#owlbear grumbling

[owlbear33]

Contrary to popular wisdom, at least some players would in fact like to read your practically novel-length, functionally system-neutral setting guide

sidenote: the GM is a player

#owlbear grumbling #ttrpg design #I also advise having a tl:dr for that setting guide

[kirain]

Owlbear: She smells very delicious, but I will not bite her.

Astarion: Just a nibble?

Owlbear: No. Mistress is friend, not food.

Astarion: Just a tiny bite. She won't even feel it.

Owlbear: No. Bites hurt.

Astarion: I'll be gentle. I promise. It'll be the smallest, most insignificant little—

Owlbear: *Puffs up protectively*

Astarion: Alright, alright, fine...

Astarion: *Walks away, grumbling*

Owlbear: *Coos happily and curls up next to Tav while she sleeps*

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #owlbear #astarion #bg3 tav

[tragedybunny]

Sated - Astarion x F!Reader

Astarion has gone too long without blood and you're determined to make sure he's fed.

Astarion tries, but not everyday is a good day, and some days he’s still snappish and lashes out. The rest of your group has learned not to take it personally, in fact now that Karlach can touch people, she’s developed a nice trick of just suddenly hugging him when he’s a pain. Usually either indignant silence or grumbling compliance follows. “Behave yourself Fangs, or I’ll do it again,” the Tiefling grins at him during whatever fussing he spouts after. He’s grown fond of her, you can tell, even if he can’t yet. In a way he’s fond of them all, but Karlach’s open, kind nature has given them a bit of a sibling-like bond. Watching them interact always brings a smile to you, he needs more of that in his life, people who care for him genuinely. 

Today was not the best, but you shrug it off as concern overrides all else. He’s a little paler than usual and a little slower. There wasn't much out there among the shadow curse for him to feed off. Before you never had to question how much blood he needed to survive or where it would come from. But as you leave the formerly cursed land behind, you can tell he’s struggling. And yet, he hasn’t asked you about it. The one he’s supposed to trust more than anyone else. You’ve fed him plenty of times before, you would think he’d have come to you by now. Mentally, you scold yourself as you feel creeping insecurity. There has to be a reason for it, and now isn’t the time for selfish suspicion. 

That night, as everyone settles themselves around a fire, contemplating what the road to Baldur's Gate holds, you find him seated at the edge of the flickering light, as far away as he can get without being in the shadows. Could he be worried he might find himself tempted if he’s too close to everyone? This can’t continue, you tell yourself, not only for the sake of his suffering, but you can’t be sure he wouldn’t be tempted either. 

Grabbing a blanket from your shared tent, you take a seat beside him, wrapping it around both of you. “You feeling alright Starry Sky?” Gently, you wrap an arm around him, and feel the icy chill of his skin beneath his shirt. Not that his skin is ever all that warm, but this another level. 

“Just tired,” he smiles weakly at you. 

“And freezing,” your other hand reaches up to stroke his cheek lightly. 

Eyes closed, he leans into your touch. “You know, I don’t even really feel it. I’m not sure if I need to be warm at all.” 

“Hmm, even if you can’t feel it, you know why you’re freezing.” Leaning over you whisper to him, some things aren’t meant to include the others. “You’re hungry.”

“Perhaps a little, but I’m fine. I don't need you to start fussing over me constantly. There's an owlbear cub if you feel overtly maternal." The sharp words don't change the dark circles under his eyes, or how gaunt his cheeks look. 

"You're ridiculously obstinate, you know that right," a gentle kiss on his temple follows your words, so he knows you're not actually being cross with him. You’ve come to realize he can’t stand it when he thinks you’re mad at him. In the past, anger meant reprisal, punishment, and in the context of the two of you, punishment could only mean withdrawing your affection. At least that’s where his thoughts lead.  

"It is one of my better qualities," he leans over, head resting against your chest. 

Shifting, you position yourself so he's seated between your legs, easier to let him rest his weight on you. "I don't know why you don't just ask me. My blood not good enough for your refined palate anymore?" Laughing, you try to mask the actual hurt that's creeping in. The truth is letting him feed from you has always felt like an important part of your relationship, the time when you’re closest to him.

It's been a long journey and a few of your group are already wandering to bed, although you think you hear Shadowheart muttering about saving it for the tent, whatever she said, Gale laughs it off. “Not at all,” he’s uncharacteristically serious, “I just…” he sighs, for once at a loss for words, “it seemed like a lot to ask from you, after everything else.” 

“Everything else?” Lips leave light kisses on the top of his head as you brush your fingers through his hair.

“You know, lying to you, manipulating you, wanting you to still love me after all that. If I asked to feed from you, it would seem like I was trying to use you again.” Catching one of your hands, he kisses it and doesn’t let go. 

For a moment you don’t know how to respond, you’re still not entirely used to seeing the softer, sincere side of him. “I see why you would think that, but I don’t want you to suffer. Let me take care of you, any way I can. That’s what I’m here for. Well, that and teaching you to be less of a stubborn arse it would seem.” 

“Stop, you’re being entirely too sweet to me. It’s going to ruin my reputation around camp.” You let him have his moment of deflection and wait until he makes a frustrated noise. “But I can’t say I don’t want to.” 

“Take what you need love,” you reach up to undo your collar and pull the blanket more securely around the two of you for privacy. A part of you considers moving to the tent, but you’re worried he’d use the opportunity to try to put it off more.

With a soft sigh, his lips press to your neck in a delicate kiss, teeth piercing your skin moments later. Pain and ecstasy course through you as you hold back a sigh. The two of you become one in that instant, bound through blood to the singular beating heart you now share, intimacy unparalleled. While he drinks, you fight to stay lucid enough to whisper to him of love and comfort, reassuring him that needing this from you is no sin. You feel your own warmth traveling into his skin, and you watch it take on a blush of life. 

Before your world turns hazy, he pulls away, licking you clean, and returning his head to your chest, content to be held tightly. "I didn't take too much, did I?"

"No, you were perfectly careful dearest." The words bring a small smile to his lips, praise so new an experience for him, he hardly knows how to handle it. But you know he craves it, especially from you, and it makes you want to lavish it on him. 

The others have vanished, a small part of you worries they noticed and were uncomfortable, but you hope they would understand as your friends. You two should join them soon, Baldur's Gate awaits, with a journey there still ahead. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.” 

“A few more minutes love,” somehow he manages to snuggle tighter against you, “I did miss this.”

“Me too, don’t wait so long next time. I’m always here for you.” 

“There you go, being too nice to me again, silly girl.” Sitting up a bit he kisses you, fiercely, lips crashing together bruisingly, hands reaching to tangle in your hair, like a first and a last kiss all bound up in one and it leaves you gasping when he’s done. It’s as though he’s trying to express everything he feels in that one kiss. “I might get used to it if you’re not careful.” 

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #baldur's gate 3 fanfic #astarion #astarion x reader #astarion x f!reader #my fanfiction #my writing

[wheretheharekissesthefox]

The sight of spring

Karlach and Wyll announce their wedding and pregnancy. The rest of their merry little bunch starts wondering about marrying. Conversations (and sex) occur.

(Trigger warning (18+): graphic description of sex, smut, body worship, consensual blood drinking, fellatio, frottage, foreplay (lots of it), gentle sex, ear kink (kinda), fluff, the feels, character study)

Notes:

To avoid confusion: In one of my other fanfics Halsin and Tav had named the owlbear cup Naïlo, which means 'night breeze' in the Elven language.

I used official D&D/Forgotten Realms maps to pinpoint the locations of Gale's tower house. The maps can be found here, here, and here.

The house number is based on the release date of Baldur's Gate 3 (3rd of August).

Karlach's & Wyll's faith is based on this fic.

Three other fics (Tav's gift, Tav's sex parade - Chapter 12: Mate me, mark me, make me yours, Magic Touch) are mentioned.

I have the 'elves have sensitive ears and it's a kinky thing' headcanon/brainrot since the game came out. Obviously, I had to do something about it :D

The Selûnite ritual's based on old Walpurgis Night/May Day (the night of 30 April and the day of 1 May) traditions.

It wasn't the eager knocking at the front door that woke her up but Scratch's barking, Naïlo's hooting, and Tara's persistent shouting.

"Miss Ta-hav! It's the mail boy!"

"I'm coming!" grumbled the bard and emerged from the bedroom, half-asleep and in her nightgown.

She'd returned in the early morning hours from her performance at a wedding, and had only slept for three hours so far.

Grumpily, she opened the door and was face to face with a too cheery mail boy in his teens.

"Good morning, saer!" he exclaimed loudly, smiling brightly. "I have a letter for Coin Alley 38, Mister Ancunin, Mister Dekarios, Miss Hallowleaf, and Miss Sionnach."

"That's us," grumbled the bard.

"Here. Have a lovely day, saer!" the boy shouted, handed her the letter, and ran off.

Tav closed the door and made her way to the kitchen, followed by the animals. Yawning, she started brewing some lavender tea and stole one of Gale's freshly-baked raisin milk bread rolls. He wouldn't notice, hopefully. The bard sat down, bread between her teeth, and opened the letter. Impatiently, Tara hopped up onto the chair next to Tav, trying to get a good look at the expensive paper.

"Who's it from?" she asked curiously.

"Karlach and Wyll," Tav answered surprised, then, she started to read out loud.

"Hey soldiers friends,

We have some exciting news to share. The renovations and expansion of our new home are finished and we've started decorating (Wyll wants it to be 'tasteful', whatever that means).

We'd be fucking happy incredibly excited (Wyll chose these words. Calling it 'more dignified') if you'd come over next Saturday at noon for lunch.

Wyll insists on not telling you the other news yet, but I'm way too happy to wait any longer: I'm pregnant! Soon, there will be a little Karlach or a little Wyll running 'round in the lodge mansion lodge (we must call it a 'mansion' now for some reason). All the fancy women warned me about the nausea and tiredness, but I'm fit as a fiddle! Maybe, that's a tiefling thing, I don't know.

Also: our wedding will be held during the summer solstice!

(I probably won't fit in the dress we already bought, but who cares.)

Anyway, we're looking forward to see you all next Saturday. Please bring Scratch, Naïlo, and Tara along, I miss them!

Soldier out Sincerely With all our love,

Karlach Cliffgate & Wyll Ravengard

(Sunshine insisted on putting the family names there as if you folks don't remember who we are. Silly.)"

Tav chuckled at the obvious banter the soon-to-be-wedded couple had during the writing process.

"How lovely to invite us all," Tara remarked, visibly pleased. "Miss Cliffgate’s rather smart."

"She is," snickered the bard and scratched the tressym's chin.

"They'll marry during the solstice? How lovely," Gale said, stirring the sauce pot.

"Well, darling, I'm already married," Astarion joked, wiggling his elegant fingers.

The Ring of the Sun-Walker, which granted him the ability to withstand the sunlight, glinted on his middle finger.

"Oh, my dearest husband," Tav giggled and kissed his knuckles.

Gale cleared his throat and stirred the pot more vigorously. The bard and the vampire spawn looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

"My, my," the latter warbled, moved over, and wrapped an arm around Gale's waist. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say our wizard's jealous."

"I'm not," the addressed answered too quickly. "I'm perfectly happy with our arrangement. Don't project."

"I'd never, darling," Astarion purred and licked Gale's earlobe, playing with the jewellery dangling from it. The wizard shuddered and goosebumps spread over his arms.

"I just thought you might want to be married to Tav too. – And maybe even to me."

The wooden spoon slipped from Gale's hand and plopped into the basil sauce. His eyes were wide in shock when he looked at the vampire spawn, his heart hammering in his chest.

"Asta-"

The wizard was silenced with a kiss and his legs almost gave out when he felt Astarion's sharp fangs dragging over his lips.

"I mean it," the vampire spawn whispered. "One word, darling, and we'll marry you."

"Oh."

Gale was grateful for Astarion's and Tav's strength when his legs truly gave out. His two lovers held him up between them. The vampire spawn devoured the wizard's mouth while the bard kissed his neck. Even though distracted, Gale made a hand gesture to move the pots from the fire. It would have been a shame if their dinner would have burned.

"Oh, hello. What a lovely sight. What's the occasion?" Shadowheart asked amused as she waltzed into the kitchen.

"Karlach and Wyll will marry during the solstice and Gale's jealous because I'm already married to Tav." Astarion outstretched his hand as an explanation. "Thus, we offered to marry him too."

The cleric raised an eyebrow.

"We? In terms of 'the both of you'?"

"Exactly."

"Aww, how cute," Shadowheart giggled. Then, she sniffed. "Mmh, basil sauce. Good, I'm starving. Move, lovebirds."

She wiggled her way in next to Tav and slightly pushed her away to reach the stove. In a practiced movement, she sieved the noodles and plopped them into the sauce, stirring carefully to not create a mush. Completely unbothered by Astarion's, Gale's, and Tav's passionate make out session, the cleric tried the sauce, nodded, and added a bit more salt and pepper.

"Come on, dinner's ready. I'm starving."

The others finally moved apart and Shadowheart handed them their filled plates. They sat down at the table and ate while discussing the topic of their friends' wedding.

Shadowheart was enjoying her bubble bath when Tav entered the room.

"Can I talk to you, love?" the bard asked, looking troubled.

"Of course. What's on your mind?" the cleric replied curiously.

Her lover moved closer, rolled up her sleeves, and took the washcloth. Happily, Shadowheart turned around to let her wash her back. Tav was always so gentle and mindful. For a while, the bard stayed silent, then she said: "About the thing in the kitchen... You know I love you all equally, right?"

"Right," nodded Shadowheart, slightly confused about the direction of their conversation.

"I... hm... Astarion's just joking around. I'd never marry anyone without asking for your blessing first. You're as important to me as the guys, I hope you know that."

"Of course, I do!" Shadowheart turned around in the tub to look at Tav who seemed miserable.

"I don't want to prioritise anyone and I haven't been a very attentive partner to you the last couple of weeks. I'm sorry."

"Tav, lover mine." The cleric placed a hand on the bard's cheek. "Astarion wears your ring and you wear Halsin's bite mark. In a way, you're already married to them. If you go along and wed Gale in a more traditional way, that's fine with me. Personally, I don't need such a ceremony to see you as my spouse. – But... if you'd ask..." She bit her lip before continuing. "There's a Selûnite ritual, called 'The Intertwinement of Hearts' which's a celebration between lovers. It's... well, it's basically a wedding."

Tav smiled, stroking her knuckles.

"And you'd love to participate in said ritual? With me?"

Shadowheart nodded, blushing slightly.

"I'd love to do that with you, yes."

"Then, it's done," the bard told her. "I'll talk with the others and it'll be arranged. Yeah?"

"Yes."

Tav kissed her gently and they rested their foreheads together.

"Let's get married," Shadowheart said with a giggle, slightly teary-eyed.

"Mmh, let our hearts intertwine," the bard smiled.

"You're aware that 'The Intertwinement of Hearts' is a wedding ritual?" Gale asked her, looking incredulous.

Tav nodded.

"I am, yes. That's why I'm asking for your and Astarion's blessing."

"Well... you're already mine," said Astarion and winked at her.

"I, of course, won't hold you back, but you're aware that marriage comes with responsibilities, right?"

"Yes, and are you aware that neither Astarion nor I were joking when we told you we'd marry you?"

Gale almost choked on his tea.

"You... uhm... you would?"

"Yes," Astarion and Tav answered in unison, then grinned at each other.

The wizard turned crimson.

"It would be an honour. I mean it's not that we have to marry, no pressure, but uhm…"

"But you really want to marry us," Tav interrupted him.

Gale nodded hesitantly, still flushed.

"Oh, darling! You're such a romantic."

The vampire spawn wrapped his arms around the wizard and kissed him tenderly. Gale melted into his touch and traced Astarion's jawline before stroking his pointed ear. The elf moaned and shuddered at the intimate touch.

"Your ears are rather sensitive," Gale whispered. "I read up on Elven culture and history and found some interesting paragraphs about the different ways of showing affection and intimacy. And there was an especially... hmm... 'stimulating' chapter that piqued my interest. Some rather curious methods... and I'd like to try them."

"Yes," Astarion panted, licking deeper into his lover's mouth. Gods, he was as hard as an iron rod. Gale was able to bring out a specific part of Astarion's sexual arousal that not even Tav managed to reach.

"We leave you the bedroom and sleep in your study. Goodnight, loves," warbled Tav and vanished with a snickering Shadowheart in tow.

Gale wanted to protest, but Astarion's mouth was rather distracting.

"My room," the vampire spawn panted. "More privacy, more soundproof. Come on."

He grabbed onto Gale's robe and ushered him downstairs. After closing the door, he started to free the wizard from his clothes. Gale shivered and resisted the urge to cover himself up.

"Look at you, darling. So gorgeous," Astarion all but growled and dropped to his knees.

He mouthed and licked at Gale's erection before swallowing it down. The wizard gasped at the coolth of his lover's body and ran his hands through the silver-white curls.

"Actually, I wanted to try things out on you," he groaned. "You have to stop or I'll come."

"Then come," Astarion rasped and took him back into his mouth.

The wizard let out a high-pitched sound, threw his head back and climaxed, spilling down his lover's throat. The vampire spawn swallowed it all and moaned at the slightly sweet taste. Tentatively, he got up and asked: "What did you have in mind, darling?"

Gale looked at him, dazed and panting. His pulse roared and jumped under his skin. It made Astarion lick his lips hungrily. A rivulet of sweat ran down the wizard's neck and the vampire spawn leaned in to lick it off.

"What interesting things did you read in those books, Gale? Tell me."

"I - I prefer to show you," the addressed replied.

Still slightly drunk on his orgasm, the wizard led Astarion to the bed and the latter stripped and lay down gracefully. With one leg propped up, the vampire spawn ran a hand down the front of his entire body, smiling lasciviously.

"Right," Gale said, more to himself than anyone else. He kneeled onto the bed next to Astarion. "For the thing I'd like to try you can either keep lying down or sit in my lap. The choice is yours."

The addressed thought about it for a second.

"Your lap seems rather comfortable, darling."

Thus, Gale leaned against the headboard and Astarion straddled him, grinding down on him on purpose.

"Stop wiggling and we can begin," the wizard told him.

The vampire spawn stilled immediately. Whatever his lover had planned to give him, he wanted it. Badly. Carefully, Gale took Astarion's face between his hands, stroking his jawbone and neck.

"If the literature's correct, and I'm sure it is, elves know many ways to show love and affection to their lovers. One of them, involves your particularly sensitive ears." As a demonstration, Gale ran his middle finger up the shell of Astarion's ear and the latter shuddered, barely suppressing a moan. "Elf ears are much more delicate to the touch. An erogenous zone, they say. That's funny since some humans think the same way about their own ears, and thinking that elf ears are even more sensitive... I can only imagine how it must feel like for you to be touched there."

Gale took Astarion's ears between his fingers and gently rolled them between them. The vampire spawn mewled and closed his eyes, grinding his hips down.

"Look at you," the wizard muttered, mirroring Astarion's own words. He slid his nimble fingers up higher and slightly pinched the pointed ends. Astarion moaned, mouth falling open without his consent.

"Truly a peculiar evolution of your race. You asked about the especially saucy paragraphs... well... It says that elves can reach their high by merely having their ears touched. That's why, back in the ugly old days, humans punished elves by publicly getting them off via their ears and after reaching their peak, they cut the tips of the elves' ears off. A truly barbaric, gruesome act I might add."

"Get... to the point... Gale," Astarion panted.

"I want to test said theory, dear," the wizard replied and the vampire spawn's breath hitched. "Let's see, shall we?"

Gale continued to caress Astarion's ears with his fingers. Gently, almost a ghostly touch.

"I found instructions," the wizard revealed. "There are multiple ways to stimulate your ears: hands, mouth, tongue. Even feet and genitals. There was a story of an Elven prostitute, notoriously know for climaxing by simply having air blown onto his ears. - Can you do that too, Astarion? Are you able to come that way?"

"I... don't... know," the addressed moaned. "I never - ah! There was always - ngh - more involved than just - just my ears."

"I see. Would you like to try?"

"Yes! Gods, yes!"

The wizard hummed pleased. He caressed Astarion's ears one last time before pulling his hands away and his lover closer to him. Now, he leaned forward and licked the vampire spawn's earlobe. The latter groaned.

"It's the combination that excites you, isn't it?" whispered Gale. "The sensitivity combined with the heat of my body."

"Yes," Astarion moaned, tightening his grip in his lover's hair.

The wizard dragged his tongue upwards, along the shell, ending with a little flick at the top. Meanwhile, he continued to caress the other ear with his fingers. The vampire spawn trembled, panted, and moaned. It felt like torture. Bittersweet, addictive torture. Gale repeated the motion and then, he sucked the ear between his teeth, grazing it gently. Astarion whined, bucking his hips up. Gods, he was going to die. He sobbed.

"Gale... please..."

The addressed released his ear and the vampire spawn felt tears prick in his eyes. He sobbed again. And then, Gale stuck his hot, wet tongue into his ear canal. Astarion cried out and came so hard he blacked out for a second. When he regained consciousness, his lover still traced the inside of his auricle, dipping into the canal once in a while. Astarion moaned and finally swallowed again, realising he'd drooled all over himself and Gale.

"As expected, the literature's correct and precise," noted the latter. "Are you still with me, Astarion?"

"Yes," the addressed groaned.

"Can I try something else, or do you want to stop?"

"Go on. Please."

"It might be better if you'd lie down for this one. You seem rather wobbly."

"That's your doing, darling," Astarion told him.

Gale chuckled, helped his lover to get comfortable, and lay down next to him. He leaned over the vampire spawn, looking sincerely.

"I'll make it good for you," he promised.

"You already did," mumbled the addressed.

"That's a relief," the wizard told him and kissed his forehead. "I remember how much you enjoyed it when my breath ghosted over your ear while I touched you and the mage hand pleasured you. I want to do it again and see if it alone is enough to bestow you with a release."

Gale placed a hand on Astarion's chest as he scooted upwards to lick his ear again. The vampire spawn shivered and his spent member twitch in interest. Carefully, the wizard wetted the entire shell of the ear before gently blowing on it. The vampire spawn trembled and moaned. The feeling was almost too intense. Gale did it again, his other hand sliding upwards to touch his other ear. Astarion's eyes rolled back in his head when the wizard rubbed the tip of his left ear between his fingers and sucked the right one into his mouth. Gale's touch was so hot on Astarion's cold, undead skin, and the latter thought he'd explode. Moaning, he gripped the bedsheets to hold onto something at least.

"What interesting reactions," Gale murmured, deliberately breathing right against the vampire spawn's ear. "If I'd known earlier about this phenomenon, I'd have used it to show you affection without threatening you. It would have helped to make you more comfortable around us. Around me."

"I'm sorry," Astarion panted. "Under Cazador, my ears got neglected. People rarely touched them even when I seduced and bedded them. And touching them myself hasn't the same effect. It didn't even cross my mind to asked for it."

"I see... I'm sorry," Gale told him softly. "I'll touch them now as much as you want."

"Yes. Please!" the vampire spawn whine, desperate for it.

The wizard shushed him, caressing one ear and licking and blowing on the other. Astarion thought he was about to go mad and lose his mind. Gale stuck his tongue into his ear canal again before gently blowing on it. Astarion moaned, but it wasn't enough this time. The wizard, bless him, seemed to realised it too and kissed him while his fingers caressed, rubbed and slightly pinched his ears. Astarion's breath hitched, his ears rang, and he thrusted his hips upwards into the wizards thigh. He shook, exploded, his vision whitened, but he didn't ejaculate. The vampire spawn whimpered, utterly overstimulated and sensitive to any touch.

"How fascinating," Gale mumbled, tracing his lover's member. "It seems like you had a dry orgasm. It would be most interesting if we could –"

Astarion hissed and slapped the wizard's hand away.

"Don't touch me, I'm too sensitive. It - it hurts."

At that, Gale looked alarmed.

"It hurts? Where? Everywhere? Or only your –"

"Everywhere," the addressed groaned. "It feels like I'm on fire."

"Oh, that's not good. I haven't read enough about the effects of dry orgasms and overstimulation. Maybe I should ha-"

"Gale? Shut up, please," Astarion sighed and closed his eyes in exhaustion.

"Are you dizzy? Nauseous?"

"Gale..."

"Apologies, but I'm worried."

"I'm fine. Just give me a moment."

"As you wish."

Gale lay down next to his lover, cautious of not actually touching him. Astarion was grateful for it.

"I think I simply came so hard, my brain got fried," he muttered.

The wizard chuckled and carefully took his hand.

"Is that alright?"

The vampire spawn nodded and Gale just held his hand silently until his body functioned properly again. Then, Astarion pulled the wizard into a sloppy kiss.

"Thank you. It was amazing. I'm looking forward to the next time you find some interesting literature that needs testing to sate your curiosity."

"That's good to know because there's more," smiled Gale.

Astarion snickered and kissed him again.

"I can't wait for our wedding night and our honeymoon. You'll ruin me in so many delicious ways, I'm sure of it."

Gale blushed, flustered.

"Only if you're willing," he mumbled.

Astarion grinned widely, fangs glinting in the candlelight.

"Oh, darling, I'm very willing."

Astarion's presumptions turned out to be right. Gale made him come in some many ways and so many positions, he couldn't remember half of them. All the vampire spawn remembered was how Gale had payed extra attention to his ears, and how they'd made love, with their foreheads touching, their fingers interlaced, and the sinking sun as their witness.

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #fanfic #astarion #astarion ancunin #gale #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #karlach #karlach cliffgate #shadowheart #tav #wyll #wyll ravengard #mind the trigger warning #smut #character study #astarion x gale #they're in love your honor #Gale’s a well-read nerd #tara's an icon

[slusheeduck]

Fictober 2023 Day 10 - Prompt: "Honestly, why would I care?" Fandom: Baldur's Gate 3

“Well, there’s not much by way of food. Or supplies. Or weaponry. Or alcohol,” Wyll said as he and Astarion rummaged through the wrecked house’s library. “But we do have a lot of books. Gale will be thrilled.”

“Yes, and a fat lot of good it does the rest of us,” Astarion grumbled. “Maybe one of these is a secret lever, and we’ll get a door that leads to a fantastic wine cellar. Oh, or a torture chamber!”

“Maybe sound a bit less excited about that.” Wyll sighed. “Then again, given what we’ve seen so far, a torture chamber’s the more likely option.”

He did start tugging at book corners, waiting to feel one catch. There really were an obscene amount of books here. Beside him, Astarion delicately ran his fingertips over the spines, no doubt searching for a trap.

“The Importance of Impotence: Finding Pride In Childlessness, Query in the Quarry, An Owlbear’s Guide To Life…whoever lived here certainly had some strange tastes. Are you reading these titles?” Wyll asked.

Astarion clicked his tongue irritably as he stooped down. “Honestly, why would I care? Don’t make small talk, Wyll, it doesn’t suit you.”

Wyll shook his head. Well, he tried being nice—suppose being a monster hunter didn’t make one very popular with the monsters themselves. He resumed looking over the books, then paused. It couldn’t be. Could it? Here? Carefully, he pulled one book out.

“Oh my gods,” he murmured. “They have the new Drizzt Do’Urden biography.”

“Drizzt Do’Urden?” Astarion’s voice had gone up at least half an octave, and in an instant, the vampire was hovering over Wyll’s shoulder, cold hand gripping his arm. “Oh my gods, it is!”

Wyll looked at him, surprised. “You…know about Drizzt Do’Urden?”

“Know about him? I’m obsessed with him,” Astarion said, eyes bright. “Reading about him is what’s kept me sane for the better part of two centuries. He is literally everything one could want from a hero.” He looked up at Wyll. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised you like him.”

Wyll laughed. “I had my father read The Companions Codex every night I could for a year straight,” he said. “He’s why I started on this path. I dreamt of having adventures like his.”

“Everything all right?” Karlach poked her head into the library, and Wyll nodded as Astarion ducked around him to look at the book’s dust jacket.

“Yes, we’re fine. Just found the new Drizzt Do’Urden biography while pok—”

“Drizzt Do’Urden?” Karlach’s hands immediately went to squish her cheeks in excitement. “Oh, my mum used to tell me stories about him all the time!” She hurried over to look at the book. “Isn’t he the best? Sometimes, when things got really bad down in Avernus, I’d try and imagine I was one of his companions—y’know, fighting the good fight against all odds.”

“Wyll,” Astarion said, suddenly very serious. “I know you’re a good person. It’s frustrating, but typically manageable. But in this case, we need to take this book.”

“We really do, Wyll,” Karlach agreed.

Wyll looked it over, then glanced around. “Well…I mean, whoever owns this place probably isn’t coming back…” Karlach and Astarion nodded intently. “…and I bet it’ll be great for camp morale.”

“Then it’s settled. Back with us it goes.” Astarion paused, finger going to his lips as he looked between Wyll and Karlach. “One…problem. There’s only one copy, and three of us.”

All three looked between each other.

“Well…I’m probably out,” Karlach said after a moment, giving a sheepish smile as she holds up her hands. “I know I’ve cooled down a bit, but paper and fire? Not a great combination.”

Wyll looked down at the book for a moment, face tight. With a long sigh, he held it out to Astarion. “Here. You can read it first.”

Astarion took the book, an eager glint in his eye, but he glanced up at Wyll and Karlach. After a moment, he heaved out a sigh. “Well, now I look like an arsehole if I do take it.”

Wyll crossed his arms. “I don’t suppose there’s some way all three of us could read it at once? Like maybe…” He suddenly grinned. “I’ve got it.”

~

“But Regis looked to Drizzt and nodded, and Catti-brie did, too, and so the drow pulled out his onyx figurine and brought in the sixth member of the Companions of the Hall. All gathered, then, Regis and Wulfgar announced their plans, and Bruenor’s cry of dismay split the night and turned many nearby eyes their way…”

Wyll’s voice was steady and smooth as he read the book aloud. He, Astarion, and Karlach all sat together, backs to the fire, and hadn’t moved since they’d cracked it open, save for when Wyll passed the book to Astarion for his turns to read. Karlach, the three had decided, was just a little too much at risk for singing the pages.

Off to the other side of the fire, Lae’zel frowned as she crossed her arms, looking to Falerin—he was listening in, but not nearly so raptly.

“Who is this…Drizzt?” she asked. “Is it a holy text in this plane?”

Falerin stifled a laugh. “You would think it with them, wouldn’t you?” he whispered. “He’s an adventurer. Hero, really, in every sense of the word. There must be hundreds of books about him. I read a few when I was younger.”

“T’chk. They are contenting themselves with children’s stories, then,” Lae’zel scoffed. “If they wish to know true feats of bravery, then they should hear of how the immortal queen Vlaakith once st—”

“Shhh!!” Wyll, Astarion, and Karlach all snapped their heads around, fingers to their lips. Lae’zel, clearly caught off-guard, went quiet, and the three turned around to resume their reading.

“Wait until they finish. They’ll probably be through the whole thing by morning,” Falerin whispered.

Lae’zel looked over at him, then let out a little huff. “Very well. I will listen to these Drizzt stories. Perhaps there is something useful to glean, outside of magic cats and lavender eyes.”

Fictober 2023 Drabble Master Post

#fictober23 #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #astarion #wyll ravengard #karlach #OH MY GODS IT'S DRIZZT DO'URDEN #camp shenanigans #drabble

[3xm-draconic]

Token of Affection. (werebat cyris and astarion story.)

Summary: Midsummer is here and love is in the air. Cyris gets the perfect gift for Astarion.

The underdark was…less intimidating than Cyris thought it would be. Yes it was dark and yes it had a lot of scary critters skittering about it…but it was no more scarier to him than the sanguinewoods back home. At least they had all the mushrooms they could ever want.

Speaking of shrooms, he, Gale, Wyll and Roger were out looking for specific ones for a…well a mind flayer who did not want to eat their brains and even promised to help them find out more about their seemingly altered parasites.

They had come across a weird tower thing with mechanical contraptions and a mushroom-flower that ate magic, Cyris kept that thing away from Gale not because he thought Gale would eat it but because it might eat his magic and Gale already had to eat magic to survive anyhow.

Having two magic-eaters in one party was going to be a nightmare…

“So…I’ve been tracking the stars before coming here and by the tell of em’ we've been on this little adventure for about 3 weeks now” Roger deduced “and that marks us being adventuring buddies for 21 consecutive days”, Gale eyed him “what are you getting at exactly?”

Roger mumbled “I think it’s a holiday today…but I can’t remember…”, “it’s Midsummer Night!” Wyll joyfully said “a day of love, romance, merriment!”, Gale ginned “ah yes the Long-Night, a night to spend with your chosen partner in the fine weather, making merry in the warm afternoon…” Gale frowned “and yet we are here in the underdark…”

“What are some traditions you guys do at Midsummer? I usually just drink a bunch and eat chocolate” Roger shrugged, “I’d get my cat a little gift and make her a special breakfast” Gale smiled, “I’d usually just enjoy the sweets they make today  too” Wyll shrugged.

“In my village young couples would go out into the forest and “hunt” one another, usually it would end in a big picnic in the lavender meadow, it was like a giant game of hide-and-seek” Cyris smile…he could now fondly remember the nights he and his brothers would try and keep his sister Jezebel's boyfriend away from her by scarring the ever-loving shit out of him…ah good times.        

“Hold up” Cyris said, “what is it?” Gale asked him as he readied his staff, Cyris sniffed the air “minotaurs…”

At camp since Cyris was away it was up to Halsin and Astarion to cook, Allegra had bagged a Rothe for them to eat tonight.

“HEY!” Karlach suddenly leapt up from her seat at the fire “you know what today is?”, “...midsummer?” Allegra pondered as she butchered the Rothe, “EXACTLY!” Karlach screamed “IT'S THE LONG-NIGHT!” she beamed.

“The Long-Night!” Shadowheart smiled, “what’s going on?” Lae’zel grumbled “what is this “Long-Night?” should I be worried?”, Halsin chuckled “no, no Zelly the Long-Night is a time to celebrate the ones you love, a time to spend together under the stars in love” he assured her, Lae’zel pondered “is that not what I do with you all the time?”. 

Halsin blushed and chuckled “well today is a day to do it extra, Zelly” he smiled.

Allegra chuckled “what will we be doing then? I have a night of hunting the underdark for famous “menzoberranzan midnight dark rum” as gift for Rogger”, “I found a new book for Gale, it’s on rare alchemical tinctures, I’am sure he’ll either find it interesting or he’ll at least enjoy eating up it’s magic” Shadowheart chuckled, “I made Wyll an owlbear plush” Karlach smiled “I got inspired to make him one after adopting Lucy” she said as she petted her Owlbear cub.

“Is it customary to give gifts on this day? Very well, I will give Halsin a gift he will most enjoy” Lae’zel said as she walked into the underdark, “Zelly? What?...oh there she gose…I don’t know if I’am going to get the head of some beast tonight or what as a present now” Halsin laughed as he cut up potatoes.

“You got anything planned for Cyris, Astarion?” Karlach turned to him, “I…” Astarion had never really celebrated Midsummer…not before and certainly not after Cazador… “I don’t know…probably I’ll…treat him to a wonderful night of…pleaserful delights~” he purred. 

The whole camp nearly freaked out as they watched Cyris and Roger drag in an unconscious Gale and severely wounded Wyll, “FUCK WHAT HAPPENED?!” Karlach screamed “minotaurs…and then we fell down a hole…” Cyris grumbled as he pulled a broken shard of a war-axe out of his ribcage.

He whent into his tent to lay down.

Astarion followed him, he had never been in Cyris’s tent before...

It was messy…but in an organized-chaos sort of fashion, there were bottles of bourbon that had been turned into flower vases for lavender sprouts of several different species, a tiny hearth to warm himself by, black candles enchanted to give off pink colored light, pink bedspread, pink pillows…

“You really like pink” Astarion chuckled, “it’s my favorite color…well besides black” Cyris said as he relaxed on his bed surrounded by all the pastels, “black and pink…what an odd combo” Astarion hummed as he snuggled up next to him, “well…I like pink because it’s bright, soft and reminds me of strawberries and I like black because it’s dark, soothing and reminds me of the night…of the time when I use to feel…safe” he sighed “you got any favorite colors Starry?”. 

“Hmm…dark red, like a wine or rich sanguine…crimson, I like it because…it reminds me of…bleeding hearts, the flowers not actual hearts darling~” he chuckled “I know it sounds corny but I love bleeding hearts, Cazador has a garden full of them and at night I would…when I could…I would sneak away to be there among them, there is a special breed that grows at night and actually glows…gods the color…stunning” he hummed “I’am not really one for flowers, can’t make good poisons out of most of them, but those ones…they just…they seemed so pretty…”, “you would like the trees in my village” Cyris smiled “they are the kind of red you described…deep and…dark”.

“Red trees?” Astarion pondered, “huge ones, tall as giants, I remember finding a n abandoned house up in one once…it was spooky” he chuckled.

Astarion shifted on the bed and got closer to Cyris…he saw something on his bedside table…a shattered mirror? 

“What happened to your mirror darling~?”, “...I…” Cyris looked away from him “I…can’t look…at myself” he sighed “I can’t stand my reflection…everytime I see myself I…I…I see the monster Whimbly has created”.

Astarion gently cupped his face with his hand “Darling~ you have such a handsome face” he murmured as he kissed his cheek “despite all the scars…you are gorgeous”.

Cyris smiled “your pretty good looking yourself”, Astarion sighed “I’ll have to take your word on that…I haven’t seen my face in 200 years, I can’t even remember to color of my original eyes…my face is just another shadow in my past…another thing he took from me”.

Cyris frowned…but then smirked.

“No…he hasn’t” he grinned triumphantly “I’am not going to let him~”.

Cyris sat in front of Astarion “Hold still”, “darling what?..”, “I need you to be still, If you squirm around I can’t match all your details”, “well just are you doing?” Astarion huffed.

“I learned a few spells while I lived at the den, one of which was “disguise self and alter self”, I…uh…used them for…well…” a cheeky grin danced on his lips “now…be…still.”

Astarion watched…

Cyris’s form shifted…

His dark skin paled, his hair shortened and curled, his ears became pointy…

Astarion gasped at the visage before him…the handsome high-elf with a sweet devious dimpled smile and sharp…yet curious eyes.

“Is…this really…me?” He murmured as he reached out to touch his…Cyris…the image's face.  

“Like what you see?” he said, not coyly, not seductively…a simple question.

Astarion gazed at the face…his face…

He smiled…

“I could kiss myself” he chuckled, Cyris leaned in as him and kissed him, Astarion never knew he had such…soft lips.

“w-wow…I-” Astarion’s face felt hot, “Anything else you’d like you to to?” Cyris…he..smirked.

Astarion smiled “I’d very much like another kiss darling me~”.

After dinner Astarion saw everybody all happy together.

Gale and Shadowheart were off by the underground river, Karlach and Wyll danced together, Roger and Allegra sang sea shanties, Halsin and Lae’zel curled up together by the fire with their gifts Lae’zel had carved him a little bear totem out of a piece of bone. 

Despite making hot, raucous love together…well technically with himself… Astarion felt…well like he didn’t do anything for Cyris.

Cyris had given him the gift of seeing his face again…what could he give him in return?

Astarion snuck out of camp while Cyris slept and the others were busy…he wanted to get Cyris the perfect gift…

He was careful and discreet…no one saw him as he creeped through the duergar camp, he knew that had something there Cyris would like, he could smell it.

“Throw out what ain’t useful lads” their captain bellowed, Astarion watched as one of the deep dwarves threw out a bundle of plants, in that bundle was exactly what he was looking for.

Pink Lavender.

It was a type Cyris did not have and it was his favorite color, it was perfect, now all he needed was to…

“HOLD IT!” one of the guards yelled, “Shit…” Astarion mumbled.

Astarion grabbed the flowers and made a mad dash out of the camp like an absolute lunatic…

They chased him to the edge of a rift, Astarion panicked “shit, shit, shit!” he focused maybe he could mist his way…

POOF

His vision swirls and then…

 “Oh…this…this will work…”

Cyris got up, he looked around for Astarion but he was nowhere to be found, Cyris’s heart raced “GUYS WHERE’S STARLIGHT!?” he panicked.  

(chirp)

Cyris looked around, there was a stage squeaking sound, like a bat’s…

(CHIRP!)

Cyris saw it, a tinny pure white bat hopping towards him, it looked like it was trying to fly…poor thing…was it hurt?

“Hey little buddy…you ok?” he cooed softly to it as he scooped it up in his hands. It had something in its mouth…a…flower?

(chirp, chirp, chirp!)

The little ghost bat chittered…then…

POOF

“OOF!” The bat turned into Astarion, he fell into Cyris’s arms “haha…eh, eh hem, hello darling~” he laughed “I…I got you a little something” he gave Cyris the flower he had nearly swallowed.

Cyris looked at it…and started crying…

“D-Darling~?! What, what's wrong!?”, “this…this type of lavender…it grows in my village…” he sobbed “how…how?” he pulled Astarion into a hug “t-thank you”.

Astarion smiled “your welcome sunshine.”

#dnd #dnd character #werebat #baldur's gate 3 #soft astarion #astarion x oc #baldurs gate astarion #batstarion #karlach x wyll #shadowheart x gale #lae'zel x halsin #fluff and romance #fluff #romance #mildly nsft #oc #dungeons and dragons #astarion being kind of cute

[divineslcyer]

Semi-Plotted Starter @dxnse-macabre

Late in the night, Mishil found herself unable to sleep--her dreams have proven tedious. No, not dreams, Nightmares. Recently since the fire in the inn, since saving Counselor Benryn and Florrick, she kept dreaming of fires.

Smoke and ash still lingered on her tongue. She would wake up with Scratch curled on one side and Ram, the owlbear recently rescued, beside him. She would see visions of pale hair, maybe silver? A strong grip on her arm, and insistence to run--who was telling her to run?

It's been more than thirty years since her parents were murdered and her home burned to ash. Her mother was an herbalist, talented with medicine and often would patch up her fathers' wounds. She sold medicine in Baldur's Gate, but her father.. Her father was a monster hunter. Proud and capable. Strong..

It's been so long since she'd permitted herself to remember them---what were they're faces like? Mishil couldn't remember. She had quietly left her bedroll, mindful of her animal companions and made her way to the creek. Kneeling down, she splashed her face with the water and swept her fringe back. She sighed, gazing up to the night sky, the moon waning away and near its darkest form. It was the same that fateful night too wasn't it?

❝ Blast...❞ She grumbled, leaning back on her haunches. Mishil would rather have dream of the spiders they'd fought earlier in the day than fire. She still had the Necromancy of Thay in her bag, and wondered if perhaps that malicious book was also affecting her sleep... ❝ Get a grip... ❞ In habit, she reached for her pendant, pulling it from her dark tank top, thumb tracing over the rose-crest. The same tattooed on her neck.

#✝ ⌈ verse ⏌ ― baldurs gate 3 #✝ ⌈ in character ⏌ ― threads #dxnse-macabre #here we go~

[blueskyscribe]

wip ask game

Rules: post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descript or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it!

I couldn't possibly post them all, but here's a selection. (I've skipped WIPs that are on AO3 because those just have their actual titles as the names.)

Cat Nap

Young KO in Trouble for Drawing Cars

Scary Stories to Tailgate in the Dark

Ratchet and KO

For You, Dear Reader

Exit, Pursued by an Owlbear

Upon Reflection

Starscream secret santa

Self Portrait with (a) Little Love

Excerpt of "Starscream secret santa":

(I have no memory of why that is the title?? Anyway, this WIP eventually morphed into An Odd Assortment of Plumes.)

"I, Starscream, protector of our shining towers, luminary of our living city, who have devoted my spark and my wings to the prosperity of Vos, ask your cooperation in this matter."

"No," said Skywarp, shoving the entire handful of energon goodies into his mouth.

Starscream discarded his haughty demeanor in favor of scowling openly at his black and purple doppelganger, whose cheeks were so full that he could barely close his mouth.  "You are disgusting."

"Uhhh?" Skywarp rolled the mass of compressed, sweetened energon balls from one side of his mouth to the other.  Two fell out, and rolled stickily across the table.  "'Ou still 'ant one?"

"Churl," Starscream sniffed, stalking away. 

"'hurl," Skywarp mocked his back.  Starscream shuddered as he heard the splat-splat of the energon treats being spat out, one at a time.

"Well, now they're no good to either of us!" Starscream threw his arms in the air as he spun.  "So what was the point?"

"Pissed you off."  Skywarp grinned as he plucked out the last treat, caught behind his dental plate, with long elegant talons.  Or they should have been elegant.  They were identical to Starscream's, after all.  But on Skywarp they gave the impression of being perpetually ready to flip into a rude gesture.

Which was, to be fair, absolutely accurate.

Grumbling, Starscream stomped to the corner of the parlor, grabbed the silver wastebin, stomped back, and swept the ruined treats off the table.  This was peon's work, but he was so underappreciated by the churls in the palace that he didn't have a single servant dedicated to his well-being, not one. (But someday, someday--!)  And Skywarp clearly wasn't going to help.

Indeed, Skywarp wandered away to the east balcony, flopping so that his body was bent almost double over the railing.  "I'm bored."

"So take a flight," Starscream snapped.

Skywarp's wings seesawed.  Otherwise he didn't move.  "Don't wanna.  When's your next meeting?"

Starscream checked his chronometer.  "Ten minutes.  Public Arts Commission."

"Urrrrgh."  Skywarp rolled off the railing--onto the balcony, thankfully--to flop dramatically on the floor.  "You ruined my energon goodies."

The injustice of this statement was too much for Starscream to bear.  He grabbed his datapad and stormed out of the room.

#Transformers #WIP meme #fanfiction #TFP #Skywarp #Starscream #wip

[crankyoldmage]

Some writing prompts I did.

On one of the Discord servers I'm in for TTRPGS (streamed here: twitch.com/neonlichstudios) there are writing prompts for characters. Here are the three I have written so far. Short background: Belgrim Demanna is the "official" name of CrankyOldMage. I often used the name in video game rpgs. Now here are my stories.

NUMBER 1- Prompt: You are a reluctant hero who must seek out an enigmatic book known as the Whispering Tome. It is said to hold the secrets of Arcanum's resurrection. The book has been hidden away for centuries, guarded by a clandestine group of mystics. You track down their hidden enclave and must convince them to entrust you with the Whispering Tome. How do you approach the mystics to earn their trust?

The last survivor of the mystics would only rock back and forth and whisper, "So much fire."

Later, at the Arcane Council, Belgrim Demanna kicked the door to the council chamber open.

"'Sup, Bitches."

The Whipsering Tome hit the table with an echoing thud.

"Here's your book. Pay me."

The councilors shifted uncomfortably in their chairs.

"Master Demanna, " Councilor Milren began, hesitantly. "How many fireballs did you cast to get this?"

Belgrim grinned.

"You can ask the last survivor when he stops crying."

Councilor Milren silently passed a coin pouch to Councilor Beton. Then she silently passed a larger pouch to Belgrim. "Thank you, Councilor." Belgrim said taking the pouch. "Until next time."

"I'm not sure we'll need your, uh, services, again, Master Demanna," Councilor Beton grumbled.

"That's what you said last time," Belgrim grinned and left the council chambers.

NUMBER 2-Prompt: Peer into the depths of their heart and reveal their greatest fear. Is it a tangible threat, a paralyzing doubt, or a haunting memory that gnaws at their sanity?

Belgrim Demanna woke with a gasp. He hated portentous dreams. Of course, this one might not be portentous. It could’ve been just a regular dream...or nightmare. But, when you’re a mage you can never be sure.

He through off the blankets, shoved his feet into his slippers, wrapped his cloak around his pajamas and launched himself out the door of his modest cottage. His slippers squelched only a couple of times in the early morning dew on the forest trail. In only a few minutes he reached his destination.

Before him stood a large granite boulder. It towered above him and was covered in several scorch marks. He pointed his finger at the boulder, sweat sheened on his brow, he focused and...he was rewarded with the dazzling flash of a fireball. The flames hugged the boulder leaving behind another, new scorch mark.

Belgrim sighed in relief.

“Just a stupid damn dream.” He pulled his cloak snug around his shoulders and went back to his cottage.

“A couple more hours of sleep are called for, I think.”

NUMBER 3-Prompt:Within the vast tapestry of virtues and vices, what inner conflict plagues their spirit? Is it a struggle for power, a battle against their own desires, or a clash between duty and personal freedom?

Belgrim sighed. He got up from his chair for the third time and paced his small cottage, the floorboards creaking softly beneath his feet. He decided to step outside and walk the garden. Perhaps the sunshine, fresh air and blooming plants would help settle the conflict within. It didn’t. He sighed again and continued to walk into the woods.

It was a peaceful walk into the sylvan lands. There were lots of animals going about their lives and Belgrim smiled happily at them. Deer were eating fresh shoots off the trees, raccoons were washing their berries and clams in the stream and even his favorite owlbear showed off her new cub. The little one really took to scritches on the top of his head. But, pleasant as that was, it didn’t help Belgrim make his decision.

He heaved one final sigh and ambled back to his cottage. There was no more putting it off. He just needed to decide and take action. He grabbed his supplies and set to work.

“Pancakes it is.”

#wizardcore #wizard

[owlbear33]

actually no I'm not done, the problem with running a necromancer or other character with a great number of minions in dnd or another tactical strategy ttrpg is that sort of RPG, the combat is basically I skirmish wargame, it's just that one side (the gm) controls a whole Warband, and the other side (the players) are collaboratively controlling the other, each player controlling a single combatant, maybe 2 or 3, if the character has a pet, or a hireling or like single summons, and that's fine,

the problem is that when a minion controller character goes "Wait no, I want to controll a whole Warband" it totally unbalances things

and the way to fix that is to move away from games that treat combat as a tactical war game at least a bit or give every player a small warband or at least the option of having a small warband

#owlbear grumbling #ttrpg design

[crumblytoast]

Yellowjacket was tired, he'd been walking for a bit now and his old tum tum was grumbling so hard he thought it was an owlbear sneaking up on him! Sitting down by a lovely little pond, he heard the strangest of noises... ______________________________________ #dndminiatures #drawing #dicegoblin #nerd #dicecollection #miniaturepainting #gaming #diceset #characterdesign #geek #dungeons #dndcosplay #rpgdice #oc #handmadedice #artistsoninstagram #artist #resindice #dragons #sketch #boardgames #roleplayinggame #dndminis #criticalrolecosplay #roleplaying #dandd #diceaddict #theadventurezone #painting #k https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca9zOBouvdU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#dndminiatures #drawing #dicegoblin #nerd #dicecollection #miniaturepainting #gaming #diceset #characterdesign #geek #dungeons #dndcosplay #rpgdice #oc #handmadedice #artistsoninstagram #artist #resindice #dragons #sketch #boardgames #roleplayinggame #dndminis #criticalrolecosplay #roleplaying #dandd #diceaddict #theadventurezone #painting #k

[beautifulduckweed]

Pride Month Love Story #15: Going (for the) Rogue

See the original tweets here: https://twitter.com/gleebags/status/1542465110697881600

Piri slumped in the corner of the booth at the tavern, frowning into the distance. Curled around his feet, snoring lightly, was his panther companion, Blot.

Javik returned, his plate armor clanking slightly, each hand carrying two tankards. Imrash was hard on his heels with more tankards, cleric's robes dragging slightly on the grubby tavern floor. She didn't appear to notice; orcs generally didn't care about a bit of stickiness.

Javik thumped two tankards in front of Piri and hopped up onto the bench next to him. Piri picked up a tankard, leaned forward, and clanked it against Javik's, then Imrash's.

"To a mission well accomplished," rumbled Javik.

They other two gave a small cheer and took a drink.

"And to Azar, off scouting our next job," said Piri, holding up his tankard.

Javik and Imrash clanked their mugs to Piri's and drank to that, too. Javik wiped the foam off his beard, gave Piri a sharp look, and said, "So, when you going to ask her out, eh?"

Piri turned bright pink and almost dropped his drink. "What?" he exclaimed.

Imrash glared at Javik; Piri heard a muffled thunk that was probably her kicking Javik's greaved shin. Javik ignored her and waved his tankard.

"Look, you've been mooning after Azar for years, and there's only so many lovesick glances a dwarf can take."

Piri gasped.

"I do not shoot lovesick glances at Azar!" said Piri, aghast.

Imrash cleared her throat. Piri looked at her pleadingly. She shook her head and shrugged.

"Sorry, Piri," she said, "You kinda do."

Piri crumpled, thunking his forehead onto the table. "Oh, no," he wailed.

"I don't see the problem here," grumbled Javik. "You go up to Azar, you say, 'Hey, want to go out,' simple."

Piri raised his head and glared. "It's not that simple! Azar is so hot. What would she want with a weird-looking guy like me?"

"You're not that weird," said Javik.

Piri glared. "I'm serious,"said Javik. "You know. You both have, um. Pointy ears!"

"I'm an elf," said Piri slowly. "She's a goblin. Of course we have pointy ears."

"You have loads in common," continued Javik gamely. "You're both good at killing bad guys."

"Yeah, well, so are you, and you're not proposing that I ask you out," said Piri. "We all are!"

"Speak for yourself," said Imrash. "I almost never kill anyone."

"Yeah, whatever, you heal us," said Piri, pointing a finger, "and that makes you complicit. Never forget that."

"Azar winks at you," Javik soldiered on doggedly. "All the time. That's a good sign, right?"

"She winks at everyone! She's a rogue! I think they teach that the first day at rogue school, how to wink at everyone and make 'em lose their minds."

"Make who lose their minds?"

Three heads swiveled as one towards the cheerful voice, and sure enough, Azar stood not three feet away.

"Az!" Piri squeaked. "That was quick."

"Ah well, you know me," said Azar, "can't bear to be away from you for too long." And she winked.

Piri quietly lost his mind.

Javik looked meaningfully at Piri. Imrash rolled her eyes and looked to be praying to her God for strength. Piri opened his mouth, and found himself saying, "Would you like this ale? I haven't touched it yet."

"I would love an ale," said Azar, beaming. Piri tried not to melt.

Still, Javik's idea took root in Piri's mind. Over the next few months, he tried to gather his courage and ask Azar out, waiting for a quiet or opportune moment before popping the question.

Unfortunately, every time he tried, something would happen.

The first time, a disoriented owlbear crashed into camp. By the time they'd chased it off, the mood was completely ruined.

The next time he tried, they were ambushed by a beholder just as he worked up the courage.

The list went on. Chased by a mimic. Surprise caustic slime. Mind-controlled crows. An animated tree. Assorted mooks, thugs, and henchmen. And, on one memorable occasion, a mind flayer.

Piri began to wonder if he were cursed. Perhaps the mismatch in hotness offended the gods themselves, he thought gloomily. Oh well. At least he had Blot.

And then it happened. Piri got hit. He wasn't even sure what by. He was normally so careful; one moment he was taking aim at a wizard who was menacing Javik, the next something hit him in the back, and he was thrown forward, his shoulder white-hot agony. Blot screamed.

Everything became a blur. He couldn't move; the sounds of fighting crashed and ebbed around him. He awaited a death blow that never arrived.

Endless moments after, hard, competent hands turned him over. Piri blinked. It was Azar, covered in blood, her face a worried snarl.

She had never looked so beautiful. Piri found that he could move after all; he reached out and took her hand.

"Azar," he said, "if we survive this crazy encounter, you want to go out with me sometime?"

Azar's eyes, the same gooseberry green as her skin, bulged.

"You fucking kidding me?" she said.

Piri's spirits fell. He knew it. "It's OK," he said. "You were always out of my league." His lips felt weird. Numb.

Azar looked more incredulous. "You fucking idiot," she said, "you're bleeding to death, and this is what you worry about?"

"Kinda, yeah," said Piri. "I've been trying to ask you out forever but things keep happening. And look, right now, nobody's bugging us."

OK, his lips were definitely numb. That was bad right?

Azar was saying something, but he couldn't hear her above the roaring in his ears.

Everything went dark.

###

When Piri woke up, it was in an unfamiliar bed. He blinked. His back felt terrible.

"About time you woke up," said a familiar voice. "You were beginning to worry Blot."

Piri turned his head. Azar was perched on a chair beside the bed, looking exhausted.

"Hi," he croaked.

And then he remembered what he'd said right before passing out, and wished that he had, in fact, died. He wondered if he could convince Imrash to pull the soul out of his body.

"You worried us sick," said Azar.

"Sorry," Piri mumbled.

Azar leaned over and took Piri's hand. "You sure have a way of asking a girl out."

Piri groaned. "I'm so sorry," he said. "Uh, please disregard it."

Azar looked at him sharply. "But what if I don't want to?"

Piri's heart leapt. "Oh?" he said.

Smooth, real smooth.

"Yeah. What if I want to take you up on that? The two of us. Dinner and a show."

Piri closed his eyes. "Yeah," he said. "I'd love that." He opened them and looked at Azar. "Uh, only if you really want to."

Azar rolled her eyes. "Of course, you idiot. Why else would I ask?"

"Dunno," said Piri. "Pity? Giving me a reason to live?"

"Ha!" said Azar. "Look, if the promise of a date will help you heal faster, that's a win as far as I'm concerned. So, consider: the sooner you get well, the sooner I can wine you and dine you." She winked.

Piri melted, and smiled, and resolved to heal as fast as he could.

- Fin -

(As has been frequently the case, thanks to @living-hel​ for being a muse and for throwing out fun ideas till one stuck.)

#pride month #queer love #queer love story #daily pride love stories #all rogues are disaster bisexuals i don't make the rules #dungeons and dungeons #i just wanted to write a socially awkward elf who's really into their hilariously flirtatious goblin co-adventurer OK

[wheretheharekissesthefox]

Tav’s sex parade – Chapter 8: Just in time for dinner (Astarion x Halsin)

(Warning: biting, consensual blood drinking, frottage, kissing)

To avoid confusion: In one of my other fanfic Halsin and Tav had named the owlbear cup Naïlo, which means 'night breeze' in the Elven language.)

Notes:

According to DnD lore, elves don't sleep, but rest in a meditative, trance-like state called reverie. You can see Astarion do exactly that in camp during a long rest when a sleep-around-the-campfire cutscene plays.

Karlach’s and Wyll’s faith and Tav’s promise to them are based on one of my other fics.

Irritated, Astarion paced his room in Gale's basement.

Tav was on a four-week trip across Northern Faerûn, performing her new songs in taverns, inns, and brothels. Gale had met up with some wizard friends of his former mentor Elminster to ask them for advice regarding their plan to get Karlach and Wyll out of Avernus. Meanwhile, Shadowheart had attended a temple celebration with other Selûne devotees. So, Astarion was home alone and not pleased about it at all.

Moodily, the vampire spawn glared at the paintings that decorated the walls.

Originally, Gale had used this basement room to store magic artefacts and items to feed the Netherese Orb with, but since the Orb was gone, there was no need for such a supply anymore. Thus, Gale had cleared out the small room to give Astarion his own space. There wasn't much in it; a bed, a chest of drawers, a carpet, and a small shelf, filled with some trinkets and the vampire spawn's favourite books. Astarion was grateful to have his own room, especially one that had no windows. Since the tadpole was gone and his sun sensitivity back, he had to dwell in the shadows and night again.

Scratch whined and rubbed his head against Astarion's leg, lightly wagging his tail. The vampire spawn smiled, crouched down, and gave him some ear scratches. Naïlo hooted, scuttling closer to receive some attention as well.

"Mh, yes, my sweets. I love you very much," Astarion told them, smiling. "I know you're trying your best to cheer me up."

Scratch licked him across the face, letting out a happy little 'woof' while Naïlo chirped and headbutted the vampire spawn. The latter toppled over and landed in a heap on the carpet. Laughing, he distributed some more headpats before getting up. In a much better mood now, Astarion dashed upstairs, followed by the pets. It was a rainy autumn day, thus, the sun didn't shine directly into the living room. Tara was sitting in front of the double-door window that led onto the terrace and watched the weather.

"Ah, Mister Ancunin! How was your reverie?" she asked, slinking closer.

"It was alright," he answered and scratched the tressym's chin, making her purr. "But I just rest better when the others are here."

Tara hummed understandingly.

"It's terribly quiet without them, isn't it? I miss Gale's delicious home-cooked meals."

"Apologies that I can't cook," replied the vampire spawn. "But judging by the way you and the boys gulp down the cold fish, it can't be too bad."

Tara huffed and turned her head to the side, miffed.

"These two aren't gourmets and have rather empty heads."

At that, Scratch grumbled disgruntle, but Naïlo just looked confused. It made Astarion chuckle.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the front door. The four of them looked at each other. Then, Astarion opened the door hesitantly. Halsin, looking like a drowned rat, stood on the doorstep.

"Oak Father preserve you, Astarion. Can I come in, please?"

"What are you doing here, druid?"

"Uhm... looking for shelter?"

"I can see that, but what are you doing here? I thought you were on an adventure to 'enjoy nature's gifts'. We didn't expect you to be back so early."

Now, Halsin looked sheepish.

"I - well... The weather's not ideal for long strolls, and I thought instead of sitting it out in a tavern somewhere, I'd come home instead."

Astarion raised an eyebrow.

"'Come home'?"

The druid blushed, as if caught red-handed doing something stupid. The vampire spawn was a tad too pleased to see the wood elf fidgeting around uncomfortably.

"Come in then," Astarion said good-naturedly. "But don't flood the place."

Visibly relieved, Halsin nodded, entered Gale's tower house, and immediately started to take off his soaked garments. Astarion watched, enjoying the view of the tall, sturdy, muscular, hairy, sun-tanned body in front of him. Halsin slicked back his wet hair and straightened up, displaying his front in all its glory. Astarion licked his lips hungrily.

"Uhm, could you get me a towel?"

"Of course, darling."

Astarion dashed off, grabbing a fresh cloth in the bathroom and some dry clothes. He returned and handed it to the druid.

"Thanks."

Halsin rubbed himself dry and got dressed. Then, he sighed contently.

"Is there some food left? I'm rather hungry."

Astarion canted his hip to the side and mocked: "I'm a vampire, druid. I don't need 'food'. But, if you're desperate, I can serve you some that's reserved for the pets."

Halsin opened his mouth, only to close it again silently. He looked taken aback. Astarion had mercy on him.

"I'm merely joking. Gale's pantry's always fully stocked. Follow me."

The vampire spawn twirled around and strode into the kitchen. Halsin trailed him silently. Astarion opened the pantry to take a look.

"What do you fancy, druid? Leek soup, onion soup, rabbit ragout, fish stew, or –" He got up on his tiptoes to read the label. "– hundur sauce?"

"Rabbit ragout sounds nice. I haven't had any meat in a while."

"Really?" Astarion turned around, grinning suggestively. "No 'meat', hm?"

Halsin cleared his throat, but shook his head.

"Well, you must be starving then," the vampire spawn taunted. "Seems like 'nature's bounty' wasn't that bountiful."

With a dramatic pirouette, Astarion turned around and placed a storage jar on the kitchen counter. He grabbed a pot and dumped the jar's content into it. Then, he placed a lid on the pot and took a step back, leaning against the counter casually.

"Usually, Gale would light the fire with a flick of his wrist, but since he's not here, you must do it the good old-fashioned way."

"Me?" Halsin asked.

"Of course, you, druid! I was a magistrate, I never had to light a fire myself, and now, as a vampire, I'm never cold."

Astarion sighed deeply and rolled his eyes in annoyance. Furrowing his brows, Halsin crouched in front of the iron oven and opened the small flap. He grabbed some firelighter and wood from the basket nearby, and started to kindle a fire. Astarion stood by and watched him work. Shortly after, a crackling fire started to heat up the stove and the food in the pan.

"Now, we just have to wait a while," the vampire spawn stated the obvious.

Halsin hummed, got up, and washed his hands in the stone sink.

For a while, the elves stood at the stove, silently.

"Did you find anything regarding Karlach's engine?"

Gloomily, the druid shook his head.

"I was in Mirabar because I thought that maybe the dwarves would know something about metal forging."

"Mirabar's a mining city, druid. Why would you find anything about blacksmithing up there?"

"I don't know, I just –" Halsin sighed. "I don't know where else to search for answers. I'm desperate."

Astarion saw how sad the druid looked and felt compassion. He put a hand on Halsin's arm and said: "I understand, we're all devastated about Karlach's and Wyll's faith, but we'll find an answer. There must be one out there."

The wood elf gave him a small smile, replying: "Thank you, Astarion. I hope you're right. Sometimes, people's misery is just too much to bear. I hate to see others so helpless, and I hate it when I can't do anything about it. I already failed enough people."

"You're doing your best," the vampire spawn retorted.

"Thank you."

Smiling softly, Halsin placed one of his hands gently on top of Astarion's. No one of their group touched the vampire spawn without asking for consent first and the later was forever grateful for it. Now though, Astarion got up on his tiptoes and placed a small kiss on Halsin's lips.

"Everything will turn out alright," he muttered.

"I hope you're right," whispered Halsin.

The vampire spawn stepped back and lifted the lid of the pot to take a look.

"Dinner's ready, druid. Sit down, will you?"

With a chuckle, Halsin did as he was told while Astarion scraped the pot's content into a bowl. Then, he placed it in front of the wood elf and handed him a spoon.

"Here you go. Bon appétit."

"Thanks."

Halsin dug into the rabbit ragout and hummed happily.

"Good?" asked Astarion and sat down opposite him.

"Mmh, it's fantastic! Gale's an excellent cook," the addressed sighed, closing his eyes to savour the taste better.

Astarion chuckled amused, then, he heard someone clear their throat.

"Mister Ancunin, I'm terribly sorry to disturb your conversation, but I and the boys are hungry."

"Oh, of course! Apologies, Tara."

Astarion jumped onto his feet and prepared the pets' dinner. He placed their bowls on the floor and gave each of the creatures a headpat before sitting back down. Halsin waved his spoon around.

"You're good with them."

Astarion shrugged.

"You're not the only one who likes animals, druid."

"Mhm."

They fell silent again, and the vampire spawn watched Halsin, Tara, Scratch, and Naïlo eat. He only felt the slightest twinge of envy. Over the centuries, he's gotten used to not eating solid food.

When everyone had finished their meal, Astarion washed the dishes before striding into the living room. Halsin lit a fire there too, and then stretched out in front of the fireplace, together with the animals. Astarion joined them even though he started to feel hungry. He should go on a quick stroll to take a nibble from a stranger.

"Everything alright? You seem uncomfortable," Halsin noted.

"Well, other than you, I didn't have dinner yet," Astarion replied, slightly pissed.

Smirking, the druid looked at him.

"I didn't know you get hangry, little vampire."

The addressed bristled and bared his fangs, but the other man only snickered and didn't feel threatened at all. The audacity!

"I guess I should show my gratitude for your hospitality," Halsin told him then, and Astarion's thoughts came to a screeching halt. He stared at the druid in disbelief.

"Are you... inviting me to take a bite?"

The druid hummed, retorting: "This weather’s not fit for man nor beast. Nobody should be forced to leave the house today."

Astarion swallowed and licked his lips. So far, he hadn't bitten anyone of their group other than Tav and Gale. Thus, the invitation was tempting.

"Are you sure?" he probed and when Halsin nodded, he crawled closer to him. Slowly, he leaned over the druid and locked eyes with him. "If I do this, there's no going back."

"I know," Halsin said quietly but confidently. "It's alright, little vampire. Feed from me."

Astarion felt a shiver run down his spine, and he was positively famished now, and – to his own surprise – slightly turned on. The vampire spawn nosed along the druid's neck and licked it, before sinking his teeth into the tender flesh. Halsin gasped, caught off guard by the feeling of icicles in his veins, and he was gripped by sudden panic. He knew that Astarion wouldn't kill him, but the subconscious part of his brain still screamed at him to fight back and run. The vampire spawn obviously felt Halsin's sudden mood change. He gently lay his palm against the other elf's cheek and caressed the skin there. It was soothing and Halsin relaxed again. Astarion took the first gulp – and moaned right into the druid's ear who flinched at the sudden noise. The vampire spawn let go of him and licked the wound clean. When he straightened up, his eyelids were fluttering in ecstasy, his cheeks flushed from his meal. He licked his lips and purred: "That was amazing, darling. You taste as rich as a real bear. Full-bodied."

Astarion's eyelids fluttered again, he seemed drunk. Halsin frowned. He'd never seen this reaction before when Astarion had fed on Tav, and it worried him.

"Everything all right?" he asked, sitting up and touching the other man's arm. "You seem a bit out of it. Almost drunk."

"I am," giggled the vampire spawn. "I don't know why, but your blood's intoxicating – literally."

Halsin frowned again. He didn't know how to react or what to do. Astarion crowded in on him, panting, his eyes unfocused.

"Can I have more?" he pleaded.

The druid shuddered, goosebumps spreading over his body.

"Yes."

The vampire spawn bit him again, moaned when more of Halsin's rich blood gushed over his tongue, and involuntarily dry-humped him. Halsin was surprised that Astarion was hard, he himself was too, but that was nothing new. Moaning, the druid rolled his hips upwards to intensify the friction. The vampire spawn whined, but didn't stop drinking from him.

"Astarion, can I? Please?" Halsin asked, wrecked.

The addressed simply moaned and pressed his pelvic into him. The druid took it for a yes. He gently placed a hand on Astarion's buttocks and started to thrust up against him. Halsin groaned and panted while he let the vampire spawn drink his blood. Finally, the latter let go of his neck and whined needily instead. With half-closed eyes, Halsin looked up at him, seeing those blood-covered lips and teeth, and another desire hit him.

"Kiss me," he groaned. "Please, Astarion, kiss me."

The addressed complied, all spit and tongue, and Halsin could taste his own blood. The vampire spawn came with a long moan and collapsed onto him. The druid rolled his hips up a few more times before following his partner over the edge, coming in his trousers like an over-eager teenage boy. Panting, they lay on the floor, entangled.

"All right?" Astarion whispered, caringly.

Halsin nodded, blissed-out.

"I guess we came back at the wrong time," remarked Gale who suddenly stood in the doorframe with Shadowheart who grinned like a Cheshire cat.

Still drunk on Halsin's blood, Astarion lifted his head to look at them.

"But no, darlings," he grinned with bloodied teeth. "You're arrived just in time for dinner."

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #fanfic #astarion x halsin #astarion #astarion ancunin #halsin #scratch #tara #tara the tressym #naïlo #owlbear cup #mind the trigger warning

[dashofmonsters]

The Long Road Pt. 5

Female Reader x Male Naga

For the next few days Luctux remains ever vigilant in caring for you and Silas. You stay off your feet for the first couple of days to allow them to heal, only ever getting up if you have to. Silas heals rather quickly and is able to move about on day three with little to no problems.

He and Luctux seldom speak if you're around and if they do they're snarky and quick to annoy one another. In fact now that you think about it, every time you and Silas are around other people he seems agitated. You start to wonder if he's just not fond of socializing or if long term socializing stresses him out.

"We'll be heading out as soon as you're able to walk without any problems," Silas tells you as he cleans one of the owlbear talons. Luctux had dragged the great beast to the edge of camp a while ago and he and Silas had slowly started to take it apart, good money in certain bits of it.

"I told you I can walk just fine, it only stings a little," you grumble.

Silas is about to argue with you, again, but Luctux intervenes, "I would usually agree on resting up till one is fully healed but time may not be on our side. The days will start getting shorter soon and the nights colder, I know Silas can't handle the cold and well,... people get desperate in terrible conditions."

Silas looks like he's about to snap thinking Luctux is insinuating something but you know exactly what he means.

"Thieves?" you ask, Silas turning to you a with a look of relief that quickly turns into annoyance.

"There are several bands between here and Gilli, most of them are 'honorable' thieves but the smaller bands will take what they can get. She'll be an easy target come winter, best to get to some village or even better Gilli itself before it's too late," Luctux sighs and pulls out a map, a couple dots on it glowing.

It looks exactly like your map save for the dots on it. Silas swipes it up and inspects it with a growing look of glee on his face. "How in the worlds did you get your grubby hands on a waypoint map?"

"A gift from an old friend," he smiles, that complicated look coming back.

Silas' smile vanishes and he quickly smooths the map back out. You get up and sit next to him so you both can look over the map. There's a waypoint nearby, possibly two to three days away but it doesn't mention where it leads to.

"You would have to have something from the place you're trying to get to in order to go there. Lucky for the both of you I have a little something from Gilli, courtesy of Cavan," Luctux pulls out a small bag and takes out an envelope. He opens it up to reveal some dirt and leaves and a few pebbles. "I tried other things of course but nature is a deeply rooted thing when it comes to magic, a lesson Silas learned the hard way back in Brakkor."

Setting the map down ever so gently, Silas takes a long deep breath as if trying his best to keep composed. This was somewhat of a habit now whenever Luctux would mention something that happened back when they adventured together. Silas never really talked about it as if the whole thing was just one huge bad memory all together but you knew that couldn't be the case. Luctux indulged you in a story one night about how Cavan and the party's adopted/stolen dire wolf Not Food accidentally scared the mayor of one town into pissing himself.

It was the first time you heard Silas laugh at an old adventure story or even add to it. Apparently the mayor had received a letter from family in Gilli that his niece is engaged and her fiancé would be coming into town. Problem is, they left out the fact that he's a Drider and forgot anyone north of Brakkor probably hasn't ever seen one. Silas, Cavan, and Not Food were the odd ones out and it made the stay there pretty interesting.

Luctux clears his throat which catches both yours and Silas' attention. "Honestly we should leave today, tomorrow morning at the latest if you absolutely insist that she rests more."

You shake your head at Silas who looks like he wants to say something, "The sooner we leave the sooner we can rest at an inn."

"An inn would be nice..." he mutters, shifting his scarf higher on his face to block the wind.

It's a bit humid and windy today and the clouds are practically covering the sky. You guess that another round of rain is on its way and the last thing you want to do is be caught in some more chilling weather.

"I'll let you two figure out if you would rather leave today or tomorrow. For now, I have lunch to go catch and there are talons and bones that need cleaning," he stands and grabs his bow, quiver, and bag, situating them on his person before skipping off.

Silas grabs a talon but sets it on his lap and looks at you, "You want to leave today don't you?"

"The sooner the better, plus I'm worried that if we wait too long it'll rain on us and then we'll be really off schedule," you nod, taking a talon and dabbing a bit of polish on it.

You hear him thump the end of his tail as he gets to work on his piece. Things have been strange between the both of you since he confessed his feelings and you admitted you need time to figure out what yours are. He's been short with you and doesn't tease or joke around much anymore and it feels odd since that's the only side of him you know, aside from him being a huge worrier.

"If it becomes too much let me know and I'll carry you," he says.

"Ok...," you reply. You feel Silas tense up next to you and see his knuckles turn white as he curls his hands into fists. He shoots up, knocking over his pile of talons and he slithers off towards the tent. You're not sure what that was all about but you don't have it in you to go and investigate, you have talons and bones to clean if you want to leave today.

After you finish the one you're working on you straighten up the pile that Silas pushed over. He had about six done which was a nice dent since you only managed two so far. You're about to reach for a third but you nearly jump out of your skin when you feel a tap to your shoulder.

"Afternoon missy," you turn and see a tall lanky man with three others grinning and snarling behind him.

Oh you have to be kidding me...

You glare knives at him and he backs up with a bit of a nervous smile.

"Not lookin for trouble here, just a bit of a meal if it's not too much trouble," he rubs his hands together.

"Unfortunately it is, we're a bit short on supplies..." you grab a talon and hold it tight. You hear the man snap at one of the guys saying 'we? does that sound like there's only one person here?'.

Gritting your teeth you start to go over in your head all the possible ways to get away but it's too late. One of the guys grabs you by your shoulder but you whip around and stab his hand with the talon. He screams and you scramble to your feet but you're caught again.

The leader grabs you by your wrists and tries to haul you up and off but you hold fast and throw yourself to the ground. Taking the man off balance you're given a moment before he lunges at you again so you grab a handful of dirt and throw it at his face. He curses and spits as you run off and right into Silas.

His face is pale as he looks around and then at you.

"Your hand," he takes it and starts shaking when he sees the blood.

Before you can say it's not yours he pulls you up against him with one arm and rushes towards the men and hauls one up by his throat.

He's kicking and clawing at Silas' arm, drool dripping from his mouth as the life is squeezed out of him. You also protest and beat against the naga but he ignores you.

"Silas you idiot snap out of it!" you slap him clear across the face and he drops both you and the man.

The group scrambles to get their friend up and run off gods knows where. You brush yourself off and realize you slapped him with your bloodied hand. His eyes are wide and his hands are trembling as he looks down at them.

"I-I...," his voice is shaky and you can see the tears stinging at the corners of his eyes. He looks to you and he starts to sway and you quickly try to catch him but he weighs a ton. He collapses on top of you and it knocks your breath right out. His voice is straining and you can hear him crying as he wraps himself around you.

You wrap your arms around him and rub his back, his breath shudders against your neck as he buries himself into it.

"I'm sorry... you're bleeding and I-"

"I'm fine, it's not my blood. I stabbed one of the guys with a talon and blinded another with dirt and ran off before bumping into you," you explain, keeping your voice low as you pet the back of his head.

"If I was here though... if I hadn't left earlier this-"

"Good gods what in the hells happened here!" you hear Luctux shout as he wonders back into the campsite.

You raise a hand and wave him over and suddenly you feel Silas being pulled off of you. "Come on you... You heavy ass worm! You're going to end up crushing her! Come on, up you go! Aaaaand there's blood on your face, lovely," Luctux grabs a water canteen off his hip and splashes the contents onto Silas' face.

Silas hisses and swats the tiefling away with his tail, but Luctux being ever so nimble lands on his feet. The two look at each other like they're about to throw hands until you place yourself right between them.

"I have had it up to here with blood and fighting and grown ass men acting like children! You-" you point to Luctux. "You need to stop provoking him! I don't care if you're old friends but he's not in the mood! And you-" turning back to Silas. "You need to stop being so overprotective and start talking to me if something is bothering you!"

Both men look at you wide eyed and flushed in the face. You stomp back off to where you were working and turn to them, both still frozen. "Well? Are you two just going to stand there all day or are you going to help me?"

Luctux grabs his bag that has a few birds in it that he hunted and takes them over to the fire where he starts prepping. Silas goes back to the tent to clean the blood off his face and grabs you a wash cloth and some water for you to do the same. Work and lunch are quickly accomplished in silence and by the time the last of the bones and talons were cleaned the food was ready.

You and Luctux get the food finished and plated while Silas cleans up the area. The three of you sit in silence until Luctux taps your shoulder.

"So...can I ask what the hells happened?" his mustard yellow eyes widening.

Silas looks like he's about to stand but you give him the look that you learned from your older sister when her husband was acting up in public. He quickly shifts his attention back to his lunch.

"Some guys came up to the camp asking for food, but we really don't have much left expect seasoning, a lot of seasoning... I think they expected me to be alone but when I said that there are other they tried to grab at me, most likely to use me to negotiate. I stabbed one guy with one the talons and threw dirt in the leader's face before running off and bumping into Silas... and then things got well... mixed up," you leave it at that and your naga companion breathes a sigh of relief.

Luctux narrows his eyes and sneers at Silas, "You were here and you let this happen? What was it you were telling me the other night about-"

You stab at your food loudly and it makes both of them jump. You start to wonder if this is what the mom friend in their adventure party felt like.

"Can we please just get through this day without anymore yelling and glaring and finger pointing please? I am very capable of taking care of myself Mr. Voxis, I worked in a tavern in a fishing town. Pirates and Merfolk and adventurers like yourself are frequent customers, I've seen and dealt with more violence than what you probably think I have..." you turn to Silas and sigh. "This is another part of my life my father doesn't know anything about because Peter and I didn't want to worry him and plus the job pays good."

There's a bit of peace and quiet before Luctux barks out in laughter. Silas raises a brow and you're just a dumbstruck.

"Sorry sorry, you just reminded me so much of Selia. She'd always try to keep us in line, especially Silas and Cavan. I'm considered a lost cause at this point," he snorts while unhooking a different canteen off his hip and taking a swig.

He offers you a drink and you grab it, needing something to take the edge off today.

"Wait!" Silas offers but you've already gulped down the booze.

It's hot and burns your throat like crazy but the after taste isn't too bad. "Oh gods that's like fire." You pass it back to him and he chuckles.

"Brakkor's finest whiskey, you ought to get yourself a bottle if ever you find a place that sells. You'll want it when the cold sets in if you're going to board together during winter," he recommends and you take it to heart.

"And where will you be off to?" Silas asks. He's been unusually quiet, but it's better than being snippy like he has been.

"I plan to see Cavan first while in Gilli then from there, well, we shall see," he smiles.

Silas thumps the end of his tail on the ground again and purses his lips, "Well I guess since we'll be in Gilli for the winter it'll be impossible not to run into him... Might as well ask him if he knows where there's work available."

You nod in agreement though it seems like Silas is very reluctant to want to even see Cavan again.

"Do you and Cavan not get along?" you ask.

There's a strained sound that both Luctux and him make, "It's a bit of a long story but in short there was a custody battle over Not Food and Cavan won."

Silas thumps his tail down hard with a pout, you couldn't help but laugh which made him pout more.

"At least you have George now," you smile at him.

"We have George," he corrects.

"For now, once the year is up I bet he'll probably prefer you since I've accidentally stepped on his tail one too many times," you laugh, not yet realizing the sour look on Silas' face.

"Year?" Luctux asks.

"Ah yes, my father paid Silas to travel with me for a year since I have no idea about the world outside Melmar and I'd need a guide. Though I'm not sure if I'll return once the year is up," you answer him.

Luctux raises a brow and looks over at Silas, "What if he wants to stick around after the year is up? What if he decides he would like to travel with you even if there's no pay involved?"

"Oh um..." you feel your cheeks growing warm for some reason. You're pretty sure your aunt teased you about this before but being asked again seems even more embarrassing.

You look over to Silas who's own face seems flushed and you're not sure if it's from the cold or second hand embarrassment.

"Well if he wants to, I mean I wouldn't mind the company..." you squeak.

A ever growing smug look grows on the tiefling's face like a grinning cat. You start to sputter and then Silas punts him from behind with his tail. Normally you'd argue about keeping one's tail to themselves but in this case he's forgiven.

You quickly get back into your lunch and scarf it down with gusto. Once lunch is over everyone starts packing up and cleaning the campsite. Silas seems a bit standoffish with you but he doesn't look mad and Luctux just keeps grinning at you like your older siblings did when they teased you.

It took a good two hours packing and cleaning before the four of you were finally on your way. George took to riding on Silas' tail which was both adorably hilarious and sort of necessary with how chilly the winds were becoming. Luctux was leading the way with the waypoint map and you were holding a few extra bags since Silas was still healing and you were afraid the extra weight would reopen some wounds.

The group breaks ever so often but never for too long. Silas is more alert than you've ever seen him and even Luctux mentions how on the edge he is. You wouldn't be so worried about it if it weren't for the fact that he's not only hovering over you but the tiefling as well.

"You do know I'm more skilled in combat than you?" Luctux twirls one of his daggers in his palm before hilting it.

Silas grumbles and backs off but only to hover over you.

"I stabbed a guy with an owlbear talon," you comment flatly.

"Yes I know..." he bends over and whispers in your ear "Did you keep the talon you stabbed him with?"

You can't help but to giggle when you nod, "Yeah, I didn't realize how sharp it is."

"We can get it converted to a dagger in Gilli I bet, if you want to," he smiles nervously.

"That would actually be a good idea. Dad gave me a knife but it's a bit awkward and it doesn't feel quite right," you grimace as you pull the weapon off your belt.

Silas rolls his eyes at it, "I told him it was a piece of shit but the merchant selling it said it was a multipurpose knife... What knife isn't already multipurpose!?"

You throw your head back and laugh, "Oh gods I forget how gullible my dad is when he's faced with 'bargains'."

Luctux back steps to take a look at the knife in question and his eyes go wide and he snatches it out of your hand. He pulls it out of the sheath and places a pair of peculiar glasses on his face.

"This is rather concerning..." he comments as he puts the knife back in its sheath and grabs a small and beat up looking leather pouch.

"I take it that it's a dangerous magic item?" Silas asks him.

"Remember The Merchant Crows back in Brakkor? We had caught all but one, I take it he made his sorry ass all the way down to Melmar. No telling how many of his wares are causing problems... I'll have to contact Singred when we get to Gilli," Luctux grimaces.

You look at both of them with a raised brow but Silas sighs and offers to tell you about it later, perhaps after dinner. Not wanting to intake anymore surprises today you nod in agreement.

Luctux unfolds his map and grabs a compass, something he's been doing at each break and now's as good as time as any to rest your feet. They only sting a little and it's usually on super uneven or gravely surfaces, which luckily have been far and few.

Silas shrugs a bag off and stretches, a few loud pops coming off of it. He quickly unbuttons his shirt because he knows you're going to want to inspect his wounds. Luckily nothing is out of place and the stitches are holding pretty well. You still want him to see a healer once in town though.

"How does it all feel?" you ask.

"Like it did last time you asked," he shrugs, rolling his eyes which makes you back away. "Ah sorry that was rude of me... I'm just not feeling myself today. I guess I do owe an explanation but, I'd like to wait will we're in Gilli now."

You nod your head, "Is it about the knife?"

"No, but it doesn't help. It was something Luctux said earlier and I feel like I need to come clean about it, it's been really bothering me a lot lately especially since he's been around," he admits.

No amount of guessing and prodding would make him talk about it now so you just leave it be. Silas buttons his shirt back up and takes a swig of water from his canteen.

"I will say that your sudden lack of argument does have me concerned though," he grimaces.

"You've been easily annoyed lately so I didn't want to add more full to the fire," you cross you arms and notice how Luctux's ears perk up.

The tiefling is still minding his map but you've learned he has a love of all forms of conversation and tends to eavesdrop.

Silas looks a bit confused if not offended and when he tries to argue he can't. He pinches the bridge of his nose and rubs his eyes.

"Listen here," you pull his hands away from his face, noticing how tired he looks. His usual silvery silky hair is a tad matted and his eyes seem a bit foggy. "We'll get through these next couple of days and then we'll talk. Just try and relax a little bit, please."

He takes one of your hands and places your palm on his cheek, "Thank you my dear.. Ah I mean-"

"You can keep calling me that, I don't mind. It feels weird when you don't," you smile at him. He had stopped calling you that after his confession and has been strictly going by your name which just felt wrong.

"I agree, even though your name is lovely, it just doesn't have that, well you know...," he trails off.

"I know what you mean. I've missed this soft side of you, you've been far too edgy lately," you pinch his cheek and he sticks his tongue at you.

"I'm sorry about that and I promise it has nothing to do with us, it's that thing I mentioned and I'm just not sure how to go about it and every time I think about it or it's brought up I get short. I'm not good with handling bad news and I'm even worse when I have to deliver it," he runs his hands through his hair and you can see the pain in his eyes.

If it's not about you and him your only guess is that it has something to do with his adventure party. Silas has been getting more and more snappy with Luctux and the tiefling seems to have his own issue so more or less they're both taking their own problems out on each other.

"We have maybe a day and a half if we can go for a bit longer. Ideally stopping right before sundown to setup camp at Old Wescal, it'll help keep the draft at a minimum," Luctux chimes back, folding up his map and pocketing his glasses.

You and Silas agree and get ready to get a move on. The next few hours the group trudges on and even though your feet start to sting a bit more, you'd rather keep going and rest for the night than break and set up camp in the dark. Silas had started shivering a bit more so you offer your own scarf so he can wrap it around his hands.

The Old Wescal ruins are a lot less run down than you'd imagine and Luctux explains that a lot of adventurers stop and make camp here so some have fixed up a couple buildings to be more accommodating for future use. Silas finds a couple houses that are in good condition with a hearth and a few rooms. Luctux inspects it with his strange glasses and gives us the thumbs up.

"Whoever fixed this place up must come through here often, best to tidy up well as thanks," the tiefling smiles, shedding his belongings.

Both you and Silas follow suit and George makes his way to the hearth, quickly setting the logs on fire. Everyone gets to settling in for the evening and figuring out rooms, which quickly becomes an interesting topic. You've become so adjusted to sleeping with Silas that sleeping in a separate rooms feels weird.

Luctux tosses his things into a room at one end of the house and decides to slip out to go catch dinner and scout the area. For the first time in a long time you feel shy around Silas. You didn't want his confession getting in the way of your friendship with him but you couldn't help your own growing attraction, a thing you've put on the back burner long enough.

"I can uh take whatever room you don't want, I can pretty much sleep wherever," he looks around scratching the back of his head.

You look towards the three available rooms, all pretty much identical expect the middle is void of any windows. Your brain feels a bit frazzled as you try to choose and noticing your concern Silas giggles.

"Too used to the tent?" he asks.

You shake your head and he smiles.

"I was the same way when we finally made it to an inn after months of sleeping under the stars. I had been without a bed for so long it felt weird sleeping on one again, but I don't think that's the problem here is it?" he gives you a nervous grin and you shake your head, possibly a bit too much.

Whatever he's fishing for you're certain he'll catch it soon if not now. Your cheeks feel hot and your heartbeat is so loud you swear he can probably hear it.

"We can still sleep together... I mean lay down in the same bed and go to sleep that is, nothing else. Just wholesome, platonic sleeping and maybe cuddling if you're up for it... gods what is wrong with me...," the last part he mutters under breath but you can still hear it.

"Middle room then?" you ask. "There's no windows so the likelihood of any cold seeping in will be slim."

He nods his head and the both of you have this silent moment before breaking into a laughing fit.

"Is this as weird for you as it is for me?" he asks, still laughing.

"I've never been in this sort of situation so yes, yes it is... I hope it's not weird in a bad way though because if it is-"

"No no, it's not! It's just that, I'm still trying to give you space and all and I feel like I've been too overbearing these last few days and I'm really starting to understand that I don't know you as well as I thought I did. I'm realizing that even if I feel the way I feel for you, it's not fair to either of us to rush into something based on a building attraction alone," he sighs, the last bit of nervous humor leaving his face.

He put a lot of thought into his current relationship with you and wants to treasure it as much as you do. This is your first real friend after all and you didn't want to ruin it with this...this lust!

Ah...Lust... That was it, that was the thing you didn't want to put a name to. You had been afraid of it since day one and did your best to avoid the thought of it. As of late though you've been finding it harder and harder to get it out of your head. You like him as a person and a friend but you'd be a fucking liar if you said that you didn't allow one dirty thought or two to traverse your mind.

You reign yourself in quickly and nod your head in agreement, "We're still figuring this out, that and the whole trust thing. We have plenty of time."

"A year?" he mutters loud enough that it cuts right through you.

Unsure of how to respond to that you just pretend that you didn't hear it and start taking your bags to the middle room. Silas grabs you by your wrist and forces you to look at him. His expression is stern and dark as he backs you up against a wall.

"Will you want me around after my time as your guide is up? Will you push me away if I ask to stay? Will you-"

You'd been holding back your emotions so well for so long but now your cup runneth over with them. Tears start to blur your vision and you can hear Silas cursing himself. He quickly pulls you into a hug and apologizes.

"I'm being stupid again, I'm sorry. I know you hate it when I get intense. I'll do better, I'm sorry," he squeezes you but it only makes you cry more until it becomes hard to breathe.

He quickly pulls away from you and sees the fear in your eyes.

"Look at me, breathe with me, in aaaaaand out, in and out..." he wipes a tear from the corner of your eye as you start to breathe. He stays with you helping you out of your anxiety and calming you with his voice.

After what seems like forever, he hands you your canteen and has you drink some water. He lifts you up like a doll and takes you to the room and lays you down on the bed. "Rest, I'll come get you when dinner's ready."

You're too exhausted to argue and end up quickly drifting off to sleep.

_____________

It's dark when you finally wake up, your neck a bit sore from the lumpy pillow. You look around the room and find a small crack of light at the door. You slide down and try to navigate around the bags but you end up kicking a couple.

Exiting the room you see Silas passed out on a chair in front of the hearth. His tail is wrapped around the it and the large blanket is covering his human half. Looking outside you can tell that it's late, possibly close to midnight or even later.

Your stomach grumbles with hunger so you look around for the food pouch for some jerky to snack on. As you start to go through the contents you feel a tap to your shoulder. Before you would have jumped out of your skin, but you could tell by the feel of it that it was the tip of a certain naga's tail.

"Did I wake you," you ask, turning around.

He shakes his head, "I'm sorry... No please let me just apologize. I've been pretty lousy lately and forward and just too much in general. I have no idea what's come over me and it's freaking me out a little bit."

"You've got a lot on your mind right now Silas, probably a lot more than you can stand to carry. I hold a ton of stuff until it's too much, like earlier. I can't hold onto these emotions forever and neither can you. Does it have to wait till Gilli?" you ask, patting the tip of his tail that rests on your shoulder.

There's some silence for a while and his tail lightly flickers as he's contemplating his next move. "Could you... Can you wake Luctux up," he breathes out, his voice strained.

You squeeze the tip of his tail as you stand up and go towards Luctux's room. After knocking and calling out to him, he stumbles awake with glorious bedhead and smelling like a whiskey barrel.

"What's this... what's this all about?" he sloshes as he teeters towards the wall for support.

Silas takes a deep breath, eyes on the hearth, "It's about Selia."

"Selia? How is she? I haven't heard from her in ages, actually now that I think about it, I haven't heard from her since the party split. She went with you right?" Luctux pulls at his shirt, straightening it out.

"She's... she was... I... I'm sorry I-"

He starts to choke up and Luctux's expression quickly sobers up. The tiefling sways a bit so you escort him to a nearby chair.

"How?" he asks, so softly, barely a whisper.

Silas is gripping his hair to the point of ripping it out and the silent cry breaks your heart.

"HOW DAMMIT!? HOW DID SHE DIE?!" Luctux yells and both you and Silas jump.

Luctux pushes himself up and passed you, forcing his way in front of the naga and punching him square in the face. You try to stop him from hitting Silas again but he yells at you to stay back and that this is none of your business.

Before you might have listened but Silas is as much as your friend as he is Luctux's and you weren't about to abandon him now. You yank Luctux away and shove him hard to the ground and plant yourself firmly in front on Silas.

"I might not know anything about Selia but do you think she'd be ok with this?! He's a fucking mess over here about it and you have the nerve to beat up on him?! Shame on you!" you yell at the tiefling, his face blank and mouth agape.

The sound of heavy breathing and crying and your own heartbeat is all you can hear at that moment.

"We... we were several days out when it happened. They were stragglers, survivors of The Blood Dragon Brides," Silas starts, his eyes wide and heavy, reddened from tears and the grip on his scalp loosening. "They had been hunting her down, blaming their losses on her, and wanting revenge for the fallen."

Luctux still down on the ground, his lip quivering, "She left them years ago though..."

"She sold them out, Cavan and I were there when she gave away their hideout when we were in Brakkor. She had quite the record there and wanted it to be expunged. She asked for us to keep it a secret since we were there as her witnesses to her statement," Silas wipes an arm across his face and runs a hand through his hair.

"But you were with her, you could have-"

"I couldn't do anything. I tried to, but she wouldn't have it. She used the sleeping powder on me and when I came to... I tried... I couldn't heal it... there was so much blood and I couldn't... I tried... I did...," Silas' voice cracks and the tears come rushing back.

Luctux pushes himself off the floor and before you can stop him he throws his arms around Silas, apologizing to him, his own voice strained.

Your heart ached for both of them and all the others who you hadn't met yet. Selia was important to them and she was taken away. You never knew what it was like to lose someone like that, you couldn't fathom it. But seeing this, seeing how it has hurt someone you care about has your blood boiling.

But the feeling doesn't last long as a certain naga's tail starts to wrap around your leg and up to your hips. He squeezes lightly and you pat his tail. There's no time for anger right now, you decide, you'll visit that later. Right now is a time for healing, they need it and so do you.

Luctux tries to apologize for punching Silas but he says he deserves it after keeping Selia's death to himself for so long. Both apologize for not waking you up sooner and Luctux procures some mushrooms and some other wild vegetables he found while hunting. He gets to cooking them while you tend to Silas.

He looks like a mess and his hair is sticking to his face and neck. Luctux had brought in a couple buckets of water in from the well, that surprisingly still works so you take a cloth and a bar of shampoo and set to cleaning his hair. Silas practically melts at the attention and almost starts crying again but you tell him it's ok and to let it all out.

He would do the same for you, he has actually, now it's your turn. Luctux brings you your plate and grabs a bottle off the table and uncorks it.

"I was saving this for whenever we got the party back together, for old times sake I guess. But things have changes and the life of an old friend needs to be toasted. Celebrated for her insanity and her high tolerance of man children. She was the toughest woman I have ever met and one of the most caring. I might be a lost cause when it comes to my manners but for her, I will keep my elbows off the table," Luctux raises the bottle and takes a swig, his face twisting as the fire passes down his throat.

The bottle is then passed to Silas who takes a moment to compose himself, "I never had a father in my life and when I told Selia, she mothered the hell out of me. I might have lived near a fishing town but I couldn't fish worth a damn. Selia taught me to fish, to hunt, swordplay, sewing, and foraging. She was family, not by blood but by bonds."

He raises the bottle, toasting her name and then taking a long hard swig. He coughs and beats his chest, the alcohol hitting hard. Luctux looks to you and asks if you can say something nice, even though you don't know her.

Silas passes the bottle to you and you tap your fingers on the bottle, thinking exactly what you should say.

"I don't know her and I'm kind of sad that I won't be able to meet her. She must have been incredible though, anyone would have to be in order to deal with you guys..." you pause, both Silas and Luctux flush and laugh. "She must have been filled with love for her friends, her family. I don't know much about mothers but I know that she must have loved you like you were her own."

You raise the bottle, "To Selia, the tolerant. To Selia, the kind. To Selia, the loved." You take a small swig and hear both guys applaud and cry.

"That was beautiful," Luctux cries into his sleeve.

Silas nods and takes the bottle back from you, taking another swig. You decide to drag some pillows and blankets out into the livingroom so the guys and you can get comfortable while they cry over memories of a lost friend. Silas plops onto the makeshift bed you made and uncoils his tail as to allow room to be laid on.

Grabbing the large blanket you curl up next to Silas, happily laying your head on his tail. Luctux side eyes the both of you and nearly cries when Silas pats the empty spot on the other side.

"This is almost like when we lost our bags in the river and all our supplies floated away," Luctux laughs. "You offered your tail as a pillow for any who would use it."

"And if memory serves me correct, I woke up with drool on my scales for days," Silas jokingly jabs Luctux with the end of his tail.

"Don't pin that on me, Singred was the slobber hound!" he laughs and Silas chuckles.

"What was it like when you were all together," you ask. "When did you all meet?"

Silas turns and looks at you, the fog in his eyes had slowly started to lift and you can see that twinkle returning.

"It's a bit of a long story," he smiles.

"Some of it's very embarrassing!" Luctux sits up with a grin.

"And some of it is very very stupid," Silas rolls his eyes.

You scoot in closer, "Well then if it's that much, you better get started."

The three of you spend hours over old stories from their adventures together. Luctux always dramatically sitting up and reenacting certain moments and Silas mocking Cavan and making creepy crawly gestures with his hands. You've never seen him this expressive and you're glad that he can open up with you like this.

Dawn eventually breaks and Silas starts to nod off as he tries to tell you about that one time he and Singred tried Brakkor whiskey for the first time. Luctux had passed out some time ago, the bottle of wine slipping from his hand. You sit up and help both of them get comfortable, kissing Silas on the forehead as you pull the blanket over him. He smiles as he squishes his face to his tail.

You know you'll feel exhausted while traveling if you don't get some sleep now and yet you're wide awake and more pissed off than you have ever been. The anger you tampered down earlier in exchange to comfort the guys has started to resurface. The Blood Dragon Brides... Their name already distasteful left you sneering at the bitter memory of several hours ago.

Who were they and where are they? Questions start to plague your mind till you become too annoyed to deal with it. You tiptoe out of the house as quietly as possible, closing the door as if you were a child sneaking off to play.

The cold fresh air is welcoming and cools the fire that has lit under your skin. Walking around the old and ruined village you start to wonder what life was like here and why the people had to leave. You play a game in your head and imagine what life was like until you turn a corner and run into someone.

<Previous pt.4 Pt. 6>

Sticker

Art

#exophilia #naga #monster #monster x you #monster x reader #monster x human #monster x girl #monster boyfriend #naga boyfriend #slow burn #slow burn romance #strangers to friends #friends to lovers #oc #original character #Silas Locs #The long road #original story #writblr #monster lover #exophile #exophilia fic #exophilia fiction #monster romance #romance #male naga #tw violence #tw talk of death

[3xm-draconic]

Honnor & Glory (A Werebat Cyris and Astarion Story)

Summary: It's time to kill the nether brain.

“You sure it’s a good idea to get married when the apocalypse could start any minute?” Gale turned to Wyll, “any day is a good day for a wedding when the world is about to end!” he grinned. 

Karlack and Wyll’s wedding was wonderful, it was held in the garden at the manor, Cyris being a cleric officiated the whole thing. Karlack, knowing that they would be in battle at any moment, opted for white wedding armor instead of a dress…she did have a cute flower vail made by Cyris though, it was white daisies and orange tiger-lilies.

“You may now kiss the bride” Cyris smiled, Karlach and Wyll kissed and everyone showered them in birdseed as they ran through an archway of raised swords to the other end of the garden.

“Well, Wylly-Billy to our new life!” Karlach toasted as she raised her champagne…

BOOM.

The city descended into madness and chaos, the nether brain had finally made it’s arrival (fucking took a while) and was wrecking havock. 

“Everyone ready?”, Cyris turned to his team: Wyll, Karlach and Astarion (Lucy the owlbear now all grown up, leggy and scratch), “Minsc, Jaja, Lae’zel and Halsin I want you to get survivors out of the city as fast as possible. Gale, Shads you Roger and Allegra will help guard the path for civilians. As for the rest of you…” 

He turned to Zevlor, the Ironbreaker Gnomes, the Fist, Wyll’s dad, Shadowheart’s parents and all their friends who they helped along the way…

“Together on this day we stand united, brothers and sisters of all creeds and backgrounds. We stand together to defend our home, our lands and our city. We fight and move as one…now…let's bash some brains in!” he roared.

They charged out into the city, slaying mind flayers left and right, They climbed to the top of the old fort where they would board the nether brain.

“Surrender…” it’s warbly voice commanded, “only in your dreams!” Cyris snarled back as he hurled himself at the brain, his new longswords, gifts from Yondalla, burning with holy moon-fire from Entumbru’s blessing.

They had to fight mutants and a mind controlled dragon…

“You will be part of the grand design…” the brain warbled, “you talk too much…” Cyris growld as he partially transformed.   

The brain tried to force them to submit but Cyris blocked it with the stones, tethering the brain with his own will…there was a 99% chance that could have ended badly…but Cyris thank the gods it didn’t!

There was a boom from behind him and the Emperor and Orpheus arrived just in time “the fuck took you so long Charlie?” Cyris grumbled at the Emperor, “we…had a prior engagement” the emperor looked to Orpheus with a tentacled grin, “...you two were having sex again and lost track of time weren’t you?” Cyris mumbled.

The Emperor gawked, “yes but we are here now so let’s finish this fight” Orpheus laughed. 

The brain self-deleted and came crashing down from the sky where it landed in the bay…then exploded.

Cyris fully transformed and caught Karlach and Wyll while Astarion turned into a little bat and flew next to him, they saw throughout the city people were fighting against the mind flayers together and winning!, they landed safely on the docks where everyone was waiting for them.

 “Well this is a bigger mess than ever we made in the old days, my congratulations!” Jaheira smiled, “I finally feel the last of my warlock powers are draining” Wyll sighed contently “all thanks to you”. “We did it…the brain is dead!” Shadowheart cheered, “the parasite is withered…I am free” Lae’zel turned and kissed Halsin. “I’am ready for a meal, rest and a nightcap to round it all off” Gale yawned, “ah and Boo wins the bet, Wizard is not entirely boring” Minsc grinned. “I'm glad I’m never going back to the hells” Karlach smiled as she kissed Wyll.

“I’ll celebrate once I’ve helped clean this place up a bit, I can hear and smell the wounded…I, we need to go help them…then we can party” Cyris smiled.

“Yes, once that’s done we should see if the Elfsong is still standing. I won't imbibe, but I’ll be happy to be away from here and in your company” Astarion happily turned to his friends “I honestly don’t mind what we do once we-OW!” he shrieked. He then ran off into the shadows “I’am sorry, I’ve got to go now, it was fun while it lasted!” he lamented.

As Cyris dug through the rubble, helping bring the wounded to healers and medics, he saw someone…

Her long ebony hair was tied up in a bun so it would not get in the way of her work as she used her skills as a seamstress to sew up the wounds of the injured, her seafoam green eyes framed by large box spectacles never losing focus on her craft, ever diligent, fast-paced and careful in her work meany men and women's lives were saved by this kind a sweet Halfling who jumped into action. 

Astarion, who was helping as much as he could from the safety of the shadows, watched as Cyris ran up to the little halfling woman. At first they just…stared at each other, then Cyris dropped to his knees and hugged her.

They were both sobbing happy tears uncontrollably and laughing.

Then Cyris said something that warmed Astarion’s undead heart so much he swore he felt it beat again…

“Hey…mom”.

That night at the Elfsong tavern Cyris introduced his mother to everyone.

“Ma these are my friends: Gale, Wyll, Karlach, Shadowheart, Lae’zel, Roger and Allegra” he then turned to Astarion “and Ma…this man is someone special I’d like you to met”, Hanna turned to Astarion with a smile, “Ma” Cyris smiled as he held Astarion’s hand “this is Astarion…my betrothed”, Hanna when nuts.

She tackled Astarion in a hug and laughed and cried with joy “oh my big sweet boy is getting married AND TO SUCH A HANDSOME MAN!” she hugged Cyris “Oh I can’t wait to tell your father oh the whole village is going to be excited!”

Astarion wheezed, being tackled by a halfling at full speed could REALLY knock the wind out of somebody…

As they settled down for the night Astarion and Cyris talked about where they went from here...

“So what happens next?” Astarion sighed, he missed being out in the sun, “first I find you a way to walk in daylight again, then…we plan our wedding”.

Astarion perked up “you really think there is a chance for me to walk in the daylight again?”, “sugarfangs…I WILL make it happen” he smirked and hugged him tightly.

Back at the manor, officially fully refurbished and renamed from Szarr Palace to Sunstar Manor, Cyris and Astarion were about to sleep when a knock at the door came…

Cyris answered it and found Yondalla and…SEVERAL other gods with her.

“Um…hey…other mom..er..Yondalla…” Cyris awkwardly said “what are you guys…doing…here?”, Yondalla smiled “well son…er…kid…it’s time”

Cyris cocked his head confused “time for what?”, “for you to become a god silly”Sheela Peryroyl giggled, Cyris gawked “I…I AIN'T READY FOR THAT…not, not until I’ve lived a full life…I wanna be mortal frist”, Moradin stepped forth “if that’s what ye want laddy we won’t force ye” he nodded.

Yondalla sighed…then smiled “but there is one thing I want you to have from your Godly powers son” She touched his chest and his tattoos began to glow “the ability to perform a miracle…basically an UBER powerful wish spell” she said “call it an early wedding present” she smiled.

Cyris grinned.

Astarion awoke the next morning to see Cyris had opened the windows…and sunlight was pouring inside…

However…it…it did not burn him.

“Am…am I dreaming?” Astarion pondered, “nope, you aint Darlin” Cyris smiled from the doorway with a tray of breakfast in hand, “Cyris…HOW!?” Astarion gasped, “remember how I’am part god?...well darlin” Cyris leaned in and kissed Astarion “I told you I would make it happen”.

6 months later Withers invited them to a party back at the grove where everything started, they met back up with their friends and invited them all to their wedding.

And now…

Now it’s time for their wedding to get started…

#dnd character #dnd #werebat #baldurs gate astarion #astarion x oc #baldur's gate 3 #au #wedding #wedding planning #balders gate 3 #astarion ancunin #wyll x karlach #wyll ravengard #bg3 wyll

[pleasantskulduggery]

2021 TAZ Candlenights Gift

I finally started doing fanfic writing again, and this felt like a really great way to get back into it! Thanks to my partner cryptid_bard on Twitter and @thecandlenightszone here for setting this up!

A (slightly unedited) account of Lup and Barry at the midsummer festival, a year after Story and Song. Hurt/comfort, carnival games, and a sweet ending. 

Happy Candlenights, and have a great new year!

“Babe, come on.”

“I don’t think I can do it.” 

“You can. I know you can. Just take a deep breath and go.”

“Lup, it’s impossible.”

“Babe, I love you.” Lup looked deep into his eyes, holding his hands. She squeezed them gently. “You know that. But if you don’t win me that owlbear, I will not share this fried unicorn horn.”

Barry sighed, pushing up his glasses and looking back at the lines of colorful cans. The ground in front of them, past the bench where the two of them stood, was covered in brightly colored beanbags. The string lights above them cast a bright light over the cans and the prizes, a dozen stuffed monsters, hung overhead. The carnival barker jeered good naturedly at them.

“Come on, sir! Just knock over the cans and win the prize! You want your lady to have one of these, don’t you?”

“I very much want the owlbear.” Lup agreed, pushing Barry towards the bench. She chose a beanbag for him, one that was blue and purple and matched her costume, and handed it to him. “That one there, okay, babe?”

“For the owlbear, you gotta knock down the center stack.” The barker said, pointing. 

Barry took the bag from her, grumbling just a little at how the stack was probably glued together. He brightened a little when she pressed a kiss into his cheek, and he took his stance at the bench. He’d dressed as Garfield the Deals Warlock tonight, and he pushed his hood back and rolled up his long purple sleeves. 

She stepped back, giving him space to throw, and smiled. It had been three months since the machine had given her a physical form back, and she’d had plenty of time to adjust to having a body again. It felt good to stand here, the night air warm against her skin, her face covered with sugar and shards of unicorn horn, her feet aching in her boots from standing all day. She’d regret it in the morning- she didn’t think that she’d go this long without sitting- but right now, she’d manage. The air was filled with music and the smell of fried foods, people laughing and games ringing. Everything was a whirl of colors and sounds, and she was so happy. 

“Okay, Barry.” Lup heard him mumble. “You can do this. It’s a simple game of Knock-The-Cans-Down-With-A-Beanbag. How hard can this be? You are Barry Bluejeans. You made a bell out of the Light of Creation. You survived the Hunger. You have the best wife out of all the worlds that have ever existed. You are going to win her that owlbear.”

A smile broke over her face, her cheeks reddening. Over a hundred years together, and he still made her blush. “You can do it, babe!” She cheered him on, taking a bite of unicorn horn. It crumbled into sticky sweet shards as she sank her teeth into it, settling over her own voidfish costume and adding to the sparkles already in the fabric.

Barry tossed the bag. It sailed through the air, across the gap, and connected solidly with the center of the cans with a light thwack. 

The cans did not budge.

“Hey!” Barry said, turning to the barker with indignation. Lup stepped up to the bench, eyeing the cans. She could see where they’d been knocked back slightly with the force of the blow, Barry had hit them dead center. But they were still standing, and that owlbear hung above her head, dangling tantalizingly. 

“Oh, tough break!” The barker laughed, flicking the beanbag off the back bench to the ground, where it landed lightly atop the massive pile of multicolored bags. “But I’ve got 'em stacked in a special way! My master stacked them this way and he was never defeated, and he trained me. You’ll never get that owlbear!”

“That doesn’t seem fair.” Barry muttered.

“That’s right. He hit them right in the middle.” Lup said, pointing. “It’s almost.... like you glued the cans together.”

A grin spread over the barker’s face. He sauntered over to the center cans, looking at them both with a raised eyebrow. “Glued them together? Why, that’s an insult to the craft and skill required of setting up a game of Knock-The-Cans-Down-With-A-Beanbag! Just watch!”

He turned to the stack, grabbing the top can and lifting it from the others. 

Lup grabbed the owlbear.

“Babe, run!” 

She took off, hugging the toy tight to her chest, her costume streaming behind her. She could hear Barry just a few feet behind her, hear the barker screaming at them to come back. There was a sound of clattering cans, the barker cursing. He must have knocked all the rest of his stacks down while trying to chase after them. 

Lup dodged between a pair of chefs, around an iridescent butterfly sharing a lemonade with a very realistic Candlenights bush, and burst through a group of Merles, with Barry just a few steps behind her. The barker was quickly lost in the crowd of people. Her costume, all tulle and streamers and sequins, was surprisingly easy to run in. Her feet, with the burst of adrenaline, stopped hurting. Someone shouted at her as she passed, a compliment about her hat. She blew them a kiss and kept going. It felt so good to run. To move! There’d been too many years spent in that chamber, with only black curtains and still air, where she could barely move or else she’d…

She slowed. Stopped. She was having trouble catching her breath all of a sudden. 

Barry caught up with her, his hand on her shoulder. “Lup, that was…” He was laughing. “Did you see his face? Serves him right, rigging the game like that!”

She turned to look at him. His face was red from the sprint, redder from laughing. He loosened his collar, looking down at the stuffed owlbear in her arms. “I guess that’s one way to win at carnival games. We should probably keep moving though, in case he calls a guard on us. We don’t wanna stay too close to that booth.”

“Yeah…” She said, blinking hard. 

“Hey,” he said, moving to touch her cheek. “You okay?”

Her head ached. She held the owlbear to her chest, fingers sinking into the plush. The music was louder here, closer to the band, and it throbbed in her ears. Too many years spent in silence except for her own thoughts desperately trying…

Her costume felt like it was strangling her. Someone dressed as a witch walked by, looking at the two of them curiously, and the folds of black fabric caught her eye and she was struggling to breathe even more. The taste of fried unicorn horn was overpowering in her mouth. 

“Lup?” Barry was asking. He was holding her hand, pulling on her. 

She let him lead her, still trying to catch her breath. She kept seeing black fabric, that chamber, the room inside the umbrella. Around her the carnival kept going, so many sights and sounds and smells that had been so wonderful but now were making her so nauseous and panicked and out of control. She’d spent twelve years in a box. Outside of it now, it was all too much.

Barry stopped her, easing her into a seat. “Hey now,” he said, pushing her hair back. “What’s going on?”

She tried to tell him, but it came out in a mumbled mess of words. Her head pounded. His hands were wet, or maybe it was her cheeks. 

“Hold on, babe.” She heard him say, and then his hands pulled away. 

“Barry?” She mumbled, hugging the owlbear to her chest. She was alone again. She didn’t want to be alone again. It was all too much. She almost wanted to go back to that quiet room again, just to calm down from this overwhelming panic she was feeling. 

“Hey, I’m here.” She heard, and something cool pressed against the side of her face. Barry, with a cup of ice water. “Lup, babe, take a drink. What’s going on?””

“Too much.” She finally mumbled. Something else bubbled up under the panic, hot and almost as uncomfortable. Embarrassment, hot and bitter. Why was she crying like this now? She was Lup! She was phantasmal and resplendent and she still couldn’t quite catch her breath. 

Barry kissed her forehead, the gesture incredibly gentle. “It’s okay, you’ve had a long day. Can you take some deep breaths for me?”

She nodded, and Barry took a deep breath with her, crouched in front of her and holding her hands around the ice water. 

“It’s okay everything’s a little too much right now.” He said, “It hasn’t been that long since you got a physical form back. Here, take a sip.”

“It’s just a carnival.” She muttered, but she let him lift the cup and help her take a drink. The cold washed out her mouth and cleared some of the fog in her head, and she took another breath. The thought of that black curtain lined room started to creep up again.

“It’s still a lot.” He said, kissing her forehead again, and she pushed the memory out of the way, focusing on her husband in front of her. “But you’ll get used to everything again. It’ll take some time, but just take a few steps at a time. If you get overwhelmed, you can take some ‘you’ time until you feel ready again.”

She nodded. He smiled at her, and pulled a handkerchief out of his jeans for her. 

Lu-lu!” She heard Taako shout. He rushed up to her, Barry half pushed out of the way, stopping abruptly when he saw her face. He was holding a piece of iridescent fabric, part of her costume. It must have torn off while she was running. “What’s going on?” 

“I’m okay,” she promised, squeezing the owlbear. “I guess I’m not too used to this much going on.”

He looked her up and down, then smiled. He gave her a hug, holding her tightly, before taking the piece of fabric and starting to inspect her costume. Her brother, with her now, was easing even more of the overwhelming feelings inside her. She kept her hand on the shoulder of his Magnus costume as he worked, taking a long, deep breath. 

“Honestly, Lu-lu, I spent such a long time on this costume, and you can’t keep it in one piece?”

“Well that’s because you didn’t sew it together strong enough!” She retorted, starting to smile. “You should have known my night would involve running from the barkers after stealing from them.”

He shook his head, waving his hand over her skirt, and the fabric stitched itself back together. “Fashion comes first. See if I ever make you a costume again.” He gave her a grin. “Alright, all fixed. We can’t have a voidfish without all its tendrils walking around, can we?”

She shook her head and stood. Barry took her hand, an eyebrow raised. 

“Are you sure you’re okay to go back out?” She nodded, squeezing his hand. She banished the last thoughts of silence and black velvet from her mind, with her husband and her brother on either side of her. She’d spent too long in that room, fighting to keep herself. Now that she was finally out, with the two most important people, she was ready to keep enjoying this life. 

They stepped back into the carnival. Lup held Barry and Taako’s hands, the owlbear tucked under her arm. The sights and sounds and smells all hit her at once again, loud and bright. She squeezed their hands, inhaling slowly. 

From a few stalls away from them, there was a shout. “Hey!” The barker from the Knock-The-Cans-Down-With-A-Beanbag stand yelled. He had a guard with him, and he was pointing directly at Lup. “There they are! They’re the cheaters!”

“Run!” Lup shouted in delight, and took off again, feeling just good to move again. 

#not plague #taz #lup taako #the adventure zone #i can have a little fanfic writing #as a treat #i havent written fanfic in years #it feels nice