I’ve been re-playing Baldur’s Gate 3 and deliberately modelled the Elf priestess in today’s scene on Shadowheart, or least as a parody of Shadowheart’s most obvious character traits — namely, basically being a Haughty Goth (incidentally, the name of her goddess actually is a Gothic word).
Of course, it turns out she was raised by a cult that’s manipulating her into being evil and she’s actually quite endearing and kind of a dork. It’s probably not for nothing that, as of 2024, she’s on record as the most popular romance option and third most popular non-custom playable character.
As it happens, I’m actually playing as Shadowheart this time around…
Copyright J.B. Norman
“So, uh, what are you doing?” Nolan asks, peering over the dark-haired Elf priestess’ shoulder to peer at the orb she’s holding her hands.
She slowly turns towards Nolan, her gaze shifting from the orb to him. “I am questing the great goddess Riqiz for guidance, O ye Clueless One.”
“Oh,” Nolan says sheepishly. “I was just wondering if you need any help or anything. But I guess I’ll just go stand over there. And feel bad about myself.”
The priestess does that thing where he haughtily tosses her head whenever she’s feeling particularly indignant.
“How many was that?” Pela asks.
“I don’t know,” Matilda admits. “I lost track at thirty-seven.”
“Forty-nine,” Tancred says suddenly.
Pela, Falcata, Matilda, and Amara all slowly turn towards Tancred in stunned silence. The women of the Lyte Brigade stare blankly at their male companion.
“What?” Tancred asks.
“How closely have you been watching her?” Pela asks.
“And why are you watching her so closely?” Matilda asks.
She narrows her eyes at Tancred.
“You know,” Amara offers. “It’s not very becoming of us to just shun her. We are working with her, after all.”
“From now on, keep your hands where I can see them.”
She turns to Nolan.
“Hey, Captain,” she says. “Go ask — what’s her name again?”
“Darkblossom,” Nolan answers.
“Seriously?” Matilda exclaims. She stares in fascination at the dark-haired priestess, who is still contemplating her orb. “So, like Mr. and Mrs. Blossom named their kid Dark?”
“She is a priestess,” Tancred notes. “Maybe it’s a religious name. Maybe she had to abandon her birth name when she joined her order.”
“I think cult might be a better word,” Matilda mutters. “You have to be in a cult to dress like that, right? She’s all leather and purple and spiky.”
She turns back to Nolan.
“Anyway,” she says. “Go ask her if she’s hungry.”
“Three marks says she turns Nolan into a newt,” Pela offers.
“I’ll put five on frog,” Tancred counters.
Amara thoughtfully touches her chin. “If I were a gambling woman, I’d bet on her sneaking into Nolan’s tent and pouring poison into his ear,” she decides.
“Did you join a cult when we weren’t looking?” Matilda asks. “And is ear-poison even a real thing?”
Amara shrugs. “I read a lot. Poison in the ear is exactly the kind of thing an evil shadow sorceress would try,” she answers.
Darkblossom gazes up from her orb. She narrows her eyes at the Lyte Brigade. She does that head-toss thing again as she scoffs at them.
“I am most certainly not a sorceress,” she declares. “I am the most loyal servant of the great goddess Riqiz!”
“Oh, geez,” Pela says, the green draining from her face. “She heard us! Run away! She’ll turn us all into frogs!
“Yeah,” Nolan muses. “But I can fix her.”
Matilda smirks. “She’s, uh, she’s after your man, Amara,” she says.
“I’m certain I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Amara mutters — her words somewhat undermined by the scrutinising side-eye she keeps giving the dark-haired priestess.
“I can fix her” is basically the motto of the Baldur’s Gate 3 fanbase. Though, admittedly, it does also apply to the male cast, too…
But, seriously, though, I can absolutely fix Minthara.
I didn’t put too much thought into “Darkblossom,” but it feels like “Shadowheart” without sounding too much like “Shadowheart.” If I’m serious about her as a character, that name isn’t going to stay. I may even just make it Latin.
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