The long way up

The boat drifted steadily across the black water, its wooden hull creaking softly against the gentle current. Behind us, the last traces of Grymforge had disappeared into the darkness, leaving nothing but the distant glow of volcanic fissures along the cavern walls. The crossing would take hours, with precious little to do besides enjoy the scenery and each other’s company.

Shadowheart had settled comfortably near the center of the boat, slightly more relaxed than during our previous crossing. Kagha sat beside her, Teela coiled around her shoulders, the black lace of her new outfit catching the occasional reflection from Karlach’s infernal engine.

I studied the two of them for a moment, remembering their little conspiracy back at the forge.

“So,” I said, leaning back against the rail. “What else did you two talk about last night?”

Shadowheart glanced up, and a wicked little smile tugged at her lips. “Oh, you know. Girl stuff. Clothes, wine, a bit of gossip... boys.”

“Boys.” I raised an eyebrow. “As in plural?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” She took obvious pleasure in my curiosity.

Karlach leaned in from the stern before I could dig any deeper. “Hey, could I join the next girls’ sleepover? Sounds like you had a blast last night!”

Shadowheart considered the suggestion, her expression shifting from amusement to mild concern. “Well, I suppose, though my tent's already rather cramped with just the two of—”

“She is most welcome,” Kagha cut in briskly, beaming. “We would be delighted to have you, dear.”

“Great!” Karlach’s tail flicked happily behind her. “I’ll bring the drinks!”

Shadowheart closed her eyes. “...Please don’t.”

Kagha chuckled softly, actively oblivious to the cleric’s growing apprehension. Karlach seemed equally delighted by the arrangement, though I noticed her gaze linger a moment too long on Kagha’s new corset before she abruptly turned toward the water with a blush.

Lae’zel, meanwhile, had remained at the prow throughout the conversation, her attention fixed upon the dark waters ahead. Whether she had any interest in joining their little gathering was anyone’s guess. I suspected the idea of spending an evening discussing dresses and boys would offend more than entertain.

Somewhere around the third hour, Karlach started humming a tavern song she half remembered and fully committed to. Shadowheart eventually joined in with a surprisingly pleasant voice, while Kagha entertained herself by watching the strange bioluminescent creatures occasionally drifting beneath the surface. I settled into a comfortable position and allowed myself to relax.

For once, the journey was almost peaceful.

Eventually, the distant outline of the abandoned Duergar outpost emerged from the darkness. The same crooked watchtower leaned over the water, its wooden supports half-rotten and lined with nearly invisible strands of pale webbing. The scorched platform where Shadowheart had attempted to incinerate nothing was still blackened, and the scattered crates remained exactly as Karlach had thrown them.

“Well, this place hasn’t gotten any livelier,” Karlach observed as we secured the boat.

“I rather prefer it this way,” Shadowheart said, stepping carefully onto the pier. “We’ve had enough surprises down here.” She gave me a look of mock accusation.

I gave her a casual nod. “Agreed.”

We made our way through the ruined settlement and followed the familiar path back into the Underdark proper.

The enormous cavern stretched out before us, its jagged rock formations illuminated by vast clusters of glowing fungi. Towering mushroom stalks rose between the natural stone bridges, while poisonous plants shimmered beneath the pale blue light. The air was thick with the earthy scent of damp soil and decaying vegetation, occasionally interrupted by the sharp sweetness of toxic spores.

Kagha looked around with renewed fascination, her emerald eyes following the glowing patterns of a nearby mushroom cap.

Despite the beautiful surroundings, something felt increasingly strange as we continued.

The Underdark was silent.

No distant shrieks of Hook Horrors, no scraping claws against stone, no rumbling from beneath the ground. Even the smaller creatures that normally scurried through the undergrowth seemed to have vanished. The only sounds came from our own footsteps and the occasional dripping of water somewhere overhead.

Eliette hadn’t been exaggerating about her hunting expeditions.

We eventually reached the broad cavern where we’d fought the Bulette. The scars in the terrain were still fresh: broken boulders and deep cracks in the floor where several tons of landshark had burst through the rock. There were dried patches of blood, but nothing else.

Despawned already? How long had we been down here, anyway? With no sun to mark the days, time down here felt distorted.

We passed the altar where Shadowheart had pulled Phalar Aluve from the stone, and she patted the hilt at her hip as if the altar might want it back. The site of the minotaur ambush was just as bare, with only a few deep hoofprints and patches of bloodstained mud to suggest that a battle had ever taken place there.

At last, we reached the end of the cliffside corridor, where the Zhentarim had set up their underground outpost for Underdark business. The net ladder was still hanging from the cliff, and above it stood the wooden elevator that had brought us into this strange world beneath the world.

We stepped onto the platform, and Lae’zel threw the lever with enough force to shake the counterweights. With a heavy clank, the whole thing began its slow climb. Below us, the Underdark spread out in a final panorama of murderous beauty: twisting rock arches, glowing poisonous flora, and the shimmering edge of the mushroom forest.

Karlach leaned on the railing, watching it recede. “Hey, Boss.” She pointed towards the shrinking mushrooms in the distance “What about those Shroomheads? We kinda finished their job, didn’t we? The Duergar being gone and all.”

“Yup,” I said confidently. “That’s right.”

She tilted her head. “So... did you forget, or?”

“No. Not at all.”

Shadowheart gave me a look. “Let me guess. Another step in your master plan?”

“You could say that.” I stretched my fingers and enjoyed the faint crackle under my skin. The Myconids’ reward would be a total gamechanger: Bliss Spores, a temporary boost on every attack, skill, and odd encounter, right up until the next moment we camped for the night. I wanted to save it for something worthwhile.

“We got what we came for.” I said as my eyes flicked to Karlach, then back to the others. “Right now our priority is getting back to the Grove and unwrapping our little present.”

Shadowheart’s expression tightened. “You weren’t kidding? You are honestly going to try your luck with the drow?” It came out quieter than she probably intended, more worry than disapproval.

“Our leader has decided,” Lae’zel cut in. “When broken, she will be a valuable ally.” She turned her head and narrowed her eyes. “Do you question his decision?”

Shadowheart looked straight past her. “Tav, would you please tell your guard-frog to relax?”

Lae’zel gave a sharp, offended hiss.

“Be nice, you two,” Karlach said, giving each of them a forceful pat on the back. “We’ve had a lovely day. Let’s not ruin it before we’re even out of this shithole.”

The two of them traded one more irritated look and turned away. Karlach turned back to me. “Anyway, what’s our next big adventure after the Grove, boss?”

I leaned on the rail and gave the question a few moments of performative frowning. The road ahead was etched into my mind, even if the details had become less reliable lately.

“Getting to Baldur’s Gate.”

“Sweet!” Karlach’s face lit up. “I’ve got unfinished business there.”

“That’s where I’m headed as well,” Shadowheart said, her gaze going distant.

Kagha tasted the name as if it were slightly off. “Baldur’s Gate. The cramped metropolis. A source of pollution and careless industry.” She considered it, then smiled. “It is not a place I hold in high regard... yet I’d like to experience it, if nothing else.”

Lae’zel gave a single nod. “So be it.”

Silence followed as the elevator groaned upward.