I disagree with your last point. Yeah, you convince him to not blow himself up, but for my Tav it amounted to “we’ll find another way where you don’t die.” He does get pretty power hungry, but a few persuasion checks and he realizes he was backsliding and agrees with you to cut that shit out. He decides to get the crown for Mystra without seeking its power and she agrees to heal him.

There’s redemption there, you just have to push him.

Lae’zel for sure. And probably dark Shadowheart? That’s who i have been using for my evil durge run and they all seem to be on the same page.

This is the right tip. If you can’t dry brine with salt overnight, then salt right before you hit heat.

That being said, give me a 24 dry brine plus reverse sear any day.