little-paperboat

[little-paperboat]

"Wow, you talk about that character a lot" I want to fuck him.

#me and every bg3 characters #“​i like them a normal amount” said no one ever #tag:random

[little-paperboat]

"You were trying to help your family - you're too hard on yourself"

#rolan x tav #holy rolan empire #rolan nation #baldur's gate 3 #tag:fanart

[little-paperboat]

for the Rolan enjoyers out there

#ajkdhkgfheirfuh HELP he's so perfect #the portrait on the left has me in a chokehold i'm not joking #the smirk!!! the hair!!! the cheekbones!!! #i need him in a way that is concerning to feminism #holy rolan empire #rolan nation #baldur's gate 3 #tag:fanart

[little-paperboat]

Through Shadows To The Edge Of Night (3)

Here we goooo! Final chapter of "Through Shadows" is out, one day earlier than planned! 🧡 I'm super excited, it was so much fun to write! It's over 6,600 words too!! Twice as long as my usual chapters, which I didn't expect initially, but during the editing process I chose to merge the ending dialogue with another one that I had written for a later chapter, as I found it made more sense.

I'm glad that Tav and Rolan are finally having more interaction... and a little misunderstanding I was craving to write since the beginning, including that *one* scene that I imagined all those months ago and made me want to write this fic 😏

I hope you'll like it! The next part of the series will finally bring us to Baldur's Gate and to Sorcerous Sundries, and well, who knows what will happen then 👀 I'm planning to release it on next Saturday. You can follow the tag "series:forbidden fire" here on tumblr to not miss it when it comes out 🌸

And of course, I'm so grateful for all the comments, kudos and support! The Holy Rolan Empire is truly a gem, you guys are wonderful and it's super heartwarming to be part of such a kind community with so many talented artists and writers 🥹 ❤️

Read on AO3 (3/3)

Read Part 1: Wild Winds Are Death To The Candle (2/2)

She took a step towards him.

“Rolan?”

This broke him out of his stupor, his eyebrows perking up, frowning, and finally coming closer. Had he always been this tall?  

“Tav,” he replied sternly. 

Her name rolled off his tongue with ease, and something surged within her; wishing that he’d say it more often, whisper it against her skin, his lips caressing the shell of her ears— Wait, what? No! She had done so much for him, against her better judgement even, and he had been nothing but rude and a pain in the ass. No: she wouldn’t be so easily swayed. The ball was in his court, and her expectations were high. She wouldn’t be distracted by nonsense. 

She crossed her arms, unimpressed, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible.

“You brought them back,” he said finally, his eyes finding hers, a hint of hesitation colouring his deep voice. Once again, she found herself hypnotised by the golden flames dancing against the moonless sky of his eyes. “I thought my entire family was dead, and you… you brought us back together.” His voice was soft, almost emotional. She didn’t even know he could speak like this.

“Don’t mention it,” she croaked out. What was wrong with her? Gods, she needed to get a grip, now.  

“You have no cause to be humble. You did the impossible and you went out of your way to help us when most people would’ve left us to die - or worse.” 

Maybe she liked it better when he yelled at her, after all. At least it didn’t make her heart beat so fast. 

There was a pause, but before she could speak, he continued.

“I’ve lashed out at you, drunkenly and otherwise, and you helped anyway.” She fought back a smile, biting the inside of her cheeks to physically stop her lips from stretching. “You didn’t deserve that. I’m sorry. And, thank you.”

Was this real? Was this really happening? She tilted her head up at him and wished that she didn’t imagine his own gaze flickering to her lips. 

“Why are you being nice?” she asked in a hushed voice. 

“Because you were. I still don’t quite understand why you decided to help us - to help me, but you did.” He seemed to remember something, and handed her a small purse. “It’s only right that you get something in return.” 

A bag of gold sat in the palm of his hand, heavy and full. She paled, suddenly ill at ease. Was he giving her his savings? 

“Rolan, no. I can’t accept it.” It was absurd. Actually, it was offensive.  

His eyes darkened. 

“No? Is that not good enough for you?”

“On the contrary, it’s way too much. Really, I… I don’t need gold. I don’t, I swear.” 

She didn’t know how to explain to him that the sum he was handing her was probably less than her weekly allowance as a teen. 

Not that she was the kind of selfless person who refused to be paid for her services. Quite the opposite, actually: half her life so far had been dedicated to finding ways of getting and spending money, without any concern in the world for those who didn’t have any.  

But, well. Being catapulted in the middle of a refugee camp without any gold piece to spare had somewhat altered her perspective, and now she did feel bad about taking money from people in need when she knew her own coffers were still overflowing at home.

“I don’t need a reward,” she continued. “You keep it, for you, and Lia and Cal, for when—” 

“Take it, Tav.” He cut her, annoyance sharp in his voice. Clearly, he would obviously feel beyond insulted if she refused it, but at the same time, she really didn’t need it. Although, it could benefit the group, if only temporarily…

She chewed on her bottom lip, indecisive, before reluctantly taking the coin purse from him, swearing to herself that she’d find a way to give it back somehow. Her obedience seemed to please him, and he gave her a satisfied smirk that ignited a fire in her belly, a violent desire coursing through her veins. 

She wanted to know how his lips would feel against hers, how his body would react to her touch; to see pleasure etched over his handsome features and to hear him say all those nice things again, and then some. To see him happy, pleased; to make him lose his composure and show him how good it would feel to not be a stuck-up prick.  

She wanted to kiss him - she really did. 

And she wanted it now, even if he hated her. 

She had dealt with worse than that. 

“I didn’t tell Cal and Lia about what happened,” she said instead, inching just a bit closer, batting her eyelashes just so - giving him that one sultry look that always got her tangled in bedsheets under an hour. 

“I know,” he said with a strained smile. 

“You’re welcome,” she teased.   

He let out a breathy laugh.

“I thanked you once already. Don’t be greedy.” 

A glint of mischief burned in his eyes and she felt herself smirk, the flames of desire burning brighter. Oh, she was greedy alright - all she needed was a sign that he wasn’t just being polite, something, anything to let her know that he was also curious about her, and she would show him exactly just how greedy she could be.

— Read the rest on AO3 :)

(c) divider by saradika

#rolan x tav #holy rolan empire #rolan nation #series:forbidden fire #fic:wild winds #fic:through shadows #tag:writing #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 rolan

[little-paperboat]

Gale sketches for my next render, I might try a new paint style and will definitely add more details later.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about Gale as a necromancer, who's body is rotting from the orb and only keeping his appearance up with the Weave. My inspo is from the Sandman comics, @/GarnetDawn's rendition of Gale's arcane hunger, and Eternals from Divinity.

#i’m obsessed with this concept it’s so fucking gooooood #insane insane insane I’m here for it!!! #dark!gale #gale of waterdeep #gale dekarios #tag:fanart #artist:slumpsnail #baldur’s gate 3

[little-paperboat]

Something something when I learn to draw this man it's over for all of you

#*drowns in fanart of Rolan* #I’m feeling THINGS #holy rolan empire #rolan nation #baldur's gate 3 #tag:fanart

[little-paperboat]

WHY ARE YOU ALL SO HORNY FOR THE WIZARD

#applies to Rolan and Gale and honestly #wizard sandwich when #i’m so soft for both of them #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #rolan nation #holy rolan empire #baldur’s gate 3 #tag:fandom

[little-paperboat]

Hi there! 🌸

It's time for a pinned post! I'm Paper Boat (she/her, late 20s) and you may call me however you want 😌 This blog is the recipient of all my current hyperfixations. I'm trying to get back to writing regularly, and I've listed my current fics and OCs below. Feel free to interact! 🤍 At the moment I have a massive BG3 obsession (still going strong) with a big case of the Rolan brainrot 🧡 I absolutely adore the rest of the main characters and ship them with Tav/Durge & together too. I'm also an occasional Zevlor/Raphael/Gortash enjoyer hihi On another note, my top three otps of all time are Brienne and Jaime (GoT), Rose x the Doctor (Doctor Who) & Zutara (A:TLA), I'll always be *thrilled* to discuss them too! You can find me here on AO3: paper_boat

— Baldur's Gate 3

My fics:

• I Burned My Fingers On This Forbidden Fire, Rolan x Tav (series, ongoing)

— Part 1: Wild Winds Are Death To The Candle (2/2) — Part 2: Through Shadows To The Edge of Night (3/3) — Part 3: TBA — Part 4: TBA

My Tavs:

• Ariel Mithcallor | high elf, ranger | romancing astarion  [☆] presentation & moodboard [☆] pictures

— Hogwarts Legacy

My fic:

take my hand, wreck my plans, Seb x MC x Ominis (on hiatus)

My MCs:

Effie Williams | ravenclaw, paired with Seb and Ominis

(c) divider by saradika

#tag:paperboat #tag:writing #series:forbidden fire #fic:tmhwmp

[little-paperboat]

If you’re here to save the day again, you’re a little late this time.

Dedicating this to @lostinforestbound who's been writing incredible Dark!Rolan AU short fics, go read all their lovely work! Dark!Rolan, Dark!Rolan 2, Dark!Rolan Prequel

#it's incredible i'm so fully in awe of both the art and the fic #it's like it opened a new dimension in my brain and i'm craving it #rolan nation #holy rolan empire #dark!rolan #baldur's gate 3 #tag:fanart

[little-paperboat]

Took some photos of my husband in our new tower today. Look at that smile. So proud of him 🥰

#rolan nation #holy rolan empire #baldur’s gate 3 #tag:fandom

[little-paperboat]

I'm in the process of editing the last chapter of "Through Shadows" and it's about 4500 words, the longest so far 👀

I'm not totally satisfied with it yet, especially since it contains some pivotal scenes and elements for the main story later so I really want to get it right, but I'm working on it and it's promising!

I'm suuuper excited for it though, it might be my favourite chapter so far. We're getting more Tav and Rolan AND they are doing something else than argue for once (they're not getting any smarter, though). But there is *progress* somehow heheh

Here's a little overview of the chapter, since I probably won't post until later this week 😇

She wanted to know how his lips would feel against hers, how his body would react to her touch; to see pleasure etched over his handsome features and to hear him say all those nice things again, and then some.  She wanted to kiss him - she really did.  And she wanted it now.  Even if he hated her.  She had dealt with worse than that.   “I didn’t tell Cal and Lia about what happened,” she said instead, inching just a bit closer, batting her eyelashes just so - giving him that one sultry look that always got her tangled in bedsheets under an hour.  “I know.” He gave her a strained smile.  “You’re welcome,” she teased.    He let out a breathy laugh. “I thanked you once already. Don’t be greedy.” A glint of mischief burned in his eyes and she felt herself smirk. Oh, she was greedy alright - all she needed was a sign that he wasn’t just being polite, something, anything to let her know that he was curious about her, and she would show him exactly just how greedy she could be.

That's it for nowww 🤠

#rolan x tav #holy rolan empire #rolan nation #series:forbidden fire #fic:through shadows #tag:writing #baldur's gate 3

[little-paperboat]

if anyone hasn’t read ‘Deeply and Immovably So’ stop what you’re doing and go read it now!!!!

-> yeah!!! go!!!! read it!!! now!!!

I had the wonderful opportunity to do a commission for the amazingly talented @dutifullylazybread of her Tav and Rolan ❤️❤️ (if anyone hasn’t read ‘Deeply and Immovably So’ stop what you’re doing and go read it now!!!!) of Tav comforting Rolan during a panic attack. It was such an emotional scene, thank you so much for trusting me with it! 😭

Close up under the cut 👇

Likes and reblogs are encouraged but please don’t repost ❤️ Commissions are open check my pinned post for info ❤️

#rolan x tav #holy rolan empire #rolan nation #tag:fanart #tag:writing

[little-paperboat]

Moodboard Tag

Rules: Use this order and insert images according to how you view yourself/your character!

Oooh I love this! Thank you @dutifullylazybread for the tag (also your moodboard for Tav was incredible!!)

I already made a moodboard for Ariel (my Tav who's romancing Astarion), so I'll do one for Tav from "i burned my fingers to this forbidden fire" since I'm writing it now hihi

1. Animal: Cat

2. Place: Baldur's Gate

3. Plant: Lily of the Valley

4. Character: Rachel Greene from Friends

5. Season: Summer

6. Hobbies: Dancing and attending parties

7. Colour: Gold

8. Crystal: Rose Quartz

9. Food: Strawberry pastries

Tagging — @lemonsrosesandlavender, @savriea & @orangekittyenergy if you want to do it too, no pressure <3

#tag game #tag:random #baldur's gate 3 #series:forbidden fire #oc: “tav” #moodboard tag

[little-paperboat]

Rolan the type to say something like this to Tav

#well we have to make it happen i guess #yeahhhh i can see it #watched p&p last week exactly picturing rolan as darcy and uh it did some things to me #i love him your honor he's my emotional support grumpy wizard with a heart of gold #rolan bg3 #rolan nation #holy rolan empire #baldur's gate 3 #tag:fandom

[little-paperboat]

Through Shadows To The Edge Of Night (2)

Chapter 2 of Through Shadows to the Edge of Night is finally here! I'm so sorry for the wait - I fell sick and felt too tired to write or edit, and on top of that I found that chapter particularly difficult to write (when it sounded so easy in my head!). I struggled a bit with the english, with the action scene, and with making the different bits fit together. But I hope that you will like it nonetheless! At least we're seeing a bit more of Gale and Wyll this time.

I'm hoping to publish the next and final chapter next Saturday, with the conclusion of the Shadow-Cursed Lands and the much awaited (on my side at least hehe) reunion between Rolan and Tav post-rescue. Let's see how it goes!

Sneak peak of the current chapter under the cut, as usual :)

And thanks again for all the kudos and the positive comments, it's been really heartwarming and a fantastic motivation to keep writing x

Read on AO3 (2/3)

Read Part 1: Wild Winds Are Death To The Candle (2/2)

Going back into the wild was as nightmarish as she had imagined. They had agreed to go out without waking up the others - recovering Rolan first was a priority. Neither Gale nor Wyll had asked any questions, but she had nonetheless come up with a flimsy reasoning of him being powerful enough to help the Inn stand in case it was attacked. It was not untrue either: she heard someone mentioning that he saved the kids’ lives during the ambush. Still, every minute of him out there drunk and alone increased his likelihood of dying, and she didn’t want his death on her conscience. In the grand scheme of things, she could deal with being the indirect cause for the other tieflings’ misfortune, but if Rolan of all people died because he felt she had provoked him into fixing “her” mess, she’d never hear the end of it, from his ghost or her own inner voice. 

Gale and Wyll were walking next to her, holding flaming torches, looking for any sign of life. Wyll was not a ranger, yet his adventuring had granted him some tracking skills that were now proving invaluable. He had elbowed her pretty hard in the ribs when she started yelling Rolan’s name in the dark, shushing her that this was not how one was going to find a missing person in a hostile territory. Tav still thought that it would’ve been faster than crouching to follow faint footsteps on the ground, but she was too tired to argue. She sorely missed the warmth of the bed and the embrace of the crude blankets: instead it was the silence that weighed on her, suffocating, overwhelming - every shadow a foe, every movement a threat. In the dead of the night, she was wondering if they’d ever find him. How long had it been? How far could he have gone? And what if they were already too late?  

“Detono! ” 

Suddenly, a shout in the night, then a burst of light - they rushed towards the sound to find Rolan circled by shadows, their necrotic energy weakening him with each passing moment. Before the logical part of her could strategize, the careless side of her took over and ran towards Rolan and his attackers, sword and light swinging in both hands. 

“Get back!” Wyll was close behind, Eldritch Blasts firing from his fingers; in the distance she heard Gale’s voice invoke a flurry of fireballs.

“Duck!” Someone grabbed her roughly by the shoulders, pushing her - she felt a bolt of heat pass her by, and her teeth punctured her inner cheek as her head collided on the ground. She barely registered that the blood she was tasting was her own before something yanked her backwards, a death chill gripping in her bones. A faceless monster was dragging her towards the trees - reflexively, she thrusted her blade in the thing’s head - it shrieked and recoiled and she got back up, focusing on her breathing like Gale had taught her.

“Ignis!” The flaming figure turned to ash, and she ran back to her companions to find the three men caught between two large shadow creatures. She could see Gale struggling to focus, his grip on his spell less assured than usual, and Wyll’s blade not quite as deadly as it ought to be. Shit. She had foolishly assumed that she would’ve been the weaker link, but if neither of her friends had slept or rested last night, they were also bound to make mistakes.

And mistakes would prove deadly.

If only Shadowheart had been with them! She knew how to repel the darkness, she could’ve engulfed them in her radiance, she— wait! Her radiance! Frantically searching in the bag tied to her belt, her fingers closed around a bottle - light, fragile, and perfect to throw: Holy Water. She took one step back and threw the vial, which described a perfect arc in the air before exploding at the feet of Rolan, all shards of glass and radiant water. Enough to momentarily stun the monsters, enough for her to come rushing with her sword and her flaming torch; enough finally add one decisive number to their forces.

In an instant it was over. After all the yelling and clawing, a strange stillness fell over them again. 

“Rolan!” She turned towards him, her heart racing. He looked unhurt, at least, he looked-

“Gods damn it! I can do nothing right! Not a damn thing!” His voice broke and Tav stayed back, panting. Her ankle hurt - everything hurt - and she could feel the blood pooling in her mouth. For some reason, that was enough to make her snap, her concerns for his state abruptly overrun. 

“What the fuck are you doing here?” 

“I was looking for Cal and Lia, what else?” He spat, furious. “Instead I found myself cornered by shadow-fiends and in need of rescue, from you of all bloody people!” 

She let out a grunt - what was his fucking problem? Why couldn’t he act like a normal person? 

“Oh yeah? Well, sorry that I didn’t leave you to fucking die like an idiot!” She yelled the last word with more venom than intended, but she couldn’t help it. She was so done with his bullshit, with his attitude, with his fucking stubbornness that almost killed them all. “Sorry my friends here risked their lives to save your ass!” She took one step towards him, but felt two warm hands pat her shoulders, gently holding her back.

“What Tav means is that we’re glad you’re safe”, said Wyll, ever gentlemanly.

“And that it’s admirable that you were trying to save your family”, added Gale, very politely.

“He knows what I mean” Tav hissed back, crossing her arms and challenging the tiefling to escalate the argument further. To her surprise he deflated, his arrogance melting like snow in the sun. Laying down his armour, giving up; all things she did not expect him to do.

She tried to repress the involuntary pang of guilt that bloomed in her chest. Fucking wizard. 

“I failed them again.” His flaming gaze met her and she was taken aback at the distress that shone in his pretty eyes; at his heartbreak, his mistake. Something equally agonising stirred inside her in response, yearning to sympathise— no. She pushed back all unwanted thoughts, focusing on her frustration instead - the only thing that mattered right now, though it was becoming harder by the minute to stay mad at him. 

“What good am I if I can’t do this… this one thing?” Fuck. He looked so utterly sad it made her sick. “I’ll return to Last Light… I know when I’m outmatched.” 

“Wait. Gale will accompany you,” she blurted out. 

“I don’t need an escort, I think I can at least walk back on my own.” 

She huffed at his nerve to look outraged at the suggestion. Of course he would. Of - fucking - course. She pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling slowly. 

“If I save Cal and Lia and you’re dead outside the Inn because something attacked you…” Her sentence faded in silence, leaving it up to his imagination to fill in the blanks of her threat. She half expected him to agree with her, but he gave a dark chuckle instead.  

“You still don’t get it, do you? Their safety is all that matters.” 

For a moment they glared at each other - bloodied, bruised, pained ; a quiet assessment of their remaining strength; a test, a dare. And there she saw it - under the moonless sky, lost in a horrific wasteland: the look on his handsome face that told her all she needed to know. All the unspoken words that echoed louder in the silence: I don’t care if I die, but they must survive.

She could have slapped him. She could have kissed him. 

Or maybe it was just her own bitterness wishing it had been about her instead.

“Fine. As you wish,” she relented, too tired to fight him. She did get it, though - she got it so much it tore holes in her heart. The only way to move on was to not dwell on it: not now, and hopefully not even later; not even if it made her mean, not even if that quiet resentment gripped her bones and poisoned her mind. “At least take this.” She handed him her torch, somehow intact despite the fight, and a healing potion. He stared at her blankly, a rejection already forming behind his dark eyes. 

“Take it Rolan,” she ordered before he could speak, her tone cold and commanding. Her patience with him was running thin: she would suffer no refusal.

Hesitantly, he grabbed the potion and the torch; his fingers grazed hers, and in his ghost touch she felt his warmth. He nodded curtly then, and without uttering another word, started walking away. 

No one spoke until he was out of sight, until she was sure she didn’t hear any sounds of combat.

“What now?”

“Well,” she said. She could discern the ominous towers of the fortress in the distance, their malicious aura pulling at her curiosity. “Since we’re here, we might as well take a look.” 

— Read the rest on AO3 :)

(c) divider by saradika

#rolan x tav #holy rolan empire #rolan nation #series:forbidden fire #fic:wild winds #fic:through shadows #tag:writing #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 rolan

[little-paperboat]

Rolan + Text Posts (1/?)

#holy rolan empire #rolan nation #baldur’s gate 3 #tag:fandom

[little-paperboat]

Best snarky magic man, I wanted to make a sense of crackling energy in the air⚡️

#he looks so at peaceeee #it's what he deserves #rolan #holy rolan empire #rolan nation #tag:fanart #baldur's gate 3