#~pacted blade~

[iron-hearts-ablaze]

@faerunscursed continued from here

Karlach was all the happier to indulge in alcohol, and whatever feast they could drum up. There was so much more to celebrate - the curse had been lifted, the remaining tieflings were free to make it to the city, and the had fell a God. Nothing could beat this victory. They had more than earned this small celebration.

Karlach had only been walking past to make way to her own tent to see if that bottle of ale she had stashed away was still there, when Wyll had called her over. Gods, he was beyond sloshed. Karlach couldn't help a small laugh. Oh, the great Blade of Frontiers, a lightweight. She herself was overly tipsy, but still had plenty more in her before she would be considered unsavoury.

"Came to get more drink, though maybe I'll keep it to myself. Seems you've had plenty." Karlach grinned, a brow raised at his second statement. "You were hoping? Wasn't that long ago you were breathing down my neck-"

Karlach stopped when Wyll made his advancement. Her brows hit the base of her horns as she found herself sandwiched between Wyll and the crumbling building behind her. Her surprise was obvious. She wasn't exactly lying either - Wyll and her hadn't exactly had the best start.

They had both spent many days, if not tendays, worth of being paranoid and suspicious of each other. Karlach had been on guard, wondering when she would stir in the night to find Wyll above her with a blade in hand. But that never came to pass. As much as she didn't want to fully entrust her life into Wyll's hands, she found herself slowly but surely doing just that.

Though this really was unexpected...

A changed hue rose in her cheeks, where the fires flared in a form of blush. Blue flames under red skin gave a purple tint to her face. It wasn't as if Wyll wasn't handsome - he was incredibly slow. His advancement wasn't unwelcome, just unpredicted. Usually she would be flirting back, but the stunned realisation sunk in. This was the first time she had been touched in a decade...

Dammon had fixed up her engine a couple of weeks ago but she hadn't the chance to explore her newfound sense of touch before they were whisked away into battle after battle. But here he was, laying hands on her so easily. Without even a hint of a scorching. Did he have any idea how much this meant to her? Maybe he did, somewhere in his drunken state...

Her eyes closed as her head tilted back slightly, a smile on her face as she soaked in the feeling of his hand on her. "Heh..." She tried to take a breath, didn't want tears to brim from the overwhelming joy. Didn't want to ruin anything. "You're full of surprises, Ravengard... But c'mon. We should get you back to your tent, so you can wake up and regret everything."

[iron-hearts-ablaze]

Karlach took another calming breath as Wyll seemed to back down - and so, in turn, did she. When he mentioned the pains that even a short time in Avernus can bring, she nodded slowly. He had a point - about not comparing pain. Usually she would have bitten and barked back, but there was something about Wyll that calmed her. She nodded again out of agreement. They certainly did... it was pointless to compare what had happened to them, just that it did happen.

She showed her willingness to move past the conversation by not expanding on it. Instead, she listened to what he had to say about the Druids and Crèche. Although she was listening, her ears even twitching ever so slightly at his calmer tones, she couldn't help but analyse his features all the more now she was closer.

It felt as though he had avoided the camp at large the last couple of nights. As if ashamed. Karlach couldn't assume that was indeed the reason, but it would be understandable if that was the case. He seemed a proud man, if only a pride in what he could bring to the people. Now that was at risk. Because of her. Yet, despite looking for some sign of intense regret for being in his way, she instead found herself wondering if he looked all the better like this... She would easily admit she was rather jealous of his horns, as most tieflings would be. Mizora may have mutated him, but at least it was a generous change.

"Hm," Karlach winced slightly, hands moving to her hips as she thought aloud. "I may sound paranoid, but I'm not so sure about this Crèche business. I'm completely fine with Lae'zel fighting alongside me in battle, but Gith's scrambling around my brain? No thanks. It seems too easy. So does this Druid, honestly - but what would I rather trust? The word of one stubborn person? Or the testimonies of many people? I'd rather give this Halsin guy a chance at least. Not like the Crèche is going anywhere, right? What about you, which side are you on?"

Wyll nodded in agreement when Karlach revealed that she had not meant the path through the caves behind the well, but instead was talking about the passage located in the goblin camp. He said: "It should be easier now that we cleared it out of those pests. Though, did we actually get the riddle in the Selunite temple right? I have the distinct feeling, Shadowheart spun one of those dials a bit too quickly."

The conversation escalated quickly, fired up by a shared pain, which was hard to put into words for both of them. As Karlach stood up, fists balled, Wyll distinctly became aware of just how godsdamn big she was. Even for a Tiefling, she towered over most people in camp. If any of them started swinging, Wyll would not be able to do much. The Blade was not the strongest man. He was fast and agile, but his strength lay in the accursed magic, Mizora had lent him as opposed to anything physical.

As Karlach yelled at him to look at her, Wyll could not help but follow her instruction. The pale burn marks on the right side of her body, the regrown and scorched muscle tissue made him swallow tightly. While Mizora rarely laid her claws on him - he still remembered the loving 'caress', she had given one side of his face where his sending stone eye was -, he was no fool. If a devil did not torture you psychologically, they tortured you physically. And they could do some pretty horrendous things.

Wyll took a deep breath, realising his hurt had made him step out of line. Again, he shoved his own pain aside as he always did. The Blade had to remain strong. For victims of monsters and for his friends alike. What was going on in his troubled mind would be a small price to pay. The young warlock opened his hands and shoved them downwards as if he were trying to distance himself from his pain.

Placating, Wyll replied: "I am sorry, Karlach. I spoke without thinking. I don't know your history with Mizora, though, judging how you both speak of the other, it is pretty bad. I appreciate your attempt to help me. I really do. I am sorry if I did not express that properly."

He nodded and said: "You are right, Karlach. If anything, we should be the last people at each other's throats. We both know what hell does to a person. The pain it can bring. There is no use in arguing over semantics and who has been in more pain. We have bigger things to worry about."

Wyll gestured to the side of his temple for emphasis. "Nettie told me that Halsin is an incredibly capable druid. However, even with his magic, he could do nothing to remove the parasites. And he has studied them. Do you think we should follow his advice? Head to Moonrise to find more answers? Or should we rather go with Lae'zel's plan and locate the Crèche?"

[truly-sincerely]

Comprehensive Dead Three Timeline

Outdated! I've made a new timeline!

Obviously there's varying amounts of speculation here, but I believe this is as close to a reasonable order of events as can be achieved with current, in-game information

1460s

Enver Flymm sold to Raphael by his parents, renamed Gortash

Gortash learns about the Crown of Karsus while a prisoner of Raphael

1470s

Gortash escapes the House of Hope

Gortash gets involved with black market arms dealing

Durge begins their serial killing spree in Baldur’s Gate

The Emperor dominates Duke Stelmane

1480s

Gortash establishes a cult of Bane in Baldur’s Gate

Gortash approaches Durge about an alliance

Hall of Wonders test mission - Durge gets Bhaalist memorabilia - Gortash gets a bunch of Gondian designs - Durge & Gortash get companionship

Gortash trades Karlach to Zariel for infernal machinery & iron

Baldur’s Gate’s Beloved Ranger statue goes missing

Gortash recruits Franc Peartree to distribute infernal iron weapons

Gortash moves against the Zhentarim & Knights of the Shield

Wyll Ravengard enters pact with Mizora, leaves Baldur’s Gate

1490s

Dead Three made aware of the Crown of Karsus (most likely informed by Gortash) - Gortash becomes Bane’s Chosen - Durge becomes Bhaal’s chosen - Gortash & Durge are instructed to recruit Ketheric

Gortash tells Durge about the Crown of Karsus

They visit Ketheric and learn of the illithid colony under Moonrise

Gortash & Durge visit the House of Hope (for intel on Mephistar?)

Gortash & Durge raid Mephistar - They get the Crown of Karsus - They get the book on the accelerated grand design

Gortash captures the Emperor

Gortash & Durge return to Moonrise - Their identities are kept secret from Ketheric’s people - Durge impresses the Moonrise Gnolls, but not Steelclaw - Ketheric yells at Durge in the throne room for unknown reason

Durge proposes their plan to the Elder Brain who accepts

Raid on the illithid colony - Durge puts the Crown on the Elder Brain - Orin gets Durge alone during the raid & stabs them in the head - Orin tadpoles Durge, making them the first True Soul - Orin leaves Durge in an illithid pod - Orin tells the Chosen she now speaks for the Temple of Bhaal - Orin likely told Gortash, Ketheric, and Balthazar something vague about Durge’s disappearance being related to Durge’s religious crisis and let their imaginations do the rest

1492

Durge breaks out of their pod & is found by Kressa Bonedaughter

Gortash gets weird and intense with unethical experiments - Some futzing to get the tadpoles to consistently remain in stasis - This is when the name ‘True Souls’ gets coined - Extremely questionable fun with brains - Getting the Absolute’s voice sorted out - Tadpoling his parents - Poorly conceived experiments on children & their parents

Isobel is resurrected by the Dead Three

Minsc captured by Absolutists at recruitment rally in the Undercity

Minthara Baenre is recruited by Orin and Ketheric

Gortash has the Iron Throne converted to hold hostages

Gortash presents prototype Steel Watcher to the city council

Jaheira tracks cult to shadow-cursed land, meets Isobel

Elturel falls into Avernus

The brain sends the Chosen dreams about the Astral Prism

Gortash researches the Prism, finds out that Vlaakith has it

Gortash tells Ketheric to send a team to get the Prism - A nautiloid piloted by the Emperor and other illithid is sent - Kressa’s husband arranged for Durge to be on the nautiloid

Gortash deploys Steel Watch in Lower/Outer City

At this point Elturel is no longer in Avernus

Nautiloid picks up Shadowheart & the Prism from Astral Plane

Nautiloid picks up Lae’zel (?)

Nautiloid picks up Gale (?) & Astarion in Baldur's Gate

Nautiloid picks up Karlach & Wyll in Avernus

Nautiloid crashes, game begins

[artofcarmen]

Oh you thought I was gonna sketch Evil AU Fjord with a shirt on? Nah, we gotta get some ornate chest tats in there 🤌

*added in a pic of the 3 side by side so far

[ouaw-facts-i-just-made-up]

The Krew works out together, usually honing a particular skill that they wish to work on (agility, weight lifting, defensive maneuvers, etc). Gideon is always extremely excited about it, and as the only one who's actually into fitness, he likes to hype up everyone especially when they beat their PB.

He'd never admit it but seeing Gideon happy is the reason Kremy actually gives a shit rather than phoning it in. The rest, while it's a bit of a struggle, do enjoy having a skill to get them out of a bind.

Hootsie gets put in a little coach outfit too, she's not helping really but isn't she cute???

[iron-hearts-ablaze]

Karlach whistled, as if impressed, to Wyll's little speech as she walked around the opening they stood in. Almost like a predator around a prey. She had to learn how to be very good at reading body postures. It often meant the difference between a heavy wound, or an easy fight if one could anticipate what their enemy was going to do. Circling around Wyll like this, she could see he was abuzz. A very interesting development.

She only stopped when the tadpole in her skull squirmed. She couldn't quite figure out how, but she could feel a pressure against her brain that had nothing to do with her own passenger and everything to do with Wyll's. As is pressing against a door, trying to force its way in... Squinting through the discomfort it brought with it, Karlach pondered before opening that metaphorical door.

She could almost smell the sulphur, seeing the beasts covered in blood, Wyll dictating the armies with flicks of his fingers... It brought her a strange sense of...home.

"Huh." Karlach's eyes widened once the images gave way, a curious smile on her face. "Colour me surprised there, mate." She remained still when he turned to face her, standing with her hands on her hips as she looked him up and down. Assessing and reassessing. A soul coin...they would be very difficult to get a hold of up here. Despite having a couple of her own in her pockets, she could hear his... Hushed but singing oh so sweetly the sounds of pain... She could just take it. Just attack him, leave him here and take the coin- She'd need all the power she can get to obliterate Gortash and tear the City a new one-

No. Every General needs a squad...even if temporarily.

"Accept it?" Karlach repeated with a raised brow before the smile became rather dark. "I love it. I'm glad you got your wits about you. Makes up for some of the sad sacks back at camp... If you've got the guts, then who am I to turn you away, eh?" Again...if it failed, she hasn't lost much...

Karlach took out a coin from her own back pocket. "I don't absorb these the same way you squishy people would." She turned it over in her fingers, as if admiring something beautiful. "But a friend of mine, Flo, taught me a thing or two. Each one is a soul, right? Each soul is a story. If you're going to use the bastard for your own benefit, least you can do is hear them out, right? Flo used to say it was a connection, soul to soul. A miniature pact, in a way. Use their power, then they're free. Kind of- but that doesn't matter."

Karlach clenched the coin in her fist, her long ears almost seemed to twitch as she focused in on the coins noise. "I can tell this one belonged to a hobgoblin called Arbod. Thought he'd try and be sneaky with his deals, ha. Stupid bastard." Karlach focused her eyes on Wyll properly for the first time that night, looking him directly into his gaze. "Hells, might even be easier with the tadpole. Useful little shits when they want to be. So, go on. Give it a go. Try and connect with the soul. Can't use what you don't know."

If Karlach truly believed that he was beyond all temptations, than he had truly achieved in his goal in playing the part of a knight in shining armor. However, the truth of the matter was, he hated being not being able to show his true self. Mizora had only been who had that privilege. As his patron, she knew every aspect of him. Knew his throughts and desires beyond what anyone else could see thanks to their connection. There wasn't a single thing he could hide from her, even if he wanted to. Mizora likely preferred it that way, but now he intended to share that part of himself, with Karlach.

"I've worked very hard on maintaining a version of myself that people want to see. But I think you'll find that there is something more behind the blade." Wyll's gaze followed her gesture to the woods. He was surprised when instead of turning down his idea, she seemed to be excited by it. "I wouldn't miss it."

Wyll had counted down the minutes, restless as he waited for the others to finally retire to their tents for the night. The warlock was shaking with energy already by the time it the last member of their party finally crashed. The coin never left his hand, either. And so as the final person joined the rest in slumber, he tightened his grip on coin and left silently to the agreed meeting spot. Each step closer to that camp only increased the excitement, and brought something else out too; Rage. If these coins worked, he could take revenge on the goblins for what their kind had done to him years ago. Even if they didn't he it would.

"Trust me, I'm all too familiar with the addiction that comes with power. In fact, let me show you just how much power, these hands have welded." Using their tadpole link, images of Wyll summoning giant hellbeasts projected into Karlach's mind. The hellbeasts followed his command, leaving enemies unrecognizable. Alongside the images, came a feeling. Intense power similar to that of the coins themselves. Then it all faded away and left in them in the present. "The Tadpole took that power away from me, until I changed. Until I held this coin in my hand."

Wyll finally turned to face Karlach, the hunger for that power was plain to see in his only eye as he grinned at her. "Besides, I would love to take a little revenge on the goblins. They owe me blood." He found himself holding his breath, waiting to see how she'd react. "So you see, I'm not the pure soul everyone thinks I am, can you accept that?"

[marbirds]

warlock moment!!

[beelzebat-art]

Beel post their art challenge fail✨

I keep forgetting to post😂

A Wyll WIP! I have made... many iterations of this concept I've had in my head awhile. I also have some more Wyllstarion art I might post later <3

[iron-hearts-ablaze]

Karlach gestured with her arm as if to bat the sentiment away. "Ah, think nothing of it Wyll. I get it - probably better than anyone else here. It wasn't off your own back, but because that bitch Mizora told you to." She scowled as she said the name. Trust a devil to twist someone like Wyll to their evil schemes... how very typical of them.

"Don't beat yourself up about it. I knew Mizora when I was forced to be Zariel's pet. She hated that Zariel took a special interest in me, jealous I guess. So no wonder she was so eager to personally take me down when I finally got the fuck out of there. She would have told you anything and everything to get my head. Which is why I'm setting my sights on her, not on you."

Another pause before she sat up a little straighter, more determined, and glanced over to look Wyll completely in the eye. "If we can find a way to get you out of that damned pact, we'll do it. I, for sure, will find a way. Got it?"

Wyll looked over to Karlach when she called him a good man. There were times he questioned that very thing, and Karlach wasn't the first one he'd questioned hunting down. There were times he certainly wasn't sure of his Patron's missions, but it had been jarring to learn how right his suspicions had been. At least in Karlach's case. He'd only hoped she was the only innocent he'd gone after on Mizora's orders, though he couldn't guarantee it.

"And I am eternally grateful you found it in you to forgive me for hunting you down in the first place." Wyll said with a smile, wanting just as much to reach out and give her a pat on the shoulder or leg himself, even at the risk of being scorched, but he also didn't want to upset her. "Not everyone would have the grace and kindness to do such a thing."

[dyrrn]

gortash is incredibly hot & its insane to me that people are making facelift mods. he is so handsome and his wrinkles and scars and chest hair literally make him more attractive. you are the problem

[iron-hearts-ablaze]

i'm the one you should blame. (from Wyll)

It Was My Fault Prompts || Accepting

Karlach softly shook her head, a tender smile on her lips. "No, Wyll. I know you're the type to hold the worlds problems on your shoulders, but I don't blame you. If you look at the bigger picture, I should be blaming Mizora. Bigger than that - blame Zariel. Which I do."

The tiefling wished she could clap a hand on his back to reassure him, but she could not without the risk of scorching his skin down to the bones. So instead, she held up a fist, with a determined expression on her face. "So chin up, pal! We've got work to do."

[jenofthefar]

Baldur's Gate character sheet commission! A very handsome Durge half Elf Warlock named Kitzal! If you like this and want one of your own BG3 tav/durge or DnD character hit me up my commissions are open! 😊

[purplecatghostposts]

*Leans into mic* If Wyll never made a deal with Mizora and/or after he breaks his pact with her, I think he would make an excellent Bard and here’s why.

Wyll’s highest stat is Charisma, which Bards use to cast

Bards are full casters which means Wyll still gets to keep his spells AND get plenty of them!

Among the list of weapons a Bard is proficient with, a Rapier is among them

Bards are best known for their Bardic Inspiration and Wyll is the perfect companion to give this to because he’s already very encouraging and giving him a magical means of aiding people with said encouragement would be perfect

Wyll would get healing spells which means Shadowheart wouldn’t be the only Origin Companion with them on the team

Bards are a very supportive class and I just think Wyll would enjoy that, especially if this is after being a Fiend Warlock, a very self serving class. The change of pace would be something to get used to but probably welcomed

The Bard Subclasses Colleges of Valor and Swords would be extremely fitting for Wyll considering both deal with Bards being able to be more physical fighters so he could help out on the frontlines OR stay back and provide help from afar, making them very well rounded. (Personally I think he would make a great Valor Bard but Swords Bard is also great for him)

Wyll would get Vicious Mockery. He would be hilarious with it.

Bards don’t need to play instruments to be a Bard, they can both use their way with words to cast spells OR use other forms of art if they so wish. Not only is Wyll charismatic but he loves to dance. He could cast spells while he dances. It would look amazing

I just think Wyll would make for a good Bard. Look at him. He would enjoy the class immensely

Thank you for your time. All of this came to me after I was trying to figure out an AU in which Wyll never met/made a deal with Mizora and was trying to figure out his class. I know you could argue Paladin but they rely a lot on strength, which Wyll is not known for, and Bards are way better for Charisma and Dex! Plus Paladins are half casters and I think Wyll deserves MORE spells actually.

[dragaliareferencearchive]

Blades Weaving Betwixt Brocade - Genshin Impact (1/2)

[littjara-mirrorlake]

I just want to say that I really, really enjoy how Weapon Mastery in D&D 5.5e lets you have a real choice as to what weapon you use, as opposed to just "weapon with biggest damage die that you can effectively wield."

Previously it wouldn't really be justifiable, optimization-wise, to use anything but a greatsword as a Pact of the Blade warlock. But now? I can be a sea elf bladelock with a magic trident if I want, and it'll even knock people prone, allowing me to play more control as a half-martial! (On top of that, it can deal necrotic, radiant, or psychic damage, which is such a cool change to Pact of the Blade.)

Weapon Mastery is exactly what martial characters needed and I'm really excited to see how it plays out.

[milkybishop]

nessie making her warlock pact

she wanted to have sex with a god so summoned the satyr chaos god to do so and he liked her so much he made the pact with her to give her powers.

he catches feelings because she’s so sly and chaotic and although he hopes she lives a very long adventurous life, he has made a place beside himself for her when she dies

nessie’s not big on commitment and doesn’t mind her patron but he can be a bit clingy