while it’s perfectly fine to have your own headcanons that are non-canon compliant — by all means, go wild. recognizing pieces of yourselves in fictional characters can be a very healing and validating experience. this is nonetheless a casual, well-intentioned reminder that gale, in fact, does not have bpd.
bpd is a pervasive pattern of instability affecting interpersonal relationships, self-image, and mood. the disorder is marked by impulsivity beginning in early adulthood and is present in a variety of contexts. a diagnosis requires at least 5 of the following 9 criteria to be met:
Fear of abandonment
Unstable or changing relationships
Unstable self-image; struggles with identity or sense of self
Impulsive or self-damaging behaviors (e.g., excessive spending, unsafe sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating).
Suicidal behavior or self-injury
Varied or random mood swings
Constant feelings of worthlessness or sadness
Problems with anger, including frequent loss of temper or physical fights
Stress-related paranoia or loss of contact with reality
source: [x]
i highlighted the criteria that do apply to gale in one way or another in a pretty purple.
i personally believe that it’s rather harmful to equate his relationship with mystra with her being “his fp”. she is a deity, his goddess, and the source of his powers, who is in in full control of the magic he wields.
gale: mystra commands all magic. salvation, if such a thing exists, is hers to bestow or withhold.
gale has been effectively groomed and conditioned to serve and revere her at every turn since early childhood. imo this comparison really undermines a lot of crucial points in gale’s story that deal with his overall trauma and abuse. after all, you wouldn’t call shar sh*dowhe*rt’s fp either.
gale doesn’t revile mystra, nor does he commit benevolent deeds solely motivated by the secret hope that she will somehow notice and take him back. when you meet gale in the game he has already fully come to terms with the fact that he has been abandoned by mystra with no hope of reconciliation whatsoever. he also had some very fitting lines in ea regarding this topic that i'm sad haven't been repurposed in the full release in some way.
gale: [the tadpoles] don't know that some things are impossible. they don't know that... they don't know.
player: what is impossible about what you're being shown?
gale: forgiveness.
gale: it is mystra i see. and yet it cannot be her. there was a time when i would have believed - but no longer.
gale: suffice it to say she would not bestow upon me the favors promised in these dreams. that is how i know they are delusions.
he has already reached the stage of acceptance. moreover, gale only starts to realize that mystra might have been in the wrong for requesting his death once the tadpole squad & tav speak some sense into him. and even then he doesn’t ever show that his emotions regarding mystra are anywhere along those lines. he is instead rightfully angered that she only saw value in his death, after he had been worshipping her loyally for years.
gale: i worshipped mystra loyally for years, and in that time she granted me the barest sliver of the power i was ready to wield.
gale: even with the fate of the world at stake, she had little more to offer me than the means of blowing myself up at a more convenient time. she's done nothing to help us.
gale: you abandoned me in my hour of greatest need. i had no obligation to help you in yours.
gale: because you had no right to ask that of me. you cast me out, remember?
gale doesn’t display rapid changes in mood either. he is a character who is generally very composed and has been known to remain nonchalant even in the face of utter horror. tim downie himself even commented on this once. source: [x]
the only instance i can think of is his sudden switch from resigned-to-death to utter-eye-sparkling-enthusiasm once he spots the crown of karsus. apart from crucial story reasons that i won’t touch upon in this post, i’d also like to add that it’s a rather common phenomenon for people who have just barely survived a suicide attempt to suddenly be filled with zeal and unbridled energy. he doesn't display impulsivity without thorough consideration when it comes to its acquisition either. he considers this a golden opportunity and is positively enthusiastic and elated that this might prove an alternative to him ending up in a cloud of netherese smoke. nonetheless, he knows what he is doing. evident in him actually succeeding in ascending in one of his endings.
gale: this is no passing whim, trust me. if i can obtain that crown, it will affect us all. it is not a decision i'll take lightly.
gale: it's our future that i'm thinking of - we can't rely on anyone else to do it for us.
gale: for now - we've learned all we can.
neither are his relationships that we do know of (namely elminster, tara, and morena) frequently changing. they are marked by years of mutual respect, care, and consistency. there is nothing unstable about them. while it's important to note that his relationship with tav is still in its honeymoon stages during the main game, there is no inclination of any push-and-pull dynamic between them whatsoever.
gale isn’t preoccupied with keeping up some sort of benevolent act in order to win (back) affection — he genuinely IS a good person and he proves this at every turn. moreover, to have a tressym become your familiar you must be of Good alignment.
(taken from tumblr user galedekarios's post.)
there is never a moment where his ideals or alignment suddenly change. in fact, i’d argue that he and wyll are most consistent in this regard when compared to the rest of the companions. gale makes his moral standpoint very clear from the beginning on and also explicitly states that he believes that in order to survive this entire ordeal it would be selfish of him if he wouldn’t be willing to compromise on his morals. this isn’t a sudden bout of ✨muahahaha wizard hubris✨ that he barely contained to hold in before, this is yet another act of selflessness — it is what he’s willing to do for the group and subsequently, the welfare of faerun.
player: i love unsavoury things. don't feel guilty on my account.
gale: that's good to know. although i should say i do what i do out of a sense of utility and pragmatism, not a love of the unsavoury.
gale: we're up against the greatest threat faerun has ever faced. i don't mind getting my hands dirty if it gives us a better chance of surviving.
gale: whatever advantage i can gain for us. i will. and i refuse to feel guilty for it, no matter how much mystra's chidings might echo in my skull.
this is him, once again trying to be useful in whatever way he can. to give them an advantage, a slither of hope against seemingly impossible odds, so they might make it out of this in one piece. gale wouldn’t approve of those actions under normal circumstances, but their predicament is as far from any definition of “normal” as it can get.
gale is no fool, he realizes this is essentially about survival. he knows that he has no option left other than to tolerate, which is why he can be convinced to not immediately depart tav’s company even if they choose to commit atrocities. this is no character flaw of his or him displaying a previously dormant openness for cruelty, this is about recognizing the necessity.
player: you don't stand a chance alone. you're free to go. i dare you.
gale: gods damn you - you're right. few things are more powerful than the will to live.
gale: i thought the orb to be the greatest of my sins, but i see now that there are darker depths to which i might yet sink. you may be content to sink into that abyss, but i assure you - i am not.
gale doesn’t lead a split existence. he has a very strong sense of identity. he knows what he wants, what he doesn’t want and he isn’t shy in expressing his boundaries either. which he has especially shown when it comes to his relationship with tav. i originally had intended to touch upon this in another post entirely but: i firmly believe his entire Gale of Waterdeep™ persona is more of a performance than him struggling to find a sense of identity and trying them on for size. it is an intentional decision to separate gale dekarios from the great wizard of waterdeep, to create distance and make sure his family name remains untarnished in case things should ever go sideways.
gale: i agree. and on the plus side, if i get myself into any truly cataclysmic straits during the remainder of our journey, my family name will go untarnished.
there is also a deep-rooted feeling of unworthiness and his firm belief that love and praise are conditional resources that he will only be granted through his talents alone, naturally. presenting himself as gale dekarios, the man, would mean highlighting his shortcomings and very human flaws, while distracting from the aspects of himself that are deemed praiseworthy, the ones that actually matter: his magical prowess.
i personally believe that part of the beauty of gale’s story is him realizing just how “little” it takes for him to be truly content. he gets his happy ending, with someone at his side who truly sees him, understands him and unabashedly commits to him. they worship and adore him in return — and it is well deserved. he isn’t reduced to be constantly and restlessly searching for some unattainable ideal to fill the gaping void within himself. he doesn’t secretly thirst for more power still or believes that in being with tav he is settling for something. instead, he is finally happy to just be. be and be accepted. teaching a class of unruly wizards and coming home to his spouse each day already fulfills him.
gale: that's how i feel with you - content. it's a rather unfamiliar feeling, i must say. not something gale of waterdeep ever craved.
even if he doesn’t pursue a romance with tav, he reaches a realization of “oh, it appears i am not irredeemably flawed and only able to reach true redemption through my own death. what i needed was actually with me all along.” throughout their journey and through his friend's support. i think that’s a very powerful and comforting message. he is very well capable of finding peace within himself.
devnotes: his default state is that he returned to waterdeep and became a professor of illusory magic at his former school, blackstaff academy. general vibe here is that this is a gale who's found peace with himself - he's a great teacher, one his students are mostly in awe of.
to repeat myself: sharing your headcanons is all in good fun, nor should you ever be discouraged from doing so. this is your personal tumblr experience, after all. but i personally think we should be mindful of unintentionally perpetuating negative stereotypes, such as narcissism being a general indicator or being deemed a classic depiction of bpd. i think we can all agree that the continuous longing for acceptance, connection, praise, and approval is something we all have in common deep down, regardless of whatever disorder we may have. [insert victoria justice meme here]
gale may be many things to many people, but he is no entitled narcissist.
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curmsed
adhbbvi /aðbbˈvi/ v. rest
aestezg /aˈestezg/ n. cloak
aftdzeukfe /aftdˈzeukˌfe/ adj. weak, fragile
algvertfi /algˈvertfi/ n. control
ambdhiston /ambˈðiston/ n. graveyard
angdhuwm /angˈðuwm/ v. be (exist), be (permanent state)
ar /ar/ n. leader
astthe /astˈθe/ n. bedroom
avdgudvozdtfi /avdˈgudvozdtˌfi/ n. preparation
aydhdtthathpbdhal /ajðdtˈθaθpbðal/ prep. throughout
azd /azd/ n. place, point, site, location, position (location)
badhd /baðd/ v. drag
bazdyen /bazˈdjen/ prep. like
bdheafkbzavb /bðeˈafkbzavb/ n. choice
bdhiskufk /bðisˈkufk/ n. family (children and parents)
bebvezher /bebˈveʒer/ v. throw, hurl, fling, cast, propel
besttfi /besttˈfi/ n. argument
bigdhovgpfan /bigˈðovgpfan/ v. believe, trust
bizbddhapso /bizbdˈðapso/ adj. heavy
boskgdhi /boskgˈði/ n. child (son or daughter of any age)
bupfuomasp /bupˈfuoˌmasp/ n. pool
bvanlesk /bvaˈnlesk/ pron. me
bvethptha /bveθpˈθa/ v. might
bvovdkaravb /bvovdˈkaravb/ adv. often
bzasp /bzasp/ adv. out
bzeltfah /bzeltˈfah/ n. style, fashion
bzinguft /bziˈŋuft/ n. daughter
bzu dedhbkfust /bzu deðbkˈfust/ n. bracelet
chadhbgvei /ʧaðbgˈvei/ adj. vulgar
chevdudhbkthazg /ʧevˈduðbkθazg/ v. laugh, chuckle
chiwchishist /ʧiwˈʧiʃist/ v. worry
davbpsum /davbpˈsum/ n. mass
ddhanfan /dðanˈfan/ n. sound
ddhemuh /dðeˈmuh/ n. space (beyond Earth)
ddhifkksaegvon /dðifkkˈsaegˌvon/ n. dog
ddho /dðo/ pron. I
ddhozg romovb /dðozg roˈmovb/ n. lens
ddhuvggdhel /dðuvggˈðel/ v. blow
demshodhgmozb /demˈʃoðgmozb/ n. monster
dhengzah /ðengˈzah/ v. save, rescue
di /di/ n. bee
dobuthkmo /doˈbuθkmo/ n. smoke, dust, fog
dowh /dowh/ n. forest
duvbfabdhor /duvbˈfabðor/ adj. long
dvastsi /dvastˈsi/ v. return, go back
dveskyymksuzg /dvesˈkjjmksuzg/ n. career
dviu /dviˈu/ n. letter (of an alphabet)
dvuskhezdgzu /dvuskˈhezdgzu/ n. topic, theme
dzam /dzam/ n. earth
dzazd /dzazd/ n. basket
dzezb /dzezb/ n. public
dzo /dzo/ prep. by (using the means of), by (using a route)
dzurddhutfedhg /dzurdˈðutfeðg/ n. evidence, contract
edhdkthinasp /eðdkˈθinasp/ n. window
eftddhofp /eftdˈðofp/ n. beauty
eidhdgdhil /eˈiðdgðil/ n. instrument, appliance
emksoftddhofp /emkˈsoftdðofp/ n. happiness
er /er/ adj. fat, big, obese
erdvofkdithk /erdˈvofkdiθk/ n. nephew
ethkksizdtsum /eθkkˈsizdtsum/ n. transport
evgdzah /evgdˈzah/ prep. at
fafkon /fafˈkon/ n. winery
fawnwilksuskkthozb /fawˈnwilksuskkˌθozb/ adj. religious
fi /fi/ n. guest
foalvulgza /foˈalvulgˌza/ n. emotion, affection
fur /fur/ n. torch
gatthaspddhu /gatˈθaspdðu/ n. steel
gdhedol /gðeˈdol/ n. color, hue
gdhethp /gðeθp/ adj. new
gdhir /gðir/ v. copy, imitate, replicate
gdhofk /gðofk/ adj. specific, definite, particular
gdhuthtamdzaudhg /gðuθˈtamdzaˌuðg/ n. powder
ge /ge/ n. school
gekthozb /gekˈθozb/ adj. academic
guehgehnge /guˈehgehˌŋe/ adj. stubborn
gvafpya /gvafˈpja/ v. love, admire
gvamdhaykthe /gvamˈðajkθe/ n. snake
gvelbzuskar /gvelbˈzuskar/ n. tourist
gviftgvizd /gviftgˈvizd/ n. gun, rifle, pistol
gvizg /gvizg/ n. child (young human being)
gvothpam /gvoθˈpam/ v. break, burst, snap, split
gvun /gvun/ pron. you all
gzalfaeal /gzalˈfaeˌal/ v. need (require), need (lack)
gzebva /gzebˈva/ v. kick
gzeyurusp /gzeˈjurusp/ n. tin
gzih /gzih/ n. thread, strand
gzivdkfilywe /gzivdkˈfiljwe/ n. guide
gzowvgal /gzowvˈgal/ v. flirt
gzufk /gzufk/ n. heat
gzuvbifktsi /gzuvˈbifktsi/ v. lift
hahlukesk nalkthagva /haˈhlukesk nalkˈθagva/ n. train
heon /heˈon/ v. start, begin
hoiyedhbyi /hoˈijeðˌbji/ adj. pretty
hulgdhilsha /hulgˈðilʃa/ adv. however
idhb /iðb/ adj. significant
iftuthp /ifˈtuθp/ adj. old, former
ilddhuzg /ildˈðuzg/ n. canvas
inosk /iˈnosk/ n. cotton
ithkpfathkgdhadhb /iθkpˈfaθkgðaðb/ n. crown
izgefp /izˈgefp/ n. lamp
jask /ʤask/ adj. tight, tense
jivdgolmen /ʤivdˈgolmen/ adj. sad
juzb /ʤuzb/ adj. sorry
kafptfengi /kafptˈfeŋi/ v. catch, capture, seize
kangdhol /kangˈðol/ n. stem
kfa /kfa/ adj. white, blank, clear, transparent, yellow, orange, brown, red, pink
kfapsitfar /kfapˈsitfar/ n. world
kfepsavg /kfepˈsavg/ n. device, gadget, fixture
kfir /kfir/ n. fact
kfouthp bisk /kfoˈuθp bisk/ n. pubic hair
kfufk /kfufk/ v. review, analyze
kotsothear /kotˈsoθeˌar/ n. scientist
ksadhg /ksaðg/ n. flame
ksam /ksam/ n. kind, type
ksavbtsokthul /ksavbtˈsokθul/ n. palm (of hand)
ksetthetsofk /ksetˈθetsofk/ n. curtain, veil
ksir /ksir/ v. stamp
ksiur /ksiˈur/ v. like, admire
ksogvustbzofk /ksogˈvustbzofk/ n. back (of body), back (reverse side)
ksozgtfi /ksozgtˈfi/ n. growth
ksustgdhafklim /ksustgˈðafklim/ n. cat
ksuthkgvodhgbil /ksuθkgˈvoðgbil/ n. program
ksuzhimar /ksuˈʒimar/ n. wizard
kthafkbafp /kθafkˈbafp/ n. gap, cleavage
ktheban /kθeˈban/ v. ring
kthifpkfemon /kθifpkˈfemon/ n. drugstore
kthomithtavd gzuelbvil /kθoˈmiθtavd gzuˈelbvil/ n. lower class
kthum /kθum/ v. put (place)
kthyevg /kθjevg/ n. sword, blade
ku /ku/ adj. big, great (very large), massive, enormous
lah /lah/ v. fix, mend, repair
lerlih /leˈrlih/ n. dress, uniform, gown
liodhd /liˈoðd/ n. rate
me /me/ v. feel (perceive, sense), appreciate
mobifptthol /moˈbifptθol/ v. offend
mudopfa /muˈdopfa/ v. provide, cater
muthtpi /muθtˈpi/ v. date, go out
neskdel /neskˈdel/ prep. to, towards
ngamil /ŋaˈmil/ v. hang
ngevezdkezgar /ŋeˈvezdkezˌgar/ n. prisoner
ngofktsabzetfi /ŋofktˈsabzetˌfi/ n. explanation
niuthkgdhen /niˈuθkgðen/ n. plot
nom chathk /nom ʧaθk/ n. tomorrow
odhdgzufk /oðdgˈzufk/ n. insurance
ofpgvelddhu /ofpgˈveldðu/ v. reflect
oidhbddho /oˈiðbdðo/ n. attitude
or /or/ adv. how
ospistefk /osˈpistefk/ n. copper, bronze
ovgbzo /ovgbˈzo/ n. harmony
oyvb /ojvb/ v. emphasize, exaggerate
pakfala /pakˈfala/ n. average
pfadhgzumksa /pfaðgˈzumksa/ adv. exactly
pfengiuftdho /pfeˈŋiuftˌðo/ n. hook
pfumtfomkfear /pfumtˈfomkfeˌar/ n. liar
psa /psa/ v. watch, monitor, spectate
psamgebvontfi /psamˈgebvontˌfi/ n. exam
psebzigzodhg /psebˈzigzoðg/ n. bed
psezd /psezd/ n. brass
psir /psir/ n. button (fastener for clothing)
psosttsazgpfask /psosttˈsazgpfask/ n. dish, platter
psuvb /psuvb/ v. meet, find, encounter, detect
pthadhg /pθaðg/ adj. sharp, bitter
pthazgbzethk /pθazgbˈzeθk/ n. expression (facial)
pthenkfathpsha /pθenkˈfaθpʃa/ v. forget, ignore
pthir /pθir/ v. bend, fold
pthozdddhostufp /pθozddˈðostufp/ v. ask (inquire), ask (request)
ragdhibdhesk /ragˈðibðesk/ n. soup, broth
rifi /riˈfi/ n. language, dialect
rothtgvezg /roθtgˈvezg/ v. seem, appear, imply, manifest
saeufktfoftksa /saˈeufktˌfoftksa/ adv. finally
segzufk /segˈzufk/ n. cut
shezdozb /ʃezˈdozb/ prep. between, among
shovetht /ʃoˈveθt/ v. gain
silrelbvadhd /siˈlrelbvaðd/ n. holiday, vacation
ta /ta/ v. use, utilize
tethkift /teθˈkift/ n. reservation
tfathptfi /tfaθptˈfi/ n. hope
tfi /tfi/ n. insect
tfingunar /tfinˈgunar/ n. locksmith
tfunurbzoudhg ar /tfuˈnurbzoˌuðg ar/ n. skull
thel /θel/ n. table, bench, plateau
thyanfastri /θjanˈfastri/ n. heaven, paradise
tsakthalgzeft /tsakˈθalgzeft/ v. chase
tsarloskkthudhg /tsaˈrloskkθuðg/ adj. true, honest, pure
tsazb /tsazb/ v. separate, isolate
tsifpgzepsem /tsifpgˈzepsem/ n. pot
tsofpkthezg /tsofpkˈθezg/ n. week
tsuft /tsuft/ n. help
tthafk romovb /tθafk roˈmovb/ n. glasses
tthelngi /tθelˈŋi/ adj. serious, sincere, sober
ttholgzamgzay /tθolgˈzamgzaj/ prep. inside
tthudhbtso /tθuðbtˈso/ n. ass
tujiu /tuˈʤiu/ n. scene
uethkostfi /uˈeθkostˌfi/ prep. in, within, into
ulfa /ulˈfa/ n. file, folder, data
ungol /unˈgol/ n. rail
uofkddhofp /uˈofkdðofp/ n. fun
uskra /usˈkra/ v. steal, rob
uzbdvoibvun /uzbdˈvoibˌvun/ n. river, creek
vamgzazd /vamgˈzazd/ v. support, brace, justify, reinforce
vofpgvye /vofpgˈvje/ adv. soon
wagvorwih /wagˈvorwih/ n. hallway, corridor
wolgzalngon /wolgˈzalŋon/ adj. major
yafpngi /jafpˈŋi/ n. scale (skin of reptiles)
yer /jer/ n. issue, concern
yin /jin/ adj. cute
yolbzafar /jolbˈzafar/ n. stitch
zafktfavg /zafktˈfavg/ v. serve, deliver, treat
zelgzan /zelgˈzan/ v. reach
zhebathp /ʒeˈbaθp/ adj. various
zhistuespon /ʒisˈtuesˌpon/ n. stable
zhu /ʒu/ v. state, declare, say, affirm
zo /zo/ n. bowl, cup
zuezg /zuˈezg/ n. nut
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