Easter Egg: Baldur's Gate 3 Cast play D&D #2 | High Rollers Presents: Shadows of Athkatla (Second part of a 2 part session on YouTube)

Eventually, Astarion guided Nyx away from the lobbies toward the bar after she commented about the poor performance on stage - other patrons would disagree; their tongues lolling at the dancer in tight, suggestive clothing.

He couldn't keep the smile from his face at Nyx's obvious disapproval of, well everything now. "And here I thought you were entranced by what was on offer, not picking apart dancing technique."

Nyx snorted. "To be fair, my technique would be shot as well were I wearing that silly outfit."

He roved his gaze down Nyx's body, indulging the notion of her wearing something more revealing. That thought alone stirred more excitement in him than anything at Sharess' Caress. "My sweet, I'd have to tell off the whole brothel were you to look like that and dance at the same time."

She gave him a lopsided smile. "Smooth talker, you of all people should know 'we must have standards'."

"Indeed, we must, which is why I'm whisking you away before anyone else realises the same."

Rewarded with a blush, he grinned, both satisfied and victorious.

They found Lae'zel, Halsin and Karlach seated on one side of the L-shaped bar, each with a tankard in hand bigger than the other. The scent of malt, molasses and coriander assaulted Astarion's nose.

Ugh, disgusting beverage.

He picked up on the murmurs and laughter from Tav and the others upstairs. A long sigh escaped him.

More waiting and I'm not interested in more tea.

Nyx took up a seat, Halsin to her right, other patrons to her left on the short side of the L-shape. Astarion stood between Lae'zel and Karlach, browsing a menu on the counter, hoping for a more sophisticated drink.

"What can I do you for?"

His eyes met the barkeep's. Hoots Hooligan was a woman of size and muscle, happy to serve you a drink when you behave or forcibly escorting you out the door if you don't. Out of the handful of other people who had occupied the same position at Sharess' Caress, Astarion considered Hoots to be one of the more pleasant barkeep-enforcers.

He turned the menu over, disappointed at the blank page that stared back at him. "Oh, I don't know, something full-bodied and red."

"Hah, sorry pal but you only get beer here. Brew it myself." She said as though it were something to be proud of, and his underlying request was completely wasted. No wine or otherwise red drinks.

Oh well, a vampire could hope.

Karlach smirked, a foam moustache on her lip. "Hoots has is a beer wizard! You should try it." She toasted her tankard to Astarion, and he arched an eyebrow at her.

With a dramatic sigh, he took up a seat at a table nearby. Reclining in the stuffed chair, old habits took hold. He scanned the room, evaluating postures and facial expressions. Fortunately, he didn't need to do anything beyond partaking in people watching. That alone was comforting.

A waitress passed by, and one of the patrons at the far end of the bar leered at her. The waitress noticed and stopped. "You're looking parched, sweetheart. Another tankard?"

He slurred, "Hells, darling - another sip, and I'm like to spill over." He turned in his chair and leaned toward her. "But I've a hankering for spicier flavours. How about you give me a taste?" The waitress put a hand on her hip, waiting amused after he leaned too far and took a moment to steady himself. "Whaddya say, doll? Have a sit on my lap. Let's see what pops up."

She touched a hand to her chest and without missing a beat replied, "Darling, how you set me a-quiver. You are a beast among men. No - a dragon, setting my phoenix nest aflame."

The drunk nearly passed out and made a set of cooing noises. Astarion and the rest enjoyed the entertainment. Unaffected, she continued, "I shall slake your thirst, dragon. You will part your lips and drink of my essence."

He let out a drawn-out groan. "Ohh, I will drink your essence."

Triumphantly, the waitress snapped her fingers and grinned at the barkeep. "Hoots - order up. Another tankard for the dragon and his friend!"

The waitress slinked away, and the drunk drowned his sorrows in the next tankard. His friend mumbled something about the waitress being too tame for him. The lecher friend instead turned to eye Nyx. "What about you? Want to take a ride?", and he patted his lap.

Astarion cringed.

Nyx said she's not interested in an even tone and retrieved one of her throwing knives to clean her nails. The idiot was either too obtuse or too drunk to understand the message.

"I'm into knives too and mine is very sharp." He and his 'dragon' friend sniggered.

Gods above.

Nyx didn't even register their presence, and Astarion shifted in his chair should he need to get involved. But similar to their other three companions, he wasn't as concerned as much as he was eager to see it play out.

Halsin leaned over and asked Nyx, "Is he bothering you?"

She gave him a small smile. "A minor annoyance, but nothing I can't handle."

He chuckled. "I don't doubt it, let me know if you change your mind."

"Will do, thanks."

Hoots was monitoring the interaction as well between drying glasses and holding them to the light. There was a subtle stirring of Nyx's magic, which none of the others noticed.

Astarion tilted his head, Interesting.

Still the lecher continued, "They say the quiet ones are wild in the bedroom. How about you join me and we find out, eh?" Then he made a big mistake, and the idiot didn't even know what happened until Nyx's hunting knife was hovering above his eye.

In a blur of motion, Nyx had immobilised the lecher and had him pinned to his chair. Astarion stood and sauntered over. The wide-eyed expression from both idiots was immensely satisfying. Astarion made himself comfortable between the two; the pinned one on his left and the frantic dragon friend to his right. Astarion slouched on his elbows, his back against the counter.

Watching Nyx make lechers squirm is most entertaining.

The lecher struggled, but the hand holding his tankard was fixed to the bar with Nyx's throwing knife through the sleeve. The other hand was twisted behind the chair, held in Nyx's firm grip. She yanked his twisted arm, and he whimpered, sinking lower into his chair. She said, "Since you have a problem with self-control, perhaps I should alleviate your problems by removing your wandering hands."

A malicious grin split Astarion's lips, and he suggested, "My sweet, I think his wandering gaze is the true cause of his troubles."

She spared Astarion a curious glance and adjusted the angle of her knife hovering above the lecher's eye, musing, "I'm sure I can remove his eye cleanly without spilling blood over my boots. If I were to excise it like so..."

The chair to Astarion's right creaked, and he informed the lecher's friend, "I wouldn't interfere if I were you.", tapping the flat of his dagger against the inside of the man's thigh. "For me; the bloodier the better." The friend stared at the gleaming blade in disbelief, swallowed loudly and stayed put. Astarion was mildly disappointed that he had suddenly sobered to the point of understanding the threat.

The lecher was attempting to melt into the chair while Nyx pondered which extraction method would best preserve his intact eyeball. Astarion said, "You can put it in one of those preserving jars of yours."

"Ooh, like a collection." She squinted at the lecher's friend. "One green and one blue to start."

Droplets of sweat were running down the sides of the lecher and his friend's faces, and Karlach remarked over her tankard. "I think they've learned their lesson, and you've had your fun."

Astarion scoffed, but Nyx met the lecher's gaze again and said, "You should thank my friend, she's a better person than I am."

Karlach guffawed, and Nyx released the lecher, who all but fell off his chair and tore his sleeve getting away. Astarion pouted and stowed his blade, the lecher's friend darting after him, knocking over his chair on the way out.

Astarion propped his head on his fist, leaning against the bar, bored again. Nyx set a handful of coins on the wood and slid it to the barkeep. "For the trouble."

Although Hoots waved her off, but took the coin. "Spared me the trouble of tossing them out. They've become more of a problem than they're worth."

Nyx inclined her head and quipped, "I was warming up to the idea of a pickled eyeball collection."

Astarion flashed her a grin, and the others chuckled.

Tav's boots appeared at the top of the stairs and she projected, "Alright everyone. Voss is ready to meet."

Those with tankards threw the last of their drink back. They joined the rest of their companions on the second floor and were led to one of the rooms on the outside terraces by a member of staff.

--- --- ---

Before they reached the room, Nyx's magic hackles stirred in a familiar way. The plaque on the wall read 'Devil's Den' and she shared a knowing look with Astarion. Tav brought her fist to knock on the door, but paused when raised muffled voices came from inside.

"You must hear me, devil. I will do whatever it takes - give you anything you ask."

Raphael's unmistakable intonation replied, "There is only one thing in this world that I desire. You do not have it and never will."

Lae'zel's brow furrowed. "The Kith'rak and the devil? What deal would they make?"

Tav knocked between the silent beats and was beckoned inside.

Kith'rak Voss stood in the middle of a wide room - lavishly decorated, similarly to the dining hall Raphael had once transported them to. Nyx didn't expect Raphael to keep a room at the Caress, but then again - it would be as good a place as any to find willing deal makers.

Voss appealed to Raphael, who stood on a raised platform, his back turned. "You must help me, Raphael. For the sake of my people."

Raphael turned and waved a dismissive hand. "Hush now, Voss. My guests may not know it yet, but they want the same thing that you do." His contempt was clear. "And unlike you, they have something of value to offer in return."

Voss swerved to address Lae'zel. "T'lak'ma Ghir - the devil holds the key to freeing our people. Right here, right now, you could seal our fate." Lae'zel's jaw worked and Voss walked up to her. "Whatever you discuss with this devil, I must hear of it. Find me below in the taproom once you're loosed from his claws." He left, closing the door behind them.

Tav approached Raphael, and the showman spread his arms wide in welcome. "I'm glad you came. Not to my door, not yet, but to the final reckoning." He held up a sharp, pointed finger. "One more thing before we begin, though." Snapping his fingers.

After a moment, Nyx blinked, releasing the tension in her shoulders. She had expected they would be transported back to his hellish dining room. Nothing happened, and she shared a confused glance with the others.

Tav tilted her head from side to side. "You've done something to the tadpole. Are you trying to tempt me with a taste of the cure?"

He preened his waistcoat. "I am flattered by the credit you give me. Yes, and no. I've not cured you, but somebody's missing from our conversation - can't you tell? That Illithid you keep in your pocket can't hear us anymore."

Nyx recalled that the Emperor had only been communicating with Tav on a regular basis lately. However, it was disconcerting that Raphael felt the need to actively block it.

Is the Emperor able to eavesdrop on any conversation? I'll need to ask Tav about it.

Tav gestured to Raphael to say his piece.

"I brought you here because I'm true to my word, and I can make all of this tadpole business go away. Which means you and your lovely friends can remain blessedly free of tentacles. Let us speak plain." He paused for a moment, making Karlach restless. "I'll admit - you've impressed me. I wasn't sure you'd make it this far. But no matter how far you come, you're still on the road to ruin - a road that leads directly to a confrontation with the elder brain." He made a half turn and gestured to Baldur's Gate through the window. "At best, it will kill you and everyone else in this city. At worst, it will assimilate you, and you won't have enough free will left to even wish you were dead." Several of the others become restless too. He made eye contact with each of them in turn. "You have the key to destroying it in the palm of your hand, though."

His eyes settled on Tav, and she asked, "Orpheus, I presume."

A smug smirk quirked at the corner of his lip, and he steepled his hands. "Very perceptive. Yes. I can give you the means to break him free."

Lae'zel interjected, "Tsk'va. The Prince of the Comet must rise again. Speak devil."

Wyll asked, "What would freeing Orpheus cost us?"

"Ah, that is the best part. You see, it'll cost you a sum total of: Nothing."

There were murmurs and incoherent grumbling.

Nyx blurted, "Nonsense."

"My dear Nyx, you wound me once again. Orpheus is your only hope of surviving this horror show without devolving into an illithid. To you, he will be a friend. After all, you're at war with an elder brain."

Nyx countered, "True as that may be, he is also a sworn enemy of illithids, those of us tadpoled included. He may be amenable once we set him free, but I think friend is a stretch."

Raphael made a small bow at the waist in concession. "Ally, then."

Tav placed her hands on her hips. "I'd like to hear of your plan to free Orpheus."

"The Orphic Hammer. An artefact capable of shattering the chains that hold the Prince is held securely in my House of Hope even now."

Crossing her arms, Tav narrowed her gaze. "It is very convenient that you have exactly what we need."

A low chuckled escaped Raphael. "Isn't it just? And it's even more convenient that you can give me exactly what I want in return."

Tav raised her eyebrows. "What are you hoping to get out of all this?"

He growled. "Power. You free Orpheus, and in doing so, save the city, the Sword Coast, perhaps the whole world... and your own precious skin, too. And, you give me the Crown that dominates the elder brain."

Gale gasped, "What?"

Raphael ignored him. "And you, Lae'zel of K'liir, want to free the forgotten prince, do you not?"

"I want nothing more."

"Then it is settled, is it not? A Crown for a Hammer. A bargain of a lifetime, Lae'zel of K'liir."

Smarmy bastard, making it sound so easy.

Lae'zel fisted her hands and announced, "We must do as he asks."

Tav held out a placating hand and asked Raphael, "Why are you so eager to get ahold of the crown?"

Raphael went on to explain how the archwizard Karsus created the crown, describing in great relishing detail how it spelled the end of the flying cities of Netheril. "The screams, oh the screams - hundreds of thousands of people watching in horror as the ground came up to meet them. Not a happy one at that. Karsus had created a crown with the power of gods that no mortal could wield. Karsus' Folly, the bards and scholars called it. I call it hope. I knew then that the folly of mortals could be the triumph of devils, and that I could use the Crown to unite the Nine under an Archdevil Supreme." He gestured to himself with both hands. "Me."

Karlach scoffed and crossed her arms. "Zariel wouldn't like that much. But even I'm not so desperate to spite her I'd put the Hells in your grimy hands."

Raphael as Archdevil? A frightening prospect.

Raphael shrugged and watched Tav with interest.

She chewed her lip while fretting with her braid. "Why didn't you take the Crown there and then?"

"The archdevil Mephistopheles snatch up the Crown and squirrelled it away in one of his vaults. He's naught more than a frigid archivists. So much power and potential kept inert. He made a miracle into a museum piece." He sneered. "I raged - for a decade or so - then I waited, ever-watching, for more than a thousand years, for a mistake, a mishap, a misadventure." A smug grin returned to his face. "These Chosen who have cause you so much trouble accidentally did me a favour. They brought the Crown back into play."

"How?"

He waved dismissively. "Through the aid of a diabolist, raided Mephistopheles' vault. Impressive, I must admit. But they'll be dead soon." Looking out the window, he continued, "If you don't kill them, the elder brain will. It doesn't have feelings in the way you'd understand them - but it does seem rather angry." He straightened and spoke as though the matter was settled. "It is inevitable. When you destroy the brain - and you will, because you must - the Crown will be yours for the taking. And when that moment comes, you give the Crown to me. In exchange, I give you the Hammer now."

There were more murmurs from the rest, and Tav answered quickly, "I'll think on it."

He hid his disappointment well. "Time is running out, so don't stay away for long. Once you see reason, call on me - I'll be waiting, right up to the moment the world ends."

---

Lae'zel fumed after they were magically shoved out of the room and the door slammed behind them. "You gamble with my people's freedom?! I demand to know why!"

Tav said, "We'll find another way."

Karlach rolled her shoulders and grinned. "Easy soldier, I'm with Tav on this."

There was unanimous agreement from the rest, and Lae'zel's mood soured. Tav gestured for them to create some distance between them and the Devil's Den.

Karlach continued as they walked. "Luckily, his desperation made him careless. Did you hear what he said? The hammer's in his House of Hope. If we wanted, we could steal it right out from under his nose." She held up her hands at Lae'zel's incredulous glare. "Granted, it won't be easy. Devils guard their treasure by especially lethal means."

"Chk. I wanted to follow the open valley - the easy way out. You chose the brambled path. I'm annoyed by it. And I admire you for it."

Nyx snorted. "All devil roads lead to a hell trap."

Astarion piped up, "I'm just relieved we're not in the devil's debt."

Others agreed. 'Here, here.' from Wyll, 'A wise choice' from Halsin, and an 'I wouldn't want to give him the satisfaction either.' from Shadowheart.

Gale added, "I need to get to Sorceress Sundries and the Baldur's Gate library. Suffice to say, the Crown is vital to our purpose."

Wyll scratched one of his horns and suggested, "We too can find a diabolist to help get us into the hells. We need to reach the Lower City."

Good, that's good. A plan is coming along already.

Voss was furious at first after they broke the news. However, Tav and Lae'zel persuaded him to their plan, and he agreed reluctantly. "I have no choice but to trust. The Prince of the Comet might seethe when you free him. He might gnash his teeth and slander your name. But he will see reason. I promise you."

The Kith'rak promised to keep an ear to the ground regarding their group's progress and to join them once the Prince had been set free. With Voss' reservations laid to rest, Tav led them to the Dancing Axe up the street, through Wyrm's Keep eerily quiet thoroughfare, to the secret-not-so-secret headquarters of the Harpers.

"We have plenty to discuss with Jaheira."

---

"Welcome to our modest hideout.", Jaheira deadpanned.

It was modest in the sense of location and furnishings, but it was a large space that spanned the entire first floor of the Dancing Axe, to which the entrance was guarded via password and only accessible after entering the store itself.

"Did you hear?" Jaheira's voice took on a mock conspiratorial tone, and her eyes shone with knowing amusement. "There are rumours that last night sirens at the Keep were due to a breakout. I wonder who that was?"

Tav touched her chest. "Oh dear, the Fists must be terribly inconvenienced about the whole affair."

Jaheira sobered and asked seriously, "I trust she is as well as you and your companions are."

Tav nodded. "On that note, I bring more news than I'd like."

Jaheira organised the Harpers to clear the collection of tables in the centre of the room. Subsequently, the tables were re-cluttered with stacks of reports, journals and maps being laid out. Tav dug in her pack and added her espionage pile to the mix.

Nyx smiled at the familiar ruffle of paper and the smell of ink. The Harpers and Tav's companions fell into the routine of sharing information, tactics and ideas.

They were seated or standing around the brightly lit tables. A large window spanned the entire one side of the floor, and Nyx admired the view of the Chionthar river. Baldur's Gate's Grey Harbour in the distance with boats of all sizes coming and going like dots upon the glittering water. Nyx spotted a formation of flat, broken up clouds farther afield coming in from the sea.

Rain heading our way in the next day or so.

Her name caught her attention. Tav mentioned to Jaheira that Nyx and Astarion had found one of the ritualistic murders reported by the broadsheets. Astarion mentioned that they had found the bodies in the cave beneath Wyrm’s Crossing and shared his suspicions about the identities of the culprits.

Jaheira nodded. "I agree, Bhaal enjoys an audience to his slaughter. Soon there will be blood in the streets."

Karlach asked, "You fought them before, yeah?"

"Bhaal yes. His methods and those of his followers I know well. But we faced him alone in our time - and bad as that was, he had no elder brain for a lapdog then." Jaheira met their expectant gazes in turn and said, "Help won't come from the history books, or from an old tales I can spin you. This is your battle to fight and if I were him, I'd not use the same strategy as before."

Nyx mused, "They're not known for being strategists."

"True, but with the help of Bane that may change." She straightened, regarding them smiling. "You are a small pack unhindered by numbers, you can act instead of reacting."

Tav surveyed the papers and tapped a finger on one pile. "My thoughts exactly. We need your help to setup a network to empower us to move and strike quickly. I've already got buy-in from Aedric - he has eyes and ears inside of Gortash's operations. Florrick will lay low for a while, but she is staying to help the Gate. Also Mamzell, Madam Amira, is concerned for her staff and their families. One of her staff has already been missing for some time. She offers whatever information she can collect in exchange for any assistance we can provide to her or her staff."

Jaheira's eyebrows bobbed, and she grinned. "I've always enjoyed a dirty fight. A well-timed strike, with the knowledge of just where to place it, and suddenly superior numbers count for nothing." Her smiled dropped, and her gaze became thoughtful. "Gortash has started limiting our reach and access to resources. I'll explore alternate avenues as well, recruit those to the Harper's cause who cannot be bought or bribed by the likes of him and who operate in the shadows as we do."

Tav added, "I have a list to work off as well. A small number I can gather as we continue through the Outer City, but once we reach the Lower City; a whole host of opportunities opens up."

Tav and Jaheira had matching mischievous glints in their eyes.

---

It was late afternoon by the time the scheming had waned naturally and all current options were exhausted. Their group was eager to leave Rivington behind and find overnight stay in Twin Songs. However, another gate and its queue were between them and their next destination. It would be a short walk, but the unease was palatable while they made their way to the gate. All the guards from Wyrm's Keep had been re-stationed here. Flaming Fists of various ranks and several Steel Watch flanked the road and gate.

Although they were waved through again, the inspection was more rigorous this time round, including questions about their business in Baldur's Gate. Fortunately, they had come prepared and provided that they were citizens returning home and/or were attending 'Margaret's wedding' - not that anyone knew who that was, including themselves.

The last straggler made it through when a mechanical voice boomed. "Halt citizens!"

Everyone in Tav's group, including a handful of other people, snapped into upright stances. The construct's large metal boots echoed as it approached, and it loomed over Karlach. The rest of them visibly twitched while they resisted the urge to go for their weapons.

The construct addressed Tav's group, and then Karlach specifically. "Citizens stand back. Steel Watcher you are malfunctioning."

Everyone held their ground, and Karlach replied sheepishly, "Erm, I think you have the wrong hunk of metal."

"False." The Watcher cut her off. "Report your purpose, Steel Watcher. Why are you following these citizens unburdened?"

Karlach wrung her hands, um-ing and uh-ing while the Nyx fought off a greater bout of twitching for her weapons.

A strange series of chimes, like a cascade of bells, came from the Watcher along with a whoosh of steam, and it said, "Ah, I understand your malfunction. Your unit is a highly outdated model." Karlach was taken aback and then crossed her arms as it continued its jargon-filled explanations that only Dammon would understand. "The ra-gnax casement protecting your metallurgised-ised valve is burning well outside the recommended temperature. Please report to the Steel Watch Foundry for dismantling."

Gale tapped his chin, squinting up at the construct. "It thinks you're one of them."

Karlach shrugged and curled her lip. "Maybe whatever keeps them going is similar to my tin can. If it turns out I'm the fucking prototype for these things, I'll dismantle every single one of them."

Another jet of steam escaped the Watcher's seams. "Any threat to the Steel Watch is a threat to Lord Gortash himself. Please report to the Steel Watch Foundry for immediate dismantling."

Karlach rolled her eyes and asked, "Anything spicy you can tell me about the ol' prick?"

Nyx didn't think it could be more offended. It said, "You will speak of our creator, Lord Enver Gortash, with respect. He is the saviour of our city. Soon to be inducted as Archduke of Baldur's Gate."

They gaped at it.

"You will keep your distance, Steel Watcher. You are malfunctioning. Report to the Steel Watch Foundry for immediate dismantling."

Karlach swivelled on her heel. "Let's make tracks before this thing gives me the lash of its master. See you around, soldier." She waved and scurried over the gate's threshold, the rest hot on her heels, passing by curious onlookers.

After setting foot in Twin Songs proper, everyone blew out a breath in a collective sigh of relief. Astarion glared back at the gate and said, "Seems we'll need to watch our backs more closely. Speaking of which," he turned to Tav, "Are you sure we should be siding ourselves with the Harpers? I'd hate to get into the middle of some spy turf war."

Tav laughed. "Harpers, spies? You, my friend, haven't seen anything yet."

As we leave Rivington behind, herewith the original concept art in watercolour and ink by Mike Schley who illustrated various maps and cities for Baldur's Gate (including the OG map). From here on forward we are venturing into new territory as I make the rest of the Baldur's Gate neighbourhoods come to life based on their sparse-to-zero descriptions ;)