#also you have to go back into the underdark (where you were born but haven't returned to since coming topside after the final battle)

[bijouly]

[margridarnauds]

I haven't played the game myself but I DO want to know about your Tavs! I think you've mentioned Kitrye and Mallathalra are sisters, so maybe answer 1-10 for each, or both if the answer is the same, and also 31 (Underdark question)

SYMRYVVIN SISTERS, LET'S GO (thank you!)

• Origin & Class

1. What is their backstory and why did you choose it?

(warning for brief references to past implied SA)

Kitrye is a half-Elf; her father was a captured Wood Elf, her mother was a priestess of Lolth. The circumstances of her conception were...less than consensual, and her father was killed before she was born. She grew up stigmatized, with only a few friends or allies, the most prominent being her adoptive sister, Mallathalra, a former urchin brought in by the Symryvvin family (even her name was given to her; her original name has been forgotten, even by Malla). As time went on, she discovered the goddess Eilistraee, who comforted her and showed her a different path, that she didn't have to live in the darkness forever. After a time serving as a Shadowdancer, working quietly to undermine Lolth even as she appeared faithful, she escaped to the surface world, becoming Eilistraee's paladin and pursued by her sister.

Going into Kitrye's backstory, I wanted to do at least a LITTLE bit of a shakeup from my usual pattern for OC backstories. I know that I like a *lot* of characters with abusive fathers. At first, I toyed with her being a Seldarine Drow whose mother or father had escaped to the surface and fallen in love with an Elf, but as I started to dig more into Drow society, I found myself wanting to dig more into the darker side of things and what it would genuinely be like to be a half-Elf in that kind of regimented world, so I decided to toy with that. Going through conversations with friends, I realized that I actually HAD like. My actual thoughts on Kitrye's development while it was happening written out.

(@hotelfgirl suggested a Drow because "it was angstier"; she has no one but herself to blame for the result.) (Please note: I HAVE NEVER EVEN DONE A DURGE RUN.) (I HAVE FIVE RUNS OF THIS STUPID GAME. AND I HAVE NEVER DONE A DURGE RUN.)

(Additionally HILARIOUS when you remember how much Kitrye canonically HATED ASTARION by the end of her run. Like, girl couldn't even romance him long enough to dump him after ascending him; the worst thing I ever did was have an AU where she had sex with him so that I could get modded footage of Astarion being swapped for Raphael, just because of how UNCOMFORTABLE she looked.)

I looked up different Drow noble houses, since I knew that that would be a vital part of her identity, I chose the Symryvvins because they're low enough in the hierarchy that next to nothing's been done on them, so I had a lot of leeway. (It wasn't until later that I learned about the earlier sources that indicated that House Symryvvin were known for producing priestesses and might be the real powers in Menzoberranzan...which fit PERFECTLY.)

Malla came later, much later. As I was developing a fic that involves Kitrye going back to the Underdark, I thought about what I wanted to show of the Symryvvin family. The girl's mother, sure, but what about other family members? It didn't make sense for there to be only TWO Drow in this noble house, there would have to be other family members. And I was kind of eager to toy with what a Lolth sworn Drow would be like. What's it like for people who AREN'T Kitrye? It wasn't a fully developed character, more an antagonist who would impede Kitrye's time in the Underdark and who might know about her secret, but not say anything, giving the appearance of being a friend before betraying her. Then, as I was reading the 2E book on Menzoberranzan, I saw an interesting bit on non-noble Drow with certain skills being adopted into noble families. I thought about what kind of urchin might be adopted, and I remembered the Szarkai. In a flash, Malla was born, from all these disparate pieces. A character who would be the anti-Kitrye, who would be cynical, pragmatic, and ruthless, loyal to Lolth, and devoted to the Symryvvin cause. Someone who would hunt Kitrye down, explaining, FINALLY, *why* she felt she needed to go back to the Underdark. (I was still planning on having her betray Kitrye, even though it felt wrong, but @claradwor WISELY talked me out of it, saving Malla's character.)

From there, a lot naturally felt into place as I was making her in character creator and then playing her in the game, both at the tail end of Kitrye's run and ESPECIALLY in her own run.

2. What is their class (+ subclass) and why did you choose it?

Kitrye is a Light Cleric of Eilistraee/Paladin, Oath of the Ancients. I knew, as I was developing Kitrye, that I desperately wanted her to be a paladin of Eilistraee. I wanted to play her as this sort of grail knight figure, with a strong sense of redemption, but perhaps with a touch of hubris as far as her own ability to be corrupted. And in order to be a paladin of a deity, you have to at least dip into cleric.

For Oath of the Ancients, as I'll touch on...I actually wanted her to be something else, but it wasn't available in the game. I went between Oath of the Ancients/Oath of Devotion, but the Ancients' overall emphasis on preserving the light against the dark really seemed to fit a paladin of Eilistraee and her battle against Lolth perfectly. I didn't know she was going to be an Oathbreaker going in, it wasn't planned (and in some ways clashed with my plans to have her become corrupted later) but I decided in Act 1, with the Nere bossfight (where, in the first runthrough, she broke her oath due to killing some guards....so I had to run through the fight AGAIN) that if there was ever a time when I thought it would suit her story arc, to go for it. And when it came time to free or destroy the vampire spawn, I decided that this was a worthy cause for her to break her oath for and a great character development moment, so I accepted it, and so she's a canon Oathbreaker.

3. Do they multiclass? Why (not)?

Kitrye multiclasses as a Cleric/Paladin. I usually emphasize the Paladin aspect, because it's the most relevant to her arc. (I only multiclassed as Cleric initially so I could choose her deity, since Eilistraee is so important to her and her arc, even though by the end of her run, she had more Cleric than Paladin levels.)

Malla is a Gloomstalker Ranger/Assassin/Fighter combo. (She is. Terrifying in combat. To the point of nearly one-shotting a dragon. That is why she is my Tactician Mode Girl.) Beyond minmaxing, I wanted to emphasize the various aspects of Malla's work -- she's a ranger, a lot of her work does involve tracking down the enemies of Lolth and dragging people back to the Underdark. She can live off the grid, away from the most strenuous aspects of Drow society (hence how she has her tattoo.) Assassin to emphasize her role as an infiltrator, working from the shadows, killing quietly and quickly. Fighter to build off the ranger and emphasize her combat training.

4. Is there a reason why your Tav starts out as Level 1?

For Kitrye, it's the tadpole. Realistically, given her history and the sheer *length* of her service to Eilistraee, I think that her final level of 12 might very well reflect her "natural" level pre-tadpole, though I could be persuaded to lower her down to a 10.

For Malla, when I first introduced her, it wasn't actually during her own run -- it was Kitrye's. I installed a mod that allowed you to add custom companions, and so she was brought in for the Destroy the Steel Watch quest, well after Kitrye had obtained level 12, so she started off as a level 12, and I consider that to be canon for her. (In her own run, she started off as a 1 just like everyone else, and like with Kitrye, I blame the tadpole. Because there's no way you can be an elite Drow ranger and be a 1.)

5. Does your Tav have family members? Are they close?

Malla and Kitrye are adopted siblings (though, honestly, even *I* barely remember the "adopted" part). Malla was an urchin, taken in by the Symryvvin family because she was a Szarkai Drow, therefore believed to be a sign of Lolth's favor. The two sisters have an odd relationship -- Kitrye spends most of her canon run scared of Malla finding her, but, once Malla does, she gave her full access to the camp inventory and allowed her to choose whatever weapons she wanted. Malla gained the scar on her eye from protecting Kitrye from bullies when they were children. Kitrye used her skill at alchemy to make poisons for Malla to dip her arrows into, and Malla will collect ingredients for Kitrye without even thinking. They both resent one another on some level for having something that the other wants -- Kitrye for Malla being able to blend into society aboveground (since she's often mistaken for an albino elf, despite Kitrye actually BEING half-Elf), Malla for Kitrye having the Symryvvin blood and the security that brings (as much security as you can get in Drow society), and not wanting it. They are totally incompatible as far as their life trajectories, but they are also sisters, and it's a bond that goes deeper than anyone really anticipates, especially from the Drow.

Kitrye lives in a state of fear of her mother -- I do think that she loved Kitrye, or at least was invested enough in her survival to both keep the pregnancy *and* allow her to grow into adulthood, but it has also never been a fully loving relationship. Kitrye's mother will use her for her purposes and, if she was to ever find out the full extent of Kitrye's Eilistraean activities, she wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice her to Lolth. The main reason that Kitrye lives *now* and is even given the option of being dragged to Menzoberranzan, instead of being executed on the spot, is that her mother refuses to believe she could not only leave Lolth and become an apostate, but to convert to Eilistraee, the result of wishful thinking and the Symryvvin family's adamantine reputation for being loyal followers of Lolth. Malla's reputation is far more distant -- Malla knows that she relies on the Symryvvin family. When their fortunes rise, so do hers, and if their fortunes fall, so do hers, and so she obeys the letter of the matron mother's requests, even as she acts as a free agent. Their mother is more of a patron to her than a maternal figure, and Malla, in turn, is the Symryvvin family's own weapon, honed to perfection, a blade worthy of the Eyes of Lolth.

6. Does your Tav have any friends from their past? Are they still friends?

Ilivarra, a fellow Eilistraean who helped Kitrye adjust to her new, dangerous life in the service of Eilistraee when she was a new convert. Unfortunately, while Kitrye still considers her a friend, she can't be in contact with her, due to Ilivarra's life as a Shadowdancer for Eilistraee, still working in Menzoberranzan. Ilivarra was there when, after the game, Kitrye returned to Menzoberranzan for her last mission, ultimately allowing herself to become a human sacrifice for the sake of the mission. (Which caused Kitrye to have a minor breakdown, as she realized that, after everything she'd accomplished, she still couldn't save her friends, she was still the same sad, scared little girl she'd been over two hundred years before the second she was in front of her mother.)

For Malla, I don't believe that she has any real friends, especially with her line of work. She has people who she uses, she has people whose trust she twists, but I don't believe she would be able to trust someone enough to truly consider them a friend.

7. Does your Tav have connections to other characters (I.e.: NPCs)?

Nere is either a half-brother or cousin to the girls. I don't know which, honestly, which shows that it isn't REALLY as important as it could be. (He was born well after Kitrye had left the Underdark, so she never knew him growing up.) (#He'sJustNere)

Malla is romancing Minthara and, even in Kitrye's run, I like to think that, while Kitrye was fighting her way to Baldur's Gate, Malla was following behind her and rescued her from Moonrise Towers. (She and Kitrye eventually have a long discussion about So, Now We Both Hate Lolth.) I don't think that either girl knew her before, at least not on a personal level. I suspect, from Minthara's voice acting, that she might be a good few centuries older than them, possibly in the 300s-400s to their ~270s. Not MASSIVE by Drow standards, but enough to mean they weren't running in the same generational circles.

Kitrye's reputation as a devilfucker, for better or worse, barely needs to be said, but she has a push and pull dynamic with Raphael that threads its way throughout the three acts of the game. They actually never met one another BEFORE the game, though, something that Raphael sometimes regrets.

I do think that Kitrye might have met Araj at one point, both of them being roughly the same age, with an interest in potions-- Araj doesn't recognize her and Kitrye tries very hard to not give out her name in their encounter, even if she doesn't totally succeed and Araj absolutely comes to realize who the half-Elf browsing through her shop is. I don't think their relationship before was particularly cordial. (Her relationship with Araj's cousins absolutely was NOT.)

For characters who don't appear in the game, Kitrye's first crush was Gromph Baenre. An adolescent Kitrye would wait up at night for the tower of Narbondel to light up and would moon over how wise and handsome Gromph was. (Malla still remembers this and *will* tease her.)

HATES Drizzt because she feels like he doesn't give proper credit to Eilistraee. Deeply respects Liriel Baenre, despite being a century older than her and once wanting to fuck Liriel's dad. (Isobel 🤝 Liriel: Kitrye being friends with them and considering asking them if they'd ever thought of having a new stepmother.) (Malla hates Drizzt because...he betrayed Lolth. She also DESPISES Viconia and collaborated with Kitrye to kill her.)

8. Where did your character live before the events of the game?

Kitrye has been wandering around Faerûn, always watching behind her back for the forces of Lolth, wherever there's a need of her. She's tangled with Drow slavers, helped as a healer in places that had been devastated by raiders, and met with other Eilistraean forces to devise strategies, particularly keeping in contact with Liriel Baenre and Qilué Veladorn. She can never stay too long and she doesn't want to, being somewhat solitary by most Eilistraean standards.

Malla, likewise, is often travelling around, working as a sort of bounty hunter in Lolth's name, focusing especially on cities and urban areas, places where Drow might escape in the hopes of blending in with a crowd. Anywhere where the Symryvvin family has need of her, she goes. Just before the events of the game, she began the process of infiltrating the new cult known as the Absolute, gaining the trust of a few major members and ingratiating herself, selling herself as a new prospect.

9. Does your Tav have a different class/race/origin than in the game? (I.e.: Your Tav is Aasimar, fisherman backstory ...)

I really, really wanted Kitrye to be an Oath of Redemption Paladin. That was the theming I wanted for her, especially as a follower of Eilistraee, but because of game limitations, she had to take a vow as Oath of the Ancients instead. To some extent, I think it worked out well, because I think it really allowed her to explore the limits of her character in a way she wouldn't have with Oath of Redemption, I think, if I was to play it again in a world where both were available, I would give her Oath of the Ancients again, but it's always going to be a case of what could have been.

Malla's an odd combination of noble/urchin for her backstory, but I decided to keep "noble" for Kitrye and "urchin" for Malla to highlight the difference between them in their early lives. (Though "folk hero" or "outlander" would have ALSO worked for Kitrye.)

10. What was your Tav like as a child?

Kitrye was a quiet child, the type who've learned the dangers of speaking up too often, too loudly. She spent most of her time in the company of the House Wizard, who taught her all there was to know about the study of alchemy, even though Kitrye felt no particular love or aptitude for the broader study of magic. She had few friends, was quite lonely, but observed a great deal, becoming quite adept at studying human behavior and picking apart intentions in order to turn conversations her way when she did speak.

Malla was more outgoing, naturally quick and clever, operating as a petty thief in Menzoberranzan before being taken in. Like Kitrye, she honed her charisma carefully, but also maintained a proud streak that did not tolerate insult. If Drow society turned Kitrye into a somewhat naturally pensive, sad child, they made Mallathalra into a cynical one. She was pragmatic, keeping an eye on Kitrye because the Symryvvin name was hers as well, and was willing to defend her to the point of drawing blood (even with the knowledge and, perhaps, even expectation that one day, it would be Kitrye's blood at the end of either her knife or her arrow). The two of them formed a natural partnership, albeit one that was strained by their different personalities and outlooks.

31. What does your Tav think of the Underdark and the Myconids?

The Underdark is still Kitrye's home, to some extent. It's where she grew up, she's attached to it, but she also hasn't gone back since she escaped over a century before. She was constantly on edge in the area, always worried that someone from her past would pop up, even though they were far from Menzoberranzan. Still, it was in the Underdark that her character development first began, between gaining the Phalar Aluve, the Eilistraean sword that she used for the rest of her run, as well as confronting and killing Nere, fully claiming her heroic legacy as a half Elf for the first time, with both sides of her heritage integrated into one another. She enjoyed her time with the Myconids, even if she found their reanimation process to be disturbing, and was thrilled to be given the title "peacebringer." She considers them to be genuine friends and hopes to stay with them again at some point, enjoying their song.

Malla didn't feel the same angst over the situation -- this is the Underdark, it's her home, she knows the dangers better than anyone, and so it was the best path to travel. She doesn't particularly ENJOY being there, simply because it means that she gets a shorter leash, but it's a more mundane "gah, I was having so much fun aboveground" type of thing as opposed to Kitrye constantly looking over her shoulder. Malla didn't particularly think too much of the Myconids one way or another -- she helped them out, they helped her out. She chose Spaw over Glut as sovereign purely because she decided that Spaw was the sane option and, even as she rolled her eyes at some of the titles and the superlatives, she accepted the possibility of new allies.