lost in the bongle sauce

set of tarot cards i drew for @bg3-fate-spins-along event

PAGES in tarot are associated with youth, learning and fresh potential so i decided to match them with tiefling kids and make illustrations inspired by classic Waite-Smith deck

WANDS are action and pure energy ARABELLA

CUPS are feelings and romantic notions MIRKON

SWORDS are intellect and new ideas MOL

but after killing cazador, and giving up ascension, he’s so much lighter. the usual harshness he has in his tone of voice is dulled, if not entirely absent in certain dialogues. he still has a long way to go in terms of healing, but he’s finally secure enough to start that process. he’s still him, but a weight has been taken off his shoulders, so he’s finally able to live without constant hyper-vigilance, looking over his shoulder for danger.

even the way that he refers to cazador changes: in almost every instance prior to completing his personal quest, he speaks cazador’s name with hatred. viciously. afterwards, he says his name like it’s just that. a name. someone that’s gone, and inconsequential, who can’t hurt him anymore.

i think my favorite callback is that, in the conversation you have with him after long resting, whether you romanced him or not, he thanks you for talking him out of it. now that he’s out of that hell, he’s able to see just how much continuing down that pattern of abuse would have changed and ruined him. specifically, the last line he says is “this is a gift, you know. thank you - i won’t forget it.” which is the exact same line he says after you allow him to drink your blood way back in act one.

Ship Tournament, Round 1 — Match 13 / 30

Barcus/Wulbren

"Barcus is brave in such a specific, ridiculous, stubborn way. He gets launched off a windmill, dragged through danger, keeps showing up anyway, all because Wulbren matters to him. And Wulbren is so consumed by the Ironhands and his hatred of the Gondians that he can barely see the person standing right in front of him. What kills me is that you can imagine the history. Barcus didn’t become that attached out of nowhere. There had to be something there once, even if it was friendship, admiration, a relationship, whatever."

"There’s something really interesting about Wulbren being the person Barcus believes in, while Barcus becomes the kind of person Wulbren should have become. Barcus starts out frightened and out of his depth, but he keeps choosing people. He chooses loyalty, then courage, then eventually leadership if Wulbren refuses to listen. Wulbren has the charisma and the cause and the revolutionary fire, but he’s let grievance turn into cruelty. As a ship, I like it for the heartbreak more than the romance. Barcus loving the memory of someone, Wulbren resenting anyone who reminds him he used to be softer, the two of them standing on opposite sides of what “saving our people” even means. It’s messy and bitter and very, very gnome divorce."

vs. Halsin/Karlach

"big heart x big heart but in the most literal “this could accidentally break the furniture” way. they’re both huge, warm, openly affectionate people who have been through absolute hell and somehow still want to help everyone around them. like karlach comes out of avernus still wanting hugs and dancing and bad jokes, and halsin comes out of centuries of responsibility and trauma still choosing gentleness where he can. also can you IMAGINE halsin being there the first time karlach can touch people again. the man would be so careful with her, and she would be vibrating out of her skin with excitement"

"There’s something lovely about Karlach, whose body was turned into a weapon and a ticking clock, being loved by someone who would treat her body with reverence instead of fear. And Halsin, who carries so much guilt and responsibility, getting someone who just looks at him and goes “you’re good, mate. Come sit down. Have a drink.”"

"she’d be SO into wild shape. absolutely losing her mind every time he turns into a bear. “THAT’S MY MAN!!!!!” while halsin is just standing there like 🐻"