#work in progress and by work I mean brain concept that will prob not materialize beyond Posts and Drawings

[linka-from-captain-planet]

I have been in my mind palace, building my pretend Florrick-Ulder Buddy Cop dollhouse and filling it with my favorite things: drama, female background characters and crackships thereof, and elaborate Mad Libs stories cobbled together from vaguely-defined Lore. Also, a special guest star: Helia, the halfling werewolf character scrapped early in development

Brain dump below

as usual, Lore Mistakes are just part of the AU so I'm not worried about it

The first question is of course "when could it have been possible for Florrick and Ulder to Buddy Cop Adventure together?" Placing Ulder at about 55 years old as of 1492, if I wanted him to be about 20 during the adventure (a few years of "adult" life under his belt, but a Fist grunt still, yearning for a role model), that would take me back to 1457.

Florrick's age is less important to nail down, but according to my headcanon placing her around 125 years old in 1492, she'd be around 90 in 1457. I'm still workshopping exactly what I think her life course was in Baldur's Gate - my firm headcanon is that she was born and raised in the Forest of Tethir, and left as a young adult to pursue travel and magical education, but when exactly she ended up in the Gate and what exactly she was up between then and ~1480 is TBD. Regardless, by 1457, she's long since completed a wizardry apprenticeship, and having attained the rank of Flaming Fist Manip, she has young Ulder under her command.

Landing the timing in 1457 is convenient, because upon googling the historical events of Baldur's Gate, I found that there was as significant event around 1450: the attempted coup by Duke Valarken, in which he was supported by a group of lycanthropes in his attempt to overthrow the Council of Four and become sole leader of Baldur's Gate. Following this, the Parliament of Peers was formed and the office of Grand Duke, created. Certainly, the ensuing decade or so was a time of great turmoil as the dust settled - the perfect time for the dynamic duo and a friendship of a lifetime to form.

That timing and event is also convenient, because what other female background character am I in love with, whom I also lightly ship with my beloved Florrick?

Dalyria - according to her journal, once the Physician General to the Parliament. When exactly she was turned and enslaved by Cazador is unknown, but it must have been sometime after 1450 for her title to even exist. Which means she could certainly have "gone missing" in, say, 1457, and, say, leave a lover reeling and desperate for closure...

This setup is great because it gives Florrick and Ulder something to be buddy-cop about: a high-profile missing persons case, with perhaps more of a heart than Florrick wants to share with this kid, and a dynamic formative event for the young Ravengard.

With limited clues to go off of, the streets teeming with the big and little fishes of the city snapping up whatever scraps of power they can find, etc etc etc, obviously Florrick and Ulder would need companions in this quest.

So, who else could have been a) alive and b) active and c) potentially helpful and/or suspicious in Baldur's Gate in 1457?

Obviously Jaheira is always around for whatever bullshit is assailing the city she has, perhaps, only recently settled in permanently to take over an old family home and, perhaps, raise some orphans. Certainly, she'd answer the call to help her old uh *cough* friend Florrick in her time of need. Could the Bhaalists be back at it, aiming to pick off the parliament one by one? Not on Jaheira's watch!! At about 110 years old, Jaheira is also probably in her MILF prime at this point (before ascending to her GILF prime in BG3). Not relevant, just FYI.

On the 'suspicious' front, we have Araj Oblodra, eccentric apothecary of the Lower City. Living in exile since her House was cast into the Clawrift in 1358 (an event she was alive, but not present, for), perhaps Araj is unduly invested in finding the vampire coven physician general, and her alchemical skills as well as proficiency as a rogue are too compelling to pass on, sketchy as she is. I didn't get much farther than that, but she's sexy and I love her, so she gets to be a main character.

In my mind, the ideal "party size" would be 5, so who else? There are a few other options - Volo is certainly around somewhere and definitely not minding his business, Elminster must be lurking as usual, Abdel Adrian probably cares about this, etc - but I just didn't want any more elves or wizards. But wait, did I say lycanthropes were behind the failed coup?

You know who's a werewolf? Helia, the halfling bard orgin/companion scrapped early on in development. Listening to her datamined dialogue, she seems to have been a scrappy, no-nonsense kind of gal and an older lady in 1492, so a young woman in 1457. Pending more research on the context of werewolves/lycanthropes in the Forgotten Realms world, but perhaps she's been wrongly imprisoned since the failed coup. Perhaps, suspecting a second attempt by the same group could be behind the attack on the parliament, she's busted out of prison by a pair of enterprising young Fists, promising a chance to earn her freedom.

This will probably just remain a Concept, so I don't want to get myself bogged down in Plot, but there's really only one conclusion:

In the end, the investigators are thwarted by Cazador Szarr, who is too wealthy and powerful to convince the Parliament and Council to take on. The case of the missing Physician General is closed - ruled a suicide, likely, based on bunk evidence - and a broken-hearted Florrick and disheartened Ulder have no consolation except the friendship they've forged, and a promise to one another:

That, even if it takes half a century, they will work together to see Baldur's Gate to a more just future.

[astrologysvt]

Vernon’s Ideal Type - Natal Chart Reading

For ideal types, I’m not going to be doing specific placements of their ideal partner. Instead, I’m gonna be listing personality traits I think would mesh well with them, as well as focus on their needs and the kind of person who could meet them. I’m looking at all of their placements, specifically their moon, venus, mars, and any aspects related to those planets.

such an interesting mix with all of that water, aqua, and then that cap venus. 

i definitely see him as being someone who is focused on finding someone who he feels he has a very intimate and personal connection with, above all else

like he has so many placements that bring such a strong emphasis towards non-physical values 

his aqua placements that value individuality, intellect, and authenticity.

then his scorpio that craves that emotional depth and connection 

and his pisces mars that comes in and brings in this kinda of spiritual influence in valuing that kind of intrinsic compatibility and bond. 

and so he’s really out there looking for a soulmate in the most simplest terms 

i do think that he is a realistic person because of his logical aqua and cap, so he may not see it as a “soulmate” situation as in “fate”

but he wants to feel that intellectual, emotional, and spiritual harmony with his s/o in ways that may be hard to define and aren’t super tangible

where they can connect with each other, value each other’s minds, and feed each other’s energies and passions 

where there is that very “soulmate” esque understanding of each other where they balance each other out and read each other well 

so with all of that being said, i def think his s/o should be someone with similar values 

someone who isn’t so focused on immediacy, on the material, and on the concrete aspects of the relationship.

someone he can feel connected to, and not just attracted to or committed to. 

someone who appreciates the simpler, more meaningful things in life. 

also to a great degree, i think his s/o should be someone who is able to relax and enjoy silent moments and the little details 

i think someone with too antsy an energy, who is too mentally active and can’t slow down to appreciate each other’s company and ambiance and — I’LL SAY IT —  vibes 

would probably frustrate him and feel like they weren’t really on the same wavelength

his pisces mars especially is such a feeling and observant placement, and can often times get overwhelmed by those who are too excitable or fidgety 

he has such a calm energy about him between all of that water and his super harmonious aspects with his moon — and he is so sensitive to those energies 

so much so to the point that i think he’d easily pick up on that restlessness and would make him uneasy in turn. 

so yeah someone super chill lolol 

because honestly he probs wouldn’t be able to keep up with a super energetic partner either

he also wants someone who is super open-minded 

i think especially with all of that aqua that he’d be very adverse to someone who was more judging, or wasn’t open to viewing things from other perspectives, or wasn’t open to discussion 

i imagine too he’d be very frustrated with someone who was so convinced in their opinions that it came across oppressive

the fun of opinions for him through that aqua is in the potential for discussion, and so that door always needs to be open for him

and with that i imagine he’d find someone who is open, accepting, and progressive very attractive. 

and so then returning to this whole concept of focused more on non-physical values as a whole

this also more than likely means he isn’t super concerned with looks

i highly doubt he has a type, and if he does it’s probably either vague or pretty consistently broken or changing.

i also think this gives him a very unorthodox appreciation of beauty

and so he probably is either drawn to someone with very unusual or thought provoking looks/style, or he just generally pays little mind to those things when it comes to attraction 

i also think that aqua influences comes in and points that attraction specifically towards his value of individuality 

so he’s more than likely going to associate beauty to specific traits as he gets to know them and understands them as their own person 

but then his cap venus comes in, and this is a very literal and very material influence which is a huge contrast to the rest of his chart

he wants someone competent 

someone reliable, and someone put together 

so while he may not care TOO MUCH about looks or appearance, whatever style his s/o has got going on should at least be presentable to a degree lol 

cap influences (or really earth influences in general and especially in venus) usually point towards a strong attraction to those with a career, goals, and ambition 

so that’s something he finds very attractive 

as well knowing that they’re very driven, are able to make plans and stick to them, and are super hard working

i also think with that mix of aqua and cap that he probs thinks it’s SUPER hot if his s/o has a very specific interest they are passionate about 

like an expertise/art they’re very proficient in 

and would love being able to pick their brain and collaborate in that sense. 

this cap influence can also make him drawn to those older than him

someone who has a great deal of experience, and someone who he respects and looks up to.

loyalty and consistency are huge factors for him, especially between all of the fixed energies he’s got going on and then that cap venus 

he needs someone he feels he can trust

not only to be present in the relationship, but to also take the commitment seriously and be very dependable. 

there is so much in his chart that is both very committed, and also super all-or-nothing 

once he knows for certain that that relationship IS IT, he is there for the long haul 

and he more than likely has complete tunnel vision on his s/o 

like doesn’t even have a single thought in his noggin to look elsewhere 

and so he’d feel really assured if his s/o thought very similarly

and if they were someone who could lean into that emotional intensity and attachment 

cuz that scorpio moon can GET ATTACHED. 

i think he’d be frustrated if his s/o were super flighty, who struggled to commit, who he felt he couldn’t pin down

he really needs to feel secure in the relationship

and with his pisces mars especially, he’s the type to be very giving and committed even if the object of his affection isn’t reciprocating 

which can lead to him getting lost in the relationship and losing track of his priorities. 

at its worst it can even create a dynamic where he keeps on giving and giving with the hopes that he’ll then “earn” that commitment and affection

and so he needs someone solid he can lean on who is very open and upfront with where they stand to ensure he doesn’t get completely absorbed/lost in that manner. 

as that is a super, super common occurrence with pisces influences regardless of how logical the rest of the placements are 

and i feel like i need to say that: i know aqua placements are known for their need for independence and freedom 

but between the fact both his moon and mars are in water signs, i think that this aquarian desire for freedom is going to be more concentrated to his desire for intellectual freedom 

where as romantically i think his placements crave too much a sense of exclusivity, intimacy, and loyalty that they kind of overpower that aqua need.

beyond that general sense of commitment however, he also wants to feel he can trust his s/o in confiding in them 

someone he feels he can communicate both his playful hypotheticals and his more intense thoughts to 

scorpio influences in general bring such a strong emphasis to both privacy and control 

and he is very selective with what he lets others see and know about him 

and to a degree a huge desire that he may have because of that, is in feeling as though he can trust his s/o enough to kind of break down that damn and let the floods loose 

the scorpio influence also brings a great deal of possession 

and he wants someone who will let him feel like they are his person 

and that he’s let them into his inner circle and vise versa

and so someone who respects but also kind of cultivates that dynamic where they’re both very open and receptive to each other’s thoughts, no matter how crazy

and also very protective of each other would be great 

someone who he can be his authentic self around with no filter

where there is confidence that his s/o wont judge him if he divulges them in his more out-there thoughts, or when he decides to be vulnerable and communicates darker parts of himself 

he really wants to feel like there is a limitlessness in the relationship 

with that, too, he wants someone who is simultaneously realistic 

someone who can dream up and play along with his creative ideas and thoughts, but also someone who is clearly down-to-earth and rational 

like as much as he wants his s/o to appreciate him and all the weird stuff involved, he also doesn’t want them to be completely out of touch with reality 

which circles back to that cap venus need for someone who is reliable and competent. 

and with all of this talk about him wanting to be with someone he can be himself around — all the good, bad, beautiful, ugly, and weird — he really wants someone who is also very open and honest about themselves. 

his aqua placements and pisces mars really make him drawn to super unique individuals which i touched on before 

but he really vibes when someone is clearly walking to the beat of their own drum 

and he loves the confidence that’s associated with that 

which i think is emphasized by his cap venus 

and even though this placement is often associated with conventionality and tradition — i think mixed with the rest of his odd ball placements, this influence really just means he’s looking for someone who has direction, acts with purpose, and can be a very rational person while also sticking true to their individuality and values

and by all means, with everything else, the weirder the better 

and that weirdness plays into his scorpio moon and that “circle” i mentioned where he feels that camaraderie with his s/o where they respect and appreciate each other’s oddities and perspectives and bounce off each other in that sense 

which again backs ALL THE WAY up and plays off this concept of him being more focused on those non-physical attributes/values. 

finally i really want to touch on the importance of emotional intelligence for him 

i think i’ve honestly mentioned it for every single reading because i do think it is an important influence just for the sake of a healthy relationship 

but for vernon i really think it’s an absolute pillar in terms of his relationships 

between his scorpio moon and pisces mars — and especially since he has these two planets trine each other — he is a very emotionally intuitive, feeling, and sensitive person 

yet that trine aspect brings a great deal of emotional control and harmony as well

he would really struggle with someone who had a temper, or was overly fast to react and resort to confrontation 

someone who couldn’t think objectively in the heat of the moment, or who couldn’t read themselves well and understand when they’re upset and not thinking rationally

and that is because that trine aspect makes it so that he is a very introspective and composed person when it comes to turbulent emotions, and he’d really need a similar mindset in his s/o where they both can approach disagreements and emotions with a very level head 

i also think emotional intelligence is super important in terms of how feeling he is 

i think his s/o should be very good at reading him and at reading energies

i think his reserved and thoughtful nature can make him a bit of a loner (which we know and i’ve talked about before in his chart first impressions) but because of this i think it’s good if his s/o is very understanding of this sensitive and fluctuating nature in him 

he has waves and phases, and is a very dynamic person

and so someone who understands and respects this aspect of him is great who can read him and act accordingly 

either giving him space, amplifying his energies, encouraging his enthusiasm, straight chilling, or giving him that emotional stability

SO YEAH 

i think it’s always super surprising to look at nonie’s chart cuz he has such a hard to pin energy about him 

he’s so hard to read and i feel like his common perception is very contradictory to the energies of his placements, especially in terms of romance 

but behind all of that he’s definitely a very committed, loyal, and protective person 

and craves that emotional closeness and intimacy regardless of floaty and vibey his energies are normally 

such a genuinely sweet boy.