Chapter Text
We returned to the sitting room, now empty of drow and intellect devourers inside drow. The Emperor was aware of my conversation with Grandma, but he was still disguised to minimise her shock, sitting on the sofa in embroidered robes. Zarqoor was in his room, believing he had no business in this conversation. He likely still struggled to see me as someone who had kept their personality instead of a tadpole that took over the host.
“Is this your partner?” Grandma asked observing the Emperor from the doorway.
I floated to the sofa, but didn't sit, preferring to lay a hand on the Emperor's shoulder.
“Yes, Grandma,” I said. “This is the Emperor, it's probably better if you don't know what he does. Emperor, this is my grandmother, Laerethil. She's a high cleric of Corellon Larethian.”
“What do you mean by that, Arllathraven?” Grandma asked, glaring daggers at me. “Are you protecting a criminal?”
The Emperor was amused but said nothing.
“Hardly, Grandma,” I said. “We are invested in improving the lives of everyone, beginning with Baldur's Gate. But it's a sensitive process and we also have many enemies. I don't want you to get involved.”
Grandma’s eyes softened as she sat on the plush chair next to us. “Do you need help, dear?” she asked. “You know you can count on me. If only you had sent a message when you were infected, I could have healed you.”
“Unlikely,” the Emperor said. “The Absolute had been imbued with Netherese magic, preventing most interventions.”
“Corellon would still have offered me his guidance,” Grandma said. “Although… if he didn't tell me anything…” She watched us. “I believe it was necessary for you to go through with it.”
“Corellon abandoned me when I took this form, Grandma,” I said. “I don't think he approves.”
“Was it him or you who did the abandoning, dear?” Grandma asked. “Have you even tried reaching for him?”
“Yes,” I said. “When I needed his support during the fight against the Absolute, he didn't answer.”
“That just might be your test of faith,” Grandma insisted.
“It's alright,” I said. “If anything, it's shown me that I don't need any deities backing me up.”
Grandma was sad, but nodded. “Anyway, Emperor, why that name?” she asked. “And you can show me your true form. It's hardly polite to hide from family.”
“I am glad you already consider me part of your family,” the Emperor said, rising to his feet.
He lifted the disguise, revealing his handsome and imposing figure in full armour. I knew my grandmother well enough to notice the waver in her expression. She was not only impressed, but intimidated by him—an impressive feat where Grandma was concerned. She wasn't easily shaken.
Trying to hide her discomfort, Grandma smiled. “Impressive,” she said. “That is a garment worthy of an Emperor, isn't it?”
The name is not one I chose, the Emperor said as he sat, abandoning the diguise for his voice as well. It was given to me years ago by the many influential people in Baldur's Gate.
“And what is your real name, then?” Grandma insisted.
He might not have chosen the name, I said, entwining a tentacle with his, but it still suits him well, don't you think so?
Grandma pursed her lips. “Fine,” she said. “I won't press. I understand it can be difficult to trust an old woman suddenly appearing and demanding answers. I suppose I'll be the one having to get used to people talking inside my head.” She sighed.
How long are you staying? I asked.
“I'm not sure,” Grandma said. “There are many things I wish to do in the city. Maybe a month or two.”
Would you like to stay here? I asked. Although I have to travel soon. You'll still have the company of the servants. I'm afraid I'll take the drow with me.
“Can't I convince you to stay?” Grandma asked with puppy eyes. “I've just arrived, and we've been apart for so long!”
I'm afraid not, Grandma, I said. I promised my friend that I would continue with our journey as soon as possible. I could maybe give us a few more days to rest, but then we'll leave.
“I understand,” she said, deflated. “I did teach you to honour your promises, so I cannot complain.” She stood. “Very well, let us make the most of these few days that you've got.”
Of course, Grandma, I said. Since you're staying, let me introduce you to my friend, so you aren't caught by surprise. Zarqoor, please come here!
“What an unusual name, dear,” Grandma said, then turned to the doorway expectantly. When Zarqoor appeared, Grandma sank back in the chair. “Another mind flayer,” she gasped. “Of course it is.” She cleared her throat. “Hi, I'm Arllathraven's grandmother.”
I am aware, Zarqoor said. Do not worry, I won’t harm you.
“Oh, I didn't think you would,” Grandma said with a smile. “You wouldn't be her friend otherwise.”
Zarqoor nodded. Forgive me, but we have just arrived from a long and stressful journey, and I shall have to continue this conversation another time.
“Oh my! That's true!” Grandma said, taking a hand to her cheek in surprise. “I completely forgot! I'm so sorry.” She turned to the three of us. “Go on, go to bed. We'll talk in the morning.”
Have a good night, Grandma, I said taking the Emperor's hand in mine and floating out of the room. Zarqoor met us in the corridor.
Arllathraven? Zarqoor asked.
I shrugged. Nobody ever got my name right, so I shortened it to Tav. Good night, Zarqoor.
Good night, you two, he said.
The three days that followed went by quicker and smoother than I had expected. Grandma had never been a fan of drow, which wasn't surprising considering her heritage, but she was polite enough to give them a chance, and in the end treated them all as her own grandchildren—something Firo and Dhourn had not been used to, considering their experience with females, and were more than glad to be spoiled rotten.
Zarqoor still wouldn't discuss the experience we'd had while feeding from the aboleth, but he no longer acted strangely. Perhaps he would talk, eventually.
I took Grandma around Baldur's Gate, introduced her to everyone I knew, including the people at the Society of Brilliance. I doubted Grandma had expected to meet so many illithids when she made the decision of coming to Baldur's Gate, and yet, she got along with Omeluum pretty well.
Jaheira came around the second day, curious and nosy as always. Grandma was happy to regale her with tales about my upbringing and how I was her pride and joy now that I had become a Hero of Baldur's Gate.
I hoped that would be enough to get that woman away from my tentacles.
And speaking of tentacles, they were getting longer. It was beautiful to see! I never tired of entwining them with the Emperor's much longer ones.
Grandma was also more than glad to give tips to our pregnant servant, and I suspected Grandma's visit might be even longer because of that—she loved babies.
It was time to leave, and even though she was my Grandmother, I couldn't trust her hero tendencies to understand what I did in the dungeons, so we said our goodbyes in the living room and I teleported us all to the Underdark portal near Waterdeep.
The Emperor had spent some time on the surface and in Undermoutain doing business, but this still was far from friendly territory. Xanathar's people were specially difficult to convince, but I believed the Emperor would find a way to bring them to our side soon enough.
Ch'chitl was an interesting illithid city, mostly because arcane magic was highly encouraged. I was surprised to stumble not only on one, but three alhoons while we were there. Fruyshuk, Ilsensine's cleric, was also an illithilich and had expected my visit. Was Ilsensine keeping tabs on me?
Zarqoor was extremely happy to be here, mingling with other Creeds and exchanging information. I took his example and mingled with the wizards. The Emperor had been wary at first, but then we realised that there wasn't an elder brain in this place. The Elder Concord ruled it alone. It was sad because that meant there was nobody to store the knowledge and connect everyone, but it also meant nobody was in any risk of being enthralled and I could relax.
Being among these liches confirmed two things to me: illithids had souls and I didn't want to become one of them. I would achieve immortality another way.
These mind flayers were so powerful, so full of knowledge, that I was very tempted to stay in the city for a long time working with them. It was everything I had been looking to find in an illithid city, and I'd had absolutely no idea that I had been so close before.
Even more impressive was encountering the spellscarred illithids. They exuded raw magic in a way I had never felt before. If I could add their power to my Netherese power, I could not even imagine the beauty we would create—but I had no idea how to even start a project like that. I needed to learn more about Netherese magic before I tried anything.
My books were touched very rarely while we stayed in the city, since I spent most of my time exchanging knowledge with the locals, so I imagined I would be reading after we left.
When I met a member of the Awaiters Creed, I understood what Zarqoor had meant. They didn't think about the short term, everything was a step towards a grander plan that would culminate in the Grand Design. While I had little interest in dominating the entire universe in the way they dreamed of, I could agree that some of their vision made sense.
Another fascinating Creed was the Creatives. They experimented on absolutely everything! They had incredible doppelgangers at their service, which made me think of how inferior the ones allied with Orin had been. I had so much to learn from them! And, thankfully, they were also interested in the knowledge I'd gathered.
I still disagreed with some of the Creeds, but people were entitled to their opinions and I respected that. The architecture was also very interesting, even though I could not replicate it in my Morphic Pool. The tunnels and rooms were mostly the result of magma flow, and that was not the case in Baldur's Gate's underground. Still, with the right adaptations, I could replicate some of the engineering once I passed the knowledge to Rov.
My ustilagor was almost fully grown into an adult intellect devourer by the time we left Ch'chitl, and I had also learnt a lot about creating and taking care of the little ones. I was considering naming it Chichi as a reminder of this amazing community.
Leaving this amazing place behind for now, we continued on the way to Gravenhollow. Even with all the routes burnt into my mind, the trip should still take us months, but I was sure it would be rewarding.