Did you run into my strong as fuck skeleton? I sent him to kill you like a month ago and I haven’t seen him:(
Oooooooo so,,, this is awkward 😬 my beautiful and loyal knights kinda got his ass, yeahhh nothing left but bones dust. Afterwards strong birds carried him away for their young to feed on the marrow? I think? I dont know much about birds, maybe they were just fucking around.
If it makes you feel any better it was cool to see
inspired by @dekarios responding to these questions! and then I let this sit in my drafts for 9 months. oops.
Incredibly long post ahead. Seriously. "Read more" at your own risk.
General
Where can your Tav be recruited?
Valoren can be recruited near the Nautiloid crash site. He's near the top of the ruins where the treasure hunters are found, and is about to speak with them when the player approaches. He'll make a show of convincing the hunters to leave, then turn to the player and take a bow. He'll introduce himself and invite the party along in raiding the ruins; a successful insight check will reveal that he had no hopes of exploring on his own.
Do the other companions have special comments or reactions upon recruiting your Tav?
Lae'zel will comment that he seems "unusually confident for one as unfit for battle as he." Astarion will say that he senses "a kindred spirit in our new bard. ...I don't trust him."
Does your Tav have any comments or advice when you recruit other companions?
Valoren will say something nearly identical about Astarion - that he feels eerily familiar, and that the player should sleep with one eye open. Other than that, he'll have vaguely pleasant and non-committal statements to offer.
What sort of general actions raise or lower their approval?
Valoren is somewhat hard to gain approval with, but he almost never disapproves. Generally, he approves of the player talking their way into things, and then talking themselves out again. Playing along with things and seeing how far one can take them is his policy. He also approves of the player bantering with him in his unique dialog. As an Easter egg, he'll also give you +10 approval if you dye his clothes or armor Boreal blue. His few disapprovals include during the encounter with the hag; he'll volunteer to go first, and if the player stops him from taking the hag eye or takes it for themselves, he will pout and disapprove. He also disapproves of throwing other party members under the bus, such as sending the monster hunter after Astarion or encouraging Wyll to kill Karlach.
Are there any instances where your Tav can permanently leave the party, depending on player character actions?
No, and he almost never comes close. He might complain a little, but he's generally along for the ride. Even when that ride involves copious amounts of murder.
Do they have any secrets that can be revealed? What are the prerequisites for this secret coming to light?
Valoren has an image to keep up, and he will go to great lengths to maintain it. In particular, he's very cagey about his family and his scars. If the player reaches high approval with him before act 2, it will trigger a conversation where he talks about his scars - they're from his sister trying to kill him. Their mother would pit them against each other and egg them on until blood was drawn, and sister dearest always won. If Valoren is present for the entrance to the Last Light Inn, Jaheira will recognize him as the son of Moralynn Stormcrow, one of her famed adventuring companions from the last time Baldur's Gate needed saving. He'll grumble and complain but eventually admit to his identity. Afterwards, he'll talk with the player; if they had the scar conversation before, he will now reveal that he's the disappointing second child of the infamous Stormcrow family, and that his infernal and celestial bloodlines basically cancelled each other out. If Valoren is present for the fight to defend the Last Light Inn, he will get a special event. When Marcus communicates with the party using illithid telepathy, Valoren's tadpole will break something vital in his brain, and unleash his dormant powers. He'll call down an impressive lightning bolt and smite Marcus on the spot. Afterwards, he'll be shaken, and this will be the first time the player sees his mask start to crack. He will also then unlock a once-per-long-rest ability, which creates a sizable raincloud that creates water, and either a single-target lightning bolt or an AOE that applies 5 turns of Reverberation to all targets.
Do they have their own personal quest that spans the course of the game? Are there any unique NPCs associated with your Tav that can show up during the course of the game?
Valoren does have a personal quest, but it doesn't really start until the events of Act 2 detailed above. When they reach Baldur's Gate, he'll reluctantly suggest that they visit the Rose & Portent, his mother's tavern and adventurer's guild. Arriving there will be the first time the player will see him nervous for a social interaction, and when they meet Moralynn, they'll soon see why - she's scary as hells. However, she does provide important information for the party, such as hints about the Iron Throne and other companions' side quests. She also reveals that Valoren's sister, Trixia, has been making a nuisance of herself as Orin's ally and girlfriend. The quest will conclude when Valoren and the party face off with Trixia; if left to make his own choice, he'll kill her, but he can be convinced to spare her life. If she's spared, she'll escape, and make a second appearance alongside Orin during her boss fight. Dark urges can spare her again here, and they can even recruit her - if they turn Valoren over, and allow her to kill him.
Story Specific
How does your Tav advise the player character when it comes to the Dream Visitor?
Valoren is suspicious, but cautiously optimistic. He makes some offhand comment about warding his dreams before he sleeps, so whoever is visiting them is either genuinely on their side, or immensely powerful. Hopefully both.
How do they advise the player character on Raphael?
He rolls his eyes at Raphael’s dramatics and tells the player not to buy it. Even as the son of an archdevil, cambions are far closer to mortals than gods in terms of power. A successful insight check will reveal that Valoren is more knowledgeable than he’s letting on.
How do they react to Astarion biting the Player Character?
“Ooh, can I be next?”
How do they react to the Player Character letting Abdirak whip them?
He encourages the player to make their own choice about whether they want to; if they do, he gives a snarky announcer-style commentary about Abdirak’s form. Afterwards, he’ll pop off about aftercare and offer the player a healing spell.
How do they react to the Player Character taking their first tadpole power?
Valoren says that it’s the player’s decision, but would prefer to pass if it’s all the same to them.
Will they stay with the Player Character regardless of siding with the goblins or the tieflings, or is it possible for them to leave the party permanently?
Valoren is just along for the ride, and will stick by the player till TPK does them part.
What can they be found doing at the tiefling/goblin party?
Performing! Either trying to lead the goblins in a bawdy singalong, or doing a lovely duet with Alfira. Either way, when approached, he’ll ignore the player until after the show, whereupon he will be a terrible flirt.
Do they have comments on who the Player Character chooses to spend the night with?
If they declare their intent to spend it with Astarion, he’ll complain about them stealing his plans for the night.
Do they have unique dialogue if the Player Character lets them die when they steal the Blood of Lathander?
He’ll be laughing his ass off and congratulate the player on their spectacular shenaniganry. Then, in a more sincere tone, he’ll thank them for bringing him back.
How do they react if the PC licks the dead spider in the Gauntlet of Shar?
Valoren will smirk like the Grinch and tell them to do it again.
What do they say if the PC tries to force them to go up on stage with Dribbles the Clown?
“An excellent choice! If I get kicked out for upstaging this pathetic sod, you’re sneaking me back in.”
Is it possible for your Tav to be kidnapped and replaced by Orin? How is Orin's deception revealed? How do they react to the PC rescuing them in the Temple of Bhaal?
Valoren can definitely get kidnapped. The party will find “Valoren” playing his lute by the campfire, and he’ll begin to sing them a scary story about a legendary shapeshifting monster. He’ll then accuse Astarion of being Orin, and Astarion will call out “Valoren” for having clumsy fingers and tell him to drop the act. After being rescued, Valoren will be the most distraught and vulnerable they’ve seen him. He’ll thank them profusely for saving him and actually start to cry. There will be an opportunity to hug him.
How do they react to the PC either allowing Astarion to ascend or convincing him to spare the 7000 spawn?
He is not happy about either of these options. If Astarion ascends, Valoren will be genuinely saddened, and blame the player for losing his friend. If the spawn are freed, he’ll berate the player for being too naive, and warn them that the lives each spawn will take are on the player’s conscience.
How does Tav react to the PC becoming a mind flayer? Can they offer to become one themselves? Does their reaction change if they’re romanced?
Valoren will completely change his tune on the Emperor once he reveals himself, and Val will jump at the chance to become half illithid. He'll offer to become a mind flayer if nobody else is willing, but will defer to the player character's judgement. As far as he's concerned, if the player becomes a mind flayer, not much has changed - they're still his beloved companion.
How do they react when the Dark Urge first reveals their amnesia and murderous thoughts to them?
He takes them seriously, and promises to keep an eye on them if they ask him to. Valoren will stay true to this promise and advise the Dark Urge before most DUrge-exclusive dialog options.
How do they react to the Dark Urge killing Alfira?
This is the closest Valoren comes to leaving. He'll be absolutely distraught at her death, but will ultimately stand by his friend, the Dark Urge.
If romanced, how do they react to the Dark Urge trying to kill them in Act 2?
Valoren will be startled at first, but then very understanding, and will sing them a magical lullaby to help them return to peaceful sleep.
Romance
Is your Tav a romanceable character? Are there any specific requirements to romancing them?
Valoren is extremely romanceable. He is the one companion who has no approval threshold to spend the night with at the party. However, unless the player character is above neutral with him, he will brush it off as a one-time fling, and if they're hostile, then he won't even stick around the morning after.
Does your Tav need to be flirted with to start the romance, or will they approach the PC themselves if approval is high enough?
He will approach the player from basically day one, and if they reciprocate his flirting, he'll sleep with them before the party as well.
Are they a polyamorous or a monogamous option?
He is content to stay as a non-serious friend with benefits, and will be happy for the player if they find someone else; if their new partner is willing, he will continue those benefits. However, if the player chooses to commit to him and start an actual relationship, he will want it to be monogamous.
Do they have a special romance scene at the tiefling/goblin party?
Yes! He’ll take the player to an abandoned house, and they’ll have the choice to either be top or bottom. The morning after, he’ll stick around if he’s above neutral with the player, and if he’s friendly, they will have an opportunity to watch the sunrise with him from the roof. He’ll have a surprisingly genuine conversation about his childhood and how he would often spend the night on the roof to avoid his older sister, who couldn’t climb like he could. Sunrise always brought relief because it meant he could go back inside and get started with the day.
Does the romance have different branching paths, or just one route to take?
There’s two. Either he can be a friend with benefits, or he can be an actual partner. He will default to FWB and only good approval and careful dialog choices will change that.
How do they react to the player character breaking up with them, or choosing another character over them?
He’ll be apparently unfazed. If he’s a FWB, Val will actually not care very much, and not even be surprised. If he’s a partner, while he still appears unaffected, he’ll be quietly devastated. This will lock the player out of any further meaningful conversations with him.
aaaah hello hello happy birthday month to you!! i hope I'm not too late to request some OC art, but who and what is up to you! 🥳❤️
Thank you.
This is what I visualise in my head every time you tag your posts #baseballbat
(I listened to Supermassive Black Hole for 2 hours straight until I finished the piece lmao)
Anyway I know Val is an uwu boy but maybe he deserves his own Ultra Instinct Shaggy arc. These two WILL beat you up. Together ❤️❤️
Also as I was about to export this pic I said to myself hey these two look like they're about to drop the sickest hiphop album of the decade. And so now they did
