William stood over a hill overlooking a burning inn. He was flanked by Halsin and Karlach, while Astarion seemed to be constantly peering behind him as if sensing something with his more than human perception.
Somehow he sensed the bloodlust emanating from the village they had just left, as if someone was taking pleasure in the gore and pain.
However, his thoughts were quickly pulled back to the immediate situation at hand when he saw a large pillar of black smoke begin to rise into the night sky, signaling a fire raging down below in a nearby building.
Using the darksight powers granted to him by William, he managed to make out the faint outline of a sign indicating the name "Waukeen's Rest Inn."
The inn was engulfed in flames, and a chaotic scene unfolded as a large number of men and women, all clad in matching armor, rushed about frantically trying but seemingly failing to quell the blaze as if it were started by an oil spill.
Karlach's eyes, burning with fierce determination, narrowed into narrow, fiery slits as she charged forward, her feet cutting deeply into the earth as she slid down the hill, her mighty roar echoing through the air.
William gave a curt order, saying, "Go... Now!" before promptly turning around and rushing after Karlach, his hands gripping the hilt of his sword.
He then decided to make the most of the terrain by sliding down the hill he was standing on after her, catching up quickly.
Following right behind him were Halsin, who equipped his staff, and Astarion, who drew his bow.
By the time William and the others had reached the bottom of the hill, they found Karlach already standing before a pair of double doors that led into the main entrance of the Inn.
She seemed tense and her body seemed to swell slightly with the exertion of her muscles before she lunged forward and kicked the door with all her might, forcefully tearing it from its hinges and sending one of the hefty wooden pieces flying, striking the table right next to an amphora of wine.
The amphora exploded with a loud bang, and a deep red shower of wine erupted, bathing everything in the crimson liquid. The table and door were instantly shattered into countless splinters.
She turned back to William, her voice firm and laced with urgency, "Get a move on, soldier, lives are at stake!"
After saying whatever it was that she said, she turned around and made a beeline for the inside of the building, completely ignoring the occasional soldier passing by with a bucket of water.
As they stepped inside, they found themselves right behind her, and they immediately headed towards a courtyard where they could see a group of people pushing against a large door with all their strength.
The door itself seemed to be holding firm, standing tall like a mountain against a backdrop of boulders as the building around it burned.
"Get this door open NOW!"
Before she turned her head towards the approaching group, a commander yelled out, her eyes fixed firmly on the hilt of her sword. But the immediate task demanded that she temporarily set aside her soldierly resolve and ask for assistance; she looked at William with pleading eyes and shouted.
"You there, help us please! Councilor Florick is trapped inside, and we aren't enough to break down the door quickly."
William turned his head towards Karlach and said with a smile, "Karlach..." He pointed towards the door before speaking again, "Smash it open!"
Karlach's smile stretched almost all the way around her face, her features radiating such genuine joy that it seemed to light her up from within. She set down her axe with a satisfying thud, then turned her back to the room, her movements quick and fluid as she prepared to run towards the door.
She crouched into a low, runner's stance, her fists striking the ground with such force that she created two distinct fist-shaped craters, each complete with spiderweb cracks snaking across their surfaces.
Her muscles were taut and tense, her body fully prepared for action. With an explosive burst of speed that made her appear like a blur, she launched herself forward and towards the door.
In an instant, men and women in shining armor were forced to dive out of the way, one of them narrowly avoiding being turned into armored blood soup before they crashed onto the ground.
BOOOM!
Karlach's shoulder struck the door with a force that sent it flying inward, not just opening but exploding outward as though it had been struck squarely by a flaming red wrecking ball.
The impact of the door's collision was so powerful that it resulted in pieces of timber being launched outwards from the point where they made contact, creating a shower of shrapnel that pierced through the surrounding walls and shattered any loose bottles of alcohol that happened to be nearby.
The armoured men and women scattered about looked at the hole where a door used to be, their minds all simultaneously echoing a single thought.
Barbarians...
The commanding soldier, who had been caught up in her thoughts for a moment, quickly regained her composure and snapped out a command. "Get inside, find the councilor, and find her fast!" Her voice, sharp and direct, echoed through the ranks as the other men and women, still momentarily stunned, snapped back into focus and obeyed.
The smoke rose up the stairwell like some kind of living entity, thick and heavy coils of it snaking their way along the ceiling and then spilling down in a steady stream as they moved from step to step.
A deep groan echoed through the second floor as their boots stepped onto the wooden planks, followed by the distinct sounds of popping and cracking wood as the heat visibly began to affect the otherwise sturdy bones of the floor.
The flames licked hungrily at the walls, their orange glow painting everything in a wavering light that twisted shadows into clawed, monstrous shapes.
William was the first to make his move, his left hand pressed against his mouth while his eyes narrowed as he took in the surroundings, scanning the long corridor.
The air was wrong here.
Too hot.
Too thin.
Every breath tasted of ash and scorched oil.
"Second floor," he said, his voice remaining steady even as the inferno pressed in on him from all directions.
"Councillor Florick won't be left near the ground level. Too obvious."
Halsin nodded, and a soft, ethereal glow emanated from the staff in his hand. He then channeled his druidic energy to produce tiny, merciful pockets of cold air, effectively shielding the affected areas from the scorching heat.
Astarion moved forward with a light, agile step, his keen eyes scanning each door carefully. He looked for any indication of forced entry or movement that had occurred beyond the reach of the flames.
Karlach lingered just behind William, her shoulders held firmly squared, her axe, usually so prominently held in her hands, was conspicuously missing at the moment.
Her fingers twitched and flexed, showing signs of restlessness, as if she were a storm gathering its strength, waiting for the opportune moment to unleash its fury.
They reached the end of the hall.
Amongst the wreckage, one particular door remained untouched by the fire. Its once-smooth surface was blackened and scorched, but the door itself remained intact.
The iron reinforcements used in its construction were warped and bent by the intense heat, yet they stubbornly held together.
A brass nameplate was hanging at eye level, its letters crooked but still legible, though they appeared somewhat melted.
F. FLORICK
William did not hesitate.
Turning, he drew Karlach's axe, the one he'd been carrying slung over his back for the climb, and placed it firmly into her hands, his movements deliberate and careful.
"Do it," he said simply.
Karlach's grin flashed bright and feral through the smoke. "With pleasure."
With a firm stance and a single roll of her shoulders, she brought the axe around in a forceful arc, its blade striking down.
A piercing scream erupted as the blade, teeth gleaming ominously in the dim light, sliced through the door with terrifying ease, cleaving through wood and iron alike.
One strike.
Two.
On the third day, the door simply gave way entirely. It collapsed inward in a storm of splinters and sparks, erupting in a shower of debris.
They rushed in.
Councillor Florick was sprawled on the floor, located right near the furthest wall, and she was being roughly dragged towards a shattered window by two heavily armored soldiers.
It was quite clear that these two soldiers had attempted to extract her, but they had clearly failed in their efforts.
Her uniform was scorched and her breathing ragged, but her eyes were sharp, alert, and even though she was clearly in pain, they remained focused.
"Councillor," William said, already kneeling. "Can you stand?"
Florick coughed violently, then nodded, "With help."
Karlach had her lifted into the air with remarkable speed, hoisting her as if she were incredibly light.
Halsin ushered the soldiers towards the exit, his gaze scanning the vines that were beginning to bloom along the walls, their wet tendrils reaching out to help hold back the rapidly approaching flames.
They moved fast.
Down the stairs, through the courtyard, out into the open night where the smoke thinned and the air tasted like salvation.
The soldiers surged forward, snatching Florick from Karlach's arms. The sounds of their voices blended together in a chaotic mix of relief and shouting out orders in a flurry of activity.
Florick's hand clamped around William's forearm before being forcefully pulled away.
Her grip on his forearm was incredibly firm. "I must thank each and every one of you," she said, her voice surprisingly hoarse as she breathed in fresh air.
William nodded once. "Get her somewhere safe."
They turned to leave.
That was when he heard it.
Faint.
Almost lost beneath the roar of the fire and the shouts of soldiers.
A sound that did not belong to the surrounding destruction.
A whimper.
William stopped.
His head slowly turned in that direction, towards the inn, towards the second floor that they had just left behind.
The sound returned, this time it was even thinner and more broken than before, carrying the distinct, unmistakable rasp of someone who was clearly having trouble drawing breath.
Not debris settling.
Not fire crackling.
A person.
Karlach turned her head, following his gaze. Her face, previously a mask of triumph, instantly shifted, transforming into a more somber expression. She then declared, "That wasn't Florick."
"No," William said quietly.
Astarion's eyes narrowed. "And whoever it is doesn't have long."
The windows on the second floor were now belching out flames, the structure visibly sagging under the relentless pressure.
It was clear that the building was largely consumed by fire, and anyone with a modicum of sanity would have declared it a lost cause.
William didn't.
He stepped back toward the entrance, already reaching for his sword.
"There's another door," he said. "And someone behind it."
The inn groaned, beams screaming as they bent toward collapse.
William looked at the flames.
Then he walked back inside followed by Karlach and Halsin while Astarion waited at the entrance, his skills being next to useless in this situation.
CRACKLE... BOOOOOM...
The very stairs beneath them crumbled and buckled completely, giving way to the intense heat of the flames.
In response, Halsin, utilizing the full force of his druidic powers, immediately began to channel his abilities.
With a flick of his wrist, he brought into being a series of thick, wet vines, which effortlessly broke through the floorboards and connected the first and second floors, forming an impromptu bridge.
"Go now!" Halsin roared out, his voice filled with a mixture of determination and urgency.
He furrowed his brows deeply in concentration, his eyes fixed on the glowing vines that were hissing and writhing like venomous snakes as the flames licked fiercely at them.
The vines hissed and steamed beneath their boots as William and Karlach sprinted upward, the living bridge swaying slightly under their combined weight.
Below them, the fire roared in fury, as if enraged that its prey dared to escape its grasp.
Halsin's roar faded behind them, replaced by the suffocating crackle of flame and the groaning protest of the inn's dying bones.
They hit the second floor hard.
Smoke slammed into them like a wall.
It was thick, oily, and alive, forcing both of them to immediately drop low.
William felt it claw down his throat the instant he breathed, his eyes stinging as heat pressed against his skin.
Visibility dropped to a few feet at best, the corridor reduced to flickering silhouettes and crawling shadows.
He pulled his cloak up over his mouth and motioned forward.
Crouched low, they moved fast.
The hallway was barely recognizable now.
The ceiling sagged, blackened beams bowing inward, embers drifting down like malignant snow.
Fire chewed along the walls, its light painting Karlach's red skin in molten gold as she prowled ahead, shoulders hunched, axe clenched tight.
Then they heard it.
A voice.
Hoarse.
Broken.
Raw with terror.
"Help... please... gods... anyone!"
It came from the far end of the hall, from a door opposite the room they'd just torn Florick from.
Unlike the others, this one was half-hidden by fallen debris, its surface scorched but still standing, as if stubbornly refusing to give in.
William and Karlach locked eyes through the smoke.
No words were needed.
They nodded once.
Together, they moved.
With a swift, powerful motion, William brought his sword down, its edge sinking deep into the wooden door.
The impact was met with a resounding clang, the sound reverberating through the room.
The blade carved a deep, jagged groove into the warped wood, the metal leaving a visible, dark mark that pulsed with a faint, necrotic energy.
This damage served as a further weakening of the door's structural integrity.
A heartbeat later, Karlach moved in, bringing her axe crashing down with a force that shook the very frame she was standing in.
The door screamed.
They hit it again.
And again.
A fierce and relentless dance of steel, a sword and axe clashing in a brutal rhythm.
The cracks spread out like a network of spiderwebs, and the splinters flew free as the flames bled through the widening seams.
With her final strike, Karlach unleashed her full force, her axe cleaving through the remaining resistance with brutal efficiency.
The door collapsed inward.
The air was instantly filled with a thick, choking wave of smoke, and then the flames erupted with terrifying force, engulfing the entire scene in a sudden, blinding blaze.
The room beyond was a complete and utter mess, filled with debris and utter devastation.
The flames spread with terrifying speed, engulfing the furniture and the ceiling in a matter of minutes.
They devoured everything in their path, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake as they raced up the walls, leaving nothing but ashes and debris in their wake.
At the heart of the scene, nestled beneath a massive roof beam that was glowing with a deep, almost menacing red-hot hue at the edges, was an elf.
His skin was blistered, his clothes half-burned away, and his breath came in thin, ragged gasps.
One of his arms was caught beneath the weight of the heavy beam, while his other hand, trembling slightly, was reaching out towards them.
"Please," he rasped. "I..
I can't!"
Karlach didn't hesitate.
She charged.
A searing fire erupted around her, licking at her horns and the exposed skin of her arms, yet she remained unyielding, her gaze unwavering.
Her tiefling body seemed to respond positively to the heat, her skin radiating a faint, almost ethereal glow as the infernal contraction in her chest intensified. Her feet pressed firmly against the beam.
She dropped her axe.
She then reached out with both hands and grasped the burning piece of timber.
The air hung heavy with an acrid, unpleasant odor, a mixture of the unmistakable scent of scorched wood and burning flesh, along with the intense heat of superheated air.
You could see her muscles bulging beneath the skin, and her veins were standing out quite clearly, especially visible on her arms and shoulders.
A guttural roar, raw and primal, tore through the raging firestorm, and then, with a tremendous effort, Karlach lifted.
The beam tore free.
With a force that seemed to defy gravity, she hurled it across the room with terrifying strength.
The object crashed through a burning wardrobe, sending a shower of embers flying, and finally smashed against the far wall, shattering into a cloud of sparks and embers.
The elf cried out, collapsing forward as the pressure vanished.
Karlach was right there on top of him, instantly grabbing hold of him and pulling him upright into a standing position. She did this with one arm slung securely around his back.
"Move!" she barked.
William was already there, coughing quite violently as he forcefully kicked aside the flaming debris, and he finally managed to spot a second door located at the far end of the room.
With a forceful slam, his shoulder connected with the weakened wood, the material yielding just enough to allow Karlach to push through with ease.
They crossed the threshold together.
And the world exploded.
BOOOM!
A deafening roar ripped through the inn as the room behind them erupted in a violent fireball.
The shockwave hit William like a powerful warhorse, its impact sending him hurtling forward.
The floor vanished beneath his feet.
For a fleeting second, he felt completely weightless, as the fire and smoke erupted around him, accompanied by the deafening roar of the second floor collapsing in on itself.
Then he fell.
Hard.
The force of the impact knocked the breath right out of his lungs as he smashed straight through the weakened planks, crashing down onto the first floor with a resounding thud.
The impact was accompanied by a shower of splintered wood and the acrid smell of burning debris.
Pain erupted in his side, sending a jolt of agony throughout his body; his sword skittered away from his grasp as embers began to rain down around him.
Above, the inn howled in agony.
Somewhere in the fire, Karlach shouted his name.
William coughed violently, his body rolling onto its back as a thick plume of smoke closed in once more, the flames encroaching ever closer.
Halsin grabbed his sword before the flames could claim it and grabbed William, pulling him out of the building which began to creak and moan menacingly.
After stepping out into safety the building collapsed in on itself.