after-the-dawn - Tumblr blog

[after-the-dawn]

Doe eyed mf

[after-the-dawn]

Doe eyed mf

[after-the-dawn]

ghosts are real and they’re everywhere. in old photographs tucked safely in a box under your bed. in the walls of your childhood home waiting for you to come back. they live in old text messages and emails. forever frozen in time. they haunt your old best friends neighborhood. flickering in the street lamps. occasionally, on very rare summer afternoons; when the sun shines through the kitchen window in a certain way and all of the sudden you get this feeling in your stomach of melancholia; that is a haunting. a possession. those are ghosts trying to find comfort in the present because the past they once lived in no longer exists.

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I am not sure how many people saw Astarion's ending where he actually goes Underdark to look after other spawns (+ he can tell you what happened to Cazador's palace)

I just found it so cool to catch this dialogue in our multiplayer!

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They are best friends ♥️

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Down the parsed dialogue rabbit hole again, this time looking at Ethel's Vicious Mockery lines for all the characters, and goddamn, they are brutal.

ASTARION You're one thirsty night away from betraying everyone. Deep down, you like being leashed, don't you? Is there still rat stuck in your teeth, slave?

GALE I can smell what's under those bandages, wizard. You're all rot and ruin. Come to greet death early? You'll be a lovely spectacle. Who would be jealous of you, apprentice?

KARLACH Let's pull your strings, infernal puppet. Happy to sell everyone's soul but your own, aren't you? When I'm done, even the Hells won't want you.

LAE'ZEL Your people will never take you back - illithid scum. Do you miss kissing Vlaakith's feet, gith? A toad with a tadpole! How fitting.

MINSC How quaint! The hamster has a pet. Only evil here is what's inside you, ranger. Go rub your rat, soft-skull.

SHADOWHEART You're so far up Shar's cake you can't see straight. Pathetic. Why would Shar love you when no one else does? You're no complex puzzle. Just a sad little girl.

WYLL Do you think losing that eye made you a hero? Oh, look! It's daddy's regret. Fraud of the Frontiers!

DRAGONBORN Aww, where's your clan? Bet they'd exile you for that brainworm in a blink. Bet that honour of yours shatters easy as your scales. You foul-breathed little lizard!

DWARF No flabby dwarf's a threat to me. More beard than brains, the lot of you. Bet you'd trade your friends for a trinket or two, gold-eater!

DWARF (DUERGAR) Bow your head, slave. You remember how, don't you? Grey and useless as a stone comb. I'll squeeze that stone heart until it bleeds, dwarf. Need a new master, illithid lover?

ELF Fancy yourself immortal? We'll see how long that lasts. I'll show you what a true fey does, dearie. Elves are so pretty. Pretty worthless!

ELF (DROW - FEMALE) Filthy underscum! Just another of Lolth's pretty harlots. Slaver. Sadist. How dare you judge me?

ELF (DROW - MALE) Bare your throat, spider-bait. Kneel, boy. Just like the matriarchs taught you to. Bow to your betters, boy.

GNOME Disgusting burrow rat. Bet your clan's happy you're gone! Try laughing after I rip your throat out, gnome.

HALF-ELF I wonder which parent regrets you more, half-breed. How revolting. Another thin-blooded mongrel. Half-elf. Half-human. All useless.

HALF-ELF (DROW) Even the Underdark doesn't want you, half-breed. A half-drow? How grotesque. Surprised you show yourself in public, abomination.

HALF-ORC Come now, tusks-for-brains! Doesn't this make you angry? All that bloodlust. A little tap, and I bet you won't know friend from foe! Lumbering half-orc. Twice as ugly as your parents combined!

HALFLING Come closer, little softie. You'll be tender. A tiny, sweet morsel. Just for me.

HUMAN Another human rat infesting Faerûn. A human! So desperate to be special. Pity. That tadpole actually made you interesting.

TIEFLING I'll burn you alive and everyone will celebrate. You're everyone's punching bag and no one's favourite. I see the Hells spit out another tragic little tiefling.

[after-the-dawn]

[after-the-dawn]

All of my BG3 landscapes on one post :) prints ✦ patreon (full speedpaints are available there + wallpapers)

[after-the-dawn]

can we take a moment to just think about how incredibly scary magical healing is in-context?

You get your insides ripped open but your friend waves his hands and your flesh just pulls back together, agony and evisceration pulling back to a ‘kinda hurts’ level of pain and you’re physically whole, with the 100% expectation that you’ll get back up and keep fighting whatever it was that struck you down the first time.

You break your arm after falling somewhere and after you’re healed instead of looking for ‘another way around’ everybody just looks at you and goes “okay try again”.

You’ve been fighting for hours, you’re hungry, thirsty, bleeding, crying from exhaustion, and a hand-wave happens and only two of those things go away. you’re still hungry, you’re still weak from thirst, but the handwave means you have ‘no excuse’ to stop.

You act out aggressively maybe punch a wall or gnash your teeth or hit your head on something and it’s hand-waved because it’s ‘such a small injury you probably can’t even feel it anymore’ but the point was that you felt it at all?

Your pain literally means nothing because as long as you’re not bleeding you’re not injured, right? Here drink this potion and who cares about the emotional exhaustion of that butchered village, why are you so reserved in camp don’t you think it’s fun retelling that time you fell through a burning building and with a hand-wave you got back up again and ran out with those two kids and their dog? 

Older warriors who get a shiver around magic-users not because of the whole ‘fireball’ thing but the ‘I don’t know what a normal pain tolerance is anymore’ effect of too much healing. Permanent paralysis and loss of sensation in limbs is pretty much a given in the later years of any fighter’s life. Did I have a stroke or did the mage just heal too hard and now this side of my face doesn’t work? No i’m not dead from the dragon’s claws but I can’t even bend my torso anymore because of how the scar tissue grew out of me like a vine.

Magical healing is great and keeps casualties down.

But man.

That stuff is scary.

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BALDUR'S GATE 3 | scenery | refectory

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BALDUR'S GATE 3 | scenery 10/? | cloister of sombre embrace

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─ ---- ─ ⋆ ⋅ ☼ ⋅ ⋆ ─ ---- ─

O Lord of Light, illuminate the path

Save us from the darkness beckoning wrath

─ ------------------------ ─

[Ahh, Rosymorn Monastery, my beloved.]

[after-the-dawn]

baldur's gate visuals ☼ rosymorn monastery ☼ "[...] we fashioned a simple chapel around ourselves here, and have encased the Blood within steel - to be wielded as a most righteous cudgel against those who sit in shadow. To keep it from the lustful sacrilege of thievery, our simple chapel will become a great monastery..."

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Holy book of Lathander

SUN RISE

“It is Dawn, O seeker of light. What is thy first duty?”

“I shall say a prayer to the light”

***

Prayer to the Dawn

“We welcome you, Morning Lord, and we honor you this day

Celebrating your light, as we partake in our journey once more

Great and powerful, the Sun is your blessing and shows us your loving way

Thank you for your gifts, thank you for your warmth that touches us to the core

Shining down on the land and sea, making things grow and bloom

Your eternal love will always be in our hearts, O Lord of the Sun

We honor you Dawn Lord, for you are the beacon who casts away the gloom

And we devote our days in your holy name, and the darkness we shun.”

“What shall you do second?”

“I shall hold high the Holy Book that the Sun might bless it”

“How shall the Ritual end?”

“I shall reflect on the glory of the Light as it conquers the Dark”

***

NOON

“The Sun is high. Noon is upon us. How shall thee honor the Lord of Light?”

 “I shall sing a hymn to Praise Lathander”

Chant of High Noon

1

O Lord of Light, forever in our hearts

Always inspiring us in our arts

Seal our hearts with your blessed sun

O joyous day, when the heavens open

Chorus

Zenith of the Sun

We thank thee for all thou hath done

We raise our palms to this holy star

Hear our chanting from afar

2

O Lord of Light, illuminating the path

Saving us from the darkness beckoning wrath

We carry out your will, Dawn Lord

Your light, your loving ways are forever adored.

Chorus

***

“How shall you next welcome the zenith of the Sun ?”

“I shall rise my hands to the sun”

“How shall the noontide ritual end?”

“I shall rejoice at the dominance of Light”

***

DUSK

“it is dusk, and as the Darkness moves in, the Evening Ritual must be said to ward off evil. What is the first step?”*

“I will recite the eight tenants of faith”

The eight tenants of faith

Watch each sunrise. For each day is a gift.

Always aid. Strive always to aid, to foster new hope, new ideas, and new prosperity for all kind and its allies.

Nurture life. It is a sacred duty to foster new growth, nurture growing things, and work for rebirth and renewal.

Perfect yourself. Be fertile in mind and in body.  (research “fertility shakes” and foods)

Bring Hope. Wherever you go, plant seeds of hope, new ideas, and plans for a rosy future in the minds of all.

Think ahead. Consider the consequences of your actions so that your least effort may bring the greatest and best reward.

Avoid negativity. For from death comes life, and there is always another morning to turn a setback into a success.

Rules are secondary. Place more importance in activities that help others than in strict adherence to rules, rituals, and the dictates of your seniors.

***

“The Shadows grow longer. What must be done second?”

“I will hold high my children that they might see the Sun”

“How shall the Evening Ritual end?”

“I shall mourn as I watch the Sun give way to the onslaught of night, and greet Seluné, friend and ally of our Morning Lord. For the darkness is no more under her beautiful silver light.”

Lightstone, Dawn’s Light, Sun rays are Holy Symbols

Verse of Dusk

Farewell, Illuminated one, until we meet again

We carry the sun in our hearts until then

Give us the strength to carry on

Until the next dawn

We greet your ally the Moonmaiden

Her silver light guides us until then

There is always another dawn

Farewell, precious sun.

***

Celebrations & Gatherings

Spring Equinox – Ches 19 : Priests of Lathander perform the Song of Dawn, and praise the sacred relationship between Chantea and Lathander. The entire day is consecrated to love, living things and planting the seeds for a beautiful future. (Flowers are very important. Roses.)

It is also when weddings are performed for those who have these faiths, if one praises Lathander and the other Chauntea it is custom for them to bond on the the Spring Equinox at high noon.  The bride and groom are both crowned with rose and golden grain and light ceremonial clothing. Both priests of the faith must be present to officialise this bond. It is said, that those who wed on this day will have many happy, healthy children and will be blessed by both deities with a long loving life.  The marriage must be consummated at dusk for this blessing to occur, and it must be done with the pure hearts and in love.

During this day, those who are in love, have loved, or seek love plant a seed as a symbol of their dedication, their memory or their future to always love and be the best person they can possibly be.

It is known for widows and widowers to go to the grave of their loved on and place a rose bush and speak to their loved ones of happy things that have came to pass.  

*

Summer Solstice – Kythorn 20 : Worshipers of Lathander celebrate with a day of prayer, relaxation, and sunbathing. The sun dance and meditation steps are required. During this day, the followers of Lathander dedicate to peace, relaxation and self-worth. It is often a day when the follower bares themselves to the sky, naked and proud. Ceremonial paints and pastes are placed on the body as the follower raises their arms towards the sacred sun and sing the hymn of the Summer Solstice.  It is known for preists of Lathander to receive direct instructions from the Lord of Dawn, were it be a prophecy, an order, an answer or even a quest Lathander speaks to those who are worthy.

The Dawngreeters, DawnLords, high Dawnlods, Dawnmasters will gather to the Morninglord on this day and together they pray and on this day Lathander speaks directly to them. It is a day when the order present the new followers and Lathander blesses them through the hands of the Morninglord or Lady.  

*

Summertide festival – Flamerule full moon  (July) This entire day is dedicated to the summer’s prime and the alliance made with Selûne . The followers of Lathander and Selûne gather to common places, most commonly on top of hills or places of celebration built for this sole purpose.

The day is celebrated as soon as the dawn creeps, feasts are prepared days in advance. During the day games and other fun amusements are done such as pie making, face painting, egg running, art competitions, sports and much more. As the dusk comes, plays and dances commence, the night is dedicated to the arts and the alliance made with Selûne. They feast and praise the alliance, raising their glasses to their wise gods. Great bonfires are made and dances are performed.

It is also when weddings are performed for those who have these faiths, if one praises Lathander and the other Selûne it is custom for them to bond on the Summertide festival at dusk as the moon and sun meet. Silver crowns are worn encrusted with moonstones, white and silver for the Selûne followers, sun stones, gold and red are worn for the Lathander followers.

*

Midsummer merriment – Elesias 1 (August) Midsummer morning, priests of Lathander perform the Song of Dawn,  like every day, but it is a day that those of the faith can assemble and pray together, in the consecrated buildings, lands and dedicated places of the faith.

It is custom to have a great feast, this great feast can be prepared up to a month in advance. In Waterdeep, the Morninglady, her High Radiance Ghentilara had the most extravagant feasts, they would be organised and prepared months in advance. Her High Radiance would gather the poor, the homeless, the rich and the modest together, and together they would dine.

It is tradition to have tables surrounding a pole with ribbons, flowers and the ground is decorated with the symbol of Lathander. Children will dance around the pole, ribbons in hand as they sing the joyous tune of Midsummer. Golden and red wines are drunk exceptionally this day (abusing alcohol is shunned upon for followers of the dawn and should be consummated for exceptional happy occasions) tasty berry and honey treats called Morninglord’s Soft spots, are made and consummated.

The feast ends with a prayer at dusk, together all party members join in hand and sing the Verse of Dusk, all while praising Lathander for his radiant glory.

*

Soft Spot recipe:    

Puff Pastry:

5 cups bread flour

2 ½ teaspoons salt

2 cups water, or as needed

2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature

Topping:

½ cup melted butter

½ cup Honey

¼ cup finely chopped hazelnuts

1 pint heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups berries, any combination, washed and dried

Pastry directions:

Directions

1.        Mix the flour and salt together in a large. Gradually stir in water until the dough holds together enough to clean the sides of the bowl. You may not need the full amount of water. Shape into a flat ball, and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes.

2.        On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a large rectangle about ½ inch thick. Butter in the center and fold the two ends over it so that it is completely encased in dough. Roll out the dough again, taking care not to let the butter break through the dough, to about ½ inch thickness. Fold. By this time the butter is starting to warm up. Place the dough on a baking sheet and mark it with two pokes from your finger (two turns). Wrap in cold damp cloth and keep in cool area for least 30 minutes.

3.        Repeat this rolling, folding and turning two more times, leave to rest in cool space. Repeat two more times for a total of 6 “turns”.

Topping directions:

1.        Cut pastry dough into 12 rectangles and place on a baking sheet about ½-inch apart. Brush each with melted butter.

2.        Combine ¼ cup of the sugar with the hazelnuts and sprinkle generously over the surface of each rectangle. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the pastries are deep golden brown. Allow to cool.

3.        Meanwhile, whip the cream with the remaining sugar to a light peak. Gently fold the whipped cream and vanilla into the dairy.

For each Soft spot

Place a pastry rectangle on a plate. Top with a generous spoonful of the whipped cream-yogurt mixture. Scatter berries on top of that and place a small dab of whipped cream-yogurt mixture on top of the berries. Place another pastry rectangle on top. Repeat the process for each Soft Spot, finishing with the last pastry rectangle and crowning it with honey.

*

Highharvestide – Eleint 14 (September)

A day when those of every faith celebrate differently, although one element remains the same, they all have a great feast.

Gathers of Lathander help the farmers with their crops, helping them store for the winter.

It was said that children born on this day were favoured by Tymora to have lifelong good luck but be smitten with wanderlust. Another legend was that humanoid females born on this day had control over their reproductive system (i.e., got pregnant only when they wanted to) by force of will alone, and that they could instantly sense when they had been poisoned, either by ingestion or being bitten by a venomous creature for example. It has been known for Lathander to bless women who he deemed fit to raise the greatest heroes of the generation. This blessing however, is rare, but when it occurs, the priestess is the order’s top priority. Herself and the children are under the strict protection of the order.

Rarely, but it has occurred, the Dawnlord blessed someone who did not share the faith or was not a priestess, this caused a rift in the order. The reason being, the one of these rare occurrences, touched by this blessing was a dark elf, Viersaaria a Drow. Although many are still confused about this, some believe that Lathander did this to counter Shar, his foe.  The order of the Sun Soul appointed Iris Dusaut and Brandon Hallwalker, two high ranked monks of the Sun & Moon to find this woman and bring them to their monastery so she could receive protection and raise her children in the sun and moon’s blessed light. This adventure quickly became legend as Lathander and Shar directly fought against each other with their mortal pawns.

Child birth

*Insert information about childbirth*

*

Elegy for the Dead

Although one of the eight Tenants of faith state to not be sad of a death, the faith of Lathander know that the grieving process is important. It is important to mourn your loved ones and then recollect the joyful memories made with them. In death, life. The Elegy is meant to reflect on the good deeds of the fallen. Sunstones are placed on the forehead and heart of the body. If it is a woman, and if this woman had children, a wreath of flowers  is placed on their womb, each rose represents their children. If it is a man, a wreath of flowers is placed in their hands, each rose represents their children.

Your last [Sun rise, Noon, Sunset, depending on when they died.] go to the arms of Lathander, be in his eternal warm soothing light. We will miss [quality, even if evil you must find one], we will cherish your moments. [If children] Your legacy will continue though out [children names], through them you shall live on.  

For in Death, Life.

[after-the-dawn]

I might've added the BG3 Art Book to my dnd assets stash

It' 100% does not have things like the 5e players' handbook + 5e’s character sheet, several gm guides, critical role's explorer's guide to wildmount, baldur's gate and waterdeep city encounters, 101 potions and their effects, volo's guide to monsters, both of xanathar's guides, a bunch of other encounters, one shots, and class builds

In no way are there any pdf’s relating to any wizard who may or may not be residing on any coast

(Edit that I’ve moved the folder to the new link above! So if you catch a different version of this post that link won’t work anymore!)