"I'm sorry, what?! No, no, no. Explain it to me again. Because from my position, you're taking him away from me, and for all we know, he may never come back."

Astarion's voice has begun to shake.

"Calm down, darling. Rooster won't be alone." I reach for him, but Astarion slaps my hand away.

"Don't you fucking tell me to calm down, you big oaf."

"Oaf?"

He presses a finger into my chest. "You better start making this plan sound reasonable. Quickly!"

I press into him. "He's going with seasoned spies from the College of Whispers. They'll be training him."

"Oh, then it's perfectly safe and reasonable to send him into a hive of brainwashed murderers. No, this clearly isn't within his purview. It's mine. I'm going with him."

"Astarion, no."

He holds his hand to my face and walks away.

"Astarion!"

He slams the door to my office, and it rattles my chest.

I stand quietly, tapping my fingers on my desk.

The prism hums. "Having a True Soul in their company might be in our best interest."

"True..." I murmur. "Perhaps you can give me intel through his eyes."

"My thoughts exactly."

The gates to the elevator rattle open, and we step out onto the Shadow-Cursed Lands. I straighten Nere's cultist robes over Astarion's shoulders.

"They will be able to detect your tadpole. They will intrude, but we've practiced this. You won't be able to stop them, so give them something useless."

"None of my thoughts are useless, darling."

I smile and lean down, giving him a gentle kiss.

"Me next!" Rooster shoves him out of the way and hops into my arms. "Give me something poignant."

A stray hair falls into his face, and he tries to blow it away. I brush my finger across his forehead and tuck it behind his ear. "I'm not a poet, James."

"Tsk. Give me something diplomatic, then."

"If something doesn't feel right, trust that feeling, or find Astarion if needs be. Otherwise, take this." I pull the sending stone from my breast pocket and hand it to him.

He takes it and kisses me deeply, running his fingers through my hair. He pulls back and rests his forehead on mine. "I miss you, Daddy."

"I miss you, my little Rooster."

Rooster climbs out of my arms and takes Astarion's hand.

A clean voice cuts the melancholy. "Are we ready?" Nix. One of the two spies sent by Apikusis. She's standing next to her brother Knox. Twins. Halflings.

"Yes, I think so." Astarion clutches Rooster's hand to his chest.

I reach into my coat pocket and pull out Alfira's bell. I give it a shake, and it hums with a soft magical jingle.

A snapping and popping comes forth from the space between us. There is a blink of purple glittering light, and Phet Ithica appears.

"Peace Bringer! A pleasure to see you again." She rests her hand on her hilt and glances around. "It's time, isn't it?"

"If you would be so kind." I place my hand on Doni's back. "My son, first."

Phet Ithica smiles and flutters down to him. "Very happy to see you again, Doni."

He waves at her and smiles.

She touches his nose, and a purple light pulses through him. He giggles and shakes his hands.

I glance at the others, and they step forward.

Phet flutters up and touches the noses of Nix and Knox.

"Damn. Fey magic. Lucky us," Knox says, nudging his sister.

Rooster laughs lightly as she bops his nose next. The light passes through him. "Doni, did it tickle for you, too?"

He nods, smiling.

She touches Astarion, and he looks at his glistening hands. "It's beautiful. Thank you."

Shadowheart and Karlach step forward, and Phet pulls back. "No."

"No?"

She turns to me. "Your barbarian is too hot to touch." She looks at Shadowheart. "And she requires no blessing. Her goddess favors her."

"What?" Shadowheart places her fingers on her chest. "She does?"

The fairy hovers over to Bex and Danis. Danis closes his eye as she taps his nose. He smiles and sighs. "Torm's grace, it feels like I can breathe again. The air here is so oppressive."

Bex smiles as Phet Ithica's power ripples through her. "Lovely. I can't thank you enough for your help."

"Anything for an ally."

She finally approaches me and taps my nose. The pulse of magic crawls over my skin. The vise on my lungs releases. The creeping sense of dread falls away.

I take a deep breath. "Gods. You don't know how badly it's been affecting you until it's gone."

"The nature of curses," she says.

I look down. "Doni? How do you feel?"

He nods, and I place my hand on his head. "Good." I pause. "Oh! I apologize, Phet. I hope this isn't asking for too much. Doni? Could you show her Madam Pip?"

Doni nods again and holds up the quivering bat.

I reach into my pocket and Ox coils around my hand. I hold him up.

She looks between the two creatures and begins to laugh. "Of course." She softly touches the bat.

Pip blinks and stretches her wings. "Oh! That's much better."

She approaches Ox and studies him. "Huh. An interesting companion." She narrows her eyes. "Not everyone is going to fall for it, you know."

He grumbles, flicking his tongue. "As long as most people do."

She taps him, and he coils tighter in my hand. "Damned fey," he mutters.

She shakes her head. "Peace Bringer."

"Please, call me Varrick." I tuck Ox away.

"I know who sits in your camp. The one you call grandfather. His power will undo my magic." She leans forward. "Don't die."

"Thank you."

She gives me a salute and vanishes in a cascade of purple sparkles.

Astarion leans into me and mutters, "Was that an omen? Or just a warning?"

"We'll know soon enough. Nothing can be done about it either way."

"Mmm." He nods. "Comforting."

A clatter comes from down the path.

"Get off me!" A hollow voice rattles from the darkness, and a bobbing light creeps through the shadows. We hear the sucking groans of shades in pursuit of someone.

"Everyone, wait here." I pull the Hell's sword from its sheath. Flames lick the blade. I walk slowly, watching for creatures in the dark. I don't feel the hands of the darkness gripping at me.

Phet's spell worked.

"Hello?" I call out.

"Hello!" The voice rattles back. "Uhm... help!" The lantern light swings wildly.

I pick up my pace and find a man wheezing on the ground as shades cling to his feet, attempting to drag him deeper into the shadows. I reach for Father's blessing and the red static snaps surge from my hand to my sword. I strike, and a burst of red light shatters the fiend. It screams, and the voice of the lost soul rises.

"Agatha! Get to the cellar!"

The shades release the man and begin to circle us. One dives for me, but is staved off by the spell. I cut through it and the soul wails and vanishes.

The man climbs to his feet and waves the lantern in front of him. "Back off! I've got light! And now also a stranger whose sword is literally on fire and cursed, probably!" He leans into me. "No offense."

I lean further in. "It is cursed."

He nods and lifts the lantern higher. "Haha! I was right!"

Another shade grabs at the man, and he trips over himself backing away, landing with a heavy clatter.

I slam my sword into the lost soul and the shade breaks.

"I can't hold the door for you any longer. I'm sorry."

The final shade rises above us and lashes out with clawed hands. I step in front of the man. The shade misses the first strike, but batters me across the face with the second. I clench my jaw and plant my feet. I pull Father's power into my blade, then charge, hammering the damned thing and detonating a smite.

It clutches its face and howls, thrashing.

I hold my palm in front of me and thunder rips through the air, tearing the shade apart.

The man lifts himself onto his elbows. "You... you threw yourself in front of me! You didn't have to do that."

I wipe the blood from my lip. "My blood is quite expensive. This is going to cost you," I say with a soft chuckle.

I approach him, and his bright blue eyes trail up. "Wuh... you're a very large man. I don't mean that as an insult. Just an observation."

"My name is Ser Varrick, the Shepherd."

"The Shepherd?!" He climbs to his feet and begins fumbling through his pockets, his lantern held high.

Wait... what am I looking at? How many arms does this man have? I tilt my head and narrow my eyes.

He pulls out a slip of paper. "The the Shepherd?" He taps on what I recognize to be one of my flyers.

I place a hand on his back. "Friend, let's get you to safety." I guide him to the elevator. "What's your name?"

"Arthur! Very nice to meet you, the Shepherd. Thank you for saving me from the shades. Losing my soul to the Shadow-Cursed Lands was a calculated risk... but... I, uhm... didn't know how else to get to Forgetown from Baldur's Gate."

We step into the light. He's dressed in a regular tunic, trousers, boots, and a leather work apron, but... "You're a construct?"

"I'm a warforged. I don't expect you to know what that is, but I'm very useful!" He holds out his four hands and wiggles his fingers. "I saw the flyer and thought helping start a new town built around a forge was the place for me."

I grip his shoulder and hold out my hand. "Welcome to Forgetown."

He takes it with a few soft clicks, giving it a courteous shake. "Thank you. What a relief."

Bex looks him over. "Let's get you settled. I can't imagine your journey was easy."

"Uhm... No."

I turn to Bex. "One of the rooms closer to the forge itself."

"Agreed."

Rooster shakes out his sleeves and hugs his elbows, shuffling up to Bex, giving her a hug.

"Goodbye, James," she murmurs. "Stay safe. Be well."

He leans his head against her shoulder. "I'll see you soon, Bexy."

They hold each other for a moment before pulling back. Then Rooster turns to Danis and squeezes him tight.

Danis grunts. "If you need anything..."

"I'll let you know," he says.

Karlach waves. "Bye, Rooster. Bye, Astarion. Good luck."

Shadowheart takes Rooster and Astarion's hands. "May Shar bless you. You're in her domain now."

"Thank you?" Astarion says with a wry smile, and Shadowheart wrinkles her nose at him.

Rooster kneels down and Doni gives him a hug. "See you, scrap."

Doni clings to his shirt before letting him go, chewing on his thumbnail.

They approach me once more, and I bend down, receiving a kiss on each cheek from them. I wrap my arms around them and sigh, taking them in one last time. I close my eyes and hold the moment.

I hear a clink. Arthur's hands are clasped next to his cheek. "That is... so sweet," he whirs.

A grin spreads across my face. "Quite the romantic."

"What can I say?" He shrugs.

Rooster stares up at me before adjusting the pack on his back. "Okay, we're going to go now..."

"Okay, James."

They walk, and Rooster glances back.

"Be safe," I say.

"You be safe!" he says.

"I will."

"Good." He continues to shuffle before he glances at Bex and Danis. "I love you. Good luck with your hopes and dreams."

"We love you, James," Bex says as she and Danis wave at him.

His chin stiffens and he glances at everyone one more time. "Okay, bye." He finally follows the others down the trail.

Arthur drops his pack in a room near my office, before I lead him to the forge proper.

"Hopefully that room will work for you. You're the first artificer to arrive."

"This might be more than I need. But I appreciate it!"

As we step onto the forge floor, Arthur slows, looking around. "Woooaaah... the Sharrans were on to something."

Dammon peeks out from behind a maintenance door, lifting his goggles. "What in the Hells?" He walks up to Arthur, brushing his hands on his apron.

"Where did you get this, Varrick? Did the duergar bring it?"

"Careful," I say with a grin.

He reaches out a finger.

Arthur shifts back and holds up his hands. "Please refrain from touching me. I'm not equipment. I'm an employee."

Dammon straightens and turns to me, brow tight.

"I can vouch for him," I say. "He has a soul."

He shakes his head. "Varrick, that's not possible. There are some pretty sophisticated machines out there. This one could just have an equally sophisticated language model."

"Believe what you like. But I rescued him from the shades in the Shadow-Cursed Lands. What use would they have dragging away machinery?"

"What?" He turns back to Arthur and leans in. "I can't get a handle on what kind of machinery this is."

Arthur places a hand on his hip, settling to his left. "I was built on another world called Eberron." His chest rattles. "I was lost in space, then crash-landed here twelve years ago." He leans forward slightly. "My processor is quartz crystal, if that's any comfort to you." He taps the plating on his head. "Maybe we can hang out after work and get to know each other better?"

Dammon blinks. "You have... silicon-based cognition?" His mouth hangs slightly. "Uh... That's a lot to take in. But, yes! I would like that a lot."

Arthur shifts to the right. "Really? I knew I was going to like it here."

"I'll let you two discuss matters. I have much to do." I turn to leave.

Dammon reaches out a hand. "Wait! I wanted to ask: how is Karlach doing? Her engine was running really hot. The thermal shield I built for her was only meant to be temporary."

"I..." The spade of my tail rests on the ground. I have forgotten to ask. "I can fetch her if you like."

"Please! I want to make sure she's okay."

I find her back at camp, playing marbles with Doni.

"Karlach, Dammon has asked for you."

"He has?" She stands. "Excuse me, Doni."

"Come, let's head to the forge." I walk her back. We find Arthur and Dammon huddled near the main switch of the hammer. Dammon glances up and rushes over. Arthur follows.

"Karlach! You're looking good!" he says with a half-smile.

"You don't have to lie, Dammon. I feel it."

His face falls, but he holds a small, optimistic curl to his lip. "Did you manage to find infernal metal?"

"Yes!" She pulls my coat back and rummages through my pocket, retrieving what we have.

Dammon's lips pull back. "I'm afraid that's not going to be enough..."

Arthur glances over his shoulder. "Oh, that? I have some of that."

"What?!" Karlach says. "No. No, I couldn't possibly take your things!"

Arthur reaches into his apron and pulls a large chunk of ore.

Dammon takes it and weighs the metal in his hands and nods. "This is enough."

"What are you going to do?" Arthur asks.

"I'm going to increase the shielding. I also want to create conductive rods and a finned heat exchanger that connect to the vents in her shoulders to help expel more heat."

"What kind of engine is this?" he asks.

Karlach pounds her chest. "An infernal one."

"Oh, now I'm curious." He puts one hand on his chin and crosses his lower arms as he thinks. "How... uhm... how do you access it?"

"It isn't pretty..." She runs her finger along her sternum and breaks the skin, swinging open a small maintenance door.

Arthur shudders. "Ouch... doesn't that hurt?"

"Everything hurts," she says wearily.

"WHAT?! My sister in construction. Absolutely not." He turns to me. "Paper. Uhm... quill... ink... uh." His fingers are wiggling.

"Go to my office. Take what you need."

He dashes to my office, and we soon hear clattering as he runs back. "Okay. This might be easier if we're sitting."

"Alright." Karlach winces and settles on her knees.

Arthur lays the paper down and begins drawing, glancing at her chest. He draws out a diagram of her engine. "Do you know what viscosity of lubricant you use for your engine?"

"Oh! SAE 60."

Arthur clicks before writing that down. "...What the fuck..." he mutters.

He sits back and looks at Dammon. "Welp. Let's get started."

"What's your plan?"

"We have to do our best to reverse engineer what she has, but I think we can rebuild her engine with components that don't fucking suck. Metals that are durable but can function at a cooler temperature. We'll have to review the diagram and see where we can make improvements. Have you seen anything like this before?"

Arthur holds up what he's drawn to Dammon.

"Yes. I was a smith in the Hells. It's very similar to the engines that ran Mad Maggie's war machines."

Arthur stands. "You were a- a smith in the Hells! And she has a Hells-built engine! And I fix constructs! And the Shepherd is also here! That's amazing!"

I shift, feeling vaguely useless, but I appreciate the acknowledgment.

Dammon sets the infernal metal on a work table. "Let's upgrade what she has so we can have time to work on the new engine."

"Oh, absolutely!" Arthur clings to the diagram.

My shoulders fall. They're losing focus.

"We'll need to get the forge up and running so we can build out her new engine," Dammon mutters.

Thank the fucking gods...

"Arthur, we're going to have to do this the old-fashioned way."

"Anvil and hammer, right? I hope you don't mind that I hover. I'd like to observe your smithing methods."

"Not at all! Please do!" He turns to Karlach. "Give us time. We'll let you know when the upgrades are ready. We'll bring them straight to your camp the minute we're finished."

"If that's okay," Arthur adds.

Karlach's lip quivers, and she closes her chest. "You guys... I'd hug you if I weren't a furnace right now."

"Hugs soon." Dammon chuckles. "These upgrades should cool you down, though I can't guarantee anything."

A tear sizzles on her cheek. "It just warms my heart to know you guys care."

Arthur's laugh is a hollow rattle in his chest. He clicks a few times. "Because your heart is an engine. I get it."

They look at him, share a smile, then laugh.

...That was a good joke.

Hours pass. Karlach is pacing. Her anxiety has saturated the camp.

"Guys, this is driving me crazy. I can't wait for Dammon and Arthur to be done with my upgrade."

Bex reaches out. "For the love of Torm, don't bother the men again. Just... find a book, maybe?"

"I feel like I've already read every book."

"You've read one," I quip with a small smile.

Then I jump as Karlach shrieks. "Do you guys have? Sorry for being a bother, I'm just so excited!"

Dammon holds the components. "We're ready! You're going to have to open up again, though."

She presses into her sternum and opens the hatch again.

Dammon hands her the pieces. "Replace the existing heat shield. Add the rods and the heat exchanger here and here."

"Got it." She takes the wrench and loosens a few bolts before clicking everything in place and tightening it down.

"Arthur." Dammon gestures to her shoulders. "Look at what happens to her ventilation ports."

They both lean forward, waiting. The air above her shoulders begins to warp and ripple slightly more.

"Yeah!" Dammon and Arthur cheer, grabbing each other and jumping up and down.

"Yaaaaay." Karlach claps lightly, sounding vaguely confused, but genuinely happy. Then she pauses. "Wait." Her shoulders rise. "Wait a fucking minute."

They stop jumping and settle down.

"What is it?" Arthur says.

"I-" She lifts her hands and looks at them. Then her chin begins to quiver again. "Oh, man, this has been a crazy day." A tear slides down her cheek... and drips from her chin. She looks at me. "Spooooks." Her voice is shaking.

I reach out my hand.

She takes it.

I give her a nod.

"Oh my gods..." she whimpers.

Doni rushes up to her. "Karlach!" He holds up his arms.

She kneels down and hugs him tight.

"Doni." Her voice is muffled against him. "Doni, this is the best hug I've ever had in my whole entire life."

He holds her, and they both cry softly.

After some time, she finally lets him go and she gets to her feet. She stares at her feet for a moment with a smile before glancing at Shadowheart.

"Karlach," she says quietly. She approaches and takes her hand. "You're still warm."

"I can't help it." She pulls her in and kisses her deeply. Her chest glows a bright blue.

Shadowheart's arms wrap around her waist as they press into each other.

Dammon is crying, hands clasped over his heart.

They break their kiss. "Shadowheart... I want..."

"Yes," she says.

Karlach smiles, then she looks at Bex and Danis. Bex lays a hand on her arm and Danis pats her back.

"Congratulations, Karlach," Bex says. "Gods, I've prayed for this for weeks now."

"You have? Maybe Torm's actually lookin' out for me." Karlach glances at Shadowheart again. "Okay... well... not to be rude, but... it's been ten years." She picks her up and walks away.

Doni looks up at me. I take his hand. "Let's escort Dammon and Arthur back to the forge. Maybe you can help me draw some flyers for new smiths." I look at Bex. "First Druid Peter has agreed to help fund Forgetown."

She takes Doni's other hand. "I'm glad he came around."

Arthur puts his arm around Dammon's shoulders as Dammon dabs his eyes with a filthy work rag.

"It looks like copper might be contaminating her engine when she's aroused," Arthur mutters.

Dammon sniffs. "Uh, gods..." He blows his nose into the rag. "We'll have to account for that."

We follow them as they head back to the forge.