#where is my enver gortash love larian?? where is it???

[original-missif]

Was I up all night imagining a tragic sequel where Durge gets re-urged/the slayer forcefully by Red Wizards who also resurrected Gortash and now the companions have to save Tav (who's going insane from bloodlust and getting all their memories back) AND (optionally) the asshole who is responsible for Karlach's suffering (but is also Tav's complicated ex) from evil wizards?

Yes. Yes I was.

[flymmsy]

Hey! For the Dark Urge Past Life asks:

Do they miss their adoptive family? Why or why not?

Did they keep anything from their old family and home? A memento or a skill perhaps?

Thanks for the ask! If anyone else wants to chime in, questions are available here.

1. Do they miss their adoptive family? Why or why not?

So much. For Lyra (my Durge), her adopted family made all the difference. They were her introduction to compassion, and gave her the foundation that ultimately made her redemption possible.

They were a small family, she had a father, mother, and one sister. Her mother, unbeknownst to her husband and child, was a bhaalist - hence why Lyra was placed in that family to be able to keep a close eye on her.

Bhaal was unhappy with Lyra’s placement away from the temple, but not yet strong enough to intervene directly. (I expand on this elsewhere, but Orin was confused for Lyra as Bhaal’s own flesh by those at the temple at first). In an attempt to show his displeasure, he struck down Lyra’s adopted mother during a ritual, very early on into Lyra’s placement with the family. However, no one appropriately interpreted the sign, and Lyra continued to live with her father and sister. She does not remember her adopted mother.

Her father was everything to her growing up. He was a bard, hence where Lyra gets her name. He instilled a love of music within her early on, frequently playing in front of the fire for her and her sister. She also loved her sister, but does not remember her as well. Her father was her idol, and even after returning to the temple, she never shook that, just suppressed it.

2. Did they keep anything from their old family and home? A memento or a skill perhaps?

In a sense, yes. Her name, for one, which she could have given up or changed but chose not to. More notably, her love of music - so misplaced within everything everyone expected of her - but constant nonetheless. I originally classed her as a bard, but later determined that she would not have been able to practice enough and her love would have to be in secret.

Enter Enver Gortash, a charming man forced to learn to entertain in the Hells, and she never stood a damn chance. (I saw that oddly placed piano in Wyrm’s Rock, Larian. I saw it!!!)

[weavewithshadow]

saw you write "Why does forgetting your crimes make you redeemable?" and hmm I don't think that is what makes durge redeemable but they cannot really be held fully accountable when they don't understand what they have done and what are their crimes. At the point in story where they learn about their past, they possibly have already started a completely different path, possibly very goody two shoes, if you choose so, so it is more complicated.

this is in no way meant as against redeemed enver, whoever likes that kinda thing. I'm sure larian could do some plot to make our favorite evil dictator see that he has been very naughty and needs to stop. More gortash, the better ^^

Anyways just thoughts, whole discorse does not matter to me too much since I love to play evil durge that reject bhaal and rule with gorty but even that has to mostly happen in my head cause the way gortash is handled in game.. (him dying no matter what)

Have a nice day, love your blog <3 hopefully you are not bothered by getting this kinda messages.

All Gorts and Durges are valid!

Personally, while I absolutely love Durge's storyline and the mystery that comes with their amnesia, I am more in love with the moment Astarion has with Sebatian than I am with Durge realizing how many people they must have killed.

I think the storyline with Astarion being forced to look his worst deeds in the eye is more compelling to me than a Durge looking at a (very long) list of names they will never remember, lives taken that they will never closely grieve.

And that's what I love about my headcanons about a redeemable Gortash: that in the throes of his grief over Durge, he reevaluated his priorities — so much so that he all but begs not just Durge, but also Tav, to be his true equal.

He doesn't fuck over either one, as far as I know. He truly walks to the end with them, a strong ally. Because at the end of the day, he values companionship and alliance over pure, outright tyranny.

And in that sense, characters taking an honest look at who they have been and realizing that those patterns are not how to get what they want? DELICIOUS to me, always.

Again, all Gortashes and Durges are valid to me! Every ending for the both of them is extremely narratively compelling, which is why I love bg3 as much as I do.

And no, I'd never be bothered by an anon like this one! I love to discuss and debate, and you have been very respectful. 💛

[ryttu3k]

I have *checks* 206 screencaps for the next parts and Tumblr has a limit of, uh, 30, so this will have to be a rather abridged version. Act 2, well into the Shadow-Cursed Lands (having just encountered Kar'niss).

Going waaay back to Grymforge about a million years ago (two days ago) and taking the elevator up. We meet Elminster, who has some rather disturbing things to say.

...no, the other kind of disturbing.

Yeah. I do love how genuinely supportive of Gale everyone is, though, and how appalled Mystra even has the audacity. I think I like Karlach's line best - she's no god worth worshipping, in that case!

The save file I made after all that.

We venture into the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Interestingly, Shadowheart has some slight immunity to it! The others... do not. Thankfully, both she and Tae have daylight spells, which Tae casts to hold it off until we can get to the Last Light in, where Karlach... promptly flips the fuck out over Jaheira.

Into the inn! Karlach meets a fan of her own:

The tiefling kids are so cute. Menaces! But so cute. It's not all good news - a lot have been taken to Moonrise Towers, and we get confirmation that Wyll's father has been taken as well. There's also a dude in a weird sort of catatonic state, which Halsin takes especial interest in - that'll be something to deal with, too, if we're to actually help restore these lands.

Concerningly: Baldur's Gate is currently in the hands of one Enver Gortash. Wyll has heard of him, and is a bit surprised - last he heard, Gortash was a minor player.

Karlach has heard of him too.

(Tae immediately starts trying to work out if killing this guy will cause a political crisis.)

Met a celebrity. I love him.

Less welcomingly, met another familiar face (engaged in a chess game with Mol). With a bit of assistance, she wins the game and scarpers, leaving the group with... Raphael, who proceeds to make some very disturbing comments.

Absolutely please do.

Astarion has a request of his own (one which results in him being stripped half-naked in the middle of the inn). A deal with the devil - this will in no means come back to bite us!

Larian please let me give him a hug as a friend. Please.

We meet Dammon again! He has good news and bad news. The good news is, with a bit of Infernal Iron, he can help cool Karlach down!

She's pretty pleased.

She's less pleased by the news that her Infernal Engine is just... too hot to exist in the material plane. Either she returns to Avernus, or she dies. It's... not a great choice, with Karlach determined not to ever return, even if it does cost her her life. Tae promises to find a solution.

The companions are generally sympathetic, in... their own ways.

(STR 8 vs STR 18. I'm just sayin' XD;; )

No time to rest and relax, though. Speak of the devil and she will come.

Tae telepathically reassures Wyll that they'll deal with it, and makes a deal of their own - they carry out Mizora's task, and she frees Wyll from his pact. Worth a try!

Meanwhile on the other side of camp, Tae finds Astarion trying to work out what his scars say via touch. They offer to have a look at them.

Tae recognises it as Infernal, but doesn't know the language, and draws it out instead. They suggest asking the others, which Astarion swiftly decides against. Okay, we can do that.

That night, Tae meets the Dream Visitor again.

They very much appreciate a hug. Tae feels sad but relieved they were able to help their guardian; I feel weird about it because I know exactly who they are XD;;

Back to the inn to meet Isobel. Shadowheart is less than impressed with Selûnite magic; Tae, who follows the fellow moon-associated chaotic good goddess Eilistraee, is pretty pleased with it.

The battle afterwards - less so. (Full disclosure - I tried this earlier on, before even talking to Dammon or Halsin, and failed. Reloaded, did other stuff, then tried again. Sorry but no, I am not losing my tiefling friends!) It's mostly a success, although the cultists do manage to get away with a hostage:

With the inn and Isobel safe for now, it's back into the dark. We ambush a party of cultists, and find their moon lantern, used to find their way through the shadow curse. Tae briefly debates on what to do, but...

You know a decision is ethically correct when [Astarion disapproves] appears <3

Lae'zel talks about enjoying battles, and adds, "And the sort made more thrilling with a hot-hearted tiefling at my side." Sorry, Lae'zel, the hot-hearted tiefling is dating the soft and squishy pastel druid. I'll set you guys up in another playthrough ^_^;;

Have a Concerning Conversation with Astarion. Amazing how he's actually able to say "you have a big heart" with "(derogatory)" at the end XD;; No bestie we're not taking over the cult, okay <3

Story of their lives.

Meanwhile, with Karlach...

And they have a very nice night indeed!

tfw you break a ten-year dry spell and promptly get the zoomies.

Only awkwardness to spoil the morning - Gale, with some... misinterpretations.

He's really sweet! Tae adores him as a friend! But they've also turned down all his advances so the whole thing is just... weird.

You know what no one is romancing Astarion in this run, go show him some love and patience and acceptance. It'll be good for both of you, I think!

Next stop - the House of Healing, to see what we can do about Art's condition and the curse, then onwards to Moonrise Towers. Current approvals: Karlach, Gale, and Wyll are all maxed out on 100, Shadowheart is on 69 nice, Lae'zel on 57, Astarion languishing on 42. Determined to get to 50 by the end of act 2, dangit!