Baldur's Tales | BG3

“Fine.” Ember thought about it for a couple of minutes. “Alright.”

She stood up.

“Look, everyone knows I love Mel, and he loves me. He’s my brother, my own flesh and blood. Mel?”

Mel nodded. He was comfortably stretched out on his cloak a few feet from the fire, happily puffing away on a small pipe.

“Mel, tell me—would you want to have sex with me?”

The elf coughed, thoroughly choked by the unexpected question. Utter bewilderment shone in his eyes. He raised a finger to his temple and made a spinning motion, saying absolutely nothing.

“There. See?” Ember pointed a hand at him, locking in the result.

“Now, imagine that I love, hmm…”

She glanced around the clearing, her gaze lingering on Astarion's tent (she rolled her eyes), and then looked back at the wizard.

“Right. Imagine that I love Gale, and he loves me. Can you picture that?”

The companions nodded approvingly.

“Gale, would you want to have sex with me?”

Gale stared at Ember, completely stunned.

“Wh-what?..”

A wicked snicker echoed from the Astarion's tent.

“I am not answering that,” a strange flush crept onto the wizard’s face. “What kind of ridiculous questions are these?”

“So, you’d refuse?”

“No, but… I mean, if we were…” Gale was utterly flustered now. Suddenly, he became very interested in the entries in his diary. He turned away.

“There, do you see?” Laughing, Ember pointed at him like a judge who had just delivered a final verdict.

“If he’s against it, you can always count on me, my joy!” Astarion was clearly thoroughly enjoying the conversation.

“And there!” Ember triumphantly pointed back at the tent. “Any more questions?”

“Yes, actually. I have one now.” Mel stepped into the center of the clearing, stretching. “Alright, so who exactly here wants to have sex with my sister?..”

24. Is sex something that they’re comfortable speaking about? To whom?

Ember has virtually no taboo topics; she can talk about anything. The question is, how exactly? She will only discuss something personal and serious with very close people. Everything else will be some form of joke or light sarcasm. For her, this is the easiest way to set personal boundaries.

Besides, she is convinced that there is no need to talk about sex; it is better to do it, and certainly not with just anyone :)

34. How hard is it for them to shake a sense of guilt?

It's very difficult. She lived with this for a very long time, taking on not only her own guilt but also that of others. Which seriously ruined her life. Although, perhaps this is precisely what taught her responsibility for her own actions.

41. How do they feel about children?

She's completely calm. She will always protect the child, because he is a priori weaker. But she doesn't have any specific goal of starting a family and having children. At least not right now.

F. What do you feel when you think of your OC (pride, excitement, frustration, etc)?

I think she's much better than me. I laugh with her, I'm sad with her, I'm proud of her resilience and ability to find compromises and make difficult decisions. And sometimes I even envy her :)

G. What trait of theirs bothers you the most?

She has quite a lot of different character traits, but I accept her with all her flaws. How could it be otherwise?

Thanks so much for the questions from the wonderful @aristenfromwarsaw ❤️‍🔥 (check out her answers). List of Questions My questions for you: 8, 22, 28, 32 Author Section: A, J

First, I took the decoding of Ember's natal chart from the Almagest website. But it was too formal. So I sent it all to Gemini, which produced excellent, easy-to-read analysis.

Analytical Breakdown of Ember’s Natal Chart (3 Hammer, 1405 DR)

The Core of Personality and Spiritual Patron

Sun in the 1st Decan of the Raven: The Raven grants her absolute independence. But since Ember was born in the deep hours of the night, right before dawn, her Sun is technically located in the IV House (the House of Roots, the Past, and Sanctuary).

Interpretation: Ember does not put her rebellious spirit on display. Her desire for freedom is hidden deep within. She will not engage in an open, foolish rebellion if it is disadvantageous, but mentally she will never submit to anyone. She is a "still water" that charts its own course, using stealth and survival as a shield.

Full Selûne in the 3rd Decan of the Wheel: On Toril, the Moon is the literal body of the goddess Selûne (the Our Lady of Silver), who is responsible for navigation, prophecy, and quests.

Interpretation: The full moon phase means that the Our Lady of Silver is watching Ember with all her eyes. However, being in the Wheel (the sign of cyclicality and fate) sharpens lunar paranoia and fear for personal safety. Ember's inner world is a battlefield. It constantly feels to her that her familiar world is about to collapse under the influence of fate, which makes her compulsively strive to control everything.

The Divine Triumvirate: Sun Trine Anadia in Sextiles

This is the most powerful, dominant node in Ember's chart. Here, three gods fight for her will: Kossuth (or Garagos), Akadi, and Grumbar.

1. Sun Trine Anadia (Patron: Kossuth / Garagos)

Anadia is responsible for fire, war, rage, and destruction. The patron of the planet is Kossuth (the Lord of Flame) or Garagos (the God of Bloodlust).

Interpretation: A trine is an aspect of easy and harmonious flow of energy. The fiery rage of Anadia does not burn Ember from the inside out and does not drive her mad; instead, it perfectly feeds her ego. Kossuth grants her a cold, controlled flame of will, while Garagos provides pure martial charisma and endurance. In a critical situation where others break, Ember ignites. This is the aspect of a natural-born leader capable of enduring colossal physical and mental strain.

2. Sextiles to Coliar (Patroness: Akadi) and Chandos (Patron: Grumbar)

Coliar (Akadi, goddess of Air) governs intellect, speed of thought, illusions, and cunning.

Chandos (Grumbar, god of Earth) governs metal, time, stability, and morality. In her chart, Chandos is exalted in Libra (the Swan), meaning it is at the peak of its benevolent power.

Interpretation: Air and Earth harmoniously support her Fire.

Akadi gives Ember "airy" mental speed: her rage (Anadia) and ego (Sun) are instantly processed by her mind. She speaks what she thinks, and her words strike like arrows. Although Coliar in the Swan tries to incline her toward indecisiveness, Kossuth's Fire forces her to act.

Grumbar grounds this structure. He gives Ember a powerful, almost unshakeable inner sense of justice and morality (exalted Chandos). Fate protects her: whatever destruction Anadia brings, Grumbar holds up a stone shield, softening the blows of fate.

Coliar Conjunct Chandos: Mind (Akadi) and Morality (Grumbar) are fused together. Ember is capable of influencing people with her speech; she sees the world deeply and philosophically. It is easy for her to lead companions, justifying it by a higher expediency.

Mental Traps and the Shadow of the Chart

If the upper part of the chart turns Ember into an invincible warrior and leader, her "underground" looks terrifying. Here, Sune and Mystra rule.

1. Glyth in the 2nd Decan of the Spear (Patroness: Sune)

Glyth is responsible for beauty, love, passion, and art, and its patron is the goddess Sune Firehair. But in the canon of the Almagest, Glyth is also a planet whose flip side conceals deep mental abysses (in Realmspace, it was captured by mind flayers).

Interpretation: Being in the 2nd Decan of the Spear indicates that Ember is absolutely driven by emotions when it comes to attachments. This is her vulnerable spot. Sune demands a total, passionate dedication from her. If Ember loves or hates, she does it with her whole being, temporarily losing the control that Coliar and Chandos so diligently build. Her emotions are a sharp spear that can wound her herself.

2. Anadia Square H'Catha (Patroness: Mystra)

H'Catha is a distant, mysterious planet ruled by Mystra (goddess of Magic). She is responsible for the Weave, hidden secrets, and the final judgment. In Ember's chart, H'Catha is retrograde (moving backward).

Interpretation: A tense square between War (Anadia) and Higher Magic/Destiny (H'Catha). This is a karmic conflict between action and destiny. Retrograde Mystra makes Ember feel like an "outsider," misunderstood, carrying some strange mental burden from her subconscious.

Her old habits, past traumas, or subconscious fears activate this square. If Ember represses her rage or tries to ignore her magical/plot destiny, Mystra will punish her with neuroses or physical weakness. Ember is literally forbidden from "bottling up" her destructive impulses.

Senses and Resources: Karpri (Patron: Istishia)

Karpri governs storms, water, and the destruction of old ideas, led by Istishia (the Lord of Water). It stands in Pisces in conjunction with the star Tilvadar.

Interpretation: Istishia requires purification through the destruction of the obsolete. In Ember's feelings, this manifests as a thirst for intense, deep sensations (the influence of Tilvadar*). But her material world is unstable. Money and resources come from "intangible sources"—these could be ancient artifacts, secret rewards, magic, or mental contracts, rather than honest physical labor.

Storm Sorcery Core: The Karpri-Tilvadar Alignment Ember’s Storm Domain powers originate directly from Karpri in Pisces, conjunct the star Tilvadar. Governed by Istishia (the Lord of Water), Karpri rules over tempests, primal water, and the shattering of stagnant dogmas. The Sorcerous Manifestation: This placement acts as a permanent, innate conduit to the Elemental Planes. Ember's magic is not merely electric; it is the chaotic, fluid wrath of an oceanic storm. The conjunction with Tilvadar grants her a "fluid mind," turning her body into a flawless magical superconductor.

General Analytical Verdict of Handreth for Ember:

Ember is an incredibly powerful, self-sufficient figure whose spirit is forged in the fire of Kossuth and grounded by the unshakeable morality of Grumbar. The gods have endowed her with luck, protection from a foolish death, and the sharp tongue of Akadi. She is an ideal leader for a suicide squad on the Sword Coast. (Did he seriously write this? 😶😂)

But her main enemies are not monsters, but her own Selûne (fear for safety), Sune's Glyth (emotional vulnerability in love), and Mystra's square, which demands that she not silence her inner darkness.

And small adds.

*Planetary Conjunction: Karpri Conjunct the Star Tilvadar (Fish I)The Almagest Text: "A conjunction with the star Tilvadar endorses the 'fluid' nature of this planet, which suggests a more impressionable and receptive mind than usually associated with these degrees. Positive aspects to Tilvadar indicate a skilled artisan or ship-wright."1. The Fluid Mind & Emotional Receptivity This conjunction removes psychological rigidity, granting Ember an exceptionally adaptive, intuitive, and receptive mind. It allows her to process environmental and interpersonal changes with fluid precision, reading emotional undercurrents rather than relying on static dogma. 2. The Artisan & Inventor’s Aspect Reinforced by harmonious sextiles from Coliar (Intellect) and Chandos (Morality), this alignment acts as the astronomical origin of Ember’s investigative and inventive traits. She possesses the innate talents of a Core Artisan, enabling her to decipher and modify complex magical artifacts. 3. The Shadow: Hyper-Impressionability & Detachment Due to Karpri’s extreme openness here, Ember experiences psychic trauma with destabilizing depth. To protect her ego, she utilized her sovereign Raven traits to intentionally suppress her emotional capacity, adopting a strict regime of practical pragmatism as a psychological shield. Astrological Verdict: The Karpri-Tilvadar conjunction acts as a hidden anchor of empathy and loyalty. It counterbalances her cold exterior and self-imposed emotional exile, ensuring her core remains creative and capable of profound connection. It is the specific celestial aspect that prevents her from deteriorating into a cold mercenary, preserving the internal depth necessary for her eventual restoration.

Phew! In short, it looks like this.

But when you analyze Ember’s story based on this natal chart, it gets almost eerie how perfectly it explains so many of the events that have shaped her past and will define her future.The tragedy of her youth that caused her to close herself off, her natural inclination toward archaeology and working with ancient artifacts, her unyielding sense of justice, her frequent internal monologues, and even her core Storm Sorcery powers—everything is right here, including the explanation for the events of the post-game period.

I honestly get the feeling that I didn’t just make her story up; it feels as though she told me all of it herself. And I have absolutely no idea how it works!

And it all ties in perfectly with the FR lore.

And yes, spending a few hours figuring out the nuances of your character's horoscope instead of a full night's sleep is everything! 😜

But damn! This is really interesting!

Soft tags for @cursed-nyxan, @aristenfromwarsaw, @gloamingfey, @judasiskariot, @twilight-sanctuary, @wasteful-sam, @shkura2011, @lissad27

Some of my photos for Tavtober 2025

Considering that by this time about a dozen custom locations had been released, and eventually, the Bone Zone appeared—the mere discussion of which not so long ago caused nothing but jokes and giggles in the modding Discord.

We got a full set of tools to create any scene, starting from a dot on an empty map that gradually turned into a scene filled with meaningful objects and light, where the characters could do whatever we wanted.

Photos 2026

BG3 Mighty Nine series | #bg3 mighty nine

To be continued...

What about now?

Strangely enough, I would like to move away from the visual clutter and special effects (which have become so numerous and tempting) and focus on the essence of the captured moment. I want to understand anatomy so that the poses look natural, rather than like broken dolls. I want to learn how to set up lighting correctly. In short, there is plenty of room to grow :)

As for the technical side. Mmm… I touch up a lot of things in Photoshop, especially everything related to "flaws" in the frames. Sometimes I literally have to draw on missing eyelashes, or fix awkward, unnatural bends in joints, flaws in clothing textures, etc. These things really catch my eye, and I wouldn't want others to see them either. And considering all this editing, I completely abandoned color correction in Reshade; it is rarely successful, cannot be applied to specific zones, and often creates completely unnatural tones or color bleeding in the photo. All color correction is done strictly in Photoshop.

Though I recently bought Regrade, the full module, but haven't had time to master it yet. Maybe one day I'll change my mind. 😉

I wonder what part 4 of this post will be?..

And you know, I did end up taking the chest away from the githyanki children and returning the gremishka to its own kind. :)

She was glad to be home.

Last Night Alive. As for this scene, I think many people know it.

But have you seen it from the other side?

Many of these screenshots are presented with minimal editing, since they are essentially working material for me.

Honestly, I like the reverse angle much more. Even though it is dark, because the game camera is on the other side at that moment, and that's exactly where the light source is attached. But one day I will reshoot this :)

And this is far from everything. There is so MUCH hidden in this game! Otis gives you the opportunity not just to shoot, but to explore. Some other scenes.

And finally, back to the party. Traditional test, but with a new experience.

New shots of party.

And yet, it wasn't enough. These are the first attempts at creating my own scene. Photomod doesn't exist yet.

Don't ask why they're dressed like that. They're both weird... Okay, okay. That was a story about a masquerade that I never wrote :)

But more on that in the next part.

Mods.

The first serious step was mastering the "Ring of Metamorphs" and writing my own character's preset for it. I went a little crazy at that moment, but I began to understand how the game's script language actually works.

You have changed, Astarion...

More convenient modifications appeared later, but this specific mod became the key that allowed me to "break" the game. I immediately created a few scenes for myself that couldn't exist in the game, and I was very happy with that :)

Otis and Game Exploration.

But an even bigger step was the release of the Otis camera mod—it simply allowed me to rediscover the game.

My first shots with Otis cam.

Now, instead of moving along fixed tracks, I could literally reach any locked area and even go beyond cinematic scenes.

Ring of Metamorphs + Otis.

Otis cam.

Ok, ok, I stop it! :) Let's visit the Underdark!

More Otis cam.

At that moment, I realized that I was truly interested in what was there on the other side of the camera. What is hidden from the game scenes, and what the action looks like from the opposite angle. I dug through literally everything, building myself a 50-gigabyte library of work shots. And I realized that I would have staged many of these scenes differently, with a different camera angle and different lighting.

For example, do you remember the Dream Visitor's story about saving you? The game shows a small snippet where he approaches an open pod aboard the nautiloid, followed by video footage from his hideout. But that snippet on board is much longer.

Wow. He found me!

And if you don't let the cinematic switch you to the next scene, you will see the Dream Visitor looking for you on the burning nautiloid, and… finding you! Damn. When I saw this for the first time, I literally jumped in my chair! :)

But in the official cinematic, this is the scene you actually see:

And this is what the burning nautiloid looks like from the outside...😶

Nautiloid from the outside.

But I've reached my photo limit for this post, so I'll continue in the next one.

Let me elaborate. A mere two-week experiment since my return to Tumblr was more than enough for me. Tumblr has become a massive disappointment to me, and a lesson. A lesson in just how fake attention can be.

No one cares about you unless you stay within the bounds of the current mainstream and follow the lead of the so-called "opinion leaders" (the very ones who will be ready to 'cancel' you at any moment—don't be fooled by their temporary favor). No one cares about you unless you repost everything in sight and leave likes. No one cares about you unless you write praise-filled comments to all your followers, getting the same formulaic responses in return.

Tumblr is just a chain of mutual flattery meant to feed a personal deficit of attention. Real interest in your creativity or characters—something genuine and sincere—is rarely ever behind it.

And that makes the reactions from total strangers that pop up in my notifications all the more valuable. I won't delete my account, and I will still post something new here from time to time. But there will be no more self-deception and no more attempts to "fit in".