#a little silver crown with mini horns?

[idontkillorphans]

i really need to come up with a suit for this guy

[acoldsovereign]

[REQUEST ONLY VERSE].

Vampire AU - The Horror Is Sentient

(Powers & Abilities)

Transformations:

Can become a jet black kitten or large cat with two (or several eyes). The eyes all glow in the dark or in low-level lighting. Even creepier, each eye is pointed in a different direction as all of them are functional.

She can take the form of gray-silver mist and fog. Since fog is naturally heavier than mist, she uses it when she needs cover, stealth or to distract an enemy. Mist is used as a deterrent against those who travel too close to her hiding quarters or her body in general--she can imbue it with acidic/corrosive properties strong enough to melt off and eat human skin.

She takes a human(oid/ish) form, in which her skin, hair, eye color, height and physique changes.

Note: If one looks into her eyes too long, they'd see the failure to assimilate; her eyes are too bright. Too green. They quite literally shine against her brown skin tone. (The pupils become slitted when she's hungry). The curls that adorn her crown of inky black hair are laced with pointy 'spikes' which point towards her face and away from her head (a holdover from her past life as a Saiyan). Also, of note--if one looks closely, two of these spikes are perfectly aligned with either side of her temples akin to devil horns. The antihelix of her ears are shaped oddly (they form the image of a map or mini-tree), and she has no belly button. She is 6'5" in this appearance and 6'7" when she wears footwear. More curves than muscle punctuate her form (it is compact for her) but again, there is something wrong here:

The strength she exhibits, if at all--in front of anyone for any reason--is always disproportionate to her body.

In her base form, she's a 6'10", muscled woman (less compact, so all of her density, mass, weight, body fat, etc are distributed evenly) with red skin, red hair and icy, silver eyes. Her ruby ears are pointed but always concealed by her waves of wine red), and her double fangs--featured on either side of her mouth--are visible. Compared to her last life, her face is expressive and emotive; it's easier to guess or hint at what she's feeling. She'll come to hate this feature as she recollects memories of who she used to be.

She has an unnerving echo that trails the ends of her sentences. To others, it may sound exactly like that--an echo one would hear in an acoustic-friendly hallway. To others, it may sound elongated and dragging. Depending on the willpower of the muse, they may not be scared or bothered by it, or they could. (This can be discussed further in private DMs if need be!)

Basics:

She feeds on the blood of both humans and vampires alike. She has no preference on blood types at all--she hates both species equally due to mistreatment and bad experiences from either side.

Small cuts and wounds heal quicker than larger ones. Regeneration can take a couple of hours, a day or longer depending on what organ or limb was lost and how. If she's quick enough, she might be able to do it instantly (ex. an arm is chopped off/is dangling from the shoulder but she uses the power of her blood to keep it attached/prevent further injury + blood loss), but that would depend on the situation, who she is fighting and how many.

She can freeze an entire planet within hours.

She can harden her skin and muscles to the point where she's bulletproof and blessed weapons-resistant.

She can hypnotize up to five people at a time, but the commands must be simple and easy for them to understand (meaning she'd have to know the dominant or main language in whatever verse she's in).

She can create thralls (human slaves), but chooses not to. (Little does she know this refusal is a consequence of her past life).

She can turn others into vampires, but chooses not to.

Extras:

In one verse, her love interest current obsession is Eren Yeager (@burnxngslash). They've found themselves in a strange world that resembles aspects of their original verses but is clearly neither. She's not a fan of humanity and neither is he, so they've joined forces to be that Earth's (or Earth equivalent) problem. Their end goal is to cleanse entire worlds and reduce them to nothing, as many times as they need, for as long as they need.

In another verse, she met Future Trunks instead (@hopefromadoomedtimeline). A mishap with his time machine led him into the horrors of her native world, which is Vampire Hunter D based. After a brief misunderstanding (spurned by her aforementioned hatred of humans, a small language barrier and prolonged exposure to him), she came to realize that he is not like the others--that he is trustworthy. Even after learning what she was and offering her his blood instead, he remained steadfast in his refusal to discriminate against her which endeared the time traveler to her. She created/fixed up an interdimensional device with the purpose of sending him back to his world but he refused to leave her in such a horrible, unforgiving place. With his insistence, she came back with him, bringing along some stuff from her world. She resides in the DBZ universe--been there for several months now--and has her own place; an ill-fitting gothic-looking castle that floats in the sky, somewhere around South City. She may still hate humans, but in this verse, she's more than willing to be patient and help them out if they are kind, or 'innocent' like her best friend. She is closer to an anti-hero here, albeit reluctantly, seeing as how she uses Trunks as a makeshift moral compass.

Note #2: If you'd like to interact with the chaotic evil version of her, references to the verse I have with Jay will be made; I may even double up as Eren if necessary.

If you'd like a more kinder but somewhat rough-around-the-edges version, then I'll make references to the second version I have with Thane. Maiz has technology that allows her to travel, so in this scenario, dropping her into different scenarios would be slightly easier.

[wlfkssd]

Valhalla must wait ( oneshot )

Prompt based on the ask ‘on the edge of consciousness + ubbe’ sent by @ritual-unions-gotme​ from this list.

Summary : Ubbe is on the edge of consciousness, having spent so long at sea without food or water. Loosely plays with the timeline between 6.15′s storm and 6.17.

Warnings : mentions of dying.

Pairing : Ubbe x Torvi 

Word count : 1,084

Additional notes : First piece of posted vikings work and I’m realising it’s small for a oneshot / mini fic. Whoops. Othere makes an appearance as well as some other characters as Ubbe has a vision of Valhalla.

Has everything been a waste? All this for nothing? 

Ubbe's eyes are heavy and he fights every instinct to close them; an internal struggle to add to the never-ending external one. He looks about the ship with what little strength he retains. Torvi is weakening - Gods know how their child, baby Ragnar, has survived for so long - and Othere looks to be following.

The sun beats down upon parched lips and the water buckets are scraped dry by those still able to crawl to them. Forgotten are the days of sharing equally because none exists. A sad truth that will most likely be the end of them all.

Rough hands run themselves over his face, feeling the way his skin seems to flake away and Ubbe tries to remember the ocean's spray hitting him when he was young, travelling with his father and Hvitserk to Paris all those years ago. The expression that slowly takes couldn't be called a smile or resemble any kind of joy really but, if he closes his eyes, perhaps...

No.

Ubbe knows if he closes his eyes, even to rest for a while, they won't open again. His stomach growls like Fenrir and Torvi painfully looks to him. Their gazes rest tiredly with one another and there's a shared guilt. Anyone can recognise the look of a woman who's lost a child but for Torvi, that shroud lays over her face twofold. For both of Bjorn's children are gone now; lost first to the blade and then to the sea.

Would that he could take her into his arms and give some kind of comfort but the mere thought of moving is too much. It exhausts him and Ubbe feels the first of many tears slide easily down one cheek unchecked, catching it with the tip of his tongue as it comes to latch onto his cracked top lip.

Thoughts creep back to the whale and how Othere had claimed it would be a sign from his Christian God. Perhaps his Lord and the old Gods were watching now; both indecisive enough to let their subjects suffer for lack of commitment.

Clear blue eyes turn to the sky.

"Ubbe," Torvi's voice breaks the monotony of the stillness and Ubbe brings his attention to her slowly, careful not to exert himself. Every movement feels like death but he knows, should he die, others will follow within days from their broken hearts. 

It would be the same if Torvi died first.

"My beautiful wife." Paying such a compliment seems empty now but Ubbe does it anyway. What's the harm? Torvi smiles - proving she is just as strong as he's always believed her to be - and summons the strength to bring their child to him, settling once again at Ubbe's side just as she has been for years.

He looks down into the bundle, at the face of his son and begins to cry in earnest. He feels Torvi's forehead press tightly to the bolt in his jaw and vaguely he hears her speak. But nothing touches him so much as the temptation to let go now. In this moment, he is happy. For he has his family around him in the most impossible situation and it makes him sad for his father.

Alone in his final breaths.

Turning his face, with effort, Ubbe rests his lips to his wife's hair. It feels dry and coarse but he doesn't mind. It smells just as he remembers and despite their misfortunes, that fact alone is a comfort. Ubbe finds himself smiling as the smallest, most familiar of sounds scrapes itself from his throat.

"I love you."

It's all he can do to let Torvi know the depths of his feelings for her now. If they were back in Kattegat, he'd kiss her deeply, breathing in her life, take her to bed, gift her every part of him. But here? Those three simple words are all he has to give. They make him a poor man, indeed, but if all the silver in the world meant dying alone, he would gladly be a pauper to the end of his days with her.

And his eyes flutter then, closing as he inhales for what could be the last time.

The gates of Valhalla stand before him in their golden glory and, inside, he sees the faces of those great warriors, brought into the warm feasting hall for their courage. They each have a curved horn, filled to the brim with ale and their faces hold only smiles for Ubbe.

Ragnar, Lagertha, Bjorn.

Bjorn.

"Brother! Come!" Familiar voice encourages as a now unscathed hand is offered. "Come on. Everyone is here. We are all waiting for you!"

A feeling of utter ease overcomes Ubbe and he takes his first step forward; all hardships, injury and hunger forgotten in the euphoria of his journey. Until, from behind him, another more distant voice calls out.

"Ubbe!"

"Torvi?" He stops sharply, knowing exactly who owns that voice. Surely she cannot have followed so quickly? Turning - with every intention of embracing her - Ubbe finds nothing. Just an open plain of the greenest grass he's ever seen and the tranquillity of birds overhead. Every fibre of his being screams to be reunited with his brothers and father, his mother and other warriors he's lost in his life, but the urgency of his wife erases such a need with absolute surety.

Valhalla must wait.

With a last look back at Bjorn's face, and the nod his brother gives in understanding, Ubbe smiles and allows himself to be pulled away from the embracing calm and back into the storm of his first life.

"Ubbe, there's water. Drink." The large hand feels foreign as it settles at the crown of his head, providing a little comfort as he opens his eyes. A drop of rain clings to Othere's nose, threatening to fall, and his expression is one filled with relief. "Drink, my friend."

One of Ubbe's own hands reaches up to hold the ladle that's set close to his mouth. He drinks slowly, savouring each sip as though he well knows it could be his last.

"What did you see?" The question comes from Torvi, soaked to the bone beside him.

"Valhalla."

She blinks at him, arm coming to lay upon his own for a moment before her fingers seek his, holding tight. "What was it like?"

"Full. But also empty. You were not there, so I could not stay." There are tears in Ubbe's blue eyes as he leans his aching body to touch his forehead to Torvi's. "Nothing could make me leave you. Not even death."

[inkribbon796]

Lost Pages Ch. 2: Black and Blue

Summary: The heroes face down the two thieves and are in for a tough fight than they thought.

Chapters: 1, 2

Yan gripped onto Dark’s arm and in an instant the Entity took both Yan and herself through a portal to safety and the heroes didn’t see either of them for the rest of the day.

They left the heroes alone with the two thieves.

“Skeppy,” the taller of the two assailants pulled the crossbow up, a slight disapproving whine in his voice made the name almost sound like “S~Geppy” and was shouldered out of the way. “You muffinhead, don’t shoot them.”

“Let’s talk this over,” Silver started floating a bit as Chase backpedaled to stand with the others, immediately handing the book over to Marvin who slipped it into his cloak.

“Hey,” the taller one waved as he stepped back in front of his friend. “We can talk, it’s alright.”

Skeppy glared at his companion.

“Hello, my name is Bad,” the taller assailant gestured to himself and took another step, and the heroes realized that his height hadn’t been exaggerated. The taller cloaked figure stood at almost seven feet tall and towered over them. Marvin could see the magic keeping his hood in shadow. “This is my friend, Skeppy, and you have something that actually belongs to me and my friends and we need it back.”

“Which is why yah[1] wanted ta[2] steal it,” Marvin reminded, with the book stored away in his cloak he brought his hands up to brace and start throwing spells.

“Look we tried but they stole it from us first and wouldn’t let us have them back,” Bad said, his voice much softer and not nearly as deep as Silver would have ever expected from the assailant. “Those books belong to us and we don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“Give us the book and we don’t have to fight anyone,” Skeppy ordered, his crossbow still in his hand, but it wasn’t pointed at anyone . . . at the moment, at least.

“We’re not givin’ yeh an evil fookin’ book,”[3] Marvin spat.

Bad gasped, “Language!”

“Not the time, Bad,” Skeppy spat, not taking his eyes off Marvin. “We’re not going to stand here and keep asking nicely. You are giving us that book. It belongs to us.”

“How about instead yeh give us the other four yeh’ve got, an’ we just call it a day,”[4] Marvin hissed.

“Okay, stop,” Jackie tried to step in and take over the conversation.

“No, give us the book,” Skeppy’s skin began to slowly turn blue as it took on an almost crystallized appearance. “Last warning.”

“Fook[5] off!” Marvin shouted and Skeppy summoned a shield made of metal and the front was coated with the same type of material quickly covering his skin.

The next thing to happen was something shot through the air, no one was sure who had fired first, but Skeppy and Marvin quickly responded with a crossbow bolt and a bolt of magic at each other in kind. Skeppy never physically reloaded bolts but they magically appeared in the crossbow all the same.

Jackie and Marvin were able to deflect the bolts with little trouble, but one of Marvin’s magical shots managed to slip past Skeppy’s shield and hit him directly.

“Skeppy! No!” Bad called out in horror. Before his eyes began to glow red. “How dare you hurt Skeppy!”

A pair of black bat wings sprouted from his back and his form shifted to having black hair and horns with a glowing halo hovering over his head, then he was suddenly glowing in size until he was twenty feet tall and he slammed his fists on the concrete. “Get away from Skeppy!” Bad yelled, his voice booming out before he swiped the heroes away from Skeppy to scoop him up into his hands. “Get away from him!”

“Skeppy?” Bad frowned with worry, as Skeppy pulled himself into a kneeling position, propping his arm up on Bad’s thumb. Skeppy’s blue crystalline skin was starting to knit together again. “Are you okay?”

“We need that book,” Skeppy pointed at Chase.

“But you’re hu—” Bad reminded gently.

“Get that book!” Skeppy ordered, shouting at the top of his lungs.

Bad flinched before moving his hand so Skeppy could jump onto the hood of his cloak before sliding down. As his feet hit the ground a blue sword appeared in his hand as he looked at Chase. “Hand over the book, before this has to get ugly.”

“Now!” Bad roared.

“That’s a demon,” Marvin realized, looking up at the giant, bracing himself with more magic. “I think they both are.”

“How many demons are e’en[6] in this fookin’[7] city?” Jackie spat.

A shrill whistle pierced the air and in the distance and the two assailants stopped to look at a nearby building as a figure in a long green cloak and a smiling white mask stared at them.

“We’re not done,” Skeppy told the masked man, who jumped down and at almost the last moment a swirl of water helped slow his fall enough for him to land safely. Then he started walking towards Skeppy.

“Need your help,” the masked man told Skeppy, looking over in the heroes’ direction. “Come on, you guys can pick this up later. It’s not like these guys are going to actually destroy it.”

Skeppy glared at the heroes, mentally weighing his options as Bad shrunk back down to the height he’d been at before. He pulled back up his head and his face became magically obscured.

“You sure?” Skeppy demanded. “They were talking about burning it earlier with Dark.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” the masked man chuckled, he was looking at Marvin, and the magician could feel it. “Curiosity got the cat, and all.”

“Skep?” Bad asked hesitantly, as Skeppy kept glaring at the heroes.

Skeppy took a deep breath and smiled, “You’re right, it’s not going anywhere, we have all the time in the world. Come on, Bad.”

“Oh, uh, okay,” Bad tripped over his words a bit.

“We’re not done here,” Marvin spat, taking a step forward.

“No,” the masked man hummed as he pulled out a small orb of swirling dark green magic. Skeppy and Bad copying him. “I think we are. We’ll have this chat another day.”

The three of them turned to throw the orbs up behind them. They raced unnaturally high before smashing on the rooftop like fragile glass. When they shattered, it was like three great eyes opened right where they stood and then closed. It lasted a second, and the three newcomers were standing on the rooftop and racing away at full speed to head towards Gainesville. They used more orbs to get away from Jackie and Silver who were trying to pursue them, and in the chase the three assailants disappeared into the busy streets of Gainesville.

Silver and Jackie were forced to regroup with Marvin and Chase, both of whom stayed on guard for an attack.

“Yeh find ‘em?”[8] Marvin demanded.

“No, I think they used some kind ‘a[9] invisibility spell an’[10] disappeared in Gainesville,” Jackie shook his head. “I’ve already called the Sides an’[10] Logic promised they’d look inta[11] it.”

Marvin didn’t look happy.

“We should just head back ta the base so yeh can put that thing in a cage or somethin’,”[12] Chase told Marvin. “We’ll find King later.”

“Yeah, fine,” Marvin agreed and they headed back to the base where they met up with King and Lunky who were being sent through one of Dark’s portals.

Kay looked at them as he rushed in with them, Lunky holding onto his head, “The Old Man said you had something for me?”

“Ancient demon cult book,” Chase told him, Marvin held the book out for King once they were all safe inside and the door was closed. “We were attacked by the cult’s junior brigade.”

“Alright,” King commented as Bing and Mini walked in. Lunky saw Mini and immediately detached from King to turn fully 3D and instantly raced over to grab onto their friend.

“Play date?” Bing asked with a smile.

“Thanks Bing,” King told him before he led the group to his room. Bing took Lunky and Mini back to his office. When the heroes got to King’s room, the young man took everything off the desk and started cleaning and sterilizing everything before he took off his cloak and crown and switched his glasses. His magic moved and whirling around him as he tried to protect the air around the book. Then he put on a pair of gloves. “Looks old.”

“Didn’t ask fer[13] the carbon date,” Marvin told him, shooting a look at Chase. “Was a bit too busy tryin’ ta get this thin’ ta an actual safe location.”[14]

King flipped through the book for a couple seconds before he paused with a look of confusion on his face.

“Hold up,” King pulled off a glove and moved to look for something in his desk and pulled out some notes. And pulled out some loose pages of paper with some symbols and his writing. King looked between the pages and the book and then grabbed his phone. The heroes were close enough to see him type out a message to Illinois: “Clear your schedule, Phills. Tomorrow @ 5.”

“You said this was from a demon cult?” King was flipping through the book carefully with his still gloved hand.

“How bad is it?” Silver asked.

“That depends on who’s got this book memorized,” King told him.

“It’s apparently part ‘a[9] collection ‘a[9] five,” Chase reported.

King grabbed his phone again and typed: “Blackbird” while Illinois was trying to send a response. He stopped and instead the adventure sent: “You don’t need me now?” and “0500 or 1700”.

“That was quick,” King thought out loud, scoffing at some joke in his head. Then he typed: “0500, will have information by then. That was fast, was Eric busy?”

“Hey, hermanito,” Illinois responded and sent a picture of his middle finger and King started roaring in laughter and slid his phone away.

“You need Illinois’s help with this?” Silver asked in concern.

King shrugged. “Maybe, I just know the Old Man will tell him about the book and I want to get on top of it before Illinois hounds me.”

Then he gloved up his hand again and turned back to the book and grabbed some blank papers to start making notes. “Alright, what do you guys know about ciphers?”

“They look cool,” Chase answered.

“Can’t you write secret messages with it?” Silver asked.

“Well, yeah,” King agreed as he pulled out a paper with some symbols and images that Nate and Séan had pulled from a cave. “But the problem is that a cipher without a key is harder to solve unless it’s a shift cipher. Nate and Jackie didn’t give me enough to even try and figure out if they were words or names. But with this, I can crack it.”

“Anything you can tell us before you start?” Silver looked at the book. “You going to be okay with it?”

“Book’s evil, but not cursed, if I could get a reminder to grab a coffee and a sandwich in an hour that’d be great,” King smiled and slowly the trio bid him good luck and left. King kept his smile up until they were gone and the door was closed.

Then he grabbed his phone again and called Illinois.

“You clean?” Illinois asked.

“Yes, are you?” King asked, using the signals they’d developed for themselves back when they were both still working for their father.

“Yeah Eric’s in the other room and Dad’s in his office, he’s not even listening in.” Illinois didn’t sound rushed, and he wasn’t using any of the warning words or phrases. “What’s going on?”

“You know those cave markings the heroes brought me a while back?” King reminded as he turned to a specific page that he was the most worried by.

“Which ones, the ones I found, or the ones they found?” Illinois asked.

“The ones not from Brazil,” King answered. “But they’re probably connected. Demon cults don’t just sprout up out of nowhere. But it would be great if we could keep this from Dad as much as possible.”

“Why?”

King squinted at the book. “Because, if I’m reading the scant . . . English, I think that’s English, right then they were experimenting on and sacrificing children to some type of demon they worshipped as a god. Just, you know Dad. He’d probably try to adopt one of them and helping them is good and fine but I’ve got a kid and my brain can only take so many new people right now so just make sure we don’t get a new brother or something out of this.”

“Alright, I can do that,” Illinois chuckled. “Maybe we can set Yan up with a date or something.”

“Yeah, or something,” King agreed, and he was about to disconnect when Illinois quickly asked something.

“Hey, while I have you here, do you know if the heroes have gotten into a huge fight with Dad or something?” Illinois questioned.

“Not that I know of,” King answered.

“Okay, and it’s not the hunters or Phantom either,” Illinois hummed, clearly thinking out loud. “Dad’s aura’s been acting weird, I’ve never seen it do something like this before and he hasn’t really gotten into any big fights since we cleared up that mess with the Suits.”

“Well, weird how?” King asked. “Did you talk to him? He usually tells you stuff, not me.”

“Oh, I tried, but you know how he is,” Illinois grumbled. “I asked him what was wrong and he turned into Mom and the problem was less obvious. She knows something’s up and is just hiding it. As for what he’s doing, his aura is just curling around him weird, usually it’s acting like a second suit or just doing the blue and red ringing thing but it’s turning a dark grey now.”

“I’ll try and help but I don’t know what I can do,” King admitted.

“When you come over with the info we’ll talk,” Illinois told him. “Hey, boss is back, gotta go.”

Then he was gone and King frowned at the phone before turning back to the book to compile as much information as possible before he needed to go check on Lunky.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Post A/N: For those new to the SMP, Badboyhalo was only one train of thought and it’s “Skeppy” and I’m so glad that’s not hyperbole in the slightest because it is as cute as it is hilarious.

Accessibility Translations:

1. you

2. to

3. We’re not giving you an evil fucking book

4. How about instead you give us the other four you’ve got, and we just call it a day

5. Fuck

6. even

7. fucking

8. You find them?

9. of

10. and

11. into

12. We should just head back to the base so you can put that thing in a cage or something

13. for

14. Was a bit too busy trying to get this thing to an actual safe location.

[venus-says]

Kamen Rider Zero-One Episode 17

The level of coolness has raised 1000%!

New year, new arc, new Rider! After that mess that was the final stretch of the last arc, Zero-One came this week in a fresher and somehow more low-key tone for the beginning of this new phase, which I appreciate.

We start with the introduction of one very interesting gadget that if it was real I'd probably buy me one, that is the ZAIA Specs. We didn't see a whole lot of it yet, but I'm really curious to see what bigger role this will have in the story - I doubt the only use will be to serve just as a product to compete with the Humagears.

Speaking of competition, this was the focus of the episode and will probably be the theme that will carry this arc. The idea of having small competitions between humans and Humagears seems a lot of fun and seeing that we'll continue the Ikebana plot next week I have hopes that each one of the 5 rounds will receive its mini-arc. I know it seems like something that would just drag the plot but if done right it's a good way for them to not lose themselves in the arc. Besides, judging from the way this episode ended, the plot WILL be moving forward even though the competition is going on so the problem of "dragging" this element of the story isn't a concern of mine.

What concerns me is the new antagonist force revealed at the end of this episode. As y'all know I have a problem with changing the villain mid-way, and I also think this series already has a lot of different factions acting as antagonists so for a new one to come around makes me a little scared. Now, of course, this may just be the final general of metsuboujinrai or another person being controlled by Gai so the hope is still there albeit holding hands with the fear of the unknown. One thing that got me really intrigued is that whoever this new interloper is they stole a Zetsumeraiser, that is used to transform Magias, and a Progrise Key, that so far has only been used by Riders, so I'm curious to see what will come out of this combination.

Speaking of villains, Horobi is fully awakened now and Fuwa was there interrogating him. The scene didn't have a lot going on for it but it was interesting seeing Horobi saying that it was because of Humanity's foolishness and malice that metsuboujinrai rebelled on Daybreak day. His line was pretty strong and being completely honest he wasn't all that wrong there, the Human Race is quite destructive when you think about it, I'd love if this debate was brought into the series as one of the core messages, but seeing that this is a discourse coming from a villain they'll probably just disregard this topic, which is sad because I think there are some pretty cool stuff you can do with it.

In any case, the main event of the night, Kamen Rider Thouser's introduction. It was cool as hell, I feel like the moment wasn't as big as it could've been, but it was still very nice I got really invested in it for some reason. I think Thouser is just cool as heck, first, he's gold, silver, and black, a great color scheme; second, he has those horns that simulate a crown; third, his design is very clean but also intricate, is definitely my favorite so far; and fourth, the guy just has some pretty damn cool powers.

I'm kinda thorn on his drive, but I think it's dope that he needs both a Zetsumerise and a Progrise key to transform, I also love his ability to steal data with his saber/spear thing, but above all else, the thing I like the most is the fact that in everything he does there's always a sound or a copyright mark stating that the Thouser is a product of ZAIA and that to me is just amazing. It also helps that the new Rider isn't someone who just appeared out of nowhere so I have my two thumbs up for Thouser.

If I have something to complain about is that the fight was very short? I know that it was this way to showcase how powerful he is, but again the moment of his entrance was so dim, I wish they had a bigger and flashier fight to showcase him more. Regardless, I liked what we got and I'm excited to see more of it, and more of Gai's past with Aruto's grandpa and how that led him to where he is now today.

And I think that's pretty much it for today. Before I sign off I wanna ask since official merch from the movie came out and in there they have Izu's name romanized as "Is" is it okay if I start calling her like that too or will it create too much confusion with the word "is"? I'm confused. XD Please let me know your thoughts on this episode AND the Izu/Is issue too. I'll talk to you all the next time, see ya~

[freeshooterxig]

Tldr: playing villains with all stops off is fun, but oof #consequence.

Those that have known me for a while have know that I love to role play Villains and Antiheroes/Antivillains. For years, I try to play them to push the plot with minor conflicts to press characters to see what they're made of. Man vs man, man vs nature, man vs self; they're all points that can push a character to challenge the PC in ways that they never directly think of.

That being said, I have never actually tried to kill my fellow role players. At least not with a intelligent humanoid who knows the difference of right and wrong and the consequences of his or her direct actions. Piss off; yes. Challenge ones way of thinking; yes. Outright kill/murder? This weekend was my first time.

To set the scene the BBEG was someone from my Druid's past. Someone that I had been hinting at since they were level 3 was somewhere in the city tracking them with Imps, spawning random ambush because he wanted revenge against their druid bud. (Bad falling out where two of his friends/family were killed in consequence). It made him a Abjuration / Infernal pact Warlock hyped up on something called Dragonsblood, which is a highly addictive thing in game that gives you things like sorcery points, but widdles away your body like heroin.

Fast forward, they're now level 6/7 and I had to keep scaling him up to keep a good challenge going. Because truthfully, I wanted each of their past plot lines to be difficult to deadly encounters depending on how they left certain threads lie. So while his real body had like a -4 constitution, ac was 7, and Hp 5; the BB's mind went into a Horned Devil thanks to his Chain Pact with the Infernal. Kind of Detective Pikachu route where mind of guy in Wheel Chair goes into body of Mewtwo.

Story time: Conflict builds in talks. Big Bad, code name Paps, starts to realize who group is because Paladin says that his imps have been bothering them, and requests for him to stop. Paps says his imps have only been tracking one individual- to which Frosia (target druid) panics and drops a Magic Bean, from Bag of Beans.

98 on a d100. He summons a mini dungeon that is 60ft tall pyramid. In an underground bar. The center point of the structure lands right behind them, cutting off their sorcerer and cleric from the rest of the party for 5 rounds. 52 points of damage goes out from the collapsing walls, roof, and rubble cut into them. Everyone on Paps side passes Dex rolls, killing most of his minions in the process, but hes got 2 legendary resistance and actions so now hes in the air as a horned devil and pissed.

Easy way to defeat him was to find his real body and kill him, so the soul would leave the devil and desummon it and all his minions. Instead they go in against him at about 200hp, ac buffed up to 19, and this form has Con +5 and attacking +10

My group was on their edge of their seats the whole time with the struggle bus at half health due to the pyramid crash. Druid loses both of his beast shapes because Big bad is GUNNING for him. Falls unconscious like twice, only because Selune (our paladin) is able to keep him up with lay on hands.

They start widdling away his health, hes angry and starts to panic, and causes Druid to go under Enemies Abound. Two rounds go by, I start making him waste his last 3rd and 2nd level spells against random targets in the party. By this time hes out of spells (3 1st level), paladin has like 1st level, no health pool, and Rouge finds the door and starts unlocking it to find his actual body.

So fun thing about Devils. Most of them have a barbed tail that deal some sort of poison devils. Horned devils have a Tail attack that's 1d8+6, with an additional 3d6 damage called Infernal Blight, which is a NECROTIC based poison that says on the body and continues doing damage if they fail a con save.

Round 8 Jackal our Rouge finds the door that leads to Paps body. He tries to unlock the door, but with the Abj ward on it, its JUST out of his lock picking.

Paps body was in danger. And it became I needed to stop this rouge. Still wanted to kill the druid - ok. Last 3rd level spell; cast minute meteor

1. Does 2d6 fire damage and half as much on a Dex save. 2. Jackal (rouge) has dex maxed out. I know as a dm hes probably only going to take half damage. 3. He only has 5 hp points left, but with fire damage, worst thing is he will fall unconscious for a few turns, and the cleric is 60 ft away and can use a medical kit to at least stabilize him worst case scenario 4. Jackal I think has ever gone unconscious once before. It was an accomplishment on my part if I could ever knock any of these guys unconscious. Then Jackal used EVASION which pissed Paps off. Took zero damage on the success, made him - made me waste a third level spell to protect my body.

If I did not kill him, I would die. This was the last round. All stops were thrown out. So I had on legendary action left. I did the Tail attack. 1d8+6 piercing. He went down. Additionally took -14 NECROTIC damage. Auto kill. No saving throws, no death saves. Dead.

Stabbed through the chest, I ask Tyler what he wants Jackal's last words to be. He turns to Casey/Selune, the revenge paladin that had a similar background to him that has a beef with the religious group known as the Silver flame, and tells her to "Burn them all down."

No one had any spells left. Cleric had revivify, but she was out of third levels. Nothing. Zip. Nada.

Selune manages to kill devil right after. Still in rotation. They spend a few rounds breaking through the door where Paps is still trying to off spells like Crown of Madness and Sleep against the Druid as a last attempt of turning him on the others to kill him. As they're trying to get to him to compulse him to somehow heal Jackal, Paps just says to Frosia "You took two of mine; I'll take one of yours in return."

They manage to get him out of the safe room, pin him and charm him, screaming heal him, save him, which I can only reply "I'm not a cleric boy. You've known that from the start. If I had that power, I would have brought them back."

To which Frosia (druid from big bads past) slits his throat, and tells the others to get him out.

We ended the session on that cliff hanger because it was 630 at night. The shock and realization started to sink in thli the point where all I could do was remember an interview with #mattmercer whom had said they had taken everyone out to drinks when #Mollymauk had died in #criticalrole. We needed booze, we needed sugar. Walked everyone to Hurricanes and had sangrias cheese cake where Tyler was able to share a little more of a glimpse into Jackals back story.

Dry tears and emotions still flood, left on such a high point of drama. The reality of the situation is that they have 10 days to find someone who's willing to use Raise Dead on him to bring him back, but since there is a Stigma against Changelings in the area that they are in, the odds are low.

They have one friend who is a high enough cleric, but hes a three day trek out into the woods to find him. I'm interested to see where it goes.

I'm also still sitting with myself, trying to digest everything, because intentionally in game I murdered someone in cold blood. But playing true to a villain character, it was something that needed to be done.

But at the end of the day, its something morally that I stand behind as a role player. With conflict, comes risk of breaking people. But characters are like geodes; it's only when they're broken are you able to see what they are truly made of.

I have plans and ways to bring him back just incase Raise Dead does not work.

But for now, cheers to you Jackal. We'll see you again soon.

#characterdeath #dungeonsanddragons #dnd #eberron #lethalencounter #tldr

[kimber-elise-monroe]

BABYLON

Date Night

Friday--10:37 PM

Kimber Monroe stands casually outside an ominous warehouse in the heart of the Meatpacking District in New York. The warehouse, now a nightclub called Babylon, is exactly what one would expect in this part of the city and certainly lives up to its name with the general themes appealing to an alternative and unconventional subculture. Subtle vibrations of the loud music beyond the walls filter into the streets only to mix with the cat calls, yells, squealing tires, honking horns, and police sirens that make for a gritty New York soundtrack. People, mainly New York's undesirables, consisting of club goers, punks, metal heads, goths, dealers, addicts, hookers, and kinksters are coming and going along the avenue. All on the prowl for anything or anyone to make the night eventful. Shockingly, the raven haired minx blends in quite well with these so called undesirables and yet from the crowd she stands out in all her harlot glory.

Playing the part of said harlot well, she dons a slinky, form-fitting black leather mini-dress with a plunging V-shaped neckline down the front to reveal the valley between her ample, perky breasts and an open back with fishnet stockings, and shiny black fuck me pumps. All complementary to the rest of her appearance. Baby blues, offset by heavily smeared charcoal eyeliner and eye shadow, and her plush pout stained crimson with her lush and tousled, onyx locks trailing freely down the of her spine, reaching the small of her back--she is a sight to behold. Brass knuckles decorate one delicate hand and bulky, sterling silver rings the other. Both of which showcase her perfectly manicured fingers with oval shaped nails in a shade of dark pewter. On her wrists she wears thick leather bondage bands accompanied by a few silver bangle bracelets. The edgy ensemble, just her normal attire for a night out on the wrong side of the tracks.

It’s rare she ever comes to Babylon alone, and usually Carver is her escort, especially with this particular club being one of their personal favorites. Their own den of debauchery. Typically, Carver picks her up for these excursions out, but tonight circumstance has dictated otherwise and it was more convenient to simply meet up at the club. Leaning against the wall just a few feet from the entrance and the long line of people waiting to get inside, she casually keeps on the lookout for him, knowing he will be driving the hearse. Kimber didn’t feel the need to wait in the line because the bouncers, knowing Carver and Kimber well as regulars, are always quick to wave them inside. The wait, having been less than ten minutes, is finally over as she catches sight of the hearse creeping down the street. Cool cerulean hues follow its path even as it rounds the corner to find a parking spot. Eager anticipation builds and her whole body tingles with electricity. It’s been a few weeks since the two of them were able to get away and have the night all to themselves. Moments like this are often what she lives for.

Audaciously painted in ink stain and heresy, he has the aura of a fallen deity that sprang from the cracks of city street asphalt and crafted himself in the image of weathered, graffiti covered brick. It never fails, the moment Kimber sets her eyes on Carver or is in his presence, she comes ALIVE. https://youtu.be/VpdHMaccjw4 It is as if his very essence sparks a voltaic flame within her heart and soul, and the longer she courts him, it’s like gasoline being constantly thrown into an already raging fire. It is all consuming and undoubtedly dangerous, especially with such potential for destruction, but one of the things she craves most in this life. Being the glutton that she is, Kimber has no apprehension feeding into said cravings and binging on the passion elicited. Always a Sinner’s Feast, both Kimber and Carver ritualistically dine on the debauchery and are devoted when it comes to paying proper reverence to this hedonistic God.

As the Reaper rounds the corner, dressed ominously in slick black and donning a HEAVY mood, she can’t resist the urge to move in his direction. Desire and passion, two components similar in nature and essential to the human design, one not truly having meaning without the other, but neither completely dependent on the others existence. Most people find themselves slaves to both, no matter what form they come in. Kimber is NO different. Like a Lioness honing in on and stalking her prey, she glides smoothly in a determined stride just ready to pounce when the perfect moment presents itself. Carver, undoubtedly aware of the regal feline and her carnal intent, is not easy game by any means and it is as much as evident by the expression etching his eerie features. He would never be a casualty of her elegant savagery and primitive nature. Carver is simply not of that ILK.

A predator in his own right, feral and ravenous but no less Machiavellian, like one possessed of the spirit of a Hyena, he brazenly creeps her way. The languid migration is MAGNETIC. Eyeing her lover upon approach, they meet in the middle and just as he takes an artful drag from his cigarette, a plume of smoke pushing past his wry pout to follow, his inked duke fearlessly takes hold of her and in a forcible, eager collision their lips meet and engage in fevered combat. Whimpering softly into the kiss, she savors his unique taste. It is one entirely innate to him and him alone. A POTENT and addictive flavor, she is taken hostage by the sudden impact of a high only he can provide. Just like a junkie always susceptible to chosen vice, she is quick to dose and lose herself to the euphoria. He IS her drug of choice. As a wave of ecstasy washes over her, ravaging her coast, she welcomes the impending delirium.

For Kimber, it is like a thousand dormant Roman Candles that have been secretly nestled within her are suddenly ignited by a powerful, metaphysical force. It’s enough to steal the very breath from her lungs and make her weak from the intensity of the heat. Her fierce, headstrong and liberated temperament is subdued, making her malleable to his masterful authority. She welcomes him like a mistress, genuine in her desire to submit and eager to both appease and please equally. Lithe and nubile form, stacked and molded to perfection with all the soft dips and curves in the appropriate places, Kimber ripples slowly, seductively against his crudely designed, hardened musculature. Leisurely basking in the kiss, she is NOT inclined to peel back her greedy lips, but manages to do so. If she had not, it’s likely they wouldn’t make it past the ‘gates’ and into Babylon.

“Daddy,” she murmurs in low, wanton tone of voice. “I missed you,” Kimber adds affectionately with her voice a little less wanton. Alert with her mind open and her guard down, the empath can sense more than just his desire and hunger for her and all the iniquity awaiting them in Babylon. He emanates residual frustration and malcontent. “One of those days?” She can’t help ask with curiously quirked brow and flash of concern. Without giving him much of a window to answer, not like she needs him to validate what she knows he feels, Kimber takes reluctant step back whilst reaching for him. She slips her delicate paw into his hand and with a slight nod of her dark crown tipping toward the entrance door of the nightclub, she leads the way. Turning away from him, she moves catlike and just enough ahead to give him a stellar view of her backside.

Indigo hues meet the imposing gaze of the burly bouncer and they exchange a conspicuous glance of recognition as he greets her with a nod. Aware of her escort for the evening and his reputation, the bouncer knows better than to let his eyes linger too long on her and drift in Carver’s direction. From her peripheral as she moves past the bouncer and Carver slides next to him, she catches another greet being exchanged, but is quick to find herself distracted upon entering the underground metropolis by a cacophony of sound and motley of imagery as well as the overwhelming feeling of depravity. It’s almost as intoxicating as Carver’s kiss and Kimber can’t help embrace the onslaught. https://youtu.be/YbeBLvMFAcs With cadence and ease, seduced by the abrasive beat and provocative melody, she guides her lover through the dim glow veil of red light and smoke known as the outer sanctum of Babylon.

The ambiance of the parlor, one just as alluring as it is prognostic, offers faint glimpse of the lecherous and infernal marvels to come. The bodies decorating the room, all morbidly ornate despite the minimal packaging of leather, spandex, velvet and mesh. Flesh inscribed with ink and pierced by industrial metal add a lurid flare to these corporeal specters. The lovers float on, making their way through a large archway painted in tribal design. It’s into the mouth of darkness they arrive, accosted by ominous shadows and flashes of sharp, bright silver light and they find themselves standing at the edge of a large platform aligned with a thick steel railing overlooking a massive, open pit where a twisting, coalesce mass appears--enticed by the loud, pulsating rhythm.

The scene playing out before their eyes, depicted by modern philistines, brutes and jezebels is deliberately crude and so immorally suggestive that for many, the vulgarity would inspire instant offense. Good thing both Carver and Kimber have strong constitutions with progressive attitudes and mindsets. Truth? Kimber sometimes can’t help wondering what her religiously devout, Evangelical parents would say if they could see her now. They’d be both appalled and horrified. Taking it ALL in, Kimber scans the ‘plutonic’ landscape. She likes what she sees and has a hunch Carver is just as pleased by SIN permeating. It invokes certain proclivities, ones that rouse a spirit of rebellion compelling enough for an individual, especially one often constrained by societies rigid expectations and mores, to indulge in the moment and whatever wicked delights it bestows. Kimber has been here many times before with Carver, this being the preferred devil’s playground, their own special den of degradation.

At the center of the pit is a large yet cramped dance floor that is surrounded by various tables and random semi-private areas constructed in the fashion of open, concrete cubicles for a more intimate setting. Erect platforms varying in height are strategically placed across the pit where Goth Go-Go dancers bounce their pale, ample tits and shake their tight, round apple shaped asses with two platforms, one at each end of the club are grease burnished Fire Breathers spitting flames high above the crowd. To the far right, located at the back of the club, is a stage meant for the occasional show/performance or DJ with a screen in the backdrop playing a fast-paced montage of questionable acts currently transpiring within the walls of this proverbial Babel. Tonight, a grandiose Beast takes the spotlight on stage as he hangs from industrial strength chains with hooks digging into his meaty flesh. Even from where Kimber stands, she can see the look of orgasmic pleasure on his brusque, rugged face.

On the wall opposite the platform there is a long, narrow bar filled with warped mirror lined shelves of liquor, but it isn’t just spirits being offered or even the cornucopia of illicit substances being dealt and shared nightly. One can also enjoy the oxygen and nitrous bar available. Beyond the bar and wall, wide swinging metal doors manned by a bouncer at all times leads to a part of Babylon so few venture. Through the threshold are the private back rooms for more base and clandestine encounters and experiences. A smirk curls at the corner of her plush pout, twitching lightly as she turns to Carver, eyes mapping his face. In any light and/or shadow, she always admires him, but tonight she WORSHIPS him and it is at his corrupt altar she plans to pray. “What first, Daddy?” Kimber asks him, absolutely willing to do whatever his villainous, Wendigo heart desires.

[justmypath]

Saturday in Stockholm (day 2)

For the buffet breakfast, it was special to have fresh bread covered with a towel for self-slicing and to spread a little brie cheese on top.  We tried the pickled herring that was tasty.  The scrambled eggs and stewed tomatoes were undercooked, not to my liking. The fruit was ripe and sweet.

We walked to the Royal Palace and rotunda and waited about 45 minutes for the changing of the guard ceremony.  Since we were there early, we were in the front, center, right behind the rope barriers. Three youngsters made their way in front, unaccompanied by an adult (who fortunately stayed in the back).  Two groups with different military outfits marched in, followed by a band.  The band later stopped in front of us to play three songs, a mini-concert that included Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars, which was very good on horned instruments.  Two Asian girls behind us wouldn’t stop talking, made comments and laughed at the soldiers and performance, and pulled my hair when reaching above me to take a photo.  The three children were better behaved, quietly watching the ceremony.  The entire program lasted about 30-45 minutes.

We then went inside the Royal Palace museum, first visiting the Tre Kronor, the “older” section housing the limited artifacts of the castle after the fire destroyed most of the contents. Only the original brick walls survived. Next, we visited the guest apartments and the Bernadotte (Royal Palace) Apartments.  The apartments are not overly decorated, but still luxurious with portrait paintings of the royals, fancy furniture (tables, desks, chairs), chandeliers, statues, murals on the ceilings, and carved doors and panels.  I especially liked the room that housed ribbons and medals worn by the royals.  We stood in line to see the queen’s throne, but couldn’t get close and had to see it from a stairway door entrance.  The chair looked rather new, housed under a canopy in a large room. The king’s throne in another room was old and large.  While looking at all the rooms, it was difficult to make sense of the royal’s family tree and the timeline.  The last museum, included with our ticket of the Royal Palace, was the Skattkammaren (Treasury), a very small room that housed some crowns, scepters, a tapestry and a robe. 

We went to an Italian restaurant and I had a piece of bruschetta toast that was very good.  P’s tuna pizza was light and also tasty.  We made our way over a small bridge, through the parliament building’s arched entrance to the many shops and restaurants on the other side.  We walked over to the central train station and then went to Brod & Salt, a bakery that sells beautiful twisted cinnamon buns (I noticed them in the window as we were walking around the old town).  Unfortunately, the guy ahead of us bought the last one, so I was disappointed. We returned to the hotel and had snacks in the lounge.  It was crowded again and there was only one seat next to a young couple.  Fortunately, another spot opened up so that both of us could sit.

My legs were extremely tired since we walked many, many steps.  Stockholm is a very pretty city, surrounded by water with bridges, ferries, and trains connecting the 14 islands.

I watched a BBC travel program about a blind man with 80% hearing loss, traveling to 125 countries, cane in hand.  He’s famous now, so he has a filming crew following him and probably assisting him, but it’s amazing to watch how helpful some people are and how he gets around. It’s difficult enough traveling to unknown places as a sighted person with all the various challenges.  The other interesting travel feature was the man’s visit to Israel, going to Jerusalem/Bethlehem.  The travel man went to a wall where Jesus Christ placed his hand and left a “rocky” handprint (impression).  He then went to a church area where Jesus Christ was born, a site with a lighted altar and on the floor there is a 14 pointed star made of silver with a hole in the center where you can place your hand inside to feel the earth/dirt.  In that moment, I thought, maybe I would like to go there for some spiritual enlightenment.  P provided me with a lecture on the religious aspects of the area…maybe I’ll visit Bethlehem one day.

P went to the hotel restaurant to bring us a late dinner.  It was 10pm and I ate fries and P ate a club sandwich.  I guess that’s what you do when you’re on vacation – eat, sleep and go on adventures…and especially do unordinary things!