#Lucien Levvine-Rainhold

[idlenight]

1 and 2 for the tav's. to get to know them. 👀

Thank you so much for the questions Wonda! I've been dying to talk about my Tav's.

This got quite long, and there's pictures so it's all under the readmore. If you're interested this OC ask game was newly made by my mutual @glitchy-npc

1 - Give a basic run down of your OC. Name, general info, relationships.

Syleth of the Green Knights. A tiefling paladin (and as of recently, a sorcerer) who is sworn to the Oath of the Ancients. He grew up on the streets of Baldurs Gate as one of the many urchins, though when he was twelve he was taken in by a temple of Selune. Syleth felt like he owed them everything, but they didn't treat the tiefling so well. When he came of age and the Moonmaiden had not blessed him to be one of her Clerics, he saw it as a sign from his god that he did not belong in the temple and she was guiding him on a different path. Which is how Syleth ends up becoming a Green Knight.

Stat wise: Tiefling, Paladin(oath of the ancients)/Sorcerer(dragon bloodline), Acolyte background. I'm romancing Astarion with him.

Connor Newsong, similarly to Syleth, grew up on the streets of Baldurs Gate, unlike his friend, the human boy stayed there for a lot longer. Connor did whatever he could to earn money and survive. Which is how he picked up the lute one day. Connor never went to a fancy bard school (not officially anyway, but he has stolen their litrature to teach himself) but he is quite the talented bard. His talents got him off the streets and into a life of adventure. Until the events of the game, he didn't exactly plan on ever returning to Baldurs Gate.

Stat wise: Human, Bard (College of Lore) + Rogue, Urching background. Romancing Gale.

(also yes Connor gave himself that last name when he started his bard career, tbf he was like, 14 at the time)

Lord Lucien Peter Levvine-Rainhold is the son of the human noble Timothy Levvine and the high wizard Ashera Rainhold. Lucien is the youngest child of three, his parents already had 'the heir and the spare' which gave Lucien a lot of freedom as a child. He was thought the manners of the high class and basic magic as was expected of him, but when he ran around in the courtyard pestering the estate guards to teach him how to swordfight he was given that luxury.

Stat wise: Half-Elf, Fighter (Eldritch Knight), Noble background. Romancing Wyll.

As with all games like this where I end up making multiple characters, I like to imagine them all exisiting next to each other in the story. So for my Tav's i've decided they where an adventuring party before they got snatched up by the Nautiloid at the start of the game. There is also a yet undifinied Cleric of Selune that im still workshopping, she's also part of this group.

I don't want to make this even longer so I'm not going into the details of relationship rn sorry 🥲.

2 - What is their physical appearance? What tends to stand out to people who notice them for the first time?

The first thing one would notice of Syleth is probably the whole, tiefling thing. The horns and demonic eyes are kind of obvious. The second thing would be his tattoos or his recently grown in dragon scales (that was a weird thing to wake up to). Syleth mostly wears heavy armor, but in camp he barely wears anything at all besides pants and boots, in fact you're lucky if you even get a fucking shirt on him. (He already hikes around with too many layers and heavy plating you think he's restricting his movements in any way during downtime?)

Most notable about Connor is that he has purple eyes and redd-ish and purple hair. Not the most normal thing for a human, he probably has some elven ancestors in his family (not that he ever had any family, so he can't check). Other than that he's quite tall but definitely not build for combat in any way, one could say his Constitution stat is trash. Connor dresses himself in a very bard-ly way, enough to be classy and eye-catching but also not too extravagant.

Lucien is a mountain of a man, a build he can thank his human father for. Another thing that catches someone's eye is well, his eyes! While he was not born with heterochromia, after the bard Volo poked around with an icepick in his eyesocket he's one magical prostethic eye richer! (that wasn't very smart, but that's his dump stat anyway <3). Lucien might be nobility, but he doesn't exactly dress like it. It's practical armor in the field, and well loved worn casual clothes that he's probably had since he started adventuring.

[zoneofsmites]

Gale: Belive it or not, but I witnessed a similar standoff back at the Yawning Portal. Of course, an establishment like that invites all sorts of outlandish entertainments. Lucien: What was the standoff about? Gale: Oh a drow, a dragonborn, and a cleric of Cyric walk into a bar. Your standard fare. Maybe someone was cheating at cards, maybe it was some weird lovers' quarrel. In any case, out came the crossbow, and a hush fell over the entire room. Lucien: What happened next? Gale: I stood up and yelled: 'Shadowdark ale for everyone!'. The crowd cheered, the tension drained into five dozen tankars, and soon all was well again. In a place like the Yawning portal, the most powerful magic is calling for a round of drinks. Gale: Mind you, all I did was call for ale, but you went and stood in front of that crossbow.

I have not protected Sazza much of ever aside from the very first time, so I had quite forgotten about Gale saying this.

Gale has such fun stories and great explantions of things. What I especially love about this one is to know that Gale very much was someone that went out and sought the company of others before the orb. But also just Gale's morals shining trough.

[zoneofsmites]

Withers: Now I have a question for thee: what is the worth of a single mortal's life? Lucien: A peaceful undead. Interesting. Why aren't you attacking me? Withers: Because that would be senseless. Wilt thou answer my question? Lucien: Yes. Ask away.

An peaceful undead that can speak? And it's asking him philosophical questions about souls? This is the height of Lucien's academic career. His thesis is going to be so good.

Withers: So I ask again: what is the worth of a single mortal life? Lucien: Each life is of infinite value and merits sacrificing everything for. Withers: And thus balance is achieved. If all are at war, none can win. Very well. I am satisfied.

Lucien is a necromancer who values life very highly but has a casual relationship with death and the concept of it. Life means everything but death is inevitable.

He treats the bodies he raises with utmost respect as well - and lays them to proper rest afterwards.

[zoneofsmites]

alright. reinstalling and carefully redownloading select mods has worked! ✨hooray✨.

However, I am going to restart my Lucien run anyway because I only had two hours into it to begin with.

I have slightly reworked his looks though. Behold my emo-necromancer boy.

(who will be multiclassing into a fighter, hence the hight STR score :P)

[zoneofsmites]

Barcus Wroot: You saved me. Now you'll extort me. That's how this works, yes?

BARCUS MY BEST FRIEND BARCUS HELLO <3

Anyway no extortion here sweetheart, Lucien is a nice polite boy who likes helping people.

[zoneofsmites]

Blonde goth necromancer drip has me acting unwise.

[zoneofsmites]

Sazza: {Ain't sure why ya protected me. Don't care, neither.} It's too late to make friends, worgmeat. My tribe's comin'. They're gonna burn this pretty place for the glory of the Absolute and 'ang ya by yer guts. Lucien: [wizard] In all my studies, I've seen no reference to a god called the Absolute. Sazza: (Goddess.) We're burnin' Her name across the face o' the world, we are. The Absolute is gold from the sky, She is. The blessin' in the storm an' the storm itself. Lucien: You've caught my interest. Have any holy literature on you? Sazza: My tribe can tell you everythin' there is to know. Absolute blessed one of our own - Priestess Gut.

Oh Lucien your curiosity and wizard hubris is going to get us in trouble at some point I swear.

Sazza gave us another option to get the tadpoles out of our head - and we've already learned from Nettie and that True Soul guy we met on the way to Karlach that these cultists have tadpoles in their heads too. In theory, they're the experts.

Lucien: Well, I'd certainly like to meet her. Sazza: Get me out of 'ere and I'll tell you where find 'er. Deal? Lucien: You already told me what I need to know, I'll find the priestess myself. Sazza: Ha! Even if you did find my tribe, they'd set the worgs on ya. You need me - get me outta here, and I'll tell 'em what a good friend you are. Lucien: Deal. I'll get you out of there. Sazza: Then hurry up an' do it. My tribe ain't as friendly as I am.

And you are so friendly Sazza, truly. In practice, Lucien is aware that goblin magic is not as intricate as druidic healing - but that means that either way they'd need to get into the goblin camp, because Halsin' last known location is in that camp. Sneaking out a goblin that is willing to extend some level of diplomacy is honestly not the worst way to try and get an in no?

The less hordes of goblins there are to fight the better. Lucien might be one hell of a man - but he is still only a wizard.

[zoneofsmites]

tav QOTDs for lucien: 4, 5, 15 - @veilkeeper

Questions from here!

4 - how do they sleep with their LI (what position, does one steal the blankets, is one too hot/cold, etc)?

Lucien is - ah - big. So logistically it would be easier to be the big spoon. However… Lucien sleeps like… a corpse. As a half-elf he trances so it is simply most comfortable to be on his back and his hands folded on his stomach - though sometimes prefers to actually sleep and then he is truly death to the world, nothing could wake him.

In this more hm, corpse like position it is most comfortable for Wyll to simply sleep next to him and have an arm over Lucy’s stomach to pull him in close.

5 - what does their tent area look like? where do they prefer to pitch their tent (next to water, covered on three sides, etc)?

Lucien prefers to have his tent be shaded so closer by something like trees. That way he isn’t bothered by the sunlight first thing in the morning.

His tent is pretty but quite small looking on the outside, but really it is a magical item that is permenantly enchanted with Morsenkainen’s Magnificent Mansion. The inside is a partial replica of the Levvine mansion in Baldur’s Gate - the home he has always felt more comfortable in - and is mostly Lucien’s room and wing in the mansion. It is a tad more optimised for the needs of a wizard but otherwise appears the same as the real thing.

15 - what’s the description of their camp clothes in the inventory menu?

‘These elegant dark clothes seem to be the most casual thing in this Necromancer’s wardrobe, but on closer inspection even these fabrics seem to be glittering with enchantments.’

Thank you for the ask Kellan 🧡

[zoneofsmites]

1, 18, 19, 68 for Lucien

thank you for the ask Alex!

(questions from here).

1 - Why did you pick the race you did for your Tav?

Lucien is actually my very first tav, back then I picked his race solely on aesthetics because of the faces being race specific.

I never did finish that playtrough with him... but hey extremely revamped besides basic backstory and appearance similarities is try number 2!

18 - Who is your Tav’s biggest rival?

In general Lucien holds a deep and petty dislike for his former dorm-mate Xander Eltan - a divination wizard who was just generally really really really annoying. (seriously, if you don't stop telling me 'see if you were a divination wizard-' every time I stub my toe i'm going to raise your great grandpa's corpse and have him strangle you motherfucker).

Amongst the group it is Gale. Not for any actual dislike mind you. Lucien just sees himself as inferior to Gale's talents (he was an archmage for the gods sake). Lucien has so so so many issues with needing to be needed and in this aspect he's the inferior wizard.

19 -  Who is your Tav romancing, if anyone?

We aren't there yet but Lucien is going to be romancing Wyll 🧡

68 - How does your Tav get along with each party member?

Lucien is decently pleasant because he's very kind but also... uh - just don't talk to him too long. He does have that off putting necromancer energy and will begin talking corpses and anatomy unprompted.

Relationships with specific party members below the cut:

Lae'zel can easily boss him around - Lucien is frankly just scared of her at this point early in their journey. I think this'll change after the creche and he will see another side of her, realise they're more alike than they think.

Astarion thinks he is easy to manipulate and thinks he has him wrapped around his finger. Lucien is definitely easy to push around but he is not wrapped around his finger. He just keeps staring and hovering around Astarion because he's an undead and Lucien has invasive questions that he wants to ask - but isn't asking them after being reprimanded one too many times earlier in the journey.

Gale actually enjoys talking with Lucien - unaware of Luciens feelings of incompetence compared to the other wizard. He is just glad to have another wizard to talk to and compare notes with. Gale is filling a bit of a professor/mentor role for the young wizard, even though he just sees it as scholarly banter at the moment.

Shadowheart finds him odd but nice, and Lucien feels awkward after being well, reprimanded for asking too many invasive questions. He likes her though, just wishes she could stop being so secretive! (Shart has not spilled the Shar beans yet in this run).

Karlach thinks he's a hoot and actually laughs at his necromancy jokes. She isn't 100% comfortable with the raising the death thing but she does find it cool in a morbid sort of way. Lucien adores Karlach's energy and really admires her outlook on life - trying to live it to the fullest despite her engine problems.

Wyll relates to and admires Lucien's strong sense of justice, and is glad to have another in the party that actively goes out of their way to want to help people. And the fact that he's sticking close has nothing to do with the fact that Lucien was his crush as a teenager. Meanwhile, Lucien does not remember Wyll from their shared past of noble parties in the upper city (a fact Wyll is not keen on reminding him off - what a fumbling young boy he was) and is just happy to have found someone to bond to early on that doesn't mind the necromancy thing. And that can be charming enough for the both of them.

[zoneofsmites]

Sazza: Shoot before you lose your nerve, tiefling. If you ever had any to begin with. Lucien: *step between the crossbow and the goblin* Sazza: Looks like the absolute send me a protector. Ya gonna kill 'im too? Arka: You! Move! Lucien: [Persuasion] No, shoot me. Should be easy right? Arka: What in every hell is wrong with you? Damn you, damn it! Why do you care if a goblin lives or dies? Lucien: Because she's not a practice target. She's a person. Lae'zel: Tsk. Your soft heart will be the death of us. Arka: Can't say I understand that. Not sure I want to.

Remember when I said that Lucien is the kind of Necromancer that thinks life is precious and every soul merits sacrificing everything for? This obviously includes goblins.

Arka saying "Can't say I understand that. Not sure I want to." is kind of fucked up isn't it? She does not see this goblin as a person - she does not want to see this goblin as a person. The question is, is that grief speaking or the general disdain for goblins? Perhaps both.

[zoneofsmites]

Lucien is so pretty and like. how am i supposed to focus on this run if i just stare at him in cutscenes the whole time. did this to myself really.

Have some of my favorites from playing today.

[zoneofsmites]

Astarion: Of course, first sign of change and I'll have to stop that pretty little heart of yours. Astarion: I am open to suggestions. Knives, poison, strangulation - whatever you'd prefer. Lucien: Poison? That sounds painless. Astarion: A fine choice! I can think of some nightshades that are deliciously fatal. If they're mixed well, you'll just close your eyes and drift away. And if they're not...

Like I said before, casual relationship with death. Astarion asks him how he wants to die and Lucien doesn't even need to think before answering - he has thought about this before, of course.

He does not pick poison because it would be quick or painless nessecarily. Poison will leave the body functional if it needs to be reanimated!

Lucien: And you? How should I kill you? Astarion: Ha! Oh, my boy, I'd like to see you try.

Astarion, buddy, who between us has 15 STR and the ability to blast magic in your face?

Lucien was asking an honest question - how would you prefer to die? It's nothing personal, promise. (and maybe... wait on revealing your vampiric nature to the necromancer - he would want to pick you apart to see how your organs work despite being undead)

[zoneofsmites]

Some Wyll introduction highlights - because I love him so much.

Wyll: Hell's great fires - you were on the ship Lucien: Who was that woman, the one in your thoughts? Wyll: You saw her, then Advocatus diaboli. Narrator: Intelligence (history): Advocatus diaboli. A devil's advocate - a champion of the Blood War between diabolic forces and demon.

The lighting in Wyll's introduction scene is always so fucking good. Anyway I kind of wish there was more options for your background to have special dialogue. Lucien is a baldurian noble - shouldn't there be an option for either Wyll to recognize him or him to recognize Wyll?

Oh well, that is what the imagination is for.

Lucien and Wyll are in the same age-range, though Luce is a tad older. They wouldn't have been friends - but he definitely could've been that attractive older teen that a young Wyll would have a crush on and try to impress or dance with at those balls the nobles hold.

Lucien: Let's join forces. I'll help you cast this devil back into the Hells. Lae'zel: Chk. A tadpole feasts on our skulls, and you are signing on to chase devils? Wyll: Trust me, gith - I know the stories. Doomed to shed our skin and become illithid. And they say there's no coming back. But I've seen your people in battle. I reckon you are no mere warrior, but a godsdamned army. If anyone cane overcome this tadpole, it's you. Wyll: I'd be a fool to let you turn your back. Pledge me your talents, and I'll pledge you mine. Lae'zel: Chk

It's dialogue like this that really makes it clear this man has a starting 17 Charisma stat. Wyll knows what to say to get people to listen to him, to placate them and be on his side. He is charming and lovely and persuasive.

[Shadowheart: The fame Blade of Frontiers in the flesh. ] Wyll: 'Hero', 'Blade' - names strangers gave me. My friends call me 'Wyll'. Shadowheart: Excellent. If we ever become friends, I'll know what to call you.

I love Shadowheart's sass here - but also did strangers actually give him that name? The way he prances it around it sounds like his own little made up name sometimes, though it definitely could be a title others gave him that he is simply proud of.

[zoneofsmites]

(physically restraining myself) Lucien: Eros 3, Philia 2. And then Sylas: Ludus 5, Philautia 4. -@veilkeeper

Questions from here

Eros 3 - How do they feel about public displays of romantic affection? Does it make them uncomfortable? How do they feel if a romantic partner kisses them in public?

Lucien isn't unfamiliar with relationships. But he is not used to genuine romantic affection - most of his relationships were short-lived and not very serious. Being kissed in public he can handle, but it is soft touches and more romantic gestures (like wyll's new kissing animation - i've seen that floating around already) that would get him stammering and red in the face. Yes it would make him uncomfortable but he wouldn't mind it, he in fact quite likes it despite being a blundering mess about it.

Philia 2 - Does your OC find it easy to make friends? Or are there barriers to them doing so? If so then are these due to issues of inclination, communication, or something else entirely?

Let's just say his lack of charisma stat isn't just because I needed a dump stat.

Lucien is weird. Not in the ways my durge Sylas is weird. No Lucien is weird in the ways a relatively sheltered noble wizard is weird. Lucien is weird the ways necromancers are weird.

Making friends isn't impossible or anything but it can be hard for him. He is pretty and decently charming but then he opens his mouth and starts talking corpses and fighting techniques, which is not everyone's cup of tea...

Ludus 5 - What seduction techniques are most likely to be effective when it comes to your OC? Are there some things guaranteed to get them going? Or are they immune to such things?

Sylas is an easy man when it comes to being convinced into having sex with someone - especially post-tadpole, when he also has the lack of reservations about being with anyone... alive, for fear of attachement.

Honestly all you need is for him to find you conventionally attractive and for you to be direct about your intentions. (which is why Lae'zel and Astarion both managed to get something going there).

The problem is mostly in the long term. Getting off and a relationship are different things. Especially when you... aren't sure what a relationship is actually supposed to look like.

Philautia 4 - Which of your OC's qualities makes them the most proud? Do they think more people should be like them in this regard? Or do they quite like being rare in possessing it?

Sylas is most proud of his fighting prowess, his ability to handle himself. his ability to spill crimson, to tear and slice and kill. Among his fellow traveling companions fighting ability isn't a rare skill, but his skillset is unique.

Other than that he is quite proud with how quickly he is picking up whittling and drawing. He wasn't made for the arts but he's pretty good at having that eye for detail and he has the ability for precision work.

tysm for the ask kellan <3

[zoneofsmites]

11, 12, and 4 for Lucien!

(questions from here!)

Thank you for the ask Fable!

11. A decade from now, where will they be?

With Lord Timothy Peter Levvine - who attended Gortash' coronation and is one of the nobles killed - a decade dead Lucien will have taken his position as head of the household a while ago. He would be a Lord in Baldur's Gate and the owner of the Levvine family's merchant fleets and businesses.

Together with his husband - Duke Wyll Ravengard - they try to make Baldur's Gate a better city to the best of their ability. While also taking care of and raising their family.

12. What is their fondest memory?

Meeting his father for the first time and leaving the cult closed elven community he grew up in for the first ten years of his life. Seeing Baldur's Gate and the upper city - experiencing so many different cultures - was mind blowing to him.

4. What food would they be?

This question stumped me, man.

Truffle mushrooms? Truffles are ridiculously expensive which fits his more high society habits + I associate mushrooms with death which fits the necromancy.

[zoneofsmites]

1, 3, 12, 20 for Sylas and Lucien!

Questions from here!

Part of the post will be under a readmore, so im thanking you ahead of time for the ask <3.

Sylas

1 - what do they smell like at their freshest? (and/or after a tenday. your choice)

Generally Sylas smells like ozone - thanks to being a storm sorcerer. Ozone has been described as smelling 'clean' as well as sweet and pungent, or like an electrical spark.

crossdressingdeath also mentioned this but I like to believe durge smells faintly like blood regardless of how clean they are. The slightly metallic smell is a constant - and gets more pungent and overpowering after a tenday.

3 - how would they kiss their LI?

Sylas takes cue from his partner - he wasn’t exactly an avid kisser pre-tadpole but now he has even less experience without memory.

Lae’zel and Astarion were kissed roughly - enthusiastically - and with teeth involved. This was fine because that was the point of those two trysts. Lae’zel is into it and Astarion knows how to play rough.

With Wyll he learns how kiss slow and gentle. To hold his partner, cradle their face and getting to enjoy sweet kisses for the first time - It was quite the challenge to learn, at least the other kisses came a lot more intuitively.

(before the tadpole he kissed Gortash once - very briefly before his demise at the hands of Orin - but it was uncharacteristically careful, loving even)

12 - their companions are gossiping about them behind their back! who is it and what are they saying?

At the beginning it would be his general... off putting shit. He stares too much - too intently - and he's eerily quiet. He doesn't sleep for days and when he does he trashes violently. They're also fairly certain he stops breathing for long periods... All of them would kind of do this behind his back - some out of concern for him, others out of concern for themselves and the group.

20 - if you were to try pick pocketing them, what would they be carrying?

Is that… is that another knife? Gods above where do all these daggers just keep fucking coming from????

In Sylas' inventory the player would find a ring, his blades, a sketchbook that is full of sketches and scribbles (some disturbingly violent and some simple practice drawings) that are getting progressively less crappy. If Sylas is pick pocketed after act 2 he will also be carrying the Prayer of Forgiveness note.

Lucien

1 - what do they smell like at their freshest? (and/or after a tenday. your choice)

Floral and honey - but there is always this medicinal undertone of embalming fluid he cannot seem to get rid of despite his fancy perfumes and prestidigitation. (Necromancy problems 😔)

3 - how would they kiss their LI?

Slow and thorough. Preferably while at the same height - Lucien does not enjoy his height in these moments and being a whole head and then some taller than Wyll is a problem. But squatting or having Wyll stand on something feels demeaning so the polite company version is to both sit or lean down somewhat. But his preferred version involves picking Wyll up.

12 - their companions are gossiping about them behind their back! who is it and what are they saying?

Most gossip in the party about Lucien would revolve around his Rich Kid tendencies - the magic tent being one of them. Probably mostly Shadowheart who starts it - gossip queen that she is - but Karlach is equally perplexed by it.

20 - if you were to try pick pocketing them, what would they be carrying?

Lucien's inventory would include his Grimoire which is neatly organised and carefully binded, a lot of fancy jewelry and if he was given the book by the player: the Necromancy of Thay.