#archduke tag

[threecrowsinatrenchcoat]

Archduke of Demonic Cultivation

Chapter 34: Then, Remus

[AO3 Link]

When Remus opened his eyes again, it took him several long moments to understand that he was still in the hidden room in Verdant Keep. Namely, because it was crowded . The room was filled with soldiers and medics all talking over each other and rushing about. It wasn’t more than thirty people all told, but the room was not meant to hold quite so many people. 

The last thing he remembered was going down to Wrath’s claws. Now, he was laying in a medic cot with his damaged leather armor set off to the side. His bonded weapon had vanished when it left his grasp… but his left hand was still grasping something so tightly he could feel blood, warm and sticky against his palm. Slowly, he lifted his hand and willed his cramping fingers to uncurl. A few droplets of blood rolled down his arm from where the sharp edges of the ruby pendant had pierced his skin. 

The Amulet. 

[Continue on AO3] | [Read From Beginning]

[panksage]

I have nothing new for baldur’s gate 3 birthday, so I bring you this WIP with an already old durgetash meme, you’re welcome

[little-tyrant-gortash]

First of all: I'd love to have his pretty crossbow. Reminds me of the glass crossbow you can get in Skyrim through CC.

Secondly, 14 STR??? If Astarion looks like the way he does with 8, I really want to see that 14 STR. Y'know. For science.

His stats are simply insane. What the fuck, Gortash.

*spends 5 minutes rotating him around, purely to admire him*

Okay let's take a look at his features. I missed out on it when I first met him because I was busy running for Cazador's ass. 🤣

Resistant to magic AND high spellcasting? 👀 Permanently armed?? Unarmed attacks seem logical, but crossbow expert??? 👀

He's a fucking prize.

[ultimatehistorical]

ULTIMATE HISTORICAL FIGURE OF TUMBLR DOT COM!!!

Now I know as the op I'm really not supposed to give my opinion.. however I severely underestimated the amount of ea nasir stans and I really think gavrilo princip could use some votes and if him and franz ferdinand both go through it would be really funny.. just saying.. okay sorry don't cancel me for voter interference please please please ea nasir is also super interesting

[flymmsy]

The only Franc-take I just can’t agree with is that the “slithering, wet malice” letters were too dramatic and out of character.

Did we…did we not all get the same cutscene in act 2 where Gortash immediately pretends to salute, happily claps his hands together, and waves his little wrist at Ketheric like a Drama Queen?

Did we not all see the same thing? Man is FLAMBOYANT as hell.

[toxicrevolver]

List 5 things that make you happy then put this in the ask box for the last 10 people who reblogged something from you! :3

(flings this back towards you)

It’s been like 2 hours since I answered this the first time but I deserve the attack so.

1) banana bread still. (I really hate the fact I’m mildly allergic to bananas)

2) watching tv show/movies I enjoy (I’m looking at you marvels Venom with Tom Hardy)

3) when it rains (I fuckin love the rain)

4) can I say banana bread again? If not then creating. Just like in general. I like making art and writing.

5) MY CAT SON. HES ORANGE AND NOT VERY BRIGHT.

HAVE A PICTURE OF MY SON. (Pls ignore the mess. He lives with someone else in my family and they just moved)

[armoricaroyalty]

Previous | Chapter Start | From the Beginning | Next

transcript under the cut!

9:36 PM / February 27th, 2016

FREDERICK | [sniffling] FREDERICK | [softly] Fuck me. EMILY | Sir? Are you alright? FREDERICK | [sniffling] I'm not crying. EMILY | Of course not, Sir. FREDERICK | [laughs tiredly] Do I have to order you to use my name, Emily? EMILY | I told you, it'd be an adjustment. FREDERICK | I know. I like hearing you say it, though. EMILY | You're very presumptuous, Sir. FREDERICK | I'd deny it, but that'd make me a liar. EMILY | I brought your glasses. FREDERICK | Thank you. I forgot you had them. EMILY | ... FREDERICK | ... EMILY | ... EMILY | [clears throat] We didn't have a chance to finish speaking earlier...was there anything else you wanted to talk about, Frederick? FREDDY | Uh...was there something you wanted to talk about? EMILY | It's nothing, I just thought that— CHANDRA | [offscreen] Excuse me, Your Highness. FREDDY | [swallowing] G-good evening, Your Grace. EMILY | Baba, you're interrupting. I was speaking to Prince Frederick. CHANDRA | I know, Lamb. You'll forgive your father, I hope? EMILY | I'm not a little girl, Baba! FREDDY | Er, I should go— EMILY | [sighs] FREDDY | Please excuse me, Your Grace. I should rejoin the party— CHANDRA | You are excused. Your Highness. CHANDRA | ...You're going along with this idiotic scheme of your brother's, then? EMILY | Baba! Not so loud. Anyone could be listening. CHANDRA | [sighs] Walk with me, then. We're overdue for a conversation... JACQUES | ...you've been quiet all night. What's up? VIVI | [sighs] VIVI | Nothing. Just tired, I guess. JACQUES | Oh. [beat] Well, can I say something? JACQUES | You look really pretty. VIVI | Stop. JACQUES | It's true. You're the most beautiful woman here tonight. VIVI | Jacques... JACQUES | I really want to kiss you right now. VIVI | I don't know... JACQUES | Don't be cruel. Please, Vivi... VIVI | Jacques, I... JACQUES | Happy birthday, darling. FREDDY | ... FREDDY | Nice to see the two of you getting along for once. JACQUES | [laughs] We're married, Fred. JACQUES | You dated that redhead for what, nine months. You wouldn't get it. VIVI | [snorts] Jacques, be nice! JACQUES | It's true, that's the longest relationship he's ever had... JACQUES | ...the one before that was a month, and she dumped him by text. FREDDY | [sighs] Sometimes I wish I was an only child. JACQUES | Lighten up, dude. It was a joke. VIVI | You are so mean. FREDDY | I'm used to it, Viv. Now where's the champagne? I need a drink...

[phoenix-flamed]

I'm going to call my muse out on something. Okay, really I can call him out on a lot of things, but this one thing in particular is something I frequently harp on with a lot of my other war-involved muses too.

I get wanting to fight side-by-side with your men. I do. You want to be right there with them, not necessarily for glory, but knowing Elwin's personality -- as a sign of trust and equality. What better way to show your respect for, and inspire confidence from and in your soldiers, than by taking the field of battle with them? I especially get it from the perspective of going from being a skilled soldier yourself to becoming a leader of a nation -- it's probably difficult to adjust and detach yourself from the prior, in order to focus more on the latter.

And I have no doubt there's also an element of honor and/or pride involved, too, especially because Elwin did spend so much of his life honing his skills as a swordsman.

I also understand that XVI is based specifically on medieval times, and that the "rules" of war were undoubtedly very different back then, as they have continued to change across the centuries.

But in my opinion, one of Elwin's most significant mistakes as Archduke was being more focused on going out with his soldiers/taking to battle with his troops. As the leader of a nation, you absolutely should not do that. I fucking LOVE the trope of the commander taking the field, but gods is it so idiotic, practically speaking.

Everyone knows that when it comes to battle, you can quickly shut down the entire conflict by eliminating the metaphorical head of the snake. Take out the acting commander of a contingent, and you destabilize, if only temporarily, that entire contingent. Yes, there are other ranked officers who are intended to step up and take charge, but that takes time, and time is a luxury in the heat of battle.

Now, take this concept, and make it even worse by having that commander be the acting ruler of an entire nation and surrounding territories. What happens if he falls in battle? Especially in the case of Elwin, whose heir to the throne is only like ten years old?

Take all of this with a grain of salt, because these are just my personal opinions -- but in my opinion, Elwin was very, very dangerously playing with fire, especially because he was not Phoenix's Dominant. He was just an ordinary guy who happened to be highly proficient in swordsmanship and statesmanship because of his dedication to learning both arts, the latter of which is not exactly going to do him any good out on the field -- but is crucial to being a nation's ruler.

[maegalkarven]

I love how vastly different June and Levi are and how their relationships with Enver differ in so many ways.

If Levi is a guy believing he is equal to gods, then June is, at his core, a prodigal follower.

It's a pattern he doesn't break out of even as he betrays his father for Selune. Gortash didn't manage to shake this part of him, only created a push, allowing June chose a god other than Bhaal (i.e. June didn't want Enver to die, realized he didn't want to die himself and entered a pact-like relationship with the Lady of Silver to prevent these two things from happening.)

The hardest thing for him is to go back on his word/dismantle the existing alliance. His mortal flaw is loyalty, blind loyalty.

So at some point his story comes to a crossroads.

He can either reaffirm his alliance with Gortash, unknowingly dooming him a Gortash himself, not to mention death of Duke Ravengard and many other casualities.

In this scenario Gortash dies from the psyonic command of the Nether Brain and June becomes the hero of Baldur's Gate and the new archduke.

Which sounds fun and games until you realize it also includes him becoming a new Chosen of Bane, because June might have learned how to break out of his father's chains, but he doesn't know what to do with himself and, after his and Selune's ways part, is an easy prey for gods with less than honorable plans.

The other road comes with stabbing Gortash in the back, metaphorically speaking. It includes the wicked choice of putting a tadpole into his head and making him cooperate because "oh, but I can just relinquish the protection astral prism bestows on you. I am sure you'll love being Elder Brain's thrall".

It's a choice what leaves absolutely everyone (well, not EVERYONE) horrified because not only they did not expect that from June, but also looking how pleased June is with himself by walking Gortash into the corner opens their eyes to the fact what he is not, in fact, a hero. He was a villain in the past and some of this past still lingers, even more after Selune's cold soothing light has left.

And, ridiculously, it's the choice what saves everyone; gondians, Ravengard, Karlach, Gortash himself.

[a-gaggle-of-colors]

Hey Tarzia. How was the family get together? Did it go well?

>Tarzia is currently holding a sleeping Baizza. She holds a finger up to her mouth to shush you. Yukire answers instead.

"It went wonderfully. Ekirsh and Quizel got to meet everyone properly. And all the kids know about each other, so we're happy."

>Yukire smiles and gently runs a hand through Baizza's hair.

"Tarzie is insisting on Baizza and Rhovia staying longer though, not that I mind. Ekirsh, Tarzie and I love having them here and Lailou dotes on them."

[realbacchus]

Ohh no the beginning of Leviathan is kinda upsetting

[gortash-week]

hello gortash nation. it is i, host of this week @sankttealeaf here! gortash week may "officially" be over but that means nothing when the archduke wants more! (he will not stop until he has more, please i miss my family he's keeping me locked away in wyrms rock prison and is making me dance for his amusement! i cant dance! help please!!)

anyway - despite the event ending, i will be leaving the AO3 collection open until the end of august / early september for those who found the event a little later and want to make something for these prompts. time is a weird soup after all, we don't follow rules here!!

if you've made something and have thought "oh no! its not the day of the prompt anymore - i cant post it" PLEASE share it!! i'm still accepting submissions and i'll still reshare any gortash week work here & tag whichever day its for! i know some people found out about the event as it was happening and if the prompts have inspired you - please share!!! i'd love to see it!!

thank you from the bottom of my heart if you've participated in this event - whether that's making things or simply engaging with the content shared. it means the world to me that people found the prompts interesting enough to take time out of their day to make something for it. i had no idea this event would be as big as it's become and i'm so so so impressed with the wide variety of work made and shared!! everyone is so talented and i cant wait to see what other things you all make and write <3

as for the future? well, i'd love to run more events like this! i've mentioned before about a hypothetical "gort month" that would include two prompts per week, 8(ish) prompts in total. that way there's a loooot more time to work on things & if people wish to join halfway through it's a lot less pressure to do so! my aim for running events is to keep them as stress & pressure free as possible because theyre here to be fun! i'm also open to comments & ideas & feedback on how you (yes, you!) found this event so if i do end up running something else in the future it can be better and better! pls feel free to shoot me as ask (anon or not it's fine! be respectful though, that's all i ask<3) if you have any post-event comments you want to air and i'll respond!!

again, if i've missed any of your work you've posted, please send it my way! no message required, just drop me the link & i'll share it asap!! thank you to those who have done that already!! i easily miss things and i dont want anyone to feel like im purposefully leaving them out!!

thank you again for making this week so enjoyable! ive had such a blast hosting it and if i see any other events i'll be sure to reblog them here (for those interested: i've seen a wyllmancer week, a galemancer week (both on twitter), and a lae'zel week on here that i can't seem to find the post for to link to :( )

again - super open to comments and feedback or even if you just want to say hi! i'm way more active on my main blog if you're interested in hanging out there :3

thank u so much for this week, it's been so much fun <3 <3

[absolutehomosexuals]

Tag yourself / your ex as de-idealized bg3 men: lore accurate edition

(implied female reader)

Gale of Waterdeep

☆ "My ex was crazy!!"

Accidentally calls you her name on multiple occasions.

☆ Runs on mansplaining and patronizing quips alone

☆ The medieval equivalent of a Quentin Tarantino fan

☆ "Oh yeah? Name five tavern songs."

☆ Due to some odd twist of nature, being on good terms with his mother didn't stop him from developing mommy issues

☆ His favourite book sold three copies total across the Material Plane

☆ Broke up with you over carrier pidgeon

(10k words and counting)

The Cambion Raphael

♤ Swears on his honour he's not gay

Doesn't have a honour

♤ Jokes about clone-fucking way too often for your friends', your family's and anyone's liking

♤ Has a scary amount of child trafficking allegations

♤ Professional pillow princess

♤ A deadly cocktail of erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation

♤ "Let them eat bread"

♤ All of his jewlery is a product of child labour

The Strap of Frontiers

◇ Vowed to save his virginity for marriage

◇ Idealizes you to an unrealistically toxic degree

◇ Introduces you to his family after the second date

◇ He's not rich, he's "comfortable"

Proceeds to be the son of an archduke

◇ Sports the biggest martyr complex his therapist has ever witnessed

◇ His sugar mommy is part of the package

◇ Gambled with the literal devil (and lost)

Lord Enver Gortash

♧ Thinks of perfume as a substitute for deodorant

♧ Bathes once per fortnight

♧ The coat stays on during sex

While he'll gaslight you with a hundred different justifications, it merely buys him a few seconds before the inevitable

♧ Has never told truth once. Mfer even gave you a fake last name.

♧ His sidepiece has homicidal tendencies, so you'll basically live in terror

♧ Hunts orphans for sport

♧ Occasionally throws in a dehumanizing, downright terrifyingly classist phrase or two. Just to keep the conversation flowing.

[toxicrevolver]

Tagged by @loveable-sea-lemon thanks for the tag!!!

I did this once already but I wanna do it again. It’s cute sue me.

Make yourself using this hella cute picrew

~ Not tagging anyone today but if anyone wants to participate feel free to blame me!! ~

[veilkeeper]

i think a lot about what kind of thoughts/feelings gortash might be having when durge and co shows up to the inauguration and walks down that extremely long red runner carpet to finally, finally talk to him but these tags on another post of mine just blew my third eye wide open

#this is my morning bowl of angst cereal#(the milk is durge going alone to his coronation walking down the aisle like they are coming to marry him) (tags by overcrowded-camp)

because oh my god, thats exactly what it would look like, wouldnt it. if durge left their party in the room outside, knowing that they know gortash somehow and knowing they need to handle this themself, and opening those giant doors and making their way down this long aisle, all the patriars in the city gathered.

and gortash at the end of it all, seeing them for the first time in maybe months, and sure theyre wearing armour and they might even be covered in blood, but it still takes his breath away. would he make that connection? he's the archduke, if he were to marry it would probably be in this exact room. and if he were to marry, this is who he would want it to be.

but they finally meet face to face and despite everything they had, despite everything gortash still feels, despite the fact that durge might even be wearing something he gave them, they dont remember him. and that impossible dream that they could be together slips further and further away. but at least they can still rule together.