#filie arirahd

Yikes

A bit of a wardrobe update for Filirahc X’)

Like any other unlikely companion in BG3, “Filie” has things to hide. And just like them, she gradually gives away her first secret on that list throughout Act I.

Filirahc plays into common perception of her being frail (reflected in relatively low CON) – all things considered she’s hardly imposing at first glance. But for a supposedly delicate person with an intellectual job she’s too good at dodging (thanks to high DEX boosting AC), and doesn’t seem to falter with a blade if push comes to shove. At the beginning of the campaign Filirahc mostly tries to weasel out of conflicts altogether, avoiding open demonstration of her skillset, but very early on, on nautiloid and with intellect devourers on the beach, Shadowheart in particular sees enough to suspect that there is more than meets the eye to her, making the comments about their survival “not being such a distant prospect” a little poignant.

Reveal of Astarion’s nature inevitably causes some questions regarding “Filie” as well – pale, reddish-eyed, even with slightly sharper fangs she could easily pass for another vampire spawn in disguise provided by the tadpole. However, she is eating with the rest of group just fine, nor is she avoiding running water (which Astarion, knowing where to look, has to notice, thus becoming the first person to consider and soon after brush that idea off), not even once she displayed cravings similar to Astarion – so suspicions don’t really go much further than that, her appearance is more likely to be just an odd coincidence, and even then it’s definitely not the oddest thing the group has experienced. But once attention to it was drawn, it becomes harder to put away uncertainties entirely.

“Filie” is two-faced, which becomes apparent once the group reaches other people. She’s neutrally polite with them, yet firm – just like with everyone else in the camp – but the difference is that companions observe her disregarding things she said or promised to others later. She is cold-blooded too – for instance, she doesn’t move a muscle upon seeing Arabella’s “trial”, allowing the ugly scene to play out as it did. While precarious situation of the group somewhat justifies both as means necessary for survival, eventually Filirahc’s actions start stacking up, stirring unease (especially in Wyll and Gale), affecting approval levels and begging the question if something else might be hidden behind her courteous smile.

And one companion experiences it first-hand. Filirahc is a control freak, she can live with other people not liking or even respecting her as long as they do what she expects from them. Lae'zel’s attempt to attack her before the first proper dream sequence gets resolved peacefully, with Illithid powers and calming words of reassurance combined, but Filirahc neither forgives nor forgets – headstrong and hard to keep in line, with little leverage against her, Lae’zel is the least reliable link already. And so when she runs ahead to the githyanki patrol, Filirahc stops the group to wait, denying Lae’zel any backup due to patrol’s “danger” (mechanically – by registering “leaving” of the location). This results in the first irreversible death in the group.

And of course, there’s also Omeluum, who downright “outs” a drow character by referring to them as “friend of the dark”. With concerns steadily piling up by that point, someone is bound to have a revelation that albinism isn’t used as a fake excuse to cover vampirism – it’s a real albinism disguising a drow, not a high elf “Filie” poses as. Gale or Shadowheart – the smart one and the noisy one – or even both of them are the likeliest to connect the dots and have a “eureka” moment regarding that, forcing Filirahc to open that card she has in her hand.

There was bound to be bad blood.

Something’s been wrong since Omeluum’s intervention. The question is how bad it is.

Insomnia keeps strangling my productivity, but little by little it will be done
Those eyes are strong and piercing for a reason.