7.6 - Expansion (Patreon)

7.6 - Expansion

Taylor

“How are you feeling?”

I heard the question, because apparently, I could hear everything now, but it wasn’t directed at me. It was to Madison.

Shadowheart was kneeling at her side, fussing over her. I’m sure she wouldn’t call it that but that’s what it was when you checked on someone every few hours.

“I’m okay, I promise.” Madison smiled. I could see it was brittle. Her putting up a brave front. She’d probably never been hurt like that in her life, and the knowledge that the Harpy could have aimed for the back of her neck rather than her shoulder was probably a very sobering truth in her mind.

Alfira, the Tiefling bard had only just left, practically glued to Madison’s side since she first heard about it. Mirkon had come on by to thank her, and even Halsin had triple checked my and Shadowheart’s work in healing.

I almost wanted to remind her that good deeds had their rewards, but it felt too bitchy even for me. 

I turned away, peering at the campfire and Shadowheart soon stopped fussing to come back to the ‘Cook pot’

Not much was in said cookpot, protein wise at least. We had some roots and vegetables Halsin gave us, but I wanted meat… Sir Loin was looking really tempting.

It was night now, and to take shelter from the storm that we could hear raging outside even through the cavern walls.

I could only imagine how ferocious it would be with nothing but the trees and open ground as shelter.

We were given use of the underground passage that led to Halsin’s hidden door, where my Phase spiders were hiding. 

I made certain to feed them all, using other bugs, small animals like lizards and rats. And they were rewarding me with rows upon rows of silk. 

Silk that, hopefully, very very soon, we could fashion it into clothing. Multiple sets of clothing so we weren’t wearing the same thing for three or four days at a time, hammocks, and carrying sacks, and everything else. 

In fact, I probably had enough material for hammocks, for at least a few people, but I didn’t want to contribute to a fight. Tomorrow they should all be done.

My hammock was of course set up, with two very large phase spiders standing rather obviously near it.

Yes. I was guarding the sole comfortable method of sleep in this godforsaken place. 

“They’re hopeful then?” Durge was speaking to Karlach just a few feet away, even without my expanded senses it was difficult not to eavesdrop.

Karlach nodded, excitedly. “Yeah! Dammon thinks he can figure something out, he and Barcus were brainstorming some before we got the call for help.” She seemed to vibrate like a giddy child. “I might actually be able to touch people soon!”

“Ten years in Avernus-” Durge rumbled. “Ten years since you’ve had that engine. You’ve touched no one that entire time?”

“Not unless they were fire proof, or trying to kill me.” Karlach answered bitterly before flipping her mood like it was on a switch. “But hopefully, very soon, Dammon and Barcus can fix it!”

Hopefully was right. Karlach was probably the nicest, most affectionate member of this little band of ours, I think. And it was clear that being unable to touch anyone hurt. So I did hope that Barcus and Dammon could figure things out for her.

My awareness was spread throughout the large tent, the Grove and the hollow, every movement and action coming through clear in a living, echo based map as I focused on letting my mind… filter, the ambient noise. To throw it all into the background of my mind so it didn’t hurt like it did before. All the while trying to actively listen. 

“Gods above I’m boddy starving-”

“We have bread, cease complaining”

Astarion let out something that was half a groan, half a scream of pure frustration at Lae’zel’s words.

Gale was in his little corner of the cavern muttering to himself. His skin, judging by the bug I had on him, felt cold and clammy, and I could hear him mumbling. Already… barely a few hours.” Was he coming down with something? I hoped not with a fight so close. 

Emma sat just a little ways away from him on a log stump, a book in hand. I’d never even seen Emma read back when I was her friend, seeing it now just felt unnatural. 

Over near the entrance to the Druid’s library, Sophia and Wyll were talking. 

“You’re not my fucking social worker.”

“I’m not entirely sure what that is.”

Beyond that in the grounds above, I could hear… everyone else. 

The druids and their fears, the Tieflings and their preparations,  even Barcus and Dammon brainstorming ways to fix Karlach’s infernal engine. 

But then, Gale walked over.

He looked worse than I thought he would.

The man was pale, his forehead was dabbed in sweat despite the relatively cool temperature down here. 

“I umm…” The man cleared his throat. “I need to speak with all of you. It’s important.”

“Very serious of you.” Shadowheart’s tone was light, but the lines of her face said that she recognized the grave tone and was not looking forward to the conversation about to take place. 

“It’s a serious subject I’m afraid.” The Wizard said features pinched. 

Some of the others overheard, either now paying attention or beginning to gather round Even Emma had shut her book and leaned forward to listen more closely. 

“What is it?” Wyll asked. “You’re among friends here.”

Gale offered a rueful chuckle. “We’ll see how true that holds.” He said before taking a deep breath. “I have a… condition. And I’m afraid as of right now that condition is worsening.”

“Is it contagious?” Madison asked from her little cot and blanket fortress. 

“No… nothing like that. This…” Gale seemed to be fishing for the words. “I… I need to consume magic, raw magic.”

That made Durge raise both brow ridges. “That… what!?”

“I…” Gale took another deep breath, letting it out in a huff. “It might be easier to just show you.”

The Wizard beckoned the dragonborn to stand and Durge did so. 

“Your hand please.” Gale asked, and Durge though clearly leery held his hand out. 

Gale took hold of him by the wrist, and stepped forward, placing Durge’s hand on Gale’s chest.

There was a flash of magic blue that felt almost blinding in the gloom of the cave. Gale’s eyes going white. Crackling forks of energy leaping from his chest into Durge’s hand and when the Dragonborn yanked his hand back as though it’d been burned for the first time I could remember he looked… horrified. 

“What in all the realms?”

“Horrifying… isn’t it.” Gale’s smile was humorless, pained. 

“What is it? Fill us in.” Karlach demanded. 

Durge swallowed, seemingly taking a moment to gather himself. Hell, it looked like he’d forgotten they had an audience. 

“He…” The dragonborn paused, clearing his throat. He genuinely looked disturbed. “There’s… something inside of him. Something that devours magic.”

“Aye, it does, to put it simply.” Gale sighed out a shuddering breath. “This… condition, is largely responsible for why I am… the way that I am now. I was, until relatively recently, an Archmage. Mystra’s chosen. Right up there with Elminster, Blackcloak and all the rest.”

“And… why reveal this now?” Astarion questioned. “What’s happening?”

“This condition, this… orb has given me requires feeding.” The Wizard gestured behind him. I’ve been, utilizing some of the enchanted items we acquired from Ethel’s lair have been tiding me over. Gods know that none of the items she enchanted were good unless you actively wish to harm yourself using them. I thought that would tide me over for… weeks at least.”

“But you’ve chewed through your supply in days.” Durge finished for him. “Which is why you’re beginning to look like death warmed over.”

Gale winced, he did not seem to appreciate the comparison.

“What…” Emma seemed to fidget. “What happens if you don’t ummm, feed?”

“He’ll die I imagine.” Astarion answered. 

“I’m afraid its rather worse than that.” Gale closed his eyes. “The Orb will destabilize and… well…” He made an explosion gesture with his hands. “I will combust and take a sizable portion of the surrounding countryside with me.”

“How sizable are we talking here?” Astarion asked, now looking particularly frightened at the fact that he could be caught in the blast zone.

“Several Kilometers, at least.” 

“So wait, we’ve been going around this whole time with a walking nuke next to us!?” Sophia was staring at Gale like she’d never seen him before. “Huh… Cool.”

I resisted the urge to facepalm, though I did roll my eyes. 

“I need magic. Something powerful something… something that can sustain me at least until we can leave this grove and then, if you wish it…” He swallowed, straightening. “We… we will part ways.”

“Do you wish it?” Shadowheart asked. 

Gale immediately shook his head. “Not at all. I’ve grown quite fond of all of you, truly and… well… parting wile understandable given the circumstances would not be my first choice.”

“If we have no magic to sustain you then this discussion is academic.” Lae’zel cut in before looking around. “We lack such enchantments.”

The druids might have some, but I’m not sure how willing they’d be in giving Gale a buffet. Especially with the upcoming fight.

“No.” Durge rumbled and I could see a slow smile creeping up on his face. “We do have something.”

“You d-” Gale seemed to realize.

Durge pulled the screaming, human skin book and held it out to Gale. Offering it to the Wizard. 

“I… But-” Gale looked more pained by the offering than the prospect of him exploding. “You haven’t discovered its secrets ye-”

In response, Durge began to glow, not the blue of magic or lightning, but instead a bloody red, his eyes quite literally igniting in pink fire, the book glowing similarly in his hands as ghostly, screaming faces and hands seemed to rip through the air around him. 

“Oh quite the contrary.” Durge smiled. “I was going to give it to you to read tomorrow. But seeing the pressing need, I suppose you’ll simply have to eat this.”

Gale gave Durge what I could only describe as the single most conflicted, hateful, flabbergasted and stupefied look all at the same time. And I’m not sure how he did that but he did.

“You are… the absolute worst… you know that don’t you?”

Shadowheart laughed. “He really is.” 

“Consider it a proper payment, for withholding this secret from people who traveled with you for weeks ignorant of the risks.” Durge reminded pointedly. “Did you ever consider what might happen if Ceremorphosis occurred? How that might de-stabilize the orb outright?”

“Every day.” Gale winced. “And… that does not make it at all better. Your point is received.” Gale bowed and held out his hands for the tome like a supplicant. 

Durge handed it over.

“Immediately, Gale began to glow, once more the blue of magic and the enchantment of the book flowed into him “Oh.” He breathed like a man who took his first drink of water in days. “There was… such power in this tome.” And then the book began to flake away, literally becoming ash in his hands. 

“And I’ve destroyed it.”

“We need to see how long that tides you over.” Durge said. “I wouldn’t abandon you on a whim if we can keep your Orb contained, but if it simply becomes unfeasible then-” At that the Dragonborn looked genuinely saddened, the implication clear as he trailed off.

Gale bowed his head. “A sensible and reasonable stance. I…” He cleared his throat. “I do thank you, sincerely, and the full measure of the risk you’re all agreeing to take is understood and appreciated in ways I cannot express.”

“Well… If we’re all sharing secrets.” Surprisingly it was Astarion who started to talk then, all eyes swiveling to him and the pale elf seemed to stiffen under the attention becoming nervous of all things. 

“Ahem… yes well. There might be some… small, minute, inconsequential detail that I’ve neglected to mention about me as well. Nothing like some… Orb that can kill us all in our sleep… at the same time. But… well…”

“Yes?” Karlach rotated her hand in a ‘go on’ gesture. “Full sentences…”

He gave her a dry look, and cleared his throat again. “I’m… well… a vampire.” He gave a giggle, too high and too out of place to be real. 

Sophia smacked her hands together in a loud clap. “I fucking knew it!” 

“You bit the Goblin priestess!” Wyll suddenly said. “I thought you were simply pulling her close to slash at her throat but no you bit her!”

“Urgh. Don’t remind me.” Astarion gagged. 

“So… vampires can walk in sunlight here?” Madison asked. “You don’t even sparkle.”

The fuck was she talking about sparkling? Vampires don’t sparkle anywhere in any lore!?

Even Astarion looked at her oddly. “No I do not, and no they do not. Before this whole… mess I hadn’t seen the sun for over two hundred years.”

The gears in my head turned. “So… wait, you’re saying the tadpole is letting you walk in the sun?”

“That’s my best guess.” Astarion shrugged. “Umm… Well…” He shrugged. “Look, I am starving. I’d normally go out and get some animal to drink their blood-”

“The boar!” Karlach interrupted with a delighted laugh. “That dead boar we found was you!”

“Oh for- Yes, but the point is, I can’t throw a dead cat without offending a gaggle of druids and if the Tieflings find some of their livestock gone it’ll be a whole other mess so…” He trailed off and looked at all of us. Seeing as how no one was volunteering, he rolled his eyes and sighed. “I’m asking for one of you to help!” He gestured to Gale “Or is -a walking nuke-”

“Hey!” The Wizard protested. 

“-whatever that is, which can blow us all up somehow so much more tolerable than donating a bit of blood for the cause?”

We all looked at eachother, and Durge finally sighed, rubbing at his forehead. “How much exactly do you need?”

“Just…” Astarion shrugged. “A cup? Two? Every few days? You can cycle it.”

The Dragonborn sighed again, kneeling down by his traveling pack and pulling free a tin cup. It was dented and beat up, but, placing it on the ground he pulled free his knife and cut open his palm 

“Looks like we’re traveling with a Vampire now.” Shadowheart groaned. 

“He was a vampire yesterday, and the day before and so on.” Durge shrugged, opening and closing his palm to encourage the blood to flow and pull until it rose up to the brim. “Situation hasn’t changed.” He declared, standing, cup in hand to hand it to Astarion who took a whiff of it like a wine sample. Closing his eyes in pleasure already. “And he knows if we wake up with fangs on our necks, things will change very very quickly”

“No one in our camp will come to harm by me.” He promised. “Bandits and people we’re already going to kill I make no promises for.”

Durge shrugged. “A fair enough compromise.”

Everyone was still staring and Astarion seemed to become acutely aware of it as he looked at us and scoffed. “Oh, well we’re all sharing!” He suddenly said. “So how bout you!?” He demanded and Shadowheart balked. 

“Me?” She asked. 

“Yes.” He nodded. “What secrets do you have? We’re bonding, isn’t this fun!?”

Shadowheart offered him a dry look. 

“Actually its not a bad idea.” Karlach snickered. “Come on Shadowheart, what lies beyond the shadows? Give us a peek.”

The half elf sagged, seeming to deflate at the idiocy of it all as she looked skyward “I don’t…” She shook her head. “I like Night Orchids, I’m frightened of Wolves and- Argh!” She winced, a flaring purple light coming from the back of her palm where, now that I looked I could see a… a hole an actual hole bored into her skin, about an inch deep.”

“And you have that thing.” Sophia leaned close. “The hell is it?”

“It’s…” Shadowheart sighed. “It’s a wound from my Goddess. A test of faith. That’s all.”

“The Goddess being Shar.” Durge muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Hey, wait.” Madison mumbled with open confusion. “Wasn’t she like an absolute bitch?”

I saw Shadowheart bristle. “Listen here-!”

“Your secret sucks.” Astarion complained.

The comment made whatever Shadowheart was about to say, die a quick death, pure confusion and a smidge of indignation coming over her features as she rounded on Astarion “I beg your pardon?”

“Well, I am a creature of the night, bound for two hundred years, Gale has a magical bomb in his chest that can kill us all at any moment. You’re afraid of Wolves and have a bit of pain in the back of your hand. Your secret sucks. I want mine back.”

“It’s not a competition!” Now she was indeed indignant and I felt my lips beginning to twitch into a smile.

“Convenient since you’re losing, clearly!”

“You’re not getting any blood from me!” She swore with an angry scowl. 

“Alright who else!?” Astarion demanded looking around. “Who else is in the running between magic bomb and Vampire”

“I got a question.” Sophia cut in, and my ears perked up. The hell was she gonna-”

She looked at Durge, leaning forward. “The hell was all that ‘Psycho theater’ act back at the Temple? Who were you before all this shit happened?”

Durge went still.

“Would you believe me if I told you I do not know?”

“Oh come on.” Sophia rolled her eyes.

Durge shrugged, and like a flower parting open, we could suddenly see into his mind.

“I have no memory before the Nautiloid.” He said, and in his minds eye I could see him trying to remember. “I have no memory of anything beyond… snippets of red.”

“So…” Emma spoke up now, looking at Durge wide eyed. “For all intents and purposes this last week and a half has… basically been your whole life?”

Durge snorted. “I suppose, from a certain point of view.”

“Holy shit.” Karlach hissed. “I’d give you a hug if I could.”

“I deserve one.” The Dragonborn smirked at her. “Herding all these cats every day.”

“There are no Cats here.” Lae’zel spoke. “And you do not herd anything.”

Durge began to openly laugh, his mirth bouncing off the walls. 

“Bah.” Lae’zel sneered, catching onto the fact that she was missing something. “Faerun and its idiocy”

“Idioms.” 

"No."

“We’re not that bad.” Shadowheart’s smile twitched on her lips. 

“Can’t even say it with a straight face.” He shot back, snickering, and Shadowheart was indeed struggling to hold back her smile. 

And, then, all of a sudden- I smelt sulfur.

I felt Wyll stiffen before I saw it. Felt the change in temperature in the chamber as my bugs did. 

“Oh no.” I heard him say. “She’s here.”

The tone of his voice alone had people reaching for weapons, Karlach standing up axe in hand. “Wyll? What’s wrong?”

But before he could say anything a circle of fire appeared over the ground just a few feet away, Wyll looked pale, he was practically shaking.

Everyone got ready for a fight.

And then, out of the circle- a woman rose.

It looked like she formed out of black ink, her body taking shape, wings and horns, a tail and fiery red hair like Emma’s. 

“Wyll”  The Woman smiled. “Someone’s been naughty.”

“Mizora!?” Karlach hissed. It was not a friendly welcome. 

Durge stepped forward. “I don’t recall extending the hells an invitation.”

“Oh, you didn’t. Wyll did.” The now named Mizora smiled. It was Emma’s smile. Cruel and smug and I instantly hated her. “My pup’s been disobedient you see.” She made a gesture and Wyll suddenly started choking. “And his leash needs a yank”

Wyll lurched forward, and glared at the woman. 

“The terms are clear pup” Mizora sneered. “I sent you on a job to kill Karlach and she’s still breathing.”

Wait… this is who Wyll had gotten his information from!? This is why Wyll wanted to fight Karlach before they met!?

Wyll choked out the next words. “Y-you said… devils only! She’s a Tiefling! Not a Monster!”

“Ahh.” Mizora gasped, the sound was delighted. “The little pup’s found his bark.” The smile disappeared. “Clause G, section nine; Targets shall be limited to the infernal, the demonic, the heartless and the soulless.” She recited. 

“Clause- You’re a Warlock!” Shadowheart gasped 

“You’re bound to MIZORA!?” Karlach’s roar was equal parts horrified and furious. 

“Oh. Keeping me a secret Wyll, you absolute stinker.” Mizora snickered and then lost her smile again. “Karlach qualifies, due to having no heart!”

I started to subtly shift my weight, the phase spiders around me tensing, equally ready to pounce. 

Mizora’s eyes snapped to me. 

“Not another move, you little beast.”

My eyes widened, surprise coming over my expression. 

“That’s right.” Mizora sneered at me. “Had to do a bit of research before I came here, I know all about what you can do. Burned a lot of favors to get that information too. If I die, Wyll dies too. So sit your pretty little self down. 

“What do you want?” Durge’s voice is tense. 

“A contract is a contract.” Mizora said with a shrug. “Wyll broke his- to spare you.” Mizora sneered at Karlach. “And so, the punishment is clear.”

Mizora raised a hand and snaps her fingers.

And Wyll is burning alive.

We hear him scream, My stomach opens up into a pit as Madison lets out a horrified gasp and the others ready their weapons. Lae’zel snarls, teeth bared, sword drawn, ready to lunge across the cavern to gut the woman right there as Astarion knocks an arrow and Shadowheart’s healing magic rush out and towards Wyll

It feels like it lasts forever, but it couldn’t have been more than two or three seconds. 

Wyll falls to one knee, and the fires… begin to recede. 

He’s… not burnt. But-

“WHAT THE HELLS HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!” Wyll’s voice is deeper, a second tone emerging from a single throat now, Horns curl up and over his head, his one remaining eye is a blackened sclera with a red iris. Ridges and sharpened angles sharpen his cheeks, chin and forehead into something inhuman and devil looking, even more than the Tieflings. 

Mizora takes a deep breath. “A promise broken, a price paid. Best get used to it. Some magics cannot be undone, pup.”

And once again, I smell sulfur as Mizora disappears. 

We’re left standing in the cave, unsure of what to do, the urge to find and hurt Mizora I’m sure smoulders in all of us, simply because even over the last few days, we’ve gotten used to violence. 

But there’s nothing here to fight, nothing here to seemingly fix, or, more specifically no way to fix it. So we all stare at Wyll, or this new version of Wyll, with devil horns and jagged flesh with sharp edges and inhuman features.

“Well… as far as secrets go it’s certainly more lively than Shadowheart’s.” Astarion mutters. 

“Fucking really!?” Karlach growls at him. 

“Right, sorry.” Astarion holds his hands up. 

Karlach turns back to Wyll.

“Why?” She asks and gestures to him. “Y-you knew what would happen. You’re bound to a Patron, an infernal contract. That shit can’t be broken without consequence. Why!?”

Wyll… just shrugged. “Your life is worth as much as mine.” He said quietly. “Who am I to put my wellbeing above yours?”

Karlach’s whole expression twisted. She looked heartbroken then, and her eyes glimmered with tears that evaporated into steam as they left her eyes. 

“You absolute asshole.” Her voice warbles. .

Wyll just smiled sadly.

All the cats are out of the bag now. :)