Chapter Text
Rhian loosed another arrow, immediately followed by a handful more from Lae’zel, Karlach, and Astarion. The brain shuddered and everything went still.
This was it. “Now!” she yelled down to Orpheus, “This is our chance!”
The Prince and Minthara were closest, on the platform directly in front of the brain, where they’d been able to deal a decent amount of damage.
Rhian cast a look around to all her companions, locking eyes with Shadowheart on the platform directly to her right and sharing a look of hesitant relief. They were so close, Orpheus just needed to use the stones.
Rhian turned back to the now-illithid prince, just in time to watch as Minthara drew her dagger, stabbing Orpheus in the back.
Rhian’s breath caught in her chest, shock and horror rooting her to the ground. No.
“Minthara!” Rhian cried.
Minthara withdrew her dagger, turning to look at her. Her stern expression faltered, ever so slightly, when she met Rhian’s eyes. Then she raised a hand, calling the stones to her. “We could rule together, my friend. Join me, and I’ll see you come to no harm.”
Rhian could only stare at her, her mind grasping for the words, for the proper reaction. Nothing was coming to her. But it didn’t matter- any response she could have given was cut off as Lae’zel rushed Minthara, silver sword held high, a githyanki curse flying from her lips. Minthara turned to stave off her attack.
It was like her brain couldn’t conceive what she was seeing. Everything was hazy, her ears rang. She saw the clash of swords, but she may as well have been standing in a vacuum. How had everything gone so wrong? They had nearly won. Why this? Why now? Minthara-
Something struck her, hard, in the side, and suddenly Rhian was thrown back into the present. “Rhian!” Shadowheart was next to her now, and when she saw she’d finally got her attention, her voice was surprisingly steady, “What’s the plan?”
Shaking off her stupor, Rhian surveyed the situation. Right. Orpheus. Get the stones. Stop the brain.
Lae’zel was holding her own against Minthara, Astarion was taking shots when and where he could from a safe distance, careful not to hit Lae’zel. Karlach was making her way closer, headed toward her and Shadowheart.
Orpheus was laying on the platform behind Minthara, and Rhian was worried he’d fallen until she saw one of his arms twitch, ever so slightly.
“Go help Orpheus,” she said to Shadowheart, “Karlach and I, we’ll… help Lae.”
Shadowheart clasped a hand on her arm, and with her other, pressed a dagger into Rhian’s palm. “Get in close, she leaves her left side open,” and then raced across the platform without another word, her mission set.
Rhian slid the dagger into her belt, no time to think about those implications, and then gestured to Karlach. The tiefling altered course, headed forward toward the brain. Moving to the back edge of her own platform, Rhian took a running leap off the ledge, landing on the far end of the platform.
Lae’zel was bleeding from a few injuries, but was still going toe-to-toe with the paladin. They’d definitely done a number on each other, but it seemed Minthara was as tapped out on magic as everyone else.
Karlach landed on the far side, opposite Rhian, and hefted her axe. Rhian nodded, and together they charged.
Minthara was prepared, however, and suddenly her weapon glowed with bright white light. Uh oh, Rhian skidded to a halt, seeing as Karlach pulled back as well.
Lae’zel caught the full force of the divine blow on her own sword, but was still hit from the shockwave of the blast. Minthara kicked her away, landing a blow to the githyanki’s chest that sent her sprawling, her sword skittering toward the edge.
In the opening, Karlach had regrouped and now swung her great axe at Minthara, who eagerly met her strike. Rhian was more cautious, careful to stay out of reach of either the paladin’s sword, or Karlach’s axe. Karlach’s fury made finding an opening harder- she was going at Minthara with everything she had, so at odds from how she’d seemed to hesitant to engage earlier. Behind her, a section of platforms shuddered and exploded. They needed to end this- and quickly, else all would be lost.
Minthara shoved Karlach back, and Rhian moved in from the other side, but the paladin was too quick, whirling toward her and slamming the pommel of her sword into the side of her head. Dazed, Rhian fell back, weakly holding up her sword arm to block a blow that never came. Somewhere behind her, she heard Shadowheart curse as another section of platforms exploded, and then a soothing healing light enveloped her. They were running out of time.
When she got to her feet, Rhian found Minthara standing over Karlach, her back to her, having finally taken down the tiefling. Terror seized in her throat, and Rhian scrambled forward, fingers finding the dagger at her belt. She darted in, palming the knife, and curved around Minthara, driving the blade up under her ribs through a weak point in her armor.
Surprise colored Minthara’s features, her sword clattering to the ground, as she stared at Rhian’s hand on the knife.
Rhian’s breathing was ragged, the realization of what she’d done sinking in, and a sob tore from her chest, “I’m sorry.”
Minthara weakly grasped at her hand, futilely trying to pry her fingers away. Rhian held her close as her knees buckled, and gently lowered them both to the platform.
Blood coated her hands, the front of her armor, she could feel it sticking between her fingers. She knew, no matter how much she tried, she would never get rid of the feeling of it. Not now. Not after this.
Hot tears pricked her eyes, and despite everything she held the drow close even as her breathing became shallower. Minthara tried to speak, and at first nothing came out. Rhian leaned in closer, and this time she managed a whisper, “We could… have… ruled… everything…”
Minthara’s grasp on her went limp, her hand falling down by her side. Rhian bowed her head, tears streaking through the blood and grime on her face.
Orpheus was back on his feet, in front of the brain. He raised his hands, calling forth the stones from where they’d fallen to hover in front of him. Rhian remained where she was, but even from here she could tell it was taking all of his remaining strength to overpower the brain. At the fringes of her thoughts, she could hear it, and then, suddenly-
—END.
She blinked and they were back out atop the brain, the portal hovering in front of them, and then disappearing. Her companions were standing around her, and she still clutched on to Minthara.
There was a burning inside her skull, white hot like a dying star, and then-
The tadpole was gone.
They’d won.
And then- gravity.
The brain, now dead, was falling out of the sky. Rhian held tighter to her fallen friend- foe? Refusing even in death to let her go. Shadowheart and the rest of her companions held tight to whatever they could get ahold of, someone grabbed her and kept her steady. She felt someone cast a spell, but her eyes squeezed tight against it all, bracing for impact. For them to die, even after their hard-fought win.
When the impact finally came, it was enough to send them all flying off the top of the brain, and straight into the Chionthar.