Adult Content Warning

This work could have adult content. If you continue, you have agreed that you are willing to see such content.

• Yes, Continue
• No, Go Back

If you accept cookies from our site and you choose "Yes, Continue", you will not be asked again during this session (that is, until you close your browser). If you log in you can store your preference and never be asked again.

1. The Grip of Steel by aqeldroma

   Fandoms: Baldur's Gate (Video Games), The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore  

   • Explicit
   • Graphic Depictions Of Violence
   • F/F, F/M, Gen
   • Work in Progress

   22 Dec 2025

   Tags

   • Graphic Depictions Of Violence
   • The Dark Urge/Enver Gortash
   • Minthara Baenre/Lae'zel
   • The Dark Urge (Baldur's Gate)
   • Enver Gortash
   • Minthara Baenre
   • Lae'zel (Baldur's Gate)
   • Astarion (Baldur's Gate)
   • Raphael (Baldur's Gate)
   • Vlaakith CLVII (Dungeons & Dragons)
   • Bane (Dungeons & Dragons)
   • Lolth (Dungeons & Dragons)
   • Elminster Aumar
   • Szass Tam
   • Jarlaxle Baenre
   • Gromph Baenre
   • Various Character(s)
   • Drizzt Do'Urden
   • Background - Raphael (Baldur's Gate)/Vlaakith CLVII (Dungeons & Dragons)
   • Post-Game: Baldur's Gate 3
   • Post-Canon
   • Political Alliances
   • Character Study
   • Evil Wins
   • Plot Twists
   • Action/Adventure
   • Politics
   • Intrigue
   • Gods
   • War
   • Epic Battles
   • Established Relationship
   • and then for Minthara/Lae'zel
   • Slow Burn
   • Mild Smut
   • I cannot stress again how evil these characters are
   • Location: Baldur's Gate
   • Location: Menzoberranzan (Dungeons & Dragons)
   • Drow Politics (Dungeons & Dragons)
   • Drow Culture (Dungeons & Dragons)
   • Red Wizards of Thay (Dungeons & Dragons)
   • Grimdark
   • Warning: The Dark Urge (Baldur's Gate)
   • Paladin Dark Urge (Baldur's Gate)
   • Artificer Enver Gortash
   • Enver Gortash Lives
   • Psychopaths In Love
   • no beta we die like alfira
   • Vampire Ascendant Astarion (Baldur's Gate)
   • way more plot than smut
   • Worldbuilding
   • Forgotten Realms Elements
   • Spoilers for Lolth's Warrior
   • POV Raphael (Baldur's Gate)
   • POV Minthara Baenre
   • POV Astarion (Baldur's Gate)
   • too busy contemplating the minutia of death cult office politics to have sex
   • sorry - Freeform

   Summary

   Ruin and Minthara’s long-planned invasion of Menzoberranzan has been interrupted with news from the stars: a battered and broken Lae’zel has arrived with a dire warning: Vlaakith is hunting any who had opposed her.

   It’s not the only problem: Gortash, under the physical strain of becoming Bane’s Exarch, has begun showing signs of instability.

   Will Gortash and Ruin be able to hold it all together? Or will a vengeful Elminster finally topple their reign?

   Post-canon, endgame plot fic. If you like drow politics, liches, worldbuilding, and a plot that involves deities (oh, and Ascended Astarion descending into madness) this might be the one for you.

   Updates Mondays, 3x month

   Series

   • Part 9 of The Black Hand of Bane

   Language:

   English

   Words:

   77,613

   Chapters:

   19/40

   Collections:

   1

   Comments:

   371

   Kudos:

   79

   Bookmarks:

   13

   Hits:

   1,229