Chapter Text
The feeling of a damp cloth on my head was the first thing I felt, it’s cooling presence bringing a sense of relief through my burning skin, the feeling of being overwhelmed was gone but it left behind a small ache under my skin. As I carefully sat up, I came to realize that I was in a camp that seemed to have been set up on the small island where you can find the letter for Kagha, there was no signs of the mephits or wood guardians. I could see Lae’zel was on guard duty, or well- I assumed she was with how she was sat at the edge of camp keeping careful watch over the entryway.
“Ah, you’re awake. Good, it looks like I may have overestimated your ability.” That strangely comforting accent of Texan and German remarked, my gaze moving over to my side to see Mortarmore tightening the bolt of something he was working on, the sound of the tightening clicks echoing. But it was soon halted as he sat up from where he leaned against the tree and rested his elbows on his knees, tilting his head lightly to the side. The thick tribal braids spewed over his shoulder as he did so, his gaze lingering on my eyes before he reached down and grasped my hand from my side.
“I’ve read about this condition once and it was in a history book, granted, it was terrible material to try to bore myself to sleep with but… I am glad I chose it now.” He began as he brushed his thick thumb over fading marks on my flesh from the idol’s influence. There was something about the way he was careful with his every movement that made me feel safe, like I was being cared for and I deeply appreciated it.
“And that was when the last Bhaalspawn was kicking around during the war, although the existence of the man who had it is heavily debated. But he was said to be like you, a mortal human yet seemingly the only person in Faerun who can’t take too much magic in their soul…and does not make their own either.”
I swallowed nervously as he spoke, this was completely unknown to me, what does he mean there was someone else like me? But if what he says is true, does that mean someone from the real world gets dragged over here whenever a Bhaalspawn is thrown into the mix? Or does it signify something else? Maybe it’s interwoven with whenever a god decides to be too ambitious and tries to tip the scales in their favour?
“I… am not quite sure what you are inferring. I am not a huge history buff-”
That’s when he pulled my bag up from the side of him, opening it with a quirked brow as he pulled out my DND books and my Faerun campaign notes which included the Baldurs gate history. My skin turned to ice as a heartbeat grew within my ears, my heartbeat, I hadn’t even thought to check what came with me, if it even survived or how it would look to anyone who wasn’t from my world.
“This is quite the resource of knowledge, while I found the gameplay aspects amusing...This author is someone I have never come across, to have such a glossary on everything in this world and even creatures I have never seen? Well..”
My head sharply turned to check where the others were and they seemed to be scattered about, it seems I’ve been left to the half orcs" care and I wasn’t sure if that made me feel more at ease or more worried. Either way, he wasn’t going to let this go and I couldn’t lie my way completely out of this one, how the hell am I going to do this?
“Uhm so I need to know how far you are willing to believe? Like-”
“Try me, I will keep it between us.” He was definitely looking at me like I needed to be in a psyche ward already, do they even have those here? Oh great this is going to be extremely fun. He watched me cautiously as I sat up properly and reached for my bag, surely my notepad was still in here… aha! There it is, and my pen is still strapped to it. When I clicked the ballpoint down and began writing on a blank page, his eyes widened and he quickly scooted closer to look closer.
“Right so ah… I’m from a place called earth, from what I remember, in lore my planet is a non fantastica but technologically advanced world that is cut off from the majority of the multiverse, it doesn’t have magic or anything like that… but I got brought here and I don’t know why, all…all I do know is that this Faerun and other realms surrounding this world require magic to live. Because I don’t have it… if I don’t take enough magic, I’ll disappear but e-evidently if I take too much, it hurts me. “ I drew a little diagram of Earth and sketched out the multiverse theory the best I could, it was like a childs scribbles but he seemed to be taking it all in. There was a pregnant pause and I couldn’t help but feel more nervous as he watched me, until he pulled the ballpoint pen from my hand and stared at it.
“...And here I thought the Elminster was off his head on mushrooms, it lines up with what I have observed, we don’t even have forges that can be this precise… I believe you, but if others found out… they will imply you are crazy.” He seemed to quite like the pen as he gave it a small test on the paper, writing in blocky handwriting that was a little too shaky as a unimpressed huff escaped his lips.
“This is too small and fragile for me, unfortunate, but a starting point.”
“Don’t tell me the pen is what convinced you- it was wasn’t it?” The question only earned a smirk from him and he even started flicking through the books with vague amusement, they were so big in my hands yet were just right for his grasp.
“It was, but I will save my questions for later, the elves are approaching.” and with that, the books were swiftly put away and his hand rested on my shoulder as Halsin’s pace quickened slightly, his brows furrowed with concern.
“Minnow- you’re awake, when they told me you’d collapsed in a fever, well…” His shoulders slumped slightly and he knelt down by my side, offering a small sheepish smile before he shook his head with his eyes briefly closed.
“I should have known you were going to push yourself, Dear one, you must be more careful.”
“I’ll try to be more careful in the future, but what happened? I mean- that much magical energy doesn’t just disappear..” My question however made Halsin uneasy and his gaze flickered to Mortarmore who settled and quietly moved a little closer. Minthara had a scowl on her face and Wyll even looked a little uncomfortable with the turn of subject as he joined us, evidently regretting even doing that.
“Usually I would advise that you’re correct however in this case… it was more akin to an open chalice, magic is usually secured within a vessel but with yourself, it’s like… taking it freely. I apologize for doing such a thing, it was an intrusion of your own soul-” Halsin began to explain before trailing off and I started to realize that this must be a super taboo or something with how uneasy they look. I couldn’t help but notice my mentor was not quite as “uneasy” looking as he tried to make himself look and seemed more interested in how I was going to react, smug bastard.
“Halsin, it’s okay, you were quite literally saving my life and I’m really thankful for that, I won’t let a social norm stop me from being thankful that the correct action was done.” While he seemed relieved I wasn’t pissed at him, he also seemed quite unsure of why I wasn’t reacting more but I quickly pulled us away from the topic.
“Enough about me now, has anything happened while I’ve been knocked out,I mean, we’re pretty far into the swamp..”
“Oh well we didn’t encounter much trouble, even if it took us a while to see through the illusion even with Halsin’s guidance, we haven’t seen anyone yet…” Wyll began, his eyes flickering over to the others before he started to stand and offered me his hand with a tentative smile. With a firm grasp, he pulled me up to my feet, I still felt a little uneven on my feet but that will go with time. It’s a bit odd they haven’t come across the brothers yet, those guys are usually right at the front of the swamp, there should have been no way they missed them.
The stench of the swamp was unsettling in itself, thankfully it covered however awful I must smell right now, gods- I wish I could have a bath. No rest for the wicked though, I guess it’ll have to wait. There was so much I needed to plan and consider before we could move on, like how are we going to tackle the hag? That’s not going to be easy if yesterday was any indicator. A long slow sigh escaped my lips as I took in the scenery and tried to settle down, thankfully a hand found my wrist and my gaze flickered over to Wyll who gave me a slight smile.
“We’ll be okay, don’t forget, you’ve got all of us and even if we cannot look to the scrolls as a backup, we’re all reasonably well trained and adept at our chosen paths. What do you think should be the next step?” It was a simple way of putting it, much calmer than the panic rolling about in my mind, so that was a plus. The stone sigil of his eye staring back at me behind his soft expression, despite that I knew what demon could potentially be using it to spy on us, or well- that’s my theory.
“Well, I.. I know we need to deal with the hag who’s in a swamp house down at that end…down there, from there..” The words trailed off before I pointed out roughly where about it is, from there the hesitation remained before I glanced back over to him and letting out a slow breath. “After that? I don’t know Wyll, would we be going for the fort? Would we do one last sweep? I don’t know what happens next.”
The warlock was silent for a moment before he tilted his head to the side, it was like he was studying me silently before he spoke in an ever so slight hesitant tone, it was more full of weariness than anything.
“And…your interested infernal friend? I’ve chased enough devils to know when there’s hints of infernal magic around.”
Ah so that’s his line of thinking, he’s worried about what demons were hiding in my shadows, I wonder if… well, let’s give this a try.
“Raphael’s not too interested in the others if that’s what you’re wondering, we have a deal to help someone I care for without it being a pact… I didn’t expect Mizora to be so anxious about another devil kicking around.” My bluff did the job, his shoulders seized right up and his breath sucked in sharply, he was frozen in surprise but a half hearted chuckle escaped the former noble. His hand moved to scratch at his jawline as his gaze flickered away, a little uneasy but he reluctantly spoke.
“She hasn’t made herself known yet but the eye ah got a bit hot, Raphael… son of Mephistopheles, I’ve seen him a couple of times when Mizora wanted a guard dog, he’s not exactly someone who I’d pin as concerned about us oh so low mortals.” The last part a mockery of how Raphael speaks but he seemed to relax a little bit more, I wonder if he was just happy to have someone neutral to talk about the demons that plagued us with. It kind of gave me the impression that Karlach and him hadn’t fully patched things up between them yet but it was progress.
“Yeah? Well, be careful with Mizora, she’s not exactly known for being clear with her intentions and conditions, Raphael isn’t either but he’s willing to go somewhat black and white with things if he has to. No, that isn’t an invitation to patron hop.” Something about my words made him laugh slightly and Wyll finally let a small smile grow on his lips, his hand patting my shoulder with a small hum.
“I learnt my lesson last time, do not fear about that. However, I appreciate your honesty, a lot of people would be more judging but you seem to have a level head on your shoulders, if slightly questionable company. Take some time to rest okay? It’s still evening so we won’t be able to go anyway yet, I also believe Minthara wishes to go through some training later.” With that he gave me one more pat on the shoulder and moved to join Halsin and Mortarmore, he seemed relaxed and more at ease.
Was that approval? Gods- this is so much harder to tell than the game.