#i like to think durge lets gortash get away with more than he should

[slayerdurge]

completely sold on the idea that gortash made stillmaker for durge and i really really love that although he put bhaal's symbol on it he also blatantly made it bane's signature color. classic gortash audacity. cheeky bastard.

[werecreature-addicted]

I wrote a small little blurb with Pre tadpol!Durge putting out a cigarette on Gortash :3

You stand alone on the balcony looking over the lower city. Baldurs Gate looks back up at you. The city smells like piss and cheap wine, but also more pleasant things: blooming flowers, baking bread and roasting meat. The city lights keep the night from being too dark, but the torchlight is dim enough that you still see the stars. It’s hardly a peaceful night, you can hear shouting down below and what sounds like a band playing farther off, but still, you find yourself at ease. You’ll have to come up here more often, you think to yourself as you light a cigarette. The sewers are home, but the city has its own charm. 

You start smoking, enjoying the bustle below you. The door behind you opens and the hairs on your neck stand on end. Your instincts tell you to whip around, to not give your back to the person approaching. But you still yourself, you know those footsteps, and he wouldn’t hurt stab you in the back… at least not literally. 

“I didn’t know you smoked,” Gortash says, wrapping his arm casually around your waist as he comes to stand beside you. With his other hand, he starts toying with the sleeve of your robe. His robe really, but you’d snatched it for the night, the clothes you’d come in nothing more than blood-soaked shreds at this point. You look down at his hand and can see the tan lines where his gauntlet should be, his skin slightly paler where the metal usually rests. It looks silly you think, but you don’t tell him that. 

“It’s more recent, I only took it up to quit drinking,” you admit. He hums and leans into you further, pulling the collar of the robe to the side and pressing his mouth to your neck, tickling your skin with his stubble. 

“Trading one bad habit for another,” he teases in between kisses. “Wonder what you’ll have to take up to quit smoking.”

“Something worse I assume,” you say, tilting your head to the side so he can kiss his way up your neck to your jaw. Suddenly he sinks his teeth into your neck biting you hard. Your body jolts and you let out a soft “oh” of surprise, which makes him laugh. You smile too. You’ll get him back for that. You’re sure of it. You go to put your cigarette out on the banister but Gortash stops you. 

“Hey- that’s expensive, and wood. You’ll burn the whole place down,” he protests. You’re sure he’s more upset at the idea of the ash singeing the glossy wood than he was actually concerned that a little ember would burn down his entire estate. 

“Fine, I'll put it out on something cheap then,” you say and press the burning end of the butt into his arm. You expected him to scream or curse you out. Instead, he hisses and then lets out a low groan of pleasure. A shudder goes through your body at the sound and you grind the butt deeper into his skin, before pulling it off, a nice red welt left behind. The smell of burning hair and flesh fills your nose and you flick the crushed trash away, letting it land somewhere on the city streets below. 

He glares at you, holding his injured arm and looking at the small burn. “It’s nothing a Cleric can’t fix, but you really are a brat, someone should put you in your place,” he grumbles. The idea excites you

“Yeah? Why don’t you take me back to bed, and you can try to ‘put me in my place’ as you put it,” you tease. 

“You think I can’t?” he asks, his eyes shining with the challenge. He cups your jaw in one hand and brings your mouth close to his, but not kissing you quite yet.

“It's the opposite," you admit, your eyes falling to his full lips, "I know you can.”

[hijackalx]

*SOME DURGE QUEST SPOILERS*

***NONCON AND DRUG USE MENTIONS***

GORTASH SFW HEADCANONS:

ok to start i think when he was a prisoner his hair got rlly long and unkept and he hateddd it so the minute he escaped he chopped that shit off himself and thats why its so unruly lol (*EDIT he always cuts his own hair is what im sayin)

this man is such a taurus like everything about him screams taurus. has a taurus stellium fosho

would listen to superheaven

hes also sooo jenny by studio killers, disco man by remi wolf, happiness by the 1975 coded with Durge 😩😩

with durge hes also giving bf that ur dad hates but like thats canon. i think he likes that hes able to influence durge to the point that they rebel lol. the type of boy u run away with when ur younger

probably BLASTED jet black heart by 5SOS on repeat when Durge disappeared LMFAOO

also i kind of feel like the fearless buff to his clothing is more an insight to his character rather than him needing magic to not be fearful bcz he literally got the shit beat out of him everyday and lived in HELL how can he not be desensitized to everything at that point 😭😭😭 it does not get much worse than that my boy

hes so thique like hes just a big boned dude. tiddies SO fat too EUGH + thick shoulders/arms. he feels so warm and safe i just know it i just KNOW it gurl

also idk if it was supposed to happen but in my latest playthrough during the fight with him he dropped his bow and just started beating the shit out of us 😭😭😭😭 all hands baby like WHAT 😭😭 so i like to think thats his preferred method of fighting idk if thats canon tho i feel like i seen somebody talking abt that before but mightve just been another hc

occasionally does drugs. likes the ones that make him feel really elated (idk what theyre called in bg3 its some kind of dust or something) ALSO HC THAT HE WAS ON SOMETHING WHEN HE WROTE RHAT FUCKED UP NOTE TO FRANC (WAS THAG HIS NAME U GUYS KNOW THE NOTE) HE WAS OBVIOJSLY TRIPPING BALLSSSSS

lots of body hair…… everywhere……. straight and black body hair. that is so sexy to me let me smell the pheromones in your armpits king LMFAO (i think theres something wrong with me)

going off of rhat yes i think he smells good (DIVINE, even) as a woman that is feral and in heat all the time. but to normal ppl he may smell kind of weird. not STINKY stinky but like when u dont shower and ur natural scent starts to mix with the perfume/cologne ur wearing SORRY 😭😭😭 im trying to be realistic here. or maybe like when u wake up and didnt shower the night before and u can still smell the perfume/cologne u put on yesterday. basically what im saying is he might need to shower

hes just so masculine it drives me crazy I LOVE MEN !!!!!!!!!! I LOVE EEENERM. ME E WN

love language:

giving = lowkey getting acts of service vibes here but u didnt hear it from me 🤫🤐 gift giving too. tav is just his widdle babie and he wants to make sure theyre the happiest they can be 🥺😩

receiving = acts of service LMAO give and get back type of shit

relationship wise i think he is the most doting and sweetest person. like tav will never have to worry abt anything ever again bcz he will handle everything. takes care of them cuz they are his king/queen 😌

GORTASH NSFW HEADCANONS:

yeah going off that last hc he is sweet outside the bedroom but a menace in it. its just the way he is. its probably exhausting too 😩 like if u ask him to be gentler/less intense he will try for a while but probably wont enjoy it as much. he doesnt like to hold back.

i WILL say tho ☝🏻🤨 i think when he gets close to finishing he gets a little more soft/loving. he just has to get his badness out first yall its fine

HIGH libido wants to smash all the time. he also (POSSIBLE NONCON MENTION !!!!!!!) thinks that since ur his u should be willing to give it up whenever he wants it. (NONCON MENTION OVER) i think in the bedroom he sees u as a servant even if ur considered his equal normally. like hes a chosen of bane he has to feel like he has control over u in SOME way

can be selfish depending on his mood. sometimes he doesnt see u as anything other than a toy (lowkey hard for me to admit but i NEVA LIE GIRLS !!!!! 🙅🙅🙅) like can be such a fucking asshole about it too

BUT !!! when he is feeling generous he is soooo generous. EUGH like he will make sure u enjoy urself!!!! probably multiple times !!!!!!!!!!!!

dont know why nobody else has said he has a daddy kink. so obvious like call him daddy ms thing he will nut so hard. oh corruption kink too. like can u imagine Durge being so innocent when they first met cuz they were never allowed to get close to anybody and hes just sooo into it HELLO i got to write that fic NEOW

omg breeding kink too give him heirs. will fuck the shitttt out of u in a mating press. probably comes a lot too almost impossible not to get pregnant with him LMAO

likes to pick u up and fuck u. manhandling king. also will do the faerun equivalent to coke and wants u to do it w him then fuck nasty afterwards

i feel like he doesnt last an extremely long time. 15-20 mins is THE MOST youre getting out of him lol he just gets very excited (which is lowkey kind of cute??)

do i even have to say that this man is packing schmeat. heavy dick. heavy balls. allow me to bear some of that weight for u my liege 🤲🏻🧎

ORIN BONUS ????:

mostly nsfw

ok i didnt originally plan to add orin but listen….. gortash is a charismatic guy….. imagine orin was into him too LISTEN ! like shes jealous asf of Durge in that sense too not just bcz of them being bhaal’s fav. like when i think abt them i just am getting a vibe okay. this trio……..

every time she sees gortash and Durge acting close and doing all their yucky lovesick shit she just gets soooo mad. now imagine she shifts into Durge to get gortash to fuck her. yeah… yall seeing the vision? would he ever find out ?? imagine that was why he hates orin so much?? he doesnt want to tell Durge (cuz thats cheating hes not a cheater duh 🙄 plus hes scared theyll be mad at him) and thats why his explanations as to why he hates orin are so vague

[daemon-in-my-head]

There's like, as many interpretations as there are simps. But. Buuuut. I'd like to present the shit constantly rotting in my brain since I already talked about my gremlin yday and to kinda elbaorate on prev post bout it (so u get a sense of what's going on and how bad the rot rly is).

Personally, I enjoy my Gortash twisted. He does hold affection for Durge. Truly. But in a really, really, really fucked up way. Buddy wants to present the world to them, but with that he means thru the view of cage bars. He would and will unleash psychological warfare on Durge and cut their achilles tendon or chain them up as long as it means they can't run and they're his. Only his. Only his to look at, only his to touch, only his to own. Fuck Bhaal, Gortash is their god and creator. Yes they may be equals in mind but there are no two true rulers, only one. And even if you are equals it does not mean equity or justice. Nor does it mean any of them will play fair.

Do they spare someone without a proper reason? Oh well, the person will still go missing. Do they grow 'soft' or disagree with a particularly violent approach? No worries, he'll remind them of what they are. What they're good at, how they should behave. He's humanising a monster for the sole reason of binding them to him, eradicating any other bonds they may have had with others and perfectly isolating them. Never shying away from telling the monster how miserably it would be without him. Any sort of present has a double meaning, even if it's solely because he wants to see it in their hands. He claims the iron throne and never reshapes or renames it, declaring his intentions to Bhaal, that he'll take everything, including Durge, from him.

As for Durge, they're similar in their desire to obsess and possess, but they go about differently. They're self-sacrificial as fuck. If he'd ask them to, they'd clip their own wings. They need to protect him from all the pain and suffering so they bring about more than anyone else ever could. They'd sell their soul if they could claim and protect him. Adorn him in whatever they please and ensure not a single hair is out of place on their favorite treasure. They would enact a massacre for the simple mistake of looking at them or Gorty in a displeasing way but they too would lock and chain up Gortash if it would help them in achieving their goal.

They see them as the person he is, but treat him like the puppet they desire. While equals in mind, they know that he's but a mere mortal man and how insignificant he'd be unless they allow him to shine. And if he doesn't shine the way they like him to, they're sure to remind him of who they are. Gortash may decide the tune but they're the one who'll lead the dance, and he can either follow willingly or they'll just push and pull on his strings until he does.

They both look at each other as a person but don't treat themselves in such a way if there's just the slightest reason not to. They'd ruin the other for their own selfishly selfless wishes and both of them long to be the one to kill the other because in those twisted lil minds, it's the greatest honour and the highest form of possession. 'Love me or hate me, both are in my favour' kinda way of approaching things. Claiming the life of another solely for themselves, righting another life to forget the wrongs of their own. Honestly, they'd probably go as far as coming up and enacting a plan to seal both their souls in the same prison if they could, fucking over both Bane and Bhaal. Sure themselves too along the way but neither of them considers their own demise something horrible if it can only help them advance their deepest desires. They're insane. They're violent and downright abusive in their way of dealing with things, but their goals started off at something positive. Something nice. They want to present the world to one another, want to see the other one finally achieve the happiness they think they deserve, but they can and will not let anyone else, not even the person themselves, get in the way of providing this present.

Now don't get me wrong though, they are capable of softness. Geniun affection even. It's just that they're both so screwed up they expect an ulterior motive whenever they're faced with it, and as such they always attach one themselves too. Softness for the sake of being soft would be a weakness, so they have gain something from it at all times. And whoever gives in first will face the consequences of being so weak.

As I said, I like em toxic and hurting and I meant that LMFAO. Give me those absolutely insane yanderes that only exist in the deepest darkest corner of the bookshelf. Also yes, this is very much Ellie nd the Bastard. May I remind you of somebody stabbing himself or humiliating the other just to prove a fucking point. Or that one oneshot I wrote with them in mind where the other one goes absolutely bonkers after loss and accepts a deal with Bane? Yeah, it's always been there. Nobody here has been safe or sane lol.

Also the reason why Gortash used the nickname he did is cuz well, he himself already has that light motif (albeit dark sun isn't particularly a great lightsource) so 'Elli' is just another way to put his stamp on him in a roundabout almost cute looking manner. And then u dig deeper and you notice how very much not cute anything they do is. They're so fucked up. I love them.

[freesidexjunkie]

stay with me

A follow up to this piece. After a few restless hours of tossing and turning, Gortash tries to reassure Maevris about their plan.

Gortash x f!durge

Word count: 1977

Tags: fluff, angst, post-sex cuddling, feelings, kisses and cuddling but no smut. teeth rottingly sweet, just how I like them 💕

AO3 link

The chill of the night breeze woke him first. Had he left a window open? Enver cursed his forgetfulness; Orin’s assassins could be anywhere. What if they got to – wait, where was Mae? She was here when he fell asleep, he was sure. He felt a jolt of panic hit him. Had she simply slipped away, not willing to face him in the morning? Or worse, had the Bhaalists come to reclaim her?

He shot up, blinking sleep from his eyes as they darted around the room, until they landed on a small figure seated on the edge of the bed. He felt his shoulders relax as he let out a sigh of relief. Maevris was wrapped up in his sheets, facing away from him as she gazed out the window. Even silhouetted in darkness, he couldn't help but be enraptured by her: the way the silk sheets hung off of her delicate form; how the moonlight reflected softly off of her dark hair; the delicate curve of her neck, so inviting when she tilted her head like that, lost in thought.

She felt achingly far away from him across the expanse of this bed. Enver slid across the mattress to sit behind her. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her back to rest against his chest, slotting his chin into the crook of her neck.

Maevris started slightly; she had been worlds away, staring at the stars as she tried to gather her thoughts. “Shit. Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you, I was just…” She trailed off, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “Sorry.”

“Don't be,” he said softly, pressing a kiss to the top of her shoulder. “Are you still having nightmares?”

She gave him a surprised look over his shoulder. How did he know about those? The question was halfway out of her mouth before she realized that these dreams must not be from the tadpole in her head. Mae chuckled ruefully to herself and she leaned her head back against his shoulder. “Always, but I can't make heads or tails of them. You probably know more about them then I do,” she said, staring ahead through the window. After a moment, almost more to herself than to Enver, she muttered, “you probably know more about me than I do, too.”

He hummed a quiet noise of agreement into her shoulder, his breath tickling her skin as he peppered light kisses across it. “Wake me next time.” He reached a hand up, wiping his thumb across her cheek. “I hate to see tears on your lovely face, my dear.”

“No, it’s not…” Mae faltered, her lips contorting as if to form the words that she couldn’t find. She gave a little sigh and reached up to cover his hand with her own. “It’s nothing. Don't worry. I should just get out of your hair.”

She made a move to stand up, but Enver’s arms tightened around her middle, keeping her there. He turned her towards him slightly, wrapping one arm behind her waist and draping the other to rest across her hip. “What makes you think I want you out of my hair?”

“I’ll just keep you up all night,” she replied.

“Then keep me up,” he said, leaning in to touch his forehead to hers, “I don't mind.”

She scooted closer into his arms, placing her hands on his chest as she leaned into the comforting embrace. “Don't you have a full day tomorrow? Important archducal duties to prepare for?” She asked, looking up at him with tired, tear-soaked eyes.

“None more important than you,” he answered. She felt her heart flip in her chest at that as he gently tilted her face to meet his in a slow and tender kiss. Mae melted into the touch, weaving her fingers through his hair as he pulled her flush to his chest; one hand lightly caressing her back, while his arms held her firmly, almost protectively. Could this really be the same man she had first encountered in the Shadowfell, she wondered? Were these gentle hands that cupped her face and held her the same hands that had caused so much harm? His eyes, that she’d seen strike fear into the nobles of the city; were they only soft for her? She deepened the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck as their tongues met. She wanted to believe that it was true; that she was getting the real version of him, all to herself. That the fearsome and terrible Archduke-to-be was just an act, a disguise; only a means to an end, hiding his true nature just for her. But that didn't stop the sinking feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach.

Reluctantly, Mae pulled away, letting out a small huff as she did. She screwed her eyes shut as she rested her forehead to his, her arms still hanging over his shoulders. She made no move to leave, but Enver’s arms tightened around her nonetheless. “What’s wrong, love?” He asked, cupping her cheek to turn her face towards his. His eyes searched her face, full of concern as he stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Tell me.”

“I…” Tears pooled in her eyes again. She turned into his hand as if she could hide it, make them less real. But the more she tried to bury this feeling, the more it ached inside of her. She opened her eyes and spoke softly. “This can't last long, can it?”

“Why not?” He asked, a bit too brusquely. She looked back at him with pained, sorrowful eyes, and he softened. “We’re closer than we have ever been, my love. When we take back control of the brain, no one can stop us. We will rule this city, together, as only we can. Just as we always planned.” He leaned in, looking her deeply in the eyes as he pulled her closer. “No one will take you again, Mae. I promise.”

“There’s a worm in my head, Enver,” she said, trying not to sound as choked up as she felt. “I can't… I’m never going to be free as long as that brain is…”

“That’s why we’re going to take that last netherstone back,” he said, stroking her hair as he spoke.

“And if that doesn't work?” She asked, tears trickling down her cheeks. “You could still finish the plan, you know. On… on your own, if it came to that.”

“It won't,” he said firmly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I won’t let that happen to you, dearest.”

She leaned her head to rest on his shoulder. “It might not be your choice,” she answered quietly, looping one arm around his neck while the other hand rested over his chest. “The gods won't throw out this whole plan for one person.”

“Then I will,” he said, resolute and firm. He’d lost her once already; he knew how hollow, how empty this plan felt without her. How empty the world felt alone. He wouldn’t be going back to that. “To the hells with them. Bhaal turned his back on you, discarded you like you were nothing. You are everything, Mae.”

“And what of Bane?” She asked. “He won’t let his Chosen go easily. I don’t…”

“Oh, I don't know about that,” he answered, resting his chin on her head as he rubbed gentle circles into her back. “You managed to loose yourself from Bhaal’s leash, after all.”

Mae snorted into his shoulder, nuzzling closer into his neck. “Technically, I didn't come out of that alive, did I? Not quite an example to aspire to.”

“Didn't you?” He asked, running his hands up and down her side, “you seemed very animated this evening, my darling. And…” He made a show of pulling her fully into his lap, sliding his arm under her legs as she laughed, genuine and joyful and oh so beautifully. “You seem very much alive and well to me, loveliest.”

“You’re ridiculous,” she answered, still laughing as she steadied herself with her arms around his neck. “And a fool.”

“Aren't we all fools in love, my dearest?” He answered. He leaned in close, lips only a whisper away from hers. “And I am very much in love with you, Mae. I always have been.”

“I…” Mae felt the butterflies erupt in her stomach, sending her heart flying through her chest. The sincerity of his words, the adoration in his eyes, pure and intimate and real. This was all still so new… yet at the same time, it felt like coming back to a home she had forgotten. She couldn't find the words to express how she felt about this; she wasn't sure if she entirely knew herself. “I… Enver?”

“Yes, my heart?” He said, his lips almost ghosting over her own. “What is it?”

“I don’t… I’m scared,” she answered, her voice small. “I’m scared of dragging you down with me. Of getting you hurt. I just–”

“Don’t,” he interrupted, cupping her face in his hand once again while still holding her close. “You aren't getting rid of me that easily, anyways, love. You’re stuck with me this time.”

He really meant it, she thought. She was a ticking time bomb; her will was not her own, her end certain. She was doomed by her blood, saw no happy ending. And yet, he would stay by her side? He would risk his God's wrath, his own safety… all for her? It was… surely too much. It was almost overwhelming, but she felt she didn't want it to end. Didn't want to lose this.

She tangled her fingers in the back of his hair and kissed him with everything she had, as if it was to be their first and their last kiss, and everything in between. She hoped for a thousand more as she pulled just away, still keeping as close to him as she could manage. “I… I don't have the words for this. I don’t even know how to explain what I…” she stammered it out, hoping the right words might find their way to her as she spoke. “Enver… thank you. I…”

She hesitated, stumbling over her words. Quite adorably, he thought, for such a hardened and powerful killing machine. To be so gentle, so concerned for him, so… He knew what she must be feeling, old feelings warring with new ones in the muddled mess of her mind. He silenced her with a kiss to the tip of her nose. “I know, pet,” he said gently.

She sighed, sounding contented at last, comfortable to simply sit in the silence of her unspoken words. After a moment, she said, barely above a whisper, “can I stay with you?” She pulled back just enough to look at him. “I don't think… I won't get back to sleep, but I just–”

“Always, Mae,” he answered. Enver pulled her back with him as he settled against his pillows. He tucked her gently against his chest, setting her head over his heartbeat as she tangled their legs together. She felt the gentle caresses of his hands, running fingers through her hair, trailing patterns across her back, and his chest rose and fell under her head to the steady beat of his heart. This was very different to the passionate, desperate need she had felt when she came to him this evening. To feel so safe, so cared for; to feel as if she was so important to someone’s world. She began to feel like he could be important to her world, too. She listened as his breathing slowly steadied, and his hands grew still as he drifted back to sleep, still holding her close as if she might slip away. This was right, she decided as she began to fall to sleep. He was right.

[banes-favourite]

Something I’ve wondered is, because of all the abuse and potential SA in HoH, and then Gortash seeming to use sex with his political work. How on board was Gortash at first with his relationship with Durge as far as sex went to start? Do you think it was a super passionate thing since they clicked, or more reluctant / potentially triggering for Gortash to start?

I can safely say I have given this a lot of thought tbh., I don't think Gortash would outright hate sex, but I also don't think he'd find much reason to indulge in it; He never did it just for the sake of it, too much in control of his urges to let that happen. He'd been taught that it was a form of currency, to be exchanged for information, power, material goods. That thought also helped him deal with his potential SA better, as he simply viewed it as a way for others to have had gained power over him. In turn, he used sex as a tool to gain power over others, like a never-ending cycle of toxic thinking.

But then Durge came along and broke that cycle in half. Their first time must have been rushed and messy, and once again Gortash had viewed it as merely a way to exert power and control - Except that line of thinking didn't work. Durge was his equal. The idea of gaining the upper hand over him was contradictory to their relationship, especially as they grew closer. Suddenly, they had something more, more than trust, more than a simple alliance. They had care and love and the idea alone terrified him to no end,, but how could he stop? The sweet touches, the light flirting, the easy conversation. It all came as naturally as breathing and partaking in their little secret was as exhilarating as it was joyful.

But then, inevitably, their second time came. It was much different from the first; Durge was no longer a pawn on the board. He was an equal, a partner, and Gortash simply was not prepared to have to face that in bed. Where he had been sure of himself, suddenly he was scared. If he had no end goal for this transaction, what was the point? He was just giving into temptations of the flesh to, what, hand over control of his own body to Durge? Just like that? No, it didn't sit right with him.

He panicked, I think; His breathing picked up, his heartbeat elevated, all in the middle of what should have been a happy joining of their bodies. Just watching Durge interpret that as pleasure made him sick to his stomach and he couldn't help but feel helpless, as helpless as he'd felt when his first time had been forcefully taken from him. And yet, he didn't want to lose Durge. He didn't want to lose the one good thing in his life - So he prevailed. He closed his eyes and he took it, allowing himself to be used, releasing control even as he was mentally in a far away place through most of it. Afterward, anger would most likely cloud his judgment, for allowing himself to be used. He didn't show weakness, he was strong because he powered through it, but it was something close to it. He simply told Durge they were never going to do this again, and while disappointed, the other would simply have to agree.

Promises and actions were very different things though. They more than likely ended up entangled again, making out desperately, yearning overtaking the disgust in his chest. If he was going to go through with this just for the feeling of it, he'd need some reassurance. So, he told Durge that he was only to top from then on and I'm sure his partner would hesitantly oblige.

It would take A Loooot of work to get him comfortable with casual, normal sex. He covers his fear behind kinks and domination but all he really wants is to be taken in a gentle way, with proper care of his needs. Very unlikely to come from a Bhaalspawn so unfortunately I think their canon relationship would forever be tainted 💔 Unless ofc Durge can force him to submit by way of kink and forceful domming, through which I believe Gortash would actually be rather receptive to and able to work with his trauma, not against it.

[quacaserous]

If you haven't talked abt it before, what are your durges relationship w Orin like? Did they feel any vestiges of those emotions past when confronting her post-tadpoling?

OK you didnt specify which durge u were talking about so im just gonna spill the tea on all 3 👀

pre-tadpole cassius & orin are essentially attached at the hip (like you actually would not see one walking without the other @ the temple) (woo codedependency! /sarc). there’s always been a kind of (not) subtle power imbalance between them what with durge being put up on a pedestal since they were a child but, at least in their youth, he treats her as close to an equal as his ego lets him & orin, discarded as unimportant/a dead weight by near everyone else at the temple, BASKS in it. that is, until gortash comes into cassius’ life, slowly ‘stealing him away’ over the course of about a decade until there’s near nothing left of the brother she once knew. he’s distant and patronizing and self-important and orin doesn’t understand why he doesn’t love her anymore & all that hurt and jealousy turns into resentment on both ends :)

post-tadpole cass doesn’t feel any of the fondness he once might’ve harbored for his sister. he sees her as a nuisance/obstacle in his way, a traitor, an example of what will happen to him should he fail father once more.

—

pre-tadpole cerys and orin’s dynamic is very much like. “i know you like the back of my hand and so i know how best to hurt you”. there are some elements of sisterly love in there, there’s an aknowledgement that they’re the only ones in the world that can understand the other but bhaal’s favoritism (& later enver’s involvement in isolating cerys from the temple) really strains that bond. cerys feels pressured to always be the best bc shes Daddy’s Special Little Princess™️ and orin takes it very personally. she thinks cerys is taking all of this for granted and decides hey, she deserves father’s love more than her betrayer sister!

post-tadpole cerys would have sacrificed herself to save and redeem orin if she could’ve, she feels no anger towards the betrayal. seeing orin so violated by the slayer transformation absolutely broke her because she knows exactly what it feels like to have your hand forced. she sits and cradles orin’s remains after the duel, apologizing for not being able to save her.

—

pre-tadpole saber like. almost disregards orin, not even out of self-centeredness but bc as little as she knows her, she cant stand to see orin losing herself to the madness saber knows she can’t pull her out of because orin doesn’t want to be saved. but in that same breath saber can’t afford to be weak, can’t afford to get attached to somebody, because she’ll still have to kill them in the end. saber is torn between feelings of familiarity & disdain towards orin, who simply takes it as saber being arrogant. the “what in the grey wastes are we going to do with you, little sister?” diary entry/note from durge is a huge catalyst in orin’s betrayal, physical proof of saber’s ‘hubris’

post-tadpole saber (in arcane vi & jinx fashion), hope on hope, begs orin to leave the temple with her, to let saber take her away from all of this before it consumes her. when she refuses, saber doesn’t blame herself for not being able to save orin from her demise, she knows there’s nothing more she could’ve done, but the look on orin’s face when she’s forced to transform haunts her long after the fact ❤️

[beecreeper]

1, 17, 24! for all the fellas. (and i think you should include poppy and myrala <3 )

Eilidh you know I owe you my LIFE for giving me explicit permission to yap about two more characters than usual.

Yapping under the cut!

1.) What memory would your OC rather just forget

I already answered with for the main three here, but lets add Poppy and Myrala in there >:3

Myrala would want to forget the time she accidentally on purpose killed a guy during a mugging gone wrong when she was a teenager. But then again, she acknowledges that it was the event that changed her life and set her on a better path. So it’s less that she wants to forget it and more than she wishes it could have happened differently.

When Poppy was around 7 she was attacked in the middle of the night by a shapeshifter guy in her mercenary family who turned out to be unhinged and literally feral. Her family saved her in time but it left her with facial scars and trust issues. She would delete that memory without hesitation.

17.) What is the worst thing you have put your OC through story-wise?

Briar: Briar has the worst time at throughout Act 2 and especially at Moonrise. It is driving her CRAZY how close she feels to understanding her memories and yet they are STILL out of her grasp. Being at Moonrise gives her all these feelings with no memories to attach them to which feels horrible and vulnerable and she hates hates HATES it. She’s also very much aware that she’s losing ground with a lot of companions and losing control of the situation but she is just too DESPERATE to bother doing damage control. Being down in the mindflayer colony, those body memories get even STRONGER and also MUCH WORSE. After they kill Ketheric she spends a while at his corpse and trying to resurrect him or speak with dead or SOMETHING so he can fucking TELL ME WHO I AM YOU DEAD BASTARD

Ferox: Oh man. So much. I’ve already talked a lot about him killing Myrala which is obviously the big one, but then also in his bad timeline he’s ALSO gonna kill Lae’zel during the durge stuff in Act 2. It fucks me up extra badly because it would come right on the heels of Lae’zel’s second romance scene where they spar and Ferox is afraid that he’ll lose control and hurt her but then he doesn’t and he feels so happy and so in love and then just a few nights later Bhaal takes over his brain and takes it all away from him AGAIN.

Molli: So SO much. For some reason I live to make Molli suffer. I think the peak of it was Gortash giving her to the mindflayers though. After years of suffering under this guy and he just tosses her aside without a second glance even as she’s being dragged away and BEGGING to stay. Feeling like it’s *her* fault and that she did something wrong. Being so fucking scared and desperate that she blindly promises her body and soul to some unknowable eldritch entity without a single thought. That’s her rock bottom and everything after she wakes up on the nautiloid is crawling up from that.

Myrala: Having Ferox murder her super super violently. My darling girl I’m so sorry I made you get torn to pieces for character development. Even in the AU where she gets to live and be a tav, it’s at the cost of feeling deeply horribly lonely for 15 years instead.

Poppy: Poppy is honestly my least traumatized oc tbh. As it stands now, her story is *mostly* all shenanigans and no drama (childhood ptsd incident not withstanding). Honestly getting tadpoled at all might be the worst thing I’ve done to her.

24.) What is an alternative life path your OC might have gone down? How different would their life be if they’d made those decisions?

This is so hard to answer for Briar and Ferox because of how little agency being a durge affords them in their life path. I mean, I could talk about the different paths they potentially take throughout the game but this feels more like an alternative backstory question than it does an alternative ending question to me.

Like? I guess Briar *could* have chosen to try and defy Bhaal and *not* murder her druid circle, but Bhaal would have taken her over and forced it anyway. However this version of Briar would be a lot more defiant of Bhaal (canon Briar doesn't have to deal with how vulnerable and violating getting fully taken over by Bhaal is because she indulges her urges on her own. This version does and it leaves a sour taste in her mouth from the get go). The main trajectory is the same but she'd be actively fighting it every step of the way. The plot with Gortash would definitely shift from "I'm gonna betray him in Bhaal's name" to "I'm gonna use him to kick my dad's ass and make him SO mad"

One choice that would have changed a lot for Ferox was his decision to help Myrala escape from the goblins. I'm not sure whether she would escape on her own or die in the attempt, but either way it spares him that HUGE trauma. Like, he's still not having a good time but at least he doesn't slaughter the only piece of true happiness he'd ever known. In this path he wouldn't become a paladin and would follow down a pure barbarian path until Sceleritas finds him (probably after Bhaal makes him kill his entire goblin tribe like he did with Briar and her circle). He'd still end up heading Bhaal's cult but the vibes would be different. He's still not *happy* about being Bhaal's chosen, but he's less *tortured* about it.

One of the biggest choices in Molli's life was her decision to go to Baldur's Gate to become a bard and look for her sister. If she hadn't, she would have instead stayed in her hometown trying to manage her dad's modest textile trading business that she inherited when he died. She is *not* suited to business, is crazy stressed out and overwhelmed, and yearns really badly to have the time to perform at the tavern like she used to. She day dreams a lot about what her life would have been like if she really had sold the business when she had the chance and been a bard in Baldur's Gate instead (LMAOOOOO).

Myrala's path diverges right at that moment when she kills someone. Instead of taking it as a wake up call and converting to Eilistraee, she could have instead dug in her heels and continued down the road of a petty criminal, getting even deeper involved in whatever gangs exist in Menzoberranzan. I think she'd be pretty good at it too, probably gaining a decent amount of power in the criminal underground. This is, of course, a VERY different version of her where she's suppressed her moral code and is actively deciding to be selfish, hoping that it'll be worth it eventually.

Poppy is also hard to answer because her life has been very much dictated by the fact that she never sticks with anything. Her decisions have very little long term impact because she's just as likely to make a new decision that changes her whole direction a few months later. She's as equally likely to join a pirate crew in Calimsham as she is to be a hired guard for a trade caravan out of Neverwinter as she is to join a monster hunting party of Gur. And in order for her to *not* be bouncing around like that, it's not a matter of one decision. She'd have to be a fundamentally different person. Maybe someday she'll find something that sticks and get her to stay in one place but that remains to be seen. Like, I gueeeeess I can see a version where she just sticks with the mercenaries she grew up with, but that kinda life is ALSO just bouncing around between odd jobs, but it would be a really similar life to she does when she goes off independently but on a much smaller scale.

[edelblau]

marz said they love my durgey so im gonna use that as an excuse to infodump about them (and try to put it under a readmore but readmores always break for me now so who knows if itll post properly) (spoilers for baldurs gate 3 dark urge playthrough to follow)

my main dark urge is named naught (like zero/nothingness ^_^). he's a tiefling monk with they/him pronouns. below is a lazy reference for his more 'unique' features i spent very little time on

his backstory is largely the normal dark urge stuff; wandering and strange from the get go with unsettling mannerisms even as a child, he was adopted by a poor family. he actually bore a lot of affection for them, and tried very very hard to be 'normal'. when he realized his family was displeased with the way he sort of romanticized violence and death, he tried to tamp it down. however, given the nature of the urge, he was eventually overcome and killed them (second heal memory)

after that incident, he fled his home, and tried unsuccessfully to resist; but as his body count even unintentionally rose he fully gave in. in his time as the leader of the bhaal cult, a lot of his 'personality' outside of the urge was utterly erased and dead.

interestingly, however, he regained some sense of 'self' as the plans for the absolute took place, though perhaps in a way that was worse for everyone. the tldr of this being that because the plan required he interact with and 'bond', so to speak, with gortash, leader of the banites, he was able to have conversations with someone. the issue here being of course that gortash is a terrible person, but so was he, so it was sort of a net 0 for humanity and only really 'good' for him (and maybe gortash, i guess) since it let him retain a hint of personhood outside of bhaal; personhood that would serve him after orin's betrayal at moonrise.

(pictured: real canon shit the durge writes about gortash)

of course, dark urge and gortash's murderous funtimes had to end when orin got tired of the family drama and decided to end it the only way she knew how.

this left naught at the beginning of the game in a position where they knew intuitively that they enjoy others company, they didnt remember how resisting was 'futile', and they were surrounded by people who could definitely kill them if they acted out too harshly. not that naught didn't 'act out'-- he has a very Broken sense of morality and whats 'too far' after everything, and definitely partook of some torture and senseless violence a few times. nothing especially severe (he didn't get arabella killed or the rest of the grove, for instance), but he definitely was... bad. not normal.

these lapses would slowly die down, however, the closer naught came to the others around him. their sense of morality rubbing off on him and making him desire their approval. where he once welcomed his butler, he started fighting back; still bound to his urge, still not entirely 'there', but constantly thrashing against the current-- until the orin battle, which went Great, by the way

even after withers resurrection, though, i dont think hed ever truly be 'normal'. even if his nightmares no longer stem from bhaal, i dont think theyd ever go away fully. and i dont think hed ever fully gain a normal moral compass (hes dating astarion, by the way. so good luck faerun.) nor do i think hed ever fully come to remember his past; though i dont think hed ever fully care to, either. hed always remain this unnerving, somewhat 'immoral' person; always a bit more brutal than he should be, a bit more direct, a bit too stiff and strange. full of love and care that hes learned from his journey, but still with a hint of violence; no longer bhaal's, but wholly his own. always a step away from a 'normal' person even without bhaal's black blood in his veins.

but at least minsc is his uncle. thats nice.

[rinwellisathing]

You're Awful, I Love You: Part 11

Enver Gortash/ Trans male Tiefling Durge

Content warning: sexual content, BDSM, misgendering, bullying

The following weeks passed by for the most part as Sentry's time often did. He worked in his room, locked away from the others, emerging only to hunt when the mood or lack of materials struck him. Further correspondences from Gortash arrived, usually handed to him with a knowing wink by Tomi, causing Sentry to wonder how many disposable messengers Gortash had to spare. A particular invitation arrived towards the end of the month, leaving Sentry somewhat baffled.

“A dinner outing? So...like...he's courting me? Or just extracting information? I'm all thumbs when it comes to this sort of thing.” He asked, turning the letter over in his hand and squinting as he re-read its contents.

“Well, it's flirtation at the very least. I know most of my kills begin with a night out.” Tomi offered, slipping behind Sentry and producing a fine comb of carved bone, beginning to brush through his silvery hair. “You will want to look your best.”

“Be sure to kill him before you get to the bedroom, he might not like what he finds elsewise.” Jackal taunted with a wicked smirk on his face.

Sentry went pale, anger flashing in his eyes. Before Tomi could stop moving the brush or Jackal could react, one of Tomi's fine crystal perfume decanters shattered across Jackal's face, shards pushed further in by Sentry's now bleeding fist. “Say it again. Talk about that again, I fucking dare you.” The tiefling snarled, pinning the still laughing drow down and punching mercilessly into his bloodied face.

Tomi pressed a hand to Sentry's shoulders and whispered some soothing words in her language he still didn't understand and he slowly relaxed back into her grasp as she returned to brushing his hair. Jackal crawled back to his usual perch, spitting blood and muttering to himself.

“Miss Tomi, preventing our rotted master from his bloodshed is most frowned upon, as you know.” Sceleritas chastised as he entered the room, setting down the tarnished silver tea service on the side table. “Remember who is in charge here. I would hate to lose such a capable killer as yourself.”

“Oh, but our little princeling has a caller tonight, it wouldn't do for him to upset himself before such a grand event. Imagine, a wealthy Banite in our pocket, one climbing towards political power. Think of how we could expedite father's perfect slaughter.” The pretty creature cooed softly, now taking a cloth and dipping it into the tea, massaging the gentle herbs and hot water over Sentry's wounded hands. “Don't let Jackal's barking distract you, little lord. Being a man has very little to do with how many holes you have. By the time I'm done with them, men have hundreds! Jackal is just a dimwit. A dullard. Too many years rotting in drow society under foolish matriarchs.”

“Yes, you're right, Tomi. Thank you.” Sentry found himself gripping her hand, perhaps with more affection than he meant to. Deep down, he knew her words were for Bhaal's Chosen, she might never have said that to him if he were a lesser man, but she did say them and he felt affirmed in his heart hearing them. “I think I need some air...maybe to get some fine things to wear, after all, he's some kind of noble, yeah?”

“He is an advisor to the dukes and patriars of Baldur's Gate, young master.” Sceleritas interjected helpfully. “So yes, a wealthy man rising to power.”

Sentry nodded. He rose to his feet and made his way to the doors of the temple. He needed help, help his siblings and devoted butler could not provide. Checking his coin purse, he nodded. That should be enough for what he needed. With that, he made his way back towards Rivington.

This time, he did not pass into the town proper, but stayed in the small mercantile district just outside Wyrm's Rock. No one questioned a handsome young man in paladin garb making his way to Sharess' Caress at this time of day, though there were the usual array of whispered comments about repression.

“Welcome back, Sentry, dear. Who are you here to see today?” The vibrant blonde at the desk beamed. “Um....well, two people, actually...Is Ffion in?”

“Yes, she's just finishing up with a client. She'll be glad to see you! And who else?” Mam'zell bent down, her sharp nose nearly touching the paper of her ledger as she went through the names.

“Wysp Silksong.” Sentry blushed a bit.

“Oh, he is fond of you. It will make his day to hear you've come.” She winked knowingly. “Head up to his room, I'll tell Ffion you're here once you and Wysp have finished up.”

Sentry nodded and made his way down the dark, winding corridor that led to the round stone room. An orange cat greeted him at the stairs and nodded to him. “Oh, hullo Malta, guess Wysp knew I'd come if he sent you to get me.” He reached down and scratched between the cat's ears as he rubbed his warm, fluffy body against Sentry's legs, finally allowing himself to be picked up and carried up the stairs.

The thin, dulcet strains of violin music echoed from behind the wooden door and Sentry stopped a moment to listen as Malta leapt from his arms and began to scratch at the door. The music stopped and a sigh sounded.

“Malta, you petulant creature, in or out. It's really a very easy choice, friend.” Came a deep but gentle voice as the door clicked open. A drow a bit taller than Sentry with the lean muscled body of a dancer stood before him. His pale violet eyes brightened and his scarred lips curled into a genuine smile. “Ah, I see. You brought a friend.”

Sentry lowered his head, trying to hid the flush spreading across his cheeks as the man beckoned him into the room, nodding towards a comfortable looking mushroom shaped cushion. Sentry sat down and waited as Wysp closed the door, shooed Malta to a cat bed in the corner, and joined Sentry. The Drow had smooth dark grey skin, lined with scars and swirling silver tattooes, culminating in an elegant silver sword image taking up most of his back. Scars that matched Sentry's own, though not quite as carefully healed and much older marked his chest.

“Why don't you come see me more often?” The drow feigned a sorrowful look, but didn't bother to hide the playful glint in his eyes.

“You wouldn't like me if you got to know me, Wysp.” Sentry gave a small, hollow smile. “And anyway, I came mainly for advice today...I mean, relax, I'm still gonna pay full price, your time is important and all that, but....I.. um....” Sentry shifted awkwardly, moreso as Wysp put a gentle hand on his back and leaned in close. “There's this man...”

“Oh....” Wysp's expression was only briefly disappointed. He quickly righted himself and nodded. “Well, what can I help you with?”

“See, here's this letter he sent me, we're supposed to meet up, it's written like he wants to talk about business, this sort of back and forth little alliance we've had going since he helped me reclaim some things, but my sister thinks he's trying to court me.” Sentry explained, producing the letter and handing it to Wysp.

The young man read through the letter, arching a silvery brow and wincing slightly. “Well, I can see how you'd be confused, it's....equal parts ominous and threatening...but still kind of vaguely sexual if you read between the lines. Is this guy a politician?”

“Yeah. And also my muse.” Sentry added. Father's whispers were always so mercifully quiet in Wysp's room. Sentry wondered if it had something to do with the small obsidian statues of the dancer and her sword perched on every wall, or if it was something to do with Wysp's music. Even so, he was grateful for the reprieve, however brief.

“Your muse...” Wysp's expression softened, his gaze distant, though eyes fully on Sentry. “I know what that's like. Alright. So with these nobles, because I was one before my banishment, it's all about subtlety and subterfuge. There's a good chance one of the glasses at the table will be poisoned, but just a little. That's a test. Thankfully, we both know from our little games that you have a very good tolerance to poison.” Wysp added, running a finger down Sentry's arm.

“Those are some of my favorites.” The tiefling admitted with a little shudder of pleasure. The bitter taste beneath the wine, feeling it circulate between their tongues as they kissed, the dizzy feeling when he was the one to swallow, the coldness of Wysp's lips and the slowing of his breathing when he did.

“I know, but for now, focus. After all, you want to impress this man, right?” Wysp asked, arms folded across his chest.

“No, I mean, I don't....Maybe...” Sentry bit his lip and thought a moment. When he was near Enver, he could feel his father's anger, he could feel his blood rushing and the urge screaming at him, but something else forcing him to defy it, like an iron chain around his throat and wrists, like being brought to heel. He liked the feeling. The conflict inside him like being torn apart. “I don't know...I want him to work for it.”

“You're overthinking, you're tense. Lie down.” Wysp snapped his fingers and pointed to the ground.

Sentry hesitated. “I am not overthinking, this is important.”

Gentle but firm hands gripped Sentry by the horns and guided him to the ground. Sentry's eyes glazed over, mouth open just a bit, face flushed as he looked up at Wysp.

“Lie. Down.” The drow commanded again, and Sentry obediently lay on his belly, body prone on the floor.

“Yes, sir.” Sentry cooed, eyes rolling back as the grip on his horns tightened.

“There...Now...Do you need to clear your mind?”

“Yes, Wysp.” He needed almost lazily.

“Alright. And your safe word is?” Wysp let go of Sentry's horns and retrieved a flogger with bits of sharp silver woven into the strands.

“Dancer.” Sentry replied.

Wysp nodded and brought the strands down on Sentry's back, blood blossoming under the skin where the shards hit. Sentry moaned in pleasure, closing his eyes and arching his back into the blows, allowing himself to become lost in the sensation. His vision went red behind his eyes and he pictured the crimson rivulets dripping down his back with each strike. A clear head, that was what he needed going into this. Of course Wysp was right. Tension, overthinking, that would trip him up. He was chosen, he was Bhaal's own flesh, if anything, this petty little tyrant should feel thrilled Sentry would give him the time of day, much less the privilege of allegiance.

Every jolt of pain that sparked through his nerves brought him back to his senses, eased his mind and showed him his path forward. The safe word never left his lips, after all, no matter how he adored Wysp, no handsome, good-hearted bard could come close to what The Executioner could withstand, and indeed even enjoy. As Wysp wound down and gently caressed Sentry's body, softly kissing the back of his neck and shoulders, he wondered how far would his muse go? What violence would he be willing to enact on a lover.

When Sentry got to his feet and redressed, Wysp helped him fasten the straps of his gambeson and leaned down, pressing a soft kiss on Sentry's lips. “Be careful out there, Sentry. Rich folks are more dangerous than anyone you'll meet around here.” He warned.

I doubt that, my darling Wysp, at least not more than me...That is what Sentry wanted to say, but instead he simply returned the kiss gently and smiled. “I'll be careful, I promise.”

Malta stretched and padded lazily across the room, escorting Sentry out and back down the stairs, stopping and awaiting his customary head scratch and a small scrap of dried fish from Sentry's rations pouch before returning home.

Sentry's next stop was the room the establishment proudly called 'Elminster's Library'. As he knocked on the door, a stout, stern woman with grey curls tied back off of her face greeted him. Her dour expression immediately turned to a motherly smile as she pulled the much taller man into a tight hug.

“How's my boy?” She asked as she guided him into the room and sat him down.

“Well, Ffion, I have a date, it seems, and as you know, no mother to guide me.” Sentry explained with a little chuckle.

“I see, I see, well! I certainly wish my boy would get a date. He acts so odd lately, you know?” She shook her head. “Anyway, how can I help? Damn, it seems like just yesterday you were this shy awkward little thing clutching your tail every time I asked you what you liked.” She smiled proudly at him, laugh lines creasing her dark skin.

“So...the guy is a noble of some sort and a business man. You're a classy woman, Ffion, you were married, you have all kinds of callers, so I thought you'd know best...what do I do? What do I wear? It's not exactly The Blushing Mermaid or The Elfsong, after all.” Sentry explained, shifting uncomfortably. “You know me, apart from my visits here, I'm a homebody.”

“That you are, my boy. I've never even seen your name at those art exhibits that Jannath woman hosts and your work's good, maybe even great! But don't worry, mama's got you covered. Let's see...” Ffion made her way over to a tall wardrobe and began to pick through it. “Sometimes clients leave things behind, and lucky for you, tall men are my bread and butter. Hmm...This one is roomy around the nethers, so if you're nervous about first impressions, you could even pack it if you wanted.” She produced a beautiful pair of velvet trousers with silvery vine details snaking up the sides. She was right, there was room to stuff it with rags to avoid answering any difficult questions. “And then personally, I've always thought a nice doublet over a crisp white shirt was a smart look. My late husband would wear that on our anniversary, you know.” She fished out a gorgeous doublet that nearly matched the pants and a soft stark white undershirt. “Your usual boots finish it off nicely, I think. The silver buckles pull it all together. So, what do you think?”

Sentry smiled gratefully and began to strip out of his clothing. Ffion had seen him naked hundreds of times in the time they'd known each other, if he trusted anyone not to fuss, it was her. She even helped him re-dress in the fine things she'd offered him, finally guiding him over to the mirror and gazing proudly into it at his side.

“Such a handsome young man.” She clapped him on the lower back and shook her head. “Next time I see you, you'll be some patriar's husband. You be sure and invite me to the wedding. Hells, I'll walk you down the aisle if you like.” She teased goodnaturedly.

“Thanks, Ffion.” Sentry smiled at her and knelt down, hugging her tightly. As the cinnamon and vanilla scent rested in the air, The Stern Librarian's signature smell, Sentry had an awful feeling in the pit of his stomach, one that made him hold her tighter, hesitating before letting go. “I...I'll come back and tell you how it went, yeah?”

“Of course, meet me at the bar after closing, I'm sure Wysp will be there too...And don't worry, he'll get over it, this is all part of the job.” She patted Sentry's thigh knowingly.

“What, Wysp?” Sentry blinked in confusion. But he realized the time and simply shrugged, thanking Ffion again before making his way out the door and back down to the street.

[litterateur97]

Tav Ask Game Answers

Based on this ask

I just want an excuse to talk in depth about my character hehe

***There will be spoilers for the Dark Urge playthrough in this***

what's your tav's name, class, and race?

Azariah Yelseth, beast tamer ranger, wood elf, and roughly 35 years old.

which background do they have? how does it play into their story? (and if you're doing a durge playthrough, how did your tav come to be the haunted one?)

Azariah is the dark urge, so they have the haunted one background. I like to think that it is specifically their dark urge and bhaalspawn blood that haunts them, even if they can't remember it at first. The urge that compels them to kill is not welcome. It terrifies them.

what feats have you picked for them?

Azariah has archery and lucky as feats, they are a crossbow expert.

favourite weapon type to beat away goblins with?

Crossbow! Azariah loves using crossbows! When they're not using crossbows, they are usually using a sword and shield.

any scars or facial tattoos? how did they get them?

Azariah has two prominent scars on their face; one on their forehead just above their right eye, and the other around their mouth that extends down to their neck. Both of these were obtained during the fight they lost against their sister Orin in the event that occurred before the game began. They also have a scar running down their abdomen, surgical in nature, from being operated on after being tadpoled, once again before the events of the game.

typical party lineup?

Azariah usually keeps Astarion, Shadowheart, and Gale with them. Gale is often switched out with Karlach or whoever is needed for their personal quest.

did they romance anyone? who's the lucky companion(s)?

Azariah first agreed to a fling with Laezel, but something (maybe my game glitching), maybe their dangerous journey, got in the way and the two never actually made it to the bedroll, and had a flirtationship at first instead. However, Astarion was quick to put the moves on Azariah as well, and where Laezel failed to bed them, Astarion did so twice within the first act. Azariah temporarily thought of abandoning the affair for a more sensible relationship with Wyll, but Astarion won their heart in the end.

what's your tav's dnd alignment?

In act 1, Azariah was more chaotic neutral, following whatever impulse struck them, though trying to stay clear of their dark urge tendencies. By act 2, they were between true neutral and neutral good as they were frightened by their dark urge and wanted to play the good guy. By act 3, they secured their neutral good alignment, doing what they felt was right by their companions and the people of Baldur's Gate.

are they double-classing in anything?

After meeting Halsin, Azariah decided to learn a bit of druid nature, seeing him as a potential mentor, before ultimately accepting Jaheira as their mentor. They also learned a bit of bardic skill by the end of the game as a tribute to Alfira, a death that still fills them with much guilt.

what are their best skills? arcana, history, sleight-of-hand?

Azariah is particularly good at survival, intimidation, and sleight-of-hand.

did your tav let astarion bite them? (did they let him kill them. be honest.)

They were curious about what it was like to be bitten by a vampire, and he said he needed blood, so Azariah agreed to it with little reluctance. While they let him go a bit further than they should have, they persuaded him to get off before he could kill them.

what was your tav's life like before they got kidnapped by the mindflayers?

The leader of the cult of Bhaal, Bhaal's Chosen, working together with Gortash and Ketheric to create the Absolute Plot and take over the world. Azariah did what they could to please their Father, Bhaal, but deep down they always felt a bit wrong about it. Their Father sent a butler to look after them to ensure they wouldn't go soft and would keep to the plan. However, the more time Azariah spent around Gortash, the more they started to envision a different life for themselves. The two engaged in what they called a casual affair, but Azariah knew they wanted more, and prayed for their Father's forgiveness. Orin caught on to their sibling's weakness and Azariah was too blinded by their feelings for Gortash to recognize the immediate threat.

is your tav leaning into their newfound illithid abilities, or rejecting them altogether?

Azariah was tempted by the power, something within them recognizing their previous life as a cult leader still infatuated with power, and leaned into the illithid abilities at first. By the time they were gifted the astral tadpole, they realized continuing to lean into these powers might forever change them, and they rejected any further use of the tadpoles.

how do they feel about raphael? did they take him up on his offer?

Azariah does not trust or like Raphael in the slightest. Though they have no direct memory of him, something tells them he knows of them, and they don't trust anyone who knows the person they used to be. They only agreed to work briefly with the devil for Astarion's benefit, and ultimately the benefit of the whole party, so they can take out Cazador. Beyond that, Azariah refuses to work with the devil.

what made them train in the class they fight in?

Becoming a ranger seemed ideal to them to sneakily take out opponents for the Temple of Bhaal, but they also leaned into becoming a beast tamer as they always liked animals more than people. Azariah doesn't like to get close to others, and being a ranger ensures they can keep distance between themselves and others. (Maybe they don't like seeing the murders they've committed up close... Maybe it's too haunting for them.)

when talking to people, which sort of answers do they go for? eager to help, sassy and sarcastic, apathetic?

Depending on who they are talking to, Azariah is usually pretty blunt and direct with others, but shows a more caring side towards children and animals. They ask a lot of questions to figure out whether or not they should help someone. They enjoy joking around and being sassy with Astarion and Jaheira, but with other companions they are unsure of how to display their sense of humor around them. They try to show affection for their companions when it is clear they are struggling, but Azariah isn't the type to be flowery with their words.

does your tav have a best friend in the party? what's their dynamic like?

Azariah is particularly close with Gale, Karlach, and Wyll. Gale is probably their closest friend and the two often hold each other accountable for their actions. Azariah and Gale had a rough start, with Azariah prying into his mind to find out more about the orb threat, but eventually they realized they held similar beliefs and ideals. They feel like they can completely be themself around Gale. Karlach is the best friend Azariah can lean on when they are feeling down and Azariah is a tad more affectionate with Karlach than the others. Both are rather protective of each other. Wyll is someone Azariah greatly admires and they want to be more like him. He is also their most trusted confidant and Azariah tells Wyll about their urge, their background, and their plans before anyone else.

in act one, did your tav side with the tieflings or the absolute's cult members? (did you do it for minthara? i won't judge.)

Azariah sided with the tieflings. They felt sorry for them, especially after their urge compelled them to murder the bard Alfira, and wanted to stick up for these people who had so little. They were deeply uncomfortable at the tiefling party afterwards as none of the tieflings knew of the sin they had committed.

who was your tav's family? did they have any?

So clearly, as a Bhaalspawn, Azariah is related to Bhaal and Orin. But I like to think the foster family that raised Azariah was a couple of tieflings (for some unknown reason Azariah knows infernal and I choose to believe they learned it from them). I like to think they were raised by two dads who were very loving towards them, until unfortunately the urges took over.

did your tav's dream visitor manifest as anyone in particular, or someone random that they've never seen before?

Azariah's dream visitor manifested as a tall, beautiful drow woman. Azariah doesn't think they've ever met this person before, but much of their past is lost to them. While they found their dream visitor to be beautiful, they never fully trusted them, perhaps due to having no idea who they were.

what was your tav up to in baldur's gate? did they live there, or were they in the wrong place at the right time when the mindflayer ship came through?

They lived in the under city of Baldur's Gate, residing in the Temple of Bhaal. They would go to the lower city to commit murders for their Father, or to bang Gortash visit Gortash and discuss their plans.

regarding your tav's companions, who propositioned them for a private evening after the party with the tieflings? who did they take up on the offer?

Laezel and Astarion both propositioned Azariah during the tiefling party, and Azariah agreed to meet up with Astarion afterwards. They then got drunk and went around flirting with all the companions, but Shadowheart, Gale, and Karlach were quick to point out that they already knew Azariah had something going on with Astarion. They also flirted with Halsin and Wyll, though nothing came of it besides getting to know them a little better. Ultimately, Azariah ended up in Astarion's bed at the end of the night.

how does your tav react to wyll's pact and patron? if they're a warlock, was there anything specific?

Azariah was amazed by what Wyll, Blade of Frontiers, was willing to do in order to save his city. They were further inspired by how Wyll managed to always do the right thing despite being tied to a devil. Though they immediately despised Mizora for what she did to Wyll, finding out about Wyll's pact and patron actually made Azariah trust him more.

how does your tav feel about sex? are they all for it or kind of "meh" about it?

Azariah mostly views sex as a means of comfort, at least at first. They don't remember their past, they don't remember their first time, but they decide to go along with Astarion's seduction because he looks like he'd be good at it and they want the comfort after struggling with the guilt of killing Alfira. However, it becomes clear to them that sex is linked with violence in their mind, as they often have flashbacks while engaging in the act or when they become aroused, which leads to them wanting a break before Astarion even asks. It takes quite some time for them to see sex as a loving act, but once they are free of their urge, they are happy to engage in sex once again.

after baldur's gate is saved, what will your tav do?

Azariah goes to the underdark with Astarion to look after the thousands of vampire spawn they freed. Azariah feels a responsibility for unleashing so many, and also found they enjoyed being in charge, so it seemed like a natural fit for them. They also study bhaalspawn in their spare time, as even once they reject Bhaal, they fear he could come back for them, or that they might not be able to have children due to their cursed blood. They regularly correspond with Jaheira to keep track of the cultists of Bhaal as they still feel responsible for that as well and hope to eventually put an end to them for good. In the time they spend researching, they are also secretly looking for a cure for vampirism and for a way to walk in the sun again, hoping to help the vampire spawn and Astarion and present them with a choice.

who's their favourite animal companion at camp?

Azariah adores the owl bear cub. He is a sweet thing, but seen as a monster, reminding them of themselves and Astarion. They ultimately trusted Shadowheart to care for him in the end because they wanted him to have a good, comfy life.

[freesidexjunkie]

Okay! Post found! And going with Maevris (durgetash) first and then Sarissa (Solavellan, bc i currently have her notebook in front of me and i am determined to get this plotting out today)!

Maevris

✨25. Is your OC doomed by the narrative?

I mean... kinda? Sorta? I feel like any Durge has been incredibly fucked over by the narrative from the beginning, but Mae is... she's going thru it for real. Finding out about her role in the Absolute plan was a real kick in the teeth, and then realizing she had very complicated feelings about the person she believed was responsible for it was like a double punch. I think she has pretty much accepted that she's doomed by the narrative, whether she is or not. Even if she can break free of Bhaal, she still has a tadpole in her skull. Enver is determined to go thru with this plan, together, to keep them both in a position that no one can threaten them again; she, on the other hand, is skeptical that taking control of the brain is going to matter with the tadpole still in her. She's come to terms with the fact that it can't be removed without killing her, so trying to still control the brain feels like mutually assured destruction. She's not gonna tell him she isn't expecting to survive this, and that even if she did, she doesn't want to rule the world anyways. She is so fucking tired of being someone else's pawn, of following someone else's plans, of being a target. He is very determined that he is not going to lose her again and that he will keep them safe and together no matter what. As for their ending... I'm not sure yet! Depends on how evil i want to be ig c:< I do have several on the WIP list (and by WIP i mean varying degrees of planned and some not even on paper yet).

✨29. Does your OC look their age?

I think so? How do tiefling years and human years compare again? I've heard it said that durge is around 50-60 years, but I'm thinking of her as the equivalent to mid to late 20s human years. I've got her in-game look and my favorite picrews of her (but tiefling picrew being a big funky, hard to get it just right). Lavender eyes with black instead of whites, purple skin, flushed cheeks with freckles, various scars. Killer eyeliner is a must. Black hair, bobbed a little past her chin, with pink in her long bangs. Sometimes buns. Pink horns and piercings. She's been thru hell but that divine blood keeps it from showing on her face.

✨40. Does your OC ever go back home?

Funny enough, i was actually planning a scene where Gortash goes with her to the temple of bhaal to face Orin. The whole scene of Bhaal destroying anything he can't control and Gortash being fucking distraught over losing her a second time. But when she does get freed... she would burn that temple to fucking ashes if she could. I fully except Gortash to slaughter anyone who tries to come near her body before grampa withers works his magic, and having to defend himself bc Bhaal isn't gonna let his disappointment child's baneite boyfriend keep breathing now. But no Orin, no more Urges, and no more Bhaalists to run the temple. She might poke around out of a kind of strange curiosity to see the person she used to be. Reading her own old letters and journals between and about them, walking through her room that she has no memory of. But it wouldn't jog anything pleasant, to be certain, and as far as she's concerned the place should be destroyed. Enver silently makes a note to stop by Felogyr's and send some gifts for the temple when they get back. I think, assuming they survive, her and Enver living together in an Absolute-less city would be nice though. The city that tried to kill them both and grind them into the dirt, that they rose above.

I wrote....a lot more than I anticipated but I just have so many feelings about her. I'm gonna I think make a second post abt Sarissa. Maybe. Depending on how long I can get away with ignoring my work emails.

Ooh 25,29, 40 on the OC list??

I'm sorry tumblr says this is from NOVEMBER and I didn't even SEE IT? i feel like a monster im so sorry, i don't even remember which OC list this might be from but pls know i still love and admire u and ur writing 🥺 (also if u remember which OC list i will def still answer, i always wanna talk abt my OCs)