MOON DAUGHTER.

— feel my voice rattle your bones as I proclaim our victory!

[slverblood]

#SLVERBLOOD. You who would see me caged — you who would purchase my submission with profane gold! Let every wicked magus, every vile murtherer, each slaver and misery-merchant see: Dame Aylin is watching. She is indomitable. And when her face lights the shadows of your wrongdoing, you are broken by its beauty.

This is an independent roleplaying blog for Dame Aylin Silverblood of Baldur’s Gate 3. This portrayal is canon compliant but headcanon heavy.

carrd // important metas + hcs // aesthetic sideblog // pin board

My name's Holly! I go by she / her & they / them pronouns. My discord is available to mutuals upon request. I can also be found at captturner and galactec.

[ravnloft]

#RAVNLOFT. Ravenloft is a beautiful land. The forests are lush and gorgeous. The sky is a brilliant, unspoiled blue. The mountains are awe inspiring in their simple majesty. The rivers are clean and refreshing, and the air is crisp and sweet. Ravenloft is a land worth living in. It is a land worth fighting for. Don't surrender it to the night. // Independent fantasy multi-muse with a focus on Forgotten Realms, also featuring the Fairy Queen of Sweet Dreams and Lilia Vanrouge, written by Holly ©

[slverblood]

Dash is talking about masquerades. The funny thing is Aylin would actually be less recognizable at a masquerade without the mask pre-curse. Because I have this hc that she did habitually have her face covered and was largely known as the Sword of the Moonmaiden or Moon Daughter pre-curse, hence how "Dame Aylin" can be so completely forgotten. So even with her face uncovered and using her name pre-curse, very few would connect the dots. She'd have fun with it.

Post-curse, she's not keen on covering her face or being coy about her name ever again. She doesn't like the way that contributed to her imprisonment, among other [hand waves] reasons. She'd go for one of those masks on a stick instead. But, she only holds it up to her face when she's playfully flirting with Isobel pretending they're two strangers meeting for the first time lol

[slverblood]

THE SWORDS OF THE LADY.

This post takes a look at the knightly Selûnite order, the Swords of the Lady. This is not a detailed list of their history, members, activities, etc. Rather it's a general overview. Further details will come in future posts.

IN THE DARK YEARS FOLLOWING Netheril's fall, the Moonmaiden's Shard gifted four enchanted rings to Her faithful: Amglaer, Emthandas, Shelmroun, Tilithar. Each ring possesses its own power, but it is only when they are brought together that their true power is known. This knowledge was revealed to Her faithful gathered at Manystreams in 616 DR. Two rings had been unwittingly brought together there: Amglaer on the finger of Randar Rheligonther, Moon Priest of Neverwinter; and Shelmroun on Amtheiera Summerdusk, Lunequeen of Danthaldown. Together, they set off on a quest to unite all the rings. The two became known as the Great Lovers and are still revered as saints by Selûnites nearly a thousand years later. Though they never laid eyes on Emthandas, Tilithar was their wedding gift from Our Lady of Silver.

It is from their legacy that the Swords of the Lady were born. They journeyed with only a handful of companions. Those who still stood when the Great Lovers perished in 686 DR were the first to swear this order's vow over their graves. The order has ever after been committed to upholding the Moonmaiden's teachings, wading into the heart of darkness that it might be driven back, and seeking the four rings that all Her faithful might be woven together by the Moonweb. This final tenet was altered when Selûne made it clear She wished for the rings to journey far on many hands and that doom was appointed for any attempting to possess all four at once. The Swords of the Lady thus keep better track of the rings' movements than any others and they are most eager to bear one — but only one.

Each member is committed to embodying the Moonmaiden's light as truly as mortally possible. Thus, though they are termed a knightly order, order has very little to do with them. Each member is knighted and will be titled as sir / dame / ser, but they possess no hierarchy. There are no ranks or formal leadership. It is at the discretion of each Sword to induct new members — though, of course, if fellow Swords do not recognize the induction then it means little. They are bound by brotherhood, faith, a common vow not some mortal law or leadership. If any of those bonds fail, the order is meaningless. This has led to a great love between its members, for that is what truly binds them, with even members who are complete strangers to one another treating each other as close kin upon first meeting.

Induction into the Swords of the Lady does not preclude one from swearing other vows. They must simply swear no vows that contradict the one held by the order. Indeed, it is common to see a Sword sworn to a Selûnite community / organization or a faithful Selûnite individual. They may even swear themselves to the defense of a particular location or relic. They can thus be found in any corner of Toril touched by Selûne's light — or Shar's darkness. They have been welcomed not only in Faerûn but Kara-Tur, Zakhara, Katashaka, and Maztica. (That they lack a formal hierarchy and tend to move alone or in small groups helps this. Even one Sword can be a formidable opponent, but there's little threat to established order in small numbers.)

As for who may join, the Swords of the Lady do not discriminate, as the Lady of Silver Herself does not. Race, class, background, point of origin — none of this matters. If their heart is true, if their soul is faithful, if their vow is sincere, then they may be knighted. This does not mean it is easy to join, however. A Sword's devotion to the Moonmaiden comes before all else — including their own life and health. This is not a demand the Moonmaiden has made of them. Rather it is the result of ironclad certainty. They know where they go when they die, and so death holds no fear for them. They trust entirely to the Moonmaiden's will. Wherever the Goddess of Wanderers leads, they will follow. Indeed, many spend their lives perpetually on the road, navigating by Her light alone. They are all of them fearless in battle. And, mad. Only the faithful of Tymora can match them in risk-taking and crazed-wits spontaneity.

One of their most famous members was Dame Aylin herself. When she disappeared in Reithwin, the Swords took great pains to find her. They all failed. One made it far enough to sneak through the Grymforge, up to the Gauntlet of Shar, and into the Shadowfell entrance hidden below. She was unable to send word of her findings to her fellows, and she never reemerged. The order did not give up, however, and fought opposite Ketheric and his Dark Justiciars in his ill-fated war. They were called together from every corner of Toril. Never before had they gathered in such great number. That war and the shadow curse unleashed after shattered them. A pyrrhic victory.

In Her grief, Selûne withdrew Her favor from the order. What remained underwent another transformation. For the first time in history, they have become stationery. Though individual members may go afield on specific quests or errands, the order has spent the past century guarding the borders of the shadow-cursed lands. They keep people out, keep cursed beings in, and attempt to prevent the curse from spreading. This is an inherently Sisyphean task, particularly in the shadow of Selûne's waning favor. They have diminished tremendously, becoming little more than legends to the rest of the world. When Isobel raised the Moonshield over Last Light Inn, they were drawn toward it, and they allied with her and the Harpers against the Cult of the Absolute. When Aylin is freed and the curse is broken, they leave those lands at last to end the Elder Brain's threat in Baldur's Gate. They return to Reithwin afterward, however, to help the land heal and protect the Selûnites attempting to reclaim the town. This is a chance for rejuvenation for them as well. Their goddess' favor once more shines upon them.

[slverblood]

( hercules // accepting ) ALARA [ @chaostides ] WROTE: ❝Lighten up.❞ said with a very obvious smirk

ALARA'S SMIRK WAS ANSWERED WITH one of Aylin's own. She breathed deep of Reithwin's air for the first time in a century, allowing the acrid tatters of the curse to coat her lungs. To ignite them would demand no effort at all; her Mother's light blazed in her once more. As she exhaled, a flame caught in her chest and flared over her body, mirrored in and magnified by her silver armor, purging all shadows in their half-packed camp. She seemed no less than a sliver of the moon itself.

❝Is this light enough for my savior bold or do you require more of my radiance?❞ With an arrogant helpfulness, she held out a folded cloth presumably meant to be packed away with Alara's things. ❝Don't worry; I've more than enough to spare. I'll make certain no creature of shadow stows away in your smallclothes.❞

[slverblood]

I'm still scouring dialogue trees, but it's looking to me like the "fealty" entails:

Killing Ketheric

Thwarting the Dead Three's plan with the Absolute and perhaps even specifically killing Ketheric / Orin / Gortash.

If Shadowheart was talked down, telling her about her past + arming her with the Spear of Night; Aylin terms this "a debt repaid"

No less than "a century [...] in devoted gratitude to they who set me free"

And, it seems pc's / Shadowheart's end of the deal entails:

Freeing Aylin, obviously

Killing Ketheric, obviously

^ I would argue also killing the other two Chosen + thwarting their plan

For Shadowheart, resolving her parents' circumstance

Obviously honoring Ayline's camaraderie in this fight and not turning on her but I would argue as well helping her when she's in a tight spot (i.e. when she's reimprisoned during the Ketheric fight + when Lorroakan attempts to reimprison her)

So it's like . . . I'll be your sword in this + future fights for at least a century, and you'll be the hand of friendship loosing my chains so I can fight. With of course the added expectation that they'll be on the same side in a fight / Aylin isn't going to betray her purpose as a paladin of Selûne.

[slverblood]

Ooooo see what's been holding me up about the fealty line for so long and why I've gone back and forth on whether to do anything with it / what to do with it is: 1) the total lack of ceremony surrounding this one singular line she speaks before flying off; 2) fealty is an inherently reciprocal relationship yet the pc seems a completely passive part of this equation. Also the terms of the "fealty" aren't defined. But, it's finally dawned on me. Aylin kneeling in the soul cage as the pc places a hand on her in friendship, thus freeing her, is a posture paralleling the homage. That's the moment fealty came into play. It's also the moment she finally got her sword back which she likewise says the pc has. I'm gonna go scour the dialogue trees to determine what exactly this fealty the pc has unwittingly bound themselves to entails.

[slverblood]

Where's that line where Aylin promises fealty to the pc . . . It's past time I did something with that.

[slverblood]

There it is. Right after she smashes Ketheric's head, she says: "You have my sword — my fealty."

[slverblood]

Where's that line where Aylin promises fealty to the pc . . . It's past time I did something with that.

[scealaiscoite]

fantasy setting prompts ˗ˏˋ ꒰ 🕊️ ꒱

¹⁾ a darkened apothecary illuminated only by the light somehow being emitted by the many bottles and jars lining the walls

²⁾ the banquet hall of a nobleman’s sprawling estate, in the throes of a lavish ball attended by everyone in the townland

³⁾ at a healer’s cabin in the dead of night, overwhelmed by adrenaline and the scent of countless tinctures and remedies as they’re applied

⁴⁾ the last imperial guardpost before crossing into enemy lands

⁵⁾ a run-down inn in the middle of nowhere, half reclaimed by the woodlands around it

⁶⁾ a lake set deep into the mountains with something sinister lurking beneath the surface

⁷⁾ the first port in a new land after weeks at sea trying to get there

⁸⁾ the highest turret in the royal family’s castle on a wintery morning

⁹⁾ the war council’s planning room, the morning after a bloody defeat

¹⁰⁾ an alchemist’s workshop

¹¹⁾ the stables just before daybreak

¹²⁾ the impromptu camp that the leader of the journey had to be begged into allowing after everyone else grew exhausted from being on the road all day

¹³⁾ the army barracks before a battle

¹⁴⁾ the last altar of a dying god’s religion

¹⁵⁾ the empress’s chambers, trussed up in nothing more than silken bedsheets and the morning sunshine

¹⁶⁾ the bedside of an old mentor, right before the end

¹⁷⁾ on the wrong end of a traitor’s sword

¹⁸⁾ a beast’s underground lair, alone and unarmed

¹⁹⁾ the thick of the enemy’s encampment, shackled and unrepentant

²⁰⁾ the mage’s quarters, having seen something there’s no worldly explanation for

²¹⁾ the armoury in the late hours of the night, stinking of polish and tears

²²⁾ in the throne room of the imperial citadel with an ulterior motive

²³⁾ by the scholar’s side in the library, eager for a little more than knowledge

²⁴⁾ an alehouse in the dead countryside, hoping not to be found

²⁵⁾ the executioner’s platform seeking for just one face in the crowd

[abyssail]

CUTTHROAT ISLAND (1995)

A sentence meme featuring lines from the 1995 film, Cutthroat Island. Change pronouns, etc. as needed. Part 3 of 3

"[_] outguns us, yes. He's bigger. But that means he's heavier, don't it? He draws more water. We lure him into the keys and run him aground on the coral heads."

"Best I seal her side with this hot poker. That's what we always do in such cases."

"No offense, gentlemen, but given the circumstances, don't you think this calls for a professional?"

"I'll need surgeon's tools, hot water, sulfur, and clean packing. Some rum might help her pain."

"I've treated you cruel, haven't I?"

"I was willing to go halves with him and his. I will do the same with you and yours."

"You're saying that if I show you mine, you'll share yours with me?"

"You see, the thing is I don't have it, but that doesn't mean we can't keep talking about it."

"See that [_] gets a change of clothes. He's beginning to stink."

"You are clever, [_], but I will catch you."

"First [_] is chasing us. Now your uncle is chasing us. Now, everybody's chasing us. I'm not so happy about this."

"I didn't want to put myself in any physical danger."

"Put a stow in that sail. We don't want to lose her."

"May cruel death leave victims immortal."

"I knew you'd wind up here at some point: that being the cheese and you being the rat."

"The thing is, ma'am, I'm basically a shallow man."

"The thing is I was born poor. My only choice was to become a thief and a liar."

"Then since you lie so easily and are so shallow, I shall lie you in a shallow grave."

"I brim with charity, [_]. I am charity's very soul. And since I am so charitable, I will maroon you on a rock the size of this table instead of splattering your brains across my bulkhead, as you deserve."

"I've fixed the island. I know where it is. It lies through the storm."

"I'll not die in a storm for your pleasure."

"There's no great love between us, but don't do this. Not this close."

"You'll have no need of a compass where you're going! You're going nowhere but down!"

"We'll make for the high ground. Get our bearings."

"Bring that lizard. We'll have it for dinner."

"He betrayed my crew."

"But if you ever are disloyal to me the way you were to [_], it'll be my pleasure to cook you alive and eat you. Now get out of my eyes."

"Did you ever think that I might've taken it to give to you?"

"Sinking up to your waist, and still all you can do is lie."

"I could no longer stand your opinion of me."

"What if I give it to you and you leave me here? You spoke not long ago of marooning me."

"That's the problem with being a thief. Nobody knows when you're telling the truth."

"Now you have it all and I have nothing. I'm in your command. Do with me what you will."

"Mouth of darkness, teeth of stone, down the throat to the belly of gold, guarded by those who never grew old."

"I wish I'd never learned Latin."

"Don't argue. Let's agree upon something for once."

"Before we hang you in Port Royal, you've time to witness an historic alliance."

"Now, sir, I shall go presently and write for your royal pardon. Privateer for the Crown. Sounds so much better than 'pirate', don't you think?"

"Why do you let that preening swab live?"

"What do you say? Shall we take back our ship?"

"Are you a good swimmer? Let's find out, shall we?"

"Well, you've seen what another captain's like. Will you take my orders now?"

"Doubtless wants advice. Poor fool can't tie his shoelaces without instruction."

"Might be rather amusing. One doesn't often get the chance to see a hanging at sea."

"Pray, hangman, carry out the sentence!"

"That boy doesn't understand us. But then, he's not family."

"Your father was nothing! All my brothers were nothing. You exceed them. Think how far we could go together. You and me against the world. Join me. You don't have to die."

"You've run out of world. Can you hear me? I'm coming for you."

"I'll give you this much: you're harder to kill than your father."

"I'm fine. Just a little poorer."

"Well, it doesn't matter. I'm alive, and you're alive and . . . And we're alive together. There will be other treasures."

"You could buy a little cottage in Bermuda and drink camomile tea on the porch."

"On the other hand, we could do what we were born to do. Stay together and ride the early trades all the way to Madagascar: the best pirating waters in the world."

"It's just that it is such a large decision to make in such a small amount of time."

"I'd like to, but it's just . . . I've always wanted to do a bit of farming."

[slverblood]

A red haze of pain mingled with black clouds of strife and despair. At the center of this roiling chaos stood the Prince of Lies. The Pavilion of Cynosure had no other features, the gods and goddesses no faces or forms. They spoke with Cyric’s own voice, and their words came to him as unruly comments from his own mind. He was utterly alone.

Oof good imagery

[slverblood]

Ooooo this book describing entering someone’s mind like entering an actual building or space that reflects the person and how they view the world . . . excellent

[slverblood]

Playing Cult of the Lamb has me thinking about Sharran cults to the Nightsong (not heretical) and Selûnite cults to the Nightsong (heretical)

[slverblood]

The beauty of Aylin being an aasimar and a daughter of Selûne is I can say she’s 7’2” and it’s completely reasonable

[metamorphesque]

"To forget, to forget ...", Vahan Teryan (translated by Tathev Simonyan)

[slverblood]

Oooohoohoo Torm mentions a pact with his church. That adds an interesting angle to the relationship between deity and faithful