#art cullagh

[echoechowhiskey]

How it should have gone down with Art Cullagh and my pirate lady who's never touched an instrument in her life....

I think Astarion may have seen this coming....

[bg3-tournament]

Round 2 — Match 28 / 38 — Rolan vs. Art Cullagh

Rolan is an aspiring wizard who can first be found at the Emerald Grove in Act One. He is bound for Baldur's Gate with his two siblings, where a prestigious apprenticeship awaits.

"He is a character with amazing character growth if you allow him. He starts self-centered, solely focused on his own goals. If you convince him to stay with the other tieflings, he protects the kids and loses his siblings. If you save his siblings, he will fight Larroakan with you and helps in the final battle."

vs.

Art Cullagh is a Flaming Fist found at Last Light Inn abed, unresponsive, and singing about Thaniel during Act Two.

"you walk into last light and everyone’s like “yeah he’s been like that” and he’s just lying there, catatonic, humming these broken little lines like his brain is stuck in the shadowfell on loop. and then you find out he was OUT THERE in the curse, actually trying to do something, and now he’s basically the only breadcrumb halsin needs to start the whole “find thaniel / lift the curse” chain. the game letting you bring him back with the battered lute is such a small, human quest beat. It’s not “retrieve the ancient relic,” it’s “go find the thing that’s his, the thing that ties him to himself.” i’m fond of him because he’s a reminder that the cursed lands didn’t just take nameless people, it took someone, and you can actually reach across that damage and pull one person back."

Vote!

Rolan

Art Cullagh

Voting ended onJan 25

[browniejeane]

Back on my BG3 bullshit. If I could have 1 wish be fulfilled, it would be to let my Tav ride Art Cullagh like that man deserves. Let him ride home to valhalla writhing under my Tav. I don't want to fix him--i want to give him the fucking best send off he could get.

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

[al-norton]

Thaniel and me are climb, climb, climbing…

[autistichalsin]

My case for Halsin x Art Cullagh as a ship

First of all, these are two characters with a LOT in common. Both are intimately tied to the Shadow Curse. Both lost everything because of it: Halsin lost his homeland and Thaniel, while Art lost (temporarily) his sanity and would eventually lose his life to it.

Both care very deeply for Thaniel (and, later, Oliver). Thaniel was Halsin's first friend, who "made (Halsin) who (he) is today", while Thaniel helped Art in the Shadowfell. Thaniel played with both of them. Both of them felt protective- one might say paternal- towards Thaniel. Art tells the player that Thaniel is a sweet soul- too sweet for the Shadowfell- and he can't wait for the player to meet him.

Both are kind, gentle souls with a strong sense of justice and a call to do right in the world- Halsin by fighting against threats like the Shadow Curse and the Absolute, Art by being a Flaming Fist.

The link through Thaniel is strong (and not just in the "Thaniel has two daddies" sense). Thaniel tells Art about Halsin; Art repeatedly says that Thaniel told him that only Halsin can save him, that Thaniel "spoke of little else".

After being comatose for who knows how long, when Art startles awake and calls out for Thaniel, the first person he sees- and the first person to speak to him- is Halsin. Halsin, who instantly kneels to softly, kindly tell him to relax and breathe- a heartwarming way to be introduced to someone (and indeed, the devnotes say, "warm. Good bedside manner.") As soon as Halsin mentions that he too wants to help Thaniel, Art recognizes him, saying in shock (perhaps amazement?) "You're... you're Halsin," before repeating his request that Halsin find Thaniel. Which Halsin instantly agrees to, but repeats that he needs Art's help, and Art gives it.

When the curse is lifted, Halsin tells the player how sad he is to be leaving Thaniel's realm, how he hopes Thaniel and Oliver will stay as a pair because then they can have a friend after he's gone... clearly missing them, but knowing he has a greater mission in stopping the Absolute. What does Art say if you talk to him in the act 2 epilogue? That he feels Thaniel should have someone with him when he wakes, so he's staying. One might even argue that Art staying is the reason Halsin felt so comfortable leaving- sad, yes, but not worried. He knew Thaniel and Oliver were in good hands with Art. He trusted the two halves of his best friend to Art.

Art knows, tragically, that he's going to die soon after. He mentions it to the player, and in the epilogue, he sends this note to the player:

To an old acquaintance, I write to you from the sunny porch of the Last Light Inn. A light breeze blows now and then. People are milling in and out - builders, visitors, the children of all ages in Halsin's care. I can no longer hold a quill, or eat without assistance - a kind friend is transcribing this for me. Thaniel, re-joined with Oliver, has promised to be with me when the end comes, and as our old songs drift on the wind, ever louder, I know I have mere days left. But I do not fear it. If not for your help, this land would still be shrouded in darkness, and I'd still be lost within it. Know that my heart is full and happy, and I am grateful for my last moments. Do visit some day. And if you have time to stop by an old Flaming Fist's grave, I know I'd love to see you. Art Cullagh

Halsin and Art are still in contact. Art lived long enough to get to see Reithwin being reconstructed- by Halsin. Halsin lifted his shadow, Thaniel and Oliver's shadow, and brought Art peace during his last days- including the peace of having his close friends with him as the end comes. And presumably, Halsin himself stays- it's hard to imagine that Halsin, of all people, wouldn't.

They just work really well as a tragic ship, brought together by loss and heartbreak.

Fittingly, that extends into scenarios when one of them dies. If Halsin dies before act 2, or dies when the portal collapses, and the player tells Art this, he is heartbroken- while he frames it primarily in terms of being sad the curse can never be broken now, he must also be sad that Thaniel's friend has been lost, too.

And if Art dies (either because Last Light fell or for some other reason) and the player learns what they need from Art's corpse? Well.... let's just say that Halsin has some VERY strong things to say for someone he barely knows.

Halsin: That is what I needed to know. It should be cause for joy, but... that poor man didn't have to die.

Player: His existence was worse than death. Now he's at peace, and we have what we need.

Halsin: True. But are we still deserving? Only time and nature can tell.

To think that he might not be worthy any longer of breaking the Shadow Curse because a man he barely knows died is.... quite an intense emotion. Almost illogical, and Halsin is an extremely reasonable person. Make of that what you will.

Alternatively:

Player: There was no other way.

Halsin: You can claim it so... but I don't think it will ever be true. Oak Father willing, we will soon lift the curse from this place. But I suspect a shadow will linger here, because of what was done to that man.

Again... these are VERY intense emotions. Understandably so, of course- Art was clearly Thaniel's friend, and he suffered so much only to die. But if Last Light falls, MANY people die besides Art, yet Halsin is focused on him- the only other person he mentions with quite this much grief is Isobel, and even she doesn't get a mention from him here. "A shadow will linger here, because of what was done to that man"? Not "what was done to those people" or even "what was done to Art and the others"? It is.... a very interesting way of phrasing it.

In conclusion: Halsin cares Art A LOT, Art deserves peace and happiness, and Thaniel and Oliver deserve two daddies. Flaming Bear is the ultimate tragic doomed ship and we are sleeping on this ship

[biohazzard121]

Why is Halsin so angry for about 15/20 seconds while talking to Art Cullagh?

He starts off sad and concerned, then when he asks Art about remembering something that will help him locate Thaniel, Halsin then gets all angry looking...... which lasts until the end of the sentence, after which he becomes all happy and thankful.....

Art has been trapped inside the Shadow Fell for 100 years, lol, and I know Halsin really wants to find Thaniel, but come on, Daddy Bear, you're supposed to be the nicest guy in the game 😆 but this one tiny part really does look like Halsin is going to rip Art to pieces lol.

[dirtybg3confessions]

Confession: Everyone's sleeping on Art Cullagh. His curls, his eyes, his voice, all that!! A major babe. Heal him up, both with magic and sexual healing. c:

[kirain]

Besides the companions, which npc in bg3 do you think has the most tragic story?

Interesting question! A lot of NPCs have some pretty tragic backstories and outcomes, but assuming you play a morally good character and help everyone you can, I'd say probably Art Cullagh.

Poor man was just an honourable Flaming Fist who enjoyed playing the lute in his spare time. He went to the Shadowlands to investigate a Sharran cult and ended up stuck in a 100 year long nightmare with only a spirit for company. Then, when he woke, he learned that everyone he ever loved was probably gone, the Flaming Fist fell off, and Thaniel (his only friend) might be dying. He lived long enough to see the shadow curse lifted and Thaniel set free, but he never recovered. Instead, he slowly withered away, succumbing to the toll the century-long curse took on his body, until he was so weak he couldn't even eat or hold quill. ☹

His ending was bittersweet. Happy, but sad.