#she will do numbers in baldurs gate 3

[dravencore]

thia is the first dnd character i ever made and i love her very much

she's a half elf bard that used to be in a ff9-esque theater troupe/thieves guild (charlatan backstory)

she's a chaotic neutral obnoxious party girl that doesnt really think further ahead than the nearest good time. this hides the fact that she's actually deeply insecure about her place in the world and doesn't really have much self worth as a result. she very much believes that she isn't really meant to be more than the fun side character in someone else's life

the above is the main reason why she's adventuring. she wants to hang around actual heroes and interesting people to collect their stories

[fascinationstreetmp3]

Your bond will not save you. He will wrap its cord around your neck and make you swing from it.

[trappedinafantasy37]

POV: You're hiding out in the break room hitting your vape and the regional manager walks in on you, smoke billowing out of your mouth as you pretend to be a dragon. Good luck salvaging your job!

[sarcasticsra]

I’m obsessed with this game a normal amount

[weaveandwood]

This is Elora! My wild magic sorceror for my playthrough with my husband. I'm torn between romancing Gale (because he has the best romance, idk if i can resist the rizz, and the thought of teasing him about having to learn to do magic is delicious) and Wyll (because he's so cute and I think they'd be cuties together). Thoughts?

Also is there a way to get mods to work on multiplayer or do you have to play vanilla the whole way through? I have mods but my husband doesn't, so he's hosting.

[acathea]

serina is going to be my dark urge character, if anything because the “you want to believe a miracle happened [serina has come back from the dead]... but probably not [dark entity inside of her]” factor is really compelling

... also funny, considering it wouldn’t even be the first time something like this has happened to her. coming back to life is new, though

[geeneelee]

Minthara spells it out for you, but really the line between your tragic companion that you’d do anything for and just another casualty, if a little unfortunate, is razor thin in Baldur’s Gate 3.

It could have one of the other Sharran, one of the other spawn, one of the other Githyanki that were scooped up by the nautiloid, that you then met and slowly befriended, peeling back their layers of trauma and abrasiveness.

And then it could be Lae’zel as just another enemy you kill when she tries to take the artifact back for Vlaakith, it could be Shadowheart as just another Sharran you strike down in the House of Grief, it could be Astarion as just another vampire spawn you’re considering sacrificing so that your tragic vampire friend can ascend.

The game doesn’t shame you for the number of people you kill in self defense or for a greater goal, it wouldn’t be a DnD game if it did, but it’s a vaguely alluded to horror of the setting: being an acceptable casualty to a hero is entirely situational.

[felassan]

All companions are pansexual!!!

Game is rated M, will contain nudity. [source]

Full article:

"In a new interview with The Veilguard game director Corinne Busche, we've confirmed that yes, you will be able to romance any companion you want, regardless of your character's gender or race. It's a bit of a surprise for fans, considering that in previous Dragon Age games, the romanceable characters had different sexual orientations. Some were pansexual, sure, but others were heterosexual, others were only attracted to the same sex, and some could only be romanced if you were a certain race (Dragon Age: Inquisition's Solas, for example, could only be romanced by female elves). But Busche pushes back on the idea that The Veilguard's companions are "playersexual," a term used to describe games where NPCs are specifically only attracted to the player character. She says she's seen playersexual "done in a number of games," and "it can be really off-putting where these characters are adapting to who you, the player, are." Rather, Busche insists that they're all specifically pansexual, and that might come through in what you learn about their backstories. "Their past experiences or partners, they'll reference them and indeed who they'll become romantic with," Busche tells IGN. "For instance, we saw Harding. I might be playing a straight male character flirting with her, but I choose not to pursue a romance. She might get together with Taash. So my perception, my identity has no bearing on their identities and that comes through really strongly." When asked if that means it won't take long for romance to become an option in The Veilguard, Busche confirms that you'll be able to start flirting with everyone pretty early, as you recruit all seven companions throughout the first act. But, she clarifies, "it's not until the later parts of the game where you really commit to romance and it gets pretty spicy.""

---

"Speaking of spicy... Of course, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a BioWare game, and games from the studio — specifically those in the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series — are known to have some fairly explicit sex scenes. Busche confirms that The Veilguard will be no different, particularly towards the end of the game: "Of course, we are an M-rated game," she says. "We do have nudity." There's also some obvious parallels to be made between The Veilguard and last year's critical darling Baldur's Gate 3. The latter became known not only for its deep romances (like The Veilguard, Baldur's Gate 3 player characters can romance any companion regardless of gender or race), but also for its sex scenes, including one involving a Wild-Shaping Druid that went pretty viral. Busche isn't afraid to admit that she has played Baldur's Gate 3, and loved it, as she's an "an RPG fan through and through": "The more character-driven party-based RPGs with deep emotional connection, the better." "What I love about the two games is I think they live side by side in a really interesting way," she continues. "They're very different games, but those emotional connections and how the narratives hook you, I think there's space for both." Specifically in regards to the sex scenes and how The Veilguard will handle theirs differently, Busche says some of Baldur's Gate 3's scenes were "shocking and comical in some ways, and I would say I loved that." "Our companions, we want them to be relatable and fully realized. So they can get spicy, but in a way that I think people will actually relate to," she says. Basically: no bear sex. Busche goes on to say that how sexually explicit the scenes are, too, will vary between characters. "Some of them are more spicy than others," she reveals. "Just like real life, our companions have such diverse personalities. Some of them are more physical, more aggressive, and some of them are more... we have a gentleman necromancer, for instance, that is more intimate and sensual." Our interview with Busche comes as BioWare continues to roll out information about the highly anticipated Dragon Age sequel, with a cinematic trailer having dropped at the Xbox Showcase over the weekend. Dragon Age: The Veilguard will debut sometime this fall."

[source]

[wilwheaton]

I've been playing Baldur's Gate 3 on my PS5, which isn't the most portable thing in the world. I anticipate a lot of travel next year, so I bought it on Steam and got it running on my Steamdeck, so I can take it with me. Steam works so well with Linux, but I was having a hell of a time getting it to work with Proton, until a few days ago.

My character on PS5 was carefully built from the ground up. I think I spent 2 hours designing her and writing her story in my head. That was great, and not something I needed to do again, so I told it to just randomize everything. That would push me out of my comfort zone, and I'd get to experience a different story and experience than I do already.

The game generated a Tiefling Sorcerer for me, with a background in history and lore. Awesome. That's pretty different from my vengeance paladin with an outsider background.

Real quick: since I first posted about playing BG3, the number one FAQ is "do you roll as badly in this game as you do in real life?"

The answer to that is "I've had a shocking number of single digit rolls, but I turned on Karmic Dice because holy shit I have suffered ENOUGH, and I will take the option."

But with this new character (who I am calling Tav), I went ahead and turned it off, just to see.

Okay. I wake up. I see the parasite pool, and among my options is [INVESTIGATION] with a +1 bonus. That totally fits my character's story. She wants to get out of this place, but she is so compelled to understand things, to acquire knowledge and understanding, she goes straight to where the Mindflayer pulled out the tadpole, and rolls Investigation with +1. Let's find out WTF is going on! Let's do some HISTORY INVESTIGATION IN THIS MOTHER!

I rolled a 2.

So for everyone who has been asking, based on this admittedly small sample size, yes. Yes, the dice hate me, even when they are digital.

[moonselune]

Okay 1 I’m new to your blog but I’ve read your pin post. 2 you’ve content has just kept on showing up hence why I’m here and 3 can I request BG3 ladies reaction to gn Reader who has a habit of adopting children on the streets so when they come home to Baldurs gate. Alllll of Readers kids are like “Papa/Mama!” I just can’t help but laugh at the pure Chaos that would happen

I love the idea you were just browsing the tag and I just would not stop showing up and you were just like ah ffs might as well

mwhahaha welcome to this mess

This is such a sweet request and I had so much fun writing it!

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Karlach:

The streets of Baldur's Gate hummed with life as you and Karlach made your way home. The closer you got, the more your heart pounded with anticipation and a touch of anxiety. You had mentioned your habit of adopting children off the streets to Karlach, but you had definitely downplayed the number.

As you rounded the corner to your home, a chorus of excited shouts erupted.

“Y/N!” A whirlwind of children of all ages, from teenagers to toddlers, rushed towards you. In an instant, you were surrounded, hugged, and pulled in every direction.

Karlach’s eyes widened with surprise, but a wide grin quickly spread across her face. “Well, I’ll be damned! Look at all these little rascals!”

One of the older kids, a lanky teen with tousled hair, pointed excitedly at Karlach. “You’re the one from the letters! The big, strong one!”

Karlach laughed heartily, dropping to her knees to be at eye level with the children. “That’s right! And you must be the ones Y/N never stops talking about.”

Chaos ensued as Karlach was bombarded with questions and challenges. She revelled in the chaos, roughhousing with the older kids, lifting the younger ones in the air, and roaring with laughter. One by one, the children warmed up to her, their initial awe giving way to delighted squeals and playful shoves.

Karlach’s enthusiasm was infectious, and soon, the entire street was filled with the sounds of joy and laughter. She wrestled with the teenagers, showing them moves and tips while effortlessly juggling the toddlers, who giggled uncontrollably.

As you watched Karlach seamlessly integrate into the lively chaos, your heart swelled with gratitude and love. She caught your eye over the heads of your children, her smile softening into something more intimate and tender.

“Hey, Y/N,” she called out, her voice warm with affection. “I think I’m gonna like it here.”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Minthara:

The walk home with Minthara was filled with a comfortable silence, the drow warrior’s presence a steady anchor beside you. You had told her about your habit of adopting children off the streets, but you hadn’t quite been upfront about the sheer number of them.

As you neared your home, the familiar sound of children’s laughter and chatter grew louder. Suddenly, a small army of kids of all ages burst from the house, their faces lighting up at the sight of you. “Y/N!” they cried, rushing towards you. Minthara’s eyes widened in surprise, her expression quickly shifting to one of mild shock as she was swept up in the chaos.

“By Lolth’s web,” she muttered, stepping slightly behind you as the children swarmed. You were surprised she hadn't leapt up on your shoulder yet and started hissing at them, but there was still time. She came close to doing so when your toddler grabbed at the end of her robes, their little fingers covered in their own drool.

But before Minthara yelled at you to get it off of her, an older child, a girl with bright eyes and a confident stance, approached Minthara, looking at her in awe. “You’re Minthara, right? The drow, the one that saved Y/N?”

Minthara blinked, momentarily taken aback. “Yes, that’s correct,” she replied, her voice cautious as she still panicked about the grubby toddler that was advancing their assault, now using her robes as a tissue.

The girl’s eyes sparkled with admiration. “Can you teach us? Please? Y/N said you are the best fighter she has ever met!”

Minthara’s initial reaction was to scowl and correct the child that she was the best fighter ever, but the earnestness in the girl’s eyes softened her. “Teach you?” she repeated, glancing at you for guidance.

You gave her an encouraging smile and to her relief, scooped up the toddler that was about to wipe something on Minthara's leg. “They’d love to learn from you, Minthara.”

Minthara hesitated but then nodded, her usual stern demeanor relaxing slightly. “Very well. I can teach you a few things.”

The older children gathered around her, their excitement palpable. Even the previous enemy toddler, wobbling on unsteady legs, looked up at her with wide, curious eyes. Minthara knelt down, her movements careful and deliberate, and began to demonstrate basic dagger holds.

As she spoke to them, her confidence grew, and the children listened intently, mimicking her movements with the sticks they had. The initial chaos had given way to a more organized form of learning, with Minthara guiding them patiently.

You watched with a smile, your heart swelling with affection and pride. When Minthara had sent them off and returned to you, she gave you a small, almost shy smile.

“This,” she said quietly, “is not what I expected.”

You chuckled, stepping closer to her. “Welcome to the family, Minthara. It’s always a bit chaotic, but there’s a lot of love here.”

She nodded, a hint of warmth in her eyes. “I can see that. And perhaps,” she added, glancing at the children who were now eagerly practicing the dagger holds she had taught, “this small army isn’t so bad after all.”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Lae'zel:

Returning to Baldur's Gate with Lae'zel by your side, you felt a mix of excitement and nerves. You had mentioned your habit of adopting children off the streets, but you hadn’t quite conveyed just how many there were. As you turned the corner to your home, a wave of voices erupted.

“Y/N!”

Suddenly, a throng of children rushed towards you. They encircled you in an instant, their arms wrapping around you, pulling you in every direction. Lae'zel’s eyes widened in surprise, her usual stern demeanor faltering.

“What is this chaos?” she demanded, her voice tight with alarm. “Where is the discipline?”

One of the teenagers tugged at your sleeve, laughing. “Who’s the scary lady?”

“Lae'zel, this is my family,” you said, turning to her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, “They’re just excited to see us. Relax and go play with them.”

Lae'zel looked at you, clearly puzzled. “Play? What do you mean by play?”

You smiled, crouching down to address the younger children. “Kids, I have a super important adventure for you, do you think you can handle it?"

"We're not babies Y/N of course we can!" The little children shouted at you.

"Okay, well if you think you can handle it" You said in mock disbelief "Can you teach Lae'zel how to play?”

With delighted giggles, the children took Lae'zel by the hands, leading her towards a game of tag. She stood stiffly at first, unsure of how to engage. But as the children ran around her, laughing and encouraging her to join, she began to loosen up.

One of the younger kids, a girl with pigtails, tugged on Lae'zel’s hand. “Come on, Lae'zel! It’s fun!”

Lae'zel hesitated but then nodded, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “Very well. Show me how to… play.”

You watched with a mix of amusement and affection as Lae'zel, the fierce warrior, was gradually drawn into the children’s games. Her initial panic gave way to tentative enjoyment, and soon she was running and laughing with the rest of them.

When she caught your eye across the yard, her smile was radiant. “I am still not certain about this play,” she called out, “but it is not entirely unpleasant!”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Shadowheart:

Walking through Baldur’s Gate with Shadowheart, you felt a sense of anticipation. You had told her about your habit of adopting children off the streets, but you hadn’t gone into detail about the number of kids you’d taken in. As you approached your home, a joyful chorus greeted you.

“Y/N!”

A swarm of children of all ages came rushing towards you, their faces lighting up with excitement. They surrounded you in an instant, hugging you and clamoring for your attention. Shadowheart’s eyes widened in surprise, her usually composed demeanor giving way to uncertainty.

“Oh my,” she murmured, glancing at you. “This is… a lot of children.”

“Shadowheart, meet my family,” you said with a smile, you then leaned in and whispered to her, “Just go with the flow.”

She nodded, still looking a bit bewildered. One of the younger kids, a little boy with curly hair, grabbed her hand. “Come play with us, Lady Battleflower!”

Shadowheart blinked. “Lady Battleflower?”

“Yes, you’re Lady Battleflower now!” the boy declared with a giggle.

Shadowheart gave you a bemused look, but she allowed the children to lead her away. You watched as she was drawn into a tea party, the children fussing over her, placing imaginary crowns on her head and handing her tiny cups.

Later, you found her still seated at a tiny table, a group of kids around her. She was holding a teacup delicately, playing along with their game. One of your children corrected her posture, insisting that Lady Battleflower must sit with grace.

You approached with a grin, ruffling your children's hair as you walked past them towards your beloved. “Shadowheart, may I join your tea party?”

Shadowheart looked up, a slight blush on her cheeks. “Only if you address me properly,” she said, her tone playful. “Lady Battleflower demands it.”

"Oh my apologies," You laughed, taking a seat beside her. “Lady Battleflower. It’s an honor.”

As your children continued their game, you exchanged a smile with Shadowheart. She was clearly out of her element, but she was making an effort, and the children adored her for it.

Later, as you sat together, watching the children play, Shadowheart leaned close to you. “This is… different,” she admitted. “But it’s not as overwhelming as I thought.”

You squeezed her hand. “Thank you for trying, Shadowheart. It means a lot.”

She smiled, a genuine warmth in her eyes. “Anything for you, Y/N. And it's Lady Battleflower, actually, your dismissal is offensive, I require five kisses as reparation”

"Only five?" You asked as you leaned towards her, "I believe someone of your stature requires, much, much more." You pulled Shadowheart into a deep passionate kiss, forgetting that you were surrounded by kids who quite quickly made theirselves known.

"Oh my gods, I'm going to throw up!"

"Somebody gouge my eyes out, please"

"Ah! they are eating each other!"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Oh my gods I had so much fun writing this I actually cannot express it ! Hope y'all enjoyed it ! - Seluney xox

[mumms-the-word]

guys

GUYS

you’ll never believe what nonsense I came across while I was brainrot doomscrolling through all the books and notes on the BG3 wiki trying to find stuff I might have missed in act 2

druid self-insert romantic fanfiction about the first battle against Moonrise and Ketheric

fanfic that Halsin read and criticized!!

Okay if you played early access you shouldn’t be surprised because these books existed in EA. I’ve tried to find them in my game post patch 6 but all I can find is volume 3, which is disappointing because I was hoping to find volume 4

But as a treat, if you’re like me and completely didn’t know about this, buckle up and please enjoy the self-insert adventures of a certain “Roa” who totally isn’t Roan Featherway, a druid of Silvanus and colleague(??) of Halsin himself

———

Book Draft - Volume I

The name on the inside of this faded journal suggests it belonged to a 'Roan Featherway', a druid of Silvanus.

[Neatly written chapters fill this journal. A list of what appears to be book publishers in Baldur's Gate are on the first page. The cover has a multitude of titles, all crossed out: 'The Unforeseen Alliance, volume 1', 'Druids and Harpers, a fight for good!', 'The Shadowed Evil: who dares to stand against it?'] Our hero, the [brave? mighty?] druid Roa arrives in the grove. When he received the summons from the Emerald Enclave, he knew something was afoot. Filled with druids and rangers alike, members of the Enclave are scattered across the realm. They fight to preserve the natural order, keep the elemental forces of the world in check, and do battle with those who would upset this delicate balance. They are fierce warriors, though none as fierce as Roa. Built like [an ox? A bear?], he stands head and shoulders above the crowd. The grove is buzzing with activity. Roa spots a beautiful woman with ebony hair flowing past her shoulders, her eyes as blue as a [summer's day? bluebird?]. His smile turns to a frown as he notices the crescent moon and harp pinned to her chest. By Silvanus, what was a Harper doing here?

———

Book Draft - Volume II

Formed from several journals, paper scraps and, in one case, the back of an envelope, this book has been carefully glued together to form the second in a series of romance novels.

[This seems to be the second volume in a series written by an amateur novelist. The title on the cover, 'Love in Shadowed Lands', is crossed out.] The ebony-haired woman notices Roa's gaze and crosses the grove, [winking? smiling?] as she stands by the druid's side. 'I don't usually wear it out in the open,' she says, tapping the brooch on her cloak, a crescent moon and harp pinned to her chest. 'Except for special occasions.' 'What's a Harper doing in a grove of Silvanus?' Roa asks. 'Not just one.' She gestures to a group by the sacred pool. 'We're generally more cloak and dagger,' she continues, 'thwarting tyrants and [guarding? protecting?] the realm is best done in secret. But you lot have a fight on your hands. We're here to help.' 'Since when do the Emerald Enclave need a bunch of Harpers?' Roa says. 'You haven't heard?' She laughs, her laugh tinkling like a bell. 'Strap in, sweetie. We're about to take on Dark Justiciars, their demented leader Ketheric Thorm and, if we're very lucky, Shar herself.'

———

Book Draft - Volume III

The third book in a series of romance novels, this once beautifully bound book has had pages ripped out, glued back in and even tied to the book's spine using a piece of twine.

['Volume Three' is written in bold on the front. The title 'The Cost of Sorrow' is followed by a number of question marks.] 'But why?' Roa screams, the beast within barely contained. 'Why follow Shar? Why destroy Moonhaven?' Ketheric stares down [haughtily? cruelly?] at Roa as he steps over the bodies of Harpers and druids alike. 'Shar knows all.' He smiles [maliciously?]. 'She gave me a holy mission. I'm merely fulfilling it.' 'The people of Moonhaven trusted you!' Roa cries, his anger rising. 'How could you turn your Dark Justiciars on them?' Ketheric smiles, 'They needed the target practice. Can't have Shar's elite getting rusty, now can we? As for you...' a crescent blade appears in his [cruel?] hands. 'You are but one lone druid, Roa. Who are you to stand against me?' Roa forces himself to his feet, Silvanus' fury coursing through him. 'I'm your downfall. Today you die, Ketheric!'

———

And for the pièce de résistance 😮‍💨🤌

Book Draft - Volume IV

The fourth volume and final novel, this book has had almost every single page ripped out, except for the last twenty or so pages.

['Shadow's Kiss' is written in bold on the front. Pages of crossed out lines have notes in the margin reading 'finale!', 'more exciting!'. The final entry reads:] 'Get out of here.' Roa whispers, clutching his side. Blood pours from his fingers, a final gift from Ketheric's blade. 'I'm not leaving you,' Selene sobs, blue eyes filling with tears. Roa cups her face. 'I won't make it out in time. But you can.' Selene presses her forehead against his. Her ebony hair falls forward, forming a curtain that envelops them both. Roa closes his eyes, a smile lifting his lips as her scent, wild roses, washes over him. 'That grappling hook. You still have it?' He asks. 'Of course. Why do you -' With the last of his strength, Roa pushes her from the balcony. He watches her fall, watches her pull the hook from her pack and expertly throw it, swinging gracefully to the ground. A mighty crack splits the floor beneath him as the tower crumbles. He smiles contentedly. Selene was safe. That's all that mattered. Epilogue: 'Selfish bastard.' Selene says, kicking the base of the grave. Balsin places a comforting hand on her shoulder. 'He was the greatest of us all,' Balsin says, a towering behemoth of a druid, although not as tall as Roa. 'We will forever honour him, for he single-handedly broke Shar's hold on the land, and helped -' [A different hand appears beneath the final entry.] Roan, you had one job. This is not a historical record of what occurred, it is poorly written romance with no basis in fact. And if I ever see the name 'Balsin' again, I will personally feed you to Ormn.

Halsin you’re such a critic

we were robbed

[medra-gonbites]

Baldur's Gate 3 Companion Head Canon Party Edition

Tav is throwing a party for their birthday. The playlist is ready, the neighbors are warned and the balloons are blown.

Here is what the companions (and three surprise party crashers) would bring to that little soirée.

Laezel | A strange liquor nobody has heard of

Impossible to know what it is, the label is written in a different alphabet. It has a crazy high alcohol percentage. Never mind it tastes like diesel: it's strong and if you want to get drunk it will get you there. Also it was crazy cheap so she bought 5 bottles (which she'll be the one drinking).

Gale | Some fancy ass bourbon

Nobody will drink it, because it is not that kind of night, Gale! He spends 19 minutes explaining to Tav why this vintage is special and what kind of smoky and woody hints they should get from the taste as well as an extensive story about where it was brewed (some place in the Highlands with blind dwarven monks no doubt).

Shadowheart | Wine 

It is a lower to mid quality bottle but she actually spends all evening drinking cocktails mostly composed of juice and vodka: she likes wine but it stains her teeth and gives her a headache, plus she really likes bright colors in her drinks. If there is Passoa and orange juice and the weather is nice she will be giving it a go. 

Wyll | Tequila

Alongside lemons and salt. The group complains because it’s just not something that gets drinken casually. However, they all end up taking shots around 3am and pass out and/or barf. Wyll is the only one who does not have a hangover the next day because he drinks water in between shots. Will make the cocktails if he is being asked nicely (he brought his shaker as well).

Karlach | Beer

She either comes with two 64-beer crates, one on each shoulder, or a keg (with a funnel and a pipe). She drinks most of these together with Wyll and burps loudly before shouting 'better in than out' and belly laugh herself to cramps. If the beers are canned, she will crush them on her forehead once they are downed. Ultimate beer pong winner.

Astarion | Shows up empty-handed

He feigns he didn't know or that he ran out of time to get something but he'll promise to bring something the next time (which is a lie as he already promised last time at Karlach’s costume party). He will leave with Gale’s expensive bourbon though and gift it to one his teacher from law school (in order to bribe them, of course).

Halsin |Juices

Not these industrial juice boxes mind you, but some organic 100% fruit, no added sugar juice from the bio coop. Or better yet he makes the juices himself - If the time of year is right he will make punch or sangria himself (and be careful it’s sweet but it is treacherous).

Minthara | Cocaïne

Nobody wants to do any. Frankly, Minthara did not read the audience  well. Astarion is willing but feels the vibe and decides not to (he takes her dealer's number for later though)). She ends up doing a line alone in the kitchen. At the height of the night when she's loaded and drunk she makes out with Gale or bullies him (or both).

Jaheira | Soda and ice

To be fair, all kinds of soda, and not just the generic crap either, the good brands. Bubbles no bubbles, fruity, bitter, sweet, you name it. She does not drink as she is the designated driver for her and Minsc (no way they're sleeping over with these kids) so she spends her night sipping on some ginger ale.

Minsc | Goblets

A lot of them. While it was disappointing at first it turns out to be a super sharp idea. Either to drink from or play beer pong they came in extremely handy. Halsin will pout and comment on the sustainability issue. Minsc drinks water but takes a new cup everytime he gets another drink (partly because he is proud of his goblet idea, partly to antagonize Halsin).

Durge | Flour

They are Tav's neighbour and they were invited out of politeness and actually showed up. They come with flour because “hey, remember when I borrowed some, years ago, there, I’m bringing it back like I said I would. We are even now”. They have the best jokes but they will try and start a fight over the playlist (they have issues with music it seems).

Here are a couple of party crashers who were not invited but came anyways.

Barcus | Airfryer and Snacks

He shows up very early to Tav's surprise. He was not exactly invited but thought he was due to Tav mentioning the party to him at work. Upon seeing him Tav is actually happy though and his glad he popped by. He brought his airfryer and some fried goods and that's just awesome.

Volo | His guitar

He was not invited and knew it but he shows up anyway. He will complain about the music the whole time while drinking wine and take his guitar to try and play wonderwall for everyone, even though nobody asked. Lae’zel will lock him on the balcony at some point during the night.

Gortash | Cheap Vodka

He was also not invited. He was told explicitly he was not but what can you do.... His shirt is way too open on his chest, he wears way too much cologne and his pockets are full of condoms. He tries to get into Shadowheart’s pants all night, refilling her glass constantly but he’ll end up at Durge's place next door.

[brabblesblog]

In recent weeks, I have been receiving hate anons on my ao3 fic. I have tweeted about it here and there, but have mostly ignored it. Unfortunately, today I received another, and due to the content, I feel like I have to respond. It’s been said before but it bears repeating: public accusations like these are damaging to creators, even when they are phrased passive aggressively rather than direct. 

I shall endeavor to answer these in full in this message and then I don’t plan to address this issue again. I would have preferred this to be resolved more maturely, through conversation, but as these remarks have been placed in the public sphere, and have been happening for weeks now, I am opting to reply openly. 

The concept of an A!A that could be softer was inspired by a number of A!A fanfics, particularly 'The Rogue You Were', and I have always been open about this. In fact, were you to look at chapter 1 of Whither, an acknowledgment exists. Whither’s foundation was built on this concept, and grew into 2 – going on 3 now – full longfics from there. I have never been shy about where my original inspiration came from. 

These tropes that I am now accused of copying (masquerades, Raphael-esque characters, Astarion being murderous, comic relief, and bats) are as we all know common tropes amongst the fandom and amongst vampire literature, and were not new concepts when they were used by the person claiming credit for them.

My favorite thing about fandom spaces is that they are a place to share ideas and collaborate. The person who made this accusation was someone I considered a friend: we had openly expressed to each other various instances where she and I were inspired by each other’s work. I have credited her influences; she has not credited mine. Dredging up screenshots to support this statement would be exhausting, and I hope it doesn’t become necessary. I’d much rather be working on my fic than dealing with this, and I hope this is the end of it so we can all get back to doing what we enjoy with our time.

I have as of late retreated from reading other fanfic within the fandom; mental health issues and intense impostor syndrome have rendered it impossible for me to engage in others’ writing, no matter how much I’d like to. Art, being something in the fandom that is removed from writing, is something I really enjoy seeing and delve headfirst into, but I am not at all up to date on the latest fic trends. These ideas (the masquerade, batstarion, and a more light-hearted tone) are things my editor and I have long wanted to add to the fic, but they did not fit into the plot right away. Presenting a cohesive, well-thought-out story has always been the most important thing to me, rather than chasing the latest trend. 

We are all playing the same game, writing from the same base material, often for the same characters with slightly different takes on those characters. There is no way to write for a fandom, particularly one like this, without a fair bit of overlap. I've worked hard this year to find my peace with that, and to not see others using similar plot points as copying. We are all appreciating the same masterpiece of a game, after all.

And lastly, I’d like to add that I don’t in any way condone harassing anyone, anonymously or otherwise, so please do not do so on my behalf.

Comment can be seen in this chapter, will post a screenshot if it's deleted:

[talizoraa]

Some early game Baldur’s Gate 3 tips

- Once you’ve rescued Shadowheart from her pod on the Nautiloid, you can press K on pc (idk about controller) to see her spell list and change her prepared spells. Swap out one of her spells for Command. Now you can use command to make the devil drop his sword and easily go and pick it up. Even if you can’t use it, this is a very strong early game sword even for your party members and there’s no reason not to do this. Once he’s dropped his weapon it’s easier to kill him, but still very tough. He gives a lot of xp though, so it’s your choice. (Thanks to my gf for this she’s a genius)

- Long rest as often as possible. Especially if you care about your companions personal stories and your relationships with them. As you progress the story and recruit your party members, camp events get added to a queue with different urgency attached to them. If you don’t long rest enough, you will miss a lot of these. Some of them are important for quests, some are just for learning more about your companions, but you can get a lot of approval if you do them, if that’s something you care about. The majority of the time there is no downside to long resting frequently, with camp supplies being very easy to come by. There are a small number of quests that will change after you long rest, but by far fewer than I thought there would be. If you’re worried, you can f5 to quick save before long rest. On my earlier saves, I used long rest very sparingly and missed a lot of events I would’ve liked to have seen. (Also obviously restoring spell slots and hp and stuff)

- If you are not playing a cleric or a druid, and don’t feel like constantly having Shadowheart in your party, you can go here to loot a necklace with Guidance on it. Guidance is extremely good for dice rolls and I absolutely recommend picking this up.

- This last ones mostly just for fun, once you reach the Emerald Grove, head up the path to the east from the entrance and you can meet Alfira the tiefling bard. Talk to her and offer to play with her, pass all the difficulty checks and you’ll learn to play musical instruments. There’s also a chest here with an item for bards inside. Head north east from her to fight some harpies and rescue a tiefling boy, who will give you access to the kids hideout. Again these aren’t super important, just helpful, and the instrument proficiency is fun. These will NOT be available after you complete the main quest for the zone. (Image is from google, don’t know what the other markers are)

- Oh also, these are pretty well known but just in case. As I said, F5 to quicksave, F8 to quickload. Hold ALT to see almost all lootable objects. Hold SHIFT to see enemy’s cones of vision.

These are just a few tips that would have helped me out had I known them sooner, that I’ve hardly seen mentioned anywhere else. There’s more obvious ones, like making sure you recruit Wyll and Karlach before moving on to act 2, as they’re easily missable, and fully exploring the crash site to find all the available companions. Feel free to let me know if there’s any more I should add or reblog with your own!

[sisterofsomeone]

Till Death Do Us Part

Chapter 1/10

Chapter 2

Summary: On a wedding day in Baldur’s Gate, a marriage is sealed with a sanctified bond. A powerful magic that allows your minds to meld and cannot ever be undone. It is also required to share your darkest secret for the bond to be bestowed. There is a common myth passed around that once, a very long time ago, a woman was tricked into marriage by a demon of sorts and only found out when they wed. Every wedding at that moment the room falls silent, waiting for another scream, another myth making secret to be revealed. You just never thought you would be witness to it.

Series Warnings: Wonwoo x fem!reader, slight Seokmin x fem!reader (because I can't help myself), established relationship/situationship, angst, fluff, swearing, drinking, smoking, there are references to end game BG3 and spoilers for the whole game so please proceed with caution! smut MDNI 18+, unprotected sex, pet names (baby girl, pretty girl, princess), oral sex (male and female receiving), breeding kink, slight daddy kink, size kink, reader has a vagina that gets described as a pussy/cunt, slight dub-con for a second then clear consent, (more will be added as the series goes on!)

Word count: 3.5K

Author's note: Hello again! I was originally going to write this as a oneshot, but I just kept writing and writing and felt that I really wanted to try and flesh this world out. So, it's becoming a series! I cannot promise regular updates as I am in my final year of university, and start back up at my graduate job in september, but I am really enjoying writing this so I'm aiming for at least once a month, but maybe more. I do also have another series in the works which I want to post soon as well, so keep on the lookout for that one! I’ve never written anything like this before so bear with me if it’s not very good! Please enjoy, I really do hope this is entertaining for you, and have a wonderful day/afternoon/evening! Lots of love, Caitlin <3

This is a work of fiction and in no way is meant to represent the actions, ideals, or attitude of the idol Jeon Wonwoo.

Baldur’s Gate. The jewel of the Sword Coast. Granted, you never knew there was supposedly a dragon sleeping under the city before the invasion, but still. A wonderful place to live. Life here was easier for someone like you, the eldest daughter of the Apothecary Merchant. Father had spent most of the money he made to dress you in the finest of clothes, hire chefs to teach you to make the finest of meals, and ensure you were surrounded by the best trained ladies in waiting possible. Status meant everything to him, and you knew you had to marry up to please him. Being the eldest of three girls, you were schooled in house making, cooking, mathematics, business, politics- anything and everything that would endear you to one of the knowledgeable and wealthy bachelors your father was hoping to wed you to. Your younger sisters however were afforded the luxury to follow their throws of passion and learn dance, music, or geography to teach and travel. You didn’t much care for home making, your fascination with the foul words in other languages usually left your tutor giggling after you begged her to teach you them. You were smart, quick with numbers and well versed in politics and business. It was something your father loved about you. The daughter that would lift them even higher in status. You were his political pawn.

You were with your mathematics tutor when she burst through the door. Your mother, her face flushed, chest rising and falling rapidly with her heavy breaths.

“The- The King wants you to attend the ball.” She spoke. “The ball for the princes to choose their brides. He has called for you specifically.”

“Oh?” You didn’t so much as look away from your work, still toying away with the problems in front of you.

“Yes! Oh Gods girl, what are we to do with you?” Your tutor excused himself as your mother swanned towards the large windows. She was as dramatic a woman as you had ever met, and you loved her for it. Turning to face you, her dress billowed, and it struck you yet again how beautiful she was. You knew she used to be the catch; the young daughter of a cattle farmer swept into the Sword Coast by her wild fancies and taking Baldur’s Gate by storm. She married your father in a rather quickly arranged match, both being only 21 and your bump already starting to show through her clothes. She had always held a special place in your life, and the closeness in age only solidified your bond.

“You’re to help me avoid it. You know I want nothing to do with the royal family.” You raised an eyebrow, smirk playing on your lips as you turned another page in your book.

“It’s such a shame. You should go, if not for yourself but for me. It says and family and you know how much your sisters and I would love it!” Her fingers danced across the edge of the paper, twirling the red silk ribbon that used to hold the envelope closed as she read and reread the words.

“You know, there must be a specific reason they invited you. I heard only four girls and their families were invited specifically by name.” He voiced wavered, tone light, eyes meeting yours with that twinkle you knew meant trouble. Sometimes it felt like you were the parent in this.

“Will I need a new dress?” With that she squealed and swept you into her arms.

“Oh darling! You are going to love this!” Untangling her arms from around you she ran from the room and to the staircase.

“Girls! Darling! Come downstairs, your sister has an announcement!”

It was dark outside when you were finally allowed to rest. Your mother had dragged you and your sisters around every tailor in the city, eventually settling on a beautiful, glittered gown from the Facemaker’s that made it look like you were dripping in starlight. Your sisters marvelled at you, them seemingly more excited for your prospects than you were. As you stood before the full-length mirror, watching the way light danced across the dress you caught your own breath. You stood tall, the shimmering fabric laying against your body as if made solely for you. Your face now seemingly had the allure you always attributed to your mother, the colour of your eyes mirroring her own beautiful hue. It was the first time you felt a fraction as beautiful as her. That’s why you let your mother buy the dress, but you’d never tell her that.

The evening was warm as you took a book from the library and made your way to the balcony. Lighting the lamp on the table you slipped yourself onto the velvet covered seat and pulled the small blanket around your legs, hiking them up to your chest. It was here you sat, absorbed in the words of scholars until a small cough caught your attention. This was routine at this point, so you put your book down and pulled yourself from the seat, dangling a hand over the railing in front of you before leaning your head over. The man clasped your hand and smiled up at you.

It had all been an accident, you meeting Seokmin and Wonwoo. You weren’t supposed to be walking unescorted to Sorcerers’ Sundries, well technically you weren’t supposed to be walking there at all, but what Father didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. You had stopped but for a moment to watch the magic show at the front entrance when you felt a hand dip into your pockets. You grasped their wrist and turned, only to be met with a small child.

“I’m-I’m so sorry miss, please let me go.” The tiny tiefling looked terrified, eyes wide and lower lip trembling. Immediately you dropped your guard, gaze softening and grip on their arm loosening.

“Child, no need to be scared I won’t call the Fists. But let’s not go picking anymore pockets hm?” They nodded, thanking you as they scurried away. Thats when you heard the laughter. Two tall men, eyes dark and trained directly on you and the scurrying child.

“What are you two laughing at huh?” The slightly broader one cocked an eyebrow at you, and the other pointed behind you. There you saw the scared tiefling, not so scared anymore as them and their friend – who you hadn’t noticed until now – were poking their tongues out at you as they waved a purse above their heads.

“That’s mine!” You shouted as they hurried off, tails wagging and giggles filling the dark streets.

“You fell for that hook line and sinker.” One of the hooded men let a plume of smoke escape his lips and curled them into a smile. “Are you new here or something?”

“No, no. Look at her, she’s a sheltered little princess I bet.” The other said, closing the distance between you and him. You finally got a good look at him. Dark eyes, golden tanned skin, a smile spread across his face that lit a fire in your stomach. He leaned down, face now only inches from yours. “Such a sheltered little princess, aren’t you?” There was an earthiness to him, a woody smell that danced under a zesty citrus. This was no commoner’s perfume.

“Who are you?”

Wonwoo’s eyes shone from below you on the balcony, that same smile lighting that spark deep in your soul. He was intelligent, worldly, but most of all, he was kind. He climbed up the balcony as usual, pulling you into his embrace and kissing you. It was hot, fiery and passionate. It always felt like he was swallowing you whole, devouring every part of you. He pushed you backwards, lowering you into the plush of the loveseat as his body covered your own. His mouth never left yours, tongue playing against your bottom lip as you gave him entrance. He moaned, fingers running through your hair and pulling, revealing the length of your neck to him. He kissed down it, careful not to leave any marks as he did so.

“My beautiful girl, my pretty girl.” His lips left a searing trail down to your chest, his hands trailing down your sides, bunching up your dress to reach your core.

“Wonwoo, baby, we can’t. Not tonight.” It was almost useless, his lips never stopped working against your neck, teeth nipping at your pulse point. “Wonwoo, baby.” A whine left him that had a throb course through your body and set that flame burning.

“Don’t tell me to stop baby please.” He kissed you again, hands never stopping their assault on you. “Please don’t tell me I can’t play with my pretty girl’s pretty pussy.” His eyes darkened, teeth bit down harder, and you could almost feel the punctures from his canines.

“This pretty pussy has been invited to the King’s ball. This pretty pussy might have just been sold off by her ever-scheming father.” He stalled at this, hands stopping their assault and mouth leaving your skin.

“What?” His eyes were trained on yours as you swallowed thickly.

“We got the invitation today. Gods know how he did it. But he did.” Wonwoo moved off you, settling into the space beside you.

“Are you happy? With the idea I mean?” You let out a short laugh, cold and harsh.

“Happy? Why would I be happy? No one has ever seen them, been allowed near them, and what? I’m supposed to marry one of them. Be used as breeding stock. Finally put all this stupid training to use.” He laughed softly from beside you.

“You think this is funny? My life being sold off to the highest bidder and you laugh?”

“No! No, it’s not like that I promise.” His arms were around you again, pulling you into his chest. “I think there’s more to this than you know. Go to the party. You might be pleasantly surprised that’s all.” His lips were on yours again. “And no matter what happens, I’ll never let anyone else touch you the way I do.”

The morning broke through your curtains and the man beside you stirred. His chest was warm beneath your cheek as you kissed the arm draped around you.

“Darling, you must go before we get caught. Again.” He groaned, rolling the pair of you over, trapping you beneath him. That smile was back, softly lit by the warm glow of the sun pouring in through the windows. “Wonwoo, baby please.” His lips were soft against yours, pouring love into you like there was no tomorrow. His fingertips danced across your skin, raising goosebumps in their wake. He rolled his hips into you, want evident at the broken gasp that left his lips. “Wonwoo baby.” You moaned out, fingers moving to his shoulder blades. He rolled his hips again, the slickness of your cunt allowing for him to rock smoothly and bump his cockhead into your clit. “Wonwoo, we can’t.” But your body gives you away, the roll of your hips as you shake beneath him has him lining up instantly.

“Princess, say no right now and I won’t do it. But say yes and I’ll give you a baby. I’ll fuck you so full it has no option but to stick. You’ll be mine.” Your lips chased his as you nodded frantically against him.

“Yes Wonwoo, yes yes yes.” He pushed in, cock stretching you as you raked your nails down his back. His thrusts were deep, angling his hips to hit that spot inside of you.

“My princess wants a baby yeah? Wants me to fuck her full?” He growled into your ear, hips smashing into yours.

“Please, wanna make you a daddy.” You purred back. His hand snaked between your bodies, fingers rubbing circle after circle into your swollen clit as you arched up into him. He never stopped kissing you, never stopped whispering praise into your mouth as you came around him.

“Please Wonwoo, want you to fill me up. Please.” You dug your nails into his skin, drawing a hiss from him. He’s panting, sweat lining his forehead as he thrust into you again and again, bringing you to orgasm over and over until you couldn't take it anymore. He pushes you over the edge again and again, having you crying his name into his mouth over and over as you beg for him to finish in you, mark you as his.

But he doesn’t. He pulls out as he always does and finishes onto your thigh. It’s over then, the light shifting to a cold blue as the sun shifts behind a cloud. He moves away from you, gathering his clothes and dressing.

“When will I see you again?” He pauses, eyes meeting your own.

“You won’t see me like this for a while. At least, not this version of me.” You don’t know what that means, but he doesn’t give you any time to ask as he kisses you again so softly. His hand caresses your face, thumb rubbing your cheek as a tear falls from his face and onto yours. “But you will see me again, I promise.” As he pulls away, he places a final kiss on your forehead before stepping back towards your balcony. You let him go like you always do, but not without that horrible hole ripping through your chest.

The night of the ball drew closer, and there was no sign of Wonwoo or his brother. You were alone. The lessons ramped up, your father wanting there to be no chance of failure. You were his pawn, and he was so ready to make that final check. Your mother tried to get through the walls you put up, your sisters gushed every day about how lucky you were, how you were going to have the life of your dreams. But you weren’t. You wouldn’t be with Wonwoo. Wouldn’t be able to kiss him again, wouldn’t be able to hold him. You’d never be able to make him a dad.

“Your invitation madam?” Your mother was positively glowing with excitement, your sisters each hanging off one of your arms, you suspect to stop you from running. Your mother presents the invitation, and the guard cocks an eyebrow. “Please, this way for special guests.” You were escorted towards a separate entrance, a large pair of white wooden doors beset by giant boars on each side. The doors were parted for you, and the entrance was the most beautiful you’d ever seen. You were ushered inside, your sisters gasping and pointing at the artwork lining the walls. But your eyes were drawn to the three other girls.

“They’re your competition child.” Your father pulled you aside from your sisters and scanned you from head to toe. “But you’ve got a brain to best all of them. Be smart, be strong. Be the girl I raised you to be.” You glanced back over to them. Each one you knew to be a member of one of the aristocracies, as you were. You vaguely remember having a run in with the half-elf, but if she remembered you, she gave nothing away in the cold gaze she returned.

“If everyone is now here?” A voice sounded from the stairs above you. Your eyes followed where it was coming from, and the woman you saw standing there was the most beautiful you had ever seen. Dark eyes, with even darker hair cascading down her back that held soft curls that bounced as she began to walk towards you all. You had never seen this woman before, but something pulled at you from your stomach as if you recognised her.

“You are all chosen specifically by the princes themselves. My sister's sons wouldn’t allow for our intervention, so feel very lucky. Some of you would never have made it this far.” Her eyes fell on you at this, and your father bristled beside you. “Now, if you’ll follow me.” She sauntered towards the large doors across the marbled floors. You moved to follow the queen's sister, silently cursing yourself for not recognising her as your legs pulled you along before your brain could think of a reason to turn and run. She demanded that the girls line up, manhandling you all into a line with you left on the end. Your families were to follow along behind, and not say a word.

There was a commotion behind the doors, music filled whatever room you were about to be ushered into and laughter and conversations could barely be heard through these giant doors. You tried to smooth out the non-existent wrinkles of your dress, hands moving on their own as you chewed on your bottom lip.

There was a moment of silence before the doors swung open, and an even longer moment of silence when all the eyes in the ballroom fell upon you. Your gaze flitted from person to person, not a single face you couldn’t put a name to. Families with daughters much better suited for this match burned holes into your skull from jealousy. You were standing there, with the whole world at your fingertips and their daughter wasn’t.

You were ushered down the steps before you, the sea of people parting as the four of you made your ways forward. Your eyes were on the floor as you had been instructed to do so, never for a second daring to look upon the men sitting at the other end of the ballroom.

“This is the half-elf Carmae of the Boat Merchant.” You were right about recognising her then.

“This is the high elf Dauphine of the Gold Merchant.” You heard her light steps, the small “Hello sirs.” that sounded so beautiful falling from her lips as she greeted the men.

“This is the wood elf Avalynne of the Cloth Merchant.” You were next.

“This is the human Y/n of the Apothecary Merchant.” You stepped forward, curtseying as you were taught, eyes moving up to acknowledge the men before you.

“Hello sirs-“ Those eyes. That smile. Wonwoo sat before you, hand rested on his chin as he surveyed you. You felt a churning in your stomach as you let your eyes fall upon Seokmin beside him. His soft curls sat upon his head as he smiled ever so softly at you.

“We can now begin.” The music started up again as the crowd of people swallowed you up. Your sisters beamed at you as people swarmed you. They wanted to know where you got your dress “The Facemaker.” You politely replied. Who did your hair? “My mother wanted to.” You smiled at them. You were pulled from conversation to conversation. Every family wanted a piece of you. But your mind was back on Wonwoo. Your heart calling out to him across the floor.

His eyes followed you, dark and cold like you’d never seen them before.

“Wonwoo, calm down. She’s yours I’m not going to take her.” Seokmin leant over to his older brother, giggling slightly at the older man’s demeanour.

“I know you’re not. But they might.” He followed his brother’s gaze to the men being introduced to you by their fathers. “It seems like being the prince’s chosen gives a girl a certain…” His eyes scanned the crowd of men now surrounding you. Your father ever so keen to get you introduced to as many of them as possible. You were trying to be amicable, that soft smile on your face hiding the discomfort you felt. The burn of jealousy coursed through his veins as he watched you laugh and smile at these fools. If only they knew what he’d done to you, the noises he could pull from you with just his tongue or fingers. The way you beg him to cum in you, the tears in your eyes as he fucks you through another orgasm. You’d be too much for those idiots, they couldn’t make you feel how he did. Couldn’t make your body react the way he did.

“The princes will now have their first dance with each of the chosen.” Wonwoo and Seokmin stood, and the floor was cleared again. You finally found yourself walking back towards the man who held your heart in his hands and smiled. Wonwoo noticed that it finally reached your eyes.

“It is lovely to meet you Y/n.” He placed a soft kiss against the back of your hand.

“It is my honour sir.” You smiled even wider this time as he drew you closer as the music began.

“I hope you’re a good dancer.” He flashed you that dazzling smile once more as the music began up again.

“I hope you are too sir.” You felt the flush creep up your cheeks as the two of you started to dance. Your eyes glued to his as he led you across the floor, his never once leaving yours. You finally got what he meant that morning. While this was a surprise, you’d help him play the part for as long as it took to get your Wonwoo back.

[dekariosmagic]

Memories of You - Gale x Tav

Paring: Gale Dekarios x Tav/Reader (Referred to as Tav)

Fandom: Baldur's Gate 3

Word Count: 3,626

Description: Following Gale's use of the orb to save the city, Tav realizes she's been left with more than just a broken heart, and seeks out help in Waterdeep.

Based on this post from @dragonagitator (They wrote the first few lines 🙂)

Warnings: Mentions of possible canon death of a main character. Pregnancy. Sadness. Gale isn't alive in this. It hurts, but I tried to make the end a bit happier/hopeful.

“Morena Dekarios?” Tav approached nervously, her voice shaking. 

The stern-looking woman in front of her turned and looked her over with an expression of mild befuddlement, “Yes? Do I know you?”

“No, sorry, my name is Tav, and… I’m carrying your grandchild, and I don’t have anywhere else to go!” Tav blurts out, blinking back tears. 

The woman’s eyes widen, staring at her in shock as Tav instantly regrets her outburst. 

“I- I know Tara… and Elminster, if that helps,” she offers weakly. “They know Gale and are together. Were together…” she corrects and stares at the pavement trying to collect herself. 

“Give me your hand,” Morena finally responds, holding her own out. 

Tav quickly lays her hand in Morena’s palm. The older woman clasps it in her own, her eyes glowing blue as she stares seemingly through Tav for several minutes. 

As her eyes dim back to their normal shade, she takes a deep shuddered breath and pulls Tav into her for a hug, “Come with me dear. We’ll collect Tara on the way if she’s home.” 

She nods and wipes at the tears on her face and Morena takes her arm and leads her down the street briskly. “I’m going to want to know details. Later. What happened to my son,” she says roughly. “But not right here.” 

Tav’s gaze drifts to the buildings they pass as they walk in silence. Wondering how many of these buildings Gale had visited in all his years in Waterdeep. The city he grew up in and loved. The city he would never make it back to. 

He should have been the one to make it back here.

She fights back the tears again, spotting a library sign as they pass it, she locks her jaw in place. That building he’d definitely been in she concludes. Thoughts of him wandering through the aisles of shelves, the soft smile on his face when he found a book he wanted to read… the little expressions on his face as he concentrated on the words… 

The world gets blurry as the tears build in her eyes, scolding herself for losing it once again. She should be able to walk past a library without bursting into tears.

The buildings blur together, and she gets lost in her thoughts until Morena stops outside a building. Looking at it closer, she sees ‘Gale of Waterdeep’ written under the house number. Morena walks up the steps of the thin tall building, waving her hand to dispel a shimmer of magic and slots a key into the door. 

They hear the sound of hundreds of little mechanisms turning, and finally the door to the tower swings open. 

“Always a flair for the dramatics,” Tav mutters under her breath, Morena chuckles in response.

“Always, from the time he was a little boy. You’d think we’d told him he was to be starved and hung by the ankles because we wouldn’t get him a kitten. That he was so unloved and ‘punished unjustly.’ Then he summoned Tara within the week.” 

“I think he still took being told no on having a kitten as one of life’s great tragedies,” Tav laughs and steps up to run her fingers over his name on the building. “Anytime we would need to be stealthy anywhere, I might as well have just told him to run headlong into the build himself with how he reacted to having to sneak anywhere, we would not hear the end of it about his knees. Which to be fair, did crack quite loudly.”

“I always told him if he spent all his time sitting around reading, he’d regret it when he got older and lost youthful flexibility,” Morena says with a small smile. “Have you been here before?”

“Not… physically no,” she admits, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly. “He showed me illusions, would bring us here in our down time at camp. He… always would say how he’d bring me here one day when it was all over. Thoughts of this place pushed me through many battles.”

“Well, welcome to Gale’s Tower, officially,” his mother says, heading into the building and up a set of stairs. “You can look around if you wish, I’m going to look for Tara.”

Tav squares her shoulders, sets her jaw tightly, and steps through the doorway, swinging the door shut behind her. Almost immediately she’s hit with the scent of old books. A small smile pulls at her lip at the smell, the very one that seemed to always linger on Gale himself.

She wanders aimlessly through the base floor, discovering his kitchen at the back of the house. Surprisingly big for a one person household, but not particularly surprising for Gale. She runs her fingers over the cookbooks stacked on the counter, flipping one open to find notes stuck on nearly every page. His familiar handwriting with adjustments and comments on each recipe after he tried it. 

Setting the book down, she heads up the stairs to a small living area. A dark wood couch and chair with red cushions sat in the middle, surrounded by all manner of art work, statue, and knick-knack. And books. Of course books in every direction. 

Heading into the adjoining room, she freezes as she realizes it’s his bedroom. The big blue four poster bed he’d often conjured for them in the middle of the woods when they chose not to use illusions sits in the center of the room. 

She takes a few hesitant steps toward it, running her hand across the top blanket, clenching it in her fist as the familiar fabric touches her skin. Crawling onto the bed, she snatches one of the pillows and buries in her face in it, the scent of the shampoo he still always seemed to have on hand somehow during their travels still lingered on it. 

Her fingers tangled in his hair, his breathtaking smile, his teasing words.

Her eyes close as she sinks onto the bed, her arms shake as she clutches the pillow as tightly as she can. Her hand brushing another piece of fabric under the pillow as she moves. 

Lifting her head to pull it out, she finds a short sleeved bed shirt buried amongst the pillows. Plainer than the clothes he wore around camp, but a similar blue in color. Cradling the fabric in her arms, she collapses face first into the pillow and lets the tears she’d been fighting all day free. 

His home, his books, his bed, his pillow, his scent, his clothes. The tower equal parts comforting and devastating to be in. Laying here on the familiar bed she could almost pretend that any moment he’d join her. That the past few months had just been a nightmare she’d just awoken from to find his smiling face before her again. 

She brushes her hands over her belly, not exceedingly obvious yet, but not easy to hide. The only physical proof that their love had existed, that they’d gotten lost in one another countless times. That for a moment she knew what it felt like to be blissfully happy despite all odds. 

Everything else was gone or never existed. They’d always been together, no letters between them to be had. They hadn’t exactly sat down for a portrait, and the only people who really knew their love were dead or scattered across Faerûn by now. Tara knew, briefly. She’d not spent much time with the tressym, but Gale had told her later that he’d told Tara of their relationship in the few moments they took to rest and catch their breath. But it wasn’t as if Tara had lived at the camp with them.

“Tav?” A voice calls out, Tav lifts her face from the pillow in response to see Morena standing in the doorway, her own sadness evident on her face. 

“I’m sorry, I… I don’t know what to do. Or say,” Tav mutters softly, sitting up and moving to the edge of the bed. “

“Oh dear,” she says with the shake of her head, crossing the room to sit beside Tav and wrap an arm around her shoulders.

“How did you know I was telling the truth?” Tav asks as she tries to clear the rough sound from her voice. “I’m grateful, but I understand it sounded crazy.” 

“Oh it did,” Morena nods, stroking her arm. “I may not have pursued magic as he did, but I know a fair amount. And I can sense his magic.” 

“You could sense his magic on me?”

“Indeed. He left a message on you in a sense. It seems it was meant for Tara, since she’d have always been able to sense it on you. And also for you.” 

“A message?” She perks up immediately. “What did it say?” 

“If you would like, I can show you?” Morena asks as Tav nods immediately. They join hands once again, and Tav feels the same magic flow over her. “Close you eyes, count to five, then open.”

Eyes drifting shut, Tav tries to steady her breathing as she counts, but nearly gasps as she opens her eyes to an illusion of Gale.

The illusion of Gale smiles at her, gesturing with his hands nervously, “Well hello! Either Tara or Tav. I’ve placed this message on Tav in the event I don’t come back from our lovely little battle tomorrow. Tara, I’ve asked you to seek out Tav if you didn’t hear from me, and thank you for doing that. Any paperwork will be where you would expect it, copies amended as will be needed. Thank you for being my faithful friend all these years, I couldn’t have asked for a better one. I only made it this far because of you.”

The illusion shifts in his seat, glancing to the side for a moment before looking back at her. “Tav, my love, if you’re watching this… I’m sorry. I hope we do find another way tomorrow, but I know the reality is we may not. Or even if I’ve not used the orb, but met my end somewhere along the way. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to take you home, and that I’m going to miss that date we had planned. I want nothing more than to steal you away right now and run home to Waterdeep. Right now you sleep soundly beside me, I confess I used a spell on you to ensure you do, you of all of us need to be well-rested for what we’re attempting. 

“So I will get to my point my love,” his voice cracks with the words. “I love you, beyond words, beyond reason. I would spend the rest of my days beside you, no matter how long or short they are. If we make it through this, I plan to ask you to marry me. I want to be Gale Dekarios again, I want you to be Tav Dekarios, I want us to go back to Waterdeep and retire from all the blood and gore and danger. Wake up to you each morning, end each evening on the balcony with your form glowing with the sunset light. With my humble tower feeling even more like a home simply because you reside in it. 

“I want many things, and have precious little time for it with what may happen tomorrow. No matter how the day ends, never doubt that you were the single best thing to happen to me, and I don’t regret a second spent in your presence. You made me feel more alive in our time together than I have felt in an entire lifetime. That being said, the tower is yours. I told you it would be our home should you want it to be, and it is. Tara will help with any legalities of that, including, if you wish, being a Dekarios. Call me selfish or vain, perhaps just plain foolish to think you’d want to marry a man that can no longer be at your side, but should you have a similar sentiment, I’ve already signed the paperwork for that as well.”

He sighs deeply, once again glancing to his side where past Tav presumably sleeps beside him, “I hope I can remove this message from you at the end of the day tomorrow, and that you never have to see it. But should it come to pass that you are watching this, if there is another life we both come to exist in, I will find you. No matter how far I have to search or how different we are, I can imagine no world where my heart doesn’t desperately call out for yours. I love you, please take care of yourself my love.”

The illusion slowly fades away, leaving Tav sitting on his bed next to his mother once again, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. 

“Were you able to tell him about the pregnancy before, before he passed?” Morena asks quietly. 

“No,” Tav shakes her heads, squeezing the shirt still in her hands tightly. “I found out about a month after he passed that I was about two months along.” 

“Tara mentioned she ran into your traveling party outside Baldur’s Gate, and there has been news of, quite honestly insane reports of what happened there. I’m to assume that is where it happened, you two were part of this group saving the city?”

Tav nods slowly, “We all were fighting, but Gale saved the day. He… never wanted to worry you with the condition he had. A magical orb in his chest that craved magic, if it didn’t get that magic, it would explode. Mystra bid him to blow up the Elder Brain in Baldur’s Gate with it, but I convinced him to keep trying. That we’d find a different way.” 

She laughs bitterly and shakes her head, “We did for awhile. But in that final battle we were being destroyed. I was always the one with the plan, and I suddenly… had no plan. I could see no way out of it. He chose to use the orb to save us all. I cried and screamed and clung to him. Begging him to change him mind, begging him to let me at the very least die with him. But he wouldn’t let me. He told me he loved me, and to look to the sky for him. He teleported us outside the city, and did it. The explosion shook the city, took the Elder Brain out, and left the most beautiful aurora in the sky… the same as the night he told me he loved me for the first time. And he was gone.”

Morena sits beside her silently, her own eyes squeezed shut as she listens. She reaches over to gently grab Tav’s hand in her own. 

They sit in silence for several minutes absorbing the situation, Morena eventually speaking, “I watched the message. I know his feelings for you. You may not have married him, but he clearly wanted you to.”

She turns and grasps Tav’s arms to look into her eyes, “I am here for you, you are my family. Your child is my family, and I will care for you both. For many years it was just Gale, Tara, and myself. I’ve lost my son, but you are giving me a beautiful gift in coming to me and letting me be a part of your lives. I know Gale has left the tower to you, but you are also welcome at my own home. It’s not quite as large, but it is open to you.”

Tav practically dives into her arms, tears running down her face as she hugs Morena to her tightly, “You don’t know how much that means to me, I’ve had no idea what to do. I just… want our child to be safe and happy.” 

“They will be, my grandchild will be bordering on spoiled if we’re to be honest,” she smiles and pats Tav’s back. “Now how about we head upstairs and you can speak with Tara. She’s practically chomping at the bit to speak to you again, hopefully you have already accepted that you have a tressym in your life from now on. She intends to practically attach herself to your side.”

“After all the tales I’ve heard of her, I’m quite looking forward to that problem.”

-Seven Years Later- 

“Young Mr. Dekarios, you simply must set that down!” Tara chastises the young boy as he runs through the house with a large tome in his hands. 

Tav slips out of the next room and manages to snatch the book from his hands with a tut, “And just what do you think you’re doing with this? Advanced Wizardry isn’t exactly appropriate for you yet Orion.”

Orion stares up at his mother with his bottom lip protruded, flipping his long brown hair out of his face, “No it’s not! I can do it please!”

“No, right now the spells in here are too dangerous for you.”

“But you said I’m good at magic!” He shouts dramatically, throwing his arms out. 

She sets the tome down on the table beside her, kneeling down to his eye level she brushes his hair behind his ear, “Honey you don’t have to rush this. You are good at magic, but there is no shame in mastering each step before you take on something harder.”

“I- but I-,” he stutters, crossing his arms and staring at the wooden floor. “I want to be like father.” 

“Orion…” she says softly, reaching forward to pull her son into her arms for a hug. “You’re more like him than you know, but you don’t have to master his level of magic by now. He had years and years of practice and study.” 

“They talk about him at school,” Orion responds eventually, kicking at the floor as he hangs onto his mother. “He was in our textbook for inventing a spell. The other children made fun of me for not knowing it… I need to know more, I have to be the best or I shame him.” 

“I guarantee they don’t know the spell either, and they can talk as much as they want but you are his son. Magical ability aside, one day you will be able to do that spell just as well as him because you have his dedication to do it. There is no shame in not knowing a spell your father created in his late 20s, at age seven. Also I’m sure most of them can’t say they’ve learned some spells from Elminster himself.”

Orion pulls back with a laugh, “I learn more about cheese than I do magic from him!” 

“No one else needs to know that detail,” Tav teases and taps his nose. “But Elminster would not put his time into someone he didn’t believe in, as your father once said ‘you don’t get to be thirteen centuries old without becoming a sound judge of character.’” 

“How is he even that old? What kind of magic is that? Was father really old?” Orion asks, his eyes twinkling.

“Your father was most decidedly not anywhere near that old,” she chuckles. “No age altering magic for him, at least at the time. I wouldn’t have put it past him to have eventually looked into it. Whether he used it or not, he would have wanted to know.”

“Well I want to know!” He exclaims. “I could be the great Orion Dekarios, Arch mage and defier of time itself!” He leaps up onto the couch as he poses, muttering a spell under his breath to summon fire into his hand. 

“Alright put the fire away great mage,” she grins and stands up, ruffling his hair. 

“Arch mage,” he emphasizes, the spell disappearing from his hand as he turns to Tara. “With my trusty Tressym at my side, how could I fail?” 

Tara purrs in amusement, “Certainly Mr. Dekarios. You’ll need me to keep you out of trouble.” 

“Now you go get cleaned up,” Tav says ushering her son toward the hallway. “Your grandmother is going to be here soon for dinner.” 

“Grandma is coming?” He asks excitedly. “Do you think she has a new adventure book for me? Or chocolate? Or one of dad’s old things?”

“You should be excited just for her coming,” she teases him and shakes her head. “Not what gifts she brings.”

“Well duh of course I want to see grandma,” he rolls his eyes dramatically. “But she brings the best gifts too.” 

“Fine fine, you go get ready,” she shoos him off, watching until he disappears into a room down the hall. 

“He’s growing into a fine young man,” Tara says with a long stretch. 

“He is,” Tav agrees, picking up some of his books from the floor. “I just wish Gale was here to see it.” 

“Mr. Dekarios would be far proud of him,” she assures her. “And of you. You’ve done an exceptional job.”

“I try my best,” she answers with a soft smile, turning to look at the portrait of Gale on the wall. A younger Gale than she knew. In his late 20’s with no sign of grey yet in his hair. From a time Morena had managed to get him to sit for a portrait. 

She brushes her fingertips along his face, looking to the portrait of Orion hung beside it. 

Glancing behind her to see Tara had gone off to her own affairs, Tav turns back and leans up to press a kiss to the portrait of Gale, whispering words under her breath, “Thank you… for giving me the best times of my life, and the greatest blessing I could have ever imagined.”