Without a further word, The Emperor waved a hand and the same seething, writhing tear in the world opened beside it; beyond the portal, the city of Baldur's Gate appeared, the sky an apocalyptic red colour. A good half their party cried out in alarm, at the sight of the colossal brain hovering over the ruins of the Upper City; the sky around the Netherbrain was crowded with numerous nautiloids. The Emperor did not look back as it stepped through the portal and vanished from sight.
The stunned silence in the wake of its departure hung heavily for a few more moments. "Well then," Carmela said briskly, although her voice cracked with emotion. "I suppose we'd best free Prince Orpheus, now."
"By far the most sensible suggestion anyone has had all day," Lae'zel growled under her breath, as she stalked towards the glowing orb containing the prince, Zhier hot on her heels.
"But what are we supposed to do without an illithid?" Violet said tearfully, her dark eyes already spilling over. She was shaking, and Rhyme awkwardly patted Karlach on the shoulder, indicating for her to let her down off of her back so that Karlach could go to her love. She slithered down uncomfortably onto the ground, and Gale was at her side in an instant. "We all saw it—the Netherbrain defied Carmela in mere seconds, even with the Netherstones. If we really do need an illithid to help us, what are we supposed to do?"
"We could try and find Omeluum," Wyll suggested. "It did say it was indebted to us after rescuing it from the Iron Throne—"
"Did you see the city just now, Wyll?" Astarion said, his voice hysterical as it broke on the high note. "There's a fucking crater where the Upper City should be! There were—there were fucking multiple nautiloids—where exactly are we supposed to find Omeluum when half the city just isn't there?"
"Everybody calm down and stop shouting," Carmela said wearily; even she sounded defeated.
Rhyme clung to Gale exhaustedly, her thoughts turning over and over and over.
She licked her lips, dry and cracked, and put forth the suggestion that she could practically hear everyone thinking, even though none would look at her. "It has to be me," she rasped.
Read Chapter Twenty here! The final hour is upon our heroes, as the time to confront the Netherbrain has arrived. Happy two year anniversary to this fic - twenty chapters and 280k words later, Rhyme's fate has finally caught up with her. But I still have some tricks up my sleeve, and maybe - just maybe! - our drow heroine may still have a sliver of hope remaining.
Or, if you're new to the series, start here at Chapter One!