F is for Florrick, Frog and Forest!
Day 6 of the Baldur's Gate Alphabet!
Three Goblin Art
Not today Justin
occasionally subtle

Origami Around
wallacepolsom

oozey mess
Xuebing Du

if i look back, i am lost
Show & Tell

roma★

★
ojovivo

blake kathryn
Monterey Bay Aquarium
dirt enthusiast

Andulka
Sade Olutola
One Nice Bug Per Day
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸

@theartofmadeline

seen from Germany

seen from Malaysia

seen from Netherlands
seen from Italy
seen from United States

seen from Malaysia

seen from Italy

seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from Netherlands
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye

seen from Netherlands
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye

seen from Malaysia

seen from Netherlands
seen from United States
@faircatch2025
F is for Florrick, Frog and Forest!
Day 6 of the Baldur's Gate Alphabet!

Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
"Easy now, darling. You've got this. And I've got you."
we all know that astarion has the curse of being the evil-aligned/anti-hero archetype and the fandom treating him like some delicate innocent. that’s just something that happens in fandom spaces. it’s been happening for years. there’s nothing we can do. yes i know i get it.
but what really gets under my skin more than the deliberate mischaracterization of such an intricate and cool character is the fact that sometimes the community literally sacrifices his sense of humor. which astounds me because his sense of humor is what initially made players invested in who he was as a character!
he always has something funny to say— even if it’s only funny to him. he laughs at his own jokes and he gets defensive and butthurt if you make jokes at his expense. he is a hypocrite. he is hilarious.
less of him being like this tradhusband/untouchable figurehead of goodness and more of him being flawed and funny. cancel me idgaf i love canon astarion.
Another meta post, because the world never has enough
Halsin, my love, my babe, the reason my Durge survived her struggles.
In fact this is the post I published earlier this month and decided to make private because it immediately earned me a personal attack from some shit-stirrer, and I wasn't in the mood to clean after them. As earlier this week I got another "Halsin shouldn't have been a companion" directed right to my face, I decided to rephrase it a little and give it another go.
Here is why I love Halsin. Apologies, I only have the illustrations which I have already posted another day, but as I’ve been seriously learning VP, my photos now take more time, and I’m rarely able to produce more than one a day.
Halsin has my imagination work overtime, and not only mine
Yes he does, thanks to his character and his backstory.
I can agree that not everyone wants Halsin in the party, plus many people had decided on their setup before Halsin, Jaheira, and Minsc joined. But there's much more to Halsin that an uninterested player gets to see.
Halsin is a deeply tragic character who rebuilds himself and his life in front of us - if we give him time and effort. Yes, you need to take him places. Yes, you need to talk to him. Yes, some parts of his lore are hidden behind specific pieces of banter and even events many people will ever trigger. Him losing his family and all his friends, feeling responsible for the shadow curse, studying it for a whole century and eventually lifting it with the help from Tav/Durge/origin character. His loneliness and quiet suffering resulting in alcohol abuse - this part is hidden behind his banter with Wyll in the Waning Moon. His sexual abuse trauma - insultingly, shamefully hidden behind the encounter with the drow twins in the brothel. Thanks for nothing Larian, I'll never forgive this.
By the way, it's not okay to say that Halsin enjoyed being raped for 3 years. It's a fictional character and a fictional rape, but it's not okay to say so.
Halsin has the best companion quest
I love emotionally rewarding stuff. No, I LOVE emotionally rewarding stuff. Saving one person’s life and future is great, but saving one person life and future by bringing life back to an entire region cursed by an evil goddess is another level entirely. When I let Halsin lead the party leaving Moonrise for Baldur’s Gate, the final Act 2 cinematic almost made me cry, and I’m anything but an easy crier. Halsin’s homeland reborn in front of him, him witnessing life coming back to his exhausted, tortured homeland was the true culmination of the game for me. Same with the most dramatic part of his quest, Thaniel’s rescue - I brought all my aoe in and the portal defence wasn’t a big problem, but the events before and after made me tremble, squeal and scream. Restoring life together with someone who ached for it for 100 years - it’s a gaming moment that leaves a lasting magical aftertaste.
Halsin is not perfect
No, the picture doesn’t really represent who he is, lol.
This elf is a bloody mess. And most of his problems and imperfections come straight from his qualities.
He has an absolutely inflated, unhealthy understanding of his responsibilities. Result: for the whole game he gives the “how the fuck did I end up in management” vibe. He spent 100 years as the First Druid - and, judging by his flocks’ behavior, he was a mother hen to a bunch of useless but fully grown people. He wiped their noses when what they needed was a good spanking 3 times a day. As soon as he gets captured by the goblins and the noses of the entire Grove stay unwiped for a day or two, things immediately go awry: Kagha, spineless and sycophantic but able to pretend strong and even authoritarian, gets into a trap set by the Shadow Druids and almost manages to cut the Grove off of the world on their demand. Halsin dear, how did that piece of slime end up as your second in command? Fooled by her fake strength and efficiency? Well, shit happens. Here’s a honeycomb.
He has serious trauma processing issues caused by his self-neglect. Unprocessed Stockholm syndrome from his 3 years of sexual slavery. Unprocessed grief and depression. Severe guilt complex. Self-esteem issues, thinking himself unworthy of any love and care. The latter is the reason why I romance him every run now - he needs this, he needs this more than any other companion.
He is as fucked up as the best of us. I love him for this.
Halsin values consent more than anything
There’s one thing you can notice if you try to seduce him during the tiefling party. He is the only person available for flirting and firmly refusing to fuck your drunken ass. Never sleep with drunken people - especially if you don’t know them well! (And don’t get drunk if you want to bed someone - even for courage)
Some have issues with him only admitting his feelings in Act 3 - thanks for nothing once again, Larian, his romance should have started in Act 2, after Thaniel and Oliver are reunited. Still, when he admits his feelings, you can immediately turn him down without getting any disapproval from him. “Tell me I’m wrong, and the matter can rest. I don’t want to sour our friendship.” He stays true to his word.
Damn, during his romance scene he looks at you for consent before giving you a blowjob.
Halsin has more in him than he openly shows
The third degree burns he gives to Shadowheart in Act 2. Gods, I love Shadowheart - brainwashed as she is, she has her most important memories stolen from her, - but I can’t help but enjoy those moments. His unbreakable kindness covers some snark he only uses when necessary.
Halsin is probably the only one who takes the Durge seriously early in the game
As the Durge player, I can’t help but appreciate their early post-party dialogue. Halsin admits that he can’t do much on the road, without help from his druids and without time and conditions for proper hard research, but he gives hope. He offers support. Again, Larian, thanks for nothing - I wish there was more.
Halsin has the hottest romance scene
Er, no. Not the bear scene. Don't listen to incels from reddit, the bear option is not the only one and it's not even the default. I'd give much for 5 minutes in a soundproof room with Larian marketing team...
I’m 100% asexual, and even I enjoyed Halsin’s default love scene. It’s hot, it’s amazingly made, it’s tender - it’s considerate. Halsin takes care of the partner first, before “devouring” them, as he fears in the beginning.
His unintentional wildshape that, btw, makes him terribly embarrassed as if he’d hurt you or done something equally bad, but it is beautifully directed and as aesthetically pleasing as a wildshaping druid can be.
Halsin cares about refugees
As someone who spent several years working in a charity that helped war refugees, I take these things very close to my heart, because… because those people go through terrible things, and sadly they keep facing mistreatment everywhere. Halsin is right in his indignation against Baldur’s Gate, the city is a horrible place as we see it when we arrive. He doesn’t complain - he looks for a way to do something, and he finds it, basically opening a charity post-game. All Act 3 is his self-questioning, his search for a way to help, to change things; he is very close to slipping into hopelessness and despair.
Halsin absolutely should be a companion, he is in his right place and he makes people happy
Yeah right. Earlier this week I got the same experience as most "older" Halsinners - in a friendly safe-space convo about everyone's blorbos I was slapped in the face with "I don't know what made Larian choose him". As a direct reply. What did I do? Squealed that I'd have loved more content. Once.
As a late addition, Halsin is not properly developed and things could have been done much better. Yet for some reason people keep complaining that Halsin was promoted instead of their favorite NPCs. But, er, any promoted NPC would've been just as underdeveloped - there was no time and resource to do more. Plus, let’s imagine that the overwhelming demand for Halsin was ignored and he remained an NPC. Judging by what’s been happening post game, if - if - any origin companion had received more content, it would most likely have been Astarion. Astarion is the selling point of the game, the posterboy, whether people who aren’t his fans like it or not. Look at the merch, at the upcoming novel (yes I know… folks, I’m sorry, I know how upsetting hate can be), at everything. Astarion is always the first in the line when any new content is thought of. And Halsin is not to blame - if Larian decided to put effort into him, it means they thought him worth that effort.
They weren’t wrong - I have been watching things for quite a while, and at least on Tumblr and AO3 Halsin is firmly in top 5 by popularity measured in fan made content (together with Astarion, Gale, Karlach, and Shadowheart). I think it's an amazing result for a latecomer.
I’m happy that he is a companion. He gave me my favorite romance and inspired a story that lives in my head. He helped me shape a dear and beloved OC that distracts me from rather bleak reality and inspires me to learn new things that may help me in real life at some point. Without him, I wouldn’t have had a place in the fandom which, surprisingly, is still a joy.
Halsin should be a companion, because he brings joy and inspiration to many people. Larian weren't mistaken when they promoted him. Those who want him removed or replaced just can’t tolerate the fact that someone else got their wish brought to life. I'm sorry about everyone's favorites who didn't make it to the camp, but not sorry enough to stop liking what I like.
Character Analysis: Halsin (Baldur's Gate 3)
Who is Halsin?
Halsin works best when he's read as a man whose whole life has been shaped by care, responsibility, and long endurance rather than just as a late-game flirt option with a memorable bear scene. By the time the player meets him, he's already spent years as a druid healer, carried the burden of the grove, and tied a great deal of his life to the Shadow-Cursed Lands. He has warmth, humour, and very open desire, but none of that sits on a shallow character - it sits on someone who's been living with failure, guilt, and obligation for a very long time.
His connection to the Shadow Curse is one of the most important things about him; Halsin isn't treating that land as another task on a hero's list - Thaniel was part of his childhood, the curse has haunted him for a century, and Act 2 makes it obvious that he's never really left it behind emotionally. He comes across like someone who's spent years carrying an unfinished responsibility that gradually becomes part of how he understands himself, and that history gives him a much sadder and more grounded centre than the fandom version of him usually allows.

Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
A little Astarion and Tav in the Astral Plane.
E is for Emperor, Eagle, and Elfsong!
Day 5 of the Baldur's Gate Alphabet!
D is for Dark Urge, Dog, and Dank Crypt!
Day 4 of the Baldur's Gate Alphabet!
Day 4: Beach Episode
For 🌈BG3 PRIDE 2026!🌈
Karlach and Zephyra send you best wishes from the beach!
Silverchased Kisses
Coranzan belongs to @mogruith

Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Day 3: Orange * Healing
For 🌈BG3 PRIDE 2026!🌈
Risvani, my Life Domain Cleric... She knows healing can come in many forms and can be different for everyone🧡
C is for Cat, Claws, and Camp!
Day 3 of the Baldur's Gate Alphabet!
Day 2: Fashion babyyy!
For 🌈BG3 PRIDE 2026!🌈
Astarion and Keryth don't compete for the camera's attention - they share it equally because honestly, they really only have eyes for each other in the end anyway.
Day 1: Red * Life
For 🌈BG3 PRIDE 2026!🌈 My Durge, Aunrae, usually wears read for different reasons... but not today! ❤️

Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
B is for Boo, Bear and Blighted Village
Day 2 of the Baldur's Gate Alphabet... Two days in a row!
(I really wanted to try for Barcus, but in the time, I couldn't figure out a way to get him in party to pose or anything... so BOO!)
who can resist those beady eyes