#Shadowheart and Lae'zel were fighting for that spot just like they do in my party all the time

[nyxiemania]

Five character quiz! Not sure if I'm doing this right but I was tagged by @tropicalcryptid so I gotta make an attempt. Also I'm horrendous at calling my favorites to mind off the dome and I'm trying to limit to one per fandom so this will probably be inaccurate by tomorrow.

I realized these are all girls too lmao so I'll do a reblog for the boys as well.

[irradiatedsnakes]

i need to know more about pennybun i have fallen deeply in love

PENNY MY BEST FRIEND PENNY!!!!

(by @/skypiea)

penny is my first tav and i love her. she's a white dragonborn circle of the spores druid. i finished her first playthrough a couple weeks back, and i've started on a second playthrough with her! slightly edited, and now that i understand more about the game and the story i'm refining her character and story. i missed a lot of stuff on that first playthrough!

pennybun's name comes from the mushroom, by the way. i'd decided on that before i knew that there was a mushroom-themed druid circle in this game, i was GOING to choose moon, but, like. it's perfect. penny buns aka porcini aka king bolete aka Boletus edulis are an edible mushroom that symbioses with the roots of pine trees. they're part of my research and they're quite adorable

she's from a circle of druids located in the shelterwood- a dense forest near baldur's gate. she grew up in the city proper- or at least, on the edges of it- before moving out to the woods to pursue life as a druid.

she's solidly good-aligned- as my first playthrough, her story is kind of the best-case-scenario for everything, savescumming the hell out of some fights (good god the last light fight with marcus). everybody gets their good ending, everybody gets saved, that kind of deal.

she had a generally good relationship with everyone in the party, but gale, wyll, and karlach are her best mates for sure. i missed out on romancing karlach the first go around, but we're doing it on penny's second save file. it's happening.

she's also quite close with shadowheart, especially after the events of act ii. her relationship with lae'zel is more tense.. but i'm still working on figuring out that exact trajectory- missing a lot of lae'zel's storyline was one of the biggest mistakes i made in the first go-around. she and astarion never get close, but there's not any malice there, either.

she's good friends with jaheira, the two get along like a house on fire, and she looks up to jaheira a lot. she didn't have a lot of time to get to know minsc and boo, but they were plenty friendly in the short time they crossed paths. halsin, i need to work on, i also kind of fucked up his stuff first go-around by neglecting to fix the shadowlands. to be updated when i reach act ii in Penny The Sequel.

overall, penny's a big ol goody-two-shoes. she wants to help as many people as she possibly can, and feels a massive weight on her shoulders because of it, having been thrust into this leadership role by apparent pure chance.

while i'm still working it out, the central theme of pennybun's story is trust, and who she puts it in. an early decision i made before knowing anything about the story was that penny trusts the Mysterious Dream Guardian completely and totally, which made for some EXTREMELY fun character moments later on- utilizing the tadpoles (her and gale both), becoming partial illithid, and eventually in act 3 losing her trust in and culminating with her turning on the emperor, plus her own ceremorphosis to wield the netherstones against the netherbrain.

gear-wise, she uses the default druid armor for most of the game, switching to the armor of the sporekeeper in act 3. she assembles the mourning frost in the underdark in act 1 and it remains her favored weapon for the rest of the game. she also wears the key of the ancients, and just before the start of the finale gains the nymph cloak.

other assorted Penny Facts:

she keeps a detailed log of every camp dinner the group has. good food is very important

she has a soft spot for parasites. part of why she was receptive to the idea of utilizing the tadpoles, and also part of why she lets astarion take a bite from time to time.

she got her eye poked out by volo

she has a -1 int modifier

she's a lot keener on necromancy than you might expect a druid to be. she views necromancy and the undead (for the most part) as a natural part of the cycle of life- after all, everything will eventually return to the dirt to be eaten by the fungi and the other decomposers, no matter how prolonged it is.

it is imperative that all her friends (karlach excluded for reason of cool hair) wear fun hats. ive posted about The Hat Tax before but everyone in the party gets a funny hat. it's so important.

she's my best friend and i love her

[elijasz]

features I'd like for future bg3 patches:

- manual grouping: [exists!]

sometimes I dont want to move the whole party at once, or split everyone. I would like to have the option to group party members to each other. Like grouping my 2 rogues together because they give each other proximity advantage for sneak attacks, or grouping the melee fighters together, while leading the casters to a save spot where they can attack from above and be save. Something similar is already happening in multiplayer but I would like it for single player aswell (I have been informed this feature already exists and I just didnt know. Very cool)

- scenic spots:

Exactly what it says. I just want spots where I can move the camera more freely and have a good view of something cool or beautiful. It does sound pretty hard to implement though.

- more enemy last words:

I would really like the option to get an additional cutscene or something if I don't kill boss enemies or important npcs in a fight, but instead knock them out in the fight. I was honestly expecting a cutscene after knocking out Gortash or Raphael. Even if it's just them begging for mercy and we have the chance to kill them or to spare them. Banning Raphael from the house of hope and making him aware that you could easily kill him seems more satisfying than just plain killing him and then its over. (Especially because the fight was a bit too easy.) I know this is a lot of effort and the voice actors would have to be up for it aswell so I dont expect much but it would be really cool!

- Zevlor romance.

You heard me.

- illithid memory sharing cutscenes

I'm all for more story cutscenes. We got one for shadowheart and I would absolutely adore seeing other characters backgrounds in visual form. As much as I love the narrators voice I just want to see baby Lae'zel and tiny Wyll. OH young Gale in his mothers kitchen with the bunnies! I have a lot of imagination and visualisation skills, but other people don't and I want them to experience those scenes aswell!

- consequences for using the tadpoles and mindflayer powers

I used the mindflayer tadpole powers ONCE in my entire playthrough. Didn't put any more tadpoles into my head. I was a bit bummed out when I found out there were no consequences for using/not using them. Seems like the final fight should be harder the more tadpoles have made Tav's little pond of a brain their home.

- manual insight and perception checks

This one is not going to happen but I would like to have it anyway. In DnD I'd sometimes ask/get asked "what do I see?/Do I believe them?/Can I use an action to check the room for anything like traps etc before entering?" Some of that is already happening automatically but I would like to have the option to manually trigger it ONCE every scene/location. Not once per character. Just one check, no reroll.

- access companion inventory

this might already be possible but I'd like the option to access the inventory of companions who aren't on my team currently. It would be incredibly helpful for un-/equipping items when a character isnt on your team currently. maybe the solution to this would be items being stored in a chest when the companion isn't in your team. a chest that is bound to their camp, cant be destroyed or moved etc. and once they join your team youll have to reequip them BUT they'll already have all their stuff right there? idk how hard it would be to implement the auto reequip option when you have the companion join your team

- give Karlach a good ending dammit

She deserves to be happy and I know you can go to Avernus with her but you have to leave your love interest behind unless you romances Wyll and that sucks so much ass.

What would you like to see in future patches? What do you think won't ever happen but you'd wish to see anyway?

[thetavolution]

Baldur's Gate 3 Companion!Tav Ask List

Paloma Silkflower

What if your Tav was a recruitable companion, instead of the main character?  (contains major spoilers for the game, and for some dark urge runs as well)

General

Where can your Tav be recruited?  Are they first encountered on the Nautiloid, or in the Nautiloid crash region?  Or are they not recruitable until a later act? The PC meets her on the Nautiloid. She's immediately over Shadowheart and Lae'zel's bullshit. She's hyper focused on getting out.

Do the other companions have special comments or reactions upon recruiting your Tav? She's a drow so some people has some pretty nasty stuff to say. Wyll, Gale, and Karlach are chill because that's who they are. No one trusts her at first because they assume she worships the Spider Queen. Over time, they realize they were wrong about her.

Does your Tav have any comments or advice when you recruit other companions? Shadowheart: "She proved herself back on the Nautiloid. She'll be useful to have at our side in battle." Astarion: "I'll be blunt. I don't trust Astarion as far as I can throw him, but I can deal with him." Gale: "I've never seen a wizard stuck in a rock before. I guess there's a first time for everything. I'd be lying if I said I didn't find him endearing though." Wyll: " It's nice to know that there are real life prince charmings in the world. It'll be an honor to fight by his side. Let's just hope he doesn't end up getting sidetracked trying to save a princess." Lae'zel: "Gith may be brutal, but they're also fearless. If she's on our side, we're in good company. But we better stay on her good side." Halsin: "I think everyone has been drooling over that man since he came to camp. I can't blame them. I wouldn't be against climbing Mount Halsin myself...." Karlach: "She's a firecracker, isn't she? She's a fantastic addition to our little team of freaks. It's been so long since I met someone who just radiates goodness. She's doing wonders for my heart." Minthara: "You don't expect me to be happy she's here, do you? You can't put a Lolth and Seldarine in a room together and hope for the best. (sighs) While I wish you hadn't recruited her, I'll get over it for the good of the team." If you have high approval, she'll add, "I trust your judgment above all else." Minsc: "I already love Boo so much. I'd keep Minsc around for for his sake alone. All jokes aside, it'll be an honor to fight alongside Minsc. He's a good man." Jaheira: "I'm afraid I've only recently learned of her exploits, but I'm thoroughly impressed. I have a lot I'd like to learn from her. We also need someone around who can bust our chops a little bit."

What sort of general actions raise or lower their approval? She has a soft spot for kids, especially orphans. If the PC is kind to children, they'll get approval points. She'll also be impressed if the PC can talk their way out of confrontations.

Are there any instances where your Tav can permanently leave the party, depending on player character actions? The PC can driver her off. It's not easy, but it can be done. If her approval rating is too low, she'll leave on her own. If you pick insulting options too often, she'll ditch you, too. She will not tolerate that kind of abuse.

Do they have any secrets that can be revealed?  What are the prerequisites for this secret coming to light? She's secretive about her past, but she can either be persuaded to confide in the PC or a future quest will reveal her secrets. It's mostly about her sister. (More on that in a bit.) I might expand on this idea more in the future. She's also a mom, but she keeps that a secret to protect her kids. If she trusts Tav enough, she'll tell them she has three.

Do they have their own personal quest that spans the course of the game?  Can it take different branching paths depending on the choices the Player Character makes? Her sister will make an appearance later on and you can choose to help her or not. Her sister, Lamia, is a criminal who is constantly getting into trouble. She's being chased by the authorities and you can choose to help her or let her get arrested. You could also possibly break Lamia out of prison later. Lamia will help in the final battle if you help her stay out of prison. If she goes to prison, she obviously will not be able to help.

What do they say when the Player Character asks them to stay in camp?  How about when the Player Character asks them to come adventuring again? Stay in camp: "Are you sure? You know, if you need me, you can call on me any time." To go adventuring again: "At the ready. I get worried about you when you go off without me." (Even if she's not romanced, she will say this platonically. She will either see the PC as a lover or a sibling.)

Does your Tav have any escalating conflicts with one of the other companions, like Lae’zel and Shadowheart’s knife-fight? Oh yeah, she and Minthara are at each other's throats. Minthara underestimates her and Paloma looks down her nose at Minthara. If the PC plays their cards right, they can get the two of them to tolerate each other. They might even eventually respect one another with the right choices. Or the PC can egg them on. It will lead to a fight and possibly a death, or just one of them leaving for good.

Are there any unique NPCs associated with your Tav that can show up during the course of the game? Paloma grew up in an orphanage called the Holy House of Nym. It's run by Ilmater clerics and the PC be able to meet the clerics who raised her. Paloma isn't particularly fond of many of the clerics. Note: Paloma is from an original story and I named the House of Nym before I knew anything about BG3. It having the same name as Nym Orlith was an accident. Lamia, a changeling rogue, grew up with Paloma at Nym and she's an optional NPC to interact with. She's like a sister to Paloma, but she's also an absolute disaster. You can choose to help Lamia escape from the authorities or leave her to her fate. Allie is a barbarian Dragonborn that Lamia pals around with. Allie is kind of a meathead who likes to spit acid on people. You can also decide to help her escape capture or let them both go to jail. If you help them, you can call on both of them for help whenever. Lamia would do anything for her sister. Paloma will be surprisingly understanding if you don't want to help them. If you do help them, you get a HUGE approval boost with Paloma. You won't get disapproval for not helping though. If you go to the babysitter's house, you can also meet her children, Orianna, Lucan, and Meriele. The babysitter has yet to be named.

Are there any moments in the game that trigger unique dialogue for your character? (Like Gale’s anecdote about the barfight after you save the goblin prisoner)  If you help any orphans, she might be tell the PC a story of her past. This is one of the potential ways for the PC to discover she was orphaned as a child. She can regale them with a story of her childhood. She'll also mention keeping her "little sister" out of trouble. If Ilmater is ever mentioned or read about in a book and the PC knows she's an orphan, she'll talk about how the orphanage she grew up in was run by Ilmatari. She has a complicated relationship with Ilmater worshippers. If Tav knows about her kids, she'll also talk about the shenanigans they get into. Gale will probably chime in because he relates to being a precocious kid. It'll be cute.

Story Specific

How does your Tav advise the player character when it comes to the Dream Visitor? She 100% doesn't trust them. "I don't know what to make of them, but I don't trust them. How do we know they actually have our best interest at heart?"

How do they advise the player character on Raphael? "Don't trust a devil. Nothing good can come of it. He can smell our desperation and he will prey on it."

How do they react to Astarion biting the Player Character? "I told you! Didn't I tell you? I knew there was something up with him. ...I don't actually care he's a vampire. It makes him kind of hotter, if I'm being honest. But the important part is I was right!"

How do they react to the Player Character letting Abdirak whip them? "So... can we take turns doing this, or is it a one time deal?"

How do they react to the Player Character taking their first tadpole power? "Gods... why would you do that? Are you trying to become a mind flayer?" She'd also check up on the PC to make sure they're okay. She'd be genuinely very worried about them and acting like a mother hen until she was convinced they were okay.

Will they stay with the Player Character regardless of siding with the goblins or the tieflings, or is it possible for them to leave the party permanently? If they side with the goblins, she'll leave. She can't help but feel for the tieflings, especially the kids. She also has no interest in rubbing elbows with goblins in general.

What can they be found doing at the tiefling/goblin party? She'd retreat to her tent to drink a glass of wine alone. She's not a big partier, but she'd be personable if you approach her.

Do they have comments on who the Player Character chooses to spend the night with?  She'd approve of anyone you bed, honestly. She knows she's traveling with a group of hotties. She'd have a very "Go you" reaction. She'd also ask for details later.

Do they have unique dialogue if the Player Character lets them die when they steal the Blood of Lathander? "I understand the appeal of the nice shiny sun cannon, but I stopped understanding at the part where you let it crush me! Gods, what were you thinking?" If you have high approval, she'll add, "You're lucky I like you so much. I forgive you." If you don't, you'll have more options to either apologize or antagonize her.

How do they react if the PC licks the dead spider in the Gauntlet of Shar? "Do not put stuff like that in your mouth. You're going to make yourself sick!" A second time: "No! Bad! Put it back!" Sometimes her dialogue will be redirected at another companion, "Have they done this before? You'd tell me if they did something like this before, right?"

What do they say if the PC tries to force them to go up on stage with Dribbles the Clown? 1: "I saw a clown in the Underdark once.... His corpse was used as a warning for any other clowns that dared come down." 2: "Do you really wish to see me up there? Or do you just have a thing for humiliation and didn't tell me?" 3: "Well... our friendship was nice while it lasted." / If romanced, "I hope you don't plan on trying to crawl into my bedroll tonight after this stunt."

Is it possible for your Tav to be kidnapped and replaced by Orin?  How is Orin's deception revealed?  How do they react to the PC rescuing them in the Temple of Bhaal? Yes, she can be. Orin would pick up on her trying to be a big sister/mom to everybody, but she'd 100% overplay it. She'd perform her like a really bad OOC fanfic of Paloma. She'd make her freak out that she couldn't protect "her babies" and the PC would be able to see through it. It'd be a lot like Halsin, but about protecting the group. When rescued, she'd be grateful. "Thank you. It's good to know I can always count on you. Now let's get out of here. It smells like someone died in here... Huh. I'm hearing myself say that and feeling very stupid."

How do they react to the PC either allowing Astarion to ascend or convincing him to spare the 7000 spawn? I think she'd be so heartbroken if he ascended. He grows on her and she wants to protect everyone. She just wants the best for her little crew. She'd tell the PC how sad she is Astarion ascended, but would still want him in her life. She would also be touched if Astarion spares the 7000 spawn, but worried out of her mind. She just doesn't want anyone to get hurt.

How does Tav react to the PC becoming a mind flayer?  Can they offer to become one themselves?  Does their reaction change if they’re romanced?  She wouldn't but only because of her kids. She can't become one because of them. She would be so sad if the PC becomes one, but she'd never leave their side. She'd take care of them and stay with them if romanced, no matter what.

How do they react when the Dark Urge first reveals their amnesia and murderous thoughts to them? She'd be scared, but she would be there for the PC. She's supportive and loving. She would have a suspicion of what's going on, but she'd keep it to herself until later.

How do they react to the Dark Urge killing Alfira? "Did you do this? Please... please, tell me this wasn't you. Gods, why? Why would you do this to her?" She'd still be suspicious she knows that the Dark Urge is a Bhaalspawn, but she'd never say it. She'd just do everything she could to help the PC.

If romanced, how do they react to the Dark Urge trying to kill them in Act 2? When she first wakes: "Love...? Is everything alright? What's happening?" After being told what's happening: "You wouldn't be the first lover who tried to kill me, but I do wish it would stop happening... Whatever is happening to you, we'll get you through this." She would be supportive as always and protective. She would talk the PC through it and stay calm for them. She'd calmly and firmly ask for an explanation afterward.

Romance

Is your Tav a romanceable character?  Are there any specific requirements to romancing them? Yes, she is definitely romanceable. She'd pretend she's hard to get, but she is not.

Does your Tav need to be flirted with to start the romance, or will they approach the PC themselves if approval is high enough? In order to get things moving faster, the PC can flirt with her and let her know they're interested. If the PC gets her approval high enough, she will bring it up first. It just takes a little longer before she feels confident in making the first move.

Are they a polyamorous or a monogamous option? She's a poly option. She'll just ask the PC to communicate with her about their needs/wants.

Do they have a special romance scene at the tiefling/goblin party? If her approval is high, she'll flirt with the PC and make the first move. But the PC will also be able to ask her to spend the night with them. She'll take you into the woods to spend the night together.

Does the romance have different branching paths, or just one route to take? She would have a pretty straightforward path, even if you take a poly angle.

How do they react to the player character breaking up with them, or choosing another character over them? She'd be really upset about it, but trying to put on a brave face. She would try to act as if she doesn't care, but the PC definitely broke her heart. She'd also probably get in a jab at whoever the PC left her for... and immediately feel bad about saying it. She'd apologize for that. She would ask to stay friends.

What questions can Zethino ask the PC about Tav in the Love Test?  The heart is fraught, so let us begin with the joyous. When is Paloma happiest? A. When she's curled up in bed with some snacks and a good book. Or if Tav knows about her kids: When she's with her children. ★ B. In the Underdark. C. When she's with me. ★ (If romanced.) D. While fighting on the battlefield. Listen. Think. What is Paloma's greatest fear? A. Spiders. B. Letting everyone down. ★ C. The Underdark. D. Losing her children. ★ We often gaze through a veil of roses, but love accepts both the petal and the thorn. Paloma - what is her greatest flaw? A. She has a huge ego. B. She holds herself up to an impossible standard. ★ C. She's greedy and prioritizes money above everything. D. She spreads herself too thin. ★

If they’re poly, do they have a reaction to the PC engaging in a relationship with Halsin? She's into it. (In my play through, she's romancing Astarion and Halsin.) She'd hope he'd be down to let her join in.

How do they react if the PC has sex with Mizora? The Emperor?  Haarlep? She doesn't want to tell the PC what to do, but she'd disapprove of Mizora because of what she did to Wyll. It'd be less about the sex and more about who it was with. It might get her to leave the PC. She'd disapprove of the Emperor and Haarlep, but she would be empathetic toward the PC.

Will they join in with the PC and the Drow Twins, or no? She would! She'd love it.

What are Tav’s plans for the future?  Do they propose to the PC, or is marriage not something they’re interested in? She'd propose and there'd be an option for the PC to beat her to it. She's poly, but not against marriage. (She's also willing to be monogamous for someone she loves. It's not something she HAS to have.) As long as the PC accepts her children, she wants a future with them.

Free space! Share anything from your companion!Tav au! I'm actually planning on doing some VO shorts with Paloma, Lamia and Tessa. Just for fun! It'd also be some voice acting practice for me.

[wizardlyghost]

something about dnd that bg3 has really managed to capture is the absolutely wild and lightning-fast shift between having a fun silly old time and slamming into defcon one because you're about to fucking die.

for instance: right before the party sequence, i decided to go for a wander and do some sidequests before continuing with the campaign, having assassinated all three of the goblin's bosses and not yet expended all of my resources. i decided to burn my last short rest and fast travel to the closest teleportation circle to my destination, which happened to be in the goblin stronghold. it did not cross my mind that the fact that i had literally just murdered all three of the goblins' bosses might have made the goblins a wee bit mad at me.

me: heehoo fun old time party tonight, just gotta run some errands first!

the entire goblin market:

me: Oh Kay! Mistakes were made, but I can still make it through this probably! I've just gotta get back to the Teleportation Circle... which can't be used in combat. Welp, fuck it, we ball! Karlach's on her last Rage, so I've gotta keep her in melee, which shouldn't be a problem. Her Berzerker ability to physically pick up and toss motherfuckers out of opportunity attack range twice on her turn has never been more useful. Sanctuary on both of the Clerics, if they go down that's all she wrote, they have way too few spell slots left so I'll have to make each one count. Thankfully I made Tav a Life Cleric, so they have their Channel Divinity in addition to spells. I had been mildly regretting my decision to multiclass Shadowheart into Oath of Ancients Paladin, but as it turns out that decision is about to save literally everyone, since she still has her own Channel Divinity, her Lay On Hands pool, and the Protection fighting style, which thank the fucking stars doesn't count as an aggressive action that would dispel her Sanctuary. Keeping her in arm's reach of my two bruisers so she can deflect a few hits. Two of the Battlemaster manoevers I gave Lae'zel are completely useless here, as I can't afford to waste actions or Superiority Dice, but the Rally bonus action is going to be absolutely clutch, especially on Karlach, who's the only other non-Sanctuaried target right now - giving her one hit point is like giving anyone else two. Her Sentinel feat is also going to be a game changer here, as it allows her to get a second hit in each round as only a fourth-level Fighter. Okay, I need to get the hell out of this corner. The only spot relatively in reach is up this wall to the left, maybe get a little bit of cover-

[veilkeeper]

Tav questions for Serenity: 9 + 13 + 14 + 16 + 26 (can you tell i like color schemes) + 33 + 58

a rare serenity ask.... alright here we go, i'll do my best but a lot of this is going to be subject to change when i actually get around to his pt

(questions from here)

9. What is your Tav’s biggest priority or goal?

this is so interesting bc theres like, the goal serenity is working towards and says he wants, and then there's the thing he actually wants but does nothing about. pre-tadpole, he'd tell you his goals align with his father's - he intends to do as is expected of him. secretly, however, he wants nothing more than to be rid of the Urge. post-tadpole, he's more honest about his goals.

13. How does your Tav fight in a combat situation?

so. a lot of people build their durges as like. sneaky assassin types. and i get that, it makes sense with the whole god of assassins, murder in the shadowy streets of baldur's gate thing. serenity however is a bladelock with a big fuck-off sword. he can stealth, he just doesnt care to once he's in an actual fight. he's a bit of a show-off - he likes letting people know he's got tricks up his sleeve and he can and will kill them. he likes when people are scared of him and his power before they die.

14. Does your Tav know any other languages besides Common? 

i really want to say yes, but truthfully, probably not. he spent most of his life in the temple of bhaal and i just dont think they're doing language lessons in there.

(putting the rest under the cut)

16. Which of the companions does your Tav trust most? 

extremely subject to change when i start vibe checking people but i suspect serenity is going to gravitate towards people in the moral middle-ground. he'll like astarion but not trust him, he'll like wyll but not trust him. lae'zel is more loyal to her people/queen than she'd ever be to him, etc. anyone too good or too morally dubious will raise his hackles, and anyone with loyalties that might conflict with his safety will do the same. so i think the best candidates for Trusted Besties are shadowheart and gale. keep in mind that especially in the early days, serenity is (ironically much like astarion) picking who he's trying to tie to him as insulation for if that Ominous Bloodlust in his head ever becomes a problem.

26. What is the most prominent color in your Tav’s color scheme?

pre-tadpole serenity followed typical temple of bhaal dress, a lot of black with red accents. gortash could... occasionally... convince him to wear nicer clothes and when that happened he liked to experiment with different colours. he's already playing dress up, right? might as well be completely out of character. it's not like he likes it............ shut up. post-tadpole he wears whatever he wants, and i will have so much fun experimenting with dyes to see what colour i like on him.

33. What is your Tav’s relationship with their family?

serenity intentionally stomps down any memory of their foster family, he does not want to think about them. not because they were awful but because they were so good and theyre the only victims of his he's ever felt bad about (not that he'd admit it). that leaves orin as his only "family" and... i think he wants them to be friends. i think he wants them to not be antagonistic towards each other, he wants them to be a team. but their father constantly pits them against each other and orin fucking hates him for being the Golden Child, so instead he does his best to keep things as civil as possible while knowing he's going to have to kill her one day.

58. What decision would your party have to make in order for Tav to consider splitting off from the group?

short of grabbing pitchforks and going after him, nothing. serenity is taking all of his moral cues from the gang since he's pretty sure what he thinks is cool is... an outlier opinion. like he's not going to try to take the moral high ground anywhere, because he was fantasizing about finding a nice spot to watch the goblins and tieflings tear each other apart.

[autochroma]

Hey, was wondering about your Tav? Any headcanons, who did they romance etc?

aww thanks for asking!! the only one i've posted on here is rat (she chose her name herself) from my coop with my gf, so i'll show off my gremlin:

she's a spore druid (and lv 1 cleric dip) forest gnome who was raised in an enclave of mielikki followers after being lost in the forest, but she left bc she hated how secluded it was. in her wanderings she found she really liked getting her grubby hands on other people's shiny stuff, plus she could take advantage of her druid shapeshifting to steal… eventually she met blu (who is my gf's rogue/fighter tiefling) and they became thieving partners-in-crime, altho blu is now reformed. ummm some rando notes- rat wants to live freely; she is a bit selfish, kinda mean and judgmental—but also a coward so she wouldn't say her rude thoughts to someone's face (but also not exactly a nice sweet talker, she just gets by) and tries to avoid fights; more of a backline fighter who likes to hide behind her summons; soft spot for animals ofc (will also talk shit with them); resourceful with strong survival instincts.

her romance was with lae'zel, which was unintentional and really funny since i went in with no plans for her and also not yet aboard the lae'zel train. so in the beginning our party was rat, blu, shadowheart (blu's romance) and lae'zel (originally ~temporary while i figured out who i wanted to replace her with), BUT then we got to zorru- i had rat indulge lae'zel's interrogation tech bc rat is lowkey mean, and then suddenly she gets "lae'zel approves" plus the "i love ur smell" proposition. i was laughing bc lae'zel says like… "you've proven your dominance and courage", and rat is Not at all like that (or doesn't think she is). she's… more of a coward looking out for her own survival. but i was like fk it we roll with it though bc 1. the idea of lae'zel misjudging rat so badly is funny and 2. rat was def scared of lae'zel so fear + the ego boost + impulsive adrenaline (+ promise of a good time tbh) would totally make her go for it and play along and try to pretend to be the person lae'zel thinks she is.

but i think it actually turns out sweet and works out because in my head, with lae'zel, rat learned to be more brave and more honest. like doesn't quite change completely but more so understanding bravery is what u do in spite of fear yadda yadda u kno. and she knows how to look out for herself and how to be a lil selfish so she encourages lae'zel to do the same, after a lifetime of Serving. somewhere along the way they both drop the fronts they're putting up.

fun bit: rat actually succeeded her intimidation check in the first lae'zel romance scene when you tell her submit to you instead, but my hc is she blurted it out as a snarky impulsive reaction and when she actually tried to follow through it was kinda embarrassing.

ANYWAYS. thanks for asking and letting me ramble and probably give more info than you were asking for!

[flowersdaggersviolasandblood]

Flower Girl

Name: Pero Ophiin (She/Her)

Race: Wood Half-Elf

Class: Druid (Circle of the Land)

Background: Outlander

WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!

So to officially start our Out-of-ACT-1 phase, we'll go into Pero first. Technically, I did Admaer first, but that was mostly me just exploring mindlessly and seeing what it looked like. Once again, Pero decided to go above to reach Moonrise Towers. Because I unequipped Lae'zel from my party, I didn't get the prompt where she discovers the trail the Githyanki left behind to the monastery. Now, whether or not Lae'zel will stay in the party, who knows. But for now, she's still here.

After fighting some undead, we found a note referencing Wyll's father and his kidnapping to Moonrise Tower. On our way there, we met fucking Eliminster Aumar, a world famous Wizard who is apparently 3 centuries old!

Now, I'm no Forgotten Realm lore whore, but I have seen his name before when I was still playing D&D with friends. So seeing him in the game still got me giddy. The way he talks too is exceptionally great. I love that Larian really committed to him have an even older way of speaking compared to other characters in game. It made it so fun to watch him as he expressed his large appetite. Despite this, Eliminster is not here to serve as a cute cameo for the lore-knowers. Eliminster came to this neck of the woods to tell Gale that Mystra has a mission for him. In exchange for silencing the netherese void within him, she asks that he blows himself up when he reached the heart of the Absolutes' cult. Pero, and pretty much the majority of the camp, are appalled by this sudden suggestion by the literal goddess of magic.

Pero I would say recognizes the gods and their role in the world, only really paying much reverence to Silvanus and Chauntea, goddess of agriculture and plant cultivation. And knowing Mystra's involvement in Gale's situation, although she didn't at all ask him to do the actions he did in the past, is shocks Pero to her core that Mystra's only solution to not only Gale's condition but to the whole Absolute issue is to have him blow up. It left a sour taste in her mouth and it breaks her heart that Gale has solemnly accepted his fate.

Upon entering the Cursed Lands (that's what we'll call this area going forward. No I will not take a second of my time to find the proper name), we were greeted with a Goblin who asked if we were True Souls. Having learned her lesson the first time she was asked this, Pero goes along with the act of being a True Soul. Picking up a torch in one hand and following the little bugger, she was able to meet a small group of Absolute cultist who were looking for Minthara who would come with a particular lyre that would summon the guide. Fortunately, I was able to catch the Lyre because I didn't let her fall in the chasm lol.

Before we continue with this, I wanted to mention the companions for a moment. While lurking around in this shadowed land, Wyll and Karlach get another visit from Mizora. She returned back demanding that Wyll goes and rescue a captive fiend for her, something that wasn't part of the deal. However, Pero was able to sus out that Mizora is currently in a tight spot as she can't afford for Wyll to fail this mission. Because of this, Pero made a proposition in exchange of going forward with this plan. IF they were to get this Devil release, she too would release her hold of Wyll. Though Mizora agreed, with the fact that she's asking Wyll to perform something that was SUPPOSED to not be part of his contract, there might still be hope for an alternative way to get him out of the deal while also maybe not releasing the captive fiend. Especially if this ends up being another Karlach moment.

Shadowheart also expresses wonderment as she's not greatly affected by the shadow curse that plagues the Cursed Lands. This makes her believe that she's been blessed by Shar and that there must be more to the Dark Justiciars trip to Moonrise Towers.

Finally, Pero asked Halsin further about the shadow curse.

Halsin explains that the lands of the Cursed Lands was under the protection of a fey creature by the name of Thaniel and that Halsin hasn't felt their presence since the curse began. He begged that if Pero learned anything about the boy in the forest or even anything about the Shadowfell that she come find him immediately. Pero also asked Halsin if he was comfortable in her camp, and while he did have his opinions, he felt homey with the party. Even "HINTING" that there's a chance for him to relax and wind down once he has dealt with this shadow curse guilt, he's start to feel like himself again.

Pero also got another visit from her Dream Guardian, a visit that has gotten her worried. This time around, they're dressed down, looking a lot more like their appearance in the EA release, but they're starting to show weakness in their current state and starting to express some mild doubt. This causes Pero to even doubt her decision to not consume any parasite they found along the way, mostly giving them to Astarion since he's currently the only eager one in the party. We'll get back to this later.

Back to the Curse Lands, after playing the lyre, we meet the spiderman!

The party was able to travel a short distance with the guide, especially since he currently holds a magical source of light that keeps the darkness at a greater bay. However, the are ambushed by the Harpers who came to take that magical light from them. Pero opted to betray the Absolute cultist and help the Harper, gaining her respect and learning of the inn that they currently reside in.

While getting to the Last Light Inn, we encountered a horrible sight. Like, deadass it nearly made me cry. We found the corpses of the Tieflings we saved back at Emerald Grove. It wasn't every single Tiefling, but it was enough of them where, if you paid attention to who was who at the grove, you'd recognize at least one of them. Reaching the Last Light Inn, we finally meet Jaheira, a legendary Druid/Fighter character whom, if you played the previous Baldur's Gate games, she once looked like this :D

Now she's, reasonably, a much older Half-Elf now. As shown a long time ago in one of the Panels from Hell showings, Jaheira entangles Pero and was close to starting a fight since, regardless if Pero herself ate a tadpole, the parasite still recognize one of its own. Thanks to Pero's honesty and her knowing that Jaheira would be a great ally to have by her side, she truthfully came forward about her condition along with the artifact that's been protecting her and her friends. This along with one of the Tiefling kids, Mol, coming to her aid and the other Harpers expressing how she assisted them, Pero was able to gain the Harpers trust.

Jaheira explains her and the Harpers reason for coming out to the Cursed Lands, even explaining that they currently have a powerful spellcaster that has protected the area. She too is familiar with the figure, Ketheric, though this time around, it sounds like he's an undead as no matter what damage they dealt him, he would just get back up. Because we're not fully influenced by the parasite and have the artifact that protects them from the Absolute, Jaheira asks that Pero and the gang sneak into the Absolute's ranks, posing at a True Soul and deal a killing blow from the inside.

Before ending this, let's do some mild side stuff! So that strange cow you meet back at the Emerald Grove is here as well. Initially, I discovered that this cow was actually a slime-like creature who posed as a animal, wanting to live a life as a farm beast. While I was able to kill it...Dammon got killed after the fact because the MOTHERFUCKER DECIDED TO RUN INTO THE SHADOW CURSED LANDS AND CAME BACK AS AN UNDEAD THE STUPID FU-

Speaking of Dammon! Because we found him again, I immediately had him provide an upgrade to Karlach's infernal machine. Not only that, but he also provided a flaw Infernal Armor (heavy armor so I can't wear it) and said that they could provide more like it in the future. Pero was also able to speak with a few Tieflings who survived the attack and learned that not every Tiefling refugee was slaughtered, as some of them were kidnapped and sent to Moonrise Towers. Although Pero promises to go find these missing individuals, Pero is filled with mild guilt, Especially when Rolan starts placing blame of Pero for the reason why his friends/family got killed or kidnapped.

Pero also met Raphael again! Before going forward, Astarion asked Pero that if they happen to run into Raphael that he be there to speak with him. Pero was at first worried that Astarion has made his decision to take up Raphael on his deal, but this is actually the part that Pero learns about his scar since she didn't start a romance with him. Little side rant, but goddamn Larian really utilizing the fact that Astarion is one of the favored companion in BG3, because they didn't need to strip him down like that lmao. Now in all honesty, this half nudity isn't necessarily for fan service reasons since it relates to the scars on his back, and HOW ELSE are they gonna show it without taking his shirt off...BUT GODDAM-

Pero also finally got her dance with Wyll as she initially watched him perform alone before joining him. Pero rolled a Nat 1 on her performance, which sounds very on par for Pero lmao. This is also the part where Pero could establish a relationship with Wyll, but I decided for Pero to face away from him. Gotta keep the harem strong bby!

Before we end this chapter in Pero's story. We gotta get on Astarions ass again. Pero and Astarion have a brief conversation together about the parasite. Astarion believes that Pero has potential and that embracing the powers of the tadpole could further this. Astarion continues to bring back in the possibility that they could control the tadpole, which is something Pero discouraged...But then this man had to say this!

Now, from what Pero has seen and experienced: The dream Guardians' powers are seemingly wanning, probably due to the fact that she herself hasn't consumed a single parasite. The Tieflings were killed and some of them were kidnapped, and while that was out of her control, the guilt is getting to her. Then there's Pero's desire to just save her friends, not so much from the parasite itself, but from their own personal fuck ups. Wyll and his pact with Mizora, Gale and this netherese shard within him, Astarion and his relationship with Cazador, Karlach and this infernal machine that might even burn her to a crisp. All of this that has happened practically all at once for Pero is starting to weigh on her and her desire to simply help people is making things worse.

Then Astarion decided to, intentionally or not, play with this fact and use it against her by suggesting that these Mindflayer powers could potentially help her not only destroy the evil it's causing, but also help her friends and those around her. Now, she has no one else to look to for why this is a possible bad idea than Wyll. Wyll got himself into a pact all because HE wanted to help people so badly and didn't know where to start and how to be powerful enough to do it. And he never regretted ever getting into the pact. And while Pero should be able to ascertain that based on the experiences of her peers, she is a emotional person and has a bleeding heart.

The next time we find a parasite...She might be tempted to eat one.

[jynxd]

Continued from here @shimmerbeasts

What the young Ravengard did not know, in this case scenario, would put him at a disadvantage. For example, Silco was aware of everything at any given point, had to be. As such he easily noticed when their vampire rogue had made his way to higher ground. Somewhere, in which he could be there in the blink of an eye.

The cambion always was well aware of how the party was on full defense, despite the fact that himself made no attempt to attack. “Trust me, child of Vlaakith, I am well aware of your culture.” Was all he said in regard as Lae’zel went ignored. “And really? Are you so lowly that you would attack an unarmed man? One who hasn’t even raised a hand towards you?”

Silco shook his head at their audacity. Followed by a chuckle, knowing they had no idea to whom they were against. For he wasn’t just a fiend, or some low rank devil. As the son of Asmodeus, his power long trumped the likes of even Mizora. “But I see, much like those around you. It is violence that calls to you, even when it’s unwarranted. It’s a shame, I expected more of the Blade of Frontiers. I thought you better.” The cambion spoke once more into Wyll's mind as he glanced up to the exact spot in which Astarion was positioned. "It seems I will have to teach you a lesson, now won't I?"

With the snap of a finger, Silco disappeared from his spot close to Wyll and reappeared beside Astarion. "Take that arrow and shoot that gith in the shoulder, and once you're done, stab yourself in the knee with another. Oh, and if your leader doesn't back down? Twist it and scream loud for me." One of his many gifts was mind control and he did it well, and in this case with strong conviction, making it impossible for Astarion to succeed in any attempt to fight off his influence. Of course he could see the vampire's efforts to try, only for them to fail. Should he continue to fight, he found find his head feeling like it was splitting apart.

Silco watched with pleasure as the Astarion did exactly as he commanded. The scream in which the arrow pierced his knee was satisfying to hear, even if the other arrow had not hit lae’zel where he wanted, but still hit her arm Then with the same ease as he before, he once more reappeared next to Wyll. He didn't waste a moment as his eyes found the cleric, the former in which had served Shar. "And you, on your knees, now. Do not stand until I tell you too."

Ever the patient being that he was Silco waited until Shadowheart was on her knees before he finally returned his attention to both Lae'zel and Wyll. There was a flash of red in his eyes for a moment, a sign of malice before he wore a much softer, polished smile. "You misunderstand my intentions, young pup. I'm merely here to introduce myself and you great me with such ill tidings."

He placed his hands behind his back, waiting patiently for Wyll to fully understand the gravity of he situation. " We wouldn't anything to happen to your friends, after all. Now would we?" As a final act Silco, fixated on Lae'zel giving one command in her mind. 'Hold your sword to your cleric's neck.'

[bleachanimefan1]

Hallowed Fangs Part 6

The Blighted Village,

Vex and the others crossed the stone bridge to find multiple bodies lying on the ground in front of the village. It was a massacre. "Dead goblins. And dead travelers." They began looting the bodies for anything useful and found some gold and healing potions and some food. As they approached the entrance, Astarion noticed something. It was quiet. Too quiet. There was not a soul in the village.

"This feels like a trap waiting to happen." He murmured. Vex slowly walked in and she heard someone calling out.

"Git over there. Surround them, like." She turned her head to see a masked goblin on top of the rooftop, horribly hidden.

"I know you're there. Show yourselves." She said. The goblin growled and stood up, looking down at Vex and the rest of the party. "You spotted us. Good. 'S like they say. No fun in skewering a pig what doesn't know he's cooked."

"There will be skewering happening here. Now let me pass." Vex warned, with a little more malice. The goblin laughed and smirked.

"We got you surrounded. Here's how this goes-you take one step further an' we'll fill your front with arrows. Or you turn around an' your backside gets the same treatment." He gestured to more goblins who were standing on rooftops, their arrows aimed ready to fire. Vex turned back to the goblin.

"Stand down. Now." She ordered. Suddenly, there was a pulsating feeling in her head. It felt like something bit down on her brain. The goblin's eyes widen for a second before he bowed his head and quickly put away his weapon.

"You're a True Soul. Everyone stand down." He called out to the others, ordering them to stand down. Vex blinked in confusion, wondering what just happened. She controlled the goblin's mind, making him do what she wanted. This could be useful.

"So, the tadpole gives us the ability to influence others. How very interesting." Astarion smirked.

"Ignore it. Deny it. This is nothing but a disease. And every use will sicken us further." Lae'zel frowned.

"Nonsense. Any power freely given is a power well-received. And this is a very valuable power indeed." Astarion insisted.

"It's only valuable if we understand it. And we do not, not yet at least." Shadowheart spoke.

"Such powers of manipulation could be useful. And if it makes our enemies more malleable, all the better." Vex told them.

"My point exactly. I'm so glad you agree." Astarion smiled. The party walked into the village while avoiding some goblins patrolling the streets. 

"Why are we not killing them?" Astarion asked Vex.

"Do you want to be swarmed? We don't know how many there are, and I don't think we're prepared enough to take on a horde." She told him. Vex managed to gather up some fish from a wagon and led the group to the right side of the village to find a goblin sleeping on the ground, completely drunk and out cold. She turned to Astarion.

"Here's your chance."

"Thank you for letting me take the first swing, my dear." He smirked, causing Vex to blush. He walked over to the goblin and pulled out his knife and lunged a hit, killing it in one blow. Then Vex noticed up ahead there was a barn and walked over to it, the rest of the group followed behind her.

As Vex approached closer, a guttural scream and a succession of quick bangs rattle the door. A low moan. Someone-or something-is having a bit of fun. Vex was about to reach for the knob to open it when Shadowheart stopped her.

"Leave it. Whoever's inside doesn't want an audience and I don't want a fight." Shadowheart said. Vex ignored her and opened the door anyways.

"Ohh..." Vex's eyes widened and so did everyone else when they saw a bugbear and an ogre having sex. The bugbear noticed them and quickly pulled off, covering himself.

"What-What in the hells are you doing?" He shouted, furiously. Vex laughed a little.

"You were making a lot of noise-I wanted to join the fun." She replied. 

"Ruined! Smash!-I'LL SMASH YOU!" The ogre growled and stood up and the two began to attack the group. Astarion pulled out his bow and fired it at the bugbear. Vex pulled out her sword and landed a swing on the bugbear's body, killing it. Shadowheart fired a firebolt at the ogre. The ogre growled and pulled out her club and slammed it down on Vex barely missing her, hitting the ground. Vex lost her balance and was knocked off of her feet. The ogre was about to attack again, aiming for Vex. Lae'zel quickly pulled out her sword and jumped into the air, slicing down on the ogre. The ogre stumbled back a little. Shadowheart quickly rushed over to Vex, pulling her up. "Are you alright?" She asked Vex while she healed Vex.

"I'm fine. This one's going to be a bit difficult." Vex said. Astarion fired more arrows at the ogre, landing some blows. Vex grabbed her sword and charged at the ogre, delivering the final blow and sliced down. The ogre fell to the ground with a thud, dead.

"I never thought I would walk in on a bugbear and ogre, like that." Vex chuckled. Astarion laughed with her as well.

"Let's put it behind us. Far behind us." Shadowheart sighed.

The group continued to search around the village until they heard someone screaming. A survivor! Vex rushed towards the sound and the others followed behind her. They saw a windmill and spinning on it, tied to one of the sails was a gnome. There were several goblins gathered around watching the show and cheering. One of them noticed Vex approaching. "Look what we got here. Another little birdie wantin' to fly!"

"Stop this thiiing!" the gnome cried out, begging for the party to help him.

"Flap those wings some more, an' I'll feed you a worm!" the goblin laughed then turned to Vex. "An' you, hope you got a stomach for heights!"

"What in the hells are you doing?" Vex demanded.

"What's it bloody look like? We're teaching this'ere pipsqueak to fly!" the goblin smirked.

"Release this gnome at once." Vex ordered.

"You want this little cave lurkin' wotsit? Find your own! He's ours!" the goblin shouted.

"All of you lot against one deep gnome? You should find a better target." Vex smirked. The goblin hummed for a minute thinking.

"I reckon we can do better than this runt. We're leaving!" He ordered. One of the goblins hesitated.

"But what about the gnome? I thought we were going to bring him to-" He asked confused before the leader cut him off.

"I said, we're leaving! There's plenty of spoils to be found around here!" The goblins quickly disbanded and Vex quickly ran towards the windmill, running inside. There must be a break lever somewhere. She found it and pulled the lever, the lever and the windmill came to a slowing halt, stopping.

"Cut me loose!" The gnome shouted. Vex walked back outside, meeting with the others, looking up at the gnome, who was still tied to the sail.

"What's in it for me?" Vex asked. The gnome frowned, struggling to break free from the ropes.

"Free me and find out." He told her and Vex quickly cut him loose. The gnome dropped to the ground with a plop. "Those pustulent thugs! Well-get on with it." He looked up at Vex.

"I freed you. A little compensation would be nice." She told him.

"As expected. Coercion by the book. Take my pack if you find it. The only reason those goblins caught me was its weight. I'll travel lightly from now on." The gnome sighed and ran off, leaving the group. The party checked a bunker underneath the windmill and found the gnome's pack that the goblins had stolen. Inside it was a poisoned arrow, some apples, gold and bread.

Everyone walked back to the village center and walked past a well, heading to a house that was in ruin. They could hear three voices booming in laughter and saw three large ogres, munching down on their victory on some unfortunate Tiefling. One was bad enough, but three?! There was no way they could take them down all at once. Then Vex began to have a plan. She stepped out from their hiding place, heading towards the three giants. Shadowheart tried to stop her, while Astarion and Lae'zel followed behind Vex wondering what she was planning.

"Taste like chicken!" One of the ogres laughed.

"No chicken! Taste like fish!" Another one shouted.

"Gentlemen, contain yourselves. This quarrel sours our feast. Besides-taste like pork! And what surprise is this? Brothers, look here. I have eyed yet another prize. Fortune favors our bellies!" The leader spoke before he noticed Vex walking over to them. "Stranger; be you friend or food? The mark is Her measure: show us the brand of the Absolute."

"I'll do you one better-I'm one of the Absolute's chosen disciples." Vex spoke. The ogre blinked, before sighing in disappointment.

"Indeed? How regrettable, that your meat must go unsavoured."

"Food?" the second ogre ask.

"Food?" the other one asked as well.

"Not food. Friend!"

"I've seen few other ogres in these parts." Vex spoke. "What's your name?"

"Lump. We follow the scents of blood and gold to all lands fertile, friend.  And this land proves particularly...fruitful."

"I noticed that you don't bear a brand of your own." Vex said.

"I've no use for the Absolute-or any god. I follow to master only; gluttony and greed. The goblins understand my appetites. They state my hunger for gold...and the rest state my hunger for meat." Lump told her.

"Boss goblin gives gold. We check brand. Good deal!" The second ogre smiled.

"Forget the goblins you should be fighting for me." Vex suggested. Astarion, Lae'zel and Shadowheart stared at Vex in shock.

"I am by all accounts a student of higher commerce and extortion. Make me an offer. Tempt me." Lump pressed, waiting for Vex's answer.

"I'll pay you the flesh of the fallen-you'll have your fill." Vex told him.

"A brilliant notion and a boon to my aching belly. We have a deal, my tasty kibble! Take my bonehorn. One blow and the ground will quake with my family name. Use it when the need arises and never moment before." Lump handed Vex his horn. Vex stared down at it and cringed a little in disgust seeing some pieces of meat still sticking on the end and Vex took it from him.

"Thanks! I'll call when I need you!" She smiled.

"That actually worked!?" Astarion, Shadowheart and Lae'zel stared in shock looking at Vex.

"Ogre kill everyone around! Then ogre eats them!" one of the ogres shouted, excitedly.

"Well spoken. Indeed, ogre's kill everyone around." Lump spoke and turned to Vex. "We will keep close. When you're ready sound the horn."