#bhaal battle beer bard

[bhaal-battle-beer-bard]

FUN FACTS ABOUT YOUR TAV!

Thanks for the tag my dear @alpydk 💙💜💙

I tag back @aristenfromwarsaw , @pinkberrytea, @heytheresunflower and @yennefer-of-vengerbergs

I am going to do it for my Tiefling Durge Saulus (I did so often already I know 😅) I really should do the stuff more often for my other two Tavs, but yeah...not today 😅🙈🤣

Saulus

~Is your character good, evil, or neutral (makes some good decisions, some bad ones)?

She wanted to be the most evil bhaal bitch babe of them all...ended up rescue every single Gondian. So the most evil things she does most of the time are her sassy comments on everything and her nasty roasting songs. She is chaotic good. Or good evil, lawful evil? Does this exist? (Just look out, she is very easily influenced and when Astation or Sceleritas tell her to do something, she does it)

~What hobbies do they partake in?

She is a bard. With heart and soul. So this is the stuff that she is doing. Music, music everywhere at any time. 🎶🎼🎵

And so so much writing.📜🪶

(Does to cuddle and kiss also count as hobby?)

Oh and to gossip and talking shit. But to make bad puns and giggle like a teenie is not a hobby is more her professional calling 😉😂

~Do they own any heirlooms from their family or ancestors?

She is a Durge, so...maybe her bedroom at the temple of bhaal if Orin would not hang up her dead mother/sister there 🙄 (kids these days!)

So nothing material, only her boiling bloodlust, maybe really some lunatic blood kink deep inside her, some crazy problems in the head and...little buddy Sceleritas Fel with his nice hat! 🎩 😄

~ Can your character cook?

Can your character cook? That is...a really good question 🤔

I think she can. Not exceptionally good, but enough for all needs. And she is absolutely up to learn more things, for a little family to feed later 😊

~Does your character have a best friend?

😃😁😃

THISOBALD THORM!!!

The thing with Saulus is, that anyone who buys her a drink is her friend by law🤣

(Also even if Astarion would decide not to romance her, he would be her best friend, because they would talk shit and gossip nonstop about the others and make dirty puns)

~Their biggest fear?

People juding her by her horns and tail and think she is unattractive because of that. But that is only an insecurity. Losing or disappointing her companions is the real thing. Most of all Astarion and her owlbear cub.

~Name one of their red flags.

And there it is: animal abuser.

Show her one and she does not need to be a Durge to bring bloody hell upon them! 😡

Or red flag like in relationship? Well...do not try to dominate her out of the bedroom or in other way she did not allow in the first place. Never try to humiliate her. To be the baddest bhaal babe of them all can come back in one second in her raging head and hands. And even if not a insane bhaal chosen, she is still a battle bard.

[judasiskariot]

"You can't put a price tag on knowledge ☝🏻️😌" - Gale of Waterdeep

Retail worker: Yes. Yes you can. These books and scrolls cost 650 gold. Are you paying now, Mr. Dekarios, or do we have to notify your mother again? Gale: NO! Not my mother! Alright. I will leave this three books here and only buy the rest than 😭

[bhaal-battle-beer-bard]

Is that what it looks like to be a bard in BG3?

Totally battle beer bard style ⚔️🎶

CHAPPELL ROAN performing at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards — September 11, 2024

[yennefer-of-vengerbergs]

FUN FACTS ABOUT YOUR TAV!

Thank you for the tag @bhaal-battle-beer-bard 💖

I will absolutely take any and all opportunities to babble about my girl Syanna 💖

~Is your character good, evil, or neutral (makes some good decisions, some bad ones)?

She ends up being chaotic good by the end of her story but she does start out being more on the neutral side, being much more practical and wanting to help herself first (it's how she justifies picking up the other companions, why she gets involved in the goblin fight outside of the Emerald Grove and so on), but along the way, she actually finds out she doesn't mind doing good things, and that she actually likes being capable of kindness (pretty much the whole premise of my longfic)

Pre-tadpole though? Definitely on the evil side.

~What hobbies do they partake in?

She tries out a lot of stuff, especially post-game. It's one of her ways of finding out who she is and what she likes, so she'll pick up any and all hobbies she can think of, and sees what sticks.

She likes reading, especially mystery and adventure books (it's also a hobby that she and Astarion share - a lot of times, during and post-game, they actually cuddle and read together, either each of them with their own book, or they share one and end up bickering about how one or the other should read faster if they don't want the other to turn the page before they finish reading).

Then, there's playing with Scratch and the owlbear cub (she loves them both so much, your honor 💖)

Another thing she likes doing is trying to find other ways to use her magic, be it just for fun, or for whatever would make her day to day life easier (like using mage hands to do her hair while she does something else, a fire spell to keep the water in the bathtub warm; basically, the faerun equivalent of life hacks).

Also, cuddling with Astarion, because obviously.

As for the failed ones, she tries to pick up cooking post-game, but finds out she is horrendous at it and that she doesn't enjoy it at all anyway. She also tried to get into more artistic hobbies. As it turns out, she can, at most, draw stick figures, and trying to learn to play an instrument would require someone to actually teach her how to do it, if she wants it to sound better than painful, out of tune squeaks or like nails on a chalkboard.

~Do they own any heirlooms from their family or ancestors?

Do the urges count?

She does get rid of those by rejecting Bhaal though, so maybe not 😅

~ Can your character cook?

Absolutely not😂Besides, she doesn't like doing it, so most of the times, for herself, she prefers to just buy something already made from whatever inn she and Astarion are staying at during their travels, or from a market (or Astarion ends up stealing it for her).

~Does your character have a best friend?

Karlach and Jaheira 😁

She immediately got along with Karlach and they became fast friends, with Syanna appreciating the fact that Karlach was more supportive, more understanding of her after finding out what happened to Alfira, which Syanna ends up telling her about (in my runs it's always happened that way, I get the Alfira scene before recruiting Karlach). There's a lot of support and understanding and friendship there, both of them think of the other as a sister, so it's unsurprisingly bad when it's found that Syanna is a bhaalspawn and was also behind the Absolute plot. But the worst part for Karlach is by far how she used to be allied with Gortash, which feels like a huge betrayal in the moment and drives a wedge between them both for a good while. They do make up in the end though and their friendship is absolutely stronger afterwards. And you would not believe how much time they spend together at the reunion party catching up and just how happy Syanna is when she hears that Karlach and Wyll might be able to find a way for Karlach's engine to be fixed ❤️

With Jaheira, they're both sarcastic little shits with each other from the start, but they also end up getting along. Jaheira does begin to think that something is off about Syanna at one point and eventually begins to suspect that she might be a bhaalspawn, judging by how she acts and everything going on with her (which leads to the scene in early act 3 where she confronts her about it). And although she is worried about what that means, she does also notice how Syanna struggles with everything, so she keeps an eye on her and is there for her and eventually becomes somewhat of a mother figure for her too (and I just love it when you get to good enough approval with her that she starts calling you 'cub' 🥹)

~Their biggest fear?

Her more unusual fear (to others, but understandable, given her circumstances) would be losing her memories again, especially after finally making new, happy ones alongside Astarion - she'd hate even the thought of not remembering her life with him. Other than that, she spends a good chunk of the game events afraid of being abandoned/alone.

An example of that is when, the closer they get to Baldur's Gate, things between her and Astarion start to get tense, because he's obviously worried about confronting Cazador and thinks about the ritual and wanting to complete it himself; Syanna isn't so sure about it and tries to reason with him but it ends up being the subject of several arguments between them, which only make her worry that it might end up being what drives them apart. Then add in all the durge revelations that happen shortly after, and she is not having a great time - most of the companions take the news poorly and she ends up just fearing they will all turn their backs on her, despite everything they've been through and how she no longer wanted anything to do with her old life (which is another thing I want to write about in my fic).

~Name one of their red flags.

Well, she did use to be the leader of the cult of Bhaal so...🫣

No pressure tags: @iizven @ratchsellsfornax @mercymaker @casualya @zyana-wyvern

[alpydk]

FUN FACTS ABOUT YOUR TAV!

Thanks for the tag @emmy-dekarios-bg3 ^^

I'm pretty sure I've done Nana before, so I'm going to do precious Theo, who has entered the fray.

~Is your character good, evil, or neutral (makes some good decisions, some bad ones)?

Theo is good through a through. A cleric of Mystra out saving people no matter who they are and what they've done. Everyone deserves a chance to be happy. That's not so much the doctrine, but just who they are as a person.

~What hobbies do they partake in?

Theo likes to paint, especially landscape shots using watercolours.

~Do they own any heirlooms from their family or ancestors?

Nope. Being a cleric, he's always on the move. He's been gifted small things from those he has helped, but nothing from family or ancestors.

~ Can your character cook?

Yes! It's something he's dabbled in ever since he was a kid and has a few recipes he likes to make by just throwing ingredients in the pot. He's often over Gale's shoulder, recommending spices and being told to get out of the campfire kitchen.

~Does your character have a best friend?

He's friends with anyone so, no. No real bestie.

~Their biggest fear?

Dying. There's a reason he's a life domain cleric.

~Name one of their red flags.

He always sees the good in someone, even when everything else has failed and they can't be redeemed. Your man would try to forgive the Netherbrain if given a chance.

No pressure tags :)

@senualothbrok @bhaal-battle-beer-bard @auroraesmeraldarose

[judasiskariot]

All About Your Tav/Durge and Their Romantic Interest

My sweet tumblr spouse @pinkberrytea tagged me😉😄 thank you so much my love for always thinking of me when it comes to tags🥰😘

I tag @aristenfromwarsaw ; I am sure she would enjoy to talk about Aristen&Astarion ;)

Maybe also @heytheresunflower @forget-me-maybe @silent-words and @goromimii want to ramble about their OTP?

Your Tav/Durge's Name and Their Partner:

💜Saulus & Astarion

Tell Us About Your Character - Anything at All!

Dark Urge Tiefling (Vampire) Bhaal Battle Beer Bard - That says it all; you see what you get

Loving owlbear mother

Loves to cuddle

Would protect Thisobald Thorm and Sceleritas Fel at all cost!

What Do They Enjoy Doing Together?

Gossiping - They are the Queens! Tattle and muck the others A L L THE T I M E !!! (lovingly)

Cuddle together (with the owlbear cub, when both Saulus and the cub learned how to behave and be quiet. Astarion is very patiently and you ask why he would not allow them to join in his tent? Well invite them over and see for yourself...or: I am going to write a funny fanfiction about it anyway!)

Astarion likes to visit his grave with Saulus; if you get my little drift ;)

What's Something Your Character's Partner Loves About Them?

She laughs about almost anything that he says and in an absolute honest way

They have got the same kind of humour

Her tail; Astarion has become fond of to do things with her tail and especially in public places at inappropriate times to test her control and to make her blush by making a fool of herself

She doesn't want to change him, does not want to "fix" him, she accepts him who and where he is

He likes it when she is sometimes a bit credulous and of a facile nature when it comes to him

Their Life After Baldur's Gate?

It is all in Saulus' character sheet. They tried to live the Baldur's Gate Palace Life, but since it was not owlbear-friendly and not Astarion-right mindset-friendly either...so it suffered "accidental fire damage", they moved to Moon Rise Towers to marry and start a family there. Four children keep them and the companions who always come to visit as babysitters and declared grandpa Ketheric, busy. (Ketheric, Thisobald and Sceleritas suffered no harm and had no choice but to be family friends) Saulus runs with Thisobald the New Waning Moon.

Something Your Tav/Durge Loves About Their Partner?

Almost everything. With each day she admires him more and more. Every curl of his hair, his feet and the ground they walk on.

But she fell in love with him, because of his sassy nature. Saulus' thinks that Astarion is the funniest man she knows and she loves to mess with him with others and to do stupid puns while laughing together like children. She likes his "mean" sarcastic ways and that he never judged her because of the dark urge within her.

Something That Your Character and Their Partner Both Hate (about anything):

Owlbear fiends (mistreating animals in general); quote Astarion: "Don't you dare to talk in such manner about my stinky bhaal wife and our bastard son!"

Judging about them without giving them a chance

People who don't appreciate their "brilliant" sense of humour

[bhaal-battle-beer-bard]

Another headcanon that has to be written!

Or maybe brought up in some fanfiction?

Does anyone volunteer or do I have to make my WIP list longer?

positive: astarion who has constantly cold fingers (can press kisses to them)

negative: getting kicked in the middle of the night by icy feet

[bhaal-battle-beer-bard]

Can my Tav kiss your Tav? 👉👈

😊😚

[bhaal-battle-beer-bard]

Baldur's Gate On Ice! - Headcanons

🧊❄️🧊❄️🧊❄️🧊❄️🧊❄️🧊

Gale doing either Plushenko style performance or he fails completely. It's one of the two.

Laeˋzel does it perfectly, because a githyanki has no flaws or weaknesses

Astarion is of course and clichéd absolutely gracious and marvellous because of his high dexterity it only makes sense

Wyll is also very good at the ice because of his dex and swirling around, but because of his new horns he looses balance and need to get used to the new weight

Shadowheart doing the Jenny Ortega Wednesday dance (Sorry not sorry? Little bit sorry?)

Karlach obviously is melting into the ice

Minthara says she doesn't take part in this nonsense but she slays it

Jaheira also can do some tricks, but she prefers to stay at the side and is joking about bad knee complaints

Minsc does not slay it

Halsin can not decide if to go as bear or not; but winter and ice belongs to nature, so he can deal with it (but he prefers the spring and summer), but very very carefully, he rather stays at side with Jaheira, because Minsc would continue to knock him off

⛸️❄️⛸️❄️⛸️❄️⛸️❄️⛸️❄️⛸️

[bhaal-battle-beer-bard]

What have gone with all the Tiefling characters. Very insecure about it 🥺😔 *holding nervously on the tail* Despite that...totally some crazy big, shiny eyes and the overenthusiastically smile 😁😁😁

Tav Question

What is the first thing people notice about you Tav’s appearance?

[bhaal-battle-beer-bard]

BG3 Companions at the zoo

Wyll: Shadowheart, you can't keep the squirrels.

Wyll: Lae'zel stop licking the frog! Drop it!

Lae'zel: 🐸👅😒

Wyll: Barcus hands off Wulbren, he is not into you! Drop him now!

Barcus: 👅👄 *tongue out in front of Wulbren's face*😨

Tiefling Tav: Barcus, I've got another gnome for you! 😃😃

Wyll: Tav,this is a child, not a gnome.😪🤦🏼‍♂Drop it!

Tiefling Tav: Oh 😯😔

Wyll: 🫵🏻ASTARION! DROP THE GOATS NOW!!!!🫵🏻

Astarion: 🐐 😨 *two goats under his arms*

Halsin: 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🏃‍♀💨🏃🏾‍♂️💨 *runs towards them; carrying 10 ducks* Run! RUN! The ducks are for free!

Karlach: Than why are we running?

Halsin: The guards see it differently.

Wyll: 😪🙄🤦🏼‍♂ *pulls out a list* 📝Alright let's see...on the list of the places we are banned from we have now:

- Zoo

- Cemetery; because Astarion and Tav always do inappropriate things there (Astarion; Oh yes😏Tav let's go to my grave NOW )

- Library; because Gale always moans too loudly when he reads books (Gale; It's not my fault they have such a good selection of interesting books. This is extremely erotic)

- All gnome and children celebrations (Tav; I am so sorry that this keeps happening, but they really look the alike, don't they?)

- All Shar AND Selune temple (Shadowheart; They know what they did 🙄😠😤)

- Flaming Fist training camp; because Lae'zel keeps making them cry (Lae'zel; Chk, weaklings!🙄😒)

- Fireworks shop (Karlach; I'm sorry guys)

Did I forget something?

[bhaal-battle-beer-bard]

No, no...that's...that's not funny. But then why do I have to laugh so much?

Sorry, a little bit sorry 😅🫣😉

[bhaal-battle-beer-bard]

Astarion x Tav

📜🪶📜🪶💙🎻🫧🌹🌸🌹🫧🎻💙🪶📜🪶📜

request: for @aristenfromwarsaw

Fangtastic days of our lives

➹summary: a comforting day/evening in the life of Astarion and his love Aristen after post-game settling down, takes an unexpected turn as Astarion while enjoying his new found life and love, sees something of interest…

➹pairing: Spawn Astarion x F!Tav (Aristen by @aristenfromwarsaw)

➹content/tags: fluff, comfort, romance, smuty flirting, fun, slice of life, little tiny bit of angst and guilt

➹word count: 5,036

➹cameos: @evander-jane Devana Lysander @alpydk Ragnar @goromimii @pinkberrytea (by order)

➹a/n: another belated birthday present for @aristenfromwarsaw  Thank you very much for all the great photoshoots you always did for me, just like that. Such things really fill my heart with joy. I hope you like it. Thank you for trusting me with your Tav Aristen. I take writing other OCs really serious, because an OC is very personal thing and it is way harder to get them in character. I used the infos/backstory you gave me once about Aristen for the best I could.

📜🪶📜🪶💙🎻🫧🌹🌸🌹🫧🎻💙🪶📜🪶📜

Fangtastic days of our lives

Teak, mahogany, oakwood, dried tobacco with the hidden essence of vanilla. From somewhere the sweetness of honey and roasted nutmeg.

These were impressions of antique wood, boiling kettles, clanging beer mugs and laughing voices that filled the Elfsong tavern.

It was like a honey-colored, subterranean, starless sea.

A sea of ​​people, scents, voices and music.

A sea of ​​life that would envelop the coming evening when the sun would have completely disappeared, making way for the aurora again after the starry night.

Astarion was acutely aware of his surroundings. Perception meant survival.

But not today…not anymore.

He could simply explore and enjoy his surroundings while he waited for his beloved:

Aristen the storm sorceress and former daughter of Bhaal. She was able to walk in the sun and as a vampire spawn he had to wait until the sun had made the rays that were fatal to him disappear.

That didn't matter to Astarion. He was used to the night.

But he never wanted to go back to that cold, lonely life.

The Sorceress, along with the other companions, had freed him from slavery once and for all. But it was she alone who had given him back the vision of his eyes, of his entire senses. Astarion could sit in the tavern and just be, taking in the surroundings of life.

No more looking for victims. No more fear. Never again.

The Elfsong Tavern was full of life and he was part of it.

So after hundreds of years, Astarion could finally taste life again. See it. Hearing it with his pointy ears and feeling and smelling it warmly with the scent of pumpkin, butterscotch and spicy beer.

A quite pretty bard with white freckly tattoos on her face and braided crimson hair beneath her Tiefling horns played the lyre on the Elfsong stage. Astarion noticed dagger-shaped earrings on her pointed ears. The Avernus fire of her origins blazed in her blue eyes as she sang:

“Empty kisses, shallow words,

Fiery passion only hurts

When the sorrow takes an oblivion hint

Will you cure and begone with the wind…”

Astarion continued to look around while the sadly whispering voice reached his elf ears.

“I hope someone sings a song like that for me too. Such expressions of love really manage to make me weak,” sighed a tall black-haired woman, whose face bore at least as many tales of adventure as freckles.

"Me too. But I really hope that the ballad has a happy ending,” replied a long-haired beauty at her table. The human woman's wavy, light hair framed a gentle face with captivating blue eyes.

“Oh you heard that? Oh no! ", the adventuress, ashamed, put her hands on her head with her side-braided hair and covered cringing with embarrassment one of the green eyes. "I should stop talking loudly to myself."

The other woman laughed a little and her wavy hair swayed on the shoulders of the long, light dress with floral embroidery: “It’s all good. I won’t tell anyone else.”

She winked briefly.

“But tell me…” she took her hands away from her face with the little different eyes, “…you’re not from Baldur’s Gate either, right? You also speak with a different accent than me.”

"Correct. I come from the East..."

“What did she say? Sêlune guide me?”

Astarion was distracted by an almost desperate voice that sounded at least as concentrated and angry as it was beer-soaked.

He saw a barbarian sitting at the next table, holding his beer mug almost too tightly.

The raised dark blonde hair did not distract from the piercings and black war paint, which Lae'zel would certainly have approved of.

“Okay, can I memorize this Sêlune prayer or not?” he muttered to himself and downed the beer in one gulp.

Astarion had seen him before and that evening he had stared at Shadowheart the whole time. Was the barbarian building up – or drinking up - the courage to speak to Shadowheart next time?

The vampire was distracted from the barbarian when a pale woman walked past his table accompanied by a brown-haired man. He noticed them because they both had scars on their faces. But no, that wasn't it at all. Something else drew his attention to them...they smelled somehow, almost reeked of...swamp? No magic.

That same hidden scent of feymagic that came from the black haired adventuress with the freckles.

The woman's pale face was friendly, almost cheerful. She enjoyed the music and the sad ballad. Did she know the feelings and sad love that the Tiefling woman sang about?

Astarion was all the more struck by the face of the dark-clothed man with the scarred hands who accompanied her: he was rigid and joyless and his eyes had an almost malicious shimmer. He didn't seem to suit her. He walked rigidly like an aristocrat or a trained soldier, or was he rigid because of the blade - that was clearly visible to the Rogue - that he wore under his clothes?

The man's gaze fell on the bard's dagger earrings. But not only the brown-haired human looked at the earrings, but also a white-skinned, tall elf who walked behind him. Astarion didn't know what was more noticeable: his large deadly sword, the long white hair, the black tattoos on his face, or...or the earrings in the shape of a dagger that hung from his ears.

He nodded almost imperceptibly to the bard and she returned his nod briefly.

Frowning, Astarion averted his gaze and looked around the taproom.

Many of the guests listened attentively to the ballad. Couples in love held each other tightly and some wiped a tear from their face.

“…in the dark of the night I see your tears

Rubies glisten full of pain

Rage and misery

Don’t get lost in brandy, bergamot and rosemary”

The ballad finished gently and the bard stood up.

"Thanks! And now for the bard duet!”

With a wave of her hand, she invited her partner onto the stage.

Wild white hair adorned the scarred drow face. It looked like survival for Astarion.

She could be young and old at the same time, that's how it was always with the elves. Young pretty faces and centuries behind them. Sorrow, suffering, joy. Everything was possible.

The narrow waist with the subsequent curved hips and thighs with short pants was adorned with a weapon belt with a sword and a flute.

The skilled hand whirled out a shiny silver flute and the duo began to play:

„Two bards do the trick, because bards do it better

Drow or Tiefling, it doesn’t matter

Shiny white hair, or wagging tail

Their persuasion will never fail“

They quickly changed the melancholic mood and the silver flute had a captivating sound, as if it were a homage to a goddess.

“One plays the flute, the other smashes lutes

Buy us a drink and we’ll tell you who is who“

A Tiefling whose rosé colored hair matched her white pink frilly clothing cheered enthusiastically to the tavern song.

Astarion heard her applaud with a giggling laugh. Cute little laughs with a sweet smile upon her light face.

It was that kind of sweet laugh that told the vampire how innocent, unspoiled, kind and naive the person was.

Yes, the delicate Tiefling woman was a sweet, innocent thing, Astarion could tell that with just a sideways glance of his red eyes. The sweet and naive kind of girl that immediately fell for him. Who he easily ensnared and seduced for Cazador. Or was she one of the people he would have avoided because they were so naive...innocent, undeserving of it? He would probably have avoided her if possible because such a sweet, lovely person didn't deserve to fall victim to the vampires.

Astarion closed his eyes briefly and grimaced at the emerging memories that he immediately wanted to repress.

Thanks to his beloved Aristen, he no longer had to do this.

He was free.

Cazador dead.

All of Baldur's Gate saved, saved from the Empire of the Netherbrain and the Mind Flayers.

Yes, thanks to the blonde adventuress whose fate was forever intertwined with his and all her other companions, he had escaped his fate as a slave. Their courage and their determination, with the help of the other fighters, allowed him to defeat Cazador.

But not only that, the storm sorceress had also given him love and patience. And the confidence to be better than Cazador. He didn't need blood-soaked, soul-eating power to be safe, to be worth anything.

Astarion would never have to hurt innocent people against his will again.

All thanks to her.

And yet Aristen did not consider herself to be good, nor to be lovable.

She loathed herself for her actions as a born Bhaalspawn, which she only dimly remembered. No one could hate her more than she hates herself.

And perhaps it was even worse for her, imagining every day what atrocities she had committed in the name of the God of Murder instead of knowing for sure.

She didn't see herself as a lovable hero, a savior. Astarion wished so much that she could see herself through his eyes just once. Then she would finally forgive herself.

The problem was that the sarcastic vampire had never said that to her and perhaps never would. There would always be something gnawing inside him, at his battered heart, that would prevent him from casually revealing his innermost, deepest feelings. What if he did lose her to someone else one day?  If it would not be an arrow or observer to steal her from him? How could he then pretend that his vain heart had not been destroyed for all eternity?

Darkness crossed Astarion's face at all the thoughts and he shook his head with his white curls to drive them away.

Once again he let his gaze wander over the audience, while his pointy elven ears only casually listened to the singing of the bards. It was only thanks to his beloved Aristen that he was able to recognize the diversity of the guests gathered. To be recognized again.

It had once been a faceless mass. At some point, after all the years of slavery under Cazador, the people in the taverns had become nothing more than a uniform mush to him. Victims, cattle like sheep, to his master. Criminals who hurt him and whom he hurt in return and they became victims of the vampire lord.

Dark, blank faces.

Without eyes, without soul. Just like Astarion himself had felt.

But after Aristen came into his life - with the craziest tentacle adventure of his life - everything had gradually changed.

First he recognized her blue eyes, then her face. The smile of her lips plagued by guilt and bloody ghosts of the past. The same smile as his own.

Then he saw all the faces, the people, their stories and lives again.

He saw the colors. The differences and the similarities. He heard the voices, the laughter, the music. He noticed the scents and smells again. Astarion saw joy and life again.

A scent that stood out from the rest of the tavern's smells suddenly tickled Astarion's nose.

Orchid drifted discreetly from the front door.

A slightly tickling shiver ran over the tips of his elf ears, while Astarion was already peering towards the door with large, round eyes.

Like the true epiphany she was, a blonde woman made her way through the elven song. Her appearance truly stood out from the rest of the tavern's audience:

Her delicately pinned hair and a ladylike, sweeping blue dress made her truly look like a lady of name and rank.

Astarion smiled as he looked at Aristen's appearance.

She always made an effort to look chic and beautiful, no matter what the circumstances. Like a true lady who belonged in a ballroom and not a tavern.

A ballroom, not a bhaalroom.

But Aristen loved all facets of life and also sat in the meadow under a tree in the forest with her fancy dress on.

If Astarion had his way, then very soon she would be pressed into the grass beneath him with the dress rumpled.

He chuckled dirtyly to himself as he couldn't help but think of that thought. And before he even thought about the first visit to his grave together, he shook his head and pushed it all away from his white curls.

"Darling..." Astarion stood up after Aristen made her way to him, having spotted him with a smile beaming with joy, "...you give me all sorts of ideas as always."

“What do you mean?” the high elf asked in surprise and blinked in confusion because she couldn’t follow him.

“Nevermind little love,” Astarion grinned mischievously and briefly kissed her delicate hand in greeting. He gently stroked Aristen's hand again as he slowly lowered it.

“The sun has already set enough for you to go out, Astarion,” his lover informed him. She would pick him up when it was safe for him outside.

"I've already run errands from a few merchants," Aristen spoke as the two left the tavern.

"Nice. Then we can now buy the rest together. Have you got everything so far?” asked Astarion.

The blonde nodded as they stepped outside.

Astarion sucked the air outside the elfsong into his lungs. Had breathing changed since he became a vampire? After all, he was undead.

Astarion didn't know. He couldn't remember, it had been too long.

In addition, the past no longer counted - smiling, he glanced furtively at Aristen who was carrying the basket with the purchases - only the present and the future counted.

“Yes, I did the grocery shopping that wasn’t of interest to you,” the blonde laughed and winked knowingly. “There was wonderful blossom honey, I couldn't resist,” enthused the sorceress, rolling her eyes heavenly at the thought of it and licking her lips in anticipation of the taste of the honey.

“Then I can taste it from your lips and tongue,” Astarion whispered seductively.

"What?"

“Oh, nothing…” the pale elf just grinned again.

His pointed ears were suddenly tickled by the brush of her lips as she leaned in very close to him.

“I heard you very well, my dear,” she whispered to him, her blue eyes sparkling meaningfully at him after she leaned back and gave him a knowing smile.

The vampire laughed. It was a serious laugh. It went from its sonorous, seductive, dirty murmur to a deep rumble before dying out in a high-pitched spike.

“I saw such a beautiful pair of earrings in the window at the Glitter Gala,” sighed Aristen languidly after she continued the story.

“So why didn’t you buy it, darling?”

Aristen shook her head: “Because it’s not necessary. I prefer to save our money for important things. After all, magical artifacts are expensive and the most important thing is that we find something that makes you immune to the sun.”

Yes, that was the ambition and current mission of Aristen and Astarion: to find a way for the vampire spawn to walk in the sun again.

Their friends also kept their ears and eyes open.

Gale read every book that might contain useful information.

Shadowheart, as well as Lae'zel on her travels through the astral planes, always sent them messages when they heard about mysterious artifacts.

And Halsin and Jaheira also reached out to all their acquaintances from near and far.

"If you hadn't used so much of our gold to rebuild the city and help its people, then you could afford any jewelry you wanted," Astarion nudged her with his shoulder and winked knowingly. The slightly accusatory tone was just an act.

“You know I wanted to try to somehow make amends for my actions when I was under Bhaal's control. This will never work, I know that. I can't bring back the people I killed. But I can at least try to help those left behind. It's too little. It’s no consolation…but at least it’s something.”

There was sadness in the blonde's voice. The look in her blue eyes was sincere before they slid slightly to the ground.

Astarion didn't like that, so he decided to cover up the whole thing: "I don't know what you're doing with this penance and compensation anyway."

He casually folded his arms behind his head and sounded as indifferent as he could.

“But…” he grinned playfully at the blonde Sorceress, “we could visit The Counting House again with Minsc. Then we have enough money to play benefactors and buy jewelry and beautiful clothes.”

Aristen raised an eyebrow with an amused grin: "You want to volunteer to do something with Minsc, really?"

“Now that you mention it…argh…better not. You may find him amusing, but he's always bursting in to chatter about his hamster at the most inopportune times. The guard almost caught me picking the lock of the Tabernacle when he suddenly stood loudly behind me, screaming my name and his hug almost broke every bone in my body.”

“What did you want at the Stormshore Tabernacle outside of opening hours?” Aristen asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh, nothing!” Astarion quickly dismissed the topic. Too fast.

“What’s next on the list for today?”

“We really have to go to the Devil's Fee. It has finally opened since the devastating battle against the Netherbrain and the reprocessing. If there are special artifacts or information about them anywhere, it’s there!”

Astarion nodded eagerly and the two elves walked quickly through the streets of Baldur's Gate.

"Oh no! No no no!” Helsik shouted from afar as her eyes saw Aristen.

The Sorceress blinked in confusion at the violent reaction and she looked around to see if anyone else was behind her, as the shopkeeper thought she might be.

“Not you!”

"I? But…"

“Nothing but!” Helsik cut her off. “After last time, I already told you that it was too hot to be seen with you and that the store was off limits for now. After the fuss you caused with your little friend and the black-haired fuzzy head.”

Astarion grinned briefly. He knew exactly who the saleswoman was talking about. After all, they had learned of Bhaal's daughter's past and how she had been involved in the Grand Design.

“I have new business partners, so I don’t need loud attention, after all, hell operates quietly.”

“We don’t want to cause any problems, I swear!”

The vampire let his eyes wander over the lavish and devilishly mysterious display while Aristen soothed Helsik.

“We just want to buy an artifact or information. Nothing improper, nothing complicated, nothing dangerous. Just good old Mammon.”

“Child, you will never have as much gold as I want from you so that I can burn my fingers again because of you.”

"Are you sure? I'll pay any price...whether it's gold or otherwise. We're just looking for a way to break the vampire curse of being vulnerable to the sun. Please."

Helsik laughed briefly, compassionately, not maliciously: “Deary, at the Devil’s Fee we don’t break curses, it’s more about the other way. That should be clear to you from the name.”

“My Love…” Astarion slowly tore his eyes away from the display cases and stood next to Aristen again, “…let me talk to her. I think I can convince them better with less…emotional involvement based on old stories.”

“Are you sure?” Aristen asked, unconvinced.

“Of course, baby…” he was already pushed the Sorceress toward the exit, “…you go do the other errands in the meantime and leave this to me.”

Aristen left the devilish business and made her way to the large square of the lower city wall. She visited the arms dealers and her thoughts continued to dwell on the fact that if even devils couldn't find a way to free Astarion from his curse, who would?

She would never give up hope. Anyway, Helsik was probably right: if it was about help, then hell wouldn't be a good negotiating partner.

Maybe they should trust in nature, magic and clerics. The gods may not have heard Astarion then, but perhaps they could now request divine intervention?

The vampire could walk in the light of the Moon Maiden, perhaps Dame Aylin and Shadowheart could ask even more of Sêlune. Maybe she could expand her moonlight.

Perhaps…

“STOP IMMEDIATELY!”

Aristen was snapped out of her thoughts and the blacksmith who was stationed across from Sorcerous Sundries just handed her back Astarion's freshly sharpened dagger.

“COME BACK IMMEDIATELY!”

From the direction of the Devil's fee came rumbling, loud voices and, above all, lightning and sparks.

“Stop the criminal scum!” shouted a city guard. “Subject, let him stand still!”

“Where for?”

“That way!”

“Or rather there?”

“I thought I saw something in that direction…”

“Then I here, you there,” the steel armored guards rumbled.

The clatter of steel armor slowly faded from the blonde Sorceress's ears, but a perfume that differed from her own scent of orchid and rose reached her nose.

Aristen smelled cherries, musk, palmarosa, black pepper and…

“Does this belong to you, little mouse?”

…sulfur.

Raphael's slightly tanned complexion stood before her. His brown hair was done to perfection with meticulous work, as were his clothes. Large, sparkling brown eyes regarded her, both sublime and mischievous.

The devil in human disguise had the white-haired vampire in tow, holding him by the collar like a naughty schoolboy.

"Raphael..."

“So you still know my name. Ah…very good. Tell the wizard of yours that too. Hopefully he’s still looking for my crown?”

Aristen nodded: “We defeat the brain. The crown will then be at your disposal. That’s how it was settled.”

“Excuse me…” the vampire groused

The devil released Astarion, who grumbled and moved his shoulders.

“Stealing from a shop that has connections straight to hell, very very naughty.”

As was his style, Raphael moved his hands theatrically while his voice whispered mellifluously. The reprimand was more than just played as amusing.

“Anyway, you were there in vain. There is nothing to buy there that could solve the vampire's little “problem”. Otherwise they would all be walking around here freely in the sunlight. Or not?”

The devil made a sweeping gesture and looked around ostentatiously before laughing.

“I'll talk to Helsik and smooth things over, after all you don't sleep well in unmade beds like in clover. But tell your magician that it is my crown. When he finds it, he has agreed to hand it over to me immediately. Not to Mystra and he certainly shouldn’t get the foolish idea of ​​using it himself.”

“He is not my magician,” Aristen clarified briefly, “Gale belongs to no one but himself. Mystra also has nothing to command him.”

“Does he see it that way too? Or does he like to be walked on a leash? He always just does what others tell him. After all, his own decisions are the stupidest I've ever seen...and I've literally seen it all."

“You mean as stupid as wanting to rule the crown of Karsus?”

“Haha…careful, little mouse,” laughed Raphael. “Just make sure I get the crown as quickly as possible.”

“When Gale finds it, you get the crown. That was the deal. We stick to that. But you'll have to be patient. It wasn't intended that the crown and the stones would be lost again, but it was hard to prevent it when the Netherbrain fell into the sea during the fight."

“I'm surprised you're so relaxed about this. You can't put me on a leash as easily as you can put the vampire spawn on a leash. Or was it rather the other way around and you Astarion put the former Bhaalspawn on a docile short leash?”

Mischief sparkled in the brown eyes of the human-shaped Cambion. There was a subtle, biting, malicious provocation in his words, which he spoke with a sonorous purr, as always.

Astarion's face contorted a little and the vampire barely suppressed a roll of his ruby-colored eyes. For a moment he seemed like a disgruntled cat.

"I think I liked you better when you just rhymed all the time," Astarion replied sassy.

Raphael laughed briefly, unimpressed: “Whatever. Less dawdling and making long fingers, but more diving for the crown,” reprimanded the devil with a raised eyebrow.

The devil wrinkled his nose slightly at the vampire spawn before turning back to Aristen and giving her his full attention.

“By the way, greetings from your fiery friend Karlach and her rapier-wielding colleague Wyll Ravengard.”

“Why are you ordering greetings from Karlach and Wyll? Have you met them?”

“Well, those two made themselves quite a name all around Avernus,” Raphael smiled in his smug way, “furthermore, I greatly welcome their actions against Zariel’s forces.”

He made one of his swinging hand movements with his manicured fingers: “I would like to invite you all to my House of Hope to linger, relax and chat. So you can catch up. You know, the Crown of Karsus is the key that grants you access. And until that happens…fare thee well, little mouse. I hope I will see you soon, knocking on the door of my house.”

As was his style, Raphael bowed expansively and his scent of leather, cedar, lily, rose, oud, vanilla and sandalwood disappeared into a swirl of sparks and sulphur.

“He hasn’t forgotten his flair for great performances. I don't know whether I should admire it or whether he's starting to get on my nerves with it," Astarion sighed briefly before straightening his shoulders and straightening his doublet with a quick tug.

"Anyways..." the vampire turned to another topic, "...I think it would be a good idea if we get out of the immediate area while the city guards are wandering around here."

The elf touched Aristen's elbow to encourage her to leave.

“What did you want to take from the store anyway, in the first place?” Aristen wanted to know from Astarion, curious and skeptical.

“Well…” he started to press and scratched the back of his white curls, “…I saw something…”

"And what was so terribly interesting that you would risk to be arrested by the Flaming Fist?"

“Well...it reminded me of you...and...I thought you should have it. But Helsik is really a cutthroat bitch with exorbitant prices.”

Aristen smiled good-naturedly: “Oh Astarion…”

“However…here…”

The vampire held out a white silk scarf to the storm sorceress.

Aristen's eyes widened. You could see from the shimmer and the way the fabric fell that it wasn't just silk that was woven there. It was definitely the weave itself and more that was at work there. Depending on how it fell and how you moved it, a golden blue shimmered.

“The scarf reminded me of the one you told me about. You know, the scarf with your name on it that you were found wearing as a baby in the Bhaal Temple. It’s one of the few memories you have left.”

The vampire took out a borealis blue thread from his pocket and began to embroider “Aristen” into the scarf.

“I wanted you to have something that you could never lose, that could never be destroyed, that had your name on it. Because if something ever happened again that made you forget...that made you forget yourself, at least you would always have your name with you. Then you know that you are Aristen. Not the daughter of the murder god. Not the chosen one of Bhaal. No Bhaalspawn. Just you. You are Aristen.”

The vampire began to embroider an “&” sign into the scarf.

“And well…” Astarion began to shuffle uncomfortably again and focused entirely on his work so that he didn’t have to look his lover in the eyes, “…if you ever forget something again, then you’ll know that we belong together. I don't want you to ever forget me. And so you also always carry my name with you.”

The vampire finished his work and the white scarf now embroidered with new memories read: "Aristen & Astarion"

���There is nothing in the world that would ever make me forget you, Astarion,” the high elf spoke softly.

She closed the distance between the two of them and kissed Astarion. The elf slowly closed his eyes as their lips met. His cool, hers warm. He felt her breathing life into him as they kissed.

"Thank you so much," the blonde said after they pulled away from each other, "you can't imagine how much this means to me. I love you, Astarion."

Aristen held the silky, white and blue scarf in her hands, stroked the pale elf's blue embroidery and smiled. "I think this used to be the color of your eyes too."

She smiled softly, as soft as the silky fabric of the scarf felt on her soft hands. Hands too soft for the crimes they had probably committed earlier in the name of Bhaal. In a previous life.

Aristen raised her eyes, which were also blue, and caught Astarion by surprise. Speechless.

That rarely happened.

Very rarely did the vampire find himself without words.

“Ah, I…” he took a breath to say something, but he lacked a suitable response, so he could only hold his breath, taken aback.

The gentle look in his lover's eyes and her words had triggered something in Astarion that he still couldn't handle: affection, sincere love.

Towards him and in his own heart.

The white-haired vampire exhaled and smiled just as gently at his beloved Aristen.

He reached out his cool hand to her and placed it against her rosy cheek. The blonde nestled herself a little in the vampire's hand and her gaze lingered lovingly in Astarion's now ruby-colored eyes.

“You never stop surprising me,” his whispering voice sounded sincere and just as genuine was the smile he continued to give her.

It was a smile that acknowledged how happy he was, partly surprised, partly just realizing that he wasn't really surprised anymore. And perhaps that was what surprised Astarion the most.

It was a day like any other.

A day like any other.

One day in the rest of their life.

Their life together.

And it was beautiful.

And he would never want it any other way.

📜🪶📜🪶💙🎻🫧🌹🌸🌹🫧🎻💙🪶📜🪶📜

➹a/n: i just gave my own Tav Saulus a little cameo guest appearance  😉 in the style of AU I also inserted aristenfromwarsaws other OC Devana, like a little, what are all the other tavs doing when not being the main character

the great Tavs of my lovely mutuals also did a tiny cameo:

Nala Hartwick of @evander-jane

Thomas Rosewood and Nana of @alpydk

Lovely Vierith of @goromimii jamming with my Saulus, best bardic duo

Mavka of @pinkberrytea

I hope I did the slice of life good justice and you all could taste, feel, smell, hear the life through all the description of scents, etc.

[bhaal-battle-beer-bard]

Tav: I am back! 😃

Owlbear cub: Finally you back! 🥹

Tav: Why are you wearing a sack as diapers? 🤔

Tav: Why is Astarion wearing no pants at all and has scratches everywhere?

Tav: And why is Gale barefoot picking up your feathers? 🤨😧

Owlbear cub + Astarion : Eeehmmm...

Tav: I was gone half a day!

Owlbear cub: That was too long!!! 😣

[bhaal-battle-beer-bard]

BG3 / Snow White

Headcanon: Tav eats one of Auntie Ethel's poisened apples at the sunlit wetlands and Astarion has to do some fairytale prince stuff.

Is anyone going to write this fanfic idea or do I have to do it myself?

[bhaal-battle-beer-bard]

Astarion Headcanon

Because of their night at Astarion's grave, Tav always gets horny at cemeteries.

Because of Tiefling Tav, Astarion always gets horny at petting zoos.