#as the reason for why durge would want to break up

[utterdrip]

astarion’s sigh/laugh of utter relief when he realizes durge just wants him safe

#bg3 #bg3 spoilers #astarion #astarion acunin #durge #bg3 durge #like i wont harp on him automatically thinking HES done something wrong #as the reason for why durge would want to break up #bc that will hurt me more #but like #his deflation with relief as he realizes its something he can HELP with #and not something he couldnt change abt himself or how they are as a couple #like im sorry ur honor this man loves tav so dearly!!!!!! so fucking dearly!!!!!!! #the few seconds it takes for him to gather his thoughts #mean so much to me #because if its something about astarion is that hes ALWAYS got some sort of retort #like really the only time he hesitates in dialogue that ive noticed #is when u question what HE wants and what HE feels bc he hasnt had autonomy for so long #and i think its very. honestly beautiful of him to fight back against durge’s reasons #maybe not beautiful but idk how else to describe it #like he wants durge/tav so bad that he forces himself to like. say something just brutally honest with no sugared words #idk idk idk #i just love him! #bg3: vid

[katyusha454]

I think I've found the most tragic ship in BG3 and I need to rant about it

I've seen a decent number of people discuss and write about Dark Justiciar Shadowheart, but they always focus on what she's like post-game when she's fully committed to Shar. Which is a fine thing to focus on! Especially when you're writing smut where she's a mean domme. Post-game DJ Shadowheart is a fascinating character. But I feel like people neglect to consider what she's like during the transition phase of Act 3, where she's become Shar's Chosen but hasn't yet Done The Thing that caps off her personal questline. And there is SO MUCH potential for angst and drama during that time frame.

IMO the most important aspect of this stage of her development is that she is not evil yet. She simply made a single bad decision and now she feels like she's in too deep to do anything but double down on it. She's spent her whole life trying to "fake it 'till you make it" and she's only just now starting to transition out of that and into sincere belief. All the misgivings and insecurities she's shared with you are still there, just buried deeper. That desire to love others and do good hasn't yet been completely stamped out. In my Dark Justiciar Origin run, I try to do good things whenever possible as long as I can find a way to rationalize it as benefiting Shar. (but I still ended up saying enough evil-sounding things to make Minthara incredibly horny for me)

So where does Karlach fit in?

Well, turns out when you play as Origin Shadowheart, Shar doesn't make you break up with your partner. In fact, Shar says absolutely nothing to you about your romantic situation. This is really weird if you're romancing anyone other than Karlach, but I think it makes perfect sense for Shar to tolerate a relationship with Karlach for the time being. It's the ideal opportunity for Shar to prove a point. Karlach is dying, and no matter what Shadowheart does, this relationship is going to end in painful loss. Shar wants Shadowheart to fall in love with Karlach only to have that love abruptly ripped away from her. It perfectly demonstrates everything Shar believes about love: that it's fleeting and will always hurt you in the long run. Better to just avoid it entirely so you don't get hurt.

And Shadowheart knows all this. She's studied Sharran scripture extensively, after all. She knows that Shar is trying to teach her a lesson, she knows that the longer the relationship lasts and the more emotionally intimate it gets, the more the end is going to hurt. So why doesn't she break it off? Partly it's because she loves Karlach and doesn't want to end things; she's probably in denial at least a little bit. But I think it's also partly because she's a bit of a masochist. She thinks she deserves to suffer because she knows, at least subconsciously, that she's still not a very good Sharran. She can see the loss coming and she hopes the experience will bring her closer to Shar.

You'd think Karlach would be unwilling to put up with DJ Shadowheart's fanatical bullshit, but personally I think Karlach would stick it out for a whole mess of reasons. Number one, she can still see the good in Shadowheart and she refuses to give up on her partner. She's clinging tightly to the hope that Shadowheart can still be redeemed, even though she probably understands that it's a long shot at best.

Number two, she blames herself. When you play as Tav/Durge or another Origin, Shadowheart will have a conversation with you before deciding what to do in the Shadowfell. But if you play as Shadowheart, none of your companions says a word to you. In the context of this ship, I choose to interpret that as Karlach being too trusting. She's seen the good in Shadowheart, after all. She's so certain Shadowheart will do the right thing that she doesn't think she needs to speak up. It's not until too late that she realizes what Shadowheart needed was for someone to say "hey, are you sure about this?" So now she feels she needs to make up for that failure somehow by continuing to try and nudge Shadowheart in the right direction even though it seems impossible.

And number three, Karlach's just plain lonely. As fucked-up as this relationship is, she's still getting companionship and intimacy, and she doesn't think she has time to cultivate a new relationship if she breaks up with Shadowheart. She wants someone to be with her and hold her hand at the end, even if that someone is a brainwashed cultist.

In sum, both of them know that their relationship is extremely unhealthy; that it's hurting them now and will hurt them more in the future. But they both refuse to end it for their own reasons. And good gods, the ANGST. ARE YOU FEELING IT NOW, MISTER KRABS?

#baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #bg3 #shadowheart #karlach #shadowlach #dark justiciar shadowheart

[astarionconsort]

Ascendant Astarion was driven by fear, but can you really blame him?

Okay so I just read the newest interview that mentioned Astarion reasoning behind his ascension was driven by fear and I thought it made sense?

Tho I don't believe that fear was the only force behind the reason of his decision to ascend, there's a longing to be alive again to enjoy everything that the world has to offer, the need for certainty and also to protect his loved ones (when he has a love interest)

But let's talk about this fear part, there are people (even the companions) who expected that 'he should have known better' or 'shouldnt even think about ascension' and sees this fear in the recent interview as something that is so horrid but here's the thing.

"You are right to be afraid." I mean DUH obviously it makes sense. Astarion lives in a very dangerous world where countless undead risen from their graves thanks to necromancer toying with life and death, there are bandits everywhere, monsters, evil gods who never failed to make life even more miserable than ever and even the supposedly good aligned god can be so awful at times, etc etc.

The party that he traveled with and himself were infected with worms that would eat their brain and transformed them into a living husk, the absolute cult and the dead three were on their tail, angry devils, Cazador wanted him back and not to mention the Githyanki and their lich queen wanted them dead as well for what happened with the prism

Even during act 3 where they were supposedly close to victory. The victory was not set in stone yet, nothing is certain and something could have gone wrong. They could have died or even worse!

Not to mention he's a man who was tormented for 200 hundred years. He was stripped of everything that he had and even his own reflection, reduced to catched rats to sustain himself.

Can you really blame him for wanting to seek a way out from Cazador's torment, the hunger for blood and the indignity that he suffered for so long?

Also it would be harder to convince him to not ascend if Tav or Durge romanced him. Because now he's not just afraid for his own safety and his future but also his lover. The only person whom he ever love and genuinely love him back in 200 years (also not ending up as a victim for Cazador)

Most people would have killed him when they found that he's a vampire and infected with an Illithid parasite. Most people would have abandoned him

Tav/Durge was the only light in his life after years of living in darkness and torment, you can't really blame him for wanting to keep this light from being snuffed out by untimely death

And if that means sacrificed 7000 souls that he already damned anyway (undead like vampire wouldn't be accepted by good aligned gods in the after life, not sure about evil gods but most deities most won't accept them) so be it

I don't see this fear behind his decision as something that is objectively awful? I mean it is a natural respond anyone would have if they were in his shoes

Then you might ask "If Astarion loves Tav or Durge that much why he insisted on turning them into a vampire? And break up if they refused?"

Because he was overwhelmed by his beating heart/ his renewed sense, the high from his power and he's also insecure. At that point in act 3 he expected Tav and Durge to stand by his side no matter what

Because they were the only person who didn't kill the parasite infested vampire spawn at the beach, who loves him anyway despite the face he was a man with nothing to his name, who were willing to sacrifice 7000 souls and killed the Gur for him!

Ascended Astarion didn't want THAT special person to be taken by early death or a fate worse than death

He needed the reassurance that his love would be safe and no gods nor fate will take them away

If they refused to be an immortal vampire then they were as good as sealed their fate to death. Astarion didn't want to face that heartbreak

The thing that I don't agree with the interview is that the interpretation that ascension sent him to a horrible place? It was kinda vague? Like worse place when? During or after the ascension? Because this cannot apply after the ascension since I have taken so many screenshot and recording of ascendant astarion and I didn't see him feeling miserable about his fate. He was happy that the hunger gone and he could see his reflection again

Post final battle? The epilogue? After the epilogue party? This cannot be applied to all people, all route, all Tav/Durge and Astarion in general because there's variations. I mean you might see ascended Astarion as a bit lonely because he doesn't end up with anyone but in my Tav's universe he has a consort who stay by his side and their relationship is still going strong because my Tav is aligned with him

#astarion #astarion ancunin #bg3 analysis #bg3 meta #bg3 discourse #ascendant astarion #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #astarion x dark urge #astarion x tav #ascended astarion

[ilikedetectives]

I romance Minthara as Tav and in both occasions where my Tav: (1) refused illithid power and saved the city and (2) accepted illithid power and saved the city, Minthara does mourn the fact that Tav refused the power to literally become a god, but understands and quickly looks forward to future conquests. And not only that, she chooses to take Tav's name (huge deal for a matriarch society like drow, let alone the Baenre family name). Minthara is also willing to die along with Tav during the final battle!?!?!? She cares for Tav ok.

So it makes no sense for her to breakup with Durge on the spot for refusing to be a god's slave, when she doesn't break up w/ Tav for refusing to be a god altogether. And this is shown in the Elfsong Tavern ending and the epilogue. Being a god sounds wayyyy more powerful than a god's slave. Not to mention commanding an army of illithids and the power to create more fighters for yourself??? Did I also mention the ability to control dragons if you seize the brain? lol

Minthara: there is nothing we can not do together...But despite everything we gave up when we destroyed the brain, it is good to be here with you.

And even if Durge didn't seize the Netherbrain, her attitude is more of "the past is in the past, I look forward to future conquests."

Given that Larian brought back the writers for the epilogue, they must have looked into the ending with redeemed Durge to write the epilogue, so tbh I'd go with that instead.

Also not to mention if Durge rejects Bhaal, Bhaal instakill Durge but Withers revives Durge, which frees Durge from Bhaal. I feel like that should be celebrated?

TLDR: It is in character for Minthara to be mad Durge gave up their power as a knee-jerk reaction for the first few mins (also Emma Gregory's performance is *chef kiss*), but it is ooc for Minthara to refuse to see the reason why and not give Durge a chance to explain.

Oh and this is if you ignore Minthara's entire character arc with Orin (Bhaal) and her relationship with Lolth and the Absolute. After Lolth and the Absolute, Minthara would never want to be under another god's control again (She explicitly states she prefers to die than be under the Absolute's control again if Tav kicks her out of the party). So if anything she would want to be "The Absolute" herself. The whole point of starting a new house is being free from constraints and obey no god.

Minthara in other words: it sucks you didn't seize the brain as an illithid, because the brain sex we could've had.

Minthara's disdain for the gods and the idea of serving/sacrificing for them is explicitly stated throughout the game. She craves power, but never at the expense of one's freedom/life.

Even with Vlaakith, the only reason Minthara doesn't wanna anger Vlaakith is because Vlaakith can and will floor your entire party instantly. Not because she wants to serve any fickle god. And let's not forget where Minthara wants to go spit on Lolth's statue in Baldur's Gate lower city.

TBH I don't think Larian would add a persuasion check simply because that requires new dialogue and voice lines, as datamine dialogue doesn't show any additional content besides this abrupt breakup. So Larian would need to bring writers and Emma back if they want to do this. Or the cheaper solution is remove it? Either way there's a mod for it already so hail modders XD

Anyway, I'm glad what I have for my Durge and Minthara deviates from the game almost entirely.

#minthara baenre #bg3 #durge #dark urge x minthara #i told my mutual the game's Durge plot doesn't have enough angst #and kinda summarize what I have in mind for Lily and Minthy and the reaction I got was #“Colin this is an organized crime” #anywho time I go check on my Lily #bb about to get so much trauma #long post #colin rants

[gortashs-skidmark]

There are many brilliant ideas about Gortash and Durge. I would like to point some out below. Not all are mine.

HEADCANONS -

!! Some bulletpoints were taken from sources, from Gortash Fanficition. I have highlight the ones I know I got from fanfiction, I’ve linked all original source posts !! READ PLS !!

!! I do not want to be a plagiarist! if it's your fanfic, pls let me know if it makes you uncomfortable and I will remove it !!

*Orange means it's canon

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

The way Durge and Gortash know their doom is inevitable, but it was nice while it lasted trope.

<3

Durge’s Prayers to Bhaal for forgiveness: Every time durgetash do the nasty, Durge whispers little prayer of forgiveness to their god.

<3 found reference!

Durge is the “good child” out of Bhaal’s children. Which means they have an image to keep up, and keep up with Bhaal’s plans. They’re under constant stress and fear from their father. Treating him like a father and God gets tough.

<3

Gale’s line “with you, I forget my goddess” I love the idea of applying that to Durgetash: “You scare me. You make me feel like an individual, not like the spawn I am destined to be. I should not see you as an equal or take your companionship. But when I’m with you, I forget my god.” Something along those lines.

<3 found reference!

Durge is a fierce maniac but in no way competitive. I think there’s a laziness Durge and Gortash share. Unkempt. Uninterested in competition. Gortash just makes them an employee instead of killing them.

I love the idea Ketheric is just done with their bs. They’re two reasonable individuals but little giggly school girls in love at a catholic boarding house.

This headcanon is shared across Durge lovers! I will add one example but it is not unknown across the community!

<3 example!

Durge has personality. Scared to lose the rest of themself but scared to indulge when they’re with Enver. On one hand- handsome tyrant who wants to rules the world with them and peepaw. The other- fulfilling the worlds suffering for their father. Do they want either outcome. Durge’s neutral is to feel bittersweet or somber. (Or carnal damning lust)

When Durge has all those holes poked in their brain, and they’re with their travelling companions. They get nauseous after battle, they gotta sit down for a few. Sickened with themselves, or, feeling too much lust at once. Gale doesn’t ask why they need a rest, his knees need a break.

Durge has unusually soft spots on their skin. Made from Bhaal’s balls. Or from Bhaal’s inner arms, like the inner bicep or forearm. Soft and plush, possibly looser, where the skin is tougher. “He made me in his own image” fucked up kinda stuff.

Durge doesn’t harm Gortash. “When I like something I keep it good condition, I cherish it, I hone it, I keep it polished”

Durge is a clean person. Sloppy perhaps but their room is made up of minimalist decorations. A bookshelf and a small desk. They sleep on the softest fluffiest bed, anything to try and sleep as an insomniac. Bottles of empty angelic sleeping potions around the bed and on the side tables. They make their room up themselves. Some part of them wished they could share as much personality as their room does, so openly.

Durge has a hobby. Only hinted to those who are close. Cooking, cleaning, knitting, whatever you like. But it’s not something they share so much. They might comment on the poor stitching quality at Carmen’s Garms. Or how the fishermen on the docks will lie about the cod being sea bass, only a real cook would know.

Durge did/does temple services. I think they said that in the game. Lead everything. But also the Bhaalists are LAZY AS FUCK. And the Bhaalspawn spends hours cleaning the alter and other parts of the temple. The blood and guts and possible diseases?? Bhaalists def die off from blood diseases.

Being a Bhaalist means that it’s about the number of kills and the suffering of their victims, something Sarevok prefaced in game. Durge takes a different stance, placebo-ing themselves so they only kill a small number to last for awhile without blacking out and losing control. Like “I killed them in a manner I haven’t before- I’ll take satisfaction in their unique death more than usual”- spiraling and trying to make up for their guilt. OCD behavior.

Sarevok and Durge are toxic besties. Sarevok hates Durge but Durge comes back bc they’re lonely and need friends to relate to. Until Gortash.

Durge takes a liking to the Intellect Devourers before their fall- that special one named “Us”. Their brief interaction on the Nautiloid Ship when they lose their memories, Us was something they felt connected to. Adored it like a puppy. They feel a sense of incredible loss when they wake up on the beach without Us. But why? It’s a nasty brain with scaly claws, they shouldn’t feel sad.

#bg3 durge #the dark urge #enver gortash #dark urge x gortash #durgetash #bg3 #headcanons

[tyran-the-tyranical]

That one line from Raphael's Second Diary will never cease to get me 🥺 LIKE MIGHT I ADD- these are his private thoughts, separate from his manipulation attempts and so he, with his full chest, admits so much in his second diary, like when he says "never have I been so attracted to mortals as I am to those infested by the tadpole." AHH, (my delusions are so real, trust)

BUT WHEN HE SAYS "They gestured to the melting hooks, suddenly glanced my way, and in their face I saw they had the best of me." look, I get the subtext behind all these quotes, but a girl can just ignore all that media literacy and take it for face value, OK? 💅 but also reading into it, he does admire Tav to a certain extent, and I have to wonder, why? Tav isn't an origin character and Tav's actions and character basically changes with every playthrough (Same with Durge, as they can change too) So I have to wonder if it's because Tav is controlled by the player, since, Raphael does end up breaking the fourth wall in his epilogue speech, so perhaps that's what he sees.

Another way to look at it is, either way, no matter what the playthrough, he sees something in Tav, something that makes them stand out much brighter than their companions (For some reason???)

To further that statement, what is the best of Raphael? I mean, if its an evil playthrough, that would be obvious, but if you're playing a good playthrough, what then? perhaps what he sees is someone he can finally use to get the crown, that's also very likely. Still though that's a very to the point (IMO) not as interesting of a reading since it's literally just his end goal for us, BUT STILL A VALID ONE, because, it is true, that's what he wants from us the most.

Also his third diary where he just straight up admits that he's being so honest with us so he can manipulate us, love that for him, "I am master here. A prince of bargains cloaked like scarlet satin. All that hidden under sublimely obvious truths that cannot be discounted." Which also makes me wonder, is Raphael actually an honest person? I mean, Korilla thinks he's at least decent, but honest? outside of helping us, if we look at Yurgir, he really fucked him over lol. Obviously, Raphael isn't what he seems, even if he's honest with us, to what extent? he says it himself, he's honest about "...sublimely obvious truths..." but what about when he says he's grown quite fond of us in his own way, HMMMM?

I wish this man got a proper story arc in the game, outside of the whole deal for the hammer and House of Hope, that's all plot related for the hammer, but a storyline about Raphael as a character? I mean yea, maybe that would whisk away some of his mystery, his intrigue, but I'm sorry- you cant just end it with him fucking himself (poorly) and trying to break Hope (making her a metaphorical symbol of hope anyway, I think....) AND LEAVE IT THERE?!?!? at the same time, I do like the ambiguity of his character, you could think of him as a cruel bastard after seeing what he's done in the House Of Hope to his debtors and Hope herself or perhaps just a Pathetic lil guy who's shit in bed lol, or maybe even soft, if you go off Korillas words and what he does for us in game he can come across as quite nice, especially after we've interacted with Mizora who's is the only other Cambion example we can go off of.

I also just think it's interesting that he sees anything in Tav/Durge at all. Ofc he says he sees the best of him (Always gotta relate back to himself lol) but that especially a mortal is what he could see himself, the best of himself, but then again he does see potential and ambition as admirable (?) or just something he appreciates, you can see that with Mol and Gortash to some extent anyway, But what ambitions does Tav have outside of just trying to survive? Like, the obvious answer is he wants us to give him the crown and we're the underdog in the story but then why does he refer to Tav so differently then? I fear this has turned into another rant again, lol.

Just a final thought here, but, if he did ever get a story arc, similar to the companions, would they give you multiple directions to take his character? i mean with Shadowheart for example, you could help her break from shar or have her fully convert into shars chosen, but even then, if you free her from shar theres the point of saving her family or freeing her from Shars (curse?) there's multiple ways for her story to end. Though, Raphael isnt a companion, so would he have something similar to idk a minor companion like Halsin or Minthara, who don't really have that much of a diversion (I think) in their endings, they don't really have the option, only really if the player decides to be evil or not, they kinda just follow them either way, it doesn't really impact their own stories. Obviously, I would prefer something with nuance but also, HE ISN'T A COMPANION 😭 and pressingly some of the companions need more work done than he does atm lol. Maybe that's me just projecting lol, once again, me wanting to have my cake and eat it too, anyway, that's me done... for now lol

#baldurs gate raphael #bg3 raphael #raphael bg3 #bg3 #baldurs gate 3 raphael #baldur's gate raphael #raphael the cambion #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 korilla

[wild-magic-oops]

Did god!Gale really forget about Tav/Durge until Withers's party? My headcanon about the topic:

I've got thoughts about god!Gale again and yes, he has changed since ascension in a predictably negative godly way, however the fact that he seemingly had forgotten about Tav/Durge doesn't exactly align with what else I see in the epilogue. And this is not me trying to make this ending better bc I like it btw. It just bothers me that things don't match and I like to headcanon about it, so kindly ignore if you don't agree.

1: Gale's reaction to breaking up with him/refusing ascension is quite telling about his feelings imo. He's visibly sad and disappointed about this outcome and still seems to genuinely love Tav/Durge. And his is not the kind of reaction you get from someone who just forgot their lover existed for months.

2: In his godhood path Gale combats his insecurities with ascension but predictably, that doesn't fix them. So he's still very much insecure about power and self-worth, particularly when others find him lacking. And now it hurts extra much because he sees himself as an improved version of what he was before. And when even that is not enough...

3: He still ascends Tav/Durge and personally, I don't buy that he does it just because he promised. I doubt making a new god is considered something to be done lightly. But moreover, being the god of ambition, making more competition for himself just bc of a promise mortal!Gale made is not productive and imo he realizes that very well. Perhaps he wants an ally, which is definitely more believable. But that still makes him forgetting all about Tav/Durge unlikely.

4: His excuse for not contacting Tav/Durge is that time works differently in Elysium and then not 2 minutes later he says that there are already shrines built for him and a big temple in the making. There's no way he didn't realize how much time has passed in the mortal realm.

Ofc you can argue that it was just a handy excuse and that he thinks a mortal is too stupid to see through it. And while he definitely has a bit of a condescending attitude going on now, it doesn't go that far imo. Personally I have another headcanon:

god!Gale postponed meeting Tav/Durge because he was afraid that he would still not be enough for them, especially after realizing he couldn't topple Mystra. That was certainly a bruise to the ego. So he stalled, built his reputation and power a bit, so when he finally meet his lover again, he would have actual things to brag about, and not just the ascension itself. A Tav/Durge who pushed Gale on his godhood path is one that had made Gale feel unworthy about his previous state (or rather - reinforced his feelings about it), so Gale has enough reasons/doubts to believe that maybe he still would not be enough in their eyes.

The thing about ambition is that nothing's ever enough, there always needs to be more more MORE MORE. And that combined with Gale's unresolved issues imo could explain why he didn't seek out Tav/Durge before Withers's invitation.

#god!gale #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #gale #galetav #durgegale #galemance #bg3 #my posts

[yandere-sins]

Ummm... Not a smutty thought, but I was having a thought and I'd like our resident yandere enthusiast's opinion. You know Raphael (BG3)? Well, a huge chunk of the fandom is obsessed with him and I know many people who want to jump his bones. The only issue with that is... he's only attracted to himself. So, you know, I guess I am asking what you think it would be like if Raphael really did get interested in Tav/Durge? Does he try to change them? Does he mansplain and manipulate his way into making himself sound reasonable? How does the savior of the city even react to their very powerful, very creeping admire?

As someone who is, in fact, obsessed with Raphael (he's probably my favorite character, and yes, my taste is that bad, and I am choosing him over Halsin, I'm so sorry ;;), I can only tell you that even in my daydreams with him, I agree that it's probably not 'love' what he harbors for someone else but merely 'interest'. But people have married for less, so why worry, lol. All he wants his object of interest to be is... interesting. That's what we can give him! xD (And yes, I do believe I can fix him, but if we're talking Yandere!Raphael, even I give up, lol)

Also, I am one chapter into a Yandere!Raphael story, and I had to ask myself these questions, too, so you came to the right place >:3

After establishing my credentials, here is what I was going off on as to how Raphael could even be seen getting a darling:

Raphael isn't above chasing someone. Not necessarily for very long, but he does make quite a few attempts before sending you to hell (hehe). That is if you are interesting enough to chase. So you need to have something that will keep him holding onto wanting to chase you, be it strength, power, or my personal favorite (and yes, my delulu is that this is one of the reasons he is so interested in the Tav), no interest in him. And he has Korilla stalk Tav; let's never forget that. So, he can be interested in someone and make them majorly uncomfortable while at it.

As narcissistic as he is, he likes it when you do what he says. I am sure he's not above wanting to be admired(considering he admires himself so much and what his goals are). He's all about someone raving about how amazing he is, and if they prove to be useful, then their soul is twice as valuable to have. There is value in raising and shaping the object you desire into what you want them to be, even if it takes some effort. (The same could be said about Mizora if I think about it...)

Strictly speaking, Raphael has someone akin to a darling: Hope. And he clearly is amused by and keeps tormenting her. I am not usually one to encourage more than one darling, but I am willing to forgo Hope's darling status and say she'd be an excellent support to a darling because she's so optimistic still? Despite the torture, she seemed pretty courageous. She could influence the darling, which, in turn, makes them more interesting again. The principle is: He did it once, nothing is stopping him from doing it again. And clearly, he can be interested in people other than himself. (Not to say that his darling will always have his full attention all the time only on them, but I do see that he'd have a good reason to come back to the House of Hope to check on them because the thought of them lures him back.)

(There are surely more reasons I came up with, but it's been almost three months since I wrote my story, so I honestly can't remember lol...)

As to what he'd do with them... it depends on what the backstory is like. What he wants from his darling and how his darling reacts depends greatly on the situation. There is always the good ol' "boredom" excuse but in such a big world with so many possibilities there can always be a good reason how he comes into possession of his darling and why he keeps them.

In most cases, I think he'd try to break them, use them for his own means, manipulate them into turning away from what they've known/loved and towards worshipping him, or simply want to see their suffering. It's a matter of what kind of interest he has in the darling.

In some research I did (and sorry, I cannot find the source, and it might be wrong since I'm not really into the DnD lore that much), I read that even if cambions are raised only with the "good" parent, they'd still be evil by nature. So yeah. Maybe he just enjoys watching his darling's dreams and hopes be shattered continuously and watching them slowly crawl back to his feet, asking for forgiveness even if they'll try refusing him again the next day. Or maybe he wants them to make a contract with him by all means necessary.

Overall, it's a big game for him. It's fun. Watching you lose the light in your eyes or cave in and do as he says no matter how degrading it is. Raphael just wants to control you and have his way exactly how he wants it, but he doesn't mind breaking down your resistance piece by piece over a certain amount of time until he has you exactly where he wants you to be and how he wants you to be. It makes things more interesting and you more valuable. And the more you struggle, the better, so do your worst.

Hope I could answer some questions! Many of them depended on the scenario we're working with, but I hope you got the gist! I'm so feral normal about Raphael, but I hope I didn't ramble too much, lol.

#yandere #yandere talk #raphael bg3 #raphael #yandere raphael #yandere!raphael #yandere imagines #yandere headcanons #yandere scenarios #yandere fanfiction #yandere writing #yandere stories #yandere oneshots #yandere oneshot #yandere drabble #yandere x reader #yandere x darling #Yandere TW

[abyssalaerlocke]

Gortash, Fear, & Loneliness

I can't believe this ship is my first and possibly only post on here, but here we are.

I keep thinking about how Gortash's outfit is enchanted against fear, and how it explains so much of his apparent personality and behaviour, etc. (like wholeheartedly and earnestly wanting to ally and rule with people he has no reason to trust — it feels careless). When you consider his past, it's easy to understand why he would protect himself against fear, and without that coat, it's probably easy for it to sneak back in.

I do consider it canon that he and Durge were something to each other — whether that was romantic, sexual, platonic. Whether their feelings had been openly expressed to each other or were resisting — they were important to each other. They appreciated, respected, admired, loved, and felt loved; for the first time in their lives. (something others have delved into well in other posts — I love/hate you for all the thoughts and feelings you've given me 🙃).

When Durge shows up, Gortash shows a lot of feelings — happiness, relief, annoyance and frustration with Orin and what she did... But not fear. The person that meant the most to him, that started to piece him back together — in an emotional way, that all the ambition and control in the world couldn't fix — that he thought he lost forever, had returned to him... and you don't remember him, or what you were to each other. He's a stranger to you.

But Gortash doesn't wallow in it, he's completely optimistic that you'll still be great and rule together — that somehow, you'll mean that, be that, to each other again. Maybe he thinks you'll regain your memory, or he'll start that incredible relationship again from scratch, if he has to. But he really just goes forward as if everything's okay — the most important person in his life is alive, and all the pain of losing you doesn't apply anymore, because you're back.

Here's the thing, though: I think when he finally gets a break, and takes off his coat for the night, it hits him — the person he knew is gone, and he might never get that back. You're walking around, the loss he felt before — probably desperately searching for your remains — is beyond even resurrection, now.

And I think when it sinks in, and the fear that had been held at bay creeps in and takes hold of him again, he falls apart — even just a little — and he feels the weight of loneliness he hadn't realised before Durge...

#baldur's gate 3 #enver gortash #dark urge x gortash #durgetash #goretash #dark urge #angst

[alicelufenia]

So yeah had the chance to sleep on it and gonna give my full thoughts on the (unannounced) new dialogue for Minthara when Durge makes the decision to reject [SPOILER]. Gonna keep it under the cut but also read @shoddynomenclature's flashfic about it, it echos a lot of my feelings on the subject.

I think this had the potential to be something that makes her character even more nuanced and interesting by showing an uglier side of herself. Yes she has been abandoned by gods before, and the pain of that can't be understated. So seeing Durge reject Bhaal, to walk away from an inheritance when she was taken from Lolth against her will? Must feel frustrating. Seeing a character work through those emotions and fucking it up could be really good. COULD be.

This one conversation, where she throws everything about her relationship with Durge aside and turns her back on them with just a single non-critical response and no follow up? This ain't it.

I hate to say it, but this addition has all but killed my interest in playing Durge, if this is what it does to her character.

I'd LIKE it if there will be future additions, conversations you can have back at camp after the stress of the day has passed, to ask her what's really going on here. Yeah it WOULD be nice if there were some follow up where we can talk to her about our reasons for rejecting Bhaal, with the option to reconcile. Which could even lead neatly into her post-Orin speech, y'know some of her best writing in the game where she realize that Bhaal is no different than Lolth, or the Absolute.

Or, the chance to refuse to get back together with her after that. The only other way to break up with Minthara currently is cheating, which sucks, whereas having a big ugly argument and deciding "We've both said our peace, and understand each other better now, but we can't be together. Not after all this." THAT'S Really Good.

But unlike others, I have no confidence that any such addition is coming.

Because (if I understand it right) this dialogue was datamined from release, but was always inaccessible until the recent hotfix. So it was easy to ignore, treat it as cut content like the pregnancy plot (which I still don't get and frankly at this point I don't wanna know).

By deciding to make it accessible, Larian has made it clear that they want this to be a part of her character. But unlike this dialogue, there isn't any follow up sitting in datamine waiting to be turned on.

As far as we know, this is it. It's useless to speculate on what they could add (why add to her writing so piecemeal like this anyway?) because they didn't wait until they HAD more, to make this a part of her writing. Hell, it wasn't even worth mentioning in the hotfix notes!

Loving her partner to the degree she's willing to put aside her thirst for power is such a key part of Minthara's character that this dialogue completely abandons. What Larian is saying here is that her love for Durge was just a ruse to entice someone she could control into acquiring power, even at their expense. And if that's Larian's vision for Minthara's character, then why stop with Durge?

Why does she break up with Durge for rejecting Bhaal, but not with Shadowheart for rejecting Shar?

Or Astarion if he remains a spawn?

Why shed all those real tears for Karlach if she'd rather die than return to Avernus?

Why continue to share Tav's bed if they refuse the Astral Tadpole? Why offer no real objection if they destroy the brain, though she's rooting for them to take control of it right up until the moment? Why can she find power enough in the two of them with the Absolute gone to continue their plans for conquest, but Durge refusing to become just like Orin, her tormentor she swore to kill, is a dealbreaker?

If she tells my Tav the bond they share is called alurlssrin, can I even believe her, when she said the same to Durge only to call them stupid for believing in love right after?

Do you see the problem here?

Do you see why people would rather this dialogue not exist, if this is what it does to her character?

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate iii #baldurs gate 3 #baldurs gate iii #bg3 minthara #minthara #minthara baenre #minthara bg3 #nightwarden minthara #dark urge #durge #bg3 dark urge #bg3 durge #durge bg3 #durge x minthara #minthara x durge #tav x minthara #minthara x tav #like I said I'll be ignoring this dialogue and its implications #but it sucks that my interest in durge got shot out of the sky over this

[vole-mon-amour]

"I had a chance to live forever in the sun! To be FREE of the hunger that wracks me day and night. Whatever your fears, this is my life. It should have been my choice, and you should have trusted me to make it."

video

The continuous topic of "It's MY choose and you should let ME decide for myself", whether it's killing Cazador and convincing Astarion not to Ascend (where he sees reason and instead kills Cazador himself) or trying to break up with him as Durge for the fear of hurting/killing him. And, honestly? In general.

This is why I think Halsin would do absolutely anything in his power to give Astarion any needed advice, any possible comfort, but to never judge him, and never make the decision for him. Halsin would listen to him, help him, encourage him. He would give him alone time whenever Astarion truly needed it.

After being robbed of any possible choice(s) for two centuries, one of the important things is to trust Astarion in his ability to make his own decisions. And then enjoy what sprouts afterwards.

"Trust me, support me, and even if I fail, don't turn away from me, no matter how ugly it may get. Then you'll get to see the real me, and I will genuinely feel for you."

I love that the game keeps reminding the players of the topic.

P.S.: The way he lights up when you tell him that you'll find a way to let him walk in the sun. The way he mentions it in the quote. How much he wants to bask in the sunlight. 🥺 Oh, Halsin would find a way for sure. Who else if not a druid. 💚

(How about a special potion that allows him walk in the sun, but protects him from being burned? How about a spell like mage armor, from head to toe—he doesn't feel it, but it protects him from the sun nonetheless? How about a special cloak and gloves from a super thin and light fabric that reflects the sunlight and feels good on Astarion's the skin and even feels like the second skin to him—that comfortable? How about—)

#astarion #halstarion #bg3 #halsin #halsin x astarion #astarion x halsin #i have so many thoughts on the topic #i really should pull myself together and start writing instead of playing #natiswriting #the last paragraph especially

[crossdressingdeath]

Thinking about the disappointing ending to Durge's personal quest and how they either go full villain or lose most of what makes them unique as a character and basically just become Tav, and like... since Durge's death and immediate resurrection adds nothing to the plot (and what with things like the companions not responding to it, there being no clear reason why Durge is able to do something that Withers specifically says breaks cosmology and Withers apparently being unable to resurrect Durge if they kill themself to defy Bhaal at the very end of the game for no apparent reason it actually causes a surprising number of problems in the writing), why couldn't the good ending just involve finding a way to stop Bhaal from interfering in their life rather than Bhaal killing them?

Here's one potential solution, just off the top of my head. All the other origins' personal quests have trade-offs, right? Durge is the only one with this perfect "you get everything you want with no downsides" sort of ending. So what if instead of Bhaal killing them and them immediately getting brought back, they had to make a deal with him? He sets them free, and in exchange they do something for him. I can't think of what the exact terms would be, maybe something like... I don't know, "You'll uphold the usual 'murder once a tenday' tenets of the Bhaalists and if you stop you're mine again" that wouldn't really do anything in the game itself but would become an issue afterwards (like Astarion losing the ability to walk in sunlight if he remains a spawn and Wyll losing his warlock powers if he breaks his contract)? But whatever the terms are the upshot is that Bhaal removes the Urge as a show of good faith and the party is allowed to leave freely. Maybe also add in something like Shar still harassing Shadowheart if she spares her parents, like... maybe Bhaal removing the Urge and agreeing not to force Durge into their apocalyptic destiny doesn't mean he can't try to convince them to do it of their own will, so he occasionally pops into their head and tries to push them in a more murdery direction in a less aggressive version of the Urge that can't directly take over them? Or possibly just. hurts them out of spite because as long as he doesn't do anything permanent or force them to harm anyone else he's remaining within the bounds of their agreement. And that way they remain a piece of Bhaal's divine gore with everything that entails, they're just not on Bhaal's leash anymore. And they've also agreed to do something pretty fucked up of their own (coerced) will in exchange for their freedom, so they don't retain the annoyingly spotless moral high ground of the canon end of redemption Durge's story where they selflessly die rather than become Bhaal's apocalypse-triggering Chosen again.

You could even keep that "I'd rather die than serve you" energy without actually pulling the trigger: since Durge is actually a part of Bhaal rather than just his child like other Bhaalspawn, maybe they'd have ammunition for forcing Bhaal to bargain with them that regular Bhaalspawn don't. Like, say... maybe since they're a part of Bhaal them being destroyed utterly would do a fair amount of damage to him (which may have something to do with why they can be resurrected despite that usually being impossible for Bhaalspawn), and—to keep Withers's involvement in the quest, since that's actually really fun and given his distaste for Bhaal makes sense—the death god they're palling around can help make that complete destruction happen. Under those circumstances it would be better for Bhaal to lose them as his Chosen and mess up that particular plan for total victory rather than continue to try to force them and weaken himself permanently! I think if nothing else all that wouldn't make less sense than the canon ending.

#bg3 #durge #and it could come up in the epilogue too #like... maybe durge is investigating the history of bhaalspawn looking for a way to free themself from bhaal entirely #maybe even an option to suggest they're looking for a way to use their connection to him to USURP him? #that could be fun

[animentality]

I am obsessed with the idea of Durge getting Enver’s contract for him or the two of them breaking in to get it back together, it’s SO good, BUT. Something I can’t get past with it is the idea that Enver would even DARE leave the House of Hope without it in the first place? I am struggling to imagine this man just living day to day with any real confidence, or semblance of relative normalcy if he knew that Raphael still had his contract. Like lol maybe his no-fear coat is just THAT good but like. With that hanging over his head? Knowing that he’s still ultimately owned? Again the drama is so good but I don’t think he could stand it.

Basically when I first started planning my fic I imagined a flashback scene in the House of Hope where Raphael torments Enver by opening a portal to Baldur’s Gate right in front of him, telling him he’s 100% free to go, but all Enver can do is stand there with his fists clenched because as desperate as he is, he absolutely will NOT leave this place without his fucking contract, he won’t let himself leave until he’s actually free of Raphael once and for all because he is just too terrified. What if this is just a trick anyway? Or Raphael lets him leave, and just when he starts to let his guard down, drag him back to the hells again? So Raphael basically forces Enver to tell him he wants to stay and then closes the portal in front of him, you know, run of the mill psychological torture stuff, whatever. And then however many years later Enver runs Baby’s First Heist, finds his contract, and gets the fuck out with Hope’s help. (LONG story, not relevant lol, but yeah.)

But like I said, I love the idea of Durge getting it for him as a gesture too and want to explore that, in a different timeline or whatever. So I guess my question is, how do you think Enver could handle knowing Raphael still has a contract on him for that many years? Maybe he doesn’t know it still exists until he starts working with Zariel, and learns about it through her people somehow? Or maybe he bargained his way out of the HoH, signing a different contract with Raphael that isn’t as scary but he’d still prefer it shredded?

Ok see.

First off. I LOVE the idea of Raphael taunting the fuck out Gortash, by opening the portal back to Baldur's Gate, but knowing Gortash can't actually go through it, and even if he did, he'd still be tied to the House of Hope.

that's some sick shit, and it's a GREAT idea, and i fully encourage more raphael mind tricks, because they'd absolutely be canon AND so very very angsty and delicious.

But uh...

As for if he'd ever leave the House of Hope without it...

I think so?

Because he was never going to escape of his own volition. Nubaldin specifically mentions that he made a mistake, and that's the only reason Gortash got out.

So yes, he absolutely left his contract behind.

And honestly?

That's why he's so fucking terrified, and has to wear that coat all the time.

Otherwise the anxiety would get to him.

Knowing that when he dies, that's where he'll end up.

On Gortash's body, there's a note from Helsik, which implies that he wanted to go back to the House of Hope...

And I think that definitely means he wanted to go back to get his contract.

And it's like...such a crying shame that they couldn't cook Baldur's Gate 3 for any longer.

Because I think he was always meant to be in the House of Hope.

And you could free him, and give him his contract back...

But alas.

#baldurs gate 3 #bg3 #enver gortash

[redseeker]

like. so. this durge has just remembered who he is, that he's the son of the god of murder and that orin is his 'sister' and that he and gortash used to be friends?? and that he was one of the guys responsible for starting the whole absolute thing in the first place -

which is a LOT to deal with even when you're not fucking brain damaged and living every day with a splitting headache and a generally muddled mind AND everyone seems to be looking to you to save their asses despite you being the LEAST qualified person to do so -

but the woman he's been in love with since the nautiloid is suddenly only interested in some prince she's never even spoken to, and she yells at him until he SIGNS HIS SOUL AWAY TO A DEVIL so that she can get what she wants. and afterwards she's so happy and excited about orpheus this, orpheus that, meanwhile durge is quietly panicking because he just SOLD his SOUL, whatever is left of it, and why was this on him anyway? he loves her but isn't this asking a bit too much? he doesn't know, he doesn't remember how relationships are supposed to be, if he's ever even had one -

so he tries to talk to her about maybe not releasing the guy who hates all illithids and might behead them all on sight, not to mention betraying the guardian who's the ONLY reason none of them are already mindflayers, but all she wants to talk about is the prince of the comet and how she's sworn her life to this guy meanwhile durge, the guy who has actually given her everything he has to give, is left feeling confused and frightened and honestly a bit angry about this entire thing.

so he goes and sleeps in the barn away from the rest of the camp and doesn't understand why his chest hurts now too and water is coming out of his eyes?

the next morning he tells lae'zel that he's breaking their bond, and her response is cold as the astral plane. 'the wounds you inflicted will heal'. and that's that. he's not even worth fighting for, it seems. she just accepts this change and moves on, because she has more important things to think about now and if durge isn't behind her 100% then she doesn't have time for him.

and he desperately wants to talk to someone about all these confusing emotions he doesn't know what to do with, but everyone wants something from him and everyone is so wrapped up in their own shit, and durge is so big and strong and stoic and he's always all right anyway, why would he ever need reassurance? except when he tells astarion, one of the closest friends he's ever had, that he's bhaalspawn the vampire actually looks at him and is afraid, and somehow that's more isolating than anything else.

so now all he's left with is a worm in his head and a hammer he doesn't even want, and a pact with a devil that will see him hanging in the house of hope for eternity if he doesn't deliver.

i just. my little guy is making me feel things okay ;_;

#bg3 spoilers #the dark urge #dark urge val'eth #this could be a fic but for now it's just this #gale is dead #wyll is dead #karlach is dead #shadowheart isn't even evil anymore :(

[lucrezianoin]

After starting over 8 times or so I finally finished the game. SPOILERS

I'm just a little confused by the last scene with Astarion. It made me sad how he wasn't sure I'd continue to be with him and you can't even say anything more reassuring (like confess the depth of your feelings, or say you're not in it just for another adventure, but for him, no matter what happens next)

I do love the "is that what you want?" closure, but this could've been the friendship path and the scene would play out the same way. I'm not asking for meaningless stuff like marriage or whatever, but it's kinda sad you can't express your commitment to him.

What do you think about the game's ending? And what about durge's conclusion? No one has any strong feelings about durge dying? Or even before, about them setting up the absolute? The only proper reaction I got was from Karlach

Well, have a great day

WOHOOO congrats on finishing the game!

Ohh I understand I think, at the end he does look a bit hesitant, but I think he is trying to be considerate but he does not expect Tav to break up with them. I think he is actually sure it won't happen, but he is trying to be a good person, make sure Tav is certain this is what they want.

The reason why I think this is that if you actually break up with him when he says "are you sure", this is how he answers:

The first note says "a warning, not a threat", as in he is warning the player that the mouths to feed might be dangerous, and the second note says "bittersweet". So he fully does not expect the player to break up with him and he is quite shocked.

It is definitely different from breaking up with him in act 2, where he fully expects it. Or in act 3 where he is quite sad about it, but calmly accepts it.

I actually think that the commitment is fully expressed in this scene by the player using the word "we", Astarion remarks on it too I think in the "we can go lead the spawns" choice.

REGARING THE WHOLE GAME ENDING... let me tell you, the first time I finished the game I was so disappointed that I was ready to never pick up Baldur's Gate 3 ever again. I was quite sad, it felt incomplete, like nothing really mattered. I also disliked that only a random companion will react to most scenes, even important ones.

By Durge dying do you mean turning into a mindflayer and killing themselves?

#durge #bg3 spoilers #astarion

[eye-of-yelough]

To extend upon this post i really like the idea of gith durge being the diversity adoptee alien baby of a reclusive, eccentric human couple who low-key sees them as more of a pet or prized possession than their child. Maybe later on they have a little angel of their own, maybe they already had one who treats durge with the same dehumanising fascination as their parents. Or maybe they’re all alone in their big empty house, listening to the help talk about them, in hushed whispers…

“Why does it look like that? Why does it look at us like that?”

“Haven’t you read the books the lady of the house has under her bed? They’re a “Githyanki”, apparently they’re all like that.”

“Gods, A Githyanki!? My cousin’s wife’s brother was killed by one of their raiding parties, he was. Chopped his head clean off and fed to their red dragons, she swore on Sylvanus that it was true, that she saw the whole thing herself and barely escaped with her life!”

“You’re right to be afraid, but you fret for the wrong reason. Githyanki are brutal, but disciplined. Dignified. There’s method to their carnage, they know things we could only dream of. It’s all about the bigger picture with them. You look in the eyes of that… Thing and tell me it knows dignity. There’s something wrong with that creature, but it has little to do it’s race. Their Undying Queen would never allow its birth. It’s something altogether darker.”

“…I knew there was a reason they offered twice salary as the family across the street, I knew they were cracked… Now I’m stuck cleaning up after their pet abomination.”

“Pray you won’t be cleaning your own guts off the floor by the time it reaches maturity.”

They don’t know shit about you. Maids are flighty. They’ll believe anything to break the monotony. Butlers, you can listen to. And there’s one in particular, with a very nice hat who gives you all that you’ve wanted. To be seen, respected, connected. He’ll make everything better. You can trust him.

#i don’t know what to say. this got away from me #oc aeryn #bg3 #githyanki durge #durge #the dark urge #baldurs gate 3 #githyanki #your daily dose of idiocy