Chapter 18
We ran after Lae'zel down the corridors of the creche, until we finally stopped at a door through which Lae'zel was peeking, "Stars and stones woman don't just run off li…"
Lae'zel raised a hand to silence me, and I looked through the barely opened doorway she was peeking through. There were about a dozen githyanki warriors sharpening swords and oiling crossbows inside what I assumed was the kith'rak's quarters, and in the centre were two important-looking gith arguing, "Please ch'rai I can explain." The female githyanki pleaded to the male gith, the woman was a darker green than Lae'zel, had red hair, one red eye and one clear grey eye with a scar running down the edges of it. Along with this, she wore the same armour as Lae'zel, but with the addition of a matching circlet made of silver and red rubies, this must be the kith'rak. "The latest batch of cultists knew nothing of the Astral Prism. They were just trying to find Moonrise." The kith'rak continued. The Astral Prism? Was that the name of the artifact? Must be, Voss was looking for our artifact. Why do the githyanki want it back so much? And was the Dream Visitor involved? My money was on yes, but how? I was knocked out of my thoughts by the kith'rak's continued pleas to the other gith, this ch'rai, "They all head there- my gish have drafted plans to assault the tower. They are ready to fight ch'rai. We could sift the missing artifact from the tower's ashes, if you would give us…"
"Quiet." The ch'rai snapped in a tone of absolute authority. The male gith had a pale green complexation, and long pointed ears that seemed to up even further than Lae'zel's, accentuated by his lack of hair. He had silver eyes and was wearing a slightly darker shade of metal armour than the other githyanki which had purple gems rather than red, he also had a circlet, but it only reached the edges of his skull and was similarly adorned with purple gems. "Find the Astral Prism Therezzyn- my patience falters."
"Yes, ch'rai" Kith'rak Therezzyn said quickly and firmly, she then turned to the other githyanki in the room and barked orders, "You heard him! GO!"
The gith look to the ch'rai, "Do as she says. She remains your kith'rak. For now." The githynaki man said eliciting a silent snarl from Therezzyn before he walked off and the kith'rak pulled a gem out of a pedestal of many, which created a barrier around the archway the ch'rai walked through.
Quickly getting out of the way of the departing gith soldiers we walked into the kith'rak's quarters. We walked up to her desk, guarded on either side by large black and brown wolves. I saw Shadowheart freeze behind me. I lightly placed my hand in hers and sent some calming thoughts into her head via the tadpole which seemed to relax her, she gave me a grateful smile before the kith'rak noticed us. "Ishtiks. In my creche. You are part of the mercenary group sent to find the weapon?" Therezzyn demanded.
"The ishticks are with me. Honoured Kith'rak." Lae'zel said respectfully.
"So, noted. But my question goes unanswered. Do you bring the weapon?"
"Don't tell her anything." I heard in my head, the voice of the Dream Visitor.
"Nervous, are we? What are you hiding?" I asked back physically.
"Just trust me. You won't like where this path leads." The visitor responded.
I rolled my eyes in irritation and looked to the kith'rak, "I got what you're looking for" I said with a smug grin.
"What are you doing?!" The Dream Visitor snapped nervously.
"Give me some answers or I'll give her the artifact." I threatened.
"I will not respond to threats Dresden. Hand me over and you and your companions have no protection."
I stared hard at the kith'rak in annoyance. "Shadow, give it to her." I asked along with a phsyic message, "Trust me. This is the only way to get any info out of the dream visitor." Shadowheart looked hesitant but handed Therezzyn the artifact.
"No. NO!" I heard the dream visitor yelp as the kith'rak took hold of the artifact.
Therezzyn looked overjoyed as the Astral Prism floated above her outstretched palm, "Yes- there it is. Exactly as described. The inquisition will finally come to an end." The prism suddenly began to shake and then explode with orange energy before flying into my hands. "Tsk'va! Trickery, heresy. How did you… You manipulate it when I cannot?" Therezzyn yelled confusion and rage mixing in her voice. Her tone lowered somewhat as she continued, "It appears you have been chosen ishtick. You are lucky it is not for me to question why. Go, seek the Inquisitor below."
Kith'rak Therezzyn then guided us through the barrier the ch'rai walked through and opened the large metal gates into what looked like a treasure room dedicated to the god Lathander. The room was long since broken down, the walls were gone, revealing the mountain earth behind it. But the white floors, the golden statues and the chests beside them betrayed the original purpose of this room. In the centre of the room stood the Ch'rai in front of a strange metal disk that seemed to have been forced into the floor. The older-looking gith smiled at us as we arrived, it looked more intimidating than it did warm or pleasant. It was the eyes, no joy or amusement. Just calculation and a spark of hunger. A tigers grin.
"Ah. Our most honoured guests. I am Ch'rai W'wargaz, and these are my inquisitors." W'wargaz raised his arms to show us the five other githyanki with him. So that's five trained githyanki warriors, plus a badass Inquistor, the Kith'rak and her two wolves. Hopefully, we can solve this with words. W'wargaz then looked directly at Lae'zel, "My ardents spoke of one of our kin that escaped a crashing ghaik slave-vessel."
"Ch'rai. Vlaakith's justice made flesh." Lae'zel said with ardent respect
"You have accomplished much, child. I am pleased to finally meet you." W'wargaz responded, before turning his attention to me, "I heard there is so much goblin blood on your hands that it soaks their children's nightmares." The Ch'rai commented with another predator's grin.
"Thanks. Really makes up for the dry-cleaning bill creepy compliments like that." I blurted out before my brain could stop my lips.
W'wargaz looked at me with an impatient and confused expression before continuing, "To business. I suspect you plucked something from the ghaik ship. Something that belongs to us. The weapon, give it to me." W'wargaz commanded with a hungry look in his eye.
"Don't do it. The weapon is how I protect you." The dream visitor warned.
"Do it. Do not disobey the Inquisitor." Lae'zel said
"What is the weapon? Why is it so important you're ignoring the mindflayer invasion?" I asked
"We are not ignoring the invasion. We are speaking of the Grand Design- the restoration of the Illithid Empire. There is nothing of greater importance. And that weapon is the solution. I have heard it from Vlaakith herself. It is how we will stop the mindflayers before they destroy us all. Hand it over."
If W'wargaz was telling the truth, this confirms that the dream visitor was at least truthful in their power to protect us. Or using the artifact to do so. But there were still too many red flags, too many questions left unanswered. Need to dig deeper. "I keep hearing about this 'Vlaakith'. Who is she, your queen? Your god? What does she have to do with the artifact."
W'wargaz's predator smile turned down into a snarl, "You ask questions that are not your concern. Give me the weapon. It is not yours to keep and question!"
"Answer the question…" I demanded tossing the prism to Gale who caught it clumsily, "… or I'll have my friend here teleport your 'weapon' into the nearest volcano. Your move Warbucks." I said with a grin that almost matched the Inquisitor's.
"What are you doing?!" Lae'zel asked panic and outrage fighting for purchase in her tone.
"You dare! You will die within moments." W'wargaz snarled.
"Probably. But not before the weapon is far out of your hands. Answer. The. Question."
If looks could kill, W'wagaz's glare would have hung, drawn, roasted and served me for Christmas dinner with an apple in my mouth. But he complied, "Queen Vlaakith is all Githyanki's lady and master. The queen that became a goddess, the slayer of the traitorous Mother Gith and her son Orpheus. Who upon doing so, secured the power to resist ghaik enslavement from those who would have betrayed us to them. It is she who asked us to secure the power of the weapon. It was not my place or of any other creature to question her will. But if you are foolish enough to do so. Be my guest."
Suddenly, there was a glow from the metal disk behind W'wargaz which exploded into a torrent of light and a colossal-sized githyanki woman appeared. Vlaakith towered over the whole room, yellow skin showing signs of great age, but none of it showed weakness, only the wisdom of literal ages. The queen had straight hair in the colour of the night sky and was garbed in a githyanki warrior's armour, but coloured black and purple, a golden crown adorned on her head. The Gith Queen was also surrounded by the light that preceded her arrival and was slightly ethereal. This was an image of the monarch, not her true form. Yet despite her grand entrance, her attire and otherworldly presence, there was something off about this supposed goddess of the githyanki. Vlaakith had power sure, her entrance alone nearly knocked out my magical senses. But digging a little deeper, her power was… hollow. The power and energy of the gith queen was immense, beyond the level of the Queens of Fairy. But unlike the queens or other gods I had encountered, it did not encompass all of her. It surrounded her like a heavy cloak concealing one centre point of nothing, of a vacuum. I didn't know what or where this hollow point was, but I suspected it was the source of Vlaakith's power. I had faced war-god at the height of their power. Shook hands with an underworld deity in the heart of his realm. Vlaakith was no goddess.
"So it is found," Vlaakith said in a modulated and regal bellow.
"Vlaakith gha'g shkath zai!" W'wargaz chanted kneeling.
"My Queen- shkath zai!" Lae'zel followed.
"You are permitted to look upon me. You are invited to kneel." Vlaakith said a hint of demand in her tone.
Whilst I was sure Vlaakith was no goddess. She was still a very powerful being whose weapon I was harbouring, and whose lacky I'd just insulted and blackmailed. I decided to follow Lae'zel's example as the rest of the party joined me. See. I can be diplomatic when the moment calls for it. Vlaakith kneeled down to tower over Lae'zel, "These attendants you keep- you taught them well. My child. My Lae'zel."
"Ch'mar, zal'a Vlaakith. You know me." Lae'zel asked with nervous awe.
"Urlon of K'lir speaks most highly. As did Al'chaia before him. You seek purity. I may yet grant it." Vlaakith then turned to me, "Ishtick. You bear that which is ours. But are you friend or are you thief."
I got up from my kneel and looked at the colossal image of Queen Vlaakith, "Neither. I am a traveller from far away, and I seek answers to my questions. I ask of you to answer them. If not. I offer you the same alternative I gave your Inquisitor."
"You dare threaten the Undying Queen! The god monarch of the Gith. The commander of dragons herself! You either have great courage or are unboundedly arrogant." Vlaakith bellowed.
I smirked, "I'm a wizard, your grace. Those two statements are not mutually exclusive. Now please answer my question. What is the weapon? And why do you desire it?"
Vlaakith's expression was one of rage and surprise. No person, let alone an 'ishtick' such as me had spoken to her with such defiance in a long time. "That 'weapon' you carry- the Astral Prism is the key to stopping the Grand Design. Its power is rivalled by no other in all my arsenal in Tu'narath, and it is corrupted."
"I will cleanse it for you, my Queen. Tell me how." Lae'zel begged
"There is someone inside. Their mind is warped, broken- a blight. To find the answers you seek wizard, enter the Astral Prism, confront the intruder and KILL THEM." Vlaakith said screaming the last statement in at a wall-shaking volume before disappearing, leaving a glowing outline of the prism to be used for her demanded purpose.
I looked around the room, the gith soldiers had positioned themselves around the exit alongside Therezzyn and her wolves. I looked to W'wargaz who was standing by the metal disk, hand on weapon hilt, waiting with that predatory smile. I looked to my companions, all of them were some versions of uncomfortable or nervous. I felt for their thoughts. Gale was reluctant to give up the power and protection of the artifact but was undeniably curious as to what we would find in there. Shadowheart was of a similar mindset, she was uncomfortable with tampering with the object Shar had declared so important but also burned with curiosity as to the identity of the dream visitor. Karlach didn't like the idea of going into the prism at all but figured I was too late to turn back now. I didn't need to read Lae'zel's thoughts as she declared, "Obey the mandate of the Undying Queen, or face my fury."
As for me, I needed to know more about the dream figure. She'd been in my head, was connected to the mindflayers and might know about Maggie. So, I took the artifact from Gale and placed it in the outline. Heat pulsed out from the Astral Prism as it began to flower and come apart revealing a glowing centre of pure orange fire. My mind burned with excitement as the world grew hot and bright.
Suddenly we were all back in the realm the visitor was in during my dream. The sky was still a beautiful display of power and colour and the power within the realm made me feel lighter and unbound.
"Boundless, timeless- like every dream that ever was, stitched together. It is home. The Astral Plane." Lae'zel said with awe.
The Astral Plane? Must be this world's version of the NeverNever. A spirit world… or at least one of them considering my brief trip to Avernus. We were standing on a rock platform connected to a wall in front of us, that had a circular metal ring acting as a doorway to further beyond. From the ring, I heard the voice of the Dream Visitor, "So you came. In spite of my warnings. Disappointing. Come, Harry Dresden. We will talk in private Just the two of us." I followed the path inwards and saw the Dream Visitor staring into the abyss that was the Astral Plane surrounded by lush greenery and a large oak tree that had no right to exist in this baron space. "I may have made a mistake trusting you. I told you to stay away from the githyanki. But you just couldn't help yourself, could you?"
"You've been in my head brown eyes. You know I don't give up until I find my answers."
"Yes. And now you've come to murder me to retrieve your answers."
"I got most of them already. You stole the prism from Vlaakith. I'm guessing it's the source of our protection from the Absolute, not you. Vlaakith is pulling the same con on the githyanki. They think she's a god who took the power from some traitor. But she's no god. Vlaakith put the power here, in this pocket of the Astral Plane. How am I doing?"
"Spot on. On all counts, detective. Vlaakith indeed stole the power to resist indoctrination from Mother Gith and placed it in the Astral Prism. If the githyanki ever finds out about her lack of true power. They will rebel. That's why she wants me dead. So, if you plan to carry out your orders…" The Visitor said kneeling and presenting me with an ornate dagger, "You'll have no better chance than this."
I gave out a light snort through my nose, "Hells bells you're dramatic. I'm not here to kill you. I came to find answers. So, start talking, I think I've shown enough cunning to earn a name."
She got up, putting away the dagger. "It seems I was right to trust you after all. Thank you." She smiled at me as she talked, a warm yet somehow wicked grin that started from her lips and raised to Big. Brown. Eyes. My blood suddenly ran cold. I hit the figure as hard as I could in the face, she fell to the ground stunned and I pointed my pistol at her head. "What is the meaning of this?!" She asked fear and surprise coming through her bruised jaw.
My eyes blazed with an old and unchecked fury, "I knew there was something familiar about you. Something I'd seen before, that's why I was so determined to learn who you were. No one looks at me like that. No one with those eyes has given me that look of happiness mixed with annoyance. Not since… Susan. Susan Rodriguez. You've glamoured yourself to like her, added the elf ears and a few alterations to the face. But it's her. Why?!"
The Dream Figure looked like she was going to deny it, but let out a breath and confessed, "Yes. I did. I needed you to trust me, and your only concern was Maggie. So, someone who looked like her. Was connected to her. Would be someone you would be more comfortable around."
I snorted in amused disgust, "Easier to manipulate me more like. Do you know who Nicodemus sacrificed Maggie to? Answer! You know me well enough to know I'll pull the trigger, mindflayer protection be damned."
"I have no more clue as to who it is than you do Dresden. Everything I've said has been true. I'm just like you, an adventurer who wants to be free of the mindflayers." The Dream figure said. And despite my rage, I believed her.
I put away the gun. "Get up." I snapped. "I'd ask you to change back into your true form, but I wouldn't believe it even if you did. Just change into someone less… insulting."
"Who would you prefer?" The visitor asked with a hint of annoyance in her tone.
"Someone I don't like or trust. It about sums up my feelings towards you. Prick."
The Dream Visitor smiled and suddenly I was looking at… myself. The Visitor had turned themselves into an almost perfect copy of me, except if I were a tiefling. My doppelganger had long horns that curved inwards, bumps along his neck and hands, that like other tieflings, led to sharp pointed fingernails. His eyes were my normal blue but were surrounded by some sort of red scales that covered my cheeks and outer eyes like eyeliner. His skin tone was the same as mine, even on his tail which dangled between his legs and pointed at the end.
"Hilarious," I said, raising my eyes to the now 6'9 Dream Figure.
"I thought so." The Dream Figure said in my voice. "Vlaakith will be furious, to make no mention of your gith companion. The lich queen fears nothing more than the loss of her empire. The knowledge I have of her deception will bring that about."
"I'm guessing you're not going to reveal the true depths of that deception," I asked staring daggers at my clone.
"Would you believe me even if I told you?"
"No. Not without proof."
"And you're not ready for anything that overt. Go back to your companions. You'll need to get ready to fight your way out of the creche. I'll take the liberty to… edit the more confrontational part of our meeting from illithid detection. So, you have even a slight chance of convincing Lae'zel to not kill you and then me."
"How very kind of you," I responded with the most sass I could muster. I began to walk back through the entrance when I turned back, "I'm going to find out who you really are before this is over. And if I don't like what I find, I'll end you." I warned quietly, without heat or bravado. It was a promise I intended to keep, and the Dream Visitor knew it.
"I truly hope it does not come to that." The visitor said, a warning in his eyes. He wanted me to know he could answer my promise. And would.
I nodded acknowledgment, an opponent salute. Before walking back through the entrance.
Hi readers, thought I needed to explain some changes in this chapter. Mainly the Emperor's decision to make the guardian look like Susan. My main reasons for the Emperor doing this are both the ones the dream guardian mentions, Harry was focused on Maggie, and the fact he did something similar to Minsc in the game. When talking to Minsc about the powers the tadpoles can offer, Minsc says when the Emperor briefly tried the shapeshifting trick on him the Emperor used Minsc's former friend, as she would have been if she'd grown up. I took this mistake of the Emperors to stem both from his misunderstanding of Minsc's mind due to his madness and the Emerpor being an arrogant bastard. Harry was a wizard from another universe who interacts with technology the Emperor had never seen as either human or mindlfayer, and uses a magic system that was foreign to that of the Forgotten Realms. So Emperor would have a bit of a hard time to understand Harry immediately and he would have been arrogant enough to use a slightly altered Susuan to manipulate Harry.
Also if anyone was wondering, the tiefling Harry Dresden was a description of my red dragon sorceror fae warlock multi-class I used during my actual Harry Dresden playthrough of Baldurs Gate 3