READER'S POV

"I should've played a different game," I mumbled to myself before an arrow fired at me. I ducked on time and then I looked at the commander. Some Baldur's Gate players tend to miss this opportunity because if they have Shadowheart with them, they can use her command spell to take his flaming sword. 

"Okay, I've got plan," I told the others.

"I'm listening," Shadowheart told me.

"We'll need to disarm that commander, I ain't fighting him while he's got that sword. Shadowheart, can you cast any spells that can do that?" I asked her and she nodded her head.

"Good, make sure you time it right. Laz'el, Us, cover me!" I told the other two before we drew our weapons and charged at the enemy.

The Imps tried to attack me but, I ducked on time and Laz'el swung her longsword at the Imp that attacked me. I saw another one and charged at it before I threw one of my daggers at it and it landed right on his chest. The Imp fell onto the ground before I heard the commander shout in pain. I looked at him and then Shadowheart used her command spell and then the commander dropped his sword. I smirked at this and then I sneaked over to him and grabbed the flaming sword.

"Thank you."

"Hey!! you little thief!!" He yelled and he tried to grab me but, I managed to dodge on time and then the Mind flayer used his blast spell on him. 

"Let me deal with him. Get to the transponder!" It told me and then I nodded my head.

"All right, let's see what this bad boy can really do," I mumbled as I charged at the other cambions and used the greatsword in my hand to strike them down. They took fire damage but it wasn't much since they're technically resistant to it but, I still managed to take them down without any problems.

Suddenly, we heard rumbling outside of the ship and I knew it was the dragons again.

"That doesn't sound good," I commented.

"Tsk'va! Hurry! before they strike!" Laz'el shouted.

We fought off the enemies before I managed to reach the transponder on time. Without hesitating, I grabbed two of the nerves, pulled them together and then they connected. I looked up and saw a red dragon land on the ship. It moved its head through the window and then it blew its fire breath into the room and I was sent flying. I landed on the ground and I shielded myself as the fire blew into the room. Once it died down, I sat up and watched as the connected nerves shook a little and then we were teleported to another realm. 

Suddenly, the ship started to tilt. I slid on the ground before I was sent flying and then my back collided into the wall. I grunted in pain as we flew through a different world and then I was thrown forwards, heading for the transponder. I screamed for a moment before I grabbed onto the transponder on time. I looked down for a moment and then I looked at the connector things and frowned.

"If this a bad dream, please let me wake up from this nightmare and I'll be back in my own home," I spoke up before I pulled myself up and grabbed the nerves. I gave them a little tug before we were back in the mortal world.

I sighed in relief for a moment but we were still falling from the sky. I fell backwards and screamed before my back collided onto the window frame behind me. I looked to see that we're falling towards the forest. I glanced at the mind flayer next to me. It looked at me with those orangey eyes before I felt something smack me on the side of my head and I fell out of the window. I fell through the sky and I prayed that this was all a bad dream. Suddenly, something stopped me from falling. I opened my eyes to see that I'm upside down and I swore I saw someone next to me before I landed onto the ground and then I blacked out.

***

I didn't know how long I was out of it, but when I came too, I thought for sure that what happened on the ship was all a bad dream but the pain in my head told me otherwise. I slowly sat up from the ground and rubbed the back of my head. 

"Ow...my head..." I mumbled before I slowly stood up from the ground. I looked around wondered where I was before I felt the tadpole squirm in my brain.

I shook my head a little and looked down at myself to see if I was injured but, I appeared to be fine, aside from the obvious. I guess luck is on my side but, it will be for nothing if I don't find a healer soon. I noticed my thigh bag and smiled. I checked to see what I had inside of it to see if there was anything that I could use. I have my ear buds, a battery power bank, wallet, phone, a small torch and a pocket knife. I grabbed my phone and by some miracle it didn't break from the crash. I pressed the power button and the screen came on but, I don't have any signal or any mobile data to use.

"No signal. Of course they don't have phone service in the medieval ages..." I mumbled before I turned it off to conserve it's battery and then I put it back in my bag.

'Okay... obviously I'm inside the game and I'm experiencing my Tav's storyline. I'm so relieved it's not the dark urge's storyline, I hate to imagine what it was like fighting off those killing urges,' I thought to myself before feeling a shiver travel down my spine.

'Anyway, since I'm inside the game, that means I'll need to follow the storyline and the quests. The first thing I need to do is find the companions who survived the crash to help me on my adventure. Secondly, search around the crash site for some supplies. Thirdly, my companions and I will head for the druid grove and find Halsin. And from there...well, I haven't thought that far ahead yet but, as they say; one step at a time,' I thought to myself as I picked up the greatsword and sheathed it onto my back since I lost my twin daggers during the fight.

"All right. Let's get started," I mumbled before I searched around the crash site. While I was doing this, I spotted a knocked out Shadowheart in the distance and then I rushed to her side. I crouched beside her and noticed that she was clutching onto the Astrial Prisim. I wanted to take a closer look at it but, this wasn't the time.

"Shadowheart! Shadowheart! can you hear me?! Wake up!" I called out as I gently shook her shoulders and patted her cheek. She groaned a little before she opened her eyes.

"Thank goodness," I smiled in relief.

"You're alive. I'm alive. How is this possible...?" Shadowheart asked as she looked around.

"I don't know. And quite honestly, I'm glad we made it," I told her as I offered my hand to her and then she took it as I helped her up. I watched Shadowheart put the Astrial Prism into her pouch.

"True. Seems like we're the lucky ones, judging by all the corpses strewn about," Shadowheart pointed out as we looked at the mess.

"Do you remember what happened? I'm only asking in case you have a concussion," I asked her as I checked her head and she seems to be fine.

"I remember the ship. I remember falling...then nothing."

"Do you have any idea where we are?" 

"No...I don't recognise this place. But anything's an improvement where we just came from. First things first; we need supplies, shelter and mostly a healer. We might have escaped, but we still have these little monsters in our heads."

I noticed that we are missing someone. Laz'el wasn't with us anymore.

"Wait, what happened to our other friend? The one who fought alongside us?" I asked while acting like I don't have a clue who Laz'el is.

"You mean the Githyanki? You might want to reconsider calling her a friend. Looks like she ran off without us."

"Seems like it. But, you still want to stay together I take it?" I asked her and she nodded her head.

"We need each other, and we both know what's at stake. I can't think of better company."

"All right then. Let's get going," I smiled and I was about to walk ahead of her but, Shadowheart stopped me by placing her hand on my shoulder.

"One thing, just before we go, I wanted to thank you again, for freeing me. It would have been all too easy for you to run past my pod, but you didn't. I'll remember that."

"You're welcome. Besides, we are technically in the same boat, considering..." I pointed at my brain and she chuckled at this.

"Lead the way."

I walked ahead of Shadowheart and then we looked around the crash site to see what we can find and what we could use for supplies. We did fight off those Intellect Devours but, none of them was Us. I don't know what happened to that thing but, I know that we'll see it again in act 2 of the Shadow cursed lands.

"So where exactly are you from anyway?" Shadowheart asked as we picked some mergrass that's near the lake for alchemy ingredients.

"I'm from a realm where that's not stuck in the dark ages. It's complicated to explain."

"No need. I saw some things when our minds connected. It's a different and a little..." 

"Odd? foreign? weird?" I asked with a playful smile.

"Yes, that too."

I giggled when she said this before we heard someone shouting. 

"Do you hear that?"

"I do, its coming from over there."

"You think someone else survived the crash?" I asked her before we jogged up the hill and I recognised another familiar character. It's my character crush, Astarion.

"Hurry! I've got one of those brain things cornered!" He told us before turning his back towards us. "There, in the grass. You can kill it, can't you? like you did the others?"

'Astarion!!' I shouted in my mind while my cheeks warmed up. I shook my head and scolded myself. 'NO! bad (Y/n)! this is not the time to be a fan girl!!'

"Easily, stand back," I told him as I approached the bushes and looked carefully.

"There, can you see it?"

I slowly reached for my sword when all of a sudden, a boar ran out of the bushes. I jumped a little and sighed in relief. 

"Just a boar...ah!!" I shouted that last part when someone grabbed me from behind and then I landed on the ground. Astarion held the end of the dagger near my neck while having his other arm around my shoulder where he grabbed me. I held onto his arm to try and keep the dagger away from my neck while struggling to break free.

"Shh. Not a sound. Not if you want to keep that darling neck of yours," Astarion smirked before he looked at Shadowheart. "And you, keep your distance! no need for things to get messy!"

"I need her alive. Stow that blade or I'll show you just how messy things can get," Shadowheart threatened him.

"Shadowheart! don't encourage him!" I yelled before Astarion chuckled.

"Promises, Promises. But I have other business, I'm afraid," Astarion told her before he looked at me.

"Now, I saw you on the ship, didn't I? nod."

Not wanting to make him angry, I nodded my head anyway.

"Splendid. And now you're going to tell me exactly what you and those tentacled freaks did to me."

"You've got it backwards! they took me prisoner, just like you."

"Don't lie to me. I- agh!!" 

My mind twists. I felt this same feeling when I connected my mind to Laz'el and Shadowheart's. I was looking out of unfamiliar eyes, prowling dark, busy streets. I tried to hold onto the memory but it fades to the worm. The light. The fear.

"Ah! what was that? what's going on?" Astarion demanded.

"It was the mind flayer's parasite. It connected us," I told him.

Astarion looked at me with a surprised expression before he released me. We slowly stood up from the ground and he looked at me up and down. 

"You're not one of them. They took you, just the same as me. And to think I was ready to decorate the ground with your innards. Apologises."

"Apology accepted. I might have done the same if the roles were reversed," I told him before I wiped the dust off myself.

"Ah, a kindred spirit. My name's Astarion. I was in Badlur's Gate when those beasts snatched me."

"Name's (Y/n). As you can see, I'm not from this world. Those creatures captured me from my home and brought me onto their ship. Still haven't figured out how that happened though," I mumbled that last part.

"My, my, you've been busy. So, did you learn anything about these worms while wandering the ship?"

"Yes, unfortunately. They'll turn us into mind flayers," I told Astarion.

"Turn us into...?! Ha. Hahahaha! Of course it would turn me into a monster. What else did I expect?" Astarion asked with a frown. "Although, it hasn't happened yet. If we can find an expert - someone that can control these things - there might still be time."

"Uh...control it? we need to get rid of it!" I pointed out.

"Well, yes of course. But first things first," Astarion smirked.

"You should travel with us. Our odds are better together," I offered.

Astarion had a little think and then he said to me, "You know, I was ready to go this alone, but maybe sticking with the herd isn't such a bad idea. And anyone that can crash a mind flayer ship and walk away seems like a good person to know."

I blushed and moved a strand of my hair behind my ear while smiling a little.

"All right I accept, lead on," Astarion smirked and bowed to me. I nodded my head before I lead the group.

'Hehe! despite being forced into the game, I feel so lucky because I get to meet my character crush in real life!' I shouted happily in my head.

We looked around some more before we came across a mind flayer and it's still alive! it was pinned down by the fallen debris. It's orange eyes looked at me and I knew what was about to happen. I wanted to end the monster's life if only I didn't feel...compassion. Compassion? I tried to back off but it felt like something or someone had taken a hold of my body and I froze on the spot.

I felt the worm in my brain react to it and it was forcing me to feel odd feelings towards it. Forcing me to me...love it. Worship it. But that feels slips away. I can sense that the Mind Flayer's mind is elsewhere. I took the opportunity to search through it's mind and it was lusting for something that is gone. But then, I felt it's claws grip back in vengeance, a vice locking my mind into obedience. I knew this creature needed something to survive and my body is the only thing that can nourish it. 

"Hey! hey! snap out it!" I heard Astarion shout and then I managed to escape the Mind flayer's mental grip.

I stumbled back and shook my head. I blinked a few times and looked at the others. "What the hell was that?!"

"I don't know but, we can't allow that monster to live," Shadowheart spoke with a frown.

I nodded my head in agreement before I glared at the Mind Flayer. I approached the dying creature before I stomped my foot into it's skull, closing its eyes forever. 

"Wretched creature. It shouldn't be allowed to live," I spoke with a frown before we continued to search around the crash site.

We eventually came across a sigil or a portal. It looks unstable as I approached it. I slowly raised my hand and tried to touch it but, I got a shock from it.

"Youch! don't go near that thing!" I told the others while shaking my hand.

Suddenly, a hand shot out of the portal and then we heard someone calling out, ,"A hand? anyone?"

I smirked a little before I smacked his hand and I heard him yelp. "Ow! Perhaps I should have clarified! hm? a helping hand? anyone?"

"Sorry, I'll get you out in a jiffy!" I chuckled before Astarion and Shadowheart looked at me funny.

"What? I couldn't resist," I told them before I grabbed the man's wrist with both hands and pulled with all my might.

"That's it! keep pulling!" I heard him shout as I continued to pull.

I pulled as hard as I could until another familiar character flew out of the portal and then I stumbled onto the ground after I pulled him. I rubbed my backside and said, "Okay... that's going to leave a mark."

I stood up and looked at the familiar man and I realised it's Gale. If Mia were here, she would be excited right now. I watched as Gale wiped the dust off his robes before he turned to me and said, "Ooft, hello. Gale of Waterdeep."

Gale shook my hand and e continued, "Apologises. I'm usually better at this."

"No need to apologise. Are you all right?"

"A bit shocked, but friend, its a relief and a pleasure to make your acquiescence. Say, I know you, don't I? In a manner of speaking. You were on the nautiloid as well."

"Never mind that. How in the world did you get stuck in that stone?"

"I don't know what transpired exactly, but the ship broke into pieces and  I suddenly found myself in freefall. As I was plummeting to certain death, I spied a glimmer quite near where I estimated my body to impact with less-than-savoury propulsion. Recognising this glimmer to be a magical in nature, I reached out to it with a Weaving of words and found myself on the other side as it were. How about you? how did you survive the fall?"

"Honestly? I haven't got a clue. We're still trying to figure that out ourselves."

"Fair enough, But even so, I have the unfortunate suspicion your survival is still very much in jeopardy. Back on the ship, you too were on the receiving end of a rather unwelcome insertion in the ocular region, were you not?" Gale spoke before pointing at his head.

"Couldn't have phrased it better myself," I told him.

"No use sugar coating it, is there? The insertee we speak of, this parasite - are you aware that after a period of excruciating gestation it will turn us into mind flayers?" Gale asked and I nodded my head before he continued. "It's a process called ceremorphsis, and let me assure you: it is to be avoided."

'Well, duh...' I thought to myself.

"You wouldn't happen to be a cleric, by any chance, do you? A doctor? Surgeon? Uncannily adroit with a needle?" Gale asked.

"You seem to know enough about our condition to realise it is beyond most clerics' skills," Shadowheart pointed out.

"Most, no doubt. But I find myself hoping to be in the presence of the few. You don't happen to be one of them?"

"My mother works as a nurse so she taught me some basic medical skills but, trying to perform brain surgery? nope. I may be good with a needle but not in that aspect unfortunately," I told Gale.

"As we've established, a few can. It's not exactly a common infliction. We're most certainly going to need a healer, and soon too. How about we lend each other a helping hand once more and look for a healer together?"

"Sounds like a plan. You're welcome to join me."

"Most excellent. A parasite shared is a parasite halved. Or something to that effect. Oh! but before you think you're about to embark on a journey with most ill-mannered a man; thank you for pulling me out of that stone. It was an act foresighted kindness I assure you, for I have the feeling ample opportunities will present themselves for me to return the favour."

"Well there is one thing you can do for me."

"What is it?"

"Go on a diet. You're not exactly a lightweight," I told him bluntly which made Astarion and Shadowheart laugh.

"Hey! watch it, its just all muscle."

"That's what they all say," I smirked before I walked ahead of him.

"Hahaha! I like her, she's funny," I heard Astarion comment which made me giggle.

After meeting three of my companions, this was just the beginning of my adventure in Badlur's Gate 3.