love me a bear daddy

First batch of Halsin pride icons. Had to start with these ones, obviously.

Requests welcome!

Portrait 1 with; pansexual, polyamory, bear and intersex progress pride flags

And I know it’s probably a dead horse at this point but here I come with a lot to say.

First of all I love how Halsin talks about being free and how “domesticity is for the farm animal” when he’s literally shackled by his duty to the grove, his survivors guilt over what happened to the shadow cursed lands, and how between those two things he refuses to seek out meaningful romantic or physical relationships until he’s shed both which not to mention both the shadow curse and the archdruidship are deeply intertwined together anyway with one coming as the result of another but I digress.

In my heart of hearts I just know that when when the shackles were broken, the nether brain defeated, and he was shown what actual freedom looked like, what being unbound really meant, Halsin was terrified. Like being dropped in a rowboat in the middle of a vast ocean without a map or an oar.

I think when Halsin made the decision to turn back to leadership, he did so partially because that was the one thing in front of him he knew he could do. Maybe self admittedly he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to do it well, but he saw people hurting, available land that needed tending, and knew that he was the best suitable to bring those two things together.

We know how he feels about the city, and I do think he tried to be the healer he could for these people immediately during the aftermath, but eventually people stop needing healing and just need help. Houses destroyed, missing parents, money perhaps gone or taken, or maybe some had none of any of that to begin with.

So when Halsin took the initiative and decided to help these people and bring them to a place where they can rebuild, part of that was probably him desperately trying to figure out something to do that was useful and gave him some sort of a familiar direction to go in. And I’m sure there was a part of him going “here we go again” because obviously leadership is a burden, it’s one he bore for a century, but now it’s people he doesn’t know, a million orphans, and a land filled to the brim with warped corpses and still bears the scars of the curse.

And then he’s actually good at it. He loves being a Dad, not master Halsin, not wise archdruid of the emerald grove. And yes, leader of the village presumably, but on his terms god damn it. Domestic, obligated, but of his own free will now.

Anyway sorry if this is incomprehensible, I though of most of this while I was playing Mario kart (it’s very meditative for me) and I’m probably missing a bunch of lore/ dialogue from the game, it’s been a minute since I’ve been able to play in a mindful way and I don’t have his story memorized like the good little Halsin simp I pretend to be. I’m also terrified of expressing my opinion so please everyone tell me how right I am so if you have anything to add or amend just do it nicely.

⊹₊ ❀ ₊˚☘ | Halsin Silverbough | ☘₊˚❀ ₊⊹

yo Daddy Halsin is here.

The last male companion is done. Next, I'm taking a break and will continue the series in March with the ladies, Shadowheart should be first.

Wyll | Asatrion | Gale | Halsin

Lae'zel | Shadowheart | Minthara | Karlach

˚ʚ ʕ´•ᴥ•`ʔ ɞ˚

Bear love, bear hugs, bear..

Halsin ended up being the one in dialogue with Ketheric because he freed Aylin while my tav was still invisible, and apparently he has a unique option. Surprised me because I figured only Origins had unique lines.

This made me curious, so I looked in the dialogue files, and well, here are all of them, in case anyone else hasn't seen them.

Dark Urge: "I will reach my own crimson castle, and your corpse will pave my path."

Astarion: "I know my destiny - he's waiting in Baldur's Gate. And you're standing in my way, old man."

Lae'zel: "I am not intimidated by the likes of you. I will gain my queen's favour and ascend." // "The liberation of my people may be close at hand. And I will stop at nothing to see it done."

Shadowheart: "My place is right here - ready to strike you down in Lady Shar's name." // "My place is in Baldur's Gate. Yours is in a grave - permanently, this time."

Gale: "Funny you say that. My place is right here, and my 'bright flash' could be the last thing you see..."

Wyll: "Damned wretch. I will liberate my father from your rotten hands."

Karlach: "Neither you nor your pal Gortash know the first thing about my 'place'."

Halsin: "I am right where I need to be - ready to vanquish you and your curse, forever."

Jaheira: "I sense you ask questions only to hear yourself answer them - so by all means, tell me my place."

Oh Halsin, that's an awful question.

But maybe that's just me. 🤷‍♀️