MOST ARDENTLY —

i couldn't hide from the thunder in a sky full of song ;

[strmsrcr]

STRMSRCR // ind., selective bg3 oc TAV HAWTHORNE ( she/they ; 25 ; tempest sorceror & lore bard ) . penned by alice ( she/they ; 24 ; regular guy ) .

( ABOUT. // RULES. // musings. // headcanons. // memes. )

[falsesighted-deactivated2024102]

‘Thunk’

Apart of him expected to see Raphael standing there. Expected to hear that voice of gold taunt him about their deal the same way Mizora tends to tease Wyll’s near every waking moment. This is worse than Wyll’s predicament, however. This is worse than Mizora, more than her.

“So you’ve come to find me. Are you here to chew me out or just tell me that suppers ready?”

He’s heard it all. First it was Karlach, Shadowheart and even Astarion that gave him their two cents. The four had been through the brunt of recent events but even still they call Aljari an idiot, a fool. What’s worse? The down right scolding he received from Wyll and Lae’zel. He likes to believe he doesn’t care what Gale thinks of him a lot of the time, but…even his sarcastic yet empathetic comments made Jari’s frown that much heavier. Jaheira and Halsin refused to look at him, it seems.

Now Tav is here…Now comes the feather to break the camels back.

[strmsrcr]

"NEITHER," SHE said after a moment, cocking her head slightly. Her voice came out slightly louder than she intended - not extremely so, but she hoped to speak softly instead of a normal tenure. Rather, she had focused on speaking in an even tone. Despite her disappointment, she reckoned he could use with one less person yelling at him; even so, she did not want to make it seem as though she pitied the man.

"Do you mind if I join you? Not the pacing bit. Maybe we could just sit down." Tav made no attempt to close the gap between them just yet, waiting for a cue from Aljari as the go-ahead, some signal for 'okay'.

[strmsrcr]

while tav's main verse is bg3 & honestly rn i cant see her outside of a dnd universe, i feel like she doesnt necessarily need to be tadpoled. like im open for verses where she's adventuring but hasnt gotten illithid'ed, you know. sure the tadpole is juicy drama & an easy way to get an excuse to stick together as a party, but i Do think she needs some sort of like Unwilling Kidnapping Away From Baldur's Gate and also some kind of Journey to make friends

[lclthlcved]

There's a pause as she thinks over what the other said. Clearly her mind wasn't as sharp or quick witted at least outside of battle something she was all too familiar with. Yet she still tried not to cause further issues. If there were mindflayers or other beings they kept here there was no need to waste her energy for combat on a mere human.

Tilting her head to the side at the bark of laughter she doesn't understand that either. Was there a joke somewhere there? She had been literal in her observation so confusion only further pushed her forward. " Let's? Let us? You wish to travel by my side like some lost cub? "

Stepping forward and catching up with them quickly she'd try her best to walk in front of the other, subtly trying to lead both of them despite having no clue where the human was going. " Am I to also assume that you don't know of any town or shelter near here that might provide further answers to this crash? Seeing as your physical appearance is not the only thing lacking and I need to get answers one way or another. "

[strmsrcr]

TAV PAUSED and took a quick re-inventory of their surroundings. The charred remains of the nautiloid littered the landscape around them. She looks back to the other.

"If you would rather stay here longer, you can. I just think that for now it could be beneficial if we stay together. I am - as you observed earlier - 'lacking'. You appear to have more combat experience than I, but even so - and I do not mean this disrespectfully in the slightest - you may still find fighting a mind flayer difficult by yourself."

By this point, the other had caught up to where they were standing. Tav stepped back, allowing them to pass. They follow afterwards, trying to keep a respectable distance as to not try the other's temper.

"I... Am unfamiliar with this place. I've never really been outside of Baldur's Gate," they let out a dry laugh.

"Even so, I just figured we shouldn't stay too long here. Once we are safely away from the wreck - and any creatures it could attract - we could take stock of our location. Or I could, if you'd rather we part then. Is that agreeable to you?"

[strmsrcr]

👁

[falsesighted-deactivated2024102]

OPEN STARTER

.

Aljari paces back and forth in front of the pond, a hand to his chin and his eyes burning a glare into the dirt. His mind is absolutely racing with thoughts, mostly regrets of the day. He had signed Raphael’s contract, he had promised he would bring some all-powerful crown to the damned devil of all beings. In exchange for a chance to be saved of the illithid being in his head.

It wasn’t a guess to say the others at camp were extremely unhappy with their lead man’s choices. It was obvious by their words and dirty looks after hearing about it. The group is in turmoil, the world is in turmoil and Aljari is in very deep shit. He can practically feel his hair whitening with stress.

In the midst of his stressful thoughts the footfalls behind him go wholly unnoticed.

[strmsrcr]

TAV WATCHES him silhouetted against the reflective surface of the pond, nearly wearing tracks in the shore from his pacing. Feelings of worry and bitterness twist itself into knots in her stomach.

To say she wasn't disappointed would be wholly untrue. Making a deal with a devil was - in her opinion - really quite stupid. But the lot of them were in a uniquely tough position. Desperation was clawing at everyone in the group in various ways. Still, the burden of decision is too hefty for any one person to carry.

Aljari was trying to carry it himself.

She gave him his space, watched from a respectable distance as he mulled morosely at the shoreline for honestly quite some time before the fretting built up enough it threatened to spill out. Still though, as deep in thought he was, she doesn't wish to startle him.

Tav approached some more, still behind him a ways, and scoops up a pebble. She worried it between her fingers for a moment, before lightly tossing it at his boot in an effort to get his attention.

[lclthlcved]

Raising a hand to her chin she would try to think as to why they would be doing this. Such strange behavior especially making such a large scene of it as well. Drawing so many eyes, it would be impossible to cover this up quickly and news would spread. A furrowed brow only portrayed her deep thought further the more and more she thought about it.

Pausing for a moment before raising a brow. " Your physical body doesn't tend to matter when becoming a mindflayer. Your body will change to adapt to it's new needs from what I know about it. So you will be good regardless or not your current state is-- " Looking at the human up and down assessing any physical traits and attributes that might make them even slightly worthy of a warrior's title.

" Lacking. I assume the procedure they do hasn't started yet? A good thing it crashed before you were infected or else you'd be turning before my very eyes. I'd suggest getting away from this ship as quickly as possible. Mindflayers are dangerous at the best of times and resilient. It could be there are a few still alive if-- you of all things also survived. "

[strmsrcr]

TAV SMILED broadly in a way that narrowed her eyes - good, since the smile didn't quite reach there. As the other pondered her physical viability, Tav didn't really need them to tell her that she had little-to-none. Compared to the other's well-trained physique, Tav is... Well... Lithe, mostly. The only hint that she might do anything remotely physical was the quarterstaff she had strapped to her back.

She let out a bark of laughter as the other concluded she was 'lacking', then quickly composed herself, offering a quick apology. With the other's no-nonsense attitude, she didn't want to offend.

It was still funny, though.

Luckily, she didn't have to make too much of an effort to reign in her amusement, as it dies when the other mentions the procedure. She thinks again of the worm burrowed in her head - perhaps she should tell. She looks at the other's weapon - well, perhaps not yet.

Instead, she bows her head in a nod, "Yes, let's leave." Tav slides past her conversational partner, walking in the vague direction they came from. She's not entirely sure where she's going, but it's away from here.

[strmsrcr]

Hold On. out of curiosity, do you guys envision your tavs/bg3 ocs/durges to have the british accents almost everyone in bg3 has, or some other accent?

[rolldices-deactivated20231229]

❛  last night, i had the craziest dream ...  ❜

" — did you now? color me interested, what was it?" snowy eyes FLICKER with curiosity as you move to put your chin on top of your hand, tail swaying like a cat waiting for their afternoon meal.

[strmsrcr]

TAV SNORTS, moving to lightly smack the tiefling as he took an eager position.

"Alright, maybe I'm exaggerating a tad. I just dreamt a hot guy on some rock in space wanted me to eat worms." She waves her hand dismissively, "That's all."

[wehowl]

"I could break it up into parts. Keep ourselves entertained for a few nights at least. Part One: The Conscription." Eloren said with a grin. She could laugh about it now but.. well… maybe she'd be laughing about this adventure one day too.

It shouldn't be a surprise that even here, where magic breathed freely, that there would be other countries or places that had different rules. After all, it's not like everywhere in Thedas shared the same rules and laws. Look at Tevinter after all (or maybe don't - that wouldn't make the best impression on someone new to Thedas. "True. Magic can kill people. Knives can kill. Even small children launched at great speed could kill." a small smile appeared on her face as she said the words. "That's something a friend of mine said once. He said 'why single one out, but not the others?' Back home magic users - Mages - were only allowed to exist in heavily guarded… prisons, basically. Guarded by Templars- warriors for the Chantry - and if they suspect a Mage of performing blood magic they will kill them…" OR WORSE.

Eloren's expression darkens briefly, she's never connected to magic - her magic is in her blades; but the dalish elves saw magic differently than humans did. A wonder; something that was revered; encouraged. The Circle, Templars, the Chantry - it was all so barbaric. "Not EVERYWHERE in Thedas is like that - just everywhere the Chantry is." Which was, to be fair, almost everywhere.

[strmsrcr]

"OOH, PLEASE do! Story nights at camp sound like lots of fun. Only if you want to, of course." Tav rushed in that last part, feeling the need to add some sort of privacy clause to their request. The others at camp seem so... Secretive. While Eloren's laughter and candid approach to her past is refreshing and easing, Tav doesn't want to seem like they're pushing her out of any sort of comfort zone.

The 'children' comment nearly stopped Tav in her tracks, eyes snapping to Eloren's gaze. A beat passed before she allowed herself laughter, realizing it was a joke. "Wow! He have a lot of experience with that, did he?" There's a tinge of apprehension there, as Tav realized the gruesome vision of children screaming in terror as they were whipped about in the air isn't as hilarious as initially received.

The horror of that gave way to pensively listening to Eloren's explanation of Thedas' anti-mage inclination; while Baldur's Gate certainly had its problems, the more she heard about her companions' experiences elsewhere, the more she misses her hometown. At least she was never locked up for the circumstances of her birth.

(... Well, there was that one time when she spent a few days in a cell when she was a child because she accidentally set fire to a temple. Although it was more so the act of setting fire that got her in trouble, albeit that was before she got a good handle on her powers, so in a way it was inextricably linked to her magic. Life with powers can get complicated at times, regardless of where you were born.)

A silence hung over the two. "That sounds like it was, ah... Difficult. I'm sorry - for you and your companions," she said softly.

[wildskissed]

PERHAPS SHE'S RIGHT, but that doesn't mean that Eve is exactly happy about that answer regardless of how true it might be. Control is something she's been yearning for, but even she knows that no one can control EVERYTHING.

That's a pipe dream.

Still, she wanted to think that she would be able to control at least part of what she did...like perhaps start to be able to sense when a wild magic surge was coming. Or even be able to if not that, know which surge was coming. All things that might not even be viable options and yet she still had HOPE.

Eve smiles a little though. "I really don't MEAN to set you on fire if it's any consolation to you. I assure you that if I was actually trying to do something nefarious with magic then you would know." She nods gently. "I'm just glad that you're here. I don't think I say it enough, but I mean it."

[strmsrcr]

"NO, NO, I understand," Tav nervously, interjecting.

"I know you wouldn't mean to set me on fire, but because you don't mean it and I know that it's more okay if that does happen. Or if you do mean it and you set me on fire that's also okay because then I'd probably deserve it. I would rather have you set me on fire than someone I don't know because then I would know you." There's a beat after Tav's rambling where they reflect on what they said - and come to a conclusion that it was absolutely nothing. They offer an apologetic smile that looks more like a grimace, then turn their head to the side and curse under their breath.

They looked back at Eve, blinking a few times and tilting their head slightly, a bemused smile ghosting their lips. A faint blush creeps on their cheeks, and they shirk away from eye contact. "... Thank you. I'm glad you're here as well, you know."

[vampiheir-deactivated20241207]

His body is tense with anticipation, anxiously awaiting to see if she will accept him, cast him out, or worse yet, drive a wooden stake through his cold, undead heart. Tav proves full of surprises him, openly eyeing him before loosening the collar of her nightshirt. With a soft sigh of relief, he shifts to kneel beside her.

He knows its awful of him, but he can't help but laugh at her threat. "I would be highly disturbed if you just sat there and let me drain you dry. I'll be on my best behavior. Scout's honor." Mouth ghosting over the junction of her neck, he adds, "I'll do my best to be gentle, but I'll still hurt to some degree. On the count of three. One, two, three..." and with that he sinks his teeth into her tender flesh.

[strmsrcr]

UNDER NORMAL circumstances she'd retort with some quip, but in the thick anticipation of it Tav's mind swirled with too many thoughts that were all too difficult to pin down.

They gasped at the puncture, pain awakening them from their blurry perception of reality a moment prior. Instinctively, Tav wanted to pull away; her head tilted towards Astarion and she leaned backwards, as if trying to poorly escape. She's just able to steady herself, bite back the discomfort and let him do as he must, as her word.

The seconds feel as minutes, time turns into something to be slogged through. She's quiet throughout it - what is there to say in this scenario? Tav felt weaker by the second, life draining away from her. The sensation was disconcerting - more so than the initial puncture. Still preventing herself from pushing him off, she raises a hand to grasp against a shoulder, balling his shirt there into her tight fist.

[emodennis]

[emberfcrged]

Erys can't help but smirk, nudging her fellow sorcerer. "Shut up," she mutters, though she really does appreciate some good-natured rubbing more than some might think.

A breath escapes her when Tav becomes apologetic, shaking her head "Gods, no, you didn't offend. I'm just pissed off because I agree with you." They weren't anywhere near civilization, or a vendor that they knew of who could provide them with provisions. Though Erys herself has never had to worry about her next meal, she's realizing that perhaps she should be treating their access to food as far more scarce despite the abundance of it they currently carried -- after all, there was no telling what might happen on the road.

"Try a lightning bolt when you're in the middle of sex," she tosses back wryly, unable to help the chuckle that falls from her lips only a moment later, "but I get what you mean. I suppose these 'slip-ups' sometimes have their uses, such as when we're surrounded by a hoard of goblins."

Erys releases Tav's hand, but not before checking it over once more for any lingering burn marks. "Other amenities, hm? Don't tell me you're spending all of your free time in brothels, Tav. I might start thinking better of you." She teases, nodding then. "Perhaps we can swindle Gale into providing lessons. Though, I fear we'd merely be talking about cooking for hours instead of actually doing it, which would drive me equally as crazy."

[strmsrcr]

IT LOOKS like Tav tries to perform a snort of laughter but comes up somewhat short, instead just sharply inhaling through her nose and giving a smile.

"I mean... I've been doing a good job scrounging up some food as we travel, though. We're not necessarily in short supply, and we aren't starving now. A few supplies wasted here-and-there isn't that bad..." Tav's words ring hollow to her. There's a brief far-away look in her eyes... She certainly values other people - particularly her companions she's traveling with at the moment - over objects. And yet...

Her fingers twitch in her companion's hands - a quick, involuntary motion, something easy to miss.

Tav doesn't know why she's always wanting more.

When Erys speaks again, Tav nearly jumps in surprise, as if she's been stirred from thought. Still, she gives a good-natured smile in return. Her cheeks tinge pink at the mention of sex and brothels, and - now free from Erys' clutches - nervously lets out a dry laugh and runs a hand through her hair.

"Like I'd waste good coin on getting laid..." Silently, Tav prayed that her inexperience with such things didn't come through.

"No use changing your opinion. I'm sure to lower it sometime again."

She hums, thinking of Gale for a moment... Erys has a point. "... Perhaps I can keep an eye out for some recipe book and then we can try just... Following those instructions...? I don't suppose that can be too hard."

[lclthlcved]

Clicking her tongue in annoyance as the other sounded to be stumbling out with her words she'd snap at them. " Out with it! No need to dress up your words as if speaking to the Matron Mother. I have no use for the flowery words of the surface. " With how they rambled it was hard, just a tad, to keep up with what they were saying. Furrowing her brow at the way they spoke, eye twitching very lightly as she tried to keep up. From what Barrae gathered they were on the ship and crashed it, abducted.

Nodding after a moment or two to decipher the words she cared to hear out from those she didn't Barrae looked satisfied if still troubled by the answer. Until they asked their question and her frown only deepened as she crossed her arms over her chest.

" Do you know why it had taken you? " Completely ignoring the question of dirt, Barrae cared very little if the human was dirty or not. After all cleanliness didn't prevent them from answering questions.

[strmsrcr]

IF TAV were a more conceited and less perceptive person, she'd say her eloquence stunned her conversational partner. As it stands, she'd say... Almost the same thing. But not in a positive way.

In the lull waiting for the other's reply, she scanned the other's visage. Dark, heavy armor, the glint of a shield catching the light, the handle of some sort of hefty weapon at her side - based on the scars she sported, Tav gathered she likely knew how to use that mace. And based on her body language, the clear annoyance on her face, and furrowed brows... Tav decided she'd keep her next replies succinct. She nervously watched her hands to make sure they weren't inching towards their weapon.

Luckily, it moved away. Tav breathed a sigh of relief as the other crossed their arms. She returned eye contact at the question; "No."

She paused, and - speaking slower than before, not in a condescending manner, just not as rambly - "To make another mind flayer, perhaps. I don't know why they think I'd make a good one. I also don't want to become one, for clarification." Unconsciously, her hand touches her cheek just under her right eye - where that worm had burrowed into her brain.

[strmsrcr]

ofc i lurve 1x1 oc rping but ive been in the mood for a good group rp lately but nothings quite catching my eye 👁 if im weakened any further i might have to take matters into my own hands...

[strmsrcr]

josh hutcherson whistle edit but it's a bg3/dnd oc.