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.
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 encounters Viva's Missing Person poster and wonders if anyone is missing her.
Start at the beginning!
AO3 Link
Characters/Pairings: Named Tav/Shadowheart, tadfools, Halsin
Word Count: 876 words
Warnings: None :)
Though the forest was nearly as dark as the Shadow Curse, that didn’t seem to bother the party as they worked their way toward the Creche. Though Shadowheart's singular focus had dissipated as they traveled away from Shar's influence, she still felt the sting of that night.
Even with her eyes glued to the forest floor in front of her, Shadowheart heard Viva quicken her pace to catch up with Halsin.
“Are we near Muscadine Grove?” Viva asked.
The rhythm of the druid’s steps slowed. “I believe so.”
“Is The Dusky Pearl Inn still around here?”
The smile in Halsin’s voice didn’t have to be seen. “I didn’t know you were familiar with the area.”
“I used to come here with my father, and a few of my siblings have lived in this region. My brother, Alonso, even lived in Reithwin for a time before the Shadow Curse took effect.”
Halsin chuckled. “Ah. One of Crescencia’s children. I should have guessed as much. I’ve yet to meet one of your siblings who failed to inherit your mother’s beauty.”
Something in Shadowheart prickled, but she dared not lift her eyes to the scene before her.
Shadowheart could almost picture the spark in Viva's eye and the smirk she tried to suppress as she giggled. “Halsin, I don’t want to know which of my family members you’ve been to bed with.”
Deep, rich laughter answered her. “Very well, then. They do say ignorance is bliss.”
The paint used for the plump purple grape on the inn’s sign was infused with mica powder so it sparkled in the torchlight, Viva explained to no one in particular.
Shadowheart wouldn’t have cared if the sign depicted Selune herself. The prospect of a night under a roof sounded heavenly.
Viva paused at the doorway and looked back to Lae’zel. “Hood up.”
“Is it not your custom to remove head wear when entering a building?” Lae’zel asked, measured between curiosity and offense.
“Normally yes,” Viva answered, her tone just as calculated. “However, a githyanki regiment overtook the temple of the main deity in this area and a kith’rak recently destroyed the bridge connecting this town to the rest of humanity.”
Lae’zel donned her helmet and gloves rather than lifting her hood. Every now and then Shadowheart could see her piercing gaze assessing the potential threat of the farmers seated at the bar or the parents trying to corral their three young children.
“You’ve got business!” One of the farmers called over the bar.
A young elven woman poked her head through the kitchen door. “Welcome to the—Vivi!” She dropped her dishcloth and darted around the bar, flinging her arms around Viva. “¡Todos han estado tan preocupados por ti! Por favor, dime que estás bien.”
“Estoy bien,” Viva confirmed, voice tight. She seemed almost as surprised as the woman who embraced her. “No sabía que trabajas aquí.”
The woman kept her hold on Viva's arms as she chatted away in Elvish. She gestured over to the notice board with her head. Shadowheart spotted a missing person poster with Viva’s face on it. The likeness was remarkable, but Shadowheart supposed that most elves had centuries to hone any craft they’d like to be good at.
Finally, Viva wriggled free and turned to the party. “This is my niece, Alyndra. Alyndra, these are my traveling companions." Alyndra’s golden eyes widened as she took in the party. Viva added, “They’re all friends."
"Pero es un—"
"Una amiga de nuestro lado. We were hoping to rent some rooms for the night before we move on.”
“Claro que sí, pero, Vivi...”
“My friends are tired. ¿Quizás podemos discutirlo después de alquilar los cuartos? Podemos pagar.”
Alyndra shook her head and began counting the party. “There are eight of you. We have four more beds in the big room and two privates that can fit two each. It's late enough I'll let you take them all for the price of one. Vivi can stay with me in my room. We need to catch up."
As the keys were distributed, Shadowheart nicked Viva's portrait from the notice board.
Though she wasn't sure if it was kindness or the fact that none of them wanted to be in the same room with her, Shadowheart didn't mind the privacy to study the poster.
MISSING
Viva Faintree
Half-elf
Black hair with red sections on left side
Distinctive red birthmark on left side of face and neck
Last seen leaving The Friendly Arm Inn on 20 Eleasis in the direction of Baldur's Gate. Please contact Vincent Faintree of Baldur's Gate or House Veraverde with any information.
Underneath, Alyndra had scrawled a note indicating that she could also accept information as a relative of the missing person.
Shadowheart ran her finger over the sketch of Viva's face. Of course her family would move mountains to bring her home. The love she'd been raised in shone through in every word and gesture.
She thought back to Viva's question in the tent the night she'd given her the idol. Was there anyone in the cloister anxious for her return? Not for the artifact, but for her own sake? She brought the poster to bed, scraping and searching through what memories she had until they faded into dream.
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 faces betrayal as her companions wilt under the forces of her morally-questionable goddess.
Start at the beginning!
AO3 Link
Characters/Pairings: Named Tav/Shadowheart, tadfools, Halsin
Word Count: 1157 words
Warnings: No major TWs, just effects of shadow curse and everyone being grumpy
Was this how it would look, how it would feel, when Lady Shar wrapped the world in her dark embrace?
The monochrome wasteland stretched before them, silent, still.
"Chilling," Karlach murmured.
Shadowheart couldn't bring herself to agree. She put one foot, then another into the Shadow Curse. Not so bad as Halsin had said; almost nothing at all, in fact. People were prone to exaggerate claims against Lady Shar. Why should this be an exception?
She found herself at the head of the group. Unusual, but no matter. As she continued, even the sound of her companions trailing behind faded.
Opening her mouth to call them forward, Shadowheart saw Gale's hunched posture, Karlach's staggering steps. Even the mighty Lae'zel had a greener tint to her skin than usual.
"Just a moment!" Halsin called. He knelt down and pulled torches from his pack, handing one to each party member before looking back to Shadowheart. "Some assistance would be much appreciated. The curse takes effect quite quickly."
She didn't understand; if nothing else, curiosity brought her back to her wilting companions. As light washed over their faces, so did relief. Odd.
Wyll offered Shadowheart a torch, but she shook her head. "It doesn't seem to affect me the same way."
"Will you at least stay close?" Viva asked, her face wan.
Shadowheart agreed. She couldn't shake the memory watching Viva fade on the cold, hard ground.
Staying near the group proved more difficult than expected. Even with the torches, sluggishness defined the party. No one chattered like they had before. But silence was no problem. Silence was a core aspect of Shar's nature, just as darkness, just as stillness. Discomfort was no problem either. Pain was Shar's favored instrument for leading her followers to strength and wisdom. When all could be endured, all could be released.
Here in the place Shar had wrought with her own hand, the thought materialized. She sees my efforts. She's protecting me from this curse so that I can return to the Gate that much faster. Perhaps her success in this mission would convince the Mother Superior to permit her to face her trials and become a Dark Justiciar.
There had been signs, had there not? Finding the temple, her luck in the forge, the idol nestled between clothes and blankets in her pack. Halsin had advertised the underdark as a way to bypass this place, yet they still found itself at its precipice.
They had entered the region in the late afternoon, but here there was no distinction between day and dusk. The party stopped when they found themselves fatigued, though Shadowheart felt they had only just begun. They ringed the campsite with torches. How were they to sleep with so much light?
The sharp sweetness of warmed wine filled the air, only growing sweeter as Wyll and Viva added overripe fruits.
Lae'zel waved Shadowheart over to the campfire where everyone had gathered.
"We must turn back," Lae'zel declared. "I grew up on a barren meteor less hostile than this place. The Zaith'isk will be able to purify each of us. I swear it."
Viva handed Shadowheart a cup of mulled wine. "Vino caliente con peras y manzanas," she whispered.
Shadowheart didn't take in the new vocabulary. She glanced down into the cup. As much as she loved wine, the scent struck her as saccharine, distasteful. "We can't turn back."
"Well, we certainly can't move forward," Astarion grumbled.
"Listen. Lady Shar is protecting me from this curse. If all of you could get off your high horses and pray a little bit, maybe—"
"Pray? To Shar?" Halsin spat. "Perhaps you're farther gone than I feared. Shar is the reason there's a curse on this land to begin with. Do you think she cared about the souls that once inhabited any of the skeletons we passed today?"
Anger flared within Shadowheart. "We are different. We are bringing an artifact that the Mistress of the Night desires. She has reason to protect us, to favor us even."
Wyll rolled his eyes. "You, Shadowheart. She has reason to protect you, but you will not make it on your own."
Did none of them understand? "You wouldn't make it anywhere without me." She reached into her pocket and held out the prism. "This very artifact is the only thing between us and full ceremorphosis."
The artifact pulsed with orange light and shot out of Shadowheart's hand. All eyes locked on it as it hovered, inching slowly away from Shadowheart before pausing in front of Viva.
"PUT THAT BACK!" Shadowheart shouted. Her foot pounded against the ground. Shar's power welled within her.
Viva backed away, shaking her head. "I'm not doing anything." Her voice quavered.
The artifact followed her. It lowered an inch or two, as if inviting her to grab it.
"No. No!" Viva crossed her arms, tucking closed fists into her sides.
Shadowheart lunged forward. The artifact swiftly floated out of her way and she stumbled. "Take it, Viva," she growled. "Take it and give it back to me."
The object allowed Viva to wrap her hands around it and pull it to her.
Shadowheart placed her own hands on the artifact. "Good. Thank you." She pulled. The object would not budge. "Let go."
Viva shook her head. "I'm not controlling it. See?" She lifted her hands and the metallic shell remained suspended in the air.
Shadowheart tugged it once, twice, three times to no avail. "Karlach?"
The tiefling shook her head. "Negative. Not fucking with that."
"The little ball-thing has spoken," Astarion chuckled. "It seems Vivaly gets to decide where we go."
Once again, Viva shook her head and backed further away, as if she could run and hide from the responsibility.
Halsin stepped forward. Placed a hand on her back and guided her away from the edge of camp. "La decisión es tuya."
Their eyes met. Viva shook like a leaf as she answered. "Volvemos en la mañana."
When everyone relaxed, Shadowheart knew her decision.
"Coward," she hissed. It was then she noticed the wine cup where she had left it. Within a moment, its contents splattered across Viva's boots.
Neither Viva's face nor her actions betrayed any response. Just a hundred-yard stare and the measured rise and fall of her breathing as she put the artifact into her own pocket.
That night, Shadowheart wondered once or twice if she was in the wrong. It was the whole group against her it seemed. Not one of them was willing to consider requesting Shar's aid, not even Viva. Shadowheart had never made a fuss over Gale's fucking Mystra or Wyll's pact with a literal devil. Karlach had practically slobbered all over those soul coins and hadn't cared how they were made. Astarion had spent hundreds of years seducing people only to turn them over to a vampire lord. No. Darkness lived within all of them. The oddity lay in her companions' addiction to the light.
