#that's why i'm giving gale a break rn but

[crosaidi]

i'm honestly kind of at a loss of what to say bc this whole business doesn't need my white ass opining more, but safe to say if u can't sit ur ass down and swallow ur pride and hush and listen to bipoc voices over matters like this you need to reevaluate yourself a whole lot

[queenaeducan]

Gale + 5, 8, 12, 19!

What's the first song that comes to mind when you think about them?

Would That I by Hozier. It's not the only song of his that deals with break ups/new love that I have on my Gale playlist, but I think it's my favourite for him in a romanced playthrough. The imagery of the current love as fire setting wood to the tree of his past relationship pairs nicely with "With you I forget my goddess." The fact that it's nature imagery in general works well with Ophelia. I like to think of it as a controlled burn to help the forest flourish. To my knowledge it's not the exact intended meaning of the song, but it's what I get from it.

What's a headcanon you have for this character?

I don't go for six pack Gale, but I like to think he lost weight during his year in the tower and only starts to put it back on through the game and beyond.

What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you despise?

Gale is an incredibly sweet person whose flaws lead him to some pretty dark places. He is quite eager to help and make himself useful, whether it's making dinner or almost all of his greetings being some form of "how can I help?" whether you barely know each other or you're the love of his life.

I do think there's an ugly side to that. He doesn't do things just to make himself useful, but because he wants recognition. He wants to be thought of, to be remembered. There's a small section of A Study of Hands I enjoyed writing after his resurrection in Act 1, when he's glad to have caused Ophelia grief because it gives his life (and death) some semblance of meaning:

Ophelia’s face is a stone mask, aggressive in its impassivity. A trait he typically admires, and takes as good cause to heed her wise counsel, feels suddenly cruel. Unfair? Oh, most certainly. But a crueller part within him took heart when it saw how her eyes were puffed with tears. It wanted her to weep for him. It wanted to know he will be missed.

I think, as much as fear of a godless death motivates his suicide mission, he's also motivated by the desire to go out in such a way that he'll be remembered.

So like, is there something admirable in how he wants to be useful? That he wants to become a god to help people? Yes, but there is performance in it as well, and performances are done with the desire to be recognised. There's a selfish side to it that's a little ugly but very interesting!

And I think that darkness/pettiness is sometimes forgotten and that is what I don't like. Although reading back over what I wrote I think I mostly just wanted to talk about it rather than discuss its place in fandom.

How about a relationship they have in canon that you don't like?

Like with Solas, I like most of his relationships just fine. Do I think they're all good for him? No, but that's why I like them.

For example, I find his relationship with not just Mystra but Elminster a little questionable. I don't go with the interpretation that Gale met Mystra when he was still a child, but he does canonically know one of Mystra's Chosen from a young age (I don't want to look up the letter rn, but it was six or eight when he met Elminster). It's just a deeply weird situation. Mystra's Chosen are a little fucked. I'm not sure how much of it is intended canon (specifically on larian's part) and what was inherited from DND lore, but it's just like. You look at it and go "this is weird right???" because, well, it is weird.

While Elminster disagrees with her charge for Gale to die, he also won't really budge beyond that to any more meaningful criticisms of her. And while I think he's right that "fuck Mystra" is as deeply unwise a philosophy as listening to her in regards to her plan for the Orb, the particular line he spouts speaks to his own shortcomings as Chosen.

But like I said, I think it's interesting and wouldn't say I don't like it on a narrative level. I do wish it were more consistently written I guess?

[the-silly-urge]

Hi hope it's ok I'm talking out of tags- FIRST OF ALL banger art and I agree with what you're saying 100%. I think you're right.

(Fair warning I'm gonna talk ab some datamined stuff if you don't want to hear ab that)

What fucks me up honestly, is that they either were (or are?) going to make it so that she just. Breaks up with you if you reject Bhaal. Which, granted, I believe she does warn you that she plans to do this, so on that end, it's consistent

But also if there's anything she hates, it's being a puppet to a higher power. When Durge embraces Bhaal, that is exactly what happens. But you don't get to truly explain that to her, share your memories and feelings or whatever. It implies that, specifically if you're the Dark Urge, she doesn't trust in your abilities removed from your Father.

Maybe if she had context that what Bhaal wanted us to do was take over the Elder Brain for him (in which case he wouldn't need to control us), it would make a bit more sense to me, considering she believes there's a possibility for Durge and herself to control it together, but the choice is removed from that too!!!

I think a proper conversation after the inheritance choice would be great, could even have some extra options if Orin had kidnapped Minthara before it. I feel like it needs a tad more nuance than what is currently found in the files though cause. AGH

Don't get me wrong, I understand her having doubts, and the pragmatism of needing all the power the party can get, but she only seems to somewhat oppose things like Shadowheart and Lae'zel opposing their goddesses, she straight up approves of Gale being "free of Mystra". She recognizes these changes as being for the better, in terms of the person rather than the power they gain. But not for her lover? Who has been by her side this whole time?? Who clearly must show prowess in combat outside of the Slayer form, which is like the only thing Bhaal gave them??? Not when they killed Orin???? Not when Bhaal discards them because they had the courage to oppose him????? And it would be easy to share in their thoughts and see why they did this?????? COME ON MAN 😭 She's so ride or die except when you give up on the god controlling you WHICH IS. LITERALLY. WHATEVER. whatever. (seething)

jfc I was writing for so long I'm sorry. I just have So Many Thoughts ab this rn. And I'm normal about it. Obviously

Your life is mine. Accept your inheritance, or I will reclaim it.

I'd rather die.

---

you know what i thought was REALLY WEIRD. this has been living rent free in my head ever since my first durge playthrough but. (spoilers ahead) minthara's so on board with you being a slayer and taking bhaal's legacy just because she thinks you should take any power available to you. of course in my playthrough i was like holy shit she would LOVE IT she called me her slayer, we're fucking doing it!!! but as you have that convo with bhaal you come to the slow realization that you'll just be his pawn forever - surely your life is worth more, surely you'd want more than doing some shitty god's bidding forever, father or not...i had a moment where i was like, im sorry minthara but i can't choose this. so i chose to defy him. and of course he kills you, withers shows up blah blah.

but.

we KNOW from minthara's characterization (for example in her ending with karlach) she doesn't want her love to die and she would rather jump headfirst into hell to fight against it. she'll never accept it or understand it. i just refuse to believe that if she knew what the consequences were for going down this path (the ending is quite linear and it's canonically Bad) she'd advise you to take the power.

but that's not really even what i was unsatisfied with - let's just say regardless of reasoning it all does happen the way it happened in my playthrough - there's no scene where she (or any other companion you're romancing as durge for that matter from what i've read online) actually reacts to the fact that you DIED. if withers wasnt a bro you'd be permadead. okay, no cutscene? maybe we can have some durge romance specific dialogue...? nope.

anyways larian PLEASE i know she'd be devastated i just want to hear her say no power is worth losing you /sob