"Can we manage it?" I call through the hole.

Barcus volunteered himself to conduct the survey. I pried the shackle off his ankle so that he could climb through.

"Certainly. With a few controlled blasts."

"What do you need?"

"Something to bore holes in the stone. Smokepowder. A tamping rod."

"Sazza, what do you think?"

She pops up and peers back at me through the hole. "It's a good plan, Ser!"

"Good. Come back through."

I glance down at the others. "You'll remain with Clan Flameshade while I get things organized."

Beldron clings to another man. "Lunkbug, we may finally get out of here."

"Thank you, Ser! Please, don't take long. I'm tired of rationing bread."

"The plan will have to move quickly. I don't trust that this will remain a secret for long. I will act as soon as possible. In the meantime, I'll see if I can acquire adequate provisions."

Lunkbug smiles at Beldron and gives him a kiss.

Barcus emerges from the hole, followed by Sazza. I place the stone over the hole, making sure it's secure. I fit the shackle back around his ankle and guide the coffle out.

Z'rell meets me at the mouth of the cave. "Well? Were you able to make any progress?"

"Unfortunately, no."

She rolls her eyes. "We'll have to send for backup from Moonrise."

"I actually have access to people who could help clear it."

She narrows her eyes.

I step aside, gesturing to Sazza behind me. "The Sharp Teeth Tribe. Several have experience moving through tunnel systems, and their sappers are very effective." I look down at Sazza. "Isn't that right?"

"Uh... oh!" She straightens and nods. "Yes, Ser!"

"Let me send Sazza to fetch them. From there we should be able to make progress. Far more reliable and obedient, in my experience."

"Huh." She glances down at Sazza. "Bring your best sappers. I'm sick of this fucking hole."

"In her name." I pound my fist against my chest twice in a salute.

Z'rell nods and walks off to speak with Nere.

My brow furrows and I look at my hand. I hadn't planned on saluting her. I didn't even know the cult had a formal salute.

"...fuck."

I tuck it in my pocket and retrieve Doni.

Doni walks at my side as Sazza trails behind, darting through the corridor, searching rubble for more treasures. I listen for the thoughts of the others, trying to find them in this fucking maze of a temple.

Doni snaps his flame into his hand to help guide us through the dark halls.

"Father. Do you truly worship the Absolute?"

I shift my focus to him. "No, Doni. I do not worship her."

"So, it's another lie?"

"Yes. A lie that serves us very well."

Doni climbs over a crumbling statue as we pass. "Do you worship anyone?"

I consider my relationship to Father Bhaal. "No. I do not worship any god. I hold several in reverence, and have for as long as I can remember. I'm not keen on finding out what it's like to walk without the gods at my side."

My companions' psionic chatter leads us to a flight of stairs.

"Should I walk with the gods?" He leaps from the broken stones and catches up with me.

"That's up to you, Doni. Do you feel them with you now?"

He hesitates and blinks a few times. "I think so. My father... My real father used to pray to Torm."

"And did Torm answer?"

Doni falls quiet and grabs my hand. "I don't think so..."

I squeeze it

and give him a small smile. "Perhaps you'll have better luck with Tymora. You'd be fortunate to have her with you. I'd take a gamble on her."

"Ach!" He slaps his forehead, giggling. "Father, no!"

We step into an open hall. The glow of Karlach's engine can be seen at the far end. She and Shadowheart are huddled around Astarion, who is crouched in front of two grand doors. The doors are decorated with gold lines that cut through a stone façade in a herringbone pattern. Scattered along the hall itself are old weapons and long-dead Sharran Justiciars. Nothing left but dried bodies lying undisturbed in hollow armor.

"Looks like a siege," I murmur, studying the position of the bodies. They all face two stone arches that appear to have been melted rather than battered.

"They didn't stand a chance..." I step up to the stone wall and lean forward. Beyond the wall, rivers of lava outline portions of the temple below us. The temple isn't just crumbling from time. It was attacked. But by what? A dragon? What else can melt stone? Something with that much power may still be very much alive and waiting.

Doni lingers behind me.

"Why don't you take a look and tell me what you see?"

He remains behind me and shakes his head.

"Why not?"

He fidgets. "We're very high," he says quietly.

I crouch down. "We are. That fear you feel will always be there, but you cannot let it control you. There's no real danger. I have you."

He twists his arms in front of him, clasping his hands.

"I want you to stand as near to the edge as you can. Just stand. Nothing more. Look at what frightens you. Know you are safe now. And ask yourself why that fear exists."

He kicks his foot and reaches out his hand. I take it and he walks up to the edge, giving himself a clean two-foot distance from the stone wall.

Sazza's voice rings out from behind us. "Oh! I could use one of those!"

"Careful, Sazza. You don't know what spirits remain."

She waves her hand. "No troubles, Boss. I'm just going to nab a few things. Ain't like they using them."

Doni and I share a glance. "Behold, the illustrious Goblin." I chuckle.

He smiles and chews on his thumb as he turns back to the view of the temple.

I squeeze his hand. "How do you feel? What do you see?"

He's quiet for a moment and tries to shuffle closer, placing his hand on the wall and then pulling back with a laugh. "It's frightening!" He flaps his hand.

"It feels strange, doesn't it? Facing your fears."

"I know I won't fall. But something about seeing the ledges and landings so high makes me think about being stuck on them, and I get a pit in my stomach."

"Is there anything you can look at that doesn't make you feel the pit in your stomach?"

"Yes. Down." He scans the temple below. "I don't know why, but looking down makes me feel fine."

"Is there anything you notice down there?"

His tail flicks and he lets go of my hand, stepping closer to the wall again. "It's melted!" He points over the wall, then quickly staggers into me. I catch him. "Nooo. I didn't like that," he says with a laugh. "I can't point over the wall. It brings the pit back!"

"You're learning a lot about your fear."

He nods.

"You're right, too. There are sections of the stonework that are completely melted. Can you think of why?"

He pauses, then shakes his head. "I'm sorry."

"No. No need to apologize. I don't know what caused it either."

"What'cha up to, Spooks?"

I feel the heat of Karlach come up from behind.

"Oooh! Cool mask, Doni!"

"Thank you! Sazza found it near one of the altars of Shar. She said I could have it!"

I glance at Karlach. "We're studying the temple grounds. It looks like they were under siege. I'd like to determine what happened and if the danger is still present."

Karlach looks around. "You noticed too, huh?"

"Yes. What do you make of it?"

"I'm sure whatever it was is long gone by now. It's been, what, a million years?"

Doni laughs. "It couldn't have been that long!"

I grin and the gold of Doni's merregon mask reflects the light of his flame.

My smile falls and I slowly stand. "By the nine..." I look at the justiciars. Glance at the melted stone. Peer over the stone wall. Then step back. "The temple was attacked by an infernal warband."

Karlach goes still and narrows her eyes as she looks at the siege around us.

"A dragon attack alone wouldn't explain the infernal remains. Tiamat's forces, perhaps?"

I run my hand along my chin.

"It would take a strong command of the Weave for a caster to cause this kind of damage. Besides, it would be a waste to spend it just to fight the justiciars."

I blink. The post-mortem of the battlefield sends a rush through me. Yet, I have no context for the feeling. I can't help the smile that creeps across my face.

I am in my element, and it's exhilarating. I savor the familiarity.

Karlach walks over to the melted stone arches. "Yeah, maybe a dragon. There are also a bunch of different devils that could have caused this. Could have been a war machine, too." She turns back to me. "But why the hells would they attack a Sharran temple?"

"My thoughts exactly."

"Spooks... if that's the case, they could still be around..."

I shift where I stand and place a hand on Doni's shoulder. "Then I ask that you be diligent. Tell me immediately if you see anything."

"I pinky swear." She grins.

Shadowheart is clutching her fist to her chest, leaning over Astarion. "I know there is a chapel beyond these doors. I must see it."

"Then stop distracting me!" he says as he fiddles with the lock.

There is a click, and Karlach jumps. "Damn! You got it, Astarion!"

"Of course I did." He stands, tucking the lockpick away. "I'm a natural at this."

Karlach presses against the doors. Her jaw clenches, but the doors don't budge. "Fuck. Spooks! Help me with this!"

I approach and brace myself against the right door, Karlach on the left.

She nods. "One, two, three!"

We push, and the hinges groan. Doni and Sazza dash up next to me and throw their weight against the door.

"Hey, no fair!" Karlach says with a laugh.

Shadowheart joins her and the heavy doors begin to swing open.

Astarion stands there clapping his hands. "You've got this! I believe in each and every one of you!"

I snort, and the doors settle open.

My hands drop as I search the darkness. The chamber sounds vast and hollow. Below, lava moves in slow rivers, illuminating what appears to be the enormous stone feet of something unseen.

A soft crackling sound rises, and braziers lining the chamber begin to ignite. One by one, their flames climb the walls, slowly casting light on a colossal statue. Polished stone and bright gold accents decorate a woman's figure. She's leaning forward and holding a wide disk.

The flames stretch high above us before revealing the visage of Shar. Her face downcast, as if to impose judgment on those in her presence.

Shadowheart falls to her knees. "My Lady," she whispers. A tear wells in the corner of her eye and trails down her cheek.

Karlach kneels next to her and watches her with a soft smile.

Shadowheart bows her head and begins to pray.

I sense something, for a flicker of a moment...

...someone answering back.

Doni stands, staring up at the statue. He adjusts his mask and slowly sits cross-legged near the edge.

Astarion lingers on it for a moment before moving to me. He puts his arms around my neck. "Hello, darling," he purrs.

I clutch his hips and give him a gentle kiss. "Hello."

Sazza mouth hangs open. "Look at the gold in this place... it ain't been raided or nothin'!"

"That's what worries me," I say.

"Hey, eyes right here. I want attention."

I smile and tuck a curl behind his ear. "Attention granted."

"Oh, thank you, benevolent one." He clings to my lapel. "So, what did you find out about the cave-in?" I glance at the others and pull him back into the hall, pinning him against the wall on the other side of the doors. I keep my voice low. "I was able to clear a small section of the rubble. We may have found the forge. But there is a problem."

He presses his back against the wall with a smirk. "Oh? What's that?"

"Jurisdiction."

"I see." He drags his fingers along my arm. "You're right to worry. If Clan Flameshade controls the region, they have the strongest claim to it."

"Not ideal."

"To say the very least. We need to figure out how to keep control of the situation. So." He reaches around and cups my ass. "What are you going to do about it?"

I lean down and kiss his neck and murmur into his ear. "I've already made a tentative alliance with the gnome slaves who can help with ballistics. I plan on meeting with Z'rell this evening."

He purses his lips. "Yes, I approve. Well done. What about the duergar?"

"Livestock."

He gasps. "You devil!"

"We need to get a head count and understand their loyalties. Some may be willing to join the cause. The others... we'll need to find a proper stockade so we can sort them."

"You're such a fucking degenerate." He pulls me into a kiss.

My hand trails down his side and wraps around his ass.

He makes a soft sound, wrapping a leg around me.

I lift him and he straddles my waist as I taste him.

I pull back with a breath, strands of hair falling into my face. "We need to focus."

"Uh-huh." We sink into another kiss.

A throat clears next to us, and I find Karlach standing with a crooked smile and one hand on the back of her neck.

I gently let Astarion down. "Apologies."

"Hey. Look. I get it. But I think we should head to camp. Shadowheart wants privacy."

"Right." I drag my hair back between my horns. "Lead the way."

Astarion adjusts his blouse and straightens himself before glancing at me with a grin.

Bex, Danis, and Rooster have established camp in an empty marble room. They've cleared some rubble and managed to set up a few of the tents.

I opt to set my cot out in the open. I'm still not certain what dangers linger and I want to be prepared. I need to protect my people.

Bex invites me to sit in her tent as I debrief her.

She's sitting on the ground, restringing her crossbow. "I trust your judgement if you say you've found the forge, but let's say we do manage to claim sole custody of it. What then?"

"I've already promised the gnomes that I'd assign Dammon as forgemaster. A neutral party and a very capable man. Do you think he'd be willing to entertain the idea?"

"I genuinely do, but what then? We can't just abandon him here to do hard labor for free. He needs infrastructure. Blacksmiths that can work alongside him. Food. Water. Living quarters."

I shift back and consider our options.

"...I know your people are looking to start a new life in Baldur's Gate."

She pauses and glances up at me.

"What if they started a new life here? They'd have sovereignty under our protection. We can coordinate with locals to establish supply chains. Once we get the forge staffed and running, it will be a valuable resource not just in our own campaign, but we can sell access to allied factions."

"Where will we be getting the ore for manufacturing?"

I gesture broadly. "I'm sure the gnomes will be able to sniff out a few veins that we can mine until we get control of Cloakwood."

"How does Cloakwood affect any of this?"

"Ah." I forgot to tell her. "It came to my attention that there is a vast network of mines beneath Cloakwood. As much as I would like to make an example of them, my priorities have... shifted, and become more dire."

She slowly lowers the crossbow. "Mines? There are mines?"

My shoulders grow tight. Her eyes feel like the black hand of Bane reaching out to me. "I am still gathering information on the matter, but my sources are reliable."

Her brow grows tight. "Wait. If you are looking to secure the mines after the siege, who are you targeting next?"

"My relentless conquest." I say with a sigh. "I have options. Many options. But the two cities that I think could be the most lucrative are Elturel..."

Her lips press thin.

"...and Baldur's Gate."

She slowly sets the crossbow next to her and folds her hands. "Why?" Her voice is clipped.

My lips are parted slightly as I catch her eye. "You've seen exactly what those institutions have done to the people there. Ulder Ravengurd cut off the Chionthar to disrupt the trade routes to Elturel. He has no love for your people. And Elturel itself... well..."

Her face falls and she slowly touches her horn.

I take her hand into mine. "By the time we conquer Cloakwood, we will have the power and the backing to make things right."

"Vash." She shakes her head. "Who are we to decide the fate of the people?"

"We cannot live in the delusion that clearing out poor leadership will make every problem vanish overnight. You know full well. Someone needs to take their place."

I squeeze her hand. "It started with the Emerald Grove. Forgetown is the next step."