#Old Kingdom Trilogy

[nimuetheseawitch]

I'm curious as to why the Chief Librarian of the Clayr has a sword (probably made by the Wallmakers) named Binder. It's for me thinking that the Great Library of the Clayr has always been a repository for the Free Magic beings they couldn't destroy easily and could only bind. That the Library maybe used to send out teams to bind creatures and bring them back for storage (and probably stored ones bound by the Abhorsen outside of what could safely be stored under the House). That to be Chief Librarian means to be a master combat wizard (but probably meant that more in the beginning and during the Interregnum). I would love to read a story of an acquisitions team in any era of the Old Kingdom.

Additionally, who made the decisions about how to "shelve" these acquisitions? Who decided to build the rooms the Stilken was stored in, with the seven plinths and the oak tree? Was the tree a seedling when planted, or an old oak even then?

I could read entire series about just the Great Library of the Clayr.

[genuaryficrecs]

Title: The Asylum, and Other Things That Won’t Stay Buried by @there-must-be-a-lock

Length: 1/1 Chapter, 2,124 Words

Rating: Teen

Fandom: DC, Old Kingdom Trilogy

Main Character(s): Tim Drake, Jason Todd

Link to Fic

Short Summary:

The air is getting colder, and Tim shivers. He must’ve walked miles by now. If he’s correct, he’s under the river, somewhere near the Arkham site. 

What you like about the fic!

Incredibly clever fusion fic, really leans into the oddly specific spookiness of Nix’s universe but adds in DC people and places in a way that flows beautifully together

Fave Quote:

He comes to a fork in the tunnel. To the left, a clear, well-built passageway; to the right, it looks like a dead end, collapsed long ago, likely by the Quake. But when Tim’s robin flies closer, he can see the strange oily shimmer of magic across the ruins — some sort of illusion blocking the path. 

He probes at it with a little hum, sending his magic out to explore, and doesn’t find any traps, so he starts to make his way through the illusion. It’s a funny style of spellwork, layers upon layers of mixed-up symbols that feel more like a puzzle than a traditional illusion. Tim unravels the first layer with a quick clap and makes a mental note to see what the Riddler’s been up to. 

Beyond the last layer of the spell, he finds a strange opening that seems half man-made and half natural, but all of it partly collapsed, like a building originally set into the living stone had crumbled and been fortified…

[teresiel]

It's Lirael!

Will probably post a better quality version of this when I'm not at work and am not limited to fluorescent lighting, but for now...

Was stuck between anemone (forsaken status, grief, renewal, hope) and Snowdrop (fortitude, hope, new beginnings). Went with the latter due to it being a layered visual metaphor for her home with the Clayr, and it introduced a verticality to offset the rounded and horizontally-sprawling hair.

[mudinyourshoes]

I will say, the Abhorsen trilogy does have the best take on magical animal companions ever done. Like, they have they're own agendas, personal histories and conflicts. Their motives are often complex, obscure, and subject to change. Do they want to help you? Possibly. Are you dependent on their help? Definitely. But they are also surely using you, their human companion and supposed master, for their own purposes. And every once and while one of them makes a serious attempt at killing you or your friends...

[tanoraqui]

damn right I’m rereading the Old Kingdom trilogy now. Highlights from the epilogue:

I love that he says this just after obviously raising his baby from the dead, and that while they very rarely do it, Abhorsens ARE allowed little a overt standard necromancy as a treat

New dad!Abhorsen Terciel my beloved ❤️

[snailwitdamail2]

calling it now. the new apes trilogy is gonna have an ape/human kiss like the og movie did.

[cinno2]

beginning stages of a storyboard i have planned for abhorsen. the lirael/hedge fight sits in the back of my mind at all times

[medievalandfantasymelee]

THE HOT MEDIEVAL & FANTASY MEN MELEE

QUALIFYING ROUND: 126th Tilt

King Théoden, Son of Thengel, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) VS. Steapa, The Last Kingdom (2015-2022)

Propaganda

King Théoden, Son of Thengel, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) Portrayed by: Bernard Hill

“Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! 😘”

Steapa, The Last Kingdom (2015-2022) Portrayed by: Adrian Bouchet

“You need a man? A big, strong man of few words and unyielding loyalty? Steapa is your man.”

Additional Propaganda Under the Cut

Additional Propaganda

For Théoden King:

For Steapa:

[simplegenius042]

Music Monday

Tagging @inafieldofdaisies @voidika @icecutioner @socially-awkward-skeleton @derelictheretic @shallow-gravy @direwombat @strangefable @rhettsabbott @josephseedismyfather @josephslittledeputy @imogenkol @cloudofbutterflies92 @skoll-sun-eater @cassietrn @carlosoliveiraa @adelaidedrubman @g0dspeeed @wrathfulrook @afarcryfrommymain @strafethesesinners @raresvtm @aceghosts @turbo-virgins @shellibisshe @deputy-morgan-malone @softtidesworld @starsandskies @ladyoriza @la-grosse-patate @florbelles @sleepyconfusedpotato @titiagls @minilev @yokobai @thewanderer-000 @omen-speaker @justasmolbard @alypink @thesingularityseries @nightwingshero and @noodlecupcakes

Songs for An Old Ballad Of Chance And Ember Hearts Trilogy, A Radioactive Calamity Of Love, Bombs & Gore and one specifically called "Dinosaur Escape" for the Jurassic World WIPs in The UnTitledverse, though the Jurassic World: Into The Eye Of The Storm WIP fits this one. You can listen to them below the cut:

The Trilogy of An Old Ballad Of Chance And Ember Hearts are a trio of original works about the first pair of human explorers of the Multiverse as they traverse through numerous and wonderful worlds that exist within it. It explores the beauty and darkness of the mesmerizing nature of life. "Dream Your Dream" I believe encapsulates the fantastical and ethereal tone, especially with its balance between the whimsical dream and a dreadful nightmare, which is emphasized through the lullaby-aesthetic of the song, as this trilogy is written as historical accounts of these two explorers' journeys from a time that has long since passed.

"The ticking clock breaks the spell with every beat Illusion or not, you are safe for now So dream, so dream your dream So dream your dream

So dream, dream, dream your dream 'Cause when you're awake your nightmare awaits So dream, dream, dream your dream 'Cause when you're awake the nightmare awaits It's a fantasy, they'll be seeing you soon Nowhere left to go, terrors keep breaking through So dream, dream, dream your dream 'Cause when you're awake The nightmare will become the truth."

Throughout all six of the fics I have for my Fallout series, A Radioactive Calamity Of Love, Bombs & Gore, I think the most grim and game-changing one would have to be the Fallout: New Vegas fic, The House On Top, not that this series isn't already written to be grimmer and darker than the games. Anywho, the song I believe sets the tone going forward during and post-FONV's fic would have to be "Game Of Survival".

"Who's in the shadows? Who's ready to play? Are we the hunters? Or are we the prey?

There's no surrender And there's no escape Are we the hunters? Or are we the prey?

This is a wild game of survival."

Of course "Dinosaur Escape" can just be for all my Jurassic World fics, however I think it's closest to my Jurassic World: Into The Eye Of The Storm WIP as that takes place during Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, especially with references to the Isla Nublar eruption and the Indoraptor himself. This specific fic focuses on Joaquin Cobalt, Edward Carmine and Indo (+ Diego & Phone) as they try to get off the island before they're consumed by molten ash of death. It's also the fic where Maisie gets introduced, and she plays an important part throughout The UnTitledverse entire series. The song's also a kind of Spoiler-ish free recap for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom if anyone wants to listen.

"On Isla Nublar So many dinosaurs are running wild Too many to count But Claire has got a list of names compiled I feel a rumble on the island and I start to think... We have to save the dinosaurs before they're all extinct

Start with the herbivores!

The Stegosaurus last was seen by the Cretaceous Cruise Triceratops was in the Gentle Giants petting zoo Pachycephalosaurus used to fight in Pachy Arena Ankylosaurus were around the Gyrospheres beside the forest

Oh! I feel a rumble coming from a volcano I see a stormy cloud I see a dark red glow So grab the gyrosphere and step on the gas We've got to go It's gonna blow 'Cause it's an eruption Eruption

Chaos is all around While Claire's embarking with a crew And Owen Grady joined the team to help them look for Blue Isla Nublar's falling and the population's on the brink They've got to save the dinosaurs before they're all extinct

Onto the carnivores!

Carnotaurus has two horns protruding from her head Ferocious Allosaurus broke from holoscape and fled Last remaining Tyrannosaurus Rex escaped her kingdom Baryonyx almost ate the crew inside the lava chamber

Oh! I feel a rumble coming from a volcano I see a stormy cloud I see a dark red glow So grab the gyrosphere and step on the gas We've got to go It's gonna blow 'Cause it's an eruption Eruption

The Indoraptor was created by Dr. Wu A hybrid dinosaur 2,000 pounds designed for war Half Velociraptor, half Indominus Rex And it's up to Blue to defeat him now

I feel a rumble, I feel a rumble I feel a rumble coming from a volcano I feel a rumble, I hear the sound We've got to go before Jurassic World comes falling down Yeah!

Eruption!"

[ellynneversweet]

The librarians: Lirael, we know you lost your last magic sword battling a god, but we found you another one.

Nick: can I have a sword?

The librarians: …sorry, items in the collection aren’t allowed to borrow

Nick: Sam, can you make me a sword? You know I know how to use one

Sam, recalling that fencing at school was not even close to the actual fighting tutorials he got pressed into on school breaks: …sorry, old chap, I just don’t have the time right now. Perhaps after the war?

Nick, desperately: Sabriel, ma’am, your majesty, Mrs Sam’s Mum, can I please have a sword? What if something attacks me?

Lirael: I’ll protect you though 🥺

Nick, feeling more emasculated by the second but trying not to show it: …!

Sabriel, who has been putting up with Ellimere’s trail of terrified and infatuated suitors for months now: …Touchstone?

Touchstone: for Charter’s sake. Someone give him a sword. Not an enchanted one. The worst thing he can do is stick himself with it. Probably.

[nimuetheseawitch]

The Disreputable Dog says, "Time and Death sleep side by side," and that both are Astarael's domain, so now I'm thinking that if there was a way to prevent being swept into Death (and through the Ninth Gate), you could time travel with Astarael! Maybe like the Remembrancer skill but more. What if a Wallmaker melted down bell metal from Astarael and created something that wouldn't make a sound, or if you combined it with another bell? I'm betting no Abhorsen ever experimented with Astarael and other bells.

[utilitycaster]

I've alluded to this before but one of the possible stories I could see happening for Campaign 3 is essentially the story from the Old Kingdom books by Garth Nix, aka one of my formative fantasy series. The basic gist of the story (spoilers for a 20 year old book) told in the original trilogy is that an ancient evil, sealed behind a number of wards by seven of the powerful creators of the world (it was the 9th creator; the 8th abstained) is unearthed, and the agents doing this spark unrest and war (sound familiar?). Those seven creators were largely put into the system of magic and no longer exist as independent entities, with a couple exceptions. Ultimately, people acting as the avatars of six of those creators; the remnant of the seventh; and the remnant of the eighth who had originally not participated are able to seal it once more.

While this definitely has, as I mentioned above, plenty of parallels to Campaign 3 the part that actually made me connect the dots (since, let's be real, this is the plot to a whole lot of epic fantasy) is the concept of avatars of long-dormant or dead powers reenacting an ancient rite of sealing. Ashton and whoever wields the spark of Rau'shan will stand for those titans, who once sealed Predathos; and I wonder if the Raven Queen (who post-dates the original sealing; her predecessor was presumably present) and the Luxon (not mentioned) will have a role to play this time.

[teresiel]

A sort-of WIP (we'll see if I get to another draft) of Clariel/Chlorr.

[necromycologist]

any other oldkingdom posters out there. whacking through the bushes HELLOOOO TALK TO ME ABOUT THE SILLIES

[bleachbleachbleach]

Once more in Library Mode--I appreciate your patience and answering all my questions very much--I am imagining how the awful mishmash of library items in the Library Space Station you mentioned works and it's a delight. The card catalog alone would be amazing, if perhaps something of a stream of consciousness after Aizen and Ukitake upended the place looking for clues. "Mission reports (Madarame and Ayasegawa)--cultivation of rice, pre-Gotei-13--soil analysis of Hueco Mundo--seed catalog (some seeds still in)." I bet they still have a card catalog. Also who do you suppose actually works in the library? Were they victims of Aizen? Is it a joint effort between Squads Nine and Twelve, and then the SRDI? Did Tousen and Aizen and Gin pretend to be librarians and give everyone the wrong answers to their reference questions on purpose? What a villainous act.

I would LOVE to watch a local news special spotlighting the stalwart work of the Gotei librarians! Like, can you imagine that interview. Can you imagine interviewing the head librarian as she explains the process of deciding what the taxonomies of knowledge are and what the map of subfields, overlapping categories, etc. are? And that's even before the interview with the head librarian emeritus, who was there when the deep magic was written?

It's not about librarians, but one of the anime series of all time is The Great Passage, which is based on a Shion Miura novel about a group of officeworkers and the ten years they spend developing a dictionary--THE dictionary. It's about the profound thoughtfulness required to ensure no word goes missing, even amidst employment changeover, the shifting needs of the publishing house, etc.--and to write definitions of things, concepts, ideas that speak to the true heart of what that thing really is. Imagine doing that for the ghost military. Imagine the kinds of things getting catalogued.

And YES to a seed catalogue with seed samples!!! A library of things!! The three- (or four, or five) dimensionality of the archive!

(lmao what if technically Muken is not a classified as a prison; it is part of the library system. It's a technicality, mostly--municipal infighting about property rights, the fact that the library and working at the library actually requires more training and expertise than working in a Gotei prison, etc., But after the Winter War, Aizen is not a prisoner; he is an archival object. And he has his own call number. There is a librarian whose entire job is to record, classify, and preserve, every memory and figment of thought they can squeeze out of him.)

[tanoraqui]

Old Kingdom au!Fëanor wants to he Abhorsen like his father before him so bad that it makes him look stupid. He wants to be Abhorsen like his father before him so bad that he makes an entirely new set of Charter-infused necromantic bells just to prove that he can wield such powerful, important, approximately sacred tools. He manages this because he is, of course, a Wallmaker, not an Abhorsen. They do become the Abhorsen’s main set henceforth, after the originals are destroyed when Fingolfin tries to 1v1 Orannis.

Hm, actually, the relationship between divinities and people is all but inverted between these two media. I need to think about this some more.