#the underdark has the best mushrooms
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Hi! I'm not sure if you take requests so if you don't, please ignore this and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
I just read your Astarion X Tav fanfic where Astarion proposes. It is said that the ring he got glows whenever Astarion thinks of Tav. I was just wondering if you could write a slice of life about the ring glowing at the most random times. Maybe during a stealth mission where Tav has to stay hidden or when he is smiling in his sleep and the ring glows. I just thought it would be cute and fun to write about. You can get creative with it.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, whether you end up doing this request or not. I hope you had an amazing Christmas and I hope you will have an amazing New Year's!
Hi Anon! I don’t think this is quite what you were asking for but… this is what came out! 🤷♀️ The smut gods blessed me and I cannot deny their gifts. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Smut below the cut.
If you haven’t read my other work and would like context, Anon is referencing a two part mini story I wrote. Click here for part 1, and click here for part 2.
Warnings/Tags: 18+ only please, smut, masturbation, sex pollen, swearing/cursing, game spoilers
Word Count: 1.5K
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“I think we’re just… a bit out of practice, darling. It has been nearly a year since we were down here last, you know.” Astarion whispers, crouched next to you behind a Funguswood tree. He’s wiping bits of dirt, twigs, and mushroom pollen off himself with a handkerchief.
“Admit it, Astarion. You just weren’t fast enough.” You respond with a small, teasing poke of your tongue as you rearrange your weaponry and count your arrows.
The pale elf finishes wiping off the debris, and you return your attentions to the mission. You’d been contracted to scout out the vampire stronghold in the Underdark and report your findings back to Wyll and the Flaming Fists. Rumor was that the vampire hoard had wreaked absolute havoc on the Underdark; the city feared the creatures would soon return to the surface if they could not find sustenance here.
“Would you have preferred I let that wild Rothé ram you into those mushrooms in my stead?!” Astarion hisses in return while rubbing his hand over his arm, which now felt unbelievably tingly and was starting to radiate significant warmth, “Hells, what mushrooms were those, anyway?!”
You stifle a chuckle, knowing your fiancé is already past his limits of patience. You two need to get to the scouting point, set up camp, and hunker down for a few days… all while avoiding detection from the vampires or any other nefarious creatures in the Underdark. Best to do it without an ornery Astarion by your side.
“I don’t know what mushrooms those were. I’ve never seen them before.” You admit with a small shrug, “Come on my love, not much further now and then we can get you properly cleaned up.”
Astarion follows behind you in silence, apart from the occasional cursing and swiping at his skin. Gods, the heat had spread up his entire arm now. The scratching seemed to make it worse, but by the hells, he couldn’t stop no matter how much he wanted to. The two of you finally got to the cragged rock that led to a small cave where you would make camp, and he never felt more relieved in his life. He couldn’t wait to clean himself properly and be done with this burning sensation.
You glance at him briefly and then begin climbing the rock. Astarion remains below to keep you covered in case anything decides to attack while you’re left defenseless. He looks up to watch your progress and cannot help but to notice the overwhelmingly attractive curve of your bottom. It was always attractive, of course, but something about it in this moment was entirely… irresistible. Had you been working out recently in preparation for the wedding?
You’re halfway through climbing the rock when your engagement ring bursts into a spray of light. It often glows significantly at the surface, but in the blackness of the Underdark, you’re practically a beacon. Your stomach drops. Gods, how had you forgotten to take it off?
“Astarion!” You hiss in a panicked whisper, “Cut it out! Every being in all of the Underdark will know our position.”
Astarion had realized the issue as soon as the light had flared, of course. He was trying desperately to avoid thinking of you and all the delicious things he wanted to do when you two made camp, but gods he couldn’t control it. What in the hells was wrong with him? He wanted to stop, to ensure your safety, but your plump, perfect ass was practically calling his name, begging for his attention, and he wanted nothing more than to bend you over and—
He shakes his head, trying to rattle the lewd fantasies from his psyche, “I’m trying, my love! I don’t know what’s come over me I just—“
Hags. Hideous shoes. Ghouls. Manual labor. Gale.
The pale elf tries to think of all the most grotesque, unsexy things he can and push you entirely from his mind. You continue to climb, hoping to quickly reach the top and take off your ring as soon as possible. The ring is still glowing like a single star in the blackest night.
Ogres. The smell of Araj’s blood. Rats. Gale.
Gods, it was useless.
Finally, you reach the top. You rip the ring off your finger and shove it in your pack as soon as your limbs land on the surface of the cave. Astarion quickly scales the rock behind you, and when he reaches the top, you’re positively glaring at him.
“Darling, I’m sorry! I really tried. It’s just— gods damn these mushrooms!” The vampire is ripping off his shirt and scratching at his skin as the two of you walk into the little cave. Before long he’s down to his knickers and cursing as he rubs desperately at his flesh.
You’re trying to ignore your fiancé and quickly pitch the tent so you can handle whatever the hells is going on with him. A sideways glance to your pack reveals that the ring is still glowing quite intensely… perhaps more than it ever has before. Was that even possible? At any rate, you can’t get closer to the stronghold with it glowing like that.
“Astarion, I don’t know what—“ You spin around, and you’re surprised to see the elf fully nude on his blanket, doing perhaps the most provocative thing you’ve ever witnessed.
Astarion is beaded in sweat by now, and his hands are wandering over himself, chasing the burning tingle as it travels through his body. Gods, the feeling was becoming absolutely unbearable. He kept seeing visions of you and him in the throes of passion in his mind.
He couldn’t stop even if he wanted to. Did he want to stop? He couldn’t decide. All he knew was the intense tingling and burning coursing through his veins and the wonderful fantasies filling his brain. He needed release from this torture; his limbs were on fire and the sensation was spreading to his groin.
The elf knows by the throbbing pulse in his cock that his erection is at full capacity, and he feels the dribbles of precum slowly sliding from the head, down the shaft. Astarion is, admittedly embarrassed knowing you are mere feet away and witnessing such an erratic show, but he grabs his own cock regardless— gods, it felt like being possessed. He needed release and he needed it now.
As his fingers wrap around his shaft, a burst of relief travels through his body. The tingling ceases for a moment. But then, it flares again and he’s consumed by the burning feeling and vulgar thoughts of the two of you once more. He pumps his hand a few times, bucking into the sensation, and once again the torturous tingle halts.
What in the hells?
Astarion is now rolling his hips towards his own hand, groaning in pure ecstasy at the relief from the burn as well as the delicious sensation of his hands stroking his uncharacteristically sensitive member. His eyes are clasped closed, and his other hand is still wandering over his torso, chasing that burning itch.
Through panting, shaking breaths he murmurs, “Darling, is it— oh gods, is possible that those— fuck — mushrooms contained sex pollen? I’ve never— mmh, fuck.”
You’d been so enraptured by the vision of your lover touching himself in such an uninhibited display of lust that you almost didn’t hear what Astarion asked. The slickness of your arousal was starting to become apparent as you instinctively squeezed your thighs together.
“I’m… I’m not sure, my love. I’ve read of such things but I’ve never come across it… until, perhaps, now I suppose.”
Astarion isn’t really listening. Instead, he’s bucking wildly into his own hand, chasing his own release. He falls apart in front of you, with his limbs tensed and mouth agape in pure, unadulterated pleasure, clasping tightly onto his own length. The gasping, strangled moan of relief that escapes him as he reaches his climax and shoots sticky streams of hot white seed onto his abdomen ignites a fire in your groin. He’s shuddering with the rippling aftershocks of his orgasm and you feel yourself dripping with arousal as you rub your thighs together once more. This display was entirely feral.
For a few moments the vampire is breathing contentedly, eyes still shut. He’s still holding his cock, which continues to twitch insistently despite its significant spend. Your lover brings his unoccupied hand to his hair and rakes it through his disheveled, sweaty curls.
You flick your gaze to your pack and notice that it’s no longer emitting that ethereal glow. But then Astarion groans in dismay and you see light flare from your bag again. When your attention returns back to your fiancé, he’s already grasping wantonly at a second rapidly growing erection.
“Darling, I can smell you,” He hisses desperately, now slathering his own milky juices around the swollen, reddened tip of his thick cock. The veins in his arm and on his shaft are pulsing as he begins to stroke himself again, “Don’t be coy just— come over here and help me with this. Please.”
And by the gods, he asked so nicely, how could you say no?
#astarion x tav#astarion fanfic#astarion fic#baulders gate 3#baulders gate astarion#bg3 fanfiction#baulders gate tav#bg3 fanfic idea#astarion x reader#astarion smut#astarion x female tav#astarion x you#astarion x female reader#bg3 smut#prompt request#prompt response#astarion prompts#smut
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Downed
A/N: I got the cut scene of Astarion imitating Halsin in the middle of drafting a drabble, and this is the result. Please enjoy.
Tags: Baldur's Gate 3, Astarion x Tav, Astarion x OC, Astarion x Half-drow!Reader, gender neutral reader, BG3, TDU!Reader, BG3 Astarion
WARNINGS: hallucinations, canon-typical violence.
Summary: You get hit by a fear spell while in the Underdark and hallucinate shadows in anticipation of fighting the Shadow Curse, Astarion is angry and it's all Halsin's fault.
Apparently.
Word count: 1.6k+
(GIF Credit to @iplann)
All Astarion remembered was seeing you go down.
It was an ambush by two rogue Duergar as you crept through the Underdark. Originally, the pair of you had been on an unimportant quest for you to retrieve some bioluminescent mushrooms to make lanterns; Astarion doesn’t understand the appeal but is also unable to say no to any of your requests.
He regrets being a pushover at that moment, as it’s landed you both in this one.
After you fell, he had lunged across the field and sunk his teeth into the neck of the Duergar casting spells. He refuses to provide the sorcerer a painless death by draining, instead tearing at the flesh with his teeth. A sick gurgling echoes through the grassy hollow you’d been attacked in, and Astarion releases the dwarf. He stumbles for a moment, clutching at the missing area of flesh on his neck before falling face first into the grass.
The other blue-skinned creature freezes at the realization they're fighting a vampire, and Astarion wastes exactly zero time thrusting a rapier directly into her heart.
The vampire instantly changes pace from attack to healing as he dashes towards you and leaves the bodies behind. You’re laid out a few metres away, curled into the fetal position and muttering nonsensical words into the humid air. A putrid green film coats your armor, and Astarion wrinkles his nose at the spell.
“Tav, can you hear me?”
Your eyes find him, familiar but distant and darting about all over the cavern. Astarion recognizes the after effects of a Fear spell, and the Ray of Sickness’ grotesque slime. He was fairly certain the sorcerer had struck you with a bout of sickness while you were paralyzed by fear, hallucinating figures of great evil and unstoppable power.
“...’starion?”
“Fortunately for you, yes.” He quips, trying not to let his voice quiver. “If only I was a Cleric.”
Your eyes search his face, landing quickly on his mouth. Astarion freezes as you tense. “V-Vampire.”
His first instinct is to frown, concealing his fangs from your warped mental state. “All the better to keep you safe. Now come on, we need to make haste back to camp so our resident Cleric-”
You clutch at his collar, a wheeze escaping you. Your frenzied eyes have moved away from his fangs to something in the distance, apparently deciding he was less of a threat. “It’s coming. ‘Starion, please, please, get me out of here.”
Astarion recognizes the delusional panic lacing your voice and chooses to hush you softly instead of turning around. He’s determined not to feed the plague gnawing at your mind, and not to let it invade his. You’re the first thing that’s motivated him, loved him for two centuries and he is terrified to see you in such a state. Every other wound has been bandaged or healed shortly thereafter by Shadowheart, but this is different. He couldn’t cover this with gauze, and nothing in his repertoire includes healing of the mind. Rest and comfort will be the best cure for you.
“It’s a spell, darling.” He coaxes you into looking back at him. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
There’s no stopping the feral gleam in your gaze and Astarion knows you need to get somewhere safe to rest, to be rid of this ailment. He ignores the stink of your gear and scoops you into his arms, immediately angered by the tremors wracking your body. Your arms wrap tight around his statuesque neck and shoulders.
“They’re everywhere.” You whimper into his collar, pointing towards the Duergar’s bodies.
Curiosity gets the best of him. “What’s everywhere?”
“The sh-shadows.” You manage, fingers swiping through half-dried blood on his face. “They’re coming.”
Astarion curses Halsin under his breath. The camp’s talks of making it through the Shadow-Cursed lands had been a hot topic as of late, brought to them by Halsin’s tales of suffocating darkness and misery. It was true you had to navigate through them, but Astarion had his own qualms with wasting their time trying to fix it in order to please the Druid. Especially since said Druid had been eyeing you up as if he were starving each time you saunter across camp.
“There’s too many of your glowing mushrooms here to be any threatening shadows, dear.”
Astarion trudges further into the hollow, finding a small secluded cove to one side. It’s as if the Gods were anticipating someone making a camp out of it - the small opening is no more than a metre wide, and damp lichen hangs in wisps from overhead. Fungi of numerous colors and brightness glow around you both, and there’s a moment of worry that they've stumbled into a transportation circle. The last thing he needs is to be unwittingly thrust to the surface in the Hag’s putrid swamp or a Gnoll’s den. A few fleeting taps with his toes stir no magic in the foliage, and Astarion feels comfortable enough to set you down.
He digs through both your backpacks for supplies, coming up with two bedrolls and enough wood to stack for a half-ass campfire. It takes only a couple minutes to get your outer layer of clothes off and your body settled on a bedroll before Astarion moves onto the fire.
Dancing flames have your rapt attention when they spring up from the wood. “No shadows.”
The child-like tone you carry in your confusion tugs at Astarion’s dead heart. “Correct, my sweet. No shadows here. Just a vampire and a very, very confused monk.”
You seem to settle in between bouts of coughing. Astarion sheds his armor to lessen the smell of sickness and looks through his pack once again, coming up empty for any elixir to remedy your fear. He instead stands to peek out of your makeshift camp, confident that as you settle your condition may improve.
“N-No!” You burst out into a fit as the vampire moves away, one hand clutching his boot. “You can’t leave me here.”
Any intention of looking out is forgotten as you begin to cry. Astarion hushes you like a scared animal, pulling the bed rolls together and joining you on the floor. He indulges you in a rare moment of gentility, pulling you into his side and whispering into your hair. These moments back at camp are rare, saved for when your mates are asleep or out of sight.
It isn’t until you pull away from the crook of his neck that he notices your eyes are sharper, no longer darting about or hazed over with artificial fear. Despite this, tears still leak from them.
“Tav? Are you all right?”
You sniff softly. “I’m so tired, Astarion. And I feel terrified… like something’s watching me. But something in me knows it’s not real.”
He nods, tongue running along his fangs. “Damned sorcerer that ambushed us struck you with a Fear spell.”
“I had a dream that we were near Moonrise Towers.” You flounder for a moment, “There were shadows everywhere.”
“Not a dream, I’m afraid. More a hallucination than anything.” Astarion explains, “A real drag to bring along after the fight, you were.”
His teasing is welcome, chasing away the worst tendrils of darkness licking at your mind. “Cheeky… But I’ve never taken the blow from a Fear spell before. This is awful.”
Astarion can tell your mind is still fearful despite breaking through the confusion, parasite reaching out to his in flashes of white hot panic and terror. Your heart is racing, the ever-so-tempting vein in your neck throbbing in sync. It’s a juxtaposition against your determined face, trying so hard to remain strong.
“Afraid so… I’ll be speaking with Halsin about his persistence in this shadow curse solution. No need for it to plague you like this. Especially seeing as we haven’t even trudged our way through the Underdark yet.” Astarion’s voice is sharp and surprisingly protective.
“Astarion, I do feel obligated-”
“You should feel obligated to do nothing. You already play peacemaker for these morons, no need for them to dump all their hopes and dreams on you. Especially when your mind uses them to terrify you.”
A weak chuckle escapes you, and your fingers toy with the fabric of his undershirt. “I think the effects of the spell were to blame for my terror.”
“The effects of the spell are determined by the worries in your mind. In other words, the man of the forest can take them all elsewhere.”
You snort at his distaste towards Halsin, as it’s not the first time you’ve noticed.
A particularly loud drip of water somewhere in the hollow causes you to jolt into Astarion, adrenaline still coursing like fire through your body. “Gods. How long am I going to feel like a mouse?”
Astarion grips you a little tighter, “Until you rest, most likely.”
“Are you going to meditate?” You ask, curling into his side.
“I’ll be keeping watch. You need to sleep. Heal your mind from this wretched curse.” Astarion’s words are a little too aggressive, his own nervous mind still concerned for your wellbeing above all else.
You’re familiar with the tone, and can only smile softly at the vampire’s inability to express concern without placing blame. Perhaps all this talk of a Shadow Curse had caused you to be plagued by such figures in the depths of the spell, but you don’t place blame on Halsin.
Though, you were certain Astarion would never see it that way.
He’s taken a moment to relax now, laying on his back with an arm behind his head. You’re curled into his side, one leg hooked over his. Astarion’s other hand traces patterns onto yours, lazy circles that lull your mind into a quiet sense of security. The terror subsides ever so slowly, intensity halved while lying in his arms.
“Astarion?”
“Hm?”
“I’m okay, you know.”
A huff answers, and a brief rush of words. “I’m still blaming the Druid.”
“Of course you are.”
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#Baldur's Gate 3#Astarion x Tav#Astarion x OC#Astarion x Half-drow!Reader#Astarion x You#gender neutral reader#BG3#TDU!Reader#Astarion#BG3 Astarion#bg3 astarion x you#astarion ancunin#shadowheart#underdark#duergar#halsin#dnd druid#bg3 halsin#bg3 romance
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Hi, first thank you for your amazing work!! (and opening requests!) I had an idea for some fluff: after a few days travelling in the Underdark, Astarion misses the sun. To cheer him up, druid (?) Tav takes up his hands one evening and conjures (a soft) Daylight in them for him to enjoy :) enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
𝑎/𝑛: thank you so much for such an amazing request omg!!! this prompt is so fantastic, I really truly LOVED writing it! Also me and my triple earth signs LOVE druids, so I really vibed with that. This ended up being more sentimental than I originally planned, but I think it's really soft and sweet 💕 I really hope you enjoy this! Have a great rest of your Sunday too!!!
𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔: Astarion/gn!Reader, Astarion/Druid!Reader
𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑟𝑒: hurt & comfort, fluff
𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡: 1.2k
𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠: none, really!
✧⋄⋆��⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧
we grow like ivy, twisting together with vines of the deepest green
Your fingers card through silver curls, the thick waves soft as your fingertips drag through the strands with ease, the motions soothing to you both as Astarion pillows his head on your thighs.
His weight is a comfort after the past few days combing through the best and the worst the Underdark has to offer; a seemingly endless amount of horrors against a world as dark as night, the neon effervescence of glowing mushrooms the only light by which you have travelled.
Your magic feels so different down here. You’re just as connected to the earthen ground beneath your feet as ever, of course; but the lack of sunshine, the absence of the moon’s rays, and of a world full of green always leaves you feeling slightly off-kilter so deep below the surface.
Taking residency in this technicolor world had been a transition for you both, but that was fine; as with the ever-changing beauty of the landscapes around you, you would grow, learn, adapt to whatever seasons this new life with Astarion may bring.
Astarion adjusts his head slightly as he absently twirls a gold piece between nimble fingers as he stares up into the endless black of the Underdark above, his form tense despite your calming ministrations.
“Just where in the bloody hells are they?” He releases the words on the breath of an overdramatic sigh, those elegant features of his that you love transforming into a childlike pout. There’s a frustration in his voice that he tries to smooth over, but you know him better than that by now to not hear it in the slight tremor in his words.
“There’s 7,000 of them, they’re bound to turn up eventually.” Such pragmatic words, though you find yourself wondering more and more with every passing day exactly when that statement would be coming true. You look down on him once more, taking in the tension in his limbs with narrowed, assessing eyes.
“What’s on your mind, Astarion?” The coin falters a bit as it moves from finger to finger, twisting up and over his knuckles. Astarion abandons the sight of the cavernous ceiling above, his crimson irises flitting to your own as he considers your words, rolling over them in his mind as you wait patiently for him to grant you a response, whatever he chooses it to be.
His throat bobs as his mouth opens and closes as he works to find his voice to speak, words faltering as they work their up the elegant column of his throat. You don’t stop the hand that brushes through his hair, letting the constant of your touch be his guiding light as he picks through the emotions weaving through his mind.
“I hate it down here. It’s dark and damp and everything smells positively wretched.” Bitterness coats the words as they fall from lips twisted into a frown. With a flick of his wrist he captures the gold coin in his palm, pocketing it with a swift motion.
Your head tilts slightly as you listen to his words, ears catching onto the way he says the word ‘dark’, spitting the word out as if it were acid on his tongue.
“Astarion” The hand in his hair smooths down over his temple to brush against the sharp bone of his cheek instead, thumb sweeping over his soft skin as you cup his face.
There’s a depth to the sadness that resides in his eyes, unhidden from you as you gaze into those incarnadine orbs, the reason behind this particular bit of melancholy suddenly obvious as you put his words together once more in your mind.
“The sun.” You lips part to say the words so he does not have to, a small nod deeper into the plushness of your thighs the only sign of affirmation he will give you.
“I…I just never thought I would truly miss something I barely ever had, I suppose.” He averts his eyes now, staring at the smooth leather that covers your legs instead. “I’ve lived long enough in the darkness, I don’t understand why it’s suddenly so hard to be without it now.”
You stare down at him momentarily, his words clawing into your heart with sharp talons as your mind whirls through what you could possibly do, what you could ever say to him, when you catch onto something—an inkling of an idea that may grant you both a small reprieve from the impenetrable darkness that surrounds.
“Up.” You smile at him as you bounce your legs from where they rest underneath his head, a small nod of your chin gesturing for him to fill the space across from where you sit. Astarion complies with your request, eyes slightly narrowed as he attempts to puzzle together whatever the plan is that has filled that beautiful mind of yours. He sits close, knee to knee, as he waits for your words.
“Give me your hands.” Your words are gentle as you hold your own palms open in offering, waiting, for him to press his own into your warm hands. There’s a brief moment of hesitation, Astarion’s mind turning over the possibilities of the action, but it passes almost as quickly as it appears, fading into the air around you as he slowly lets his hands rest into your own.
Your fingers close over his own, the warmth of your skin permeating into the chill of his as you turn his hands to face palm up, cupping them gently within your own.
You feel a familiar pull through your body, magic moving up from the ground to flow through your veins, like the greenest of ivy that carpets the ground of the world above the one you now reside. Even down here you are radiant, needing no sun or stars or moon by which to guide the power that winds its way through your soul.
The little ball of light starts small as it burns above your hands; the glow minute as it forms in an undulating circle. It brightens, growing ever so slowly larger in time with your breathing as it hovers there in its brilliance. You channel your energy into the spell, careful to keep the power you allow to flow from you minimal so that it does not overwhelm and instead manifests only as that beautiful, beaming orb. Its warmth permeates the air around you, a literal pocket-sized star emanating little waves of heat outward onto your faces, coloring Astarion with an aura of burnished gold.
Your smile grows as you look onto it in wonder, its radiance a spot of beauty in an otherwise dark world.
“And you have the audacity to say I’m the dramatic one.” He huffs at your sentimentality despite the fondness sticking to his own words, eyes focused onto that little glowing ball of sheer luminosity emanating from both of your upturned palms, the warmth cascading over you both.
His eyes slowly look up to find your own searching his features, the glow of the little sun that shines in your joined palms a balm on both of your weary hearts and you hope that once this moment ends and you have to carry on with reality that a little piece of the afterglow will remain in some form or another.
“We’ll find our way, Astarion. Even if it means having to create our own light to go by.”
#astarion x reader#astarion x you#astarion x tav#astarion x gn reader#astarion x gn!tav#astarion x gender neutral reader#astarion x f!tav#astarion x f!reader#astarion x female tav#astarion#astarion bg3#my writing#request
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baldur’s gate 3 spoilers kind of: being a circle of spores druid and befriending the myconids is the best experience one can have. my mushroom friends. my babies. the underdark has the best vibes around and they all radiate from the cool mushrooms
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i need to know more about pennybun i have fallen deeply in love
PENNY MY BEST FRIEND PENNY!!!!
(by @/skypiea)
penny is my first tav and i love her. she's a white dragonborn circle of the spores druid. i finished her first playthrough a couple weeks back, and i've started on a second playthrough with her! slightly edited, and now that i understand more about the game and the story i'm refining her character and story. i missed a lot of stuff on that first playthrough!
pennybun's name comes from the mushroom, by the way. i'd decided on that before i knew that there was a mushroom-themed druid circle in this game, i was GOING to choose moon, but, like. it's perfect. penny buns aka porcini aka king bolete aka Boletus edulis are an edible mushroom that symbioses with the roots of pine trees. they're part of my research and they're quite adorable
she's from a circle of druids located in the shelterwood- a dense forest near baldur's gate. she grew up in the city proper- or at least, on the edges of it- before moving out to the woods to pursue life as a druid.
she's solidly good-aligned- as my first playthrough, her story is kind of the best-case-scenario for everything, savescumming the hell out of some fights (good god the last light fight with marcus). everybody gets their good ending, everybody gets saved, that kind of deal.
she had a generally good relationship with everyone in the party, but gale, wyll, and karlach are her best mates for sure. i missed out on romancing karlach the first go around, but we're doing it on penny's second save file. it's happening.
she's also quite close with shadowheart, especially after the events of act ii. her relationship with lae'zel is more tense.. but i'm still working on figuring out that exact trajectory- missing a lot of lae'zel's storyline was one of the biggest mistakes i made in the first go-around. she and astarion never get close, but there's not any malice there, either.
she's good friends with jaheira, the two get along like a house on fire, and she looks up to jaheira a lot. she didn't have a lot of time to get to know minsc and boo, but they were plenty friendly in the short time they crossed paths. halsin, i need to work on, i also kind of fucked up his stuff first go-around by neglecting to fix the shadowlands. to be updated when i reach act ii in Penny The Sequel.
overall, penny's a big ol goody-two-shoes. she wants to help as many people as she possibly can, and feels a massive weight on her shoulders because of it, having been thrust into this leadership role by apparent pure chance.
while i'm still working it out, the central theme of pennybun's story is trust, and who she puts it in. an early decision i made before knowing anything about the story was that penny trusts the Mysterious Dream Guardian completely and totally, which made for some EXTREMELY fun character moments later on- utilizing the tadpoles (her and gale both), becoming partial illithid, and eventually in act 3 losing her trust in and culminating with her turning on the emperor, plus her own ceremorphosis to wield the netherstones against the netherbrain.
gear-wise, she uses the default druid armor for most of the game, switching to the armor of the sporekeeper in act 3. she assembles the mourning frost in the underdark in act 1 and it remains her favored weapon for the rest of the game. she also wears the key of the ancients, and just before the start of the finale gains the nymph cloak.
other assorted Penny Facts:
she keeps a detailed log of every camp dinner the group has. good food is very important
she has a soft spot for parasites. part of why she was receptive to the idea of utilizing the tadpoles, and also part of why she lets astarion take a bite from time to time.
she got her eye poked out by volo
she has a -1 int modifier
she's a lot keener on necromancy than you might expect a druid to be. she views necromancy and the undead (for the most part) as a natural part of the cycle of life- after all, everything will eventually return to the dirt to be eaten by the fungi and the other decomposers, no matter how prolonged it is.
it is imperative that all her friends (karlach excluded for reason of cool hair) wear fun hats. ive posted about The Hat Tax before but everyone in the party gets a funny hat. it's so important.
she's my best friend and i love her
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Been collecting a few of these and my last honor mode run just died so
BG3 character starting kit:
Moral alignment test
D&D Class Test
Withers decides your romance for you
I got Wyll so I guess that's who I'm going for this time around.
Picrew Adventurer Avatar
Can't find any hair that's close enough to match in BG3, so next best thing:
Hi. Half-drow (quarter-drow, actually, but there's no choice for that) chaotic neutral wizard with an unhealthy obsession with alchemy and fungi.
Curious, smart, has as much common sense as a rock. Very focused on not dying. Noble background, abandoned their family to study cool mushrooms in the Underdark.
I am getting those golden dice.
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{The parchment is handmade- it smells faintly of mushrooms. You know instantly it's from Lillium, your druid partner. While you have been preparing lessons for your eager students, she has been hunkering down in the underdark. Researching the noblestalk, and spending time with the myconids- the first time the two of you went down there you practically had to pry her away from the colony of mushroom dwellers.
It's a relief to hear from her.}
Beloved,
I am alright. Attempts to propagate the noblestalk have proven difficult. I have not quite figured out the proper substrate preferences to procure it on the surface. It does not respond to the language of soils' song at all, like other fungi do.
Sometimes I think I have taken on this holy grail-esque task because I dread returning to the humdrums of daily life. You have taken to your teaching job so...fluidly and in a way I envy that. This fools errand was not for the good of anyone except my anxious mind.
After what we have been through- it all seems so minute. We have seen so many many things...killing that *thing* somehow felt easier than becoming part of the bustling daily livings of Waterdeep. Something about watching the city from the tower sends pangs through my chest ringing ,empty, empty, empty.'
I apologize deeply Gale. I am taking my samples with me and bidding goodbye to the myconids tomorrow. I will miss them dearly, but it doesn't compare to the ache in my chest when I turn in my bedroll and you aren't there nestled in beside me, holding me close.
Please forgive my weakness, I'm coming home. I love you more than anything,
~Lillium
My loveliest Lillium,
I’m elated to hear from you. I am ever encouraged to know you made it there safely, though my heart aches for the disappointment you must feel with your current struggles. Perhaps we could research some spells that might be able to simulate the Underdark’s conditions in a small, controlled environment when you return. In fact, that makes for a perfect lesson! I’m sure the minds of the young will have much more fresh ideas on the matter than I do.
My dearest, do not take my transition back to normalcy so lightly. You forget that this has always been my nature, ever since I was a child. Your attempts are far from futile, and I respect the lengths you go to so you may answer the questions of your heart. This, your “fool's errand”, is your daily living.
Things have changed, yes. I doubt I’ll ever feel the same as how I did before the infection. It’s impossible to achieve, so don’t try. Reaching for something far outside your grasp will only bring your mind more harm, my love. Ease into what you know and do best. You have a keen eye for the nature of things both literally and metaphorically. Take that by the reins and challenge your most nagging desires.
I would never tie you down to a place that leaves your heart longing for more. Perhaps we can have a more thorough discussion on travel plans when you return. As prideful in my teaching expertise as I am, I know my students are safe in the hands of other Wizards for a week or two. I want nothing more for you and us than happiness. If that means adventure, you know I am all the more welcome to it. However, I’d like to avoid adventure that deals with head specimens and the threat of worldwide extinction, if possible.
I will wait by the door every moment until your return, my dearest. Do not be saddened for having left your studies, but be joyous you began a new chapter of research to expand on. Be safe, my love, I long to hold you in my arms once again.
Your love forevermore,
𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒔
text reads: gale dekarios
#baldur's gate 3#fanfiction#for you#for you page#gale dekarios#gale of waterdeep#bg3#bg3 gale#gale fanfic#answered asks#ask response#asks open#send asks#anon answered#send anons#gale fluff#baldurs gate gale#baldurs gate iii#baldur’s gate fanfiction#baldurs gate 3#baldur's gate iii#bg3 fanfiction#baldurs gate fanfiction#letters#writing
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In the Lap of the Gods
gale/tav, hurt/comfort, chapter 2/3
~~~
She storms out of the illusion quite literally—it’s downpouring when she runs back to the camp, gripping the skirts of her robes as the mud squishes and splashes beneath her feet. Thunder growls overhead but she doesn’t look up, doesn’t look back. She’s sure he’s following her anyway, or will be. When she reaches the camp, she only pays her companions half a glance, her face still hot with contempt. The rain must have started just recently, she thinks. Most are scrambling to pack up their belongings, get their possessions under cover, shut the flaps of their tents to the rain outside. She bypasses her own tent, knowing it’d be only a matter of time before Gale appeared, and if she has to hear any more about the fucking Crown, she might burst.
Instead, she invites herself to the one tent she doubts Gale would ever dare approach of his own volition.
“I do not recall permitting you to come inside,” Minthara says to her when she steps in. She makes no moves to turn her out, though, and June takes that as a welcome enough, sitting on the cool ground and pulling her knees into her chest.
While the others may keep lanterns or small candles to light their tents at night, Minthara eschews fire of any sort—best kept for battle, she’d explained to June once—and instead relies on Lolth’s candles, chasm creepers, and other comforts of home to bring a soft glow to her accommodations. The distant familiarity brings June some semblance of peace, though she hadn’t lived in the Underdark since her childhood, and their recent trip there had been her first foray into her former home in over a decade.
“Do not touch the mushrooms,” Minthara grumbles, and June yanks her hand back from the glowcap she’d been absently tapping. “Now. What is it that you want?”
Continue reading.
taglist: @vakarians-babe @captastra @vvakarians @mournholdmushroom @galaxywhale let me know if you'd like to be added!
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Round 1, Group 7
Propaganda and spoilers under cut
Dreamstalk: -It can be imbued with hopes and dreams and seems to have magical abilities
-It's probably sentient in some way
-it also serves as a host for Queen Sectonia to parasitize in the fight against Kirby (and Dedede)
The Dreamstalk itself is a representation of Queen Sectonia. A symbol of hope and peace, of a lost love, and the final remnant of a queen who lost herself entirely and has finally fallen into an eternal dream.
A once kind girl and beloved friend became corrupted by an artifact out of her control, leaving her with nothing but an endless hunger for beauty. This endless hunger led her to parasitize countless people in search of her perfect form and the DNA of those people can likely still be found within the Dreamstalk- both her final victim and resting place.
Some semi related tidbits:
-In the final battle of this game a theme plays that is titled "狂花水月きょうかすいげつ/kyōka suigetsu" or "Blooms of Madness and the Moon Reflected in Water/Madness Flower, Water Moon it is a play on the Japanese idiom:
鏡花水月きょうかすいげつ (Mirror Flower, Water Moon)
-In the game there are names for each world, if you take the first letter of each world name you can see they spell out "F-L-O-W-E-R-E-D"
I don't think I can fully express the symbolism and importance of dreamstalk but I did my best (and I tried to focus on the flower itself, although it really is a representation of Queen Sectonia which is why I had to explain her backstory a bit)
Myconid: Myconids are intelligent, ambulatory fungi that live in the Underdark, seek enlightenment, and deplore violence. If approached peacefully, myconids gladly provide shelter or allow safe passage through their colonies.
They are cool glowy mushroom-people and they communicate via Rapport Spores which is a very fun name for it.
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OC Introduction - Nathrae
Old meme format I felt like using for Nat (aka I bestow the honor of favorite blorbo).
Fandom: Baldur's Gate
Role: "Tav", or the appointed leader of the party.
BASICS
| Full Name: Nathrae (Houseless/Orphan)
| Nickname(s): Nat
| Pronouns: She / Her
| Sexuality: Bisexual
| Occupation and Titles: Nathrae is a thief and an alchemist/poisonmaker with no formal associations.
| Birthday & Age: 19 Flamerule, 1316 DR - 176 years old.
| Physical description: Broad shoulders in a lean (but not too lean) frame. Long limbs, not a lot of muscle definition aside from the arms and thighs, clearly flexible. Swimmer's body type.
| Clothing style: Nat dresses surprisingly simple for a drow. Her clothes tend to give emphasis to her body core with high and tight waists, and deep neck lines. Arms and hands are often exposed. Earthly to black clothes, with a hint of deep purple here and there. Silver as accessory of choice always.
BACKGROUND
Nathrae has no house or family to speak of, and despite having heard rumors of what happened to her parents, she prefers to live in ignorance. She grew up partially in the streets of Menzoberranzan by tagging along a band of criminals before being "recruited" into Lolth's church.
Forced to stay in the cult, enduring the abuse masked as training, she at least expanded her skillset and was fed, clothed, and had a place to sleep. With little love to spare Lolth, Nathrae eventually flees the cult around a century of age.
Given she's been marked by the Spider Queen, she has since been under constant hunt by her ex-church fellows so she can be brought back to face punishment and, very likely, death. Nathrae has more or less eluded them for the past 70 years, though not without being captured a couple of times.
COMBAT & SKILLS
| Preferred fighting style: Prefers to avoid fighting. If unavoidable, keeps her blades coated with paralysis and other slowing effect poisons, and synchronizes with fellow combat allies when available. She and her displacer beast, Vidrinath, have developed a particularly seamless fighting style with each other, ambushing and bleeding out targets in deadly harmony.
| Favourite weapon(s): Shortswords and daggers. Shortsword on her left hand, dagger on right hand. Left-handed.
| Special skills: Stealth, poison making, potion making, sleight of hand, deception, thievery.
RELATIONSHIPS
| Family: None
| Love interest: Karlach (during BG3), Halsin (during and post BG3)
| Best friends: Vidrinath, Shadowheart, Gale Dekarios
PERSONALITY
| Positive traits: Organized, strategical, determined
| Negative traits: Prideful, overly guarded, self-motivated
| Likes: The night sky, mushrooms, Vidri
| Dislikes: Gods and divinity, bad luck, sweets/candies
| Fears: Losing ownership of herself, loneliness (despite inhabiting it often)
| Guilty Pleasures: Expensive wine, specially Underdark crafts
| Hobbies: Drawing, stargazing
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out of curiosity, what class do you think fits durge best? i always go for monk bc of the novelty of them killing people with their bare hands, and bc of gortash's comment that orin is ruled by her urge, but durge has control over it. and monks are all about meditation and inner peace and all that
Look, paladin is fucking hardcore. Rogue fits so much. Bard durge is hilarious.
But fuckimg druid???
God, that's my favourite. Circle of the spores, at nature but only the brutal part of nature. Nature is rot and blood and brutality, otherwise why would there be owl bears and spikes and pain?
Truly seeing that what they do is apart of life. They will return you to the fuckimg earth with a smile. You know the mushroom guy from Hannibal season 1? That's my fucking durge. The natural rot of the earth that comes from decay. Entwining people in briars and squeezing them free of their blood. Nature is death and their father is nature's greatest aid.
So angry at kahga for defying nature by conspiring with shadow druids. Finds the underdark fascinating, another part of their own nature.
Also my own dark urge, Briar, fucked halsin while in bear form and the next day? Killed Orin in three turns, it was so embarrassing for her.
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Until I Met You - Chapter 9
Chapter 9: Scars
Pairings: Halsin x Tav
Word count: 4,015
Rating: Currently M, will be Explicit in later chapters.
Read on AO3
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Summary: Tav and her companions set up a new camp in the Underdark and take the time to share some stories about their pasts, and their scars. Another potential addition to their camp makes an appearance. Part 9 of the slow burn fic. Halsin and Tav POVs
Tags: Slow burn, hurt/comfort, emotional hurt/comfort, fluff, eventual love confessions, eventual smut, light angst, implied past rape/non-con and abuse, graphic description of injuries.
A/N: Another fluffy chapter with some interactions between all of the companions. Next chapter will be out later today or early tomorrow :)
Halsin waited in the strange grotto the voice had called them into. The sovereign requested to speak to Tav once they arrived. He took the opportunity to observe the strange creatures surrounding them. The myconids were an incredible species, he knew of their existence but had never seen them in the flesh before. Their melodic way of speaking using the spores in the air captivated him.
Is this how the others feel when they communicate using their tadpoles?
Each myconid that passed him had different patterns and colors swirling in their fungal skin, almost as if the glowing sigils had taken on a life of their own. They were mesmerizing. This small refuge was a rare, welcome solace in the darkness. If only he had found this place all those years ago in the Underdark rather than the drow city.
His thoughts were interrupted when Tav hopped down from the overlook where the sovereign resided.
She looks exhausted already.
“I think we might be on the right track.” She called out to them as she rejoined the group.
“There’s apparently some duergar nearby that have been attacking. There’s a deep gnome here who had been captured by them to dig up some ruins. The myconids are protecting her, but the duergar attacked to try and drag her back.”
“Ruins…Like a temple?” Halsin blurted out.
“Not sure, but it’s our best lead. If we can help them take care of the duergar invaders, then they may be able to give us something to help.”
He nodded eagerly, his hope for a path to Moonrise rekindled.
This has to be it. Oak Father please, let it be so.
“Karlach!” Tav yelled. “Got you a present.” She tossed a pair of boots over at the tiefling.
“Oh, swish!” She threw herself onto the ground to put them on.
“Nothing for me, darling?” Astarion batted his eyelashes at her.
“Sorry, love. I can’t hear you over the jingling of all that jewelry you kept from the Zhentarim chests.” Tav batted her lashes right back at him.
Halsin loved listening to their easy banter, despite how envious he felt. Every day was filled with little jokes and flirty teases, and not just between Tav and Astarion. He was watching all their friendships grow each day and as much as he wanted to join in, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Except with Tav.
“I thought we could set up a camp nearby, stay close to the grotto? I figure we’re as safe as we can be here. At least this group of sentient mushrooms aren’t actively trying to kill us.” Tav gestured just past the entrance to the small village. The others nodded their agreement followed her.
Everyone tossed their packs down to claim their own space. Halsin went back and forth between his companions, helping them to tie down their tents and set up a camp. As he looked around at the different tents, he couldn’t help but feel out of place. Each person had their own little space, a small refuge that showed off their individual personalities. He just had his pack, and whatever patch of dirt he would choose to reside on tonight. In his haste to join them, he forgot to account for how unforgiving the environs of the Underdark could be.
Perhaps I will have to gather materials for a tent of my own.
“Heads up!” Tav’s voice called out to him just a moment before a large roll of fabric smacked into his chest. Startled, he fumbled with it for a moment before catching it in his hands. Upon inspection he found himself holding a bedroll.
“What’s this for?” He asked, looking around to see if anyone else was waiting to receive it.
“It’s for you. It seems to get pretty cold down here, I grabbed a spare one I found at the Creche.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you, but I assure you–” Tav cut him off.
“If you don’t need to use it, that’s fine. I just wanted to make sure you could be comfortable is all.” She smiled at him and walked away without waiting for a response.
It was a simple act of kindness, one that he wouldn’t think twice about doing for someone else. Yet for some reason, it caused another stirring within him as he watched her walk away. Halsin wasn’t used to others considering his needs, especially when those others had a host of their own problems to deal with as well. While he talked with Tav the most, the others also made sure he was taken care of. They made sure he didn’t miss a meal, they offered to carry things for him, and tried to joke with him around the campfire. He knew that he wasn’t great company right now, yet they were looking after him anyway. Even though his mind was clouded and preoccupied entirely by the thought of returning to Moonrise. Almost entirely.
What space he had left in his thoughts always wandered back to Tav. Even now, his eyes were drawn to her as she made her rounds around camp. Her feet were dragging as she took the time to check in on all of her companions, yet she made time for each of them. She even took the time to talk with Withers, the strange undead who seemed to pop up wherever they camped. Lunari and Scratch trailed after her, each nipping at the other to vie for her affection. Right now, Tav was trying, and failing, to tie the canvas on the top of Gale’s tent. Her tired arms struggled with the ropes that held the structure together. Wyll came over and relieved her, allowing her a moment to rest on one knee.
Their day today hadn’t been overly strenuous, but he had a feeling that the past week or so was weighing her down. Being responsible for the wellbeing of a group such as this would be challenging on the best of days. To do so while also fighting a mind flayer parasite? The thought alone was overwhelming. His first few weeks as Archdruid were a vivid memory in his mind – the change in his relationships with those around him, the loss of so many peers, the loss of his mentor, the crushing weight of responsibility. The fatigue and doubt he felt those first ill-fated days in his position still followed him everywhere, and now he saw it in his new friend.
She was still smiling, but he caught a tiredness clouding her eyes that made the smile stale. The others were reaching out to touch her and she was once again subtly flinching away from them. She would wring her hands while talking, fidgeting with anything she could reach on her person. Halsin looked around trying to determine where she had set up her own tent but couldn’t seem to find it. Towards the entrance to their new camp, he noticed her bags lying on the ground, still packed.
Watching her exhaust herself for her companions gave him an idea. Maybe he couldn’t give her what she really wanted from him, but he could help give her what she needed. He hugged the soft bedroll closer to his chest, all of her other selfless acts on his behalf coming to the front of his mind. He thought back to the countless times before Tav that he wished that someone, anyone, would offer him the help he had so sorely needed. Karlach walked by and Halsin caught her arm before yanking his hand back from the heat.
“Karlach! If you’re done setting up, I could use your help.”
***
Tav was finally able to get back to putting her own things together. At this rate, they wouldn’t have any more time today to explore some of their new leads.
We’re moving too slow…we’ll have to make up for lost time tomorrow.
She rubbed her eyes with both hands, working hard to fight off the fatigue she felt pulling at them. Lunari was still trotting alongside her, wanting more attention.
Maybe I’ll just spread out my bedroll tonight without a tent. Or maybe I can sleep in Karlach’s. I don’t think my arms could –
When she opened her eyes again, she saw a familiar tent pitched close to the entrance of their camp. Halsin was just finishing the final ties on the posts as she approached.
“What’s this?”
He greeted her with his typical fisted salute over his chest. “Oak Father preserve you, friend. We thought that you could use some help setting up for the night.”
“We?” Tav looked around, confused. Karlach’s head popped out from the inside.
“Yeah, you were so busy helping everyone else that you forgot to set up your own tent.” She beamed at her from between the canvas flaps.
“I didn’t forget…” Tav rolled her eyes. Why was she feeling so upset and flustered? They were just being helpful.
“You’re welcome.” Karlach crawled out of the tent to stand next to her.
“Thank you, really. I don’t mean to seem ungrateful, I just don’t need everyone fussing about me.”
“Then it’s a good thing only Halsin and I are over here.” Karlach teased.
Lunari ran into the tent and flopped over on Tav’s bedroll, scratching her back on the soft fabric before rolling over to lay on her side.
“I guess you’re done for the night then.” Tav sighed as she let the tent flaps fall closed over the entrance.
“I think one more night of rest could do everyone some good. Give yourselves a fresh start in the morning, you know firsthand how dangerous it can be down here.” Halsin urged.
“We’ve already wasted too much time, I can’t risk us losing any more. We should at least scout a bit tonight first, get a feel for the nearby area, make sure there aren’t any Duergar still lurking nearby for an attack…” She cut herself off to fight off a yawn. There was a headache pounding against the back of her eyes and her arms might as well be made of ooze. Halsin and Karlach shared a look.
“I’ll uh…go check with the others.” Karlach shuffled away towards the center of camp.
“Tav…” Halsin placed a hand on her shoulder. His warm hand was a welcome comfort but made it much harder to fight the drowsiness pulling at every muscle of her body.
“You won’t be of any use to anyone if you push yourself like this. I know you’re desperate to find the source of these tadpoles, but it won’t matter if you die of exhaustion first.” His voice was firm, leaving little room for discussion, but it was also gentle and full of understanding.
“I don’t have time to rest, Halsin…” She trailed off again as another yawn broke through her defenses.
“I need you to trust me, my friend. This is not a fatigue that will go away easily, but one extra night of rest may help at least clear your head.” His hand squeezed her shoulder as he talked. The motion caused another wave of exhaustion to come over her.
“Fine, I’ll talk with everyone else first and see what they want to do.” She stifled another yawn and rubbed one of her eyes. Halsin seemed content with her answer and walked with her over towards the rest of their party who had gathered in the middle of their new camp.
They were talking in hushed tones, their eyes glancing back to look at Tav as she approached.
“Oh, hey soldier.” Karlach greeted her first. “Listen, we were having a chat here and we thought well, maybe…” Tav did her best to stay alert and fight her fluttering eyelids.
“We’re fucking tired, Tav.” Astarion blurted out. “I know it’s important for us to get these tadpoles out, but I do need my beauty rest.”
“We’ve been moving nonstop for days, we’re all exhausted and lugging all of our camp supplies every other day isn’t helping. Let’s just set up a camp here for a couple of nights, give us a chance to breathe while we follow up on some leads.” Shadowheart piped up from the back of the group.
Tav let out a relieved sigh. The truth was that she was also so fucking tired. She had just been worried that the others would want to keep pressing on, that she would be seen as weak if they took too many breaks.
“Of course. If everyone needs an extra night of rest, I’m all for it.” She smiled, seeing the relief she felt wash over her companions as well.
The morale of their adventuring party seemed to improve as they started prepping the fire and dinner supplies. Having an extra night to sleep off some of their troubles was evidently just what they needed. Once again, they were able to gather around and joke over their dinner.
“Okay, what about…scars? Who has the best one?” Karlach proposed.
“Oh, yeah that’s a good one. I’m sure we all have stories to go along with the scars around this fire.” Wyll laughed.
“Shadowheart, you start!” Karlach pointed at her.
“Well, I don’t exactly remember how I got the one on my nose, or the one on my elbow. But of course, this one is a symbol of my devotion to Lady Shar.” She proudly displayed the small, circular wound on her hand. Tav felt Halsin tense in time with her at the mention of Shar.
“Boring.” Karlach declared. “I’ll go next. See this large scar running down my back?” She turned around so everyone could see. A huge wide scar ran from her right shoulder to her left hip. Despite its size, it was still hard to distinguish between it and the maze of other scars that made up Karlach’s back.
“Giant fucking Orthon tried to cleave me in two. I dove at the last second and got myself a nice deep cut, but at least I was still intact. Luckily the landscape in Avernus is shifty. A huge sinkhole opened up and swallowed the bastard whole.” She let out a wild cackle at the memory.
“What about you, Astarion?” Karlach continued prompting their companions.
“Well, I think these scars speak for themselves.” He made a delicate gesture toward his neck, causing everyone to chuckle.
“Come on, you must have others!” Karlach prodded.
“No, I’m afraid this is all you’ll get from me, darling.” Astarion’s tone was flirty and light, but Tav noticed that his gaze became distant before shifting the attention elsewhere. “What about Lae’zel? You have lines and bumps and bruises galore, surely they come with a story.”
“I suppose. See these here?” Lae’zel pointed to a couple of scars adorning her stomach, “They were from a fight with another member of my Creche. He was my first kill.”
“How old were you?” Tav asked.
“I believe I was twelve years old.”
“Twelve?!” Everyone exclaimed at the same time.
“I know. It was indeed a shame of mine to claim a kill so much later in my life than my peers.” She hung her head slightly in shame.
The rest of them shared troubled looks. Every now and then a stammer or cough would break through the silence. Lae’zel shook away the embarrassment and continued her story.
“It was a necessity. Only the strongest warriors could fight in Vlaakith’s name. I was smaller than many of the other pupils. It caused them to underestimate me…but only once.” She had a cocky smile spread across her face.
“Badass!” Karlach hollered over to her.
“And you, wizard? Any other scars besides those swirls left by the magical orb?” Lae’zel pushed the conversation to Gale.
“Oh, erm, I suppose I do have a scar from the time I was sure I could invent a new and improved Fireball spell of sorts. You see, I took the somatic component from the traditional Fireball and added a verbal component from a Combust spell. Naturally, I was trying to combine the power of a traditional Fireball with the close-range capability of a Combust. Now of course, what I failed to include in my calculations was the fact that–” Gale was cut off by a fake snoring sound.
“Sorry darling, I haven’t slept a single night in my long life, but I do believe this story is ready to put me into my first slumber.” Astarion whined from beside him.
The rest of the group erupted into laughter as Gale rested his pouting face in his palms.
“Halsin! What about you, mate, give us a story with one of your scars.” Wyll called out to him.
“Oh, I’m afraid there’s little excitement from me in that department. My life as an Archdruid didn’t leave much time for adventuring or sparring.” Halsin’s leg was bouncing next to Tav, and his hands tightened on the utensils he had been using for dinner.
“Those four grooves on your forehead suggest otherwise.” Gale prompted.
“Just a simple wildshape altercation. It happens more often than you would think.” He chuckled lightly, but Tav could hear an uneasiness in his voice. She spoke up before anyone could ask him more follow up questions.
“Oh! Speaking of wildshape, I should tell you how I got this.” Tav pointed to her cheek and nose at the long, thin indentation residing amongst the forest of freckles. Halsin seemed to relax once she interjected. His leg stopped bouncing and he turned to give her his full attention, as did the others circled around the fire.
“So, there was this woman I was seeing named Sylia. She was one of the druids I fought with when I was with the Harpers. I had–” Wyll cut her off with a sudden outburst.
“Wait, wait, wait. You’re a Harper?! Why didn’t you tell us? I’m sure you have loads of heroic stories.” His face lit up as his eager feet tapped the ground in front of him.
“Oh, I uh…” Tav was flustered all of a sudden, the Harper detail slipped out before she could stop it. “Not exactly, I…I left their ranks a long time ago.” Her voice quieted and she felt Halsin’s eyes on her.
“You left? Why?” Karlach turned next to her.
“The shadow curse.” She whispered. Halsin’s leg moved closer to hers, so they were just barely touching. It was a small gesture, but one that helped steady her breathing. “The fighting there…it was too much. I…I couldn’t stay after that.” She sighed.
As she looked around the fire, she was met with looks of understanding as everyone pondered their own invisible scars.
Another great move for morale, Tav.
Karlach spoke up again, saving the mood that Tav had driven into the ground.
“Well, that’s awfully lucky for us eh, soldier? If you had still been with the Harpers, you might not be sitting here with us. So, Wyll, tell me about that long scar down your arm.”
Tav smiled again and mouthed a silent ‘thank you’ to Karlach.
“Oh, of course! I had been tracking a devil across the countryside –”
“Yes Wyll, we all know this one. Her name is Karlach and she’s sitting right there.” Astarion had a teasing grin on his face.
“You know, Astarion, if you’re getting cranky you could always retire early for the night.” Wyll shot back causing Astarion to stick his middle finger up in the air. “Now, it was a bone devil that had been terrorizing the town of Daggerford…”
Tav laughed and smiled along as Wyll told his story. At one point she could have sworn she felt Halsin’s hand lightly graze hers. They continued sharing stories about scars and fights as everyone started to excuse themselves one at a time. Tav, Halsin, and Karlach were the last by the fire.
“Alright, my friends, it’s been a lovely evening.” Karlach stood up and stretched her arms. “But I think I hear my bedroll calling my name.”
“I agree, love.” Tav stood up with her, her stiff knees complaining at the movement.
“Sleep well, friends.” Halsin smiled up at them from his seat.
As they were about to walk back to their tents, Tav heard a soft chirping noise and some rustling in the foliage nearby.
“Shh, Shh…wait.” Tav put a hand out to stop Karlach from taking another step.
After a moment, a small beaked animal peeked its head out to look at them. Its steps were timid as it sniffed the air and nudged some of the plates left behind after their dinner.
“The cub!” Halsin and Tav both whispered, trying to contain their excitement. She gave him a confused look, he hadn’t been with them when they fought the cub’s mother. He was giving her an equally confused look.
“He’s hungry.” He whispered to her.
Tav pulled a small piece of dried meat from the bag in front of her, making sure to use slow, careful motions to keep from startling the baby owlbear. She tossed the food on the ground between her and the cub, which it devoured.
“It’s okay…” Tav kept her voice soft and low, attempting to beckon the cub closer. Halsin let out a quiet, eager sigh behind her. It was almost within reach, the inquisitive hoots getting closer and closer...
“Oh my gods, look at its little beak!” Karlach cooed next to her. “C’mere you doll!”
The owlbear cub screeched, frightened by the sudden outburst, and turned to run back into the Underdark. Tav let her head drop as she watched the creature scurry away.
So close.
“Damn it! We scared it off. Poor little beaky fella…” Karlach was pouting now.
“We?” Tav asked, arms folded over her chest.
“Well, I hope he finds his way back.” Karlach turned and retired to her tent for the evening.
Tav kept her eyes focused on the bushes where the cub retreated.
“It will likely find its way back. Once you’ve fed them, they’ll want to come back for more.” Halsin was also watching the path the cub had taken, making sure that it was gone for the evening.
“How did you know about the cub?” She turned to ask him.
“I had seen it out with the mother some time ago. I was tracking them seeing as they were so close to the grove. Plus, it’s so rare that you see a mother and cub out of the nest together, I was thrilled to find them. So few get to study the family dynamics of owlbears.” She noticed a slight change in his demeanor as he shared this. There was a spark of excitement in his voice she hadn’t heard yet in their travels.
“How did you know about the cub?” He asked.
Tav was hit with a small spike of panic. “We uh, we sort of had a run in with its mother.” She admitted as she fiddled with her braid. “She attacked us, and we ended up…killing her.”
“And the cub?”
“The cub was there, I just couldn’t bring myself to hurt it. It’s just a baby, and I don’t know I thought maybe we could…I don’t know…get it to…follow us…to camp.”
“You thought you would adopt…an owlbear?” With one eyebrow raised, an admiring smile crept across his face.
“What can I say? I see an orphaned animal and I go all soft.” Tav threw her hands in the air.
He was still smiling at her, it was a sweet smile that made her heart flutter.
“Anyway, I uh, I should probably head to bed.” She kept her eyes locked on his. Tired as she was, she couldn’t bring herself to leave his company just yet.
“Of course. Sweet dreams…” He held his gaze for just another moment before turning away to go and sit by the fire. Tav had a fond smile on her face as they went their separate ways. She looked back over her shoulder as she reached her tent. Despite his insistence that it wasn’t necessary, she saw Halsin spreading out the bedroll she had given him next to the fire.
#bg3#bg3 fan#bg3 halsin#baldur's gate 3#baldur's gate iii#halsin x tav#halsin fanfic#halsin silverbough#bg3 fluff#bg3 headcanons#halsin fluff
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Ta'varin 'Tae' Arkenval | Drow (Surface) | Circle of the Land Druid / Cleric of Eilistraee | They/Them | 94
Questions by @sporeservant , found here! A slightly more lighthearted set of answers for my fluffy pastel custom Tav when compared to my Durge, haha.
Favourite weapon: Phalar Aluve most beloved! They don't actually use it much? Like, they're very much not trained in using a longsword, haha. But they have an emotional attachment to it due to the connection to their Goddess, and so it's a permanent part of their gear.
Style of combat: Distance magic user. They mostly use stuff like Moonbeam, Spike Growth, and Call Lightning, although Sunbeam certainly becomes a late-game fave!
Most prized possession: As mentioned, very attached to Phalar Aluve.
Deepest desire: By the end of the game, it's to find a cure for Karlach. You don't willingly go to the Hells for someone you don't intend on helping to the fullest extend of your ability!
Guilty pleasure: They're most comfortable in the wilderness, but secretly… they really like shopping in the Wide.
Best-kept secret: They actually secretly really like the Underdark. It has this weird sort of beauty to it - glowing mushrooms and trees and all. It sort of feels like an insult to Eilistraee, but it's just… a cool vibe.
Greatest strength: A finely balanced combination of gentleness and forgiveness, and a willingness to murder someone if they deserve it. This may or may not be a strength.
Fatal flaw: A finely balanced combination of gentlene…
Favourite smell: Clean green loamy smells, the smell of the forest after rain. Also, freshly baked bread.
Favourite spell or cantrip: Speak With Animals their beloved. It was the first one they ever used (a scroll as a birthday gift) and is still their most-used.
Pet peeve: People who leave trash and stuff around their campsites. The traveller's chest just kept filling up with random trash they kept finding in the wilds so they could dispose of it later. Pick up your shit, people!!
Bad habit: Like. Eating leaves and flowers and mushrooms. One of the reasons they started learning herblore and the like was to work out what would be safe to randomly stick in their mouth. Their favourite is acorn truffle.
Hidden talent: A pretty dab hand with a grass whistle. PHWEET.
Leisure activity: Honestly they just love hanging out outside and chatting with animals. Catching up on gossip with the birds and all. They also enjoy reading and listening to music, and a bit of drawing (albeit not very well).
Favourite drink: Fruity teas. Technically at this point they're not actually teas, they're like, fruit infusions, but they're nice hot drinks with fruits. Tea!
Comfort food: Pumpkin soup, served with freshly-baked bread dripping with a good-quality olive oil, a good sweet caramelised vinegar, and sprinkled with nuts and spices (I'm thinking EVOO, caramelised balsamic, and dukkah specifically, although I don't think it'd be called that in Faerûn. The wiki does, at least, list sesame seeds, coriander/cilantro, cumin, and mint, and hazelnut oil that implies the existence of, well, hazelnuts, has olive oil, and has vinegars, so the dish itself would certainly be possible!). Shit now I'm hungry.
Favourite person: Karlach <3 Aside from their actual girlfriend, though, they adore and look up to Halsin - he reminds them a great deal of their wood elf grandfather, who, while not a druid, had a love of nature too that he instilled in young Tae.
Favoured display of affection (platonic and/or romantic): Honestly they're almost like an animal themself in the sense that it's just… sitting and existing near a person they like. Not necessarily touching or talking (although they're not opposed to it!), just… chilling in their space.
Fondest childhood memory: Got that Speak With Animals scroll and was never the same again. Spent that entire birthday just wandering the forest and talking to every animal they could find.
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get to know your tav; thank you @sporeservant for making this and for the tag!!
ysra stoneheart / duergar / oath of ancients paladin / acolyte / she/her
favorite weapon: generally, two-handed weaponry. she's currently using a glaive, which she likes for the extra reach it gives her; her biggest combat frustration is when she's not fast enough to reach an enemy quickly and easily, so it helps with that.
style of combat: she gets up close and personal and hits hard. she’s a big fan of smiting the shit out of enemies who piss her off particularly badly.
most prized possession: two things she's kept in her inventory since early act 1. first, her book of paladin tenets, which she returns to whenever she's feeling lost or discouraged or maybe wondering what the hell she's doing up here. it's a reminder of what she thinks is worth fighting for. second, the story that mirkon wrote for her after she saved him from the harpies. the beginning of the game was a speedrun of some of the worst days of ysra's life, and that was the first thing that gave her any kind of hope in the middle of the horror and despair she was feeling.
deepest desire: well, currently to avoid turning into a mind flayer, which has been one of her greatest fears for as long as she’s been old enough to fear anything. but beyond that, ever since leaving the underdark she’s been searching for a new god to worship. she was raised as an acolyte of laduguer, and while she doesn’t miss the god himself she misses the sense of purpose that came with the worship. sometimes she’s worried her paladin oath is a little directionless. she’s been searching the world for any sense of connection with a higher power, and thus far has found nothing, but she sure would like to.
guilty pleasure: bad jokes. there was very little humor in the environment ysra was raised in. jokes were pretty much entirely foreign to her before coming to the surface, and she’s finding she quite likes them.
best-kept secret: she isn't exactly secretive, but she isn't forthcoming about her life in the underdark and what brought her to the surface. her party knows the gist of that at this point, but they don't know that she has a few old friends in baldur's gate. they didn't end on good terms, it's in large part her fault, and she's simultaneously praying she doesn't run into them and hoping she does.
greatest strength: she’s a natural leader. she’s charismatic enough to draw people to her and decisive enough to act first when something needs to be done.
fatal flaw: she’s incredibly impulsive, prone to acting on instinct without waiting for all the necessary information.
favorite smell: the forest right after it’s rained.
favorite spell or cantrip: it’s a toss-up between speak with animals and misty step, although she’s also a big fan of divine smite.
pet peeve: laziness, overpriced merchandise, and enemies who stay out of melee range.
bad habit: she works herself into the ground. laduguer is a god of endless labor, and even though she doesn’t worship him anymore, she did for so long that bone-deep exhaustion still feels like she’s doing something right. her party is trying to work on this with her, because on more than one occasion her insistence on them pressing forward when they really needed to rest has resulted in them getting their shit wrecked.
hidden talent: she knows how to play the lyre, and she's actually pretty good at it! it’s not exactly something she hides, but it’s very much something people don’t assume when they first meet her.
leisure activity: she’d rather listen to music than play it herself, but she’ll gladly pass the time with either. she loves stargazing and a good story.
favorite drink: she recently discovered hot apple cider and thinks it’s one of faerun’s greatest creations. also loves a good ale.
comfort food: anything with mushrooms in it. she loves seeing how people take the food that was her [metaphorical] bread and butter growing up and do new things with it; a taste of the world she grew up in combined with the world she chose.
favorite person: lae’zel is ysra’s partner and the person she trusts most in the world. they’ve always had a deep mutual respect and understanding that slowly grew into something more. karlach is up there too; ysra finds her enthusiasm for life and everything in it incredibly contagious, and being around her just makes ysra happy.
favored display of affection (platonic and/or romantic): she’s still getting used to casual physical touch, but she really likes it. especially a sucker for hand holding.
fondest childhood memory: she and her older brother used to sneak out to look at all the things that glowed in the dark. to ysra, the underdark is as beautiful as it is dangerous, and although she'd never go back for good it was nostalgic to be there again.
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Character Statistics
Basics:
full name: Caelnir Tav
titles: none
nicknames: Cael
gender: Male
pronouns: He/Him
sexual orientation: queer/demi-ace/demi-aro
marital status: None
age: 52
place of birth: Mantol-Derith, in the Underdark.
residence: On the road with his little brother Kestrel. He still considers Mantol-Derith a home of sorts, though he hasn't been back in decades.
occupation: Bard
species: Half drow, half human
known languages: Common, Elvish, Undercommon, Drow sign
Appearance:
height: 5'7"
build: Slender, athletic
eyes: Right side green, left side brown.
hair: White, with some dyed blue streaks. Short on top and long enough to reach his hips in the back, but he keeps the long parts braided and tucked up in a bun.
tattoos: Hymn lyrics on his face for Eilistraee and Vhaerun, the two aspects of the Masked Lady.
other distinguishing features: Scars across his face and neck. Both ears are pierced 4 times. Freckles.
style: Casual and comfortable for every day life, but he does like to dress up in ruffles and laces when he can. He wears some plate armor when he's traveling, because he trained as a paladin.
Personality:
positive traits: Compassionate, friendly, perceptive, creative.
negative traits: Sarcastic, sometimes paranoid or anxious, feels like he needs to become proficient in everything.
likes: Music, new instruments to learn, cats.
dislikes: Bullies. Being treated differently by both drow and humans because of his mixed race.
fears: That his loved ones won't come back from where they've gone.
phobias: Spiders
hobbies: Music, writing, sometimes sketching.
skills: Learning new instruments, writing, sword fighting, ambidextrous with instruments and weapons.
quirks: Cannot experience reverie and sleeps like a human. He's a night owl because sunlight still gives him headaches sometimes. Is religious, praying daily and participating in ceremonies when he can.
pet peeves: People who can afford to pay rewards but do not offer, or refuse to pay when asked.
Family:
mother: Jayne Tav (human, Harper)
father: Elamshin Mizzrune (drow, Knight of the Silver Dark)
siblings: Kestrel Tav (half sun-elf, younger half-brother), Demagh Tav (half-drow, adopted older brother, @joasakura’s OC)
spouse/lover: Astarion is his thiramin (soulmate)
children: none, and does not want any.
pets: scratch, owl bear cub, makes friends with EVERY cat he meets.
notable close relatives: Demagh Tav, Jaheira (godmother).
best friend: his brothers Kestrel and Demagh.
rival/nemesis: none
Faves:
time of day/night: Full night.
weather: Windy and warm.
breakfast food: Grilled mushrooms with eggs.
dinner food: Anything with mushrooms.
snack food: crunchy grubs
colours: Deep reds.
songs: The hymn to The Masked Lady that he has tattooed on his face.
Other random stuff:
a cherished item: His mandolin, which belonged to his mother.
first love: Demagh Tav, although that was mostly an extremely strong Friend Crush.
usual mood: Calm and happy, but can suffer spikes of anxiety.
defining moments: Deciding to stay with his father in the Underdark when his mother left them for the surface. Meeting his little brother Kestrel when their mother brought him to live with Caelnir's father because she was dying. Nearly failing to rescue Kestrel from a giant spider attack. Moving to the Night Above (the surface) so that his sun-elf brother wouldn't wilt in the Underdark. Making the choice not to take his paladin vows yet (he keeps saying he will do it eventually, but never has).
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Pictures and Descriptions under the cut
Glowcap Mushroom
"The glowcap is an Underdark traveller's boon, both lighting the way and dazzling the tongue."
A lovely shade of blue.
Bluecap Mushroom
"While bland and tasteless, bluecap spores are your best bet at finding something edible in the Underdark."
These guys never highlight as lootable in the environment. Tricky little guys.
Blushcap Mushroom
"Red and white mushrooms appear in many children's rhymes throughout Faerûn."
The mush. The myth. The 🍄.
White Mushroom
"Delicious when sautéed with a bit of garlic, cooked into a cream, or grilled with a slice of veal."
A classic with real life appeal
Fragrant Fungus Stew
"A popular duergar dish. And why not? Its ingredients are common, and its flavour as bright as the glowcaps that comprise it."
Careful who you get this from, may contain myconid. The duergar in Grymforge seemed sick of it despite its apparent popularity.
Mushroom Soup
"A thick, rich soup to warm both your hands and stomach."
"Simmered for hours on a low fire until a generous helping of mushrooms were rendered soft and creamy."
So beloved the game has two different items for it!
#bg3#baldur's gate 3#baldurs gate 3#mushroom#poll#polls#bgiii#baldur's gate iii#baldur's gate#baldurs gate
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