#Renegade Mage

[joncronshawauthor]

🧟‍♂️ New Episodes & Captivating Tales | Author Diary - May 3, 2024 - Writing & Reading Adventures 📚📺

📝 “Punks Versus Zombies” Updates: This week, I’ve added two new episodes to the “Punks Versus Zombies” series. Continuing this saga is always an exciting challenge, and I’m eager to see how the story will evolve as it unfolds further. 📖 New Short Story Release: I’m thrilled to announce another addition to the Ravenglass Legends series—a prequel short story titled “The Beast Hunt.” It’s now…

[manyworldsofdarkness]

Tumblr Communities anyone?

I forgot they existed in all honesty, but if you are a fan of World of Darkness, Chronicles of Darkness or any of the game between them, then please feel free to join and post to your heart’s content.

We also have a discord

[magebutts]

"wahh why are people upset they cant be evil in datv, IM happy being a good person and giving pretend money to the pretend beggers"

1. they have removed roleplaying and autonomy from an RPG, thats a fucking horrible choice from both a writing and development/mechanical standpoint

2. it is my god given right to be a bitch in videogames

[corpocyborg]

The two times a bioware game did not give me what I wanted...

And the one time it actually did... (once modded anyway)

(I may just possibly have a type. Possibly.)

[horrorlocke]

World of darkness sketch dump <3

[death-rebirth-senshi]

I can definitely see in a lot of ways Vivienne being the best option for Divine when I'm not being petty and taking the game seriously. But also I have difficulty taking the decision seriously and find murder pope very fun, not just funny.

[bekandrew]

MtAw 2e Homebrew Spell - Wrench in the Works

I'm finally getting around to reading Mage: the Awakening 2e and had an idea for a spell that interacts with Deviant conspiracies.

Wrench in the Works (Mind ooooo)

Practice: Unmaking Primary Factor: Potency Suggested Rote Skills: Intimidation, Politics, Subterfuge The mage destroys connections between people, cutting a rival off from Merits or throwing an organization into chaos. The mage must be aware of the subject's Merit to target it, but may lower a subject's Allies, Contacts, or Status at a rate of one dot per Potency. If this spell is made Lasting to another player's character, Sanctity of Merits applies. +1 Reach: the mage does 1 bashing damage per Potency to a Conspiracy (DtR) or other organization structured in that fashion. +2 Reach: For 1 Mana, the effect is Lasting. +2 Reach: the mage doesn't need to be aware of the Merit to target it.

[smonkledonkle]

So like,, I finished Forest Mage yesterday and like,, what a rollercoaster??

Honestly I was more scared for Amzil there than Nevare (Nevare is the protag, what can I say?) especially at the end there.

But here's my predictions going into Renegade's magic:

The Queen has to get involved in this. Like, not only has she been mentioned and foreshadowed like crazy but she seems to be an advocate or at least interested in the Specks and their magic.

And the one who's probably gonna get her involved in it is Epiny. If Epiny is now trying to stop the road, then surely she'll try whatever she can. And sending a letter to the Queen was also foreshadowed a bit so I would not be surprised if that was how she came into play.

We've seen a little bit of Epiny's affinity for magic, but I don't think we've seen her real power or skill. I think this book will really develop her strength in magic and likely play a bit part in the finale.

Anyway, I'm excited to see where this goes, and am lowkey devastated at the fact that I'm up to the last book and I won't have any more Robin Hobb books to read :(

[electricpentacle]

Deviant the Renegades: everyone is neurodivergent 😱😱😱🔥🔥🔥☣️☢️⚠️

Mage the Ascension : everyone is neurodivergent :D

Changeling the Lost : everyone is neurodivergent :(

[wendynerdwrites]

I just. Cannot. Get over. The Archon.

When other protagonists made big leadership decisions in game, it was justified and made sense and you had to work for it and it didn't always go as you wished

DAO: The Warden is not even really making THE choice in Orzammar. Their support of Bhelen or Harrowmont is not anyone going "You pick the king", you are a supporter and ultimately a tool. The Warden is the instrument in the plans of whomever the player chooses. Ultimately, it is still the Assembly who chooses in universe. In reality, it's the player who picks the king, not the Warden. On top of that, you are there and contributing out of need that makes sense in universe. Your candidate needs someone to go down into the Deep Roads and your party are literally the only ones to do it because you're made for it. It has nothing to do with your political power or importance. You are a means to an end for whomever the PLAYER picks.

Then the Landsmeet, where, in order to get your pick, you need to a) Do a variety of favors and side missions b) make huge compromises often at a loss to a character's happiness c) literally require the backing of the second most important nobleman in the realm ALONG WITH a number of other lords to get your way, d) provide actual proof of multiple crimes committed by your opponents. And even then you still have to fight a duel.

DA2: By this point, Hawke has been Champion for years. Hawke has connections with a ton of power players in Kirkwall built over a literal decade and literally saved the city. And even then, you're only put in the position of making decisions for Kirkwall's future because almost everyone else is dead/insane/giving up/crashing out.

DAI: Orlais: yes, you do get to pick the Emperor..but let's go over how it got that point shall we? You are literally a religious icon who has ended at least one major fucking war at this point. AT A MINIMUM tou command either the entire population of circle mages OR the entire renegade Templar Order. You seemingly died and came back from the dead. You have a giant fucking impregnable fortress on the FERELDEN/Orlesian border and at least one other major holdfast in FERELDEN, along with your forces being dispersed throughout southern Thedas. While all the other major institutions in Orlais including the royal family, the Chantry, and the various martial orders like the Seekers and Templars were all too busy bitch fighting with one another while the Inquisition was the only organization steadfastly addressing the actual threats in Thedas and are seen as literally Chosen by God thanks to Inky having the Mark. You are the unanimously chosen leader of the fastest rising paramilitary organization in Thedas. And that's the MINIMUM of your influence starting WEaWH. And you still have to get the court to like you and solve mysteries.

It's just as likely that in addition to all that listed above, you ALSO just won a huge military victory at Adamant and possibly grandfathered the Wardens among your forces as well and have at least one or even two other huge castles in Orlais.

You are famous everywhere. You faced down an archdemon. You are a religious icon. So yeah, IF you secure enough goodwill with the court of Orlais AND blackmail everyone who matters, then yes, you pick the emperor.

Almost exact same scenario with the Divine, except in that case, depending on the choices you make, there's no guarantee of your chosen candidate ending up on the sunburst throne.

All of these big state decisions are built up via the storylines in the game, the setting, have tons of mitigating circumstances, and come when your character has either forged major alliances and/or built up major political clout in their own right. And even then they have to accomplish a shit load of bullshit to get to that decision.

DATV: Hey Random Guy, which one of us should be Archon? You choose since you slayed a single dragon. Sure, you're just some schmuck with no institutional power, allies among heads of state, military, or actual public clout, but go ahead and just choose who you want with no actual requirements for being able to do so. No, we're not going to ask you to gather evidence of crimes or blackmail material. No, you don't need to rise to nobility or go on a massive quest to do something only you can do. No, you don't have to make any choices that might affect you negatively. Just pick between the two of us, we're both good and your choice will come with no conflict since we will both just support whatever you pick, random asshole we just met who is actually technically responsible for our city being attacked. Fuck earning anything. Fuck sacrifices. Fuck compromise. Fuck your major decisions being earned via actual decisions you've made throughout the game and work you put in. Fuck uncertainty. Fuck playing actual politics to any extent whatsoever. Fuck anyone actually knowing who you are. You just slayed the boss, so as a prize you get to decide who the leader of the second most powerful country in Thedas will be because you're the protagonist of this game.

[manyworldsofdarkness]

To all fans of World of Darkness, Chronicles of Darkness and anything else by White Wolf and Onyx Path. This here is a fan server for both veterans and people interested in learning WoD lore, a fun inclusive server open to everyone with an interest in any of the games! Come talk about your characters, post fan art, discuss the games you want to play or your favorite editions and make some like minded friends who also happened to be obsessed with psychotic monsters.

We’re hoping to spread info about World of Darkness all over tumblr so more of you self proclaimed monster fuckers can get on in this.

[larluce]

Arthur and Merlin travel back in time without knowing the other is from the future too AU

Tagging @aceauthorcatqueen , @fallenxjas , @smileytrinity ,@lucifertookmyshoe , @an-entity-i-think , @thecornerofbelu , @griffonskies , @odinjm , @cinnabon-sweetroll-tiramisu , @thelady-mary , @bennedict , @nightninjaboy , @st8-of-grace , @star-rie , @error-username-not-available , @dogberryrowan , @jamieweasley13 , @tansyuduri , @tercais , @robynnemrys , @evadne01 , @serasvictoria02 , @hairdryerducks , @hopeaha Sorry for the delay, my college classes started and this fragment turned out to be quite long. I hope you enjoy it.

LINKS TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS AU HERE: PART 1 , PART 2 , PART 3 , PART 4 , PART 5 , PART 6 , PART 7 , PART 8 , PART 9 , PART 10 , PART 11 , PART 12 , PART 13 , PART 14 , PART 15 (You're here) , PART 16

In "To kill a king"

Gwen's father, Tom, consorting with Tauren.

Tom: (exclaims, after Tauren turned lead into gold with the mage stone) Gold!

Tauren: (smiles evily) Pure priceless gold. Yours, blacksmith, if you keep your mouth shut.

Tom: I don't think that's going to be possible.

Tauren: (confused) What?

Arthur: (Enters with guards suddenly) Seize him!

Tauren: (Tries to scape, but he trips and is quickly surrounded. He turns to Tom, furious) You! You set me a trap!

Arthur: It was me actually. (turns to Tom) Well done, Tom.

Tom: Anytime, sire.

Tauren: (yells while he's taken outside) You'll pay for this! All of you! (is taken away by the guards)

Arthur: Tom, you put yourself at great risk by agreing to participate in this ambush. Your service to the crown won't go unrewarded.

Tom: (bows, grateful) Being of service to you is enough reward for me, sire.

Gwen: (enters, crying) Dad! (goes to hug him)

Tom: Gwen! (hugs her inmediatly) What are you doing here? I told you not to come! It's dangerous!

Gwen: And you expected me to just wait until you came back of your suicidal mission?! If something had happenened to you I couldn't bare it.

Arthur: (smiles, glad he could save Gwen the pain of losing her father) You didn't come alone, did you? (calls out) Merlin!

Merlin: (comes out of his hidden place and goes to Arthur, smiling not at all guilty) Someone had to have your back. (thinking) And make sure Tauren didn't scape.

Arthur: (perfectly knowing it was Merlin who made Tauren trip) As if you could. (calls out again) Lancelot?

Lancelot: (comes out of his hidden place and aproaches too) Someone had to look after them. (pointing at Gwen and Merlin).

Arthur: (sighs again and calls out again) Morgana?

Morgana: (comes out of her hidden place and aproaches too, in anger) You put my friend's father in danger and you expect me not to make sure you didn't get him killed?

Arthur: I know you weren't fond of this plan, but there was no other way to capture Tauren. And look, everything turn out alright.

Morgana: And now Gwen and her father are in the crosshairs of a whole group of renegade sorcerers!

Arthur: The king agreed put guards at their house, they won't be unprotected.

Morgana: They wouldn't need protection if you hadn't involved them in the first place!

Gwen: My lady, (puts a hand on her arm) it's fine. We knew what we were getting into and you know I'm not defenseless. I know how to use a sword.

Morgana: (calms down and smiles at her) You sure do. (turns to Arthur) You better put the best guards at their disposal.

Arthur: They already have one. (turns to Lancelot) Will you protect them?

Lancelot: With my life!

Gwen: (blushes at Lancelot devotion and smiles)

Merlin: Arthur, (gives him the mage stone he just picked up) Tauren dropped this.

Tom: Is what the sorcerer used to turn lead into gold.

Arthur: (serious) They're going to come after this.

Time skip. In the dungeons. Morgana goes to Tauren's cell.

Tauren: The king's ward. (laughs dryly) What brings you here? Do you rejoice in our misery too?

Morgana: (gets close) I don't rejoice in anyone's misery. Even yours, that almost got an innocent man killed.

Tauren: So you're here to lecture me?

Morgana: (gets closer and whispers) Allies can appear in unexpected places (puts a key in his hand). Good luck. (leaves)

Tauren: (very confused, but smirks to himself)

Time skip. Tauren scapes from the dungeons and is running away being followed by knights. Morgana appears dressed in a cape riding a horse, picks him up and they flee together. Once they left the knights behind they make a stop in the woods.

Tauren: (gets off the horse, suspicious) Why are you helping me? Is this a trap?

Morgana: If it was, it would be a very poor one. (gets off the horse too) Look, I'm not delighted to see you either, but I needed to scape from Uther and you're the best option I have.

Tauren: But you're his ward.

Morgana: (raises her voice, suddenly scared) I won't be when he finds out what I am!

Tauren: (realises, surprised) You're a sorceress.

Morgana: (nods, shy and her eyes water) I didn't want too, I didn't choose this! But I keep having these visions in my dreams and hearing voices in my head. I didn't want to believe it but then a made some vase explode with my mind and I... (she trembles and cries) I don't want to be a mosnter! I don't want to die!

Tauren: (puts a hand in her shoulder, gently) Magic is not something you should fear, my dear. Is a gift, you're special. The only monster here is the murderer the calls himself king.

Morgana: (snifs) I know. (sadness turns into fury) For years I've seen him kill thousands of innocents while I could only watch. But I don't want to be useless anymore. I want to fight.

Tauren: (still a little distrustful) How can I be sure you're really on our side?

Morgana: (pulls the magic stone out of her pocket and gives it to him) Do you believe me now?

So Tauren brings morgana to his hidden place with all his followers. She intruduces herself, explains her situation and they accept her. With the king's ward now on their side, now they can plan their next move.

Morgana: I really don't want to come back.

Tauren: It's for the best. It won't be long before Uther sends search parties after you. Don't worry. You won't have to suffer his tirany anymore if everything goes as planned.

Morgana: WHEN averything goes as planned. (she smiles and kisses his cheek) Thank you. For accepting me. (gets on her horse) Goodbye.

Tauren whatches Morgana in awe before going back to his camp. He smiles triunfanly. Tomorrow Uther will finally die.

Time skip. Morgana makes a stop in the woods and meets Arthur, Merlin and group of knights.

Arthur: (greets Morgana) Did they fall for it?

Morgana: (smiling) It was easy as cake.

Flashback

Arthur, Uther and Morgana in a room, planning strategies.

Uther: It's very risky.

Arthur: I know. But it's the only way.

Uther: We could wait for them to attack Tom's place to captured them. If they're really going after the stone-

Arthur: But they won't send all of them. Especially with their leader captured. With this plan we can finally find all of them and kill them once and for all.

Uther: (smiles, proudly) You're right. So, who are you going to assign this important task to?

Arthur: I'm still working on it.

Uther: A servant perhaps?

Arthur: No, Tauren is no fool. He knows a servant can be easily hired or ordered to do stuff. He'll know it's a trap for sure.

Morgana: And if it was someone who is nobelty? Someone that can't be paid or order to do stuff because they're too close to the king? Someone like his ward?

Arthur: (concerned) Morgana...

Morgana: (determined) I can do it.

Uther: Absolutly not. It's dangerous!

Morgana: I know how to fight! If I can convince him that I'm on his side-

Uther: (raises his voice, sternly) No, Morgana. End of discussion.

Morgana: (leaves enraged)

Arthur: (sighs as he watches her leave and turns to his father) I'll talk to her later. Make her see sense.

Uther: Good luck with that.

Time skip. In Morgana's chambers. Morgana is siting on her bed and Arthur knocks the door.

Arthur: (opens the door slightly) Can I come in?

Morgana: As if you have to ask.

Arthur: (enters) He only worries about you, you know? I do too.

Morgana: I'm not helpless. For once I'm trying to help. I'm trying to support his absurd cause and he doesn't let me.

Arthur: (sits next to her) You don't really support him though. You don't support any of this.

Morgana: There's a reason Tauren and his men got to this point. Uther started this by killing all sorcerers indiscriminately. He brought this on himself!

Arthur: I know. I don't share his ideas on sorcerers either.

Morgana: (in disbelief) Really?

Arthur: Yes!

Morgana: And yet you're organising this slaughter.

Arthur: Because these sorcerers did do harm. It doesn't matter that my father wronged them first. They must to be stopped.

Morgana: Because they are evil sorcerers?

Arthur: No, just because they're evil. Nothing more.

Morgana: (softens her expression, a bit hopeful) You really don't believe all sorceres are evil?

Arthur: I did help you save that druid boy, didn't I?

Morgana: But... You never spoke up and always followed Uther's orders blindly.

Arthur: Because I had to, not because I wanted to. And you speak up more than enough for the both of us.

Morgana: Well it would have helped me for you to speak up for me there.

Arthur: I agree that you could easily fool Tauren. It wouldn't be hard for him to believe you don't share the king's ideas despite being the king's ward since that's already true anyways. But I also agree with my father that it's too dangerous for you.

Morgana: Wouldn't it be for anybody?

Arthur: You're the king's ward.

Morgana: So it's only okay to endanger others if they are not nobelty, isn't it?

Arthur: (sighs) You still don't forgive me for using Gwen's father.

Morgana: Will you forgive me easily if I used Merlin for something like that?

Arthur: ...

Morgana: Let me help. You'll be leading the ambush, Uther doesn't have to know I was involved. Please.

Arthur: (sighs longly) I'm going to regret this.

Morgana: Yes! (hugs him) Thank you!

End of flashback

The ambush is a success. Arthur and the knights kill Tauren and all his followers, leaving a pool of blood behind. It helped that the mage stone Morgana gave to Tauren was actually a replica Merlin helped made.

Arthur: (thinking, while looking at the corpses coldly) 285.

Morgana: (horrified at Arthur's display and guilty because despite knowing they were evil, these people were like her and accepted her)...

Merlin: (overwhelmed, but mostly concerned) Arthur?

Arthur: Lets go. (leaves)

Morgana: (to Merlin) Has he always been like this when he... does this kind of missions?

Merlin: (trying to reassure Morgana, but mostly himself) Yeah... It's... it's normal (thinking) But he has never been this numb while killing people before…

And they leave in an uncomfortable silence.

[electricpentacle]

One of the things I established in my 1970s Mage: The Awakening campaign is that, at this point in history, most Mages have trouble telling Deviants and Changelings apart. So someone or something did horrible things to you and now you have powers and a fucked up soul? Cool, I'm filing your case with all the others. It will be several decades before the Mysterium have enough data on Deviants to state conclusively that there are two different phenomena going on here.

I have also established that the Adamantine Arrow stance on both the Lost and the Broken is "go easy on them, they're probably more afraid of you than you are of them".

On Ugly Ducklings

Given the restrictions the Masquerade and various conspiracies put on information, and the often unexpected and ill-explained nature of transformation, groups from different supernatural templates are often partially or entirely unaware of each other. I think there could be a lot of fun to be had with this, especially with multi-template parties!

A changeling motley who ran into a very confused fledgeling shovelhead and goes: traumatic kidnapping experience? Aversion to daylight? Looks kind of odd? Well, congrats on escaping the Gentry! Needing to drink blood is hardly the weirdest changeling compulsion out there, and it’s not like the shovelhead knows anything. 

(actually, just about any template could fall in with a changeling motley- fairy nonsense is just Like That)

But there’s just so much potential to be had from groups not always immediately recognizing each other and instead trying to fit them into their existing knowledge! You can have Werewolves meeting a Geist and going ‘weird spirit but okay,’ a Promethian wandering into a Nosferatu warren and no one thinks to question it for like a week, a recently escaped changeling getting an invitation to the Union from a guy at work who heard she’d gone through something bad…

[lord-shitbox]

shitbox guide to making touchstarved character info sheets:

aka i have no idea how to start making one for my OC before I break down how all the canon character ones are made. here are my notes:

#character bio, the one with likes/dislikes:

extra 2-word character description at the top, DND-esque; usually adjective-noun & establishes What they are [ex repentant angel, demon renegade, cursed outsider, heroic mage, chained charlatan] personality: (disposition adjective) + (role noun). ex "melancholic observer," "mischeivous thrillseeker" likes: self explanatory, but tend to have a good amount of ones that arent immediately discernible from the rest of their info sheets dislikes: same as above fatal flaw: plot relevant issue other: something unexpected quote: something they said in game that succinctly illustrates their personality or role in the story

captions: makes a question out of one of their notable traits, + relevant emoji (ex: One way to warm Mhin’s icy heart is with tasty sweets. What kind of dessert would you gift them? 🍰 / The last person who saw Vere's sketchbook mysteriously went missing… What do you think they saw in it? 🔪)

#character bio, character/narrative descriptions

2-word character description at the top again paragraph 1: establishes their role in the world, general disposition and reputation, a hint of their deep secrets & a subtle hint at what core issue plagues them (thing that defines their arc) paragraph 2: what they want/how they interact with you (core issue style), ends with their narrative question (the implied yes/no that determines good or bad ending) [ex: can you redeem him, or are you the final entry in a long list of tragedies?]

captions: restates implied core struggle & narrative question [Some people are beyond saving. Ais teeters on the brink of the abyss… Can you help him or will he drag you under? / Many Monsters lust for blood, but Vere promises to protect you. His collar prevents him from harming humans… But can it contain his deadly appetite?]

#relationship chart:

close/like/dislike arrow to each character, plus a two-bit blurb on how they think or feel about them. [ex. Mhin's only friend. As much as Mhin wants to trust him, they're afraid of being hurt. Or worse.] also have a little quote about how they view others/the nature of relationships [ex ais: "not bad to be the black sheep. you get the clearest view of the world" / kuras: "friends are fleeting, but no less precious for it"]

captions: posted twice, once with a caption that summarizes their general social attitude, followed by an engagement question [Kuras doesn’t mind most people… except Vere. They certainly have some kind of history, but do you have any theories as to what it is? 🤨/ A certain spoiled pup is missing from Ais’s chart… 🐕 How did your MC react to meeting Princess in the demo?] and once with a caption that summarizes their reputation, followed by a somewhat surprising tidbit [To stave off his constant boredom, Vere causes trouble all over Eridia 🧨 He’s likely the culprit behind several local ghost stories…/Leander gets along with everyone and he's extra frisky when drinks are involved 🍻 Despite his popularity, he doesn't have any close friends…]

#stat chart:

stats: 1-5 for strength, luck, and wisdom, followed by 2 character-specific notable stats at the bottom [ex. forbidden magic, rizz / animal handling, small talk / empathy, handwriting] blurb: abt one sentence, describes their typical behavior & maybe hints at some stuff [while more than capable in a fight, leander avoids unnecessary bloodshed to uphold his spotless reputation and to protect his handsome smile // Ais is a man of many talents, adept in the fine arts of bashing skulls, intimidation, taming wild beasts into submission, mastering long-dead tongues, and murder // thankfully, kuras is more interested in helping than harming others. his true power is almost as unfathomable as his handwriting // for decades, vere has left the remains of the drunks, swindlers, and amateur thieves that mistook him for an easy mark on the doormat of kuras's clinic // mhin may be short-tempered, but their sharp tongue and propensity for violence bely their wealth of knowledge]

captions: memey summary of their personality/habit they have [If Mhin wants to recite the entire Bee Movie script to you, it’s basically a love confession 🥰 If you say no, you will get stabbed / Many a drunken brawler has taken Vere for an easy mark, but his pretty face belies a shockingly high body count 🔥 / Wow, Ais is so talented… We love a guy who can give people a good pounding 👊🤯💥 in a fight]

#character lore

a) sentence that establishes relevant worldbuilding, followed by b) elaboration on it that doesnt explicitly mention the character; then c) some extra detail (sorta a climax; most significant info) -> d), a short resolution that implies a direction for the relevant lore subject

ex:

a, relevant worldbuilding) Mhin: in a bygone era, before eridia became the last bastion of humanity, there was Lovent / Leander: Visitiors drawn to eridia are often surprised by the senobium's apathy towards the surrounding city / Kuras: the senobium's folklorists note a curious pattern in humanity's oldest tales.

b, elaboration) yet where a bustling metropolis once stood, there is now only a blasted crater and empty ruins, blanketed by fog. / Lacking the senobium's protection, Lowtown has been divided into territories belonging to several gangs. / Though the details vary, these stories share a common theme: an otherworldly teacher, bringing the divine gift of knowledge.

c, most crucial info) the inhabitants, and large chunks of the city, had vanished into thin air. / While a significant portion is watched over by Leander, he refuses to stoop to bribery or senseless violence to maintain his power. / Alchemy and literacy, art and war...supposedly this being shared all they knew with the earliest civilizations.

d, direction) over the following years, scholars flocked to the ruins in earch of answers. like the loventians, they disappeared without a trace, and none ever returned. / locals speak praise for the charming leader whose seemingly benign reign extends even below the city streets into the shadowed depths of the Silent Crypts. / In some tales, the otherworldly teacher is a loving, benevolent figure. In others, they are a harbinger of chaos and ruin.

Captions: relevant quote from the character [not all seen in game so far. ex “Obedience suits you, sparrow.” / “Hope. A strange concept, after so long seeing myself as the agent of ruin.”]

[alternate-triforce]

I promised you all a map, so here is a map of Castle Town (for now)

Some descriptions of areas and an overview under the cut.

CASTLE TOWN

The largest city in all of Hyrule, and the only one not significantly damaged by the Mage War. It is separated into five color-coded "corners," each with their own function. Hyrule Castle is, of course, at the center. It has a rivalry with the second-largest city, Loomington, located in southwestern Hyrule.

Adventurer's Emporium: A one-stop shop for potions, shields, weapons, and anything one might need on a long trek through the Hyrulean wilds. Though most of its goods are of fine quality, they tend to be on the expensive side…maybe try one of those other stores first.

Mystic Violet Market: More of an event than an actual place of interest, but by most tourists it’s treated like one anyway. Merchants from all over Hyrule come here to buy and sell exotic wares, from enchanted stones to strange meats to rushroom oil and anything in between. Entertainers will squeeze in between stalls looking for a generous person to give them some rupees for their time. There are even some special games to play, like bombchu bowling and digging for treasure. After you get past all that glamour, wagons of fresh food from local farms, prepared food and snacks from bakeries and candy shops all across town are usually towards the back. Make sure to watch your purse, though: pickpockets love to sneak into crowds here.

Rogue Soldier Plaque: A large, decorated plaque commemorating the capture of Castle Town's first enemy after Rebirth, a renegade soldier that sacked buildings and burned them with his group of vagabonds.

Flowering Square: Some like to call this the prettiest part of Castle Town. Several years ago a well-respected member of town made it her mission to beautify the Red Corner with flowers cultivated from the nearby mountains, and this is the result of her efforts.

National Library: A large, ornate building with most of the records and knowledge to be had before Rebirth. It has large swaths of resources concerning magic, history, biology, architecture, engineering, and everything in between. Some of the greatest minds in Hyrule linger for long hours here studying, as well as printers transcribing some of the more popular tomes to be printed and sold. The library doesn't allow books to be taken out of its walls, and damaging or destroying an original copy is considered a great crime.

Old Prison: A dingy-looking collection of cells and a connected guardhouse with a small armory, one floor above-ground and the other below. Despite its humble appearance it's contained some of Hyrule's most dangerous criminals. Contrary to the name, this is actually a jail: ALT!Hyrule does not have prisons or a proper prison system.

Old Barracks: If soldiers from the nearby training camp don't have a place to stay, they can cheaply reside here, if they choose. After Rebirth, this was the place where the last remaining soldiers from the Mage War were found.

Magic College: A place of great learning for those interested in becoming mages! Students from all across Hyrule come here to study both magic and how to use it responsibly. The professors here are on the cutting edge of magic, always developing novel ways to apply it to everyday life.

Hyrule Castle: The epicenter of Castle Town, this mysterious building was attacked by Ganon twelve years ago, and it's where he was sealed away yet again by Zelda and the True Mages (or so they say.) Some of its many towers and nooks still remain hidden from the public eye.

Reformatory: To keep people off the streets and give them work to do, the True Mages have developed a system of rounding up the poor and sending them here until they have another place to stay. Despite the apparent good intentions of the project, it's rumored that the Reformatory doesn't treat its residents well.

[dailyadventureprompts]

Monsterhunt: Lixivioth, that which Bleeds from Beyond

Artsource

It starts as a ripple in the air, a churning beneath the skin of reality, then a silvery limb breaks the boundary before melting back into unexistance. Like a drowning soul thrashing in the sea, a body breaches the 'surface' full of a wild and desperate impulse to survive, a willingness to drag anything down if it meant keeping their head above water a little longer.

This is Lixivioth, a celestial who's time in the outer void has so deeply warped it that nothing remains but a cataclysmic desire to return no matter the cost. Once an explorer and collector of knowledge, Lixivioth's curiosity tragically drew it not just to the unknown but past the boundary of what could be known, beyond which laid nothing but dissolution.

Adventure Hooks:

Seeking forbidden knowledge, a devotee of Vecna has summoned and bound Lixivioth to a magic mirror, tormenting the spirit with glimpses of a reality it cannot touch. While infiltrating the villain's lair, the party come across the mirror and have the opportunity to ask it questions that might give them an edge against their foe. There is a magical procedure they must follow though, as every question that does not ascribe to the proper magical formalities puts a hairline crack in the glass, weakening the celestial bindings and giving it a chance to break free.

Days before needing to perform an important spell for the safety/prosperity of the realm, a great wizard was found dead in his study bleeding mercury form every hole in his skull, a tome of celestial learning in his hands. His body cannot be moved and the flow has yet to cease, slowly flooding his tower as his apprentices (and local authorities) scramble for answers. Lixivioth is using the wizard's body and magic to manifest in the material plane, and by the time the party are called to help it will be a matter of hours before the eldritch angel crawls it's way up his throat. To win the day they'll need to piece together the components of a binding spell from the mage's libraries while fending off quicksilver elementals and the tower's malfunctioning defences.

Beyond the borders of the party's homeland, an order of elven oracles were once rumored to seek wisdom of the distant future and past in the ripples of a silver spring, at least until a marauding band of centaurs overran their glade acting on their mystic's visions. Generations of ensuing seers, all mad as haters through imbibing magical mercury, have led the herd to become stronger and more violent all while unwittingly doing Lixivioth's bidding. A renegade has broken free, seeking aid from the people her herd has spent lifetimes raiding in the hopes of stopping an upcoming ritual.