The Heroes of Baldur's Gate... and Me

Part 12: Assault on the Goblin Camp

My eyes open slowly and I blink in the darkness, as I gaze up at pine branches and a dark sky.

I hear the others waking around me, their confused and bewildered voices reach my ears.

I sit up in my bedroll and see most of the others are already up, Karlach paces a few feet off, deep in thought, while Gale and Astarion voice their concerns loudly.

"I had the strangest dream last night. There was a visitor promising me protection, and all sorts of delicious powers from the parasite in our heads." Remarks Astarion, a touch of amused wonder in his voice. "Given our shared affliction I guess we all had the same dream too?"

"The night brings council, or so the saying goes. But this night had a bit more in store, wouldn't you agree?" Gale is saying rather chirperly, an intrigued expression on his face. He swings his staff round dramatically. "How's that for feeling better!"

"I see I am not the only one who has awoken with new insight." Mumbles Tav as she stretches up from her bedroll, a disgruntled look on her face.

"Did you too have such puzzling dreams?"Gale asks her as he stretches his hand out to her. She takes his hand gratefully and gets up elegantly.

"What I saw surpassed the vivid, the voice was too true, the touch too tantalising. I can see you felt the same too" he asks Tav earnestly, a sense of awe in his voice.

"Excellent." Astarion's murmurs thoughtfully looking around at us all. "Now we can see what these tadpoles can do for us."

"I don't trust it." Karlach stops her pacing to face Tav and the others. " We should wait before using these powers."

"You can not be seriously considering trusting a ghaik tadpole!" Lae'zel demands angrily, her posture tense.

This causes a heated discussion to break out, with those in favour of using the Tadpole (mainly Astarion) and those opposed to using it's power.

I sit in my bedroll, thinking quietly to myself. We need every advantage we can get surely? We should explore these powers and see where they take us? What if the powers that the visitor claims we have can actually help us?

My words to Karlach spoken earlier that day when speaking of my daughter, come back to me now; I would do anything to get back to her.

But at what cost?

Having found we had rested for longer than anticipated, we quickly rose and did our preparations for the assault ahead.
I sling my bow across my back and attach the silver githyanki sword to my belt. I knew I couldn't go rushing in with it after only one training session, but it would be good to have as a last resort.

I had considered returning the bow Astarion had gifted me but honestly - I loved my bow! I didn't want to give it up. Plus I wouldn't have another bow to use if I gave it back.

Once we are ready, we follow Astarion down the secret trail, past the stone markers until the land begins to rise on either side of us and we find ourselves walking through the shallow gorge.

We come out at the ledge, the broken bridge looming before us, appearing more intimidating in the darkness.
Astarion is just explaining where to jump when there is a rush of silver armour, and Lae'zel sprints past and jumps, clearing the gap with ease, landing easily on the other side.

"Or... You could just to that." Astarion says bemused at Lae'zel's display of athletics.

Gale then steps forward with a cocky grin, his spell book open in his hands. "No need - I can cast Jump on the rest of us. We will be able to clear the bridge with ease!"