Disclaimer. This is a love letter to BG3, which I’ve found to be an amazing game and experience. This is based on my Shadowheart/Karlach run and takes place eight months after the game events. Please note some character classes are different based on my playthrough. I wanted to keep this as it adds for some interesting flashbacks and conflicts in the story.

  Disclaimer. This story contains violence, gore and swearing as well as sexual situations including same sex.

  Disclaimer. The characters in this story are all copyrighted property of Larian Studios and Wizards Of The Coast

  Prologue.

  Grey Harbour Docks

  You can smell the sea air strongly from this wall. It floats, filling your senses as the boats lay quietly in the docks on this very dark night. You can still hear the noise and bustle of Baldur’s Gate lower city, sounds of people laughing, talking and drinking. The city is alive at night as in the day, but that is how this place is, unlike the roaring waste lands of Avernus, where at night you hear only silence as well as the gusting, smoking dark winds and the screeching of Imps in the distance.

  You get used to the long… quiet moments, and the lack of noise at night there, when you’re camped on the baking rolling hills waiting for the next battle. Here though, the noise carries every night and I’ve found it hard to adjust to it, since coming back eight long months in the Hells, time feels slower… When you’re fighting, time can almost stand still, whereas here time feels forever moving. We broke into Zariel's main fort. We got the plans and were able to fix Karlach’s infernal heart so it can work outside the Hells so that we could finally leave two months ago.

  We opened every cell in that fort's prison letting everyone go, before it descended to chaos and a bloody battle, the kind where you’re coated in blood and the air is thick with death and destruction. Every prisoner we let out went to the House Of Hope, where Hope sent them back to their regions up above using Raphael’s portals in the Chamber of Egress, which, when he was alive, were used to visit people and cause chaos with his twisted contracts.

  It’s been hard to adjust, you go from screaming blood and death every day to quiet nights with nothing happening. We own a house now up near Bloomride Park. It's not large, mostly modest, with our animals, but we find ourselves doing jobs for Jaheira and Minsc. This is one of those nights, and it’s a simple mission: to break into the newly built store house tower, as they said that some Necromancer has stashed dangerous books and a magic staff in there.

  We should easily just fly up to the top level balcony, lockpick the door, go invisible, go down a level, then lockpick the chest, leave via that level’s window and feather fall on to the nearest boat. I’m just waiting on two items as I sit at the docks with Karlach. I can hear the small clawed feet as a certain red skinned Kobold runs towards us in the darkness… As always his timing is perfect, as he leaps on to the wall we are sitting on.

  Shadowheart watched as Popper smiled, pulling up the small bag as he spoke. “Popper got that treato you wanted, best quality.” She smiled at him, taking it from his clawed hand and passed him some gold coins. “Excellent, thank you.” Popper gave them both a smirk with his wide crocodile-like mouth, his yellow eyes gleaming. “Fytz told me though to remind you, smoke bombs are very powerful, use it well, cause otherwise wrong people will die, though Popper disagrees… more dead to loot.”

  Karlach eyed their old friend patting his horned head. “It’s going to be fine, we are just stealing something.” Popper eased up a clawed hand. “Well Popper was told to say so, Popper did so, but still, stay safe.” Karlach gave him her best smile. “We’ll be fine, trust me we’ve stolen things from the Hells, this should be a breeze.” She watched as he nodded, then left, quietly vanishing into the night as her lover opened the bag, pulling out lock picks and drow poison, using it to carefully coat her Paladin’s mace before tossing it to her, so she could coat her double headed axe. “You know… I still think the poison is a bit much.”

  Shadowheart turned to her as she adjusted her scale mail armour. “Honestly, just a precaution I swear, it would not be the first time we have been jumped by donkey brained freaks who thought he or she could win a fight.” Karlach eased herself off the wall, pulling up out two magic potions for invisibility in bottles. “Well let’s just get this done. Then we can get this crap over with and get the fuck out pf here and go to The Elf Song tavern, have a drink and something to eat… then go home and sleep.”

  She eyed the tower. “I still say I could climb the fucking thing with you on my back, it’s not that steep.” Shadowheart gave her a smile. “Why waste the effort? It’s not the hell fort, and besides, I want out as fast as you.” Karlach felt a sly grin form as she leaned down so she was closer to the white haired half elf face. “Ah, I do love that Oathbreaker paladin brain of yours… forever finding fast tracks.”

  Shadowheart leaned a little closer. “I will kiss you when this over but I need you to not spark blue, the dock and building guards might see us right now.” Karlach eased on the dark robe to cover her hell dusk armour, watching the other woman do the same. “I can wait, just a shame I won’t get to knock anyone out up there.” She paused. “I did speak to the black cat Claud that lives close to here.”

  She raised a clawed finger. “He said the guards sometimes get drunk in there. He mentioned it as there is a huge wine cellar in the basement, for really expensive stock, where he kills mice as there is a tunnel to get down there, but you’d have to be cat sized to get in and out.” Shadowheart eased the cloak over her head. “I’ll keep that in mind if we ever steal from here again… love that you’re getting to use those wildheart Barbarian powers all over again.”

  Karlach eased up her clawed hand, getting ready to cast fly as she picked up Shadowheart with one arm, so she was up against her. “Yeah, not like Hellsboars can talk their stupid bastards.” She breathed in, casting the spell so they could fly as followed by them both quickly drinking the invisibility potion. She leapt off the floor as they both flew skywards; she caught sight of what they were looking for quickly on the third floor balcony.

  She landed slowly and carefully, gently easing Shadowheart down, watching as she quickly pulled out the tools and started to slowly work on the door lock, only for her to scowl and mutter under her breath as her first pin broke. She eased her second pout, fiddling it only to hear the click as the door was opened. Shadowheart slowly eased herself down watching Karlach doing the same, as she pushed the door open slowly.

  They both moved inside slowly, seeing no one around, just rows and rows of boxes and chests piled up in the very large room, as this huge tower had four floors in total but it had been made very clear to them that nothing other than what they were taking was to be touched, since all this stock was for the sellers and buyers in the city. She moved forward quietly, as they did not have much time till the invisibility wore off, and she wanted to be out of the window on the third floor fast. The spies had said it was the best route out.

  She breathed in as they moved down the stairs, still seeing no one, and just stock on the lower floor, though she could hear merry singing further down which meant the flaming fist guards were all on the floor below. She breathed in seeing the window moving over to it, carefully unlocking it, watching as it opened slowly. Karlach moved, eyeing up all the chests, her glowing yellow and orange eyes finding the one with the white dragon symbol on the lid.

  She breathed in, slowly picking it up, as it was only a medium sized chest, speaking quietly. “Got it.” Shadowheart moved over quickly as she eased out her tools speaking in a whisper. “Three books, one sceptre". She breathed deeply, hearing it click. “Oh I do enjoy a good lockpick.” She eased the chest open, slowly easing out the skull head sceptre, passing it to the taller woman who carefully placed it away.

  Her hand moved, grabbing the books only to stop as she eyed them before putting them away in her bag. “Wait, there are only two, not three, one’s missing.” Karlach put the chest down carefully. “We must have missed something, there has to be another chest.” They both moved, checking the room, seeing nothing that matched the description. Which made no sense. Jaheira's information was always solid and so was Minsc’s. She was about to say something only to hear a sudden commotion break out below, followed by the smashing of swords and weapons, as well as screaming and shouting, followed by crashing.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Karlach looked down, speaking coldly and sharply. “Some other fuckers are in here….” Shadowheart felt her eyes dart. “We should go, now.” She paused. “We can’t take part, we are not meant to be here, no one, not even the Duke or Wyll knows we are here.” Karlach looked down. “Damn, so fucking disappointing! Just not going to smash-in some heads tonight am I?” Shadowheart put her hand on her arm. “I promise I’ll make it up to you, but we have got to go right now.”

  Karlach opened her mouth to speak, only to feel the air buzz, causing every nerve ending of her body to fire up and not in a good way, as she looked down but it was too late. The whole floor was smashed apart as a blast of pure orange light came through, throwing them both skywards with enough light to burn both their eyes, as their bodies left the ground. The pain it caused was just as painful, like being hit by a thousand knives.

  She didn’t think it was instinct, as she grabbed out, managing to open one eye enough to see Shadowheart in mid-air from the force, though unlike her, totally blinded and in agony. She grabbed her, pulling her towards as gravity kicked back in and she turned her in mid-air quickly, so the other woman was in her embrace and fully shielded. They both fell, boxes and chests flying through the air all around them, as wooden shelves were turned into shrapnel.

  She blinked, regaining her sight fully, only to watch as they carried on falling through two more floors which had been totally blown out. The next moments turned to utter agony as her back smashed through the final wooden floor, only to smash into a second wooden floor below, with enough impact to throw Shadowheart right out her grasp at the last second, sending the small white hair half elf woman tumbling. Her body smashed a metal chest hard before falling to the ground in the darkness unmoving and still.

  She breathed in, feeling the utter searing pain, though all she could hear was the cracking above as chests and items came down, but not hitting them, instead they smashed against the above wooden floor of the basement they had landed in. Her eyes wandered upwards, which took great effort, seeing nothing but darkness, as the crashing sounds carried on, along with the screams and noise. The crashing sounds faded as she closed her eyes as everything slipped in darkness, and the world faded away and all she could hear was the ticking sound of her own mechanical heart.

  On Cazador’s Palace Promenade

  Astarion slowly eased up his silver wine glass filled with blood as he sat down, eyeing the werewolf opposite him. “You did get my message to Halsin right, because it’s been two days?” The black werewolves glowing red eyes shifted. “Of course I did, he has just not sent his reply yet.” The werewolf eyed him. “You should be less impatient, all good things come with time.” Astarion eyed his old friend. “That is what bored people say Crassus who can’t live their lives well.”

  He breathed in, scowling, only to catch sight of something in the docks lighting up. He sat up moving closer, seeing it was one of the grey harbour dock buildings. It filled with orange and white light in every room, only for the light to fade as everything went dark… only for the light to come back again even brighter, followed by a huge explosion that lit up the building, engulfing it in red flames. The huge building started to sway backwards and forwards, its foundations clearly damaged.

  It slowly grinded, starting to lean sideways towards the dock's water. Everything on it went into chaos as the screaming started. He moved closer to the wall, looking over seeing the flaming building lean more and more as the dock workers raced around, trying to get their huge docked boat out of the way, but it was too late The foundations cracked with immense force as it fell sideways, crashing right in to the docked ship and causing everyone on it to jump off as it was also set alight.

  Astarion smirked, knowing instantly the only two people who could cause that kind of damage. He had so missed this in the six months they’d been away not causing beautiful chaos, only thing was he wished was that they’d told him ahead of time, he would have helped. Those new store houses looked ugly, so seeing one get it after only just being built was pure poetic justice. He breathed deeply, savouring the blood in his glass. “You know Crassus… the city just isn’t Baldur’s gate if the Blood of Lathander isn’t destroying something.” He moved over to the chest opposite, pushing it open, pulling out a dead criminal's bloody severed arm throwing it to his friend. “The rest of the murder I killed is in the chest in pieces, have fun eating him.”

  ************************************************************

  It hurts so much, I can feel the steady painful throbbing of my heart and head as I open one eye, taking in slow deep breaths. I have no idea how long I’ve been out… not that it even matters, I don’t remember anything, the light hit me and I was thrown upwards, the last thing I felt was Karlach grabbing me and then nothing. I ease up my hand slowly realizing I’m on my side on the floor in the darkness. It smells strongly of ash and smoke above.

  I realize that my right eye, my magic eye, has been unseated in my eye socket which feels so painful, I ease my bloody hand up, pushing it, feeling it painfully pop back in to position, as it starts to work again so I can see normally with both eyes, though in my normal eye my vision is still blurred while the other can see perfectly. I’m surrounded by wine on shelves. Wait, are we in the basement? Oh gods we fell that far? I ease myself off my side only to cry out in agony as it’s all too clear… I broke something on landing and it feels like my leg. All I can do is lie back and take the pain, which makes me grit my teeth so hard. While ignoring the pain in my head as it feels like I smashed it hard.

  Shadowheart took in a slow deep breath followed by another, as she pulled herself into a sitting position. Her eyes shifted up slowly again this time, both coming in to focus as she could see light coming down through the hole in the floor above, which meant it had to be morning, though she could hear shouting and the sound of wood being thrown which meant that they were buried under wood and planks, but some light was still getting through.

  She felt her mind go into a sudden overdrive. Where was Karlach? She looked around instantly, seeing the huge tiefling woman lying on the floor, though she was not conscious. She painfully moved forward towards her, raising her gloved hand despite that it made everything burn, as she pressed it on the other woman’s leg saying the spell of healing, watching as green light flashed up all over her red body it was only enough to bring her around and not heal her fully.

  She pulled her hand back falling sideways trying to ignore the throbbing in her skull, sitting against the nearest wine rack, waiting for the pain to pass. She watched as Karlach’s eyes slowly opened, only for her to sit up, suddenly crying out in pure pain clearly, everything taking a moment to come back to her as she eased up a clawed hand pulling a piece of wood that was stuck in one of her horns free, looking at it for a long moment before tossing it. Her eyes suddenly fell on her as the panic took over and she tried to crawl towards her. “I’m fine, I think I just broke my leg.”

  Karlach shook her head finally regaining her senses. “Don’t move, okay? I’m coming to get you, just stay still.” She moved slowly, seating herself next to the smaller woman whose green eyes looked truly tired and worn out. She eased her arm slowly around her pulled her close, trying to be as gentle as possible. “You know I’d just like to say that this has been a truly fucking shit night!”

  Shadowheart took hold of the other woman’s hand. “I really just want a fucking drink and forget tonight just happened.” She began to study the shelves as she raised her other hand. “Can you pass me the silver tankard up there?” Karlach eased her clawed hand up pulling one of the silver tankards free. “Carafe of Wine just for you darling.” She watched as the other woman took it, not waiting for a second as she started to down it in one.

  She paused catching sight of the silver bottles opposite, which were bottles of Mermaid whisky. She eased one out un-capping it with her razor sharp teeth before slowly downing it in one go. She threw it to one side, getting another only to watch Shadowheart throw her empty tankard. “Another?” The other woman nodded as she passed it to her. “Well on the bright side it will be ages before they dig us out so we might as well carry on drinking.”

  Shadowheart gazed upwards. “That was not my weapon that did that, I did not destroy the building.” Karlach slowly downed another whisky. “I know and I’d like to know who the fuck did, because it blew through the wooden floors like they were nothing.” Shadowheart breathed in, throwing another empty tankard. “Everyone’s going to think we did this….” Karlach smirked. “Yeah we can add it to our list of amazing fucking destruction and carnage!”

  Shadowheart found herself laughing only to stop as the pain hit her chest. “I’ll drink to that.” Karlach passed her another. “There are only six of those you know.” Shadowheart uncapped the third. “Great, because I will be drinking them all. Maybe then it will pickle my brain enough that I won’t hear Jaheira shouting at me for a solid five minutes about how we destroyed this building and it wasn’t part of the plan.”

  Karlach took a long drink from her fourth bottle. “These storage buildings have such a shit design anyway, like which idiot even came up with it?” Shadowheart took another long drink feeling the pain start to subside, but it was more due to alcohol kicking in and the feeling of being tipsy, as the aged mulled wine was hitting her system. “I have no idea but I know if they had asked me I would not have built this design, it’s not safe as we have sadly just established.”

  She paused hearing the shouting getting closer, it was clear they would break through soon as more light was now pouring through. “We should carry on drinking; I don’t want them to pull me out remotely sober.” Karlach eyed her for a long moment before speaking. “Yeah, maybe they’ll just send us the nearest cleric who will just heal us than shove us off to Jaheira, and we won’t have to explain how some motherfucker who was not us blew out the floors and ruined our fucking day.”

  End of part 1

  Silvermoonlight

  Raphael’s Helldusk armour in game has the ability to let you fly.

  The magic right eye in the game lets you see invisibility and if you’re an origin character it looks like your own eye more or less. It can be put in by Volo at the cost of a real eye.