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Does the ban on noncon mean we can't bring up Halsin's past with the Drow, or Astarion's past with Cazador?

A tough question - whilst these are important parts of both characters and their history, it might be best to keep this to passing mentions rather than going into detail. It's absolutely a topic that can and should be explored as deeper parts of their characters and their differing paths to recovery from that, but the purpose of the collab is to be fun, positive, and kinky.

This might be something where we can work with contributors and their pitches, to find the right balance between incorporating this part of their backstory and steering away from going into Dead Dove territory.

Sorry this isn't a very clear black and white answer, it can be a more difficult topic for many because of how close to home it can be. I'm just not certain that there's a good way we can incorporate the darker part of their pasts into the fic series premise of "Halsin is overly horny and needs to bang it out of his system"

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very bitable wizard

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Oh hey I’m on this project! I can’t wait!

🐻Janu-beary - The Great Halsin Fic Collab!🌱

Welcome to Janu-beary, a collaborative fanfiction effort - with additional art! - intending to create a cohesive NSFW fic for our beloved bear~

You can apply to join now! The form is for both writing and art contributors, and you are more than welcome to do both if you like!

All the details are at the head of the form, but you'll find the basic details below. You can also save and edit the form as needed until the closing date!

FORM CLOSES: SUNDAY, 21st SEPTEMBER

Approximately Midnight PST, UTC -8

WRITERS

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You can submit 3 (or more!) pitches for characters you would like to write with Halsin - we will choose one writer per character based on the pitches. You do not need to give any writing samples or prior experience, all writers are very welcome!

Your final pieces should aim to be between 2,000 and 5,000 words long, though this will not be particularly strict as long as the piece doesn't run too long and is able to match up beginning and end with the pieces before and after in the order. We'll work this out with you once the pitches have been accepted!

ARTISTS

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You can let us know which characters and topics you do/don't wish to work with, so once the writing pitches have been chosen we will pair you with a piece that best fits your preferences. Unfortunately we will not be offering standalone art as the idea is to have a cohesive story, but you could make art to go with your own writing, or apply alongside a writer who you'd like to work with if you wish.

DEADLINES

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To release in January for the event, we will ideally have all written pieces finalised by the end of November to give us time to ensure everything is ready for the release schedule. Artists can be a couple of weeks later to allow more time as we understand there can be a delay in deciding the layout and scene based on the fic as it's written.

RELEASE

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We plan to release the fic one chapter per day on AO3 from the first of January until they're all out - there won't be any other versions of the publication, it will only be on AO3.

This is not a zine, but a collaborative creative work-

Thanks for reading, we hope to see you soon!

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I cast mage hand 🏃🏼‍♀️

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Wyll and Pokemons

It's Wyll's turn in the Pokémon x BG3 series!

For this one, I envisioned Houndoom and Umbreon as his partners, reflecting the fire and shadow of his story. It was a challenging piece, but I'm thrilled with the result.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it. A reblog and a like would mean the world! ❤️

Hey, if you like, you can follow me on my social networks.

X|Instagram|Tiktok|Bluesky

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Posting my full piece I did for @halsinzine In Search of Eden! Leftover sales are open to Sep 15!!

Our fave bear Halsin relaxing at camp with the party's companion animals 🐻🦉🐶🐱🐹

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man did one (1) dnd romance with aabria iyengar and never recovered

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Day 5 of Halsin Week 2025 - Protection Don't mess with Mama Owlbear! Protect the Bear Man!

(I know I'm late to this at this point but when I had it ready to go originally, I wasn't happy with the result so I started again. There'll be one more piece for Halsin week, looking forward to showing it)

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Halsin Week fic #1: "Archdruid"

First fic of #Halsinweek2025! This was a little bit of a warm-up for me, I wanted to get back into writing Halsin’s POV so enjoy a little snippet of Halsin in the goblin camp doing some reflecting —

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/65918542

Tags: canon* compliant (*except werebear), goblin camp, Halsin in bear form Full fic below the cut!

The cell smelled stale, full of old death and dust; somehow the temperature was both hot and cold and there was a constant ambiance of violence, screaming and chanting.

Halsin could hear the worgs in the cell next to him, they were pacing and growling threats at him; hopeful musings about how tasty he would be. Halsin ignored them. He preferred to live in harmony with all beasts, but these worgs were testing his patience.

Halsin couldn’t help but wonder how the grove was faring in his absence. He wondered if Kagha had followed his directions, had accepted his wishes. He hoped Rath would temper her ire for the tieflings, but the longer he was away the more he worried Rath was too meek tempered to handle the viper. All the druids at the grove were far too meek in his opinion. Halsin had tried to instill resolve in them, but they never changed. Kagha was at least decisive, though often her determination was misplaced and she was far too wrathful and impulsive. Right now, he didn’t think her wrathful nature was that much of a flaw. A symptom of staying a bear so long, he started thinking more like one too. It was easier to be angry. It was easier to be frustrated, to be tired of listening to squabbling instead of just dealing with the problem, violently or not. And perhaps it wasn't just the frustration of his current predicament that bothered him. It was the years and years of stagnation. He hadn't chosen to be the Archdruid in the Grove, it was a mantle appointed to him and while he had chosen to try and make it fit, maybe it never had. Maybe he was tired of being in the same place for so long and he wasn't sure if the cell or the Grove tired him more. He hadn’t thought to be trapped here so long. When he had transformed in the fight, he hadn’t expected Aradin or his band to flee so quickly, hadn’t thought they would leave him surrounded. Halsin had hoped he would be able to slip through the goblin’s defenses too, but he had underestimated there numbers — and the power of those called True Souls. He had thought it wiser to bide his time here, try and learn what he could from inside the camp while keeping his identity hidden. The goblins had no idea they had captured a druid, they thought they had captured an animal companion to Aradin and his group. If Halsin waited long enough perhaps the watchful eyes on his cell would turn elsewhere and he could make his way out. Then again, he didn’t really want to escape now. He wanted to wipe out this scourge, this Absolute, though he doubted he could do so alone. Perhaps it had been a mistake to try and wait, he wondered now if Aradin had been cowardly enough to flee back to the Grove when he abandoned Halsin in this camp. Had the foolish man lead the goblins right to the Grove? Was the Grove already burning? Halsin hoped not, hoped that he would have at least heard the goblins mention something if they had successfully found the Grove. In the moments when Aradin had turned to flee, Halsin hadn’t held it against him, in fact he had fought harder to distract the goblins so the adventurers could escape. Now he regretted that. Or at least, the bear did. The next time he saw Aradin, he wasn't sure how calm he would be.

The young goblins outside the cell were throwing stones at him. The stones were sharp but to thick fur they were more annoying than deadly. But the longer the sharp stings continued the more Halsin had to growl at the discomfort, and that seemed only to spur the goblins into throwing their stones harder. He kept his head down, and to the side, the only real risk of injury would be if one of their rocks struck an eye.

The stones paused, briefly. He heard the goblins talking, and heard footsteps approaching. But they weren't goblin footsteps, they were heavier, sharper.

Halsin lifted his head so he could look outside the cell. Coming down the stairs to the pens was a purple-skinned tiefling. Halsin didn't recognize him, he hadn't been with Zevlor's caravan, Halsin would have remembered his imposing form if he had been. Height wasn't usually something Halsin noticed, being taller than most everyone around him, but he thought this tiefling might rival him, at least including his long horns, black and sweeping and dipped in ashy gray. The tiefling was wearing plate armor and a massive sword, which looked a mismatch to the rest of his equipment.

More than his appearance, it was his expression that drew Halsin’s attention. He had a smile on his face but it was carved on, nothing genuine about it at all. The glint in his eye might have been perceived as friendly, even jovial, but Halsin could tell it wasn’t at all. It was violent and dark, like a beaten dog that no longer bothered to bark before it bit. And that gaze was fixed on the goblins by his cell door.

Halsin wondered if this was another True Soul, but that didn’t seem right either. He had no mark of the Absolute on his armor, or his accessories. The goblins seemed to address him respectfully, but he clearly had no care for them. The tiefling wasn't alone, Halsin saw now, there were there three others. One, abiding by the shadows on the ground, stayed out of sight like a skittish cat. A second was tucked just behind the tiefling, standing confident but looking distastefully at the surroundings. He wasn’t dressed in armor at all but cloth, perhaps the raiments of a wizard. The fourth was a woman casting suspicious looks over everyone, except the tiefling in front of her, whom she seemed to revere with trust. Though she looked almost embarrassed to do so. She had dark armor and a mace, and Halsin was sure some of the vestments were of Sharran make. He knew the smell of their craft better than most from his time fighting at Moonrise. But he wasn’t in a position to cast judgment on her right now.

The young goblins were telling the tiefling about their game. One was snatching another stone from the ground. The tiefling caught the goblins arm before she could throw it. Halsin saw the violent intent, and was surprised to see the tiefling look up to him, lock eyes with the bear, almost like somehow this stranger knew he wasn't just a beast. Halsin had already noticed the hinges on the cell door were rusted, it was barely an effort to crash the door to the ground, crushing goblins beneath it.

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Halsin Week fic #2: "Changes"

A/N

Prompt 2 for Halsin Week: “Changes” I am using the prompts as words to include in each fic! I originally had a different plan for this prompt but then ran out of time and went with some quick fluff. This is post game.

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/65949769

Relationship: Halsin / OC Dark Urge (Varan) Tags: Bear Form Halsin (Baldur's Gate), Werebear Halsin (Baldur's Gate), Fluff, Making Out Summary: Halsin has been hibernating for a couple months and Varan (DU) stops in to check on him.

Full fic under the cut!

Varan had been visiting Halsin for an hour or two every day while the bear was hibernating. Halsin had explained bears didn’t exactly hibernate, he called it torpor instead. Varan didn’t really care what the difference was, Halsin had still been asleep for a little over a month now. Varan had tried to just leave Halsin alone, but after the first few days he couldn’t stay away.

He let Halsin sleep of course, he doubted he could rouse the bear even if he wanted to, Halsin’s breathing was shallow, and even his heartbeat was slower. Varan checked on his vitals sometimes, just to be sure he was alright, curled up in the corner of the room on a pile of blankets and foliage, the bear looked peaceful, if not a little bit dead.

Varan usually sat on the edge of the abandoned bed in the room, the bear had chosen to gather his bedding and make his own little nest.

Today Varan had brought fresh roses from Halsin’s garden. Halsin had left every detailed instructions on how to manage the garden in his absence and to Varan’s surprise, it was flourishing still. The bedroom had turned into a garden on its own, plants draped the ceiling, the walls, and the floor, sprouting from nothing as the druid slumbered.

Varan didn’t realize anything was different until he had put the roses in the vase by the bedside. Then he realized that the nest was empty. Then he realized the door to the bathroom was lit.

Varan smiled to himself, he adjusted the roses again before he started to approach the bathroom. He paused in the middle of the room as he realized perhaps it was slightly unwise to surprise a sleepy werebear. “Halsin?”, he called out, just in case the druid wasn’t as keen for company as Varan was.

Halsin quickly appeared in the doorway, he was dripping wet from a bath. Varan hadn’t seen him in human form for the entire month now. Varan couldn’t help but feel a little worried as he realized how skinny Halsin was now.

Halsin’s eyes were glinting orange and Varan could see he had sharp fangs. He looked a little strange, his shape slightly off, even beyond the lack of weight he usually carried. His arms were maybe longer, or his chest was broader, something more bestial loomed in the way he stood in the doorway.

Varan smiled at him despite the monstrous form, “How are you feeling?”

“Hungry.” Halsin said, his voice was hoarser, gruff and half a growl. He looked surprised at his own voice as it came out of him.

“You look it.” Varan jibed, close enough that he reached out to squeeze at Halsin’s ribs. Halsin watched his hand closely. Varan realized Halsin was taller than usual, but didn’t let that deter him, he loosely ran his hand around to the druid’s back then waited for Halsin to close the gap, looking up at him.

Halsin’s eyes hadn’t stopped glowing. He ran his hands around Varan’s body and squeezed him tightly. Varan heard a low rumbling around him as he was enveloped in the werebear’s arms. Halsin held him a moment, then pulled back and looked down at his own arms, looking confused. “You’re small.”

Varan chuckled, “No, you’re big.”

“Am I?” Halsin was obviously still groggy. Varan grabbed his hands gently to hold them.

“What do you need?” Varan asked.

“You.” Halsin said, though it was quieter.

“You can have me. What else?” Varan prompted.

Halsin just grumbled and grabbed at him again, pulling him to his chest. Varan let him, sighing as he sank his weight against the druid. Suddenly he felt Halsin’s arms dip lower down his back and he was lifted up into the druid’s arms. He leaned back a little, surprised, he wasn’t used to being the one carried around. Normally Halsin wasn’t that much taller than Varan, and Varan was quite a bit stronger than Halsin. Apparently not when Halsin was in this form.

Varan let himself be dropped onto the bed, Halsin kneeling over top of him. Halsin’s eyes were still glowing orange. He didn’t press his weight down on Varan, he stayed hovering above him, watching the paladin’s reactions closely. Varan smiled at him, “I missed you.”

Halsin ran a hand into Varan’s hair to hold his head. Varan nuzzled into the touch, “I already said you can have me.” He reminded the druid. The words were barely out of his mouth when Halsin started kissing him. Varan started to worry that Halsin wasn’t entirely awake as the kisses dragged on. Halsin was a lot less coordinated then usual, but then again, he also seemed rather desperate, frantic to be closer to Varan and Varan couldn’t pretend he didn’t feel the same. The sloppy making out was exactly what he had been craving for the last couple months. But he still felt he had to say something, “You’re awake right?” Varan asked, when he had his mouth to himself a moment. Halsin chuckled into his lips, “Yes, my heart.” Varan thought the endearment was very reassuring. “Mostly.” Halsin added after a moment more of kissing. Varan hoped that was a joke, he let Halsin continue to indulge. One of Halsin’s arms was wrapping all the way around Varan’s waist to hold him close. The other was still tangled in the tiefling’s hair to hold his head. Varan had closed his eyes, just relaxing into the attention, into the sensation of being held and doted on. Halsin had pulled from his lips to kiss at his neck for a moment, when Varan felt a flat tongue fully lick up the side of his face. Varan opened his eyes as he felt the weight above him change and his hands no longer grasped at skin, but rough fur. Varan started laughing as Halsin still tried to kiss him, but a bear snout wasn’t a shape that fit his intent. Varan managed to grab his muzzle and planted a kiss on the tip of the bear’s nose, “Sweetheart, you’re crushing me.” He said, a slight exaggeration, but the bear was considerably heavier then Halsin usually was. The bear froze for a moment, his eyes glowing brighter and then he gave a shake and his form was back to what it had been. A little more himself, Varan realized, they were back to being about the same size. Varan kissed his cheek as Halsin collected himself.

“Sorry.” Halsin said, and when he opened his eyes the orange had dimmed. Varan missed it right away. “No need to apologize.” Varan assured him, “But it’s hard to make out with a muzzle.” Halsin chuckled and pulled him in for another kiss.

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Halsin Week fic "Protection"

A/N Prompt #5, but only fic 3 for me because I got busy! Act 2 - post Halsin recruitment. I did promise some Werebear stuff, so here's something! The silver necklace is a real item btw! I found it randomly exploring one playthrough. I can’t remember what it was actually called, in the description it said it was made out of silver. This was a lot shorter then I intended, but I got really busy this week! I plan on doing just one piece for Halsin Week after this. A03: https://archiveofourown.org/works/66043669 Relationship: Halsin / OC Dark Urge (Varan) Tags: Werebear Halsin (Baldur's Gate) Summary: A scavenged silver pendant leads to a conversation between Halsin and Varan (DU) in the ruins of Reithwin.

Full fic under the cut!

Reithwin was a distorted echo of the town Halsin remembered from a century ago. The shadow-cursed had buckled the ground and twisted the roads into strange new pathways. It was harder to navigate then he thought it would be.

Varan had kept his word to Halsin, the paladin and his infected friends had succeeded in helping Halsin rescue Thaniel. Now Halsin had agreed to help them reach Moonrise, to discover the truth of this cult of the Absolute. They were just scouting through some of the ruined buildings when Astarion found a couple chests tucked away out of sight. Gale identified a couple of the items inside as magical and Shadowheart had taken it upon herself to disperse the loot. Varan was leaning against a crumbling wall, uninterested in the scene, he was watching the shadows. Halsin was trying to keep watch too, though even with Thaniel free again, Halsin found his senses were still dull with all the undeath and old dust around.

Gale and Shadowheart were talking about who best to give the items too as they walked over, closer to Varan and Halsin. Shadowheart was holding a necklace up, Halsin hadn’t been listening close enough to have heard what magic it held, but he knew from the glint and the smell it was silver.

“Maybe Halsin could use it.” Shadowheart said, holding up the slim chain and pendant to the druid. Halsin hesitated, trying to decide how to respond in a dismissive way that didn’t seem strange, but he didn’t need to, as Varan quickly took the necklace from her hand, “We can look over everything back at camp. Let’s get out of here.”

Shadowheart nodded and everyone quickly followed the paladin. Halsin watched as Varan stowed the necklace in a small pouch on his belt and couldn’t help but feel exposed. There had been a look in Varan’s eye that Halsin hadn’t expected, like the paladin had been protecting him. – Halsin had thought about simply ignoring the little moment. Going about their days normally. Varan hadn’t said anything to the others. Halsin was sure if news he was a werebear had made it through the camp he would have heard by now. And Halsin wasn’t sure how Varan could even know. And if Halsin had misinterpreted the look, and the gesture and Varan didn’t know anything, if that had been coincidence, then Halsin bringing it up would be even more suspicious.

But Halsin knew that wasn’t the case. He knew Varan was aware of his secret, Halsin just wasn’t sure how the paladin did. TBut there had been something in the way Varan had come over, the way Varan had taken the pendant, Halsin was sure it had been more than impatience at Shadowhearts’ in rummaging.

After everyone was in camp and ready to rest for the night, Halsin went over to Varan’s little tent. Luckily the tiefling had camped a little bit away from the others, so their conversation might go unheard. “Can we talk for a moment?” Halsin asked.

Varan was organizing his equipment. He cast Halsin a look, like he knew what this was. “Sure.”

Halsin hesitated despite the permission, standing and watching the paladin silently. Varan just continued going through his bag.

“Why did you stop Shadowheart from giving me that necklace?” Halsin settled on. A smirk spread on Varan’s face, “I didn’t take you to be so materialistic, Archdruid.”

“You know that’s not why I’m asking.” Halsin corrected.

Varan’s smile stayed, but it softened. He stopped what he was doing and looked up to catch Halsin’s gaze. They stared at each other for a long moment. Halsin could see it somehow, laid out on Varan’s face.

“How’d you know?” Halsin asked.

Varan scoffed, like he was about to laugh, then Halsin watched any amusement die on the tieflings face. Varan went back to looking through his bag, though Halsin was sure the paladin wasn’t actually looking for anything. “I’ve been around others like you before.” Varan said, slowly, “I could tell by the way you changed. The bear was different from the other forms the druids take.”

Halsin considered that. “A keen observation. I’ve managed to fool even other druids with my shifting.”

Varan looked a little surprised, “Did the Emerald Grove not know?”

Halsin shrugged, “Some of them did. Some didn’t. I made no advertisements, but some, like you, worked it out.”

Halsin couldn’t help his curiosity now, he hadn’t heard of any other werebears around, though he had been isolated, “The others you know, were they bears?”

“No. He was a paladin of Selune.” Varan told him. Something in the tiefling’s voice was sharper.

Halsin nodded, understanding, “I know she bestows great gifts to wolves in her service.”

“The same as Silvanus gives bears it seems.” Varan retorted.

Halsin was surprised at the tone. He fell silent for a moment, watching Varan thumb absently through a book he had grabbed from their scouting earlier.

“Where is your friend now? Back in Baldur’s Gate?” Halsin asked.

“He died years ago.” Varan said, tossing the book to the ground and returning to rummage in his pack.

Halsin saw in the tiefling’s expression that this was a sensitive topic. Varan looked like he wanted to be left alone.

“Forgive me. I…as you intentionally avoid wearing silver, I thought perhaps he was still around to appreciate the gesture.” Halsin said, careful and his voice soothing as he could make it.

Varan froze, a little frown crossed his face and he looked himself over, like he hadn’t realized that was true. “I suppose it’s just a habit now.” Varan said simply.

Halsin wished he could pry at that. At why a friend would want to avoid wearing silver for another enough that it became a habit. It implied a lot more than friendship. But Halsin could also tell that Varan wasn’t going to give up any details like that tonight. Varan’s eyes were vacant and closed off.

“I won’t mention anything to the others.” When Varan spoke now it was a harsher tone and his words were curt, “You can tell them or not I don’t care.”

“Thank you. I will consider it.” Halsin agreed, “As I’m sure you know, many people cast strong judgments on werefolk. However, your group accepted a vampire easily enough, so perhaps I shouldn’t worry.”

“You weren’t with us when we found out Astarion was a vampire. It wasn’t as friendly as it seems now.” Varan informed him. Before Halsin could reply, Varan had stood up and was walking past the druid to the rest of camp.

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Day 7 #HalsinWeek2025

Who does it better?

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Day 3 of Halsin week: Partner

Another wip I couldnt finish in time… wanted to draw this moment where I like to imagine Halsin finds his partner in protecting nature <3

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1 day #HalsinWeek2025 Leader of the ducks

I would do only sketches, because I don't have time for more, sorry Halsin 😭

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Day 2 change