Rastislav
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Arc 9 Chapter IX: A Squid, A Bat, And A Frog
🕑 Added 2025-08-19 08:18:46 +0000 UTC...Walk into a bar
(An: Previous chap was edited slightly, mostly the later bit for better flow and less flippancy)
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(General POV)
The freshly dubbed Durge did his best to ignore the whispers of his memory as his party went deeper into the Nautiloid's wreckage.
Why remain in such a dangerous place? One might reasonably wonder.
Because the elf that was supposedly capable of saving them from a protracted and excruciating death wanted to see a Mind Flayer.
See how they tick, he had told them.
The Dark Urge found the manner of it agreeable, if nothing else.
His fellow impossible crash survivor seemed to disagree however.
Shadowheart was at all times keeping her shield directed in the odd elf's general direction and staying firmly at the back of their column, hand never truly moving away from her mace.
An act that served to amuse their prospective savior to no end.
Thankfully, Mind Flayers were not rare on a Nautiloid, even a crashed one, and after only a few minutes of walking through beautifully carved walls of bloodied flesh they came upon a still living specimen, one that was currently crushed below a fallen rock and uselessly trying to crawl its way out.
Like the worm crawling through his brain.
"Ugly motherfuckers, aren't they?" The elf didn't seem at all troubled by seeing the tentacle faced creature, unlike the trio of adventurers who cried out in pain and clutched their heads as the Mind Flayer turned its gaze at them.
The overwhelming feeling of imposed loyalty and obedience disappeared just as quickly as it came though, as the bearded elf let out a loud and disdainful "Tsk" Flicking his hand at the Mind Flayer and making it silently go limp.
He looked at the tadpole victims, and satisfied with the fac their brains were not leaking out, he approached the unconscious creature and began staring at it for what felt like a small eternity.
Durge wondered if he should check on him but a quick shake of Gale's head had him staying where he was.
Shadowheart, encouraged by the apparent lack of attention, walked up to him and whispered "What do you think he is doing?" Her tone was even more suspicious than before, but there was now also barely hidden curiosity in there.
"I am examining the squid faced insult to aesthetics, quite plainly" The fact she whispered the question made no difference as Reyvin Dagoth spoke up without even bothering to face her "Gale."
"How can I help?" The wizard asked.
"This thing here is completely soulless" Dagoth said "Is this the case for all of them, or?"
Gale cupped his chin for a moment "It is the widely accepted truth about them. Why?"
"The soul is the self" The elf answered seriously "It is autonomy." He pointed an open hand at the Mind Flayer "These same creatures supposedly powerful enough to kidnap and contain thousands of people from all over lack even a singular trace of one."
The elf turned back to the Flayer "It doesn't end there though. Its insides look more akin to an interactive node for some vast neural network than they do like those of an individual. Like it is an extension more than an individual."
"Ah" Gale's snapped his fingers "Mind Flayer colonies are usually under the control of an Elder Brain. Very tight control."
"Which only serves to confirm my hypothesis" Reyvin nodded and cupped his chin "Do the Elder Brains have souls then?"
Gale shook his head "No one ever got close to capturing one. They are too powerful to contain."
"I suppose I will just have to get my hands on one if the opportunity presents itself" The elf hummed as he dusted his hands off "Very well. I am done here."
He turned to face the Mind Flayer again and just stared at it for a while.
"Now then, how did you do it?" He finally muttered mostly to himself, before rising his right hand, twisting his fingers with unnatural precision and stating "Incende." As he pointed at the Mind Flayer.
Durge and Shadowheart had to cover their eyes as a flash of orange red slammed into the creature, carving it out of existence alongside a good chunk of floor behind it in a straight line.
"Huh" Dagoth blinked and then grinned "Nice."
(Reyvin's POV)
I ignored Gale's stare of utter bafflement as I began walking out of the crashed Nautiloid, quickly jogging the group out of their stupor and into following me lest they be left behind.
The moment my face left their sights however, my grin twisted into a disgusted scowl.
The Mind Flayer put up much more of a fight than I'd expected, and the distinct slithering pressure on my mind reminded me of a certain far more disgusting tentacle enjoyer, and of the fear and paranoia he inspired.
Fucker was way more potent than I expected as well, and while weaker than me I was insulted a fucking drone of all things could make me exert any kind of effort.
And there were supposedly a bunch of these just running about if my intuition was right...
'Pops' Scorch's deadpan rang out through my mind, his voice managing to rise my spirits a touch despite the clear disdain it carried 'Just because the literal sentient brains are better at psionics than you doesn't mean shit.'
'It is the principle of it!'
'Nope, not listening to this shit. Burn the fuckers and be done with it.'
I rolled my eyes but didn't disagree.
It should have been expected that the arrogance cultivated by twenty years of absolute rule over an entire continent would have been challenged sooner rather than later, and despite meeting creatures like Robert and the Slayer only now did that moment arrive.
After all I expected the two to vastly overpower me.
Frankly, the little reminder was as necessary as it was irritating.
On the plus side though, the local external spells could be boosted with internal energies with only minimal finagling.
I was going to burn this fucker to the ground.
"Finally done with your bout of wonderment?" I left the train of thought behind as I felt Gale jog up to me, leaving the other duo a short distance behind us as Shadowheart paused to lockpick a random ass chest near an overturned cart.
Ah, adventurers... how nostalgic.
"How-" The supposed wizard rose his finger, paused, took a breath, and continued "What was that?"
"What was what?" I asked cheekily as we exited the ship and came upon a beach "I saw you using magic and copied it. You'd think it would be rather obvious."
"A firebolt is a cantrip!" Gale cut me off, waving his hands about a bit too enthusiastically "Not a sixth circle spell! Never you mind the fact you could replicate it without even a second of study!"
Naturally there was but one possible answer to that statement.
"Skill issue."
He pointed at me, furious tirade on his lips, and then stopped himself, slowly lowering his hand and sighing "Damn it but I cannot even disagree" He huffed "How did you do it?"
"Now that would be telling" I winked and before irritating him too much I added "I doubt the road is a great spot for scholastic discussion. How about we find our way to some shelter and a fine drink in our hands and then we can discuss how much better I am."
He looked at me flatly before rolling his eyes "Very well, I can wait."
"Not going to press me about the magical core comment either?" I tilted my head "I am almost impressed."
"Not here" He whispered, a flash of panic in his eyes as the other two approached.
"Satisfied with your pilfering?" I turned to the duo, who did not look at all satisfied.
"Let's just move on" Shadowheart sighed, looking anywhere but at lizardman next to her who was currently doing his utmost to place the far too small leather helm over his head.
Being the little shit that I was, I quickly came to his aid and touched it up with a bit of transmutation, swiftly presenting a very satisfied and very goofy lizard boi to the other two members of my little band.
I might just keep this lizard at this rate...
As we walked, I considered asking the obvious cleric of our number about her faith but something told me that would just have her retreating even further behind her wall of paranoia, and I'd hate to waste the effort it took to bring her out of it thus far.
Well that, and I wasn't masochistic enough to listen to a weakling posture at me.
Truly, my second bout of parenthood had mellowed me out beyond any expectation.
The world seemed to agree with my choice for as we climbed a small cliffside overlooking the sea a mere minute later I detected a pair of eyes observing us from the nearby shrub.
A pair of undead eyes to be precise.
Without the smallest sound, I pushed through the ambient magical resistance, and reappeared behind the observer. He looked almost Falmer in nature, but it was obvious to those with eyes that his pallor was unnatural and not due to his race.
A local vampire then?
As if to confirm my guess, he was already rounding on me with speed surpassing the usual mortal, instincts sharp enough to detect even my minimal air displacement.
Naturally, the only reward for such prowess was a quick punting of his dumb ass onto the dirt path before the mindwormed trio.
Once more pushing through the space around me, I appeared above the elf, Blasphemy now resting against his throat.
The moment he felt the blade's presence he became as still as a rock.
"See anything interesting?" I asked conversationally as my followers recovered themselves.
The vampire smiled through the terror, slowly spreading his arms in surrender "I assure you this is all one big missundersta-"
"I can feel your desire to rip my throat out with your teeth" I deadpanned "Try again."
"Hold on!" Gale interjected "I remember him, from the Nautiloid."
Seemingly forgetting the fact he was an arm's twitch from death, the elven vampire glared at the wizard "You. What did you and those monsters do to me?!" He demanded but just as he was about to go on the same phenomenon happened again, as their tadpoles connected them.
"Yet another partaker of the brainworm?" I quirked an eyebrow as the quartet visibly calmed down.
"It would seem so" The now much calmed vampire faced me "Can I get up now?"
"Hmmm, I don't know" I hummed and tapped my foot.
"Oh pretty please with a cherry on top" He drawled "I will be good."
"Well, since you asked so politely" I chuckled, stepping back and dismissing my sword "Just try and not bite anyone"
"No promises" He smirked and threw himself up with unnatural fluidity "I am Astarion" He offered a practiced bow "of Baldur's Gate."
As before, everyone introduced themselves as they eyed each other up, before the vampire finally decided to stop wasting time on pleasantries and ask the question atop his mind.
"So what did those creatures do to us?" He asked Gale.
"They impregnated you" I deadpanned.
Shadowheart shuddered in disgust, Gale went a bit green, Astarion looked at me like I had just insulted his entire familial line, and Durge scratched his chin before nodding.
Do all albino lizardfolk have a resistance to common sense?
Gale slowly palmed his face "The fact he is technically correct will keep me at night"
"But to explain it more palatably" He gave me a warning look "We have been infected with Mind Flayer tadpoles, and if this were the usual case we would have already started going through ceramorphosis."
"Which means?" Astarion pressed, voice cold.
"We will sooner or later start sprouting tentacles" Gale chirped, voice full of false cheer.
"Hah" The vampire barked out a laugh, morbidly amused on surface but broken and pained just below "Of course it will end up turning me into a monster."
'Unwilling first turning then?' I considered.
"Luckily" Gale went on "The gods seem to favor us."
Astarion's posture firmed "Do tell."
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It did not take much convincing for the vampire to join our growing posse, even as he presented the front of preferring to go at it on his own I could practically taste his desperation in the air.
The fact he kept glancing at the sun in awe also told me the local vampires usually couldn't do that, which I neatly filed away for later.
Soon enough, we found ourselves back where I first met Gale "Sun is coming down." Durge commented as we slowed.
"We need to find shelter" Shadowheart agreed "No point in running ourselves ragged with a healer present."
"Your confidence in me warms the heart" I quipped and pointed eastwards "There is a temple a few minutes that a way" I was already walking "Should give us some cover at least."
A few glances between everyone and we were agreed.
But of course, the world demanded that rest was to be hard earned, and before we could fully ascend to the temple ruins, we heard voices in the distance and quickly came upon a pair of horned and red-skinned humanoids.
'These are the Tieflings then' I considered as Gale and Durge led our approach 'How a kind known to descend from a demonic lineage didn't get lynched into non-existence baffles the brain.'
'Probably some god bullshit going on' Scorch chirped 'Poor fuckers wouldn't last a month on Earth.'
'Try a day' I huffed.
My attention was swiftly drawn away from the unfortunates however, as I looked up to see a wooden cage holding some kind of... frog person?
She had a pudgy nose and pointed ears, greenish yellow skin and what looked to be the first proper piece of fitted armor I've seen since coming here.
And was currently busying herself bombarding the Tieflings with a string of insults in her own language, which I found to be incredibly colorful in the worst ways possible.
"Are there any settlements nearby?" Durge asked the Tiefling duo in the meanwhile.
They shared a look between each other and the female nodded, while the male turned back to answer "There is a druid's grove a few hours north, they should let you in but" He held back a scowl "Don't expect any hospitality from them."
Would you look at that, treehuggers didn't have the best reputation.
'These demonfuckers don't seem too bad now that I think about it.' Scorch considered most wisely.
"Thank you" Durge nodded in gratitude "How about you leave this creature to us? It is dangerous and you shouldn't risk yourselves more than you already have."
"I don't know..." The Tiefling man muttered, looking up at the still cursing frog-person "She did attack us out of nowhere."
"She will not attack you or yours again, I promise" Durge offered and that finally seemed to mollify the pair as they offered their farewells and turned to leave.
The instant they left his sight, Durge's entire demeanor shifted and he glared up at the frog-woman with cold fury in his eyes "Well, well, well" His voice dropped by a cadence and his clawed hands twitched with restrained aggression "If it isn't Lae'zel the traitorous worm."
"Traitorous?" The now named Lae'zel scowled at the sight of him "Weak servants are of no use to me."
Durge growled, making Gale step up to calm him down before he froze her solid, and leaving Astarion blissfully unaware of the temptation popcorn would be bringing him right about now.
While this was going on, I silently approached Shadowheart "The two of them seem to know each other?"
The half-elf looked tempted to ignore me and listen in on the ensuing back and forth but wisely thought better of it "We met back on the Nautiloid, fought our way out."
"Doesn't seem to have ended too well" I mused.
"It did, surprisingly" Shadowheart elaborated "We fought our way to the ship's transponder together."
Her impassive expression twisted into a cowl "We found tracks of her on the beach near where we landed. She abandoned us."
"Ah" I nodded "That would do it."
"A snake and a traitor." The half-elf agreed wholeheartedly "Worse still, she is a Gith. They kill each other for sport and treat everyone else even worse. I warned him not to trust her even back on the ship."
"Not a terribly good place to be picky" I noted.
She nodded "Agreed. Doesn't mean we should let her convince him to take her along again."
"I don't know" I mused, finger on my chin "She seems... fun." I smirked as the frog began another tirade of insults in her own language like the small minded brick of armor that she was.
Shadowheart looked like she wanted to protest for a moment but then gave me a considering look before for the first time looking at me with anything other than suspicion or double suspicion.
Petty cruelty, namely.
"You know what, that sounds like an excellent idea now that you mention it."
"You catch on quick." I chuckled and approached the rest.
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An: Apologies if it seems like I am taking my time with this.
All of these characters I am slowly introducing have depth and just handwaving them away feels like a waste, so I find myself in a bit of a bind.
Fear not though, there shall be at least some action in the following installment.
Comments
Rastislav
They'd get along pretty well
EmmericH.
Honestly if he "keeps" Durge for himself, I'm pretty sure Karlach will make a wonderful "present" to his wife, pretty sure she still needs skull smashing friends and from what I remember Karlach don't really have anything dear to her in this world, a fixed infernal engine would probably make her at least contemplate owing Rey a favour, she would still need to trust him enough knowing her past and who she once believed in
BraveHeart
Please keep taking your time, in fucking loving his interactions with the BG3 party
Rastislav
Gotta love paying for literally nothing, eh? Still, glad to have you back despite it
Dradin Hebrhal
Back again. I was talking with you about the $0.50 add on. It’s there even if you logout. At least it’s not by much, but it still sucks.
