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#Champion fighter for Shadowheart
sophiasharp · 5 months
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It’s probably because of how deeply tied to their identities the Tadfools’ backstories are (and also how the fuck does Tav fit into anything) but I’m kinda surprised by how I haven’t seen much, if any, role-swap stories for Baldur’s Gate yet. Which is a shame cause I think there could be a lot of potential there, cause none of these guys would respond to each other’s circumstances the exact same way.
Think of a noble-borne Astarion, who might not have been the best person but still would give anything to see the city he loves safe. This time, it is not infernal machinations that threatens Baldur’s Gate, but the long-standing rot of the Faewild that promises to bring about its ruin. The binding of his mortal soul is made all the more bitter by his family’s formal disowning of a child who conspires with the Fae. Making himself into a hero is not done out of a genuine selflessness but out of a necessity to try and reap SOME reward out of sacrifice, to make it MEAN something other than losing all he once knew.
Think of Lae’zel, stolen from Selune’s Tears during a Githyanki training mission and brought up in the Sharran cloister, damned to forget herself while always and forever remaining OTHER compared to the rest of the acolytes. Shar bids one live their lives in the shadow, but she figures one must sometimes bring the shadows forward more forcefully if they are to further their cause. As a war cleric, she promises to become the sword-arm to the Nightsinger that might one day banish the light for good. And yet, she still wonders some days where she comes from and why her hand sometimes burns so fiercely.
Think of a young, bright-eyed, and curious Karlach, raised on tales of swords and sorcery, who more than anything wants to become one of those heroes one day. She wants to be the next Elminster, or Tasha, or Mordenkainen- no, she wants to be BETTER than them, to outshine even the greatest of spellcasters and use her power to protect those she loves. Mystra sees her determination and feeds it, letting her enthusiasm grow to obsession as she gets older, leaving behind her friends and family in favor of her greatest passion incarnate. But it’s not enough. How could it ever be, when the woman who claims to love her, the one she’s built her life around, continues to hold true mastery of the arcane just out of her grasp? Surely there is some way she can prove her worth. Surely, with her Goddess’s favor and her own deft hand at Abjuration, she will be able to gift Mystra the one thing she wasn’t able to take on her own.
Think of a Gale, a scrappy young man with so much arcane potential and yet none of the money necessary to have it be honed properly. Still, mouths must be fed, and so he pushes himself to become stronger, strong enough to support his single mother in the City of Splendor. Indeed, he grows strong enough to catch the attention of an up-and-coming politician from Baldur’s Gate who may have some shady dealings on the side, but the money was good enough for him to look the other way. Just as long as he could keep sending money back to Waterdeep, he didn’t care much what his boss did. Until, one day, everything changed. He was sent to the hells, his heart ripped out of his own chest and replaced with a searing hot contraption that threatened to burn him from the inside out. Ten years he spends down there, fighting a war he never signed up for, and a rage begins to take form. Through his anger, the magic inside him finally finds a conduit, wild enough to let him survive through everything.
Think of Jenevelle, kidnapped during her Selunite rite of passage by mindflayers and later “saved” by Githyanki raiders. She is offered the chance to prove herself more than a slave, and grabs on with both hands. She trains among them, fighting not only to survive but to be the BEST at it, to justify her existence amongst their ranks. By the time she is grown, her past life is but a distant, painful memory. She earns the title of Shadowheart, her mettle as cold and furious as the dark side of the moon. For her own safety, she can never let herself stop fighting to be better. She will become Vlakith’s champion if that’s what it takes for her to finally, finally be enough.
Think of a Wyll Ravengard born two centuries earlier, nearly killed and left for dead by one of his father’s political rivals when a cold hand offers eternal salvation. Later, he wishes he had perished in the alley as intended. He spends years, decades hoping that his father and the rest of the flaming fist would find him, only to be crushed when rescue from his living hell never comes. He outlives all that would have known the face of Grand Duke Ravengard’s late son, becomes a ghost of himself as he learns how to lead countless to their deaths in the hopes of saving his own skin from more pain. And yet, somewhere deep inside him, there lays a part of him that still holds hope for the happily ever afters of the old stories he clings to despite everything he’s gone through. By day, he sharpens his claws, remembers his training from before his life was thrown away, re-teaches himself how to strike hard and fast before anyone can react, and bides his time. Maybe, just maybe, the gods would give him the chance to be his own hero. The monster and the hunter both.
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commander-yinello · 2 months
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Do you happen to have respec advice for other characters apart from Wyll?
Heya, thanks for asking! ❤ Here's what I like to run the other companions on.
Shadowheart: Light Cleric all 12 levels. She becomes a beast using Spirit Guardians, Fireball and Guiding Bolt. Also ridiculous overpowered in act 2. Give her Lathander's Mace and win.
Lae'zel: Battlemaster Fighter 12. Or if you don't like extra buttons, Champion Fighter 12 is great too. Fighter is a fantastic beginner class imo.
Astarion: Thief Rogue 4/Gloomstalker Ranger 5/Champion Fighter 3. You want the double attack from ranger, the action surge and ofc all that sweet lockpick proficiency. Give him a bow, he'll destroy everything.
Gale: Fighter 2/Abjuration Wizard 10. Finally that poor man not only has some good defenses, he smacks hard too. No more lying on the ground for him. (credit to nix on discord for this bc I was struggling lol)
Karlach: Open Hand Monk 8/Thief Rogue4 hits like a truck and imo fits Karlach. But Berserker Barbarian 8/Thief Rogue 4 where you throw all the things is also very good. I keep forgetting to buy weapons hence why I went with monk 🤣
Minthara: MUST have Thief Rogue 3. Soul Branding is stupidly good not to cast on everyone and only costs a bonus action. You can give her Paladin 9, Fighter 9 or build her exactly like Astarion.
Halsin: Storm Sorc 1/Land Druid 11 has my heart right now because of all the nice spells and mobility. However I am currently experimenting with a Moon Druid build bc I do feel Halsin is at heart a Moon Druid. Will post if I find one I like.
Jaheira: Same as Halsin, who I feel is at heart a Land Druid. Land Druid 12 also is great if you want those super high level spells.
Minsc: Berserker Barbarian 8/Thief Rogue 4 is his thing, let's be real. Let him be the Mad Man and throw everything.
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the-mic-drop · 2 months
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Zelink gets Isekaied into BG3 Pt7: Camp Emotional Turmoil
Zelda- High Elf Draconic Lineage Sorcerer
Link- Half Wood Elf Champion Fighter
So far: Team Link defeated Auntie Ethel and saved Mayrina. Link got all melancholic.
Team Link returns to camp not long after Team Zelda gets back. Link jog-walks up to Zelda and gives her a possessive kiss right off the bat. Karlach audibly coos and everyone (except Lae'zel) smirks at the display.
Zelda is flustered, since Link was reluctant to show affection before, and asks him what's happened. He says he'll explain when they debrief.
Once the party changes into camp clothes and eats dinner, Zelda gives her team's debrief. They cleared out the area's Gnolls and played firefighter at Waukeen's rest.
Once Duke Ravengard comes up, Wyll reveals that's his father. Questions ensue. Moonrise Towers becomes an objective.
Moving on, Zelda tells them about the Githyanki encounter. Most relevantly, the Gith are hunting Shadowheart's artefact. Zelda gently (compared to how Lae'zel would have) coaxes an explanation out of Shadowheart.
Shadowheart tells them all she's able. She's on a mission for Lady Shar and has an amount of amnesia because of it.
Zelda diffuses some tension between Shadowheart and Lae'zel.
Link tells the party about Auntie Ethel and her true nature; a Hag. He explains that they defeated her and saved a woman named Mayrina. He tells Mayrina's story and tells them about the wand.
Lae'zel and Astarion are a little upset that no progress was made with the Goblins, but not so upset that anyone makes a scene.
Before they wrap up, Link mentions Gandrel and how he is hunting Astarion and a possible connection to a village attack and child abduction. The party is understandably perturbed, but Astarion is quick to tell them about Cazador and how he'd rarely done anything that he hadn't been ordered to. That conversation goes as normal.
While the group discusses their moves for the next day, Mizora appears out of the campfire and turns Wyll into a devil. Everyone is appropriately broken up about it. Link doesn't quite get it, since it just looks like he had horns now, but he reads the room.
Before they go to sleep that night, Zelda asks Link if he's ok and if Mayrina is the reason why he acted differently. Link explains that Mayrina being willing to travel with her undead husband on the hope that he can be restored made him think of how far he'd gone to bring her back. Twice. And he couldn't help but think how he might act in Mayrina's place. That rabbit hole didn't lead anywhere good.
Zelda says something comforting, but the question lingers in their minds. They decide to sleep in the same bedroll that night. (No hanky panky. Sorry, voyeurs!)
That night, the party is visited by the Dream Visitor for the first time.
Zelda's visitor looks a lot like a Gerudo, a few features reminiscent of Urbosa. That sets off all kinds of warning bells. She plays along, getting whatever information she can while waiting for the Visitor to make a mistake. When the Visitor claims to be an adventurer from Baldur's Gate, Zelda jumps.
"How did a Gerudo make it to Baldur's Gate?"
When the Visitor can't answer, Zelda demands their true identity. If the urging to use the tadpole's powers wasn't suspicious enough, this all but confirms her suspicions. Or confirms the validity of being suspicious.
The Visitor simply asks for trust before the dream ends.
The next morning, Zelda gathers everyone together to tell them about the dream. Link reports a similar dream with a visitor that resembled King Rhoam, but Hylians and Elves are similar enough that he didn't make the same connection Zelda did.
Everyone else reports a similar dream in turn and, with the revelation that the visitor(s) is likely an illusory form, even those who are usually willing to absorb more tadpoles, like Astarion, are adamantly against it. With the group's resolve hardened, they gear up and prepare to face the Goblin Camp.
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meanbossart · 5 months
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I've been really enjoying your fic and it got me curious about how your campaign went??? I got the important parts (your Durge denied Bhaal, Shadowheart spared nightsong I think, Astarion obviously didn't ascend) but what else happened? Will we ever see any of the other companions?
Thanks for enjoying the story! I can say with pretty much certainty we won't be seeing any other canonical characters from the game, Jaheira, Minsc and Halsin would have stayed behind in Baldur's Gate, as well as Wyll. My Durge killed Lae'zel early in the game and Karlach also died at the end of my campaign.
Gale's character decided to go after the crown, and while he was the staple fourth member of my party the relationship had always been uh... Tense. This was before they apparently patched out how needy he was, but frankly it made for a really interesting story since i just kind of assumed his character was kind of a creep wearing a nice-guy's face. Also, to be fair, I DID fall for his "wanna see a magic trick" line but that just kindled the fire to my theory that he's actually a fairly manipulative person (and perhaps he's unaware of it). MIND YOU PLEASE that this doesn't mean i don't like his character - honestly i feel like I got a REALLY interesting side of him in my campaign and i wouldnt have it any other way - this was a party composed of the dark urge, Astarion, Shadowheart and GALE and to have us all turn down power and glory only for the goody-two-shoes wizard of the camp to turn kinda evil and power-hungry made for a really satisfying narrative.
... Sorry i ended up rambling about Gale LOL to actually answer the rest of your question, my campaign went like this:
I made a Fighter, champion sub-class, BIG hulking drow because i thought it would be funny. Because i went in blind I started off as a confused homicidal murderer who is a liiiittle weirded out about his urges but he doesnt stress TOO much about it. Is fairly standoffish and distrusting toward all of his companions which made for a weird start. Motivated by gold, killing things, getting this worm out his head and making off-color jokes. Ends up siding with the Tieflings because i also decided that, as a very hedonistic character who thinks we should be lunatics because we want to rather than because a cult is telling us to be, my durge would profoundly hate the absolute. As a male drow he also really hated Minthara so yeah, easy choice there. As mentioned above, I also killed Lae'zel when she tried to murder-suicide everybody.
I wasn't going to fuck anyone, believe it or not, so during the tiefling party i went with Gale because it SEEMED like he just wanted to show me something neat (it ended early because i failed his checks and i guess he can't get hard unless i can cast fireball). Also, at this point even though i made mostly "good" moral choices i *was* still a dick the whole time - despite this, everyone in camp wanted to fuck me BESIDES Astarion, which was so fucking funny and devastating that I decided my Durge would, from that moment on, turn on the charm and the flattery and make it his mission to bang him. So yes, they were manipulating each other. I don't have to explain why that made for a really really fun little dynamic. Also Astarion had to tell me he was a vampire through dialogue instead of biting me and i got to say "yeah duh" which was hysterical.
I finally banged him sometime during the underdark (didn't go to the creche at all) and during Act 2 I followed the same pattern of doing mostly the Good Thing while being arrogant the whole time, I fell into a kind of chaotic-neutral/true-neutral aligment and watched my little homicidal maniac cluelessly stumble his way into a hero's journey. I had also really grown to like Shadowheart at that point after having a really negative first impression of her character and she basically became my durge's best friend. Astarion also grew on me for all the reasons we know and love and he did his confession to me sometime in late act 2. I Never met Araj (though i think i mention her in the fan story only because her interaction is interesting) so I got the dialogue that isn't prompted by her encounter. I also had to "break up" with Gale at this point which boy that sure came as a surprise to me! I also didnt break the shadow curse.
Because I didnt kill isobel (Again, my guy didnt like people telling him what to do or not to do), my little butler guy made me wanna kill Astarion. I SWEAR this happened pretty late in game, maybe even in the first night in baldur's gate which i realize is unusual. Naturally I didnt and I decided that would be the turning point where my Durge decides to not just Go With The Flow of things but actively fight his urge and pursue its root cause. He tried to be more of a good person from that point on which was kind of a clumsy effort lol
He completely antagonized the emperor immediately upon him revealing his true identity, stole the orphic hammer from Raphael's house, betrayed Gortash after setting an "alliance" with him, killed Orin (she kidnapped the orphan and killed her in front of me because i failed the check :| ) stopped Astarion from ascending and helped Shadowheart kill everyone in the house of grief, i let her make her own choice regarding her parents and she decided to kill them. I also encouraged her to not immediately align with the Selunites just because of her past.
I got Astarion the thing that helps him read the necromancy book and i cannot tell you how satifyins it was that, after giving up unspeakable power by killing Cazador, that dude and his little ghoul army basically mauled Orin and her grandad for me practically by themselves while I was down on the floor with 1 health. PROUD OF YOU BUDDY.
Gale spoke to Mystra as well at some point and i swear I NEVER encouraged that guy to take the crown for himself. It was always either "do whatever you want" or "i think thats a shitty idea." At this point my Durge was super sick of him so they had a bit of a crappy relationship which may have something to do with how things turned out.
I betrayed the emperor, released Orpheus and when he asked if any of us wanted to be a mindflayer i went "Fuck No" big time and luckily the guy just did it for me. Chaos ensues, I kill the emperor and the absolute in an epic battle that took me like a whole day. I also killed Orpheus when he asked me to. Karlach died ( :c ) and Gale told me he was gonna fuck off to get the crown. In the final Astarion dialogue I told him we would find a way to get him to walk under the sun again.... AAAAAnd thats it i think? Man this game is huge lmao i swear i wasnt trying to be long-winded.
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inkwitchjc · 3 months
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Honour Mode Tav (Baldur's Gate 3) -
Githyanki, Fighter - Champion, Neutral Evil, Outlander Background, Romantic Interest: Lae'zel and Shadowheart (he likes to live dangerously)
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tadpolejourney · 1 month
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Day 4
Cool story, Astarion's a vampire spawn. He tried to bite me while I was lying in my bedroll last night. We talked it over, and I decided it was better to let him bite me. It sounds mad, but he was honest when I confronted him, and he did seem weaker than the rest of us in battle. It hurts really fucking bad to be bitten by a vampire, surprise to no one. He seemed different after. Happy, stronger. He fought brilliantly today, nearly downed a bugbear assassin with one strike. I feel weaker today. I was a bit off during battle. Couldn't hit the broad side of a bugbear. Oh well. I'm sure I'll feel better tomorrow.
It wouldn't shock me though if this was all an elaborate performance. Eyes of a predator after all, and predators know how to long con better than anyone. No matter. It's better at least some of the truth comes out now rather than later. I don't know enough about vampires or vampire spawn to say. He confided in me about what being a vampire spawn means, which is essentially a slave to a vampire master. He talked about how something is allowing him to walk in the sun and do things he normally couldn't, including being free of his master. Effects of a mindflayer parasite infection on a vampire spawn? Doesn't seem like there would be a book on that subject. But then again what do I know, I'm 'unlettered'.
Yes, that's still bothering me. ANNOYING.
Speaking of annoying, he was unhappy with my decision to keep Astarion as an ally. Understandable, I suppose. When I spoke to him about it later he seemed more understanding of Astarion's condition. He told me he has some condition of his own where he'll get hungry for magical items and need to consume them. Naturally he refused to elaborate with anything more than threatening, ominous doom and gloom. So yeah, really normal stuff happening, really normal people out here.
Lae'zel did not give two shits about Astarion being a vampire spawn. Props to her for being open-minded.
We came upon a druid grove being defended from goblins by tieflings and mercenaries. One of the tieflings told me Baldur's Gate is a tenday's walk away. I really hope our travels don't lead there. That's where the tieflings want to go.
When we battled outside the gates of the druid's grove, there was a … warlock? Fighter? He was using dark magic and a sword at the same time, hence my confusion. When our minds collided I saw this hot devil woman he's obsessed with. He's hiding something like most of my newfound allies, and I can tell it's something big. He's a real hero type, though, like that seems to be his whole identity and purpose. Calls himself 'The Blade of Frontiers', one who answers the calling of a champion, here to save the innocents and slay the devils. I've acquired yet another truly sexy but deranged ally? I'm in trouble...
While we're on the topic of sexy and deranged allies, Shadowheart was at the grove! At first she seemed genuinely happy to see me, but immediately changed her tune when she saw Lae'zel. I guess fighting alongside her on the nautiloid was not enough to assuage Shadowheart's racism. She was excessively rude to me after I refused to part ways with Lae'zel. When I tried to speak to her in camp she refused to tell me anything at all about herself and seemed eager to be rid of me as soon as possible. She said something about me being the 'quick-to-anger' type with even less self-control than brains. Then she boasted about how great of a judge of character she is. Ha. She should consider herself lucky to have been completely wrong about me – otherwise she wouldn't have a fucking face.
Lae'zel treats me like I am an idiot too. All while she speaks of crackpot wisdom carved in stone and something something queen.
I wonder if it's my accent, the way I speak, my youth, or me refusing to be an asshole for no reason that makes everyone think I'm fucking stupid. It's tiresome.
I WANT A BATH.
<<< Day 3 | Index | Day 5 >>>
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ryttu3k · 6 months
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Kind of considering doing another BG3 run which would put me at eighteen total end me where I just. Respec everyone. Because Gale would be such a good Storm Sorcerer, and I was reading up on Wildheart Barbarians and thought that could fit Halsin pretty well, and, well. Now I have a whole list.
Would love to see other people's suggestions, people who have done the Everyone Gets Respecced thing, etc!
Astarion Original class: Rogue (Thief) New class: Warlock (Archfey) Explanation: Already bound to one master, Astarion making a deal to gain enough power to fight back against Cazador makes sense to me. Fey, in this case, fits Astarion's elvish background, and Misty Escape and Beguiling Defences would be very welcome.
Gale Original class: Wizard (Evocation School) - keeping 1 level New class: Sorcerer (Storm Sorcery) Explanation: Gale was summoning animals as a toddler. Man is a sorcerer, flat out. Much of his art uses lightning imagery, and then there's the appropriate name…
Karlach Original class: Barbarian (Berserker) New class: Fighter (Champion) Explanation: The in-game explanation does it best, honestly! "You approach the complex problems posed by combat with one distinctly effective solution - you hit those problems, really quite hard."
Wyll Original class: Warlock (The Fiend) - keeping 1 level New class: Paladin (Oath of Devotion) or Bard (College of Swords) Explanation: For paladin, the archetypal knight in shining armour. For bard, he loves dancing, tales of chivalry and drama, and has the charisma to pull it off. I sincerely believe either of these are what Wyll would have become anyway if he hadn't crossed paths with Mizora.
Shadowheart Original class: Cleric (Trickery Domain) - keeping 1 level New class: Druid (Circle of the Land) Explanation: Shadowheart is defined as being 'the healer'. Druids have a good swathe of healing spells (albeit not quite as many as a cleric, especially a Life cleric).
Lae'zel Original class: Fighter (Battle Master) New class: Monk (Way of the Open Hand) Explanation: Aside from monks being fairly common to githyanki, Lae'zel would appreciate the ability to fight even without weapons.
Halsin Original class: Druid (Circle of the Moon) - keeping 1 level New class: Barbarian (Wildheart) Explanation: Wildheart Barbarians take their power and influence from animals. Each has a Bestial Heart and two Animal Aspects; Halsin would have a Bear Heart and aspect, and some different aspect.
Jaheira Original class: Druid (Circle of the Land) New class: Ranger (Hunter) Explanation: Rangers still have a strong connection to the land, and hunters fit Jaheira's position as a quiet protector.
Minsc Original class: Ranger (Beast Master) New class: Druid (Circle of the Moon) Explanation: BECOME the Miniature Giant Space Hamster!
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cassaloopa · 5 months
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Headcanon thoughts on the companions and what classes they would’ve been had they been given free choice. Spoilers ahead:
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Karlach - Fighter, Champion archetype. She was an enforcer before Gortash sold her out, and I think her raging is directly tied to not only her heart but also her trauma. If she’d had the choice, I think she’d have stayed a mercenary or even become a pirate, and she’d be way more controlled and successful in that field.
Lae’zel - Paladin, of Glory specifically. That girl has so much intensity and discipline, I feel like it’s not reflected well enough with a fighter role. It’s not the station she’s meant for and I think had her nation been governed by a better hand, she would’ve flourished more.
Wyll - this boy is a BARD. No question. Probably college of swords. He’s too romantic and soft hearted to be anything else in my mind.
Gale - Sorcerer cuz he’s actually innately gifted with magic, possibly Divine Soul. I think he got trained as a wizard to tame him, control him. That man is too wild and powerful for a mere wizard’s skills. Credit for this hc to @galedekarios
Now, I think Astarion, Shadowheart, and Halsin are all the correct class for their personalities, but I think they were made to do things against their wishes and given their own choices, would manifest the class differently.
Astarion - he’s a Mastermind Rogue to me, not an arcane trickster. I think that magical influence comes from his vampirism, and if left as mortal he would’ve manifested his gifts in his work as magistrate. He’s terribly clever and well spoken, and I think would’ve dealt expertly in blackmail and bribery as he advanced his career.
Shadowheart - she feels destined to be a Selûnite Cleric in my mind, and therefore would be a Twilight domain. Her devotion is softer, kinder than Shar made her to be, but our girlie is a Goth chick at heart and the Moon Maiden reflects that personality beautifully.
Halsin - he strikes me as a classic Shepherd Circle Druid. He’s so devoted to those he cares for, and is much more creature focused than wilds focused as a Moon druid ought to be. His desire for connection and protecting of Thaniel, the tieflings and grove, and later the orphans of the Gate shows his compassionate heart and capacity for nurturing. He doesn’t wish to be alone, but to revel in a community he can love and defend.
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aldanor · 2 months
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Currently multiclassing some of the companions:
Wyll is Fiend Warlock (3) x Sword Bard (6)
Karlach Berserker (5) x Champion Fighter (4)
I think I'm keeping Shadowheart and Gale as they are. Lae'zel doesn't have many options that would make sense (maybe Paladin).
Not sure what to do with Astarion (my Tav is already a Gloom Stalker x Thief) so multiclassing him into Ranger would be boring. Fighter would make sense for combat, but let's be honest, he's no fighter. Necromancer, maybe even Way Of The Shadow Monk. Maybe I just keep him a pure Rogue
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tadfools · 8 months
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What do you think are the best subclasses for each companion? (More character wise tgan mechanically)
Totally not asking because I don't know what to give to Lae'zel and Astarion
I don't want to say these are the best choices because they're probably not but this is what I do from a story perspective (I also multiclass everybody because I have the multiclass mod which allows you to go past level 12 and bumps up the ex so you can get more levels throughout the story. I also slide my mans Withers several platinum at different points)
There's going to be spoilers in this but I'll keep them vague or things you find out early on xx
I multiclass Lae'zel as a monk after she gets her shit kicked by somehting at the and of act 1. She's the most experienced fighter throughout the group so her fighter subclass is battlemaster and her monk subclass is way the opened hand
Astarion I used a subclass as an assassin but my dark urge is a sorcerer/rogue who takes that subclass because she's terrifying and I love having it fit with the characters who refer to durge as an assassin. I now have him as an arcane trickster because high elves have a natural affinity with magic. I multiclass him as a college of swords bard because we all know how good this man is at putting on a show
Sweet baby Wyll I keep as a just a warlock until the end of act two when a certain someone gets rescued then i multiclass him as a eldritch knight fighter not only because I want to break him free of Mizora but because I like the idea of my sorcerer teaching him a thing or two
Mama K gets the wild magic subclass because I love the idea of her taking her rage and crafting it into something beautiful I'm multiclass her as a champion fighter becuase she was a champion of Zariel And I feel like the description fits my low intelligence angel 'You approach the complex problems posed by combat with one distinctly effective solution - you hit those problems, really quite hard.'
Shadowheart Is my favorite companion to respec especially after finishing act two and make a few certain choices involving saving the night song. Originally she's in the trickery domain but with Withers' help I change her to a life cleric after act 2, I multiclass her as an oath of the ancients paladin at that point as well. My baby girl is a healer, at a certain point I don't think she wants to hurt anyone anymore
I keep Gale as an evoker cause I think he makes a few references to that school of magic more than the others. He's the only base companion I don't like multiclassing but I do so the mod i use doesn't break (with it you need to have at least 1 level in something else or it will crash trying to go past 12)
Halsin is also goes in the 'i dont like multiclassing' catagory but i give him the circle of the moon subclass So he can pop off as a bear whenever he wants
Minthara (I also have a mod that allows you to have her in act 2 at the same time as Halsin but I haven't gotten there yet with m current play through so I'm not sure if it works yet) I haven't spent any time with her as a companion but Since she is a paladin of Lolth/The Absolute I give her the oath of conquest which is a mod you can get here. Without it she would have vengeance I think. I multiclass her as a berserker barbarian
Jaheira, my grandmama, I change the class of entirely, making her a gloom stalker ranger who multi-classes as a druid so she can have wild shape
Minsc Is a beast master ranger who multi-classes as a wildheart barbarian
I'm inviting other folks to add tags on what they do to help anon out xx
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sorcerous-caress · 6 months
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I forgot if it was but Wereshart and Astarion/Lae'zel dynamic is that one "ahh get your fucking dog bitch"
Both.
Gale is mostly fascinated by her and wants to satisfy his curiosity
Wyll is concerned for her safety and is just like that meme "jason! Jason this isn't you, look at me Jason."
Karlach is chilling honestly.
Laezel is the usual victim of Shadowheart's bursts of rage, good thing she is a trained fighter but the dog almost bests her sometimes.
Astarion gets caught in the crossfire somehow, he really tried to be chill like Karlach and watch from the sideways but apparently being a vampire was a crime in Shadowheart's eyes that he should atone for. Also maybe the fact he drank Reader's blood before.
Everyone hugging Reader, Shadowheart is fine.
Astarion or Laezel close to Reader, Shadowheart is about to make the bite of 87 look like a scratch.
My own preference is that Reader is very aware of this dynamic and just lets their gf run wild. Astarion and Laezel should grow a pair and get over it tbh. Reader is a girlboss gaslight mansplain manipulate champion and would refuse any point of view that pains Shadowheart as anything but a cute puppy.
Tho you can have your own spin on how the Reader reacts to it.
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verothexeno · 7 months
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Etnar the Barbarian
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Race: Green Dragonborn Sex: Male Age: Mid 30's Class: Barbarian - Wildheart (Bear) Special buff: Loviatar's Love Other: Can do minor cleric spells (healing, sacred flame), knows the "speak to animals" ritual. Romance in BG3: Shadowheart
Backstory:
Etnar was born in a little farmer village North of Baldur's Gate Outer City. He was barely a teenager when it got invaded by raiders and slavers, the village razed off the map and most of its inhabitants killed - Etnar's parents killed before him. Fueled by rage, the young Dragonborn managed to defend himself with any tools he could find, his actions soon attracting the attention of the slaver's boss; a man going by the nickname "Onyx". Captured alive, Etnar became a prized possession - only to be thrown into a made-up ring as a mere fighting dog. Onyx had assembled quite the collection of fighters over the years and was making good money over thugs of any background making bets. Some could even bring their own "champions", only to see who would come out alive.
The green Dragonborn quickly rose in fame, only by necessity and survival instinct. Over the years he grew into a mountain to be feared by most, if not all, slaves. But the first one to talk to him was an old human man, a cleric, brought in by trade and kept imprisoned close to Etnar. The years had not been kind to him and he had been a slave for so long; he knew that if he were to fight against that green menace, that would be his final battle. Instead he took the chance to discuss and knew there was still some good beneath those brutal scales... He taught Etnar some minor healing spells as a departing gift and a flicker of hope. Weeks later, forced to kill the old cleric, Etnar silently swore that one day he'd get out of this hell - even if that meant killing everyone in his path.
Then came along Maelon, a half-drow.
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He had been captured in the dead of the night, after coming out of a tavern in the Lower city. At first there wasn't anything special about him; he was scared, loud, demanding to be released. Thrown in a cell next to Etnar, the hald-drow was already trying to get the Dragonborn's attention, only to be laughed at by the guards and told that there was no use trying to talk to his executioner... The first few days, both were silent. Etnar could tell the other was studying him - maybe out of fear, or out of scheming. When Maelon presented himself, the green one listened - maybe out of curiosity, or out of faint hope... There was this hunger for life the half-drow kept clinging to. There was no way he was going to die in this pit. There was no way he was going to be a slave. Maelon first thought that his pleas would fall into deaf ears, that he was only doomed to rant to muscles without a brain until the very hour of his death. So imagine his surprise when the barbarian solely nodded with a "I'm in".
The plan was simple: they would both get into the ring, let the battle start as intended, find the best cleared path, wreck havoc and run for their lives. By Etnar's brute force and Maelon's studies and gifted talent in fire magic, the duo brought chaos over the hideout. Yet in their escape, some slavers remained alive - Onyx included.
There was no time to dwell on that error. The duo ran and made their way to Baldur's Gate, finally free. Etnar and Maelon remained together when they reached the city, developping a friendship that was akin to a brotherly bond. Over the years they were able to fend for themselves and Etnar was finally learning to live again. But he never stopped searching for Onyx. Every scraps of information he could get his hands on soon led him to depart from the city, alone and against Maelon's pleas. Etnar had to kill Onyx. He had to get his revenge and put his past misery to rest...
Searching far and wide, he never found the man - only to be hinted that the slaver was making his way towards Baldur's Gate once more. As Etnar was heading back to the city and back to his friend after 3 years of search, nothing could've prepared him to be captured by mind flayers... *tun tuunnn*
There's a lot I'm skipping here, but I could always write down encounters and scenes in seperate posts. Overall, Etnar was a slave/"gladiator" for around ~15+ years, then escaped and finally became the good person he was supposed to be! Heavily against slavers and thugs in general, will always be kind and helpful to kids in needs, profound respect for animals and nature - the freedom aspect of it. He's a bit oblivious/stupid for some stuff at times due to his lack of life experience, and if someone he dislikes is getting annoying, he will be equally, if not more, annoying and harsh.
My best boy 💜✨
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rosymourning · 8 days
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The Blaze of Glory - a Karlach build
"GODS, it's HOT in here!"
Karlach is a Wildheart Barbarian and Champion Fighter, doing what she does best: charging into battle as a frontliner with a greataxe and setting herself and her enemies a little bit on fire.
[check out my other builds!]
Gameplay Notes
This build makes use of the Hellfire Greataxe, Karlach’s propensity to munch on Soul Coins, and the Heat condition to deal lots of physical and Fire damage. Early game, the build will itemize towards the Wrath condition as well.
Barbarians need high STR, DEX, and CON, which is difficult to manage in game, so I think Karlach is the best party member to put the Gloves of Dexterity on, to ease this burden. That way, you don’t have to put any resources into increasing DEX (+4 is plenty for Initiative rolls and AC).
Stats and Leveling
Final build: Level 8 Wildheart Barbarian, Level 4 Champion Fighter
Level 1 - Barbarian Level 1
Level 2 - Barbarian Level 2
Level 3 - Barbarian (Wildheart) Level 3
Bestial Heart: Bear Heart
Level 4 - Barbarian (Wildheart) Level 4
Feat: ASI+ STR>18, CON>16 [my campaign against odd stats continues]
Level 5 - Barbarian (Wildheart) Level 5
Extra Attack [talk about a power spike]
Level 6 - Fighter Level 1
Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting
Level 7 - Fighter Level 2
Action Surge [another power spike]
Level 8 - Fighter (Champion) Level 3
Level 9 - Fighter (Champion) Level 4
Feat: Great Weapon Master
Level 10 - Barbarian (Wildheart) Level 6
Animal Aspect: Bear [you can carry anything!]
Level 11 - Barbarian (Wildheart) Level 7
Level 12 - Barbarian (Wildheart) Level 8
Feat: ASI+ STR>20
Items
Armor -
Bloodguzzler Garb (1 Underdark)
Enraging Heart Garb (2 Moonrise Towers)
Bonespike Garb (3 Rivington)
Melee Weapon - Hellfire Greataxe (3 Ramazith’s Tower)
Ranged Weapon - [if you need handcrossbows for another party member, choose Giantbreaker (1 Zhentarim Hideout) instead]
Hellfire Hand Crossbow (2 Gauntlet of Shar)
Firestoker (1 Grymforge)
Amulet - Fireheart (2 Reithwin)
Helmet -
Cap of Wrath (1 Grymforge)
Bonespike Helmet (3 Sewers)
Ring 1 - Crusher's Ring (1 Goblin Camp)
Ring 2 - Ring of Self Immolation (2 Ruined Battlefield)
Gloves -
Gloves of Dexterity (1 Creche)
Bonespike Gloves (3 Temple of Bhaal) [these gloves rock, but are VERY annoying to actually get… might be worth sticking with the Gloves of Dex]
Boots -
Linebreaker Boots (1 Goblin Camp)
Bonespike Boots (3 Rivington)
Cloak - Cindermoth Cloak (3 Sewers)
Lore and Flavor
One thing that always sticks out to me about Karlach’s good ending in Avernus (plus the coinciding epilogue) is how clearly and explicitly she returns to her “default” fighting style. Of course, Karlach is no longer a slave fighting in the Blood War, but she’s still running headfirst into battle with her greateaxe (regardless of how she was built in game, I’m nearly positive) - just like the Karlach that we find overheating in Act 1. Given this, I have a much stronger allegiance to keeping Karlach’s fighting style and general gameplay loop very close to her default than I do with other companions. (For example, Shadowheart could be nearly any class combination in game and moving to the countryside with her parents would still make sense. Wyll is going to become a Ranger after his pact with Mizora regardless, and losing his pacted magic feels like the type of thing that would realistically inspire a bit of a respec, so it doesn’t break immersion for me. Anyway, it’s the same with the rest of the companions - you get the point.)
So that’s why this build has Karlach with a greataxe and a commitment to using her overheating engine (aka the Heat condition/Fire damage) to her advantage, despite insanely strong meta builds like Throwserker. I think the Fighter multiclass still makes sense, considering she’s described as a bodyguard and soldier time and time again in the game, and adding one martial class to another doesn’t require too much imagination.
Switching gears to subclass and background, because Karlach’s Outlander background and default subclass of Wildheart always throw me for a loop. She was raised in the Lower City and seemingly spent all her time within the walls of the city - at least, we don’t hear of any extended time growing up in the wilderness like the Outlander background implies. So where does this implied connection with nature come from?
But then she gets sold to Zariel, and is suddenly thrown into the dangerous landscape of the Hells in the thick of the Blood War. Yes, she was a prized soldier of Zariel, but that doesn’t mean she was living in the lap of luxury. While I think it’s very likely Karlach used to have a slightly different backstory (potentially one that plays up her connection with nature more than what we currently have), there is still a lot we can read between the lines. If I found myself in the Hells suddenly, in addition to the loneliness we hear about during her dialogue/questline, I’d also be desperate to see trees and flowers and animals - the natural beauty of Faerûn - again. She cherishes her teddy bear named Clive, she loves the animals we see in the world and the animals that join the camp, and she just generally gives off Mama Bear energy. So I can buy a Wildheart subclass, even if it’s less explicitly obvious than other companions. She likely had to quickly develop a lot of survival skills when she was cut loose in the Hells, which matches with the Outlander background. (What I really want is a mod that remixes a Karlach-specific version of Wild Magic Barbarian with more fire effects that could be flavored as her infernal engine overheating. That would rock my socks off.)
All this to say, I’m sticking with Wildheart Barbarian for this build. There’s also a bit of a motivation on my end to not put Karlach into Berserker (unless doing a throwing build) because I always associate that subclass with Minsc, and this build was created with a No Party Limit run in mind, where I’d end up having both Minsc and Karlach in the party. The problem with this solution, however, is that Karlach’s Bear Heart Barbarian now overlaps (at least conceptually) with Halsin’s bear-focused Wild Shape as a Circle of the Moon Druid. For me personally, I think I’d rather have two characters with bear vibes than two characters in the same subclass, especially since the gameplay between the two will still be quite different. So.
As a final note, the above paragraph waxing poetic about why I don’t want to use Berserker also applies to why I don’t want to use the (incredibly strong) Battle Master subclass for Fighter: Lae’zel has that on lock.
[check out my build disclaimer for info about how and why I don't min/max or completely optimize builds, prioritizing lore and vibe instead]
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the-mic-drop · 2 months
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Zelink gets Isekaied into BG3 Pt6: Team Link and the Fetid Bog
Zelda- High Elf Draconic Lineage Sorcerer
Link- Half Wood Elf Champion Fighter
So far: Zelda kissed Link before the party split up, Team Zelda has explored the Risen Road, and Team Link is off to explore the Moonhaven area.
Team Link- Link, Wyll, Shadowheart, Gale
From the center of Moonhaven, Link leads the team south and finds a familiar face cornered by a couple less-familiar faces.
Wyll instinctively tries to help Auntie Ethel, but Link notices Gale looking around suspiciously and Shadowheart staring at Ethel.
Link asks Shadowheart what's wrong and she takes that opportunity to ask Ethel why she's all the way out here. Alone. So close to a Goblin camp. Really far away from the nearest friendly settlement.
Ethel explains that she lives in a house in these Sunny Wetlands. Gale puts the final nail in Ethel's story-coffin by dispelling the illusion, revealing the Putrid Bog.
Ethel gets all pissy and poofs back to her shack. The brothers charge into the swamp. While the group takes a moment to discuss. While the Goblins are their main objective, whoever Auntie Ethel is presents a clear threat as well. Ultimately, they decide to head into the swamp.
After passing the Redcaps (that still think they are disguised as sheep) and finding the brothers' corpses, they run into Gandrel, who's apparently hunting a vampire spawn by the name 'Astarion.' Team Link leaves him alone after learning about the spawn attack and child abduction. They'll have some questions for Astarion when they meet up.
Link asks the party about the Redcaps, and they tell him how they're inherently homicidal. He tells the party to scout the teahouse while he deals with the Redcaps.
When Link returns, he's splattered with blood and a few alchemy ingredients richer, but isn't shaken.
They enter the Teahouse, give Ethel's deal the finger, tell Mayrina about her brothers, and follow Ethel (who has revealed her true form) into the tunnel.
After using wits, wizardry, and breath-holding, Team Link find themselves in the Ancient Abode, where Ethel is holding Mayrina.
Ethel is tough, but Team Link is fast and clever and forces Ethel to concede the fight. The team intimidates Ethel into surrendering her boon AND Mayrina before she poofs away again.
Wyll and Shadowheart console Mayrina, who's devastated. Link and Gale search Ethel's workshop. Well, Gale investigates the workshop. Link somehow cooks Ethel's scalp into a very dressed-up-looking chicken parm dish. Link is the only one who eats it. It's fine.
Gale finds the Bitter Divorce wand, analyzes it, and tells Link about it. That it can raise the dead, or the undead to be more accurate.
They find Mayrina outside by Connor's coffin, still flanked by Wyll and Shadowheart. Link stays quiet for a minute looking at the scene before taking out the wand and offering it, and an explanation, to Mayrina.
She raises her undead husband, thanks the party, and heads off to Baldur's Gate.
When asked why he gave her the wand, Link responds with, "I get what it's like... Not giving up."
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katewalker · 7 months
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Virgil designs I came up with for my alternate BG3 runs:
- Half-Orc Monk Durge, Acolyte, Way of the Open Hand, 💟 Shadowheart, fighting against the urge, she/they
- Half-Drow Bard Tav, Urchin, college of swords, drum player, 💟 Lae'Zel, she/her
- Aasimar (mod obviously) Tav, Cleric of Tempus (war domain) , Acolyte, 💟 Gale, they/them
- Evil run Tav, 💟 Minthara, but I don't have anything else specific regarding the class/race/background except her gender (she/her)
- Paladin of Illmater Tav (oath of Ancients or Devotion), soldier, still not sure about the race, maybe Dwarf or Dragonborn or strong Human, a Dilf for sure, 💟 Halsin, he/him
- Wild Magic Sorcerer Tav and Eldritch knight fighter Tav, no idea of the background/race/gender/romance (except for the Fighter, they're for Karlach 💟)
- I obviously also need to do a full killing maiming Durge, maybe a Drow. Probably an Oathbreaker or a Champion
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stargirliez · 28 days
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𝐒𝐨 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝟑 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐨 𝐢 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐯𝐬.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝟒 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲.
𝐒𝐨 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞)𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐟𝐜).
𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐦 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐱𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐢 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲!
~𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓇𖤐
BG3 Tavs
Taryn
•Human
•Sorcerer-Storm sorcery
•Romance: Gale
•Small female body type
Zora
•Half Drow Elf
•Bard-College of swords
•Romance: Astarion
•Small female body type
Asra
•High Elf
•Druid-Circle of Spores
•Romance: Halsin
•Small female body type
Nefeli
•Mephistopheles Teifling
•Paladin-Oath of devotion
•Romance: Shadowheart
•Small female body type
Kyrell
•Drow
•Warlock-The Fiend
•Romance: Lae’zell
•Large male body type
Meeri
•Half Orc
•Barbarian-Beserker
•Romance: Wyll
•Large female body type
Aros
•Githyanki
•Fighter-Champion
•Romance: Minthara
•Small male body type
Zyran
•White Dragonborn
•Wizard-Transmutation School
•Romance: Karlach
•Large female body type
☁︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎
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