Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Teala makes her way through the boisterous orgy as best as she can, the demons and the other drow not noticing her while they drink, get high, and fuck. The air is thick with smoke, alcohol, burning incense, and drugs. Finding caverns that are carved deep into some side walls, leading to places where the drow don’t like to go, she slips into a pathway obscured by some rock. Slinking quietly, crawling on the ground, she makes her way into one of the small crevices that lines the pathway, squeezing through it. She finds herself in a small cave lit by some fungi. Seeing a familiar scarred figure sitting there, she smiles.

“Kyorlin, my dearest male, you’re here.” Teala whispers.

Kyorlin is a short drow, with skin which must be blacker than Drizzt’s is rumoured to be, with soft white hair which was torn short by his matron, and with eyes more red than any rubies. Kyorlin reaches for Teala in an embrace, his mouth chewing on her lower lip before going to her neck and kissing her there. She holds her lover against her as if melting into him. They hold each other more tightly, kissing passionately.

“Teala, if we run, we cannot come back.” In between kisses, he keeps his voice low to keep from echoing against the walls. “We won’t survive.”

“Lover, we have to leave. Lolth told me that you'd deceive me...that...I must kill you.” Teala whispers into his mouth, breaking the kiss he's working on. "I know you'd never deceive me. Follow me."

Kyorlin nods.

They start to move as one, through a different crevice at the back of the cave, which leads to a maze of trails. Teala is familiar with the trails because she had planned this for a while, hoping that the orgies were enough of a cover if she was ever asked where she went to.

Presently, Teala and Kyorlin reach a cavern. They’re now close to a number of pathways that will bring them dangerously close to the illithids in a few days. If Teala and her lover can make it past the necrotic elder brain without notice, which will probably take a tenday, then it should only take another tenday to reach the surface.

An insect buzzes by her, biting her ear. Teala’s lover looks at her with alarm. He’s a slave to another house and not used to being this far from home. What was once home. She sees another insect. No. It’s not an insect, it’s an arrow. Teala grabs Kyorlin’s hand, and they run as fast as they can. She knows of a path that will help them escape from their hunters. To his credit, he matches her stride. They run as if they are one, jumping over sharp stones, mushrooms, and a sleeping bulette, making their way to escape. They reach the new path, but their hunters follow.

She knows where a chasm is that has a narrow path against its walls that rings downward. It’s treacherous and there’s a windstorm. However, it should slow their hunters down, and it leads to another set of pathways she and her lover can take. She makes her way, sprinting down the pathway, her beloved keeping up with her. Several hunters trip, falling to their deaths. Teala could use her magic but since it comes from Lolth, it could fail Teala miserably. She finds a way off to the side that she knows and suddenly there’s a clearing. She hears the hunters’ boots clanging against the rock underneath her leathered feet. Turning around, she faces those who hunt her and her lover. She sees that there are four hunters, but strangely, no magic users, maybe they were knocked down by the wind. She grabs her shield from her back, then pushes one of the pursuers with her shield so hard that it knocks him to the side of the cave into a sea of fungi, where he starts laughing maniacally. She brings her sword to hack at the other pursuer’s head.

“Shit, that hurts!” Teala curses as her sword gives up partway through the guard’s neck, killing the guard but leaving his head hanging, as his body spills out blood while falling to the floor.

The other two are after Kyorlin, but he has run forward so she must catch up to them. Jumping on one of the hunters with all of her weight, it brings both of them down. The fallen hunter calls her a thief, trying to hold her down. She has dropped her sword, but she still has her shield. She knocks the shield into him, using the shield to smash him into the floor, leaving him straggling. She hears others behind her. Unbelievably, it sounds like there is an entire army running after her, a priestess of Lolth from a noble house, and Kyorlin, a slave from another noble house. Running forward she finds Kyorlin strangling the other drow dead, the corpse falling to the floor of the chamber.

Teala takes Kyorlin’s hand, then they start running again because she hears their pursuers catching up to them. She runs up to an oppressive darkness, a huge expanse that she hadn’t seen when she was there before. Damned dwarves, duergar, or demons! She was here only a little while ago! Teala and her beloved stand at the edge, nodding to each other. As she takes her mouth to his, he kisses her lips, then hand in hand, they jump down. Even though their fall slows by the updrafts, the grip on each other’s hands is torn asunder. The lovers are now lost to each other.

Sliced up and bloody, Teala wakes up from the hard floor. She looks around, finding no sign of Kyorlin. She can hear singing, but from which direction, she does not know. She looks at her hand that just recently held Kyorlin’s. It is broken. She starts crying uncontrollably, not just for the loss of Kyorlin, but for everything that brought her here. Frantically, she looks around, hoping to see someone, anyone, especially Kyorlin. Against the far wall, she sees a dark figure of a tall man, but it’s probably a trick of the shadows. It’s too tall to be Kyorlin or another drow. She pushes the image from her mind.

Following the source of the light, she sees a cave off to the side. She feels herself being pulled to it, limping as she goes because she can’t feel one of her feet. She finally reaches the cave, and there is a round bottle filled with red liquid. It looks like a greater healing potion that she liked to slip to the slaves now and again when someone of her house was being especially cruel. Grimacing, she grabs it, pulls the cork out of it with her good hand, then drinks it down. Despite having to drink the unpleasant liquid, she feels better, and everything is healed except her mind. Looking around the cave she finds enough components for a sword. Her shield is there! She sees several musical instruments on the wall. She takes down a harp and its case. She then looks off to the back of the cave. There is a tall woman dancing in silvery light, singing the same song Teala heard when Teala first woke up.

“Who are you?” Teala calls out to the woman, who turns towards Teala. The woman has long, silvery hair, but is wearing no clothing. She’s holding a glowing sword. The woman isn’t dancing now, but she continues to sing.

“Where is Kyorlin?” Teala cries out, but the woman just solemnly shakes her head. “You can help me but not him?! Please help him and leave me to die in his stead!” The woman walks towards Teala, reaching down to her, kissing her on the forehead as if to calm her.

Seeing that she is still alive, Teala begs the woman, “Please bring him back! Please take me instead!”

The woman shakes her head at Teala, then disappears.

Teala starts crying uncontrollably.

Once Teala calms down, she starts making her sword. She has not had to make a sword in a very long time, but luckily she has enough materials to make one that reminds her of her old sword. A lot of drow favor the bow, but she loves using the sword and shield. She was seen as an oddity in society, but she was accepted. She was a priestess of Lolth wasn’t she? Wasn’t that was important? To top it off, she has a way with taking care of plants and animals, which is rare in a noble house.

“I’m not a priestess of Lolth anymore,” Teala says aloud to herself. She can never go back home. She will have to go to the surface, something she was planning to do with Kyorlin, but now she's alone.

As if in answer, the tall woman returns, dancing and spinning to the song she is singing. The tall woman puts her sword blade down into the floor and starts to dance again, motioning Teala to do the same. Teala puts her sword into the floor of the cave, thinking that it is lucky the cave has a dirt floor because it wouldn’t work in rock. Dancing to the tall woman’s singing, she sees the woman cutting herself on her legs and arms, and her magic starts making the sword glow. However, wasn’t the sword glowing already? Teala follows the same movements, then her sword starts to glow too. The glow starts to encompass Teala as well, forcing her to pick up her sword and to dance with the woman.

Finally able to stop dancing, Teala asks the woman, “Are you a goddess or a demon or both?”

The woman spins into light and when it dims, the woman is gone. Teala is overcome with sudden emptiness. She hears the woman’s voice in her head. “Eilistraee.”

Teala doesn’t want to be alone. Eilistraee might not be as strong and powerful as some of the other deities, but strong enough to stand up to the goddess’ own mother Lolth.

With her sword at her belt, Teala takes her shield and her harp with its case, then puts them on her back. She makes a long trek to the surface.

Eventually, Teala finds the surface and its blinding light, so she hides in a nearby forest hoping that the brightness will go away. Relying on her resistance to poisons, she samples the fruits and vegetables that she finds in the forest.

Some time later, she finds the brightness darkening and decides to make her way down to town. She finds a place where someone is hanging clothes to dry and grabs a robe to hide underneath. She doubts anyone on the surface will like drow just like she will not like anyone else on the surface either. However, she cannot go back home again, not ever.

The town is crowded and noisy, but she hears a bell ringing loudly. Merchants are buying and selling goods: oils and lotions that smell of beautiful perfume and musk, vegetables and fruits like cranberries, apples, tomatoes, blueberries, and cherries, spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. Musicians are singing and playing, maybe one of them will help her play the harp? (When she was little, she tried teaching herself, but her aunts caught her playing and beat her up with it once they found out about it, thus her harp was destroyed.) She stops to listen to these musicians, keeping a close eye on the one playing the harp, and starts dancing with them.

Up in the sky, a long dark shadow with tentacles looms overhead. Beams of light flash from the ship, hurting her eyes. She tries to run, but it is of no use. One of the beams catches her and now she is on the ship and is trapped in a pod of some sort. It is now darker so it is easier for her to see. Illithids. No! Not illithids! She is so horrified that she can’t speak, she can’t move. There is a pool in the center of the room. She screams inside of her mind. Where is her new goddess now? One of the illithids floats to the pool, picking up a tadpole which reminds her of an aboleth. Teala twists and turns, but the pod that she is trapped in is holding her tightly. The illithid places the tadpole in her eye. In her eye? She thought the illithid would place the tadpole in her ear instead. She screams, but there is no one there who cares about her. Kyorlin is gone.

Suddenly, the ship lurches as if hit by something, maybe a demon from the Abyss? Violently, the ship lurches again, so much so that the illithids are thrown against the walls. They are knocked out or killed. Teala doesn’t care, she just wants to escape. She pounds against the pod with all of her strength. With another lurch of the ship, the pod crashes down to the floor, freeing Teala. She finds that her sword is still belted to her side, and to her amazement, her shield has protected her harp from breaking in its case. She gets up and starts to walk unevenly because the ship is still shaking. She is knocked down as the ship is hit again. She finds herself laying next to someone, cold and still, by her side. Uncontrollably, she starts crying again.

“Teala, my dear,” A cultured voice breaks into her subconscious. “Teala, it is just a dream. Wake up. Teala! Wake up!”

Suddenly, she feels sharp ice cold fangs at her neck, pinching her skin. She opens her eyes, seeing someone with white curls, pinching her neck with his teeth. Realization dawns upon her.

“Astarion?” A pair of red eyes find her lilac ones.

“Yes, darling?” Letting go of her neck, he wraps her up in his arms.

“I had the same dream about when I escaped from home again. The dream was different but real at the same time. I feel like I’m losing Kyorlin again, losing Eilistraee again. It’s not fair! Drow aren’t supposed to dream like this! Damn tadpoles! And don’t give me any of that control shit!”

Unable to come up with something clever for once, Astarion brings Teala to face him. Kissing Teala on her mouth, his hunger apparent by the way his fangs are grasping.

“Teala, I need to feed. Will you be able to stay awake until I get back?”

Rolling her eyes, she sits up and moves her hair out of the way, her wake up pinches still imprinted on her neck.

“Although I prefer it here.” Teala moves a hand in between her legs, a small smile on her lips.

“Mmmm. Tempting.” Grinning, Astarion turns to leave her tent.

“I thought you said I was tempting!” Teala calls out to him.

“Since the party with the tieflings my dear, you’ve been starting to get as pale as I am. I’m not feeding from you until you are your dark blue colour again. I don’t know why you are getting pale. Maybe it was the vinegar we drank for wine?” With that, Astarion creeps outside, stopping at Halsin’s tent momentarily, before melting into the shadows of the forest that surround their camp.

Looking at her skin, she realizes that Astarion is right. Her skin is now gray. Remembering a conversation she had with Astarion before and needing healing anyway, Teala puts her robe around her nightclothes and decides to have a word with Halsin.

Chapter Text

Teala leaves her tent, looking at the beautiful night sky, wishing she was hunting alongside Astarion instead of having to stay at camp. The only problem is that she does not like hunting, she just likes being with him. With his infectious smile, his giddy laughter, his perfect hair, his attentions, Astarion and Teala are partners until his former master, Cazador, is dead, and that is enough for her.

Walking towards Halsin’s tent, Teala notices that the cleric Shadowheart and the wizard Gale aren’t really watching over the camp, they are watching over each other instead. Rolling her eyes, Teala looks for the owlbear cub and Scratch the dog, who are thankfully watching over the camp instead. Teala laughs, wondering why Shadowheart and Gale won’t just fuck and break the sexual tension between them. Seeing if Shadowheart and Gale will get the hint, Teala removes her robe, draping it over her arm. Looking over her shoulder, Teala realizes that Shadowheart and Gale didn’t even look over at her, who is now just in her nightclothes.

Fixing her hair, Teala walks over to Halsin’s tent. Knocking on one of the frames holding up his tent, she hears his reply, “Yes, come inside Teala. I heard you laugh and can see your shadow through the tent.”

Abruptly, Teala stops fixing her hair then walks inside. Halsin is a wood elf, but Teala suspects he must be mixed with another race like giant, because he is huge for a wood elf or for any elf. Halsin is wearing his reading glasses, with one hand on an open book, and the other hand stirring something cooking in a small stewpot, which is held up by some frames above a small fire. Luckily, the tent has a hole in the ceiling for the smoke to escape.

Putting the book down, Halsin removes his glasses and looks at her, saying, “I might not be the smartest healer in Faerûn, but I do know you shouldn’t be walking about without your robe on. It is too cold for you, especially since you seem to be without enough blood.” Halsin pauses. “When was the last time Astarion fed from you?”

“It was during the party with the tieflings.” Teala replies, putting her robe back on. She does not feel cold in Halsin’s tent.

Halsin puts his glasses safely away in his pack. “Please sit down.”

Teala looks down and sees Halsin’s bedroll. To meditate on a bedroll must not be comfortable. She rolls it up and puts it to the side, kneeling on the ground with her palms flat down on the soil, she calls to the plant life within the soil, calling it upward. When the jade green moss starts to grow, Teala makes sure its enough for both her and Halsin to meditate upon before she stops its growth. Maybe Halsin will be happier than Astarion had been when she did the same thing in her tent?

“Thank you, but you shouldn’t be doing magic in your bloodless state.”

Teala shakes her head. Halsin isn’t happy about the moss floor either. Weren’t they elves?

Sitting cross-legged on the now moss-covered ground, Teala looks over at Halsin.

Trying to get a different reaction from Halsin, she says, “It isn’t what you think, between the goblins and that hobgoblin Dror Ragzlin, Astarion was well fed before the party.”

“What about Minthara?” Halsin asks.

Teala replies, “No. I blasted Minthara with Scorching Ray. When I left her corpse, she was nothing but ash, which is sort of a shame because she was wearing beautiful drow armor, and it reminded me of home. However, I was able to knock her mace out of her hand first so I could give it to Shadowheart.”

“I see,” Halsin replies, “but then why did Astarion bite you if he didn’t need your blood?”

Teala thinks that this means not getting Halsin, at least not tonight.

Still trying her best, Teala looks over at Halsin lasciviously, “Sex. We were having sex, and he wanted to bite me, and I’m not going to tell him no.”

Halsin raises an eyebrow, “I see.” He starts scooping a bowl of the mixture from the stewpot for her to drink. “Would you please do me a favor?”

“Anything, Halsin.”

Halsin lowers his voice, “Please drink this for me. You might not like me after this, but it will help you.”

“I don’t know how I could ever not like you.” Teala responds, then she drinks the hot mixture carefully so she doesn’t get burned by the heat of the liquid or the steam.

“These herbs are awful!” Teala scrunches up her face while Halsin smiles at her reaction.

After Teala is finished drinking, Halsin puts the cookware away in a safe place, then sits facing her cross-legged.

Halsin tells her, “Astarion wants me to help you meditate so you don’t fall into bad dreams.” Halsin holds Teala by her wrists and urges her to grab his wrists, which she is more than happy to do.

Halsin continues, “Feel the ebb and flow of blood through my wrists as if it is music, and breathe slowly. I will do my best to make sure that you continue to meditate for your full four hours.”

“But what about you, Halsin?” Teala doesn’t want him to go without meditation. He is the most powerful magic user they have.

“I have already had my four hours Teala. You were out for a long time.”

“How long, Halsin?”

“A day.”

“A day?!”

Halsin nods his head.

Teala shakes with frustration. They couldn’t afford to lose a day, even for her. They are going to go to a crèche next, because whenever they did something else, the githyanki Lae’zel was too distracted because they had found a map that can lead them to a crèche, despite having to kill a githyanki patrol to obtain the map.

Teala does as Halsin had instructed her, feeling the ebb and flow of his blood through his wrists, breathing slowly. It feels like music to her, as if Eilistraee herself is singing to her. Finally, Teala starts to meditate, and it is as though she can feel a calm wash over and through her. Despite Halsin’s efforts, she still falls deep asleep. Mercifully, it is a dreamless sleep.

Chapter Text

Teala wakes up feeling nauseous and full of cramps. Halsin opens his eyes and looks at her. Teala is surprised that she does find herself not liking him. He knew she was going to feel this way!

Feeling angry and sick, Teala runs out of the tent to the forest, making sure to go a different way than Astarion did, hoping he is still out hunting. She takes off her clothes because they feel too restrictive, plus she is suffering from the heat that she feels. She leans against a tree. Retching, she throws up everything that was still in her stomach. What did Halsin do to her?

Finally realizing what was happening and what Halsin had done, she finds a different spot from where her vomit is, and sits on her heels to wait. Feeling the mass of cells of what could have been leave her, she knew she would have drunk blood if that was what was required to have whatever what was growing inside of her instead of covering it up, giving it a burial before it even had the chance to be!

Finding a small river that must be branching off from the bigger river that is near her camp, she washes herself off the best that she can.

Still furious, she makes her way back to the camp, picking up her clothes along the way, slinging them over one of her arms. She sees Halsin waiting for her at the edge of camp. Was that concern in his eyes? How dare he!

Approaching Halsin, she pounds her fists against his chest, accusing him, “Why?! Why?! You knew I was pregnant? You could have told me! You could have asked me about having my baby! Why?!” Pounding her fists into Halsin’s chest is like hitting stone. Her fists are starting to bruise, but she doesn’t care.

When she finally falls silent and stops hitting his chest, she leans against him in exhaustion.

Halsin explains, “From what I’ve read, birthing a dhampir doesn’t usually end up killing their mother, but your case seemed different. Even if you were to drink blood, how much would have been enough? You don’t even eat animals, except for fish.”

Halsin smiles. “At times, you seem more like a druid than a cleric, or more druid than most druids whom I’ve known.”

“A dhampir? But Astarion is a vampire spawn, not a vampire.” Teala says, looking at the golden weave of the acorn and leaf emblem on Halsin’s armor, making sure she sees some sort of reflection of her colours there. She sighs in relief, for she does see her colours looking back at her.

“Your fears are real. With a Netherese illithid tadpole in his head and there is one in yours too, as you know,” Halsin continues, “this means that there is a chance that Astarion might turn into a vampire or at least have all the powers of a vampire should his tadpole wish it. Speaking of which, please get dressed, I would hate for him to see us like this.”

Continuing to lean on Halsin, Teala gets dressed. Helping her to keep her balance, Halsin steadies her so that she can stand on her own. Once Halsin can see that she can walk enough to get to her tent, he returns to his.

Noticing the sun's rays pushing through the clouds as it starts to rise, Teala notices a familiar graceful figure leaving the cover of the dense forest on the other side of the camp. Astarion. She hopes that he has hunted well. She does not want to ever lose him but she does not want to ever lose her soul either, looking down at her shaky image in a puddle, she realizes she doesn’t want to lose her reflection either. She will have to tell him.

She enters her tent and finds a healing potion to drink because since her shock has abated, she feels intense pain between her legs. She sits down sideways, drinking the potion. She makes a face.

“Disgusting!”

Astarion is surprised as he enters her tent, "Oh tell me, whatever did I do?"

“Astarion, it has nothing to do with you. Well. Maybe? I hate healing potions!” Teala responds.

“Why didn’t you use your magic instead?”

“Halsin doesn’t want me to use my magic until I get better.”

Crouching next to her as if he is hunting her, Astarion whispers, “I can help you feel better.” As he smiles at her, she sees stolen blood on his lips, fangs, and gums. She doesn’t mind. It comforts her to know he has fed well. Teala smiles back at him. She brings him in for a kiss, wrapping her arms around him, feeling the warmth of him now that he has blood coursing through him again.

She looks up at him, asking, “Astarion, how are you able to keep your hair this perfect?”

“Please darling, allow me some secrets.” He kisses her again, and she can tell he wants to go further, much further.

Teala takes his hands in hers, breaking the kiss, and pressing her forehead into his.

“Astarion?”

“Yes. Lover?”

“I need you to know something, and I think in this rare instance, we should use the tadpoles.” Teala hesitates.

“If I remember correctly, you are the one who doesn’t like using the tadpoles.” Astarion smirks.

She nods, closes her eyes, then opens her mind up to his, like an open book where he can read everything.

Astarion laughs. “It is maybe for the best. I can’t remember if I’ve ever been a father, but I can’t see myself as a good one, at least not until Cazador is dead. As for the blood drinking, if I’m unable to directly drink from you because you are afraid I will turn you into a vampire spawn, I won’t.”

She opens her eyes, looking into his. “But I enjoy how it makes me feel.”

“Well, there are other ways…” He reaches down in between her legs, but she takes his hand before it reaches its destination and shakes her head, surprising herself that she just said no to him.

Chapter Text

Being undeterred, Astarion grabs his pack and throws it onto his shoulders, then takes Teala’s hand, encouraging her, “Let’s go!”

Still unsteady, she wobbles a bit when she stands. After securing his pack, Astarion picks Teala up in his arms, then he walks over to the river’s shore.

Astarion looks at Teala saying, “Maybe we can have Cazador and his horde just follow us into the Chionthar so they can burn like they’re in acid.” Teala and Astarion laugh at the thought, happy that Astarion can enjoy running water.

Astarion puts Teala down onto the shore. Taking a blanket out of his pack, he lays it across the sands, then he takes some towels, a couple of bottles and a bar of soap out of his pack, then places those on the blanket. Afterwards, he starts undressing her as she does her best to undress him. She still feels unbalanced.

Once they’re undressed, Astarion picks up one bottle, laughing, “Oh no! We’re not using that for our hair!” Putting that bottle down, he picks up the other one and the soap, then gives them to her, saying, “Darling, are you able to hold onto these?”

Teala nods.

Astarion picks her up and carries her into the river. Teala is able to stand but not much more. Astarion is more than happy to wash her, being gentle between her legs. She then washes him as well, but she is clumsy. They laugh. Teala leans against Astarion while he washes her hair with the rosewater mixture. Realizing that his cock is pressing hard against her ass, she gasps.

“Now, now, darling. You will let me get my hair washed too, won’t you?” Astarion teases.

Teala smiles. It brings up the memory of when they first slept together, when she felt his fangs go deep into her neck, making her feel so cold, so hot, all over. She teases, “Say please.” In response, he pinches her nipples. “Ow.” she protests, laughing.

“Please…” He whispers into her ear as she trembles to the sound of his voice.

She reaches up, feeling around with one hand and the bottle in the other, washing that wavy hair of his. After she is done, she seals the bottle. They dunk into the river, washing off all of the soap and the hair mixture.

Astarion picks her up, then places her on the blanket, putting away the soap and the hair mixture. They both towel each other dry, following the curves of their bodies. She feels safe in his arms, like they are the only people on Toril. Her hands caress his back despite his scars cutting into her. Teala is shaking in anticipation for him, but she is still sore.

As if reading her mind, Astarion asks, “Does your ass hurt at all?”

Blinking at him with confusion, she shakes her head.

Grinning, Astarion slaps her ass, “Get on your hands and knees as if you’re trying to grow mold!”

“It’s moss. How can you confuse moss with mold? They’re so different.” Teala giggles.

“Ah! You are feeling better!” He smiles, slapping her ass again.

Teala gets on her hands and knees, putting her hands and arms underneath her head, one of her ears is cushioned against her arms. Kneeling behind her, he takes the vial off of the blanket and opens it. The mixture is greasy to the touch as he works it on his fingers of one hand. Putting the vial aside, he puts his dry hand around her belly to keep her steady, and with his greasy hand, he puts one finger inside her ass, moving it back and forth inside of her ass to get it wider and slick. Teala moans. She can feel herself about to cum but she holds back. He must have done this before. He puts a second finger inside, and she shudders, moaning his name. He leans over and kisses her lips deeply. Oh, how she misses his bite. She remembers the first time he bit her. She remembers how she pressed both of her hands hard against her mouth as she came while he bit down on her neck. She can’t help but cum, crying his name as she does so. Astarion then puts a third finger inside, taking his hand that is on her belly and grabs one of her breasts, caressing it. She is now pressing her breast into his hand and pressing her ass against his fingers. She cries out, taking one of her hands to work on her other breast. He is still kissing her, nipping lightly at her lips but not tearing flesh. He then pulls his fingers out of her ass, causing her to gasp. He takes his cock and brushes it against her ass. Breaking their kiss, Astarion commands, “Say please,”

She can’t breathe, she can’t talk, she uses her tadpole, “Please…”

“No!” He says, slapping her ass. “Say it! Say please! Then say my name!”

Breathing raggedly, she uses all of her strength, begging, “Pleeeeeasse! A-star-i-on!”

As if in answer, Astarion takes his hand off of her breast and puts it around her belly and holds her firmly, then with his other hand, he drives his cock deep inside her ass, causing her to cry out. He then works at her as she pushes up against him as her legs shake. Looking back at him, she knows her hair and body is slick with sweat, but he’s beautiful, not a hair out of place, with the sun rising behind them somewhere...

Not stopping his rhythm, he leans over, kissing her, even though her hair is plastered against her. She is moaning and he is growling like the supernatural creature he is. They cum in unison. They collapse. All feels right with the world for once.

His fingers caress her belly as they reach down to her cunt, “Darling, are you still sore?”

“You’re incorrigible!”

“I take that as a yes?”

“Yes!” She wants to make sure he understands her.

Suddenly, Teala feels electricity. A Witchbolt? She summons her magic, making a Shield Of Faith for both of them as the Witchbolt hits the Shield, then falters.

“How rude! They didn’t even offer to join in!” Astarion smirks while pulling himself out of Teala.

The lovers look in the direction of the attack. There are four blurry figures across the river. As if Teala and Astarion are one, they use Magic Missile, attacking the blurry figures. The blurry figures become clear and look like they are down. Quickly, Astarion grabs his bow and arrows from his pack, shooting the hunters to make sure that the hunters are dead, then Teala and Astarion wash and dry themselves off quickly, then get dressed.

Shadowheart and resident warlock Wyll show up to join Astarion and Teala.

“Nice of you to help.” Astarion criticizes Shadowheart and Wyll.

“You’re not my type,” Shadowheart responds.

Everyone looks at Wyll.

“We were not sure if you were just being violent in your...frivolity.” Wyll defends himself.

“You’re spending too much time with Gale, it’s starting to show.” Shadowheart teases Wyll.

“Someone needs to.” Wyll teases Shadowheart, who turns scarlet.

“We should check those hunters to see if they were sent by Cazador.” Astarion says.

“That doesn’t make sense because Cazador sent the Gur to capture you, not kill you,” Teala tells Astarion, “but you’re right, we need to find out who sent them.”

Teala and her companions use Misty Step to get to the other side of the river, finding the hunters injured grievously, not dead.

Astarion grabs one by the shoulders, “Who sent you?”

Shadowheart rolls her eyes, taking a scroll out of her pack.

“What?” Astarion asks, reading the scroll, looks at Shadowheart and nods. Astarion uses the Detect Thoughts scroll on the hunter.

“These hunters were sent by Cazador, who now wants his lost spawn alive or dead.” Astarion declares angrily as the scroll burns to ash from use.

Just to be safe, Astarion kills the hunters with his sickles instead of drinking the hunters’ blood, slicing his blades through the hunters' skulls from their mouths up into their brains.

Teala and her companions use Misty Step to get back to their side of the river. Teala uses Scorching Ray on the blanket, hoping Shadowheart and Wyll didn’t see anything. Teala helps Astarion gather the towels and his pack. The lovers follow Shadowheart and Wyll, cautiously looking through the trees for any more dangers that might be lurking there.

Teala smells Gale’s cooking, knowing Halsin loves breakfast and is there at the camp, but she doesn’t take her eyes off of Astarion and the trees that surround them. She’s not going to fail Astarion like she failed Kyorlin.

Chapter Text

As they approach the campfire, Wyll smiles over at Teala, "So Chief, what did that poor blanket do to you?"

Teala blinks back at him, an unmistakable red hue showing underneath her blue colour.

Shadowheart joins in on the fun, "Please, when you're trying to hide something, leave it to me."

Teala and Astarion start laughing along with Shadowheart and Wyll, releasing the tension they felt since the attack.

Teala stops laughing and sees that Gale is wrapped up in his wizard’s emerald robes that they had found in the guts of a queen spider. After cleaning the emerald robes, they look so much more beautiful on him than his blue and purple ones. His handsome face is worn from the weight of the orb he carries inside his chest. Teala glances over at Shadowheart, who is eating her breakfast and joking with Wyll, who is sitting across from Shadowheart and next to Lae’zel.

Astarion helps Teala sit down on his lap, sitting themselves between Gale and Halsin, who offers her tea. Teala sips at it so she can have it with her breakfast.

Taking a sidelong glance at Halsin, Astarion teases, “Were you spying on us again?” Teala almost chokes on her drink.

Halsin’s smile is glorious yet telling. Teala guesses that he has watched the two lovers before. “You think that the two of you are discreet, but you have to work on... being discreet.”

Barcus, the dark gnome who joined them in Grymforge, speaks up, “Also… We really shouldn’t carry so much stuff. Remember the windmill?”

It is true, the first time they rescued him, he was tied to the windmill by goblins. He thinks he would not have been caught if he had so much stuff. Of course, he then got captured and enslaved in Grymforge, so they had to rescue him again, but Teala thinks it prudent not to mention this. His eyes still look at her in fear, even after all this time traveling together. Drow are not the kindest people. No wonder Barcus calls Baldur’s Gate home.

“Barcus is right. We should pack things up that we don’t need and make a cache for ourselves upon our return.” Teala looks into her cup, “Barcus can help us decide what to keep and what to pack into a cache.” Teala nods at him.

Barcus releases his breath, not realizing that he had been holding it in. Teala still can’t bring herself to talk with him directly, and she can tell he is both frustrated with her and afraid of her.

Gale hands Teala a bowl with some warm meat stew with greens and carrots in it. Halsin must have told Gale that she needs to eat meat. She eats it hungrily. Looking over at him, she can see a shadow clouding over him. “Do you need another magical artifact? I’ve been keeping one as an emergency even though you last told Shadowheart that you would be okay for a while.”

The wizard is surprised, “I did, in fact, tell her just that.” He pauses. “No, it isn’t hungry, but it seems to drain me more and more every day as of late.”

Teala reaches a hand over to his face, brushing his loose hair, hooking it over his ear. Praying in her native tongue to Eilistraee in the hopes of healing, she does not hear any response from her goddess, maybe because it is now day.

“Gods don’t listen to our prayers! When will you learn?” Astarion chides Teala, who gives him a harsh look.

Teala asks Halsin, “Is there anything that you can do for Gale?”

The druid looks at her, “I’ve done everything that I can for him. What would help him the most is to rid himself of the orb.”

Teala looks over to Lae’zel, “Maybe once we reach the crèche, one of the githyanki can send him to an empty spot in the astral plane so he can let it go safely.”

Lae’zel hrrmphs at that, rolls her eyes, and continues with her breakfast.

Gale looks at Teala, “If I do that, please bring me back.”

“Why wouldn’t I bring you back?” Hesitantly, Teala removes her hand, which is now on his shoulder, and returns it to her stew.

“Because you don’t seem to... acknowledge... any males, except Astarion and Halsin, unless you have plans to bed me too.”

Looking over at Shadowheart, Teala says, “Gale, no offense, but I don’t think that would be prudent.”

“And if Shadowheart wasn’t here, would you?”

Teala can only smile at Gale and does not reply. However, Shadowheart realizes what is going on, stands up, and offers to help Gale with collecting the breakfast supplies and such.

Volo doesn’t miss any of this and is writing something. Again. So infuriating. Yet, he does make everyone feel happier despite their predicament.

“Please do give us ridiculous names instead of our true ones for your tales.” Teala reminds Volo.

“My friend! Of course! Of course! Although presently, I’m merely writing down the rumors of the drow’s sexual habits!"

Teala laughs, “They’re true. They’re all true.” She sees Barcus flinch at this. She wants to go over and hug him, to tell him everything is okay, but she knows her people, and all she could say is that she is sorry, but she doesn’t. Some secrets are too personal.

“Barcus, please help us pack the things we really don’t need so that we can make a secret cache for us?” she says instead.

Surprised that she is speaking with him directly, the dark gnome nods his head and complies, dragging Volo with him, thankfully.

Taking this as an opportunity, Astarion grabs Halsin’s hand and puts it on Teala’s inner, upper thigh, saying, “Thank you for helping her. Her colour is a little darker now than it was last night. I appreciate it. I know she does too.”

Halsin nods, but Teala notices he does not move his hand. Progress.

Looking into Halsin's eyes, she grins, “When you next see Astarion and I, please feel free to join us."

The druid raises his eyebrows, “You aren’t still angry with me?”

“Yes, but I understand why you did it. I will be angry for a while, but it doesn’t change how I feel about you.” Teala looks down and up at him, noticing how the sunlight catches the colours in his eyes, which are coloured like cinnamon apple cider. Halsin looks over at Astarion.

“Darling, why not? The way she speaks of you is intoxicating. Of course, if you just want me there to watch, I will watch, but I think we both know that you don’t want me to just watch...” Astarion smiles, thinking well of himself.

Halsin grips Teala’s thigh a little tighter, saying, “Astarion, you remind me of my first love, Fenmaer. You walk similar, have the same type of curly, white hair. You even use the same phrases at times.” Halsin smiles. “When Teala, you, and the rest of our companions rescued me, I would’ve thought you were him, but your scent is quite different.”

“Sounds like a beautiful fellow.” Astarion raises an eyebrow. “What’s this about my scent?”

“Your scent?” A haunted look takes over Halsin, then he recovers, “No matter how you try to hide it, your scent isn’t of the natural world.”

Astarion speaks softly, ““You still look at Teala and I with want and longing when we are together. Unlike Shadowheart, who just spies on us with disapproval.”

Teala rolls her eyes. “Shadowheart watches us too?”

Astarion grins.

Teala says, “Halsin, do what you feel is natural for you. However, you’re always welcome to join us.”

Teala puts her feelings down into herself. They have to pack and get back on the road if they are to make the crèche anytime soon.

Following the githyanki map, they move deeper into the forest that decorates the base of the mountains, finding their path opening up into a valley full of trees and lakes, which is carved into the mountain where the crèche is.

“Urgh! It is farther than we thought!” Lae’zel angrily spits.

“Then we have to move faster to get there.” Teala offers.

Teala asks the owlbear if she can carry Barcus along with the barrels of food on her back, and the owlbear tells Teala it is okay.

It is not okay with Barcus however…

“I can walk as fast as any of you!” He protests.

Chapter Text

A day later, Barcus changes his mind. Riding on the owlbear among the barrels of food, he sees a large gathering off in the distance.

“Shhh! Stop!” Barcus warns. “Goblins!”

Teala, Shadowheart, Halsin, and Astarion move up ahead to scout the area. No drow, 3 booyahgs, about thirty goblins armed with shields of the Absolute, several wargs, and thankfully, no prisoners. Astarion points at the goblin leader, who has the same type of lantern that Nere showed them when they were in Grymforge, but this one seems not to be broken.

“Astarion, can you get the lantern undamaged?” Teala asks.

“You doubt me?” Astarion winks at her, “Shame on you!”

Surprise should work for the companions against so many goblins.

Jumping from a ledge behind Teala, Lae’zel holds her Faithbreaker Warhammer in one hand and her Everburn Blade in the other, shouting, “For Vlaakith!” ripping into two of the booyahgs, turning them into bloody heaps, then she moves on to destroy the other goblins who dare get in her way. Teala muses that a Potion of Hill Giant Strength can do wonders for wielding such heavy weapons.

The third booyahg is a bit smarter, using Shatter against the invaders, and they fall backwards against the trees, except for Gale who has his Mage Shield up. He throws a Chromatic Orb of Thunder against the booyahg, pushing her against a tree as well, the poor tree splintering with the force of the spell. Wyll gets up, unleashing an Eldritch Blast, breaking apart the booyahg, then he attacks the other goblins with Eldritch Blasts as well. Effortlessly kicking the goblins’ spears, swords, and shields out of their grasps, Astarion slices his sickles through the goblins’ exposed necks and eyes on his way to the leader to get the lantern. Gale finds a safe distance from the fight, using Magic Missile, Scorching Ray, and Enfeeblement against the goblins and the wargs alike. Shadowheart smashes her mace and shield left and right, crushing the goblins and wargs as she goes. Teala uses her sword and shield much like Shadowheart is, wrenching her shield arm in the process. The owlbear, now free of Barcus and the barrels, is now picking up goblins two and four at a time, crushing them against her chest, pulling their heads off as if they were rodents. Halsin goes after the goblins and wargs as well, sending an Insect Plague after them.

After the battle, Teala and her companions loot the bodies. Astarion has the lantern and it is not damaged, which is a good thing because it will help them pass through the Shadow Cursed Lands, if Nere spoke the truth in regards to the lantern.

Wyll speaks up, “We should get rid of all traces of the gobbos. There will probably be more on the way.”

Not an easy task, but they do the best that they can, Teala and Halsin ask the trees’ roots to come out of the ground, grab what is left of the battle, and drag the evidence down under the ground. Wyll covers any remaining tracks.

Teala winces, favoring her shield arm, and sits down on a fallen tree trunk.

Halsin sits next to her and heals her arm, “You have to stop using your shield like a battering ram. Shadowheart does because she is stronger than you are.”

Teala can’t help but smile at him, wishing he would wrap her in his arms. He smells of wild musk and moonlight. She reaches out to him to brush back a stray braid of his. He takes her hand and places it down onto her lap. She leans against his chest, which he does allow, and she takes a short rest while everyone else collects their belongings and makes sure everyone is healed.

Traveling late into the night, Teala and her companions pass by a huge cave. Despite the rotting smell, they venture into the cave, finding goblin paintings of the Absolute everywhere, goblins’ leavings of meals and other things, and the desecrated corpse of a green dragon, with the Absolute markings over most of it. There is no trace of treasure anywhere, but Teala, Shadowheart, and Halsin are able to get a few clean samples of the dragon’s skeleton and teeth. However, the scales of the dragon are full of rot, the Absolute forces not caring for the majestic creature that the dragon was in life.

Deciding to push on a little farther to find a safer and less odorous place to rest, they leave the cave. Wyll finds the original path through the forest that they need to follow, which steadily winds its way up into the mountainside. The forest starts to thin out as they travel. With the sun rising over the horizon with no cloud cover, it is getting uncomfortably hot for Astarion and Teala despite their tadpoles, plus the sun is taking its toll on Barcus too, so they decide to go back into the thick of the forest until night falls to continue their journey. They rest, taking turns keeping watch with Teala making sure that Shadowheart and Gale don’t keep watch together again.

Back on the road again, Halsin walks up to Lae’zel and Teala hears him asking the githyanki, “When you arrive at the crèche, could you please bring some books for me on Ceremorphosis and how to remove a Netherese illithid tadpole or someone who knows more about it, if that is even possi...”

“No!” Lae’zel interrupts him and continues on her way.

Walking up to Halsin, Teala puts a friendly arm around his waist, “She can’t tell anyone her people’s secrets.”

Halsin nods his head, “Teala?”

Teala smiles at the druid, “Yes?”

“I think it best for those without tadpoles to stay behind and not go to the crèche.”

“Considering our last encounter with a group of githyanki, I agree with you. Find a place in these sparse woods after we leave and wait for our return.”

Halsin smiles. Astarion walks up, putting his arm around Teala.

“Astarion, I know you like having the tadpole because it shelters you from Cazador.” Teala looks at Astarion.

“True Teala, but I want the power, I don’t want to be a mindflayer, maybe they have a way to control the tadpole.”

“Maybe.” Teala muses, but she is sure the githyanki would just remove it, forcing her to find another way to protect Astarion from his former master. She takes in a stuttering breath of the crisp mountain air as it thins out.

The mountain presses ever upward as they walk over the rocky path.

“T’chk! The crèche should be right over that rise in the cliff!” Lae’zel starts running ahead of the others, taking huge leaps.

“You are welcome to go alone, but if these githyanki at the crèche end up being like the ones we found after leaving Waukeen’s Rest, then you might need us to help you fight.” Teala calls after Lae’zel, who is now out of sight.

Chapter Text

Lae’zel looks back at the others catching up to her. Hrmph! Why she travels with these strange people, she doesn’t know. She holds up the map again, and it points to a cleft in the rock.

The egotistical wizard walks up to it saying, “There is a portal here.”

Before those with no tadpoles find shelter in the sparse woods nearby, Gale turns to the portal, then turns back. What in the hells?

Gale removes a pouch from around his neck, then gives it to Halsin, saying, “In case of my death, a hologram of me will appear declaring me dead, and it will give you instructions on how to bring me back, then I can call Withers here to resurrect the rest of us.”

Halsin laughs heartily, “You named the skeleton that follows us from afar Withers? You found him in a tomb with a statue of Jergal. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is Jergal.”

Gale glances at Astarion, who is speaking with Teala, “Halsin, do you think Jergal, a servant of Kelemvor, would help return a vampire to undeath in case he is killed?”

“Technically, Astarion shouldn’t even be able to be infected by an illithid...”

“T’chk!” Losing patience with her companions, Lae’zel steps into the portal, whooshing away to the crèche. Her companions follow her, arriving on a wooden and metal ramp contraption which shields them from space and frames the spaceport of the crèche.

On the walkway, there is a telescope which Gale uses, “I can see Toril far away from here. It looks like the maps of Toril that I have studied. I can see other moons and asteroids that are closer to Toril than we are.”

Lae’zel replies, “Yes, it is far. How good of you to notice! However, this is not the crèche that I come from, Crèche K’liir. It is a different one. It is strange though, I don’t see anyone here besides us. Look.” Lae’zel points down to the space dock, “There are no ships. Normally, there are ships that port here for trade and travel. There is no Kith’rak riding a red dragon! How dare my people abandon a crèche? Follow me!”

Lae’zel takes them down inside the moon. The pathways are lined with statues that look half finished, encrusted with jewels, silver, gaudy baubles, dressed in armor and silk cloth, holding weapons. Her companions keep to the center of the path, avoiding the walls as best they can. What are they afraid of? They’re just statues!

The pathway opens up and it looks familiar to her for it is similar to Crèche K’liir, she can probably walk blindfolded and point out where everything is, except it is quiet. Abandoned. Where is everyone? Lae’zel looks up into one of the statues and thinks that it blinks at her, but it is a statue, how can it blink?

Lae’zel takes the path where an elder should be able to remove the cursed thing in her head and her companions’ heads. They walk by many chambers including a nursery, its eggs look imploded and empty.

The insufferable wizard whispers to her, “Why is everything destroyed? Where is everyone? No githyanki, except for your good company of course.”

“Something is wrong!” Lae’zel does her best to keep her voice to a whisper as well.

Lae’zel and her companions arrive where the elders are supposed to be and the people who farm for food, make drinks, and healing potions. There are huts and fields of food, and statues melted into the walls, but these statues are moving. These aren’t statues, these are her fellow githyanki! Who did this?! She climbs up a wall to a figure, who must be one of the elders.

“Who did this? What happened? How can we get you down? I need healing! I have a Netherese ghaik tadpole in my head that needs to be removed!” Lae’zel demands the elder reply but all he can do is move his lips, but no sound comes out.

Shadowheart taps Lae’zel’s foot with a scroll. Lae’zel grabs it from Shadowheart. Pressing into the wall to get support, Lae’zel uses the scroll to see the elder’s thoughts.

She sees where his hut is, where she can find everything to help her to remove the tadpole, she sees a Kith’rak astride a red dragon, then she sees Vlaakith appear suddenly, covered in jewels, chains, armor, cloaks, and crowns, with a staff in one hand and a silver sword in the other. Vlaakith sends the Kith’rak and his red dragon away. As they fly away, Lae’zel realizes she is seeing through the elder’s eyes as he gets on his hands and knees, and he sees everyone is on hands and knees as well. There is a strong wind that builds and the elder feels his breath escape him as he is flung against the wall, one of his eyes is blinded, but his other eye sees all of the other githyanki around him pressed against the walls as well.

He hears Vlaakith’s voice in his head, “Power! More power!”

He feels his life being partially siphoned into Vlaakith’s and sees blackness descend on him.

The scroll burns up in Lae’zel’s hand, the elder’s thoughts are now his again.

With rage filling up inside her, Lae’zel climbs down, the others ask her what happened.

“Let me think,” Lae’zel motions angrily for her companions to wait as she runs to the elder’s house, running in between so many githyanki, which are poured into homes and walls, arms trying to pull at her for help. Finding the elder’s home, she grabs all of his instruments and books to help her get rid of the tadpole, stowing them in her pack. As she reaches her companions, a familiar wind hits her back. Lae’zel turns around. Vlaakith is there, looking exactly as the elder saw her. Getting on her hands and knees, Lae’zel reaches into her pack that she has on the ground, then grabs the ghaik head that she has carried in its own pouch, showing it to Vlaakith.

Lae’zel prays, “Mighty Vlaakith, I and my slaves have fought against the ghaik. We felled the ghaik’s gh’ath (ship), and I took a trophy from one of them! I’ve killed my first ghaik. I’ve earned my place with you!”

Vlaakith’s skull seems to smile at this, jeweled eyes glinting in the light of the crèche.

“Power! You will join me!” Vlaakith lifts her hand up, throwing Lae’zel into a wall.

Lae’zel hears her companions squelching into the walls around her, as she sees Vlaakith siphoning power from Lae’zel and her companions, then Vlaakith disappears like she did before.

“Ssssstttttttt!” Shadowheart calls out as if she is burned.

There is a yellow-orange light and Lae’zel sees the githyanki artifact escaping from Shadowheart’s pack, spinning around in the air, the force of it tearing the walls away, freeing Lae’zel and her companions, then the artifact loses its light, dropping to the ground. Sadly, the other trapped githyanki are like muddy statues and they lose some limbs instead of being freed. Shadowheart looks at Lae’zel who nods, Shadowheart then goes to retrieve the artifact, putting it back into her pack.

Lae’zel tries to free the elder, but it’s no use. His body is like muddy stone.

The insufferable wizard must speak again, it seems, “I have a proposition to make. All of you go back to the portal as fast as you can do so. I will remain here and get rid of this nasty orb in my chest. It will end their suffering.” Speaking louder in the hopes that the trapped githyanki can hear, “I will ask Mystra to take you for me, I am her servant.”

Maybe he isn’t so insufferable after all.

Now, Shadowheart runs up to him, kissing him as if he is her reason for breathing.

Looking into Shadowheart’s eyes, Gale tells her, “I will come back. Get Withers, or use the pouch that I gave to Halsin.”

The drow stops to ask Gale if he is sure. He nods. She gives Gale a hug, then she runs towards the portal, holding hands with her beloved bloodsucker. Shadowheart grabs Gale again for one last kiss, as Lae’zel reaches for Wyll’s and Shadowheart’s hands. Running, Lae'zel looks back to see Gale open up his robe. If Gale does come back, if Shadowheart doesn’t claim him, Lae’zel will. Lae’zel is filled with so much hot emotion.

Pouring through the portal, Lae’zel and most of her companions find themselves back on Faerûn.

Chapter Text

Back at the crèche, Gale opens up his robe. He takes out a golden bracelet with Mystra’s symbol on it from his pants’ pocket, holding it so tightly that it cuts into his hand, drawing blood. In his other hand, he is holding his staff. Reciting a reverse of the incantation that trapped the orb inside of him in the first place, he closes his eyes. His chest opens up, a black moon orb escapes and floats in the air. Chanting in a tongue not strange to the Netherese, Gale taps the orb with his staff to stop the orb from floating away. The orb is already expanding, bursting in its own shadowy light, exploding in hot ash, burning everything in black fire. As the orb erupts, it blows up the moon, turning it into dust.

Gale wakes up to find himself in a plane of grays and blacks, with a spire in the distance. It seems to be a sad and lonely place with sand dunes all around him. Gale sees a dark, gray figure approaching him, as if traveling from the direction of the spire. As the figure drops its hood, it reveals a mask of death, reminding Gale of Withers.

The figure speaks, "I am Kelemvor."

Kelemvor’s voice seems to be inside Gale’s mind instead of something Gale hears. “Unusual. The reason I sent Jergal after your group, you seem to have a passion to see things through.” Gale thinks that Kelemvor must be responding to Gale’s thoughts on the ever-present tadpole.

Kelemvor commands, “Rise Gale... You call yourself Gale...” Kelemvor is silent for a moment as he turns his head to look at Gale. “That’s right... You’re Gale... Follow me.”

Gale can sense hatred or jealousy from Kelemvor, for just a moment, and then it is gone.

Gale stands up, then follows Kelemvor through the dunes and sands of time, through many battles won and lost, the trail finally ends at a rock, a statue, of a pained figure, blood flowing from it.

“Karsus, or what is left of him.” Gale declares.

Kelemvor nods his head.

People are seen visiting the statue, asking its guidance, heeding its warnings. After several visitors, a woman approaches the statue. Kelemvor looks at Gale. “You know her.”

“How?” Gale asks.

Kelemvor counsels, “Seek your memories, use the Weave, they are there. Find them.”

“Avae. She loved me. I was so busy. I had to save my home. By any means.” Gale remembers.

“Not exactly you, but close.” Kelemvor corrects.

Time passes, and it shows Avae holding a child. A couple who traveled far to seek counsel from Karsus is approached by Avae, who gives the child to the couple.

“The child can’t be me, this has got to be so long ago.” Gale asks Kelemvor.

“Avae’s love and grief is so strong, plus she draws on the blood of the statue, that I cannot claim her. The others before me have tried as well.”

“My parents never said…”

“Your parents have had their own epic adventure. Do you see yourself telling your own children about your journey one day?” Kelemvor is curious.

“I think if I do have children, they probably would not believe me... I scarcely believe it.” Gale pauses. “So I’m an offspring of Karsus and Avae? Why do I carry the memories of Karsus?” Gale asks. “Am I a clone of some kind?”

“Somewhat of a clone, somewhat of a reincarnation. If you make up for your past, I will even think of collecting your soul at the time of your death, not sure Mystra will.” Kelemvor tries to smile but he just can’t, not with “Gale.”

Knowing the past between Karsus and Mystryl, Gale looks at the bracelet cutting into his hand.

Kelemvor laughs at Gale’s confusion, “You think that Mystra would spend time with you? Love you? I’m surprised she connected you to the Weave, but with two wizards raising you, it would look rather odd if she had not.”

“Was it nothing but a dream?” Gale asks.

“Who do you think she was? She encouraged you to find part of the Weave that was torn away from her. You found Netherese magic from the Shadowfell instead. I’m surprised that the Netherese Moon Orb is actually gone from your chest.”

“The goddess was Sha…”

“Hush.” Kelemvor interrupts Gale on the “a” part. “Do not say her name. We gods can hear our name mentioned every time we are near, and she might be close by.”

“Why are you telling me this.” Gale asks.

“You dare ask a god why?” Kelemvor looms over Gale, “Don’t follow in Karsus’ footsteps. You came close. Too close.”

Kelemvor steps back from Gale, “You had other questions for me.”

It takes Gale a long time to recover his senses, and Kelemvor waits for him.

“The githyanki that died, they are going to Vlaakith?” Gale asks.

“Again, not a question you can ask me.” Kelemvor responds.

Gale tries again, “Since I serve Mystra...” Kelemvor hrmps at that.

Gale continues, “Since I serve Mystra, can the githyanki be taken in by Mystra, and if not, can they be taken in by you?”

“The githyanki have access to my city and that is all I will say about them. You sacrificed your life for them, but you will be sent back soon.” Kelemvor answers Gale truthfully.

“Thank you Kelemvor.” Gale bows to the god of death.

Kelemvor forces himself to shake Gale’s hand, then Gale disappears.

Suddenly, a pouch carrying 200 gold coins appears in Kelemvor’s hand. Kelemvor smiles, recalling that Jergal had told him that the companions wouldn’t pay for such a thing, especially with Teala’s obsession with finding every True Resurrection scroll ever made.

Chapter Text

Back on Faerûn, Teala and most of her companions fall through the portal as it shatters behind them. Her ears are ringing, and her eyes are full of tears. She sees Lae’zel, Wyll, and Shadowheart, but can’t see Astarion.

Collecting herself, Teala looks for Withers, who floats up to her. Shadowheart joins them, throwing a pouch of gold in Withers' waiting hands. Shadowheart’s eyes matches Withers' eyeless gaze, “Bring Gale back.”

Teala speaks up as well, throwing her own pouch, “Please bring Astarion back too, he seems to be lost as well.”

Despite his mummified self, Withers forms a smile as he throws back Teala’s pouch, “The predator is as alive as he can be in his current state and ran off as soon as he arrived back here.” Withers turns his gaze to Shadowheart, “As for Gale, Teala prepaid me for all of you.”

“Keep it for next time.” Shadowheart replies.

“Step back please.”

They do as Withers tells them.

With flashes of blacks and grays, Gale materializes in front of them, curled up in a ball, quarterstaff in hand. He stands up and looks at Withers.

“Thank you Withers.” Gale looks over to the skeleton, who simply responds with a nod.

Shadowheart and Gale embrace each other, kissing each other deeply.

Teala interrupts, “Fine. Fine. I now pronounce you wizard and cleric. Gale, I need you for just a moment.”

“Yes.”

Teala presses her palms against Gale’s chest like she did when Gale first told her of the orb in his chest. Shadowheart gives Teala a look that might kill.

Teala reassures Shadowheart, “I’m checking for the orb... It is gone... I thought it would be back... But it is gone...”

Teala puts her hands on either side of Gale’s head and moves his face close to hers, to Shadowheart’s increasing displeasure. Teala looks into one of Gale’s eyes, and then looks into the other. “Gross! I think it tried to spit at me! It is still there!”

Gale laughs, “I could have told you that the tadpole is still there and that the orb is gone. Still slow to trust a man whom you don’t want to sleep with?”

Shadowheart hrmphs at Gale’s last sentence.

“Yes, I can trust.” Teala responds sheepishly, “I just prefer to see things for myself when I can. Can you please check the portal? I think it is broken and unusable, but I don’t want anyone getting hurt by trying to use the portal. I can’t detect portals. You can.”

“Of course I can.” Gale smiles, moving to where the portal was, he tries to detect anything left of the portal. “It is gone. No one can use it or mend it. Not even Elminster.”

Teala notices that her hands are enveloped in Weave. “You’ve gained your power back, haven’t you Gale?”

“Not my full power, no, but the orb was holding down whatever power Mystra allowed me to keep. Hopefully, I will get my full power back one day. Now, did you need me for anything else?”

“No Gale, and thank you for your help and patience.” Teala smiles at Gale and Shadowheart. “Just please find our camp, it should be close by.”

Teala discovers that the camp is indeed close by, finding Wyll and Lae’zel wrapped up in each others’ arms and legs. They are bruised all over. Teala guesses this is what angry sex looks like.

Teala teases, “Lae’zel, I thought you told me that you would never sleep with Wyll again?”

“Mmph. Shush! We’re busy!” Lae’zel barks back.

“I need your boyfriend’s tracking abilities.”

“Tchk! He is not my boyfriend!”

“Ladies. Ladies. No fighting over the Blade.” Wyll earning himself an attempt at a slap from Lae’zel, but Wyll catches her hand and kisses her palm. “Teala, can you please get Scratch to help you. He is just as good a tracker...” Lae’zel pulls Wyll in for a kiss. They start rolling around. Wyll is thoroughly enjoying himself whereas Lae’zel is raging with anger. Teala doesn’t blame Lae’zel for feeling that way after what happened at the crèche.

Teala looks around for Scratch. Teala sees Gale and Shadowheart among piles of flowers. Shadowheart has lost the top of her armor somewhere, but those lovers are taking it really slow. Gale is just now starting to recite poetry about Shadowheart’s dark and mysterious eyes.

Someone huge knocks down Teala on her back but makes sure she does not get hurt. He mauls her face and neck with kisses. His hands are warm as he presses her down into the earth. She can feel his length pressing against her warmth in between her legs. Teala forces herself up and out of his embrace.

“Halsin?”

Halsin takes Teala in his arms again and starts kissing her gently this time.

“When we heard. We felt. The explosion. We thought the worst. What happened?” Halsin asks between kisses. Looking over Halsin’s shoulder when she can, Teala sees Volo with quill and paper, surrounded by Barcus, Scratch, and the owlbear.

Pushing her desire for the druid down as far as she can, she tells Halsin and the eavesdroppers what happened at the creche, and that Astarion has run off somewhere and needs to be found.

Teala looks over to Scratch, (speaking Dog) “Can you help me find Astarion?”

Scratch responds, (speaking Dog) “The Pale Elf? Of course I can help. You. Friend.” Scratch wags his tail.

“I will go with you.” Halsin offers.

Wet with desire, Teala does not want to tell Halsin no, especially since he is making it plain that he is hers now.

“Halsin, look at the others.” Motioning to Gale romancing Shadowheart, and to Lae’zel and Wyll fucking. “I need you, the owlbear, Barcus, and Volo to keep watch. There might be more goblins, more githyanki. Please. Once things settle down, then find Scratch and me, because Astarion might not want to come back. We were powerless until the artifact saved us. I don’t know what trauma Astarion is going through, but I need to know that the rest have a leader that they can trust, that I can trust.” Teala grabs Halsin by his shoulders, kissing him quickly, his woodsy scent intoxicating her. “I have to go now.” She says to him. She can’t even look at him now or she won’t go.

Looking at Scratch, she tells the dog to track Astarion for her, and they go into the forest, which is made up of clumps of trees, some ponds, and craggy rocks. Teala will not lose Astarion.

She won’t let him go. Not this time.

Scratch brings Teala to a muddy pond, ringed with trees. There are several trees that have grown close to each other, their knees poking up out of the ground. Tall grasses grow all around the area so that she can tell there is a small breeze moving through the woods. Among the grasses and inside the circlet of trees, Astarion feeds on a deer that he killed. He could’ve fed from the deer when the deer still lived, but even now, he remembered how Teala asked him to kill his victims before drinking from them unless in battle. His hands that are grabbing the deer are covered in blood, which makes his claws easier to notice. His eyes are redder than a demon’s and hotter than flame. His mouth is covered in blood as well. The deer is drained but he still feeds on it.

Speaking Dog, Teala whispers to Scratch for him to keep watch and to not interfere with Astarion and herself, no matter what happens.

Purposefully, Teala walks on soft sticks and leaves so that Astarion can hear her. Astarion pounces, pushes her into the muddy pond, grabbing her hair back, exposing her neck where he first bit her. The marks are gone, but he remembers. He bares his teeth and bites down. Teala gasps, her toes and fingers curl, she moans, she cums, she runs her fingers through his hair. Astarion drinks further, gulping down her blood, the smell of iron is thick in the air, choking her.

“Te caro...” Teala breathes faintly as she moves her hands to her body to heal herself, then she claws her fingers on Astarion’s chest.

“Astarion... Please... Stop...”

Astarion keeps drinking. Weakly, Teala moves her hands again to her body to heal herself again, “Te caro...”

She left her pack at the camp. Why did she do that? She sees Astarion’s pack nearby and reaches out for it. She uses her magic to have the exposed tree roots move his pack closer to her. Fumbling, she opens the pack to find a greater healing potion, which she gulps down.

“Please... Astarion... Stop...”

Chapter Text

Astarion tears himself off of Teala, ripping some flesh from her neck. As if breaking out of a trance, he reaches into his pack, grabs a greater healing potion, then forces her to drink it. The tear in her neck heals, and there won’t be any scars on her neck. Finding his mirror unbroken, packed among the towels and blanket in his pack, he gives the mirror to Teala, looking away from her. Hesitantly, she takes the mirror and looks into it. She is still there with her lilac eyes looking back at her.

“You did not turn me.” She assures Astarion. Smiling, she gives the mirror back to him, who puts the mirror away.

Teala cuddles up next to him against a moss covered tree while she waits for him to speak.

Astarion looks at her, “I felt helpless against that powerful lich. I felt weakened. Trapped. Exposed.” He holds her against his chest, and Teala realizes he is shaking.

She will not have her lover shaking like this. Astarion is leaning back, supported by the tree behind him. Gently, she breaks from his embrace.

Kneeling in front of him, she kisses the blood off of his face and his hands. There is too much blood. She reaches into his pack for a small towel and calls water to fall into it. She then slowly washes the blood off of his face and hands. Using a Prestidigitation spell, she cleans the towel and puts it aside. He is still shaking. This will not do. Slowly, she takes off his armor and his shirt. She starts play-biting against his neck. He smiles, kissing her forehead. She unlaces his pants, kissing his chest as she moves down. He is now shaking for a different reason. Good. Tenderly, she kisses his cock and puts it in her mouth, caressing it and stroking it slowly. As she hums a healing spell, she looks up and sees his back arching, his head thrown back, as he runs his fingers through her hair with one hand while he holds onto a root of the tree with the other hand. Finding a rhythm only the two of them can hear, she brings him to orgasm as he releases into her mouth. He is not shaking anymore. She sits up, smiling at him, a bit of cum dripping from her mouth. Her eyes glistening with pride.

Astarion jests, “You’re quite proud of...” He doesn’t finish as he pushes her into the mud, bringing her into an embrace, kissing her, bringing a desperate whine to her lips.

“I do taste delectable, don’t I?” Astarion brags. Ripping off her armor and clothing, he finds her cunt wet and wanting. He hilts himself into her as he rides her, her legs splayed wide. She is the one shaking now, begging for air as he pushes her further down into the mud.

They’re dancing as if for the first time. Their hands are hooked onto each other shoulders. Finally, they cum, sinking further into the mud.

Laughing, Astarion says, “We look like a couple of mud mephits.”

Teala starts giggling so much her stomach starts to hurt.

Cautiously, Scratch shows up, leading Halsin to the mud mephits.

Putting his pack aside, Halsin sits on his heels near the muddy couple, “What have you two got to say for yourselves?”

Raising an eyebrow, Astarion looks over at Teala, this is too tempting, no tadpole communication needed. Astarion and Teala reach over, each grabbing one of Halsin’s arms, and Halsin joins them in the mud, causing the druid to laugh.

“Let’s discuss this, shall we?” Teala giggles, her stomach still hurting. She can’t stop laughing.

Halsin embraces both Astarion and Teala. Astarion pushes Halsin on his back. Teala joins Astarion in disrobing Halsin.

Astarion looks at Teala, “He is much bigger than I am, will you be up to the challenge?”

Teala looks at Astarion, “Oh, I get to go first then.” As if climbing a mountain, she climbs on top of Halsin and slowly mounts him, for he is longer and wider than anyone she has had before.

Halsin looks up at her, using his hands to help her, “Are you okay Teala?”

He is not even inside her halfway, she can barely speak, “I want this. I want you. Halsin.”

He brushes her hair, then brings his hands on her breasts, fingering her nipples, bringing one breast in his mouth, then the other breast. She pushes herself down on him as she cries out.

“Teala?” Halsin asks, kissing her neck.

“Yyeeessssssss!” as Teala rides Halsin, pressing him into the mud as she arches her back, moving her hips further down.

Suddenly, Halsin grabs Teala’s hips, twisting her around so that now Teala is on the bottom and Halsin is on top. Teala calls out as Halsin kisses her, blocking her cries. Teala breaks their kiss, gulping for air, holding onto Halsin’s arms, crying out as she cums. Halsin roars soon after. Halsin kisses Teala on the forehead as she lay resting. He looks over at Astarion.

“My turn?” Astarion asks.

Taking Astarion's hands, Halsin says, “You’re warm.”

Astarion looks back at Halsin, “Mmhmm.”

As Halsin brushes through Astarion’s hair, Astarion closes his eyes and hides his fangs. Halsin smiles at Astarion for attempting to hide his vampiric nature. The men kiss gently as Astarion tentatively brings his hands up Halsin’s back to hold Halsin closer to him. Halsin stops the kiss to push Astarion back, and Astarion opens his eyes. Both of them are kissing each other tenderly again so Astarion closes his eyes again. Halsin breaks their kiss to turn Astarion around, and was about to bring Astarion to his hands and knees, when Halsin sees the scars on Astarion’s back.

With a low, guttural growl, Halsin says, “Did Cazador do this?"

"Yes. He fancies himself a poet. He wrote this poem in one night. He often made mistakes, making corrections as he was carving into my back, especially when I screamed."

Grimacing, Halsin reaches out to heal the scars, but they do not heal.

Astarion traces the scars on Halsin's face, "Teala tried to heal them, too."

"You like my scars?"

Astarion nods.

"Astarion, it is strange that yours aren't healing. This is not a poem. Hopefully, we can find someone who will know what this is. Let me help you forget."

Calling forth some grease, Halsin brings Astarion to his hands and knees. Halsin kisses Astarion's back, putting one finger in Astarion's ass, then two, then three. Astarion is moving in response to Halsin's fingers, asking for more.

"Let me know if it is too much for you, Astarion."

"My dear, I can tell you now that it won't be."

Halsin pushes his cock inside Astarion, who calls out as the druid pushes further and further into Astarion. Halsin reaches around and grabs Astarion's cock, working it as well. They kiss as they work up to their orgasmic bliss.

The men cum in concert as the most beautiful music that Teala has ever heard. Feeling exhausted, they fall into a heap, with Astarion and Teala on each side of Halsin, kissing his chest until they all fall asleep, which is strange, considering they're all elves.

Teala wakes up first, happy that they didn’t drown.

Scratch trots up, licking Teala’s face when he finds her. It is like Scratch is discovering mud for the first time, spitting it out. Teala gets drinking water for Scratch.

After Scratch has some water, Teala tells Scatch, (speaking Dog) “Tell no one.” Scratch bounds back and forth, wagging his tail.

“I’m serious. Scratch.” (speaking Dog) Teala wants to make sure that Scratch understands her.

Scratch shakes his head, panting. Clearly, he is laughing at her.

Halsin and Astarion kiss each other awake, then drag Teala into the mud to kiss her, covering her with more mud.

Scratch stays away from the mud. Teala has no doubt that Scratch is laughing at the whole situation.

Halsin speaks up, “I brought some cleaning supplies. I just thought we would need regular sponge baths, I had no idea that there would be this much mud involved.”

They laugh.

With their loving hands caressing each other, they get clean. Prestidigitation spells help clean their towels, clothing, and armor.

When they return to camp, Scratch is still laughing, running to the owlbear to discuss the events. Teala wishes that Scratch wouldn't, but understands he is a dog, and a dog can’t keep secrets from friends. The owlbear looks over at Teala, smiling.

Halsin brews Teala some of his special tea, and the companions have breakfast. Among the flowers, Gale continues to recite poetry to Shadowheart, who still has her pants on. There is something to be said for romance. Teala would love to have romance in her life again.

Chapter Text

After breakfast, Teala and the others sit in a semicircle around Lae’zel to hear what she found out from the Githyanki writings that she found at the crèche.

Lae’zel begins, “Tchk! I can either remove the parasite by killing its host, then bringing the host back from the dead after the tadpole leaves the host, if the host has not gone through the initial stage of ceremorphosis yet, or I can remove the parasite using the zaith'isk that I found by removing the parasite if the host has not gone through the initial stage yet.”

Lae’zel continues, “However, my people have written that the only way that they can remove a Netherese tadpole is to kill the host because the host did not begin the initial stage of ceremorphosis yet, then bring back the host back from the dead after the tadpole leaves. The zaith'isk did not work on a Netherese tadpole. It triggered ceremorphosis in the host.”

Lae’zel concludes, “Of course, in practice, my people do not return people from the dead. It is strange that the elder would write that here.”

Gale speaks up, “It didn’t work for me. I actually died then came back, but I still have the tadpole.”

Halsin says, “It is possible that after the process that turns someone into an Absolute devotee also allows for the parasite to leave once the devotee is killed.” Looking around at everyone, he says, “Hopefully, we will find better answers at Moonrise Towers.”

Teala speaks up, “Should we use the lantern we found to go overland through the Shadow Curse, or should we go back to the Underdark and go back to Grymforge?” Earlier, they had left the Underdark to find the githyanki patrol and the crèche to see if they could get cured. Lae’zel had been so sure at that time. They all had been sure at that time.

A long silence spreads throughout the camp for what feels like hours, which is broken by a huge crunch. The owlbear is tearing through one of the barrels of preserved food, eating it greedily. She looks up from her dinner and nudges Scratch gently with her clawed paw.

Scratch speaks, while Teala translates, “The owlbear told me that it is time to go. She is big enough to take care. Herself. To find a mate. To have a cub. Her own. She will always remember. Friends.”

After the owlbear finishes her breakfast, Teala runs over to the owlbear to give her a big hug. Halsin is the only one who joins Teala in hugging the owlbear goodbye, although Scratch nuzzles the side of the owlbear closest to him to say goodbye too.

After one last look at Teala, Halsin, and Scratch, the owlbear clambers down the mountainside, disappearing in the plant growth. Teala hopes that she will see the owlbear again.

The remaining companions start collecting their things around the campsite, doing their best to hide the fact that they had been there.

They decide to push onward above ground since they now have a lantern to help them move through the Shadow Curse, plus Halsin might find out a way to stop it, even though he had failed before.

As they travel, they stop to rest at a cluster of trees. Barcus starts to shake and points to a tall statue of a drow in the middle of a temple, hidden among the trees. The temple floor is flattened out and the trees around it seem to open up and there seems to be room for people to gather there. Teala recognizes the statue, which is a depiction of Eilistraee, in the center of the makeshift temple.

“Barcus, these people worship Eilistraee as I do, not her mother. You should be safe here.” Teala assures him.

Barcus seems to calm down by what Teala says, but is still cautious, his eyes looking through the forest for drow.

Halsin puts his hand on her shoulder, “Let’s hope that they don’t make us males become females in order to rest here.”

Teala is surprised, “I’m not that sexist am I? Why would anyone want that?”

“I do know that some followers of Eilistraee who are males sometimes change to be females, that much I do know, and as Gale pointed out a few days ago, until recently, you haven’t spoken directly to any male in your party besides Astarion and myself.”

Teala hugs Halsin. “I will be better. I promise.” Halsin hugs her back.

Looking around, the companions cannot see any drow. Teala takes a step behind the statue and disappears. She reappears, saying, “I guess I found a portal without Gale’s help.”

“Impressive!” Gale compliments her.

“Thank you.” Teala smiles at Gale, then motions everyone to follow her through the portal. “Please follow me.”

The companions walk through the portal to find a grove, not unlike the Druids’ Grove where Halsin makes his home.

A white robed woman approaches Teala and Halsin. The woman has black skin, red eyes, and long silver hair. Looking at Teala, the woman asks, “Are you the Matron of your House?” Gesturing to Teala’s companions.

“Yes. I’m Teala.” Teala can feel the eyes rolling behind her, but it is for their protection. She isn’t sure what else to do, and she feels safe with her people if they truly worship Eilistraee.

“Welcome, I’m Rithaeelia, Matron of this House, and a Dark Lady. I can tell that you, too, are a Dark Lady.”

“Rithaeelia, Eilistraee plucked me out of the Underdark and taught me how to bless my sword in her name. I feel at home while dancing naked under the Moon, playing my harp, and praying to the goddess, that is all I know of our faith.”

“A Dark Lady is a cleric of Eilistraee. Will you stay here to learn about your faith?”

“I would love to but I have pressing matters, can we sit and talk? It is quite a story.”

“Yes” Rithaeelia turns to her companions, “Feel free to be natural and rest. All of you are safe here.”

A short blue female drow with red eyes and long silver hair appears, assuring Teala, “Matron, I’m Minaee. I will help your gnome feel welcome here, with your permission.”

Teala looks at Barcus, who seems to be doing a bit better.

“Please be welcome. These drow are like I am.” Teala says to Barcus.

Looking up at Teala, Barcus says, “I guess I should be happy because these drow are only racist and sexist, but not any of those other evil things that I’ve seen drow do.”

“I’m Minaee.” Minaee smiles at Barcus, trying to make him feel welcome.

“I’m married too. I just want to dance with you under the moon and make you feel welcome.” Minaee tells Barcus.

“Come on Scratch,” Barcus takes Scratch and goes to dance with Minaee.

Teala tells her companions that they are staying here for the night and to forward any unwanted requests to her so she can say no for them, which earns her lots of hrmphs.

Rithaeelia leads Teala, with Halsin and Astarion in tow, to a tiled bath, set inside the ground. Trees encircle the bath, not blocking out the sky where the moon shines brightly above them.

Teala looks at Astarion, speaking with the tadpole, “Will you be okay to take your shirt off here?”

Astarion talks back using the tadpole as well, “Hmm, if we are going to tell our entire story to complete strangers, I might as well.”

As expected, Rithaeelia is surprised at the scarring.

“Please wait for us to tell our story.” Teala assures Rithaeelia.

Once they are immersed in the warm bath and given rosewater and soap to use for washing, Teala begins their tale.

Once Teala is finished with her and her companions’ story, Rithaeelia says, “Before we tell your other companions to come and bathe here, there is something I might be able to do for you. My husband knows many languages. He might be able to decipher what is on your lover’s back.” Teala was taken aback by this.

Rithaeelia laughs, looking at the three of them, “Your scents are all over each other, plus the way you speak of him and Halsin here, you make it sound like no one else matters.”

Nodding her head, Teala earns kissing from her vampire spawn and her druid.

“Mortochk!” Rithaeelia calls out.

Slowly and carefully, from out of the shadowy embrace of the trees, a giant tiefling emerges, undresses, then enters the bath. With his smooth black skin, long black horns, red demonic eyes, long mane of silken black hair, coarse hair which covers his body from his chest to between his legs, and an impressively long barbed tail, he is truly a magnificent sight to behold.

Teala gasps.

Chapter Text

After introductions, Mortochk takes Astarion to a shallow part of the bath where Mortochk can read the scars. The others follow.

“We tried to dye his hair silver, but the dye wouldn’t take.” Rithaeelia says of Mortochk, who, in all of his majesty, looks sheepish at this, as if he failed her somehow.

“You have beautiful black hair that refuses to be tamed.” Teala assures him, and he smiles at her compliment, his sharp teeth shining white in the darkness.

“Thank you.” He whispers.

“I can read this. It is in Infernal.” Mortochk says.

Astarion looks surprised, “Infernal? But Cazador never had any devils about, no runes or devil writing that I could see. What does it say?”

Mortochk looks at Teala, “It looks like a seal or a contract. It will take me a moment to translate it, written in circles as it is.”

Mortochk translates. “This soul swears no oath by fire. Nor words does he speak. In the realm of death.”

Everyone is silent for some time, then Teala speaks up, “Astarion must have his own soul again.”

“Hello! I'm here! I can make that decision!” Astarion looks at her. He is uncomfortable with anyone knowing about his back. Teala herself only found out about it the first time that she slept with him.

“Is it wrong to want you to be an elf instead of an undead? Now it sounds like even if you are to perish as an undead, you still won’t be free of your former master.” Teala despairs.

Ever the practical one, Halsin speaks up, “Mortochk, do you know of a way to free Astarion from this seal? This contract?”

Mortochk replies, “Yes, although if it is part of a contract, whomever did this to him will have to find another to fill the contract to make it valid again. They will have to go through what Astarion did.”

“Cazador will scar another one of his vampire spawns like he scarred me. He carves us up anyway, even before he put these scars on my back, there were other scars before these. He’d heal the scars, then make new ones. Can you free me of this or not?” Teala can see that Astarion is trying to contain his rage.

Mortochk takes Astarion by the chin, whispering, “We will have to lay you flat on a table, tie you down, cut underneath the scars to make sure the scars are truly removed, then the removed skin must be burned by radiant magic, then buried in blessed ground.”

Astarion stares at Mortochk, “You’re joking.”

Mortochk shakes his head, “I am not. I wish to Eilistraee that I was. It is the only way. I was a slave to a devil for many years until Rithaeelia found me, paid for my soul with several soul coins, then married me. The devil had several intricate contracts that included scarring like this. Speaking of that devil, the one who owns this contract that we are breaking, they will not be pleased.”

Teala’s mind is spinning. She puts her hands on either side of her head. “I will fight whatever devil I have to fight. Rithaeelia, do you have any rum and a piece of wood he can bite into?"

Astarion turns to Teala, red eyes like fire, “You’re serious? Making that decision for me, drow!”

Holding back tears, Teala can’t look at him, but she says, “You were the one who asked Mortochk if the seal could be removed or not. Do what you want, but do you really want that seal to stay on your back? To be owned by Cazador forever? Isn’t that why you travel with us? You want to be free of him, and you will do whatever it takes to make sure that you will have all the help to tear him down from power. Even if you had never slept with me, I would still be loyal to you. I hope this is not your only reason for sleeping with me.”

Halsin hugs Teala as he reaches out to Astarion, but Astarion is still furious. Astarion gets out of the bath to dry and wrap himself in his towel and sulk on one of the dry blankets that are strewn around the bathhouse, out of the way of the splashing water.

Rithaeelia interrupts the scene, “Teala, we will make preparations just in case he changes his mind or in case you make the decision for him.”

Astarion is deadly silent.

Rithaeelia continues, “We have rum, we have pieces of wood he can choose from, and we have the drugs that we drow are so fond of.”

Teala asks, “Will the drugs work on undead, Rithaeelia?”

“If rum works on him, then the drugs should work fine, but we can just use the rum, depending on what works on him best. Do you have any other healers in your group?”

“Shadowheart will not know about this!” Astarion speaks up.

“Have you made your decision then?” Teala asks.

“No Teala! I haven’t! And stop calling me undead! I’m a person!”

“I know. I just can’t get over the fact that a tadpole can live in your head. Since that is the case, these tadpoles can inhabit the minds of zombies and corpses, which is scary to think about.”

Astarion catches Mortochk’s attention, “Have you done anything like this before?”

After Rithaeelia nods at her husband, Mortochk tells Astarion, “I won’t be doing it. Our healers will. They will make sure they do it properly. Eilistraee commands us to help all in need.”

Speaking slower than normal, Halsin tells Astarion, “Teala and I will be there to help you. We can pour our blood in a container for you to drink to make up for the blood you will lose. We are here for you.”

Teala doesn’t dare ask the vampire spawn if he has entranced Halsin. It is not the time. Still in the bath, Teala wraps her arms around Halsin and nods her head, looking up at Astarion.

After they are finished with bathing, Rithaeelia invites the rest of the companions to bathe, then she leaves with several healers to get ready for Astarion’s operation.

Astarion gets dressed quickly before the rest of the companions show up. Halsin dresses as well. Teala prefers being naked like most of the drow here do, although some of these drow are scantily clad in revealing outfits.

Part of the grove has a few small campfires where dancing musicians are playing various instruments. One of the musicians, who is playing a harp, looks like a male to Teala but he isn’t endowed as a male. He has dark blue skin like hers, silver eyes, and white hair streaked with silver.

Teala picks up her harp and dances over to him.

“Hi. I’m Teala. I’m not good at playing the harp. Will you help me?” She asks, looking at him quizzically.

“I’m Tae, and before you ask, I was formerly a slave. My matron found out another matron wanted me, so my matron made sure that the other matron would never want me. Again. I was able to escape and find this safe place away from my former home.”

Thinking of her long lost love, Kyorlin, Teala hugs Tae, who hugs her back.

Tae then shows her a few simple moves on the harp as his fingers dance on the strings, which Teala copies. She does much better with Tae’s help. Soon, she is dancing around the campfires with the other musicians, her harp almost sounding like Tae's.

She looks over towards the bathhouse. She sees Halsin and the others, but no Astarion. No doubt he is still sulking. The others join in the dancing: Shadowheart with Gale, Lae’zel with Wyll, Volo, in his renown from his many printed books and letters, has attracted many of the residents to him, Barcus is indeed dancing with Minaee and Scratch.

Halsin joins Teala, speaking low enough so that she can hardly hear him, “I asked Astarion to join us, but he says he needs some time alone.”

Teala whispers to Halsin, “Are you truly attracted to him? Someone who is not of the natural world? Do you think he has power over you?”

Halsin looks into her eyes, “I could ask the same of you. What I’ve learned in my long life is to be as happy and good as you can be, because life can be quite the opposite.”

They stop dancing. Halsin looks haunted to Teala, who stops playing the harp. Standing up on her tiptoes, she kisses him on the chin. The haunting goes away. As Halsin kisses Teala on her forehead, she can see that he is smiling now. She puts her arms around Halsin, with her harp in one hand as he holds her close against him, slowly dancing to the music.

Chapter Text

Rithaeelia walks up to Teala and Halsin to let them know that the healers are ready for Astarion. After Teala puts away her harp, she finds Astarion sitting where she left him. She sits down on her heels next to him.

“Astarion?”

“Hmmm?”

“It is your decision, and I will support whatever decision you make.” Teala tells Astarion.

Halsin walks up to them, saying, “Astarion, I will support your decision too.”

“You two won’t stop until I’m alive again, will you?” Astarion whispers.

Teala and Halsin nod. Halsin lets Teala speak their thoughts, “We’d like you to be alive one day, but again, it is your choice. Freeing you from this contract should at least keep your soul from Cazador and the devil he signed the contract with.”

Rithaeelia approaches them, “Everything is ready if Teala or Astarion wishes the contract to be removed.”

Absentmindedly scratching at his back for what is to come, Astarion gazes up at Rithaeelia with his beautiful red eyes, “I’d like to be drunk and drugged as much as possible, and even then, you will have to have me tied down with your strongest rope. You might need your husband to hold me down as well.”

Rithaeelia leads Teala, Halsin, and Astarion further into the grove, where there is a table that is flat with ties. Several healers show up and ask for more healing supplies.

Teala goes into her pack, and with permission from her lovers, goes into their packs as well, collecting healing potions and scrolls.

Teala takes a quick look at her other companions as she goes, seeing that most of them are still dancing. Teala notices that an orgy has begun by the campfires. Sadly, the only companions of her party that are fucking are Lae’zel and Wyll.

Teala brings the healing supplies to Rithaeelia and the healers, who do not hide their fear of helping a vampire spawn or the fact that he has an illithid tadpole imbued with Netherese magic inside of his head.

The healers’ only advice to Teala on getting rid of an illithid tadpole imbued with Netherese magic is to go find the undead Elder Brain in the Underdark and ask him. Even if that Elder Brain wasn’t so close to her former home, talking to an Elder Brain is life-threatening all by itself.

Astarion takes his fill on rum and drugs, then passes out. The healers tie wood in his mouth so he won’t bite off his tongue, then tie his body down so he doesn’t move. Mortochk is there so that he can hold Astarion’s shoulders steady. Several tankards are filled with blood for Astarion for his recovery, Teala and Halsin aren’t the only volunteers, making Teala cry. She didn’t expect that much love and care from her people.

A couple of the strongest males in the grove help Mortochk hold Astarion down, just in case he moves. The sharpest daggers are used, Astarion’s daggers among them. The healers cut deep into his flesh, making sure that they cut under the scars. When the healers get too tired, other healers replace them to continue the process. Rithaeelia, Teala, and Halsin use their Healing and Cure Wounds Spells on his back.

Finally, the healers are done. They throw the removed scarred skin into a waiting brazier. Rithaeelia and Teala burn the scarred skin using Sacred Flame and Word of Radiance, then bury what is left of the skin in blessed ground.

Teala stands up straight to stretch her back, looking out through the trees. She sees a shadow of a tall man in the distance. Thinking it is a trick of the shadows, she blinks it away from her sight.

Since Rithaeelia, Teala, and Halsin have used up their healing spells, they let other healers take over and go meditate for several hours to rest. Despite feeling the ebb and flow of Halsin’s blood while holding onto his wrists, Teala stops meditating, falling into a deep slumber.

She can’t dream again, and not of this! Why? Unable to wake up, she falls into the dream. It is another dream of her past. Feeling trapped, she pounds her fists against the walls of her mind, unable to stop what is unfolding before her. Her past, and not a happy memory at that, but she was so proud that day. It was her graduation from the academy. The day she became a priestess of Lolth.

Teala is wearing her sheer, black dress made of webbing-like material, which is trimmed with red. Her soft, white hair is twisted in elaborate, tightened braids, which fall down the length of her back. She is covered head to toe in jewels and she is wearing her most expensive pair of shoes. She stands at the altar of Lolth. On the altar is a surface elf, tied in chains. Teala looks down at the surface elf, who could easily be related to Astarion, Halsin, or Shadowheart. Teala’s mind screams, but the dream doesn’t listen to the dreamer.

Teala looks around at the huge temple to see the yochlols, the matrons, the teachers, the other students, the paintings, and the statues that line the curved walls of the temple.

In the distance, far across the expanse of the temple, there is a tall, dark figure. Suddenly, she realizes she has seen him before: right before she found Eilistraee, and right after the healers had cut off the seal or the contract from Astarion’s back. It seems that the same figure who has been stalking her is the devil that made the contract with Cazador. Why is the devil not moving? He is just standing there, watching her. He seems to be part of the wall itself, blurring the images that are painted on the wall. He wasn’t actually there for the graduation ceremony, but he is certainly in her dream right now. Teala doesn’t think he is part of the dream. Teala thinks that he is invading her dream.

Teala looks to her right, seeing someone else who was not there that night: Kyorlin. His matron is holding his shoulder, keeping him on his knees. His face is downward, but Teala can see enough of him to know that he is Kyorlin.

Teala looks to the statue of Lolth in front of her. Teala starts reciting prayers and poems in praise of Lolth. Teala looks at her hands making the ritualistic moves as she prays. Teala hears the screams of the surface elf. Teala remembers feeling sorry for the surface elf. Someone who doesn’t know the glory and wisdom of Lolth.

Teala looks at her hands holding the sacrificial daggers, but again, her dream is different. The daggers are Astarion’s sickles, not his daggers, but the sickles he loves to use, especially when killing goblins.

Teala sees her hands move down to slice up the surface elf, sending the surface elf to the next world. Teala’s mind breaks, crying, with her fists smashing inside her head, trying to stop the dream, trying to wake herself up. She was so proud that day. She was a fool. She was a blind fool, being led by a murderous monstrosity. Her dream self lights the surface elf’s corpse with faerie fire.

Teala backs up to the wall behind her, then calls out a name that Lolth had given Teala in a vision: “Baelshunix!”

After several moments, Teala then places bags of jewels and gold that she brought with her, laying them on the floor in front of the altar. She calls the name again, “Baelshunix!”

Teala remembers that she was fearful that she might not succeed. She looks across the room, the devil is still there. He hasn’t moved. The dreaming Teala yells at him, “What are you waiting for?!”

The devil still does not move.

Baelshunix still hasn’t shown up. Teala, priestess of Lolth, looks around, then takes off her jewelry and her shoes, laying them where the gold and other jewels are, then calls out, “Baelshunix!”

The temple is so quiet, you can hear the silence. Teala unwraps her dress, then she lays it over the other offerings in front of her. Standing naked and proud, she calls out, “Baelshunix!”

In despair, the dreaming Teala knows what is next and watches. She has given up. She knows she won’t wake up from the dream until it is over.

There is a plane shift in front of one of Lolth’s chosen: Teala, as she reaches up her arms to welcome Baelshunix. Teala backs all of the way to the wall behind her to allow for enough room. A great fire erupts, and when it goes out, Baelshunix stands in front of Teala in all of his glory. Hopefully, Lolth has decreed that this glabrezu will give Teala the blessing of the goddess.

Chapter Text

Baelshunix stands before her with two monstrous arms with hands that look like huge pinching claws. His two smaller arms are attached to his stomach. His demonic head has two majestic horns that curve back behind him. His teeth are large, sharp, and pointed. His eyes are cruel and cunning. His muscular body has toughened skin with hair covering his pelvis, but Teala can see that Baelshunix is well-endowed, although not as well-endowed as Halsin. However, this isn’t for pleasure. She may feel pleasure, but Baelshunix is not capable of feeling pleasure. This is business to him, nothing more.

Baelshunix sits down next to the altar, then starts munching on the sacrificed surface elf. The elf is a sacrifice for Lolth, but since Lolth gave Teala Baelshunix’s name, then maybe this is why. He says between mouthfuls, “Who calls me? Who dares to call me by the name I have chosen?”

Teala responds, “Tae’yan’nae A’Veliitraviir.”

Baelshunix finishes eating the sacrificed surface elf. The only trace left of the sacrifice is her blood that is staining the altar and the surrounding floor. He then picks up the jewels, sampling some of them as if the jewels are food. He tests the gold for its worth and counts it. He looks at Teala from her face to her feet, then back to her face again.

Baelshunix glares at Teala, saying, “I’m changing the pact.”

Teala had been told that glabrezus always ask for more than what is given. However, she had given him everything, with the exception of the rest of her clothes and her slippers, which were at her apartment.

“As you desire, Baelshunix.” Teala says.

Eyeing her up and down again, he says, “If you have a female, you get to keep her. If you have a male, you must call me. I will take him.”

Teala couldn’t hide her shock. A glabrezu has never had an interest in taking such children before. She didn’t know what to say. Her teachers never prepared her for this, except to agree to whatever the summoned glabrezu asked for.

“Yes, Baelshunix. I agree to the pact” Teala has no other option than to agree. Everyone in the temple heard the agreement. Teala would have the blessing of Lolth, but if Teala birthed a male, then the male would have to be given to Baelshunix.

Teala then bows to the statue of Lolth where the altar is. Baelshunix moves behind Teala, pushing her on her hands and knees over the offerings she gave him. His clawed hands smash down on either side of her, shaking the ground beneath them. She feels his smaller arms wrap around her, then he takes one of his smaller hands around his cock, and cruelly slams his cock inside of her cunt. Teala wants to scream, but she knows she can’t. Teala is to show pleasure and thanks for what power Lolth has given her. Teala thinks that this is the only time that Baelshunix will take her. Teala is wrong, many times over.

After he is finished with her, he leans over her as if he is still inside of her. She can feel his hot, putrid breath on her neck. His eyes meeting hers, he asks, “What is your desire? Greater power?”

He pushes into her mind, finding an unexpected answer, he whispers, “Oh, is this what you want?” His smaller hands caress her body lovingly, but she knows he is mocking her. He sees what she wants: someone to love her for her, not for her position in life, just her.

He declares, “It is done.” Pushing her away from him, he greedily looks at her offerings. Picking them up, he puts everything in the bag where the gold is.

Baelshunix looks at Teala, saying, “Remember our pact or I will remember it for you. You don’t want me to do that.” He laughs.

Teala looks back at him, “I agree.”

Baelshunix responds, “You have no choice, but then, you never have.”

With that, he plane shifts back to the Abyss, and is gone.

Gathering her strength again, the dreaming Teala shouts, “Wake up! Wake up!”

The dreaming Teala starts hearing prayers of protection and healing being offered to Eilistraee and Silvanus. She stops dreaming and wakes up to see Halsin holding her tightly against him. She reaches up to hug him closer as he runs one of his hands through her hair. She looks to her side, seeing the praying healers surrounding Astarion, who is still sleeping on the table.

Halsin takes her face in his hands, saying, “How are you? You were saying some rather disturbing things.”

“How can you love Astarion and me? You have some ideas of what we have done.”

Halsin kisses her, “Because I truly believe both of you will not do those things anymore. Astarion wants to be free of his former master, and you now worship a kind goddess.”

“Even if I tell you my dream?”

“Even if you tell me your dream.”

Rithaeelia joins them to listen to Teala’s dream as well, so Teala reaches out to hold Rithaeelia's hand, to let Rithaeelia know she is welcome to listen. Teala tells them her dream.

Halsin tries to control his growing anger, “I don’t know how you could do that, to kill, for a goddess, for anyone, unless for defense. However, you do not do that anymore. You have changed.” He seems to be trying to convince himself as well as trying to convince Teala.

Rithaeelia looks at Halsin, “Most of us come from such backgrounds. Eilistraee has rescued most of us. However, the grove welcomes all who need help and who want to join.”

Rithaeelia asks Teala, “Who is Kyorlin?”

“Someone I love who was escaping the Underdark with me. However, he was lost. Eilistraee seemed to think he was lost as well.”

Rithaeelia queries, “What does Kyorlin look like? He might have found our grove as well.”

“Kyorlin is a short drow, but he is not as short as Minaee. He has the blackest skin, the reddest eyes, and the whitest hair that I’ve ever seen anyone have. His matron would rip his hair short at times when she was angry at him. He was a slave because his house lost to another house in a civil war. He has an eloquent way of speaking, even when talking about the most mundane things.”

Rithaeelia says, “Unfortunately, there is no one in the grove that matches his description.”

Astarion mutters from the table, “Sounds like.. charming fellow... Have anything... anyone... for me?”

The healers let Rithaeelia, Halsin, and Teala help Astarion up. Tankards are provided for Astarion. After several clumsy attempts, Astarion has a tankard full of blood in each hand, drinking out of one greedily, so he can work on the other soon afterward. His chest is wrapped up in stretches of cloth.

Looking at Teala, Astarion slurs, “Why do I... want to fuck everybody? Well.. not everybody.. but you know…”

Teala asks, “Do you feel any pain?”

Kissing her on cheek, playfully nipping at her ear, he says, “No... but I feel like I want to be fucked... in every way possible... by as many people... as possible.”

Halsin speaks up, “I thought that was how a vampire feels all of the time.”

“No.. my dear druid... not like this... It is like I need sex more than blood... This…,” Astarion makes wild gestures with his arms to indicate his condition, causing the tankards to drip, “is not normal... for a vampire.”

Teala explains, “The drugs are making you feel like this. They make you feel no pain, but they make you want. Sexually. This is how matrons can make males sleep with anyone they want, anything they want, even resulting in the male’s death, or a rival’s death. Sometimes drow take the drugs in order to sleep with demons. The drugs are freely taken too. All drow enjoy the effects of these drugs, although ‘enjoy’ might not be the best word for it.”

Astarion giggles, “Maybe.. we should give some... to Gale and Shadowheart.. They need some... help.. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Teala and Halsin look at each other, shaking their heads.

Teala speaks up, “Astarion, that is evil of you to say, maybe you are a true vampire.”

Still Astarion slurs his words, “Teala.. my dear.. I look to you.. to Halsin... to keep me on the right path.. and... for other things.” He kisses her hard on her lips, then he turns to Halsin, kissing the druid as well.

Teala and Halsin are of one mind, “No.”

Astarion is confused. Teala looks at Halsin.

Halsin tells Astarion, “You’re drugged now. Once the drugs wear off, we can sleep with you again.”

Now that Astarion has taken his fill of the tankards, they slip out of his hands and onto the floor.

Chapter Text

Rithaeelia speaks up, “Astarion should get some more rest so that he can heal.”

Rithaeelia, Halsin, and Teala help Astarion lay down on the table again. Some of the healers return with some pillows and sheets, then continue to heal him.

Rithaeelia suggests that Halsin and Teala get breakfast. Teala gets dressed in her underclothes, then puts on a top and a skirt, not wanting to put on her armor again just yet. They join the rest of the companions as breakfast is laid out on blankets for them as if for a picnic. Vegetable soup with dumplings, carved pheasant and quail, huge stuffed mushrooms, hot tea, cold water, frosty ale, and baked breads that can be dipped in a mixture of oil, vinegar, and herbs.

“Rithaeelia, thank you. Where did all of this come from? I hadn’t noticed it all before.”

Rithaeelia laughs, opening her arms in the direction of where the food servers were coming from, “We have a huge forest around us, plus we do have adequate storage here. We picked a safe place on Toril for us, at least, for now, it is safe. From what you have told us, we should close the portal after you leave so that we can continue to keep this grove safe.”

Teala is crestfallen. She would love to return here one day.

“How will I find this grove again, Rithaeelia?”

Rithaeelia puts a comforting arm around Teala to tell her, “A follower of Eilistraee should know how to teleport."

“Can you teach me?”

Rithaeelia smiles, “After breakfast.”

During breakfast, Wyll is the first one to speak up, “Chief, where’s Astarion? Usually, he is back before now.” Wyll has quail, soup, and a mug of ale to wash his breakfast down.

All of the companions look over at Teala and Halsin, who look at each other, not sure of what to say, knowing that Astarion doesn’t want the other companions to know.

Teala speaks carefully, “Astarion ran into some trouble and needed some healing to get better.”

Shadowheart is understandably upset. She complains, “If you and Halsin couldn’t help Astarion on your own, you could have asked me for help!”

“Rithaeelia and her healers offered to help, so I accepted their generosity.” Teala counters, calming Shadowheart down.

Lae’zel, who is eating her second pheasant, says, “Tsk’va! We must get going to Moonrise Towers to get these ghaik tadpoles out of our heads! We should leave right after breakfast!”

Remembering the conversation before finding the grove, Teala asks her companions, “Should we go overland now that we have a working lantern or should we go back to the Underdark to avoid most of the Shadow Curse?”

On his second bowl of soup, Gale chimes in, “Teala, your people seem resourceful here, maybe you can ask them if they can fix the broken lantern, then we would have two. From what Halsin has said about the Cursed Lands, it might be better to have two of these lanterns instead of only one.”

Working on his second plate of food, Halsin nods his head in agreement, “Either way, we will reach the Cursed Lands at some point, so it would be safer. I’ve known adventurers who traveled through the Shadowfell who were not as affected as those I’ve seen in the Cursed Lands. You will see the cursed creatures as you approach. They will try to pull you in.”

All of a sudden, Scratch bounds in, crunching on a rodent he found, chomping it down in several bites, seeming to smile from ear to ear about the prey he had caught.

“Good boy, Scratch!” Wyll says, scratching Scratch on the head.

Scratch frees himself from Wyll and starts bounding back and forth, nearly knocking all of the food over as he goes, always careful to not to touch the blanket that the food is on.

Looking up from his breakfast, Barcus says, “I think he wants us to follow him.”

In the middle of his second plate of food, Volo looks up at Teala to say, “My friend, please tell Scratch to wait until after breakfast. I’m famished, especially after last night. I haven’t had such a large audience like that in a long time, unless you include the goblins.”

Teala stands up, “It is okay, Volo. I will go see what Scratch wants, and then when everyone else is finished with breakfast, I can show the rest of you what Scratch showed me.”

Scratch leads Teala across to the other side of the grove to find a pack of dogs and puppies, who are surrounded by the leftovers of their breakfast of quail, pheasants, rodents, and bowls of clean, cool water. A few of the drow are cleaning up the area. Teala approaches them, and all of them hug each other. There is a different feeling here in this grove, so unlike the home that Teala fled from.

Scratch leads Teala to a female dog and her puppies.

Scratch speaks (in Dog), “This is Diira. Her mate died while hunting boar with the pack. I will stay to be her mate.”

Teala is upset at this, but understands (speaking Dog), “I will ask Rithaeelia, but I’m sure she will allow it.”

Teala leaves Scratch to cuddle with Diira and the puppies.

Returning to the companions, she indicates where Scratch and the puppies are. The companions are not happy to lose Scratch, but they understand. He is probably safer here than traveling with them.

After breakfast, Teala seeks out Rithaeelia, who is with the other healers.

“How is Astarion doing, Rithaeelia?”

“With the healers attending to him and his vampiric healing ability, he should be healed soon.” Rithaeelia answers.

“Scratch would like to stay here with Diira and the other dogs and the puppies.” Teala asks.

“He isn’t infected like you and your companions are?”

Teala is shocked, “No, he isn’t. Halsin, Volo, and Barcus are not infected either.”

Rithaeelia says calmly, “Thank you. You know I had to ask, had to make sure. Even though the Netherese illithid tadpoles are different from the other illithid tadpoles, they still make you and your infected companions dangerous.”

Fearing for Scratch’s life, Teala looks into Rithaeelia’s eyes, “Rithaeelia, look into my eyes. You can see the tadpole there. I have to warn you. It isn’t pleasant, but you can see it.”

Rithaeelia looks into Teala’s eyes, “Yes, I can see it there.”

Teala takes Rithaeelia’s hand and brings her to Scratch. “Look into Scratch’s eyes.”

Rithaeelia kneels down, looking into Scratch’s eyes, “You’re right. There is no tadpole in there.”

Scratch looks at Rithaeelia, sniffing her. Satisfied with her scent, Scratch goes back to Diira and her puppies. Teala relaxes. Scratch trusts Rithaeelia, so Teala can trust Rithaeelia too.

With Teala in tow, Rithaeelia walks up to Volo, Barcus, and Halsin, checking their eyes, seeing no tadpoles there, then Rithaeelia goes to the other companions, and sees that they are indeed infected, just like Astarion is.

Rithaeelia says to Teala, “It is good that Astarion is recovering so quickly. It is not safe for you to be here. We have children here, but had to keep them in their homes, because not only are you strangers, but most of you are infected. I hope you understand why you have to leave soon. However, if you are able to get rid of the tadpoles, you are free to find us again.”

Teala asks, “Thank you. It does take a while to process all of this, doesn’t it?”

Rithaeelia nods.

“Rithaeelia, could you please teach me about teleporting so that I can find you again?”

“Yes, let us get away from the breakfast dishes, because we will need some space.” She tells Teala.

To Teala’s companions who were gathering up the used dishes, Rithaeelia says, “Please do not concern yourself with that, you are our guests. I will have others pick those up for you. Relax. You have a long journey ahead of you.”

Rithaeelia takes both of Teala’s hands and leads her to a place where the two of them have enough space to practice. Rithaeelia looks over to the side and seems confused.

Teala asks, “What’s wrong?”

“I thought I saw a skeleton over there, but he is not there anymore.”

“Oh, that’s Withers,” Teala says, “We found him in a tomb near a statue of Jergal.”

“Maybe he is Jergal, but I thought he would be more like a huge insect.”

“I don’t know, but he has brought one of us back from the dead, which is why Withers is traveling with us, to help us.” Teala smiles sheepishly. “I wonder if he uses portals as well.”

"I'm not sure." Rithaeelia asks Teala, "Are you ready?"

"Yes." Teala answers.

Chapter Text

Rithaeelia looks into Teala’s eyes, “Now, think of a place that is probably safe. Someplace where you have been.”

Teala is hoping her campsite where she fell asleep for a long time is safe, and thinks of that place. Teala nods her head.

“Now, pray to Eilistraee to take us there.” Rithaeelia teaches.

Teala prays to Eilistraee, and Teala feels the ground move to the sky, and the sky move to the ground. She is falling backward, spinning, everything is a blur so she does her best to look at Rithaeelia’s eyes, then Teala finds herself on her feet again, with Rithaeelia in front of her. Teala looks around, finding the campsite where they had been several days ago.

Rithaeelia laughs, “You did it! It looks like we just have the wildlife around us. Now, take us back.”

Everything whirls around, and they found themselves in Rithaeelia’s Grove once again.

Rithaeelia looks at Teala, “Now, do it without me. If you don’t come back soon, I will be able to get you. Now go.”

Teala lets go of Rithaeelia’s hands. Teala thinks of the campsite again and prays to Eilistraee. Falling and spinning, she finds herself at the campsite again. Looking around, there is only wildlife around her. Teala thinks of Rithaeelia’s Grove again. Praying, she starts getting dizzy, and finds herself back in the grove again, next to Rithaeelia, then Teala falls down, her head spinning.

Rithaeelia kneels next to Teala, “I know it is overwhelming for you, but we don’t have that much time to practice since you have to go soon. You learn quickly. However, you should still practice every day if you can. Try taking a friend with you, then two, then three, then you should be able to take all of your friends with you, as long as they are close to you. I trust that Withers will be able to find you using his own power.”

Rithaeelia sees that Teala can sit up, but is still swaying, so Rithaeelia places her hands on Teala’s shoulders and asks, “How are you?”

Teala replies, “Besides being dizzy, I’m doing well. Thank you. However, do you have to close the portal to your grove? Is there any way to protect it?”

Rithaeelia looks determined, “The portal is supposed to open and remain open for a time when a follower of Eilistraee touches it. However, if a follower of Eilistraee fell to the Absolute, I’m not sure the portal could tell. I want to keep my people safe.”

Teala looks at Rithaeelia, “Thank you for your help. One more thing, do you know how to fix Moon Lanterns?”

Rithaeelia looks upset, “The only way to fix a Moon Lantern is to clean it out, then use it to trap a faerie, which is slavery. As a follower of Eilistraee, I can’t help you trap one. And you should not want to trap one either.”

Teala is horrified that the Moon Lantern they have is enslaving a faerie, “Is there a way to ask a faerie for help?”

Rithaeelia responds, “My husband knows how to speak Faerie, but I’ve never seen faeries here or know how to find one.”

Since Teala had asked for Astarion’s permission to go into his backpack before, Teala goes over to his backpack, stumbling as she goes. Sitting down, she takes out the working Moon Lantern, asking, “Can you ask Mortochk to ask the faerie for help to get us through the Cursed Lands so we can get to Moonrise Towers to get rid of these tadpoles?” Please?”

Rithaeelia exhales sharply, “It looks like learning to teleport is not your only lesson for today.”

Rithaeelia gets her husband Mortochk, who lets the faerie know what the situation is.

Mortochk translates for the faerie, “The faerie’s name that you can call her by is Wispwyng’xiiv. She is upset. She will get you to where you need to go, but then she needs to be freed. The Cursed Lands do not affect her. She is a powerful faerie, but the Moon Lantern is a more powerful prison. From there, she will find her home again. She saw a red ruby in the backpack. She wants the ruby too.”

“Astarion was supposed to sell it or put it in the hidden cache. Guess he couldn’t part with it.” Teala laughs. “I opened the chest we found, and gave it to him for safe keeping, but not to keep. I agree to Wispwyng’xiiv’s terms. Do you think she will help us find another faerie…?”

“Xxxzz ttttzzz ptl pxl!”

Mortochk translates, “She says no. It seems that she understands you enough to say no.”

Teala exhales, “Well, I hope that one lantern will be enough.” Teala looks over at Mortochk, “Thank you for translating and all of your help, Mortochk.”

With a nod from his wife, Mortochk says, “You’re welcome, Teala. I’m happy that I was able to help you and your companions.”

Looking around the picnic area, Teala sees most of her companions getting ready to leave, but does not see Halsin or Astarion. She goes to where Astarion is recovering to check on him. She finds Astarion and Halsin kissing, holding each other in a loving embrace, as they sit upon the table. Besides the table, she notices two used bathing bowls, and to think that she missed seeing her lovers sponge bathe each other. Teala wonders again if Astarion has some power over her and Halsin, besides sexual attraction.

Astarion breaks from kissing, then looks over at Teala, “Darling, you’ve missed dessert. I found mine delectable. Wasn’t yours, my dear druid?”

Halsin smiles, “Hmmm, it was, my love.”

Remembering the drugs that were used on Astarion, Teala tries to protest, but Halsin interrupts her, “Teala, my dearheart, the healers said that he is not drugged anymore. Come here.” He pats his lap where he wants her to sit.

Teala walks over and sits on Halsin’s lap. Halsin and Astarion smile knowingly at each other. Halsin grabs Teala across her middle. Brushing her hair aside, he starts kissing her neck slowly, saying, “Astarion, my love, I hope you understand my need to kiss her here.”

Halsin moves his hand down to her thigh, pushing it to the side so that she can’t move. Halsin continues to cover her neck with kisses. Teala feels tingly all the way down her spine, unable to speak.

Astarion smiles, “Of course, my dear druid.” Astarion kisses Teala on the forehead, then kisses her mouth, forcing her to breathe through her nose. Using one of his legs, he moves her other thigh so she is wide open. Grabbing her shoulder, Astarion reaches underneath her skirt. His thumb is massaging her clit, while his clawed fingers finds the warmth of her cunt, pushing deep inside of her. She tries to arch her back, but Halsin is holding her tightly, still softly kissing her neck. She tries to cry out, but Astarion kisses her mouth forcefully, blocking her cries. She holds tightly onto Halsin’s arm that is holding her middle as if letting go would mean death. She tries to move in response to Astarion’s touch, but she is being held down by Halsin and Astarion. She feels wave after growing wave of sensation. Finally, the wave wins, as she shudders into her lovers’ arms, out of breath, tears flowing from her eyes. Her lovers hold her so that she doesn’t fall after release. She is spent.

Moments later, as they hold onto each other, Teala wonders when they will be alone together like this again, just the three of them. Opening her eyes, she says to her lovers, “We will have to leave soon.”

Halsin calls out to the healers, “May we have another bathing bowl, please?”

Once ready, Teala is led by her lovers back to the rest of the companions. They say their goodbyes to Scratch and the drow, then travel back through the portal onto the mountain path. They hear a magical hum as the portal is destroyed from the other side.

Looking at the statue of Eilistraee, Teala wonders if she will ever see these drow again. Maybe she can go back there when practicing portals, but then thinks against it. She will go back there once Cazador is dead, the tadpoles are out of their heads, the Cursed Lands are healed, and the Absolute forces are defeated.

Chapter Text

As the companions continue on their mountain path, the forest thins out, its trees curling over themselves. As the day goes on, the trees and their leaves get grayer and blacker as the path turns downward into the shadowed valley.

Gale breaks the silence, “If I didn’t know better, I’d say I was back in the Fugue Plane.”

Realizing that Gale has a point, Halsin stops everyone, asking Astarion to get the lantern out. Astarion gives the lantern to Gale. With a singing noise, it turns on, bathing the companions in a purplish pink haze, similar to Faerie Fire.

When they reach the valley, the companions see the shadows that Halsin had mentioned before. Some shadows screech, some laugh maniacally, some choke, and some cry, but the only sounds that the companions can hear are like echoes in the darkness.

The shadows start clawing at the companions, but the lantern’s light keeps the shadows at bay. All shadows but one. It grips out of the darkness in desperation, tearing at the golden oak and leaf filigree which decorates Halsin’s armor. The small shadow successfully pulls itself out of the darkness like a manic redcap, crying, “Baervan Wildwanderer! Baervan Wildwanderer!”

Astarion grabs the redcap, ready to throw it back into the darkness, but Halsin stops the vampire, taking the redcap from him. Looking at the redcap in the light of the lantern, Halsin says, “Let’s see what you truly are.” Halsin starts pouring healing energy into the redcap, but the darkness still clings to the creature. Halsin looks at the lantern, then looks back at the redcap. “Astarion, please hold him still for me.” Astarion takes the skittish redcap from Halsin. Halsin hits the redcap with Faerie Fire, which starts melting the shadow, and instead of a redcap, the companions see a forest gnome, shaking from the effects of the spell.

When the forest gnome is free of the shadow, he looks around to find Barcus approaching him with a red potion. “I’m Barcus Wroot. You are safe now. Please drink this healing potion.”

The forest gnome drinks it down. “Thank you Barcus. I’m Enidri Wiggleleaf.” Enidri looks up at Halsin. “I can’t imagine how I would confuse a...wood elf for Baervan Wildwanderer, even with the forest designs.’’ Looking up at Halsin, Enidri says, “You are a wood elf?”

Halsin lets out a hearty laugh, “Yes, I’m a wood elf. Please call me Halsin.”

Halsin looks at Astarion, “Astarion, I think it is safe to let Enidri go. Enidri, how long do you think you were trapped? How are you?”

“I’m feeling better now. Thank you, Halsin. It feels like just the other day that I was just walking in the woods. I must have tripped.”

Barcus walks up to Enidri and looks the forest gnome in the eyes for just a moment before backing up again. “Enidri, you don’t look too bad for what you’ve been through. However, we are going to travel onward, and I’m sure you want to get out of here.”

Teala speaks up, “I can portal him back to one of our former campsites and give him some of our supplies.”

“No, no, no! Not with a drow! I won’t!” Enidri hides behind Halsin.

Barcus walks up to Enidri. “I know how you feel. I’ve had to hide from other drow as well, but this one is different. Would you like for me to go with you?”

Enidri looks up at Halsin, who nods. “I’ve seen her dancing in the moonlight trying to play her harp in honor of Eilistraee, the only kind deity of the drow.”

“Never heard of Eilistraee, but I do want to get far away from here. Okay. I will go with Barcus and this.. drow.” Enidri says.

“I’m Teala.” Teala grabs a small pouch, filling it with some supplies to help Enidri on his future travels. Giving the pouch to Enidri, he attaches the pouch tightly to his belt.

“Thank you. Teala.” Enidri whispers.

Sitting on her heels, Teala reaches out to the two gnomes, gently grabbing onto their wrists, because their hands are too small to hold firmly. The gnomes hold her wrists as well.

Teala looks at the gnomes, “Ready?”

They nod. She prays to Eilistraee and falls backward, taking the gnomes with her. They arrive at the former campsite, where just a few days ago, Teala was with Rithaeelia.

“I did it!” Teala’s words escaping her before she can stop them.

The gnomes look at her in amazement, and she blushes, “I’ve only done this a few times before.”

Putting his fists against his hips, Barcus speaks up, “Well, there's a first time for everything. Now, I hope you can get us back to our companions!”

Enidri looks shocked, but says, “Thank you Barcus and Teala for helping me. I will have to wait until the moon rises and the stars shine to figure out where I am.”

Pointing directions, Barcus says, “Enidri, if you travel that way, you will find Waukeen’s Rest. If you travel farther, you will eventually make it to Elturel. If you travel the other way, you will run into the Cursed Lands again, and beyond that is Moonrise Towers, then further on, you will find Baldur’s Gate.”

“Thank you, Barcus. I have a better idea of where I am now. I should be able to find my home.” Enidri looks at Teala. “Thank you for these supplies. I should be able to find more supplies while foraging in the forest. Thank you for getting me away from that frightening place.”

Teala smiles as Enidri melts into the forest as if he was a vampire. Teala looks back at Barcus. “Ready?”

Barcus grabs her wrists, “Are you?”

“Think so.” Teala replies.

“Think so?!” Barcus exclaims.

Holding onto Barcus’ wrists, Teala prays to Eilistraee, then after falling back, she finds Barcus and herself held by Astarion, who coos in her ear, “Darling, you almost fell the wrong way. I’d hate to lose you to these cursed lands.”

Barcus shakes his head, scrambling free of Teala and Astarion. Barcus sees that Gale is still holding the lantern, so Barcus runs over to Gale, saying, “That was too close!”

Gale nods his head in answer.

Halsin gives Teala and Astarion a huge embrace, saying, “Yes. Too close. Stay within the lantern’s light as much as you can. By Silvanus, I will figure out a way to fix this. I promise.”

Teala can barely breathe, so she takes slow and shallow breaths until Halsin releases her and Astarion. Teala looks up at Halsin’s chiseled face. His eyes have glazed over as if seeing a different time and place.

Teala gasps, “You promised you will help us, and we believe you. I believe you. We are here now. With you.”

Astarion whispers, “My dear druid. Did you see how you helped that forest gnome? Shame Teala sent him on his way. He looked like a delicious little snack.”

Halsin breaks out of his thoughts, “Astarion! Forest gnomes are not food!”

“I was joking, darling.” Astarion smiles, but Teala can tell that her vampire is starting to show signs of hunger.

Shadowheart speaks up, “I knew it! I knew you three are together!”

Astarion replies, “You could always join us, my dear!”

“No! Thank! You!” is her firm response.

Gale breaks the revelry. “We should be quiet as to not attract any more attention.” As if making his point, he uses his staff to knock an encroaching shadow back into the darkness. “See? Unless we plan on spending all of our time saving every shadow in this darkness, at least until most of us have turned into mindflayers.”

Halsin agrees, “True. I said I’d help you with your tadpoles, and I must get rid of The Shadow Curse. I still believe the answers are at Moonrise Towers.” The lantern in Gale’s hand starts chirping as if in response to what Halsin has just said.

Quickly, Astarion puts on a drow hood, which matches the drow armor that he wears.

Teala looks at her beautiful vampire, wondering what caused him to hide his face under the hood, showing only his red eyes and the pale skin around them.

She asks, “What is wrong?”

Barcus tugs at her pantleg, pointing into the murkiness, “There are four figures in the distance that don’t look like trapped shadows. They are walking as if they were out in the sun.”

Astarion replies, “They wouldn’t be spending their day out in the sun. They’re vampires.”

Chapter Text

Teala looks out into the darkness. She sees four figures dressed in fancy clothing, much newer than the clothing that she had first seen Astarion wearing. The vampires are strutting about just like Wyll was when Teala first saw him when he was teaching the tiefling children how to fight.

She asks Astarion, “How can you tell that they are vampires?”

Astarion replies, “We can sense each other, although I’m hoping they think I’m a vampire and not a spawn. A spawn away from his master is unusual. If not for the tadpole, I wouldn’t be able to travel this far.”

Teala had not known this about vampire spawn. To lose his tadpole would mean he would be called to his master again. She puts it away from her mind. She has to deal with these vampires before thinking about facing his former master.

Barcus uses his dark gnome magic to disappear. Volo uses an invisibility potion. Gale raises up his Mage Armor. Halsin uses Barkskin and uncurls a Thornwhip knowing that a bear wouldn’t fare well against one vampire, never mind four of them.

As if one mind, Shadowheart and Teala cast Spirit Guardians, which look like angels or faeries. Teala can’t help but laugh.

Gale whispers, “What is so funny? There are four vampires out there. Might I remind you that even if we can defeat them, they still could break the lantern while we fight?”

Teala smiles at Gale, “You don’t understand. Last time, I was defending my home in the Underdark. The spirits didn’t look like this, they looked like little flying demons.”

Gale responds, “Well, if a follower of Shar can have faeries, why not a former follower of Lolth? The Weave knows us more than we know ourselves.”

Shadowheart says, “What are you saying, Gale? Shar has nothing to do with Lolth.”

Gale whispers back, “You were with us at Grymforge? Remember what we found there?”

Shadowheart looks back at the wizard, “Gale, I wish you could see my faith as I do. See me as I am.”

Gale looks back at Shadowheart, “Oh my sweet night orchid, I think I do.”

The four vampires don’t seem to care what is being said, they are focusing on Astarion.

One of the vampires calls out to Astarion, “Hail brother! My companions and I are wondering since you have only enthralled the giant elf and the drow, you wouldn’t mind sharing the others with us? We haven’t fed for a while. We could use thralls that we could feed from for our journey and watch over us while we sleep.”

Another vampire throws a lecherous look at Shadowheart, saying, “And care for us when we are not asleep.”

Teala and Halsin look at each other. Teala has not seen Halsin this angry. Even when he was disciplining Kagha, he wasn’t this angry. If they survive this, she will need to protect Astarion, who probably had no idea that he had enthralled them until now.

In false confidence, Astarion says, “If you truly knew about my thralls, my companions, you would leave. Right now.”

The third vampire speaks up, “Astarion, is that you? But, you’re a spawn?! With THRALLS? And. Away. From. Cazador? How?”

The third vampire never gets an answer as Astarion shoots a fire arrow in the vampire’s face.

Taking it as a signal, Gale unleashes a Fireball Spell, burning the vampires. The third vampire pulls out the fire arrow through his head. The vampires break up into vampire bats, fly out of the fireball, then try to fly through the Spirit Guardians, but the bats are slowed, so they fly around to the other side of the companions. Once the vampires are on the other side of the companions, the bats turn back into vampires, their skin charred from the fire.

With some difficulty, the vampires break through the Spirit Guardians, charming Gale and Wyll. However, the humans can’t move against their friends, because Shadowheart and Teala both put Hold Person on Gale, while Lae’zel knocks Wyll out.

Astarion attacks the vampire that first spoke with him. They claw and bite into each other. The vampire flies up into the air, carrying Astarion with him. Realizing that Astarion can’t fly, the vampire throws Astarion onto the ground, but Astarion is too strong to get seriously hurt. Suddenly, Astarion uses his illithid Darkness Spell and hides. When the vampire lands back on the ground, Astarion reaches out of the darkness to pull the vampire in. Since the vampire is surprised, Astarion is able to trap the vampire underneath him. Astarion’s eyes roll back as he sinks his fangs into his victim’s neck, the blood alleviating his hunger.

At the same time, Lae’zel uses her illithid Grabbing Spell before she can stop it, dragging one of the vampires towards her. She pounds the vampire’s chest with her Faithbreaker Warhammer, but the vampire is still moving. She grabs 2 stakes out of Wyll’s pack. She stakes the vampire in his heart with one of the stakes. She throws the other stake to Astarion, who has lifted his Darkness Spell and is visible now. The vampire that Astarion fed from is still moving despite the loss of blood. Trembling, Astarion stakes the vampire in the heart, realizing that someone might stake him one day. Astarion looks over at Halsin, who is fighting his own battle with a vampire, and winning.

Gale breaks from Hold Person, then uses Magic Missile on Shadowheart and Teala, who are using Scorching Ray on the vampire nearest to him. Lae’zel knocks out Gale, but saves the lantern. The scorched vampire tries a different tactic, attacking Volo and Barcus. Even though the bard and the gnome are invisible, they still have blood, which vampires can smell. Shadowheart and Teala reach out to their illithid Armor Spells to protect their invisible friends, while Lae’zel pulls the vampire off of Volo and Barcus, staking the vampire in the heart.

Meanwhile, Halsin uses his Thornwhip to grab a vampire of his own. The druid uses Produce Flame and Create Bonfire to burn the vampire to ash. Once Halsin dismisses the fire, he takes a bottle of holy water out of his pack, then pours the liquid onto the ashes.

Astarion looks over to Lae’zel, “You may wake up Wyll now, he is safe.”

Lae’zel fires back, “As long as he stays away from you!”

Halsin walks up behind Astarion, knocking the spawn out with his staff.

Teala tries to protest, but Halsin lifts his hand to show that he wants silence. It is the same hand signal he used when he was silencing Kagha. Teala looks at her feet.

Halsin takes the lead, speaking in a low roar, “Everyone rest while Barcus and I stand watch, then Lae’zel and Shadowheart will take watch, then we will talk.”

Barcus dares to whisper, “But I saw illithid shadows above Shadowheart, Teala, Lae’zel, and Astarion.” Barcus gulps as he says the spawn’s name.

Halsin looks at Barcus, “They used their tadpole powers, probably due to being in these Cursed Lands. The lantern couldn’t protect everyone during the fight. You will keep the first watch with me while the others rest. We need to recover before going any further.”

Shadowheart checks Gale, who is breathing, just still out cold. She lets the others know.

Even though Teala is afraid of what Halsin might do, she checks on Astarion, who is still knocked out. She is not sure how others feel about Astarion, so she keeps quiet.

Afraid of having another tadpole dream, Teala walks over to Shadowheart and asks to meditate with her. Shadowheart agrees. Teala prays as she holds onto Shadowheart’s wrists, hoping that she is able to meditate without falling asleep. Teala just needs to focus on the ebb and flow of Shadowheart’s blood. Meditate exactly the way that Halsin had taught her, then Teala will be safe. However, Teala’s exhaustion betrays her.

Chapter Text

Teala knows she’s dreaming. Riding in her carriage, she’s on the way back home from the academy after her graduation. Her slaves have bathed her and have redone her braids. Dressed in one of her silky black dresses, she tugs at its lace trim. She wears her bedroom shoes, because her expensive shoes are in the Abyss with Baelshunix, along with most of her wealth that she had kept at the academy.

Across from Teala is Vieliir, whom she’d choose later as her official consort. Currently, he’s second in command to the house captain. Teala thinks that if Vhaeraun ever visits Toril, he’d be just like Vieliir: Sexy, strong, lean, muscular, silky white hair, bright red eyes, and vicious in almost every way. The only exception is that Vhaeraun is thought of as having black skin, whereas Vieliir’s skin is dark grey. Teala remembers when she’d imagine herself convincing Vhaeraun to serve his mother Lolth again. Now, Teala hopes that Vhaeraun has saved Vieliir, his kitchen slave, and Teala’s lost love Kyorlin, just like Eilistraee saved her.

Seeing the twisted silhouette seated next to Vieliir must be the tadpole in her head, posing in another dream as her lost love, Kyorlin. She rubs her ring finger where she wears a protective psionic ring in the waking world. This is the second time the ring has failed her since entering the Cursed Lands.

“Remember when we burned Baldur’s Gate to the ground, kissed, then held hands?” Tadpole Kyorlin says.

“Another corrupted dream.” Teala answers.

“You enjoyed it.” Tadpole Kyorlin counters.

“I shouldn’t have.” Teala says.

“Maybe we should turn this carriage around and burn down Menzoberranzan?”

“No!” Teala raises her voice.

Tadpole Kyorlin’s joyful smile belies his eyes, which are full of hatred. “Think how powerful you will feel. Remember the blood you tasted when you destroyed Baldur’s Gate!”

“Yes,” Ashamed, Teala looks away.

Vieliir meekly asks, “Mistress, what’s wrong?”

Teala looks over to the Tadpole Kyorlin. Quick as thought, Vieliir slices his scimitars through the seemingly empty air, the edges just missing the wall of the carriage. They slice Tadpole Kyorlin into bloody pieces, which fall to the seat and floor of the carriage.

Vieliir looks to Teala for further instruction.

Smiling, Teala brushes Vieliir’s hair behind his ear, remembering his beauty. Teala hadn’t met Kyorlin until after she had returned home. She remembers how Vieliir was the first male that she was this close to in a long time, with the exception of Baelshunix.

Her head throbs, but she ignores it as best as she can. Her dreaming self remembers the actual carriage ride. The small army had to bring the matron to the ceremony, then take the matron and Teala back home. The army had to use camouflage and magic to return back home safely. The small army and defenses at home should be enough, but there was always the lingering threat of an enemy house attacking: Lolth’s way of culling the weak.

Even though Vieliir is shorter than most female drow, he’s taller than Teala. Putting his scimitars away, he pulls out a necklace.

Bowing while sitting, he says, “Mistress, a gift for you.”

Teala smiles, remembering when he did give the necklace to her. Checking for poison and for magic, but finding none, she looks at the intricate carving of interconnected spiders and webbing carved in the platinum necklace.

Putting it around her neck, she says, “Hmm. I can wear this with my other necklaces when I get home.”

She grabs his muscled shoulders, bringing his handsome face to hers as she bites his lower lip. She pushes him back against the carriage.

She says, “Disrobe!”

Her dreaming self remembers this. Something she’d never demand of her new lovers. Of course, if Astarion has some power over Halsin and her, they might not ever love each other again. Halsin will make sure of it.

Vieliir does as he’s told. Beautiful skin. Strong muscles. Endowed, not like Halsin, but still, Vieliir is more than adequate and ready for sex. Teala can’t believe she was once like this. Looking at a male as if she was shopping for a slave, which she wouldn’t be doing again, either.

Teala removes her dress and her chest band that wraps her breasts. Her belly is swollen.

Vieliir falls to his knees, “You’re blessed..” He couldn’t continue.

Teala glares at Vieliir, “Yes, but not by child yet. My belly is full of the seed of a glabrezu. Lolth has blessed me and our house!”

Tilting her head at Vieliir, Teala says, “Please relax yourself. There will be no sex now. However, I’ve been getting messages from home. My aunts have failed in their duties and left you to... discipline... the slaves when needed. You love, disciplining, one of the kitchen slaves in particular. True?”

Vieliir nods, “Mistress. Yes. True.”

One of the messages included a request from the matron of the house as well: To take Vieliir as consort. The matron’s second son would benefit more from being a consort than in the military due to his exquisite beauty.

“You discipline differently than my aunts. True?”

“Mistress. Yes. True.”

Teala rubs her belly, saying, “Vieliir, until I have the child, you may continue to discipline your kitchen slave. Only. It’s for your health that I allow this. Understand?”

“Mistress. Yes. I understand.”

“Get dressed.”

She remembers the journey being long as well. Not wanting her breasts being wrapped up in her chest band for the entire ride, she just puts her dress back on.

Even though this is a dream, it still surprises her when the carriage stops. She sees her home through the window of the carriage. Her heart aches, knowing she will never see her home in real life again.

Teala’s eyes fall on her doorman, who opens the door for her and Vieliir. Teala recognizes the doorman, although he’s a lot smaller and closer to her now. He’s the devil who has been stalking her and probably holds the contract for Cazador!

Teala screams.

Vieliir brings up his scimitars to slice up the devil, but the devil is quicker, cutting Vieliir down. The smell of acid causes Teala to gag as Vieliir dissolves into a puddle of acid that the devil’s sword leaves in its wake.

“Vieliir!!!” Teala cries.

“You have been stalking me! Why? Who are you?” She shrieks at the devil.

Her face finds his, grinning with his fangs of gold. The most handsome male she has ever seen. Had he not been terrorizing her, she’d be smitten. After all, she wasn’t sure she’d ever be with Astarion or Halsin again. The devil has beautiful obsidian skin, eyes like precious jade, and six adorable horns poking through thick, wavy black hair which crowns his head.

The devil’s deep voice cuts through her thoughts, “Hmmm...Never thought of them as adorable before.” He smiles gleefully.

Teala shivers. He can hear her thoughts! Pulling her down from the carriage, he twists her arm behind her back, smashing her front first onto the floor of the carriage as her feet burn in the puddle of acid on the ground. Now alone with the devil, she voices Shatter, but her magic spell dissipates.

“Shhh... Don’t fight... My beautiful spider... You must pay.” He growls. She gulps as his erect cock presses against her ass. He intends to enter her.

Keeping his grip on her arm, he tears the top of her dress off, exposing her back to him. He brushes her hair aside, then with one of his claws, he starts cutting into her back. He’s the devil that made the contract with Cazador! She refuses to scream anymore. She won’t give him that satisfaction!

She forces herself to say, “Cazador found... another. I’m... sure... of it.”

In a singsong voice, he says, “Perceptive. You stole from me. Contract be damned!”

Teala’s back rips apart as symbols start to form in response to his claw. She uses her free arm to try to touch her bloody back. Waking up, she feels her cold tongue cut against her new fangs. Her scalp itches. She brings up her hands to find the itchiness is caused by small horns growing on her head.

Teala starts convulsing. Teala’s skin colour changes from midnight blue to obsidian. Her eyes are green instead of lilac. The colour black creeps out of her scalp, turning her light hair dark.

Halsin and Barcus run over to Teala. Shadowheart and everyone else in the camp become aware of what is happening with Teala.

Teala laughs, moving her head back and forth to see everyone. An unfamiliar, deep male voice comes from her lips, “Leave us. You have no say here! She’s mine! Her body and soul are mine!”

Astarion, who has been tied up after Halsin knocked him out, breaks his bonds and runs over to her. Despite Halsin’s protests, Astarion unsheathes Teala’s sword. Pressing its blade into her hands, he causes her blood to spill.

Astarion cries out, “Teala!!! Teala!!! I know you’re in there!!! We need you!!! I need you!!!” He hugs her tight, smelling more than the blood on her hands.

He cries, “Shadowheart! Her back! Her back!

Shadowheart tears off Teala’s armor, undershirt, and the chest band, to see the bloody symbols rise on Teala’s back.

Shadowheart says, “Te caro.” The symbols melt into Teala’s back, but then reappear.

Halsin holds Teala by the shoulders, his voice joins Shadowheart, “Te caro.”

As Shadowheart and Halsin heal each cut, a new cut forms, but they don’t give up.

Barcus searches Teala’s bag, pulls out her harp, and starts plucking clumsily at its strings.

Shaking her head, Teala starts singing flatly in her own voice, “Blessed Eilistraee, please save me, your child. Help me, your servant. Blessed Eilistraee! The dancer in the woods and under the moon!”

The other companions aren’t sure what to do as the moon seems to descend through the surrounding shadows. A tall, singing, naked woman is within the sphere of the moon’s ethereal light. Her long, silver hair wraps loosely around her body around her breasts and hips. She dances towards Teala.

Almost blinded by the moonlight, Astarion moves away from Teala and shields his eyes. Shadowheart and Halsin let go of Teala.

The tall woman touches Barcus, and he starts to play the harp in concert with the tall woman’s singing. She moves on to touch Shadowheart on the head, then to Halsin to touch his chest where his heart is.

Bending down, the tall woman takes Teala’s sword, pushing it into the ground. The tall woman then takes Teala’s bloody hands, forcing Teala to stand up and dance with her.

The moon’s light envelops Teala, purging the shadows away from her. Teala starts being able to sing well, matching the song that the tall woman is singing. Circling Teala’s sword, dark smoke starts to leave Teala. Her physical features returning to the way she looked before she was possessed.

A devil figure forms from the smoke, and a low cackle is heard, “Eilistraee..”

Eilistraee now sings. “Graz’zt has no power here.”

Graz’zt growls, “She’s mine. She will go after Cazador. She will be lost to you.”

Eilistraee sings, “She’s stronger than you think. Goodbye.” A portal opens up behind Graz’zt, which swallows him in its maw.

Eilistraee nods to Astarion, causing him to bare his fangs and hiss as he hides from the goddess’ light.

Lifting Teala’s sword, Eilistraee places it in Teala’s healed hands, then the goddess and all of her light disappear, leaving everything again in the darkness, except for the light coming from the Moon Lantern.

Halsin and Astarion reach out to hug Teala while she hugs them back. The three of them are relieved that Teala is safe now. They will figure out their relationship together.

Teala and the others start to cry. They’re feeling immense sadness, as if they have just lost someone precious to them.

Chapter Text

Vieliir doesn’t like dinners with the family. He prefers to go raiding on the surface. Here, he’s just one of the males. As a male, when not in battle or mating, you’re expected to be seen, not heard. Lately, he hasn’t even been sent to discipline the slaves. He misses disciplining, almost as much as he misses raiding.

“Did you see that?!” The matron screams.

All of the diners look up at her, the females are all asking, “What happened, Matron?”

She points at one of the slaves who served the dinner and says, “That kitchen slave dared to look at me while serving my food!”

The matron mother looks at her second born son, “Vieliir! It looks like your favourite slave needs disciplining! Take her! Throw her back into the kitchen when you’re done!”

Vieliir keeps his gaze down, “Yes, Matron.”

He stands up from his meal, then walks over to the slave girl. Grabbing her by the hair, he drags her to where his quarters are, letting her body slam against the steps on the way up. He could levitate, but then she wouldn’t get hurt on the steps if he did that. He needed to give the diners a show, and he didn’t want to disappoint them.

Throwing the slave girl onto his bed, he locks the door. She’s unable to speak, but cries and pleads as best she can. She knows what’s going to happen.

Vieliir sits on the bed next to her, “After all this time, you still think that you can beg me to stop?”

He reaches out and grabs her, bringing her in for a kiss. He presses against her on the bed. She’s still crying as he kisses her, but she doesn’t try to push him away. He tears her rags off of her, throwing them onto the floor.

He says, “After all this time, you still cry?”

He stares into her eyes, saying, “Don’t look up at my mother, or any females of my house. Understand?”

She nods her head.

“Good!”

She falls to her knees while holding her trembling hands out to block the blows that she knows will come. Ever since her tongue was taken, she cannot speak, but she tries.

Something breaks inside of Vieliir. The slave isn’t shaking because of the coldness of his bedroom. He remembers that Teala liked being rubbed on her back, so he rubs the slave’s trembling back.

There’s a slight shuffling sound off in the corner of his room. A giant spider slides through a cracked opening in the corner, making the opening bigger. She’s the 7 legged spider that Teala rescued and raised as if she was Teala’s own child.

The slave looks wide-eyed with fear at the spider.

He slaps the slave, “It’s not like you haven’t seen a spider before!”

Vieliir takes two animal speaking potions out of his pack. He splits the potions between himself and the slave.

“Ooloojooljool, what brings you here?” Vieliir asks the spider.

“No time. Do you have anti-psionic rings?” Ooloojooljool asks.

Vieliir opens up an old wooden chest he has, finding Teala’s jewelry box, and looks through the rings. When Teala had enchanted rings made, she always had what type of ring it was etched into the ring. He finds two anti-psionic rings, putting one on himself and one on the slave. The rings change their sizes to fit their wearers.

Ooloojooljool lifts up a small leg. Vieliir raises an eyebrow as he reaches into the jewelry box for a third ring, giving it to the spider, who webs it around the small leg as the ring cozies around it.

The spider continues, “Pack for travel!”

Addressing the slave, Vieliir reaches into the chest again, “These clothes were taken from sacrifices, because... sacrifices don’t need clothes.”

He watches the slave creep up to the chest. She shudders as she realizes other wood elves have worn these clothes. Some of the clothes still smelled of forest, flowers, and sunlight. She finds a simple top, pair of pants, a rope belt, and some boots. The clothes fit as if they’re made for her. Bumps raise up on her skin as she opens her mouth to try to speak, forming words that can’t be said.

Vieliir takes some his clothes, some food he had taken from the kitchen when he had visited the slave before, and a few supplies, putting them in his pack. Taking several shallow breaths, he looks at Teala’s jewelry box. He picks it up and puts into his pack, surrounding it safely within his clothes. He tightens his belt, making sure his scimitars are securely attached.

“I know this is confusing. I will explain as we go.” the spider answers as she motions for them to follow her back into the cracked opening in the wall.

“Won’t our voices echo?” Vieliir asks.

“Not this particular rock with the magics that have built it.” The spider replies.

Vieliir grabs the slave girl and looks at her, “You! You’re coming with me. Behave. This is unusual, but Teala would trust this spider with her life, I will too.” As he said this, he hopes that the spider wasn’t the reason that Teala failed at running away with Kyorlin.

As the three squeeze through the cracks of the huge mansion, Vieliir asks the spider why so many cracks are allowed in this building.

“To allow us spiders free access. Skitter faster. Must skitter faster!” The spider responds.

“Why are we running away?” Vieliir asks as he holds onto the slave’s hand. Surprisingly, she’s keeping up with him and the spider.

“What do you know of the Absolutists?” Ooloojooljool asks.

“I’ve heard that they’re trying to take over several of our cities, including Menzoberranzan, whose noble houses have actually called for military aid. We sent half of our army from our house. Several other houses have sent aid as well.” Vieliir responds, “I’ve never seen or heard of this type of alliance before.”

The spider continues to shuffle along the rock, “We spiders have seen your army on their way home. Its members are wearing strange necklaces and have cloaked illithids accompanying them.”

The slave attempts to whimper, but no sound comes out.

“Come on.” He whispers to her.

The spider slows down, saying, “Please be quiet now. We are close to where you receive your guests. Please see, but stay in darkness. You need to see to warn others, then you’ll have to go. I will stay here. We spiders shall hide and await word from Lolth.”

The spider scuffles silently along the rock, finally finding several ignored holes in the walls of the rock. Vieliir and the slave watch through the holes to see what these Absolutists have wrought.

Vieliir does indeed see the massive chamber where the front doors welcome visitors. His mother is dressed in her finest with her gaudiest jewelry. It looks like she survived being looked at by a slave. Most of his aunts stand tall around her. The house guard as well. In fact, if Vieliir hadn’t been sent away to discipline the slave, he’d be there as well. The house servants have opened the doors to their returning army. His aunt, Qiildira, is in the doorway at the head of that army, and has a tall, cloaked figure next to her.

The matron mother’s cruel voice is heard, “Welcome Sister! It’s good to see you again! Why have you returned? Has the battle been won so soon?”

Qiildira’s shrill voice can be heard, “Yes Sister! And look here, I’ve bought gifts!

The cloaked figure raises its hand, which looks like the hand of an illithid, but before anyone can act, everyone’s mind is held in its grip, for it’s not the only illithid. Other cloaked figures emerge. Several tall covered statues are brought into the entrance-way, along with something that looks like a covered well.

Vieliir and the slave feel Ooloojooljool’s strong velvety legs wrap around them as they watch helplessly at what’s happening.

The returning army close the massive doors, then remove the covers that hide the statues and the well. The well is actually a pool full of illithid tadpoles. The tall statues are actually pods, which the entranced matron mother and the others of her house enter mindlessly.

Vieliir feels loss, as if it’s worse than death. He’s helpless to stop it. He sees the tall, cloaked figures put the tadpoles in his family members’ eyes. With horror, he realizes that the mighty city of Menzoberranzan must have fallen as well.

It’s true that Vieliir has always wanted freedom from females, that he has always wanted to be in control of his life, and that he has always worshiped Vhaeraun ever since he heard about Lolth’s son. Teala suspected it, but she never said anything. Vieliir never found out why.

Vieliir doesn’t love anyone but himself, but he doesn’t what his people to fall to illithids. Since Menzoberranzan fell, what did that mean for the followers of Lolth, or of Lolth Herself?

The spider drags Vieliir and the slave through the darkness to the sewers beneath the mansion.

Vieliir whispers to the spider, “Are we near the prisons?”

“You want to go back? You’re mad!” The spider says.

“You know if I don’t rescue Kyorlin, Teala will come back from the dead to drag me down with her.” Vieliir says.

Vieliir is shocked as he sees Ooloojooljool rolls all eight of her eyes at him. He didn’t know a spider could do that.

She says, “Kyorlin is a traitor! He’s the reason why Teala failed Lolth. Does that traitor hold power over you as well?”

Vieliir said to the spider, “Why are you helping us then?”

Ooloojooljool says, “Before Teala failed Lolth, Teala saved my life. A life for a life. Teala taught me. Now follow.” The spider leads them to one of the many deep pits that are the jail cells.

Veillir is thankful that his mother lied to Kyorlin’s house, saying Kyorlin had fallen into the chasm along with Teala. The strong winds of a storm pushed her down, but those same winds threw Kyorlin into a walkway onto the other side, where they found him. They almost missed him, but he started to sing his foolish songs, so he was found.

Veillir and the slave girl look into the pit where Kyorlin is, seemingly trapped with chained manacles, connecting his neck, wrists, and ankles.

Weakly, Kyorlin lifts his head. Looking at the couple, he weakly sings, “How fairest is one so cruel to delight in one too beauteous to bear?”

At this point, Vieliir wishes he was one of those wizards who could send silent messages. Vieliir calls, as loud as he dares, to Kyorlin, “Levitate!”

Kyorlin starts singing, “Last I levitated, I lost Tae’yan’nae.”

Vieliir looks down at Kyorlin, “There’s no storm here. Everything here is dead or dying. Teala would want you to be free.”

“Tae’yan’nae.” Kyorlin sings, but he stays where he is.

Vieliir looks at the spider, “Ooloojooljool, hold the slave so that she can’t move.” The spider wraps around the slave, who is trapped within the spider’s legs.

Vieliir reaches into his pack for an anti-psionic ring, then levitates down into the pit to rescue Kyorlin, who has freed himself of the manacles somehow. The male drow look at each other uncomfortably as Vieliir puts the ring on Kyorlin’s finger.

“Kyorlin, you could’ve free yourself from this pit all this time?”

“Why should I live while my love lies dead and forgotten in darkest night?” Teala's love sings.

“Because she will return from the dead to kill me if I don’t help you live. Also, the ring, it’s one of hers, an anti-psionic ring.”

“Anti-psionic ring?” No singing this time.

“I will catch you up on our way out of here.”

Chapter Text

In the middle of The Shadow Cursed Lands, Teala and her friends find themselves hugging each other, being lit only by the Moon Lantern. Eilistraee had left them after saving Teala.

“Why did she save me, again, of all people?” Teala asks.

“Gods only know why they help…” Halsin answers.

“And why they don’t…” Astarion adds, which causes Halsin to growl at the spawn.

Astarion faces Halsin as if to tear into the druid.

Wyll interrupts, “Now, now, let’s sit and talk. We have plenty out there that wants us dead without us helping them.”

They sit within the light. Wyll says, “I’ve fought many types of vampires, but I’ve never heard about spawn making thralls for themselves.”

“In all of my reading, I haven’t either.” Gale says.

“It must be impossible that a spawn could make a thrall. Gale would know if it was.” Shadowheart jokes.

Everyone laughs quietly, including Gale and Wyll.

Teala looks at Astarion, then the rest of the group, saying, “Astarion told me how a spawn is made, but not how a thrall is made.”

Everyone looks at Astarion, who nods.

Halsin asks, “Well then, how is a thrall made?”

Astarion tries to speak, but Halsin holds up his hand to the spawn. The druid and the rest of the group look to Wyll and Gale for answers.

Wyll shrugs his shoulders.

Sitting up straight as a professor, Gale begins his lecture, “Thralls have better senses than normal. They can heal themselves and climb walls like spiders. However, thralls, while mortal, must feed on their master every day or they act as if poisoned, and must rest when the sun is out. Radiant magic and sunlight hurt thralls as if they’re vampires. With this in mind, it’s possible that the vampire was lying, just to get under our skin, although we haven’t seen the sun in at least a ten day.”

“However, to have guessed the three of us having a connection...Things might be different where the tadpoles are involved, especially since Teala and I haven’t drunk Astarion’s blood.” Halsin says.

“You’re not infected, shouldn’t we see some signs in you?” Gale asks.

“I may have a way to find out.” Teala meets Halsin’s eyes, “I was more than just a cleric for Eilistraee’s mother, I was the Inquisitor of my House.”

Halsin’s brings a hand to cover his face and closes his eyes. He tries to speak, but no words come. The druid pales and waves his other hand at Gale.

“Teala, if what I read about what an Inquisitor is true, you were the one who tortured people, read minds without permission...Things that would cause a worshiper of Shar to get ill.” Gale grimaces.

“Gale!” Shadowheart glowers at the wizard.

Wyll raises his hands, “Calm down friends. We’ve come this far. These shadows are bringing out the worst in us.”

Astarion asks Teala, “Well my dear, if it will prove my innocence, please do whatever you need. I was forced by Cazador to bring him victims to enslave. I don’t want to be part of slavery again.”

“Astarion, when you give your answer, give it in a sentence. Do not just say yes or no.” Silently, Teala casts her spell and says out loud, “Did you make Halsin and I thralls?”

Confidently, Astarion says, “I did not make Halsin or Teala thralls.”

Teala says, “Astarion is telling the truth. Of course, his worm might be having other ideas…”

“However, you do have ways of finding thoughts or actions that the person isn’t aware of knowing or doing.” Halsin can’t look at her.

“What’s wrong, Halsin? Besides what happened with the vampires?”

“Teala, I’m not ready to talk of it.”

Teala tries to put her hand on his shoulder, but Halsin pushes her hand away.

“What is he talking about, Teala?” Astarion asks.

“I’m not sure Eilistraee will allow me. However, when I was serving her mother, I could force memories from someone and see what they saw, what they did. I just don’t know if our connection by being infected with tadpoles will help or hinder the process.”

“Will you be able to see my actions? How far back? I don’t know if I can take it if you could see what I did for Cazador.”

“Memories are suspended like webs. You pull at certain threads, it will lead you to certain memories. I will only go as far back to when I first met you. I can speed up the memories a bit, but I’ve been told that I’m not the fastest spinner. It might take as much time as when I meditate for a long rest.”

“How far can you go back? Would you be able to tell me what I looked like when I was mortal yet skip the part when I was serving Cazador?”

“I will have to do that last. I can go backwards in the time of your memories. I’ve never gone back that far, but I can try.”

“Tell him it will hurt.” Halsin whispers.

Teala reaches out to Halsin, but he pushes her hand away again.

“Astarion, it will hurt, you will be gagged as to not bite your tongue off. You cannot be drugged or I cannot get to your memories easily.”

“Are you in the habit of gagging all of your lovers or just my beautiful self?” Astarion laughs bitterly.

“Astarion, we don’t have to do this. It’s possible that they could just tell that the three of us have been together.”

“No my dear, I need to know.”

While Teala grabs some cloth from her pack, there are sudden bursts of ash, smoke, and a hint of sulfur. She and her companions are thrown flat on their backs. Last time this happened, a cambion showed up to announce that he will wait until they’re actually changing into illithids before he will rescue them by taking their tadpoles. All they would need to do is give him their souls. Trying to translate from what he was actually saying was difficult. His eloquence would put any other bard to shame. Well, almost any other bard...

To Teala’s disappointment, her body wasn’t enough of an exchange for her tadpole.

“Raphael?” She whispers.

A female form solidifies in the smoky sulfuric ash. Teala’s heart drops. Unless Raphael can take female form, this visitor is not him.

This new cambion is different. Blue skin, with four blue horns which delicately curve from her head, two beautiful soft blue wings. This fiend is dressed in all matter of jewels and silks, leaving nothing to the imagination. The dress reminds Teala of home.

The cambion addresses Wyll, “Well, my little pup-pup, why don’t you introduce me to your friends?”

“Isht’k! I will give you a little pup-pup! Whatever that is!” Lae’zel slices her sword through the cambion, but the cambion just flickers as the sword goes through her. She’s just an image, not a real person.

The devil laughs.

“Everyone, please meet my patron, Mizora.” Wyll winces.

“My sweet little puppy...You look different from last I saw you.”

“Yes Mizora.”

“Where’s the punishment I gave you instead of just throwing you into the Styx for breaking our contract?”

Wyll’s companions are confused as Wyll seems to reach for something on his head that they can’t see.

“A Hat of Disguise.” Gale guesses.

As a hat materializes in Wyll’s hand, his friends can see that his stone eye is still there, but his other eye is as red as fire instead of brown as autumn leaves. He has bony ridges protruding on his shoulders, back, and thighs which tighten his leather clothing, but not enough to tear through it. The most unusual changes are his horns that curve out of his head.

“Tch’k! Don’t even think of it, Ish’tk!” Teala is distracted by Wyll’s horns.

“Pup, why don’t you tell your friends what you failed to do for me.” Mizora trills.

“To kill Karlach.” His companions gasp. “When I saw her, I didn’t kill her like Mizora had asked me to. I couldn’t do it.”

“How did you find out?” He asks his patron.

“Some fallen paladins told me. You might know them. You and your friends killed them, so they landed in Avernus.” Mizora frowns.

“Is there something else that Wyll can do? Something to free him from his contract? Is there someone of worth that need not be killed?” Teala asks, wondering what this cambion would accept as payment.

“I’m here. I can ask.” Wyll says. “Mizora, is there a way?”

“Hmmmmm...You’re on your way to Moonrise Towers?” The cambion trills.

“Yes Mizora.” Wyll says to the ground.

“The Absolutists have captured an asset of Zariel. Free them, and I will free you from your contract instead of throwing you into the Styx for hiding. Deal?” She laughs.

“Deal.” Wyll agrees.

“And you, my dear,” Mizora points at Teala, “You stay away from Raphael. I’m much prettier than he is and a much better lover.”

Mizora disappears into the fading smoke.

“Strange that she didn’t update the contract.” Wyll mutters.

“T’chk! Wyll, remember when you told us that it was foolish to sign a contract with a devil?” To everyone’s surprise, Lae’zel cups Wyll’s’ face lovingly.

“Yes, I do. I know that from experience. At the time, I wanted revenge against an army of goblins, who slaughtered an entire village, just because they could. Mizora gave me abilities to do exactly that, for a price, to be her personal assassin.”

“Wyll, is it possible she can get rid of the tadpoles for a price other than our souls then?” Teala asks.

“Teala, you can’t be serious!” Wyll argues, “With every person I kill for Mizora, she demands more and more. She had contracted me to kill those without a heart, then she tells me to kill Karlach. Even without a physical heart, Karlach is a good person, and in no way deserves to be killed. If I had killed Karlach, who would’ve been the next one I kill? Another kind person like Karlach who escaped the Blood War? Someone who was involuntarily taken to fight? Involuntarily physically altered?”

“Of course, you could just throw yourself at Mizora when you see her again, maybe she won’t just send her image next time.” Shadowheart teases Teala.

“Shadowheart, I grew up with demons all around me, and now we have three devils after us. I thought demons and devils were similar despite the fact that they fight all of the time.”

“We have two devils trailing us.” Gale corrects.

“We have three, you forgot about...I think Elistraee called him Graz’zt, although he has been after me for a time. I didn’t know he’d end up threatening the group.”

“Teala, even though there are tales that he might be half devil and that he was once a devil, Graz’zt is a demon lord.”

“A demon lord? I guess I was too obsessed with how to summon a grabrezu to learn anything else about the other types of demons that were not of the Demonweb Pits.”

Teala gazes at Astarion. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“Please darling. I need to know.”

Teala gags Astarion so he won’t bite his tongue. They both sit cross-legged, facing each other. Teala puts her hands on his head, pouring faerie fire into his entire being, not stopping until her magic to produce the spell is spent.

Astarion passes out from the pain. Teala holds him up so he doesn’t fall to the side. Closing her eyes, she presses her forehead against hers. She starts talking in Undercommon.

Barcus winces at her words and mouths to Gale, asking the wizard to cover Barcus in a Silence spell so that Barcus can’t hear Teala. Gale obliges the dark gnome.

While Teala probes Astarion’s mind, a portal containing a chasm starts to open up. A different type of shadow pushes itself out of the chasm, impatient that the portal isn’t opening fast enough. The shadow is the tip of what seems to be a very large spider’s leg.

A voice sounds from the chasm, “Tae’yan’nae...A’Veliitraviir…”

Wyll sends a Constitution Hex with an Eldritch Blast to the spider’s leg.

Halsin downs an Elixir of Hill Giant Strength, casts Shillelagh on his staff, smashing it on top of the spider’s leg.

Shadowheart’s Fireball and Gale’s Magic Missile spells reach down into the darkness where the rest of the spider must be.

Lae’zel tries cutting through the spider’s leg with her sword.

The voice just laughs at them, enjoying the pain as the leg starts to split.

Gales calls out, “Teala! Stop please!” She seems to be caught in a trance. Gale casts Counterspell at Teala, knocking her out of concentration.

As if waking up, Teala looks in horror as the chasm seems to grow. Teala casts Moonbeam on the portal, shrinking it. Shadowheart casts Moonbeam too, shrinking it even more. Halsin uses his magic to move the shadows for the real Moon to show through, just long enough to seal the portal.

The shadows return in such force that Shadowheart and Halsin must use faerie fire to discourage the shadows from encroaching on the camp.

Gale brings everyone closer around Teala and the unconscious Astarion so that the Moon Lantern can cover them more effectively.

“Such a shame, I believe we were about to see Lolth.” Volo seems to be unbothered by the night’s events. The companions shake their heads at him.

Scampering in her pack, Teala finds a Greater Healing Potion, wakes up Astarion, and pours the potion slowly into his mouth to drink.

Teala addresses the companions, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know that doing this would attract one of her servants.

“Oh, so it wasn’t her.” Volo sounds disappointed, then brightens up, “How could you tell? I know! She must be larger. Have long enough legs to reach across the Demonweb Pits themselves.”

“She is larger, at least when she visited me in visions. Her legs are twice as thick as the one that tried to break through tonight. Thankfully, it’s still night.”

“What are you saying Teala?” Halsin grabs Astarion by the shirt.

“It’s not his fault. He was not aware what he was doing. The tadpole controls him!”

“Teala, I know how you feel about him, but your tadpole and the tadpoles of the other companions aren’t able to control you.”

“Halsin, in our minds, our tadpoles have us imagine what they want us to see. The tadpole uses someone important in our lives. With me, the tadpole shows up as Kyorlin, my first love.” She pauses, looking for Astarion for approval. He nods his head. “With Astarion, the tadpole shows up as Cazador.”

Halsin releases his grip on Astarion’s shirt.

“How?” Halsin whispers.

“Unconsciously. Every time he handled our food. Every time he was, close to us. He slipped some of his blood. At least with me, I just accept that he tastes like that. With the food, it can cover up the taste.”

“I didn’t realize...I’m sorry.” Astarion says.

“Gale, how long will we be enthralled? What do we do when and if we feel poisoned?” Teala asks.

“I’m not sure, but we should be able to figure it out something if it comes to that. The tadpole might have changed things with Astarion. We will have to see.” Gale ends the Silence spell on Barcus.

“Let’s get some rest and meditation now.” Teala says. “Who is able to keep watch tonight?”

“I can keep first watch along with Wyll and Barcus.” Everyone agrees with Shadowheart.

Thankfully, Teala doesn’t fall asleep while meditating tonight. Despite the risk, she meditates with Astarion.

Chapter Text

As our heroes walk through the dark with only the Moon Lantern to light their way, the shadows seem to be mocking the companions, trying to drag them down.

“Teala?” A whisper in the dark.

“Yes Astarion?”

“Were you able to go back into my mortal past at all?”

“No.”

The group is silent again.

Their path leads to a rickety bridge over a chasm.

“Bah! Do we even know if we’re going the right direction?” Lae’zel complains.

“There’s a hazy light at the end of this bridge!” Barcus exclaims.

Teala takes a few steps, testing the bridge, staring out into the darkness ahead.

“You’re right, Barcus. It’s faint, but it’s there.”

The elves agree, but the humans have to trust the others as they cannot see that far in the shadows.

Halsin tries the bridge, and despite the way it looks, it carries his and the others’ weights easily.

As they cross the bridge, a huge inn with a stable come into view.

“Hark! Who goes there?” One of the soldiers watching the gate are among many dressed in heavy armor with insignias that Teala is not familiar with.

“I am Halsin. The Archdruid of The Emerald Grove. I thought the Harpers left these lands.”

“Halsin, you were there when the shadows first fell.” An older half-elven woman appears. “Why have you brought True Souls here?” She holds up a bottled tadpole which seems to be recognizing Halsin’s infected companions.

“Jaheira? I’m happy to know you made it through. These True Souls are not like the others. They do not worship the Absolute. They know they’re infected. Here is their leader, Teala.”

“A drow?” Jaheira looks at Teala suspiciously.

“I worship Eilistraee, my lady.” Teala bows.

“Hrmph, meet me for a drink inside, and we shall see.” Jaheira looks closely in Halsin’s eyes, searching for a tadpole. Satisfied, she walks into the inn to wait for Teala.

“It looks like there is a forge in that stable. I see some Flaming Fist here. If they think my horns are part of my helmet…” Wyll says.

“But your eye…” Gale begins.

“I can keep to the shadows. It’s not that light here. I can say I have a sickness in my eye.” Wyll takes a light blanket from his pack to makeshift a cloak of it to hide the ridges pressing through his clothing.

As the companions approach the stable, they hear a few people laughing, sounding just like,

“Karlach? Xie? Phyr?” Shadowheart is the first to recognize the voices.

The tiefling and the two genasi, who call themselves the twins, are hunched over the forge, dangerously close to the fire for anyone else, but not for these three. It looks like Xie and Phyr are teaching Karlach how to fold metal into a katana.

Karlach is a one horned tiefling, full of fire due to an infernal engine instead of her heart. Half of her hair is burned off, with the other half falling in scarlet and black waves to her shoulder. Former member of Zariel’s army. Her muscled body is dressed in barbarian garb, with a double axe slung over her back.

Xie looks like a column of fire who uses magic to forge weapons and armor. It’s amazing that they can forge, even touch things at all.

Phyr is a genasi as well, but made out of water. While in the form of steam, Phyr can’t speak, but still waves their hand hello as they help Xie with forging.

“Hi! Yeah! Never thought to see you here.” Xie glances quickly at Teala and her companions, then brings their eyes back to the blade they’re working on. Rays of flame and magic weaving to fold the steel effortlessly.

“Fuck! It’s good to see you!” Karlach says, as she makes sure that Xie is holding the blade steady without her help.

Karlach dances over to the gate, letting her friends in.

“Thanks to the twins and some infernal metal we’ve found, I can hug now! Isn’t that fuckin’ awesome?” Karlach laughs as she reaches out to Wyll. Wyll flinches as if expecting to be burned, but hugs her tightly.

“Nice horns, Wyll! What happened? How did you end up here?

Wyll lets Karlach and the twins know what has happened to the group since Karlach last saw the companions.

“I’m sorry you got into trouble over me. Let’s kill Mizora!” Karlach is giddy to get revenge.

“Please don’t. We found a way to free me from my contract with her."

“Yes! We find her and fuckin’ chop her head off!” Karlach laughs.

“We have an easier way, we just need to free an asset of Zariel who is being held in Moonrise Towers.” Teala interrupts.

“If you say so, but if that doesn’t work, we are going to do it my way!” Karlach hugs the drow so hard Teala almost loses her balance when Karlach releases her.

“Isht’k, I tried to kill Mizora, but she appeared as a vision and not herself, so watch out for her magic.” Lae’zel is not eager to hug Karlach, but puts her arms over Karlach’s shoulders as the tiefling hugs her.

“Xie, can you and Phyr make me a helmet which will look like a horned helmet and a proper cloak to hide these ridges?” Wyll asks.

“Yeah, but I’m going to need something besides gold. You shouldn’t be able to make a sword out of gold. I don’t know how Teala’s sword is still in one piece.” Xie laughs.

“The gold sword has magic from Eilistraee, which is why it doesn’t fall apart.” Teala’s seriousness amuses Xie. “We found some iron ingots during our travel through these shadow lands, will they do?” Teala asks.

Lae’zel, who has been carrying them, takes them out of her pack and throws them over to Xie.

“I can do that for yeah.” A flame of fire magic catches the ingots as easily as if they were Scratch’s toy ball.

As Phyr looks for a proper cloak in their inventory, Xie starts working on a helmet for Wyll.

Karlach moves the group safely away from the forge’s heat and begins her tale, “After we killed the paladins, I joined Zevlor’s group, helping them get to Baldur’s Gate. When we reached the shadow lands, some of the pack animals got sick, possessed, and had to be killed. We did our fuckin’ best to avoid the Absolute’s forces, but they found us. Their numbers were too great to fight off. Zevlor surrendered, in the hopes that no more of his people would be killed. However, many of us were able to escape. We came upon some Harpers. They led us here. I got to meet Jaheira! Thee fuckin’ Jaheira! We’ve stayed here ever since. We need a way to save the tieflings from Moonrise Towers. However, many get sick and chance possession while going into the shadows, so we have been waiting for Florrick and her Flaming Fist to come up with a plan.”

“Oh no! That’s terrible!” All of the companions are upset, especially Halsin, who feels as if it was his failure that the land is in shadow in the first place.

“While traveling, we have been under the protection of the Moon Lantern. How is this inn able to keep the shadows at bay?” Teala asks.

“Isobel, she worships Selûne.” Karlach says.

“Then we shouldn’t dally here. I don’t want to be around someone who worships Selûne.” Shadowheart spits.

“Don’t you find it telling that Selûne helps keep the shadows away from the inn?” Gale asks. Shadowheart glares at Gale, who puts his hands up in defeat.

“We need to stop and rest here. Get our best spells ready. We need to rescue Wyll’s dad, Wulbern, Zariel’s asset, and the tieflings.” Teala says. “Poor Zevlor. He tries his best to keep his people safe.”

“I think it’s safer if I stay here.” Barcus tells Teala.

“Smart. However, hide if someone attacks the inn. I just hope that the inn continues to be hidden from the armies of the Absolute.” Teala replies.

Working surprisingly fast, Phyr finds a robe for Wyll and Xie forges a helmet. The horns look as if they were made for the helmet and the parts disconnect easily.

“Thank you, Phyr and Xie.”

“Nah a problem, Wyll, just don’t depend on it being a helmet. In order for the leather to go ‘round the horns, it doesn’t do much protecting, yeah?”

“Yeah. Now, do you have anything for my eye?” Wyll asks.

“Say it’s infected, which isn’t exactly a lie now?” Xie winks.

“No… How did you wink? You have no eyes.” Wyll grins.

“A bigger question is how do I see?” Xie giggles.

“Karlach, is there a back way where we can bathe and change into camp clothes before I’m brought before Jaheira? I don’t think she trusts me. I need some time to relax first, maybe a bath.” Teala asks.

“You need time to relax?” Astarion asks.

“Teala, we do need to sit and talk about what happened and what we learned. There is a lot to discuss, especially between you and me. However, we should not keep Jaheira waiting.” Halsin scolds.

“She has a point, Halsin. I feel like I’ve not felt or drank water for days. We smell like Auntie Ethel’s swamp. Karlach, is there a back way to the inn where we can bathe and eat? Along our travels, we have found enough food we can probably even share with the people in the inn. The shadows don’t seem to have a need to eat.” Gale defends Teala.

“Yes, I can sneak you round the back, except for Teala. As you know, the drow are not trusted here.” Karlach is unsure of what to do for her.

“She can bathe in one of the tubs that we clean clothes and such in. She’ll end up cleaner than she is now.” Xie points to a huge wooden tub and a table filled with soaps, clean clothing, and clean towels.

Since Lae’zel is the strongest of the group, she grabs a cauldron, pouring the water that has been boiled into the tub so that Teala can bathe.

As Lae’zel and the rest of her companions are being led round the back of the inn by Karlach, Teala removes her armour, which has become battered with use.

“This armour is banged up pretty badly. Want me to repair it?”

“Yes. Thank you Xie. My companions will need their armour repaired as well.”

“Well since yeah are here, I will fix yours first. Do you have any more ingots?”

“I have some leather armour in my pack, will that do?” Teala brings the one set of leather armour that she’s been able to carry since she found it in an abandoned house.

“Yeah, that will do nicely.” Xie shows Teala where to add the leather armour to their inventory, then begins to work on the repair.

After disrobing, Teala sinks into the tub. The water is cool despite the heat of the forge. The harsh soap enters cuts she didn’t know she had until now. She scrubs herself clean, separating her braids and removing the cheap gems threaded in her hair.

Expensive gems reflect light too well, revealing where she is too easily, but she still misses wearing them. Every expensive gem she and her companions find end up being sold for food, potions, or elixirs.

By the time she’s finished bathing and putting her hair back up in braids and gems again, the water is ice cold. She tries to lift the tub to empty it, but her knees give out.

“Teala, don’t worry about it, yeah? I will take care of it.”

“Thank you Xie. Usually, bathing tubs are not this big.”

“Well, this one has to be big enough for the amount of laundry that needs to be done.” Xie laughs.

Teala agrees as she gets into her camp clothing, which smell better than her armour at least. She hopes that the soap makes up for the stale smell of her clothing.

The twins and Teala wave goodbye to each other.

Nervously, Teala walks to the front door of the inn.

Despite the worried looks of the guards, they let her enter. They must have been told about Teala beforehand.

Jaheira is at a table in the dining hall, with a bottle and a cup in front of her. The Harper motions for Teala to sit across from her.

Teala accepts the invitation, recognising the smell of the liquid in the bottle. Certainly, Halsin told Jaheira about Teala’s resistance to poisons, especially truth serums.

“Please drink.” Jaheira tells Teala.

“Truth serum is not needed.”

“Please drink, and tell me that your hair is red.” Jaheira commands.

Teala drinks the delicious drink down.

“My hair is r... r… white, except some silver is starting to grow in since I’ve been using magic from Eilistraee.” Teala covers her mouth, looking at Jaheira in confusion.

“Since we are under the light of Selûne in this inn and its surroundings, her magic is more powerful than your training as an Inquisitor.”

“What are you and your companions going to do to the Absolute?” Jaheira asks.

“My companions and I are going to destroy the Absolute, which will hopefully free us from these tadpoles.”

“What do you intend to do at Moonrise Towers?” Jaheira asks.

“To free Wyll’s dad, the tieflings, a svirfneblin, and an asset of Zariel.”

“An asset of Zariel? Why?”

“To free Wyll from his contract.””

“So the stories about Wyll are true.” Jaheira sounds disappointed.

“Jaheira, please don’t ask me about what Wyll did, ask him.”

“Since when does a drow care about a male’s privacy?” Jaheira asks.

“I’m trying to learn, but according to most of my companions, I still treat other races, especially males, not as I should.”

“What are your plans for everyone in my charge, including males, at this inn?” Jaheira asks.

“To respect them and protect them as best as I can.” Teala assures the Harper.

“You may go. We will see if you’re worthy of trust.” Jaheira stands up, walking over to some Flaming Fist soldiers. Probably to tell them of what she learned from speaking with the drow.

Familiar scents of cherry, musk, ash, and a bit of sulfur reach her nose. Not here! Not now! Frantically, she looks around for her companions. She sees some familiar tieflings in the inn, but she will have to talk with them later. Where’s Astarion and his mirror? There are no mirrors in the inn. Why aren’t there any mirrors? Gently feeling around her hair and her features, she hopes they are pleasing to see.

Using all of her skills of stealth that Astarion taught her, she looks around the inn, but tries to remain hidden. There, in an unassuming place of the inn, is Mol, a tiefling child, who has aspirations of running a thieves guild once in Baldur’s Gate, playing lanceboard. As Teala looks to see the man whom Mol is playing against, Teala feels her breasts tingle in excitement and her sex below throbbing, wet in anticipation. Strange that she is feeling anger while her body is reacting like this, but he is going too far! Mol is a child! A surface child! She deserves a chance at a good life! The man looks over to Teala as if he can read her mind, with fake concern and a conceited smile on his face: Raphael.

Chapter Text

Teala’s anger wins over her lust as she sees Mol shake hands with Raphael. Teala hopes it’s over Mol’s apparent win of lanceboard. However, knowing Raphael, that isn’t the game at play and it’s not a game that Mol can win. While Raphael leans back in his chair, Mol hops out of hers and walks over to Teala.

“Hiya Chief! It’s good to see that you made it here!” Mol is all smiles.

“Hi Mol. It’s good to see you made it here too!”

“Of course Chief! I’m a survivor! I even have a contact from Baldur’s Gate who will help fund my own thieves guild!” Mol nods her head in Raphael’s direction. Smiling, the cambion nods his head at them.

“Please don’t. He’s a devil. You’re smart and strong enough to make it on your own.”

“Yeah right! You female drow think all men are devils.” Mol starts giggling, then stops herself. “Seriously though, I’ve got my kids to take care of, that’s where he comes in. He gives us the protection we need in the city, and we deliver the needed payment. It’s a win-win for the both of us.”

“Please stay away from him, and stay here with the Harpers at the inn until the shadows can be vanquished from these lands.”

“Don’t worry. He will help us through.”

“Why would he, a stranger, help you? Think about it.”

“You were a stranger. You’re a drow. You’re practically a devil yourself from what from what I’ve seen what drow can do.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help you escape the army of the Absolute. I’m here now. I will make sure that the Absolute and its army will be stopped.”

“Chief, don’t worry. I’ve got this. I will take care of myself and my kids.” Mol points at herself with her thumb as she says this, then slaps her hand against one of Teala’s legs as a goodbye because she can’t reach the drow’s arm.

Teala watches Mol walk over to her kids, maybe to tell them about the upcoming partnership with Raphael.

Teala storms over to Raphael with clenched fists, radiant energy emanating from them.

“Ah, my favourite client. How are you, little mouse? Any tentacles or ink starting to show?” Raphael stands up, lifting Teala’s chin, moving her face to the right, then left. “No, which gives us more time.”

He draws in his breath slowly before exhaling. He's not going to get under her skin.

He smiles knowingly.

“Leave. Mol. Alone. Cambion.” If her words sting, the self-proclaimed devil gives her no indication.

“There have been thousands of souls before her and there will be thousands of souls after her. Someday, you’ll be among them, that I can promise you.”

“I’ve given my soul to Eilistraee. I shall not give it to another. I’d rather have it die than go elsewhere.”

“Was this before or after you threw yourself at me when we first met?”

This is one of the few times that Teala wishes her eyes were red instead of lilac. Luckily, a drow’s eyes can turn to red when they are angry.

“We are not talking about any other souls but Mol’s. You shall stay away from hers!”

“Ah, but who are you to deny me her soul? It would be as if you would deny me the taste of Cormyrean Brandy.” Raphael steps closer to her. “Little mouse, what is happening to your eyes? You’re not experiencing ceremorphosis. Are you?”

“You will not touch her!” Distracted by Raphael’s fake look of concern, she’s still not fooled.

“I assure you, I just want to touch and keep Mol’s soul.” Raphael steps so close to Teala that she becomes warm in the heat of his breath.

Teala whimpers, forcing herself to keep focus.

“Now, my little mouse, I’m running late to a meeting with another client of mine.” Raphael flashes his smiling teeth at her. “See you soon.”

He lifts up one of his perfect, sculpted hands to snap his fingers.

Before he gets the chance to teleport, Teala jumps up on him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, while bringing her legs around his waist.

Disappearing into a frozen void filled with flames and ash, oppressive silence surrounds both of them.

Not realizing that she had closed her eyes, she opens them. She lifts up one of her hands to cough smoke into it. She’s sitting on Raphael’s lap.

Clop... Clop... Clop... Teala realizes those are horses’ hooves hitting cobblestones.

Finding Raphael and herself in a carriage, she's surrounded by silks, velvet, satin, lace, furs, soft pillows filled with goose feathers, and intricately woven rugs on the floor. Beautifully carved wooden statues and oil paintings of Raphael hold the carriage together. She’s not sure if there's one door or two, for she cannot see one.

“My...My...In all my years... Do you know that no one has done that to me? That’s twice you’ve surprised me, my little mouse.”

While he threatens her, she leans into his touch. He brushes a loose braid of hers aside to make sure that both of her eyes can see him without obstruction.

As he lifts his hand to snap his fingers again, she musters all of her strength to stop him, causing him to glare at her. Not taking her eyes off of his, she bites her lower lip.

“Raphael,” She breathes, “I will give you my body and wealth, including the soul coins that my companions and I have found, just please leave Mol and her kids alone.”

She gazes deep into his handsome human brown eyes, knowing they’re lies. In her mind, she bathes in his fiery ones. She prefers the truth, although it terrifies her. She pushes down the throbbing of an impending orgasm.

He smirks triumphantly.

“Come, now, why would I agree to that sort of an arrangement?” His voice takes a more menacing tone. “Do you mistake me for a glabrezu?” He growls.

Grabbing her waist, he pulls her tightly against him, leaving nothing to her imagination. He laughs as his trimmed human nails chew through her clothing, carving into her skin. He sings a spell into her ear. A Mage Hand appears next to her other ear, wrapping itself tightly around her neck as her eyes open wide.

“I wonder, little mouse, what your soul will be like?” Raphael whispers.

“You... can’t have... my soul.” Gasping for air, Teala still hopes her offer can save Mol.

Outside, Teala can hear a loud voice announcing, "Baldur's Mouth! Night Edition! Gortash to be named the new Archduke!" It breaks off. She hears a softer thank you before the voice becomes louder again, repeating the announcement.

“Baldur’s Mouth... is that near... Baldur’s Gate?” Teala can only take shallow breaths.

“No, my little, squeaky mouse.” Raphael laughs. “Baldur’s Mouth is how the mice in Baldur’s Gate get their news.” Teala swoons. She wishes he’d laugh like this more often, almost as if he’s a human like Gale. Teala puts up walls and uses her tadpole while she thinks of a human Raphael. She doesn’t want him to know these thoughts.

“Now, let’s get you back to the inn, especially since you’re blocking yourself from me.”

“I’m sorry... Raphael. Please... let me go with you... maybe I can get some more... information... on this... Gortash.”

The cambion’s demeanor changes. For the first time in Teala’s life, she can’t read someone’s face.

“Wyll’s father... is an Archduke... so I need to scout... ahead... to find out what’s going on...” Teala is losing her vision. “I... think... since I’m here... I should scout ahead. You won’t have... to take me back... to the inn... I know how to... teleport.”

“My, my, you’re full of surprises. Hmmmm… I will take your gold coins and soul coins that I find in your pack at the inn. I will taste your soul but not collect it. I will take the gems in your hair.”

Raphael’s Mage Hand releases its grip on her throat. The Mage Hand covers her mouth as she is about to speak, but leaves her nose free.

“A little mouse like you should stay silent. Not everyone knows that the gems aren't real.”

“Being a drow, you know how to copy the accent of a high elf?”

Teala nods her head since she can’t speak.

“In turn, I will lend you a high elf disguise with a ballroom gown and jewels worthy of someone in my company. You will have until sunrise. Oh, and no radiant magic, it will undo your deceit. Agree?”

Raphael holds out his hand. Her breath shudders as her mouth is freed.

Teala knows what Karlach would say if she knew. “He’s a devil! A fucking devil!”

Teala holds his hand with her two hands. Raphael is bound by the laws of the hells. He can’t change what he promises in an agreement, can he?

“A handshake instead of a contract?”

“Not big enough of an arrangement to write down in a contract.”

She shakes his hand with trepidation. Raphael snaps his fingers. A familiar coin pouch appears. He opens it, tests the gold, and counts it with a supernatural glance.

“5,000 gold coins and 2 soul coins? Not bad, not bad at all.” He smiles. “Now, your soul. To taste, but not to take. Hmmm?”

“To taste my soul, but not to take.” Teala enunciates every word so there’s no doubt of the arrangement.

She trembles in fear as Raphael holds her head, his lips press against the center of her forehead. He knows something she doesn’t, but it’s too late to go back now.

Her soul almost slips out of her, but there's a corner of it that hooks onto her body with all of its might.

Raphael can’t break an arrangement. It would be unlawful, wouldn’t it?

Memories flood into the forefront of her mind. How she relished sacrificing lesser beings to Lolth. How Teala tortured others for information. How she gave drugs to those of whom she would never have sex with. How she took part in making sure the enemy dead of a battle or a war was not wasted. How everyone who was not a female drow or a female spider, was her slave to do with as she wished.

It’s hot and cold in the coach that they’re riding. She feels the magic of The Weave around her as if an advanced Time Stop Spell has been cast. She can’t breathe while clothed. It’s too hot and too cold. She tears at her clothing. She feels better naked.

However, her male slave isn't naked. Something inside her tells her this slave is different. She must remove his clothes carefully. She unlaces his laces, unbuttons his buttons, and slides off his clothes as much as she can. Shame she's only able to open his pants, but not take them off.

As she reaches around his cock, her slave growls and moans at her touch. Arousing him, she bucks in reaction to his entrance.

“More.” She presses herself harder against him as she grabs his ass, which pushes him deeper inside of her.

While her breath stutters, the dance begins as more memories come to the fore. She should sacrifice her slave to Lolth. He’s only a human male, but it will please Lolth. How will Teala kill him?

Unbeknownst to the drow, a portal opens up on the floor, and the despair of the Demonweb Pits starts to permeate throughout the carriage.

A snapping of fingers, then a voice can be heard as another portal appears.

“Oh Archdevil, this is something I must not miss! Oh, is that a giant spider escaping from the Pits? Is that why you summoned me?” Teala wonders how Raphael can be both in front of her and behind her. The voice sounds like Raphael’s, albeit more jovial.

A blast of Hellfire shakes the carriage, sending its flames into the Pits. A scream can be heard. The portal to the Pits closes.

“Hmmmm… My job is not quite done.”

Teala feels familiar lips kissing her back, but they're wet. “Here’s a little extra because I know of your resistance to… poisons.” The lips find one of her shoulders as well.

“Oh Archduke, I almost forget you! How could I?”

A grumbling can be heard from Raphael’s direction.

Teala hears kissing sounds but the only lips she can feel now are Raphael’s against her forehead.

The cambion snaps his fingers. The visitor is gone.

Teala and Raphael continue to grind against each other, increasing their pace as they reach a crescendo.

In the aftermath, they hold each other tenderly, as if they are meant to be, but Teala knows the truth.

A flood of fresh air enters her mind. The part of her soul that left is returning to her.

Still inside her, Raphael changes into his cambion form. He grabs her shoulders in a blind rage, pushing her off of him. She lands across from him in the other luxurious carriage seat. Luckily, the blankets are quite soft to land on, for her entrance feels sore from his changed size being inside of her. She falls over in the shape of how she’s seen a baby sleep and refuses to cry.

“Now, who is the slave?” Raphael hovers over her as a predator about to feast on his prey. He forces her to look at him.

“I am your slave.”

“What did you say? I couldn’t quite hear you.”

“I am your slave, my master.”

Building walls around her thoughts again, she wishes with all of her heart that she could save him. She thinks he lost his soul somewhere on his path for more power.

“When you sign my contract, I shall brand you so that everyone in the hells will know that you are mine.” A sinister smile appears.

Raphael presses one side of her head against the seat, and pushes her shoulder back. He kisses her over the scar that Astarion left after he first bit her. She refuses to heal the scar as a testament of her friendship to him.

Raphael’s kiss burns hot enough to bruise her, but not brand her.

“The bruise will stay until the morning. Understand?”

“Yes, my master.” Teala thinks of Astarion as she hopes she gets the chance to kill Cazador herself.

A knowing snicker escapes Raphael, which confuses her.

Before she can ask him what is so funny, he grabs her head to face him in those fiery eyes that she loves so much. Kissing her deeply, their tongues meet. She falls into a deep sleep. Thankfully, there are no dreams or nightmares, only silence.

Chapter Text

Lights start to twinkle in Teala’s eyes, waking her up. She’s poured into a sparkling red satin dress which is covered in rubies and diamonds. Her neck is layered with necklaces of gold which weave into themselves. Her wrists are wrapped in golden bracelets which keep her sleeves long. Her middle is wrapped so tightly in a corset that her breasts are threatening to spill out. The dress is long, but still show the red lace skirts and stockings underneath, and her feet trapped in new golden slippers.

The dress and shoes makes her feel like a Matron of her own house, but the weight and the amount of jewelry make her feel like a slave in chains, which is the effect that Raphael wants. This evening, others would see her as his property. She wishes for the reverse.

She looks at the skin of her hands, which is the colour of tea with cream. Rubbing her hands, she realizes that the colour is not coming off. She misses her skin of midnight blue. Her hair is still braided, but it’s auburn instead of silvery white. Confusion and panic builds up in her mind.

“Come now,” Raphael interrupts her thoughts. “You are a high elf mixed with wood elf. I couldn’t let you go in as a drow. Baldur’s Gate Upper City does not like the drow."

Teala glares at him, but understands. Dressed in a red and gold satin ensemble fit for nobility, with a golden watch carefully hidden inside his pocket, and perfectly trimmed nails and hair, Raphael commands attention.

Unable to resist herself, she reaches up to stroke the faint bristles of his jawline. Drow and other elves have no facial hair besides eyebrows and eyelashes. His mortal side is human, which causes him to have facial hair. It’s enough to make her legs quiver.

“I am no mortal. Not anymore.” He says angrily.

She tilts her head in confusion.

“The more power I gain, the more of my mortal self is shed, until the only thing left is immortal. One day in the future, if you still know me, you won’t even recognize me anymore. I will be the most powerful being in existence.” Raphael’s eyes flicker with hellfire. She feels the heat from them.

“I will miss this form of you when that day comes.” Teala cups his face and licks his sweet lips. For a devil from the hells, he tastes like ice.

The carriage stops. Her eyes go wide. She has not had to deceive others in a long time. She will have to be believable as a surface elf. She leans back in the carriage.

“I can do this. I’m a druid from the wood. Rich father. Forest mother.” Teala practices her words, making sure her accent fits her look.

“Impressive. It’s a wonder how the drow have not taken over the surface races yet.”

Of course, Raphael walks out of the carriage first.

Teala follows Raphael out. Strangely, there is no one to help her out of the carriage. Who was driving the carriage? The disguised stallions pulling the grandiose carriage are not mere cart horses. If Teala knew what Nightmares were, she might not love Raphael as much as she does.

Outside, a huge crowd of people wait to get inside the mansion where a dance is being held. However, the more important people are allowed in first. The less important people are forced to remain outside.

“What do I call you?” A message from Raphael enters her mind.

“Fey.” She sends the message back to him.

Raphael laughs at how simple it is.

“Now entering, Lord Raphael with his Lady Fey from Cormyr!”

The announcer of the arrivals is having trouble not looking at Teala. She is relieved to know that her beauty is successfully showing through her deception. Surface races are not as beautiful as the drow. Looking proudly at the egotistical “surface” male at her side, she realizes that there are exceptions to her belief.

Raphael escorts her slowly to the ballroom floor so she can have time to familiarize herself with the dancing, and to let everyone know that she is his. Teala wonders why he shows such ownership when he will be leaving her soon to find the client whom he needs to meet with tonight.

The music carries the dancers, inspiring them to bow, curtsey, swirl, and change partners. Sometimes, all of the males would be on one side, with females on the other, and sometimes, they would get in pairs or a set of two pairs. Confusing at first, Teala quickly learns the dancing, but wishes for some more useful gossip to overhear. She knew she could not go get a newspaper, not while in the middle of a ball!

Starting to feel light-headed, she breaks off from the dancing, noticing that Raphael is no longer dancing either. Not knowing where he went to, she is left on her own. She finds a darkened passageway, one of several, which splinter off from the ballroom. Like the ballroom, its walls are adorned with paintings and mirrors. There are chairs to sit in and plants to sit next to. She finds a chair, big enough for two people, to sit down on, giving herself time to think. If she can find an empty room off of the hallway, she can portal back to the inn. However, she might be able to gather more information if she stays here for a longer period of time.

“Pardon me, Lady Fey. Would you like a drink or something to eat?”

One of the servant women found her, offering a tray of wine, brandy, and sweetmeats. The servant is an old wood elf wearing a necklace that disappears behind her blouse.

“Yes, thank you.” Teala picks up a glass of brandy and delicately drinks from the glass.

The servant woman gets uncomfortably close to Teala, taking in her features. If Teala hadn’t been there, she thinks that the servant woman would start to cry.

“What’s wrong? You may talk freely. Just between us.” Teala speaks in a low voice so that just the two of them can hear.

With graceful movements, the woman balances the tray so that she can hold it in one hand without dropping it. She brings out a locket from out of her blouse. Opening it one-handed, she shows a picture of a young elf whom Teala hadn’t seen in a long time. Teala forces her face to remain unmoved, hoping that the servant doesn’t see Teala’s recognition. The young elf in the picture is none other than Vieliir’s favourite slave girl.

“She’s my daughter, Fey. I was hoping that you might be her. Fey is not a usual name for a wood elf or high elf. It’s been so long. With your gentleman looking fiendish, he might have been your patron and changed your appearance? My apologies, Lady Fey. I see now that you could not be my daughter. A mother would know. May I have permission to leave your presence, my Lady, Fey?” Teala knows that the servant woman can tell that Teala isn’t whom she seems. However, Teala can convince the servant woman that Teala is someone who does indeed, have a fiendish patron.

“If you promise to remember my patron Raphael and myself. We’d love to speak in confidence with you again.” Teala cast Burning Hands for a moment, then takes the free hand of the servant woman and kisses the back of her hand as if Raphael was using Teala as a puppet.

“Yes Lord Raphael. Lady Fey.” The poor servant woman’s voice quakes in fear.

“Splendid. Yes, you may leave our presence.” Teala can feel her pride begin to rise. She thinks her performance went well.

The servant looks frightened, but she does not cry out. With her serving tray with delicacies in both of her hands, the wood elf leaves the hallway and moves to the other side of the ballroom. When Teala can no longer see the servant woman, she rests her head against the wall, sipping her brandy.

Clap, clap, clap, then laughter, but not Raphael’s…

The fear that creeps up her back does not belong to her, but she still feels it. She looks across the dark hall to see a familiar figure. So many nights, Astarion would wake up shaking in sweat and tears made from stolen blood. Teala would hold him until he stopped shaking. Those nights, using his tadpole, he would open his mind. He would show her his fear: Cazador.

“Where. Is. Astarion. Drow.” The vampire lord had silently moved next to her, whispering in her ear.

“How can you tell what I am, vampire?”

“The same reason you can see that what we are. Most people see what they expect to see.” He gestures towards the mirrors that line the darkened hall. “We see what we actually see.”

“You aren’t going to make us say it again, darling?” Cazador speaks just enough like Astarion, Teala shudders in her skin.

“Far away from you.” Teala’s thankful for the many chains woven around her neck and wrists.

“How can that be? How can he be free of our commands?” If Cazador discovers Teala’s tadpole lurking behind one of her eyes, he will know the truth. She does her best to keep her thoughts her own.

“You seem to know us, but we don’t remember seeing you before. What is your name?” Cazador tries to meet her gaze.

“Teala.” She knows better than to lie to him. She might be able to get more information out of him that way. Of course, having the tadpole might help in this situation as well.

“Teala, darling, why are you so protective of our son? You should know the things that he’s done.”

“Things you made him do!” She forces herself to keep her voice low.

“Careful, your Undercommon is starting to show.” Cazador pats her thigh as if she is his child too. Teala grabs his pale, cold hand to stop him from patting her. His hand feels like Astarion’s hand.

“Come with us. You can read his own journals. Find out what kind of mortal he was before we made him our son.” He takes her hand and gently forces her to stand up beside him. Cazador’s handsome fanged smile stirs something she does not want to feel, not for this monster. Teala does her best not to meet his gaze.

He leads her down the hallway, then they exit using one of the servants’ passageways. Out on the street, a giant metal golem clanks its way down the street. Teala gasps.

“Not familiar with one of Gortash’s toys?” Cazador laughs. “It’s as we suspected, you’re not from here, are you?”

Teala shakes her head.

Still holding her hand, Cazador leads her to where a small, low-lying old beautiful building is. The Flaming Fist that guard what’s inside see Cazador and Teala. She suspects these Fist are being paid off by Cazador.

“Good evening, Master.” The guards unlock the front door, allowing Cazador and Teala inside. Several guards accompany the couple down a series of hallways to a long forgotten wing of the building. Once they reach a dusty, spider-webbed door, all of the guards but one leave them.

The guard is young, with red hair, freckles, and sun tanned skin. He wears a wedding ring. He’s taller than Teala, but Cazador towers over him. The guard leans against the wall of the hallway, gently drops his weapons, and takes off the upper part of his armor.

“All of your armor.” Cazador is heard saying, as if deep in thought.

The guard removes all of his armor. Cazador turns the guard around, and forces the man’s head to the side. There is a sound of ripping as if a shirt is torn. Teala knows the truth. Seemingly, Cazador drinks all of the blood from the poor man. After the feast, the guard sits on the floor, still naked, fully erect, with a blank stare and giddy smile on his tilted face.

Teala wants to heal the man, but is frightened.

“He will recover. It will just take several hours. His friends will give him a healing potion. He will be fine.” Cazador says fine exactly like Astarion did when he first fed on Teala.

True to Cazador’s word, the guard’s friends in the Fist return with a healing potion. One of the other guards is naked as well, and helps the sitting guard with his erection. Teala tries not to look.

“Come now, darling. This was Astarion’s office when he worked as a magistrate.”

Teala speaks to the spiders in the room, telling them to scurry away to safety.

Full of dust webs, cobwebs, rot, mold, and fungi, the abandoned office vaguely reminds her of the Underdark. There is a large gold and white marbled desk with a golden chair that dominates the center of the room. There are a few wooden chairs on the other side of the table. The golden chair faces the desk and a huge picture window that is covered with heavy satin curtains trimmed with lace. Faded yellow wallpaper peels off the walls like slowly dying insects. The dark carpeting has lost its colour from the damp throughout the years. Behind the gold chair, a big floor to ceiling bookshelf is built into the wall, filled with books that are locked in boxes for safe keeping.

One of the guards removes her cloak, using it as a dust cloth to clean off the huge chair and the desk, which is empty except for some dried out ink pots, featherless quills, and some unlit candles. The guard puts her cloak back on again, inviting Teala to sit down on the chair.

Teala sits down and looks to her left. On the wall is a portrait of a mortal Astarion. Despite the painting’s age, Astarion is meant to be seen as an astral elf in the painting with gold skin and blonde hair. In the lower right hand corner of the painting in beautiful handwriting, is the artist’s beautiful signature. Teala can’t read it, because all of the curves and points have worn down due to age.

The shocking parts of the portrait were the two daggers, that had belonged to Astarion at one time, thrown blades deep into the eyes.

“What is it like to know your eyes are red, but not be able to see them or know what colour they were before?” Teala asks Cazador.

“We can have portraits made of ourselves. We know our eyes were brown. We wrote everything we could remember once we died.” Cazador seems sad, but only for a moment. “Would you like an early journal or a later journal?”

“The last journal that he wrote.”

One of the guards gets a locked box out of the bookcase and places it on the desk before her.

“No key?” Teala asks.

“You know Astarion. You do not need a key. Don’t play us for a fool. It will not work.”

Teala admits defeat. Taking a pin out of her hair, she bends it and places it in the old lock. The first pick breaks. Cazador laughs, just like Astarion. Silently, Teala wonders if Astarion has been with Cazador for so long, he is more like Cazador than himself.

Teala could use Knock, but she doesn’t want to give Cazador any more information than he has now. She pulls another pin from her hair. The second pick is successful. Flipping through the yellowed pages, she thinks it’s written in Sylvan. She knows only some words in that language. There is another spell that would help with this, but she thinks of another option.

“Could you read this for me? I’m not familiar with Sylvan.”

“Darling, it’s not Sylvan, it’s Common.” Cazador laughs again.

“Do you think by pretending not to be able to read, you’ll bring the sunlight that much faster? Hah!” Cazador recites an advanced Time Stop spell.

“Stand up! You don’t think I will be standing while I read this for you?”

As soon as Teala stands up, Cazador sits down in the chair. Luckily, his cape is comfortable to sit on the hard surface of the chair. Teala prefers standing due to the jewels that dig into her skin while sitting on a hard surface. Teala gets an idea, although it’s quite dangerous.

“May I sit on your lap while you read to me?” Teala asks.

Cazador smiles, moves his cape over his lap so that her dress won’t dig into his skin, and motions for her to sit on his lap.

“Ah, it will just be like reading to our family again.” Cazador seems sad, as if remembering the family he had when he was still alive.

While Cazador reads the last journal that Astarion wrote before his death, Teala makes sure she doesn’t fall asleep.

Chapter Text

On the morning that Astarion’s last journal entry is made, he writes that Reyxina walks into his home office, half dragging and half walking another woman of his household staff with her.

“You hired Johannae for her looks, not for her abilities to do the work.” With exhaustion, Reyxina falls into the chair opposite Astarion at his desk, motioning for the other woman to take the seat next to her.

Astarion remembers when he first met Reyxina when she had interviewed for her current position as head of housekeeping. A curvaceous human woman of medium height with lustrous black hair and chestnut brown eyes. She had dressed in an outfit worthy of nobility with a delicious plunging neckline down to her navel, not like a housekeeper at all. He remembers the blissful time he had with her that was less of an interview and more of a tryst which resulted in getting her hired. Regrettably, she has kept their relationship professional after that one unforgettable time.

“Well, you did not seem to mind it when I hired you for your looks, my dear.” Astarion assures her while mentally undressing her. “I’m Astarion Ancunin, the youngest magistrate to serve the good people of Baldur’s Gate. I can’t afford to have a staff who look unbecoming. I have faith in you. Here’s something to help you.” Astarion winks, giving her a gold coin for her trouble. “You may go back to work.”

“Hrmph.” She murmurs as she makes her way to the door.

“Excuse me, what was that?”

“Thank you.”

“Of course, my dear.” He gives her a forced smile as she leaves.

Johannae sits nervously in her chair.

Unlike Reyxina, Johannae is a tall, small-breasted, half-elven woman, who always dresses modestly, even before he was introduced to her formally. Astarion always saw her covered head to toe in a dress, with her face peeking out of a hooded cape. No matter the type of party, she was always seen attached to her half-elven husband, whose arm was always around her shoulders.

It often crosses Astarion’s mind if Johannae is her real name, for her husband’s name is Johan.

Johan had gotten caught disciplining his household staff with too large of a cane. The case brought the attention of the Council of Four who run Baldur’s Gate. To keep her safe from her husband’s wrath, it was agreed that the wife would pay for his crimes by working for Astarion.

“I’m sorry.” The young Lady Johannae whimpers, wringing her auburn hair so tightly in her pale hands that her fingers turn red.

“What happened, darling?” Astarion looks into her eyes, then reaches across the desk and unravels her hair gently from her fingers, holding her hands in his.

“I got sick from the food in the kitchen, and I... I threw up.” She frees one of her hands to take a handkerchief out of her maid’s outfit and starts sniffling in it. “Ma’am Reyxina accused me of dallying with the male help.”

“Well, whose baby is it?”

“My husband’s. Of course, he won’t think it’s his, that is how I lost... I lost... the last one.” Tears start flowing freely now.

“When do you think you’re due?”

“Maybe sev-en months?”

Astarion notes in his journal that he will have to be sure to take her to all of the parties so that her husband will think the baby belongs to someone else. According to human society, Astarion should have a family by now. Even though it is too early in elven society, humans do outnumber elves in Baldur’s Gate.

“Darling, the Council of Four will make sure you’ll stay safe with me.” Astarion winks, giving her a sly smile. “I will tell Reyxina to have you do the laundry work, such as folding linens and such, and to keep you away from the kitchen and other smelly chores. You’re dismissed.”

Later that day at court, Astarion continues his journal entry, including the judgments he is making that day, which is full of the usual type of cases.

The esteemed human noble, Sir Gregoire Porter, was discovered sleeping with a whore in the wrong place of town.

“Understand,” Astarion tells Sir Porter, “you are only able to have time with a whore in either a brothel or over on Market Street. No other place is legal, Sir Porter, especially near a temple of Ilmater! What were you thinking? The fee is 100 gold coins to be paid to the city. I suggest you pay an additional 100 gold coins to the local florist to buy something pretty for your wife for when she finds out. Oh, truly, she probably already knows.”

Sir Porter turns red in embarrassment in front of a full courtroom.

An older elven noble with red eyes that is known to this magistrate laughs at the situation. Even though this noble always stays in one dark corner or another in the courtroom, Astarion does appreciate his prosperous company during several breaks between cases now and then.

Next up is a filthy Gur child of twelve years, Mox, who had been caught stealing fruit. The penalty is to lose a finger, but considering he’s a Gur and not even a citizen of Baldur’s Gate, Astarion wonders why he should let the boy go so easily?

“How many times have you stolen from the good people of Baldur’s Gate since you’ve been here, Mox?” Astarion asks him.

The terrified boy looks up at his parents. Astarion thinks that they should have taught their child not to steal from their betters.

“Answer me, Mox. You’re almost a man in human years.”

“More than once, sir.”

“Then you should lose two fingers on your left hand.”

The boy starts to whimper while his Gur parents start to protest, offering to work for the merchant to pay for the stolen goods.

“Mox, you signed your ‘X’ with your right hand. Would you prefer to lose two fingers on your right hand instead?” Astarion asks.

“No...” the Gur boy cries. Mox and his Gur parents refuse to leave unless Astarion reverses his judgment.

A few of the Flaming Fist drag the dirty Gur from the courtroom.

Next up, Sir Wyllym Warlynd, a human noble, who got caught selling his servants into slavery. Dressed in the most expensive clothes that Astarion has ever seen, the noble defends himself, “I had to pay my gambling debts plus I have a wife and household to support.”

“Slavery is not legal according to the people of Baldur’s Gate.”

“Please sir, have mercy. My gambling debts had to be paid.” The well-dressed noble begs.

“My dear sir, the law is the law. For the five elven servants that you sold into slavery, you must pay five hundred gold.”

“May I at least know who my accuser is?”

“For their protection, you cannot know their names. However, as the accused, you have the right to read the accounts given by the witnesses if you’d like.”

“Accounts?” He asks.

“Accounts.”

“I thought being brought before you. I thought surely you’d understand.”

“What are you implying?”

“How else could you have gotten these accounts by so many witnesses?” Sir Warlynd dares to ask Astarion.

“As your magistrate, the people of Baldur’s Gate have put you under my judgment. Do you understand?” Astarion seems to be threatening Sir Warlynd.

Astarion glances around the courtroom to make sure people believe his words, not Sir Warlynd’s worthless accusation.

“My dear sir, if you have nothing more to say in your defense, you must pay the 500 gold.”

“Respectfully magistrate, I need the gold for my wife and household.” The human noble will not meet Astarion’s gaze.

“If you will not pay the five hundred gold, then you will be imprisoned for five years.” Astarion tells him.

As Sir Warlynd continues to protest, Astarion motions for the Fist to take the noble to jail.

After a long day at court, Astarion is eager to go home, maybe have a party at his home for once. He should buy flowers and have Johannae be his lady, not hiding among his hired help. Her husband will be furious, but Astarion will be able to protect her with his status at the courts.

As he finishes his journal entry, Astarion notes he will cut through some alleyways to get home earlier than he usually does since he is eager to get home today...

Chapter Text

Kyorlin and his companions are in a huge cavern in the Underdark and have not made it to the surface yet.

Shnik! Surprisingly, Vieliir’s scimitars cut through a monster seemingly made of rock.

“Damn roper!” Vieliir exhales.

Kyorlin notices something shiny within the roper’s broken mouth.

“Gold!” Kyorlin says. Carefully, he picks up the open sack of gold that’s next to the skeleton of the roper’s last victim.

Some flumphs float by to see what the commotion is. They notice the scared slave girl. One flumph offers its gelatinous appendage to her.

“These creatures are flumphs and won’t hurt you.” Kyorlin says to the slave girl.

Nervously, the slave girl takes the appendage. The flumph starts to dance with her. She smiles as she dances with the flumph. Other flumphs join in the dancing. After some time, they get tired. The flumph returns the slave girl to the two drow who are by one of the cavern’s walls.

Most of the rock formations are lit by fungi including mushrooms.

Kyorlin recognizes some bright pink mushrooms which grow in clusters with roots that go deep into the ground. He gathers some of these mushrooms together, grabs a bowl, and fills it with water from the river that flows through the cavern. He boils the mushrooms in the bowl.

“Those mushrooms are not enough for dinner. What are you doing?” Vieliir asks as he and the slave girl look at what Kyorlin is doing.

“I recognize these mushrooms. They have magic properties and can restore speech. I’ve seen clerics use them on slaves before as the clerics would take away and give the ability of speech to slaves.” Kyorlin explains.

“You’re hoping to restore this girl’s speech? You’re no cleric.” Vieliir says.

“I can try and do what I’ve seen clerics do. They’ve done that to me as well. Taking and giving my ability to speak, to sing.” Kyorlin says.

After making sure the mushrooms are cool enough to eat, Kyorlin starts singing, giving the mushrooms to the slave girl to eat.

Carefully, the slave girl eats the mushrooms. They must taste awful to her because of the face that she makes, but she continues to eat them all. Per Kyorlin’s instructions, she drinks the water from the bowl after the mushrooms have been eaten.

Kyorlin looks at her. “Did it work?”

She whispers. “Thank you.”

She tries to talk louder, but it only comes as a whisper. “Thank you. I can only whisper, but thank you.”

Vieliir looks at the slave girl in amazement. “I didn’t think it would work.”

“What’s your name?” Kyorlin asks the slave girl, smiling.

“My name is Fey.” Fey whispers.

As if nothing special had happened, Vieliir goes to the river’s edge, takes his dagger, and starts fishing for dinner.

Despite Fey’s ability to whisper, the three of them remain as silent as they can while in the cavern. After dinner, Kyorlin and Vieliir continue to take turns keeping watch when they sleep since Fay can only whisper.

After resting, they start to walk again in a direction where they think will lead them up and out of the Underdark, especially since Vieliir is familiar with some of the trails that they’re using.

During their time traveling, the tunnels become many and start reeking of spiders. Spider eggs litter the tunnels no matter which tunnel our companions end up using.

Suddenly, the tunnel, that they have chosen, opens up into a chamber with cells. There are two giant spiders, one bigger than the other, eating dead goblins.

Kyorlin startles as he sees some broken pieces of hair jewelry on the ground. “I wonder if it’s Tae’yan’nae’s hair jewelry?”

Vieliir gets a bottle of animal speaking out of his pack and shares it with Kyorlin and Fey due to one of the spider’s chirping sounds.

“If I wasn’t so full of goblin, I’d wrap you, and I’d kill you, and I’d eat you.” The spider says.

“You didn’t eat drow did you?” Kyorlin asks the spider.

“No. She persuaded us to eat the goblins instead.”

“So there was a drow here. Is her name Teala?” Vieliir asks.

The other spider spoke up. “Yes, I believe that is her name. Teala. She opened our cages so we could reach the goblins.”

Although Kyorlin and Vieliir are happy to hear that Teala (Tae’yan’nae) might still be alive, Fey shows no emotion with the new information they have found, but she points to where there are stairs that go up and out of where the spiders are.

Our companions back away from the spiders on the way to the stairs.
They reach an iron gate that creaks open and leads them to a destroyed Selûnite temple. There is writing all over the walls mentioning “The Absolute” and pictures of a skull with a hand over the skull and an upside down triangle surrounding the skull and the hand. Statues are broken and litter the ground. There are some corpses that were unrecognizable that had been hit with radiant damage. One of these corpses has a Baenre hairpin.

“I wonder why someone from House Baenre was here.” Kyorlin asks.

“The Absolute must have taken control over House Baenre. A huge loss for Lolth.” Vieliir says.

There are more dead goblins. And tracks.

“Teala is not alone. She has at least several companions with her.” Vieliir tries to find the tracks that lead out of the temple. His companions follow him.

Once outside, they find that the sun is setting. It is a welcome sight for Fey. She starts to cry and look in the direction where the sun is setting. The drow are thankful that the sun is setting, for they prefer the dark.

The companions find the courtyard destroyed. There’s a dead ogre and more dead goblins. They search around for Teala, hoping she is not among the dead. They find two dead humans, but no drow.

“Unless she is one of the burnt corpses we found inside, Tae’yan’nae might be alive.” Kyorlin says hopefully.

“Let’s see what meat the goblins were cooking.” Vieliir sniffs at the meat. “Dwarf. Definitely dwarf meat. Unfortunately, it’s bad now so we can’t eat it.”

Fey tried to throw up at that remark, although she had nothing much to throw up.

“Fey, you know we drow eat duergar, especially after battle.” Vieliir does not understand her.

They had to forage for supplies. The temple was picked clean so they had to rely on the forest that grows around the temple.

Vieliir is able to track Teala and her companions out of the temple area and through the forest.

Kyorlin makes sure Fey is beside him at all times while following Vieliir closely. There are some mountains in the distance. Kyorlin wonders if that’s where Tae’yan’nae went with her companions.