Igniting Embers

The paladin slumped against the cracked stone wall, armor dented and face bruised. His sword already claimed by Lae’zel with a huff. “Sharp edge, good craftmanship—wasted on someone who could not land a single hit.”

I approached slowly and crouched before him, offering a crooked smile. "You look like you’ve had a long day."

He didn’t reply, just stared through me with one bloodshot eye.

"Lae'zel"

I turned to her with a small nod. "Can you loosen his tongue, one way or another?"

Lae’zel gave a thin smile, tilting her head. "I’ve interrogated prisoners with less reason to squeal. If you want his words, I’ll have them—intact or not."

The paladin’s eye flicked toward her, suddenly more alert.

"Why does Zariel want Karlach dead?" I asked again, letting Lae’zel’s looming silence speak the threat I didn’t need to voice.

He gave a pitiful laugh, a dry and bitter sound. “Fine. She ran. Deserted. Zariel doesn't care how useful you were—run from her, and you're done.”

Karlach stepped forward, fists clenched. Her infernal engine gave a low growl in her chest.

He looked at her, smirking. “She wants you dead, or dragged back to hell, doesn’t matter. As long as you’re not free.”

Karlach’s jaw clenched. “She bought me like a weapon,” she growled. “Ripped out my heart and gave me this fucking thing.” She struck her chest, where the engine pulsed. _“I spent ten fucking years tearing through the Blood War for Zariel—killing demons, following orders. Suffering. Alone. And now she wants me dead, or worse.” _Her scream tore from her throat, raw and furious.

The paladin chuckled. “Scream all you want. You scurried away like rat. You don't have freedom. You’re just waiting for your next master to enslave you.”

He wasn't entirely wrong.

Her body trembled, a dam about to burst. She just needed a push.

“You’ve carried this long enough. Feel it. Embrace it. Kill him.” I guided.

That did it.

She exploded forward, her eyes a flaming storm, axe in hand, and buried it in his chest with a roar that shook dust from the ceiling. The paladin’s body crumpled, but Karlach didn’t stop. She tore through the house like a wildfire—walls cracked, beams snapped, the very floor trembled under her fury. Unleashing 10 years of anger and trauma in a matter of seconds. Unhinged.

[Experience Gained]

[Karlach: Corruption +3]

Lae’zel and Shadowheart had wisely stepped outside.

“She will be a great addition,” Lae’zel said with a firm nod, clearly impressed.

Shadowheart tilted her head. “Sure. If we need to tear down houses."

“She’s got good form", I muttered, still catching my breath from sprinting out of the house just as it began to crumble behind me.

"Still, if danger ever came… she could carry me to safety.” Shadowheart caught herself, then quickly added, “I mean—practically speaking.”

As Shadowheart daydreamed and Lae'zel enjoyed the "fireworks," I slipped away from the wreckage and made my way to the cliff’s edge. A calm breeze rolled over me, cooling the light sunburn I’d picked up standing too close to the cutest furnace this side of Avernus. If I were to save Karlach from Zariel’s grasp and break her chains—or at least change the hand that held them, I would need information. And I knew just who to ask.

I closed my eyes and called my patron.

“Graz’zt.”