#imagine they're in the astral plane

[ascendedice]

A general mini-guide to the LOA and the ACTUAL Void State (reposting my post in reddit here cause i felt like it will help alot of ppl!!) Hello, this post is summarizing information that really helped me, I really recommend checking out the posts linked AND researching more on your own. Remember, you can shift even if you don't read this but this post will help you understand more and very likely help you shift.

This is NOT a motivational post, I truly mean it, it really is that easy.

Abbreviations used in this post:

3D - The 3rd dimension, your current reality. The physical plane you experience, that mirrors the 4D based on your assumptions.

4D - The 4th dimension, your imagination. The higher plane where your imagination is, the 3D mirrors is based on your assumptions.

1 - THE VOID STATE.

What is the void state really?

In general, the void state is the state of pure consciousness - only being aware of your 4D, ignoring your 3D.

Awake state - being aware of both your 3D and 4D.

State of pure consciousness (void state) - only aware of your 4D.

Asleep state - aware of neither your 3D or 4D.

This is it. It's not a complicated meditative state, it's not astral projecting, it's just this. State of pure consciousness. You think that's hard? You do it every day! Have you ever been distracted at school/any other place, just staring at a wall and daydreaming. Well congratulations, you were in the void state. You were distracted away from the 3D as if it didn't matter, you were only aware of your 4D. (imagination)

DETAILED POSTS ABOUT THIS: All posts regarding this topic by @b4ddprincess: https://www.tumblr.com/b4ddprincess/760274129118248960/i-am-state-posts-𖤐?source=share The ones you should read: The simple guide on the state of pure consciousness - https://www.tumblr.com/b4ddprincess/761620377460965376/purest-state-of-consciousness-the-simple-yet-full?source=share The in-depth one - https://www.tumblr.com/b4ddprincess/762901660346515456/purest-state-of-consciousness-indepth-guide?source=share A post with some tips in it - https://www.tumblr.com/b4ddprincess/763453170302205952?source=share

2 - THE LAW OF ASSUMPTION

The law of assumption works, when you assume something (believe it's true without proof) and it happens in your 3D. Well, when you desire something, you have to accept that you already have it BECAUSE YOU DO. If you have it in your 4D, then your 3D will copy it as well. It always does.

Remember - think as if, because you do have it. If you have it in your 4D, then you have it in your 3D.

OTHER POSTS ABOUT THIS:

My own post showing how to think as if (kinda self glazing this but still) - https://www.tumblr.com/ascendedice/761688638481465344/stop-treating-your-dr-like-a-fictional-place?source=share A small guide on LOA - https://www.tumblr.com/prettyndpinkk/758375299207593984/guide-on-manifestation-the-loa?source=share (made by @prettyndpinkk)

CONCLUSION

Big thanks to all the bloggers who wrote the posts, they're all really helpful

Thanks for reading and happy shifting!!

[iguana-braces]

That sub!Jayce post really popped off, huh?

Ehehe okay here's my rambly thoughts about it (I'm literally sitting at work clocked out writing this instead of going home because THOUGHTS)

Building my theory off of this post:

And this one with all the examples of how Jayce's love language is clearly physical touch

*Disclaimer: there's a lot about season 2 that irked me in terms of plot and characterization so this is me retconning a little bit and picking and choosing what examples make the most cohesive argument. Like, in season one they're like "Jayce has this brotherly relationship with Caitlyn and him and Mel have this deep, meaningful relationship" and then season two was like "No more relationship building, it's time for trauma now" but, I digress*

First things first, he's a people pleaser. He does what he's told, clearly (against better judgment but like). And he's clearly committed to the people he cares about. HE BROUGHT VIKTOR BACK FROM THE DEAD (AND THEN KILLED HIM) AND THEN DIED WITH HIM AGAIN. You can't tell me that wouldn't translate to an "I'll do anything for you" attitude in the bedroom too.

I already did the bed gif but I also have to draw attention to the following:

Okay but season two, post-horrors!

Mr. Dopey Heart-Eyes McGee is NOT the one calling the shots here.

Season one Jayce? That man is whipped. One glance from his partner and he's on his knees like it's a religion. Whoever you ship him with! Mel, Viktor, both, a secret fourth option--

He spent an indeterminate amount of time alone, in the bottom of a pit. He's touch-starved but also! Traumatized!

Imagine, if you will, that he survives the astral plane. Imagine he goes to find Mel, or Viktor also survives, or imagine your own y/n, OC insert scenario here. Whatever floats your boat.

In such scenario, and in the aftermath of his self-awareness epiphany where he realizes that yeah, he's kinda been used (by everyone really), I think that in regards to any potential sexual relationship, he would have to become more dominant, more in control of the situation. Especially if it's with Mel, since he does pointedly blame her, or even Viktor, who has literally shaped the course of Jayce's entire life since he was a child. The man needs to set some boundaries with people and good for him.

So I think dominant, scruffy Jayce does have a time and a place.

However, I don't think he'd stay that way forever. It's kinda like him trying to be a politician-- it's a different role that he can pull off, but it doesn't fully scratch his itch.

BONUS HEADCANON: Wouldn't it be just so interesting if he survived the astral plane and goes back to whoever, and while he's looking for comfort and reassurance and all that physical contact he's been deprived of, he realizes that he really doesn't like people touching his head.

I hypothesize that in regards to canon relationships, Mel and/or Viktor, once they regain his trust and show that they're not trying to use him again, he's 100% going to be simping for them even worse than before. Like, that relationship would've gone through the fire and only come out stronger on the other side. You might even say it's been vulcanized.... 🤭

From the on, he can go back to letting his walls down around them and letting them be the dominant one because he knows there's solid trust and respect there now.

Feel free to agree or disagree 🤷‍♀️ also please feel free to tell me all your thots about this too!!!

He's got all this beautiful hair that needs to be tenderly pushed away from his eyes by a loving hand, but he's a little fucked up from the times Mannequin/Mage Viktor did that little murder mind meld.

Like, he put his head in Mel's lap TWICE, you know it would kill the man if he couldn't do that anymore because having someone's hands near his forehead is too reminiscent of... well, basically his death.

[linddzz]

Just wanted to say I'm really enjoying your analysis of how unhinged Jayvik is especially in season 2. I'm glad for Sky she's likely just regular dead rather than having been stuck with Viktor in the astral plane all this time.

Ahh thank you!! It really is wild how full throttle crank it they went in season 2. I liked to write Viktor as a little secretly unhinged for Season1 but that's just because I like making my blorbos a bit nuts, and even I was knocked the fuck out by how ACTUALLY DERANGED the BOTH of them are!?!?

They really spent almost a decade being quietly unhinged in a mostly cute "awww they're weird about each other" way only to nearly destroy the world because they briefly had an argument. Sky girl I'm so glad you're out of there, imagine getting accidentally killed from the hubris of your inspiration and crush, only to have to watch all that. Never meet your heroes and never have a front row seat to your heroes meltdown over his hot ex.

[rrking]

Some General BG HCs

Me and my wifey often discuss Astarion things in real life, and there are a few that I thought I would share.

Spoiler warning⚠

Astarion

Random knowledge bank. Meeting your parents for the first time and your dad wants to talk about history? Ask Astarion, if he doesn't just know, he remembers.

Enjoys going to the library. Does not enjoy the rabble who also enjoy the library. You have to explain to him over and over about library cards and infrared scanners so he doesn't just nope out and steal the book. Also gets annoyed when books from his time are revised.

Don't want to touch the raw meat packaging? No worries, Astarion will lick it up for you. Imagine him leant against the kitchen counter sucking up the blood from that piece of paper at the bottom of the mince. (A wifey thought)

On the subject of blood, if you cut your finger in the house he will be licking that up for you with a leering grin. Dragging it out so he can watch how you roll your eyes at him.

Comes in late, as usual, but this time after taking out every fucking goose or pigeon in the local area. The council are unhappy. Astarion is ecstatic. Word of a bird plague is sweeping through the borough. You are not happy with Astarion. Astarion doesn't care about the council until they put your council tax up.

Glares out of the window at kids playing but won't admit they're kind of cute. Especially glarey when kids come to the door trick or treating. Bonus points if they're dressed as vampires... Maybe he'll compliment them. "Darlings, look at your adorable little capes! Does your mother know you lot are prancing around dressed like monsters?" Will absolutely deny any niceties when you look at him knowingly, a smirk appearing on your lips as you notice the bucket of sweets he's holding, still excited after giving the children far more than they needed. or asked for.

Moans and groans when you watch vampire films. "Darling, turn that nonsense off, would you? Were you curious about vampires, you have one right here."

Groans even more when you watch law and order style programs, particularly court ones. Bad memories. "And why did he not get the death sentence?!"

Serial social media meme stealer.

Always creeps up behind you when you are looking in the mirror, ready to scare you. Or shag you, you be the judge.

Gale

Want chippy but don't want to get up or wait for an order? Blink. Gale will blink there and back. What's faster than Uber Eats? Going via the Astral Plane.

100000% will make you a brew if you ask :) He turns up with your favourite mug and your drink exactly the way you like it.

The type of man to run you a hot bath ready when you get in from work or if you've had a hard day just because.

Definitely discovers Nivea for Men.

Remembers things like birthdays and anniversaries.

Sees shiny things and wonders if they're infused with the weave. Gazing through the jewellery shop window.

Suffers through Harry Potter at Christmas wondering where all the elegant wizards are.

Started a thing where you leave post it notes for one another with sweet nothings on. Today as you're walking past the calendar pinned to the kitchen wall, you spot a new post it note. This one is pink and bares Gale's graceful handwriting. It reads: "My most special one, everyday I wake up next to you I feel luckier than the last. Have a great day x" Such devoted notes leave you feeling warm inside.

Halsin

Prefers to buy 'living herbs' than ground jar ones because NATURE.

Is that person who goes past an adult shop and says loudly "let's go inside!"

Definitely gets stuck in garden chairs and the like due to being so massive. Don't get this man in a smart car.

Stands up at barbecues if the chair is too small. It probably is.

Literally has to be told to avoid the bear story to others because they will not understand but tells it anyway if he gets too drunk.

Actually finds it quite difficult to adapt to modern society almost more than Lae'zel.

If you live in the countryside, Halsin definitely finds it a little easier, but if you live in the city he is constantly asking questions. The thing that catches his eye today is a statue above the bank door - a lion with a key in his mouth. "Does that petrified displacer beast not wish to return to the wilderness?" "Halsin, that is a statue of a lion with a key in it's mouth." "...Oh. Why does it guard a key?" You look at him curiously, unsure of how to answer such an innocent question. "It's just HSBC's thing... I don't actually know."

Struggles to find clothes that actually fit.

Will share you a meme you tagged him in and never truly understand the new technology.

Totally enjoys long walks and feeding ducks. Eats all of the bread.

Tries to speak to the animals at the zoo. (Wifey)

Incosolably weeps at nature programs. Very confused when you try to explain that nature has to take it's course for them to film.

First thought upon seeing CGI animals dancing and talking : "IT'S A DRUID!"

Votes Green Party.

Lae'zel

Lae'zel struggles the most to integrate into modern society.

She takes up some form of fighting WWE and does not understand why the fighters don't actually hurt each other.

She complains about this after making absolute bank of course. "Ch'k! These istik talk about fighting for glory - Yet they simply roughhouse for pitiful coin." "Yeah, but look at how famous you are, Lae'zel..." Rollin', rollin', all my bitches rollin'.

Hates ood in Doctor Who for obvious reasons. "Tsk'va, ghaik!"

Wifey came up with 'Bae'zel'.

Karlach

Believes stupid spam emails you have to send onto others. (Wifey thought of this)

Shares that post of the missing dog on the other side of the world who was found 3 years ago.

Discovers TikTok, only shares animal videos and smashes TikTok dances.

Discovers aircon. 🥺

Discovers hot wing challenges... Excels at said hot wing challenges. and collects all the t shirts for winning food challenges.

Shadowheart

Posts things on Facebook like 'Shar/Selune keeps me in check. Like, share and comment 'Praise be to Shar/Selune' if she keeps you in check." Definitely gets flamed by the others.

Ends up with cute hobbies like paper quilling and crafts. Makes things for you. "You've really improved your crochet, Shadowheart! What is this one called?" Gives him a simple name like Bob or Clyde and puts him with the rest, cramming the mantle with them.

[bg-brainrot]

*spoilers for all of BG3 below!

Imagine, if you will, a Tav that wanted a romance with Astarion, truly. But was too kind, too honest, too much of a people pleaser to wind up with any companion at all.

They spent all of act 1 trying to be what everyone wanted them to be: helping Karlach fight the Paladin's of Tyr, giving Gale magic items as soon as he needed them, welcoming Shadowheart's faith regardless of how others may perceive it, providing Astarion with blood, going to the creche for Lae'zel, promising to help Wyll's father. When the time came for the tiefling party, they all wanted a piece of Tav, Tav had grown fond of Astarion. Tav, unable to disappoint anyone, decided to spend the night alone.

Come act 2, they continue to help their allies at every turn-- until push comes to shove. Throughout the Shadowlands, their soft, pliable attitude begins to harden. They convince Shadowheart to spare the Nightsong, they tell Lae'zel to defy her queen, they warn Astarion off of Ascension. They have no time for romance, but, try as they might, they can't forget the beautiful words of a particular vampire. They wonder if they should have rejected Astarion all those weeks ago...

By act 3, they're more confident. Though still not entirely convinced that they should be leading this group, they find it less difficult to push back against their ideas. They convince Gale to give up on the crown, they break Wyll out of his infernal pact, they make sure Karlach makes it to Avernus, they allow Shadowheart to make her choice and release her parents' souls, they encourage Lae'zel to lead her people to the Astral Plane. Most importantly, they stand up to Astarion, keeping him from Ascending and preserving their friendship. The world is saved, and their only regret is letting their relationship stay that of friends...

Fast forward to the rebuilding of Baldur's Gate.

Astarion and Tav haven't so much as shared a kiss, let alone a bed, but they are the closest of friends, sharing a room at the Elfsong together.

So close that when Astarion burns down Cazador's mansion, Tav is right there, holding the reserves of Alchemist's Fire for him.

After the mansion burns, the city puts the ashen land on auction. Astarion expresses that he'd love the chance to build upon its ashes-- For the sake of moving on and to rub it in his old master's face one more time. Tav loves the idea, always supporting their chaotic friend in all of his endeavors, never straying too far.

However, when Astarion goes to buy the plot of land, he quickly finds that someone else has already bought it. The source of all of their timid, people pleasing tendencies: Tav's controlling, domineering, land baron of a father.

Caught between their best friend and father, Tav has no clue what to do next. What they do know, is that their father won't be helping. At least not until they fulfill his request.

When Tav proposes a solution to their best, most handsome friend, they begin to find the lines between them blurring, begin to wonder how much their own pleasure is factoring into the decisions they've made...

--

Anyway, if you've ever been like, damn, I want to see an arranged marriage Astarion x Tav, wow, do I have the fic for you: The Consequences of Convenience

(Ty to everyone who voted on this trope, I'm so excited for it hehe)

[kirain]

I know you've said you're not into shipping, but if you HAD to ship bg3 companions (you do, I'm saying you have to😝) which npcs would you ship them with?

Well, since you're forcing me. 😅

...This was actually harder than I thought it would be, since I don't usually consider ships. But I think I'm happy with my choices.

In my opinion, Lae'zel and Varsh Ko'kuu would make a fantastic couple. Personally, I prefer the ending where Lae'zel returns to the Astral Plane to usher in a new age for the githyanki, hopefully turning them from their violent and conquerous ways. To do that she'll need support, hence her call for rebellion. I like to think Ko'kuu would be one of the first to join her, as the Narrator tells us he's grown "tired"; likely of his people's brutal and callous ways. He's clearly diplomatic and maternal, as well as open-minded enough to trust an outsider with his young, so he'd be a perfect ally. As he becomes Lae'zel's righthand man during the civil war, they would naturally form a bond that blooms from respect and admiration to romantic. He would also make an excellent father to Xan.

This ship I don't think I even need to explain. Karlach and Dammon are absolutely perfect for each other. They respect each other, they like each other, they understand each other's struggles, and they're both kind, caring, optimistic people. Karlach not only fantasizes about Dammon in her origin run, but they also have an adorable handholding scene once he upgrades her engine. So in relation to her somewhat disappointing ending, I like to think Dammon discovers a cure for her condition and follows her to Avernus, where they break into Zariel's forge, construct a permanent upgrade that negates the deadly heat inside her, and then escape back to the material plane. After that, the two would become inseparable. They would start a new life in Baldur's Gate, with Dammon continuing his work as a respected blacksmith and Karlach becoming an avid defender of the city.

This ship was actually my friend's idea, and I believe she's planning on exploring it further on her own blog. As we discussed it, we both agreed Sebastian would probably hate Astarion and want blood, even knowing he had no choice but to follow Cazador's demands; over a century of misery and torment leaves little room for forgiveness. After his release, I think he'd track Astarion down and try to kill him in a blind act of revenge, but hesitate, failing the task. Still a sweet and delicate soul, he'd fall to his knees in tears, lamenting everything he's lost. Plagued with guilt upon seeing his broken state, Astarion would comfort Sebastian, knowing what it's like to feel nothing but fear and hatred. Things would be rocky at first, slow, messy—but eventually Sebastian would forgive Astarion, falling in love with him all over again. And with that closure, Astarion would finally be able to forgive himself.

To me, this ship makes the most sense (and may also be the sweetest), as Shadowheart and Nocturne already have a shared history and they've both suffered under Shar. When we meet Nocturne, she implies she's grown wary of following the dark goddess and her cult, but she's too afraid to leave. So after defeating the Absolute, I like to imagine Shadowheart rekindles her relationship with Nocturne, eventually turning her away from Shar and convincing her to leave the sanctum. With her once best friend's guidance, Nocturne would adjust well to the world outside, growing close to Shadowheart once again and rebuilding her lost memories, as well as making new ones. Together they would travel the world, forever wrapped in each other's loving embrace.

I fell in love with Exxvikyap the moment I met her, and I think she'd be perfect for Wyll. He needs someone who can match his excitable, charismatic energy—and she definitely would. Whether Wyll follows in his father's footsteps or follows Karlach to Avernus, at some point I like to think he'd return to Baldur's Gate. Once he does, he'd find himself visiting the Rivington General for a new weapon. As she helps him find a sword best suited to his fighting style, they'd strike up a conversation. Wyll would find her warm and bubbly personality both infectious and endearing, which would lead to him visiting the shop again. And again. And again. And again. Slowly, he would begin courting the sweet dragonborn woman, and she would happily accept his advances. Eventually she would quit, joining Wyll on his many adventures and defending the Sword Coast from any who would threaten to harm it.

This ship I waffled on for a while, because personally I didn't see it; especially since I think Gale needs someone who's compassionate and affectionate. But then I realised Rolan is both of those things. At least by Act 2. He's sassy and snappy and self-important, but he loves his siblings—to the point that he was willing to risk his career to stick by them at the Grove, and enough to risk his life by searching for them in the Shadowlands. He also saved the orphans, even though he whinged about it. He wants to be independent, but he later learns to accept help, which leads me to Gale. At some point, I like to think Gale visits Ramazith's Tower, looking for a book. He bumps into Rolan, who's struggling to cast an advanced spell that summons a hoard of angry mephits. Chaos ensues, causing Gale and Rolan to team up and reverse the damage. Rolan would beat himself up over the incident, but Gale would encourage him, teaching him the proper way to cast the spell. From that point on, their relationship would blossom in ways neither of them expected. Together they would find a perfect balance, propping each other up while also keeping each other humble.

[magickfromscratch]

Follow my reasoning for a moment.

When you're tired, when you can't do enough self care, there are hairs out of place. Your skin becomes more textured. Your nails and cuticles get ragged. You acquire accidental attributes.

For a deity, every detail about their image is a projection of their will. When they're exhausted, they cannot add texture and resolution to their appearance and presence, and what you get is more essential.

The more vivid their image when they appear on the astral or in a dream, or wherever, the more work they put in. For them, imperfection is ornamentation.

What if, when you take the time to imagine them, create artwork to depict them, it's almost the same as if you took the time to comb your friend's hair and braid it, to give them a manicure?

I think that devotional art may not be just about focus, or work that you put in, or PR. I think it may actually be like a spa day for them. It's pampering.

Which is to say, to all of you making beautiful or even not-so-beautiful art to depict the gods, keep it up. You're doing a service that boosts morale in the higher planes. We need them, and they need you, so that we can all stay sane during these trying times.

[anghraine]

A less navel-gaze-y conversation with the best friend, also today:

him: Hey, look at this video of a humpback whale!

me: Oh, wow, that's awesome! I love whales. They're so cool.

him: They really are. It's weird to think they used to venture on land.

me [suddenly contemplating an eldritch horror: whale edition]: Wait, they what?

him: They're mammals! They have ancestors who would come on land, I think for bearing or hatching their young and such.

me, a scholar: Oh, like githyanki?

him: what

me: They're a species in D&D. In Baldur's Gate 3 the main gith character talks about how the githyanki leave the Astral Plane to hatch their young so they can develop properly.

him: ............... uh. Okay. Hmm, I guess it actually is kind of similar? Maybe. I don't remember all the details.

me: It's hard to imagine whales with legs. My mind keeps trying not to.

him: I'm guessing they were more like crocodiles back then.

[moonselune]

Gith tav and Lae'zel bonding, platonically, over mildly disturbing creché experiences, freaking out and concerning their LI's (Wyll or halsin for tav, and Gale or shadowheart for lae'zel)!

Hi!! I love your writings, and I absolutely adore how you write Lae'zel and Minth and Wyll. They're my fave chars! Have a good day/night!

aww so cute, I did Wyll and Lae'zel for this hope you enjoy!

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

platonic lae'zel x reader, wyll ravengard x reader, shadowzel

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

The campfire crackled softly, casting a warm glow over the small clearing where the party had set up for the night. The air was filled with the earthy scent of the forest and the faint sounds of nocturnal creatures stirring in the underbrush.

You sat next to Lae'zel, both of you Githyanki, sharing stories and laughing louder than you had in ages. Perhaps the barrels of wine you both consumed had something to do with it but your similar upbringings in separate creches of the Astral Plane provided endless material for reminiscing. Across the fire, Wyll and Shadowheart exchanged nervous glances, clearly out of their depth but trying their best to be supportive.

"And do you remember the initiation trials?" you asked Lae'zel, grinning widely. "In my creche, we had to navigate a maze filled with traps and illusions."

Lae'zel laughed, a rare, genuine sound. "In mine, we had to climb a mountain while being attacked by spectral warriors. I still recall the look on my rival's face when I reached the top first and the look they had when I pushed them off the mountain."

You both burst into laughter, the shared experiences bringing a sense of camaraderie and joy. The tales of your creches were filled with trials, challenges, and the harsh realities of Githyanki training, but recounting them with Lae'zel turned those hardships into something to be cherished.

Wyll, sitting beside you, shifted uncomfortably. "So, these trials… they sound intense. What was the purpose of them, exactly?"

You turned to Wyll, your smile softening as you saw his genuine curiosity mingled with concern. "The trials were meant to test our abilities, to prepare us for the battles we would face in service to Vlaakith. They were difficult, yes, but they made us strong. I wear the scars from them with pride,"

Lae'zel nodded, her eyes gleaming with pride. "Every Githyanki must prove themselves. It is our way. Without these trials, we would not be the warriors we are today."

Shadowheart, sitting beside Lae'zel, looked slightly pale but determined to understand. "I can't imagine going through something like that. It must have been… overwhelming."

You nodded, unbashedly reaching out to take Wyll's hand. "It was. But it was also exhilarating. To face such challenges and emerge victorious… there's nothing quite like it."

Wyll squeezed your hand, offering a small, reassuring smile. "I'm just glad you made it through. And that you're here with us now."

Lae'zel glanced at Shadowheart, a rare softness in her eyes. "We understand that it is not easy to understand our ways, but I am grateful you try. Both of you."

Shadowheart managed a weak smile, still looking a bit overwhelmed but clearly touched by Lae'zel's words. "I… I want to support you, even if I don't fully understand everything."

The four of you sat in a comfortable silence for a moment, the crackling fire the only sound. Then, a mischievous glint appeared in your eye.

"Do you remember the time we were tasked with hunting down a rogue Illithid? In my creche, we had to track it through the Underdark for days."

Lae'zel snorted, covering her mouth to stifle her laughter. "In mine, we had to capture it alive and bring it back for questioning. The chaos that ensued when it broke free… Our creche leader flayed us all for a week."

"Only a week? Ours enthralled my classmate and we were flayed for a month!" You both dissolved into laughter again, Wyll and Shadowheart exchanged another glance, this one tinged with a mixture of shock and bewilderment.

Despite their discomfort, they couldn't help but be drawn into the infectious energy of your shared stories. Wyll leaned over and whispered to Shadowheart, "I think we're getting a glimpse into a whole other world here."

Shadowheart nodded, her expression softening. "Indeed. And despite how strange it is, I'm glad we're here to witness it."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Hope you enjoyed it ! - Seluney xox

[worldofsaia]

THE QUICKEST

SHIFTING GUIDE ...

you’ve heard it all—get off social media, stop stressing, listen to yourself, and just do it. these suggestions have their place in the sun, but they're impractical for someone who isn't ready to wait years for their mindset to shift. start here:

¹ ˙𖦹 *∴ BLOCKAGES

blockages are misunderstood. we often think of them as pesky little things to get rid of, to struggle with through thick and thin—until, finally—we're free of them, a century from now!

...no. think of blockages as imbalances, and you'll probably understand shifting in a way that actually helps. why? they’re imbalances between thought and action. see, we’re conditioned to see thought and action as linked, but what if they aren’t?

i tested this theory for a while, and realized, maybe thought and action exist in all dimensions—not just 3d or 4d. of course, we have to understand what a dimension is.

dimension ; (n) the minimum number of coordinates needed to specify the position of a particle or system within a space // an aspect or feature of a situation.

4d/3d are often taken as the only two planes to exist because they're the ones that interact with the human experience the most. In reality, planes are “filters” of the overall experience, which we label to simplify things.

EXAMPLE O1 — imagine you're feeling anxious about something (4d). you can’t touch anxiety with your hands, but it affects your thoughts, body, and behavior. it’s a layer of experience that isn’t visible in the 3d world but deeply influences it.

EXAMPLE O2 — when you imagine a future event and experience the emotions tied to it (like joy or fear before it happens), you’re using your 4d (emotional) and 3d (time). this “mental projection” shows how these layers beyond the 3d manifest and shape your physical reality.

¹˚² ˙𖦹 *∴ DIMENSIONS

i'm going to get complex for a second, if only because it might help you understand better, later on. let's look at the 3d, 4d, 5d, and 6d—each of these represent a distinct level of awareness and experience.

3d (physical) is our material world—what we can see, touch, and experience directly. it is a mode of experience, not operation like the others.

4d (emotional/astral) is our inner world—our feelings, thoughts, and emotions that shape reality beyond time.there's a growing awareness of the importance of emotions, thoughts, and intentions in shaping reality. time becomes more flexible, and experiences such as lucid dreaming and astral projection are common. this is not the astral plane, just the filter were we perceive it.

5d (unity consciousness) — living in harmony with everything, duality dissolves and so does desire. most authentic gurus are seated here.

6d (pure thought) — i think therefore i am applies here. you can access higher planes of existence and have a deeper understanding of the universe's workings. the consciousness can transcend physical limitations, this is the seat of reality shifting/transmigration and reality creation/alignment.

when your internal thoughts are operating at a higher level of awareness (like 4d, which involves inner self and emotional resonance) but your physical actions are stuck in the immediate, 3d environment (based on immediate, tangible experiences), a disconnect happens.

EXAMPLE O3 — you start thinking about financial abundance, a million dollars in your bank account (4d), but only take actions that align with the (3d) physical reference to financial scarcity. so you're worrying about the rent, feeling bitter at others' successes, wondering if you'll be stuck here forever etc.

thoughts and actions must occur on similar dimensions! this doesn't mean that you should have one without the other—only that a 5d thought (bliss, love, compassion) can only be backed by a 5d action (opening of the heart) to have 3d expression (volunteering at homeless shelters). the same applies to shifting.

² ˙𖦹 *∴ HIGH DIMENSION ACTION

good, now don't worry too much about dimensions. it's only a preface to understand the kind if ‘action you need to take here.’

what i've clarified, is that action isn’t limited to physical movement; it is mostly an expression of an internal shift. the real action required for shifting is acceptance—a conscious choice to embrace the target reality you want without resistance or doubt. this is not about methods or effort but about being and allowing.

²˚¹ ˙𖦹 *∴ NON LOCALITY

where do the dimensions “exist” then? often people think these dimensions are outside if them. while they are beyond the human experience, all of these things are still within ‘you’—not you the human, but what we call non-local consciousness, meaning your awareness is not confined to a physical body or present moment. it’s the idea that consciousness exists beyond time and space, often evidenced in quantum entanglement.

in quantum mechanics, particles can be entangled, meaning their states are linked even if they are separated by vast distances. this suggests that information, experience,consciousness can exist outside of the traditional space-time continuum. deja vu or intuition are theorized as ‘you’ catching glimpses of that non-local consciousness.

³ ˙𖦹 *∴ SHIFTING SIMPLIFIED

O1 — you're shifting to your desired reality (dr). instead of obsessing over every detail, you get cozy with the thought that you're everywhere, you're just remembering that. you let yourself remember what it feels like to be in your dr w/o judgement.

O2 — you start thinking about your life in your dr, how do you live, what do you do, what have you planned today, who are you with?

O3 — you enjoy that experience, because you truly are there, not overloading your mind with the need for a “right moment/mindset, ” perfection or approval from others. it’s not about feeling certain; it's about allowing the shift to occur as part of your natural reality.

O4 — you live your life like this, experiencing what you want. without much notice your dr becomes 3d.

that's all, very simple. but there are still some folks who have to get comfortable with the wild amount of freedom and effortlessness that comes with shifting. if you're like that, here's what i've worked on that has helped me shift before.

⁴ ˙𖦹 *∴ YOU WANT TO SHIFT SO

you want to shift so — you start seeing doubt as a passing thought, not a limit. doubt doesn't have to dictate your shifting unless you want it to.

ask yourself: “what am i doubting? does this really affect my ability to shift?” you’ll realize it doesn't. to shift?” You’ll realize it doesn't.

you want to shift so — you take baby steps. If shifting feels difficult, write down what makes it hard/uncomfortable. ask yourself why these specific parts were difficult. were they emotionally uncomfortable? did they seem “impossible” or unfamiliar? what was uncomfortable about it? practice applying the acceptance / detachment principles to these small aspects first.

after you’ve resolved the discomfort, attempt slightly larger shifts, applying the same principles until you’re comfortable shifting larger aspects.

you want to shift so — you stop seeing “I can’t shift” as a dead end. Use the emotion behind it to dismantle the belief.

say something like, “you know what? i actually can do this,” or “it's not hard for others, it really doesn't have to be hard for me.” this is a soft/reasoning construct that eases you into it rather than going, out of the blue, “i'm the best shifter.”

you want to shift so — you stop trying to ‘go’ somewhere. you’re not going anywhere—so you get familiar with the fact that you're everywhere. consciousness is non-local, beyond time and space. Accepting this truth allows the shift to happen effortlessly.

you want to shift so — you learn to accept that you already have. what is acceptance? when you familarize yourself so much with a belief, that the struggle becomes boring/pointless to maintain. You no longer overthink when or how. You feel calm, and the tension dissolves. You stop questioning and forcing outcomes. This shift happens by simply aligning with your desired reality and embracing it as your own.

— saia,

[ohwolfling]

TY IM THE GOD GALE ANON HAHA

This is a bit weird to admit but me and my friend love bg3 so bad that it’s a roleplay now (yippee), and my friends character wants Gale to ascend so he’ll fix Karlach and Astarion. Mine’s arguing Gale will become corrupt and while he gets to live, he will still lose his entire life by succumbing to the self doubt and hatred of himself. He lives, but he doesn’t *live*, you know? I didn’t know if that was a good argument though because one life is on the line (Karlach) and the other will also be bound to being horrifically miserable. Trying to push that there can be other ways but ofc I went to my fav gale knowledge haver for their take

Firstly, it's not weird to do RP. It has been done since the dawn of time. Enjoy what you enjoy and do so enthusiastically and openly!

Gale ascending to godhood is motivated by the idea of worthiness, even ground, power = safety (a very Astarion parallel there). Gale sacrificing his life by using the orb to save the world is motivated by the shadows of this - low self worth, guilt, desperate for meaning, an overwhelming nihilism, and a life-long pattern of handling that recklessly, with an undercurrent of death wish. In the god ending, all of his worst traits are amplified, to the point of cruelty at times, and it destabilizes the astral plane and more. In the Orb ending, Gale at the very least has come to terms with it all. He has found a kind of family and he is making the choice to save them, to save the world, to pay penance for a mistake he made. It's poetic, it's Byronic, and there are no bad consequences outside of the loss of Gale (unacceptable to me personally, but as literature... that hits).

So could you make it make sense that a Gale approached by someone outside of Mystra and Elminster and told, "you know, doing x, y, z would help Karlach, would help Astarion..." Absolutely. That could make narrative sense.

That being said, I'd be curious what alignment this person is rping under. Convincing someone to give up their humanity, convincing an unstable, freshly wounded human to shift that into godhood... I don't know. It's neutral at best, borderline evil. Even if you have a character who doesn't care about Gale as an individual or thinks they're sacrificing some lesser person for a good cause (icky to me tbqh), anyone in the world of D&D knows what a huge deal it is to tangle with gods. Becoming one? Adding another deity? That's... not a small thing. That's HUGE. They would need to really justify why their DnD character- who through the course of BG3 events has seen gods very old and would-be gods who are more mutated tyrants, and a myriad of corrupted, miserable, doomed chosens- does not factor that in.

Outside of that, my thoughts are that Karlach would not want this. I can't imagine a world where Karlach is okay with this plan and where Karlach sticks around if she finds out after the fact that someone bullied a very broken, insecure, currently being told his only worth is to fucking die guy into foregoing humanity all together. Are there versions of Astarion who would be down with that? I think it's possible. But then Astarion has to live with it. So much of Astarion is defense mechanism and facade. I don't see him feeling great about it either, even if he'd accept it. What I want for Astarion above sunshine is a life where he heals and gets to be a person. I just don't think that happens if he starts it off entangled with a newborn god who is fine destabilizing the world as you know it in pursuit of impossible equality.

Maybe for your party, they would still push Gale into becoming a god, particularly if you avoid meta gaming and ignore the knowledge of exactly how destabilized things get (though there is a 0% of it not being any concern, DnD has so many deities, they're very tangible). But thinking more in terms of RP, I'm thinking of a DM. And I wouldn't let you get away with a peaceful world after that, with an untouched relationship to Karlach and Astarion after that, and it would probably be an alignment change in most circumstances.

[hootshooligan]

ALIAS PICKS LETS GO

today im bringin up the refugee tiefling kids!!! and some other stuff 👀

Has your OC ever made any of the refugee tiefling kids laugh? / What about cry?

Who would call your OC their best friend?

What is the worst thing your OC does in their story?

buckle in this is a long one

1. Has Alias ever made any of the tiefling kids laugh and/or cry?

Oh Alias LOVES the tiefling kids. Alias has a soft spot for children in general (which I think there's something in the actual game that suggests that might be canon for the Dark Urge? I'd need to fact check that though)

I made a seperate post talking about her relationship with Arabella, but in regards to the rest of the kids, she did whatever she could to make their days brighter in the Grove and the Shadow-Cursed Lands (making them laugh, distracting them from The Horrors, etc). She was especially worried about Mol, but she wasn't very receptive to her attempts at helping her. But I imagine most of them (Mattis, Silfy, Umi, Doni, etc) look up to her and think she's really cool.

2. Who would Alias call their best friend?

Jaheira. For sure.

Jaheira tries to kill her and Alias starts chatting with her as if she's not getting the life squeezed out of her. Alias sniffs out the klauthgrass she spiked her wine with, points this out to her, and then drinks it immediately afterward anyway. She discovers that Jaheira has been knowingly housing the daughter of the general trying to start a war across the whole continent and all Alias says is "alright, I trust your judgement about this"

So yeah they hit it off pretty much instantly.

Even if all the Bhaalspawn stuff wasn't a factor, they still have SO MUCH in common. They're both Harpers who have quit a bunch of times and say they're gonna retire from adventuring (but never do), they're former soldiers, they share the same sense of humor, they're old and tired and kind of jaded but still have good hearts and really want to help people. They're definitely cut from the same cloth.

Karlach and Minsc are high up there, and Halsin gets an honorary mention too (just by merit of being their partner), but Jaheira wins by just a little bit.

3. What is the worst thing Alias does in their story?

Ohhh this is a tough one. I guess the answer is different depending on if we're just talking about in the game or her entire life (assuming we're also excluding everything Bhaal made them do against their will because I don't think it counts if their body is being physically possessed).

In the game itself, I think one of the worst things is probably releasing Cazador's spawn. I say this only because multiple characters in the game point out that—despite what we see from the few spawn we speak to— statistically, there ARE spawn among them who can't (or don't want to) control themselves and WILL end up hurting other people—possibly a LOT of people. Alias still firmly believes that they all deserve the same chance that Astarion got, but you can't ignore the fact that more innocent people will likely die because of that decision.

Alias also chooses to kill Viconia after she was defeated and I think that's actually bordering on an Oathbreaking action for her too (because she's not supposed to kill anyone unless it's necessary—and I'd argue killing Viconia WASN'T necessary). The game seems to present it as the "good" decision to make (because letting her leave breaks all three in-game oaths), but I think it's more complicated than that tbh

BEFORE the game, I have no idea. I've already decided that she HAS willingly broken her Oath at least once, but I haven't settled on the circumstances yet.

Though I can say I actually DON'T think The Urge was a huge problem for them until AFTER Bhaal was resurrected in the Second Sundering (because I think he had little influence over her in the Astral Plane unless she were to ever end up there), but I think she HAS always dealt with feeling drawn towards violence and conflict on some level (because this is canon for All Bhaalspawn, even those who never experienced anything like the The Urge). There's a reason why even "good" Bhaalspawn like Gorion's Ward and Imoen were drawn to adventuring and petty thievery.

I have a Moment in mind where she finally snaps and instigates a fight that was totally unnecessary and she ends up doing some... pretty violent stuff (which she feels really guilty about later). There are still large chunks of their life and backstory I haven't decided on yet so that's still up in the air.

[iguana-braces]

Do you ever think about how hard Meljayvik would go if they all survived and got back together?

Like, we've got two full on magical dieties and then Jayce, who, I guess would also be kinda magical considering he would've somehow survived exploding in the astral plane--

But imagine Mel and Viktor are still a little out of it after everything that's happened, they're trying to come to terms with their new powers/forms and yeah Jayce has been through the wringer too but he's still mostly the same. As we saw in canon, he's the one that talks Viktor down and helps him regain his humanity.

So imagine Jayce being the one who helps ground Mel and Viktor, gets them out of their heads when they're so wrapped up in the life of a mage. Like, he knows how to remind them they're still human, and that's so important because as we've seen with Viktor, it's easy to lose yourself in that kind of power.

Also, because my brand is filth, I think that would have delicious implications in Pound-town too. On one hand, Jayce is the odd-man out now, it's two dominant dieties against one submissive human. I'm kinda lumping Mel and Vik together here and not that they're interchangeable at all, but it's the power dynamics of it all that I'm trying to harp on here. It would be way too easy to write that they just steamroll over him.

I think Jayce would be, for lack of a better word, worshipping them. Not in a fanatical way, but in the "I'm just really happy to be here and I'm gonna make sure you know exactly how grateful I am to have you in my life" and then, you know, spend all night taking care of business until one of them finally taps out from exhaustion

But I think Mel and Viktor are also the kind to fully repay the favor, and make sure that Jayce is also taken care of and feels just as worshipped and valued because he deserves it too. But, you know, in the form of domming the fuck out of him until he's a complete mess.

[psychotrope777]

cant help but wonder what kind of shit djimmi had to do to end up owing his soul to the devil. like we technically don't know that the casino is the devil's only avenue of winning souls + they're also both supernatural / immortal(?) beings implied to have connections to the astral plane. i like to imagine they have ridiculous drama with each other probably lasting over the course of hundreds or thousands of years that no one else could possibly fucking understand

[synergysilhouette]

My Baldur's Gate OCs (Redux)

Just thought I'd remake this since I've played as a Drow and a Gith since posting my OG post. I don't have art skills, so I couldn't show visually what I imagine they look like, so I'm just using pics of characters from the race I played as for visual emphasis.

Name: Caspian Solstice

Race: Human (I have two vastly different designs for him, ranging from a young man with long dark hair and deep brown skin with bright blue eyes and a young man with short, bright orange hair with a matching beard, light skin, and bright green eyes)

Age: 24 (I chose Wyll's age according to "Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms"; originally he was gonna be younger, but I couldn't imagine him looking as chiseled at a younger age. I also considered making him older, but I didn't want him to be older than any of the human male companions)

Alignment: Neutral Good

Class: Sorcerer

Subclass: Draconic Bloodline (His family likes to brag that they're descended from Bahamut, but that often rubs people the wrong way)

Sexuality: Homosexual-homoromantic

Background: Acolyte

Character History: From a young age, Caspian's magical potential has been apparent, becoming a source of pride for his upper-class, family, who, while not of noble status in Baldur's Gate, was related to several noble families in Ravens Bluff (but many of these ties were through illegitimate children). He made many friends with magical creatures, including fairies and genasi. Originally he was a student at Blackstaff to quell the power, but when the prodigy's abilities gained the envy of contemporaries and dangerous beings, his family sent him away to become an acolyte under the protection of the church and the divine, which they hoped would keep him safe. That said, he also grew up to be rather handsome and trusting, so sending him away was also a means of protecting his virtue, especially since members of his family sought to arrange an advantageous marriage for him. After being captured, he develops a somewhat shy and standoffish disposition. Upon gathering the group, Gale at first establishes a rivalry with him as wizards/sorcerers do that result in a lot of sexual tension (and their thirsty times in the Astral Plane are something Caspian encourages to keep his mortal virginity), and Wyll, who is a breath of fresh air as a legitimately kind noble. A bit naive, he has a fear of tieflings due to their demonic appearance, but eventually comes to trust and appreciate Karlach, but is iffy about Shadowheart's faith in Shar and Lae'zel's pragmatic way of doing things. He finds Minthara and Astarion even more concerning, but believes he is convincing them of "becoming better people"--though Astarion's the only one who's really changing. He is amazed by Halsin's affinity with nature, finding him (and Wyll) to be an embodiment of a fairy tale prince, and comes to appreciate Silvanus as a result of their bond. Jaheira and Minsc remind him of his family, so he gets along with them very well. It's also noted that his default outfit is similar to Halsin's camp outfit.

Love interest(s): Gale, Wyll, and Halsin. Gale chooses to return Karsus' crown to Mystra, and while he is lauded as a hero, Caspian's family finds a wizard (someone who had to learn magic rather than it be something in the bloodline) to be an inferior match for Caspian. As a result, Caspian spent a good deal of time in Waterdeep until his family begged him to return. Their trials are not yet over, but they enjoy the shenanigans here and there. Wyll is seen as the ultimate catch for Caspian (having taken the "Grand Duke" ending), and Caspian is unfortunately used as a political pawn whenever he is in Baldur's Gate (think Tudor-level drama), resulting in he and Wyll taking frequent diplomatic missions outside of the city and leaving Wyll's father in charge of the typical duties. Halsin, on the other hand, is the "worst-case scenario" due to his animalistic lifestyle in contrast to the refinement Caspian's family is renowned for. Unlike other love interests, Halsin has little love lost for his in-laws (though he is sad since he puts a good emphasis on family, made or blood), and Caspian is often away helping him at Reithwin town, much to the horror of his family, who don't fully believe the shadow curse is over. Of course, once Halsin mentioned he was polyamorous, some of Caspian's family members have resumed marriage negotiations with other "better" options, especially since the pair aren't married in the typical sense. He'll hyphenate his last name if he marries Gale, take Wyll's if they get married, and keep his own if he stays with Halsin.

Name: Raleth (named after the prince of stars), descended from the Houses of Kenafin and Xorlarrin

Race: Drow (Pretty standard drow design, with long white hair and a darker blue skin color; if Fey Eladrin existed here, I probably would've played as one here)

Subrace: Seldarine Drow

Age: 40

Alignment: True Neutral

Class: Wizard

Subclass: Abjuration

Sexuality: Bi-bi

Background: Noble

Character History: One of a dozen male infants rescued by a Seldarine drow from the House of Kenafin, Raleth spent most of his formative years in the Upperdark city of Imberlur with his "father" and "brothers," forming a tight bond. However, when training to become a wizard, he was captured and tortured by Lloth-sworn drow, as were his family members, and he learned about his birth family and house in the process. While he managed to escape, not all have been so lucky, making him emotionally distant at best, and downright cruel at worst. In fact, the mistreatment by female drows have made him a sexist, and even refusing to acknowledging his attraction to them. With time however, his reluctant collaboration becomes respect to appreciation for his female teammates. Astarion finds him alluring (particularly since despite his stoic nature, Raleth is rather ignorant or matters of the flesh, and Astarion likes to fetishize him as a drow himbo), and Shadowheart bonds with him as she figures out her past and sympathizes how both of their lives were taken from him. Lae'zel, having a similar arc to Shadowheart, also grows to sympathize with and respect Raleth. Gale is immediately interested in him as a fellow wizard, and Karlach and Wyll hope to set him on the right path despite his abuse, while Halsin and Jaheira believe Raleth will figure out the right path in time on his own. Minthara...well, Raleth steers clear of her, but in the end, she gives her word that if he was to ever return to Menzoberranzan, she would make sure no harm came to him--though her refusal to push gender equality has him in no rush to take her up on her invitation, and he ponders if he should've killed her after all (and if he still can). It's also worth noting that he and Karlach traded outfits, though he dyed hers a deeper black to look brand new, and she sold his outfit for something that better fit her style.

Love Interest(s): Gale, Astarion, and Shadowheart. Gale returns the crown of Karsus to Mystra, and vehemently encourages Raleth to move to Waterdeep with him permanently, which he accepts on the condition of letting his family visit, which Gale obliges--though Raleth is the first of his brothers to get married, and they feel like Gale "stole" Raleth from him. As such, the family has settled in Waterdeep and sometimes harass Gale. Astarion is drawn to Raleth's darkness and sly nature, and Astarion's abuse by a male figure and abusing other men opens his eyes beyond his sexist viewpoint, and Astarion vows to be the best man (elf?) possible for him, and observes that as they're both elves and Astarion is virtually immortal, they have a long time to figure out what they want in life. Raleth also encourages him to discover if any of his family is still alive, seeing how big he is on family, along with helping guide the (surviving) spawn in the Underdark. They settle in Imberlur, where Astarion learns to trust others more, bonds with his new in-laws, and develops an appreciation for Eilistraee, even if not becoming particularly devout. in the years to come, Astarion privately considers finding a full vampire to turn Raleth so they'll never part, and then kill the vampire, which frees the spawn. Of course, there are significant dangers of that plan. When Shadowheart turns from Shar, she and Raleth become lovers in loss after the trauma they experienced, and are happy to have settled in the farmstead. Regardless of who he romanced, Raleth will take their last name while still mentioning his houses in necessary situations.

Name: Sei'rau; the second part of his name can be pronounced the following:

Raw--Technically the official pronunciation, but when Wyll and Shadowheart mention it sounds similar to the istik name Sarah, he disavows going by it.

Roh--like rowing a boat; as a result, this pronunciation sounds similar to "Sparrow," leading to the companions making that his nickname when Halsin joins the team and accidentally mishears it. This is the pronunciation most of the companions use--except for Minsc; he exclusively calls him Sparrow.

Row--rhymes with "ow"; both he and Lae'zel like this pronunciation for that reason.

Race: Githyanki

Age: 20

Alignment: Lawful Evil

Class: Wizard

Subclass: Abjuration

Sexuality: Pan-Pan

Background: Charlatan

Character History: Kidnapped and raised in a way similar to Ptaris with the Society of Brilliance (albeit without being aged up), he was raised by cunning wizards and thieves who rooted themselves into whatever society they came upon that fit their liking. He grew up to be a seducer and master manipulator, and has no love lost for his race, who he deems barbaric and senseless. He has been referred to as the "Gith Gortash" for his silver tongue and the dangerous consequences of his actions. He isn't precisely evil, but is not one whose trust is won easily, and his forgiveness is near impossible to gain, for his revenge is swift. He sides with Orpheus to defeat Vlakith, and Lae'zel is uncertain of his intentions, but their fights together tells her to trust him for now. It's implied that he may actually be a githzerai, as those who raised him didn't know enough about the githzerai and githyanki the difference between the two. There have also been whispers that he's the descended from duthka'gith. Shadowheart, Minthara, and Astarion admire his bloodless style of getting what he wants, while Wyll, Jaheira, Minsc, and Karlach find him someone to keep on a tight leash while Gale and Halsin try to placate the group of his intentions. While having turned his back on his race, Sei'rau hasn't entirely considered what comes next for him, especially having lived with thieves for so long. Something he's found is that his companions have awakened a sense of compassion in him, a softness that Lae'zel originally criticizes him for, but when she develops a closeness to her creche's final egg, he gives into his own kindness (to an extant).

Love Interest(s): Given his appearance, he's used his magic to fit conventional attractiveness (larger, muscular body type, curvy figure), sometimes even going as far as making himself appear as fully human since his natural visage makes it harder for people to trust him, and the fact that he wears "Myrkul is Scandalous" as his main look helps. He bonds with Astarion over who can out-charm who, eventually becoming snarky lovers. He follows Astarion's lead of staying in the shadows once the Absolute is destroyed, though they're not necessarily done causing trouble. He is also the only one of my Tavs who can convince him to use his surname, and takes it as his own. In the case of Karlach, he goes to Avernus with her (unless you wanna headcanon the unused quest content she had and assume she fixed her heart), weirdly finding himself comfortable and making deals with the most dangerous of creatures. Just like Raleth, he takes the surname of his love interests; no matter what persona he takes on to meet his goals, those are his constants.

(Disclaimer; there's a strange case of irony with this character. I didn't craft him with that in mind, but it turned out that way.)

Name: Riyakal Cristat

Race: Tiefling (likely descended from an Alu-fiend)

Subrace: Mephistopheles Tiefling (with migration tattoo; not sure where else to mention that); family is otherwise High Elves

Age: 24

Alignment: Lawful Good

Class: Sorcerer

Subclass: Divine Soul (I know, I know, it's not an option in the game, I know)

Sexuality: bi-bi

Background: Entertainer

Character History: His tiefling attributes immediately noticeable by his family in Baldur's Gate, and his sorcerers abilities gave those around him more reason to be suspicious, though some were quelled by the divine nature of his powers. However, his father, a proud scholar, and his mother, a wizard, saw nothing but potential with him, giving him a studious education filled with compassion. However, they were protective of him due to the possible prejudice he could face, forbidding him from going anywhere without human company and keeping him in Baldur's Gate all his life. Riyakal grew to be an intelligent young man, but was more book-smart than anything; due to his sheletered life and his parents wanting him to see the good in everything, he developed a somewhat optimistic view on life, wanting nothing more than to be a hero, though his forgiving nature and lack of insight made him easy to take advantage of. While he is horrified to be kidnapped by the mind flayers, his flexible mind quickly bounces back upon escaping and believes in saving the world from the Absolute. When reaching the Druid's Grove, he is overwhelmed (in a good way) by the amount of tieflings in one place, as his interaction with them had been restricted in the past. The tieflings are rather confused by Riyakal's personality, since he seems more upbeat and innocent than even the children. In fact, his frequent interactions with Cal, Lia, and Rolan make them begin to see him as family, and he reciprocates, even developing a crush on Rolan in particular. The camp however, is mixed on him upon initial recruitment: Lae'zel finds his lack of real-world experience inconvenient and frustrating (and even moreso that he wants to raise the githyanki egg), Shadowheart and Astarion find him entertaining, particularly since what he lacks in insight, he makes up for in intuition, which seems to be growing as he matures, Karlach and Wyll find him just the type of leader they'd like to work with, and Minthara sees him as a desirable concubine--but she's getting ahead of herself; gotta defeat the Absolute first. Halsin, as a protector of the tiieflings, is quick to befriend Riyakal, and becomes protective of him, though Riyakal begins to feel slightly smothered as a result.

Love Interest(s): While originally seeing Halsin as more of someone he could learn from and almost like a family member, he eventually realizes that his sheltered life prevented him that his actual feelings were more romantic in nature, which Halsin reciprocates, though he opts for them to hold back on their physical desires to make sure that this is what Riyakal wants. They take to the Underdark so Halsin can open up the orphanage, and Riyakal is able to appreciate him more due to their relationship's slow progression. His parents visit often, though he reciprocates by taking time off and visiting them in Baldur's Gate. With Lae'zel, she pursues Riyakal insisting it is because the egg needs a caretaker, which she is not suited for, which he happily accepts, though she is getting around to sharing her vulnerable side with him (and Astarion suspects she has a soft spot for submissive men, and Riyakal has been shown to be very obedient to her since their romance began). While his parents aren't crazy about a githyanki daughter-in-law, she's gone so often that their criticisms don't hold water, and they spoil their grandson X'an. Astarion, despite not planning to have anything substantive happen with someone so "boring" as Riyakal, sees how he is a mix of infernal and divine, a living embodiment of his ideals that everyone has goodness in them. While Astarion intended to seduce Riyakal, it ended up being the other way around, and Riyakal has Astarion work on his haughtiness as they spend their lives together. They still haven't told his family that Astarion is a vampire, but they'll get around to it--eventually. Wyll immediately falls for Riyakal, and they marry as soon as Baldur's Gate is rebuilt. While Riyakal's family is happy for him, they are mixed about him being in the spotlight as the husband of a powerful man, even if it brings prestige. Minthara is....interesting. Having been encouraged to stay in Baldur's Gate, she finds Riyakal's company enjoyable, and as a native to the city, he helps bolster her claim for power. Riyakal's parents are very alarmed at this, particularly if she was to cast him aside (though she'd never do that). Shadowheart is surprisingly protective of Riyakal once he gets her walls down, and the idea of their parents sharing a home together is not entirely shot down by the two parties, so they are now considering buying a home together for the six of them, though it has also come up that a home in the country would also be desirable, due to Shadowheart's parents needing quiet time to heal.

Oh, and it's also worth noting that all my OCs want kids, and this plays out differently per person: Wyll and Halsin are open to it (plus you adopt/foster in these romance routes, anyway), Gale needs EXTREME convincing, and Astarion has tabled the conversation for a century and says he'll get back to Raleth (though he often tries to steer you away from children as much as possible until then). Shadowheart will consider the idea, but wants to enjoy her time with her parents first before becoming one herself. Again, given she and Raleth have extended lifespans, it's a conversation that can be held later. With Sei'rau, he'll lay an egg a couple years after romancing his love interests. Hope you enjoyed this! Lemme know if you have questions about any of them or if any of them stand out to you.

Edit: I may make another character profile since I just played as a tiefling for the first time.

[spicyraeman]

ok but tail’zel makes so much sense. a tail that skinny and sharp can HURT. it’s basically a built in whip. lae’zel will parrot this obvious superiority even as she’s being dangled by karlach

While tail'zel isn't a hc i fully subscribe to it really does make sense, having a tail is def superior to not. Its an extra weapon and gives a boost to balance which I imagine would be a big plus in the astral plane

Also I saw someone mention something about docking tails when they're young and honestly that's some good shit right there