#squidchat

1. What was the original thought that led to the creation of this character?

Ok ok confession time- when I first started playing BG3 I totally thought it would be kind of a one-and-done situation where I’d just play it once, so I decided to really quickly whip up a character to play in my first campaign and then figure out a romance later.  This character was a beefy, blonde paladin lady who I just couldn’t seem to nail down name-wise, or really fully establish at that point. (Later, this character became Nausicaa, Namulith’s elder sister)  Well, at the same time I also wanted to make up another character just to romance Minthara (which I thought would be a quick one night stand scenario so he was gonna be just sort of a throwaway character just to indulge, and for funsies I was like “oh and he can be paladin lady’s little brother”).  I thought it would be amusing to play a “john baldur” for (what I believed to be) a short campaign.  Oh well.  In short, I literally just wanted to make a character to go after Minthara hahahaha

^"Florian Ozark" (note the dark pink eyes, dunno what the story was there)

5. How did you choose their name and why? Was it simply based on vibes or is there any specific meaning behind the name? Are the reasons behind their name different in- and out of universe?

YAY!!! 

My first working name for the character who would later become Namulith Dorok was actually “Florian Ozark” (super random, DOES NOT roll off the tongue), and funny enough this version of him had pink eyes for some reason?  I realized I really hated my attempt to make a true “unique” name, so I decided to look elsewhere for inspiration.

Ok so I’m a big fan of both the movie and manga “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind” and for whatever reason I decided to steal virtually every proper noun from the manga and use it for nearly every single family member of Namulith (BG3 oc).  In the manga (no spoilers), Namulith is the cocky, egotistical, functionally immortal emperor of a country called Dorok, who desires to possess the last superweapon on Earth and wield it to conquer the rest of the world.  I picked his name for my oc mostly just because I liked it, and after a while it really began to fit well, like I look at him and yeah he looks like a Namulith to me!

As I mentioned earlier, all of his family members have names from the manga, so they’re all rather unusual-sounding.  I think “Namulith” might be a made-up name, so I don’t think it has a meaning (unfortunate), but it sure sounds cool!

^Namulith is the one in the center with the tunic with the eye on it.

17. Are there any motifs or symbols associated with the character? How are they represented, in their design, personality or in some other way?

TOO MANY!!! Here are my favorites:

Solar eclipses.  They symbolize the conjunction of his own will, and that of the Urge- how his own conscience is overridden and occluded by something beyond his control.  Also, they’re visually so striking, and to someone who has no idea what’s happening, they’re even frightening!

Deer bucks.  Namulith’s fursona would 1000% be a buck.  In general mythos, bucks represent pride, nobility, and independence, with the growth and shedding of antlers symbolizing cycles of changes in accordance with the seasons.  I’ve mentioned in the past how Namulith is a rather prideful person, so I think this tracks personality-wise.  They’re also prey animals (not typically thought of as “killers”), and pretty skittish, which are also relevant qualities.

Namulith’s involvement with the Temple of Bhaal started before his birth.  At his mom’s Bhaalist confirmation ceremony (she was raised in the faith by her grandmother, the ceremony happened when she was 16), she received a prophecy in the form of a vision where Bhaal declared that she was the “Promised Womb”, and when the time is right, she would bear him a son who would “devour the sun”.  

Ten years later, his mom (Miralupa) was a fanatical, ambitious midwife moonlighting as a Bhaalist priestess, married to a smarmy, uxorious apothecary (Selm) with whom they share three daughters with which she both struggled to care for and connect with. On the day of an eclipse, Bhaal possesses Selm (like how it happens with Sceleritas Fel in-game), and Miralupa and he copulate, resulting in Namulith.  Namulith was brought to the Temple as a baby to be Bhaalist-equivalent of baptized, but did not return until he was around 7-9 for his equivalent of a first communion (he also experienced a significant vision/hallucination there but I fear delving into that will derail the response lol) (after this ceremony, he began experiencing the impulses of the Dark Urge, which he would wind up grappling with for much of his life).  

Growing up, his mom definitely treated him as the favorite child and would often tell him how he had a great destiny.  She emphasized that he should never tell anyone about his occasional visits to the Temple, and he complied.  His “first communion” ceremony was shared with Orin’s (which is where and how they met), and I headcanon that they’re either the same age, or she’s like a year younger than him at most.  After this ceremony, he served/worked in the Temple more regularly in the capacity of an altar boy (maintaining records, cleaning artifacts, supporting rituals, etc), and also worked in his father’s apothecary at the same time (bro had very little free time growing up) (Selm was also really enthused about having a son, as he intended to leave the apothecary to him as an inheritance, so he was really hard on him about learning the business/trade).  Sidebar, Selm was 100% aware of his wife’s religious affiliation, he just never brought it up or acknowledged it (he was just kinda like ‘so long as namulith has enough time to work at the apothecary I could care less what he does in the temple’)  

I’ve gotta do some more ruminating about how Namulith’s confirmation ceremony specifically went down (the final initiation), but I do know that he performed it jointly with Orin (they weren’t quite friends growing up, but they were kind to one another, and he pitied her for being alone while he had siblings and friends to spend time with, and she did not).  At that ceremony, it was decided by both Sarevok and Miralupa that to strengthen the sect, both he and Orin would be “betrothed” to one another, and would become the future leaders of the cult.  He wasn’t a fan of this idea, but he also didn’t voice this uncertainty/discomfort, because he did not want to disappoint his mother or disrupt the plans of the order (he was always wary of the zeal of the believers, while he himself did believe, he did so with more skepticism, and never placed complete and utter faith in Bhaal until he himself was leading the cult).  Years and years later, after the Dark Urge had festered and intensified, overriding his own will and resulting in him massacring his family, he seized control of the cult, casting Orin aside, and embracing the persona as the favored child and son of Bhaal….and then we all know what happens next lol.

Today, in the aftermath of the campaign of the Absolute, it’s safe to say that Namulith does not look back on his memories of his participation and leadership of the Bhaalists- he’s disgusted by his past actions not because they were heinous and immoral, but because he didn’t feel in control of himself even half the time.  The Dark Urge was the most terrifying phenomenon he had ever and will ever experience in his life, and to be free of it once and for all (unless I decide to inflict it upon him again later mwahahaha) was cathartic.  Even now, the period where he was the ultimate authority is wrapped in a haze, and the total account of the destruction and pain he caused is unknown to him.  Now he isn’t beholden to any god or goddess, and believes religion in general is dangerous and ultimately ineffective, but perhaps he might leave a small offering to Lathander when he experiences good fortune just out of superstition once in a while.

Are you named after anyone?

“If I remember correctly, I believe ‘Namulith’ is an older family name, but I couldn’t tell you who last bore it.”

When was the last time you cried?

“In the Temple of Bhaal, when I…“resurrected”, and was flooded with the memories which I thought had been lost to me…”

Do you have kids?

“I’ve taken in my niece Jhil, the daughter of my late sister, after I promised her now-deceased father that I’d look after her if anything happened to him.  I knew her father well, and I visited them often growing up.  She’s eleven now, and a kind, clever spitfire of a girl.  Minthara’s expecting, too, so I’ll certainly have my hands full in the near future.  I try not to think about Bhaal’s potential influence in my child’s life, and how his stain is already sunk deep into this family.  Children are blank slates though, right?”

Do you use sarcasm a lot?

“Not at all, really.  I find it tends to sour a conversation.”

What's the first thing you notice about people?

“Hair.  You can tell a lot about someone’s hygiene, lifestyle, and personality just from the way they style their hair.”

Scary stories or happy endings?

“Happy endings.  Having lived through the equivalent of a waking nightmare, I’ve had enough real-life horror to last a lifetime.”

Any special talents?

“Hmm…does sorcery count?”

Where were you born?

“My family’s apothecary in Baldur’s Gate.  It’s strange to be back after all that’s happened.”

Do you have any pets?

“I have two! Jhil has a cat called ‘Mr. Blue’, and I’m fortunate to still have Scratch around.  Something tells me he appreciates the slower pace of life in the apothecary.”

What sort of sports do you play?

“When I was a boy I used to play kickball and dodgeball…but I wasn’t good at either of them.  I suppose I’ve never had that ‘competitive spirit’ lots of others have.”

How tall are you?

“1.8 meters.”

What was your favourite academic subject?

“Alchemy.  There’s something satisfying about measuring substances, combining them, and watching them react to each other.”

What is your dream job?

“If it were up to me I’d spend the entire day lazing about: mixing tea, light reading, cooking.  It’s really for the best that Minthara has plans for us to return to the Underdark and establish ourselves there- then I’ll achieve that lifestyle?  Or maybe it’d be too dangerous? Hmph, perhaps not then.”

Phobias and Other Fears

He has an irrational fear of horses- he’d encounter them during the times he’d go with his father out of Baldur’s Gate into neighboring towns like Rivington to deliver prescriptions.  He doesn’t like looking them in the eye, they unsettle him. Other than that, he’s afraid of his Urge, and the remainder of his family dying.

Pet Peeves

He loathes indecisive people, running late, and indirectness.

3 items you could find in their bedroom

Too many lit candles, assorted books on alchemy strewn about, an open sewing kit and whatever article of clothing he was attempting to mend

First thing they notice in a person

Hair! Namulith has surmised that Gale is not insecure about aging and as a result doesn’t cover his greys, and Shadowheart’s dedication to maintaining her specific style implies she clings hard to the little she does remember of her past.  Namulith actually had rather long hair up until he was thrown in the mindflayer colony beneath Moonrise, then it was all hacked off (he’s alright with the shorter style, for him it represents a new era in his life without all of the baggage of his past deeds)

On a scale of 1-10, how high is their pain tolerance?

Like a 6, then he’d probably pass out.  Total wimp when it comes to physical discomfort.

Do they go into fight or flight mode when under pressure?

Namulith knows exactly what he needs to do like 90% of the time, but in practice freezes.  From past experiences, he's able to cope by taking a mental time-out and allowing himself to feel utterly fearful and helpless for ten seconds before springing into action.   

Do they come from a big family/are they a family person?

Yup, the original Dorok family consisted of Selm (his father), Miralupa (his mother), and his older sisters Nausicaa, Lastelle, and Charuka.  Also of note was the family dog, a large long-haired black mutt called Pepper.  (All of the aforementioned family members are dead, as of present day.  Pepper died peacefully of old age before them, though, don’t worry!)  Namulith is very much a family person, and does his best to “pick up” raising his niece, Jhil, where her own father left off (easier said than done, of course).

What animal represents them best?

A White-tailed deer! Something about their faces kind of evokes Namulith to me.  I’ve also got a cool song called “Golden Antlers” by my favorite band Glass Animals, on his character playlist.

What is a smell that they dislike?

He hates the smell of ginger- reminds him of being sick/sick people.

Have they broken any bones?

As a kid he probably broke his arm at least once while playing around with his neighbor/childhood best friend, and god knows what Kressa Bonedaughter did to him. yikes.

How would a stranger likely describe them?

“A generally pleasant, if neurotic, young man.”

Are they a night owl or morning bird?

Night owl, loves to work by candlelight and see the moon and stars outside.  If he’s up before sunrise his day is ruined before it even starts (do NOT speak to bro before his tea).

What is a flavor they hate and a flavor they love?

Hates the taste of cinnamon- so dry in the throat and weirdly spicy.  Loves the taste of apples, they remind him of the fall (his favorite season).  He also loves their versatility, dried in teas, pressed in ciders, baked in pies…yum.

Do they have any hobbies?

Sailing (was left his niece’s father’s fixer-upper sloop), blending teas (mostly just for himself), learning potion-making (that’s why he reads alchemy books for fun)

Boom, surprise birthday party! How do they react to surprises?

Disbelief and polite appreciation- he’s kind of awkward about positive surprises.  He’s not used to being the center of attention, it was usually other members of his family dealing with crazy drama, so to be at the center of a spectacle is uncomfortable.

Do they like to wear jewellery?

Yes, his signature red gem stud earrings.  I don’t have all the lore fleshed out but it’s a tradition from his mother’s family that everyone gets their ears pierced young, and all with the same earrings.

Do they have neat or messy handwriting?

Really messy attempt at what might be cursive? Something akin to what doctors write on prescriptions for medication.

What are the two emotions they feel the most?

Anxiety (he’s terrible at being present and living in the moment, usually his mind is fixated on some future event and fretting over that), and Pride (not in an arrogant sense, moreso in being satisfied with whatever he’s managed to accomplish, be it a task or smoothing over an argument).

Do they have a favourite fabric?

Cotton! Thin, light, and breathable! Practical! (I think he would have a field day at a Jockey store LMAO)

What kind of accent do they have?