Chapter Text
“Careful,” Karlach grabbed her arm, stopping her from going any further.
Rhian nearly whirled on her- now was not the time to stop, she knew they were close, this had to be the Temple of Bhaal. Shadowheart had to be here.
Then she saw why Karlach had stopped her. The bridge across was littered with traps and pressure plates. At her back, she heard a discussion among her friends, with Gale asking if Astarion would be able to disarm them.
Rhian stepped away from Karlach, slamming a thunderwave spell out ahead of her. It set off all the traps in the vicinity, and a resounding boom echoed around the cavern.
Everyone around her fell silent, and she pushed forward, across the bridge, now littered with bits and pieces of the defunct traps.
Coming up to the door, she looked for a handle, a lever, a button- anything. With a growl, she slammed her fist into the door, knuckles barking in pain. “Get me through this door,” she snarled.
“Rhian,” Concern laced Karlach’s words, “Are you sure you should be here?”
Rhian turned on her. “That monster took her from me and there is nothing that’s going to stop me from getting her back,” Rhian bit out, staring up at the taller tiefling, hands balling into fists at her sides, “We’re here, this has to be it. Now either help me or-“
Jaheira tossed her something, “Here.”
Surprise stopped Rhian’s next words as she caught the amulet, fumbling it before catching it by the chain. Casting one last look at Karlach, Rhian returned to the door, pressing the amulet against it. Something inside it made a sound, and the door slid open.
Rhian stepped inside, caution winning out for the first time today in the dark corridor. She pressed on, entering out onto a stone walkway in an enormous underground cavern. Normally, Rhian would’ve looked around, taking note of the situation, who was there, any obstacles or enemies.
Now, she honed in on the enormous skull on the far side of the cavern and she stopped. They’d found it, no doubt about it now.
Orin’s hideout.
The Temple of Bhaal.
She made her way forward to the edge of the walkway for a better view of the entire room, and froze. Her breath caught in her chest, rage igniting like a fire. Shadowheart.
Her face contorted into a snarl, body shaking with barely contained rage. Orin was standing over her on an altar in the middle of a platform below.
Rhian turned from the sight, and took off.
She felt a brush of air against her arm- one of her companions had made a move to grab her, and missed.
Next she was flying down the stairs, further into the temple, past Bhaalists who, surprisingly, ignored her. Her feet pounded against the stones, and she pushed herself faster- faster- faster.
She rounded a corner, careening down a flight of stairs. And there was Orin- dead ahead of her, leaning over Shadowheart, toying with a blade in her hand, dangerously close to her face.
Rhian hit the platform, and Orin looked up, surprise flashing across her face.
And then Rhian was on her.