baldur's gazing respectfully

1. Dragonborn: Honestly, after a Human Durge a Dragonborn makes the most sense. In one of Bhaals backstories he was a netherese Archmage and peer of Karsus. Do you guys know what language the netheril people spoke? Loross and/or Netherese:

"While the people shared a common script of draconic alphabet, the people of Low Netheril spoke Netherese while the nobles of High Netheril spoke Loross."

And as this part already points out, their language used the draconic script.

Even if we go with Bhaals other backstory, the one in which he was most likely of Talfiric origin and came to serve the Crown-Sorcerers of Rdiuz as Spymaster and Chief Assassin, he would still have had to learn this language. So Bhaal definetly knew how to read, write and speak draconic.

Dragonborns have, however, not existed during Bhaals mortal life. At least not on Toril. The very first Dragonborns that ever walked Toril were the so called "Dragonborns of Bahamut", who walked the world thousands of years before Bhaal ever lived:

"According to the Parwiccan Cycle, the first dragonborn were created by Bahamut during the Time of Dragons, and they acted as his knights and loyal warriors during the first battles of the Dragonfall War."

For those that don't know:

"The Time of Dragons was a period lasting from −30,000 DR to −24,000 DR, when the powerful empires of the creator races disappeared from the face of Toril and their land was occupied by giants and dragons far more powerful than those of the Present Age."

We don't really know when those champions of Bahamut disappeared, but we do know at which point they reappeared:

"The dragonborn of Bahamut vanished from Faerûn since that ancient time and only reappeared again in 1359 DR, when Bahamut was able to restore his deific status as a lesser deity and began to beseech some of his new followers to become dragonborn."

Bhaal lived around Karsus time, which means roughly around -420 DR and -390 Dr. The only creature he could have met as a mortal that resembles a Dragonborn is a dragon in a more humanoid shape. Which is not impossible. We also need to make a distinction between the Dragonborns of Bahamut and normal dragonborns. Because normal dragonborns were, apparently, not created by Bahamut:

"Faerunian sages of the 1470s DR believed that dragonborn were either the original inhabitants of Unther, who were transformed into draconic beings after being exposed to the energies of the Spellplague, or experiments created by the followers of Tiamat in the ruins of Unther. Such beliefs were wrong, however, as dragonborn were denizens from Abeir."

Instead we get these possibilities:

"It was believed that the first dragonborn hatched from dragon eggs as a race that combined humanoid and draconic traits, although if they were shaped by the dragon gods or by mortal dragons was a matter of debate. Some legends of Abeir told that Io, the first and greatest of the dragon gods, created the dragonborn as servants for the first dragons."

And this one:

"A third legend, preferred by those dragonborn who believed theirs was the superior race, told that Io created the dragonborn before dragon and before the other humanoid races, that were created later in an attempt to match the draconic perfection. According to this legend, dragonborn were originally created to be the companions of Io, while dragons were created later, during the war with the primordials. All those legends had in common that dragonborn weren't the creations of Bahamut and Tiamat, and therefore they were free to chose their own destinies."

Although it is worthy of note that Bahamut did create the Dragonborns of Bahamut (not the normal ones) after visiting Abeir:

"According to some really old dragons, Bahamut created his dragonborn after studying the biology of a few willing abeiran dragonborn which he had his servants bring from that world. This knowledge was lost to the ages, as only the surviving servants of Bahamut from those times remembered that fact in more modern times."

Yeah. It's a mess. But do you know what catched my eye reading this? The mention of Abeir. Because who originates from Abeir? Bane. And Bane definetly is implied to have a thing for dragons. And Bane and Bhaal travelled together for decades and it is not so far fetched that Bane may have told Bhaal about the Dragonborns of Bahamut in Abeir, because in Abeir they were definetly a thing even after they vanished on Toril. So yeah. Bhaals obsession with dragons? You can blame Bane for that (when in doubt, always point the finger at the Lord of Tyranny. Nine out of ten times he is to blame).

There is another tiny little aspect that may has fed into Bhaals obsession with dragons and I have to thank @thewiglesswonder for this one, which is why I will link two of their posts here:

1.https://www.tumblr.com/thewiglesswonder/808027408527720448/imagining-you-trying-to-untangle-to-forgotten?source=share

2.https://www.tumblr.com/thewiglesswonder/808458252527501312/not-really-into-forgotten-realms-for-its-own-sake?source=share

Definetly give them a read. Very interesting.

Bhaal, Bane and Myrkul did not only meet a Topaz Dragon in their lives, they were specifically blessed by it:

As for who Kisonraathiisar was: https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Kisonraathiisar

Maybe that Dragon left quite the impression on Bhaal. There is however another thing about Dragonborns I want to put out here: Their family bonds.

"Clan and family bloodlines were both preserved among dragonborn and were highly important to dragonborn culture as a whole. Both were different, though the distinction was subtle to non-dragonborn. Family referred specifically to actual blood relatives, as far as could be traced, whereas clan, in the dragonborn context, referred to a confederation of families united by mutual purpose in ages past,..."

Where am I going with this? Bhaal keeps telling the Dark Urge that they are his most special child, his pureblooded spawn, his favorite. He is not necessarily lying about this. It may very well be that Durge considers only Bhaal as his actual family and every other half-bloodes child of his "only" a clanmember. They are still important, but not compared to Daddy-dearest. And Bhaal definetly wants to make Durge believe that.

Also, on the matter of the original Dark Urge:

"White dragon vendettas were brutal and violent, frequently leading them into serious trouble."

And also:

"...their memory was rudimentary, capable of recalling only physical events rather than abstract concepts. There was one exception: they remembered offenses committed against them and have a highly developed sense of vengeance and would often hunt down beings who crossed them, no matter how long it might take."

What is the first thing the Dark Urge does after escaping the Nautilod pod? They think of vengeance. What is the first thing they think of when they encounter Minsc? Killing them (because Bhaal wants vengeance on him for Bg1 and 2). What? You want an example of Bhaal being a vengeance seeking Bastard? Fine.

"Bhaal sought vengeance. Kazgoroth was neither Bhaal's most powerful servant, nor his most favoured. But he was slain by a mortal, and the man who dared strike a minion of Bhaal's might as well strike at the god himself."

Kudos to the lord of murder for giving a shit about his followers. Makes him better than Lolth, Bane and Myrkul. Which is a sad statement. Also this:

"Bhaal greeted the death of Thorax not with sorrow, but with an explosion of boiling hatred. The god thrashed within his oily medium, cursing his lack of physical form. Bhaal desired to smash objects, to strike solid blows, but his watery form denied him that power. As he raged, his will crystallized into actions. The perytons, gliding in eerie silence, flew from throughout the vale to gather at the Darkwell. His clerics, Hobarth and Ysalla, paused briefly in their own plotting as the stuff of their faith shook from the deep disturbance. Each recoiled before the rage of their deity, and each likewise felt immense relief that the rage was directed elsewhere. Instead, Bhaal's rage brought them a command, imperious and irresistible. Level the Iron Keep! Bhaal's intense anger needed slaying before it would cool, and at that fortress there would certainly be many humans gathered, seeking the imagined safety of its high walls. But those within were not reckoning on the mighty power of the god of murder and his minions. His clerics instantly set to work upon the plan. And then Bhaal gave another command, this to his flock of perytons. The monsters had gathered at the well and circled, a great cloud of corruption, above the center of their master's power. And they heard his command. Bhaal sent them soaring across the vale, silently gliding above the wasteland of death. He ordered them to find those who had slain Thorax and kill them."

Thorax is Bhaals owlbear child. And honestly? I get him. Imagine someone killed our owlbear-cub in Bg3. I would very much react the same way.

White dragonborns are also the most feral ones out of all the chromatic dragons. So there is that. Bhaal definetly knew what he was doing when he made them (if we ignore the original class, because Storm-sorcerer still irks me).

2. Drow: Lolth and Bhaal are very similar deities. They both encourage murder (Bhaal wants you to kill those stronger than yourself, Lolth doesn't care), kin-slaying (100%), wreck your mind if you fail or oppose them and turn you into a raving beast and also have a thing for breeding-schemes. And I am very sorry that I wrote it this way. Lolth also seems to like to disguise herself just like Bhaal instead of appearing in their original form. Bg3 created even more parallels between them: Cannibalism, wanting to dominate the world and a lack of impulse-control (I am still offended on Bhaals behalf). Larian seems to have painted Bhaal as a more chaotic aligned deity.

As for necrophilia... Kiaransaleen and her followers definetly give me those vibes. And she is also a drow goddess. Hm.

Lolth created the Drow because she and her ex-husband Corellon had some giant fall out so she stole some of his children (the elves) and corrupted them into the Drow. Then she set the Drow loose in order to slaughter elves. Anyone else is getting Bhaalspawn vibes? No? Only me? Alright.

Do you guys remember Mintharas line about the Dark Urge? The one she gives when they confess their urges to her? She speaks about "those driven by blood". Drows that have gone so far off the rails that even Lolth can no longer control them. Sounds to me like Bhaal loosing control of himself... and when you, in Act 2, kill your lover to get the slayer form and express zero regrets? Minthara will straight out say that Durge is one of them and attempts to kill them.

There is also a thing to be said about the fact that Bhaal only approves of a Minthara romance. At least according to Sceleritas. Though don't think Bhaal considers Minthara an equal to Durge. Because he doesn't. She is still a lowly mortal while Durge is his perfect child. You know what that reminds me of? This:

"This night the sacrifice fulfilled one of Lloth's most brutal requirements. Devotion to the Spider Queen was all-important, superseding any personal loyalty. Lloth was especially offended by the possibility that one of her priestesses might become too fond of a lowly male. So from time to time, a priestess was commanded to slay her lover, a matron to sacrifice her house patron, a mother to offer up the sire of her children. Knowing this, the drow had learned to be wary of giving and receiving affection; the penalty was too cruel for all involved. But as the young priestess approached the altar, the hard set of her face and the blood on her delicate hands proved she had been equal to the task."

Yeah. Lolth considers man in general lesser, and Bhaal everyone who isn't of some divine origin. And they will both have you kill those you care about (remember Sceleritas lines? "You are wrong to consider anyone your equal?" "You could slay this one dilberty, it would be seen as a show of great faith."? Same vibes).

Looking at Lolth and Bhaal really makes me wonder if a Drow Durge was their passion project. Maybe they wanted to seduce each other? I mean, Bhaal cannot be swayed in any way (which includes seduction) because he is paranoid as fuck. But I can see it happening. They are both crazy. Bhaal also has other Drow children, which shouldn't come as a surprise. He has mated with Rabbits, giants, dragons and I am pretty sure I read something about a Chicken Bhaalspawn once. Don't quote me on this one though.

Also the receiving and giving affection thing. The Dark Urge is not supposed to have any other connections than Bhaal: Their adoptive parents? Dead. Gortash? Already on the murder-list. Their lover? Definetly the next one to die.

Dwarves: I was unable to find anything that could tie Bhaal to Dwarves and their culture in any way. I did, however, found a few descriptions that could explain why he would want a dwarven Durge.

"Dwarven stomachs, for instance, were resistant to virtually all poisons and it took less effort for a dwarf to get back on their feet than other races."

Definetly something Bhaal would approve of.

"Dwarves also had a sense about them that few races did, with a preternatural awareness of their surroundings useful for a subterranean race as well as good judgment all-around in general."

Given that Durge was raised in a cult such an inborn sense would be useful to avoid being prematurely sacrificed.

"Many dwarves were difficult to like and lacked the charm of many other smaller races."

Hm. Could tie into Bhaal trying to keep the Dark Urge from making any deep, emotional bonds.

"Likewise, dwarves, perhaps moreso than most other races, turned to their gods for guidance and protection."

Yeah. Definetly something Bhaal would want: Love me, obey me, worship me. This whole thing. Now that I wrote that I realized that there are numerous instances in the game that allow Durge to say things that very much go into the same direction.

"...dwarves might be faithless, but the race as a whole, regardless of subrace, had a strong inclination for religion and almost every community maintained at least one temple or ancestral shrine."

Parallels the aforementioned paragraph.

Sorry to all dwarf lovers. I failed you.😔

Elf: Uhhhh. This one is interesting. I have mentioned the Moonshae triology in multiple posts of mine already and in those books there is something very interesting: Bhaal seems to develop a taste for elven flesh. After he killed the Earthmother (an aspect of Chaunte) he began to eat spirits. Which is funny, because Durge likes to eat dwarves. They should have made them like elven flesh as well. Would have been Chefs kiss. Although I must mention that Bhaal liking the taste of elves (aka. spirits) is mentioned only like one time.

But yeah. He does that sometimes.

During the Moonshae Triology he also managed to piss of every Seldarine Deity... which means the whole good-aligned elven pantheon hates him. What can I say? He is good at making friends.

And Bhaal is definetly petty enough to decide that an elven Durge that ruins the reincarnation cycle of the elves (by turning them into mindflayers) is a classic revenge. Also, maybe, he just wanted to have another method of threatening them:

Bhaal: Child! Where are my daily sacrifices?

Durge: I didn't found a suitable victim, dad. Those that I did find were sick. You don't like the taste of blood when the person was infected with a disease.

Bhaal: What? Blasphemy! I wan't my meals! Now!

Durge: Perhaps patience is better suited?

Bhaal: Patience? Better pray that your legs will carry you to a suitable victim soon, lest I shall have you for supper!

No one is brave enough to point out that Durge would have to pray to Bhaal for that. Although they could just ask uncle Bane for help. Maybe he is in the mood. Or ask Myrkul. Bhaal will probably listen to Myrkul.

Human: I won't bother going into an all-out explanation with this one. Bhaal was a human as a mortal. Durge being one as well just makes perfect sense. There. My explanation.

This took longer than I expected because my sister kept interrupting me. Which is why I will make a part 2. Most likely tomorrow. Because now I got a headache.

As always: Please share your thoughts and definetly point out anything I may have gotren wrong!