#Halsin and Jaheira can still be Druids that they run into
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What flipped the switch in my brain to make me think about The Witcher . Anyways . Um . Witcher au Giilvas and Wyll , Wyll is an Eagle Witcher and Giilvas is a Bear Witcher who mainly hung around Wolf Witchers and picked up their fighting style and for their first few run ins Wyll is trying to guess what school Giilvas is from ( bc he also hides his medallion so Wyll doesn’ t even have that One Bit of visual information ) . Um . They meet everyone else thru a series of contracts that they both keep picking up and doing at the same time ( Omg Destiny ) and they all end up travelling together … sorry I blacked out what was this post about
#bg3#bg3 tav#giilvas#wyll ravengard#bg3 wyll#the witcher#Astarion is a vampire in toussaint that they’ re told has gone ‘ Rabid ‘ only to learn he’ s just fucking done with it all#Gale is imprisoned in his own wizard tower that keeps magically teleporting around and is causing serious problems#Lae’zel is a dryad who killed an nilfgaardian army patrol group bc . well . bound 2 happen eventually#Shadowheart is a sorceress that is trying to figure out who cursed the shit out of her#Karlach is lycathropic and the one who gave her that lycanthropy put the contract on her head bc she got away#Halsin and Jaheira can still be Druids that they run into#Minsc …. oh my god he’ s an elder Witcher . idk he is to Me#sorry this is a lot for my indulgence …..#MINTHARA RUNAWAY SPECIAL AGENT FROM NILFGAARD . ohhhh
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What Tieflings Do Chpt. 1
Summary: After the takedown of The Absolute, Zelphie finds her city in need of more help and her home destroyed. She won't stop top help, but who can help her?
Rolan x Tav (Zelphie; ~30y.o AFAB, Sorcerer, Tiefling, not really described physically on purpose <3)
M/F
Author's Note: I fucking love tielfings. Along with this being a budding romance/smut/fluff/word vomit fanfiction, it's also my case study in DnD 5e tieflings, how they act, what sets them apart from humans and devils and elves. That being said, I have a few artist liberties in here as well where I couldn't find a straight answer, if you'll amuse me.
Mild trigger warnings - There will be smut in future chapters, but this chapter mentions injury and my hyperfixation on tieflings being carnivores. Also spoilers to the game! If you read my work and find anything else that puts you off, please tell me! <3
‘It seems as though the worst is not yet behind us,’ Jaheira said, sarcasm in her voice. Zelphie laughed at the half-elf and sighed.
‘But surely, we can be awarded a little relaxation until the morning,’ the tiefling suggested and Jaheira smirked.
‘Maybe you will relax, but I must go home, to my litter,’ she said and Zelphie chuckled.
‘Oh, I do wish I could help you with all of that,’ Zelphie responded sarcastically. Jaheira couldn’t hold back her laugh. Zelphie smiled at the older woman. She was always so self deprecating about her age, but Zelphie thought she was beautiful and always thought her so strong. To meet Jaheira, the hero of Baldur’s Gate, now twice so, was so exciting for Zelphie. She had grown up hearing stories of the Druid Jaheira, High Harper. Jaheira was everything Zelphie had been expecting and so much more. Zelphie was very happy to call her a companion, a neighbor in fact. The two looked at each other for a moment, the last two in Baldur’s Gate, well, for now. Shadowheart, Halsin, Lae’zel, Gale, Karlach and Wyll had all left. Jaheira, Zelphie and Astarion were left in Baldur’s Gate, the vampire had run off to the shadows, Jaheira and Zelphie remained. What did one say to a companion one had faced the end of the world with?
‘I assume you have your own family to return to, little cub,’ Jaheira said and Zelphie smirked. Zelphie knew that Jaheira knew better than that. An adult tiefling in Baldur’s Gate, with a full family? Unheard of. The sorcerer had been on her own since she was a child. Not a lot of tieflings had the love of their parents. ‘You know where to find me, please keep close by, yes?’ She asked and Zelphie nodded and hugged Jaheira. Jaheira was so lithe, it was a wonder how she was so strong, Mother Nature was on her side. Jaheira hugged her tightly. ‘Careful with those,’ she said as she loosened the hug and pulled on Zelphie’s right horn. ‘And come find me when you have the strength to help us rebuild, we’ll need you.’
Zelphie headed out to the lower city, praying to any god that was paying attention to her that the small space she had been living in was still standing. The gods would not favor her, however. Her bungalow was dust amongst the streets of Baldur’s Gate. She was half expecting it. But where was she to go? She would kill to take a bath. To continue walking these streets, watching the dead being carted off, the rubble, confused children abandoned, it hurt Zelphie’s heart. There was no bath or bed for her, she would make some use of her time. On her way back to the Elfsong Tavern, she helped where she could. She made use of her volatile magic and helped push large chunks of rubble out of the way so the street could be a little clear for transportation once more. There was a lot to do everywhere, but the park near the lower city’s central wall was a hazard. Zelphie pushed herself to her limits, and twilight was making the work hard. She began her journey to the tavern, hoping for at least a roof to sleep under.
‘Oi! Hero! I can’t believe you’re alive!’ A familiar voice called from the fountain in front of Sorcerer’s Sundries. Zelphie smiled and looked towards the voice. The tiefling population in Baldur’s Gate had grown tenfold since the scourge of The Absolute took hold. Zelphie couldn’t be happier about it. A lot of Baldurians weren’t very happy about them, not only were they refugees, sucking up precious resources, but tieflings had never had a great reputation. Hellspawn, Devil Bastards, Brighteyes, Gargoyles, a few of the many choice words Zelphie had been called in her lifetime. No one could look past their dark ancestry. Zelphie couldn’t tell a soul how far back her familial line went to the Archdevil Asmodeus, but that was all a stranger would see when they looked at her red skin, her glowing red eyes, or her long and sharp horns. How could she blame some people? What was worse than a devil? After these last few months, Zelphie would have to argue that there was nothing worse than a devil. But Baldur’s Gate would have to get used to being overrun by hellspawn, because they were certainly here to stay, and Zelphie was very happy to see this one in particular. Lia, a tiefling she had met at the Emerald Grove at the beginning of her adventure, was sitting on a pile of rubble outside of her brother’s new property, Sorcerer’s Sundries and the illustrious Ramazith’s Tower. She was waving her arm happily and Zelphie grinned and walked over to her friend.
‘Gods Lia! You’re alright! When I saw the state of the tower, I wasn’t so confident,’ she said happily as Lia lept from her seat. Lia hugged her friend tight, which was incredibly painful for poor sore Zelphie, but she hugged Lia back happily.
‘The outside of it is rather brutal, but from the inside, it’s as if nothing happened at all,’ she said cheerfully. ‘You look a little worse for wear though,’ she said and tilted her head and Zelphie sighed.
‘Please tell me I don’t look half bad for a girl who defeated an Elder Brain,’ Zelphie tried to sound positive. Worse for wear was quite a nice way of putting it. ‘I’m hoping there is one last bed in the tavern for me….my…my place wasn’t as lucky as the tower, I’m afraid.’ Lia frowned and shook her head.
‘Oh, Zelphie, I’m so sorry. I feel so guilty, watching all of these people lose their homes, I certainly know what that feels like. Come on inside, would you? Have a bath and something to eat. There’s a bed in there for you,’ she said and Zelphie frowned. Sleeping in a wizard’s tower was certainly much more preferable than an overcrowded tavern, but Lia and her siblings had just reunited. Zelphie did not want to push in as a beggar off of the street.
‘Lia, I couldn’t. The last thing you three need-’
‘Please shut up and come inside, gods dammit. After saving the city, maybe the whole world, you absolutely deserve to rest your head on a plush pillow,’ Lia interrupted, stubborn as Zelphie had ever heard her speak. Lia wore her emotions on her sleeves, she was bold and she was stubborn. Zelphie and her weren’t exactly close, but every argument she ever heard Lia participate in, she always won.
‘Fine, thank you, Lia. Thank you so much,’ she said and Lia walked her inside. The storefront of the building was as busy as it had been, but for a completely different reason. The normal store had turned itself into a place of healing, it seemed. Beds were brought in and tables were used as beds to comfort the needy. Zelphie walked past clerics healing the hurt and she looked at Lia. ‘Give three orphaned refugees a little land and see what they do with it,’ she said and Lia beamed proudly. ‘Once I’m cleaned up, I’m sure I can be put to good use down here, whatever is needed,’ she said and Lia laughed.
‘You’re fucking ridiculous, Zelphie,’ she said and snorted, leading Zelphie upstairs. ‘You’re bruised, tattered, your brain is full of holes, you are part of the group of people who get to rest.’ Zelphie sighed at that. She was dirty, she was starving, she was exhausted. Still, life went on around her, how could she sleep and rest when there was so much to be done? ‘If you even try to lift a finger for the next twelve hours, I’ll break your legs,’ she said, her tail swaying playfully. Zelphie couldn’t help but laugh at that a little. She followed Lia up another flight of stairs to a portal. Zelphie recognized this portal, she had gone through it before. ‘Rolan changed this to only allow family inside. With the given exception to the person who saved his hide. Three times.’ Lia said and Zelphie looked at her. Rolan has made an exception for her? Surely that also included the rest of her companions, not just her. Although Zelphie was a bit biased towards the tieflings they had met on the road, she wasn’t the only one to defeat the goblin camp, to free those imprisoned at Moonrise or to put a final stop to Lorroakan’s madness.
The pair stepped through the portal, and Zelphie was once more transported to a strange level of the tower. The floors below could be seen from where she was standing, and it gave her nerves an unsettling feeling as she remembered that day. But the ‘foyer’ was much different from when she last saw it. Less clutter, every book and object clearly visible for browsing. Lorroakan had been a hoarder of knowledge, not a lover of it. Clearly Rolan was good on his word, books and scrolls and tomes were neat and tidy. There were considerably less of them, as well. No more throne of books either. Items were on full open display instead of being trapped behind locked screens. Lia led Zelphie to a small hallway and up more stairs. Three flights up, Lia finally walked through and Zelphie was terribly relieved. She was exhausted. Her arms, her legs, her tail, even her horns ached. She imagined her promise to help downstairs would not pull through. She was ready to pass out on the next flat surface she saw.
‘Alright, let’s see if I remember this…if I get it on the first go, you tell Rolan how talented I am,’ she said and Zelphie smirked. They stood in front of a normal brick wall. Nothing fancy about it at all.
‘As if he’d believe anything out of my mouth,’ Zelphie said and Lia laughed. The other woman looked like she would respond, but turned to a wall and knocked on it with her knuckles.
‘Epoolso,’ Lia incanted and Zelphie smiled. Lia’s brother, Rolan, was the new master of Ramazith’s Tower, he was a wizard, and like most wizards, was very eager to not only learn, but teach. Lia was not a wizard, but it was clear that Rolan was trying to teach his sister a few tricks. Her incantation wasn’t correct. Lia sighed and attempted again. Nothing, just a brick wall. ‘Well, there goes my chance at impressing a hero then,’ she muttered, crossing her arms. ‘I’ll go find Rolan,’ she said and Zelphie shook her head.
‘No, don’t bother him, I can do it. The Weave and I go way back,’ she teased and Lia smirked. Zelphie lifted her hand to the wall, giving the brick a sharp knock. ‘Pulso,’ she said quickly, and a blue light materialized around the wall in the shape of a door. Lia sighed.
‘Damned wizards always make everything look so easy,’ she said, opening the door and Zelphie laughed.
‘Do NOT call me a wizard in front of Rolan, his head will pop off,’ she said and Lia laughed.
‘Don’t tempt me,’ she said and led Zelphie through the door. Inside was a little room, a bed, a wardrobe, a desk and a small wooden bath. It wasn’t much unlike Zelphie’s actual home. It was just missing the fireplace. ‘I want to catch up with you later, but I’m sure you’re dying to scrape the illithid off of you. You probably haven't eaten yet, I’ll be back with some dinner, but relax, take a hot bath. I’ll be back in a little while, alright?’ She said and Zelphie smiled and nodded.
‘Thank you so much Lia, this is wonderful,’ she said and Lia smiled, leaving Zelphie alone to her thoughts. Zelphie turned on the taps the second the door shut and for the first time in hours, sat down on the floor. She wouldn’t put her dirty clothing on the bed. She began removing her boots. She was almost ashamed of the state of her body. Before the damned kidnapping she was never seen to have a hair out of line. Seeing her skin, smelling it, feeling it, she was going to need more than a hot bath to fix herself up. Dirt, grime, blood, viscera, bruising, cuts, all of it covered her body. She was so aware of it as her bath was running. She removed her robe next, wishing she had more than her lounge clothing to wear, as her robe deserved a proper fire burial. She peeled her pants and wrap shirt off. All the clothing became a puddle on the floor. She poked through the drawers of the wardrobe to find washcloths. She began to scrub at her skin with just water as the bath began to rise. She would make that bath a soup if she got into it now.
Once the bath was full and she had used up three cloths, she got into the tub and sighed out loudly. That might have been exactly what she needed. She would be very happy to soak her skin off here. She allowed the parts of her she couldn’t reach before to soak, dunking her head, hair and horns in the water. They were very sore, her horns. Having sore horns was a newer experience for her, but it was over now, it had to be over. The residual clean-up of the city aside, she could live as she normally did. No fear of ceremorphosis, no fear of Baahlists, doppelgangers, not even goblins. Her biggest worry now was finding a place to rest her head in the future. May Lia, Cal, and Rolan be blessed for giving her refuge for the night, she thought. Her fingers and tail played with the water a little until it became much too cloudy for her liking. She stood, giving herself one last go with a washcloth and stepped out. Now, she would be allowed to preen herself. Lotion her body, file her nails and oil her horns. Being able to take time to do this routine of hers was impossible these last months. If her preening tools had been worth any gold, they would have been sold ages ago, with most of her other possessions. Every moment awake was a moment to take advantage of. To do, to go further, to save their skins. There was a knock on the door and she quickly pulled a tunic over herself for quick cover. She walked over to the door and smiled, seeing Lia once more. The tiefling’s red eyes lit up seeing her.
‘I have never seen your skin so glowing before,’ Lia said and grinned, looking around the room a bit. ‘Oh, let me take those to the wash,’ she said, pointing at a pile in the corner of a towel, cloths and Zelphie’s clothing. Zelphie grimaced and walked over to the pile.
‘You should probably just burn them,’ she said and Lia laughed. Zelphie scooped it all in the dirty towel, which was the cleanest article and Lia took it easily.
‘I was going to bring you dinner, but me, Cal and Rolan would like you to join us. Well, Call and I want to catch up, we have so many questions, but I think Rolan just wants to show off what he’s done to the place,’ she said and Zelphie smiled.
‘Alright, let me just…’ she said and rifled through her bag, finding thick stockings to cover her legs. She followed Lia out of the room, taking a quick stop at a washing room to dump Zelphie’s soiled clothing. ‘So, the infirmary downstairs, I assume you all need help. I can help. After dinner, please put me to good use,’ she said and Lia smirked.
‘You will rest after dinner, I told you. We want to catch up. You can take a break from being the hero for one night, please. Let someone else take care of you,’ Lia said, repeating herself from earlier. ‘Besides, I’m sure you’re useless while you're so tired,’ she nudged Zelphie, who smiled. She still felt guilty, of course. She felt guilty because she did want to relax, but her heartstrings pulled as she was reminded of the chaos down on the streets. The chaos she caused. She did not argue, she hoped she would be right as rain in the morning. Then she would be able to help. Lia led her to a dining room, which was almost untasteful how ornate it was. Clearly Lorroakan’s taste still lingered in the tower. The table was very small, an assumed upgrade from the new master and his siblings. Cal and Rolan were sitting at the table, but stood when Zelphie and Lia appeared. Cal happily walked right over for a hug.
‘Oh Cal! It’s wonderful to see you in more comfortable clothing,’ Zelphie said. The ranger was clearly in need of a relax, his normal leather armor gone, a white shirt and relaxed pants it was instead. He looked like a normal person.
‘Look at you though! I didn’t know how small you were under those robes,’ he said with a happy chuckle letting her go.
‘I’m so glad you and Lia were able to get here safely, where you belong,’ she said as Rolan walked over to greet her as well.
‘Don’t give Rolan all of the credit for that, mate. He told us exactly who bumped us up on the guest list,’ Cal said and pressed a finger to his own nose playfully. Zelphie laughed and looked at Rolan. Imposing as always, in his robes, but as master of the wizard’s tower of Baldur’s Gate, it only made sense. He always had a sense of imposing about him, but right now, after everything, Rolan’s confidence was well measured. A hero of Baldur’s Gate he was.
‘Hello Rolan,’ Zelphie said and held out her arms to hug him as well. Rolan smirked and followed her lead. The hug wasn’t as warm, but about two months ago, Rolan was cussing out Zelphie for merely existing around him. She was very happy for a curt hug.
‘Hello Zelphie, I’m so glad to see you safe,’ he said honestly and Zelphie smiled.
‘Safe because of the quick learning of the new master of Ramazith’s Tower, I promise you. You’ll have to show me those cannons one day. Of course I assumed they would be powerful, but it was unbelievable the amount of damage they did to a red dragon, of all things,’ she said and Rolan’s red cheeks deepened.
‘I would be very proud to do so,’ he said and nodded to the table. The siblings and Zelphie made their way to the table and Zelphie sighed with joy. Tieflings, though very similar to humans in look and biology, had a lot of quirks. One such quirk was their diet. Zelphie did travel with Karlach, another tiefling who had a huge appetite, but her decade in the hells gave her different tastes. Zelphie swore she watched her friend eat actual dirt when it came to it. Otherwise, her companions ate like rabbits. Tieflings were carnivorous by nature, and to finally dine with a group made exclusively of Tieflings, she was very happy to see food that finally suited her diet. ‘I hope the food is to our hero’s tastes,’ Rolan said in response to her little gasp. Zelphie grinned and looked up at her hosts.
‘I’ll complain about the tadpoles and the Baahlists and the goblins and all of that until I die, but only to you three can I complain about Gale’s cooking,’ she said and the other three laughed. ‘You spend months and months with two Druids and tell me how you survive,’ she said and sighed, scooping up cooked marrow for her bowl.
‘Well, we did live in that grove for a while, I think we can understand your pain,’ Lia remarked and took a bite of her food. ‘You did have that vampire though, I’m sure he was helpful,’ she said and smirked. ‘In more ways than one, I’d like to think,’ she added and Zelphie snorted.
‘Yes, he was very giving when it came to his hunts, always very generous with the blood he caught,’ she said sarcastically and Cal looked at her. The truth was the opposite. Although a tiefling could live off of blood like a vampire, vampires had an insatiable hunger for it. Astarion did not like to share his kills.
‘Did he ever…bite any of you?’ Cal asked and Zelphie looked at him.
‘Oh yes, I trained him well. Always just enough to make him happy.’ Cal went deep red in the neck and Lia smiled at her brother.
‘Does it hurt?’ He asked curiously and Zelphie was about to answer but Rolan jumped in.
‘You let that vampire bite you?’ He asked her and she nodded.
‘Yes…honestly…at the time, we had all just landed from the kidnapping and I was desperate. I know it sounds delusional, but I was very happy to have a vampire fighting alongside me. I would do anything to make him more powerful,’ she said and shrugged. Rolan raised an eyebrow at her. There was the judgment in his face she was more used to. ‘If you think that sounds stupid, I’d love to tell you the truth about Gale,’ she said with a laugh and took a bite of dinner and sighed happily.
‘Gale, the wizard? Oh you can tell me whatever you’d like about him,’ Lia said and sighed.
‘Lia, please behave,’ Rolan said and Zelphie giggled.
‘I know you three had your own dangers, I used to wish you would join us, but I’m now thinking how productive we would have been if you had,’ Zelphie said with a smirk. That would have been fun, watching Cal shyly flirt with Astarion and Lia boldly flirt with Gale. Gale wouldn’t have a clue what hit him.
‘Probably not very. I wish we would have been more help, but Rolan insisted without our own tadpoles, we might have held you back,’ Cal said and Zelphie shrugged.
‘In some instances, Rolan’s correct. Halsin and Jaheira could not come to Moonrise Towers without alerting suspicion. Although, that might have to do with them knowing Ketheric to begin with,’ she said and looked at Rolan, who was just looking back at her. ‘If it weren’t for the chance that we were tadpoled, we wouldn’t have been able to save you two or Danis or Lakrissa,’ she said, speaking to Lia and Cal, but still looking at Rolan. He had been so frustrated that he had failed trying to save his sister and brother, where Zelphie had succeeded. But he had to know, without her gods damned tadpole, she would have failed as well.
‘May the tadpole be blessed,’ Lia said and Zelphie looked at her with a smile. ‘But…do you still have it?’ She asked and Zelphie shook her head.
‘No, it was part of the last command to the elder brain, destroy all illithids, destroy self. Halsin was able to confirm they were gone,’ she explained and smiled. ‘Which is lovely for many reasons, but more so because my powers are back to what they were before the tadpole. Which means I can help downstairs and in the city. What do you need?’ She asked and Lia frowned.
‘Zelphie, we want you to relax,’ she insisted, but once more, Rolan spoke quickly.
‘What would your talents be able to help with?’ He asked and Zelphie smiled.
‘A few things. I can cauterize and heal superficial wounds, though I’m sure you’ve caught most of those. And I have very powerful mending talents. Broken legs, broken anything. Even with the tower or store itself. My mage hand as well,’ she said and lifted her right hand, a blue one easily flowing out of it. It flew over to an end table in the corner of the large room and lifted it gently. ‘It’s very strong, please tell me what I can do,’ she said and Rolan watched her carefully.
‘We could really use it, thank you,’ he told her and Zelphie smiled. ‘I’ll meet you in the morning, we'll go over a plan,’ he said and Zelphie nodded, very happy to be of use. Zelphie’s tail lifted and swished slowly and happily, content that she wouldn’t just take advantage of her friend’s hospitality. She knew Rolan would be logical about this.
‘Rolan, we talked about this, we can’t ask the hero of Baldur’s Gate to do-‘ Cal began and Rolan’s eye contact with Zelphie shifted to his brother. He held up a hand and shook his head.
‘You are right, we can’t, but we won’t refuse her request, either,’ he insisted. ‘Whatever she wants, she’ll have,’ he finished and Lia chuckled and took a bite of her dinner. Rolan went a little red and shot his sister with an annoyed look.
‘So, how has it been here? I imagine you three haven’t even found every nook and cranny this tower has to offer,’ Zelphie asked to move the subject away.
‘Cal went through a strange portal and was lost for three hours,’ Lia said and Cal laughed.
‘Yeah, but if I hadn’t, we wouldn’t have found those scrolls Rolan needed for the cannons, I say well worth the struggle,’ he said, still laughing.
‘Yes, and you managed to piss if that djinni, which makes that part of the tower impossible to traverse through, you have my thanks, muttonhead,’ Rolan said and Zelphie giggled.
‘A djinni? Hopefully you didn’t free him,’ she said and Lia laughed.
‘Free? I’m not entirely sure, but he is long gone.’ Zelphie gasped, knowing that absolutely meant the djinni was free and causing havoc somewhere.
‘Another reason I regret allowing either of you to live here, I’m hoping a talented sorceress will prove to be much more careful as a housemate,’ Rolan said and Zelphie felt her tail swish a little more enthusiastically. Well, that felt nice, another little compliment from Rolan.
‘Thank you again, for letting me stay here for the night. I hate to be a pest, once I’m settled again, I’ll be out of your hair and find a way to pay you,’ Zelphie assured and Cal snorted.
‘Pay us? Come on Zelphie, this is our way of repaying you! How many times did she save our skins? Never mind the whole world saving bit, you’ve saved me Lia and Rolan personally more times than we deserve. Please, letting you sleep in that little room is the least we can do,’ he insisted and Rolan looked at Lia.
‘Little room? Where did you put Zelphie?’ He asked his sister.
‘One of the guest rooms on the second floor, I wasn’t sure where you would be comfortable,’ she answered and shrugged. Rolan shook his head and lifted a glass of wine.
‘No, we’ll have you move up to our floor. You’ll love it, the scenes from the balconies are beautiful. Well, they will be once the destruction is taken care of, of course.’ Rolan sipped his wine and Zelphie went a bit red.
‘I’m fine in the little room, besides, it’s just the one night, no need to fuss,’ she said and Lia looked at her.
‘What do you mean one night? Where are you off to? Aren’t you from Baldur’s Gate?’ She asked and Zelphie shrugged.
‘I can’t stay here forever, surely there is a place for me somewhere. Maybe near Cloakwood,’ she said and shrugged.
‘Your place is here,’ Rolan insisted. ‘Unless you are uncomfortable here, of course,’ he added quickly and Lia nodded, reaching over the table for Zelphie’s hand.
‘Please stay with us,’ she said softly.
That was that. Ramazith’s Tower of Baldur’s Gate was now owned by the tieflings. Zelphie would earn her place with the siblings and they would insist she didn’t need to. She already had and they were happy to have her. She listened to the three bicker and tease each other for the rest of dinner and once the food was happily finished, Rolan asked for a moment alone with Zelphie. He led her to a sitting area and was very earnest in his speech. Zelphie sat next to him on a large red sofa and he poured them more wine.
‘I wanted to thank you, personally. This isn’t easy for me to do, so I will apologize early on if I’m…clunky,’ he said and lifted his glass of sweet wine to his lips. Zelphie sipped her wine along with him, her head already a little spinny from dinner. Good food and quality wine was exactly what she needed.
‘Just you not being angry with me is thanks enough,’ she said, playful in her tone. Rolan hummed happily and shook his head.
‘I guess we can both say confidently which one of us deals with stress better,’ he said and smirked into his wine glass. ‘I will also apologize for my previous behavior. I really hope I can make that up to you. I can’t imagine why you would still consider myself worthy of your friendship,’ he said and nodded.
‘Please don’t apologize, Rolan. If I had siblings or any family out there, I’m sure I would have acted the same as you,’ she said and placed her hand on his. He looked down at her hand and then her face and placed his goblet down on a table in front of the sofa.
‘You don’t have any family?’ He asked her honestly and she shook her head.
‘No, I don’t even really remember what happened to them. I was around five, I went to bed one night and woke up in a hostel. All the woman who owned the place said to me was that my parents were gone. It hurt, but I don’t think a lot of our kind can’t empathize with that story,’ she told him honestly and she watched him chew on his bottom lip. ‘But it made me who I am today. I’m lucky I was born with magic in my veins. I might not have survived otherwise, it sounds a little backwards but I’ve always considered myself very lucky.’ Rolan’s yellow eyes read her face for a moment and placed his hands on his knees, preparing himself for something.
‘Could I trust you with something?’ He asked her, his voice a little softer than normal. Zelphie tilted her head, but nodded.
‘Of course Rolan,’ she told him and he sighed out.
‘No one knows this, besides Cal and Lia, of course but…’ he reached for his goblet and faltered. He placed his reaching hand back to his knee. ‘You and I share a similar story, I-uhm,’ he started, but Zelphie would not interrupt him. She wasn’t exactly sure where this was going. Had their parents also been lost? Murdered? Kidnapped? ‘My whole family…they were rounded up when I was ten years old. I ran and hid in a closet, my mother told me to hide. Like you, I still don’t know what happened. I uhm…I met Cal and Lia’s mother soon after that,’ he began and Zelphie’s brows furrowed.
‘You…met…?’ She asked and Rolan looked at her and he nodded.
‘Lia and Cal aren’t really my siblings. My true siblings are dead,’ he said plainly, but there was a quiver in his throat. ‘But their mother took me in…they are all I have, they were so easy to call me their big brother when we were children, I just…we never let that go,’ he said and Zelphie’s heart broke. She couldn’t help it. Even though this tragedy had happened to Rolan maybe two decades ago, she reached over and hugged him. He hugged her back and she felt his tail curl around her waist.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she said softly and he shook his head but did not let her go.
‘No, I’m sorry for you, you didn’t get a Cal or Lia. I’m the lucky one here, my dear,’ he told her softly. ‘Which…for many many reasons is why I’d like you to stay,’ he said and the hug ended. Zelphie sighed at him and tilted her head. ‘You need family. We tieflings are strong, but together we are stronger. We work better as a community. Besides the fact that without you the three of us would have died four or five times over, you deserve a family as well, Zelphie. Please, let us give you that,’ he said with such earnestness that Zelphie felt her nose twinge. That was very kind of Rolan. Zelphie had always adored the three siblings, she was always jealous of their relationship and wanted more than anything for them to be together and happy. How could she turn down such a sweet offer? ‘Please, Cal and Lia mean the world to me. If anything had happened to them at Moonrise, I wouldn’t be here. I owe their lives to you. And if you did not save me, make me see what kind of master Lorroakan was, Cal and Lia wouldn’t be here with me where they belong. I would still be being assaulted by a mad man. I could never, even if I lived a million years, I could never repay you for what you’ve done for my family and me.’
‘Rolan…’ Zelphie spoke softly, and Rolan kept his eye contact with her. She felt her eyes sting and she shut them.
‘Might I ask you what you’re thinking?’ Rolan asked her. She felt his hands in hers. She opened her eyes and looked at him once more. What a difference a few life changing events could make. One their first meeting, Rolan was obnoxious and annoyed at Zelphie. Their next few meetings Rolan would have leveled her. Now? Now she would consider him a very close friend.
‘I’m thinking too much, as I usually do,’ she said with a sad little smile.
‘Would you be unhappy here?’ He asked her and she shook her head quickly.
‘No, no no, it’s not that, not at all. No, I adore the three of you. I’m honored you would have me,’ she said and Rolan’s neck went a little red. She felt his tail twitch next to her on the sofa and he moved it away from her slowly.
‘Do you feel guilty?’ He asked her and she nodded. He chuckled and shook his head. ‘Well, that proves it right there you are an only child and orphan,’ he said and reached over for his goblet once more. He took a sip of wine and Zelphie mirrored him. Her mind was spinning. The wine, the food and the new opportunity, it was all a little much for her. That and the war she had just won hours ago. After a long drink Rolan looked back at her. ‘Maybe you will feel more…persuaded if I show you your new lodgings,’ he said and stood up, holding his hand out for her. Zelphie took another little sip and took his hand. She was helped up with a little swaying.
‘I think if I’m upgraded, I might feel more guilty,’ she said and he chuckled.
‘Don’t, for you will have restless nights hearing Lia yelling at me, or listening to me practice my incantations,’ he said and she giggled.
‘Still more calm than camp. You know what calms a githyanki to sleep at night?’ She asked Rolan as he led her from the sitting room. He looked down at her and shook his head. ‘Sword sharpening. Hours and hours of sword sharpening,’ she said and Rolan laughed, looking ahead.
‘Not too many of those here, I’m afraid. There were a lot of weapons tucked away, but I had them given to the Flaming Fist for the battle. What need did we have for them?’ He said and Zelphie just smiled up at him. He glanced down at her, a little proud of himself. He knew Zelphie and her selflessness would have liked to hear that. He smiled at her smile, his blush never fading his already reddened skin.
‘We saw those weapons, Gale and I, when we were last here. Those were very mighty pieces, that was a wise decision,’ she told him and his smile faltered.
‘Oh, well, if I’ve impressed the Gale of Waterdeep, then I’m very happy,’ he said, poison on his lips and Zelphie frowned, but she kept her mouth shut. That was certainly a quick change of attitude. ‘Very kind of a well-off man to just leave his closest companion in the dust the second everything ended,’ he said and Zelphie’s brows stitched together.
‘Rolan, he needed to go back home. He has family in Waterdeep,’ she said and Rolan huffed.
‘And he left you behind, to live in a bungalow at best,’ he said and Zelphie stopped following him.
‘You shouldn’t speak ill of him. He took quite the liking to you, Rolan. If you are jealous of his relationship with Mystra, I can assure you-‘
‘Mystra? Jealous of him and Mystra? No, no, I’m angry at the way he threw you away like yesterday’s newspaper.’ He said, holding his hands behind his back. Zelphie’s tail began to whip back and forth. She would absolutely not tolerate anyone speaking ill of Gale Dekarios, even Rolan.
‘Threw me away? He, like everyone else, went back to their lives. He doesn’t owe me anything, certainly not more than Shadowheart or Lae’zel or Wyll or any of them. What are you talking about Rolan, why are you so upset with him?’ She asked, very confused, but angry at anyone who would put Gale Dekarios in a bad light. Rolan’s eyes narrowed and he blinked for a moment.
‘Weren’t the two of you…?’ He asked and Zelphie’s face twisted for a second. She then buckled over with laughter. Rolan had, for some reason, assumed Zelphie and Gale had an intimate relationship. Gale Dekarios was very handsome, charismatic and powerful, but no. Zelphie had only felt friendship and fondness for the wizard, not love, not that kind of love.
‘You thought Gale and I were an item?’ She asked and kept laughing. ‘Oghma’s left eye, no, no, no, definitely not,’ she said and grinned at Rolan who did not look very amused. He looked down at the floor. ‘Why would you have thought that?’
‘There were a few nights when we all stayed at the inn…I could have sworn…’ he said and bit his lip and Zelphie calmed down and nodded. She knew what he must have misunderstood.
‘At Last Light Inn? No, halfway through our adventure, Gale was given…some divine directive. From Mystra, and those nights where, yes, I’d go to him to comfort him were just that. He was battling a lot of inner demons and I was just being a friend, nothing more. So please Rolan, don’t go to battle with someone you should respect and admire as a colleague. He’s a good one for you to have,’ she said and placed a hand on Rolan’s arm. ‘Not on my account, anyway.’
‘I’m sorry, I should have asked you,’ he said and Zelphie shook her head.
‘It’s nice for someone to defend me,’ she told him and he smiled a little. ‘And it proves my point that I have tried to prove to Gale a thousand times,’ she said and her and Rolan kept walking.
‘Yes?’
‘Wizards are very fucking stubborn,’ she said and he snorted. They walked a little in silence, Rolan was feeling a touch embarrassed. Zelphie wouldn’t harp on it. She would send a sending spell to Gale to reach out to Rolan. She would have them fast friends in a jiffy.
‘Down here are Cal and Lia’s rooms,’ he said, pointing to a west wing. It was common knowledge that wizard’s towers were massive. Melphie still could not believe she was in the same building. She knew she would be getting lost. ‘My bedroom is right here, should you ever have need of me. Though, I will warn you, I’m not usually there. We’ll have a proper tour tomorrow before we all head downstairs. I’ll show you my normal hiding places,’ he told her and she nodded. ‘And I think you will do nicely just across the hall here,’ he told her, walking to a door down the hall to the right of his own room. He opened the door for her and she couldn’t help the little gasp that came from her mouth.
The room was very large. It had a high ceiling and a balcony. Two large bookshelves covered the western wall, a canopied bed with royal blue blankets and pillows right across from them. There was a door connecting to a large washroom. Desk, a vanity and a wardrobe adorned the room as well.
‘If there is anything you’d like to change, please feel free. I’ll be changing a lot of the comforts around here in the coming months. Please, this is your home now, make it yours in whatever way you please.’ Zelphie looked up at Rolan and beamed. He smiled down at her and nodded his head.
‘Rolan, I’m at a loss for words, this is beautiful. It’s more than I’ve ever had,’ she told him and he looked at her for a moment and nodded again. His tail swayed happily, very content with the compliment.
‘You deserve more,’ he told her firmly, sweetly. Zelphie smiled and looked down. She stepped closer to him and for the third time that evening, she hugged him tight. He hugged her back, resting his chin on her temple, their horns clinking together lightly. Zelphie felt a light moan escape from her lips at the tender feeling of her sore horns. She would not sleep easily tonight. Rolan looked down at her, worried at that sound. Goodness was his face close. ‘Sorry, they are very sore,’ she whispered and he nodded and he looked up at her horns, inspecting them.
‘Please tell me you weren’t head butting illithids,’ he said and let her go, reaching up to her horns to inspect them.
‘A girl had to do what she had to do…’ she said, but it wasn’t the truth. A tieflings horns were imposing, but not exactly strong enough to do battle like a devil or demon. Zelphie did have very large horns, so the pain she felt was from them being caught or pulled. She had been thrown around by enemies who got close enough to her. Rolan raised an eyebrow at her and she shrugged. ‘Truth being, they were usually used against me,’ she said and he sighed, nodding. No tiefling living could say they were never at least bullied with a horn push or pull. He still pressed a finger to the crown of her left horn, rubbing up lightly. It hurt a little, but a purr was brought through her throat. Rolan stopped touching her immediately.
‘Was that alright?’ He asked, completely red in the face. Zelphie felt her own skin burn and her happy tail fell and she felt it coil around her leg in embarrassment.
‘Yes, sorry, it felt nice,’ she said softly and Rolan nodded. He took a while to think about his next words and Zelphie bit her lip. She was about to wish Rolan a good night, but he spoke first.
‘I’ll get some oil for you, we’ll see if they just need a massage,’ he said and nodded.
‘Oh, you don’t need to,’ Zelphie told him and he smiled a little at her.
‘I’d like to,’ he said simply and turned on his heel. Zelphie noticed the happy curl of his tail as he left the room. He wasn’t going to be easily swayed off, that was for sure. Zelphie knew that, she meant what she had said, wizards were stubborn and Rolan was a prime example of that. He was stubborn, confrontational, proud and fiercely protective. Zelphie knew now that was probably the guilt he felt. The same guilt she felt when others took care of her. She understood him, and she would continue to not allow his blunt speech upset her. The truth was, she adored Rolan, just as she did Cal and Lia. And the other tieflings that she had grown so close to, Alfira, Lakrissa, Bex and Danis, all of them. The siblings were priority to her. They were good people, happy people, and people that deserved the world in her eyes. Even more so now.
Zelphie walked to her new bed and sat down on it. The mattress was plush as anything she'd ever sat on. She giggled to herself, thinking of how she would get out of it in the morning. She touched the soft blanket, running her hands over it gently. What a difference, she’d never lived like this before. Her mind flashed to an idea of how her new housemates might have lived back in Elturel, its descent into Avernus. She shook her head, not wishing to let her drunk imagination run wild on that subject. She heard a loud crash outside and lifted herself off the bed. She walked to the balcony doors and opened them. Fireworks. Someone was shooting them off and she smiled. Rolan was right, the view was beautiful, she had a view of the river. She was a very lucky tiefling.
‘Exploring?’ A voice called from behind her. Zelphie turned around and smiled, seeing Rolan again, a little tincture in his hand. Her tail moved back and forth happily.
‘Someone is setting off fireworks,’ she said happily. Rolan smiled down at her and looked off as another few were set off.
‘Here I was, hoping you would get a good night’s rest,’ he said and walked past her to the edge of the balcony. ‘But, it’s the very least the city can do to celebrate its hero,’ he said and glanced back at Zelphie. She walked over and stood next to him.
‘Baldur’s Gate has many heroes,’ she corrected him and he gave her a sly little smirk. ‘At least one of them on this balcony,’ she said and gave him a playful nudge. He gave a proud little huff.
‘Oh please, that compliment cannot come from you. I wouldn’t even have had power the cannons gave you if not for you,’ he told her and she smiled. ‘Shall we?’ He asked her, nodding back inside. She followed him back into the room. Rolan sat on the bed and Zelphie sat on the floor in front of him, her back in between his legs. ‘Please tell me if this hurts,’ he told her and Zelphie closed her eyes, bracing for pain. Pain did not come. Starting at the crown of her horns, she felt his fingers gently glide. ‘When I was younger, I was bullied relentlessly. Other children had no issue grabbing me by my horns and pushing me around,’ he spoke and Zelphie opened one eye. ‘My horns very rarely went without being sore. This would always help,’ he continued and Zelphie closed her eyes again, relaxing. He had such a soft, low voice, very pensive. Between his voice and the massage, she would fall asleep like a brick. She leaned back, her purring continued and her tail coiled around Rolan’s leg. ‘It’s alright, right?’ He asked her and she nodded slowly.
‘Yes, you’re so good, Rolan,’ she said softly. She meant it. It felt wonderful. She had never been massaged before, not really, nothing like this. ‘You have a wonderful touch,’ she added. His fingers moved up her horn and she shuddered. It hurt a little, but the chills were worth the pain. Where did all of this gentleness and care come from?
‘Thank you,’ he said softly, very happy with the praise. It was not long into this lovely treatment that Zelphie leaned against Rolan’s leg and felt her aching body weigh heavy. ‘Such a simple thing to be taken care of, but it means the world, doesn’t it?’ He kept talking softly. Zelphie did not respond. She was still purring and her tail was still around his leg. ‘Zelphie?’ He called out softly. Nothing. She was asleep. Rolan froze for a second, not sure what to do. He moved a little and she stayed still. Rolan got off of the bed and shuffled away from Zelphie. It hadn’t taken very much to send her to sleep. She slumped up against the bed. Rolan pushed the blankets to the side and looked back at Zelphie. A strong transmutation spell would do the trick. Not that he liked using magic on an unconscious friend, but it was just to help her into bed. Slowly her body lifted off of the floor and he was able to drop her gently on the bed. He covered her with blankets and left. Zelphie slept the deepest sleep of her life that night, ready to take on what tomorrow would have brought.
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The Moon Will Sing
(AA break up series, part 9)
18+ tokophobia, termination of pregnancy, termination complications, near death experience, talks of loss of limb, confrontation, hurt/comfort, love triangle dynamics, tenderness
Tav has a painful decision to make, and Gale is there to support her. But things turn drastic, and with both the Ascendant and his patron on her heels, her circumstances change for the dire once again...
-
"I need to tell you something."
Gale's brown eyes appraised her knowingly. Pressing a hand softly to her belly.
"I think I have an idea what this is about."
Tav took a sharp breath in.
"How...?"
"Jaheira might have mentioned."
"Of course," She sighed.
She looked over at him, eyes wide with shaking fear.
"I don't think I can do it. It's too much."
He nuzzled into her hairline.
"I know. It's okay Tav."
"But what if it's yours?" She hushed.
"I won't lie, I thought about it. It could be nice, a little one around. But not if it means putting you through the hells. And if it's his?" He shuddered. "Gods, that would be... well, a disaster."
He trailed a hand along her collarbone.
"You forget I can feel what you feel with the spell binding us. And if this is what you'd feel... for nine months... I wouldn't do that to you."
Her face crumpled. Pushing into him in deep wracking sobs.
"I'm sorry," She cried. To him, to her Astarion, to herself. To everything that could be.
He held her steady as she poured her grief into him. Carding his fingers through her hair.
When she slowed he connected to her mind again.
Did Jaheira give you a tonic?
She nodded, it was sitting in her bag on the floor.
Do want to take it? With me?
She nodded again.
His mage hand retrieved the small bottle as she wiped her eyes, still wrapped in him.
Have you told...?
She laughed harshly.
How do you think that would go?
He nodded, sighing.
She uncorked the bottle and stared down at the swirling purple liquid.
Looked up at him in one last question.
He smiled warmly at her.
Be free.
She closed her eyes, feeling his warmth spin around her. Lifting the ends of her hair, kissing her along her whole body. A deep embrace flowing through her like water.
She downed it in two pulls, a earthy taste at the back of her throat.
Immediately she felt lighter, the gnawing anxiety that had been feasting on her dissipating.
Then an aching pain set in her pelvis.
She had expected this, but it didn't make it hurt any less.
She doubled over, groaning. Pressing her face into the mattress.
He rubbed into her back, massaging her hips.
"You're doing good. It'll be over soon." He reassured.
A wrenching spear of pain shot through her, stealing her breath away.
A deep clawing began ripping her apart.
Blood began to blur her vision.
No. Something was wrong.
"Gale," She gasped, looking up at him. Her face pallid. Blood gushing dark from between her legs. Getting one last sentence out before the darkness took her.
"It's his."
-
"She's going to be out for a while. Lost a lot of blood" Halsin sighed, his tunic covered in it. Rinsing his bloodied hands in a washbasin.
Gale picked at his hands, looking down at her as he paced. She was so pale, lips blue. Blood leaking out of her closed eyes.
"What..." He started, looking at the druid desperately. "What was inside her?"
Halsin shook his head, huffing.
"Something unnatural. Something malicious."
They both stared suspiciously at the covered basin that the expelled entity sat still inside.
"She was right to want it out. But it didn't leave easy." Halsin grimaced. "Definitely of our Ascendant friend in its nature. Vengeful."
"But she will recover?" Gale looked at him in strained hope.
Halsin was quiet for a moment. Running his hand wearily through his hair with a heavy sigh.
"I do not know. Time will reveal, Silvanus willing."
"You've contacted the others?"
Gale nodded. "We've exchanged sending stones as well."
"Smart man." Halsin brought out his own from his pocket, appraising it.
A crackle of magic singed at the air.
"Ah, that'll be her." Gale smiled, opening the gateway.
Shadowheart rushed through, her eyes only on Tav.
"Oh Gods," She moaned, taking Tav's cold hand in hers. "Oh please, please no."
She looked up at them with questioning frightened eyes.
"She's stable, for now." Halsin reassured tiredly.
"I'll kill him. That fucker..." She hissed.
"Indeed." Halsin sighed. "Tav is quite strong. But if she survives this, it won't be without lasting effects. Her insides are..." He shuddered. "Changed."
Shadowheart rested her head against Tav's belly, tears leaking quietly down her face.
Gale set a warm hand on her back, his other coming to push Tav's hair back from her brow.
Her eyes were darting under her lids, her breath rattling and fast in her chest.
He tried to reach her inside her mind but only saw a flurry of fear and pain.
"It's going to be a long night." He sighed.
-
Something woke him with a start. Looking around the decadently dressed room suspiciously.
Found nothing amiss.
He looked over at the woman laying next to him, her neck punctured.
Right. He sighed, disinterested.
Got up and pulled his silk trousers on.
He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
He reached for the seeing glass, never far from him. Flicked through the eyes of his informants. Seeing nothing. Not seeing her.
An anxiety settled into his belly.
She was out of his reach again.
"I told you to alert me if she moved." He hissed to the lot of them. Useless. "Where was she last seen?"
A raven showed a memory of her being pulled into a blue magic, disappearing.
Gale. Of course.
"Well, I'll just have to give Waterdeep a visit. I hear it's lovely this time of year." He sneered.
-
"You've made a grave mistake." A bone deep voice rumbled.
Tav tried to focus, lost in a swirling miasma of pain.
"By expelling my gift, you have refused my best offer. Pity."
Mephistopheles.
"You had so much promise. Fruitless whore."
She laughed at that, her spite bringing her back to her mind.
"I'm glad to disappoint you, devil."
"Oh, I do like the ones with bite." He cackled. "I'll make you a new deal."
"I'll release your beloved from the vampiric curse, and as before, you can give me half your life. However much of it remains. Or..."
He paused, relishing in the tease.
"I've already killed your peer, Raphael. These theatrics dont work on me." She reminded.
"And what an upset that was. Very well. Since I like you, I would settle for a limb."
She nearly laughed. Of course.
Her greatest asset was her dexterity and he knew that. Her acrobatics, the strength and precision of her body have served her through everything.
"Which one?"
"Oh, let's leave that as a surprise. It's more fun that way." He purred.
"You remind me a lot of him. He's a bastard now too."
"Oh flattery will get you everywhere, but not away from me."
"Consider my deal, fruitless one. It will not stand for long, and I'll warn you my gracious nature is very fickle."
She rocketed back to her body with a wet bloody cough, moaning out in renewed pain.
"Tav!" Shadowheart's voice to her right.
Eyes still coated in blood, a thick red haze she tried to blink away.
Tav tried to speak, but it only came out as groaning.
The pain was so severe she couldn't feel her legs. Wondering if the devil took them already, just to spite her.
Shadowheart pushed healing magic into her chest, lighting her up blue.
It helped her get her breath back, numbing the agony slightly but not fully dissipating it.
"I saw-" She gasped, searching for her with her hand. Trying and failing to sit up. "It was-"
"Shhh, save your strength. There will be time to speak later. Lay back." She urged her back gently with her slender hands.
"She's awake. Good." Halsin sighed somewhere to her left.
"Hey big guy." She smiled, coughing hard. Blood coating the back of her throat.
"Welcome back, my heart. I wish we could meet again on better terms."
Gale's voice, farther away.
"Everyone, we have company..."
-
Gale took sure steps towards the barrier protecting his tower, the others following behind him, where the Ascendant stood. Crimson eyes burning hate into him.
"I'm not letting you in." Gale stated frankly. "And honestly there are more pressing matters at hand. So if you don't mind."
If Astarion could have killed with his eyes he would've been dead on the spot.
"I know she's in there, wizard." He spat at him. "I'm not leaving until you produce her."
"She wouldn't want to see you, I'd imagine."
"Oh, she'll see me." He breathed, stepping closer. "We have much to discuss."
Shadowheart broke behind him. "She owes you nothing, you evil fucker! She's barely alive because of you!"
Gale winced. Discretion was key here.
Astarion was rocked back on his heel by what looked like shock.
His eyes searched Gale's frantically. Then filled with deadly promise.
"I will hunt down everyone you love and make them my spawn, so I can take them to the brink of death in the cruelest ways I can imagine. Over. And over."
"Let. Me. In."
As if he hadn't already warded those he loved long before this meeting.
"He's right, he won't leave." Tav hissed.
Gale turned.
She was steadying herself against the doorway, still pale as a sheet. Eyes red stained and sockets smeared with thumbed away blood.
"You've seen me now, happy?"
Gale could tell that she was trying for biting, but her tone was too exhausted, too bereft.
He stepped up to steady her as she lurched forward, gripping him on his forearm for support.
Astarion's eyes were wide, almost panicked. He stepped forward, nearly touching the barrier.
"Tav, what-"
You don't have to tell him anything.
She squeezed his arm to his words, a small sad smile on her lips. Turned back to Astarion.
"How did you find out you could bear an heir after the Ascension?"
Her question made Astarion blink. Gale could practically see the wheels turning in his head.
"What a strange question." He scoffed.
"I think I know the answer, but I'd just like confirmation." She whispered, equal parts incensed and mournful.
Astarion stood on his back foot, clearly not liking where this was going.
Gale was appreciative watching him squirm. Obviously trying to still stay in Tav's good graces, but not a quick enough liar to come up with something plausible on the spot.
But they had more urgent matters to attend to. Like her health.
"Tav, we should get you back inside." Gale murmured, basically holding her body up at this point. Her fingers still gripping into his arm.
"Not yet." She hissed, then cried out in pain. A new wave of blood rolling down her thigh.
"Halsin!" Gale urged, and the druid was already there, picking her up bridal style.
Still, she stared death into Astarion, her red eyes never leaving him.
"You knew what that was, and you still put it in me. Without my consent. Knowing my fear. You knew."
"I will never forgive you for that." Her voice a cold whisper.
Gale almost pitied him. Tav's words had taken all of the wind out of him. Something close to remorse on his face.
As if sensing Gale's sympathy, he straightened up. Shooting daggers at him.
Halsin had already turned to take her back inside, her head falling limp into his chest.
"Go home, Astarion." Shadowheart hissed. "You've done enough."
Gale could see the vicegrip of rage return to his eyes. Petulant, he would not be told what to do.
"No, I don't think I will. Afterall, I must keep an eye on my consort. Being looked after by a trio of ineffectual doldrums." He scoffed.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, scumbag." Shadowheart turned, following Halsin inside.
Just Gale stood on the precipice now, turning to follow them as well.
"She will be alright?"
He turned back to Astarion, surprise flicking across his face.
Gale sighed, leveling. "We don't know. Your offspring certainly did a number on her."
He seemed to consider that, that vein of anguish striking his face again. Just for a moment.
"You should release her to me, I'd take care of her. Far better than any of you."
Gale nearly laughed.
"Goodnight Astarion."
-
"Drink." Halsin encouraged, holding cool water up to her mouth.
Tav swallowed in shaky pulses. Suddenly so parched. Taking the glass from him and pulling it all down.
"Good. Very good." He hummed, his deep rumbling voice sending chills down her back.
"Have I told you your voice is heavenly?" She smiled.
"Flirting again. That's a great sign." He chuckled, checking her pulse on her wrist.
His eyes met the winding scars there, a pulse of sadness striking his features.
"Oh, my heart." He sighed, cupping her face.
She leaned into him, his large warm hand a balm on her aching skin.
"You're still cold." He sighed, bringing the blankets tighter to her.
"Well," Gale started, stepping inside. "Shadowheart is off. I can't believe she agreed to go."
Tav smiled. "The outpost needs her. And I think I convinced her I was in more than capable hands. Your barrier proved that tenfold."
"Well, thank you." He smiled, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"The spare room is set up for you." He handed a fresh set of blankets and towels to Halsin. "Though I imagine you'd probably prefer to be outside."
Halsin chuckled. "Guilty. I'll remain close." Turning to Tav. "If anything comes up, don't hesitate."
"Thank you." She hushed. "Get some rest, okay?"
Halsin stroked her cheek, then stood and went down the hall, closing the door behind him softly.
"I imagine Lord Ancunin is still nearby?" Tav sighed, more a statement than a question.
"Oh yes," Gale sniped. Coming to sit on her bedside. "Relentless, that one."
Tav snorted. "An understatement."
"How are you feeling?" He hushed.
"Half in the grave. Angry. Tired. Cold." She sighed.
"Can you hold me?" She whispered, pulling up the edge of the blanket.
"I would want for nothing more." He slid under the covers.
She folded herself into him, sighing. Her body was in tatters, a throbbing persistent ache radiating from her pelvis. Exhaustion pulling her deep into the earth. But she didn't want to sleep, not yet.
His body was so warm. She slipped open his robe and buried her head into his chest, the hair tickling her face. Running her hand up under the ties, finding the curve of his hip.
She heard his breath catch, felt the gentle pulse of arousal from him.
Her hands traced his hip bone, his waist. Fingers splaying and stretching over the smooth skin, trying to commit it to memory.
"Tav..." He sighed, she could feel his apprehension.
"Just let me touch you, please." She whispered.
I need to feel close to someone. I want you.
Tav, you're in no state...
But she could feel the swirling desire around his head. The need pulling him too.
Please don't deny me. I need you, Gale.
He leaned over her and softly kissed her. Cradling her face in his hand.
Her hands traveled him, his robe falling away. Fingers and palms gliding over his olive skin.
Do you remember in camp, how we were almost together?
He smiled against her mouth, lips carefully pouring his adoration into her.
Of course I remember. You were the most enthralling surprise. I could never imagine someone like you could want someone like me. Even if only for a moment.
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
If I had chosen you... things could have been so different. Couldn't they?
He shifted over her, carefully balancing over her body. Kissing her like the last drink of an oasis.
Oh, yes. I would've taken you anywhere, to the mountains, to the sea. We could've layed together in my tower, gone to the markets, reveled in each other. Happy, so happy.
Tears flowed freely down her temples, still pink with remnant blood.
Her heart hammered.
Could we still have that? Could we try?
She felt the deep wave of his elation wash over her, so many tangling emotions. But one soared over the other.
He wasn't saying it, but he didn't really have to. And he could feel her hope, her fear and uncertainty. The damaged pieces of her heart threading together as close as they could manage.
Stay with me here, in my tower. If just for a while. We can try.
-
Gale whipped together a probably too extravagant breakfast, hair tied back, face stern in concentration.
The morning light basked through the stained glass, slanting the room in hues of purple, blue, green.
Halsin stepped into the chaos, a big smile on his face.
"Gale, hush for a minute. Listen."
He paused his fervent whisking.
Tav had gone out to sit in the garden, waving him away as she wobbled.
Now the most beautiful bell of a voice was rising out above the soft sounds of morning.
"She's singing." Halsin hushed, as if to speak louder would break the spell.
Gale set the bowl down, eyes closing.
Only in the quietest and far between peaceful moments in camp would she sing. It was endlessly enchanting, spellbinding him heart and soul.
A threading hopeful cry, soaring through the air. Surely she could Weave magic, maybe far better than him.
"I love her." Gale whispered. More to himself.
"I know." Halsin smiled, clapping a hand on his shoulder.
They stood in silence, listening rapturously to her asking courageous call. How the morning seemed to respond in kind. Air woven with promise.
~
Part 10
#gods this one fought me#astarion x tav#gale x tav#ascended astarion#lyrics from: age of delilah - ethel cain#screenshot by @dekariosposting
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Epiphany/Wyll. 1.1 k words
“It’s an acorn.”
”The depths of your perception never fails to impress, High Harper.”
Jaheira breathes hard through her nose, a little agitated snort that makes you wonder if she picked it up from her time in wild shape or if she had always had it. Firelight dances on the shiny surface of the nut as she turns it about. “Bah. What do you want from me?”
Why are you accosting her in the rare moments of peace you share, you know she’s really asking. You shrug, your tail sliding across the cobblestones as you settle on the crate beside her, the campfire’s warmth kissing your infernal cheeks. Certainly only the fire.
“It was a gift,” you say as explanation, the syllables of your highborn accent dancing on your tongue. Back in Baldur’s Gate, only a stone’s throw from the manor you grew up in, separated only by the Upper City gate and an Elder Brain who would love nothing more than to liquify your neural tissue. “One I would like to keep close.” Jaheira has no need to hear about the events that followed that gift, about the loose smiles and laughter, about the blades of grass that tickled your bare back…
Gods damn her. For all of your teasing, she is perceptive. You feel her watching you out of the corner of her eye, hear the barely contained grin in her voice when she asks, “Say it plainly, cub.”
You stretch your hand out, your indigo skin the color of the night sky, and spread your fingers. “I thought it might make a lovely ring,” you mused. “Aren’t I lucky that I know someone who can druidcraft.”
“Do you, now?”
“I can always ask Halsin.”
Jaheira lets out a raspy laugh. “If you wanted a woodland creature you would ask Halsin. You want something to match your fine tastes, no?” She nods towards the rest of the jewelry adorning your hands, all silvered and sparking with arcane energy. Your wardrobe alone is worth enough to buy your grandmother’s manor out from under her.
You shake your head. “I want something to match him,” you whisper, fully looking at her now, wriggling the finger on your left hand.
Her brows shoot up, and for a brief moment you can only see the whites of her eyes. Whatever she had been expecting, it wasn’t that. “He-“ She quiets herself when Gale looks up from his book, leans in closer. “He proposed?”
“And I said yes.” It’s a challenge to keep the giggle in as you press a hand to her lips. “We haven’t announced it yet, because as romantic and charming as Wyll is, I would rather lick a Bhaal worshipper’s blade than show off a bare finger.”
“Good, you’re still you. I was beginning to worry that you were going soft.” Jaheira takes your hand in hers, one wrinkled and one plump with youth, and places the acorn on your knuckle. A wizard as powerful as you is no stranger to magic, but yet you still watch in wonder as the outer shell flattens and twists, twining around your finger. It’s rough at first, but you can feel the tickle of the druid’s focus on your skin as she squints in concentration, and soon small vines separate from the bulk of the ring, twisting in a fine filigree. They compound and stack, swirling into a delicate density that steals the air from your lungs. The only indication that this is in fact an acorn and not a masterwork from Dammon’s forge is the cap sitting in the center, prouder than any jewel.
You don’t know what to say in maybe the first time in your life, and that’s all the compliment that Jaheira needs. You hold your hand aloft, any desire to be secretive long forgotten, and twist it about to catch every flicker of light. “Jaheira…”
“I’ll take no criticism, not until the groom sees it.” Oh, but you can tell she’s proud. She watches it closely, too, the organic material shining brighter than anything else adorning your fingers.
“Bossy old crow.” You stand, press your forehead to hers, wary of your horns, and draw back. “Thank you.”
Wyll is running drills when you find him, fighting off the shadows with the gleaming tip of his rapier, his own included. Breathing hard, he dances forward, sweat trickling down the nape of his neck. He’s so enthralled in his phantasmal foe that it takes a few moments for him to notice you leaning against the wall, your eyes feasting on his form. “M’lady,” he greets with a flash of teeth, sheathing his weapon as he hops over to you. “What is it, my love?”
“Only that I miss your attention,” you sigh, draping yourself in his arms. He happily obliges as you pull him down, your lips just brushing together before you’re bowed back, his hands on the small of your back, keeping you steady as he deepens the kiss. Your noses bump together when you finally pull apart, and Wyll seizes on the opening, nuzzling into the side of your neck.
“Better?”
You hum in contentment. “Getting there.”
Before he can attempt to remedy that, you place a hand to his chest. He doesn’t hesitate to take it in his own, the corners of his eyes crinkling before he pauses, frowns. Looks down, the pad of his finger trailing over your familiar set of rings and landing on the unfamiliar one. Something inside you melts when his eyes practically sparkle at the revelation. “Well, this is new.”
“Oh, this?” You feign ignorance to be difficult. He catches your hand before you can snatch it away, turns it about to inspect every inch. “I can’t have a proper fiancé if I don’t have a proper ring, now can I?”
“Are you mocking my proposal?” he jests, finally settling for wrapping his arms around your shoulders, trapping you against his chest. “Should I have sought out the finest diamond to place upon your hand?”
“Don’t even joke about that,” you don’t mean to snap, defensive of the weightless, priceless thing now forever attached to your finger. He rumbles out a laugh, the low sound settling in your bones. “Isn’t it perfect?”
It takes a moment for him to respond, and suddenly you’re worried that you misstepped, that you just desecrated a sacred gift. The worry quickly melts away when you crane your head to look at him, meeting his eyes that have been watching you the entire time. “Only as perfect as the woman wearing it,” he whispers in your ear. “Though I seem to be missing one of my own.”
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The Great Faerun Baking Show (part two)
I've decided I'm going to run with this anyway. It is a beautiful day in Faerun and I am a horrible goose fanfiction writer. There are several things I need to get done today, so obviously I'm going to not do them and write this instead.
For those of you who are just stopping by, I had a horrible idea a while ago and this is the result. I have no idea what's going to happen or who's going to win. I’m just going to roll a D20 ‘bake check’ for everyone and write out the results, including what everyone rolled so y’all know I’m not cheating just so my druid boyfriend can win. The person with the lowest total score (out of a possible score of 60) goes home.
We've got the main 6 companions, Jaheira, Halsin, Minsc (and Boo), Minthara, Dammon, and my tav Medora (who y'all can just pretend is Alfira if you don't want someone else's tav in the story, since they're both female bards)
Week One, Cake Week: Star baker was Karlach, Minthara went home
Week Two: Biscuit Week, or "Viconia's Walking Florentine"
Signature Challenge: Sandwich Biscuits
Astarion: Bourbon biscuits. He and Shadowheart took a shot right when the bake started. He took a few more shots after that just because he could, and ended up making a bunch of vampire jokes with Noel Fielding. Despite the alcohol handicap, his biscuits turned out quite nice.
Dammon: Dulce de leche and banana biscuits. The dulce de leche overpowered the banana a bit, but the texture of the biscuits themselves were great.
Gale: Tara's coffee biscuits. He really wanted to bring back the memories of caffeine-fueled all-nighters at Blackstaff Academy. He also used a cat-shaped cookie cutter. The biscuits weren't exactly identical, and the coffee cream was a bit too runny.
Halsin: Lavender and vanilla biscuits. He used a duck-shaped cookie cutter because he likes ducks. They were all perfectly identical and the flavors were incredible. He got a Hollywood Handshake for them.
Jaheira: Malted milk biscuits. She wasn't able to get them as identical as she would have liked, and some of the biscuits were a bit underdone.
Karlach: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich biscuits. She was determined to have Paul like something with peanut butter in it. Unfortunately he still doesn't. They were also a bit messy. They were adorable in their messiness though.
Lae'zel: Pistachio custard creams. They were messy, and the dragon cookie cutter she used was a bit too delicate, resulting in some dragons missing their tails.
Medora: Raspberry and almond linzer biscuits. They had a lovely classic flavor profile, and were nearly identical.
Minsc: Coconut biscuits. He tried to use chocolate designs to make them look like tiny coconuts, but it wasn't completely successful. The flavor, however, was nice.
Shadowheart: Blackberry and earl grey biscuits. She tried to shape them like night orchids, colored with activated charcoal. However, the color made it hard to judge whether or not the biscuits were overcooked, and several of them were burned. The earl grey was so faint it was overpowered by the blackberry and the, well, burn.
Wyll: Empire biscuits. He grew up sneaking them from the kitchen as a boy, and wanted to stick to his 'classics done right' style. Unfortunately the biscuits weren't as crisp as Paul and Prue would have liked. Noel still stuck one in his pocket for later though.
Technical Challenge: Coconut Macaroons
(I think I'm going to list them from worst to best from now on)
11. Dammon
10. Shadowheart
9. Medora
8. Karlach
7. Lae'zel or Wyll (they both rolled a 9)
6. Wyll or Lae'zel
5. Halsin
4. Astarion
3. Jaheira
2. Gale
Minsc (honestly how does he keep doing so well idk man)
Showstopper: Gingerbread Showpiece
Astarion: To keep with his Brand, he decided to make a graveyard with several little gingerbread mausoleums and monuments. His, of course, was the biggest and fanciest one, with the door open and a little paper cut-out of himself coming out. Very tongue-in-cheek. Some of the monuments were sloppy, because he had so many he didn't have time to make them all super polished.
Dammon: He did his best to make an anvil, a hammer and a little piece of pulled sugar as the metal to be forged. He then discovered that despite working with molten metal on a regular basis, molten sugar still burns just as much when hitting the skin, and dropped it. He spent so much time on a backup sugar piece that the presentation on his anvil and hammer suffered a tiny bit.
Gale: His scene was an open book with a little wizard casting Fireball standing on the pages. There were huge cracks in the gingerbread book, but the wizard and his fireball were nicely detailed. He wasted a lot of time because he needed the spell piped on to the gingerbread to be ACCURATE DAMMIT.
Halsin: He created a peaceful woodland scene with trees, a family of bears, and some mushrooms. The largest bear broke, but he was able to fix it somewhat and prop it up against a tree. Bears lean against trees all the time. He hoped the judges might think it was purposeful. They saw right through him, however.
Jaheira: Years of helping her children with various projects has paid off. She somehow in the time limit created Wyrm's Crossing and just for show a poured-sugar River Chionthar. That earned her a Hollywood Handshake.
Karlach: She made an impressive replica of her tent, complete with a small army of teddy bear cookies. She even took the time to make little bears shaped like her friends and the judges. When asked if she hadn't wanted to make something more badass, she shrugged and said she could like cracking skulls and teddy bears at the same time.
Lae'zel: Her red dragon looked more like a guinea pig, unfortunately, so she changed her answer last-minute and said it was a giant space hamster. Due to its red color, though, the judges saw right through her story.
Medora: She attempted to create a lute, a mandolin and a drum. The neck of the lute broke and the piping on the drum was far from precise, but it wasn't a complete disaster.
Minsc: He made a treasure chest mimic. Originally he'd wanted the lid to open, but the hinge broke. It was still beautiful regardless, and quite big. It nearly took up the entire counter.
Shadowheart: Her little gingerbread cottage was already precariously lopsided, and when she turned to grab another piping bag it fell completely off the bench and onto the floor.
Wyll: He replicated his favorite park in Baldur's Gate out of gingerbread, even sculpting a statue with modeling chocolate. It was very impressive.
The Results
Our star baker this week with a total of 45/60 is Halsin!
And unfortunately, with a score of 9/60, Shadowheart has to leave the tent.
Feel free to play along, roll bake checks, and comment with what your Tav would make! Yeah I can't be stopped we're on to bread week next.
#I know she's everyone's favorite I'm sorry#I swear I'm not cheating with my rolls#baldur's gate 3#bg3 fanfiction#bg3 shitpost#astarion#bg3 astarion#astarion ancunin#shadowheart#bg3 shadowheart#karlach cliffgate#bg3 karlach#karlach#halsin#bg3 halsin#halsin silverbough#wyll ravenguard#bg3 wyll#lae'zel#bg3 lae'zel#bg3 gale#gale dekarios#bg3 jaheira#minsc and boo#medora#my writing#bg3 dammon
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The Dursleys would deserve whatever the party does.
Imagine little Harry learning music from Tav and how to use a sword from Lae’zel who finds herself healing a little from how she was taught in her childhood. Imagine Wyll, after someone figures out the prophecy because it’s Faerun and no doubt they’d run into some diviner or the such, carefully helping Harry learn to be more then just a hero like he had to learn to be more then a Duke’s son.
Jaheira smiling at the sight of Harry giggling as she thinks of her old friends. Halsin helping Harry with nature magic. Just… all of them working together to help raise this little boy.
Arabella before she leaves playing with Harry and pressing her ring into his hands.
(The Dream Visitor feels quieter now for some reason, Lily’s magic adding a layer of protection over them all. Family by blood and choice.)
They would. And their plans for the Dursleys get more and more involved as more of Harry’s previous life is found out. They are currently trying to convince Withers to keep bringing them back to life so they can keep murdering them over and over again. As time passes Withers is getting mrie and more willing to do so pro bono.
Harry with wide eyes and pure awe on his face the first time he hears Tav play the violin. Tav teaching him each night in camp, smiling as they see little fingers clumsily moving over the strings and not even wincing when the note devolves to a shriek when Harry loses proper form with the bow. (They didn’t realize how much they wanted this until they had it. Didn’t realize how much they had always wanted a child of their own that could grow happy and healthy away from the horrors of the Underdark)
Lae’zel feeling a warmth in her chest as Harry looks up at her with those wide green eyes, hanging off of her every word as she instructs him. He doesn’t cry when he is knocked down. She still makes sure to tend to any scrapes herself… just in case.
Wyll looking at this fated child (a future stolen before he was even born, bound by fate to sacrifice himself to end a monster — he sees the resemblance to stage even more) and deciding to teach him to spit in the face of fate. To hunt for every loophole he can. To live rather than die for the greater good.
(If Gale lingers a bit too close for those conversations Wyll doesn’t say anything. He knows he doesn’t need to.)
All of them sighing with fondness when Harry comes back with more and more wild pets (they should have expected it, really, after Tav brought back a dog and an owlbear) but the one that sticks closest to him is a beautiful snowy owl with far too intelligent eyes. If Halsin and Jaeira had t both interrogated her to make sure she wasn’t a Druid in disguise they would be more concerned.
Arabella feeling a bit of her grief ease as she plays with Harry. Feeling a bit more like herself rather than a wild thing with powers she doesn’t fully understand and untethered without her parents. It hurts more to leave, but she snakes sure to smile if only so Harry doesn’t cry.
Spoilers under the cut
God the Dream Visitor. They would have such a little hater in Harry after the end of Act Two. Particularly if Harry had been dragged into the chaos of the camp attack and saw Tav say they didn’t want it only for them to be “convinced” to take the space worm. Just a completely feral child who saw someone hurt their parent and no one seems to be doing anything about it.
(He doesn’t fully understand everything about the mindflayers and the parasites but what he does know is Tav looked scared in those last moments before they took the worm and he didn’t like it.)
Also the act three kidnapping who else could be taken other than Harry? And imagine just how feral Tav would get when their child is gone.
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This Tav Tale was commissioned by @void-botanist -- thanks again for your patience! Looking for a Tav Tale of your own? Look here for details.
When the invitation comes, Karlach prepares herself for a world of bullshit. The courier’s out of breath, which tells her that the poor bloke has a pretty unforgiving boss, or got paid handsomely to run up to the tavern where they’ve all been shacked up for the last little while. She flicks the courier an extra gold coin for his trouble, and heads up to the cozy—or at least bedbug free—little bedroom she’s been sharing with Niri. That’s been a treat, even if sometimes she gets so warm that they have to kick the covers off at night and sleep with the window open.
“Hey, soldier, got a letter.” Karlach tosses it on the bed, reaching out to grab a hold of Niri’s toes, give ‘em a good wiggle. “Look alive, we’re a going concern!” Niri sits up sleepily; and no surprises there, they’ve been running like it’s the Hells for weeks with no sign of slowing down.
“What’s the concern?” She rubs at her eyes, pretty as emeralds, and stifles a yawn. She’s the sweetest thing that Karlach has ever seen.
“No, no, we’re a going concern. Means people want to talk to us now. Check it out. We’ve got ourselves a formal invitation.” Karlach pulls off her boots, clambering up into bed beside Niri and hoping to fuck that Niri’s not about to tell her that it’s a follow-up letter from Gortash. She can’t help the sigh of relief that leaves her when it turns out to be some noblewoman in the know who just wants them to come by to a little get-together because she’s heard all about the raid on Moonrise Towers. She looks at Niri sidelong, and as she so often is, finds herself surprised that her partner can get any sweeter than she already is. Gods, she’s pretty. Prettier when she looks so excited.
“I’ve never been to a fancy party,” Niri says. Karlach’s still so dazzled by the stars in her eyes, she almost forgets to answer. “Karlach?”
“Oh! It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, soldier. Food’s usually good, though. We’ll line your bag, take a pheasant or two to go.” Niri’s excitement dampens at that, the corners of her mouth turning down, pretty stars fading just enough to make Karlach want to walk her assessment back.
“We don’t have to go,” Niri says, but Karlach knows she’s just being her kind self.
“Aw, c’mon, no need to let me off easy. Besides, how long’s it been since we ate for free?” Niri’s expression brightens again, and it takes everything Karlach has in her not to grab her up and squeeze her. “What’s say we go out on the town, rustle up something to wear, hey, soldier?”
It’s game on after that. Everyone in their merry band has something to say about fancy dress, and what to do at a party. Gale knows his way around quality textiles; Astarion knows a tailor. Lae’zel, bless her, knows how to kill a man with a fish fork, and Shadowheart has tips on how to look like you’re putting away as much wine, or more, than your fellow guests. Wyll has advice on dancing, though he likes to pretend he’s not any good (this, Karlach knows, is a play in order to exceed expectations). All of Minsc’s advice comes to them by hamster, but Jaheira has a lesson about the virtue of good shoes—“Just in case you need to make a run for it.” And perhaps most valuably, Halsin has a concoction he swears will hangover-proof them. Karlach tries to get that recipe off him, but he’s canny, that old druid, and he’s never written it down.
If she were in Niri’s shoes, she’d probably be overwhelmed, but their fearless leader takes it all in like an absolute champion. It’s a whirlwind of a day, and they haven’t even gotten to the meat of it yet. Karlach’s more worried about what she’ll do when she sees Niri in that dress she picked than what will happen at some ponce’s little party. Just the thought gets her ticker a little fired up.
“All right, you can open your eyes,” Niri says gently, and Karlach dares to look. It feels like a soul coin’s been dropped in her engine. Niri has her hair pulled up into a loose tail, and the dress, oh gods, the dress. It’s cut low in the front and back, just barely clinging to Niri’s shoulders, a shimmery pale blue like the sky in midsummer.
“Fuck yeah.” Karlach can’t contain herself. She closes the distance, lifting Niri and spinning her gorgeous self in a circle. “It’s perfect, baby. Ready to go? Lady What’s-Her-Name sent us a ride.” Niri smiles warmly, throwing her arms around Karlach’s neck, leaning in close so that their horns knock lightly together.
“Might want to put me down first.” Karlach gives Niri a squeeze, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek, and much as she’d rather hold her forever, she sets her back down.
“All right, soldier. Let’s go get fed.”
With the afternoon they’ve had, it’s too easy to get excited, which makes the come down even worse as Karlach begins to realize this is not the kind of poncy party that at least has dancing and an open bar. It’s a dinner party. The kind with talking and an entire compliment of forks to kill a man with, let alone one just for the fish. They’re both out of their depth on this one, nodding along in their own way. The discomfort is palpable, and only gets worse when some over-dressed peacock decides he has something completely asinine he wants to say in front of the entire gathering.
“I must say I’m surprised to see such mettle from two tieflings. Why, I thought your people only cared for themselves.” Niri starts up in her chair but Karlach puts a hand on the back of her wrist, patting gently twice.
“I got this one, baby,” she murmurs, plucking up a bottle of wine from the table. “Suppose, sir, you’ll have to re-evaluate that one.” She pads around to the blithering jerkbag who’s decided to run his mouth, topping up his glass. She lets her fire warm the wine. Not too hot; it’d be a real trouble to kill the man here in front of everyone. Just enough to scald a little. She ignores him when he tries to indicate that that’s enough, pours the glass full up and then some, steaming hot wine slopping onto the tablecloth. “Whoopsie-daisy!” The rest, she dumps out right across his lap. That’ll give him something to yip about. In a moment that she’ll later call a ‘full-on stroke of genius’ she snatches the roast bird off the table and bolts around to Niri, who’s already on her feet.
“Leg it!” As it turns out, Jaheira’s advice had been the soundest. It’s almost like she knew this could happen to them specifically. The good shoes give them a huge advantage. With the pheasant under one arm, and Niri’s hand in hers, Karlach makes a run for it, laughing madly. This isn’t the first time they’ve had to flee for their lives, but it immediately becomes Karlach’s favorite occasion for such an urgent hustle. After escaping a nautiloid, and an actual mindflayer hideaway, this is easy as pie. Almost second nature. Niri’s grip tightens on her hand, dragging her into an alleyway where they pass a couple of moments, crowded too close, breathing softly together as the guards rush past them. Niri breaks first, covering her mouth to smother a laugh.
“Well,” she sighs, “that was a bit of a let-down. Guess I should have taken your word for it.” Karlach’s expression crinkles with immediate regret for her forewarning. Had she set them up for this?
“Hey, live ‘n’ learn, right? It’s not on you. That was an especially shitty party.” She’s about to open her big fat mouth to apologize, but that’s when she hears it. The stomping of boots in a tavern, and the raucous voice of a bard. That’s a sound that can save the night. She leans in to knock horns, meeting Niri’s bright, bright eyes. “Fancy another go?” Niri smiles back up at her, opens her bag, and says something that reminds Karlach that true love isn’t just something made up by poets.
“Put your pheasant away. Let’s go dancing."
#bg3#baldur's gate 3#karlach x tav#Karlach#tav bg3#fic commissions#The Prior's Commissions#Tav Tales
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Given your dislike of BG3 and preference for the previous games, how would you rework BG3 to be better?
COMBAT
Round Based Combat (Turn based combat playing in real time on a 6 second rhythm)
The cursor will now snap to an enemy's hitbox.
Class Kits have been re-implemented
Mages get access to Horrid Wilting because what even is the fucking point of playing a Mage otherwise?
Larian has been sent to Sunday School to repent for their wicked and sinful fetish for surface effects, explosions and arson.
Boss mechanics are about positioning and reactivity, rather than finding the one button in the room that wins the fight for you
Cantrips are now called Innate Abilities and can be cast within a round independently of regular spells and actions, creating a higher skill ceiling of weaving them between regular spells and attacks.
NON COMBAT GAMEPLAY
Dice rolls have been removed from 80% of dialogue. The game now rolls the relevant skills behind the scenes when dialogue options appear and if you succeed, that skill's dialogue option is available. If you don't have the relevant skill but a party member does, this still works only choosing the dialogue involves asking for their input. Ideally this should only fail if nobody in the party has that skill, or you haven't levelled up at all.
The Dice Roll animation now runs three times faster and most of the drawn out animation of all the bonuses and penalties has been removed.
Thieves will re-roll a perception check every round. If you fail a perception check, put a thief in the party and wait until they finally find it (just like BG1 and 2 does, that's another thing Larian changed for some reason)
Multi-Class characters will have their classes level up independently rather than choosing which class to level each time.
Mind Flayer abilities no longer require inserting more tadpoles. Once the tadpole is inserted, the tadpole levels up as its own unique class with your others as it roots itself into more of your brain. It was always strange that removing the tadpoles is the primary motivation and then it gives you four more and says "put that in your eye."
COMPANIONS
Your first companion is not a complete stranger
Your first full party is not entirely composed of absolute cunts
Companions are no longer acquired as rapidly and are spread out among Act 1 and 2.
Shadowheart is now a Fighter/Cleric. Her Wisdom is increased to 18 and her Strength and Constitution are increased to 16.
Wyll is now a Rogue/Warlock. His Charisma is increased to 18, his Strength to 13 and his Dexterity to 16.
Karlach is now a Berserker. Her Strength has been increased to 18 and her Constitution has been increased to 17.
Jaheira has been returned to a Fighter/Druid. Her Strength and Wisdom have been increased to 18.
Jaheira and Minsc are so old that their equipment is itemized using Second Edition rules and as a result is unusable by the other party members. Fuck you that's funny.
Jim Cummings has been restored as Minsc's voice actor, because the decision to recast the meme character with the meme actor of the week was always a bone-headedly stupid decision.
Companions have a wider array of stories than "abuse victim."
Halsin and Shadowheart are now only romancable by male characters.
Astarion and Minthara are now only romanceable by female characters.
Lae'zel and Gale are no longer romanecable.
Karlach, and Wyll remain bisexual.
Romanced Ascended Astarion will now completely end your relationship, claiming you have outlived your usefulness. Because apparently some people were too busy listening to Niel Newbon doing his best Seth MacFarlane impression to actually get the message.
Shadowheart's story no longer involves Viconia de'Vir.
Gale's story no longer involves him being Mystra's side piece at Level 1
Astarion's personality is no longer a blatant copy of Anomen Delryn
Astarion's story is no longer a blatant copy of Anomen, Keldorn, Aerie, Imoen, Dynaheir and Hexxat.
STORY
The game will now allow you to import old Infinity Engine save files. The only notable effect is that any mention of "Gorion's Ward" in text will now use the Ward's name, pronouns and race from the save file imported.
The Narrator can be disabled.
Origin Characters have been removed. Larian's characters suffer greatly from having to fit into this concept.
Dark Urge has been removed and moved to its own separate series of games called "Baldur's Gate" "Siege of Dragonspear" "Shadows of Amn" and "Throne of Bhaal." They will all be made available on Steam immediately.
Tav has a personal motivation for getting involved in the story, rather than being shepherded through the story by everyone else.
A level 1 character does not start the game on an exploding Michael Bay ship. Seriously Larian, what the fuck?
The Mind Flayer tadpoles are inserted into Tav at the end of Act 1 instead of the prologue as a consequence of getting involved in all this "True Soul" malarkey.
Tav is now the only one infected by the Mind Flayers deliberately. Over the course of Act 2, the others will be infected due to their proximity. Companions now get involved with each other for mutual advantage and companionship instead of "lol same brainworm."
Sarevok Anchev and the Conspicuous Consanguinity Conspiracy has been removed from the game. Like seriously Larian what in the actual fuck?
Bhaal and his children are no longer present in the story. The only mention of any active Bhaalspawn will be a footnote in a journal and only if you imported a save from Throne of Bhaal where Gorion's Ward was a long-lived race that chose to remain Mortal, as that is the only possible way for any Bhaalspawn to still be alive. They still won't be involved in the story owing to being banished from Baldur's Gate during the events of Siege of Dragonspear.
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I still think about the running scenes in “The First Leaf…” and I wanted to ask about them; it’s such a striking, powerful image! I couldn’t decide which one to excerpt so here’s the first:
“I followed you here,” he says, his voice a low hoarse whisper. “Perhaps you knew that? Your senses are keen.”
She growls at him instinctively, letting it thrum through her, standing her ground. She can feel the weight of her paws in the leaves, claws sinking into the earth as she looks up at the shadowed figure of Halsin. He blocks the moonlight, his hand extended towards her with a confidence he has not earned. He makes a move towards her and, with surprise in his eyes, he drops to his knees and begins to transform, the brown of the fur pushing through and expanding him into the beast that dwells inside him.
He stands in front of her, his breath loud and deep, as he inhales a breath and roars.
She turns.
And she runs.
She runs as fast as this body can take her, she runs with all the power she can push through, the branches of the trees scraping at her skin. She can hear the lumbering of the strength of him behind her as he chases, but he will never catch her like this, he can never be lean and swift enough to catch her, but part of her wants to turn and face him, to bare her teeth and to stalk around him.
She runs. She runs until she cannot run anymore, until the dawn starts to leak over the horizon and she collapses on the edges of the woods, the form sinking away and leaving her exhausted and panting on the ground.
ohhhh thank you! Answering this director's cut question... about my fics!
I still love this fic so much, I don't always go back and read my own stuff but I do reread this from time to time. The wildshape was really important to me because of who Jaheira is to me; I always saw wildshape as a place where she can go to connect to that side of her that is so outside of her responsibilities as High Harper, a mother, an elder. She's not a particularly, uh, nature-y druid in the same way Halsin is, perhaps because she was bought to it from a different life, she's a strategist and a survivor and I think wildshape lets her lose some of those trappings. I wanted to reflect that in the changes of language the longer she's in shape. It starts to lose too much introspection, starts to be more active. She runs, claws, smells, touches. It also helps her meet Halsin, who she is attracted to almost instantly, in a more primal way. They start in panther and bear form, then she allows herself to become a bear too, to meet him in that way even if she cannot find a way to talk to him about it. It allows them to just be animalistic with each other, to perhaps blame instinct for their rush into the sexual contact. Also I like that Halsin struggles to control himself with her, allowing her to always have the upper hand as far as the physical goes, but she is wildly out of control emotionally, and he can be her rock there.
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ffff I woke up thinking very hard about how heartbreaking it'll be when I get Halsin kidnapped by Orin on my romance playthrough with him
and as I dally on with Iona and fuck around before I'd go rescue Lae'zel, I just... keep thinking about how at this point in his playthrough, Petyr is going to be just single-mindedly focused on murdering Orin.
like I know that immediately, as soon as he realizes what had happened, what was taken from him, he'll throw himself into the investigation.
not eating. not sleeping. Shadowheart has to pretty much force-feed him a potion of angelic slumber, and it's still Jaheira threatening to knock him out manually that manages to convince him that running himself ragged isn't going to help anyone.
the whole investigation, and the murder tribunal thing, and finding the temple takes no more than, say, four days tops. in that time, he probably sleeps all of two hours, and not even consecutively.
and he of course looks awful for it. eyes sunken in and rimmed in red, cheeks sallow, hair all weird and loose and falling into his face... the tremor in his hands is the most worrying part, being a marksman, but his aim inexplicably holds true. advantage is granted on intimidation checks just by the fact that he looks like he's all of one second away from putting an arrow through anyone's throat, and won't even need to use a bow to do it.
he holds it together when Halsin finally comes to on that cold stone slab, whole, alive, and pretty much unharmed by the looks of it. even though he feels like his guts are all squirming like a bagful of snakes, he keeps his wits about him as they reach the Elfsong and get themselves cleaned up. he even keeps a stiff upper lip and a straight spine all throughout dinner- maybe he's a bit more quiet than usual, but overall he seems fine, or at least more fine than he's been until then, if a touch... colder, more distant than anyone had expected.
really, with how visibly upset and scary determined he was, all expected a more... affectionate reaction, or at least more obvious relief. even Halsin himself is probably a bit... not disappointed, that's not the right word, more like somberly resigned about it. Accepts that maybe this time apart was a time of reflection, and a different conclusion was reached than what was expected. Maybe there was some disillusionment (the Big Strong Archdruid letting himself be tricked and whisked away by a jumped-up Bhaalspawn with just... so much wrong with her, that's kind of embarrassing in retrospect), maybe he just needs some time to process. Who knows. Maybe the ardor had simply petered out, as it were.
so they all retire for the night. and in less than an hour, once breaths quiet and movement stills in the room, Halsin feels an awkward body just... wordlessly crawl into his bed and tuck itself up against him.
He feels his ranger's pointed nose smush in the middle of his chest, feels him taking long, shaking breaths of his scent (no longer that putrid stench of sewer-filth and rotting meat, but the usual pleasantly herbal, earthy scent), and feels it all too acutely as the young man just.... starts to quietly weep. With completely silent, but desperate, full-body sobs, clinging to Halsin with what feels like more limbs than he has. He's weeping tears of exhaustion, and stress, and worry, and a loss mourned before its time, and all the druid can do is run soft fingers through his hair, let him cry it out, and whisper "I'm here" over and over again in a tone that means more than either says right now.
like the hold this has on my brain this morning?? unreal
(thank u Larian for the poly option so I can have a playthrough with not just one, but two opportunities for my utter bitch of a PC to dramatically not-confess-but-confess his love to his LI)
#the first is going to be a sweet soft and gentle moment#with Shadowheart's face cradled in his palms and words that feel moreso than sound like love#the other; gasped out between ragged sobs while he's pretty much trying to melt himself into Halsin's chest#squirrel plays bg3#oc: petyr wildbrook
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Planning out my BG3 Sascha run and whoops looks like we're doing another 'bad' run. I'm sure it'll be fine!
Using the aasimar mod for that tasty Angel of Caine dynamic 8D
Old(tm). Highest stats are INT and CHA, classed as a draconic bloodline sorcerer/wizard (bloodline is gold/fire, mostly putting levels in wizard). Can't be selected in-game but they're the grandchild of Kereska, dragon god of magic.
So yes a half-deity dragon angel with fire powers I know they're OP I know but also have you seen Sascha canonically.
Trauma in their backstory, because ofc. When they were young, they fell under the control of another aasimar, Symeon, child of Tyr, who in turn served Michael, who claimed to be the avatar of Sune. Symeon was charming and manipulative, and Sascha, then calling themself Myca, fell pretty quickly under his influence. It wasn't a great time.
Had a sweet romance with Ilias, child of Silvanus. Ilias died during the Spellplague. Myca changed their name to Sascha and. Hardened themself off somewhat.
Present day, a powerful sorcerer/wizard who regularly looks in on places like Blackstaff Academy, using illusion magic to hide their wings and stuff.
Secret! Netherese! Cultist!
Has a fascination with illithid technology. It's so visceral. Why is the damn ship crashing why can't they examine the meat crimes more :-\
Immediately takes charge with their OP charisma. General play vibes are like, pragmatic and not very sentimental, but does try to take care of their coterie.
Mostly fascinated with Gale, another powerful and ambitious mage with a connection to Netherese magic. Definitely encourages him to seek out his sorcerer side (he'll end up multiclassing Storm Sorcery) and, uh, the Crown but also with an eye to maybe? using it themself?
Wary about the Dream Visitor. Does not like having their mind fucked with. On the other hand, very open to using illithid powers, although by the time they get the astral-touched tadpole they're already too negative about the Emperor to agree.
Major decisions, act 1: We are straight-out skipping the druids/tiefling/goblin conflict! (Or, well, AFAIK you can't avoid the fight at the gate, but otherwise they're going to do that, trade with Arron, talk to whatshisname who had the run-in with the githyanki, then go "yeah this isn't my business" and leave.) Won't be recruiting Wyll, Karlach, or Halsin, and the tieflings are fucked, I'm sorry everyone ;_; Might end up entering the Goblin Camp just for more info on this True Soul/Absolute business, but staying steadfastedly Not Involved, then heading on to the Mountain Pass and the creche. Obviously that'll go poorly, although Sascha is still going to be like, yeah, the one in the Prism is shifty, sure, I'll kill them. So that'll put a dampener on any potential relationship!
Act 2: I am… actually not sure how to navigate the Shadow-Cursed Lands here, without getting the lyre from either Minthara or Nere, or attacking the convoy. Hm. Might just have to do a straight shot for Moonrise. AFAIK Minthara can be rescued here and Sascha is just "yeah fine why not". Largely skipping the Last Light, so no Jaheira, and, later, no Minsc, so final team will be Sascha, Gale, Astarion, Shadowheart, Lae'zel, and Minthara. Does the Gauntlet for Shadowheart's sake, but will encourage her not to kill their fellow aasimar, so at least someone is getting a good end XD;; Okay they don't seem to like many other aasimar so, uh, sorry Aylin. Otherwise, makes themself at home at Moonrise and wreaks havoc while they're not looking while in the process of Learning Everything. And, uh, the Shadow Curse is not getting lifted, although tbh I think that was a given since I'm pretty sure Halsin dies if you don't get involved with the Grove-Goblin conflict ;_;
Act 3: Learning about the Emperor - they fuckin' knew it -_- When they meet Raphael later, doesn't agree to the deal, but does plan to steal the hammer instead. They want that crown for their bae, okay.
Character arcs: Gale - go for the crown, babe, I'll hold your flower. Shadowheart - she's already turned from Shar, let's just complete the process. Encourages her to let her parents go. Okay maybe she will go Dark Justiciar :| Astarion - …tragically I think they'd encourage Ascension I'm so sorry Astarion bby. Sascha is just, "Get revenge! Fuckin' eat him!" Lae'zel - reject Vlaakith, free Orpheus - although that's in part to spite the Emperor tbh. Don't know what's happening with Minthara, I guess we'll find out!
Endgame: Once they have the stones, have Orpheus turn illithid. Ultimately, destroy the Netherbrain, then encourage Gale to get the crown and become a god. For the epilogue, become a god alongside him. This won't go badly at all!
On the plus side, if I'm doing God!Gale romance here, I might be able to skip one of the several Astarion runs I have planned, and just do the "they actually do make each other better this time" run?
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