#Caythaes Mekandawn

[mekandawn]

So how's that shadowflame treating you these days

[ultimatewowdursgate]

DWC May '24 - Day 7

Void

It had been a while since the last event Kaz had been to. As always he'd enjoyed the chance to relax, to let loose and see his friends. And as usual it had been a great time. But in the aftermath he was worrying about how he'd handled some of it in hindsight...

It had been a long time since he'd last seen his good friend Caythaes. So it had been a wonderful surprise when he ran in to them that night.

However even more surprising was the change that had happened in time between. Cay was now visibly effected by the void. And Kaz had no idea how to react to this.

He'd heard about some of the Blood Elves choosing to go down that path, willingly embracing it even. But he couldn't imagine Cay doing such a thing. No, it certainly didn't seem like them at all.

But... Kaz of course overthought it. He didn't want to risk offending or upsetting his friend who he cared so much about by saying the wrong thing, especially not knowing the circumstances.

And so Kaz had tried to play it cool. To act as though nothing at all had changed! He was so happy to see his friend for the first time in ages that he decided he should focus on that fact rather than worrying about this situation and it, presumably, having been the thing keeping his friend away.

But now… in the aftermath of the meeting, his mind kept being drawn back to how he'd handled it.

While Kaz doesn't have the void in him; his mind could be a dark place even without it. Full of worries, doubts and regrets. And so often turning against itself even despite his monk training.

As indeed was happening to him again right now.

He looked back on his attempt to not pressure or upset his friend by raising the issue. Only now he second guessed himself and feared it had made him look like he simply hadn't cared.

And the mere possibility set his stomach turning.

He had attempted at the time to make sure Cay would know he still cared about them and that fact would never change no matter what the void or anything else did to them.

But now with hindsight he feared that by not actually outright mentioning the change he'd only come across as diminishing or ignoring it and hadn't seemed either supportive or understanding as he hoped.

And once again he felt like a terrible person.

Kaz let out a huge sigh and struggled to push these thoughts aside.

"Right, I've got to do something about this!" he muttered to himself.

And so he sat at his desk, took out some paper and began to write.

Hey Cay!

Urgh, no! Too casual, you look like you're not taking this seriously.

Dearest Caythaes,

Too formal, you won't sound genuine or understanding like that.

...

After a great many false starts, much wasted paper and ink and even more overthinking Kaz finally settled on something he felt wasn't completely terrible and hoped his friend would know he cared and was their for them.

To my good friend Cay,

I hope this message finds you well. I just wanted to apologise for the other night. It was great to see you again after so long, I'd quite missed you lately you know. But I fear I must've came across terribly.

I didn't want to hurt or upset you by saying the wrong thing but I rather think I've messed up by not saying anything at all.

Obviously I don't know exactly what you've been through. And if you don't want to talk about it that's ok! But if ever you do want to talk about it, or anything else, I'd be only too glad to listen and if there is anything I can do, no matter how big or small, to help just name it and I'll do my level best for you.

In any case, I just wanted to let you know I'm here for you. And always and no matter what will be. I wish you the very best my dear friend.

And with that he signed the letter. Smiled as the worries began to fade and left to post the letter and hope for the best.

...

And the moment the letter went in the post he immediately started thinking of all the ways he could and should have done it differently.

Kaz clenched his teeth and winced as he stopped himself yelling something obscene.

@daily-writing-challenge @mekandawn

Thanks Gnome for the inspiration and for always being great to RP with! :)

[gnomeskillet]

General 1, 7 & 10 for Cay

Where can your Tav be recruited?  Are they first encountered on the Nautiloid, or in the Nautiloid crash region?  Or are they not recruitable until a later act?

I have no idea where I would drop Cay, tbh. Like- probably SOMEWHERE in the crash region, but I cannot figure out a good spot. Maybe Waukeen's Rest or with the fake Tyr guys.

OKAY, I thought about it on the drive to work, and I like Waukeen's Rest. They reached it during the raid and ran into the tavern to help Councilor Florrick and got stuck with her. When you step into the plaza, your tadpoles connect and you get the sense that someone is in the burning building.

Do they have their own personal quest that spans the course of the game?  Can it take different branching paths depending on the choices the Player Character makes?

OH BOY DO THEY EVER. Cay's two main character development quest hubs are the Rosymorn Monastery (obvs) and the Shadowcursed Lands.

Even though it's technically early in the game, Rosymorn is more or less where the player decides whether they get Good End Cay or Bad End Cay, and there are a lot of factors that influence which you get.

The long and short of it is that once it becomes apparent that the Githyanki attacked the monastery to convert it into a creche, Caythaes will get extremely upset. They'll want to avenge the slaughtered Lanthanderians and if Lae'zel is in the party, they'll start a fight. If you let her handle it, she'll be able to talk them down (at least until Vlaakith) but if you intervene or she's not there, you have to pass a high persuasion check to get them to chill.

Or you can side with them and agree that the Githyanki need to be purged. This is the bad end, and they will switch from Knowledge Domain to War Domain and spend the rest of the game angry and aggressive.

The Shadowcursed lands has much less of an impact, but as a cleric of Lathander, they feel it's their duty to help Halsin cleanse the land. Lathander abhors the undead and is diametrically opposed to Shar, so. There will be a bit of conflict with Shadowheart, especially once you get to the Gauntlet. Additionally, once you get to the Thorm family tomb, Cay will recognize the totems to Myrkul and you'll have the opportunity to convert them to a War Domain cleric without triggering the bad end. This doesn't change too much, but they will be a bit more... heroic in their over all demeanor.

Are there any unique NPCs associated with your Tav that can show up during the course of the game?

I like to think that Leon and Pin have a shop in Baldur's Gate that when you visit, they'll be like "OH GOD WE WERE SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU!!!" and Cay can introduce them to their new friends.

[artofradioactivechina]

An Enamel Pin Design and Logo Art Set for @mekandawn for their stage persona, the Solar Eclipse!

[ultimatewowdursgate]

@mekandawn

I thought you'd like this. :)

[thecloudcitymarket]

CCM - May 10th, 2023

Below are the list of vendors this week!

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Sunrise Lattes - Caythaes Mekandawn MENU

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── 

Glamrock Fashions - Jazzy S. Glamrock of the Cast Company Collective MENU

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── 

Constellation Canvas - Celeste Runewhisper MENU

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── 

The Azure Star - Saeni Silverbell MENU

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────  

[mekandawn]

THEY

[ultimatewowdursgate]

💭 For Caythaes!

Whenever Kaz thought of Caythaes he couldn't help but cheer up a little.

Cay was probably one of the kindest people Kaz had met and he would always remember fondly one of the first real and deep conversations they'd had.

The one where Cay had been such a good friend and had managed to persuade him to overcome his nervousness and join the tarts.

He honestly felt so grateful, the result had been a turning point in Kaz's life for the better. He only wished he knew how to tell his friend how much they meant to him.

[gnomeskillet]

1-11 for the story asks for Cay and Trashmouth both

I WILL ALTERNATE because some are easier for Cay, some are easier for Trashmouth, and also my brain is goo.

How does your Tav advise the player character when it comes to the Dream Visitor?

Cay: I know the most obvious thing to do is blame it on tadpoles, but don't you think it's interesting that it happened right after the artifact activated? I don't think it's a coincidence, and I'm willing to trust that this Dream Visitor really is everything they claim to be. And I have to admit, I am curious to see what the tadpoles can do...

How do they advise the player character on Raphael?

Trashmouth: *sigh* Of course it had to be Raphael... Just ignore him for now, don't let him think that we're desperate. He'll string us along until the last second because he thinks it gives him the upper hand.

How do they react to Astarion biting the Player Character?

Cay: UGH, I'm so envious! Do you think he'll bite me next if I slap my neck and tell him to come get his juice? Or is that weird?

How do they react to the Player Character letting Abdirak whip them?

Cay: Ohh, I wish that was me... How come you always get to have all the fun?

Trashmouth: I'm just glad that for once, it's not me. Was it as awful as it looked?

How do they react to the Player Character taking their first tadpole power?

Cay: Well? How do you feel? What was it like? Do you have another one? You're going to share them, right?

Will they stay with the Player Character regardless of siding with the goblins or the tieflings, or is it possible for them to leave the party permanently?

Cay will stay regardless, though they will disapprove of picking the goblins. Trashmouth, being a tiefling themself, will leave the party permanently if the player sides with the goblins.

What can they be found doing at the tiefling/goblin party? Do they have comments on who the Player Character chooses to spend the night with? 

Trashmouth can be found drunkenly singing and dancing with a bottle of wine in hand. If the PC comes up having chosen someone else for the night, they'll be all toothy grins and eyebrow waggles while making a lot of innuendo. If the PC insinuates they want to spend the night with Trashmouth, they will laugh nervously, make some excuse about needing to pee, then take off into the woods.

Cay hovers near Gale's tent and fidgets. If the PC is spending the night with MOST of the other companions, they congratulate them, wish them a good night, and ask for some of the PC's good luck. If the PC is spending the night with Gale, they'll sigh and give them a sad smile, then look in Gale's direction. "He really is- he's cute, isn't he? I was... I mean, I was kind of- I was hoping I could spend some time with him tonight, but... I guess not..."

If the PC expresses interest in Cay, they startle and blush. "Oh! Like- as a casual thing? Sorry- not that- I mean, you're very attractive, so it's not like I'm saying no, exactly, but I'm not really. Looking. For romance. But I would be happy to- I mean, as long as you understand that it's just casual!"

Do they have unique dialogue if the Player Character lets them die when they steal the Blood of Lathander?

Cay: Give me that mace. Give me that mace right now. I'm- You have a cleric of Lathander in your party, and you just- YOU DID NOT NEED TO DROP THE WHOLE TEMPLE ON ME, I COULD HAVE JUST- GIVE ME THE MACE-!

If you don't give them the Blood of Lathander, they will storm back to camp and refuse to rejoin the party until after one Long Rest. The disapproval hit is massive.

How do they react if the PC licks the dead spider in the Gauntlet of Shar?

Cay: Well.... I've put worse things in my mouth, I'm sure. Still, that's, um.... let me check you for toxins, okay?

What do they say if the PC tries to force them to go up on stage with Dribbles the Clown?

Trashmouth: You have got to be kidding me. There's only room on that stage for one clown, and I don't like to share the spotlight.

[indraste-darktalon]

The Wedding (Indy)

Word count: 850 Summary: Indy and Blix get hitched, pre-timeskip! I had her vows written and I was on a plane today and figured I’d write out a little thing so I could show them off to Blix’s player. So here’s a little glimpse into the wedding for everyone. :D Mentions: @blixvoronin @celesterunewhisper @ranekvilmas @mekandawn @xarianazphel (I'm not gonna double ping for those of you who have multiple characters.)

It was strange, having every different little section of her recent life finally gathered into one place. First, the location: a river delta in Nagrand, beneath a large tree, which used to be her favorite place to fish. Second, her friends: Celeste, who had coordinated everything for her and Blix; Ranek, who had agreed to be her best man; and Caythaes, who had written an entire ceremony to marry them by. Twist, too: he had actually arrived early to help her get ready. And then Xarian, whom she’d met in a tavern brawl while Blix was missing, had even agreed to come even though there would be no fighting. Last but not least, her family: her brother had agreed to spend time around their parents to be there for her. And her mother and father had agreed to give him a wide berth.

That was as good as it was going to get for the Darktalons, at least for now.

Her old home. Her closest friends. Her newly rediscovered family. And then, most importantly: her wife, who was also surrounded by her own family and friends. It was the most positive gathering of people she’d been in in decades.

Blix looked stunning. (Indy honestly thought that she looked stunning in almost every situation, but today there was a brightness around her that had been less common since she came back.)

Indy, for her part, had tried: her hair was in a looser, much less severe braid down her back, leaving hair to frame her face. Twist had helped her weave pale yellow flowers into the braid, which was a step up from her usual mess of feathers. She was in a sleeveless dress that she had been working on for months; a soft green, made of leaf-shaped panels of varying sizes layered atop one another to form the bodice and the skirt. She was still barefoot, but she had lip stain on; red, to match her tattoos.

Today wasn't a day for stress. She could get through it without talons and feathers ruining her look.

There was a twinge of stress, though, when the ceremony began and Cay had her and Blix stand in front of them beneath the tree. She felt all the guests' eyes on her, and had to remind herself that every single person there was there to support them. So she held Blix's hands, and smiled down at her, and waited for the time to say her vows. She was going first, and she desperately hoped what she had to say wouldn't turn out to be too long.

Cay indicated it was her turn to speak. Indy took a deep breath, met Blix’s eyes, and squeezed her hands.

"I'm going to start this on a sad note, which is probably not surprising to anyone who knows me." There was the faint sound of scattered laughter, but that was fine; she'd meant it to be a bit self-deprecating. "But you'll soon understand that this time, it's good to start sad."

Blix raised an eyebrow, and Indy continued: "Two decades ago, I lost my hope. Two years ago, I lost my faith. After Outland and Teldrassil, society became unbearable for me. My instinct was to fade away into the wilderness and not give the world a second chance."

No laughter, this time; the only sound when she paused for another breath was the wind in the grass and the branches of the tree above them. Blix was staring up her, expression earnest.

"But then I met you by chance, and within minutes you'd turned one of my most stressful days since coming back into something light-hearted and fun. And then… you just kept doing that."

Indy smiled and reached out to cup Blix's cheek in her hand. "Blix Voronin, you make me want to greet the day again. You make me want to improve my health, and rebuild my connections to other people. And every moment I'm with you, I find something else about you that's worth loving. You've given me a reason to come back to real life, and work through those days that are struggles. You've been endlessly patient with my quirks: my sometimes-talons, the feathers always on the floor of our home… and with my kids, who hopefully haven't flown off with the rings by now."

More laughter, and she and Blix both looked over at Ranek and Kenorian, who had both been tasked with being a perch for Asha and Tilly until it was time for them to fly the rings over. Each of the men had one of the darters on a shoulder.

No crisis so far.

Indy turned her attention back to Blix, and they met eyes again. "By the Night, Blix, I swear to you that I'm going to do everything I can to be just as wonderful to you as you are to me. Nothing makes me happier than seeing you well. I'm your healer, and I'll be at your side every time I'm needed."

She squeezed Blix's hands again, and said the last part of her speech: "I love you, Moonfire. And today, I'm standing here to link myself to you, and tell everyone present that I will always cherish our bond."

Indy's shoulders relaxed, and she exhaled deeply. She'd made it through without stumbling over or forgetting words. The hard part was over; now, all she had to do was listen to what Blix had written, put a ring on her hand, give her a kiss… and then go dance, drink, and party with people who loved them.

Things were good, and while she knew it wasn’t going to be easy… she had faith that they were going to stay that way.

((Indy's wedding dress ref:))

[cythion]

TMIT: What was your favorite part of Fire Fest? What's the craziest thing you did while there? What's the craziest thing you witnessed there?

"The fun and lively atmosphere. It feels like a party from marketplace to fireworks to rave. A party where, if you play your cards right, anything can happen. From kissing a pretty and welcoming person to finding the perfect gift for a loved one, to finding new connections and community. It's a place where, for a moment, reality doesn't matter, and you can live as your sexy dream self. Kissing Ryland at the Tarts booth is always a highlight too."

"I don't think I can tell you the craziest thing I did while I was there. I'll just say knots and let you decide the rest."

"I think I might have seen a pink angel knock down a building while chasing a fellow? I'm not sure, I was pretty focused on dancing with my pretty blond, Celedyn. Oh and who can forget Mixter Caythaes' performance. They are smoking hot and so fun to watch. Speaking of smoking! Did you see Dice's performance?! Man, Fire Fest pulls out all the stops."

(Ope, I'm going to tag the people I mentioned by name just because that feels the right thing to do. You eluded to folks will have to figure yourselves out ;) )

@mekandawn @dicenne @rylandfalkov @celedyn

[ultimatewowdursgate]

@mekandawn, soon as I saw this I thought of Cay. :D

i’m a lover. AND a biter

[ooc-miqojak]

Knight of Swords

Have the cards ever been gentle with me? Not even when the little warlock, so similar in name to myself, used to read for me in Silvermoon - the cards had been quick to deal me the Devil. They knew I was chained to my addictions, then, in ways my own friends never did.

And now? The irony of it all - that I was once a Light-wielder, asking a warlock to read the cards for me...

Neither they, nor their cards flinch at the truth - at least, until the cards leave us no time to even discuss that they are without a doubt, the figure upon the last card. A knight with long, flowing red hair? - wielding truth and wisdom boldly, charging at whatever lies ahead.

I see it.

They see it.

(Junarra probably also sees it.)

I can't help but laugh - a string of redheads have pulped my heart over the years... all but one of them representatives of the Light in one way or another, at that. Paladins, priests, it didn't matter - they burn you as surely as the Light does, in the end.

And so I laugh - what else can I do? The cards were right about everything else, really... why not this? We'd already talked about meeting up to read cards for one another - and maybe I could learn a thing or two from them - and now the cards say do it.

They say a few things, though - they say to look before I leap; that was the first card, from the Market. Now they say that I need to fucking leap already, but... that's two? Two cases of pentacles, and concerns about losses, or 'misplaced trust' in the future. Except - Caythaes is who the cards say I should trust, and there's a fucked-up kind of irony about it all that I rather like, I think. If Fate is real, She's no doubt having a laugh - so why shan't I?

And if the cards even say I have to stop holding the wall - that I have to stop skimming the surfaces of conversations and charge in like that Knight does - well, then I have to dive right in, don't I?

(( @mekandawn mentioned!! Though their cards have a mind of their own...))

[artofradioactivechina]

🎵 You will never walk alone... 🎵 🎵 You can always reach me! 🎵 🎵 You will never ever walk alone~! 🎵

This song is so very @mekandawn, that when it became an earworm, I just could not resist drawing them.

[flo-machina]

Devil’s Food Chocolate: a vice headcanon. Vikki!

Vikki absolutely loves her beverages! Coffee, tea, boozeahols, you name it. If she can drink it, she’ll try it. 

There’s one bartender in particular who makes the best drinks in all Azeroth according to Vikki, but recently she’s had to learn how to cope with taking pours from other professionals.

(( @irielle-firine, @mekandawn ))

[ultimatewowdursgate]

Both the love & art options fit. Gnome is great and so is their art and their characters especially Caythaes. :)

pick the one that speaks to you the MOST