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This fix takes place before Minthara and Nebulae get together. It can be read before or after reading Anywhere
Pre Minthara x Nebulae (Tav)
(@MageWisdumb thank you for your comment on Anywhere! This is for you)
The camp was buzzing with activity. After the defeat of Ketheric Thorm, and by extension the Shadow Curse, the group was eager to set out to Baldurs Gate.
While packing up the remaining supplies, Astarion made a passing comment.
"As relieved as I am to be out of this cold, damp place I must say I think I'll miss beating in the skulls of Absolutists at every corner."
Karlach snorted. "What bashing have you been doing, Fangs? Last I checked you were casting spells," she wiggled her fingers dramatically, "and shooting magic arrows from the banisters."
"Well at least I was actually killing things! Did you see our fearless leader sparing goblins lives and gaining us a new companion at any given opportunity? One if which could slit our throats in our sleep, no less!"
"I think Minthara will make a fine companion," Gale interjected. "Once she warms up to us, that is."
Nebulae stopped in the middle of packing up a trunk, listening to her friends words.
"Okay, I'll give you that. But the goblins? If she's going to be sparing every other enemy we come across can't it be someone useful?"
"Hey," Karlach argued. "Are you saying I'm as useless as a goblin?"
"Oh darling, I wouldn't dream of it. But you do smell like one."
Karlach barked out a laugh and the group continued to make their jokes. Nebulae had tried to just stay out of it but when the subject wasn't dropped she spoke up.
"Okay, haha, can we move on now?"
"Yes, let's not waste our breath on such low flith," Lae'zel cut in.
Nebulae slammed down the trunk she'd been stocking, not caring if anything broke inside.
"That's ENOUGH. Drop it and get back to work." She turned to storm away.
The group jumped, startled by their, usually laid-back, leaders outburst.
"Whoa, hey, we're just joking around, mate," came Karlach's easy going tone. "What's got you so uptight?"
Nebulae spun around, a look of unfocused rage flashing in her eyes. The only times anyone had seen that look was when she was striking down an enemy. The silence that followed was enough to have even Minthara looking on in curiosity.
Unsure how everyone would react, Nebulae took a grounding breath.
"I was raised by goblins. They were there for me when no one else was. For my entire childhood they were my family. And they still are."
To say the group was stunned would be an understatement.
"Oh!" Karlach exclaimed. "That's explains why you know their language! I never thought about it before!"
"I was thinking the same thing!" Gale pointed to Karlach, shaking his hand in excitement. "She even gets the inflections! Something that is tricky even for practiced linguists such as myself."
Nebulae rolled her eyes at his humble brag, the tension in her shoulders easing at her companions light-hearted reactions.
"I suppose that makes sense," Astarion drawled. "And maybe we went a little far with our jokes."
Nebulae gave him an expectant look and he sighed dramatically.
"I'm sorry for not being more....sensitive."
"This would also explain your lack of respect towards authority figures," Lae'zel commented, her arms crossed.
Nebulae shrugged with a smirk. It was a fair observation.
"We are very sorry," Gale apologized, his hand over his heart, Karlach echoing him.
By the end of it, Nebulae was smiling, appreciating her friends understanding. She picked up her abandoned trunk, ready to get back to work.
"But how," came Minthara's voice, "does a tiefling infant come to live with a tribe of goblins? What made them take you in, rather than abandoning you like any other goblin would?"
The only way to describe the silence that followed was shellshocked. Nebulae froze, unprepared for such a question and dreading revealing the answer. She felt her face go cold and it spread through the rest of her body as she began to panic.
She felt her body go into Fight or Flight mode and she chose to flee. But before she could take more than a few steps she felt a hand grab her wrist, the grip so tight she faltered.
"I asked you a question," Minthara said sharply, having felt the young woman's panic and swiftly crossed the space before she could escape. "I expect an answer."
This time the rest of the camp looked on. They'd never seen their leader try to run before.
"It's not important," Nebulae's voice wavered. She turned and looked at the woman that had her in an iron grip. "Please, Minthara."
"I asked you a question, tiefling. I do not like to repeat myself." Minthara's command was as clear as one of her many crystals. Nebulae had no choice but to talk.
Nebulae let out a shaky sigh, fighting to keep back tears. "Fine. I'll tell you," she had to fight to even get the words out.
She looked at the drow expectantly, glancing at her arm. Minthara understood and after a moment of hesitation, let her go.
"This is going to be a long story," Nebulae said, now going to sit on the once again abandoned trunk.
The group understood, each one of them taking a moment to get comfortable.
She rubbed her hands together anxiously, unsure where to begin.
"So, obviously," she began, gesturing up and down her body, "I am of infernal descent."
"Obviously," Lae'zel added unhelpfully. Nebulae didn't have the energy to be annoyed.
"But I'm also," she took a shaky, less than calming breath. "a little bit celestial."
"Be so for real right now," Karlach interjected.
The rest of the group burst into varying questions of disbelief.
"Quiet," came Minthara's voice, clearer and louder than the rest of the commotion.
Nebulae looked at her in shock at her unexpected support; though it was the least she could do, given she was the reason they were even having this very uncomfortable conversation.
"Thank you," she said, nodding towards the drow. "I know, I was shocked too. But I'll explain everything."
"My mother is an Aasimar. A child of Tyr to be exact. She was as faithful as any follower. But she was curious. And open minded. She would explore other realms, experiment with magic and nature. She wanted to know everything and everyone.
At some point, I'm not entirely sure when, she met someone. An enemy of Tyr. She knew she should've run. Told others about him. Taken him out. But she saw something in him and he saw her curiosity. Her naivety, and he wanted to take it, to corrupt it. So he let her in.
She fell for him. And he didn't want to admit it, but he fell in love with her too. Actual love.
She became pregnant. They were both so happy. He stayed with her, protected her as she protected him.
But...when the day came, there wasn't one baby, but two. When the first came, he was overjoyed. But when the second came, he saw red. His instincts took over and when he saw the second child was celestial he...he snapped. He tried to take her, to....So my mother took us and ran.
Since the second child could pass as celestial she took her with her. But since I didn't, she took me to a forest she knew well. And left me nearby a goblin village with a note. She asked them to watch over me. And threatened to smite them if they didn't. That's where I was raised, where I fell in love with nature. I didn't meet my sister, or any of my family till years later."
She paused, unsure how to continue and during those few moments someone asked the question she was dreading to answer.
"Wait, I don't understand. Who exactly was your father? This 'enemy of Tyr?'"
"He's..." She grabbed a fistful of her pant leg, bracing herself. "Sendreth'fa."
Karlach and Wyll stood up instantly.
"The Sendreth'fa? The demon lord?"
"No, the other one," she sarcastically replied on autopilot.
"How does a celestial fall in love with a demon?" Came Shadowhearts voice.
"They originally met when he was under a disguise," Nebulae replied. "When he started to fall for her he came clean. I imagine she wasn't initially pleased, but as I said, she saw something in him."
"And yet he tried to kill one of his children," Wyll added.
"What do you expect from a demon?" Karlach replied.
"Silence, all of you," Minthara's voice thundered over the rest.
The camp yet again went silent. The only sound to be heard was Scratch's nervous pacing.
"So...is he nice?" Shadowheart eventually asked.
The question threw Nebulae off a bit, but the tension eased in her shoulders.
"Yeah, actually. Now that he's reformed a bit."
"A reformed demon?" Astarion exclaimed.
"A little bit reformed, I believe she said," Shadowheart quipped.
Nebulae let out a small chuckle, ducking her head in relieved amusement. "I mean he wouldn't still be a demon lord if he fully changed now, would he?"
The rest of the group chuckled along with her, the tension easing marginally.
"So wait," Gale wondered. "Does this mean you have a sibling? A twin?"
"Yes actually, I was wondering if any of you would ask about her. Her name is Nova."
"Nebulae and Nova," Karlach said with a smile. "Cute."
"Yeah, apparently my mother was fascinated with the stars."
"Was?"
"Oh, she's alive. It's just...that's another long story."
Her companions made various noises of understanding. The next hour was spent with everyone asking a variety of questions and Nebulae answering with confidence that she could trust in her companions. Trust in her friends.
Hours later, when the group had finally finished packing and headed off, Nebulae walked beside Minthara.
"Thank you for earlier. For your support."
"I did what was necessary. If we are to defeat the Absolute we must remember who the real enemy is. We cannot afford all of this infighting."
Nebulae nodded in agreement and for a moment they walked in silence.
"I do not understand why you hid your ancestry from your companions. For better or worse you are their leader and they should not only respect your authority and ancestry, but fear them."
"Perhaps, but by showing them I didn't fear them despite their various...afflictions, they learned they needn't fear me either so we joined together."
Minthara nodded in understanding. "There is wisdom in that. But that doesn't explain why you felt the need to hide such a fundamental part of yourself. One you could use to your advantage. Which begs the question, why haven't you reached out to your father for help?"
"Short version: demons work the same way as devils; you have to make a deal in order to get any help from them."
"And the long version?"
"Honestly? Not something I feel like discussing right now."
Minthara nodded in acknowledgement.
For the rest of the trip they walked in compatible silence, having earned each other's respect and trust.
Sendreth'fa is a demon lord that our DM, Drew, made up for the campaign I originally made Nebulae for. He is a lower, lesser known demon lord. You can find Drew on Discord as DeadlyTrixster, tho they aren't currently DMing they are reviewing games on Steam if you want to reach out to them and ask them their opinion on anything you're interested in. /em>
Please do not @ me for Nebulae's ancestry. First of all, this was originally the DM's idea to incorporate other characters and plot points. Also, I absolutely love this character and have really branched out her character and backstory. If this isn't your cup of tea that's fine but please don't take it personally or come at me for having such a "cliche" character