Chapter Text
Shadowheart is on her weekly supply trip in the city, checking her mail when she finds a half burnt envelope with a letter inside, along with her other mail. She doesn't even notice its appearance or smell of sulfur until half a day later when she returns home.
After her adventures, she had settled in an abandoned home nestled between Rivington and Moonrise. It struck the perfect balance, close enough to the city for supplies and visits with Gale, Astarion and Tav, yet far enough for a semblance of solitude. Over the past five years, she'd toiled to construct a temple to Selune in the very land Shar had sought to destroy. With the help of Isobel and Aylin, they cleansed the valley, pushing back Shar's influence.
The trek from the city to her humble abode was a few hours, but finally, she returned to her sanctuary. Stepping inside, she set about putting away her supplies. The space consisted of a bedroom, a bathroom, and an open area with a kitchen. The decor adhered to a theme of silver and purple, a nod to her enduring love for the combination, Shar's influence notwithstanding.
Behind her bedroom door, she heard rustling, accompanied by impatient scratches. Scratch, her loyal companion, was eager to be set free.
"I'm coming, Scratch," she called out.
The anticipation in Scratch's movements grew as she mentioned his name. She opened the door, and the dog dashed towards the back door, where Peck, the owlbear, awaited. Peck had grown too large to be indoors, but Scratch still relished his time inside during her visits to the city. She swung the door open, and the two animals reunited in joyful play, their reunion seemingly years in the making, though it had only been a few hours. With her pets cared for, Shadowheart began her chores, moving into her room to read her mail.
Her bed, a modest twin cot, was adorned with a multitude of pillows. Despite her morning efforts, it appeared that Scratch had made himself comfortable in her absence, leaving the black blanket scattered with white fur. Beside the bed stood a side table, featuring a portrait that she regarded for far too long. It’s a picture of her and Lae’zel at their old camp. They were sitting together in a fallen tree, looking happily at each other. Astarion had given it to her on the one year anniversary of their heroic deeds. It was also the anniversary of Lae’zel leaving to join the fight against Vlaakith, which is what prompted the generosity from the vampire. Since then, she has taken to creating a collection of momentos to feel closer to her githyanki lover. Even without knowing how the fight is going, Shadowheart knows Lae’zel is too stubborn to die fighting before coming to see her.
Eventually she is able to tear her eyes away from the portrait of Lae’zel, and she begins looking through her mail. The first envelope she finds is covered in small burns and reeks of the hells. Before opening it, she knows it could only have come from one person.
Dear Shadowheart,
Wyll and I have found our place in Avernus. Sorta. Demon shits are still assholes, but we have a place to stay. Hope has let us join her in Rapheal’s old mansion, and we have been keeping quiet there. Can you believe it we are living in a castle! It is huge and we still There still are damn imps leaking through but we will fix that eventually. But for now I- we need your help. Please please please come to avernus! Our fighting trope is strong but we can use your help! We um found Mizora, and I really REALLY want to take her out for Wyll. Without Withers or a healer around, that is more of a death mission than anything. And this would REALLY mean a lot to Wyll, and by extension me. Please please please!!! In this letter I put a scroll of teleportation set to the House of Hope. If you can’t I understand, but it would be awesome if you could. See ya!
-Karlach
After reading, Shadowheart immediately stands to ready herself. Of course she will aid Karlach and Wyll in their endeavors. The thought of helping her companions once again fills her with a joy she didn’t know she no longer possessed. She hurriedly prepared, gathering her old armor and weapons, now more decorative than everyday wear. The two animals outside heard her rushing and came to investigate. With their approach, Shadowheart cast Speak with Animals on herself.
“Running! We are running! Exciting!” Scratch yells through the door. When Shadowheart finally opens it, she sees that he is jumping up and down in his excitement.
“I got a letter from Karlach and Wyll. Do you want to see them?” She asks her pets.
“Karlach?” Peck asks.
“Big fire lady!” Scratch all but screams.
It took a moment, but the description was enough to jog Peck's memory. Shadowheart realized that, being technically a baby, he might not remember the role he played in saving the world.
“Yes, your friend Karlach. She invites us over to deal with some unfinished business. Would you like to come Peck? It will be very different from here, but you will get to stay inside.”
The mention of being inside was all it took for Peck to get excited. Soon both Scratch and Peck were jumping in anticipation.
She nods, glad that her two faithful companions were willing to come with her, and heads back inside to prepare. She grabs her things, and even leaves a note for Isobel that she leaves on the front door explaining her disappearance.
They stand outside the house, leashes in hand, as Shadowheart recites the incantation from the scroll. A large portal emerged in front of them, its fiery glow revealing the blazing hellscape of Avernus. With a deep breath, she steps through, pulling her pets along with her.
She knew Hell was hot, but forgot how much of a shock it was to go from one plane of existence to the next. Immediately she began sweating under her armor. Scratch and Peck also seem to have noticed the change, as they picked up their feet quickly to try to not burn themselves. Seeing her animals in distress, she forgoes any curtesy of knocking, and barges into the mansion.
The sight that greeted her was far from what she remembered. Gone were the images of demons and suffering that used to line the walls. Karlach and Wyll were still in the midst of taking down Raphael's ostentatious art. She had barely taken a few steps when a halfling came charging towards her with a quarterstaff.
“GETTTTTT OUTTTT!” The halfling yells, fury etched across her face. Before she can get close enough to swing however, she looks up at Shadowheart’s confused face and recognizes her. She stops mid bound, and stares at her before saying “Mistress Shadowheart! Karlach warned me you were coming! Welcome to the house of Hope!”
Before Shadowheart could respond, more commotion could be heard from behind the halfling. Karlach rounded the corner with her battle axe at the ready, prepared to face intruders. Shadowheart could see Karlach's mouth opening for another war cry before she recognized her visitor. Instead of a furious roar, a delighted cheer erupted from Karlach.
“SHADOWHEART!! YOU CAME!!” The tieflings screams and runs to the cleric.
Karlach scooped her up into a hug, spinning them around. The old friends laughed together, the joy of their reunion palpable.
When Karlach finally puts Shadowheart down, she gets the chance to fully see her for the first time. Five years of constant battle with demons has taken its toll on Karlach. When once she had one horn, she now has none. The lost horn seems to have been chopped off in a vertical line, based on the break and the straight line scar running from Karlach’s forehead to chin on her left side of her face. Despite the new additions of scar tissue on her face and body, Shadowheart can’t help but notice the smile lines on Karlach’s face. Even in the literal hells it seems this formidable woman was able to laugh and smile enough to permanently mark her face.
The two begin to catch up when Wyll comes running into the room. When he sees Shadowheart his eyes bulge to the size of dinner plates, and his face lights up in a smile. Instead of greeting her, however, he runs back the direction he came from.
“What's up with Wyll?” Shadowheart inquired, worried she might have inadvertently offended her old friend.
Karlach immediately blushed, her already-red face somehow deepening in hue. “Well, you see, I may have—” she began to explain.
Shadowheart isn’t listening however, because she can hear her before she sees her.
“Chk, I did not hear Hope call for help. She could stave off large numbers of imps. Why does she need us now?” Lae’zel says, still facing Wyll. She rounds the corner that both Karlach and Wyll had walked through, looking behind her.
Shadowheart laid eyes on her for the first time in five years, and it felt like a first meeting all over again. Lae’zel looked entirely different. Her hair had grown, now neatly braided and cascading past her lower back. The beads that once adorned her hair now featured rubies. Scars crisscrossed her face and arm, disappearing beneath her armor, hinting at untold battles. The most significant change, however, was the absence of her right ear.
Seeing her took the breath from Shadowheart's lungs. She'd anticipated this reunion for years, but to find Lae’zel in Avernus of all places was beyond any expectation. In an instant, she dropped everything in her hands and rushed towards the githyanki warrior, pulling her into a fervent embrace.
In a voice laden with surprise and tenderness, she could only manage to whisper, “Lae’zel.”