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The Grand Design.

***This is just HALF of the chapter. It's 14K in length and honestly, that is way too long for this site, so if you want to read all of it, just pop over to Ao3. It's fully open to registered and guests.***

No song this time! Maybe y'all can give me a song you think would fit this chapter in the comments.

On Ao3.

CH. 23 1/2: What Can Go Wrong, Will Go Wrong.

- Every Scar Tells A Story (Rion POV) - Should Have Listened (Abbi POV) - Dinner Delivered (Rion POV)

Astarion POV -

I could only guess at the time with no access to the skies. The rest of camp was fast asleep. The campfire, nothing but warm coals. Gale, who was supposed to be awake for the second watch, was passed out underneath a book while propped by a bedroll.

Useless wizard. Granted, I probably could have offered to take the watch, but didn't want to. I had more important things to attend to. I nudged him with my boot and he stirred slightly before returning to drool. I arched my brow — mouth breathers. It was probably for the best, less questions as to why I was suddenly returning to camp covered in blood.

I told them no innocents and I'd kept my promise. Now, I needed a bath. Earlier, I had noted a net ladder which led down the cliff face to a small trail ending at a strip of pebbles and sand. I slipped on my pack and made my way to the beach in relative silence. If I was going to leave the rest of my companions unaware of my midnight snack, I also needed to clean my armor. I set my pack down and dove head first into the dark waters of the Ebonlake, fully clothed, not a care in the world for what it might feel like.

I thoroughly expected freezing cave water, but instead, I was pleasantly surprised by the heat. I had read about thermal lakes and hot springs which could be found around Faerûn from a book I’d stolen off of Yousen — oddly for being a bard, he had a preference for non-fiction. The authors had theorized about underground volcanic activity warming the waters.

I shrugged to myself. It was about time the gods granted me a boon. I stripped, tossing my armor and small clothes onto the shoreline. Hopefully, most of the blood had washed off. I couldn’t tell since I could barely differentiate colors down here. Even with large glowing mushrooms like lanterns all around, most everything was dim. Thus, my darkvision made up for the loss, causing me to see mostly in shades — just as I had for two centuries on the surface. For as ethereal it was, I still hoped being down here would be a short trip. The heated waters made me miss the sunlight.

I waded out as far as I dared. Who knew what lurked in the darkness. I ran my hands through the rippled waves while wriggling my toes among the stones lining the lake floor. Part of me wished I could turn and see Abigail wading beside me. I squeezed my eyes shut as a wave of anxiety rolled through me. It felt as if every conversation with her was tinged with it recently. I wanted to snarl at her comments about my rancid breath and to slash my claws across her face as she told me to find joy. She meant nothing and meant well, but I was starting to wonder what the point of entertaining her attention was, and why I desired it at all. I'd gotten enough attention for the last two hundred years to last my eternal lifetime. Needless, it would likely be short lived depending on when she found a way home. I had more important things to focus on, like the parasite. Though, speaking of the parasite, Halsin had been right. It had set me free, even if temporarily.

But for how much longer? Every step towards Moonrise and Baldur's Gate had me ready to bolt in the opposite direction. If it weren't for the damn tadpole, I'd have fled as far as I could by now. If Abigail could climb out of the Nautiloid unscathed, maybe I could have too.

Do you really envision yourself anything more than a helpless sod? It’s why they want you, you give them something to pretend to care for… or take from.

I looked down at my hands just below the lake surface as his laughter rang through my head. I glanced back up to the cliff where all of camp slept, then back out over the dark water.

I wanted to shout back at him, tell him he was a delusional prick too lazy to do his own dirty work, but the reality of it was that my little group would be just fine without me. I was just an added bonus, constantly trying to prove my usefulness.

An image of Abigail on the hillside came to mind, as if something within me were trying to pose some kind of evidence to my defense. I scoffed aloud. Halsin and Shadowheart could have managed that just fine. As if in argument, another memory surfaced of whisking Abigail to safety midair in the Goblin camp. Alright, I'd take some credit for that. Though, I was also the one who had convinced her to go with me in the first place. I set her up to fail, just like kissing her back in the hag cave. It wasn't directly my fault, but I was an accomplice. The only time I had possibly been her savior was with Dror Ragzlin. Though, I had given her the ring of invisibility.

I shook my head. No, I wouldn't abide this any longer. I wasn't to blame for any of it.

I wasn't a helpless sod.

I shut my eyes and dropped beneath the waves, letting the sounds of flowing water drown out my racing thoughts. As I floated in the warm quiet, I wondered if this was what it was like within the womb. Comforting and safe. A place to be and rest — dull sounds to calm, light rocking to soothe.

Maybe, it would have been better to never have found my way out of one.

I wrapped my arms around myself, tucking my legs under, feeling the smooth water rocks of the lake as I let the small current toss me slightly; nothing and darkness my mother.

I didn't want to think about it. I didn't want to believe it, but the image of the two faces laughing in a mirror had burned itself into my mind from my trance after feeding from Halsin. Despite my wariness to its authenticity, I let the image comfort me, like gazing on an old portrait. The woman holding the small boy smiled as he smiled back through the mirror, a moment of joy between them.

Soon the comfort began to turn to something aching and sad within me. I shook my head and planted my feet. It was time to head in and make sure the armor was well and truly cleaned. I needed a task to keep myself from more of this nonsense.

I stood, slightly surprised to find the water had pushed me toward the shore. It was now at my waist. I pushed my fingers through my hair, squeezing out some of the water.

"Astarion?"

I swung my head over my shoulder as my claws shot out of the ends of my fingers. Karlach stood on the beach, her pack hanging off of an arm with rags in the other. Her face, a mess of confusion, was lit up by her glowing heart.

I held a hand over my chest and sighed, feigning relief — none of which I actually felt. She must have made it down the cliff while I was underwater. I wondered if the rest of the camp was starting to wake.

"Oh, you startled me," I smiled. I threw on a friendly face hoping it would assuage whatever made her concerned and she would drop it.

She didn't take the bait, taking her time dropping her bag and makeshift towel on the sand while never taking her eyes off of me.

"Normally, I'd make some joke and let you off the hook, but..." Her lips pursed, "Not this time, Fangs," she said softly.

I straightened, trying not to seem startled. When the tiefling got serious, it was for good reason, and I was quite sure I knew the reason for her sudden decline in humor. I kept my mouth shut and let her answer herself.

She walked over to my pile of clothing, picking up my small clothes. She turned to toss them out to me, but paused, head tilting oddly as a smile crept up her face. She stared at them a moment longer, then laughed outright, shaking her head, pulling out my small clothes between her hands.

She cleared her throat as I rolled my eyes, knowing where this was headed.

Her brow rose in tease, "If you're reading this, you managed to bed or behead me..." She stifled another laugh, "Either way, you got lucky." She let the laugh out as I glared at her. She hung the pants on her pointed finger, "Seems you didn't consider all the eventualities. But, I guess that still makes me the lucky one."

I rolled my eyes once more and started trudging through the water, as she kept hers on my face.

"Well, I'm not the first one of us to get lucky, am I?" she teased through a toothy grin.

I snatched the small clothes from her finger as she laughed harder. I pulled them on then stood watching her laugh with my arms crossed. Internally, I was amused and impressed, but I wasn't about to show her — giving her the satisfaction. Instead, I stood waiting for her to get back to what she had originally been saying.

"Hoo — sorry," she held up a hand, "You are one of a kind, Fangs. Never change." She smiled brightly, her heart's glow an accent to her mood. She noted my silence and unamused face. "I know you're laughing underneath that mask you're wearing." She tapped her finger in my direction, "I spent a decade with a bunch of fakes who thought so little of me, when backs were turned, they didn’t even care that I saw them for who they really were. Some of which surprised me, in a good way. Though, I'd never let them see that I cared. Just like they taught me." She leaned in, her heat reminding me of the water, "I know how to wear masks too, you know."

I held strong to what little personal ground I had left, glancing down at my elongated fingernails, "Were you trying to tell me something or should I let you bathe and be on my way?"

"I can bathe and talk at the same time, Astarion." She turned and began stripping off her camp clothes until she was in just her undergarments. She turned back playfully, "Don't need you sifting through my small clothes. Wouldn't put it past you to take the lot and leave me to return to camp in nothing by my bare ass."

I couldn't help the snuff and smirk. I could picture myself doing just that. Though, she was the last person to deserve it. Also, the last person to waltz back in shame. It would be no fun. Shadowheart, though... I shook my head slightly, bringing myself back to the present.

"I take it, Abbi's seen your scars,” she continued.

I nodded, I wasn't about to tell her Durge had too. It was nice to know both could keep secrets.

She waded into the water, "Damn, this is a little chilly." I rolled my eyes as she took a dive, her single horn cresting first. She shook the water from her hair as she turned back to me, "But, she probably doesn't know they're written in infernal. Did you?"

"I didn't." It wasn't entirely a lie.

She paused for a moment, watching me. "I can read infernal, you know."

I forced myself to take my next breaths. I knew what she was proposing, but something about all of this felt too... personal. Too real. I’d been putting those scars behind me, literally and figuratively, for over a century. I swallowed, waving a hand at her, "This isn't your problem. I've had them for a long time. I've let it go."

She eyed me carefully, then shrugged, "Well, if you don't want to know..."

A jagged shard shot through me, slicing me with acute panic. Like a man thrown overboard watching their shipmates walk away from the railing believing they were lost for good.

"No," I hissed. She glanced back, face pinching. I straightened, trying to seem calmer than I felt. I'd come off too desperate. I cleared my throat, trying to emulate a more casual attitude — less needy, “Well, if you could tell me anything, I'd..." If I had a heartbeat, it would've been slamming through my ribcage at the concern in her eyes. I wanted to turn and dash up the trail, through the Underdark, and off into the wilds to hide forever. Telling myself the whole way that I didn’t care and didn’t need the help.

"… I'd appreciate it." The words were wool in my mouth as she made her way back out of the waters.

She smiled softly, trying at comfort, "Let me take a look and I'll do my best." Her eyes darted between mine, "I can't make any promises, though."

I nodded and turned around slowly. Glad to hide any more of my treacherous expressions. I heard her shift on her feet as she read it.

"Interesting take... I guess it was an artistic choice to carve it in circles. That's not a hell thing. I've seen my fair share of contracts and the like, and they're never like this."

I forced a nasty comment down. I wanted to tell her to get to the point, but the last thing I wanted was her to rescind her help. Abigail had mentioned it looking like a sun back in the cave.

"It's written in some kind of prose. Like a poem or whatever. From how it reads, it's probably like the second or third part. There's nothing notable. It's just setting the stage for the rest of the contract."

"Contract?" I turned to look at her.

"Yeah, it's definitely some kind of contract, but I can't begin to tell you what for. It just says something about rising from the ashes to glow with the sunlight. It's..." She looked defeated. "It's incomplete, so it doesn't make much sense. Most contracts' details are in the last bits. I take it you're not the only one with something like this?"

I sighed, "No, I'm one of seven with matching scars. I never spent time staring at the details of my sib—the other spawns' backs. I just assumed they were the same thing. Most of us just wanted to forget about it. It wasn't as if I could compare them to mine."

She watched something on the ground before answering, "Well, I can't draw for shit, but maybe you could show Abbi again and she could draw it for you. Then at least you could see it."

It wasn't a bad idea. Though, I wasn't sure about how to ask her without seeming more pathetic than I was now. "I'll figure it out. There's got to be someone out there who can get me some answers."

Karlach eyed me cautiously, "I'd be careful about that, Astarion. This is part of an infernal contract. The only ones who could help with that would be devils and there is no telling if they would be honest with you, let alone without getting you into some kind of deal of your own."

"What do I have to lose at this point? There's already a devil chasing after us who clearly wants something, maybe we can at least entertain him enough to get some answers."

She shook her head, "I don't like the sound of that. You can't trust cambions. And Raphael is definitely as sleazy as they come. They know how to twist the truth to get what they want so you don't look at the details hard enough. It's easy to miss the small print when they put it on the back." She cringed, "That came out wrong."

I shook my head, giving her a reassuring smirk, "I'd say it was aptly stated."

Relief rolled over her, "Good. Just—" She huffed, "You deserve answers, truly. I mean it, but don't make them cost more than they're worth. Deals with devils always come with inflated price tags."

I felt my jaw swivel as I considered her words. She wasn't wrong, but I'd rather be in service to a devil than Cazador at this point. Who knew how far Cazador was willing to go with his own dealings if he carved some kind of contract onto our backs. This was turning out worse than I'd imagined. I sighed, "Thank you, by the way. This was... helpful."

She grinned, "I want to see you as free of Cazwhatever as I am of Zariel. You deserve that. You deserve to take Faerûn by the shorthairs."

I couldn't help but match her grin. It was a lovely sentiment, albeit a naïve one, just like with Halsin and Abigail earlier. "I... appreciate that."

She nodded before she turned back towards the water, stopping at the edge as small waves crashed at her feet, "I'm serious, Fangs. You deserve the world." With that, she turned, throwing herself back into the lake with a splash. I shook my head in amusement as I gathered my armor, dressing for camp before ascending and leaving our resident tiefling in peace.

[Karlach Note:

Fangs, seeing you pop out of the dark water scared the shit out of me. That's why I was staring at you weird. I did notice the scars when we started talking, but mostly I was trying to calm the fuck down. I'm sorry I couldn't have been more help then. I'm also glad that your little piece of the contract was a bit of a prophecy for you. Miss you loads. Could use your stealthy nature these days. ]

Abigail POV -

Everyone in the grotto, save maybe Blurg and Omeluum, seemed in a sour mood. Glut was begging us to hurry up to see the duergar. Spaw's 'song' around the grotto seemed lined in tension, and Thulla eyed us from her new spot by Blurg and Omeluum with impatience. Derryth was pissy when we tried to trade, but she didn't have any stakes in us taking down the slavers, so Halsin ventured to figure out what was wrong.

Evidently, her damnable husband, Baelen, had died a horrible death. Granted, she was more angry that he had no noblestalk in his pack, just a map with an 'X' on it and the word 'cluster' next to it. She was upset that she couldn't go searching for the cluster without risking her own life and her business, though she was sure she wouldn't make rent and it would likely be shut down anyways.

As we were walking away, a few more healing potions and supplies on hand, Halsin shook his head, "Hook Horrors are terrible creatures. They rip their prey to shreds with teeth and claws like knives. To think he was almost back to the grotto... so unfortunate."

I absently rubbed my small pouch holding my new ring and smaller magical trinkets, trying to push the mental image of Brian sliced up out of my mind. "That’s terrifying. What's so important about noblestalk anyway?"

"It's a potent source of healing and can cure a number of conditions. It is also said to help with restoring one's mental faculties like lost memory or mind damage after psychic attacks."

I hummed. He watched me quizzically, "What are you thinking?"

"I wonder if it could help Durge," my brow shot up, "or even Astarion, if he's up for it."

He looked thoughtful for a moment, "We could speak to them and see what they think, then speak to Derryth about assisting her. Though, I wonder if we might get push back from Astarion."

"We could just keep the noblestalk and not tell her..."

He shot me a small look of teasing disapproval, "You're starting to sound a bit like him."

I shrugged, "He's not wrong. She's a bitch." He huffed a laugh as we pulled up to the rest of the group.

Sylas trotted out to me, "Are you going to take down the bad guys now?"

I got down on my knees before him, placing my hands on his shoulders, "Yeah. We're going to check it out and see what we can do to help."

I wanted to sound hopeful. Every fight I put myself in risked making him an orphan. I nearly offered to stay back while the others took care of it, but it felt like a selfish thing. Though, seeing Sylas now, I wondered if it were the other way around. He was supposed to be my first priority. Why was I putting myself in danger when we had so much to lose? But, the look on his face was excited, expectant. If I told him I was staying behind now he would wonder why and I would have to explain how dangerous it really was. Then, he wouldn't want any of us to leave.

"I need you to be super helpful to Blurg and Omeluum. I told them you could be put to work. Can I depend on you?" I continued.

He nodded enthusiastically, "Blurg told me he wanted to know all about Earth. Thulla said she might play with me too."

I wondered something for a moment, "You do know Thulla is an adult, right?"

He looked a little confused for a second, but the new information caught up, "She's really short."

Astarion snorted, but Shadowheart answered, "It's because she's a gnome."

"I thought gnomes were blue and sang a lot."

Shadowheart gave me an odd look while Astarion covered his mouth with a fist.

"Not on Toril. Here it's different," I added. Sylas mouthed 'oh' while nodding.

A few of my companions did what they could to keep from laughing out loud.

Halsin replied patiently, "There are two kinds of gnomes, generally. Deep gnomes who are darker in complexion and surface gnomes who have skin much more like the rest of us, save Karlach and Lae’zel."

Sylas nodded back, then returned his attention to me, "Are you leaving now, Mommy?"

"After this," I pulled him into a hug. He held me as tight as his little arms could. I pushed down the rising tears. I wouldn't panic. I could depend on all of my friends in a fight. If I needed to siphon some magic to help, I knew they would be willing. Though, I felt a little defenseless without my gun. The lessons with Lae'zel and Astarion would be tested today.

"Alright, you," Karlach said to Sylas, saving me, "Time to get moving. Mom's gonna crush some duergar ass."

Sylas beamed up at her, then turned to head off, "Love you!" he called out as he ran off to see Blurg and Omeluum.

A red hand waved from the little alcove as I watched Blurg welcome my son. I nodded my thanks, then let my friends lead us out of the grotto.

The trail of dead bodies smelled a little less pungent down here. I wondered if they decayed slower in the Underdark. I also wondered if anyone believed in burials in Faerûn as we stopped to look out over a small decrepit village from a landing a bit above it. We could see a small bonfire down on the beachfront with a few duergar sitting around it.

"Now what?" Karlach asked, looking around.

Several pairs of eyes looked at me. I stared back at them. I didn't know what they expected from me. The little I knew about dark dwarves was what I'd gleaned from Blurg and some of the others while chatting casually with them today. Thulla had just spewed prejudices and generalities, getting slightly irritated that I might want to be diplomatic.

"Okay," I started. "Do we think we can at least get some information out of them about the stuff across the lake before we take them out? Also, just because there are a few at that fire doesn't mean there aren't a bunch more where we can't see them."

Astarion sighed dramatically, "There are only four."

"How do you know..." Wyll started, then realized he knew the answer as Astarion glared at him. "Nevermind."

I put my hands on my hips, taking in the positive news, "Okay, that's helpful. But, that still brings up my first point. They know the details about the Grymforge and what to expect. They're also cultists. Do you think they'll be like the Goblins and be able to tell you guys are 'True Souls'?"

"Only one way to find out," Durge added.

I took another good look out over the village. It seemed built into the cliffs, a few of the levels above hidden a bit by shadow, "I have an idea..."

Durge led a small group of us — Gale, Karlach, Shadowheart, and I — down to the beach. The rest were following behind slowly, hiding on some of the higher levels to stand guard and step in when needed. The duergar heard us descending, which was the point, and were standing about with hands on their weapons, ready for anything.

"Who in the hells are—" the presumed leader cringed at the same time as the rest of my companions as their minds connected. I quickly schooled myself into my own faked wince, hoping none of the others with him, who seemed undeterred, wouldn’t notice my slight hesitation.

"True Souls..." he added with a little more congeniality. "You must be trying to get across the lake to help with the others."

Durge nodded. "We're headed to Moonrise."

"Seems to be where the whole lot of you are ending up."

Durge cocked his head, "You're no True Soul?"

The duergar shook his head, "Just another bit of fodder for the Absolute. Though, she promises a new world, and I don't mind a bit of bloodshed."

Durge gave a devious smile, reminiscent of the one which lived within him, "In her name."

"In her name," the duergar echoed. He held a hand out, "Name's Gehk. I can get you across. They're gonna need all the help they can get."

"And how's that?" Durge inquired.

"Another True Soul, some drow prick named Nere, was heading a scavenging party to find an entrance to some old temple. We was sent out to find some slaves to assist in the diggin' when we got here and nabbed some spare gnomes. Lucky find considering how good they are at diggin'. Though, lost a few of my men in the process when they fought back. Wasn't expectin' the shrooms to show up and defend 'em." He shook his head, remembering. "Granted, we got the lot of 'em and shipped 'em off. A bunch of the men headed back to this morning. The rest of us stayed behind to man the docks and keep an eye out for the bitch who stole Sargent's boots. Glad we did, since you'll need a way over."

"That would be immensely helpful,” he replied. The duergar nodded. "I was told there would be a passage connecting Moonrise and Grymforge, is this true?"

Gehk tipped his head, "Ish. There's a lift that will take you up to the Shadowlands, but you gotta get yourselves to Moonrise."

"Any tips?"

Gehk huffed, "Don't get cursed. Bring a torch."

"Well, thanks anyway." Durge glanced back at me, waiting on my signal to either engage or disengage. I gave him a toss over my shoulder, signaling disengagement. He turned back to the duergar who was now eyeing me up. "We made camp a ways up the cliffs, so we'll have to pack up before we can head out. We will be back down here when we're ready."

The duergar nodded, "Sounds good." With that he turned away from us, but stopped short, "Any of you lot seen a gnome female? Likely dying from a wound?"

Durge shook his head, "Can't say I have."

Gehk nodded then finally turned away, joining his companions around the campfire. We took that as our goodbye and ascended back into the village. The rest followed after us as we gathered back at the landing.

"I do not understand why we did not kill them when we were in the best position to do so," Lae'zel snipped.

I crossed my arms, "We needed the information."

"Now, they can call for reinforcements while we waste our time."

I sucked a breath through my nose forcing myself to keep from rolling my eyes at her. "We will take them out, but they were ready for a fight. We need them thinking we aren't a threat. Then, we have the advantage."

Her jaw ticked, but I could tell she had no argument for me.

"So, when will we be engaging them?" Astarion asked with a hint of impatience.

"Well..." I looked around at everyone for a moment. "We've got two options. One, we come back in a few hours and take them out, but we'll need an alibi for why we have their boats without them when we finally do show up at Grymforge. Or, we don't kill them yet and we let them sail us across, then take down the whole group at once. Hopefully, getting an opportunity to save Thulla's friends."

I watched him roll his eyes. I shot him a look of disapproval and confusion. He just shrugged in response.

"Alright, by raise of hands, who thinks we should kill them?" Lae'zel, Wyll, Astarion, and Glut raised their hands. "Okay, who thinks we should wait and take out the rest in the process?" Halsin, Shadowheart, Gale, Karlach, and Durge raised theirs. "Looks like majority rules." Despondent sighs and scoffs sounded from the first few. "Unless any of you have a good alibi — that will be believable — for when we show up, explaining why we have their boats?"

"Just tell the rest the Myconids took revenge," Wyll added. Lae'zel's brows rose up her face as if to say 'told you so'. I sighed, it was more or less believable. Glut hummed his approval. I rubbed my forehead, "Okay, one more time, a revote."

"What?" Shadowheart snapped. "We voted already. Why are we voting? They lost. We will take care of all the rest of the duergar at the same time and not risk our necks before reaching the Grymforge. Duergar are vicious and very good fighters."

"The less bloodshed, the better," Halsin added.

"I agree with Shadowheart, though I don't mind a little bloodshed," Karlach replied while looking at Halsin.

I glanced among the five who had voted to let them live, "Alright, how about this? With the new idea of saying they were killed by the Myconids, which might be realistic to those who were here to fight them, do any of you change your votes?"

"I would consider it," Gale started, "but, noting the duergar's acuity in battle and seeing as to how many myconids lie dead on the trail here and down along the beach, I imagine the myconids took a nasty hit and few actually got a kill in. I'm not sure how many men were here previously, but they would be able to assess the abilities the myconids possess when it comes to combat. Likely noting the lack thereof."

Glut made some kind of squeal in disagreement. Gale gave him a look asking him to try to correct him, knowing the myconid couldn't.

"So, no one thinks that's a good enough reason?" I inquired. The five who voted against stayed quiet. I looked over at the others, "Looks like we've got our answer. We keep them alive until we get them to the Grymforge."

More hisses and sighs of disappointment sounded. A few glares made their way across the group. I shot Lae'zel a raised brow, "I'm not starting fires we can't put out." She only shook her head and headed back towards the grotto. The rest of us followed behind.

(Cont. on Ao3)

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