gale (baldur's gate)

You weren't surprised when you woke up in the pod - you always did. After every victory or death or failure, you woke up right as that mind flayer forced that tadpole into your eye. You killed the chosen three an infinite amount of times, destroyed the elder brain more times than you could count - died even more! And yet, no matter what you did, you always woke up at the very beginning. A lonely existence, for anyone, having to re-establish eternal loves and undying friendships all over again. It felt like a hopeless cause, having to play the same game over and over again. Resetting no matter how it ended. You thought it was an eternal, lonesome torture. Until you find out a certain devil is suffering in the same hell.

It has been decades since your last victory together. Since you stood by his side.He’s had quite the difficult time following you after your departure. But now, as old friends become your enemies, Astarion thinks it is time you return to him—where you belong.The only thing that has ever, truly, satisfied him.

Tara flew to his shoulder and gazed down with him, taking in the scene.“Do you see it?” he whispered. “What…”“I see it.” She rubbed her cheek against his, her tail curling around his hunched shoulders.“What does it mean?”“It means hope, Gale. It means something real.” --- Gale is a divination wizard, but a mere shadow of his former glory. Aoife is an Oath of the Ancients paladin, haunted by the grief of her past. After a fateful meeting a year ago Aoife's path crosses the Wizard of Waterdeep's once more. But as they are drawn together Gale's misfortune with the orb and Aoife's long-held sorrow aren't the only dark shadows cast upon them by the past. And soon their fates become as entangled as the threads of the Weave. This is a retelling of the main game narrative along with a *lot* of new plot. Now revised and extended!

Astarion had been entombed for years now. ... The desire to leave this place was always strongest in these moments. It was single minded, heavy, it choked his throat and squeezed his chest, he felt full to bursting with this desire. He felt empty. No amount of begging, pleading, or screaming had helped before but still he managed to choke out a single word between useless hiccupping breaths. "Please." For the first time someone answered.

The Underdark is filled with mushrooms. Mushrooms that explode. Mushrooms that choke you with noxious fumes. Mushrooms that...send you spiraling into an insatiable heat? Well. It wasn't Astarion's fault that he had fallen into a patch of said fungi. But at least the selfless druid was there to help.

Both hungered for freedom, revenge, power, and unexpectedly, love. But when she rejected her father, Bhaal, and aided Astarion's ascension, his offer of eternity was met with her firm refusal; she refused to be bound to another master. A decade later, a mysterious letter lured her back to Baldur's Gate, tempting her with the allure of power. Returning to the city, she prepared to face the shadows of her past, unsure of what awaited her as she braced herself for the consequences of her past choices.

“Promise you won’t laugh? Like, swear on your undead life?” “I swear on my-” Astarion choked on his spit. “My what?” “Your undead life?” Gale tilted his head like a confused puppy. “Did you think the whole vampire thing was a secret?” “Well. kind of?” Gale laughed in earnest. “Astarion, I know you can’t see yourself but you have to understand what you look like. You look like whatever an emo kid imagines when they picture themselves grown up, with your perfect hair, eyeliner, and the leather jacket thing.” “I-” “Also if the ethereal beauty wasn't enough, you have a blood flask in your jacket pocket at all times.” Astarion blinked, but quickly gained his composure, a damn near predatory grin stretching across his lips, highlighted by the fact that he was no longer hiding his fangs. “So you think I'm beautiful, wizard boy?” Gale rolled his eyes, trying to keep the flush off his cheeks. “Of course I do, Astarion.” ~*Modern with Magic AU! with Professor Gale and Librarian Astarion*~

Astarion, with inspiration from Sebastian, kills his master, breaking the cycle of death he's forced upon his spawn. With no clear path ahead of him, he reunites with his parents and they help him settle in this new nighttime life he faces. He opens up a tailor shop in Baldur's Gate, encouraged by his parents. Over the years he meets each of the core companions... and falls for a certain large elf who comes in for more 'civilized' clothes for a conference in the city. (art links posted with each associated chapter later on!)