#Master Sorcerer

[jbk405]

I just finished the last of the Lord Darcy series, which I started a few days ago. It is a series of Detective Stories whose gimmick is that it takes place in an Alternate History where magic is a real, well-defined phenomena. The historical Point of Divergence was in the year 1199, when Richard the Lionheart didn't die in France but instead recovered from his wounds and from there settled down as a benevolent and (most importantly) competent ruler of the Angevin Empire. Succeeded by other competent rulers, the Plantagenet dynasty has remained on the throne into the 20th century and the Anglo-French Empire is now composed of England, Scotland, Ireland, and France, and the King is also Holy Roman Emperor so they also claim the various German and Italian states (but don't actually exercise much direct authority there).

Despite the presence of magic, the stories are all Fair-Play Whodunnits: The magic works by specific and internally consistent rules that are spelt out to the audience, and all of the information is presented to the audience at the same time the characters receive it. I was able to solve some of the mysteries myself, but not all of them. The magic of the series is primarily used as a stand-in for the forensic science of our own world, and deuteragonist Master Sorcerer Sean O'Lochlainn is specifically a Forensic Sorcerer.

More than the Alternate History aspect, I'd say what separates this series from most other detective fiction is that Lord Darcy isn't a one-man operation. Though he's the main character and definitely the Leader of the pair, he wouldn't be able to function nearly as well without Sean O'Lochlainn. Sean is the one who investigates the crime scenes, explains what magic was (Or more importantly wasn't) used, and generally functions as an equal to Darcy. It is explicitly described internally as Sean giving Darcy all the pieces to the puzzle, and then Darcy fitting the pieces together to get the answer. Each one says on numerous occasions that they couldn't fill the role of the other. In some stories a third member of the team, a medical doctor, is also present to provide knowledge that neither of the other two leads have, but he's not as significant as Sean.

I'd read "The Napoli Express" years ago, and was reminded of the series a few weeks ago when I read "Murder on the Orient Express" for the first time (Yes, I've seen the movies and already knew the plot, but this was my first time reading the original story itself). "The Napoli Express" contains a pretty sharpy jab at the plot of MotOE, and the reminder got me curious about the rest of the series. There are nine other short stories, plus one full novel. There are also other novels written by other authors after the death of the original author, but I'm not very interested in exploring those.

In addition to the plain murders, a few of the stories also verge on Spy Fiction. The Anglo-French Empire's main rival in Europe is the Kingdom of Poland, which has a vast spy network that Darcy frequently encounters during his investigations. This also gives us the groanworthy-named spy Sir James le Lien (har har har).

[officercooks]

Can I offer you Master of the Mountain art in these trying times?

[theellipelli]

yuki tsukumo as a jujutsu tech student

[so-sures-blog]

Earthbound

earthbound definition: attached or restricted to the earth.

In which Cole stands up to a tyrant that is cruel and unjust deep within the mountain. Because he made a promise.

🪨 🌋 🖤 🪨 🌋 🖤 🪨 🌋🖤 🪨 🌋 🖤

It doesn’t take a genius to see that Cole’s losing.

The cave is in chaos; the sound of screams and clanging weapons fill the air as two sides clash against each other.

Vangelis and the Skull are toying with him, and he knows it: they’re circling him, trying to throw him off by telling lies about his mother. Cole blocks the hits from Vangelis and the blasts from the Skull, feeling like a fly they were winding up in a web of lies.

Vangelis rises above him, resembling a winged creature of death with his blank mask and the glowing Skull of Hazza D’ur in hand. “And now, her deceit has doomed you!”

“Her only son,” the Skull rasps.

Vangelis hurls the Skull at Cole; growing brighter and brighter the closer it gets. He stands his ground and braces himself.

The Skull collides, and the blades …

… shatter.

Cole is thrown back, the air knocked out of his lungs as his body rolls to a stop. He sits up weakly, before throwing back his mask to gasp at the sight of the broken Blades of Deliverance.

“No!” He cries. With trembling fingers, his gloved hands hold onto the shattered pieces of the black and white blades. “It can’t be …”

His mother … lied …

“It is,” Vangelis glides towards him menacingly. “And now, you will pay the price for your mother’s lies.”

“Lies, deceit,” the Skull rasps.

Cole screams in pain as the Skull unleashes fire upon his fallen form.

“Your cause is lost.”

More fire.

“Have the grace to admit defeat.”

More fire. More, more. Blistering pain wreaks havoc across his broken body.

It’s hopeless. He’s finished. He’s too weak. It’s over. He just wants to —

He remembers his mother.

🪨 🌋 🖤 🪨 🌋 🖤 🪨 🌋🖤 🪨 🌋 🖤

“I want you to promise me, Cole. That you will always stand up to those who are cruel and unjust. Always.”

“Always.”

🪨 🌋 🖤 🪨 🌋 🖤 🪨 🌋🖤 🪨 🌋 🖤

His mother … her strength hadn’t come from the Blades of Deliverance. She’s always been strong. She had been sick all his life, yet no matter how weak her body had gotten she had moved through her life with implacable momentum. Impossible to sway or dissuade. Ever since he was young, his mom had power — from her beliefs … and from the Earth.

“It was her,” he realizes. “It wasn't the blades. It was her. The power inside my mother.” The power inside of me, his heart whispers. Not the Spinjitzu Burst. The power of Earth.

“It was all her.”

“Alas,” Vangelis laughs cruelly. “You are not half the warrior your mother was.”

Pain and grief bite through his being, but Cole forces himself to his feet to glare at the Skull Sorcerer. “Maybe not, but I am her son.” Conviction buries itself deep into his being. “And I made her a promise to stand up to tyrants like you! Always!”

The mountain rumbles its agreement. Cole digs his fingers into the rock and feels it mold around the shape of them. Every grain of earth begins to glow as his power seeps into it.

“What are you doing? What is this!” The Skull Sorcerer demands.

“It's the Burst!” He barely hears Master Wu cry above his roaring element.

But no. It's not, and Cole can feel it. It's something different. Deeper.

His power was strongest when he was the closest to the earth and he’s never been farther underground. He was basically at the bottom of the world. Never has he been more surrounded by the very thing that powered him. The Skull Sorcerer thought he was burying him — but what if bringing him closer to his full strength? To the source of his elemental power?

Cole could feel it — the connection to the earth. He could feel it reaching out towards him, coming from the ground all around him.

He stands and lets it in. He let the energy of the earth infuse him, deep into his core and surging forward. The Skull of Hazza D’ur comes flying forward to finish him off and Cole bursts to life.

Unparalleled power explodes from the earth, bright and blinding, and Cole feels more alive than ever. His skin disappears, being replaced with magma and rock as the mountain quakes under his force.

The battle halts as everyone stops at the sheer force of the Earth; Ninja gape in shock, the Shintarians fly back in fear, the cave-dwellers stare with awe.

“Son of Lilly,” the Geckle and Munce whisper.

Cole rises with the power of the Earth; the Skull spiraling, lost, as he reaches for it with a molten hand and throws it down against the Earth. Destroying it.

The battle — one that had been reigning in secret for decades — is finally over.

🪨 🌋 🖤 🪨 🌋 🖤 🪨 🌋🖤 🪨 🌋 🖤

Vania dips her head as the last servant that has finished attending her and shuts the door.

She takes a deep breath, listening to the fading footsteps of the servant and the guards clanking armor move away.

Then she springs into action.

She quickly changes, flying out of her normal, queenly wardrobe into more plain, neutral robes. She glances at Chompy, who’s watching her from his bed. She touches the dragon’s head.

“I’ll be back before morning — promise,” she whispers. He makes a chattering noise, telling her he’s displeased. “I know! I will, I promise. I just …” she bites her lip. “I just can’t leave him alone down there.”

Maybe Chompy can hear the pain in her voice, because he doesn’t argue — simply pushes his head into her hand with a small chur of forgiveness.

Vania pushes past the grief and stands, lighting a candle before leaving. She sneaks through her own palace silently, moving past guards like a ninja as she heads for the gardens.

She makes her way to the entrance of the garden alcove leading into the mountain, her heart steadily beating harder. The caves beneath the mountain were deserted, with the Geckle and Munce people deciding that they wanted to live their new lives above the mountain.

She scurries down; down and down the winding mountain, past cramped caverns and twisting turns, the cloying darkness only fought off by a single flame.

Finally she reaches it.

The Heart of the Mountain.

The legendary temple for the Masters of Earth. Ancient scriptures written in the Old Tongue read: Let pass through here, into this refuge and sanctuary, only those who are One with the Earth. Orange flames danced off the walls, even though no one had been down here to light them. Power shined through the giant doorway as Vania drew nearer.

Creak …

The door opened slightly.

Vania went inside, following the carved path molded by Geckle and Munce. Statues of ancient Earth Masters and their stories echoes around her, and she ignores the familiar goosebumps that rise along her skin. Her eyes linger on the statue of Lilly, before moving on.

Statues are more than solid pieces of art. They are immovable, unbreakable monuments that enrich storytelling, making the experience of living more profound and unforgettable. They remind us of the strength of traditions, the power of history, and the enduring spirit that echoes throughout the ages.

She draws closer to the one standing in the middle, heart beating loudly in her chest. It's tall and strong, newly carved. Awake and glowing with the surging elemental energy. She reads the plaque in front of it.

This statue was carved with love and gratitude by Geckle, Munce, and Shintarian craftsmen in honor of Cole Brookstone: Ninja, brother, and son.

Vania places the candle on the stone ledge and takes a seat on it, facing away from the statue. It feels like yesterday she was trapped in here with the Upply and Master Wu, trying to figure out a way to stop her father. She forces the memories away when she feels the mountain move.

“Hello, Cole,” she says softly. The Earth rumbles under her feet, before slowly forming and making a vague shape of the person she used to know. Orange light shines through the cracks of rock as he peers at her curiously, waiting.

Vania smiles.

“So, what story would you like to hear today?”

[vertigoartgore]

1988's Marvel Fanfare Vol.1 #41 cover by cover artist Dave Gibbons (he did the interior art too).

[itsafreetrialofdeath]

multiclassed!

[escespace]

Merlin: You know, not every problem can be solved with a sword.

Arthur: Not all problems can be solved with magic

Merlin: ...

Arthur: I will stick to what I said

Merlin: ...

Arthur: Okok but you can do this *proceeds to do sword tricks* and I could do it with two!

[icedghostlatte-art]

A Sorcerer and his Familiar.

[nite0304]

Day 13: Chaos!

This one went through a couple iterations, but getting the concept down was surprisingly easy.

Also, had to give a frame to the table on the first page so it was readable against the image. Might fix it on the reedition.

[nameless-headless]

Azusat Luzur Aslut hrnhrn

[tealfling]

Rolan sitting in that book throne and Tav is riding him. Hard.

Let me tell you Anon: the second I laid eyes on that book throne it has been my number one thought, nay, goal for a Rolan x Tav relationship.

Especially, my Sorcerer Coren. I have all the dirty book throne thoughts. In fact, alot of my story thoughts revolve around getting them around that chair to fuck.

In my long fic I'm writing for Coren & Rolan, after the Lorroakan battle, their relationship hits a point where they either have to admit they have feelings for each other and actually verbalize whether that's something they want to pursue or let their chance slip away.

I literally can not wait to show y'all the Darcy-est fucking confession I could come up with from Rolan. Which leads to them making out on the throne with Coren grinding/dry humping the life out of that man.

Also, a while back someone posted a headcanon where they thought Rolan could not stand for the way Lorroakan basically wasted books by making them into a throne. Which I absolutely agree too. But the only way that thing is coming down for Coren is when she gets too enthusiastic riding the fuck out of Rolan like her life depended on it on the book throne that it collapses under them.

I think for Coren, the Book Throne is her version of a sex chair. It turns her on so much seeing Rolan sit in it.

The Book Throne is the altar at which Coren comes to worship Rolan's body. Which Rolan honestly deserves in her mind.

He has enormous self doubt and feels both unworthy & undeserving of the things he has at that point. So when Coren catches him around the throne she tries to get him on it. He's such a good Master of Ramazith's Tower, isn't he? Such an intelligent, powerful wizard. He deserves to relax, have a break after all he's been through? All he's accomplished? Doesn't he? She associates it solely with being intimate with Rolan. That's probably where she gives him head for the first time. She loves having the powerful Master of Ramazith's Tower needy and wanting under her on his book throne. It's the closest thing to getting freaky in public he'll allow. And while he is itching to dismantle the damn thing so he can finally organize all those tomes, every time he approaches it with the intent to tear it down a memory of him & his lover pops into his head and he suddenly decides he has better things to do and the throne can wait for another day.

[tyiart]

dnd class stickers are now available for grab ⚔️💜

[galedekkarios]

screenrant wants to be a tumblrina galeposter soooooo bad like (max mayfield voice) screenrant, you're so behind it's ridiculous

[tifanygonzalezart]

TTRPG Class Designs Done!! Hope you all like! Ill have these available as stickers at Magfest! (And soon as enamel pins~)

[galedekarios]

ROUNDTABLE HOLD

The bustling hub area that exists outside of the Lands Between. A place to mingle with other adventurerers, craftsmen, resupply and discover a trove of blessings and rooms of secrets.

[moodboards-aesthetics]

Stephen Strange aka Doctor Strange