#mind flayer parasite specimen

[bhaalbust]

bg3 pngs — items found on their respective wikis

[majorasnightmare]

the tadpole/brain damage thing. its like. chekovs gun to me. obviously theres very little mechanical support ingame for having a disabling injury, aside from maybe an optional voluntary decision to drop the INT score, but similarly to choosing to write intention into the lack of dark urge Lore responses from the party, i just like to make mountains out of molehills and force game mechanics into In Universe Character Problems

like when dirge repeatedly mentions that he thinks the tadpole is doing something beneficial for him, that its helping him, it isnt JUST the power-hungry psionic ambition in him. its a parasite, that needs a host. it needs a LIVING host, or its own chances of survival plummet. and dirge gets tadpoled right after a life threatening injury to the tadpoles preferred habitat. neither of them want to die!! dirges body tries to recover, but cant in part BECAUSE of the tadpole (the netherese stasis magic rejecting outside influence and binding it to its host, having an unejectable foreign object in the injury site, etc), but its not like the tadpole WANTS its host to have a life altering injury

its not like its malicious (except when it comes to Hive Activity, and then it can be a right bastard), it just cant live any other way. it cant help what it is. halsin calls the illithid life cycle abberant and unnatural, but brood parasitism exists throughout the natural kingdom. is the wasp egg evil for having been laid in a caterpillar?

its first moments of life outside the brine pool, and its new home, its new life, its host, its caregiver, its food supply, is bleeding and dying and falling apart and trying to fix itself but cant and its trying to heal around you but it cant but if it doesnt do anything youll both die, so this larva, this tiny worm of psionic potential and instinct, does what it can. holds its host together with whatever force it can muster, soft gelatinous body (perfect for compreesing flat and squeezing through small orifice openings) keratinizing outside the acidic environment of the brine, its four oral tentacles (its only source of motion and movement when so young and soft, dragging itself along as best it can) made for interweaving with dense synapse clusters to passively absorb the psionic imprint of its host, now desperately intwined with bleeding meat just to try and hold it all together. driven by survival instict and a vessel of psychic potential, forced into passivity by the commands of the Elder, further forced by circumstance to leverage all its great gifts to keep its host standing long enough to eventually eat

my thought is that the reason why dirge still gets the cutscene of the emperor tadpoling him at the beginning of the game, is that the original tadpole orin forced on him is just so weakened and exhausted by months of effort trying to keep him alive through kressas experiments and meddling, that the emperor, currently in thrall to the absolute, feels the need to replace it with a fresher healthier specimen, which then cannibalizes and absorbs the previous one, and then just has to go back to doing the same shit as the last one.

i think that dirges tadpole isnt as twitchy or squirmy as the others because of it. that when omeluum gives him a psychic MRI, the tadpole is just burrowed down and its tendrils stretched like a dense net throughout dirges brain tissue, only moving or writhing occasionally but definitely not as mobile as usual, its web of tendrils especially twisted near dense scar tissue at the back of his head. this worm is already so fucking weird and the circumstances for this mind flayer MRI have already introduced a bajillion different variables that need accounting for, that i dont think omeluum immediately groks the specifics of whats going on but CAN peg the "you have brain damage and your worm is fucking Weird" situation fairly easily. but i dont think it gets enough time in dirges head to get a full understanding of what the tadpole is doing FOR him

cuz like. imo its definitely objectively helping. its a psychic information bank specifically designed to interface with a human brain. the reason why dirge isnt experiencing too many of the side effects of brain damage is because the parasite is doing its best to mitigate them. memory issues, brain fog, disorientation and balancing issues, theyd all be significantly worse without the parasite. when he brings up how he feels its helping him, objectively hes right and its not even the kickass psychic powers hes right about.

like it doesnt cure EVERYTHING, he has chronic migraines that are sensitive to light, and before he asks halsin to make medicine, he starts every morning puking his guts out when the morning sun makes him so nauseous he cant hold dinner down. even without the Urge Nightmares, he has insomnia and just cant meaningfully sleep. but keeping track of what day it is, remembering what happened a few hours ago or the other day, standing up from a sitting position and not immediately wobbling and/or collapsing, retaining his old muscle memory. all shit the parasite is helping with

which is why i cant help but fixate on those moments immediately after defeating the absolute. like oh thats juicy

[batgirl191919]

Day 21, (Part 1) A Kiss

This is from my longer GalexDurge OC fic—click here for more

If you would like some build-up to this scene, I suggest reading from here.

Summary: This occurs shortly after Elminster tells Gale about the Netherse Orb and what Mystra has planned for him. Kore (Durge OC) is struggling with the news and trying to come up with a way to convince Gale that he doesn't have to go through with this.

*I am convinced that the second the orb was stabilized, Gale would AT LEAST kiss Tav. THE MAN WAS ALONE IN HIS TOWER FOR A YEAR! HE IS TOUCH-STARVED, AND YOU CAN'T CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE!

Spoilers(ish) ahead if you haven't yet played the game or done Gale's romance route.

Here is the link for this chapter on AO3

Day 21, (Part 1) A Kiss 

Kore was at the shore of the lake for a long time. 

Last Light Inn was slowly waking up behind her, but she made no move to go and join the early morning bustle just yet. 

A few moments ago she had an unexpected visitor, and she was still unsure of what to make of the encounter.  

At first, she had not noticed the old man behind her. She was deep in thought, forming a steely resolve to find another way for her and Gale to get rid of the Absolute without using the Netherese orb.

Then she felt a presence behind her—one of power… and magic.

Still, it surprised her to see Elminster watching her curiously and carefully some paces away from the lake. There was a portal behind him as if he had decided to leave and then, at the last minute, decided to come looking for her. 

Why her?

Kore did not speak. She tried not to glare at him, but she most likely failed in doing so. 

“I encharged Gale with Mystra’s orders,” the wizard finally began to say as Kore wrapped her arms tighter around herself. 

“To you, I commit into care Gale himself. I count on you to shepherd him well on this strangest of journeys.” 

Kore couldn’t stop herself from scoffing. Did the old man really expect her to lead Gale to his own death? What did he even expect her to do—to ensure that Gale went through with Mystra’s commands? 

Her voice was dry and cold when she finally responded, “You came a long way, Elminster, but if your plan was for Gale to follow through with this and for the rest of us to sit idly by—for me to sit idly by—then I am afraid your trip was a waste of time. Perhaps, in another life, Gale would have done as Mystra said… but I’m afraid your mistress didn’t account for everything.” 

Elminster raised a brow, but his face remained mostly expressionless. 

“She didn’t account for me. And I will find another way… I will not allow him to do this,” her voice broke, and she turned back around to face the lake again. After she sucked in a deep breath, Kore finished with, “I don’t care if you tell her about me or not… but if you do… let her know that she won’t be deciding for Gale anymore. His life is his own.” 

The ancient wizard didn’t say anything else to her, and Kore eventually heard his footsteps retreating against wet sand, then there was silence. He was gone. 

It’s a dangerous thing to defy a god. 

The dream visitor contemplated in her head.

Kore snapped back—

I would face every god of the Faerûn pantheon if it meant he would get to live. 

Her guardian was quiet for a moment. Then he slowly spoke, slightly hesitant-

There is a way you have not yet considered. You have yet to use the parasite’s true powers.

Kore thought of the live mind flayer parasite specimens that Halsin kept in his pack… the dream visitor had promised her great power and abilities if she consumed more of them. She shook her head. She was already carrying one worm against her will; she wouldn’t let more leech on her willingly.

 No… no, there will be another way. 

The guardian didn’t say anything back to her, but a part of Kore’s unsettled mind lingered on the promise of these special powers…

Her brief visit with Elminster had perhaps happened a little less than an hour ago. Yet, Kore couldn’t seem to move from where she was in the lake. Though she was shivering now, and the cold water had thoroughly soaked the entirety of the bottom of her nightgown, she couldn’t bring herself to face anyone else just yet. Her jealousy of Mystra had begun to consume her once more, and she was fighting hard to overcome it. 

It would be so much easier if Mystra were not constantly talked about. 

She was tired of hearing the goddess’ name. There was a sting that came along with it, even though Kore was sure that Gale didn’t intend for the mention of the Mistress of Magic to hurt her.  

After all, Mystra was the Weave, and Gale’s skill with magic was a part of him.

He had told her so; his connection with the Weave was something he couldn’t give up, something she would not want him to give up. Not because he needed to be powerful for Kore but because it was something that he enjoyed, something that he loved. And so that probably meant that Mystra perhaps would always be a part of his life.  

How could one separate the two? 

And even when he did bring up his goddess, his past lover, Gale only sought to be honest about his past. Something Kore had been unable to do… she couldn’t tell him about her past lovers, about anything really when it came to her past life. A part of her felt guilty suddenly. She hadn’t told him about Sceleritas Fel… or about the memory she had the previous night during that awful dream…

Kore suddenly felt like someone had slapped her across the face.

How could she have been so dense? Only now did she realize that…

That all this time, when Gale talked of Mystra around Kore… he didn’t do it because he was still in love with the goddess. He had made it clear that his feelings for her, however complicated, were not romantic. But Kore had doubted this because he talked about her so much… because his life seemed to be permanently intertwined with her being…

It was impossible for Gale, for anyone, to separate the goddess of the Weave from magic itself. 

Was it not the same for her and all druids with Silvanus? 

And… the way Gale was able to talk about his past, no matter how painful it was to him, no matter if he feared that Kore or the others would judge him for it… he was able to do so because he felt comfortable enough with Kore to share a part of himself. 

Just like she had confided in Astarion about the urges, and he had let her see the scars on his back, Gale was… being vulnerable. Why hadn’t she seen it that way?

Instead of focusing on comforting him and sharing his burden… instead of being truthful with him, she had been jealous.

Her heart ached.

Because she knew that she had been unfair and because she knew that it wouldn’t be easy to convince Gale to defy Mystra. But she loved him, and she needed him to know that even though she couldn’t understand all of his hurt, she would be here for him. She would face the consequences with him, whatever they may be—because as long as she was with him, she feared little. 

Kore turned, running out of the lake. Water splashed around her, and only one thought filled her mind. She needed to find Gale; she needed him to know how she felt—

She cried out in surprise as she was suddenly enveloped in a warm embrace, her chest smashed against the man holding her, his hands gripping her waist before moving up her tensed body.

Kore looked up, her eyes wide as she met Gale’s hazel ones for just a second, taking in the fact that he was out of breath as if he had been running around looking for her. His chest rose and fell against her own, and she saw a ravenous look in the wizard’s eyes—one that she had seen before, one that remained unconsummated. But now that longing was paired with something else, a carnal determination set on only one thing.

She opened her mouth to ask if he was alright, but she didn’t get the chance to say anything before one of Gale’s hands gripped the back of her head, his fingers tangling in her curls as he pulled her even closer to him, crashing his lips onto hers in a bruising kiss. 

Kore felt herself jolt back at the sudden action, but Gale’s tight hold prevented her from moving away. She melted into his arms as her hands desperately sought his body, grabbing his robe and clenching the soft material in her fists. She could smell the morning mist on him, along with his usual lingering aroma of worn paper and books. His touch, his scent, his taste were intoxicating to Kore, who was losing herself in the kiss—the rest of the world became muted around her. 

The hand that was still in her hair softly forced her to tilt her chin up as Gale deepened the kiss, his tongue entering her mouth in a smooth motion. Kore heard herself moan, and she felt how her cheeks reddened at the unexpected lusty noise. Her desperate whine seemed to encourage the wizard, and he pressed into her as his tongue continued to tease hers. 

A frenzied feeling took over her as she savored the feel of his body against hers. Emboldened by her desire, which had gone so long without this kind of intimacy, Kore nipped at Gale’s lips, and she thought she heard him curse against her mouth, a low growling sound that made her shiver. The hand on her waist moved up to her throat, and she felt the slightest pressure as he squeezed her neck. 

Everything was quiet, everything except for her needy noises and the sounds of their kiss. 

Kore was sure she had never experienced such yearning as this. She had wanted to kiss Gale so badly these past few days, but she had never expected that it would feel as consuming as it did now—an unstoppable heat that enflamed her body, sourced at her center and spanning out into her limbs until she felt her legs quiver. 

A dizzying feeling bloomed through Kore, and she felt breathless, but she didn’t want him to stop. 

Eventually, Gale reluctantly pulled away, placing a more chaste kiss on her mouth as his calloused hand stroked part of her face and throat.

Kore searched his gaze, still recovering from the intensity of the past moment. She was sure that a look of mixed pleasure and awe was apparent on her face because Gale was watching her with a small smirk on his reddened lips. 

They were silent for a long moment, and Kore eventually had to look away. Gale’s eyes were dark, lustful, and saying everything that remained unspoken, too intense for her now that she suddenly felt more timid around him. 

“I needed to ensure I kept my promise.” 

Kore tilted her head in confusion, “Promise?” 

“I told you nothing or no one would keep me from you when the issue of the orb was resolved.”

Kore looked down at his chest; the markings were slightly alight, but the glow and the power of the orb were obviously contained in a way they had not been before.

“Oh,” was all she could say for a while.

Gale’s thumb brushed her lips, tugging on the bottom one, and Kore had to hold herself back from whining—from begging him to kiss her again. 

“You’re a good kisser,” she said breathlessly. 

Gale laughed softly, “And you’re a bad liar. I lived the life of a hermit for some time before I met you—safer for all, but not conducive to pleasures of the flesh.”

Kore shook her head, “I meant what I said.”

The wizard looked away, somewhat shy from the compliment, “Thank you.” 

“So the orb really is stabilized then…” she whispered as she placed her hand over the mark.

“Yes.” 

“And… and…”

Gale sighed,  “And an audience with Elminster is never less than memorable.”

Kore waited when he paused, hoping he would tell her that he would choose not to follow Mystra’s order—that he would choose to live. 

“I’d have hoped to introduce you to him in less dire circumstances, but those are hard to come these days.”

“I would have liked him perhaps… if he had come bearing better news.” 

Gale was silent again for a moment. Finally, in a low voice, he muttered, “For Mystra to have sent him… the severity of her bidding could not be clearer. Or weigh more heavily on me.

His finger traced her jawline, and Kore shuddered as his still-hungry eyes fixated on her mouth, “Time seems so infinite when you are young… a month is an age, a year is a lifetime… it is a strange feeling—to realize how little of it one might have left.”

Gale leaned down to kiss her again, and as much as she wanted him to, Kore forced herself to push him away. She looked at him with disbelief, “Gale, you can’t be seriously considering doing what Elminster said.” 

He seemed confused by her words, “Of course I am. He offered the clearest solution to our problem. All I have to do is find the right place and time, close my eyes, and let go… Then the slate will be clean, wrongs will be righted, the Absolute will be gone… and I along with it.”

“How could you say all of this? Why can’t Mystra just destroy the Absolute?” 

“I’ve no doubt she has the power to do so, but as for the permission… Ao would not look kindly on her meddling in mortal affairs. Divine intervention has a tendency to make things worse, not better. My orb is the best chance we have—and only I can wield it.”

Kore’s jaw clenched and released, “Well, I do not accept this. There must be another way. We will find another way.” 

Gale’s voice became gentle as if he was trying to figure out how to tell a small child bad news, “Sweetheart, I’ve been living on borrowed time in more ways than one. Perhaps… perhaps this is how it must be…” 

He tried to smile, but Kore could see the pain and sadness he was failing to hide, “But that remains ahead of us for now; the Heart of the Absolute must be discovered before I can stop its beating.” 

Kore grabbed his shoulders, wanting to shake him, to make him see reason, but she only squeezed him slightly, “I won’t let you do this.” 

“You may feel differently once we know what we’re truly up against,” he murmured against her hair before pressing a kiss to her forehead. 

Her tone became sharp, “Do you remember what you said to me? After my nightmare? You told me the past is the past. Even if you atone now, you cannot change what has happened. Do you remember that? What good will come of you dying?”

“A lot of good.”

“According to her!” Kore swore and stepped away from him, summoning all her courage. She met Gale’s eyes once more, her voice slightly begging now, “Gale, please, I… I love you.” 

 “Farewell, my friend.”

“Farewell, Elminster. I’m glad she chose you.” 

It was only some hours ago that Gale watched Elminster walk through another portal, leaving him behind in the empty courtyard of Last Light Inn. 

His first thought had been that he needed to go find Kore, but something stopped him. He wasn’t sure that he could face her just yet—not when he knew he would not be able to find the words to say to her. 

How could he bear to look at Kore now? He could not comfort her. How could he do that when he knew what had to be done?

Fear froze him in place for a while as he found himself looking at his past, wondering what he could have done differently so that this wouldn’t have happened. His damn pride was primarily to blame, but he found himself trying to look for other excuses. 

Since the debacle with the Netherese Orb, Gale hoped he would have a chance to gain his goddess’ forgiveness. This entire time, he had only resolved to do whatever Mystra asked of him—before he met Kore, he would have done anything. Before he met Kore, he would have even thought Mystra’s latest command to be a just punishment. A fair price to pay for what he had done. But now, it seemed unfair, and he was not willing to blindly trust his goddess, his past lover. 

Gale didn’t want to die. 

Kore had restored a part of his soul that he was unsure he would ever gain back, and for the first time in a year, he was actually enjoying his life. 

One might consider that he was worse off now than he was then when the hunger in his chest was his sole source of worry. Considering the mind flayer parasite still swimming in his skull, he should have felt worse now. After all, their present situation was a delicate and distressing one. 

But Gale felt peace, hope, anticipation—all at once. All because of her.

The druid in front of him was watching him with a pleading expression. 

“Gale… Gale, I love you.” 

She loved him.

His throat was dry as he looked Kore over—looked over the beautiful woman who said she loved him—and he was frustrated that he could not conjure up words of comfort for her. Part of him was distracted; lust was still driving him. He had just discovered how lovely she looked when she had just been kissed. Though her eyes were angry, they were also bright, and her skin was flushed, her lips still deliciously swollen from their kiss. 

Gale hoped he hadn’t been so much of a brute, but he could see part of her cheeks were pink from the harsh rub of his beard.

When his initial panic wore off, and he realized that the orb was indeed stabilized, Gale ran up three flights of stairs, but she wasn’t in their room. He searched the common areas of the Inn and the stables before he began to look towards the lake. 

There she was, water past her ankles, her loose nightgown floating with the soft waves of the lake. 

Her hair was down, brushing around her shoulders and down her back, swaying with the cold breeze. She seemed more nymph than elf in that moment—a lovely creature of myths and legends. He had wondered what she had been thinking.

Gale often found himself wondering what she was thinking. 

There were times when Kore grew quiet, pensive, and her focus drifted away. 

Her past, or the lack of it, obviously weighed on her. Gale wished that he could do more to comfort her, though it seemed like that was a hole that could only be filled with her memories coming back. 

“Gale, I love you.” 

She loved him. 

Even with all his faults. Even with the orb in his chest. Even though she probably could have had anyone she wanted. Even with everything going on around them.

She loved him. 

And he loved her. He loved her so much that he was willing to do anything to get her a chance to restore herself. 

He loved her so much that he was willing to do anything for her. 

When he considered using the orb to defeat the Absolute, he didn’t think about doing it for Mystra; he thought about doing it so that Kore could have a real chance for a new life. 

It would be a life without him… he wished desperately it could be different—that things didn’t have to end this way. 

Kore looked away, her face getting redder, “You don’t have to say it back, I didn’t mean to put any pressure on-”

“I love you too,” Gale said as he reached out for her. 

Kore smiled, a brilliant thing to behold. Her smile put everything else he had ever seen to shame. What he would give for her to smile at him like that always. 

What he would give to live longer and see that smile every day until he breathed his last at a very old age. 

“Then promise me you will let us find another way,” she said as her grip on him became stronger, “Promise me.”

“Kore—”

“Just promise me you will consider another way,” she insisted again.

Gale felt himself relent to her plea a little. 

He doubted that there would be another way, but he would have to be an idiot to completely discount another path. Though it was perhaps a fantasy or a delusion, he would agree to Kore’s wishes. He would let himself hope for just a little that there might be another way. 

“Alright,” he replied quietly, and Kore gave him a smaller smile. 

“We will find another way.” 

Gale nodded before he pulled the beautiful elf back to him, pressing another hard kiss to her. 

She was still smiling when he looked back at her, but he could see the slight worry in her eyes. He hadn’t done a very good job of convincing her that he was considering another option. 

Gale looked away, noticing how the sleeve of her slightly too-big nightgown slipped from one of her shoulders, revealing smooth, freckled skin. He pressed his lips to her exposed shoulder before he brought up her sleeve. 

Kore looked at him through hooded eyes. 

He felt like there were still things left unsaid between them. Kore wanted to convince him that the orb was not an option at all, and Gale wanted her to understand that he would give up his life for hers without hesitation. 

But they were quiet as they turned back to Last Light Inn. 

Before they turned to go around the front, Kore looked up at him, her gaze hopeful, “Today’s a new day. A new day where our pasts do not need to define us.” 

Gale pulled her into another hug, resting his chin on the top of her head and hoping she wouldn’t see the doubt in his eyes. 

For her, he wanted to believe that there could be another way, but the more rational part of him knew that he was in his final days… and he would make sure that these final days counted for something.  

[karniss-bg3]

Now this is just a pure theory but I'm wondering what you think of it. It was actually what you wrote that helped me think about this. There is a book in General Thorm's room called Attractive Drow Exiles. And it talks about the plan used to drag in unwilling Drow members by using a man (presumably a Drow) called Xilvre (sounds like Silver) to go down and stir up some trouble. He was described as very loyal but annoyingly enthusiastic. If this was Kar'niss before he was changed, it does answer a lot of questions. The book says he was probably killed, but the book was written before the event took place. It would make more sense that the Drow would punish Xilvre by changing him into a Drider for going against his kind and Lolth. And it shattered his mind in the process. And when he came back, they gave him the task with the lantern.

This is an interesting point you bring up. I was first alerted to the existence of that book by an anonymous ask and @novarex who made a post about it here. After I read it I asked myself "Who was Xilvre?". I didn't delve into it deeper than that at the time but this could be a lead.

The first thing to note is this book lists Xilvre as "True Soul 113". The definition of a True Soul according to the wiki is as follows:

True Souls are Followers of the Absolute who have been infected with an Illithid tadpole that grants them psionic powers similar to the player. They serve as commanding members of the Absolute's army. True Souls almost always have a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen that can be looted from their bodies if killed.

When Kar'niss dies he doesn't have a parasite on his body that can be looted, nor is there evidence that he is in charge of any army within Moonrise. He acts as a guide but beyond that he follows commands more than I'd say he gives them. On the list of True Souls in Act 2, Kar'niss isn't listed as being one. When he first meets the player he does acknowledge that they are a True Soul, but he never suggests that he is one also, or that they have common ground in that regard.

The counter argument I'd make is the definition of True Soul says "almost always" when it comes to mind flayer parasites that can be looted. This leaves room for doubt that even though he doesn't have a parasite the player can take, it doesn't mean he is without one as a whole. Furthermore, certain dialogue trees and failed DC checks insinuate that Kar'niss can tap into and read the players mind, suggesting some sort of psionic link; Thus, a tadpole being present.

This leaves his status a bit open ended. If Kar'niss is Xilvre, perhaps he was titled as a True Soul to start. The drow captured him for being a heretic and turned him into a drider. When he slinked back to Moonrise he was demoted as a True Soul and given the job as a guide as his transformation made his mind too broken to be useful. He or someone else changed his name and he started life anew.

The one glaring issue I see is that if the drow, or Lolth, discovered that one of their own was planning to not only turn against the spider queen but also sabotage their very way of life, I don't think he would've gotten off as easy as he did. Betrayal of that magnitude would be a death sentence and it's likely why Ketheric foresaw Xilvre's demise. I can't imagine if Lolth saw a threat to her domain she wouldn't lash out to the fullest against any who supported the notion. Driders are made as a result of failure, weakness or displeasure. What Xilvre was tasked to do dwarfs all three. Xilvre would make an excellent example to those who turned against Lolth and no doubt his end would've been a messy one. There is a chance he could've been spared but it'd be an unusual mercy.

What I think could be more likely is that Kar'niss was part of the warband lured out by Xilvre's antics. Driders are known to work with and fight alongside other drow despite how thin the trust can be. He was ambushed alongside the others and dragged in to become part of the Absolute's forces. Either that or he overheard what Xilvre had done or said and curiosity led him out of the Underdark in search of a new Goddess to follow, perhaps a cure for his affliction.

It's all good theorycrafting fun. There is some overlap between Kar'niss and Xilvre. Even the name sounds like something that could fit Kar'niss with the pronunciation of "silver". That and the description of being a "tedious enthusiast" does describe Kar'niss fairly well, at least how we know him now. It'd be quite the plot twist if true!

Thanks for the ask!

[blackjackkent]

Poked around in Araj's basement because we don't like her and so Hector is quite willing to rob her blind. Highlights:

A journal in which she describes her interest in returning to Menzoberranzan to demand the restoration of House Oblodra, and that if it is denied, she will use her new explosive tinctures to obliterate the city's supports and send it careening into the abyss.

Another journal in which she describes Hector's blood as "hot, ready, unyielding." ("Stop, Hec," Karlach says dryly as he reads this aloud. "I can only get so turned on.")

A mind flayer parasite specimen.

A dead spectator in a corner:

Lovely woman. Can't imagine why Astarion wanted nothing to do with her.

[ellekhen]

Hand, Hearth, and Home

Chapter 20 - Down by the River

Chapter Summary: At the end of a long day, Astarion and Church share a tense moment while bathing in the river. Church makes a deal, and Karlach makes a proposition. Astarion gets what he wants at last, but the consequences have yet to reveal themselves. (CW: Brief references to past sexual exploitation, mild body horror.)

Pairing(s): Astarion x Male Tav (Main); Past OC x Male Tav Rating: Explicit Length: 72K+ words; Chapters 20/30? [ONGOING]

Excerpt below:

Church hesitates before reaching into his pocket and placing the two mind flayer parasite specimens onto the desk. Astarion frowns. “Didn’t we have…?” “We have four, but I figured we should just start with one each,” Church explains. The elf raises his eyebrows at him. “‘We?’” “Yes,” Church says matter-of-factly. “If anyone’s going to do it, it may as well be us, since we’re willing.” “Oh darling, I had no idea you were truly considering it,” Astarion regards him curiously. “Why the change in heart?” Church wrestles down his disgust at the sight of the parasites writhing in their vials.  “While I was… out, I had the opportunity to speak with Ta—our guardian. He seems adamant that this will help us save ourselves in the future.”  “Well lucky you, getting another date with our handsome guardian,” Astarion drawls. “And what an interesting choice in bonding activity for us. But… sharing is caring, after all.” He holds out his hand. “Now be a dear and hand it over.” Church blinks as he glances down into his hand. He didn’t even realize that at some point he had picked up both of the vials again. He takes one and presses it into Astarion’s palm.  “Your hands are…” the elf clears his throat, crooking an eyebrow at him. “You’re trembling, darling.”

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[butleroftoast]

BG3 first playthrough, a retrospective (vague to minimise spoilers):

-The way Withers joined my camp (I found him in the temple, he said "We will meet again, when the time is right", hid behind a bookcase, then popped out again immediately saying "It is I, Withers!" when I made camp in the temple to long rest)

-"Turns out there's an entire western half of the map. Who knew." (x3)

-Buying expensive gear and then looting everything in a five mile radius to refill the coinpurse ("I only need 2,957 more rotten carrots before I'm back to where I was.")

-Companions roasting marshmallows over the campfire (or Karlach just... holding the marshmallow)

-who's Gale

-"So the way we're going to defeat these bosses is all of us wait round this corner while Astarion, you sneaky crit them from that ledge up there, hide invisibly behind a rock so they can't see you, then rinse and repeat until they're dead. It'll be epic, trust me."

-A particular necromancer coming back to life and being difficult to kill not because of the necromancy, but because I kept having to reload to before their boss fight to finish quests I missed (and I still failed to find all of them)

-Poorly-treated refugees: not Morris's problem. Abused dog: fireball owner first, ask questions later.

-Why Not To Bring A Full Druid Party Anywhere Animals Are Mistreated

-"I will not trust anybody I speak to ever again. Except for this pigeon."

-"Okay, that's everyone rescued, time to go, click to exit, quick headcount before I confirm leaving, 1, 2, 3, oh fuck I forgot Astarion RUN BUDDY RUN"

-Morris hates druids. Morris hates druids. Morris hates druids. Morris might begrudgingly tolerate this druiMorris is in love with this druid.

And in the ongoing multiplayer campaign with Unnamed Barbarian:

-"Where did you get this tadpole?" "I... found him." "You mean you stole him." "No! He's my pet! He's called Squiggles." [Mor has pickpocketed Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen from Toz.] "You ate Squiggles!" "No I didn't." "I WATCHED YOU DO IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME"

-"We just killed a hag with ease and now we are being slaughtered... by a frog."

-[After a multiplayer buddy accidentally turned Lae'zel hostile, forcing us to kill her.] "I'm playing a solo game now and there is so much I missed." "You mean like most of Lae'zel's voicelines?"

-"You are not allowed near Scratch. You are not allowed to pet him, talk to him, or interact with him in any way. The only pet you are allowed is Gale. He requires regular feeding. Look after him properly and maybe you can throw a ball for Scratch."

-Find Hastings ("He's called Hal-" "HE'S CALLED HASTINGS.")

[vampjuicebox]

A light snack

(⬇️Buy it here⬇️)

[omoghouls]

Taegun genuinely wants to be fucked by mind flayers. At first, he tried to reason with himself that it's just the parasite wriggling around in his brain tissue, its toxins filling his brain with its familiarity, understanding of its brethren, to connect with the creatures that caused this.

But then, he meets Omeluum- and good god, that's all he can think about when his party is venturing around the undergrounds.

That night, while they're at camp. When everyone is sleeping or in deep meditation, Taegun has scurried away from the campfire.

He finds a slightly secluded area near the babbling brook, giving him some muted white noise to hide him as he feverishly shoves his hand down his pants. Slipping the trousers to his knees as he is jacking off to the thoughts of those glistening tentacles roaming over his upper torso, those gangly fingers traveling below as it speaks telepathically to him, calling the elf the perfect specimen.

Taegun spills over his hand with a choked moan before he can even finish the thoughts.

He quickly cleans up before scurrying back to the campfire for a much needed meditation to what the fuck just went through his mind to cause him to do /that/

Anyways, Astarion is all smug smiles the next morning, prowling around Taegun with teasing giggles as he say, "My and I thought /I/ had dirty thoughts," he leans in and whispers into the other elf's ear, "Next time just remember to look around before pleasuring yourself. You never know who's hunting about."

[zong-gaming]

Baldur's Gate 3

Gameplay           : ★★★☆☆ Graphics　         : ★★★☆☆ Story                    : ★★☆☆☆ Customizability : ★★★★☆ Replayability        :★★☆☆☆

Gameplay Mechanics

Baldur's Gate 3 is a turn based strategy game that plays out like Divinity series.

You start the game by customizing your main character, and you can bring up to 3 other characters to your party, be it NPCs that will join you along your adventure, or characters you can create yourself slightly into the game.

Almost everything in this game requires Dice roll, from attacking to conversation to picking locka, using the old-school Dungeon & Dragon tabletop game system.

Leveling, Stats & Proficiency

The maximum level in this game is 12. Each character have their own stats, and these stats can't be increased by pure leveling up. However certain abilities you can learn while leveling up will allow you to increase those stats. Leveling up also allows you to learn new skills and subclasses. There are also different Proficiency that are highly dependent on different stats. For example you will have higher Deception, Intimidation, Performance and Persuasion Proficiencies if your Charisma is high, allowing you to do better in conversation that requires these Proficiencies.

Classes and multi-class

There are a total of 12 different classes. One interesting thing is that you are not limited to just 1 class per character. You have the capability to choose which class to "multi-class" when you level up, providing you with lots of possibilities on how you want to customize your characters.

Equipment

There are a number of equipment that a character can equip. Melee Weapons, Ranged Weapon, Helmet, robe, Armor, Glove, Boots, Amulet, Rings. Each of these can also grant powerful effects on top of the stats they provides.

Illithid Powers

Illithid Powers is an additional power that is granted to your main character in the beginning, and at later stage allows your other allies to receive the same power. You can acquire additional passive and skills through Illithid Powers, by consuming collectables known as "Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens" that are scattered around the world. Note that what is unlocked in Illithid Powers for a character is not shared with other characters, and you need to spend the specimens for each character to learn a specific skill/passive.

When your allies unlocked this Power, veins will popup all around their faces and they look ugly to me, and is one of the reason why certain players choose not to unlock these abilities even though there are very strong and useful powers.

Respec

One good thing about this game is that it is very easy to respec a character's build, with just a mere 100 gold. You can then build your character from scratch, choosing all the class/subclass/stats/abilities etc up till the character's level. With this you can easily change your build according to how you want to play, even for NPC characters. However note that a character's Race and Background cannot be changed

Rest

Every different class has some form of resources meant for stronger form of attack, such as Spells, that can only be restored either by short rest or long rest. On top of restoring resources, Short rest restores some HP to your parties, while Long rest fully restores your party. You can perform up to 2 Short Rest for every Long Rest. Long Rest, however, require you to have enough Camp Supply to perform it.

Romance

Depending on how you do in conversation, you will gain or lose their approval. Having a high approval allows you to go into romance with that character. Note that while you can romance other character even while you are in a relationship with another character, that character will be disappointed at your betrayal and you will lose trust from that character you betrayed.

New Game+

There is no new game+ in this game. Having it would be too easy anyway. Upon defeating the final boss and the end credit finished rolling, you will return back to the main menu.

Tips:

You can right click on an enemy and "Examine" it to figure out its resistance/weakness if any

Melee attack uses Strength, Range attack uses Dexterity, Finesse uses Strength or Dexterity depending on which is higher.

Selling with a high charisma character will allow you to earn more

You can use Shift or Ctrl key to select multiple items at once if you are using PC

Note that you can do a quicksave even in the middle of a conversation. Do this if you need to do a dice check for a dialogue.

You do not need to be too stingy with your Camp Supply as you will have more than enough even if you rest frequently. At the end of my playthrough I have about 7000 Camp Resources.

If you need a good guide, you can refer to this guide here. Disclaimer not written by me.

You can send all keys to the camp to better manage your inventory. If a key is needed to unlock any door/chest, it will automatically be moved to your character for use.

My Opinion:

The Good:

You can send items to your chest, making it easier to play without having to worry about max inventory. This is also one of the reason why I stopped playing WarTales halfway, because I spent more time managing my inventories than having fun.

The Bad:

It can be very frustrating when you are picking everything up, sending it to your chest, but not able to find the one particular item you are looking for. If only you can search for items in the chest that would make it simpler.

The distance calculation in this game is weird. Sometimes you can reach objects that are distance away, but you can't reach object that are just besides you

My Playthrough

Completed the game with Balanced difficulty. While I believe I can go higher difficulty, I find myself trying to minmax the battle by quick saving and quick loading whenever the dice is against me, resulting in me not having an enjoyable time. Afterwhich I told myself to lay down my pride and to just play with an lower difficulty. In the end I completed the game a little over 100 hours.

Team Setup

While my party may not be the strongest, I built my team around a squad where they are fully functional without requiring the use of any resources that can only be refilled via rest. This is due to me being someone who always try to save up my resources for stronger fights, resulting in my not using them. In turn, I may be stronger off using another build that doesn't require me to use those resources. Thus, this resulted in me building my following 4 characters. While not strongest, they are most comfortable for me to use. Also a disclaimer that I follow the suggested build in Gamestegy.com, so full credits to them.

Main Character - Eldritch Blast

My main character is the main face of the party used for conversation with her high Charisma. She is the main spell caster in my party, utilizing the strongest cantrip "Eldritch Blast" to deal high single target damage. As cantrip is free to use, this character does not require any rest. I followed the build here.

Astarion - Dual Hand Crossbow

Probably my strongest attacker out of everyone. He is also my character who picks lock and disarm trap, which is a very essential role in this game. His job is basically to pick off enemies with his range bow attacks, simple but deadly. I followed the build here. With this build Astarion has can attack twice with his main hand's weapon, and 3 times with his off hand weapon. This build is especially strong with Astarion because in act 3 during his final companion quest he can ascend to receive "Vampire Ascendant" passive, making each of his attack deal additional 1D10 damage. With 5 actions in total, this adds up to a huge chunk of damage!

Shadowheart - Spore Druid

The role for this build is basically for its summoning capabilities. This build allows me to summon 5 creatures, Water Myrmidon, Dryad, Wood Woad, and 2xIce Mephit. Most important out of these summons is Water Myrmidon, who can perform AOE heal without using any resource. When healing is not required, it can also cast a decent AOE attack skill. Dryad is also very useful with its "Spike Growth" skill, especially since my team is fully ranged, this skill will prevent enemies from reaching my party while I kill them from afar.

For Shadowheart herself, when equipped with "Staff of Cherished Necromancy", it basically allows her to "Blight" for free for absurd damage, as long as her spell kills an enemy. One note is that you can use cantrip to trigger the effect as well, to save you on spell slots. I followed the build here.

Lae'zel - Barbarian Berserker

Lae'zel is my attacker who specializes in throwing. This is the one character I would consider swapping with a Dwarf race for it to equip the best throwing weapon. However I made do with it to use Lae'zel and equip with "Nyrulna" weapon, which is also one of the best weapon apart from the fact that it may damage any nearby allies as well. I followed the build here.

[bphm]

Chapter 5: Wrapping Up Level 2

obviously the next logical step after saving a girl from a snake is speaking to the person who tried to sic it on her. because what the actual hell.

of course, kagha wanted to seal the grove and force out the tiefling refugees, with the help of the idol of sylvanus, which was why arabella felt the need to steal it in the first place. needless to say The Blade didn't care for this woman's methods, but i'm not about to start a fight with an underleveled party, so i redirected my focus on finding a healer.

the healer nettie, or as i call her "we have halsin at home," told us we were screwed, and to take poison if we felt any symptoms of impending ceromorphosis. when we refused, she decided she'd kill us then and there.

i do have to hand it to druids, they fight dirty. wyll hexed her and she still maintained concentration on flaming sphere? she wild shaped as soon as she was low on health? come on man. luckily a single eldritch blast broke her boar form and left her with 1 hp, which astarion finished off with an off-hand dagger attack. it could have been worse, at least she didn't thunderwave us like she sometimes does.

the room post-battle had a bit of important loot in it. on nettie was the key of the ancients, which wyll equipped to unlock the door when she trapped us inside. the vial of wyvern poison she was going to give us i sent to astarion, as he would need it later. we also picked up the mind flayer parasite specimen sitting on her table.

before going back up the stairs of the sacred pool, i decided to pick up the amulet of sylvanus for...reasons. you can find it underneath this flat rock on the beach where that bear is.

normally, speaking with arabella's family is beneficial for gale, as the locket komira gives us is the perfect sacrificial magical artifact. but since we left gale to perish in that rock, let's just enjoy the xp we get, as well as our first inspiration point from wyll's folk hero background.

fast-traveling outside the grove, I wanted to pick up a few important items, such as a shovel and the silver pendant, but...

womp womp. raphael jumpscare. he caught us just as we were ascending the ladder to get to the pendant, offering us a cure for our souls. do you really think a fiendlock, and a reluctant one at that, is going to accept his offer?

no. the answer is no.

encountering raphael also gives us the opportunity to talk to our companions about it, so i did just that.

oh, don't i know it.

after i was so rudely interrupted, i picked up the pendant, which gives us an unlimited use of guidance. perfect, seeing as how we don't have a cleric or druid in our party (yet).

at this point, wyll only had 6 XP left before he reached level 3, so as a final push, i warped to the roadside cliffs waypoint so we could enter the dank crypt through the chapel. even walking to the chapel brought him where he needed to be.

leveling wyll up, i gave him darkness because it's incredibly OP for a second-level spell, the way it protects you from almost all ranged attacks. I chose pact of the blade as his pact boon, since a bound pact weapon not only made him versatile in combat, but also guaranteed we'd always be able to afford any item from any vendor, and then some (RIP bag exploit).

since only wyll leveled up, i used a neat little trick called "dismiss your companion and ask them to re-join your party so they'll have the same amount of XP as you."

and now they were both level 3.

assassin is probably the best early-game rogue subclass, as restoring actions at the start of combat and landing guaranteed crits on surprised enemies is extremely useful. but this will all be temporary, as i have much different plans for him down the road.

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[ademafraid]

MIND FLAYER PARASITE SPECIMEN 🪱🫙 SHAKER CHARM 🧠🩸

- $15 (plus postage) DM TO PREORDER!

You never know what could happen in Faerûn, so it’s a good idea to keep feeding that baby mind flayer you have roaming around (that being you). Keep this little parasite with you at all times with this shaker charm! Specially designed to fit onto any adventurer’s pack or hotbar. Just incase you need to tap into your illithid powers… ⚔️🔥

-

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