she’s right

that’s her. the Task Manager

Halsin joining our camp to see that the guy who played with the tiefling kids is now a devil, some pasty elf is biting people in their sleep, a githyanki and goth girl are slapfighting, there's a tiefling on fire, and that wizard just ate a pair of gloves.

"Can we talk about the two of us?" (Act 2)

jennifer willoughby, the sun is still a part of me

[ Text ID: I am so busy. I am practicing my new hobby of watching me become someone else. There is so much violence in reconstruction. Each minute is grisly, but I have to participate. I am building what I cannot break. ]

No thoughts, only this.

This vampire has standards. And a stylist.

Naptime ❤️

Oh to only have to wear the blood of your enemies as clothes

I feel sorry for Orin

repurposed from an old Reddit post of mine

Edit: Wrote an epilogue fic where my Durge, Sofija, seeks redemption for her sister with the Gods

Raised from birth in the Bhaal cult and has never known ANYTHING else. Literally the result of incest between her mom and Sarevok (her father AND grandfather) - and for her entire life is actively manipulated and groomed to worship her "Grandfather" second only to Bhaal (leaving a disgusting implication that Sarevok might eventually try again). Literally every single day of her life spent in a murder cult, never knowing anything else.

Her mother is actively manipulated when Orin is seven to try to kill her daughter, only for Orin to reflexively kill her first, at which point Orin was briefly possessed by Bhaal himself (per some Sarevok dialogue). AT AGE SEVEN. And even from a young age, Orin's true gift is her artistry, a talent that outside the Bhaal cult probably could have been nurtured into something phenominal, but inside the cult is twisted into a sinisterness in the kill that, when she's out of earshot is decried as wasteful.

She eventually rises through the ranks (never have had any choice), having never felt a meaningful moment of compassion or kindness and, desperate to be cared about, sees the power and fear and respect her bloodkin (The Dark Urge) has gained and uses their hubris to take them out.

Ironically, in the timeline where Durge lives, they get a gift Orin couldn't even dream of - a 2nd chance. With their brain scrambled and the tadpole present but being interfered with, the Dark Urge got a chance to be someone new. (Whether they accept or reject that 2nd chance, they at least got a choice this time).

What did Orin get for her troubles? Her (grand)father openly coveted to either take her out, or worse, take her out - when the time was right, her own allies both detested her (Gortash openly revels at the idea of working with the Dark Urge again)

and most brutally, if you manage to confront her with the truth, any of it? About Sarevok, about her mother, etc? She immediately believes you. And for one (1) moment, maybe there's hope for her.

Hope that Bhaal immediately rips away; an Orin confronted with the truth and showing even the slightest hesitation is immediately forcibly transformed into the Slayer by Bhaal himself, with a strong implication that the core of the old Orin is gone forever win, lose, or draw. "No more doubts, no more fears, no more Orin. Become murder.". Seeing what Bhaal's reaction was the moment Orin had one (1) instant of hesitation also confirms that she'd likely have never had the chance to choose differently, either Bhaal would always step in or else she'd eventually meet her end.

Imagine the AU where Orin takes her CLEAR flair and artistic talent to become a truly great artist. Where she gets the same second chance that Durge got - If she'd been able to use her talent for impersonation and desire to great to do something powerful instead of being forced by her family from childhood into the family business of murder.

She literally never had a chance. Even Bane and Myrkul and their respective cults were never so unfathomably cruel, and she never knew anything else.

At least for my own first game, though, my Durge recognized that without her "sister," she'd have never gotten the chance to save the world, never met Shadowheart, never stopped a century worth of Ketheric's torture on Dame Aylin, never set in motion the liberation of the Githyanki...In the right world states, Orin unwittingly saved the world, but it's a world she'll never get to see or know, and probably never could have.

That's tragic as hell.

Out of reach

How are y’all gonna call Gortash the smelly one when Ketheric has ‘crypt breath’ (according to Orin) and Orin herself bathes in blood, guts, & sewage on the daily? :/

Like Gortash objectively smells the best of the Dead Three, his hand-signed pass to his own coronation ceremony canonically smells like vanilla and rosewood; this man does indeed shower and I will not hear otherwise

The Sims x Computer Gaming World

My bg3 pixel sprites

Hey, look at my games

Reblogs appreciated!

Man I’m a graphic designer why the fuck do I have to explore the Tomb

You get a Devils Hole Pupfish

Well Ok I like this

Astarion is a really complex character who uses his crafted persona of being sexual and flirty as a defense mechanism in response to the physical and sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of Cazador. He thinks sex is the only thing he has to offer people, and his original attempts at flirting with Tav are just a way to try and gain their protection/favor. His character arc is one about gaining agency, figuring out what he really wants, and learning to be comfortable with intamacy and acting without the protection of that persona. Without that persona he’s sort of a silly guy, he cracks little jokes and is honestly a bit awkward. (He’s new to this!) since that sexy persona is all he’s known for so long! He’s not used to being a person who hasn’t rehearsed his entire existence.

BG3 Fandom: Sexy vampire go purrr~ he’s so hot and flirty!

Astarion is a sexy vampire who goes puurr. 😁 Why does it have to be one or the other? Astarion is a chaos gremlin, a silly 'cliche pick up lines' guy, and a sexual creature.

Respectfully, you are contradicting yourself by not accepting that 'Astarion is hot and flirty' as being part of him. If you are saying that we as fandom shouldn't pigeonhole this amazing character, then you shouldn't either.

Astarion's been a victim of sex trafficking for over 200 years, tortured for fun, mind-controlled and without any agency. He has been starved and in survival mode for centuries. I agree that his journey is heart-wrenching, and it is about his resilience and getting his agency back. Also, it is about Astarion not wanting to be treated as a victim. And there is evidence that points to that.

He refuses to sleep with Tav/Durge when approval is low. And him shooting Tav/Durge down is very direct, he doesn't mince words.

He breaks up with you if you insist that he has to bite Araj.

If you romance Astarion, in Act III he tells you that he doesn't need to be saved. He wants a partner, not person who will wrap him up in cotton wool.

Post-game Astarion is embracing his life and moving on from the horror that was his past. He is hopeful and looking forward to what life has to offer him.

Your words are valid and you clearly seem to care a lot for the character. And you are right, Astarion is so much more than just a sexy vampire. But it's not fair to say that if someone sees Astarion as flirty and sensual than somehow they are wrong. Because he is flirty and sensual too.

There are so many amazing fics which treat Astarion's trauma with utmost care. I think that this fandom is very kind and gentle when it comes to all the lovely tadfools. ❤️ Astarion exploring other forms of intimacy with his partner/lover is a trope we all love. As is 'Astarion is enjoying sex again' with his partner/lover. And 'Astarion very lovingly and consentually gets well-fucked' with his needs being put first.

So, very respectfully, let's not divide the fandom into two camps. 🙂 We are all allowed to love and enjoy the characters.