#Thief!Zari

[threerattsinatrenchcoat]

Salazon Reference

Overall:

Zhentarim wizard found booby-trapping the surface entrance to a Zhentarim hideout in Waukeen's Rest. He is initially intimidated by the player character (he thinks they're a Fist) and tries to sneak up on them, but warms up quickly.

Sal is the demolitions expert, according to dev notes. Presumably he is the one who masterminds the oil and smokepowder around the Zhent hideout, and the one who is meant to detonate it (he readies firebolt if threatened)

The dev notes also describe him as starting off panicked, frantic, nervous, etc, the (once you're friends) as chummy, sheepish.

Also, there's cut/bugged content around him. If you save Rugan and do not take the shipment, Rugan was supposed to show up in act 3 and tell you the rest of the group was framed and hung for the kidnapping of Duke Ulder.

Doesn't want to fight/die:

'Little serpent, long shadow.' Don't want to die. 'Little serpent, long shadow.' Just say it! - says this if you read his mind before giving the passcode. Dev notes say, "Frantically repeating this over and over in his mind - it's a pass phrase he is repeating in his head, willing us to say it so he doesn't have to fight"

B-burn, bastard! Zarys! / ZARYS, HELP! - says if a fight breaks out. Dev notes here say, "Now he's panicking and setting off a detonation" and "Calling to his boss for protection like a child"

If the player character tells him to wait, he freezes and waits

According to the BG3 wiki, he doesn't become hostile if you fight the Zhents in the basement

Dev note: "Frightened and pretending not to be, hearing us out. He doesn't want to fight really."

Compartmentalizes:

Apologies for, er, trying to kill you before. (Dev notes say, "Sheepish - he tried to blow you up a minute before, but knows you're a friend now and is glad you survived")

You're a friend of the family now. Just as well I didn't blow you up, eh? (Dev notes say, "Chummy - he was ready to kill you just a few moments before but knows you're an ally now")

Gah, Helm's orbs. Thought you were Flaming Fist. (Dev notes say, "He goes from jumpy to relieved - we know the pass phrase so he won't have to get in a fight")

Still a criminal (noting because I'm so tempted to write him as secretly uwu good, haha)

The player character can show him a rouge hand-sign for "profit" and he recognizes it and trusts you

Dev notes: "Realising we're from a similar criminal organisation - trusting us slightly more, but only about as much as one thief ever trusts another"

Better to the fire than the Fist - dev notes say, "He's sad to be leaving valuables behind, but he knows he's going to burn them rather than give them over to a rival faction"

If you free Rugan from Zarys, Sal will say, "He's legging it! After him!"

Misc:

If you convince him to let you in to trade, he say, "I'm sure Zarys won't turn down a deal." He's wrong, she will turn it down if you don't persuade her.

Phrases:

ain't - "That ain't the pass phrase!" "Your timing ain't the best"

--, then

Right, look --

be about it

Let's say --

All right, --

--, didn't I?

--, I hope

Stupid thing to do sober.

Insults: None

Compliments:

Friends

Curses/Exclamations:

Bugger

Helm's orbs

Ilmater's broken bones - "What in Ilmater's broken bones are you doing here?"

Bloody

Placeholders:

Gah

er

eh?

[maraalyy]

we don’t ask for much but if we were to ask anything we would ask for a lifetime more of memories. i know we all would love more time however, time is a thief.

please keep our dearest doll ( @celestia-enchantress ) in your thoughts,, she lost a piece of her heart yesterday .. and as for the rest of us we lost a dear friend.

may you rest in eternal comfort and continue to take care of us from the skies above Vincent.

Doll had bigger and better plans..

I had more fun facts to tell you..

Eden needed a father figure for longer than that..

Zari needed someone to poot on..

Sol.. well.. sol just wanted to sex you,, must be happy that you’re free from that huh V??

you may not be with us anymore but you shall live on within our hearts and minds for as long as eternity allows. thank you for accepting our dear friend and us for who we are.

Long Live Vincent

[st0r-fruit]

thoughts (and hcs) on cs after watching the finale

the finale feels so off, its so short. the vile's faculties attempt to escape feels ooc

they didint show carmen's mom's face!! NOT EVEN REVEALED HER GIVEN NAME---

shoudve been one hour long

hcs and general thoughts

WHY IS EVERYONE SO HOT

Crackle??? ermh *twirls hair*

SHADOWSAN GAHDAM

ROUNDABOUT KINDA...

LUPE???? MOMMY--- I MEAN

THE CHOCOLATE MAFIA BOSS IN GERMANY- AAAA---

carmen too ngl

ivy too

player is baby

im convinced now by that one (1) fanart that player is devineux's nephew and no you cannot change my mind

i like to think troll is roundabout's nephew who still lives with his parents

like imagine

"...uncle." "nephew."

also since there is no indonesian thief i made an oc and im making spinkick indonesian you cant stop me

i love player and shawdosan's bond

i really think shadowsan deeply respect player since he usually carries the mission by giving intel shadowsan gets that.

edit: ALSO i forgot to mention im willing to bet Agent Zari is Chief's daughter

[my-favourite-zhent]

New Tricks - Chapter 3

Status: Work In Progress

Version: 2.01

Pairing: Rugan x AFAB!OC

Rating: NC-17 (This chapter PG-13)

Genre: Adventure/Romance

Summary:

Beware of an old man in a profession where men usually die young. Being the Southern Deliveries Manager for the Baldur's Gates Zhentarim is not an easy job. Between mentoring new recruits, juggling vicious coworkers and whip-cracking bosses, bandits are the least of Rugan's troubles. An encounter with a charming stranger on the job serves to only complicate his life all the more.

Notes:

Version 2.0 of Chapter three, I've migrated the old ending of Chapter two here as well as tweaked the dialogue to be a bit more in character.

Thank you to @dustdeepsea for proof-reading and sanity checking the rewrites of this chapter. They wrote the most excellent Zarys fic performance review

And thank you to @captainsigge for sanity checking. She is author of Vera Við Aldr a cute and funny Tav x Rugan one-shot.

Table of Contents

Read on AO3 here or below the cut.

New Tricks - Chapter Three

While it was true they were acting as security for tonight’s party, the Zhents were not entirely above reproach. There were still the duke’s usual guards to contend with, and certain sections of the estate that were considered off limits, the top floor of the tower was one such place. With this in mind, the trio timed their approach for the changing of the guard, slipping past their posts to the top level without incident.

Olly took up a position on one end of the long corridor, Bellar on the other; their target lay in one of the rooms on the north side.

Carefully Rugan went down the doors one by one, the tablets they were searching for were said to be in an office in this section of the building. On the third door he found it and made a quick gesture to the other two to indicate as such. They nodded their heads in understanding and he slipped inside, quietly shutting the door behind him.

It was a moderate sized office, at least by noble standards, though to Rugan it was quite grand. The room was perhaps four times the size of his room back at the Gate. A cool night breeze ruffled some papers on the desk at the far side of the room. He thought it peculiar that the staff had left a window open overnight.

Just then, he heard the creaking of a hinge. He ducked behind a bookcase instinctively and searched for the source of the sound. A hidden passageway perhaps? But no, he realised one of the windows on the northside was a transom, and a dainty foot was leveraging it open.

He observed quietly as the window was opened fully and a second foot joined the first, before a whole figure came swinging in through the opening. 

There was a soft thud as the woman in green landed on the floor in a roll. Had she swung in from the roof?

Rugan stared disbelieving for a moment before stepping from the shadows to grab her roughly by the wrist, other hand clamping over her mouth to smother the expected scream. The woman did give a small yelp of surprise but thankfully not as loud as he had been expecting.

“I thought I told you the tower was off-limits.” His voice was low and threatening as he removed his hand from her mouth.

She stared at him wide-eyed for a moment, completely caught off guard by his presence. The woman was panting from effort but quickly found her composure.

“It's off-limits to you as well I'm certain.” Her whole body was tensed and no doubt her blood was rushing from that little display of acrobatics. Her voice however, while low, was even and confident.

“Says who?”

“Says the unlit candles, says the fact you didn't want anyone to hear me scream. And most damning of all: You're. Still. Whispering.”

“That right?” He arched a brow, trying to bluff, after all she was just guessing. “Maybe I'm here to catch a thief, wouldn't want her getting spooked. And if she's got a little sidekick waiting in the wings? Wouldn't want them to get spooked either.”

“Shall I test my theory then? Give a little scream and see who comes running? Maybe I can tell them that you dragged me in here.”

‘Impudent little thing.’ He thought.

“There's no need for that now. It's my men that are outside the door, you'll be dead before the duke’s staff even get up the stairs.”

“And you'll be caught red-handed.”

He couldn't argue that point. 

“Just what is it you're after anyways little sneak-thief?” He still held her wrist tightly in his grasp, and while her outward demeanour was calm he could feel her quickened pulse. She was afraid and rightly so, a Zhent’s crosshairs was not a good place to be.

“Same as you, I’d wager. The runic tablets.” 

“You're supposed to be the competition?” He chuckled. “No offence, lass; but you don't look like much.”

She scowled and jut out her chin defiantly. “I think I liked you better downstairs.”

“Aw come now, I didn't mean it like that. It's just that I doubt you could take me in a fight. Still happily give you another kiss. Don't want you leaving completely empty handed.”

“And why should I leave empty handed? I'll wager you haven't even found them yet.”

“I'll find them soon enough, which means there'll be nothing left for you.”

“I don't need the physical tablets, I only need to copy the glyphs. Our goals are not mutually exclusive.” She gestured to the tubular purse strapped across her back, it somewhat resembled an archer's quiver. Rugan also noticed for the first time that her party shoes were dangling from her belt. Of course, can't scale a tower in such delicate footwear.

Rugan released her wrist and motioned to her pack intrigued. “Alright then, show me.”

Carefully she slid the bag off her shoulder and pulled out its contents. Long scrolls of blank parchment that had been rolled tightly as well as some thin pieces of charcoal.

“Very clever.” He was genuinely impressed. “Now we've just got to find the damn things.”

“We?” She asked, eyebrow raising.

“Well, no sense in being oppositional if we can both get what we want.” More like, no harm in letting the girl do some of the leg work for him. She certainly had the legs for it.

The woman eyed him for a moment, trying to gauge whether or not this was some sort of trap. She licked her lips apprehensively before nodding. “Alright. I doubt he's put it somewhere out in the open, but they must be in this room where his Netherese linguistics collection resides. That is, if he truly means to study them.”

“Sure, linguistics, of course.” Rugan nodded along, Zarys hadn't given him any details about the job aside from the fact that the tablets would be in this room. No reason she had to know that though.

The woman stared at him for a long moment and he realised she had already seen right through him. After a beat he gave a resigned sigh. “Alright, what should we be looking for exactly ?”

She shook her head, but seemed amused. “Look for anything regarding Jergal, the Netherese or Nakasr. He probably kept it close at hand.”

“Right, death gods and dead people, got it. I'll take the east side, you take the west.”

The pair split up and began canvassing the bookshelves from opposite sides of the room.

Rugan could feel his eyes glaze over as he read over the various titles— Volo’s guide to monsters; Cormanthor: War amidst the trees; Myth Drannor, City of Songs —oh, hello there, it's the Quarta Sune . He was running his finger along the spine when he heard her hiss.

“Zhent, over here.” 

Following the sound of her voice he found her kneeling in front of a section of wood panelling.

“See these seams on either side? It doesn't match the rest of the wall. And those books there on the side table are all in Netherese.” Rugan glanced at where she was pointing and sure enough all the titles were entirely unintelligible to him.

“It's got to be this panel but it's jammed, I can't seem to pry it open.” 

“Stand aside then, I'll take a crack at it.”

She scuttled back onto a rug and Rugan slipped his fingers under the top lip of the panel. With a grunt of effort he tugged, there was a popping sound and the whole thing swung open like a door. Behind it, embedded in the wall was an iron safe.

“We make a good team, the brains and the brawn,” he remarked.

“Not just the brains, I'm also the beauty.” She smirked at him.

“I'll fight you for that title, lass.” Rugan noted her smile as he bent down in front of the safe.

“I've some picks.” She reached back into her bag when he waved her off.

“No need, you're not the only one who came well supplied.” 

He retrieved the ring of keys from his back pocket and began examining them. One in particular was smaller than the rest, it slotted into the hole with ease and made a satisfying click when turned.

Sure enough there were five long clay tablets inside the safe which he gingerly removed and placed on the floor. “Ladies first.”

She blinked at him surprised but quickly leaned over to examine them. “Hmm they're just clay pressings.”

“Will that be a problem?”

“No the glyphs are perfect copies since this was pressed against the originals. I was just hoping to see something Netherese in person.”

“You sound more like a wizard than a thief.”

“Perhaps I missed my calling.” She placed one of her slips of paper over top the clay and began rubbing the piece of charcoal over top. Sure enough the glyphs appeared as inverted copies. They sat in comfortable silence as she made not one but two copies of every tablet. 

One bundle she rolled carefully into her pack, the other she tied with a loose bit of string and handed to him. “Here.”

“What do I need these for if I have the tablets?”

“You don't want those. If it has been the real stones, sure, good money for Netherese relics but it's just a copy. No value outside the glyphs.”

Rugan accepted the bundle and paused to consider. Zarys had asked for the tablets specifically but he doubted she had many details on why they were wanted, otherwise she’d have shared that information. Besides she did say they didn't want the Zhentarim implicated in this job. No implications to be made if technically no crime had been committed.

“Let's say I believe you. Just remember it's not wise to cross the Zhentarim.”

“Cross you? Come now I've been perfectly amicable.”

“More than.” He stared at her meaningfully. A smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he watched the blush creep up her cheeks. “Still got that kiss for you, lass, if you’d like.”

She gazed back a long moment before patting the rug. “C’mere then zhent.”

Rugan moved to kneel in front of her, one calloused hand gently tucking her hair behind her ear before gliding down to palm her cheek. She tilted her head up to meet him as he lowered his own, his kiss hot and rough and agonisingly slow. When they finally parted her lids were heavy, chest panting softly.

“Did you mean to climb back down the tower?” He asked at length, his voice low and husky.

“I did.” 

“I wouldn't chance it, not without a proper rope, at least.”

“Are you offering to hoist me down?” She smiled at him lazily.

“I could convince my men to let you pass down the stairs. For a fee o f course .”

“A shakedown? You villain. Where would I even hide any coin in this flimsy thing?” Rugan enjoyed the way her mouth formed in a mock pout and idly imagined what else those lips might do.

“Perhaps there are other valuables on your person.”

“Feel free to search me.” Her voice was teasing and inviting.

Slowly, he slipped the sleeve of her gown off her shoulder so that one breast was exposed to him, its peak stiffening in the cool night air. 

Grasping her shoulder he lowered his mouth to her chest. Her skin smelled of soap and wine. Rugan laved his tongue across its point, her low moans providing ample encouragement. 

Suddenly three sharp raps came at the door, startling them both.

“Hurry up in there, the next change is soon.” Came Bellar’s hiss.

Rugan gave a sigh of disappointment, reluctantly he pulled away before fixing her sleeve.

“I was hoping to perform a more thorough investigation.”

“Pity that. I do like to see a professional at work.”

With another sigh Rugan moved to return the tablets to the safe. Carefully locking it and closing the panel. The girl in turn put away her remaining supplies and slung the pack over her shoulder, rising to her feet.

“Have we forgotten anything?”

“The window, I promised I’d shut it when I left.”

“Promised who?”

“A girl has her secrets.”

He quietly swung it closed and locked it in place while she put her shoes back on.

“Here.” She retrieved his bundle from the floor as he turned back to her. Rugan unrolled the papers and instead carefully folded them and slipped them under the leather of his chest piece.

“Right then, we’re off.” 

+++++

“What the nine hells took you so long?” Bellar hissed when the door to the office finally swung open.

“Not to worry, got the job sorted.” 

He patted the breast of his leather jerkin where the papers were folded and tucked away. Behind him slipped out a small woman in a green dress.

“Rugan!” Came Olly's scandalised cry.

“How did you even manage this?” Bellar shook his head.

“Keep your voices down, will you?”

“I do not jest when I say Zarys is gonna take your balls off.” 

“Whatever for? I'm just helping a lost party guest find her way .”

“I'm sure.”

“Listen, who's in charge here? Because last I checked it was me. The jobs finished, and we've done a little creative problem solving, is all.”

“How’s it you're the one in charge, yeah?”

“It's called seniority, mate.”

“If it's all the same to you,” came the woman's voice from behind Rugan's shoulder. “I think I'll just climb back out the window.”

“Don't be silly, lass.” Rugan gently grasped her wrist as she reached for the door handle. “You'll come down with us, and the lads will be on their best behaviour.” He looked at Bellar rather pointedly when he said this last bit.

“Yeah, yeah.” Came Bellar's exasperated response, arms crossed. “Come on then, saer.”

+++++

They made their way out of the tower without incident. 

“Do you need to go find your date?” His interest was entirely logistical. Entirely.

“Hah, better he remains lost, and better for me to get off the grounds before anyone asks questions about my pack.”

“Would you like an escort?”

“Escorting the escort?” She teased, before pausing to consider, lips pressed tight together. “If you could get me to the outer keep I'd appreciate it.”

Rugan held out his arm for her and she took it readily.

“Here then, lad.” Rugan tossed the ring of keys and Olly caught it deftly. “Make sure that gets put back before it's missed.”

“Sure Rugan.”

“I'll see that the lady gets off the property safely. Let's meet back at the main house.”

“Will do.” Olly nodded before sprinting off towards the kitchens. 

Bellar rolled his eyes and walked off muttering something about professionalism and a proper time and place.

+++++

“Your friend seemed a bit displeased.” She said when they were out of earshot.

“Ah, he's cautious when it comes to our boss. It'll be fine.”

They reached the inner gate with ease and Rugan insisted on escorting her the rest of the way.

“You're rather chivalrous for a mercenary. Not planning to kill me once I'm over the wall are you?”

“And bloody up my good shirt?” His voice raised in faux alarm. “No lass, you're safe with me. I should warn you though,” he spun her roughly before pinning her by her wrists to the outer wall. “It’s certainly not chivalry that guides my hand..”

She leaned closer to brush her lips against his. Rugan accepted the invitation and crushed her mouth in an eager press of flesh. The girl was soft and pliant. When she parted her lips Rugan was greeted by a darting tongue. He released her wrists only to roughly grasp her waist and seat her on his hips. She took to this new position readily, grasping his shoulders as she ground against him. Rugan broke from her lips to close his mouth over the flesh of her neck, revelling in the sounds her newly freed mouth made. 

He wondered how much time they had when his thoughts were interrupted by a cacophony of bells. It was a signal to mark the end of the party.

“What sort of ponce has his own bell tower?” Rugan grumbled and the girl laughed in response.

“It's my fault, bad luck tends to follow me around.”

“I rather thought this was a fortuitous encounter, interruptions notwithstanding.”

Reluctantly he eased her down and stepped back, though he found himself reaching to grasp her hand in his.

“Would you like a boost over the wall?”

“No need, there's a hole behind that shrub.” She gestured to it with a nod of her head.

Rugan barked out a short laugh. “Well that's a bit of a security risk. How long's that been there?”

“Oh it took me about a month to get it big enough, but I only finished last ten-day.”

“You're a strange one lass, would've been easier to just leave with your date.”

“No harm in having a contingency plan. Besides, you've met my date.”

Reluctantly he released her hand and she moved to push aside some branches. Sure enough there was an opening in the stone wall where some bricks had been removed. The woman stepped in before turning to regard him. 

“It was nice working with you, Zhent.”

“Aye, lass.”

She smiled and with a rustle of branches she was gone.

Rugan sighed wistfully before turning to make his way back to the main house.

+++++

“Un-bloody-believable.” Bellar shook his head as Rugan approached.

“What? No one bat an eye about how Olly got the keys.”

“Because Olly didn't tell the bloke what we were bloody doing with them. Be a bit different if he brought him up to witness nicking the damn things..”

“I actually did just ask him nicely.” Olly added quietly, though neither man was listening.

“First of all, I didn't bring her up there. Lass climbed in through the window.”

“Then you should’ve pushed her right back out, proper easy thing to do. In fact, let's head back over and I'll give ya a demonstration, yeah?”

“That might’ve attracted some attention, woman falling out a window.” Interjected Olly.

“Thank you, Olly.”

“Don't defend him Olly, worse than Brem, he is.”

“As I was saying,” Rugan's voice rose to cut over Bellar. “she helped me find the runes. So it all worked to our benefit.”

“And if she's a Harper spy?”

“She's not, trust me.”

“Bet that's what Brem thought too.”

“She's not ”

“You're right, more likely she's part of that Waterdhavian thieves guild been giving the local Zhents all sorts of grief. Xanathar’s crew, was it?”

Now this suggestion did give Rugan pause.

“Oi lookit this Olly! He didn't think of that before, did he? Our venerable leader.”

Olly did look distressed a tad distressed now.

“Alright, alright. Mayhaps there is a slim possibility that she's in such a guild. Nevertheless, we got what we came for. So let's all just keep mum about the details, yeah?”

“I'm no snitch.” Agreed Olly.

“Fine. S’your head if something goes wrong cuz of her though.”

Rugan put his hands up in a sign of acquiescence. “Agreed. Now if we can put the matter to rest, let's rejoin the others. Debrief’s bound to be soon.”

“Aye, lass.”

She smiled and with a rustle of branches she was gone.

Rugan sighed wistfully before turning to make his way back to the main house.

+++++

“Un-bloody-believable.” Bellar shook his head as Rugan approached.

“What? No one bat an eye about how Olly got the keys.”

“Because Olly didn't tell the bloke what we were bloody doing with them. Be a bit different if he brought him up to witness nicking the damn things..”

“I actually did just ask him nicely.” Olly added quietly, though neither man was listening.

“First of all, I didn't bring her up there. Lass climbed in through the window.”

“Then you should’ve pushed her right back out, proper easy thing to do. In fact, let's head back over and I'll give ya a demonstration, yeah?”

“That might’ve attracted some attention, woman falling out a window.” Interjected Olly.

“Thank you, Olly.”

“Don't defend him Olly, worse than Brem, he is.”

“As I was saying,” Rugan's voice rose to cut over Bellar. “she helped me find the runes. So it all worked to our benefit.”

“And if she's a Harper spy?”

“She's not, trust me.”

“Bet that's what Brem thought too.”

“She's not ”

“You're right, more likely she's part of that Waterdhavian thieves guild been giving the local Zhents all sorts of grief. Xanathar’s crew, was it?”

Now this suggestion did give Rugan pause.

“Oi lookit this Olly! He didn't think of that before, did he? Our venerable leader.”

Olly did look distressed a tad distressed now.

“Alright, alright. Mayhaps there is a slim possibility that she's in such a guild. Nevertheless, we got what we came for. So let's all just keep mum about the details, yeah?”

“I'm no snitch.” Agreed Olly.

“Fine. S’your head if something goes wrong cuz of her though.”

Rugan put his hands up in a sign of acquiescence. “Agreed. Now if we can put the matter to rest, let's rejoin the others. Debrief’s bound to be soon.”

[herrfivehead]

Pure Eldritch Knight (final itemization, feats, buffs, combat), or as I call it, "the martial-caster disparity doesn't exist"

thief build fiendlock build nature cleric build

Starting Stats: 17 STR 14 DEX 16 CON 8 INT 10 WIS 8 CHA

Fighting Style: Defense, nothing else is beneficial for a thrower build.

Quest-Sensitive Requirements: -Should hand over shipment chest to Zarys to be able to buy longbow from Brem (Lann Tarv sells this bow in act 2, but it's better to get it earlier) -Must Save Baelen from the bibberbang field to get gloves as reward -Must have Shadowheart kill Aylin for boots, armor, and spear -Must not have Selunite!Shadowheart in party in order to trade with Ferg for warhammer (of course, this won't be a problem if you've already killed Aylin)

Feats: -Tavern Brawler at level 4 (adds doubled STR mod to thrown attack rolls and damage output, increases STR from 17 to 18) -Ability Improvement at level 6 (increases STR from 18 to 20) -Alert at level 8 (+5 to initiative, cannot be surprised) -Ability Improvement at level 12 (Increases CON from 16 to 18)

Permanent Buffs: -+2 STR from Potion of Everlasting Vigor* -+2 STR from Mirror of Loss

*Acquiring this potion is often a poor narrative choice if you don't want to mistreat Astarion, especially if you're trying to romance him. The only reason I have chosen to acquire it is because I am playing an Astarion origin run, therefore biting Araj isn't a choice forced upon him by the player character.

Armor: -Grymskull Helm (Grants fire resistance, a free cast of Hunter's Mark per long rest, and enemies cannot land crits on wearer) -Fleshmelter Cloak (Deals 1d4 acid damage to enemies who hit wearer with close combat) -Dark Justiciar Half-Plate (Very Rare variety, grants Shar's Ageis and a free cast of Shield of Faith once per long rest, and advantage on stealth checks while obscured) -Gloves of Uninhibited Kushigo (Deals an extra 1d4 damage to thrown attacks) -Dark Justiciar Boots (Grants free cast of Shadow Teleportation once per short rest)

Jewelry: -Amulet of Misty Step (Grants free cast of Misty Step once per short rest) -Strange Conduit Ring (Weapon attacks deal 1d4 psychic damage as long as wearer is concentrating on a spell) -Ring of Flinging (Deals an extra 1d4 damage to thrown attacks)

Weapons: -Dwarven Thrower (Returning weapon, deals extra 1d8 bludgeoning damage if wielder is or is disguised as a dwarf)/Shar's Spear of Evening (Your EK's Bound weapon, makes wielder immune to blindness, gives advantage on saving throws while obscured, wielder can cast darkness every turn) -Iron-Banded Shield +1 (+3 AC, can be found in Moonrise Towers) -Titanstring Bow (Adds STR modifier to damage in addition to DEX)

To Keep in Inventory: Hunting Shortbow (If you're broken concentration on both Shar's Ageis from your armor and Hunter's Mark the Grymskull Helm, switch out Titanstring Bow with this to concentrate on Hunter's Mark again, therefore keeping the Strange Conduit Ring functional)

What a Turn of Combat Looks Like: -Eldritch Knights can learn Disguise Self, which is extremely useful for enjoying the extra benefits of the Dwarven Thrower. Best if cast before combat, as to not waste a turn, since it lasts all day and can be recast without wasting a spell slot. -Whether you use the warhammer or the spear depends on whether or not you have a party member wearing the Bhaalist Armor within 2m of the enemy you want to hit. Said armor inflicts piercing vulnerability, so if this is the case, use the spear. Otherwise, the warhammer will do significantly more damage. Since the spear is bound and the warhammer is returning, neither need to be equipped to be switched at will and can just be thrown straight out of your inventory. -By level 11, you get 3 attacks per turn, 6 if you decide to action surge. Your thrown attacks get 3d4 extra damage from your gloves and both your rings (2d4 if you've broken concentration on Shield of Faith or Hunter's Mark), as well as an extra 14 damage from your doubled STR modifier (12 if you decided against obtaining the Potion of Everlasting Vigour)

[fyeahcompetentwomen]

Elimination Round Group 2

This is the first of two elimination polls that I'll post today. The top three scorers in this group of 10 will get the three spots left in Group 2 of the bracket! This poll only goes one day, so vote quick!

Endorsement/blurbs under the readmore!

Vala Mal Doran, Stargate: Best thief in two galaxies? No in all seriousness people treat her like a joke but that’s how she protects herself. She was taken as a goa’uld host, forced to live with that trauma and rather than lying down she forged a life for herself which included saving the Galaxy a few times. Smart, good at reading people, good at adapting accordingly. She can fight, she can use and modify alien tech. More street smarts than book smarts but when people underestimate her she uses that too.

Erica Ortegas, Star Trek: They are a pilot. They have flown manually through asteroids and nebulas, without sensors. They have skimmed off black holes to slingshot. If they didn’t do evasive manoeuvres right everyone would die. They are driving the ship. That’s pretty critical. Bonus mention for sword skills in that fantasy nebula.

Dr. Julia Ogden, Murdoch Mysteries: She's Toronto's coroner in 1895, and helps solve many many murders. She also becomes a psychologist and a surgeon, and helps the suffragettes. As a woman, at the turn of the 20th century. She also learns to fight in many layers of dress

Naomi Nagata, The Expanse: There is nothing that this woman can't build, fix, or frankenstein. Also, she survived being thrown out of an airlock by knowing (better than the person who threw her out) what to do in the vacuum of space. She fights with all that she has, and leaves no one behind, and has the biggest heart and heaviest conscience of them all.

Garnet, Steven Universe: Garnet can see into the future! She leads the whole team! She can punch anything into submission AND throw in one-liners when you least expect them!

Death of the Endless, The Sandman: Death of the Endless is the anthropomorphic personification of the concept of death, and she is literally the best at her job, i.e. carrying, ferrying or otherwise welcoming souls of the dead to their chosen afterlife, colloquially known in Sandmanverse as the Sunless Lands. Her duty is everything to her and about her, though Death also adores her siblings equally, even if she's very busy all the time; as she put it most poetically, "When the first living thing existed, I was there waiting. When the last living thing dies, my job will be finished. I'll put the chairs on the tables, turn out the lights and lock the universe behind me when I leave." And her vibes are SO. FRICKIN. FUN.

Zari Tarazi, DC: Zari doesn’t need a superpower or combat training for success because she has social skills that rival next to none. She knows her femininity can cause people to underestimate her so she uses it to influence her way in to places most other heroes would need force to access. Her deep understanding of people has helped save the world more than once while running a successful business besides.

Allison Blake, A Town Called EUReKA: Allison was a Department of Defense agent working as a government liaison between Eureka and the Pentagon. She was once a medical doctor and has 2 PhDs. At one point she oversees the main laboratories of Eureka, at another she's Director of Operations for Global Dynamics.

Bad Wolf, Doctor Who: Controls all of time and space, makes Jack immortal, disintegrates the Dalek fleet, is the intelligence of The Moment and is always protecting the Doctor.

[asexual-fandom-queen]

Fanfic Writer 20 Questions

I was tagged by @nixie-deangel to do fanfic writer 20 questions, so let's dive in! Tagging @42wallaby-way-sydney @fatherofthebride @coldtomyflash to participate, if they are so inclined.

How many works do you have on AO3? 72

What's your AO3 word count? Just shy of 366,000

What fandoms do you write for? I started out doing most of my writing for The Flash/Arrowverse, but most recently have moved on to writing primarily for Stranger Things, Ted Lasso, 9-1-1, and Teen Wolf

What are your top five fics by kudos? 1. Turn And Face The Strange (Stranger Things, Stoncy) 2. All On The Line (9-1-1, Buddie) 3. Givin' Yourself to Me Can Never Be Wrong (The Flash, Coldflashwave) 4. Hands On Me (I Think I Wanna Let It Happen) (9-1-1, Buddie) 5. House Like a Homecoming (Stranger Things, Poly Monster Hunters)

Do you respond to comments? I do! I kinda never shut up about how important comments are to a fandom's ecosystem, so when I get them, I answer back!

What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? I don't usually end fics in full angst mode, but maybe the fic with the most bittersweet ending is Unfair. It's a SethKate (From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series) fic set in the aftermath of a sex pollen situation that leaves them both hurt and vulnerable. But there's still that nugget of hope, because they're hurt and vulnerable together.

What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? If I'm going for not just pure fluff factor, but how satisfying the happy ending is in the context of the rest of the fic/the source material, I would say Maybe We'll Get Forty Years Together which is a Jamie/Keeley/Roy future fic set during their wedding where Jamie has a chance to hash things out with his father.

Do you get hate on fics? Every once in a blue moon. I write a lot of polyships, and sometimes those polyships are an amalgamation of two sides of a ship war, and people have opinions about that lol. But generally, no.

Do you write smut? What kind? Sure do! I'd say it's what I write primarily. Generally, I write smut with feelings, or angsty smut. Sometimes it's definitely just smut for smut's sake though, which is also fun! I'm a big supporter of being horny on main.

Do you write cross-overs? I don't. The closest I've gotten is writing an AU based on another tv/show. I don't dislike them in principle, I've just never written one myself.

Have you ever had a fic stolen? Yes! Someone stole Taste of Your Lips (I'm On A Ride) and changed it from the original pairing of Zari/Amaya from Legends of Tomorrow to a Lauren/Camilla RPF and posted it on Wattpad. I'm very grateful to the person who messaged me on Tumblr to let me know, because the thief did take it down when I confronted them about it.

Have you ever had a fic translated? I have, and it's really cool to have been asked. My Buddie fic Exploration has been translated to Chinese.

Have you ever co-written a fic before? Not exactly. I was part of a multi-creator rewrite for season 2 of Legends of Tomorrow, which involved re-plotting and re-drafting as a group, so you could technically count Episode 2: Crisis and Faith.

What's your all-time favourite ship? I'm actually gonna have the dumbest answer for this question because it's a ship I've never written for, probably never will, and don't even really read, but it's Frank Castle and Karen Page from Daredevil/The Punisher. Their dynamic is just exactly what I want out of a ship. No notes.

What's a WIP you'd like to finish, but doubt you ever will? I have an Abby/Buck/Eddie fic that's on permanent hiatus that I almost certainly will never finish, especially because, in working on it, it started to splinter off a lot of ideas and dynamics and scenes I actually want to use for an original novel someday, so I don't see myself ever completing it. I would like to finish that novel though lol.

What are your writing strengths? I think I always feel most proud of my characterization being pretty on point, and I get enough comments to that effect that I don't think I'm just making that up. I also think I'm good at writing in small details that seem minor but make an impact.

What are your writing weaknesses? I fizzle out! I don't have good stamina to go back to something if it's gonna take me more than one sitting to write, which is why most of my stuff falls in the 2-4k range. I also lose steam without feedback and encouragement. My educational background is in creative writing, and I've been a long-time member of fandom, plus part of writer's groups even before then, so the idea of writing being a solitary thing is kinda wild to me.

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic? To each their own for this. For me, personally, I'll use a word or a very small sentence I'm reasonably confident is correct in a fic, but for longer sentences, I would write in English and just indicate it was said in another language in the dialogue tag. Plus, even if it was a language I do speak fluently like Frech, it doesn't mean readers do, so I think English is still the way to go.

First fandom you wrote for? So, if we're talking first fic ever, we have to go back to when I was five and six years old and I would make little "books" out of folded index cards where I'd write stories about Sailor Moon or Cardcaptors. My first fic on the Internet was back in my FF.net days, and it was a Kyoya/Haruhi fic for Ouran High School Host Club. My first fic on AO3 was actually a multi-chapter Sterek fic that was never completed and that I've since taken down. The oldest fic of mine you can still find posted on AO3 is a multi-chapter Coldflash fic We Could Keep Things Just The Same, the first chapter of which was posted on February 24th, 2016!

Favourite fic you've ever written? I still feel like I've never topped There's a Menace In My Bed; Can You See His Silhouette. There are some edits I might go back and make with my extra eight (EIGHT!?!) years of writing experience, but the core of what that fic accomplishes? The delicious angst? The emotional minefield of dubious consent/sex pollen/fuck-or-die? The smut as character study? The caretaking? This just hit on a lot of things I like, and I'm really proud of it even all these years later.

[crincher]

“Are you there yet?” Even through the tiny speaker of her phone, Ava can hear how excited Zari is.

“Yes, I’m about to go in,” Ava replies, her breath fogging in the cold evening air.

Zari lets out a high-pitched little sound and then exclaims, at a volume that makes Ava’s ear ring, “Go get your Christmas Cake thief, girl!”

A Christmas fic for AUgust day 3: writer

[pattysplaceofplaces]

I wish Zack was still multilingual like he was in the original. I think it would be neat if he was still goofy but had that skill since everyone on team red has a skill. Carmen’s a thief, Ivy’s a mechanic, and Player’s a hacker.

I wish they had kept the ACME agent Tatyana, when I was watching the original I loved her. She could work with agent Zari and they could have a good cop bad cop dynamic. Honestly I wish they kept a lot of the ACME agents from the original.

QUESTION

We love Carmen Sandiego, but i’m sure we have some parts we aren’t fond of. So tell me, what are the things you guys don’t like about it that you think could be fixed in CS5?

[nixie-deangel]

Smoaking CanaryZamayaWest, Leverage AU.

Publicists are like priests; you gotta tell them all your secrets.

[paastizzicreations]

Inspired by @caramel-sandiego ‘s post with an incorrect quote, after reading it I had to draw it

[breezykiwi14]

Asking the important questions today

Carmen: *gets held at gunpoint*

Also Carmen: *smirks* HeY JuLeS

[brookreader]

Chief: So, let me get this straight.

Chief: You were ALL aware that Agent Argent was dating Carmen Sandiego? This agency’s number one target?

Agents: *sheepish affirmative mumbling*

Chief: And NONE of you TOLD me?!

Agents:

Zari: In our defense, the marijuana brownies Julia makes are amazing.

Chief:

[carmen-crapdiego]

Zari: I dare you to kiss your crush for $100 or your enemy for $300.

Julia: I expect to see my $400 soon.

Zari: Wait wha-

Julia: *Goes to find Carmen* La Femme Rouge!

[twas-a-stormy-february-day]

The Legends of Tomorrow

Sara *voiceover*: My name is SARA LANCE and I am the captain of the Waverider. Our team was assembled by Rip Hunter.

RAY PALMER, the Atom, former CEO of Palmer Technologies. The genius and ray of sunshine of our team.

LEONARD SNART, Captain Cold, thief. Back from the Vanishing Point.

CASTIEL, an angel. I´m still getting used to that. He lost his grace, before the angels fell. He is still getting used to that.

ZARI TOMAZ, a hacker from a past future.

CHARLIE, a rebellious shapeshifter, on the run from fate.

MICK RORY, Heatwave, thief and writer Rebecca Silver. Snart is still getting used to that.

BEHRAD TARAZI, Zari´s brother from another timeline and part of firestorm. He shares the airtotem with Zari. Both of them.

NATE HEYWOOD, Steel, historian.

PROFESSOR MARTIN STEIN, physicist, and part of firestorm.

We are supported by:

JOHN CONSTANTINE, master of the dark arts.

RIP HUNTER, former captain and founder of the time bureau, who sometimes help and sometimes are a great pain in the ass.

We protect time (mostly). We are… the Legends.

[brookreader]

I mean, I can understand why some would feel that way, but, personally, as a Carulia shipper...

... idk, I’m satisfied (tumblr let me add more than 10 images challenge)

Carmen Sandiego’s fandom after season 4 :