#wow that took forever

[silverdori]

finally bagged zelda's horse

[babovens]

RUI RANK 40!

[hecateisalesbian]

OOO ask game, all questions >:)

This one is for you and @bloodied-dagger and @idontliketomatoesleavemealonebut I’m only answering this one cuz your way of asking was better (L old man)

1. coffee mugs, teacups, wine glasses, water bottles, or soda cans?

Uhhhh. Depends. I don’t really drink soda, but I do like monster so monster cans, I hate water bottles unless I put something in it that isn’t water (often), I don’t drink wine (it’s gross), and tea cups are just fancier coffee mugs. Honestly tho mainly depends on A. The drink and B. What I will do with it (coffee mugs for sickness, Tumblers for taking a drink somewhere, etc)

2. chocolate bars or lollipops?

Chocolate Bars (dark chocolate is better fight me)

3. bubblegum or cotton candy?

flavor or actually food. The bumble gum flavor is delicious but you can’t really compare two totally different foods I eat for two very different occasions/reasons

4. how did your elementary school teachers describe you?

Gifted

5. do you prefer to drink soda from soda cans, soda bottles, plastic cups or glass cups?

don’t drink soda (unless it’s monster than from the can)

6. pastel, boho, tomboy, preppy, goth, grunge, formal or sportswear?

Depends on what, but my overall style depends on my gender of the day™️

7. earbuds or headphones?

Headphones but I only have earbuds sadness

8. movies or tv shows?

tv shows

9. favorite smell in the summer?

I hate summer (the smell of it ENDING. Also like ice cream or smth idk)

10. game you were best at in p.e.?

Basketball or Soccor, but my school plays the dumb versions/their own versions so I often just don’t play lol

11. what you have for breakfast on an average day?

idk. Some protein waffles, eggs (with sausage sometimes), overnight oats, yogurt w/ whatever, toast, etc

12. name of your favorite playlist?

Across the Spiderverse Soundtrack- jk but I don’t have one so none?

13. lanyard or key ring?

wait hold on I forget the difference lemme google-

Neither carabiner (but probs lanyard)

14. favorite non-chocolate candy?

🤷🏼‍♀️ fruit? Idk. I don’t eat a lot of candy besides chocolate

15. favorite book you read as a school assignment?

Because of Winn-Dixie (go read it its SOOOO good)

16. most comfortable position to sit in?

Gay

17. most frequently worn pair of shoes?

Doc Martens, followed by my Mary Janes, converse or combats, etc

18. ideal weather?

rainy and thundery with BIG flashes and stuff that shakes ur house

19. sleeping position?

gay (but with my dog)

20. preferred place to write (i.e., in a note book, on your laptop, sketchpad, post-it notes, etc.)?

laptop cuz it’s easy but I don’t have one ✨

21. obsession from childhood?

Harry Potter :/ it’s okay/gooodish but the author (JOANNE ROWLING EVERYONE-) is a major TERF, but I try not to associate the works.

22. role model?

my sister :}

23. strange habits?

not strange but I bite my nails. Also your basic nd habits.

24. favorite crystal?

ameythsyt cuz it’s purple (I’m tired I’m not spelling correctly it’s up to the gods (autocorrect) now)

25. first song you remember hearing?

uh

happy birthday?

26. favorite activity to do in warm weather?

sit inside in the AC

27. favorite activity to do in cold weather?

skiing

28. five songs to describe you?

If this counts

29. best way to bond with you?

Talk with me over something I really like :}

30. places that you find sacred?

My BED

31. what outfit do you wear to kick ass and take names?

Doc martens and anythign that says hot hobo hippie goth emo alt gay genderfluid

32. top five favorite vines?

“He need some MILK!”

“FRE SHA VACA DO“Lebronnnn Jamesss”

“You almost made me drop my crooisaantttt :{“

“And they were roomates 😦”

“two brrooosss chillin in a hot tob, five feet apart cuz they’re ❌🏳️‍🌈”

“Road work ahead? Yeah, I sure hope it does”

“A 🥔 ✈️ around my rooommm”

idk those are just the ones I can Remeber right now, but there’s a whole bunch

33. most used phrase in your phone?

“ 💀 “ or “ sobbinggg”

34. advertisements you have stuck in your head?

I don’t have cable so I don’t get a lot but ONE TIME I got this 4 hour long ad so that was cool

35. average time you fall asleep?

anywhere from 8 pm to 8 pm as in I stayed up the past 24 hours

36. what is the first meme you remember ever seeing?

idk

37. suitcase or duffel bag?

suitcase, otherwise your laundering money

38. lemonade or tea?

tea

39. lemon cake or lemon meringue pie?

tried both, don’t care

40. weirdest thing to ever happen at your school?

Too many but to make it easy for you were known as the drug school

41. last person you texted?

My mom probs

42. jacket pockets or pants pockets?

how about both

43. hoodie, leather jacket, cardigan, jean jacket or bomber jacket?

leather but all r pretry good

44. favorite scent for soap?

c l e a n

45. which genre: sci-fi, fantasy or superhero?

fantasy

46. most comfortable outfit to sleep in?

whatever, I’m not picky

47. favorite type of cheese?

Gouda is bussin but it ties with blueberry goat cheese

48. if you were a fruit, what kind would you be?

dragonfruit for the sick name or grapes but only the green kind cuz the reds suck

49. what saying or quote do you live by?

“ur mom”

50. what made you laugh the hardest you ever have?

idk but I do know I spat water out of my nose so it must’ve been funny

51. current stresses?

life

52. favorite font?

who

who has a favorite font

53. what is the current state of your hands?

tired from all this typing

54. what did you learn from your first job?

what counts as a job

55. favorite fairy tale?

the original ones

56. favorite tradition?

halloween

57. the three biggest struggles you’ve overcome?

life

Gay/transgender awakening

discord

58. four talents you’re proud of having?

draw

act

sing

autism

59. if you were a video game character, what would your catchphrase be?

“COWABUMMER”

60. if you were a character in an anime, what kind of anime would you want it to be?

does owl house count-? Probs assassination classrooom

61. favorite line you heard from a book/movie/tv show/etc.?

“us weirdos have to stick together” 😭

“we’re supposed to be the good guys.”

62. seven characters you relate to?

Luz noceda

Anne boonchuy

Gwen stacy

Sasha waybright

amity blight

hunter noceda

Marcy Wu

Soooo many more

63. five songs that would play in your club?

Start a Band (Outro)- /j idk

64. favorite website from your childhood?

uhhhhhh. Who. Who has that?

65. any permanent scars?

lots

66. favorite flower(s)?

snapdragon maybe

67. good luck charms?

I have a lot most are in my room, l just trinkets from friends or loved ones

68. worst flavor of any food or drink you’ve ever tried?

grape medicine

69. a fun fact that you don’t know how you learned?

your nose grease can be used as chapstick

70. left or right handed?

right

71. least favorite pattern?

idk

72. worst subject?

PE lol

73. favorite weird flavor combo?

I used to love mixing Dr Pepper/Root beer in general and lemonade together. Sooooo good

74. at what pain level out of ten (1 through 10) do you have to be at before you take an advil or ibuprofen?

-10

75. when did you lose your first tooth?

like a few months old when I got in a car accident (I lost my two bottom teeth and for 7 years I had to sing all I want for Christmas are my two bottom teeth)

76. what’s your favorite potato food (i.e. tater tots, baked potatoes, fries, chips, etc.)?

chips or fries probably

77. best plant to grow on a windowsill?

idk

78. coffee from a gas station or sushi from a grocery store?

neither or coffee

79. which looks better, your school id photo or your driver’s license photo?

idk I haven’t seen either in years/ever

80. earth tones or jewel tones?

both

81. fireflies or lightning bugs?

fireflies

82. pc or console?

Depends (ow my hand hurts)

83. writing or drawing?

Both make me suffer

84. podcasts or talk radio?

podcasts

84. barbie or polly pocket?

barbie

85. fairy tales or mythology?

mythology and fairy tales often have the same story depending on which one you read

86. cookies or cupcakes?

cookies cupcakes make my stomach hurt

87. your greatest fear?

spiders

88. your greatest wish?

to be a shapeshifter

89. who would you put before everyone else?

my sister

90. luckiest mistake?

Dunno

91. boxes or bags?

for what (bags)

92. lamps, overhead lights, sunlight or fairy lights?

fairy lights

93. nicknames?

for who?

94. favorite season?

fall

95. favorite app on your phone?

ibis paint

96. desktop background?

don’t have a desktop

97. how many phone numbers do you have memorized?

like 3

98. favorite historical era?

Any really

[onionninjasstuff]

i present to you the au that has been brewing up in my head for a couple of months now, dr steals-your-ending (thanks sm @scatterbrainedbot for coming up with the name, it slaps)

i need future mikey focused shenanigans like air, so heres my take. idk when i have the time and energy to work on it more but im glad i at least have this bad boy of a comic out of my system for now <3

[bearionette]

Vanny in Space!

[viveela]

Looks like Charlie's spending Father's Day with two dads this time around

[acrobattack]

small addition to my dad swap AU based off that one movie clip of the girls getting their names for the first time

lots of panels were traced directly from frames of the clip itself (and obviously, the final pic is drawn over this classic piece of official art) because I was probably never going to finish this otherwise

[chimerical-daydreams]

hi what was that one time loop tried to kill the king

I mentioned it in my Very First Post for this au. What happened was that, in the first weeks of Loop being sent to the past and staying around the weaker version of the man that ruined their life, they decide to neutralize any chance that King will end up on the same path by, well, killing him. They failed, of course (had a last-second change of heart and couldn't bear going through with it), but their relationship got a bit shaky after that.

[panelshowsource]

god is fair: his hair may get greyer but his skin WILL get tighter

bonus...🤭

[crowseers]

Eminent Domain.

[itsclydebitches]

Zevlor: An Angsty Character Analysis

Hey, Zevlor simps. Can I interest anyone in 4,000 words about our favorite disaster tiefling? 💀

“We can’t stay, but we’ll be slaughtered if we leave—we’re no fighters.”

Back during my first play-through this is the line that turned Zevlor from another dime-a-dozen, exposition spouting NPC to a character I was legitimately interested in. “We’re no fighters.” My DnD ignorance abounds, but even I could see that wasn’t an accurate statement. Here’s a mountain of a man sporting fancier armor than my level 2 Tav knows exists yet, having wrecked half the goblin hoard with his crossbow and, if you let him, he'll happily turn to punching as a solution to verbal disagreements. Plus, he’s clearly the one giving the orders, so what do you mean you’re not a fighter?

Having explored the Grove a bit I chalked it up to a generalized assessment of the refugees as a whole. They’re mostly kids, civilians, and would-be protectors who only look the part of fighters in cobbled-together armor. One woman is grappling with the guilt of killing someone for the first time, even an enemy. Lakrissa is sure they’re all going to get slaughtered and is willing to put money on that fact. Meanwhile, the couple you meet are more concerned with what pet they’ll get when they somehow, someway, make it to the city. Don't worry about how that'll happen. You learn later that even those like Ronan are small potatoes compared to most of the baddies you’ll face. On paper he looks and sounds like the real deal—dressed in robes, talking up an apprenticeship with the famous Lorroakan—but scenes like the celebration light show and his own fury at needing to be saved, again, highlight how far he still has to go. The point is that Zevlor is right: these aren’t fighters and he at 18 strength, paladin, former commander, is definitely the exception.

However, BG3 is the sort of detail-heavy game where I’d expect them to include that exception in the dialogue. “We can’t stay, but we’ll be slaughtered if we leave—these people aren’t fighters.” Zevlor’s inclusion of himself in this assessment continued to nag at me and it didn’t start to make sense until I delved into his tag here on tumblr, with more patient players than myself posting everything there is to know about the tiefling. (Thanks, all.) Zevlor is fascinating to me in part because he has this contradictory nature, one example of which is that he’s a very talented fighter who desperately doesn’t want to be a fighter anymore.

…but also he totally does.

We overhear in his dialogue to Tilses that Zevlor is adamant about shedding the titles he’s earned through combat: Hellrider, Commander, Sir. He insists that they’re just civilians now and it’s not like he’s being disingenuous here—note that he introduces himself as just “Zevlor” to Tav. Zevlor means what he says to Tilses and we can see that he’s trying to both reinforce his point and lesson the blow by referring to her as “Tilly.” The nickname is a sweet one, hinting at their close bond in just a single word, reminding her that he’s not saying this to hurt her, he cares for her… but the nickname is simultaneously something he never would have used as her commander. The intimacy meant to comfort is also a hard blow to weather. They're now people who use nicknames inappropriate for the hierarchy of battle.

So Zevlor means what he says here, means it enough that Tilses is convinced and drops her use of “Commander,” but there’s definitely a hint of bitterness in his voice. At least, I’ve always heard it. Zevlor is steadfast in his conviction here, even going so far as to say, “I’m done soldiering, Tilly” when discussing what will come next at Baldur’s Gate. Yet for all of that his tone conveys (understandable) anger and disappointment that it’s come to this. Zevlor doesn’t act like someone who truly wants this change, but rather someone who’s been forced to accept it.

Is it outside forces unwillingly influencing him then? Did Avernus truly change things irrevocably? No, not really. At least, not in the way Zevlor likes to claim. Tilses herself states that being a Hellrider is for life; nothing can take away that title. You lost your post? Your whole city? Most of the people under your protection? Doesn’t matter! You’re a Hellrider forever, no matter the circumstances. I can easily picture a time in Zevlor's life where he would have agreed with Tilses wholeheartedly. They are Hellriders, dammit, and so long as there’s one person looking for their help they will wield that title alongside their blades. And right now, Zevlor has a lot more than just one person in need of his assistance.

So it’s not that Avernus truly stripped them of that identity. Nothing can do that. Zevlor is not rejecting titles and planning retirement because the mechanisms of fate are forcing him to.

He’s doing all that because he’s lost confidence in himself.

Even as someone with a shaky understanding of DnD classes, I love the parallel between a broken oath and the rejection of a lifelong title. If Zevlor can fail in his oath—or in his faith entirely, according to the memories stemming from his pod—why-ever would he think that any other ‘permanent’ part of his identity was worth fighting for? If you can loose the very thing you’ve built your entire life around, every important aspect of yourself, tied to your very soul… what’s a bestowed title compared to that? Zevlor doesn’t believe himself worthy of being a Hellrider anymore, but I think that goes deeper than a string of horrific circumstances making him feel incompetent. As an Oathbreaker, Zevlor likely believes that if he couldn’t uphold that, he can’t uphold anything. Calling himself a Hellrider would be a lie. A fiction. A pathetic, dangerous, insulting fiction at that. It’s like calling yourself the “Hero” while continually failing those around you. Sure, others might insist it’s a title you’ve earned, one you will always carry with you, but you don’t believe them anymore and at a certain point calling yourself that feels worse than embracing the title of “Villain." You don’t want to be the villain… but you want to pretend you’re the hero even less. Pretending is exhausting.

We see this struggle in the many ways that Zevlor fails, or almost fails, to uphold the ideals that originally guided him. I use the term “villain” above deliberately because Zevlor is not merely a former hero-type who’s self confidence has been shattered, or who has been reduced to a civilian, or who thinks themselves useless; he’s actively fighting against temptations that, under less stressful situations, he’d never even consider. I don’t think he is a villain, I think he’s a flawed, struggling victim who sees his own, inevitable mistakes as villainous—and the longer that warped perspective continues the easier it is to fall into bad behaviors. This cycle is perfectly summarized in the autobiography Zevlor keeps by his bed:

“When every passer-by thinks you a thief and a heretic, it is deeply tempting to become one.”

We don’t know if this is Zevlor’s autobiography (as far as I’m aware, anyway) but even if it’s not the words have clearly resonated enough for him to keep them nearby. This particular line paints a pretty clear picture of Zevlor’s struggle. If everyone you meet says you’re devil-kin, vermin, or would-be criminal, isn’t it easier to just give them what they want? If you can’t persuade them otherwise, why put in the effort of trying? If he can’t be Faithful to his God, why have faith in anything at all? If he can’t save these people—setback after setback, mistake after mistake—why is he even making the effort?

Zevlor obviously is trying, very, very hard, which is why such thoughts are merely temptations rather than actual, questionable actions. Still, the Grove gives us numerous examples of the precipice he’s balanced on—and the ways Tav can tip him in one direction or another. You can talk Zevlor down from his anger and get him to acknowledge his disgust in nearly sinking to Aradin’s level. You can also let him boil over and punch the human at a time when the last thing anyone needs is more violence. You can convince Zevlor that there are peaceful ways of stopping Kagha's ritual, or you can help him in pursuing the darker temptation to kill her. It’s a “low” thought, but at his own admission he hasn’t been above entertaining it. Zevlor’s requests for help, though always polite and humble, carry a spark of manipulation in them too. He’s not above leveraging your previously selfless good deed to his advantage—"She owes you for saving this grove"—and if you approach him before speaking with Kagha he’ll claim that the ritual will “be trouble—for all of us.” Except, no? Not really? Tav can make it clear that they’re just here for a healer, they’re only passing through, and as a fighter they are not beholden to the Grove’s sanctuary as the teiflings are. It’s not trouble for everyone involved, yet Zevlor frames it as such in the hopes that (unnecessary) self-interest may motivate you if selflessness fails. Finally, if Zevlor dies in your play-through and you use Speak the Dead on him, he will admit to having “plenty” of secrets, none of which he’ll share. Admittedly, this may be the result of cut content, specifically a story-line in which Zevlor knowingly betrays the tieflings rather than being tricked by the Absolute. Still, the game as it stands is the story we have and within it we’re given a man who is both fighting against these dark urges (ha) and has a past riddled with secrets. If Zevlor is anything, it’s blunt when it comes to his own failings, accurate and otherwise. So how terrible must these secrets be that he outright refuses to divulge them when, generally speaking, most corpses speak freely in death?

However, out of all of this the struggle I’m most intrigued by is the one surrounding the gate. Zevlor represents the tieflings: persecuted refugees, vulnerable civilians, people seeking to survive through cooperation, specifically by joining a community. Kagha represents the druids (or at least a vocal subset of them in Halsin’s absence): bigoted individuals, powerful fighters, people seeking to survive by giving in to their fears, specifically by keeping themselves isolated. This is the moral dichotomy of the Grove and it is symbolized through the gate. Zevlor wants to open it to everyone whereas Kagha wants to close it, permanently.

So isn’t it odd that Zevlor is the one ordering it shut?

When the scene first starts Kanon shouts down that no, he won’t open the gate. Zevlor said that no one is allowed in. Notably, he’s saying this to Aradin and his crew, people that the Grove is at least passingly familiar with, given that Halsin left with them to search the temple. It’s also notable that Zevlor isn’t expecting goblins to attack the Grove. He’s shocked that this is suddenly a problem, brought about by Aradin’s decision—“You lead them here?”— and the entire point of staying at the Grove is that it’s at least comparatively safe. Yes, there have been more attacks lately, but Zevlor seems to be relying on the Grove’s relatively unknown location, as well as the fact that goblins are normally disorganized. The safety is only compromised because Aradin brought a hunting party back, so Zevlor has no reason to expect any visitors, let alone ones that would be a threat.

More importantly, he should welcome such visitors even if he did expect them. After all, that’s precisely what the tieflings are: strangers with no ulterior motives other than to survive. Broadly speaking it makes perfect sense why he'd shut the gates. Zevlor’s first priority is to his people, so anything that keeps them safe is, theoretically, a good thing. But through the lens of his specific characterization and this specific, moral dilemma, it’s an awfully hypocritical decision. Based on everything we’ve seen, our party would not have been welcomed by Zevlor if we’d arrived without danger on our heels and a rescue to endear him to us. So his people should be welcomed, trusted, kept safe, given the benefit of the doubt… but Zevlor isn’t necessarily willing to extend that same trust to others. At the end of the day, he and Kagha want a version of the same thing: safety for those they deem are worthy of it.

It’s precisely these flaws and temptations that make Zevlor such a great character to me, even before he’s tricked by the Absolute. The fandom has leaned hard into Zevlor’s self-loathing and let me tell you, I love it (kisses, hugs, and cookies for you all), but canonically I think he has more reason to fear himself than we tend to portray in the H/C fics. I’m not saying he’s a bad person. Rather, it’s precisely because Zevlor is such a good person that he has the capacity to fall so far. It’s his all-consuming desire to protect his family that leads Zevlor to do and consider so much that a paladin would normally balk at. Denying others the safety you’ve been granted. Subtly manipulating others to do your dirty work. Considering murder.

Zevlor is someone torn between doing the Right Thing and the thing he believes will help those under his care survive. Importantly, when we first meet him he considers these to be two separate courses of action. So can you imagine what goes through his head when he first sees Tav saving everyone and doing so righteously? I think it’s integral to Zevlor’s characterization that the game all but forces you to play the Good Guy in that initial encounter. A cut scene starts, you’re thrown into combat immediately afterwards, and unless you plan to start attacking the Grove members alongside the goblins (which the mechanics discourage through the coloring that distinguishes enemies from allies) you will always finish this fight as Zevlor’s hero. Sure, you can be an asshole afterwards and demand payment. You could already be plotting your betrayal and the slaughter of all the refugees. But in this moment you are nothing but a miracle made flesh in his eyes. Right from the start Tav is succeeding in all the ways Zevlor feels like he's failed. You're the hero.

More specifically, you’re an Every-Man Hero. We might have epic backstories for our Tavs, but within confines of the game you’re largely a nobody when not playing an Origin character. How powerful must that have been to witness then? A total stranger, someone who has no ties to the tieflings or even, depending on your class, any sworn reason to help others, putting their life on the line to save what is most precious to Zevlor? I think a lot about the fact that he never asks Wyll to step in and try to change Kagha’s mind. She owes him just as much as she does Tav—Wyll is an equal participant in that fight and, if your shoddy play style is anything like mine, he likely did more damage—and Wyll is clearly invested in the tiefling’s survival, training the kids as he is. Now, obviously Zevlor’s reticence is largely a question of assigned roles (we need to be the one engaging with Kagha because we’re the protagonist/player) but, like Zevlor’s choice to include himself in the Not a Fighter group, it would have been all too easy to explain this away within the narrative. One comment about how Wyll already tried and failed, or how Kagha doesn’t trust Warlocks, or hell, maybe you don’t meet Wyll in the Grove at all. It’s an easy thing to accomplish and though this is edging more into the realm of headcanon than anything else, I can’t help but think that Wyll isn’t the kind of person that Zevlor could turn to for help right now. Because he’s a folk hero. The Blade of Frontiers, known far and wide for his impressive, selfless deeds. Zevlor is struggling so hard to keep the tieflings safe, tempted by all the unsavory solutions that might achieve that, drowning in self-hatred as his past and current failings catch up with him, wanting nothing more than to be his peoples’ protector:

“I would be a paladin again—with a god’s purpose, a god’s power. Everything I needed to protect my people. And all the while, the cult tortured them. They fought, and ran, and died around me, while I imagined myself their savior.”

Three of the things Zevlor mutters while trapped in the pod are “Hellrider… for… life…,” “Trust… in me…,” and “Children… look away… look at me…” He wants to be the protector, the one children look to for reassurance, he wants his words to Tilly to be a lie and he wants a way to prove that he is a Hellrider for life… but he’s not. At least, Zevlor doesn’t believe it. He lost his titles while Wyll still proudly bears his. Wyll trains the children to fight while Zevlor can only get swept up in anger at them being threatened. The people trust Wyll, adore him, he’s the hero and Zevlor… is not. Not anymore.

It’s too painful to approach Wyll and admit all that. That would be a hell of a blow to Zevlor's pride. But Tav? A stranger? A nobody? The Every-man who had no reason to help or reputation pressuring them, saving them anyway? That’s inspiring. Someone like Tav could be the answer and even, perhaps, the proof that Zevlor could redeem himself. Neither of them are folk heroes, untouchable in their assumed perfection. Tav is a living, breathing example of how the flawed, everyday adventurer can be everything Zevlor strives for.

No wonder he won’t shut up about them in the Shadowlands.

All of this is why it’s so tragic that Zevlor wasn’t given a redemption arc. Sure, you can recruit him for the final battle against the Netherbrain, but there’s no quest to change the cast’s opinion of him—or change Zevlor’s opinion of himself. All his content at the end of Act 2 and Act 3 reinforces that self-hatred.

Let’s make a list, shall we?

Nearly every line of his reunion with Tav has Zevlor painting himself in the worst light possible, from “a lie kinder than the truth” to his refusal to join you because he believes he’ll stab you in the back. You cannot convince him of the Absolute’s manipulation and there’s no response to his belief that such horrors start within the person like, “Of course it does! Because we’re all flawed and equally capable of good and evil deeds! That potential doesn’t make you irredeemable, Zevlor, it makes you mortal!!”

He’s utterly failed as his peoples’ champion and he’s also deemed “unworthy” of being a True Soul. Obviously not being chosen by the Absolute is a good thing, but for a man drowning in self-loathing that’s one hell of a complicated rejection.

Nearly all the tieflings hate him now, all those people he’s been sacrificing his soul to keep safe. I found it particularly devastating that this is one of the rare occasions where nailing a persuasion check doesn’t change the person’s mind. There’s at least one tiefling at Moonrise (I’m drawing a blank on her name) who will believe you when you explain how the Absolute influenced Zevlor, but that doesn’t lead to forgiveness.

Zevlor is deemed unimportant on a literal, narrative level. He is very easy to miss in the pods (I nearly did on my first play-through) and the game does incredibly little to dissuade you from that mistake. Putting aside for a moment that obviously an Origin companion is more significant than a minor NPC, compare this to Shadowheart screaming from her own pod, the game making it abundantly clear that this is someone in need of help—someone worth rescuing. She’ll even say later that you could have run past, more concerned with your own survival and the big picture heroics to bother with her. How must it feel then, if Zevlor ever learns that Tav was there and never stopped for him?

If you do miss Zevlor… oh boy. We’ve probably all seen at least a recording of Orin’s so-called gift. There are plenty of characters who can meet untimely and devastating ends, but very few go through this level of horror. Zevlor—after being held captive, remember—is tortured by God’s Favorite Torturer. He is stripped of his personhood and reduced to a mere “message,” a “pet.” Zevlor is further humiliated in death by being literally stripped of his armor—not just vulnerable in his nakedness, but denied the last symbol of his faith, his status, his power—and it’s always struck me that this is the closest we see to him 'enjoying' an intimate moment, this parody in Orin’s painting. Zevlor is one of the NPC’s most in need of physical comfort and instead he’s forced into this torturous mockery of a sex scene. It also hits hard that when Tav first spots his body the narration says that Zevlor “might almost be sleeping.” Undoubtedly this is a man who isn’t taking good care of himself. He needs a good night’s rest, yet this horrifying trick is all he gets.

As if all this weren’t enough, most of your companion are VERY critical of Zevlor while commenting on his demise. It’s one thing for the tieflings to believe the worst given their ignorance and the fact that they are the ones who suffered from Zevlor’s failure, but your company understands the Absolute and the ways that she gets her hooks in people. Still, Astarion calls him a “wet rag” even if he did deserve better than this. Shadowheart wouldn’t have wished this on him either, but she can’t help but slip in a “no matter his failings.” Lae’zel, often the most blunt, straight up says that he was “always destined to fail his people—and to fail us.” Wyll shakes his head and intones that “even good intentions can lead us down deadly paths.” Only Gale and Karlach stick to mourning the dead rather than airing his shortcomings.

When I spoke to my allies before the final battle Zevlor didn’t have a cut scene. It became clear to me later that this must have been a bug in my play-through, but at the time it only reinforced my feelings that his story was incomplete. Looking on Youtube I’ve found recordings of him saying that he is a Hellrider once more and he would “die a proud man if [he] were to die this day”… but that rings as terribly hollow given where we left him. Last we were together, Zevlor was saying in no uncertain terms that he could not be trusted, he would fail again, he was unworthy of forgiveness. Where did this change of heart come from? It makes perfect sense that he would help Tav in this moment—he begs to be of some use after getting free—but not that he would present himself with such confidence. Within the story as it’s been told this feels… fake. Like Zevlor is putting on a mask to fit the mood of this lively, optimistic party. Which, in turn, gives the “I would die a proud man” line a terrifying implication to me. Does Zevlor expect to die this day? Does he intend to? What would persuade him not to lay down his life here and now? His mission is complete. The tieflings are safe—though not by his hand. There's no hero's welcome waiting for him after this battle. They hate him. He hates himself, and by his own admission the one thing that could still make him proud would be to die at Tav’s side, trying to do one last bit of good. If someone said that to me after everything Zevlor has been through I would keep them far away from the front lines.

(I did, for the record lol.)

I’m not saying anything new then when I go, “Larian, PLEASE add more to his story.” Give us a Zevlor side-quest to renew his oath. Let us invite him to our camp. Something to link the broken man mid-game and the confident fighter at the end so that the latter doesn’t feel like an alarm bell with two legs and a tail. I mean yeah, I get hooked on minor characters so 75% of this is simply me wanting more content of a fave, but I also I do legitimately believe that BG3’s story would benefit from tying up loose ends like this.

Zevlor is a fantastic character, someone who contains an astounding amount of complexity for so little screen time. You have to follow up on that complexity though. If he’s meant to be a purely tragic figure, okay, fine, that’s the ending you get with Orin. But one where he joins you with a smile and reclaims a title he's previously rejected with such fervor requires more work in the middle; a through-line that explains how someone with so much self-loathing learns to think of himself as the hero again.

Because it does all come down to Zevlor’s perception of himself. He was always a hero, flaws and all. He always was and always will be a Hellrider.

The UI knows what's up :)

[i-write-but-cant-spell]

well i have no excuse for how this part two is literally three years late but liek its here???

After this you go back to your friends and upon seeing that you were now in worse condition than when you had arrived they decided to bring you home and you all spent the rest of the night laying on the couch and vegging out to your favorite foods and films.

Phantom on the other hand was now having to deal with his incessant brother Nate pestering him as to who you were and why he seemed to show a larger interest in you than usual.

Nate sat on phantoms desk nearly scattering and wrinkling the piles of paperwork phantom had chosen to surround himself with in order to chase away his thoughts of your tears and the emotions they and your touch had brought to his long dead heart. “I don’t understand you bro if you have feelings for this person why don’t you just go and chase after them? If it were me I would have asked them out ages ago I mean I personally haven’t felt anything in years and think its a total waste of energy or feel the same emotions we did when we were human. Buuuuut if you as opportunistic and cold as you are are feeling some semblance of emotion for the first time since your early human life than you should pursue those feelings.” Nate lectured with a joking tone but a true wisdom that phantom thought beyond his childish naive younger brother.

Phantom sighed rubbing the side of his skull in a desperate attempt to chase away the pain that was forming in his skull due to the copious amounts of paperwork he was currently managing along with the annoyance his brother and his newly rediscovered emotions were presenting him with. “ I do not have feelings for them thats absurd. They’re merely someone who’s skills I hope to one day acquire just like any other person in my collection. I have no emotion or attention towards them beyond that goal. I have just become bored with their talent and therefore no longer need to pour my hard earned time or resources into achieving their particular talent.” Phantom snapped attempting to convince himself as much as he was attempting to convince Nate.

“If that were really the truth you would still be pursuing them relentlessly instead of attempting to avoi them as if they were one of the great plagues. I know you bro and I think you forget that fact some days; I have known you for centuries I have seen you pursue souls of talent through hell or high water and the chances of you “getting bored” of one of your souls and just suddenly deciding to up and remove them from your life is slim to none. You have pursued souls until the day they have died offering them eternity on their death beds; you would not pass up an oppurtunity to gain a talent once interested. Theres somethign special about them. Maybe not to me or to others around us but there is somethign deeply special abotu them to you. You care about them be it in a platonic or romantic light thats for you to discover; but I will tell you that if you do not purse them soon than you can and will lose them.” With that Nate got up fro phantoms desk before teleporting leaving a plume of dust and charcoal that Phantom would inevitably be forced to have professionally cleaned out.

Phantom sat at his desk debating Nates words for hours; He knew that despite how idiotic he could be at times that his brother was rather emotionally intelligent for a demon and that if he did not act soon he would lose any chance he had at forming a relationship with you. He leaned back in his chair staring at your contact in his cell phone the goofy picture you had made your photo staring back at him as if mocking what little heart you had managed to force his demonic body to develop. “Fuck this” he groaned running his hand through his hair before inevitably hitting the call button. He listened to it ring before inevitably being sent to your voice mail. “Y/n; it’s Phantom. I’m- I’m calling to apologize I have a lot of things to talk to you about and I’m hoping we can do it over dinner? My treat of course as always; we can go wherever you’d like just please call me back as soon as you feel like you can answer this. I- I love you good bye.”

Phantom head cannons with a short scenario because I love him. This is a part one with how you guys meet and how your relationship develops plus some angst cause I’m known for making my fanfics as sad as possible. (I’m sorry if these are bad its literally the first time ive written a fic since like 2018) also these are short and not super edited but I may do a part two and make it better later I just really wanted to get this one out here!

When you guys first meet he is only really thinking about forming a deal with you and gaining your talent (as he does)

You however think he’s kind of pretty and he’s super polite so you start to try and actively befriend him!

And boy is so confused he’s like “what are you doing?” “Making us friendship bracelets!” “Oh-“ he just doesn’t know how to handle it

Phantom is also really not used to having friends so like you have to schedule most hangouts that dont have to do with your talent.

Eventually just before he’s going to ask you to sign a contract he is sitting in his office and editing the contract he has planned out for you when suddenly he gets a feeling he doesn’t recognize.

Him? King of deals and lover of talented souls and taking what he wants has a feeling? And its negative? And its about you????? Cue one really really confused and apprehensive fancy man.

He instantly starts to avoid you going so far as to even have you banned from the establishments that you know he owns (aka his night gigs like his clubs) and of course youre hurt cause he’s your friend and suddenly none of your calls or texts are being returned? Soon after this you realize your own feelings when you feel your heart sink at the idea of him being sick of spending time with you. So you of course find yourself at a club in the neighboring town because your friends dragged you out to get over him. Little did they know that he also happens to own this establishment. In their defense you didn’t know either until youre tipsy and crying your eyes out looking for the bathroom only to run straight into the man that’s making you feel so very upset.

“Y/n? Why are you crying? You look exhausted come here lets get you to my office and get you some water.” Phantom speaks gently as hs grabs your shoulders tenderly like you might shatter if he held on just a little to tight. you sniffle brain fuzzy with pain and the alcohol you had consumed earlier. You nodded in between hiccups and failed attempts to stop your insistent sniffling. He slowly begins to guide you to his office through twists and turns that make your liquid filled stomach turn and your blurry eyes spin.

You finally pass through a door into a cozy office as phantom guides you gently to the couch before sitting you down and handing you a bottle of water he seemed to have pulled out of nowhere. “here drink this, I dont want you getting dehydrated,” he spoke gently pushing the plastic bottle into your hands before gesturing for you to take a sip. You sip the water the coolness helping to soothe your etching throat and calm your burning skin. Well calm the burning everywhere outside of where phantoms hand laid still on your shoulder. In fact his whole presence felt burning as if he was a human space heater.

“You can stay here as long as you’d like, i have to go attend to business,” phantom stood removing his hand from your shoulder as he moved to the door still avoiding looking at you as if you were something that disgusted him. “N-no do-don’t go,” you exclaimed grabbing his hand as if that would somehow ground him to the spot. As if it would bring him back to you and the breakfasts you used to spend in cafes talking about anything and everything.

“I have to go ms./mr./mx. L/n, I’d greatly appreciate it if you released my hand and allowed me to go to my meeting,” he said gripping his fist that you didn’t have a hold of into a tight ball as he felt his long dead heart burn in his chest. “Fine but please, just look at me?” You whispered not realizing just how broken you felt until the choked words left your mouth. “Y/- L/n this is highly unprofessional of you please collect yourself and then get yourself home. I also would like you to avoid this and other business in my possession in the future, Good night.” Phantom said negative emotions lacing his voice as you felt more hot tears roll down your cheeks as you stood shakily letting go of your hold on phantoms hand before clutching the hand to your chest as if the memory of the contact coudl heal the pain you felt. You collected yourself enough to walk out the door before collapsing to the floor in the hallway gasping as tears ran down your cheeks; your lungs and heart burned in your chest as if they were on fire. Little did you know that phantom was sitting against the other side of the door in no better a position than you as he held the hand that you had gripped just moments before to his chest. And for the first time in many life times phantom cried.

[its-flame-art]

“wait a minute. wait a minute, Doc. ah... are you telling me that you built a time machine...out of a DeLorean?”

[luuxxart]

evil win! the ones plotting for your mysterious death are uncle and nephew!

[uhbasicallyjustmilex]

♡ handwriting analysis: alex turner and miles kane ♡

as promised, here is the analysis my wonderful friend (who used to work as a professional handwriting analyst) did of miles and alex's handwriting! a couple of important points to read before you dive in:

my friend analysed these blind - to avoid bias, she always makes a point of never knowing whose handwriting it is she's looking at, so she had no idea that these samples were from alex and miles while analysing them (not that it'd have made much difference if she had, she can't even name one am song lol)

she stressed that her analysis should NOT be taken as fact - it's just one person's interpretation of the material, and handwriting analysis is ultimately always subjective

the two analyses below are based on notes i took while she was talking and is pretty much verbatim - none of the wording is my own and i have changed as little as possible in typing it up

she noted that it was harder to provide a full and accurate analysis just working with photos of handwriting, as you can't see things like pressure on the page etc. she also stressed that context is significant when it comes to interpreting someone's writing, and it's important to bear in mind that how someone writes in one context, e.g. signing autographs or writing something for the general public could show quite different characteristics to how someone writes in another context, e.g. personal letters to someone they're close to. in an ideal world she'd have access to samples from a different range of contexts to provide the most detailed and accurate analysis. in other words, this analysis is quite rough

alex's handwriting:

(samples taken from roughly 2011 - 2018)

block capitals suggest this is someone who don't want to show themselves, makes it hard for people to reach them

someone interested in thoughts and ideas, would engage with these in a way that's intelligent and very original

a lot of emotional and social inconsistency, suggests someone pulled in different directions. they might show very different sides of themselves with different people and probably have complex and/or conflicted feelings about identity

very creative, someone who'd make interesting and unusual connections about the world around them

highly intuitive but also lacking harmony from an emotional perspective. lots of internal emotional conflict and changeability

someone who fluctuates a lot socially as well as emotionally - might go from being quite sociable to withdrawing completely. ultimately struggles to reach out socially and holds back a lot, but there might be certain situations or people they feel particularly at ease with where this is different

really hard to read, don't give much of themselves away

thoughtful and enquiring, interested in ideas

someone who feels things very strongly

signature:

implies someone hiding themselves or presenting as someone they're not. they want to look confident and exciting, but they're actually much less confident that they'd like to appear. lets their creative and artistic tendencies hide them and take centre stage.

miles's handwriting:

(samples taken from roughly 2022 - 2023)

a little sharp, could suggest humorous wit and/or being critical (either of self or of others)

ambitious and incisive, intelligent and enquiring mind

fearful or wary about opening up and reaching out to people, emotional inconsistency. potentially quite restrained - looks like someone used to hiding a lot of hiding of emotions

has an enquiring mind but isn't particularly interested in abstract thought, more grounded in reality and social/emotional things

someone with strong feelings, they get held in and confused. could be warm and open on a surface level, but looks like they'd be reserved about their innermost feelings

could be sharp tongued to avoid dealing with their own feelings

lower zone suggests someone who might not be completely comfortable in their own body and/or sexuality, or have a complex relationship with these things

someone with a tendency towards strong feelings and devotion/worship (could be religious, or could just be to do with the way they relate to people or ideas)

signature:

someone who wants to look more confident they feel. sense of changeability and flashes of insecurity, but ultimately suggests strength of character, not someone who's a pushover. they know what they want and what matters to them.

interesting extra notes:

the wonderful @ballad-of-what-could-have-been managed to find this sample of alex's handwriting not in capitals from when he was much younger (from what i can see, it looks like it was early fwn era):

so i showed this to my friend too (after her analysis of alex's usual writing) and noted that it was probably done when he was a lot younger. she said that all her points from the original analysis still stood, and that despite the fact this writing isn't capitalised it was actually still very hard to read and definitely someone not comfortable with showing themselves. she also said that it was more emotionally conflicted and uncertain than the later sample of their handwriting. the phrase "emotionally all over the place" was used, and she noted a greater sense of inconsistency with identity. overall though she said the earlier sample confirms that this is someone with a high level of intuition and originality, and she said they're someone she'd be fascinated to have a conversation with!

thank you for reading! if you have any questions, please feel free to comment/drop me an ask and i can always pick my friend's brain again the next time i see her!

[lathepoquerose]

tell me ur dragon priest thoughts.... if you so wish i mean

SALEM YOU SPOIL ME WITH THIS ASK!!!!!

I have studied each Dragon Priest's tomb, history, mask, weapons, related quests, and surrounding locations, which is how I arrived at many of these conclusions!

Hevnoraak: The slave-keeper and coordinator for the clergy. Obsessed with immortality, he sought out the Blood Matron and was made a Cold-Harbour vampire by Lamae Bal. Lord Harkon would be a long-time follower of Hevnoraak's, and his daughter, Serana, would be chosen by Hevnoraak on the 20th of Frostfall to become a Daughter of Cold Harbour.

Temple Dragon: Durnehviir

A Song I Associate With Him: Blood of the Fang

***

Morokei: The eccentric and quietly sadistic Cardinal of Labyrinthian. Quick to betray Akatosh in favor of upholding the cult's reign. Believes himself to be a higher power than Alduin. Seeks to become a God.

Morokei would spend his twilight years obsessively attempting to tie his power to the Eye of Magnus. Due to this, in the early 4th era, the Staff of Magnus would appear in Morokei's tomb, granting him the power to wake as a Lich.

Temple Dragon: Paarthurnax. Post-Kyne, Labyrinthian would become a central hub for the Dragon War.

A Song I Associate With Him: Selah

***

Vokun: Half snow elf, Vokun was also born intersex, a trait which is considered exceptionally holy as the absence of distinctive gender brings one closer to the amorphous identity of the divines. Thus, despite not being a full Atmoran, they were granted Bishop status in the clergy.

Vokun was eventually killed by Ysgramor after fighting in defense of their snow elf family.

Temple Dragon: Naaslaruum and Voslaruum, an ancient and revered dragon pairing that fled to the Forgotten Vale at the outbreak of the Dragon War.

A Song I Associate With Him: Requiem

***

Krosis: The Funeral Bishop, Krosis was responsible for providing proper funeral rites and burials for all members and those in service to the clergy. He was also chief embalmer, and managed the clergy's soul gem supply.

Krosis's brother joined the rebellion, but his time was short-lived. Suffering from vocal cord malformations since birth, his brother was unable to shout and was quickly killed in his first battle.

Krosis would bury his own brother and kill himself beside his grave. Despite this being a betrayal in the eyes of the clergy, due to his many years of honorable service, he was permitted to be buried in his mask beside his brother.

Temple Dragon: Krosis did not have a temple dragon, rather he traveled between many temples to perform funeral rites.

A Song I Associate With Him: Hotel in Minsk

***

Volsung: Volsung possessed a vested interest in the Dwemer and gilded his mask with Dwemer metal. In the clergy he was primarily responsible for managing and negotiating supply chain activities. He enjoyed puzzles and was inspired by the Dwemer's intricate puzzle designs, building his own in the halls of Volskygge.

His relationship with the Dwemer would betray him; they killed Volsung after he tricked them: his mask for three Centurions. In lieu of his own mask, he presented them with a wooden mask.

Infuriated by Volsung's death, Vulthuryol, his temple Dragon, would raze Alftand, destroying the city, but was soon after captured and imprisoned in Blackreach.

Temple Dragon: Vulthuryol

A Song I Associate With Him: Don't Rely On Other Men

***

Rahgot: Despite being named "Anger," Rahgot was measured and highly respected during his initial reign. Forelhost was well known for alchemy and many famous alchemists studied with Rahgot and his masters. Being on the border of Morrowind, Forelhost acted as a trading post for Chimer settlers.

At the end of the dragon war, Forelhost was one of the many temples left without a temple dragon. By the 1st era, Rahgot had become cruel and violent in a desperate attempt to keep his subjects from staging a coup.

Following the Siege on the Dragon Cult, Rahgot was ultimately killed by a rogue group of subjects who had been hastily given a lighter dose of poison by Forelhost's court alchemist.

Temple Dragon: Viinturuth

A Song I Associate With Him: Redrum

***

Otar: Once a respected Nord Leader, Otar was driven mad by the aspect of Sheogorath and sought to join the dragon clergy. He briefly studied with Ahzidal in order to enhance his skill in enchantment.

He was initially outright rejected by the Clergy, a fact which infuriated him. Out of anger, he crafted and enchanted his own mask and accoutrements. He began running several cutthroat mining operations, especially malachite. This was eventually noticed by Nahagliiv, a unique frosted-glass dragon, who chose Otar to lead his temple and receive a proper mask.

Temple Dragon: Nahagliiv

A Song I Associate With Him: Birds

***

Nahkriin: The only Dragon Priest to truly follow the teachings of the religion, Nahkriin's dedication earned him a place as the guardian of Skuldafn. The Arch-Cardinal, he is the highest ranking member of the clergy and for many years possessed Konahriik before bestowing it upon Vahlok after The Acolyte Betrayals.

Living in seclusion, he was the last to hear of Alduin's defeat. Having failed his sacred duty to protect the World-Eater, he took his life traditionally, but not before taking a vow to return and set matters right.

Temple Dragon: Alduin

A Song I Associate With Him: Wings

***

Zaan Scalecaller: A shockingly young Priest at the age of just 16, Zaan Scalecaller was nothing but a milk maid when she was chosen by the dragon Thurvokun to lead his temple. Her brother to be brought into servitude to the clergy, Zaan drew her father's sword and challenged Thurvokun for his freedom.

Amused and impressed by her valor, Thurvokun became attached to the young Zaan. Her rule was one of relative peace and comfort for her subjects. The young Dukaan, an initiate, not yet a Priest, developed an affliction for Zaan. The two dreamed of defecting to the Eastern shore of Solstheim together along with Thurvokun.

In the early days of the dragon war, Thurvokun betrayed Zaan out of his own cowardice. Sinking into a deep depression, Zaan's subjects murdered her without resistance.

Temple Dragon: Thurvokun

A Song I Associate With Her: Body and Blood

***

Vahlok the Jailor: Born and raised in the Dragon Clergy, Vahlok was a talented alteration and conjuration mage who studied under Ahzidal.

Following the death of Zaan Scalecaller, Vahlok was chosen by Odahviing to overtake her temple in his honor. His closest friend, Miraak confided in Vahlok that the Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora had informed him the Clergy intended to kill him, his power as Dragonborn making him too dangerous to leave alive. Vahlok would betray Miraak's dealings with Mora to the Clergy, an action that pushed Miraak to sign a contract for his soul and begin the Acolyte Betrayals.

Vahlok would defeat Miraak and Sahrotaar at the Battle of Solstheim, and for his bravery would be granted Konahriik by Nahkriin. A peaceful and gentle ruler, he would spend his dying years wracked with guilt and grief over Miraak's entrapment. In his last days he composed the spellbook which would allow Miraak to make his escape attempt in the 2nd Era.

Temple Dragon: Odahviing

A Song I Associate With Him: Apollon

Ahzidal: Once the master wizard of Labyrinthian, Ahzidal's extreme PTSD led him to the brink of madness long before his dealings with the dragon cult. Despising elves, Ahzidal was responsible for setting Ysgramor upon Vokun's family.

Ahzidal would not defect during the initial Acolyte Betrayals, rather he would work with Miraak in secrecy. It would be Ahzidal who enchanted Firstblade, which was then blessed by Hermaeus Mora. Ahzidal, additionally, crafted the Acolyte masks.

He worked in conjunction with the dragon Krosulhah, who frequently traveled in and out of Apocrypha, to attempt to free Miraak in his early imprisonment. When Krosulhah's doings and subsequently Ahzidal's were discovered by Clergy leaders, Ahzidal finally fled to Solstheim, where he was imprisoned in Kolbjorn Barrow by Vahlok.

Temple Dragon: Krosulhah

A Song I Associate With Him: Giving Bad People Good Ideas

***

Zahkriisos: A member of Morokei's court, Zahkriisos would be so disgusted by Vahlok's betrayal of Miraak that he would defect alongside him, becoming the leader of Bloodskaal Barrow.

Despite popular legend, Zahkriisos was a fair and respected ruler who oversaw the Bloodskaal clan. Interested in unique magicks, he was directly responsible for developing Kinetic Runes, a child magic of Dragon Blood Runes which allowed the user to surpass the need for Dragon Blood by channelling Kinetic Energies through electrolyzed water bodies.

Temple Dragon: Relonikiv

A Song I Associate With Him: Red River

***

Dukaan: A talented ice mage, Dukaan had a vested interest in the arcane and spiritual properties of Stahlrim. Before his death, he decreed that he would wish to be buried near a potent Stahlrim source, that the All-Maker might consider his case and allow him to be with Zaan Scalecaller in death.

Having a secret relationship with Zaan, Dukaan would incorrectly blame Vahlok for her death, and as a result defected with Miraak during the Acolyte Betrayals. Morokei would curse him with the title Dukaan upon his defection, a name which he subsequently took as his Acolyte title.

Temple Dragon: Kruzikrell

A Song I Associate With Him: Frost

***

Miraak: The Arch-Bishop of the Allegiant Guard, a team of five dragons and dragon-riders acting on aerial offense during the dragon war. Putting their most powerful mages on the backs of dragons allowed them to cast sweeping paralysis spells and quickly incapacitate sieges where succeeding in melee combat would have proven difficult.

Miraak earned his status as an Arch-Bishop when, during The Siege of the Eastern Front, the great Serpentine Dragon Sahrotaar parted the sea to wash away the Atmoran offense and proclaimed Miraak his Temple Priest. For his status as the only Priest under the command of a Serpentine, he was granted the tusked mask.

Miraak was brutally abused and brainwashed by Hevnoraak during his early years with the cult so as to preserve his lack of knowledge regarding his capabilities as Dragonborn. These memories were returned to him by Hermaeus Mora, infuriating him and driving him to sign a contract with the Daedric Lord.

Temple Dragon: Sahrotaar

A Song I Associate With Him: Beware