#also this kinda makes it look like her two ride or dies are astarion and karlach which

[fabledteeth]

shes my little pookie bear. the specialest pretty princess in the world

[itsalwaysalmostchristmas]

I just want to add onto this because I have been rereading Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy and I came across Viconia's page. Now I want to clarify this book is not considered canon but is written by James Ohlen, the creative director for the Baldur's Gate games other than BG3, so you can kinda pick and choose what's true and what isn't, Larian certainly did.

That's the full page which I won't be writing fully out and I understand it's blurry.

So, in this version, Viconia is still worshipping Shar but Shar has ordered her to work with cults that worship the Elder Elemental Eye...HUH? Doesn't explain why and it certainly isn't mentioned in the game so it's just one of those things you just have to pretend you didn't read.

The reason I bring this up is for two reasons:

1) Her Brother

[Viconia first lost the Spider Queen's favour when she refused to sacrifice an infant. In a desperate attempt to appease Lolth, her own mother arranged for Viconia to be sacrificed herself. She was save by her devoted brother, Valas. For this crime, Valas was transformed into a drider.]

I purposefully didn't highlight 'an act she saw as pointless.' because once again, Viconia isn't a evil person deep down. She's a bit like Astarion, she's had years upon years of living in the brutal drow society that everything she does is for survival but deep down she's not an evil individual she just doesn't know better until meeting Gorion's Ward and goes through the happenings of the Baldur's Gate games.

Anyways, her brother, Valas, saved her from being sacrificed and was turned into a drider.

My theory/headcanon/AU is that Valas is Kar'niss.

This really builds off of @karniss-bg3 theory which you can have a look at for yourself here, he has theorised that Kar'niss name means 'productive gambler'. Now, I headcanon that when someone is transformed into a drider they loose all sense of self, including their name, which is somewhat true as we're told that Kar'niss mind is super fractured. Maybe driders are named after the crimes they committed or something along those lines? Because helping his sister escape from his mother and Lolth's wrath is a big gamble. Of course, Valas/Kar'niss would have known there was no escape for him but would his sacrifice be worth it allowing Viconia to escape or would it all be for nothing, he turned drider and Viconia sacrificed. Now, we know that Viconia survives and goes on to save multiple cities making Valas/Kar'niss a 'productive gambler'.

I'm aware I'm pulling at straws!

But I'd loved a scene in this AU, Shadowheart being Viconia's daughter, of Kar'niss in his fractured mind not outright but seeing Viconia in Shadowheart. Maybe making a nonsense comment of how he's seen her before and thank the gods she lived but not even he knows why he said that.

2) This feels more like Viconia

[Viconia travels the Underdark looking for fellow outcasts. SHe has put together a motely band including a pair of driders named Cackle and Backle and a deep spider that she has raised since she saved it from being eaten by its mother. She also rides an achaierai that lost the rest of its flock to a war band of dwarves.]

THIS IS SO CUTE!

I want this! I want to meet Cackle and Backle! I don't know why WotC so set on trying to make her appear as this unredeemable drow that doesn't care about anything and she is just evil because they also add stuff like this that just goes right against it! If anything, sounds like Viconia would be interested in the Society of Brilliance, a group that want to make the Underdark more inhabitable.

Instead of exploring Lenore De Hurst tower, we could've explored maybe Viconia's home? or Lenore is an alias and I can't remember if they say anything about Lenore not having responded in a while (I've assumed the woman died) but Blurg and Ommelum could say like they hadn't heard from her in 30 years. I say 30 because Shadowheart looks 10-13 years old in her flashback.

But we could've had hints throughout the tower/house of Lenore actually being Viconia that maybe you wouldn't realise right away. We could've met Cackle and Backle, the spider she raised and the achaierai! I'd rather that than that whole robot thing.

Viconia they will never make me hate you!!!

Rework of Viconia Devir

So, I had been working on two different ideas: How to rework Viconia where her whole story arc from the previous games doesn't get shat on and how to make the Tadpole Troupe more diverse.

I don't know why the thought came to me but it did: Shadowheart should've (or I think it would've been fun) been Viconia's daughter.

Please hear me out!

If you don't know, Viconia has literally the worse luck in the world it seems, like read her wiki page history I'm sure that's just then tip of the iceberg.

When travelling with Gorion's Ward she is a cleric of Shar, and if not romanced, after their adventures she goes to Waterdeep to run an enclave there, which Viconia in BG3 does tell us:

[Viconia DeVir: I had an enclave in Waterdeep, you know. Much grander than this. Shar ordered me to raze it, kill all who followed me - claim they betrayed me, when in fact I slew those who showed nothing but loyalty.]

I really think Viconia remaining with Shar sucks major balls. Literally, she goes on to be a hero in her own right in her epilogue:

[No longer with Protagonist, Viconia went on to found a cult dedicated to Shar in the city of Waterdeep. One of her followers betrayed her, however, prompting the slaughter of the whole tainted lot. Shar admonished Viconia strongly for this, but she was unrepentant and again wandered the Realms. Viconia was still formidable, and went on to prevent an attempt by the Knights of the Shield to take over Calimport, even worked with Drizzt Do'Urden to save the elven city of Suldanessalar from a Zhentarim plot. For this last act, the elves accepted her, and Queen Ellesime bestowed the highest honors of the Seldarine, an accolade never before given to one of her dark kind. Viconia reportedly bowed without emotion, and then left. Her fate remains unknown.]

Does that sound like someone who would continue to follow Shar?? My gal work with Drizzt Do'Urden! Saved at least two cities! Bestowed the highest award that no drow had ever received!?

Seriously, to me Viconia DeVir and Mother Superior are two completely different characters.

So, how does this work out for her to be Shadowheart's mother? I've got two alternatives that I could see the story using both at the same time, which they do with Gorion's Ward and Abdel Adrian.

Option 1: Viconia had a relationship with a human Selûnite

It could've been in Viconia's wanderings she save a town/village and a human took a keen liking to her. Either a fling or a genuine relationship, Viconia ends up pregnant and out shoots Jenevelle. You could still have it that her dad was a werewolf, but because he's human the years of torture on that torture disk thing caused him to perish.

(whatever that thing is)

Option 2: Shadowheart is the daughter of Viconia and Gorion's Ward

So, in Viconia's romanced ending she has a son with Gorion's Ward and fucking dies.

[Protagonist and Viconia continued adventuring long after leaving Tethyr. He became an important political figure, and she was his trusted counsel. Eventually Viconia bore Protagonist's child, which first served to strain their relationship. The birth, however, changed her, and she dedicated herself to raising the boy, teaching both the ways of the drow and of Protagonist's people. She marvelled at the understanding in his eyes, but unfortunately, didn't live to see him grow. Viconia was poisoned by a servant of Lolth, her last words whispered to her loving mate in private. Protagonist raised his son in secret, and tales vary on the result. Some say they waged a crusade against the drow, but all agree that the former child of Bhaal never forgot the love of his dark maiden.]

Obviously this isn't canon anymore, I guess? But, we've seen in the game Larian picks and chooses bits n pieces from the source material. I also don't like how Gorion's Ward isn't mentioned too much, I did hear that apparently Tav was meant to be a child of Gorion's Ward before it got scrapped and I do like the idea of descentants being part of the party.

If they had chosen this route of Shadowheart being Gorion's Ward and Viconia's child they could twist it in a few ways:

Viconia and Gorion's Ward did have a son but he was killed by Lolth servants rather than Viconia, making Shadowheart their second child.

Viconia and Gorion's Ward did have a son and they had Shadowheart as well but Gorion's Ward was killed by Lolth servants rather than Viconia, making the son still alive.

They never had a son, Lolth servant still kills Gorion's Ward

They never had a son, no Lolth servant kills anyone but Gorion's Ward still dies before we see Viconia again because people would not like a retconned CHARNAME we hate you abdel adrian fuck you

I think option 3 or 4 would make more sense game wise because you could still be vague on whether or not Shadowheart's other parent was Gorion's Ward, that way the player can decide based on who they romanced in their playthroughs. I do like option 2, either the brother could've spent all these years looking for his mother and sister and trying to save them or on the torture disk with his mother.

Also I don't think Viconia would become a Selûnite herself, honestly. I feel like two goddess' fucking you over would put you off worshipping another. However, I could see her wanting the best for her children, it says so in her epilogue she is a dedicated mother and I could imagine her wanting to set her child on the right path, some insecurity of poisoning her child's chance of a good life by being their mother.

I've said this in a post before but I genuinely didn't realise that Shadowheart's dad was a werewolf until I read it in a wiki article. I thought it was a manipulated memory and her dad (who we could switch out for Viconia) was illusion or replaced by a wolf to instil a fear in Shadowheart and make it seem like Mother Superior had saved her.

And, could you imagine the scene! You've defeated Mother Superior and her enclave, you got to where Shadowheart's parents are, with Minisc and Jaheira in your party, and hanging limp on the torture disk thing is the familiar face of Viconia DeVir.

Also Viconia's child being a target of Shar feels more possible than some random Selûnite couple. Honestly, you could take the whole Selûnite bit out. Could you imagine how pissed a god, especially one like Shar, would be if someone who had just killed a whole enclave of followers just shrugged of being scorned by you? Wouldn't you want to make them suffer for years? Make them remember what kind of god you are?

Anyways, here's half-drow Shadowheart!

(please excuse spelling mistakes and grammar I'm dyslexic)