Opening with Astarion PoV

Home.

As the crow flies, just on the other side of Duskhawk hill stood the Szarr estate.

Home. Family. Death.

Astarion's lip pulled into a sneer. From his current location, the hill obstructed the estate. His gaze settled on the river and its far shore instead. It didn't feel like a homecoming, but rather the other way around. He fretted at the hilts of his daggers, wondering whether Cazador or his spawn siblings had picked up his scent yet.

"Here," Nyx's voice pulled him back to their current task. Halsin knelt beside her, and she said, "That doesn't look feline."

He nodded and his brows knit, touching a hand upon the footprint. "Feint trace of magic."

Astarion's ears perked. "Well, well - this dull situation has become a lot more interesting."

Both cranked their necks with askance expressions.

"Trade in magical animals is illegal. Hmm," he tapped a finger to his chin. "What could it be? A displacer beast or some other extra-planar creature?" Wiggling his fingers.

Nyx glanced at the tracks. "It's not a cat, perhaps cat-like but these are not feline tracks."

Grasping at the distraction, Astarion pondered an assortment of cat-like beasts. "If it is valuable or useful - we should consider keeping it."

Halsin rose and gave him an incredulous look.

"What? We're as close to a travelling zoo as we can get. An additional magical beast won't be a problem."

Halsin held up a placating hand. "Our main course of action is to return the animal to its home. Whether that is Garynmor stables remains to be seen."

Nyx's eyebrows rose into her hairline. "Oh? You mean to spring the animal loose?" A mischievous smile split her lips. "Is this before or after payment?"

Halsin chuckled. "You've been spending too much time with this one." He gestured with his head to Astarion, whose face split in a grin as well, and said, "I'm a deliciously devious influence, darling."

Nyx snorted. "I can just as easily recruit Karlach and Shadowheart to my cause." Ignoring Astarion's pout, she pointed at the hill. "Let's round up the others and split up the search - we'll cover more ground."

---

Their hunt led them to various places. Shallow overhangs of rocks, which Nyx assumed were temporary shelters. Others included ancient mine shafts, collapsed a few feet into their tunnels. Rounding the next boulder, Nyx held out her hand, and those following came to an abrupt halt. She signalled to Astarion, Sign(s). (of). Struggle. He relayed the message to the others and snuck after Nyx. Lae'zel and Shadowheart held back.

There was nothing but the breeze, kicking up plumes of dirty amber dust into their faces. It had already coated every inch of his attire, and he wouldn't be surprised if his hair had taken on its yellow tinge. Nyx called the others over, and she pointed at the blood on the rocks.

Shadowheart asked with concern, "A fight?"

"I'd say someone ended up on the wrong side of an animal's jaw."

"People?" They turned to scan the outcrops.

"Several footprints, heading that way, but the animal tracks have stopped."

"Ugh. Someone else had made off with our pay?"

She nodded and then stooped to pick up a brown feather and twirled it between her fingers.

Shadowheart suggested, "A wayward hippogriff feather?"

Nyx shrugged and discarded it. "If the others haven't found another set of animal tracks. We're going to have to follow whomever abducted it."

They regrouped with everyone else, but found no other animal tracks. Following the abductor's footprints, they stood at the entrance of an old quarry. Nyx, Halsin, and Wyll pointed to the tracks running in-and-out, all of which belonged solely to people and carts.

A cautionary look inside proved a yawning tunnel ahead, and a dramatic sigh escaped Astarion. He had had rather enough of dilapidated mines, especially ones prone to collapse, and he certainly did not want to take part in another shit show again. Nyx's magic prickled against his, and he cast a glance at her. Strain pulled around her eyes and mouth, and he reached out for her hand. With a mutual squeeze and a quick stolen kiss, they set after their companions into the tunnels.

--- --- ---

Much the same as the Zhent mine, the quarry had been renovated and properly lit. Fortunately, many of the passages had been sealed off, and their trek led them deeper into its bowels via a single wide corridor. Both the musky smell of animals and traces of magic intensified the farther they went, prompting them to draw their weapons and ready their own magic. A fork in the road forced them to split up again as before, since neither the footprints nor the magic traces gave a clear indication of which way to go.

They stepped into a room with a low roof containing crates, carts, and a series of workbenches. Astarion and Lae'zel inspected the crates, whereas Nyx and Shadowheart checked the benches.

Crate lids creaked. "Chk. Animal provisions."

At one of the workstations, Shadowheart discovered a logbook and flipped through it. "Just as we thought, another one of Gortash's smuggling operations."

Shadowheart showed it to the others. Nyx caught sight of inked columns with numbers, initials, and a strange shorthand. There were dozens per page, and she set her mouth in a line. The room yielded nothing else, instead herding them onward until another fork in the road. After a hushed debate, they continued down the path on the left.

The air became damp and took on a salty aftertaste. Eventually, they walked into a watery dead end, the tunnel floor partially submerged in water.

Nyx mused, squinting into the darkness. The tunnel descended rapidly to the water level beyond. "It seems very risky to setup shop here."

"The perfect hideout for illicit dealings, darling."

"I suppose." Nyx wasn't convinced that the profits would offset the risk, which was probably why she'd make for a poor bad actor. But that suited her just fine.

Astarion whipped around, daggers at the ready. Before Nyx could ask what had alarmed him, something brushed against her whiskers and the water splashed behind their backs.

--- --- ---

Tav surveyed the chamber. There were cages upon cages; large and small, wide and tall. They were stacked on top of one another. To her relief, most of them were empty; the few that contained animals were encased with humming magic. A severe scowl creased Halsin's brow while inspecting the magic seals around an occupied cage. It contained a handful of jewel-scaled lizards. Creatures with alchemical value, but only when their scales were harvested still alive.

"Fucker!" Karlach snatched her hand back from the cage bars after an audible magic zap.

Gale leaned forward, squinting, his hand stroking his beard. "I can dispel these, but its going to take some time and ingredients. Also, I can't guarantee that the occupants will stay put afterwards."

Halsin confirmed the same from his side. "It'll be better to report them to the authorities, and have the animals escorted to a safe location prior to release."

Tav chewed the inside of her cheek and nodded. "Any sign of the not-jungle leopard?"

Responses in the negative steered them to the next section. Gale gasped and darted between the cages. Drawing weapons, the others dashed after.

Gale stood in front of a crate with a cage on top. Magic pulsed around him as he recited an incantation. The spell released in a whoosh of power, and Gale yanked the door open. Something furry jumped into his arms in a flutter of wings, and he said exasperated, "Tara! How did you get here?!"

A series of meows and growls answered.

"Mystra's Mantle!"

Tav cleared her throat.

"Oh, ah, yes." Gale remembered himself and turned to the others with a brilliant smile. "Everyone, meet Tara." Cradled in his arms and resting her front quarters on his shoulder, was a tabby coloured tressym. His familiar he spoke about often and with great fondness. She set her whiskers forward and chirruped at them.

"Aaw, what a doll!" Karlach rushed forward, and Gale instructed Karlach on the etiquette of petting a tressym, which Karlach did with both seriousness and eagerness, stroking the tressym's wings. Tara scrunched her nose at first, then purred with fervour. All the while, Gale informed them proudly that Tara could understand Common Tongue even though she could not speak it, whereas he could communicate to her in tressymspeak (if need be) - one among many languages he was fluent in. Tav rolled her eyes and asked whether Tara would mind being petted by Tav as well. After soaking up all the 'respectful' attention, Gale was able to ascertain how Tara got caught up in the smuggling operation.

"She was concerned about my, erm, condition", Gale patted a hand over the orb in his chest, "And lack of missives after my departing for Baldur's Gate. She set out to search for me here. Whilst flying over the hill she spotted one of her fellow beasts being accosted by human and swooped to intervene, but got caught and brought here."

Wyll's brows furrowed. "What sort of 'fellow beast'?"

Another round of vocalisations by Tara and Gale's eyes grew wide. "Surely you're mistaken."

Tara flattened her ears and glowered at Gale. She dug her feet into his chest and leaned away as though she didn't want to be held by him anymore. He set her down, and she swished her tail, sparing him another glare.

He held up his hands. "Alright, my apologies. It's just that plane jumpers are supposed to be myths. Extinct by all accounts."

Halsin was the only other person who knew what Gale spoke of, and he asked in awe, "That must be the apparent jungle leopard. But how did Gortash get ahold of one?"

Tara spoke to Halsin directly and he nodded diligently. "We'll find them, I won't allow Gortash to abuse the power of such a creature."

Tav crossed her arms and asked, "From the name I assume it moves between planes?"

Before Halsin could answer, something else replied. Unfamiliar shrieks surged up from somewhere deeper in the mine, and they readied for battle.

--- --- ---

Beaks were snapping at their heels. Nyx sliced off another tentacle that had latched onto her leg from behind. The entire passageway had been overrun with Gricks, screeching and snatching at the four of them as they ran. Gricks were generally a nuisance for the average fighter, but a slithering swarm of beaks and tentacles in tight places meant a strategic retreat. Another swarm headed them off from the main passage, forcing them to swerve into the unexplored one.

They burst from the passageway into a larger and mostly empty chamber, except for a huge glowing dome in the middle of the room. With the space to coordinate properly, Lae'zel and Shadowheart moved to choke the Gricks at the corridor's bottleneck. Nyx and Astarion provided support with arrows of magic, picking the monsters off effortlessly until the swarm succumbed.

The moment of respite was soon interrupted by a chitter from the far side of the chamber. The previous commotion had attracted another sort of creature. Long, slicing arms were the first to appear, casting telltale shadows against the back wall, and the vulture-like monstrosities poured forth.

Nyx leapt over a swooping arc from a charging Hook Horror. Her return fire streaked through the air, but the creature turned at the last moment, and the arrow bounced off its hardened carapace. Nyx dodged another flurry of swipes, abandoning her bow for her spider-fang knives. The blades struggled to penetrate the hide of the animal. Switching to the acid laced ones, the knives ate through the carapace, allowing the poisoned ones to reach flesh below. The creature became sluggish as the poison took effect.

Lae'zel took the opportunity to cleave into the slowed creature's leg, and Nyx dug her knives deeper into its exposed flesh. Aiming for its face, one glanced past its head and another struck an unguarded eye. The Hook Horror reared, a shrill cry tearing from its throat while it thrashed around blindly, blood and poison streaming down its face. The creature stumbled to the ground, where death throes overcame it. No longer a threat, Nyx and Lae'zel focused their efforts on another target instead.

Several Hook Horrors were protecting one of their own, standing in a circle, slicing limbs facing outward. The one in the middle threw its head back and gave a skull piercing shriek, which echoed through the chamber and down the passageways.

Distant calls replied.

Astarion attempted to intercept the creature calling for reinforcements, but his arrows bounded off the guards. The distant calls grew louder, and Astarion shouted, "Would someone shut that oversized chicken up!"

Alas, it was no use. They were either thwarted by having to fend off the other Hook Horrors' attacks or by having their weapons glance off reinforced hide. The distance calls turned to shrieks of fear, and the sounds of fighting drifted from the far side of the room. A clamour of metal and magic followed the new Hook Horrors that fled into the chamber, and a second battle joined the first.

Nyx's heart was in her throat until familiar silhouettes, movement and magic poured from the corridor. Reunited with Tav's group, each companion spread out, surrounding the wounded and dwindling monsters. Their two groups forced the creatures together, carving through their ranks, and coordinating in pairs to prevent remaining monsters from recruiting more. The last Hook Horror fell, and the reunited group grinned at each other, huffing and puffing.

Injuries comprised bruises, scrapes and minor lacerations - most of the battle's damage had been absorbed by their upgraded armour and clothing.

Dammon would be pleased.

During the patch up session, Tav brought everyone up to speed. Tav said, "We also found Gale's familiar, Tara." On cue, a high-pitched chirrup drew their attention to the animal sitting at the base of the glowing dome.

Gale approached the opaque ward with outstretched hands, probing it magically. "Tara says the portal jumper is in there."

---

Tara, Gale and Halsin inspected the dome while the others searched for clues in the chamber itself. Crates were filled with strange tools of elaborate design, and the singular desk only contained more logbooks of the operation. The large workstation opposite the dome had an alchemical setup with distillation flasks, magical sigils, more equipment and ingredients strewn about.

A loud snap came from the dome, lighting the chamber up, and Gale cried out. "AH! Blast it!"

Tav asked, "What happened?"

"The ward is locked."

Astarion jutted his hip out and twirled one of his lock picks. "Don't you have the magical equivalent?"

Gale spared him a glare and said, "I do, but this lock is broken." Wyll and Shadowheart approached the dome, trying to discern how to dispel it with Gale.

Nyx carefully picked through the papers on the workstation, and a name caught her eye. Upon closer inspection, it was a letter, and the correspondence made her eyes grow wide. She handed the bundle of accompanying schematics to Gale and the letter to Tav, who read it for everyone's benefit.

"My esteemed colleague, Balthazar,

I am thrilled with your decision to collaborate with me on this new endeavour. I simply must know more about the soul cage construct you mentioned in your previous missive. I am similarly in the process of constructing an ingenious containment field for powerful magical creatures. We should confer more in person once you have arrived in Baldur's Gate. Lord Gortash has already shown great interest in my research.

I expect a fruitful collaboration in the future.

Lorroakan, Wizard Extraordinaire"

Halsin snatched his hand away from the dome when it threatened to retaliate against his own magical interference. "Lorroakan? Wasn't he after the Nightsong?"

Tav nodded grimly and said, "He's also supposedly Rolan's new mentor."

"Then he is in grave danger, along with his Lia and Cal."

She chewed her lip. "It won't be easy, Ramazith's Tower is locked up behind the Upper City walls. As soon as we're able, we'll get him out."

Gale sneered at the schematics. "'Wizard Extraordinaire' more like a bumbling fool. Ahghairon's lost nose, a disaster I tell you!" He waved the schematic around, pointing at specific sections. "A highly unstable lattice combined with volatile glyphs and laughably inaccurate calculations, not to mention the most unlikely combination of alchemical ingredients - no wonder we can't get the ward down." Tara hissed from the floor.

Tav looked between Gale and Halsin, sparing a glance at Tara. "Is there no other way to get the portal jumper out?"

Gale grumbled to himself, scratching his beard. He wiggled his fingers and said, "Let me try a few things. Halsin, my good druid, I may need to borrow some of your magic."

Halsin placed his hand on his chest. "With the Oak Father's blessing you shall have it."

The dome sputtered and strobed under Gale and Halsin's efforts, making strange humming noises and warbling chimes. The others organised themselves to scout the rest of the mine. Before they could set out, the dome heaved, and a rippled of magic flowed through the chamber, making Nyx's magic buzz.

"Wait," Tav said, and she whipped around, returning to the dome. "Do that again." Tav closed her eyes and lowered her head. Gale and Halsin repeated the magical adjustment against the ward, and it rippled with power again. Tav hummed a tune and tentatively reached out to the dome. Its magic distended but settled under her bardic influence.

She said, "It's discordant, the individual magic strands are not in harmony.", and smiled at Gale and Halsin's confusion. "Here let me show you." Tav extended her magic and repeatedly plucked a strand from the dome. She soothed the strand, slowly its chime shifted until it rang in tune with her own humming.

"Marvellous! Yes, yes - that must be it!" Gale waved his hands over the dome again. "Just as I thought - Nyx would you mind lending me your magic too?"

Uh, why? What use could mine be?

Nyx hesitated for a moment but moved to stand between the Tav and Gale. The buzz of her magic increased tenfold while she squinted in the light, looking at each of them in turn. "But I don't have the fine control like you have."

Gale waved a dismissive hand, and Tav beamed, "We'll help you."

Nyx nodded, unease stirring in her stomach at having all three of them coming into contact with her magic. She took a steading breath, stuck one of her whiskers to the dome and tried to unfurl her magic as carefully as she could. The black pit replied with more zeal than she liked, and she fell into a meditative breath to ease its power. The others added their magic to the mix.

The spring freshness of Halsin's came first as he cast a net over the ward, Tav's magic subtly weaving between his and the dome. After a few adjustments, Tav had brought the additional source into harmony, and the result gurgled like a fresh brook. Next came Gale's, his power and control unmistakable as he reinforced Halsin's net and lifted it slightly from the dome without breaking the harmony already established by Tav.

Nyx's magic had been pooling steadily at the tip of her whisker. The slightest tug from Gale made the dome's magic reverberate with a clangorous noise. Nyx cringed, steeling herself against potential backlash, but Tav intervened, wrapping several layers around the combination. The dome settled and all five sources of magic hummed together happily.

Gale continued to pull on Nyx's magic, leading it along Halsin's net, whereas Tav smoothed the layers already created. After reaffirming his plan, Gale pressed Nyx's 'force' magic against certain touchpoints on the dome. Tav and Halsin buffered the rest of the touchpoints. The dome heaved, pushing, resisting the adjustments, but Nyx's magic rushed through the lattice's seams, deconstructing the weakened points. The combined magic held fast, preventing an uncontrolled collapse. After a few moments, the dome shrank and silently disintegrated into slivers of light.

Nyx blinked at the fading light show and said, "Wow.", receiving chuckles and grins. The ward had dispelled, and the portal jumper stirred from its slumber.

---

It looked like a red raccoon, twice the size of Tara, and sported a set of single-branching antlers. Tara chirruped at it, and its large black eyes blinked open. It stretched, yawning, and a magnificent long, plump, and banded tail rose into the air. Everyone gasped when it regarded them proper; its black eyes were filled with the light and colours of the stars.

"Silvanus, it's an Omenbeast."

It turned its gaze on Halsin and spoke, but its jaw did not move. "Forest walker you are far from home." Nyx couldn't discern whether the voice was male or female.

Halsin cleared his throat and placed his fist over his heart. "As are you Fabled one, are you injured?"

It shook its head, making its ears flop against its head. The gesture was very animal-like; however, its eyes shone with greater intelligence.

"The Enchanter isn't here. You are not allies?"

All of them blurted at once various versions of 'no'.

The elongated tuffs of hair at the side of its face bobbed upwards, as though smiling. "You wish to take my gifts for yourself then?"

Another set of shocked no's.

"I sense mostly truth. Some hesitation."

Tav shot a glare over her shoulder, and Nyx suppressed a snort at the indignant replying scoff.

Gale preened his robe and made a bend at the waist. "Greetings, Fabled one. I am Gale, Wizard of Waterdeep and I'm rather curious how you were captured." Tav gave him a raised eyebrow, and he amended. "Uh, if you don't mind."

The Omenbeast settled itself on the floor and it said warily, "Tired. Sleep."

Tav sat down on her haunches and offered, "Is there anything we can do?"

"One last gift to secure my freedom, fully."

"Name it."

"Gift me of your strength and I can return home."

After a few more pointed questions, they determined it wanted each of them to give a portion of their magical strength. It assured them it would not be a permanent condition, a loan of sorts. It remarked on the reluctance of some, and said, "I will gift a boon in exchange."

Astarion inspected his nails. "What kind of boon?"

Its eyes sparkled, and it smiled. "Only after the exchange."

Astarion sighed dramatically. "Fine."

Each of them gave as much as they were willing to. After the exchange, the portal jumper perked up and purred, "You are each a walker between paths. My blessing."

Nyx felt a strange tingle run across her skin. Then a pool of moonlight gathered around the Omenbeast's feet, and it slowly levitated into the air. "And walk through doors touched by me." A tear ripped into the air above, power and starlight spilling through. They braced against the magic and shielded their eyes, watching the Omenbeast deconstruct into threads and was pulled through the portal in a swirl of sparkling magic. The portal snapped shut, and the afterglow of a sigil remained suspended in the air.

"I wouldn't touch that", Gale said to Lae'zel, who stepped closer to the sigil.

She gave him a blistering glare. "I know where it goes, the Astral plane is a thoroughfare for many. I have no intent on following. Not for now at least."

"Ah, apologies." Gale made a placating gesture and turned to Tav with an expectant look.

She crossed her arms and said, "Keelan has some explaining to do. We have people to notify, and animals to rescue."

---

The rest of the afternoon was spent coordinating between the Fists and the Harpers. Nyx and several of the others agreed with Tav's assessment of not trusting the Fists with the operation alone. Thus, the Harpers were recruited to assist with moving the animals. The manager of Garynmor was arrested for illegal animal trading. Many of the staff at Garynmor insisted on helping, after it was established that they did not know of the illicit dealing, and they roped in neighbouring stables and animal handlers to assist as well - all under Halsin's watchful eye.

Night had fallen by the time the tiresome work concluded. Animals were logged, lodged, and arrangements made for them to be shipped back whence they came. Nyx was eager to put the day behind her, too.

After a last sweep of the mine, they trudged down the winding path back to Stonyeyes, laughing and jesting among themselves. Farther down, two silhouettes stood at the foot of Duskhawk Hill, away from prying eyes. At first, Nyx thought them some straggler Harpers or Fists, but the red glow in their eyes made her reach for her weapons.

Astarion sucked in a breath. "Shit", and his hands went for his daggers. The rest followed suit, drawing to a halt and retrieving weapons.

One of the silhouettes waved them down slowly, its red eyes glowing brighter as they approached. A small tiefling addressed Astarion. "Peace, brother. We're here to take you home."

I was on the verge of freaking out - I am usually very paranoid about saved files but I had acidentally overwritten this whole chapter with the previous one without noticing. My Obsidian is not synced, so I was just about ready to have a mild panic attack when I couldn't recover the correct version and blessedly VS Code had the previous versions in its cache. My relief could not be described...
Lately I use VS Code to help me parse the edits between Obsidian and MS Word when doing ProWritingAid revisions (yeah it a bit of a convoluted workflow, but its easier than fixing the formatting in Word when doing a direct copy-paste from Obsidian since ProWritingAid works better in Word). So moral of the story, be more even paranoid about save files!

Omenbeast is my own creation.

Hook Horrors, Forgotten Realms Wiki - Good ol' action shot! Kapow!


Gricks, Forgotten Realms Wiki