This, But Also It Made Me Think

this, but also it made me think

...Dark Sun Astarion?

Stop putting Astarion in sexy high fashion outfits start putting him in Bloodborne armor I need more of that

I've started a new journey with a new tav, Kronya, a ranger/rogue tiefling, but can't decide which romance should I stick to for her. Help me out 👀

I wish the post-Araj dialogue wasn't a confession at all. Depending on the dialogue choices you make, with the post Yurgir confession the topic of his autonomy and not wanting to have sex is barely touched, and it feels like the parts of the story arc are missing, but as a confession it makes a lot more sence. Having both dialogues would feel a lot more complete

I know people prefer the post Yurgir confession. It feels more genuine yes. But there is something to be said about this confession. It's not about us, it's about him. He's realising he has full autonomy. He doesn't have to perform or force himself to do things he doesn't want to do anymore. And he's also realising he did the same thing with us. But doesn't want to do that anymore. He does want something real. He does still feel awful about what he did. He still thinks we're incredible, all the sentiments from the other confession are there. But this confession is about him rediscovering himself and what he wants. I think that's very important. I wish we could talk to him about Araj even if we got the other confession already.

I got the banter where Lae’zel says something overly intense like normal and Karlach is like “you can take a day off every once and a while” and Lae’zel is like “I do not take days off!”

and I’m laughing remembering romancing Lae’zel and in the epilogue you can be like “let’s take some time off after this” and Lae’zel is like “Of course 🥰 I have vacation plans that will please you my joy 😘 we will have a well deserved time off”

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.

god’s favourite princess