I like to imagine Simon’s favorite hobby is asking Grace whatever random question pops into his head whenever Grace is at his most vulnerable, solely for the amusement of watching him get increasingly flustered until he can’t get another word out.
(working on this again after having to rush to finish work for finals has been a balm on my weary soul, but also i feel slightly insane bc i was tired of drawing and i am recovering by drawing🧎)
When Simon finally opens up to Grace about his past, being in prison for 16 years, telling him about Filament Station, about Eden- Grace suddenly stops him.
Because Grace is very good at math.
Simon seems to be in his early 30’s… meaning if he was locked up for 16 years he could have been anywhere from 13-18 at the time of the attack. Grace had been a middle school teacher. He had taught that exact age range, before watching those same kids that he taught grow and go to the high school in the next building over.
The idea of one of his kids being held responsible for 65 deaths and then sentenced to prison is enraging enough. The more he learns about the cult Simon was raised in- it sets off every alarm Grace had ever had as a teacher.
The fact that Simon was a child soldier and Grace was a child educator is not talked about enough.
I need Simon to be ‘forgiven’ by someone who understands that he was just a kid who had been groomed by a cult
Reading a bloodymary fanfic while shaking my head so people know I understand that Grace is entirely narratively fulfilled by exclusively platonic relationships, and it isn't necessary nor a "fix" of the original story, which was perfect and would only have been made worse by a forced romantic plotline.
This is very silly, I apologize~ Like many of my other doodles, this is probably an AU where Luffy has parents who raise him (at least for a while?).
I'm not good at drawing comics/ sequential art - both consistency and transitions between panels aren't my forte, but I hope you can still follow along! I also hope Dadan is somewhat recognizable in my style.
I might be coming back to this for edits to fix some of the inconsistencies since Crocodile looks different in each panel *lol*
I'm generous god, If you like them you can use them :) but please don't sell them.
If you want donate something feel free to do it, it is always very nice for me
I think it's neat that we actually have records of how these characters wrote and operated in the world, so I did some digging and tried to organize everything of note. Categories include "The Durgetash Story," "Minutia of Death Cult Office Politics," "That's Like Really Fucked Up, Man," "Gaslight Gatekeep Gortash," and "Miscellaneous Musings."
The Durgetash Story
Test Mission with Gortash (Durge)
Durge self-righteously writes in his diary about Bhaalist artifacts being taken by normies. He plans to test Gortash's skills by doing a fun little heist with him. He also mentions that Gortash was the person who told him about the artifacts in the first place, which sounds like a date to me.
The True Life of ‘Lord’ Gortash
Biography outline found on skeleton in Wyrm’s Rock prison—presumably killed by Gortash. Big fan of “The Black Hand of Bane… Shakes the Bloody Hand of Bhaal."
Report on Activities of Enver Gortash (Bilvoy Reede)
Sharran spy caught Durge and Gortash meeting with Helsik.
Devil’s Fee Observer’s Report (Himberloo)
A spy reports on Durge and Gortash leaving Helsik’s shop. Gortash says to Durge, “What did I tell you? If Helsik can get us into the House of Hope, she can get us into Mephistar, too.” Is this the only canon spoken pre-tadpole Durgetash dialogue we have?
Prayer for Forgiveness (Durge)
Speaks for itself.
Scrapbook of Letters (Gortash, found in a locked chest in his parents’ house, written in code)
Speaks for itself.
Heroic Portrait of Gortash
Game text reads: “An admittedly flattering painting of Lord Enver Gortash, whose face here has a kind of simeon cunning silhouetted by light.” I'd like to believe Durge is thinking this.
Minutia of Death Cult Office Politics
To Take Control (Gortash)
Private memoir notes found in a bank vault. Gortash reveals that he stole someone else’s plan for the death cult thing from the Mephisto vault, but like, it’s his plan now.
The Grand Design (Gortash, dictated)
Explanation of the mind flayer’s Grand Design and self-affirmation that Gortash could totally do it better.
Memoir Notes with Recent Addenda (Gortash)
Exposition. He refers to Durge as “the Bhaalspawn.”
Your Kind of Curiosity (Ketheric Thorm)
Ketheric found a fun little thingamajig for his evil coworker :)
Studies of the Elder Brains (Scribe/Gortash)
Scribe writes about the brain being weak to unexpected variables. Gortash notes in his own hand that he’ll need unexpected allies.
Next Steps (Gortash)
More memoir notes and scheming. He doesn't do all-caps often, but it's really funny when he does: “… effectively under our—MY—control."
Journal of Enver Gortash
He calls Orin a “loose catapult” because cannons don’t exist yet and speculates about the “random collection of shabby adventurers.” If they kill Orin and bring him the Netherstones, he writes that he will “find suitable positions for them in the new order to follow. Not the illithid’s Grand Design, of course, but the Golden Reign of Gortash. Yes, that has a nice ring to it.”
Gortash Black List (Gortash)
He needs the patriars who responded “can’t make it” to the coronation e-vite to come by his office so he can dispose of them too.
Note from Gortash (Gortash, Morphic Pool)
Left for allied player character before the brain confrontation, signed “G” like some of his other personal correspondence. He writes, "Mind the cranium rats, but save your spells for later. You're going to need them." If only he'd looked after himself in the same way.
That's Like Really Fucked Up, Man
The Ultimate State (Gortash, found both in his office and in his childhood home where he tadpoled his parents)
Nihilistic trauma manifesto. Really explains a lot about the character.
Regarding the Gondian Gnomes (Gortash)
Gortash discusses how the Gondians do not belong to the Absolute plot; they’re HIS. Includes the quote “I want those gnomes aware of what they are doing and deeply unhappy about it," which might be my favorite thing ever said or written by this character.
Receipt for Painting (Gortash)
Gortash writes on the receipt of a painting he commissioned of Bane, “Now he is doubly immortal.” I like how Gortash is duplicitous and manipulative out of necessity, but genuinely devout to Bane and his teachings. Also to Durge. His total earnestness makes his behavior even more fascinating.
How to Build a Watcher (Lu Lu Forza)
There are decapitated bodies inside those things.
Curfew Confidential Orders (Gortash)
He plans to go neighborhood by neighborhood and just tadpole literally everyone. The worst part is, if you've read The Ultimate State, you know he genuinely believes he's doing the best thing for society.
Gaslight Gatekeep Gortash
Vulnerable Patriars (Black Hand of Loyalty)
Gortash's Banite underling made him a helpful list of patriars in order of who would be easiest to blackmail/bribe/threaten.
Stolen Chickens (?)
Sent to Wyrm’s Rock in the mail, complaining about how Gortash seized a random citizen's chickens “for nastiness’ sake."
Soot-Stained Letter (Gortash)
Gortash asks the fireworks guy to stop manufacturing smokepowder. This one is interesting because I don't exactly understand why he's doing this. Maybe he's just moved on from that part of his plan (placing explosives in refugee children's toys to sow fear in the masses), and knows that everyone working in production will be tadpoled soon enough.
Schematic Compendium (Gortash)
Various designs for Gortash’s inventions. Most concepts are originally Gondian, but then “amended and expanded by notes in Gortash’s precise handwriting.” Includes plans for hellfire engines, the decapitated head thing in the illithid colony, and the Zoom call on the submarine.
Regarding Portrait Production (Ettvard Needle)
Newspaper guy questions Gortash’s implied request that the presses be stopped until his portrait by Oskar Fevras shows up. Hilariously, we see in the Act 3 intro that Gortash eventually gave up on Fevras and found another painter. This can be potentially made even funnier depending on player choices in Act 1.
Prison Log (Gortash)
Includes a memorandum from Gortash that says only he gets to decide who leaves jail. We then learn that someone named Earspoon, charged for indecent exposure, was absolved and released with prejudice on the order of Lord Gortash.
Populism and Propaganda (Black Hand of Loyalty)
Report for Gortash about populist slogans tested in the city to reinforce his tyrannical rule. This is ironic for obvious reasons.
Political Influence Plan (Gortash)
Babygurl is scheming.
Our Protector: Lord Gortash (Poster)
Game text reads: “This poster names Gortash the city’s saviour, a devoted patriot of Baldur’s Gate, and a friend to the fearful and downtrodden.”
Orders to Black Gauntlet Rives (Gortash)
Calling for shutdown of Watcher Phase One because there’s an unexpected tadpole shortage (thanks Durge). Includes the quote “you are authorized to execute individual troublemakers and stack their corpses somewhere visible as an example.”
My Gratitude (Gortash)
Notes to Franc Peartree that Larian patched after release. Old versions are Haarlep levels of horny and seem more chaotic than his other writings, even when he's trying to sweet-talk. New versions are much more aloof, manipulative, and threatening. Larian’s explanation: “To better align with his tone throughout the game.” I actually agree, though it’s a shame to lose this quote: “Weapon distribution continues like a parent saving their drowning child: swimmingly.” We do get the new quotes: “That, Mr. Peartree, was the carrot. I often find it makes an excellent bedfellow to the stick” and “I saw you spent the last payment with exceptional wisdom: your new abode in the Lower City is rather lovely… I would be so distraught were you to love this beautiful home to a terrible accident of fate. Discretion is a key pillar of continued home ownership, after all.”
My Good Friend Ettvard (Gortash)
Threatening the newspaper again. He literally wrote the words “tsk tsk."
An Archduke’s Leadership (Gortash)
Several pamphlets littered around the city that each describe a different policy. The last sentence of every pamphlet is “No policy can be more important.”
Aquatic Labor (Gortash)
Gortash pats himself on the back for hiring a handler for the Iron Throne sahuagin. Includes the quote, “And just that easily, your underwater labour problems are solved.” Incredible sentence. He signs this one “Lord Gortash” which makes me think he’s especially proud.
A Negotiation (Gortash)
Found on a skeleton, presumably the recipient. She asked Gortash for a raise. Includes the quote, “While I appreciate candour in my direct reports, some of your remarks might be regarded as disrespect. I’m going to give you a chance to rethink your position. I’m sure if you think hard, you’ll come around to my way of thinking.”
Miscellaneous Musings
Concerning Orin the Red (Durge)
Durge writes rather poetically about his annoying little sister.
Baldur’s Gate Temple of Bhaal (Scribe Yanthus)
Gortash wants Yanthus to find the Temple of Bhaal. Somehow, this is impossible. Probably for the best, especially in a non-Dark Urge playthrough (if you know you know).
