bardic-inspo · 1 year ago
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Here's is my pink lady Durge. Her name is Iris and she's a circle of the moon druid. Being pink, unfortunately, doesn't hide her blushes or her thirst for violence from a certain vampire spawn. 👀
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mokeonn · 10 months ago
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I started an honor mode playthrough with probably the cutest tiefling in bg3 and I fuckn got killed during the Phase Spider Matriarch, so I decided to continue my save with dishonor because my character was just so damn cute. Well for some reason or another the game didn't?? Switch it to custom mode?? It's still honor mode??
So I'm either going to get those golden dice in the most dishonorable way possible or the game is just pulling on my leg and It's just honor mode without the reward.
#simon says#the character btw is a pink tiefling fae warlock/bard named Poetry#she's wearing purple and yellow clothes until I find pink dye#and she's wearing the volo bard reward clothes which make her look absolutely adorable??#i just gotta draw her soon#she's also a Wyll romance. because I have yet to romance Wyll and I think warlock/bard is a GREAT combination to romance him with#it's funny because so far Astarion has been my main romance (i think 3 times now)#and he fuckin HATES her#Poetry is a little goodie two shoes who is not using those Illithid powers so everyone else loves her kindness and whimsy#and Astarion thinks she's the world's biggest pinkest killjoy#legit got angry at her and asked if it's her life purpose to ruin his fun#it's gonna take him a while and a lot of silly responses to get him to warm up to her#and i dont think the mild annoyance at her goody goody antics will go away#but yeah i just... love her so much#the other playthrough is another goody goody no illithid playthrough but he's a half-drow druid saving himself for Halsin#it's pretty funny as Poetry though because Shadowheart is already ready to start something together and Gale has started flirting#but she's only got eyes on the blade of Frontiers baby#oh and Poetry is also a dark urge playthrough who is avoiding her urges as much as possible#unless it's an unavoidable event she is surpressing that#Bhaal somehow spawned the world's cutest murder machine#anyways im gonna keep playing today because im tired (i drank last night) but I gotta draw poetry soon she's so cute
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ravendruid · 2 months ago
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Hi 👋 I would love to see Vaxleth in number 27 kissing in the rain 💛 I love your writing so much btw
Hii!!! Thank you so much for sending a prompt! :D I hope you like it as much as I do ^_^ (And thank you for the compliment :D :D :D)
A Kiss In The Rain
(Read on AO3)
Rain is fun until it isn’t and, at this point, Vax’ildan is getting fed up of the second day of pouring outside. He wants to get out of this stuffy, snobby, much-too-large castle where he feels like he’s being watched at every moment of the day, which he probably is, considering his stomach can’t growl without a servant immediately coming over with a tray of food.
It doesn’t help that everyone he wants to hang out with is locked in the workshop with Percival, going over sketches, doing calculations, and planning things that are far more complicated than what Vax’s brain can comprehend. It sucks that both his sister and his girlfriend instantly bury themselves with work whenever they visit. 
“Mr. Vax’ildan?” A young maid calls his attention. Vax rolls his eyes at the title and looks over his shoulder, decided to give her a word or two about calling him that, but then he sees she is holding a piece of folded parchment and nods instead. “This is for you,” She says, handing the paper.
“From whom?” Vax asks, politely as he takes hold of it. He recognizes the feel of the parchment from the same in Percival’s sketch book. If this is a summons to that stuffy, smoldering workshop… 
“Miss Keyleth, sir,” The maid replies. The title, again, makes Vax’s stomach roil. Why would Keyleth send him a written note through a maid when she can just call him on the earring?
“Thank you,” Vax nods, then leaves the maid behind. 
The note is simple and effective—Meet me at the Widow’s Garden, right now—but it doesn’t answer any more of Vax’s questions. Nonetheless, Vax still obeys because that’s his super-powerful druid girlfriend who can call lightning, and he’s not sure she won’t do just that if he fails to show up when she summons him.
“Keyleth?” Vax calls as he transposes the unlocked iron gate. The garden has had better days, but Vax knows Keyleth has been working with Percy to fix it. “Is there a reason why you called me to meet you out here? It’s fucking pouring, love.” He calls again, to no response.
Vax wanders around for a minute or two, looking in every nook and cranny for the familiar flaming red hair of his girlfriend or for any out-of-place animals, but he doesn’t see anything. He’s almost determined to head back to the castle when he hears a twig snapping behind him.
“Who’s there?” He holds two daggers out in front of him, ready to face the threat.
“Relax, Vax. You know I could snap you in two before you even flung that thing at me,” Keyleth mocks him. She’s not totally wrong. 
“Hey,” Vax greets her. He allows his shoulders to sag with relief and stores the daggers back in their belt. He sees her now, so beautiful and soaked to the bone, just like he is. Her beautiful teal dress sticks to her skin, hugging all her curves, which makes Vax smirk as he lets his gaze wander to her chest.
“My eyes are up here,” Keyleth hooks her finger under Vax’s jaw to bring his face back up. She’s smiling knowingly, a smile she always gives him when she catches him adoring her—which happens way too often.
“Not my fault you wanted to meet in the rain,” Vax shrugs. He wraps his arms around her waist and laces his fingers at her back. Keyleth does the same around his neck. “Why, though? I’m soaked and miserable, and I’m gonna smell like a wet dog.”
“I’ll dry you up, don’t worry,” She smiles. Vax could get lost in her smile. It’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen—correction, Keyleth is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. “I figured you were bored up there and you needed to get some air.”
“In the rain?”
Keyleth nods. Vax holds his breath when she leans her forehead down to his and closes her eyes. He feels her breath in deeply, as if she’s trying to commit the scent of him in the rain to memory, then exhale. “I–I wanted to do something,” She mumbles, allowing Vax to hear the sound of insecurity in her voice. It’s only with him that Keyleth lets down the mask and allows herself to feel and talk about her insecurities, which Vax appreciates. He believes in her more than he has ever believed in anyone, so he knows she can be confident and strong, but Keyleth still needs reassurance once in a while, and he’s glad he’s there to give her that when she needs it the most.
“In the Widow’s Garden, in pouring rain?” Vax teases her by wiggling his eyebrows. 
“W–what? No! Vax!” Keyleth scolds him playfully. “It’s not t–that!”
“Alright, then, what is it, love? Should I be worried you’re attempting to kill me, then?” Vax keeps teasing his girlfriend until she gives him a shaky smile. 
“I wanted to do this,” Keyleth ends up saying, more confident, and then she places her hands on the back of Vax’s head and brings him in for a kiss. 
When the shock at the intensity of the kiss passes, Vax fully embraces his half-elf druid girlfriend, raising a hand to steady her back as he responds by deepening the kiss. His blood feels like fire at the feel of Keyleth’s body pressed against him, but not the kind of fire that usually makes them end up tangled in bed. No, this fire is different. This is a fire that makes Vax think about the future with Keyleth, to imagine the days of following her on her work trips; of her coming home to a hot, homemade meal and a nice, relaxing bath; of the tiny freckled, red-haired babies Vax would love to have with her one day. It’s a fire that makes him want to get on his knees and ask Keyleth to be truly, wholly his forever, to take him to be truly, wholly hers forever.
But the kiss ends and Vax regrets having to come back from his reverie. Yet, there is a different shine to Keyleth’s beautiful green eyes, a shine that lights a flame of hope inside of Vax that maybe, just maybe, Keyleth felt the same way he did just now, that one day she will take him by the hand and ask him to stay, because they both know that it is her step to take, not his. 
“Are you still angry at me for making you come out here in the rain?” Keyleth asks, fondly caressing his face.
“I could never be angry at you, Kiki. Never.”
Vax kisses her again, and again, and again. They stand kissing in the pouring rain until the clouds part and Vex’ahlia and Percival find them soaked but happy, with blushing faces, and once Keyleth dries them off with a touch of her magic and they join the other couple in the dining room, Vax thinks that, maybe after all, this castle isn’t that bad. As long as Vax has Keyleth at his side and his twin is happy in the arms of the man she loves, Vax knows they will be alright.
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spacebarbarianweird · 4 months ago
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HC or fic request (whatever you have the inspiration for): post-game unromanced Astarion (let's say Tav chose another companion from the very beginning) with an OFC of your choosing, though I would love a human or even a half-elf. As much as I love Tavstarion, I feel like the the possibility of Astarion finding love in someone other than Tav a rather unexplored scenario in fan fiction.
I like this idea, too! You know, before the patch 6 ending was released, people had been sure that Astarion would be doomed to be alone if didn't romance Tav. But unromanced Astarion obviously lives his best life possible! He hunts monsters, enjoys his freedom, explores himself. And he can be sure he doesn't adapt his mindset to his lover's interests. I actually think if I am not tired of writing about Astarion, I will write a longfic set in another timeline where Astarion doesn't stay with Tav and goes on his own. As for now, here is a headcanon!
Unromanced Astarion Post-Game
Masterlist
Headcanons
It isn't easy to be on his own.
Astarion craved solitude when he was a slave but now he doesn't know what to do.
He can't make decisions for himself. Which quest to take, what clothes to wear, what inn to stay.
Astarion finds it crippling to be so dependent on the opinions of others - but what other choice does he have?
He doesn't trust anyone.
And the world has changed so much in the last two centuries!
He doesn't recognize places, he has no idea how that world works now.
At days, he cries, mourning his life pitying himself.
Six months pass. He gets invited to the party.
Astarion collects himself. He needs to impress his old friends, he must not look like a wreck.
He tells about his monster hunting job avoiding the fact he barely worked like one. He drinks and laughs but he is a bad liar.
Halsin, the archdruid, doesn't force Astarion to talk but offers to go to the Shadowcursed lands and help the Emerald Grove and the Harpers get rid of monsters.
Astarion agrees that instant.
For the next ten years, he has a purpose. For the next ten years, he has fun.
And he finally starts talking to other people about his experience.
To his surprise, people around show support.
Yes, they are still afraid of him but they say he has every right to be the way he is now after all that happened.
Ten years later, Astarion grows tired of this place and decides to leave.
Gods damn it, he will be missed!
Astarion goes north, hoping to see more and more of the Sword Coast.
Vampirism has its benefits regarding strength and regeneration but, sure, it's better not to be an undead.
He decides to go looking for the cure.
Eventually, he joins an adventuring party of the most weird and random people Astarion has ever seen.
And the weirdest of them all - is a Spore Druid who talks to herself.
She is straightforward. Rude. Weird. Oblivious to so many things, Astarion is surprised this person has managed to leave the house and not get lost.
But utterly adorable.
She is a Wood Elf and her skin is like copper.
It takes him more years to realize he is in love. The feeling is weird to him, he doesn't know what to do with it.
They spend decades traveling together and looking for the cure before ending up in a distant village where no one pays attention to the weird couple.
Her Circle accepts him, too.
Astarion doesn't know if it lasts forever or if he will leave eventually.
But for now...
This is good.
--
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thatbluepencilcrayon · 1 month ago
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how are the cats going? also, how are you? hope you are well 💗
Well well well, if it ain’t one of the most amazing people I know!!
The cats are doing good, menaces as always but we love them<3 I know you didn’t ask about the dog but… he’s here too!!
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Darling little girl! my sweetheart! the s’more of my heart! has recently started sneaking into my room to sleep on my homework!! I think she like the crinkle of the paper, little bugger. She has also recently moved her favourite napping spot from the bathroom floor to the new chairs! I assume she likes the cushions. (That’s where she’s sleeping in this photo!)
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Goodest of boys! Fluffy little man! Snoring extraordinaire! I don’t think I’ve posted much of Monty, he doesn’t like photos(my phone usually captures him in low quality 😭😭) this is a rare good photo of him, and don’t let his cute little face fool you his tail is A-WAGGING!!! that thing should be classified as a weapon by now!! Haha. Still as cuddly and soft as ever though!
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Menace. Agent of chaos. Stinky little lady. I love her to death, but she sat her stinky, furry, adorable,little behind on my face today so I’m holding a grudge. Little rascal. She still lives for cuddles but she has recently discovered that eating my food is, alas, something she can do. Woe is me, am I right?
Im doing alright, im sick and not really aloud to go to school (or anywhere really) doctors orders. “No strenuous activity at all” not anything new but y’know, so I’m online for now.
Onto some more lighted news, me and some old friends are starting a dnd campaign!! It’s fun so far, im playing a Druid! I’m a total noob though, LMAO🤣!!
How have you been? Anything fun? I remember you talking about that finance competition you did awhile back but I never saw the results of how that went, did you have a good time?
Sending you many many many hugs and well wishes Bee <3!! Thanks for checking in on us, means a lot <33!!!!
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rahadaddy · 1 month ago
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One of the underrated changes I've made to my Barovia, just because it fits some of the themes and narrative better, is with Ez and Van Richten. He's still her mentor and foster father figure, but instead of Van RIchten being secretly racist and leaving Ez behind because he is cursed, it's more heartbreaking. Van Richten is dying in my game. He doesn't want Ez to have to witness it (or, worse, die with him). His stint as Rictavio is a coping mechanism that is not working and his goal is to kill Strahd or die trying.
Ez just found him again and she's hoping he'll reconsider sentencing himself to death like some martyr. She doesn't want him to reconsider killing Strahd. She just wants him to not throw himself at Death (in Barovia, no less!). She wants to be included in the greatest hunt Van Richten has undertaken. There is a heartbreaking drama unfolding between them.
And it's all background noise. Rictavio traded his horse for information on Castle Ravenloft with the warlock (who has a celebrity crush on Rictavio). He just offered to arm the party's fight against Strahd. Ez took the ranger aside and said, "Hey... he means well, but he will be reckless. Coming from me, that means something."
Except... coming from her, it means nothing because as much as she likes and wants to support the party, they hate her for stealing a horse from Arrigal's camp. They don't like Arrigal, either, but Arrigal and the ranger were formerly business associates, so saving Ez's life had a financial cost. More to it, the cleric hates Ez for "embarrassing his family's name" or something. I do not understand my player's logic there, but Alistor generally hates most people so it doesn't shock me.
Sometimes I think about party roles. Theo, our warlock, is definitely the heart of the party. She certainly is the one who wants to make connections with NPCs the most.
I just don't get it with Ez. Ez saved Victor Vallakovich from Castle Ravenloft, and the entire party's lives from pissed-off druids in the woods this past session and it didn't move the needle. Maybe her stint as "Rictavio's Lovely Assistant" will be humorous enough (or productive enough) to impress them. If not, I'm going to have to reevaluate. She doesn't show up often or in every life-or-death scenario. The two times she has shown up were to first give the prophecy to the ranger (who is a replacement for a dead bard PC) and reunite Victor with the party after a teleportation circle went wrong, and second because Van Richten promised the party a ride home from Castle Ravenloft. It made more sense to send Ez than Van Richten, who wouldn't have been able to resist a vampire hunt.
My GF said she wished Alistor (her cleric) liked Ez better because it seems like a fun little drama and that she wishes everyone had insight checked the NPCs more. I agree but I don't know what to do about it. I know what plot beats to hit with my players that they generally enjoy. I have not cracked the code on NPCs. And it's weird because they adored Ez last game!
I think one of the things I'm going to try to do is pare down the number of NPC allies they take with them to Krezk and Immol. Right now, they have Ireena, Ismark, Victor, Stella, and Doru. Stella died and was brought back by Theo during the druid fight. At other times, they've traveled a little with Godfrey and the revenants, the Durst Siblings, and they have plans to travel with Patrina Velikov. I guess they don't really need more NPC allies but like... wild choices, I think.
And I still have NPCs to finish designing for Krezk and Immol.
I'm not mad about it. The game is going really well and we're having a great time. I'm just stumped! The party wants to spend a day or three in Vallaki before shipping out west to search for prophesied items. I have to have Immol ready for them! I'll probably try posting more here as I prepare!
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floof-writes · 10 months ago
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WARNING: this post includes some negativity about something you might love: D20’s The Seven, specifically choices made by Sephie about Sam Nightingale’s actions and backstory
TL;DR- (Disclaimer, I'm only to episode 5) The way Sephie chose to play Sam makes her seem aloof, toxic, disingenuous, and attention-seeking compared to the rich found-family themes of past Fantasy High seasons and to her fellow characters in this season. Less importantly but still frustrating, she doesn't follow the 'one leveled spell a round' rule. If she had all these flaws and was also funny, I might forgive her. But, alas.
Watching The Seven right now for FHJY and while I have countless good things to say about it, forgive me for instead ranting about the fan beloved Sam Nightingale. While I understand that many people love it, Sam/Sephie’s stage mom backstory gets on my fucking nerves. Especially the viral video thing in episode 5. Sephie blows up a bit (a bit in a comedy show! They're always doing bits!) into something big and then chooses to duck out instead of committing and resolving. I LIVE for emotional moments in D20, I seriously do, but whatever Sephie has been doing just doesn’t work for me. It feels cheap. D20 emotional moments have a ton of build-up through comedy/resistance, and I hate to say it, but Sam is not a funny character. I’m not saying she’s not realistic- she’s traumatized and is going through a lot, but Sephie is playing her in the wrong genre. D20 is a comedy.
Here's the thing: Ally also gets criticism for playing Kristen in a really explicit and overt way, trampling over other roleplay with her trauma, and that is true (sorry Kristen, ily!), but at least what Ally did is funny. Sam isn't. Sephie almost nailed it when Rebecca revealed she was getting divorced- her reaction was both real and comedic, but later when she called Penelope it felt forced/spotlighty/too soon, especially considering she didn't even have a mirror charge left. And that attention-seeky vibe isn’t helped by the fact that Sephie chose to play an ex-child actor: a real-life tragedy that almost always comes off as cheap when fictionalized.
But the parallels between Ally’s Kristen and Sephie’s Sam don’t end there! One of the biggest reasons people were annoyed by Kristen was Ally’s (and to an extent, Brennan/fellow player's), absolute ignorance of the rules about concentration spells, which made her really overpowered in season one. My argument against this as a newbie dnd player was always ‘rule of cool, it was fun to watch and fun to play so it doesn’t matter!', but as a more experienced player I finally understand that frustration even though I tried not to feel it. The same thing happened with Sam in ep 4- she casts two leveled spells in a single turn with Quicken Spell (Lightning Bolt and Fly, and again later with Enthrall and Suggestion), which makes her seem crazily overpowered despite the fact that she’s a 3/6 multi-class among a 9th level druid and a 9th level cleric. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a good multi-class, but she shouldn’t be outstripping them so handily (Yielle also fucking slayed this fight though).
[A proposed alternate turn for her second mistake: Quicken spell to Enthrall and then use her winged boots and second action to attack the harpy and catch Penny (a ranged cantrip (LIGHTNING LURE) or a weapon attack if the DM allowed that to cause her to drop Penny, opposed strength with Danielle’s Bear Totem advantage if not). It would have been just as cool and displayed better teamwork, plus it was an opportunity to roleplay bonding and show gratitude for the Feather Fall that saved her fucking life.]
In fact, for me, there’s only three rather subjective reasons why I adore Kristen so much and find Sam super annoying: 1. As we've been over before, Kristen is funny. Sam is not. 2. I personally really relate to Kristen’s Overpowering Trauma (tm) and as an amateur actress, find bitter child actress plots absolutely inconceivable (Disclaimer:Jeanette McCurdy’s ‘I’m Glad My Mom Died’ made me fucking lose it). And 3. Kristen's story is about finding love (of herself through romantic but most importantly platonic relationships), supporting others, and understanding the world. Caring so much she self-destructs. Even her famous rule-breaking was usually caused by a conflict with Bless, a spell she cast every time to protect her friends. But Sam has thus far rarely displayed unselfishness, despite knowing the Maidens for nearly twice as long as Kristen knew the Bad Kids by the end of Season One. Kristen was self-centered in that Ally often drew the focus of roleplay towards their character's own issues and sub-plot, (or by being the purest form of the new player paradox and asking to do something crazy.) Sam is self-centered in that same way, and also in that she is literally selfish. Antiope says 'I have an opportunity' and instead of saying 'I get it, the pressure of having a parent who doesn't understand you changes everything, but even then a part of you still wants what they want for you' she says 'so you won't be there for me? How could you?'. Penny saves her life before being snatched into the air like a mouse to a hawk, and Sam is the only one who can fly but she plays the harp instead of helping her in return.
ALL the maidens lost months to more than a year of their lives. All the maidens are grappling with generational expectations, trauma, and pressure just like Sam. The big what-if at the end of highschool. I was only going to point out Antiope and Penny, but this actually seems to be a major theme of the season, since Ostentatia and Zelda also have overt themes of this.
Look, if you’re gonna play angsty, there’s a trick to it. There's this highschool level acting advice I've heard so many times: The worst choice you can make on stage is to be bored, because what is the audience to do except be bored as well? Similarly, if you choose to play disconnected, then how is an audience supposed to connect? In a group of people who have vocalized endless support for you, ‘I’m fine, I'm fine' (as shown in episode 5's viral video scene) is just dishonest, and it's honestly a betrayal of Sephie’s fellow actors who are working to improvise a history of openness and support with Sephie’s character, just so Sam can seem aloof and angsty. Break down in their arms, Sephie! Get flustered and run away! Either ‘I Kiss Her And Skateboard Away/I Burn Two Luck Points To Stop Riz From Finding Out’ OR ‘I Need Everyone To Dogpile On Me Right Now/I Kiss Everyone On The Mouth’ levels of teen angst are needed for this to be actually funny. Sam could've had something unique and iconic up there with Kristen and Fig's struggles with being known, but she isn’t cringefail enough. She's not relatable, and she claims to be bitter but really she's just mean. And again, I never said she isn’t realistic- real life people do the ‘I’m fine’ thing. Real life teenagers make a big deal out of something to tease out sympathy/curiosity over a Hidden Trauma and then duck out of an explanation for the attention of it all. But it isn’t funny and it feels OOC for a maiden who had a year and a half to become fucking codependent (/pos) with these other six girls.
Rant over, something positive to end the post: TaleSpire is so fucking cool! Physical battlemaps are awesome but you couldn't do a 700ft+ chase battle on the dome's tabletop. They really took advantage of using a virtual tool this season and did something they couldn't do otherwise. (Plus the fact that TaleSpire is treated like video game software and has a one time purchase fee instead of a subscription based model is fucking awesome!)
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littlelovelyra · 4 months ago
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Chapter 6: The Inconvenience (The Change Series)
"... My patience is wearing thin and I would very much like to relax with my girlfriend, yes you heard me, my GIRLFRIEND. Now get out or you will die sooner rather than later.”
AO3
Notes: Sorry this took so long! I've been busy with work lol - also for my other fics if you are following them, I promise updates are coming <3
Summary: You and your companions are celebrating the small victory of finally killing Auntie Ethel, saving the young girl from a horrible demise and reuniting her with her mother. The location of your celebration is at the speakeasy Astarion had previously taken you to (the one that has some special infused wine for vampire spawns like yourself) - later that evening your companions head back to the Elfsong continue your celebrations while you and Astarion take a walk to the docks…. and end up getting kidnapped, again. Great.
For ease all my work is 18+ minors DNI
Warnings: torture (ish if you squint its very very short), fluff, blood, fighting, language, let me know if i missed anything?
____________________________
Tav:
Laughter and cheers fill the air of the speakeasy you and Astarion visit frequently, because why would you pass up the opportunity for free beverages? Especially when said beverages were infused with ethically sourced humaniod blood. Glancing around the room you see Karlach and Halsin arm wrestling to see who’s the toughest, no doubt Karlach will take the victory, Halsin may be huge for an elf, however, he is just a big softie. You watch as the sweat beads atop the druid’s brow as Karlach flashes a knowing smile. You can almost see the veins in his hands pulsing as he strains to pin her and against all his efforts Karlach flicks her wrist in one movement pinning his arm to the table. Halsin’s head rolls back and a rumbling belly laugh fills the room as Karlach dramatically kisses her muscles while she flexes. These moments are rare since you are all occupied with taking steps to defeat the elder brain, the destination seems eons away as you are trying to help all your companions with their battles. Cazador was just one abuser on that list… you still needed to aid Shadowheart, Gale, Wyll, Lae’zel… the list goes on and on. But today… today was a small victory and you owed it to them to have a small respite to celebrate. 
“Evening Tav, you look beautiful as always.” Lysander, the very flirtatious barkeep leans over the counter giving you his best smile. 
“Evening Andy, as always you are too kind to me.” You return his smile with your own, knowing that Astarion is watching. This was one of the fun little games you loved to play with him, he gets so very jealous of Lysander and you find it quite adorable. “How has business been? Anything interesting happening as of late?” You bat your eyes and slowly brush your hair over your shoulder.
“Business has been busier since your last visit m’lady. I have noticed more of our patrons are requesting our… infusions.” He presses his lips together and his brow furrows in mild concern.
“Is that so? Well, Andy, you’ve piqued my interest! What can you tell me about these new patrons?” You keep your voice light and flirtatious but a wave of anxiety courses through your body. You know Sebastian is waiting to strike at any given moment and while your other half is not worried, you certainly are. 
“I’m glad you came tonight, there is something I needed to tell you. There were four spawns here two nights ago, asking of you and your… friend.” Lysander always refused to acknowledge Astarion’s connection to you, but you let it pass this evening and allowed him to continue. “I knew they spoke of you as the descriptions fit. I had told them that many people visit this establishment and I couldn’t possibly keep track of every soul who walked through my doors.” He offers a sheepish smile as his face reddens. “I thought you should know… If you are in any sort of trouble m’lady… Let me try to help in any way that I can?” His hand momentarily touches yours in a show of concern, however, he releases it as he sees Astarion stalking over to the bar. 
“So lovely to see you, Andy. This looks like a fascinating conversation, mind if I butt in?” Astarion glances at you raising his eyebrow, a subtle smirk appears as he wraps his arm around your waist. 
“Andy was just telling me he had some people here asking for us. But he graciously turned them away. He offered help if we need it.” You smile sweetly at the barkeep and his eyes sparkle at your acknowledgement. “If anything comes up again, please see me at the Elfsong Tavern. We have the whole upper floor. Thank you again for letting me know but my companions and I should be going.” You nudge your head to the group just as Gale drunkenly knocks over a bottle of wine and you give Lysander an apologetic smile. “I know my drinks are complimentary but please take this to restock.” You place a pouch filled with 500 gold coins and his eyes widen in appreciation and shock at your generosity. 
As your group leaves the speakeasy to make their way home you and Astarion fall slightly behind after letting them know you will see them in the morning. The pale glow from the moon illuminates the quiet streets of Baldur’s Gate as you stroll hand in hand towards the docks, only the sound of the wind dancing through the sails surrounds you and for once you feel a moment of peace. The soft tap of your footsteps along the dock echoes out over the still water that reflects the clear skies above, looking as if the water were the stars themselves. 
While admiring the star-filled water, Astarion's arms wrap around your waist from behind pulling you into him and he places his chin atop your head, gazing out at the water with you in a comfortable silence. Eternity… You get to be with this man, eternally. Tears sting your eyes at the thought and an uncomfortable lump of emotion builds in your throat. How far the two of you have come from the first moment you met. After all the obstacles you have faced together most people would have crumbled to the pressure, but not you. Your love seems to withstand anything, and although you are far from being able to live a peaceful life you think to yourself that it wouldn’t matter as long as you had each other. 
You are not sure how long you have been standing there lost in your thoughts but you feel a slight shift in how Astarion holds you. His arms seem to have tightened, his stance has widened and he now stands upright while his head slowly scans the area. 
“My love, it seems we have some… visitors” He calmly whispers into your ear and you mentally ready yourself for a fight. 
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Astarion:
There is something about the still of the water you find yourself staring at while you hold her. Perhaps it’s the inky darkness or the way it reflects the stars… or it’s because of both. You would not be able to see the stars had the water not been so dark and it comes to mind that that is what Tav is to you, the light in the dark. With all the darkness that has surrounded you throughout your journey, she has been the light. You wonder to yourself if you would ever stop being in awe of her and deep down you already know the answer is no.
Something snaps your attention away as you see a shadow shift behind a barrel from the corner of your eye. Cautiously you glance around the area and notice three shapes slowly sneaking their way to you and your lover. Mentally you scoff at their amateur attempt at staying hidden, they clearly need some lessons in the art of being stealthy and you doubt Sebastian even knew where to start. Nonetheless, your grip tightens around Tav’s waist as you adjust your stance and ready yourself.
“My love, it seems we have some… visitors” Your voice remains calm and kept to a whisper. You feel her breathing become shallow as anxiety settles within her chest. “I will not let you go, you’ve got this and I’ve got you.” 
Three vampire spawns spring out of the shadows and surround you, two males and a female, their crimson eyes glowing with hatred. 
“Sebastian requires your presence, Astarion.” The female hisses in your direction. You vaguely remember her, the half-elf you had found one evening at the bar in Wyrm’s Crossing. Her hair was a pale blonde back then but it seems she has since changed it to an inky black. 
“I hate to disappoint but we will politely decline.” Tav’s voice flows through the air with an eerie calm as you feel her body tense against yours.
They do not bother to respond, instead, they inch closer to you grabbing both you and Tav sending you disappearing in a cloud of red mist. Gods dammit, not this again. You think in frustration as you both appear in a familiar part of the Underdark. The bloody Underdark, of all places… you let out a loud annoyed sigh.
The three spawns quickly bind you and Tav together back to back and usher you to sit inside an inactive Faerie ring. This looks… familiar. 
“The Faerie ring, does this look familiar to you?” You send a mental note to Tav utilising the tadpoles link.
“Yes, we’ve been here before. If you go slightly left, that crevice leads to the Kuo-Toa.” She proceeds to send you a mental image of the pathway leading to your fishy friends. “How are the binds? Do you think you would be able to undo them?”
“With some time, I may be able to get them loose-.” Your thought is cut off as you see the half-elf female approach you. 
“Well, it seems like this is my lucky day. Sebastian can’t make it here as soon as we had hoped, but, he told us we could have some fun as long as you were left alive.” She flashes a wicked smile and pulls out a dagger, pressing the tip to your cheek just hard enough causing a drop of blood to spill. 
“If you touch him again, you will regret it.” Tav’s voice cuts through the air sharply, every word laced with a poisonous promise. 
“Last I checked, you were the ones tied up.” The half-elf drags the dagger down your chest and you press your lips together to muffle the scream that threatens to escape your throat. You will not let them hear you scream. 
Tav wriggles behind you furiously “You’re going to regret that! I’ll kill you!” Her voice cracks betraying her.
The half-elf drags the dagger slowly up your left thigh and you concentrate hard on holding back the screams of pain that are trying to claw their way out. You slowly wriggle your bound hands trying to find any weak points in the binding and realise that they have not been tightened enough. Amateurs. You mentally scoff. 
“If this won’t make you scream… perhaps this will.” The female walks around and runs her blade down Tav’s arm and she grunts through the pain. A rage settles in your chest and you promise yourself that she will pay for this. “I can get these ropes loose, they haven’t tightened them.” You pass a mental note to your lover as you stealthily release one hand and work on hers. “Be prepared to run.”
“I have a plan. Follow me once we get free alright?” She gently squeezes your hands that are loosening her bindings and it’s not long before her hands are freed.
Tav spits in the half-elf’s face which sends her tumbling back in disgust “Detono!” She sends the half-elf flying back landing in the middle of a small group of spawns. The two of you jump to your feet and you ignore the burning pain shooting through your body.
“Ira et dolor!” An ominous black mist encases the spawns and between the whispers of the fog, you hear blood-curdling screams as they attempt to escape. 
Tav grabs you by the hand and sprints toward the crevice, leading to the Kuo-Toa and you climb down the cragged rock with haste. 
As you reach the bottom you sprint towards the creatures stopping in place once they all turn their attention to Tav.
“Mahkloompah!” They yell in unison and bow their heads in reverence to your lover.
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Tav:
“OH great and mighty Mahkloompah, to what do we owe this visit?” The one you know as ‘Pooldrip the Zealous’ waves his arms about excitedly as he awaits your reply.
“I have come to… issue you with a test! My… chosen and I are being bothered by a few vampire spawn. I could vanquish them with a flick of my wrist, however, I realised, that this would be an excellent test for my most loyal followers!” You spin around dramatically stretching your arms out to the many creatures surrounding you. “Mahkloompah’s blessing will be upon any followers who aid us in our safe return to Baldur’s Gate!” 
The creatures roar with cheers and chant your name. “Oh, magnificent Mahkloompah… we shall pass this test! We will prove ourselves worthy of your blessings!” Pooldrip claps his hands together and bows his head. As you look toward the cragged rock you see the group of spawns closing in. 
You dramatically usher their gaze towards the spawn and bow holding their stare outstretching your arms. A smirk spreads itself across your mouth “Kill them all. But leave the half-elf female for me.” As soon as the words leave your mouth your loyal followers descend, greatly outnumbering the ten spawn that have come to retrieve you. 
As you look around the clashing bodies your gaze lands on the half-elf and you cock your head to the side. “Impero te.” The words slither out from you, snaking their way toward her and you watch her body lock into place as you dominate her. “Come to me.” You command and watch as she makes her way towards you, her eyes wide with fear. 
As she finally stands in front of you a laugh escapes your mouth “Take out your dagger.” Another command fires out and she obeys. “Good. Now, do exactly what you did to my lover on your skin.” A rage bubbles under your skin remembering his muffled grunts of pain. Her eyes well with tears as she slowly carries out your order and an unfamiliar smile settles on your face. 
You feel a hand on your shoulder and Astarion leans down to your ear “Tav, we can be better than this.” His voice is calm as he rubs your shoulder. “She hurt you Astarion.” Your words bite back and you feel a gentle squeeze. 
“I know, I want to hurt her too for what she did to you… but… she’s angry, she has every right to be. I… took everything from these people.” The softness of his voice breaks your rage and you feel tears fall down your cheeks. “You did what you had to… he made you do this… do they not understand?” Your voice cracks as the sobs leave your body.
“I know, what’s done is done. Let her go Tav, it’s alright.” He kisses you softly on your cheek and wipes away the tears that have settled on your skin. You glance at the half-elf and release your hold on her. She stands there for a moment, blade in hand and you can see the thoughts running through her mind as she weighs her options. Astarion folds his arms around you and pulls you in close to his chest. “Go. Now. But know this, if you touch her again, I will not be willing to let you go.” With shaking hands he waves her off, before she leaves you see her eyes soften as she glances between you and Astarion and then disappears in that familiar red mist, the remaining spawn follow her lead and flee from the combat. 
“Let’s go home shall we?” He whispers in your ear and places a soft kiss on your cheek. As you make your way toward the exit of the hidden cove Astarion turns to the Kuo Toa and clears his throat. “Mahkloompa is most impressed with your dedication, she finds favour with you all!” A roar of cheers and praise erupts through the air as you ascend and make your way to the nearest sigil.
In flash of purple light you and Astarion land at the top floor of the Elfsong Tavern and don’t bother filling in your companions of the recent events. You are both tired and in need of some healing, opting for the healing potions you keep in your private quarters. You notice the door to your room is slightly ajar and Astarion protectively walks in front of you using his arm to shield you as he pushes the door open and walks in. 
“Oh for fucksake.” Astarion bites out. “Come to do your own dirty work now Sebastian?” Your body prickles with fury as you spin out of Astarion’s grip and stalk your way towards the spawn stopping halfway.
“You would know all about dirty work, wouldn’t you?” Sebastian spits back his eyes glowing with a red hot hatred. 
“Shut your filthy fucking mouth.” A rage boils through you as you pull a dagger out from your boot as you throw it watching the blade slip through the air and land right next to his head, burying itself in the wall. 
“What a temper she has Astarion. I must say, you chose well for that conquest, she hangs on your every word and is so willing to protect you. A smart move.” Sebastian chuckles softly as he looks at you with disgust. “He doesn’t love you, you know that right? Right?” He holds your stare and a smile plays on his lips. “Astarion… remember what we once shared? Why bother with her? Surely what we had is more… special?” You watch as Sebastian’s eyes turn seductive as if he was trying to lure Astarion back to him and your insecurities bubble within your stomach as he turns to face you. “Gods, you think he loves you, don’t you? Are you that stupid? Do you have any remaining braincells in that thick head of yours?” In a flash Astarion is at his side gripping Sebastian’s throat firmly.
“Do not speak to her that way again or it will be the LAST thing you do. What I have with her… transcends anything I have ever had.” He squeezes tightly and shoves his grip forward knocking Sebastian’s head back. “Now, what do you want? My patience is wearing thin and I would very much like to relax with my girlfriend, yes you heard me, my GIRLFRIEND. Now get out or you will die sooner rather than later.” Astarion’s eyes are ablaze with irritation.
Sebastian’s gaze flickers between you and your lover and you notice the unmistakable glimpse of envy that is soon replaced with humour. “Girlfriend? My how you’ve changed… very well, I’ll take my leave for now. However, this is not over until one of us dies and I assure you, it won’t be me.” He vanishes in that stupid red mist and you continue to stare at the chair he was once in. 
“He was right there. We could have ended this.” Your voice is soft and void of emotion.
“It wouldn’t have stopped anything, he’s not the only spawn who hates me my love.” Astarion wraps his arms around you and pulls you into him, pressing your back against his chest. “Can we just take some healing potions, draw a bath and call it a day please? I refuse to let them get in the way.” He spins you around to face him and he puts on his best puppy pout. All the frustration leaves you and is swiftly replaced with warmth as you stare into those crimson pools, diving straight in and never wanting to resurface. You lift yourself on your tiptoes, wrapping your arms around his neck and you place a soft kiss on his lips. 
“Girlfriend, huh?” Your smile presses against his lips and you feel him smile in return.
“Was that term not to your liking? How about… love of my life?” He kisses your forehead. "Wind beneath my wings?” He plants a kiss on your cheek. “The air in my lungs?” You feel a kiss on your jawline. “The beat of my cold heart?” A soft kiss meets your neck. 
“Hmm, any of those will do, I suppose.” You flash him a playful smile as he arches his brow at you and his eyes dance to life. He goes to scoop you up but winces remembering the wounds that are still fresh on his body and yours. “Here, drink this.” You hand him a healing potion and take one for yourself chugging down the contents, already feeling a warmth spread over you. “Let’s get a bath going, we can pour a small extra healing potion in it as well to help speed the process.”
After a few moments you and Astarion are lounging in a warm tub. He sits behind you and you lean back into him resting your head in the crook of his neck with your eyes closed. He exhales slowly and wraps his arms around you pulling you in closer. “I love this.” He whispers out as he rests his head on the lip of the tub. “Me too.” You whisper back, your eyes still closed as you inhale deeply and release the air. 
“Astarion?” You shift your head slightly to look at his face.
“Yes my sweet?” He glances down at you smiling.
“I never thought to ask… if you had thought about being with Sebastian when you first saw he was alive?” You are not necessarily worried about the answer to this question… more curious than anything.
“Little love… nothing compares to you, to what we have. When I saw him, I briefly wondered what I would do myself… but that would have meant losing you to chase something from my past that I have come to realise was not even close to love. What you and I have… its unlike anything I have ever experienced and I don’t ever want to lose that.” He continues to stare into your eyes as if searching them to see if his words have landed in your heart.
“I love you.” The three words spill from your mouth as you shift yourself around and pull him into deep long kiss. 
“And I love you. We’ll get through this spawn situation, we’ll find a way to deal with it. We always do, but for now lets just enjoy some peace and quiet?” You nod your head in agreement as he pulls you in tightly and kisses you tenderly.
As you both finish your bath you pull a book from your dresser and hand it to Astarion as you climb into bed. He walks to the other side and props up some cushions to support his back as he sits up on the bed. You snuggle yourself in as he begins to read to you and the two of you spend the rest of your time like this until rest finds you. 
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orrianreaper · 9 days ago
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3 and 10 for all your commanders for the ask please :3
Ohh, fun ones! Thank you so much! <3. This got so long, despite trying to keep it brief, I am so sorry.
Is there an NPC your commander is closest to?
To quickfire it, Pleur's closest relationship with an NPC is probably Trahearne, he's her mentor and she looks up to him immensely and his death ripples through the rest of her actions and insecurities until the end of EoD honestly.  It's why she can't give up Caladbolg, it's why she grows a curdling, seething opinion towards Logan, it's why she feels she's done nothing but fail whenever she's had to take true charge and lead. That she keeps getting people killed. His death is probably more important to her development wise than him living.
Sorrix is going to cheat, I'm picking two and it's Taimi and Zojja. Taimi is his *daughter*, he adopts Taimi during S2 in order for them both stick it to the Arcane Council. From there, things just develop and it goes from her calling him dad as a joke to entirely sincere. He adores Taimi, she's quick, she can keep up with him, they have a back and forth, he doesn't talk down to her. She pipes in with suggestions as he builds prosthetics as he looses more and more pieces of himself, and he has his own suggestions regarding Scruffy. They have their arguments, but they're Family, something Sorrix swore up and down he didn't need a decade ago. Zojja meanwhile was his best friend, is. They had an incredibly snappy back and forth as  bright but short tempered, brilliant savants and despite the snark they made a fast bond. They pushed one another, , they bickered, and they were both determined geniuses stubbornly refusing to let Tyria go up in flames. My initial canon was that post-HoT Zojja is in a coma until the end of s4, I haven't worked out how on earth soto works. But in the original plan her coma breaks his heart - he has it set up that he gets first notification when she wakes up, and the second she does he's throwing everything aside to be there and help her recover. He missed her, she asks if he's gone sappy, he admits he might have. It's been a while, he's changed a lot.
Cryssi is closest with Caithe, they raised Aurene together and although Caithe wanted to hate Cryssi - she couldn't. They were too sincere, too genuine, and looked to her for guidance and opinions and information with so much trust and innocence, she couldn't be angry at them being given the trust as a stranger that she wasn't. Cryssi adores Caithe, and is always over the moon to see her, that's their crystal buddy!! Especially when she branded, and then it's Cryssi's turn to teach Caithe a few things about crystal magic.
Demon is Demon, I don't think they're close to anyone but Logan is the one who found them in a basement, surrounded by white mantle corpses and covered in blood, and got them involved in everything. If that counts?
Matthia is closest with Rytlock without a doubt, and looks to him as sort of a parental figure. Which is as great a choice as that sounds. In Icebrood especially, the father thing is such a rough spot. Matthia is having a bad time, borderline on the edge of retiring from being the commander at all, and desperately need Rytlock on side. Rytlock who is too busy chasing after a son who hates him, to realise Matt needs him. Icebrood's an entire mess between these two, and Rytlock trying to kill them certainly makes it a so much worse. Cat Family Drama. Cat least Matt gets along with Crecia.
10) Are there any oc's of yours or someone else's that they travel with?
Pleur has an entire guild made of my oc's - Reverie's Vengenace. Which consists of; > Merianus Blacktide, ex-ash whisper's Lightbringer & Pirate, > Sruffi, a Chronomancy Protégé, > Elan Heartkeeper, a blood legionnaire Brand Sentinal turned Vigil/Pact Warmaster, > Paara Ghostburn, a once priory explorer now Iron Legionaire Asura, > and Connae, a sylvari druid who was briefly a whisper's agent. She meets them all at varying times during the Personal Story, but the guild is formed in Orr, and still exists in modern times, and worked alongside Dragon's Watch. They could've just been rolled into one guild, but Reverie's Vengeance didn't want that. So Pleur gets two guilds, who work together constantly. It's makes sense, it's fine.
Sorrix doesn't really have any other oc's in his universe, I have toyed with him having an Arcane Eye agent following him without him knowing, but nothing concrete.
Demon and Cryssi and co-commanders. Demon does the entire personal story, and Cryssi appears with Rytlock when he falls out the mists in HoT, and from then on becomes a more Traditional Commander/Champion role than Demon ever was.  Cryssi is a better Figurehead, and it allows Demon to do their best work, being ominous from the shadows and teleporting in and out of situations with cryptid few word answers. Demon drops a lot of responsibility and trust onto Cryssi, giving them the egg and all. They knew Glint had steered Cryssi after Rytlock to be a champion for Aurene, or at least assumed based on the remnants of magic stick to them from the mists. And Cryssi is the only person to ever have seen Demon curl up and lick their wounds. Two lost creatures tied to the mists, warped by it, and from ancient Tyria. There's a kinship.
Matt has a whole little gang! They're not a guild like Pleur's squad of my oc's, but they are essentially extra dragon's watch members in a way. From the base game, Matt meets two human priests, Elvire a Priest of Lyssa, and Damianos, a Priest of Balthazar who grew up in Ebonhawke and served in in the Ebon Vanguard. Elvire is less a solider themselves, and more acts as a leader and support type roles in the pact. In Elona and Cantha, they're very Diplomat - and in general they're very much a lot of emotional support for Matthia being so calm, it's similar to what they used to do back in Divinity's Reach for folks, a reassuring shoulder. Damianos is very much a solider as you'd expect, and he ha a rough go of it. He joins Balthazar at the end of s3, but regrets it in PoF and is working on making amends ever since, he feels extremely guilty for being misled and stubborn. He's got a good heart, he just makes a lot of mistakes and hard judgements. During HoT Matt picks up Sage, a daredevil sylvari who was very almost mordrem, who wandered into the wood away from the circus he ran away into from the grove, following the call. Sage is a cheerful, bouncy acrobat who seems to take everything with a quip and a backflip, and he sticks to Matt like glue after they meet despite plenty of suspicion. He's also soundless. And very finally during seaon 4, after Joko's death they pick up Nekkt. Nekkt is ex-inquest, and was awakened by Joko after being killed by his forces in Rata Primus. She's grumpy, sullen, and has been picked up by the scruff and stuck with the Good Guys because where else is she going to go. and Her and Matt certainly don't have any weird bonding over having both died, absolutely not.
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fiachrastudios · 10 months ago
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Hello there! Many thanks for the follow, traveler~ I adore your traditional art! It's finely colored...makes me feel all nice and cozy! Have a lovely day 💙
And if I may ask one parting question about your dear Tav, Aelar Melianme; do you have any fun facts about his lore? Cheers!
!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!
(I had to redraft like this whole thing after digging deeper into Drow lore and learning that the reason I hate it so much is that the good stuff got buried to make Drizzt more special????? So it turns out my headcanons for them are closer to some of the established lore haha. Anyway.)
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Aelar is a Moon Circle Druid who grew up in the Underdark as a Lolth-sworn drow. I hate the way Drow lore was originally presented to me as being super misogynistic and racist (shocking for D&D, I know) but after learning about Eilistraee I actually like the pre-Drizzt lore more than I expected. Personally, I see the Lolth-sworn Drow as being like, run by radfems and is only seeming like a matriarchy to outsiders, when in reality it’s still super gender-essentialist and transphobic.
Aelar grew up in Menzoberranzan but was always ostracized growing up in Lolth's cult. He was pretty sheltered and cut off from the outside world, so he could never really put into words why he felt so distant from everyone around him. His family forced him into an engagement he didn't want when he was in his 90s, and he finally had enough and ran away.
At first, he ran as far as he could without paying heed to where he was going. He just wanted to get away as fast as possible. When he stumbled across an exit to the overworld, he only took it to shake off his pursuers. He was struck by how beautiful the stars were as he stepped out of the cave that first night. His whole life he had been told that the surface was a disgusting place, so overbearingly bright that no drow would ever have a reason to visit, but instead he was greeted by the gentle cascade of starlight on a cloudless night. He was so entranced by their light that he didn’t notice the smiling drow woman observing him silently from the shadows.
After that, he spent a few years wandering south along the Sword Coast. He preferred keeping his own company, for the most part. The discrimination he faced from Faerunians certainly didn't help but there was something...else, nagging in the back of his mind. Besides, owls made better conversation mates anyway.
His conversations with the bees were really life-altering, though. Drow society is very binaristic and heteronormative, and hearing about the queen/worker/drone system was eye-opening for Aelar. At first, he was just fascinated by it all. Something he felt the first few times he encountered other trans people. But it took him a few decades to realize why he was so intrigued by all of this stuff : ). 
Eventually, he made his way into Waterdeep. The loneliness of the wilds had been getting to him, and try as he might, he could never fully connect with his animal companions. It didn’t help that they lived such short lives, even compared to humans. He worked in Undercliff for a while as a horse groom for the Amcarthras, but he grew sick seeing the foals he raised being sold off to the City Guard to be abused. He moved into the city proper and has been tending some shithole bar while gradually saving up for surgery for the last 60 years or so.
He’s never realized it, but Eilistraee has been silently guiding him since he left the Underdark. He ran across some of her worshippers in Waterdeep, but never gave them too much thought. Even though it’s been a century and a half, he still hasn’t really unpacked everything he internalized from his childhood, and in his mind followers of Eilistraee are still something really taboo. Not necessarily that he hates them, more that it was just never really discussed openly and he feels discomfort the few times he’s been approached by worshippers on the streets. He’s only now starting to notice her presence in his life over the course of the game, and I like to think that his post-game adventures involve her : )
(I have so many more thoughts about Eilistraee and him and Astarion, who I gave the Elistraee sword too, but that’s something I’d like to explore more in a comic or a fic than this post ; ) )
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ryttu3k · 1 year ago
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BG3 update, exploring Reithwin, a new team member, to about midway through Moonrise Towers!
Little snippety bits, team banter, etc that I've smushed into one image because I have a limit here:
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*eyeing that 'unknown elf' listing* Also I love how Astarion is genuinely bullshitting in the blood-taste bit because we know he hasn't been drinking thinking-peoples blood aside from enemies and, once, Tae.
Anyway. To Reithwin! Delightfully spooky, honestly, the atmosphere here is fun. Managed to talk three enemies to death - the tollkeeper (who reminds me of corrupted No Face in Spirited Away?), the absolute creep in the House of Healing, and, after the world's grosses drinking game, the bartender. More on the latter two later!
At the cemetery, we meet Arabella! Who has... picked up some new skills.
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Of course she can stay at camp while we look for her parents!
Into the bar for the world's worst drinking game. Plus side, got a boatload of approval from Astarion, Shadowheart, and Lae'zel from it! And some... really nasty mental images!
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"Really? Right in front of my drink?"
Stopping to camp for the night. Getting some much more genuine Astarion when asking if Cazador has other spawn. Larian let me hug him as a friend.
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Karlach brings up the whole... Gale thing. Which I still feel bad about tbh.
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On a more depressing note, telling Arabella about her parents hurts ;_; Apparently not everyone gets the scene that follows, so I'll include a Youtube link to it here! Man, given Withers'... everything, I have to wonder just what that destiny will involve!
Honestly, though, I goddamn adore him as a character. Even if he does warn Tae not to get distracted by Karlach XD;;
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Not the only intriguing camp companion we have, apparently!
Speaking of companions, visiting the House of Healing and retrieving Art's lute allows us to progress with starting to end the shadow curse, and properly recruiting Halsin!
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I really like when you can let companions speak for themselves, you get so much more lore, like letting Lae'zel speak at the creche.
Once Thaniel is restored, Halsin officially becomes a member of the Brainworm Squad, albeit minus a brainworm! The companions have assorted things to say about him (including Wyll calling him a 'thick hunk of an elf'), and Tae gets to know him better. He likes honey and knows it's funny! He likes whittling! He likes whittling ducks!
"I like ducks :)"
(Tae has officially decided he's their new grandpa now. The other companions have... less familial views, apparently!)
Back to the mission! Heading to the Thorm mausoleum, and oh dear, look what the cat dragged in...
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After getting some good advice to skip the mausoleum until prompted to go there later, we turn back, and this time, make for Moonrise Towers itself! (Minus Halsin, with the narrator very helpfully reminding me that, hey, may not want to bring someone without a brainworm there.) Discover some... concerning cargo:
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Yeah, we, uh, took the canister and now it's just. Sitting in the traveller's chest. What do we do with it?
Into Moonrise Towers, witnessing a group of goblins attempt to kill Ketheric and. Completely fail. That's concerning!! Tae is instructed to deal with the remaining goblins and opts to let them go, because who knows? Maybe they'll return the favour one day. Karlach hears from an old 'friend', Florenta the Garrotter, a cambion from her Avernus days, and gets given some soul coins (albeit with a story attached to each).
Lots and lots of concerning bits of evidence, all pocketed. Stuff on recruiting drow, shadow druids, goblins, et cetera, invasion plans for Baldur's Gate, and - what have we here? Collaboration between Ketheric Thorm and Gortash!
We meet Araj. We meet Tae's extreme urge to punch her in the face. We meet Astarion's genuine surprise and gratitude at someone giving him a choice on what he does with his body for possibly the first time in two hundred years I'm gonna fuckin' cry. Larian let me hug him as a friend, part two.
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We meet Steelclaw. Steelclaw I would die for you. ...Can we recruit her for the final battle?
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That done, time for a prison break!
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I don't like him much. Barcus sweetie you can do so much better. The tieflings are much happier to see us! (Lia: "Oh, you clever bastard. I could kiss you!" Cal: "Not in front of me, please. I've suffered enough.")
After the successful prison break, it's time for a rest. Is it weird to find, like, a 'realistic' place for them to rest? I used that office/tower in the middle of the prison, in the upstairs bit, where anyone awake could watch out for anyone approaching. Anyway, Gale has set up a hologram kind of... thing to invite Tae somewhere, finding him in a Weave illusion and in a... very melancholy mood.
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Understandably.
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Was definitely concerned this would lead more romantic. Thankfully, the game allows it to be played completely platonically, which is good as! Gale is a friend! A friend who's hurting and terrified and needs support and anyway Gale haters can fight me.
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Genuinely beautiful scene, and I absolutely got misty-eyed.
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Fight me, Gale haters.
Back to Moonrise. We do some more exploring, finding the third part of the tale of Orpheus. Lae'zel is... not impressed in the slightest. We also meet Ketheric's dog :( And private chambers. And stuff relating to his dead wife, and their daughter, who I have definite suspicions about. (It's Isobel, right? Isobel is Ketheric's daughter, right? Don't tell me either way, but that definitely seems to be the vibe I'm getting.)
We meet with Disciple Z'rell, and get a new mission - go to the Thorm mausoleum, and retrieve the artefact for Thorm. Now we can go! Also, at the least, she seems to trust us?
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Back to the Last Light for some happy reunions! Alfira is ecstatic to have Lakrissa back (who proceeds to flirt with Tae, Lakrissa please their girlfriend is standing right there), Barcus is so excited to see Wulbren again... who doesn't appear to feel the same way.
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Do you think Barcus would mind overmuch if Tae stuffed Wulbren in their pack and threw him back in a cell? Just saying.
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Then back to camp for a rest, and a conversation with Astarion that punches me in the emotions!!
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Full scene (including the initial confrontation with Araj) available here. The options I picked were, "Why has she upset you so much?", "Have you even enjoyed having sex, in these last decades?", and "You aren't a slave any more, Astarion, you're free."
Anyway that scene emotionally kicked my ass and I still couldn't even hug him. Larian let me hug him as a friend, part three!
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bosspigeon · 8 months ago
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How is your Tav and Durges' relationship to the other companions? Are they close with any of them, other than their LIs? What is their dynamic like?
Bonus: Do they have any notable relationships among the other non-companion characters?
HELLO I AM FINALLY GONNA TRY AND ANSWER SOME OF THESE YEEHAW
As I love literally all the companions, bc they are all so messy and beloved to me, most of my characters tend to have that disastrous found family dynamic that I adore <3 but ye I think they've all got their own relationships with each other them
I think Pyre gets along really well with Karlach? Which I imagine surprises the others, somewhat. But they're both soldiers, at the end of the day, and there's a comfortable familiarity in that dynamic for both of them. Karlach, of course, is somewhat irreverent when she responds "Sir yes sir" to Pyre giving her an order, but he finds her energy and zest for life really refreshing? They both know what it's like to be a prisoner, after all, and to cherish the freedom they have, knowing what it's like to claw your way out of hell.
He gets along with Lae'zel for similar reasons in one direction, and Wyll in another. He and Lae'zel talk shop and strategy a lot, and she respects his shrewdness and forceful decisiveness, and he her focus, determination, and discipline.
With Wyll, once things come out about Mizora, there is definitely an uncomfortable familiarity for him, and it makes him determined to help Wyll escape the contract however he can.
I feel that Pyre feels much older than the rest of the party, save Astarion and Halsin, and it's sort of given him a reluctant dad vibe 😩 Well, he acts gruff and reluctant, but I think deep down he enjoys having this sort of close bond with them all. He's been alone for so long...
As for non-party members? He and Zevlor get along fairly well, even though I feel like it doesn't seem that way to most who see it. I can definitely see some history between the two of them, and I think they interact exactly how you'd expect two gruff old men to interact.
NOW FOR MOSS
With Moss, I think the rest of the party wind up very protective of him. He's so open and earnest, and also just... doesn't understand a lot of the intricacies of the world around him. He's very clearly completely lost, with no memories to speak of, not even a name at first. Still, he's determined to survive same as they are, and he becomes... terrifyingly loyal to them, very quickly.
They have to help him a lot with just becoming a functional person? And tbh I feel like some of them take that duty VERY seriously. Gale for sure. Especially bc Moss will happily listen to him explain magic things for hours on end just staring at him like 🥺. He and Shadowheart bond over that shared amnesiac trauma, and also later on the fun Abusive Parent situations. Lae'zel admires his power and brutality when it's necessary, and his struggle to resist that brutality when it isn't. Wyll just admires how honest he is about what he is and what he's feeling, and how empathetic he is when he has absolutely no reason to be.
Karlach has decided she's his big sister, even if he is A Good Bit Bigger Than Her. She cannot wait until it is safe to put him in an affectionate headlock and give him a noogie 😩
Halsin takes on a mentor role as a fellow druid because there's a lot about being one that Moss, oddly enough, doesn't really understand? Moss respects him enormously.
At the end of the day, Moss would tear out the entrails of any who dared hurt any of his friends and eat them bloody (ʘ‿ʘ✿)
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nochi-quinn · 2 years ago
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legend of vox machina season 2 episode 8: echo tree OR more like incel tree amirite
sam is the "nice melons" npc bc of course he is
imagine the twins using their old tricks to duck the guards and it doesn't work bc that was over a decade ago
hello Elf Guard Matt
"we're his children" (derogatory)
"I've known many people with money and titles. They are definitely not worth you."
VELORA
the twins are not immune to velora and neither am I
"your father will be pleased to see you" I doubt that
"if you'd notified me you'd be gracing us with your presence" has this man never heard of an emergency
"if you've come for my money - or my goats - I don't have any!" wilhand
"real vestments!" I don't know why that's so adorable to me but here we are
"did you forget to eat??" eating is one of the three things grog actually knows how to do
"hi, pop-pop. I fucked up" me every time I call my parents
"what can syngorn do for you?" directed very specifically at percy, fuck everybody else
oh I just realized he's probably shitty about keyleth too, since she's also a half-elf
a second-generation half-elf, at that
my partner: does he not realize vax is wearing deathwalker's ward me: he doesn't care, that's human shit
"do you have any idea the burden your sudden arrival has caused my family?" I regret to inform you that this is in fact also your family
and now we know what role vex played in this emotional abuse hellpit
"you might just wanna avert your eyes" she literally confirmed that grog's dick didn't get acided off for him
if that's how scanlan 'works both ends' I am terribly sorry for any of his partners
it took me three watches to realize he's whistling Pull My Beads Of Love
percy spending that whole meeting trying desperately to figure out which House he could give to Vex without Cass shanking him
"what does 'fuck you' mean?" little pitchers have big ears
(didn't they on-purpose teach her the word 'shit' in the campaign)
if we get byroden flashbacks are they gonna be exu-compliant
"somehow I feel like it hurt me more" relationships! with! abusive! parents! are! complicated!
ew, tree gunk
he finally called her stubby, I can die happy
I knew where they were going as soon as he said "stimulation"
big "not a good enough reason to use the word 'penetrate'" energy
I enjoy Transition Frog
garmelie: don't submit to his voice vex, already extremely emotionally compromised: ✔✔
look, I don't claim to be a perfect parent, but I don't think I could look at something a child made for me with their own two tiny little hands and just casually break it in front of them
not even just my child. any child.
yeah, come to think of it, even vax doesn't Get It, bc he never wanted syldor's approval, or at least got over the want very quickly.
(fun fact, every time I type or say "syldor" I have to force myself not to say "isildur"
look at this. this is insane. I'm obsessed with this shot.
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the feywild is using all of percy's black powder, he better hope victor survived.
I'm glad we got the "if I could pull the blood of him from my veins" line but it was so, so good when she was yelling it at her dad
vax now is not the time to ask keyleth to touch your butt
"dear broken vex'ahlia" if the word 'broken' is literally in your proposal there might be something fucked up about it mb
vex: my heart is someone else's percy: oh? do I know them?
incel tree saundor
"how do you fight a tree?" with a druid
I reluctantly admit him making the arrows out of his palm is pretty cool
I also love a good upside-down arrow shot
vex Jungle Sliding for her life
god I love keyleth so much
the way it springs open inside the stab wound is A+
mala: of course it survived, bc percy 100% expected her to stab a man with it
"he is who he's always been" "I know. and so am I." I am foaming at the mouth over this, at vex knowing she needs to work on parts of herself before she can actually confront her dad
there is SO MUCH nuance and middle ground between "still being actively abused" and "full no-contact" but it's more viscerally satisfying to show the Salt The Earth Behind You fight instead of the long, slow, painful work of attempting reconciliation
tl;dr reconciliation is a thing and I wish more stories used it even though it's complicated and subjective
"I usually hate the theater"
"how did that appear? how did tvs just appear? and really old tvs, based on the make and the year?"
this motherfucker
"he killed me with them" grog backstory GROG BACKSTORY
westruun is my favorite arc okay, I apologize for nothing
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shadowshrike · 1 year ago
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If anyone's been wondering where I've been, the answer is playing Baldur's Gate 3. Vague spoilers ahead for those interested in how my playthroughs went:
I just finished my second run. The first was a 'normal' run, as I would likely play at a table, with a Druid Tav being as good and moral as possible and doing no romances. My second was a power-hungry/manipulative Bard Tav where I ascended Astarion, kept Shadowheart with Shar, made Lae'zel leader of her people and indebted to me, and became the new dark lord's consort who gets anything I ask for and has Halsin as a nomadic FWB that I encouraged at every turn to hate the evils of civilization (since we'd be making ourselves rulers of it to 'punish the wicked' in a shadow tyrant sort of way).
Honestly, having done both, I enjoyed the evil path more. I played evil as not muderhobo or horny, but instead as telling people what they wanted or needed to hear to make them love me and forgive me anything. It took surprisingly little save scumming. I eventually got their approval high enough that I could do whatever I wanted in end game and they would still adore me. Heck, after I ascended Astarion with Halsin in the party, Halsin approached me the next possible night to be part of our thing. I was surprised that the majority of the choices felt evil but not 'bad', and that by the end it seemed like a satisfying, true to character ending for everyone because I had mostly not interfered with their will except where necessary for my own power (e.g. making choices for Wyll to make sure he'll be out of my way when I conquer Baldur's Gate one day, and removing the aasimar/harpers from play while still uncursing the shadow lands with Thaniel and saving the druids so the wilds are friendly to me).
To my surprise, even though I always play good characters as a default, I particularly enjoyed both Shadowheart and Astarion so much more after their evil choices. In Astarion's case in particular, I was nervous going in that I wouldn't be able to do it, but after I met the first Gur I was able to piece together a hc for who he was before he was turned (basically a racist, self-serving noble who's always looking for power and a way out of consequences for his actions) that made him both easier to manipulate and the whole thing of encouraging him to embrace power so satisfying. It put the few heart-to-hearts I got in a different light, since even the more sincere lines came across as him trying new ways to manipulate me when he briefly thought I was a bleeding heart...which I turned right back on him until we were openly scheming together to solve his problems. A match made in liar's heaven. Add in the timing of Ascension in my game, it really felt like a 'good for him, bad for the world' ending in my playthrough, which is exactly what I was going for.
Meanwhile the blind 'good' playthrough was only satisfying as far as being allowed to do good. I didn't really expect any of that good to be lasting - heck it barely lasts between acts - and the fact that any companions who changed did it only for me (note: Shadowheart left in this run) left a sour taste in my mouth because I expect them to revert or get even worse as soon as I'm out of the picture. It also felt more sad in tone since I had done as much as I could and still lost so much (I failed to find the House of Hope, so it was particularly bad) while the evil ending had me smiling the whole way through since I sacrificed pretty much nothing/no one I didn't want to and it felt like it could lead directly into a super fun evil campaign of reshaping Baldur's Gate and the surrounding wilds afterwards.
In conclusion, very very fun game that I will likely keep playing with friends, though I may gently help them find a few of the critical encounters to make sure they get the ending they'd be happiest with. I honestly have almost no narrative complaints other than the final choice before the end, which is not just unpleasant (sign me up for "You can't get everything you want without sacrifice" stories any day) but also nonsensical given the character motivations we know. Otherwise, my advice to gamers, especially if they want to do a playthrough where they try to shove aside the player-sexual implementation, sex scenes, and characters-bend-to-player-morality systems in game so it feels more like playing at a table with other "real" people, is to ignore all of social media and just have fun. There are no bad choices, just ones that some people (loudly) find more personally satisfying than others, especially when they assume the game is being played as a romance sim. Your experience in game and therefore your characters and goals will not completely match anyone else's.
Finally, if anyone wants a little character analysis from my non-murderhobo/non-sex-focused evil playthrough (since those seem to be rare atm), please comment or send me an ask. I'm happy to talk about it more!
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pixieluver · 4 months ago
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Art Fight 2024 Week 1!!!
Sooooooo I'm participating in the yearly Art Fight this year for the first time! This event has ended up causing a goddamn EXPLOSION of art for me, I've been having a total blast. People's creativity is off the hook in there, it's overwhelming how many really clever and colorful OCs I've seen and it's so hard to choose what to draw next! My brain is BUZZING, and I am very happy that I finally signed up for this.
Each week that the event goes on, I'm going to make a post like this where I show off my attacks, talk a little bit about the process of making them, and link to the characters' respective creators on the Art Fight website. Everything lives under the cut!
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^ Clampshell - Ethan + Reuben ^
My first ever Art Fight piece!! I was super excited to start working on this one. Clampshell is one of my favorite character artists of all time, and I instantly fell in love with her characters on their AF profile. I was so excited to start this one that once the event officially started, I entered a FRENZY and finished this in about three hours. Of course, the website had completely bricked itself from the high traffic once I was ready to submit, so I had to hang onto this one until much later that evening.
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^ Sapphire7781 - Twister ^
I happened to see this design pop up in the VERY busy art channel of the AF Discord and immediately swore to myself that I'd draw it. Twister strongly resembles a worm on a string (which I ADORE) and is in the late stages of an infection that makes colorful spots appear in its fur and causes insanity! I had a lot of fun with this piece, though it took me several tries to find a pose that I was happy with.
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^ Jonahsstarcade - Marshall Welcomes You ^
There was very little information about Marshall on his reference sheet, so I took some creative liberties with this one! He reminded me a lot of desktop pets the more that I drew, so I decided to run with it. I half-remembered an old Tumblr post saying that heaven would be wherever the classic Windows XP background was taken, so I ran with that TOO, and ended up with a very simple animation where he became an angelic desktop helper that helps you register for the afterlife. Thank god that Krita had the capability to animate keyframes like this, I was prepared to go frame by frame......
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^ Sapphire7781 - Pearl Collection ^
As revenge for my earlier piece using Twister, Sapphire sent me a drawing of my fursona!! So I kicked around the idea of starting a revenge chain with them - and once I saw their pearl OCs, I needed to draw them. The background was the most difficult aspect of this piece, actually. I had no idea what I wanted it to look like, just a vague blob of color in my head that looked terrible on my screen. A bit of fiddling with the polygon selection tool, gradients, and pattern brushes later, and I'm satisfied with how it came out! And even though the Marble Statuette Pearl in the center has the least complex design, its definitely my favorite one out of the three.
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^ Rhinocerocket - Rowan's Transformation / Sorry For Fairy Rocking ^
Being a dwarf lover myself (remind me to finally update my own dwarf Eldeth's design...), I was really looking forward to making a piece for someone else's dwarvish OC. This is Rowan, a druid of the Moon who was given animal ears and a tail from fae magic in a tower dungeon. I had trouble coming up with a way to draw her until I went searching for color palettes. I love doing limited palette challenges, and this one sparked my interest and quickly gave me an idea for exploring the moment of that transformation. Rhinocerocket did have a note on her character page to be nice to Rowan, though... So once I had finished the first piece, which took me half the day, I quickly whipped up the smaller companion piece as a little apology for putting her through that. SHE'S SO CUTE WITH HER LIL HOT CHOCCY AAAA--
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^ DEVILTRIGGERED - Ciel and Littoral's Station of Awakening ^
DEVILTRIGGERED's characters Ciel and Littoral are heavily based on Sora and Riku respectively from Kingdom Hearts. I decided to make them a piece reflecting that inspiration, resembling the absolutely gorgeous stained-glass Stations of Awakening found throughout the games. This piece is also inspired by Tetsuya Nomura's "Sea of Clouds" and "Twilight." I planned to impose a scratched glass texture over the colored layers, but I couldn't quite get it to look right... I had to scrap it so that the rainbow-y sunset/rise colors would pop.
Thanks for reading!! If you're participating in Art Fight this year, please take a moment to check out all these lovely people's pages. They're all super creative! All of their pages are linked above, just click their usernames to take a look. And hey, if you like what you're seeing from me, check out my page too! I might add you to my attack queue if you poke me :3c I'm on team ✨Stardust✨, but I participate in friendly fire and revenge chains!
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ciitrinitas · 1 year ago
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baldur's gate 3.
100+ hours later, and i survived baldur's gate 3. it partly took me so goddamn long to finish because i got to the end of act 2 on my first character...only to find out it wasn't just me and that minthara is likely bugged (or has an insane amount of cut content, but i'm on hopium here). so i decided to restart on a second character as the dark urge to complete the story on whilst i await a minthara fix.
so, yeah. that was a choice i made! 🫠
to preface, however, while bg3 isn't a game i'm keeling over in sheer love for or a new favorite for me, i had a fucking blast playing it. any flaws or personal issues with the game aside, it is genuinely a ton of fun and full of shit to do.
long, scattered thoughts below the cut.
"huh, i wonder why there's so much grumpiness about the ending." ohhhh. i get you all now. the lack of ending cards or epilogues or any kind really stings when it's such a standard for wrpgs of this type. the main plot lost momentum for me early on when the urgency and desperation surrounding the tadpole infection slowed down, so i was vibing well enough with the ending until the lack of any epilogue hit. that is a weird oversight for a game like this and a sequel to games like bg1-2 and spiritually following games like dao.
biggest plot complaint with the ending: i choose to free orpheus because it's what my girl lae'zel wanted, so move aside, squid. in response, the emperor...skedaddled to join the fucking netherbrain????? what. i don't remotely understand this. did i miss some stuff about the emperor's motivations...? regardless, this was a bit of whiplash for me before i popped orpheus out then left him with no choice but to...abruptly turn into a mind flayer because...sorry, but my beautiful boy's skin isn't going to be sacrificed...nor karlach's despite her offer...and gale shut up about the damn nuke.
on villain side, i was disappointed with how little we saw the chosen. ketheric is introduced for a single scene earlier in act 2, but we only see orin and gortash by the end of it and then they aren't as present in act 3 as i would have hoped. ketheric is...fine (imo, i found his voice delivery kind of flat), and i appreciate the hammy glory that is aylin, so thanks for bringing isobel back, i guess. orin's design slaps, and her va's performance makes what could have been a too-much script really work. she's a bit more interesting if you're playing dark urge and have that backstory connection with her. gortash...i got a little caught up in shipping him with my dark urge half-elf boy in that coronation scene because of what good old murder pals the two used to be! but gortash gets killed by the netherbrain just because even if you side with him, so eh. better to let karlach have her revenge on his shady ass.
on my first character, i was initially set on romancing shadowheart until i learned about minthara and then was wildly divided between them. then i met minthara in person and next thing i knew, i had slaughtered refugees and druids and was married. 😌❤️ it really broke my heart a little to learn that she is (HAS TO BE) bugged when i turned my entire playthrough on its side to nab her. no regrets because she is easily one of my favorite characters, but a bummer. the crazy hot cultist lady exterior drew me in, but it was her intriguing character on the interior that got me to stay.
if it weren't for the whole "violently slaughtering the grove" thing being necessary to get minthara (unless you go out of your way to not do things or glitch it afaik), she'd be my default pick over halsin all the time, every time. halsin is deeply boring to me. he talks about nature...and then some more about nature...and more about nature. jaheira is more involved in the main plot than him, so an odd choice to cram a second druid in when he's much duller than minthara or jaheira.
jaheira, jaheira, jaheira! oooh, i adore jaheira! i'm familiar with bg1-2, so i knew the basic deets in jaheira. i really hope larian wrote her as a natural extension to her classic self because while i planned to play bg1-2 eventually, the urge is now truly powerful because jaheeeeeeeiiiiiira, my beloved. cool hot older woman who is just so good. that she partly has some batman in her with her four adopted kids is adorable... her house is so cute... that she has a keepsake from khalid, too... i want jaheira to be happy. 😭
UNLIKE ASTARION. look. i was pleasantly neutral with his ass until after visiting jaheira's home, he thought he could make a catty remark about jaheira being a horrible mother. i'm happy his final appearance in the good end of the game is him sprinting away as he burns and screams in the sun and gale weirdly comments that this will probs be the last time they all see him. fucking bizarre writing choice, but a victory for me. don't be mean to jaheira!! (in all seriousness, astarion is a perfectly fine character with solid writing. he isn't the type i tend to latch onto, and i was salty when he made such a bitchy comment about jaheira.)
gale gave me my favorite line in the game. if you're slutting it up, mr. wizard can hit you with one of those ultimatum conversations. if you pick to simple leave without a word, he says you are being a very cone of cold. i keep subjecting xofi to references to this. it's my favorite line. gloriously dweeby, and gloriously wizard-y. oh, gale. i can tell you don't have friends that aren't your magical flying cat, a very old man, and uh...your divine ex, i guess. he's like you transplanted a bard's personality into a wizard. he was fun to have around!
lae'zel...my abrasive darling. you know what, i'm glad she's inspiring "discourse" (aka "women wasn't 100% nice to me :(((") because it exposes the weaklings. if lae'zel is too mean for you, then thank you for letting us know. we must cull you so that we won't waste resources on you. the winter is harsh, and only those warmed by good taste will be able to endure. i'm happy for where my ending had her: orpheus went mind flayer and then i politely knifed him when he asked, so lae'zel was asked to carry on his torch in inciting her people against vlaakith's tyranny.
shadowheart is my meow meow. the eight-or-so hours of early access that i played two years ago had her as my favorite by the end and that was carried over into the full release. she and minthara are the favorites. my only real quibble with shadowheart's arc is that binary dnd god morality does not spark joy for me. worship of shar being so bluntly evil took me out of a bit. nice to see viconia, though!
i...honestly forgot wyll until a second ago. there's an interesting conceit to him, but he's woefully dull. he and halsin are just boring. i feel kind of bad that i'm so bored by wyll. there's a missing bite from him that i vaguely recall from early access. i get that the devs wanted a companion that is, like, good, but oh, wyll, buddy...idk what the hell they did to your writing.
minsc isn't a terribly deep character, but he's enjoyable when i view him as a charming addition to jaheira. i'm going to try and get him earlier in future playthroughs because i nabbed him terribly close to the end on this one. orz
karlach...i think here arc was my favorite of all the cast. in act 3, i had swapped lae'zel out for her for a bit and lae'zel ended up kidnapped by orin, so my defaulat party just ended up shifting to gale, shadowheart, and karlach. i'm pretty happy it ended up this way. i ran into some interesting conversations for her, and her reactions to things like my dark urge signing raphael's contract surprised me in their passion. she's effective at keeping up her cheer until the latter end of act 3 when the unfairness and shittiness of her situation come to head in some gorgeously acted scenes. her fury and despair at the tragedy someone else thrust her into is really fucking good. i'm not even mad about her ending. it can feel odd in the greater context of bg3, but for my tastes, i was fucking there for her having to pick between dying or return to live in a place she loathes.
this is a "era has personal preferences that don't align with the game's goals" thing, but i kind of wish the dark urge was the protagonist. i like even customizable mcs to have a bit of an arc built in despite that impacting the scope of roleplaying lmao. the dark urge stuff had me wishing there was more than what is present, though. i wanted it to be dug into deeper, but i did still like what is there. the temple of bhaal was really fucking good, and i love that the dark urge turns out to be the architect of the absolutist cult.
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