Ignoring the worlds laziest fucking background bcause i do not care. Wow a whole two drawings in one day!

I cant imagine i am the only person who Season of Bloom fucked up, and now that im replaying the game (so my general shows up lmao) its really hitting me. My baroness is a good character, most of her decisions are in favor of her people and yet here they are rioting at her door step. Tristian as her baron's councilor probably helped with calming them down. And y'know we all need hugs sometimes, especially when we've been yelled at.

Also listen i hate drawing hoods if i can avoid it i will

finally finished pathfinder kingmaker! feeling that crushing “just finished a massive game” ennui. i miss my silly little party and my silly little vivisectionist already.

I'm actually thinking about trying Pathfinder Kingmaker at some point in the future and attempting to romance Tristian. Given that he's practically the definition of a pretty boy, I bet he copped the dudebros usual brand of dickery when the game came out initially.

hmmm... I dunno, I don't think that's true. I have not seen hate towards him on reddit. He is straight, so maybe that's why. He can't bother the gamerbros while they are playing with a self-insert male character. I've even seen a few of them say they've created a female character to romance Tristian because they thought his story was interesting. Tristian is a very good aligned character and I would say the "bad boy" types are more often hated. He is also extremely innocent and awkward during the romance so that probably only makes male gamers like him. Lol

Anyway imo he just doesn't match the type of character you are talking about.

If you are interested in a romance which actually bothered the straight male gamer community, I recommend Octavia-Regongar poly romance. Those two are a joined deal. They are a bisexual couple and while it's possible to break them up, that doesn't have the best result. Ofc that bothered some because they wanted to romance Octavia alone and they wanted to suffer no consequences for separating the couple. Octavia is more popular compared to the straight female option, Valerie, who is a lawful neutral fighter. Meanwhile Octavia is a fun loving chaotic good rogue-wizard. Valerie not having a huge appeal is also the reason many chose to play with a female character and romanced Tristian. That way it's still a straight romance but with a character they liked more.

Personally I like both the Reg-Octavia romance and the Tristian romance as well. It's also possible to start romancing Reg-O and Tris as well and they will only ask you to choose later.

the pfkm madness continues

I wish you could toggle Kingmaker's jealousy off with Bag of Tricks, like you can with Wrath and Toybox...Instead I'm diving through old reddit threads and the kingmaker wiki (which has a surprising amount of in-game dialogue and code recorded in it) to try to find out how much and how frequently I'll have to fuck with the romance counters to be able to do Octavia + Regongar and Tristian's romances simultaneously. I've been able to figure out that it completely stops comparing them once you reach Stage 3, because of course the code doesn't expect you to have fucked with Stage 2, so that'll make my life a bit easier.

How about 3, 14, and 32 for Balthazar and Tristian?

Hello Cassy! Thanks for the ask, and apologies as always for the tardiness.

[prompts from here]

[and to have a posterity note at the top instead of just the tags for once, significant Kingmaker chapter five spoilers throughout]

3. By contrast, what was the moment that first made their ~heart~ Soft for the other person? Not necessarily a conscious realization of “I love this person,” but a moment that had them like “Oh…I adore them…”

(note: I think I may have played it a little loose with this one... apologies!)

There had long been a sense of protectiveness on Tristian's side of things, but it was a sense born out of obligation and guilt: on the one hand the obligation to do his duty to Nyrissa and the need to return to his goddess, and on the other the guilt of treachery that dragged on and on (even if the victim of that treachery wasn't exactly Tristian's favorite person). There was always a twist of terror when Balthazar was in danger or astonished respect seeing him persevere through what should have been the end, but none of that was that soft feeling. The first time for that feeling was probably some time after Balthazar's wings came in, when Tristian, still anxious from the lingering effects of the Bloom and attempts on Balthazar's life, caught Balthazar attempting to slip out of the capital by himself one afternoon and insisted on accompanying him (doggedly ignoring attempts to lose him). Following the reluctant baron to the privacy of the countryside, he learned that Balthazar had been attempting for some time to adjust to the wings on his own. Before that it was clear that the wings had been unwelcome and that on some level Balthazar was fighting it, and it had stirred some amount of envy and resentment in Tristian to see the ungrateful aasimar rejecting what Tristian yearned to have back. But seeing the open vulnerability as Balthazar tried to come to terms with his changed body felt painfully familiar, and as he attempted to offer advice under the flimsy veil of having known another aasimar at his childhood temple (lies, all lies, and for what?) he began to feel a sense of connection with Balthazar. It wasn't the first time he had seen Balthazar vulnerable- there were more than enough of those throughout the Bloom, and awkward moments littered their history before that. But it was the first time that pang of sympathy blossomed into a deeper sense of understanding. As the initial tension eased the afternoon became comfortable, conversation becoming easy and unguarded. It was awkward but genuine. It may have been the first time Tristian saw a soft, warm smile on Balthazar's face- something that would haunt him a long time after.

For Balthazar, the first spark of excitement (long before he could pin down what it might mean) came when he managed to coax Tristian into a dance at the first festival held in the wake of the fall of Trobold. The dance had been meant as a tease- a bet with Octavia and Regongar that he could get Tristian onto the floor, nothing more- but he was caught off guard when his success didn't come in the form of the cleric passively following along. Watching Tristian linger at the edge of the festivities, not joining in on the celebration he had himself insisted on, Balthazar had guessed that Tristian was held back by insecurity. Tristian came off as so naive and sheltered that it stood to reason that a noisy northern festival would be far outside of their depth- as would partaking of the dance with an admirer on their arm. He expected to overwhelm Tristian, to enjoy teasing him and leading him along. Instead, after relenting to the dance Tristian proved a quick learner (or perhaps already knew the dance from somewhere): he matched Balthazar's pace without ever being thrown for long, and the threat of being challenged for the lead began to occur to Balthazar. When they broke apart at the end it was Balthazar who was breathless, caught in the fascination of his partner. The mystery of that moment lingered on his mind- he'd thought he had Tristian solved, but he was wrong. After that he noticed Tristian in a way he never had before- he watched for answers, but along the way began to drink in the details of Tristian he never had before. Maybe that dance wasn't itself so soft, but it opened the floodgate of everything after: a growing affection for the awkward innocence that had frustrated him, an amusement with the stern edge Tristian's voice took on when lecturing (so often with undeserved boldness for his ignorance), the sudden sorrow that would soak into his expression at the most inexplicable times. Becoming bound up in pursuit of that pattern began to wear away at him to the point of distraction.

14. What makes them feel loved? Would they build up the courage to ask for it?

For Tristian, more than anything, simply physical presence. It's comforting to have Balthazar present, to feel supported and less alone. Tristian never built many close friendships before the betrayal- easier to keep just a bit apart from people you'll let down in the end, and to avoid becoming caught in the messy tangle of mortal lives to leave without regret at the end (or at least, as little regret as can be managed with the circumstances). But despite that, Tristian is a lonely person, and there was something about being drawn again and again into time with Balthazar that became something of a comfort. That loneliness intensifies after the betrayal: their relationships with most people they know in the Stolen Lands have been soured by their actions, and leaving Nyrissa behind meant leaving even the illusion that one day they might return to Sarenrae. Simply having Balthazar present brought a sense of normalcy that kept them grounded. And similarly, there's something about physical touch that's grounding. It makes them feel at home in a body that they're still struggling to accept. It reassures that despite all of the misdeeds and the hurt, they're still worth touching, worth being in contact with. When they can feel Balthazar at their side they know without a doubt that they have a place in the world still, no matter how much has changed. Sometimes they might ask for that presence or that touch: it's easy to ask for and easily granted. But the truth is it's rarely necessary to ask for it- these are things Balthazar always wants to give.

For Balthazar, more than anything it's verbal reassurance. It's not enough to be close, to spend time together- he needs to hear that he's wanted. He wants to know that he's a choice, one made freely, that he's not just what Tristian has resigned himself to. Maybe some part of him is afraid because of his long, long history of transactional relationships- it's hard sometimes to internalize the idea of a relationship where no value needs to be proven and offered. And he's afraid that a better offer is out there: it's abundantly clear that Tristian wishes he could return to the life he had as a deva, and doubt seeps in that anything Balthazar has with Tristian is only because Tristian is trapped. So he wants to hear it: that he's wanted, that he's loved, that he's irreplaceable. Tristian is so terribly sincere, despite all the deception. It's reassuring to hear it voiced. But Balthazar himself is only half aware of this need, and he'd never ask for it if he came to understand what it was he wanted. It would feel like begging. It would be pathetic and too vulnerable several times over. He can get to it only halfway- teasing and baiting out affectionate words or gentle chiding, demanding that his partner be vocal in intimate moments- but there's always a hunger for something else, something he can't quite name.

32. How do their friends react to finding out they’re a couple? Do they have lots of mutual friends? Did their friends know, perhaps before they themselves did?

Obviously there's a significant shared social circle, even if not everyone in it could be described as "friends." ^^;; And it was certainly clear to most people in that circle that something was going on before there was any relationship cemented. There was a period where the two of them were suddenly spending much more time together and there was significantly less animosity between them than there had been previously. The shift may have been most noticeable with Balthazar- after all, this coincided rather cleanly with breaking things off with Regongar (accomplished by avoiding Reg until he got the message. Balthazar is an asshole). Regongar and Octavia were the first to put a name to Balthazar's side of things because of that (in not especially kind terms), although they certainly weren't alone. Tristian, on the other hand, was more of a mystery to most: although certainly not a friend, the person who clocked that one best would have been Nyrissa of all people. The pattern of her skylark's distraction wasn't hard to guess at- a frustrating obstacle with an increasingly useless pawn. This also makes Nyrissa possibly the only person who could tell that these feelings were indeed mutual.

The reaction to the news of the relationship could generously be described as lukewarm. Very, very generously. Everything came together very close on the heels of the betrayal and fallout, and between lingering tension regarding Tristian and some scattered concern about Balthazar's judgment in the wake of everything the general mood could be summed up as "wow! I don't know about this one, guys." Eventually the mood cooled into reluctant acceptance- after all, if two of the most drama prone people you know decide to date, who can stop them, really. Distinct award for least supportive goes jointly to Jaethal and Regongar. For Jaethal, becoming emotionally invested in Tristian was the worst mistake Balthazar had yet made- a mistake which boded ill for the future and she counseled him at every possible opportunity to correct. On Regongar's side of things there was lingering (and justified) resentment over being abandoned seemingly for Tristian. The person who could be most generously described as supportive would be Jhod, with the faint hope that maybe the two of them would keep one another in check. A relationship helps with the maturity, after all.

Suddenly drastically sad for NO reason so cider and those Pillsbury dough boy Halloween cookies and more Pathfinder BC dammit I'm going to be sad about this dumb sheltered cleric of sarenrae who knows nothing and is so innocent and so determinedly merciful and is low-key on a brink of a faith crisis and I can FEEL something angsty approaching in his arc and I'm like 👀👀👀👀

The way I'm always thinking about "You are my reflection, Balthazar, just a little luckier"... ugh. Like god that's so good. At the end of everything we are the same, and that's why it's impossible for her to surrender and why you can't give up when impossible odds threaten to crush you. Obsessed with the way she passes the torch to you whether you want it or not. You couldn't both live but if just one of you gets out alive that's the greatest victory either could have. Nyrissa is truly the RPG villain of all time. The inherent eroticism of trusting your enemy to carry the spirit of your rebellion etc.

started up a new pathfinder: kingmaker playthrough as a grenadier (alchemist) and... I love it

Forgiveness

The sequel to this that no one asked for! Tis Faith's to be comforting! (I say as if Faith isn't just like that)

Takes place right after talking to Sarenrae in Saving Grace. Faith, who is also a devoted follower of Sarenrae, was heartbroken at the idea of loosing him but she didn’t want to take away what he's been longing for for who knows how long. So when he decided to stay, que the water works.

I was going to write a thing to go with this but alas i have work and i'm posting this on break 🤣

mmmm should i play baldurs gate 2? is it good?

Top 5 video game romances of all time?

oooh thank you!

Wenduag (pwotr)

Arueshalae (pwotr)

Zevran (dragon age)

Shadowheart (bg3)

Kanerah (pfkm)

thinking about how i still need to finish pfkm but i lost my save file and do not want to play through like 120 hrs again. also can’t find a concrete guide on romancing both regongar and octavia and don’t want to waste my time if i fuck it up

Hey for those OTP asks...6 and 17 for Balthazar and Tristian? Those are my favorites on the list 👀

Responding to this prompt list, which genuinely jumpscared me in December when it posted from queue. ^^;; I appreciate the faith you put in me asking about it when I was already nearly a month behind answering your other ask, as well as your patience when it took this long to get together... I'd been so focused on the ones from November I forgot this one a little, and when I dug back up the prompt list to answer it was a moment of "wait, THAT'S why I've been thinking so much about this for a solid month?!" Anyway. Enough rambling from me.

(note: there are really Kingmaker spoilers in this)

6. When did they realize they loved each other?

Hm. There was some good space between the two realizations, so I suppose I'll be answering separately, if I'm understanding the question right?

Tristian realized some time between the end of the Bloom and the disappearances in Varnhold. That was a space where the two of them were spending much more time together than they had previously and moving from "people who tolerate each other, mostly" to "friends but no one else understands how." Somewhere in there was a moment- or maybe more than one- where it suddenly clicked. Some bright, unguarded smile or a nose wrinkled in an impatient huff or maybe some vague tuneless hum overheard in a moment of quiet. He'd already sabotaged Nyrissa's assassination attempt during the Bloom without being able to explain why besides an ambiguous sense of guilt, but this was where he truly realized that if he was asked to hurt Balthazar he'd never be able to go through with it.

Balthazar didn't realize that he was in love until Tristian betrayed him. In the aftermath, he realized that he didn't feel angry about it at all, just hurt and afraid that in some way this meant he'd never really known Tristian at all. The journey back from Vordakai's tomb was long and there was a lot of time together process what that meant. It felt like too much time to think, and then far, far too much time to be stuck with the realization after the "oh." moment. Balthazar hadn't really been in love before- there was something very frightening and vulnerable about it. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that the deadly circumstances didn't leave much space for overthinking it!

For the record, most of the party was aware of Balthazar's crush long before he was. Embarrassing... On the other hand, somehow no one was really sure about Tristian until afterwards.

17. Who fell in love first?

It was close, but Tristian... perhaps. There was some point around or after the Bloom where he began to see Balthazar in a different way. The way he tirelessly worked against the plague without ever thinking to flee, his ability to think steps ahead of disaster to save lives, and his fierce insistence that somehow, the disaster would be solved. He also placed his trust in Tristian again and again- something unexpected and deeply relieving. There were a lot of moments of deep, genuinely vulnerability from Balthazar during the Bloom that Tristian was witness to, especially when in a moment of true desperation he went to meet Nyrissa deep in the Narlmarches and barely escaped with his life. Seeing Balthazar risk his life and then being the one at his side when he was still weak and slowly recovering was a kind of revelation. As much as he was upset that Balthazar had suddenly done something so terribly reckless at the critical moment and nearly ruined all of Tristian’s efforts to save him and undermine the Bloom, it was also the kind of surprise that touched him and drew him in. Somewhere along the way from there the feelings started to change.

15 for Tristian; 14 for Jasiri

15- Favourite line of theirs?

Oh, gosh. Um. It's been a really, really long time since I played PfKm. Uhh. Both things that pop to mind are from the romance; the whole "full of sunshine" exchange or this

14- What outfit would you really like to see this character wear? Or what’s your favourite outfit of theirs?

Okay, so my favorite outfit or hers is this one, and I'd love to see her either in something like this, this or this for canon, or a flower-patterned t-shirt and ripped up jeans for a modern AU

Character Asks