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spacebarbarianweird · 2 days

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Shall We Meet Again?

Summary: Mindless fluff becomes mindless angst as Astarion spends his last weeks with his elderly love.

Pairing: Astarion x OC (Tiriel)

Tags: fluff, angst, conversation about mortality, old Tav

Thanks @themadlu for beta-reading!

This is the first part of the Mortal Bounds series. Tiriel dies and Astarion deals with grief and loneliness along with their daughter. Tiriel doesn't die in this fic, but it takes place merely a week before she does.

Read on AO3

Masterlist

Headcanons

Hot water reaches up to Astarion’s chest. The book in his hand got slightly wet, but he is too engrossed in the reading to notice.

He has never had a passion for fiction, always preferring more serious topics – law, history, traveling guides, and anatomy books.

But this one has grasped his attention.

He is through the fifth chapter when he hears footsteps behind the door.

Tiriel has got up.

Astarion casts a glance at the door hoping his wife will look towards the bathroom before doing whatever she is up to.

One-hundred and fifty years and he still can’t get enough of her. Besides, what is 150 years for an elf?

“Good morning, love,” Tiriel murmurs, half-opening the door.

“Good morning,” he puts the book away. “Come here”.

Tiriel closes the door from the inside and approaches the tub. Astarion leans to the half-elf to give her a kiss.

“I can see someone develop a love for stories?” She chuckles sitting on a wooden stool.

“I always liked them!”

The elderly half-elf takes the book and puts it on a shelf where it won’t get any wetter. Tiriel is 186 and the years have been taking a toll on her.

Her once-red hair is now white, and her face is covered in wrinkles; so is the rest of her body. She can barely do anything when the weather changes and sometimes her spine hurts so much that Tiriel has to lie on her back for hours, unable to move.

She is still herself, still a warrior. But her human ancestry is forcing Tiriel to pay the price.

Even her voice has changed as she went past her climax twenty years ago.

Astarion grabs Tiriel’s hand forcing her to get closer to the tub. “Join me”.

“How could I say no?” She smiles and undresses to get inside the water. The moment she does, he tugs her closer to feel her warmth against her skin.

After 150 years of being together, he has finally realized that it is indeed her warmth he is addicted to, not her blood.

The chance to hold her to feel safe and listen to her steady heartbeat is the most precious thing for him.

And he knows he is going to lose it soon.

Half-elves sometimes live longer than two centuries. But with every passing year Tiriel will get weaker and weaker until death will take her.

Astarion will gladly take care of her no matter how old and weak she is, but Tiriel will suffer existing like this. She needs to die in a battle, in a fight.

Like the hero she is.

“Turn around,” she says, pulling away.

“I feel rather fine like this.”

But Tiriel looks at him with such an adorable expression he moves a bit to let her see his scarred back.

Tiriel takes a sponge and starts rubbing his back pressing her lips against his skin.

Astarion hugs his knees allowing Tiriel to wash him. Her gentle fingers run over his shoulders.

“Astarion.”

“Yes, love.”

“Can we talk?”

“Of course, my treasure, your voice is my favorite sound,” he chuckles but feels the tension between them. Oh, he knows what exactly she wants to talk about.

And he has been afraid of this conversation ever since they got together.

“Promise me you won’t step into the sun.”

He takes her hand and presses the digits against his lips.

“it will be difficult not to.”

“Astarion, I am serious!”

“I know, I know. We have a daughter, someone will have to look after her. Though I doubt the High Necromancer of Shantal needs to be taken care of; Alethaine has scared the shit out of all of her potential enemies.”

“She is still our daughter.”

“Of course. Our baby princess,” Astarion smiles, picturing the image of their daughter. “I won’t step into the sun I promise. I will keep… existing.”

Tiriel takes his chin and forces him to look at her.

“Promise me you will keep enjoying this life. When I go, promise, you will do all the things we haven’t had time for. Go to visit Halruaa, or other planes, search for the cure, and claim back your mortality. At least, live as long as elves usually do. I want this, Astarion. You deserve this. Besides… You know, we have an adult daughter. What if she wants children of her own? Imagine being a grandfather!”

“Alethaine has never had any romantic relationship in her life and couldn’t be less interested.”

Tiriel shrugs.

“You know, when she was little, maybe less than seven, she would always tell me that when she grew up she would have a daughter. And she always said it felt like it was set in stone. Considering you elves have prophetic abilities…”

“She doesn’t.”

“Maybe she did when she was little? Anyway…Astarion, keep living. Do this for me. And when you finally become mortal again, remember me.”

Astarion looks at his wife. The emotions overwhelm him and tears flow down his cheek. Remember her? He can't even imagine living like this! Being alone, truly alone, and having her only in his reveries.

It is going to be a torture.

Ever since he became free, Tiriel has been a part of life. Now, 150 years later, it’s impossible to remember those few weeks when Tiriel was just a target, a means to an end, because she became something essential in the blink of an eye.

They sit like that in the water for what Astarion thinks is eternity. Tiriel hugs him from behind, placing her cheek on his shoulder. And he tries to engrave this image in his mind. Her warmth. Her love. Her heartbeat.

She is still alive, he has to remind himself. She is still there. They still have more time to share.

“Astarion,” she murmurs.

“What is it, wild girl?”

“You have been quite an adventure.”

He squeezes her fingers.

“And you have been everything, my love. Come here.”

Now it’s Tiriel’s turn to sit as he washes her back and hair. He tries to be as gentle as possible, savoring every second she is with him. Hells, he is supposed to be grateful that apart from some memory and hearing loss, she is still herself. She is still the same Tiriel he met at the shipwreck.

He doesn't know what he would do if she had developed dementia and forgotten him.

“Tiriel, did Alethaine really tell you she was going to have a daughter in the future?”

“Ughm. Mentioning it from time to time. Not ‘if’ but ‘when’.”

Astarion helps Tiriel to get out of the bath and carries her to the bedroom. The sun shines behind the thick curtains and the half-elf looks at the window.

“Do you mind if I go for a walk?” She asks.

“As long as you are happy,” Astarion kisses her cheek but feels a wave of anxiety. What if she feels sick? What if she falls? What if…

She probably has noticed his change of mood and touches his cheek.

“I changed my mind. I will just sit in the yard, all right? And we will walk after sunset!”

He probably looks relieved because Tiriel laughs.

“You are so adorable when you take care of me. That’s why I love you”.

“Tiriel, I’ve been drinking your blood and crying on your chest disturbing your sleep for decades. This is the least I can do.”

She slaps his shoulder and they both laugh.

Then, she finds a blanket and her facial expression gets confused.

“Sorry… What did I…” She looks at him helplessly.

“You wanted to go outside and lie in the sun,” he gently reminds her.

“Oh… Yes… I did. I just forgot.” Tiriel takes the blanket in her hands.

Tiriel lies on the grass in the most sunny spot.

Astarion takes the chair and puts it close to the open door – enough for him to see the sun and Tiriel.

Maybe he can try to turn her into a vampire? It took him years to realize he was no longer a spawn but a true vampire. And even the weakest of true vampires can create a couple spawns (the rest of their victims stay in the ground even if they are dried out). He can…risk it. Take all her blood. Bury her lifeless body in the grave. Wait.

Wait till he hears movements below.

Then, dig Tiriel out and immediately let her drink his blood, breaking the master spawn bond.

They will live forever. They will stay together in the shadows. He will teach her to hunt, he will…

No.

Astarion is unsure if he can even do it and he won’t do this to his Tiriel. The life of a vampire is hell. It will be painful to become one, she will suffer from never-ending hunger and will never see the sun again. More than that, he will destroy her soul – like Cazador destroyed his.

Tiriel is mortal. She will stay so. He won’t doom her for what he is doomed himself.

The sun is setting and the stars slowly appear in the skies. Once the darkness falls onto the ground Astarion approaches a sleeping Tiriel and makes her sit in his arms. She blinks and then smiles.

“I dreamt that I was young again,” she whispers.

Astarion caresses her wrinkled cheek. “Was I in your dream?”

She nods. “You were mortal and we danced together under the sun. Your eyes were green and my hair was red. And then I realized it wasn’t the material plane. It was Arvandor.”

Astarion frowns. Arvandor is the native plane of elves, the home of Seldarine, and the place elven souls are destined to reach if the clerics and druids are correct. Non-elves can’t go there. And his own soul perished centuries ago, making Corellon’s realm forever out of reach for him.

“It was so real,” Tiriel adds. “What if I meet you again? What if I can go there and you, mortal, join me? And then we will dance together, young and alive again.”

Astarion kisses her forehead. “I hope we will, Tiriel.”

--- Read what happen next in Death, Worthy of a Barbarian ---

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baba-the-fool · 7 months

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I’ve been obsessed a lil with my Tav(Phoebe) and everyone’s favorite vampire

#bg3 #baulders gate 3 #bg3 astarion #astarion #bg3 tav #bg3 phoebe #astarion!tav #astarion x tav #my art #bg3 fanart #cleric #vampire #ilmater #half elf Tav #I didn’t know he was a vampire until he tried to bite her and I realized I could not NOT have them together #the story writes itself

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thechaoticdruid · 6 days

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Hello BG3 elf lovers, what kind of elf is your Tav?

#bg3 #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 tav #tav #elf tav #high elf tav #wood elf tav #drow tav #half elf tav #What are elf is your tav?

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theshotsheardacrossworlds · 2 months

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Hibernation

Set post-game. Halsin starts to feel more tired every day and knows what it means---he will need to hibernate. NSFW.

“Daddy Halsin, are you alright?” One of the tiefling children asked him. He had been showing the children how to take care of the vegetable seeds they had planted in the greenhouse when a jolt of fatigue went through him. Third time this has happened today. Is it that time again? “Daddy Halsin?”

He offered a gentle smile to the child. “Yes, Eustace. I’m well, simply tired.”

One of the other children, a human girl named Poppy, thought for a moment before suggesting, “You should take a nap with Miss Annie, Daddy Halsin. You’re always so happy after being with her!”

He could not help but laugh and ruffled the child’s hair. “You’re very right, Poppy! Miss Annie does make me happy.” He looked at one of the druids, a dragonborn from Baldur’s Gate. “Can you continue their lesson, friend? After, let them wander the square and play to their hearts’ content.”

The druid gave a nod. “Of course. Now children…”

Thankfully Halsin was able to slip away without too much crying, and soon he opened the door to his and Anais’s cottage on the edge of what was Reithwin and now known as Moonrise. He and his beloved agreed to live away from the town center (so I may easily go into the woods whenever I please) but with a kitchen of her design (higher than usual counters and a large hearth) and additions of nature throughout. It was a beautiful home. Certainly not as grand as that manor she grew up in, but thankfully her tastes are much simpler than her mother’s. He smelled something sweet as he entered the cottage. Honey cakes?

“You’re back early!” Anais looked up from her book. She was sitting at the table, her apron covered in flour.

He smiled as he bent to kiss her. She is perfect. She fills my heart with such joy. “I was feeling tired.”

“Again?” Her voice was tinged with worry.

Pulling up his chair next to hers, he sighed. “Yes, but I think I know what it is.” She offered an encouraging nod, and he continued. “Every so often, the bear needs to hibernate. It’s getting to be that time.” He watched as she put a slip of paper inside her book and closed it.

“How long?”

“It can range from a week to three months. It’s never the same, and I won’t know for long I’ve been hibernating until I wake.” She’s going to ask if she can come with me. Oh Annie, please…

As she serious as he had ever seen her, she asked, “Can I come with you?”

He sandwiched one of her hands in his as he shook his head. “No. It’s far too dangerous. Best to stay here and—” Please don’t fight me on this. It’s too dangerous. Far, far too dangerous.

Anais smiled sadly. “Carry on as best I can.”

The two sat in silence for a few moments before he spoke again. “I will write to your mother, Nadia, and Astarion to see if any of them would like to be with you while I’m gone. Or perhaps Gale could make the trip from Waterdeep. Or Shadowheart and her parents?” I would also suggest Wyll and Karlach, but alas, they cannot return from Avernus, and gods know where Lae’zel is.

Her other hand now rested on the top of his. “Oh no, please. I don’t want to be a bother. Besides, I’m not alone when I have Scratch, Horace, and Obie here. And there’s also everyone in town. I’ll be okay.” She reassured him with a kiss on his cheek.

Their foreheads touched as he closed his eyes. I don’t want you to feel alone. I want you to be surrounded by love and care while I hibernate. It will make my sleep much more peaceful. “Since we have coupled, we have not spent one night apart. I worry if my hibernation lasts more than a week or two you will be lonely, my heart.” And it breaks my heart to see you sad.

She wrinkled her nose and gave him a quick peck. “Oh, I’ll be alright. Don’t worry about me.” Impossible, dearest one. “Is there anything else we need to do before you, I assume, go into a cave and sleep?”

Halsin chuckled heartily. “Yes! I’ll start scouting for one tomorrow. There is something else, Annie. I need to put on some weight.”

Anais raised an eyebrow. “How much?”

“Usually between forty to sixty pounds. Though,” he remembered a specific hibernation, soon after the Shadow Curse took hold. “There was one time I barely put on forty pounds, and it was…erm, not a pleasant experience. So please forgive me if I eat us out of house and home for the next several weeks.” Upon hearing her laugh, he shook his head. “You’re taking this remarkably well, my heart.”

She waved a dismissive hand with a grin. “To be honest, when you pass a certain point, some things are just filed under ‘strange but interesting druid things.’ This happens to be one of them.” Giving him a kiss on the cheek, she rose to check the items in the oven. “Ooh, these are all done.” Taking the honey cakes out of the oven, she placed the tray on the stovetop. “Nice and fresh, love, though if you’re going to grab one or two, just wait until they cool a bit.”

Chuckling, he rose and embraced her from behind, his large, calloused hands resting on her apron covered belly. “I was…thinking of something else, my love. As I make ready for hibernation, what if I leave you a piece of me?” We’ve spoken about this before, but why does my heart race so?

“A piece of you, hm? A lock of your hair perhaps?” She cannot be serious. “Or,” Praise Silvanus, she’s teasing. “Something else entirely?”

He huffed a breath as he tugged on her earlobe. “Does ‘something else entirely’ cover me filling you to the brim with my seed until it takes, blessing us with a child?”

A small gasp escaped her, her hands now covering his. Attempting to cover mine. Hers are smaller…and so very lovely. “What a coincidence it does! When shall we begin, Halsin love?”

He gave her a quick squeeze before releasing her and taking a honey cake. “Right after I have a few of these, my heart.”

They spent the rest of the day in bed---laughing, making love, and Halsin leaving the bed every so often for more honey cakes. How blessed am I to love a woman who is brave, brilliant, beautiful, and an excellent baker. Annie is truly one of a kind.

***

Halsin was in heaven.

Or what was as close as he would get to it.

In wildshape, he was on his back in a small clearing outside Moonrise, his belly full of fruit, milk, and honey as Anais scratched behind a soft ear. She had been reading a book her mother sent (“More bawdy romance, love” she said) after a morning filled with music lessons for the children. She has taken on the role of teacher so well. The way she lights up when they learn something new is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.

“I still have some more strawberries if you’re still hungry, my handsome bear.” she said sweetly. Annie always casts Speak to Animals or drinks a Potion of Animal Speaking before I go into wildshape. The sweetest and most thoughtful woman alive… “There’s still plenty of honey too.”

He huffed. “In a short while, my heart. Need things to settle first.”

She nodded, her nose wrinkling. “Alright, love.” Placing her bookmark where she left off, she closed the book and put it down. She then shifted so she was sitting closer to the bear’s middle. “Belly rub?”

Silvanus preserve me. “If…if that is something you wish to do, sweet one, then by all means.”

Anais slowly rubbed circles on his fur-covered belly, humming her favorite waltz. To Halsin, he had never seen a more beautiful sight. The way the sun is hitting her skin, it appears as if she’s glowing with radiance. Oak Father, thank you for sending her to me. Upon hearing him moan, she chuckled. “That good, huh?”

“You’ve no idea…feels so good, my heart…”

She puckered her lips a little and winked at him. Another way of giving each other kisses while I’m in wildshape. “Good. And don’t worry, my beautiful bear---I love doing things for you, big or small.” How true that is, especially anything with the children. She adores every child and acts as a mother to all. “Oh, and before I forget---the care package from Mum should be arriving tomorrow or the day after. I told her to put in lots of snacks with honey in them for you.”

Halsin groaned loudly as she continued her ministrations. “So thoughtful, lover. You’re so good…” As I hope I am to you. Perhaps I should show her how much I adore her. A golden glow surrounded him as he wildshaped back into an elf. “Come here to me…”

Smiling softly, she shifted to lay down next to him, curling into his more substantial side. Not that she minds. I could be a worm, and she would love me. Blessings be upon you, Oak Father. Thank you for her. “Always coming to you. For you. On you.” She snorted, beginning to laugh. “With you.” They laughed for a few minutes with Halsin tickling her upper arm.

He pressed several kisses to her red hair and murmured, “Come with me before you start supper. Come with me after. Come with me once more after dessert…and more…” Seeing the knowing grin tugging on her lips, he held onto her wide hips as she straddled him. And mindful of how full I am. I am blessed. “More…” She will know how much I desire her.

She rocked a little on the ever-growing bulge in his trousers and chuckled. “And you accuse me of being greedy? You’ve been wanting me more than usual, lover. I’m not complaining, mind you.” Her hands traveled down her sides and rested on top of his. “Is this how it usually is for you when preparing for hibernation?”

He furrowed his brow. “Hmm, the fire burns a little hotter some years but never like this.”

Anais thought for a moment. “Maybe because the burdens you once carried---the battle at Moonrise, the Shadow Curse, Thaniel, the responsibilities of the grove---are no longer present? You said yourself your heart feels lighter than it has in centuries.”

“Very true. It could be that. It could be something else entirely. However,” he squeezed her hips and stared at her with his most loving gaze. “I will choose to believe it is because of you.” After all, it is because of you that light shines here once more. Nature thrives here because of you. My heart is full of joy every day because of you.

Her cheeks flushed pink. Nature blessed her in so many beautiful ways. “You are quite possibly the sweetest man to ever exist,” she smiled brighter than a million suns. “And I adore you.” Untying the laces on his breeches (which are far too tight in more ways than one), she freed his aching member, earning her a groan. “Time to come with me, love.” Hiking up her dress a little, she slowly sank down his massive length and not being silent about it as is her way. Finally, be loud, my heart! “Decided against panties today…had a feeling we’d be…” Yes. Good. Very good, my love. “Gods, I’ve no idea how I get you inside me every time…you’re so bloody huge…”

“Ah, and yet, you take me so well!” He let her adjust to him for a few moments until he was fully hilted inside her. Oak Father take me. She is your most lovely creation. Thrusting slowly, Halsin bit back a moan as she rolled her soft hips. “Annie…my love…”

She clenched around him and squeezed her brown eyes shut. “W-what do you desire?”

“To stay like this…and…” He licked his lips. “The honey.”

With ease, Anais summoned a pair of mage hands that opened the jar of honey and brought it back to her and Halsin. “How should we do this?” She clenched around him and moaned softly. “Eat honey off my hand? Pour?”

“Pour…please, my heart…” He panted, his cock twitching inside her. Oak Father, fill me with your bounty, and let me fill her with my seed. “Please, I beg of you…”

Her cheeks turned redder as she smiled sweetly, tipping the jar towards his lips. “No need to beg, my handsome bear.” She cooed. “I can’t possibly tease the one who owns my heart, can I? Not when he’s been so incredibly good to me lately.” Her smile grew brighter as he swallowed the honey. How am I so blessed? It is the highest honor to hold your heart, dearest one. “That’s it, Halsin love. Jar’s almost empty, and then,” she winked. “Want to me to bounce on your cock for a bit?”

Gulping down the rest of the honey, his calloused hands squeezed her soft hips and thrusted upwards making her to moan. More. I must have more. My blood is on fire. All I want is her. All I need is her. Her. Annie. My heart. My everything.

His everything then tossed the empty jar aside as Halsin swallowed, rolling her hips slowly. “Fucking hells, you’re so bloody much, love…” She reached for his hands, grasping them in hers. “Gods…Halsin, fill me…please…”

“As if…I can ever…deny you…” He huffed, thrusting with as much frequency as he could. He could feel his own end coming quickly but hoped as always that she comes first. It is only right that my sweetest Annie experience pleasure before me. Giving one of her hands a squeeze, he let go. The hand dove under her dress to find the spot where they were joined and began to rub furiously. He reveled in her reaction---completely, openly, happily debauched. That I am the cause of her pleasure brings me so much joy…more so knowing that she feels the same for me. “And if this doesn’t take…I shall fill you again, my love.” So close. Oak Father, hear me---let me bring her bliss always. Let this be the seed that creates life.

“HALSIN!” Anais screamed as her orgasm ripped through her.

Moments later, he reached his own peak, hazel eyes glowing gold. Several grunts escaped him as he once again gripped both her hands. “Annie…” Halsin sighed, feeling not only impossibly full but entirely spent.

She rolled off him and onto her back, staring at the sky. “Yes?”

“Perhaps we may nap here a while before returning home?” He waited for her to respond before noticing she immediately fell asleep. Chuckling, he laid on his side and brushed a few strands of red hair out of her perfect face. “Rest now, sweet one, for there will be more later.”

***

Today is the day. Halsin heaved a sigh as his feet hit the bedroom floor. Today I will leave to hibernate. Today I leave Annie for who knows how long. Annie, my love… As tears began to form in his eyes, he remembered something she said the previous night that made his heart feel lighter.

“Think of it this way---you’re taking a lot of me with you.” Anais wrinkled her nose, giggled, and kissed his cheek. “About sixty pounds worth, I’d say. I’m keeping you snuggly warm until you wake and return to me.”

He was not ashamed to admit that he began to cry after hearing her say that and held her in his arms for some time, refusing to let her go. Not that she minds. She once said if she could spend eternity in my arms she would. The feeling is certainly mutual, my heart.

“I packed a few more herbs to make healing potions in your bag. And some freshly baked cinnamon rolls!” Anais said as she leaned in the doorway of their bedroom. While she was smiling, it did not reach her brown eyes. “I keep trying to think if there’s anything else you need—”

Halsin held up a hand. “You’ve done enough, my love. I am more than prepared for hibernation.” Standing, he grabbed the only pair of trousers that still fit and put them on. “All thanks to you of course.” He smiled warmly at her as he tied them. Loosely. They’ll be off as soon as I reach the cave. Then wildshape. Then sleep. And hopefully dream of her. “Your mother is still arriving tomorrow?”

“Yes. I think she might be staying longer than originally planned. Now that she knows the Ironworks can indeed function without her, she wants to see just how long it can function without her.” She giggled and walked to Halsin, giving him an adoring look over. “Gods, you’re gorgeous. Do you know that, love?”

He enveloped her in his arms and pressed a kiss to her head. “I am nothing when compared to your beauty. Nature truly outdid itself when it created you.”

She rested her head under his chin and grinned. “Flatterer.”

“It’s not flattery when it’s true, my heart.”

Normally she would banter with him further. Instead, she hummed softly and ran her hands over his back and sides. “I’m going to miss you.” She whispered after a few minutes.

Annie, please. I do not wish to cry. I want to leave you with a smile, not with any more tears. “As I will miss you, sweet one. Oak Father willing, I will return to you much sooner than we think.” He cupped her face and kissed her forehead gently. OH! “Remember that Eustace loves—”

“The lavender soap at bathtime. I know. They’ll be alright.”

He had said goodbye to the children the previous night, and while it was not easy for anyone (there were many tears shed and hugs given), he knew they were in the best hands. “Forgive me, I—”

She silenced him with a short kiss and a knowing smile. “We’ll be alright. Now,” she stepped back and sighed, hands on her hips. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

He laughed and hugged her one more time. “I love you, Annie.”

More than you will ever know.

#anais wildheart #annie x halsin #halsin silverbough #halsin #halsin bg3 #bg3 halsin #cw breeding #half elf tav #sorcerer tav #plus size tav #annie is totally unphased by any druid thing now lol #oh you need to hibernate love that is totally fine let me make sure you're ready #domestic fluff #chubby halsin

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y-rhywbeth2 · 6 months

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Elf Lore Dump - 1/???

I had to cut a lot of detail. Wouldn't have to do that with any of the other demihumans; they'd just fill a single fucking post. I could be talking about dwarven druids and their giant bees, or bitching about how much better Tieflings used to be, but nooo elves are fuckin' special!

Elves in brief are fey spirits in mortal flesh, spiritually connected to each other, the world and their gods. Often aloof, considered creatures of ethereal grace... They would also very much appreciate it if you never mentioned their long history of fuckups including several world wars, multiple war crimes and genocides - successful or attempted.

I just shoved a load of elven lore together in an attempt at an overview, occasionally hypothesising when gaps appeared in my knowledge; here's hoping it made sense!

Overview; Spirituality stuff/Afterlife; History rundown; The different types of elf

As always: "D&D is old as balls, there's a lot of stories and information out there that may conflict with what you hear from me because D&D is an old trainwreck pileup of lore that keeps contradicting and tripping over itself and there's stuff I might not be aware of." I personally am mostly taking the angle here that older, detailed Realmslore will take precedence over generic 5e lore.

The elven word for their own race is Tel'Quessir - translated as "The People", or "Of The People". This is due to the aforementioned spiritual link: elves are spiritually linked to each other, which gives them a low-level telepathic link…

"Elves seem to have some sort of mental link between them […] linked with [a] mysterious gland in their brains. It cloaks their brains from [enchantment magic] but it can also emit energy to allow another elf to project his mind into another's and then the two share thoughts on some level. The closeness of elven communities comes from this habitual sharing of minds, and the elves do not understand other races without this ability, for they cannot conceive of being totally alone in one's own head. Apparently, elves look forward to sharing their thoughts with others and do it directly or in "reverie."" - Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves

"[Elves] mystically acquire [skills they don't have] by drawing them from shared elven memory..." - Mordenkainen's Monsters of the Multiverse

Reverie is the world for the elven trance in the Realms. During reverie the elf falls into a trance like state where they lie down (or recline on a chair or something) and go incredibly still, their eyes open. This can often cause panic amongst non-elves not experienced with elves, to whom they appear to have just died.

In reverie an elf relieves the past events of their life. This is how elves avoid forgetting past events of their lives, despite living for 700+ years.

Pregnant elves eventually fall into a semi-reverie as they commune with the developing infant. The child "learns" of their family, home and is born knowing them and starts off already knowing some basic knowledge of the elven language.

Non-elves are N'Tel'Quessir or N'Quess - "Not of the People." They are not part of this link and not part of the whole that is The People.

I don't think it's ever been specified whether the mind linking applies to half-elves. Half-elves may chose to either reverie as an elf or sleep as a human and possess the elven resistance to enchantment magic, implying that gland exists to some degree. They might be capable of some degree of this connection, at least, but possibly not the full version. Half-elves are sometimes insultingly referred to their more racist cousins as A'Tel'Quessir - "Almost of the People"

Dark elves theoretically should be able to do this, but 99% of them wouldn't, due to Lolthite cult brainwashing.

Considering that vampires are immune to enchantment and psionics due to being corpses with no brain activity, presumably that gland is dead and an elf who becomes a vampire cannot access this communion. They do appear to be capable reverie in some depictions, however - though they probably can't share it. (Even if they can, I highly doubt elves are going to trust a spiritually defiled undead monster that's also an abomination in the eyes of one of the major deities in the elven pantheon.)

Elves are inherently connected to magic and the Weave. This is apparently what gives them their extremely long lifespans and what is behind their cultural adoration of magic.

Random things about elven culture include that they have champagne and they've invented the prog rock genre, according to Ed Greenwood, who created the setting.

Elves live 700+ years and physically and psychologically mature at the same rate as humans. While they are still in their first century of life, and within a human lifespan, they tend to experience the world much the same as a human of equivalent age rather than an ancient fey being to whom next century is the equivalent of next year. Elves in this stage of development usually go through a cultural rebellion stage. They ignore their own communities in favour of humans, if possible; involve themselves in human "fads"; and have flings and relationships with non-elves. Young elves sometimes dabble with evil alignments, something older elves generally consider a phase that they'll grow out of and look back on with embarrassment when they're old enough to know better.

Elves are not considered fully mature adults by their own people's standards until they're into their second century of life. Age 20-120 is basically like being 18 to early 20-something for a century from the elven perspective. Fully mature elves are slow to respond to events (major human events pass in the blink of an eye to elves) and have a rather laissez-faire attitude to the world. That might explain why elven culture values personal freedom and individuality.

--- Afterlife: Elves are kind of fey spirits in mortal flesh - which was backed up in 2e, when the fact that they have spirits and don't have souls meant that resurrecting them could be annoying and expensive sometimes, because Raise Dead wouldn't work on them, only Resurrection and True Resurrection.

According to Ed, the elven spirit is inherently tied to the plane of Arvandor. While they can dedicate themselves to non-elven gods, outside of exceptional cases those elves will still be going to Arvandor when they die.

Dying, in elven terms, is called "Passing West." In their reverie they begin to receive signs from Sehanine Moonbow, elven goddess of dreams and death, who prepares them for the end of this life. A ring of colour like the titular moonbow forms in their iris, marking to other elves that they're in their final days. Then they travel to elven lands where they die amongst their people or pass directly to Arvandor, I'm not sure. Elves that die of unnatural causes are given funerals according to their cultural norms (usually either in tombs or private burials.) It is believed by the very religious that in Arvandor elves will join in a reverie-like communion with the gods - the Seldarine (Tel'Seldarine; "the siblings of the wood") Reincarnation is a part of elven religion, it's believed that Sehanine works with Corellon on preparing elven spirits in Arvandor for the transition to their next life when/if the time comes. In exceptional cases they can also petition the gods to be reincarnated as nymphs, dryads and treants (ents, basically). Or be turned into guardian spirits who will manifest to defend their homes in times of war. There's also a special type of lich (a baelnorn) that can be formed if there's a dire need for it, very begrudgingly tolerated by Sehanine despite her dislike of the undead.

Drow rarely die of old age, and most being Lolthite their souls go to her and I believe she transforms their souls into one of the millions of soul spiders that accompany her (sometimes she makes them into other things, sometimes she eats them) Eilistraeean drow have a similar ending to surface elves, where Eilistraee will call to them at the end of their lives and take them with her to the afterlife (Eilistraee's realm in Arvandor) Most of the Seldarine (with one or two exceptions) actually have no issue accepting dark elven worshippers, so I assume this particular minority of dark elves is also guided to Arvandor by Sehanine. Otherwise they take the half-elven route:

Half-elves have souls like humans, and are not tied to Arvandor in the same way. Worshippers of the Seldarine will be collected by them at the Fugue plane as an elf, and those that worship human gods will be collected by one of them.

A brief, clumsy overview of elven history: Elven myths about their origin vary. All claim Corellon Larethian as the creator of their people. The most popular story states they're descended from their chief deity, Corellon Larethian and his/her future-consort Sehanine (and by all accounts, they appear to be correct). The first elves were born from Corellon's shed blood mingled with Sehanine's tears, shed when s/he was wounded fighting the orc god Gruumsh back at the dawn of time.

Of course before Sehanine was consort, Corellon was involved with Araushnee the elven godess of fate. This led to an epic divorce when she allied with Gruumsh and Corellon's other enemies in an attempt to overthrow him and once the dust cleared (following several attempted coups) he turned her into a demon and exiled her to the Abyss (the lower plane of Chaotic Evil), where she renamed herself Lolth and decided that spiders were actually really cool and she was going to start a cult and society based on spiders - a conclusion she almost certainly didn't reach because because spiders eat their mates and she's bitter about her ex, imo. Also, Lolth's banishment would surely not come back to bite everybody on the ass At All.

Elves first leave the Feywild for Toril in -27,000 DR - the Dawn Age, when Dragons rule the world. The Torilian Fey open a portal connecting Abeir-Toril to the Feywild, bringing the dark elves through to come disrupt the dragons. A tribe named the Ilythiiri establish a kingdom in the South of Faerun [Ilythiir] that will be a beacon of elven culture for millennia. Other waves of immigration follow at different times. Elves eventually defeat the dragons at war; elven nations dominate the planet. Five world wars ensue, involving the numerous war crimes nobody wants to talk about because it makes all of them look bad, and ending in the dark elves getting exiled. Humanity rises to power, moving faster than elves can currently comprehend, driving elves out in their expansionism. Most of the elves' bad history with humans involves the Netherese. Various methods are used to try and stop this ranging on a scale from friendship and cultural outreach to founding genocidal terrorist groups because humans are less than animals and must all be exterminated. Elves decide to make Only-Elves-Allowed-Island by dragging a piece of Arvandor into Toril. The Seldarine say; no, please just make friends with the non-elves. The Elves ignore this and end up blowing up a continent, causing mass death. The result is Evermeet (only reachable with permission, and guarded by the avatars of the Seldarine). The elves plan to totally abandon Faerûn and live there alone with no N'Quess. In 1344 DR there's a magical summons that calls all elves to either Evermeet of the elven city of Evereska. It is followed by pretty much everybody except some moon elves and all the copper elves. Everybody except the elves think this disappearance is really sudden, but the elves have been planning this for centuries, actually.

4e had the Spellplague cause the Feywild to realign with Toril, as it did when the elves first moved over. This caused Evermeet to vanish into the Feywild somewhere and allowed "high elves" to step between worlds with ease and then the elves started rebuilding their lost homelands in the Feywild (on the locations where they used to be, but not in the "human" world). I have no idea whether any of that is still canon.

---

A somewhat tongue-in-cheek, overly simplistic guide to elves:

Half-elves - Cha'Tel'Quessir - are the offspring of humans and elves or two half-elves. Very, very rarely they occur in a human lineage that has an elven ancestor a few centuries back in the family tree. Half-elves sport a mixture of human and elven features, sometimes fully passing as one or the other. They generally follow the culture norms of whatever society they were born in, either human or elven. The only places that half-elves make up a significant enough numbers where they can make a significant society are in the Yuirwood in Aglarond of Easter Faerun, and (formerly, I think) the Loviataran half-drow of Dambarath. They live between 100-200 years.

It'd be best to give them their own post, honestly.

The child of a half-elf and a human is, mechanically, a human. The child of a half-elf and an elf is, mechanically, an elf. But these children may inherit traits from their heritage (so a human with pointy ears or a moon elf with brown eyes and skin, for example).

When elves mix (for example, a green elf and a silver elf) the result is a child that, again, mechanically speaking, is the same "subrace" as one of their two parents. They still inherit genes from the other parent. Dark elven genes are almost always dominant, and an elf with one dark elf parent will be a dark elf themselves nine times out of ten.

WOOD ELVES: Copper elf | Sylvan elf | Wood elf | Or'Tel'Quessir - Chill, patient, friendly. The only elven group that's native to Toril, the result of a mixture of the other elven ethnicities after the five world wars (Crown Wars) becoming populous and focused enough to become their own independent culture. As a weird side effect they actually like the world and the non-elven people in it and don't want to lock themselves away from it. They like living in nature in quiet little villages and towns in the wilderness, and are the only elves that don't like arcane magic - locking yourself away studying magic and never seeing the world or other people is unhealthy for you. Druidry is way better. Most half-elves of "wood elven" variety have copper elven ancestry. - Skin is coppery brown, occasionally with a green tinge; eyes are brown, hazel, green; hair is usually brown or black, but occasionally blonde and copper-red turns up.

Green elf | Wild elf (slur) | Sy'Tel'Quessir - Closely related to the dark elves, who they branched off from. Watched as through five world wars one of their dark elven cousins' nations (which they also lived in) was genocided off the map by gold elves for resisting colonisation; and the other dark elven nation started getting involved with Lolth and demons and war crimes; and by the end of it all the other elves had annihilated every single green elven civilisation. They came to the conclusion that permanency and city building is bullshit and they're going to vanish into the wilds, embrace a nomadic lifestyle in touch with the earth and everybody else in the world can fuck off. Bye, don't call (or we'll stab you). They like nature, prefer sorcery to wizardry and have an animistic approach to religion. Often have to deal with other elves either trying to "civilise" them or else going for the "noble savage" angle and appropriating their culture. Very nice bead work. - Dark brown skin; hair is brown or black with the rare blonde; eyes brown, green, hazel with the rare blue.

HIGH ELVES: Silver elf | Moon elf | Grey elf (slur) | Teu'Tel'Quessir - "Flighty, chaotic and irreverent." The party elves who enjoy fun, adventure, hedonism and gambling. Revelry is an important part of their culture. Basically the only type of elf you'll ever meet because the copper elves stay in the forests and the other elves, on average, would rather kill themselves than live with non-elves. Responsible for the vast majority of half-elves in existence. Curiously they make up more than 50% of the demographic of the church of the elven god of moonlight, mystery, dreams, death, and hating the undead. - Silver elven genes include white/silver or black hair; Pale skin, often tinged with blue; Blue, green or grey eyes.

Gold elf | Sun elf | Ar'Tel'Quessir - No actual affinity for the sun, just a reference to their golden colouration. "Dour and serious." "Methodical, careful." Conservative religious types who are raised to believe that they are the purest example of elvendom and that Corellon appointed them defenders of elvendom against the hoards of humans who have driven the elves off their lands and despoil the natural world in their inherent greed and short-sightedness. Would respond to the idea of leaving elven lands much like His Majesty responding to the idea of joining your camp: "I'd rather die." - Gold, bronze, amber skin. Bright golden blonde hair, copper or black. Gold, black, silver and rarely; bright copper or golden-hazel eyes.

Star elf | Mithral elf | Ruar'Tel'Quessir - Human expansion led to the humans trying to conquer them (they lost), so they created an entire plane of existence (Sildëyuir) and all moved there in -699 DR. Recently forced to move back sometime between 1300-1400 DR due to strange monsters invading. They're not very religious, have a strong bardic tradition and wear these weird glowing gems on their foreheads for some reason, they don't know shit about the modern world and they're terrified of non-elves. - Pale skin, like moon elves but with a violet tinge; Gold, red or silver hair; Grey or violet eyes.

Basic overview of the fallout with the dark elves and everyone else: An empire of gold elves (Aryvandaar) decides they're going to conquer the world and starts by colonising the nearby dark elven empire of Miyeritar. Down south, Ilyithiir responds with hostility. Miyeritar resists, Aryvandaar responds with genocide and wipes them off the map with magic that leaves the entire Miyeritaran region permanently wrecked (even into the modern day) and wipes out the worshipers and power base of Eilistraee, leaving no barriers to prevent Lolth from taking over the dark elves as their only god (In the future surface elves will point blank refuse to ever discuss this event). Ilyithiir responds by going apeshit and starts committing imperialistic war crimes claiming to be avenging their Northern kin. The Ilythiiri were also ruled by demon worshipping imperialists who'd fallen under sway of Lolth and the surface elves insist that avenging Miyeritar was just an excuse.

The surface elves say that the dark elves are N'Quess and start calling them dhaerow, which means traitor. The dark elves say that the surface elves are N'Quess and start calling them darthiir, which means traitor.

Lolth dominates 99% of dark elven society with her cult, and basically their entire society is a cycle of abuse married to their bitter divorcee goddess' spider fetish. Yay, toxic matriarchy; Those with power can do whatever they want to those who have less, so you should do everything to make sure you're the one with the power; Love is a lie, kill your mate when you're done with him; If your children aren't trying to kill you, you've failed as a parent; You only have worth because of what worth Mother Lolth gives you. You only live because of Her. etc.

There are also the merchant clans who live outside of city. They're a little more egalitarian, because dealing with outsiders is demeaning, so it's a man's job. They favour plutocratic governance (they're ruled by an inner council formed by the most wealthy members, often male wizards). They're the most "friendly" to outsiders and basically the trade they bring is the only thing that stops the noble house run cities from collapsing.

Minorities include the Eilistraeeans; Eilistraee voluntarily went into exile so that somebody would be there to encourage the dark elves to put down the knives, get away from Lolth, move out of the Underdark and go to fucking therapy.

Her twin brother, Vhaeraun, also encourages the dark elves to put down the knives, get away from Lolth, move out of the Underdark and go to fucking therapy - stab other people instead of each other! This is totally unproductive villainy! You're better than this! How are the drow supposed to conquer the world and rule over the lesser beings if we're still in this glorified cave after a millennia?? - Noticable sexual dimorphism, females are larger and more robust than males. Very dark skin. Hair is usually pale with black being an extremely rare recessive gene (white, platinum blonde, pale copper). Eyes are also typically in pale colours, with red being common because Lolth decided to have the Ilythiiri nobles breed with a demon lord and that got into the gene pool. Other eye colours: white-grey, lavender, pink, amber, black, green is sometimes seen but it's thought to be a sign of surface-elven ancestry.

OTHER: Avariel | Winged Elves | Aril'Tel'Quessir - Flying elves with bird wings who live on mountaintops. Almost extinct. Sea elves | Aquatic Elves | Alu'Tel'Quessir - Elves with gills and webbed hands and feet that live under the sea. Blue with green stripes or green with brown stripes, depending on what sea they're from. Lythari | Ly'Tel'Quessir - An exclusive elf club where you join by getting infected with elf lycanthropy and then you turn into a silver wolf. They're sterile, so they can only make more lythari through recruiting.

#elf tav #half elf tav #drow tav #dark elf tav #astarion #astarion ancunin #halsin #minthara #long post

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kiruvry · 5 months

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uhhrmm woahh double post uhrrmm OKAY im sorry guys i love being insane here's my fuckign. half elf paladin w zevlor bc i love imagining things that ARENT POSSIBLE that old man needs a big hug and a kiss i think. Something something old man yaoi

#bg3 #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 tav #half elf tav #paladin tav #zevlor bg3 #tav x zevlor #kiruvry ocs #fedir hallowsong: bg3

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tieflingsfingers · 2 months

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Astarion: “Orar, descenthallon, tham salen irinal irador. Saren rivvim–” Rough, rough translation probably: "To erode, to descend, to be close to my forsaken ruby. Our lust--"

For man that hates art, he gets a little poetic when his mind is fuzzy.

Spent last night avoiding doing job art and threw a screenshot into procreate for an upcoming fic banner. Mostly quick over-painting and tried to get the lighting of a cave with slight moonlight coming in. Honestly don't hate it, but yeah. Posting conflict resolution to my re-write of the mirror scene soon.

#bg3 #bg3 tav #bg3 oc #half drow #bg3 astarion #astarion x oc #astarion x tav #bg3 fic #astarion art #bg3 screenshot #half elf tav #astarion bg3

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darkwolf76 · 3 months

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Wyll Ravengard & Seraphina Calmfell (Tav)

#seraphina #bg3 #baldurs gate 3 #wyll ravengard #wyll x tav #bg3 wyll #druid tav #half elf tav #tav #bg3 tav

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memray · 3 months

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Doodles of my main tav Virvan

+ my first tav Ajax who’s his cousin through their human fathers

#they’re both trans btw #bg3 #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 tav #baldurs gate 3 tav #tav #half drow tav #half elf tav #trans tav #virvan #ajax helden #i’m putting their surname in his tag because his name is literally ajax

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etheartist · 2 months

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Tav'eris and Durge in the Shadowlands, one is starting to hear the shadows speak, the other hears voices in general.

This is late night, low effort work, but I've gotten my interest in bg3 back but gotta wait for an update. So here's the two in meme posing while i wait.

#baldurs gate 3 #meme #bg3 dark urge #bg3 tav #bg3 fanart #the dark urge #tav #2d artwork #dnd #dragonborn #monk tav #half elf tav #bg3 act 2 #baldurs gate #baldurs gate fanart #bg3 durge

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honeybard · 3 months

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Okay okay I have a few ideas, feel free to do one or a few or all or none!

One of your ocs interacting with a character from bg3, or perhaps one of your dnd podcasts (I think the gotg characters especially would be a fun clash with the high-er fantasy settings). Or maybe a clothes-swap or something like that

One of your first blorbos interacting with your latest blorbo

Your ocs or blorbos re-enacting some kind of famous historical art piece (like The Last Supper or something)

Uh. Something space related

Okay that's less ideas than I thought I had >:\ oops

(Tavs count as OCs right?) Their name is Briar, they're my begrudgingly nice rogue (heavily influenced by a certain wizard) and regrettably since BG3 will only let you pick 1 companion to romance this is the only way I can live out my Karlach/Tav/Gale dreams

#i know this is probably not exactly what you meant but i wanted to do something soft for gale #tysm for all of the suggestions! i may come back to some of them at a later date :3 #bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 tav #gale of waterdeep #gale dekarios #karlach #karlach cliffgate #gale x tav #karlach x tav #half elf tav #rogue tav #my art #id in alt text #art requests #gale-in-space #oc tag #my ocs

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spacebarbarianweird · 3 months

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Hello Darling

Summary: Tiriel desperately searches for Astarion as he loses his immunity to sunlight.

Pairing: Astarion x OC (Tiriel)

Tags: fluff, hurt/comfort, post-game, named Tav, established relationship, f!tav, patch 6 update

Thanks @themadlu for beta-reading!

Read on AO3

Masterlist

Headcanons

The burn left from the fight and dulled by the tadpole pierces Tiriel’s stomach and she falls to her knees, paralyzed by the pain.

It's over.

The tadpole is gone. She is free. She will never become a mind flayer, she will never have to face that blasted dream visitor.

Then, she hears the scream. It's a cry of pain, of despair, familiar and shocking.

Astarion is burning in the sunlight.

His beautiful face is gray like ash, his eyes white as if he were blind. Astarion reaches out his hand for Tiriel as if she could save him from this peril. She has saved him so many times, she can do it again!

But her own pain pierces her body. Tiriel presses her arms to her stomach. She is going to die, she thinks. They both are.

"Astarion, hide!" someone cries out, and Tiriel loses consciousness.

The blissful darkness takes her.

No nightmares, no horrors, no dream visitors. Nothing. Just beautiful nothingness.

She wakes up in a dimly lit room. Her head hurts as if her skull had been crushed by a hammer. She is half naked, her belly heavily bandaged. The throat is sore and her legs are numb.

Tiriel is so exhausted she could sleep for a few weeks.

Four months of non stop traveling. Of fear, anxiety, and never ending stress. Tiriel had never had to make so many decisions in her life. Excusing orders, negotiating, and planning. She is just a lonely traveler, for fuck sake, not a warlady!

And now she can just rest.

The memories slowly crawl into her head and she remembers Astarion’s desperate cry.

A wave of panic crushes her.

Where is he?!

Tiriel’s only known him for four months, but she is sure they were meant to meet each other. She had never loved anyone before him. His cold body, his pale skin, his sharp mind, his… radiant hope.

What if he died?

Tiriel makes herself sit up. The idea that her love turned into ashes horrifies her. He was in such pain, he was so afraid. What if he is gone?

Life is truly unfair, isn’t it?

It couldn’t end well. No happily “ever after” for the undead.

Tiriel makes an effort to calm herself down. There are many places to hide. Basements, houses, debris… The whole city is in ruins, he has enough shadow to hide in…

The other realization makes her sick.

Sunlight isn’t his only enemy anymore. He also can’t go inside without an invitation.

He could have burned down in front of the open door to the darkest room in Baldur’s Gate because no one invited him in!

Still dizzy, Tiriel puts on her camp clothes (no need to attract unnecessary attention with her shiny Drow armor) and rushes outside the inn.

The city has been truly destroyed by the Netherbrain, and whatever future lies ahead Baldur’s Gate will never be the same.

Tiriel wanders the street for hours—she visits the graveyard, the ruins of the vampire lord’s mansion, dozens of places but Astarion is nowhere to be seen.

He’s known the city for centuries. Tiriel, whose first impression of the city was ruined by the mind flayers, stands no chance of finding the vampire.

By the end of the night, she feels like a lost child. Tiriel hasn’t felt so miserable since the day she woke up in the mountains all alone and cold. She was fifteen, and her rage blurred her mind making her run away from an abusive household. She wanted to go back, to the warmth of the house, to sit by the fireplace even if her stepfather would have beaten her again. To just be somewhere she belongs, not in the middle of nowhere with no weapons or armor.

The sun is slowly rising above the sea and the skies slowly turn blue. Tiriel sniffs. She's gotten too used to NOT being alone, a very unfamiliar concept to be honest.

Well, if Astarion isn’t back, if she fails to find him, she will have to go. This city makes her sick, it’s too big, too dirty, too crowded. She will walk the roads of Faerun just like she has ever since she was fifteen. The memories will fade and she will probably question why she fell for Astarion in the first place. He is a difficult person, traumatized, angry, his bruises and wounds are invisible to anyone, and the facade of lies is inseparable from his personality.

Tiriel’s heart sinks at the very thought she might not ever see him again.

A tear flows down her cheek and she immediately wipes it away. She is a warrior. A barbarian. No one must see her cry or in pain. Women like her are alive as long as people perceive them as emotionless marble statues. Weakness turns people like her into victims.

But it felt so nice to be weak in Astarion’s arms. To let him tend her wounds, to cry in his arms… He would never admit it, but she knew he loved protecting her.

The night search exhausts Tiriel and she returns to her room in the inn. The warrior locks the door — she doesn’t want to deal with intruders —and falls on the bed, pressing her face against the pillow.

Astarion is gone. If he is alive, she will never find him. If he is dead, she will never bury him. In any case, Tiriel the Barbarian is on her own again.

She makes herself a promise not to fall for anyone ever again.

When she wakes up hours later, her head doesn’t ache anymore and her whole body feels rested.

“Hello darling”

She startles at the familiar voice.

Astarion lies beside her, with the palm of his hand under his cheek. His eyes are soft and tender and he has the stupidest smile shining on his face.

“You…” she gasps. “You are back!”

“Of course I am”, Astarion leans to her and kisses her forehead, and then rests his head on the pillow. “You are so adorable when you sleep.”

“I thought you died,” she whispers. “Where were you?”

Astarion touches her cheek. “I was hiding.”

“But you could have returned to the inn once the night fell! I was looking for you!”

His face darkens. “It’s because of hunger. It…blurred my mind. The sun damaged me and once I got to the shadow I was starving and just forgot everything. Who I was, who you were. I fed on… something… I don’t remember what and my mind returned to me. And I was so embarrassed by what I truly am and was afraid to come back”

“But you did.”

“I did.”

They lay in silence contemplating each other’s faces. Tiriel's heart melts at how adorable he looks. He doesn’t pretend, doesn't play, doesn’t act. That’s him, that’s the real him. Hidden and concealed for two hundred years.

“How did you get inside?” she asks. “This isn’t the room we lived in. I thought you needed an invitation?”

Astarion shrugs. “I do need to be invited if I don't want to bump into an invisible wall I can’t go through. When I picked the lock I was sure I would just stand there unable to enter. But apparently… I was invited anyway.”

Tiriel nuzzles his collarbone and wraps her arms around him.

“Tiriel?”

“Hm?”

“You aren’t going to… break up with me, right?”

His voice sounds so helpless and vulnerable that it makes Tiriel hug him tighter.

“Of course not.”

He cups her cheeks and kisses her. Tiriel leans to him pressing their bodies against each other.

Then Astarion starts talking.

He speaks about freedom, the future, the places they may visit, and things they can do.

“Tiriel”

“What is it, my love?”

“I need to… rest. Can you stay by my side until I wake up?”

Tiriel kisses the tip of his nose. “Sure. I will be right there.”

Astarion buries his nose in her chest, and Tiriel lulls him to his trance.

As she promised, she doesn’t go anywhere. Time to time she moves a bit not to let her limbs stiff.

Then, she notices Astarion slowly waking up. His eyelids are half-open, his mouth cracks a smile. Tiriel draws an invisible line along his nose.

“Hello, darling,” she whispers to him.

Tag list

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quachacho · 9 months

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I'm obsessed with this Druid

#halsin #baldurs gate #baldurs gate 3 #halsin baldurs gate #bg #bg3 #my screenshots #halsin x tav #halsin x half elf tav #tav #half elf tav

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nucleqr · 26 days

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more bg3 screenshots hot off the presses! i'm a TERRIBLE person in this playthrough it's fineee

#my build may be messy #but i'm thriving regardless #doing the dumbest shit #and getting away with it #evil playthrough #bg3 act 1 spoilers #bg3 act 1 #half elf tav #half drow tav #fem tav #sorcerer tav #monk tav #lae'zel #true soul nere #flop loser king #bg3 #nuclear.7z #john baldur

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theshotsheardacrossworlds · 2 months

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You guys.

YOU GUYS!!!

LOOK AT HALSIN AND ANNIE BEING SUPER CUTE AND ADORABLE AND CUDDLY!!!!!

Thank you so much to @littledisgustingart for making Halsin and Annie come to life 🥰😭

#anais wildheart #annie x halsin #art i comm’d #please comm the artist #do it you will not be disappointed #who knows i may do it again muwahahahaha #halsin #plus size tav #halsin silverbough #half elf tav #sorcerer tav #annie made him some honey cakes which they will share

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y-rhywbeth2 · 6 months

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Lore: Half-elves

Disclaimer

OK, here's the half-elf lore dump I said I would finish. It's... long. An overview of the history of half-elves (such as it is) and the societies they're found in, with a mention of dark and sea elven half-elves; their physical traits/capabilities and aging; and then a note to some unique inclinations and perspectives often seen in half-elves regarding religion.

Cha'Tel'Quessir; Half-Elves. The most common and most accepted of the human hybrids by miles (unless you've got drow heritage). More conventionally attractive than half-orcs, with a more socially acceptable non-human parent, they are not treated with the same hate and disgust. Their fey heritage is more palatable than the fiendish heritage of tieflings, which causes the planetouched to be viewed with fear.

They are the offspring of a human and an elf; two half-elves; or the very, very rare case of dormant elven genes suddenly resurfacing in a human family with a distant elven ancestor.

They are only common when compared to the other mixed races of Faerûn, and are "scarce in number and widely dispersed across the face of Faerûn". They are most populous in the Eastern state of Aglarond, with the Southern nation of Dambrath formerly hosting the world's second largest half-elven population. The half-elven society of the Yuirwood makes up 30% of the overall population of the larger region of Aglarond. Until 1385 DR - people of mixed human, elven and drow heritage named the Crinti made up 15% of the population of Dambrath. These guys would need their own posts.

Historically, half-elves were known during the heights of the elven empires, but barely. In the last days before their fall, the empires of Illefarn and Cormanthyr had their own half-elven minority due to the growing number of human settlements that had been brought under elven crown authority, but by 714 DR these half-elven minority cultures had disappeared.

They are most commonly found where elven and human populations live together - which means that almost every single half-elf is a moon elf.

The city of Silverymoon is a melting pot founded on the basis of bringing all of the divided peoples of the region together in cooperation and has an unusually high elven population as a result. It has a population that's 40% humans, 21% elves and 12% half-elves, quite comfortably living together - making one of the only places in the Realms half-elves can live surrounded by both their cultures within the same city, instead of one culture only really being present at home.

Neverwinter (Eigersstor to the Northerners, who speak Illuskan), is another Northern city, was founded by elves and humans, and while the population is largely human in appearance and culture in the modern day, they have elven heritage. Half-elves are not an unusual sight.

In much of the world, half-elves are completely unremarkable or at the very least will not face much hostility, simply because few people have much, if any, experience with elves to judge them by.

In lands where humans and elves have a history of conflict such as Sembia and Tethyr, half-elves are both rare and viewed unkindly. Half-elves in these regions usually don't encounter other half-elves who they can relate to, and those who don't migrate elsewhere usually keep to themselves. They tend to be seen as elves by the humans (untrustworthy and dangerous otherworldly fey creatures) and they usually feel unwelcome or out of place with the elves that remain in these lands, who often lazerfocus on their human heritage.

Half-humans in elven lands often find themselves struggling. While they can be found in the elven priesthoods, and be trained in any elven tradition, it seems that elven society only begrudgingly lets them do so. Individual elves may be anything from hateful to wholeheartedly welcoming them as kin - some even see half-elves as a sign of a hope for a better future for elves in the larger world, but as a society they seem to have issues.

For example, the Evereskan College will only train a half-elf in elven combat and magical arts with the sponsorship of an elven parent "of sufficiently exalted parentage."

They are not exactly welcomed to the elven refuge of Evermeet, though at least one half-elven wizard has a permanent place there - possibly because he's invaluable to the magical defences of the isle. It is entirely possible that he's the sole exception though.

Half-drow are exceedingly rare and face heavy prejudice and occasionally fetishization, if their heritage is obvious (which it usually is, dark elven genetics are dominant). -- If born into Lolthite society, they are despised and considered second-class citizens (and treated accordingly). Such half-drow do not have pleasant backstories. -- Many are the offspring of Eilistraeean or Vhaeraunite drow, as these are the two drow gods that encourage drow to leave the Underdark and interact peaceably with surfacers. -- Eilistraeean half-drow may be born of loving relationships between the Dark Maiden's followers and those rare humans who will take the risk of giving them a chance, instead of writing them off as evil/killing them on sight. -- The birth of half-drow is encouraged by Vhaeraun in order to spread Vhaeraunite drow culture and genetics through the surface, and in order to secure his people a place in surface societies safely outside of Lolth's influence. -- Of course it's entirely possible for these children to be the result of a simple consensual fling, too.

Half-aquatic elves are an exceedingly rare minority within a minority. For starters, one of their parents lives on land and the other at the bottom of the ocean. Not to mention that sea elves can only survive on land for a matter of hours before it starts to kill them. Half-human offspring have a slight webbing between their fingers and toes that makes them excellent swimmers. Sea elves do not have the "willowy" build that is often seen on other elves, and so their half-human offspring never have it either. Unlike their parents, they cannot breathe underwater and are forced to remain on land to be raised by their human family, usually only seeing their elven relatives for short visits. Much like their elven parent they have an instinctual longing for the water, and cannot stand being away from the shore.

Half-elves may inherit any physical features from either parent, and might show a mixture of traits or pass entirely as a human or elf to onlookers. The offspring of a half-elf with a human will be considered a human by the game rules, and likewise a half-elf having a child with an elf produces an elf. Despite game mechanics, these children still have a mixture of genetics, and it's possible to see a human with pointy ears or a moon elf with brown eyes. Half-moon elves sometimes have a faint tinge of blue on their chin and ears, framing their face.

Half-elves reverie and do not need to sleep, and cannot be forced to sleep by magic. However, they may chose to sleep and dream as a human, if they want to.

They can see perfectly in low light conditions, and their hearing and vision is superior to a human's - although not as sharp as an elf's. Half-drow can see in complete darkness perfectly.

Their human heritage does not stop magic that affects elves from affecting them. They are harmed by magic intended to harm elves, and they have access to magic meant to be wielded only by elves. In reverse, the same also applies for magic that singles out humans.

A half-elf has a soul more akin to a human's than the fey spirit that is an elf, they will not reincarnate the same way.

They will age slowly, with a natural lifespan reaching over 100 but under 200 years, retaining their elven vitality all the way. While they may go grey, a half-elf is much livelier and sprier than a human of equivalent physical age. From a human lifespan's perspective, this is like having your grandma - who goes on hundred mile long runs every morning - pinching your cheeks when you're an ancient grandma yourself. From the elven perspective, this is watching your child wither and die in a time period where they should be being welcomed into adulthood.

And on a slightly NSFW note; as with elves, half-elves may well find that the tips of their ears are erogenous zones. (The rest of that information also suggested that the neck, palms of the hands and backs of the knees count to a lesser degree, so I'm taking that particular bit of information from Ed Greenwood with a pinch of salt in case he's joking. Still, I guess you could use it.)

In terms of religion, half-elves often favour the gods of love and beauty - the elven god/ess Hanali Celanil and the human goddess Sune, who they thank for bringing their parents together.

Half-drow migrants to the Yuirwood brought the worship of EIlistraee with them, and her worship became popular with half-elves of other lineages all over the place. She's particularly popular with half-elven bards as a goddess of dance and music.

Half-elves are known to revere the elven pantheon, but tend to hold the elven aspect of Mielikki - Khalreshar - in special regard. In elven tradition she is the daughter of Hanali and the Faerûnian wilderness god Sylvanus, making her the only half-elven deity.

Half-aquatic elves often worship the sea elven deity Deep Sashelas or the human god of sailors, Valkur. Like all who live by the sea, they all pay homage to Umberlee. The sea goddess herself seems to enjoy tormenting them in particular.

#half drow tav #half elf tav #lore stuff #long post

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