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duelbraids · 5 months

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under the cut: basic plot summaries for my four main Tadpoled Adventurers. Their quests are written as if they are companion characters, but can also be interpreted as Origins as well.

this post is so, so long.

THE CAT BURGLAR

NAME: Kirsi Ninelives ( orig. Kirsikka Virtanen ) AGE: 23 HEIGHT: 5'0 RACE: Mephistopheles Tiefling CLASS: Draconic ( White ) Sorcerer 9, Assassin Rogue 3 BACKGROUND: Urchin ENDINGS: Speak Now, Hold Your Peace

The bastard daughter of Dame Ilmi Virtanen and Vetle of Elturel, and disowned early in life, Kirsi grew up alone. Alone, save for her cat, Bast. She turned to a life of thievery to survive. Climbing the ranks of the Guild, Kirsi eventually joined a gang called the Horned Syndicate. While in this gang, she gained the attention of Agni, the head of the operation. The two eventually entered a very... unbalanced relationship, with Kirsi being barely 18, and Agni nearing 40. A few years later, the two had an explosive breakup: Agni attempted to overtake the Guild, and Kirsi finally decided she was more loyal to Ninefingers Keene than Agni. She rats out his plan, and in the ensuing battle, Kirsi believes she killed Agni, a burst of ice magic causing Agni to fall off of a roof.

Kirsi is a stealth-centered magic character, with an ability to summon Bast, her cat companion. She has a fairly reticent outward persona, fueled by the belief that her ice magic is tied to her emotions. She seems very afraid to use her magic outside of combat, seeing it as a last-resort. As a child, her mother forced her to wear a human glamour, and eventually faked the death of "Kirsikka Virtanen" to kick Kirsi out of the home. Kirsi believes this is because her draconic magic was out of control.

As a companion, Kirsi is encountered between the Druid's Grove and the Blighted Village; Tav will get a tadpole resonance without any clear source, and after looking around, The Narrator says, "You feel a chill, as if being watched; then, an ice storm under your skin. The name Frostbite enters your mouth." It is then that Bast will emerge, rubbing against the player's leg, followed by Kirsi dropping down from a tree. She will offer to join the party, explaining that she was scouting out the village ahead, which has been overrun by goblins.

Kirsi approves of actions that will preserve Tav, like de-escalating fights, and not sticking your neck out for others (except in the case of the Tiefling Refugees, especially the children) She also approves of killing Kagha. Kirsi disapproves of unnecessary cruelty, and turning down quest rewards. Kirsi will automatically turn hostile in the event that the Grove is raided.

Her questline, titled The Cat Burglar, focuses on the fallout of the Horned Syndicate falling apart, and Kirsi's noble heritage.

MASTER OF TIDES

NAME: Malinah Stormcrown AGE: 348 ( ~35 ) HEIGHT: 5'6 RACE: Wood Elf CLASS: College of Swords Bard BACKGROUND: Criminal ENDINGS: Death and Taxes, Just the Taxes, And a Bottle of Rum

Once a swindler and daughter of a jewellery magnate from a distant land, Malinah is the captain of the pirate ship The Hangman's Heart. As a child, she ran away from home with her little siblings, and joined a pirate crew. First as the ship's doctor, then as the Tidesmaster alongside Captain Nadia Shrajur and her brother and first mate, Tendaji. Aboard The Hangman's Heart, they were the lords of the sea. Malinah and Tendaji had a long standing romance during this time, and a few decades before the Absoluist plot, they were engaged to be married. The crew took a final, easy job, transferring cargo to Baldur's Gate before the wedding. This was their downfall - the easy job was not cargo, but transporting a Vampire Lord to her new lair. The crew were feasted upon, night after night until only three remained. Mal, Ten, and Nadia knew they had to corner the Lord.

Though they succeeded, this did not come without a price - Tendaji was turned by the Lord, and refused to live on as a vampire. He begged Malinah to spare him that future, and she did so, ending his life with heartbreak. No longer wishing to sail the sea without her brother, Nadia relinquished the ship to Malinah. Like a typical pirate, Malinah is a dexterity-based fighter, starting with two scimitars ( cutlasses, technically ) She has a very funny, loud personality; she is quick to act and quick to anger. She will openly talk about her little siblings, Florian and Ysebeau, who live on the ship alongside her new crew.

As a companion, Malinah will be encountered on the destroyed wharf of the Ravaged Beach, trying to wring out her map. The player's tadpole resonance with her begins with the Narrator saying, "High winds sting your skin, ocean spray blowing sunbleached hair back from your face: You are Malinah Stormcrown, Captain of the Hangman’s Heart." Malinah will explain that she was taken from the deck of her ship, and offer to join the party.

Malinah approves of actions that support the little guy ( refugees, the Gur, specific situations like letting One and Three escape, etc. ) but also enjoys the violent answer to problems. She will disapprove of trading with the Zhentarim, as they have a history of getting in her way. She approves of knocking out Minthara; on the flip side, raiding the Grove will cause her to disapprove (-5) but it will not cause her to leave the party. She disapproves of statements saying that nobility deserve to be on top / praising of the Flaming Fist.

Her questline, Master of Tides, centers around her history as a pirate captain, her love for her siblings, and letting go of her grief for her late fiance.

SHE WHO BOWS

NAME: Naomi Flores AGE: 28 HEIGHT: 5'11 RACE: Half Wood Elf CLASS: Gloomstalker Ranger BACKGROUND: Folk Hero ENDINGS: Best Left Unserved, She Who Harps, The Harper's Inheritor* *this ending can happen con-currently with her other two endings

A young Harper, Naomi is a master of investigation and disguises. She takes her oath to fight villainy and protect the innocent seriously. An orphan, Naomi eventually found herself as ward of Jaheira, the High Harper. Much like Jaheira's other adopted children, her relationship with her mother is positive, but strained by distance. More commander than mother dearest, and all that. She is incredibly close with her siblings, especially Rion. Naomi is sometimes too much like her mother; upon understanding the purpose of the Harpers and her mother's disappearances, Naomi wished nothing more than to be a Harper, a hero, to actually help people. Jaheira forbid her from putting herself in that kind of danger. Naomi, characteristically, took this as a challenge. Using a combination of her mother's documents, intuition, and Disguise Self, Naomi's plan got her the approval of the rest of the High Harpers; thus becoming One Who Harps.

Despite her nearly perfect track record previously, her most recent mission ended in disaster, with a fellow Harper, Eden, missing and presumed dead, and another, Quintus, having betrayed them to the Zhentarim. She was taken by the Nautiloid on her next Harper mission. Combat-wise, she takes after her mother's old friend Minsc, Naomi honing her skill as a Ranger. She tracks evil like prey, preferring long range and two swords. Naomi is a quick, a dexterity-based ambusher. She is sharp, quick witted, and sarcastic; she prefers to think and plan things out. Naomi is prickly at the start of the game, quick to assume the worst. Sometimes she's Machiavellian - but only because she cares.

As a companion, Naomi is encountered in the edge of the Wetlands, stalking a deer. The narration begins, "A woman catches your eyes, long bow drawn tight. You feel her holding her breath, as if the air catches in your lungs too. She is predator, and you are startling her prey." The player can pass a stealth check to allow Naomi to shoot the deer, or intentionally scare her. Though she will be annoyed with the latter, she will join the party. ( Allowing her to shoot the deer allows her to start with more Camp Supplies. ) She will keep her status as a Harper a secret for as long as possible.

Naomi approves of defusing situations, turning down rewards, sarcastic dialogue, and bad puns. She, naturally, disapproves of Obviously Evil Actions, disregard for nature, and insisting upon rewards up front. If raiding the Emerald Grove, Naomi has to be talked into staying, and will refuse to join the party until the raid is over. If pressed to join during the raid too many times, she will leave anyways, annoyed with the player. If she leaves, she can be found with Jaheira at Last Light Inn. If Jaheira is killed by the player or turns hostile to the party, Naomi will side with her mother.

Her questline, She Who Bows, unravels the betrayal that cost her her best friend, as well as her loyalty to Baldur's Gate, and her family.

THE GOLDEN ICONOCLAST

NAME: Rajya Nejem AGE: ~380 ( ~36 ) HEIGHT: 5’2 RACE: Drow Elf CLASS: Oath of Vengeance Paladin 6, Draconic ( black ) Sorcerer 6 BACKGROUND: Noble ENDINGS: Bodyache, Hopestar

A devout of Eilistraae, Rajya has already seen one cult rise and fall. She was born into the Cult of the Dragon, alongside her twin sister Ruya, both meant to be conduits for Tiamat to return to Toril. Raised in a high position, akin to a noblewoman among the cult, Rajya only had her rude awakening when she realized that Ruya would be sacrificed in the attempt to bring the dragon goddess into the material plane. Escaping alongside Ruya to the Underdark, they take shelter in the Priory of Darkfire. The vastly different religious atmosphere allows both girls to come into their own. Ruya finds love and settles down with a foreign prince, returning to his homeland, and Rajya finds faith, staying in the priory.

However, age and wisdom means she feels the tingling of trouble long before it starts. Though they had escaped the Cult of the Dragon, Rajya knew they would strike once more. She seeks out her father, Fahim, on a quest of divine-mandated revenge. She's interrupted by the Nautiloid. Rajya is a serious woman, well educated, and sometimes still shows elements of her noble bearing. But, for the most part, she is a gracious, kind healer.

As a companion, Rajya is encountered inside the Emerald Grove, healing one of the Tiefling Refuges, as they are no longer allowed lower to speak with Nettie. When the player's tadpole reacts, the Narrator explains, "The woman’s mind opens to yours; a shimmering of black dragon scales, Darkfire dancing across her memory. You see the mystical beauty of the Underdark; strange flora and fauna growing outside of a priory, a safe haven dedicated to Eilistraee." The player can ask if she knows how to heal the tadpole; Rajya will explain that she'd done it once before in the priory, but ever since the tadpole was inserted, she can no longer access that magic. She will join the party's quest.

Rajya approves of actions that help others, sacrifice, open mindedness on the views of others, and disapproves of attacking others without reason, letting crimes go unavenged, and underhanded tactics. She will leave the party if the Grove is raided, returning to the Priory of Darkfire.

Her questline, The Golden Iconoclast, centers on her past with the Cult of the Dragon, her father, faith, and help her stop a needless sacrifice.

#i'm too tired to write anymore quest lines so i'll do Naomi and Rajya's tomorroowww #my writing #OC: Kirsi Ninelives #OC: Malinah Stormcrown #OC: Naomi Flores #OC: Rajya Nejem #bg3 #Tadpoled Adventurers Masterlist #smothering the creature inside me that cringes

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