Chapter 28

I returned to the Inn with Karlach, Wyll, Shadowheart, and Lae'zel. I looked around the space, the roof had a large hole in it from when the winged horrors came in and much of the blood and wood dust from the battle was still on the floor. Huddled up by the fire was grey grey-skinned tiefling woman wearing a red and green outfit with little bells hanging off the collar and waist. She had brown hair with purple highlights and wore a lute on her back. When she noticed me, she came up to us and said relief and exhaustion in her voice.

"You're alright! Thank goodness, I was worried they'd got you too."

"Umm… thanks. I'm sorry have we met?" I asked confused.

A flicker of embarrassment came over the weary face of the tired tiefling, "Oh. No, but I heard what you, what all of you did for us. I'm Alfira. Sorry for jumping at you but… A lot happened." Alfira said a strain coming over her voice.

"I heard. First the shadows and now those winged freaks. You guys can't seem to catch a break." I said sympathetically.

"It's just too much. The half of us were either killed or captured by the Absolute and now we get attacked by monsters. Thank the gods you and the Harpers were here, or they might have killed us all." Alfira said nearly going into a sob.

I walked up closer to her, "I promise to get them back, everyone they took. But I need details. Please Alfira, tell me what happened."

Alfira took a steadying breath and began, "We were ambushed by the cultists. We surrendered, but that wasn't enough for them. They lined us up like dogs. Asharak was with the kids, telling them it was gonna be alright. Maybe that's why they picked him. Told him to kneel… They took his eyes first. Then his tongue."

A blinding rage filled my vision for a moment. Evil bastards. The tieflings were just trying to survive, they had no stakes in their cause or their false god. If nothing else, I was going to get who remained out of the hole the cult threw them in. The least I could do for leaving them unprotected.

Letting the anger settle into the background I said, "I'm sorry. Did the kids make it out?" I asked desperately

"Yeah. Rolan of all people, saved us. He said he stayed in the grove of you, and I'm damn glad of it. Without him… well, none of us would be here." Alfira said with a flicker of happiness in her defeated tone.

A small relief at least. I looked over to the bar and saw the robed tiefling drinking in the now half-destroyed bar like nothing had happened. "I wouldn't give me all the credit; he stayed for his family. And to protect you, it would seem."

Alfira's glimmer of joy faded as she looked at the soused wizard, "Not all of us. We're at the end of our rope. How do you do it? How do you keep going?" Alfira asked desperation mixing with defeat and despair.

I tried on a warm smile, but it came out more bitter than I hoped, "One day at a time, just like everyone else."

"You make it sound easy," Alfira said.

"It's not. But it's all you can do right now. I'll get them back. You have my word." I said determination steeling my words.

"Thank you. If anyone can manage it. You can. Just be careful. I can't handle anyone else dying."

"Please. Careful is my middle name, well, one of them anyway." I joked.

Alfira smiled at me and went back to warming by the fire. I left her be and went over to the bar where Rolan was drunkenly ordering the young tiefling boy to give him more booze.

"Jaheria said we should serve drinks but not serve drunks." The tiefling boy warned.

"Jaheria didn't save your ragged little tail from the cultists- I did." Rolan insisted.

"Drowning your sorrows. Not an inspiring image for the children Rolan. We wizards have a stuffy reputation to keep up" I said standing behind the wizard.

"Oh, it's you." Rolan spat, "Come to save us then let us walk into another death trap."

The guilt hit me like a rogue wave, but I stayed on course. "I'm sorry Rolan. I should have come with you. But I'm here now and I'm getting your people out of the Towers."

"My people wouldn't have even been out in this if you hadn't filled Cal and Lia's heads with all that self-righteous heroic crap at the grove," Rolan yelled genuine anger replacing his drunken indifference.

"Your siblings got taken with the others? Then it's my responsibility to get them out."

"No! They're my responsibility, and I'm getting them out! Go save the world, or your own arse, whatever it is you do. I'll fix this." Rolan bellowed.

"Really. You're going to single-handedly break into the Towers, figure out where your family is and fight off an army of cultists. Alright, show me." I said opening my hands in challenge.

"What?" Rolan asked confusion amplified by intoxication.

"Show me what you can do. Oh, great saviour of little tiefling tails. Or are you only good for running behind frightened children?" I mocked in a snarl.

Rolan's eyes blazed and he used his non-drinking hand to cast orbs of force at me. I dodged easily and backhanded the wizard. He fell out of his chair, spilling his drink on his clothes. Rolan tried to kick at my leg, but I blocked it and stomped down on his knee. In a howl of pain, he focused his magic and disappeared. I couldn't see or hear the tiefling, but working with Molly and her super veils gave me some practice in fighting invisible opponents. I felt for the magical energy around the veil and found Rolan preparing another bolt of force. I swung in the general direction of the energy and hit solid. Rolan spurted back to view holding his stomach, I took the man by the back of the arms and slammed him on the bar.

"That veil was good, but you can't even fight one of your little brats in the state you're in." I said into his ear.

"Give me a moment and I'll show you what I can do," Rolan growled.

I twisted his arm, "This isn't your study wizard! The bad guys aren't going to give you a minute to charge up your special spell. You can't do this on your own, but you can help me." I said letting him go and holding my hands up in a placating gesture

"What the hells are you on about?"

"I have a plan to get the prisoners out. Me and my gnome associate have explosives and a way in. What we don't have is a way to distract the guards or cover our escape. Come hear us out. You're no use to Cal and Lia dead."

Rolan scowled for a moment, then pondered the situation, "Fine, but if I don't like what I hear. I'm going it alone."

I nodded and directed Rolan to the other side of the inn where Barcus was waiting for us.

"Ah- you've found your way. Good." Barcus said in greeting, "Who's your new slightly battered companion?" Barcus asked looking over the bruised Rolan.

"Someone who is about five seconds away from leaving if you two don't get on with whatever plan you have to get the prisoners out of Moonrise. So out with it." Rolan spat impatiently.

Barcus gave a disgusted and offended glare, "Haven't a notion of what you're talking about."

"It's okay Barcus. I've told him about the plan. I think he'll be a good help, if he wants to join that is."

Barcus scowled for a moment but told the plan to Rolan, "So you plan to just blow the wall of the cell open. In full view of guards and crazed cultists?" Rolan said.

"I'll have Harry and his friends to protect me and Wulbren, it should be enough." Barcus countered.

"But it's not just you and Wulbren that need protection. My family, the other tieflings, and even any other gnomes in the cell might get caught in the crossfire of your half-baked rescue mission." Rolan spat.

"That's why I want to bring you in. That veil gives me the impression you're a decent illusion mage, perhaps able to whip up an illusion of the wall not being gone?" I asked suggestively.

"Easily." Rolan boasted, which turned into a frown, "But to create an illusion that would hide the destroyed wall, the missing prisoners and any rubble. I'm not certain I can hide the sound of the explosion."

"I'll handle that. A silence spell around the wall should muffle the impact." Shadowheart said.

"Alright, but how are we getting out, I can't veil upwards of six people for very long," Rolan added.

"I have a solution to that. I found some plans for tunnels around Moonrise back when I was trapped with the Duergar. There should be a hidden dock in a tunnel just behind where the holding cells are. You just need to get us there." Barcus explained.

"And I'll cover you if anything goes wrong. And make no mistake gentlemen, as planned out as we can make this, it can and probably will end in a fight. So, when that happens, you two focus on getting the hostages out, let me and my crew handle the messy work." I warned.

"So, what do you think?" Barcus asked directing his attention to Rolan.

Rolan grumbled thoughtfully before saying reluctantly, "Your plan is essentially buggered without me, and I'm not leaving Cal and Lia to die. So fine, I'm in."

"Good man" I said clapping Rolan on the shoulder.

Rolan cringed away from me and shot me a glare. I smiled boyishly at him, and he rolled his eyes turning back to Barcus.

"Excellent now, I've finally finished the smoke powder bomb." Barcus said excitedly pulling out a spherical object with a fuse at the top, "I call it the Brillant Retort, it'll blast through the wall of the cells with little trouble and is controlled enough not to blast away the rest of the cell."

"What if Cal and Lia are in different cells to Wulbren?" Rolan asked.

Barcus reached into his pack and pulled out a pickaxe, "The wall of the structure is relatively weak, we get Wulbren out first, then he smashes the other wall with this. He's a champion pickaxe smasher, he'll get the wall down in no time." Barcus said smiling fondly for his old friend.

"Good work Barcus. Right, you guys sit tight here. I still need to find a way past the deep shadows. I'll give the word when it's time to move." Both of my co-conspirators nodded, and we walked over to the room Maggie once receded in.

Wyll wanted to speak to Florrick, who had apparently been there the whole time, I was just too out of it to notice. We walked up to Florrick, "Evening Florrick, sorry about ignoring you last night I was… preoccupied." I said in greeting.

"No apologies necessary. I'm sorry about your daughter. But I've got another request for you and Wyll." Florrick said.

"What's happened?" Wyll asked alarmed.

"It's your father. We believe the cultists have him at Moonrise Towers. I don't suppose you have a way in?"

"Working on it as we speak," I assured her.

"Well work fast. We need Grand Duke Ravenguard more than ever with the Absolute preparing to march on Baldurs Gate." Florrick ordered.

"We will do whatever it takes to get my father out of there. You've my word on it." Wyll exclaimed.

"Very well. I'm heading back to Baldurs Gate, to seek reinforcements. The Council sent a pigeon with news that the city has been dealing with Absolutist attacks. The Steel Watch is holding strong. I'll request that Lord Gortash send some of them to aid in the fight against Moonrise. The curse won't harm them."

"Holy shit. That's my old boss- the guy who sold me to Zariel!" Karlach said alarmed.

Wyll squeezed her hand for a quick moment before facing Florrick, "Gortash, as in Enver Gortash? Last I knew he was a minor player in city affairs."

"A lot's changed since you left Baldurs Gate Wyll. Gortash has gained considerable influence since then." Florrick reported.

"How does a bastard like Gortash get his foot into the Council?" Karlach growled.

"That bastard is responsible for the creation of the Steel Watch. It's of little wonder he gained a title. The Steel Watch are the future of warfare. Gondian automatons that can be sent into battle without risking any lives- except those of our enemies. With the Steel Watch at our backs, we can storm whatever Ketheric throws at us. So, we're all just going to have to deal with the man." Florrick said directing the last statement at Karlach with a serious glare.

Karlach growled incoherent curses under her breath and walked to the other side of the room.

"I'll do my best but there's every chance I won't make it to the city. So, assume no aid is coming. Work with Jaheria, that Harper's mind is as sharp as her blade. Follow her guidance. Farewell, we'll meet again, gods willing." Florrick said as she departed the inn with her Flaming Fist in tow.

I turned to Karlach whose face had settled into an irritated numbness. "So Gortash is a lord now. I'd like to clap eyes on that Steel Watch of his. You already know the story. I was Gortash's bodyguard- loyal as they come- when he made the deal with Zariel. She got a test subject for her infernal engine. I never found out what he got. This is the type of man who gets a title. Authority. Makes me sick." Karlach spat.

"Yeah, no one knows how to weasel their way into power than megalomaniacal asshats. And that Steel Watch sounds like no joke. Do you think Gortash will actually help Florrick? At the very least to save face?"

Karlach sighed frustratedly, "No clue. Maybe he'll make an effort to keep his councillors happy, maybe he'll stab Florrick in the back. I've lost any claim on knowing who or what Gortash is a long time ago."

I patted Karlach on the shoulder in solidarity and turned to Wyll, "So it's confirmed. The Absolute has my father." Wyll said

"What would they need him for exactly?" I asked.

"They want power. They want control. They want Baldurs Gate. Who better than the Grand Duke to open the gates for them." Wyll responded.

"But Florrick knows Ravenguard's been captured. Won't she be able to tell something is off?"

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. Even if she recognises my father as an infected, no councillor or Flaming Fist will take her word over Grand Duke Ulder Ravenguard."

"Then I guess we gotta get him outta there before he's turned. We can't let him reach Baldurs Gate as a squid puppet."

"We can't and we won't" Wyll said with a smile.

Abruptly, a Harper man came up to us and said, "Greetings, I have orders to help you get to Moonrise. The path to Moonrise is drenched in blackness so deep, that even a torch cannot quell it. Yet the cultists have found a way to move freely. Whatever their method, we must claim it. A cultist convey crosses the land as we speak. I've readied an ambush. Say the word, and we fly."

"Lead the way. Let's take this convey out." On my word, we moved out.

We followed a group of five Harpers to a broken-down shack on the outskirts of the town which contained Moonrise Towers. The Harper man we spoke to put his Harpers into position, while I did the same with my companions. It was just me and the Harper squatting behind a broken wall as he spoke.

"We go on your signal. Look out for them."

As he spoke, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. We dunked under the wall only leaving enough exposed to see. Approaching us was a party of about six Absolutist's, ranging from goblins, half-orcs and humans. They were being led by a haunting combination of a grey-skinned drow and a spider.

The monstrous amalgamation had the head and torso of a drow, but the legs and webbed rump of a giant arachnid. The creature held a glowing lantern that produced pure light rather than fire and as he spoke, I heard a painful madness pepper his voice.

"We bring more to your church every day, my Queen. Your followers are legion. Your faithful stand ready, Majesty. Soon we will march. Soon the world will bow to you."

I cleared my throat and stepped before the spider being and the cultists, "What's this?" The spider being spat.

The parasite in my head suddenly connected with the monster, squirming with excitement. Our minds connected and I heard a voice speaking to me. The Absolute? Or just the echoes of his fractured mind reverberating in the darkness? I did not know. What I did find was that the creature standing before me was a Drider. A horrid creature born from a cursed Drow who had displeased the goddess Lolth. Seems this one traded in for a different deity.

The Drider looked at me and smiled a creepy and maddened grin, which in the light of the lantern highlighted the four extra black eyes on the left side of the creature's face, "One of your True Souls, my Queen! How have they survived?"

"Yeah, there was a mix-up. I thought I was supposed to go left of the greenish dead oak trees. But turns out it was right of the rotted bones. Crazy, but even servants of our great Queen can be faulty every now and again." I said trying to spin a yarn to keep the convoy in one place.

"Then the Absolute blessed you too? Where is your lantern?" The Drider asked confusion and suspicion marking their tone

"The Absolute protected me through the shadows. She asked me to give you a message of great import." I said dramatically.

"A message for me, my Queen. What is it?" The Drider asked excitedly

"It's for your ears only so come closer." The Drider inched closer, "A little closer." The Drider obeyed getting close enough for me to smell his rancid breath. He leaned his ear down and I whispered, "With great power. Comes great responsibility."

The Drider paused to look at me and noticed my blasting rod pointing at his chest. I smirked at him and blasted the creature across the space, hitting three of the cultists on impact and dropping the lantern at my feet.

At that signal, the Harpers came up behind the stunned cultist's, "Treachery! Blasphemousers in the dark!" The Drider bellowed as he got back up and pulled a long sword from his waist.

With that, the battle was on. I charged towards the Drider, Lae'zel jumping beside me. The Drider raged and swung its sword towards us which was blocked by Lae'zel's blade, while I struck the creature with fire. The Drider skuttled backwards furiously as he raised his hands in casting motion encasing itself in a golden light. When I went to throw another fireball, my arm wouldn't respond. He smiled at me with giggling contempt, he used the same protection spell Shadowheart had used twice before. As long as he didn't attack, no one could touch him. The spider jumped over the battle and went searching for his lost lantern. He found it easily, but as he went to retrieve it, an idea struck me. The spell doesn't stop me from casting at the things around the person casting it. I focused my magic on the handle of the lantern and cast, "Flammamurus metallum!"

The metal of the handle superheated and the Drider screamed in pain as it burned his hand. "Oops. Guess you pulled it out too early spider-boy. Mommy-Absolute is gonna be cross." I taunted.

It screamed in further pain and rage and forgot its defences. The spider creature bound to only four of its eight legs and aimed its insectoid ass straight at me. It fired a glob of web in my direction, I was able to dodge out of the way but got hit by a stary web that pinned my arm to a wall.

The Drider scuttled towards me with impressive speed, but before it could get to me. Lae'zel had moved behind it and slashed its exposed back. He howled with pain as he turned to face Lae'zel, which gave me the opportunity to aim my free arm holding my staff. I pointed the instrument at the floorboards underneath the spider creature's long but delicate legs, and as it turned I moved the board away with a light gust of wind. The unexpected lack of footing caused the leg to snap with a horrid crunching sound. The Drider screamed with pain and fell to the ground, giving Lae'zel the moment to take the spider creature's head off with one swing. The rest of the battle went down quickly with the Harpers and my companions killing the cultists with ease without their Drider protector.

After the battle, I used a cooling charm on the lantern and picked it up. Immediately I felt the effects of the glowing light as it cast away any minor shadow energy that got through even Isobel's protection.

"Incredible magic. I can feel the light lifting the shadows- even those within me. Be safe. Be brave. We expect no less." The Harper man said as he departed with his patrol.

Looking closer at the lantern, I felt a presence within it. A familiar pattern of erratic energy as a tiny shrill female voice erupted from the object, "Oh please, oh golly, me-oh-my, you must release me or I'll die."

Tiny form. Erratic magical aura and a pension of rhymes. This had to be a fairy. My first instinct was to release the tiny creature, but then I had an idea, "What is your name?" I asked

"I am Dolly thrice: now will release me from this vice. This lantern lights the way only while I'm hurting night and day." Dolly Dolly Dolly answered

"Well, Dolly Dolly Dolly. I have a query while allowing you to suffer would be most dreary. I can't get through the shadows without your light. So, I propose a trade. Give me and my companions protection from this malaise and I'll be the saviour of which you have prayed." I said hoping the rhymes would allow the pixie to understand the deal easier.

"Very well. I'll give you this favour if you release me without a waiver."

"Say it twice more," I commanded.

"I will. I will." The pixie said desperately.

I released the fairy from its prison hoping the pension for promises in threes being important to my fairies carried over to this universe.

Dolly Dolly Dolly flew out of the lantern and stood at about three inches tall, was pure purple and had dragonfly wings that sparked with fairy dust. "FINALLY! Been trapped in that coffin with no one but a mad drider and my own farts for company. Did me a good turn there, so here you go, protection from the Shadowcurse- what more could a dingus want. You're welcome." Dolly cubed said as she flew away into the darkness.

As she left I felt the power of the lantern seep into my very bones. The fairy had fulfilled her promise.

"Right then, onwards to Moonrise Towers," Wyll said exuding determination and focus.

"No. We're going to the 'House of Healing' from that note I found on Art. We might find something that'll wake him up there." I argued.

"Harry my father's trapped with those madmen. The longer we wait to free him, the more likely he'll be killed or worse." Wyll said getting in my face.

"And my daughter's trapped in her own body unless I find a way to bring her back. Our best lead is getting rid of the shadow curse, and that starts with waking Art up. So, I'm going to the House of Healing. Anyone who wants to join is welcome to." I said looking around at my other companions

I started walking towards the town and heard Wyll say, "Gods dammit!" dejectedly before following me, the rest following suit.