BG minus the R: A post on Baldur's Gate 3 Pt 3

Okay, so my main playthrough is nearing the end. The only quest left to do is to defeat the Netherbrain. In this post, I'll mention my thoughts on Act 1 and my impressions on some of the fights.

Something went buggy

Unlike Luality, I won't claim that Larian rigged my client. But there was something buggy with my fights from Wyrm's Rock Fortress to Wyrmway. Whenever I first melee attacked, my attack mode auto-toggled to auto dual attack (I'm running a dual-wielding build). To make things worse, my Uncanny Dodge passive was also turned off automatically. To make things look buggier, the same didn't happen for Lae'zel, where her all-in passive for Great Weapon Master feat was concerned. As a result, I had to specifically look out for whether the bug triggered every turn. It wasn't game-breaking, but it was annoying.

On the flip side, my alternate playthrough scored multiple 20s early in the game. It feels ridiculous.

Remember to save!

The good thing about BG3 is that it's very casual-friendly in Balanced mode, so long as you know the right strategies. With that said, remember to save before rolling. And with that, remember to delete your saves when you don't need them. A good indication of save inventory cleaning is after you complete an Act. Either that or you can clear your save inventory whenever you don't need them. You wouldn't want to clutter up your save inventory, especially after finishing a playthrough. For Steam users, it seems that Steam cloud saves have a limit.

Act 1: From Level 1 to 6

Act 1 should be where you start the pace for levelling up. Ideally, you should be at level 6 by the time you reach Act 2. I did it in my main playthrough, where I hit level 6 after finishing every Crèche Y'llek quest. Despite the Dream Visitor telling you not to enter that place, it's highly recommended that you go ahead. You can gain additional XP, and the vendor also sells some neat stuff that can sustain some of your characters until you reach Act 3 with enough gold to spare. Sometimes, you may even stick with the gear you buy there for good (Knife of the Undermountain King, I'm looking at you). For dual-wielders, Knife of the Undermountain King can last for the entire game, if not at least until Act 3, where you can buy Cold Snap from Ferg Drogher (that one pairs very well with Crimson Mischief although the same goes for Knife of the Undermountain King. It depends on your build). For Gloves of Dexterity, it goes well with fighters until you grab Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength from the House of Hope (just make sure you don't give it to Helsik). I find budgeting a good way of doing things (no, I don't steal from vendors).

A good Soldier is a good one

If you're running a Soldier background, choosing to do good helps due to No One Left Behind, To Arms!, Chain of Command, Warrior of the Hells, and A Headless Horde background goals. Interestingly, it'd seem that knocking out Minthara wouldn't lock you out of A Headless Horde. That is unless Larian redid the whole thing. One thing to note is that Start Them Young and Stalwart Heart no longer give inspiration. Instead of being a bug, I suspect Larian purposely made this the case. No One Left Behind should be pretty easy to pull off. For To Arms!, it should also be easy if you're a fighter or a ranger with a Wisdom of 14 (Soldier as a background does make sense for rangers).

Error 404

One note on the owlbear cub. It seems that Larian made specific changes, or it's a bug. In my main playthrough, resting would trigger the mother owlbear's death. In my alternate playthrough, however, that didn't happen. As a result, I had to initiate the fight by approaching the skeleton (because the skeleton and nest were close to each other). After the battle, despite several rests, the little critter didn't show up. I don't know what's going on here. Hopefully, that little critter can pop up by the end of Act 2, as this would be the cut-off point.

You'd do well to do them

You definitely should be doing the Adamantine Forge and Auntie Ethel quests. For the former, Adamantine Shield and Splint Armour can last you until Act 3. Considering how expensive heavy armour is, that can save you plenty of gold. For the latter, it is to unlock the Act 3 quest that gives you Duellist's Prerogative, arguably the easiest high-end legendary weapon to get. If you're running with or as Lae'zel, this one can last you all the way until you get the legendary Silver Sword of the Astral Plane from Voss. If you're doing a two-fighter party run, depending on your party setup, it can even last you all the way until the end.

NOT Rings of Power

Then there's the Gloves of Power, which you can get early in the game by repelling the goblin attack on the Druid Grove. This is an excellent fit for rogues and rangers, especially those proficient in Sleight of Hand. To make this count, however, you'll need the Mark of the Absolute to unlock its full potential. The +1 to Sleight of Hand may seem nothing without the mark, but the ability to Bane any enemy once you have the mark means a fully unlocked Gloves of Power can last you all the way until Act 3, where you can get either Legacy of the Masters (if Dammon survives) or Bonespike Gloves (if you trigger the Farslayer fight at the correct spot). In the worst-case scenario where Dammon dies and you fail to loot Bonespike Gloves, Gloves of Power can still last you for the entire game so long the Bane ability is unlocked.

There's something about Crusher's Ring

Crusher's Ring is another piece of gear that can last long due to its excellent utility value. The increase given to movement speed means it's a great fit for both melee and ranged damage builds. To get this ring, however, you'll have to kill Crusher or kiss his foot. The one issue with the latter is that the DM/narrator doesn't tell you about the ring on his foot. In short, you'll have to mess around with dialogue options for the sake of it to discover it. Either that or you'll have to search the internet for relevant information. From the RP perspective, it's a terribly bad design. It'd be much better if you had to roll a passive Perception check at the relevant point so that the RP factor doesn't get broken.

Stuff you get in Blighted Village

Haste Helm and Bracers of Defence are also great for the early game, and they can be easily obtained in Blighted Village. The former is good for melee and ranged damage dealers, while the latter is excellent for barbarians, wizards, and sorcerers. Put this on Gale together with Mage Armour, and you'll get a +4 bonus for AC. For any wizard and sorcerer, every bit of AC helps in surviving any fight.

Fighting fire at Waukeen's Rest

Doing the Waukeen's Rest quests is highly recommended. Not only does it give inspiration to party members with the Soldier background, you can get some neat loot as a result. Faded Drow Leather Armour is good for rogues and rangers alike. For rangers, however, it's recommended that you switch to Hide Armour +2 once you reach the Goblin Camp, where you can buy it from the vendor (i.e. the guy outside the temple, NOT Roah Moonglow inside). For me, the real deal is saving Florrick, as completing it would give you a choice between three weapons that give you Lightning Charges. I choose the quarterstaff for Gale as the other two options don't last long for my character builds since there are better options within Act 1. Saving the half-naked dude and resolving his dowry issue was more of something I did for the heck of it. That said, Joltshooter with Jolty Vest is a good combo for archery ranger builds.

#FreeOskar

Saving Oskar. Should you or should you not? Free the Artist is a common complaint among gamers, as the consensus is that it's poorly designed. In the past, you could free this guy from the Zhentarim for free if you passed the relevant dialogue checks. Now? It's either you pay the full amount or the discounted amount if you pass the dialogue check. Personally, I find the change to be outright stupid. In fact, I see it as actively discouraging players from freeing him. If this was Larian paying attention to the gamers' complaints, it wouldn't have been the best way to do it. In Act 1, you may not have that much gold. Even if it's the discounted price of 600 gold (800 if you decide to play the nice guy to Oskar), would it be a waste of resources? Sure, you can sell the painting gained at the quest's end (provided Kerri didn't do him in) for an actual profit, as long as you save Figaro from Dolor. But is it worth it? Completing Free the Artist does give you 1K+ XP. Then you have the XP gained by killing the poltergeists and easy access to Philgrave's Mansion. Otherwise, you'll have to pass a Perception check to have a chance of getting inside. If you kill the Mystic Carrion (i.e. for good), you'll get Hood of the Weave. It really depends on how you view the tradeoff. If you really want to free Oskar, I recommend completing Free the Artist before you hit the level 12 cap so that you won't waste the XP tradeoff.

Anders' Game

Sword of Justice is probably one of the best early-game weapons in Act 1 before entering the mountain pass (the other being Phalar Aluve). To get it, you have to help him kill Karlach or help Karlach kill him. If you have party members with the Soldier background, then there's clearly motivation to choose the latter. I've come across online posts stating there's some kind of bug in the game where ending Anders before killing off his two goons would result in Karlach leaving the party upon reaching Act 2. I don't know how accurate this is or whether the bug has been addressed, but I'm not waiting to find out. Doing this fight at level 5 is relatively easy. If you have a wizard/sorcerer in your party, you can position the caster on the house's second floor. Then cast a level 2 Magic Missile on Anders once the fight starts. That can wipe out more than half of his HP. At the same time, Magic Missile is auto-homing. In short, you can fire this from an awkward angle and still hit him. Make sure to take out the vendor asap, as she can pop a potion of speed and use a scroll of Hold Person on any party member within sight. This can be problematic as Anders' attack can wipe out a huge chunk of HP per strike.

And one more thing. Remember to get the tollhouse key to loot the tollhouse for gold and some camp supplies. Split up your party to sit on the two stone chairs to open the secret chamber for more gold and additional weapons to sell for... well, gold. Make sure to have Shadowheart (if you have her in your party) to detect the traps. Being a cleric with proficiency in Perception means she's arguably the ideal party member to detect traps and do passive Perception checks.

Sword of Justice or Phalar Aluve+Ring of Absolute Force?

By itself, it's easy to choose Sword of Justice over Phalar Aluve due to the damage and Tyr's Protection. With the Ring of Absolute Force in the equation, however, and that's where things get interesting. Using Shriek will deal an additional 1d4 Thunder damage. With the Ring of Absolute Force, that'd be 2-5 Thunder damage instead of 1-4. Sword of Justice deals 3-13 damage. Phalar Aluve, with both hands, would deal 1-10 slashing damage plus 2-5 Thunder damage with Ring of Absolute Force for 5 turns. That'd translate to 3-15 damage in total for 5 turns. Use this off an Action Surge to maximise the efficiency of the combo. I guess it depends on whether you're more comfortable with a five-turn burst in damage or a slower but more consistent damage burn. With that said, this Phalar Aluve+Ring of Absolute Force combination can work wonders against Orin when it comes to whittling down her Unstoppable stacks. Assuming we're talking about a level 11 fighter, one turn translates to 3 attacks. Assuming the Thunder damage add-on applies to removing one stack of Unstoppable (not sure about that), one turn can wipe out six stacks of Unstoppable. With that said, there's a bug for Ring of Absolute Force where the wearer doesn't need to be branded with the Absolute's mark to unlock the additional Thunder damage bonus. Has it been fixed? I don't know. That being said, BG3 is a good game to be a fighter since Duellist's Prerogative isn't the only BiS choice until you get Silver Sword of the Astral Plane and Balduran's Giantslayer.

Push the duergar down the lake (so my country can be free)

I'm tempted to add the link to Borat's provocative song about throwing a Jew down the well (hence, "so my country can be free"). While I'd be doing this for the fun of it (fact check: Borat is factually a Jew), I don't want to be seen as a Hamas-loving leftist moaning over Yahya Sinwar's death. Despite dealing with a few level 5 enemies, this fight is 100% doable with a party of level 4 members. If you have party members with the Soldier background, winning the battle will give them free inspiration. Granted, you'll have to pay a fine of 100 gold by the duergar government of Grymforge. But hey, the XP and free inspiration make this deal worthwhile. Also, doing the fight means you can loot the ship and enemies for loot to sell. In Act 1, having as much gold as possible is better. This fight takes place on two boats. Ranged damage dealers should stand on high ground and fire away, while melee damage dealers should just run up and pummel the opposition. If you have a warlock (Wyll or someone else) able to cast Hunger of Hadar, just drop it on the enemies' boat and wait for them to come.

Taking down True Soul Nere

This fight is easy. Just cast Silence, corner him with melee damage dealers, and watch him die. One random observation from this fight is that casting Lightning Bolt with a brazier in the AoE will result in the brazier dropping down. It's an accident resulting from Gale casting Lightning Bolt to damage Nere and Thrinn.

BG minus the R: A post on Baldur's Gate 3 Pt 2

Before I start this post, I have to point out that after the suicide case I mentioned in the previous post, I've had to contend with yet another regrettable episode involving my fellow Singaporeans. This reminds me of my past in school, where I had no friends. As a social reject, I was either shunned or bullied. It started in Primary 5, although my first bully appeared in Primary 4. From that point onwards, it's ostracisation and bullying after ostracisation and bullying from secondary school to ITE. Did the teachers do anything? No. I wondered whether most of them were ignorant, but there were two of them who knew what went on. One did nothing, and the other (my Secondary 2 form teacher) did not come down hard on the perpetrators. One of the bullies punched me in the stomach, while another one (either that or it's the same person) stepped on my hand. One of them believed it'd be cool to take my school bag and hide it somewhere. Then another one broke me by making me hate him and curse his name as a dog in my heart. As a result, I had to deal with apathy in my adulthood. I wish I could feel remorse whenever I did wrong. But something just broke inside.

So, how did I deal with it? By trying my best to live an upright life. The fact that I was a victim of unrighteousness doesn't mean I have to embrace a victim's mentality. One is a fact. The other can and will create a monster in anyone. I will utilise my rationality if I cannot feel remorse for my actions. If emotions don't work for me, I still have my mind. If one part of myself is broken, I'll use the parts which are not. I will not roll over and die as a human being by living as a monster. There are too many such people out there, and I don't want to be like them. Years ago, despite all that had happened, I decided to friend request some of my ex-classmates on Facebook. The reason was that I decided to make peace with my past. And that includes forgiving those who did me wrong, whether through actions or inactions.

If I were asked whether I feel anything for my fellow Singaporeans regarding artistic creativity, my answer would be no. But do I feel something for Japanese dark fiction? Works like Berserk, Attack on Titan, Tokyo Ghoul, and Vinland Saga resonate with me far more than the likes of Crazy Rich Asians and The Fraud Squad for a reason. They allowed me to think in depth about human nature. To the likes of Miura Kentaro, Isayama "Hametsu no Hajime" Hajime, Ishida Sui, and Yukimura Makoto, I have to offer my thanks to them.

Note: If my past sounds like that of Astarion, that's because there's probably some semblance of truth in it. The interesting question is whether the proverbial Cazador are those who did me wrong or a toxic educational environment making the prolonged torture possible.

Speaking of monsters...

Perhaps monstrosity is a focal theme of the Baldur's Gate series. In BG1 and 2, we have Gorion's Ward, who happened to be a Bhaalspawn. In BG3, we have a team of potential mind flayers. If we include the Dark Urge, that'd be a Bhaalspawn Mk II. If you're doing a good run (something I'd always do), it's all about not becoming the monster others believe you to be.

I made a mistake here...

In my previous post, I stated that choosing Ranger Knight for ranger players is the way to go because the ring mail armour is readily available early in the game. Well, that was wrong for a reason. I failed to consider the AC bonus from Dexterity. At a score of 16 (the highest possible number you can get at the start of the game), you would have a +3 AC bonus. Add it to the default armour, and the AC should reach 14. That's the same number you get for ring mail armour. So yeah, that was a big mistake on my part.

Does that mean Ranger Knight isn't a good choice for rangers? It depends on whether your ranger would want a Grymskull Helm, as it is under the heavy armour category. The good thing about Grymskull Helm is that it makes the wearer immune to critical hits. Assuming your party setup includes a fighter and a cleric, you can have three members out of four having crit immunity if you craft an Adamantine Shield and an Adamantine Splint Armour, as I prefer Yuan-Ti Scale Mail to Adamantine Scale Mail. If your ranger runs on a multiclass, a lack of spell slots may make this option viable.

Do you need to steal to get the good stuff?

At first glance, this may seem true. After all, pickpocketing the vendors is the best way to get the good stuff, right? But what if you don't want to steal, be it for personal reasons or skill issues? I noticed that having a high enough Charisma can sell specific stuff for more gold. Not all of them, but certain ones. I may be wrong, though. But my impression is that selling with a high enough Persuasion bonus seemed to increase my gold count. Currently, my alternate playthrough has 3K+ gold, while my main playthrough has 60K+.

One thing of note is that in Act 2, you can earn quite a lot of gold. The reason is that plate armour drops from Act 2 onwards. In fact, Act 2 does have quite a bit of plate armour drops, which are the most expensive armour type you can buy or sell from vendors. You have quite a bit of them by killing the adds in Halsin's portal quest. In the final Moonrise Tower fight (provided the Last Light Inn didn't go bust), you can loot the dead enemies for plenty of plate armour and sell them to the Harper vendor after finishing the fight against Ketheric Thorm. I managed to purchase an Armour of Agility by the time I reached Act 3 straightaway in this manner.

If Act 2 is about getting the gold, then Act 1 is about getting camp supplies. In fact, the camp supplies I got from Act 1 were enough for me to last through Act 2. Blighted Village is a good spot for farming camp supplies. Another place to farm camp supplies is Waukeen's Rest and the barrels in Risen Road. If you camp in the blacksmith's forge, there are also camp supplies to be looted. I've already racked up around 1500 camp supplies in my alternate playthrough and am still in Act 1. In my main playthrough, it's more than 4000. Combat in BG3 doesn't function like FF14, where there are plenty of fights. In fact, combat in BG3 doesn't happen that often. It's more about exploration than fighting. As a result, using camp supplies for long rests doesn't happen that often. Do you need to partial rest? The answer is yes. More often than not, I'd use it for the vendors restocking the healing potions. Gear-wise for uncommon and above, partial or long resting doesn't affect the stock.

Duellist's Prerogative=You're probably gonna use this for most of Act 3

After Act 2, I geared Lae'zel with Selûne's Spear of Night for the fun of it. Looking back, maybe I should have stuck with Phalar Aluve until I got Duellist's Prerogative. Now, one can be deceptively good despite the fact that one must not wield anything in the off-hand slot to make it work. I ran it with Lae'zel, and it was bonkers. Two reactions instead of one means running a Battle Master with this can be very good so long you have Riposte. At the same time, you can go all in by using both reactions to score the additional necrotic damage. The latter is suitable for non-undead enemies (apparently, even devils are not immune to it), while the former can be used against undead foes. Until you get the legendary Gith greatsword from Voss, your Lae'zel will probably run with this. Before that moment comes, stick with Phalar Aluve. Sing is an excellent action to use. Just pop it in and use Action Surge afterwards.

1 level of rogue=universal logic?

Dialogue is a vital part of the game. There are moments when passing a dialogue check would make a fight easier. An example of this is the Dror Ragzlin fight. For some reason, my main playthrough pushed me straight to the dialogue where Dror Ragzlin forced me to interrogate the mind flayer. As a result, I have to pass a dialogue check.

Is 1 level of rogue a universal logic. The reality is that your main character will probably do the bulk of the talking unless Wyll is in your party. 1 level of rogue can do wonders for dialogue checks, as it'd give you expertise in any two skills of your choosing. However, it also depends on how you want to build your main character. For example, fighters. Investing in 1 level of cleric under the Tempest or War domain is arguably better. As for paladins, two fighter levels may be better due to Action Surge.

Will there be a part 3?

It depends on whether I have enough to write. I got some ideas swimming in my head, but whether they're enough remains to be seen.

BG minus the R: A post on Baldur's Gate 3 Pt 1

It's weird for me to say this, but the impulse to write up on Baldur's Gate 3 actually originated from a piece of recent news involving a suicide case. I don't want to elaborate on it beyond two points:

1. The ones who caused the death used logic to kick the dead.

2. Apart from The Online Citizen, aka the media outlet famous for picking a fight with the PAP government, no local media has picked up the story. Not even Independent SG, although it covered the story of how Calvin Cheng is going to butt heads with the two individuals responsible for the tragedy. Close enough? No.

What is the relationship between two seemingly unrelated things? As a Christian, I admit to playing fast and loose with my liberty when I decided to play this game. Ryan and Frontline Bro are currently playing Black Myth: Wukong, but would they play Baldur's Gate 3? Comparing them to me is like comparing Shazam to John Constantine. Writing up on BG3 is my way of responding to the coldhearted aspect of human nature on display, no thanks to the suicide case. Should this be interpreted as a Stone Cold Steve Austin against Vince MacMahon moment? It depends on whether the Vince MacMahon in question refers to the two individuals or the dark side of human nature.

Speaking of Black Myth: Wukong, I feel happy for its success, damn what the leftist press says. To the devs, this song is for them.

Where it all happened

It began far earlier than one may expect. Unlike many others, my experience in playing BG3 started from early access. The starting part in the nautiloid ship took me untold hours. The reason is that BG3 was my first DnD CRPG. As a result, I was messing around with things like a stereotypical Catalan minus the baldness instead of a typical Singaporean (note to self: Pep Guardiola is definitely not a Singaporean). I still remember the character I was using: a Seldarine drow rogue. Liking what I was dealing with, I decided to purchase it. That was during the early access period. Then came a problem: I didn't realise romantic scenes were an euphemism for sex scenes. That temporarily broke the deal for me. It wasn't until much later that lingering curiosity made me realise I could turn off the nudity. So there I am now, writing up a post on a game that hit 10/10 before Black Myth: Wukong did the same.

Red lines

Needless to say, there would be red lines not meant to be crossed. The nature of the game requires me to set guardrails. So, below are the rules I set for myself.

1. No nudity. Thank Larian Studios for the no-nudity option.

2. No same-sex relationship.

3. Due to a particular media coverage involving Astarion and a bear (if I remember correctly), the animal sex option is clearly a bear-sized red line.

4. No evil playthroughs. I don't know whether it should be interpreted as a personal choice, but this is an option I'm not about to take.

5. No creation of non-binary characters. I don't mind creating a female one, though.

6. I don't know how to two-time companions, but even if I did, I'm not about to do it. I like that CDPR clearly said no to players two-timing Yennefer and Triss.

7. I don't mind doing the Sharess' Caress quest. But taking the reward? No.

Current progress

I'm taking this game slow instead of trying to clear it as soon as possible while exploring as much as possible. The fact is, I'm no streamer. I have a day job and am not interested in something I'm not meant to do. The only reason I write a blog is to do something I want to do. Numbers? That's pointless. As a casual player, I explore Reddit, guides, and videos on getting things done. More often, videos on YouTube. This was how I took down the House of Grief fight. One thing I noticed about the game is that it's very preparation-heavy. Quite often, consumables are optional. But there are moments when using suitable consumables can make your life much easier. It's all about adopting the right strategy. Get it correct, and you can clear the game easily in Balanced mode. Get it wrong... well, I don't want to elaborate on it. Ultimately, it's either you search for guides and videos or you trial and error. House of Grief can be a significant source of grief if you don't know the correct strategy.

I have only three fights/quests left before entering the final brain fight: Free the Artist, fighting Ansur, and dealing with Gortash. At the same time, I've started a new character playthrough as well.

Lessons in playing a ranger

In my main playthrough, I'm running a Seldarine drow ranger. In my alternate playthrough, I'm starting with a wood elf ranger. One thing I've learned about using a ranger is that there's not much point in going the whole 12 level unless you're running a Beastmaster due to the pet upgrades. Ranger class progression beyond level 5 focuses more on the spells than physical attacks. This is not to say you shouldn't try a pure level 12 ranger build because BG3 is all about theory-crafting. With that said, the ranger is an excellent main class to multiclass. My Seldarine drow is running a level 5 Hunter ranger with a level 5 Thief rogue and level 2 fighter. Fighting style-wise, it's a combination of Two-Weapon Fighting and Archery. During my main playthrough, I learnt a few things:

1. Ranger Knight is a good feature if you plan to run a melee build with Hunter's Mark as your primary concentration spell. This is because melee builds require better survivability than ranged. But you won't need heavy armour once you get a Yuant-Ti Scale Mail or Adamantine Scale Mail unless you're running a tank build. Ideally, I would prefer to get a Hide Armour+2 as a replacement before that.

2. Bounty Hunter is an excellent option to go ranged, as you can ensnare and shoot from a distance. That plus Ensnaring Strike counts as a weapon attack. This means you can attack the second time with it. Combine this with Gontr Mael for some massive punch.

3. Hunter is a suitable subclass for melee DPS builds if you choose the Colossus Slayer option. Giant Killer and Horde Breaker are good for ranger tank builds, although I'm not a fan of melee AoE attacks. Colossus Slayer stacks very well with Crimson Mischief as the main hand weapon choice. Run this with Cold Snap in your off-hand slot for the fun. I plan to do this for my alternate wood elf run, as my Seldarine drow is running with Knife of the Undermountain King in the off-hand slot.

4. I prefer Uncanny Dodge to Charm.

5. Ranger spells are mainly for utility purposes. Hail of Thorns is a good choice if you want to use post-level 1 spells in combat. Otherwise, I use Hunter's Mark only on a level 1 basis. Conjure Barrage suits ranger tank builds if you have one cleric and two ranged DPS. Otherwise, I don't like the idea of friendly fire.

6. Try to get Armour of Agility as soon as possible once you enter Act 3. Unless you run a tank build, this is the default BiS body armour for rangers.

7. Fog Cloud is handy in Act 3, as you'll use it to make your life easier at certain moments. Steal two runepowder barrels from the Ironhand Gnomes' hideout for the final brain fight? Check. Use it to lockpick the office door at Sorcerous Sundries so that you can enter the vault? You got it. How about looting random chests in Lower City without getting caught? You'll need it. Then there's lockpicking the gate at Steel Watch Foundry.

8. Speak With Animals. Make sure you have that to free up gold and alchemical resources for other uses.

9. Strange Conduit Ring is useful if you're using either Hunter's Mark or Ensnaring Strike (i.e. very likely you'd be doing that). The damage can stack, especially if you're running a Hunter melee build with Crimson Mischief.

10. Get the Sussur weapon. You'll need it for fights like Lorroakan and Farslayer of Bhaal. It's next to useless against Raphael, though.

11. Are Gloves of Dexterity worth it? After all, you can't use ASI on your Dex if you pick this option. It depends on your confidence in getting Bonespike Gloves in Act 3. You can do so without issues if you have a spell level 6 minion that can fly and Lae'zel (provided her Misty Step isn't on cooldown). An alternative is using Gale to cast Misty Step.

12. Alert and ASI should be at the top of your feats list. Depending on how you spec your build, you may end up having only 2 feats instead of 3. If you're using Gloves of Dexterity, you can replace ASI with Savage Attacker because certain enemies have physical damage resistance.

13. Items granting Misty Step is my pet favourite. You can get them in Act 1. Depending on your party setup, everyone can Misty Step.

14. Try to get your Charisma to 12. This is for two purposes: Dialogue checks and Persuasion bonus when buying from vendors. Most of the gear they sell is meh, but some are very good.

15. Speaking of the Persuasion bonus, one level of rogue can give you expertise in Persuasion. For my main playthrough, the discount percentage is at 47%.

More things to say, but...

As I've said, I have a day job. So I'm going to leave things here. However, there are other things that I'll be talking about in the next part.

The Wolf, The Lion, And The Maiden Fair-Chapter 3

 AGE WARNING:

This work is one of dark nature. If you're below the age of 16, then you're better off reading something else. I don't profess to follow my country's rules where only foreigners like G.R.R Martin and Miura Kentaro can write dark fiction. At the same time, my responsibility to restrain myself doesn't mean sensitive people won't be offended. I'm a storyteller, but I'm not an activist. For every Meghan Markle, there is a Dazai Osamu.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

A Requiem From Winter Past

The Wolf, Lion, And Maiden Fair

(Written by Cocteau L'Enfant Naturel)

Chapter 3-Of Gods And Princes

"There are only three princes in this world: The fool, the righteous, and the sellsword."

~Anonymous

)0(

Beneath the morning sun stands a manor, its foundation surrounded by a miles-long wall. Perched atop a fertile plateau overlooking the region of Saltsea, this is the seat of House Eliaden. Gifted to its first patriarch, Erasmere Gaias Eliaden, Lefk is a place known for the finest spearmen the Hallenian Empire has ever seen. Despite countless years passing by, these fearsome fighters remained as bodyguards in times of peace and shock troops in days of war. Like his father and forefathers, Leonus Gaias Eliaden oversees law and order while defending Imperial coastlands against marauders attacking from the Endless Straits. With its back facing the Rock Coast and Eagle's Horn to the south, Fort Calyd is ever ready as the watchtower. Despite Histalonia's claims of being nothing more than a mercantile nation neutral and fair, sceptics fired questions involving an alliance forged between Histalonian buccaneers and Yaguryo pirates from the Southern Archipelago of the Furthest East.

"Young Mistress, someone seeks your audience."

With a formal bow, Treva Fench announces the arrival of a person he'd rather die than acknowledge. His object of reverence is nothing less than a beautiful maiden of eighteen winters, wavy locks of raven black reaching the waist. The fairness of her complexion is different from that of a Causacean, facial features belonging to an adopted daughter of Hallenian nobility undeniably proving her a Yaguryo. Dressed in a light blue gown, a shelf full of books faces her with a tome opened before almond-shaped eyes.

"Let me guess," snickers a portly middle-aged man, his garb one of finery with a chainmail shirt underneath. "It's our brave little lion, no?"

"Yes, you're right. Happy now, Yiovil Lyos?"

Treva took Yiovil's bait with a snapping reply, his wiry frame tensing up. Yiovil is another person he dislikes, a smallborn like that sandy blonde. If one earned his ire through antics of deeds, the other did so via words. If one is nothing short of a buffoon, the other is a master of goading.

"An audience he shall have, Treva."

Irlia Eliaden rises from an oaken wood chair with a gentle yet firm tone. It is time for the truth to be said, the moment when reality exposes the lie perpetuated by childhood dreams.

)0(

"Getting married? Guess we're at least a couple of years too late."

Expecting disappointment from the man pledging himself to her as a bond to House Eliaden, Irlia cannot mask her surprise at Cairos Ryvers' composure. He has always been synonymous with stupidity and foolhardiness rather than traits worth a maiden's glance.

"I know I should have been disappointed. Acting dumb does have a wonderful effect. But boys will become men. We have to, you see. What a self-deceiving load of shit I put myself in."

Such are the words spoken from resignation and fatalism. Childhood is a place free from reality. Adulthood is one tampered by thereof.

"Cairos, can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"How long have your acting deceived others?"

"You remember the day you held me back? When I was certain to slaughter that arsehole of a noble? I told myself I could not continue living like that. Your eyes told me I must not become a monster. But you. What about you? You're never talking like a noble before me. Why?"

"Because some things are tiring. Even before those I call friends, I must maintain this facade."

The sandy blond betrays a rueful smile. When the two were twelve, a commoner and noble made a promise in the name of love. Children will always be children regardless of whether they are boys or girls. Even today, those are the words his sole family member always says. Marvus Creek called him a cretin and hopeless loon, an absurd dreamer of being both hero and Irlia's wedded beloved.

On the other hand, Lukas Broun encouraged him to take that leap of faith, for this was nothing less than his own life. The maker defines the choices made, not the other way around. Otherwise, he would be nothing more than a victim trapped in a lie. Lukas' logic remains ever so clear despite all those years, the words pleasing every dreamer's ears for better or worse. That includes Adarl, who first proposed to him when they were thirteen. Back then, Cairos had no idea what she was thinking. Called an ugly little wench by a group of boys, her ordeal culminated in an episode in life told in the form of fisticuffs, which Cale unfortunately lost. She disappeared from his view after he mentioned the promise made to Irlia, an event her father dealt with afterwards. She worked as a serving girl under Chard's watchful eyes, a period in which she blossomed into a beautiful lass. In the words of a children's tale, the ugly duckling has always been a baby swan. And now Cairos has to announce a decision made with much effort by two fatherly men desiring only the best for their charges.

"You're not the only one getting married. I and Adarl will be getting married. Next spring, to be exact. Which means I'll be sending you off first."

With a shrug, Cairos erects a wall of steel separating fatalistic acceptance from anguished denial. As for the Yaguryo daughter of Causacean nobility, she can only arm herself with a mask of calm as her sword. Eyes of hazel never straying from his gaze, Irlia recalls that fateful day when a person of false nobility first beheld a lion's cub.

)0(

"Iry…"

"Don't worry, Ermia. I'm here."

Squeezing her friend's arm, Irlia could only watch in awe and shock at an unruly boy savaging their tormentor. No one knew where the wild child hailed from, nor could anyone discern how a smallborn could enter a school only for the rich and nobility. Sneaking a glance towards Cressandra Tanias, the Yaguryo realised she was wearing an expression no different from the rest. Only Ermia Nantes was terrified stiff, yet who could blame her for being the victim instead of a bystander?

The three had been close to each other since their eighth winter. Ermia admired Irlia's honesty, while Cressandra wanted a friend who would not judge her for her father's reputation.  Ermia detested her family watching her every move, while the less spoken about Cressandra's father, the better. The gaze Calcos Tibald Tanias directed at Irlia during a confrontation with her father the previous spring remained a nightmare. Perhaps this was why gentle Cressandra would have nothing good to say about him. The untimely death of Eirlania Ulst-Eliaden, beloved wife of Leonus Gaius Eliaden and sole daughter of House Ulst, brought them closer. Alas, it was a blessing that arrived at an obvious cost, for it was a cruelty to have people dying in their prime.

As for that raging smallborn boy, no one discovered how he could evade the security. What the Yaguryo knew, however, was that the bully had gone too far by ripping off Ermia's skirt, his arrogance pelting Irlia with lewd slurs and profanities. Only the Holy Quintet knew where he got his knife, for Frans' parents never cared whether he would go to the Five Heavens or Seven Infernos. The offensive object was then knocked away, a violent fist breaking his wrist.

"Kill you! Kill you, kill you, I'll kill you!"

The stranger's lungs unleashed those words of fury, his voice resembling a lion's roar. Blessed with an upright soul and wrath against evil, was this how a real man should be? Irlia's mother brought her to the Imperial Zoo when she was still alive. She remembered two animals captivating her sight: a lion and a wolf. The latter reminded her of someone from the past, while the former is an image of another in the present.

"Iry, stop him! We'll get implicated if Frans dies!"

The Yaguryo stared blankly at Cressandra's pleading look, Ermia shaking her head vehemently in response.

"No! Let that bastard die!"

"Ermia!"

Promptly interrupting Cressandra's rebuke, a crippled man laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Your father is worse than a snivelling coward, but you're nothing like him, Your Grace. Lady Cressandra of House Tanias, I promise I'll stop this child. And besides, Cairos is always synonymous with trouble."

Calling out his son's name, the kindly man with a limp seemed to have fulfilled his promise. A moment more shocking than the violence committed suddenly arrived, the boy's question an animal's growl. His words repeated an obscene boast, each syllable slowly spoken, causing every girl to blush. As for the boys, they could only remain speechless for whatever reason in each one's head.

"How many whores in this place have you shafted? Ten? Hundred? A thousand, maybe?"

"Pilaes Ryvers! Tell your boy to shut up before I terminate your service!"

"No wonder he looks familiar…" sniffled Ermia, her school principal and Pilaes Ryvers locked in a staring duel. "His pickled herring sandwiches are the best we've ever tasted."

“None…" snivelled Frans Arnter. "Please, no more…”

Without a single word, Pilaes' son turned his back on a vanquished foe.

"Watch out!"

Irlia's warning was a fleeting moment too late as Cressandra and Ermia could only stare with horror seeping out from their hearts. A rock smashed across the boy knight's head, Frans wearing the look of a vicious animal bearing a humane visage.

Cairos offered a laugh in reply, an unimaginable feat managed by surviving a hit that could have killed someone his age. What kind of being is he? More than just a boy, he resembled more of a beast. With a twisted grin, the smallborn picked up the bloodied weapon, for panic had seized a son of nobility and dropped the rock. His right hand holding it firmly, Cairos licked the blood off a tool claimed for himself. Spitting it out like a tavern brawler with a leer worn and shoulders dropped, he was akin to a lion waiting to pounce as a vicious pursuit was now on the cards.

"Hu… huh… hah!"

Frans Arnter ran away as fast as possible, every girl, especially Ermia, mocking his plight. On the other hand, the boys started whispering among themselves, bewilderment clouding their senses. Convinced that one of them was a god, the sight of a smallborn mortal making him wet himself was a revelation. As for Irlia, she kept her eyes on a being of righteous anger, a visage which made the firstborn son of House Arnter flee like the craven knave he was.

Nobody noticed his mundane features, but the Yaguryo knew her saviour's eyes and smile. There was another person of a similar bearing, a fateful meeting during that frigid autumn haunting her. Before the world, Cairos Ryvers should have merely been one person out of countless souls. Before Irlia Eliaden, however, his anger was reminiscent of a Relentless One she met under that blue full moon a year ago.

Extending her arm, she gripped Cairos' hand. Before she realised it, jewels of sapphire blue made contact with her hazel gaze. For the rest of the day, Irlia Eliaden was as silent as a mute.

)0(

Summer enters its final portion, the bluebirds performing a symphony of joy and hope. A garden resembling the most captivating meadow surrounds the seat of House Eliaden. Grand is a building made with stones of alabaster and granite. Six lions stand erect, statues of the finest craft a head taller than the average Causacean male. Three on each side flank the porch, its reach ten spans in length. Such is a father's love given to a daughter, one who is neither his own nor his deceased wife's.

"Hey, wake up. Wake up, Iry."

A bleary-eyed Irlia wakes up to Ermia's constant calls, her fingers running through slightly tangled locks. How long has the slumber lasted? The answer to it is that she does not care. The sole daughter of House Nantes chooses not to share her best friend's sentiments. A peeress wearing a pout and sun-kissed complexion points a thumb at the evening sky.

"Guess how long you've been enjoying life, sleeping beauty?"

"I desire not to know, Ermia," responds Irlia, her giggling goading a fellow noblewoman whom she had known since they were no older than seven.

"By the Holy Quintet and Seven Infernos, Irlia of House Eliaden never fails to annoy Ermia of House Nantes. And please cut out that language. We're not at some dumb ballroom full of finely dressed cretins."

The two good friends indulge themselves in a round of laughter. Never the kind which members of the nobility are known for, the situation is akin to joyful children running about. The last time they enjoyed such a moment was before Ermia's marriage to Lysas Gloreas, a day before she would be called Lady Ermia Nantes-Gloreas by servants and smallborn alike. Not so long ago, Ermia and Cressandra were convinced Irlia would be the first to get married, Yaguryo or no Yaguryo.

"One beautiful lady off the rack like the finest wine, two more to go," grins a prideful Ermia.

"But it's still unthinkable you're the first to enter a chapel's gates."

Putting up a mock frown, Ermia taunts Cressandra with a rude gesture. The daughter of House Tanias has no choice. Shaking her head and laughing was her only response. A year of married life does not matter, for Lysas can't contain his wife's temperament. It is often said time changes people and that the natural flow of things travels in a single direction. From the past to the present, after which the future awaits. But this is not so for someone whose behaviour mirrors a daring boy, a lady less than a demure girl.

"Hey, Iry and Cress. Don't you wish we're smallborn rather than the highborn?"

"How amazing to hear Ermia Nantes-Gloreas using an obscenity to end her question."

"Shut up, Cress. You should be getting married earlier than me, given your looks and pretty arse."

Left speechless by Ermia's vulgar praise, Cressandra can only afford an embarrassed lady's frown while an amused Irlia looks on. Cressandra Tanias may be an eloquent speaker, yet comments on her most prominent body part would always force her to a corner. Ermia knows it much to her delight, a knowledge always giving her a gambit and victory in any argument.

"Word came to me that Cairos Ryvers paid you a visit."

Cressandra's attempt to put her embarrassment to the sword results in more significant awkwardness, for Cale's relationship with Irlia is information never privy to a chosen few. Eternity journeys past the three ladies fair, Irlia setting her sight on two butterflies fluttering by.

"If only one can prove the existence of gods so that their blessings are proven true."

Cressandra and Ermia leave themselves stupefied, Irlia's answer revealing the melancholy truth. They know she is about to be married, but it's just that Cairos Ryvers is not the groom. Why would a highborn desire ridicule by marrying herself down, an act proving as if she is nothing more than a harlot? Nevertheless, the cold truth sinks its blade into each listener's heart, Irlia's inner world bleeding inside. They say it is a blessing to be a highborn, but those who curse such a life are the ones living it. A commoner's daughter has more freedom to choose her lot, while a woman of the peerage would be lucky if it takes eighteen winters to cage her in. Fifteen, if not sixteen, has always been the favourite age for every patriarch of nobility when producing a male heir. Leonus' decision to delay two more years is a blessing. She was allowed to ride a horse at thirteen. Never mind the fact that it was a pony rather than a mare. She was able to learn swordplay come her sixteenth winter, her skill nothing more than fanciful strokes bereft of function. Many of those of senior status call her beyond control, while few are those her age admiring the false noble for that inner fire revealed.

"You're scaring me, Iry. Can you tell us what in the Holy Quintet and Seven Infernos happened?"

"Cairos is getting married. To Adarl Tayne."

"Well, there goes the happy ending. Those minstrels should be hanged, drawn, and quartered for singing out their lies. So what about the bond that idiot swore before the Holy Quintet? Are you going to release him from that oath?"

"Yes."

“A hard decision, Irlia,” says Cressandra, her visage sombre. "One akin to sending a loved one into exile without other choices."

"Cairos was my shield against insults, the sword against scoundrels, a knight when defending my honour. Even my father has nothing but good words to say about him. It was his duty as my bond, and I have discharged him from his oath complete with my blessing."

The sorrow in Irlia's reply is evident, a trembling tone showing cracks across a wall separating the heart from the mind. The only thing left undone is the shedding of tears, for she promised herself she would never cry. Neither in front of Cairos nor anyone else, this is her only way to send him off and the best farewell present. Two years ago, she believed he was her prince. Two years later, she has no choice but to accept the actual princess is never her. Has the boy ever noticed a girl's feelings for him? She doubted his stupidity despite reactions of buffoonery reciprocating her feelings, her instincts whispering he was more intelligent than he appeared to be.

Then a hand seizes the book held tightly in her grip, Irlia's wide-eyed shock greeted by Ermia's mischievous smile. She tries to snatch it back, but Ermia's back faces her instead. Understanding her good friend's personality fails to clear her senses, Irlia wrestles Ermia Nantes onto the ground. As they roll over the grass, there is no way Irlia Eliaden can secure victory. She can only afford to let Ermia have her way. One more attempt to retrieve the book by force and the risk of ripped pages would be too real to be dismissed.

"Fine, Ermia. I declare you the victor."

Laughing loudly at victory rightfully and vigorously earned, the strawberry blonde peeress begins flipping through the pages. Her eyes soon widened in amazement, the occasional glance towards her Yaguryo friend betraying incredulity. Curiosity seizing her, Cressandra walks over to look at what Irlia wrote. Twirling her straight locks around the finger, Cressandra can only fixate her eyes on a blushing Irlia, wavy hair of raven black dancing along a tune whistled by the wind.

"Unbelievable!" exclaims Ermia, her tone booming in Cressandra's ears. "I know you can draw, Iry. But this good? You might as well draw for little children!"

"I hope you will fall over senseless, Ermia."

Surprised by an abruptly released snappish attitude, Irlia is not the only one taken aback. Why did she feel annoyed moments ago? The images drawn belong to the past. There is no way she will meet him again, that very him. Why did she lose herself in this situation mockingly beyond her control?

"Well, he's handsome. A right shame not as handsome as my beloved husband, Lysas Gloreas."

"Always boasting of the only man insane enough to sleep beside you every night? You never change even for a single day, Ermia."

"What about you, Cressandra? Lys may not be that right in his head, but are you crazy enough to swoon over Iry's comely elven prince?"

"Well… I prefer a less brooding man."

"You mean as bright as the dawn and not as dark as the night?"

"If you want to say it this way, then I have no choice but to agree."

Baffled and utterly flustered, Irlia musters every bit of grit to suppress a storm inside her. Struggling to subjugate a revolt staged by emotions, the authority of her mind struggles to contain a raging force refusing to be chained. Then her lungs suddenly empty themselves, starvation of air too much for her to bear. It is not as if she drew him while in a trance, yet there is something about him pulling her into a vortex of want. Darkness conquers her senses, and the last thing discerned is Ermia's booming voice and Cressandra's hand covering her mouth in shock.

)0(

I watch my past seven years ago unfolding, myself seated as the lone audience. Everything is surreal. Where I am is not the way to spend one's eighteenth birthday. Leers exposing my fears back then, my kidnappers spared no effort unmasking their hopeless lives. Why men would want to commit their lust unto a girl of eleven winters is a question I will never know the answer to. Ermia pointed out that outlaws like them only desire money and ransom, and Cressandra asked why both. This conversation was two years ago, but I still remember a sombre Cressandra nodding in response to Ermia's answer.

"Only ransom if you're a son. If you're a daughter, then ransom exacted plus getting sold to a bordello."

They claimed to be after my father's gold, yet said gold was nothing to these ravenous animals. They aimed to get two things: their undeserved reward and my body. One end was all they wanted: to renege on their word and sell me like what Ermia mentioned. I knew what they were thinking, for each man spoke aloud out his mind.

Should sins and all things evil from the heart hold a higher authority than the simplest dignity everyone deserves?

I ask myself this question occasionally. There must be a difference between man and beast. Is no one ever safe from evil regardless of birth and status?

"No honour there is in feeding the fire of evil with waters of wickedness. 'Tis why the gods are also sinners if they truly live. For we are their image in the same way they are of ours."

My mother, not from birth, taught me this much when she reasoned with an arrogant preacher. Her words are why I loathe such a life. What purpose does the promise of power serve if your soul does not know what it is living for? What gods are appeased by heinous people committing heinous acts?

My father is no stranger to people performing deplorable deeds. Without being cursed with the luck to see them, this is how I know certain things. My mother instructed me not to follow gods I do not know, while my father echoed her sentiments. They say husband and wife are the greatest minds that think alike, but there were moments when I wondered whether she did love her husband despite his unreservedly-given love.

Then, he entered the act abruptly. Chaos Incarnate are the only words my inner self can conjure. Hacked down were twenty bandits bereft of remorse, no reprieve and mercy shown. His movements were alluring, beauty beheld in the form of flitting images and flashes of steel. It remains so whenever I think about it, recalling my saviour weaving to and fro still robs me of my breath. Those living my life shunned me, and they correctly claimed a Yaguryo is not Causacean. As for him, his eyes betrayed a life ten times worse whenever I remember them. I know not how, but I know for sure.

Like a monster in children's tales, his eyes were crimson red. Unlike children before a beast, I felt no fear.

Was he a demon many smallborn have whispered about in terror?

Or perhaps this was someone forced to be an avatar of death?

Could this man be chaos itself in the flesh? After all, the heart and head proclaimed the exact words: Chaos Incarnate.

Questions without answers I force away as I know with no doubt that this dream is not the end. It is but only the beginning of something I cannot foresee. My heart reaches out to the hero brandishing a bloodstained sword. I stand up from my seat with a hand extending towards the stage. Intuition tells me he is a living symbol of conflict. I trust my mother. She used to say true indeed are instincts born from a woman. He is not the type Ermia or Cressandra would fancy, but is he handsome?

He is the rugged type who is comfortable with charming smallborn girls serving in taverns or even in a bordello. Treva once commented such men were only good enough for whores. My father was unimpressed by this bluntest jest, as a stinging slap and equally harsh words ensured that history would not repeat itself.

I see the full moon gradually laying down its cards, the lunar sky invaded by a captivating sea of blue. The resultant clarity ensnares my soul. Something tells me he has to be someone from that enigmatic race called the Relentless Ones, beings who mysteriously fascinated my mother. Silent acknowledgement greets the hooded figure as he turns around after a pause, his back the most poignant portrait. Mother spoke before how fair and mighty they are, their hair of wintry snow setting themselves apart from the elves.

A violent gale assaults both the stage and below. It is the kind of frigid blast that arrives every eleventh month at autumn's end. Its force resembles a blizzard during winter. His cloak billows wildly left and right. With his hood blown off, the wind directs the course according to its whims.

I never expected a complexion bronzed like a Tamurian, but I would never call his stark white hair and distinct features a lie. Our eyes met each other for the first time, that of a little girl and an enigmatic prince. Burning jewels of crimson red supplanted by the most beautiful blue I've ever seen, he pulled his left hand away from my longing grasp.

It belonged to an azure moon hanging above, the never-ending blanket of clearest blue.

There is no difference between the past and present. May the future be like this as well.

Why am I having such a thought?

If only I could tell him that night my name is Irlia Eliaden.

)0(

Glossary

Causacean: A human race known for fair complexion and various hair colours. Inspired by the Caucasian people. The term Causasean is modified after the word Caucasian.

Yaguryo: A human race known for fair complexion and black hair. However, the fairness of skin colour differs from that of the Caucasean. Inspired by the East-Asian people, in particular the Japanese and Koreans. The term Yaguryo is modified after the words Goguryeo and Yayoi.