I will accompany the article with my drawings, the full image of which you can find on my blog.
1. Tell us a bit about your Tav!Β
Niaranda β chaotic neutral forest half-elf, rogue ranger. She is convinced not to use illithid abilities from the word. A self-willed adventurer. A girl with a very pragmatic mindset, likes to make cause-and-effect relationships and find logical explanations for something, is quite perceptive. In words, she is straightforward, honest and outspoken. Instead of lying outright (she hates lying), she will start to conceal and evade the answer. She likes to discuss various topics, often topics with deep meaning. This helps her to be filled with her new knowledge.
She lives for her own pleasure, an individualist. She is diligent, and easily does work with something small. She help those in need, if it does not bother her and does not contradict for plans. She is often motivated. There is always a choice, it is impossible to stay away as an observer. Niaranda is stubborn in her decisions and does not tolerate the indecision of others. She is not afraid to challenge. In rational thinking, fear is an interfering factors that prevent analysis. But she's not fearless. She still has that feeling, even though she's trying to control it.
2. What alignment is your Tav? How does that align or clash with Gortash? Do they agree with him morally?
Niaranda is of the opinion that tyranny will always exist. The overthrow of one tyrant does not mean the arrival of another tyrant. There is no ideal world in which it would always be safe. But it is quite possible to stand on the strong side. In this case, Gortash turned out to be a strong point, and not the squad with whom she traveled.
Niaranda can tell Gortash that his plan is bullshit if she really thinks so, and she will believe it until he provides her with weighty arguments in opposition. It may happen that at some point she will resist the actions of the Chosen Bane's, and a conflict may arise against this background. However, Gortash is one of those who can control her.
3. What God does your Tav follow? Is Gortash's position as Bane's chosen an issue?Β
Niaranda does not believe in any god directly. Faith often puts in certain frames, but a girl does not like to put herself in any kind of framework until she finds them useful for herself. Nevertheless, she observed the clergy and the dogmas of various gods a lot. Everyone has some kind of foothold that she can rely on in case of something. But Lathander turned out to be the most interesting in his desire to forget the defeats of the past and focus on the victories of the future. This also includes meeting problems face to face and rebirth as a metaphor. A new path, a fire that gives strength.
She does not consider the path of the Bainite, it is enough for her to be near them. Niaranda will always have time to swear allegiance to any of the gods. Rather, it is a matter of principle to remain with faith in oneself, to seek support within oneself. Of course, the power that the gods can give is a weighty argument to believe, but it also has consequences.
Niaranda finds it very curious that in places Enver is symbolized with the sun (for example, posters "Gortash to the Archdukes!" or the oath of union at the inauguration mentioning the roaring sun, symbols of the sun on Steel Watchers, and so on), but at the same time he is Bane's Chosen One. Without a direct belief in Lathander, Niaranda jokingly compares herself to a small ray of sunlight in pitch darkness. Two opposites. Sometimes it seems to her that there is a small ray of sunshine in the Gortash itself.
4. What did your Tav think of Gortash when they first met? Did they take his offer of an alliance?Β
Throughout her journey, Niaranda had heard enough about Gortash and his atrocities. However, she did not expect him to offer her an alliance. She agreed rather forcibly, as his Steel Guards looked menacing and terrifying. At the same time, Niaranda admired how well Enver had built his power.
The clever insidious eyes, shaggy hairstyle and unflappable V-neck on the chest, which impressed the girl at the inauguration, were just the beginning of the girl looking at some things with a new look.
Later, she did not regret the alliance agreement, even when her companions wanted to thwart Gortash's plans, Niaranda convinced them not to do so. It seemed to her that she was playing a double game, not telling the squad anything about her decisions.
5. How did Gortash and your Tav get together? What do they see in each other?Β
The Illithid Colony
What Niaranda sees: "A suspicious dangerous guy playing with his allies, he's clearly up to something bad, we need to stop him." Meeting at the inauguration
What Niaranda sees: BREASTS "He is polite and courteous, but at the same time he looks so insidious and confident. He is an Archduke, although he achieved this dishonestly, a strong and prudent, natural leader. Damn it, he's good! I'll go after him."
What Gortash sees: "She is quite stubborn and reasonable, she can turn out to be a strong ally. How far is she willing to go? I'll check it out."
They both see that they need each other to cover the needs of their plans as well as their inner needs. And they can give it to each other.
6. What does the future hold for your Tav and Gortash? Are they in a relationship, a one time thing, are they going to rule the sword coast together or kill each other in a tragic showdown?
Situation #1: Tragic defeat. Gortash dies from a psionic shot to the head, Niaranda continues his work, but soon the same fate awaits her (yes, I know that the screenshot shows the scene with the transformation into an illithid, but just imagine that these black areas near the eyes are the result of the identical death of Gortash.).
Situation #2: The power of the Archduke. Niaranda has difficulty persuading the Emperor to ensure Gortash's survival at the brain. Gortash and the Emperor (a forced unwanted alliance), along with Niaranda and her squad, defeat the brain. Gortash kills the Emperor and takes the stones for himself, and Niaranda betrays her squad, becoming the right hand in ruling with Enver. He does not subordinate her, he will always have time to do this if his leash of influence on the girl suddenly breaks. Soon he realizes that the larva is useless without abilities, and removes it, making sure that the girl is faithful to him and their common cause. (THIS should be the canonical ending of Gortash, I think)
Situation #3: Revenge. Gortash is dying at the brain. Niaranda blames Bane for not helping Gortash in any way at the right moment. Six months have passed since the victory over the brain. Gale comes to the camp meeting in the form of the god of ambition and offers his beloved to become the goddess of any free domain (at the time of the plot of bg3, he does not know anything about her affair with Gortash). Niaranda chooses the domain of revenge, retribution, justice and becomes not a god equal to Gale, or Mystra, or Bane, but a demigod (at the time of writing the story, I learned that in stories, unfortunately, there already exists such a demigod named Hoar). Niaranda travels through Faerun, undermining Bane's churches, thereby weakening his power, in order to later visit Bane's outer plane, free Gortash from eternal torment. The girl returns all his equipment to Gortash and together they defeat Bane. Lord Enver Gortash becomes the new god of tyranny and discord. The oath made by the two of them at the inauguration is finally being fulfilled.
(it all looks so epic in my head, but I tried to briefly describe it)
Thank you for your attention, it was interesting for me to describe it!