I Really Don't Hear Enough People Talk About The Fact That Shadowheart Was Not Only Brainwashed As A

I really don't hear enough people talk about the fact that Shadowheart was not only brainwashed as a child, but had her memories repeatedly wiped. This isn't just your run of the mill reeducation. Like we're talking about having your brain literally tampered with by magic on a metaphysical level which is so incredibly violating and just on a completely different level than the typical indoctrination you see an average cultist goes through.

Your memories and lived experience is fundamentally responsible for shaping the kind of person you are. We see how important memories are with Durge because once they lost their memories, they were no longer the same person and became someone entirely new. Shadowheart was frequently subjected to memory wipes since she was kidnapped as a child, forced to adopt Sharran dogma, and every time she started remembering things about her past or strayed from their teachings, they'd take her memories away again. Imagine the only memories you're allowed to keep are the ones your abusers let you, as they continue to alter your perception of reality in order for you to stay obedient to their control. This is gaslighting on a level we have literally never seen before irl.

It's no wonder Shadowheart says the things she says, and yet, somehow, against the strict doctrines and manipulation that's been hammered into her for decades, she always ends up reverting back to her true self. From Viconia's journal:

No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't erase the good in her. It's honestly impressive Shadowheart is able to fight the brainwashing to this extent. And when she's left alone for once with people who are patient with her and make her feel safe, when she's given enough time to find herself again without being reset back to square one every time she gained an inch? She thrives.

POV: You took over the world. Your evil murder kitten has never loved you more.

rereading this with the context of the new durge ending... 🤐

I could end us both, you know.

Sometimes I see modded smooth Astarion on my feed and get jumpscared even worse than he was by ghouls

...sweet hells 😮‍💨

I think I'd make a fine teacher. Or a baker. Or a butcher. A butcher? Really? Sure. Blood excites me.

This is such a nice take why it can be interesting to have Minthara in a good playthrough.

To add, I never really understood the problem with Minthara joining you without raiding the grove - she would have zero interest in the grove herself, she was literally mind controlled to raid it. Sure, Minthara approves of evil choices, but she is also a very pragmatic person. When you save her, she doesn't really care if your character is good or evil, what she cares about is the reasoning behind your decisions, and she can approve different approaches as long as they are rational to her. If you kill the tieflings, she also questions it, and will even disapprove if you say you did it just for fun.

This might get me some hate, but I really wish they didn't allow good playthrough only players to have Minthara as a companion. If we can't have Karlach and Wyll legitimately in the raid the grove part of the game, yall shouldn't have Minthara. I will never understand why they added that, and Minthara is bugged out because of it if you knock her out.

I do love the tieflings, I understand where people are coming from, but like, she isn't a good person????? Lae'zel and Astarion will also leave your party if you do too many good things while they are in the active party layout. Idk I have so many thoughts on this. AND you are locked out of having Halsin too in the raid the grove route. I'm just in a ranty mood tonight before bed lol. I'm sort of salty about it, but not really. Anyways I'm going to bed 🫠