'My trusted friend' or 'my trusted comrade'. Largely an oxymoron based in cynicism since there were no real concepts of 'trust' or 'friend' in drow society even among family members.
Drow Dictionary
Esper and Breoch's friendship is an unlikely one, even when taking their histories into account. Though they seem to get along just fine most of the time.
I've treasured the snippets of banter @smallnico wrote for these two, which is why I wanted to draw it out. I hope you like it!
Both the banter/dialogue and Esper were created by @smallnico
you also inspired me to watch the old guard! many thanks for that, and thanks for all the gifsets :D
Ah, you are most welcome! It has taken over my life the past few months since it came out and it’s been an absolute pleasure to watch others enjoy the movie as well.
It’s such a well crafted “little” movie, I love it with all my heart.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it as well! :D
(And you’re welcome for the gifsets, they’re the best thing about this fandom!)
i really admire your commitment to writing and illustrating a whole comic? that's a superb feat in and of itself, Plus the comic is excellent, Plus you're also working on other projects at the same time?? serious question, how do you do these things, do you have any advice for someone who might want to make their own webcomic someday?
that’s a very large question. the answer that is generally agreed upon as good and correct is “for the love of god start small and don’t expect your first project to be your magnum opus”
i have no tips for how i’m able to do NS + other projects because it relies entirely on me having a work-from-home job and living with my family and that’s not something most people have as an option
a special commission of my favorite girl for my favorite lady @alphaflyer who also provided me with a lovely landscape reference from one of our trips! <333
i think breoch has a collection of perfumes he doesn't use but insists on bringing everywhere. i think he impulse purchased most of them because he liked the smell and thought the bottle was pretty and decided he would make this one his signature scent but keeps forgetting to actually apply it and then the cycle repeats with a new scent. i think he insists on arranging the bottles artfully every time they make camp
Ask from this here!
This is spot on, 100% something Breoch would do! He might have had a system once upon a time, wearing a specific perfume when spending time with certain people, but soon lost track of it. One danger is that so many of the poisons and coatings on the surface are in such pretty bottles, so they might accidentally (or intentionally if someone Astarion is a lover of chaos) find their way into his extensive perfume collection.
Special bonus below the cut:
Hide the evidence:
And the drawing of what Breoch's tent would look like:
Thank you for the asks! These were some of my favourite to answer >:3c
Ask list from here:
angsty character asks
What would your OC’s last words be/what are they?
What would break your OC beyond repair? Has it happened?
What is
Answers below the cut:
Does your OC have nightmares? What do they contain?
Breoch does have nightmares. The ones that truly terrify him are recollections of his death at Varna's hands. As a drow, his dreams would be vivid as he trances just deep enough to remain lucid, but not enough to wake. He would be subjected to the same powerlessness, the same pain, the same vision of his empty ribcage again and again and again. It would haunt him in his waking hours until he eventually accepts the truth of what happened and believes himself capable of genuine affection again.
Shrike's nightmares are amorphous and strange. They're presumably memories, but they're grotesque apparitions without substance. They can't seem to grasp at their meaning and are soon forgotten once they wake up. But the uncertainty always remains and they fear that their dreams hold more truth than they can admit.
Zeke rarely dreams at all. Given his history, his sleep should be overrun by a million and one horrific scenes of suffering, but he doesn't. His patron shields him from all that. It's why he finds the dream guardian so fascinating; Zeke hadn't had a dream in decades before 'the guardian' came along.
How does your OC sleep at night?
Answered here
Why does your OC have the flaws that they have?
Ooh, I do like this question.
Breoch's flaws are all the result of his pride. Whilst his family don't really care about status, Breoch's paternal grandmother (whose son married into the family) sowed the seeds of ambition in Breoch's mind whilst he was very young. Breoch was convinced that he needed to improve the House's rank to protect his family. Unlike other drow noblemen, Breoch was a powerful sorcerer, innately charming, highly educated, and carried himself with a confidence usually only reserved for Lolth's daughters. At first, his pride protected his dignity and made him cautious. Although it didn't take long for hubris to blind him to his initially selfless motivations, and the very love he sought to protect became his greatest tool for manipulation.
Most of Shrike's flaws derive from their being a bhaalspawn. However, the greatest of these are all the result of their unwavering love for their mother. She raised them, accepted them, and loved them unconditionally. The blind loyalty Shrike should have held for their divine father was directed to the mortal woman that raised them instead. It was her tenderness that taught Shrike how to be kind. It was her humility that drove Shrike to become strong enough to protect her.
Shrike's love for their mother was the reason they became a paladin to hunt down those that were blackmailing her. The fear of making her cry was the reason they resisted becoming the mindless slayer Bhaal wanted. And it was the realisation that 'The Absolute' would kill their mother too that ultimately made them defy Gortash's grand plan, and resulted in their fall from Bhaal's grace at Orin's hand (most likely at Gortash's command).
Zeke's flaw is that he is naïve. He's not naïve as a result of ignorance, rather he is so intimately familiar with the depth of cruelty mortals are capable of that anything less than pure malice seems acceptable by comparison. His biological parents denied him any human compassion, so a friendly devil actually taking the time to talk to him is really nice! His moral compass is so thoroughly skewed after a lifetime in Maladomini, that even the most basic human decency is enough to secure his unfaltering loyalty. No matter how awful something is, chances are he's experienced or witnessed something worse.
I got a little carried away with the first impressions, but these were fun to answer!
May contain spoilers!! Please reblog!
• Origin & Class
1. What is their backstory and why did you choose it?
2. What is their class (+ subc
22. What is your Tav's first impression of the other companions (Astarion, Gale, Karlach, Wyll ...)
Alternate title: Act 1 Breoch is secretly a bitch
Astarion
Breoch: “He’s very attractive and he knows it. Though he is not as good at flirting as he seems to think he is. If he thinks that merely offering me sex is enough to earn my favour, then I shall let him believe that he has the winning hand…for now.”
Shrike: “One of the most beautiful men I have ever seen, and the first person to truly appreciate my sense of humour.”
Zeke: “Does this man ever stop complaining?”
Gale
Breoch: “If he tries to wizardsplain the weave to me one more time, then I swear on my honour as eldest son of House V’ysse that I will pulp him into spider feed.”
Shrike: “The man looks pained and terrified, though I can’t understand why. I hope he knows that I have no intention of leaving him behind. There’s really no need for him to try so hard to impress me.”
Zeke: “I could listen to him talk all day and get lost in those beautiful brown eyes of his. I wonder if he knows that he’s already captivated my heart?”
Halsin
Breoch: “An archdruid could be someone very useful to know. He’s dedicated to his duties, yes, but I can see the hunger in his eyes. He desires me (not that I can blame him), but I shan’t make it easy for him.”
Shrike: “He’s smart, kind, and hard-working. I bet he gives amazing hugs too.”
Zeke: “How did he get so big? Would he tell me his secret if I asked?”
Jaheira
Breoch: “A formidable woman. I’ve known matriarchs less dangerous than her. I’d best be on my guard.”
Shrike: “Now here is a true leader. I don’t know why, but I feel as though we can rely on her.”
Zeke: “Am I the only one that’s never heard of Jaheira? Famous or not, I really don’t appreciate being tangled up in vines before I have a chance to say hello.”
Karlach
Breoch: “It’s rare to meet a friendly face. If Wyll is to be believed, then she may prove to be a most useful ally indeed.”
Shrike: “Being called ‘soldier’ by her seems to feel right, but I can’t think why. I’m looking forward to travelling with her and sharing a pint when this is all over.”
Zeke: “Another tiefling from the hells? I bet she’d have the latest news about the Blood War in Avernus. Though that might have to wait until we’ve fixed our tadpole problem.”
Lae’zel
Breoch: “She seems to approve of my methods, though she doesn’t seem overly swayed by my attempts to charm her. Fortunately, handling powerful women who’d rather have my head than give me head is my speciality.”
Shrike: “Her mastery of the sword is unparalleled. I hope she will allow me to spar with her one day so that I may admire her skill up close. Oh, how I wish to slice open those limbs and fully appreciate the musculature behind her technique…wait, what?”
Zeke: “Why is she always scowling at me? Is it just at me or does she scowl at everyone?”
Minsc
Breoch: “I’m sure my pet spider was harder to manipulate than this hunk of dumb muscle. If I have to spend another minute listening to his senseless ramblings, then that is a minute too many.”
Shrike: “The hamster intrigues me…how can it be both small and ferocious? I have much to learn from its wisdom.”
Zeke: “I wasn’t listening…is Boo the hamster or the man? I think Boo must be the man, and Minsc is the hamster? ...Minsc is adorable.”
Minthara
Breoch: “Now this is the last place I expected to see a Baenre. Oh, isn’t this just delightful? How far she has fallen to need to rely on feral beasts and a jaluk mongrel from the most despised House in Menzoberranzan.”
Shrike: “Her very presence sets my teeth on edge. I will take great pleasure in painting these walls with her offal.”
Zeke: “This must be the drow Zevlor told us about. How dare she invade my mind without a second thought. She must be destroyed.”
Shadowheart
Breoch: “Finally somebody that can appreciate the art of persuasion and deception. It’s clear that she doesn’t trust me, but that’s no matter. I require her loyalty, not her confidence.”
Shrike: “Having another healer on side will be useful. Her religious insignia is unfamiliar to me, and she seems unwilling to talk about it. It’s almost as if she remembers as much about herself as I do.”
Zeke: “I don’t think she likes me very much, though I don’t know why.”
Wyll
Breoch: “Another naive hero. If he wishes to sacrifice himself for the greater good, then so be it. He’d better not expect me to follow.”
Shrike: “A virtuous man. It’s clear the tieflings respect him and I will do all I can on my honour as a paladin to support his endeavour.”
Zeke: “I can’t say for certain, but this man does have a whiff of the infernal about him. I can recognise an eldritch blast from a mile away. Why would he keep his warlock patron a secret?”
Bonus:
First impression of Esper (if their paths ever crossed)
Shrike: "What a fine assassin...are all bards as skilled with a blade?"
Breoch: "An intriguing companion, to say the least. Though I do wish they would stop looking at me like that, as if they're always seeking to correct or question me. Can they tell when I'm lying through my teeth?"
104. Who did your Tav romance? How did this romance develop throughout the game? What happened at the end?
I answered about their future in this post, so I'll just focus on the events within the timeline of the game here.
Both Shrike and Breoch romanced Astarion. Breoch’s pursuit of Astarion was more calculated as he realised that there was very little reason for Astarion to stay, so he endeavoured to become that reason. Besides, Astarion seemed like he’d be the best in bed out of all of the companions. It’s only after Astarion begins to open up about his past that Breoch understands the similarities between them– that he’s finally found somebody that knows how it feels to make oneself into an object of desire for survival. They go on a similar journey together as they have to learn how to ‘drop the mask’ as it were. It takes some time for Breoch to fully forgive himself, as everything bad that happened to him is as a result of his actions; he chose to manipulate and hurt people, and it eventually resulted in his downfall. Breoch learns to become comfortable with showing vulnerability and imperfection, and eventually even feels brave enough to express genuine love and affection without fear of endangering those closest to him.
(In the poly with Shrike, this process goes along with their accepting of their past and gives him another person to rely on. Breoch feels he needs to be ‘the brave one’ for Astarion’s sake, but Shrike refuses to let him take on that role alone. This is also helped when Shrike introduces Halsin into the relationship as he becomes more of a supportive figure for all three. This is also reciprocated by both Breoch and Shrike, who allow Halsin to be the one receiving support rather than the one solely responsible for leadership and guidance. Very much the embodiment of ‘get loved, losers. Get absolutely treasured’.)
Shrike, however, was fully taken in by Astarion’s charm and loved him sincerely from the start. Their thirst for vengeance for themselves and Astarion is what fuels them. They appreciate that Astarion never asks them to change or be a more palatable version of themself. Once they break their oath after meeting Gortash and realise their role in the Absolute plot, it is Astarion that helps them understand that they are not the monster their father wanted them to be. They also brought Halsin in as there was a strong attraction between them. They love both of them equally, and is considerate of Astarion’s anxieties due to his past.
Zeke romances Gale, and is very much a case of ‘dumb warlock bewitches highly intelligent wizard’. Compared to Gale who is slow to open up (understandably so), Zeke is an open book whose very being radiates with the intensity of the love he feels for Gale. He makes no secret of how much he cherishes him and how much he values Gale the man, rather than Archmage Gale of Waterdeep. Until Act 2, those two are pining to the point of annoyance for everyone else at camp. Once they finally do confess and act upon those feelings, they would be unbearable in a different way: always looking at each other with the dumbest lovesick expressions on their faces, using every opportunity to hold hands or kiss, and it’s all very tooth-achingly sweet.
