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satohqbanana · 11 months ago

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Dragonmage Pact Notes

Here's a couple of notes on lore and unexplored plot threads in Dragonmage Pact. Spoilers about the story ahead!

On the Incarnates

The incarnates of the original Chief Goddess and her nymph daughters think of each other as sisters. Regardless of her age, the goddess incarnate will still act as their leader.

When reincarnated, the incarnate will start out as a small child knows little about her role. She merely trusts on her guts and instinctively bond with someone she regards as strong to make them her guardian. Older incarnates extensively care for and assist younger incarnates until they "mature" and magically acquire the knowledge of their identity and powers.

An incarnate may have multiple guardians, but the incarnates more often prefer to only have one guardian at a time. An incarnate and her guardian does not necessarily carry out a friendship or even a romance. (Feel free to imagine what exactly is the deal between Rhen and Dameon, Talia and Devin, Mel and Spook, Stella and Edward, Ingrid and Boyle, and Iya and Ean in this fic.)

Also if you want to know who is what, Rhen is the incarnate of compassion, Talia wisdom, Mel luck, Stella love, Ingrid wickedness, and Myst hope. And of course, Iya is the goddess incarnate.

On Pacts

Pacts are magical contracts that offers life and power to those who make them. A pact can be made between two or more people, and involves having the contractees' souls merge as one. A pact takes what is most precious to the contractee as the price.

Regardless of whether what is most precious to the contractee is a physical object, another person, or a concept, the pact price affects the contractee's body in a way that will change the way they interact with this most precious thing.

The degree to which the souls merge vary from pact to pact. While I never got to talk about this much, Rhen and Lars' merged soul is fully integrated, while Te'ijal and Galahad's isn't.

Because Te'ijal and Galahad's merged soul isn't fully integrated, and they have been pact partners for longer, they are able to use their pact benefits powers, namely super speed for Te'ijal and super strength for Galahad.

And because Rhen and Lars' merged soul is fully integrated, they cannot do much if they disagree with each other. And because they are new pact partners, they kept mourning for what they lost, ended up frustrating each other, and failed to notice their new abilities until later on.

Whether Rhen made the pact because Ahriman's forces did a half-hearted job of "killing" her, or because she instinctively knew she would be the last incarnate of the era, or because she simply wanted to see Dameon again, I honestly do not know.

On Plot Threads

Smaller details such as Lars curling up next to dragon Rhen when they sleep, dragon Rhen very dragging Lars around to where she needs him to be, and Lars and Rhen having to deal with being seen as a dragon master and his pet didn't make it to the summary post, but it's something I think about.

Galahad has a full blessed armor from head to toe and it comes with a helmet. On the day his King banished him, he had come before the throne without his helmet on and was escorted away dropping said helmet behind. Hence, Galahad's head is the only part of him that's vulnerable to attacks.

I never got to talk about this as well because it wasn't too important in the big picture, but Lars in this AU travelled the world to escape his overbearing mother. His hometown is located in a country facing an economic crisis, in which owning slaves has become popular so people can cut labor costs. As such, he doesn't mind harming others to get what he wants or needs. In fact, he even enjoys the act of torturing people so he can distract himself from his situation. Along his journey with Rhen, he learned that his hometown was besieged, but he decided to ignore this news in favor of honing his abilities. Besides, he's in too deep aiding the incarnates' mission and he's too proud to back down.

There was no space for me to discuss this too, but Ean was an elf from the Vale and became in charge of recruiting people into the resistance force. Uthar's supposedly part of that army, but he wasn't important enough and I was throwing around too many names at this point in the story. I've no idea if he survived or not. As for Ean, he definitely physically aged a little bit.

Also, while Lars regained his speech, his voice is very hoarse and it actually hurts him to speak a lot, just like how Rhen is no longer fully nymph-like. It doesn't bother Lars too much, though; he's gotten used to being quiet, and the only other person patient enough to seriously consider his opinions is someone he already shares his mindspace with.

As for the ending, I like to think Dameon lives and Rhen and Lars keep him around, and that a new religion dedicated to the entity Rhen and Lars is has been established.

#aaand it's done #the only ones i have actual character designs for are rhen lars iya and ean but i don't feel like showing them off #i'd rather spend my energy describing what goes on in a pact partners' shared mindspace lmao #this has been the most fun i've had with a non romance story #thank u yoko taro for drakengard #annelaurant writing #aveyond

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bellysoupset · 4 months ago

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Jonah was more than a little jittery when he finally made it to Portland's airport, Angie rubbing his arm in a rhythmic manner that was annoying more than comforting him, but he wasn't gonna tell her that.

Thank God for Lucas, Jonah nearly chuckled at the thought. It wasn't the first or even the third time he thought this in the last 20 hours and the irony wasn't lost on him. Luke was waiting for him at the end of the disembark area, but he opened his arms for a hug and it was Angie who leaped forward to jump on him.

"How are you, kiddo?" he said, his voice muffled as he swooped Angelina into a bear hug and pulled her feet off the ground. Angie's whole face turned a shade darker as she blushed bashfully, a huge smile on her face.

"Next trip you should tag along," she said, pushing his arm in a playful manner.

"I'll hold you up to that invite," Lucas' was all smiles and Jonah could see right through him, keeping Angie busy so they didn't need to rehash uncomfortable details in front of the teenager. Instead of greeting Jonah, he planted a hand on the man's nape and squeezed in a comforting way, tugging Jon closer to Luke could press a kiss on the top of his curls.

Jonah huffed, shoving his friend off by the chest and staring ahead. He had a million questions, but he didn't want to ask them in front of Angie. It wasn't that he didn't trust her, but he didn't want her knowing something he knew Leo wouldn't want to tell. His fiancé was terribly private with strangers and Angelina was still that to him.

"You're staying with Wendy, that's alright, Ange?" Luke asked, putting her luggage in the trunk of his car and piling Jonah's on top of it. Angie's eyes darted between Jonah and Luke and she frowned.

"Is Leo alright?" Her voice was careful, measured and Luke smiled at her, slamming the trunk closed.

"He'll be fine, he just needs some cuddles from your brother," he said smoothly, as if Jonah wasn't right there. Angie nodded, not looking very convinced.

"Okay... Yeah, staying at Wendy's fine, as long as I'm not imposing."

"She volunteered her couch," Lucas yawned, opening the backseat door for the girl and gesturing for her to get in, "it's bigger than mine and much comfier, otherwise you'd be staying with us."

"Aw," she pouted, getting inside, "I was looking forward to knowing Bella better, she seems so cool."

"She is," Luke sounded incredibly smug, "we're gonna have dinner together, you'll have the chance to chat- Jon, get inside, man."

Jonah wasn't sure how he was even functioning, the past twenty hours since Luke's call had been hellish, consumed by worry. He hadn't rested at all and it was definitely getting to him, he felt almost dizzy.

He was half dozing off against the window for most of the drive, switching between staring at Leo's messages - not a single new text - and listening as Luke continued to talk with Angie. College, exchanging tidbits about Europe, asking her what she wanted for dinner-

"Jon, we're here," Luke shook his knee gently and Jonah blinked, rubbing his eyes. He hadn't realized he fell asleep, but now they were inside his building's garage and Lucas was already getting his bag out of the trunk.

"You're not coming up....?"

"Nope, tell Bell we're waiting for her downstairs," Luke passed him the handle of his bag, then pulled Jonah into a sudden, but unsurprising hug, "he's alright," he lowered his voice so Angie couldn't hear from inside the car, where she had turned around in the backseat to watch them, "shaken, but he's okay. I think he just needs you."

Jonah nodded briskly and Luke let go of him.

He wasn't sure what he expected, but it certainly wasn't to hear Leo's laughter the minute he crossed the doorway. Jonah let go of his bag, shutting the front door gently and hearing as Leo giggled, "noooo, he's hot, you're just mean-"

"He looks like a very stressed rat," Bella's voice was clearly amused and Jonah walked further in, smiling as he saw they had collected half the blankets of the house and were curled up in the living room couch, Leo's head pressed to Bella's shoulder and her fingers combing through his hair as they watched House of Gucci.

"Hi?"

Leo's head snapped up so quickly he nearly hit Bella's chin, missing it by a couple inches, "Jon!" he tried to get up, but they had trapped themselves with the blankets and all he managed was to almost fall off, legs tangled.

Jonah leaped forward too, stepping over Bella's legs and nearly falling as well, pulling Leo into a tight hug. He had been so fucking worried, it was a huge relief to be able to touch him.

Leo let out a groan, his face pressed to Jonah's neck, "can't-breathe-" and Jon pulled back, cupping his face. Somehow he had thought Leo would look worse, but he looked just as fine as ever. His hair was definitely dirty, because instead of pin straight it was so wavy it had almost turned curly, and there were dark circles like bruises under his blue eyes as well as more than a stubble covering his cheeks... Other than that he looked fine.

"God-" Jonah lurched forward haphazardly, lips smashing together in a kiss that was nearly a bruise. Leo breathed out, hands coming up to cup his cheek and lips pressing against his, the tip of his nose was freezing pressed against Jonah's cheekbone, "you're alright- You're ok," Jon chanted feverishly, pulling back and studying his boyfriend's face.

Leo's eyes were overly shiny and he sniffled, but nodded and then pulled back, his whole face turning red as a cherry as they realized Bella had been directly under them, watching, completely trapped by the fact they were each stepping in one end of the blanket.

"No, don't mind me, this is cute," she said sarcastically, causing Leo to let out a watery chuckle.

"Sorry," he tried to pull back from Jonah, didn't manage when his boyfriend didn't let go, so instead Bella rolled out of the couch in the most convoluted way.

"Luke's waiting downstairs," Jonah said, cringing as he realized how dismissive he had been. Luckily this was Bella, who didn't take offense easily, and she raised a thumb up, crawling to grab her boots from under the couch.

"One of you text us later," she said, her voice coming out muffled, "or Lucas is gonna come here and I know none of you want that-" she sat down on the ground to put on her combat boots and JD appeared as well, trying to chew on the cords, "and don't worry about Angie, we got her."

"Angie's here?" Leo asked and Jonah completely ignored it, leaning in so he could press his whole face to the side of his boyfriend's, inhaling him.

"We got her, don't worry," Bella shrugged, "between Wendy and Lucas she'll be so busy she's gonna want to go home," she stood up, looking around for her purse and grabbing it, "I'm serious, text us."

"Okay," Jon mumbled and heard a small exasperated huff, before Bella's footsteps vanished down the hallway, her voice coming "no baby, you can't come with me-" as she kept JD inside and then the door shutting.

Jonah breathed out and Leo turned slightly, tilting his body back so he was able to look him in the eyes, "I'm glad you're home."

"What happened?"

Leo's brows dipped and his lips tugged on the corners, "I was hoping Luke would've spilled it all-"

"I don't wanna hear it from Luke, I wanna know it from you," Jonah scoffed and Leo nodded, then pulled him down to the messy couch.

Jonah had had time enough to come up with a thousand hypotheticals, so as he heard the ballroom class tale, he was both relieved it wasn't something worse and floored by the cheer improbability of it.

He didn't miss the way Leo's voice became squeezed and weird when he said Amelia didn't even remember him or how she had called him by his father's name. His boyfriend gulped down, looking away and hugging his knees, as if he wanted to turn himself into a little ball, "and that's it. Wendy drove me home and the guys have been keeping me company since."

Jonah sighed, "you called off work?"

"Wendy did it for me," Leo snorted, "she said she was my doctor," he pressed his chin to his knee, "I'm okay, I- I'm not okay," he corrected himself, meeting Jonah's eyes, "but I'm not as bad as they seem to think I am... I called my therapist and he suggested I go back up to twice a week instead of only once, at least for this month."

"Okay," Jon scooted closer, not able to stomach the tiny distance between them. He wanted to scoop up Leo and not let go for the next eight or nine hours.

"I keep- I keep thinking of her face, right?" the blonde picked at the skin of his fingers, "and how she- How she didn't even recognize me... I just feel so... So small-"

Jonah reached forward, grabbing Leo's hands before he could peel another layer - judging by the state of his thumb, this new habit had already been causing damage - and tugged at his wrists, forcing Leo to uncurl and fall against him.

"I was crawling up the walls when you didn't text," Jon told him, smoothing Leo's hair back gently, "and then Luke did and I just... It was like the ground fell under me. I haven't been able to even think right until now-"

"I'm sorry," Leo sniffled, tearing up all over, "I wanted to, but-"

"No," Jonah glared at him, "I'm not mad at you, I'm saying this so you understand you're not small... I'm so so sorry about Amelia. I wish none of this had ever happened to you, I wish she wasn't in this town-"

Leo nodded, wiping angrily at his eyes and brushing away the tears clinging to his lashes, so Jonah continued, "but I need you to know whatever your brain is telling you about being small or unloved- It's not true. You're my whole damn world, Leo."

That did it and Leo's face scrunched up as he started to openly cry, throwing himself over Jonah, letting out a pained sob as Jon kissed his temple and chanted quietly, over and over, "I love you, I love you, I love you."

#mywriting #leo wagner #jonah banks #angst #emotional whump #aaand we're done #now to SickFic my babies!!! finally reunited

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