#a study of spirits and demons in lore

[thefadecodex]

I was wondering about spirits of Purpose. All spirits have a purpose but what is a spirit whose purpose is Purpose itself? I'm a bit confused.

This is a great question!

All spirits are embodiments of specific concepts or ideals—like Faith, Wisdom, Compassion, or Justice. Their very existence is defined by their purpose, and their identity aligns with that purpose.

When you ask about a Spirit of Purpose, you’re essentially asking if a spirit can exist whose defining nature is simply having purpose itself.

At first glance, this feels paradoxical—almost like a loop.

A Spirit of Purpose would embody the drive to have a goal, direction, or reason for being—without needing to define what that goal is. This sets it apart from, say, a Spirit of Compassion, whose purpose is specifically to offer compassion.

For a Spirit of Purpose, it’s not about what the purpose is, but rather that a purpose exists and drives action. It might not care what the end goal is—only that there is one.

[dorkshadows]

The Writeup (Part 2!)

(From Jiaozi's Nezha doodle celebrating the 2.6 billion record on 2/2.) *In CN, it's common to say "my tendon pulled!" when you get a cramp in your limbs.

Translation:

Ao Bing: My leg cramped! [literal translation: My leg pulled (its) tendon!] Fish Demon: NEZHA PULLED OUT THE THIRD PRINCE'S TENDONS!!!!!!!!

Literally the day after I published this post, new developments cropped up in the Nezha 2 fandom :D I thought it best to wait and see if anything ELSE could happen before updating this. Thankfully, I waited because things did happen. They sure did happen! So I'm popping in out of retirement (again) for one (1) day (again) to update this before the first fandom writeup becomes completely out of date. I appreciate all the interest given to the previous writeup and I'd feel bad for leaving it outdated for everyone that supported it! So here's part 2 to catch you up on what's happening deep in Nezha 2 fandom.

4-5 weeks in, and we have already have new shipping lore, shipping stat updates, and new fuel for the Ao Guang discourse battles. And it's somehow just as long as writeup part 1 🤣

Guangying shippers have apologized to everyone they harassed, acknowledged the error of their ways, and now get along well with fans of other ships...NOT. Click below to see updates on fandom lore, Ao Guang discourse, doubling down, conspiracy theories, drama in the Nezha cosplay world, and a total lack of self reflection from guangying fans ft. more images and links than last time

Obligatory disclaimers again:

This is NOT about the people who happened to watch the movie, the people who are just interested in box office stats, the people who really enjoyed the movie, or the people who just really admire Nezha. This will be about the fandom fandom, the truly invested, the brainrot (affectionate) in its purest unfiltered form. This is a post about brainrot for those also suffering from brainrot.

This is a collection of patterns mainly from lofter, but also from douyin, weibo, bilibili, and xhs. I don't know how to warn for some of the things mentioned here, so just a blanket note of caution- if you read on, you are prepared to see anything and everything. If you are OK with all this, then- let’s go! 

PART 2 HERE WE GO:

Firstly, the general fandom is as creative as ever, and everything you can think of (and more!) has been written/drawn/discussed by somebody somewhere. I've seen Shiji Niang Niang bring Shen Xiaobao back to life, I've seen Ao Bing studying for the TOEFL, I've seen a Jane Eyre AU fanfic for Ao Guang/Shen Gongbao, I've seen Taiyi go on a diet, I've seen 1979 Nezha transmigrating into the 2019/2025 world, etc. etc.

The Lu Tong meme is also not even a meme anymore- lots of people seem to genuinely believe that randomly spamming any and all content featuring Lu Tong/He Tong with paragraphs of praise will result in them granting their wishes. So that's why you'll come across lots of comments with phrases like: "Lu Tong is the manliest of all men, the most powerful of all celestials, the strongest deer... please Master Lu Tong, grant me a raise from my boss."

Also, I didn't include these extremely cursed memes last time because I felt that they might cause people to die. BUT since everyone was strong enough to survive writeup part 1, I think you've proven yourselves strong enough to see these in writeup part 2--behold! Popular FAMILY GUY NEZHA edits:

These cursed images are popular enough that multiple people have made them their profile pics. That's not even the end of it...

Not only that, the fandom has also made "fusion" edits of the characters in the vein of the Nezha/Ao Bing fusion we saw in canon (as in, a Taiyi/Nezha fusion exists). If you wondered what things would be like if 1) Nezha possessed Ao Bing instead or 2) Shen Gongbao never stole the spirit pearl, wonder no further! Here is the answer:

Next, congratulations to lubao for completing the transformation from surprise crack ship to third most popular pairing in the fandom (4 and 5 probably go to Ao Guang/Shen Gongbao [longwangbao] or lutong/hetong [luhe] depending on the platform). Coincidentally, lubao is now no. 3 trending on weibo (Update: was no. 3 trending in March, no longer the case; dilong and oubing are the only ships remaining in the top 10), beating out dilong. Professional cosplayers are also doing lubao cosplays for clout (to 10K+ likes on bilibili and even 100K+ likes across douyin, etc.). They even have their own animatics now. -> Every individual (main) character and ship has plenty of animatics; if you want to see them, just add the word "手书" (hand book) after whatever subject you're searching for. EX. For oubing animatics, just search for 藕饼手书, and many many will come up.

The lubao lore has also expanded since Feb.:

In Nezha 1, Shen Gongbao told Ao Bing he can teach him how to hide his horns in public. Lu Tong, as a deer, should also have antlers (as shown by his demon/animal form), but doesn't! This clearly means that Shen Gongbao taught Lu Tong how to hide his antlers with the same method he offered for Ao Bing.

Fans noticed that Lu Tong's eyes are brown in deer form, but as a human, his eyes are green- specifically, the exact same shade of green as Shen Gongbao's. They believe it means Lu Tong purposely turned them green because he took inspiration from Shen Gongbao's appearance.

They also noticed that in the post-credits, Wuliang and He Tong didn't seem to know where the underground prison was. Lu Tong guided them over. They believe this means Lu Tong was the one who brought Shen Gongbao into the prison and tied him up in the first place.

You can make the assumption that Shen Gongbao, Ao Bing, and Lu Tong all have the same hairstyle. Why? Because Shen Gongbao combed Ao Bing's hair (with the approval of Lu Tong's #2 enemy, Ao Guang), and he previously combed Lu Tong's hair. Out of love/obsession for him, Lu Tong has kept that same style. And now this is yet another thing Ao Bing STOLE from Lu Tong!

As of 3/9, Jiaozi put out this drawing of Shen Gongbao riding a leopard while acting as captain of the demon hunting team (to celebrate Nezha breaking the 14.6 billion record at the box office):

Since Lu Tong had that exact same pose, while also riding an animal from the same species, lubao fans took this to mean Lu Tong was again trying to copy everything Shen Gongbao did because he's just that obsessed with him.

As for fanon expansion, there is now a version of He Tong who is not only aware of Lu Tong's obsession, but also supports, abets, and contributes to his actions because she too felt abandoned by their shi shu. Now Shen Gongbao can never leave them again! Theirs forever! Too bad that pesky Ao Bing keeps getting in the way and doing annoying things like "saving his master" and "having morals."

And a little round of applause for Shen gonggong too for going from cartoon villain barely anyone cared about to earning the highest honor in fandom--becoming the resident whump angst pain machine. This was unofficial in the previous writeup, but now it's safe to call it official! You know his poor meow meow status is cemented when the average SGB-centric fsyy crossover is now, "Wuliang and his disciples torture the cultivation out of Shen Gongbao, seal his powers, and give him to King Zhou to do as he pleases. The royal court proceeds to treat him as some kind of party animal, all while using and abusing whatever's left of him-" (paragraph 1 of 100)

The average pre-canon story is also, "everyone except Taiyi tortures and mistreats Shen Gongbao at Yuxu Gong-" He's an alcoholic in these too, and he hates himself, and he's depressed and (insert any form of trauma here, he has it)- Someone said that they knew Shen gongong was doomed (by the fandom) the moment he showed up like That in the easter egg scene, and I think that person had the gift of prophecy.

Now for the main event! Dilong, Aobing Zhuan, and the reaction (or lack thereof) of Guangying shippers:

Yes, that's Jim from The Office. The above is a circulating meme made by disgruntled dilong shippers.

Translation:

If you look like this

("Nezha 2" Ao Guang) Your husband doesn't look like this

("The Sons of the Dragon" Ao Guang) Your husband looks like this

*The Sons of the Dragon is a nickname (derogatory) for Ao Bing Zhuan because detractors think it focuses on all of Ao Guang's sons except Ao Bing

I'm not too familiar with Aobing Zhuan itself, so if you or your loved ones know more about the storyline or drama, please feel free to tack onto this post with your own links, writeups, and/or input!

Dilong fans finally had Enough of the nonstop harassment and put together gigantic takedown posts on why Aobing Zhuan sucks, featuring citations, side by side images, and so on.

In addition to accusing the author of using Yinglong as a self insert, they also accused Yinglong of being a genderbent version of Ao Guang (as he used to be drawn in Dilong fanart back in 2019). They pointed out that the author modeled toddler Ao Bing after her own goddaughter instead of his image in the movie. Said author has also gone on record saying Ao Bing is the "least charming" of Ao Guang's sons. Aobing Zhuan gave Ao Bing a healthy number of friends as part of the supporting cast too; when readers asked how this is possible if his first and only friend is Nezha, the author said "The friends are dead, so they don't count!"

The receipts also tell us that even though Ao Guang (and his siblings) made Ao Bing's coat in canon, Aobing Zhuan credited that to Yinglong. His martial arts also came from Yinglong, even though everyone knows it came from Shen Gongbao. And it gets deeper-- as the story goes on, Ao Bing has less and less screentime and barely any "cool" moments. The story becomes completely about his older brothers (specifically his second eldest brother, Ao Yi), while all canon characters are ignored or shafted. It also goes wild with epic wars, battles, and subplots that the movie never even mentioned.

This leads to the fandom nicknaming Aobing Zhuan "OC Zhuan" (and yes, they are using OC the English way. This is not the Tale of Aobing, this is the Tale of Original Characters not even made by Jiaozi). Another nickname is "The Tale of Ying" not because Yinglong herself has that much screentime, but because ABZ fans have spent so long harassing literally everybody else in the fandom while using her as an icon and constantly saying "look, you've made yinglong sad" "how disgusting of you to split up such a loving couple" "you're not allowed to ship anything besides the canon couple" etc. etc.. while spamming fans of literally every other Ao Guang ship with pictures of Yinglong.

Even in non-shipping content involving Ao Guang and Ao Bing, they'll constantly talk about Ao Guang's wife and Ao Bing's mother and how totally important she is to them + the story. Guangying shippers have also constantly used a mother's day screenshot (of the official Nezha account wishing Yinglong happy mother's day with an image of her and Ao Bing in ABZ) as proof that she's officially married to Ao Guang, and you are therefore NOT allowed to ship him with anyone else, including yourself. It turns out that screenshot doesn't exist- the Nezha weibo never posted it. Guangying shippers faked the image.

Someone even asked deepseek (or baidu?) who Yinglong is and it said, "Yinglong is Ao Guang's father!" (incorrect btw, but this is proof that yinglong has no mythological connection to Ao Guang anyway). Fans also noticed that Aobing Zhuan- despite having a physical publication- wasn't featured at all in Nezha 2 merchandise. Instead, there's a cute picture book featuring parts of little Ao Bing's childhood (with NONE of ABZ's events).

The book is called "Memories of the Three Realms" 《哪吒·三界往事》and contains little stories about the entire cast before the events of the movies. This book was promoted as part of Nezha 2's merchandise, so it's safe to consider it a direct tie-in with the franchise. Noticeably, Ao Bing's family in the book consists of only himself, his father, his master, his aunt, and uncles. No brothers, no mother.

So TLDR, Aobing Zhuan "fell apart" in the fandom's eyes because:

It directly defies canon ideas and events

Guangying shippers faked screenshots to make it look like the Nezha team acknowledged ABZ more than it actually did

The art style is "ugly" (imho, it's less that it's ugly and more that it's very off model when it comes to canon characters and just doesn't fit Nezha's art style)

ABZ constantly puts down Ao Bing/Ao Guang/Shen Gongbao in order to elevate its OCs

Ao Guang doesn't like Ao Bing very much in ABZ

The author doesn't care about Ao Bing and was only using his name for clout; the author exclusively only loves Ao Yi

Yinglong is the author's self insert and arguably a plagiarized version of dilong!Ao Guang. Ao Yi has also been accused of being a plagiarized design of dilong!Ao Guang. (imo, not so sure about how valid these particular accusations are because all three designs are commonplace throughout all xianxia art)

Ao Yi, Ao Jia, and Yinglong (Ao Bing's brothers and mother) are fanmade OCs and might not even have those same names if they appear or come up in the movies

ABZ attempted to make a love interest for Ao Bing, but backtracked after backlash from oubing fans

The Nezha team seems to want nothing to do with it

The takedown was brutal. The rest of the fandom, specifically the confused people who had no idea why other fans were going on and on about Ao Guang's wife (who does not appear in the films) and closet dilong shippers, went, "Hey, ABZ does suck!" Why did it take so long for them to notice it sucked? General consensus is that because the comic was not very good in the first place so nobody talked about it or noticed it. Now they notice because 1) guangying shippers shoved it in everyone's face 2) guangying shippers/ABZ fans bullied literally Everybody else in the fandom

Then overnight, the fandom turned on ABZ and all its OCs. Now it's considered #cringe to like Yinglong, Ao Yi, and Ao Jia. People regretted paying for the comics, people tried get it refunded, and people apologized to dilong fans for hating on them based on falsely believing they were "splitting" a canon couple (and not because idk, harassing strangers over cartoons is rude??).

Regardless, everyone who secretly enjoyed dilong now came out to openly enjoy it. Dilong rose to #3 trending on several platforms, and dilong shippers rejoiced for finally being vindicated after literally 5 years of harassment. I mean pretty offensive and terrible harassment (CW terminally online fandom harassment methods): mass reporting, being accused of being degenerates, being accused of being uNpAtriOtIC, being accused of TrEAson, being told they should have died in their mothers' wombs, getting doxxed and suicide baited. Multiple dilong authors and artists were bullied into deactivating. The harassment got especially bad after Nezha 2 came out, so-

The tables turning on Guangying shippers can only be divine karma at work. Now in videos of people bashing dilong shippers, you can see comments saying, "hey op you dropped your clown nose!" and "get with the times, OC Zhuan fell from grace." Unfortunately, this drama has led to collateral damage in the form of-

Drama in the cosplay world:

However, there are lots of big name cosplayers doing Yinglong and Guangying cosplays. These people spent Big Money on their costumes. Now they're being told that ABZ has "fallen apart" and Yinglong was just somebody else's OC this entire time. Yinglong cosplayers feel personally victimized and don't know what to do with their costumes now.

To add fuel to the fire, fans have been insulting Yinglong cosplayers in the comment sections of their videos. Ao Yi cosplayers are facing a similar dilemma. Which leads to-

Yinglong fans react + Dilong fan conspiracies:

You'd think this would lead to some self reflection on the part of Guangying fans or an apology to their victims or maybe some attempt to be on better behavior. But why do that when it's easier to double down and play victim!

ABZ fans and Guangying shippers now believe themselves to be the biggest victims in the fandom. They feel that the takedown was made in bad faith and several points don't even line up-- Yinglong doesn't resemble dilong!Ao Guang that much, Yinglong is not the author's literal self insert, the spinoff is still canon, Ao Guang loves his son very much in ABZ too and those calling him a cold father in ABZ are pulling panels out of context, etc. They think they shouldn't be judged just for enjoying a comic and multiple people have called on Jiaozi to step in and acknowledge the Drama. Indeed, they shouldn't be judged or harassed for liking Yinglong or ABZ.

But I'd feel more sorry for them if they didn't spend the past month bullying and lying to literally everybody in the fandom, ranging from spamming all Ao Bing content with guangying comments to threatening Ao Guang x anyone else shippers with physical violence. Even on the notes of the last writeup, we have firsthand accounts of their cyberbullying:

^This is the kind of thing guangying fans do on a regular basis. (I'm so sorry they harassed you over something so stupid! All 6 of them owe you a kowtow and apology.)

The Drama continues:

According to dilong fans, ABZ and guangying fans have gone quiet but not gone away. They've changed tactics and can now be spotted on random Ao Guang content commenting, "I wonder who Ao Guang's wife is! I'm so curious!" and on Ao Bing content saying, "Oh I bet Ao Bing misses his mother and brothers so much." This is allegedly an attempt to get new fans to ask them about Ao Guang's wife and Ao Bing's mother/brothers + an attempt to do damage control for ABZ now that it's uncool to mention it publicly. Personally, I think the dilong fans are right about this theory. Makes perfect sense to me, especially given everything else ABZ fans have done so far.

Next, tying back to the cosplay drama, dilong fans believe the people attacking Yinglong cosplayers are guangying fans masquerading as dilong fans. These guangying fans are hoping to harass enough people for something major to happen (conveniently taking the heat off of ABZ). Then the wider media will report on cosplayers being harassed by dilong fans, resulting in the wider public going "Nezha fangirls are so scary!" resulting in cancellation of Nezha ships (specifically dilong) altogther in a complete repeat of 227 (the date in which Xiao Zhan fans mass reported AO3 over a real person fic, resulting in the AO3 ban in China and the ensuing backlash that caused the absolutely most nightmarish time of poor Xiao Zhan's life). Is this there truth to this theory? I have no idea, but wilder things have happened.

And lastly, no, Fei Wo Si Cun (established web novelist that published a dilong mpreg fanfic on main, as mentioned in the previous writeup) has not acknowledged the Ao Guang discourse drama at all. Jiaozi and the rest of the Nezha team have also not said a peep despite guangying shippers' desperate attempts to reach them.

Update to add: there was ALSO some fight between solo!Nezha stans and solo!Ao Bing stans on weibo. It didn't have that big of an influence, but was certainly an Online event.

And that's the end of the ride for now. Nezha 2 is still playing in theaters. Nobody knows what will happen once it hits STREAMING :D after all, 命由我不由天!

BONUS update: Believe it or not, there's a part 3 now !?

[axylotls]

⌕ s͟e͟a͟r͟c͟h͟i͟n͟g axyl's pg . .

zᶻ ( DR MASTERLIST ) ⨟ ♡

as i have so many drs, i've decided to make separate master lists to cover each type of dr that i have!! i'm most definitely not going to make posts for every single one of my drs, but i'd love for people to be able to find someone that possibly shares their niche interest lol^^

୨ৎ ˚ ﹒⠀ zerobaseone [ twenty-seven drs ] ⠷

i have many many many zerobaseone drs because they're my ult group at the moment, and i love them so much ㅠㅠ they are a whole other category from k-pop drs (and its sub-categories) because i've decided i need to live every single possible life i could live in relation to these boys!!!

୨ৎ ˚ ﹒⠀ superhero [ eleven drs ] ⠷

this category is very vague, but boy do i have many drs that fit this!!! i'll include marvel/mcu, miraculous, and any other type of reality that has something in relation to powers and/or being a hero (or perhaps being in proximity to them.) these are normally very lore and world-building heavy, which makes them even more fun to talk about and script!!

୨ৎ ˚ ﹒⠀ k-pop / idol [ seventeen drs ] ⠷

all realities in which i am a k-pop idol—besides my zb1 drs. this includes own group drs, soloist drs, and drs where i am a member of a pre-existing cr group. admittedly, i cut down a lot of my k-pop drs recently. there are chances i bring back some of my old drs, but as i'm focused on other things, i don't want to stress too much about keeping track of all of them.

୨ৎ ˚ ﹒⠀ hogwarts [ seven drs ] ⠷

i can not stress enough how much i despise jkr!!!!! i hate that woman!!!!!! however i am a #victim of harry potter and find so much comfort in hogwarts ㅠㅠ trust there are so many things about the world building that i've changed because that woman truly can't actually write properly.

୨ৎ ˚ ﹒⠀ fame / celebrity [ twelve drs ] ⠷

shifters yearn for fame... kidding obviously not all of us do, but i sure do! it was always my dream as a kid to become an actress and i don't care about manifesting that into this reality—so let me shift to another where that is already preestablished! i have many forms of fame drs other than acting, though.

zᶻ ( DR DUMP ) ⨟ ♡

now let me just dump a bunch of drs i may or may not go through with lol!!! i most definitely won't be focusing on nor posting about any of these unless i randomly get motivation. just want to drop them all here so that people who have similar drs can see them and tell me allllll about them!!!!! just 'cause it's not one of my main drs does not mean that i don't want to hear about your dr in the same-ish reality :]

୨ৎ ˚ ﹒⠀ tv shows [ & movies ] ⠷

alice in borderland. alice in wonderland. a.n.t. farm. arcane. austin & ally. baby. the babysitters club. barbie. batfam. bella & the bulldogs. best friends whenever. big hero six. bikini bottom. boynextdoor next door. business proposal. camp half blood. criminal minds. descendants. the devil wears prada. diamond castle. enhypen next door. ever after high. everything sucks. fairy secret. fashion fairytale. the fosters. gilmore girls. ginny & georgia. good luck charlie. the good place. gravity falls. hannah montana. her private life. hometown cha cha cha. how to train your dragon. the hunger games. inside out. island princess. jessie. jumanji. k-12 (i don't support melanie!!). kc undercover. lab rats. lemonade mouth. little women. maleficent. mean girls. my demon. namib. narnia. neverland. one day at a time. outerbanks. part time idol. pitch perfect. pokémon. power rangers. princess & the popstar. princess charm school. princess diaries. princess switch. sam & cat. the school for good and evil. shake it up. shameless. shrek. sky high. spiderverse. spirited. squid game. starstruck. start up. study group. the suite life series. the summer i turned pretty. summer strike. teen beach movie. the thundermans. to all the boys i've loved before. tomorrowland. totally spies. twinkling watermelon. victorious. weak hero. wednesday. wicked. wizards of waverly place. wreck it ralph. yellowjackets.

୨ৎ ˚ ﹒⠀ books [ & fanfics ] ⠷

chanwitch. dark moon. dollhouse. folk of the air series. geronimo stilton. heartless. hideout. i hope this doesn't find you. if you could see the sun. kitten. the lunar chronicles series. paragon academy of aces. renegades series. say please. shatter me series. the tale of geoji & jinsil. this time it's real. you don't have a shot.

୨ৎ ˚ ﹒⠀ miscellaneous [ other realities ] ⠷

ancient royalty. better cr. boarding school. children of the planets. christmas wonderland. college life. concert experience. cottage witch. cupid. double life. dragon rider academy. eternal childhood. eternal summer. fantasy. five nights at freddy's. futuristic academy. ghost hunter. idol school. intergalactic royalty. jeu imaginaire. medieval royalty. minecraft. modern royalty. pirate life. post apocalyptic. porn star. small town. spy academy. street racer. supernatural school. supernatural idol school. teacher. waiting room. women-only paradise.

original dr masterlist

[meloodyxx]

RECAP OF SHELBY SHUBBLE LORE!! a.k.a. mel refuses to study for her physics exam (its all connected part 1.)

disclaimer: i wrote this in 3 sittings and didn't edit it at all. dont expect it to be good.

PART 1. EMPIRES SMP S1 - my ex-bully transferred to my new school?!

shrub berry arrives to the world of empires season 1 a bit later than most of the cast. how does she arrive you ask? she was chased by Xornoth-the local server demon- from her gnome paradise after it was abselutely destroyed by said demon.

she starts making her empire, containing hobbit holes and giant mushrrom homes. the citizens? her beloved wolf pack that are named after the solar system/zodiac signs and her hand-carved wood friends! and a dire wolf!

everything going great!! xornoth returns!!! everything is now catasthropic!!

xornoth haunts her in her empire as shrub tries to be tough and scary, only to fail and start confessing her sins to him.

she sees a severed wolf head inside of her house. gem comes to talk to her about. gem comes to visit with her book, containing information about the demon. she gives her a corruption containment box. shrub chucks it in her home-made mushroom fairy circle.

there is now a protector (tiny cute lil mushroom man) watching over undergrove

lizzie and joels wedding!! also xornoth is now properly revealed to everyone.

the final end battle. xornoth gets full power (ohhh no. ohhh no.) also update on undergrove, there is now a giant eye!! "oh it's crying. he's sad. therapy would've been so much eaaasier" the tentacles around undergrove are getting worse day by day. there are also red gian crystal floating up in the sky.)

shrub gets kidnapped by joey. she then escapes

shrub gets kidnapped by joey AGAIN. while in the final battle against xornoth. gem helps her escape

xornoth is finally defeated and put inside a crystal (which looks supiciously yummy- this will become relevant later on)

THE CROOOOOOOWN IS HERE!!

then, we have the start of the somehow-even-more-depressed shrub arc! she misses her people, deeply wants to belong somewhere and she starts growing closer and closer to her wolf pack, resulting her on putting on a persona called the wolf spirit.

but suddenly, it hits her. xornoth is gone and so is the corruption, this may possibly mean that her home is now free.

she steps into the portal, comes back to her home (now abandoned). excited to spread the news, she goes to fwhip to show him. they walk into the portal, and its... the reuglar nether. then, they proceed to steal the xornoth crystal from scott (who was still in his elsa arc by then and therefore could not be trusted with it.) she might or might not have tried to eat it. i will leave that up to your imaginations :D

this is where shrub starts to lowkey loose her mind, so buckle up! she meets up with gem (who was still in her anna arc) when gem asks for her help. shrub gives her a soup and gem's white streak turns RED. the xornoth crystal is also whispering to her at this point

our girl gets THE CROWNNNN from joey's scavenger hunt, yayyyy!! she orders everyone to get 5 wolves within their empire so she can keep an eye out on everyone, yayyy!! she is having nightmares and hearing whispers which leads to her giving up the crown to katherinne, not yay!! this is horrible!! she is having a terrible time!!,

what time is it? its time to go full on wolf spirit on everyone!! is what the exact thoughts that were in her mind in her last couple episodes in season 2. she ran away from everyone, took all of her wolves and started a totally normal camping trip.

shrub then found the mother wolf of another forest who has a message for her. she learns that the nether is a gateway which makes it possible for her to find all of the remaining gnomes.

after the rapture, the disaster that effected all of the empires, she takes all her wolfs, gives a final goodbye to undergrove, and goes to search for the remaining gnomes.

these were on three seperate episodes and i thought it'd be funny to include them

another thing that i think is notable to mention about this part is that cc!shelby has teased the possible continuation of shrub's storyline multiple times during these following years. although it hasn't been revealed yet, it is preasumed to give her story the closure it needed.

PART 2. EMPIRES SMP S2- a day in the life of a high school dropout

how does this connect to empires- you ask? well, empires 2 is set to be thousands of years later empires 1! (theres also other connections so just keep reading. source: trust me bro)

empires smp season 2 starts as shelby the witch, being sent to the mangrove forest by the great witches academy.

the mangrove forest is rumored to be haunted. the rumours are unfortunately true. in good news, katherine made her a witch hat! ( it is huge) she also now has a potion store.

remember that potion store? that witch better get herself an ukulele and film an apology video because that potion store caused her to accidentally break a whole dimension, causeing her to replace it. the academy is NOT happy about her recent progress, which is seen when shelby was welcomed by an expulsion letter. they banned her from being a witch. (update: the letter is now burning in lava)

she finds an " old gnome spell" which is the instructions on making the wood-people from undergrove (empires s1 reference count: 1) she also finds a sign saying "i know what you did"

she is also now hearing whispers from the mysterious fog. it has become a pattern now, her hearing things. she also now has a broom! (collecting all the witch essentials one step at a time)

there is still a ghost in evermore.

since her potions like, never ever work, she turns sausage into a zombie and starts a zombie apocalypse for a good 2 episodes (it was a whole thing)

hermits arrive!!!

cub went into the fog to investigate. he then became infected with sculk, his only objective being to spread it, no matter what. shelby used her potions on him to cure the corruption.

great witch shelby (self proclaimed) finds a gnome settlement while wandering inside the fog. there is a broken nether portal and a sign that read "we're in heres shrub. come find us" shelby then sees the flasbacks of xornoth destroying gnomeland. (empires 1 referecne count: 2)

she has a quick dip to hermitcraft, right before coming home and seeing a wanted sign, for crimes against empires. the reward is 100.000.000 whatever the currency is

our girl is now wanted!! not by katherine, unfortunately

another academy letter. summary: bitch you can't gaslight yourself into being a witch. we sent phantoms to find you. you better surrender before they do.

we now see the start of the sculk arc!! shelby has skulk slowly taking over her from this point on. (she is "it's fine"ing herself through it. this is a common narrative among the empires members, they are all delusional.)

jimmy, after seeing the wanted signs and the sculk comes to investigate. shelby murders him.

she notices a blood trail in evermoore.

guess who's back. back again? bradwurst's back, tell a friend. (empires s1 references: 3)

guess who said the quote: "you look a lot like a little gnome i met before" do you have your guesses in? yes? ding ding dingg, you're right its bradwurst. (empires s1 references: 4)

THE CROOOOOOWWNN is back!! (empires s1 reference: 5)

she is very sculked up at this point. close to cub level. things are NOT looking great for her. she goes to bradwurst (evil sausage) for help and he wants her to go intp the sculk pit.

then the lesbians start fighting because shelby is mad at katherine for not finding a cure for katherine's curse and shelby's corruption. maybe she was just mad at herself, maybe it was the sculk talking. we'll never know... "so maybe this is just who i am now. you can't help me. maybe figure out your own problems" LOVE LOSES!!

oli visits shelby and tries to play a song to her right at the center of the old gnome settlement, standing on a sculk catalyst. shelby murders him and the sculk begins to spread *insert badass shot of shelby, now fully sculk* "huh, so that's what it feels like to be empty"

undergrove is more haunted, corrupted and sculked than before. shelby is STILL hearing noises from the fog.

our great sculky witch then enters a cleansing mode where she burns all of the haunting evidence and cleaning up the sculk from the old gnome settlement spoiler: it does not work.

the voices are still as loud as ever, and shelby is one step closer to going full-on evil shelby on everyone. she insists on "not being crazy" as she tries to murder oli again. sausage then saves the day with his empires s1 paralels and uses his wand on her to knock her dead.

problem: shelby is not waking up. soluiton: sausage gets lizzie to help and she uses her nekomancy on shelby.

shelby wakes up in an ancient city and a warden comes at her. she is transported into a fully white room.

sausage then comes to the said white room and shares his experiences about his own corruption and how he got rid of it. "let's get out of here and go get some therapy!"

she now has white hair!! (this will be relevant later) she also apologizes to oli.

then it's one of the most iconic scenes of all of empires: shelby goes to apologise to katherine. "maybe we could get coffee sometime?" "yeah!" (if i am remembering this correctly, cc!shelby said that they really enjoyed that coffee together)

she then gets a letter from her friend from the academy, saying that since the principal turned out to be evil, everyone's records are wiped clean. this means she can return to the academy!

she goes to god joel to learn about lightining magic.

BOOM!! 10 YEARS LATER: storm witch shelby has got a new letter in her mailbox.

PART 2.5 WITCHCRAFT- is white hair still hip and cool?

we pick up right were we left out were we find out what the letter means. the letter is from the supreme witch, inviting her to be a part of a competition where 8 witces battle it out to become the new supreme witch.

the challenges go by as storm witch is getting more and more powerful. "wow, i cant believe how strong ive gotten. this is everything ive ever wanted. i wonder what she'll think of be once i go back home. i'll be so different! what if i change too much? what if i win? i'm not cut out for this, i did awful in school! no no no no no. i need to do this. i have something to prove..."

the "she" does not have a confirmed identity sccording to cc!shelby, but us nature wives people love to think of her as katherine.

storm witch shelby achieved second place in the competition, loosing to scott.

she then goes back home. "it's good to be home. oh- oops. hey, sorry 'bout the rain! i'm home!"

AAAAAAND DONE. i'm planning to do more of these recaps for ccs who have characters and/or lore spanning multiple series. i've decided to start with shelby since her lore isn't that crazy when it comes to the multiversal aspect.

anways, i really enjoyed making this and i hope you enjoyed reading it!

[dept-of-monster-affairs]

Part of the Family

Note: previously posted under nicsnort but Tumblr decided to shadowban then terminate the account without warning. (this will be my monster blog from now on, even if the other is reinstated)

m!Orc (Sehbuv) x f!reader

Word Count: 4945

Contains: Public sex, exhibitionism, implied impregnation, groping, fingering, Orcs using 1920s slang

Orcs came to defend your town when demons invaded. Now they've settled in, and after years of teasing them, they've finally had enough. It was time to make you part of the family.

If you want to ignore my self-indulgent worldbuilding lore skip the indented text

Press Release The Curious Case of Orcs As we discover more about the world beyond the Rift, many monsters and creatures thought only to be myths appear to be real. Additionally, many creatures not based on myth but more modern fantasy works also appear to be real. The most notable of these is the Orc.  Orcs were initially thought to have been the creation of J. R. R. Tolkien for his seminal work The Hobbit. While Tolkien was known for basing the creatures of his world on the tales of Scandinavian folklore, the existence of Orcs in this folklore was tenuous at best. Etymologists and mythists linked terms similar to Orc/s (Orcus, Orke, Orcneas, etc.) as other names for goblins, orges, or evil spirits. No matter the origin, Orcs became a part of mainstream fantasy and appeared in other works such as Dungeon and Dragons, Warhammer, and World of Warcraft. Despite our cultural myths' lack of longevity for them, Orcs are real, and parts of our fantasy stories are true regarding them. Orcs are often tribal and historically nomadic, have a penchant for war, are larger than humans, and are green to grey in coloration. However, most Orcs are not the evil raiders of our stories. While perhaps they were at some point, given the tales they tell of their history, we must remember that humans had plenty of cultures that raided others to survive. In fact, like many raiding human societies, Orcs are very happy to settle in areas they deem their territory and adopt parts of the regional culture. However, the former practice has put them in conflict with human governments, who often treat Orc tribes as gangs as they care little about human laws and bureaucratic measures, preferring to demand tribute from human villages in exchange for protection from greater threats such as demons. With their cultural flexibility, Orcs also have flexibility in what they consider an Orc. True-blood Orcs are eight feet tall or taller, have enormous muscle mass, an almost non-existent nose, red eyes, sharp tusks, and are without the ability to grow hair. No true-blooded Orc has been found in this world, and they live in extremely remote areas across the Rift. Due to their raiding and nomadic nature, most Orcs have bloodlines that include other species - mostly elvish and human. These Orcs range in appearance, but they are shorter and less bulky than their true-blooded relatives. They have smaller tusks, can grow hair, have a slightly more human-normative facial appearance, and are less likely to immediately turn to violence to solve their problems. Whether due to magic or genetic dominance, Orc features (large size, green/grey skin, and tusks) will be present in any offspring of an Orc and is considered an Orc, no matter the genetic heritage, by other Orcs. Orc tribes also contain Orc-kin. Orc-kin are those who are brought into Orc tribes but are not Orcs themselves. Orc-kin are typically the favored mates of Orcs or adopted orphans but may include those who prove themselves worthy in battle. Orc-kin are treated as full members of the tribe and recognized by other Orcs as members of that tribe. The Division of Monster Research will continue to study Orcs and all monsters to provide accurate information and help protect humanity.

Your sleepy little town had never expected an Orc tribe to move in a few years ago. Granted, you never expected the world to be invaded by demons, either. You remembered the moment that the Orcs rode into town well. They had been riding massive black horses the size of Clydesdales but with fire around their hooves and sharp meat-eating teeth. The Orcs had worn their traditional war paints and openly carried their weapons. Everyone had been terrified. Would they slaughter you all? Enslave the town?

They had called for the “ruler” of the town to speak with them. You vividly remember watching the town mayor approaching, trying to hide his fear. The tribe leader, Chief Gorim - a battle-scared, dark green, seven-foot-tall beast of a humanoid - slid off his horse, towering over the mayor, staring him down.

“You are afraid, human,” the chieftain commented in a low growl. “No need to be afraid. We have come as protection.”

The chief handed the mayor an official-looking parchment—a work contract. The Orcs were aware that rural regions of the human world lacked protection against the demonic hordes as the governments focused on protecting cities. So many of the Orc tribes, well-practiced in fighting demons and monsters, crossed the rift to provide protection. All the Orcs asked for in return were places to set up camp, provisions they could not gather from the land itself, and access to this world’s weapons and healing knowledge. A reasonable offer for people seeing the logic of their world changing rapidly and no way to fight against the demons otherwise.

True to their word, the Orcs protected your town and several others in the area. Unfortunately, their protection came with many more strings attached than originally stated. It was, for lack of a better phrase - a protection racket. Little did the towns know that Orc tribes were similar in structure and philosophy to the Italian Mafia. A rather ironic twist of fate, given that your little town had been the center of some Mafia activity over a century ago during the Prohibition Era. The small museum in town was a historically preserved speakeasy that told the story about the gambling den, a whiskey smuggling route, and a good old-fashioned shoot-out between the Feds and the gangsters along Main Street.

It was even more ironic that your Orcs - attempting to adapt to this “new human world” - decided to forgo their traditional dress and begin copying the Mafia’s style. The 1920s to 1950s Mafia was their preference. Their bows and arrows were replaced with machine guns. Their leather skirts and vests were replaced with cotton suits and fedoras. They began picking up the slang by watching documentaries and old films. The chief insisted that everyone call him “Godfather” and would tell everyone how the lead actor in that famous film looked like an Orc without the tusks. 

Sometimes, their obsession was more silly than scary. You overheard an Orc contemplating whether to call her future son the short Orc-like Tony or Al’capone after the “great warrior chief.” And seeing a non-warrior Orc in a flapper dress with the warriors wolf-whistling at the “sight of his gams” was certainly something. Who would have ever guessed that Orcs were into cross-dressing? However, given how Orcish genders seemed to be warrior and non-warrior regardless of sex, maybe it wasn’t cross-dressing. The Orcs had decided that warriors wore suits and non-warriors wore flapper or swing dresses.

Even with the Orcs running this protection racket, the town benefited more than it lost. You had all heard the horror stories of the areas first hit by the demons - towns annihilated, mass slaughter, people forced into slavery - compared to that prospect, paying a tribe of Orcs in tomato sauce, pasta, and historically accurate clothing was nothing. Not to mention that just like the Mafia they modeled themselves after, the Orcs started smuggling goods to and from their home dimension. The state and federal governments did not want any trade of materials that could “corrupt” humans (whatever that meant), but if they wouldn’t protect your town from demons, why bother listening to their ban? Magic potions were amazing.

But that all wrapped around to you. The person running the local speakeasy museum that the warrior Orcs claimed as their primary hangout spot. You were a historian and preservationist. While you had always sold alcohol at the museum’s speakeasy bar for those wanting to try moonshine or the local whiskey, it was never supposed to be a real bar. Yet, you had transformed the speakeasy museum into a functional bar at their large, weapon-carrying insistence. Your job had become more bar tender than museum worker, but to be honest, before the demons, your museum hadn’t ever gotten much business. Luckily, the “person in control of the alcohol” was a position that Orcs respected, and as you were the human who ran the “shrine” to the human “warrior tribes,” that respect was doubled.

“Here we go, boys,” you announced, setting five glasses of whiskey in front of the Orc warriors who had just come in from patrol.

“Ah, you're the bee’s knees, doll,” they replied with relief. You had long overcome the bristle you felt at being called “doll.” The Orcs were copying more of the language of the period they idolized. You had asked them once what they thought it meant - a pretty non-warrior - at least they were calling you pretty.

You headed into the backroom to gather more whiskey. Each Orc typically drank half a bottle when they came here after patrol, so you had to grab a few more to satisfy this group. As you were in the back, you could hear the chatter and laughter of the patrol join that of those already a couple of cups deep.

“Shrine maiden,” an Orc called out before swearing in Orcish, “ raudt, doll! Bring another round of Oakengleam!”

You couldn’t help but smile to yourself. Some older Orcs struggled with the new slang when drunk and still fell into their old terms. They swore whenever it happened, but the translator spell refused to translate anything inappropriate, meaning you knew lots of Orcish swears. With your arms full of four bottles of whiskey, you returned to the front. The Orc that had called out to you leaned against the bar, putting full weight on the old polished wood.

“I told you, Ozoch, that was the last of it. You’ll have to wait until the runners return from the Rift.”

“Come on, it’s the chief’s - I mean - the don’s favorite. I know you have to have some.”

You raised an eyebrow. “You are suggesting that I use Godfather’s private supply to satiate your already drunk stomach?”

“Don’t try to use the Don to threaten me, weakling.”

Silence began to fall among the Orcs as they listened in. You lifted your head defiantly. The Orcs valued strength. Not just physical but mental. Backing down now would lose much of the respect they held for you. “I’m in charge of the alcohol. Even if I had Oakengleam, I wouldn’t give it to you for that. Get out and dry out.”

Ozoch slammed his fist on the counter, cracking the wood. “Don’t tell me what to do! You ain’t tribe!”

“That don’t mean she ain’t correct,” a low growling voice said behind Ozoch. The older Orc stiffened. Godfather had just walked in the door.

“Chie--Don Gorim,” Ozoch started as he turned around unsteadily. “I didn’t mean nothin’ by it.”

Godfather looked to the capo at his side and jerked his head. “Escort Ozoch out, Taugh. Take a walk, old friend, and consider how I said the dame was to be respected. Don’t make me force you to find that respect in concrete shoes.”

Properly cowed, Ozoch let Taugh escort him out. The old Orc likely would have a ground-down tusk the next time you saw him. It was a common mark of shame.

Godfather approached the bar. He silently examined the damage Ozoch did. A scowl crossed his face before he looked at you with a small smile. Reaching across the bar, he put a hand on your shoulder. “I will see this fixed, doll.”

Your heart rate was returning to normal, but you didn’t trust yourself enough to speak, so you nodded. He squeezed your shoulder lightly before releasing you. “Now, a mug of Oakengleam at my table, please.”

You breathed out slowly and returned his smile. “Of course, Godfather.”

Disappearing into the back where you kept Godfather’s private stash, you heard the conversation in the main room slowly return to normal. Alone among the alcohol, you took a moment to gather yourself. This wasn’t the first time you had to assert yourself, but it was the first time that an Orc had been violent towards you. Seeing them rip the wings off an imp with their bare hands was one thing, but knowing that fist would have cracked your head open was another. Allowing a couple of tears to escape your eyes, you quickly dried them. The don was waiting for his drink.

With a smile on your face, you brought Godfather his drink. While you were in the back, Taugh had returned, new abrasions on his knuckles. Godfather also had his advisor, Kormor, at his table. She was speaking quietly to him, ignoring your presence. 

The night went on as normal for an hour or so. More and more Orcs came into the speakeasy, nearly all of the warriors. You noticed that Kormor began walking around to the tables, speaking with the Orcs quietly. She would speak, they would take a moment, and then some would put up two fingers. It became apparent they were voting on something. You wondered what was so big of a decision that it required the warriors' input instead of the don's unilateral decision. It was none of your business, though.

 The bar's heat rose as the seats and stools reached capacity. It was not a big building, and the speakeasy area could only hold 60 humans or half as many Orcs. Your body was forced to brush against them as you served drinks. As you cleared mugs and glasses, bending over the table, their thick hands reached to steady you. Occasionally, an unknown hand was brave enough to sneak a grope in. Their earthy musk slowly began to make your head swim.

Godfather called for another drink. You ducked into the back, happy for the reprieve. Leaning against the cold brick wall, you felt your pussy throbbing. It was a secret you kept hidden from all those around you. You found the Orcs super hot. 

Before the invasion of demons, when all monsters were considered fantasy, monsters had been the subject of your fantasies. When it turned out that all sorts of monsters were real, when the Orcs came to your town, it was a terrifying but exciting moment. Unfortunately, the Orcs didn’t seem interested in humans sexually. Sure, they would occasionally grope you, but it seemed more like a game to them as they never did anything more. You had even started wearing the swing dresses they liked and brushing against them on purpose, trying to encourage them.

There were many times that after a long night of working, you had gone upstairs to your apartment above the museum with your panties soaked. You would take out your monster dildos and fuck yourself, yearning for it to be the Orcs you had just seen.

But now wasn’t the time for that. You didn’t have time to touch yourself. The don needed another mug of his favorite ale. As always, you would suffer through the arousal. As you set down a second mug of Oakengleam for Godfather, the underboss, Sehbuv, arrived. Sehbuv winked at you as he sat down. A faint blush came to your cheeks. He had always been one of the nicest to you and slipped you treats from the smuggled goods. It didn’t hurt that he was definitely one of the most handsome Orcs with forest green skin and alluring magenta eyes.

“Double whiskey, doll,” he ordered, “oh and, for you.” 

Sehbuv grabbed your hand and pressed something long, hard, and wet at the bottom into it. Looking down, you saw it was a tusk. An Orc tusk, yellowed with old age and very recently removed. To grind down a tusk of an orc was a mark of shame, to remove one was saying you did not recognize them as an Orc anymore. You looked back up at him, and he gave you another wink. Clenching your hand around the gift, you stuttered a thank you before running off for his drink.

“Stay a moment, have a seat,” Godfather told you when you returned. “We must have words.”

“Of-of course,” you replied, shocked and a bit worried. Your eyes darted around, looking for a chair. Suddenly, Sehbuv pulled you into his lap. You gasped, but along with sounding surprised, there was a clear undertone of sensuality in it. The Orc chuckled but didn’t say anything. You gave Godfather your attention, trying to ignore how your arousal spiked by merely sitting on Sehbuv’s lap. It did not help that one of his hands rested on your lower back to steady you.

“Doll, you’ve been a good associate of ours for a while now. What has it been four years?”

“Nearly, yes.” The Orcs had been here for a little over five years but didn’t discover their obsession until a year after they arrived; the museum became their hang-out a few months later. Come to think of it, Shebuv had been the first Orc to visit the museum.

Godfather nodded. “And even before then, I remember you. You were the only human brave enough to bring the tribute to our camp by yourself. You were the only one interested in learning about us.”

“I am sure I wasn’t the only--”

“You were. The only one to genuinely be interested, at least.” Godfather leaned back in his chair, taking a long sip of ale. As you waited for him to continue, Sehbuv set his drink on the table, his hand going to rest on his lap but finding your thigh instead. You glanced at him, but his attention was on the don.

“Anyway, what I am getting at is that you, doll, have contributed a lot to this family. Big things like this speakeasy and spreading the knowledge of your past warrior families. And little things like adding our favorites to the tap and our images to the shrine of your warriors.” He gestured to the small section where you had put some photos of the Orcs in action and a group photo of the tribe after they had donned their “human” clothing for the first time.

“You have done all of this for us. In some ways, you are already part of the family. But as Ozoch pointed out, you are not family.”

Sehbuv’s fingers found the hem of your skirt and began inching up your thigh. It was becoming increasingly difficult to focus on the don. “Given all that and what happened with Ozoch, I think it is time to give you an Orc.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think I need a guard. Unless you are suggesting someone to help out around here lifting barrels and…” It was hard to speak coherently. Your head was swimming from the Orc musk and Sehbuv’s playful touch. 

Godfather’s eyes connected with Sehbuv’s. Instantly, the younger Orc’s roaming hand was on the table holding his drink. The older Orc’s attention turned back on you. “I don’t think you’re following. I mean uvna Orciani tullu --blasted bluenose witch, censoring the translation spell.”

Kormor touched his shoulder to calm him. “Why don’t you leave that for Sehbuv? Explain how things are changing.”

Godfather sighed and nodded. “Long and short of it. The demons in this area have been pushed back, and the Rift is secured. There is no need for the family to be here to protect your town and the others in this territory. My family is going back to our world.”

Your heart sank. All this time was wasted, and now your chance was lost completely.

“We cannot maintain our territory here and the Old World. The non-warriors, on the other side, need us warriors to return. But we do not want to leave behind the luxuries of your world. My family is leaving, but the Orcs staying behind will form a new family with Sehbuv as the don. We will each work a side of the Rift, streamlining our operation.”

From the depths, your heart soared. There was still a chance. You glanced at Sehbuv; he grinned. “Congratulations. I would have gotten some bubbly for you if I’d known.”

“Thanks, doll, I am sure we can find a way to celebrate.” The hand that had been supporting your back slid down and cupped your ass.

Godfather cleared his throat, forcing your attention back to him. “As I was sayin’, Sehbuv will be the head of the family here. This new family will need to put down roots to grow. Find humans in this world to bring into the family as Orc-kin.”

“And I want the first Orc-kin of my family to be you, doll,” Sehbuv revealed. 

Shocked was a tame term for what you felt. There weren’t any Orc-kin the tribe had brought with them, but you had heard of them. You knew becoming Orc-kin, an official member of an Orc tribe, was a massive honor and something not to be taken lightly. They only allowed those who they saw as worthy into the tribe. “I…I am honored…I--sorry, I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes,” Kormor suggested dryly.

“Yes!” The entire speakeasy, which you just realized had been intensely listening in, cheered.

Godfather let them cheer for a full minute before raising a hand for silence. He was smiling. “Excellent. Usually, we would have a dedicated area for the induction, but I believe this sacred space works…and I don’t think Sehbuv can wait much longer. Let the ceremony begin!”

Another round of cheers. Chairs scrapped on the ground as the Orcs stood. They began moving the furniture to clear space. Sehbuv scooped you up and began carrying you over his shoulder. The Orcs began to separate into two groups: those who would stay with Sehbuv’s new tribe and those who would return to the other world with Godfather.

They spoke in Orcish to each other and began to circle around you. Sehbuv’s hand was solidly on your ass, his thick fingers squeezing your rump. Your arousal was spiking once more. You had to take care of yourself soon, or else you’d be begging an Orc to fuck you, but it wasn’t like you could leave in the middle of something like this.

Suddenly, you were on your back, splayed across a table, with Sehbuv pressing his clothed but very substantial erection between your legs. Through the haze of arousal, it clicked. “Oh, give me an Orc as in--”

“Knock you up, doll,” Sehbuv finished. Not quite what you had thought, but the result was the same. You were finally getting the Orc cock you longed for. Sehbuv slid his hand between your legs. His thick, calloused fingers pushed aside your sodden panties, gliding along your slick pussy. A wanton moan escaped your lips, and your hips tilted up needily.

“ Hratz kaara-en olumno ,” he said with pleasured surprise. The Orcs around you hooted and stomped their feet in celebration. His fingers began to stroke you slowly as his huge body leaned over yours. “I am going riteh kaar Orciani kaara-en juublern. ”

“I have no idea what you just said, but whatever it was - yes! Please!” You rolled your hips, grinding against his fingers. Now that your dreams had become possible, you couldn’t wait any longer. He slipped a thick finger into you. A low moan escaped you; his finger felt as thick as two of yours. 

“How long have you wanted this, doll,” he asked, slowly pumping his finger in and out.

“Ever since you rode into town,” you confessed breathlessly.

“That is a long time.” He slipped another finger into your dripping hole and sped up fucking you with his hand. “Is that why you’ve been teasing us? You’ve been trying to get us to fuk you.”

“Yes! Please! I’m going to…” You gripped Sehbuv’s forearms as a powerful orgasm rocked your body. As you rode out the orgasm, he slowed the pumping of his fingers. Chest heaving, you stared up into his lustful eyes. You wanted more. 

Seeing your determination, a grin came to his face. “Undress, doll, before we tear that dress off you.”

He pulled back, allowing you to sit up. As his hand removed itself from inside of you, he grabbed your panties and, with a smooth tug, tore them from you. You stared at him with surprise. Lifting your sodden panties up, he sniffed deeply, then gave you a wink. Tucking the panties in his suit pocket, he slipped the jacket off and removed his suspenders. 

You kicked off your flats and sat up on the table. Sehbuv’s magenta eyes burned as they stared at you while he unbuttoned his shirt. You stared back, soaking in each inch of dark green skin he revealed. Reaching behind your back, you unzipped your dress. You couldn’t wear a bra with this low cut-off-the-shoulder dress; pulling the dress over your head, you were naked. The Orcs around you grunted and whooped as your body was bared to them.

Sehbuv was only halfway undressed. Your eyes were on him as you ran your hand over your body. Cupping your breasts, you began playing with your nipples. Twisting and tugging at them, releasing little moans as you did. Sehbuv nearly tore his pants in his hurry to remove them. His Orcish member sprang free, causing your pussy to clench at the sight. It was just as you had dreamed. Bright pink glands dripping with precum were proudly framed by the dark green foreskin of his long bulging cock. 

He batted your hands away from your breasts, and his hands took their place. His calloused fingers felt even better against your sensitive skin. Your free hands pulled his head down into a kiss. His tusks pressed against your flesh, his large mouth and tongue quickly overwhelming you.

Pulling back, he was handed a cup. “Drink up, doll.”

Taking the potion, you, without hesitation, drank the vivid green contents. It was a bit sour but had no immediate effect. “What was that?”

Sehbuv grinned. “Mostly an endurance potion.”

You had no time to wonder what he meant by mostly. He grabbed your head this time and gave you another dominating kiss. Pressing you down against the table, you felt his bare erection between your legs. He was about the same size as the largest toy you could fit in you, but the heat of it against your flesh had already surpassed your room-temperature silicone replicas.

“Please fuck me,” you gasped as he pressed kisses down your neck. “I need your cock in me.”

Pulling back slightly, Sehbuv held his cock against your slit, running his glands along it. “Mmm, fuck is same word in Orcish. I learned a little English for this. Doll, I am going to fuck your cunt with my cock now.”

The wide head of his cock pressed against your needy hole. You could feel him stretching you. God, this was so much better than silicone. Your hands clung to his shoulders as he slowly slid himself inside of you. “You feel good. Look at you taking me so well.”

You could feel every inch of his hot, hard cock as it entered you. You needed more, though. You needed all of him. “Move, please,” you begged.

“Whatever you say, doll.” Sehbuv began to thrust. You screamed in pleasure as his shaft hilted and hit every sensitive spot within you. His heavy balls slapped against your ass with each thrust. After a few thrusts, you were already approaching another orgasm.

“Fuck, Sehbuv! I’m already…I’m…”

“Tonight is about you, doll, don’t hold back.”

Another orgasm rocked your body, but Sehbuv didn’t lose pace. He kept thrusting into you, extending your pleasure. As your orgasm ended, he began to thrust faster. Each powerful thrust shook your body. Your legs locked around his waist in an attempt to hold on. Sehbuv began to grunt, and his grip on your flesh tightened. He was getting close.

“Are ya ready for me? I’m gonna fill you up,” he announced with a low growl.

“Yes, yes, yes,” you chanted as yet a third orgasm approached. You needed something else to push you over the edge. You need him to cum in you.

Sehbuv’s thrusts became erratic. Then with a roar, you felt his thick cock swell within you. A scream tore from your throat as his hot sticky cum poured into your womb. Your nails dragged across his back as your body writhed from the pleasure. You swore you knew you were pregnant that instant. Fuck, given the magic potion, maybe you were.

“You good, doll,” Sehbuv asked as your straining muscles slowly released him.

“Yes…” You replied. Actually, you were better than fine. As Sehbuv pulled out of you, your body was already buzzing to go again. That was some endurance potion.

“Good. Cause the next part of the ceremony is about to begin.” Sehbuv stepped away from you. You sat up to see where he was gone and saw that all the other Orcs who had joined his side of the family were now naked and aroused as well. They stared at you with lustful eyes.

“Now that the seed of our new family has taken root, it needs fertilizer, doll,” Sehbev explained, “Orcs believe that power from all those who fuck the mother is given to a child. And you’ve been teasing us for years. You’ll make sure we’re satisfied, right?”

Your body buzzed with energy from the endurance potion. You looked around at the variety of Orc cocks and cunts around you. A grin came to your face. “I’ve been waiting five years for this; you all better make sure I am satisfied.”

Read about the Orc orgy here: Family Welcome

Comments and reblogs are appreciated.

Find more stories in my Masterlist

More Sehbuv (and the Family): NSFW Boyfriend Alphabet The Scars [SFW]

[auctorian]

KPop Demon Hunters

Stay

A demon wakes up in the human world. Somehow, that's Zoey's problem

Ongoing fic

Post-Canon Fic Series

Notes

Zoeystery, requited and usually fluffy. Baby does not approve.

Unrequited Miromabby with Abby and Romance pining to some degree while Mira continues to tolerate/hate them

Occasional Rujinu (requited) because my interest lies more with their members

Post-Canon, usually Established relationships

Post-Canon hc lore that the Saja Boys exist due to revival to become proper jeoseung saja

Pre-Canon hc lore that every Saja Boy other than Jinu was some kind of mythical creature/monster who also made a deal with Gwi-Ma. This inhuman nature results in some unhinged thoughts sometimes. READ THE TAGS IN THE FICS FOR CONTENT WARNINGS.

Oneshots presented in non-chronological order

Fics

Pretty

Mystery gets self-conscious about his tusks.

Zoeystery Fluff

Oneshot, 800+

Present

Zoey makes Mystery a scarf

Zoeystery Fluff

Oneshot, 1k+

Out of the Way

Mira talks to the demons she hates most

Unrequited Miromabby, bg Zoeystery + Rujinu, Lore

Oneshot, 1.5k

Count

Baby interrupts a date

Zoeystery

Oneshot, 1.3k

나비

Mira follows Abby on his new job

Non-romantic bonding of a sort, Lore

Oneshot 1.5k

Jeoseung Saja

Spirits gossip about Gwi-Ma's fall and the new reapers

Lore

Oneshot, 800+

Truce

Mira and Baby bump into each other while spying on a date

Mirababy friendship, Zoeystery Fluff

Oneshot, 1.4k

To Call, to Cull

Zoey bumps into Mystery and Baby on their new jobs

Zoeystery, Lore

Oneshot, 2.7k

Pure Heat

Baby and Mira enjoy spicy food. The idiots crushing on her, not so much.

Unrequited Miromabby, Mirababy friendship, kind of crack

Oneshot, 400+

Instincts Inhuman

Character study/end game thoughts on ships. Basically what each guy think of the shipped-with girl.

Zoeystery, Miromabby, Rujinu, Lore

5 chapters, 2k, completed

Visit

Mystery visits Zoey when she visits friends in America

Zoeystery Fluff

Oneshot, 900+

On the Wall

Romance tries on some clothes. Abby is not amused.

Unrequited Miromabby

Oneshot, 500+

The one where they turn into crratures

The Saja Boys get cursed. Jinu suffers.

Rujinu, Zoeystery, unrequited Miromabby, Lore ig, kind of crack

Oneshot, 1.2k

The one where the creatures turn human

Derpy and Sussie drink something they shouldn't have. Jinu suffers. Again.

Rujinu, kind of crack

Oneshot, 800+

Colors

Zoey deals with her horrendous crush on a guy she killed.

Zoeystery (pre-relationship, post-revival)

Oneshot, 2.1k

Main ML

[mierins]

what hand shelters? what hand slays? // gojo x reader; chapter iv

Reader and her contractual obligation to faint once per chapter.

x Masterlist x

< previous chapter | next chapter >

Rating: M Word Count: 3.1k Warnings: Reader is kind of unlikeably pessimistic about her circumstances, Perfect Preparation/Culling Games Arc Spoilers, depictions of PTSD, mentions of violence/blood/gore, head injuries, vaguely "fuck it we ball" attitude towards lore

Yuki scowls, as if unimpressed by the being-- this Tengen, who absolutely emanates primordial sorcery and looks more tree than human, dwelling in a crypt with a courtyard marked by bloodstains. “Aren’t you gonna say hello to me, Tengen?” she demands.

Me personally, I wouldn’t want any kind of attention on me from such a being anyways (read: the fact that Mahito and the demon squadron in the Shibuya station had already creeped me out to such a degree, and with that, Gojo was also unsettling to me even though I technically wore him around my neck), so my respect for Yuki skyrockets as Tengen turns its four eyes towards her. “This isn’t the first time we’ve met, Tsukumo Yuki.”

Undeterred, she continues-- “Why d’you close off the Tombs of the Star Corridor?”

“I was afraid you would be in alignment with Kenjaku. After all, I cannot see into the human heart.”

Yeah, right! I wanted to object, feeling the telltale prickle of eyes on me, and a kind of-- almost inquisitive probing at not exactly me, not exactly my mind, but something in my spirit, almost, and I feel rendered almost as bare and vulnerable as when I’d had Mahito’s hands on me, or Gojo’s gaze.

“Kenjaku?”

“The sorcerer that was once Kamo Noritoshi, and is now inhabiting the body of Geto Suguru,” answers Tengen, and I hiss slightly, dropping my grip on my pendant as I feel it suddenly buzz, as if with an electrical current.

Of course, Geto-- the monk from the subway. The one who’d masterminded everything, who told me, “You know our plan, girl, for the New Age of Heian”. I wasn’t sure who Kamo Noritoshi was, but it seemed pretty bad, considering the shudder that ran through the gathering at the name being invoked.

I suppose the concept of bodysnatching wasn’t going to be the most ludicrous thing I’m being presented with, given the last three days, and the fact that we’re now currently being lectured by a human-tree.

The realization dawns on me that maybe I’m the one who Tengen tried to close the barrier to-- what had they called me? Daughter of the Night, the same thing that Geto-- er-- Kenjaku, I silently amended in my head, had. Or maybe Choso had set it off, given that I absolutely was in no league with his motley crew-- and even if I were, I had done so under duress, unknowingly. Sue me.

Nonetheless, I continue studying the ground in front of my feet, trying to ignore the way the red is blooming up my ears, like I were a particularly problematic student who was trying to pass off her misdeeds as someone else’s.

“Master Tengen, why do you look like that?” Yuuji breaks through the reverie of my little metaphorical disappearing act, and I’m pretty grateful that someone else had decided to take on the mantle of being outrageous in the face of an ancient sentient tree instead.

Tengen laughs, of all things (I didn’t know primordial humanoid forces were able to do that)-- and the tension dissipates slightly. “I may be immortal, but I’m not immune to aging. After 500 years, you’d look like this, too.”

“No way! For real?”

Yoruhime was… if that were Toyotomi Hideyoshi in my vision, then she was around four-hundred years ago as well, I think-- wondering if that meant Tengen was therefore, only slightly older than my alter-ego. Unless five hundred years referred to something else entirely-- which it might well be, considering the way Yoruhime and her domain felt like an actual infant compared to the ancient energy in this shrine--

Megumi raises his hand-- the boy looks absolutely bristling with impatience, from his sharp gaze to his tense frame to his hair-- “Excuse me, but--”

“--We came to ask about about Kenjaku’s objectives…” Yuta cuts in instead. “And how to open the Prison Realm. Will you tell us what you know?”

Tengen holds out a hand, as if trying to tell them calm down!, another gesture that seemed so human that it felt almost uncanny coming from them-- “I wish I could just say yes, but there’s one condition. Okkotsu Yuta. Tsukumo Yuki. Death Painting Womb-- two of you must remain here and serve as my guards…”

The protests start up immediately-- unsurprising, seeing as half of this group seems chock-full of the impetuousness of youth, and the other half consist of a curse I would trust as far as I could throw, and an incredibly informal woman who doesn’t seem afraid to mouth off in front of Tengen.

“Guards? Aren’t you immortal?”

“Are you worried about the seal?”

“No fair! You haven’t even told us why, or for how long we’d have to do it!”

“--And the Daughter of the Night will allow me to assimilate her as my vessel,” they conclude, and I feel the uncanny prickling of being observed once more as all eyes turn once more to me.

“What?” I burst out. I already have one being basically autopiloting me already-- at least, inhabiting the back of my mind, even if it were in theory, technically, who I was reincarnated from. Why did I have to take on the burden of more?

Ignoring my objection, Tengen continues-- “So then, shall I speak of Kenjaku?”

Fuck it, I’m out.

I’m so out. I’ve already been made the unwilling vessel just scant few days ago, I’m not sure how on earth I’m supposed to handle another personality-- or would I myself stop existing in my entirety? Erased from the wheel of lifetimes, as it were?

All of me, every iteration, gone-- becoming one with the magic that ran throughout these lands, disappeared on the wind. My name forgotten.

I clench my fists, and stalk off-- trying to find myself back through the archway, the courtyard, with the elevator in mind.

No one else really pays attention-- of course not, they want to stop Kenjaku-- who I’ve already experienced quite enough of, so I don’t exactly blame them, but also-- I don’t doubt they’ll be willing to sacrifice me to do it, and Tengen’s giving them the rundown right now on the hows.

Hot, furious tears blur my vision into a blank field of white, as if I were trying to hike through a snowstorm or mountain fog, and I scrub at my face viciously.

I should have never agreed to stay late at the lab.

I don’t know how much time passes, but I’m still walking through the whiteness, my panic transmuting in my mind into some kind of roiling whirlwind of rage.

I don’t even know if this lifetime is worth slogging through anymore at this rate. It seems like whatever happens, I’ll either die, or die.

“This is all your fault,” I hiss at the pendant around my neck, yanking at the chain again, as if through pure force of spite I could remove it-- only to produce a painful welt around my neck from the friction.

From the amulet, I can feel, vaguely, some spark of contrariness-- if I could really altogether consider it that. I don’t think it’s my own, is the thing-- because I’m so full of repressed anger right now that if I don’t get out of here, and soon, I’m going to actually fucking scream. And maybe commit some war crimes-- show them a real incident.

Nothing so civilized as what felt like a mental scoff and roll of the eyes.

Then-- Hey there, again, sweetheart.

Maybe I’m officially losing my mind. Who the fuck would call me sweetheart? I keep walking, hoping it’s just some one-off occurrence.

Hey, I know you can hear me.

The voice is far too familiar. I hesitantly clasp the amulet into my hands, as if it would help it as a conduit-- “Gojo?”

Right on the money.

“Well, you’re awfully cheerful,” I mutter, rather uncaring now of the fact that I’m technically speaking with myself.

Not with yourself-- with me. N besides, I don’t have anything better to do.

“How do I stop Tengen from assimilating me?” I ask, trying to ignore the implication that he can essentially also feel my thoughts-- first order of business, seeing as I haven’t seen any landmarks that would have taken me back to the lift at all-- nothing but white, in fact.

Well… the last vessel got her head blown open by an assassin working for a cult, something in his voice is almost apologetic, sheepish, in fact. But Jujutsu society might be such a shitfest that the higher-ups might not even care if you refuse.

“Yuki said that they’re after me,” I whisper. “Something about-- my domain expansion?” I fumble for the words. “And that Tengen and the barriers of Jujutsu High will keep me safe while I’m here.”

Huh. A domain already. Guess you’re now the hottest commodity on the block now that I’m sealed, he whispers back, the edge of a snicker in his voice. But I’d appreciate it if you go back and rejoin the group.

I blink. “Huh? Why?”

I trust my students-- Yuta, Yuuji, Maki, Megumi. They’re all good kids. And Yuki-chan won’t try to actively force you to become a vessel-- she herself was meant to be one for Tengen. You’ll be safe there, at least from everything else that’s after you.

“Oh.” I can swallow my pride enough to acknowledge that this means I can probably trust them a bit more, and let the feeling of stupidity simmer on my skin a bit at the fact that I probably looked like I stomped off like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

Tengen has a better idea of everything going on than I do-- I thought you might want to know more anyways-- it’ll help us figure out our plans, and it might cheer up the kiddos to know that I’m here… sort of, anyways.

Fine, since Gojo had asked so very nicely.

I feel a bit disoriented, and next thing I feel is the curious feeling of an almost pop in my ears that brings a somewhat unwelcome reminder of Shibuya station before I stumble out of the white, just behind Yuuta.

The wallflower act might suit me better than I thought, because no one pays attention-- and Yuki’s demanding, “Why now?

“Kenjaku prevented merging with a Star Plasma Vessel, and forced your evolution, and wants to consume and control you through Curse Manipulation. Apparently, he was involved with Sukuna, so he’s been a sorcerer for a thousand years, at least. So why now?”

Ah, I seem to have rejoined in the middle of the informational. In media res, as they call it.

I inconspicuously wipe off my face from stray tears as Tengen responds-- “I, the Star Plasma Vessel, and the Six Eyes are all connected through fate.”

The brief impressions of thought I can somehow still receive from Gojo filter in the recognition of the concepts-- the murdered girl and Yuki as potential vessels for Tengen, and then Six Eyes, the cursed technique passed down through his family, which he is the latest bearer of.

“In the past, Kenjaku had lost twice to bearers of the Six Eyes. So after the second time, he’d stopped taking risks-- killed the Six Eyes and Star Plasma Vessel immediately after the two were born. But fate finds a way-- and on the day of my Merging, the Star Plasma Vessel and Six Eyes manifested once more.”

I wonder about our past life. The Gojo Satoru that Yoruhime loved-- I don’t know why, but some part of my gut senses that it probably ended horribly given the current news.

“After that, Kenjaku switched over to trying to seal and suppress, instead of eradicating, the Six Eyes-- since two bearers of it can’t manifest at the same time. But then the unexpected happened eleven years ago, when Zen’in Toji intervened.”

The assassin, Gojo provides helpfully, before his voice subdues itself within my head totally.

“He was physically gifted through Heavenly Restriction, and on top of it, he was an anomaly with absolutely no cursed energy at all-- escaping fate through his restriction. And so, the wheel of fate was destroyed.”

In front of me, I can feel Maki’s posture straighten, as if startled by the mention.

“And then there was a boy with cursed manipulation, and suddenly, all the pieces were slotting into place-- except for the Prison Realm. And even that fell into his hands six years ago, and--”

Tengen’s four eyes zero in on me. “Now, it is returned to the possession of its original creator.”

The necklace feels heavy around my neck, and hot, too-- and I feel so completely, utterly stupid for a moment-- because of course, just three days ago, Gojo had metaphorically uploaded all the universe’s secrets into my cranium, and yet I’m unable to connect the simple dots of Prison Realm, and the prison I wear around my neck that has sealed him within it.

Oh God, how was I ever a doctorate candidate?

I feel everyone else’s eyes turn to me too, and I bury my head in my hands, because I just know my face is red from embarrassment at this point. “I didn’t know, okay?” I mumble. “I’m sorry.”

Tengen laughs again-- I don’t really know what’s all that funny at all. “You were frightened, child,” they say, which feels odd for an ancient talking tree to be trying to comfort me about.

“Ts okay,” pipes up Yuuji. “Yuta-senpai had to kill me for the higher-ups because I’m the vessel of Sukuna.”

Obviously, he got better. Maybe it’s kind of undignified to be getting encouragement about all this from the teenagers of the group, but I trust Gojo-- they were good kids. I can see that now.

“But why is the Culling Game happening?” cuts in Megumi.

“It’s like the body being broken in, prior to merging,” Tengen replies. “It’s not impossible to merge with someone other than the Star Plasma Vessel, but it’s highly unlikely and would be incomplete at present. I suppose… the plan would be trying to get ahead of it, by merging with her.”

Her, being me, of course-- which is obviously the part I’m not overly enthused about at all.

“The Culling Game uses the players’ cursed energies and the boundaries binding the barriers, in a ritual to convey the ordinary humans to the other side. Through this, he’ll initiate the Merger with me, but in order to perform this ritual, he’s enacted upon himself several Binding Vows, one of which is that he’s not the Game Master.”

I can almost feel the relief coursing through the room before Tengen interrupts with, “This won’t be in your favor. It means that even killing him won’t end the game-- only the death of all the players can end it, whether through killing one another, or refusing to play. Nothing can interrupt this ritual due to clauses regarding “long-lasting” additions to the Game rules.”

The three teenaged boys exchange loaded glances. “Which means…” Megumi begins, gritting his teeth and sighing through his nose.

Yuta nods. “We have no choice but to participate in the Culling Game, and add a rule whereby Tsumiki and the other unwilling participants can escape.”

Megumi sighs, nodding in agreement. “We should also free Gojo-sensei,” he noted, casting over a glance towards me. “That guy could probably solo everything on his own.”

“He has faith in you,” I added.

A flicker of shock flashes across Megumi’s dour, tense features-- and he looks more his age, and less like a kid shouldering responsibility for ending the apocalypse.

“He-- I can see him in my dreams,” I admit. “Inside the Prison Realm itself-- and I can, kind of, communicate with him through the necklace. He’s kind of, in my head.”

Tell them hi!

I sigh a little at that-- “He says hi.”

Yuuji is about to launch into a series of questions-- I can tell, from the way the boy inhales in anticipation.

Tengen blinks at that, which is probably one of the more unsettling things I’ve seen from them. “Hm. Freeing Gojo Satoru may be easier than I anticipated, then.”

They reach their hand forth, and from some pocket of darkness that seems to materialize out of thin air, they pull out a cube that seems nearly the twin of the one I’d held within my grasp in Shibuya-- though without the eyes-- “Now, the two gates of the Prison Realm are reunited at long last.”

“I thought there would be only one gate,” I admit, peering at the cube. “Being a prison, and all.” Was I dumb for creating a backdoor protocol?

“What you hold in your possession is the Front Gate of the Prison Realm-- it had been outside my barrier, somewhere overseas, before it had fallen into Kenjaku’s possession. But the Rear Gate had been with me all this time, and by sealing it, I had hoped to conceal the existence of the Front Gate and prevent its usage but…”

They trail off, looking pointedly at the necklace that hangs from my neck. Obviously, the attempt was deemed useless, seeing as I was now in possession of the fruits of its usage.

“Being its maker, it should be you who unmakes it,” they tell me.

“I don’t know how,” I admit. Because it’s not really me, is it? Some alternate variant of me, from centuries ago-- but not the me that I am now.

“Try.” Tengen holds out the cube, offering it to me, and hesitantly, I step through the throng, hand reaching out, the very energy around the cube beckoning towards me--

And as soon as I touch it, my hand’s burning, and I’m screaming, and I feel like I’m all fire. Around me whirls a vortex of energy-- iridescent illusions I cannot control, cursed energy bleeding out of me, and I hear the concerned shouts-- someone was calling for Tengen to get back, and I almost imagined that there was someone else calling out my name.

Then, the tempest calms, and I’m standing in the midst of a circle of broken stone with dust settling around me, my companions a safe distance away and shielding one another, my right wrist glowing with a silver cuff that was shaped in filigree in the form of a locked gate, a long chain joining it to my necklace.

I almost admire it-- Yoruhime was obviously very adept at jewelry design-- and idly I think to myself, pretty, and then my vision whites out, and I’m hitting the ground yet again

[notyourmamasdeerbat]

A Word With Friends (4/22)

👋Hi @hedwigoprah! Thank you for yet another delicious tag- I freaking LOVE word of the day type prompts, this is so awesome thank you for inviting me along to play! The challenge word is egregious

For you to copy and paste:

Rules: Use the challenge word to write a sentence or scene and then tag a few friends. Happy writing! Enjoy some mild angst, vague Aldwir lore and EGGBOI under the cut!

The Fade revolved lazily around them in the black and white expanse of cold and nothing. Rook was sitting cross legged at the end of the chasm ledge, studying the god standing across from them. He held his hands behind him. Military and sharp. All sleek lines and gleaming armor. He was talking again, more softly than before, and for once Rook had not been completely full of loathing to see him there when they'd blacked out on the narrow couch. 

Bellara's brother lived. A willing servant of the Forgotten Ones. Anaris’ shade was loose, free to twist the Arlathan, murdering Veil Jumpers left and right in dangerous rituals of ancient power and crushing anomaly, creating new demons from the flesh and blood of the heroic souls Rook had known for years– to bring himself back to physical form. Manipulating the spirits centuries old, creating vacuums of fear and terror and creeping ever closer to Strife and Irelin and what remained of the Blighted woods Rook had once called home. After so much had already been lost…

Revas was out there, fighting through his grief, gathering as many artifacts as he possibly could before any of them could blow up in his face or open the tears in reality a little wider. The Veil was full of bubbles, pockets and holes, plant people and monstrous amalgamates. The deepstalkers were frenzied, clawing up from the Deep Roads to ambush Veil Jumper camps. Some were hopelessly lost in the dark, never to return. The Dalish clans in the area had gone silent, Aravels in ruin on the riverbanks. Damari and Kassa were still missing. 

Resting their chin on their fist, Rook watched the Dread Wolf spin his rhetoric and prose. They wondered idly if he'd been this way in the Inquisition. If Harding had seen the soft spoken apostate stand with the easy authority of an ancient general. If his humble mask had ever slipped in front of Varric, revealing the ferocity of something angry, duplicitous and older than them all. 

Solas smiled wryly. “You've stopped arguing with me. I can only assume you've stopped offering me your attention as well.” 

Rook blinked, tearing their gaze away from the space between his brows, trying to reel their wandering and bitter thoughts back into focus. They clicked their tongue, stricken expression flattening to mild irritation. “Sorry. You ramble.” 

To their surprise, Solas’ lips quirked a little to one side. “You're distracted.” 

“Hmm.” 

“I feel it important to note, it was you who reached for me.” 

Rook shut their eyes, unmoving as they worked their jaw. The muscles of their arms and shoulders were so tense they imagined they might snap the bones beneath. 

Solas said nothing for a very long moment, before speaking so gently Rook felt the hair on the back of their neck rise from sheer unfamiliarity. “You have every reason to be afraid. I only wish I could offer you the guidance you seek.” 

Rook's lip curled as they peeled open one eye, an eerie prickle of uncanny, disturbed unease settling in their stomach. “Don't do that.” 

“I'm sorry?” 

“Don't pretend you care. It's weird and I don't buy it.” 

“If I did not care,” he said with some exasperation. “I would not have advised you to retrieve the dagger. I would not have used this connection between us at all. I would have let you flounder and fail at the hands of my oldest enemies, the Evanuris, in a fit of egregious despondence, to allow them victory in savaging the world, your loved ones, the existence of peace and my ultimate goals as they ruled in Blighted tyranny forever. If I did not care, Rook, I would not be as I am.” 

Rook sniffed. “Your pride would not allow it. How foolish of me to forget your ultimate plans. Tell me again, O Mysterious Dreammaster, how best shall I humiliate your enemies?” 

Solas scowled. “If you have come to insult me to ease your terror, you are welcome to tantrum somewhere else in the Fade. And if we are naming our vices, I should remark upon your own failings as well.” 

Rook gave a wolfish grin, eyes glittering with sour laughter. “What, I'm selfish? Petulant? A little stupid? Magic-less and not short of Pride myself?” 

Solas paused. He seemed to analyze the playful lilt in their voice and the tensile strength of the pain beneath in the silence as he pursed his lips. His gaze roamed their face, before the Dread Wolf did something Rook did not expect. 

He sat down. 

Just there, across the chasm of dreams, and curled his legs beneath him. A mirror of Rook's own posture. He folded his pale hands in his lap. “You are also determined enough to see this through. Despite your barbs, you see the wisdom of preserving your world and what lies beyond it. You have defeated two of the gods’ champions thus far. You would not have succeeded if you were not suited to…” His imperial gaze glittered. “Humiliating our enemies.” 

Something softened in Rook's chest, loosening its stranglehold of their ribs and lungs. For a moment, they said nothing, eyes widening slightly on Solas’ face. They looked away shortly, another soft click of derision on their tongue. “We're a team now, are we?” 

“Team implies a level of cooperation currently impossible in my surroundings. But my advice is yours to take or leave, and despite our differences I want nothing more than to see you succeed. Thedas has a history of combating the blight, but this is a battle your world cannot win alone. If the Evanuris have champions, perhaps so too can I.” 

Rook scoffed, laughing as they leaned back a little where they sat. “I– wow.” 

“You are flattered, despite yourself?” 

“Oh, rot in hell.” 

Solas grinned, a lazy, bitter gesture. “You have seen to that as well.” 

“Solas, I would drop a thousand statues on you if it meant keeping Thedas intact. What happens after remains out of my control. Subconscious or not, I came to you for knowledge and petty revenge. You don't seem averse to this conversation, so can you help me or not?” 

Solas shrugged a shoulder, a flicker of something wistful crossing his face as his mouth twitched into a frown. “The Arlathan was once precious to me as well. Your concerns are mine.” 

Rook leaned forward, gaze intent and sharp. “So tell me about Anaris.” Their mouth twitched into the smallest of smiles. “If he has any hidden chinks in his armor that would be great. Or something else? Weak ankles? Trick knee?” 

Solas chuckled, hanging his head for a moment as his shoulders sagged. For the briefest of moments, the Fade seemed less cavernous. There was a warmth in the Veil between. 

** Gentle tags for moots who may be interested! @the-bear-and-his-sunbird @andthekitchensinkao3 pspspsps your boy @fenrelmercar @draco-illius-noctis <3

[edwardcaprifolium]

Having just watched Malybadasshero's Death Mark 2 let's plays, I have decided to compile all of his Spirit Hunter let's plays, as well as the official Death Mark audio dramas with Eng subs, in one gigantic playlist sorted in canon chronological order.

Here's the list (please, do tell me if I missed something):

1-5: "Death Mark - Chapter 0" (prequel audio drama)

6-21: Death Mark - Manlybadasshero let's play (1st installment of the Spirit Hunter series, set in the 90's)

22-27: "Everyday Life in Kujou Mansion" ("sequel" audio drama)

28-52: "Blue Demise" (audio drama, set in an alternate timeline)

53: "The Seven Mysteries of Kujou Mansion" (audio drama, set in another alternate timeline)

54-60: Death Mark 2 - Manlybadasshero let's play (3rd installment of the Spirit Hunter series, set 4 months after the events of Death Mark)

61: Death Mark 2 extra chapter fan translation (no official English release)

62-79: Spirit Hunter: NG - Manlybadasshero let's play (2nd installment of the Spirit Hunter series, set in 1999, about 5 years after Death Mark)

80: "The Black Demon's End" (audio drama, expands on NG's bad end)

81-82: Interview of the voice actors

If you're a nostalgic fan looking for chronologically organized lore, there you go. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend getting into this series with the prequel audio drama. Instead, start with the 1st game to avoid spoilers.

And here is a playlist of the games' ost (+ a mashup of Hazuki & Amanome singing Wander Rabbit) - for who wouldn't like to study to the sound of their favorite horror game?

[thefadecodex]

Survival-based spirits represent the raw drive to endure, persist, and overcome challenges in both the Fade and the physical world. These spirits are deeply tied to primal instincts, emotional fortitude, and the motivations that push individuals to survive against overwhelming odds. While they are not inherently malevolent, their intense focus on survival and self-preservation can sometimes lead to conflict with mortals or even corruption into demons.

Spirits: Courage, Determination, Need, Passion*, Perseverance, Profit, and Purpose

Note: There is very little information about Survival-Based Spirits in the DA lore. Below are theories surmised from the lore, not necessarily confirmed as canon.

Survival-Based Spirits in Dragon Age Lore

Survival-based spirits embody the primal drive to endure, overcome, and thrive in the face of adversity. These spirits reflect deeply rooted mortal instincts, manifesting around emotions and experiences tied to resilience, ambition, and self-preservation. They are not inherently good or evil but are defined by their purpose—to ensure survival at any cost, whether through inner strength, resourcefulness, or unyielding willpower.

Spirit of Courage

Essence: Represents bravery in the face of danger, embodying the drive to face fear and act despite overwhelming odds.

Behavior: Bold and unwavering, these spirits thrive in moments of crisis. They exude an aura of confidence, encouraging others to push forward when retreat seems inevitable.

Interactions with Mortals: They often appear to soldiers, adventurers, or those facing life-or-death situations, lending them courage or guiding them through paralyzing fear.

Potential Danger: If corrupted, a Spirit of Courage can become a Fear Demon, twisting its drive to face danger into an obsession with spreading terror and dread.

Examples of Spirit of Courage: I can't recall meeting one in any of the games; however, it is listed on the Spirit Dragon Age Wiki.

Spirit of Determination

Essence: Embodies perseverance, focus, and the drive to overcome obstacles through sheer willpower.

Behavior: Steadfast and resolute, these spirits are unwavering in their purpose. They are often calm and single-minded, refusing to falter under pressure.

Interactions with Mortals: They may appear to individuals striving toward seemingly impossible goals, offering strength and resolve to push past exhaustion or despair.

Potential Danger: If corrupted, a Spirit of Determination can become a Despair Demon, its relentless drive turning into an overwhelming sense of futility and hopelessness.

Example of Spirit of Determination: Spite was a Spirit of Determination before it was corrupted into a Spirit of Obsession.

Spirit of Need

Essence: Represents the drive to fulfill essential desires—be it hunger, safety, companionship, or shelter.

Behavior: Persistent and primal, these spirits are focused on identifying and fulfilling the most immediate and pressing needs of those they encounter.

Interactions with Mortals: They may guide starving travelers to food, help refugees find shelter, or encourage cooperation for survival.

Potential Danger: If corrupted, a Spirit of Need might become a Desire Demon, exploiting mortal vulnerabilities and driving individuals to reckless, self-destructive behavior in pursuit of their cravings.

Example of Spirit of Need: We don't have one in game; however, information about Spirit of Need was pulled from data mined notes from DATV.

Spirit of Passion*

Essence: Embodies raw emotion, drive, and fiery devotion to a cause, person, or ideal.

Behavior: Intense and expressive, these spirits are characterized by boundless energy and a strong sense of purpose. They are drawn to moments of heightened emotion, such as love, rage, or devotion.

Interactions with Mortals: They may inspire mortals to act on their feelings, pursue their goals with fervor, or rally others around a shared cause.

Potential Danger: If corrupted, a Spirit of Passion can become a Desire Demon, twisting fervor into obsession or unchecked impulsivity, leading to destruction.

*Note on Spirit of Passion: This spirit overlaps with chaos-based, love-based, and strength-based spirits. The key distinction lies in identifying what "fuels" the passion—whether it's emotional intensity, romantic devotion, rebellion, or raw ambition, which is why it was placed in Survival-Based Spirits for classification.)

Spirit of Perseverance

Essence: Represents endurance, resilience, and the refusal to give up, no matter the cost.

Behavior: Quietly unyielding, these spirits act as steady presences, urging others to keep moving forward even under crushing pressure.

Interactions with Mortals: They often gravitate toward individuals in long-term hardship—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—offering encouragement and fortitude.

Potential Danger: If corrupted, a Spirit of Perseverance might become a Despair Demon, trapping mortals in endless cycles of struggle without hope of resolution.

Example of a Spirit of Perseverance: In the short story The Next One, we meet a Spirit of Perseverance, who possessed the dead body of the Grey Warden Lawrence because '[Lawerence] wanted to save just one more…" Evka dismissed the spirit, telling it "...If there's anything left in there, tell him I'll rescue the next on." This resulted in the Spirit of Perseverance leaving the body and returning to the Fade.

Spirit of Profit

Essence: Embodies resourcefulness, ambition, and the drive to secure prosperity and success through cleverness and calculated risk.

Behavior: Practical and opportunistic, these spirits value efficiency and adaptability. They are drawn to mortals who seek to improve their circumstances.

Interactions with Mortals: They may subtly guide merchants, entrepreneurs, or ambitious individuals toward opportunities for gain, success, or strategic advantage.

Potential Danger: If corrupted, a Spirit of Profit might become a Pride Demon, driven by greed and an insatiable hunger for dominance and control.

Example of Spirit of Profit: We don't have one in game, but information about a Spirit of Profit was pulled from data-mined noted from DATV.

Spirit of Purpose

Essence: Represents the clarity and drive that comes from knowing one’s role, goal, or destiny.

Behavior: Calm, focused, and resolute, these spirits exist to anchor others in a clear sense of meaning or mission.

Interactions with Mortals: They are drawn to leaders, visionaries, or those searching for direction in their lives, helping them focus on their purpose and pursue their goals with clarity.

Potential Danger: If corrupted, a Spirit of Purpose might become a Pride Demon or a Desire Demon.

Examples of Spirit of Purpose: Solas mentions Spirits of Purpose in DAI.

In Practice

Survival-based spirits are most often drawn to moments of extreme crisis, hardship, or transformation. They are found in places steeped in struggle—battlefields, refugee camps, or regions ravaged by famine or plague. They do not often appear uninvited but are drawn by strong emotions tied to survival instincts.

A Spirit of Courage may stand beside a desperate warrior holding the line.

A Spirit of Need might guide a lost traveler to water.

A Spirit of Profit might nudge a clever merchant toward a fateful trade.

Role in the Fade

In the Fade, survival-based spirits are drawn to regions shaped by mortal desperation, ambition, and endurance. These spirits often cluster in areas where mortal dreams reflect intense struggles for survival or success. Their presence might manifest as a calm refuge amidst chaos or as an echoing call urging dreamers onward.

Corruption and Demonic Transformation

When survival-based spirits are corrupted, their singular drive becomes a consuming obsession. Their core essence twists into darker forms, turning them into dangerous demons:

Courage → Fear Demon

Determination → Despair Demon

Need → Desire Demon

Passion → Desire Demon

Perseverance → Despair Demon

Profit → Pride Demon

Purpose → Pride Demon or Desire Demon

Mortals' Perspective

The Chantry: Survival spirits are viewed with suspicion, as their intense focus makes them prone to corruption. Any reliance on them is seen as dangerous, particularly by Templars.

The Dalish: They rarely interact with these spirits directly, viewing them as unpredictable and inherently dangerous.

The Avvar: They might see survival-based spirits as primal gods, embodying essential virtues such as courage, endurance, or purpose.

Tevinter: Mages might attempt to bind survival spirits for their power, particularly those embodying Profit or Purpose.

Rivain: Seers may work with survival spirits carefully, understanding their potential but respecting their intensity.

[changeling-ethereal]

Request by: Anonymous

Hello!

To that lovely hon who's requested Loona with male vampire reader - I've not forgotten about you nor did I reject your request!!

Unfortunately, hon, your request (that was like half finished) was one of those that ended up being accidentally deleted (as mentioned in previous request I published), and so, I had to start again and rewrite the whole thing!

I'm really sorry for the long wait, hon! But I hope that what I came up with makes up for it. Also, I recall you asking for a male reader, but saying it can be gender neutral if I don't do male readers - well, don't worry, hon, male reader is absolutely accepted here! So, enjoy your Loona and male vampire reader! <3

The take I did on this request probably isn't what you had in mind, but I hope it's still enjoyable!

_

🩸🖤🐺 // Loona having a vampire boyfriend //🐺🖤🩸

___________________________________________

Type: Imagines

Settings: Romantic

Genre: Fluff, lighthearted

!TRIGGER WARNING!: I'd say mentions of typical Helluva boss stuff (demons, violence, etc), mentions of blood and its consumption, occasional swear words used, I tried to portray a relationship where there are cultural differences, that's probably all!

Sidenote: Reader is written as male as per request,

Sidenote: Reader is written as being around Loona's age (which is 22 if I remember correctly).

Sidenote: I feel like some of these might be a bit occ, I'm so bad at portraying characters, I'm so sorry

Sidenote: These feel kinda long, I might've gotten a little carried away (or maybe these are the usual length, I can't tell) - take it as an apology for the long wait,

_

That should be all,

Enjoy, <3

____________________________________________

Originally,

vampires were said to be demonic creatures,

evil spirits,

So, we'll go with that description,

and make the concept of vampires more fit for Helluva boss,

So, let's say that vampires are like...

a cousin species to demons,

(I'd say these vampires look a bit less human and more demonic-like),

(just imagining some Vivziepop twist to them, in design and lore, y'know?),

Yeah, that sounds good, no?

And maybe it's not that unusual to see a vampire prancing around hell?

Oh!

Maybe Hell's rings are a really popular destination for tourism and vacation for the vampire kind?

Oh!

And maybe for some more and unnecessary world building,

let's say vampires live in some sort of middle ground between the human world and hell,

and maybe let's call it...

the abode of the undead?

I think that's kinda cool?

Anyways!

Back to the story!

So, as I've said,

vampires like to visit hell's rings for tourism and vacation,

However,

That wasn't your case!

You weren't in hell for tourism or vacation,

you were in hell for college!

You've decided to go to college,

but not in your world,

Why?

I dunno,

That's up for you to decide,

Maybe you liked the idea of studying in a foreign land?

Or maybe you wanted to study a field only hell offers?

Who knows?

The options are endless!

So, you're free to make up the reasoning behind that decision, hon,

Anyways!

This decision of yours leads you to Blitzø,

Why?

For story reasonings,

obviously,

Oh-

I mean-

You obviously need some sort of accommodations for your stay,

And let's say,

for story reasonings,

that college dorms just aren't for you,

Maybe you can't imagine sharing a room with someone random you've never met before?

Or,

Maybe college dorms really aren't for you?

In the sense that college dorms in hell don't really accommodate to your needs as a vampire?

Maybe they don't even accommodate to any sort of needs of any kind of foreign students?

I'd say the colleges in the respective rings alone barely accommodate to the needs of students from different rings,

(students of those demon kinds that don't come from that specific ring),

(like colleges in Lust accommodating to the succubi/incubi kind only, etc),

So yeah,

college dorms are a no for you,

but you also can't afford to rent a flat,

Maybe you don't have any income yet?

And maybe your parents can't afford to rent you a flat?

Or maybe they can but they refuse to spend money on you?

Who knows?

That's up to you!

But anyways,

whatever the reason is,

it leads you to Blitzø,

Let's say that your parents and Blitzø have a vague history,

and he's considered a family friend,

Oh!

Maybe he even babysat you when you were little?

So, you staying at Blitzø's is clearly the choice,

And Blitzø has no problem with that,

After all,

how could he mind when he's not seen his favourite little rascal in such a long time?

You two have so much catching up to do!

So yeah,

he agrees,

And you can be glad Blitzø is so fond of you,

otherwise he would've told your parents to piss off,

After all,

he would never allow for some boy to share a living space with his dear Loony!

Fortunately, he likes you,

so, you get a free pass to be around Loona,

And not only that!

Blitzø also pretty much begs you try and get along with Loona,

The girl really needs a friend,

even if she'd deny it over and over again,

And Blitzø really trusts that you're a reasonable and kind young man,

(based on the memories he shares with child you),

and that you can help Loona feel less alone in the world,

And maybe it's because you don't have any friends in hell yet,

or maybe it's because you genuinely feel bad for Loona,

but you agree to try your best to befriend and support Loona,

It's the least you can do for Blitzø,

And now Loona!

Loona doesn't know about the agreement you have with Blitzø,

And it's better that way,

because if it were the other way around,

she would've hated your guts,

she'd seriously despise you,

I mean,

she still isn't happy with the fact you'll be around,

but at least she won't be wishing for you to choke on the blood you're sucking,

So, it's good that she doesn't know?

I guess?

Well, anyways,

more about Loona!

Loona has actually never met you before,

so, she is unsure of what to expect,

which is one of the reasons why your stay displeases her,

Loona doesn't like uncertainty,

not knowing where she stands in such situations really upsets her,

and it leaves her all tense, irritated and quick to bite,

(because being left uncertain about such situations secretly stresses her),

(and makes her feel vulnerable and unsafe),

It's something related to how she grew up,

always uncertain about everything around her,

leaving her feeling powerless and suspicious of everything and everyone,

with no place or person to make her feel safe,

always fearing for her life,

And sure,

Blitzø might've mentioned you at some point before all this,

but whatever that imp might've shared about you happened a long time ago,

from the times you were still a little kid,

so, it definitely couldn't have been something useful to ease Loona's mind,

It most probably would've been something along the lines of you being Blitzø's first parental experience,

his first time being responsible for a child,

When in reality it probably wasn't even all that big of a deal,

and he's most probably spent like three hours looking after you on specific occurrences,

and him being pretty much the last resort for babysitting your parents could think of,

Yeah,

So, even with that,

Loona doesn't know what to expect of you,

And the fact that you're a vampire doesn't help one bit,

because vampires are quite different from demons,

despite being cousin species,

so, there definitely are some cultural differences to look out for,

cultural differences that can definitely result in awkward interactions,

another thing Loona really doesn't fancy,

Oh,

and not to mention the amount of stereotypes and misconceptions about vampires!

Yeah,

Loona can already feel that this is not gonna end well,

And speaking of which!

The cultural differences between you and Loona,

it really does make your first meeting memorable...

It just so happens that Blitzø isn't present when you get to his place,

(he has some thing with Stolas going on or something),

and so it is up to Loona to give you a warm welcome,

And well...

it is awkward,

Loona is really indifferent towards you,

and your warm welcome is along the lines of:

"Oh, right... you're that vampire kid or whatever,"

And then she just stepped aside to let you in while giving more attention to her phone than you,

And well...

That's when it gets awkward,

when the cultural differences really show,

Because while Loona expectantly stands aside,

you, on the other hand, stand before the doorstep,

looking pretty awkward, embarrassed, uncomfortable and nervous,

And when Loona sees you make no move to step inside,

she immediately becomes a bit more hostile,

not really understanding or liking your "odd behavior",

it made her uncomfortable,

and that feeling of uncertainty of you and what to expect she's been dealing with got twice as worse,

And so,

you're met with a:

"Uh, hello? Are you coming in or do you plan on standing there like a fucking crackpot, and stare at me, making yourself look like an absolute moron all day?"

Yeah,

it is not really pleasant,

but it gets the situation to proceed,

much to both of yours relief,

After Loona's words,

you offer an awkward and nervous smile,

and you begin to explain your situation,

that situation being,

that in vampire culture you're not allowed to enter anyone's house if they don't verbally invite you in,

And sure,

you could walk in and not care,

but this is just a cultural thing that all vampires stick to,

with little to no exceptions,

And Loona's reaction?

"Oh,"

That's all she can say,

being all dumbfounded,

since out of all the reasons she thought you could give her to your odd behavior,

this explanation was not on the list,

She was expecting some really stupid excuse,

maybe even some kind of perverse one,

or even some dumb and embarrassing pick up line,

but not this,

The reason you give her is not stupid,

it is an actual reason that explains your actions,

and while Loona doesn't understand this cultural thing,

(and maybe she even finds it a little odd),

she respects it,

she doesn't judge you,

doesn't give you shit for it,

she accepts your reasoning without unnecessary nitpicking,

and she properly invites you in,

well,

as properly as she can,

"Well- uh- come on in then, I guess,"

After that interaction,

Loona feels like you might not be the worst kind of guy,

however,

first impressions can often be wrong,

and so,

she's still keeping you at arm's length,

and she's not exactly friendly just yet,

but she's not hostile all that much either,

she's just really indifferent,

You, on the other hand though,

you know what you've agreed on with Blitzø,

and so,

you're quite actively trying to get along with Loona,

which isn't hard since you think she's a really cool girl,

and you genuinely want to get to know her,

And Loona's not exactly rejecting your friendly advances either,

but you still choose your steps carefully,

and you don't rush things,

nor are you too intense,

not wanting to overwhelm Loona,

or make her feel uncomfortable or threatened,

and cause her to pull back and build up her walls again,

So,

during this period the two of you aren't really friends just yet,

but you don't mind co-existing,

and Loona doesn't deliberately leave the room when you come in,

and she actually allows for you to be in the same room as her,

and she lends you one of her ears to listen to you if you feel like talking,

sure, she doesn't give much input,

but she's clearly warming up to you,

And your relationship develops casually,

Loona getting more comfortable with sitting closer to you when you're watching tv together,

or just individually scrolling through social media,

she also starts showing you videos she comes across and finds funny,

or when she joins you on the couch in the living room, she asks what you two watching that day,

at some point she shares her favourite songs with you,

and she also eventually adds you on social media!

It's the little things that give away that you're on the right track in winning Loona over,

And sure,

she still doesn't share much about herself yet,

and she still is only ever half listening when you two are together,

most of her attention being held by her phone,

but you're getting there!

And that fact is proven by one certain incident,

(an incident the two of you now as a couple laugh at and think fondly of),

The two of you like to call it,

The big WGD incident,

Let me explain,

WGD stands for Where Gluttony Dwells,

And what is that?

Well, it's a really popular place to get a take-out from,

one that your friend from class recommended you,

However,

that friend kind of forgot you're a vampire...

or maybe it wasn't really a friend,

and maybe they deliberately recommended you this specific place,

Well,

whatever the reason,

and whether the intentions were good or bad,

that friend nearly ended up with their head bitten off by Loona,

Why?

Well,

Where Gluttony Dwells is a place that really likes to use garlic in their stuff,

like, really,

that place is literally known for their extreme use of garlic,

So yeah,

you can probably tell that this place is not too vampire friendly...

But,

you weren't really aware of that,

trusting your friend,

or friend,

and you ended up getting a takeout from that place,

and Loona nearly had a heart attack,

It went like:

"I got us a takeout,"

"Neat, what place?"

"Where Gluttony Dwells,"

"Cool,"

"..."

"Hold the fuck up-"

Let me tell you,

Loona's reflexes were never faster,

And you still remember the way Loona nearly broke your arm,

from how harshly she grabbed your arm,

just when you were about to shove a spoonful of the least vampire friendly meal right into your mouth,

The spoon with the meal successfully ended up on the ground,

and while you were dumbfounded,

Loona was yelling at you for being a dumbass,

asking you if you want to get your ass dead,

and many more things you can't even remember from how much stuff she yelled at you,

Back then it sure was one of an experience,

but an experience that brought you two closer,

because a week later,

this whole thing became a funny story you and Loona shared with everyone you knew,

Blitzø, Millie, Moxxie, Stolas, Octavia,

they all got to witness you two having the time of your lives sharing this experience with them,

both of you laughing and bickering,

you teasing Loona for caring,

Loona playfully shooting back and telling you to eat grass,

because she:

"couldn't care less,"

and she:

"just didn't wanna deal with a dead vampire,"

cuz she:

"heard they smell,"

And then you'd both burst out laughing when you'd tell everyone the best part,

of how after Loona stopped freaking out,

you told her garlic doesn't necessarily kill vampires,

that it's more like lactose intolerance,

where vampires just get unpleasant digestive issues after garlic consumption,

and only extreme cases of garlic intolerance can be life threatening to unfortunate vampires,

It was the most warm and genuine moment you two shared back then,

And Blitzø couldn't be happier for Loona,

but that really wasn't where things ended between you and Loona,

because the WGD incident really did push the two of you to the right direction,

And pretty quick,

you and Loona were an inseparable duo,

that kind of duo where it's odd when you see the pair apart,

And, of course,

pretty soon, the inseparable friend duo became an inseparable couple,

The change happened subtly and naturally,

and you and Loona were basically dating for months before actually making it somewhat official,

And your 'making it official' was pretty much Loona sending you a Sinstagram video,

with the caption:

"Which cute animal reminds you of your boyfriend?"

Followed by Loona's message:

"The bat,"

Yeah, that's basically how you two made it official,

But to add more tea,

your following conversation after that message sure was interesting...

"The bat? Really? You know vampires can shapeshift into more than just a bat. Kinda stereotypical of you,"

"Shut up, as if you don't associate me with a wolf or a damn dog just because I'm a hellhound,"

"No, I don't,"

"Oh, really now? Then look at the video again and tell me which animal do I remind you of,"

"Alright, you'll fucking see!"

_ _ _

"Well?"

"......."

"It was the fucking wolf, wasn't it?"

"I don't feel comfortable answering that question,"

Yeah,

that's how you pretty much made it official without making it official,

but even after that,

your relationship with Loona didn't change,

You just vibe with each other,

share affections,

create happy memories together,

bond,

Yeah, you two are still casual about your relationship,

you're still the inseparable duo everyone knows,

And you two don't really make a big deal out of dating,

yes, you have lots of couple moments,

and you two are romantic with each other here and there,

but you don't really go around, shoving your relationship into other people's faces,

you keep things to yourselves for the most part,

cuz that's what you're comfortable with,

and you feel like what's between the two of you is of no one else's concern,

(I believe Loona isn't much for showing your relationship off to the public and having people stick their noses into it),

(and I also think she doesn't trust the outside world and the people in it enough to let her guard down and give an insight of her actual relationship with you),

(what if someone used you to hurt her?),

And to many people looking on it from the outside,

it would seem like you two are just close friends,

but there are subtle hints not many notice that point out just how close you two are,

For example,

a thing Loona loves to do in the name of showing you affection,

is that whenever you rest your feet up on the coffee table, she always rests her paws on top of your feet,

it's a subtle public display of affection that seems like nothing to others,

but to the two of you it's a really big affectionate gesture,

it's like you two having your own secret language!

Speaking of languages,

Loona's learned some pretty... colourful... vampire vocabulary from you,

Since you live in a completely different world with different culture and everything,

it'd only make sense for you to have some expressions and slang that most people in Hell wouldn't understand,

especially slang vampires your age use,

So,

while Loona doesn't actively learn your language,

she's heard enough stuff from you to adopt to her own vocabulary,

(especially swear words),

and it's quite hilarious and wholesome,

you two often just switch to young vampire slang,

just to confuse people,

and keep them from prying into your conversations,

especially Blitzø-

Blitzø understands some vampire vocabulary,

but only that one your parents would use,

he's lost when you start using vampire slang of your generation,

But even Loona can get lost if you use some extra hard slang,

especially the one she's not come across yet,

and this is one of the reasons why you two don't argue much,

because your speciality is switching to hardcore vampire slang when an argument is close to happening between you and Loona,

not to talk shit about her,

but to annoy her to the point where the situation just turns funny,

your arguments,

(or more like bickering),

don't last long with this tactic,

And Loona acts like she hates this,

but she's secretly grateful that you two calm down before a real fight happens,

and then you talk about stuff without it getting heated,

Also,

speaking of your generation,

you've pulled Loona into your culture by introducing her to the vampire humour,

especially the one your generation uses,

giving her context on various memes you've shown her just so that she'd get it,

whether it'd be something a bit political or historical, or some celebrity drama,

for example you showing her a joke with some iconic line young vampires quote daily,

and then explaining that it's a line from some popular vampire reality show,

even showing her the clip to fully pull her in,

And Loona does the same back,

she gets you involved in the culture and humour that's going on in Hell amongst demons your guys' age,

And that creates many inside jokes between the two of you,

especially you involving Loona in your culture has that effect,

since not many Hell's inhabitants care about vampire culture enough to get involved,

so you two quote some vampire joke, getting everyone around you confused,

while you two struggle to hold it together,

Also, another thing!

Stereotypes,

As stated at the start,

there are many misconceptions about vampires,

You've already explained several stuff people got wrong about vampires to Loona,

but not all,

you've not gotten there just yet,

and it most definitely creates some memorable moments between you two,

For example:

"Wait... You guys don't use your fangs like straws to drink blood?"

"No...? We use them to pierce the skin, and then lick or suck the blood..."

"My whole fucking life is one damn lie,"

Yeah,

Loona needed a moment accepting that one...

___________________________________________

[lairofdragonagelore]

Patterns and Styles: Avvar/Alamarri

Avvar/Alamarri design is quite rustic, stone-based, and sometimes it's hard to differentiate one from another considering their cultural history: the Avvar are a branch of the Alamarri that moved towards the Mountains. Alamarri as well as Avvar and Chasind have a long story of inter-racial mix with the dwarves of Orzammar, which is clear in their art: heavily based on stone and with some imagery of dwarves.

However, it is important to remember that Avvar in particular may have had also relationships with the Elvhenan, as Tyrdda's lover was an elven woman. Their tradition with mages and their treatment of the spirits also resembles their influence from the elvhenan culture. This strange mix is then reflected in the art.

This series of posts are not exhaustive since I’ve developed a very detailed list of tags tracking certain features of a given design. These posts merely try to gather in one place the symbols and elements I used most of the time when identifying buildings in my analysis of DAI.

[This post is part of the series “Patterns and Styles ”] [Index page of Dragon Age Lore]

Patterns

When it comes to patterns, the only one that I can assume is alamarri it's an intricated rhomboid pattern [celtic-like] that we can find in some columns of arches that are spread all over Ferelden. It's not clear for me that this pattern was later imported by the Avvar. However, it's interesting to highlight the resemblance to the elvhenan walls in temples such as in Mythal's Temple [see Patterns and Styles: Elvhenan] which also seems to be related to the pattern found in the pants that Dalish wear, and ironically, Qunari too.

Statues and decorations

1 - Keepers of Fear and their variations

Part of the reason I consider these statues as Keepers of Fear is that they represent similar imagery; they share the style and some characteristics, and are related to the codex The Keepers of Fear. They display the despair and fear that the Alamarri felt when the Blight came from the north. They tend to be elongated humanoids, usually with pointy teeth, without a nose, and screaming/cowering body language.

They also appear close to one another, in groups, in Kenric’s study room in the DLC Jaws of Hakkon [ Frostback Basin [DLC]: Miscellaneous ] implying similar origin for study. They also decorate the paths that head to the Avvar Hold in the DLC, and inside the hold itself.

In the Fade, we find the codex The Keepers of Fear on one of these statues, where we learn that the Alamarri/Avvar used them to scream inside them during the time of the Blight, thinking the darkspawn were spirits. As we know thanks to the DLC Jaws of Hakkon, the Avvar [and by extension most likely the Alamarri and the Chasind] would feed the spirits to keep them close [spirits] or away [demons] from their communities.

1A - Screaming Keeper [Alamarri/Avvar]

Where it can be found:

In Crestwood, in a place a bit isolated closed to a destroyed Andraste statue,

In Fallow Mire: Granite Point [not original from this place],

In Frostback Basin [DLC]: Stone-Bear Hold Avvars : Everywhere, specially along the paths.

In Hinterlands: Minor places, in several places and caves.

In Hinterlands: Redcliffe – Future, along the corridors of the fortress as the Fade and the Waking World get merged.

In the Fade Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, in many places, since this part of the Fade we visit is close to the lair of a Nightmare Demon who feeds upon the Fear and Despair. At some point one of these statues triggers the codex The Keepers of Fear.

The Fade of Flemeth: Part 1, Part 2, as decoration of an avvar/alamarri corridor.

Brief description: This statue is elongated. It has long arms, and its hands are grabbing the face, distorted in fear as it screams. It has no nose. There are some strange appendages falling down and making an extension of its chin [thick beard?]. We can see the ribs very easily, suggesting illness or hunger. It also has elongated legs, one of them crossing over the hip that conveys an impression of more terror and fear.

These Keepers appear quite regularly in all places over Ferelden and the Frostback Mountains. They are inserted in the landscape or along paths, and we can see they are a good reflection of what the codex The Keepers of Fear says: They are part of the Avvar/Alamarri "superstition”: They thought the Darkspawns were bad spirits that fed on fear, so they crafted these statues to feed them far away from their communities, to keep them satisfied and away from them. However, when this did not work [since the darkspawn are not spirits], the Alamarri/Avvar used these statues to scream inside them and pour all their fear into them, “burn” it in order to get rid of it, and go to battle against the darkspawn no matter their gender or age.

In the Frostback Basin [DLC], we can find these statues flanking the path to the Avvar Hold or inside it. In the Fade it makes sense for them to appear where the Lair of the demon Nightmare lives: he has been feeding upon these fears for centuries.

1B - Screaming heads [Avvar]

Where it can be found:

In Frostback Basin [DLC]: Miscellaneous: everywhere

In Hinterlands: Statues, paintings, and structures found in the open , Wolf Hollow, Tyrdda Bright-Axe Path [as a part of the stanza], and Minor places

In Hinterlands: Redcliffe - Future, as the Waking World and the Fade merge one another.

In Therinfal Redoubt [in the part of the Fade]

In the Fade Part 1, Part 3, in many places. This part of the Fade we visit is close to the lair of a Nightmare Demon who feeds on Fear and Despair, so it makes sense we see so many of these Keepers.

The Fade of Flemeth: Part 1, as decoration of an avvar/alamarri corridor.

Brief description: This statue is an isolated head with two faces [front and back display different shapes], I can see humanoid faces in them: one as a screaming melted human without nose [which can also be considered the face of a Terror demon or a ghoul], and the other one as a screaming boar of pointy teeth, which inside its mouth there is another screaming face. Everything is too deformed to be precise.

The game efficiently combines these heads in ways that seem to create new different horror statues by clipping them.

We find these faces all over Ferelden and the Frostback Mountains, specially in Avvar/Alamarri territory.

1C - Sitting screaming humanoid [Avvar]

Where it can be found:

In Frostback Basin [DLC]: Stone-Bear Hold Avvars : specially in small cliffs into the sea, where the Avvar can be seen fishing. It can also be found aside a path inside the Avvar Hold.

In the Hinterlands: The Unknown Ruin [Mihris] clipped with a skull.

In the The Fade of Flemeth: Part 2, clipped with a skull.

In Hissing Wastes: scattered objects and ruins, inside a crevice where a Fereldan vendor has been placed, but we only find their mabari and several objects of Ferelden iconography.

Brief description: This statue is elongated and shares many characteristics present in 1A and 1B. It shows long arms, hands covering the eyes, screaming out of fear as it cowers. It's sitting inside a basket. It has no nose and its teeth are pointy. We can see the ribs very easily, suggesting hunger or illness.

During the DLC Frostback Basin [DLC]: Stone-Bear Hold Avvars, Dorian will point out this is an Avvar statue, which makes sense considering we are in an avvar hold.

1D - Sitting screaming humanoid with hands inside the mouth [Avvar]

Where it can be found:

In Razikale’s Reach, as part of the stratification of the Temple when it was taken by the Avvar-Hakkonite and rejected the Tevinters that had been installed around the time of the first Blight.

Inside Skyhold if you pick the Avvar decoration.

Brief description: This statue is elongated and shares many characteristics present in 1A, 1C, 1E and 2. It displays long arms, but no hands. It’s not clear if the hands are inside the mouth or means they were eaten [I favour this second option since these statues tend to be scrawny, conveying the idea of famine, another very common fear among the Avvar, specially during the Blight times]. It has no nose and its teeth are pointy. Its legs are protruding from over the shoulders, giving the sense that this figure is sitting and cowering. We can see a bit of its ribs in between the arms. The position is similar to 1C and 2.

1E - Sitting screaming deepstalker humanoid [Likely Avvar]

Where it can be found:

In Hinterlands: The Unknown Ruin [Mihris] , at the sides of another Avvar/Alamarri statue [1C] clipped with a skull.

In the Fade Part 2 and Part 3, It is a zone where we find a Tevinter sacrificial altar.

In the Fade of Flemeth: Part 1, this statue is beside a sacrificial altar again.

In The Fade of Flemeth: Part 2, it appears at the end, where we find Flemeth. They are positioned as to form a frame for the statue that was stabbed in the back and bleeds.

Brief description: These statues share some similarities with 1A, 1C and 1D: they show long arms, with hands grabbing the sides of the face as it screams. It has no nose nor eyes. We can see the ribs very easily, giving a sense of skeleton [extreme famine?]. What makes this statue particular is the strange mouth, closer in shape to a deepstalker’s mouth. It’s not clear if the figure is sitting, since it has no legs. Its base has the outline of a figure that reinforces the idea of screaming in terror and rising its arms. This figure has a shape that also resembles a terror demon.

In some places in the Fade, the head of this statue is burning, making clear suggestion to the codex of the Keepers of Fear, in particular to the part where they burn their screams of fear to find courage to fight [and die] against the darkspwan.

Rarely appears alone [it’s usually presented in pairs], and when it does, bones and bodies are shown below it, relating it to sacrifices and death. Most likely the concept of sacrifice comes from the part of the codex where once the fears are burnt, the alamarri went to fight a hopeless battle.

What’s interesting of this statue is that it’s a central piece of decoration in the Lair of the Nightmare Demon, in the Fade [check Part 4]. There, we see four of these statues, vomiting blood. Around this spilled blood, some bits of red lyrium can be found. This construction may be entirely done for shock value, since it’s a reuse of several assets assembled in a way that inspire terror and fear just in the moment where the Inquisitor faces the Nightmare demon.

2 - Eroded dragon skull and variations [Avvar]

Where it can be found:

In Swamp Kulsdotten, in the Frostback basin

In Hinterlands: Statues, paintings, and structures found in the open , Wolf Hollow , and Redcliffe – Future.

In the Therinfal Redoubt [As part of the decoration of the fortress’ main room]

In the The Fade of Flemeth: Part 1 as well as the common Raw Fade.

In Hinterlands: The Unknown Ruin [Mihris], as the base of the main, central figure, which is 1C with a clipped skull.

Brief description: I personally call it "Eroded dragon skull", because I have no other way to call it to tag it in the blog. I see a kind of dragon skull with horns that go backwards and then forward, but it also looks like a statue of a humanoid, with elongated legs that protrude from the sides of the skull. Like in the previous statues, it has no nose and seems to have pointy teeth at the end of the “snout”. All the details are blurred for what it looks like erosion.

On its back, this statue has a G symbol which doesn’t present the same level of erosion than the front. I only found a remotely similar symbol in the elven artefact. It’s a strange symbol, dwarven-like even for an “elven” artefact [looks like a squarish swirl]. In fact, that symbol can be found in dwarven objects [specially tapestry and rugs]. Once more, it’s only what I’ve observed, I don’t think we have any evidence to even speculate on this. It looks quite on purpose, though.  A whole eroded statue with a clear G on its back is a choice in terms of design.

If we compare this statue with similar ones found in  Avvar/Alamarri-related places the common characteristics show up:

It has long limbs, open mouth, and pointy teeth, without a nose. Through these similarities it seems reasonable to relate it with the Avvar culture.

3 - Tyrdda statue [Avvar]

Where it can be found:

In Hinterlands: Tyrdda Bright-Axe Path

and in Hinterlands: inside the Grand Forest Villa.

Tyrdda Bright-Axe was a legendary Alamarri chieftain who is considered the founder of the Avvar.

Brief description: The statue is simple, with a woman holding a sword [which is strange considering the Avvar always knew she was a mage and was holding a staff]. It has limbs a bit elongated and her ribs can be seen.

4 - Lady of the Sky [Avvar]

Where it can be found:

In the Skyhold [Stone-Bear Hold Avvars ] when you pick Avvar Decoration

Brief description: This satue is an owl, representation of the Lady of the Skies. I find interesting in her design the ring around her head: small little spikes that may be related or may have inspired artistically other symbols in the game: the thorns that we have seen many times in vines, which have elven influence [after all, the Avvar have a strong elven influence in their culture if we consider the tale of  Tyrdda Bright-Axe Path as more or less reliable with respect to her lover of leaf-like ears],  or could be an inspiration of a sun. The symbolism of the Lady of the sky with the sun is also shown in her painted representation, as I talked about in the post Dragon Age Iconic Patterns: The Sun.

5 - Korth [Avvar]

Where it can be found:

Stone-Bear Hold Avvars , close to the entrance of the hold,

or in Skyhold when you pick Avvar decoration.

Brief description: This statue shares the similar position of 1C, 1D, and 2, but instead of being a squat position due to fear, in Korth’s case it’s because the weight of the stone. Korth is the Mountain-Father, so this representation shows he is supporting it. His face, so filled with beard, and his body, short and thick, seems to recall dwarven nature, which could exists since the dwarf influence in the Avvar is present in their tales [Trydda had a child with a dwarven prince]. Curiously, it has horns [that can be part of a potential helm he is wearing?]. He is snarling as he endures the weight of the mountain/Stone.

6 - Dwarf with long limbs [Likely Alamarri/Avvar]

Where it can be found:

In Crestwood: surface , Crestwood: Flooded Caves , at the entrance of the drowned village,

In the Stone-Bear Hold Avvars, in the main throne room

In Hinterlands: Statues, paintings, and structures found in the open , Wolf Hollow, and Tyrdda Bright-Axe Path showing the path to some of the statues that trigger Tyrdda’s story.

In an unknown place called the Forgotten Tower, where the presence of this statue seems to reinforce the idea that this place was inhabited by an avvar, as it shows the codex triggered in this place: Old Codex: Mouldy Journal.

Brief description: This statue shares the characteristic of having elongated arms crossed over the chest in similar fashion as some Fereldan drawings seem to have [see Nation Art: Ferelden]. It displays a short man with hair, long beard, and a long, curvy moustache. The back and the front are the same image.

This statue is one of the most reused all over Ferelden, specially in regions where the Avvar-Alamarri presence was strong in the past. I think they represent the dwarves, which makes sense if we read the tale of Tyrdda: Avvar’s chieftains descend from humans and dwarves.

A weak pattern may suggest them as “pointers” or “guides”.  Sometimes they are placed in pairs creating a path towards a place of importance [see Tyrdda Bright-Axe Path]. Sometimes, as pointers of graves or special places.

7- Monolith with swirls [Likely Alamarri]

Where it can be found:

In Hinterlands: Statues, paintings, and structures found in the open , Wolf Hollow, Tyrdda Bright-Axe Path

In the Forgotten Tower , where the presence of this statue seems to reinforce the idea that this place was inhabited by an avvar, as it shows the codex triggered in this place: Old Codex: Mouldy Journal.

Brief description: I’m not sure if it’s a mabari or a horse. The Avvar are not fond of the mabari, since they are a tamed animal; however, they seem to use an “avvar horse” that looks like a zebra, and it is a bit wild. On the other hand, I also suspect that this statue may be Chasind, simply because in DAO we saw similar monoliths with line patterns on them in the Kocari Wilds [Check Ostagar post or The Blackmarsh and the High Dragon for details]. Unfortunately, these monoliths have no codex associated with them and there is little to speculate about.

8 - Monolith with ropes [Likely Alamarri]

Where it can be found:

In Hinterlands: and Crestwood, but in general all over Ferelden.

In the Frostback Basin and inside the Stone-Bear Hold.

There is no much to say about this element. It appears everywhere, more as a decoration or a support for other statues.

9 - Table of Wolves [Confusing. Likely Ferelden]

Where it can be found:

In Crestwood: surface and Hinterlands: Statues, paintings, and structures found in the open

Brief description: a metallic dark table decorated with spiky wolves. The wolves have a strong resemblance to the ones that were painted by Solas in his mural “Inquisition Formation” [Read “The actions of the Inquisitor”]. It seems related to the mabaris/wolves presented in 10A, which tend to appear in Ferelden-based enviroments. It seems to be Ferelden but it could also be inherited through the Alamarri culture. What always caught my attention was the material: unlike the rest of the Alamarri/Avvar statues, it’s not made of stone but dark metal, a Tevinter-origin characteristic.

10 - Mabaris

Mabaris are depicted all over Ferelden without much surprise; Ferelden has a culture deeply entangled with them. However, sometimes the hound silhouette seems to be confused with that one of the wolf and it’s hard to distinguish one from another. We know due to the legends [unreliable sources but decent enough for this level of understanding] that the Alamarri had their dogs. The potential Alamarri origin of the The Ash Warriors [who fight with their mabaris beside them] seem to support those [unreliable] legends. However, the Avvar are not fond of tamed animals, and prefer wild ones that can be befriended, hence why a wolf is more suitable for them. Considering this detail, it’s natural to understand the following statues as somewhat in between the lines of the Culture of the Alamarri, the Avvar, and the Ferelden [maybe even Chasind too?]. The blurred difference between mabari and wolf translates into the difficulty of deciding to which culture these statues belong to.

10A - Pointy Mabaris [Likely Ferelden]

Where it can be found:

In some places in Crestwood: surface

In Therinfal Redoubt as part of the decoration of the Fortress’ main room.

In Frostback Mountains: Haven, as part of the decoration.

Brief description: The look too similar to the wolves drawn by Solas in his mural “Inquisition Formation” [Read “The actions of the Inquisitor”].

10B - Mabaris with lines [Likely Alamarri/Avvar]

Where it can be found:

In Fallow Mire: Granite Point , it is not original from this place, but since it’s kept beside other Avvar statues it may imply same origin too.

In Hinterlands: Wolf Hollow, again found with other Avvar statues.

In Therinfal Redoubt as decoration

Brief description: It is almost a monolith, similar to the ones we find in the Kocari Wilds in DAO [ read Ostagar post or The Blackmarsh and the High Dragon for details] and to 7 but with less curvy lines and more angular ones.

In the Fade Part 3, one of the heads of 1B has this statue sprouting from its mouth, which offers the codex A Plea from the Warrior to the Spirits. It seems to be written by an avvar/alamarri or a descendant of them, for example a Ferelden person who remembers the “old ways”. It speaks about how the wolves had been allies to the humans once, but the softening of the human, the replacement of the hunt as a survival means for an agricultural lifestyle, changed this relationship, replacing the wolf and the hunt, by a hound and a sedentary life. There is a reinforcement of the concept of the wolf as a symbol of freedom and rebellion, as a creature who doesn’t simply obey, like a hound does. Then, the Darkspawn came, putting at risk this comfortable sedentary life, showing how little power hounds have.  “Kill the hound in my heart […] in its place, give me the wolf”. The wolf is representation of power, bravery, and freedom, as the mabari represents obedience and loyalty.

10C - Beheaded female Mabari [Likely Ferelden]

Where it can be found:

In Hinterlands: Minor places, specially in a cave where we see several Avvar statues and some Tevinter ones.

In the Forgotten Tower, where the presence of Avvar statues combined with the codex of this place: Old Codex: Mouldy Journal seem to reinforce the idea that this tower was inhabited by an Avvar who was rescued by an Elvhenan.

Brief description: It depicts a female mabari which has been feeding puppies [flaccid mammals]. On her back there is a spiky pattern that could be related to the spiky style of the wolves in 9 or 10A. What it’s disturbing is her head, which is barely kept in place because it’s attached with strips that have written runes on them. Inside the space between her head and body, there is usually fire [Waking World] or meat [Fade].

10D - Spiked Mabari [Likely Ferelden]

Where it can be found:

Mostly in Hinterlands: Statues, paintings, and structures found in the open

And in the Seeker fortress during Cassandra’s personal quest.

Brief description: These are mabari-totem figures in styles that can be Ferelden most likely, but seem to be inspired in Alamarri/Avvar ones since they have some similarities in style to 10B and 10C. There are no codex associated with them.

11 - Additional elements:

There is an Avvar table used in Stone-Bear Hold Avvars , that was also used to erect the hero of Ferelden’s monument in Hinterlands: Redcliffe - Present , so we can suspect avvar-alamarri-ferelden origin of it.

In Skyhold, when we activate the Avvar decoration, we find a unique statue that is not seen anywhere else: it looks like a tree branch-hand holding a bowl.  It gives me the impression of a sylvanian hand. 

[carabas]

Sorting out Veilguard thoughts. This is very long, I had mixed feelings about Solas's endings and this is me trying to make Solas's actions and motivations make sense to me through quotes and bullet points.

Basic starting principle of the game: Solas is trapped by regret. We left him at the end of Trespasser heading out on the din'anshiral but not exactly enthusiastic about it, he's conflicted, he doesn't want to break the world again but he feels he has to, the whole plot here grows out of that. He tried to save the world and woke up finding he'd created a nightmare hell world a la the Inquisitor's trip to the terrible future version of Redcliffe, and it's his responsibility to fix that.

Specifically, the problems that make this a nightmare hell world:

The Blight's still here!! The whole point was to trap the Blight and yet it's still leaking into the world, his world-saving plan didn't even get that part right, what the fuck.

Mortality. First spirits took bodies which he had mixed feelings about to begin with, and which was the crime against the Titans which ultimately resulted in the Blight which I can't imagine improved his feelings about it - but also now they die, he is personally responsible for generations of people being permanently trapped in bodies which die, he didn't even want a body in the first place. "Your legends are half-right. We were immortal. It was not the arrival of humans that caused us to begin aging. It was me. The Veil took everything from the elves, even themselves."

A world of Tranquil. It's not just how long mortals live, it's the way they live, with no connection to the Fade outside their dreams. "You saw the remains of Vir Dirthara. The library was intrinsically tied to the Fade, and the Veil destroyed it. There were countless other marvels, all dependent on the presence of the Fade, all destroyed." Instead of those marvels, there's a fear and distrust and ignorance of all things Fade - and there are few things that frustrate Solas as much as ignorance - and that fear of the Fade naturally results in the fear of mages, the whole central plot of DA2, the struggle for mage freedom which Solas was vocal about and which was a big factor in his approval in Inquisition.

The effects on the spirits of the Fade, who Solas sees as people when most of the mortal world does not. ...You know what, I'm just going to copy-paste some longer quotes from Inquisition for this one because this is something that wasn't touched on much at all in Veilguard.

Even in Solas's very early-game conversations with the Inquisitor, he tells us exactly how he sees the effects of the Veil on spirits and how the mortal world relates to them:

Inquisitor: I'd like to know more about the Veil.

Solas: Circle mages call it a barrier between this world and the Fade. But according to my studies in ancient elven lore, that is a vast oversimplification. Without it… Imagine if spirits entered freely, if the Fade was not a place one went but a state of nature like the wind.

Inquisitor: It sounds like it would be wonderful.

Solas: And dangerous, but… yes. A world where imagination defines reality, where spirits are as common as trees or grass. Instead, spirits are strange and fearful, and the Fade is a terrifying world touched only by mages and dreamers. I am glad that I am not alone in seeing the beauty of such a world, along with the obvious peril.

And:

Inquisitor: I’d like to know more about demons.

Solas: The Chantry says that demons hate the natural world and seek to bring their chaos and destruction to the living. But such simplistic labels misconstrue their motivations and, in so doing, do all a great disservice. Spirits wish to join the living, and a demon is that wish gone wrong.

Inquisitor: Is there a way to coexist? To live with them, if not in peace, at least without such active confrontation?

Solas: Not in the world we know today. The Veil creates a barrier that makes true understanding most unlikely. But the question is a good one, and it matters that you thought to ask.

And this was the codex entry description of demonic possession in the first two games, as written by a senior enchanter from Ostwick:

Why do demons seek to possess the living? History claims they are malevolent spirits, the first children of the Maker, angry at their creator for turning from them and jealous of those creations he considered superior. They stare across the Veil at the living and do not understand what they see, yet they know they crave it. They desire life, they pull the living across the Veil when they sleep and prey on their psyche with nightmares. Whenever they can, they cross the Veil into our world to possess it outright. We know that any demon will seek to possess a mage, and upon doing so will create an abomination.

And this was Cole's reaction to discovering the history of the Veil in Trespasser:

Cole: The Veil isn’t real. It’s false, fake, fabricated to forbid. Isn’t it wonderful? It means I belong here! Helping, healing the hurt! I’m not a wrong thing, a wreck, a ruin. I’m what I should be!

...We're repeatedly told throughout the series that spirits desire to be with the living and the Veil is preventing that, for good or ill. Rook's team cares about this in terms of the threat of their world being destroyed by a sudden flood of demons, but from Solas's point of view the spirits belonged here to begin with and it's his mistake that makes coexistence impossible.

But at the same time, the first three games were set in the South - Veilguard shows us the Mourn Watch and Rivaini seers who do coexist with spirits, even with the Veil still in place. Other characters are less comfortable with this, but we're not getting anywhere near the same focus on the fear of spirits and mages here that we saw in the South. The game's just... not really interested in discussing this, we're not focusing on these ongoing effects of the Veil right now in this game about Solas trying to bring the Veil down, sure there's the occasional haunting and plenty of demons to fight but we're treating the ability to coexist with spirits as basically a solved problem in northern Thedas. And we've already put the mage rights plotline to rest in Inquisition. We're done, we're moving on, those parts of Solas's motivation are still important in that Solas's attitude toward spirits is important, but focusing on those problems is not a priority right now.

So of Solas's motivations that we saw back in Inquisition, the outlook now... the Blight's a problem, everyone's on the same page about the Blight being a problem, and in the good ending Solas winds up working on that aspect of the problem - but his other motivations, although they may still be problems, do not look as huge and pressing in Veilguard as they did in Inquisition. We've seen cultures where people and spirits coexist even with the Veil in place; mages in the north seem to be doing fine, at least as far as my Nevarran mage Rook's experience goes, and even in the south the treatment of mages is no longer what it was in the first two games; and the wonders of the Fade may be great but there are also dangers, acknowledged by Solas, and if a lot of people would rather keep the dangers out than bring the wonders or the immortality back in... who has the right to decide that for the whole world?

That's become the sticking point here. It's not really about how to solve the ongoing problems created by the Veil... it's whether they're Solas's problems to solve. And there's plenty of reason for him to answer yes to that, he created the problem to begin with and few other living people even have the knowledge that the Veil is unnatural, much less the ability to fix it - but also, let's be real, his attempts at solving problems have had some extremely fucking questionable results thus far.

And the stance this story has taken is: Solas is imprisoned by regret. Whether the Veil should come down or not, the reason Solas specifically has to walk this path is because of regret. And this story's happiest ending that takes the most effort to unlock is trying to release him from the role his regrets have imprisoned him in. (Relevant parallel: Lucanis carrying his mental prison around with him to the point that Spite can't tell they ever left.)

It's not like the whole world has taken a vote and decided that the Veil is good and immortality/wonders/coexistence with the Fade are not worth it. Obviously the player character of Veilguard is firmly in favor of guarding said Veil, but in Trespasser and the Masked Empire, Solas had agents working for him; in Tevinter Nights, Solas's monster wolf form was followed by an army of Valor and Justice spirits; in Veilguard, Solas said he had a host of spirits ready to help when the Veil fell to minimize the loss of life. For all the reasons Solas believed the Veil must come down, there's room to believe there are other characters on both sides of the Veil who also see those as problems and would presumably still be working on those problems, although that's not the focus of this game. And more people know about the origins of the Veil now, the story of the gods and Titans.

Solas tried to share the truth with the Dalish when he first woke up, but it went badly then; we know the truth now. Maybe if Solas were just a wisdom spirit he could even have been satisfied by sharing that history and having the truth be heard without taking the whole fate of the world on himself - but Solas is not just a wisdom spirit, and he has been defined by both wisdom and pride. He took on a role he never wanted because Mythal asked it of him, he so hates when spirits are twisted away from their purpose and his got complicated the moment he first took a body. Having the truth heard isn't nearly enough to fix this situation, and he needs to fix it, it is his responsibility to fix it, he is trapped by his regrets.

Talking with Rook about Elgar'nan...

Solas: Can you see how he and I might frustrate one another?

Rook: The two of you are too much alike. Both of you want to be in charge.

Solas: I have no desire to be "in charge."

Rook: No, you just want to be able to correct anyone who's not doing everything the way you'd've done it.

Solas: (Chuckles) I see you have been observing me as well during these conversations.

...Rook and their team can come up with a very wide variety of opinions on Solas, but that line did seem to amuse Solas, Rook had a point with that one. That is the place where Solas's wisdom meets pride.

Rook: All right, I can see how you and Elgar'nan would hate each other.

Solas: He has always been what I most feared becoming. Callous and uncaring, his arrogance unchecked. To have that much power and no one to remind him that he could be wrong…

Rook: Well, he had you.

Solas: (Chuckles) And I suppose I had you.

Solas was afraid of becoming like Elgar'nan, more pride than wisdom. He could see the possibility of that happening, the same way spirits become demons. And in the final scene, if he's not convinced to turn away from his path and attempts to tear down the Veil, he sounds very much like Elgar'nan. In the trickery version, Rook calls him out on this and Solas argues against it but then he comes out with these extremely Elgar'nan-like lines:

Solas: You think yourself capable of judging me? I have faced things you could not possibly comprehend! You are a mortal! A mortal! And I am a--(Rook interrupts him by shoving him toward his prison, and then Solas 'chuckles bitterly') I am a fool…

Even more so if Rook fights him instead of tricking him, with Solas declaring that compared to you mortals, he is a god - which Solas was pretty emphatic about denying before. And maybe that's what he was starting to say in the trickery version too before he was interrupted, "I am a--" and then he had a moment to realize what he was saying.

He was a spirit originally, and spirits are changeable by beliefs and expectations, and in this game the attempt to tear down the Veil very much does change him, instantly. The game treats him as a spirit who is being twisted away from his purpose by the act of tearing down the Veil. More than that, his purpose has already been twisted for a very long time, he already had regrets about this in those memories of ancient Elvhenan, talking about how at least the Disruption spirits died without being twisted from their purpose. He was wisdom before he was pride.

So if the bad endings are about Solas being twisted away from his nature by the very thing he feels he must do to save the world - the good ending is the opposite. It's about bringing him closer to the spirit he used to be, by finally putting down the thing that has been twisting him up.

In the good ending, Rook tries to talk Solas around even before Lavellan and Mythal join in - Rook doesn't want to see the world go through even more pain on top of what Elgar'nan has done, the world is broken but breaking the world again is the wrong way to make up for the damage Solas has caused, Solas has a chance right now to save the world by saving the Veil - and this argument is actually tempting to Solas! It's not enough, but he does pause, he thinks about it, he's conflicted, he's been conflicted this whole time, he was already wrestling with this back in Inquisition when he had only just woken up and had only seen a little of this new world, he has never wanted to break the world. He believed he had to.

Solas: I cannot. To stop now would dishonor those I have wronged to come this far.

Lavellan: Even if those you've wronged asked you to stop?

Solas: Vhenan…

Lavellan: You think you've gone too far to come back, but you're wrong. I am here, walking the dinan'shiral with you!

Solas: I lied. I betrayed you.

Lavellan: I forgive you! All you have to do is stop.

Solas: Ir abelas, vhenan… But I cannot.

...He actually paused way longer for Rook's argument about breaking the world than for this. He is more emotional with Lavellan, this did affect him, but that wasn't a convincing argument. I lied, I betrayed you - she tells him she's with him and he gives her a list of reasons she shouldn't be, he can't let himself respond to this right now.

Solas: Long before we met, I failed my oldest friend. She died for that failure. If I leave the Veil in place, I am destroying the world she wanted. And I will have… She will have died for nothing.

He believes the Veil is destroying the world Mythal wanted - and they were the firstborn elves, she invited him to take a body, the union of spirits and the mortal world is integral to his memory of her.

Side note here. If Bellara is in your team when you and Solas are traveling together during the endgame, you get this conversation:

Bellara: All I really want to know is why you killed Mythal.

Solas: The Evanuris killed Mythal.

Bellara: Only the first time. The second time, she was in Flemeth's body, and she didn't want you to destroy the world to avenge her… But you killed her. Was it because she was willing to stop, and you weren't?

Solas: That was not Mythal. It was merely a fragment.

Bellara: Right. That you killed.

…He didn't answer her after that. And now, here at the end of the game, "I will have.... She will have died for nothing," the fact that he killed that merely a fragment of Mythal for this is sticking in his mind, and we saw his regret about that moment plastered on the wall of the Lighthouse, and he is imprisoned by that regret - however conflicted he might feel, he was firmly committed to this path the moment he killed Mythal for a second time.

The final straw, the moment he finally gives up his plan, isn't about the fate of the world at all:

Mythal: I pulled you from the Fade you loved and sent you into war. I used your wisdom as a weapon… and it broke you.

Solas: The things that I have done…

Mythal: Are not for you alone to bear, my friend. The many wrongs we did, we did together. I release you from my service.

For this, he is hunched over and small, like she broke him all over again - maybe he had the right idea and breaking something a second time is the way to fix it in his particular case. He was a wisdom spirit before she sent him to war, before he was the Dread Wolf, before he broke the world trying to save it. He has been at war with one thing or another for a very long time.

Here Lavellan says "There is no fate but the love we share," and he doesn't argue with her this time. He can't look at her yet. He makes a fist. He puts a hand to his brow - was Mythal's vallaslin there once? Lowers his head. Looks at the tear in the Veil. Now he finally looks at Lavellan and the other people standing in front of him, not that fragment of Mythal, Mythal is gone. And then he binds himself to the Veil.

He hasn't let go of his past mistakes, that's not what's happening. He's still got regrets. He is letting go of the Dread Wolf, the role that a spirit of wisdom was twisted into.

Solas: With every breath I take, I will protect the innocent from my past failures. The Titans' dreams are mad from their imprisonment. I cannot kill the blight, but I can help to soothe its anger. I will go and seek atonement.

And then he is finally able to respond to Lavellan's love for him, to make this journey together.

[whispering-radiance]

She’s here!! Meet Eiko — my rc9gn OC !! There’s quite a lot that I didn’t include in the short intro card — So if anyone wants to read more about her and this whole AU — I invite you to the “Read More” section :D

|The lore|

Eiko and Nomi were born into first ninja’s family before the sorcerer was sealed away— The whole clan moved around the land, fighting the sorcerer’s monsters and horrors along the way. While they both studied the blade, Eiko turned out to be more sensitive to spirits and magic than Nomi — Later in life, she decided to pursue the title of the greatest exorcist in the land.

She ventured across the land while Nomi stayed with their father. Both became masters in their own fields.

Days after First passed— Nomi was tasked to find another, who would become the next ninja— Not only was he tasked, he was also warned — That he shouldn’t, under any circumstances, be the next one to wear the mask.

Nomi was a good son. He always listened to his father’s request— but this one — He was sure that he would bring his father honor if he took his place.

After he put the mask on — It took control over him and forced him to go on a rampage

The reason why it happened lies in the material from which the suit was crafted with. Tengu gave his feathers to the First, yes, but it was simply to give him a chance of defeating the common enemy, not to give his clan the unlimited power. He warned him that this power cannot be kept in the family—

Eiko was called to town to get rid of the rampaging beast— She didn’t know who she was fighting— Until she struck the final blow— She gazed in horror at the body of her dear brother— Wishing to save him, she sealed his soul in the book he wrote— The ninja Nomicon — This was the day that tome became magical

She saved the village and it’s people but the act of killing her own brother angered the gods she worked so closely with — They cursed her to suffer the eternal life until the Nomicon was destroyed or until the Heavenly forgave her sin.

It was the worst version of immortality. Eiko still felt pain — She still bled, her bones could crack, she could fall sick. She also still could get tired, physically and mentally— In every aspect she was still a human, just one that couldn’t die and was forcefully kept alive.

She took a role of the one who chooses the ninja — She did it on her own for many centuries but after a while, she decided to gather some trusted people to help her with this task — Although, Ninja choosing is still pretty much up to fate

——————————————————

Besides the ninja business— Eiko has her own job to do — As an exorcist, she fights evil spirits and helps kinder one recover — She also chooses one person to fight sorcerer’s forces alongside ninja

Eiko and ghost of her brother, aka the Ninja Nomicon

More about Eiko

————————————

Some other things about this AU

- There is no limit to how long a person could be a ninja — They end their career after they become unable to fight; want to end their time as a ninja by their own choice; Or when they violate Ninja code

- The world is much more filled with spirits, demons, youkai etc.

- Nomi and Eiko don’t have a mother (I didn’t really think about her character/ and I also think she might have died by sorcerer’s hand— that’s why First would be so determined to get rid of him)

- I loosely took inspiration from the cowboy hat weirdo while making Eiko — but he’s still present in my au — he just joined the Nomicon delivery service later in the story

- Eiko and Nomi are adults— Do not ship them with any of the young characters— They are mentors and teachers, that’s all

——————-

I’ll be writing more about this AU one day — Until then, stayed tuned for more!!

[daitranscripts]

Solas Conversation: Investigate

Tell Me About the Fade

Solas Masterpost

First time asking PC: What do you know about the Fade? Solas: A great deal, from my wanderings. There are few hard facts, but I can share what I have learned.

Solas: What would you like to know?

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Tell me about the Breach. [2] +Solas slightly approves

Investigate: Tell me about the Veil. [3] +Solas slightly approves

Investigate: Tell me about demons. [4]

General: Goodbye. [5]

2 - Investigate: Tell me about the Breach. PC: I’d like to know more about the Breach. Solas: Simply put, it is a tear in the Veil between this world and the Fade, allowing spirits to enter the world physically. Small tears occur naturally when magic weakens the Veil or when spirits cluster at an area that has seen many deaths.

Solas (in Haven): But your mark allows you to exert some control over the Breach. That means it was created deliberately. [back to 1] Solas (In-Skyhold, pre-HLTA): But your Anchor, as Corypheus calls it, allows you some control over the Breach. That suggests it was deliberate. [back to 1] Solas (post-HLTA): But the Breach is artificial. The Anchor on your hand let you control it and even opened a small rift at Adamant. [back to 1]

3 - Investigate: Tell me about the Veil. PC: I’d like to know more about the Veil. Solas: Circle mages call it a barrier between this world and the Fade. But according to my studies in ancient elven lore, that is a vast oversimplification. Without it… Imagine if spirits entered freely, if the Fade was not a place one went but a state of nature like the wind.

Dialogue options:

General: That sounds strange. [6] -Solas slightly disapproves

General: That sounds marvelous. [7] +Solas slightly approves

General: That sounds dangerous. [8] -Solas disapproves

6 - General: That sounds strange. PC: I don’t know if I can imagine that. Solas: Try. Imagine if spirits were not a rarity but a part of our natural world like… a fast-flowing river. Yes, it can drown careless children, but it can also carry a merchant’s goods or grind a miller’s flour. That is what the world could be, if the Veil were not present. For better or worse. [back to 1] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 7 - General: That sounds marvelous. PC: It sounds like it would be wonderful. Solas: And dangerous, but… yes. A world where imagination defines reality, where spirits are as common as trees or grass. Instead, spirits are strange and fearful, and the Fade is a terrifying world touched only by mages and dreamers. I am glad that I am not alone in seeing the beauty of such a world, along with the obvious peril. [back to 1] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 8 - General: That sounds dangerous. PC: We’ve got enough trouble with demons already. Solas: But would they still be demons? Or would they be part of our natural environment like… a fast-flowing river? Yes, it can drown careless children, but it can also carry a merchant’s goods or grind a miller’s flour. That is what the world could be, if the Veil were not present. For better or worse. [back to 1]

4 - Investigate: Tell me about demons. PC: I’d like to know more about demons.

Solas (human mage PC): Your Circle says that demons hate the natural world and seek to bring their chaos and destruction to the living. Solas (Dalish PC): Your Dalish say that demons hate the natural world and seek to bring their chaos and destruction to the living. Solas (dwarf/Qunari/human non-mage PC): The Chantry says that demons hate the natural world and seek to bring their chaos and destruction to the living.

Solas: But such simplistic labels misconstrue their motivations and, in so doing, do all a great disservice. Spirits wish to join the living, and a demon is that wish gone wrong.

Dialogue options:

General: I don’t believe that. [9] -Solas slightly disapproves

General: Can we change that? [10] +Solas slightly approves

General: I don’t care. [11] -Solas disapproves

9 - General: I don’t believe that. PC: I doubt those things pouring out of the Breach wanted to join the living. Eat, maybe. ㅤㅤ ㅤ sided templars PC: And what about the demon I fought at the Seeker fortress? Solas (pre-HLTA): Of course demons are destructive. This world is illicit and unnatural for them. They fight to gain entrance, and when the rules of this world do not mirror theirs, they lash out. Tragic, but not evil. Solas (post-HLTA): The one being commanded by Corypheus? If a man set fire to your house, do you lay the blame on the torch he carried? [back to 1] ㅤㅤ ㅤ sided mages, pre-HLTA Solas: Of course demons are destructive. This world is illicit and unnatural for them. They fight to gain entrance, and when the rules of this world do not mirror theirs, they lash out. Tragic, but not evil. [back to 1] ㅤㅤ ㅤ sided mages, post-HLTA PC: And what about the army of demons the Wardens were leading? Solas: As you say, they were being led, commanded, controlled. If a man set fire to your house, do you lay the blame on the torch he carried? [back to 1] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 10 - General: Can we change that? PC: Is there a way to coexist? To live with them, if not in peace, at least without such active confrontation? Solas: Not in the world we know today. The Veil creates a barrier that makes true understanding most unlikely. But the question is a good one, and it matters that you thought to ask. [back to 1] ㅤㅤ ㅤ 11 - General: I don’t care. PC: It doesn’t matter why they attack us. Solas: Of course it does. The dog that bites you because it is rabid is not the dog that bites you because it is starving. You may kill either, but one is just a few scraps of meat away from being your faithful servant. [back to 1]

5 - General: Goodbye. PC: We’ll talk later. Solas: Goodbye.

[aquamarinemarie]

Romancing the Dread Wolf, Pt. Four

Ah, yes. The Fade. Solas' favorite topic. Also, spirits! Demons... and, of course, the wobbly, warbly veil.

Spirits, Demons, & the Fade (Haven)

Lavellan: What do you know about the Fade? Solas: A great deal, from my wanderings. There are few hard facts, but I can share what I have learned. What would you like to know?

Investigate: Option One Lavellan (Tell me about the Breach.): I’d like to know more about the Breach.

Tell me I’m not the only one who sometimes hears: beach instead of breach.

Solas: Simply put, it is a tear in the Veil between this world and the Fade, allowing spirits to enter the world physically. Small tears occur naturally when magic weakens the Veil or when spirits cluster at an area that has seen many deaths. But your mark allows you to exert some control over the Breach. That means it was created deliberately.

Investigate: Option Two Lavellan (Tell me about the Veil.): I’d like to know more about the Veil. Solas: Circle mages call it a barrier between this world and the Fade. But according to my studies in ancient elven lore, that is a vast oversimplification. Without it… Imagine if spirits entered freely, if the Fade was not a place one went but a state of nature like the wind.

Ah, yes. The school of I was there and, oh, yeah, I created the damn thing. Knowing who Solas really is, you just got to laugh whenever he says things like this.

But on a more serious note, following his little lie, Solas is fully telling the truth here. He’s playing it cool, of course, but you can hear a touch of desperation (perhaps even hope?) in his voice as he asks Lavellan to imagine the Fade as a natural part of the world.

General: Option One Lavellan (That sounds strange.): I don’t know if I can imagine that. Solas: Try. Imagine if spirits were not a rarity but a part of our natural world like… a fast-flowing river. Yes, it can drown careless children, but it can also carry a merchant’s goods or grind a miller’s flour. That is what the world could be, if the Veil were not present. For better or worse.

For someone attempting to stay detached, Solas certainly does a bad job of it. Throughout the entirety of the game, he can’t help but reach out and try to connect with those around him.

Whether he's offering advice (requested or unsolicited), voicing his (often) rigid opinions, paying a genuine compliment to a newfound friend, trading sass with uneasy allies, or even accidentally falling in love with the HBIC; Solas just can't help himself.

HBIC: Head Bitch in Charge

He's part of the... (Vin Diesel voice) Family.

General: Option Two Lavellan (That sounds marvelous.): It sounds like it would be wonderful. Solas: And dangerous, but… yes. A world where imagination defines reality, where spirits are as common as trees or grass. Instead, spirits are strange and fearful, and the Fade is a terrifying world touched only by mages and dreamers. I am glad that I am not alone in seeing the beauty of such a world, along with the obvious peril.

You can hear the relief.

If this is how your Lavellan chooses to respond, then Solas has finally found someone who doesn’t think the world he comes from sounds like a world upside down.

Demons aside though, my Lavellan has always been (secretly) more than a little curious about the Fade, and, listening to Solas so passionately describe how the physical and spirit world could co-exist and how the world could be…

Well, she’s rather enchanted by the whole notion.

Hmm, let’s see…

Tempted by the wonders of the Fade, curious about spirits, and interested in learning blood magic… My girl’s certainly got some secrets. 😂

General: Option Three Lavellan (That sounds dangerous.): We’ve got enough trouble with demons already. Solas: But would they still be demons? Or would they be part of our natural environment like… a fast-flowing river? Yes, it can drown careless children, but it can also carry a merchant’s goods or grind a miller’s flour. That is what the world could be, if the Veil were not present. For better or worse.

I can see it now, spirits moving across the land like a herd of wild druffalo, or a giant demon lurking in some reeking cavern as if it were a sleeping dragon.

Just part of the natural world.

Speaking of which, what exactly is a storm like in the Fade? Could a hurricane be interwoven with volatile emotions such as rage, desire, or fear? Are there passing rainstorms of despair? Does joy and laughter dance on the summer breeze?

A world shaped by imagination and populated by beings of pure emotion, living alongside the physical could either be a wonderous place or, quite possibly, a living nightmare; depending on how these... elements (?) are dealt with.

Investigate: Option Three Lavellan (Tell me about demons.): I’d like to know more about demons. Solas: Your Dalish say that demons hate the natural world and seek to bring their chaos and destruction to the living. But such simplistic labels misconstrue their motivations and, in so doing, do all a great disservice. Spirits wish to join the living, and a demon is that wish gone wrong.

General: Option One Lavellan (I don’t believe that.): I doubt those things pouring out of the Breach wanted to join the living. Eat, maybe. Solas: Of course demons are destructive. This world is illicit and unnatural for them. They fight to gain entrance, and when the rules of this world do not mirror theirs, they lash out. Tragic, but not evil.

An observant Lavellan would definitely note how defensive Solas tends to get whenever the subject of demons and spirits are brought up in the negative.

General: Option Two Lavellan (Can we change that?): Is there a way to coexist? To live with them, if not in peace, at least without such active confrontation? Solas: Not in the world we know today. The Veil creates a barrier that makes true understanding most unlikely. But the question is a good one, and it matters that you thought to ask.

This is obviously the most considerate response here, and is the one my Lavellan naturally goes with. She's rather open-minded and a fair bit more tolerant than most, but she does have her limits.

The possibility of peaceful coexistence, if at all viable, with spirits - even dangerous ones - is certainly something she'd consider, but only if that coexistence saved lives.

General: Option Three Lavellan (I don’t care.): It doesn’t matter why they attack us. Solas: Of course it does. The dog that bites you because it is rabid is not the dog that bites you because it is starving. You may kill either, but one is just a few scraps of meat away from being your faithful servant.

This is a really silly response, in my opinion. “It doesn’t matter why they attack us.” Yes, it does. Context matters.

Context always matters.

Lavellan: We’ll talk later. Solas: Goodbye.

This conversation with Solas gives Lavellan a lot to think about, the Fade, spirits, what the world could be...

My Lavellan finds Solas to be utterly fascinating, and their little conversations a nice distraction from, well, everything that's suddenly been thrust upon her. She likes him. Very much actually, which surprises her.

On Solas' end, I can imagine him appreciating Lavellan's willingness to listen and her consideration for spirits. She's a breath of fresh air, a surprise, and someone whose company he... perhaps, didn't expect to enjoy. Her acceptance making him feel a little less alone.

Source: daitranscripts