#bg spoilers

[mmigrainee]

One of my favorite screenshots of Gortash is the one where he looks like he's trying to run down the stairs very fast, because he's glad to see Dark Urge so much

[carryoncastiel]

Something I noticed while swapping around clothes, is that besides the very obvious scars Wyll has on his face he also has

a big nasty scar that seems to run from one side of his stomach up to his right arm

one mark that looks like maybe a stab wound on the left side of his chest

various little scars on his back and also on the right side of his chest (which all kinda look like claw marks to me)

Wondering what the stories behind those are. With the claw marks I'm always thinking Mizora because we know Wyll has disobeyed her orders before and clawing up his skin as punishment seems like something she would do. Don't know about the other two but they would've been really bad wounds from the locations on his body alone but also how deep they would've been to leave scars like that...

[vitanithepure]

Ah, yes. "Love".

[wild-magic-oops]

Considering we now have TWO Gale kisses where he teases the player character

and we have this coming from Gortash to Durge

there is *puts on overanalyzing things to fit my own agenda glasses* yet another Gale-Gortash similarity - they both like teasing Durge

[alsoika]

"I have everything I ever wanted."

[kohnnor]

That Dark Urge scene ♥

[innercherryblossomsoul2]

Emperor appreciation

[y-rhywbeth2]

My favourite diviner response is probably Arkushule (who I am assuming, by a specific word used earlier in the text, is a Gur) simply for how she responds when she realises exactly what you are.

Charname: "I see no harm in a little divination on your part. Here is my palm. What does it tell you?" Arkushule: "Let's have a look now. Interesting. Though you live a hard life now, your hand tells of a softer existence not long ago. I assume that you have just recently taken to the road?" Charname: "That much is true, yes. Do go on." Arkushule: "I thought as much. Let's have a little closer look now. back down your life line. I see a scholarly influence, and you are well educated. You had a mentor who was a great sage? Perhaps of considerable power as well?" Charname: "My foster father Gorion was a sage, and a bit of a mage as well. Go on." Arkushule: "You had a reasonably happy childhood with him, aside from being a little difficult. My my, but you were quite the little hellion. Wonder where that comes from? Let's see what we can't learn about you back before this Gorion. Further back I see... I see... Merciful gods! Iseealongandhappylifeforyouandyours. 10 gold, please, and I'll be on my way." Charname: "What? What is it you saw?" Arkushule: "I saw nothing! You will live long and enjoy life, and I will be going now! Back from me!" Charname: "You must tell me. Please, dear lady!" Arkushule: "I have told all I am going to. Stay back from me! Your life is none of my affair!" Charname: "Please, I don't mean to be rude. Just tell me what your vision revealed." Arkushule: "Stay away from me! I warn you, I'll not let you near me!"

And then she screams and starts attacking you, trying to kill you in a blind panic. On the plus side, you don't have to pay her this way.

I also like the implication that Bhaalspawn toddler temper tantrums are a nightmare to deal with. Having had experience with full room demolition scale emotional dysregulation from aggressive young children (and as somebody who was one)... yeah. Give Gorion a raise, I bet neither Bhaal nor Alianna ever paid child support. I mean I know they're all dead, but still.

I think there's a milder version with a seer in Tradesmeet in BG2 where the lady realises what she just read and just goes "please never speak to me ever again."

[elderidgeart]

For real found a headstone in BG3 labeled "This tombstone shows only the graven initials, 'M.T.' "

😭😭😭

Is this a genuine Mollymauk reference in the wild?

[daemon-in-my-head]

ALSO, Irenicus, at least for those that like elves, is a very neat character study and tells you a lot about their lore. And that man was BITTER. Also low-key seems like inspiration for the elf and half elf. Though tbf Bodhi seems to be a massive inspiration for Astarion. The whole vampirism to forcefully prolong your own life bit.

Anyway, here's his story in a nutshell; tried to become as powerful as the Seldarine (elven gods) fucked up and was subsequently cast out of what's essentially the entire race. Most powerful elven spellcaster turned exile cuz he tried to fuck with the source of the elves' life essence.

Now, cursed with a regular mortals life span and what is referred to as senility (his mind was essentially wiped) he and his 'sister' and Co conspirator went absolutely batshit insane trying to somehow 'fix' their mess and still attain godhood. Bodhi essentially became an extra mad vampire spawn and Irenicus (successfully) became a fake Bhaalspawn by stealing a bunch of Bhaalspawn's essences. Also torturing them cuz yay fun.

Of course, like all good villains, he too was married at some point. Until a sorceress just about as mad as he himself killed his wife and waited for him to love her instead. Some things he fucked up but other things people fucked up for him. Balanced.

Well at least until he was killed in an all out war (he allied with a dragon too btw), his essence was transported to Bhaals realm, he fought with Abdel and managed to turn into the Slayer himself, but was eventually defeated with whatever was left of him cast to a different plane where fiends made snacktime of him.

To quote one of the most bitter men in Faerûn history; "I have tried to recreate it, tried to spark it anew in my memory, but it is gone...a hollow, dead thing. For years I clung to the memory of it. Then the memory of the memory. And then nothing–the Seldarine took that from me too."

Elves are wildly fucked up, btw. At least in FR lore, they're not the elegant benevolent beings they're often viewed as. They're majorly fucked up and the reason for multiple apocalyptic events. I love elves. (Also the Starym house which name I borrowed was fucked up as well. They own a magic sword that turns people irrevocably mad.)

[gortass-romance-when]

A Photo Taken Moment Before Disaster

[perilegs]

karlach during the dark urge romance encounter

bonus: reactions to the whole trying to murder the love of your life while she sleeps debacle

[lichposting]

Game finished!!! Zxar won!!! Her dad will be so proud. I'm so glad the game actually let me do this....no fakeout...all shall perish and then she, too, will die upon her father's altar...gonna hang out with her bestie and her bf till then. theyre happy and definitely not mind controlled dw

one last beautiful durge smile for the road...

[rivensbane]

lmaaao sorry guys

[ladyjmontilyet]

Nothing in this game has made me laugh as hard as casting Detect Thoughts on The Emperor

[calico-heart]

Wash My Dreams Away

Ship: Astarion/Tav Rating: Teen (Snark, Flirting, General Theatrical Tomfoolery, Skinny Dipping, Deep Water) Summary: My not-very-reformed pirate Tav goes to bathe in a nearby lake one night, and Astarion follows her looking to instigate a bit of fun. A/N: Kinktober prompt fill . There's nudity but there's not actually any smut in this fic because they decided they'd both rather be gremlins.

Also on Ao3! Likes/Reblogs/Comments/Kudos welcome!

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Lyra preferred the swell of saltwater and its foamy waves, but in a pinch, a tepid lake would do. She’d come alone – excused herself from the campsite to bathe. And then… simply stayed out. In the water. Floating.

If she closed her eyes she could pretend she only dreamed, suspended in her hammock belowdecks on a calm night, and that her life was not indelibly altered. 

Men and women and children, whose value in gold at the slave markets she could estimate with a glance, told her she was a hero. They toasted and feasted her for saving them from the same occult plague that slept in her own mind. Strangers with soft hearts asked her for leadership through a waking nightmare. Nobles called her to vengeance and bloodshed for the promise of coin and glory. Celestial beings she didn’t trust charged her with sacred duties she had no idea how to fulfill.

Now they traveled the mountain pass in lingering hope of a cure that felt further away every day. With each step people praised her courage. Her ingenuity. Her cunning. All she wanted to do, all she’d ever done, each step along the way, was survive. 

If this was really what made Adventurers different from brigands, she had to confess she didn’t really see the point in dividing them. At least before she’d been at liberty to choose her masters.

Thoughts murky as the open sea, she focused instead on the feel of the lake lapping at her skin, caressing her hair, and tickling the edges of her lips. Open water was a gentle, treacherous lover. Never safe, but familiar in the consistency of its caprice. Even here, so very far from the ocean she missed.

And while crickets and frogs were a poor substitute for the creaking of wood and the call of gulls, they had their uses. When the creatures nearby went abruptly silent, her eyes opened, and she sank most of herself beneath the dark waters. Only Lyra’s senses remained exposed.  

Reeds shifted along the rocky shoreline. Not from the wind. 

“Voyeur.” She accused. If it was an animal, it would ignore her. If it was a spy, they’d be likely to respond. Hopefully.

“I was checking on you.” Came the indignant answer a moment later, as a familiar dandelion puff of white hair emerged. “I thought maybe you’d been swallowed by a lake monster or something.” He shrugged.

Eyebrows scrunching, she slithered closer to the shore. “Well, I did ‘ave fish nibblin’ at me toes.”

“See? You’re lucky I came out here to save you.” Astarion waxed, “They’d have eaten you right up.”

“Ye’ll be rescuin’ me all t’way from t’shore then?” She scoffed. His arrival stirred a certain excitement in her, and she was quick to dismiss the unseemly brooding of before – it wasn’t for the eyes of others. Especially not him. 

“Well, yes. Obviously. So swim along over here and commence with the lecherous displays of gratitude.” He flourished a hand, tapetum eyes glancing nowhere obvious, and covertly toward the thick woods on the nearby shore. Always keeping watch.

“Right after me washin’?”

“I hope you’re not seriously objecting on that account.”

“Ye could join me.” She splashed, letting her breasts float to the surface, nipples pert.

“No, thank you. There’s probably leeches or something in there.”

A snort.

A glare.

Lyra rolled her eyes. “I’ll protect ye from t’scary bloodsuckers. It’ll be fun. Haven’t ye ever wanted t’do it in the bath before?”

“Where I’m from, a bath is warm water in a cozy room with clean towels an arm’s reach away and a soft bed waiting for me.” He jeered. “This is – marinating yourself in midge larvae and fish piss.”

“Where I’m from, that’s poncy, and this is a rare treat.”

“Yes dear, I know. It’s one of your more unfortunate qualities.”

Her playful grin soured. “Take a guess what isn’t sexy? Getin’ frisky in t’sand. Especially when yer wet. Gets every-damn-where.” 

“I’ll carry you up a tree, then.” He teased back. “Come now, will I have to woo you from the waters like a selkie?”

“Would ye–?” She asked, smirking, and then jolted. “Fuck.”

“Yes darling, I’ll fuck you.” He sighed, “Out of the water.”

“No – somethin’... somethin’ nipped my foot.” She answered, looking down at the black waters.

“See?” Astarion straightened. “That’s exactly why I won’t be joining you in there. I’m fairly certain Revivify doesn’t bring back lost limbs. Or certain other extremities. And I don’t want to have to explain that to Shadowheart.”

Lyra made for shore, only to vanish mid-cry beneath the surface. 

Stiffening, Astarion took several steps forward, but moonlight glinted off the waters, and beneath the echoing ripples, there was nothing to be seen. “Ha. Ha. Very funny.” He berated, lip tugged into a grimace, “Now enough games, Lyra.”

Silence.

“You won’t get me in there like this, either!” He insisted. “It’s not even a very good trick!” 

Nothing answered. Not even bubbles.

Several minutes passed, and none of his continued barbs caught anything in response. 

Worry, eventually, began to twist in earnest. 

He paced the shoreline, but the moon-glint followed him. It was impossible to pierce the dark. 

“Godsdammnit.” He hissed, glancing over a shoulder and then back at the smooth surface. 

“Well. Giant lake fish have to eat, too, I suppose.” Head tilting left and right, he shrugged. “I’m sure I can think of a way to make it sound more glamorous, darling. Though I daresay the camp deserves an honest retelling, for once. Some deaths are better left ungarnished.” 

He started to walk in the direction of camp. Caught himself mid-stride. Groaned, and glared up at the observing stars.

Faced the lake again. 

“You’d better not be pretending.” Astarion threatened, “If this turns out to be a clever way to get me in the water with you, I can guarantee you’ll have a run in with a real monster!” One moment more, then he added, “And not in a fun way!”

This, too, was met with silence, as he tugged off his boots and socks, and unbuttoned his shirt with furtive fury. For spite, he folded that and set it neatly atop the boots, before approaching the bank again, grimacing. He hesitated.

The water was still black. Still… still. Barely even a ripple. Not a clue how deep it might go, or what else might be lurking beneath. Ugh. And it’s going to be freezing, more than likely. 

Astarion went back for his clothes. 

Stopped. Huffed. 

Turned, again. But at this point, he reasoned, he may as well commit.

He pointed at the lake as if to tell it off, but any words didn’t make it past his fangs, this time. He only pulled his lip into a snarl and edged a toe in. 

That was the very moment he heard a twig snap, and a very not-eaten Lyra darted out from the reeds to his left wearing nothing but a shit-eating grin. 

Only vampiric reflex saved him being grappled, and he caught her mid-leap with a staggered step back onto solid ground. “You lying little– Mnnph!”

Lips cascaded into his, interrupting him with an appropriately lurid kiss. 

He pulled back, exhaling. “Were you just going to let me dive in there and laugh from dry land?”

“Obviously not.” She soubretted back, “I only wanted t’get yer shirt off. But it fair warms me heart t’know ye would have.”

“Next time something really is going to eat you and I’m not going to lift a finger to stop it.” He snapped back. And he felt very heroic for not simply dropping her onto the sand.

“Y’should beat the beasties to it an’ eat my yerself.” Lyra tilted her head, leaving the temptation of her throat on full display. 

Well. He thought he just might.