Magnolia

RoorenArt

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3 years, 7 months ago
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RoorenArt
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Magnolia

UNIVERSE Baldur's Gate(1&2)
RACE/GENDER Human female
AGE 27 (end of BG2)
MORALITY Neutral evil
CLASS Wild mage
DEITY N/A

ABOUT

Scholarly · Narcissistic · Playful

Magnolia is a wild mage who loves the thrill of adventure, but hates the filth of the outdoors. On the surface, she presents herself as an alluring and elegant woman, exuding an air of charisma that effortlessly captivates those around her, but beneath this enchanting facade lies a devious narcissism and a fragile self-image. As a result, while she may not be inherently trusting, she can be surprisingly gullible when someone knows how to exploit her vulnerabilities or push the right buttons.

Magnolia yearns for genuine acceptance, having spent her life conforming to the expectations imposed upon her by others. After the death of her foster-father, she finds herself gradually succumbing to moral decay, slowly eroding the ethical values he instilled in her. And with Edwin's influence, she even begins to embrace her darker tendencies, feeling as though she has at last discovered the acceptance she has yearned for. She convinces herself that her actions are necessities in an unforgiving world, allowing her to rationalize and, in some cases, derive pleasure from committing heinous acts.

notes

  • Magnolia finds wild magic thrilling, viewing it as magic in its purest form. Her wild surges may occasionally summon cows falling from the sky or explode confetti in face, but she accepts the risks and unpredictability of wild magic as a trade-off for the potential for greater power and excitement it offers.
  • She refuses to resort to torture for any reason. Not because she opposes the act itself, but because it reminds her of her own trauma.
  • One of her favorite things to do is read. She loves learning new things. In part simply for the enjoyment of it but also because she revels in being the smartest person in the room.

Story

Magnolia spent most of her life within the library fortress of Candlekeep, under the guardianship of her foster-father Gorion. Children were an oddity at the keep, though she found a friend in Imoen, who she viewed as her adoptive sister.

Her upbringing in Candlekeep, especially her father's influence, instilled in her a strong sense of right and wrong. Gorion knew of her heritage as a child of Bhaal and wished to raise Magnolia to defy her bloodline. Despite this, her dubious morality persisted, and she learned to conceal this part of herself in order to please her father.

Magnolia's fascination with magic was ignited by her father's extensive knowledge of the arcane arts. Gorion had been kind enough to instruct her in the basics, but he worried about her safety as Magnolia was a rather unruly child. But in her own time, she used the vast library resources at Candlekeep to deepen her magical understanding. She began to delve into wild magic in her teenage years, single-mindedly aspiring to tame the mysterious, thrilling, and chaotic force.

Baldur's Gate 1

Magnolia begins as a sheltered 25-year-old woman who has spent her entire life within the secure confines of Candlekeep, under the guidance of her foster-father, Gorion. Unbeknownst to her, her father has raised her to defy her blood as a Bhaalspawn. She holds deep affection for her father and has dedicated her life to pretending to be the virtuous daughter he wishes her to be. But when she is thrust out of the familiarity of her home and witnesses her father's death by a mysterious assailant, she becomes fueled by a burning desire for revenge against this mysterious killer and sets out on a vengeful journey into the unknown.

She encounters various companions and adversaries along her journey, each contributing to her morality becoming increasingly blurred. In time, she realizes that taking the high road creates additional obstacles and is riddled with compromise. Her initial reluctance to embrace her darker, more nefarious tendencies gradually gives way to a willingness to use more extreme means to achieve her goal of avenging her father's murder. She has an intense internal struggle justifying the person she is becoming and disappointing her late father. She worries about becoming someone her father would hate.

When she learns that she is a Child of Bhaal, the fractured pieces of her past and her blood father's legacy begin to resurface.

Baldur's Gate 2

After being kidnapped and enduring torturous experiments by Jon Irenicus, Magnolia emerges deeply scarred both physically and psychologically. Irenicus tampered with her Bhaal essence, and something inside of her has changed. Her traumatic experiences, and perhaps her Bhaal essence, trigger severe night terrors, tormenting her with graphic and distressing visions of violence and death.

She grapples with foreign violent urges and dark impulses as her moral compass becomes increasingly compromised. She becomes more desensitized to violence and depravity, justifying even more extreme behaviors and believing that the ends justify the means. She questions whether this descent is driven by her Bhaalspawn essence or if these darker tendencies were always a part of her true self.

Magnolia's descent into moral compromise reaches its peak when, driven by love and desperation, she takes innocent lives to resurrect Edwin in a dark rite. Her sister fights this decision and eventually she cannot stomach who Magnolia has become any longer and severs ties with her. Imoen was the only family Magnolia had left and the person dearest to her. Magnolia, faced with this moment of reckoning, confronts her character lie and embraces it.

The lie serves as a coping mechanism for Magnolia to shield herself from the harsh realities of her life. For her, adopting this lie is her only means to preserve her fragile sense of self-worth and emotional fragility. Without it, the burden of guilt might become overwhelming. Magnolia feels no remorse for the terrible things she inflicts upon others, but instead deep inside she is haunted by the thought of betraying her father and becoming a person he would hate. From her perspective, there's no alternative but to embrace and take pride in who she has become. Accusations of being a bad person become meaningless, they could even be considered a form of praise. And with this, she has finally fully shed her father's values, especially because she has Edwin, the one person who finally loves and accepts her for who she is.

Epilogue

Magnolia is liberated from the burden of the Bhaal taint following the events at the Throne of Bhaal. With her ties to Amn severed, she resolves to join Edwin in Thay, where they plan to marry. As he works to resolve his fugitive status, he contacts his mother who smooths the path for his return.

Upon arriving in Thay, Vivica, Edwin's mother, vehemently opposes Magnolia's presence and her intentions to marry Edwin, fearing she poses a threat to the family name. However, when Vivica learns of Magnolia's identity as the Bhaalspawn Edwin was sent to spy on, she sees an opportunity to use her for her own ambitions, but she abandons her plans when she discovers Magnolia's taint is gone, deeming her useless. Instead, she orders her assassin, Dekaras, to eliminate Magnolia. However, Dekaras, torn between loyalty to Vivica and care for Edwin's happiness, warns Magnolia and Edwin of the impending danger. Together, they uncover Vivica's hidden past and use it as leverage against her. Vivica, to protect her own secrets and to keep from driving away her only heir, reluctantly relents and bides her time. She subtly works against the union, doubting its longevity and believing Edwin is merely infatuated with Magnolia.

But when she receives news of Magnolia's pregnancy, she redoubles her efforts to undermine their relationship. Vivica's disapproval intensifies upon Emelza's birth.

Interview

What is your ideal night out?

"Wining and dining with a dash of Thayan assassin attempt gone wrong across the dining room floor. There is nothing better than live entertainment, and this country certainly does not want for drama."

What is the most evil thing you have ever done so far?

"I would not be so melodramatic as to call any of my actions evil. Everything is a means to an end, and in the end, everyone values themselves above others and makes their choices accordingly. The actions I take should not be judged anymore harshly than, say, a paladin who breaks bread with a homeless man to inflate his own ego. And what of the paladin who slays hundreds in the name of his own misguided justice and claims he remains a man unmarred by the taint of 'evil.' 'Evil' is a weapon flailed around by the insecure with skeletons in their closet. Do not dare hurl such sentiments at me without first examining the truth: this so called 'evil', it is all a matter of perspective."

Do you have anyone special in your life? If so, describe them.

"You are looking at her," she says with a smirk, gesturing to herself with a superfluous flair. "But truly, my Eddie is one of a kind. He is a powerful and capable wizard like myself, verbally assaults others with no provocation, and his nails are always perfectly manicured into threatening little points." She grins. "The man of my dreams."

What does your bedroom look like right now? Describe it.

“Immaculate, as all of the Odesseiron mansion is. Vivica is a stringent mistress, always telling the slaves to do this or that until things are just so." She sighs. "Just watching them run around is exhausting.

Otherwise, there is not much to see aside from Edwin's things." She draws closer, lowering her voice. "You should see the closet. It is a massive, thoroughly packed thing. Never had I imagined one could own so many variations of red robes."

Do you hold grudges? If so, who are you holding one against right now?

"Grudges, such a petty thing, they are. So naturally, I keep an itemized list which comprises the names of the sorry individuals who have crossed me. Magnolia always repays the favor.

And because I am gracious, I will do you the favor of revealing one name on my hit list.” She takes a deep breath and narrows her eyes. “Vivica Odesseiron. She thought it hilarious to give me a welcoming gift—a slave uniform. She claimed it was not just any slave uniform, no. Odesseiron slaves serve in style.

I set the cheap rags aflame and nearly blasted her face off along with it.” She clears her throat, crossing her legs, and neatly resting her hands in her lap. “However, I am above reducing my future step-mother into a pile of ash to be swept into the garbage by her own slaves. I have forgiven. But not forgotten.”

Do you have a ridiculous true story to tell?

"Ahh... The Chronicles of Edwina, I call them. It is a fable-worthy tale with a grand lesson to teach and all. Do not meddle with ancient magic you know nothing of else, instead of a lich, you may find yourself transformed into the opposite sex. Oddly specific, but a proper fable all the same." She sighs. "I am never coaching anyone through their first period again."

Who are/were your parents?

"Setting aside Bhaal and my enigmatic, likely deranged mother, who birthed a child with a malevolent god, there is my foster-father, Gorion. In my eyes, he is... was my sole legitimate parent.

But Daddy was a fool, an idealistic man who wore his heart on his sleeve. That treacherous combination saw him to his grave because he chose to rescue a baby Bhaalspawn and take her home with him. And so he named her Magnolia, and, in his poetic way, told her she'd bloom into something good and beautiful…” She huffs a mirthless laugh. “I have no illusions about the woman I became, Bhaal taint or no, but I… hope he would understand."

What is your favorite memory?

“Speaking of Daddy, he schooled me when I was a child. Of course, the other monks tried to as well, but simply possessing knowledge does not mean one can teach. It is as if all of them had conspired to bore me to death with their tedious and banal lessons.

But Daddy's lessons were never a bore, and he never treated me as a witless child because he understood how truly bright I was. I remember those lessons we shared fondly. He nurtured my inquiring mind, and without him, I do not suppose I would be the same person I am today.”

WHAT ARE YOUR RELIGIOUS VIEWS?

"Let me just say I would not touch The Most Noble Order of the Bleeding Hearts with a ten foot pole. While their hypocrisy is amusing, the deeds of the religious zealots and blind 'do-gooders' that comprise that organization rival even Irenicus' exploits. Even the more interesting deities have their followers eating out of their palms like cattle, and I would prefer not to be associated with any of those dullards."

DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING? IF SO, WHAT DO YOU COLLECT?

"I do not personally collect anything, no, but Eddie has a rather disgusting little collection of spell components. The question of what, precisely, vampire semen is an ingredient for is best left out of mind."

Relationships

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Gorion [ foster-father ]

The man who raised Magnolia from infancy until his untimely death in her adulthood. Gorion carefully kept her divine heritage a secret, raising her as a normal little girl. He was a good father to Magnolia, attentive and loving, always encouraging her desire to sap up all the knowledge she could. Witnessing her father's death has left her enraged. Bhaal's blood only seemed to draw death to her door. She became consumed with thoughts of vicious revenge against his killer, her brother. Magnolia discarded most of the late sage's moral lessons, feeling Gorion had a too idealistic view of the world. Be that as it may, she loved and still loves her father greatly.




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Edwin Odesseiron [ Significant other ]

They met on a dreary evening in Nashkel, where a cloaked figure in red robes approached Magnolia with a request for assistance in dealing with a Rashemi woman, with the occasional mutter under his breath. Edwin, concealing his true motives, had been assigned the mission of monitoring Magnolia, the Bhaalspawn and wild mage, for Thayan political interests, but he would compromise his assignment by accidentally falling for his target.

Both enjoy casual slights and flinging sharp-tongued comments at everyone, especially each other because no one else could keep up with their quick-wittedness (although perhaps the reality is no one wished to be subjected to their massive egos).In the beginning, they constantly hurled insults and shot death glares at one another, always one step away from a strangling match. Magnolia's initial hatred stemmed from Edwin being everything her father taught her to hate. But somewhere along the line Magnolia and Edwin had inched away from enemies and into not-quite-friends. In time, they grew to be one another's best friend and partner in crime, figuratively and literally.

While Magnolia is charismatic, charming, and often manipulative, Edwin is sarcastic, straightforward, and unapologetically rude. He doesn't sugarcoat his words and doesn't have the patience for social niceties. Edwin's personality can be off-putting to many, but to Magnolia he is refreshingly honest in a world filled with deception. He has a sharp wit and a biting tongue, not hesitating to fling scathing remarks or cutting observations. Magnolia finds Edwin endearingly eccentric. He frequently engages in quiet, one-sided conversations, sharing his thoughts and reactions with an unseen confidant, sometimes in the middle of conversations with others. And despite his sharp and confident exterior, Edwin is easily flustered in romantic situations. He has a soft side that he desperately tries to hide from everyone but Magnolia. Edwin finds Magnolia to be captivating and sometimes infuriating, and his relationship with her is a stark contrast to the political and often superficial relationships he's encountered in Thay.




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Emelza Odesseiron [ daughter ]

Emelza is the daughter of Magnolia and Edwin. Her arrival brings a profound sense of belonging to Magnolia's life. In her daughter's eyes, she sees the promise of new beginnings and a chance to right the wrongs of her past. However, Edwin's mother's disdain for Emelza is palpable, viewing her as a half-breed bastard child that is a stain on the family's reputation.




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Vivica Odesseiron [ edwin's mother ]

Vivica holds traditional Thayan values, which place a heavy emphasis on power and social standing. She views her son's engagement to Magnolia as a dilution of the Odesseiron family's pure Thayan bloodline, and believes Magnolia has a hidden agenda. She's not sure what it is yet, but she intends to find out. However, she recognizes the potential advantages a Bhaalspawn and wild mage may bring and temporarily allows Magnolia's presence, ready to eliminate her if necessary.




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Imoen [ step-sister ]

She shared a close relationship with Magnolia, having grown up with her at Candlekeep. They were one another's only friend while growing up. Imoen has stayed by Magnolia's side through the death of Gorion, her journey to rescue Baldur's Gate, and up to her hardships in Athkatla. She was Magnolia's confidant and best friend, one of the few beacons of light in her life. Magnolia always strives to keep Imoen smiling, and if she is not, to enact harrowing retribution on anyone causing her grief or harm.

As Magnolia's morality blurred through their adventures together, Imoen grew increasingly uncomfortable. When Imoen was kidnapped by Bodhi, Irenicus' sister, and transformed into the slayer, Magnolia was forced to kill her. But Magnolia would have done anything to bring her sister back. And she did. Imoen eventually learned of the dark rite preformed to resurrect her and was shocked to learn what Magnolia had done to bring her back. In the end, Imoen couldn't stomach what her sister had become and left.


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Sarevok Anchev [ step-brother ]

The first time Magnolia met her brother, it was when her foster-father, Gorion, was cut down by his blade. Their relationship was built on a hatred that unfolded in a final confrontation for their lives. What Magnolia didn't expect was to meet him again on another plane, his life once again in her hands. Wordlessly, she crushed his chance at a new life without a second thought.

Though she never spoke of it, Sarevok's death allowed Magnolia to process the emotions and feelings she had been suppressing since she found out he was her brother. In her own way, she mourned his death and the life he could have had if things had been different.




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Viconia DeVir [ friend ]

Despite Viconia's inclination to forego something as weak as friendship, it is not the drow way after all, it was difficult for her to ignore how she enjoyed her time spent with Magnolia. Their friendship began with trading thinly veiled insults and occasionally not-so-thinly-veiled threats, but progressed into passing idle hours chatting about their lives and scheming for opportunities to get a laugh from ruses they inflicted upon hapless passersby or their travelling companions. If questioned, Viconia would surely insist she is above such behavior. She was merely along to ensure Magnolia did not cause undesired grief for their travelling band.




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Korgan Bloodaxe [ friend ]

He believed Magnolia to be a meweling kitten when they met. He would take up his blade for the group so long as there was something in it for himself. As Magnolia showed her spell-slinging skills, he gained a new respect for her, and although crass and gruesome, Korgan also has a softer side that Magnolia appreciated. His roaring, infectious laughter would never fail to draw her over to see what story he was telling this time. He even developed a bit of a crush on her, but readily admitted a Bhaalspawn was too much for him to handle.




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Eldoth Kron [ frenemy with benefits ]

Eldoth may have a slimy personality, but he possesses a keen ability for manipulation and a captivating charm. He could read Magnolia and skillfully used the precise words to draw her toward him. She shared his bed frequently while he accompanied her in Baldur's Gate. At the time, he was also in a relationship with Sike Silvershield whose father Eldoth was blackmailing for money. Magnolia's infidelity with Eldoth doesn't stem from a direct intention to hurt Skie. Instead, her primary motivation is her yearning to feel wanted, especially as a way to cope with her father's passing. As her relationship with Eldoth progresses, she discovers an unexpected pleasure in the thrill of causing harm to another person and how it can be used as a balm for her inner turmoil.