#i think anders and gale would be friends

[starthistletea]

I think the thing about comparison da2 and bg3 companions is you gotta do it based on what class they are and not vibes. Fenris and astarion are both white haired elves yes but fenris uses a fucking great sword. He's feral like la'zel. Astarion works better in comparison with like Isabela or Varric. Both of which would kick his ass.

[afterthefeast]

gale is frankly such a hilarious parody of your classic wizard with extra hubris that i think for anders it’s almost on sight. he’s not a blood mage (obviously. doesn’t exist for gale) but he’s definitely not the Good Andrastian Mage anders doesn’t think he believes in (but absolutely does). were it to come down to a physical fight, anders would already be so filled with rage it would give him advantage on every attack. momentarily multiclasses through intellectual properties into a barbarian cause gale irritates him so

[elvenforestwitch]

Thinking about the dragon age characters meeting the bg3 characters occupies a large part of my brain nowadays

Anders would likely hate Astarion with a passion (probably because he reminds him of himself without Justice) and also want to fuck him. Zevran would jump Astarion immediately. Knives to each other’s necks as they both try to assassinate each other at the same time and then just end up on the ground for a different reason. Fenris, despite their similar backgrounds, would fucking hate Astarion. Isabela would so enjoy tormenting Gale. Karlach would try and probably fail to befriend Fenris. Lae’zel and Fenris, however, would be friends. Same with Shadowheart. Anders would not be able to resist Halsin. It is canon that this man likes bears (not the actual kind). Alistair and Lae’zel would get along like oil and water. Alistair and Shadowheart however could talk about their religious trauma together. Alistair and Wyll would definitely get along. I want to see Morrigan, Solas, and Gale all interact. The sheer amount of hubris in one place would literally cause an explosion (“I fucked a god” “I gave birth to a reincarnated old god” “bitch I AM a god”). Merrill and Withers. That’s it.

Please add more I want all the headcanons about these idiots

[an-excellent-choice]

I was recently gushing at a friend about bg3 but didn't want to spoil her in the romance and the characters backstory.

So, I started comparing everybody with Dragon Age companions to give her an idea on everybody's personality.

Now I need to complete this list just for the sake of it.

Astarion: Zevran, Isabela, Morrigan

I know a lot of people compare Astarion and Fenris but honestly, I personally don't see them being similar enough( yes even with the slavery and white hair) they are just two different flavors especially in personality. They are similar in broad strokes but in the details not really.

Now with Zevran and Isabela, I can see. These two very sexual characters both use their sexualities and their daggers to manipulate those around them.

They both cope with their trauma with putting a mask of light heartedness and sexual freedom. The main difference of between Zevran and Isabela to Astarion is that Astarion is more upfront with his trauma.

The Morrigan aspect is his pragmatism. Astarion's killed or killed is similar to Morrigan. They both hate helping people as they don't see anything beneficial it. They are so used to the absence of kindness that any they see from the protag is seen as naivety or even fakeness because if there truly kindness in the world why did they never experienced themselves.

Gale: Anders, Merril, Solas

So the common trait I established from these characters that I see in Gale is them being blinded by their goals. These 3 all kind and mean well but they think their way is the only way to fix things. All these three are self serving to their selfish desires to the point it overwrites any kindness they have. They want to do something drastic to help others. Solas with elves, Merril her missing friends and Anders with mages but in the price of themselves.

Personality wise,Merril is also similar to Gale with her akwardness and naivety. Gale has a tendency to do akward moments in his enthusiasm and lackk experience in socializing. While the Solas is love information and informing others, he's very welcoming in sharing experiences.

Now, Anders. Specifically Anders dao and da2 Act 1-2 because Gale would never justify the means justifies the end mentality in act3 of da2. The basics commonalities: cat dad, mage, time bomb but the most damning similarity is that both Gale and Anders thought that they know better even though they were already warned. Gale with the piece of weave and Anders with Justice. They both essentially shot themselves in the foot by ignoring the warning signs.

(I'm not including Merril in the shooting of foot because her ritual was tampered she knew her risks and had actually prepared a kill switch just in case)

Wyll: Cassandra, Merril, Varric

The main thing I focused on this trio is responsibility. All these 3 has certain responsibility or expectations set upon them with a main conflict of whether they should just follow expectations or do their own will even at the price of losing support or their people

Wyll has heavy expectations on him and he himself always tries to put the well being of others before him even at the price of his soul.

Now personality-wise, Cassandra is an old romantic. Just like Wyll they both enjoy poetry and wooing. They both live for the romance even though they try hard to focus on only their duty they cant hide their soft squishy hearts.

Merril is kind and is always torn with her abandoning her duty to do what she thinks is needed to be done. She loves her people so much she will bear being seen as a monster to try to help them. *cough* wyll is the same*cough

Varric is charming as fuck but he also is kindaa running away from his responsibility until finally he was forced to take a stand. He accidentally helped start aspects of the mess but he will be damned if he doesnt try to help.

Okay, I'm running out of steam now. I'll do a part 2 for the ladies as this is also too long now.

[stephschoices]

I LOVE YOUR BLOG! can I ask you some questions?

hope you don't mind the sheer mass of details. - Which 5 interactive fictions are you most looking forward to have an update? demo out already - Which 5 interactive fictions are you most looking forward to have a demo out? no demo yet - Which 5 interactive fictions are you all time favorites? fully published - Which 5 love interests are your all time favorites? a) from published games, b) from wips - Which 5 mcs are your favorites? they don't even have to be from any of the interactive fiction above - Which 3 tropes are your absolute favorites that you would always go for? - If you had to pick between your favorite love interests, which would you: marry, kiss, smash, kill? - what kind of interactive fiction was not written yet but you hope somebody will write it one day?

Now more personal, again, only if it is ok for you.

- your favorite food - your favorite (printed) book - your favorite love interest from a video game - which celebrity would you like to meet if it could be absolutely anybody?

thank you for hearing me out steph - hope your day is beautiful

Thank you for all the questions lol 😂 sorry it took me a while to answer!

This is gonna be long so under the cut!

Which 5 interactive fictions are you most looking forward to have an update? demo out already

@theunseelieif

@fallenlightsif

@esper-game

@sekhmetswrath-if

@unwilling-souls-if

Which 5 interactive fictions are you most looking forward to have a demo out? no demo yet

@pavedinashes-if

@inkandlaces-if

@dereliction-if

@ellawrites-if (whisper in the mist)

@indeepertidesif

Which 5 interactive fictions are you all time favorites? fully published

i dont read many fully published ifs so if i had to choose some that have at least one fully finished book-

@barbwritesstuff (blood moon)

when the night comes

@the-passenger-if

@seraphinitegames (wayhaven chronicles)

@gb-patch (our life now & forever)

Which 5 love interests are your all time favorites? a) from published games, b) from wips

finished:

cove (@gb-patch - our life now & forever)

vadeyn (@underbliss - ebon light)

marco (@barbwritesstuff - blood moon)

nate (@seraphinitegames - wayhaven chronicles)

hadrian (@anathemafiction - the golden rose)

wips:

morgan (@theunseelieif)

pepe (@inkandlaces-if)

xander (@unwilling-souls-if)

tie between blade & red (@shepherds-of-haven)

griffin (@bodycountgame)

Which 5 mcs are your favorites? they don't even have to be from any of the interactive fiction above

this is really tough, but at the moment i'll say

tie between indigo & este & jade (paved in ashes / ink & laces)

fleur (unwilling souls)

cyra (the unseelie)

tie between rumaiza & leliana (disenchanted)

tie between ellery & arainia (shepherds of haven)

Which 3 tropes are your absolute favorites that you would always go for?

best friend or childhood friends to lovers

monster who thinks theyre unlovable x person who loves them unconditionally

arranged marriage

If you had to pick between your favorite love interests, which would you: marry, kiss, smash, kill?

marry: vadeyn, morgan, xander, red

kiss: cove, hadrian, pepe, blade

smash: marco, nate, griffin

kill: NO ONE

What kind of interactive fiction was not written yet but you hope somebody will write it one day?

anything based on my favorite media, right now im thinking video games; dragon age, swtor, fallout, bioshock, mass effect, tbh wouldnt mind one based on bg3 lol

your favorite food

taco bell

your favorite (printed) book

gonna be real honest, i havent read a book in many years lol but for the sake of answering i will unironically admit i love the twilight saga and read them all at least twice in middle and high school

your favorite love interest from a video game

official: Cullen (Dragon Age), Anders (Dragon Age), Alistair (Dragon Age), Theron (SWTOR), Gale (BG3), Kaidan (Mass Effect), Danse (Fallout)

unofficial: Butch (Fallout), Max (The Outer Worlds)

which celebrity would you like to meet if it could be absolutely anybody

hmmm this is tough but I'd say all members of Day6, Mamamoo, Ateez, and Itzy. And also DPR Ian <3 I'd say VAV too but I've already met them ~

[bluerose5]

I am just having so many thoughts about this because idk, I've seen people say before that Gale and Anders wouldn't get along, and while I agree that Anders wouldn't be all for Gale's ambition and leniency towards forbidden magic, I think it's a little telling because I've been playing Anders as in-character as I can (from my perspective) and his approval with Gale without really exploring anything besides the Grove yet? High. The only companion at that point as of yet, even with Wyll in the party too. I know people sometimes joke that it's easy to gain approval with Gale, but here's the thing. It's easy when you're making a lot of the good-aligned choices at the beginning, and Anders?

Anders, at his core, is a good character.

Take a step back from his "defining" moment at the Chantry explosion because it truly doesn't define him as a whole. One major act of desperation (one that was only done in the name of revolution anyways) doesn't erase years of service in terms of his character.

Of course, all of this has been said and done before, but Anders was a healer for years without expectation of any payment. In Lirene's words, he helped deliver people's children, tended their wounds. His influence was so widely felt in Kirkwall that he had Ferelden refugees ready to throw hands for him, all because Hawke started sniffing around for him. He worked in the Mage Underground. He tried peacefully appealing to those in positions of authority for years about mages' rights, putting so much effort into a manifesto that other characters were always quick to dismiss, before taking a violent approach. He became a vessel for Justice, in short, because he was his friend and thought that they could make real change together.

So then, why wouldn't he help those in need in Faerûn? Why wouldn't he save a kid from some harpies? Why wouldn't he help a traumatized bard heal a little through her music? Even though we know he is atrocious at playing the lute. Why wouldn't he step between an arrow and a defenseless prisoner, warning how vengeance could consume a person? A fact that he knows all too well. Why wouldn't he save a girl, even one who stole, from a viper's fangs? Because that is not just punishment. Why wouldn't he help Gale, who chose to confide in him (no matter how vaguely at the moment) about his condition?

Not to say that Anders doesn't have his biases, some prejudices and flaws that would surely carry over, but at his core? He is as good as he knows how to be.

And while I do think he and Gale would have that typical rivalry that Gale has with almost every spellcaster class, if given the chance, every time Gale would stop and tell stories of his past...

I didn't take the smartass options, tempting as that may be, since Anders can also be a humorous character. No, instead, I chose the options where Anders would genuinely listen.

Because Gale lives in a realm where Anders' impossible is possible, a place where mage oppression doesn't exist. Because Gale lived a life, had a childhood, that Anders could have only dreamed of having.

And why do I ship it, personally? In a way different from Hawke/Anders, mind you.

Well, Anders said it best himself.

"Ten years. A hundred years from now. Someone like me will love someone like you, and there will be no templars to tear them apart."

Only, with Gale, that time is now, and that hope —that dream— is a reality.

[tonberrykins]

Hey, I get I've been raving about Astarion a lot but, like, are there ACTUALLY people out here who hate Gale and are calling him an incel? Is this a thing? Thank God I apparently curate well bc holy fucking shit I would be having heart palpitations DAILY out of SHEER ANGER.

So, like, we're always going to make fun of our faves and whatnot bc lbr "bro, you were banging Mystra and fucked up that bad?" THOUGH TO BE FAIR, if you're a wizard it isn't that hard to bang Mystra. It's kind of her thing. P sure her banging Elminster as many times as she has is the main reason he's still kicking and out being the Faerûnian Gandalf that he is in-game. Mystra's bodycount aside (especially since that has ZERO bearing on ANYTHING least of all her portfolio and purpose), like, Gale is a very intelligent man. He is also what we would consider as an objectively good person. Save the kids, help the tieflings, be kind and compassionate to those the average "good" aligned folks would consider "worthy" and yeah. He is literally the Alistair Theirin of BG3 if you Fusion Danced him together with Awakening Anders.

That being said, he is also very deeply flawed in that he KNOWS he is brilliant and in that brilliance, knowing his own talent, he thinks he knows better than even his own goddess BUT-! But, but, but, he is mortal, is young enough and in an age to not be able to wrack up the accomplishments of, say, Elminster whom he clearly knows on a fairly personal level so, like anyone who knows they are capable of doing great things, he feels INFERIOR bc he hasn't, in his mind, PROVEN that he is as great as he knows he is. And that's the hubris of mortality.

Objectively, LOGICALLY, he knows that he's more than proven himself capable. Mystra wouldn't have started a relationship with him otherwise, and she never asked him to prove himself. It was his own desperation to prove that he was worthy of her and thinking he knew EVERYTHING that lead to his terrible situation. Is he very clinical and logical about it? Yes. Is he squirrelly about it in the beginning? Very much, yes. Hell, I would be. No one wants to be friends with a literal ticking time bomb and the man is VERY lonely. Hell, that's the name of the game baybee! Baldur's Gate 3: These Bitches Need a Hug; YES EVEN LAE'ZEL, I WILL FIGHT Y'ALL!

Back to Gale, your friendship with him is something he very much treasures and when he starts all his finger wiggling and magic talk he's like any nerd sharing the thing he is most passionate about. He is also the first to admit he fucked up. HOWEVER, that does not (imo) warrant him needing to sacrifice himself all for Mystra's forgiveness, and even Elminster isn't on board with that. And, like, when he talks about Mystra it's never in an accusatory manner towards her. He clearly still loves her, likely always will, but that never negates his love for the PC who chooses to romance him. He is also very much prone to falling into the same pitfall of hubris that got him before and very clearly needs guidance that, yes, Mystra clearly did neglect in giving him. But he never outright blames her, at least he's not in my playthroughs thus far even after having spoken with her in the temple. He's just a sad, lonely nerd and that does not automatically make him an incel; y'all just don't know how to read, listen, or understand nuance. Apparently.

tl;dr

Gale deserves as much love as Astarion but bc he isn't evil "babygirl" material that's "fixable" he's just called an incel when he can be a very genuine friend, but what are those nowadays I guess?

[jewishevelinebaker]

Colleen and i decided which dragon age/bg3 companions would be besties. the rule was to match them 1:1 but it got out of hand.

Wyll and Sera- wyll would totally be a big brother to her and they would protect the little guys together. They're our favorite friendship.

Gale and Merrill- They're both scholars of esoteric magic and would be so interested in hearing the other infodump. But merrill, when having so much power in her hands, never becomes hungry for it. she would be able to keep gale's hubris in check (as much as one can)

We considered gale and anders, but theyre too similar and would butt heads. they would fuck once and then stop talking to each other. anders WOULD take the crown also.

Also, since we didn't pair Dorian off with anyone, we think he'd also be friends with Gale.

Karlach and Alistair- they would riff off of each other with ease. they would have so much fun and be so playful together. karlach would never make fun of him. theyre both just good people.

lae'zel and fenris- the two lone wolf fighters would stick together. they wouldn't talk a lot but would have each other's backs. they might fuck but theyre both tops so theyd have to figure that out.

shadowheart and leliana- going off of how leliana tried to befriend morrigan, i think leliana would have a lot of empathy for shadowheart's situation and would be kind to her. they would totally fall in love too.

astarion and zevran- theyre so similar, but unlike Gale and Anders, they would mesh really well. Zevran is a better person than astarion but would not really care about bettering him. They would also fuck.

jahiera and cassandra- they both have soldiery backgrounds and get shit done. jaheira isnt as serious as cassandra, but she's certainly serious about her task. jaheira would listen to cassandra talk about romance novels even though shes not into them herself.

minsc and isabela- the two people that can get along with everybody. isabela would poke fun at minsc, but only in kind ways and they would joke with one another. Minsc/boo would try to turn her on the right path tho. But boo does also love isabela.

halsin and vivienne- two people with power who aren't power-hungry. they both agree with halsin's statement that "anyone who WANTS to have power shouldn't have it." They have deep philosophical discussions.

[brackenfrond]

So. Wondering about how Carver, in my BG3 playthrough, would feel about the companions and some NPCs and I took psychic damage. Naturally I have to share this.

Warning: spoilers for both DA2 and BG3

Because Lae'zel is forthright and an excellent fighter and he trusts that she'll watch his back and suddenly he remembers Aveline, always there to plant herself like a tree, to yell and snarl. Who he met single handedly fending off a swarm of darkspawn to protect the person she loved wholeheartedly.

Because Shadowheart is so devout, so fairhful in her goddess until she is asked to do the unthinkable and she can't. And he is so proud and for a second he sees Merril, of all people, clinging to her Dalish heritage, her religion. He heard about the elven gods being fake, and could see Merril's anguish in Shadowheart's stunned silence in the aftermath.

Because sometimes when he's half asleep he sees a flash of white hair and nearly hisses out an annoyed 'Fenris', until he remembers. Astarion is dissimilar to him in personality (Isabela, his mind screams. His personality is all Isabela) but everything else is too similar. Not just the white hair - the breaking of chains, the anger at his former captor, and the feeling of sudden emptiness when the job is done.

Because Gale grates on him purely because he is so much like Anders. Clever and quick, casting spells with efficiency and rambles about his interests in a way that reminds Carver of rants about mage equality. Sometimes he closes his eyes and sees a brught explosion and is too scared to examine that closely, wondering if he'll see the Chantry or his new mage friend at the epicentre.

Because Wyll is harder to place, but his prince charming demeanour brings to mind Sebastian, for as short a time as Carver really knew him. Because even with horns curling from his skull, from whatever hellish curse Mixora put on him, Wyll is good. And kind. And full of a desire to help people. And Carver can't examine that too hard, because it makes him think of Bethy, and someone else has already stolen her face.

Because Karlach is the hardest. She's boisterous and loud, bright smiles that can turn into pure, unbridled rage at injustice. Who when she can touch again asks him for a hug, and pats his shoulder and calls him 'soldier' and she is his sister. And Hawke is dead. Hawke walked into the Fade at Adamant and never came out and Karlach does not deserve to be compared to the woman who Carver still sort of hates while grieving her. Because Hawke was his sister and he loved her, but even after she was gone he was just 'her brother'.

Because the guardian, because The Emperor, had the gall to steal his twins face and he hates hates hates it for it. But he still cries when he thinks about the early dreams, of how he had called her name. Voice trembling, shaky, feeling like a five year old again. And she didn't know the name. Or it didn't know the name. It hurts Carver to think about it, and more than just in how to refer to the early dream visitor.

Because he sees the Tiefling refugees and is immediately transported back to Kirkwall, to being rejected over and over for being a refugee, and launches himself into helping them. He sees Isabela in Mol's cunning, argues with Rolan and finds himself warming to him as time goes by, his devotion to his younger siblings admirable. He snatches Arabella away from Kagha and had to be physically held back from attacking her because she's a child. The refugees echo him, in a way, and he mourns when her reaches Last Light and find out that soem are dead, others maybe good as.

Aylin and Isobel hurt. Because Aylin and Isobel make him think of brave, strong, powerful Hawke and small but no less terrifying Isabela, and that fucking hurts.

He punches Lorroakan in the face when he meets him. He feels vicious vindication when Aylin breaks his spine.

He hugs Shadowheart when all she has been put through comes to light, digs his hands into moonlight silver hair and prentends he doesn't feel her tremble.

He gives a soldier's salute to Lae'zel when she leaves to free her people, pride bubbling in his chest when she grins viciously in response, returning the salute.

He's proud of Gale for turning away from absolute power, from godhood, to make a name for himself away from gods who have only ever hurt him.

He stands at Astarion's side when he faces Cazador, snarling and ready to assist. He leads him away by the hand after everything, after he turns away ascendancy, and promises to find a way to let him walk in the sun after the tadpole is dealt with.

He hugs Wyll before he leaves for the hells, manages not to cry when he hugs him back.

He only avoids hugging Karlach because she is burning hot, hut vows to give her the biggest hug ever when he sees her again, because she deserves it.

He is welcomed at Sorcerous Sundries by the new master of Ramazoth's Tower and his two younger siblings, and nearly collapses into Rolan's arms. But he's smiling.

These are his people now. He'll see Mol grow to become a terrifying crime boss, and he'll hear Alfira sing her songs, hear her talk about Lakrissa, and he'll eventually meet Morena Dekarios and the famous Tara. He'll always mourn what he's lost.

But here. Far away from lands he knows, he finds a new family, a new home, and Carver Hawke gets a happy ending.

After all, he has always deserved that.

[commander-krios]

For Aly 4, 15, 2, 18, 27, 28

My girlllll I think this is the first ask for her so yay!

4: If your Tav was a companion, where would they be found?

This is difficult because she'd probably still be in Baldur's Gate with her father, but for the purposes of the game, I'll say the Underdark, trying to help the Gnomes escape from the clutches of the Absolute. She would definitely make it her mission to save them and protect them.

15: What NPC's do they like? Which one's do they dislike?

Alyril'fryn is accepting of a lot of people, she knows how difficult life can be and the things you might end up doing if you feel you have no other choice. In particular, she did enjoy speaking with Dammon. She has a soft spot for Arabella and Mol. Barcus Wroot, of course, has become a dear friend. Withers has grown on her over the course of the game. She says this with gritted teeth, but Raphael, mostly for the entertainment. Dislike, I'd say she wasn't a fan of Nere, Minthara (for personal reasons), Mizora, Kagha, and Anders come to mind.

2. What is your character's alignment?

Neutral Good. She tries to keep an open perspective on the things going on around her, like with Ketheric and his issues. But sometimes, she can't help but feeling seething angry at the atrocities she sees.

18: What would your Tav be doing if they weren't kidnapped on the Nautiloid?

Probably taking care of her father, like she'd been doing before. She was in the middle of an assassination contract when she was nabbed, and she really wants to get home to Baldur's Gate to make sure he's still ok.

27: What was their life like before the events of BG3?

Aly was taking contracts to assassinate some of the most heinous people in BG. All to help her father with coin but also, why not take out some shitty people in the meantime?

28: Is your character the de facto leader of the party? Or do they consider someone else to be the leader?

She is the de facto leader, definitely, although she likes guidance at times from Lae'zel, Wyll, and Gale.

[awellboiledicicle]

Astarion tried to shoot his shot IMMEDIATELY after we killed the guy sent to capture him. Like broke out the whole "i swear to you i just want to fuck" speech and everything when Hawke pointed out he didn't have to offer sex in exchange for literally feeding him so he doesn't die.

Then, and i need to emphasize, Gale was standing there the whole time. Who Hawke has been actively romancing. [ignore the camp outfit bug ok he's just rolling in his jammies and thats his choice]. And Gale looked perturbed the whole scene. Which made the very sad interaction very funny.

Not pictured is the second they handle the Hag and long rest, Hawke asking to have a serious talk to him about... that. Because he's seen desperation. Not like Anders has, but Anders also has pointed out to Hawke that he knows what someone getting on their knees to save their neck looks like. He doesn't want anyone in his crew to think they have to pay out sexual favors for basic protection from someone wanting to kill them. Or, in Astarion's case, re-enslave him.

And Astarion absolutely would not want to have this conversation. I'm talking the man considers using a spell to get out of the conversation. I'm talking he considers trying to bodycheck Anders [who flanked Hawke so he couldn't escape] and bolting for a bit. Like heavy consideration. He's 5'9" and Anders is 6'4", it could happen. But they would have the conversation.

He's not particularly swayed by Hawke patiently explaining that he's killed powerful slavers before, that it was literally half of his job for most of a decade. He's a bit swayed by Hawke explaining that he helped a close friend named Fenris kill his former master, after nearly ten years of helping keep slaver hunters off his back. Largely the sway comes in when Hawke lays out that he's willing to fight to the death--though that is not preferred-- for his companions. Because that lets Astarion feel like he's still got a chance for a foothold, still feels like he's getting one over on Hawke, while also not admitting to being a victim. Every time Astarion admits he was victimized, he tends to get very bitter and lash out verbally. Which is valid, that's what happens when you're in that stage of not knowing if you're out of an abusive situation or not. Hawke and Anders get to walk the very fine line of not making him feel like they're having pity on him, which is why they'd have to focus on the tact of "you don't owe me anything, i will help you stay free" as a matter of course for him fighting with them vs "i want to help you" as an offering of good will. Astarion doesn't know how to handle good will without it leaving a bitter taste in his mouth at this point.

The real emotional back and forth will happen in later acts, but I feel like the very tail end of Act 1 here, he's going to be in that headspace where he WAS panicking about Hawke turning down his one guaranteed strategy and then is less panicked but now kind of out of his element. He doesn't know how to befriend people. He knows how to manipulate, to an extent, but that doesn't work on Hawke, nor Anders. Especially Anders, because it'd be so hard for him to parse 'healer doesnt particularly care for me but will heal me anyway'. And honestly i think he'd not realize he was trying desperately to make a friendship happen until they were in the shadow cursed lands and Hawke was dragging him into the light because he naturally gravitates to shadows and didn't think about it too hard. Or one of the Harpers pegs him as a Vampire and Hawke plants himself between the two and talks the other party down because Astarion is one of his.

I also got the scene where he's looking in the mirror on the long rest, so i'm going to pretend they had the talk, slept, and then Astarion was in a better mood because he realized 'wait,, i dont HAVE to let Hawke bed me. or anyone?? holy shit wait' and was willing to joke with Hawke post- heavy convo. It helps that Hawke's comment was that he wasn't "Gale pretty", but he's fine. His response is to quip about needing more beauty sleep, to keep up with the competition. Friendly banter, a plus.

[edoro]

Questions About Your Tav Askmeme Go!!! 6, 7, 11, 13, 19, 24, 29!

6. any scars or facial tattoos? how did they get them?

Oh Gee I Wonder >:o)

Angdiirn has both a prominent facial scar and a facial tattoo!

the tattoo is a stylized red spider over its lips. this was the symbol of the brothel it belonged to, the Red Widow, and was put on it to clearly mark its status as a slave. (<-this is all just me making shit up whole cloth btw, do not consider this Canon-Accurate Drow Lore)

when it started its training, around age 13, it got the outline done, and when it was ready for its first night of serving customers on its own a couple of years later, the rest was filled in

at the time it was very proud and enjoyed feeling like it had a purpose and a reason for existing, but now it views the tattoo as an unfortunate and unremovable blemish, although at least most surface-worlders it encounters have no idea of the significance and just think it's a Lolth thing

the scar, meanwhile, is a large burn scar covering a big chunk of its face, going diagonally from the top of its right brow to its left cheek and jaw

it's missing half its right eyebrow, all of its eyelashes on that eye, and the skin around the eye itself is puckered and tight causing its eye to be permanently squinted, and the rest of the skin is very gnarled and melted

around age 28 or 29, it decided it wanted to leave the brothel, but knew that if it just ran away it would get brought back, so it hatched a plan to make them kick it out. what it came up with was buying a vial of acid and pouring that over its own face to make itself unsellable. and it worked!

7. typical party lineup?

Astarion is always there, and then usually it's Karlach and Wyll or Gale, although i also end up bringing Shadowheart along a decent amount of the time

11. Already answered!

13. does your tav willingly do the "silly" options, eg. licking the spider, kissing the goblin's foot, etc.?

Angdiirn is a professional yes-ander, so there have been situations where it has gone along with a more silly option (it does this a lot with Minsc), but it's typically not willing to debase itself

however it 100% would lick the dead spider

19. when talking to people, which sort of answers do they go for? eager to help, sassy and sarcastic, apathetic?

it depends on the person! Angdiirn often plays into what people want or expect of it in order to get what it needs, so in a lot of situations, for instance, it played up the whole "yes, i'm a scary evil drow, now leave me alone" thing (goblin camp, Grymforge)

generally though, it's fairly helpful but within limits. it feels an obligation to help others when it can and when it's asked to do so, but also holds its own safety and the safety of its friends as a higher priority than strangers, so it'll help but not go way the hell out of its way

it's usually not bitchy or sarcastic but a lot of the time it doesn't really care what's going on so much as it wants to just get shit taken care of so it can try to get these tadpoles out

however sometimes it is a little wry in its sense of humor

24. what was your tav up to in baldur's gate? did they live there, or were they in the wrong place at the right time when the mindflayer ship came through?

Angdiirn is not from Baldur's Gate! Angdiirn came out of the Underdark at a trading post near Mithral Hall, way the fuck up north, and then ended up settling in with a circle of druids who live in a mountain valley about a hundred miles north of the hall.

its home is legitimately something like 1000 miles from Baldur's Gate, on the other side of the continent. it has never been to Baldur's Gate before, it knows nothing about Baldur's Gate, and this is all very bewildering to it.

29. after baldur's gate is saved, what will your tav do?

it will Go The Fuck Home. it misses its home terribly and is sure that its circle must think it's dead, so once everything is taken care of, it's going to embark on a buddy roadtrip with Astarion and Halsin to figure out 1) where it actually lives 2) how to get there.

[thessalian]

Astrid vs Favours for Friends

On the road

Astrid: And we're sure your devil came this way?

Wyll: Absolutely. Just ... oh. That looks bad.

Astrid: Oh. Oh dear. He looks bad.

Badly Mauled Dwarf: You ... Pure ... servants of the Absolute... *dies*

Astrid: Um ... Shadowheart, I don't think words of healing are going to cut it for this.

Dwarf's Companions: Command us! What do we do now?

Astrid: Maybe ... don't stand around to get mauled by owlbears?

Dwarf's Companions: As you say! *exit, stage Somewhere Else*

Gale: This is getting stranger by the--Astrid, what are you doing?!?

Astrid: *digging parasite out of dead dwarf ocular socket* Something incredibly gross and that I really don't want to be doing but guess what? BRAIN-WORM DOESN'T FUCKING CARE!

Shadowheart; Gale; Wyll: Owowowow!

Astrid: Oh. I did the voice again, didn't I. Sorry. Look, just ... can we move on from this? This is really gross.

Gale: ...I hope she's going to be alright. She's not the sort that deals well with ... that ... sort of thing.

Shadowheart: I spy the perfect solution. *taps Astrid on the shoulder* There's a dog over there that looks in desperate need of comfort...

Astrid: ...........Puppy! *nyoom*

Gale; Wyll: .....................

Shadowheart: Shar doesn't bless stupid clerics.

A little further on, in a fort sort of half full of paladins of Tyr

Anders: Some devil-woman did this! I want her head!

Wyll: Karlach. Typical. Point the way.

Anders: I ... was going to offer you this sword if you bring back her head, so--

Astrid: It's ... sort of not necessary? We were going to do this anyway? Because ... you know, reasons? Also I don't think any of us can heft that thing since we made the githyanki go bye-bye.

Shadowheart: More like "githyanki go splat-spurt", but as you like.

Anders: If you bring me her head I am giving you this sword and you are not arguing with me about it.

Astrid: How about I just point you to the body so you have some piece of mind, and you keep your big stabby thing?

Anders: *glares*

Astrid: Okay, okay! Yeesh.

And, a little ways down the river

Astrid: ...She's got one of these parasites too? Were they having some kind of sale?

Wyll: Wait. I'm not sure she's strictly speaking a ... devil, as I understand them, from what I'm seeing in her head. But--

Astrid: Look, I don't know what's going on or what set you to killing her in the first place, but ... remember about sixty metres of carnage spread hell-for-breakfast across the road, and the bridge, and the inn?

Karlach: ...Fuck.

Stabnation: *ensues*

Later, at camp

Minora: Hello there!

Astrid: Um ... who invited the literal demon? I mean, phenomenal entrance, but ... you know, if you'd let me know you were coming, I would have set out another plate.

Wyll: ...Astrid, this is Minora, my ... my patron. Minora, this is Astrid, the apparent leader of this merry band of misfits.

Minora: Anyway, puppy, I just wanted to thank you for taking care of that silly little tiefling for me--

Wyll: So she really was a-- But you said it was just--!

Astrid: Wyll. Chill. Gnolls are kind of nasty but they are not finger painting materials. Though you could have just told me you're a warlock.

Wyll: I guess I thought ... well, if you knew where I got my powers, it'd be ... well...

Astrid: Wyll. Sweetie. I got my powers through the incredible power of swear words. We all have some weird.

Minora: ...Look, just take the shiny armour, remember the pact still stands, and I'll be in touch.

Astrid: *shouting down the literall hole to hell* Please call first, with a list of dietary requirements! We don't do souls, though; sorry!

Wyll: You are taking this remarkably well.

Astrid: Mind flayer tadpole. *taps temple* In head. Everything else is just icing on the Weird Cake.

Camp again, after a particularly hard day

Everybody: *apparently sleeping peacefully*

Astarion: *creeeeeeeps up to Astrid*

Astrid: *eyes still closed* Consent is a thing, Astarion...

Astarion: Oh. Shit. No, it's not what you think!

Astrid: I think you were going to suck my blood, is what I think.

Astarion: ...Oh. So it is what you think. How did you--?

Astrid: The "being in sun, crossing running water, crossing thresholds without an invitation" thing threw me for awhile, but remember, I got within head-butting distance of those teeth. Also I saw one of your meals - exsanguinated boar was not the ugliest thing I saw out there today, by the way. So ... I figured I guess you're trying to feed on me because you don't want to eat redcaps, or swamp rats like your master might have made you--

Astarion: ...Wait. You just dug that out of my head.

Astrid: Sorry, but ... even if I don't like using the various little niggles this parasite seems to be giving me ... you and I both know you were going to lie to me.

Astarion: Look, my master made me eat vermin, yes, but no, ordinarily I'd be fine to hunt! Just I left it too long and am too weak to hunt properly ... and also yes, you're right, anything I'd eat from here would probably poison me.

Astrid: Well, you could have asked first.

Astarion: I mean, yes, but honestly, you would have said no, and--

Astrid: *raises eyebrows*

Astarion: Wait. You ... wouldn't ... have said no?

Astrid: You remember that whole thing where everyone complains about my being an altruist? But yeah, that's why I started with 'consent is a thing, Astarion'. We need ground rules and a safe word but I don't want you to starve.

Astarion: ...Hot dog.

Astrid: Also because it keeps your fangs off Scratch.

The next morning

Wyll: You let him WHAT?!?

Gale: My sentiments precisely.

Shadowheart: I mean ... probably better this way, because we'd all just stake him, but ... if you kill her--

Astarion: I know, I know, smear across the landscape. Not that it'd be noticeable in this swamp anyway, but I take your point. I won't overstay my welcome in that regard.

Astrid: Oof. Yeah, that can't be a too-often thing. I'm glad that the success of most of what I cast is down to them resisting, not me having to aim anything...

Shadowheart: *glares at Astarion* I've got your back with Guidance cantrips. But ... how about we take on that hag after you've had a rest and some red meat? Replenish what you've lost, hmm?

Astarion: Aww, but you heard her. Most of hers is about resisting, and I would love to kill something right now.

Gale: Fine. But she gets to perch in the shadows slinging arrows ... or insults, whatever takes her fancy, and you get to be right in something's face!

Astarion: *griiiiiiins*

Gale: While I wish Astrid had said something sooner, I have to wonder why we didn't see this sooner. I mean, look at him!

Astrid: ...Gale? You ... should really pay more attention to the reading material I hand you...

Gale: Wait. What? *digs through expanded book collection* ..."Dhampir For Dummies"?

Astrid: Well, I wasn't going to actually out him; that's rude! Making sure you had all the information needed to connect the dots, though? That's common sense.

Gale: You've known her ... slightly longer than I have. Is this just ... how she is?

Shadowheart: Yes.

Astarion: Look, if you really want honesty, just consider that her blood is delicious, and if she dies? I don't get it anymore. If you can't believe anything good about me, how about believing that I will always, eternally act in my own self-interest, and that means protecting the leader and face-person who also happens to have truly ambrosial blood, hmm? If you need help imagining that, please understand that her safe word is "knickerweasels".

Gale: ...We should go after that hag. I think Astarion needs to recognise what he's in for if he presses his luck.

Wyll: Oh... you mean when she threw two redcaps about five metres with Thunderwave by clapping her hands together and shouting ... what was it, "yeet"?

Astrid: ...It worked with goblins. Redcaps are similarly aerodynamic.

Astarion: Oh I have to see this let's go kill something!

Gale: Right. So cheerfulness is a blood-borne pathogen. Good to know.

[full---ofstarlight]

Shipping Game: 1, 16, 17, and 24 for

Delvyre x Gale and Avis x Anders

Wow my magic-user x magic-user pairs… excellent >:3

#1. First date?

Avis x Anders: This is funny because they go right from friends to sleeping together to hey do you wanna move in, so I don’t even know if they ever get a proper first date…. Maybe a walk by the coast lmao  

Band AU version is a spoiler

Delvyre x Gale: Also funny because they would not have their proper first date till after the events of the game, in which case Gale would probably take her to the best restaurant in Baldur’s Gate (that was open after all the damage) that he could find and wine and dine her to the max. And then they’d go dancing, and she would be very bad at it but they would have a wonderful time. 

#16. Do they steal each others clothes and does it sometimes end with them also claiming some of them as their own after a long while of "borrowing" it already?

Avis x Anders: She steals that feathered coat all the time and he pretends to be mad but she falls asleep wearing it and he's incredibly charmed by that

Delvyre x Gale: They share fancy silk robes all the time. And also jewelry. 

#17. Do they always hold hands with each other everywhere they go?

Avis x Anders: No

Delvyre x Gale: Yes <3 

#24. What are their pet names for each other?

Answered for Avis and Anders!

Gale to Delvyre: darling, my love, my heart, my wonder, my beloved, 

Delvyre to Gale: absolutely gets a kick out of calling him professor which gets him all flustered, probably some cutesy version of Gale that i cannot think of, but she would definitely be the type to just make up a nickname 

--

TY FOR THE ASK!

[milesedgy]

and speaking of dragon age, i think its kind of funny just how fucked my luck has been wrt to romancing characters

da:o had morrigan who at first respected my wishes to be just friends, only to turn around at the last minute to be like "actually the only way to save the world is by impregnating me :)"

and in dragon age 2 i accidentally romanced anders bc i didn't understand how the dialogue options worked, and i ended up upsetting him when i backed out oops

and in baldur's gate 3 the game just decided that gale was in love to me no matter how much of an asshole i was to him, but who knows maybe he was into it. i tried to kill him but that only lowered his approval by like 10 points

i think it might be fun to see if dragon age 4 would also try to pair me with my least favorite character against my wishes, just to keep the strak going

[donttelljim]

Injustice

Dragon Age Origins: Awakening Nathaniel Howe/Anders Nathaniel isn’t going to let his friend leave the Wardens without attempting a pursuit. Not either of them. Super dramatic lil scene set soon after Anders and Justice leave the Wardens together. I tried to pull together a few of the different reasons Anders gives in game, in Codexes etc for leaving. Nathaniel x Anders and some minor Nathaniel x Surana. Poor Nathaniel just wants one of the problematic mages he falls for to stay 💔 ~ ⁘ Nathanders forever ⁘ ~ PG. No smut - only broken hearts. @chaos-company‘s Angstpril Day 15. Alternate prompt: Come Back. =====================================

Southern winds never made it this far into the Bannorn. Nathaniel pressed against the gale, small shards of ice slashing at his face as he struggled forwards, each step an act of labour. At his side, his wolf kept its head turned and braced against the storm, but like him, it kept on. “Good boy,” he murmured - it didn't respond to verbal praise like a mabari would, but he spoke to it for his own benefit as much as anything. 

They had been tracking their quarry for days now, following the trail down from Amaranthine, deeper and deeper into Ferelden. Nathaniel had no phylactery, no templar methods to find who he sought, but he had his own skills, honed by years squiring and scouting in the Free Marches. He had found Fergus Cousland this way: he would find the healer.

It had only been this last day that the winds began. Buffeted by them head-on, Nathaniel knew it would be near-impossible for his wolf to keep following any scent, and for a while, he imagined it was simply another act of his poor luck that the weather had chosen to contest them. As hail began to whip through it, however, he began to realise this was no no natural storm at all. He knew this cold. He was close.

Encouraged, the Warden-Constable doubled his efforts, pressing harder against the onslaught. If he was right, then they didn't need to follow tracks any longer, they didn't need a scent - they just needed to find the eye of this spell.

Finally, after days of searching and these final hurried minutes of pressing, he saw him: a lone figure through the sleet, tall and slim, a staff at his back and feathered mantle at his shoulders.

"ANDERS!!"

Nathaniel called his name over the storm. The figure stopped and turned.

"Oh, bloody - GO HOME, Howe!"

Nathaniel ignored the instruction, struggling closer until Anders was no longer a grey impression in the wind, but had colours and came into view. His chest ached upon seeing him. Never before had he cared so deeply for someone he could bear so ill.

He expected a sheepish, sickly grin of cheeky apology, some quipped accusation about not being able to keep away from him, but instead, he was met by a face of stone.

"You shouldn't have come, Nate."

Anders' voice was… different, since they'd buried Kristoff's body. Since their mutual friend had sought a new home. Nathaniel had talked Justice into the possibility of finding a living host, but he had never imagined that host would be Anders.

His friend had changed. Something of the man he knew and, in a complex and vexing way, cared for had gone. Not ceased entirely, but had become buried, as though a decade of change had passed rather than a few months.

"You didn't think we could lose you both and do nothing?", he asked, smiling crookedly despite the heaviness within him. It was good to see Anders’ face again. Surely even he would see reason, now that they could talk.

"So you plan to force us to stay!?" The mage’s voice was guarded, sharp, as though he were talking about Circle injustice, not the Wardens caring for their own.

"What?” Nathaniel sounded taken aback and, in his reserved way, heartbroken. “No... Anders - “ “Afraid you won't survive without your healer?”

“Well - yes, quite honestly. But that isn't why I came. You are my friend. You are both my friends. I…” He was not good at talking about emotion. Between his family and his strict tutorship under Ser Rodolphe, there was little time for warmth. And yet, in his way, he wore his pain and sincerity openly as his voice strained to keep its composure. “You are not yourself. I did not think you should be alone."

"I'm leaving,” Anders cut across him, voice hard, hurt and decided, turning to do so. “I do not want to be followed. Do not become one more thing I have to run from." Through its sharp demands, the apostate’s voice was almost pleading.

"If you would at least tell me why -" 

The mage spun around: "You made me get rid of my cat!"

"What?!" Of all the things Nathaniel expected to have shouted at him right then, this was not one of them. The Warden did a double-take, frowning incredulously at the mage. "You gave him to my nephew! You asked if I thought they'd allow it. You were worried about hi- Wait.” He caught what was happening, almost too late. If there was one thing he had learnt early on about Anders, and had reinforced to him repeatedly, to his increasing frustration, it was that the man deflected. Humour, nonsense, flirtation - whatever would baffle those speaking to him and throw them off the answer they sought. “No - you will not get me this way. Tell the truth to me.” He fixed the mage’s eyes with his own, the gray of the sky meeting the brown of the earth beneath them. “If you are not capable of it, the Spirit must be."

As if on cue, a light crackled over Anders’ skin - a blue lightning, one Nathaniel was used to seeing travel over the body of Kristoff but had never seen on his living friend. He flinched, feeling a chill within him unrelated to the magical storm that continued to beat against them both. So, it was true… He had not doubted it, and yet, it was still hard to believe.

"Your templars,” Anders spat, voice low and level, with an echo to it that had no place on this open hillside. “So many pet templars. Did any of you ever wonder how that would be for me? I was trying to get away from them - they're in our recruits, they’re all over Amaranthine like the Pox -"

"There are a lot of them, I admit,” Nathaniel conceded, reluctantly. He had no keen issue with the Order himself, but no great love of them either, and he knew better than to defend them to the apostate. “But their allegiance has been -"

"Do you know what they put me through?!" The blue light over Anders’ skin flared to a blaze, then abruptly snuffed out, leaving the man beneath looking broken. His voice had wavered and cracked as he’d cried out, a hysteria that he often kept buried rearing its head. There was a wildness in his eyes - a true fear and a pleading for understanding. Nathaniel’s heart broken in upon itself once more, his manner sagging as, carefully, he took a step towards his damaged friend.

"I know...Or, I think I know." His voice was gentle, quieted by respect. And regret. "...I…had to. It was one of her last orders, before she left. You know how she cares for them.”

"She’s mind-washed by them even now,” Anders asserted sullenly, voice dark. “And you by her." Nathaniel went to protest, but said nothing. There was nothing to say. Anders scowled, the betrayal deep on his face, but his voice was clipped, his heart kept closed. "Your love for her will always matter more than your regard for me."

"That's - You're being foolish. I was obeying orders."

"Like a sick puppy.” Again, Nathaniel fell silent. It was all the confirmation Anders needed: his face hardened further, the picture of jaded hurt - an emotion he had carried with him for a long time. "Face it - she cares more for a lunatic that wants her dead than she'll ever feel for any of us. Why else does she let them overrun us like this? But…she has, and you will not fight her on it. So…I’m done here.” “By the Maker, Anders.” Creases of pain etched into Nathaniel’s face, his voice restrained and yet also raw. “Come home. We can resolve this. If the templar recruits cross you, I will police it. You know I will always heed your word on that -” Any remaining patience left Anders’ face. “I’m not discussing this with you. I have to go.” The mage’s voice was flat, resolute. “I have to find Karl.”

Again, Nathaniel did an incredulous double-take, his face an affronted sneer of confusion. This was new. “Who's “Karl”?!” The mage smiled sadly, something of the man Nathaniel had known shining through - teasing, flirting, softened, yet always distant.

“He's why you and I never got interesting, love,” he smirked, and then, as soon as it had arrived and soothed Nathaniel’s spirit, the smile disappeared once more. “And he’s why I have to go.” Anders turned, not offering another word, and began to walk away. “ANDERS!” Again, the rogue shouted his name over the wind, this time in a growl of anger. But, he made no pursuit - he did not grab at him or attempt to force him to listen, force him to make sense. He knew that would be a final, cruel injustice after the life his friend had lived. He simply watched in wounded disbelief, his hurt and confusion seething until, finally, melancholic acceptance arrived and reminded him that this was, after all, in keeping with his fortune. This was life - why be surprised by its consistency now?

His father had favoured his brother. Surana had chosen her abdicated prince. There was always someone else.

Nathaniel remained where he had been left and watched until the figure faded entirely from view. He wasn’t sure if he was waiting for something - for a final look back, or for a hoot of laughter and a reveal that this had all been some cruel jest - or if he simply couldn’t bring himself to end this before it must. Finally, however, when the last impression of the mage had vanished and there was no longer any point standing in this cold, he turned his back on the apostate and began the many-day-long journey back to Amaranthine.

He had anticipated to return with company - he had even packed provisions for it. At his side, his wolf padded; the rogue tore scraps of dried meat and dropped it to the creature, to let it know they had found their mark, that it had done well. Mission accomplished… As the pair stalked back across the Bannorn, the storm about them began, gradually, to dwindle. The more space put between them and the ice-mage, the calmer it fell, until at last, all lay still. Silent. Dull.

Healers and stormthrowers  - Nathaniel had known two of them, and both had maimed him as much as they had been a balm. Now, he had neither. The wild hills of the Bannorn suddenly seemed incredibly flat.