Starting with Nyx PoV.

LINK: Brampton, Lower City, Interactive Map, World Anvil.

"Back off! She was on the list!" The young Fist's face was as red as his uniform.

Gathered between the streets of Brampton; a dwarven man stood right at the front of the crowd. He was gesturing wildly at the Fist and shouted, "Shove your list! You give Barbara back!" In response, rowdy insults rippled through the rest of Brampton's labourers; an intimidating bunch of muscle, tattoos and foul attitudes.

Before anyone could intervene, Tav was on the scene, pushing past the gathering crowd to the front. Nyx and the others followed suit, some more successful than others, but they managed to keep sight of Tav.

Nyx ducked through an opening between the press of bodies to stand behind Tav, who announced, "Good afternoon officer, is something amiss?"

The Fist sneered at Tav and pointed at the dwarf, "He is interfering with a lawful arrest!"

The dwarf scoffed and raised his fist. "The docks won't bow to the likes of you!"

Another sailor barked, "Big talk for a laddie with no Watcher!"

The younger Fist and his peers were getting fidgety, their eyes darting between those of the swelling crowd.

Tav projected her voice magically, "On what grounds is she being arrested, fine sir?"

Although the crowd yowled, the term of respect was well received by the Fists and the younger man puffed out his chest. "She has failed to pay the Archduke's administration levy."

The dwarf growled his warning, "We ain't got the coin! Arrest her, then arrest all of us - and we ain't going quiet-like."

Someone in the crowd yelled, "Gortash toadies! Get out of 'ere!", which became a chanting roar accompanied by fists being flung into the air.

The younger Fist took a step back, his hand on his hilt. "I, uh." He looked to his superior, and the Gauntlet gave a curt nod.

Tav said quickly in a matter-of-fact manner, "It would be best to leave without further incident. Lest you risk limb and life."

Nyx let out a breath when the Fists paused, their blades barely visible from the sheaths.

They shared another glance with each other. The Gauntlet's jaw worked, and she finally said, "It's not worth it." She pointed at the crowd. "We'll be back to collect on outstanding debts. We expect payment in full."

Crude, crass and colourful insults replied. Several of the roughest-looking members of the crowd broke off and jeered the Fists from the neighbourhood.

The dwarf spun on Tav. "We didn't need 'er help!" He shuffled over to the unconscious woman, Barbara, and tried to rouse her.

Unperturbed Tav offered, "We have potions and healers."

Both of which are in short supply around here.

Cradling Barbara in his lap, he eyed Tav's group from underneath bushy eyebrows, one sporting a diagonal scar that parted the hair. He grumbled to himself, and a handful of other workers approached. They argued amongst themselves, pointing at Tav's group a few times.

The dwarf relented and said to Tav, "We can't afford meds or Docs. And," he gave a long-suffering sigh, "You don't look like soft-hands, so... aye." Annoyed at Tav's beaming expression, he reiterated, "This ain't no charity. We'll pay our way."

Halsin stepped forward and placed a hand over his chest. Regardless of exuding his calming druidic magic, he loomed over them and said, "Any payment you deem worthy is acceptable."

The dockworkers blinked away their wide eyes and shut their gaping mouths, making way for Halsin to work.

It was only a mild concussion. Halsin's magic had Barbara on her feet and cussing up a storm in no time.

Gale probed, "My good dwarf, what is this administrative fee?"

"The name's Elcar, and I ain't 'ere 'good dwarf'."

Gale made a small bend at the waist and apologised, gaining more irk than forgiveness.

Barbara's cussing started anew, attributing a slew of insults to Gortash and provided, "The rat fucker says he has 'plans' for the Bramptons and 'plans need money'. Debts we are to pay, since the start of the year."

Wyll made a horrified 'What!' and said exasperated, "Backdated payments? That is illegal! The Council would never have-"

"Those cowards ain't 'ere anymore, are they!"

Wyll deflated and shook his head, gazing out at Grey Harbour. He mumbled to himself, "We'll make this right."

Tav nodded, giving Wyll a pat on the shoulder.

Some of the dock workers returned and handed over Halsin's 'payment', garnering smirks from Nyx and the rest of her companions. Tav concluded the exchange, and their group made their parting greetings.

Nyx gave Astarion a quizzical eyebrow. "You want some?" Offering her piece of the 'payment' prize.

He recoiled from the perfectly fine, uneaten spoils and wrinkled his nose. "As if it's not bad enough to have the waft of it blow into my face, now it's going to be following me around the rest of the day by proxy."

She continued chewing on her smoked fish piece and tilted her head while considering the flavour. Smoked deepshadow pike was considered a delicacy. Pairing the mild fish with the herbal note of cardamom and nutty cumin - both of which were emphasised by the faint sweetness of its beechwood smoking. She couldn't figure out why Astarion would be so averse to it... It's not like it has...

A smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Would you prefer it seasoned with garlic?"

He scowled and gestured with an accusing finger. "Do that and you're sleeping at another inn."

Nyx chuckled and surveyed the decorations that coloured the main road to Keexie.

Despite the unrest, even the Bramptons had been softened by the nature-based colours of the harvest goddess, Chauntea. A store owner was wrestling a straw bundle from his fish barn; the specially arranged hay stalks and dried flowers joined the prominent display alongside several massive spiny gourds. Neutral tones of the dried plants offset by bright pops of colour from the flowers and pumpkins.

Long braided garlands hung from the beams of the Keexie, seemingly having sprouted smaller squash, autumn leaves and berries. As their group stepped inside, its menu at the door boasted about an exclusive tasting of the first harvest mead.

The neighbourhood drinking house and minor gambling den sported a warm interior and moody lighting. Less prominent High Harvest Festival grain tassels were dotted around and placed out of the way, tied with ribbons in subtle shades of green, white, and gold. Copious amounts of pipe smoke created halos around the lamps, and it was Nyx's turn to wrinkle her nose, setting her magical mask into place.

Tav guided them through the rowdy drinks hall to the staircase where a pair of surly looking guards glared them down. She smiled and greeted them brightly, offering a slip of paper, which was read without remark, and their group was nodded through.

Upstairs they passed booths with customers playing all manner of games, from dice cups to Dragon's Draw. The occasional serious expression would flick momentarily from their cards or dice to Nyx and her companions. Tav brought them to a room, its doors closed, and she rapped on the wood.

Nyx shifted her weight. It was an open secret that Keexie dealt in both legal and illicit games, as well as 'other' dealings behind closed doors. Wood creaked and a familiar face peeked through the open slit, remarking dryly, "Punctual as always." Jaheira ushered them in.

Seated at the table was more friendly company in the shape of Aedric and Mohan, each with a set of cards in hand. Jaheira returned to her seat, gave Mohan a pointed look and said to Aedric, "I trust no one acquainted themselves with my hand."

Mohan gasped in feigned shock, whereas Aedric merely chuckled and confirmed, "We are none-the-wiser." He beckoned the others over and said, "I'll deal you in, we've but begun."

Nyx made herself comfortable at the adjacent bar and was joined by Halsin and Gale. The rest of the group took up seats, filling the table.

Aedric spoke while divvying up cards, "We have it on good word that Holly Fowles had been let go by the Mouth for being..."

"'A problem.'" Mohan mused over his hand.

Aedric amended, "Outspoken about our esteemed Lord Gortash." Jaheira snorted and a small smile played on his lips. "And her former employer. So much so that Ettvar has threatened pursuing criminal action against her - if they can find her."

Tav narrowed her eyes at the table, setting both coin and cards down. "And you're looking to find her first?"

Mohan answered, "Hot on her trail."

Shadowheart nodded and said, "I like her already."

Karlach added, "Give 'em hell.", flicking a card to the table.

"Unfortunately, being outspoken comes at a greater price each day." Jaheira added her contribution to the pile, and everyone else groaned in response. Smiling, she collected the loose coins from the table, leaving one behind.

"Aye, I'm afraid that some of our rank are being steered away from Helm and Ravenguard's teachings." Aedric shook his head and changed the subject. "However, we do have a way in to the Counting House."

Mohan took point. "There is a buzz about a 'large shipment' tomorrow afternoon. An opportunity the," he paused, eyeing Aedric and clearing his throat, "Unscrupulous sort may take advantage of."

Jaheira barked a laugh. "And the Harpers are planning an unscrupulous intervention." She grinned at the expectant faces and said, "You'll be joining me tomorrow as we inspect the Harper's vault."

Tav pursed her lips, "Sounds a bit thin on the planning."

"Yes, well - if that doesn't work; we'll go with Plan B instead."

"Which is?"

"Still working on it."

Between the flicking cards and the exchange of coins, their group worked out the specifics of 'plan A' to Tav's satisfaction. Jaheira informed them that a new messenger was to be assigned to their group, along with Notch. Thus, if a pigeon were to call upon them, it would be from her directly. Tav brought Aedric, Jaheira and Mohan up to speed on the meeting with Keene and the reinstatement of their previous truce on condition of the successful 'neutralisation' of the Stone Lord.

Jaheira nodded, inspecting her cards, and said. "I have no care for Ninefingers, but if we can settle the undercity and scatter Gortash's shadow allegiances, I won't turn my nose up."

"And gain an unlikely shadow ally ourselves." Aedric put in, both Mohan and Jaheira gave him a sidelong look.

Jaheira said definitively, "It is settled then. We meet at the Campus Tavern tomorrow and move to the Counting House from there."

Noises of agreement went round the table, and the game concluded not long after that.

Tav let out an exasperated breath when Jaheira once again took a hand of winnings. "Between you and Mohan, you'll clean out the house."

Jaheira grinned, eyed Mohan and grumbled, "Yet my methods are above board."

Mohan maintained his Dragon's Draw face and said sweetly, "High Harper, if you're looking for proof I'll willingly submit to a strip search." Throwing his arms open in welcome, he waggled his eyebrows. "Or if you prefer strip draw."

Unfazed Jaheira shot back, "Hah! Either way I'd have to lop off my hands and gouge out my eyes afterwards."

Mohan mimed being stabbed in the heart, then tucked his winnings away.

The banter at the table was interrupted by an urgent rap at the door and its accompanying messenger announced, "A, uh, 'VIP guest' wants a private meetings. 'Matter of most import.'"

Nyx straightened in her chair, setting her water down and readied herself for trouble. Several of the others did the same, except for the three hosts. Nyx relaxed somewhat, but kept her attention on the door. Tav agreed to the meeting and rose to leave; instead, the fidgeting man stepped out of the way of a hooded figure. Nyx recognised them by the slight limp in their gait, the same from Wyrm's Rock.

Tav greeted before the figure removed their hood. "Counsellor Florrick, is it safe for you to be here?"

Murmurs rippled through the room when Tav ushered Florrick in, promptly locking door. Wyll had risen from his seat as well, and Florrick's gaze snapped to his, a frown creasing her brow.

The Counsellor addressed the room, "The situation is grave enough for me to attend to personally, both as an aid and as voice of conscience. Wyll Ravenguard."

He snapped into a formal posture, and Florrick waved him down. The small, transient smile on her lips was replaced by concern once more. "A devil had visited me."

Tav interjected coolly, "That speaks naught but lies, spreading like poison."

Counsellor Florrick looked taken aback.

Wyll scowled and raised his fist. "Curse that rotten devil and her forked tongue! She tried to set you against me, didn't she?"

Florrick glanced at her feet before continuing more cautiously. "And nearly succeeded. But there must have been some truth to her deceit. She told me that you've doomed you father when only you could have saved him."

Wyll scratched one of his horns and turned his gaze away, face pinched as though in pain.

Fire danced over Karlach's skin. "By having Wyll be her forever-dog-on-a-leash."

Nyx affirmed to herself, Throwing Mizora out of the apartment would be too kind.

Once again the Counsellor gaped, then shook her head. "I see. No one should be asked to make such a choice. More the fool am I to believe the word of a devil." She regarded Wyll with entirely different concern and said, "I'm sorry for losing faith in you when you've not lost it in me. Moreover, for me to deliver this message to you."

Aedric had stood and beckoned the Counsellor to sit; she took her seat, but most of the rest remained standing. Aedric stood behind her, while Tav and Wyll took a seat opposite, and she recounted, "I'd hoped Ravenguard would be returned to us, yet that doesn't seem possible, thus there is something you must know. He knew about the Absolute. I thought little of it at first - but he realised the danger before anyone else did." She intertwined her hands and placed them on the table, her gaze becoming distant. "He understood that if the cult were successful in raising an army, Baldur's Gate would be doomed. Before the Absolutists abducted him, he told me that should he fall; we should seek the Heart of the Gate."

Both Wyll and Tav frowned at the same time. Tav asked, tilting her head, "The folk tale?"

Similar to Nyx, none of the rest understood the significance of the exchange. Nyx took up her water and swirled the last of its contents while listening to the story unfold.

Wyll ran his hands over the table. "Father cherished that story, and as a boy I've always wanted it to be true."

Tav narrowed her eyes at Florrick's amusement and asked directly, "A wyrm? You're saying there is a literal dragon living under the city?"

Gasps went around the room; Nyx nearly choked on her water, and Lae'zel looked ready to shake the Counsellor.

Aedric put in, "Aye, a bronze dragon, if the legends hold true. Ansur. The Waiting Storm. The Heart of the Gate. Waiting for someone to follow in Balduran's footsteps."

Nyx wasn't convinced; it sounded a tad too fantastical. Though a hidden Elderbrain and Bhaalist temple beneath Baldur's Gate would too, wouldn't it? The mere opportunity of seeing a dragon like that up close... That would be truly fantastical.

Lae'zel almost leapt from her seat, glaring at the main speakers she spat, "Why would it help?"

Florrick turned in her seat to answer, "Because it is oathbound to come to the city's aid." She held up a finger. "But only once. And if ever the city has faced a threat that required its assistance: it would be the slaughter of her people at the hands of the Absolute."

She retrieved something from her cloak and turned back to Wyll. "Here," she stuffed a book into his hands, "I was able to save this from his home office before they got there."

Wyll grasped it firmly and inclined his head. "I'll study it well."

The Counsellor reached out to Wyll and placed her hand on his wrist. "Your father would be proud."

Wyll was blushing, and those in the room with any decency pretended not to see or to have a reaction to it. Nyx gave Astarion a raised eyebrow when he tutted. He flashed her a smile and continued to tut, but at least it was under his breath.

Florrick rose, and Aedric took up a strategic position next to her, eyes sharp. The Counsellor bid them good luck and farewell. She said, making eye contact with each of Tav's group, "I'll continue to liaise with our other benefactors, and I want all of you to know that you're not alone in this fight. Those loyal to Baldur's Gate stand with you and are confident that you'll rid us of the scourge."

Nyx hid her smile behind her empty glass when several of the others either straightened suddenly or puffed out their chests.

Donning their cloaks, Aedric, Jaheira and Mohan saw themselves out. Tav called her crew to the table, setting aside the legends of Ansur, instead making good on the privacy the room provided to confirm the plans for their next destination: the House of Grief.

---

A steady stream of patrons flowed from the Keexie. Restless, Nyx and her companions casually slipped into the streets warmed by waning sun, arriving much too early for Shadowheart's appointment. To pass the time, they loitered in the shade of a large tree, monitoring the comings and goings. If it weren't for the forewarning by Shadowheart, Nyx wouldn't have spotted the odd-ones-out between the nurses, doctors, and priests so easily.

There was the usual traffic; people being carried, dropped off, or seeing themselves through the front door. Commoner-clothing interspersed with the crisp uniforms of priests, the occasional nurse or doctor; who stood out like ghosts between the plainer silhouettes. However, it was the unassuming silhouette passing between them that immediately caught Nyx's eye, subtly weaving its path away from the main entrance to disappear from view. Her gaze scanned the building's exterior, but she couldn't track the person anymore, neither inside nor outside. Gale and some of the others decided to take a leisurely stroll around the block, and a portion of their group dispersed.

Nyx smiled at the sound of Karlach dozing against the tree to her right. A suggestion Karlach took up from Nyx after complaining about how boring it was 'doing this again'. Reaching for her pack, Nyx retrieved her copy of the House of Grief's partial map, confirming that she remembered the order of rooms and what they did or did not contain. Her eyes flicked to the building as she mentally assigned the outline on her map to the actual article in front of her. Although the rooms were arranged and demarcated as one would expect for a hospital, the historical changes of the building could be seen both within and without. The building carried a stately presence, tall ivory walls lined with rows of windows and a roof once the colour of the sky. Remnants of its initial use as a large private estate. Fingerprints of its conversion to a temple were hard to miss, with the prominent, yet faded symbol of a rose surrounded by grain mounted on the roof at the main entrance. Tav mentioned that the repurposed temple of Chauntea had been used as a makeshift hospital after the previous Bhaalspawn insurgence, and it hadn't shaken its alternate use ever since.

The others returned and called those still under the tree over. Karlach straightened from her leaning nap. Rubbing her one eye more vigorously with a knuckle, she said, "Yeah, yeah. I heard ya - no need to tell me twice." She took a cautionary look around and gathered her martelaxe. "Soldier, time to get moving."

Nyx squinted at the sun's position. "Still early."

"If I stay here any longer, I'll be growing into this tree."

Nyx chuckled, and they fell into step, following the group as they piled into the Harbourside Hospital's entrance, dodging the ill and injured.

Shadowheart announced herself at reception, to the ire of the staff, who scurried off. Later, a group of three people approached to usher Shadowheart away. Although kitted in muted purple and grey, they were clearly dressed in the colours of Shar.

Nyx set her mouth in a line. Surely, they don't think we're simply going to hand Shadowheart over like that?

Tav insisted on joining Shadowheart, and the rest of her companions made expressions that warranted no argument from the escorts.

It did not matter that Nyx knew exactly where they were being escorted to; her fingers itched for her weapons. They passed through the waiting area. It was crammed with the poor, who had little alternative but to wait, hoping their injuries or illness don't take them first. Nyx spotted the muted colours of Shar moving between the them.

Scavengers.

At least the place was cleaner than Nyx expected; the irony of which was not lost on her. Where Reithwin's House of Healing had succumbed to the worst of Shar's teaching, the House of Grief was bright and airy - not a trace of corruption in sight.

Sunlight streamed in from above, highlighting the dark wooden ceiling and bouncing off the blue paint that ended a third of the way down the walls. The whitewashed stone walls were lined with cots, and tables where patients wailed or shouted, their attendants hunched over, straining to provide for everyone. Nyx's stomach churned at the intermingling smell of sepsis and the sharpness of anaesthetic. She snapped her mask into place, averting her eyes from the cots where crude healing techniques were implemented with even cruder tools.

They left the main hall and entered a hallway flanked by private rooms, for those who could afford it, and at the very end was the room for the heart reading. After a round of tense 'negotiation' between Shadowheart, Tav and their escorts; it was agreed that some of the companions would wait outside. Tav, Karlach, Lae'zel, and Shadowheart disappeared into the reading room.

The rest were loitering again. Gale, Wyll and Halsin remained standing. Nyx took a seat next to Astarion on the lone bench against the wall and tried not to fuss at the fabric of her gear. She set her whiskers down, and her shoulders tightened when they recoiled at the surrounding ambient magic before settling.

Her heart lurched when the doors burst open at the opposite side of the hallway and a bloody man on a stretcher was being rushed past by equally bloody staff, only to disappear behind another set of doors.

Astarion watched the spectacle with interest, yet his pupils remained constricted. Nyx ventured, "How are you holding up?"

He tilted his head, giving her a sidelong look. "Better than you, I'm certain." He flashed her a smile and placed a hand over her fretting one. "The sick and dying aren't appetising if that is what you meant."

Nyx pressed her lips together, feeling a bit silly on both accounts.

"But," he leaned into whisper, "This place is unsettling." And squeezed her hand.

She returned both the smile and the gesture, nodding to herself. "So, it's not my imagination? It may look pristine, but it feels..."

"Rotten beneath." He finished, and they shared a knowing glance before another patient was rushed by.

She moved purposefully and leaned against him. His arm slid around her waist, drawing her even closer, and she sighed. "Is it too much to hope we don't find out what it is?"

He chuckled at her ear. "Nothing a little stabbing can't solve, my sweet."

Not what she wanted to hear, but with a steadying breath later; she was ready for its inevitability. She cast a glance at the heart reading room.

But the waiting. The waiting... Is the worst part.





That whole scene with Florrick just chewing Wyll out like she did in the game never really made sense to me... She's known him all her life and yet would trust Mizora's tattletales over what she knows about him personally. Tsk tsk...

Then some random titbits:

From the World Anvil article, Fish of the River Chionthar by D. M. Burt

And here was a surprise (sourced from Forgotten Realms Wiki): the first version of Chauntea's symbol below was illustrated by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, who is an absolutely phenomenal fantasy artists and I've been following her for years - I didn't know she did some work for Wizards of the Coast though.



This one by Mike Schely, who also did many of the maps for Baldur's Gate and the Forgotten Realms.