#misadventures in the underdark

[mt-musings]

The Last Silverboughs

Halsin struggles to put his past to rest, but it's haunting him in more ways than he realizes. He'd thought his time in the Underdark was long behind him, an unpleasant pitfall of youthful hubris, but remnants of his captivity remain, the youngest of which unwittingly stumbles to his rescue.

Lythra can't stop running from her past--hasn't, since she managed to make it out of the Underdark. She has no love for Menzoberranzan, or her House, or anything she left behind in the dark. Or nearly anything.

Still, she'd rather die than return--a prospect all the more likely with a tadpole jammed behind her eye. But perhaps, with the help of a renown druidic healer, she can go back to what remains of her half-life in the sun.

Part 1

Read on AO3

Halsin could hear the clambering from below, hear shouting and spell fire. He fumbled with the key he’d been eyeing for months, waiting for the perfect opportunity to snag and undo his bindings. He glanced once more to the bedroom door before unlocking his shackles, the surge of his magic returning to him knocking the breath from his lungs for a moment. 

It had been three years since he’d felt it. 

He crossed to the wardrobe, pulling a cloak from it’s depths—there was nothing else that would fit him, but that, at least, would shield him from the chill of the Underdark when he couldn’t slip into his bear form. The leather straps he’d been forced to wear certainly wouldn’t.

He glanced once more at the bedroom that had been his jail cell, fury rolling in his gut. Everything that had been done to him, everything that had been taken—

He turned and transformed, not into a bear as his nature called him, but into a mouse, letting him slip away unnoticed in the chaos of the attack. 

He wouldn’t miss House Mizzrym. 

Not for one second. 

[selvepnea]

My Drow Warlock Talfrin :)

[baldursgaysart]

"Tell me, Sazza, did your misadventures take you to the Underdark”

After a month of art burnout…I have returned with a highly requested painting of minthara with Sazza. I have a few more I want to share too but I haven’t liked anything for awhile. This one was fun to make though. I hope you enjoy it.

[mina-logan]

Youthful Misadventures WIP

I have no patience to wait until a piece is done to share it so here’s a WIP of something that’s nearly done. I couldn’t stop thinking about how cavalier Halsin was in regards to his time WHERE HE WAS LITERALLY HELD AS A SLAVE FOR THREE YEARS in the Underdark.

Anyway this is my answer to that.

[galedekarios]

Hey there! You're one of the best Gale-ish devnotes\datamines sources that I know of, so I might as well ask. I remember that at some point Gale mentions taking part in Blackstaff Academy balls (or something like that). Is it mentioned elswhere, and do we have any details on his involvement in such activities? Need that for science\personal lore, and I'd appreciate any info (including EA), if you have time. Thanks!

thank you for your message and i'm sorry for the belated response!

i took my time to comb through everything and sadly, the banter with wyll is the only instance i could find of gale mentioning a ball at blackstaff academy:

gale & the annual blackstaff's ball

gale: i knew you were a graceful man, wyll, but i hear you're quite the dancer too. gale: i've been known to trip the light fantastic myself. mine was a popular hand at the annual blackstaff's ball. wyll: i'd have love to have witnessed it, gale. i wager you are as elegant on the dance floor as you are on the battlefield.

the only other banters i could find that are only loosely related. some give us glimpses into his life at the academy, others into his life in waterdeep.

here's another story about gale & being a young student at blackstaff academy, which triggers in the wizard tower in the underdark:

gale & the death slaad

gale: ah. quite. a misadventure from my days as an apprentice at blackstaff academy. gale: i was but a child, only a few months into my studies, but already i knew i was destined for greatness. no one believed me, of course, so i decided to prove it. to cast a spell with the blackstaff itself. gale: from one perspective, i succeeded. i opened a portal. however, instead of pointing it at the first year dormitory, i found myself pulled into limbo, facing a very irritated death slaad. gale: fortunately, the blackstaff himself came to the rescue, hauling me back from the brink, and straight into several months of writing lines. or rather, finessing my autograph. gale: now, much as i enjoy reminiscing about such tomfoolery, i believe we've more pressing matters at hand. is there anything else?

this dialogue path from the epilogue has him speaking a bit more about those days as well:

gale & his days as a wayward apprentice

gale: teaching at blackstaff academy has proven such an unexpected pleasure. sometimes i find it hard to tear myself away. gale: just one of the myriad unexpected ways life has delighted me in recent months. gale: even my own city feels new to me, now that i share it with you. player: probably because i make you put down your quill once in a while and enjoy it. gale: that you do. i've not had so much fun in waterdeep since my own days as a wayward blackstaff apprentice. gale: you've certainly made quite the impression on my friends down at the yawning portal. the last i heard, they were thinking of naming a drink after you.

while he seems to have enjoyed a much richer social life in waterdeep before his time of isolation, it's mentioned in another epilogue banter (devnotes) that he didn't seek out any of the more dangerous parts of the city.

there are also other banters about gale's life in waterdeep before the game:

gale & the temple of beauty in waterdeep

gale: i must tell you, shadowheart, the bathing waters here leave much to be desired. gale: the ablutions offered at the temple of beauty in waterdeep are far superior. and they have the most excellent soaps. shadowheart: hmm. i was wondering why you always smelled like a wealthy dowager.

gale & spending time in the hospice of st. laupsenn

wyll: this was a hospital? feels more like a prison. gale: a common enough interpretation. sickness has a nasty habit of making you feel trapped, if only within the confines of your body. gale: i once spent weeks convalescing in the hospice of st. laupsenn after a nasty bout of ruddy pox. for all their kindness, leaving that place behind felt like freedom to me. wyll: i’ve always relied on the kindness of the healers and menders of the coast. better a cleric’s healing touch than a chirurgeon’s scalpel.

gale & florist

lae'zel: these flowers are quite vivid - not to mention, pungent. not to my liking. gale: are there no flowers in tu'narath? lae'zel: in the city of death, the mlar cultivate the fruiting bodies that sprout from the corpses of the slain. gale: i'd rather get them from my florist in waterdeep, if it's all the same to you.

i'm also including this banter between wyll and gale here because it speaks (even if somewhat joking) about his upbringing as a whole by morena:

wyll: i admire your courage, gale. gale: thank you. any particular reason? wyll: between the orb and the bug, you've got more than your fair share of unwelcome passengers. gale: what can i say? mother always taught me to be a gracious host.

we also know that he has had multiple tutors:

lae'zel: you strike me cleverer than most istiki, gale. multiple tutors, i should guess. gale: many a wise man and woman indeed. waterdeep is the home of myriad scholars. wyll: ah, the city of splendours. spent a whole fleetswake there with my father. what a delight.

hiring tutors appears to be relatively common in waterdeep:

so while this sadly wasn't what you were looking for, i hope this is helpful to some degree! 🖤

[meldingintheunderdark]

Halsin, Drow and submission

Halsin has a complicated history with Lolth-Sworn drow to say the least. Three years of his youth have been stolen to satiate the selfish, dehumanizing pleasure of an influent matron and her man. Let’s not disregard Minthara who threatens the Emerald Grove alongside Priestess Gut and Dror Ragzlin in Act I. Although Minthara now serves the Absolute, she is a member of the ancient and powerful House Baenre of Menzoberranzan, thus first and foremost a Lolth-Sworn drow. Furthermore, drow cultists also obey her (e.g. the corpse outside of Waukeen's Rest, Narvass in the Shattered Sanctum and the man who attacked Nettie and him). Consequently, we know with certainty that, canonically, Halsin is exposed twice to the infamous cruelty of Lolth-Sworn drow through his captors, then Minthara and her minions.

Halsin also states that he has returned to the Underdark many times. I assume that he did so before his unfortunate capture, but also after his daring escape from Menzoberranzan. It isn’t too far-fetched to think he might have encountered more drow showing their typical Lolth-approved brand of malice. Despite his “misadventure”, as Halsin says himself, he couldn’t stay away from the Underdark’s arguably hottest residents. Why so?

Halsin: Astarion, I am astonished. To relish in intimacy again after such hardship is a wound many never recover from. Astarion: Are you charging for this sage advice, or is sticking your nose into my business just a hobby? Halsin: Jest all you will. I believe now in your honest heart.

This is a sweet albeit clumsy banter. Halsin seems to relate to Astarion’s traumas, however his gauche attempt to empathize and bond is not well received by the spawn. Although Halsin says “many”, he may be speaking from experience. After all, he is not one to be the center of attention, unless it is in a self-sacrificing way, thus I can hardly imagine him using I, especially with such a personal topic.

As aforementioned, Halsin has never left the Underdark once and for all. I suspect that he may have had difficulties to be intimate again after three uninterrupted years of torment and abuse at the hands of the drow couple. His frequent returns to the Underdark may have been a way to claim back what was stolen: his ability to express agency and exercise bodily autonomy, among other things. He is desired by drow because he is an exotic surface dweller, one of a kind. He can handle them now. They cannot hurt him anymore. He knows better. Yet, at the same time, he is objectified. He exposes himself regularly to lovers who are likely to share the same beliefs and ruthlessness as his captors. In order to deal with his traumas, he sought out drow, perhaps to his own detriment. He became a legend. Halsin coped as best he could. From my point of view, this banter isn't solely about one shared experience among survivors, it’s also about Halsin sympathizing with Astarion because he too had to go through a similar recovery process.

I would like to preface this paragraph with the following statement: I do not judge players who refuse to be exposed to the foursome and the dialogue the encounter unlocks. We all have our boundaries and our sensibilities. This being said, Halsin’s traumas are often met with horror and compassion, sometimes too much if it makes any sense. His past experiences are discussed in such a way that they become sacrosanct. Too holy to be used and abused with his consent. Meanwhile, because Halsin is a bear of a man and a deeply caring individual, he tends to be the top/dom in the relationship. His traumas are sanctified, yet simultaneously they’re overshadowed by his nurturing disposition and his glorious hairy body. As if he can solely be a top/dom. As if DU/Tav must only show empathy, kindness and care as a bottom/sub. Yet care is multifaceted.

This is the crux of this post and one of my main gripes with the fandom: Halsin shouldn't be a strict top/dom. In fact, I am persuaded submitting would help him a lot.

Halsin: To give oneself wholly, and to have a lover totally in your thrall…? A harmless game, until it becomes real.

While I believe Halsin would relish any flavor of dom, I am also inclined to think he would request scenes that happened with his captors. In other words, his partner can hardly be a gentle dom only. He would willingly explore his traumas in a risk-aware and consensual environment, with the person he has come to love, trust and rely on the most.

Oftentimes, when survivors enjoy anything remotely close to their trauma(s), such as a kink, when they ask for it and like it, when the exploration and the re-enactment of their trauma(s) are positive, then the public opinion is either worried or downright judgmental. There is not a singular way to cope and heal. BDSM is too often pathologized. It can be curative. Consensual slavery to serve a harsh master, especially a drow DU/Tav, could be healing for Halsin. He hurts himself with the twins (my post), as he oft does, however it may be completely different if he submits to his lover the very same way he has submitted to his captors. This time, his consent will be supreme.

By the way, I don’t aim to enforce a specific hierarchy, however I do believe a Bhaal-made drow/drow Tav would play a unique role. Halsin is traumatized by Lolth-sworn drow.

Sszazar: You are aware you're asking me to kill a drow? Halsin: You drow relish turning on your own, if there's something to be gained. Don't pretend otherwise.

Sometimes, because of traumas, unfair expectations are placed on certain individuals because they are associated with said traumas. It isn't rational, it just happens. So, a relationship with a drow could be more intricate than with any other race while Halsin is finally taking care of himself. Thus, curative BDSM (as in re-enacting traumatizing scenes) may be even more intense with a drow partner.

Sszazar: The mighty bear is an escaped pet, then. I wonder if there is a reward for your return.

It would be a delightful line. To be honest, the [Drow] options available during the dialogue about his past demonstrate the deeper involvement of a drow DU/Tav. This intricacy is also highly visible thanks to Halsin's lack of rage or sadness when the previous option is selected. drow DU/Tav look like his captors. He's still trauma-bound to them.

Lastly, it’s okay to favor dom Halsin over sub Halsin. It’s difficult to write about topics we know nothing about or that we simply don’t like. Nevertheless, it’s unfortunate Halsin isn't more written as a sub, let alone as a sub re-enacting voluntarily past traumas to heal and to enjoy himself. I wonder if Halsin would be more often depicted as a sub and/or bottom if he looked like the average wood elf, less manly and huge.

Bears love to be dominated too.

[princess-leaorgana]

Fond of You

Summary: Cursed by Shadow Magic and a bomb inside of himself, Gale of Waterdeep takes on one more challenge. Prequal to my longer series 'Of Waterdeep' that I'll be writing little bits of here and their that reflect events that take place in-game.

Gale x Tav (Tavriel, human sorcerer female, described)

M/F

Warnings- Spoilers for Baldur's Gate 3

Read here on Ao3

Gale wasn’t used to being nervous. He excelled at almost every single thing he had ever attempted, and when he was denied a request, he had always figured out a way to get what he wanted. He was privileged and talented, he was ambitious, so nervous was not a normal feeling for him to have. But tonight he was nervous. He was very nervous. He felt stupid about being nervous, but he couldn’t hold himself back anymore. He had just been tasked with an impossible task. Self-sacrifice, by divine request. He had been given control back to his body, but only for this. To let the synthetic, cryptic magic that had a hold over his whole life for the past year finally be under his control, until he was able to unleash it. He was given something back, his autonomy, yes, but he was also given back his nerve. There was something, through all of their groups adventures and misadventures he had been pining to do. He wanted more than anything to remove the tadpole from his head and the evil of this cult from Faerun, but not every second of his time was thinking and hatching new ways to do this. He was a human, a human who hadn’t had a lot of social activity in a long time, and now a very loud part of him was dying for more.

‘You look like a wet baby cow.’ Gale’s face turned bright red and he turned to his left. Astarion had snuck up on him at the campfire. That was a very annoying habit the elf had. He had a smarmy little look on his face.

‘I don’t think I want to know what that is supposed to mean,’ Gale remarked, with a decent amount of snark in his voice. Astarion’s smirk grew.

‘It's supposed to mean exactly what I said. You, Gale of Waterdeep, look like a baby cow who has been drenched, pining over at the wilderness. Mummy is coming right back, not to worry,’ he said and tutted playfully and Gale sighed out. His nerves were certainly gone, now that he was talking to Astarion. The vampire was charming, of course he was. The vampire was handsome, of course he was. But the vampire was a snobby asshole who had no idea when to shut up. It was very annoying how Astarion was truly loved by all, but certainly the first one fed to a pack of gnolls if a sacrifice was needed. Gale looked back at the thicket of trees, trying to ignore Astarion. ‘Fine, I was trying to be nice, so now I’ll be honest. Could you please go to her, confess your love to her and rut in a bush somewhere so we no longer have to deal with the sad baby cow face?’ Gale turned bright red again, his ears hot. He shot a look at Astarion, who was no longer smirking. He looked annoyed. ‘Although, now that I think about it, newly matched Gale might be more annoying than love-lost pining Gale.’ Gale stood up from his spot in front of the fire, trying to ignore Astarion, but the elf had one more damned thing to say. ‘I don’t know why you’re so worked up about it, Gale. She’s very….giving,’ he said and Gale stopped dead. He had been wanting to just go away, walk before he did or said anything too stupid, but Astarion had gotten under his skin.

‘After that little scrap we just had with those shadow demons, do you really think I’m the one you want to anger, Astarion?’ He asked and Astarion sat up straighter. A fight just won, luckily, and although no one was really keeping track of kills, Gale’s recent performance in the battlefield made him a fire wielding menace. Astarion laughed a little and put his hands up.

‘Oh, now, Gale, you know I was just-’

‘And she is giving. She’s very giving. Both you and I are very lucky she’s so giving, or I’d be in some remote cave in The Underdark and you’d already been captured by Gur,’ he added, pointing a very stern finger at the elf. Astarion didn’t get another word in before Gale walked away in search of the very person they were talking about, Tav. Tavriel. She was the very point, the epicenter of his nerves that evening, and he would face her, head on. He found her where she said she would be, at the river, washing her clothing.

She knelt over the water, scrubbing fabric. Gale watched her for a moment. He had the instinct to turn around and leave her alone, because how could he do this? How could he confess to her? Confess to her that he adored her, he was falling for her. It wasn’t much of a secret, and Tavriel had, on two occasions, suggested that the two of them become closer, but both times he let the moment slip from his fingers. How could he be so foolish? Both times he had been overcome with worry that the Orb in his chest would detonate if he became too excitable. Spending a night with Tavriel, or even just having her kiss him would be exciting enough. Although, it would have been a very fine way to go, he would never want to put her in any danger. But there wasn’t any danger anymore. No more sating the dark magic within to keep him alive. He only had to command it, he controlled it now. And now he wanted a little more control over his life.

Tavriel was in a nightgown, sort of. A linen dress, but nothing on her feet. That was always the strangest thing about Tav, when all was calm, she never wore anything on her damned feet. He always meant to ask her if she needed shoes, but he didn’t know if that was a delicate question or not. Her hair was still up in a slick braid, it was always that way. He imagined for a moment what it might look like down and he shook his head. He took a few more steps towards her and cleared his throat. She jumped a little and turned to look at him. She grinned. He couldn’t help but copy her.

‘Hello Gale,’ she said and tilted her head. ‘Did you need anything?’ She asked. Oh he did indeed, but he shook his head.

‘No, sorry, I don’t want to disturb you, I only wanted to…chat,’ he said and her grin widened. She nodded her head to space next to her and Gale walked over. She loved chatting with Gale. They were very different people, at first she thought Gale thought very little of her. He was a renowned wizard, a sage, she was a sorcerer. She was very powerful, but she was not as learned as he. Her magic just came to her, but he understood it. He would have had to or he wouldn’t be able to control the Weave at all. Wizards and sorcerers were always known to butt heads. But Tavriel liked Gale. She liked him a lot. He was also just joyful to listen to. When he was proficient at something, he was a showman, and it really amused her.

‘Am I getting another lesson?’ She asked as he sat next to her.

‘That was not the plan, but if my lady is requesting one,’ he said and she giggled. His lady. She knew that was just how Gale spoke, but it still made her blush.

‘What was the plan then?’ She asked him, wringing out a pair of socks.

‘Make an ass of myself,’ he said and Tavriel snorted and shook her head, placing her socks in a little basket.

‘Now what is that supposed to mean?’ She asked him, turning her attention to him fully. She had such bright blue eyes, round features, freckles across her face, she struck him so. Gale looked down for a moment.

‘I’ve been…waiting to tell you something for a while now. For a long while now-’

‘Yes?’ She interrupted, leaning in closer to him. He looked back up at her and he thought he felt his heart stop. When he was younger, before he shared a bed with the goddess of magic, Gale was very easily swayed by pretty girls. And he was charming, handsome and quite well off. Girls used to swarm him, and he got himself in trouble with that a lot. But now, a man in his early forties, a man who had experienced more than many men in history had ever experienced, he was repeatedly struck by this little sorcerer. He had planned a little speech for her, his confession, but it was gone now. He could barely blink. She looked so earnest. It would be obvious to the blind that Tavriel was very keen on him, the most logical part of Gale’s brain knew she was. But he couldn’t seem to admit it to her that he liked her as well, more than likely, he liked her more than she could realize. He might have loved her. ‘Gale?’ She asked as he was taking so much time to think. He blinked and cleared his throat.

‘We’ve been together for a while now-no, I mean adventuring together not-’ he shut his eyes and ran a hand through his hair in embarrassment. ‘And in that time I’ve grown…very fond of you,’ he said and opened his eyes. He searched Tavriel’s eyes, why were they so kind to him? The truth was, she was desperate. She had flirted with him twice, both times being rather forward, as she had never been a shy person. She felt very comfortable around Gale, but as two of her advances were met with nerves and shyness, she refused to push further. Their group had to get along and work together more than anything, so she would not create a strain or awkward drift between them by being too forward.

‘Really?’ She asked him softly and he nodded. ‘How fond?’ She asked, her voice a whisper. That question gave him a little relief. He felt stupid being so nervous, she didn’t need to spell it out for him to know how much she cared for him. His face grew a kind smile.

‘Very fond,’ he told her, his voice soft and low, speaking just for her. She felt her heart flip and she looked down at the grass and mud beneath them. She was grinning so wide her face would become sore.

‘I am very happy to hear that,’ she said after a moment of composing herself and she looked back at him. Her freckled cheeks were red. ‘Finally,’ she added and he gave her a little laugh. It was bold, but it was very true, finally indeed. The two shared a nervous giggle and Tavriel glanced out on the water. ‘What now, then?’ She asked and bit her bottom lip. His brown eyes followed her movement and made eye contact with her again.

‘I’d walk through a pit of lava if it meant I could kiss you,’ he admitted and Tavriel needed no more permission. The sorcerer flung herself up to meet Gale’s lips with hers. He was taken aback, but did not waste a second of time. The last time his lips were met with another mortals, well, that was a long time ago. His physical relationship with his patron was different. Everything was illusionary, made of Weave, nothing true. Nothing mortal. He had forgotten the little tingle he felt when kissing another. The way he could hear her breathing, how she smelled. He kissed her back, promising himself that a first kiss should be just that, a first kiss. He didn’t need to make more of it, it was special on its own. He placed a hand on her cheek and lifted his lips from hers, but touched his forehead down to keep in contact with her. Her eyes were so beautiful and bright. She looked so happy.

‘Was that worth a lava pit?’ She whispered and he smiled and hummed a little. She giggled at his reaction and reached her hand out slowly. She was reaching just above his wrapshirt, at his mark, his brand. She’d called it a tattoo before, that certainly wasn’t what it was. ‘Is this going to be alright?’ She asked and he nodded. Although his stomach and heart were both flipping wildly, the Netherese Orb was silent among the rest of his organs. She reached further and touched it gently and Gale let out a faint whimper. Her eyes grew and he shook his head.

‘Sorry, it’s been a long time,’ he said and she nodded and let her hand drop.

‘I’ll go slow,’ she said and he shook his head.

‘Please don’t,’ he asked and she smiled. ‘Since our kidnapping, it’s become very clear to me that every single day could be our last. Even before the kidnapping, to be fair, but we have had ourselves mortal perils galore as of late. I don’t want to waste any more time than I already have. I don’t want to rush or pressure, but Tavriel…I cannot stop thinking about you. Since you weakened my portal on that first day you have strengthened my heart,’ he told her and her face melted. He was a sweet man. Tavriel did have a little secret, one she would probably have to admit to him, with all of the other confessions. Tavriel had never had a male partner before. She liked men, but was much more comfortable with women. There was something so different about her wizard, she just felt so comfortable around him. She never wanted him out of her sight, he made her laugh. He was so kind and positive, she adored him. She leaned up for another kiss and sighed happily when she felt him kiss her back. It was a new feeling, kissing someone with a beard. Where Tavriel was from, facial hair wasn’t common at all. She loved Gale’s beard. He groomed it well, it matched his beautiful hair and his masculine facial features. She wanted him, she wanted to take him to her tent and hold him, touch him, anything, but she would need a bit more time to prepare herself for that.

‘You are a very good kisser,’ she whispered lightly and he chuckled and sat up properly.

‘You’re a bad liar,’ he responded and she giggled and bit her lip.

‘Could we take a walk? Get out of the mud?’ She asked and he nodded, getting himself up with a grunt, but helped her up quickly. She took his hand and stood up with him. ‘How are you feeling?’ She asked him, not letting his hand go, not just yet.

He looked up at her question, up at the terrifying night sky. They were in tents under the protection of dim torches and the power of a light cleric. The lands around them were cursed in shadow weave and nothing but despair lingered. An hour ago, he would have given her a very clear answer to her question. He was feeling dread, anxiety, fear. Perils aside, Gale was usually very positive. Tavriel could attest her bravery to Gale’s positivity. Always making light of each situation helped her face many things in these past days she wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. 

‘I don’t think there is a very good answer to that question,’ he said, looking back at her. ‘But after talking with Eliminster and now you…it’s hard for me to think about what lies just beyond our camp,’ he said and she gave his hand a little squeeze.

‘Elimister’s message left you…happy?’ She asked and he laughed hard and shook his head.

‘Gods no! I mean yes, there was a sliver of hope and relief knowing I would no longer be a danger to myself and all of you, but the rest, the bigger part of that message, happiness is not the emotion I would use to describe how I am feeling,’ he said and she nodded. That made complete sense to her. She had been present during Elminster’s visit. She knew how she could describe her emotions on that visit. Anger. She was still angry about it. ‘However, if we could just leave this conversation to what we are talking about now, I’d be very happy,’ he said and Tavriel nodded. She and Gale hadn’t spoken much about Gale’s new divine mission. Tavriel was convinced Gale was going to go ahead with it. Tavriel would absolutely not allow him to. ‘Because you, you make me happy Tavriel, happier than I’ve been in…well over a year.’ Tavriel squeezed his hand.

‘I’ve never envied all of that about you Gale. You were Msytra’s chosen, her lover, a renowned, powerful and talented wizard, yes, but…to be and feel such loneliness, it breaks my heart to think of you like that. You’re a wonderful man, and tadpole or otherwise, I’m very lucky to know you. To have you in my life,’ Tavriel spoke as they began to walk. ‘We all are,’ she finished and Gale chuckled.

‘Well, you know how to get to a man’s heartstrings, don’t you?’ He asked her and she grinned. She looked down at their interlocked hands and was instantly reminded of one of the first times Gale and her spent any time together. His little Weave lesson. It was the first time Gale had ever gotten a hint that Tavriel was keen on him. They had opened communication between them, their thoughts in a moment of comforting Weave. She might have been thinking about what it would be like to take a romantic walk with Gale, hand in hand.

‘Hmm…just like that moment we shared. Perhaps I have a little talent in Divination,’ she said haughtily, and Gale chuckled and looked down at their hands as well.

‘I used to think very little of Divination when I was younger, but I have dabbled in it. I find most wizards who claim they are sufficient in it are liars, making most people skeptical of the art,’ he told her and she hummed in response.

‘I assume your practice in Divination did not give you fair warning about our misadventures,’ she said, almost being hopeful, as if Gale had some knowledge hidden away. He shook his head.

‘No, believe it or not, locked away in my little tower, I never exactly wanted to see my future,’ he said, his voice a little low. Tavriel sighed and stopped walking. She faced Gale and he frowned.

‘I’m sorry, I know you said you didn’t want to, but Gale, we are going to find another way, I promise. We’ve gotten through a lot together and we can certainly-’ Gale lifted his hand and she stopped talking. ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered and Gale just shook his head.

‘We haven’t found whatever it is that is The Absolute. There is quite a high chance that when we face it, The Orb will seem like a gift,’ he told her and she frowned. ‘Let us have this discussion then, please,’ he said and she chewed on her bottom lip. She would do anything to keep Gale safe. Allowing him to detonate was absolutely not in her list of possible outcomes. He had said that if Mystra and Elminster said this was the only way, then it was, and Tavriel just stared at the jarring hole in that solution. What if Gale had already died? What if they failed him in their journey so far and he never satiated The Orb with a magical item? What if the nautiloid crash killed him? What if his body gave into ceremorphosis? Then all of life was doomed? She refused to believe it, there was always another way. The Orb might be an easy way out, but it wouldn’t be for Tavriel. She would not allow him to be a sacrifice.

‘I’m sorry that I’m being selfish Gale, you’re going through enough, you don’t need me nagging at you,’ she said softly and sighed.

‘Yes, damn you for giving me something worth living for,’ he told her with a little smile. She looked up at him and half smiled back.

‘You have plenty to live for,’ she told him and he grunted. ‘No no, you speak very highly of your mother. I don’t know if I can say I have the same relationship with mine, but I have a feeling yours would be devastated if she were to lose you,’ she said and he laughed hard at that and he nodded. ‘And Tara? Your tressym? Surely you’d like to keep your best friend happy,’ she said with a confident smile. He shook his head, but he was smiling.

‘I could imagine the three of you getting along quite well,’ he said and smirked. ‘Stubborn, steely, all of you, and brilliant. And much too kind to me,’ he added and she nudged him. She looked at him, trying to find a way to lighten the mood and change the subject. She would not let it go, but she would for tonight.

‘So, how about that lecture?’ She asked him and he lit up a little.

‘Really?’ He asked her and she nodded.

‘Yes, and I will practice and perfect it, give us something to do tonight and…future nights,’ she said and he grinned.

‘How could I possibly refuse that, now…what shall she be taught then?’ He asked and their hands released as he brought one up to his chin. ‘Your current talents all line up in the elements, so let us use that to our advantage. What element do you feel most natural in?’ He said and she tilted her head.

‘Fire I have the most fun with, but my body seems to almost default to lightning, so I’m not exactly sure how to answer that,’ she said and he nodded.

‘Always knew you to be a firecracker,’ he told her and she grinned. ‘But lightening could be a great way to demonstrate the study of Evocation, it is my specialty. The study of controlling offensive elemental magic,’ he told her and lifted his hand. From the ground to his hand, bright blue bolts of lightning crackled. ‘You or any of our companions have never been hurt by anything I’ve casted, correct?’ He asked and she nodded. ‘That is by design. Now, go on,’ he said and nodded to his hand. ‘Reach out to it,’ he said and she obeyed. Lightning would not hurt Tavriel, so she had no fear. As she did, the flow of electricity seemed to bend away from her, like oil meeting water. She glanced up at him and he was grinning, very proud of himself indeed. The lightning disappeared. ‘Now you,’ he said and waved his hand. Tavriel chewed on her lip and raised her hand, copying Gale. Without much of a thought, angry lightning erupted from her palm and connected easily to the ground. Her magic was a bit more wild, but the same spell either way. Gale put his hand close and she hummed.

‘Wait,’ she said and placed her other hand under the first, causing the lightning to go between her hands. She figured she would have more control of it this way. He nodded.

‘Oh, good thinking, very clever,’ he said and her sparks brightened at his compliment. ‘Now, concentrate on your target. You only want to hit your hand, yes? Anger, you want to use anger, whatever might give you that feeling, use that to concentrate,’ he told her and she blinked a few times. She closed her eyes, not having a very easy time channeling her anger. But then she found it. Mystra. How ironic. ‘Do you have it?’ He asked her and she nodded and opened her eyes, looking at him. She felt electricity in her hair. Oh, she was rather angry. But she would need to channel that to her hand. Her left hand was now the lady of mysteries, goddess of magic. Another god to demand a mortal sacrifice their life for ‘the greater good’ because a god is too lazy to care enough. To care about those who gave everything to them, so they could have their damned power. A rogue spark flew, but Gale lifted his hand, trusting her. Gently, he lifted and very subtly, her sparks shot away from his hand. It did not bend gracefully like Gale’s demonstration, but it broke, as if his hand was cutting her magic. ‘Oh, very good. I’ve not yet seen it like that…’ he said and she looked back up at him, smiling at his compliment, but as her concentration shifted, so did her anger, and poor Gale bore the brunt of it. He moved back quickly, holding his hand and shouted out.

‘Oh!’ Tavriel squeaked and took his hand quickly, hissing. ‘Oh my gods, Gale, I’m so sorry,’ she said hurriedly, checking his hand. A little scorched for sure. She blew icy breath on the wound, just enough to cool him down.

‘It’s alright, I’m alright, I should have known better, but by Oghma’s lute, what were you casting?’ He asked. ‘I demonstrated a mere witch bolt,’ he told her and she frowned up at him and shrugged.

‘Lightning,’ she said in a soft voice, feeling horribly guilty. Gale looked at her from a moment and chuckled.

‘Well, that showed me,’ he said and laughed. He examined his hand quickly and shook his head. ‘It is no matter, I am fine, and I was preparing for this experiment not to work, please stop giving me that look,’ he said, still laughing a little. Tavriel felt embarrassment rise in her cheeks. Gale recognized that very quickly and lifted his mildly scorched hand to her chin, two fingers gently lifting it. That made Tavriel feel a whole different set of nervous emotions. ‘I’m fine,’ he told her, smiling happily. ‘Come now, let us try once more, concentrate this time, don’t let me distract you,’ he told her and she nodded. ‘I know I’m devastatingly charming, but you must focus,’ he said playfully, but there was a shallow overconfidence in his voice. Tavriel smiled and shook her head. She gave way to a giggle and refocused, lifting her hands once more.

The lesson only resulted in two more little zaps to Gale’s hands, and the two decided to walk back to camp. Gale happily carried Tavriel’s laundry. Back at camp, Shadowheart and Astarion sat at the fire, both with goblets in their hands. It was easily assumed they were not drinking the same liquid. They were chatting, but once they caught sight of Tavriel and Gale they stopped. Shadowheart smiled politely, but Astarion was less subtle.

‘There you are! We were getting so worried!’ He said with a smirk and Gale scowled.

‘You look it,’ Tavriel said sarcastically and walked to her little tent. Gale followed her and she took her little hamper from him. ‘Thank you, you really didn’t need to,’ she told him and placed it down so that she could hang her clothing out to dry. Gale smiled down at her.

‘I have to begin to pay you back, for giving me such a magical night,’ he told her softly. ‘I do hope it is not the last of such nights,’ he said and Tavriel smiled up at him.

‘It’ll take more than a century old curse to stop me,’ she told him, just above a whisper and Gale’s smile grew. It was nice to be wanted like that. That Tavriel wanted to be around him. It had been a long time since he had felt that sort of comfort.

‘Rest well, Tavriel,’ he told her and she leaned up for one last kiss of the night. He kissed her forehead, being polite about the few companions that, although were decently far away, were staring at them. Gale, although very excited to share his affection with Tavriel, was raised very differently than most of his companions. He was raised to be a gentleman, gentlemen did not commit acts of public affection. Though their camp in Shadow Cursed Reithwin wasn’t exactly polite society like Waterdeep and Tavriel certainly was not raised to be a gentle lady. She furrowed her brows and leaned up more, leaving him with a sweet little kiss. Nothing to excite anyone over. Gale was not expecting that at all and was a little taken aback by it. It was welcomed, very welcomed, of course. He blinked down at her.

‘Good night Gale,’ she whispered and smiled, planting her feet back on the ground. He was bright red and he turned to his tent, hearing a faint little giggle behind him. Tavriel happily went back to her laundry and was immediately biraged by Shadowheart. The half-elf was a little tipsy, which usually made her snarky, but she looked as joyful as Tavriel felt.

‘Well well well, finally time that spark was finally ignited,’ she said and Tavriel giggled and hushed Shadowheart.

‘I think he’s a little embarrassed,’ she said softly and Shadowheart just kept smiling.

‘I can imagine anyone would be a little nervous after all that time in self-isolation, you can’t exactly blame him,’ she said, very cheerful. Tavriel frowned and shook her head.

‘I don’t, I blame myself. I’m not exactly shy myself,’ she said and Shadowheart’s grin grew.

‘Then you will complete him. And him you, most importantly, of course,’ she said and Tavriel nodded. She hoped her companion was correct on that front. She glanced in the direction of Gale’s tent, the usual purple glow peering through the door flap. Tavriel had seen a lot in the last month, she’d changed a bit as well. She wasn’t confident all of her companions and herself would make it to the end of this adventure, this battle against the Absolute. But she knew one thing, she loved that gods damned wizard.

[loquaciousquark]

Two recent misadventures! First, I'm in the duergar fight in the Underdark, and despite careful preparation, Karlach has completely inadvertently and through no fault of my own found herself surrounded by six full-health reanimated corpses. Astarion helps by shooting an arrow of fire directly at Karlach, then gives up, bored.

I don't quite know how to get her out of this, considering that's an awful lot of opportunity attacks, and she doesn't halve her damage as a berserker, and then I remember—oh. She's a berserker. She has Tavern Brawler. She has two attacks, a bonus action throw, and a huge bonus to throw damage.

It is time to chuck men.

Three throws later, two duergar are dead, two have plummeted 50 feet down off the bridge, and the remaining two are prone and unable to nip at her ankles as she strolls by, beaming. Astarion is less bored and now seriously alarmed.

It was glorious.

Secondly, pre-Underdark, I was strolling around in the Zhent cave in the wilderness. There's one ledge that's lower than main—easy to jump down to, but impossible to jump back up afterwards, especially with Tav's 8 strength.

However, I'm determined to get her back up sans cheating, teleporting, or waypointing. There must be a way. There must be some in-game mechanism to allow her to make this tiny tiny jump.

This took almost fifteen minutes (the ledge terrain is not flat and it really wanted to set the box stack at a 45 degree angle, which prevents you from being able to stand on it), but by God, we got there in the end.

[bg3ramblingstuff]

Tav: hope you had fun :)

Halsin: yeah it was really good and fun. Reminded me of the time I spent three years tied up to a bed as a sex slave. It's so fun to recall these misadventures of my youth, and how wondrous and fascinating oak father made underdark nature :)

Tav: *so shocked he forgets Christianity isn't canon* My brother in Christ -

[therisingphoenixden]

I finally got into Act 2 of bg3 over the weekend. So far:

Gale told Ven the reason why he needed to eat the party's magical items, followed by the party teasing Ven about catching his attention after he did this in front of the group.

Underdark misadventures that included freeing the gnomes from the duergar and very nearly having a tpk from a bunch of angry, hard-hitting dwarves. Astarion got knocked down a few times, Gale was punted into the lava pit by a knockback, and Shadowheart was trying to keep everyone alive while hitting everything. I decided to say fuck this shit after that particular fight, but helped Omeluun make the magic mushroom juice in an attempt to figure out the tadpole - after a long rest at camp and forking over 200 gold to Withers to resurrect Gale, whose body was untargetable for rezzing in the lava pit - which meant ransacking a wizard tower for loot and mushrooms. The loot was nice enough for the rest of my party, but the halberd isn't quite as good as the staff that buffs my monk's unarmed strikes, nor can it compete with Lae'zel or Karlach's current weapons, so it's definitely getting sold soon.

The Githyanki crèche was a walk in the park compared to what I dealt with in the Underdark. In, out, but I missed getting the Blood of Lathander and accidentally vaporizing Astarion for one of the funniest resurrection reactions. It's such a blip on the radar compared to everything else that happened, even if the fight with the Inquisitor was on the tough side.

Running to the Shadow-Cursed Lands was...fun. My approval with Gale was high enough that I was treated to that cutscene with Elminster right off the bat and...yeah. Since my monk is on the Gale romance path, they're going to do everything to keep him alive. (Side note: the moment I saw Elminster, I might have yelled "THIS FUCKING GUY AGAIN!?" from playing the other two games)

I'm not very far into act 2 at the moment. Saw some people get eaten by shadow monsters, lost sight of a dwarf I was supposed to follow, took a wrong turn, and wound up fighting a max-level shambling mound and its friends. Surprisingly, the only party member who died was my monk, and that was because Astarion killed one of the wicker monsters that spat out needles and started a chain reaction of explosions from the rest that took down my monk. In a move of sheer desperation during this fight, I misclicked and threw Minthara's panties at the enemies instead of a fire flask to take out the vines.

A quick fast travel and retracing my steps out of Grymforge brought me to the location I needed to go in order to proceed without any more shambling mound encounters. Willingly poisoned myself to sate Jaheira's curiosity (while mildly fangirling the entire time) and had to deal with an attack on the sanctuary. So now I have to rescue the tieflings. Again. And proceed with the msq.

I also wound up getting this incredibly horny dialogue out of Gale after the first fight in the new area:

Man's down *real* bad for the punch elf.

[maegalkarven]

Out of curiosity what happens to all of your dark urges post-game?

This is going to be LONG, so i'm putting it under the "read more".

Thanks so much for asking and giving me an opportunity to rant about my boys! (they're all masc, yeah. All kind of trans. I am not projecting anything. Also I lied just now)

As of now I have 3 (4 counting Morgan) developed till post-game Durges.

Morgan is my first playthrough and maybe shouldn't be counted, but he and Astarion leave for Underdark. Morgan is a drow bard btw and his story is the messiest bullshit ever bc at that point I was still figuring BG3 out.

Now to the fun part! (June, Levi and Nemo). Mind what all 3 of them are romantically involved with Gortash and it plays its part.

So let's start with my favorite druid asshole Levi. He visually appears to be a tiefling. 6 ft tall handsome young man with one blazing green eye, one eye pitch-black (later an implant of the eye of the devil he took for himself), wavy ginger hair, freckles EVERYWHERE and a very arrogant attitude. His horns have been broken by Sarevok when he was around adolescence.

Levi has 2 versions of how his live goes after the end credits. Basically his good (canon) ending and his bad ending.

Bad ending is where Gortash dies, Levi goes the whole "I am god" way, takes the Crown of Karsus for himself and erases Bhaal from the existence of the universe, successfully taking his domain, his aspect and his place. It's a lonely life of godhood for him and the one where he loses himself.

His good ending branches depending if Noah (his son) exists.

If Noah indeed exists, Levi has a whole ass husband and a son waiting for him at home (in Baldur's Gate) and a whole new playground of the city. He transforms part of the city into the garden and creates the new circle of druids with Kagha as the achdruid. But inevitably fuck off to hells to fight not his battle bc he can and he loves fighting.

Levi is set on a long ass quest conquering Hells bc: 1) it's fun. 2) His homie needs Mizora dead. 3) His other homie needs Zariel dead.

If Noah wasn't born, his path goes almost the same way (considering Hells), but it's the main focus of his, and the main goal. In that version he wants all of Mephisto's wonders for himself and operates from the House of Hope what he and Gortash live in (while planning evil things for evil reasons, yeah. "If heavens are out of reach, we will make Hells ours" kind of an attitude.)

Basically for Levi it's either godhood but the path of loneliness or a lot of shenanigans in hells with his two best friends (Wyll and Karlach) and the wicked partnership with Gortash. Watch him successfully balance out THAT dynamic mix.

Then there's Nemo. Nemo is non-amnesiac Durge who got very weak after his sister's attack. Looks like a half-drow (ppl keep calling him half-breed and he hates it. He is a pureblood bhaalspawn, damn it!) Looks like a golden child with sun-warmed skin, golden eyes and hair and A LONG ASS SCAR ORIN LEFT OVER HIS PERFECT FACE. THANKS FOR NOTHING, SISTER. Short (5 ft). The only 'off' thing about him is what his sclera is black.

He is also the mastermind behind the successful creation and management of the current cult of Bhaal in BG as it is. Nemo's misadventures are featured in the series of oneshots called "Empty Prayers".

He has only a good ending because I said so, and this is where he kills Orin and himself in a double suicide act, robbing Bhaal of the chosen and a child. Bhaal throws a fit, Withers plays a savior.

EVERYONE is angry at Nemo, Orin is left with no memory of who she is or what the fuck is going on.

No one is happy 2.0.

His post-game ending is where he is a shadow over the BG, a leader of the newly established assassins' guild into which he drags his lover and partner in crime Astarion.

Nemo is a man who transfers the cult of Bhaal into something else and earns money for it. It is easy, because most of the cultists only knew him as a leader and several of them were raised by him.

He basically lowers his expectations and chills, having joint-custody over the city underground with Ninefingers.

Gortash manages to stay arcduke in that one, but ba-a-a-arely. No one is happy, even Gortash, because it's such a mediocre win it's embarrassing. He will manage to pull Nemo into some heist-like bullshit very soon, that with him and his very useful guild of trained cutthroats who are loyal to Nemo and Nemo alone.

The last one - June. My least fav child bc I am v conflicted with how he just branched into 2 separate entities. @ June come on. He has either grey hair and silver eyes (selunite!June) or black-blue hair and light-blue eyes (cambion!June). Either way his skin is greyish-blue with freckles, his horns are grey as some ash can be. He is 5 ft 5.

June is either tiefling priest of Selune or cambion grandchild of Mephisto. I consider both of the versions like alt. of the same person.

In his good (canon) ending June leaves for Underdark with Gortash and Astarion to conquer it and seek all the netherise artifacts left there.

Ex priest of Selûne June does it in some quest of "salvation", cambion June does it because he's the forbidden knowledge seeking bastard (Mephisto raised him, ok). Both versions of June defy Bhaal, though for different reasons.

Now, there is a bad ending for June too, which is highly tied to how he treats the situation with Gortash and how much has the tadparty affected him. If he has failed to develop enough ties with the team, June agrees with everything the man says - Gortash dies at the Netherbrain Blast - June becomes the new Chosen of Bane.

Which strangely fits both versions of June, because selunite!June DID pray to Bane, he just never answered.

And cambion!June is a little too alike Bane's own son (a hybrid of a god and fiend who Bhaal probably was going to use the same way Bane used his son) and in a dire need of a plan to out-do Mephisto.

If June does have close ties with his team and they affect his decision-making, then he's a little more smart about it, tadpoles Gortash, and that derails everything to Gortash joining the team and all hells breaking loose (to the good end. I promise)

There's also Callisto, but Callisto didn't live further than the escape from the nautiloid. I will play them after I break my pc's mind and re-merge it gently, after which BG3 (hopefully) will run on my pc without any third parties involved. But Callisto is a half-drow priest of Tiamat. My baby said FUCK toxic father, I want to be adopted by a toxic mother instead. Their main long goal is freeing Tiamat from her prison in Hell.

[shiniestcrow]

The misadventures of Sage part 4! (which I totally didn't have to look up twice because I forgot it immediately after the first time lol)

Sage has been very busy since last time, and I don't feel like writing it all down, so you'll mostly just get some highlights:

The most important part first: we made a bear very happy :D (by saving Halsin, but that's not the important part here)

Rest under the cut

Sage got read to filth

there was a party and Sage had to reject Lae'zel. She took it well

...uhhh a little too late for that, Karlach dear...

obligatory close-up of Sage looking pretty:

Had a chat with a Hag. She was... nice. Karlach had a very succinct opinion on the Hag's lair

Then everyone went into the Underdark, and Lae'zel and Shadowheart immediately tried to kill each other, but luckily Sage managed to intervene. Anyway, that's not the important part here. Because there was a visitor!

Unfortunately, Astarion scared it off, and Sage very seriously considered killing him after all

Then they went and saved some slaves and also found an ancient forge where they made some nice gear after defeating its guardian. And then Sage got declared a god by some fish people. Shadowheart was not impressed

(it's the name isn't it?)

The group also met a mindflayer who tried to help with the tadpole. The tadpole was not impressed either

And finally, after leaving the Underdark, our little Owlbear Cub returned and joined our camp permanently <3

[iamthunderhearmehowl]

Baulder's Gate 3 AU Halsin's Daughter: "Circle of Decay"

Description: All Faeryl wanted was her freedom – Her home was life was messy, abusive, and shrouded in secrecy. Being the bastard daughter of noble drow princess and an unknown father has caused the hierarchy in her house to become out of order. Because of this, she is treated like a house servant behind closed doors. However, in the public eye , she is one of the best escorts and spies of her Noble House. One day, during her older sister's engagement party, she finds out that her mother is selling her innocence to one of the highest bidders there. This causes her to spill wine on a guest, which in turn causes a downward spiral of events leading to her to run from the underdark. Once on the surface world, she makes her way towards Baulder's Gate where she meets Mol and Arabella. Two tieflings who work for “The Guild" doing their mercenary and heist jobs. The two take Faeryl under their wings and show her the ropes; they soon become and unstoppable team and are given a new mission: Kill the Eldest Son of House Vandree, Alistair, Faeryl's half brother. Unfortunately, the steps and misadventures needed in order to finish this mission push the girls to the edge as they struggle with reminants of their pasts.

Main Characters:

Faeryl:

Class: Druid / Circle of the Moon / Circle of Shadows

Race: Wood Elf / Drow

Age: 90 (ish)

Mol:

Class: Rogue / Theif / Assassin

Race: Tiefling

Age: 22

Arabella:

Class: Sorceress / Wild Magic / Shadow Magic

Race: Tiefling

Age: 20

Other Notes:

Faeryl is ( basically - even though she's hopping off the back of Halsin ) an OC - shes NOT cannon.

This takes place 10-ish years after the events of BG3

This is 100% a fan fiction and NOT cannon

This honestly started out with me making a character for my voice reel to practice - and what do you know Faeryl became a full fledge character in my head :')

The setting / events / information in this AU changes based off of new information I get on the main game - IT IS NOT A FINISHED WORK

Will I write out this fan fiction into an actual written series? Eventually - right now it's all out of order headcannons/ mainly because using my imagination to create this pulled me out of a deep depression (Lmao I almost went on a grippy sock vacation)

I currently have a rough draft written - it will take me forever but bear (lmao) with me

I know this doesn't get a lot of attention - I am screaming into a void - but I really do enjoy this AU I've created and if at least ONE other person enjoys it as well - I am happy.

The Links to everything are on my masterpost that is pinned to the top of my page! But I'll also link it below <3

Links:

Master Post -> ( Click Me )

All Content Page (holds every post regarding this AU) -> ( Click Me )

I'm also doing everything I can to make this accurate so if anyone has books / links / articles in regards to DND /BG3 please send them my way

Thanks <3

[call-2-arms]

"Have you ever been to the Underdark?"

@bruinescence || cont

Such words from a Drow of all sources had him bristled, though without the bear's fur serving as his armor for the moment being, the stiffening of his shoulders was hardly noticeable. It would have to be a feeling he would have to find himself intimate with more often than naught considering the fact that he was too proud to open up to any of his current traveling companions regarding any...youthful misadventures.

The slight challenge in this 'Sornin' fellow's voice gave him pause long enough to shift the great weight of himself from one foot to the other- a shuffling that came with a firm locking of eyes later accompanied by a quirk in the druid's brow. "As a matter of fact, I have. Would I be worthy of an Archdruid's position without some knowledge of the subterranean ecology?"

Sornin couldn't really speak, considering this was the first time he'd actually been topside. A life lived in the Underdark, the tunnels that could turn a man insane as they became lost in the eternal labyrinth, and that was if they even managed to survive the beasts that lurked within the darkness. The Underdark was known as a cruel place, one had to either be bold or a fool to wander too far down.

Grey lips pressed firmly together, eyes that had once been red now violet no thanks to the tadpole. His newfound 'companions' had no idea that he was Lolth sworn, or... at least he once had been. Sworn, perhaps, that did not mean he had any love for his goddess. She was cruel and sadistic, and he had seen first hand what the priestesses could do.

He would say Halsin was large for an elf, but he himself was around the same height, and bore the same muscles. That in itself was impressive, and Sornin had an appreciation for a man that could show off his strength and hold his own. But the Druid had also been captured by the likes of goblins...

"Then you have fared well," he said, his voice deep. "Not many survive its clutches."

[memorimae]

Whisperer Adalwolf Salzlakritz, The White Wolf of Court

Licorice Rogue (Inquisitive) - Level 5

Those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear - so why are we all afraid?

Just beyond the borders of Gumbia rests the twin regions of Cane and Maple. The latter is named for the rocky mountainous wild-woods of maple root that house the Malic-Morass; the former is for the labyrinthine Underdark of the Candy Cane mining ports that carve the mountain out from below.

Port Bon-bon of the infamous massacre, The Bon-Bomb Banquet, is part of this region, but its ill-fitting crown is Salzlakritz. It is by far the rowdiest of its kind - a lawless sort of place where state-power battles with resident authority to create a haven of misadventure. But it is prosperous and a master of the trade. 

For that reason, their Noble house of the same name is often forgotten. A licorice family of nobodies who fail to control their populace but are always sending their taxes on time. Irrelevant to all but the economy.

Until Adalwolf, that is. Adalwolf was smart and strategic. Adalwolf was raised by a guiding hand towards the purest form of currency; secrets. 

He, like Lady Hazel, waltzed into Castle Candy at it’s hour of need with a charming air and wolfish grin. It didn’t take long for him to snake his way into the court, hypnotic in his ability to lull the deepest secrets from everyone, no matter the stature.

The greatest secret he discovered, however, was the love inspired by Queen Rain-Beau. He fell for her, hard - and their secret flourished inside the castle. A love to be shared in their home but traitorous should anyone outside the castle walls discover it.

It is the nature of mortals to lie and shield their truths, for the sake of self protection. But as the Spymaster of Candia, Adalwolf knows more than most how some are kept for the protection of others.

When all the secrets erupts from within him like a tempest, what destruction will be left in the Wolf’s wake?

Character Playlist

[separatist-apologist]

i'm not really concentrating on romance with honor mode. i'm not sure who will have a side quest that's easy to complete with honor mode. i think gale's is probably the least insane, but if i skip lae'zel she leaves by act 2 which i don't want. who did you romance? did you complete each companion side quest? were there companions you didn't pick up? i was thinking i might leave halsin behind and keep the shadow curse intact to avoid the oliver stuff. i just don't want to put a ton of hours in to die to that demon child lol. and i think i will skip astarian's side quest since it's not necessary to keep him around. same with shadowheart. i might even keep lae'zel still in with vlaakith since it would be easier when it comes to the emperor.

I love talking about my absolute batshit insane honor mode run because I did literally everything I could to both level to 12 as quickly as possible while fighting as few battles as possible.

This got really long so it's all under the cut

Some things I did:

I did a chaotic DUrge run. I knew I needed to be the Slayer so Orin couldn't be, because she gets a turn per arm, and that fucking thing has four arms. In a normal game, if she rolls first and I forget to cast sanctuary, she depletes my health in one turn (Monk will be really good for this. Get your initiative up and make sure you have stunning strike and just take her out as quick as possible).

I did save Halsin because oak father preserve me, he's too fine to let die and also I love the tieflings and Rolans tower comes in clutch for the final fight. You can still get it if you hand over Aelin, but Aelin will also provide support and I wanted her.

I often left either Gale or Shadowheart in camp for difficult fights in act 1 while working on leveling up. You can easily get yourself to lvl 6 in Act 1 if you explore the whole map, and there are relatively few killer fights. Ethel is the worst, imo, and I waited until after I did the underdark to come back for her because that +1 boon is helpful

I skipped a BUNCH of stuff in the underdark, partly because I just don't like this map. I did do the Booal quest because now they'll come to help you in the final fight (meat shields) + the cleric of mystras tower because a- i love hearing gale tell me about his misadventures in blackstaff and 2- easy XP

RIP gnomes but I sided with Nere in the grymforge because I wasn't fighting that fight. It was a hard call because the gnomes are also very useful in the final fight, but if you (spoiler) kill the Gondians for Wulbrun, he'll ally with you and that was fine. So that was another horrible decision I made.

For Last Light- I let Marcus take Isobel. SORRY but I read that if you kill her during the Myrkul fight, that still counts for Scelaritas and it DOES. The downside is if you long rest anytime between freeing Aelin/killing Isobel, you have to successfully roll not to kill your lover. I did not think about this, long rested, and it was only through the grace of Ao I didn't slaughter Gale. However, you get the slayer power which is pretty nice imo, without making anyone mad because Aelin had no idea I was the one who sold out Isobel. Yay me!

I also cleared out the tower BEFORE the shadowfell. It's difficult for sure, but easier to kind of work through specific areas, go back to camp and rest, and then hit the rest

Kill Balthazar immediately- you should always do this honestly because the fight in the shadowfell is a LOT harder than fighting four ghouls, his flesh dude, and then himself (have astarion pickpocket him BEFORE the fight though so he can't cast haste. What i do is i go in and start the dialogue, switch to astartion, drink a potion of invisibility then sneak over and rob him stupid before I have laezel hit him with stunning strike).

I did complete halsin's quest and im not gonna lie, it was brutal. I didn't leave anyone in camp for this fight either- shadowheart with spirit guardians activated in one corner by the water where the shadows appear takes out the lower level ones easy, and does constant radiant damage to the higher HP. Have Gale cast wall of fire from the opposite side where all the cursed harpers/githyanki come through, and then Laezel can pick off the ones who make it through the flames one by one while my archer stood by the portal and took down anyone capable of long range attacks.

I did go to the creche (HELL). My suggestion is to ally with Vlakkith and agree to kill the DG, go and handle that (I stabbed him lmao), come back and fight the inquisitor. It's still a hard fight BUT then you can slip off to the side door to the blood of lathander (I didn't bother with the mace), long rest, and get the hell out of dodge.

Equip Gale with knock so you can skip the trials of Shar- you do have to do the library fight but if you give Laezel the long leap or whatever it's called BEFORE you go through the barrier, she can jump down the stairs and take out the portal on her first turn and then everyone can use magic again.

Make sure your charisma is high enough to convince Yurgir to kill himself and spare yourself the fight- you need his purple orb. Gale will say not to lick the carcass but you should do it anyway. What does he know???

Then run straight to the shadowfell- use Yurgirs orb to get to the door, Gale casts knock and boom you're in.

Convince Kethric he can be redeemed to skip straight to the Myrkul fight. You still have to get him to like, half health on the roof, but then when you get to the mindflayer hive, you can remind him he was about to stand down and he will. You have to find the note from Melodia for this- its in a locked chest in his bedroom.

I rescued Zevlor because the hellriders are easily the best allies in the brain fight imo.

I did practically nothing in Rivington- I don't care about the fireworks quest and I certainly wasn't risking my run on a bunch of orphans (no offense to orphans in real life of course)

I allied myself with Gortash all the way to the end- I usually do this because I hate that final fight in the Grand Dukes chambers. To skip it, you'll need to kill Orin first, then double back and tell him you have it, complete the rolls convincing him you should still ally together, and then he goes down to the brain to wait for you. You COULD save the gondians, then- he won't blow up the Iron Throne, one of his minions will instead, and your alliance is still in tact.

For companion quests- Gales is the easiest because you only have to talk to Mystra and make a choice around the crown. Breaking into SS is easy, and there's very little down there that will kill you. I had high dex, so I disabled all the traps. I did romance Gale this run- I always do- which was difficult because I knew I might choose to blow him up if I was losing my brain fight

I chose to keep Shadowheart and kill the Sharrans which is always a difficult fight. Gale needs several spells- counterspell, obviously, and sleet storm which causes spellcasters to have to roll to keep their concentration- it works like, 95% of the time so when they're casting darkness all over the place, Gale can counter it and you're not taking damage/losing distance/unable to get a hit in while they utterly obliterate you. I had Tav and Shadowheart talk to Viconia while I sent Gale and Laezel to more strategic spots for killing.

Astarions fight nearly ended me if I had to do it again, I genuinely wouldn't even pick him up from the beach. He's not essential to the story and after act 1 I don't think he's even particularly needed in any party unless you just really like playing a rogue, like his character, or are re/multiclassing him. Laezel opened every door I asked her to in act 3 with her sword, and Gale had knock which unlocks simple locks. I dont know that Honor Mode is the right place to be exploring though. I skipped a LOT of side quests- like the carnival (RIP dribbles), for example, and that stupid bard in his haunted house.

I think the most important thing for an honor run is your allies. I used them all as meat shields while running to the brain. I had a boatload of arrows of like, abberation slaying etc etc to take out the mind flayers as we ran (orpheus was our mind flayer). I'd spend the first part of the turn calling for allies as a distraction and then just booking it. Everyone was holding like, 50 potions of health and as many potions of speed as I could craft. Just be careful because after 3 turns, you lose one, but at lvl 12, with action surge, laezel can make 12 hits for one turn which is so helpful against the brain.

I think once I realized that this is not an "honorable" game, it was helpful.