In her quest to take down the Absolute, Jaheira hadn't initially anticipated being back in the road with new allies. Camping out under the stars each night just like she used to. She'd been spoken for by her Harpers and Isobel in the Last Light Inn for longer than she could remember. But then they came along. A ragtag group of infected, seeking to rid themselves of their tadpoles and take down the Absolute. Retaining their free will with a sort of prism. Jaheira hadn't understood it. But she knew hope when she saw it.

That same group had managed to free the prisoners that had been trapped at Moonrise Towers. Then, with Halsin's assistance, they'd managed to take the first steps towards lifting the Shadow curse. Hell, Jaheira thought she had finally gone mad when she saw the Nightsong fly through the skies, free at last from her prison. They'd weakened Ketheric Thorm in a way she'd thought impossible. And then they'd killed him.

Jaheira's mind was made up by the time they were setting off to Baldur's Gate. She wanted to go with them. She'd thought that after her last heroic adventure, it was time for her to hang up her blades. Her days of daring do were over. But they had ignited a spark in her that she thought was long extinguished. She wanted to help bring justice to the Chosen of Bane and Bhaal. She wanted to help them seize control of the Netherstones and eventually, the Netherbrain.

And so, she departed with them. Along the path to travel to Baldur's Gate. Jaheira hadn't realised how much she'd missed travelling like this. Roughing it in nature was just what she needed to feel like herself again. She might be an old girl, but she'd far from lost her flare. Well.. almost. It was quickly made clear that the years, while they hadn't dulled her blades, had softened her heart.

The group had found a child. Young. Too young to be alone like they were. There was no sign of parents. No sign of brothers or sisters. Just them, sat cowering in the ruins of what had once been their home. Clinging to a blanket and a plush, accompanied only by a cat that seemed to cling to their side. The logical side of Jaheira told her that they couldn't take on a child. The group was throwing themselves into danger every other hour of the day; it wasn't the circumstances any child should live in. But neither were the ones that the little one was already in. Hells, she really was going soft.

When they took the child in, they practically seemed to cling to her side. Maybe drawn in by naturally authoritative and protective ways. Jaheira didn't really mind, so long as they didn't interfere with her. She was happy to satisfy their curiosity with explanations, and feed their imagination with stories of her past adventures. And when they weren't with her, they were with Halsin, riding around camp on the back of his bear form. Overall, they were a good kid. She'd thought.

But that night's events proved that this child was no regular child.

Jaheira had awoken on instinct. Maybe just a feeling that something was off. They were gone when she went to check on them. She grabbed her blades, and went looking in the forests around camp. When she found them, though, her heart stuttered in her chest. They were leaned over the cat that had come along with them when the group took them in. The small animal was gored beyond recognition, set down in the centre of a circle of blood. The child was covered in its blood, but trembling and sobbing, as if they didn't know what had happened. What they'd done. Jaheira snapped a twig as she stepped closer, and the child looked up, eyes wide with fear of themselves. They scrambled to their feet, running to Jaheira and hugging her desperately, blubbering and sobbing incoherently. Jaheira hugged them back as the realisation dawned on her, and her resolve made anew. This child was a Bhaalspawn. And she would not let them fall victim to their father's twisted influence.