Once again trying to capture the change in tone, and set the expectations for Act 3 by doing an illustrative summary as a first chapter.

Mostly Nyx PoV, minor Astarion and Tav PoVs

His face was gaunt. Out of place on someone so young. Youthfulness should be vibrant and healthy - yet he couldn't even fill out his own armour anymore.

Further up the road; Astarion's voice carried, "Honestly, why do you want to bury them? We've been walking past corpses for days now."

Nyx was pulled from ruminating over the adolescent's body at her feet. Another victim of the thrall army’s march; succumbed to the elements, lack of sustenance and sheer exhaustion.

"I agree. We are wasting precious time on the dead while the Kr’ath’ith draws farther away to threaten the living."

Nyx's eyebrows rose at Lae'zel's eloquence in the matter. Nyx followed the stream of footprints toward the others, passing several bodies on the ground that belonged to various races and ages. It started with one or two bodies a day. Increasingly, more would lay scattered along the road. Being surrounded by so much senseless death was - draining.

And we're not at war yet. What good is an army of puppets when discarded on the road?

Shadowheart was at the head of the group, framed by the winding tree line. She said, "They made their choice."

Nyx drew her mouth in a line and countered, "True, but mistakes made during youth should not be paid in blood", and she received a few grunts from the others.

Tav was out of breath. "I'm not talking about the thralls. Look, these are innocent people caught on the wrong end of a marching army." She pointed at the bundle of bodies on the ground nearby, clinging to one another in a dried pool of blood and dirty rags.

Astarion scoffed, inspecting his nails. "Admirable as that is, darling; I'm not digging in the dirt for strangers."

Tav, Gale and Wyll glared at him.

Nyx added, "We simply don't have the resources right now", receiving glowers as well - although less intense.

Throwing her hands in the air, Tav asked in exasperation, "Then what would you do? Leave them here? They had nothing to do with any of it. They don't deserve to be left like this."

Shadowheart cut Astarion's undoubtedly snider remark off. "Casualties are to be expected."

While Tav pinched the bridge of her nose, Halsin offered, "We can move them from the road and let nature take its course. If anything, they will provide for the animals."

Gale stroked his beard in contemplation. "Uthgardt barbarians perform burial rites by letting vultures or wolves reclaim the dead. Their customs believe it releases the spirit trapped inside to be reunited with their ancestors in the surrounding landscape, and in the animals themselves." He was met with mostly blank stares, although Nyx and Halsin nodded in unison.

Karlach scrunched her nose. "Gross," and directed to Halsin. "I hope you told Bean and Scratch not to eat dead people, because I didn't."

His broad shoulders shook with laughter. "I've been teaching them to be careful about what they scavenge. However, to put our minds at ease, I'll be clear about it on our next hunt."

Tav chewed her lip and surveyed the fallen, fretting at her braid. She said in a small voice, "I just want to return some dignity to them." Her heartfelt statement softened their collective stance on the matter. A concession was made to magically clean and move the family, finally covering them with leaves in the colour of autumn. A last prayer to Tymora saw their group off on their own march to Baldur's Gate.

---

Their laughter and banter became muffled once Nyx ventured around the bend in the road, the trees obscuring her view from the others while they were taking a break. Kneeling, she placed a hand on the muddied footprint.

Not an ogre - the nail indents are thinner and deeper. An animal, perhaps? Its dimensions concerned her; she hunted for another. However, this one too was broken by the multitude of overlapping footprints. Nyx's sigh was cut off by a wolf-whistle from the tree line.

Her hand went to her knives, and a chuckle followed the shadow stepping from the forest. "We've a feisty one here, lads."

Nyx rolled her eyes internally. Just my luck for being distracted. Her whiskers reached for the trees, and she could make out several more. Raising her voice, she declared, "You might as well show yourselves. There is no point in hiding", knowing that she'd been heard by at least one member of Tav's group.

And then there were three bandits.

Nyx wondered whether they'd all come from the same mould. Difference in height and belly size aside, the mould has a distinct scrappy look with miss-matched gear, a permanent leer plastered on the face and the person in serious need of a bath. More lurked still, and Nyx raised her magic hackles in preparation.

The scrawny leader informed her in a nonchalant tone, "Slim pickings last tenday. Army scared off the good stuff." He paused to give Nyx a once over and puckered at her. "You look like you could make up for it and more. How about we have some fun, boys?" He made a crude gesture, and his comrades sniggered in agreement.

Nyx clicked her tongue and replied evenly, "You'd lose all your limbs for trying. Especially the one you're so eager to show off."

The round of laughter and mocking subsided quickly when a different whistling tune drifted from around the bend. A familiar one.

Karlach strode toward Nyx, her great hammer slung over her shoulders. It gleamed as it caught the sunlight streaming through the canopy. She flashed her shit-eating grin at Nyx and gestured with her head to the bandits. "Chumps giving you trouble?"

"Oh, nothing I can't handle." Nyx's malicious smile matched Karlach's growing grin. "Not turning down the offer at seeing you cave their skulls in though."

Mr Scrawny made a rough hacking sound and spat on the ground. He wasn't backing down, it seems.

Idiot.

His lecherous gaze appraised Karlach. "A little taller than I like, but more to go around, I suppose."

Karlach curled her lip, and the slightest glow danced across her skin. "Look, pal; either you and your sick chums fuck on off the way you came." She shrugged her great hammer off her shoulders, making them take a step back. "Or I'm gonna get real mad." The hammer rested head-first on the ground, held upright by a firm grip on the handle.

Nyx put in sardonically, "And you won't like her mad."

"Aces."

Movement from several more shapes brushed against Nyx's whiskers between the trees, some she recognised and others not.

The leader's leer morphed into a sneer, and he pointed at Karlach. "It's going to be a bad day for you when the lads are finished slicing you up."

Karlach guffawed, making them jump. She leaned toward Nyx and asked, "Whadayya think? We can take 'em, yeah?"

Following suit, Nyx said, "I think we're more than a match for them - and the other eight hiding behind the bushes."

Nyx savoured the bandit's expressions, cycling between disbelief and growing discomfort. Their leader drew his sword. "Howz about you hand over any gold and maybe we let you fuck on off back to where you came from."

"Aw." Karlach tilted her head. "Tough talker ran out of threats? I'm going to enjoy making you cry." Her knuckles popped as she tightened her grip around the hammer's handle.

He waved his sword in her direction. "My... My lads have you surrounded, pal. Just pay up and leave."

Nyx shrugged. "If they're not dead already."

"W-What?"

Flames lapped against Karlach's arms. "Who said there were only two of us?"

The bandit trio blanched.

Three heads whipped around at the hoarse gurgling sound accompanying a dying man that staggered from the trees. His friends’ eyes widened when his body collapsed before them, still clutching at the wound streaming from his stomach.

From the shadows came a 'Chk'. "Scavengers so eager to die? I'd say we oblige."

---

Wyll was shaking his head at the dead bandits sprawled in blood. "Crime didn't pay after all."

Gale navigated between the bodies, taking care not to drag his robes through the muck. "For wily bandits; they were surprisingly lacking in self-preservation. Weren't very 'street-smart', were they?"

A chuckle coloured Tav's response. "Refugees and unprotected caravans would make for easy targets. And they grew fat on being brazen and bold."

Shadowheart made a noise of disapproval. "More like arrogant and stupid."

Nyx stooped to inspect another one of the strange tracks, changing the subject. "Wyll, Halsin - what do you make of this?" Tracing an outline of the footprint in the air above.

Towering over her, they squinted together in the gloom.

"A massive bear, I'd wager. As much carrion as it can eat.", said Halsin, looking around.

Wyll's eyebrows bobbed. "Quite the beast if it is! An adult owlbear?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"Hmm," Nyx eyed the footprint again, "But the arch of the pad is too narrow, and the toes are...", she paused, searching for an apt description, "Splayed? Almost as though the nails are grouped together, one set more to the left and one set on the right." She gestured to the separate toe clusters.

They nodded in concession but shrugged in unison. No one knew for certain what had made the marks. The others started up the road. Nyx frowned at the footprint and placed her hand in the centre. Then stood to follow the rest, rubbing at the blemish on her neck.

--- --- ---

Tav shielded the sun from her face and called out in exaggerated bravado, "Ahoy, me-hearties. Thar be land off the port bow!" Pointing at the barely visible tip of tower peaking over the trees. Cue eye rolls, snorts, and snickers from the rest.

At least Wyll joined in, "Aye aye, Captain! The sea’s end be in sight!"

Tav couldn't help herself and stuck a fist in the air. "Raise the rum, we've found the shore!"

"Hell yes to the rum, Captain!" Karlach guffawed and hurried ahead for a better view.

Even though it wasn't Baldur's Gate, it was the landmark that signalled how close they were to civilisation: Wyrm's Lookout.

It had been rough travelling since leaving the Shadowcursed Elderlight lands, and this was the first building they'd set eyes on since. Tav caught up with Karlach and said, "We can climb the tower tonight. It's a superb view of the stars and Baldur's Gate." She also wanted to climb the tower sooner, Perhaps I can spot the army's progress from there.

Karlach's eyes sparkled like a child’s, and she whooped. "A race to the top."

Oh no, I'm probably going to lose again. There goes my pride and my coin.

Tav smiled back, nonetheless. "Last one to the top is a rotten egg."

"I'm more than happy to hold on to that title," Nyx quipped dryly from the rear of the group.

"Aw, party-pooper."

Daylight should last for a handful more hours by the time they reach the foot of the lookout and promptly setup camp. Jesting and laughs bouncing off the old stone walls along with the creaking boughs of the giant trees overhead brought a measure of comfort to Tav, regardless of the impending fate that awaited Baldur's Gate.

She set off to the lookout point, quickly joined by Karlach and Wyll. The mood snuffed, awaiting the sight at the top. They disturbed a flock of birds roosting between the beams inside the towers. After being in the Shadow Curse for so long, Tav had to readjust to stumbling across life at any moment, and it lifted her spirits for a fleeting heartbeat.

Bless Tymora.

Karlach reached the top first. "Woah..."

Tav's heart sank immediately. That bad, is it? And she braced herself for the sight of more destruction. Instead, a gasp escaped her throat after Wyll helped her up the last ladder step. "It can't be."

Baldur's Gate stood silent and untouched, nestled against the Chionthar river. Tav shared a surprised glance with Karlach and Wyll. She said, "The army should've reached the Gate two days ago."

Wyll peered from under the flat hand to his brow. "Did we make a mistake in our estimations?"

Tav shook her head. "No, Gale and I checked, rechecked. After we lost contact with Aedric, I feared the worst. But..." She gazed upon the city again.

No smoke? No fires? Tymora let it be true.

"I can't see the army anywhere." Karlach scanned the horizon, shortly joined by Tav and Wyll.

He remarked, "Perhaps the sun's glare is obscuring them from view. We can try again tonight?"

Tav desperately hoped that wasn't the case; she wanted to hold on to the miraculous feeling that Baldur's Gate would be as she left it. That no army had sacked her city and left it in ruin. That it was safe. She took a shaky breath, cast her gaze over her shoulder one last time and descended the ladder.

The returning group announced their findings cautiously, but the relief in camp was palatable.

"Mystra be praised. I'd give Baldur's Gate a good third place on the list of best cities, but still."

Shadowheart abolished teasingly, "Oh shush - I don't care what you think of it. Home is home."

"I agree wholeheartedly, darling."

"Oh? You have a heart. That's new. Although-"

"Hah! Look who is calling the raven black. You're hardly one to talk, Shadowheart."

The pit in Tav's stomach eased in their company and banter, but impatience made her fret at her braid.

Tonight, we'll know for certain tonight.

Yet, it felt like an eternity.

--- --- ---

Nyx made full use of the fading daylight. After camp was settled, she collected her gear and headed for the forest. She preferred to start a hunt at dusk, especially considering that she had two trainees in tow. Their footfalls soft, ears alert and eyes eager as they made their silent way through the underbrush.

It was Nyx's turn to teach Bean how to hunt, and Scratch usually tagged along. Between Halsin and herself, they've already shown Bean (and by extension Scratch) how to hunt a couple of times. Rabbits and deer mostly. For tonight, Nyx was curious to see how much Bean could handle by himself.

Nyx fisted her hand next to her leg, and they held fast, listening to the surrounding forest. Seeing as only Halsin and Karlach could speak to Scratch and Bean directly; Nyx came up with a simplified set of thieves' cant to communicate with the animals. For the time being, they understood the basic instructions of 'Stop', 'Follow', 'Wait', the usual 'Yes' and 'No'. Having Scratch around made Bean pick up on it a lot faster after tutoring sessions from Karlach.

Nyx slackened her hand, and they relaxed. Scratch's panting was coming faster than usual. She gestured for them to follow, and they snuck toward a nearby clearing.

Bean had Nyx's hand on his head, gently keeping him in place while she made soft cooing noises. The same his mother would make to calm him down. At the sight of the first deer, he nearly burst from their hiding place prematurely, and the hunt would have been spoilt before it even started.

Patience.

She continued to coo while they watched the deer graze lazily in the clearing ahead. Unaware of three predators waiting in ambush. Nyx could practically hear Bean salivating. One of the deer wondered closer, and Nyx stopped cooing. Bean made a slight movement, and she pushed him back down.

Patience.

The moon rose from behind the trees and lit up the world in a white-washed green, yellow and red. No wind rustled the leaves overhead or gave away their location. Bean trembled beneath Nyx's hand as the deer drew closer still. His talons were digging into the soil below.

Patience.

Nyx's own heartbeat quickened. She lifted her hand.

Now!

Bean burst from the brush with the mightiest cawing roar he could manage. If he were a fully fledged owlbear, he'd scare the deer into a proper stupor. However, the deer's surprise only lasted for a heartbeat, but it was the lethal moment of hesitation that Bean needed to make a successful pounce. Deer scattered.

The ensuing scuffle left much to be desired. After Bean's initial swipe at the deer's legs instead of going straight for the throat like Halsin and Nyx had been trying to instil in him, the deer dashed away limply.

Goodness. Nyx ran a hand over her face. Even Scratch looked embarrassed, a paw draped over his nose, peering at the scene from underneath. A swift arrow from her bow saw the deer brought down quickly without further ruckus or fear. She wrapped her limbs in magic to reach the deer before Bean did and intercept what he was about to do next.

"No.", she said firmly after clamping her hand around his beak. He reared in the air, talons swiping for purchase, and wrestled with her a while longer.

"You made an incredible mess last time. Wait." She cooed at him until he stopped struggling, and she released his beak.

"Before you eat. I'm going to show you how you should have taken it down." She went through the process of placing Bean's beak around a critical part of the deer's neck. He broke it in one clean motion without further assistance. "Yes, good. If you'd only done that the first time, hmm?"

He chirruped excitedly and lunged at the deer's belly.

"No," she said firmly and grabbed his beak once more. "By the Abyss, not like that. There could be all kinds of harmful... stuff in there. Don't rip it apart. Let me show you."

Scratch helped get Bean settled again by nuzzling his cheek and gave him a few licks. Nyx collected her hunting knife, proceeding to extract the animal's stomach and intestines with careful, methodical cuts.

"You'll need to learn to eat around these."

She removed the organs intact and showed them to Bean and Scratch. Nyx imitated smelling and eating the organs, which thrilled both onlookers at first - then she made terrible retching noises. Both sat up straight, ears perked and alarmed.

Good.

"No, do not eat. Do not tear it open. If there is poison or disease in here, you'll be sick or worse."

Not to mention the gods-awful smell. Attracting more danger from the forest.

Nyx would have to ask Halsin to reinforce this lesson later.

Why is it so quiet all of a sudden?

A chilling shiver ran down Nyx's spine as her magic hackles rose to meet the sensation, making the hair at the back of her neck stand on end. Scratch and Bean froze as well. Nyx stood slowly and turned to face the direction of the muffled thuds. Barely audible grunts were punctuated by the occasional snap of a branch. The blemish on Nyx's neck itched. She ignored the distraction and focussed on tracking whatever creature was passing by. At least they were downwind, and Nyx hoped that the breeze would continue to mask the smell of their fresh kill. She tried to calm her nerves by breathing deeply, trying to sense the creature with her cone of whiskers. But to no avail. Given the approaching noise, Nyx had expected it to be in range, which meant that this was a massive animal farther away.

Shit - the owner of the footprints.

Nyx didn't know of any bear or owlbear that made that kind of noise. Let alone setting her magic hackles on edge. Her heart hammered in her ears, making it harder to locate the creature. She glanced at Bean and Scratch. Bean was keeping flush to the ground; Scratch stood upright, partially shielding Bean. Fortunately, both have learned to keep quiet and still when threatened. Scratch's lip quivered while tracking the beast, and he bared his teeth at each snapping branch - but he didn't growl.

Thank the graces.

The forest remained silent for several more rapid heartbeats, and they waited; ready to react at a moment's notice. A faint whiff of decaying flesh reached her nose, soon replaced by the scent of the deer. Nyx flexed her fingers over her knives and brushed against her magic. However, Scratch's body eased and Bean sat upright.

Abruptly the forest's insects and birds made their presence known, and Nyx sighed in relief. Bean whimpered and leaned against Nyx's legs, Scratch doing the same on the opposite. Their own appetites forgotten.

In a low voice, Nyx stooped to pet them both. "I didn't like it either. It's gone now, and so are we."

She threw a heap of fallen leaves over the offal with haste, prepared the deer carcass for transport, and guided them out of the forest.

As soon as the camp came into view, the dread gripping her body subsided, and she felt a little less jittery.

What was that? By the Abyss, I hope we don't find out.

Generally, most animals get put off by large groups of people. Steering clear of the activity, noise, and smell.

We tend to be very dangerous when gathered into our own packs.

And most creatures knew this instinctually too. Thus, Nyx faced Scratch and Bean to give them a final pep talk.

"It should be safe to eat here." Their ears perked and eyes gleamed with excitement. "Now, keep an ear out for whatever that was and make a beeline for camp if anything happens. Understood?" Scratch gave a happy bark, and Bean snapped at the deer's dangling hooves. Nyx set it down and let them have at it. She watched for a while and shook her head in dismay. "Yuck - messy eaters. Make sure you clean up before you go treading your gory feet all through camp." Her instructions fell on deaf ears.

Satisfied that the forest creature hadn’t followed them, Nyx saw herself back to camp.

---

The breeze picked up and chilled Nyx as the aftereffects of the adrenaline wore off. She bumped into Astarion on her way to the fire.

"Our master hunter returns," he quipped with a flourish of sweeping hands.

She snorted and said, "I think a few of us hold that title lately."

His eyes snapped to her cheek, and he grinned. "A deer dinner, it seems." He closed the distance between them, wrapping an arm around her waist, drawing her closer. "But first, a kiss." Which came and went too quickly. He placed a finger on the side of her chin, turning her face away, and whispered against her skin, "You've got a little something over here." And dealt with it by way of a lapping kiss. He pulled away and said, "As good a dinner as any, I suppose."

Nyx arched an eyebrow at his spreading grin, and he brushed the back of his fingers along her neckline. Her blush heated her face while he purred, "Though, I wouldn't turn down an even more decadent dessert."

She scoffed and jabbed him in the chest. "Chancer."

He pouted, "You can't blame a vampire for trying, my sweet." Releasing her, to effortlessly dodge her weak attempt to swat at him. He sighed theatrically in defeat. "I'll have to make do with my own deer then."

Nyx sobered immediately and said, "Please be careful; there is something stalking the woods."

"Such as?"

She shook her head. "No idea - big and noisy. So, you'll get a fair warning."

"The bear tracks?"

"I don't think it's a bear - or owlbear at that. Feels wrong too; gave us the creeps." Nyx waved a hand in the general direction of where her hunting party had encountered it.

"Hmm." He tilted his head, considering. "I'll -", before Astarion could finish the sentence, Nyx's skittish heart lurched out of her mouth when Tav's shout rang out across camp.

---

A crack of magic whipped through the air, and a portal shimmered to life in the middle of camp. Tav cried out again when Gith poured from the portal. Nyx barely had time to react as one cut down Gale where he stood at the cooking pot, ladle in hand. Nyx was sprinting to intercept. Her knives flashed and parried in the space between the Gith's subsequent attack, Gale now sprawled behind her.

Shit!

Her position was compromised at best. She did not have her staff, and unlike previous opponents; the Gith before her gave no quarter in pushing his advantage. His strength and prowess with his own weapon bared down on Nyx with deliberate, punishing strikes. Driving her backward and forcing her to split her concentration between his blows and not falling over Gale.

Nyx's hackles prickled when the lightning bolt shot past her shoulder, the connecting crack of magic disrupting the path of the opponent's swooping blade. Sparks danced around the attacker's sword, making him cry out in pain and frustration.

Nyx had a crucial moment to think. It remained pointless to disarm a Gith. But what if I do the opposite?

Gathering her own power Nyx threw a fistful of force into his sword, throwing it back and the hilt connected hard with the Gith's face.

Blood was streaming from her opponent's nose, and he spat more blood-splattered curses in her direction. Gale hurdled one more lightning bolt at the Gith. Their opponent angled his blade to divert the magic as well as her attempt to knock it into his face again. Instead, Nyx helped the blade along its sideways path, making its owner stagger to regain his balance.

There! Two of her knives found purchase in the seam of his armour, under his arm, further impeding his ability to wield the weapon in the following moment. Her small victory was short-lived when the Gith switched hands and stuck at Nyx with a well-trained one-handed assault.

Gale's magic swelled dangerously, and the smell of ozone permeated the air. In the spell's wake, Shadowheart took up position on the Gith's exposed side, the light from Lathander's mace gleaming off his blade and armour.

A bright burst of rapid magic missiles pummelled the Gith. Nyx and Shadowheart coordinated harassing him from different directions between strikes. The fight concluded when the Shadowheart delivered the lethal blow to his head while he was overly preoccupied with parrying Nyx's knives and dodging Gale's missiles. Assessing the scene, Nyx found Shadowheart had remained in full gear, whereas Gale was sporting an angry red cut across his chest - his favourite shirt ruined in the process. She realised her own face was bleeding after tasting iron.

"We need to help her!" Tav called out again.

What? Who? Where? Nyx and the other two searched wildly for Karlach and Lae'zel.

Karlach and their other companions were still fighting Gith. Nyx sucked in a breath when Tav made a mad dash for the portal. Those able had the same expression of alarm on their faces.

"It's the dream visitor! She-", Tav's last words were garbled when she disappeared into the portal.

By the Abyss!

Nyx sprinted after, making for the clear path between engaged parties. Out of the corner of her eye, a blade arched in her direction and its owner stepped in her way. The Gith prepared for Nyx to dodge to the left, but her speed and magic gave her enough momentum to leap over the Gith without breaking her stride. The portal was in sight. Nyx steeled herself and took the leaping plunge.

--- --- ---

Lae'zel's sword flashed; its steely clamour rang against her assailant’s blade. The Githyanki’s back was fully exposed, an irresistible temptation. Astarion's arrow pierced through the armour of the Gith warrior. Remarkably, their opponent parried Lae'zel's next blow seamlessly. Not faltering one step, but then he made a fatal mistake. He plucked the arrow lodged in his flesh. Astarion readied another one of Damon's diabolical arrows while his target gasped, stumbled, and gurgled in agony.

I'm surprised his spleen didn't join the arrow on the way out.

A sardonic grin split Astarion's face. A deliciously bloody end of his own making.

The arrow whizzed, lodging in his target's arm when he turned to dodge one of Lae'zel's sweeping cuts. However, her follow-up swing cleaved the Gith opponent's head from his toppling body in a delightful spray of blood.

Ah, the scent of battle.

Astarion didn't even have time to savour the veritable feast of aromas from their bleeding prey. Let alone selecting one for a closer sampling. Tav's shouting thoroughly diverted his attention, and his eyes widened after witnessing Nyx disappearing into the gods-forsaken portal as well.

What are they thinking?!

"Damn it to the hells!" He followed suit when Wyll broke off into a full run heading for the portal after finishing off a vine entangled Gith assailant along with Halsin.

The portal began to sputter and spurt.

Don't you dare!

Wyll jumped into the portal, Lae'zel and Gale on his heels. Astarion was thwarted by one of the dying Gith grabbing at his boot. A vicious kick to the idiot's head rendered him limp on the ground, but it was too late. Karlach skidded to a halt after the portal snapped shut moments before she reached it.

"Fuck!" Fire flared around her while she paced a line back-and-forth where the portal had been.

Halsin jogged to Karlach's position. He made circling motions with his hands in the air, searching for any traces of residual magic.

Shadowheart shared Astarion's scowl while they waited impatiently for Halsin's assessment. Karlach's rage had not subsided and Astarion crossed his arms, tapping his foot.

"Well? Can you open it or not?" Astarion clipped the words at Halsin's back.

"I don't think so, no."

"And, why not?" He threw his hands up in exasperation.

Halsin's shoulders dropped, and he sighed. Turing slowly, he said, "It goes to the Astral plane."

Astarion shared a shocked glance with the others.

Halsin continued, "Whatever lies beyond that portal, they'll need to face it without us."

I've been deliberately dodging Githyanki battles for a while now. So, this time I decided not to chicken out and give it a go. Used Gith instead of Githyanki to make the writing flow easier.

Githyanki vocabulary
Kr’ath’ith: Tyrant Worm. Used as a derogatory term for an Elder Brain. (Just some made up nonsense).