#gale/tasha

[biowhore]

Sweet Things

hi i've been sad so have a comfort fic with my comfort couple

Gale/Tasha (Tav)

Content: hurt/comfort, no sex, bathing, headaches/migraines, brief positive mention of weight gain, short and sweet, post-canon

Word count: 2.3k

She was drifting when she heard his gentle voice in her ear, “You are so beautiful,” quiet and reverent.   Grinning she whispered back to him, eyes still closed, “You just like it when I’m under your spell.”   “A heady sensation to be sure, but,” she felt two fingers brush either side of her cheeks, tracing along the delicate scales there, “You have no idea how stunning you look right now.”  “Naked in the bath with the Hells knocking about in my skull?”  “Exactly,” he murmured, the feather-light brush of his soft lips against hers making her crack open an eye. 

Fic list, AO3

These times of hell within her own head haunted Tasha. She used to live her life constantly braced for the next episode, the next round of being chained to a bed in a dark room. Healers helped but did not cure, and she felt no long-term relief until she was ironically host to a terminal parasite.  

Long after being cured of the mind flayer tadpoles, those episodes started up again. She had hoped they were gone for good, but she supposed that she had to take some bad with overwhelming good that had come her way after everything. She and Gale had made a wonderful life together, her friends were whole and hale, and wrote to her often. What was a little illness now and then? 

This morning she woke to the usual citrus and salt fragrance of their rooms bombarding her nose, the lovely cast of the morning sun through their window piercing at her eyes, and the sounds of Gale through the house and the bustle of Waterdeep outside nearly deafening her. Loud and clear that warning had been. So, she darkened the room, crawled back under her thick covers, and cast a sound dampening bubble around the bed. There was sweet relief for a while, but then the pain came full force as she expected.  

Heat flashing through her skin, the muscles of her neck and jaw tightening painfully, the sludgy feeling through her mind, and of course the throbbing pain on one side of her skull. Her familiar demon. 

As she breathed evenly through the waves, she suddenly felt a blessedly cool hand on her brow, causing her eyes to flutter open.  

“Time again?” Gale asked in a whisper.  

All she could do was nod. She closed her eyes again, refocusing on her breathing as she felt him leave her side. The quiet sha sha of his clothes shifting with his movements told her where he was in the room. By the chest at the foot of the bed now, and next came the slow deliberate sound of him attempting to open it quietly. He was retrieving some of the potions she kept on hand from healers for these episodes. They helped with the pain, but her body would still feel wrong, sometimes for a few days when these attacks were at their worst, before the tadpole.  

Shuffling feet to her right announced Gale’s return to her side. “Here, love. Can you sit up?” 

Tasha propped herself up on her pillow, Gale’s arm hovering across her shoulders. He handed her a deep purple glass vial, stopper already removed, for her to bravely choke back. She shot it back like cheap liquor, grimacing and immediately reaching for Gale’s proffered glass of water to dilute the horrid taste in her mouth.  

“Really wish I could help them figure out how to make these taste better,” she groaned, sticking out her tongue.  

Gale only smiled at her, helping her shuffle back under the blankets. As she became settled again, closing her eyes, his forehead met hers gently. His fingers at either side of her delicately scaled temples provided magical coolness, a balm to the inferno building behind her eyes.  

Whispering still, he asked, “Now, before that kicks in, is there anything you need? Anything you’d like to do? What about a bath, or tea, or food?” 

She hummed as she took time to sort through her thoughts between waves of throbbing pain, breathing evenly, Gale’s touch grounding her. A bath did sound nice... 

“Maybe a bath first, then tea,” she sighed as his fingers began massaging in small circles, then a thought occurred to her. “Don’t you have classes today?” 

“Not anymore.” 

“You can’t cancel a full day of classes just for me,” she sighed again. He’d been teaching for a while with the Blackstaff and was quite accomplished.  

“Of course I can. Besides, I rather think most of my students appreciate the day off.”  

She huffed a tiny chuckle at that, causing a spike of pain in her skull. Sucking air through her gritted teeth, she grimaced, “As much as I love the way you make me laugh, better not for now.” 

“Of course my love,” he pecked her nose and pulled away, trailing his fingers along her jaw as he went, “I’ll make sure everything is set up in the bath and come back. Stay put.” 

No problems there. She sank into her pillow and let her mind wander a while, listening to the gentle splash of the water filling the tub in the bathroom. A tinkle of glass there, a shuffle here as Gale prepared the bath.  

Gale took her hands and helped her out of their bed. It was cozy, not overly large and made of dark wood. It had posts that were carved with vines - very useful when she was in better health, but those fantasies would have to wait.  

He led her across the carpets into their washroom. At her insistence it had been renovated when she moved in in order to fit a large and deep tub, kept magically warm for hours, of course. She could sit on a shelf that lined the inside wall and still be covered by the water up to her collarbones. This was worthy of a dragon.  

Now she sat with her head leaning on the rim, Gale brushing through her thick straight black hair with a bone comb. He had a slow and gentle pace, the teeth of the comb gliding through her untangled strands, softly scraping her scalp in the most wonderful way. She matched her breathing to his pace, grounding herself to his care. He always kept her tethered to earth when she needed it. 

“How are you feeling?” He whispered. 

“Seems to be working, but my head is still so foggy.” 

“Can I do anything else for you?” 

She sighed as she thought, eyes closed. “Hmm... talk to me? Tell me a tale, I love listening to you tell stories.”  

She couldn’t see Gale’s cheeks flame, but she’d surely set him off with that compliment. He’d have to behave himself. He cleared his throat, “Well, um. Let me think...” 

He continued his slow and methodical motions through her hair, pondering which of his many tales he might regale her with, when an idea came to him. He lowered the comb but his fingers still sorted through her silky tresses, until his hand came to the back of her head. His fingers kneaded the space where her skull attached to her neck, coaxing a small moan from her. Smiling broadly to himself, his forehead lowered to hers. 

“Have I told you about when we met?” 

“I was there, wasn’t I?” 

“Hm, yes, but you weren’t in my mind, even with the tadpole.” 

“True... did I stun you with my beauty?” 

“Exactly that,” he chuckled, speaking softly, “I thought my prayers were answered, that if anyone could save us it would be you.” 

Tasha huffed in response, clearly unconvinced. It was then that she felt his other hand slip into the water and trail down her arm, a loving light caress. 

“I thought,” Gale continued, watching her closed lashes flutter, “This contradiction of a creature, with her warm brown skin, icy eyes, and tempest disposition... Well, she knows what she’s doing.” 

That brought a full laugh out of her. She shook her head and opened her eyes as Gale lifted his head and dragged his hand back up her arm, resting it gently on the side of her neck. Her eyes always mesmerized him; she had a reptilian pupil and black sclera in the left eye, more of her draconic heritage coming through along with her opalescent scales. Both eyes were a stunning green-blue, icy being a truly apt description in most lights, but when one deigned to look closer, they would find a startling blue flame there, a sure sign of her warm-hearted nature that lay buried under her hard exterior.  

Her eyes lit up when she laughed, but then quickly collapsed into a grimace as she touched two fingers to her temple.  

“Ah, why must mirth be punished so?” she sighed and sunk lower into the tub. A sharp pulse of pain ricocheted through her skull, overcoming the potion she had taken earlier. After a moment it began to subside, but she was left even deeper in malaise.  

“Have you thought of seeing Halsin?” 

“No,” she blew out a breath, “My family and I went to many healers as a child, none of them Halsin, mind, but they could not fix this. They only help ease the symptoms.” 

“Still, I’m curious what Halsin would have to say.” 

“I’ve thought about it since these attacks have come back. You and he together might have interesting theories, I’m certain, but I also think fixing it would involve some sort of meddling in my brain that I’ve had enough of for one life.” 

Gale chuckled at that, “No arguments there, my love. Rest now, let me take care of you.” 

She dipped her head below the water to wet her long hair, staying under for a moment. The warmth relaxed the muscles in her face and scalp, a welcome relief as the earlier pain ebbed away. When she surfaced again Gale was there with soap and nimble fingers, digging into the roots of her hair and massaging her into a limp mess at his mercy. Her head lolled against the rim of the tub, her jaw slack, arms floating limp. 

 She was drifting when she heard his gentle voice in her ear, “You are so beautiful,” quiet and reverent.  

Grinning she whispered back to him, eyes still closed, “You just like it when I’m under your spell.”  

“A heady sensation to be sure, but,” she felt two fingers brush either side of her cheeks, tracing along the delicate scales there, “You have no idea how stunning you look right now.” 

“Naked in the bath with the Hells knocking about in my skull?” 

“Exactly,” he murmured, the feather-light brush of his soft lips against hers making her crack open an eye. 

When he pulled back she grinned at him again, “Dry and oil my hair then take me to bed, wizard.”  

“Yes my lady,” he did not miss a beat and gave her a quick wink before helping her rinse the soap from her hair. He guided her to lean her head back, letting her hair drip down the side of the tub. With a soft cloth he patted most of the moisture out, then used a simple spell to create an air current between his palms. The air tickled the tips of her ears as he worked and she let her mind wander. Again, the bone comb was meticulously run through her strands as he applied oil to the bottom half, leaving the dark curtain of her hair soft, shiny and smelling of roses.  

Finished, he guided her up out of the water with small touches to her shoulders, her hips, her hands. She stood on a woven grass matt as he dried her skin with a linen sheet. His hands never ruffled, never lingered, but continued his methodology over her body. He kneeled before her, eyes upturned, as he moved the cloth over her legs, even between her toes. Tasha was ever moved by his careful handling of her at her weakest, but never making her feel weak. A soft smile stretched her lips, her hand reaching out to trail down his cheek and jaw, following the old path of the magic that once doomed him. Her fingertips passed through the transition from textured skin to neat scruff, ending at his chin and falling away back to her side, their eyes never leaving each other.  

She felt his hands glide like wings upward to the space behind her knees. Her left knee had a dusting of scales that he passed quickly on his way over her thighs up to her hips, where more grew in a pattern that painted a V shape over her abdomen. He paused there, roaming over the softness that had widened her hips and rounded her belly since they had saved the world and taken up academics. Gale seemed to love that about her, that his food and their new life together had helped her “bloom” as he liked to say. She simply gained weight, but she wasn’t about to stop him from describing her in such flattering flowery language.  

The slight callouses on his palms tickled her soft umber skin as he leaned forward and rose up from his knees. His arms encircled her and lifted her up with him, fulfilling his agreement to take her to bed. Legs wrapped around his waist, arms over his shoulders, and head tucked into his neck, her heart melted to the floor as she was brought back to their bed.  

The satin bedclothes were a siren song as her skin brushed against them, and she scuttled further beneath the thick batting-filled blanket. Gale was there beside her as she finally got comfortable, reaching out and taking her fingers in his.  

“I’ll likely sleep all day but I’ll be fine,” she assured him. “What will you get up to today?” 

“Keep an eye on you.” 

“Not much to keep an eye on when I’m asleep.” 

“You’ve got to eat, don’t you?” He slipped his fingers from hers and lightly tapped the tip of her nose, “Besides, I’ve got a lot of reading to catch up on. No reason I can’t do both.” 

Tasha shook her head at him, eyes beginning to flutter. 

Gale grinned at her warmly, “Rest, love. Don’t worry about me and let me worry about you.” He reached out again to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ll be right here.” 

She sighed and did as she was bidden, slowly drifting off in the comfortable silence between them. Eventually she felt his weight lift from the bed and his soft steps fade into the background, her mind traveling with him as she sank into pleasant rest.  

[sideshow-cellophane-blog]

Flirting With Pranks

Because I wanted these two to laugh and be happy together

"Gale!" 

"Astarion!"

The pale elf doubled over in his bout of hysterical laughter. He dropped his book on the ground in favor of holding his abdomen, which was tingling as his nerves were toyed with. He tried to fight the bubbling laughter before giving in to the urge - it was too strong. The tingling was turning into invisible yet solid touches, pinching up his hips and sides. 

Astarion collapsed to his knees. "Whahat the FUCK Gahahale?! It tihihickles!"

"It does? Good! It's supposed to."

Astarion slapped a hand over his ear as some invisible soft instrument flicked over it. "Whyhyhy?!"

"I wanted to hear you laugh, darling. And I wanted it to be fun for you." He put his hands on his hips with a satisfied grin. He had never seen Astarion so out of control - the elf had flopped face-first to the ground and was writhing. "It lasts about as long as that laughing curse you keep casting on us in camp."

"Yohou're awful!" Astarion squealed as the tickling moved into his armpits, and his legs kicked out in wheels. 

"I can't help but notice you aren't begging for it to stop, darling. Where does it tickle most? I want to know so I can focus the magic there."

Astarion was not about to tell Gale the magic all seemed to jump around his worst spots, making him spasm and twist in his giggle bouts. He couldn't, and didn't dare, imagine what it would be like for all of his worst spots to be tickled at once. His arms went up and down as his hands tried to soothe his tingling skin. "Fuhuck you!"

"More experimentation it is. I don't mind! You had me cackling like a damn loon yesterday, you know? Wyll and Karlach got the best cuts of meat for dinner and I got bone broth. Clear. Bone. Broth."

"I'm sohohorry!"

"Well yeah, you are now."

"Aha! Heh. Heheh…" The tickling slowed and disappeared, leaving Astarion panting hard on the ground. He was not left alone for long though - Gale sat himself down on the other's thighs and wriggled his fingers into the exposed stomach lying before him. "GAHAHALE!"

"I had no idea you were actually ticklish dear, I simply must try this for myself."

"Oho no you dohohon't!" A struggle ensued, or started to, because Astarion was still a panting mess from the magic tickle attack. He tried to grab Gale's hands as they snaked up his sides and to that bottom rib, but he was too clumsy and panicked to stop the wizard from making him cackle. He squeezed his eyes shut and caved as the other played his ribs like some instrument. "Nohohoho! Gale, haha, GAHALE, stahp! NAHAT THERE! THAT! HAHA! FAHACK! Yes, yehehes, gohoho bahahack dohown! Get awahay FROM OHAHAHA! THEHERE!"

Pinches turned into loops and swipes, then stopped, and Astarion's cackling slowed to gasping giggles. He managed to open his eyes and give Gale a pleading look. 

"Your real laugh is adorable, you know that?" He said fondly. 

"Yohou're an insufferable asshole."

"Are you going to stop casting that laughing spell on us around camp now that I perfected one of my own? Because I can tickle you all day long, darling."

"I…" His smile faltered as he thought, and it returned as a playful and practiced smirk. "As awful as that was, darling, I think it is awfully strange that you created such a playful spell just for me. That wasn't designed to be a one time use, was it? I mean, here you are, on top of me-"

"Oh my gods Astarion."

"And you know? I rather like the attention. And I think you want to make me laugh. Keep making your teasing, playful spells for me Gale, it makes me feel special. Now get off of me so I can exact my revenge when you least expect it."

"It makes you feel- oh you do want another round is what it is? Projecting your feelings onto me, like you aren't the one making us laugh first, I see right through you," His hands began to glow, but the vampire had time to recover. Astarion twisted and threw Gale off, and they wrestled for control. "I'm not giving in!…NO!" Giddy giggles filled the air as they jabbed at each other, and Gale found himself weakening to protect his sensitive stomach. "I'll blow you up you ass, you get that finger OUT of my AHA! SHIRT! "

"Found the tickle button," Astarion had gained the upper hand, literally, and kept wiggling his finger in Gale's navel. The wizard's hands fell to protect himself. "Now we…are…on…the saaaame page. I may be ticklish, but you seem to be far worse off than I. Is that why you felt the need to cheat with magic?"

Gale was giggling too hard to answer. The tables had turned and he was drained from his earlier magic use.

"This is fun dear, and now that I know you're enjoying yourself here too," Astarion paused to admire the man below him. He ran his hands over Gale's stomach to soothe his nerves. "Well," he chuckled. "I prefer being the one to make you laugh. Remember that next time you start a fight I will always finish." He collapsed beside Gale on the ground. They caught their breath together, and Astarion broke the silence once they were quiet again. "So can you teach me that spell? I want to see if Lae'Zel is-"

"No."

"But-!"

"I hate wasting a revival scroll, dear. If that power were in your hands this whole camp would either be at your mercy or I would have to keep bringing you back after they kill you."

"What if I only use it on you?"

"Even worse. If you want to tickle me you have to be brave about it."

"A challenge…I accept. Now cuddle me, if the group isn't back by sundown we can keep playing."

"Gladly, darling."

[bloodweavefangnatic]

Astarion: I bet nobody can make me laugh— people have tried for centuries. It can’t be done

Gale: *casts Tasha’s Hideous Laugh*

Astarion: THAT’S — HAHAHAHA! *he lies prone rolling on the floor* - CHEATING!

Gale: You never said anything about magic being involved

Astarion: IT WAS — HAHAHAHA - IMPLIED!

[imperator-titus]

Favorite Party Banter [Gale Edition]

[Astarion (Ascended)] [Halsin/Jaheira] [Gale] [Karlach] [Lae'zel] [Minsc] [Minthara] [Shadowheart] [Wyll]

I often miss party banter because of party comp (and sometimes just straight up can't hear??) so here's a collection of my favorite bants while going through dialogue files. I know the wiki has the banter (most? all?) but I added the file names and dev notes.

Either Gale is the main speaker/subject or I think his reaction is good shit.

Not in any particular order.

[PB_Laezel_Gale_ROM_Act2]

Gale: So, Lae’zel - have you ever been tempted to use psionics in your, erm, romantic endeavors? {Devnote: Curiosity winning out over awkwardness}

Lae’zel: Only once. Did you know, in low-gravity settings, githyanki can maintain aerial suspension for hours at a time? {Devnote: cheekily}

Gale: Fascinating - I think the archmage Tasha described a spell with similar effect. I really must look that up… {Devnote: latter part almost to self}

[PB_Gale_Astarion_ROM_Act3_Spawn]

Gale: If you’re feeling faint after your bout with Cazador, Astarion, I don’t mind donating some blood. {Devnote: Sincere/Genuinely trying to help}

Astarion: When you’re still full of that Netherese bile? I’ll pass, thank you.

Astarion: Besides, I have someone else to nibble on. And they are delicious.

[PB_Gale_Shadowheart_Morgue]

Gale: Look at this place. Such horrors defy descriptions…{Devnote: In very bleak/grim surroundings}

Shadowheart: Silence can be best. Give it a try sometime. {Devnote: A little cheeky, though they’re in a grim place}

[PB_Gale_Shadowheart_ROM_Act3_Selune]

Gale: I must tell you, Shadowheart, the bathing waters here leave much to be desired. {Devnote: a bit know it all}

Gale: The ablutions offered at the Temple of Beauty in Waterdeep are far superior. And they have the most excellent soaps. 

Shadowheart: Hmm. I was wondering why you always smelled like a wealthy dowager. {Devnote: teasing}

[PB_Wyll_Gale_ROM_Act2]

Gale: I’ve heard that in Baldur’s Gate, ‘wizard’ is also a term used for one who eschews their more, ahem, carnal desires. Is that true, Wyll? {Devnote: Fishing for info, a bit annoyed about what he’s heard.}

Wyll: Where are we going with this, Gale?

Gale: Oh, nowhere. I just think it a rather cruel misnomer. Not at all reflective of the glamour wizarding life affords. {Devnote: A bit sulky/sensitive about it}

[PB_Gale_Astarion_ROM_Act2]

Gale: I fear I've been rather hasty to judge you, Astarion. {Devnote: sincere/sympathetic}

Gale: One heartbreak was quite enough for me, but to experience it as many times as you have must change a person.

Astarion: Thank you, Gale. Let us both hope that broken hearts are a thing of the past.

[PB_Karlach_Gale_BlushingMermaid]

Karlach: Man, it's good to be home. First round on who?

Gale: She who thirsts buys drink the first. {Devnote: Like it's a well-known saying}

Karlach: You won't pin me down with a rhyme, wizard! {Devnote: jockeying with Gale}

Gale: She who declines gets the worst of the wines.

[PB_Laezel_Gale_ROM_Act3_001]

Lae'zel: Gale, I've heard you talking in your sleep. Your mate needs better rest for our journey.

Gale: And deprive them of the pleasure of hearing my nocturnal postulations? I'd never be so cruel.

Gale: The mind absorbs much while we believe ourselves dormant. To lie beside Gale of Waterdeep is positively educational.

[PB_Karlach_Gale_ROM_Act1]

Gale: Karlach... a hypothetical question for you.

Gale: If someone - not me, of course - detected a hint of romantic interest in them from another, unnamed individual, what might that someone do about it?

Karlach: Whoever it is, just talk to them, Gale. And leave out the hypotheticals.

Gale: Talking. Right. I'm good at that.

[creativepromptsforwriting]

Names with Cute Nicknames

Girls' Edition

Sometimes we just fall in love with a cute nickname for our characters. So here is a list of names that you can name your characters, even though you will only call them by their nickname.

Abigail - Abbie, Abby, Gale, Gail

Adaline/Adalina - Ada, Lynn, Lina

Adriana - Riana, Addie, Drea

Alexandra - Al, Alex, Alexa, Allie, Ally, Lex, Lexa, Lexie, Sandra, Sandie, Sandy

Amelia/Amelie - Millie, Lia, Mimi

Anastasia - Ana, Stassie, Stassy, Stacey

Antoinette - Ann, Annie, Toni, Netta

Ariella - Ariel, Ari, Ella

Aurelia/Aurora - Auri

Beatrix - Trixie, Bea

Berenike/Bernice - Berry, Bernie, Nikki, Neecy

Calista/Calliope - Callie

Cassandra- Cass, Cassie, Cassy, Sandra, Sandy, Sandie

Cassidy - Cass, Cassie, Cassy

Cordelia - Delia, Deli

Danica - Dani, Dannie, Niki, Nika

Dorothy - Dot, Dottie, Doro

Eleanor - Elle, Ellie, Lea, Nora

Esmerelda - Esme

Evangeline Evie, Evi, Eve, Lina

Evelyn - Evie, Evi, Eve, Lynn

Felicitas/Felicity - Feli, Fliss, Lis, Lissa

Francesca - Fran, Frannie, Frankie

Frederike - Fred, Freddie, Freddy, Rike, Kiki

Genevieve - Eve, Evie, Genna, Gina, Ginny, Viv

Jasmine - Jas, Jazzy, Mina, Minnie

Josephine - Josie, Joe, Phin

Leonora - Leo, Nora

Madeline - Maddie, Maddy, Lynn, Ada, Addie

Marigold - Mari, Goldie

Matilda - Tillie, Tilda, Mattie

Melissa - Liss, Lissa, Mel, Mellie, Missy

Natasha/Natascha - Nat, Nattie, Sasha, Tasha

Olivia - Livia, Liv, Livy, Ollie, Olive

Penelope - Penny, Poppy, Nelly, Polly

Philippa - Pippa

Rosalie/Rosalia - Rosie, Rose, Sally, Lia

Rosemary - Rosie, Rose, Mary

Veronica - Vero, Ronny, Nic, Nica

Wilhelmina - Minnie, Mina, Wil, Willa

Winifred - Winnie, Win, Freddie, Fred

More names!

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰

[whimsii-cal]

gale enjoyers I have a treat for you. here is 43 incredible seconds of gale’s laughing voice lines before they changed the “confused” condition to “befuddled” and apparently made it the same voice line as when a character has tasha’s cast on them.

I will forever be upset about this change. not only are the more dumb silly high-sounding chuckles more fitting for the befuddled condition than the unhinged cackling of tasha’s bUT JUST LISTEN TO HIM??? WE WERE ROBBED. ROBBED. HE SOUNDS SO CUTE HERE I WILL NEVER GET OVER IT OKAY

credits to this person on youtube for compiling these lines before they got changed!!

[casualya]

My BG3 Modlist

I made my modlist for BG3. It's mostly mods for visual character changes and adding different armor and clothing. I hope this information will be useful to someone. Please don't forget to read the descriptions to the modifications and download additional required mods ⬇️

APPEARANCE MODS

Heads | Face | Eyes | Makeup & Tattoo

Unique Tav Custom Appearance (You must also download and install this mod to work correctly) Vemperen's Other Heads Repaired Tasha's Cauldron of Faces New Character Creation Presets WIP Themia's Sister Preset Mari's tattoo Mari's makeup Astralities' Skintone Expansion - Natural Tones Astralities' Fantasy Skintone Expansion Eyes of the Beholder Aether's Half-Illithid Begone Gale's Wizardly Updo

Hair | Horns | Hair Collections & Colors

Tav's Hair Salon Icon and Race Patches for Tav's Hair Salon Tav's Hair Mixer Astralities' Hair Color Supplement Astralities' Hair Color Collection Vanilla (and NPCs) Hair Mixer Vessnelle's Hair Collection Tasha's Cauldron of Hairstyles Tasha's Cauldron of Hairstyles Pack 2 Horns of Faerun Alternate Horns for Tieflings De-Accessorized NPC Hairstyles Yves Hair Gallery Angel Wings And Halos __ By Ren Angel Wings and Halos _ Solar Race Patch P4 Bangs Bangs Everywhere (a Fringes and Extra Hair mod) Shibariwaluigi's NPC Hair Edits Ghouls Customization Compendium - Custom Heads Horns and Beards Ghouls Simple Braid and Ponytail Hairstyle Long Hairs Silver's Hair Pack Silver's Hair Pack 2 Silver's Hair Mixer REN'S DIVINE HAIR GALLERY Tepkunset Hair Collection Shadowheart Alternate Hair - Updated for Launch Fire Keeper's Hair and Mask

Body (Scars)

Bhaal Scars for All Darker Bhaal Scars for All Vampire Bite Scar

ARMOR AND CLOTHING MODS

Basket Full of Equipment. NSFW version Basket Equipment to Camp Clothing Basket Underwear to Underwear Slot Modular Equipment Citizen Outfits as Camp Clothes Professor's Suit Fancy Camp Clothes Fancy Dresses Epilogue Camp Clothes More Mage Gear Rose Bard Outfit Cambion and Gith Armor Extra Gear Extra Gear as Camp Clothing Druu's Clothes and Armours lokelani's lavish livery Ascendant Astarion Epilogue Clothes Witcher 3 Armor (Keira Ciri Yennefer Margarita) Yennefer's wardrobe Triss' wardrobe Astarion's Wardrobe Astromancer robes Custom Item Pack IO's Outfit Collection Slutty Menswear

Astarion's Gear Nox Male Outfit from Elden Ring Mythral accessories

EARRINGS | ACCESSORIES | GLASS

Mythral accessories Ghouls Custom Piercings Piercing Improvement - Physics Piercing Edits Astarion's Earrings Kylin's Piercings Ellian's trinkets Weeviljester's Accessories Trips' Accessory Collection P4 Blooming Circlets and Piercings - a Valentine Inspired Mod

Dyes

TC Dyes

OTHER MODS

Races

Half angel ( Aasimar 5E ) Aasimar - xx's New Female Head Preset patch Astralities' Tiefling Compendium

Gameplay | Interface

ImprovedUI ReleaseReady Appearance Edit Enhanced Transform into companions and NPCs - Ring of Metamorph Tutorial Chest Summoning Hugs

Misc | Utilities

Norbyte's Baldur's Gate 3 Script Extender (from github) Baldur's Gate 3 Mod Fixer Trips' Old Shader Pack (for Unique Tav Custom Mod)

VIDEO AND SCREENSHOTS TOOLS

Otis Camera (Baldur's Gate III photomode tools) IGCS Connector IGCS Depth of Field ReShade

[alicelufenia]

Had a couple weeks off due to life, but back with more Tavierra

I go back to the grove and release Sazza, since this will be my last chance.

Due to a bug with the Sit Out mod the game wasn't letting more than Tav and Karlach fight in the Worg Pens. I sorted it out later, it's a common hiccup.

Of course I knock out the goblin children, I'm not a monster.

Halsin flashbangs my drow ass right in the face, then we break the news to him about Kagha.

Does he?

We deal with Halsin's (somewhat) understandable but embarrassing prejudice.

Oh boy and this is the playthrough where I may even be romancing him! Fun first impression :D

At least he admits it may be unfair of him, and that we may "enlighten" him. Well y'see you're gonna love literally the next thing I do then cause-

But first we talk to Ragzlin, and as this is my first time playing a cleric, this scene can play out different by doing the Speak With Dead spell yourself! Not that Tav would need the scroll as she has the forbidden knowledge of Thay (what can I say she got curious)

I go deal with Gut first. I just have the other 3 active party members sneak in through the back entrance to her room, and with a Silence spell up and surrounded by all of us, she doesn't stand a chance.

We split the party into 2 groups. Tav, Astarion, Karlach and Lae'zel head to Minthara's office (and stealthily clear the hallway outside the Worg Pens) while Shadowheart, Gale and Wyll return for Halsin to go kill Ragzlin and the goblins gathered with him.

Bear time. Hopefully not the last time either.

We meet up with Sazza next to Minthara. I had already spoken to her without Sazza, so I was hoping there'd be a change with this scene, but it's the same as if you met her for the first time with Sazza. In my oc lore, Tav uses Sazza as cover for her "scouting" delay to find the grove.

I get Minthara to spare Sazza. I'm hoping to get her achievement this playthrough, otherwise I'll have to wait til the next one.

Haha what, slaughter the grove that's CRAZY, who would do that their first playthrough? Anyway

What follows was an hour and a half of misadventures as I tried to be cute by agreeing to raid the grove, and then as she's walking out, smacking her with a Tasha's Hideous Laughter, hoping to initiate combat with her rolling on the ground with Emma's insane laughter.

The game claimed Tasha's had a 30% chance to work. In reality it felt like 0.01%, as she kept passing the damn save each reload! (it's almost like Paladins are really good with saving throws, no idea how I'd know that) but are you ready for some quality bullshit?

At one point the combat log said she failed the roll, but she didn't actually get affected! It still treated her as if she'd saved successfully! What the hell game!

So in the end I just start the fight without the Tasha's opener, and beat her unconscious with Karlach's massive unarmed attack swings.

The way this works in the lore is that she merely gets dazed, and Tav's confliction over what to do leads to her sparing her, stripping Minthara of her weapons and leading the others to go join Shadowheart and the rest as they're finishing off Ragzlin.

By the time they're done with Ragzlin, they return to see if Minthara is still there, Tav entertaining thoughts of interrogating her, or trying to contact the dream visitor to see if there's anything they can do. But they're too late: Minthara's already snuck away. Karlach is uneasy about this, but Tav, having to improvise now, reassures her the grove won't come to harm.

By the way, look at the changes to the journal! Back in patch 5, this didn't say "defeated", it said "killed", even if you knocked them out.

THIS screenshot is from December! Notice the wording change. I wonder when this happened, I didn't do as extensive testing at patch 6, so I didn't notice.

After reporting to Halsin, Tav makes good on her promise that the grove will be safe. By leading the party through a secret passage in the ceiling back out to the camp where they proceed to KILL EVERY GOBLIN. Can't raid the grove without an army, yeah?

We use every drow's favorite trick, Darkness, to keep ourselves safe from all the ranged attacks and pick them off as they come to us. It's a total slaughter for the goblins.

And now the fate of Crusher in 3 screenshots

Tragic.

By the way, if you ever want to turn Zevlor's gift down cause you're a good person or whatever, you can still trade with him in the same dialogue and just buy the reward off him. Handy tip so you don't miss this unique helmet!

Everyone back at the grove is in a celebratory mood, except Tav doesn't feel at all like celebrating.

I'm gonna say "It was a hell full of blood and ash" was her exact in-character description of the experience.

At the party she's in such a dour mood despite the energy of the participants that she finds herself even chatting up Astarion.

Oh but that's where you're wrong Astarion! We killed a whole LOT more goblins than there were tieflings! Like 5 times as many! *sigh* and now we get to the heart of the matter and why she feels bad.

Must resist. Urge to. Reload. Not this. Run.

So yeah, Tav's drinking, and seeking distraction. And so is Astarion. Hmm. Yeah sure, fuck it.

And she did.

All sarcasm aside, I am able to appreciate the subtleties of Astarion's romance scene. He can't hide his uncomfortable expression when we say we want to lose ourselves in him. "I thought so." HNGGGG but I have a good reason for this, eventually.

The next morning I have a talk with Halsin, deciding we'll head through the mountain pass (I'm not done with Act 1 yet, but I do want to take care of that area first now that the time-sensitive quests are done)

But first, I make a new main save and then proceed to speedrun to Moonrise Towers. I drink a potion of invisibility to sneak Tav past the Death Shepherds and into act 2, then follow Kar'niss all the way to Moonrise, where we find

She's alright folks! :D And yes, I didn't loot her gear, just her weapons like I said. Y'all should know by now I would NEVER put Astarion in her armor, she's keeping all that!

Back to our main save, we continue to the encounter with the Gith at the mountain pass road, and continue onwards to Rosymorn Monastery.

Damn I just think Tavierra looks good in this shot, lookit my baby stare down a dragon!

Next is, *sigh* Lady Esther. I convince her to take the Owlbear egg, and then have Astarion pickpocket her inventory while Tav distracts with her bard playing. The classic pair! She's not usually one for robbing people, but she'll make an exception for racism.

Speaking of racism:

We explore the monastery, and I manage to find enough of the weapons to solve the Dawnmaster puzzle with just a bit of brute forcing it.

We arrive in the Creche, and I beeline it for why we're here so early:

The two pieces of gear Tav needed.

The lore here is that Tav and Astarion find the githyanki stash of plundered treasures from across Faerûn. Tav has little qualms with "liberating" the stolen goods, and once again distracts them while Astarion cleans out their inventory. He does nearly get caught, but he deceives his way out of it and gets away scot-free.

Now in possession of a stolen artifact dedicated to Corellon, Tav's personal quest hits the next step, as she wishes to seek the favor of the father of elves on this journey, a long shot considering he's basically responsible for the ancient dark elves being cursed to become drow. At least she's got several elven companions to consult, and thus while it's not his main deity, she begins discussing religion with Halsin.

One respec later and her build is now online.

Now that the goblin camp is done, my main stressor for this run is past. What was initially a struggle for survival is turning into a pilgrimage for our Chosen of Eilistraee. And soon-to-be Seeker of Corellon. This is definitely going to be a more religious and gods-focused playthrough than my first one. Next time I'll show off the builds for the rest of the companions, as I've done unique things with at least a few of them, and as the party hit level 6 on the way to the Creche, they're now established enough to show off.

[sophiasharp]

It’s probably because of how deeply tied to their identities the Tadfools’ backstories are (and also how the fuck does Tav fit into anything) but I’m kinda surprised by how I haven’t seen much, if any, role-swap stories for Baldur’s Gate yet. Which is a shame cause I think there could be a lot of potential there, cause none of these guys would respond to each other’s circumstances the exact same way.

Think of a noble-borne Astarion, who might not have been the best person but still would give anything to see the city he loves safe. This time, it is not infernal machinations that threatens Baldur’s Gate, but the long-standing rot of the Faewild that promises to bring about its ruin. The binding of his mortal soul is made all the more bitter by his family’s formal disowning of a child who conspires with the Fae. Making himself into a hero is not done out of a genuine selflessness but out of a necessity to try and reap SOME reward out of sacrifice, to make it MEAN something other than losing all he once knew.

Think of Lae’zel, stolen from Selune’s Tears during a Githyanki training mission and brought up in the Sharran cloister, damned to forget herself while always and forever remaining OTHER compared to the rest of the acolytes. Shar bids one live their lives in the shadow, but she figures one must sometimes bring the shadows forward more forcefully if they are to further their cause. As a war cleric, she promises to become the sword-arm to the Nightsinger that might one day banish the light for good. And yet, she still wonders some days where she comes from and why her hand sometimes burns so fiercely.

Think of a young, bright-eyed, and curious Karlach, raised on tales of swords and sorcery, who more than anything wants to become one of those heroes one day. She wants to be the next Elminster, or Tasha, or Mordenkainen- no, she wants to be BETTER than them, to outshine even the greatest of spellcasters and use her power to protect those she loves. Mystra sees her determination and feeds it, letting her enthusiasm grow to obsession as she gets older, leaving behind her friends and family in favor of her greatest passion incarnate. But it’s not enough. How could it ever be, when the woman who claims to love her, the one she’s built her life around, continues to hold true mastery of the arcane just out of her grasp? Surely there is some way she can prove her worth. Surely, with her Goddess’s favor and her own deft hand at Abjuration, she will be able to gift Mystra the one thing she wasn’t able to take on her own.

Think of a Gale, a scrappy young man with so much arcane potential and yet none of the money necessary to have it be honed properly. Still, mouths must be fed, and so he pushes himself to become stronger, strong enough to support his single mother in the City of Splendor. Indeed, he grows strong enough to catch the attention of an up-and-coming politician from Baldur’s Gate who may have some shady dealings on the side, but the money was good enough for him to look the other way. Just as long as he could keep sending money back to Waterdeep, he didn’t care much what his boss did. Until, one day, everything changed. He was sent to the hells, his heart ripped out of his own chest and replaced with a searing hot contraption that threatened to burn him from the inside out. Ten years he spends down there, fighting a war he never signed up for, and a rage begins to take form. Through his anger, the magic inside him finally finds a conduit, wild enough to let him survive through everything.

Think of Jenevelle, kidnapped during her Selunite rite of passage by mindflayers and later “saved” by Githyanki raiders. She is offered the chance to prove herself more than a slave, and grabs on with both hands. She trains among them, fighting not only to survive but to be the BEST at it, to justify her existence amongst their ranks. By the time she is grown, her past life is but a distant, painful memory. She earns the title of Shadowheart, her mettle as cold and furious as the dark side of the moon. For her own safety, she can never let herself stop fighting to be better. She will become Vlakith’s champion if that’s what it takes for her to finally, finally be enough.

Think of a Wyll Ravengard born two centuries earlier, nearly killed and left for dead by one of his father’s political rivals when a cold hand offers eternal salvation. Later, he wishes he had perished in the alley as intended. He spends years, decades hoping that his father and the rest of the flaming fist would find him, only to be crushed when rescue from his living hell never comes. He outlives all that would have known the face of Grand Duke Ravengard’s late son, becomes a ghost of himself as he learns how to lead countless to their deaths in the hopes of saving his own skin from more pain. And yet, somewhere deep inside him, there lays a part of him that still holds hope for the happily ever afters of the old stories he clings to despite everything he’s gone through. By day, he sharpens his claws, remembers his training from before his life was thrown away, re-teaches himself how to strike hard and fast before anyone can react, and bides his time. Maybe, just maybe, the gods would give him the chance to be his own hero. The monster and the hunter both.

[biowhore]

Even now

Have another prompt drabble, this time featuring Tasha and Gale (of Credentials and Distraction) in an alternate ending scenario where Gale becomes a god.

For context, Tasha is a white dragon draconic bloodline sorcerer.

His back looked different. 

His scapula sharper than before, his shoulders straighter. No softness, no easy bend to his head, just straight and determined. Cold. 

“Even now? After all we’ve been through?” she asked.  

His chin turned slightly toward her, the only indication she would get that he was listening. She could see the faint marks of his Netherese orb on his cheek from this angle, a terrible reminder of the future he was marching toward.  

“Yes. Everything we’ve been through should be evidence enough that I need to do this. But we’ve exhausted that conversation,” He answered her, steel in his voice.  

“We have,” she whispered, nodding to herself as her eyes bore into his back. 

She would let him go, let him sink into the cold well of his own fate. She was no stranger to cold, was not afraid of it, but once he froze the blood in his veins the man she knew would die. The warmth she fell in love with, the heart she held in her hands, would cease to exist. Only the shell would remain.  

“You can still join me,” he said, his chin turning forward again, as if he already knew her answer.  

Nothing needed to be said. There was nothing left, except goodbye.  

“Gale...” she began, closing her eyes, unable to speak to his back like this. And doubly so, when she opened her mouth to tell him, to speak all the pain in her heart at losing him, she found she could not. In truth, all had been said that needed saying. Nothing would sway him now.  

She was not enough.  

He knew as much, and was already walking away when she opened her eyes. His back broad, his spine straight, and a jagged crown in his hands.  

“Goodbye Gale,” she whispered to no one.  

--- 

Nearly a year later, she sometimes felt a cold snap within her magic as she cast. She was ice itself, but this was the primal cold needle of something other. It felt proud, it felt steely, it felt... lonely.  

But gods do not regret, and human hearts like hers do not forgive. 

Even now, after all they’d been through. 

[clericofgale]

Gale: So, Lae'zel have you ever been tempted to use psionics in your uh romantic endeavors?

Lae'zel: Only once did you know in low gravity settings Githyanki can maintain aerial suspension for hours at a time?

Gale: Fascinating! I think the Archmage Tasha described a spell with similar effect! Really must look that up...

Reminder that Gale may be old fashioned in the dance of courtship but definitely not in the art of dancing "betwixt the sheets".

[raviolirash]

Gale: What is my purpose?

Tav: You bully Raphael in his fight with Otto's dance and Tasha's laughter every turn.

Gale: Oh my god

[maya-kholin]

Tav's Irresistible Dance

(a Baldur's Gate 3 fanfic)

Word count: 3k

Pairings: M!Tav x Astarion, platonic Tav + Gale, M!Tav x Halsin is there for exactly one sentence

Summary: Tav isn’t good at flowers and chocolate. He says “I love you” by murdering your enemies while calculating the maximum number of win conditions possible. But a communication error endangers his relationship with the very person he’s doing this for. Misunderstanding/angst, resolved by the end. (Note: Technically Tav x Astarion but Gale is there a lot. What can I say, they like nerding out about magic.)

Rating: T for brief suicide reference, swearing

Warnings: References to canon abuse, (brief/insincere) suicide threat, vampire feeding.

***

“Would you be willing to help me test a spell?”

Gale looked up to see Tav outside his tent, squinting as always in the daytime sun. He grinned and snapped his book shut. “Always happy to assist in the pursuit of arcane excellence. Hit me.”

“Okay, that’s even more enthusiasm than I expected,” Tav said with a look over his shoulder, “but I’d rather not do it here. Would you come with me?”

Tav led Gale some distance out into the woods. He pulled out his violin and checked the tuning. He’d sooner gut you than let you refer to him as a bard, but magic didn’t lie, and Tav relied on music to manipulate the Weave. “I don’t expect this to cause any pain, or have any lasting effects, but it could be… uncomfortable,” he said.

“Well, now I’m even more interested to see what you’ve come up with.”

Tav tucked the violin under his chin and touched bow to strings. “Try to throw me off.”

As the music closed in around him, Gale took note of its effect on the Weave. Enchantment, not terribly surprising given Tav’s knack for the school. But though it had the makings of a typical paralysis spell, Gale felt compelled to move. His feet moved and tapped outside of his control. He tried to force his arms to form arcane gestures, but instead, they swayed to the music. Incantations were swept from his lips, drowned out by the sound. It took him only a few moments to summon the will to resist, but in battle, those seconds would be precious.

“Marvelous!” Gale beamed. “I’m not quite sure of the benefits of modifying a hold spell in such a fashion, but it earns points for flair, certainly.”

“Do you…” Tav cleared his throat. “Do you think it would work on an undead?”

“Oh! Oh, I see. You’re wise to ask, my friend. The Weave interacts differently with undead flesh. It’s a particularly vexing problem. A hold monster spell can potentially stop a dragon in its tracks, but not… shall we say… a master vampire.”

Tav looked relieved. “Exactly. Yes.”

“I think you’re on the right track. Would you mind showing me your notes?”

Tav produced a bundle of papers. “Hope you read Under-Elven,” he said, handing them over. Lines of musical notation alternated with arcane diagrams, with notes and questions in the margins. 

“Oh, don’t worry, I will,” Gale said absently, already analyzing the diagrams. “This is fascinating! Yes… yes, I think it can work, but it needs some alterations. Would it be alright if I made some notes and got back to you?”

“I was hoping you’d offer. Thanks,” said Tav. “One more thing. Would you mind not mentioning this to Astarion? Actually…” He shifted on his feet. “Best to keep it entirely between us for now.”

“Hmm? Of course,” Gale mumbled, barely looking up from the notes. “Now, if you added a dash of Tasha’s sinister compulsion here…”

***

Late that night, Astarion returned from hunting to find Tav still at work in his tent. The smell of alchemical reagents hung in the air as he carefully filtered something foul into a small bottle.

Tav smiled when he saw Astarion enter. He greeted him with a kiss to the forehead and slipped the bottle into Astarion’s hand. “Remember,” Tav said, “bite first, then stab.”

“I’m not sure your poisons would do much to me, darling.”

“Maybe not, but swarming toadstool has an intensely bitter taste when extracted properly.” Tav grinned. “I laughed for a tenday when I learned topsiders just call this stuff ‘drow poison.’ Still, if you’re going to be infamous for something, might as well be something that works. Are you hungry?”

“If you don’t mind…”

“Let me tidy up first. Don’t want anything spilling or catching fire.” He did so, then settled into his bedroll and extended a hand to Astarion.

Tav slipped into his meditation before Astarion even finished. He’d seen the man meditate sitting up with one eye open, so this level of trust was… well, it was rewarding. 

He relaxed into Tav’s arms. It was nice being together like this, without the expectation of… other things. A very large and frightened portion of his mind screamed that it wouldn’t last, that he couldn’t really have this, but he buried himself in Tav’s scent and ignored it.

Both of them were startled to consciousness by an exuberant wizard. “I’ve got it!” Gale was shouting in the early morning light. He was brandishing a bundle of papers. “If you just apply Tenser’s enhancement to the base enchantment matrix – layer on a splash of necromancy – oh, good morning, Astarion. – then you should be able to entrap even a particularly powerful –”

Tav cut him off abruptly, taking the papers. “Thank you, I’ll have a look at this later. Did you sleep? I’m reliably informed that humans need sleep.”

“Why sleep when we’re on the cusp of magical innovation?” Gale wobbled slightly, his eyes bloodshot.

Tav plucked a bottle from his alchemical collection, checked the label, and handed it to Gale. “Take this. A sleepy wizard’s no good to me. I’ll ask Wyll to come with me today.” 

“Oh.” Gale looked a bit crestfallen.

“Just get some rest. I appreciate the help.” 

Astarion watched as Tav hastily tucked the papers away. He was being a little too protective of them. Was he hiding something? “What are the two of you up to?” he asked.

“Just writing a spell,” Tav said smoothly, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “I don’t want to bore you with the arcane details.”

“Well, what if I’m interested?”

“I’ll show it to you when it’s working,” Tav said. “Promise.”

***

“I’m not sure your modifications are going to work,” Tav said to Gale later.

“I’m really quite confident we’ve got the Weave structure right.”

Tav peered at the notes, now covered with extensive feedback from Gale in purple ink. “Far be it from me to question the arcane prowess of Mystra’s former Chosen,” he said carefully, “but I think you’ve forgotten one key element of bardic magic.”

“And what’s that?”

“Gale… it has to sound good.”

“I’m sure it will be fine! Give it a go, you’ll see.”

Tav shrugged and picked up the violin. Unholy screeching soon filled the air. “Alright, alright!” cried Gale, waving his hands as if to brush the awful sound away. “You make your point vividly. What do we do next, then?”

“I think I can work with this, but what it needs now is more music than magic… You will let me run this by you again, won’t you?”

“Of course, of course!” “And remember. Not a word to the others. Please.”

***

“Working on a spell”? Was that what they called it these days? Did he think Astarion wouldn’t notice him constantly sneaking off with Gale? Did giving him permission to sleep with Halsin, once, mean he was allowed to dally with the entire camp whenever he liked?

And… seriously? Gale?

No. No. There were those papers, after all. And he never had the scent of, ahem, dalliance on him. Nor had he ever mentioned being attracted to Gale, only expressed admiration for his talent for magic.

If Astarion could just get his hands on those papers, he could be sure, but that was easier said than done. Tav always carried them with him, including when he slipped away with Gale.

The only chance would be when Tav was meditating, but it would be an understatement to call him a light sleeper. Astarion would have to be incredibly quiet. Good thing he was good at that.

So, one night, when he was sure Tav was as close to unconscious as could reasonably be assumed, he very carefully drew the bundle of papers from Tav’s pack.

He felt a pang of guilt. Of course it was a spell. That much was clear. But then, why the secrecy?

He couldn’t make much sense of it, unfortunately. Every other page was lines of musical notes, each accompanied by a page with arcane diagrams and drawings of magical gestures. On the first page there was an empty space where you might expect a title to be written.

Astarion could read music, and it seemed like a pretty damned good song. Lively and upbeat, the sort of thing you’d want to dance to. But that was about all he could make out. Cazador had only ever allowed the spawn to communicate in Common, except as necessary to bring in their marks. Astarion’s knowledge of Elven was… atrophied, at best, and Tav’s Underdark dialect made his head spin. Infuriatingly, even Gale’s notes were in the same tongue. Add to that the advanced nature of the magical diagrams, and he simply couldn’t make head or tail of the spell’s purpose.

He carefully returned the papers. Good news: he’s probably not cheating. Bad news: he’s still hiding something.

But the idea of bringing it up filled his belly with ice. What if they had a fight? What if they broke up? Too risky. It’s… probably nothing. Right?

***

Weeks later, Tav and Gale shared a drink in a quiet corner of the Elfsong Tavern.

“Here’s to you, my friend,” Gale said, raising his mug. “I hope you’re proud of yourself. If I were submitting this for publication at the Waterdeep Academy, I’d list it as at least a sixth-level spell.”

“I am a bit proud,” Tav said, raising his mug in return and taking a drink.

“Not that I haven’t noticed you peeking at my spellbook when you think I’m not looking,” Gale added with a twinkle in his eye. “I think I deserve some of the credit.”

Tav laughed. “Never would have learned to counterspell without you.”

“Just ask next time.”

“I did!”

“Fair enough, so you did. I just wish we had a way to test it properly. On paper, it’s flawless. But lots of things are.”

Tav frowned. “Remind me again why a summoned undead won’t work.”

“It probably will work. That’s the problem. Powerful creatures have powerful resistances. We need to test it on the strongest undead we have access to.”

Tav put up his hands. “I know what you’re about to say–”

“I’m saying you should ask Astarion.”

“You’re talking about basically controlling him with magic.”

“It’s the only way to be sure we’ll succeed,” Gale insisted.

“I admit I’d like some insurance,” Tav said.

“Exactly. And I’m sure he’ll agree it’s for a good reason.”

Tav shook his head. “You may be right, but… no. Even if he does agree, I don’t want to ask it of him. Controlling him even for a few seconds is a boundary I don’t want to cross, not after what he’s been through.”

Gale sighed. “Fair enough. We’ll just have to wing it then. Although I thought I spied a strangely intelligent ghoul the other day…”

***

Baldur’s Gate at last. After going gods knew how long without the comforts of civilization, there were beds. With sheets. Oh, they were still crammed cheek by jowl in the upper floor of a tavern, but there were substantially fewer insects, at least.

The suspicion that Tav was hiding something still nagged at Astarion. So he’s getting a drink with Gale. So what. He’s allowed to have friends.

He’d thought about the tadpole, more than once, and hadn’t Tav peeked into his mind, early on? Discovered things Astarion wasn’t ready to reveal? But their relationship was different now, and Astarion wanted to deserve trust, even if Tav wasn’t exactly earning the same.

Astarion headed downstairs, definitely to see if any of the others were interested in a drink and definitely not to eavesdrop. Even though, with his extraordinary hearing, he might happen to pick something up.

There were Tav and Gale, off in a corner, thick as thieves. Astarion tried to block them out, but his own name made his ears perk up.

“...ask Astarion,” Gale was saying.

Tav’s voice responded. “You’re talking about basically controlling him with magic.”

Gale cut him off. “It’s the only way to be sure we’ll succeed.” 

“I admit I’d like some insurance,” Tav said.

“Exactly. And I’m sure he’ll agree it’s for a good reason.”

“You may be right…”

Astarion’s ears were roaring as he bolted from the dining room. Freezing cold panic gripped him. He couldn’t stand to listen to another word.

Shit. Shit. The spell was to control him. No wonder they kept it from him.

He could feel his freedom slipping away. And what was that nonsense Gale had said? “I’m sure he’ll agree”? To what? To lie down and play lapdog again for some vague notion of common good? Fuck that. Fuck him.

In his fear and rage he forgot the tadpole, the artifact. Forgot that he couldn’t leave. Knew that he had to leave. Now.

Their room was dark and empty, at least. As quickly and quietly as he could, Astarion began packing up his things. Was there anything else worth stealing, while he was at it…?

Suddenly he felt a prickle at the back of his neck, and turned. Diamond-bright eyes regarded him in the gloom. Damn that drow. Of course darkness was no obstacle to him – and he could be nearly as sneaky as Astarion when he wanted.

Tav approached him. “Babe, what’s wrong? I saw you running upstairs.”

Astarion lifted his nose in the air haughtily. “I have nothing to say to you.”

Tav’s face was composed. “I don’t know what you overheard, but at least give me the chance to fix it.”

“Don’t bother. I know the two of you are trying to – control me. Good little Astarion, as long as he’s on a leash, as long as he’s compliant. Point him at something you need stabbed, but don’t let him act out, oh no. Is that what you wanted all along? Was all of this a lie?” His voice was rising as the words spilled out. “Was all that rot about freedom just a smokescreen? Or maybe controlling me isn’t good enough. Maybe you want me out of the way. Plan to talk me into killing myself? Like you did that devil? Maybe I should make it easy for you.” He didn’t mean it, not really, but the panic that gripped him wouldn’t let him stop. What did finally give him pause was Tav’s face. Still level, not rising to the bait.

“Don’t push me away now, you damned fool,” he said softly, his voice heavy with affection. “Here. This is probably overdue.”

Lighting a candle for ease of reading, Tav spread the oh-so-familiar bundle of notes out on a desk. There were many more notes and annotations than the last time Astarion had looked, and the title had been filled in. Gale had written something that Tav had crossed out and replaced, and this much, Astarion very much could read. A Song for Cazador.

Following his eyes, Tav said, “Gale wanted to call it Tav’s irresistible dance, but I told him that’s boring and only wizards name things that way. A Song for Astarion would be strictly true but felt a little mean-spirited. So I decided to direct the meanness where it’s deserved.”

“I… don’t understand.”

“When we face him, we’re going to need an edge.” He said when, not if. “I promised you I’d help you kill him, and I meant it. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. I asked Gale to help me design a spell that could paralyze an undead, and here we are.”

He did all this just to gain an advantage against Cazador? “Why didn’t you tell me? Did you think I’d be anything less than ecstatic that you were working on a weapon to use against my former master?”

“I didn’t tell the group because we need to be flexible in our battle plan. I can’t have you all standing around waiting for me to perform a miracle. We need to do anything and everything that wins us the fight, and that means not counting on me if something goes wrong. And…” He looked sideways at Astarion. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to get your hopes up. To see your disappointment if I failed. Worse, to see you count on me in battle only to… lose you.” He shook his head. “I see now it was a mistake to keep it from you. I’m sorry.”

“Then… what were you two talking about just now?”

“We haven’t been able to test the spell on a powerful enough undead. Gale was trying to talk me into testing it on you – with your permission – but I said I didn’t want to ask. I don’t like the idea of controlling you. I don’t want to… be like him, in any way, if I can help it.”

Astarion took a breath, steadied himself. “I… see. Since you mention it, I would prefer you didn’t use me as your guinea pig, if you don’t mind.”

“Okay,” said Tav. “Then that’s the end of it.”

“Thank you. Not that I’m not suddenly extremely invested in the success of this spell,” he added, a bit of his usual rakish demeanor returning. He felt exhilarated, in fact. The idea that someone cared enough to invent a brand new spell for him? “An irresistible dance, you called it? That sounds positively delicious. Dancing like a puppet on strings… just like he forced us to do, for all those years.” He laughed in equal parts vengeful cruelty and relief.

Tav chuckled. “Kind of disgusting, right? And it shouldn’t work on just Cazador. I’m looking forward to using it.”

“Ooh, I’m looking forward to watching you, my dear.”

Tav laughed, then grew serious again. “Are you alright now? Really.”

“I really am. A few months ago I could never have pictured anyone doing something like this for me.”

“Thank me when it works.”

***

For far too long, the outcome of the battle was anything but certain. Cazador had endless minions to throw at them, and though Tav had immediately teleported to Astarion to free him from the ritual, the brief loss of his will had been all too painful.

But then, as Karlach’s axe rose and spattered yet more grimy undead blood through the air, Gale shouted. “NOW!” A practiced flick of the wrist, a tug on the Weave, to transform a possible glimpsed future into certainty. Tav nodded, and began to play.

And Cazador… began to dance.

And kept dancing.

He danced as he tried to melt into mist. He danced as Karlach cleaved through the last of his servants. He danced as Gale blasted bats out of the air. He danced as Tav advanced towards him, clicking his heels in time to the music.

“Understandable mistake to make,” Tav said. “You see, cattle don’t have thumbs.”

Looking upon his old master, Astarion felt not an ounce of pity to see him reduced to a jerking, helpless puppet. But he did feel… He looked over at Tav. “Stop,” he said. Tav nodded and ended the song with a final flourish.

And Astarion stepped forward and took his revenge.

*****

thank you for reading! in my fight against cazador I was salty hold monster wouldn’t work, so I said eff it and clicked otto’s irresistible dance. and he beefed his save for like three or four turns. I shot bats in front of him to assert dominance. it was awesome. I made it into a fic because I thought it was sweet to picture tav preparing for the fight, and then gale turned up.

dms: never let a divination wizard and a lore bard team up. “I cast Otto’s Irresistible Dance on the vampire.” “And here’s his saving throw.”

the magical technobabble is all made up and the only bits based in lore are the names Tasha and Tenser. under-elven is also 100% cope on my part because I refuse to believe there’s no linguistic drift between underdark peoples and their surface counterparts. likewise, astarion not speaking elven well is headcanon but I think I justified it pretty well.

anyways, try otto’s irresistible dance against cazador. or raphael. oh, you like to sing motherfucker? bet you wanna dance too then

[blackjackkent]

Weirdly, even though we agreed to look into the murder of Father Lorgan (and Hector even got an inspiration for it!), there is still nothing about it in the quest log. Hm. Hopefully this doesn't mean it's bugged out.

Chatted a bit with some of the other priests in the temple - two of them are arguing because one thinks Lorgan was stupid to trust the refugees and the other thinks it is their responsibility to help all.

Hector puts a word in on the side of compassion. [MONK] "To offer alms to all who need it - that is the sign of a noble soul."

This didn't do anything to resolve the argument, but we did get an inspiration from Shadowheart for siding with the open-minded priest.

Another interesting thing that the grumpy priest mentioned was that Duke Stelmane has also been murdered recently. This is interesting primarily because, according to the Emperor's story, he and Stelmane were business partners running the Knights of the Shield. Something to keep an ear to the ground about.

Headed back downstairs in the hope of finding more clues now that we've talked to Yannis. No real luck, but we did find Shirra's grave.

Without any prompting from me, the spirit then came out of the amulet and looked in the grave.

"Gone thou might be, alas!" the spirit wails. A long pause, and then....

"AND YET THY SHELL WILL RISE!"

The corpse lurches upward out of the grave, surrounded in the pale purple aura which marked the laughing spirit of the amulet.

"Oh, ho ho ho, honored Shirra!" it chortles maniacally. "Her spirit hath fled, and her body but merely a husk. Heh heh hee-hee-HEEEEE!"

It takes a moment to recover enough of itself to continue. "Swear, I did," it goes on gleefully, "to shed this foul mania and bestow it upon Shirra! She was to endure, to suffer, as was her god Ilmater's wont! Who now shall bear the madness Shar has wrought on me, so I might no longer suffer?"

The corpse's glowing eyes focus on Hector and its mouth twists in a horrifying impression of hilarity.

"He-ho-hoo-hahaHAHAHAHAHAHA! Shall it be THOU?!"

Hector has watched this unfold with considerable bafflement, but with the sudden pointed question, he snaps to wariness at once. He has already felt the influence of the monk's laughing curse once, and it was hard enough to fight off the first time.

"Careful, Hec," Karlach mutters in an undertone.

[ARCANA] Ponder what you know of the monk's affliction. What are the consequences of accepting it?

Narrator: The monk himself holds your answer. Tasha's Hideous Laughter is a powerful skill - but earning it may come at the cost of wisdom.

It's an unappealing prospect at best. Hector has not only seen the amulet's curse but has also witnessed Gale using Tasha's Hideous Laughter himself; he doesn't really want anything to do with what this spirit is offering. Then again, leaving Shirra's corpse to wander around giggling maniacally forever doesn't really seem appropriate either.

Nevertheless, the answer feels clear enough. "Gods, no," he says wearily. "I don't want to inherit your curse."

The corpse's laughter takes on a menacing air. "HA! HO! Hee-HEE! Well, if laugh I must, let our alliance end on a lark."

Every corpse in the immediate area immediately springs to life around them and charges at Hector without hesitation.

[wetcatspellcaster]

If Rosalie could have the meal and drink of her dreams what would it be? Secondary question, if she could have three people living or dead in all of FR at dinner with her who would they be?

I think tbh Rosalie would just be nostalgic for home-cooked food, so the meal and drink of her dreams would just be the encapsulating memory of like, the best dinner party she had with friends, or her mother's cooking, or the first meal a loved one made for her (in the case of astarion, the food they ate at a restaurant afterwards when the food he attempted to make was... dire.) I don't do very well with picking out favourite foods, but if I was to make a guess she probably loves fried streets foods, and lemonade in the park.

your second question made me trawl through the D&D lore I know lmao, bc all my games are in homebrew settings! The answer I came up with was a bisexual girlie's dream:

Ezmerelda D'Avenir, monster huntress, vampire slayer, stone cold hottie.

I think she'd want to meet a god. Mystra is out of the running out of loyalty to Gale, so I went with the Raven Queen just because she's a similarly mysterious figure with unknown magical practices and ties to magic. Also, hot.

Iggwilv/Tasha, just bc I think she'd want bragging rights and all the other famous wizards are men :') also, ho-

She would consider inviting either Jander Sunstar or Drizzt to give Astarion a complex, but I think this would be the meal she'd actually enjoy x

[riddlerosehearts]

BG3 Tag Game

thank you to @nerdalmighty for tagging me!! 💖

tagging @smooti @the-blue-wraith @werevampiwolf @lockescoles and anyone else who wants to participate! no pressure, just tagging a few mutuals who i've seen post about the game.

Favorite romance: well, the only one i really know anything about is gale's romance (i know a few details here and there about most of the others but i haven't actually seen how they play out) so it has to be him. but i love gale so much i would be incredibly surprised if any of the others ever surpassed him. he's so funny but he's also such a gentleman, and all of his romance scenes are just beautiful. every time he calls my tav "my love" i feel like i am going to melt into a puddle.

Favorite class to play: i really need to try more of the classes but i've had so much fun playing my bard!! i love using tasha's hideous laughter/otto's irresistible dance on everything. imagine being a famous bard who's also hailed as a hero that helped defeat the chosen of the dead three, and when people ask how you did it, you get to say you just concentrated really hard on making ketheric thorm fall over in a fit of laughter while everyone else beat him up.

Favorite NPC: oh my god this is such a hard question... i honestly loved ketheric's story, and i also love alfira and rolan!! i'm actually so attached to the tiefling refugees in general, it's always a delight to see any of them again. and raphael is an incredibly fun villain.

Favorite song off the soundtrack: hmm, probably either raphael's final act because it feels so much like a classic disney villain song or wash my pain away, because it's just a beautiful song that makes me emotional.

Tell us a little about your Tav: my tav is a half-elf lore bard named elenion who pretends to be super confident and outgoing but is actually a shy nerdy anthropologist. they're very much high INT low WIS and will make ridiculous decisions if they think they might end up with interesting knowledge or a good story to tell (this is the entire reason they let astarion stick around at first even though he was obviously a vampire, btw). they also fell in love with gale within 5 minutes of meeting him and are best friends with wyll.

Something you wish was in the game: i'm in agreement that i wish there were more interactions between the companions at camp!! they talk about each other a lot, but not to each other so much other than the banter you get while walking around, and i'd just love to see them all bond more. i also wish there were more body type options, so you could make more androgynous-looking characters without having to mod the game.

Do you create fanworks? Share something with us: not currently but i would actually love to make gifs of the game!! and i probably will start doing that sometime later this year, whenever i'm able to get a new graphics card for my PC.