#team tadpole

[bloodycyrano]

Little things I think team tadpole would do for one another.

Part 1.

I think Durge/Tav and Wyll would be willing to read karlachs favorite childhood stories to her, since I don't think she could really pick up and read books- being flammable and all.

Astarion would use his sewing skills to stitch up Clive- And maybe make a few more little stuffed animal friends for Karlach.

I also think Astarion would pull Durge/Tav aside when he noticed them getting stressed out and forcibly talk them through some self care.- Astarion is the king of passive aggressive pep talks.

Gale would definitely try to help Wyll try to figure out how to turn back to the way he was before Mizora turned him into a devil.

Tav hosts group therapy sessions every Sunday, prove me wrong.

Wyll has done a lot of research on vanquishing vampire lords, and has probably made up a complete vampire slaying kit simply labeled "Cazador"

Lae'zel does nice things for people all the time, it's just that nobody realizes it. She's carrying most of your weapons, you don't think she's the one who sharpens them? She does. Without being told to, without asking for praise. Sometimes, she'll go back to the traders after dark because she realizes Durge/Tav hit random on camp supplies again, and Gale has nothing to work with.

Everyone knows Gale takes care of most of the cooking at camp, but I don't think anyone realizes he has a list of everyone's food allergies clipped in the back of his spell book, and even makes potion modifications depending on how his companions react to certain ingredients.

I also feel like Halsin started experimenting with herbology after finding out that Durge is afraid to go to sleep because they don't want to hurt anyone in camp, and ended up making them a sort of sleeping tincture to help their Bhaal-induced sleepwalking.

This one will maybe be a little less popular, but I headcannon Tav/Durge to be autistic, largely because I'm autistic, and I could definitely see Shadowheart making little cards for them with like "Yes", "No", "Angry", "Sad", "Overstimulated", etc. So that they could still communicate while having a meltdown.- Bonus points, they start learning sign language together if they have really high approval.

Wyll made some flashcards to help Lae'zel understand some of the norms, pronunciations, and overall weirdness of Faerun.

[zozoparsnips]

i’m doing it lads. the sense8 inspired BG3 fic is cooking.

[gnomishcunning]

8/28: "It will be okay as long as we're together"

(an alternative approach to the day 8 prompt of @writ3rstears #BG3FicFeb. cheesier than intended, but sometimes that’s how it goes.

i’ll rewrite this one someday when i have more braincells available.)

“Volunteers.” 

Marrow’s voice is shaking. 

That’s what draws everyone’s eyes away from dinner; their small, somber meal, camping on a bluff among the Shadowlands; halfway between the Thorm family crypt and the terrible omen of Moonrise Towers in the distance. 

Halsin freezes, Lae’zel stares. Gale loses concentration on the Mage Hand stirring the stew, leaving the wooden spoon to clunk against the side. Wyll’s gaze is straight concern. Even Shadowheart, silent since they left Shar’s temple, looks up from the depths of misery.

If Karlach had a heart, she’s sure it would clench.

“Yesterday, we freed the Nightsong. An aasimar by the name of Dame Aylin. She was the source of Ketheric Thorm’s immortality.” They state, nodding towards cleric. All eyes shift to her, and she freezes under the attention. After a long moment, she nods. Eyes return to Marrow.

“Tonight, Jaheira and her Harpers prepare to march on Moonrise Towers.” They hold up one hand. There’s a small stone clutched between two fingers, a deadringer for Wyll’s dead eye. A sending stone. “I got the message fifteen minutes after the Nightsong took flight.”

In four months of adventures, countless deadly situations and tense negotiations, the little leader had never hesitated to speak. Quick to throw a word, a comment, a comfort or a flirt. Whether their words made the situation worse or better, their opinion made its way into the world. 

Now? The words march off their tongue with all the enthusiasm of a funeral procession.

“In good conscience, I can’t ask any of you to come. Ketheric Thorm is stronger than any opponent we’ve faced before, and there’s an army between him and us we’ll need to fight our way through first.” They try to state, but — their voice breaks. A choked sob, like someone broke the spine of a small animal. Tears bead at the corner of their good eye. “If there’s any fight, any opponent that may kill us before the ceremorphosis does, it’d be here.”

That’s when Karlach moves. Her stew’s abandoned to the dirt, and she slides across the log she shares with her lover to wrap her arm around their thin shoulders; a tail curling around their waist. Marrow stays bone-straight. She can feel the tension in their spine, trying to resist from melting into her arms. 

“So.”  They croak, unsure, outright terrified; they’re speaking through fractured glass. Their gaze skips around the circle, staring at frozen faces. “I won’t ask any of you to come. Volunteers only. Follow me to Moonrise only if you’re sure you’re ready to risk your life.”

Before anyone can respond, it’s Astarion who finds his voice first.

“You mean to tell me, you’d march to Moonrise all on your little lonesome if we all opted to stay behind?” He asks. He sounds incredulous, almost curious — if the concept is some sort of indulgent fantasy.

Out of everything, this makes Marrow snort. 

(Karlach’s immediately shot back to when they first set foot in the Grymforge. Marrow spent most of that mission giggling their way through these conversations with the Duegar, shooting intermittent glances at the deep gnomes — the bodies lining the floor, the hunched backs of slaves, the nine-tailed whip in the hands of the Duegar master.

So horrified at the condition of their kin, incredulous laughter was all they could manage)

Her tail snakes a notch tighter around their waist. Marrow’s forced to wheeze, their laughter cutting off. 

“W-well,” They manage, still grinning. “You’ve all opted to trust me with your lives thus far. It’d be a shame if none of us were present to try and find a solution to our common affliction. It’d only be right as leader, dutifully elected or otherwise.”

The statement hangs in the air. It’s the first time Marrow has vocalized it, but far from the first time it’s been acknowledged. Leading Shadowheart up off the ravaged beach where it all started had snowballed into serving as the figurehead and face of a makeshift mercenary company, an adventuring party none had asked to join. Making decisions, giving orders, taking lives — they all looked to their little leader.

 Team Tadpole, Marrow had joked once. Everyone had groaned, but nobody had thought of anything better. 

“I’ll be there.”

Karlach’s voice breaks the silence, no better than her first rushed iloveyoutoo. 

Marrow turns to look straight at her, so grateful they might cry — oh hells, they are crying — but wearing the crooked little grin Karlach’s only seen when they’re truly happy. The gnome shifts to slide a small arm around Karlach’s back, leaning in to press a silent, grateful kiss to her cheek. 

“Aye.” Wyll’s the second to agree, nodding solemnly. “Your instincts haven’t led us astray yet.”

“No jhe’stil,” Lae’zel interrupts. “Yet you led me to see Vlaakith’s eyes. My blade will be at the ready.”

“You fed me without question my first week in camp,” Astarion muses. “I’d be remiss to lose a source of free meals.” 

“And as much as you hoard every bit of magic we’ve come across, you’ve always found a spare bit of Weave for me to consume. It’s mighty time I repay that generosity.” Gale adds.

“After everything you’ve done for Thaniel andI ? It’s no question.” Halsin affirms. 

Marrow’s gaze jumps around the circle. Their face is pure stun, tears leaving wet streaks down one side of their face. Their eyes eventually land on Shadowheart, the only one who hasn’t spoken. 

Next to Karlach herself, Shadowheart’s been Marrow’s constant companion since the very beginning. Even when the barbarian isn’t, the cleric always is. If Shadowheart weren’t so shy and Marrow so secretive about their family, Karlach would almost call them sister and sibling.

“...You followed me into the Shadowfell, convinced me disobey Shar and spare the Nightsong and pulled me back out in one piece. I’ve abandoned my goddess and my purpose at your urging.” She eventually manages. Marrow winces like they’ve been stabbed. 

Then she smiles, for the first time since they’ve left the Sharran temple. “Where else would I be?”

Marrow doesn’t quite grin, but something else rises. That ineffable determination, an improv actor’s faux-confidence. Enough to bring about a grim smile, knowing their troupe was behind them. 

“Then tomorrow,” They manage, voice rough but whole. “We march on Moonrise.”

[boiled-turnip]

Desperately shoving Din Djarin into the horrors of bg3. As if he doesn’t have enough to deal with already, I need to see this guy sigh his way through the world’s most complicated worm extraction quest.

Just imagine Din having to deal with the team tadpole shenanigans. I need him to have the bg3 harem experience. I need to put him through the same bisexual suffering like I did with my Tav.

[octoberspirit]

The sheer willpower it must take for the Dark Urge not to slay the entire camp on night one

Snoring contest

Choose your favorite and sleep well

P.S. Shadowheart doesn't have these sounds, so I guess she's lucky

[coffeeebomb]

[Everyone disapproves]

After much convincing with favours and food-related bribery, everyone stopped giving Gale shit only about a week later.

Saw this in the tags from @itsclydebitches, and had to do a direct follow-up to the original comic. Idk how a one-off joke became a three-parter mess, but lol ok sure.

Psst, you could also see: Part 1, Part 3

[taygra5shaon]

Erased but not forgotten 2/3

some sweet moment on the camp...🌑

[dunkledog]

alright time to come out of the closet

im a heal and steel fan

that's their ""official"" shipname right? dunno, that's what i've seen around i suppose. they dont have nearly as much content as the tf2 mercs.

CMedic gets 0 lines and shows up once in the catch-up comic? yeah, that's my guy. I love that guy. I'm gonna throw rocks at him and key his car.

I like to think he's a sarcastic little shitter with military experience and a degree from Yale. His main goal? Develop a "master vaccine" to protect troops from the effects of chemical and biological warfare. (he served in WWI and had... well. He had a time for sure.) His immune system is godly and he probably has some resistance to radiation honestly but I don't think that's anything to worry about...

As for the relationship I think they always seem like they just can't stand each other. Their "bickering" is buried in so many layers of sarcasm and dry irony it's impossible to tell if this is their idea of foreplay or if they're actually arguing. I like to think they care very deeply for each other but they would literally rather chug a box of nails than admit that.

[jynxeddraca]

Small, Soft BG3 Things

Just an ongoing list of small headcanons for Team Tadpole.

Astarion:

Astarion learned how to sew and embroider from his mother. She loved to embroider poems that she sold at market. Most of his word based embroidery looks like her handwriting, even though he doesn't remember that.

He's the go-to member of Team Tadpole for mending because he's the best out of all of them at it. More importantly: as he comes to view them as friends, the basic mending is supplemented with subtle embroidery.

Every child that he ends up spending time around learns some slight of hand trick and/or how to use a knife.

When everyone is asleep and he's particularly at ease, he'll quietly sing to himself while doing other things.

Gale:

As the self-appointed cook - come time to set up camp, Gale might fuss about the bizarre assortment of food stuff they find on their travels, but he secretly revels in the challenge of making filling, delicious foods out of what they're able to scavenge.

Cooking was how his mother and him bonded as he grew up so now it's his favorite way of showing affection/appreciation to others.

Spoils Tara with all her favorite foods when they're reunited (also I headcanon Tara joins the camp most nights in Act 3).

When he was younger, he specifically created an enchantment to enchant his mother's favorite rocking chair so that when it was activated, mage hands would appear and give her shoulders and feet a massage.

Halsin:

He learned to whittle from an uncle and the knife he uses today for his carvings was given to him by his mother - whose favorite animal was ducks.

Halsin likes to go sit in Bloomridge park when the city gets to him, taking Yenna with him if she's agreeable. He has taught her and several other random children how to braid flower crowns.

When he returns to Reithwin Town, he teaches Art how to whittle and Art teaches Halsin how to play the lute.

On nights where Halsin is keeping watch will offer to turn pages for Tara so she can read a book or two.

Jaheira:

Will turn into a cat/dog to give comfort to children if they are inconsolable.

Takes an afternoon with Halsin - both in wildshape - to show him how nature and the city can be more harmonious than he originally thought.

The lullaby she knows how to play on the tin whistle was one taught to her by her late husband - she has put all her children to sleep to it's tune.

Teases Tara about her treating Gale like her kitten.

The rats that show up in camp do give her updates on other Harpers - but most of the time they are updates about her children.

Karlach:

Clive - her teddy bear - was knitted by her mother and she considers him her 'good luck charm'. Before the infernal engine was forced onto her, he could often be found tucked into Karlach's belt at any given point of the day or in her purse/pouch.

Karlach almost left Avernus without Clive, and risked missing the Nautiloid to go back to grab him.

Because she calls Halsin "Bear Man" Arabella starts calling him that too. At the same time, Karlach starts calling Withers "Bone Man" because of Arabella.

Her parents used to dance around the living room with her - in camp she'll get Arabella and later, Yenna, to do the same. When she's especially energetic, she makes Wyll join her.

Lae'zel:

While she originally hates everything about Faerûn, she becomes especially fond of the sunrises and finds she enjoys sunflowers.

After the egg is acquired, she does softly sing an old githyanki lullaby to when she tends to it.

Because she feels it is an important skill to have for when the egg hatches, she learns to sew by watching Astarion. Eventually, she asks him for tips.

Lae'zel seems well-read (on githyanki literature anyways) in my opinion so I feel like even though she's a very skilled fighter, she also spent much of her time in the creche library growing up. In camp, she raids Gale's library bag often.

When Karlach started calling her 'Lae', she began referring to Karlach as 'Kar'.

Minsc and Boo:

When Boo isn't around Minsc, he spends time around Shadowheart curled up on her shoulder or sitting beside her as she meditates.

Amused that it baffles people who can speak with animals, Boo purposefully does not allow them to understand him and sticks with his telepathic communications with Minsc.

Minsc enjoys finding excuses to tell stories and is a good storyteller.

Teaches Tav a few Rashemen songs and stories.

Minsc and Boo both have a faint smell of warm stone about them due to being statues for a while.

Shadowheart:

When meditating, sometimes unknowingly hums an old lullaby her parents used to sing her.

Still sometimes mutters "Lady of Sorrows" when exasperated, and at one point while very tired said "Lady of Sil-rrows" instead.

Has started keeping seeds and nuts on hand for Boo.

Talking to Astarion and Halsin in Elvish is soothing to her, and sometimes it triggers memories of her father.

Tav:

Was gifted a stuffed bunny by her dad when she was a baby. His name is Biscuit.

Biscuit was handed down to Temerity (Tav's little sister) while they were in the orphanage and he currently lives on Temerity's pillow.

Tav and Karlach have introduced Clive (Karlach's teddy bear) to Biscuit.

The smell of leather oil reminds her of her father.

Wyll:

Has a soft spot in his heart for trashy romance novels and anything related to mermaids. An aside: even though he hasn't been home in years, the merfolk around Baldur's Gate remember him fondly as a child trying to swim deep enough to see them.

Actually enjoys debating Astarion about laws and their effects - even though they have wildly different views on the laws.

Has a secret tattoo, and yes, it's mermaid themed.

Offered to teach Lae'zel to use a rapier if she showed him how to wield a longsword.

Also enjoys cooking and likes to show Gale different ways to season/cook in the wilds.

The rapier he has at the start of the game was gifted to him by his father.

[celestialdaily]

The celestial object of the day is The Tadpole galaxy!

The tadpole galaxy also known as UGC 10214 is a disrupted barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation of draco 420 million lightyears away from Earth.

It has a distinctive tail measuring 280,000 light-years, which is a consequence of an interaction with another galaxy. True to its name, the Tadpole Galaxy will lose its tail as it becomes older, said tail will become satellite galaxies.

[christiangeistdorfer]

ALAIN PROST during practice at the 1981 DUTCH GRAND PRIX

[bloodycyrano]

Once again in an emotional slump, here's how team tadpole would try to comfort you after a fight!

Karlach- Doesn't matter who was right or wrong, she still cares about you and wants to make things right, so long as you care enough to do the same. She'd probably bring you hot chocolate or some sort of comforting sweet food, and hold you for a while; adding words of affirmation and trying to make sure you know she didn't mean to hurt you.

Wyll- Wyll would bring you flowers, and take you on a long walk to discuss the fight afterwards. He'd likely take some time to give a good and genuine apology, while also calmly explaining why he was upset or why he said the things that he did. Afterwards, he would probably come up with a way to compromise or make sure arguments like that don't happen in the future, and softly kiss your hands.

Astarion- After a long period of time spent pouting and being passive-aggressive, Astarion might finally realize that he's actually hurt your feelings. Which is something he didn't realize he was quite important enough to do. He doesn't like to apologize, and he'll probably be a bit awkward about it.. But he will. He'll approach by attempting to make you laugh with one of his sassy comments about things and slowly make that awkward apology. If he tries explaining why he was angry or discusses the argument further, I think he actually might cry. You both end up apologizing and making joking snarky comments to each other, probably sharing a snack (Aka, he kisses your arm a bunch before drinking from your wrist, and you get a health potion and chocolate chip cookies for giving blood) and cuddling.

Gale- Gale is the first to apologize. Maybe he was in the wrong, maybe you were, it doesn't matter. There was a fight. And while he will explain why he was upset, and why he said the things he said, he's still going to dote on you afterwards. He feels bad that an argument even had to happen in the first place, and he isn't about to let you stew in your emotions about it. He'll make you a nice meal, Apologize far more than necessary, and then pout about it later.

Shadowheart- One does not simply ask Shars favorite princess to apologize. And she probably won't apologize for a while yet.. She will approach you, and bring you somewhere dark and secluded to simply enjoy each other's company. She may give you a hug, or some words of affirmation.. You will have to start the conversation about the fight, and explain why you were upset; but she will apologize once she realizes your thought process on the matter.

Lae'zel- Lae'zel does not apologize. Ever. She isn't exactly a bitch about it or anything, but she also doesn't understand how she upset you or why you had such an emotional reaction. You're going to have to break it down and explain it to her bit by bit in a calm and comprehensive manner, and then she may show some signs of remorse. She still won't apologize, but there may be an anonymous gift left at the foot of your bedroll when you wake.

[saltyowlets]

Orin and Durge were good siblings, well, as good as Bhaalspawn can be

So I haven't finished Act 3 or even fought Orin but I know spoilers so my interpretation.

Orin had been in the Cult of Bhaal since a baby but never thought to fight Durge for the role as leader and Chosen until the plan of the Absolute came about. I know it's mentioned that she was bidding her time for her moment. I don't think it's as simple as that.

The way Orin talks to Durge, to convince them to kill Gortash, there's almost a sense of familiarity and comradery which you can argue is from being Bhaalists but it feels like a conversation between strained siblings. Durge and Orin probably had an amicable relationship considering how long they lived with each other. Probably killed together in a weird Bhaal kinship. They found family in each other as Durge only had their butler and Orin's parental relationship is FUCKED.

Orin saw family in Durge that she wanted to keep. A "only I get to kill you" possessiveness. She didn’t want to lose the only relationship she found herself in equal grounding.

So when Durge is approached by Gortash and is looking beyond the cult, beyond her, Orin gets jealous. Gortash brings some semblance of structure and grounds Durge. He doesn't stop Durge from being a maniac, but there is something about Gortash that calms Durge, turning them from a hacksaw to a scalpel. Durge isn't humanized, but there is almost an unmistakable softness when it came to Gortash.

Orin hates it because she is losing her kin. They were supposed to kill the whole world together and then themselves, honoring their godly father, not rule over it.

That's why she destroyed Durge's mind, take their place as the Chosen. If she can't have her sibling anymore, no one can.

[maegalkarven]

No but I'm obsessed with the situationship where Durge and Karlach are friends, Durge and Gortash are lovers and Gortash and Karlach can't stand each other.

Also,depending on Durge, the Durgetash reveal can be messy af with both Durge and Karlach reacting violently, Karlach at the fact what her friend is the architect of that mess and Gortash's lover and Durge at her and the team's reaction.

Bonus point if Durge is loyal to Gortash to a fault bc they went against their Father's direct wishes bc of the affection towards that man, and everyone having an awful time dealing with it.

[powdermelonkeg]

*editing script* And...Taliesin...and...Shadowheart...are...besties.

[dragonagitator]

Since people enjoyed this post so much, perhaps you will also enjoy this snippet from my "Modern Girl in Faerun" author self-insert isekai WIP.

For context, it's the first long rest, and we've been to the Grove but haven't encountered Karlach yet.

Scene under the cut. Criticism welcome!

The fire was warm, but the ground was hard and cold, and my scavenged bedroll was too thin to provide much cushioning.

"Gale?" I broke the silence after a couple of minutes of tossing and turning.

"Mmm?" he responded sleepily from his side of the fire.

"Why are we sleeping on these bedrolls when you can summon beds? Because I know you can summon beds, I've seen you do it in my previous, um, 'time loops.'"

"Ah, well, while I could certainly 'summon' a bed, it would only stay 'summoned' for as long as I am able to concentrate on maintaining the spell," he explained. "So, as soon as I were to slip into slumber, the bed would wink out of existence, and its occupant would tumble to the ground rather abruptly. Counterproductive to a restful night's sleep, as I'm sure you would agree."

"Oh, that makes way more sense than my theory," I said.

"Oh? And what was your theory?" Gale sounded excited over the prospect of having someone to discuss magical theory with.

'Oh, my adorable nerd,' I thought fondly.

"That the spell's somatic component was an erection," I teased.

Wyll erupted into peals of laughter while Gale sputtered indignantly.

"What? No! Why would you -- that is absolutely not how it works -- whatever in the world gave you that idea?" Gale demanded.

"Context," I replied mysteriously.

"Will you lot be quiet?" Shadowheart interjected disapprovingly. "We've all had a long day, and it sounds like we have many more long days ahead of us. We need rest, not this late-night foolishness."

"You know, for someone who doesn't remember shit, you sure do a keen impression of a Mother Superior scolding the girls' dormitory," I retorted sulkily.

"The istik priest speaks truth. We would be wise to rest while we can," Lae'zel chimed in.

'Dang, Lae'zel and Shadowheart agreeing on something already? I'm such a uniter! Look at me speedrunning their friendship!' I began giggling to myself.

"SHUT. UP!" Astarion snapped.

'I don't know what he's so pissy about. He only needs, what, like 4 hours of meditation? Oh, wait, he's probably hungry and waiting for us to fall asleep so he can sneak off to hunt. Right.'

"Goodnight, everyone," I sing-songed sweetly.

Wyll's muffled snickering gradually faded as he regained his composure, leaving nothing but the sound of the crackling fire.

'When I fall asleep here, will I wake up back in real life?' I wondered as I drifted off.