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Tav still gripped Shadowhearts hand. A chill touch to her other hand drew her attention away. She turned her head, expecting to see Astarion. Instead, Gale stood beside her, pressing a chilled potion bottle into her hand. A frost-covered potion of fire resistance. Bless his mind. Tav gave her friend a grateful smile be... |
"Here," Tav offered the bottle to her friend. |
"What? Tav, why -" Shadowheart questioned. Understanding clicked in and she snatched the bottle from Tavs hand, uncorking it and drinking swiftly. A protective patina of frost seemed to cover the clerics body as the potion took effect. |
Shadowheart launched herself at the still-shocked Karlach, wrapping her arms around the massive Tiefling. |
"Oh. Oh gods." Karlach burst into heavy sobs, hugging Shadowheart back. "He - he doesn’t even know me. He chose my life over his." |
"He’s a good man," Shadowheart murmured into Karlachs chest, where she was pressed so hard. "Maybe the best of us." |
Gale had taken the opportunity to approach Wyll, reaching out to touch a hand to his friend’s shoulder. |
"How do you feel, my friend?" The purple-clad wizard asked. |
"Gods damn her straight back to the hells." Wyll spat out at Gale’s touch. "Just... look at me! I did what was right and Mizora made me pay for it." |
Wyll rounded on Gale, "I’d be hunting devils and demons, she said. Traitors and hypocrites - heartless evils of all sorts - but not... not Zariel’s victims. Not innocent tieflings." |
"You’re lucky to be alive and in one piece." Gale said, "Pacts with demons are unforgiving." |
Tav approached, her feelings wavering between compassion for Wyll’s situation and anger. He had been demon-sworn the whole time, putting them all at gods-knew what risk. Mizora could have popped up at any time to cause death and chaos; Wyll, her pet , would have survived but the rest of them? |
"The Blade of Frontiers has some explaining to do." |
"I’ll say what I can, but it won't be enough." Wyll sighed in resignation. "It’s Mizora who grants me the power to conjure armor and cast eldritch blasts. Before I was infected, I could even call hellbeasts and summon festering clouds. But I promise you, every thrust of my blade and every flame I sparked was for the go... |
"What are the terms? Can I assume the pact is why you went off to hunt Karlach instead of trying to save your Father?" Tav asked, drawing connections between Wyll’s demon pact and his actions of late. His loyalty would forever be compromised by Mizora’s whims. Not good. |
"I can’t utter the terms or circumstances of the pact." Wyll explained. "I can tell you most all else - but the pact? I’m forbidden unless Mizora permits it. But I’ll say this: the moment I pacted myself to Mizora I have not regretted for a heartbeat. It was my proudest deed. It was worth the sacrifice. All I can give ... |
Tav wasn’t pleased by the answer, but if Wyll was under orders from Mizora, he would be physically unable to explain any farther. Similar to the compulsion Cazador would have over Astarion, but Wyll entered into the contract willingly, of sound mind and body. Tav felt a slight disgust that Wyll would give himself away ... |
A pained gasp from Shadowheart drew Tav’s attention. She turned around to see the cleric, slightly singed, springing away from the tiefling. The potion had run out. |
"Nice while it lasted." Karlach sighed. |
Tav awoke in the glowing dreamscape, the gold-clad paladin standing before her. |
"I promised I’d be back." His gentle voice washed over her as she bolted to her feet in panic. |
"Don’t worry," He reassured. "I have things under control. For now." |
They regarded each other for a moment. |
"You haven’t been using the parasite’s power. You think you don’t need it." The drow admonished her gently. "But things haven’t gone as you expected. You hoped a druid as powerful as Halsin might be able to remove your tadpole. But he couldn’t. You’re desperate to be rid of it. Understandable, but you’re looking for so... |
"Halsin believes the tadpoles have been modified with magic," Tav explained, defending her friend's failure to heal her. |
"Yes. Halsin is correct." The hulking drow paladin glowed with holy light in the twilight of the dreamscape. His voice was calm, almost hypnotic. "Your parasite is unusual - it is wrapped in magic that prevents its removal. Until the source of the tadpole’s magic is destroyed, any attempt to remove it will kill you." |
Tav sat with that thought for a moment. They still sought a cure, they had to seek a cure. Embracing powers that threatened ceremorphosis was out of the question. She would be meat for no power ever again, never allow her body and mind to give in to the will of chaos and death. Eilistraee had shown her a better way. |
"The parasites are merely a symptom of a greater sickness in Faerûn." The Dream Visitor explained. |
They had encountered a good number of infected, of "true souls’ as they all seemed to call themselves. So many enchanted illithid parasites infecting the sword coast. |
"How do we destroy the source of the tadpole’s magic?" Tav asked. |
"I am not sure yet," The paladin admitted with a sigh. "To find the answers, we must first find the source. These parasites are more than illithid spawn - they are vessels for control. The infected hear the voice of the Absolute, and believe it to be a god. That is how the cult of the Absolute is spreading. The highest... |
Tav was gratified that their protector seemed to be in agreement with what the group had figured out about their worms. They were on the right track. But she still had so many questions. |
Firstly, "So who are you?" |
"It’s complicated," the pale-eyed drow gave a rueful smile, "But I’m an adventurer, just like you. Just like you, I was infected with a mind flayer parasite. Just like you, I seek to be free of it. I’ve been trying to escape from this evil for a long time. Once, I almost succeeded." |
He paused, staring into the rock-hung twilight, haunted by the memories he shared. |
"Now, through you," He continued, "I’ve been given a new chance. You can go where I cannot. And I can protect you from that evil. If we work together, we may turn this around." |
A far away crash echoed through the dreamscape. The Paladin tensed, looking around. |
"Hells," He swore, "They need me. I have to go." |
"What is happening?" Tav demanded. |
"The power I use to protect you, I stole it from someone. They want it back. I will hold them off for as long as I can, but sooner or later I will be worn down." |
Another crash. The drow looked hunted, explaining quickly. |
"You must discover the source of the magic that controls the parasites before that happens. The cultists are gathering at Moonrise Towers. Use the powers your parasite gives you to convince them you are one of them. And when you find the source of the magic, destroy it. Go, our freedom depends on it." |
The dream vanished in a flash of light. |
Tav woke to the comforting weight of Astarion tangled with her body, his face buried in her neck. He was deep in trance. She didn’t have the heart to wake him, but the revelations of the dream would not allow her to return to reverie anytime soon. She slipped from the vampire's arms and went out into the darkened camp. |
Lae’zel was taking her turn at watch, keeping an eye on the canyon entrance, her back to the firelight. Tav joined her. |
"You should be resting." The Githyanki admonished in her harsh, rasping voice. "We strike camp early and I will not wait for you." |
Tav laughed softly. "Yeah, you would." |
Lae’zel made a dismissive sound. |
"I had another dream." Tav confessed to the fighter. "The same visitor, a paladin who speaks of using the tadpole powers. He wants us to go to Moonrise Tower, as Halsin does." |
"A waste of time." Lae’zel scoffed. "Only my people can cure us." |
"I know," Tav answered, softly. "I believe you. I don’t trust these visions. I’m sure the others will have similar stories in the morning, like they did last time." |
"I have had no dream visitors." Lae’zel stated flatly. |
"He probably knows better than to try to convince you." Tav sighed. "I wish the rest of us were so lucky. Using whatever powers these parasites will give us cannot possibly be good. A poorer bargain than even Wyll struck." |
"Then tell this dream paladin so." Lae’zel’s slitted amber eyes sparkled in the faint light of the fire. Tav envied her firm conviction. |
"Ah, but he claims to be protecting us. To be the reason why we aren’t True Souls serving the Absolute or tentacled monsters." Tav smiled ruefully, "Much as I’d love to tell him to fuck right off, I worry that would have repercussions." |
"This is why you lead." Lae’zel admitted with a sigh. "I see an enemy and seek its death. You see farther." |
"I am glad to have you on my side, friend." Tav sighed, clapping Lae’zel on the shoulder before getting to her feet once more. "You are right, though, I should be resting. I will speak to everyone of this dream in the morning. They all deserve to speak their piece." |
"Rest well." Lae’zel turned her attention back to her guarding duties, dismissing Tav’s presence completely. |
Tav meandered through the camp, taking care to step quietly. She threw more wood on the campfire, then stood before the flames, unseeing. Cool arms wrapped themselves around her body, wrapping her in feelings of safety and contentment. She leaned back in his arms, resting her head on his shoulder, exposing her increasi... |
"Why are you up, love?" Astarions cultured tones in her ear. She wondered, briefly, what her undercommon inflected tones sounded like to him. Wondering only to delay the inevitable, if only for a moment. |
"I had another dream." She told him, eyes still on the fire, "The same paladin promising protection, wanting us to use the tadpoles power." |
"I did as well," Astarion admitted. "I must confess, the promise of power is rather tantalizing." |
"Just being infected has already given you so much." Tav mused. |
"Freed from two centuries of slavery by an illithid parasite." Astarion said in agreement, "What more could I gain if I actually tried to use this wretched little worm in my head? If I could learn to control it?" |
"But at what cost?" Tav wondered, "Gods know what the full extent of Wyll’s "punishment’ is, and that cambion could show up at any time to demand more of him. He swears he doesn’t regret his pact with her; that he did it for the right reasons. But still, he suffers, and we might suffer for it as well." |
"True," Astarion agreed. "Using the parasite could be my trading one master for another. I would prefer freedom, I think." |
"You’ll have it." Tav promised. |
He didn’t answer, but his arms squeezed tighter. |
The morning came far too early for the companions. They broke their fast quickly with a cold meal before striking camp. Wyll was the last to emerge from his tent, having skipped the morning meal. He looked bashful in his new demon form, ashamed of either his new body, his secret keeping or both. Karlach was the first t... |
Tav approached her friend with a smile, hoping to set aside the revelations of the night before and return to a focused pursuit on their cure. |
"How does it feel to be a devil?" She asked gently. |
"How does it feel to be a drow?" He asked in return, giving a small grin. |
"Evil." Tav answered flatly before bursting into laughter. "And you?" |
"It’s said that anyone who bathes in the River of Blood emerges as one born anew. It’s a lot like that, I imagine." Wyll said with his usual flourishes. "I feel the weight of these horns on my head, curling upwards like a mammoth’s tusks. I feel these ridges snaking down my neck. Not to mention a few bumps and prongs i... |
Nearby, Shadowheart spluttered and coughed, then violently cleared her throat, very much not looking at Wyll. |
"Oh, Wyll," Karlach lauded, "Your horns are deadly! So much character!" |
"Character, you say?" Wyll replied, sounding encouraged, "Well, who couldn’t use more of that. Though I’ll have to take your word for it. I’ve been avoiding my own reflection." |
Wyll squared his body, facing Tav, and swallowing emotions, "Friend, be my mirror, what do you see?" |
"Quite the handsome devil, if I do say so." Shadowheart replied instead, coming to stand beside Tav. |
"I - I can’t tell if you’re being silly or serious." Wyll admitted, his red face flushing darker. "I’ll take the compliment either way. The people will see a curiosity. Maybe even a beast, hungry for their souls But I will slay their monsters, keep them safe. And one day, they will see the Blade of Frontiers again!" |
"That’s the spirit!" Tav encouraged, reaching out to draw him into a friendly hug. "We are more than our appearance." She left to pack up the last of her things, leaving Wyll and Shadowheart to speak quietly together. |
Once the group got on the road westward, Tav noticed Karlach’s forlorn face as she walked behind Shadowheart and Wyll, observing their interactions. Tav took the opportunity to speak with Karlach about the night before. |
"How do you know Mizora?" She opened, thinking Karlach seemed to be the type of person to appreciate blunt honesty. |
"We were both part of Zariel’s inner circle. Her by choice. Me by force." Karlach explained, her voice adding an extra layer of spite onto the pronunciation of the Archdevil Zariel’s name. "In the grand scheme of things, I’m inconsequential to Zariel. Sure, I’ve got the engine. But I wasn’t even her strongest fighter.S... |
The jealousy of devils was legendary. They guarded what was theirs with a fierceness only rivaled by how much they coveted what belonged to others. If the Archdevil herself wanted Karlach back, they may soon be facing down more of hells forces than a single cambion. |
"Do you think she’ll keep coming after you?" Tav asked, truly worried. |
"I don’t know." Karlach rolled her eyes. "You’d think she’d have more important things to do. Devils and their pride." |
Tav hummed. Thinking on how everything was so convoluted. Karlach and Wyll with their ties to the hells, Shadowheart’s secret artifact, this dream visitor. Gale had secrets that had yet to come to light and Astarions secrets had broken her heart as much as he had bled it. Only Lae’zel and Halsin seemed to be upfront ab... |
Hours later, as they trudged west, the sun, when it could be seen around the mountain peaks, was bright in their faces. They walked through twilight shadows of the mountains, or blinding light, where someone had to assist Tav, her underdark-trained vision washed away in a blaze of pain when the bright sun fell upon her... |
Death flew on blood-red wings. |
The rest of the party fared little better. Shadowheart and Gale also cowering, the wizard taking cover with Scratch, who howled with his tail between his legs. Halsin was scouting and nowhere to be seen. Wyll was trying to help Shadowheart, Karlach gazed at the sky in pure open-mouthed wonder. Astarion was... oh gods, ... |
Astarion was in front of her, taking firm hold of her upper arms, forcing eye-contact. "Breathe, love. Look in my eyes and breathe. In... and out... in... you can do this." |
The shadow passed without incident. The dragon was gone. |
Fear released her. |
"Eilistraee save us." Tav breathed at the same time Shadowheart sent a similar entreaty to Shar, and Gale to Mystra. |
"First taste of Dragon Fear?" Wyll asked the group as he helped Shadowheart to her feet. |
Lae’zel scoffed, smug in her immunity to the fear, "That was a Githyanki Dragon Knight. We are close." |
"Give them a moment, Lae’zel." Wyll asked, now assisting Gale. |
Karlach muttered " Wow! " again and again under her breath as she tossed Scratch enough food that the dog forgot entirely anything but the existence of cheese and sausages. |
"How were you ok?" Tav asked Astarion while the vampire helped Tav get to her own feet. |
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