#dnd lore

Here is some lore on Astarion's "family"

Astarion is not very fond of Violet. I believe none of them are.

And Cazador is called a "Vampire Infernalist"

TW: Spoilers I guess

So as the one who put a Hermaeus Mora on her pfp (with a reason!) I of course ran to check the book and swallow it in one take read it ASAP, and what I can tell you, it provides some enriching lore for our lovely bloodthirsty vampire.

And by the way, Stephen Rooney is listed in credits as text designer!

I will very shorlty write important snippets from it (related mostly to Astarion).

Cons of the book: - Unfortunately, the book focuses mainly on pre-BG3 timeline and custom campaign in that particular timeline, so there are zero addittions for post-BG3 canon and lore.

Pros of the book - everything else! Which is: - Lots of vampires: it was shown that vampires are indeed super common among the nobles in the High Society. They attend balls and dance among the mortals. - Astarion's timeline: we finally have the proper dates. 1261 DR. Astarion Ancunín is born in Baldur’s Gate. 1300 DR. The vampire Cazador Szarr turns Astarion into a vampire spawn. 1492 DR. The events of Baldur’s Gate 3 occur. - Introduction of Rat's Run: Astarion's favourite tavern where he was "hunting" the most. Rat's Run is a tavern with bad reputation - the laws of city don't work there, the tavern's master is a disguised rakshasa, it's a place sailors and smugglers and any other criminal of all kinds loves to visit, it's their own little haven. We remember Astarion's words from the game that on most part his victims were all like this, now we also have more info on that. - A bit more of the information about Cazador and his other six spawns. I think this won my attention for good, because there is a lot to uncover. 1. Cazador Szarr is listed as vampire mage infernalist who worship Mephistopheles, and because of that Harvester devils were regulartly visiting him. (to prevent any argument I think it's worth to point out: It was Cazador Szarr who sold his own soul to the Archdevil, thinking that the consequences won't reach him because of his vampirism. Mephistopheles loves to prove such arrogant individuals wrong. Ascended Astarion does not sell his own soul by performing the ritual, because just performing the ritual does not create/sign a contract, and AA never signs anything, as the "selling one's soul" performs only with the name's sign, paper and ink with the devil witness, as we saw in Mizora's scene with breaking Wyll's contract). (upd: It is not written in this precise book, I forgot to warn, but rather as a conclusion of all the canon information I gathered. I will write sometime later a proper post about it!) 2. An illustration of spawn Violet flirting with a Harvester Devil (with Astarion, exasperated, standing behind). Proper introductions of other spawns with interesting details, such as: 1.1 Astarion wasn't the first spawn of Cazador, but actually his second one. 1.2 First spawn was Aurelia, a tiefling. Third - Pale Petras, was human. Fourth - Violet, was an elf, ''She relishes tormenting her siblings and strives to please her master''. Others listed as "recent spawns": Leon, Dalyria and Yousen. 1.3 Confirmed that Astarion indeed was once an elf magistrate.

(also, noticed how in this book DnD alignments are still used all over the stats, everybody is evil lmao)

Here it is. This is a Vhaeraun lore document that covers near everything regarding him. This thing is absolutely massive, going over his character, the larger timeline of his backstory, his church & any known settlement they have, any known canon follower that he has, and (given the influence he supposedly had on it at a deity) what of Ilythiiri history that could be found in the text.

Everything is cited by book it was released in, page number within that book, and what edition that book was intended for (as some information IS given out of order of release date to make it coherent.) So if something catches your eye, it should be easy enough to find it and build up on what information we couldn't include. Likewise, there's a table of contents on the main page of the document, and at the start of every document tab. So should you need to get to something quickly, you can do so.

The only thing we left out are things from novel books. So Evermeet: Island of the Elves, Daughter of Drow, War of the Spider Queen, and The Lady Penitent are all excluded, save for a few spare quotes here and there. I would like to include them one day, but that would require sitting down and doing a deep mark-up through the books to find EVERYTHING regarding him within them. So... That can wait, for now.

Credits and acknowledgements:

Put together (information gathered) by ME. HI. HELLO. Thanks to @mogruith for the MASSIVE amounts of editing done and the offering of virtual photography. She opened the books and basically went page by page to make sure everything matched. @abracadav-r for helping dig up the sheer amount of sources needed in this (Which I cannot stress enough. Was a lot, I would have missed stuff without their input), and contributing art.  @perlumierre for drawing specifically for the doc, along with other art used with permission by @darkseldarine, @everybodyloveshippos, @heykellz, @irch-shadowmancer, @sshot, and @echofables commission by yearniing-drawdealer

There are still some things we want to add to it eventually. I would like to get around into getting information on the towns he has shrines in, the monsters he's able to summon, and information on the stones he has as favored. Likewise, we actually have a few more pieces of art planned for the document (of which will get highlighted when they're added, so I assure you they will not be missed)

However, for now? .... It's done. Other things can be nit-picked with time, and I'm excited to finally be able to showcase all of the work that ended up going into this.

There's a lot of misinformation surrounding this vampire bride fan theory. As someone who has the book the theory allegedly comes from, I want to provide important context that's always left out in posts about it.

Note: It's fine if you like this headcanon and want to use it for your own RP. But posts about this headcanon tend to present it as a factual and canon concept. I want people to have all the information so that they're fully informed when they decide to believe in it or not. There's a lot of evidence that it isn't canon. Everyone is welcome to see their character how they like. No one is saying you can't have fun. The problem is misinformation.

First, the 2e book this theory stems from (Van Richten's Guide to Vampires) is from 1991. That's over 30 years and three editions of DnD ago. None of this lore has been mentioned in the current edition of DnD, 5e, as far as I've seen. It didn't even appear in Curse of Strahd, where it would have fit in perfectly. DnD staff have officially said that each edition of DnD is its own canon. They don't want fans to need archaic sourcebooks to understand the current lore.

"The current edition of the D&D roleplaying game has its own canon, as does every other expression of D&D… Every edition of the roleplaying game has its own canon as well. In other words, something that might have been treated as canonical in one edition is not necessarily canonical in another…we don’t want DMs or players to feel like they must read a novel, play a video game, or buy a third-edition sourcebook to enjoy our game and get the most out of our current line of products."

Now, I'm not saying that every edition of DnD is completely different and doesn't draw from older versions. But it's clear that DnD staff don't want old sourcebooks to be needed to understand current products. That's why it's significant that vampire bride lore has not shown up again in a decade of 5e. There is an updated 2021 version of the Van Richten book: Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft. This 5e version still has no mention of vampire bride lore.

Ravenloft is also an entirely different campaign setting from the Forgotten Realms, which is where BG3 takes place. Their lore is not necessarily interchangeable. You cannot indiscriminately copy paste lore from different worlds.

While BG3 doesn't follow DnD 5e lore 100%: One can't use a 2e sourcebook to argue the vampire bride theory is true, and also say sourcebooks aren't important because BG3 is its own property.

Even if we accept what is in the 1991 Van Richten's Guide to Vampires: The Dark Kiss ritual states that the sire vampire's age must be AT LEAST twice Astarion's vampire age.

"Creating a bride or groom, although seemingly a simple process, requires an exhausting exercise of much power by the creating vampire. For this reason, only vampires of advanced age and capability can even assay this procedure. A bride or groom can be created only by a vampire of age category Ancient or greater, and not even all of those are capable of doing so." (pg 71)

The Ancient vampire age category starts at 400 years (pg 13). Astarion has been a vampire spawn for 200 years and an ascended vampire for barely any time at all.

If one argues Astarion can do this ritual anyway because he's a special ascended vampire… Well, the book's ritual is about normal vampires. If AA is this unique, it can be easily argued that he can't do the ritual and make a vampire bride, because he's not a normal vampire. This logic can be applied both ways. The idea behind becoming an ascended vampire is that things which affect a normal vampire won't affect him anymore. Not to mention, Astarion himself says it will take more time for him to come into his full power. So how can he be as powerful as an ancient vampire already? Alternatively: if he is this powerful and special, who says he can't compel and control a Vampire Bride anyway?

The book also describes the sire losing lots of blood to the bride, to the point that the sire is weakened. Astarion gives us "just one drop" and shows no sign of being weakened after turning us. Nor do we see evidence of a feeding frenzy.

"The vampire opens a gash in its own flesh—often in its throat—and holds the subject’s mouth to the wound. As the burning draught that is the vampire’s blood gushes into the subject’s mouth, the primitive feeding instinct is triggered, and she sucks hungrily at the wound, enraptured. With the first taste of the blood, the subject is possessed of great and frenzied strength, and will use it to prevent the vampire from separating her from the fountain of wonder that is its bleeding wound. It is at this point that the creator-vampire’s strength is most sorely tested. He is weakened by his own blood loss." (pg 72)

The vampire bride ritual requires the sire to make 3 bites. I believe this entire theory started because someone thought they saw 3 bites. The dev notes for the supposed first bite calls it a kiss on the neck. With some hairstyles, you can see there is no bite mark or blood on Tav's neck when he kisses the neck. There are bite marks and blood on Tav's wrist or neck later in the same scene, after the choice for Astarion to be gentle or make it hurt. So, there is only a maximum of 2 bites.

There's also no evidence of any telepathic bond post-tadpole in the game during the epilogue.

"One of the reasons “married vampires” are so difficult to defeat is that a vampire and its bride share a telepathic communication that has a range measured in miles. Regardless of intervening terrain or obstacles, the two vampires can communicate instantly and silently as if they were speaking together." (pg 74)

Even if we accept the outdated 2e lore of vampire brides, there's numerous ways that the Dark Kiss ritual in the sourcebook doesn't match what happens when AA turns Tav or Durge. Depending on how you count the bites, one can argue that nothing from the ritual matches what's in the game!

Great addition by @/nicsnort: "Let us also not forget that the very nature of necromancy and undeath changed between 2e and 5e due to the Spellplague and the destruction of the Negative Energy Plane. So, not only is the canon of the Bride ritual outdated, but this ritual very well may not work anymore for even 400+-year-old vampires because magic itself is different!"

This is without even talking about how something so major which goes against everything we're told about master-spawn relationships in the game... would have been clearly discussed in the actual game.

On the topic of what's in the actual game: AA himself and Karlach explicitly say the turned player is a spawn. Other companions express concern about the romance post-ascension. Just because the player can walk in the sun doesn't mean they are not a vampire spawn. Cazador gives some of his spawn the ability to teleport, and the companions express surprise. Yet no one denies they are still vampire spawn.

I hope this post gives you extra context on the vampire bride theory. Overall, it's clear that this is old lore which is not canon to the current edition of DnD. Whether you think Larian decided to apply it to BG3 or not, at least now that belief will be fully informed.

The Crown of Karsus is part of a set in DnD lore called the Regalia of Karsus. it consists of the Crown, the Orb and the Scepter of Karsus.

The Crown (compulsion) is up for grabs by the end of the game (to either Gale, Raphael (if alive) or any one foolish enough to try and reforge it), provided Gale does not return it to Mystra.

The Orb (energy storage) is in Gale's lovely chest.

And the Scepter (focus) seems to be cut content, meant to appear in the House of Hope.

Which makes sense. Raphael cannot use the Crown on it's own even with the Netherstones. He's not like Gale, who has the Orb and can thus tap into the reforged crown's power properly and use it to become a god. He needs an ace up his sleeve.

So, Raphael already having the Scepter would make sense as to why he's so hellbent on getting the Crown. Like Gale, he'd already be a proper candidate for ascension.

The question then becomes, what happens if God!Gale gets his hands on the Scepter?

An ongoing research on Netherease (Karsus?!) lore

I made this sheet to record all the supplements I have came by that contains fair amount of Netherease lore for my amusement. Below I will list the name of each material and briefly comment on their Netheril-related content. Probable future updates.

To be noticed:

-I haven`t finish all of them yet, namely the Thultanthar novels, and my comments are heavily personalised (mostly for fun) they might not be 100% accurate.

-I`m a dedicated Karsus cultist so his lore is the most gathered. Sorry. Also the list is lacking 4e and 5e materials I guess.

-instead of putting the most known (Netheril: empire of Magic) in front, I will do the list in a timely order. so we can see how the settings are developed through editions.

———————————————————

🔺Enchanted Wood (1981)

This is technically not realms lore but it is where Karsus`s character originated. He was decribed to be a heroic godling who failed to save his people from montrous enemy, and thus heart broken to death. (and aparrently his avatar was a *naked* man with long white hair and *muscular* build)

#Karsus #Wulgreth

🔺Savage Frontier （1988）

This is where the author of Enchanted Wood, Jennel Jaquays merged some of her stories into the realms lore. Karsus was decribed as an ancient Netherease deity, this setting was used until the Arcane Age supplements came out.

#karsus #Wulgreth #General Lore

🔺Anauroch (1991)

Rhaugilath the Ageless made an insightful Opening Remark for this book, this is interesting because it makes him one of the earliest named Netherease Arcanists. The book provided a view of Netheril before any of the flying enclaves or Karsus`s folly became canon.

#Rhaugilath #Phaerimm #General Lore

🔺Polyhedron #104 (1995)

A short article on Karsus`s deity status and stats by Eric L Boyd, based on former works. During this time Karsus was the one who got killed and stolen power from. (I am aware of he and Wulgreth were always killing each other)

#Karsus #Wulgreth

🔺Netheril: Empire of magic (1996)

The Go-to book for Netherease lore.

#General Lore

🔺Powers, Pantherons (1997)

the only supplement that included Karsus as a demipower god(dead). Sorry Karsus!

#Karsus #Jergal

🔺How the mighty are fallen (1996)

A campaign set that is based on the supplement boxset, evolved around the last few days of Netheril. quote:

“Karsus is really a frail yet shockingly beautiful woman disguised to look like a man in order to appear fearsome.”

WHAT DOES THIS EVEN MEAN?!! GO CHECK OUT.

#Karsus #Delia #Yeoman Loft #General Lore

🔺Netheril Trilogy (1996)

The main story line developed aroung Sunbright Steelshanks, a babarian, witnessing the rise and fall of Netheril, but we all know that we are here for the flying enclaves. Karsus`s character was shitty and toxically impressive at the same time.

#Karsus #Wulgreth #Delia #Polaris #Ioulaum #General Lore

🔺Realms of Arcane (1997)

Includes two short story on Netheril. When even the sky cities fall: Two Rival flying enclaves were brought down by some phaerimms. The Lady and the Shadow: Shadow meeting his future wife Alashar, an assasin sent to kill him, and the two decided to form alliance.

#Telamont #phaerimm #General Lore

🔺Temptation of Elminster (1999)

second half of the book has some detailed description on one of Karsus`s keeps. Shows a few spells that Karsus owned.

#Karsus

🔺Lords of Darkness (2001)

detailed introduction to the returned Thultanthar and the shades, as well as a section on Larloch.

#Telamont #Thultanthar #Larloch

🔺Return of the Archwizard Trilogy (2001)

(haven`t finished yet) How Thultanthar was summoned back to the material plane and immediately began to piss off everyone. Have some lore on Dire wood, karse and Karsus`s current status.

#Telamont #Thultanthar #Karsus #Wulgreth

🔺Realms of the Shadow (2002)

anthology series. Contain a set of stories on Thultanthar and the Shadow weave. In this book: Shadow got assasinated (again), Andoris Derathar of Eileanar judged some cases, Thultanthar fled to shadowfell before the fall.

#Telamont #Eileanar

🔺Neverwinter`s Night: Shadow of Undrentide（2003）

A well designed story line that led player though the snow covering landscape of Nether Mountains, the vast desert of Anauroch and finally the enchanted ruin of Undrentide. Plus, you can save a fragment of Karsus from his misery.

#Undrentide #Jergal #Karsus #General Lore

🔺Legacy of the green Regent (2003)

a set of campaign produced by RPGA, among them, The Ruins of Karse, Key to Phantoms' Cloister and Secret of Phantoms' Cloister evolved around Karse and the cult of Karsus. However, the third one was never released (lost media?!)

#Karsus

🔺Realms of the Dragons (2004)

One short story on an archwizard from Delia encountering phaerimm, and how he got out of the situation by polymorphing into a dragon. (Targus helped him)

#Delia #phaerimm

🔺Lost empires of Faerun (2005)

It includes a bit more lore on several arcanist individuals, low Netheril geography and colonies, and interactions of Netheril with other civilizations such as Delzoun.

#General Lore #Ioulaum #Rhaugilath

🔺Tome of Magic (2006)

Stats and decription of Karsus and Amaunator as vestiges (they hated each other) , also includes a new race called Karsite, which Aparrently are Karsus`s descendants.

#Karsus #Amaunator

🔺Twilight war Series (2006)

(haven`t read) but they`re about the Thultanthar-Sembia war I think. and Thultanthar raised an ancient flying enclave I think. And a lot of stuff about Rivalen and the princes of Shade I think. Sorry.

#Thultanthar

🔺Anauroch: Empire of Shade (2007)

(haven`t finished) last adventure of a three part campaign. they all have some sort of connection to the shade people.

#Thultanthar

🔺Dungeon #159 (2008)

A short campaign: Menance of the Icy Spire, It has something to do with a warlock of Karsus.

#Karsus

🔺Realms of war (2008)

Anthology theories, one of the three parts are shadovar related.

#Thultanthar

🔺Dungeon #170 （2009）

Short Campaign: Monuments of the Ancients. Its background setting is ancient Netheril`s Seven sigils war, a war between a league of Archwizards and Outer Plane creatures when the arcanists tried to invade the Outer Plane and dig up some dead gods. The consequence of this war is letting a primordial, Maram of the Great Spear, one of the seven lost gods escaped to toril. (they`re the one who got dealt with later by the Dead Three)

#seven sigils war

🔺The Herald (2014)

Everybody fighting off everybody at Myth Drannor. Telamont being almost miserable in this book: too old to walk straight and has Larloch-Phobia. quote:

"Goddess," the ruler of the Shadovar mumbled miserably, "I`m afraid of Larloch."

#Thultanthar #Telamont #Larloch

🔺Lord of the end of everything (2021)

a supplement wrote by Eric L Boyd, talking about the seven sigils war and the ascension of Jergal. He and Ed`s version of story is basically saying that Jergal was manipulating Netheril from the beginning, by casting Karsus`s avatar it was Jergal who will actually reach godhood. The supplement also have some lore on the connection between the Dead Three and Netheril. (to be noticed, there are two versions of this supplement)

#seven sigils war #Jergal #Karsus #Bhaal #Telamont #Ioulaum #Arthindol

🔺Netheril`s fall (2025)

a dissapointing supplement with nothing new lore-wise. But better than nothing. And cool arts.

#Eileanar #General Lore

🔺Return of Larloch Trilogy (first part) （2026）

Written by Ed himself， Larloch was banished from the Material plane by Srinshee since Thultanthar`s doom. This Trilogy was said to be about how he making plans to come back and haunt more people. (it is currently available on DMG)