#the theocracy of steel lmao

[that-kid-from-vault-101]

I never really intended for Elder Aaron to be far more religious than Wanderer Aaron is, but I think it’s a fascinating character development so I’m going to stick with it.

[thecubspeaks]

okay but what if I’m asking you to tell me about your OCs

then i shall!!!

Izar is a Dark Urge, a human gloomstalker ranger. She is also the star of my very long ridiculous fic about her terrible love triangle with Gale and Minthara over the course of canon. She was my second Dark Urge, and I really wanted to make a durge who, despite her lost memories, still had the leadership skills, tactical mind, and charisma to learn that she had masterminded the whole Absolute scheme and have people be like... yeah, actually, I can see that. This turned out to intersect with Gale's extremely matter-of-fact treatment of the Bhaal reveals in a wildly compelling (to me) way, and the resulting semi-toxic relationship tragically drove me insane.

The aforementioned fic is going to be the longest fic I've ever written, which I find very funny. I am secretly half-thinking about a post-canon sequel where she, Gale, and Shadowheart work through the trauma of being an ex-Chosen by going on an adventure about it, possibly in Elturel, because where better to explore your religious trauma than in a former theocracy? Please send help.

Dirza is also a Dark Urge, and my current run. She's a drow warlock (Great Old One, but in my head her patron is, of course, Bhaal) and is allowing Shadowheart to indoctrinate her into Shar worship partly out of feeling a genuine sense of connection to the idea of worshipping nothingness given... everything that's going on with her... but also because she has a massive crush on Shadowheart and wants to impress her. Act Two is going to be a bit of an awakening for both of them on that score. She's a dreamy goth people-pleaser with a snarky streak, and my idea is that she and Shadowheart will both find themselves standing on the knife's edge between giving up everything and facing the terror of having to find yourself from nothing, or just surrendering to doing what your god wants you to do, because it's terrible, but it's also so much safer to do what's expected of you. Dirza's characterisation is being HEAVILY influenced by the fact that the voice I've chosen delivers all the dark urge lines in an incredibly deranged and delightful manner.

We just arrived in the Underdark in my current run and I've been meaning to write something with Dirza realising that it feels totally unfamiliar there despite clearly being a drow, and wondering what that means about her past.

(I also have a whole deranged AU idea stemming from the fact that I made her Dream Guardian look like Izar but I will not bore you lmao)

Avigey is the other run I have going, though it's sooo close to being finished and I keep putting it off because I'm dreading doing the Iron Throne. She's a middle-aged half-elf cleric of Mystra (which has been sooo compelling and I will absolutely be playing one again to romance Gale), who I wanted to be someone who is good-aligned in both their worship and deeds, but is not particularly warm or nice. Gale is key to her story in any case, as she grappled with traveling with the ex-Chosen of her goddess and feeling like, despite worshipping her for longer than Gale has been alive, she has never been shown any particular favour or sign that Mystra even notices her, culminating in a massive sense of disillusionment when Mystra sends Elminster to Gale and doesn't acknowledge her at all. This turned out to set her up perfectly for re-encountering Minthara and being extremely drawn to her anger towards the gods (also, she's sexy).

She let herself be temped by Minthara's ideas about shaking off the need for any gods and seizing power for themselves, until she saw the result of letting Astarion ascend. Seeing what is lost as well as gained in the pursuit of power snapped her back to herself a bit, and at least steeled her wavering faith enough to let her talk Gale out of trying to become a god.

Isemay is a half-drow swords bard, and was my second Tav. She romanced Lae'zel and I love her and them dearly, but I hadn't yet let myself go totally wild with imagining my characters' lives yet, so she doesn't really spill out of the confines of the story in the same way as the others. But she absolutely has the hottest design out of all of them, and when I think about her and Lae'zel flying off to be githyanki freedom fighters together, I get very emotional. She was another one who turned out to complement the written romance perfectly despite my knowing nothing about it in advance. Lae'zel slowly realising that this flashy caster is also an extremely good swordswoman, and then letting Isemay's passion and drama draw her into seeing and appreciating the beauty of Faerûn... perfect. This one also had an alternate ending where Lae'zel left alone and Isemay went to Avernus with Karlach, because they were absolute besties.

if I get started on my actual dnd characters or characters from my original stuff we'll never get out of here