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shockercoco · 2 months

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Whiskey

Major John Egan x reader

Warnings - few swear words, flirting, alcohol

Word count - 1418

a/n - it's been sooo long, mainly because I've been focused on doing applications to transfer colleges. I also didn't know who to write about for a while after farleigh, lol. I hope you enjoy :)

“How much longer are you going to be back there?” your friend groans from the other side of the bar. The bar staff requested extra hands since a large number of pilots and crew had arrived, and for some reason you volunteered to help out.

“I have another hour left, and then I’m finished,” you say as you hand the guy next to her his drink. She just groans in response. “Plus, you said you were planning on ditching me and finding someone to entertain you for the night.”

“Yeah, but it’s not the same when I’m doing it alone.”

“You do realize I’m not the only person you know here, right?” You tell her as another uniformed man walks up to the bar.

“Can I get a round of whiskeys and a ginger beer, please?” the man asks before your friend could answer. You nod and get started on his order.

“Ginger beer?” you hear your friend ask in a judgemental yet light tone.

“Don’t worry it’s not for me,” the man lets out a small laugh. You hand him his drinks on a tray, and he thanks you before walking away.

“You may not be the only person I know, but you're the only one I really like. But I’ll leave you alone to do your job and make my way to where that man just went,” your friend nudges her head in his direction. After following him with your eyes you give her a ‘really’ look once you spot the table and she gives you an innocent shrug in return.

The table is surrounded by nothing but higher ups. It also happens to include the inseparable best friends Major John “Bucky” Egan and Major Gale “Buck” Cleven.

“Maybe once you get Major Egan you’ll be able to put in a good word for me with Major Cleven, or if I get to Cleven first, I could put in a good word for you. We could do the whole double date thing. Their names have a nice ring to it don’t you think?”

“Lower your voice,” you shush her as you glance around for any listening ears. All of the men in the bar know one another in some way, and word travels fast.

“What? You’ve had a crush on the guy for the longest time, and you do nothing about it every time he flies in,” she tells you. “If you ask him out and he turns you down, it's not like you have to see him for long.”

“I’m sorry, have you met me? What makes you think I would ever go up to a guy and ask him out?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I guess I’ll just have to be bold for the both of us. Can I get a shot before I go, I’m going to need some liquid courage to take these men on.”

“Take your shot and go,” you say as you wave her off with your hand after placing her shot down in front of her. She takes her shot and wanders off, but not before giving you a smirk. You just playfully roll your eyes in return.

You don’t realize how much time goes by with the constant swarm of men coming up to the bar, but when you decide to look up at the clock on the wall you notice you only have ten minutes left until you're free. It has pretty much slowed down given the fact that most of the men were already drunk out of their minds, but the room was far from quiet.

“Next time it’ll be me who knocks his ass out,” you hear a voice say as they come up to the bar you currently had your back to.

You turn around confused, planning to question the person, but you freeze a little once you notice Major Eagan infront of you. You feel yourself panic a little given the fact that this is the closest you’ve ever been to him. He must see your confused expression though because he begins to explain himself.

“Sorry not you, I was talking to one of my buddies. He knocked some brit out on the first punch,” he says, but not before quickly adding, “It was well deserved though, the man was a prick.”

You just nod in response, not knowing what to say to that other than, “Can I get you anything, Major?”

“Yes, whiskey please,” he smiles as he leans his uniform covered arms on the bar top.

“You wouldn’t happen to belong to the table that requested all those whiskeys tonight would you?” you ask as you turn around to grab a bottle and glass. You also try to keep your hands steady and your face as neutral as possible.

“Guilty,” he lets out a small laugh as you set his drink in front of him. He doesn’t reach out to touch it, but keeps those blue eyes of his on you. “Got a problem with whiskey?”

“No, why do you ask?”

“Because I could’ve sworn you made a face when I said it,” he tells you, but there’s no attitude behind it. Good observation skills on his part, bad concealing skills on your part. He is a soldier after all.

“Oh, you caught that,” you let out a little laugh as you try to busy yourself with something behind the bar. As much as you would like to keep talking to him – because you would most likely never get the chance again – you kind of wish he would walk away so you could control your sweating. Your friend would probably slap you if you turned this interaction down though.

“Yeah, is there a story behind it or you just don’t like whiskey?”

“I just don’t like it,” you say, and it’s true. You feel it’s way too strong, especially to be drinking so casually.

“You have one of the best whiskeys sitting on that shelf behind you, and you're telling me you don’t like it?” you’re not looking at him, but you can hear a playful tone in his voice. If only your friend could see you now, wherever she is.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“Uh huh,” he replies in a tone that tells you he doesn’t believe you. “When are you able to leave from behind there?” he motions to you behind the bar.

You take a glance up at the clock at the wall and notice you’re not supposed to leave for another three minutes. But, then again, a cute guy is standing across from you so who cares?

“Now actually,” you respond.

“Well then pour yourself a glass, and I’ll drink it with you,” he tells you, and you feel your stomach flutter. It also could be that you’re nauseous from being so nervous.

“This sounds an awful lot like peer pressure,” you joke and he lets out a laugh.

You do as he says and pour yourself a glass because what the hell. He raises his up as a form of cheers, and you do the same before you both tilt your heads back and drink. You pull a face as the liquid burns going down your throat; he just laughs.

“You really don’t like it,” he says as you set your glass down.

“I prefer sweeter things like wine. You know, the stuff that doesn’t taste like acid,” you say, and he just lets out another laugh at your response.

“Well I’ll remember that for next time,” he says, and you almost drop your guys’ cups, which you just picked up to put away.

“Next time?” you pause before looking up at him.

“Yes. I’m going to be here for a while, and I figured the two of us could do something,” he tells you like it was obvious,” Without any whiskey involved of course.”

“And what makes you think I want to?”

“Because you just spent the past ten minutes having a conversation with me. Oh, and your friend told me to come over here since I helped her get with my buddy Buck,” he gives you a smirk.

Your heart practically slaps the ground, and you feel like you actually might throw up. Part of you isn’t surprised because you were never going to do anything about your crush and your friend knew, and the other part of you is shocked because what happened to girl code?

“Well now I definitely don’t want to,” you tell him, half joking, as you resume cleaning up.

#callum turner #callum turner x reader #john egan x reader #callum turner imagine #major john egan x reader

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calistozom · 8 months

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SPOILER WARNING for one of the endings. And also, I may be exaggerating a little.

In my first run, I tried to reach the best possible ending. Even though I chose the Emperor (because he, at the very least, didn't try to kill me the first time I met him), in my personal canon, after the great final, my OС would try to resurrect the gith Prince. NOT just because I felt sorry for Orpheus, but also because I felt guilty for actually destroying Lae’zel's life… twice... my "lil angry war-frog" didn't deserve it! ＞︿＜

And I ALSO understand that most of those dramatic deaths are used purely for the sake of the plot and this is a REALLY GOOD plot in many ways ... HOWEVER, I still resent how quickly our rebel giths buried their Prince. Like WTF, Voss?! What the actual F….???

I may not know everything about resurrection mechanics in DnD, but I do know that THERE ARE a lot of ways to bring someone back from the dead. Like all my resurrection scrolls, or "Divine Intervention" (from clerics), or resurrection spells (from almost all mages/sorceress/warlocks/clerics/paladins/etc.), or the "Wish" spell (which Gale's "friend" Elminster is clearly capable of), or the "Reincarnation" spell (which druids are capable of), or you can ask Withers/Jergal to create a miracle for the last time (although he most likely would have refused and I don’t judge him). Just ask for help, you stupid kith’rak! * screams of rage *

P.S. – while I was drawing, my sister showed me THIS and I felt like it fits, so I’m leaving a link to you. Thank gods, that I’m not the only one who asks these questions.

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loveofdetail · 8 months

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Let's talk about Gale's sex scenes

I love the astral sex scene and it means so much to me, and I have some problems with the way I've seen it talked about.

I should start by saying this post is not intended to critique anybody's personal preferences. The license to do Whatever The Fuck in an rpg is sacrosanct and there are no wrong choices. But I’ve also seen people imply that the astral scene is not “real” sex, or that Gale romancers “deserved more.” I hope I do not have to explain why that's kinda fucked.

Additionally, I think it is a saddening misread to call the astral scene “performative” in contrast to the bed scene (which gets correspondingly framed as “showing Gale that you want the real him.”) But doing a grandiose magical gesture IS the real him!

I know I'm not alone in viewing Gale as autistic; for me the astral sex scene is a big contributor to that. For one thing, it resonates with the concept of having unusual sensory wants. For another, it reads to me as Gale opening up and showing his passion for magic to the PC in a way he’s never been able to with another mortal before. What neurodivergent person has not had someone view their passion as too weird or too over the top? Have you ever been at a level of enthusiasm that wraps back around into seeming “performative” to others? Ever wanted to show a loved one something that matters to you, but worried they’d never understand—or, worse, they’d actively cringe?

In the astral sex scene, Gale shows the PC how much he loves the Weave (which is not the same as loving Mystra), and the PC does not cringe.

If all the glowing merging translucent bodies, the nebulae, the multiplying limbs, the spinning, the trippiness, the celestial music—if all these trappings made you, the player, cringe: there is nothing wrong with that. But I do think it is a misread to say that the bed version constitutes “helping him heal from his trauma.”

Maybe I have a hair-trigger for anything that implies “becoming more sexually normative = character growth.” Or “vanilla sex = a more intimate connection.” But they are just such tiresome concepts.

I understand that some of the dialogue in the game also suggests that idea, but all that dialogue is coming from the PC. What Gale says is that having bodily sex is “a small gesture toward your comfort.” This has been widely glossed over, imo.

Ultimately the two versions of this scene fulfill two different narrative functions: the bed version is to show the player that Gale will set these wants aside for you should you ask him to. But the astral version is there to show the player who HE is and what HE wants. And I think it is sad to write off this beautiful, lovingly crafted, unique and creative approach to a sex scene as merely something “performative” that he only does because Mystra made him think he had to.

“Stay with me now. There are endless worlds out there. Countless ways to declare love. Infinite ways to express it. Too much for one night... but we shall try.” I've admittedly got a ways to go in the game, but so far this is my single favorite line of dialogue. I genuinely don't understand how people can hear this line, the way it’s acted, and think it's just for show. He knows he's about to get weird but he longingly, vulnerably asks you to stay there in his weirdness with him.

Many writers, when they are writing something kinda out there, have doubts of the form Who is this even for? If the astral scene just isn’t for you I don't have beef with that. But the people who saw the astral sex scene and went "Oh, my god, now THIS is FOR ME"—are perhaps people who only very rarely get to watch a sex scene and have that reaction.

I'm glad Baldur's Gate brought something this beautiful to this particular table and I think it deserves consideration as a serious element of Gale’s characterization.

#gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 meta #the promised essay #i made a very rabid shitposty untagged version of this earlier #and i think it upset a few people #this version is a better representation of my reflections #verbose bitch romances the party wizard news at 11 #wizardsexual #long post

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randomfanner · 6 months

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Gale + Tara Headcanons

I love Gale so much. SFW Headcanons only, relationship and also just general life headcanons I have about the worlds saddest oxymoron.

Labeled TW: Gale got groomed. We are going to be discussing today Because even if he was an adult(which he probably wasn't) he still got groomed because Mystra had so much power over this man.

General TW: Gale has self hatred issues. I hate Mystra. We will be talking about Mystra in depth I promise. Also Gifted kid burn out and general tying all of your self worth to a talent.

So, body type head canon because Gale does not have abs. You cannot look me in the eyes and tell me Gale has abs. He is soft and a little squishy and very huggable.

Man is a cuddler. He always wants to cuddle. Whether it be you two be lounging on a sofa, each reading/doing your own tasks well you snuggle together, spooning in the morning, laying together after a night of passion, or whatever reason he can get to just hold you in his arms.

I think he is touch starved other than Tara. Which as great as Tara is it is not human touch. And gods don't... really physically touch. So I don't think he got very much physical affection from Mystra. So being touched, being held with your hands and feeling your flesh on his means so much to him.

He doesn't think he is good at it. But he still really likes to do it. If you ask him to cuddle with him, he will flip in his heart because it makes him the happiest man in the world to know you want to cuddle with him as much as he wants to cuddle with you.

Tara likes you. She likes you fast. She begins telling you all of Gale's stories from when he was younger, how sweet of a boy he was and how he would use his beginning magic to help people. If you give her attention she will purr so loud. Gale and Tara both really like chin scratches.

She begins calling you "Mrs/Mr/Mrx. Dekarios" pretty damn quickly. she has accepted you as his partner which she never did Mystra. it really throws Gale off when she does it. He admittedly thought Tara was so against Mystra because she was a lover period.

Tara also may begin to favor your lap. If this happens, Gale is... shocked and disappointed "You have stolen not only my heart, love, but my Treyssem as well." "Would you like to repeat that, Mr. Dekarios?"

And he wonders why she favors your lap.

She also favors you lap because she has to thank you for keeping her sweet boy alive for her. She may even allow you the honor to stroke her stomach a few times.

She also brings you gifts, magic items, trinkets, carcasses, whatever she can get her paws on and thinks you would like.

She takes you in fast and begins asking for grand babies. She wants grand babies and Gale's mother wants grand babies. The topic of course make your flustered each time and Gale denies the possibility of being a good father, but Tara is pretty insistent.

Morena also loves you as well and you best believe she is showing you pictures from Gale's childhood and telling you as much information as she can. Poor Gale just sits there and is extremely flustered well she recounts even his less flattering tales... but he does nothing to stop it.

He is really happy his mom and Tara both like you. It makes him the happiest man in the world.

Gale likes to cook for you. A lot. He cooks the fanciest, gourmet food and he is extremely good at it. He will set up fancy candle lit dinners with music in the background. This is basically every night but he tries to make sure it never truly loses its luster. (It never does).

He also makes you breakfast in bed. He has to crawl away from you in the morning to feed Tara and so he just makes you breakfast and comes back freshly deserved.

If you cook together man is smiling so much his jaw hurts. I cannot describe to you the joy he feels having you by his side, helping him cook.

Expect so much love poetry all of the time. Even when you are questing or not he will just slip a small piece of paper into your hand with all of his affections written down as poems.

He also quotes poetry verses that make him think of you, to you, at random times. He is hoping to make you smile with all of them.

Gale is so sweet to you all of the time. He treats you like you are divine, and to him you are. Complete gentleman all of the time. He does not carry anything. You could be a fighter with a 20 in strength with thighs and arms that could crush his fucking head like a grape, He will still insist on trying to carry anything heavy for you. He holds doors, pulls out chairs, makes sure your wine is refilled. He is so doting.

Man feels guilty that he is doing so little to help you at times. He wants to do more for you then he does. He tries to make sure you are pampered at all times. Kisses, gifts, fancy shows, lovely nights together.

But he tries to do more. he always makes sure to protect you in battle. He will take attacks, using shield and mage armor to make sure he can take as many hits as needed to protect you. He will be your knight in magic armor, a dashing smile well he does so.

This often leads to the ES(Emergency Shadowheart) because Gale is an over-confident wizard but if you are safe he doesn't care. If you are meant to be a tank, you may need to have a chat with him about the fact he is the squishy wizard man and you can protect him.

But it is Gale.

If you get sick or injured or anything Gale is fretting over you. He is holding you and yelling for Shadowheart like you are going to die at this moment. Even if it is a small thing he is very dramatic and very scared of losing you.

When you get sick or are on your period he makes sure to give you medicine to help with illness and pains, magic hiding the taste, and so much good food.

Tara also rests on your lap and acts like a heating pad. Purring and trying to help you feel better.

So like, after the ending I think Gale and you take a break from everything and just, go and look around. And Gale takes a break from magic. He can still love the art, and he will go back to it but I just think he needs to take a step back because magic and his talent for magic has kind of defined Gale his entire life.

I think him taking a break and just... being a person rather than a wizard for a little a while. He can be both, he knows he can. But he will need time and a deep breathe. He will go back, he loves to do magic. It means the world to him. But absences makes the heart grow fonder. And I think working on other skills he can be proud of and knowing Magic is one of the many things he is good at rather then the ONLY thing he is good at will do him wonders.

So I am going be talking about Gale's trauma a lot in the lower half of this. First, Gale's confidence issues and how fucked up the orb is. There will be comfort with Tara and you. After that we are going to get into the problem. The problem will come up in this section, however not the fact Gale got Groomed. That will be another different section.

Warning out of the way:

I think his self confidence and self image is being held together by the type of "I am good at magic". He was a prodigy and I think Gale only saw worth in his magic and his skill on it. He loves to do it too but at the same time he HAS to be good at it, or it feels like. He respects people who are better.

He did fuck up with the orb, but I also think he wasn't fully aware of what he was getting himself. Yes he should have known not listening to Mystra was a bad idea, but she didn't explain exactly what he did wrong until Gale talks with her in the game. This is years later.

Gale really needed Tara after he went from Mystra's Chosen and the Lover of Mystra to a fool who flew too close to the sun and came crashing down in a brilliant display of horrible glory. Man ruined his life, lost everything, and had a problem that Mystra gave him no ideas how to fix.

Mystra DID NOT EXPLAIN ANYTHING TO GALE UNTIL THAT CUTSCENE IN GAME YOU GET AFTER MYSTRA TELLS GALE TO BLOW HIMSELF UP. Gale was kept alive due to Tara. Tara was the one who flew off and found out how to help Gale.

I also think the only thing Mystra valued with Gale's magic knowledge and abilities. She is a goddess, she doesn't really eat human food, Tara and Mystra didn't each other, she is a goddess and I doubt physical touch was common.

So I think Gale being rude to you about magic, especially if you are a different class who can do magic and he insulted you, is because the is grasping with issues of trying to remind himself he is a good mage. This does not excuse his behavior. But I think when he realizes what he did he is going to apologize whole heartedly

One day he is just thinking about how you first met and he just realizes 'I was awful!"

He is going to hold your hand to his cheek, and apologize for doing that. Because you make him realize that he is more than his magic. He is more then what he has been called talented for and tied everything too for so long.

He isn't a failure if he fails with his magic.

Don't get me wrong, Gale can get ahead of himself and is pushy. I want to flick him in the head as soon as he begins thinking trying to become a god is a good idea in the first place. It is a horrible idea as much as I hate Mystra, don't want Gale to become a god. He deserves to be a good man with his wine, his library, his treyssem, and, should fates permit, you.

So, we are going to start talking about Mystra being a P*dophile and just the worst emotional manipulator. When we get to talking about it I am not censoring the word.

This is the end, I am not putting anything else below this. You are free to move along your day, you will not miss out on any of the good stuff. I promise.

This is the only notable part of this: I want Withers to be the god of Magic. He would be a great god of magic, he proves with Arabella.

So, Gale was like, 17 to 23 I believe the range is. And even if Gale is in the later half of that, he still got fucking groomed by Mystra because Mystra had and still has so much power over Gale.

She is the goddess of his greatest asset. His magic. And as we just discussed, the goddess of the thing he ties all of his self worth to. Mystra was literally someone he worshipped. She IS the goddess of magic. Gale had no power in the relationship and never did.

Mystra knows this. She is smart enough to know what is doing is fucking horrible, and get it, she is a god, but she is also a straight up pedophile. We all know about the fact people LITERALLY HIDE THEIR CHILDREN FROM HER.

I do not doubt that being Mystra's chosen meant doing everything she asked. I don't think Mystra took no for an answer in any matters. I also think mistakes were punished with emotional manipulation. Not violence like we see with Shar or Vaalikith (She sorta counts) but gods did he make Gale feel worthless if he failed.

I think Gale feels guilty for a lot of things a lot he shouldn't feel guilt for. I think one of the biggest things Mystra would make Gale feel guilty for was talking to basically any one else if it was not a work relationship.

I would not doubt if Mystra cut Gale off from his mother and would have from Tara if Tara was anyone else. Mystra is noted as a jealous goddess if you are dating Gale. I do not doubt that jealousy was a pretty frequent thing.

Tara hates Mystra with every bone in his fluffy body and tried so hard to talk to Gale but Gale would not listen to her because, well- she is his boss, his teacher, his lover and also the person who controls the thing he ties his self worth too of course he is going to listen to everything Mystra said.

Also Mystra 100% cut Gale off from any source of help he could actually get. Again, Tara was the one to find out about the orb. And I think more than just shame, embarrassment and being a laughing stock from one of the greats, I think Mystra made sure no one was going to be talking to Gale.

I want DLC where we beat the fuck out of Mystra. I really want to kill her. I know I cannot but she is terrible and she deserves death. I know I am captain obvious right now but I cannot stress this enough.

I want Withers to be the god of Magic. He would be a great god of magic, he proves with Arabella.

#gale of waterdeep #gale dekarios #baldurs gate gale #gale x tav #bg3 gale #gale fluff #Gale needs a hug #fuck mystra #I hate Mystra so much #Tara is my favorite momma cat #gale x reader #Gale is baby #Withers should be the god of magic #tw: mystra

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clericofgale · 5 months

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Spoilers for Patch 5 and the whole game.

I posted my thoughts about the new ending Gale got in patch 5 on Reddit first, but I might as well post it here with some revisions. I'll say it, I love the god Gale ending. But it is NOT his good ending to me. Before I would never have pursued it, but now it is tantalizing to say the least. I'm into it though Gale the mortal is still my preference.

"Gale Dekarios cuts a poor figure next to the wizarding prowess of 'Gale of Waterdeep. You like so many things about me I'd have sooner discarded…"

By ascending Gale, you are killing Gale Dekarios. The nerd that hits on you in front of everyone while you're covered in zombie blood, procced to infodump an entire tangent to complement you, and yet somehow stick the landing to hit you with the most romantic poetry you've ever heard. A sensitive man who wears his emotions on his sleeve and wants to make the world a more beautiful place. An artist of the weave and a poet. The owner of the most overbearing tressym in the world. The moment the spell was complete, Gale Dekarios died and Gale the divine was born.

Even then, why is god Gale now so enticing to me unlike ascended Astarion? Because he loves you. He wants you by his side as an equal. It's actually sweet and romantic, just like all of Gale's romance is. I'm nothing if not a sucker for a romance.

"Follow my Lead" "Show me more. Show me it all." "I want you to seize the crown and make us a new world"

BeMyGod is the name in the data file for the boat scene where Gale asks you if you'll be with him when he seizes the crown. I know file names can be arbitrary, but if you agree to his proposal, you really are asking Gale to be your god. It's so easy to say yes. You're in the stars, Gale says I want to show you so much more, but it's not worth it without you. All you need to do is say yes. You're angry at Mystra who demanded so much of Gale, caused him such suffering and won't lift a finger to help. So You say yes. You love him. He loves you.

When Gale ascends, even in 6 months he is a different entity. The devs indicate: "His posture/demeanor here should feel slightly more aloof/detached than the regular Gale - he's been immortal for six months, his ego is as powerful as his magic. The real Gale's insecurities still lurk beneath his godlike confidence, as does his love for the player, but this is clearly a Gale setting out on a darker path."

The Gale here is a twisted version of the one we loved. His flaws are worse, he good traits have mostly disappeared. Namely his kindness and tolerance to deprecating humor. He no longer tolerates any perceived slight or jab. He doesn't let go of his bitterness towards Mystra. His ego is large yet fragile. You saw a glimpse of it at the ritual circle scene if you succeed in upstaging him in magic. Now it's only gotten worse. Yes even his insecurity. If you rejected him after accepting the proposal, Gale says this.

Tav: No, I think it's the end. What happened to the man I once loved? Gale: He's the god he deserves to be. I achieved everything we hoped I would, and still I'm not good enough for you?

He's also lonelier than ever. His last 6 months were in isolation, with nobody he could trust while dealing with the crown and celestial politics. Immortals don't really have friends. They have allies and lovers. He stops talking to his mother who was so dear to him. He develops a spell to polymorph people into Tara, his oldest friend who rejects him after ascension. He then develops a spell that summons Shadowdark ale and forces people to dance and be happy, just like the vignette he told you about the Yawning Portal. The third spell is Power word: Ruin. he's finally back to speaking death into being with a single word, just like he used to.

Gale wanted to be a god to make a better world, but now he's a neutral god answering prayers from any alignment. He doesn't care if they are Thayan wizards aiming for lichdom or unscrupulous Amnian merchants. Ambition is a neutral idea. Ambition also drives healers to develop a cure. For adventurers to slay monsters.

What's the most noticeable remaining good trait in Gale? Gale still loves you. He's much nicer to you if romanced. He refuses to be with you if you don't go with him because he doesn't want to hurt you. He admires your good heart if you want to honor the pact with Raphael. He calls you my love just like before. He will fulfill the promise sealed that night in the astral sea. All you have to do is say yes. And the ascension cinematic is a callback to the romance scenes from before.

"Follow my lead. Close your eyes. I have so much more to show you."

And you know what. I'll go with you. Even if we will eventually lose both our humanity in our folly, and dreams become nightmares. Even if I'll come to regret that night when I said yes to the mortal you, I don't want you to be lonely. Where ever you go, I'll go. You'll always have me. And I'll always have you.

As God Gale would say… "A toast then, to our myriad ambitions. May we each get what we deserve."

#gale of waterdeep #gale dekarios #god gale #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 spoilers #Gale thoughts #Love makes fools of us all #Frankly I think the fact his love is genuine is genius #1k+ words

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creative-frequency · 2 months

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Raphael x Reader: Act II: The Dinner, pt.1

Summary: Your patron Raphael invites you for a dinner with multiple ulterior motives. Part 1 of 2. Word count: 2219 Notes: Dinner date with the devil man coming right up 😘

The lanceboard was left in disorder. The white Cyric was toppled by the board. The match between the devil and the most cunning and ambitious tiefling child in the Sword Coast had ended in the latter’s victory – spurred on by some insightful advice from Gale.

You had no idea what a Theskan Double Counter-Gambit was, but you had an inkling that Raphael had let Mol win, just to grow her appetite for triumph. Concerned, but dedicated to not interfering, you looked after Mol as she returned to her friends. You had no right to moral superiority or telling her what to do. If a deal with the devil – your devil patron – was what she thought the best move in this game of survival, then a deal she would make. Just like you had done to survive. You might only advise Mol to read the fine print carefully.

It had been surprising to meet Raphael at the Last Light Inn, though you assumed it shouldn’t have been. No doubt he had something on his mind, and the presumption caused a buildup of anxiety and something akin to a thrill in you.

Raphael seemed to sense that you felt familiarity with Mol’s situation, because he gave you a cursory glance before turning to address Astarion with a pointed finger. What the glance meant, you had no idea.

“Now, let’s talk about you. I sense there’s something you want to ask me,” Raphael mused.

Taken aback, you turned to face Astarion, whose chin lifted up sharply. Gale and Shadowheart shared your impression and traded confused looks. Out of your whole group, you had always been the closest with Astarion. Secrets and thoughts had been shared just between you two, along with multiple bottles of wine. Raphael had not shown interest in any of your companions in your previous encounters, so for him to do so now was… disconcerting.

“I do. I have a…” Astarion hesitated, obstinately avoiding your gaze, “proposal for you.”

“A proposal?” Raphael repeated, clearly intrigued and chuckled. “If you’re hoping to taste my blood, little vampling, think again. It burns hotter than Wyvern Whiskey.”

“This is serious business, devil,” Astarion interjected and proceeded to explain: “My old – well, a long time ago, someone carved some runes into my back. I’d rather like to know what they say.”

Cazador. Astarion was talking about his old master. Alarms blared in your mind.

Raphael let out a long hum and looked more complacent with each syllable.

Right then you also realised why Astarion had been casually asking about Raphael and your contract earlier. He had even said he would like to have a chat with the devil. Completely out of curiosity, of course, and just because he thought the devil rather liked your miserable little group. You should have known the vampire spawn had something else in mind.

“What do you mean? What scars?” you asked Astarion, brows furrowed with worry. He still didn’t look back at you.

Raphael’s eyes glinted with interest.

“You haven’t told them? And you’ve kept your clothes on this whole time? How unlike you,” the devil said, exultant at this revelation of secrecy.

The comment filled your insides with icy discomfort on Astarion’s behalf. You could have sworn Raphael held back the beginnings of a smirk as his gaze glinted over to you.

“That’s enough, Raphael. Can you help him?” you said pointedly. A severe heart-to-heart would be waiting for Astarion at camp, but he didn’t deserve being debased like that.

“I might. If you ask nicely, little raven,” the devil prompted and you rolled your eyes in exasperation. Raphael and his theatrics.

He took another moment to contemplate. Astarion tensed beside you. Gale and Shadowheart monitored the situation, worry etched on their faces.

Raphael finally continued: “It’s something very important to your master. But is it a love letter, a warning, or a deed of ownership? I could give you all the gory details.”

“So you know what it’s about?” you pushed.

“Of course. But, you’ll have to do something for me first.” Raphael tapped his chin in thought, then casually pointed at you – not Astarion. “Let me think about it and get back to you.”

The motion made you feel ever more severely that the line was meant specifically to you rather than your group as a whole. Your pulse sped up.

“Fine,” you replied, cutting Astarion’s attempted reply off and ushered your party to leave. “Let’s go.”

You had just found out you rather hated the idea of your patron tempting your friends into contracts or roping them into acts of service. You didn’t remember harbouring any territorial feelings before becoming a warlock.

After merely three steps, Raphael cleared his throat behind you. It was enough to make you pause since you knew it meant he was not going to let you leave just yet.

“Tav, a word, if you will,” his honeyed voice rang out.

The use of your name shot a thrill up your spine. And the tone he said it in. It was smoother than the sweetest nectar or dark chocolate melting on your tongue. It indicated the transition from business to pleasure.

You glanced at your companions and gave them a reassuring nod, barely holding yourself together. Raphael waited until you were truly alone. Other people had just been going about their businesses in the Last Light Inn, but for the moment, you only saw Astarion, Gale and Shadowheart discussing with Jaheira at the other end of the large dining area. The Harpers were avoiding the little corner Raphael had set up the lanceboard in.

You sucked in a breath full of that scent of cherries, musk and sulphur and the world around you disappeared, along with any irritation you had just felt towards the devil.

“Tell me, O apple of my eye, how have you been?” Raphael questioned, a hand to his chin. “You don’t have any gills to get green around yet, but you do look a bit worse for wear in this light.”

His brown eyes flickered across you, more gauging and analysing than they had been moments ago in the company of others. His next words were added in a carefully crafted neutral tone, but they still served to make you uneasy:

“You haven’t been summoning me in a while.”

In the cold darkness of the Shadowlands, the unsaid words had often burned in your throat and hovered just at the tip of your tongue: Dominus, inferior ad te me flecto inferni. The verbal component to the ritual spell that completed the magic of the focus item on your left ring finger. The ring’s phantom weight made you hide your hand behind you. Raphael and your previous encounters with him had been in your thoughts often. Too often.

You cleared your throat and shied away from his measuring gaze.

“I’m fine,” you said curtly.

Raphael raised a brow in disbelief.

“Was there something you wanted to discuss?” you asked.

“Yes, though mayhap somewhere better suited. Why don’t you join me for dinner tonight, my raven, after you’ve taken care of everything here,” Raphael ventured with a nonchalant wave of his hand.

A dinner? Your heart leaped at remembering the last time you had visited the House of Hope. How the warmth had radiated off Raphael’s body and how his fingers had travelled over your – well, his – shirt. That shirt you had now tucked away beneath everything else inside your travel chest. It still smelled like him.

More importantly, you hadn’t had a proper meal in days. Daydreams of the dinner he had served you on your first meeting had also often been on your mind embarrassingly often. Not that there was anything wrong with Gale’s cooking but the options were severely limited at camp.

You barely hesitated before replying: “I’d love to, thank you.”

The corner of Raphael’s mouth tipped upwards ever so slightly.

“Until later then.”

And he was gone with the usual fiery blaze. You had a feeling he had just rushed off to prepare for whatever would be waiting for you at the dinner tonight and your stomach twisted in anticipation.

—

Exhausting hours later, your party settled in the safe haven of the camp for the night. With each passing minute, you grew more anxious, knowing you should summon Raphael to let him know you were ready for the dinner. But, before leaving, you had to tell someone you would be away for some time. Maybe even until the morning. The thought made your pulse grow more rapid and your stomach twist into knots that had nothing to do with hunger.

Eyeing tentatively Karlach, you cowardly approached Astarion, who was reading a book. Karlach had thrown a glorious fit about the infernal ring on your left ring finger and the ritual it was used for. (“What the fuck were you thinking, Tav?!”) The situation had evolved into one of the worst arguments among your group and you were not looking forward to another one.

Karlach wasn’t an unreasonable person, but understandably, dealing with devils made her blood boil. She had almost “smacked the shit out of you”, but you had somewhat successfully argued that, while she didn’t have to like the fact that your powers came from a devil, she would still have to make peace with it one way or another. You were not going to forsake your powers as long as the tadpole swam in your head. Astarion had been disappointed to miss the brawl that the argument had – fortunately – never evolved into.

So Karlach absolutely hated the idea that Raphael had you curled around his little finger, quite literally, and you could bear no other explanation than you had made the pact out of necessity and, for the time being, would not consider trying to worm your way out of it – no pun intended. It was somewhat of a shock to find yourself unable to discuss the details of your contract, but what you could explain was that you needed the warlock powers to survive, and you still owed some ration of allegiance to Raphael because he was your patron.

He was your patron. An excuse you had already heard yourself using a thousand times over.

In her rage, Karlach had burned through her own tent and afterwards you had not spoken outside combat in days.

So, you paused in front of the vampire spawn, wringing your hands nervously.

“Um, Astarion?” you started.

“Yes?” he replied, obviously irritated at the interruption and didn’t lift his gaze from the book in his hands. He was likely still cross with you from the earful you had given him after departing from Last Light Inn. What he had been thinking trying to make a deal with your patron behind your back, you didn’t comprehend. There would be more conversations to be had about the topic, but later.

“I’ll be away for a bit,” you said quickly, “Raphael needs me for something.”

Astarion’s head snapped up as if he couldn’t believe his pointy ears. “What?”

“I’ll be back in a few hours, I think. I’ll see you in the morning,” you explained in a tone that hopefully was carefree enough to not warrant any concern. No matter that Astarion’s vampire senses probably caught your accelerated pulse.

“Seriously?” he protested in a hiss.

You shrugged. “I need to hear what he has to say. He is still my patron.”

Shit. The words had slipped out before you could stop it.

Astarion scoffed, rolled his eyes and went back to his book. “I’ve heard that excuse before…” He flipped a page. “Make him think faster about helping me, will you?”

You stepped forward and placed a hand gently over his shoulder. “I’m sorry you didn’t... trust me enough to tell me about the scars before.” The touch hopefully conveyed more than the words.

He didn’t meet your eyes, but you saw how his gaze glazed over for just a trice. “Well. Now you know.”

“I’ll do my best. Wish me luck.”

“Hah. I’m sure you don’t need luck with Raphael.”

You paced a short distance away from camp, not daring to venture too far away into the shadows. The pitch blackness seemed to breathe around you, impatiently waiting for you to take a step further into its embrace. You had seen how the shadows had snatched a Harper when you first arrived at this cursed place.

With a short inhale you recited the words:

“Dominus, inferior ad te me flecto inferni.”

Warmth filled the air and the sudden smell of sulphur was overwhelming. The ring on your finger felt heavy, almost burning your skin. Your heart thumped uncomfortably and you could feel the blood rushing in your ears.

“Shall we, little raven?”

You spun around towards the voice. Raphael stood there in his human form, dressed more casually than expected. Instead of the elegantly embroidered doublet, he donned a simple, dark shirt. The upper buttons were left open to reveal hints of his toned chest.

You swallowed. Maybe he hadn’t wanted you to feel underdressed in your camp clothing? At least your simple shirt and pants were mostly clean tonight.

Raphael offered his hand for you to take and just as your fingers brushed his palm, you found yourself in the House of Hope.

Part 2

My writing masterlist

#bg3 raphael #raphael bg3 #raphael x you #raphael x reader #baldur's gate 3 fanfiction #bg3 fanfiction #fanfiction #the devil wears house slippers

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bogginswritings · 7 months

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Astarion x barbarian!Tav blurb

Basically more of my barbarian big chick Herman and Astarion. You guys seemed to like it. Though I named her Tav here; I forgot Herman isn't a normal name. I'm desensitized. Astarion is pretty OOC, this was more of a crack one. Also I'm on fire. Who is this? no waiting time between fics long enough to birth babies?! Pairing: Astarion x fem!barbarian!Tav (also known as Herman) Words: <1000, just a short one Content: crack, just crack. Little OOC. But who cares, when you delulu enough it'll get you there. Summary: Astarion has a lot to complain about today. The main one; 'no more walking'.

Astarion had been on his complain -train, as she liked to call it.

It started with complaining about how he woke up, then he whined because somehow his armor didn’t fit as comfortably as it did yesterday. And now-

"Are we there yet?" Astarion asked, dragging himself along. Tav shrugged, "No clue, should be there soon enough. I think."

“You think?" Astarion retorted, "Darling, please, my feet hurt-” he moped, trailing behind the rest of the party that tagged along for the day, “Can’t we take a break?”

Tav rolled her eyes, “We had a short rest not that long ago,” she commented, as she simply kept going down their path. The elf grumbled under his breath as he followed behind, arms crossed, “You know, you’re supposed to be considerate of my comfort. Being my pet and all.”

The look she shot him over her shoulder was a warning one, “I was your juicebox of the night, I think I’ve been considerate.”

Astarion let out a puff of air; surely he deserved better treatment. She should be biased for him. "VERY considerate. Which is why we are now on our path to save who and whose child," he said, his eye-roll not going unnoticed by the barbarian. She shook her head with a smile, "You forget we'll get paid. We could use some extra stuff before we continue our travels." Astarion didn't audibly agree with her, but the puff of breath he let out in annoyance was enough.

He picked up his pace momentarily, catching up with her. He wrapped an arm around her taller figure, squeezing her biceps (without drooling), “You know what, my sweet, you could put those good-looking muscles to use and-”

“I’m not carrying you.”

“You didn’t even know if that’s what I wanted to ask!” he exclaimed. She turned her head, cocking it, “Then what is it?”

“I was simply going to request,” he started, finger tracing over the muscle, “if you could oh so pretty please carry me.” Tav snorted, shaking her head, “you’re impossible.”

“I’m endearing.”

“You’re complaining,” the barbarian retorted.

“I could carry you,” Halsin chimed in from behind them. Tav’s ears perked up, “Looks like you found your volunteer, love.” Astarion snapped his head towards the druid with a glare, “Don’t you dare.”

Halsin, the poor man that wanted nothing more than to be nice, threw his hands up; Gale snorting next to him. Tav gave Astarion a look, “He’s trying to help.”

“yada yada,” Astarion rolled his eyes, how was she so oblivious to what he wanted? “I don’t want him carrying me! His hands probably still smell like bear! Now- pick me up!” he pouted, and Tav fought her smile.

“Alright fine, come here you drama queen,” she grabbed him by the waist (that did absolutely nothing to him!). His victorious grin was short-lived, however, as she threw him over her (big) shoulder. He’d be blushing if he wasn’t pissed off (and physically unable to). “Hey! That is NOT what I meant!” he protested, kicking his legs; which did next to nothing to her.

“You said carry, I carry,” she stated, “Didn’t specify.”

“YOU KNOW WHAT I MEANT!” he shouted, fists kicking at her back (holy shit her muscles were flexed at her shoulder). Astarion purposefully kept his gaze there, not wanting to face the other companions; the only reason, truely. He could just feel Gale’s expression. That stupid fucking wizard. “PUT ME DOWN, PET!”

Tav turned around (Astarion blinking a few times from the sudden movement), looking at Halsin and Gale, “Do you guys hear something?” They both shook their heads with a chuckle.

Astarion gawked, his hands grabbing for SOME leverage; one clawed into her back while the other pushed against her free shoulder, “EXCUSE ME?!” he exclaimed as he tried to free himself from her grasp; able to turn his head just enough to face the other men, “You are supporting abuse!”

The vampire could feel her shoulders shaking as laughter bubbled in her throat. Astarion's lips formed an angry pout, fingers flicking the back of her head, “Don’t laugh!” he let his head drop, laying limp over her shoulder, “Please let me go, before this gets any more humiliating.”

“I don’t think it could be,” Gale quipped, to which she snorted, “He’s right, it’s pretty bad for you.”

“TAV!”

“OKAY OKAY!” The barbarian laughed, putting the fuming vampire down. He had his arms crossed, angry glare on his face (which wasn’t all that concerning to Tav; he had to look up to meet her eyes). b"I'm sorry. Are you okay?" "No! My pride has been severely injured," Astarion replied, to which she shook her head with a chuckle. She pressed a kiss to the top of his head, fuming as he was, "Maybe halsin still wants to-" "FUCK OFF." ---------------------------------------------- I didn't know how to end it so have this.

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normal-thoughts-official · 9 days

Note

You are getting me intrigued about Bladeweave, and i want to know your thoughts on:

A) Do they get a pet together? (The correct answer is yes)

B) Do you imagine them like, in a specific Bladeweave universe, or like canon-ish one, but like after the Hell Trip?

C) Do you think Tara and Wyll team up to make sure Gale doesn't forget to take care of himself and then Tara teams up with Gale to do the same to Wyll?

D) What do you think Wyll's father thinks of Gale?

Also feels weirdly nostalgic to be on your asks

omg hiiiii beloved. first of all finish the damn game 🔫 second of all damn i missed your asks 💕

in order:

A) they get a frankly ridiculous amount of pets but neither of them will admit it because they're the "they're not my pets, i just feed them" kind of mfs. i mean, that's canon on gale's end but we all know wyll is just as bad if not worse with the whole "hm actually animals are fully fledged individuals who belong to no one but themselves and only a tyrant would wish to conquer them and reduce them to something to be owned and,"- bullshit.

(also, honestly? after being called a pet and a pup by mizora for so long, the last thing he wants is to be reminded of her. and considering how in wyll origins he says his biggest fear is to become the devil he was made to look as, i think it'd be highly triggering for him to say anything at all that sounded like it could've come from her mouth, even in a completely different context. so, no, he'll never have "pets", he'll have loyal animal friends whom he feeds and takes care of and who live with him and always come back to him but they're not pets how dare you)

gale is more of a cat/tressym person, and of course tara is gale's friend first and foremost and wyll and her mostly bond over their love for gale. wyll however has no discrimination when it comes to species and i mean none. he'll show up at the tower or wherever else they live all like "hey gale so hear me out" and it's just as likely that he'll have a cat, a dog, a pigeon, a horse, or a crocodile in tow. gale just sighs and goes magic up whatever sort of specialized environment their new tennant will need because he knew what he was getting into when he married Literal Disney Princess, got-speak-with-animals-as-a-cantrip-out-of-a-devil-deal Wyll Ravengard. those are mostly wyll's friends (not pets, the dekarios-ravengard household is completely pet free, ignore the first 10 levels of the tower) but they also get along well with gale too. he makes them tea when they to to their area upstairs for a chat or whatever

B) usually the canon universe, yes. i mean it's fully possible to have a canon run without ever even meeting karlach so it's not like i'd need a fully fledged AU if I didn't wanna include the going to hell part (plus other ending possibilities im not spoiling you about). but also i feel like gale is the kind of stupidly self sacrificial mf who would go to hell with wyll and karlach if that's what it takes, both to be with his love and because karlach does deserve to live and be safe. and he knows that he can help try to look into arcane solutions for her heart. and if anyone understands having a ticking time bomb in their chest and needing support to grow back hope that you'll be able to live without it being a risk, and deserve to, it's him. wyll's saved him from his own time bomb; he would never deny karlach the same sort of redemption, especially when she got in that situation through no fault of her own

so, yes, i can imagine him joining them, even if not 24/7, and trying to help with her heart before they come back. and then we can have bladeweave and karlachzel (? what's their ship name called man) or Fucking Whatever lol. i mean part of the appeal of wyllach to me is that i feel like it makes 0 difference whether it's platonic or romantic, so i can see a platonic helping each other in hell before we can go back to our respective baes sort of situation

C) duh. tara and wyll have a whole routine they've executed to perfection for when gale is having a bad depression day, or a bad back/joint pain day, or an orb flare-up day, or whichever other flavor of disabling situation gale faces (semi-)regularly. tara is both relieved to have someone else to take care of him (both so she gets room to take care of herself as well and just from knowing that no matter what, someone else has gale's back) and pleased to see that, at least as far as depression days go, gale has been having those less and less. not because true love cures all or whatever but because now gale has a significant support network with all the tadfools, plus with the orb stabilized he doesn't have to fear going out, seeing his family, and making friends anymore. nothing is perfect or cured but slowly and steadily he's been building the kind of support net that allows him to breathe and keep himself alive more easily, you know

as for wyll's own disability days, tara is kind of slow to trust and even slower to show said trust. naturally she would always be there to support them both when wyll needed, if anything because it mattered to gale. but it was mostly supporting gale while he supported wyll at the beginning, because she was still wary of anyone who could potentially break her wizard's heart and make him even more fragile

also, he kind of waltzed into her house and then started bringing dogs. yuck.

but wyll is nothing if not explicitly and selflessly loving of gale and completely polite and respectful of tara's boundaries, which means he earns her love faster than any other humanoid ever has. so at first she was kind of tsundere about it - trying to hide her concern when wyll was having PTSD episodes by being kind of focused on gale, being a bit snarky (although never in a mean way), that kind of thing. over time though she fully gave up on pretending and became very involved in helping him. nothing like having a tressym purr to help pull you out of a flashback, or having someone to pet during a depression day, etc.

she is also one of the few people who always keeps in mind that wyll is not, in fact, fully sighted. whenever they go somewhere new or something changes in the layout of the tower she always helps him figure out clues to make up for his lack of depth perception while he's getting used to the state of things. gale also has a tendency to clutter and leave his stuff everywhere when he's particularly invested in a subject so she always makes sure to point out to wyll if there's anything in his path. especially when they're in waterdeep, she always takes the lead when they're walking through crowds, helping make the way so wyll won't bump into anybody by accident. with gale she's more of a supportive friend/housemate but with wyll she goes full on service animal without him ever asking. neither of them ever say anything about it but when she starts doing it wyll knows that he is, officially, part of the family. and most of all, loved

(and they take care of her too, of course. with food and pets and help when she's in pain or sad too. gale is aware that he put quite a heavy load on her when she was literally the only thing keeping him alive after the orb, and wyll is endlessly thankful to her for making sure he was cared for during that time. so they make sure she has all the resting and support she needs, and she is, quite frankly, the most spoiled tressym in the sword coast. wyll also went to ridiculous lengths to make sure everything in their tower was accessible for a non-opposable-thumbs-haver, especially the wizardy stuff because tara is, as gale said, a fine wizard on her own right)

also, sometimes she kneads the bases of wyll's horns when they hurt or feel particularly heavy, physically or emotionally, and it's really cute

D) difficult one. i kinda struggle to imagine ulder having a good relationship with any of wyll's partners, considering he... like... didn't even have a healthy relationship with wyll lol. so he'd probably be distant and kind of strained, but as far as partner choices go, i feel like gale is some of the best he could be hoping for among the tadfools. he is smart and can be charming, and he thrives with older people tbh. ulder wouldn't be a fan of the fact that he's the wizard-living-in-a-tower stereotype and has never really gotten his hands in the mud, so to speak, but gale is respectful, polite, interesting to talk to, intelligent, compassionate, and honorable and ethical to boot, which i think ulder would see as more important. also, he obviously loves wyll, and there's not much more ulder can ask of a partner, especially after he himself failed to provide wyll the love he needed for so long

so i believe he'd like him, although they'd never really be close. the real question though is what gale would think of ulder, because while i think he would be nothing if not polite to him, especially since he knows how much he means to wyll, i also think gale would be playing 5d chess to subtly insult his parenting skills at every opportunity. he is way too nice to be explicit about it but the way he keeps going for the softest, most subtle and hidden of stings, can be more devastating than calling him a bitch. ulder will suddenly realize that two weeks ago gale implied that he was a dumbass, and given that he only noticed that afterwards, he feels like he was probably right. it keeps him up at night sometimes, trying to figure out if gale lightly insulted him or was genuinely just commenting on the weather. the fact that it drives him mad only makes it all the more satisfying to gale. wyll has no clue this is happening at all

this got long and far too detailed but I won't apologize cuz what did you expect really. anyway i love they

#bg3 #baldurs gate 3 #baldur's gate 3 #wyll ravengard #gale dekarios #tara the tressym #tara bg3 #bladeweave #ask #confused-inalltheways-human #overflowing trashcan #long post

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tadpolejourney · 28 days

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Day 13

Shadowheart was pretty fucking harsh to me this morning about taking the tadpole power. I was going to apologize to her about standing her up last night, but she'd probably try to club me to death if I did that. She hates me now, I think. If that is the case I fucking deserve it.

Wyll expressed similar disgust with me. Thanks, buddy. Heard you loud and clear. Sarcasm aside, he's been very morose and withdrawn since Mizora punished him and I can understand that even if I have no idea how he feels. I'm doing my best to not take today's comment from him personally. It's not going well, but I'm trying.

It seems Gale, Astarion, and I will be the only ones consuming any other tadpole powers we find until we get to Moonrise and cure ourselves. More for us, I guess.

So Lae'zel and Astarion are banging now. That's a thing. Or at least they did last night and Lae'zel wants to go back for more. I can't help but feel like I encouraged that by rejecting them both. I know they each propositioned me first, after all. But they also know I won't tell anyone else that... Astarion didn't tell anyone, purposely. The two of them were definitely very stealthy about it, and I would not have known it actually happened unless someone told me. So I bet he thought Lae'zel would be silent too. She wasn't. At least not to me. The final litmus test to measure my regret. Sorry, Lae'zel, I don't regret turning you down.

Halsin and I spoke for a long time this morning. I apologized for coming on too strongly last night. He let me know in other circumstances it would be, as Gale would say, 'Most welcome'. I told him to forget it ever happened. He told me about a shadow curse on the lands leading to Moonrise, which is also the path to Baldur's Gate from here. He knew about this but he let the tieflings go? I didn't ask, because somehow I think he didn't even think about it. I think he failed to make the connection entirely. I refuse to believe he would be that malicious, because I truly don't think he is. I know I haven't known him for very long, but he has had many opportunities to be an asshole already, and he's only ever been kind in a way that feels genuine. I think he has a good heart, and that he wouldn't want the tieflings to die.

I can only hope they survive. There were so many children, and they've already been through so much.

In one twenty four hour period I guaranteed I will be stringing no one along. People always get weird when they're constantly surrounded by death. And when you throw a group of hot, talented, and single adults into a pile that's also surrounded by danger and death, there's bound to be a few shared bedrolls, crossed boundaries, crushes, and mistakes made, I suppose. I hope there are no hard feelings, and if there are that we can at least talk about them. I really do feel terrible. I hate rejecting people, because I know how it feels to be rejected in some of the worst ways a person can be rejected.

I also feel relieved now. Safer. I feel like now maybe I can work on getting over Gale.

I guess Volo is intent on sticking around. He invited himself to do so, after all.

Short day today. We needed it. Went and finally had a good long bath, washed all my clothes. I cooked for everyone for once. Hopefully that helped make up for at least some of my assholery last night.

<<< Days 11-12 | Index | Day 14 >>>

#baldur's gate #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate oc #baldur's gate tav #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 tav #baldur's gate iii #baldurs gate tav #bg3 spoilers #bg3 gale #bg3 astarion #bg3 wyll #bg3 shadowheart #tav #bg3 lae'zel #bg3 halsin

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authorautism · 4 months

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Omega!Gale Headcanons

This man is half way there with his canon scent kink anyways.

Gale is huge in his alpha's scent even before they started courting but he's upfront asking them to scent some of the cushions in his tent citing that he's always been a nervous omega which is only part lie and that it calms him which is true. Either way he's also going to be stealing your clothes just so he can have alpha's scent some way.

When he was designated camp cook he thought the orb was going to nearly blow he was so happy that he could show of his more omega skills to alpha. Though that isn't to say he doesn't still show off with magic he just assumes that alpha likes a more traditional omega. This concern goes away after the party scene where alpha reacts well to him helping them do magic.

Though the fear comes back in act 2 after he learns about mystra's new mission for him trying to convince alpha that they deserver a better more traditional omega then him. Changing his mind can seem impossible but its rather easy all you need to do is kiss his neck ever so sweetly as you explain what you'll do together after you defeat the netherbrain.

NSFW BELOW CUT MINORS DNI

Other then hoping to fully wow you he suggests astral sex because he KNOWS he'll be begging to be mated right then and there otherwise. Still does during astral sex too...

The clones he makes are all service subs and honestly so is he this man could die happy with his head crushed by your thighs. Please make sure he doesn't die that way, plus since he's such a service sub praise gets him so BAD. A simple "Look how good you are for me Omega" has him in shambles.

Hates quickies but will gladly blow you if you need or want something quickly. Take your time with him romance him and focus on him and you'll have the loudest and wettest omega in your bed. Has a HUGE overstim kink that even he didn't truly know the depths of keep going without knotting him and he might just go insane.

Tries to be the one to do aftercare despite his legs and arms trembling from the dicking he just got. Push him into bed and take care of him and he's putty all sweet words and blushes as you carefully clean the mess off him.

#omegaverse #bg3 #baulders gate 3 #gale of waterdeep #omega!gale of waterdeep #ns/fw

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solar-halos · 5 months

Text

december prompt #3: hot chocolate

some gale hawthorne and delly cartwright fluff under the cut :o)

Delly Cartwright looks scared out of her mind.

Gale thinks she should be. Merchants don’t belong in the Hob. You don’t see him perusing sweet shops and bakeries, do you?

Still. She approaches a vendor and she smiles and smiles and smiles as someone tries to haggle money out of her that even Gale knows she doesn’t have.

She’s being nice, and they’re gonna latch onto that and exploit it. Gale shifts his weight, his warmest jacket and his bag of game weighing heavy on his back. Katniss had to cut their meeting in the woods short to take care of Prim—in her words, her mother was in Useless Mode again, which she seems to be in a lot these days—so Gale was in charge of the trades today.

Delly reaches into her pockets, emptying out the contents in exchange for just one ridiculously tiny vial of lard.

Gale steps in. He’s not sure why. Maybe she reminds him too much of Prim.

“Don’t waste your time.” He reminds himself to make his voice steady and even so the vendor picks up on his confidence. Good luck trying to haggle him now. “I could get you a bigger tub for cheaper. Also, Chock dilutes all his stuff with water.”

Chock splutters, but that’s mostly because he sucks in a stray snowflake floating around, so Gale and Delly high-tail it out of there before he could start getting confrontational. He doesn’t usually rat people out in the Hob—part of perfecting the craft is unearthing everyone’s secrets on your own—but he has a feeling Delly’s not gonna be up here very often. She doesn’t need to learn all the secrets of the trade, but she sure seems to need lard (for some reason), so Gale throws her a bone.

She smiles at him, so warm and sweet and a smidge shy that Gale almost forgets it’s the middle of winter. “Thank you. He seemed so nice that I wasn’t sure how to tell him no.”

“I can help you out with that: Chock’s an asshole.”

“Well, even then, his wife’s been battling the flu, and he said things aren’t looking good. No one deserves to go through that.”

Maybe it’s because he wants to see her smile again—no one has ever smiled at him like that before—but the tears suddenly pooling at her eyes makes his stomach twist in the worst way possible.

“Chock’s not even married,” he assures her. He expects her to get a bit angry—Gale certainly was, when he found out—but her expression only softens.

“Well, even then—” Gale has a feeling he’s going to be hearing a lot of that from her “—no one would lie like that if they didn’t have to. He must have something awful going on at home.”

“Hate to break it to you,” Gale starts out, because he really does, “but everyone here has something awful going on. You wouldn’t be at the Hob if you didn’t.”

That begs one question: what’s Delly doing here?

Gale doesn’t ask. She had looked so scared with Chock, but she’s so much more at ease now that she’s walking by his side, so he doesn’t wanna give her any opportunities to psych herself out. It’s impossible to receive good deals on trades if you’re thinking about everything that’s at risk if you walk out of there empty handed. That’s rule number one.

Delly doesn’t really need to learn any of these rules, but she does need to know them at a least a little bit if she wants to walk out of here with at least a few cents in her fleece-lined coat.

That reminds him: “Pick-pockets are ruthless here, you know. Does your pocket at least have some sort of zipper?”

“Oh.” Her forehead crinkles—apparently, she doesn’t know. And, even though they’ve just met, she transfers a few crinkled bills into his hand. “Will you hold onto it for me, then? For safekeeping?”

Okay, so she doesn’t remind him of Prim. His head has never gotten so foggy from someone’s fingers brushing over his—especially not for something so trivial—but it feels good to be trusted with something so important. It feels even better to be trusted by someone so kind.

So Gale sticks by her side, extra mindful to snag all the good deals for her. He handles all the trades for himself and Katniss along the way, impressed that Delly eventually gets the hang of it after a few booths, but he still thinks she’s entirely too generous with her time.

Gale doesn’t say anything about it, doesn’t wanna risk the chance of squashing down her sweetness. Plus, it works in her favor; one hug and a shoulder to cry on later, Miss Burna gives her a complimentary bag of peppermints as a parting gift.

“Everyone there is so kind,” Delly tells him on their way out, and Gale is starting to think that might ring a little true. He’s hardly ever seen any of those vendors smile without trying to cheat you out something really important along the way, but Delly’s got them wrapped around her finger.

“We should go get something to drink,” Delly says, pulling her coat—and all of her spoils—closer to her chest. “My treat. As a thank-you for getting me through all that.”

Gale’s first instinct is decline, but when he opens his mouth, the words don’t come out. Instead, he takes one look at her pink nose and tangled blond curls, and he says, “Okay.”

He expects something like coffee. Katniss’ mom loved coffee, but they had more important things to worry about in the Seam, so that must be why Delly’s taking him to the merchant side of town. Or maybe she’d want some warm wine. Gale doesn’t know why, but he has a feeling Delly might really like that. The way Greasy Sae does it, he means.

Now it’s his turn to squirm under the gazes of blue eyes and pink lips. But if Delly could tough out a visit to the Hob, Gale can wait in line and clasp his fingers around a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

His eyes nearly bug out of his head. Hot chocolate.

“How can you even afford this?”

He expects to feel a rush of injustice—he couldn’t even afford a chocolate chip—but he’s only curious.

Delly gives him one of those smiles again. “The girl who’s working this afternoon is in my math class, and my family really likes trading with hers. Besides, everyone feels extra generous around the holidays.”

That’s not true. Everyone feels a extra generous around her, but he doesn’t know where this stupid affectionate haze is coming from, so he takes another sip of hot chocolate before he could say something stupid.

Delly plops a peppermint into her drink. And, before he can think about it, he follows her lead after she holds out another one in his direction.

It tastes like the new year.

He doesn’t drain it all right away. He doesn’t wanna waste it, and he needs something warm to wrap his fingers around. They take a walk to get the blood pumping, arms brushing against each other sometimes, and Gale developes a newfound appreciation for window shopping.

There’s the pastries in the bakery. The scarves in the boutique. The holiday themed color palette of all the medication in the apothecary.

Gale wonders if the hot chocolate is spiked with something. It would explain why he feels so happy and weightless and smiley, but it was too watery—apparently, merchants aren’t above diluting their products, either—so he pins that feeling down to the way Delly is looking at him. Like he’s worth liking, even though he’s not really doing anything for her.

“No shit!” he says, in response to her story about how she and her baker friend snuck out a bottle of booze that they use for all their cakes. “How’d it taste?”

Her nose wrinkles, laughter making her exhales come out in the shape of pretty white clouds. Gale didn’t know stuff like that could be pretty. “Awful. And his parents got so pissed that they put a lock on all their cabinets.”

They skid to a stop by a trash can, both unwilling to dump it in and go their separate ways, so they loiter. Gale knew he should have drank his hot chocolate slower.

“Thank you again, by the way. For helping me at the Hob.”

“Thank you for the drink,” he says, holding up his empty cup for emphasis. “Didn’t think anything could be sweeter than you are.”

Okay, so maybe he’s actually, literally drunk. He wouldn’t have said something like that if he wasn’t, but it’s kinda worth it to see Delly’s cheeks flush.

“You’re sweet, too. Even if you don’t wanna admit it.”

That gives Gale a pause. The only people in the district who seem to think he’s at least a little nice is Rory and Posy and Prim, but—

“Oh, shit,” he mutters. He forgot he was haggling for two today, and Katniss is gonna be expecting her half of the trade soon. “I have to go. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry.” She puts her hand on his arm, the warmth from her glove seeping into his jacket. He finds it a lot easier to relax. “Thank you again for helping me out today. And keeping me company. You’re gonna have to finish your story about you and Katniss and the lynx next time.”

Next time. Gale smiles so wide his cheeks start to hurt.

“Okay,” he agrees, schooling his expression into something less giddy. “And, next time, I’ll get you something nice.” He thinks of the ribbons Burna sometimes sells. “Or something pretty.”

The flush to her cheeks deepens, but that could also be because of the breeze. They’re both equally as hesitant to actually leave, so they stand outside the plaza for a few extra minutes and plan out the itinerary for their next visit. Gale knows that there’ll never be a next time—Delly was just being polite—but it feels good to think about.

The pressure of Delly’s hand on his arm increases, but that’s only because she’s tightening her grip and propelling herself forward. She plants a kiss on his mouth, short and sweet and breathtaking. Just like her.

“See you later, Gale!” she says, already turning on her heel. And then she’s gone.

He stands there, trying to get his bearings. She tasted like peppermint.

#can we get a delly and gale hype train going #golden retriever gf black cat bf #sunshine person a with permanently grumpy person b #it’s a great dynamic #delly cartwright #gale hawthorne #tis the season

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yourssinfullyquiche · 1 year

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Have you read the hunger games prequel, the ballad of songbirds and snakes?

What's your opinion about it?

What's the most shocking revelation from the novel related to the original trilogy?

What's your favorite character from it?

Do you plan to see the tbosas movie in theaters?

Thank you

@curiousnonny

Hello curious anon, thank you for sending me this ask even though I take a dismal amount of time to respond~ 1. Yes, I've read tbosas. I actually inhaled the book the moment I had the chance. Finished it in 2 days, I think. Which is fast for me because I can be quite the slow reader.

2. I LOVED IT. Suzanne Collins is a masterful writer and it astounds me how her mind works. THG books were my doors to the world, it laid the ground and outlined my views be it social or political, etc. It helped me understand the world, and I know it sounds morbid but I find comfort in those books, the characters, especially in Katniss. Katniss inspires me so much and when I read her thoughts I'm comforted by her kindness and maternal instincts. It touches my soul. Her courage, sarcasm, defiance burns my soul. I think you can get the idea how special these books are to me. So when tbosas came out, I immediately loved that we were going to explore Snow. I love exploring how villains/antagonistic characters think, how their mind works. We had the privilege of listening to Katniss's voice and now we have the opportunity to understand why Snow is the way he is. Suzanne did not disappoint! At every turn, you can see the parallels between Katniss and Snow, at every turn where Katniss would've responded with selflessness, it is selfishness with Snow. You can see how two people who were from somewhat similar hardships could turn out to be polar opposites. We had a glimpse of that in THG with Katniss and Gale. I think that's fascinating, when you can empathise with a villain yet see where one or more wrong decisions could permanently alter the course of their life. Suzanne makes us understand him yet does not ever gives us the means to justify his actions. That's also what makes Snow or other well written villains terrifying because anyone could turn out that way.

3. I think it would probably be the fact that Snow knew the location of the shack well and was in the shack (I keep saying shack, think that's what it's called) in the woods. All this time I thought he knew of that secret place because he's the president and would have probably installed some cameras there. So I assumed he just turned a blind eye to the hunting that was occurring because he sees D12 as a worthless district, they hunt but yet his own peacekeepers are benefitting, so why shake the system that feeds his pawns well. But to know that he trekked the same route that Katniss did, to know he spent some time in that area, around the lake that Katniss did. And don't forget that's the first time we also hear Lucy Gray singing 'Deep in the Meadow,' around that place (iirc). It's so spooky to know that the shack that Katniss associates good memories with, was visited by someone who she doesn't have any good memories with. 4. I don't think there's a character that I really love, I appreciate all of them for what they add to the story. I guess...I like Sejanus but only after I've read the book because while reading, he annoyed me a few times. Now though, I appreciate his sweet personality, his courage and his defiance, admire it even. I remember feeling so shocked and afraid for him when he stood up to Dr. Gaul during the class discussions because had it been the era Katniss was in, we all know she would've either been executed or turned into an Avox for that. Words can't describe how sad I was when (...) happened. He was too good like Prim, he deserved better. He only wanted to leave and live a life that he would've been proud of. And it boils my blood whenever I think of what Snow did to his legacy. Side note: I've said this before, when I read the books, I pictured Sejanus to be a lanky, dark skinned Indian boy. 5. I think I would...idk, I'm just not that excited with some of the main casting choices. I'm not having any expectations at all so it would save me from any negative feelings. But I do hope the movie does well. This was really fun, thanks for asking me!

#quiche replies #the ballad of songbirds and snakes #tbosas #the hunger games #thg #thg asks #curiousnonny #still salty we were robbed of indian!sejanus #i can't be the only one who thinks it would be perfect #wondering if i should reread the book #but if i do i know i will compare to the movie when i watch it

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moontheoretist · 8 months

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Lo and behold, it finally happened.

Ladies and Gents and Nonbinary friends. Lo and behold, it finally happened. The magnificent Gale Bug manifested for me today. The issue is though that I heard they have fixed it, so why them fixing it for you all broke it for me? Unless, Gale silently pinning and saying nothing all this time was also a bug all in itself? Still I must say its timing is funny, because I just told Astarion that we can be together non-sexually if he wants, and then we went to explore the map a bit, finishing all the sidequests I had still hanging, met some Githyanki by pure accident, and then came back once again to Moonrise Towers just in case I missed something before going to Shadowfell, found some info about Ketheric's weakness which I didn't need, because I already knew about the artifact beforehand, and finally we went to camp to rest, because all of that wasted most of my spell slots.

And it was then, when the mighty dialogue "choose between me and Astarion" has appeared! I elected to ignore it and only ask Gale about the possibility of Nightsong saving his nice ass, and then ended the day. To my utter surprise, when everybody took off their armors and was wandering about in their pajamas, Gale suddenly wanted to talk and invited me for a magical night under the starry sky. And because I'm a sucker for him and I couldn't break the heart of a man that was literally sure this is his last night, and he is going to die soon, because next day we are going to the Shadowfell for the Nightsong, I was nice and romantic and reciprocated everything without ever saying "I love you too", and after that the romance was already triggered. Astarion, funnily, had no comments about it. And what's the funniest: "choose between me and Astarion" dialogue option disappeared from Gale's repertoire forever, so now I'm virtually romancing both of them. And neither has any comments about the other. I couldn't even mention Astarion during the very romantic "Imma tragically die, so I want you to know I love you" cutscene, that culminated with some astral sex.

Not during, not after. It's as if the other partner didn't even exist.

How was I supposed to say "no" to a guy who thinks he'll die?

Edit: I loaded a save before my romance with Gale got locked, and this time rejected Gale by choosing Astarion (I feel so bad still, OMG! Don't worry Gale, I have another Drow just for you, a nice little goody-two-shoes Paladin, I will give you the love you deserve in the next playthrough) and this time magical night under the starry sky was 100% platonic, not counting Gale throwing some googly eyes at my Wizard here and there. So I guess him being silent till now about his crush was a bug or it's how fixed version of the romance unfolds now. No idea. Anyway, this time Astarion had a reaction. I dare say that he was surprised but pleased that I chose him. Honey, I was the bestest Drow in Faerun, ignoring my Lolth-Sworn background, disrespecting Lolth at every turn and rolling my eyes at your silly disapprovals for helping people. If I stuck with you after / despite that, then there is nothing really that can change my mind at this point. You are stuck with this naive, big-hearted fool that you like so much now.

#baldur's gale 3 #gale romance #gale's bug #astarion #astarion romance #accidental polyamory #polyamory born from a bug?#Gale is strictly monogamous and yet he is silent #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #I love him but please why in this playthrough?#gale honey we didn't flirt since the beginning of Act 1 #I know you pinned all this time and needed this #but it was sprung on me in a very awkward moment

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melanie-ohara · 3 months

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19, 20, 5, 8, 18, 23 and 27 for the asks? You absolute cutie you.

Hoo baby that's a lot of questions, so this is going to be a long one with a fair few spoilers:

5 - Durge

Sithla is the Dark Urge, and she really doesn't want it. She resists as often as she can, but sometimes the thought of bleeding something is just too enticing

8 - Distrust

Mellephora is deeply suspicious of Gale, convinced that his ambition is going to land them in trouble. They are also very wary of Lae'zel because they don't like how sexually aggressive she is

As a paladin, Calarisa can't trust Astarion for a long time until she understands that he's more Cazador's victim than a danger on his own. Other than that, she takes everyone at their word. She is not very perceptive

Sithla thinks any of them might kill her at any time, and they'd all be justified in doing it. She relies on all of them too much to be distrustful

Emily doesn't trust Shadowheart, because she figured out early on that she's a Sharran, or Astarion once he's outed as a vampire

13 - Killing

If you ask them, Mellephora will tell you every death is a tragedy. They are lying. The truth is, they'll do anything to advance their fame and they don't care much about the people they kill so long as they were justifiably in the wrong

Calarisa sees killing largely as a necessity until they come up against someone they think is properly evil - the hag, slavers, bhaalists - in which case, killing them is a grim pleasure. Morally, she sees it as saving all their future victims rather than avenging those they've already hurt

Sithla loves and hates it in equal measure. She loves the feel of a blade splitting flesh and the spatter and ooze of fresh blood, and she hates that it's the only thing that makes her feel alive. Most of the time, she feels like a barely leashed feral animal the rest of them keep around to unleash on their enemies

Emily isn't against the others killing people, though she usually averts her eyes from the nastiest victories, but she can't do it herself. While she is morally against killing (unless its someone who really, really deserves it) mostly she just doesn't have it in her to hurt people

18 - If They Weren't Infected

Mellephora would still be in Baldur's Gate, crafting exquisite violins, performing, and rejecting every opportunity at adventure for not being grand enough for them

Calarisa would still be on the road after tieflings were banned from Elturel. She might have ended up with Zevlor and his band of refugees, and probably got into a lot of trouble with Kagha at the grove

Sithla would be doing hot bhaalspawn shit, like arguing with her stupid sister about how their daddy liked the murders done

Emily would be in Rivington, specifically at the temple of Ilmater, trying to help as best she can once the murders start. Since Bhaal loves to cull the kind an innocent, she may well have ended up a victim

20 - The Elder Brain

All of them decide to destroy it, but Sithla has an almost overwhelming desire to take control

27 - Before

Mellephora was born to a long line of wood-elf druids and left when they were young to pursue a career as a bard and artisan in Baldur's Gate. They worked their way up from apprentice to master craftsman. Eventually, they started to think more people ought to know the name Mellephora Lallorē, and started idly looking for opportunities to grow their reputation as an adventurer

Calarisa spent her whole life in Elturel, and worked with her parents as accomplished tailors. When the city was taken to the Hells, her parents and younger brother were killed in a fire that took everything from Calarisa. Inspired by the paladin who helped save the city and driven by furious grief, she swore a paladin oath of vengeance

Sithla was doing hot bhaalspawn stuff, like drinking blood out of a skull while her butler applauded her sense of humour

Emily was living on the outskirts of Rivington as a cleric of Ilmater, with her ailing mother. Though she barely had two coin to rub together, Emily was happy serving the broken god despite her mother's suggestion she become a librarian at Sorcerous Sundries

23 - After

Mellephora retires with Shadowheart and her parents, now a household name across the sword coast. They learn the valuable lesson that becoming a famous adventurer shouldn't be something you seek out

Calarisa goes to Avernus with Wyll, Sithla, and the love of her life Karlach. She swears an oath to defeat Zariel and is determined not to go back on her word

Sithla, having become illithid to defeat the netherbrain and take responsibility for her actions in starting the plot in motion, goes to the Hells so she can have a guilt-free source of cambion brains

I actually don't know what Emily's fate is yet, because I haven't got far enough into her story to know, oops

19 - Their End

Mellephora is doomed to outlive Shadowheart. After her peaceful death, surrounded by plants and animals and her doting father, Mellephora returns to the woods where they were born to rejoin the druid circle there. After a few more daring adventures, they eventually pass away peacefully

Calarisa and Karlach live together for many years, returning to Faerûn once the engine is finally repaired. They retire to Baldur's Gate for a long time, until the next crisis forces them to take up arms again. They die together in a heroic last stand against overwhelming odds, in a defiance that saves the city once again

Free illithids retain their original host's personality through accessing their memories. Eventually, the memories run out. Sithla makes a deal with Wyll that, once she is no longer herself, he'll kill what she has become. It doesn't happen for the rest of Wyll's natural life, and after his death she continues to hunt his prey as the new Blade of Avernus forever

#writing #bg3 dark urge #original character #tav ask game #baldur's gate tav #bg3 tav

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jellymellydraws · 5 months

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Masterlist ~ <<Previous Chapter ~ Next Chapter >>

Astarion x Dark Urge Chapter 06 Rating: E Tags: Angst, Fluff, hurt/comfort, slow burn, two guarded people fall in love so hard it makes them stupid

Chapter Summary:

Gale has some choice words for how Nettie handled their delicate tadpole condition. Rath, another druid, pulls Rose aside to ask for a favor. A lighthearted camp dinner is interrupted when Zevlor and Arabella's Parents approach with a costly request on their lips. The day's events start to weigh on Rose's thoughts.

“I can’t believe she poisoned you!”

The conversation with Nettie hadn’t quite gone as planned. ‘As planned’ being the greatest understatement of the day. Just about every plan Rose had was slowly uprooted because of this damned grove. The dwarven healer masked a poisonous root as a cure for the tadpoled party. Apparently her ask for help meant ‘kill me now, we’re doomed beyond saving.’ Thankfully, no one got hurt-- not really. Nettie felt guilty when she realized they were being sincere with their plight, and handed them the appropriate antidote.

Even though Rose was the one who was poisoned, it was Gale fuming after the dwarf left them alone.

“Gale--” Rose tried to interject.

“Tried to put you down like a dying dog-- without as much as a whisper of consent!” Coming from Gale, she was taken aback. Rage, fear, all emotions that she saw very clearly in the others, but not yet from the wizard.

“Yeah, not really what I was expecting from a healer ,” if she couldn’t calm him down, she could at least engage and sympathize with his outburst, “at least she saw reason. She would’ve been long dead, otherwise.”

“A kindness she didn’t deserve, I assure you.” He spat as he paced in front of the lab’s entrance, “how dare she snuff out life with as much thought as snuffing out a bloody candle?!”

“Gale,” she spoke slowly, calmly, despite her brows being raised in surprise, “are you okay ?”

“OfCourseI’mNotOkay!”

The sudden lash of his words surprised the whole room, leaving only his echo behind. His face was red, dangerously close to turning blue at this rate. Even Astarion, who usually had a quip ready for their mage, was tight-lipped (even if those lips were also trying to restrain a grin in the process).

“I just-- it’s fine,” he finally sighed, running a hand through his hair, “ we’re fine, you handled it.” Another deep breath, “We live to see another day.”

“Yes, we do,” Rose nodded slowly, ensuring the movement matched the pace of his breathing, “And, we still got valuable information,” she put a gentle on his shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze, “I’m fine , Gale. Let’s get back to camp, Lae’zel needs to know what we learned here.”

“Right, thank you.” The color didn’t leave his cheeks, but his breathing calmed.

Gale left the lab with Wyll, who insisted on joining the worked-up wizard as they left the sanctum. Rose turned her attention to the table of notes and jars that Nettie left behind, seeing a buffet of information that she could take with her.

“He looked like he was about to explode,” Astarion finally released a fit of snickers.

“Let’s go easy on him for the rest of the day, hm?” Rose suggested as she plucked papers from the table and stuffed them into her bag.

“Oh, but now it would be more fun to do,” he pouted.

“How about you tease Wyll, instead? He’s new,” she smirked, looking back at him with a wink, “should be fun.”

“You’re awful , I love it.”

She rolled her eyes, returning to the contents of the lab that were interesting to her. In a jar was a parasite much like the ones they had wriggling behind their eyes. This had to be the specimen that crawled out of the Drow’s skull. She carefully placed it in her bag, ensuring it was padded on all sides to prevent damage. Once the desk had been cleared, her eyes scanned over the cadaver on the slab beside her. Nettie told them the drow was slain when Halsin realized they were being followed. They took the body back to check for signs of ceremorphosis. So, their belongings had to be somewhere nearby. If this was a scout, there had to be other information hiding on his person. After rounding the slab, she found it-- the pile of clothes gently folded and placed on a stone chair. Her fingers made quick work of the apparel, dipping into pockets and procuring a folded note.

Footsteps approached the lab, giving her a short moment to stow the parchment and stand up straight. Astarion, who she realized was standing by one of the bookshelves, also shifted his stance to a more natural pose, hiding a book behind his back. Rath appeared in the doorway, peering into the room as if looking for something before his eyes settled on Rose.

“I was asked to escort your group out of the inner sanctum,” Rath said, “is everything alright in here?”

“We were just admiring the scenery,” Astarion answered cooly, “stone gray is a bit overdone, but I think you druids make it work.”

Astarion with the quips again, well timed at that. She casually walked around the slab and approached Rath, not resisting the request to leave. She had everything she needed, and it seemed her elven friend got a parting gift for himself. As they crossed the atrium, Rose noted the child’s body was no longer on the ground. She wasn’t sure if they buried the remains as Kagha ordered, or if they returned the body to the parents. Part of her desperately cared about the answer, the other wanted to ignore it entirely.

In the interest of keeping her stomach from launching itself from her body, she chose to ignore it.

Once they cleared the stone door and crossed around the ritual circle, Rath slowed his pace. Rose did the same, glancing at him curiously, but cautiously. He was up to something. She let him guide them further away from nearby druids— away from listening ears. Something troubled him, judging by the furrow of his brow.

“If you have something to say, make it quick,” she whispered, keeping her eye on their surroundings for onlookers. Astarion, keenly aware of the situation, stood nearby as a discreet lookout, pretending to look at his nails and only turned his head if he made a face that implied he thought someone called for him.

“Look, you saw what happened in there,” Rath finally whispered, “Kagha is out of her mind . Halsin wouldn’t have let this happen.”

“Halsin isn’t here, he left her in charge,” she reminded, “if the goblins got him, he’s long dead.”

“Please, if there is even a chance that he’s still alive, find him.”

Rose took another glance at their surroundings, checking for prying ears or nosy critters. No one seemed to be paying them any mind, good. She crossed her arms over her chest, watching the desperation in Rath’s eyes as he pleaded with her. She wouldn’t answer him so quickly.

What were the facts; what did she know?

According to Nettie, it was Halsin who had been studying the tadpoles closely. There were others who had been infected, long before the nautiloid crash. In this case, Nettie was classified as a reliable informant. She had no motivation to lie to them that Rose could surmise. Supporting this, she knew a normal mindflayer tadpole would have transformed them, but they had remained unchanged. The other subject, somehow, gained powers from their tadpoles. Whatever power this was, it seemed to vary. The question then remained: why hadn’t her camp been gifted with any such powers?

On one hand, these questions added complications to their problem, but if the subjects were tadpoled for weeks prior to their crash, then they had more time to save themselves. Hopefully.

Rath was beginning to shift uncomfortably under the unmoving, unblinking, gaze Rose held on him as she ran through everything. Finally, she closed her eyes and breathed in heavily.

“I’ll consider it,” she answered.

“You said the same to Kagha,” Rath muttered.

“Because I have other things to consider before accepting every quest presented to me. If you’re eager, you can do it yourself.”

“No. I-- okay, when can you give me an answer?”

“Tomorrow, before we leave the grove.”

“Thank you,” Rath nodded.

He continued to lead her and Astarion towards the entrance of the sanctum, where a tiefling couple shouted to the approaching trio. Rath sighed heavily, walking right up to them. Rose examined the two tieflings, who she realized bore a resemblance to the dead child. Her insides felt cold as they closed the distance. Why hasn’t anyone told the parents yet?!

“Somebody tell me what’s going on! Please!” the mother cried, “where is Arabella?!”

Rose turned her face away, hiding the involuntary wince. The unnamed discomfort she felt was harder to push away when she knew their name. Arabella. She remembered the look of fear in her eyes, when they looked at each other for a brief moment. What happened after that? Between their eye contact and her heart stopping? Her stomach turned. No, she couldn’t think about it. She wouldn’t.

“I’m sorry,” Rath’s voice was small, “there was a terrible accident.”

“What do you mean, an accident?” the father asked with an arm around his wife’s waist, holding her hand tightly.

Rath hesitated. God damns he hesitated, and she couldn’t stand the silence.

“Arabella’s dead,” Rose stated, finally facing them when she delivered the news. They looked at her with widened eyes. She pushed through everything within her that froze, every desire that wanted to keep her from saying anything further, “there’s no other way to put it.”

“No...” the mother whispered, then sobbed, “that monster!”

“You’re a monster!” a bloody face flashed in front of her, tears running down a different face. Curled strands of hair sticking to her brow. The smell of murder in the air.

Rose blinked the image away, faced with the tiefling mother in mourning again. The lump in her throat choked her, she couldn’t stay here. Without another word, she continued past the grieving parents, taking hurried steps up the path, hurrying to camp. But the images followed her.

A tiny dagger, grasped in a similarly small hand. The woman screams before the knife slashes her throat. Sputtering. Choking. Silence. Blood.

No. She forced the images away, buried them further into the depths of her mind-- likely to the same place her missing memories were hiding. She couldn’t let herself get lost in these thoughts. Couldn’t bear to see anymore. She needed a distraction, something— Astarion! In her haste, she didn’t realize he kept up with her. Small talk could help, she decided. Something. Anything.

“What kind of book did you grab?” she conjured up her half smirk, tilting her head towards the elf who walked beside her.

Astarion hummed as he inspected the cover embossed in the fine red leather.

“‘Disorders of the Nerves and Mind: A Treatise of Information,’” his nose wrinkled more as he read each word, “wouldn’t have been my first choice, it’s what I grabbed when the damned druid interrupted us. Buuuut if it’s all I have, it will have to do.”

Astarion extended the book to Rose when she held her hand out, letting her flip through the pages. A medical journal of sorts, written by a single cleric about their various treatments on the mundane and magically insane. What a cruel joke the cosmos must have been playing, to put such a thing in her path. She passed it back to him when she was done skimming.

“Let me know what you think of it,” she casually commented, “I might be interested in reading it when you’re done.”

“If it’s as boring as its title, you’ll be reading it long before I’m done with it.”

The view from their camp was perfect. High enough above the grove to see into the inner sanctum, part the tieflings’ refuge, and the immediate wilderness outside the gates. Very few opportunities to be caught off guard. Shadowheart did well to find this spot, she commended.

As expected of someone who was a trained warrior, Lae’zel set up the new tents and supplies perfectly. She even set up a ‘command center’ for Rose to review their travel plans. It looked like a tiny war camp. Rose could work with this, easily.

Gale was eager to show off what he could do when he had more than fish on the menu. The ingredients from the storehouse were appreciated and quickly being cut up for dinner. While the stew cooked over the fire, Wyll regaled the camp with his monster hunter stories, acting out climatic battles that he effortlessly won.

Shadowheart and Lae’zel were with Rose, going over the map, notes, and information that they acquired throughout the day. The information, she knew, was going to be outlandish and hard to swallow, but Lae’zel listened. Closely. Concerned. The gith’s brows furrowed as she scanned her eyes over one of the druid’s research journals.

“Modified Ghaik tadpoles,” Lae’zel bristled, “all the more reason we need to get to a creche.”

“So they can strap us to tables and run their own experiments on us? You would suggest that,” Shadowheart baited, smiling smugly when Lae’zel snarled at her.

No, not tonight. They needed to focus .

“You said there’s protocol to this sort of thing-- what do you suppose protocol for an abnormal tadpole would be?” Rose redirected the conversation, needing to keep things productive. Her eyes were fixed on the map, considering the other quests put in front of her that day-- like potentially rescuing the druid, Halsin.

“Normally protocol calls for immediate purification using a Zaithisk,” she paused, considering something. Her face twisted with discontent as another option occurred to her, “or they would eradicate us. It would be too risky to leave us alive without knowing how to purify these new tadpoles. Especially if there are more out there. Tsk’va.”

Tsk’va, was right. Rose drew a circle around the Selune Temple’s location.

“We can’t go walking up to a group of gith with an unknown threat, not without information they could use,” Rose determined. She tapped the end of her charcoal stick to the newly circled spot, “this is where Halsin went to get more information about the tadpoles. His notes indicate that there are probably others with the same tadpoles in this camp. We’ll pose as one of their own and see if we can speak to anyone in charge-- someone who could have answers on where they are coming from and what we can expect.”

Lae’zel glared at the map, glancing between the Selune Temple and the last known location of her kin. Behind that hardened face, she could see the growing fear. Rose sympathized with the warrior. Thrust into unknown situations, with even fewer known circumstances before them. While the human may feel alien to her past, Lae’zel was simply alien to this world. It had to be a lot to take in.

“The way I see it, we have few options,” Rose concluded, her commanding voice relaxing slightly as she spoke directly to Lae’zel, “knowing more about what we’re dealing with is the only advantage we can give ourselves.”

Lae’zel cursed under her breath again, turned on her heel, and disappeared into her tent. If that flap was a door, Rose would suspect it’d be slammed shut.

“It isn’t too late to abandon her,” Shadowheart suggested, adding a mark to her map-- likely matching the one on the table, “let her go search for her kin if that’s what she wants so badly.”

“No, she’s upset about this fucked up situation the same as the rest of us. She knows as well as you and I that we’re better off working together,” she gave the cleric a stern look, “I don’t care what you have against the gith, we need each other. Understood?”

The half elf pursed her lips, but nodded quietly.

“Good.”

Lae’zel didn’t emerge from her tent until Gale called everyone for dinner, which featured a hearty meat and vegetable stew.

“My compliments to the chef,” Wyll declared, clapping a hand to the wizard’s shoulder. The stew almost sloshed out of his bowl from the impact, but he still grinned appreciatively.

“Well go on then,” Astarion smirked, stirring his bowl, “give him your compliments.”

“Ah, it’s a figure of speech, my very literal friend.”

The smirk on Astarion’s face said it all. He was playing with the Blade. Oh wait, she did tell him to tease the new guy didn’t she? She grinned mischievous watching the show unfold.

“I had hoped you could come up with something better than ‘compliments to the chef’ after the way you tell your stories. No worries, I can show you how it’s done,” the elf leaned towards the two gentlemen, “Gale, darling ,” his smirk widened, flashing a hint of teeth, “the stew smells divine , were you a professional chef back in Waterdeep?”

Oh he was good . The wizard flushed, chuckling bashfully. Wyll chuckled, then cleared his throat for the challenge before him.

“Gale, this stew can find itself in a king’s banquet,” the Blade grinned towards Astarion, seeking his approval of his performance.

“Not bad, getting better,” Astarion hummed with amusement, “but I’ll say this stew is so heavenly it can resurrect the dead.”

“If you’re all going to start inhaling each other’s mouths, please use one of our new tents,” Shadowheart’s teased, feigning disgust on her face.

Gale’s entire face was as red as the stew. Wyll and Astarion had a good laugh, seeing him shrink between them. Rose couldn’t help but add to the laughter filling the camp. The atmosphere tonight was vastly different from their first night at camp. Maybe it was Wyll bringing a burst of optimism to the group, or maybe it was the relief that they haven’t shown any signs of sprouting tentacles from their maws. Regardless, it was welcomed.

Dinner continued with more conversation, sharing what everyone did back in their respective homes. Wyll, the Blade of Frontiers. Gale, a prodigal wizard of Waterdeep. Lae’zel of Creche Kliir. And now, she knew Astarion was a Balduran Magistrate. Rose wasn’t feeling in the sharing mood, not if it risked worrying the whole group about her lost memories. Not tonight. She made an excuse to go back to the command tent, but encouraged the rest to keep enjoying their night. Astarion gave her a knowing look as she walked around his side of the fire. A look which she ignored.

Rose sat in a stool by the makeshift table. Perfect spot to view the entirety of their camp and write in her newly acquired journal. There was a lot running through her mind after this day. Between the death of two innocents, tadpole revelations, and even more disturbing visions, she finally had a moment to process it all. The thoughts flowed from her head onto the page. The approaching sound of footsteps didn’t stop her from writing, she could tell exactly who it was from their gait.

“Not up for telling the camp about the life you were ripped out of?” Rose asked.

“Not particularly,” Shadowheart answered, grabbing another stool to join her, “seeing as you slinked away, I figured you would understand privacy.”

Rose hummed thoughtfully, continuing her writing. Shadowheart watched the others share stories and laughter from the campfire. At some point Gale’s voice could be heard enthusiastically explaining the difference between wizards and sorcerers. The tidbits that she picked up on seemed to bring a small smile to the half-elf’s face. Perhaps she wanted to share more than she admitted, but for one reason or another she was holding back. Rose wondered if it was a matter of trust, caution, or necessity.

Well, now was as good a time as any to test that out, wasn’t it?

“It’s not so much that I’m trying to be private,” she broke the silence between them. Shadowheart looked over to the human, her face begging the question without needing to utter a single word. Rose continued, “I just couldn’t share anything if I wanted to.”

“How do you mean?” Shadowheart pressed.

“I don’t remember my life before this. Can’t really share something I don’t know anything about.”

For a moment, Shadowheart fiddled with her hands, circling a spot in her palm with a thumb. Rose noticed a small scar, a perfectly round mark. A note was marked in a different page of her journal.

“Seems we are in the same boat— well, camp, I suppose,” Shadowheart finally said, “I…was on an assignment from my goddess. There were more of us, but I’m the only one left. This mission was crucial, so we volunteered to have our memories suppressed.”

“To avoid compromising your mission and anyone involved in your organization,” Rose commented. Not a question. An understanding. She closed the journal and turned her full attention to the woman beside her, “does this mission have anything to do with that prism you grabbed from your pod?”

Shadowheart nodded, hesitantly. Still looking at the other campers.

“I won’t pry. I…have a sense that I’d be the same way, if it was that important,” she promised, “hells, maybe I’m on my own assignment and I’ve just…forgotten.”

Shadowheart scoffed, finally looking over to Rose who chuckled at her own misfortune.

“You’re turning out to be an understanding ally…in time, I might be willing to tell you more,” Shadowheart smiled, turning her nose to the air in her usual attempt to seem holier than thou. But the sincerity was still there.

Even surrounded by walls and guards, there was wisdom in being cautious. The conversation around the fire was beginning to quiet down. Watches were being decided for the night. The tension between the druids and tieflings warranted that much. Speaking of tieflings, a small group of them approached the camp. Zevlor, leading the charge, with Arabella’s parents following behind him.

‘And there goes the lighthearted atmosphere.’

“Zevlor,” Rose nodded to him as he approached. She stood up as a sign of respect, speaking to him across from her ‘desk.’

“Rose,” he nodded back, briefly nodding to Wyll and the others who started to gather around, “I hate to ask more of you, but, we’ve been put in a rather…uncomfortable position,” Zevlor sighed. The parents behind him clutched each others’ hands.

Rose understood immediately, this had to do with Kagha. What else? She grabbed the journal off the crate and opened to one of its marked up pages. The list of favors, requests, and hopes were growing. Another one was going to be added.

“Kagha has gone too far,” he began. Yep, there it was, as she guessed. “She killed a child— “

“She needs to pay .” The mother’s words spat with venom. Her husband rubbed her arm, trying to soothe her.

“Where am I fitting into this picture?” Rose asked, lowering her journal to maintain eye contact with the other leader.

“You were able to get close to Kagha. No other outside has managed that. It’s a lot, I know, but it would be a great service if you could convince her to stop the ritual.” Zevlor kept his composure before her. One commander to another. Business. This type of engagement suited her, she realized.

The mother glared at Zevlor’s back, but she held her tongue. Interesting.

“She’s given your people a tenday before the ritual is complete, that gives you time to prepare,” Rose informed, ignoring Wyll’s expression of distaste at the cold deadline. Heroes can be so hasty, it seemed.

“As long as those goblins are a threat, we won’t make it far. Most of the people here are not fighters, they are civilians. ”

“How many could there possibly be?” Astarion asked, hand on his hip and hand circling the air, “a couple dozen, surely, you can handle?”

“An army.” Zevlor deadpanned, “Could be over a hundred.”

“A hundred?!” the elf shrieked.

Rose pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing with frustration. Gods he was right. Her group was already having issues in how they were going to resolve the goblins for the sake of travel. An army? They weren’t equipped to handle an army.

“If you can convince Kagha to stop the ritual, we would be indebted to you. More than we already are,” Zevlor continued without missing a beat, “we need to stay here until it’s safe. Whatever means is necessary to fulfill that arrangement.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” she promised, jotting the new request along with the others.

Briefly, she gauged the reaction of her camp. Lae’zel and Shadowheart held stone faces, not reacting in any obvious way to the conversation. Gale and Wyll looked concerned, with the latter holding a pleading look in his eyes only a hero could have. Astarion winced, his face twisting like a piece of lemon was pressed to his tongue.

Zevlor nodded in thanks and turned to leave. The tiefling parents followed after him.

Rose took a seat, reviewing the growing list from her, adding additional notes as she considered each one’s prospects. Desperate footsteps quickly approached. A small pouch fell onto her journal with a metalic thud.

“Kill the bitch and it’s all yours,” the mother, standing over the crate with a fire burning in her eyes. Her husband was quickly running up behind her.

At the other end of camp, Zevlor was still leaving. Smart man, wanting no part in this. A conspiracy to assassinate the current druid leader in this already tense climate? He’d be a fool to suggest a thing. Rose wondered if the parents were invited to join him when he walked to her camp or if he simply allowed them to follow.

“You can’t be serious,” the husband turned his wife to face him, “that is all we have.”

“It doesn’t matter! Nothing matters! Not without our little girl.” Her voice began to quiver.

Rose quietly poured out the contents to count them as the parents bickered. Did she have parents back home who would throw their entire worth at a stranger to avenge her death? Was there anyone who missed her back home— wherever that was? Was the woman she thought of earlier her mother? Was that her hand, holding the knife? Gods, she hoped not. As the questions stirred within her head, not a single piece had counted.

Arabella’s eyes flashed at her from the shine of the coins. The argument continued, but their voices began to fall away as Rose focused on those scared little eyes.

The child shaking with fear as the snake’s tongue tickled her cheek and slithered down from its perch. Taunting the child. Daring the child. Rose smirked, an idea forming. She glanced at the exit behind her, slightly blocked by her own form. Ah, well the tiefling was a small thing, she’d only need a little bit of wiggle room to get her hopes up. Smoothly, she shifted her weight, giving her that bit of space. The child noticed, innocent eyes widened, tears ready to fall. Ever so slightly, Rose tilted her head to the opening.

‘Go on,’ her mind whispered.

No.

‘It’s okay.’

Stop!

‘You’ll make it.’

It’s a trap!

‘If you can outrun the viper, that is.’

The stool clattered loudly behind her. All conversation, silenced by Rose, who now stood with her fists closed around the pile of a mothers’ desperate plea. Her head pounded, stomach twisted. All at once, the world threatened to fall away.

“Keep it,” Rose swiped the coins back into their pouch and pushed it to the other end of the crate.

The mother fell to her knees, hands clasped together desperately. She refused to look at her, focused more on steadying her breathing and keeping her eyes closed to help with that. The mother’s voice hitched.

“Please—“

“I’ll handle it,” Rose interrupted, darkly. She opened her eyes when her impending tears were contained. With resolve, she turned her sights to the pleading woman. Then, she looked to the husband, and nodded to them reassuringly, “Go. This conversation never happened.”

The mother opened her mouth to speak, but Rose raised her hand. Eyes narrowed, warningly. The message came across, no words were spoken, but the thanks read clearly on their faces before they took their coin and fled the camp.

The silence weighed heavily in the air. No one dared utter a word. No one dared to breathe.

Not until Rose did first.

“Shadowheart.”

“Yes?” The cleric stood from her seat, instantly.

“Names and descriptions of everyone who are loyal to Kagha,” she turned to a blank page in her journal, slowly uprighting her stool as she sat back down. Charcoal pressed to the page. “now. ”

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