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[tadpoled]

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[tadpoled]

He is not my fath-- [The moment Tav hears Gale stir, he becomes distracted. He shifts his focus to the wizard and pays for it in an instant. Orin's claws rip into Tav, nearly sundering his limbs from his body. A quick te curo saves him from losing an arm, but he's still bleeding profusely.

The golden light over Gale flickers and fades away and Tav panics. Rather than attack Orin, he casts another macte virtute.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Orin slashes wildly, trying to force Tav farther back from the alter — trying to get Tav to look away from Tav. It should be easier for her with him so distracted; instead it just seems to infuriate her further that Tav is more focused on keeping Gale alive than winning.]

You deny him?! I should have slit your throat when I had the chance!

[tadpoled]

[One of the slashes hits Tav in the chest and he spins, slumping to the floor. He turns his head toward the altar, making sure the sanctuary spell hasn't faded again. Part of Tav knows he's a sitting duck if he keeps checking on Gale, but he's the only thing that matters. This duel, whether he wins or loses, is far below his need to keep Gale alive.]

'd like to see you try. [Tav continues to taunt, readying a grappling vine spell and releasing it within the same breath. The vine reaches for Orin, attempting to pull her off her feet.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Orin snarls and tries to pounce, only to find herself snarled up in the grasping vine. She slams to the floor, her dagger Bloodthirst skittering across the stone out of her hand as she attempts to slither after it.] You will watch -- and so will your precious, soft little pet.

[tadpoled]

[Tav, too, dives for the dagger. He barely gets his hands on it before Orin is practically on top of him.

He sucks in a breath and chants incende to release a wide beam of sun fire directly into her jaws.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[The sacred flame sends Orin scrambling backwards in desperation, one hand clawing at her face as she lets out an inhuman scream -- still on the floor, her dagger in Tav's hand.]

[tadpoled]

[Tav crawls after her and straddles the monstrous Orin. He raises the dagger high and then stabs it downward, once, twice, thrice. Whatever it will take to kill her and spare Gale.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Orin doesn’t go down easily — she scratches, snaps her teeth, manages to sink them into Tav’s wrist before Tav is pinning her down with her own blade. Eventually her strangled cursing quiets as she bleeds out, dead by Tav’s hand. The only sound left in the chamber is Sceleritas Fel’s panicked fretting and the sound of Astarion trying to prise the door open, as Gale rasps from the altar and tries to twist himself to get his bearings.]

[tadpoled]

[Tav stabs and stabs and stabs until he’s sure Orin is dead. Then he leaves the dagger inside her as she melts away into nothing so he can attend to Gale. Tav staggers to his feet and limps over to the altar, grateful that the sanctuary spell can now be replaced by a low te curo to heal as many of Gale’s wounds as he can with one spell.

The golden light of sanctuary dims and no longer illuminates Gale or himself.]

Gale?

[waterdhavianwizard]

Tav -- is that --

[But the magic confirms it is Tav, his Tav, truly Tav. He slumps back against the stone as the soothing magic washes over him, grimacing as his body knits itself back together.

Gale manages to sit himself up, swaying a little even as he reaches out frantic hands to gingerly assess Tav's wounds.]

I'm sorry. I'm so -- I'm so sorry, you shouldn't have had to come here like this. [He cradles Tav's face softly in his hands.] Do you have something left for yourself? I... [Gale blinks around the room, searching, ignoring Sceleritas' panicked yapping about Bhaal's disappointment.] Did you come here alone?

[tadpoled]

I’ll survive. [Tav pants from the effort of the fight, from the effort of so much casting. He’s bleeding from his wrist, his chest, from gods know everywhere else.

But Gale is here and alive and right now that’s all he can ask for in his life.

At the mention of being alone, Astarion has finally broken through the door, cursing up a storm.]

I shimmied through the door before it closed.

[So yes, alone is a word for that.]

How are you feeling?

[waterdhavianwizard]

You can be so reckless. [But Gale kisses him, a tender, feather-light press of his lips as he tries to urge Tav to sit -- to rest.]

I... rotten. I feel rotten. I don't... there's more important things to think about. [When the inevitable adrenaline crash happens, and they're laid out in bed recuperating, perhaps then there will be time to pick through the inevitable damage to their psyches.] I love you. If I'd woken up and... if you'd... [He cuts himself off with a choked noise, glancing to their friend instead.]

Astarion -- do you have a potion? Gods, even a bandage.

[Astarion grouses at the request, running through a laundry list of complaints from Gale's kidnapping to Tav's reckless pursuit to his desperate request for Fel to shut up about daddy dearest already as Fel darts over to inspect Orin's scattering remains, but Astarion digs through his pockets all the same in search of something to help.]

[tadpoled]

I’m not sorry. She said she would kill you while wearing my face.

[Tav can’t quite sit down, not until they’re out of this place and—]

He is coming! [Fel exclaims before a blade slices into him, followed by another and another until half a dozen blades bleed Fel out and onto the floor.

Tav reaches for Gale and tries to pull him outright.]

Not sticking around for this horror show. C’mon.

[However before Tav can so much as lift Gale, red light burns in the sockets of the skeleton relief on the wall and a deep voice echoes around the temple.]

I expected the other.

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Astarion yelps in shock as Sceleritas gets run through nearly right next to him, a potion bottle smashing to the ground.] Oh godsdammit -- I'm sure I have another one --

[Gale lets Tav pull him, steadied enough from Tav's magic that he manages to get to his feet and wind an arm gingerly around Tav's waist to steady him.]

We can look on our way out! We... [He falters as the eerie voice echoes through the room, the pool of blood beneath Fel seeming to grow impossibly large, the reflection of Fel's limp body straightening into something -- more.

Gale's grip tightens at Tav's waist, his breath caught in his throat as Bhaal speaks to his prodigal son.]

But you live, and her blood is returned to me.

I have a gift for you, child.

[tadpoled]

[Tav holds Gale tight to him at first but as Bhaal begins to speak directly to him, Tav’s grip loosens, unsure what might be the danger to Gale if Tav refuses his father, which he does.]

I refuse your ‘gift.’ I’ve defied you before and will do so again.

[He never wants his friends and paramour to be in danger again, never wants to be considered Bhaal’s Chosen. Never wants to be reaponsible for the deaths if hundreds. He may not have much to his memory, but what he knows now is that he’s different, he’s trying to be good.]

I will never serve you.

[waterdhavianwizard]

Arrogant. You refuse me? You are my spawn.

[The dispassionate, hateful tone barely changes -- no angrier, no less, but there is a hint of disappointment.

Gale's brow furrows, anxious, and he tries to reach for Tav's hand, to tangle their fingers together even as Bhaal continues.]

Your veins course with my unholy blood. Your life is mine. Accept your inheritance... or I will reclaim it.

[tadpoled]

[Tav steps forward the very moment Gale reaches him and their fingers brush, but do not make full contact.]

The only family I consider mine are those that fight with me every day.

[Tav takes another step, but then something invisible stops him, makes him go ramrod straight, like a puppet with its strings pulled too tight.]

You were made to conquer. To devour.

[That invisible force pulls Tav down to his knees as his insides squirm and churn.]

You reject my blood, and so I will reclaim it.

[The reflection in the pool of blood raises its hand and hence Tav is also lifted from the ground, blood filtering through his skin and armor and into the air. Tav can feel his blood leaving him, sifting through his organs and the pain is immeasurable but he cannot scream.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale takes half a step forward before something makes Tav tense -- Gale freezes as Tav does, panicked as Bhaal speaks.]

No -- godsdammit, no! Let him go!

[He lurches forward, and Astarion grabs him -- maybe to keep Gale from being struck down, or to prevent Bhaal from deciding to do something yet more gruesome with Tav's body should they intercede.

Bhaal's voice rings out once more over Gale's frantic yelling.]

I will make another who is worthy.

[With that, Tav's body drops, half sprawled in the pool of Fel's blood as Bhaal recedes to the Outer Planes once more.

Gale shakes off Astarion as Tav lands with a sickening thump, skidding to his knees by Tav. Gale's cradles his head, slides his fingers down Tav's neck in search of a pulse some part of him knows he won't find.]

You can't. You can't go. Please. Please! [He looks to Astarion, stricken.] You said you might have another potion? Astarion, we can't -- I can't --

[Gale doesn't wait for a reply; he cradles Tav against his chest as he sobs, desperate for some sign of life in his cool, still body.]

[tadpoled]

[Tav is struck down, his body still and cooling in Gale's grasp. There is no pulse to find as Tav sinks into oblivion, into peace. As Gale sobs, Withers emerges from the dark and stands in silence as he observes the gathering of people, the blood, and Tav's still form.]

He has defeated Bhaal.

[As if that would bring Tav back from the grave.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[It's unfair. Desperately unfair. Gale all but spat in Mystra's face out of pride and no matter how painful the orb is, the strain it puts on him, at least he's been allowed to live.

Tav defies the Murder Lord, one of the Dead Three, their maker in pursuit of a better, brighter path, and they now lie still in Gale's arms.

Withers' voice makes Gale jump, cradling Tav tighter to him, cheeks wet with tears as the strangest member of their camp emerges from the shadows.]

He died for it. [Gale snaps out, glancing back to Tav as he smooths Tav's hair back, painfully tender.] I suppose you've come to record that in your ledgers? Couldn't even -- [Gale's voice catches, going quiet.] Couldn't even wait until we found some place to...

[Withers circles them, gaze as dispassionate as ever, and comes to stand at Tav's feet, looming over his still body as Gale cradles him close.]

Alas -- in defying his father, his liege, his courage is courage was in opposition to the divine cosmology that bound him to the Lord of Murder...

[He looks to Tav, tilting his head thoughtfully.]

Thou art faithless. Godless. Doomed to wander the Fugue Plane for eternity.

[Behind Gale, a tentative hand hovering almost soothingly somewhere over Gale's shoulders, Astarion scoffs in annoyed, pained impatience.]

[tadpoled]

[Tav remains just as still and cold in Gale's arms as Withers continues to gaze at both Gale and the dead elf.]

I will not permit that, though all the powers of life and death dictate that it should be so.

[Withers' hands begin to glow as he continues speaking,] I, too, still hold some power, and I invest a portion of it in thee, who hath challenged the gods and now liveth to tell about it.

So rise, challenger of god, and prepare for battle once more. Death will not claim thee whilst I endure.

[The instant Withers finishes speaking, Tav jerks back to life, eyes wide and mouth screaming.]

[waterdhavianwizard]

[Gale starts as Tav's body spasms in his arms, so alarmed he nearly drops him until Gale gets his bearings again. He stares at Withers for a moment in a long moment of disbelief, then back down at Tav, gingerly helping him sit upright.]

Mystra-ryl, [Gale breathes out, quiet and strained as his eyes search Tav's face.] Tav, is it truly you?

[And, to Withers:] Who are you?

[tadpoled]

[When Tav realizes he's being held, his screaming turns into coughing as he leans into Gale's shoulder. Gods, he thought he'd been looking into the planes themselves but now he's back in the Temple of Bhaal, clinging to Gale.]

I think? [Tav pants out, still trying to understand how he woke up.]

[Withers steps away from the pair but continues to talk all the same,] A scribe. A seneschal. A keeper of records. And now, thine advocate, both here and in the City of the Dead.

[waterdhavianwizard]

Thank the gods. Thank you. If you -- when you'd...

[Gale buries his face in Tav's hair as Tav leans into him, careless of the viscera covering and surrounding them both.]

I don't know what I would have done. I'm so glad.

[He glances to Withers again, holding on to Tav as if he's frightened of what might happen if he lets go.] Is he... what have you done to him?

[Withers watches them with that same dispassionate expression.]

The sole way to atone for thine actions is to do better, in a new dawn. That dawn has come.

Bhaal tried to extinguish thee, but his wrath is imprecise -- the only succeeded in killing the part of thee he knew. The Urge that drove thee to terrible acts. The spark of brutality that made thee his.

[tadpoled]

[Tav holds a hand to his chest as he continues to lean against Gale, breathing in short gasps. He'd rather Gale not let him go, so he's clinging with his injured arm.

Withers seems to be speaking directly to him, though so he turns ever so slightly.]

But there is a new part of you that hath grown during thy travels. That part, Bhaal could not extinguish and so instead of destroying thee, he hath made thee anew.

[Tav shakes his head, confused.] Does that mean it's gone? The Urge?