As they stepped through the gate, the companions found themselves in what appeared to be an expansive, enclosed yard, illuminated by the soft, shifting glow of lanterns strung between colorful tents. The air was thick with the mingling scents of candied nuts, exotic spices, and a faint, metallic tang that hinted at something more arcane.
In the center of the yard stood a massive tree, its trunk gnarled and ancient. Its top was missing, as though cleaved away by some great force, leaving its highest branches grasping at the sky like skeletal fingers. Draped from the branches were long, colorful ribbons that glowed with an ethereal green light, casting shimmering patterns on the ground below. The sight was equal parts enchanting and unsettling.
To their left, a steep hill loomed, its dark silhouette dotted with small, flickering lights that looked like fireflies or wandering souls. The group’s attention was drawn to a striking red-and-green tent nearby.
The tent was vibrant, its colors almost garish in the muted light. Outside, on a small red round table, sat two painted skulls and a bust of a woman, all adorned with the garish makeup of clowns. Bright reds, greens, and yellows contrasted sharply with the stark white of their bases, their expressions eerily joyous. In the middle of the table lay an assortment of makeup—small brushes, pots of paint, and glittering powders, as though left out for an artist’s use.
But this wasn’t just decor.
“Is that a mummy?” Astarion asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and disbelief as he pointed toward the tent’s opening.
All eyes followed his gesture. There, standing just inside the tent, was a figure unlike anything they had seen before: a mummy, but not the kind that evoked dread from crypts and curses. Her bandages were a deep, vibrant red, as though dyed in the blood of roses, and they wrapped her form with precise elegance. Golden jewelry adorned her, encrusted with blue gemstones that shimmered like captured starlight. A delicate crown fanned behind her head, its thin golden arcs framing her like a radiant halo.
Her face was partially hidden by a pristine white mask that revealed only her lower jaw, which moved with uncanny grace as she worked. In her hands, she held a tiny brush, and seated before her was a young girl, giggling as the mummy delicately painted her face.
The little girl’s cheeks were dusted with shimmering green, her lips painted bright red, and tiny patterns of swirling gold trailed across her forehead. The mummy’s movements were precise yet soft, her gloved fingers steady as though painting a masterpiece.
Karlach gasped, her enthusiasm impossible to contain. She dashed ahead, her boots kicking up small puffs of dust as she skidded to a stop before the mummy. “Can you paint me too?” she asked, her voice bright and eager.
"She acts like a little girl, not a grown woman," Lae'zel said from the side, her tone laced with mild disdain.
The mummy paused, holding up a single finger in a universal gesture: wait. Her movements were calm and deliberate as she added the final flourish to the girl’s painted face—a tiny star at the tip of her nose. The girl beamed and skipped away to join her waiting parents, who nodded their thanks to the silent artist.
With the stool now empty, the mummy gestured for Karlach to sit.
“Yay!” Karlach chirped, plopping down with the giddy excitement of a child. The stool creaked under her weight, but she didn’t notice.
The party watched, their curiosity piqued. The mummy worked methodically, her brush moving with practiced precision across Karlach’s face. The paint seemed to shimmer under the mummy’s touch, as though enchanted to catch the light in mesmerizing ways. Every so often, the mummy’s hand hesitated, her brush bumping against something unseen—the edges of Karlach’s horns. Despite the awkwardness, the mummy adjusted seamlessly, her silent artistry undeterred.
Alex leaned toward Shadowheart, whispering, “She’s really into this.”
Shadowheart gave a small smile, the expression softening her usual stoicism.
When the mummy finally finished, she stepped back, her movements almost reverent. Karlach shot to her feet, her hands clapping together in excitement. She turned to the group, her grin wide enough to rival the clown-painted skulls.
“Well? How do I look?” she asked, spinning in place to give them a full view.
Her face was a masterpiece of whimsical art. Swirling patterns of gold and green decorated her cheeks and forehead, accented by delicate strokes of crimson. A faint shimmer dusted her skin, catching the light and giving her an otherworldly glow. Despite her horns’ invisibility, the mummy had painted around them as though they were still visible, framing them with intricate designs that added to the illusion of her fiery nature.
Astarion smirked, crossing his arms. “Like a very enthusiastic festival-goer.”
Karlach stuck her tongue out at him, then turned to Alex. “What do you think?”
Alex grinned. “You look amazing. Like a carnival queen.”
"“Karlach…” Wyll said, his voice soft, carrying a reverent tone. “If the stars above could blush, they would pale at the sight of you now. You wear those colors as though the gods themselves painted you in their dreams—vivid and untamed, like the fire that burns within you.”
Karlach blushed from Wyll sweet words.
“I love it! Thank you so much!” she said, turning back to the mummy and bowing slightly.
The mummy inclined her head in silent acknowledgment, her white mask gleaming in the lantern light.
“Well, that was worth the detour,” Gale said, his tone warm. “Even if it’s the strangest face-painting I’ve ever witnessed.”
Karlach beamed, her joy infectious, and for a moment, the chaos of their journey faded into the background. The vibrant tents, eerie tree, and unsettling decorations became a backdrop to something simple and profound: a moment of shared wonder.
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The group moved ahead, their curiosity tugging them toward the next bizarre attraction. The sound of clinking coins and a faint shimmer of light drew their attention to a towering display of wealth: piles of chests overflowing with gold coins, jewels glittering like captured stars, and artifacts of undeniable allure.
“So much gold,” Astarion breathed, his eyes practically glowing as he stepped closer, like a moth drawn to flame. His excitement was almost tangible.
“Don’t bother,” Alex said, as he surveyed the scene. “This is just an illusion.”
Astarion’s hopeful expression dimmed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “A shame,” he muttered, though his eyes lingered longingly on the illusionary treasure.
But beyond the gold, the true allure of the display revealed itself: a shelf lined with riches that seemed far more tangible. Necklaces adorned with precious stones, enchanted armor, gilded swords and spears, goblets of gold and silver that shimmered like moonlight, and even potions stacked precariously on thin glass shelves. Their craftsmanship and mystical energy were undeniable, pulling the group’s gaze.
Then came the voice.
“APPROACH, UGLY ONE!”
The booming shout snapped their attention forward. Hovering above the ground, wreathed in an ethereal red glow, was a massive, imposing figure—a djinni, his body semi-transparent and swirling with a smoky essence. His golden eyes gleamed with mischief, and his braided beard, threaded with faintly glowing jewels, swayed unnaturally as though caught in an invisible breeze.
Next to him stood a massive, gaudy prize wheel, its colorful sections glittering under floating lanterns.
Astarion raised a skeptical brow, but Alex was the first to respond. “What’s with all the yelling?”
“YOU ARE LOUD!” Astarion quipped from the side.
“YES,” the djinni bellowed unapologetically before gesturing grandly to the wheel. “BEHOLD! AKABI’S WHEEL OF WONDERS! SPIN TO WIN PRIZES BEYOND YOUR TINY IMAGINATIONS! ENRICH YOUR PATHETIC LIVES FOR THE LOW, LOW COST OF 500 GOLD PIECES!”
Karlach’s mouth dropped open. “Holy shit, that’s a lot of money.”
“Indeed,” Gale agreed, his voice laced with incredulity. “Only a fool would pay for something so obviously rigged.”
Akabi’s radiant expression faltered as he turned to glare at Gale.
“The mage speaks true,” Lae’zel chimed in, crossing her arms. Her voice was dismissive, though her fierce eyes locked onto the djinni. “A sham. Only the weak-minded would fall for such transparent deception.”
Akabi’s narrowed eyes didn’t leave Gale, who seemed utterly unbothered by the tension. “But,” Gale added smoothly, his tone shifting, “you radiate potent magic. That much is undeniable. Surely, such a being has gathered prizes of extraordinary value during his... travels.”
The djinni’s frown melted into a pleased smirk, his ego thoroughly stroked. “AKABI HAS TRAVERSED PLANES AND CONQUERED WORLDS! THE SPOILS OF WAR AND MAGIC ARE MINE TO BESTOW! AND—” he leaned forward dramatically, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper— “FOR THE LUCKY FEW, THERE IS THE GRAND PRIZE: THE JACKPOT.”
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Shadowheart tilted her head. “What’s the jackpot?”
“NO MORE QUESTIONS!” Akabi roared, patience fraying. He gestured grandly to the wheel. “SPIN OR DON’T!”
Astarion stepped forward, his usual smirk returning. “Oh, I’ll spin. My dear friend Alex will cover the cost.”
Alex pinched the bridge of his nose but pulled out the gold anyway, handing it over to Akabi with a resigned sigh. The djinni’s grin stretched impossibly wide as the coins vanished into thin air with a snap of his fingers.
“EXCELLENT CHOICE!” Akabi declared, snapping again to set the wheel spinning. The arrow atop it sparkled like a star, its rapid movement creating a mesmerizing blur of colors.
The group leaned in, anticipation thick in the air. Almost everyone. Alex’s sharp eyes lingered on Akabi’s beard, where a faint, suspicious glow began to pulse faintly.
The wheel slowed, the sections coming into focus. The arrow inched closer to the section marked Jackpot, its golden lettering radiating promise. Astarion’s face lit up, his smirk growing into an outright grin.
And then the beard glowed brighter, and the wheel jerked.
The arrow slid past the Jackpot at the last second, stopping on a far less impressive prize.
Astarion’s elated expression collapsed like a crumbling tower, his shoulders slumping and his mouth falling open. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“ALAS, NO JACKPOT FOR YOU, UGLY ONE!” Akabi declared, his booming laugh ringing out. He snapped his fingers again, and a small ring appeared, glittering in his hand. “BUT YOU DO NOT LEAVE EMPTY-HANDED. HERE, A RING OF INFINITE VALUE!”
Astarion took the ring and inspected it, his eyes narrowing. “What does it do?”
Akabi’s grin widened. “WHEN IT RAINS, IT MAKES YOUR HAND WET.”
A long pause hung over the group.
“Trash,” Astarion said flatly, tossing the ring to Alex without even looking.
Alex caught it with and pocketed the trinket. He glanced at the djinni, narrowing his eyes. “He’s cheating,” Alex muttered under his breath, his gaze flicking to the glowing jewels in Akabi’s beard.
Karlach clapped Astarion on the back, almost knocking him off balance. “Hey, don’t feel bad.”
Astarion scowled. “I lost 500 gold and my dignity.”
Gale chuckled, folding his arms. “You had dignity to lose?”
“Careful, wizard,” Astarion snapped, though his heart wasn’t in the retort. His eyes flicked back to the wheel, the lingering hope of what might’ve been clear on his face.
The group turned to leave, Astarion muttering under his breath about “foul magic” and “swindling spirits.” Alex glanced back , his gaze meeting Akabi’s. The djinni’s smirk was still plastered on his face, but his glowing beard pulsed faintly, almost mockingly.
"You’re cheating. I saw you rig the wheel,” Alex declared, his tone sharp and unyielding as his gaze locked with the djinni’s glowing eyes. The party stopped and turned around.
Akabi’s jovial facade darkened immediately. The glimmer in his beard dimmed, and his lips curled into a sneer. The air around him grew heavy, crackling faintly with suppressed energy.
“You dare speak to me as if we are equals?” Akabi bellowed, his voice resonating like a thunderclap. His form flared, his smoky essence expanding as if to fill the entire tent. “You are a scrap of food in my teeth. The dirt beneath my fingernails. You are nothing.”
The djinni’s voice softened dangerously, his smirk returning but now twisted with malice. “I am, however, feeling gracious. I will forget this insult and grant you another spin. Or... I can turn you into something vile, something unworthy of even the dirt beneath my feet. Choose.”
Alex didn’t flinch. Instead, he crossed his arms and leaned slightly forward, a smug grin curling on his lips. “Do your worst, cheating bastard.”
Akabi’s glowing eyes flared with rage. “BEHOLD!” he roared, raising his hand high. “MY FURY!”
With a dramatic snap of his fingers, Akabi unleashed his power. Or so he thought.
Nothing happened.
The djinni blinked, his fiery bravado faltering. He snapped his fingers again. And again. Each time, the crackle of energy sputtered and vanished before reaching Alex.
“What?!” Akabi growled, his ethereal form flickering slightly. He snapped his fingers wildly now, his frustration mounting as the crowd of companions watched, stunned.
Unbeknownst to the djinni, Alex’s defiance stemmed from more than mere bravado. Hidden within him was a power gained recently—an unyielding resistance to transformation, a gift from the Beast of Bedlam. Akabi’s spells, no matter their potency, would never touch him.
The djinni’s frustration boiled over, and he turned his fiery glare to one of Alex’s companions. He raised his hand again to target Wyll, his anger now shifting focus. But as his spell began to form, Alex raised his hand, projecting a field of nullifying energy. The air shimmered faintly as the djinni’s magic fizzled into nothing.
“That’s all you’ve got?” Alex asked, his voice dripping with mockery. His smirk widened, unshaken.
Akabi’s head suddenly ignited in flames, his form quivering with barely contained rage. For a moment, it seemed he might erupt, destroying everything in his vicinity. But then, with visible effort, he took several deep breaths. The flames extinguished, and his body settled back into its ghostly, floating calm.
“You... got me,” Akabi admitted through gritted teeth. He forced a toothy grin and snapped his fingers once more. A swirling portal of green and gold light appeared before them, its edges crackling like fireflies trapped in glass. “As a gesture of my sincerest apologies, step through this portal. On the other side, you’ll find the jackpot: a treasure of unimaginable value.”
The companions exchanged skeptical looks.
“This is clearly a trap,” Shadowheart said, her tone flat as her eyes narrowed at the djinni.
Alex turned back to Akabi, his gaze sharp and unyielding. The djinni met his stare and froze , his mind falling under Alex control . Alex spoke with quiet authority. “Where does this portal lead?”
Akabi’s mouth twitched as he tried to resist, but Alex’s will pierced through his defenses, freezing his thoughts. The djinni’s voice came out flat, almost robotic. “A jungle in the distant land of Chult,” he admitted. His smirk briefly returned. “A dangerous place where beasts roam and devour the unprepared.”
“Sounds cozy,” Alex replied dryly. “What’s the jackpot?”
Akabi’s glowing eyes flickered with annoyance, but his compelled honesty left him no choice. “It is an ancient artifact, long buried by my hand. A weapon of immense power—the legendary trident Nyrulna. A tool of unparalleled devastation. Find it, if you dare.”
“That sounds awesome!” Karlach exclaimed, her fiery grin lighting up her face.
“I volunteer to go!” Astarion chirped cheerfully, his earlier disappointment forgotten as he moved closer to the portal. His hands fidgeted with excitement, his vampire instincts practically vibrating at the thought of uncovering a relic of power.
“The weapon could be invaluable,” Gale mused, rubbing his chin. “It’s worth investigating.”
Alex studied the djinni’s expression, searching for any sign of deceit, before giving a small nod. “I need to stay here. But if you find anything interesting on the other side, bring it back for me.”
Astarion gave an exaggerated bow. “But of course, darling. I’ll bring you the shiniest trinket I find.” Without another word, he leaped through the portal, his laughter fading as the glowing doorway swallowed him whole.
The rest of the group stood in silence, staring at the now-pulsating portal.
“This feels reckless,” Shadowheart muttered.
Karlach clapped her hands together, still grinning. “Reckless? Nah. It’s gonna be fun!”. She too jumped trough the portal .
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The moment Astarion stepped through the shimmering portal, the heavy, humid air of the jungle engulfed him. He winced, running his hands through his already unmanageable hair, now plastered against his forehead. The thick vegetation surrounded him like a suffocating wall of green, leaves and vines brushing his shoulders as he scanned the unfamiliar terrain. The oppressive heat was relentless, and he muttered under his breath, “This is dreadful.”
A sudden pop behind him drew his attention, and Karlach appeared through the portal, grinning wide.
“What are you doing here?” Astarion asked, his tone caught between irritation and amusement.
“Needed to let off some steam,” she replied, stretching her broad shoulders and flexing her hands as sparks of fiery energy crackled between her fingers.
Before she could elaborate, the ground trembled slightly beneath their feet. A rhythmic pounding sound grew louder, accompanied by rustling leaves and guttural hisses. Astarion and Karlach exchanged a quick glance, their smiles widening in shared anticipation.
From the dense foliage burst a pack of bipedal reptiles. Their powerful jaws snapped hungrily, serrated teeth glinting in the filtered sunlight. Their hides were vibrant with streaks of blue, red, and yellow feathers, making them look like living war banners. Sharp claws on their three-toed limbs raked at the ground as they sized up their prey.
There were at least ten of them.
“Come on, oversized lizard. Come and try to take a bite of me!” Karlach roared, hefting her battle axe, the edge glowing faintly with her fiery essence.
Astarion smirked, raising his hand as psionic energy surged around him. In a heartbeat, it coalesced into shimmering, spectral armor that encased him from head to toe. The translucent plates glowed faintly, a hue of deep crimson. “Shall we, darling?” he quipped, cracking his knuckles.
The oversize lizards didn’t hesitate, their hunting instincts taking over as they charged. The first leaped at Astarion, claws slashing through the air. He sidestepped effortlessly, his psionic armor deflecting the strike with a resonating clang. With a swift uppercut, his psionically enhanced fist shattered the creature’s jaw, sending it sprawling to the ground.
Karlach met two of the beasts head-on, her axe cleaving through the air with a fiery arc. The blade embedded itself deep into one creature’s torso, flames licking its feathers as it screeched in agony. Before the second could react, she spun, tearing her axe free and cleaving through its legs. “Not so scary now, are you?!” she yelled, her laughter echoing through the jungle.
Another lizard lunged for Astarion’s throat, its jaws wide open. With inhuman speed, he ducked low and drove his fist upward, the impact amplified by his psionic strength. The creature’s skull cracked audibly, and it crumpled to the ground.
Despite their initial bravado, the pack was relentless. Two of the creatures circled Karlach, snapping and clawing, while another tackled her from behind. The blow sent her staggering, but she roared in defiance, a burst of fiery energy erupting from her dragon heart. The heatwave incinerated the creature on her back and forced the others to retreat momentarily.
Astarion, meanwhile, fought like a specter of death. His movements were fluid, almost dance-like, as he darted between attackers. Each punch shattered bones, and his psionic energy flared brighter with every strike.“What a good target to practice some moves on. Am I right, Karlach?” he taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Soon, the jungle floor was littered with the battered and lifeless bodies of the lizards. Karlach leaned on her axe, breathing heavily but grinning, her skin glistening with sweat and ash. Astarion flicked a speck of blood from his armor, his smirk firmly in place.
“Too easy,” he muttered.
The victory was short-lived.
A thunderous roar ripped through the jungle, so powerful it felt like the earth itself shuddered. The companions froze, their eyes darting to the source of the sound. From the shadows emerged a massive figure, towering over the trees.
"That's a BIG lizard." Karlach muttered.
The predator was a living nightmare. Its serrated teeth gleamed as it snapped its powerful jaws, the sound echoing like the clash of steel. Its armored skull glinted with bone-plated reinforcement, and its S-shaped neck swayed menacingly as it studied its prey. Its powerful hind limbs dug into the ground, while sharp claws on its three-fingered forelimbs flexed with anticipation. Its long tail swayed like a whip, a reminder of the balance and speed it wielded despite its massive size.
Karlach’s grin widened, a wild light in her eyes. “Oh, hell yes!”
Astarion’s smirk faltered for a moment before returning. “Lovely. Just what I needed—a practice target.”
The allosaurus charged with a terrifying roar, its sheer bulk turning the jungle into a battlefield. Each footfall was like thunder, shaking the ground and scattering loose foliage into the air. Karlach, unflinching, sprinted to meet it, the heat of her dragon heart igniting her fiery aura. Her battle axe blazed brighter with each step, the flames licking hungrily at the humid air.