#feralsoul

Chapter 27 of Feral Soul is here with Karlach's wedding and a little bit of domestic fluff and surprise for Theran and Astarion.

Quote for the chapter: "You put the stars to shame."

Tagged by @shandoratheexplorer thank you for the tag <3

This is from the upcoming chapter 17 "Hells and Nightmares Part 1" of Feral Soul which will be dropping tomorrow!

Karlach

I sighed as I sat at the Elfsong with a mug of fire mead. It had been six months and the new year had arrived and gone with spring now approaching and still no word from Theran. Astarion had found out that Obares didn't have him and Aemshaern was still a giant hole in the ground though now overgrown with different things rising from Underdark to block out the sun. I sipped my drink and the door opened and Jaheira came in, spotting me and making her way over.

"Room for two?" Jaheira asked cheerfully,

"Always for my friends." I replied kindly and Jaheira smiled and sat.

"Same for me that she's having." Jaheira spoke quietly and Kenna nodded and got a mug of fire mead for Jaheira.

"Any word?" I asked,

"None. It's like Theran has entirely disappeared." Jaheira spoke softly,

"I think unfortunately that he's somewhere in Avernus. I only hope it is the front lines." I spoke worried,

"Why?" Jaheira asked,

"Theran can potentially escape the front lines. Zariel's torture chambers however require two keys and two guards." I replied,

"Ah. Well let's toast to Theran. May he be alright wherever he is." Jaheira spoke quietly and raised her mug. I clanked mine with hers.

"Hear hear." I toasted and drank, Jaheira coughing after her drink.

"Gods. I should have known you'd have the drink that would chase anything off that you're ill with." Jaheira coughed and I laughed.

"This is usually when I get." I spoke amused,

"Right. If Theran is on the front lines, do you think he'll come back alright?" Jaheira asked,

"At first...no. It took me a while to be able to sleep on a bed, to be able to sleep without the sounds of fighting, fires, and the general noise of Avernus, and a while to relax fully. Once Theran settles, he'll be alright." I replied and Jaheira nodded. 

Little sneaky peek into Karlach's mind at the end there. Perhaps a hint at future bonding possibilities even :D

I was tagged twice in this so I'm going to share two pieces I am proud of.

First up is from "Mystical Love" a one shot I did for the Love in Faerûn Exchange earlier this year. I don't really give my one shots much love in my posts, but this piece of it I'm really proud of.

"Why does it feel so...hollow?" Shadowheart asked softly,

"What?" I asked,

"I used to hear Shar all the time, her whisper was constant in my mind and now it's silent. My only reminder is this." Shadowheart spoke softly and looked at her hand which was wrapped, hiding the Sharran wound she had from Shar. I had found the solution to that, but hadn't had a chance to talk to Astarion. He was the only nimble footed enough person in the camp capable of not exploding the mushrooms where the Noblestalk grew.

"Because deities like Shar...Mystra...Bhaal...and others like them, they don't allow individuality. There is only their will, their goals, their being. Their existence is all that is allowed. When we break that bond or in my case, do something so wholeheartedly foolish trying to impress someone who could hardly care about my future beyond being a means to an end, it leaves the silence because in a way it is grief. Thick, heavy grief. Yet of that grief comes the ability to move on, to find who you are as an individual." I spoke gently and a flicker of movement caught the corner of my eye and I glanced over to see Aylin on the edge of the hill and shook my head subtly. She nodded and went back to the others.

"So I'll hear someone's voice again?" Shadowheart asked softly and I detected a faint quiver in her voice and shifted around so I was a little more comfortable cross legged instead of kneeling, reaching over and touching her arm gently.

"You'll hear more Shadowheart. I used to think that Mystra was everything, that she was the Weave, but she is merely one of the embodiments of the Weave. Magic is all around us, in its many many forms. Be it arcane, mystic, wild, or the many more out there. All are instruments of the Weave, all their own song and sometimes together in a symphony of pure beauty and rawness that is the world. Now you'll be able to hear it too when you're ready. For tonight though, be lost in thought. Let yourself drift in the moonlight and the quiet, work through things." I spoke softly and Shadowheart looked at me.

"Will you be there?" Shadowheart asked softly,

"I'll be right here waiting. Now finish up your tea and your little snack and I'll see you in the morning alright?" I spoke gently and Shadowheart smiled and finished both before leaning over and kissing me on the cheek.

Second one is from a future chapter of Feral Soul where Theran dives deep within the fractured inner realm of himself.

Do you trust yourself?

I swallowed. Trust. Did I trust myself? The answer was no honestly. I feared hurting others. I feared losing control. I feared losing myself.

Control is an illusion. Everyone who wields some form of magic or another loses control before they gain a semblance illusion of it. You lose yourself when you open yourself up to anything be it magics or love, but as long as you do not let yourself be swept away can you remain you. In that you will never hurt those who you call friend.

Thank you for the tags @shandoratheexplorer <3 and @arachnomancer <3

from @goodgirlgonebard ❤️

No it is adorable and a bit of a tear jerker. That is the fic Feral Soul and while it is currently the 26th chapter, that will be changing as I am going to be adding some more chapters before it as it doesn't feel quite finished yet. This is the end of Feral Soul besides the Epilogue which will be tweaked slightly in the year.

The quote I chose for it is one of Gale's and it is "You put the stars to shame." and it details a cute little opportunity that arrives on Astarion's and Theran's path when they're visiting Silverymoon one Yule and wraps up the story in the perfect way and has not one but two weddings within this chapter as well though I won't spoil whose.

There's only one small part of it I can share that isn't a spoiler and I have put it below. It is the only part that dives a little dark, but not too dark and I may shift it to another chapter <3

"I'd like to do something with you." Astarion spoke softly and I smiled.

"What do you want to do?" I asked softly and Astarion took a deep breath.

"I'd like to go down to the Kennels." Astarion spoke softly and I could hear the fear in his voice and see the panic in his eyes and took his hands.

"I'm right here my little light." I murmured and kissed him. Astarion took a deep breath and led me down there and it was still the same as we had left it that night. The blood now old and long dried, the remnants of the Ascension and far off I saw the altar and Astarion moved towards it, I following with him and being his support. Astarion stopped in front of a cage and reached out hand shaking.

"This...was mine." Astarion spoke shakily and I touched his shoulder.

"Deep breaths." I murmured supportively and Astarion took deep breaths and touched the cage bars.

"The others were given rooms, but I...was kept here when I wasn't being tortured or sent out to fetch food." Astarion spoke hesitantly and I looked at the cage. It was smaller than the others we had passed, and had old blood and a spot was more worn than the rest. 

"Would you like to start cleaning up down here? Turn it into something else? Something positive?" I offered and Astarion looked around.

Name: Telra

Age: Unknown (Jaheira guesses at minimum 220 due to them having two encounters)

Strengths: Loyal (to a fault), will go above and beyond even if the chance of survival is slim to none (she didn't just go redeemed, she went full throttle in that extreme), and will do whatever it takes to protect her family

Weaknesses: Asking for help (thanks Bhaal you psychotic bastard)

DnD class: Rogue (Assassin subclass and she is very good at it)

Race: Wood Elf

Profession: Baker

Siblings: None

Favorite foods: Fruit tarts

Least favorite foods: Anything with vinegar

Tav or Durge: Durge

Name: Shadow

Age: Unknown

Strengths: Protective of his newfound family, keeps a good heart even when people only see the Bhaalspawn, Tiefling heritage or half Elf heritage (even took an arrow to the back and walked away without hurting the fuck responsible)

Weaknesses: Being the idiot who goes into a situation alone and not sharing information that's critical and relative to the situation

DnD class: Rogue (Assassin subclass)

Race: Half Tiefling, half Elf

Profession: Tailor with embroidery skills, woodworking, and leatherworking

Siblings: None

Favorite foods: Stews of any kind

Least favorite foods: None

Tav or Durge: Durge

Name: Theran

Age: 262 (start of BG3)

Strengths: Being steadfast to himself and his good heart even though his life has given him 500 reasons to be a jaded cruel bastard, helping others

Weaknesses: Forgetting to take care of himself, pushing himself too hard, and not asking for help (the weirdos often had to make sure he ate especially Astarion)

DnD class: Druid (he technically doesn't have a circle due to a lot of circumstances explained in his fic, but there is one named after him called Theran's Circle of Hope)

Race: Moon Elf

Profession: none

Siblings: none

Favorite foods: sweet buns

Least favorite food: anything plain or even a slight bit stale it reminds him too much of his old life

Tav or Durge: Tav

Name: Ash

Age: 44 (Probably older, I HC that Bhaal does weird age freeze shit to his Bhaalspawn so they can wreak havoc longer)

Strengths: Steadfast even when things went to hells (and they did a lot), being loyal, kind even when Bhaal tried to torture it out of her

Weaknesses: Asking for help even when things got really bad for Ash, overdoing it, exhausting herself even when others were rested she always took on extra chores

DnD class: Ranger (would have been a good one but Bhaal was a bastard)

Race: Wood Elf

Profession: None

Siblings: None

Favorite foods: Sweet buns

Least favorite foods: None

Tav or Durge: Durge

Name: Nerinysa (Neri)

Age: 41 (Start of BG3), 42 (End of BG3 start of fic)

Strengths: Loyal, compassionate, kind

Weaknesses: Asking for help and risks her life too much (annoys Karlach and Astarion a lot)

DnD class: Storm Wizard (Neri is a custom homebrew sort of Wizard that I created that is a storm sorcerer meets wild magic sorcerer with an innate natural talent for Weave wielding)

Race: Moon Elf

Profession: Leatherworker, butcher, and tailoring, embroidery, and knitting

Siblings: Sylnan and Yerafina (half siblings through her mother both bastards like her mother and her mothers husband was to her)

Favorite foods: Fruit tarts (especially loves strawberry rhubarb ones)

Least favorite foods: Anything with vinegar

Tav or Durge: Tav

The other OCs I have are Mavrius (Mav), Torsyra (Tor), Kailor (Kai), Talius (Tali), and Talindra (Tali aka Lightfoot) but their questions are either too spoiler heavy or they've not yet been fleshed out enough yet (the brain runs on squirrels XD)

I do not have much in the way of screenshots of these characters yet (still learning mods) but will add them when I do (which will be soon I've been youtubing a lot)

Thank you for the tag @shandoratheexplorer <3

This one I sort of struggled with trying to figure out which of my OCs to go with, but I have decided that Theran will be the OC for this.

SUN • egotistical • melted wax wings and fingers • stretching sunburnt skin • the most generous soul • blood in the fruit • halos (broken) • anger on fire • high vitality • thunderous laughter • is pride really a sin? • halogenic aura

MERCURY • expansion of the mind • silver-tongued • an everlasting wanderer • polyglot • high dexterity • handwritten letters • innately critical • en vogue • eyes in the trees • hidden libraries • there’s always room for improvement

VENUS • in love with strangers • iridescent waters • love potions for your mirror • selfless devotion • shattering crystal • seafoam upon sand • the golden ratio • drowning in your own passion • material value & high principles • luring • plush lips

EARTH • fresh springs • tree hugger • we can start again tomorrow • a blazing rainforest • respects survival of the fittest • nature’s adversity • lazy bones • constantly evolving • flowers sprouting from wounds • a granite altar • fossilized remains

MOON • illusory • silver shimmer off the ocean • secrets and gossip • cycles of reincarnation • a crybaby • physically ethereal • shared glances with a stranger • cat eyes • mistrusting their intuition • fear is a prison • ornate magic wands

MARS • healthy competition • attraction and repulsion • magma and rubies • a blade being forged • wrath wrath wrath • malefic • intense eye contact • cannon fodder & fireworks • blood floods • copper taste on your tongue

JUPITER •red robes and a suit of armor • beacon of stability • leader by birth • thunderbolts and lightning • guilty but can’t stop • secret rich kid • golden touch golden tears • innate optimist • failure isn’t an option • constantly reaching for more • unfinished symphonies

SATURN • traditional • overbearing energy • a sculptor of reality • this existence is a karmic one • has a heart it’s just.. way down deep • law, order & justice • avoid all necessary risk • the sound of shackles clanging • sisyphus’ struggle • grappling with the reality of time • self-governing

URANUS • psychedelic funk music • overflowing cups • a rebellion with skin • looking good in photo id • oblivious but caring • middle fingers in the air • double rainbows • icy diamond exterior • holographic • afraid of their own mediocrity • pearlescent smoke

NEPTUNE • an elegy for the lost • dissolving boundaries • white horses • the burden of mystical conditions • deceptive • escapism is their reality • a polarizing entity • artists soul • paranoia • searching for the unseen • a siren’s swan song

PLUTO • angel statues over graves • power • the cycle of necrosis • transformative • unfathomable depths • an ivory tower toppling over • screaming at the sky • violets and irises • eclipsed darkness • speaks with their shadow • sex, death, rebirth

Thank you for the tag @arachnomancer <3 I probably missed some or misunderstood some, but Theran is one of the more traumatized OCs I have.

Thank you for the tag @shandoratheexplorer!

The following is a rough draft snippet from the upcoming chapter of Feral Soul dubbed "Deep Recesses of Darkness".

CW: talk of slavery, gambling, addiction, and murder.

I sat with Karlach in another session. It had been two tendays now and this was the third session where we were going deeper into things. Nelia held out the cuff and I took it, still hesitant though it was starting to improve a little.

"Today I'd like you to put that on and keep it on, but remember you can take it off at any time." Nelia spoke quietly and I bit my lip, unsure how long that was going to be. Karlach shifted around so she sat behind me.

"I got you Theran." Karlach spoke gently and I hesitantly put the cuff on, feeling the familiar roar and noise in my ears as I tensed, ending up taking it off after a few minutes unable to keep wearing it. 

"What do you experience when you put this on?" Nelia asked,

"My ears roar, my heart races, and my body tenses." I replied softly and fiddled with the clasp on the cuff.

"Do memories rise up with it?" Nelia asked and I nodded.

"Yes." I spoke softly,

"What's the first memory you have of bearing such cuffs like these?" Nelia asked and I nibbled my lip.

"Waking up to a whip from the slaver after he had knocked me out. He had me chained in a line with ten others behind his caravan." I replied softly,

"A slaver?" Nelia asked,

"My parents sold me to him, to cover their gambling and alcohol debts at the local tavern in Silverymoon, but in their drunken state didn't specify. The slaver slit their throats and knocked me out, probably to avoid detection by the local watch in Silverymoon." I replied softly and a rumble echoed from Karlach.

"That's mad." Karlach growled and I shrugged, my thumbs running over the edge of the cuffs. Well remembering how the heavy cuffs had been on my wrists, thin from lack of proper food, how they had rubbed the skin raw, and by the time I had been sold, my hands were numb from the cuffs rubbing so long.

"I remember thinking how heavy they were, I was maybe eighty pounds so they moved and shifted around a lot. I was only thirty eight." I spoke softly and Nelia's eyes flicked to where my wrists were heavily scarred from decades of being cuffed. 

"How long was it before you were sold?" Nelia asked,

"I'm not sure. I remember there being snow in Silverymoon and most of the journey until we reached some place on a river, after which it was cold, but not snowy. Three were sold there and then we went north to a really big city, which I know now was Waterdeep. Two more were sold there and the slaver found some rundown inn that didn't care about his business long as he had enough coin which he did at that point having sold five of us. We ended up making our way to Baldur's Gate though I didn't know it at the time." I replied softly and the memory drifted up and made me pause.

"Something wrong?" Nelia asked and I bit my lip.

"Theran?" Karlach asked gently,

"The slaver...sold a slave to...Cazador." I replied hesitantly and Karlach stilled.

Chapter 20 of Feral Soul is now live! Editing was a bit of a pain (bloody brain cells had to be wrangled a few times), but finally finished!

We return to Theran after the Spring Solstice celebration back in Baldur's Gate yet the cracks and fissures within him are beginning to widen, is he losing it or will he begin to heal at last?