#I’m like an old witch in the cottage who draws children and animals in with treats

[curly-cottage-girl]

Do you have a cat?

No, but one of my neighbors/friends does. She is the daughter of the original cat from last year (who is somewhere else now), and sadly she will also be moving soon since her owner has moved out. She is very sweet and I will miss her :( but she has three kittens, at least one or two of whom will be staying around the property as barn cats (especially since we’ve had recent rat problems), so yay! Idk how much I will interact with this third generation since the kittens are still pretty shy, but that’s what treats are for >:)

[the-fiction-witch]

The Witch

MOVIE THE LAST LEGION AGE UP COUPLE: ROMULUS X READER RATING: SMUT

I stood leant on the balcony looking out across the city, watching the villages on the other side of the mountain… they were burning, the smoke rising high into the sky, the flames illuminating the stars, we had sent a legion but they had been slaughtered along with the hundreds of men, women and children defenceless and slaughtered. My advisors were idiots, my staff useless. I feared for those in the city and the palace, the hundreds and thousands here that would die if our walls were to be breached. 

I knew what had to be done, but I was fearful to do it. 

"Romulus My king, please, you must reconsider" my father said as we walked down the hallowed palace halls

"Reconsider? What other hope have I got?"

"Our walls with prevail the legions will destroy them before they step foot into the city"

"Yeah we send one to protect the villages… how well did that go"

"Those were rural mountain villages, now where near the strength or security of the city”

“And what happens if they do get through the wall?”

“The army will-”

“What happens. If they get though?”

“If they get though” He says “The moment one of the barbarian men steps foot in on the city stone, We will have you halfway to britannia” 

“So, you want me to run off to Britannia with my tail between my legs? While my people die for me? While they suffer under a barbarian ruler? While children are tortured? While women are raped in the streets? Men forced into amries? While I hide myself away in Britannia hiding away in some dirty, muddy, tiny little hole while he destroys everything my ancestors have built?” 

“Why not come sit in with the senet we will discuss the attack and matters” “The senet is a bunch of men sitting around with titles from a hundred years ago. What is that going to help?”

“They know the city better than anyone” “The beggars in the street know the city better the senet never leaves the palace” I sighed

“Then why not go to the vestals? They always have good advice for the kings”

“Ohh so you want me to go sit around with a bunch of honry old virgins? And philosophers who cut their dicks off?” 

“Then go to the library and discuss with the Philosophers?”

“Ohh please, Unless I’m a new constellation, some old books or a cannabis bath they couldn’t give less of a shit” I sighed 

“Then go to the temple my king, discuss with the gods. Think things over in their presence” He says “Speak with Minerva, Take council with Mars,”

“I’m going to the temple… just not theres” 

“I still do not advise it my king” 

“Well that's all it is. Advice” I said “I’m going to see her” 

“You know the sort of things people…. Will say they see you going there?”

“I know. But I need power… and wisdom. Older, Stronger than the twelve”

I could feel my fear, thick inside my heart, getting heavier, harder, Like… I wanted to run away with every step I took closer, my escort followed me as did two slaves heading though the city past people all adoring but even the people had fear knowing the trouble coming and some knowing… where I was going. I walked the walk of gods where the temples all sat, I past Vesta and Vulcan, Past ceres and Minerva, Past Apollo and Diana, Past Venus, Past Neptune, Past mercury and mars, Past Pulto, Past juno and Jupiter… but I stopped a moment and nodded to the female slave who carried the offerings she nodded and took some of the flowers to juno and jupiter's statues as I felt there eyes watched me. Once she came back I continued until reaching the end of the road where the temple of Luna sat. 

I went inside the empty temple, the black stone mosaic floor clean and the roof open to allow in the sun but at the right times the moon. I went to the statue and left all the flowers there and I saw the door at the side

“Stay here, I need to see her alone” I said. They nodded so I headed to the door and down the stone steps deeper below the temple. Each stone step was dusty, and felt Ill trodden. 

I got to the chamber firelight cascading across the room and a woman in black knelt on the stone. 

“Greetings My king” she said

“Greetings Lady of the Moon” I said 

“What is it you seak?”

“You know what I seak”

She stopped and turned to me pulling the hood of her dress down revealing her shock white hair 

“You seak her?”

“I do.”

“You know what darkness lurks there?”

“I do. Please…. I need her.”

“I can send you there… but I cannot be held accountable for if you return”

“I know that. But I must see her” 

"....very well. You know where she is"

"Thank you" I nodded hurrying out the temple.

I stood changing my clothes to look plain so I could walk freely wrapping a brown cloak around me, 

"Please let someone accompany you"

"No. I don't wanna scare her. I take an army boy she'll think I'm arresting her, besides I need to be quiet, quick and unnoticed. She already knows I'm coming if she's going to hurt me there is little we can do about it" 

"My king… as one of your oldest and most trusted advisors make I speak plainly"

"Yes."

"I think you are betraying the gods. Your people. And your ansestors. Romulus… I have severed your family my whole life, served your father and mother while you rested in her womb and I have seved you every day you have been king… I beg of you. Do not go to her"

"I must. And honestly���" I said "I want to see her"

"Very well my king" he nods 

I took my things and scurried out the palace like a theif, sneaking thought the city as best I could trying not to draw attention to myself keeping my hood up so people didn't see who I was, I got to the city gate out to the woods seeing travelers coming in to find rooms for the night, women coming in from walks in the woods with there baskets, traders headed in and out but I walked straight out.

I felt so strange but I kept walking deeper and deeper into the woods, walking the pathway between the trees and animal burrows flowing the trail of lavender flowers that grow along the walk, there purple glow in the setting sun leading me to her.

I stopped, as I arrived.

The smell of grass, lavender and smoke filled my sinuses.

The sound of music from within, the wind in the tree's like voices, the movements of the branches and grass all seemed muted here.

I could feel grass and small sticks under my feet.

As I looked apon the house.

It was a small thached cottage with firelight beyond the windows, smoke coming from the chimneys, a wooden fence around the garden where herbs and flowers grew a gate in the fence sat close to me open already, beside the gate was a little apothecary shelf with a few bottles of things.

I stepped inside the gate shutting it behind me pulling down my hood stepping in the stone wedged into the dirt to avoid touching any plants I went to the blue door tapping three times. 

The door creaked open, I exhaled to calm me down before stepping inside, I shut the door behind me looking at the cottage, it was dark the fire going yet it did illuminate much, herbs sat on windowsills and tools in tables, a bed by the side with gosomer red and purple curtains and sheets with lots of pillows, symbols carved into anything wood or stone, the smell of something sweet over the fire and I saw her across the room sat surrounded by candles in her black dress she faced away from me her hair tightly wound around her head, working one something at her desk, lightly humming as she did. 

I stood a moment just listening to her hum, to the fire crack all of it muffled by the sound of my own heart beating in my ears.

"I-" I began

"Romulus Augustus, king of rome, second if his name right, blood of Cesar, the boy king" she says "good evening"

"Good evening miss."

"You don't have to you know"

"Don't have to what?" I asked 

"Go see her. If you would like to come see me romulus you have only to come see me" she says mixing potions

"I like to, so you know I'm coming"

"I always know when your coming" she giggled 

"I know you do. But still"

"I know why your here"

"I don't doubt you do." I said "you know everything else"

"Not everything"

"Almost everything"

"You know I can't romulus. It's not fair"

"How is it not? He believes himself a god carries dark magic with him it's only leveling the battle field"

"And I'm sure he'd say the same if he found out you had first" 

"Y/n. Please"

"My magic isn't strong enough for that romulus"

"Isn't strong enough? I've seen the power you have…" I said going over to her wrapping my arms around her neck and kissing her hair "I know you can. Please… thousands in the city will die if you don't"

"And thousands of them will die if I do" she says turning to face me going to get up and walk somewhere else but I held her hand 

"If your alligence to me? Or to him?"

"Neither of you" she says "I don't fight. For either side" she says moving away to go to the fire

"You've seen what will happen if you don't? Haven't you?"

"I have"

"Tell me"

"No. Knowone should know there-"

"Tell me!" I snapped "by order of the king you will tell me"

"I…. Romulus I can't" she said holding back tears I went over and pulled her to my chest kissing her hair 

"I'll die. Won't I?"

She nods 

"And if you do?"

"Then he dies"

"Y/n… I know that can't be easy. But would you listen anyway?"

"Okay" she nods 

"If you help me, I can give you anything, you'll save thousands of men, women and children in the city, save generations of art, books, sculptures that you'll know he'll destroy if he can and… and I'll owe you my life. And anything I have the power to give you I will. Land, a title, servents, a castle, whatever you want in this world I will do it for you, if you just do this...for me" 

"Romulus, he's my father" she says 

"He abused you, abandoned you, murdered your mother, I know he's your father but he has never once treated you like his daughter," I explain "atleast I wouldn't hurt you, I care about you… my little witch" I smiled caressing her cheek 

"Romulus, you know I can't" she says pushing me away and going back to her work 

"So you'll let me die?" I asked she didn't answer "... I thought you loved me?"

"I do"

"You love me? Your the only one who can help and your going to let me die?" 

"Romulus! I can't"

"Why not?" I asked her "give me one good reason why you can't?" She didn't answer just sitting there staring at the fire "well?"

"Relax. I already did" she smiled 

"What?"

"Seriously romulus I did it hours ago. Before you even left home"

"... You evil little thing! You really had be going there didn't you!"

"It's fun" she giggled 

"What do you need for doing it?" I asked 

"The usual" 

"Alright" I smiled getting the coins out my bag and the little bag of treats from the palace kitchens 

"Thank you" she giggled taking the to put them elsewhere in her house 

"Your welcome my little witch. Thank you for doing so"

"I have to take care of you" she smiled "speaking of which?"

"Is it that time again already?"

"Humm"

"Alright," I smirked slipping off my cloak and my bag leaving them by the door I went over to the bed perching myself on the edge leaning in my elbows as she came over and began untieing my pants hooking her finger into each loop of the string pulling hard and so each loop and knot undid until they where completely untied she pulled them down enough that my cock jumped free excited to see her, I bit my lip hard watching her undo the small leather corset around her waist letting it drop to the floor which allowed her dress that noticably wasn't tied together in the centre as it should have been, she took each side and pulled it off letting it pool in the floor around her leaving her completely naked. I tried not to moan just looking at that beautiful body. She let her hair down completely and pushed me back in the bed I smirked back and moved to be laid in her bed as she crawled ontop of me sitting so my cock nuzzled between the lips of her pussy. I went to touch her breasts but she slapped my hands away 

"You know the rules" she says 

"I know" I blushed "I pledge my heart, my soul and my body, willingly and ...excited" 

"I pledge my heart, my body, and my soul willingly" she giggled before she lent down and kissed me, those lips as soft and sweet as last I was here. I kissed back eagerly as I felt her undoing my shirt so I took over and pulled it off throwing it off the bed she smirked sitting up and next I knew I was inside her 

"Uughhh y/n!" I groaned grabbing her hips feeling how warm and soft she was around me 

She gasped as she reached the hilt and moved over grabbing something from her table as she did the way she leant her breasts where in my face so I smirked nuzzling with them and giving them kisses 

"Romulus!" She giggled pushing me away 

"Aww come on! You can't wave them in my face and not expect me to give them a kiss" I smirked 

“Dirty boy” she smirked holding her knife she cut her hand she offered the knife so I let her cut my hand and I took her hand tightly feeling my heart beating out of my chest as she began to move … 

[realm-of-dragons]

Staff App - Yagi Toshinori

Played by Mod Gray

OOC:

Name: Gray

Age: 26

Preferred pronouns: She/her or they/them

Timezone: PST

Discord: bizarrebird#1697

Any topics you want added to the content warning list?: animal abuse

Second choice character?: Eijiro Kirishima

IC:

Name: Toshinori Yagi

Age: 105 (physically, closer to 60)

Gender ID / pronouns: Cismale, he/him

OTPs, BroTPs, or NoTPS?: 

OTP - I primarily ship him with Aizawa

BroTP - With Midoriya of course, I would love them to have a familial relationship. That goes for most of the younger characters too, he’s very prone to adopting anyone who needs a decent parent. 

NoTP - I would rather not ship him with any of the characters who are his students in canon and I’m a little hesitant to see him get involved with villain characters romantically. 

Toshinori is gay and though he’s rather private about his personal life, he doesn’t make a secret of that. There is an endgame ship in mind for him with Shouta Aizawa, so he won’t be actively pursuing romance outside of that.

Race: Human 

Appearance: Toshinori always resembles his skeletal, shrunken form as he does in canon. In his youth, he resembled his more well known All Might form, but after several injuries and magical procedures, he has been reduced to his smaller appearance at all times. His most notable features, apart from his overall nearly bone thing appearance, are his shadowed piercing blue eyes and his wild mane of blond hair. 

Role: Toshinori is the ruler of the human kingdom. His reign has lasted nearly fifty years and he is loyal to his people to a fault. In his younger years, he was a great unifier of the scattered humans, bringing them together and was unanimously selected to lead them. 

Skills:

Toshinori’s greatest skill is his ability to uplift and inspire those around him. He’s always been an excellent public speaker who could bring hope to those who needed it most.

In his younger years, he was a skilled warrior, never losing a fight once he put his mind to it. These skills have fallen away with his weakening from, but, if necessary, he can still hold his own. 

He’s an excellent teacher and has trained many of the greatest heroes of the last several decades, who have gone on to do great things themselves.

Even with his weakened form, Toshinori is still much stronger than he looks and is capable of lifting most full grown adults over his head. He rarely demonstrates this ability, but it is useful in a pinch.

Backstory:

Humans are nothing. They’re scattered, lost, barely holding on. Liege lords lay claims to any land they desired, caring nothing for the smallfolk they force under their thumbs. Farmland is burnt when absurd taxes aren’t paid. Mercenaries terrorize towns barely strong enough to keep standing. 

Toshinori’s home burns. He’s a child as he watches the embers take to the wind. His father leaves, seeking work and a doctor for his mother. The cough came with the fire, it takes her not long after. His father never returns. 

It isn’t fair. It isn’t right. Someone must do something. 

He’s not the only orphan left behind by the blazes that spread across the village. Taking to the woods, he learns to fish, tries (and fails and fails and fails) to hunt. It isn’t much, but it’s enough to keep the children fed, to tide the few parents left over for another day. It’s nearly a month before men in armor approach the town, demanding to know who has been hunting in the lord’s woods. Toshinori steps forward without a thought. The punishment for theft is death at the knight’s sword, life in service, or life in chains. He’s ten years old. Given a choice, he asks for a sword. 

The weight is nearly too much for his hands, but he lifts it as the crowd gasps. He blocks one blow, then two, then the third sends the sword from his hands, skittering across the dirt. Starving, hands aching, he stands tall and waits for the blow to fall. It never comes. A new knight stands before him, calling for an end. Her voice rings out strong as she sends the lords’ men running, tails between their legs. 

Nana Shimura offers her hand and Toshinori takes it. 

They travel together. After a few years, the sword never feels too heavy in his hands. But it isn’t enough. Nana fights for justice, for the little people, but once she’s done, she moves onto the next town and the next. And every time, Toshinori fights to stay. There must be more they can do, there’s so much more that their people need. If the people were to come together, unite under a common banner, they could be so much more. All they need is a force to rally behind. 

Toshinori doesn’t mean to become that force, to be a leader, but when he speaks, people begin to listen. When he tells them they can band together, they do. When he speaks of strength, they find it in themselves, more than they could ever know. When he speaks of a future, they start to see it too. But seeing it alone isn’t enough. 

They need someone who can fight for it, and Toshinori does. He fights until his bones ache, until his fingers are scarred and bloody, until he can barely stay upright. And there are still more battles ahead. His hope has been given to so many and for a time, it nearly abandons him until Nana tells him of a legend. Whispers of a witch who could grant him the power he needs, not just to fight, but to stand firm, to be the symbol that the people need.

Searching through frost and fire, down to a forbidden cave, Toshinori finds not a witch, but a well. The promise of power and long life draw him in, the inscription assuring both, for those who are true of heart. So Toshinori drinks deep. It’s after his rousing speech, when blood creeps up his throat that he learns all magic comes with a price. But he remains strong, stands tall. If he can bring the people together, last long enough for them to be united under one peaceful banner, it will be enough.

His strength grows, as do the people rallying around him. The liege lords are forced out when even their strongest men turn tail and flee. One last white flag rises and Toshinori lifts his hand in victory. They’ve won. Blood fills his lungs and his muscles ache, but his smile remains as he waves and shakes every hand held his way. 

From there, he steps down, or he means to. The people have been brought together, his job is done. But… things are never so easy. Meetings are held and Toshinori insists on a vote. It is for the people to choose who should lead them. He puts forth several names, some of his supporters, some who opposed him, all wise, earnest people worthy of following. Every last one of them votes for him instead. The people follow suit and Toshinori is crowned king of the new kingdom of Unifia. 

For years, he reigns and peace is held. But the pain creeps. Day by day it grows. Still, his people need him, so Toshinori keeps his head held high. A little bit of unpleasant magic can’t hold him back. 

The question rises now and then, who will follow after him once his reign is done? His advisers make casual comments, suggestions, perhaps it’s time you think about finding a wife, your highness. Toshinori lets his laugh echo through the halls as he gently turns their ideas aside. No, that is not what he wants. 

His mind drifts now and then to a man with dark hair, shadows beneath his eyes, something altogether inhuman about his beauty. But Toshinori lets the moment pass. He’s no longer some young, eager adventurer, he is king, and flights of fantasy must be put aside. 

The strength starts to leave him, slowly at first, but it isn’t long before others take notice. Toshinori does what he can, but he can no longer hide the blood that dots his hands with every hacking cough. A healer is brought in, then another then another. Some ease the pain, slow the blood, others bring it back tenfold. Finally, a young mage is summoned. He’s talented and powerful. A great bout of sickness strikes at once and Toshinori knows nothing for nearly a month.

When he awakes, the blood has slowed to a trickle, but the softness of his youth has abandoned him. His arms are thin, brittle, his face sunken and gaunt. It’s truly for the best he never sought out a wife, for who could stand to look upon him with love now. But he lives on, his legs still carrying him, his eyes still sharp, his voice still enough to reach his people. 

It is only now that Toshinori knows what must be done. He needs a successor, one who can carry his people into the world he has given everything to build for them. And with the aid of the elven king and the newly established adventurer’s guild, he has just the place to begin his search. 

Extras:

Toshinori took the throne when he was a little over 50 years old, but due to the magic of the well, he looked quite a bit younger even then. Now his true age is finally starting to catch up with him a bit. 

The magic that gave him strength all those years ago has taken its toll and Toshinori finds himself feeling rather weak. The worst of his coughing fits have passed thanks to his healers, but from time to time, he still coughs up a bit of blood. 

He has his eye on Izuku Midoriya to be his successor, how far their relationship has progressed will be discussed when Midoriya is picked up. 

Writing sample:

The castle’s grand halls are empty and unnecessary. Toshinori has always thought they were far too much, far too grand. But the people insisted. His advisers insisted. A king must have a castle. If it were up to him, he would be content with a cottage in the woods, close to the central city, but far enough away that he could have his privacy. He loves the people, he always has, but even he needs a bit of time for himself now and then.

Especially now. 

He flexes his fingers. The skin feels taut, drawn too tight, like it might begin to crack at any moment. Life is leaking out of him. Everyday a bit more springs free, slowly trailing away. Toshinori doesn’t guess at the number of days. It’s likely to be years still. That hardly matters. He hardly matters in the long run. It’s the kingdom, the people who must live on. 

So he refocuses, attention going to the parchment laid out on the desk before him. More potential successors. He trusts his advisers, of course he does. But… they have different ideas about things, about what it means to be king. They mean well. Toshinori scans the ever growing list. “Strong candidates,” he says, almost gently. “You’ve brought me an excellent list. Thank you.” 

His words are earnest, genuine. They always are. His advisers bow, mumbling platitudes as they make for the door. By now, they know that he prefers to examine the lists on his own. The door shuts behind them and Toshinori finally lets his shoulders slump. He brings a hand to his brow and lets out a slow breath. They all want him to have the gusto, the energy of his youth, but… it isn’t in him anymore. After so long, he’s started to wonder if it ever was. 

Hand falling away, he turns his eyes back to the list. A frown slowly grows. The choices are clever, careful. His advisers have picked children… sons of prominent families. Any would bring their supporters rallying behind them. But none of them are right. Leaning back in his chair, Toshinori lets his eyes fall shut.

At once, he sees them, the jeering faces of the old lords, smells the ever present smoke. Sitting up sharply, he presses a hand to his mouth to stifle a cough. No blood lingers on his hand when he finally draws it away. That’s something at least. As he’s done again and again, he casts the list aside. None of them are right. If this kingdom is to go on, the choice must be his. He trusts his people, of course he does, but they’re young, they’re too optimistic. They haven’t seen the cruelness of people, they haven’t seen the power of hatred and greed. And perhaps that is his own fault. 

He leans forward in his seat, grabbing a fresh piece of parchment. There is a decree to be made. A letter to be sent. It is time to bring the next generation of adventurers, of heroes , into the fold. One of them will be worthy, of that much, he is certain. He must be. 

[azerothexpanded]

Kul Tiran Witches

[No image for this one, since two bunches of headcanon are coming out and I’m really bad at witch transmogs. Hope the extra stuff makes up for it!]

While the Heartsbane witches are without question the most vile ones to trouble the island kingdom, witchcraft in Drustvar has a long history that is almost as old as Kul Tiras itself. Witches have both troubled the people of Drustvar and given them aid- drawing on the strange death-magics of Thros for all manner of spells. 

Long ago, the Drust retreated into the realm of Thros, licking their wounds from a war with Arom Waycrest’s forces. They swore vengeance- but soon found themselves trapped in the death-realm, a strange place of horrors born of the Emerald Nightmare. It is unknown how many of these strange, twisted realms the Nightmare spawned- but the simple fact that it survives independent of the Nightmare itself is telling enough of its terrible power. The Drust, despite cursing the place they were now trapped in, adapted to it quickly- and over many hundreds of years, worked to master the realm’s power. 

With the Drust defeated, Kul Tiras was free to be settled in full. A number of people came over from Gilneas and Strom, seeking a life on the frontier and new lands in which to live. Among the new arrivals were the followers of the old ways of humanity- practitioners of crude forms of druidism and shamanism. Part of this migration was in response to a new wave of Light-based worship that was sweeping the new nations of humanity. 

Those who could perform some communion with the elements soon found themselves drawn to the slowly-growing followers of the Tidemother. The ones who practiced druidism, though, ventured further south. Many sought the lands around Tiragarde Sound, becoming important part of the frontier towns springing up there. 

One group of harvest witches ventured further south, to Drustvar. The dense and quiet forests there reminded them of their former home in Gilneas’ Blackwald. While the humans believed their enemies to be defeated, Drustvar itself was still regarded as highly dangerous- some of the Drust constructs walked the land still, and the land itself still was home to all manner of beast. 

By pure chance, the witches stumbled into one of the small communities of Thornspeakers. The wise Drust recognized the powers the witches wielded, and offered to work alongside them, and show them their ways. This offer, made in good faith, sewed division among the witches- for many of them had heard tales of the unbridled ferocity of the Drust during the battle for Kul Tiras, and did not know which side the Thornspeakers had fought on. In the end, half of the witches traveled with their new friends to Ulfar’s Den, displaying their powers to him, helping. As the Thornspeakers integrated into Drustvar’s settlements, the harvest witches would be their companions and guides- and eventually, they would be among the first humans to become Thornspeakers in their own rights. The other half traveled deeper into the woods, seeking a place to settle.

By pure accident, they found one of the ancient fortresses of the Drust- and though it was abandoned, much of their power had been unleashed during the struggle to defend it. The witches knew that this magic was strange, and far from the natural power they were used to drawing on... but it was also strong. Far, far stronger than their fledgling druidic magic. The witches took up residence there, and began experiments to draw on the death magic born of Thros. 

It was difficult for the witches to use at first- but over time, they began to have some level of control over the volatile magic, forsaking their use of natural magic entirely. For many years, they practiced their magic deep within the forest, using the cursed Drust ruins to hide from over-inquisitive Thornspeakers and adventurers alike. As far as anybody knew, they had vanished entirely into the wilds, likely eaten by some monster.

This worked to the advantage of the witches- and they remained unknown and hidden for many years- eventually spreading out all over Drustvar in pursuit of knowledge, as well as homes for themselves. Some even lived on the fringes of the slowly-growing settlements, keeping their magic a secret and only using it at great need, while others were openly known as sorceresses who consorted with dark and terrible powers.

For many hundreds of years, this continued on- the original witches trained many apprentices and preserved their knowledge in strange grimoires written in blood. Drustvar’s witches would pass into local legend over time- they were used more as figures in tales to frighten children than truly believed to exist. Some witches continued to hide in plain sight on the fringes of society, known in certain circles to be willing to put strange powers to work... for a price. Other witches would lurk around Drust ruins, or live in cottages in the woods, sometimes even living in small groups to share knowledge and power. 

Their strange magic could be put to any number of uses- but was quite ritualistic in nature, requiring many reagents and magical circles- and oftentimes even whole organs. Some of the witches living in towns even found ways to profit off of their power- ridding the region of troublesome monsters and selling favors, curses, and elixirs to townsfolk. While they were never particularly welcome, 

Seven hundred years after the Drust trapped themselves in Thros, Gorak Tul and some of the most powerful Drust sorcerers had gained enough mastery over the realm and its magic to be able to affect the regular world. When they reached out, though, they were perplexed to find that some of the humans had taken up their magic, and had even begun using it for their own ends. 

While most of the Drust sorcerers were furious that humans had taken up their own magic, Gorak Tul saw opportunity. The Drust king could not defeat his enemies on the field of battle, but he could destabilize their kingdom. He reached out across realms to the witches, invading their dreams and presenting himself as a generous patron. He offered gifts of power and knowledge of wielding Thros’ magic. While they seemed like incredible deals to the witches, he only ever offered them fractions of his power in return for servitude. It always came with an unknown price as well, deeply corrupting their souls. 

The witches would animate the undead remains of the Drust and set them loose on the roads, or raise terrifying constructs that would attack settlements. The woods quickly gained a reputation for being haunted- and the Thornspeakers were hard-pressed to keep the balance of the forest against Tul’s machinations. The people of Kul Tiras were a more superstitious sort than those of the mainland- often dealing with monsters on the sea. When horrors arose on the land, they were often dispatched by brave members of the Waycrest Guard or the Outriggers.

Drustvar’s witches were not the only ones ensnared by his offers- and sometimes, Tidesages or mages would secretly begin to wield Thros’ power as well. Sometimes, he would even choose to appear in the dreams of ordinary folk all over Kul Tiras, instructing them on how to wield the dark powers. Tul was careful never to draw too much attention, and was careful to avoid the watchful eyes of Ulfar and his Thornspeakers.

This continued on for some time- though as Kul Tiras grew and industrialized, Tul found it harder to destabilize on a grand scale like he dreamed. His schemes continued, and he would sometimes make almost irresistible offers of power to the poor and disenfranchised all over the kingdom. Some of Boralus’ backstreet gangs had individuals with darker powers among them, and at one point, he had even managed to corrupt a noblewoman or two into witchcraft. Other Drust became patrons of some witches as well, but Gorak Tul was the most prolific. 

The witches still had effect, when he used them, but Tul was unsatisfied with the fact he had not brought down any large part of Kul Tiras despite all his work- and so he began to hatch a grand plan, searching out the most vulnerable individuals who wielded power. Eventually, he would find the perfect target in none other than Meredith Waycrest. 

[anonymouswriter2311]

OH MAH GAWSHH YOUR LITTLE ROBIN IS SO CUTE XD WE NEEDED THIS THANK YOU SO MUCHH XD a lot of people wanted to see little Robin interact with present Robin other than a little teasing from little Robin XD As for prompts if you're interested, maybe Little Robin knows a bit of basic magic and she uses that said magic to mess with Present Robin? All in good fun though cause even if Zelena is chiding Little Robin, all three of them can see that she's trying not to laugh?

Thanks for the prompt, after I got yours I received two other that tied in together perfectly. So this chapter of Little Robin’s Adventures will be 1/3! Enjoy!

Little Robin’s Adventures, Chapter 3: Little Robin vs. Magic Part 1

Little Robin couldn’t believe her luck! After weeks and weeks of trying to pick the lock on the basement door, she finally succeeded. She had been dying to get into the underground storage room since the day her Mother put the lock on the door, telling her that it wasn’t for children. That was all she needed to prompt her, so while her babysitter was distracted by cleaning up the mess that Little Robin had purposely made, she used a hairpin that Alice had put in her hair a few weeks before- a hairpin that she made a point of carrying everywhere with her, just because Alice had given it to her- to try her hand at picking the lock each day.Trying her best not to make any noise, the 6-year-old tiptoed down the creaking stairs. The room was dimly lit by a few battery-operated candle’s spread around the room. Robin had never seen anything like this before, she knew about magic, her Aunt had it and her Mom used too, but she never saw a witch’s spell room before. Afraid to touch any of the various potions and powers, Little Robin leered at each and every object in the room, until one, in particular, caught her eye. It was like it was blinking at her, drawing her in. Walking closer the small brunette hesitantly reached out to touch the glowing green object, turning her head and squinting her eyes as she did so, preparing for any harm that would come. As her fingers came into contact with the object, the room was filled with a thick green smoke, engulfing the young girl.As the smoke cleared Little Robin felt different somehow, she felt fuller, more powerful. Her fingers twitched as sparks bounced from the tips. “Mom is going to kill me…” Little Robin mumbled to herself.“Robin? Where are you?” The sound of her annoying babysitter called out, starling the young girl and activating her magic, evoking the green smoke once again. When it cleared away this time, Little Robin found herself outside of the farmhouse, through the window she could see the teenage babysitter running around the house in a panic. Smirking, the young brunette took off running, going in search of a certain blonde woman and brunette archer she wanted to impress.“Zelena! Don’t be mad…I’ve kinda lost your daughter…she got into the basement.” The line went dead just as Zelena uttered the words fired.***Little Robin had been up at her older self’s cottage a number of times, she enjoyed the time that she got to spend with Alice, who was easily her favorite grown up, ever! They would play in the garden, have tea parties, read books, bake cookies…while the older version of herself would just scowl and occasionally join in if Alice begged her too. But she wasn’t always like that, there were times when she would wrap an arm around Little Robin’s shoulder and the two would go off into the woods at the back of Robin and Alice’s house, Robin had decided to teach Little Robin to track, be it animals or humans. She liked the time that she got to spend with both of her adult friends, they seemed to be the only adults in all the joined realms that treated her like a normal person, instead of just the daughter of the feared Wicked Witch.The land around the cottage was quiet, not many people even knew that it was there, just the way older Robin had liked it. She needed the quiet, so she could practice in peace…which she still didn’t get. Alice had always been a ball of energy, especially after she escaped the tower, so most days the only bit of quiet Robin got was when Alice went out into town to do the shopping. Pulling the bowstring back with ease, a crooked smile grew on the archer’s face as the arrow wisps past her face, hitting it’s intended target a few yards away. Little Robin, hid in a nearby bush, she always wanted to see Robin use her bow, but Alice had always said no, saying that it was too dangerous for her to be around. A wicked smiled grew on Little Robin’s face as she felt her fingers start to tingle once more, Robin had always taken great pleasure in messing around with her younger self, now it was Little Robin’s turn for a little messing of her own.“Sorry, Robin…but this is one shot you won’t be making.” Little Robin whispered as she flicked her wrist, enchanting the arrow that older Robin pulled out of her quiver. Lining up her shot, Robin was clueless to her younger self’s presence or of the plan she had. Releasing the arrow, both Robin’s watched as it flew through the air, coming to a hard halt just as it was about to hit the tree. Robin looked on in worry at the hovering arrow, the worry soon turned to fear when the arrow turned and came flying back in Robin’s direction at full speed. The archer ducked down in the tic of time, the arrow only missing her slightly.“What the hell!” Robin shouted as her eyes scanned the surrounding area, closing her eyes she breathed in the surrounds, there was magic nearby. It felt new, at least to her anyway, each person’s magic left a particular signature after its use, and even after that, the signature was always different depending on the relationship you had with the magic user. Alice’s gave Robin butterflies every time she used it, while her Mother’s left the smell of freshly baked cookies and memories of childhood in the air. But this signature was something that Robin had never felt before, it left a bad taste in her mouth and made the hair on her arm’s stand on end. She knew that nothing good was going to come with this magic, not because the person using it was bad or evil, but because whoever had gotten their hands on magic had no idea what they were doing. “I know you’re out there…come out now and I won’t be mad.” Robin shouted, but no one appeared, thinking that they must have run off after the arrow prank backfired so badly, Robin gave up and walked back towards her cottage.Little Robin wasn’t done just yet though, the look on Robin’s face had been priceless and she was determined to mess with the girl some more. The rest of the pranks that day had been more harmless, the arrow coming back at older Robin, really did scare Little Robin at the time and she worried about what Alice would say if she were to do some serious damage to her older self, so she stuck to the basics of pranks. Chairs were moved away as Robin went to sit on them, things disappeared back into the fridge after Robin had lifted them out, the channel on the television never stayed on for more than a few seconds. Robin was starting to get mad, but every time she went to look for the prankster, Little Robin stayed well hidden just like she had been taught. It had got to the point where the older brunette was starting to get really annoyed when Robin’s phone sprang to life.Thinking that it was her prankster, the archer angrily answered. “I swear if I get my hands on you, you little-”“Robin?” Zelena interrupted, shocked at the angry tone of her older daughter’s voice.“Zelena? I’m so sorry, I thought you were someone who has been making my life a living nightmare all day.” Robin was quick to apologize to this version of her Mother.“Have you seen Robin?! She got into my basement and then she disappeared!” Zelena spoke in a blind panic, Robin felt a twinge of worry overtake her body, but it was quickly washed away when she realized who her little visitor had been today.“That little…I think I know where the little monster is.” Robin spoke reassuringly, hearing Zelena let out a sigh of relief.“Really?”“Yep, can you come by the cottage? I have a feeling that I’m not gonna catch her so easily?” Robin smirked as she looked outside, trying to spot her younger self.“Of course! Thank you, Robin!” Zelena smiled as she hung up on the older Robin.Smirking to herself, Robin shrugged on her jacket as she walked outside. Honing in on her hunter skills, she listened for the littlest of sounds to indicate where her tormentor has been hiding. It was the snapping of a twig to her right and the sharp breath intake that gave her location away. Making herself as light as possible, the archer tiptoed around the back of the house, hoping to catch the small brunette by surprise. “Robin?” The older archer jumped at the sound of her love, approaching with her hands full with grocery bags.“Alice!” A small brunette jumped from her hiding place and ran towards the blonde.“Hello Little one, I didn’t know that you were here!” Alice smiled brightly as she placed the brown grocery bags down onto the grass gently, before scooping the small brunette into her arms.“I came to show you my new trick!” Little Robin explained as she allowed herself to be cuddled by the blonde.“Magic…how?” Robin added as she glared at the child.“Wait she has magic?” Alice asked in confusion, as Little Robin pulled away to show her the sparks jumping from her fingertips. “Careful Little one, magic at this age can be very unpredictable.” Alice gently placed her hands on the child’s wrists lowering them to her side.“And dangerous, I don’t mind the pranks Kid…but the arrow incident could have been very dangerous,” Robin spoke flatly as she crossed her arms over her chest.“What arrow incident? Did you let her near your arrows?” All three turned to see Zelena running up the path that leads to the cottage as she shouted at the older brunette. “Hide me…” Little Robin mumbled as she hid behind Alice.“Of course not, your daughter has…” Robin started.“Magic, I know. One of my amulets we’re drained when I got home. What were you thinking Robin, I told you not to touch anything like that, ever!” Zelena shouted at the small child, who was now teary-eyed. “I’m sorry Mommy…and I’m sorry for nearly hitting you with an arrow Robin…and for the chair, the game with the fridge, changing the channel on the television and for the shoe thing.” Little Robin mumbled as Alice and Zelena tried their best not to laugh at the antics the little brunette had been up to today and how much she had managed to torment her older self.“It’s okay Kid, I didn’t mind everything just don’t mess with my arrows again…wait, what shoe thing?” Robin glared again at the smirking child, who was still using Alice as a barricade between her, her Mother and now her older self.“I might have filled them with slime…”“Oh my god, that’s priceless,” Alice mumbled as a small giggle escaped the blonde’s lips, earning a glare for her love, as well as a less angry one from Zelena.“As priceless as it might have been, it was also really wrong! Breaking into the basement, unleashing magic, nearly hurting your older self with an arrow and pulling pranks on poor Robin all day, it’s unacceptable behavior young lady…did you really magic slime into all of her shoes?” Zelena suddenly lets the anger that filled her disappear, making both her and Alice burst out laughing.“This isn’t funny!” Robin shouted at the laughing pair.“I’m sorry love, but it’s pretty impressive…not the arrow thing, but everything else was pretty good.” Alice smiled before pulling adult Robin into her arms.“Yeah, I guess it was pretty impressive…but you know, now I have to get you back, right?” Robin teased, with no real intention of getting revenge on her younger self, not yet anyway.“What are you gonna do?” Little Robin mumbled, magic sparks jumping from her fingers.“Calm down Little one, Nobin is only teasing.” Alice tried to reach out to touch the girl but was pushed back by her magic. “Mommy! What is happening?” Little Robin screamed as green smoke started to twirl around her feet. “Kid, you need to calm down. You’re scared and it’s only getting worse.” Robin pleaded with her younger self, as she helped Alice off the ground. “No! Robin!” All three women screamed as the 6-year-old disappeared in a puff of green smoke. 

TBC 

AO3

[therumbellehappyendingaward-blog]

Chapter 2 writer: @ashadeofpemberley

PROMPT: KNIFE

AO3: HERE

3 Months Earlier

Mama wasn’t going to wake up.

The words from the doctors faded into indistinct murmurs as Belle French slowly came to the realization that her mother, her best friend, her only friend, was not going to see her graduate from high school. It was a small milestone at best, truly insignificant in comparison to all that Belle wanted to accomplish in her life, but the swiftness with which her world was crumbling stole the air from her lungs. Annette French had slipped into a coma six months before her 50th birthday after spending the day in her greenhouse. No one could explain what had caused it; it was a like a spell had been cast over her and no matter how many times Belle left tearstained kisses on her mother’s forehead, her eyes remained tightly shut.

Papa had already started to withdraw from her. Doctor Whale said it was common for husbands in his situation and would come around once he had fully grieved. Though he never said it aloud, Belle knew he partially blamed her for her mother’s condition.

“Damned superstitious nonsense,” was his normal response to his wife and daughter’s little stories. For her 12th birthday, Belle had been given a tiny book of spells from her mother with a note telling her how the book had been passed down to the youngest daughter of her mother’s family. Annette had passed it off as a family joke, something her mother had given to her when she was Belle’s age.

“My grandmother said that her mother stole this book from a powerful sorcerer she had seen leaving a mansion in the woods. But when she tried to return to the sorcerer’s hideaway it had vanished. I tried a few spells for fun when I first got the book, but none of them worked.” she said as Belle’s eyes scanned the worn pages with unbound curiosity. For several years the leather bound book sat on one of the countless shelves that made up the majority of Belle’s room. Her mother never mentioned it to her again except on her thirteenth birthday when she nervously asked if Belle shown it to anyone. She, of course, hadn’t-- no teenage girl who already carried the label of geek needed the extra baggage of having others think she believed in magic. Annette seemed relieved by this knowledge and let the matter drop after confirming its place in Belle’s room.

But her mother’s continuing concern for the book had renewed Belle’s curiosity in its contents.

Flipping through its pages, Belle found that the so called spells it contained were fairly harmless, almost mundane. A spell to help roses grow, another for turnips, there was even a recipe for a tonic that was supposed to cure bad breath. Finally she settled on attempting a spell that would turn flowers blue. Her parent’s small flower shop had been struggling for months now and having a novelty product like blue roses was sure to drum up some business for them. The next day, Belle snuck in the necessary supplies to the shop’s greenhouse in her bookbag and got to work.

If she was being honest with herself, she felt silly the for the first couple minutes. Whispering short incantations whilst drawing foreign symbols in the dirt was not going to improve her already ready shaky reputation should someone walk in on her.

She spent the afternoon in the greenhouse, making sure to stop by every rosebush and perform her little spell before watering the plants. Even if it didn’t work, she still would at least get her chores down before dinner. Though her father never truly got angry with her, he often scolded her for being too distracted by either her books or her daydreams to water the residents of the greenhouse before their soil began to crack and crumble and their leaves faded to a sickly yellow.

Belle waited a good two extra hours to see if the spell had taken effect yet, but not even so much as a light purple had come over the roses. Her mother had called her in for dinner a good ten minutes ago and quite frankly Belle had found it funny that she ever thought this would work to begin with.

So when her father shouted for her and his wife to come down to the greenhouse the next morning, she never considered that her afternoon of magic would have anything to do with it.

But oh did it ever.

Everything was blue. The roses, the daisies, even the small tomato plant they kept in the corner had turned a shocking cerulean hue. But it looked like the spell had taken it upon itself to up the ante as further investigation uncovered that even the roots of every plant had turned blue overnight.

Her father’s first thought was vandals, but, as her mother gently pointed out, it hardly seemed likely that there were any vandals on the planet that would attack a greenhouse with such an unusual goal nor would they have time to dye everything and put it back without getting caught by the timed lock on the door.

Belle’s father then turned to her. “Did you forget to set the lock on the door before you left here yesterday, Belle?”

“No, Papa, I’m sure that I set it,” she shook her head. That much was at least true, but once she caught her mother’s eye and saw that knowing look that never failed to wring the truth out of her, Belle knew she had been caught.

After palacating her husband as best she could and sending him off to see about advertising their new stock, Annette French turned her attention towards her daughter.

“Did you have something to do with this Belle?” she asked calmly. Belle nodded her head miserably, making her curly chestnut hair fall in front of her eyes. She never meant for it to go this far, never expected what was supposed to be a harmless afternoon of make-believe to turn into something so unexpected.

“Did you use you book I gave you?”

Another nod.

“Do you want to try it again?”

 With that final question, Belle was thrown into the secret life of the descendants of the Dames Blanches. Dames Blanches was an ancient society of women once said to be restless spirits that tormented travelers but were really much less threatening figures. Namely witches.

The story about Belle’s great-great grandmother was only partially true- she had been given the book of spells from a sorcerer, a powerful wizard that lived in the woods behind the Blanche family’s estate. In exchange for a small cottage, the wizard taught the children of the estate how to perform spells to ensure the prosperity of their gardens and livestock. For several years the estate flourished and the plants and animals that came from her family’s land were the envy of the entire town. It was not to last though, as a stable hand caught one of the children practicing a healing spell late one night on one of their horses.The townspeople soon heard of the wizard living in the woods and decided to burn the forest and her great-great grandmother’s estate to the ground as punishment for harboring witches.

The wizard was never caught however, and the remains of the cottage were never found among the ashes.

The only evidence that any of this was ever real was a long rusted knife that no one could remember the Blanche family owning and a tiny leatherbound book full of simple harvest spells. It had been smuggled out by the youngest daughter of the estate--her great-great grandmother, Annabelle Blanche, and the only surviving member of the Blanche family.

Covered in ash and grief she created and placed a powerful curse on the land so that none but a daughter of Blanche could ever revive it. Over the years the magic that had struck such fear into the hearts of the townsfolk faded from memory into myth, but the curse still held. The townspeople had forgotten that they had come to rely on the hearty produce that came from the estate and within a few years the town had been abandoned.

Much was the same for Annabelle and her descendants. With every generation the magic that once flowed through the Blanche family line grew weaker until one year it was discovered that a daughter from the house of Blanche could no longer perform magic at all. After that the book was given to the youngest daughter of the Blanche family as a reminder of all that their family had been and all that the matriarch of their family had done.

Belle was the first daughter in thirty years to ever show a trace of magic in her blood and now it seemed as if she had inherited all of the dormant magic of her forbearers at once. Her mother could barely contain her excitement as she recalled all of the tales the late Annabelle Blanche that had been told to her when she was a girl. Apparently the curse had become more complicated over time as Annabelle Blanche had gone back to her home at the ripe age of 92 and tried repeatedly to lift the curse on their family’s land but to no avail.

“It is said that at that the moment in which Annabelle cast her curse she was so filled with both bitterness and innocence that her magic split into both dark and light.” Her mother spoke of her great-grandmother with a reverence that one might reserve for a queen or deity.

“So it serves to follow that only the powers of both dark and light magic can undo it and by then it was too late for Annabelle to fix her mistake.”

“But Mama, I don’t know dark magic, so how are we going to undo her curse?” A fifteen year-old Belle replied practically to her mother’s story. Over the past two years her magic had grown slowly but surely thanks to her mother’s careful tutoring and encouragement. But she still couldn’t do much more than grow flowers and occasionally some vegetables (turnips always gave her trouble).

“I know, and I hope you never will.” Her mother would always reply with a sigh. “You see, when Annabelle cast that curse I don’t believe she ever meant for it to be such a burden on her children and grandchildren but that’s the trouble with magic: it always comes with a price and you have to be prepared to pay it.”

“Who knows, Mama? Maybe one day we’ll come up with a new spell to undo the curse altogether.”

“Maybe, sweetheart, maybe.”

Annette looked down at her daughter who had now snuggled into bed and was holding her spellbook under her pillow, never realizing that Belle’s words had been all too serious and that the real trouble was just about to start.

[xxxdragonfucker69xxx]

walpurgisnacht weddings

You are one who has sold her soul to the devil.

You had a good reason for it, I’m sure. You burned for vengeance, or you needed something to get you through another night, or maybe you even felt some sick love for that old thing. You can hardly remember anymore, though you remember the moment vividly: a contract, a ceremony, a kiss. The devil is your husband now, and you are a witch.

It is Walpurgisnacht.

Tonight is the Witches’ Sabbath, when they gather to cavort with fairies and spectres and other dark powers. The devil himself will be here soon, and you will come before him. He will ask what you have done this year, and you will tell him. You will not be able not to speak. All the witches will take turns, and others may interject during your story to clarify what they did, but you will tell him everything. Those flashback stories comprise the majority of play in Walpurgisnacht Weddings.

To create your character, consider: your name, your appearance, and your relation to the villagers. Is your name something like “Agatha up on the hill”, or is it “Hildegard von Hexenhammer”? Are you gnarled and elderly, or unnaturally youthful? Do you live on the outskirts of society, feared and reviled, or are you the matriarch of half a dozen clans? You may name up to four Bonds, the things that you care about and the context in which you care about them.

Then divide 2 points between Familiar, Treasure, Curse, and Gift. Each of these is something your husband has given you, in return for your loyal service and many sacrifices. Familiars are demonic spirits in the shape of animals (or stranger things) to accompany and serve you. Treasures are enchanted objects, like broomsticks that fly and houses that walk. Curses are the meat and drink of many witches: they are the bad things you can do to other people. Gifts are things that are good for a short time, but either need continued feeding or make things worse when they expire. Any given one of these is on a scale from 1 to 3.

Familiar

A small animal which is intelligent and can talk but has no other powers. Overall loyal but may have its own agenda, such as plotting your downfall or stealing the good cat food

An intelligent and speaking animal with minor powers, such as sharing its senses with you or turning invisible or a larger animal with general utility such as a nightmare horse or black dog or a familiar in a stranger form, such as an impeccable butler or a speaking flame

A familiar that can, in times of need, manifest major powers such as growing tenfold and becoming invincible or retrieving your soul from beyond death

Treasure

A household object with minor utility, such as stones that suck away poison or mirrors that compliment and advise you

An object with major utility, such as a broomstick that can carry you cross the sky or a castle that walks of its own volition

An item of great power, such as a mirror that can scry across the entire kingdom or a cauldron that can raise the dead

Curse

Minor inconveniences, such as curdling milk or mild illnesses up to death of livestock and foretold death in certain circumstance, across a household.

Sickness and misfortune across an entire village or major problems, like being transformed into an animal or rendered invisible and inaudible, for a single person

A curse of terrible power, such as turning everyone in a castle into inanimate objects or drawing all of a town’s children to you and into the side of a mountain

Gifts

Preternatural skill for up to a year and a day, after which you must pay for more or youth while a certain condition is met or a certain sacrifice is upheld at least yearly

Healing of a life-threatening wound in exchange for another life or conditional immortality or other power

The granting of nearly any wish

At this point it may be useful to clarify the nature of Gifts and Curses. Each Gift or Curse is a specific ability: Curse 2 doesn’t grant you the ability to rain any sickness or misfortune on a village, it gives you the ability to specifically inflict chickenpox on the town or specifically turn someone you touch into a pig. If you want a new Curse or Gift or Familiar or Treasure, or if you want to increase the power of one you have already, you will have to speak with your husband.

Find an unholy place (your own house may do, if you have invested dark power in it). Wait until midnight. Draw the sigils, burn the incense, bleed the blood. Wait. The devil will come to you then. He will not appear in the circle, as you might have been led to believe. He will be sitting behind you, smoking a pipe, as if he had been there all along. Or you will hear the door shut, and whirl around to find him shedding his coat. His head may be that of a goat, or a flaming skull, or a flaming goat’s skull. He may be a tall and formless shadow, or a handsome young man. You’ll know him when you see him. You may speak with him then.

The devil is your husband, and he is your master, and he will make sure you know it.

You may ask him for something. He will ask you for something. (Gifts are particularly expensive, though if you are bargaining on behalf of another that person will pay instead.) Sometimes this will be something simple, like a drowned baby. Sometimes he will ask for something dear to you: one of your Bonds. He will reach into your heart and twist, and that Bond will become his. The love you had for your daughter will cool and shrivel into fear that she might surpass you. The dancing that brought you joy will recede in your mind until it is only an obsession, that you must prove yourself to be the best dancer around. After that you may consecrate this new pact in whatever form he deems suitable, or you may flee. It doesn’t really matter to him. He will laugh either way.

When the devil has taken all your Bonds, when you care about nothing that is not him, when the way you feel towards the world is only the way he feels towards the world, you are no longer a witch. You are no longer a person. You are a puppet on his finger, and at Walpurgisnacht he will take you away to be his bride forever.

At this point it may be useful to clarify something else: the devil doesn’t care what you do.

The priests and pastors and scared villagers think you delight in evil, and perhaps you do. They believe you must worm your way into your husband’s good graces by spreading chaos and misery, and maybe that is what you are trying to do. But even if, on Walpurgisnacht, you tell a story of adopting orphans and kittens and helping old ladies cross the road? Even if you tell him a story about sitting in your cottage all year and perfecting your cheesemaking technique? The devil will hear your story, and he will smile.

You don’t know what the devil wants. Surely he wants terrible things. Maybe you are causing those terrible things to happen, just by being a witch. There are many witches who believe this, and decide to embrace evil if they’re going to cause it anyways. But maybe he is content to know that one day you will be his. Maybe he doesn’t want terrible things at all.

Whatever you’re doing, it’s what the devil wanted.

like so many of these games idk if this is playable but i think its achieved the vibe i want it to and im perfectly happy with leaving it as unplayable art piece a la beginners guide

ive never watched ancient magus bride but i did like look it up on wikipedia and its kinda fucked up but i liked the atmosphere. other inspirations include howls moving castle and never quite free by the mountain goats, which i had on loop all through writing this

i tried to include something like discworld witches but in the end theyre basically antithetical to what this is about

someone told me to make a game about bargaining with the scorpion inside you and this is partially that

will wizardry week ever end? is there any end to the ways i can slice and categorize magic? no