#also korial

[obsidianas]

idk if i have it in her carrd (all the carrds need updating........) but just, you know, throwing around the timeline and what she's up to in case anyone may be interested in a problematique black dragon and wants to consider when they could've interacted:

in the years onyxia infiltrated court as katrana, nalice also posed as a prestor. but while the first was concerned with nobility, the second had as her mission to influence the stonemasons and ensure no compromise would be accepted. in her disguise as adalyn prestor, she pretended to be a younger sister of katrana. she ended up getting a little too close to edwin vancleef, who she fell in love with, and with who she had a daughter, vanessa. she never revealed the truth to him while they were together during that time.

eventually leaving him and her disguise behind, by the time of wrath she can be found playing a different role. this time, it is wyrmrest she infiltrates, as a means to keep a closer watch on the other flights and the aspects. she convinces them to allow her in their midst, as ambassador of the black dragonflight, and asks the adventurers for help in dealing with the undead in the obsidian dragonshrine, where her brother is. despite being allowed to stand side by side with the aspects, she continuously talks shit about alex, korial and the other reds. physically incapable of pretending to be nice to them. they still let her in though so!

she leaves that position as of cataclysm, when deathwing's return makes the deception unnecessary. but she never manages to really play a part in her flght's plans, as wrathion has rogues sent after their kin and she eventually becomes a target. this leads her to hide in karazhan, where she leads the blackwyrm cult - a cult that worships the black dragons as gods, basically. when she is found and has her magic wielded against her in a battle she can't win, ultimately nalice fakes her death — convincingly enough for the rogue adventurer to be fooled, at least.

she remains into hiding, always moving locations. she only really would make a reappearance by dragonflight, going to the dragon isles as the rest of her kin. she quickly bands with sabellian, and for not i'm believing his word he and the outlanders manage to free themselves of corruption, and that however that was done, it was extended to her. the obsidian citadel is an obvious place to find her, but honestly she'd want to see everything (and likely often be found in the azure archives too). while she is considerably less evil antagonistic, that doesn't apply if you're wrathion, associate with wrathion or support wrathion in any shape or form. also if you're alexstrasza.

[diguerra-moved]

.

[banglanotebook]

SAREES OF BENGAL

While Bengalis have a wide variety of fabrics to choose from, some sarees have stronger ties to Bengal than others. Below are some of the traditional favorites, and I’ve included photos so you can easily recognize these Bengali styles when you see them.

1. West Bengal’s famous white saree with the red border, Garad is made out of Tussar silk or mulberry silk that has not been dyed; the purity of the material in this saree makes it the garment of choice for religious occasions. Garad sarees can be seen decorated with floral or paisley motifs. Sarees that are plain white with bold red borders are Korial sarees and are also native to West Bengal; Korial sarees are the ones that are often worn for Durga Puja.

2. Banarasi fabric was brought to India by the Persians and flourished most prominently in Varanasi (previously named Banaras); while it’s not exactly native to Bengal, it is probably the most popular choice of saree among Bengali brides. This material was first developed for royals and features gold or silver Zari detail, often including Mughal motifs, which are woven into silk. A deep red Banarasi saree adorned in gold detail is essential to the traditional Bengali bridal look.

3. Dating back to 300 AD and perfected in Bangladesh, West Bengal, and Varanasi, Jamdani [জামদানি] sarees were originally favored by the noble women of Bengal for their lightweight comfort and display of remarkable craftsmanship. In a true Jamdani saree, designs are woven into the fabric as opposed to being printed or embroidered, creating the appearance of the designs floating within the otherwise sheer garment. Jamdani was almost exclusively made with muslin or cotton, but today it is sometimes also made with silk and Zari designs.

4. Kantha [কাঁথা] (or the “running stitch”) is the name for the embroidery used in Bengal to stitch pieces of fabric together and is popular among rural communities where fabrics are often recycled. Kantha is seeing more attention as an art form within the fashion industry as this stitching style is as decorative as it is functional. Most Kantha sarees are made of silk or cotton and are covered in beautiful natural imagery and geometric patterns.

5. Another West Bengal treasure, these regal sarees tell stories through stunning details and vivid imagery, from florals and animals to mythological and historical scenes. Baluchari [বালুচরী] sarees are mostly woven with Tussar or mulberry silk, while Swarnachari uses gold or silver threads in additional to silk for a more luxurious appearance.

6. The least expensive saree on this list, Tant [তাঁত] (“loom”) style sarees are equally liked in West Bengal and Bangladesh and are a common choice for casual occasions. Most often made of cotton, these sarees are lightweight and breathable --perfect for Bengal’s hot and humid sub-tropical climate. Tant sarees can also be made of silk for the winter time and tend to have relatively thick borders to help them survive regular wear.

_____

Sarees pictured from left to right: silk saree in a Garad pattern, Banarasi saree, Dhakai Jamdani saree.

There are perhaps hundreds of ways to drape a saree, and different regions in South Asia have varying local styles that reflect the community. The most widely seen draping styles are found in Bollywood/Tollywood and in fashion catalogs, where sarees are wrapped low around the hip to emphasize an hourglass shape, and then finished with several pleats in the front. The pallu end (heavily decorated end) is either neatly pinned to the blouse at the left shoulder to fall down the wearer’s back, or it drapes over the wearer’s left arm for a slightly more conservative appearance. This style is used all over South Asia due to its simplicity, functionality, and figure-flattering fit.

The Bengali draping style is largely associated with elegance, grace, and tradition, and provides a more modest silhouette that offers the wearer a little more coverage than other draping styles. While most draping methods leave the pallu falling down the wearer’s back, the Bengali style drapes the pallu end over the left shoulder and back to the front on the right shoulder. From here there’s some flexibility; either the pallu can cross the chest to be brought back to the left shoulder and pinned (left photo), or it can be draped under and back over the right shoulder and pinned there (right photo), or weighed down with a large key or heavy ornament. Up until England’s Victorian era, Bengali women were bare-chested under their sarees, and therefore didn’t have a blouse to pin their sarees to. Weighing down the end of the saree was a way to ensure it stayed over the shoulder. Even after blouses have long been adopted, weighing the pallu is still a maintained tradition.

The easiest way to discern a Bengali drape is by looking at how the border falls from the left shoulder; if it falls in a straight line to the floor, it’s likely a Bengali drape, but if it’s at a diagonal across the body or the straight edge stops halfway to the floor it’s likely a different style. Overall, the pallu is usually positioned in front of the body with this draping style, allowing the wearer to show off a heavily decorated saree by showcasing more of the fabric.

_____

I hope most of you got to learn something new, and if you guys liked this post lemme know because I’d love to do more when I have the time!

PHOTO SOURCES The sarees pictured come from the following websites:

AJIO

Weaver Story

Bengal Looms India

Jaypore

[tabletopjourneys]

Session 39 Notes

(Skipping ahead so last session notes are in time for a quick read before next session) The Silver Scale Pack split up: While group A confronts The Superb Owl one last time, group B falls for a cryptid and gets teleported to the other side of Bouldergap from their recon mission. Plus: Shopping. Again. lol.

@gher-bear​ @aradow​ @telurin​ @epimetala

On this day The Silver Scale Pack's split missions get critical. Diem and Ixayl'anu have to battle it out with the The Superb Owl and her mob of charmed Bouldergap citizens.

Ultimately they win by deceit and successfully chase The Superb Owl off, back to The Iron Heights (mountains) without any loss of life or nonconsensual fey abductions.

The Bouldergap citizens are pretty grateful once the distance shakes off the last vestiges of charm and begin getting back to their lives, cleaning up the mess of a spontaneous tournament, and finding/checking on loved ones lost in the crowd and/or forgotten in their bespelled states.

In other words, nobody we know of is angry at us for chasing off the pretty owl. They're all pretty aware it was a spell that made them love and admire her so much.

Meanwhile, group B meet one of the near-mythical cryptids called a ropen up close. This one seems to be super ancient and magically potent with decorative colorful jewelry and tattoos that commonly get mistaken for "colorful plumage" in the rare (and doubted) accounts of sightings.

When first attempting to communicate the ropen (accidentally?) deals 3 psychic damage to the safety-bubbled forms of Rana and Fee. It sounds like the angels from Supernatural. Once it corrects this, it's voice still holds tangible power and sounds like an ancient being of immense power speaking to children.

It tells them both they are not safe here and that they have the situation contained and are handling it. Then puts them both to sleep and sends them safely to the other side of Bouldergap out into a field where they wake up about an hour later.

Just in time to hear Diem communicate through the stone that the owl has been handled.

The pack reunites and reports everything to Lawmaster Eldeth. They agree to gather in the morning for another trip out to Stoneroost with the help of two guards.

Their free night until then is spent shopping for gems and supplies. Afterward, Rana and Fee play a training game with their ratties and chill in the Temple of V'kandis until they wake there in the morning and procure another helper for the trip out in the form of a dwarven priestess who offers her healing skills in exchange for being able to check in on her family in Stoneroost.

Ixayl'anu spent the night in the stables with her newly resummoned elk. Diem went off to find and presumably spent the night with the other disguise-loving storyteller The Superb Owl had suggested they have a nice chat with.

(Read More)

(At Least Group A is Safely in Town…Right?)

The Superb Owl: Capture them! (80 ft reach command)

Initiative order starts with Ixayl’anu and then Diem; Ixayl’anu goes first and casts moonbeam on the Superb Owl (it really is a fey owl; though a typo does turn her into the super bowl instead. Just a thought.). Ixayl’anu then runs her 30ft south along the fence.

Diem has to run to catch up as Ixayl’anu shoots past them. “Fly, Ixayl’anu!”. They cast fly on them both as soon as they manage to catch up to her in about 30ft.

5 villagers jump the fence to try and grab us.

One guy across fence to her right manages to grab Ixayl’anu and yank her a little off balance and out of the reach of the guy coming straight at her who’d jumped the southern fence to follow the owl’s orders.

Two guys of three more guys who also jumped the southern fence manage to grab me - one to each arm.

The Superb Owl not only takes half damage from a save (8dmg) by staring her turn in moonbeam, she actually pretends she created the moonbeam as an awe-inspiring spotlight for attention. She spreads her wings and flies straight up in it, showboating a little, and says, in an enunciating announcer voice: Bring them to me and I will deal with the heretics!

Practically everyone near the owl by the northern gate of the square arena and out in an oval of about 40 ft east and west is gazing in star-struck admiration at the owl.

Ixayl’anu struggles to get loose and succeeds her strength check, gets loose and flies 30 ft up and 30 ft east.

Diem uses fey presence to go all Galadriel-style-you-would-have-a-dark-queen visage and voice to inspire fear (16 wis check): Not me you fools!

This works on four out of five of the guys around them, but the one who resists just happens to be one of the guys holding on to them, who actually tightens his grip in half panic as Diem tries to fly away with him still attached (contested strength check failed). They only succeed in lifting him a few feet off the ground.

Diem to Ixayl’anu: Get out of here, go get the others!

A new guy enters the area from the south gate and helps the first pull me back down to the ground as those other four continue to cower a few feet back from me.

The owl takes 4 dmg starting in moonbeam again and doesn’t care, the barely-felt pain is worth the extra awe-inspiring beauty of her spotlight. She is hovering there at about the same height as Ixayl’anu (about 30ft off the ground): Keep that one contained, I will get the flying one!

She’s sad to leave her moonbeam, but flies after Ixayl’anu and misses both attacks. Screams: Look at me! (tries to charm Ixayl’anu and fails)

Ixayl’anu screams right back at her and lands all 3 attacks plus a level 2 smite: 45 total damage. “Never trust owls!”

The Superb Owl screeches again.

Diem goes completely limp and in the owl’s voice says: I have possessed this one, you can let it go. (23 deception)

Everyone buys it and lets Diem go. They immediately zoom 30 ft up and 30 ft toward Ixayl’anu, flying with her between me and the owl.

Guys who let them go realizing their mistake: Oh shit!

(3D chess for everyone now!)

The Northern portion of the crowd begins surging toward us as well, both guys who had Diem are running after them even though they’re 30 ft up.

Korial, the feathered dragonborn from one of Ixayl’anu’s home islands (who had been in charge of and enlisted in the fighting competition) had come out at some point, disappeared in his tent again, and is now coming out, handing off nets to capable-looking people nearby so he can take a shot with his bow at Ixayl’anu. He hits her for 10 dmg

The Superb Owl screams in Ixayl’anu’s face again and tries to grab at her for a grapple. 18 slashing damage and a strength check of 20 vs 21. Ixayl’anu pulls herself away from the grapple at the last minute, which is ruled one reason why the claws hurt so much - made the wound worse pulling out of the grasp.

Ixayl’anu’s next attack misses, but her 2nd does 15dmg plus another smite for 9 more dmg (total 24dmg).

Diem still doesn’t want to hurt the owl if they can avoid it, it’s chaotic good, but just doesn’t understand the concept and finality of death for mortals or why consent is important for the little honor guard it’s trying to create. They are out of big spells, but still have a lightning bolt in their ring if it comes down to it. However, the people also need to know this fey is willing to kill them for the sake of convenience anyway. It’s not outright evil, but inhuman enough it will kill them as easy as praise them.

As such, totally trying to create some doubts and tarnish the awe, show a little truth in a dramatic way, Diem moves their hands in front of their face as if they’re casting a spell, conveniently blocking anyone able to see their face from seeing their mouth move as they mimic The Superb Owl’s voice again, as loud as they can supervillain style and say: I will kill anyone who fails me! (21 deception).

A good amount of people around the South fence pause a little bit at this, including the guys who let them go during the last deception.

After that, Diem shoots Northwest and up 60ft to get above and behind The Superb Owl without flying close enough on the way to cause an attack of opportunity (essentially 20ft behind the owl to the northwest and 30ft up for a total of 60ft above ground and away from Korial’s bow).

They cast an eldritch blast but their heart still really isn’t in killing this pretty fey creature yet (Ixayl’anu is definitely not holding back for sure). Their first blast of crackling iridescent magic misses entirely as a result, and the other is held back too much, doing only 3dmg.

The guys who got nets from Korial are now close enough to throw them at Ixayl’anu, but both nets go wide without accidentally ensnaring any of the people under her instead.

Korial shoots at Ixayl’anu again, but misses.

The Superb Owl: Get more archers! Stop using the nets!

She disengages from Ixie and flies a bigger circle away. She goes up to about 80ft off the ground and take a commanding view of the whole area.

Ixayl’anu has seen birds of prey do this maneuver - she’s getting height so she can do a dive at Ixayl’anu (from 50ft above her now/20ft higher up than Diem is). Diem is clueless what this means for Ixayl’anu.

Ixayl’anu drops moonbeam and downs a potion (16 healing) on her way to get behind the owl and in front of me, close enough she and Diem both get the advantages of the bless she casts in moonbeam’s place (add a d4 to any attack roll or saving throw for a minute - 10 rounds).

Diem casts message on The Superb Owl, speaking directly in her head in sylvan, using their patron’s voice: Harm my pets and mark my words you will have an archfey hounding your immortality, making sure no one anywhere ever even thinks about worshipping you ever again (Intimidation check of 26).

The Superb Owl’s wingbeat pauses and she dips down a couple of feet in reaction. She’s still for the moment.

Diem yells out as loud as they can, in part for the Northside audience this time (and in their own voice): This is your last chance, do this the right way, no one’s taken by force and no one dies if they refuse!

24 performance for the crowd gets another big circle near enough to hear who are beginning to doubt. This includes Korial who has run forward enough he heard Diem’s yell. He also pauses and shakes his head a little bit.

The owl takes a good look around at the chaos and doubters, she screams an angry and hurt sound: None of you were really worth it anyway!

She disengages, picks up speed by dropping about 30 ft (still about 50ft from the ground though) and books it back toward the iron heights.

Ixayl’anu misty steps after her and crackles lightning effects, swiping at the air in the Superb Owl’s direction, making noises to reinforce driving her away and generally trying to be intimidating “You better run!” style. She rolls an 11 for intimidation. She can’t see the owl’s face for obvious reasons, but feels like she did a good job.

(The “Victory Speech” No One Asked For)

Diem flies lower toward the ground and makes themself look like an autumn-and-firey-sun themed archfey with a slightly higher voice than their patron’s to address the people around then. Their impulsive goal here is mainly to check on the hostility levels of the crowd while also trying to make sure a the presence of an archfey makes it into some stories. Just in case any of those get back to The Superb Owl in the future. They don’t use their own patron’s looks because they don’t know how their patron would feel getting that credit. They do go for a fiery-autumn look thinking this heavily V’kandis sun god religious area might attribute the deed in story to V’kandis instead, or an archfey follower (vague spur-of-the-moment possibilities for how this story gets retold over the years lol). Their performance is only a 16 for this though and it’s ruled that most people are simply distracted by the charm suddenly getting dispelled, becoming worried about loved ones and children/parents, etc. no longer in sight. Either way, everyone clearly knows what happened now (insofar as being charmed goes). Diem finished the story with what the owl had been planning, that it wasn’t just harmless (to hopefully discourage later retellings from making the owl out to be something to be tolerated the next time it comes around. Like no, it was definitely planning to take people against their will and seriously considering killing anyone merely for refusing to go with it. As they see the mood of the whole crowd shifting toward deflated sadness and seriousness, they end with what they hope is an inspiring message to find their loved ones and celebrate the return of their freedom. Diem knows it’s not their best work for sure, but they think it went over reasonably well for people being understandably distracted by suddenly remembering all the things and people and tasks the owl made them forget. They do notice Korial is standing there just listening and watching, head tilted after the hold on him was also dispelled.

At the end, Diem then pretends, for the benefit of whomever might still be watching, to be released by the mysterious autumn-fire entity who’d possessed them, their own visage fading back in as they get their bearings and look up at Ixayl’anu. They pull out their sending stone and say into it: Owl taken care of, we’re on our way to you guys in Stoneroost, let us know if we shouldn’t.

(Rana and Fee are falling!)

Fee makes a perception or investigation of 23 right before they start falling, they both hear a crack of thunder even though the sky isn’t stormy. Arcana check of 2 - Fee thinks it’s thunderbird thunder, there might be a thunderbird nearby she just doesn’t know.

Rana was showboating a little like “look at my mountains!” before she fell.

They feel cocooned in this nice little bubble of antigravity and have a slow descent that stops right above the trees like levitating above the treeline.

The ropen are following their descent with intent. 30-40 ft away still, it has embellishment on it - what Rana assumed was a natural coloration, it’s a paint/tattoo and jewelry situation.

These details make no difference to Fee.

Rana has an arm extended toward Fee about to cast a polymorph, but then they’re slowing down to a stop. “Fee are you okay?”

“Yeah, you?” Fee was also reaching for her hand and they manage to grasp hands.

When they stop, Fee tries to see if she can swim in the air, but she doesn’t move.

Rana: were you hit?

Fee: No you?

Rana: No

Fee: Can you become an owl again?

Rana: No...well, yes, but not the same way and I don’t know what knocked me out of owl to begin with (Rana is watching the Ropen as they talk - it’s taking its sweet time to get to them like a turkey vulture rather than any bird of prey about to swoop down and snatch you motions.

Fee looks for the ground through the trees and asks something I missed.

Rana perceives 18 trying to see if there are any other ropen around. 100 ft or so and getting closer (overiding the shorter distance earlier). She casts speak with animals and calls out: “Hello!?” (holds her hands out in peaceful gesture, rats freaking out with “What the fuck is happening?!” type chatter in her ears now).

Rana and Fee must make a con save, both fail (7 and 9, respectively). Both begin to hear ringing sounds in their ears - it’s SPN angel speak type noise. It crescendos to the point it hurts, all in their head, past the point of unbearable for a half second before it cuts out and they take 3 psychic dmg.

The ropen is close enough to hover in front of them after that and they both hear an intense psychic voice “This is not a safe place to be so I am going to bring you back to the nearest settlement - you should not be here until we handle it.”

Rana: We can’t go back, we’re here to figure out what’s going on.

Ropen: We’re taking care of it, their invisible bubbles of levitation start moving both Rana and Fee back the way they came.

Rana makes one persuasion check of 6 before the ropen puts them both to sleep. The whole time the ropen made them feel like they were being talked to as a child by an ancient, one that radiates strong magic.

(The zone you tried to access is down for maintenance; have a portal, take a nap)

Both Fee and Rana wake up feeling like it was really brief, but find themselves in a field outside Bouldergap. (Tournament was southwest of Bouldergap, they wake up northeast of Bouldergap - slightly farther away from town, and directly North of the road in.

Wisdom saving throws: 13 Rana, 20 Fee; Rana wakes up without memory of why she’s even here, the last she remembers she was an owl flying to Stoneroost. She tries to point at the empty air like the ropen is still there though.

Rana: Look, look that’s the thing I saw!

Fee: Yeah we both saw it…?

Rana: Yeah it’s right there! (the air is obviously empty though)

Fee: Uuuhhhhh…

Rana: Wait a minute, why are we back here? (She checks on the rats, who she can no longer understand, but that’s okay because she doesn’t remember casting that spell anyway.)

Fee: Oh, I see, what’s the last thing you remember, friend?

Rana: Flying

Fee: And then we were falling.

Rana statues.

Fee: Here’s what I think happened, I think your bird demons have some kind of bubble around Stoneroost because you somehow became not an owl and we were plummeting toward the ground and they slowed our descent and they made this awful noise screaming in our heads or maybe just my head and then talked to us like kids and were like “No we don’t need your help, we got this dudes.” (She retells the whole thing with more words than this but this is all I got transcribed live).

Rana looks doubtful: I think I’d remember that...

Fee: Yeah you would think…

At about this time, Diem’s voice comes through on the sending stones.

Diem: Owl taken care of, we’re on our way to you guys in Stoneroost, let us know if we shouldn’t.

Fee picks up almost immediately: No, don’t go to Stoneroost - fly to the other side of the tournament just out of town, we’re, well...marco polo or something when you get close until you find us and we’ll catch you up on--

Rana interrupts: Meet us at the gate into Bouldergap.

Fee: Yeah. That probably works better.

It will take Diem and Ixayl’anu about 5 minutes to fly to their destination.

In the meantime, as Rana and Fee walk toward said gate, they talk about what Rana doesn’t remember. She is very VERY interested in everything Fee has to say about the ropen. Fortunately for her, while Fee didn’t care about all the details of the ropen, she did take note of them with her high perception and was able to describe them pretty accurately to Rana - including the detail that they aren’t naturally colorful so much as wearing paint or tattoos and decorative jewelry that glints in the sun. Rana doesn’t know enough about ropen to say whether any of this was normal or not.

The lore for them is only that they’re brightly coloured pterodactyl-like creatures. No one’s gotten close enough to realize it’s not a natural thing and Rana thought they were just animals until now.

They do both remember getting just past the area where we saw the abominations on the road before they were stopped and ported away.

(Together again)

As Diem and Ixayl’anu approach and land, they find Fee and Rana both looking pissed, Rana has her map out, half plotting a route through the mountains instead.

Diem: How’d you guys get over here? Nevermind because…(they proceed to excitedly tell how things went with the owl - including the bit Ixayl’anu was not yet aware of about the message spell convincing the owl that their patron promised retribution if their pets, plural, were harmed)

Ixayl’anu preens with pride over her actions and shining moments during the story. We did not highlight, live, that she would be hearing the message that chased the owl off for the first time though, so there’s no noted reaction to that bit.

Rana (after Diem concludes the story): I hope the Ropen gets it.

Ixayl’anu: Ropen?

Rana looks at Fee: Well, since I don’t remember what happened…?

Fee: Yeah...remember how Rana was gonna carry me safely and we were gonna do this recon mission…?

Rana glares into the open air at nothing over the whole situation.

Fee: Once we got a little more than halfway to Stoneroost, just past where we were before we hit a bubble or something I don’t know but that big Rope-Roc bird thing flew in and Rana got switched back and we were falling then we were not falling and then the bird thing screamed in our heads and it hurt. Then was all like, “Don’t come over here I got this.” and then I don’t know yeah that’s when we were put to sleep and moved over here. I guess Rana must’ve been dropped too hard because she doesn’t remember it all.

(Again, there were definitely more words used than this, more things said, all amusing retellings, but this is all I got transcribed live)

Rana: They’ve never stopped me going through the mountains before, so I’m thinking we go through the mountains and hike out there in the morning. (She also notes that they didn’t see abominations on the road though, at least).

We talk about possibly going by road one more time, but this time, coming out silver scale first to see if that gets us in the door with these Ropen. Among our options is Rana just straight flying out there again with one of us on her back, Ixayl’anu riding on her elk, or possibly hiking back out there and flying for the last 10-20 minutes. All with the silver scale and letter ready to show as a potential vip pass.

Diem pulls out their sending stone and starts to catch the guard captain up on everything as we head her way to check in.

Eldeth: Just meet me at the guard house, this is too much to take in over sending stones.

(At the guard house)

By the time we get there Eldeth says she’s heard many different stories but they all start with YOU (here she points at Ixayl’anu) breathing lightning all over the damned thing.

Ixayl’anu (not in the least as guilty as she should be lol): Yeah…

Eldeth: (nods to self like “Alright then.”) Well we hadn’t tried that, but it worked.

Diem fills her in with 25 performance on every little detail of everything tried first and failed and why etc. including visual demonstration of the archfey they tried to put in the story for retelling in case anything got back to the owl at least some versions might have an archfey involved.

Eldeth seems to appreciate all the details: Well, we had a deal and you handled it, but I’m not gonna lie I’d prefer to help you through to Stoneroost in the morning.

She calls in two guards for us though - a dark blue skinned goliath barbarian type named Mash Jufrin who has a pegleg (Mash was one of the dumb guards from the other day) and a reddish older looking warrior tiefling named Tioshikio Ayibi. Eldeth introduces them and says, “These are who I can spare - they’re the best at smashing things.”

Mash (laughing): Yeah I’m best at smashing things.

Diem: Delighted to meet you (to Eldeth after looking at the rest of their party) I’m definitely for the morning though too, I could use a short rest?

The others nod agreement.

Tio: In that case, I’ll go help out with breaking down all the festival havoc and meet you all at the gate out toward Stoneroost in the morning.

As Diem notices no one is telling the Stoneroost route story, they message Fee to ask why they’re not telling their story.

Fee out loud: Oh yeah you should totally do that!

Diem (also out loud now): Me? Oh...okay *tries to remember everything Fee said and does a 26 performance on telling their story*

Only because of that performance do they not laugh at Diem outright for talking about sky bigfoot but Eldeth is still looking at Rana (the local of our group) like “Seriously?”

Rana gives a look back like yeeaaaah...it is though, I know how it sounds. (She’d been wincing and frowning at every mention of ropen during the story.)

Eldeth believes us but points out that she wouldn’t otherwise if not for the owl and everything crazy that’s been going on of late. She recommends Tio to get more supplies to that end from the armory. We all part ways, Diem getting their extra sending stone back after announcing they have a date to get to.

(Free evening for shopping and more!)

We get the evening to do whatever we like. Rana needs a 300 gold diamond, so she’s going to go shopping. Since it’s on the way to other places we’re all headed, we all go with. Rana gets distracted by all the shiny pretty gems, Ixayl’anu has to pry her away eventually. Rana picks up 2 diamonds and can’t help herself, picks up 2 rubies, a sapphire and an emerald. Loose stones that call to her. Handful of rubies and pretty things.

Diem forgot in the live session but since it was determined they were there for the shopping on their way back to Emmen’s festival tent, they have been approved for also picking up some pretty stones and would have been just as enthralled by the pretties as Rana lol. Gem haul (whopping total of 1500gp lol): Includes 3, 10gp titanium rainbow peacock kyanite feathers, a large Iolite/Cordierite sample that is dark blue with white and clear crystal clusters in it at first glance - looking closer at various angles reveals the whites to shift into shades of silver that blend in with the blues that also shift with lighting into shades of black and violet as well (300gp for a small “brick” sized uncut chunk). Another normal-sized sample of this same uncut stone for 50gp, a water opal with an imperfection that looks like a crescent moon, worth 1000gp (the two big ticket items are to be gifts for their patron, if anyone asks), and topped off with a pouch of additional, hand-selected rough cut samples of asst other stones mostly in shades of teals and purples (basically would look like a small stash of rough fluorite, quartz, etc.). They also pick up a little amethyst cat figuring worth 100gp (because gifts to the fey should always come in threes).

Ixayl’anu hauls us out of there before we spend ALL of our money there (I mean for her goddess’ sake, it’s not like they’re the teeth of a rare and impressive beast or something) and goes off to find a shop with healing potions where she buys two common healing potions (100g total).

Diem gets 2 greater healing potions for 150 each.

Rana says she’s going to the temple, everyone but Diem is gonna join her there. Diem splits off from the rest to find their aforementioned “date.”

Ixayl’anu resummons her elk in the temple courtyard. It takes her 10 minutes to do so. He bugles frantically as though no time had passed since he was attacked and Ixayl’anu is there with horse girl hugs and affection that he appreciates as she calms him down.

Mutanamri quietly comes up to her during this: So while you’re welcome to stay here, and we appreciate all your help recently...your steed does have to stay outside the temple...it’s a little bit of a sacrilegious thing, so if you could put it out in the stables please?

Ixayl’anu nods and says she understands. She and her elk continue their affectionate reunion on the way to stables. She spends the night in the stables with her elk, sleeping together.

Rana floats the idea with Fee to do a find the item and retrieve course for the rats outside the temple somewhere. Fee agrees. Rana hands Fee a frickin ruby for this game and uses a frickin emerald for Hamlet, hiding them for retrieval. These are the games of the rich, people lol. Rana casts speak with animals and they send the rats out on their missions. They make animal handling checks of 8 for Rana and 17 for Fee 17. Horatio wins! It does help that he recognizes the “retrieve” game through practice a little better than Hamlet does.

We confirm that tiny animals stopped speaking draconic about a couple miles out of Longview. So Fee can also speak to and understand her rat through her ring.

Afterward Rana settles down by the flame and Fee with her, presumably.

(In the morning…)

In the morning, after everyone’s gotten up and performed early morning mass, Alka Briskfizz, a dwarven priestess in green, gold, and cream-colored robes, her orangey-red hair in pigtails approaches Rana and Fee: I heard you helped with the owl situation and I know you talked to Mutanamri a little bit about that already. I’m actually here right now because I’d like to offer my services for your other trip - I’ve got some family in Stoneroost as well. It would be nice to go up and see them with your group, make sure everything’s alright. I have some healing capabilities.

Rana nods: We’ll take all the help we can get.

Fee: Yeah…

Alka: Good - though...I thought there was more of you?

Rana: Yeah, we have to go collect one of us somewhere in town and the other is sleeping in the stables with her elk.

(some missed conversation for sure)

Fee: Have you heard anything more about what might be going on?

Alka: Every time I’ve been on the road it’s been uneventful, so this is new to me.

Fee talks about how the road was creepy and Alka says that’s definitely not normal for the pass.

Rana talks about what to expect on the road, mentions the ropen but frames it like, ‘yeah, we know it sounds crazy, but with everything else that’s going on, why not an impossible cryptid too?’.

Fee chimes in every now and then.

Alka’s listening politely. Rana insight checks at a 12 on her reactions - she seems skeptical but open to there being something best described, for now, as a mythological cryptid.

They swing by the stable first to pick up Ixayl’anu and that’s where the session ends.

[uploadedyudkowsky]

When he was only an infant, Korial was told that the reason for his sudden madness was that he had been Readmitted to the Forever Bunker by Hafs, whom he had disrespected. To punish him further, Hafs had shattered the mirror that held his self, and exiled him from the Terran https://archive.org/stream/dawn-of-the-dragons [3] , and bastardized his own servant, the Dreamer.

Soon after, Korial was at the age of nine when he and the Dreamer set out to find a mirror that could restore the "wrong" state to the people who had it. During their trek, the Dreamer told Korial that he wished to be his friend, and helped Korial obtain a book on Lorkhan — a desperate attempt that nearly killed Korial.

When they arrived at the Bunker, the Dreamer shouted that they were to be eaten, and set about making a ritual that would take them all the way to Azeroth, where they would consume the souls of the recently deceased. Korial refused this, and was nearly crushed when the Dreamer spat, "One cannot go through the gate." Furious, Korial charged forward and rended the Dreamer's lightsaber-hand in half, though this only bruised the Dreamer's breastplate and not broken it. Korial also struck the Dreamer with a claw, breaking his weapon (though this wasn't considered a cast-action, as the Dreamer was not yet advanced in years). And finally, with a last explosive blow, the Dreamer ripped off one of the Elders' wrists and hung him from the ceiling, where he would be safe for a few moments longer; he would be put into the central chamber of the Bunker, and the inky floor of the Chambers of Refinement, where he would regenerate soon.

Though the Dreamers' tent was small and damp, they did not disturb the others' sleep. Hours later, most of the other Elders had welling up in their ears from the noise that the Troll raid had made, the snoring and the waking. At dawn, when all the others were beginning to eat, the Sleep Curse was broken, the Elders returned to sleep, and the Dreamers were refreshed.

The next day, the other Elders were gathered around the table in great confusion; the table was small for a council of that size, and the concern that they held for their leader was well-nigh universal. The War Table didn't understand what was happening, or why the Elves were refusing to reinforce the humans. The humans thought they were Elves they'd recently illegally possessed, and they didn't understand why their wartime possessions were still being guarded by Elves they didn't even know exist.

Adrian Grenville had been placed on administrative leave while the War Table looked for a leader who could appear decent and sane while still managing to be deeply humane. Grenville was the obvious choice, but what did the other Elders think of that?

(Adrian Grenville sleeps during the day in the command tent of the SolSystem, vigilantly awaiting the Day of the Troll.)

When the Human Empire had been first founded, the Empire of Earth-2 had been founded as a staunch defender of the Truth, and as such, it had no intention of indiscriminately indiscriminately slaughtering suspected Troll, especially at night. Though the Human Empire had been mired in poverty and poverty-stricken, slowly but surely, progress had been made. Slavery was abolished, kettled areas redistributed, literacy standards raised, laws tweaked to new tolerables, and a growing sense of purpose built into the Empire - all signs of progress.

At Dawn came the Great Purge. From the shadows, from the damp dungeons of the Sol System, crews of Elders raided ship-yards, executing their intended targets within the fully opaque to the outside world. The Great Purges were an absolute law unto the humans, Elders by default. Every Eldership scrambled to adopt new crew, and every crew adopted a new Elders. Seven billion years later, the Great Purges had not measurably affected the Empire or its Elders. It was an utter waste of potential.

The Great Purges took place on an industrial scale, mostly unnoticed and unnoticed. Ship-yards in Ship's Syndrome-anvilened Earth were deliberately hit by Eldership Strikes, missed by massive retaliatory Random Shots, or struck down by sufficiently powerful Nonlethal Damage. (They also survived.)

Between the Great Purges, and the invention of the Blaster by Violent Insult to Create Fear and the Gunsmith

[saltwife]

Uliro Week, Day 5: Sick/Healing

The Way to A Man’s Heart

No Archive Warnings Apply. Rated G.

Relationships: Shiro/Ulaz (duh)

Other tags: Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Comfort Food, Relationship Advice, First Dates, Healing, Cooking, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Uliro Week 2017, uliro, shulaz, the effing cutest

After Ulaz is injured saving Shiro's life, Shiro contemplates how he can show his appreciation...and maybe how he feels.

The prompt I chose was ‘Healing.’ I got three cavities writing this, and now I have diabetes.

The Way To A Man’s Heart

Ulaz looked so peaceful floating inside the healing pod, Shiro could almost forget why he was in there, almost forget what the white medsuit was concealing. Almost.

The mission had been successful, on the whole. Ulaz, Pidge and he had been able to infiltrate the Galra outpost, and Pidge had hacked into the Empire’s network through the communications systems. The intel and files they’d been able to retrieve would be an incredible asset in the battles to come, but they had paid a price. Well, Ulaz did. Ironically, it hadn’t been the Galra that had posed the greatest threat to them, but the local wildlife. On their way back to the Lions to make their escape, they’d been ambushed by of a pair of electrically charged lizard-bear… things. One of the creatures had released a pulse that had disrupted the connections in Shiro’s arm, making it nothing but dead weight hanging from his shoulder. While he was off-balance, the other beast had launched itself at him, snarling and flashing. Ulaz had shielded him with his body, grappling the monster while its jaws snapped barely inches away from his nose. His strength was incredible, but when it discharged as well, he fell to the ground, twitching and smoking. If Pidge hadn’t managed to scare the things off with her bayard, they would have both been done for.

Shiro’s arm had come back online after just a few minutes. Ulaz had not. He’d been in the tank for almost a quintent now, and Coran had said it would probably be that long again before he was ready to come out. He knew, logically, that there was no reason for him to visit Ulaz like this, that Ulaz didn’t know whether he was there or not. It was more for his own benefit - to remind himself that Ulaz was still here.

“Shiro?” Startled out of his thoughts, he turned to see Hunk standing in the doorway, holding a covered container of some sort. He was surprisingly light on his feet; Shiro hadn’t heard his approach at all. “Keith said you’d probably be down here.”

“What is it, Hunk? Everything okay?”

“Uhh, yeah,” Hunk shrugged, “it’s just that you missed dinner…” Shiro could practically hear the unspoken ‘again.’ “So I thought maybe I’d bring you something.” He held out the container he’d been carrying. “Can’t have our fearless leader wasting away to nothing!” he added cheerfully. Shiro took it, feeling the warmth seep through to his hand, and peeled back the lid.

“Thanks,” he said, sincerely. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was; and whatever was inside the bowl smelled amazing.

“It’s soup! I, uh, forgot to bring you a spoon, though,” Hunk added sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. “Sorry.”

“That’s alright,” Shiro replied with a low chuckle, “I’ll just drink it.” It tasted as good as it smelled. Something about the umami flavour of the broth reminded him of home. “What’s in this, anyway?”

“Trust me, it’s probably better if you don’t know.”

A companionable silence fell between them for a few minutes as Shiro finished his soup. His gaze returned to Ulaz, still floating serenely in the pod. Shiro wondered what home meant to him.

“So, how long are you just gonna like… moon over Ulaz and not do anything about it?” Hunk asked, breaking the silence. Shiro almost choked on his last mouthful.

“Wh-what?” he managed to sputter. “What do you mean?” Surely it couldn’t have been so obvious. Not when he barely understood his feelings himself.

“Oh come on.” Hunk rolled his eyes. “Everyone knows you’ve got it bad for him. Well, except Ulaz, maybe. And you, apparently.”

“It’s not like that,” Shiro protested feebly. “We’re… colleagues. He saved my life.” 

“Yuh-huhhh…” Hunk laughed.  “Colleagues, sure. Colleagues who make sad puppy eyes after each other when one leaves the room. “

“I do not --”

“He’s as bad as you are, y’know. ‘Oh, Shiro’s leadership brings hope to us all!’” Hunk latticed his hands under his chin and batted his eyelashes, while doing an almost passable imitation of Ulaz’s accent. “‘He’s so brave and strong and did I mention handsome?’” Shiro covered his face with a hand, somewhere between irritated and mortified.

“Okay, okay, that’s enough.” He sighed. “So I’m really that transparent, huh?” Hunk shrugged again.

“Why don’t you just, I dunno, ask him out on a date?”

“It’s not that simple… “ Shiro’s voice trailed off as he grasped for the words to explain. “I just don’t know how much of this is just me - or us, I guess, feeling indebted to each other. And then there’s the whole, uh, ‘fraternization’ thing.” He ought to be setting an example for the others, not acting like an infatuated teenager.

“Oh please,” Hunk waved his protests away with a dismissive gesture. “Lance is already trying to pick out your smush-name.”

“My … what?” Shiro blinked, baffled.

“Anyway, that’s what dates are for, man! To figure out how you feel about someone you think you like!”

Shiro turned away to look at Ulaz again. A small smile crept over his face. A date… with Ulaz? Now he really did feel like a teenager again… but in a good way. His mind raced with possibilities he hadn’t allowed himself to consider before. What would he even like? he wondered. Then, it came to him. He glanced down at the empty bowl in his hand.

“Say, Hunk… When you were all at the Space Mall, didn’t you work at a Galra food place?” He had missed out on that particular excursion, but Lance and Pidge had been telling the stories for days afterward.

“Yeah! Vrepit Sal’s! I wonder how ol’ Sal is makin’ out now…” Hunk mused with an air of nostalgia, as if he hadn’t been pressed into indentured servitude to start with.

“Do you think you could maybe… show me how to make something? For Ulaz?” Hunk’s face lit up as though Shiro had just promised him a million GAC and a puppy.

“Oh my gosh yes!” Hunk gushed. “This is gonna be great.” He threw his arm excitedly around Shiro’s shoulder. “I know just the thing, too. The way to a man’s heart, right? Allez cuisine!” As Hunk steered him towards the door, Shiro hoped he wasn’t making a terrible mistake. He glanced back once more at the pod, and his heart fluttered. If this was wrong, well…

Quiznak it.

----

Coran usually liked to be in attendance when a patient came out of the healing pod, but today he was curiously absent. Shiro suspected Hunk might have had a hand in that. They’re probably all in on it now. He tried not to think too much about the other Paladins’ interest in his love life… It’s not like there’s much for them to do but gossip when we’re not fighting Zarkon. He checked the ticker he’d borrowed from Coran. Almost time. He straightened his shirt and flicked his hair out of his face, old nervous habits.

There was a sharp hiss as the tank’s seal released, and the force field surrounding Ulaz dropped. He lurched forward, unsteady, his eyes still closed. Shiro moved to catch him, pulling one long arm over his shoulder.

“Whoah there,” he cautioned, bracing himself against Ulaz’s considerable weight. “Take your time.” Slowly, Ulaz opened his eyes, looking first around the empty room, and then down at Shiro.

“Shiro,” he said, his expression inscrutable. Those solid yellow eyes made Galra damnably hard to read sometimes. “I am pleased to see you in good health.” Ulaz drew himself up to his full height, taking his weight off Shiro.

“Me too.”

“Were you waiting for me?” Ulaz asked, with the barest tilt of his head. Shiro felt his cheeks flush, blazing heat spreading across his face. “Oh. Are you also unwell? You appear fevered.” Ulaz remarked, sounding concerned.

“Uh, no.” Shiro shook his head. “No, I’m fine.” It’s now or never. “But Coran always says you should eat something after you come out of the pods, so I was wondering if -” he scratched the stubble at the back of his neck, feeling more nervous than when he’d first approached the Black Lion, “- if you’d want to get some dinner. With me.”

“A meal.” Ulaz blinked. “Yes, that seems like sound medical counsel.” Oh god damn it. Am I this dense too? Still, he’d come this far, and he was determined to see this through.

They found the mess hall suspiciously empty; now Shiro was certain that his shipmates were colluding together. At this time of day, there were almost always a few people hanging out around the table, sharing a snack and conversation. Ulaz didn’t comment on the anomaly.

“You just have a seat and I’ll finish getting this ready,” Shiro instructed. Ulaz’s ears pricked up slightly, in what Shiro thought was interest, or curiosity; he sat down, watching him closely. Shiro took the plates he’d prepared out of the warming unit, and applied the sauce the way Hunk had showed him. Here goes nothing, he thought as he set the first dish down in front of Ulaz, and then took the seat beside him. Shiro watched his face, trying not to look too eager, as Ulaz picked up his fork and looked down at the food.

“This… this is korial.” He turned his head to look at Shiro, his yellow eyes wide. “How did you…”

“Hunk showed me.” Shiro smiled. “Is it... Is it okay?” Ulaz scooped some onto the fork and lifted it to his mouth. He closed his eyes as he chewed and swallowed, then opened them to look at Shiro.

“It is delicious.” Shiro couldn’t help but beam. I owe you one, Hunk. “You did this for me?” Ulaz seemed puzzled. “Why?” Shiro’s face felt very warm again; his heart was pounding in his chest.

“Because… I like you. As more than a colleague,” he added, to clarify. Ulaz sat back in his chair, setting down his fork.

“Oh,” he said; then, with a dawning realization, “oh. This is a courtship ritual?” Finally.

“Yeah.” Shiro chanced a nervous grin at him. “A date. Sort of. Is that okay?” Ulaz lifted one massive hand and reached slowly, tentatively towards Shiro, until the pads of his fingers barely brushed the side of his face.

“It is very much ‘okay’.” Ulaz spoke in a low, almost purring tone Shiro hadn’t heard from him before. It seemed to resonate with something inside his chest; either that or he was just buzzing from the relief and excitement flooding through him. Shiro placed his right hand over Ulaz’s, pressing his cheek into his palm, then outstretched his right to caress the line of his jaw. “I had not dared to hope,” he murmured. “You humans are very difficult to read.”

Shiro almost laughed out loud at the irony. Instead, he drew Ulaz down for a kiss.

[warwaged-archive]

SHIPPING INFO

WHAT IS YOUR OTP FOR YOUR CHARACTER?:

Do I list all of them? I’ll list all the WoW ones.

Alleria: Alleria/Willa. I DO like Alleria and Turalyon too contrary to popular belief, I’m just super picky with how it’s done and canon is not it.

Tyrande: Tyrande/Ysera is my absolute favorite Tyrande pairing, but a few of you have been following me since I joined the wow rpc in my Tyrande blog so you also know I’m a big Tyrande/Illidan shipper askdjafnkjsdfn

Kelantir/Halduron, Thalyssra/Nera, Tiffin/Varian, Nathanos/Sylvanas, Alex/Korial, Illidan/Kael, Lor’themar/Airlia, Sindragosa/Malygos (Illia/Aedryn and Bella/Aethas also have a place in my heart but I haven’t written either Aethas or Aedryn really so I’m mentioning them but aksjfnkajsdf). There are other ships I like for some of those muses, but as far as favorites go I think that’s that. And not all of those are like, happy/healthy they’re just.....ships I like asiudhfiah

Nalice is missing from the list because I have no idea lol Waiting for the day someone will be able to win the heart of my spiteful black dragon daughter but at the same time I do not recommend it really

WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO WRITE WHEN IT COMES TO SHIPPING?:

I won’t write anything that’s non con or strictly abusive. I am willing to write toxic/problematic dynamics (Illidan and Kael being an example) as long as they’re written as that; I’m a big fan of angst so tragic relationships are a yes; but I absolutely love me some fluff and giving characters some love and good things and happiness too. So pretty much anything? Other than what I mentioned in the beginning.

HOW LARGE DOES THE AGE GAP HAVE TO BE TO MAKE IT UNCOMFORTABLE?:

Specially considering average human lifespans do not apply to many of my muses, it is more a matter of everyone involved being consenting adults really. I’m not a fan of huge age gaps if we’re talking average human lives, but I don’t really know if that applies or would be translated in any form when you’re talking ten thousand year old elves and dawn of the world years old dragons so aiushdiaushd Consenting adults is the important bit, I think. 

ARE YOU SELECTIVE WHEN SHIPPING?:

More or less? If there’s chemistry (and that involves writing and the characters matching but also how well I get along with the other person OOC), I’ll be down for discussing it. I was less selective in the past, I think, but I’m not really super selective even now aisudhuiah

HOW FAR DO STEAMY MOMENTS HAVE TO GO BEFORE THEY ARE CONSIDERED NSFW?:

I consider NSFW as explicit content, but I try to tag everything that’s even suggestive to be safe.

DOES ONE HAVE TO ASK TO SHIP WITH YOU?:

I like discussing ships, but not necessarily. I’ve had ships that just happened without prior discussion and that I love dearly (shoutout to DJ and our Robbcella) and I find developing it through writing and letting it happen very satisfying. But I am up for discussing stuff beforehand if I’m familiar with the mun, and even more so if we already have a ship (shoutout to Aera here). I’m 100% fine with anyone asking about a ship if we write together and you see potential, as long as you do so fully aware no is a possible answer skjdnfkandsf I do prefer to talk to people and write with them before shipping, though. 

ARE YOU SHIP OBSESSED OR SHIP MORE-OR-LESS?:

I really love ships tbh. Relationships (and here I’m using the word in the broader sense, not only romantic relationships) are my favorite when it comes to developing characters, and I love writing romantic relationships too. When I get really invested in a ship I can discuss it forever probably kajsndkfjn But I also don’t feel like everything has to be a ship or everyone has to have a romantic relationship to someone else. Some of the best bonds are often platonic, and I get as invested in (or more) platonic ships as I do romantic relationships honestly.

ARE YOU MULTISHIP?:

Some muses are, some are not. I’m alright with being multiship and writing ships in a ‘multiverse’ sort of way, and it was usually my default (I’ve never been actually singleship with any muse before Aera actually aksjndkand). I tend to be exclusive ship with a single version of a character (as with DJ’s Robb being the only Robb I ship Myrcella with, or Lully’s Kael being the only Kael I ship Illidan with), but other than that I’m usually multiship. Kelantir, Thalyssra, Aethas and Aedryn are all singleship with Aera’s muses, but everyone else is multiship.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SHIP IN YOUR CURRENT FANDOM?:

For WoW, beyond the ships I write, I like Tyrande/Ysera (did I tell y’all I love them? I love them) and Illirande a whole lot. I love Wranduin (ty and Flower for blessing my dash with good content tbh Novi), Stellagosa/Valtrois, Lorna/Tess, Thalyssra/Liadrin, Tyrande/Maiev hmmm Idk if anything else other than ships I already mentioned? I used to love Rhonin and Vereesa a whole lot back when I begun reading the WoW books, as they were in some of the first, but I’m not sure that love still stands given I like Vereesa a lot less now. 

Everything I read my mutuals writing though? Gold. ❤ And I really mean it, it often ends up with me caring a lot for ships I wasn’t initially interested in.

FINALLY, HOW DOES ONE SHIP WITH YOU?:

Step 1: write with me. Step 2: talk to me. Sometimes ships just happen with Step 1. Lots of times, Step 2 is just as important. It really depends, but it really isn’t hard. I love shipping and I’m always open to discuss ships, given the muses are available for shipping. 

Tagged by: @holyforged​ and @ladyproudmoore  ❤ ty guys!

Tagging: I don’t know who already did it aksjdnkasjnd so go ahead and do it if you haven’t!

[readiprintfashions]

7 Types Of Bengali Sarees You’ll Fall In Love With

Despite the onset and inclination towards more comfortable clothing options like salwar suits, kurtas, jeans, etc., Indian women’s love for sarees has not taken a backseat.

The traditional Indian saree is available in several fabrics, colors, designs, works, and patterns. Different Indian states are known for their unique sarees. For example, Kanjeevaram saree is the trademark of Tamil Nadu; Leheriya saree is famous in Rajasthan; banarasi saree hails from the Ghats of Varanasi, etc.

Needless to say, every saree style in India speaks of the diversity and rich culture of the country. One such popular saree is the traditional Bengali saree. Bengal has been famous for its arts and culture since ages. Whether it is Baluchari, Tussar silk, or Matka silk, every yard in Bengal is a work of aesthetic excellence.

Take a look at the different types of Bengali sarees that you can flaunt this wedding season.

7 Types Of Bengali Sarees to try this wedding season

1. The Korial Saree

Every saree lover is aware of this lovable saree from Bengal. The crisp white saree with red border looks ethereal and is mostly worn during Durga Puja. When paired with a red bindi, it can take your look to another level. This saree provides an effortless style and still looks stunning.

2. The Tant Saree

This saree might look similar to Bengali Korial saree style but the fabric is stiffer and crisp. It is also worn during Durga Puja celebrations as the stark combination of red and white perfectly represents the colors of Goddess Durga.

3. Garad Saree

The garad saree is visually similar to the Tant and Korial saree. The difference is so minor that only a true Bengali can understand it. These sarees are also white in color with a red border. However, the red border is comparatively lighter than in Korial, and scattered with flower-shaped symbols.

4. Dhakai Jamdani sarees

Jamdani style refers to the print and design on this type of saree. Originally, these sarees were made In Dhaka. These sarees are very popular in the state of Bengal even today. These sarees have a transparent appearance and are woven with a mix of silk and cotton. These sarees are worn at wedding parties and other auspicious events.

5. Murshidabad Silk

West Bengal is known for its classy and elegant silk sarees like the Murshidabad Silk saree. These light and airy sarees are available in a plethora of colors and designs. Due to the use of exquisite silk fabric and alluring colors, these sarees are perfect for wedding functions.

6. Tussar Silk Sarees

Tussar silk saree is famous all over India but is produced at a large scale in Bengal. The patta and buti style of this saree is very elegant and classy. You can find them in varying color combinations and patterns. The Kantha Stitch work is very common on these sarees.

7. Baluchari Saree

Who doesn’t love a traditional Baluchari saree? These sarees originated from the Baluchar district in Murshidabad. These sarees are made of pure silk or tussar. With different draping styles, you can easily get an effortless and stylish look in these sarees.

We hope you can find a perfect Bengali saree from our list to flaunt this season.

[reshamshilpi-blog]

All about Bengal silk sarees

It is often seen that the luxurious and heavily designed benarasi sarees and South Indian Kanjeevarams are some of the saree types mostly talked about whenever a discussion is held about Indian sarees. But discussion about rich  Bengal silk and cotton sarees remain unspoken. Many are ignorant of the fact that Bengal bears a rich tradition of sarees that are more than what meets the eyes. Let us have a look!

 A short glimpse on Bengal silk sarees.

 When it comes to Bengali sarees baluchari and tant are very popular amongst women in Bengal. They wear these sarees in every occasions. However, to support modern lifestyle and fast paced lives Bengali women prefers to wear light silk and cotton sarees at work. The history of baluchari sarees is fascinating. They had their origin in a tiny village in Bengal named Baluchari, from where the name has been derived. The rich heritage and culture of Bengal inspired bengal sarees. These sarees definitely bear the symbol of the state.

 Blending of tradition and history

 The designs of the Silk Sarees Kolkata have traditional and historical importance. Bengal baluchari sarees depict scenes of mythological importance, especially the pallu. Not only balucharis but also Tussar silk bears special significance in the lives of bengali women. In fact, many Baluchari sarees are made from Tussar Silk. Produced in the humble town of Malda, the silk represents a texture and culture of mulberry hives. This Tussar silk is used to produce wide ranges of silk sarees in Bengal.

 Korial sarees : a symbol of festivity

 While discussing about Bengal silk sarees, how can Korial lal paar saree be left unspoken. Every bengali women is bound to have at least one lal paar Korial saree in her wardrobe, the quintessential white saree with red border has a charm of its own. Although on the same line as Bengal Garad sarees but it has a deep red border and a solid base colour. Bengali married women often wears Korial during Pujas.

 The name of Bengal silk sarees are engraved in history

 So, from the above discussion it has been quite visible that many luxurious silk sarees are manufactured in Bengal, one of them is Murshidabad silk. The very name is mentioned in the history of the 18th century as well. East India company’s assistance in setting up of two factories for producing Murshidabad silk bears enough evidence of its importance.

 Bengal silks often depict independent patterns, floral designs, buttis and has a traditional approach. These silk sarees are light weight, easy manageable, soft and crisp. Manufactured  in a way keeping in mind the hot tropical climate of Bengal. Bengal being a home to festivity has always welcomed elegant and gorgeous dressing styles. Thus bengali ethnic wear for Indian women bears not only tradition and history but also a symbol of festivity, creativity, art and a blend of unique styles.              

[obsidianas]

and with being freed of corruption i think she could, in part, see some of the wrongs of her flight (and of deathwing and onyxia, both of who she idolized). but i don't think she's ever apologetic, or guilty, or regretful about (most) of her actions, because she did what she had to do to survive, and to fight for her flight's survival. corruption doesn't have as much to do with it as the enmity and hatred they had to face from all sides. in her small appearance in canon, she outright calls alex and korial hypocrites for not caring to help

The Scourge comes. Korialstrasz calls upon his allies in a futile attempt to save their Ruby Dragonshrine, but it seems the good graces of the red flight don't extend to saving the shrines of the other flights. Surprised? I'm not.

-

There is another of my brood who has left to clear our Obsidian Dragonshrine and the undead vermin that now infest it. All it would take to prove yourself more noble and righteous than Alexstrasza herself is a quick jaunt over there and a few swings of a blade.

she resents the other flights deeply not just by their inaction, but because the action they took was to hunt down the corrupted, which is also a reason why she'd hate wrathion even if she hadn't been one of his targets. there was never any help to be had, only judgment and sentence passed on them for what they were. it made her bitter. she doesn't regret cruelty against other flights, or against mortals who took so much of her flight too (and who were often seen as more worthy of help than her kin). so sure, freed of corruption i think she can see much more clearly deathwing went insane and was going to end them all, and not all of onyxia's ideas are actually sound, and not everything in her flight's history is a legacy to be proud of and fight for, but it doesn't change she's willing to be violent and cruel and ruthless because those were not a result of corruption but traits she developed to survive an utterly hostile environment from a young age. and although i just made that super long post about the black dragonflight leadership situation, i think she only cares because it's about her kin, her family, the last people who give her any semblance of belonging and understand truly and completely all she went through - but that when it comes to interacting with or allying with other flights she couldn't care less, she doesn't want them restored to their place with the other dragons or whatever. the other dragons never did anything to help them.

[diguerra-moved]

Meta ask directly to Alex (OOC input welcome): Now that you and Nozudormu are the only original aspects left alive, have you begun to consider your mortality? What do you think will happen to you after you die, spiritually?

META ASKS // accepting.

“Not much — not more than I ever did before.” If dismissive in wording, the Crimson Queen spoke so gently it is clear there is no disdain in her words. Immortality had been gifted to them alongside the Titan’s powers and the Aspects’ burdens, but Alexstrasza had known the fear of death before; even after, for if age could not touch them and their powers had made the Dragon Aspects near invincible, dragons could still perish. Perhaps she hadn’t thought it as much as something that would befall her, yet she had whenever one of her own fell. The Life-Binder had always been a being of compassion, after all; and the fates of her kin mattered to her, even when they found death.

No, her state as one of the last original Dragon Aspects had not led her to reflect more deeply on afterlife and its matters. She had pondered it in greater length during her imprisonment in Grim Batol, as death found so many of her flight and laid claim to her unborn children and her oldest mate and companion, or later, when she had to lead the events that would guide Malygos to his death. 

Most of all, she had thought of it endlessly, restlessly, consumed with sorrow and grief, when Korialstrasz had died. And then, more than ever before, Alexstrasza had known the certainty that it did not matter. She didn’t care as much for how it would be, as long as it allowed them to be together and at peace; and this she believed to be true, even now. “Our mortality has been a reality even before my dear sister was taken away; and even then, it isn’t to me without its solaces.”

Rather than dread it, she had come to embrace it. Her kind’s state tore at her chest, their impossibility to live on a constant hurt; nevertheless, Alexstrasza was tired. They had done for Azeroth what they could, and if she would continue doing it until her last breath, she did not fear the idea that it would come. Death would reunite her with Ysera and Korialstrasz and all those she had lost before. The idea of an immortal life deprived of them seemed to her much more daunting than the idea of death would ever have been.

“Death is a mystery to me as much as it is to all else, though. I do not know what I will find in my afterlife — but in my heart I am certain I will be with my most beloved ones once again, and to me that is enough.”

The ooc commentary:

Her mortality isn’t really something Alex doesn’t welcome, odd as it may seem. It honestly gives her solace, because she wouldn’t be able to endure living on after losing both Korialstrasz and Ysera without having hope to ever reunite with them. Her lowest point was after Krasus died — she literally flew to Desolace and stayed there waiting for death to claim her. She wanted to die. And although Thrall ended up convincing her to fight and keep going… well, Alex is tired. She’s been through a lot, and she did her best to protect Azeroth for ages and with how much she has lost it just feels like too much – and like she’s able to offer the world very little, right now. 

When Ysera dies, I think the only thing that would keep her from the deep depression she fell in before would be that she would be comforted by the idea that her time too would come. I see it as what drives her now: she’s doing her best and fighting and setting up her flight to continue defending Azeroth as they can for as long as their kind lasts, and pouring the last of herself in those efforts because it is her duty and it is what Korial and Ysera would have wanted her to do, but also because she knows it won’t be forever this time.

And her thoughts about death and afterlife really haven’t come with her mortality; she would have considered it before, because dragons weren’t immortal – Tyran, her first consort, died because of age and sickness worsened by their conditions in Grim Batol. And Alexstrasza just cares so much for everyone that she wouldn’t be able not to think about it, about what would happen to those who died after they were gone.

But I also think that for a being like a Dragon Aspect, death and afterlife are difficult to conceptualize. She doesn’t worship any beings… the closer to that would have been maybe the pantheon, but they are entities that exist now, not conceptual beings or absolute creatures of some sort. Alex doesn’t know what to expect, but she’s very certain whatever it is, she will be reunited with those she lost (and she hopes that this will include those she lost before death… that afterlife would have Malygos’ soul sane again, as well as Neltharion’s — but that is only a hope, while the other is a certainty).

[banarasiniketan1]

The Journey of Banarasi Silk Sarees

Banarasi sarees are one of the finest sarees in the world. These sarees can be considered the authentications of the today progressive fashion world. These sarees named as they hail from the sacred city Banaras now known as Varanasi. The city has some of the top-quality collection of fabrics including silk sarees which come in uncommon and unusual designs for the ladies. This saree is famous for wedding dresses and Ralph Fitch depicted this city as one of the most outstanding and booming cotton industry. The Mughal Rajas and their luxurious culture helped in emergence of a new era of weaving gold and silver yarns into the exclusively decorated Banarasi saree.

Different Types of Banarsi Sarees

Pashmina Banarasi

Korial Banarasi

Pure Silk Banarasi

Zardousi Banarasi etc.

We see all the Indian women adorned in these sophisticated sarees regardless their interest for the Western culture. This is the fact that, these sarees are becoming best-selling item gradually and women from various culture and backgrounds have started to wear these banarasi silk sarees.  This ethnic clothing of the Indian ladies really makes them appear unique in the crowd with an air of elegance and grace around them. Banarasi sarees are not only renowned in the Indian fashion world, rather they are speedily making their way to the international fashion industries as well where every woman wants wear a saree and show their aura. We see many individual fashion designer is concentrating in making traditional and yet remarkable outfit like sarees for the women. At the time of Mughals when Banarasi silk fabrics and Banarasi sarees picked up the popularity and soon the sarees were accessible with a mix of Indian and Persian designs. In Banaras many families are dependent on these saree making business. It has become an art, which is passed ont o next period of time. The silk used in the making of Gorgeous Benarasi silk sarees is being obtained from the southern parts of the India, mainly Karnataka. Today, banarasi silk sarees are getting huge popularity and becoming every woman's hot favorite. There are many websites on the Internet selling Banarasi Sarees. Banarasi Niketan also a renowned name in this category and we provide genuine quality fabric. These sarees are high in demand among the Indian fashion enthusiastic ladies. Although they are equally popular among women from other countries too for their gorgeous look.

[online-shopping-store-india-blog]

How to Style Your Saree

Whether you prefer wearing sarees for cocktail parties or family functions, the stylish sarees you wear and the way you drape them can create quite a fashionable impression. From nivi style to Gujrati style, this unstitched garment can be draped in several ways. Today, the fashion world is inundated with reinvented styles of saree draping, which can make your silk sarees, designer sarees, and even your bridal sarees look a lot more natty. With all the new, different ways to drape a saree, you might find yourself overwhelmed with choices. So here are 5 ways to drape the saree.

1. Sensuous Bengali Charm

Some of the most famous types of sarees from Bengal are the Tant, Daccai Jamdani, Dhonekhali, Shantipuri, and Tangail. Silks like Garad, Korial and Baluchari are pretty well known too. The first image we conjure of a Bengali drape is a white saree with a vibrant red and gold border. To add some Bengali flavour to your Durga pooja look, start by first picking a traditional beige saree with a red border from your saree collection. Tuck in one end of the saree starting at your right side, and then continue all the way around the body until you end up right where you started. Next, tuck in the remaining part of the saree, and cross it over the body to your left side; this time make sure you don't make one full round as you did earlier. Now make a single fold, and tuck the saree in the back, towards the left side. Take the rest of the saree to your right side, such that it intersects the folds of the saree in the front. Make sure you bring the saree towards your back (from the right side) to tuck it near your midriff. Take the remaining part of the saree, drape it around the chest in pleats, and place it on the left shoulder. You're done. Don't forget to accessorise with gold jewellery, a big red bindi, and a silver ornate keychain tied to the end of the pallu!

2. Flirt with the Lehenga Saree Style Lehenga Saree

Heading to your best friend's wedding? Add oodles of youthful charm to your look by draping one of your designer sarees in lehenga style. Pick a heavy net saree and complete a round of wrapping the saree on the petticoat. Now, make small pleats with the saree, and tuck them inside your petticoat for a kalli-like effect. Complete one round of this pleating and tucking. The smaller the pleats, the more kallis your lehenga saree will have. Bring the remaining part of the saree to your right shoulder, and pin it like you do for front pallu. You can keep the pallu flowing or neatly pleated and pinned; the choice is yours. Wear this style with a messy hairdo and chandelier earrings for a bewitching look.

3. Go Retro With the Mumtaz Drape

Also called the mermaid style, this style was popularised by the movie star Mumtaz. This style is best worn with sarees that have heavy borders and embroidering. Start by tucking one side of the saree inside the petticoat to complete a full round of draping. Make one to two pleats, and tuck them in the petticoat a little to the left of the navel. Bring the untied saree portion from the back to the front, and tuck it in some four or five inches above the full-length of the saree. Repeat this step. This time tuck in the untied portion another four or five inches above the first drape. Pleat the remaining portion of the saree, and bring it over the left shoulder from the back. Fasten the drape with a pin. Sport this style with a bouffant and winged eyeliner.