#I need to bite the bullet and continue with my current playthrough

[alicelufenia]

Introducing Vierae, my newest tav and the star of my next playthrough.

She's a drow from Menzoberranzan, former entertainer and assassin, now a budding cleric of Eilistraee and seeker of Corellon's favor. Her kidnapping aboard the nautiloid kicks off what will eventually come to be known to Eilistraee devotees across Faerûn as The Longest Run.

At a glance:

Name: Vierae Gysselylth (drow for "Dark Dancer", elven for "Clan of the Blade")

Race: Seldarine Drow (Ancestry: Udadrow)

Background: Guild Artisan

Class: Bard (College of Swords) / Cleric (Life Domain) / Rogue (Thief)

Alignment: Chaotic/Neutral Good

Motivation: Grant aide and succor to those who suffer; seek retribution on those who would conquer, enslave and slaughter; if accepted, entice other drow to walk with her, and offer shelter to all from the cruelty of Lolth and other wicked gods.

Also she's wearing Shadowheart's armor in that pic above cause for this playthrough I'm using the SH Concept Art and Arm Tattoo mods cause I think they look neat :)

The gear has some minor bonuses fitting a trickery cleric too, which is nice considering this is a tactician run and trickery domain will need all the help it can get until Act 2 stuff happens.

I'm meeting Larian halfway with their changes to drow lore regarding eye color. She is technically Seldarine but, growing up in the underdark for 100+ years means you kinda have to be lolth-sworn to survive. Not that the spider queen's favor ever got anywhere near her.

The left eye being pink is just me continuing my trend of giving all my trans characters heterochromia to represent the magical influence of fantasy hrt. Yeah, turns out growing up a super closeted trans girl as a male-born scion isn't easy, even if your house is minor in comparison to the big players.

A bit of backstory:

She was blessed from an early age with a rarity among the drow—the ability to dream. Though infrequent, her dreams were filled with images of the surface night sky, and the elegant figure of the Dark Dancer. She longed to visit, but no means were at her disposal other than unspeakable work in surface raiding parties, and the occasional assassin work. It was only by virtue of getting captured by an enclave of Eilistraeen worshippers who offered her succor and acceptance if she abandon her evil ways and accept the Silver Lady's invitation to dance among the stars and the trees.

Taking to her studies easily, she sought a place among the priesthood. Though at the time the clergy was opening up more freely to male worshippers, she learned quickly of the so-called "Changedance" that was practiced in earlier times, where as a rite of passage novice clerics would conduct a holy dance that transformed their body from male to female, and vice-versa. She practiced tirelessly, mastering the dance in short order, and upon seeing her reflection in the still waters of the river lit by the full moon, she beheld the Dark Dancer in her dreams; it was her all along. Her true self.

She wept for the first time in her life.

Naturally, she enjoyed staying in the Changedance's form for longer than any of her male cleric peers. While the temporary reprieve was satisfying, she sought more permanent options. Her artisan upbringing proved valuable, as she learned from several of her fellow priestesses how to concoct the alchemical medicines that can change the body's shape and feel to reflect who they are in their heart. While not a complete transformation, her ability to fill out a bra and entice the gaze of young men (and not a few women) have been encouraging.

Dedicated to the Eilistraeen cause of harmony amongst the peoples of Toril, Vierae has been on many runs, to rescue underdark drow who sought escape from the grasp of Lolth's cult, to defending surface settlements from the very lolth-sworn raiding parties she was once a reluctant part of. Yet everywhere, what good faith they can harbor in non-drow communities soon sours as old suspicions and base prejudices re-assert themselves.

Seeking another way, Vierae has conducted extensive research on the worship of Corellon, sire to her Dark Lady, and ruler of all elves. If she could only entreat the teachings of Eilistraee to a few open-minded communities of elves, they may yet find wider acceptance. Thus she was in the process of a pilgrimage to petition Corellon's blessing, when the nautiloid snatched her up.

And as Astarion said, "First thing's first." She can save no one until she's saved herself, but that won't stop her from trying at every opportunity along the way. Her pilgrimage has led her to the Risen Road, and Baldur's Gate is the ultimate destination, where she either shows herself to be worthy of the gods' favor, or prove those who fear her to be right.

Inspiration for this Tav: @mass-effect-galaxy's Eilistraee Sword Dancer (general protagonist motivations, plus the hair was so good)

HoboZone's Dancer of Eilistraee Remastered Build (for the dual worship of Eilistraee and Corellon reflected in a dual wielder build)

Modlist:

No More Looping VFX And SFX

SK's More CC Colours

Shadowheart's Tattoos

Asymmetrical Shadowheart Concept Outfit

Shibariwaluigi's NPC Hair Edits

Two-Handed Longsword Finesse - mostly just to have a longsword as main arms until picking up dual wielder and Phalar Aluve

Bard Fixes And Tweaks - just to bring ranged flourishes down to melee's level, since this character's RP demands using melee whenever possible

More Reactive Companions - since this is a second playthrough I wanted to hear from the companions more, and swap to them so they can have the spotlight now and again.

Phalar Aluve - Legendary - adds combine items in Acts 2 and 3 to upgrade Phalar Aluve to a Very Rare and Legendary version.