#was b/c of gorion's ward

[thats-a-lot-of-cortisol]

so solace and corentin are siblings? were they separated? if one is with wyll who is the other with?

They are! Solace barely survived Corentin attacking the family when their dark urge awakened, and was taken in by the Temple of the Open Hand because their mother had been going there regularly and the priests had been helping Tin try to keep things under control. Solace was 10, Tin was 15, and they had a 13 year old sister who didn't make it.

Corentin doesn't remember the attack because of a mixture of trauma and purposeful efforts by the Bhaalists, and I don't think they ever truly get the memories of their family back. They put the prices together eventually, though. Solace remembers the attack vividly and was conscious enough to see the direct aftermath when Corentin came to. They're actually the reason she survived: Tin threw one of the many healing potions placed around their house at her and screamed out the window for help before the Butler dragged them away. It's...complicated for Solace and I don't think he'd ever be able to forgive them (which Corentin never expected or asked for), but eventually they're able to move around each other to some degree. They're also working on elf time so by the time they settle into that pattern and make their peace very few people who saw the very beginning of all of that post-game are alive, so the way they interact around each other instead of directly is kinda just accepted as the Way Things Are among the folks in the city who notice.

I haven't decided who Solace is gonna go for yet. I was thinking about Gale but I'm not sure; they might be a no-romance run, honestly. I've got active playthroughs for all of the romances but Gale and Minthara at the moment. Wyll would actually be a good fit for them I think, but I'm not sure if the "both siblings survive" timeline will be the canon one in my head since durge dies if you're not playing as them, and the idea of Solace finding Tin's body after fighting Orin is intriguing to me. I'm not going to touch their playthrough much until I've finished Corentin's and/or gotten further in Candor and Luka's first though, so I have time to decide lol

[sovonight]

sketched in pen for the first time in who-knows-how-long & drafted a few visuals for dialogue that's been in my notes for a while :)

(Radri, holding an amulet of protection)

Radri: I'm sorry, my friend. I must sell you off.

Radri: You'll go on to protect so many. Merchants, thieves, heroes of any alignment…

Radri: But you won't care about a single one of them, not really. You protect them only out of the sense of duty in your heart, performing your assigned task without caring whether your bearer lives or dies.

Radri: Then one day that will change. One fateful day, you'll—

(Radri freezes, realizing that Xan is looking over her shoulder)

Xan, amused: Go on.

Radri: Ah—I—I'm just sorting out what to sell! Ha ha.

(She hides the amulet behind her back and gives an embarrassed grin)

Radri: Did, um, you need something?

Xan, smiling slightly: Not anymore.

=======

[The lengthy premise to Xan's "it's okay that you're a bhaalspawn" apology from halfway through this]

(You know when you return to Candlekeep there's that old couple there that talks about how charname was as a child. Radri is so polite that she stays for the entire convo, so everyone in the party gets plenty of chances to tease her for her childhood antics, and in the end—)

Radri, having finally had enough: Okay! Well! You all can stay here, but I have to move on. I'll be upstairs.

Couple 1: Oh, dear, don't hide yourself on the upper floors for too long—we won't be able to fetch you for dinner!

Couple 2: It used to be that Gorion was the only one who could find her. Of course, now…

(Radri leaves before she hears any more, her face already red with embarrassment)

—

(Radri finds the letter and reads it there in Gorion's old quarters. She's left numb after the reveal, but Jaheira expresses her support, and Radri starts to think things might not be so bad—until Xan opens his mouth. Radri's too hurt to say anything to his response, only giving him a wide-eyed, wounded look before running out of the room. Immediately regretting his words, Xan tries to follow, but when he passes through the doorway, she's already disappeared from sight… the rest of the party filters out into the hall as well, and Jaheira is notably annoyed.)

Jaheira: Xan! What is wrong with you?! If I weren't certain I'd be tasked with healing you afterwards, I would smack you upside the head. Perhaps it would return the senses you have clearly lost.

Imoen: Eep. Guys…

(Watchers storm up the stairs)

Watcher: You! You're all under arrest for the murder of the Iron Throne!

Watcher: Wait—where is Gorion's ward?!

—

(Radri sits at the top floor of Candlekeep, looking out the window)

Tutor: Child, have you visited your foster father's quarters yet? I understand that he left something for you. You should see it before you go.

Radri, with a tired, forced smile: I… I know. I will, in a moment.

Tutor: Oh, child… It seems that you already have.

Radri, dead inside: So I am the last to know.

Tutor: Not the last. But indeed, many of us knew. Radri… those of us who have watched over you know there is no evil in your heart. Your destiny is a terrible one, but remember that it comes at no fault of your own.

Radri: …Doesn't it?

Radri: If I had not hidden that night….

Watcher, storming in: Radri, child of Candlekeep! You are under arrest!

—

(Later in the jail cell, Jaheira handles the talking as Radri sits silently in the corner, staring listlessly at the wall as Imoen hugs her arm, trying to provide some comfort. Xan, relegated to the opposite side of the cell from Radri, can't take his gaze off her, clearly wanting to comfort her and make up for earlier. Khalid is seated beside him.)

Khalid: N-not yet, Xan.

Xan, not even sparing him a glance: I do not recall speaking to you.

Khalid: You w-want to comfort her, but I would g-give her space.

Xan: What would you know? She and I are bonded—

Khalid: And yet we have all seen th-that that doesn't soften the b-blow of your words. I would think on your next move c-c-carefully… for her sake.

Xan: …

—

(They're fighting their way out of Candlekeep via the catacombs. Another skeleton falls before Radri's blade, but she looks deader inside than the undead, going through the motions rather than exercising any conscious thought. Jaheira calls for a halt.)

Jaheira: Hold! We will rest for a moment before we go any further. Half of you look like you're on your last legs.

Viconia: Ugh, at last. Better here than in the accursed sunlight outside.

(Though the majority of the party prepares to rest, Radri goes silently off into the shadows. Xan follows, having been held back from speaking to her long enough; the rest of the party watches him leave.)

Jaheira: If he comes back without her, I really will whack him on the head.

Viconia: I hope she kills him. It would spare us all the whining.

.