#elminster aumar

[owob]

elminsters big naturals

[fishfingersandscarves]

uncool grandpa (finally got to act two)

[galedekarios]

elminster and gale: an addition

a while ago, i posted a meta about the relationship between elminster and gale.

i tried to detail their relationship and delve deeper into how gale values elminster not only as a friend and mentor, but perhaps as well as a paternal figure in his life - especially working on the assumption that gale's father might have left morena and gale early on in his life.

back when i wrote my meta, i didn't have the information yet that elminster knew gale from an incredibly early age, which was only revealed once the epilogue was added to the full release version of the game. in one of his epilogue letters, elminster recalls his first meeting with gale when gale could have been "no more than eight summers' old".

which then in turn of course means that gale has known elminster for almost all of his life, if we take the age attributed to gale by idle champions as canon. it's set at 35 years old. if we assume gale was indeed eight when he first met elminster and not younger, it means elminster has been in gale's life for nearly three decades at this point in time.

it's a lot of preamble, but i felt it was necessary because i was looking through the files again and found these idle lines for elminster that don't appear to trigger in the game.

it's indicated to be idle comments made by elminster at camp, before elminster informs gale of mystra's will at the beginning of act 2 proper:

Elminster muttering to himself ruefully as he prepares to tell Gale bad news and wait for him to be ready. - 1: Weary Traveller: How will he react? He has a stout heart, but this...? - 2: Weary Traveller: Perhaps another way will present itself. But perhaps not.. - 3: Weary Traveller: I can't say I'm relishing this, but it must be done. - 4: Weary Traveller: I do wish this was over with.

the devnote is the same for all four idle comments:

devnote: Spoken to self. Weary, heavy heart. Waiting to deliver some tough news for someone.

not only does this give us another (heartbreaking imo) insight into how elminster himself feels about being forced to deliver mystra's demands - there are several others in the game itself, as well as gale quite clearly saying that he had no choice but to do so, defending elminster from the protag's anger - but it also does give us some more insight into how others perceive gale.

and not just others, but those who have known him longest.

elminster says he has a "stout heart", which also ties in beautifully - and heart-wrenchingly - with his epilogue letter, speaking about gale's kindness, eagerness and brilliance.

the "stout heart" comment resonated very much with me because it reminded me of yet another line from tara, another life-long companion of gale:

Tara the Tressym: If that's all, then what comes after is for you to decide, Mr Dekarios. Think well on all that's happened, and stay true to that heart of yours. It's a good one.

which in turn reminded me of an all-time favourite lore blurb:

Tressym were sometimes kept as familiars by wizards and sorcerers. They needed to be experienced mages capable of bonding with a more advanced creature, and the tressym would only accept a good-hearted master.

and though it's only a description and not in the game itself, i also immediately thought of gale's idle champions description:

With a kind heart, and a keen mind [...]

a stout heart, a good heart, a kind heart.

[velvetchaika]

"I'm thinking now that if Elminster were in the group, when Tav turned into cheese, he would become romantic"

[ragingtempests]

love that karlach, who is so excited to meet jaheira and minsc, is just like, “is that gale’s grandpa?” when elminster shows up. granted, he did show up to just eat cheese at camp and tell gale to kill himself so

[morpheusdreamt]

Elminster your bobbies 😳

[minart-was-taken]

Some fun BG3 art 👍

[incorrect-bhaalspawn-quotes]

Tav, when Elminster shows up in the camp: Who's the geezer?

Gale: He's a very old acquaintance.

Tav: You can say that again.

[pinkvbay]

This is my formal apology for yesterday's drawing

[medra-gonbites]

A Modicum of Decorum

One shot chapter. Gale and Tav receive the unexpected visit of a guest. Tav is not inclined to let them in.

Pairing: Gale x Fem!Tav

SFW - Fluff, Comfort, Domestic Bliss

Words: 1830

The hinges whined as the door slowly opened, followed by a surprised shout and a subsequent violent slam.  “Is everything ok?” Gale inquired, tensing up and ready to run to his spouse’s side. “Hum… Yes.” She replied, a subtle hesitation in her voice. “Who was it?”  “Nobody!”  The bell chimed anew. Gale frowned and hurried downstairs to investigate. Tav was standing in front of the door. Tiptoeing, she was peering through the peephole and grumbling disapprovingly.  “My love, please talk to me.” With a resigned sigh, Tav moved away and, her hand on the doorknob, turned the handle and swung it open.

Read the rest on AO3 or under the cut

The smell of vanilla was hanging in the air. Seeping from the oven in which the muffins were steadily rising, the scent had flooded the kitchen, and had slowly but surely made its way up and down the spiral staircase. Soon the spicy aroma had engulfed the whole tower; it entered the library and reached Gale’s nose. 

His nostrils started flaring, taking in the fragrance. Despite his fierce focus, and the number of essays he still had to grade, he lifted his eyes from a relatively mediocre dissertation on illusory synesthesia, a paper which frankly was a pain to read as its author had no care for calligraphy. 

Gale rubbed his brow and took a long inhale of air, relishing in the fact his study now smelled like a bakery. His stomach growled. Nature’s call was as literal as can be; his hunger had won. He discarded his quill and headed for the kitchen.

Tav, had been a little bored after their return from their adventures and as a result had taken up many different hobbies to try and fill the emptiness of a sudden domestic life. Clay had not been her cup of tea, which she had tried to make and which would sadly always leak. There had been attempts at gardening but nothing conclusive besides many dead plants, and empty pots (which she had made also and which durability was questionable). 

Baking seems to be more up her alley; she was quite good at it. Gale did not complain, although he sometimes feared it would eventually impact his form. To prevent such a thing from happening, he would often share with his students. A clever way to bribe them into carrying their enrollment in his class semester after semester. As he watched the gleaming dough cook into a firm golden bun, he started salivating. He thought back to the last paper he had been reading. To think they were rewarding him with such undistinguished reports…  Maybe this batch he would keep for himself.

The doorbell rang. A sharp chime that had Gale startled, pulled away from the mesmerizing patisseries that were getting his whole attention. Tav’s voice raised from downstairs.

“I got it!”

The hinges whined as the door slowly opened, followed by a surprised shout and a subsequent violent slam. 

“Is everything ok?” Gale inquired, tensing up and ready to run to his spouse’s side.

“Hum… Yes.” She replied, a subtle hesitation in her voice.

“Who was it?” 

“Nobody!” 

The bell chimed anew. Gale frowned and hurried downstairs to investigate. Tav was standing in front of the door. Tiptoeing, she was peering through the peephole and grumbling disapprovingly. 

“My love, please talk to me.”

With a resigned sigh, Tav moved away and, her hand on the doorknob, turned the handle and swung it open. 

Before the entrance, a familiar silhouette stood, wrapped in a carmine and royal blue robe, a pointy hat covering a head full of white, long hair. A frown was creasing above a pair of sharp blue eyes.

“Gale, my boy!” Exclaimed Elminster upon seeing the wizard. 

As he moved forward in an attempt to enter, Tav stepped in front of the doorway, blocking it with her body.

“And Tav…” he sighed, his annoyance barely concealed on his face.

“Elminster! How nice of you to visit us!” Gale proclaimed.

“Pleasure…” Tav hissed. 

She stood crossed armed, firmly between the man and the tower. Gale placed a hand on her shoulder, a subtle request for her to move away. She did not budge. Knowing her, she would not.

“What brings you to our humble abode?” She resumed, without a smile.

“Why, I thought I would visit my dear old friend and hopefully catch up.” He addressed Gale directly, “I am sure you have many stories to tell; epic tales of your adventures and the feats you have achieved since your return.”

“He’s fine.” Tav snarled, “And by that I mean intact. Not blown to smithereens.”

Gale looked at Elminster. His mentor was uneasy, shifting from one foot to the other. He seemed not particularly happy with Tav’s comment but did not attempt to talk back as he knew she was not in the wrong to be mad. Gale would have been telling a lie had he claimed this wasn’t satisfying to witness. If he had forgiven Elminster and even Mystra, it was not the case for Tav. 

She was not mean or evil-spirited, but she could be extremely petty and she had great memory; a dreadful combination for anyone getting into an argument with her, as he had come to realize over time and at the occasion of some rare quarrels. 

He wanted to defuse the situation and he would eventually, but for the time being, it felt good to see her stand up for him and hold a confrontation he did not wish to have himself.

“Yes well… It seems to me that I have already apologized about this sorry passage in our history.”

“Try one more time. It does not hurt…”

Elminster’s gaze turned to Gale, looking for a helping hand. The young wizard shrugged, there was nothing he could do against his stubborn wife. This was the reality of things; even if he would want to he could not. It turns out he did not want to anyways, but that was a moot point. 

Out of Elminster’s sight, Gale’s hand subtly and gratefully grazed Tav’s waist, squeezing her hip. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her face all over. But he needed to keep an ounce of composure. Besides, he also needed to maintain the illusion that he disapproved of her treatment of his old mentor. Which he did. Slightly.

“Are you even real, wizard?” She asked, “Or is it another one of your elaborate puppets?”

She reached towards Elminster’s shoulder and pinched it as hard as she could. The mage yelped and jerked his arm back.

“Young lady! I will have you know that I could turn you into a toad with a flick of my wrist if I please!”

“Make it one of these venomous ones so I can take you out on a leap!” She retorted.

Now was the time to intervene, Gale thought. He gently squeezed passed her side and came to stand between her and the irritated mage at the door.

“Tav, show more decorum towards our guest !... Please.” Gale pleaded, laying a friendly hand on the recently pinched and sore shoulder of his former master.

“What guest? This man is not welcome in our tower.”

Gale glared at Tav. As grateful as he was for his wife’s protective side, her hard head could  sometimes become a threat to diplomacy. 

Elminster was by no means perfect but he had been there for most of his life. He owed him his education and many of his current talents. Yes, he also partly owed him his most devastating heartbreak but he could not blame the man for following their goddess’s words. Such was the burden of a chosen.

He turned towards his old friend and gave a slight bow, a hand over his heart.

“Apologies. Truly.” He assured, “Let us find a nice pub in the city and I will tell you all there is to tell about my travels and latest adventures.”

Elminster pouted in response. He leaned forward, his nose creasing as he sniffed with fervor.

“It’s only that… sniff sniff… Something smells so terribly tasty in there… Perhaps some tea with whatever is exuding this lovely fragrance would be a good way to make peace.”

“It would, wouldn’t it?” Tav said plainly, widening her stance to reiterate her unwillingness to let the mage in.

From up the stairs a shrill voice called out.

“What is this commotion downstairs?” Tara asked.

Without taking her eyes off the intruding wizard Tav shouted back.

“It’s Elminster. He thinks we’ve got nothing better to do than receive him.”

There was a short pause before Tara finally replied.

“Tell him Gale’s not here.”

“Oh for the love of…” Gale breathed. 

Elminster’s expression had gone from an annoyed irritation to a sort of disappointed sadness. Gale ushed the old man away from the door.

“Please, let me take you to the Yawning Portal. The ale is fresh and the cheese selection exhaustive!”.

Elminster begrudgingly turned around, not without a last dagger-filled glance towards Tav. 

The two men took a few steps, before a performative cough stopped them. Gale froze.

“Excuse me.” He said, turning back.

He walked up to Tav; her arms finally uncrossed and her brow no longer furrowed, she smiled softly at him. He gently nuzzled her cheek and she gave a small chuckle. Grazing the tip of his nose with hers she planted a gentle kiss on his lips. As she was recoiling, Gale could not let her go. He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer, pressing another kiss on her mouth. Less chaste, he deepened the embrace and lifted her off the ground. She let out a moan. His hands began to descend from her waist to her lower back.

It was Elminster’s turn to insistently clear his throat, pulling Gale away from the sensual embrace of his spouse. Breaking the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers for a moment.

“I won't be late.” He promised.

“You can give the old fart a muffin later if you want…” She whispered.

“Maybe…” He murmured in her ear, “If he can refrain from talking about Mystra, I might.”

“Oh Gods, the man will starve.” She giggled.

He graced her brow with a small peck before returning to his mentor, standing in the street waiting for him. Tav went back inside the tower, presumably to resume her baking. 

As the two men walked away, Elminster grumbled, still outraged by Tav’s reception.

“Quite the woman you’ve gotten yourself my boy!”

“She’s quite something isn’t she?” He answered enamored, thinking back to the face that could always bring him joy.

“Well rude is what she is…” The old man grunted, “But… she sure is looking out for you.”

“Always has been.” Gale added  simply.

“And these baked goods?”

“Delicious.”

“I see.”

Elminster pondered. He looked back at the tower. He too had longed for a domestic life; a clean tower which smelled of spice and cake. A partner with whom to spend his time and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. He had dreamed it, time and time again, over the centuries of his long life. Yet he never took the plunge. His devotion for his goddess had always stood in the way of such mundane goals. 

His eyes laid on Gale. He seemed serene. Happy. Full. No longer burning with the ever hungry ambition that had caused him so much trouble. A faint smile stretched the lips of the venerable wizard as he wrapped his arm around the shoulders of his former disciple.

“Keep her close.” He urged.

Gale smiled. He intended to.

[mcsiggy]

Okay grandpa

reference:

[k-k-armadillo]

i havent balded in a while but the L administer is level 20 did u hear

[galedekarios]

gale, elminster & mystra: new infos from the epilogue and how they tie in with what we know from the base game

so i was mulling over bits and pieces of new information we got from the epilogue, connecting it to the stuff we already knew:

1. gale's story of how mystra came into his life in the full release

gale jumping from from "i'm what one might call a wizard prodigy, who from an early age could not only control the weave, but compose it" to "such was my skill that it earned me the attention of the mother of magic herself" to then the teacher, muse and lover dynamic.

and from early access:

Player: What did Mystra’s attention feel like? Gale: Love.  Player: He sounds like a very talented individual Gale: He was. Even though it was in Mystra’s affections that his true power lay. Player: Teacher’s pet, was he? Gale: He fancied himself much more than that. He fancied himself favoured above all others. Perhaps it was not quite love, but you see, the wizard was but a very young man. It was most certainly love to him. Mystra showed him the secrets behind the veils. The gossamer veils first, draped across the Weave. The delicate veils next, draped across her body. ‘Chosen One’ she whispered, as she slipped them off completely.

2. elminster's new letter from the epilogue

we knew before that elminster must have come into his life early-ish as well from this convo:

"While most know Elminster the legend, few know him as you have. He plucked you from obscurity. Offered you his guidance. His faith."

we also know that gale got to attend blackstaff academy.

&

now, with the new letters from the epilogue, we know that elminster met him at eight years old:

elminster coming into his when gale was just "eight summers old", gale's talents being as they were from "an early age", mystra involving herself in his life.

perhaps those two events happening are connected: the chosen of mystra. plucking him from obscurity. taking him under his wing.

perhaps on the guidance of someone? someone very clever? someone who'd later use said mentor to also deliver a message that needed to be conveyed with the utmost severity of her bidding?

someone who'd involve herself in gale's life, too? someone who needs his ambitions to be laid to rest because of a future she glimpsed at?

3. raphael's new epilogue lines if gale fails his ascension:

Raphael: I owe you a debt of gratitude. You were the spark of ambition that rekindled Gale's ambitions, after Mystra had so cleverly put them to rest.

i'm thinking thoughts not only about "cleverly", implying some sort of scheming here or manipulation.

a goddess involving her chosen, to oversee a child, so full of promise and ambition -

(a relationship forming between elminster and gale, which even by the point we see them interact in the game, speaks of the care and love they hold for each other) -

before she too involves herself: becomes his mentor, teacher, and he becomes her chosen.

making gale her chosen as a form of control, so he perhaps would not oppose her, like, for instance, even elminster is hardly capable of.

but not only did she make him her chosen, in the same breath, she made him her lover.

we know she very much is capable of using her chosen for her needs.

raphael is also very directly saying that gale's "ambition" reawakened after meeting the protag. so we are talking about mystra putting them to rest before gale met the protag, so the comment couldn't possibly be about his character arc during the game.

i already touched on this a bit earlier but:

4. we also know that mystra has foresight, being able to predict the future to some sort of degree:

History of the Chosen of Mystra: The reason why Mystra, the Goddess of Magic, invested a portion of her divine might into mortals is not known. One of the popular theories, and one that is gaining more support in light of the other goddess' during that period, is that Mystra foresaw the Time of Troubles (and her own passing at the hands of Helm) and chose to give some of her powers to mortals in order to ensure that her successor (the female mage, Midnight, as it turned out) would have a number of nearly immortal allies in the struggle against the schemes of the gods (the now dead Bane, Myrkul and Bhaal) who precipitated the Time of Troubles by stealing the Tablets of Fate.

(again, i want to reiterate that larian doesn't keep close to the dnd timeline at times, and has quite a few lore mistakes and even breaks. i know mystra was 'dead' around the time gale would have been that young. take it up with larian, please. i'm only trying to extrapolate from the things we are told in the game and the narrative in it.)

[mogwaei]

cinnamon roll and wizards

[laserlope]

The mountain pass map is so beautiful. Pretending that Gale and Elminster had their conversation there instead.

[justabrowncoatedwench]

So I'm not done lol I wanna rant about how all the god shit in BG3 is connected! Spoilers under the cut...

To preface: all dates are listed in DR, or Dale Reckoning, which is the most commonly used dating of years in Forgotten Realms lore, established with 1 at the signing of the Dale's Compact, creating peace between the elves of Cormanthyr and the human+ civilizations of the Dalelands (notable to current discussions, as Elminster Aumar is equally well known as the Sage of Shadowdale, one such dale in the Dalelands).

So Shadowheart's arc highlights the tug of war between Shar and Selune, but Shar and Selune are ALSO the progenitors of a lot of the other deities INCLUDING the OG Mystryl, born when Selune tore a part of her essence & threw it at Shar during their initial war post-sun creation, wounding them both & casting Shar into the void for a while. Mystryl was that piece of magic torn from Selune and having grabbed up a piece of Shar's as well when she hit, a blending of light and dark.

Mystryl then much later gave her life to save the world during Karsus's Folly in -339 DR. That's how Karsus fucked up magic so bad and so permanently. He almost DESTROYED the Weave, because Mystryl - and in future, Mystra - IS the Weave! And she died - thus also killing him, as she was inside him at the time - to preserve the Weave when he tried to steal some measure of her power!

*And Gale knew this*, knew much of it anyway. How could he not, with his own research that led him to the Orb? And his relationship with Mystra? And friendship with Elminster?

Anywho, Mystryl took time to reincarnate herself using a young peasant girl as her vessel, she then chose to go by the name Mystra instead of Mystryl. Once in this vessel she regained control of the Weave, bringing magic back to Toril (the planet Faerun, a continent, is on), which had been chaotic & largely depowered. After Karsus, she became much more strict/ Lawful in her decrees around magic, banning mortals from using any magic above 9th level spells (Karsus's Folly involved at least one 10th or 11th 12th level spell iirc).

Later, during the period known as the Time of Troubles, which began when Bane & Myrkul (two of the Dead Three) tried to steal the Tablets of Fate from Ao (the Overgod that most mortals don't even know exists). Ao then locked the deities into the Material Plane, forcing them to walk among their followers on Toril. Mystra at one point defied Ao's order, attempting to return to the heavens, and was killed by Helm, who had been tasked by Ao with protecting the gates and ensuring none of the gods disobeyed him. (Good job, Mystra.)

Also during the Time of Troubles the Dead Three got their name in truth, as Myrkul, Bane, and Bhaal were killed (as were several other gods, some of whom Ao chose to resurrect as they perished while fulfilling the obligations of their portfolios, like Torm). The Time of Troubles is also when Bhaal was seeding his Bhaalspawn - including Sarevok Anchev - in the world (the results of which gave us Baldur's Gates 1 and 2).

Anyway, as previously established, Mystra IS the Weave, so killing her fucked magic up again, unleashing the Spellplague (hello 4e D&D and your reduced pantheon & reduced magic). Ao selected several mortals to either ascend into vacated portfolios or rewarded mortals for killing gods who needed killing; Cyric was a mortal who killed Bane, while helping to retrieve the Tablets of Fate for Ao, for example of one such occurrence, who fwiw was the adventuring companion of two other mortals chosen for godhood, Kelemvor and Midnight. Kelemvor took on a portfolio of the dead, and Midnight was who Ao picked to take on Mystra's role and she chose to take on Mystra's name as well. This happened in 1358 DR, and when the Tablets were returned to Ao, he ground them to powder so they'd never be at risk again. This however fucked up the natural laws of Realmspace, which began to unravel, beginning the Era of Upheaval. The Era of Upheavel lasted from its beginning in 1358 DR (BG1 takes place in 1368 & BG2 takes place shortly after) through the Second Sundering (though most mortals only know of it as the Sundering, since the First Sundering happened even before Karsus's Folly by millenia, in -17,600 DR, in the time of elves) which took from about 1482 through 1487 DR. (The Second Sundering and its associated tie in novel series - very good! - brings us from 4e into 5e D&D, in ttrpg terms.) Baldur's Gate 3 takes place in 1492 DR, starting in the equivalent earth month to August, late August specifically.

Considering that Midnight took on the mantle of Mystra in 1358, I'm pretty sure Gale has only dealt with *her*, while Elminster has served Mystra - including being her lover and raising 3 of her 7 daughters - for 1300 years by BG3, which would include both previous incarnations of Mystryl/Mystra.

So in summary, the gods are all Like That, even the ones who used to be mortals (and I'm pretty sure Gale doesn't know his Mystra used to be a mortal, or that any other gods were either, based on dialogue after you get the Tome of Karsus in Act 3).

All the delicious BG3 god machinations are connected and have been for centuries if not eons. The Dead Three like to cause problems on purpose, Shar and Selune are sisters & also kind of contentiously divorced parents who can't play nice & use the kids to fight. Even the Lathander stuff at the gith creche is kind of connected, since the kick off of the big war between Shar & Selune was the creation of the sun to give their first child, Chauntea, the og earth/nature deity, warmth. Lathander (& Amaunator, rip) is the deity of the dawn/sun, among other things, and Silvanus (hello deity of the Druids in Act 1 & Halsin) is the wild nature counterpart to Chauntea's now largely agricultural portfolio. Chauntea has been known to have romantic connections with Lathander, as well. Zariel too - hello Wyll & Karlach's storylines - is connected, because before her fall into Avernus where she became an Archdevil in service to Asmodeus, she USED to be a solar (most powerful type of angel/celestial) in the service of Lathander.

If you've gotten this far, thank you for listening to my lore dump lol. I hope it enriches your experience of BG3 & the Forgotten Realms!

Post-Script: if you're left wondering how the unraveling of the laws of Realmspace got fixed, the Second Sundering began when Ao decided to recreate the Tablets of Fate to fix what he'd broken vis a vis the chaos of the Realmspace.

Additional fun fact: of the 3 of Mystra's 7 total daughters that Elminster raised, Storm Silverhand - renowned High Harper of the Dalelands - was one, and often also traveled with him as an adventuring companion as an adult through the centuries. Another is Laeral Silverhand, current Open Lord of Waterdeep, that big ol' city Gale is from that's right up the coast from Baldur's Gate.