Looking for home again

Masrey Koval | 276 yrs old | beast master ranger | seldarine drow an ask blog and general place for my oc thoughts

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

Greetings, fellow traveler. My name is Masrey. I hail from the Underdark, though I have not called it home for many decades. I left that life behind long ago, hoping to escape the cycles of violence and abuse perpetuated throughout the Underdark, even among those who don't follow the Spider Queen, Lolth.

I spent my life between two worlds, one foot in each, not quite belonging in either. I wasn't ruthless enough for life in the Underdark, but those on the surface treated me with disdain for my heritage. I only found belonging in one human.

For a while, I was settled in a small village called Whitpeak with my lover. When he died, I lost the only other place I'd ever called home. I've been traveling ever since, seaking that feeling of belonging again.

It was on my way back to Whitepeak that I was knocked unconscious and captured by the illithids.

tagging:

#dark smith is the tag for my OCxOC ship, Masrey and Matthias (offically M&M but I needed a way to tag them)

#blood ranger is for Mas and Astarion

#masrey lore drop is exactly what it says on the tin

((mod here: my main blog is @nerdy-nessie if you want to talk about things that aren't related to Masrey! He's a general d&d character that I've had the idea for for a while now, and my current bg3 tav. You can find a bit about his back story here and here is what I have for his companion quest so far

This will probably be a lot about my bg3 campaign and his backstory for a while, but if I ever get the chance to play him in d&d that would be on here as well!))

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

I've been thinking about Masrey’s relationships recently, more specifically his two committed romantic relationships. Neither were particularly unhealthy (at least once they got going) but neither were completely healthy by a long shot.

His relationship with Matthias was a lot healthier and steady in that than with Astarion. But because Matthias was his only true friend before leaving the Underdark, and because the two of them were already in a romantic relationship when they left, Masrey never learned how to be a person without the context of someone else until Matthias died and he was forced to learn that and unlearn the codependency that had developed. During Masrey's childhood, he only existed in the context of his Matron, of his family, of his society. Then, when he made it to Whitepeak with Matthias, he existed in the context of him. For a good while after they moved, Masrey couldn't go anywhere without Matthias because everyone distrusted him so much. And even after the townspeople got to know him and accept him as a part of their lives that wasn’t going away and wasn't dangerous, when travelers would come through town and see him and ask the townspeople why they didn't kill him he's a drow he's dangerous, the answer was always that he was the blacksmith’s partner. It was never about who he was as a person, only who was around him. And so when Matthias died he for the first time truly had to figure out who he was on his own, without living in context of someone else, which is part of why he left Whitepeak for a while.

Mas' relationship with Astarion, however, took much longer to get to that steady, healthier point. I dont think it truly got there and stayed there until after Cazador. At the beginning, Masrey was using Astarion as much as Astarion was using Masrey. Most of the major features aside (hair colour, build, race, etc), Astarion looks pretty similar to Matthias (completely unintentional I swear). Enough so that when they first met, the similarity between Matthias and Astarion was one of the first things Masrey noticed. And then Masrey learned that Astarion, like himself, had escaped a generational cycle of abuse and violence. And that Astarion was where he himself was over 200 years ago at this point. And Masrey sees the opportunity to be for Astarion what Matthias was for him. Astarion becomes his pet project, a way to take his mind off of his mind. And it doesn't help that it makes him feel closer to Matthias, who is two centuries dead exactly the year BG3 takes place. Astarion definitely does not want that at the beginning, but he puts up with it because it--along with Astarion's own manipulation--ensures his safety and place at Masrey's side, and so they end up using each other and it really is a wonder they ended up together instead of one of them leaving after a big blow up fight between the two of them. And even after the feelings that neither of them wanted developed and they decided they wanted to use that as the foundation of their relationship instead of what had been there, they still take a while to iron out the wrinkles. There are a lot of fights--especially about Cazador and the ritual--leading up to the big fight. Lots of nights where they go to sleep angry at each other. And to some extent they're still using each other, just as mutual punching bags and ways to let off steam instead of what it had been before. I think if Astarion hadn't been part of the party, Masrey would have been a bit more unhinged and a bit more 'classic drow' under the stress of it all. He wanted to change for Matthias, and without Astarion to almost serve as a stand in, Masrey would have given in to his instincts more, and would by extension take much longer to get close to the rest of the party, as he would have to do more to make them trust him that much. It does eventually get better, though, after they deal with Cazador and then the Elder Brain. It goes a little lopsided again in the wake of all the attention afterwards but they manage to right themselves much quicker.

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

Masrey is not his given name.

He was born Magvyr Renalyn, first son of House Renalyn. When he finally decided to give Matthias something to call him, he gave his grandfather's name, Masrey. At the time, it was the last thing he could do to keep Matthias away from what Masrey thought of as his 'true self', and a small thing to make identifying him that much harder, since his grandfather was already long dead and there were no males named Masrey in his house at that time.

Later, when he decided he wanted to get out of the Underdark, the intention behind using that name changed. It was still a way to make identifying him harder, as his family didn't know he'd been using that name. It was also his way of rejecting his station as the first born son, since his grandfather was not.

And none of this ever came up naturally in conversation with Matthias, who didn't know that Masrey isn't his real name until they were on the way to Whitepeak almost 20 years into knowing each other. And that conversation was the same one where Masrey, with Matthias' eager blessing, took the last name Koval as another way to distance himself from the Underdark as much as possible.

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

What Would Your OC Wear in a Modern AU?

Masrey would probably take at least some level of inspiration from mossysocks, but specifically he'd mostly wear outfits similar to these

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

two new shots of Mas (and Astarion) + some older ones that I still really like

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

How would Karlach carry Masrey?

If Karlach's carrying Masrey, then something is wrong. It's either gonna be 2 or 3 depending on whichever was an easier position to get him in to.

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

Finally getting around to posting a more comprehensive backstory for Mas here! Under the cut

Born 21 Elaint (autumn equinox), or the 21st of The fading, 1216 DR, Year of Green Wings, Masrey was born Magvyr, first son of House Renalyn of Marimydra. He had three older sisters. Marimydra was not as violent as Menzoberranzen, but they were not much better.

Living so close to the surface, Masrey liked to run off and explore whenever he could get away with it. He found a small clearing, close enough to a road that he could watch the travelers going by, but far enough away that most didn't know it was there. One day, when he was around 6 years old, he met a human boy--Matthias--in his clearing. Terrified of actually interacting with a surface dweller, he lashed out when Matthias approached him, and ran off. He didn't return for quite a while, but when he did, he found Matthias there again, and a few meetings later, he started to stick around, and the two quickly became friends, although it took Masrey a while to give Matthias his name, and when he did, it was not Magvyr, but his grandfather's name.

From there, it takes a few more years before Masrey is fully comfortable with Matthias, although it unfortunately doesn't last long. The two start to develop feelings for one another, and Masrey doesn't know what to do with that, resorting back to lashing out, though not as violently as he used to. Around 16, Matthias is able to break through once more, and convince Masrey to sit down and talk to him. The conversation ends with them confessing their feelings for one another, and they start dating. From here, their meetings end up dwindling, as Matthias' parents both die, and he's left to run the smithy and take care of his two younger siblings. The two of them make plans to run away, leaving behind the Underdark and heading to a small village that doesn't appear on many maps outside the local region.

A few years after that, around 25, Masrey appears on Matthias' doorstep, urgently saying they needed to leave immediately. He reveals the following day that his mother, Matron Vestyrr, had discovered his plans to run away and his stash of gold, and was going to execute him that morning. Two weeks later, Masrey, Matthias, and his younger sister Marie arrive at Whitepeak, where Matthias opens a new smithy under the same name: Koval's Smithy.

Matthias dies in his mid 70s, and Masrey--grief stricken--leaves the smithy to their apprentice, and leaves Whitepeak, not to return for another hundred years. On his travels, he meets SIlleth Fylmirr, a sea elf, and captain of the Song of Creation at the time of their first meeting. They run into each other in port cities a handful of times after that, almost always spending the night together.

After a century, Masrey returns to Whitepeak, greeted with suspicion by everyone except the current owners of Koval's Smithy, descendants of the apprentice Masrey left it to. He resumes his position at the smithy, but still occasionally leaves to travel.

On his way back to Whitepeak after one of his trips, he is abducted by the illithids and begins the events of Baldur's Gate 3.

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

Forge an Item for Masrey

Link to the quiz

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

Does your Tav have a pet?

For the longest time, Masrey didn't have a pet. Unless you count the lizard mount from the Underdark, back when he was training to be a soldier for his house. Even on the surface, and for a good few decades after he left Whitepeak he never did, but once he would have started taking levels as a ranger stats-wise and got the ranger's companion, he always had an animal with him, usually in the form of a crow for scouting purposes.

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

What if your Tav's LI didn't exist?

If Astarion didn't exist, Mas would be more willing to mess around with Halsin, but he wouldn't get with anyone else. At least, not during BG3. He'd probably eventually end up with another OC of mine that I have no plans for a BG3 run for. Story-wise, Mas would probably lean a bit more into the aggressive side of things, acting more like how people would expect a drow to act. He doesn't often tend toward that, but the pressure and seeming time limit of the tadpoles stresses him out a lot, and without anyone to hold him to a higher standard (whether it's in his head or not), the stress would get to him. I mean, Gale and Wyll would certainly try, but it wouldn't stick, at least until they all got to know each other better.

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

What gentle memory haunts Masrey?

It's sad, but it's true. Even ignoring Matthias, there are people Masrey met and parted ways with that have stuck with him for one reason or another, people who have forgotten him or have died since he last saw them. In almost 300 years of life, it's more than just one person, though.

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

some of my favourite pics of mas that I've collected so far

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

What is Masrey doing for New Year's Eve?

Pre-canon, in Whitepeak, the town would host a feast/celebration of the new year, staying up all night. Some families would hold their own personal feasts, but most were with the rest of the town. Masrey continued this tradition after he left, always finding some way to have a small, personal feast, even on the road. Now, he celebrates with his new friends, eating, drinking, being merry and the likes. They recall stories from the previous year, and share hopes for the new year. Masrey still stays up all night, and sometimes he's joined by Astarion, or someone else, but usually he's the only one.

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

the urge to give m&m a daughter is strong rn...

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

What would your Tav's/Durge's profession be in a modern au?

I've actually thought about this one for Mas (bc I was thinking of writing a modern au for m&m at one point). Mas would be a park ranger in a modern au. He loves being out in nature, and a profession where not only gets to spend the whole day outside (away from most people), but also potentially run programs for park goers would be a great fit for him!

[litsenn]

Ask Game: How do the companions perceive your OC?

Lae’zel

What does she think of the way your OC deals with the tadpole?

Does she approve of the way they consider the night visitor/Emperor?

Does she eventually want to learn more about their own culture? Is she curious about their way of life?

Does she trust their strategic and leadership skills?

Wyll

How does he react to the way your OC deals with devils generally speaking?

Would he tell them a lot of anecdotes about his childhood in Baldur’s Gate?

What does he think of the way your OC dance?

Would he confide in your OC about how he feels after Mizora transformed him?

Shadowheart

Would she gladly share a bottle of wine with them? Who finishes the bottle?

Does she let them question her dedication to Shar?

How does she react to their appreciation or dislike of the gods generally speaking?

What does she think of the way they treat Scratch and the Owlbear?

Astarion

If he had met your OC pre-tadpole, would he have targeted them to bring them to Cazador? Would your OC had fallen for him back then?

To which drink would he compare their blood?

How does he feel about their empathy or lack of thereof?

Does he approve of their fashion tastes?

Gale

Would he happily introduce your OC to Tara?

What does he think about their cooking and culinary tastes?

Would he give them details about his relationship with Mystra? Spicy details?

What does he think of their magical skills or, at least, their potential?

Karlach

Would she share a cigar with you OC? Would they accept it?

Does she listen to them if they worry about their heart?

Would she tell them everything about Gortash, how she used to feel about him, betrayal included?

Would she tell them what “Taters” mean? Would she say it to your OC (even platonically)?

{Durge} What does she think of their previous relationship with Gortash?

Halsin

Would he try to make your OC more receptive to nature? Does he need to?

Except for ducks, what would he whittle for them?

Is he happy with the way they interact with children?

Would he turn into a bear to keep them warm during cold nights?

Jaheira

Can she “savour the moment of victory” with your OC after a fight? If yes, how?

What does she think about their sense of humour?

Would she give them details about Khalid?

Does she trust them enough to let them babysit the rescued kids in her house?

{Durge} Is she proud of the way they deal with the Urge?

Minsc

Would he arm-wrestle with your OC? Who would win?

Would he tell them everything about his former adventures?

Would he share Boo’s secrets with them?

Would he tell them a lot about Viconia and her past?

{Durge} How does he feel about the way they deal with Sarevok?

Boo

Would he nibble at your OC’s clothes?

Would he tell Minsc nice things about them?

Would he obey their orders?

Would he let them pet him?

Minthara

Does she think your OC could become a powerful ally?

Does their behaviour make her “blood run hot”?

Does she really believe they can kill Orin?

What does she think of their consumption (or non-consumption) of tadpoles?

{Durge} What does she think of their previous relationship with Orin?

[underdarks-lost-ranger]

Was your Tav wearing armor or robes when they were kidnapped?

Masrey was about a day out from Whitepeak on his way back from an adventure when he got kidnapped, so he had his armor and equipment on him at the time. He held onto his armor while on the nautiloid, but he lost most of his equipment, except for the sword he was carrying, which he forged himself. The bow he carried at the beginning he foraged off of one of the corpses on the nautiloid.

I can't find any mod that looks like what he would have been wearing, but I do have a drawing