Tav, Nyx and Astarion POVs

"The rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated. Besides, Trug, you ought to know that I'm the luckiest of charms after all."

A roar of laughter came from behind the door.

"It's you alright, but that means you know I can't simply let you in - you ought to know the drill."

Tav flourished the Underduke's folded invitation and held it to the latch between two fingers.

The darkness swallowed it and grunted approvingly.

Orange torchlight cut a line across the floor and Trug held the wicket door open. His eyebrows bobbed, taking in Tav's group, and his gaze travelled from their weapons to their faces.

Pressure and warmth swelled in her chest, and she said, "My crew." Introducing each of her companions in turn. "They are usually well behaved." Casting an expectant glance at Astarion, garnering snickers from the rest. He tutted, crossed his arms, and stuck his nose in the air.

A smirk pulled at Tav's lips, and Trug ushered them in. "Don't keep the boss waitin'."

---

Tav set her shoulders back and made deliberate eye contact with every person she passed in the winding corridors. It was brief, since the stream of people would split off in multiple directions. Bless Gale for having the sense to freshen them all up with his 'mass prestidigitation' spell prior to their arrival. A smelly delegation doesn't make for good guests, regardless of the host. Past the entrance, she was greeted with a myriad of expressions, ranging from suspicion to curiosity. None too friendly, but given the company, she preferred it. But the flow of bodies parted for a moment, and a scowl of recognition made her breath catch.

Tymora, please let it not be true.

There was an exchange between the familiar, yet unwelcome gang of smugglers. Tav had come to an abrupt halt when their leader sauntered in her direction.

"Fuckers.", Karlach reached for her war hack. The others recognised the approaching group and followed suit for their own.

Tav held out her hand to her companions. "No weapons. We start a fight and the entire Guild ends it."

Grumbles of dissent rose briefly. No weapons were brandished, but hovering hands and primed magic meant her companions would be ready at a moment's notice.

The halfling trader walked right up to Tav, her henchmen sneering behind her. Roah squinted and covered her nose. "Hm. Are ya, by any chance, the bad smell that followed us up from the sewers?"

Tension gripped Tav's chest at the impossibility of Roah's escape from Moonhaven. Heat warmed her back, and Karlach growled from above, "Come any closer and that'll be the last thing you'd worry about."

A round of mocking 'oohs' came from the Zhent group, but they took more than one step back. Roah held up her hands, then beckoned to Karlach. "Go on, try something - I dare ya."

Biting back a retort, Tav surveyed each Zhent, memorising their faces. She asked instead, "Why are you here?"

"Oh, disappointed?" Roah looked them over and smacked her lips, "Not a scratch - too bad, we'd bet the goblins got ya good back at the temple."

Tav narrowed her eyes. "How's the kidnappings going? Heard you got good in Whitkeep."

The momentary drop in Roah's smug expression was worth letting the information slip.

"Eh." She shrugged, half turning away, then her smug smile snapped back on. "Got a better gig now." She leaned in conspiratorially, "The Guild's has problems. And we'll be makin' everything better. You'll see."

Tav dearly wanted to drive a bolt into Roah's eye. That can't be true. The Guild wouldn't make a deal with the Zhents.

They have their scruples, but to side with the Zhents?

Tav's heart sank.

Ninefingers must not know of their Absolute affiliation. I'll need to warn her.

Tav motioned forward and Roah stepped into her path. "No going to say goodbye? That's not very nice, you ought to be nice seeing as we'll be running this place - soon."

A swell of satisfaction coursed through Tav when the Zhents' sniggering cut short and their smug smiles dropped from their faces entirely. Tav's companions' shadows enveloped hers, and she simply pushed past Roah.

No more deals in blood. Had Keene forgotten?

---

Her hands ached at their white-knuckled fisting. She didn't even see the faces she passed anymore; simply wove through the stream of people, following her boots as they carried her to her next destination.

"Tav, slow down.", a strong, comforting grip rested on her shoulder. Gale spun her around, making her face him squarely and gripped her other shoulder. "Don't let them get to you. It's all talk, I'm sure."

"Big talk for small fry.", Karlach seconded while the rest caught up with them.

Wyll inclined his head and puffed out his chest. "You had a plan, stay the course and trust in it as we trust in you. You have our utmost confidence in dissuading the Underduke from this ill-advised allegiance."

Sounds of agreement came from the others and a weight lifted from her. With her urgency settled, she took a moment. Rushing into a negotiation doesn't make for good diplomacy. Tav smiled at the others and threw her arms wide. "Welcome to The Guild. Ever the home of smugglers, scoundrels and ruffians for hire. Not unlike the lot of you."

Light-hearted laughter rose from her friends; however, their postures remained tense and their glances vigilant.

Tav nodded and said, "The tour shall commence now." Both to keep her jitters at bay, and theirs - and seeing as everyone's heads were already on a swivel.

The Guild’s headquarters were both exactly what you'd expect and not. The unassuming entrance gave way to winding corridors, which were always flowing with people: those coming from completed jobs and those heading out for new ones. Tav assured everyone that strict rules were in place to keep anyone from getting any ideas; rule-breakers were punished swiftly and thoroughly.

She said to the concerned expressions eyeing the constrictive corridor, "Ninefingers does not tolerate violence in her house."

There was a technique to navigating the flow, and for the most part Tav's companions were able to keep up after a quick demonstration from her side. She didn't want to lose them again. Flattening herself against the wall, she stood aside for a particularly large orc, who neither thanked nor even registered her presence - or anyone else, for that matter. The bottleneck finally opened into a large, vertically growing chamber where sighs of relief turned into gasps.

Gale sidled next to her and cranked his neck, "Is it dwarven?"

Shadowheart quipped, "It would explain the tight spaces."

Tav shook her head. "Natural cave, though I'd bet hard coin on magically excavated."

"Marvellous." A subtle probing of magic extended from Gale and he nodded in concession, "Yes, quite right, my dear. See there," he pointed to an elongated bow in the ceiling that ended in similar stalactites on either side, "Symmetry like that can only be shaped by magic."

Gale continued to theorise on the different magical and non-magical methods used to purposefully shape the chamber into an 'abode rather than a meager hiding place'.

The low ambient buzz of the crowd was carried away by the curvature of the tall walls. A pop of the candle atop a nearby barrel and the dropping of a crate landed with the same sharp impact. There was a steady vibration against Tav's magic; a predictable sound return. She tested a sustained note under her breath, releasing it above the crowd. A small smile played on her lips when the chamber resonated as she remembered. This place wasn’t a cave where sound would be fragmented, but an intentionally built performance space.

A cathedral, not a thieves' guild.

She could place a note confidently and rely on its response. It made her itch to sing, her fingers twitching to strum a melody in partnership with the stone. In all her scouring of the Harbourlight Archives and Counsellor Florrick's private collection, she had yet to find who had originally built the place.

So many stories lost to time.

Oh, and how she dreamt of uncovering the vast treasure trove of stories from the Undercity - but alas.

'Those who venture into the Undercity don't come back.' And even The Guild kept to their well-known network of tunnels, never venturing into the underground ruins themselves. For a moment she wondered whether that was the Bhaalist's doing.

How long have they been operating in a shadow deeper than that of The Guild?

Tav almost lost sight of the others during her musings. They had followed Gale's magical architecture tour instead and drifted away. She hurried to catch up and, livened up the tour by attaching complementary tales to Gale's dry scholarly observations.

--- --- ---

Nyx concurred with Gale, Tav, and Halsin's confirmation that the cave had been magically altered. She added, "The temperature and humidity fluctuates. I would have expected it to only be cold and damp this far below the surface, especially with the proximity to the river."

"Ah!" Gale held up his corrective finger. "That my good friends is because of the warm stone." He pointed at the grey lines running between the powdery yellow stone as they passed another symmetrical alcove in the bedrock. "A fascinating material; insulates when cold, conducts when hot and tends to even out ambient surroundings to the very comfortable levels we are experiencing. And the best part? No need for fire." He looked around, "Not that there is any sufficient ventilation down here."

Tav supplemented, "This is the largest deposit of warm stone ever found, if the records are to be believed. Some say dragons used to nest under Baldur's Gate, causing the stone to absorb their magic."

"Pish-posh." Gale waved his hand dismissively. "If people put as much effort into stories as they do acquiring knowledge then perhaps misconceptions wouldn’t be so rampant."

Halsin squinted at the wall and ran a hand over the stone. "I should send word to the Grove. The children's quarters could certainly do with something similar. And they would certainly find joy in it coming from dragons." His comment drew smiles and chuckles from the rest.

It wasn't just the ambient environment that was comfortable, but The Guild had kitted out the place with every perceivable luxury from topside. Rich, detailed tapestries hung from the walls; layered patchwork rugs carpeted the floors. Apart from the storage alcoves; there were workshops and pawnshops. Each stuffed with plush chairs, intricate candelabras, and overflowing shelves. Very cosy.

The customers and fences haggling loudly from inside the rooms struck Nyx as the same scene from Whitkeep's merchant guild.

With the merchant's 'repossessed' wares to boot... No wonder the two guilds have come to violent confrontation.

And the Zhentarim's presence bodes ever worse for de-escalation.

A flash of heat raced down her spine, the scent of smokepowder filled her nose and the taste of iron spread in her mouth. Screams echoed in her mind. Nyx rubbed her arms at the sudden chill, focused on her footing and breathed through the invasive memory. The shudder passed through her bone deep sadness, and she surfaced with an extended sigh.

Cut off the flying serpent's head before it digs its fangs any deeper. Parasites.

Astarion caught her eye and extended his arm. "My sweet."

She laced hers through his and relaxed into his presence. He squeezed her hand and she returned it. Ahead, Gale and Tav's tour continued, and Nyx gave it her full attention.

As they traversed the irregularly arranged corridors upwards, they passed a collection of hap-hazard rooms. Some communal, more shops, but there was the occasional area completely closed off by well-maintained metal doors and iron gates. Astarion's gaze lingered on their locks. Nyx cleared her throat and gave him a pointed look, which she was rewarded for with a sly grin and a wink.

Rounding a corner, a large mess hall lay out before them with rows of benches and a scurry of people at the back. The smell of cooking hit Nyx like a wall, and right on cue Karlach's stomach protested at missing out, drawing a longing look from Karlach as they passed by.

At the fork in the corridor, Tav gestured to the right, where guards stood with grim expressions. "Meeting quarters", then to the left where surlier guards stood, "The Underduke."

Shadowheart's ponytail swayed from looking side-to-side. "How organised."

Tav flashed her a knowing smile and continued to the left. As with Trug, she produced her note, and the guards knitted their brows after reading it.

The orcs sized up their group, and the one with greying hair said, "Only you. Not them."

Nyx shook her head at the suggestion while the others protested loudly.

Tav held up her hand and silence fell. "I've got this."

Doesn't mean we have to like it.

Nyx set her mouth in a line when Tav disappeared behind the metal door, and the guards 'suggested' they wait in one of the meeting rooms.

Nyx spared a glance at the door.

--- --- ---

Astarion hovered at the open door, leaning against the wall. He closed his eyes and perked his ears, concentrating on the conversation a hallway down.

Tav's voice was the easiest to pick out of the din. "Thank you, Keene for agreeing to meet. I understand this is troubling times and -"

A deeper voice interrupted, "Spare me the pleasantries, you disappear with no warning or message and expect me to carry on where we left off? As though nothing had happened. The mess I had to clean up."

"My sincerest apologies, things went rather sideways for me too and I had to get out."

"That's it? I hope Counsellor Florrick, in whichever hole she's hiding, is planning on compensating me for cleaning up after you."

There was an uncharacteristically long pause and laughter broke out between the two. Astarion frowned to himself, What in the hells?

Wood scraped against wood, a chair, and Keene said, "Ah sister, it is good to see you alive."

His face twitched, The Underduke is Tav's sister?!

Ninefingers continued, "I had to crack down on the ruckus when word of your death surfaced. Needless to say, I didn’t believe it."

A sigh of relief and shifting movement. Astarion lost Tav's reply. Shit.

He snapped at the room, "Would you shut up!?"

The others stared at him from their seats around a large table. Silence fell and he promptly returned to his eavesdropping. Without the din, he could hear much clearer.

"I didn't come empty handed." Tav spoke over the ruffling of paper. "Here is everything we have on Gortash and his Black Hand so far."

She's handing it over, just like that?

Another creaking of wood. "You've been busy; as has he." Another brief pause and Ninefinger's voice rose, "You think him involved with the Stone Lord? That bastard has killed more of mine than the last ten years combined. I want him found and dealt with."

"The Stone Lord, the Bhaalists and the Zhentarim."

Something thumped. “It is true then, the Bhaalists have returned to Baldur’s Gate… but I’ve no corroboration for your other claims.” Keene huffed, "Oh, don't look at me like that. We're being shanked from every direction and I need knives on the street."

"We had a deal."

"That deal burned along with your notice. This is not the same Baldur's Gate you fled after your bounty landed on my desk."

Tav made a small sound and said, "Any chance of reinstating? Trade my knives for the Zhents'?"

"You've an army? Cause I'm fighting a war."

"My people are good for it."

Astarion's brow furrowed; he didn't want to get any more involved than they already were.

We're knee-deep in sewer muck as it is.

Furniture scraped and footsteps paced on the floor. The Underduke sighed, "I believe that you are, but it's not enough."

Tav's suggestion drew a sigh from Astarion too. "What if we bring you the Stone Lord?"

"Alive?"

There was no reply from Tav, but knowing her, she likely nodded.

Shit. As if our list wasn't long enough.

"Only if you bring him to me alive, perhaps I'll reconsider the Zhentarim. But you're going to have competition so I suggest you get on with it. Here."

The sound of unfolding paper made Tav suck in a breath. "This vetted?"

"Thoroughly."

"We'll get it done."

A lot of movement ensued, and Astarion presumed the meeting adjourned, but Keene's voice became softer. He tilted his head when she spoke, "I regret that our deal had fallen through, it would've been better for business."

"We can revisit it when normalcy is restored."

"Hah! Says the optimist, and the one taking on Gortash. You've always had brass ones - if you didn't I'd thrown you out in the sewers the first time you showed your face at my door."

A smile carried in Tav's voice too, "Here to help."

"Hmmph, don't get all sentimental."

The door's creak echoed down the hallway, and Tav said her goodbyes. Before the door could close, Keene said, "Oh and you can use the other way out."

Tav thanked her, and the door shut.

Astarion blinked his eyes open and found expectant faces staring at him. He straightened and said, "She's on her way, and I've some questions of my own."

--- --- ---

Nyx and some of the others stood after Astarion's heads up. Tav barely appeared in the doorway when he spat, "Care to share with us idiots how you volunteered us for other people's dirty work once again. This time at the behest of your sister?" Astarion's snide remark sucked the air out of the room.

Tav looked at him as though he had sprouted horns. Realisation dawned and she burst out laughing, much to Astarion's dismay.

Between the giggles and wiping the tears out of her eyes, she managed, "Not the sister you think. She's my diplomatic counterpart between the cities. It's Keene's private joke."

Nyx schooled her face at Astarion's attempt at keeping the embarrassment from his by sneering at Tav.

Gale shot a glower at Astarion, and moved to take Tav's hand, asking more appropriately, "And, how did it go?"

She grinned and gestured with her head in Astarion's direction. "He seems to know. Didn't he tell you?"

"I'd rather hear it from you, without his veneer of conceit."

Tav brought them up to speed on the conversation with Ninefingers and the that the trade made for not working with the Zhents was to capture the Stone Lord. She also mentioned that Keene should be more amenable to assisting them with future endeavours. "Favours for favours." She concluded and hesitated for a moment, chewing her lip. "We need to send word to Aedric and Jaheira first."

"Sounds bad." Karlach rolled her shoulders.

"Keene has a bounty out on the Stone Lord, and some of her people have already set a trap."

Various remarks circled the room.

Karlach's grin became manic. "And we're crashing the party, right?"

Tav gave her a wink, and Karlach fisted her hands, "Aaw, yeah."

Wyll scratched one of his horns. "Why recruit the Zhents though? There must be a dozen gangs to choose from and unite against their enemies."

Tav considered that for a moment and provided, “The Guild hasn’t faced this amount of strain from outside players since the insurgence. I’ve met the underbosses who’d barely recognised Ninefingers’ authority; claiming she’s too soft back then. They won’t lose sleep over switching sides now.”

Wyll inclined his head, “'No honour among thieves'. When is the ambush due?”

"I don't know when only where: at the Counting House."

Astarion crossed his arms. "It's one thing to get into Sorcerous Sundries, but the Counting House is a different matter entirely, darling."

Tav shrugged. "Any of you have a private vault?"

Blank stares replied.

"Hmm, maybe one of our benefactors can help."

Shadowheart crossed her arms and asked, "And when are we planning on fitting in my visit into this busy schedule?"

Tav's lips split into a mischievous grin, "Who said we can't do both tonight?"

Making full use of The Guild's meeting room, they worked out the specifics for this evening's covert operations. They agreed on splitting into two teams; one heading for Sorcerous Sundries and the other to the House of Grief. Without any further delay, they departed from The Guild through one of the many backdoors, circumventing the sewers entirely, much to everyone's relief. After emerging near Heapside's shopping district, they spent the rest of the afternoon busy with preparations, which included stocking up on additional anti-magic detection spells and Tav sending out urgent missives to their allies.

---

As per Tav's instructions, they departed the Elfsong at different times in groups of two or three. Astarion and Nyx were waiting for Tav and Gale near Sorcerous Sundries. Nyx admired how the sun sat on the river, casting the Chionthar in a blaze of fire. Their chosen vantage point was situated as out of sight as possible, away from the bustle of the shopping district. The Chionthar swallowed the last of the light, and a nip breached in the air. Astarion fidgeted with his cowl and Nyx couldn't keep the smile off her face.

He made adjustments.

She had seen him with his threading kit earlier, but she assumed he was repairing his gear. Until she caught sight of his ears poking out of neatly tailored slits at the sides of his cowl. He looked adorable.

Astarion caught her smiling and gave her a dubious eyebrow. "You're staring."

She gestured to her own ears and then to his, her smile spreading when he moved to touch his. He snatched his hand away and stuck his nose in the air. "All the better to hear with, my dear."

"No disagreement here. It suits you. Adorably practical."

"Oh?" He preened his tunic. "What else?"

She made a show of studying his handiwork, a finger to her chin. "Hmm - I'd like to bite them."

His pitched laugh escaped him, and his voice dipped low while stepping closer, "My sweet, be careful of threatening me with a good time - I might be tempted to follow through."

She took a step closer as well, closing the distance. "Why keep me in suspense?"

A sly smile replied to her rising smoulder, and he brushed the back of his forefinger over her cheek and down her neck, his eyes tracking the movement. She tucked a stray curl under his cowl and cupped his face. Leaning into her touch, he gathered her hand to his lips and softly kissed her palm, followed by her mouth. His presence filled her senses; his lips slightly colder than usual, the pull of his arm around her waist, the press of his body against hers, and the comfort of his scent. Before their kiss could deepen, someone coughed behind them.

Nyx pulled away wanting, and Astarion scowled over her shoulder. He huffed, "Well? Gawking are you? Never seen a kiss?"

"I, uh. No! Mystra's Mantle, of course not!"

Nyx snorted and covered her smile with her hand.

Gale's face looked like a burning coal. Trying to recover, he said, "I've no interest and no need." Inadvertently leaving himself wide open.

Astarion made good on it. "Does Tav know about this?"

Increasingly flustered, Gale proceeded to put both his feet in his mouth. "I would imagine so. No wait, that's not what I meant... You did that on purpose!"

"Yes, quite the observation; kissing does tend to happen on purpose."

"Stop doing that, you know what I mean." He cleared his throat. "I shall speak of it no more."

"Your best idea yet."

Left with no other defence, Gale merely scowled at him, and fortunately Tav arrived. She looked between Astarion and Gale, then gave Gale a peck on the cheek and said, "There we go. No one left out." Gale beamed at her, and Tav shared a wink with Nyx when that settled the argument.

After the shadows grew deeper, their group mobilised, sneaking around the back of the Sundries where a basement door awaited.

Gale wiggled his fingers and said, "If my memory serves. This is the storage hatch for food and such. Nothing noteworthy means no need for noteworthy protection. Knock, knock." The spell flared an outline around the door and its arcane lock lifted. Gale made way for Astarion to pick the backup padlocks. Three of them unlocked in record time, and four shadows slipped inside before the arcane lock reactivated.

Magic lights were summoned and they surveyed the cellar. Gale pointed to the unassuming wall at the far end and said, "Once we step through there, we are officially trespassing on magical grounds. Let's be on cat's paws shall we?"

A gust of air expelled from the wall, and power crackled between the brickwork as they stepped over the threshold.

*Grumbling author noises*... Why is it so hard to get that nice, clear delineation in voice between Nyx and Tav? I constantly need to keep reminding myself what each of them notices first and what they would prioritise thereafter otherwise I just go into auto-pilot again ...Grr... They do have similar values, but they are not similar in personality or background. But, I do believe I am getting better at it even if it feels like pulling teeth sometimes... I also want to steer clear of Tav's voice always sounding like her journal entries because (1) she is being more lyrical in those moments and (2) it'll take away from their impact overall... So, now it's a matter of figuring out what the 'baseline' difference would be between the characters... Anyways...

I'm so excited for the next chapters!