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A room at The Elfsong

--- The more I play the game the more I just want to draw characters being cared for... [obligatory cut line 'If you wanted to get me into your bed, you could have simply asked']

so. tara was supposed to be at camp at one point and have idle banter with gale:

edited to clarify: this appears to be cut content

Okay so I LOVE Tav being a tiefling so long story short, just a lil bit of how I think certain characters would react to Tav returning to camp with their horns cut off 👀 once again with a romantic focus on Tav/Astarion/Halsin poly couple. Based early act 3- specifics under the cut!

TW- blood, wounds, trauma

Basically what would have happened if Orin took Tav instead of anyone else, and Tav escaped

When everyone wakes, Tav isn't there. You're gone for days, and when Tav finally does trudge back into camp, you are bloody, beaten, scarred; and your horns are gone. They weren't broken by any means, but had been brutally and roughly sawed off, leaving two mismatched stumps, bloody and jagged.

Halsin being a morning person is the first to see Tav return, and is quick to call for Shadowheart and Astarion as he runs to help Tav, as you collapse into his arms. The two guide Tav to a bedroll and begin using healing spells, Halsin taking care to reassure you that you're safe now. He's glad you are back and you're still breathing, but gods does it hurt him. He's seen you take many hits and still get back up, but somehow...the distant look in your eyes. Something dreadful happened, and he will do everything to help you heal. He's gentle, cleaning what remains of Tav's horns, even as you wince.

Astarion is quick to arrive at their side, kneeling above Tav and letting your head rest on his knees. He's reassuring, he's trying to be strong but it truly breaks his heart to see what's happened to you. The team doesn't know who did this, so he fears the worst; that Cazador somehow did this to you, because of him- and it hurts. He cups your cheeks and brushes your hair from your face and promises you're okay but his heart breaks thinking this was somehow because of him.

Gale and Wyll gather supplies to bring over- water to help clean your wounds, unopened bottles of alcohol for any deep wounds. They're both careful not to crowd around but they're both ready if Shadowheart or Halsin tell them to get anything. When the immediate urgentness of getting your wounds cleaned and your body healed, Gale starts on making a pot of stew. He's the first to notice how pale you look, how past the wounds and dried blood you look like you haven't since you were last in camp. He's sure to make sure it isn't too acidic but with plenty of veggies to help you feel better.

Karlach sees your horns gone and she feels a pit in her stomach. Of everyone at the camp she knows how much something like that can destroy you- she lost one of hers, after all. This was purposeful, to destroy your spirit. She has a sneaking suspicion that Gortash is somehow responsible, that he had your horns cut off to mount on his wall- and it burns. She wants to get angry, she wants to track him down and kick his ass right this second- but she doesn't. She sees how much Tav needs support, and is sure to gather blankets for you, and brings you Clive to hold onto as well.

Minsc, Boo and Lae'zel keep their distance. Particularly Lae'zel gets him to help with patrolling the edge of their camp, keeping an eye out for anyone who might have come after you. Jaheira stands by, particularly to get specific plants that Halsin would ask for to help with the healing process.

When Tav's wounds are cleaned and bandaged, Halsin and Astarion help Tav change into clean clothes. They hadn't even been taken while in their gear- they had only the tattered, dirty remains of their camp clothes on. Helping you change, Halsin and Minsc carefully move you to Astarion's tent, where Karlach helped make a proper bed for you.

When you are resting, the party meets around the fire. Astarion stays by your side during this.

Jaheira divides up shifts of watch. Two on watch for 4 hour rotation during the day, 3 on watch for 4 hour rotation at night. Until you have a more secure camp within the city, there can be no risks.

When Tav wakes early that afternoon, they're screaming. A night terror of sorts- it startled most everyone, but Halsin and Astarion are there to comfort you. There's tears and Tav weeps in the arms of their dearly beloved.

Tav doesn't speak after that. Not for a few days- and when they finally break their silence, it is to Halsin and Astarion. It's to tell them what happened, to tell them they were sorry for not talking sooner, snd Halsin and Astarion are more than understanding and comforting to their love.

Tips for “Good-Aligned” Astarion Romance/Approval

I see a lot of people saying they find it difficult to romance Astarion on more good-aligned play throughs (though bg3 doesn’t have an alignment system but you all get my drift).

I was able to do so fairly easily, on my first play through as a goody two shoes (or as much so as a Dark Urge can get) and I noticed some things that may have made it easier to do without sacrificing any in character goody-two-shoes decisions.

And this is the biggest one. Be nice to him, and be incredibly patient with him. Even though he occasionally expresses disgust with you acting “sweet”, overall being a saccharine ball of love to him wins you way more points than you’ll lose by being kind. He values positive personal interaction way more than he values agreeing with your decisions,

He does actually approve of some good decisions: petting owl bears and feeding an urchin in Baldur’s Gate being some examples. And more than that, he REALLY approves of tricking your way into peaceful resolutions, to the point where I have gotten many inspiration dice from him simply for avoiding conflicts. Also, any time you have a chance to support someone’s free will, do it. He varies from not having an opinion to approving in most of these cases. So really lean into those good actions he tends to approve of, though I admit they usually are later in the game.

Sometimes he’ll disapprove of the steps you take to make it to a good choice, but approve of the outcome. This applies to things like the hag quest, where you can lose approval but win it back at the conclusion, or through the non-violent path with the Orthon where he disapproves if the peaceful conversation but approves way more of the outcome than he ever disapproved of the conversation.

Be willing to disagree with him, and challenge him, even when it does get you disapproval, because, frankly, the push and very interesting unique dialogue he has with goody-two-shoes PC’s he’s in love with can be fascinating and informative, even if it means running into some bumps here and there.

Remember that this is just some tips for people who find the prospect of keeping Astarion approval high on a good play through daunting or challenging. I know I see a lot of memes and such that make it appear that only evil and/or grey characters can really get into this romance when I’ve seen firsthand that it is just as cool and possible with even the goodest of beans, so I wanted to share. But it is not, IN ANY WAY, meant to be a guide on how one should romance him. There are multiple paths to romance that can be played differently to create very custom PC/Companion ship dynamics in this game, and I encourage you to explore whichever narratives will be the most fun or fulfilling to you personally.

neurodivergent and queer people how are we feeling?

Those forgotten by the gods

thinking

🧸🧸🧸🧸🧸🧸

Gael: Enchanted with anti-inflammatory properties 👍✨

Art by yc24720223 on Twitter

Because someone requested the whole thing in one - your wish is my command ;)

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