#also I love the tiefling hands visually

[antiqua-lugar]

I love the Weave scene but the Bed scene is very intriguing to me personally because with the Tiefling excellent design in this game (just the right balance of Just A Person and demonic features) it does look a bit like Gale is gonna have a dalliance with the demon who will turn him away from God.

(I do think there is something to this interpretation because the framing and your character tending their hand to invite Gale in feels very intentional).

[pasta-in-the-pudding]

There is not enough gale x wizard!tav in the world (bonus points if they're a tiefling)

𝕀𝕥 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕤 𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕫𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕗𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕒 𝕨𝕚𝕫𝕒𝕣𝕕 <𝟛𝟛

ℂ𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕥𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕕𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕘𝕠𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕠 @𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕𝕘𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕘𝕣𝕒𝕡𝕙𝕚𝕔𝕤-𝕟-𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖! 𝔾𝕠 𝕗𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕦𝕡𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜!!

𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕤𝕠 𝕞𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘!!

@gayaristocrat

Gale x Wizard!Reader

While there are plenty of wizards in Faerun, it was a treat to have the constant company of one for months on end for Gale

After being completely isolated from anyone (except Tara) for a year, and suddenly being surrounded by strangers the second he escapes, Gale doesn't exactly find himself adjusting good to his newfound freedom

So upon discovering that you also practice sorcery, it makes him feel a bit more at ease knowing he has someone he can relate to even in the smallest sense

And this is how your friendship begins, bonding over small magic tricks (and this time he doesnt just pull out his cock 😒), trading different useful spells, and different tips and tricks you have picked up on your journeys

This leads you to become good friends, almost always seen chattering about something or another

Most times it's gale doing the talking, because as we know he refuses to shut up, but that's ok we love him <333

Before he even realizes it, he's falling in love with you

It takes him a moment to even process these feelings, and it's a whole other thing trying to accept the feelings

But once he does come to terms with it, he kind of just dives in head first

He confesses to you with magic of course

He gives you a book full of love poems, and each poem is enchanted to display gorgeous visuals of the story

And at the end of the book is a neatly folded piece of paper wedged into the spine

You open it up, and it his very own love poem, describing all of the things he adores about you, the visuals being of you and how he sees you

It's a very surreal experience, seeing yourself through someone else's eyes

When you finally decide to close the book, you peek out of your tent to see if Gale is still out

He is not, he is in fact hiding from you in his own tent, too scared to see your reaction

You decide you will discuss it in the morning, and head back to your bedroll to sleep

The next morning, he is out by his tent reading when you approach him

"Having a bookish moment, are we?" You ask teasingly, placing a hand on your hip

He smiles shyly and averts his gaze "They're a good form of entertainment when one can't stay in once place for too long.."

You move to sit next to him and lay your head on his shoulder "And when the sun itself explodes into a million atoms, know that my love for you will still be brighter"

A blush creeps onto his face "That's from the poem...Did you like it?"

"I don't think I would be sitting here reciting it to you if I didn't" you say with a smile

You lean over to kiss his cheek, then stand up and walk off to preform your morning duties of checking in on every one else, leaving Gale wide eyed and a blushing mess

[peachtinzz]

very brief dnd au musings because the rot consumes and all that

elaboration below the cut!

i thought gerry as an unaware sorcerer could be neat, only fully coming into his power after the eye “recognizes” him as an avatar. the draconic bloodline sorcerer typing is because im kind of in love with the idea of the fears as dragons …. perhaps not on an entirely physical level but i like the idea of them presenting as dragons at least. also eric is the tiefling and mary is the elf!

i also think gerry would lean away from tapping into that bloodline magic as much as possible, preferring to use his skills as a rogue and learned arcane trickster magic since it’s something he himself earned and doesn’t require the use of the eye’s power. though that bloodline magic would for sure bleed into his arcane trickster abilities. some kind of visual signifier for that would be neat but im not entirely sure what it would be yet (probably eye tattoos lighting up or smthn, but i also think those as a general arcane focus could be cool also). his cantrips would be mage hand, lightning lure, minor illusion, and green flame blade (lvl 10+)!

i initially struggled with michael’s race and class but eventually decided on him being a firbolg for the giant ancestry (tall freaking guy) and motm describing firbolg magic as “the obscuring sort”, which reminded me of how people usually see michael as marked by the lonely! he also just has inherent fey vibes to me. not entirely sold on scribes wizard for him but it seemed the most fitting class/subclass for him. i had initially thought about him being a cleric, but he doesn’t have enough religious boy vibes for me personally to make him one (though if he were to be one i think he’d be a peace domain cleric). scribes felt fitting enough for the institute, and none of the wizard schools felt like vibes enough for him either. overall though i think he’d be a support based caster with the message, prestidigitation, light, gust (lvl 5+), and toll the dead (lvl 13+) cantrips

the magic colors/smells are just a personal thing for me! i love it when magic is sensory. to be specific, i think gerry would have a deeper olivey green pre eye avatar recognition that turns classic magnus green afterwards. michael would have a coral pink sort of color that glitters gold!

may or may not make full designs for them at some point or designs for other characters, who knows

[tealfling]

Rolan would be such a good uncle, is perpready to give Lia and wyll time to rest by taking the baby.

It's important to him that the baby knows they have family that cares

Absolutely.

Rolan's already there constantly visiting (he calls it 'checking up on them' but we know better). The Ravenguards are in a position to want for nothing, but Rolan still brings them magical quality of life improvements.

And he showers that baby in gifts. Every visit he brings something.

Rolan and Cal are secretly in an unspoken "Favorite Uncle" competition. Points are tallied every time the baby gives one of them "uppie" hands. Rolan is ahead by two somehow and Cal is fighting for his life trying to be the goofy fun uncle to catch up.

Rolan's 'little light show' is a family favorite that gets more fantastic for the family littles. There are nights when Uncle Rolan watches the baby and leaves the dancing light over the crib while she sleeps.

He loves his siblings deeply and by extension their children. At one point all they had was each other and that bond is unbreakable. They know they can call on other for support.

The second Lia calls for him, he's ready. It doesn't matter for what, or why or when, the man is THERE. He's even reaching out to Cal: did you talk to her? Do you know what's going on? Are you going? The tiefling siblings always roll together.

Wyll & Lia could have called on the best clerics in the Gate, but they call for her brother first. There's probably a manor full of staff, the baby probably has her own nurse, but Lia & Wyll have strong family bonds and are very hands on parents. So it's family they look to for advice first.

Rolan knows exactly how frustrated she is when feeling helpless. Whatever's going on, they'll figure it out together.

A Rolan in a relationship with Tav also brings his partner along, and Wyll is always over the moon to see his friend.

This is the dream team of "We've got you covered."

If they sense at all Lia and Wyll are tired, they promptly send mom & dad off to rest. Even still, they make sure Wyll & Lia are making sure their own needs are met.

For fussy baby problems, they can all trouble shoot together and figure it out. We saved the world, everything else is easy. If all else fails, they know three great healers they can call on.

(Wyll or Tav can make a joke about calling on Jaheira for some of her great motherly advice. Which is only really a joke if the baby isn't too ill. If that baby is in pain or has a fever they can't deal with Tav would personally knock on Jaheira's door.)

A druid or cleric Tav would be able to handle it too. But I imagine an arcane wielder (like Coren) could be very creative with spell use.

[ "Oh, what troubles you so my little Squishy? Do your wittle nubbies hurt?" The sorceress runs her icy palm over the child's forehead. "Does that feel better?" She asks, massaging the swollen node with her finger, sending the faintest electric hum to numb the pain.]

As the children grow, there is a fantastic sense of family amongst them. Every occasion is a large family gathering.

Dad, former Blade or Frontiers, Hero of Baulder's Gate is still a renowned story teller. Now his daughter has taken to telling tall tales of her own.

Imagine everyone seated in a warm sitting room where an adorable little tiefling girl with a wooden sword acts out a familiar adventure. It doesn't happen quite like those in the room that lived it recall, but it's a charming story and Uncle Rolan makes the best visual effects with his mastery of magic.

[bean-cookies]

Phei Arriastis, the (in)famous tiefling bard, when she was younger. This was before all of the heartbreaks, way before her horns were cut off by a group of thugs, and before an incident in an alchemists tower turned her hair purple. A loud, expressive, exuberant, and mischievous adolescent who loves to sing and dance and be the center of attention! 😈🎵 I hope I conveyed that energy in this drawing.

This actually started off as just a simple sketch of Phei dancing in my sketchbook - I was well into colouring her before I figured out what I wanted to do with the background (and foreground 😅🐟). I thought it would be good to try and tell a little bit of storytelling with the environment... The Arriastis siblings grew up in a modest freshwater fishing town. But Phei always dreamed of sailing away and finding fame, adventure, and fortune in a big city. 😉

The oversized shirt and patchy old jacket fashioned into a skirt are also important visual backstory details. Her family did not have much money so new clothes were rare - along with her mother's old clothes, she also had to wear her brothers' hand-me-downs.

[fantasy-anatomy-analyst]

I have a species in one of my stories that is essentially a humanoid, carnivorous pursuit predator. They have digitigrade legs with a large dewclaw used in hunting (think almost raptor like), long forearms, long tails and tusks/fangs. They're meant to hunt in small groups for long distances. Size and health of tusks and dewclaws also tend to be a status symbol within their species- with larger and sharper tusks and claws being a symbol of good health.

I don't think my design is the most realistic in the world, just because I like how my characters look as they are but I do enjoy trying to play with a more realistic version of them. I've been trying to separate them a little more from just standard humanoid monsters like tieflings (just as an example, they're not for D&D). Cause I'd like them to look very similar to humans while also being uncanny in proportion. My inspirations were cheetahs and extinct dromaeosaurids. I would love to know your take on something like this- and if you have any suggestions?

it sounds like a really fun design! I can't offer much in the way of specific critique without seeing it myself, but I can talk a bit about the matter of "looking similar to humans, but Different". first, let's identify the visuals that make humans look Human.

(image description: two simple sketches of a human. one from the side, one from the front. the sketches are labeled to point out various human features. flat face, short torso, upright posture, round butt, long legs, expressive brows and mouth, broad shoulders, dexterous hands, and flat feet with small toes. end description)

in order to have your fantasy people species "look human" they need to retain some of these traits. the easiest thing to retain is the expressive face, which is why even a cartoon animal can feel "human" without actually being human. dexterous hands also means very gestural hands. humans tend to gesture as we communicate, though the level varies by culture. this is why cartoon birds will move their wings like hands, it gives them that human-like expressive body language (though it often comes with the very unrealistic effect of having their feathers curl like fingers and personally I absolutely hate that. stop doing that. I understand why it's done but it still bothers me.)

The other thing of course is the skin. humans have little body hair and no scales or feathers, so if you want a design to look more "human" it helps to leave a lot of bare skin.

with all of that in mind, it's up to you to decide how many human-like features you want to keep and how far away from human you want your design to look. you can also check out my guide on making humanoids less human.

and for a little bonus example: here are a few of my own fantasy designs compared to a human.

(image description: four sketches of people comparing their different bodies. from left to right: human, elf, gnome, and quetzalin. the elf is the most human-like, with features more like a monkey, including a long tail. the gnome has a human-like posture but their features are more pig-like, including four-digit hooved hands and feet, as well as a snout. the quetzalin has a posture more similar to a raptorial dinosaur, with both wings and human-like arms, as well as a protruding beak tooth and a stiff tail. end description.)

i hope that helps!

[bonesy-doodles]

Can you explain your process of how you came up with your ghoul designs?? I’m struggling a tiny bit and wanted to know if you could share a bit about your process 🖤🖤🖤

Hello!!! Of course! I can try my best. I hope this helps :D

I guess I should start with saying that I've been designing characters for years now, I think I've either hit ten years since I started or am about to hit the mark. Which means I've gained a lot of knowledge when it comes to design processes and such, which I put to use when doing all of the Ghouls. I always recommend looking into things like shape language, color theory, color language, and things like that. Just having a basic understanding of what parts of character design can say about the character and communicate their personality is really helpful. Some of my ghouls are rounder, softer, while others are sharper, more edgy and those things will communicate different things. Dewdrop is very sharp, which makes him look dangerous, while Cumulus is very round, which makes her look friendlier.

I think most of my ideas for the ghouls actually comes from the fact that I've been playing Dungeons and Dragons since I was a freshman in high school, and races like Tieflings and Genasi really helped me when thinking about what elemental demons would look like. I also knew, when going into my ghoul designs, that I wanted them to literally embody their element, not just be a gray demon with some minor things here and there (not saying that that sort of design is bad, I just wanted something more cause I LOVE details).

So, I sat down and looked at each of the ghouls, their elements, as well as things about their stage presence. I would highly recommend just thinking about what you would do for common features of each different element. Like, what would a fire ghoul's skintone range be like, would they be reptilian or dragon-like, what sort of ear shapes or horn shapes are common for them. Then move onto the next element. I've described Quintessence ghouls as space/spirit ghouls, but so far all I've drawn are space inspired Quint ghouls (but plan on making other ghost-like).

That's basically what I did to start off. Fire ghouls often have red, orange, and brown skin tones, resembling a literal fire, and will draw their visual appearance from different types of heat sources (lava, fire, sun, etc.) Reptilian scales, pointed ears and thin pointed horns that tend to go straight up. Quintessence ghouls are bovine like, they got cow ears, swirly horns, and space freckles.

Once I had all the figured out, I just started drawing. This was actually the fifth time I was attempting to design the ghouls, so embrace the trial and error, see what you like and don't be afraid to scrap what you don't like. Literally, Mountain does not look anything like my first attempt at designing him. Dewdrop on the hand stayed mostly consistent, with somethings changed or scrapped here or there. Sunshine, for example, I redid her color palette alone three different times because I couldn't capture the sunspot design the exact way I wanted to.

Character design is trial and error, just keep on trying different iterations, keep finding new inspiration, and I highly recommend making Pinterest boards of references and inspiration to help.

[silversiren1101]

Not-not tagged by various mutuals for this so I tried my own hand! Most of my OCs appear fully formed like Athena bursting from Zeus' head so instead I tried to dissect the subconscious inspirations that Mino could have been born from.

Aragorn: Look LOTR is the most formative piece of media in my entire life. You see a Rohirrim cavalry charge when you're like 8 and it imprints on you forever and ever, okay? Anyway, Aragorn as the natural born destined leader that spends the majority of his life denying and running from it, but has such a strong sense of duty and morality that he cannot in good conscience abandon those that need him? He steps up anyway despite how much he does not want it nor thinks he deserve it because he just can't let his companions/his love/the world fall? Mino is very Aragorn coded, lol. The destined Leader/Deity|King that embodies everything they avoid being and Do Not Want, and accepts in the end that heavy crown with duty and grace.

Jheraal: From Liane Merciel's, Hellknight! Mino already existed when I started reading this novel but a lot of Jheraal's characterization and Hellknights in general refined Mino more and more. Mino was an HK investigator only because this novel showed me that was a thing they could be, and same for the concept of Hellknight Foundlings! A lot of Jheraal's struggles being accepted and respected as a tiefling also play into Mino's own struggles as a ganzi.

Satine Kryze (-> Bo-Katan Kryze): Mino is both the Kryzes in a sense, starting off as idealist Satine that firmly and so stubbornly believes in doing things in the way she deems is right, no matter how much people fight and push against that and how difficult it is. She's clever and exceptionally diplomatic, ready to risk her own life and body to do what she thinks is right and bound by her duty to the people. Then, of course, Satine... I see a lot of what happened to Satine as Mino's own fate at the hands of House Thrune, but rather than death she instead takes on a lot more aspects of Bo-Katan.

Brigitte: Brigitte is way too cute and cool a character to be left in the cesspit that is Overwatch. Much of Brigitte's visual design has inspired Mino's, and so has the bright and peppy jock personality.

Shepard: Jaded military veteran leading a crew of people she cares so intensely about, becoming a special type of operative both bound by and outside of the law, having to deal with the mire of bureaucracy and resorting to a gun (hammer) when things must be done? Willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get the mission done and save everyone? Lots of Shep in Mino.

Koby: I'm surprised I only found one anime inspiration! But Koby is my baby boy and as a long term One Piece fan, his story of wanting to be a Marine (which from the onset in OP the audience is pointed to see as 'the antagonists') and actually do real good and be a champion for justice in the people even in spite of seeing nothing but corruption from them thus far speaks a lot of how I view fantasy law enforcement and characters like that. Mino wanting to be a Hellknight and seeing it as her calling mirrors a lot of Koby's own ideals with the Marines, and both spend their years in each respective organizing emerging powerful, confident, successful in their dreams, and with a huge glow-up (lol).

[sagesariadnd]

You know a detail I really love when it comes to spellcasting in D&D and tv/movies?

When the magic has its own signature or style based on who's casting it.

The Legend of Vox Machina is a great example of this, because pretty much every school of magic - and sometimes even the individual characters - have a distinct visual or technique. Delilah's necromancy is a prime example; it's all in shades of black and purple with jagged lines, it sounds like the screams of the damned, and it pulls from life essence, either from blood sacrifices or even just the jutting veins in Delilah's arms as she's casting, as if it's pulling the energy straight out of her body. Scanlan's magic is all flashy and transparent purple, radiant magic such as Pike or Kash's is gold and glowing. Keyleth I noticed does a motion of pulling energy out of the gem in her staff for a lot of spells, and I also noticed a lot of her spells make her cry out as she's exuding force, which feels very correct for druidic magic because it feels almost primal or instinctual.

Honor Among Thieves did this a bit, too, specifically thinking of the final encounter with Sophina, when she and Simon have the Bigby's Hand fight. They're obviously both casting Bigby's Hand, but Simon's is made of stone from the pebbles and cobblestones on the ground, while Sophina's is red and fleshy, much like her undead nature.

My Friday night character Sheyleigh, as a Way of Shadow monk, has access to a handful of spells using ki, which is how I ended up going down a rabbit hole of thinking of ki as just another way of channeling magic. I thought of spellcasting through that lens as Sheyleigh, and describe pretty much all of her spellcasting through a series of tai chi moves, like she's gathering her ki into one place to make the magic happen. And when she multiclassed into a trickery cleric of the Traveler (I'll get into that story when I make a proper post about her), I also considered his style and how their aesthetics mix - when she first started going down the path of multiclassing, I described her attempting to channel her ki into a Guiding Bolt, and the way I described it was intentionally inspired by Dragonball Z's Kamehameha and the various bending techniques in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Honestly, ATLA is a good reference for a lot of abilities when it comes to monks, and not just if you're playing Way of the Four Elements.

This is honestly one of the reasons why I love playing bards so much; music is so diverse and evokes so many moods, that there really are endless options for how that manifests into music. My bardlock Ameila, for example, used to have a hurdy-gurdy which her patron was sealed in, and I used the music of hurdy-gurdy player Andrey Vinogradov for the sort of musical palette of the character. There's a very dark, ominous sound to it, that I felt represented the darkness of her patron and an element of Ameila being a bit afraid of her own powers, with heavy inspiration from HP Lovecraft's __The Music of Erich Zann__. Conversely, my folk hero bard-rogue Glerble the Goblin is very boisterous and flashy, and his spells and inspiration come from epic ballads and over-the-top one-liners. I've had ideas kicking around for a tiefling bard who creates music exclusively through prestidigitation and minor illusion to put on synthesized music and light shows like a magical EDM performer, I've considered a bard-monk who fights using a bass flute as a quarterstaff or kashakas as nunchaku...honestly I could be here forever talking about all the different ways I've considered bardic magic.

I don't know if I had anywhere in particular to go with this. Just saying that it's really fun and cool to consider how magic may look and feel different from school of magic to school of magic, and from character to character. If you haven't tried roleplaying out your spellcasting components, try it sometime! 10/10 would recommend!

[papermonkeyism]

Big blue nerd's DnD group has officially started to brainstorm new characters for the next campaign, and oh man, I have Options and I cannot choose!

From what I've heard of the other players, we got a healer and bunch of dps characters, so I'm probably gonna go for something a bit more tank-y, and I'm currently waffling between a Circle of the Moon druid and a fighter (either Battle Master or Eldritch Knight).

Like on one hand animal shapes sound nice (and I know the campaign will last for around level 15, which means elementals will unlock as well), though on the other hand I've been playing a wizard for over half a year, and I kinda crave something with less options to get decision paralysis about and, well, druids. Fighters are simpler, plus they get feats/ability score increases almost every other level and I kinda want.

And if that wasn't enough, I have three options for the race I'm interested in and trouble choosing there too.

On one hand there's tabaxi, with the Feline Agility for extra speed plus climbing skill for extra mobility, plus proficiency in stealth and perception, which are very yes.

On the other hand there's tiefling, with fire resistance and Hellish Rebuke, plus interesting visuals with the horns and tail I'd love to play with. (also easier for my fellow players to draw, having a human face)

And on the other other hand, I could go for a satyr because dang I wanna draw the hooves. Also resistance to spells and immune to spells targeting humanoids as they count as fey instead.

I think I would prefer tabaxi as a not druid option, but the others have no such limitations and I just don't know what to do.

Hlep?

[tearlessrain]

7 and 12 for the durge creator asks:)

eey thanks! (ask meme)

so for clarity, my durge is actually two people, they're twin brothers (or yknow, they consider themselves that, not even gonna try to figure out the exact biological fuckery behind their existence), one of whom (Ryldimar) developed a conscience after getting tadpoled and the other of whom (Veil) really didn't. They were extremely close all their lives and are basically one soul in two bodies or something similar, but forgot each other after they got tadpole'd and were both just vaguely aware that they'd Lost Something Very Important until they started respectively piecing things together. their story inevitably ends tragically but Ryldimar at least more or less survives to move on from it.

Ryldimar is the one whose playthrough I consider "canon," while Veil didn't encounter much of the main plot up to act 3 and carved his own way to Baldur's Gate, where he proceeded to kill Orin and take her Netherstone before Ryldimar got there and basically replaced her as the Bhaal boss in my own canon. How did Veil resist the Absolute without the prism? some kinda twin bond/Bhaal blood bullshit, don't worry about it.

I somehow don't have proper art refs of them yet but they are each other's dream guardians in-game so I have screenshots like this hoarded.

just. imagine that Ryldimar is wearing a bunch of scraggly bloodstained furs instead of shiny plate armor. he didn't even look that put together before the tadpole.

so that was a bit of a ramble but yeah lol.

7. Is their personal story represented in their overall design? Do they carry any mental scars or physical alterations from the shit that happened to them? It is, but not all of it is on purpose lol. I made Ryldimar first and wasn't terribly invested in the whole durge concept, I just wanted to see more of the game, so I threw together something visually appealing to me and picked drow because I'm one of those people. then I decided to do one(1) evil run and made Veil by just mucking up Ryldimar's design a little. it was actually my friend who suggested that they could be twins and I immediately got super attached to the concept (because who doesn't love a good Evil Twin trope) and now here we are, and I've since adjusted their designs a little accordingly (they've both got the red swirl tattoo, but Veil's is canonically on the opposite side and it's not a tattoo so much as a remnant of whatever process split them into two people). Ryldimar is the one who ended up in Kressa Bonedaughter's custody for a while, so he's got a fair amount of scarring from her various vivisection attempts. It's also the reason he experienced such a stark personality change in a way Veil didn't; Kressa's poking around in his brain (mostly in an attempt to make him slightly more docile so he'd stop trying to strangle her with his own intestines) had unforeseen long-term consequences. Veil's face scarring is intentional and decorative, and it predates the tadpole. They both had some artistic inclination though they uh, kept it a lot more reined in than Orin obviously. Veil always leaned more toward visual arts and Ryldimar preferred music (mostly as justification for the single level in Bard I gave him).

Veil also does absolutely have brain damage, but aside from the memory loss it mostly just fucked up his emotional regulation a bit. Though ironically, he doesn't remember his name (Veil is something he picked for himself post-tadpole) while Ryldimar does remember his.

12. OC Art/Stories or shipping content? What do you enjoy the most? What's ur little hidden passion? Okay so arguably a bit of both; the two of them have a whole story arc intertwined with @elaphaemourra's tiefling oc Dragonfly (same person who is the inspiration between Veil and Ryldimar in the first place). I really love throwing my ocs at other peoples' ocs and the whole conversation started as just throwing whump ideas around by letting Veil get his hands on Dragonfly. that evolved into "Dragonfly is the hostage in Ryldimar's storyline, he was originally captured by Orin but once Veil killed her he didn't need a hostage anymore, so he just kept him for fun."

It was already canon that Ryldimar ends up killing Veil and rejecting Bhaal, now he just. also gets a very traumatized tiefling out of it and by this point we've written walls of text about these two recovering and helping each other heal from the insane shit they've both been through.

also they fuck. so much. they're the absolute epitome of "that which doesn't kill me gives me kinks that are difficult to explain."

[rebel-at-heart713]

So the other day I finished my first play through of Baldur’s Gate 3 and I loved it! I played as a half-elf Rogue, which is what I play in my Dnd campaign.

I had a few bugs in it that kind of broke it in a few spots that was kind of funny that might have actually approved my playthrough but one definitely locked me out of stuff.

1. I was mostly pursuing Astarian romantically, we spent the night together after the Tiefling Party. A few nights later, he asked if we wanted to do it again. I said yes, but that night was the night that Shadowheart tried to kill Laezel in the middle of the night, so that stopped him from showing up. After that he never really acknowledged anything.

But I say this was a positive, because Laezel started continuing showing interest and I romanced her for the rest of the game because, well she was basically the first person to show interest in me.

2. I knew the Owlbear cub was a thing because my friend told me about it before I started playing it. Well I couldn’t find the cave until after I cleared the goblin camp. So I never actually got a chance to rescue him, but I still saw him in the cave.

But one night, at camp shortly after arriving in the Underdark, he showed up anyways. I say this is a bug, cause if I talk to him he still mentions the goblin camp and the narrator says it’s the one I rescued.

I loved him even if he didn’t have much to say. I loved seeming him post game too. So obviously a good bug.

3. Now, I’m assuming this next thing is a bug. But in act 2, after Thorne goes down into the mind flayer colony, I asked Jahira to join me. She joined my party and we went through the colony. But after I killed Thorne and took his stone, after the Dream Visitor talked to me, Jahira disapproved of something and permanently left my party.

For whatever reason she still hung around camp, and I could talk to her, she just wouldn’t join the party. So I couldn’t do a few quests in act 3 because like the guild leader only wanted to talk to her. I also apparently needed her for the toll house. She still gave me the Harper’s in the big battle as well too. So I don’t know what happened there. But I had to redo the Thorne fight because she stole my equipment and I couldn’t get it back. So I had to redo the fight and take the equipment off her before hand, because I couldn’t go to camp and replace her.

Next play through definitely waiting to offer her a place till after I kill Thorne or ask her to join, go to camp immediately and tell her to stay.

This are the major ones I think. Besides just some weird visual glitches like one of the prisoners in the underwater prison face stretching off the screen so causing the screen to zoom out and stutter during her turn.

But it was still great.

I definitely will be doing at least 2 more playthrough later

1st a bard trying to romance Karlach because I didn’t realize how much I loved her until I was already deep in with Laezel.

2nd I’ll do a Dark Urge playthrough I think, probably will try Astarian romance that time.

[rinwellisathing]

You're Awful, I Love You: Part 15

Enver Gortash/Trans male Tiefling Durge

Content warnings: attempted rape, dead naming, misgendering

The following morning, Sentry and Enver stood redressing in the sculpture garden. Their eyes occasionally met with an almost magnetic feeling. Neither spoke a word until they were both fully clothed and standing before The Slayer and The Tyrant sculptures.

“It is a stunning piece, my love.” Gortash remarked.

“Your...” Sentry felt his face flush brightly at the words. He could almost smile at them until he felt a wrenching pain in his head and a twist in his stomach, vision blurring red for a moment. Father's disapproval.

“In fact, it gives me an idea. Give me about a day to do some digging and I'll send word.” The Tyrant continued, his expression deeply thoughtful, brimming with the tell tale signs of inspiration.

Sentry shook off the whispers with some effort and nodded. “With that being said, sending it with a messenger might be dangerous, I think we need some extra security when it comes to planning things together.”

“Yes, you're right. After all, not just our own subordinates but prying eyes within the city.” Enver agreed, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “I'd imagine a man of your creative interests dabbles beyond the visual arts. How are you with language?”

“I mean, I've read a lot. Copper Dreadfuls mostly.” Sentry replied, turning and running a hand over the bowed head of his Slayer sculpture, lovingly examining the horns for any touch ups that might be needs. “I don't know how that might help...only.....” He paused a moment and wrinkled his nose in thought. “Only in one of them, the detective at quite a devil of a time solving notes he found at the crime scene....you see, the killer communicated in code with his network of underlings.”

“You know, I think I've also read that one in passing. It's not a bad idea.” Enver nodded. “Alright then. We'll come up with one. Just between you and I.”

“Then I'll see you again soon. I look forward to discussing it.” Sentry grinned broadly. The two made their way to the entrance of the macabre gallery and stood a moment, the uncertainty of whether to kiss or simply part ways heavy in the air.

Sentry turned and made his way back towards the temple while Enver went the opposite direction back to the ladder that would lead to the surface.

The entire way home, flashes of pain lashed Sentry's mind and body. Father's red rage making itself known even as he forced himself to stand tall, proud, and imposing as his family would expect. As he walked through the door, he noticed no one was in the common area where they usually were.

“Such a shame.” He sighed. “I was really hoping for another entertaining confrontation, maybe one that might come to blows this time. Ah well.”

He made his way to his bedroom, once the door was open, he began shrugging off his clothing. He was vaguely aware he'd never returned to Sharess' Caress that night, but ah well, he would make it up to his friends tonight. After all, if he knew Ffion, she would simply assume his night had been a great success if he'd been out so long and he was certain Wysp wouldn't mind half as much as everyone thought he would. After all, Sentry held no illusions. Wysp was a friend, Sentry was a client. Anyone who thought someone they were paying was in love with them was an egotistical fool.

As Sentry sat down at his desk to sketch, he was distracted by thoughts of the previous night. He could still feel the sweet, sticky warmth inside him, sending a wave of pleasure through his body. He didn't hear a thing, didn't notice until a dark grey hand was already over his mouth, with the other forcing one of his arms behind his back.

“Father's upset with you, little cub.” The rough, growling voice sneered. Sentry felt the hot breath reeking of cheap booze on his ear. “Told me himself, he did.”

Sentry squirmed and struggled, flipping the charcoal in free hand. It wasn't as sharp as he'd like, but it would make a wound with enough force. He jammed it backwards into Jackal's side, but the angle was wrong, it didn't pierce flesh. Sentry thrashed his body, trying to slam his head into Jackal's face, only managing to knock against his shoulder.

“Struggle and squirm, struggle and squirm. Flail about like the helpless girlie you are.” The drow chuckled. “Father says he's warned you about breeding outside the family line, you little whore.”

“I'm not breeding. I can fuck who I please and that will never be you!” Sentry gave a hard shove backwards, tipping his chair, finally connecting it with Jackal's chest and knocking him backwards. The two rolled to the floor, both scrambling for control as Sentry pulled free and struggled to his feet. Jackal stood up panting just across from him and they circled eachother.

“You're weak, Vereena. You can't do shit without your axes and blades.” Jackal smirked, violet eyes never leaving Sentry. Animal hunger evident in them as the ranger eyed up his prey.

“And you're a fucking fool if you think that's true.” Sentry bristled at the name. “I'll kill you here and now with my bare hands and father will thank me.”

The two sized eachother up, neither making a sudden move. Sentry was tense, wary. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew father was angry. He would have been lying if he'd claimed not to know the reason. But he was chosen, he was the one who was worthy, father could be placated, he knew. The way was always the same. His eyes fell on Jackal's throat, flaring with breath, pulsing with blood.

“The fuck are you staring at, cub?” The drow barked. That was it. His guard was down a second too long and Sentry pounced.

His teeth were in Jackal's throat, ripping and tearing like a wild animal. Useless without his blades, was he? Sentry knew otherwise and his unworthy brother would only be the most recent to learn that. He tasted foul. The odious flavor of the Underdark permeating his blood and meat as Sentry's vision went blood red, mouth filled with elf flesh.

The sickening gurgling and gasping noises were just a vague buzzing in his ears, the knife in his back was barely an insect's sting as he felt the body going limp and lifeless beneath him. He was only half aware of someone helping him to a sitting position and lovingly dabbing at his mouth with a handkerchief.

“Oh, my malevolent monarch can be quite the messy eater, can't he? But I know you do so enjoy it when your breakfast fights back, young master.” Sceleritas cooed softly, fussing over Sentry, expertly removing the hunting knife embedded in this shoulder blade. “Mister Silk was warned so many times to show the proper respect you are due. Such a shame.” The fiend clicked his tongue and shook his head at the corpse. “Shall I take the leftovers to the kitchens, Master?”

“No, he tastes disgusting. Dump him somewhere...Or hang him up as a warning. I really don't care.” Sentry sniffed, disgusted. “I'd say lay him on an altar, but it'd be an insult to father.”

“Ah yes...and on that note, my boy....I did come bearing another message.” Sceleritas began, his tone a bit more tactful now. “While Mister Silk deserved his fate, his words were...not entirely incorrect. Your father of course knows you are not the person your failed set of parents claimed you to be. You rose far above that when you expertly eviscerated them and turned their home into such a delightful gallery of horrors. However, he is aware of your...extracurricular activities....with Bane's Chosen. Please, young Master, be more judicious in how you take your pleasure. Breeding is to be kept within the family.”

“Why does it always come down to breeding? I wasn't -BREEDING- I was fucking.” Sentry snapped. “I'll die before I 'breed' ever again.”

“Of course, of course, my rotted Master. I know, but you must be more careful! I shall fetch Tomi to bring you the proper potions immediately in that case.” Sceleritas bowed and scurried off.

“The next person to say the word 'breeding' is getting a pallet knife through the skull.” Sentry muttered to himself, righting his chair and cursing as he furiously crumpled the ruined page Jackal had disrupted.

[lucius-the-sinful]

WIP Whenever

I was not tagged but I wanted to share some sketches and possibly writing as I come out of my mini hiatus. You know, to make me feel like I accomplished something.

My next D&D character, Kaleo (they/them)! I have decided my friendship has ended with elves, tieflings are my new favorite. They're a warlock/barbarian and its going to be a western themed setting. They have a crow familiar and they're patron is a bard devil. Think devil went down to georgia meets raphael baldur's gate 3 but also non binary.

I've had this one in my wip folder for about four months. Surprise, surprise, Zafir and his sword. not sure if this one will ever be finished but I love the composition of it so maybe some day.

Shadowheart doing Draven's eyeshadow meme. Sometimes I try way too hard with my sketches I should stop doing that.

Some writing now:

The pair were silent as they drank in the scene. Helvia kneeled down, placing her hand against the earth and closing her eyes. Green tendrils of magic swirled around her hand and seeped into the ground below. She retracted her hand. “It was difficult for the land to bounce back,” Helvia murmured. “Magical fire burns differently than natural fire.”  “Yet, nature still persists,” Zafir glanced around the grove.  “Yes, it just needs a little help.” Helvia kneeled, her hands reconnecting to the earth. She began to chant in the druidic language. The tendrils spread from her fingers and throughout the entire grove. It shimmered, then sunk into every living plant and non-living rock and hollow, dead tree. As her spell ended, the glow faded. Nothing changed immediately visually, but even Zafir could feel the change in the atmosphere. The grip of death loosened, and wounds of the land were closed. Hope sprung anew, and the sun would smile upon the forest again. “Shouldn't be long now, it will bounce back much stronger than before.” Helvia stood and walked to the center of the foundation, Zafir followed.   He remembered where each of the rooms were in her quaint lodge, he could see her tending to her herbs in the kitchen, and Avren running around outside. He yearned again for that life, however brief it was twenty years gone. “What I would give to have it back.” Zafir murmured.  Helvia stepped closer to him. “You have already surrendered enough, my heart,” she placed her hands on his cheeks, and searched his golden eyes. “Let me mend this.”

Something I've been chipping away at as an epilogue to the previous D&D campaign.

As the elevation hiked, the ground became invisible under the piles of snow. The sulfur fields of Eastmarch came into view, and Lazarus was hit with the rotten smell. It reminded him of some areas in Morrowind, and while his nose recoiled at the stench, his gut twisted at the reminder he was far from home. “We’re not too far from Windhelm now, we should reach it by sunfall,” Kaidan called out, his anxiety leaking into his voice.  Lazarus sent him an annoyed glance. “What has you so nervous?” He asked, despite knowing the answer.  Kaidan returned a similar look. “Have you traveled through Skyrim, ever? She isn’t always pleasant breezes and calm skies.”  “No, I was going to pick up a map in Riften if the damned Thalmor hadn’t stopped me,” Lazarus sighed. The breeze turned into a wind that cut through Lazarus’ robes. It was a cold that penetrated the bone, and Lazarus found himself shivering. Kaidan picked up the pace, falling next to his companion.  “I should have known,” Kaidan muttered. He unclipped his cloak and threw it over Lazarus’ shoulders. “It won’t warm you up any faster, but it will stop the wind from cuttin through ya.”  Part of Lazarus recoiled at the gesture, and wanted to shrug the ragged thing off. The other, sensible part was relieved Kaidan wouldn’t let him freeze to death. He decided to listen to the latter, and tugged the cloak tighter around his shoulders, he put his hood up. "Thanks, sera," He murmured.

From my next fic, Call in the Wind. Lazarus being stubborn. What else.

[midnights-call]

Home Base

Here's a standard "how to navigate my blog and such" post.

About Me

Hi, I'm Declan/Riley (please use both/interchange them) and I'm a transmasc artist and writer living in the USA. I have some health issues that are a mystery as of right now, but have left me disabled. Currently trying to figure out my life and what I want to do for a career, since my last one relied on me being physically healthy and all that. I'm also autistic and am prone to going on hyperfixation sprees, usually about my ocs/wips but occasionally about other media like Dragon Age.

You're welcome to tag me in any posts and send me messages at any time. I might not always have the energy to get to everything right away, but I like chatting and participating in fun things.

My Carrd

For my other socials and a bit more about me, you can check out my carrd linked here.

Commission Info

For a direct link to my commission information, you can go right here. It's updated as commissions open and close, detailing what types you can get along with visual examples of each.

General Tags

For all posts made by my pals: #friend posts

Every post made by me will be tagged with: #my post

Any art I draw and share will be tagged as: #my art

Wip posts/reblogs will always have the formate of: [wip title] wip (ex. fated wip)

Oc posts/reblogs will have the format: oc: [oc name] (ex. oc: teali thakur)

Ship posts/reblogs will have the format: ship: [ship name] (ex. ship: wrestling)

Information on each wip with links to their intro posts are below the cut

Arcanist's Gambit

Three people are brought together in this dark high fantasy novel after one makes a decision that will permanently alter the course of their lives. In a world where it feels like everyone is against you, will you allow yourself to be loved or fill yourself with wrath?

Bloodied Hands, Tainted Hearts

In this combination supernatural, fantasy, and sci-fi novel, an unlikely group of people must come together and find the cure for a plague that's ripping through the nation. Affecting both normal humans and the monstrous krovolk, people with an infection that gives them a bestial form and a hunger for blood, it seems impossible that anyone could stop the thing that has left thousands dead. But someone has to try, don't they?

Darkest Depths

When the messiah starts to hear the call of the dark god he's been warned about all of his life, he can't help but want to heed it. In this dark fantasy novella, follow Caspain as he gets drawn deeper and deeper into the ocean's inky depths, questioning if he should ever come back up for air again.

Fated

A high fantasy novel following an unlikely chosen one who wants nothing to do with being chosen, and the people tasked with protecting them. But as the group ventures forward, they begin to discover that the danger the prophecy dictates is not what they think.

Sign of the Times

When two exes are brought back together again to fight back against an oppressive government that seeks to wipe out those with divine power, they are forced to find a way to put aside their past and work for a new future. But what lies in the past may be the key to saving the world, and stopping a foe neither knew they were fighting in this modern fantasy novel.

Starcrossed

The top two agents in a shadowy organization known only as The Company are assigned a mission together. The only problem is, they hate each other. Unfortunately for them, it seems they're the only ones capable of saving the world from a nefarious plot made to frame them for starting World War 3 in this action thriller. Go figure.

Other OC Tags

#micah dugal (he/they) is my tiefling moon druid 5e character from a campaign I'm playing in. He's an aloof and guarded person who, once loyal to you, would die for you in a heartbeat.

[saphirered]

Verin + artificer S/O? Essek (begrudgingly) brings him to meet the Nein and while everyone is say hi they hear a loud boom and out stumbles from their room/lab S/O cover in ash and soot. They say hi to Verin and he just looks over to Essek and is like 'why didn't you bring me here sooner?!' thank you!

Once upon a time I was taught chemistry. I recall next to nothing but hey, maybe someone will recognise the chemicals and reaction causing the boom. I hope this turned out the way you wanted! 😘

“Essek will be here any minute! Hurry up!” You hear Jester shout as you almost spill the contents you’re mixing. Luckily you avoid burning a hole in the table of the lab. Nott might have your head if you ruined her alchemy equipment again.

“I’ll be there in a minute! Just finishing up here and then I’ll clean up and join you!” You shout back putting the vial back in the stand as you watch the fluids mix and swirl together. Taking out your tools you us it to heat up the vial carefully. You don’t need to set up a proper flame. Besides, it doesn’t even need to boil. Arcane flame. Much quicker.

The divines must be looking over you as the vial does not shatter. You set it at the burner to keep the contents at a constant temperature and move on to the next part of your experiment. Time for some powders. Now it’s key they do not come into contact with the liquids in the vial so you set that one out of the way in a safe place before you grab the powders you’ll need.

Goggles and gloves on, tools at the ready you set two beakers apart. With your tools you scoop some grey powder from one container and put it in the one beaker. You close the container and put it to the side before moving onto the next one containing bright yellow pebbles. You take a few and get ready to powder them when-

“Hurry up they’re here! They’re here! They’re here!” Shouting and violent knocking on your door makes you jump out of your skin, the yellow rocks dropping into the beaker with the grey powder, your elbow knocks over the vial from the burning spilling the contents on the desk, ignited by the burner like a fuel trail. You try to snatch the beaker from the desk but it’s already too late.

“Oh shit-“ You take cover casting a quick spell to protect yourself from the blast shattering the beaker in an explosion that should be audible a blocks away. When you get up your goggles are covered in dust and ash from whatever the flames reached. Yep… Nott’s gonna kill you if Caleb doesn’t get to you first… Hope he didn’t have any of his precious books laying around here….

Your ears still ringing you lift the goggles from your eyes giving you visual of the carnage left. You take off the gloves and quickly put out the remaining flames. Oh shit! you’re having guests! Rubbing at your ears trying to get your hearing back to what it’s supposed to be, you stumble to the door slightly disoriented. Opening the door you’re met with some familiar faces, and a new one.

Caduceus had already put aside whatever tray of tea or food he had been carrying and got ready to heal. Caleb is trying to contain the urge to run in and make sure his precious books are alright. Nott’s already screaming her equipment better be fine or you not just owe her a new set but also several fluffernutters to make up for the emotional damages you’ve caused, whatever that’s supposed to mean. Jester joins her at the mentions of receiving fluffernutters. Beau’s laughing her ass off and upon seeing you’re alright Fjord joins her with a light chuckle. Essek looks completely unfazed if not a little worried.

Then you see the other drow. There’s definitely similarities between him and Essek so you feel safe to assume this must be Verin Thelyss. Damn. He’s handsome too… And just your luck you just fell victim to the carnage of your experiment. So much for first impressions. Here you stand covered in ash, dust and sooth probably looking like a maniac or some sort of mad scientist. Oh god… You’re staring. Can he see your staring? Oh no…

You quickly brush off your clothes trying to get rid of the worst of the mess and walk up to the two drow with a bright smile offering a hand to Verin.

“Hello. You must be Verin! Pleasure to meet you.” You look down at your outstretched hand to see it also covered in the grime from your desperate attempt to make yourself look somewhat presentable. You’re about to retract your hand but Verin takes it anyway and shakes it to your surprise. There’s a bit of a mischievous grin visible.

“It’s my pleasure. You must be the artificer my brother neglected to mention dabbles in alchemy. The pleasure is all mine.” Verin certainly expresses an interest in you, or your work. You’re not entirely sure if it’s both or either and you don’t dare to assume.

“Brother dear, you have no excuses for not introducing me to your friend before.” He directs at Essek as he takes your held hand and links it through his arm.

“Not to be rude but I’ve found myself with a special interest in alchemy. Would you mind sharing your work?” Verin asks you and you look at the others. Some raised eyebrows but before you know it you’re pushed into the lab by a little blue tiefling.

“Yes yes! They’d love nothing more than show you all their work and other things!” Jester wiggles her eyebrows and makes a face as you look behind you in confusion.

“You’ll owe me a fluffernutter.” She whispers at you as the door is closed behind you and Verin and you’re left in the mess that is the laboratory.

Verin certainly expresses an interest in your work and has some basic understanding of alchemy. You catch him stare at your more than once, enthralled by you going of on a rant about storing components properly as to avoid situations like this happen.

“-and you see, it’s so difficult to get these specific components here I’m certain I’ve bought up the stocks of every seller in the city at this point yet I still do not have enough to complete this.”

“I happen to have some connections outside of the city. Perhaps I can help you find some or persuade the kind professor to allow you access to their stocks.” Your eyes light up at the offer.

“That would be absolutely amazing! You’d really do that for me? I mean no offence but we’ve only just met like an hour and a half ago?” You’re looking for the loophole or the strings attached to his offer. Usually this stuff doesn’t come for free. Especially not something so generous.

“See it as an opportunity to get to know you better. With your consent of course.” Maybe you should be glad there’s still the remains of sooth you couldn’t wipe away just yet hiding an onset blush. Jeeze. You feel like a school girl what’s going on and how does this man know exactly how to woo you. Charming, intelligent, nice, a good listener that actually shows interest in your passions? You’re not going to pass on that opportunity.

“With an offer like that; consent, permission and attention. You got it all, handsome.” You laugh only half joking. Does this count as flirting? Maybe it does… This is why you’re not the charismatic one.

“It’s settled then and maybe we can discuss your work more thoroughly in the future. I fear I’ve been a terrible guest to your friends.”

“I’m sure they don’t mind.” The two of you begin making your way back to the rest of the Nein and Essek, the latter of which seems relieved no further disasters occurred when letting his brother leave his supervision with you.

By the time Essek and Verin had to take their leave to return to their duties again you bid them farewell. Before departing Verin stops in front of you and clasps your hands between his.

“I’ll see you soon to make good on my promise?” A little caught off guard you can already see the plot spinning in in Jester’s head and Caleb wonder how you’d managed to charm your Thelyss quicker than he had.

“Yeah. See you soon.” He squeezes your hands before letting go and bidding the rest of the Nein farewell. You’re left there standing watching the Thelyss brother go until the door closes.

“Oh. My. Goodness!” Jester’s halfway through planning yours and Verin’s wedding already. Beau pats you on the shoulder for getting in the pants of another hot-boi. You assure her that’s not how you spent your time with Verin. Not yet, she assures you.

“I-uh should just go clean up the mess now…” You try to excuse yourself and for the first time you’re happy Nott’s still upset about her equipment as she begins dragging you off to the lab.

“Yeah! You better!” The goblin screeches.