#But of course Shadowheart can defend herself

[messierthanthou]

I just want an au where Shadowheart is royalty and Lae'zel is her sworn protector, is that too much to ask for

[theunlikelycassiopeia]

Battle Lust. (18 years + only)

Cass recounted the brutality in her head. The fight between them and the rogue group of Absolutist goblins was a bloody one. She tore through flesh with ease. Her long sword was slick with goblin gore.  Brains and viscera stained her boots. Blood had splattered up her face. She had painted herself with the insides of her opponents. Combat was in her nature. She loved almost every moment of it. She revelled in her enemies’ fear. Every time she drew her weapon, she felt a rush of electricity course through her. Each shriek of her dying victims burned a yearning in her loins. The sweet metal smell of their blood made her head swim with excitement. Her hunger for it screamed more, more, more!

She thought back on the moment they stepped into the small camp they uncovered on their way to the mountain pass. In her mind, she recounted Astarion hotly whispering into her ear “let’s spill some blood.”

She loved that he knew her like that. She loved that he revelled in all of her wrongs. He caught her eye after he drove his danger into the belly of a human Absolute worshipper. She had watched his treacherous tongue lick the thick red blood from the blade. She admired him as it ran down his jaw, his neck.

After their victory, they all headed back to camp. Gale and Shadowheart had managed to avoid any face-to-face fighting. Cass has instructed them to simply stand back to protect and defend as her and Astarion took the offence.

Once they reached camp, Cass headed straight down to the waterside to bathe.

“That was quite a display, darling.” Cass hadn’t realised that Astarion followed her to water. His white hair and face were speckled with red. His clothing and armour were wet with slick blood and his eyes shone with crimson hunger in the glow of moonlight.

He leaned against a tree just a few feet from her.

Cass was very pleased to see him. That battle lust was still burning inside of her. The pressure of rising heat had set in her pelvis. She was hot and wet and in need of relief.    

Cass grinned at him. “Did you enjoy yourself, Astarion?” She began to unbuckle her armour slowly.

Heat tinged the tips of his ears. A telltale sign. He was also looking for a relief.

“Oh, certainly. I particularly enjoyed watching you drench yourself in the blood of lesser creatures.” He smirked, as she dropped her breastplate to grass. “You’re quite a naughty little thing, aren’t you?” With each word, she removed another piece of armour. Her gauntlets, grieves and cuisses lay scattered around her.  

Cass unbuckled her tasset belt and discarded it on the floor. “I have no idea what you mean, Astarion.” She unhooked her bralette and shrugged it off her shoulders. “I am a very good and very nice girl.”

“Oh, is that so?” Astarion’s eyes fixed on her wandering hands. Cass allowed her fingers to brush over her breasts and nipples. “Girl, I can really only think of one occasion when you were good and nice.”

Cass permitted one hand to wander down her stomach. Her fingers trailed past her belly button and reached down to her underwear.

“When was that exactly, Astarion?” She stroked the outside of her underwear, revelling in Astarion’s hungry expression.

He began to remove his armour.

“When I was inside of you.”

“Oh? I can’t quite recall.” Cass bit her lip as she watched him pull his shirt over his head. Her fingers were now inside of her underwear, circling around her wet arousal.

“Do you need reminding, darling?” he breathed. He pulled down his trousers. He was erect and ready for her.

“I think so, love.” She responded. Astarion stroked himself as she bought her wet fingers up to her mouth. He let out a small sound of pleasure as she tasted herself.

“Not sharing, are you?” His eyes had become hazy with desire.

Cass licked her fingers and whispered, “Come and get what is yours.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I will take what is mine. I will remind you” He strode over to her and with a single shove, she was on her back. He dropped to his knees and with a swift movement, he opened her legs.

He stroked a single cool finger against her skin. “There’s a little spot here,” his finger stopped on that sensitive part of the inner side of her thigh, a small area close to her cunt. He smiled as her body responded with a shudder. “I wondered if I might have a small bite?”

“Yes, you may.” Cass could hardly speak. She wanted all of him. She wanted his body, his mouth, his cock, all of it. She ached for him.

Astarion wet his lips. His mouth began a terrible trail from her knee. His tongue swept the soft inside of her thigh. He hovered for a moment. One cool hand held her thigh down onto the grass, opening her up to him. His other hand reached up and pressed against her wet underwear.

“So warm.” He smiled against her skin and then-

Cass gasped as she felt the ice sharp pain send a shockwave from his bite. She rocked against his hand, as agony and pleasure tore through her. She writhed as she cried out “Fuck yes!”.

Astarion pulled away and sat up. Cass watched him with blurred vision. Her blood ran dark down his neck and chest. It dripped a path down his abs, down his pelvis and reached his erection.

“Delectable.” He sighed. His hands worked quickly on her underwear, ripping them.

“You need to stop tearing my underwear, I’ll have none left to wear.” She laughed.

“Ha. That’s the idea, pet.” He yanked them away from her and flung them into the river. He slipped two of his fingers inside of her and chuckled as she let out another moan.

Cass reached down and stroked the tip of her finger at the end of his hard cock.

He let out a small breath. His fingers slipped out of her. He licked them ravenously.

“I cannot wait any longer.” He brought himself down on her. His body, slick with her blood, pressed down on hers. His tongue brushed over her lips. There, she could taste the sweet rust of her blood. She felt his tip push against her, awaiting her invitation. Feeling the bumps of his scars, she dragged her nails down his back. Her hands grabbed on to his buttocks and she pulled him up inside of her. He let out a deep moan into her mouth and she took his full length inside of her.

“You feel so fucking good.” Each word sounded like a song in his mouth.

He hooked an arm under her lower back and began to fuck her rhythmically. He grinded his pelvis against hers. Each movement blossomed heat against her clitoris. Her fingers dug harder into his buttocks, pushing him harder and harder into her.

Astarion desperately tried to draw his focus elsewhere, his free hand gripped into the grass above her head. He wanted his cum inside her, on her. Not yet, he told himself. He could feel her tighten around him, her gasps turned to moans. He could feel her sex carry him away. The thrumming of her delicious heart made him salivate. Her addictive scent made him want to consume her. He wanted to lose himself in her. Not yet. But her could feel the intensity build within the base of his erection. Each movement, each squeezing around his shaft edged him dangerously close to his release.

No.

He quickly withdrew from her and sat on his knees, panting.

“What’s wrong?” Surprise spread across her flushed face. He admired her for a moment. Violet eyes seemed to shimmer in the moonlight. Her white hair was a wavy mess around her head. He revered the unusual white dots tattooed across the bridge of her nose. He took in the details of her septum ring and her eyebrow piercings, a give away of her barbarian life. She laid out before him, naked, sweating and covered in the filthy blood of enemies. Gods, she’s beautiful.

“You’re driving me insane.” He panted.

“Loosing control, were you?” She giggled in that ridiculous way that made him laugh.

“It’s hard not to with you.” He said as he smoothed his hands across her abdomen. He curved his fingers around her waist and squeezed. “With a body like this?” He brushed his hands upwards to her breasts. “And nipples like this?” He pinched at them, sending little shocks of heat through her. He continued to pinch and flick as her hand found it’s way to that place between her thighs. He watched her as her fingers lightly rubbed her clitoris. Closing her eyes, she tilted her head back. With one thumb brushing over a nipple, his other hand reached up to her neck. “And that neck. That delicious fucking neck. So lovely.” She let out a pathetic noise as he squeezed her neck gently. “I’ve never seen a girl so perfect.”

As Cass continued to touch herself, Astarion finally reached down to his hard cock. He rubbed his dripping head against her, following the rhythm of her fingers. Her body bucked against her impending orgasm. Using the mess of precum that collected at the peak of his dick, Astarion caressed her opening. He watched gleefully as her fingers moved faster over her clitoris, strumming on the edge of her release. He began to wank himself urgently, needing to catch up to her.

She bit her lip and watched his hand moving up and down. “You turn me on so much.”   

“Come for me.” He commanded. In obedience, she submitted herself to his instruction. That pulsing heat flourished inside of her. She arched her body as that soaking hot relief washed through her. She let herself moan loudly, wanting him to know how fucking good she felt.

“What a good little barbarian” he gasped, finally giving in to the ecstasy. Astarion threw his head, lost in his climax. Cass felt him shoot and spill hot onto her belly.

Astarion let out a breathy laugh before dropping down on the grass next to her. They both lay still and panting on the grass. Cass closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the cool midnight air. She suddenly felt a cool finger brush against her hand. She opened an eye and glance at Astarion. He was gazing up at the moon.

He hooked his little finger around hers for a moment. He shifted his gaze back to her. Just as she thought she was in danger of him saying something romantic, he threw her a half smile and said, “For the sake of all humanity, please bathe.”

“Since when did you care about humanity!” She bit back, chuckling.

[optiwashere]

This seemed fun, so why not do this for my babies? Portraits taken from art in this post.

Some elaborations under the cut...

Stats

Ages are at the end of BG3. Shadowheart is at least late 40s in canon, but I always had her as 50 in my mind. She has her birthday in my fic canon during the post-Absolute Crisis rebuilding while Asheera's won't be for another few months.

Asheera is ~201cm tall, Shadowheart is ~170cm tall. Roughly 31cm height difference!

Ship Parameters

Shadowheart and Asheera both enjoy being the big spoon and little spoon, but Shadowheart prefers being nestled in Asheera's embrace. Doesn't mean for a bit that the roles aren't reversed now and again, though.

Shadowheart wears Asheera's clothes all the time. Constantly. They are, of course, comically oversized on her.

They both use pet names for one another, but Asheera fancies herself a bit of a romantic so she likes to come up with melodramatic ones ("my Heart") while Shadowheart prefers "love" and "my love." Shadowheart also calls Asheera "my Lady paladin" a lot in the fics, but IDK if you consider that a pet name or not?

Shadowheart is undoubtedly far, far, far more introverted than Asheera. In fact, Asheera is pretty extroverted in general. The extrovert/introvert ship dynamic is my catnip, how could you tell?

So, the affection one I took to mean what they prefer. Shadowheart likes quality time and affirmations while Asheera likes acts of service and quality time. However, if you imagined it as what they do then their placements would be flipped.

Shadowheart confesses love first. Affection and attraction, that's technically Asheera.

Neither of them really panic about bugs. Asheera has a bad habit of killing the little creatures though, and she has serious thoughts about her own oaths when she does it.

Horse riding... Listen, all I'm saying is Asheera riding a horse with Shadowheart behind her? Yeah. But, like, if we're literally talking about driving a car then Shadowheart can drive but if anyone else offers to drive then she's going to take the opportunity to sit in the passenger seat, curate the music, and fall asleep.

Shadowheart knows how to cook because she's an adult, but she's just terrible at it. I'm sorry, she is a horrible cook to me. Her taste buds are all fucked up from decades of sampling/testing poisons, venoms, and paralytics as a Sharran. Asheera's not much better, she just knows that if Shadowheart cooks it'll be a disaster for everyone.

Shadowheart prefers discretion and Asheera loves giving her wife big, showy kisses for all to see. They have an understanding.

Despite the jealousy levels, Asheera is prone to overprotectiveness. After everything that Shadowheart went through in her life, after everything that Asheera saw in her memories and in the events of BG3, there's no way she doesn't immediately come to Shadowheart's defense at pretty much any perceived slight. Shadowheart finds it very sweet, but unnecessary. She can defend herself just fine. Doesn't mean she hates it though.

Shadowheart has the age on Asheera by a margin, and she spent decades in a Sharran cloister. Calling them "relationships" is probably a bit much to be fair, though. This doesn't mean Asheera is some naïve virgin! She's actually more experienced with long-term relationships than Shadowheart.

Levels

They're both extremely horny, especially for one another, but Shadowheart wins out on this one by sheer excitement to try out anything and everything that she thinks Asheera would want to try. Asheera isn't a prude by any stretch of the imagination.

Shadowheart is awkward in that "sheltered in a cult commune" kinda way. She says the wildest shit sometimes and expects people to just move on from it. Someone who quotes erotica with their friend in public is going to cause others to feel awkward. Asheera on the other hand? She makes things awkward by either being way too serious about a situation or cracking bad jokes about it; there is no in-between, and nobody is sure what to expect.

Asheera doesn't get jealous. Shadowheart is jealous of things that aren't really related to their relationship. I don't think either of them gets jealous over that sorta thing. Shadowheart just has to manage her feelings about family given that Asheera has one that loves her and she was able to experience a childhood and such. That triggers jealousy which Asheera finds normal and reasonable and completely understandable. It's one of those aspects of Shadowheart's specific trauma that isn't really something you "get over" and Asheera, while finding it hurtful and hard to deal with sometimes, relies on her training and oaths as a paladin to manage that specific hurdle in their relationship.

[eliteseven]

Your AU is just amazing. I hope you make a series when you have the time.

Is Tav’s father alive in Consonance? If he is, would he return after learning Tav is in a successful band? Maybe he wants his old guitar back?

Obviously Tav is not happy with the reunion with her father. He’s pissed Tav sold his guitar. Seeing him reminds her of the trauma he caused to her. The fear of being left behind and the thoughts of being not good enough for anyone to stay have returned.

Tav tries to distance herself, but Shadowheart refuses to let go of Tav. Shadowheart swears to Tav she will never leave the love of her life. After everything Tav has done for Shadowheart and her family, she will be there to help Tav heal.

I know everyone wants to see Tav & Shar confrontation, but I want to see Shadowheart fiercely defend and protect Tav from the man who caused her so much pain. Actually make it everyone vs Tav’s father.

🥹💕 firstly, thank you so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed it!! 🥰 and thanks for such incredibly kind words!!! They mean the world!!

Now, let’s get to the story business:

LOVE your concept!!!! 😁 I was thinking along the same lines about adding some angst if I ever do continue the series!

Tav’s father is alive. It’s the opposite of NLS where he’s passed away and Amelia is alive and well 🥲💕 I’ve planned Tav’s past out in Consonance but was purposefully vague about the details, so there’s always room to elaborate on what that was like.

I genuinely think someone like him would try to come back into Tav’s life after her band is met with a lot of success. He’d be after money, of course. Probably would want to claim Tav’s success for himself in some way. And yeah- he’d want that guitar back.

I’m not certain how Tav would react- I’d need the idea to marinate while I think on their dynamic for a bit. A part of her is scared of that man- and that’s perfectly valid, given what he did to her. Another part of her would be absolutely livid. I think she fears becoming violent herself. 🥲 she could never be like him- I think Shadowheart would remind her of that. It would kill Tav to know he’s only interested in her finances and not his own daughter- even if he claims to be reformed, initially. And I think you’re right about that causing Tav to withdraw into herself- it probably feels like she’s regressed a lot in terms of her healing progress, at first. It would definitely be a great source of non-contrived angst.

I think Shadowheart would do anything to protect her girlfriend/fiancee/wife 👀 (who knows where they’ll be at this point). She knows firsthand what a relationship like that can do to a person. She’d never leave Tav at her lowest- or at all, really. Not after everything she’s done for her parents, for her. She loves Tav more than anything or anybody- and I think she’d be veryyyyy confrontational with Tav’s father- the same way Tav is with Shar in that part I cut out lol 😭 (which I swear I will upload when I have time on this trip!!)

Tav has people behind her, besides her love. She has Emmeline and Arnell, Karlach and Wyll, Aylin and Isobel… people that truly love her more than her father ever could. 🥰

Anyway, sorry for rambling! I loved hearing your thoughts, thanks for chiming in! 💕 I do hope I could get around to writing this, it seems like it would be a lot of fun and offer a deeper look into the characters and their future! Always feel free to stop by and share your vision! 😊❤️

[thegreatyin]

Hey what are your feelings on

1. lae'zel

2. Emperor

lae'zel is actually one of the best companions in the game and everyone who hates her or says she's just mean fundamentally doesn't understand her character. she's literally the nicest girl in the world given her usual environment and upbringing. she essentially has the exact same backstory as shadowheart in that she was raised in a controlling violent cult and has spent most of her life (including the start of the game) brainwashed by that cult into the person she is today. and yet despite it all she is trying her best to help people. she DID NOT have to save you on the nautiloid and she DID NOT have to promise to take you to what she had every reason to believe was a cure-all for the tadpoles and she goes so far as to defend you and the rest of the party to other gith despite her extremely xenophobic society pressuring her around every corner to do otherwise. over the course of the game she literally had her entire way of life and belief system uprooted from top to bottom and she ultimately decides to deal with it by becoming a hero and dedicating her life to saving others from the same situation she was in. her entire character, at its core, is so extremely dedicated to helping other people even at the cost of herself. she has the same trauma and should get the same treatment and sympathy as shadowheart and you guys just don't like her because she's not conventionally attractive and standoffish at the start of the game but when you actually follow her companion quest and/or romance her she is so sweet and trying her best and she is a TOP TIER companion and i am not going to pretend like she isn't.

the emperor is one of my favorite characters in all of bg3. i know i just went off about lae'zel but god the emperor is so good. he is a LIAR. he is a Bastard Capital B In Bold. he is the deceiver trope played straight from the very beginning and you can't trust a word he says and half of act 3 is practically dedicated to proving just how full of shit he is. he is an awful person who presents himself as a savior and a hero but at the first sign of resistance or hesitation he snaps and doubles down his manipulation in an attempt to control and corral the player into doing what he wants. his first reaction to the player turning down/questioning his sex scene in any way is to gaslight and accuse them so he can shift the blame and keep up his veil of heroism. he encourages them to let go of their humanity and turn themself into a cannibalistic monster while constantly swearing it's for the greater good. he literally runs off to join the netherbrain if you free orpheus. ansur was right all along. balduran died the minute that tadpole took over and transformed him into a mindflayer and the emperor is a shell of his former self masquerading around with the same gravitas and veil of kindness he used to have, but it's gone, if it ever existed to begin with. the emperor is a fascinating example of a manipulative piece of shit done right because even the fanbase can't agree wholeheartedly on if he's good or not but if you couldn't tell my money is wholly in the "he fucking sucks guys" camp. as a character i adore him though.

[bottombatch]

The Withers Romancer 🤣

Yesss! So, this is not a serious fic. Like at all lmao. But I got this idea in my head and I couldn't shake it.

Imagine this around the end of Act 1, so they truly have no idea who Withers is yet: Durge, Shadowheart, and Astarion (pretentious gossipy elf club) start a dare/competition to see who can get a rise out of Withers first. They all take a shot or two at coming onto Withers only for him to be absolutely unaffected.

Eventually Astarion and Shadowheart give up on it, but Durge... Durge continues. She just wants to win the bet, of course. There's no other reason. She's definitely not weirdly enamored with the stupid way he talks or the way he calls her child...

It was a really funny bit that will probably never actually be finished lol. Below the cut is more or less everything I wrote because I'm certain this will never see the light of day otherwise.

"Does Withers even have emotions?" Tav mused, bringing the glass of wine to her lips. It wasn't very good; of such poor quality that it had been left on a cart raided by goblins. But alcohol was alcohol. She passed it to Shadowheart after a drink. "I doubt it." Astarion spoke, curling his lips. "The man is drier than your guys' sex lives." Shadowheart sputtered, coughing up wine as Astarion grinned wryly. Tav couldn't help the grin on her face, opting to hide it behind her hand. Despite this, she still felt the need to defend herself. "Don't be a dick just because you finally got some." Tav pointed accusingly. "You've fucked Wyll once and that was only after weeks of pining. You are no better than the rest of us." He waved the comment off, his shit eating grin only growing. "Once is still more than your zero. But maybe I'll go find Wyll and make it twice, just to spite you." Shadowheart scowled, peering into the glass. "Just take it away from camp this time, please. I'm not keen on hearing about big his 'blade' is again." "It's not my fault that it is very big." Shadowheart groaned heavily, handing Astarion the wine. "I don't care. Please shut up." "I bet he's a freak, though." Astarion laughed, raising the glass to his lips. He proceeded to tilt it high and higher, only to angrily toss it to the ground once he realized it was empty. Shadowheart snickered. "Wyll?" Tav asked with a furrowed brow. "Withers." He said, like it was a perfectly normal response. "It's always the normal ones." Shadowheart agreed, rummaging through a pack for more wine. "Does he even have the equipment for that?" All three of them turned to look at Withers. He was staring off into the far distance, still as a rock, even as Scratch circled him excitedly. "That's probably why he's into the really kinky stuff." Astarion concludes.

[ghoulpepperv]

I've been struggling to be motivated to do any writing or much of anything lately. I won't go deep into it, but I did this to just do some writing for fun. It's been healing. Just two little drabbles.

I apologize to those who don't want more BG3 shenanigans. This is about my Tavs, Beryl (Wood Elf Warlock Bard) and Tessa (Human Rogue Ranger), because I love them. I might keep them as just DnD characters to play in the future or give them their own unique story.

If you're a BG3 fan, I'm sorry about getting my brain babies all over everything.

It Wasn't Kindness

Beryl couldn’t even remember why she was in Baldur’s Gate to begin with. It was probably nothing more than a layover to where she actually wanted to be. It all seemed so unimportant now. Until this tadpole in her head was dealt with, she wouldn’t be able to focus on much else. Getting off the Nautiloid had been her first priority.

Gaining party members had been a side effect of her journey. The first person the Wood Elf had encountered was Lae’zel. The Githyanki was a formidable but vexatious ally. She was the right amount of unhinged, topped with a refreshing bluntness. You were never left wondering where you stood with Lae’zel. Beryl could work with that.

As they made their way off the Nautiloid, Beryl and Lae’zel came across Tessa, a human rogue, trying to pry a half-elf out of one of the pods. The woman was desperate for this help which Lae’zel was hesitant to give. Beryl nearly walked on by but something compelled her to stay. Maybe she was getting soft or just stupid. 

Once free, the half-elf would introduce herself as Shadowheart. It turned out to be for the best since she was a cleric. It always helped to have one on your team. Tessa found her own way of being annoying: she was too fucking nice. 

Beryl wrote her off as an idiot who would probably get them killed. Yet her skills would be helpful. And Beryl couldn’t turn any of them away, could she? It wasn’t out of kindness, of course. That would be silly. They all needed each other to survive this. It wasn’t deeper than that.

As they traveled forth, the group kept growing. Tessa was insistent on saving Gale of Waterdeep from the sigil. The wizard was grateful and Beryl would be remiss if she didn’t admit having a wizard around is a good idea.

Astarion was different. He had greeted Beryl with a knife to the throat. Yet she admired his moxie. The pretty face didn’t hurt either. Tessa seemed more annoyed by how easily Beryl let him join them after attacking her.

“I’ll take responsibility if he does anything untoward, don’t worry,”

“Like holding a knife to your neck?”

“Oh, would you let that go?” Beryl was tired of this conversation.

“Gods, you really can get away with anything if you have a pretty face.”

“Not that you would know anything about that.” Beryl immediately regretted the words. She sounded so much like her mother in that sentence. She sighed, prepared to swallow her pride and apologize.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that, it was a knee-jerk reaction.”

But to her surprise, Tessa was laughing.

“Your words have no sting,” Tessa said. “Just something a very hurt person says when backed into a proverbial corner.”

Beryl scowled at the accusation.

“You’re forgiven.” Tessa’s tone was obnoxiously saccharine. Beryl made a mental note to never apologize to her again.

“We need all the help we can get.” Beryl felt the need to defend her decision suddenly. “It can’t hurt having two rogues with us.”

Tessa mulled this over. “I guess, but if he kills anyone here, it’s on you. And he better not kill me. I’ll be particularly angry about it.”

Beryl nodded, accepting the terms of the agreement. This seemed to appease Tessa.

The other companions weren’t any less drama free, especially when Wyll and Karlach joined. Beryl wasn’t used to playing peacemaker, but she had managed to keep Wyll and Karlach from killing one another. Beryl was used to traveling alone. Solving other people’s quarrels was not her forte and yet here she was. Doing just that.

But she wasn’t doing this out of kindness. None of this was kindness. It was survival, just like she’d been taught. She didn’t care about any of these people.

She couldn’t care about them. It would be a weakness and weakness means death.

So no. It wasn’t kindness.

It wasn't.

Right In Front of My Party?

“It’s quite thrilling, to fight off such grim creatures as this region throws at us. Especially being at your side.”

Tessa and Gale locked eyes. He spoke to her as if she were the only person in the world. In that moment, she was at least to him. Despite the entire band of misfits standing just behind them, forced to witness this display of overt horniness.

“I once read a book that explained in some detail the effect a brush with dangers has on one’s desire for… other forms of stimulation. Have you ever read anything on that subject?”

Beryl furrowed her brow. Was he really doing this here? In front of everyone? 

The wood elf glanced around the group, searching for an ally in her confusion. Karlach watched with an adoring look on her face, like she was watching a romance novel unfold. Wyll gave a sly thumbs up to Gale to encourage him. He had been playing the role of wingman for Gale so Beryl couldn’t feign surprise at it.

Shadowheart was unmoved. Lae’zel didn’t seem as disgusted by it as Beryl thought she would be. It made some sense given how much githyanki connected love and fighting. The group had seen how true that was first hand through Shadowheart and Lae’zel’s unique romance.

Beryl believed Lae’zel felt nothing but hatred for Shadowheart, especially after catching them at each other’s throats one night. But only a few nights later, Beryl had heard sounds from Lae’zel’s tent that seemed to indicate they had more than buried the hatchet.

Beryl struggled for some kind of sex pun, but it eluded her. Lae’zel buried her hatchet in Shadowheart’s? No. No, that was bad.

Shadowheart was “the source of her bruises.” Of course, she wouldn’t mind whatever it was Gale was doing right now.

Astarion had a mischievous grin, enjoying the show. He was so adept at that act of flirting, it wasn’t a surprise he was relishing Gale’s awkwardness. It was like a wild animal studying a caged one.

 Beryl turned to Tessa. She had to be mortified––

“Read?” Tessa gave a flirtatious smirk. “I could have written the thing.”

These absolute freaks. Tessa looked ready to jump his bones.

“I believe you. You never looked so beautiful as at the end of a stirring battle, your cheeks flushed, gaze bright, muscles glistening,” he continued. “Perhaps it’s just the thrill of our near-death experience talking. But standing at your side through such darkness and disrepair, it only makes me want you more.”

Gale paused to regroup himself. “Unfortunately this is neither the time nor place to indulge such feelings. So, we must be patient and push all such thoughts aside. For now.”

Though a bit disappointed, Tessa nodded in agreement. Gale placed a hand on the small of her back to guide her to the Last Light Inn.

Beryl hated that she was happy for her two humans. She should have just been embarrassed for them, yet her brain signaled to her that this was “cute.” 

“Pity,” Astarion commented with a fanged smile. “I thought we’d be getting a show. I can’t say I wouldn’t have enjoyed it, even if it involved Gale.”

Beryl met Astarion’s eyes. He seemed to be drinking her in. Beryl couldn’t keep her grin at bay when he sent attention her way. While she knew Astarion was using her either for sex or something else, she did appreciate his boldness. He got to the point. He didn’t waste time on conversations about books and battlefields. He just asked if you wanted to have sex.

“Don’t you agree?” Astarion’s voice was dangerously low. Beryl’s eyes widened, taken aback. She nodded slowly. Oh no. Oh no, oh no. They were flirting over the idea of those two having sex on the battlefield.

Pleased by the confession, Astarion began to follow the rest of the group to the inn.

“Don’t fall behind, my sweet,” Astarion noted. “You don’t want to be caught in the shadows.”

Beryl didn’t need to be told twice. 

Gods, she was an absolute freak, too.

[rinwellisathing]

Get to know my OCs: biggest breakdown moments:

Octavia of Creche K'liir:

It takes a lot to set Octavia off, but when the Githyanki that ambushed the party under Elfsong Tavern insult Lae'zel, Octavia goes off and racks up the most kills with her magic in that fight, literally requiring Gale to calm her down after. Octavia can take people insulting her, hurting her, or belittling her, but Lae'zel stood up for her and told their Creche how useful Octavia was and defended her from bullies when they were children. She will crack skulls for her 'sister'.

Kroger of Creche K'liir:

After being cast aside by Vlaakith herself and then seeing Shar do the same to Shadowheart, Kroger joins Rolan at Last Light for a little rage against the gods drink and light property damage. While usually a very mild mannered guy, Kroger devoted so much of his life to Vlaakith and to his Creche and her casting him out means all the abuse he suffered and the years of repression were for nothing.

Sentry Ojeda:

While hunting Orin and getting up the courage to fully turn his back on his father, all while dealing with his memories flooding back, Sentry discovers Gortash's letters in Franc Peartree's home and destroys half the furniture and minces up the corpse. Someone reminds him about the whole thing with Jannath in the past, and in a blind rage about that and also the fact that Oskar Fevras is an embarrassment to art, Sentry doesn't realize it was a different Lady Jannath and decapitates the wrong person in her own home. He calms down with some help from Astarion and Halsin, but it was a rough time for him and he did rampage just a little.

Jaina Thalassia:

After returning to the city and being talked down to and passive aggressively taunted by her former coworkers, the last straw for Jaina is when she runs into her former paramour and his wife and they mock her for being damaged and warn Wyll that she's worthless and he'll never earn father's approval being with someone like her. She punches her ex and shoves his wife off the docks. On the bright side, being so angry took away her careful planning nature for long enough for her to simply charge into Flymm's cargo with Wyll and the others and free his father after already bargaining for Wyll's freedom from Mizora, so two birds with one stone and all.

Jackal Silk:

When Astarion not only chooses not to ascend, but does so because Sentry assures and encourages him. He views it so simplistically as Astarion choosing Sentry over him rather than Astarion choosing not to perpetuate the cycle of abuse. Of course it also bothers him that Astarion and Sentry fuck in the graveyard afterwards as well. Jackal may or may not have gone on a killing spree that night.

[writer86]

The next morning, Selene and Shadowheart pack their camp without a word and move on. The ruin blocks their path further along the coast, so now they turn back the direction they'd come from. Just when it seems inevitable their path will cross back through the wreckage of the Nautloid, the rock face to their right flares with vibrant purple energy.

*You approach the sigil on the stone. Magic glitters and swirls from it erratically, as if malfunctioning. It looks slightly dangerous.*

Selene regards the sigil curiously, then glances back to Shadowheart. "What do you think?"

"It looks like a teleportation sigil gone wrong," Shadowheart answers. "In that state, no telling where it might take us."

"No telling what it might do if left alone in this state either," Selene points out.

"You want to touch it, don't you?" Shadowheart sighs.

There's a trace of a grin on Selene's face as she answers, "Engage with a possible threat without my ally's agreement? Wouldn't dream of it."

Shadowheart just scowls. A moment passes, then she sighs. "Get on with it, then."

"As you wish," Selene answers. She reaches out...

... and recoils as if stung. The next moment, an arm is abruptly thrust outward from the dark center, and a voice cries out, "A hand? Anyone?"

Somewhat taken aback, Selene exchanges a look with Shadowheart, who returns a similar expression. Feeling as though their time is short, Selene steps forward:

Let flow some words of prayer to soothe the sigil's magic. [Wisdom] Success.

The voice from within shouts, "Whatever you're doing, it's working wonders! Now a quick little pull should do the trick."

And sure enough:

"Oooft, hello!" the man says with a bright smile once he's free and upright. "I'm Gale of Waterdeep." Abruptly, he surges forward, seizes Selene's hand and gives it a quick shake. "Apologies, I'm usually better at this."

Already, this interaction is a significant improvement over the rest of their time in this region. A request for help, an introduction, a handshake, and an apology. Selene looks him over for signs of obvious injury and finds none... but that doesn't mean he's uninjured.

"No need to apologise," she says quickly. "Are you all right?"

"A bit shocked, but friend, it is a relief and a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Say, but I know you, don't I? In a manner of speaking. You were on the Nautloid as well."

He's certainly not lacking for things to say, Selene notes with an amused glance to Shadowheart beside her. Already, the other cleric's arms are crossed, as though she's trying to defend herself against the onslaught of Gale's verbose manner.

"I was, yes," Selene agrees.

"Then I can only assume you too were on the receiving end of a rather unwelcome insertion in the ocular region."

When next Selene glances to Shadowheart, her fellow cleric's distrust has shifted into incredulity. Selene can almost hear her thinking who talks like that?

The answer, as Selene well knows: Wizards. She stifles a smile and says, "Go on."

And Gale is all too happy to do so...

... though his enthusiasm does shift into a bit more serious a tone to match the subject of his monologue:

"The insertee we speak of, this parasite - are you aware that after a period of excruciating gestation, it will turn us into mind flayers? It's a process known as ceremorphosis, and let me assure you: it is to be avoided. You don't happen to be a cleric, by any chance, do you? A doctor? Surgeon?" Here, the grin reappears. "Uncannily adroit with a knitting needle?"

Shadowheart has had enough:

"You seem to know enough about our condition to realize it is beyond most clerics' skills," she snaps irritably.

"Most, no doubt," Gale agrees. "But I find myself hoping to be in the presence of the few. You don't happen to be one of them?"

Selene's immediate thought is to respond, Yes, of course, but the moment the thought occurs to her, she pulls up short.

(A/N: Yes I'm reusing a screenshot, because the expression on Selene's face is perfect for how she's feeling now as well.)

A few days ago, that would have been her answer. But the level of power she's used to throwing around is lost to her now, never clearer than when she fell from the Nautloid and had no wings upon which to catch herself. She and Shadowheart have stated their necessity for a healer on more than one occasion, but only now has it finally sunk in for Selene: that isn't her.

She hesitates a moment longer before saying, "... I was going to ask you the same question."

She was not, but Gale doesn't seem to realize.

"Then it seems we're both starved for answers," he says mildly. "We're most certainly going to need a healer, and soon too. How about we lend each other a helping hand once more and look for a healer together?"

Selene again glances to Shadowheart, who looks thoroughly less than impressed. But Selene just murmurs under her breath, "Ally..." and Shadowheart sighs.

Putting on her sweetest smile, Selene says, "Sounds like a plan. You're welcome to join us."

Gale returns her smile with a grin of his own and says exuberantly, "Most excellent! A parasite shared is a parasite... halved. Or something to that effect."

Behind Selene, Shadowheart coughs to cover a groan.

"Oh! But before you think you're about to embark on a journey with a most ill-mannered a man: thank you for pulling me out of that stone. It was an act of foresighted kindness I assure you, for I have the feeling ample opportunities will present themselves for me to return the favor."

And this time, Shadowheart does laugh aloud. "No doubt," she agrees.

[elkenbulwark]

@luxmourn cont.

As it turns out, he actually doesn't have any idea what Shadowheart is getting at. Truth be told, it takes her a few moments to process what's happening and why. What she means as a light-hearted jab at their mutually guarded natures becomes lost. The bitter resignation is recognizable but not exactly its cause. Then the realization hits somewhere between the claims about her lineage and his. He thinks she intends to strike at something entirely more personal. That certainly explains some things. "It seems I'll endure a tongue-lashing from you instead." Setting aside the tray after he makes his choice, there's a pointed raise of her brow, arms folding. Her likes. She reminds herself several times that he only says it under the duress of believing he must defend himself. She draws breath and attempts to explain. "Status quo here, in camp. We hide things. We don't like to share. We - Oh, hells. I was making a joke about how stubborn we can all be. I can be." Regardless of how they got here, it needs to be said. "I should have made that clearer. I'm - sorry." Now that she has thoroughly killed the moment and her own gesture in one fell swoop, it seems only right to put them both out of their misery. "I'll take a rain check on the wine. Sweets and our adventurer's collection of stolen vintages? Trust me, that isn't an aftertaste nightmare you want to experience."

His guarded nature may have been just as sturdy as the Sharan's in the sense he didn't quite take to small talk and kind gestures without wondering what exactly was being expected of him. Raised into servitude, just not to some god, he'd grown attuned to taking one's passing comments as indirect commands that would certainly result in offense if he didn't at least make the effort to decipher what they could be. Of course there was offense to be had either way when he inevitably failed at mind reading more often than naught, but it was so much less so when he put on a 'cute' effort. The Cragdews had liked to feel superior in that sense, and their sense of humor was all but summed up in the elvish insult folded casually into his given name.

In her case, a careful tap against his walls with her innocuous offer of food was no more helpful in getting the bark of his defenses to soften as much as it was a direct challenge to the bee hive within what little cracks were already in place from other means and they would be filled momentarily with the bees that poured out of them in the form of cutting words- deterrents to keep others from discovering such weak points in his guard or worse...widening them further.

Such an intimidating attitude always worked wonders at keeping the others in camp at a distance- the perfect paper tiger for him to shred with his tusks later and insist that clearly no one wanted the likes of him or his brother there so that it would be easier to convince the two of them should split ways with the group and travel back to the upper city in search of answers from the night of their extraction. So when it inevitably doesn't work on her by the clear indication of her taking the time to correct his bullish assumptions, he's left quietly blinking. A perplexed twist of his lips helped guide them sideways under a tusk to chew at as the half-orc regarded her reasoning with a subtle sway that came of resdistributing his weight from foot to foot.

"Oh-..." Uncertainty flickered in his eyes, a bit deep rooted to pull out in one go. "...s'that all?" Well, he'd feel more like an ass if he didn't already look the part. As she went further than explain herself and apologized-for exactly what, he wasn't sure, he found himself arife with the need to at least set the bar between them back to indifferently tolerable from its current position on the ground where he'd inevitably slapped it down as if it were a dagger pointed his way.

With a few more uncomfortable squirms, he reached up to sheepishly rub the back of his neck and relented a sigh. "Don't 'poligize. I was gettin' ahead've myself blindfolded." As usual. "So if anyone's got to be sorry here, 'pose it's me."

After an awkward shift or two, he nodded at her rather... unusual tip. "I'll take your word for it...since it sounds like ya know first-hand 'bout that partic'lar...flavor combo." Deciding it best not to press the matter, Birvor turned to shuffle a step or two back towards the center of camp, but not without offering a huff of "-thanks anyway" over his shoulder.

[wellfell]

 of course nobody would miss them if one day they both ended up disappearing in a pit or being stabbed with a stick to the heart — though that legend only circled around him , she thinks maybe that's why she's sharpening one into a hypothetical weapon . akina mori doesn't hold grudges , she doesn't lecture people and that might be something not even shadowheart could defend . no , ahe lets people make their tiny little mistakes and punishes them to her own rules because she thinks they must have learned how not to make them themselves ; isn't astarion centuries years old ? shouldn't he know how to treat something messy like her by now ? how many girls did he have with long hair and anger issues ? he should know , he should have known better .

 but it's not even half of their problems — the problem is that their fake fellowship of friendship is breaking and she has no excuse to see astarion anymore . she had to leave without looking at him twice because they're on bad terms , had to leave without looking at him when he looked like an abandoned moon in the heart of the night . sharp , as if you've tugged his face upward from his ears – she never denied his attractive features because she was afraid she'd be called blind / dumb . but good things often come with a series of unfortunate issues with them , they come and always make the good and pretty women cry ; akina frowns down at him . is he pouting ? is that why he's facing away from her ? quiet as a cat , she's jumped down on the grass . trusts his sharp ears to pick the sound but doesn't expect him to turn around yet , so with a clenched jaw , stands behind him and stares . aren't you glad ? yeah , aren't you fucking glad , akina ?

 ❛ . . . you said you wanted to learn kozakuran . ❜  they made such a fuss about it , lae’zel almost punched akina herself when akina mentioned that she knows that language — she's always so aggressive . ❛ didn't you ? ❜  it doesn't have to end so soon , you don't even know how i love your stupid little v-neck shirts . her fists relax , she frowns again but more at herself before quickly turning around ; away from his direct eye contact if he wanted to turn around , away from his mocking stare . so you don't want to let go of me just yet ? and sits behind him , feels the curve of his spine against her own , starts toying with her fingers like a restless child . the whole fellowship had filled her days with such joy that akina really was starting to believe that she didn't have to sleep with a knife under her pillow , always alert like a lonely street cat . she'd sit with astarion when he'd be in a generous mood and stay guard at night , she'd make excuses like she couldn't sleep and end up with her head on his thigh ; he wouldn't stroke her hair , she wouldn't want him to , but why wouldn't he ? ❛ i can teach you – after this . if you're still alive . o— or i could just write it for you . it'd take days, so , i think we'd have to travel together a little more . you're immortal you have all the time in the world anyway . ❜

astarion had to relocate, slightly, because bits of debris began spontaneously hailing down from sky.  two hops to the side, new angle, same pose, it’d take prodigious efforts to pelt him now.  but not to make him feel utter shit.  her collection of grievances weighs heavily upon his head, nape bared to her branch as though in invitation to forgo the trial and simply drop a guillotine.  hands dangle in front, perhaps she'd like to bind those before continuing to drag him;  find the edge of the artifact’s protection and knock him out, watch him transform into an abomination, then spike him right between the eyes.  drag his body back, act like it was such a tragedy, but she had to do it, poor astarion, he became a hideous purple monster.  he interlocks his forefingers, arms squeezing in his knees, balanced on his toes.  she isn’t wrong about him.  he’s been nothing but grasping and greedy, playing every single thing by ear.  including whatever it is between them. or—was, he supposes.

he intended to nurture his grudge, pretend she never existed.  but then he saw her, day four, unfriendly and healthy, her first outing post injury.  the smallest glimpse from behind and how readily and soon resentment caved to longing.  he wanted that bad mood for himself, the black crown of her head with its forever long mane and thin crack of stark white scalp.  astarion loved to fit his chin there whilst they idled at camp in some out-of-view corner, positioned like lovers but talking like haters, waiting for anyone else to come up with a plan.  her hair oft smelt of scorched flowers after taking in hours and hours of sun and he always imagined akina pulling sour faces whenever he tugged her closer from behind with forearms draped lazily about her collarbones, dropping fat kisses down into her part and stealing all that blissful headwarmth, absorbing it into his nose, his forehead, his cheeks.  everyone is so annoying today, let’s sneak off, they won’t even miss us.  astarion isn’t sure anyone’s ever noticed when they’re actually getting along.  he’s only heard how aggravating they are when they don’t.   “i detected new grays in his beard this morning, if you want to know.  but don’t be upset with gale. and don’t make fun of his old man hair when you see him.  he told me what you said.  i’m sorry.”

he lifts his head, angles it askew to peer up at her, and the insincerity of the smile bouncing back threatens to carve him out. a week ago he’d have sprung to his feet and poked at hers, pretended to chew off her ankles. teased relentlessly about those dreadful dark circles—it might inspire her to come down and finally get some fucking rest. now he ducks his head, hides his pout. “is it all right if i stay a few minutes?  i don’t want to get drunk, either.”   it would take too much effort and not solve anything, anyway, and you’re the prettiest girl i’ve ever seen, other girls piss me off,  i hate all girls who aren’t you.   “... but if things pan out with this brain-healer person, we’ll be out of your hair forever.  aren’t you glad?” 

[the-fallen-blue]

There's a whole essay in it that I might get into someday, but the relatively brief version is that the type of people who get into fandom, especially Gay Elves And Social And Psychological Issues Fandom (like wRPGs), tend to be people who hate religion. As a concept, as a practice, as a thing that exists and has an influence on their culture, in any way that you can hate it. And they really fucking hate Christianity, and most of them also think that every religion is Christianity, so they really fucking hate religion.

So then you have a character like Leliana. Leliana's faith is absolutely core to her identity and worldview from the moment you meet her. But Leliana is, apart from that flaw, very much an ideal fandom woobie (female edition).

And Leliana, conveniently, also has a moment where you have the ability to change her perspective on things; you can convince her that the world is a harsh, brutal place, and she needs to go back to being the harsh, brutal version of herself who she's been trying to leave behind.

Of course, even if you do harden her, she maintains her core of faith. She takes a heretical position on defiling the Ashes, for the greater good, instead of defending them with her life as she will if she's unhardened, but she was already a massive heretic when we met her. Believing in the Maker but not along strict Chantry doctrine was always her thing. So hardened or unhardened, she showed up in the next game, working for the Chantry, doing the work of a god that she never stopped believing in.

And people got pissed. Because they'd convinced themselves that they had broken her of her religious delusion by hardening her. She had this one unforgivable flaw, but you could get rid of it. You could make her not religious, like you! You could get her to share your contempt and disdain for the setting's primary faith. You could fix her, make her not stupid. She gave up the Chantry! Any smart, good character with a smart, reasonable character arc would. It's clearly disrespectful to players to retcon her this way.

Shadowheart has a lot of the same appeal, for a similar reasons, and she also has a major decision point that can massively change her relationship to her faith, and cause her to reject what she believed before. If you make the right choices, she changes the way she thinks she should behave, participates in the destruction of things that she would otherwise have defended.

And similarly, a lot of people seem to have decided that, because they hate religion, because their take on the game is "the moral of the story is fuck them gods, they all fucking suck" and that take really really appeals to them, that this all means Shadowheart obviously feels the same. That she's done with gods forever. That she is super not interested in being a toy for Shar or Selûne or anyone else, ever again.

Of course that's not actually in the text. White-hair Shadowheart says a lot of stuff about being unsure, about not feeling ready, about not knowing whether she can be A Selûnite. She's not Lae'zel, jumping from one god to another without a moment to process what's happened. But that's the point. She is defined, on the non-Shar path, by uncertainty. She doesn't know who she is, she doesn't know what she wants, she just knows she's finally allowed to figure it out. She doesn't say anything definitive, she doesn't say Fuck Them Gods. Maybe she will decide that she just wants to live a quiet life with no god-bothering, she's open to that. But that decision is on the other side of a huge pile of trauma processing and by no means certain to her, or to us. In the meantime, her perspective on her parents' faith is neutral to mildly positive, and even outright interested, by the time of the epilogue. She has zero beef with Selûne.

But a cross-section of fans really want her to, so just like with Leliana, they have decided she must. It's a very "time is a flat circle" thing to watch.

The fandom's perception of Shadowheart's faith on the non-Justiciar path is giving me serious Leliana flashbacks.