#Bren does Dragon Age

[brennacedria]

God, when he says to teia "hey, don't flirt with my... Colleague" tho. Not AS cute as Harding freaking out over "it's a date" but it was unexpected and hilarious.

Oh no, he's hot. 😣

Do I switch from Harding to Lucanis? Or do I wait and romance him next time????

WAT DO???

[himluv]

DA Review Series: Hard in Hightown

<<< Previous Review: DA2 Character Stories

It's been a minute, but I'm back to talk about more Dragon Age Media Tie-Ins!

Title: Hard in Hightown Author: Varric Tethras (with Mary Kirby) Year Published: 2019 In-World Year: 9:33 Dragon Verdict: I mean, it's Varric doing what he does best — telling stories. At only 72 pages, why wouldn't you read it??

Hard in Hightown is a noir murder mystery set in Kirkwall. It follows Donnen Bren— look, I'm going to be honest, I can't remember character names because they're all just DA2 characters with the serial numbers filed off. Varric populated his most popular serial with his friends and I absolutely love him for it.

The main character Donnen is obviously guardsman Donnic, but with some Varric flare thrown in. Carver is the rookie Donnen's been saddled with. Merrill, Fenris, Isabela, Aveline, and Hawke all make appearances.

As do The Executors. Which is the one thing that REALLY caught my attention beyond all this fun whodunnit nonsense. When do we first learn about Those Across the Sea? If I'm not mistaken, THIS book is the first time.

Of course, there are chapters of Hard in Hightown spread all over Inquisition, and the Executors are included in a war table mission, "Unmask Those Across the Sea" but... Why is the first time we learn of them in a work of fiction?

And how does Varric know about them?

Sure, they're dismissed as a sort of myth or legend, and aren't ACTUALLY in the story, but still. That's weird, right?

Anyway, other than the Executors, there isn't any lore here. It's just Varric writing "Friend fiction" as Bela would say. But what I loved most about it is that it FEELS like Varric. It SOUNDS like Varric. He even breaks the fourth wall and bungles his own 3rd person POV because he didn't want to research boats, which made me cackle (big mood, Varric).

So, hat's off to Mary Kirby. Her brilliance really shines through on this one when you stop to think about it. She's writing Varric writing Donnen and it's absolutely stunning work.

And it's just plain fun!

[bebebopbopp]

Zel

I have so much to tell you, oh link. Im home. She says smiling to him.

His eyebrows lift, his arms extend to her and she comes in for the hug. He hugs her tight, as if she could go forsake him once more. She lays her head on his chest and hears his heart rest. His breathing slowed and he sighs out some last form of relief. “You did well link” she said slightly muffled in the comfort of the hug.

He kisses her head, cushioned by her blonde hair. Their arms falter, zelda looks back into his eyes slightly flustered. “Oh-“.

Link’s neutral face is no longer contorted in the form of pressure. His blue eyes are as free as the sky he had once bathed in. His expression seems to speaks a million words as he is standing before her smiling radiantly. He is finally at peace.

Link bows and turns around. “L-link?”

He walks at a slow, fatigued pace. ”Where are you going?!” she says catching up with him.

He bobs his head towards Purah, the sages and the rest of the people. He mouths go, and continues to lift his lips into a smile. “But ur unwell and-“. He takes the Purah pad, presses the teleport button to Akkala and returns the pad to her hands. He smiles broadly once more and disappears into the blue threads.

Link had arrived at his house, he drops every piece of weaponry into the stash. Throws his item stash in a random room. He falters onto his bed, with a satisfied look on his face. He was in complete bliss. Turning the blue sky and sea into the tiniest dot, as his eyelids dwindle to a close.

All he needed was a slumber, the sizzling pain, the burning and bleeding on his body, it will cease in due time. But now all he needs is to be gone.

Zelda had spent time with the sages, with Purah. And a-lot of the people that aided in the ending of this calamity. She was happy, the life around her was bustling and the lively atmosphere had made her reminiscent of ages past. Thankfully Purah was a very attentive lending ear, as she was fascinated by the world of ages past. But zelda’s fascination had still been lying with link. To see him smile, genuinely. As if the deities had lifted all that had been put onto him, and shined their brilliant light onto his smile.

He deserves his rest, but that does not mean he is free from his wounds. She was reminded of that when the sages and people around her spoke of his heroic actions. The fight he put up with the demon king, the keeper of the sacred stone in the depths of death mountain and the zora palace. Defending gerudo town and kara kara bazaar from hordes of gibdo’s and their queen. An titan of ice and tornadoes. And not to mention the enemies and monster hordes he faced outside of these events. And most of them, alone. Her heart ached for his story. Not once but twice in the same lifetime has he had to put up with so much.

Link woke up, his dreams were of none but nightmares. He saw the pain and suffering all over again, how zelda’s tears had bren laid down the

//theory

But what about the eld ass hero? Like those ember things in ss, its the same as the secret stones!

How about the temple of sky in this game?

//dragon tear

He realized, he looked up into the sky, his eyes as wide as hers, he put it toghether one and one. His face crumpled up into fear of her being, sadness for her state and how scared she was. Ashamed he couldn’t safe her.

Tears fell down his cheeks. A loud roar ommited above him, the cirle he stood upon was akkala’s known spiral yet in this case the mysterious dragon had shown its true identity. Zelda. She lost her self.

Once the dragon passed by links expression faded,

he is seen from afar sinisterly as memories flood by of the centuries she had to endure, completely alone. All because of him, “Ganon Dorf..”

and soon his expression turns into pure anger and rage, link sets off fast, and starts sprinting up the hill as fast as he can, his head is just booming with her name zelda zelda zelda.

He runs by the akkala spring tower, and enters, pushing away the dude, and rushing the pad as he stands and flies up, with an determined look upon his face.

His height becomes him. He flies as high as she had set, and he came eye to eye with her dragon form.

“Return to me” he said… eyes narrowed in a pitiful yet lips begging manner as his eyebrows scrunched,

His eyebrows lifted up whence he saw a light, as he climbed upon her, he found himself eye to eye with the master sword..

He pulls, but it looks like it hurts her so he loosens and falls off her. As he falls, he just looks up, fazing ideas of impa, deku tree, the skyward sword temple. and said with narrowed eyes, “ill find a way”. As he turns his body and dives head first.

Bonus: Kept looking at her flying away, but i couldn’t just stand there and ran after her, my lil sister rooting me on to take the sky route so we did, and kept going at it till we could reach her and let me tell you it took a while.

[waywardstation]

Pingo adopts pokemon protags tidbits ig? Idk it's still a new concept but I'm gonna share anyway :D we already went over Red so I'll just discuss the kids

Crystal: the oldest of the kids, with about half of her memories but they're mostly little things. Most of them are fuzzy, and have to do with her getting some raven-haired guy around her age out of trouble. Evan? Easton? She doesn't remember. She's the frazzled older sister of the group and does her best to help Ingo keep everyone in line. They really like to mess with her, though--maybe if she didn't have as huge reactions as she does, they wouldn't find it as fun. She has an interest in pokeball crafting and catching pokemon!

Bren: Actually named Brendan, but has absolutely no idea. The worst amnesia of the group, pretty much everything's just Gone. He's genuinely really sweet, if a little airheaded. He likes making things, especially clothes, and when he's not with the rest of the group he's most likely with Anthe in her shop... Or wandering around, lost! He's the most likely to accept a dare just to see if he can, whether it's trying to sneak through a dangerous area or eating something random off the ground.

Akari would count as the Sinnoh protag, but you could definitely throw Barry here if you wanted!!

Hilda: About 80% amnesia, she remembers bits and pieces, but most of it's really recent. She very vaguely remembers Ingo, and barely recalls enough to confirm that his mysterious man in white does indeed exist. Her big interest is exploring, usually with Bren and Nate. She's particularly interested in finding a Zorua, because the tales of them being malicious just... Don't sound right to her, for some reason. She probably has a Zoroark mask too! And she's closest with Nate for some reason she can't quite put her finger on(they're cousins but neither remembers that). Oh, and it's probably unreasonable but I think it'd be hilarious if she was the only person with a pokemon but it was straight-up just Reshiram and she vaguely remembers being able to talk to it but can't anymore(amnesia messed with the bond between Hero and Dragon. Or something, idk)

Nate: Near total amnesia and is pretty quiet. Ingo and Hilda are vaguely familiar to him. He's almost always with one of them and is easily the braincell of the "wander off and see what we find" trio of himself, Hilda, and Bren. He really likes to battle, particularly in 2v2s(multi battles), and also seems to have a knack for basic medical stuff. I think he'd also get along with Iscan and Basculegion, and I want to give him a Hisuian Basculin so I guess he has one of those now

I think I'll stop here for now djdjfj, I might send in more rambles about my ideas for the other protags at some point but I gotta eat lmao, hope you enjoy and sorry it was so long shdhdnd

YES OP!! LOVE THESE!! (And absolutely throw Barry in here!!)

Crystal being one of the oldest to help out is a great idea; but because she’s still a kid herself I could see all the other kids messing with her a lot as you said haha

Also love the idea of Hilda, one of the BW protags, being very close to Nate, one of the BW2 protags as a cousin! Very nice!!

And Elio and Gloria hanging together despite being from different regions, because they’re both gremlins haha I love that.

GREAT THOUGHTS OP!! Love how much you fleshed out all of the characters, they feel very rounded out and distinct!! I’d absolutely love to hear more from you!! These are great!!! :D please send more if you have more!!

[saturdaysky]

hello! i hope you don't mind a message, but i am just excited to see someone else who liked AMCE and would love to know if you have recs for books that are similar, because i've been thinking about it for like a month straight since i finished reading it and would love something else to occupy my brain the way that it did. no pressure to answer ofc, just happy to share good vibes over a book :)

I do not mind it at all! <3

I do have some books that scratched a similar itch as A Memory Called Empire! I looooved the thoughtful focus on culture and language and identity within an intricate setting, so these recs follow that pattern somewhat.

Under a cut because this got kind of long.

The Imperial Radch trilogy by Ann Leckie

Liked the exploration of culture, identity, and imperialism in AMCE? You will probably like these books, since they also grapple with those themes. Also present is the exploration of personhood, who has it, and who does not -- because our main character is a person who used to be a starship. Or well, sort of. Wikipedia has a decent blurb:

The novel follows Breq—who is both the sole survivor of a starship destroyed by treachery, and the vessel of that ship's artificial consciousness—as she seeks revenge against the ruler of her civilization.

These books are honestly some of my favorite books ever. They combine a really thoughtful and deliberate focus on all the stuff mentioned above, fascinating plots and world-building, and characters who absolutely made me Feel Things. Highly recommended if you like, say, emotionally closed-off and damaged characters learning to care and be cared for while also skillfully navigating an intricate web of power to pursue their goals and reckon with the harm they've caused. But with bonus smart thoughts about robots.

The Foreigner series by C.J. Cherryh

I haven't fully made my way through this series, but it's rewarding every time I sit down to read another book. The books follow Bren Cameron, diplomat to an alien court, as he negotiates the intricate web of politics and intrigue involved in making sure the crash-landed colony ship he represents doesn't get obliterated or obliterate anyone else, despite humans making some monumental fuck-ups in the recent past.

And when you live and work and eat among one people, how much do you really belong to the people you came from? Of course, neither side really trusts someone who straddles both worlds, and to cap it off, the atevi people he lives among are different from humans in a fundamental way: they have no word for friend or love because those are alien concepts to the atevi. They do not feel such things. Instead, they live by an intricate web of obligation and favors. Trust is something a little more practical and a lot more deadly, for the atevi.

But these are not heartless novels -- part of the joy is watching the main characters grow meaningful relationships, even though the form is fraught and strange and never quite means the same thing to the people on either side.

If you like slow and thorough explanations of culture where meeting with your friend's grandmother is a potentially perilous activity (because the tea might be poisoned, because she might take you on a hunting trip you won't come back from, because she's a formidable political power and might be trying to assassinate your friend, because your friend might know all of this and have sent you anyway, also your friend is the king) these are books you might like.

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

If you like deep dives of culture, language, identity, and loyalty within the deadly intrigue of a fantasy court, I hiiiiighly recommend this book. The book follows Maia, the youngest and least-favored heir to the throne who gets unexpectedly crowned when everyone else in line dies and must quickly learn to survive the cutthroat politics. But Maia isn't cutthroat by nature; he is kind and must negotiate how to keep that kindness in the face of pressures that would be easy to solve with cruelty, as well as people keen to take advantage of what they think of as a weakness.

This book'll hit you with a lot of fantasy language at first (it's a focus of the book), but if you stick with it you'll be fine. You're learning all this intricate court language at the same time as our protag; he too is a little out of his depth at the start.

Steerswoman series by Rosemary Kirstein

I dearly want to go back and read these -- it's been a few years, but they absolutely sucked me in. The books follow Rowan, a steerswoman, as she tracks down the mystery of a strange and incongruous gemstone. In-universe steerswomen are basically traveling scientists and naturalists who have taken an oath of truth.

The books start out in what seems like your fairly typical Standard Fantasy Setting with wizards and dragons, but as Rowan learns more about the strange gem, it's clear that this Standard Fantasy Setting is...not as it seems. There are three things that I loved about these books: the sense of wonder and discovery as our fantasy scientist protag reasons through problems and begins to discover she lives in a sci fi world, the interesting relationship between the main characters, and the excitement you as a reader have when YOU realize exactly what mysterious object Rowan is describing and what the implications of that are for the setting.

The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin

Riveting series -- brutal and beautiful. Straddles the line in some respects between sci fi and fantasy. Follows characters who live on a far, far-future Earth plagued by catastrophic climate events called "Seasons" that last generations. There are some people born who have power drawn from the earth; these people are alternately hated and ruthlessly trained to hone their powers to attempt to prevent another Season. (This sort of sounds like the setup to a YA coming-of-age novel, but it is really really not.)

The world and fantastical aspects are fascinating (cyclical post apocalyptic societies! geology magic!), and the books themselves explore family bonds, racism in both a personal and systemic sense, and broken systems and the wounds they leave upon the people within them even as those people wound others. The series is not a light read, but it is a good one.

Literally anything by Ursula K. Leguin

All of her work could be recommended if you liked AMCE. Her writing spans fantasy and science fiction, and includes thoughtful and moving explorations of some similar ideas: culture and cultural exchange, gender, different societal setups, you name it.

If you're looking for a good novel, The Left Hand of Darkness is a classic for a reason. If you'd like a sample platter of interesting short stories, The Birthday of the World and Other Stories is wonderful.

[laryna6]

Things I would like to write for someday:

MDZS - I do have a bunny - The Adventures of Murder Mom and Love Freak Sectmaster Dad, just energy is the issue.

Baccano - Such a delightfully crazy cast! I need to get caught up on the novels.

Diana Wynne Jones - Howl’s Moving Castle is the obvious choice, but I really like this one short story, Carol Oneir’s Hundredth Dream. It kind of ends on a note of ‘when she grows up she’s going to be amazing’ and I kind of want an in-universe interview about the long-awaited release of her Hundredth Dream, and how does the former blockbuster creator feel about her new work not becoming a massive hit the way her childhood work did, but Carol basically *dons shades* and is too rich to care about mass market appeal anymore. 

CJ Cherryh’s Foreigner series - I was delighted to find there is fic for it! But I have a ‘verse where Bren was in the same generation as the paidhi he replaced instead, and was in court when a young Ilisidi made her trek over the mountains and Jase ends up meeting this Cool Old Guy Bren who is just not fazed anymore because long association with Ilisidi overloaded all his brain’s adrenaline receptors decades ago. So Tabini’s delight at a paidhi who is his age gets targeted at Jase, who is not the velvet glove to his admired-but-terrifying grandmother’s iron fist. (Ilisidi runs over idiots on her mecheita and then Bren provides tea and sympathy) 

Dragon Quest IV - Alena showing up places in search of a fight and soloing the final bosses of various game franchises while Kyril follows her around offering apologies and seeming like a wimp until someone discovers he’s gotten *much better* at the instant death magic (courtesy of one of the spin-off games). Now-Queen Alena has been able to abolish taxation in her country and fund impressive public works programs by selling the loot from her hobby of kicking the shit out of ultimate evils, and they have a public health service that dispenses all the late-game healing items Alena doesn’t need. She also teaches martial arts classes to the various kidnapped princesses she’s run into. 

Lunar: Eternal Blue - Remains the best-done romance in a video game I’ve seen to this day. On the Grand List of JRPG Cliches, it’s the namer for a trope... that it actually subverts? 

Petshop of Horrors - I am so pissed that Tokyopop replaced the line with Leon revealing that he’d known what was up for ages with something random. I’m not pleased with the epilogue and did the sequel series ever stop being filler? 

Koori no Mamono no Monogatari - So good and I should re-read. 

Archdemon’s Dilemma - I raved about this relatively recently. 

[rubiesintherough]

Meet Brakkod... also known as Bren Ward, the  “ youngest ”  ever appointed knight at Raven Ridge Castle in northern England, around 1350 AD. In appearances, he is only around 20~ years of age. In actuality, he’s nearing 200. Still extremely young by his kind’s standards, hence his very young appearance when taking a human form. He is sworn to serve and protect the king, his queen, and the subjects of Raven Ridge. 

He rarely serves around the castle, itself, instead preferring to volunteer for patrols along the border, ensuring that travelers are safe and no ne'er do wells enter the lands under his watch. And that’s so much easier to do from the sky, of course. He always requests that he be allowed to patrol alone... a request which is  ( albeit reluctantly )  granted by those he sworn to. After all, there are talks of DRAGON sightings along the Western borders. Little do they know... but, those at the castle have grown quite accustomed to his horse returning without a rider. And him suddenly showing up at the front gates, hungry and giving the explanation that his horse was spooked and left him behind. He is often teased for this. But, he doesn’t mind much. He takes his appointment very seriously and, if that means enduring the long flights, the solitude, and the walks back to the castle, he’s more than willing to put up with them. 

random facts: 

Bren is mostly silent, preferring not to speak more than a few words at a time. This is because his voice does no sound quite... right. Too low, too gravelly, too gruff to match the appearance he takes on to live among the humans. It tends to raise questions, so he just communicates through non-verbal means most of the time. When he DOES speak, he tends to limit himself to one or two word responses. 

In his human shape, Bren stands about 5′11. In his true shape, he is about 10 ft tall to his shoulders, and close to 35 ft long from the tip of his nose to the very end of his tail. 

He always has a sword on him when appearing as a human. He doesn’t like spilling blood, but he WILL if he deems it necessary. The same goes for when he’s in a dragon form. He prefers to just scare troublemakers off, as opposed to hurting them too seriously. Although, he’s not remorseful if his hand is forced. 

[broken-bone-tower]

This lore is really long, since it’s a clan sub-faction (and loosely based off book characters).

The Court of Shejidan

Tabini was bred for war, for battle and bloodshed. A pure breeding of Imperials, with all of their size and grace, and the colours of his line. However, fortune saw that he was nothing like what he was intended for. He's small for his breed, even not counting his age, his colours mixed and clashing. Despite all these disappointments however, Tabini excels as a Warmaster. He's cunning and quick, knowing how to use his size against others, having twice the wits and skill for strategy as the next dozen or so dragons. Tabini is ruthless and unable to be swayed once he has been set on a path. When Tabini makes up his mind, it's best to just batten down and wait out the storm of his indomitable will. Because of this, his choice in mate came as a shock to most (thought perhaps not, being a tale as old as time). Where Tabini is cold and firm, Bren is warm and willing to listen. Where Tabini sweeps aside the weaker ones in his way, Bren is kind, giving any and all the chance to prove themselves and make the world better. And while Tabini had never been at a loss for words in his life (for they're just another form of battle) even he would have to admit the ease in which Bren is able to outclass all with his witty tongue. Eventually Bren's solid surety eased it's way into Tabini's heart. Rivalry turned to friendship, affection, and even though he is unwilling to admit it freely, love of Tabini for Bren. In a clan where breeding and lineage is paramount, Tabini and Bren were destined never to be together, the colours of their offspring too easily able to be ugly and undesirable. This didn't stop these two though. With Tabini's single-minded focus, and Bren's words, they convinced the Triarch that while their breeding attempts might result in undesirables, there was also a great chance of pure colours, ones worthy of great dowries. It was with this risk hanging over their heads, that Tabini and Bren laid their first nest and await with bated breath on the future of not only their unborn hatchlings but the one they may no longer have with one another. One thing is certain though, Tabini is not willing to let anyone come between them, not while he breathes.

--/--

The first nest was a cascade of horror from the very moment the first egg hatched. Tabini had almost felt his dreams for the potential future shatter in his grasp, crumbing to dust as each of his first-nest's hatchlings were born with flawed colours. He'd turned his head away, a knot in his throat, a feeling he'd never felt before and accompanied by a stinging in his eyes. He'd been tempted to flee, to fly from the nest and let nature take her course, but his devotion to his mate kept him grounded, his larger frame encircling his doomed little family. 'We can try again,' he thought to himself as little feet clambered over his form curiously and an over-powering instinct had him crushing the thought as he caught his first-born before she fell from his towering shoulders. 'Already so curious...they take after Bren,' and that thought warmed his heart. It was Bren who salvaged everything, as Tabini's mate was wont to do. Bren could make the best out of anything it seemed. Two of the four hatchlings were the colours of Rewind and Drift, two fellow clanmates, often sought after for mates. When Ikol visisted later in the day to see what had come forth from their breeding, Tabini and Bren had led with that observation and with a knowing smile, Ikol had nodded their acceptance and left them be. They were safe. For now. --/-- The second nest came in three eggs. "Fortunate three" Tabini observed blandly, starring at the small things that were a mixture of him and Bren. He knew they needed two beautiful young ones for this nest to be a success. Fortune over misfortune, even by one, was still a success on the battlefield. A victory was a victory. So Tabini settled in to wait the long nesting period, perhaps even more protective of the eggs to others of the lair than even Bren himself. --/-- "Beauty in contrast," is what Tabini murmured under his breath as he watched his newest clutch. Bren had looked him straight in the eye and told him such when the eggs had hatched, that beauty did not lay only in perfection; the view as one jumped from the cliff to fly was just as glorious as the one from the top. He watched his daughters play about with Cajeiri at the edges of the clearing, his little ones already almost as big as his fully-grown son. Beautiful daughters that were hard for him to even glance at, instincts cut into his hide as a youngster himself, telling him that his children should not be allowed to exist. Hi bit down on his tongue, blood filling Tabini's mouth and clearing his mind as he forced himself to look and never glance away. His children were perfect, and the Warmaster would be damned before he let others dictate his feelings for them.

Bren had always known he'd had a way with words. Making others sway to his point of view had always been easy, instinctual like the flap of wings. He studied and watched, listening to all around him until he could even handle conversations with faes and coatls of different clans. It wasn't hard to convince others that while he'd been born a female, that he was male in every way that mattered, thank you very much. No one contested him for it. Despite all of his knowledge, he had never really come across someone who could test his own skills. Others always tried to either use their superior strength or degraded into throwing insults whenever he thought he'd found someone that finally matched his tongue as well as his mind. The populace at large was generally a great disappointment. That was, until the day he met Tabini. Their's wasn't a story of 'love at first sight', nor even 'Brood with me? We'll make exceptional offspring', but more of a wrong step in a metaphorical dance that led to stubbed toes and bruised wing bones. He was a large fighter, cunning and single-minded, which usually would have placed him in the 'more muscle than brain' category for Bren. Then the insufferable male had opened his mouth and proved...he might actually have an interesting mind. Despite their differences, Bren and Tabini found many things in common, and where they did differ it was only to the point where together they met in an oddly harmonious way. Where Tabini was flashing temper, Bren was a clear-headed calm, and where Tabini was quick to leave behind those who were no longer of use, Bren was there to make him sit and remember that others were made up of more than just their usefulness. Their bonding was long in the coming if anyone else is asked, though the risk they take in breeding is a heavy one. Bren knows that whatever hatchlings he has, he will love, and so will Tabini in his own way. Though if he has time to actually be with them between fighting those threatening the clan and those within threatening the two of them, well that's another matter all together. Things aren't as bad as they used to be now that Ikol has taken over leadership, but traditions are hard to break, even by those who understand the most why they shouldn't be. --/-- The first nest had not gone as well as Bren had hoped. When they'd laid a nest of four eggs, he knew the chances were good, luck could not be that far off for them not to get at least one sought after hatchling. They hadn't. As their clutch had come into the world, Bren had felt Tabini's fear. For all of his love of him and his own hard-won strength, because of his upbringing he was almost instinctively aware of imperfection. Such a failure of a nest would not be something he could accept if Bren left him to handle this on his own emotionally, so Bren had done what he does best. He talked. As he spoke, a plan formed in his mind, connections coming to life as he realized that two of his hachtlings were in fact, an unexpected stroke of luck. They were coloured like Drift and Rewind, two fellow clanmates that if his daughters could not find good homes elsewhere, at the very least they'd have a breeding place in their birth clan. That was what kept Tabini from tearing at their Triarch in a defensive fury when Ikol arrived, and was what kept their worth up and them together, for at least a little longer, in the clans eyes. --/-- When the second nest was laid, it was both an excitement and a jump in the tension. Tabini was convinced they needed a majority for wanted hathclings, but Bren knew all it took was one. One coveted hatchling along with those they'd bore before would be enough to prove that they could consistently breed wanted hatchlings, that their pairing was valid. Give Bren an inch and he would take a mile before you knew what had been given. The third nest would be the true clencher, if he knew Ikol at all. And sadly, he knew he did. --/-- Ikol approached Bren the moment Tabini had taken their newest hatchlings from sight. "If I didn't know better, I would say you planned to get by on only the edges of your claws." Bren hummed thoughtfully as he flew up to settle in the enormous Imperial's horns, perching on them as the clan triarch wandered off to the market to search for new members of their clan to bring in. "Luck and chance are only two sides of the same coin." Bren commented, ignoring Ikol's knowing smile. "But it's best to never leave it up to just them."

Out of all the Assassin's in the Guild, Banichi is hands-down one of the most dedicated and skilled. While he is not one to brag (for that is a useless thing) his compatriots often recount the time he took a hill under magical bombardment with a broken leg and still won the day, saving Bren. Because of this, Banichi is Bren's most trusted compatriot and is never seen from his side, even stepping in to guard his charge from Tabini's temper. Wearing the same colours as their charge, Banichi and his team have used the tactic of camouflaging Bren among them (or pretending he is there while Bren absconds) multiple times.

Learning at Banichi's heals allowed Jago the oppertunity to truly grow as an Assassin in the Guild. Not quite an apprentice and not quite a daughter of the large Senior Assassin either, but forever an equal partner, Jago has taken to guarding Bren almost as fervently as Banichi does. Frequently running to and fro on Bren's business, Jago is ever busy and prepared to fight to the death to protect whatever she's been charged with by the Nocturne; be it message scrolls or Bren himself.

Algini isn't one for talking, nor for earnestly meeting another's gaze or even seeming to pay attention to anything that goes on around him. However, that does not mean he misses anything. Equipped with keen eyes and a mind orientated for terrifying details, virtually nothing ever escapes Algini's observations. These skills of his were what originally had him assigned to watch over Bren. Politics, as the saying goes, are the true kink in the machine. For a long time, Algini was dedicated to his original mission: watch and gather information about the strange Nocturne. Over time though, he softened in Bren's company, voicing his opinion more and even meeting the ambassador's eyes. When eventually his true origins were exposed, instead of casting him out Bren told Algini that he would always have a place by his side. It was then, in that moment that the Wildclaw's world shifted slightly, and aligned to whatever it was that Bren wanted to make of it. Algini's loyalty was set.

Tano is one of the few dragons you'll ever meet that is genuinely kind. Soft-hearted and prone to worrying overmuch about those around him, Tano is the most approachable out of Bren's guard. Taking Tano's warm nature for passivity would be a mistake however as above all he is a trained assassin and has no problem completely shutting off his kind nature in exchange for cold, calculated hunter. 

Damiri is beautiful in all ways but her mind. She's not cruel, more of a beautiful flower with a rotting core, reserved but kind in her rarely given affections. Originally she was meant to be Tabini's one consort, his eternal partner, a carefully selected match for beautiful offspring. For all her charms and sharp wit though, she never became anything more to him than a duty. Their son Ceijiri is Tabini's heir, a triumph that she though would finally seal her position with her consort over Bren. To her horror however, Ceijiri is much his father's son and took to Bren like breathing, following him around and hiding behind the small Nocturne whenever things turned sour. Over everything though, Damiri is a survivor and she knows she can be patient. For however long is necessary.

Machigi is a brash young pirate, who's diligent efforts and cut-throat attitude has gained him riches and loyalty where all others have failed.

Bren's skills brought him to this sea creature's attention and while he knows it will never be, that doesn't stop him from flirting outrageously with the little Nocturne.

While coming from the homeland of the ancestors of Bren and Gene, Jase is another type of Nocturne entirely. Bred for superiority in every way, he often confides in Bren that he feels trapped and exhausted by the expectations much of the time. He's stuck around Bren through sheer utter stubbornness, letting no one separate them for long. His feelings for the ambassador aren't exactly well-hidden to anyone but Bren however Jason has vowed to never take a step forward in their relationship. His friend is happy and he wont stand in the way of that. Sometimes, he and Machigi drown their sorrows and jealousy in each other, though nothing more than physicality has ever grown between them as both are incapable or turning their attentions away from Bren.

[dan-the-dreamer]

My Fantasy Pantheon

I’ve been really interested in fantasy religions and gods, so I thought I’d create my own! Worshippers may pray to them all together, or on certain occasions. 

The Dreamer: The mysterious creator of the world. Said to hail from another world, he was the one who first formed the Dreamscape and filed it with life. Ever since the Great War, the hero has disappeared from view, and left it in the hands of the gods.

Char: The King of Shadows; The Night-holder; Char was once considered to be one of the most powerful and evil beings in the cosmos. He ravaged the Dreamscape with his legions of monsters for ages. However, he was soon defeated by the likes of the Dreamer in the Great War of Fantasy. Seeing that he could no longer continue with his conquest, he plead with the other gods to not destroy his people. He gave up most of his power in exchange for the orcs, ogres, goblins, dragons, witches, and malevolent machines being guaranteed a chance at redemption. Now, he leads an organized corporation of villains to prevent the people of the Dreamscape from fighting amongst themselves.

Leordiel: Followers of Leordiel are the most studious worshippers, always seeking knowledge and enlightenment. Shrines and churches dedicated to Leordiel usually incorporate large windows and skylights. During the Festival of the Sun, pilgrims make their way to the largest cathedral to watch the sun reach its zenith. 

Maren: Most ceremonies take place at night. Full and new moons are considered holy days. The texts mostly consist of lists of proverbs to live by. It is said that she was the first to accept Char’s surrender for the salvation of his creations.

Sulas: Those who follow Sulas are the peacemakers of the world. If anyone is troubled by worry or stress, they will usually seek out her clergy for a form of comforting therapy.

 Yogla: For the followers of Yogla, any scar, bruise, or wound is seen as admirable, rather than unsightly or shameful. To them, these scars are badges of honor and commemorate their survival. This does not stop at battle wounds, however, for life to the church is seen as a constant struggle which all must persevere through. Many of his followers serve as guards of the young and the weak.

Bren: Much like Maren’s followers, the church of Bren possesses a code of conduct for their lives. However, this list is more similar to a law book which outlines various processes and procedures for the people to follow. Justice is an important aspect to the church, but vengeance is frowned upon as the people believe that Bren will one day set all things right and equal.

Merrick: Worship of Merrick carries with it a heavy task: those who are rich should be the most charitable and caring for the poor. Every bounty, whether of gold, crops, or livestock, must be responded to with giving or service as a way of thanking her “...lest she not be so generous with her wealth in the coming days.”

N’kon: Followers of N’kon consist mostly of artists and musicians. Creative expression is a highly-regarded act within the faith. This is because it is seen as something that is beyond the natural order and therefore is considered “set apart” from the rest of the world. The churches and shrines to him are known as some of the most beautiful and ornate works, with large murals, detailed sculptures, and personalized tools of worship.

Ana: Ana is like a two-sided coin: her faith promotes love and joy, but she is also one of the most long-suffering beings in the world. Her gift to the world was a vow to Bren to walk the world in spirit once a year to witness the grief-stricken and abandoned in return for withholding purging the world of all sapient life in order to extinguish evil. Followers of Ana usually remain single for life and choose rather to form relationships with everyone around them. According to the faith’s teachings, every heart is like a cup, those which overflow should pour themselves into those at their dregs.

Istit: Much like Merick, Istit promotes something which brings people happiness, but strongly opposes selfishness. Gluttony and isolation are looked down upon in the faith and parties are viewed as open communal events. Most celebrations of any faith are organized by his followers who will go to any length to make the event as enjoyable as possible. 

Caelet: Caelet’s followers are strongly tied to strategic and logical thinking. Most of them that serve military rolls are commanders rather than soldiers, preferring to plan methods of attack rather than serve on the front lines. Many of her followers also serve governmental or municipal roles and are prized for their straightforward thinking.

Thame: There are three main things Thame is known for. The first is fire, which is representative of repentance and positive change. Second, Thame is known for blessing bonds. This includes marriages and mutual alliances. Finally, his clergy are known for the creation of new inventions and utilitarian crafts, which they seek to preserve the original models of.

Cana: As the patron and creator of waters, Cana is a large proponent of the virtues of hope and change, similar to how a river always finds its way back to the ocean. As such, her followers always strive to enact positive change in the lives of others and the world and are known to keep up hope in even the most dire of circumstances. They also have a very “go with the flow” attitude towards life.

Eede: There are not many buildings in which Edde is worshipped, but there are multiple shrines scattered about the forest. Many of Eede’s worshippers strive to protect all life and replenish whatever they take away from the earth. A peculiar sort of affliction has been noticed in those who follow Eede. This occurs whenever they have been away from any abundance of plant or animal life, which leads to them feeling sluggish, frustrated, and sorrowful. The only known way for them to mitigate this is by entering the wilderness for some time or by taking care of an animal companion. Those who live in the cities will often construct communal greenhouses and parklands to keep her close to them.

Neus: There is a bit of a stereotype surrounding the clergy of Neus. They are often seen as grim and distant. This is a bit of a misconception. The followers of Neus act the way that they do because they are the ones most aware of their fate and mortality and as such, desire that everyone always have his or her affairs in order in case of their death.

The Triunity: These are three deities that are often worshipped in tandem, and as such, their followers have separated themselves from the rest of the religious population. Lo’tak, Ethu’ulm, and Path-K’than  are the genderless gods of logic, law, and emotion, respectively. The Triune Church is the most organized and hierarchical, having three separate houses for scientists, civil servants, and philosophers. The Triunity is often viewed a apart from the other gods, which has caused some conflict in the past. However, after Char’s Plea, the different denominations have been commanded to live at peace with one another.

[thecosydragon]

My latest blog post from the cosy dragon: Review: Bren MacDibble – The Dog Runner

The Dog Runner Bren MacDibble

Ella and Emery have a long way to go to get to Christmas’s place. Armed with their five big doggos and a dry-land dogsled they must head away through rough terrain to reach the relative safety and food of Emery’s mum’s place – but will their other parents ever catch up?

This is another wonderful, thought provoking novel from Bren MacDibble. Her first novel, How to Bee, examined how a world without bees would survive. This novel takes this a step further, envisioning a future where grasses and grains have been lost to a deadly fungus. This novel is probably another candidate for a upper primary school reader novel and thought-provoker.

The story slips out in nibbles, teasing the reader along even as Ella and Emery make it further and further away from the city. I was occasionally irritated by the way Ella ‘spoke’, but the action kept me reading. The way this is written, Ella could be a boy or a girl, and I think that makes it easier for any reader to empathize and truly consider her circumstances. This is a really possible future for Australia and the world – we are so reliant on grains for basic food and feeding livestock. Have we learnt nothing from the Irish Great Famine?

If this novel does nothing else, hopefully you enjoy the fast paced travel and fraught hideaways of Ella and Emery. They are brave kids, and I think the novel is really realistic in the way Ella reacts to the world falling apart around her. If Ella had been ok with eating dead humans all of a sudden, I would have been really concerned!

I’m giving this 4 stars, and I am looking forward to when I have a younger reader in this age bracket to read and review it with me.

Allen & Unwin | 4th February 2019 | AU$16.99 | paperback

from http://bit.ly/2t18mfT

[brennacedria]

@thebearmuse the old post was so long I thought I'd start another. The passage is from Horror of Hormak in Tevinter Nights, just before entering ghil's laboratory. Supplicant(s), Queen, and monster?

[brennacedria]

I did NOT expect to be romancing Harding the first time thru, but she's just too adorable so far. Both her and rook fumbling over the word "date" like yes gimme

[brennacedria]

I know about a spoiler that affects how I was going to play and now I don't know what to do. :(

[brennacedria]

Random and weird at the dentist:

"oh, your medallion is beautiful, what's the design on it?"

Oh it's silly, it's just from a video game.

"really? What game?"

...no one asks what game. They just go "oh okay" and move along. So anyway I told them, and one of them (the doctor, who asked what it was) nodded. The tech tho was like, "oh, I know about dragon age!"

And then she got quiet. Like, weirdly quiet. Then they finished my filling. 😆

[brennacedria]

My Rook's name is Kaela.

I'm going to regret getting attached this early, I know it. This wasn't supposed to happen. I don't even know her last name to make sure it sounds right.

[brennacedria]

uuugh the chateau haine finery is SO BAD on female Hawke. I want my red dress back