I'm MiscreantKittens or MsKittens even "hey you!"; she/her
I started this blog to post about my writing, which is mostly Baldur's Gate 3 fic at the moment, and to reblog related and/or unrelated things.
ao3 link and descriptions of my past and current works
Pfp is my Tav, Viva, as portrayed by the lovely, talented, and hardworking @araneapeixes.
I like to yap, especially about my tavs. Please feel free to assist me in yapping any time. <3
Will update this with tags if/when that becomes relevant.
thank you ao3 for being an archive and not an algorithm. thank you for letting me like things without consequences, thank you for being free with no ads, thank you for having lawyers to defend our freedom of speech. thank you tag wranglers. thank you to all authors and thank you ao3
In the spirit of encouraging people to comment on fanfics while also making it easier to do so, I feel obliged to share a browser extension for ao3 that has quite literally revolutionized the comment game for me.
I present to you: the floating ao3 comment box!
From what I've seen, a big problem for many people is that once you reach the comments at the bottom of a fic, your memory of it miraculously disappears. Anything you wanted to say is stuck ten paragraphs ago, and you barely remember what you thought while reading. This fixes that!
I'll give a little explanation on the features and how it works, but if you want to skip all that, here's the link.
Edit: Yes, this also works on mobile!
The extension is visible as a small blue box in the upper left corner.
(Side note: The green colouring is not from the extension, that's me.)
If you click on it, you open a comment box window at the bottom of your screen but not at the bottom of the fic. I opened my own fic for demonstrative purposes.
The website also gives explanations on how exactly it functions, but I'll summarize regardless.
insert selection -> if you highlight a sentence in the fic it will be added in italics to the comment box
add to comment box -> once you're done writing your comment, you click this button and the entire thing will automatically copied to the ao3 comment box
delete -> self explanatory
on mulitchapter fics, you will be given the option to either add the comment to just the current chapter or the entire fic
The best part? You can simply close the window the same way you opened it and your progress will automatically be saved. So you can open it, comment on a paragraph, and then close it and keep reading without having the box in your face.
Comments are what keep writers going, and as both a writer and a reader, I think it's such an easy way of showing support and enthusiasm.
After having a mind flayer tadpole placed in her skull, the sorceress Viva Faintree must reluctantly use her powers to return to normal levels of being a hazard to others and achieve her ultimate goal: go home and be done with this. And if that pretty cleric gave her a kiss or two along the way, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.
Chapter Summary
Viva finds an old friend in the astral prism.
Start at the beginning!
AO3 Link
Characters/Pairings: Named Tav/Shadowheart, the Guaridan
Word Count: 2957 words
Warnings: trickery and manipulation
Illusory flames floated around the goddess' near-skeletal frame as she spoke. Her deep voice reverberated through the chamber. "You are permitted to look upon me. You are invited to kneel."
Even as someone who had willingly inserted a mind flayer tadpole into her own head and eaten a flower that had almost killed her, Viva had enough self preservation to accept that invitation.
"These attendants you keep, you taught them well, my child. My Lae'zel."
"You know me!" Lae'zel gasped.
Vlaakith nodded, citing praise from Lae'zel's previous commanders before her towering form swooped down to Viva, mere inches from her face. "Istik. You bear that which is ours. But are you friend, or are you thief?"
"Neither. The artifact has chosen me for some reason. It's mine by rights."
Vlaakith's form flew back to its upright position. "No!" she shouted. Stones tumbled from above. "To own something is to know it. You do not even know its name. That 'artifact' you carry, the Astral Prism, is corrupted. There is someone inside."
Viva's attention sharpened. Vlaakith knew about the woman within the artifact? The raven-haired warrior managed to evade Viva's every line of inquiry about her identity.
"Their mind is warped, broken—a blight."
Viva could almost see the needle-like teeth of the tadpole dangling above her eye, hear the guardian encouraging her, instructing her on how to consume the tadpole step by painful step. If Shadowheart hadn't come for her….
The booming voice broke Viva's thought. "They are an agent of the Grand Design, sent to sabotage the Astral Prism—our last defense against the return of the Illithid Empire. Kill them. Do this, and I will cleanse you and your allies." The goddess' image wavered, as if a mirage fueled by the room's rising temperature, and turned to Lae'zel. "Do this and ascend."
Another gasp. "Ascension? My queen. I am not worthy of the honor, but I will bear this burden." The tip of Lae'zel's dagger poked through Viva's robe, her threat an equally pointed whisper. "Refuse and you will know my fury."
But what ascension would there be if they were all mind flayers?
"I can't. The person inside protects us from the Absolute." Viva's next idea was risky. She knew better than to question Queen Vlaakith outright, but she wanted to know. She bowed slightly deeper, casting her eyes to the floor. "Even if she's lying, even if you can assure that we will be cleansed, surely such a task is above the station of simple istiks. I would think that a goddess as powerful as yourself could quash the person inside the Astral Prism with a single breath."
Vlaaktih's magnanimous gaze sharpened like a spear and pierced Viva's soul as she lifted her head. "Perhaps I misheard you."
The dagger's tip sunk a millimeter into Viva's back. Two voices echoed, one from within and one from behind: Don't.
A shiver ran up Viva's spine. Too risky, indeed. "Forgive me. I was banned from our local temple as a child. Too...volatile. It seems I should have learned a bit more reverence. Who am I to question your command?" She lowered her head once more.
Vlaakith gave her instructions: enter the prism, kill the guardian, disregard every word, cut out her lying tongue if they must. As the goddess flamed hotter and hotter, the prism flew out from Viva's bag, hovering over the device installed over the mosaic on the floor. When Vlaakith had burned away her image, only the artifact remained. As the party approached, its sides unfolded, revealing only a ball of light at its center. Viva reached out her hand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Light as air, they tumbled against the rocky surface of an asteroid. Viva righted herself with surprising ease, dusting off her robe before raising her eyes to the surroundings.
If someone had told her this was the place where the Weave originated, Viva would have believed them. Multicolored stars and galactic clouds littered a violet sky. The skeleton of something gigantic floated a few hundred yards away.
"Home," Lae'zel breathed, gazing reverently at the sky above them.
So, the artifact was a pocket dimension linking to the astral plane. Fascinating. How did it work? Was it their guardian who possessed the power to control it, or some higher force? Viva had to write all this down when—if—they made it out of here.
The ground below them was a grimmer sight. Bodies of slain githyanki warriors littered the asteroid. Their armor differed significantly in style from any Viva had seen in creche Y'llek. Their wounds were open, but the blood was dry. How old were these bodies?
Beyond them lay a cave entrance, barricaded with a shimmering magic similar to that which had blocked off the inquisitor's chamber.
Viva turned to Lae'zel. "Please, let me talk to her first. Perhaps we can glean more information for your queen before we kill her." She hated to lie to her ally, but what she needed was time to find a way out of this. There had to be a way out of this.
Though her eyes narrowed with discontent, Lae'zel nodded her agreement.
The guardian's voice echoed through their heads. "So you came in spite of all my warnings. Disappointing. Come, Viva. We will talk in private, just the two of us."
"I'm not leaving my companions behind."
"Do you think me a fool? You are the one in charge, aren't you? I will not have anyone else."
In charge? Certainly not. The stakes were the same for each of them when it came down to it, and everyone played their part. Viva turned back to her companions.
Astarion rolled his eyes. "Don't look at me."
A deep frown etched against her face, Lae'zel lowered her head. "If you are not out within ten minutes, I will find a way to break this barrier and avenge you in Vlaakith's name."
Reassuring. Viva felt herself blanche a little; she hadn't considered that the guardian may try to kill her. If she screwed this up, the party may well have Vlaakith and the guardian after them. Her heart began to pound.
Shadowheart stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't look so worried. If anyone can charm their way out of this, it's you." Her lips pursed for a moment as a smirk played at her eyes. "We'll discuss the 'in charge' thing later. Can't let your ego get any more inflated than it already is."
Did they think she was trying to boss them around? Sure, she went out as often as she could and a lot of the time she did the talking. It was only because she wanted to be useful. Much of the time people found her non-threatening enough to say things they otherwise wouldn't. Maybe she'd missed something. Was it a class thing? Did they think she looked down on them? Did they—
Taking both of Viva's shoulders, Shadowheart gave her a squeeze. "Breathe. I'm just trying to make you laugh. It's going to be alright. We'll see you in just a moment."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Viva stepped through the barrier, trying to memorize the sensation of Shadowheart's hands grounding her. It would be alright. She walked through the cavern until it opened up again, purple skies and—trees? A recreation of their camp near Emerald Grove planted onto the surface of the asteroid.
"Perhaps I shouldn't have trusted you." The guardian's voice sounded smaller outside her head. She stood several yards away, back turned to Viva as she surveyed the sky before her. "Time and time again I told you to stay away from the githyanki, but you just couldn't help yourself, could you? And now you've come here to murder me."
She turned to face Viva.
Viva recognized the stern woman and her commanding presence, but not the scars that cracked her face and wrapped around her neck. Her hair was tied up in twin buns, unlike the last times, and now Viva saw the short tips of her ears. The guardian hadn't been lying when she said they were alike. Something itched in the back of her mind, but she couldn't place it.
No time for that. "I haven't come to murder you. I just want to talk, to help if I can."
The guardian shifted and smirked. "Very well, what would you like to know before you take my life?"
"Why does Vlaakith want you dead? Maybe we can figure out a way to evade her. She doesn't seem to be able to kill you herself, after all."
The guardian answered with a bitter laugh. "Vlaakith wants me dead because I know her secret. It is the same power I use to protect you and your companions from the Absolute. It cannot be ceded to her."
How could a single half-elf have stumbled upon the secret of a centuries old goddess?
"I can hear your thoughts," the guardian interrupted. "You think I'm lying. Vlaakith warned that I would try to deceive you. But what reason would I have to do that?"
Hear her thoughts? Bullshit.
"It's not 'bullshit,'" the guardian answered. "You want to know what happened to my face. As a token of good faith, I'll explain. I've had these scars since I was a girl. I don't care to…think on that time."
Something else shifted in Viva's thoughts. She noticed the glinting green of the guardian's eyes. Familiar.
"I feared I would frighten you more than you already were so I…altered my appearance a bit. But, if I must die, it would be most fitting to die as myself."
Viva stared at the woman. It couldn't be. It didn't make sense. But what had made sense about Jen's disappearance? Viva fought to keep her composure. "Who are you?"
The guardian furrowed her brow. "I've told you. I'm an adventurer from Baldur's Gate, just like you, infected, just like you. I'm on your side. I swear it." She paused, holding Viva's gaze. "I have been since the very beginning."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A lazy column of smoke rose from the upcoming hill. They were almost there.
Viva had spent much of the journey in the cart with her father's books and the camping supplies. For the final day of travel, she'd asked to ride with him on Sundrop, the chestnut mare they'd rented for the journey. She peeked around his shoulder and watched the stone cottage come into focus with each step. Cozy, like a storybook. As they approached, the family appeared, one by one.
All three had long, dark hair and kindly faces. All three wore symbols of Selune around their necks or stitched into their clothing. The little girl jumped and waved. She looked like a black and white bunny with her hair in twin knots atop her head.
"Welcome!" Mr. Hallowleaf called. He cast a spell and spoke to Sundrop in a language Viva didn't recognize before he began undoing her harness.
"So glad you made it safely! You must be exhausted," Mrs. Hallowleaf smiled. "Come, let's get you settled. Supper is almost ready." Her eyes locked on her daughter.
Jenevelle had sidled up to the horse, whispering about how strong and lovely she was and extending her hand toward the mare's nose.
"Ahem," Mrs. Hallowleaf coughed. Her daughter ignored her. "Ahem, Jen."
"Oh!" Jenevelle, or Jen, it seemed, glanced up to Viva and her father. "Hello." She turned back to her mother. "Why did you say I shouldn't say anything about her face? Her face is fine."
Heat crept up Viva's cheeks as she buried the left half of her face into her father's back. Now neither she nor her father could ever dismount from this horse. Was it too late for her to beg to go home?
Mrs. Hallowleaf's smile grew tight as she guided her daughter back to her side. She wore the same embarrassed expression that all grown-ups made before telling their kids not to stare. "I told you that if you want Viva to be your friend, you have to be kind and welcoming to her."
Jen turned back to Viva. "I would make friends with you even if you were ugly. But you're not. I don't know why my mum is being so weird. Do you want to see my insect collection? We can't go to the swamp until tomorrow because it's too close to dark now."
A snort of suppressed laughter sounded from in front of Viva, and she knew her chances of going home were none. "Would you really make friends with me even if I was ugly?"
"I guess. Do you like blackberry pie? Mum says it's too hot still, but if you ask, she'll probably let us have some now."
Her father shifted, trying to dismount. "You love blackberry pie, don't you?"
Turning her head fully, Viva nodded. At least if Jen was mean to her she'd get pie out of it.
Jen's sea-green eyes widened, her mouth shaped into a soft o as she took in the deep red birthmark that consumed the left half of Viva's face. "Woah."
Viva flinched.
"That's incredible! You're like one of those moths with an eye pattern on its wings to scare off predators! I have a bunch of those in my collection. Come on!"
As soon as Viva's feet touched the ground, Jen dragged her through the yard and into the house, coming to a sudden halt just short of her bedroom door. "Wait. Do people say you're ugly?"
"Sometimes."
"They're stupid. You should punch them." She grinned. "In the face."
A matching grin stretched across Viva's own lips as she imagined her mother's horror at the advice. She leaned in close and whispered into Jen's ear. "One time I slapped one of my brothers because he was being mean about my face and I electrocuted him with magic."
Pushing Viva into her bedroom, Jen shut the door behind them. "Will you teach me how to electrocute people?"
Viva shook her head. "It was an accident. It wasn't worth it either. Everyone is afraid of me now and I can't make any friends. And even though Félix is," Viva lowered her voice to a whisper again as she repeated the word her father had used to describe her half-brother, "an asshole, it hurt him a lot and he still has scars."
"Oh. Well, if someone else is an asshole to you, you can tell me, and I'll punch them in the face for you. Mum says you're my guest, but I'd rather that you were my friend."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The woman unsheathed her short sword and cradled it in both hands, kneeling in front of Viva.
Horror coursed through her. No. She couldn't. Not if there was any chance—
"Get up. You're not dying today. At least, not by my hand." She took a steadying breath. No outbursts. No distractions. Not here. She extended a hand to help the woman rise.
The corners of the guardian's lips lifted slightly. "Thank you. It seems I was right to put my faith in you after all." She sheathed her sword and accepted Viva's hand. "I…should have known I could trust you. But there is the matter of Vlaakith still, not to mention your githyanki companion. I'll do my best to help."
The guardian began to pace. Viva searched her stride, her posture, the concentrated furrow of her brow, for any other sign of familiarity.
"What is of benefit to us, is that Vlaakith's power is a sham. The knowledge I have will bring about the demise of her empire."
"How? She's literally a goddess. I saw her." Viva searched for traces the features of her old friend in the woman that looked at her now.
"You also saw what lay behind the ruse. Her godlike power comes from the souls of those she claims to ascend. That, and the power that I have stolen from her."
"And what is that power?" Viva still hadn't the faintest idea how anyone, much less…no, still best not to think it…how anyone could get their hands on something so coveted by a goddess.
"The power to resist illithid control. It's how I've been protecting you. I suppose she hoped to extract it from my corpse. Since you spared me that fate, she will come for you. Even if you manage to escape unseen, every githyanki will now stand ready to kill you on sight."
Viva frowned. "You said you were going to help." They were friends. Right?
The loudest explosion yet shook the ground beneath them.
The guardian turned away. "The next attack is long overdue. I can't risk keeping you here. It was your own curiosity got you this far into the mire. I'm sure you'll be able to get yourself back out." She glanced back and smirked. "Always have been, haven't you?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With her next blink, Viva found herself outside the cave again. Lae'zel grasping her shoulders to prevent her fall.
"Speak! Have you killed my queen's enemy?" she demanded.
Stumbling back, Viva shook her head, trying to reorient herself.
"Hta'zith!" Lae'zel cried, unsheathing her sword.
Viva opened her mouth, but there wasn't time. The tadpoles squirmed, sending chills down her spine as they reached out to Lae'zel's own. The memories replayed before her eyes, shaded with all of her newfound hope and trust.
Now it was Lae'zel's turn to stumble. "Vlaakith'ka sivim hrath krash'ht," she murmured. "This woman has woven you a pretty story and you believed her like a child!" A hint of uncertainty lined her expression as she glanced at the others, looking for support. When she was met with silence, she spat at Viva's feet, but sheathed her sword. "Tsk'va! We are leaving. Now!"
4. What hobbies does your Tav have? How did they acquire these interests?
Scrollcrafting is Viva's hobby-turned-profession. She attended the university at Waterdeep in her 20s, but they wouldn't allow her to enroll in classes that required any sort of casting, with the exception of scroll crafting if she promised she wouldn't cast anything. She finds the methodical nature of drawing up the scrolls meditative, and she gets a pretty scroll out of it. During her time in Waterdeep, she worked up from shop assistant in a magic shop to being allowed to do scroll design. When she returned to Baldur's Gate she found a Scrollkeeper who allowed her to make low-level scrolls to completion including the casting component. Viva had not worked there for a few years leading up to the events of the game, but still made and sold spell scrolls on the side.
Her other hobbies include meditation, reading, and stealing snacks from the kitchen at her mother's house. When she lived in Waterdeep, she would often go to the beach to either swim or take long walks down the shoreline depending on the season.
26. Does your Tav have a treasured item with them? If yes, what is it and why is it special? If no, how do they feel about item sentimentality in general?
Viva lost everything she was carrying when she got picked up by the nautiloid, which is super unfortunate for her because she was in the final stage of moving. I probably should have, but I didn't think extensively about what all she had. I guess I'll do that now.
Aside from regular traveling supplies and toiletries, Viva would have lost her nice dress for parties and other occasions, a set of high-quality scrollcrafting materials, and a fair sum of money she'd gotten from selling scrolls to traders at the Friendly Arm Inn just before being abducted.
I'd say overall Viva falls somewhere in the middle; things are largely just things, but she's very accustomed to her things being her things and not having to share. She does have a few sentimental items at her father's house to later be revealed. :)
Thanks, cookie-druid! 💙
After having a mind flayer tadpole placed in her skull, the sorceress Viva Faintree must reluctantly use her powers to return to normal levels of being a hazard to others and achieve her ultimate goal: go home and be done with this. And if that pretty cleric gave her a kiss or two along the way, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.
Chapter Summary
Shadowheart is right about everything.
Start at the beginning!
AO3 Link
Characters/Pairings: Named Tav/Shadowheart, Lae'zel, Astarion
Word Count: 1451 words
Warnings: Canon-typical violence; brief character death
Chapter 24: Tsk'va!
Their footsteps echoed through the cavernous passageway. The Lathandrian monuments were draped with the flags of Queen Vlaakith's people.
"This place is even more foreboding than the rest of the creche," Viva murmured.
Shadowheart agreed. Perhaps these ruins didn't actively drain the life force from them, but who needed that when even the youngest child in this place had both the skill and the temperament to slit their throats at the slightest offense? That, and the crumbling stone pillars holding up the bridge they had to cross. "I'll breathe easier once we're gone from here."
Lae'zel forged ahead. "I hope—no, expect—the ch'rai will aid us."
Viva leaned in toward Shadowheart, "It's never been that simple before. I don't know why it would be now."
Everything in the ch'r'ai's chamber felt like a trap. A ring of guards stood silently, arranged to have the advantage of altitude as the inquisitor smiled and opened his arms wide at the bottom of the steps. "Ah! Our esteemed guest!" He addressed Lae'zel. "My ardents spoke of one of our kin that escaped the crashing ghaik vessel. Well done to you, child."
His grin was feigned, the camouflage of a predator. Shadowheart recalled enough of her training to know this man swallowed draught after draught of contempt for them. "And to your attendants as well."
The inquisitor nodded toward Astarion. "Astarion Ancunin. A magistrate reported mysteriously missing, then presumed dead about two-hundred years ago."
His eyes turned toward her. "Shadowheart, the Sharran priestess whose background has been exceedingly difficult to research."
A smirk of satisfaction flickered on his lips as he looked to Viva. "And Viva Faintree of Baldur's Gate, offspring of a scholar and a minor noble with a record of magical accidents and incidents a mile long. Welcome."
Viva frowned, taking half a step backward. "Why do you know so much about us?"
"Some of your species say knowledge is power. They are wrong. Knowledge is everything. We have been gathering intelligence on you since your first involvement with this Absolute. Why do you think you were allowed in so easily? We even know it is you, elfling, who bears the weapon." The ch'r'ai extended his hand. "Give it to me, and we will resume our efforts against the Grand Design."
Shadowheart's heart sank as Viva slid her pack off her shoulder and reached her hand in. So many lives lost just for the artifact to return to the githyanki. If she ever returned to her cloister, they would want Viva's head for this. Despite the betrayal, the thought of having to slice through that tender throat made Shadowheart's stomach heave.
Viva paused, pack pressed against her chest, and looked up at the inquisitor. "What is the Grand Design?"
"It is what all ghaik seek. The restoration of the Illithid Empire across the multiverse. For centuries every plot they hatched, we have stopped, but now they are close to succeeding. You were on the ghaik ship—that is their design. Wants, needs, desires: gone. But you hold the key to preventing it. Queen Vlaakith herself has assured me the weapon will stop the ghaik and restore order."
Viva's eyes flickered, as if listening to someone else as the inquisitor awaited her action. Instead, she formed a new question. "What does the weapon do?"
"That is above both our stations to ask. Queen Vlaakith wants it. You will give it to her." The inquisitor's voice scraped with irritation. "Because you are not githyanki, I have humored your questions, but any further discussion is a waste of air. Hand over the weapon."
Viva furrowed her brow and removed an empty hand from the pack. "The artifact protects us from the Absolute. If we leave its sphere of influence, we'll immediately transform. Are you able to keep us with the artifact?"
Striding toward her, the inquisitor's smile shattered. "As I have said before, what is done with the weapon is the prerogative of our queen and our queen alone. Now cease with your insolent questions and produce it before I remove it from your corpse!"
Fury crashed over Shadowheart. She drew her glaive, swinging down just shy of the inquisitor's reaching hand. A warning.
"Stop!" Lae'zel strode forward, lowering the glaive with one hand, resting the other on Viva's shoulder. "Do as the ch'r'ai says," she demanded. "Do not disobey the inquisitor."
Turning her head to Lae'zel, Viva's startled expression melted into regret. "If they've known about us, followed us so closely since the Selunite temple, if they thought that we would turn ghaik any day, why did they not aid you? Is it not your right to be cleansed, Lae'zel?"
Of course it was all a ruse. Shadowheart told them from the beginning that the creche held no hope for them. Despite the fact that she was the only one who'd ever been there, no one seemed to believe her. The artifact would serve best in the hands of a goddess of this plane. But there would be time to gloat and argue her case later.
Lae'zel grimaced. "Tsk'va…." She turned away as if she could hide from the dawning realization.
She drew her sword in unison with the inquisitor. "Tsk'va! I hate that you speak the truth! It seems the corruption runs deeper than I had dared to imagine."
While Astarion darted toward the best vantage point for his arrows, Viva swung her pack over her shoulder and bolted to the middle of the room.
What? The question echoed through Shadowheart's mind as loudly as the cries of the gith warriors as they scurried to battle positions.
Even Lae'zel's eyes flashed with confusion as she side-stepped to position herself between Viva and the inquisitor.
Viva's voice reverberated through the chamber as she cast her spell. The battle cry of the warrior running past Shadowheart deepened and muffled. He hovered midair between suspended steps, landing with an unnatural slowness. Each of the gith warriors moved as if through thick sludge.
But Viva's success came at a cost. Her eyes glazed over. Petrichor lined Shadowheart's next breath. Vines erupted from the stone, tangling around Viva's feet. The plants wrapped around Lae'zel's legs and stopped just short of the inquisitor.
Lae'zel ignored the complication and swung her sword furiously at her opponent. Locked in a poor stance, her strikes clanged ineffectively against his armor.
"That's it, Lae'zel, keep him close!" Astarion called, his laugh bouncing from the walls as an arrow pierced her opponent's bicep.
Lae'zel swung her sword once more as the inquisitor moved toward Shadowheart. Its edge collided into the back of his neck. The fire in his eyes flickered before a purple glow emanated from them.
The psychic link dug into Shadowheart's mind. Viva fell to her knees and Lae'zel flailed as her body pitched forward. Astarion's groan sounded from behind.
As power flowed from each of them to the inquisitor, he towered over Shadowheart, blood gushing down his armor. He was sapping their strength, their speed. A hit with her glaive would be near impossible, but…
Shar imbued her.
Necrotic magic radiated out from Shadowheart. As the inquisitor entered its range, his eyes rolled up into his head. His skin flaked into ash. His armor dropped to the floor with a cacophony of clanging and a dust cloud.
As Shadowheart turned to flash a triumphal grin to her companions, a githyanki arrow flew through her field of vision. It effortlessly pierced its target's robes. The vines faded back into the floor as Viva fell.
Any sense of victory faded as Shadowheart prayed that Shar protect the artifact. For once she was grateful that it was no longer in her possession. But Shar was watching. She couldn't allow her thoughts to linger on Viva for too long. Shadowheart wasn't certain if or for how long she could hide her attachment from the Lady of Loss. Her punishment would be greater the longer she tried to deceive her goddess, and yet…
The necrotic aura dropped. Healing magic pulsed from her as she directed it toward her companions. Arrows shed away from Viva's and Lae'zel's bodies as their wounds healed. One of Astarion's arrows pierced the eye of the gith marksman as Lae'zel charged her next target.
Locking eyes with Shadowheart, Viva stood on shaky legs, smiled faintly, and flashed the hand signal for two before casting lightning from each hand.
Moments later, when the last warrior fell, a rumbling tore through the air. The light of the torches burned sepia as the energy of their flames converged over the githyanki emblem imposed on the center of the floor's mosaic sun.
Vlaakith, githyanki goddess and queen, looked down upon them and grinned.
19. What is your Tav’s greatest desire?
Hmmm, Viva's strongest desire is for peace and stability. To her, the most obvious embodiment of that would be to not have wild surges anymore. She wouldn't wish away her birthmark or her magical aptitude altogether, but the unpredictability of both the timing and intensity of her surges have produced such classic traumas as:
-Electrocuting her brother's face and literally scarring him for life
-Summoning hell hounds into a church
-Becoming a plant for multiple tendays
-And more!
Without the wild magic, she would have lived a much more normal life, but it would have been so far separated from the life that she has that a direct comparison is kind of fruitless.
Thanks, Sil!
These questions can be used as an Ask Game or just answering them all for fun character development!
(Dark Urge edition here)
What was your Tav’s place of birth and raising like?
What relationship did your Tav have with their family/guardian(s) growing up? Has that changed with age?
Did your Tav receive any formal or informal education? If yes, how well did they learn? If no, why not?
What hobbies does your Tav have? How did they acquire these interests?
Did your Tav have any formal or informal employment? If yes, what was their job? If no, how did they make ends meet? How did they feel about it?
What is your Tav’s favourite childhood memory?
What circumstances led to your Tav becoming their Class/Subclass?
Did your Tav have any romantic and/or sexual relationships prior to their illithid adventure? If yes, who was it with and what was it like? If no, how did they feel about being single?
What was your Tav doing when they were taken by the mind flayers?
What would your Tav consider to be their greatest skill? Is this accurate?
What would your Tav consider to be their greatest flaw? Is this accurate?
What opinion does your Tav have about the Gods?
How does your Tav feel about the wilderness?
How does your Tav feel about the city?
What motivates your Tav to either embrace or resist the tadpole?
How does your Tav feel about killing?
How good of a liar is your Tav? How do they feel about lying?
What is your Tav’s greatest fear?
What is your Tav’s greatest desire?
What is your Tav’s greatest regret?
How does your Tav feel about love?
Has your Tav become particularly close to anyone romantically and/or platonically in their journey? If so, who, and what is the relationship like? If no, why not?
What are 2-3 songs that your Tav would relate to?
What first impression does your Tav give off to strangers?
How does your Tav feel about what others think of them?
Does your Tav have a treasured item with them? If yes, what is it and why is it special? If no, how do they feel about item sentimentality in general?
How does your Tav feel about giving and receiving orders?
How well does your Tav function under pressure?
What advice would you give to your Tav?
What are your Tav’s intentions/goals after the end of the game?
