#King of Scourge and Waste

[troblsomtwins829]

[thisisnotthenerd]

The Legendary Adventures of the Bad Kids: Entries in the Legend Lore Database*

Full Database HERE

Adaine Abernant:

Latest in the line of Elven Oracles

Current wielder of the Sword of Sight, Sword of the Elven Oracle

She who invoked the name of Ankarna and broke Obliviati Mori

Kristen Applebees:

The Chosen of Helio, God of Corn

The Creator of Yes!/Yes?

She who Resurrected Herself

The Blessed Saint of Cassandra, Deity of Mystery, Night and Magic

Figueroth Faeth:

Mortal daughter of Gorthalax the Insatiable, Prince of the Nine Hells and former ruler of the Bottomless Pit

Current Archdevil of Rebellion, Figueroth the Infaethable, the Dark Mistress of the Bottomless Pit

Paramour of Ayda Aguefort, the Mistress of the Compass Points Library

Riz Gukgak:

Fifth of the World of Spyre to summon the Night Yorb to the Material Plane

He who slayed the Dragon Kalvaxus, Emperor of the Red Waste

Fabian Aramais Seacaster:

Mortal son of William "Old Bill" Seacaster, Legendary Pirate and the Current Captain of the Infernal Wastes, Scourge of the Nine Hells

Grandson of Telemaine Lomenelda, swordsmith of the Elven Kings

He who killed William "Old Bill" Seacaster

Current wielder of Fandrangor, Sword of the North Star

Dance Champion of the Elven Oracle, the Oracle of Dance

Gorgug Thistlespring:

Creator of the Barbificer Specialty, the first in the World of Spyre to combine barbarian rage and artificer spellcasting

Currently has the Night Yorb sealed in his personal vehicle, the Hangvan

The Bad Kids (Adventuring Party):

Defeated Kalvaxus, Emperor of the Red Waste

Ended the Nightmare King's Curse on Sylvaire

Defeated the Nightmare King, the King of the Dark Dreaming

Defeated the Cult of the Night Yorb

Defeated the Night Yorb

The first adventuring party in living memory to survive the Last Stand-ard Exam with no party/proctor fatalities

*Updates with corrections as legendary statuses of individuals are verified

[pompomqt]

Journey to the West Chapter 42

Bull Demon King (Sun Wukong) warning Redboy about Sun Wukong:

And you stole his Master. And Pigsy to I guess.

This week on Journey to the West with @journeythroughjourneytothewest we continue our adventures with the fiery Redboy. So let's get into it shall we?

We start back up with where we left off, with Monkey eavesdropping on Redboy telling his minions to go invite the Venerable Great King to dinner. So Monkey hedges his bets and takes a gamble that he must be talking about his father, the Bull Demon King. And luckily for Monkey he knows what the guy looks like since they were buddy's 500 years ago. I guess Monkey is counting on the Bull Demon King not getting a new haircut in the last 500 years. Anyways Monkey skedaddles from the cave and plops himself ten miles up the path before transforming himself into the Bull Demon King.

Sure enough, as soon as the minion demons spot the 'Bull Demon King', they invite him to dinner and leads him back to the cave. Redboy is like 'Well that was quick', but quickly goes to respectfully greet his father. Anyways Redboy excitedly tells him all about the tasty monk he has acquired for them to eat. The 'Bull Demon King' asks if this monk happens to be the master of one Sun Wukong- scourge of heaven itself. Redboy confirms it, and 'Bull Demon King' recommends he just send the monk back, because Sun Wukong is far to dangerous to mess with, and if they eat the Monk he will definitely flatten this whole mountain.

Redboy however isn't worried, after all he's managed to chase him off with his True Fire of Samadhi twice now. The false Bull Demon King warns him that Sun Wukong is very tricky and transform to look like anything- like say- something as tiny as a fly- or even something as large as say- a Bull Demon King. Redboy however just scoffs and says that he would definitely be able to see through Sun Wukong's transformations! Anyways seeing that scare tactics aren't going to work on Redboy, Wukong switches to stall tactics. He says that while he would love nothing more then to have some tasty monk meat he unfortunately can't today. He's trying this new diet where he goes vegetarian once a week, and today is the that day, but he'll totally be up to it tomorrow.

Redboy however finds this suspicious since the Bull Demon King is always down for chowing on humans. So Redboy asks his minions where they found this Bull Demon King, and they say they found him on the way, not at his actual house. Redboy is fairly certain that they've been deceived, but can't be to hasty just in case it really is his father, so he resolves to question him first. So Redboy tells his minions to be ready to jump the fake king when he gives the signal, and he goes to question him. So Redboy asks him to tell him the exact time and date of his birth. Sun Wukong sweats nervously at the question because how the hell is he supposed to know that? However he gives what I consider to be a perfectly adequate dad response in: "I don't know, I'll ask your mother." Apparently unlike most fathers though, the Bull Demon King actually does know the answer, and apparently never shuts up about it. So Redboy gives the signal for his minion demons to attack. Sun Wukong of course reverts to his original form and blocks the attack before pulling off his vanishing in a flash of light trick. But not before mocking Redson for being a bad son and attacking his own father though of course.

Anyways Monkey is jazzed from his victory over Redboy and wastes no time in going to brag to Sandy about it. And while he hasn't rescued Tripitaka yet, he's feeling well enough about his victory to go fetch Guanyin himself now. So Monkey quick travels to Guanyin's place and has her secretaries announce his arrival. So Guanyin gets right to the point and asks what he's doing here, and Wukong also wastes no time in summarizing the current arc for her. Guanyin listens to the story calmly until he gets to the part where Redboy disguises himself as her in order to fool Pigsy, where in she throws her vase into the water in an apparent fit of rage. Which Monkey thinks is a shame and that she should have just given him the fancy vase instead of smashing it.

Turns out however, that the vase isn't smashed, since it quickly reappears on the back of a tortoise. Guanyin asks him to bring it to her, but it turns out he can't lift it. Monkey tries to defend himself saying he's wounded at the moment, but Guanyin just explains that the vase is currently filled with and oceans worth of water, and even Wukong isn't that strong. Unlike an unlicensed thunderstorm the water in the vase does have the power to put out the true fire of Samadhi, but unfortunately he can't pick it up to take it with him. And since Guanyin doesn't trust him to not try and hoodwink any of her attendants to steal the vase, she asks him to leave behind one of his belongings as insurance. Personally I find this slightly unfair since Guanyin is one of like three people Sun Wukong actually respects and is therefore unlikely to steal from her. It's a moot point anyways though since Sun Wukong doesn't really have anything of value that he can give her that he doesn't need. Of course he is more then willing to give her the gold fillet, if she wants to recite the loose fillet spell and take it though.

In the end however, Guanyin simply resolves to go with Wukong herself in order to save Tripitaka. So after a bit of cute 'after you, no, no, I insist after you' banter, the two head out on her lotus platform. On their way she has Moksa borrow the Swords of Constellations from his father, which she then uses to transform into the lotus platform. Once they arrive at the demon mountain, Guanyin summons all the local gods and tells them to evacuate the mountain. Once they are done with that, Guanyin pours out the vase, resulting in an ocean of water leaving Guanyin quite at home in a place that now reflects the appearance of the south sea. Monkey also comments that Guanyin is rather merciful, since if he was the one with that power he would have just drowned the whole mountain without a care.

Guanyin has Monkey giver her his hand so she can write the word 'delusion' on his palm. She then tells him to pick another fight with Redboy and lure him back to her. So Monkey does what Monkey does best, and breaks down the demon's front door and uses his taunting ability to draw in some agro. So Monkey fights him for a while, and with the help of Guanyin's power of 'delusion', he successfully lures him to where Guanyin is waiting, and dives into her divine aura. Redboy yells at her, asking if she's supposed to be Monkeys reinforcement or something, but she doesn't reply. And when Redboy tries attacking her, she simply vanishes.

Guanyin and Wukong watch from above as Redboy decides that he must have defeated Guanyin and decides to take her fancy lotus platform as his prize. As soon as he takes a seat however, Guanyin reverts it back to it's true form: a bunch of pointy swords. When the demon tries to pull out the swords, Guanyin has them hook into him so they can't be pulled out. Once the demon starts crying and begging for mercy, Guanyin once again reveals herself and asks if he will become one of her disciples. The demon of course agrees, but since Guanyin didn't specify 'no take backs', Redboy tries to attack Guanyin as soon as she removes the swords.

Wukong of course moves to defend her, however there is no need. Guanyin pulls out the final gold fillet entrusted to her by Bhudda, she throws it at Redboy and it transforms into five fillets that encircle his head, hands and feet. Once they are on the demon, Guanyin recites a similar yet different spell from Wukong's, in order to subdue the demon. And with that we have reached the end of yet another chapter.

Current Sun Wukong Stats: Names/Titles: Monkey, The Stone Monkey, The Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong (Monkey awakened to the void), Bimawen (Banhorseplague), The Great Sage Equal To Heaven and Pilgrim Sun. Immortality: 5 + 94,000 years. Weapon: The Compliant Golden Hooped Rod Abilities: 72 Transformations, Cloud-Somersault, Ability to transform his individual hairs, super strength, Ability to Summon Wind, Water restriction charm, and the ability to change into a huge war form, ability to duplicate his staff, ability to immobilize others, the ability to put others to sleep, and the Fiery eyes and Diamond Pupils, intimidating horses, churning large bodies of water, sleeplessness, seizing the wind, enhanced smell, discerning good and evil within a thousand miles, Spirit Summoning, lock picking, object transformation, distance reduction and vanishing in a flash of light. Demon Kill Count: 9+ Unknown Number of Minions Human Kill Count: 1006 God's Defeated: 22 + Unknown number Defeats: 5 Crime List: Robbery, Murder, Mass Murder, Arson, Theft, Coercion, Threatening a Government Official, Resisting Arrest, Assault, Forgery, Employee Theft, False Imprisonment, Impersonating a Government Official, Treason, attempted murder, failure to control or report a dangerous fire, desecrating a corpse, breaking and entering, trespassing, violating Tree Law, looting corpses, trading counterfeit goods, criminal threat and animal abuse. Cry Count: 7 + 2 fake cries Mountains Trapped Under: 4

Current Tang Sanzang stats: Names/Titles: River Float, Xuanzang, Tang Sanzang, Tripitaka Abilities: Curing Blindness, making branches point a certain direction (allegedly), reciting sutras, pretty privilege, memorization and Heart Sutra. Cry Count: 20 Tight Fillet Spell Uses: 31 Paralyzed by fear: 5 Bandit Problems: 2 Kidnapped by demons: 5 Falling Off Horses: 8

Current Bai Long Ma Stats: Names/Titles: Bai Long Ma (White Dragon Horse), Prince of the Western Ocean, and third prince jade dragon of the dragon king Aorun Abilities: Transforming into a human, a water snake, and a horse, eating a horse in one bite, flight, Magic of Water Restriction, Singing, and Sword Dancing. Cry Count: 1 Crime List: Arson, and Grave Disobedience. Contributions to the plot: 2

Current Zhu Wuneng Stats: Names/Titles: The Marshal of the Heavenly Reeds, Zhu Wuneng (Pig who is aware of ability), Zhu Ganglie, Pigsy, Idiot and Eight Rules. Weapon: Rake Abilities: 36 Transformations, parting water, fighting underwater, cloud soaring, size enhancement and CPR Demon Kill Count/Kill steals: 2 Kidnapped by Demons: 2 Human Kill Count: 1 Failed Flirtation/romances Attempts: 3 Cry Count: 1 Crime List: Sexual Harassment, Murder, Kidnapping, arson and defamation.

Current Sha Wujing Stats: Names/Titles: The Curtain-Raising General, Sha Wujing (Sand Aware of Purity), Sandy and Sha Monk Weapon: Monster Taming Staff Abilities: Fighting underwater and Cloud soaring. Demon Kill Count: Unknown number of minions. Kidnapped by Demons: 2 Human Kill Count: 1 Crime List: Breaking a Crystal Cup, murder, and desecration of a human corpse.

[farity]

Obsession, part 7

She saw it in the news, that the three brothers Grimm, the scourge of their city because of their lawlessness and recklessness, had been found by their own mother, in their own living room.

What wasn't in the news but around gossip sites, was the rest.

The bodies had been placed on the sofa, in the See No Evil, Hear no Evil, and Say no Evil poses, and at first Mama Grimm had laughed upon first seeing her sons. "The boys" she'd called them even though they were in their late twenties and had fathered various little Grimm bastards around the land.

Then she'd realized, seen the wounds, seen how they didn't breathe, and screamed loudly enough that several servants rushed in.

The police had taken one look and known there would be no fingerprints, no fibers, not a mote of evidence. Which told them exactly what had happened.

"A burglary?" Mama Grimm had yelled at the police chief. "Are you fucking joking?"

The man, old enough and wise enough to know what was what, nodded. "There is no evidence to point to anything else, Mrs. Grimm."

* * * * *

"Pyke?"

Your boss pinched the bridge of her nose. "We should open the office there within six months."

"I don't want to live in Pyke."

"No one wants to live in Pyke. Those living in fucking Pyke don't want to live in Pyke. But you'd be management. Up the ladder and all that."

You shook your head, "I don't want to be management. Management is synonymous with headaches. I like my job as it is."

She stared at you, mouth open in disbelief. "You can do that in your sleep. Monitoring shipments? How the fuck is that remotely interesting?"

You wanted to say that your job was a means to pay your bills and live your life. It didn't have to be fulfilling, it didn't have to be interesting. But you couldn't exactly say that. "It suits me, and I'm good at it."

"So you are officially refusing the offer?"

There was a threat now in her voice and you wanted to laugh at her. Fire me, you wanted to say, I'll live off unemployment.

You were not into spending every cent you made. Your savings account was healthy and your daily life was pretty modest, because you liked to splurge in traveling. If you got fired, you'd be fine for a year and you were sure you could find employment quickly enough.

"Yes, I am," you said as pleasantly as you could. "I have no interest in being a manager and even less in moving to Pyke."

She closed her eyes and sighed. "You're the best candidate! Who the fuck is going to be able to handle everything?"

"Maybe you should have clued me in as to your plans before you decided to open a branch in Pyke."

"Go home. I don't want to see you the rest of the day."

"Fine. You're not taking one of my vacation days, though."

You walked out and grabbed your things before heading home. It was a gray, dreary day, and you decided to head home and take a luxurious daytime nap.

* * * * *

"She doesn't have her own security?"

Viserys leaned over, a smile on his face. "The fact that she is asking for a favor puts us in a good situation. She knows you're the best, and by making this public, she is making it known throughout the realm."

Aemond said nothing. He was wasting his time over some old woman who wanted a babysitter while she traveled to King's Landing? By car?

The car arrived and both men exited, walking silently up the rose-framed staircase. There was a woman standing there, who greeted them and led them inside to see the legendary Milena Tyrell.

"She will be with you in just a moment, if you need anything, just ring the bell."

The office was well appointed, the Tyrell sigil dominating the area over the desk, an antique like most of the furnishings.

"Ah, Viserys!"

Aemond turned and saw Milena, a slim woman with a ready smile and a sleek white sweep of hair. She wore a red dress that emphasized her shapely figure, and seemed perfectly at ease in her sky-high heels. She presented her hand to his father, and he placed a kiss on the back of it. "Milena, looking fabulous as always."

"That's what everyone keeps telling me," she said flirtatiously, and then her gaze went to Aemond. "My goodness, aren't you very imposing, dear child?"

Aemond bowed, kissing her hand as well. "It is my honor to provide you with protection, Lady Milena."

"Let us talk. We shall have dinner and talk about the details."

She took the arm Viserys offered and led them to the dining room, where a variety of dishes were laid out. Aemond watched her discreetly during the meal, and was keenly aware that despite the fact that her eyes were mostly on his father, she was assessing him as well. He couldn't blame her. If she was going to put her life in his hands, she had the right to decide if she trusted him or not.

"It would only be the trip there, and once we arrive, my grandson can meet me and drive me back." She sighed. "I just can't do planes any more, not since we almost crashed that one time."

Aemond hadn't heard of this, but said nothing.

Viserys sipped at his wine. "Aemond would be delighted to drive you back here as well, if you wish."

Aemond would NOT be delighted to drive her back, he thought, but kept his expression neutral.

"Oh no, no, it's just the drive there that has me worried. The roads aren't what they used to be, you know."

The rest of the meal was taken up by stories from "the old days" which bored Aemond to near tears but he paid attention nonetheless, even though he would much rather have spent his time thinking of her.

* * * * *

She woke up and realized she'd fallen asleep on her sofa, and had a voicemail. She didn't recognize the number, but these days, that didn't mean anything anymore.

"Oh hello. Uh, it's me. I mean, Helaena. Hi. I got your number from Aemond, I hope it's ok. So, you're the only one who is doing the book club so did you want to come over or, you know, um, I could go to your place. Only if you want. I mean. You're always welcome here, but I know it's a drive to get here. Uh, ok. Let me know. Only if you want. It's Helaena. Oh, I said that already. Ok, bye."

She smiled to herself, wanting to hug Helaena. She seemed so lonely, and she was incredibly sweet. She texted back: I'd love to have you come over! Let me know when and we'll do it!

There was nothing from Aemond, not that she expected him to check in with her, but she was nervous about his sudden trip to Highgarden. Still, Helaena didn't sound like there was anything wrong, so that was a good sign.

She would live like this, she thought, always wondering if he was ok, and while the thought scared her, she didn't contemplate embracing the alternative.

Her phone dinged and she saw Helaena's reply.

omg omg I've never texted anyone other than my brothers. Ok yeah, let me see when I can go over and I will let you know. I'm so excited. Ok.

This poor girl. She had the sudden urge to plan something like an escape to Dorne or something, a girls' weekend full of tiny, dangerous drinks. And mani-pedis. And massages. And she was sure Aemond might murder her himself if she tried to escape with his sister. And she knew, given how she'd met Helaena in the first place, that it wasn't a good idea.

Maybe she'd plant the idea in Helaena's head and see what they could do. Alicent looked like she was up on all the latest treatments with her perfect skin and hair, maybe they could book a spa day wherever the Targaryens approved of such things.

She cleaned up a little, not that there was a lot to clean up, but it always made her feel better to have her space tidied up.

* * * * *

"Stay down, my lady!" Aemond yelled. The driver, a long time employee of Lady Milena, had been stupid enough to leave the car and had immediately gotten himself killed.

"Get me out of here!"

Aemond, reaching through the space between the two front seats, grabbed the woman's hand. "We're surrounded, my lady, but you are safe inside the car."

Another volley of gunfire sprayed across the side of the vehicle and Milena squeezed Aemond's fingers. "It doesn't feel very fucking safe!"

He knew they should have taken a different road, he had suggested it and been overruled because this fucking hag thought she knew better. And so did her goddamn driver. And he was dead. If they were in the car she'd wanted to ride in, they'd be dead. His vehicles were armored, it wasn't something he'd been willing to compromise on, and she should be fucking grateful.

His father had been in the first car, and his driver - one of Aemond's men - had sped away, taking Viserys to safety.

He had reinforcements coming in, and then he'd throw the silly goat into another armored car, drive her the rest of the way to King's Landing himself, and never again agree to this kind of shit.

* * * * *

You had finished laundry, eaten dinner, brushed your teeth, and were about to change into your pajamas when there was a knock on the door and you lunged for your phone, opening up the door security app.

You ran to the door and opened it, and Aemond, shirt covered in dried blood, looked at you.

Again you pulled him in and closed the door but this time he reached for you, grabbing your face in his and pressing his mouth to yours with a desperation that had you running your hands over his chest and shoulders to check for injuries.

"Not my blood," he muttered against your lips before he kissed you again, and sighing, you parted your lips for him.

He leaned down and for a moment you thought he was collapsing but then one arm went under your knees and he swept you up against him, and he headed down the hallway while you devoured his neck, raking your teeth down the pale column. Aemond hissed, his steps faltering for a moment, but then he walked into your bedroom, placing you on the bed.

He reached behind his head, pulling off the ruined shirt before tossing it aside. Coming back to you, he slipped his fingers into the waistband of your leggings, and you raised to hips to help him as he began pulling them down along with your underwear.

Pulling your own shirt over your head, you threw it somewhere to the side of the bed as he finished undressing you, and then you felt his mouth on the inside of your knee. You pressed your lips together as he sucked in some of your skin between his teeth. There would be a mark there. "Mine," he said, and pushing your legs apart, hooked his arms underneath your thighs.

You met his eye, burning with want, a moment before he fastened his mouth between your legs and the room began to spin. You fell back on the bed, his lips and tongue setting you aflame. He wasn't gentle, or patient, and amidst the fog of pleasure enveloping you, you understood his frenzied need to have you.

Reaching down to grab his hair, to somehow get him to slow down before he made you come already, you felt his hands grab yours, and you could only hold on as he drove you to a quick, sharp orgasm. Your hips rolled with every lashing, your cries filling the room, and you realized he wasn't slowing down at all. He licked at your overly sensitive flesh, each swipe of tongue making your body twitch, until you felt it again, the heated coil twisting inside you once more, your hands squeezing his for something to ground you.

When you came the second time, your scream was louder, more ragged, and your body arched, every muscle straining as shards of pleasure tore through you. You could feel your heartbeat pounding in your ears, the brief seconds of bliss as you came down soon taken over by a new build up of release curling inside you.

"Oh gods, oh gods," you breathed. If he heard you, he didn't react, gave no indication of stopping. Instead, he made some kind of growling noise against you and you gasped, the vibrations against you making you moan. Your legs had started to shake and as you began spiraling again you thought I might not survive this, and realized you didn't care.

You began rocking your hips, reaching for release, your hands wrapping around his, and as tears began falling from your eyes, you let it tear you apart, every part of you on fire for him as you came again, your mind going dark as the orgasm took over your every sense.

You felt him leave you for a moment, but then he was pushing inside you and your moan turned into a sob as pleasure and pain mixed together. He was big, and you were so overly stimulated, and as he stretched you, you started reaching for him, to slow him down or to pull him against you, you weren't sure.

You felt him grab one of your hands and he leaned down to kiss the delicate skin of your wrist. You turned your hand to caress his face and he pressed his lips to your palm, murmuring something you didn't quite hear.

You gasped as he snapped his hips, seating himself fully inside you. There were sharp little stings as you struggled to take all of him, but you pulled him down to you until your mouth was near his ear.

He stilled for a moment, and you ran your other hand up his arm.

"Fuck me, Aemond," you whispered. "I want everything."

You felt a shiver go through him, and then he pulled back, so slowly you stopped breathing, and then he thrust hard, making you gasp. Again, he pulled back and again he drove back hard enough to make you moan.

He stopped for a moment and you looked up.

"More. Harder."

You heard a soft hmmm from him, and then he leaned over you, his hands fisting in your hair because each thrust was hard enough that you realized he was holding you in place. The sounds of his hips slamming against yours filled the room, joined by the sounds of someone moaning, whimpering, desperately struggling to take everything he was giving you and at the same time, demanding more.

Your body, already addicted to the pleasure he was giving you, began tightening in anticipation, and when the orgasm hit you, you cried out, a ragged sob leaving your throat as you clenched around him.

He didn't let go of your hair and he didn't stop fucking you through your release, and as you recovered, you ran your hands up his arms and down his chest, the muscles hard as rock as he continued pumping his hips.

"Say you're mine," he demanded.

You wrapped your arms around him, your nails sinking into the skin of his back. "Yes."

He thrust hard, making you gasp. "Say it."

"I'm yours," you breathed out, and in the next desperate breath, you demanded, "your turn."

He went completely still then, and you could hear his breathing as he leaned down to whisper in your ear. "I am totally, completely, and terrifyingly yours."

"Then I will have you, Aemond," you said, and pushed on one shoulder until he realized what you wanted and rolled onto his back, pulling your knees to his sides.

You rolled your hips once, realizing you would be sore later, and began moving, your hands on his shoulders as you began riding him. He reached up to squeeze your breasts, teasing the sensitive tips until he pulled you down to take one in his mouth. You moaned, and he fisted his hand in your hair again, keeping you in place so he could feast.

You rocked harder against him and he let go of your breast, one hand raking through his hair. "Fuck yes," he muttered, letting you set the pace as you continued moving above him. His hands slid down to your hips, one pressing into the soft skin there and the other moving over to your belly, his thumb sliding down to where you were joined. "Come again for me."

You let your head fall back and rode him, your thighs burning, until you felt it building inside you, your hands on your breasts as you gave in, a silent scream on your lips as he grew harder inside you, sending you over the edge, and you felt him groan, fingers digging hard into your hip, the other moving to wrap around you as you collapsed against him.

* * * * *

You didn't know how long you lingered in his arms, floating in the aftermath, Aemond turning to kiss your sweaty forehead every so often. At some point he rolled you onto your back again and ever so gently slipped inside you, this time his movements languorous as he drove you both to a sweet, sweet release that had you sighing.

You were now curled against him, legs intertwined with his, and he wrapped his arms around you. "Are you cold?" he murmured.

The covers and sheets had long ago ended up at the bottom of the bed along with one of your pillows.

"No," you looked at him. "Can you tell me about it?"

He turned onto his side, facing you, and told you about Milena Tyrell, how she'd complained about everything while he put his life on the line for her. The screaming argument he'd had with his father when he'd told Viserys he would never again agree to something like this, and how he'd just left in the middle of it, storming out of the house, to come to you.

You said nothing, just listened and ran your fingertips down his arm. You were most definitely NOT a fan of Viserys Targaryen, but right now you wanted to only focus on Aemond and it delighted you that he had sought you out, that he trusted you enough to come to you. It meant something, especially to someone like him.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

"That I'm glad you came over, not just because this is the best sex I've ever had in my life," you said and he smiled, "but because I'm glad that you are confiding in me."

He leaned in to nuzzle your cheek. "I trust you," he said. "I've never told anyone I am theirs. I've never wanted anyone to be mine. I don't want to scare you," he said, and laughed when you rolled your eyes at him, "but I want you with me. I want you not just in my life, but to be a big part of it." He stopped himself before he said any more, but kissed your nose.

"Aemond," you said softly, "I know yours is not an easy life, but I am with you."

He moved to kiss your lips, holding you tightly, and he didn't let go for a long time.

* * * * * *

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Chapter Six

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This evening, dinner was a simple affair, with only Sonic and his mother seated at the elaborately set table in the grand dining room, a familiar scene given his father's common late returns from the palace. He was a man of significant influence and stature, serving as the indispensable advisor to King Maximillian, a role that demanded much of his time. At seven years of age, Sonic found his father's endless discussions on the complexities of governance tediously dull, a stark contrast to the vibrant tales of his own day that his father rarely had the patience to entertain.

In the comforting presence of his mother, however, Sonic was able to talk as much as he wanted. He excitedly recounted the adventurous escapades from the latest installment of his beloved cartoon series, speaking with animated gestures while their longstanding family butler quietly placed plates of food before them. Unfortunately, tonight's dinner featured lobster, a dish that Sonic loathed.

The pungent aroma that wafted from the plate caused Sonic's face to contort in displeasure, his nose scrunching up as if to ward off the offending scent. He turned to his mother, seeking a compromise, only to find her gaze lingering on a cherished photograph adorning the wall. The image captured a moment of regal splendor, depicting her alongside her father and the other esteemed members of the Royal Court.

"Mom?" Sonic inquired softly, attempting to draw her attention. Receiving no immediate response, he pressed further, the word "mama" punctuated by a gentle nudge on her arm.

His mother momentarily snapped out of her reverie, her eyes refocusing with a slight flutter of her lashes as she angled her body to address her son with a soft “sorry, hun. What?”

Sonic's face contorted into a grimace, his voice dripping with distaste as he lamented, "I don’t want this again… it makes me wanna puke." His words elicited a disdainful huff from the butler, who promptly exited the room with a swirl of disappointment.

"It’s good for you, Sonic," she responded, her voice steady and reassuring, "besides, you remember what we’ve said about being wasteful."

Defiance etched itself into the young hedgehog's posture; he folded his arms across his chest like a barrier, slinking further into the embrace of his chair. His youthful face was wrinkled with obstinacy, as the furrow of his brow channeled the essence of his aversion. "But it's gross!" Sonic retorted, the fervor of his sentiment about the unwanted meal burning as brightly as ever.

"Just eat it, please?" The plea from his mother reached his ears as he turned his head away, embodying the spirit of rebellion. "If you do, we’ll get ice cream and candy."

The promise of such a sweet reward sparked curiosity in Sonic, and he swiveled his head back in her direction, catching the nascent smile blooming on her face, a signal of the incentive that awaited him.

With an effort that felt monumental to his young mind, the little blue hedgehog managed to ingest the detested lobster dish, the glazed carrots that accompanied it no less infamous in his eyes. Upon completing the ordeal, he beckoned for his mother's attention, which had drifted back to the photograph on the wall. She met his gaze with a smile that radiated pride and affection, a smile that could brighten the darkest of rooms. Sonic cherished that smile, for it was not just a mere curve of the lips; it was a symbol of his success in bringing her joy. That was a reward far greater than the promise of sweets.

"Good job, Scourge." The admiration in her voice was unmistakable as Sonic eagerly leaped from his seat to envelop her in a tight embrace. But as he held her close, an unsettling thought wormed its way into his consciousness, leaving him with an unnerving sense that releasing her from his arms could mean never being able to hug her again. It was an absurd notion, surely, for she was ever-present in his life, a constant in his home.

But, she’s never called him Scourge before.

Before he could ask where she heard that name, the space she occupied in his arms became empty. Darkness enveloped him, his world tipping into chaos as he tumbled into an abyss that seemed to have no end. A sense of vertigo overwhelmed him; his surroundings stripped away as if the earth itself had opened beneath him. He flailed, attempting to cry out, but found his voice trapped, his throat constricted by an unseen force.

In the midst of his panic, Sonic's efforts intensified, desperation fueling his struggle. His attempts finally culminated in a muffled, yet alarmed "mmh!" To his relief, the sensation of falling ceased abruptly, replaced by the oppressive reality of a worn, filthy mattress pressing against his back. Heat enveloped him, the summer's sweltering embrace untempered by the absence of air conditioning in the orphanage.

As his eyes snapped open, he lay there, drenched in sweat, his heart racing as the remnants of the nightmare clung to him. He struggled to ground himself back in reality, but it soon became clear that once again, he was a sixteen-year-old green hedgehog named Scourge.

Thankfully, when he awoke with a start, his sudden movement and noise didn't disturb Fiona, who was lying on her side, facing him, lost in deep slumber. The moon's soft glow streamed into the room through the slightly ajar window, casting moonlight gently on her beautiful face. As she dreamt what he hoped was a peaceful dream, her delicate eyelids fluttered.

The faint sheen on her soft, heart-shaped lips revealed the lingering touch of the chapstick she had applied before bed, adding an extra allure to her serene visage. With great care not to disturb her, he turned onto his side to face her, tenderly running his fingers through the fur on the exposed side of her muzzle, relishing the softness and finding solace in the quiet intimacy of the moment. A sense of calm washed over him, slowing his racing heart and quieting his restless thoughts as he took in every detail of his girlfriend, peacefully asleep before him. In that hushed stillness, he found a rare and precious moment to simply appreciate the beauty and peacefulness of his lover.

Realizing that sleep would elude him for the time being, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before quietly rising out of bed. Descending the stairs, he made his way to the kitchen, where he reached for a water bottle resting on the counter.

As the lukewarm liquid flowed down his throat, a distinct thumping noise echoed from downstairs, instantly seizing his attention. The source was unmistakable—it emanated from the direction of the freezer.

With a sense of urgency, he hastily replaced the bottle's lid, a quiet “fuck,” escaping his lips as the realization struck that they had neglected to assign someone to keep watch over the freezer that held Miles. Carelessly tossing the bottle on the counter, he grabbed and lit a lantern and dashed down to the freezer, swiftly unlocking it and wrenching the door open.

Thankfully, Miles had made only minimal headway in his attempts to free himself. The most significant achievement was toppling his chair to the ground and making almost no progress in loosening the ropes covered with duct tape.

Amused by the sight that greeted him, Scourge placed the lantern on a mildew-covered shelf and shut the freezer door behind him. "Are you enjoying yourself there, Miles?" he inquired, his tone tinged with condescension.

Miles continued to struggle against his bindings, clearly disoriented from the head injury he had suffered earlier. His mouth muffled by the tape, he could only respond with garbled, indiscernible words.

"I'm sure whatever you just said would have been so terribly hurtful," Scourge began in a mockingly sorrowful tone as he righted the chair. "But it's nothing compared to what you're going to get if you don't tell me what I want to know." With a swift motion, he tore the tape from Miles' mouth, inadvertently pulling away a thin layer of fur from around his muzzle in the process.

Grimacing in pain, Miles averted his gaze from Scourge, his breath coming in ragged pants as he struggled against the dizziness and the throbbing ache in his head.

"Now I can see you renovated the castle a lot since you screwed me over and got me thrown in jail," Scourge remarked, leaning casually against a nearby shelf. "looks real nice, but I’m sure in the process you souped up the security, right? So, if I were to try to waltz in and take back what you took from me, I’d be screwed wouldn’t I? So, either you tell me how to get past security, or you’ll end up getting more than just a punch."

Miles steadied his breath, slowly turning his head to meet Scourge's aiming gaze. With gritted teeth, he growled, "You can't."

Grasping the chair that held Miles, Scourge cocked his head, a grin of amusement playing on his lips. "Well, I doubt that's true. They told us we couldn't escape from Zone Jail, yet here we are. Even the tightest ship can spring a leak."

Miles' widened gaze shifted between both of Scourge's eyes as he swallowed thickly. "Not this ship, you fool. Every doorway, hallway, and corner is monitored by scanning posts. And unlike the ones attached to police lines, this system doesn't just sound an alarm. Every entrance and exit is impenetrable to anyone lacking clearance. Not even rats could infiltrate the sewers. And all of that's hardly a fraction of our security measures."

Impressed, Scourge raised his brows, emitting a low whistle of astonishment. "You've really built an airtight system there, my friend. It almost seems... desperate?"

"With the rapid advancements in technology and cybernetic implants, we can't afford to leave any vulnerability unaddressed," Miles retorted, narrowing his eyes as he regarded Scourge with undisguised contempt, as though he were less than the dirt on his shoes. "As I mentioned before, nothing I can say will aid you in the slightest."

Scourge sighed and shook his head. "That really sucks, man," he said as he exited the freezer, closing the door behind him and ignoring Miles' inquiries about his destination.

Hurrying upstairs to his and Fiona's room, he knelt beside her bag to retrieve her combat knife. Startled by the sound of someone rummaging through her belongings, Fiona's eyes flew open, and she sat up, her expression softening as she recognized Scourge's silhouette, relieved that it was him and not an intruder.

"Jeez, you scared me," Fiona sighed, sleepiness evident in her voice as she rubbed her face. "Are you lookin’ for cigarettes or something?"

"Nope," Scourge replied, revealing the knife he had acquired. "Miles is awake and refusing to talk."

"I'll accompany you," Fiona offered, stifling a yawn as she retrieved her bag from his reach, pulling out a pen and an old receipt. "I can write down what he says while you take care of the dirty work."

"Attagirl," Scourge praised, grinning as he affectionately tousled her hair. "Let's go."

Guiding her through the dimly lit building, they traversed downstairs to the freezer, where Miles continued to struggle to escape.

"Why's she here?" Miles grunted, straining against the duct tape and rope binding his wrists.

"If you happen to come up with a way for us to get through, she'll take note of it. If not, well, then you're of no use to us. And we can't exactly release you since you know too much, so it seems the next step is to kill you," Scourge chuckled, delighting in the horror that washed over Miles' face. "But don't worry. I'll make it nice and slow, giving you time to reconsider and perhaps change my mind about doing it. However, first..." His gaze shifted to his tails, tightly bound together with rope and duct tape. "We need to make sure that you won't have any chances of flying away. Fiona, you might want to fetch the first aid kit. Can't risk him bleeding out before he has the chance to speak."

"W-wait! No! Please don't do this!" Miles cried out, his breaths quickening into hyperventilation as he watched Fiona obediently exit the freezer.

"Listen, I didn't want it to come to this, but much like you, my hands are tied," Scourge said, his voice laced with feigned sympathy as he leaned against a shelf, crossing his arms.

"No! I can help you gain entry! You won't be able to do it without me!" he screamed, his wide eyes blinded by fear.

Scourge's expression transformed into a wide, menacing grin as he slowly uncrossed his arms and straightened up to his full height.

“Really?” The smug green hedgehog asked, striding over to the young two-tailed fox and looming over him, leaning in close as he jabbed his forefinger against his chest. “Well, it’s a good thing you remembered. You could’ve been killed.” His smug grin suddenly gave way to a menacing glare. In a swift motion, he withdrew his hand from Miles’ chest and delivered a harsh slap across his face, causing the chair to wobble and splitting his lip. Scourge quickly steadied the chair and grasped Miles’ chin, forcing him to meet his intense gaze. “Don’t you fucking lie to me again, Miles,” he growled, baring his sharp teeth, sending shivers down Miles’ spine.

When Fiona returned, Scourge briefed her on their change of plans. She took the pen they had previously acquired and began to write finely on the back of the receipt.

The success of their mission hinged on having the right technology at their disposal. Miles, the primary designer of the security system, was indispensable to their plans. Their first objective would be to hack the body scan post for entry, a task that required a neural link to connect to Miles, allowing him to access necessary technology through the eyes of the person with the implant. However, due to the Destructix's distrust of him, he would have to be guarded and sequestered away from the castle to prevent any potential betrayal.

To bypass the body scan post, one would need optical implants that would allow them to scan the post, enabling Miles to use the neural link to hack into it and grant every individual passing through with clearance. Yet, this was only part of the larger challenge— the entire security system needed to recognize the Destructix members as authorized personnel. To achieve this, someone would require an interface plug, a wired implant located at the back of the head, along with a neural interface chip. When the wire was extended and connected to specific machinery, it would grant the individual the capability to hack into the technology.

Once someone was plugged into an access point with the interface, Miles could then proceed to hack the entire security system. This would provide the Destructix with unhindered movement throughout the castle, enabling them to locate the remaining members of the Suppression Squad and eliminate them, ultimately allowing the Destructix to seize control of the throne.

Before Scourge and Fiona could explain the plan to the Destructix in the morning, they found themselves contending with the aftermath of Predator, Lightning, and Flying's excessive drinking the previous night.

"Well, I don't know why you drank so much of that crap, but I hope it made you happy," Simon grumbled with a scoff as he entered through the front door, carrying a tray of to-go cups from a nearby coffee shop.

"Mmmm'kay. Shut up, Simon," Predator groaned, his eyes tightly shut as he sat hunched over in a nearby chair, nursing his throbbing head.

With a roll of his eyes, Simon handed Predator a cup of black coffee, scoffing, "drink up." He then turned his attention to Flying, who was slouched against a nearby wall, struggling to keep his eyes open as his tongue lolled out the side of his mouth. "Got some for you too, Flying," Simon said, prompting Flying's eyes to sluggishly roll toward him, blinking one at a time.

"Is that coffee-tea-fre-" Flying began, before a sudden wave of nausea overtook him, causing his eyes to bulge as he clamped a hand over his mouth and gagged. He scrambled to his feet, dashed toward a nearby window, flung it open, and retched outside.

Simon groaned in disgust and called out, "I'll put this in the kitchen, then..." before handing Scourge his coffee.

"Thanks, man," Scourge said with a courteous nod.

"Thanks for not drinking as much as these idiots," Simon remarked, his disdain evident in his voice. "Have you seen Lightning, Fiona, and Toxic?"

“Lightning’s probably still asleep cause I haven’t seen him yet. Fiona’s giving Toxic a haircut so she looks less like her wanted picture and also we saw a daddy long leg crawl out of one of the mats in her hair.” Scourge said, casually drinking his coffee.

Simon blinked a few times in surprise before muttering, “go figure… Well, if you see the girls, let ‘em know they got drinks with their name on them in the kitchen. I’m gonna wake up Lightning.”

As expected, Simon located Lightning, who was sprawled out on a set of child-sized mattresses, emitting loud snores. With a roll of his eyes and a shake of his head, Simon set aside Lightning’s coffee, knelt down, and nudged Lightning's shoulder, attempting to rouse him. When his efforts failed, Simon noticed that Lightning still had water in his bottle. He unscrewed the cap, tossed it aside, and emptied the remaining contents onto Lightning's head.

Lightning groaned and attempted to turn his face away as the water splashed against his forehead. Without opening his eyes, he managed to mumble out a slurred, "hello?" before some water entered his mouth, causing him to choke and erupt into a fit of coughing as he hastily sat up.

"Hello, Lightning. Coffee's here," Simon said with annoyance, standing up.

As Lightning recovered from the coughing fit, he grumbled and shook his head in an attempt to rid his fur of the water, groaning as the motion exacerbated his headache and nausea.

"You didn’t have to waterboard me, Simon," he groaned, squinting as the bright light aggravated his newly awakened eyes.

"Don’t be so dramatic. You gotta get straightened up. Fiona and Scourge got Miles to talk, and they’ve got a plan they want to tell us," Simon responded, offering Lightning his coffee.

"I don’t want anything else in my stomach right now…" Lightning groaned, the scent of the coffee in his hand intensifying his nausea.

"Well, if you get sick, either puke out a window, or if you do it in here, you're cleaning it. This place is filthy enough without three drunk bastards making it worse," Simon declared firmly, his distaste unwavering.

"Agh… Fuck off…" Lightning slurred, his struggle evident as he fought to keep the vomit down. He staggered to his feet and stumbled toward the window, grappling with it in his disoriented state.

"For crying out loud…" Simon growled, stepping in to open the window for Lightning, who leaned out and threw up.

As he left Lightning to deal with his hangover, Simon muttered bitterly, "it’s like a house full of toddlers. Hell, today I haven’t even had a problem with the actual toddler here.”

After a wait that spanned several hours, the group finally regained enough composure to gather and listen to Scourge and Fiona outline the plan they had devised. They arranged their seats into a communal circle within the same room where they had convened the night before.

“How can we trust Miles to do what we say?” Predator questioned, his voice tinged with doubt.

“He doesn’t have a choice. I know from experience he’s a coward that’ll do anything to live. One of ya will need to stay with him while we work and be ready to gut him if he makes even one wrong move,” Scourge replied, his arms extending in a languid stretch as he reclined back in his chair with an air of nonchalance.

“I volunteer-steer-beer!” Flying burst out with gusto, only to wince as his booming, obnoxious voice aggravated his pounding headache.

“Alright, knock yourself out,” Scourge casually responded with a dismissive shrug, now leaning forward in his seat, his fingers weaving together in front of him.

“Who's getting the implants?” inquired Lightning, downing some ibuprofen that Fiona had supplied to ease his discomfort.

“The rest of you guys. We never know what we’ll run into. Can’t leave any stones unturned,” Fiona declared, her voice firm and decisive.

“Me too?” Toxic chimed in, twirling one of the short pigtails Fiona had fashioned in her hair.

“No way, kid,” Scourge stated adamantly with a shake of his head. “Cybernetics aren’t good for you when you’re that little.”

“I’m taller than Ren!” Toxic contended, climbing onto her chair and stretching to her tiptoes in an attempt to demonstrate her height.

“Tough. You’re still barely taller than a fire hydrant,” Scourge teased, his mocking tone evident. “You gotta wait til you're older.”

“Sit down before you fall and crack your head open,” Simon commanded, his tone authoritative, directed at the young blue hedgehog.

With a scowl of indignation and a growl meant to convey ferocity, Toxic reluctantly descended from her perch and slouched back into her seat, her arms folded in a tight cross.

“Save it,” Fiona interjected with an eye roll, “anyways, Simon, Lightning, and Predator; you guys are going in first. Grab some uniforms from the guard locker room and you’ll easily pass as one of the guards. They know Scourge and I too well, so we’ll wait until the security system is down and you find Patch and Alicia to storm in and join the fight.”

“But what do I do?” Toxic mused aloud, now reclining sideways in her chair, her legs swinging idly over the edge.

“You’ll help Flying guard Miles,” Fiona replied, her tone conveying confidence that this modest assignment would satisfy Toxic’s desire to contribute.

“But before all of this, we gotta remember implants cost money that we don’t got. So…” Scourge began, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through him, his hands eagerly rubbing together, “We’ll be ‘borrowing’ some money from a bank out of town.”

This infectious excitement quickly rippled through the group, with members exchanging eager grins and approving murmurs.

"It's in a pretty wealthy neighborhood. And hey, even you can join us, Toxic," Fiona said, her arms crossed, a hint of pride in her voice as she gauged the group's reactions.

"I can?" Toxic gasped, her voice lifting with excitement as she bounded out of her chair and approached Fiona, her tail wagging like a flag of enthusiasm.

"She can?" Scourge echoed, his tone a mixture of surprise and concern, unsure of involving someone so young in such a dangerous activity.

"Yes," Fiona confirmed, assuring the group with a calm authority, "like I said, it’ll be an easy heist. She can help us take out security. We’ve all seen how she can kick ass. Simon, you can train her on a pistol."

Simon, looking somewhat resigned, pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply. "If you insist, ma’am," he conceded, albeit with heavy reluctance.

"Babe, are you nuts? She’s four years old!" Scourge protested vehemently, his arms thrown up in disbelief.

"So what? Don’t be a fucking dickface!" Toxic retorted sharply, flipping Scourge off with her ring finger. Scourge responded in kind, sneering as he mirrored her gesture.

Pulling Scourge aside from the rest of the group, Fiona's voice dropped to a hushed, persuasive tone. "Look, we made a deal with her that if she didn’t do what we told her she’d be rat food and clearly it’s been working. This is part of that deal, hun. Besides, if she managed to put us through that much hell at first, imagine what she’d do to plain ol’ guards."

"How is it worth the risk?" Scourge pressed, his apprehension evident as he pondered the unpredictable nature of their youngest member.

"It’s like I said, if we broke out of Zone Jail of all things, we can rob a fucking bank even with your crackhead sister tagging along. Besides, we need everyone from the gang there to do different things, and do you really wanna leave her alone? She could wander off and a bounty hunter would snatch her. Then what? Game over," Fiona argued, her logic resonating with the risks they faced.

Scourge's jaw tightened, the truthfulness of Fiona's words sinking in, especially the part about leaving Toxic alone. With a heavy exhale of resignation, he muttered, "this better work."

"It will. You’ll see," Fiona reassured him with a confidence that bordered on certainty, punctuating her promise with a light kiss on his cheek before returning to the group. "We’ll start preppin’ tomorrow. Get all the equipment we need." She turned to address Lightning, Flying, and Predator, her face scrunching in disgust as the pungent smell of vomit and alcohol reached her. "For now, there’s a gym with showers not far from here. Let’s make it reek a little less around the place, hm?"

Nodding in silent accord, the gang made their way to the gym, their footsteps echoing against the pavement as they traversed a desolate stretch of the neighborhood. The eerie stillness of the area hinted at its sparse population, offering them a cloak of anonymity that would aid in evading any potential bounty hunters on the prowl for Toxic.

Upon reaching the gym, they made a beeline for the bathroom and obtained the much-needed cleaning supplies from the dispensers, the clinking of coins and the soft hum of the machines filling the otherwise quiet space. As they each cleaned up in their respective shower stalls, the sound of water cascading down in rivulets served as a welcome reminder of the simple luxury they hadn’t had since their escape from prison.

Despite Scourge's usual indifference to cleanliness, he found solace in the sensation of grime washing away from his body as he stood beneath the shower's stream. Closing his eyes, he allowed the water to cleanse not just his physical form, but also his spirit, feeling the weight of his troubles slowly dissolve and disappear down the drain. During his time in prison, he had been constantly on edge, his natural strength and agility restrained by a control collar that left him vulnerable and exposed to frequent beatings. However, as the water flowed over his face and quills, he realized that despite the lingering risks, he was finally beginning to believe that everything would ultimately be alright. He resolved to face whatever challenges lay ahead with newfound determination and resilience.

After everyone had completed their showers, they returned to the orphanage. While some members of their group were still recovering from the effects of the previous night's revelry, Simon took Toxic to the backyard to teach her how to shoot empty beer bottles off the fence using a silenced pistol.

"Keep one hand on the bottom, Toxic, and don't touch the trigger until you're ready to shoot. Keep your finger to the side, like this," Simon instructed, kneeling beside her and guiding her small hands to demonstrate the proper way to hold the firearm.

"Okay," Toxic responded with an eager nod. "Can I shoot now?"

"Not yet. First, aim at the space between the two small bumps and make sure it's pointed at what you want to shoot," Simon advised.

"Okay," Toxic responded, her small hands adjusting her grip on the pistol with determination. "Now can I shoot?"

"Go ahead," Simon replied with a nod.

Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger, and the sharp crack of the gunshot was followed by the satisfying shatter of the bottle.

Toxic gasped in amazement and giggled, her eyes sparkling with pride as she beamed at Simon. "I fuckin’ gotted it!"

"You sure did," Simon said with a soft chuckle. "Now take out the rest of them."

Leaning against the weathered wall of the building, Scourge and Fiona observed as Toxic skillfully shot several more bottles, her focus unyielding and her aim true.

"Not bad. She's a natural marksman in the making," Fiona remarked with a lopsided grin.

"Good thing she's only shooting bottles," Scourge snidely remarked, retrieving a cigarette and lighter from his jacket pocket. Fiona signaled for one, holding two fingers in his direction, and Scourge obliged, lighting both of their cigarettes. As they inhaled, Scourge wrapped his arm around Fiona, the sun casting a warm glow over them as it descended toward the horizon.

"Do you think we should check on Miles?" Scourge asked, a sudden pang of concern causing his heart to skip a beat.

"I'll feed him later, but there's no way he's getting out. Simon and I tested that padlock we got earier, and it's secure," she replied confidently, referring to the heavy duty lock lock they had obtained during their earlier supply run.

Scourge smirked with pride, imagining the futile attempts Miles might be making to escape, a sense of control and satisfaction washing over him.

"Not much longer," Fiona began after blowing a cloud of smoke out of her mouth, the wisps curling and dissipating in the air, creating a momentary haze around her. Her eyes, filled with a determined glint, scanned the horizon as if envisioning the future. "We'll rule this world again. We'll bring everything under our control, just like it used to be."

"Fiona," Scourge chuckled softly, the sound mixing with the rustle of the wind, and dropped his spent cigarette, the feeble embers flickering before he snuffed them out under the sole of his shoe, his eyes fixed on his lover's with an intense yet tender gaze. "We already do."

[lanternagainstthedark]

Epithets of Hyrule

The Golden Goddesses

Epithets are “an adjective or phrase expressing a quality or attribute regarded as characteristic of the person or thing mentioned.”

(Thank you Oxford Languages for the definition!)

Epithets are used in multiple religions, including christianity, hellenic paganism, norse paganism, kemetic paganism, and even in celtic paganism. People have used Epithets to denote the specific aspect of a deity they want to invoke.

However, I have not seen many people discus the epithets that could appear in pop culture paganism, and in this case specifically, Hyrulean Paganism.

So here are my current ideas for epithets of the Goddesses.

(Note, epithets that are most closely related to a specific race/species is denoted by a color or symbol. Goron, Gerudo, Rito, Zora, Hylian, Sheikah)

Din

Lady of the Red Earth, Earthbreaker, Earthmaker, Foundation of the World, Lady of Power, The Gerudo Mother, The Desert Mother, Din of the Forge, Kingmaker, King Mother, The Sandstorm, Of the Wastes, Of the Burning Hearth, Torch in the Night, Sister of Courage, Sister of Wisdom, Brother, Fire of Gorondia, She who is cradled in Death’s Maw, The Desert Wind, of the Fury, Autumn Harvester

Din, for me, is associated with Fire and Earth, Gerudo and Goron, and thus some epithets are more species specific.

Din of the Forge is also common with smiths of all species.

Nayru

Lady of Wisdom, Lady of Justice, Mother of Law, The Arbiter, of the Sea, of the Rain, She Who Watches, of the Deep, of the Storm, of the Fury, of the Cascading Falls, of the Hidden Waters, Queen Maker, of the Burning Cold, Knowledge Keeper, All-Knowing, the Teacher, the Shield, of the Gentle Snow, Owl-eyed, Sister of Power, Sister of Courage, Winter Keeper

Nayru is associated with water, ice, justice and knowledge. She is most closely associated with the Zora, and Hylians, but some other races have epithets for her as well.

Farore

Lady of Courage, Lady of Life and Death, Sword Keeper, Hero Guide, Mother of Life, Mother of Monsters, Secret Keeper, Lightning Rider, of the Storm, of the Fury, the Whispering Wind, of the Roaring Wind, the Verdant, Dragon Chaser, the the Joyous One, the Dancing Wind, Spring Bringer, the Huntress, Protector of Children, Will O’ Wisp, of the Cutting Wind, of Lost Things, of the Lost*, Path Walker, of the Wind, Sister of Power, Sister of Wisdom

*while this is the only epithet the Goron use, it is not Goron Specific.

Farore is my matron. I tried to keep things equal, but I will naturally favor her. I do actually ise quite a few of these epithets when I write prayers or blessings, and occasionally I will feel the urge to write a blessing invoking one.

Hylia

Guardian of the Triforce, Light bearer, of True Aim, the Winged One, Queen-mother, Queen-makerMother of Hylians, Bane of Demise, the Great Vanquisher, She who Carries Summer, of the Burning Light, the Arbiter, She Who Watches Over Time, Hero Maker, the Song Writer, the Hearth Light, Torch Against the Night, Scourge of the Undead, She Who Favors Wisdom, the Sacred Dragon, the Gentle Healer, She Who Seals the Darkness

Hylia is the last one I created epithets for at this time. She is dear to Hylians, and thus has many Hylian epithets.

I will eventually write all of this in zonai, ancient hylian, and common hylian (or I will at least try) and thus ends this post!

Merry met, and blessedly go!

[edgelord-battle-bracket]

the simple fact of the matter is that fakir's whole deal is that in a past life he failed to kill a big evil bird, instead getting torn in half by said bird without even landing a hit, and he gets called cringe for this. then he manages to avert his fate of getting killed by birds (again), and he gets called cringe for that because he can't even die correctly. he talks big about how he could kill a man and princess tutu couldnt but his kill count for actual people (not just swarms of angry crows) is 0. meanwhile scourge HAS killed a man, in fact he killed a man so hard that he wasted all 9 of the man's respawns at once. then he killed ANOTHER guy and only died to that guy later because his first kill being so brutal kept him from learning that cat presidents have nine lives. VOTE. SCOURGE.

Was literally too edgy for his own good. RIP short king.

[a-world-in-grey]

I was deep-diving through tvtropes and-

I have no idea how accurate it is because I never played episode Ardyn. But please consider.

AU where Ifrit wakes up, sees daemonified Ardyn and goes "Wait, that was NOT the Plan". And proceeds to burn Ardyn (and most of the lab) in the Holy Fire, purifying him and accidentally-on-purpose giving him Ifrit's Blessing. (It was totally on purpose)

(Canon and the Prophecy are Yeeted out of the window)

Been sitting on this, because this? This is brilliant. Raven, you have no idea how badly I want this.

Ifrit's been dead-ish (you can kill an Astral as hard as you like, they just come back like a bad gil) for thousands of years by the time the Scourge surfaces in Somnus and Ardyn's time. Being dead or sleeping doesn't prevent an Astral from knowing things, so Ifrit is aware of House Caelum, is aware of Bahamut's plan to deal with the Starscourge.

(What does Ifrit think of the Scourge? He once loved humanity, may still love humanity despite Solheim's betrayal. Does he regret that he is not there to help? Does he weep for the children he once nurtured, taught, and cherished? Does he weep for the lives that will be lost?)

(Or does he laugh? That the only one to help humanity combat the Scourge is Bahamut, wholly unsuited to face an enemy that cannot be killed with a blade? That the ones who spurned him will now die to something he could have would have saved them from?)

But Ifrit doesn't care to watch Bahamut's flawed plan play out (doesn't care to watch the children of his Sparks waste away in the night) so he turns away from the goings on.

It's the chill (the feel of his lover's kiss) seeping into his bones that wakes him. He wakes, furious, because how dare she, how dare she after she sided with the rest of their kin, with those traitorous humans.

Only, it's not Shiva.

Through the fire and fury coursing through his soul, Ifrit doesn't recognize where he is. It's a human lab - not the same as Solheim's once were, not the same architecture, not quite as advanced.

He recognizes the son of House Caelum.

Bahamut's Chosen Sacrifice.

And here's the thing: Ifrit is the god of Knowledge. More than the other Astrals, Ifrit's power is to know. Anything and anyone, anywhere and any time.

So when Ifrit looks at Ardyn Lucis Caelum, he knows.

He knows this man's love for his people. The lengths he went to help his people. His love for his lover and his kin. His kin's betrayal. His lover's death. Bahamut's rejection. His own people abandoning him.

Two thousand years locked away in the dark with naught but memories and grief.

Ifrit knows how that old Soldier thinks. Bahamut is War. Bahamut is Duty and Sacrifice. Bahamut will sacrifice this healer alongside whoever his new Chosen one will be.

Ifrit hates humanity. They burned him and time hasn't healed that wound.

But... he loved them once. Mortals who burned as bright as they burned short, sparks of ingenuity in their eyes as they took the first staggering steps he helped them achieve and figured out how to run.

Thousands of years later, a little healer took a gift and used it to save lives in a way it was never intended.

Ifrit looks at Ardyn Lucis Caelum. He sees himself staring back.

Ifrit hates humanity.

He hates Bahamut more.

In the mere second after laying eyes on Bahamut's discarded Chosen King, Ifrit burns the lab in Holy Fire.

His new Spark burns with him.

[natalieironside]

Masters of the World, part 1

Hey there, Age of Mythology fans! You can head on over to https://www.patreon.com/posts/77895021 and download the first map in a campaign I been working on (nothing is for sale, I'm just hosting it there while I work on my big-girl website)

Heyyy everybody, here's one of my side projects!  I'm making a custom campaign for the super great historical fantasy RTS game Age of Mythology: Extended Edition,which I'm pretty sure at least one other person on Earth still plays.  You can get it here if you don't have it:  https://store.steampowered.com/app/266840/Age_of_Mythology_Extended_Edition/  It's been a lifelong favorite since I was a kid and it's a great relic of the early 2000s RTS golden age; highly recommend.  Once you've got the base game plus the Titans and Tales Of The Dragon xpacks, you can just drop this bad boy into the "scenarios" folder in your game files and you'll be good to go.  More on the technical issues in a minute, but if you run into any problems try opening it in the editor and just selecting one of Player 1's units and that should fix it. 

First, a word on the production.  To put it bluntly the AoM scenario editor absolutely stinks.  A lot of stuff just straight up doesn't work.  For one thing, I've confirmed with other mapmakers that the campaign maker is irreparably broken and the only way to knit all the scenarios into a campaign is to manually write an XML document, which . . . I am not doing that.  Also, a lot of the text-based storytelling elements from AoE2 were cut and replaced with visual ones, and listen Ensemble Studios I love you but I am not going to sit here for hours and make an entire claymation movie one if-then statement at a time.

All this is to say that this scenario is not done, but it is as done as it's ever going to get, so I'm just gonna send it.

Masters of the World part 1 is a single-player battle royale (well technically it's 1v1v1v1v1v3 but who's counting) build-and-destroy map with 7 AI players.  Much like Swords of Outremer, I went a little wild with this one and as a consequence it's mad chunky.  I recommend playing with your video settings turned alllll the way down.  Also much like Swords of Outremer, I used an RMS for the skeleton; this one is Alfheim.  I'm planning on telling this story in about 7 or 8 single-player maps, and you can expect Masters of the World part 2: The Fields of Pentecost sometime soonish.

***

Masters of the World is a high fantasy scenario where you play as Ajax Ironroot, king of the dwarves, who has come south out of his mountains to deal with an ancient threat:  The Master of the World.  The Masters, a band of mighty and nigh godlike wizards, lorded over by the mysterious figure known only as "the Wizard," have long scourged the land and laid it waste as they vie against each other for ultimate mastery.  Ajax, afraid that this destruction may spread across his borders, will march forth to challenge the Masters on their own terms . . . But, to challenge them means becoming a Master of the World oneself.  

Featuring a robust cast of characters, including the vain and proud Lady Pentecost, queen of the elves, and the mysterious vampire lord Gretta, Duchess of Shadows, as well as various and sundry other original the characters (do not steal).  If you like protracted mountain sieges and massive endgame doomstack fights, like I do, this should serve; during playtesting I let the AI duke it out amongst themselves and they whupped on one another with no clear contender for like 6 or 7 hours until the game ran out of memory and crashed. 

Have fun and let me know what you think!  :)

[sugarhog-au]

Redesigns round 5! more random bunches

Nicole Khode:

Local town sheriff, she helps protect everyone with her partner, Shard. Very much a no nonsense type, she prefers to get things done as efficiently and with as little mistakes as possible. Unlike her partner, she fusses over the minor details and often judges herself too harshly, but the more lax nature of Shard helps ease her worries most times.

Shard (last name pending):

He's actually a Tenrec, but thanks to being stuck halfway transformed into a werebeast, he has a more wolfish appearance about him. He's a soft, fun loving guy but takes his job seriously when need be, his partner, Nicole will be that extra push of seriousness should she think he's being too laxed or lazy. He loves food, like really loves food, like you could easily become his best friend if you gave him a burger or something.

Scourge (last name pending):

Self proclaimed "King of Onyx city", this ex gangster left his gang to raise his adopted son, Manic many years ago. He's still pretty infamous as even though he left his old gang behind, he still manages to find his way into fights due to his reputation. Even with his more violent "pass-time", with the help of an unlikely friend, Scourge actively tries to be a good parent to his son as a way to make peace with his own horrible up bringing.

"I might be broken but, I'm not gonna break him too."

Metal (Metal Sonic):

Former police dog, Metal was experimented on following a fatal accident. The resulting modifications helped him recover but was deemed "No longer suitable for service" and was dumped to the streets to live life as a stray. Bitter from abandonment, Metal eventually settled in Emerald valley, claiming a spot away from the town to call his own away from others where he plans to waste away, not having much else to live for. He likes to chase Sonic when the speedster gets too close however, Sonic would take the hint and leave him alone but he swears it brings a liveliness back to his eyes.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Woe to Tyrants

1 Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, 2 to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey! 3 What will you do on the day of punishment, in the storm which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth? 4 Nothing remains but to crouch among the prisoners or fall among the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away and his hand is stretched out still.

Arrogant Assyria Also Judged 5 Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger, the staff of my fury! 6 Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. 7 But he does not so intend, and his mind does not so think; but it is in his mind to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few; 8 for he says: “Are not my commanders all kings? 9 Is not Calno like Car′chemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samar′ia like Damascus? 10 As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols whose graven images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samar′ia, 11 shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols as I have done to Samar′ia and her images?”

12 When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem he will punish the arrogant boasting of the king of Assyria and his haughty pride. 13 For he says:

“By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I have removed the boundaries of peoples, and have plundered their treasures; like a bull I have brought down those who sat on thrones. 14 My hand has found like a nest the wealth of the peoples; and as men gather eggs that have been forsaken so I have gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved a wing, or opened the mouth, or chirped.”

15 Shall the axe vaunt itself over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood! 16 Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts, will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors, and under his glory a burning will be kindled, like the burning of fire. 17 The light of Israel will become a fire, and his Holy One a flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and briers in one day. 18 The glory of his forest and of his fruitful land the Lord will destroy, both soul and body, and it will be as when a sick man wastes away. 19 The remnant of the trees of his forest will be so few that a child can write them down.

The Repentant Remnant of Israel

20 In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean upon him that smote them, but will lean upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. 22 For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. 23 For the Lord, the Lord of hosts, will make a full end, as decreed, in the midst of all the earth.

24 Therefore thus says the Lord, the Lord of hosts: “O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians when they smite with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. 25 For in a very little while my indignation will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction. 26 And the Lord of hosts will wield against them a scourge, as when he smote Mid′ian at the rock of Oreb; and his rod will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt. 27 And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke will be destroyed from your neck.”

He has gone up from Rimmon, 28 he has come to Ai′ath; he has passed through Migron, at Michmash he stores his baggage; 29 they have crossed over the pass, at Geba they lodge for the night; Ramah trembles, Gib′e-ah of Saul has fled. 30 Cry aloud, O daughter of Gallim! Hearken, O La′ishah! Answer her, O An′athoth! 31 Madme′nah is in flight, the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety. 32 This very day he will halt at Nob, he will shake his fist at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

33 Behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts will lop the boughs with terrifying power; the great in height will be hewn down, and the lofty will be brought low. 34 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an axe, and Lebanon with its majestic trees will fall. — Isaiah 10 | Revised Standard Version (RSV) Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 10:10; Exodus 5:14; Exodus 14:16; Numbers 11:1; Joshua 18:24-25; Joshua 21:18; Judges 18:21; 1 Samuel 21:1; 2 Kings 18:33; 2 Kings 19:22-23; 2 Kings 19:25; 2 Kings 19:31; 2 Chronicles 14:11; Psalm 58:2; Psalm 78:31; Psalm 81:6; Psalm 94:6; Isaiah 2:8; Isaiah 5:4; Isaiah 5:15; Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 7:3; Isaiah 10:5; Isaiah 10:30; Isaiah 14:6; Isaiah 21:17; Isaiah 28:22; Isaiah 32:19; Jeremiah 9:23; Jeremiah 22:7; Luke 19:44; Acts 2:23-24; Romans 9:20; Romans 9:27-28

[troblsomtwins829]

[thisisnotthenerd]

The Art of Conspiracy: Schemes and Stratagems in the World of Spyre

~ from the Library of the Aguefort Adventuring Academy~

Adventuring fundamentally involves violent deranged lunatics imposing their will upon the world at varying scales; generally in opposition to assumed threats. This defines adventurers as a reactive force: investigators of opposition and defenders of allies/the faith/nations/etc.

In the current age, the endless push and pull of antagonism drives the world. Without villains, the system would collapse; the occurrence of apocalypses is a known factor and a foundational aspect of the age.

Those that fill the niche have a propensity for plots and plans. It takes work to be an effective villain, you see. World domination doesn't only involve violence--it takes patience, negotiation, and a willingness to do what it takes. An accomplished villain can conceal their hand over time while still having the strength to cast fear in the hearts of the people.

This analysis takes a look at a few examples of the various plots and plans of villains in the world of Spyre and rates them on a 5 point scale with regard to:

Plot Complexity: How much work was involved in this plan? What did the villain need to accomplish to achieve success? How much time did they invest in this process?

Threat Scale: What kind of threat did they pose? how did they rate among the many apocalypses Spyre endures on a regular basis?

Relative Success: How close did they get before it was snatched away by some bumbling band of heroes? How much of the plan did they actually execute?

Induced Involvement: How did the heroes get invested in the scheme? Is there a level of personal vengeance that resulted in the heroes foiling the scheme?

Poetic Retribution: How powerful was the schadenfreude that resulted from them getting dunked on? What was their ultimate fate?

The mastermind of a given plan will be given the title of Main Antagonist. This title may be shared among multiple beings, assuming they have similar levels of impact upon the plan. If there are multiple plans at work, the mastermind of the greater/more evil/more complex plan will be emphasized.

---------------- AAA ----------------

Fantasy High Freshman Year

Main Antagonist(s): The Emperor of the Red Waste, Scourge of Solace, Kalvaxus

Villainous Allies:

The Cult of the Harvestmen: Coach Daybreak, Dayne Blayde, Penelope Everpetal, Ragh Barkrock, Zayn Darkshadow, Alston Hughes, Johnny Spells

The Attendants of the Nightmare King: The Shadow Cat Kalina, Aelwyn Abernant

Miscellaneous: Biz Glitterdew

Main Objective: To restore Kalvaxus to power by fulfilling the prophecy of the Elven Oracle Eleminthindriel, as shared below:

When Kalvaxus once again beholds his glittering treasure And seven maidens are once more chained at the mouth of his lair When war befalls the realm And a king and queen are crowned anew in solace Then will the Emperor of the Red Waste be released from bondage His destruction will know no bound The sun shall fall from the heavens And the world as we know it shall perish forever.

Ancillary Objectives:

The capture of seven virgins for use at the lair of Kalvaxus

The fulfillment of perditional contradoxy via the opening of a hellmouth in the body of Kristen Applebees, the chosen of Helio. This would incite war between Solace and Highcourt by violating the treaty that prevents the damnation of the chosen of the sun god Sol. It would further serve to cause the 'fall of the sun' as the Helioic faith reeled from the cataclysm.

The murder of the Elven Oracle Eleminthindriel on the Harpy, the flagship of Kalvaxus' fleet, was performed in order to transfer the title of Elven Oracle to Adaine Abernant, such that the book Watches and Wards could be removed from the Library of the Aguefort Adventuring Academy, thereby removing the protections placed on the school to prevent Kalvaxus from taking power again.

The removal of Arthur Aguefort from the Aguefort Adventuring Academy, further removing the protections placed on the school to prevent Kalvaxus from taking power again.

The restoration of monarchy in Spyre via the institution of prom king and queen.

The relocation of the Hoard of Kalvaxus to KVX Bank, where he could behold his glittering treasure for the first time in centuries.

Rating:

Plot Complexity: 3.5/5. This plot had a large number of moving pieces, as shown by the number of ancillary objectives. However, the objectives were relatively straightforward and corresponded to the given prophecy. Kalvaxus spent centuries marinating on his vengeance and rebuilding his wealth, but the majority of the plan was executed within the span of a year and a half.

Scale of Threat: 3/5. The restoration of Kalvaxus threatened the nation of Solace primarily and would have extended further, given time for Kalvaxus to make contact with his forces. However, his rapid defeat stymied these efforts and contained the threat to the Aguefort Adventuring Academy.

Relative Success: 4/5. Most of the objectives were accomplished as intended: the maidens were successfully captured, the Oracle and Principal were killed, the Hoard was relocated, and Penelope and Dayne were crowned as monarchs in Solace. However, the specific objective of perditional contradoxy was prevented and the Cult of the Harvestmen was eliminated. The objective of war was accomplished with Aelwyn Abernant's capture, as her rescue from Solesian prison by Elven strike teams incited hostilities between Solace and Fallinel. The fall of the sun was accomplished by Arthur Aguefort, after he piggybacked his way to the Heavenly Heights of Elysium.

Induced Involvement: 3.5/5. This is due to the uneven distribution of personal enmity and heroic involvement; Kalvaxus personally ate Pok Gukgak, father of Riz Gukgak, who dealt the final blow to Kalvaxus and avenged his father. The Cult of the Harvestmen intended to use Kristen Applebees to start the apocalypse, thereby triggering her crisis of faith and creation of a new deity. Aelwyn Abernant acted as a rival to Adaine Abernant by making her the Elven Oracle and generally participating in the scheme before her imprisonment. The villainous party as a whole threatened the families of the heroic party and burned their homes down.

Poetic Retribution: 4/5. Kalvaxus was restored to his glorious form, but was summarily defeated in the span of a few minutes (extended by chronomancy) by an adventuring party of freshman and a few of their allies. He was revivified and defeated again by the seven maidens who were captured for the plot. After his final demise, Kalvaxus descended to the Nine Hells, where he was turned into a boat by the Cult of Bill Seacaster and sailed upon for the remainder of eternity.

Overall Score: 17/25

---------------- AAA ----------------

Fantasy High Sophomore Year

Main Antagonist(s): The Nightmare King & The Shadow Cat Kalina

Villainous Allies:

The Abernant Family & Elvish Associates: Arianwen Abernant, Angwyn Abernant, Aelwyn Abernant, Killian, Kir

The Court of Elders: The Great Unicorn, Leader of the Wood Elves, Leader of the Treants, Leader of the Sprites, Leader of the Centaurs

Abyssal Demons: Employees of the Hotel Cavalier, Marilith

Main Objective: The restoration of the Nightmare King to physical form using the Crown of the Nightmare King as well as the spread of his influence across the world.

Ancillary Objectives:

Retrieval of the Crown of the Nightmare King and dispersal of its effects on an individual

The spread of the curses of the Nightmare King such that the Nightmare King and her servants could influence the minds of the world of Spyre, detailed below:

her spellbook, the cursed coin that carried her influence to the minds of the dreaming her familiar, the plague of the shadow cat, who lived among the illusions and sought the return of her deity her cottage, a curse to abjure the celestial from the forest of sylvaire, that the gods would not be able to seize her power again her broomstick, the tree at the center of the forest, that twisted the fears of those intruding upon her holy forest her name, the crown which symbolized her presence on the material plane and anchored her as a deific being

The return of the Elven Oracle to the shores of Fallinel

The acquisition of Infernal permission to enter the Nightmare King's Forest via the capture of Gorthalax the Insatiable and subsequent implantation into the wood elf Killian

The creation of a ritual that allows control of the fear shown by the Nightmare King's forest; in other words, to oppose the effects of the curse of the Great Tree, involving the use of dusk moss.

Rating:

Plot Complexity: 4/5. The specific plan was simple: retrieve the Crown of the Nightmare King, acquire infernal permission to enter the Forest, and successfully traverse Sylvaire to raise the Nightmare King into the height of his power once more. The Shadow Cat Kalina spent centuries spreading her influence through Fallinel and the world of Spyre via her contacts e.g. Landrin Lier, but this particular plan was executed over the course of a year, and accelerated in the week of the ritual.

Scale of Threat: 5/5. The Nightmare King threatened the world of Spyre as well as the stability of the Solesian pantheon (Sol-Galicaea-Helio). Given physical form, the Nightmare King would be able to dominate the realm.

Relative Success: 4.5/5. The plan, for the most part, went off without a hitch; the villainous party went relatively unhindered in their schemes before they entered the Forest of Sylvaire. They faced disruption in the final stages of their scheme, as the opposing party passed through the Forest of the Nightmare King and successfully dispelled the curses of the Nightmare King that provided power for the ritual.

Induced Involvement: 4/5. Kalina previously worked with Pok Gukgak; when he began investigating the Harpy-Cerulean connection as well as the nature of Kalina's existence, Kalina eliminated his citizenship such that Kalvaxus could consume him. The Abernant family abandoned Adaine Abernant in Solace, then captured her once more in the name of the Court of Stars alongside her sister Aelwyn. They repeatedly threatened and endangered her to the point of death. The Nightmare King possessed Figueroth Faeth to force her into capturing her father, Gorthalax the Insatiable. Kristen Applebees, while searching for a new deity and engaging with the philosophy of Cassandra, was murdered by the Great Unicorn until her self-resurrection.

Poetic Retribution: 3/5. Most of these antagonists were defeated by straightforward means with a few exceptions: Angwyn Abernant was punched to death by his daughter, Arianwen Abernant lost the use of her magic and was condemned to be chased by the Vands (Van with Hands) through Sylvaire. Kalina was struck down and dispelled, though she returned to aid her deity after some time. The Nightmare King returned to their previous state as the deity Cassandra, after being resurrected from the void by the Blessed Saint Kristen Applebees.

Overall Score: 20.5/25

---------------- AAA ----------------

Pirates of Leviathan

Main Antagonist(s): Langley Sheffield-Harrington & Storm-Druid Alamaria

Villainous Allies:

The Crescent Moon Trading Company: Clive Mardres, Various Soldiers

Sylvarian Druids of the Storm King

Mutinous Warlocks of Archdevil Bill Seacaster: Alistair Ash

Main Objective: To strategically destroy Leviathan in a ritual summoning the wrath of the Storm King Kahaerin such that all damages would be deemed 'acts of god', thus allowing for the collection of multiple highly profitable insurance policies.

Ancillary Objectives:

To secure various properties across the City of Leviathan and insure them such that they can be leveraged through a divine ritual to collect on the insurance policies

To acquire and return the Daughter of Storms to her father, the Storm King Kahaerin

To create infernal lamp ritual anchors for the containment of tiefling souls

To bind the souls of 15 tieflings for use as anchors in the summoning of Captain Bill Seacaster and the Storm King Kahaerin

To create an interplanar trade network by utilizing magically gifted gnomes to interface with interplanar roots of the Forest of the Nightmare King

To summon and bind Captain Bill Seacaster in order to remove the aegis of Jamina Joy from Leviathan

Rating:

Plot Complexity: 5/5. This plot combines a complex divine ritual with legendary artifacts with insurance law and property acquisition. Anyone could try to destroy Leviathan--they did it for the insurance policy.

Scale of Threat: 2/5. Mostly a threat to Leviathan, with a side of divine wrath. The threat was contained to the city, and the dangers of the rituals were rapidly dealt with.

Relative Success: 2.5/5. The heroic party prevented the summoning of Captain Bill Seacaster and subsequently warned the bosun Jamina Joy, who brought the forces of the city to bear. Furthermore, the heroic party freed the Ramble and interrupted the ritual before Kahaerin's physical manifestation.

Induced Involvement: 3.5/5. This is due to the uneven distribution of personal enmity and heroic involvement; Marcid the Typhoon was set up as the scapegoat of the plan if it were to fail. Jack Brakkow and his crew were used as the guinea pig of the summoning ritual by Clive McDoon, leading to a long-term curse and Jack's haunting. Cheese Stormcrank's brother Spaulding, among many other gnome pilgrims, was captured and used for divination rituals on the shores of Sylvaire.

Poetic Retribution: 4/5. Clive McDoon was sent to walk the plank off of the Ramble into the depths of the Celestine Sea. Langley Sheffield-Harrington was drop kicked and crushed under an infernal lamp within the Ramble. Alamaria was turned into light & fireworks that dispelled the storm over Leviathan.

Overall Score: 17/25

---------------- AAA ----------------

The Seven

Main Antagonist: Charity Blythe & Talura, the Ending of All Things

Villainous Allies:

Talura, the Ending of All Things

The Ministry of Adventure: Preston, Jana Cleaver, Various Soldiers

Main Objective: In keeping with Project Reset, to capture and bind an Eidolon and utilize her power to grant wishes in order to cause more conflict in the world, thus promoting the adventuring industry.

Ancillary Objectives:

To reclaim the Legendarium Extraordia, an artifact which would enable the Ministry of Adventure to track all ongoing quests in the world of Spyre

To assassinate Tectonya Karkovnya, the Superintendent of the Solesian School District, for stealing the Legendarium Extraordia and absconding with it, and for advocating for the rights of adventurers as well as affected communities

To track and hinder powerful adventurers via honeypot missions from agents of the Ministry of Adventure, i.e. Jana Cleaver for Karl Cleaver

Rating:

Plot Complexity: 5/5. Another highly complex plot, this time relying on stolen research, covert assassinations, and government policies.

Scale of Threat: 5/5. Though Talura threatened the world in her own scope, via her reality destruction and gathering of her sisters, this plot would direct that across the world to all independent adventurers and upend the world for the sake of causing more conflict.

Relative Success: 4/5. They got most of the way through it by tracking the heroic party and stealing back the Legendarium, but face difficulties as the heroic party revived Tectonya Karkovnya and faced the perils of the Necronomikron by taking on the blessings of the Eidolons.

Induced Involvement: 2.5/5. Antiope Jones was considered for an internship at the Ministry of Adventure, but then tracked and nearly murdered by her boss and work crush. Katja Cleaver was abandoned by her mother Jana for the sake of ehr work with the Ministry of Adventure. Sam Nightingale independently formed a pact with the Eidolon Talura, and thus was invested in ensuring her freedom and infinite release.

Poetic Retribution: 5/5. Preston was disintegrated by Tectonya Karkovnya with a final reveal of his chariot tattoo. Jana Cleaver was killed in one round by her daughter Katja, raging for the first time. Charity Blythe was one-shotted by Antiope Jones, during which Antiope critically struck her, insulted her, showed her ass, and walked away. Talura was guided by her warlock and her sisters, as channeled by the heroic party, to infinite form.

Overall Score: 21.5/25

---------------- AAA ----------------

Summer of the Long Night

Main Antagonist: The Night Yorb

Villainous Allies:

Cult of the Night Yorb

Main Objective: To raise the Night Yorb and cast the world into endless night, in a very slow apocalypse.

Ancillary Objectives:

To grant power to the Night Yorb via the sharing of its name; corollary to 'Speak not of the Night Yorb'

Rating:

Plot Complexity: 2/5. The Night Yorb sought an endless night and accomplished it via eventual release from Riz Gukgak's tattoo after overuse of its name. The Yorbies followed up on this by continuing to worship its name.

Scale of Threat: 4/5. While slow, the Night Yorb's apocalypse spelled disaster for agriculture, for sun deities, and the general function of circadian rhythm.

Relative Success: 3.5/5. While the Long Night did occur, the Yorbies did not get the Night Yorb to the point of conquering the world in its name.

Induced Involvement: 3.5/5. The Bad Kids released the Night Yorb by speaking of it, and thus were responsible for dealing with it. They did not, however, have personal vengeance beyond this responsibility.

Poetic Retribution: 3/5. The Night Yorb was sealed into the Hangvan by "Gorgug Thistlespring" [Figueroth Faeth], and the Cult of the NIght Yorb was summarily defeated.

Overall Score: 16/25

---------------- AAA ----------------

Fantasy High Junior Year

Main Antagonist: Porter Cliffbreaker

Villainous Allies:

Jace Stardiamond

The Rat Grinders: Kipperlilly Copperkettle, Oisín Hakinvar, Ruben Hopclap, Buddy Dawn, Ivy Embra, Mary Ann Skuttle

Ankarna, Infernal Goddess of Fire and Rage, formerly the Giant Goddess of Dawn, Summer, and Justice

The Nightmare King’s Cult: Kalina, Baron from the Baronies

The Church of Sol/Helioic Church: Bobby Dawn, Pamela Dawn

Main Objective: To resurrect and subsequently destroy Ankarna in order to raise Porter Cliffbreaker as a new deity of war.

Ancillary Objectives:

To infect Elmville with rage crystals via implantation in the soil and ritual occurrence at the Root Warden

To spread shatterstars throughout Elmville and make the populace more susceptible to rage through subliminal messaging

To elect Kipperlilly Copperkettle as student body president such that she could take control of the school and thus alter the bylaws to remove the arcane protections placed by Arthur Aguefort

To find the name of the ancestral deity marked for slaughter, Ankarna

To find a location where a deity was borne in order to properly resurrect Ankarna

To promote a champion of Ankarna in her original aspect and thus gather their binding magical signature as approval for the adaptation of her domain

To gather the divine attributes (weapons, etc.) of Ankarna and grant them to the rising deity, Porter Cliffbreaker

To convince Ankarna to grant her power to Porter through deceitful prayer using devil’s honey

To prepare the body of the fetal deity, Porter, via the ingestion of ambrosia

To utilize the protective aegis of the Nightmare King, as brought back from the goddex Cassandra

To sabotage the Bad Kids and inflict stress and struggle upon them

Rating:

Plot Complexity: 5/5. This plot involved years of planning accelerated into a single year, as the masterminds took advantage of the previous years' chaos to hon in on their plan and gather allies. The divine ritual involved the preparation of multiple distinctive elements that ranged in rarity from divine attributes to a name hidden by Obliviati Mori. When key aspects of the plan fell through they were forced to restructure on the fly, as the delicate web fell apart.

Scale of Threat: 4/5. This plot threatened Elmville primarily, as the location of the most recent new deity's birth and bearing, but also caused chaos across the nation of Spyre and had the potential to spread beyond it. It further caused havoc within the Solesian pantheon as the deity Ankarna was raised from the Astral Sea.

Relative Success: 3.5/5. This party accomplished the majority of their objectives, but were foiled in a few key respects:

- Kristen Applebees' successful campaign for the role of student body president with the aid of Riz Gukgak and Fabian Seacaster - Adaine Abernant breaking Obliviati Mori on Ankarna's name - Figueroth Faeth's acquisition of Ankarna's domain in the Bottomless Pit and subsequent appointment as the champion of her original aspects - Kristen Applebees bearing witness to the death and resurrection of Buddy Dawn - Figueroth Faeth's deception with regard to Ankarna's true name - Riz Gukgak eliminating Kipperlilly Copperkettle before the votes could be counted

Induced Involvement: 4/5. Each member of the victorious party faced personal rivalry from their adversaries, the Rat Grinders. Without these instigations, the heroic party might have had an entirely different involvement in the plan.Furthermore, Gorgug Thistlespring and Figueroth Faeth suffered through Cliffbreaker's poor instruction and intentional infuriation, as he attempted to make either the champion of Ankarna's original aspect. Kristen Applebees' goddex, Cassandra, was targeted over the course of the plot in order to call forth the Nightmare King.

Poetic Retribution: 5/5. Porter Cliffbreaker was absolutely dunked on by Gorgug Thistlespring, and then summarily destroyed by a Divine Intervention from Ankarna. Each of the Bad Kids' rivals was dealt with quickly and with extreme violence. The goddess herself was resurrected in her original aspect to join a new pantheon, initiated by Kristen Applebees and Figueroth Faeth.

Overall Score: 21.5/5

[crusherthedoctor]

🔥 Archie Sonic

The amount of praise this adaptation gets does not line up with what a mess it was for most of its duration, and how it frequently suffered from terrible arcs and haphazard characterizations. Even post-reboot was ultimately just kind of meh on the whole. IDW turning out to be little more than Archie 2: The Return of Jafar has only solidified this opinion.

For more character/story-specific opinions:

Most of the Archie-exclusive characters are very forgettable.

The Freedom Fighters are overrated.

Scourge is a crappy villain and fails as a dark mirror of Sonic.

Fiona was an idiot for flocking to Scourge despite it contradicting her prior backstory and motives.

House of Cards does not good drama make.

The Unleashed arc suffered from being a bloated mess and constantly distracting itself with mundane nonsense.

Worlds Collide was alright, but Worlds Unite was... well, it sure was the Archie of all time, that's for sure. I loved it when Xander said "It's Xanding time" and Xandered all over those guys.

AU or no AU, the King Shadow storyline was a complete bastardization of Shadow's character.

I was okay with some of them initially, but over time, I grew to see the Egg Bosses as wastes. All of them. Some of them were annoying (Thunderbolt), some of them ended looking stupid in spite of their intended tragedy (Clove), and all of them didn't really have anything unique to offer aside from using Eggman's own mechs, thereby making the doctor feel less unique. Aside from one or two organic minions, Eggman generally prefers his workforce to be entirely robots anyway.

Ken Penders' hijinks may have been the obvious problem with most of Archie's run, but that doesn't mean he was the only one.

After seeing the Archie/SatAM fandom have a meltdown over Sally no longer being nude post-reboot, I never want to hear anyone complain about Rouge's design ever again.

[spooky-donut-ghost-house]

Gonna write some headcanons about the afflicted plague also known as The Affliction or The Wasting Plague

While not a common disease it is highly contagious and has actually wiped out multiple settlements in High Rock

The symptoms start off as the common cold but quickly turns into flu like symptoms before causing the afflicted's skin sickly green and also causes bloating boils excessive mucus phlegm and vomiting for khajiits it looks like they have mange the symptoms are also similar to that of Rockjoint

Those who are not under the protection of Peryite either die or permanently change and become feral and cannibalistic this is based on many zombie viruses in fiction such as the rage virus from 28 Days Later, The Green Flu from Left 4 Dead and also the clickers from The Last of Us as well as Captain Trips from Stephen King's The Stand

The disease started from a poisonous green fungus known as "Peryite's Wart" which was then eaten by a skeever who became feral due to the fungus and bit a child who became the first afflicted

As of current time only two people in Skyrim caught The Affliction outside of The Reach these being Meeko's owner and Malyn Veran Meeko's owner was hunting in The Reach and was attacked by sickly bandits who passed The Affliction onto him and Malyn was investigating Bthardumz who was attacked by Peryite's afflicted this is what drove him to insanity

The Affliction can be spread through multiple means it is airborne and can be spread through mucus vomit scratches bites and salvia and can also spread through consumption of human flesh so there are afflicted Namira cultists

It is more rare for an animal to get The Affliction rather than humans however it is common for skeevers and rats and mice and pigeons and bugs such as fleas and flies and roaches to get The Affliction due to them being Peryite's chosen disease spreaders in the animal kingdom

Plants can also get The Affliction this explains the vines in Bthardumz as well as the dead trees at Kesh's Shrine

Argonians also can catch The Affliction through infected Hist sap this causes them to have rashes paler skin purple and yellow blotches and pink skin around the eyes (see images below for examples credit to Dividedbythe9s and their custom modeled follower Scourge)

(here is also the mod for Scourge if anybody is interested it is for LE only tho)

Some people such as The Silver-Bloods don't actually believe The Affliction exists and claims it to be either Forsworn poison or Imperial propaganda despite the fact Madinach has told Thonar countless times that his people have no poisons that function like The Affliction

Those with weaker immune systems are more likely to catch The Affliction but those who are constantly outside and away from civilization are a lot less likely to catch The Affliction such as the orcish tribes and the Forsworn bandits not so much however because they don't keep themselves clean

[babakahteshamipour]

Violent Violins Exposed is a gamified exploration of blackened dreams, despair and violence woven by accelerating technocapitalism, parallelized with the accelerating tendencies of cars, screeching tires, roaring engines and militarized machines, as a haunting reminder of the collateral damage wrought by technological hubris. It seeks to unravel the interconnectedness between technological singularity, cybernetic warfare, environmental degradation, waste and pollution, from extractivist activities fueling geopolitical conflicts to the fetishized pursuit of capitalist immortality. 

In this context tires function as representative candidates of accelerating technocapitalism: they are rapidly and massively produced, consisting mostly of synthetic rubber — which is synthesized from petroleum byproducts — and carbon black filler produced by burning fossil fuels. After their lifespan is over they are either dumped in landfills or recycled through grinding or burning — a practice that is highly pollutant. As Lesley Stern writes in A Garden or A Grave? (2017) Regarding landfills filled with tires in the San Diego – Tijuana region “Heidegger predicted: when the tool breaks, you notice its thingness — though the tire in Heideggerian terms is not a thing, lovingly handcrafted; it is a mass-produced and ugly object.” 

This audiovisual installation is based on the three video clips created via video games that focus on vehicles, racing, machines and combat: Twisted Metal: Black (2001), Need for Speed: Carbon (2006) and Transformers (2004) — in combination with 3D animation. The video clips were created for the album's three singles, and the installation includes four fabric prints featuring characters from the aforementioned video games as well as Xenoblade Chronicles.

The walls of the room are adorned with quotes that echo the undead dogmatism of Lady Deathwhisper and the scourge from World of Warcraft: The Wrath of the Lich King and the machinist desires of Magos Dominus Reditus from Warhammer 40,000. These quotes serve as reflections on the transhumanist tendencies of accelerationism that align with technological singularity: “Our combined decay-phobia and techno-heroic fantasies keep our imaginations trapped in the spinning haze of the monotechnological, accelerationist narrative. There is a persistent and maniacal desire for limitless production and reproduction without decay.”, as Shuyi Cao and Remina Greenfield underline in Soft Rot, Sweet Rot, Bitter Rot: The Politics of Decay, published in Heichi Magazine (2021). 

Violent Violins Exposed eventually serves as a catalyst for contemplation, urging towards a revaluation on the automated nihilism that mainstream discourses passively impose and the escapist memefied extremist online ideologies that emerge in response to the face of technological singularity and accelerationism. It beckons for a reconsideration of a symbiotic and integral relationship with technology that is empathy driven rather than having a divide-and-conquer strategist as a puppet master.

11 - 21 April, 2024, Okay Initiative Space, Athens, Greece

Curated by Okay Initiative Space

Documentation by Frank Holbein

Supported by VRAL & und.