BG3 AU where the 6 companions didn't survive the nautiloid, but a seperate party of 6 did instead
(If vanilla lore is in place)
Astarion: Dead, but could be retrieved from the nautiloid (by Cazador). More of a background event
Like the poor unfortunate souls in Auntie Ethel's house.
Gale: If he dies then he will erupt. So maybe instead he wasn't kidnapped by the nautiloid altogether?
(I picture in this scenerio, he sees the nautiloid outside his window and closes the drapes)
Shadowheart: Retrieved the artifact, but met with the same fate as the rest of her squad.
The other three weren't kidnapped, but could it be they didn't get on the nautiloid?
Karlach and Wyll: Still in Avernus
Lae'zel: Didn't survive the battle
6 slots open for new companions who did survive the nautiloid in their place:
A dwarf? male
A halfling? male
A half-orc? female
A drow? male
Another human? female
Perhaps a dragonborn? female
(had this in the drafts for a while but--)
Also had the idea for 2 different Durges.
spoiler if you haven't played the game!
Instead of The Dark Urge being Bhaal's chosen, what if they were the chosen of Bane or Myrkul? (Still with memory loss, but y'know)
So it would be six different travelers who survived the nautiloid, in an AU where The Dark Urge (player character), was the chosen of a different Death God
Bane's Durge: Usurped by Gortash
The player has the urge to attain authority, through any means
Myrkul's Durge: Overpowered by Ketheric
The player feels the call to necromancy, etc.