i made a character sheet. free to use as you wish, feel free to change whatever you want XD open source ass thing. spent all of ~maybe an hour on it.

Credit: the text in the insert-image box comes from this video, and the text for the top three lines (intense, complex, fruity) comes from this post. The actual image was made with the free NBOS character sheet creator, which is a sort of dated but free and solid text-layout sheet maker intended for ttrpg style character sheet creation.

this is GENUINELY one of the best character development sheets I've ever seen. Cuts right to the core of what you and your readers will glom onto, doesn't waste time on details that don't directly affect the narrative. Stupendous. Effervescent. Finally, some good fucking food

@vera-king-hrfl Imma do it

Edit - I did it.

@crowwolf me too! 😁

Just so you know, while it's Monday and you're at work, the boys are chilling at the riverbank, having fun, enjoying each other's company, and whatnot.

I'm normal about this and not envious at all. (,,¬﹏¬,,)

@crowwolf and @synnevp the boys 🥰

Rolan's thunderwave origins ♡

You know, I have my own sweet, delusional theory about why Rolan is so boastful about his Thunderwave.

I like to imagine it was one of the first spells he ever learned - after all, it's just a first-level spell. And the reason was simple: when they were little, Cal and Lia were scared of stormy, thunderous nights. So their big brother learned Thunderwave to show them there was nothing to fear, that tieflings could command the very forces of nature. His siblings felt reassured, and from that moment on, Rolan took pride in his Thunderwave.

If he could summon a fire kitten at that time, why not thunderwave?

Anyway, it's just another silly headcanon of mine. ♡

Also, had to share this frame with you, pals. The way his eyes are tracing up and down, like (⸝⸝ ♡﹏♡⸝⸝) Sir, if you cast a spell - cast a spell, stop eyefucking the camera!

@vera-king-hrfl

@crowwolf awwww that's so sweet 🥰

And also SIR! Don't look at me like that. 🥵

@vera-king-hrfl LOL

@crowwolf 🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭 my struggles with notes.

Bear hugs ❤️ 2024

Cropped it for the ask, but here's the full picture of the fellas.

🌸My Super Long Hopefully Fun Character Ask Game:

👕Appearance

@grumpy-triceratops Super Long TOTALLY Fun Character Ask Game. 😁

I'll be doing this for Heat of the Night AU Ryldinn.

@vera-king-hrfl mwahahahahahaha

@crowwolf Mount up, sisters! We ride! 😁

🌸My Super Long Hopefully Fun Character Ask Game:

👕Appearance

@vera-king-hrfl - should I do this one for Kit? and you for Ryl of course :P

@crowwolf oooooo I think I might have to! This one does look fun 😁 saved for later.

I completely forgot to post this one here I did it last yr

@vera-king-hrfl

Omfghsjakkdichbsjemtkg... husband! I love him so much.

Gorgeous 😍

On your knees. 🧎

@vera-king-hrfl

@crowwolf Daddy? 😳

Beautiful art!

The greatest joy you'll ever learn is just to boop and be booped in return.

1. How would they define love if asked

2. When someone says "this is [character name] coded," what comes to your mind

3. if somebody told the character that they admire them what would they feel and how would they react to it

4. How much weight do they give to others' opinions of them

5. When bad things happen, do they usually think it happened to them or because of them

6. How well do they cope with the reality of their mortality

7. How easily and frequently do they ask for help

8. What is their perspective on religion and the concept of God

9. When in pain do they take it out on others or do they keep it inside

10. Their most defining moment vs your favorite one of them

11. One word they'd use to describe themselves, one you'd use to describe them and lastly a word that their closest/loved one would use to describe them

12. How committed are they to their principles, and what might get them to abandon them

13. Is there a moral line they would never cross

14. What could be considered as their worst moment

15. Do they have a stomach for violence and harm and if so do they only do it out of necessity or at any whim

16. Do they idolize anyone, if so why is that

17. How open are they to change their viewpoints on matters

18. Are they vengeful or do they easily forgive and forget or do they not forgive but don't go as far as acting on that

19. What's their strongest emotion, the one which mostly rules them and compells them to action

20. Are they more inclined to take or give

21. How much do they prioritize their own survival, and what lengths would they go to for self-preservation

22. What is their relationship with their body like

23. How connected do they feel to their community and society

24. Do they self harm and if so in which way

25. What's the worst physical or mental pain they've ever endured

26. How do their family and their relationship with them influence their perspective and the way they navigate life

27. Are they content with their sexuality and gender expression? would a difference in their sexuality and gender affect their role in the story and if so how

28. How much importance do they place on their appearance, and on others' appearance

29. What criteria do they use to assess others' character

30. Do they take themselves too seriously

31. How easily do they forgive themselves after making a mistake and how easily do they forgive others

32. Are they more concerned with the bigger picture or are they hung up on the details

33. Do they prioritise other people's needs over their own or the other way around

34. What do they believe their hands were made for

35. Do they consider themselves lucky or privileged

36. What is their level of emotional intelligence and social adeptness

37. Presented with three different ponds offering eternal health, strength, or wealth, which one would they choose to drink from, they can only drink from one

38. In the event of an apocalypse with only one limited safe haven available, whom or what would they prioritize bringing along

39. If they could end one thing—be it a person, ideology or misfortune—what would they choose to eradicate

40. Would breaking their heart be a quick task or would it require significant effort

41. Are they comfortable expressing their emotions and thoughts

42. If given the chance to bring back someone from the dead, who would they choose and why

43. With whom or when do they feel most authentic and true to themselves

44. Do they believe they are more in control or being controlled (by others, their circumstances or their life in general) and are they correct in their assumption

45. What is their fatal flaw

46. To what extent does shame or guilt influence their psyche

47. If they were an object, Which material(s) would they be made of

48. What gets them out of the bed each morning and how obvious is that motivation to those around them

49. Do they believe there's a cause, person, or a goal worth sacrificing their life for

50. If faced with a magical mirror revealing their deepest fear and greatest desire instead of their reflection, what would they see and would they be surprised by it

51. What does responsibility mean to them and do they embrace it or take it on reluctantly

52. Does their race significantly shape their personality or is it more of a background aspect

53. How entitled do they feel to others' emotions, time or labor

54. Are they more likely to do a good deed if they know it will be noticed or do they not care about acknowledgment

55. Do they live in the past, the present or the future

56. How do they go about making decisions: do they consult a particular individual, rely on a trusted group, consider input from anyone willing to share or solely trust their own judgment

57. How likely are they to intervene if they witness something illegal or immoral, If they choose to get involved what method do they typically use, Does their eagerness to correct the situation and their approach vary depending on the perpetrator's status, closeness or strength

58. When it comes to hope do they view it as: impractical or necessary and why is that

59. Do they tend to overwork themselves

60. What type of smart are they

61. If they could make people do whatever they wanted without any consequences, would they use that power and if so how

62. Which of the following do they have the hardest time accepting: affection, money or help

This is Kitalia - She's a bit creepy, pretty - SHORT 4'11", and tiny at about 90 lbs - and made of pure chaos. She's 1/2 mixed up fey ancestry, 1/4 wood/Sylvan elf, and 1/4 unknown... She's a shadow sorcerer/bard

1. How would they define love if asked

They wouldn't really know. Kitalia was brought up in an extremely harsh way, rescued eventually, then raised in a way that they thought would make her wily and independent. No physical show of real love, no words of love, just survival of the fittest and I'll check in to make sure you're alive.

2. When someone says "this is [character name] coded," what comes to your mind

A mix of Kit Deluca from pretty woman, Harley Quinn a la Suicide Squad, and a manic pixie

3. if somebody told the character that they admire them what would they feel and how would they react to it

Kitalia would laugh her ass off - literal tears, grabbing her belly, full on can't even talk laugh. She doesn't believe anyone would ever feel like that towards her.

4. How much weight do they give to others' opinions of them

Acts like she gives zero fucks. Internalizes it ALL. Full of inner voices screaming at her.

5. When bad things happen, do they usually think it happened to them or because of them.

All because of her. Always because of her. All her fault.

6. How well do they cope with the reality of their mortality

Welllll...this is a tricky one. I don't want to give too many spoilers, but suffice it to say she doesn't. She's old. Way older than she looks. Younger than folks like Raphael, but older than Halsin old.

7. How easily and frequently do they ask for help

She doesn't. Ever. Asking for help would show she can't survive on her own, her caregiver would consider that weakness. Once she is finally settled in a loving life and is finally comfortable enough she will ask occasionally - but this is centuries of not doing that, so it will take time.

8. What is their perspective on religion and the concept of God

LOL that's a loaded question. She's BG3 universe - Gods and Goddesses are real. She's ambivalent about them, hates some, has a deep love for a certain one - but not a worshipful love.

9. When in pain do they take it out on others or do they keep it inside She will internalize it until it's bursting out and end up taking it out on others - usually someone she picks as an enemy, but often anyone nearby.

10. Their most defining moment vs your favorite one of them

Meeting her bff. In the modern Au that's Ryldinn, @vera-king-hrfl 's OC. They are obviously not related, but fuck if they don't act like twins that were never separated. They have their own hand language and everything. These two bonded hard. In regular BG3, I'm HC that my girl gets with @vera-king-hrfl's other OC Max, the half-orc - bffs turned lovers. Which is hilarious. Giant half-orc, tiny crazy fey lady.

11. One word they'd use to describe themselves, one you'd use to describe them and lastly a word that their closest/loved one would use to describe them

Chaos. Kit would probably say free. Loved ones - um, would be two words - ferociously loyal/loving (once she's bonded to them)

12. How committed are they to their principles, and what might get them to abandon them

LOL um, well, she'd never hurt a kitten so I guess that's something. The only thing she is committed to are the ones who have somehow managed to gain her trust and love - she would never abandon or compromise on that, even on pain of death

13. Is there a moral line they would never cross

See above - if it doesn't involve loved ones, she has zero fucks

14. What could be considered as their worst moment

Absolute worse moment for her would have to be being rejected by the one who has her heart after all this time or her *perceived* rejection - they may be trying to propose awkwardly but she's no compass in regards to interpersonal shit and would think they were leaving her...she'd break. She'd run off before they could actually make their point and they'd have to try to find her. Which would require help because she's been raised to basically be a chameleon when it comes to hiding. She's epic hide and seek material.

15. Do they have a stomach for violence and harm and if so do they only do it out of necessity or at any whim

LOL She's chaos - you hurt someone she cares for - verbally or physically, doesn't matter - she will FUCK you up. Short fuse for anyone not in her inner circle.

16. Do they idolize anyone, if so why is that

Her grandfather - he was her caregiver, the one who checked to make sure she was alive, but left her to fend for herself - finding her own food and shelter. Occasionally he would stay for extended periods to teach her new killing methods, new fighting skills, new languages, new anything sneaky and assassin like (she's not an assassin). Getting her to show him her latest magic or songs. He will praise her but is very biting in any criticism - his vision for her is make her tough, fast, invisible. That's it.

17. How open are they to change their viewpoints on matters

Depends on the situation. Most times - she goes with the flow...unless it's something she's fierce about, then not at all

18. Are they vengeful or do they easily forgive and forget or do they not forgive but don't go as far as acting on that

She absolutely holds a grudge and has a long LONG memory

19. What's their strongest emotion, the one which mostly rules them and compells them to action

Devotion. Once she has her found fam - her devotion to them will make her take the dumbest of risk. She won't care about living or dying, as long as her loved ones are safe.

20. Are they more inclined to take or give

Give. She wants nothing (she thinks).

21. How much do they prioritize their own survival, and what lengths would they go to for self-preservation

Girl was raised to hide and watch the shadows - she'd sit for days without food or water before moving if there was a threat big enough. BUT once with her found family - she prioritizes them...oh wait, basically the same.

22. What is their relationship with their body like She doesn't really think about it. It's her survival engine. I mean, she knows she's objectively attractive, but was extremely abused as a young child and has a disconnect between what her body means.

23. How connected do they feel to their community and society

Not at all - except her found fam

24. Do they self harm and if so in which way

Unintentionally - see survival instincts above. She was starved as a child and her growth stunted, she doesn't always know when she's hungry, but when she has access to food - watch out. She has the metabolism of a hummingbird and can out eat most people twice her size - but has to do it over a period of time. She's tiny = small stomach. If she eats too fast, she'll vomit and be in pain, so she learned to eat small portions a little at a time. This can be extremely difficult when always trying to stay hidden away and quiet. Once with her found fam - she's constantly got food in her hand or pockets - they'll even start carrying snacks for her in case she gets hungry and has nothing. It's the only way to keep her healthy.

25. What's the worst physical or mental pain they've ever endured

When she was very young, her father's best friend slit his throat in front of her and stole her away for nefarious purposes - physical, mental, sexual. She's a long lived person - maturing is slow. She was FAR too young for any of it. Eventually, the abuser let their guard down and the spell they used to shield her from her living family faded enough for her grandfather to rescue her. Grandfather of course slaughtered the abuser, and did at least take her somewhere relatively safe-ish to heal physically. She doesn't remember her father, though if she did she'd know he loved her deeply and was amazing. She never healed mentally - not properly, not ever - the abuser had her for decades. It's absolutely a large reason she's chaos - if you asked me her alignment - I just say chaos, there is nothing else. She does what she does to live, to protect herself, her loved ones and that's that.

26. How do their family and their relationship with them influence their perspective and the way they navigate life

She never had real love in her life - not the true I want what's best for you and won't ever force you do to shit type of love. It's crazy to her - and once she has it, she guards it as the most precious of treasures. Physical items are meaningless to her - she was always homeless - having things, meant carrying them wherever she went and that was pointless. So having a home, a family - mind blowing. She'll sometimes have panic attacks when she thinks on it too much.

27. Are they content with their sexuality and gender expression? would a difference in their sexuality and gender affect their role in the story and if so how

My lady is pan and is who she is. She'll fuck whoever she wants but doesn't really understand people being emotional over it. Until she has her family and learns love - that makes her see it...

28. How much importance do they place on their appearance, and on others' appearance

LOL none - she gives zero fucks. Astarion insists on dressing her because she would happily wear rags. BUT she'll sit with him and Shadowheart to judge what the patriars are wearing.

29. What criteria do they use to assess others' character

Will they hurt and/or kill me? If no - yay! If yes - kill them first.

30. Do they take themselves too seriously

Never.

31. How easily do they forgive themselves after making a mistake and how easily do they forgive others

Kitalia doesn't forgive herself, she makes herself correct any mistakes if she can, and if she can't - she carries on. Others - that's a loaded one. If it's her fam - it depends on what they did. If it's someone outside her inner circle, well - they FAFOed.

32. Are they more concerned with the bigger picture or are they hung up on the details

Neither really. Maybe the smaller details - best place to find food, best place to hide, best place to protect.

33. Do they prioritise other people's needs over their own or the other way around

Found family first, then her, then others if there's time

34. What do they believe their hands were made for

Magic and music

35. Do they consider themselves lucky or privileged

nope

36. What is their level of emotional intelligence and social adeptness

LOL the depth is an inverted pool...poor woman, she has zero clue socially and emotionally so stunted she makes tweens look mature. She understands herself more than people think, but social cues and reading emotions - nada.

37. Presented with three different ponds offering eternal health, strength, or wealth, which one would they choose to drink from, they can only drink from one

Health

38. In the event of an apocalypse with only one limited safe haven available, whom or what would they prioritize bringing along

Her loved ones - which are very very few...

39. If they could end one thing—be it a person, ideology or misfortune—what would they choose to eradicate

Poverty - no one should have to dig through trash for food.

40. Would breaking their heart be a quick task or would it require significant effort

It would be quick and brutal

41. Are they comfortable expressing their emotions and thoughts

Not at all.

42. If given the chance to bring back someone from the dead, who would they choose and why

Her father. She's been told he loved her deeply just because she was his daughter. She doesn't even remember his face.

43. With whom or when do they feel most authentic and true to themselves

Alone with her significant other(s) - absolutely no one else around.

44. Do they believe they are more in control or being controlled (by others, their circumstances or their life in general) and are they correct in their assumption

Neither really. She knows she's not really in control, but she's so much chaos that no one can ever truly control her.

45. What is their fatal flaw

Her extreme loyalty to her found family - she would kill herself to save them. Also - her complete lack of care for herself.

46. To what extent does shame or guilt influence their psyche.

Her psyche is damaged from decades of abuse...not really sure she understands either emotion - but once with her found family they help her to recognize and cope (as much as she can) with them. Her youth was stolen from her so she feels no shame or guilt for those decades - but when she does, she buries it deep until it comes out in nightmares.

47. If they were an object, Which material(s) would they be made of Spider silk - incredibly strong, but fragile

48. What gets them out of the bed each morning and how obvious is that motivation to those around them

Survival - once she's with her found fam - they do. She's not totally dependent on them for that, but they give her more of a purpose in life that she lacked

49. Do they believe there's a cause, person, or a goal worth sacrificing their life for

Her family

50. If faced with a magical mirror revealing their deepest fear and greatest desire instead of their reflection, what would they see and would they be surprised by it

Greatest fear would be being alone forever. Greatest desire - just *being* with her loved one(s)

51. What does responsibility mean to them and do they embrace it or take it on reluctantly

Responsi-what? Yeah - it's reluctant - she's utterly clueless to *normal* life shit.

52. Does their race significantly shape their personality or is it more of a background aspect

It absolutely shapes everything about her - her lineage is insane (in variation of fey creatures and other), it's a smorgasbord of characteristics and eccentricities that make her who she is. IF she had been raised by her father, she may (big MAY) have been more stable - understanding more of those around her. But her upbringing, and DNA have made her just a hurricane in a body

53. How entitled do they feel to others' emotions, time or labor

Not at all. Never even want to be perceived as needing anything from anyone.

54. Are they more likely to do a good deed if they know it will be noticed or do they not care about acknowledgment

Nope - zero fucks given. If they do something good it's because she wanted to.

55. Do they live in the past, the present or the future

The present - she has to.

56. How do they go about making decisions: do they consult a particular individual, rely on a trusted group, consider input from anyone willing to share or solely trust their own judgment

On the fly in the most chaotic nonsensical way possible. Once in a place of trust - her bff or s/o

57. How likely are they to intervene if they witness something illegal or immoral, If they choose to get involved what method do they typically use, Does their eagerness to correct the situation and their approach vary depending on the perpetrator's status, closeness or strength

I suppose it depends on the act - if it's against a child - she will intervene. Children and animals. If it's anything else she doesn't even bat an eye. If it's after she's in a secure place - well, it would depend on the situation.

58. When it comes to hope do they view it as: impractical or necessary and why is that

She doesn't understand hope until she's with her people - her found fam. Once she's in that place hope becomes an absolutely necessity.

59. Do they tend to overwork themselves

Nope

60. What type of smart are they

Kitalia knows most languages of Faerun - and some from Feywilds, and others - she is very intelligent BUT she was never taught to read and has ZERO interest in learning. She's very old - so, yes, some things she can read just via exposure to them - city signs, street signs - shit like that. She can read a map in that she understand the design of it and has a superior sense of direction. But let's just say Gale of Waterdeep is flabbergasted by her complete lack of book knowledge. However, she can chat the ear off near any race. She has a musical ear as well, which is probably part of why languages are so simple for her - she can pick anything up by ear. In modern parlance, she would probably have been called a prodigy - but she doesn't care - it's just another skill she learned to survive.

61. If they could make people do whatever they wanted without any consequences, would they use that power and if so how

um, leave her and her loved ones alone and feed her all at once. She's really not complicated

62. Which of the following do they have the hardest time accepting: affection, money or help

That's a hard one - she doesn't really get money. She's lived on the outskirts of civilized society and usually takes/steals what she needs sometimes making money by busking (bard) but is easily fleeced because she can't read and doesn't understand money well at all. BUT she will not ask for help either - which means it's just a continuing vicious cycle until a certain group swoop in and bring her into their fold.

Thank you @alslamalskenaalraha for the original idea and @crowwolf for the tag! 🥰

Chararacter/OC Asks!

This is Ryldinn (real name Shar’zakin Baenre)

Lolth-sworn noble Drow.

Gloomstalker Ranger, assassin/sex slave

5'7"

135lbs

He/Him, Gay

1. How would they define love, if asked?

He didn't even know the word for anything we call love before he left the Underdark. Now, love to him is when people treat each other as equals, a thing that never happens where he's from.

2. When someone says: "This is [character name] coded, what comes to your mind?

Oooo tough one. He's a really weird person. He's a badass fighter who also happens to be a cutesy kawaii twink in his off time so... Sailor Moon maybe? 😅

3. If someone told your character they admire them, what would they feel and how would they react.

50/50 between: "Oh... honey no," and actual tears. He's not used to compliments that aren't about his body.

4. How much weight to give to others' opinions of them?

If it's someone he cares about, it's important. If not... not much. He does get a little sad when someone judges him for his race, but he gets where they're coming from and it doesn't sit with him.

5. When bad things happen, do they happen to them or because of them?

Because of him, usually. He doesn't internalize bad things happening to him. That's just the way things are. Extreme guilt if someone he cares about is hurt because of something he believes he could have changed.

6. How well do they cope with the idea of their own mortality?

His mortality? He doesn't fear death, so he doesn't really care. But he's with someone who won't live nearly as long as he will naturally, so that scares him.

7. How easily and frequently do they ask for help?

Not. Lol. He's had to a few times because he can't read (in one universe) and doesn't understand a lot of things (in both), but he doesn't like it. Always has the feeling that he can do everything himself, even if he can't.

8. What is their perspective of religion or the concept of god?

As a man who grew up Lolth-sworn drow, not by his own choice, he has been very leary about both religions and gods, usually speaking to and about them as if they are just people. He has recently become a Selunite in one of my stories because she invited him politely instead of demanding.

9. When they're in pain do they take it out on others or internalize?

Deny deny deny. He's the guy who'll be covered in blood and wounds, staggering, near death, and still say he's fine because he doesn't want to show weakness or bother anyone. More minor pain, no one will even notice unless they know him very well.

10. Their most defining moment vs. your favorite for them?

Depends on the story. In one, it was meeting Cal, because before that he didn't know anyone who was just genuinely kind and patient.

In the other, it was @crowwolf OC Kitalia. Everyone in his life before then basically just used him and manipulated him, including his adopted father Raphael and his close friend Astarion. Kit dove into all that, saw what was going on, and convinced him that he was competent to make his own decisions and live independently. He's not, but we're getting there.

11. One word you would use to describe them, a word they'd use to describe themselves, and one that their companion would use.

Hmmmm possibly scrambled, and he'd likely agree. Ryldinn is not a person who has it all together. He's trying, but when confronted with a thousand new stimuli after doing one or two things his whole life it just leaves him baffled and (subtly) flailing. Cal calls him "husband." 😊

12. How committed are they to their principles, and what would get them to abandon them?

Principles? What are those? Look, Ryldinn was chaotic evil before he came to the surface; he didn't have any. He's trying to develop a personality, but it's a challenge.

13. Is there a moral line they wouldn't cross?

He won't kill children. He's been forced to in the past, and that's basically the only thing that haunts him.

14. What could be considered their worst moment?

He doesn't know who his mother is, but he learned that she actually gave him away specifically to become a slave. He internalized it and either doesn't talk about it or makes light of it, but after seeing how amazing some parents are to their kids, that did hurt him.

15. Do they have a stomach for violence and harm and would they do it only from necessity or on a whim?

Oh, he absolutely does. He's a murderer. He has no problem with hurting and killing people, especially before leaving the UD. He'd never do it on a whim, though; he usually doesn't enjoy hurting people. He just blocks it out.

16. Do they idolize anyone? If so, why is that?

I think the first person he ever went starry-eyed over was Dame Aylin. He's very gay so it wasn't inappropriate, but how strong and brave and powerful and confident she is. Yeah, if he thought about wanting to be like someone, it would be her.

17. How open are they to change their viewpoints on matters?

Depends. He is very stubborn on a few things, but he's also very ignorant and uneducated, and he knows that, so he's definitely open to learning new things.

18. Are they vengeful, or do they easily forgive, or do they not forgive but refrain from acting on that?

Oddly enough, Ryldinn is actually a pacifist. He'd much prefer to walk away from bullies rather than engage. BUT, if someone harms a person he cares about, he is the fucking Terminator and will not stop, ever, until he spills blood. He is a violent little fucker when aroused, but he doesn't have a temper and doesn't hold a grudge.

19. What's their strongest emotion, the one which mostly rules them and compels them to action?

This is not a man ruled by emotion, in general. Is confusion an emotion? 😅 But recently, it's been loneliness and desire for connection. He has his weird family and his bff Kitalia, but having someone of his own is something he never believed possible.

20. Are they more inclined to take or to give?

Give, give, give. Give until it hurts. He's pretty vulnerable to manipulation and will absolutely fall for scams and sob stories until Kitalia smacks him and drags him home. 😁

21. How much do they prioritize their own survival, and what lengths would they go to for self-preservation?

Not at all in some ways, but he also thinks the world will stop spinning if he stops cranking, and doesn't trust many people to survive without him, so he has to stay alive to take care of his family.

22. What is their relationship with their body like?

Ryldinn is obsessed with his body. He has orthorexia and exercises a lot, has routines for skin and hair, and often dresses very revealing so he can bask in the admiration. He is very vain and not in a particularly healthy way. His face got more heavily scarred recently, and I'm not sure he would have been able to handle that if it wasn't healed.

23. How connected do they feel to their community or society?

Not at all for a long time. He was basically kept in a cage when he wasn't needed and feels no connection to drow society. Now that he's living in a city, on the surface, he's trying harder. His family is important, but he's also trying to participate in his neighborhood and community. It's still difficult because of what his former life was like, but there’s so many weirdos around he feels like he fits in better.

24. Do they self harm and if so which way?

Yes, he will. He will bite himself and dig in his nails and bang his head against the wall, overexercise, and deny himself any pleasure, which is nothing compared to the mental and emotional self-harm he inflicts upon himself. He won't do anything that will leave a visible mark or jeopardize his appearance.

25. What is the worst physical and mental pain they've ever endured?

Without getting too graphic or spoiling upcoming revelations, when his virginity was sold to a Cambion (not Raphael)

26. How do their family and their relationship with them influence their perspective and the way they navigate life?

Ryldinn has never known any biological member of his family. He never knew his parents, is unaware if he has siblings, and knows he has children, but not who they are, or even how many. He's gone most of his life without even the concept of family. So, once he started figuring out what that means and that he has people who care about him for (in his mind) no reason, now if someone tried to damage that, it would be a horrific blood bath.

27. Are they content with their sexuality and gender expression? Would a difference in their sexuality and gender affect their role in the story, and if so, how?

Ryldinn is very content being gay and a man and has no dysphoria or shame about either. If he was straight or female, however, his life might have been very different. He is a drow elf, and either being a woman or being attracted to women comes with its own set of interesting issues. As Pavel? Ryldinn’s human form exists as a gay Russian in Cold War era Miami. His life would probably be a bit easier if he were straight. 😅

28. How much importance do they place on their appearance, and on others' appearance?

For himself? Extreme. For others? It depends, really. He appreciates fashion and fitness, but nothing is a deal-breaker except basic hygiene, and even then, he likes it when his man is a bit sweaty and musky.

29. What criteria do they use to assess others' character?

As someone who had been killing people on a regular basis for 150 years, his powers of physical threat assessment are pretty acute. Can this person hurt me, is his first concern. If not, he's actually pretty naive. He knows that though, so he usually defaults to not trusting anyone until Kitalia or Cal tells him it's ok because he trusts their judgment. He's friendly, and he wants to reach out, but his background and culture shock just have him side-eyeing everyone not in his inner circle.

30. Do they take themselves too seriously?

Often. (:P@Kit)

31. How easily do they forgive themselves after making a mistake and hiw easily do they forgive others?

Interesting idiosyncracy of Ryldinn’s personality. He is both more forgiving of himself and less forgiving of others than one would think. (Unlinkining from direct harm to immediate family because yeah.) If Ryldinn fails at a task, it is because there is no way any mortal could ever succeed, in his estimation. He believes he is the best at certain things, for good reason, and avoids attempting things that are vastly outside his capabilities. Of others, he assumes failure is due to ignorance or incompetence and not particularly the fault of the person, OR, if that is not the case, he isn't very nice about it.

32. Are they more concerned with the bigger picture or are they hung up on details.

Look. The poor man doesn't even know what's going on most of the time. He's a moody, pretty little ballet dancer who likes to read books about talking animals when he isn't killing people. He wants to cuddle his boyfriend and rollerskate with his bestie. He concerns himself with neither, unless somebody makes him.

33. Do they prioritize other people's needs over their own or the other way around?

For most of his life, Ryldinn was expected to not acknowledge or communicate his own needs, so he still has trouble doing that. Thus, other people usually take precedence over himself. But he does have the ability to be what he considers selfish because something good he does that helps a lot of people he will insist was only done for one random he's friends with. What most people don't realize is that his protestations are accurate. He did start a war or destroy a cult or slay a monster for that one person 😅.

34. What do they believe their hands were made for?

Killing and being of use to others.

35. Do they consider themselves lucky or privileged?

Despite being a slave for most of his life, yes, he does. He feels blessed with a physique that saved him from death as an infant and child and allowed him to become skillful enough to stay alive in his situation. He does not see himself as privileged, particularly; he was denied an education and basic rights, but he was as well treated as an expensive exotic pet.

36. What is their level of emotional intelligence and social adeptness?

Abysmal to mid, generally. Because of his job, he's able to gauge emotions to an extent, but only as that relates to his analysis of strength and weakness. He can see fear and deception pretty well. In casual situations, he often misses social cues, doesn't understand jokes, and generally isn't aware of people's ulterior motives if they don't concern him.

37. Presented with three different ponds offering eternal health, strength, or wealth, which one would they choose to drink from? They can only drink from one.

Strength.

38. In the event of an apocalypse with only one limited safe haven available, whom or what would they prioritize bringing along?

As many family members he can grab and his knife.

39. If they could end one thing-be it a person, ideology, or misfortune-what would they choose to eradicate?

Slavery. No person should be allowed to own another against their will.

40. Would breaking their heart be a quick task or would it require significant effort?

Before, that wasn't even a thing. Now, a few people could do it with a word. Ryldinn is very sensitive when he finally opens himself up to someone.

41. Are they comfortable expressing their emotions and thoughts?

Not particularly. It's taken him decades to tell his true feelings to some people.

42. If given the chance to bring back someone from the dead, who would they resurrect and why?

His father, though that would likely be a terrible idea. He knows nothing about the man except that he's drow and Ryl saw his ghost once.

43. With whom or when do they feel most authentic and true to themselves?

Mainly with family members, but special mention for when he's on a stage, scantily clad, dancing under lights that keep him from seeing the audience.

44. Do they believe they are more in control or being controlled (by others, their circumstances, or their life in general) and are tbey correct in their assumption?

He believes that he is controlled, mainly by other people, and he's even more right than he thinks he is. From a leashed pet to a nature preserve, basically.

45. What is their fatal flaw?

Overconfidence. Ryldinn is very confident in his own abilities. He is the first person to refuse help, intending to handle everything by himself even if the odds are ridiculous. The fact that he usually succeeds doesn't help.

46. To what extent do shame or guilt affect their psyche?

He experiences differing levels of shame depending on the circumstances. People who know parts of what he was before make him uncomfortable, but if he has a chance to tell about it himself, he's usually fine. He does feel a little guilt over things he's done, but he comforts himself by saying he didn't have a choice and otherwise doesn't think about it.

47. If they were an object, which materials would they be made of?

Silk and steel. The proverbial iron fist in the velvet glove. Soft and pretty, incredibly dangerous.

48. What gets them up each morning and how obvious is that to those around them?

Fun fact: Ryldinn sleeps. He is 100% elf and can trace his family back to the banishment, but he's a high-performance machine, and he does actually sleep on occasion, though he has to feel very safe to do so. As to the substance of the question, he's pretty much adrift most of the time and basically goes along with whatever others want to do. He has his job, his family, his garden. He doesn’t have a higher purpose unless something forces him to.

49. Do they believe there is a cause, person, or a goal worth sacrificing their life for?

If it affects his family, yes.

50. If faced with a magical mirror revealing their deepest fear and greatest desire instead of their reflection, what would they see, and would they be surprised by it?

Ryldinn’s greatest fear is being turned into a drider. Even when he was a slave with no real control over his life, he was in control of his mind. He'd been frightened since childhood with the threat of becoming that if he wasn't perfect. He had no real wants, wishes, nor desires. Not healthy ones anyway. His greatest desire now is just to be in peace with the people he loves for as long as possible. He wouldn't be surprised by any of that.

51. What does responsibility mean to them, and do they embrace it or take it on reluctantly?

Responsibility is something he has been told or decided that he has to do, and he doesn't feel one way or the other about it. He just does it.

52. Does their race significantly shape their personality, or is it more of a background aspect?

Being drow definitely shapes his personality because of what that society is like. He's been raised to defer to females, who have treated him poorly, so that has become a resentment of women in general. He is also viewed by other races as untrustworthy at best, a monster at worst, and he feels that. It doesn't help that he actually is both of those things with proper motivation. He is capable of atrocities, so he can't really argue with the opinion.

53. How entitled do they feel to others' emotions, time or labor.

He doesn't. He's far more comfortable giving than receiving. He often feels like a burden if anyone does something for him.

54. Are they more likely to fo a good deed if they know it will be noticed or do they not care about acknowledgement?

He doesn't care. In fact, he'd rather not have the recognition or attention at all.

55. Do they live in the past, the present, or the future?

Mainly the present, sometimes the future due to mild precognative abilities.

56. How do they go about making decisions: do they consult a particular individual, rely on a trusted group, consider input from anyone willing to share or solely trust their own judgment?

It is fairly difficult for Ryldinn to think for himself or make his own decisions. He's been owned and controlled for most of his life. If he's not being told what to do by his current handler, he usually relies on someone he trusts to help him.

57. How likely are they to intervene if they witness something illegal or immoral, if they choose to get involved what method do they typically use. Does their eagerness to correct the situation and their approach vary with the perpetrator's status, closeness, or strength?

Ryldinn really doesn't care about laws so far as that goes. His morals are kind of twisted as well. But he hates bullies and is far more likely to take matters into his own hands if the perpetrator is stronger or more important than the victim, even if he doesn't know them.

58. When it comes to hope, do they see it as impractical or necessary and why is that?

In his former life, the concept of hope was foreign to him. His life was something that happened to him with no real input from himself nor the capacity to desire change. He indulges himself in some now, but is still very anxious most of the time, ready to act where hope fails.

59. Do they tend to overwork themselves?

Yes, he does. Ryldinn has a desire to be busy and doesn't rest enough normally. If he's not busy with one of his several jobs, he's trying to become better at reading Elvish or some such. He likely wouldn't get much rest or recreation at all if it weren’t for Kit dragging him out rollerskating occasionally.

60. What kind of smart are they?

Hmmmm well book smart is not it. He either can't read or has only been doing it for 15 years depending on AU, and isn't really interested in the finer points. Street smarts really depend on the setting. Navigating the intrigue of drow families is second nature, but something like a human cocktail party would have him a bit confused, though he can hide it well. What he is good at is judging others' level of attraction toward him and using that to manipulate them, and his physical intelligence is unmatched.

61. If tbey could make people do whatever they wanted without any consequences, would they use that power and if so how?

Nah I don't think he would. Free will was hard to come by in his past, and he'd rather someone show their true character so he can deal with them. He doesn't want power of that sort over anyone, even enemies. He finds murder far more humane than slavery or imprisonment, even mental.

62. Which of the following do they have the hardest time accepting: affection, money, or help?

Help, definitely. A long life built on intimate touch, even if it was usually unwanted, gave him a different reaction than a lot of people and he actually likes to be touched, as long as it's by someone he trusts. He doesn't understand money so has no problem with others buying him things. But asking for help is difficult because he worked alone for so long and was taught not to trust anyone's help. He still has trouble believing that anyone can perform his tasks as well as he can.

The final chapter of Where Our Demons Hide 😭❤️

Chapter 44

https://archiveofourown.org/works/57238474

@vera-king-hrfl my heart ❤️ 💙 I love these boys so much!

Yeah I went and did it 😁

Where Our Demons Hide is the Baldur’s Gate story as told from the perspective of Cal and my favorite Tav; Ryldinn the drow assassin. It's not entirely canonical in places, but I tried to keep it true to the essence while making it mostly about them.

Also it's this long

Read at your own risk. 😅