Bg3 Asks - Tumblr Posts

so, what your answer will be?

general 7 and story 1 for leon, and general 10 and story 6 for ashtoret :DD

Answers under the cut bc this is rather long!

Leon

General 7

Leon would definitely have a personal quest that covers the whole arc of the game. When you meet him in Act 1, he'd likely just look like an ordinary elf with no special features. Once you got his approval level high enough or just spoke to him enough, likely the next long rest after the first Dream Guardian visit, you'd get the chance to speak with him privately, where he would let his glamour drop to reveal the draconic scales that cover his face. He'd confess that they were always a point of insecurity for him, something monstrous and out of place in the halls of a noble scion, but he trusts Tav/Durge enough to reveal them. This gets him talking about his family, which reveals that he's the firstborn son of one of the patriars of Baldur's Gate. [BALDURIAN: Wait, you're Lord Alejandro's missing son?! All the rumors said that you were dead!] Once that's revealed, it kickstarts his personal quest, The Frozen Heart, the main goal of which is for him to get back home and reunite with his father/brothers. It would somewhat resemble Wyll's personal quest in that his two paths would very much be 'Go back and take your place as the Scion of your Noble House' or 'Dude, fuck your family, you deserve freedom, leave all this shit behind and make your own way.' A major throughline of his quest would be helping him to accept those features for which he was deemed monstrous and an unsuitable heir, as well as assisting him in gaining greater control over the draconic magic that flows through his veins and coming to terms with his past failures to strike out on his own.

If the player chooses to ally with Gortash and never does The Iron Throne or anything that would antagonize him, then Leon would be set more towards his 'You know what, fuck your family' path, because his father would survive the events of the game and going back home would mean being under his thumb again. If, by contrast, the player does fight and kill or otherwise antagonize Gortash, that triggers the event where many of the patriars, Leon's father and brother included, are slaughtered. This would then make him think that he needs to stay behind and take over as head of the household, otherwise the house will fall. You can still sway him to the opposite path, regardless of which track you're on, but it will be a chunky Persuasion check.

Story 1)

Actually got a bit of a scene mapped out for this one, so, enjoy!

--- (Camera slowly pans in on LEON looking away from the PLAYER as they approach from behind. After a moment, he seems to realize they're behind him, and turns to face them.)

LEON: Forgive me, I was lost in thought. I... could not help but overhear the others talking this morning. It seems I was not the only one with disturbed sleep last night. (he pauses, his expression almost pleading Tav/Durge to say 'no') Is it true? Did you dream of a familiar face, a protector last night?

PLAYER (Dream_Guardian_Familiar_FALSE): No, the face wasn't familiar, but I definitely also dreamed about a strange figure promising power and protection... PLAYER (Dream_Guardian_Familiar_TRUE): Yes, I did. Someone I knew long ago came to me promising power and protection, if I accepted the tadpole's powers. (IF_PLAYER_DURGE_TRUE) Though hells if I can place exactly where I've seen that face before...

LEON: I could have sworn I saw my mother's- Ah, but if we all shared the same dream last night, then that is an utter impossibility. It must be. Never mind.

PLAYER: What do you think of the potential the Dream Visitor offered us? LEON: I... am not sure what to think of it. I want to believe that my m- that whoever is visiting us would not lead us astray. And yet, they clearly know enough about us to choose a form we're likely to believe or trust inherently. And anything that may deepen our infection is concerning. However, we might need the power on offer if we are to survive this. I... doubt I have much awaiting me, even once I return home, so if any of us were to take the risk, it ought to be me.

---

Ashtoret

General 10)

Ashtoret has 2 unique NPCs that can show up for them over the course of the game. The first, of course, is their companion wolf Lupus, who basically always vibes at camp once they're recruited. This can lead to a unique scene with Shadowheart where Ashtoret tries to help her overcome her phobia of wolves with light exposure therapy. (Also, you can always pet Lupus bc I say so. He's a good boi, he deserves to get pets.)

The second unique NPC, who you'll only see in Act 3, is their father Sylvaris, a wood elf who serves as a part of the Flaming Fist and is investigating the Open Hand Temple Murders alongside Valeria. He openly disdains Valeria's 'open and shut' solution to the case, and like Devella, is certain that there is more than meets the eye to this vicious killing. However, there is, at present, precious little evidence to refute Valeria's claim, and if she's decreed the case closed, then he cannot officially explore other avenues. So, he encourages the party to do some digging of their own and is at Sharess's Caress with Valeria when you present your findings. He goes off into the city ahead of you and will occasionally pop up during the Investigate the Murders questline. Once Tav/Durge realizes it all trails back to the Cult of Bhaal, you can encourage him to lay off the case before it gets him killed. (Or as Durge, possibly indulge the urge and kill this nosy cop before he sticks his nose in any deeper, though doing that will absolutely cause Ashtoret to turn hostile and trigger a combat.)

Annnd I'll wait on answering Story 6 bc another asker also wanted to know about both characters, so I'll answer that one in the next post!

4 & 11 from general, and 6 & 14 from story specific for ash & leon both? 👀👀

Once again, answers under the cut as this is going to get rather lengthy!

Leon

General 4)

Leon is very much a Good party member, so when you do things that help people, that will raise his approval levels. If you do so only after extorting them or outright refuse to help, he will disapprove. Leon also is not particularly fond of deception and double-dealing, and while he disapproves of making a contract with Raphael, he disapproves even more if you tell him that you had no intention of ever sticking by your word with that devil.

If you show mercy, even to those who arguably don't deserve it, he will approve. Act with cruelty and impunity, and he will disapprove. Try to coerce him into doing something and fail the check, he will disapprove a lot, especially if the decision he's protesting is morally ambiguous. (Or relating to the Astral Tadpole.)

General 11)

So! Fun fact, if you chat with the djinni at the Circus of the Last Days and wind up getting portaled to Chult, you get a special Act 3 backstory dump from Leon if you tell him that you think that's where you ended up. He expresses extreme gratitude that you survived your brief sojourn there. Up to that point, he would have obliquely mentioned that he tried setting out on his own before with an adventuring expedition that failed. Twice.

Here is where he would reveal that the expedition was to Chult during the time of the Death Curse. So to see that Tav/Durge went there and made it back in one piece is a great relief.

Story 6)

Leon, like Wyll, Karlach, and Halsin, is absolutely impossible to keep in the party if you decide to assault the Emerald Grove. He leaves the party the very second Tav/Durge starts making overtures towards Minthara that imply that they might be serious about assaulting the druids and tieflings sheltering there.

If he's present at that moment, he interrupts the conversation, he pleads with Tav/Durge not to turn their back on the refugees, then angrily asks if some Drow woman's approval is worth stabbing so many innocents in the back if you put your foot down. After that, to save face in front of Minthara, you'd have to openly tell him to get lost. And get lost, he does, and shows up as a hostile NPC when you assault the Grove. If he's not in the party, once you tadpole connect with him at camp, he jumps right to his sneering disapproval of you damning the innocents of the grove for no worthy reason and ditches the party.

If you ultimately decided to side with the Grove out of guilt or out of some 5D chess play to lure Minthara and a host of goblins out of the camp, you can get Leon back as a party member if he survives, but you'll also have to pass a pretty high DC Deception or Persuasion check to make it happen.

(DECEPTION) I was planning to betray Minthara from the very beginning. There was never a single moment where I considered handing over the Grove.

(PERSUASION) Do my motivations really matter? We saved the Grove, in the end, and we've decimated the goblins' forces. Next time, try not to jump to conclusions.

Fail, or choose another dialogue option, and he's done travelling with you. Succeed, and while he'll rejoin the party, his approval of Tav/Durge will be fucking tanked for the next long while.

Story 14)

Leon is one of the Companions that would offer to become a mind flayer in Tav/Durge's place, especially if you're going down the Free Orpheus route and Leon's 'fuck your family, they all suck' route. Orpheus must be free to lead his people, the world needs heroes like Tav/Durge to follow, all he has is his former Noble House, which depending on the player's actions to that point, might be nonexistent. He will make this sacrifice, and if anyone else will not do it, he will kill himself after the final battle.

If Tav/Durge goes through with becoming a mind flayer themselves, Leon wants to believe that they're still in there and is willing to extend every benefit of the doubt to them. If he is romanced, he is one of the few that will, without reservation, stay with you. And whether he's romanced or not, he will become a zealous advocate for making sure the true story is known, that a mind flayer saved Baldur's Gate. The world has had enough of its polite fictions.

Ashtoret

General 4)

Ashtoret, as a Folk Hero, would have a lot of the same approval/disapproval schemata that Wyll does. Do something to help out the small folk? Approval. Do something that actively screws the disadvantaged over? Disapproval.

They're also extremely fond of the stories of old, so if you manage to pull off some storybook feat of guile, they'll approve of that as well and possibly gain inspiration. (They are extremely approving if Tav/Durge sasses Vlaakith and talks shit about Mystra. Real plucky heroes say 'Fuck them gods!')

However. Ashtoret also approves if you take harsh but merciful actions like putting down the owlbear cub after its mother dies. And they have a dark side to them that approves of telling the Goblins to off themselves in Act 2. (Plus, while it will take a hellacious Persuasion check to convince them to remain in a party with any Tav/Durge who actively courts the Murder Tribunal and becomes an Unholy Assassin of Bhaal, they gain approval when you kill Valeria as the final test.)

General 11)

Putting down the owlbear cub might actually trigger a special anecdote with Ashtoret as they recount the first time they had to do something similar. Downing a wild boar and finding their piglets, they had to make the judgement call whether it was better to let the wee ones try to find their own way or simply... put an end to them to spare meaningless suffering and the risk of the boar population rebounding.

If you chose to let the cub live, they'll express concern and hope that the beast does manage to survive and the decision doesn't come back to bite you. Kill it, and they're glad that you saw what needed to be done and took action, even if it felt cruel to do so.

Story 6)

Ashtoret can be convinced to stay with a Tav/Durge who assaults the Grove with a Persuasion check that only appears after you soften them up with "The druids have this retribution coming for betraying their own tenets."

After that, they express concern about the Tieflings.

(PERSUASION, DC 16) "Do you really think they have any place outside the Grove? Tieflings aren't welcome anywhere after the Descent."

Ashtoret concedes that Tav/Durge has a point, but that's all the more reason why the party should try to help them.

(PERSUASION, DC 14) "Save them now, and they die starving on the road. Kill them now, and their suffering ends quickly."

After which point, Ashtoret stamps their feet while exclaiming, "Fuck... FUCK! All right. All right. Fine. I'm with you."

Now, you may notice that the DC for the second check was lower than the first. This plays into Ashtoret's mechanic, where the more you successfully Persuade them to do things that they're maybe not in support of at first, the lower the DC you need to convince them to help you becomes. They're a hero of conviction at the start, but you can slowly convince them to turn their back on their morals as the plot goes along. (Though this locks them into their darker route, where they become a hero in name only.)

Story 14)

Ashtoret would insist that there had to be some other way, some other method that didn't involve sacrificing anyone's soul or making a devil's deal. Do they trust The Emperor? Sure! Enough to hand him the Crown of Karsus, sight unseen? Hells no. They don't exactly trust Orpheus either, but they don't want any of their friends or potential partners to transform. Hells, they've spent this entire journey trying to avoid that fate!

Ashtoret absolutely will not volunteer to become a mind flayer, and if you try to chat with them when making the decision, they're going to ask if you intended to try to convince them to do it. (Which is hilariously ironic, given the events of their canon as a Tav.)

They're not fond of the decision if Tav/Durge becomes a mind flayer, but they also won't go offering swift death unless it's requested. If romanced, Ashtoret is clearly put off, but really wants to try to keep things going with Tav/Durge. Like Shadowheart, they will emphasize the need for secrecy and discretion, and are willing to offer their assistance in hunting for sustenance. They're more blatantly opposed at first, but if they don't warm to the idea, they at least are pragmatic about it.

more questions, as requested :3 general 1 & 3, story 7, 12, & 16, and romance 7 for both? 👀 or feel free to pick & choose lol

Answers under the cut, you know the drill by now. These posts run long. lol

Leon

General 1)

Leon would be encountered in the general nautiloid crash region, likely at the Abandoned Chapel where you encounter that group of brigands set to loot the building for all it's worth. He's being held up by that crew, who think he looks just fancy enough to have some valuables that would be worth something if he parted with them.

When one of them presses in too close to him, a sudden surge of frost flies out from his fingers and freezes the arm of the person in question. Leon looks a mix of terrified and glad to see others have arrived on the scene. The scene proceeds as usual from there, except you have a chance to chat with Leon after the fact once you've saved him, be it through combat or just convincing the group to ditch.

As Tav/Durge chat with him, either graciously extending their help for free or extorting him for money in exchange for their aid, the tadpole link flares up.

You see the canopy of a dense jungle, feel your sweat plastering your hair to your face, hear the shrieks of distant monsters. Fear motivates your steps, even when exhaustion drags you to your knees. Then comes an ominous tentacled shadow and blessed unconsciousness.

Leon is horrified at the sudden ingress into his mind, and even more horrified by the prospect of becoming an illithid before the tenday's out. He offers to join the party if they seek a cure, and apologizes in advance- his command over his magic isn't what it should be, but it should return to him before too long.

General 3)

If you find Leon before Astarion, despite Astarion's less than pleasant introduction to Tav/Durge, Leon will advise them to take him aboard. "He reminds me of someone I once knew... I feel as if we can trust him."

He's also states that, "The Blade of Frontiers is of good stock. His companionship would serve us well." if you meet Wyll after him.

Story 7)

At the tiefling party (Leon categorically will not be present at any goblin party, see previous answers for that.), he can be found by his tent, arms folded behind his back as he watches the rest of the group have fun and start drinking and dancing. When you approach him, he admits that he's always felt rather out of place at events like this.

Yes, as a Noble, he was expected to attend and put his best foot forward, but that always made such parties nerve-wracking. He could never allow himself to enjoy the atmosphere, lest he lose focus on the glamour concealing his scales or else cause some other scandal with his magic flaring at an inopportune time.

Invite him to drink or get extremely forward with him, and he will politely decline the offer. Ask him to dance, and he'll accept, sharing a chaste courtly dance with Tav/Durge. Push him for more than a basic partnered dance, and he'll demur and tell them to seek other company for the night. Surely they wouldn't want to spend their whole evening with someone who wanted to withdraw from the festivities as soon as it was polite to do so and settle in with a book, yes?

Story 12)

Because I love the drama that comes with Orin being able to kidnap people and wish she had more options, of course she can kidnap and replace Leon.

The 'run into the sewers headlong from Elfsong Tavern' version of meeting a false Leon would go something like this:

"Hells... no, not you, not now-! You have to get away from this place. Hurry, before she realizes I've slipped my bonds! (Who?) Orin. She infiltrated our camp. Lured me deeper into the city, then dragged me into the Bhaalist Enclave. She said she'd bleed my veins for every last drop of dragonblood in them, and drain my jewels for every ounce of seed to sire a new generation of draconic Bhaalspawn. I only barely managed to escape, but if you don't flee here, now, you will not. Please... let me succeed in saving someone, if only this once..."

Cue the gross neck-cracking shape-shifting.

If Tav/Durge runs into "Leon" at camp, they find his little area (tent or corner of the Elfsong) iced over. (Not an uncommon occurrence after particularly stressful Plot Events.)

"Is there something upsetting you?" "Ah, it's you. I apologize, I simply could not help but think- it's strange to me, that you're still alive. Do not get me wrong, I am grateful, truly, but... by this point in my prior journeys, I was already alone. My comrades... my friends... all dead, because of me. Because I, for cowardice or incompetence, abandoned them. Led them to their dooms. And I cannot help but think- but fear- that you and yours will be the next to fall to the curse of death that seems to follow me."

Passive Perception rolls in the background and if the check passes, you realize that while you see the glistening of frost on Leon's skin and belongings, you do not feel the bone-biting chill such cold would usually produce.

Whether you point out this discrepancy, try to comfort him, coldly tell him to get over himself, or leave him to work this out in silence, he continues,

"Perhaps it would be for the best if I simply parted ways with you here. Went back home with my tail between my legs and begged my lord father's forgiveness. Before any more lives get dragged down by my lodestone around their neck. After all, what hope have I of saving any of the rest of you, when I am incapable of saving even myself?"

His head drops, his neck cracks, and Orin morphs out of him in all her gross spine-shifting glory.

Once you save him from Orin, Leon is extremely grateful and quick to reassure you that while Orin did make all manner of threats against him and against them, and certainly got more handsy with him than he appreciated, she did not, in fact, er, 'milk him for his draconic bloodline's seed to use as the genesis for new Bhaalspawn', as she threatened.

Story 16)

Leon is utterly horrified and righteously infuriated when he discovers that the Durge has killed Alfira. He is also, as an elf, the first to awaken aside from Astarion, who's presumably away from camp when the murder happens.

He comes upon Durge in the immediate aftermath of their kill, as they're making their judgment call about whether to hide the body, resign themselves to their fate, wash the blood from their hands, or otherwise come up with a lie. Once he gets past the initial shock-recognition-horror, he looks to Durge and comments in a shaky voice, "We have to- her body, it cannot stay here, not like this. If the others awake and see-"

And then, the Durge has choices to make.

Accept the offer of help bc "oh good he's on my side, he'll help me hide the evidence" Accept the offer because "she deserves a more worthy resting place than this" Decline the help because why should you be ashamed, this is... beautiful, this is art Decline the help because no, you made a horrible mistake and everyone needs to know the truth Sit there in stunned, horrified silence

If you elect to let Leon help you hide the body, you get a brief tadpole connection that implies that this is not the first time Leon has helped to conceal a body. Chat with him the next day about it, whether Durge thanks him for his help or condemns him for wanting to help conceal the corpse, and he admits that he had to help his youngest brother, who had fallen in with the wrong crowd, hide a body on more than one occasion.

But there will be no more repeat occurrences. This was the first and final time he was willing to offer such assistance to the Durge.

Romance 7)

Question One: What is Leon's favorite thing to do on a quiet evening? (True Answer) Curl up with a good book of poetry. (True, but Leon Disapproves) Snuggle up close with a loved one. (False) Settle in with a bottle of wine.

Question Two: What does Leon long for most in this world? (True Answer) Family. A place to belong, a home to return to. (False) His title and station returned to him. (False) Love. A great romance to sweep him off his feet.

Question Three: What makes Leon feel the most insecure? (True Answer) His draconic blood. It leaves him feeling isolated and lost when dealing with others. (True, but Leon Disapproves) His past mistakes with his prior adventuring parties. (False) His strained relationship with his family.

Ashtoret

General 1)

You first encounter Ashtoret in between the Blighted Village and the Goblin Camp, where you fight the gnolls who burst free from the hyenas. Shortly after the first gnoll bursts free of the hyena's skin, an arrow comes flying out from the distance, piercing it through and killing it.

"You thought you could escape the sights of the Hunter of Greenest? Think again."

A wolf leaps onto the scene, savaging another newborn gnoll as the camera pans over to reveal a red-haired half-elf drawing back another arrow. "You are my prey," they announce, and combat with the gnolls begins.

Once the combat is over, the wolf rushes over to the party and sinks low into an attacking stance, causing Shadowheart to freak out if she's in the active party. Ashtoret calls out sharply to the wolf, getting it to lay down in a gesture of submission as they approach the party. "Ought to be more careful, friends. Yer in goblin territory, and where there's goblins, there's bound to be gnolls. What brings a motley crew like you all the way out- ARGH!"

Tav/Durge's tadpole connects with Ashtoret's, leading to the following narration:

You wait in breathless anticipation...or utter terror. Your quarry, the killer whose steps you've been tracing for months on end, is just within reach. Your sinews draw as tight as your bowstring as you take off in pursuit of your prey- a pale dragonborn(Tav)/a [GENDER] [RACE] (Durge). This time- *this time*, they will not escape.

Ashtoret is freaked out by the player's sudden ingress into their mind, then asks if they'd gotten themselves tadpoled as well. When the player answers in the affirmative, they ask if they can tag along with the group, see if they can find a healer before the infection takes hold.

If Tav/Durge rebuffs their initial attempts to join the party, they offer their assistance as a hunter to keep the crew well-fed. Between their arrows and Lupus' keen nose, there's little they won't be able to track for the group.

General 3)

The main time Ashtoret really comments when you recruit or try to recruit companions is with Wyll, Jaheira, and Minsc. In all three cases, they express extreme excitement to be traveling alongside a hero of some renown and acclaim. (They're almost as giddy as Karlach if they're in the party when you meet Jaheira at Last Light.)

Story 7)

At the tiefling party, Ashtoret is in the middle of a group of tieflings, about halfway through a bottle of wine and very, very smashed. They raise a bottle in toast to you, the hero of the hour, which gives you the chance to affirm their own heroic role in how events played out, demur, or flirt with them and ask if this is where the hero gets rewarded with a kiss.

If you've already committed to spend the evening with someone else, they'll admit that the offer is tempting, but that you'd better stick with your prior engagement. Don't let them keep you from the one you really want, yeah?

If you've not committed to anyone else, this is where you can get their first romance scene, and they very much jump right in to having sex if that's what the player wants. Dialogue options just determine positioning.

At the goblin party, Ashtoret is halfway through one wine bottle with an empty one lying on the ground next to them. They slur an apology, they're trying to get into the cel- celiba- celebratory, that's the word- mood, but this damn wine's nothing but watered-down piss and won't do the bloody job.

Try to talk to them about what happened at the grove, and they'll shush you and take another massive swig of wine, replying that they'd rather not fucking think about that too much right now.

They then lean right into Tav/Durge's personal space and drunkenly insinuate that they could use a much stronger distraction than a drink, if you catch their drift. Accept, and the first romance scene cues in, but with special narration that makes it clear Ashtoret isn't as deeply engaged as they could/should be. Decline, and they throw their hands up in a defensive gesture, apologizing for being so forward and misreading the signals. Better they find someone else to pass the night with, then. (Lae'zel may sleep with them if Tav/Durge does not.)

Story 12)

As with Leon, Ashtoret can be kidnapped and replaced by Orin. If you run into the sewers from the Elfsong basement, Ashtoret charges up to the door with an utterly panicked look on their face.

"Gods, I barely manage to slip away from one predator, and now my foot's caught in a bloody snare! Get out of here, quickly! (What's going on?) It's Orin. She was impersonating that little girl back at camp! When I gave chase, she had me surrounded, dragged down into the accursed Bhaalist Temple below the city. She threw me into a labyrinth, told me I'd need to hunt my way out, that I was surrounded on all sides by monsters. Beasts. But with each one I killed, what was left behind was... was a human corpse... A child's corpse. A-And at the end stood Lupus, turned feral. He wouldn't listen to me any more, I had to put him down, and I only just barely managed to find my way through these disgusting shit-stinking sewers. I've thrown her off the scent for now, but Orin's a wily predator, she'll find me again ere long. You have to get out of here before we're all caught in the hunter's trap!"

Cue Orin's neck-snapping reveal.

The camp version of a kidnapped Ashtoret would begin with a long shot of Lupus sound asleep, making adorable puppy sleep sounds while Ash looks at him with a pensive expression. When Tav/Durge approaches, the scene proceeds as follows:

"D'ye ever find yourself thinking about what it is that makes a hero? I've been thinking about it a lot, lately. Wondering, now that we're so close to the end of all of this, what sort of heroes we'll be when all is said and done. Because a part of me can't help but wonder if we are the heroes, aye, but heroes of a tragedy, whose pride and fall will be the warning lesson to those that hear the tale."

Stay silent, ask them what in the hells they're on about, or try to refute their words and say you'll be heroes among the greats like Balduran, and they'll chuckle in response.

"I suppose it doesn't exactly matter what we do to see the end of this, does it? The bards will water it down, make it more palatable, more acceptable in the retelling. It's so... easy to find ways to justify almost any action we take, as long as we remain convinced that we're the 'good guys'. You know, I bet, with the right bard at the helm, one could make a saint of even the most heinous Bhaalspawn in existence."

Accept that Ashtoret may be right, and Orin mocks you as she literally breaks character. Deny it, and she mocks you for being naive. Stay silent, and she mocks you for having nothing to say about your role in the grand design. Cue Orin revealing herself with the gross neck cracks.

Once you save Ashtoret from Orin, they tell you that she indeed did impersonate Yenna and had one of her other little changeling bastards follow her in the disguise of Orin herself to lure Ashtoret away from camp/the Elfsong to try and save the child. They admit to having been beaten within an inch of their life and bled until they nearly died, but they had a feeling she wouldn't kill them until she could make a proper Ritual Sacrifice of their death in her Father's name.

Story 16)

Ashtoret doesn't look nearly as disturbed or righteously furious as the rest of the party the morning after finding out that the Durge killed Alfira. In fact, they're remarkably terse and clipped with Durge when conversed with. They offer one-word responses or grunts and 'hmms' to the first few lines of dialogue you have with them before they ask, "That symbol under that poor, innocent bard's body. Do you know anything about it?"

When Durge, due to the amnesia, denies knowing anything about it, or at best admits that it feels familiar but they can't recall where they knew it from, Ashtoret's eyes narrow and Durge feels a sudden, insistent pressure at the edge of their mind, as if Ashtoret is trying to force their way in to get answers.

Durge can call them out, threaten them for poking into their head, or use the opportunity to tadpole into Ashtoret's head instead, which leads to these thoughts echoing in their ruined mind:

That's the symbol of Bhaal. Are they deliberately invoking his name or was it unconscious? Surely they're not just playing dumb, they have to know what that means...

This threatens to shake a memory loose, but doesn't fully manage to do so, and when the connection breaks, Ashtoret is livid that you poked around in their brain, despite their own blatant attempts to explore the Durge's mind. Durge can then, again, call them out and ask for trust, express exasperation with them because they're an amnesiac, Ash, what did you expect to find, or else threaten to stab them right in that wriggling little tadpole of theirs if they try to do that again.

Romance 7)

Question One: What brings Ashtoret the most joy? (True Answer) Spending time with their wolf and lover. (True, but Ashtoret Disapproves) Hearing people sing their praises. (False) A long night in pleasurable company.

Question Two: If Ashtoret were an animal, what animal would they be? (True Answer) A wolf- they love traveling in a pack and will do anything to protect their own. (False) A cat- they're far too curious for their own good and get themselves into trouble. (True, but Ashtoret Disapproves) A fox- they're incredibly cunning and both have red hair.

Question Three: A choice lies before Ashtoret, to stick with their principles or stand at their lover's side. Which would they choose? (True Answer) They would be willing to abandon their principles if the only other option were to stand against the one they loved. (False) Ashtoret would stand for their principles in a heartbeat. Heroes are nothing without them. (False) Ashtoret would kill the one forcing them to make an impossible choice like that.

7 & 27 for ashtoret, 6 & 16 for leon, and 1 & 12 for fionne from the tav questions, and 10 & 11 from the durge questions for xander? 👀👀

and, if i may: 10 & 11 from the tav questions for Everyone, xander included? :3 👀👀

All righty, time to dive back into Asks Hell (Affectionate). I love chatting abt my blorbos from my brain and I talk a lot so answers, as ever, are under the cut.

Ashtoret

7) Honestly, following in their father's footsteps. Sylvaris was a Ranger himself, albeit he was more focused on being an actual Hunter than a Beast Master and preferred using sword+board over archery. When they lived outside the city, before Sylvaris felt the call to serve in the Flaming Fist, Ashtoret would often join their father on hunting trips. They loved being among animals and nature, and, once their family moved fully into the city, would often flit in and out of town not only in search of adventure, but to re-ground themselves.

They've always had a knack for understanding animal behavior, so choosing to call upon a beastly companion was simply the most logical choice. They're a hunter, yes, but they do truly enjoy the companionship of a loyal, well-raised, well-trained beast.

10) Ashtoret would likely consider their greatest skill to be both their archery and their willingness to see things from other perspectives that most won't consider. They would absolutely be correct on the first front, but utterly lacking in self-awareness for the second. They do, in fact, have a great capacity for perspective-taking, but that does not mean that they actually absorb any of the perspective they have taken, nor less that they are some bastion of empathy.

11) Ashtoret would consider their greatest flaw to be indecisiveness. They feel that they often struggle with making a decision, making the correct decision, until circumstances utterly force their hand. Seeing them from the outside, how they stand with conviction by their actions despite internally roiling with guilt and doubt, one would not think them indecisive in the least. In fact, an outside observer would state that their true greatest flaw is their ability to rationalize and very selective sense of self-awareness.

27) Ashtoret tends to bristle when given orders, even when they can see the logic behind them. It's just one of those things that comes from having a natural rebellious streak. Tell them not to do something, well, now they want to do it even more because fuck you. Let them reach their own conclusions on whether or not to do something, and it will serve you much better. The Emperor learned that lesson early.

Leon

6) Honestly, there are 2 that Leon truly holds tight to. The first treasured childhood memory he had was of his mother gently holding his hands and guiding him through the motions to cast a simple ice spell. She was gentle with him, and did not seem bothered by the cold, unlike his father who always sneered for him to control himself.

Leon also fondly recalls his mother comforting him when, as a physical teenager, he attempted to pry some of his scales from his skin, hating the way his father forced him to put a glamour over them or otherwise hide himself away in his room. She found him before he could get too many pulled off, and was right there with a healing potion, soothing lotions, and even more soothing words. Granted, she did not tell him his father was out of line for his hatred of those scales, which he was, but she tried to ease the hurt to the best of her abilities.

And, while these memories occurred when he was a child by elven standards, if not physically a child, Leon remembers fondly the days when he had both of his brothers living in the house with him. Even if he often had to play the mediator between Ferdinand and Celestine's sibling rivalry and had to step up as a surrogate father to Celestine where his own father neglected him, he loves them both with all his heart and would give almost anything to have them back at home with him.

10) Leon tends to hold himself in rather low esteem for the most part, so if asked his greatest skill, he's likely to demur the question. If pressed, he may begrudgingly admit that he thinks he's an effective communicator, especially in writing. Given his charisma, this would not only be accurate, but almost comically selling himself short. Thankfully, he has his beloved Wyll to help give him the faith he seems to lack in himself.

11) Leon feels deeply that his greatest flaw is cowardice, especially in the form of unwillingness to question a situation his intuition tells him is wrong. His disdained 'cowardice' took more literal forms on the Chultan Expeditions, where not once, but twice did he abandon the crew he was traveling with out of fear and in an effort to save his own hide. But in the tadpole journey itself, this cowardice manifested in his unwillingness to press on necessary questions and doubts about his 'mother', his attempts to talk things over with monstrous foes rather than go for a killing blow. He wouldn't necessarily be wrong that cowardice and fear are his flaws, his enemies, but he's also not being particularly charitable to himself.

16) In general, Leon does not care much for killing. It is a regrettable necessity, but not one that he takes pleasure in. He did not hesitate to wipe out the Goblin Camp to a man without even attempting a peaceable negotiation first, mainly due to the behavior he'd seen from other goblins in the region and the fear the Grove and Tieflings both expressed. But when the Ch'r'ai at the creche praised him for becoming a nightmare to goblinkind, that approval filled Leon with a deep sense of shame.

Fionne

1) Fionne was raised in the Lower City of Baldur's Gate. He and his parents weren't what anyone might call rich, but they always lived in relative comfort through means that no one could really parse, as they didn't seem to actively do anything for a career. In truth, his parents Celestine and Morrigan were frugal with their spoils from their adventuring days, and augmented that with occasional alchemy and magic casts for those around them.

Their home was a unique place that felt almost like stepping into a little piece of the Underdark from all the various mushrooms and fungi about. The brightly-painted skeletal servants doing manual labor around the place gave it a certain macabre charm. But that's sort of what one would expect from a Bardic Necromancer and a Circle of Spores Druid. Of course, within said home, there were rooms forbidden to guests and prying young sons, where Celestine kept particularly dangerous artefacts from his days as an adventurer (and potentially a foe adventurers faced).

10) Oh, Fionne would tell you in an instant that his greatest asset is his dashing good looks and charming personality, of course. I mean, how could they not be? He can get anyone to do basically anything he wants, and that's only barely an exaggeration. (Given his unearthly charisma and beauty were part and parcel of his demonic pact, he'd damn well better be able to leverage them to his advantage, in his opinion.)

11) As for flaws, well, Fionne would cheekily answer that his flaw is simply being too amazing or witty for his own good. Sometimes people take his rapier-sharp wit to offense, and really, shame on them for taking a joke so hard.

In reality, his greatest flaw is impulsiveness. He will see an offer for power, for influence, for sex, and leap on it without even a moment's hesitation or reading of the fine print. Because surely the consequences of his actions will never catch him. If they tried, he'd simply say, "No thank you." RIP to everyone else, but he's just Built Different.

12) With regards to deities, Fionne has only three words to say: "Fuck. Them. Gods."

None of them heard his prayers when he was going through a long and awkward elf-puberty and facing some ostracization from the other children. None of them have ever offered him a damn thing, even when he did his Good Deed of the Day. And everyone's supposed to just do what these detached, squabbling beings tell them to because they're gods and they say so? Screw that. He openly sassed Vlaakith and, while he expressed curiosity about Shadowheart's faith in Shar, he did so with the express intention of getting into her pants. When Shadowheart chose to defy Shar, part of him rejoiced because 'haha fuck you, you're not as all powerful as you think, bitch'.

And now it's avatars of three dead gods that are making his present life a pain in the ass, while the rest just stand there with their hands tied like "iUnnO wHaT i'M sUpPoseD tO Do AbOuT tHIs". So, fuck 'em.

Xander

Durge 10) Xander hesitates to embrace the tadpole at first because he fears that it might be the source of the horrific, intrusive Urges he experiences. However, once Alfira lies dead at his hands and he tries to assert, however weakly, to his comrades that it might have been the tadpole and he knows for a fact that it wasn't the worm, he starts to see that embracing it might actually increase his mental fortitude, which in turn, would help him to resist the Urge boiling in his blood.

Durge 11) Scleritas would likely say of Xander that he always required abundant assistance to stay on the right path. He was raised until his teen years by a foster family that had a more conventional sense of morality and right and wrong. When his Urges fully awakened at eighteen and he slaughtered the entire family, he broke. He gave in to despair and surrendered to the Urge for a time, though impotent flashes of guilt would occasionally force him to stay his hand.

But, after some few years in Bhaal's service, it would be pride that made him start to resist his Urges. A sense of superiority, that he is better than the other lowly grunts of the cult who seem almost consumed by their base desires at the expense of all else. He was Chosen, he was Different, he was Apart, and he was not some mindless slaughter-beast, and would never become one. If any guilt motivated his actions, pre-tadpoling, it was faded echoes of even more faded memories.

Post-tadpoling, with his mind turned to slush at Orin's twitching knife-hand, now that he's around people with a more conventional moral compass again, it's guilt and fear that motivate him to resist the Urge. Guilt over his actions when the Urge takes over, and fear of losing the last tiny bit of himself that he's managed to retain to something Other.

Tav 10) Xander would state without question or reservation that his intellect is his greatest skill. It is the one thing he forced himself to hold fast to, even as every other memory got chiseled out or eaten by the wriggling tadpole. It is what lets him serve as a strategic leader and find the best path forward for the group. And this is true, but he really should also give himself more credit for his strength of will, his ability to fight against his very own blood and assert that he is more than his Father ever made him or allowed him to be.

Tav 11) Xander would consider his greatest flaw to be, well, the Urge itself. His propensity towards sadism and violence. The foul things he even now longs to do at times, without the excuse of the Dark Urge roiling within him. And, well, yes, this is definitely something he has to struggle with, but his greatest flaw, even in the days of old, was his ego. He's overcome it, to a certain extent, but he will always have the Wizard's Hubris in him.

Tav Banter and Dialogue

What would your Tav/Durge say if they could say unique dialogue?

Drop an ask with the name of my Tav or Durge and a few numbers, and I'll respond with a few lines they would say in that scenario! Or, tag someone to take on the Tav Banter/Dialogue Challenge and see if they'll answer a few of these prompts!

Combat/Movement

1. Clicking on them once (non-combat) 2. Spam clicking on them too many times 3. Directing them to attack/move in combat 4. Hiding/sneaking/hidden movement 5. Taking a short rest 6. Low health/asking for healing 7. Attacked by a party member 8. Companion/romance death reactions 9. Going to buff/heal a companion/romance 10. Sending them to talk to an NPC 11. Sending them to talk to their romanced partner

Interacting with Items

12. Encountering a locked chest/door 13. Picking a lock 14. Looking at a globe 15. Looking at an astrolabe 16. Looking at a telescope 17. Looking in a mirror 18. Looking at a nonmagical lamp 19. Noticing a trap 20. Can’t fit into a small hole

Location Comments and Party Banters

21. Comments/reactions near an Act 1 location 22. Comments/reactions near an Act 2 location 23. Comments/reactions near an Act 3 location 24. Lines said in the Morphic Pool or High Hall 25. Party banter with Astarion 26. Party banter with Gale 27. Party banter with Wyll 28. Party banter with Karlach 29. Party banter with Lae'zel 30. Party banter with Shadowheart 31. Party banter with Halsin 32. Party banter with Jaheira 33. Party banter with Minthara 34. Party banter with Minsc

Bonus (Misc, some companion dialogues)

35. How would your Tav/Durge greet a player character if they were a companion at low, neutral, high, or romanced approval? 36. What are some situational dialogues they would say when something happens to another companion or you talk to them while in a quest-specific location (such as commenting on Karlach's heart, Elminster visiting Gale, visiting Cazador's mansion, etc)? 37. How would they respond to a player character prompting them with, "Tell me about yourself"? 38. If a player character asks them to consider consuming tadpoles or using the Astral tadpoles, how would your Tav/Durge respond? 39. If romanceable, what lines would they say if a player character prompted them with, "Can I kiss you?" 40. If romanceable, what would they say if a player character asks for a "last kiss" at the Morphic Pool/HIgh Hall?

Thank you, it's delightful! So sensual, emotional and altogether beatiful. And Gale is so Gale. I adore him, I love how you wrote him here.

It's me with Gale and food prompt again! (I'm not a native speaker of English, I took "food porn" too literally XD)

Well, Gale finds out Tav cannot cook. Like, at all. Tav is nervous, but Gale says it's alright, he can cook for both of them. He says: "I'll fill you with the most delicious meals" 😏

(I imagined it with AFAB Tav, so that "filling" could have double meaning, but you can make Tav anyone you like).

I hope it inspires you! 💜

You are getting married.

It’s truly sinking in now, as you lie sprawled on the large bed at the Elfsong tavern, the worries and horrors of the past few weeks no longer plaguing your mind.

You remember wishing it would happen someday, a long time ago, when you were nothing more than a little girl dreaming of pretty gowns and a handsome groom.

But that was in another lifetime — long before the tadpole, before the Absolute, before the chain of events that altered your life forever. Before Gale.

Gale. The handsome wizard with a silver tongue, a mind of steel, and a heart of gold. The man you fell in love with against your better judgment, against the gods, against the odds. The man now standing only a few feet away from you, trimming his beard in the tiny washroom to the side, his body bathed in the early morning light.

You let your eyes roam over his broad shoulders, the expanse of his back, his narrow waist, the curve of his backside, swathed in a light towel. It’s a sight you’ll never tire of, one that makes molten heat instantly pool between your thighs and leave you begging for more.

No matter that he’s already taken you this morning — slow, languid and sleepy. No matter that your body is still pleasantly sore from last night’s activities, from the way he revelled in your body for hours, wringing orgasm after orgasm from you, painstakingly thorough and precise. You always want him, a hunger that’s never sated.

For the first time in forever, you are happy. Truly happy. And perhaps Gale is too, if his soft, carefree humming is anything to go by. It’s a joyful, playful melody, made all the more pleasant by his warm baritone; however, it’s not a tune you recognise — a Waterdhavian song perhaps — and, suddenly, you are reminded that there is still so much that you don’t know about him. About each other.

It frightens you a bit, that there are things about yourself that Gale has not yet seen, aspects of your personality he has not yet experienced, flaws he may find too difficult to accept. He promised you forever, but would forever be short-lived, if he found you somewhat wanting?

It’s crushing, the weight of your love for him. The fear of losing him. It wraps around your heart and squeezes, taking the breath from your lungs. Suddenly your mind is spiralling out of control, as it did that first time before the Absolute, when he’d threatened to use the Orb and blow himself into oblivion, taking your heart along with him.

Your brain is flooded with all the things you fear he’ll find unsavoury, and part of you wishes to tell him straight away, to tear the bandage and be done with it. To set him free before he shackles himself to an unworthy partner, even if doing so means condemning yourself to a worthless life of misery and pain.

You have been so consumed by fear that you haven’t noticed the humming has stopped, and Gale is sitting on the bed beside you, regarding you with a worried expression.

“What is it, my love?”

“I was thinking,” you steady yourself, unsure of how to best approach the subject, “about the wedding.”

“Is it too soon?” You watch as the light disappears from his eyes, his frown lines deepening with every word. “Did I perhaps pressure you into accepting my offer? Because I would hate for you to feel that you had to say yes. I promise I won’t begrudge your decision if you choose to reconsider. Life with me can be… challenging. I am well aware of that fact.”

It hurts, that even after all this time — after all you have been through — he still thinks so little of himself, that his first thought would be one of rejection, that he seriously believes people’s lives would be better without him being in them.

“No! Gods, no,” you reassure him, your fingers absentmindedly playing with the ends of his hair, right where they curl up towards his ear. “I want to marry you. More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.”

“That’s a relief,” he sighs, the worry lines on his brow instantly softening. “What is it, then?”

“It’s just that we know so little about each other,” you admit, your voice small and faltering. “What if there is something about me you don’t like? Wouldn’t you want to find out before…”

Gale doesn’t need to hear the end of that sentence. He knows exactly what your words mean. He knows it all too well, an echo of his own fears. Before you make a mistake.

“What I know about you,” he interjects, “is that you are brave, and strong, and kind, and loyal to a fault. What I know about you is that you love without reservations, you always see the good in people, and you bring out the best in them. What I know about you is enough to make me love you in every world, in every reality, in every lifetime.”

He kisses you then, first your lips, then the tears that have started trickling unbidden down your cheeks. He will never cease to amaze you, this wonderful man, this poet you get to call your own.

“But there are so many things you are yet to discover about me…” You try to protest, but you know it’s pointless. The look of absolute determination on Gale’s face tells you that he won’t be persuaded.

“And we have a lifetime ahead of us to do exactly that,” he counters. “One new discovery for each day we spend together. Our knowledge of each other growing together with our love. A life lived in the pursuit of happiness, love, and acceptance. I can’t think of a better way to spend the rest of my days, if you ask me.”

His warm smile is infectious, and you find yourself once again grinning from ear to ear at the prospect of sharing your life with him, all doubts dissipated by his beautiful words.

“Can we start today?” you ask tentatively, eager to find out more about the man you’ve agreed to marry. “Tell me something about you.”

“Easy. I adore you.”

“Something I don’t already know, you silly man.”

“Very well… As a child, I used to be afraid of the dark. It’s what made me interested in illusory magic in the first place. Remember the Aurora Borealis I conjured for you that night on the road? It’s nothing more than a fancier, more elaborate version of what I used to create— rather crudely if I may add — in my old childhood bedroom. It brought me peace whenever I needed it the most, you see? I thought it would do the same for you.”

Your heart swells with love at the thought of a very young Gale, so adept at magic even at an early age, bending the Weave to his will, moulding it into a tool for banishing his nightmares. The very same Gale who quite literally hung the stars in the sky for you when everything around you was darkness and ruin.

What could you possibly tell him that could rival that? You may be the Hero of Baldur’s Gate, but the truth is that there has never been anything even remotely interesting about you.

“I can’t cook!” you blurt out, suddenly self-conscious, not only because it’s the truth, but also because it’s such a simple confession compared to the poetry of Gale’s own revelation.

“You… can’t cook,” Gale repeats, incredulous. “What, like, at all?”

“Honestly, I can’t even boil an egg,” you shrug as a nervous giggle escapes your lips. “I think you may have just bagged yourself Toril’s most useless bride. Congratulations.”

“Well, then I suppose it’s a good thing I’m a highly-skilled cook and can keep us both adequately sustained,” he winks. “Especially when I intend to make the most of my betrothed’s other talents as soon as we get home. I expect we’ll both work up quite an appetite.”

His fingers graze the exposed skin of your shoulder, and heat flares up in your core once again. Just like that. One touch and a few words — such is the effect he has on you.

“And would my betrothed like a reminder of those talents, perhaps?” you ask, straddling his hips with your still-naked body, caressing his torso with your hands. “You know, just to make sure that they can sufficiently make up for my abysmal lack of culinary skills?”

“Oh trust me, they do. But I suppose a reminder can’t hurt.” You feel him harden beneath you, that flimsy towel the only thing separating you from his solid length. “Besides, a good chef should always sample his food.”

A wicked grin spreads across his features as he darts two fingers down between your legs, trailing them sensuously through your folds and bringing them up to his mouth, sucking languidly.

“But would the chef like more than a meagre morsel?” you ask, hips grinding against his bulge. “I may not know much about cooking, but I know that some dishes should be sampled multiple times. You know, to ensure they are well and thoroughly cooked.”

He flips you onto your back then, throwing the damp towel onto the bedroom floor and whispering sultrily in your ear, “Believe me, my love, you’ll be screaming hot when I’m done with you. And I will never leave you un-sated, both in and out of the kitchen.”

His wet hot mouth covers the column of your neck as one hand trails lower, caressing your body with expert precision. “I will give you such delicacies to thoroughly tantalise your senses. I will broaden your palate with new and exciting flavours. I will fill you so thoroughly that you’ll never know what it is to hunger again.”

And then his clever mouth is on your breast and, for a while, he says no more.

So sorry it has taken me so long to respond, it’s been wild at work and I wanted to do your lovely prompt justice! It’s kinda taken on a life of its own, so I hope you like it 💜

Baldur's Gate 3 City Game

Practically all the characters of “Baldur's Gate 3” come from different cities: the eponymous Baldur's Gate, Waterdeep or even Menzoberranzan. So, I decided we could imagine how they live and love in different cities.

Choose a city location/situation from the list and make a drabble or headcanon of characters of your choice (and your OCs!). It can also be an ask game.

You can choose any city from Forgotten Realms fandom or even make a modern AU/isekai in an IRL city of your choice. Also you can make it SFW or NSFW.

List of subjects

1. Coffeeshop/bakery

2. Park

3. Main road/highway

4. Market

5. Historical centre/city centre

6. Summer heat in the city

7. Dark alleyway

8. Underground/catacombs

9. Public transport

10. University/academy

11. Administrative building

12. Offices

13. Fun-fair/festivities/parade

14. Vista point high above the city

15. Outskirts

16. Fancy boutique

17. Cafe/tavern

18. Restaurant

19. Cemetery

20. Museum

21. Concert in a big concert hall

22. Castle (surrounded by the city)

23. Cathedral

24. Traffic jams (should be fun with horses and magic)

25. Creative district

26. Rain downpour in the city

27. Big book shop/magic book shop

28. Dumping ground

29. School/kindergarten

30. Hospital

31. Industrial district/docks

There are 31 of them, so you can make a post a day throughout July. Or make it an ask game!

You can ask me about Gale and my Tavs in the city.

It's the first time I make a game on Tumblr, so feel free to drop your advice to me.

Gale & cemeteries... does he like them? Is there magic there? Follow up question, is there anywhere in Waterdeep the orb is drawn to and does that change in Baldur's Gate?

Thank you for your ask from the City game! I think I'll try to answer through a ficlet. I hope you'll forgive me the inclusion of my Tav (although small). Enjoy 💜

Gale x Tav, SFW, post-canon

The City of the Dead was full of people on this bright summer day. Children played hide-and-seek among the tombstones, adults sat chatting on picnic blankets and drank wine. Waterdhavians enjoyed warm weather and the calm of the place.

Gale had chosen a bench in the quiet corner. He was looking nowhere in particular lost in thought. Just a year ago all he had dreamed of had been a cenotaph here, all alone, probably later accompanied by his mother's tombstone. He had looked at the City of the Dead from his tower, torn between a longing for life and a desire to end it all. He couldn't even come here, to look at the final resting place of many Waterdhavians.

Now he looked forward to several centuries of a long wizard life alongside his elf wife. Moreover, the status of the Hero of Baldur's Gate gave Gale unlimited access to this cemetery. He chuckled at the memory of his youth. Several very talented and smart mages from Blackstaff had sneaked in tge City of the Dead after dusk, and started experimenting with necromancy. They had nearly opened a portal to the Fugue plane and had raised a lot of very angry undead. Gale and his friend Gora had got away with a warning and a permanent ban to visit the graveyard, while three others had been expelled. Of course from his current position as a professor Gale understood why it had been dangerous and foolish. But it had been so much fun! He still had to tell Laerie all the stories from his youth. Maybe she even use them as an inspiration for her songs.

Gale felt the sliver of the Weave like a gentle breeze. He turned his head and found a woman in a black and silver robe with the city coat of arms on it. A necromancer specially hired to look after the dead and the undead, to maintain order among so many humanoid remains. Although as they told Gale, they mostly drove off vampire spawns who went there at night for debauchery and orgies unbeknowst to their masters. Gale remembered their vampire friend and how wise it was not to tell him about these night activities in the City of the Dead.

At least now Gale was not afraid of going to the places infused with the Weave. There was no more Weave-consuming bombs in his chest, and now he could go wherever he wanted, talk to whomever he wanted, touched any person with or without the Weave.

Although now he only wanted to touch one person. As if on a cue he heard the sounds of a lyre and a familiar voice. Gale grinned happily and stood up. He was ready for life in the place of death.

Hope that answered the questions!

That's so cozy and cute. Thanks for the answer!

Imagine Gale showing Tav his favourite coffeeshop in Waterdeep. How would it look like?

oh my god okay so i actually have an answer for this and if you'll forgive me it's a little self indulgent

so i keep having this recurring dream, right? it's in this city full of spires and gorgeous architecture. it's always the middle of the night, there are always so many stars, i assume due to magic. it's a hot chocolate shop.

every time i have this dream, the shop changes location. it's never in the same place twice, but it's always in a little nook somewhere, down an alleyway.

each time, the proprietor is different. always friendly and calm, always wanting to talk. i am always without fail the only person in the shop, and it became clear after several nights with this dream, it's because it exists for me. it's always cosy inside, with dark wood and candles and plush seating. the serving cups change with every visit. the kind of chocolate changes, too.

when i am feeling especially stressed or scared, i have this dream, and i have somewhere i can go to cradle a hot cup of cocoa and talk to someone kind.

and i think gale would love that. a hot chocolate shop you can only go to via astral projection, unique to the spellcaster, with a kind gentle soul waiting to unburden your troubles and give you a place of calm and peace.

Thank you very much for the answer! Gale loves riddles, and it was so great to see him solving one. Also using the real language as a fantasy one is cool 💜

How would Gale react to Tav revealing that her native language is not common?

What a Røv

I'm sorry this has taken me so long to answer. I initially had a whole smut idea with this and then it went sort of angst homesickness idea, and now it's just ended up as a comfort/fluff thing. Either way, I wrote a little fic for it - Overall though, Gale wouldn't mind, he'd find it endearing.

Word Count - 1635 - Fluff - CW - shameless use of Danish (Shut up I'm allowed.)

Gale had heard the utterances only once or twice before, a grumbled obscenity as a toe was stubbed on a bookshelf, a quiet obscure whisper between clenched teeth during the throes of passion. He knew his partner Tav was a half-drow, but their accent was entirely from Baldur’s Gate, the lilt of certain words always putting a smile on his face with how pitch perfect they were. He’d asked her about her heritage, a curiosity he could not help but indulge in, and she’d claimed there wasn’t much behind it all; her mother was a Drow, her father a human, and she’d grown up with neither in the city.

The story had been good enough for him until he’d caught her perusing through his library, peering into tomes not written in the common they’d spoken between themselves so often. His first instinct had been that she possibly spoke a form of Undercommon, or more likely Deep Drow; her wanting to hide it a shame of some sort, but the tomes found didn’t match up with what he’d heard. There seemed to be a mixture she had glanced through, some books written in the Elven Espruar, others closer to the Thorass alphabet they used each day, but no one specific tongue. It was as if she was searching for something amongst the pages that had not been there. Gale had questioned her about it just to be met with the answer that she was as curious about literature as he was. “Who needs to understand the words to see the beauty in poetry?” and with this he had continued to just observe, to listen for those obscenities and whispers and make a mental note of them for when he could check their meaning.

---

“Sollys, skin på ham. Beskyt ham mod mørket. Skygger, skjul mig af syne. Beskyt mig mod lyset.”

It was a small prayer, but one that had Tav whispered most days as the sun rose over Waterdeep. Gale had heard snippets of it often as he’d rushed to change into his robes for a day at the academy or been trying to tame his unruly hair after a night of excitement. Now he lay in bed, the words drifting into his subconsciousness as he lay sleeping, his mind questioning the meaning behind the dream of a language he did not understand. His eyes flickered open, keen to find the source and catch her red-handed.

“Tav?”

She turned to him from the foot of the bed, her hazy blue skin lightening under the rising sun that drifted lazily in through the parted curtains. She wore the black lace nightgown he’d bought for her, the one that contrasted so well with her salt white hair. “Good morning, sleepyhead,” she whispered.

He groggily wiped the sleep from his eyes, a disappointment that he’d not been quick enough to understand what she’d been saying before he woke fully, but a smile at the sight of her as welcome as ever. His hair lay messily tufted around his face and ears, a reminder that he needed to tidy it up with some scissors even if she protested to it. “Did I hear you speaking before?”

Tav quietly moved up next to him, stroking a lock of hair from his face. She looked down at him lovingly, her violet eyes a pleasant reminder of the tattered robes she’d once passionately removed him from. “Only in your dreams, I’m sure.”

His hand reached over to her, his fingers rubbing along the arm of her nightgown, an invitation for her to join him before either of them got distracted by the world’s need for their attention.

She leant in and kissed his forehead, a teasing warmth lingering from her lips upon his brow. “As much as I’d love to, I’m needed in the library this morning.”

Gale longed for time to stop, for the curtains to stop the impatient daylight from entering any more than it already had, for her lips to find his own, and for her body to have as little control as his did in that moment. He unwillingly withdrew his hand, knowing he would see her again later amongst the dusty books and candle lit corners they’d both frequented so often. “You are but a cruel harpy.”

“My waterlogged wizard doth complain too much.”

---

Gale watched her for some time after she had finished her shift, their game of cat and mouse a regular occurrence at this point of the day. Tav would end work on schedule but would then spend time amongst the well-organised shelves, looking either for poetry or something she could bring home for his amusement. He would eventually find her amongst the tomes and would whisk her to a dark corner where they’d indulge in the art of self control and silence. Her delicate fingers traced along the spines of the books as she walked down the aisle, her eyes gazing across the titles until something caught her attention. Seeing the gentle sway of her ponytail as she took each step forward, he kept his own pace matching hers, knowing it was only a matter of time before she glanced up and saw his deep eyes spying on her.

Her words were quiet, another whisper amongst the library’s inhabitants. “Der er få der prøver at forstå Vævet - det er synd, da kun de der er fuldt på bølgelængde med Vævet kan kalde dem selv for ægte magikere.”

He listened with curiosity to her mutterings, some words like that of Common, others a reminder of a distant language he had researched long ago. But this was proof that not all was what it seemed, that there was a secret she kept from him, a mystery to be solved. What she spoke naturally was not a simple speech of Baldur’s Gate, but something else, no Drow nor Elvish, nor something that matched his tomes. He thought possibly it could be a form of Jotun, but why would a Half Drow ever speak such a tongue? It was as her fingers continued to grace the titles of the books between them he realised it was that of Illuskan, a language rarely spoken outside of northwest Færun. Gale smiled, a plan being conjured up to have her reveal all. One that he knew would have her spilling all secrets.

---

“Y – eh – g” He spoke deliberately, a hard pressure put on each sound as Tav walked through the door, knowing she would hear him.

 “Yegg? Working on a new spell?” she asked innocently as she placed her bag down near his desk, her eyes glancing over the papers that lay scattered in front of him.

Gale looked up at her, seeing the way she recognised the texts in front of him, a momentary smirk at the realisation of what it was he had been trying to pronounce so poorly. “Just some new linguistics materials that I found tempting to dive into.”

“Hm... I’ll leave you to that, then.”

For the next hour Tav sat in a nearby chair, her finger tapping irritably at every mispronounced syllable, at the purposeful bastardisation of her native language. He held back a laugh as he attempted to read through a basic cooking recipe; the word fløde, causing her to close her book sharply and grit her teeth. He didn’t want to torture her, but their relationship was one of games and puzzles. Now, however, this attempt to have her reveal her secret had turned into one of simple teasing.

“Yegg har fang-et een store row...”

The cackle was unmistakable from her lips as he spoke the last word, the combination of letters a confusion to utter out loud even though he knew the phonetic for each now. He twisted on his chair, her laughter becoming a snigger in between breathed out words.

“A røv?” Tav laughed further, her own correction making it all the funnier in her mind. “Is that what you’re trying to say? Or is it-” She exhaled, trying to regain her composure. “Ræv?”

Gale heard little difference between the two words, but it mattered little as he caught her in his web. “An expert on Illuskan, my love?”

“I consider myself more the expert on røve...” She gave him a playful smirk.

“On foxes?”

She chuckled again at his misunderstanding; the laughter causing her cheeks to flush, and she rose to her feet to come closer, placing herself in his lap. “On arses, you fool.”

He lifted his hand, pushing aside a stray strand of hair from her face. “You were letting me make an idiot out of myself, weren’t you?”

“I wanted to see how far you’d take it to draw it out of me. Though I’ll be honest, I was expecting something a little sexier, and less... painful.”

“Painful?” Gale said with a mock exaggeration. “Remind me next time to add it to my repertoire, should we find ourselves upon another adventure.” He stroked her face, her skin as soft as silk, the scent of the library held in her robes. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Tav leant into his touch, a gentle smile curling the corners of her lips. “You like puzzles, to solve things and learn. What fun would there be without a little mystery?”

“Are there any other mysteries I should be aware of?”

“Only time will tell.”

Placing a longing kiss upon her lips, he felt the warmth of her breath mingle with his. “Jeg elsker dig.” He whispered, his pronunciation of the simple phrase of love clear and understandable.

She looked into his eyes, a surprised but proud look in her gaze. “So, you’re not a complete røv with the language.”

“Only those few words at this time, but I’d learn it for you. I’d do anything for you.”

---------------------------------------------

The Illuski language group is based on real-life Nordic languages such as Old Norse, Danish, and Norwegian

----

“Sollys, skin på ham. Beskyt ham mod mørket. Skygger, skjul mig af syne. Beskyt mig mod lyset.”

“Sunlight, shine on him. Protect him against the darkness. Shadows, hide me from sight. Protect me against the light.

“Der er få der prøver at forstå Vævet - det er synd, da kun de der er fuldt på bølgelængde med Vævet kan kalde dem selv for ægte magikere.”

“Few try to understand the Weave - a true pity, for only they who are truly attuned to the Weave can rightly call themselves spellcasters.”

Gale smooches: 33, 41, 50 💜💋

It took a while, but the answers are here, enjoy! Tavs here will be different.

33. Kiss in a dream

When Laerie opened her eyes to a lavender-coloured sky, she inwardly sighed. Another meeting with false Mira, who did not even bother to dress like her best friend. Another talk of her "potential", another morning spent as if she had never meditated. Laerie stood up unwillingly and looked around.

The elf found herself on the same rock, floating in the Astral plane, with ruins of ancient temples around her. However the false Mira, that Dream guardian, was nowhere to be found. Laerie carefully stepped to the edge of the rock and looked down. What she saw was unexpected.

On another floating island further down there was a figure clad in violet, sitting on the precipice and looking far into the sky. On a closer inspection she found out it was Gale, who appeared to dangle his legs. She found it amusing. Laerie suddenly remembered their kiss in the Weave and his rejection the next night. He said it was the Orb that prevented him from getting "too excited". The elf had been pleased, that she had been able to excite him to the verge of eruption. But nevertheless, she wanted at least to share a kiss. If it was a dream, if Gale was not real anyway, maybe she could fulfil her own desire?

She jumped and gently landed right behind the wizard. He turned around and raised his brows in surprise.

'I didn't think I could summon people I wanted to see by thinking about them intensely.' He smiled. 'Anyway, come here, my dream Laerie, my dearest elf.'

That version of Gale was a bit too close to a real one. With one exception – he would never called her "dearest", he wouldn't have such feelings for her. But it was pleasant to listen to.

'I came by my own will,' she answered and got to her knees by his side. 'And I will do exactly what I intend to.'

'Colour me intrigued. What...' he didn't have time to answer, because Laerie took his face into her hands and kissed him. He froze for a moment, but then gave in. He tasted of rosewater, as the Weave, electricity was tickling on his impossibly soft lips. She didn't quite understand how it happened, but suddenly their tongues were caressing each other, the kiss became messy and needy. Yet she still felt the airiness of the kiss, as if only their spirits were kissing. He put his arm around her waist and pulled. She tried to straddle him, but felt her knee slipping, and then they were swirling together towards the void.

She jolted awake, surrounded by the glowing fungi of the Underdark. The dream was so vivid, that she remembered all the details. Laerie touched her lips and smiled.

When the whole camp gathered for breakfast, Gale seemed more excited than usual.

'I tried lucid dreaming last night.' He began. 'Imagine, in my dream I conjured up the same Astral plane where we meet the Guardian.'

'Thankfully the Guardian was not there,' Laerie said without thinking. Suddenly everyone was silent. She looked up at him and saw an astonished face. Then she understood. In a dream she was with Gale, with real Gale. And he called her "dearest".

41. Forbidden kiss

'Why are you awake at this hour?' Gale closed his book and looked at Kitani curiously. 'If you're going to kill me like you did Alfira, I have to remind you that it will bring destruction to everyone here, including you. Maybe it will make you reconsider.'

Kitani's face became sombre. She said:

'I hope no other innocent dies at my hands.' She pierced him with her eyes. 'Not you, I'd rather die myself.'

'I'm sorry, Tani, I rarely see you at night, let alone in my tent,' he sighed and gestured to his side. 'Anyway, I don't want to be a bad host. Sit and feel yourself at home.'

Kitani wanted to say that just seeing him made her feel at home, for she didn't remember if she had ever had one. She sat next to him, casually brushing her knee with his thigh.

'What do you think of the concept of forbidden fruit?" she tilted her head to the side and curved her lips into a smile.

'Oh, I have one in my chest already, I'll think a hundred times before pursuing another.' His eyes were said.

'Sorry, I wanted it to sound seductive.' She moved her head closer to his face. When he furrowed his brows, she continued. 'They say, forbidden fruit is always the sweetest. I wanted to test it. It's not exactly about the Orb,' she added and then pursed her lips. When he opened his mouth to say something, she interrupted him: 'I want to kiss you. I know we cannot kiss because of this,' she pointed on the scar, 'but maybe a just a little peck will be alright? The thoughts of your lips are driving me mad, I cannot sleep, I cannot concentrate on spells. Maybe if I taste you, it will calm down.'

'I don't think it will.' He chuckled. 'But now that you planted that seed in my mind, I will not stop until I test your hypothesis.' Then his smile widened, and she felt she couldn't wait any longer.

She leaned further and tentatively ghosted his lips with her own. Then, without any reaction from the Orb, she planted a chaste kiss. He gladly reciprocated. Still Gale's chest appeared to look the same way. They deepened the kiss, he put his hand in her hair, she placed her hand on his scar. She was ready to forget how to breathe, when he put his tongue in her mouth. She moaned...

And then they were blinded by a flash of light, and Kitani felt Gale wince under her in pain. She drew back immediately.

'I'm sorry, it was so stupid of me, I never wanted to hurt you...' she started apologising. Gale put his hand on hers, and she looked up at him. The other wizard looked pale and feverish, but he had a drunken smile on his lips.

'Every second of our kiss was worth the pain, Tani.'

50. In Secret Kiss

The tieflings at the Last Light inn had a party, celebrating the rescue of their friends and loved ones. Naturally, their saviour were at the centre of attention. Imogen was showing druidic magic tricks while she noticed a bunch of women around Gale. They looked flustered and enchanted, while he was telling them some stories. Rationally Imogen knew that he loved her, and he wouldn't be swayed by any of these admirers. But her wild nature egged her on to take him by the hand, pin him to the wall and make her lover forget everyone else but her.

She was unable to do it now, of course. Too many people, and, moreover, the promise she gave Gale to keep their relationship a secret for now. Suddenly she noticed one of the tiefling women touching Gale's leg with her tail. Imogen's legs stood up on their own, and in a second she found herself near him. He turned his head and greeted her:

'My time is yours. What do you need?' Only when she heard him say these words she understood what a stupid situation she found herself in. Well, she had to play along.

'Can you help me prepare for our march to the Thorm Mausoleum tomorrow? I still cannot figure everything out.'

He looked puzzled, but nodded: 'Alright, let's go.'

She took him by the hand and led upstairs to a small secluded room filled with brooms and supplies.

'Are you sure it is the best place to talk about our strategy?' He raised a brow sceptically.

'Well, I needed an excuse no one would question,' Imogen shrugged. 'I just wanted to kiss you, that's all.'

As the understanding dawned on him, Gale smiled widely. 'You could just use the tadpole, but I appreciate your effort.' Then he put his hand on her neck and pressed his lips on hers. Two kiss-starved and touch-starved people still couldn't be sated by drinking each other in. They drowned in each other not noticing anything but their warm wet lips.

Suddenly the noise from the celebration became louder. When they parted and looked at the door, they saw an amused grey-haired half-elf.

'I won't say I find this place romantic,' Jaheira said, 'but who am I to judge.'

No beta, we die like my sleep schedule.

"comfort" for the fluffy prompts c:

Modern AU has occupied my mind. So, you'll have to bear the problems of the academia with me XD

An Unexpected Call

Gale x F!Tav, SFW, Modern AU, University AU

Gale was sitting in his study and reading (or at least trying to) a scan of a microfilm of a 19th century magazine on the display of his PC. The quality was so poor, that he had to put a strain on his eyes. His head started pounding, his vision blurring by tears. Gale pinched his nose and threw his head back. There was still half of the article to be read and analysed.

Suddenly Gale's phone started ringing. When he looked at it, he furrowed his brow. It was unusual for her to ring him at all. He picked it up nonetheless.

'Hi, Tani! Is anything the matter?'

'Oh, I,' she was clearly sobbing, 'I'm sorry for calling you, Gale.'

'I don't have classes today, so it's alright. You sound upset.' He got more worried by the second. 'What happened?'

'Don't worry, it's nothing.' She made a glottal stop, probably trying to calm herself. 'I called you because I have no one else to talk to about my problems at the Uni. I know I shouldn't bother you...'

'Why don't you come over to my place and tell me about it?' he said, 'We'll have a cup of tea, you'll tell me everything, and I'll do what I can to help you.'

'Are you sure? I don't want to interrupt you.' She was hesitant.

'I've got headache from work already, and I think a distraction in the form of a talk will be a good idea.'

'Thank you very much. I'm travelling from work now, just send me the address, I'll come at once.'

Gale smiled looking at the phone. The anticipation of someone coming to his lonely home brought so much joy into his heart. Well, not someone, but Kitani, his favourite academic rival.

I've realised I don't have the energy to write the continuation. I may extend this in the future, however.

Gale Dekarios 😊

Thank you for the ask! So, let's begin my essay about my favourite wizard, Gale Dekarios of Waterdeep.

How I feel about this character – I love him, I adore him, he owns my virtual heart (my real heart being in the possession of my IRL husband). At the same time Gale is me, I can relate to him in so many ways.

All the people I ship romantically with this character – all my Tavs, on every playthrough. And Lae'zel, she would like his fascination with the Astral plane, he would admire her bravery and teach her what love is.

Maybe Karlach is a viable option, but she fits both in this and the second question.

My non-romantic OTP for this character – Astarion! I cannot see them in a romantic relationship, but they would make funny buddies. As I said somewhere already, they would be the type of friends, in which one is of often embarrassed of what the other said.

My unpopular opinion about this character – that he is not rich, only middle-class (maybe not so unpopular). And that his mother is a wizard herself.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon – practically everything I want for him I can make through choices in BG3, so it exists in canon. I wish he would never have been told to kill himself, my heart aches for Gale every time Elminster comes and every time he tells Tav about his "last night alive". And I wish he could adopt Scratch and bring him to the City of Splendours.

It partly answers the ask from @waterdeep-weavemoss

for the 'give me a character' - gale of course, but also.... mizora 😈😘

Thank you for the ask! I've already answered about Gale here, so now I'll tell about Mizora!

Disclaimer: may contain hateful attitude towards a fictional character.

How I feel about this character – I highly dislike her for what she's done to Wyll, and for what she says to Karlach (why cannot we punch her in guts after she chides Karlach for not acting like a lady?). Manipulative and lying all the time. Ugh.

All the people I ship romantically with this character – she doesn't deserve anyone better than that prick Raphael (sorry devil lovers, he reminds of a person IRL, who is, let's say, a bad person). Maybe Ethel the Hag in her hag form.

My non-romantic OTP for this character – a lemure. No one else should listen to her, really.

My unpopular opinion about this character – she is not good-looking or sexy at all, because of her actions and manners. She is disgusting.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon – I wish we could go to her house in the Hells and kill her like we killed Raphael. No mercy for these liars and manipulators.

Sorry it turned out to be hateful. But I cannot stand those devils. Makes me think script writers made a very good job, actually.

For the 'give me a character' ask, Lae'zel 💖

Thank you for the ask! Let's go with Lae'zel!

How I feel about this character – I like her, it is especially interesting to see her progression and development through the story. Many people don't like her, but I see her honesty and straightforwardness as good traits.

All the people I ship romantically with this character – Gale! Really, Gae'zel is a captivating ship. I romanced Lae'zel on my Gale origin run, and it fit so perfectly. When she proposes to spend another night, he tells her he wants to cuddle. He teaches her what romance is, she is ready to protect this istik from anyone including himself. When they travel the Astral Sea, she shows him the libraries of the Githyanki people. Gale teaches her Common, for example, takes her to the libraries of Baldur's Gate and Waterdeep. They're so cool together.

Astarion. The idea that at first they both crave for only physical connection, and then they both discover the feelings they can have for each other. An interesting dynamic. And they both like a partner who can bite! Literally, Lae'zel can eviscerate Astarion, but that makes him even more intrigued and invested into the relationship.

My non-romantic OTP for this character – Shadowheart. I want these girls to have a bromance. To talk about partners, to find solace and understanding in religious brainwashing trauma. To be there for each other when they lose everything they held dear.

My unpopular opinion about this character – she's actually very brave, and she is ready to do anything to protect her people. And she comes to think of tadpals as her people eventually. Yes, she's initially racist, but she never kills anyone for fun (like the Urge tells Durge to do). And she comes to understand that istiki are no less good than githyanki by the end of the journey.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon – I wish she could participate in the party after the final battle!

I hope you like the answers!