u/Tonedeafmusical

Not a tournament this time- Just give me what Halloween costume you think the companions and co would wear to Wither's party- Bonus points for providing an image. Top comment decides the winner. And I will edit it to the best of my ability with MS Paint . Order of the companions is alphabetical male female

So Day 1 What is Astarion wearing to the party?

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Yes, we are nearly done with round one- and we've got our last 8 pairings for you. Yesterday we say Alfira/Lakrissa and Karlach/Wyll/Astarion storm through to the next round. The power of yuri meant that Minthara/Karlach go through to the next round. And finally Bex and Danis slipped through against the origin gales.

Onto today

• Durge/Orin vs Shadowheart/Lae'zel- Okay who said the ships here have to be healthy or not include incest or a plan to murder each other, in the temple of their father/great grandfather, which is in a sewer-covered in blood. Whilst one is a 8 foot dragon man and the other could take literally any forms she wants- it's certainly something.... Okay how about one of the most popular ships in the fandom- with the textbook case of enemies to lovers. These do their best to both fight with each other-verbally and physically. Come on what they really need is some hot sex and then they'll be watching the sunrise, raising Xan and living their lesbian cottage core dreams in no time.
• Wyll/Astarion vs Stoney/Boney- Okay so Wyllstarion is my favourite ship in this contest I'm not going to lie- So they are so great together- fall into the Monster Hunter/Monster trope that I have always enjoyed in media. Wyll would be able to completely discombobulate Astarion by not wanting to jump straight to sex and actually romancing him and treating him like a person not a thing-(all whilst dragging Astarion into a chaotic neutral alignment). Whilst Astarion would actually force Wyll to make some selfish choices for himself and not be so bloody self sacrificing, which is something Wyll desperately needs. Post game he will absolutely be very happy in helping Wyll hunt down and kill Mizora (after all Wyll helped him kill Cazador). He'd also make Ulder's life a living hell post game- and he'd doing in the most infuriating way by still playing by the rules of society- play/read Glad Tidings . Or Stoney/Boney- Big Wife small Husband- small husband very happy
• Ascended Astarion/Minthara vs Shadowheart/Halsin- "I will never tire of sitting on Dead Men's thrones" Minthara says in act two can you image what she would do if she knew her beloved could both take out the one that harms them- and help them gain a superior amount of power in the process. She'd be all the way into it- And Astarion would be attached to a theoretical origin Minthara- she'd take control of the team early, not do the useless missions helping others- his usual game wouldn't work but he would more than happy be useful to her. Post Game they might work for a bit- working together to gain power both in the underdark and the city- but don't get me wrong their break up would be epic. Okay Halsin/Shadowheart- I actually kind ship this-not gonna lie. Shadowheart does admit attraction to Halsin and wanting to climb him, they are the pairing that can handle the drow twins-pretty well. Okay so they start off on the a bad start- since she's a little showy about the fact her goddess realeased a curse that destroyed his hometown. But I can see him being very kind to her as she goes through her criris of faith. Not to mention these are our two animal lovers in camp, maybe it could be something that bonds them further in act three. But still maybe they don't get together in game. Reithwin was a Sulenite town to start, maybe her presence will return and maybe it would be the perfect place with plenty of free land for Shadowheart to set up her farm- oh and whose there to help but strong and able Halsin who is raising orphans with kindness and love (something Shadowheart would admire- if her lines to Wyll in act one hint at anything).Maybe one of those nights she sleeps in the fields she does it with Halsin and things get a little......
• Ascended Astarion/ God Gale vs Selunite Shadowheart/Redeemed Durge- Okay Bloodweave folks this is your last chance if you want to see them in the next round take it. You guys already voted against they can make each other better choice. Now will you vote for the they can make each other worse. Anyway the image I used cuts out the best part of that post-#they scream their own name. Or do you believe in Shadowheart/Durge- she does believe in you and gives you advantage for it. And default Durge absolutely would be her type- kind a weird to think they were both living in the city worshipping evil gods and having mummy/daddy issues about it pre-game. Definitely something they could bond over- they absolutely would be cottage core ending.

Okay so yesterday- Durgetash charged through the compettion making it to the next round, Karlach/Dammon and Halsin/Gale both easily made it through. But there was a bit more competition between Hellspawn and Halsin/Zevlor was a little tighter. But Hellspawn made it through to the next round.

Anyway onto today

• Wyllach vs Wither with the big naturals/Ethel- Okay so this is the closest we get to an in game companion ship- Karlach even at the end says being in the Hells is okay for now, since she's got someone she loves with her fighting just as hard. These are the two most goodiy goods of the origin companions and clearly banter well together and pre- the epilouge their ending is clearly with one another. Or do you prefer to keep things musty with Withers and Ethel- yes the big naturals were stated in the comment for them. They'd certainly be something together.
• Minsc/Astarion vs Abdirak/Malus Thorm- Thanks to u/Rude-Contract8460 for providing me the image for this pairing. Okay So Minsc isn't really interested in sex at the very least during the game- meaning Astarion wouldn't be able to pull his usual tricks on him leading to a platonic relationship forming first- And I do think Minsc likes Astarion a lot, he wants to solve Astarion's deit issues by offering him fish, he says they look alike minus the hair (I think Minsc thinks this is a compliment), Minsc promises to bring Astarion Sunflowers when he has to flee the sun (the only companion dialogue which didn't get a re-write fyi)and reveals that he has been keeping tabs on Astarion post game. Come on they deserve a not necessarily sexual romantic relationship- think of the chaos they could cause together. .... Abdirak/Malus.....um they'd both be into the pain of it all.
• Blurg/Omellum vs Bloodwave (this is Spawn Astarion/Professor Gale)- Okay these are our little underdark mushroom loving scientist husbands. They are just very happy together doing their research but do take the very brave decioson to help us in act 3- and may I remind you of their totally canon MTG card. Or is Bloodweave for you- (art by @mirufiyu)- Oaky I'm going to spefiy very clearly that this is Spawn Astarion and Professor Gale- if you want the Assended versions- well their up against Durge/Shadowheart later in the round. The absolutely most popular companion/companion ship when it comes to fan art and fan fiction- are you into it? Do you also think it's weird how close these two stick to each other in camps in acts 2 and 3 almost like their doing something.....
• Minthara/Orin vs Jaheria/Nine Fingers Keane-Our Toxic Yuri vs Toxic Yuri guys!-.... Okay I'm not going to lie I'm not a big fan of Minthara/Orin. Like something did happen but the way Minthara describes it scares me more than interests me that way- If any of you want to provide some propaganda please do! Or Do you prefer the cougar Jaheria and the Guild leader Nine Fingers (art by @yeehawitsjakee)- sure their on opposites sides of the law but that chemistry between them is absolutely peak. Can't you just see one confrontation leading to a meeting where things go a different direction- Nine Fingers does have a bed in her office after all.

Okay so yesterday largely didn't give any surprises, Shadowheart/Nocture, Astarion/Durge and Rolan/Gerladus all stormed through. Then there was a bit more of a between Karlach/Lazel and Dammon/Rolan- But Yuri won in the end and Karlach/Lae'zel made it through.

Onto to today;

• Durgetash vs Gale/Emerpor- first art by @ixiagrey- Come on we know they did. Gortash gets so happy when he finds out that Durge is still alive- his whole manner changes- and you just know he's been so depressed without Durge come on Gortash is absolutely Durge's sill little rabbit. Or the Emeperor/Gale- Look Gale is not anti tentacle- he is very happy to publicly marry a Mindflayer Tav- publicly so that's not turning him off. And they are both very ambitious people and I could see them feeding into this toxic behaviour with each other. Come on love the tentacles.
• Karlach/Dammon vs.......Astarion/Popper- art by u/fukur0shi - Come on they care about each other so fucking much already- Dammon even writes a letter about still wanting to help Karlach in the epilogue. And not to mention that daminated Karlach origin indulging in a little fantasy with Dammon. Astarion/Popper.......ummm..uumm....They both deserve a treato......
• Hellspawn vs Halsin/Zevelor- art by @michanvalentine Okay I am baised this is one of my favourite ships- It's the one origin romance I've completed. It is very much oppsites attract with these two- their whole ways of veiwing the world, their mortaility, touched out/touch starved. But they share such a sense of chaos together it could work- Also Sam and Neil's chemistry together in the live-plays have only made me trust this more. Or Zevlor and Halsin- teifling Daddy and Druid Daddy should move back to the ex shadow-cursed lands together, work on healing their traumas and raise lots of orphans together. Also they should have really good sex whilst doing it.
• Halsin/Gale vs Wulbern/Zanner- Come on Gale respects a druid at Halsin's level at the very least- and I think he'd choose the bear. Halsin on the other side will love Gale's intellgence and joy in his magic-but he will make it very clear to him that he is enough and does not need to try for godhood. And I think Tara would approve. Wulbern/Zanner- ..........It should of BEEN BARCUS! not Wulbern! Barcus!

Art by pipstr

Yes you guys voted and we have a full 64 ships for you guys to vote for. Scroll to images 6 and 7 for all the match ups- and I'll drop a full list of pairs in the comments. If you look at slides 8 and 9 you can see the breakdown in the totals for the characters featured in the ships- Shadowheart was the most popular companion with 14 (though it should be noted one ship Shadowheart x Shadowheart) With Astarion in second with 13 and Gale and Karlach with 11 each in joint 3rd. And Orin is the most popular none companion.

Anyway the rules are the same as my pervious I do it on comments and not on upvotes- so theres no point downvoting people if you don't agree with them. And please drop any propganda below!

As for todays match ups;

• Shadowheat/Nocturne vs Lae'zel/Wyll- Image by selunitejeanne, come on Nocturne and Shadowheart had a whole secret hiding space in the sanctum- where Shadowheart's favourite flower is growing - they definitely spent a lot of time together and don't you think that could be a relationship together. Or Lae'zel/Wyll- Okay so Lae'zel is disappointed that Wyll just wanted to talk after the teifling party, But come on can't you see him regaling her with stories of great heroes from the realm. Also how hilarious would it be to see Wyll discombobulate Lae'zel with actually romancing her not just sex.
• Karlach/Lae'zel vs Rolan/Dammon- Come on the sex would be amazing between Karlach and Lae'zel- these high strength girlies will do damage two each other when they finally get to let out that pented energy together- Oh Karlach would be seeing Stars alright. Or is Rolan/Dammon for you art by velocitross- these two npcs do make it through a lot as the teiflings- and even though I don't think they actually interreact in game are a pretty popular ship. Do you see the kind Blacksmith and grumpy Wizard together?
• Naoise Nallinto the wood elf “nymph” in Sharess’ Caress and the mindflayer/Fist Jara vs Rolan/Gerladus- Look I'm surprised to see this one here as much as the next person but she is very interested into the mindflayer. Or is Rolan/Gerladus art by @redroomroaving for you- Rolan was voted the most wanted to be romanceable in my first tournament and Gerladus came second in the get him pregnant tournament is their energy too much too be denied?
• Spawn Astarion/Redeemed Durge vs Mayrinna/Keld- Okay there's no denying about how much Spawn Astarion and Redeemed Durge- fix each other they help each other out of those dark pits they find themselves in. Or is Mayrinna/Keld interesting you- I imagine it happens long after game-maybe Keld sticks around and helps Marinna with Connor and their still ongoing campaign against hags- who knows..

I want to hear your voices for who you think the best ship in the game is! So please give me your nominations for the best ship in the game!

rules

1. There are only 64 for places so only 2 pairings (or throuple/more) per comment (and if you wish to make more than one comment that's fine)- I will select based on the top comments. If you wish to provide propaganda feel free. (I'm very much encouraging it)

2. I don't really want to do every companion x tav or durge- but I don't want to ban Durgetash. So only durge x non companions.

3. companion x npcs and npcs x npcs are allowed- Yes the Moon lesbians and Karlach and Dammon can be nominations. So please give me your wildest pairings

4. If I don't get 64 pairings - I will include make it up to 64 pairings-mainly through companion x companion ships (for instance if no one nominates Wyll x Gale and I need one more option I will include it)

Finally I'm going to give credit to @bg3-tournament on tumblr who did run this tournament over there. (and I know there was some drama- frankly I don't see this happening here). If your not taking part in their tournaments on tumblr-what are you doing

I probably won't start the tournament till Monday/tuesday so I'm giving it the weekend

Link to mistercrowbar 's tumblr

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Of course he won-he's our son

Well I offered and you chose for both Malta and Steelclaw to draw for third place! And who can blame you guys! But lets get on it with the final two. And no I'm not offering a draw this time

• His Majesty is a stand-offish but Wonderful creature will allow you to admire him quietly. Sharing the same voice as the scribe of the dead himself, Withers will let you know when he's not happy. And he will let you know of what he thinks of Isobel and her promises of Milk (let us get this boy his milk). But he will allow Barcus to give him some good love (honestly Barcus as a cat dad seems so right). I like to think he'd go with Barcus in the end.
• We tell Myshka that we are his mother and just leave him there! No that is an injustice to him, he deserves to come back to camp with us (yes theres a mod but it should be in the base game). We should get him back to camp as our son!!!!! And if not us he's going to Derryth

Final results come Monday- I'm out tomorrow