Well, I think we need your guys' suicide plan even less. I'm not going back out there."
"Unbelievable…" He shakes his head then looks over at the others, "Can one of you talk sense to her?"
"What's that she's doing?" Karlach walks over to you and peers at the mace.
"What is it she's planning on doing, exactly?" Lae'zel arches her brows, looking between Astarion and you.
"She's about to unleash some unspeakable disaster upon us from the looks of it!"
"Do it!" Karlach's eyes light up as she looks at you, "Couldn't be any worse than what we were saying." She gives you a conspiratorial smirk.
"Have you lost all sense Talia? Surely this spells disaster, as Astarion rightly pointed out."
"Oh, come on! Like fighting our way through all those Gith was going to work out any better?" Karlach continues to back you up.
A strange sort of madness grips you as you contemplate fighting your way out versus this tantalizing mystery. Fuck it. Anything is better than their way.
"I'm doing it!" You yank the mace free.
There's a sudden whoosh of air as the mechanism springs to life. The whirring of gears shifting for the first time in years echos loudly in chamber as everything starts to glow…
You look at each other with rising panic. Your eyes dart around, desperate for a way out, maybe something you all missed before. Nothing. Nothing jumps out at you. As you begin to lose all hope, resigning yourself to dying because of your impulsive curiosity you see it; a shimmering doorway with the outside of the monastery visible. You shout and point, everyone making a mad dash towards it, all of you screaming obscenities as you run.
You've never run so hard or fast in all your life. Your feet hardly feel the stone beneath them as you sprint; harder, faster, not knowing or caring where it is you're running to, you just know that it needs to be away from whatever is happening behind you. You make it out, not stopping to look back, just forward, Lae'zel and Karlach quickly outpacing you. The sound coming from behind you reaches a fever pitch before a moment of eerie silence. A sudden blinding flash and a deafening explosion surges out from the building; the shockwave knocking you all over as the monastery crumbles in on itself.
You try to roll over, but you're dazed. Your head throbs and you can't breathe. You panic as you try but you can neither push air out nor suck any in as you claw at the dirt. An eternity passes. You squeeze your eyes, tears beginning to fall, and then suddenly air rushes into your burning lungs. You pant desperately for a few moments, the ringing in your ears starting to subside as you hear Astarion screaming at you,
"WHAT IN THE HELLS WERE YOU THINKING?!" He throws his arms around accentuating every word, "We were right there!"
"We got out, didn't we?" You grimace a smile, rolling over in the dirt, squinting at the bright sunlight.
"That is not the point!" He glowers down at you.
"Calm down Astarion. She's right. We got out, didn't we?"
"No, no, no! Don't you come to her defense!" He turns his ire on Karlach.
"Well, not to defend such wanton destruction, but it has also solved our problem of being pursued…" Lae'zel points to the ruined building, "It is doubtful that anyone would have survived that."
"I cannot believe this. You too, Lae'zel? Am I the only one who thinks this was the worst idea?"
"Sorry, sweetie. You're outnumbered." You give him a cheeky smile and hold your hand out to him hoping he'll help you up. He does, sighing heavily, "Thank you." You step in close and kiss his cheek, not really caring that the others can see you.
3.
The walk back to camp is short and mostly silent Lae'zel walks behind you and Astarion, Karlach keeping her silent company. Astarion only admonishes you a bit more for being reckless, but looking back he thinks maybe that was the better of the two options. He drapes his arm over your shoulders, keeping you close the rest of the way back.
Halsin, in bear shape, stands guard as you approach. As soon as he sees you, he changes back and rushes down with Wyll. They're all jumbled questions and concerned looks as you get into camp. The others rush up to you all, obviously concerned after having heard the explosion and then watched the monastery disappear, not knowing what happened to you all. You beg the chance to at least sit before getting into what happened. So, everyone gathers as the four of you relay everything.
Everyone sits in stunned silence for a long time. You hadn't even realized just how much had happened today. It's Karlach that breaks the tension bringing up that she is utterly famished and needs food, your own stomach grumbling in agreement, lightens the mood. So, everyone who didn't almost have a building dropped on them get to setting a proper camp for the first time in several nights.
You relax by the fire as Shadowheart admires the mace, a fine prize for almost dying, you suppose. Lae'zel wandered off, probably needing time to let everything sink in. Karlach lounges with Wyll and the pets while Gale and Halsin cook again. You don't know what Halsin does, but so far everything he makes smells divine, and you cannot wait to eat whatever it is. You glace about for Astarion, he's still off on a hunt, so you decide to relax with Shadowheart and share a bottle of wine. You giggle and drink until Halsin says everything is ready.
Dinner is served; a glorious pile of roasted seasoned meat with potatoes that have been mashed with butter and some sliced apples. It's amazing. Everyone digs in while discussing what to do next.
"Well, if I could make a suggestion," Halsin gently raises his hand, "We can still try for the Underdark. I know it would mean walking all the way back down the mountain. But I do still think it's the safest route to Moonrise Towers."
"I would have to agree with Halsin. There is no sense in further endangering ourselves." Lae'zel's voice sounds strained, but she's otherwise her normal self.
"I'd say that sounds like a much more preferable course of action. We can hopefully avoid whatever dangers lurk in the shadow cursed lands that Halsin here has told us of. And, who knows, maybe we will hit a lucky streak and nothing unexpected will happen down there." Gale, as per usual uses far too many words to simply say he agrees.
"Yes, thank you Gale, that does sound like the best option for now." Shadowheart gently quiets Gale with a hand to his knee.
You smile at them being so cute and sweet when you feel Astarion lean into you from behind, huskily whispering in your ear,
"I'm ready for bed, how about you?"
You nod and stand up with him, excusing yourselves, retiring to his tent for the night. He pulls you into him immediately. Fierce kisses leading to shed clothes, his body on yours, biting you, fucking you, making you cry out and beg for more. He indulges in your body as you do his, the worries of the day melting away; the touch of Her blessings as the darkness in you thrums with contentment once again. It's addictive, this new sensation of feeling whole.
4.
Camp is broken quickly and increasingly efficiently. Halsin takes on most of the load as everyone else pulls on their packs to head out. The road back is quiet and familiar and so much easier for being all downhill. Scratch and the cub happily run back and forth along the line your traveling group makes. Gale points out that if this pace can be maintained, then perhaps you can reach the toll house at the base of the mountain road by nightfall. The thought of sleeping inside an actual building sounds almost luxurious, you're almost happy to go double time, if it'll mean more time spent relaxing. But that isn't the case with Gale, who gives you a horrified look before you can calm him down, you were only joking… Kind of…
But you reach the toll house before dusk colors the sky and you rush in to find some secluded corner you can claim for you and Astarion. Halsin sets to making dinner as soon as he's unloaded, the fluffy boys eagerly awaiting their scraps, Karlach now among them. Astarion leaves to get his dinner, Gale and Wyll neatly pile all the supplies, Lae'zel spends her time quietly alone. Shadowheart grabs you to go bathe in the river before drinking and being silly; it's uncanny how much she reminds you of Ana.
Astarion returns as you're finishing up eating and beginning to sober up. He shakes his head at your flushed face before pulling you up to where your bedrolls wait for you. There are no shenanigans tonight, you're too tired, and almost drift off the moment he wraps his arms around you. But something disturbs your rest, a commotion from outside as you see Shadowheart rushing by with the mace she got from you, Gale following close behind as Astarion tells you to be ready. You follow them outside, your short sword and shield hastily grabbed, and out there you see another Gith speaking with Lae'zel.
He's knelt down at her feet, a sword left on the ground between them as a younger Gith woman stands behind him. They're speaking in their tongue, but it's not a long conversation, he rises and smiles at Lae'zel before walking through a portal to who knows where. Lae'zel then turns to all of you, smiling and telling you all what that just was. He is Kith'rak Voss, someone she had run into with Wyll and Karlach. He spoke with Lae'zel about the truth of Vlaakith; her tyranny, the lies, the Astral Prism and its inhabitant being the key to freeing their people. You are happy for her, you guess, but these people speak in such vague ambiguities. How is that guardian in any way connected to Gith freedom? Whatever. You're too tired for this, you return to your bedroll and to Astarion's arms.
The next day brings a more pleasant Lae'zel and an amazing breakfast, courtesy of Halsin. Everyone quickly packs up and heads out. By midday you reach the goblin camp; the stench somehow worse with all the corpses left to rot in the summer sun. You'd have thought the ogres would have taken more, but it seems this was too much even for their voracious corpulence. Everyone rushes through the courtyard, into the temple and down to the secret passage to get away from the horrendous odor.
Halsin marvels at the deep hole, commenting about how this what he and the adventurers were looking for when they were captured. Funny that Shadowheart found it when two of you were just being nosy. Now the logistics of getting everyone and everything down must be discussed. Everyone will be taking more of the load so that Wyll and Halsin can strap Scratch and the cub to them for the descent. You're not thrilled with having to carry more weight, but it's easier than a squirming animal…
The climb is long but thankfully uneventful. You emerge into a stronghold of some kind; dedicated to Selune. You and Shadowheart roll your eyes, of course the ruined temple of hers led to a ruined stronghold. The animals are left leashed to the boys as everyone takes a moment to drop their packs and catch their breaths. Once the place is checked over the pets are loosed, and everyone takes in their surroundings.
Looking around you see a statue of Selune, a moonstone held aloft, creating a magical protection spell for the portcullis. It's blocking the way forward, but it's been a long enough day that everyone agrees to stay here for the night. At least you think it's night. No one really knows how to tell the time of day down here. Lae'zel, having the most experience with timeless space agrees to help keep the rest of you on track.
Camp is set up as quickly as ever. There's no actual need for tents, as there's no weather down here in the Underdark, but everyone seems to appreciate the little bit of privacy they afford, so up they go. Halsin gets to cooking something amazing, no doubt. Shadowheart and Gale sit sweetly together, so you don't bother them. Lae'zel, Wyll and Karlach are walking the perimeter, ever vigilant. You wander, poking around the dilapidated boxes and old bones, but nothing interesting catches you eye. Instead, you sit on the top of the battlements and look out into the vastness of this strange place. Its eerie, a haunting kind of beauty. You look at the soft glow of enormous mushrooms, enjoying their ethereal beauty.
Astarion's arms wrap around you from behind, bringing you in close to him, his mouth at your ear, speaking softly,
"This isn't something I'm asking lightly of you, but… I am hungry. And seeing as how we're staying behind these walls tonight; I have little choice. Either I go hungry, or…"
"You eat me?" You cannot help the ridiculous grin that spreads across your lips, his chuckle tickling you as he shakes his head.
"I'd prefer to not use you as my dinner, but it'll be just for tonight," He nips at your ear, "Hopefully."
"You know I don't mind." You lean back into him, enjoying the feeling of his arms around you, "Did you want to have dinner with a view? Or do you want a more intimate meal alone?" You tilt your head back to kiss his neck.
"Hmm, such choices… How about an aperitif with a view and the main course in our tent?" He kisses your lips and then leans down to gently tease your quickening pulse.
"Sounds delightful," You barely get the words out before you feel his fangs sink in and you shudder at the sensation, your mind replaying him having just said 'our tent'.
Author's Note: I got lazy towards the end of this chapter, sorry if it's inconsistent with the rest of it.