Ajnos

No possibility that the PC can't adopt Lanie herself? If Gavin's claiming her anyway, and the PC is with Gavin...

Although, her mother might, you know, love her or something. And not want to just go away or give her up so completely. Which makes me wonder what Miranda would do for money without Lanie? Will Gavin need to support the mother of his child until... well, whenever?

Kidnapping is out, but I wouldn't rule out assassination. If she arranged it, the PC might have the ability to confess, but I can't guarantee it would be a happy ending, even if the PC did start the game evil.

Eh, I wasn't suggesting a happy ending. I thought it would be horrible and relationship ending, but that a genuinely "reformed" PC might be guilt-ridden.

Are you sure that such a thought even arises? I might be biased culturally, but I saw that Miranda-Talon situation as a typical one in Russia: even if the priest was the real father, he'd just give the woman some money and walk away - the thought of taking care of a bastard child wouldn't even arise. Very few men in his place would even think of it - he'd have to be another Gavin or something.

I'm with Kulyok. I never thought it was anything other than a scam for money, and the moppet's comment that she likes the other daddies better said to me that she's older than her sprite looks and Talon Whatsis wasn't that cute or "nice" like some of the others. Maybe even that he didn't give them much money, as in - she's sooo jaded now.

That said, I fully expect to start various ways with Gavin, married/engaged/friends but expect him to go the way of Cernd and Keldorn. Has family = must go in my games. I start to dislike them otherwise.

Still, assassination would be awesome. Randomizing (though I tend to hate that) would work in that instance. Nullifying any result anyway in ToB, would be annoying. Plus, if you were evil/neutral in SoA, went through hell got all good the PC might want to confess. Maybe. "I'm so sorry Gavin! I was evil at the time, remember?!"