Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

"...Aren't they beautiful sis...all those stars up there...they are like gems littering the sky."

"Are you sure? What if they're portals to other world but really far away?"

"Maybe? We'll have to find out one day. But if it's true, what sort of world would that one be?"

"Hmmmm...maybe it's a world where we're still siblings and I don't look like a freak."

"You're not a freak Na'Karia. You're unique. One day you're going to be someone amazing. I bet you'll have lots of friends later on who enjoy your company and want to drag you to places like I do."

"...I don't know, sometimes I wonder if it would be better to lose the horns and tail...sometimes I feel like people only see that instead of who I am...

"Well I think that you're a good person even with the horns and tail. You might have some odd habits and you may get under my skin with them, but you're still my sister and I will still love you. Sides, if you didn't have the horns or tail, you wouldn't be able to steal extra double chocolate cookies when mother Telash makes them."

"Hehe, that is true, and those cookies are reeeeeally good. Thanks Thrand...you always know what to say to make me feel better."

"Sure thing sis...so think those cookies are cool enough to steal some yet?..."

"One day...You couldn't stay out of trouble for one day, huh Thrand. And on our mothers birth day too no less." Na'Karias voice held a note of amusment as she looked at the Chultan man in the cell. "So what landed you here this time little brother?"

"Oh Na'Karia, my dear lovly and beautiful sister. Have I told you how radient you look lately? The way the torch light catches your fire like eyes is so enchanting." the chultan bard started before being hushed by the tiefings index finger being pressed to his lips.

"I asked you a question Thrand. How. Did. You. Get. Here?" her tone of voice was stern and held the implications that she wasn't going to have it for any of his word games. Taking her finger away to let the man speak, Na'Karia stood back and waited.

Thrand sighed, hanging his arms through the bars of his cell and for once looked as though the spark of jovial life escaped him."The husband of the woman I've been...entertaining...tossed me in here. It's not my fault that he cant satisfy her desires and cravings. She was down right miserable at night when he couldn't perform or leave her unsatisfied. Not even to cuddle."

Na'Karia watched the man for a time before she turned and walked away. She could hear Thrand calling out to her, begging her not to leave him in the cell. She could understand why this happened as Thrand had grown to follow Sharees's faith over the years. She never faulted him for it, unless it landed him in a jail cell and it was usually because he went after women who were disgruntled by their husband's. A quiet sigh escaped her as she placed a hand to her temple before making an exchange of coin for Thrands freedom. Once the deal had been made she walked with the jailer back to her brothers cell and watched it be open. The jailer, unhappy that the chultan man was now free, grumbled and returned to his post. While Thrand on the other hand moved to Na'Karia and wrapped his arms around the tiefling in a big hug and a kiss to her cheek.

"I knew you weren't going to leave me to wither away into nothingness. You're such a loving, kind, admirable, sexy..." the bard is cut off again by a finger that Na'Karia managed to free after wiggling an arm out of the embrace.

"Save the plattitude, you still have to tell Mother about what you did and write it on a scroll for a few hours. Much as I know how you 'Love' to do so, it might take all night."

Thrand let go of the tiefling fully as a groan of dismay escaped him. Dramatically looking hurt by her words, Thrand played the part of a victim rather well. "Betrayed, by my own radiant sister, oh how cruel the fates are this day. How shall I ever recover from this harsh betrayal?!"

"...By writting "I shant secude married woman" on at least seven scrolls." Na'Karia dryly commented to the drama queen that was her little brother.

The chultan man made a face and pouted before a sigh of defeat escaped him. "Oh alright, I suppose I shall concied defeat and do as my lovly sister demands of me...but I make no promises of the words if the ladies seek me out."

[Verse]
Through the cold and the storm, we've walked so far
Crossed rivers and mountains, under the moon and stars
We search for a flame, to light our way
A hearth to keep us warm, in the dark of the night

[Chorus]
We seek a haven, a place to call home
Where the wind doesn't howl, and the fire is known
Warmth in our bones, and peace in our soul
In this journey's end, we'll know what we're worth

[Verse]
Tired feet find the path, through the densest woods
Our hands touch the branches, like old friends meeting again,
The sun sets behind us, casting shadows far ahead
But we know we're not alone, in this endless song

[Chorus]
We'll find a shelter, a place to rest our head
Under a roof that's solid, when the world is dead
Safe from the tempest, and all we've endured
In this journey's end, we'll share what we've learned

[Verse]
I've found my home, my soul can now rest
This flame is known to me, and the forest my friend
The moon and her stars, deep in the night
The world slumbers softly, til mornings next light

The voice of her Adoptive mother sang in Mulhorandi as she played a tune on the harp. Young Na'Karia watched her mother for a time, listening to the words as she chanted her horned head to one side before asking.

"Mama...why do your words sound...sad?"

The Thayan woman looked from the harp to the tiefling, her azure blue eyes softened for a moment as she sweetly smiled. "They do sound sad huh. I suppose they are in a way, but it's not a sadness that hurts. It's a different sadness child. One day you'll understand...maybe you'll sing the song yourself when you do..."

The Shadow: Collected, calculating, Honest. Shows in situations that require a diplomatic approach. Feels the need to seek the truth rather than accept things at face value.

The Chariot: Mild Vanity, Courageous, Reckless, Outside the box thinking. Shows in tense situations and moments of distress. Feels as if it is the only one to get what needs to be done, reluctantly accepts help at times.

The Hermit: Timid, Wallflower, will never start a conversation first, Silent, Obaervant, listens. Shows most when large groups or unknown people are about, Takes time and conversations to ease its timid nature. Feels the need to fade into the background, but enjoys consistency.

The Matron: Healer, Reserve, Wise, Candid, relaxed around those known or in solitude. Shows more than others, as if it was more of a default part. Feels compelled to seek out interactions, enjoys hugs and lighter moods. Is likely to join in light hearted fun once Hermit has been eased.

The Amalgamation: Cautious, Watching, Formulating scenarios, Trusts others slowly. Shows in times of uncertainty, of unknown territory and causes. Feels the desire to distance from others, to hold them at arms length not for my safety but theirs. Distrust the words and intentions of others. (*Something to work with later and see if it is willing to change its perspective. It is a new part so there will be work ahead of me to make sure it doesn't get out of hand.)

"She is never alone now though...we are with her...always.

"We are her furies..."

"We are her truths..."

"We are her Guides...

"Our path is not that of others. We are different.

"My death, little heretic, will bring the most beautiful thing this useless and weak land has ever seen. But I do not think you will be here to see it. Before then, I will bring heretic tribes to kneel and make fuel of your kinds. But you, I will savor. You - I will allow to run, with all your traitorous pets. Then - I shall hunt you. Back into the Hells where you deserve to be."

"When he dies...we cannot kill him...there is something in those words he spoke...something ominous."

"She will need another way...Know the Hunger..."

"We need to get those blades from him too...they are dangerous...and no one is worthy of them when the Old Shaman is dead...We should have grabbed some mushrooms too before the Cubs trampled them..."

"She would have no use for it though...unless...odd idea but if she goes back to salvage what she can?"

"Maybe it could give her insight...or a really bad case of something...Should she take a druid with her for that? They would know plant life better than she does."

"Yet there have been no druids she fully trusts...A shame. But didn't the Gnolls mention reclaiming their Home Lost? She would be going back to the Snakewoods?"

"A hunger...sounds not TOO dissimilar from reports I read of what the Blackgrass does to the minds of Tieflings that have prolonged exposure to it. Not sure if it's related, but it's something worth considering. That stuff is spread over wide sections of the cave in the Reaching Woods

"What if the cubs did that?"

"Gnolls will eat anything after all...It could happen..."

"But they dream of meat...nothing but meat...Could the grass do that?"

"...She might have to risk it to know...to learn...Experiment...become that which her Father would have made her as a Baby...Is she willing to do it?"

"...If she wants to help them...all paths must be considered...Help is needed, so Help is offered."

There was something never quite understood. Something about the sea that calmed her. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore, the roll of the tide as it went over her feet. She found comfort in these things, she wanted to chalk it up to her past. How she grew up in port cities near water. How she was so use to the sound of the waves that it was like something was missing when she couldn't hear it. The small tears of longing for the comfort of the sound when she was beside a campfire at night. She didn't fully understand, but she knew that was okay. It was a little thing, but it was something she enjoyed to hear. Something that made the thoughts in her head quiet down and hush for a time. Something that washed away her overthinking habits and bring her back to a state of peace. She would have waded in the water, to simply let the waves carry her under into the depths, to quell the flames of her rage, her aggression, her silent turmoil that she battled alone each day. But she knew better, she knew she needed to keep going. To keep moving forward.

"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."

The words that Thrand had told her before he left to join his Performing troupe echoed in her mind as she looked out at the sea. He was right, of course, even though he was a few years younger than her. Thrand always had that sense of wisdom about him. Always thinking of things in a way she couldn't quite understand but tried to. How she missed her little brother, her thoughts drifted on the waves, wondering where he was now and how he was doing. Wondering if he had gotten himself into trouble yet again because of his lecherous ways. A quiet chuckle escaped her as her golden red gaze looked to the setting sun, she hoped that everything was going well for him. She hoped that he was happy and still fanning the flames of his passion.

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'"

The words echoed in her head in the mist of the Illusions coming back to her. The hellscape that was seared into her memories, the flames that burned and withered her soul. The screams of agony that pierced her ears...all of it playing out before her once more. Reminding her of what had happened. Where she had been...the sights she had seen. Yet those words pierced it all so suddenly. Words that slowly dissolved the illusions around her and started to play something else for her. A different memory of a different time. Na'Karia was back in Marsember, looking over the water ways of the city as she walked. She was Nineteen at the time, walking along side her adoptive mother Telash, yet staying in front of her to act as a guard since she was a skilled combatant. The young tiefling gazed at the water for a long time, feeling the weight of knowing where her heritage came from. What it was really tied to.

"Telash, how can you be so sure that I won't become something horrid? I'm...I'm a hellspawn, a Devil child just like everyone says. What if I become the very thing people claim me to be?" Na'Karia asked. "What if I lose myself, who I am, to this infernal blood? What if-"

"You are overthinking it to much Na'Karia. Your mind is trapping itself back into the state of 'What if's again. Your blood line, your heiritage does not define you as a person. You are far stronger than you give yourself credit. You worry about becoming this force of unholy wrath that no one can contain or control. You're focusing on the Negative side. You, my little Phoenix, are far more than some Devils spawn. You have a fire in you, one that will be tested and tempered over the course of your life." The Righteous flame softly chuckled as she looked at her daughter. "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' There is no doubt in my mind that you will be put to the test in various way. Your flames burn the same color as our Lords, and one day you'll see just how far you've gotten when you look back. I know you won't become some monster like your heritage. You're kind, empathetic, you are like the warm of a hearth during a cold winters night. But I know you can be as Fierce as any Wild Fire in the Middle of the Summer once something or someone has set you off." the woman chuckled for a moment before she placed a hand on the tieflings shoulder.

"You put to much trust in me mother...I don't know if I can meet your expectations. I'm...I honestly don't feel as though I deserve to have these abilities. I don't understand why me. What exactly have I done to be like this? Why was I made this way?" Na'Karia looked at her hands a moment, studying the lines of her palms before she felt a chop hit her head. Holding the area, her golden red gaze looked up to meet Telashes narrowed gaze.

"You are favored by the lord. For reasons only he knows. Perhaps he wishes to interacts with his followers through you? Perhaps he wishes to expand his faith to others through you, perhaps your Prescence is needed in the future for something large. Or maybe he did it because he simply can. The only being who would know that answer is him. So don'twrite yourself off as being something lower than you really are. There is such a thing as being to humble for your own good. Its not a crime to take some pride in knowing that you are more than what is seen on the surface. Own it and have some vanity about you, it won't kill you to be a bit more vain daughter of mine." the woman laughed a bit before patting the tiefling on the shoulder. "Now come, let us continue on our way. We've much to do today and I need my bodyguard in the right headspace if she's to prove just how strong her can become."

Na'Karia nods, feeling a better from the words she marches ahead of her mother, alert of their surroundings and keeping a vigilant eye out for would be trouble.



In the present, the words held true still to her. Slowly breathing in, letting the breath calm her down more, Na'Karia softly let it out before she came back to her sense in reality. She had been motionless outside the inn, her gaze fixed on the campfire before her, unaware of any who would have spoken to her. Doing her utmost best to remain stationary despite the illusions that had played out. As if in a trance of her own design. She knew she couldn't keep running from the illusions every time they decided to show up at random. She knew she wouldn't be able to turn away if it happened in the middle of a battle. She needed to face it when they came. When they played out before her. What she saw wasn't real. What was real were the things she knew. The words of those who cared for her, the weight of her foot falls as she kept going forward. Those were real. There was no going back, going back meant she was turning away from the path ahead. Going back meant getting stuck in a space she wouldn't be able to easily leave. There was no going back, there were no redos. There was only now and going forward.

"Come sister! The artist will want to get your portrait!" Thrand was laughing as he pulled the Golden red eyed tiefling along to a Local Garden.

It had been a humid summer day in the port city, Na'Karia was about to head out to provide her Bodyguard service to locals in need, but her little brother had been steps ahead of her that day. The moment she stepped outside was the moment he came running by and took hold of her wrist with his signature jovial smile. Na'Karia couldn't help but get caught up in his storm and simply went along.

"Artist? Portrait? Thrand what are you talking about?" Na'Karia asked as she was pulled through the city, over bridges and on ferry rides.

"Yes there is an artist who is looking for a muse for a new painting they've been working on. They need something fresh, different, something radiant! And well...you're the most radiant woman I know." Thrand slowed his pace a bit as he scratched his cheek."...You're...a lot of things Na'Karia..."

The tiefling canted her head to one side before her gaze fell to how Thrand was holding her hand. She didn't need to hesr him say anymore, she could already guess what he meant and what he felt. She already knew, and he already knew it wouldn't work out. Her lips fell into a frown for a bit as she looked at her little adopted brother. Both of them had been friends since they were children, Telash had raised them both yet never did she quell their curiosity or push them to remain on one path. They both learned to experience and view the world differently and with different perspectives on the flames of passions. Yet, Na'Karia looked at the back of Thrands head for a time, his grip on her hand tightened a bit.

"Thrand...I..." Na'Karia started but was quickly cut off by her little brother as he let go of her hand and displayed the home of the artist.

"Here we are! The artist will be inside waiting for you. I'll stay out herw until your done." He gave her big smile and held two thumbs up to her.

Na'Karia nodded, she was clearly nervous about this. However she headed up to the house and knocked. Not even a moment passed before the door opened and she was pulled inside. Inside was an Sun Elven man. Sizing her up already and scrutinizing her based on appearance alone. This of course made her annoyed by the elf. She was just about to leave, saying she made a mistake before the elf placed a hand on her shoulders and lead her right to his studio. Saying that while she was not what he was expecting, he would make use of her in the mean time to get his creative mind thinking. That for today, ahe would be his muse and not leave til the sunset.

The internal screams this woman was having about remaining in her armor til the sunset were immense. It also meant she she would miss the evening prayers to her faith, she would mentally remind herself to double the prayers for the next day to make up for the loss. There she was though, listening to the artist speaks and direct her in her posture. How to tilt her her head and what way to face to stand in until he was finished. She was not to move a single muscle. Not even to itch her nose, though it greatly bugged her after some hours of it persisting. Still remained motionless, until the light of the day slowly sank into the cool breeze of the evening. Dedicated to his work, the elf stepped away from the art piece and beckoned Na'Karia over. Asking her what she thought of it.



The tiefling blinked for a moment as she gazed at the painting. Surprised by how well he had focused on details. Of the flowers hanging off the tree and whst they were called. The elf saif thst it was a wisteria tree amd that she complimented it quite well. Despite the saying that Wisteria was suppose to ward off Demons and Devils in aome countries. Na'Karia smirked a moment before she headed out. The elf told her that the painting wpuld go up for auction in the future, if she was lucky she might see it again later down the road. To that, Na'Karia chuckled, saying that would be an interesting story to tell one day.

Outside the home, Thrand had waited for her like he said then held out some warm bread to her. It had gotten late and she just realized that she hadn't eatten anything yet. Thrand however could tell.

"I can't believe you stayed out here. That was hours of waiting. The hell did you do in the mean time?" Na'Karia asked after she swallowed the chunck of warm baked sweet bread.

"I was...working on a song actually..." the chult man scratched his cheek a moment, looking a bit more embarrassed than normal.

"Oh? Was it about another girl you're persuing?" Na'Karia teased with a grin.

Thrand looked at her a moment, terracotta brown eyes met Golden Red. There was something different about them when she looked into his eyes. Was it a type of pain? A longing? A sadness? Stepping closer to him, her own gaze softened. A thin wall of air sepersted the two as she kept her gaze on Thrand. One of her hands reached up, brushing the back of her knuckles just under the corner of his left eye. "S-Sister, what are you...doing?"

"Hold still a moment." her voice was soft and gentle, barely above a whisper as she looked at her little brother. That's what she put two and two together. "You got into another fight wbile waiting didnt you...the bruise is still fresh and blends in with your skin tone a bit. But it's still swollen...black eye?"

Thrand tore his gaze from her and let out a sharp sigh. "Of course it was...I went to a cleric already after the fight...it's scary how you notice. But...Na'Karia...I...mm, no never mind. We should get back home yeah?"

She noticed the change in his behavior, the way his body shifted. Her hunch was right as she stepped back to let him lead. She knew how he really felt for her, and he knew how she would react. He was her little brother. He was human. She was an infernal hellspwan.

"...I wish...to die...already...

Memory of Benzantur.

It was a dark moonless night, the rain was pouring down making it hard to see in the port city. The water sloshed onto the flat ground, her foot steps falling heavy onto the geound as she ran with all her might. Head down as the rain slicked her fire red hair. Her destination was to the docks. This was the night Telash told her about her heritage, she had ɓeen fifteen at the time, an age where ahewas stull figuring out things about herself and how she felt about others. About how she was descendant from the Arch-Devil Fierna. Na'Karia ran as far and as fast as she could, as if she could run from the truth of her blood and her heritage.

However, with the rain she tripped over her feet and fell hard onto the ground. Her tears masked by the rain poured down, how she hated what she was tied to. How she hated everything about herself at that very moment. How she begged her lord in quiet prayers to take her life. To end her flame, to rid her of this infernal taint that corrupted her blood. As she got to her knees to say the wish out loud, a hand came over her mouth and another wrapped tightly around her before a voice softly sang in her ear, tuning out the torrent of rain.

She listened to the voice, staying still in the rain her gaze move to the corner of her eye to see Thrand holding onto her. His soft voice singing in her ears, how it calmed her as she listened to the words. His eyes were shut, the sound of the song wasn't his usual upbeat tone though. This was...somber...how he could see her in all her light and dark moments. A confession of his feelings and hopes for her. She had been crying already but hearing this, even if it was at poor timing, made those tears pour harder. Her hands shook as they reached up and softly rested on Thrands. The hand over her mouth lowered as he tightly hugged her from behind. Time had passed, the two moved from the street to linger under some shelter til the rain died down a bit.

"...Words like that...they were so...Raw and honest..." Na'Karia softly spoke, there was a faint blush to her cheeks that her drenched hair covered.

"They're all true though...you mean...so much to me. I...can't see a world where you're not in it somewhere. You're like a ray of light to me, one I don't want to see go out...as corny as that sounds. I'm better at expressing myself through songs than...words...And, I already know you don't...see me that way. I'm your little brother after all." Thrand rubbed the back of his neck a moment.

The two kept an awkward quiet for a few moments, though Na'Karia couldn't help but hum The song. Thrand smirked a moment before the two got up and headed back home. The calmness was there but something else lingered as well. Something in that one moment that felt dark. The memory ceased right there bur Na'Karia was still there in a way. Observing things from a third perspective. She waited a moment to see what would come yet nothing ever did. A quiet sigh escaped her before she reached up and pinched her cheek.

"How will she best a gnoll three times her size, with a pair of blades that her lord bleesed?"

"If she knows the blades, their history, their names...she might be able to reclaim them. The shaman had his soul bound to the blades after all. He was like a fuzzy elder to her in an odd way. Saw something in her even if he was old and blind. Her flames are more than a spark..."

"..It does pose a questuon now for her. If the shaman is dead, sacrificed his soul so she could leave the hells...who are the blades bound to now? Did he find a loophole? Is he still 'alive' but lost? Souls destroyed in the hell...they're forgotten. She witnessed it herself while there. The magi recognized his name too...so...where is the Shaman?"

"She knows the dead. The shaman is dead. She is trying to fill the prolonged silence with thoughts and theories without being able to prove or test them. Isolating herself thinking she can solve the riddles on her own again. Determined and stubborn to carry all this on her own..."

"We tire of the stagnant tides that have come recently. The lack of communication and information...the wait..it is enough to drive one to insanity. The Mother of Demons needn'tworry about us, we will fall into madness from our own vice."

"She needs to stay positive. If she is right on a theory that the Blades are bound to her upon the Shamans death...then she is within her right to claim the blades. They won't harm her if they are bound to her...The shaman would have needed to unbind the blades from himself too...the bound them to her the day he died...a theory...but one that makes sense. She seeks them not to use the blades, but to safeguard them and treat them like relics."

"Don't breathe it in...hold your breath. The smoke is the spores...remember the warning..."

"Holy water...she could try that..."

"Heat the Flames so it is aligned to her Lord."

"...it could kill the spores...drink the water to cleanse the inside too..."

"We have plans in place. If it affects her, she will find a way to best it."

Contingency Plan in case Spores infected despite wards and precautions taken. Assume incubation time for infection has already started since the Visit to the Gnoll Den in Reaching Woods:

• Monitor behavior. Write down detailed changes to cognitive and emotional behaviors and reaponses. Evaluate each passing thought that seems out of place or uncharacteristic.

• Keep detailed side journal of condition. Do they become better or worse as time progresses? What aliviates or worses conditions while looking for cure?

• Write down signs of Infection. Have Hallucinations appeared? Are there darker voices speaking over the regular ones? Do impulses behaviors come out more?

• Lastly, IF there is any doubt of a cure not being found in a reasonable amount of time before I become incapable of maintain my sense of self, assume worse and pass the notes to someone trusted. If I cannot find a cure on the assumption that I have been infected by the spores, lets hope the next person can.

"....This isnt right...something is wrong...how...how did she..."

"...Afflicted...the spores got to her...when...so weak now..."

"...Her head...it is like it is swimming inna thick liquid...so much noise she can't think...not clearly..."

"...cure...there must be a cure...to alliviate this..."

"The shrine...The broken god...an option for us. But we want... to figure it out on... our own..."