#Professor Clayton Azran

[cuppa-noodle]

“Long rest”

(Click for better quality)

Got something for you COS fans, I’m a sucker for platonic group cuddles.

Shepherd has been used as a pillow on at least one occasion.

Whoever gets there first gets the best spot. (Sarnax was last this time)

Clayton was writing and then fell asleep.

Kana practically passed out.

Victoria would have slept on Kana but she fell asleep in full armour (ouch)

[ghost-ferry]

After watching episode 18 of curse of strahdanya (legends of avantris) I feel like this is something that he would wear

[astroskatcher]

You put your hand out, opened the door

You said, "Come with me, boy, I want to show you something more"

Or, part 2 of I don't know how to draw lizards so here's my take on a human Sarnax because I love that middle aged lizard man + some doodles

[twicfy]

I want him GONE. NOW.

(Just started to watch CoS ((on ep3)), this is the 6th LOA campaign I'm at rn. Soon I will be powerful >:])

[vicekings]

Fanart for Curse of Strahdanya from Legends of Avantris! Please listen to this podcast/dnd game, it slaps so fucking hard!

[thatoneacecryptid]

I love all members of the Curse of Strahdanya party equally!

✨Shepherd✨ ✨Sarnax✨ ✨Kana✨ ✨Victoria✨ and

*looks at smudged writing on hand*

Clampton

[professor-azran]

Ah, hello there! Pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Professor Clayton Azran— yes, that Azran. Have a seat, enjoy some tea. We have much to discuss.

~~~~~~~~~~~<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>~~~~~~~~~~~~

#asked expedition ; Catch-all RP tag.

#ask the prof ; Responded asks.

#expedition's end ; Finished threads.

#study tunes ; Song recommendations.

#ooc ; Out-of-character posting.

~~~~~~~~~~~<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>~~~~~~~~~~~~

// i apologize if im a bit ooc at first, just started watching CoS via podcast lmao

[pigeoncry]

is this curse of stradh

[luna-the-cretar]

Cos Spoilers

Old man: *hands everyone other than Victoria a letter*

Old man: *grabs Victoria’s hand* congratulations

Me: oh shit it’s a wedding invitation

Nikkie: “You are cordially invited to the wedding between Strahdanya von Zorovich and Victoria Issacs”

Me: I FUCKING KNEW IT

[dark-twist-fairytales]

(Clayton and Victoria have danced togheter and i will die on this hill-)

This au doesn't have a name yet but Imma share how it starts.

Shepherd just got back from hunting when Doctor Cogburn tells him that he got a letter, a very fancy one at that. Shepherd takes it and notices a seal with a tophat, though it seems whoever pressed it was not used to this seal. He cuts it open and begins reading.

"Dear Silas Morgan,

My name is Clara Azran and I have come to you for a proposition. I require someone to ensure that I remain safe in the forests of Stryga on my search, I have heard of your monster hunting expertise and believe you to be perfect for the position. I will pay you handsomely and upfront if that is what you reguire. Please, I truly need this.

Signed, Clara Azran."

Shepherd is confused as to why a seemingly high society lady wishes to travel to Stryga, yet he writes back and they have a date set when they'll meet to go on this expedition.

The day comes and he's quite shocked to see not one, but two fancily dressed woman enter the bar and sit close to him.

"Silas Morgan, I presume?" The blonde woman asks.

"You must be Ms. Azran, and who is this? I wasn't expecting more people." Shepherd says, shaking Clara's hand.

"Mrs, and this is my assistant, Victoria Issacs."

They sit down and Shepherd finally asks the question he's been dying to know "Why do you want to go to Stryga?"

Clara sighs before she looks at him with a determined glare. "My husband, Clayton... He went missing 10 years ago whilst on an expedition to Stryga. I want to go to find him... or any remains that he would have left behind."

Shepherd is stumped by this. "Ma'am, Stryga is massive, how would you even know where to look?!"

Clara sighs "I went through my husband's old journals and I found several that noted a church, I believe that is where I might find him... or whatever remains. I just want evidence as to what happened to him, even a single piece of clothing or his case, I just want to know his fate. The University has done nothing so I must take it into my own hands."

Shepherd is shocked at how far Clara will go for a husband who might not even be alive anymore, but he agrees to help them out.

The Three depart, meeting up with a lizardfolk guide she apparently hired and they find the church. They meet Kana whilst they're investigating.

Clara does find something that Clayton owned, his tophat. Her hands are shaking as she holds onto it before the floor suddenly collapses, Victoria having used mending on something.

The fight with the armor happens and they're all engulfed in the mist. However, when they realise where they are Clara is stumped.

"Barovia... Clayton believed this place existed but no one else did."

Now the group is trapped, but one question remains, did someone else get trapped here just a few years prior.

(I feel like Lost in the mist might be a Good au name? That or just the lost professor)

Holy shit- I like this a lot.

Shepherd wanting to go against it, but these are two high society women willingly going into a dark and mysterious place like Stryga... The Doc would have his head if he up and left them on their own.

"Tapped in Barovia" or "Lost in Barovia" would work as well, I like the ring that "The Lost Professor" has though, but this, I like this. Plus, Clara and Kana would have a good connection in terms of their goals linking together.

[multiversal-madness]

I finally finished Valarie and Clayton’s Character refs/profiles. Kinda glad I waited this long because if I finished it when I first made it I wouldn’t have played around with the background so much and wouldn’t have ended up with something similar to the in game profiles.

So here they are, Valarie Bronev and Clayton Bronev, aka Leon’s parents. I made them for How Things Change Au, so I’ve included some Luke struggling to keep the secret of him knowing the future from them (also yes, that is Emmy’s camera. She lent it to Luke before the sanctuary so it ended up in the past too).

Luke did struggle to adjust to the past, slipping up every now and then though they never truly figured out what was up with Luke (not that they were prying, it was obvious enough from Luke’s behaviour that whatever he’d been through, it had taken its toll so they didn’t want to stress him out more).

Luke’s doing his best but the stress of possibly messing up the future too much isn’t something that just disappears.

Profile text under the cut:

Valarie Bronev

A brilliant and straight-laced detective and Leon’s mother. She’s highly regarded and and accredited to several major mysteries being solved, though she often tries to avoid the spotlight.

As a mother, she can be quite strict, or even a bit scary at times, but she does care deeply about her son.

She tends to have a tough time separating and balancing her work and home life, but Clayton is there to help if things are becoming too much for her.

She has a passion for photography, always carrying a box camera on her, keeping a more expensive one at home.

Clayton Bronev

A studious and — at times — absent minded archaeologist and Leon’s father. He spends most of his time studying and deciphering ancient texts in his home office, not sparing much time for cleaning up has made it quite a mess, though he knows where everything is (most of the time.)

As a father, he handles most of the day to day childcare and he’s good at entertaining Leon and children in general, he has plenty of stories to tell.

He’s quite knowledgeable about architecture and it’s history. He knows a lot of random trivia on a lot of different subjects, sometimes this knowledge can help Valarie on particularly odd cases.

[cuppa-noodle]

“The scar “

COMIC!!

Holy hell this took forever- (22ish hours)

I finished it thanks to Gherix and my 13 hour long Spotify playlist-

As always spreading my long haired Clayton agenda.

If anyone wants to know how he got it I’m willing to make another (way less colorful, good lord-) comic about it.

( It’s so late where I’m from rn-)

[itsguysnightitsironic]

Curse of the Nitghborne.

Guys, I haven't had time to play a lot, but I think the god of this land MAY BE the bad guy, but don't listen to me much.

Get up, folk! Flor did another Curse of Strahdanya crossover after Derek mentioned Lethica fused with Strahdanya as one throw joke in a stream!

The style is indeed inspired by the great art in Hades (the videogame), and the background is by Hades II.

The drawings without text:

Also, this was written at four in the morning, and I refuse to correct my insomniac ramblings this is the beta experience:

Lethica Nightborne as Strahdanya

----LORE------- In Barovia, a land of the dead, of suffering and grief, a new god has appeared out of nowhere covering the land in an eternal night... Of happiness? Lethica Nightborne, known as the Divine, has presented herself as the saviour that the land needed it, for what seems like decades. Her light, her kindness, her power, has changed the region and the hearts of the people to their core, as the land has been reborn... As there's new blood... But of course, you can't blame the nature of evil, so there's still death, suffering and pain in Barovia, but of course, our saviour, our dear wife, cleans it as she chooses. And if she asks for a sacrifice, of course, we will bring it to her, if she asks for the firstborn of every family, we will name the second after her, and if she asks that we take care of her dinner guests, we shall take care of them. -----DESIGN------- All I knew of Lethica was that I wanted her to wear a veil, and she couldn't only be a countess but a whole god, the saviour of Barovia. The churches don't talk about sun gods, only of her, their lady of dark, their god. Her dress comes from mixing Stradhanya's and hers, ending in a very 19th figure, with a bit of Mesopotamian fashion (the metal belts and sleeves with the double skirt) to show her as a figure of the past, as somehow older than she appears. Of course, she had to have some kind of knife so a knife fan, and a cup to show wealth and power (her cup is always full, full of what? Well, if you look at the very pale man under with not a lot of blood left-)

Marius Renathyr as Victoria Issacs

-----LORE------- Marius as a man of Ilmater seems to be QUITE interested in Barovia, a land of suffering and grief, to the extreme that seems too personal to just be a missionary mission to conquer pain. The university doesn't trust him completely, but somehow, even as a new member of the university and resident of Druskenwald, Marius had found a way to get the vote of everyone involved and the funds for the crusade. But what would be the real reasons for such travel? Or... WHO is the real reason? ------DESIGN ------ Inspired by the old missionary ropes of the 1800s and the typical vampire hunter, Marius stands as a very weird-looking holy man. From Victoria's design, we get the rosary turned into this over-complicated necklace and the ropes around his hips that reference the bloody ropes of Ilmater. (Victoria's, and now Marius, god.) And his sword has turned into a cane. (a cane with a blade.)

Yorgrim as Silas "Shepherd" Morgan

-----LORE-------- From the depths of Yona, a mercenary is invited to participate in an expedition to a land of death and suffering. He accepts stating that he has other business in Barovia and he could be glad to accompany the group under the condition he would work in peace when need it. Of course, he refuses to say the kind of work, you know, "professional privacy policy" and all. But by his reputation... It can't be good... -----DESIGN------- I was going to go with a funeral worker, but the scarf with teeth appeared and it changed the vision. The design takes more inspiration from Shepherd than Yorgrim, with the hunter theme, with the shotgun filled with blue magic and a list of hunts on red clay (that would be broken when the hit is eliminated.)

Briggsy "The Kutlass" Kratch as Professor Clayton Azran

LORE------- Briggsy may take the role of the professor, but he's not the expedition's leader. He's contracted by the University of Druskenwald to keep an eye on Marius (since the university is suspicious of the holy man). He accepts, without even wondering or caring what Barovia is, only happy to finally obtain a title under his piracy by the lords of Druskenwald. (He's getting paid to be a pirate, oh the dream!) DESIGN------ With his design, he was the last one and I was VERY tired, so... It's something weird? You know, a pirate trying to look like a "noble man". (but he's very much failing, he looks like a maniac I think)

Jericho Sticks/Virgil as Sarnax of the Edelwood

----LORE----- The cult of Gherix initially refused the university and the idea of letting them explore the runes in their forest. Until they accept but a month away from the expedition which is extremely suspicious. When the group found themselves in the forest, there he is, Jericho, a sacrificial figure of sticks and straw offered by the cult as a guide. (Of course, the poor, only brought to life months ago, strawman is a sacrifice in the name of Gherix that, by burning in Barovia, will give the god control over the whole region. / Indeed, Virgil is now Gherix we get an asshole god, give it up!) -----DESIGN----- Inspired by Wicker Man (giant figures of sticks and straw with animal sacrifices that are burned during Celtic rituals such as the Beltane.) Jericho is turned into a sacrificial figure who will burn when it's necessary by the light that keeps him alive.

Farryn of the Hartsblight as Kana Soyokaze.

-------LORE------- It isn't clear when or how, but Farryn ends up getting involved with the expedition. As a storm in sea, one day, the swordswoman appears out of the blue stating that she's also trying to find her way into Barovia. The deer refuses to explain her business with the "Divine" of all people, only holding her katana with anger and sadness, but she's clearly not looking to make friends. (She ends up being friends with the whole party.) -------DESIGN----- Based on the Sika deer (a Japanese deer), the design lingers more around the fusion character while keeping Farryn's figure, with the open skirt covered by her leg armour that goes up to her hips and the war paint, fur, and bone that stays in view.

[bathe-in-dragons-light]

[ @shepherd-to-the-flock ]

*Shepherd comes out of the tent, rambling to himself as he moves to join Sarnax and Clayton by the fire.*

"- Good camouflage, badass hunting methods, they ain't any more evil than a packa' wolves, and people actually like those fucking things. Basilisks are way cooler than wolves. I fuckin' hate wolves. You know they don't actually have that whole alpha-beta thing? That's just some shit someone made up. It's just parents. Parents of glorified murder dogs that aren't even that cool. Why is it okay to like wolves but gods forbid you admire any monstrosity and suddenly you're a fuckin' freak. Fuck that- Sarnax. Yay."

*He sits down.*

"Morning Sarnax, Professor."

*He nods. He goes to tip his hat.*

"Oh shit I still don't have it-"

[ @professor-azran ]

“Shepherd, good morning!”

*He seems in brighter spirits since the whole being-detransitioned-by-ghosts thing. He has his hood off and Shepherd’s hat on.*

“Would you like your hat back?”

[dmed-expedition]

As they walked the path became slightly wider and more walked, until they came across a much larger path, one with a wagon tracks and faint mostly worn away animal prints. It doesn't seem like anyone has been through in a couple of days, but its far from unused.

They are about half and hour away from the settlement Clayton mentioned. Its well into the day, but they have hours of daylight left. There is another two runes on a tree where the two paths connect, one of them same rune as before, the other is different, two parallel curved lines, joining where they curve closest to each other.

Based on how used the road is, they must not be far away.

@the-moist-samurai, @splintered-faith, @professor-azran, @bathe-in-dragons-light & @shepherd-to-the-flock

[the-moist-samurai]

*It’s not long after the Professor and Shepherd return that he is making a beeline for Kana. He sits down across from her with a strange look about him.*

“Kana. Tell me, what do you know about future-seeking spirits?”

[ @professor-azran ]

*Kana was used to Clayton's hunger for knowledge by now. It takes her a second to recall all that she was told*

I asked if they had any powers like that and if we are all safe and happy with our achieved goals in the future. They didn't go into much detail about it, only telling me that some of us are. I am assuming that we can't change our futures but from what I have gathered, the spirits to do not know either. That is all that I was told before they moved onto another topic.