#and its NOT even some kind of latent magical ability

[frizzy-frizz-frizz]

arthur shouldve had a scene like in sinbad when he's told to disarm and he starts putting down like half the armoury....and merlin's not even using magic for this arthur just Has that many weapons with him at given moment- he's not even in armour

and he's not even hiding them?? its just that no one ever expects him to be a walking armoury, but it makes lot more sense now how arthur will occasionally just hand people whatever sharp thing they need and it's like- "why the fuck does he have a scalpel"

[thedemonofcat]

Jaskier is a changeling, including a deep connection to nature and its magic. However, what sets Jaskier apart is an extraordinary, almost unnatural strength. His physical power reaches such incredible levels that he can effortlessly lift Roach, even when Geralt is riding on her back.

Curiously, Jaskier remains oblivious to his true nature as a Fae being. The manifestations of his magical abilities only occur when he finds himself in situations where he feels threatened. It is during these moments that his latent powers surge forth, granting him access to his innate magic.

Following Nifflgaard's pursuit of Jaskier to extract information about Geralt and Ciri's whereabouts, the decision is made to bring Jaskier to Kaer Morhen for his safety. In line with the rule that everyone residing at Kaer Morhen must contribute, Jaskier finds himself obligated to participate in the training regimen, much to his annoyance. Despite his attempts to evade the training sessions, emphasizing his role as a bard and lover rather than a fighter, his pleas fall on deaf ears.

Eventually, Jaskier finds himself reluctantly preparing to spar with Eskel. Among Geralt's brothers, Eskel is the one whom Geralt trusts not to get carried away during the fight and inadvertently harm Jaskier.

At the onset of the spar, Jaskier's main objective is to evade Eskel's attacks, desperately searching for any means of avoiding the impending blows. However, Eskel's persistent prodding pushes Jaskier beyond his comfort zone, compelling him to gather his courage and fight back. Overwhelmed by panic, Jaskier inadvertently taps into his dormant magic, unleashing a surge of power.

In a sudden and unexpected turn of events, Jaskier's magic surges forth, propelling Eskel across the training ground and into the air. Realizing the potential danger, Jaskier instinctively conjures a bush to cushion Eskel's landing, using his nature-based magic to soften the Witcher's impact

Overwhelmed by the unexpected display of power, Jaskier spirals into a state of panic, convinced that he is some kind of monstrous entity. In his distress, he becomes consumed by the fear of being hunted down and killed by the people he has come to consider his friends. Desperate to escape this perceived danger, Jaskier attempts to flee, but his flight is halted by Geralt's firm grasp.

Geralt, understanding Jaskier's turmoil, intervenes to prevent any harm befalling his bewildered companion. He assures Jaskier that he has no intention of allowing any harm to come to him, emphasizing his commitment to protecting Jaskier at all costs. Once the others have ensured Eskel's well-being and tended to his injuries, Geralt leads Jaskier inside, seeking a more secure and private space to address the situation.

Inside, Vesemir takes the opportunity to chastise Geralt, expressing his frustration at the apparent lack of awareness Geralt had regarding Jaskier's true nature as a Fae. Vesemir remarks upon the extensive time he has spent imparting knowledge to the Witchers, highlighting their supposed intelligence and yet their failure to recognize Jaskier's heritage despite Geralt's years of companionship with him.

As Vesemir's words sink in, Geralt's mind begins to connect the dots regarding Jaskier's true identity. Certain peculiarities about Jaskier's interactions with nature start to make sense. Geralt recalls how birds would harmonize with Jaskier's melodies even when the bard merely hummed absentmindedly. It becomes clear that Jaskier's affinity with nature and the presence of magic within him are linked to his Fae heritage.

Still trembling with fear, Jaskier musters the courage to voice his concerns, questioning whether his Fae nature makes him inherently dangerous. In response, Vesemir assures Jaskier that his power does not make him a threat but rather reflects his lack of training. Recognizing the importance of keeping both Jaskier and those around him safe, it is decided that Jaskier should receive proper combat training. The goal is to harness and control his exceptional strength, ensuring it is wielded responsibly.

In addition to combat training, Jaskier finds himself joining Ciri in her magical lessons under the guidance of Yennefer. This allows him to explore and develop control over his magical abilities, granting him a better understanding of his nature-based magic and the means to channel it effectively.

[bug-the-chicken-nug]

me who hasn't engaged in ben 10 stuff in like, Forever, suddenly really invested in thinking about an Anodite Ben AU...

Despite only half-remembering huge swaths of canon and barely knowing shit about Omniverse:

why am i like this....

Like for me, the main point of interest is that it's not Gwen 10. Ben actually still has the Omnitrix here too, but that doesn't really make him brokenly strong all the time.

Part of it is that it *kinda* does, but the AU has like a Mob Psycho 100 approach to power, and a kind of "if great power comes with great responsibility, then overwhelming power leads to overwhelming responsibility" vibe, and part of it is that these two aspects of him don't perfectly mesh, nor are they wholly separate.

They cross-interact and affect one another, and not always in ways that are positive.

Like I imagine that here, it's only *because* of latent spark potential that Ben is even compatible with the Omnitrix

Azmuth meets him, goes "hmmm" for a second, recalls what "humans" are, and then flatly goes "Huh. You should be dead. And not even able to wear that in the first place."

Because there was a major flaw in the Omnitrix, where its transformations are too extreme and abrupt, killing any being that can't handle such a huge surge of energy and metabolic strain.

By extension, the limited aliens it lets Ben choose between were only somewhat up to chance. They're generally so self-evidently exceptional in some way because what you can actually turn into is still bottlenecked by the requirement that it can survive *de-transformation.*

Which *usually* means something already adapted to handle a high energy throughput and metabolic load, because it was necessary to be able to support its own flashy, fast-acting, high-energy biological abilities.

Azmuth knew this and programmed a stopgap safety feature where it's just not even supposed to work at all if it senses that you can't biologically handle it.

(Cue some joke quips about how the hell Galvans count, but Azmuth defensively explains how making such a tiny brain so powerful actually requires a very resilient and high-energy nervous system)

I also imagine that Ben's Anodite energy is green, but only because of the Omnitrix.

Like here, the Omnitrix's source of mass and energy is from a stabilized micro-wormhole inside of it, leading to an artificial dwarf star that it draws from.... Which happens to be green, as a quirk of how its artificial nature and surrounding energy collection system affects its color.

When Ben was first exposed to the energy of the Omnitrix, his body instinctively "attuned" itself to it to better handle it, and now preferentially channels the energy his Anodite powers use from there.

(If this sounds kinda like a Certain Something to you... Yeah, I Know :)))). )

This also interferes with Ben's skill in other kinds of magic beyond just light, heat, and manipulating raw mana constructs, because this preferential attunement leaves his power "biased", throwing off how well he can manipulate other forces and phenomena.

While it is possible to "reconfigure" your attunement, for now Ben simply isn't experienced enough to pull it off.

Still, now that he's attuned, his Anodite powers don't actually care how far away the Omnitrix or the star get, so this is permanent, and he doesn't need the watch to keep his Anodite powers.

However, it does make the watch register a much higher power draw whenever he uses magic and a transformation at the same time, shortening the time limits on transforming, or in some cases immediately turning him back to normal afterwards.

Meanwhile, Anodite powers in human form are fine, since the watch isn't acting as any sort of "middle man" in these situations. Ben is just independently lifting power from the star without the watch's say in the matter. He just learns the hard way that you don't try to use magic directly *on* the watch in the hopes of somehow enhancing it or refreshing the transformation timer.

Even though it's virtually impossible for an Omnitrix's user to ever "use the star up", and it could handle even millions of years of heavy power extraction, its limitations are so as not to overwhelm the *user* with this power.

With the Master Code basically being the "No thanks, I don't care, I know what I'm doing" function.

Also, I would just remove the "too much power instantly gives inexperienced Anodites megalomania" thing.

It's not that I hate that choice, but simply that I feel like there's more angst potential + more subtlety and layers to exploring the moral nuance without it. This way, I remove the implication of "If you give into it, it's not exactly your fault, it's just Fundamentally hard to resist in a Special Way".

Kind of like how in Mob Psycho, it's not that psychic powers are inherently corrupting, it's merely that they're fun, convenient, often emotionally liberating to use, and sometimes hard to control, and that's more than dangerous enough.

Also because I think it'd be more fun to do an arc where Ben temporarily can't have a "civilian" life at all and straight up *doesn't know how* to be human again.

Combined with making Ben neurodivergent and then using this metaphorically to further back up and embolden his actual neurodivergence, mixing real struggles with larger-than-life ones.

From here, I think I'd prefer to replace the megalomania with the act of channeling too much power simply sending you into sensory overload, and in Ben's case, potentially leading to him having meltdowns.

(If I said anything totally off base, or accidentally presented any info that's already canon as a supposedly original component of the AU , forgive me)

[nox-lunarwing]

Sorry to interrupt, but how do you pull your scythe and spirit lantern from nothingness? Is that some kind of power? How can I do the same thing as a earth pony?

Well It is an ability I've learned in my training under grim It had taken me quite a while to get where I am in it's use. However to better explain how it works, I will first need to explain one of the big things about the spirit realm

See the spirit realm is affected by strong emotions, thoughts, memories, ideas, and beliefs. And the spirit realm being parallel to all other realms tends to be nigh infinite and will be a reflection of the living realm.

This part of why the realm is so chaotic. For example say there is a strong memory tied to a certain building or object this will be reflected in the part of the spirit realm parallel to it. Often this will manifest as a version of said building or object altered based on the emotions tied to that memory.

This is similar to how the technique works but through rigorous mental, and spiritual training one can create the small isolated pocket in the spirit realm parallel to ones self. This pocket can only be accessed by its creator and can look like whatever you can imagine.

From there the second part of the ability involves taking something physical and displacing it between the two realms. This however takes a lot of training to be even able to do with even a modicum of success or skill.

As for if an earth pony can learn such a technique? Yes, but one must train themselves to do so and if you do not have an innate connection to the spiritual realm like that of mediums, shamans, seers, and the like the training will be much more demanding. There are however methods using magic that can create similar results and there are magiks that can be used by anycreature if one trains and learns it. @justzooks is an example of a practitioner of such magiks.

Though do not forget earth ponies do have an innate and largely latent magic themselves, it may not manifest the same way as it does in unicorns, or pegasi but you do have it.

[vir-tanadahl]

Timeless

Summary: Isera Lavellan is living in modern Thedas completing her research on plants when her research takes her to a place in the Solasan Mountain range. The discovery of a strange glowing mirror takes her to a world she has never known before where she meets someone she never thought existed. (Find on Ao3) Fen'harel (Solas) x Lavellan

Chapter 18: The Shift in Focus

After the incident in the conservatory, Solas quietly arranged for Isera to relocate from the tower where she had been staying to a quieter, more isolated space farther from the refugees. Though it was a longer walk to the conservatory now, the shift in her living arrangements felt deliberate—an attempt to create distance between her and the rest of the community, as well as to offer a controlled environment for her growing abilities.

He subtly redirected her focus, pulling her away from the community garden where she'd been helping. Her new responsibilities centered on her training and studying magic, diving deeper into the intricacies of magical theory. His words, though gentle, had carried a firm undertone when he’d suggested she cut back on her time in the conservatory. It wasn’t a direct prohibition—he hadn’t asked her to avoid the conservatory altogether—but the subtle redirection was clear enough. He wanted her to focus less on plants and more on her latent power, to tap into the potential he believed she held.

And though he hadn't explicitly forbidden her from her passion, the shift in his expectations hung in the air between them—a quiet challenge that she could either accept or defy in her own way.

Isera wasn’t oblivious to Solas's quiet redirection. In fact, she agreed with his decision, even if it meant stepping away from the familiarity of her hands in the soil. The memory of the conservatory’s wild overgrowth still weighed heavily on her, the chaotic surge of magic that had spiraled beyond her control. She had been incredibly fortunate—fortunate that neither she nor anyone else had been seriously injured by her sudden lapse in control. That thought alone was enough to make her stomach turn.

As much as she missed the comfort of nurturing plants, she understood the necessity of his choice. If she couldn’t learn to master her abilities, then everything—and everyone—around her was at risk. So, for now, she would follow his lead, focusing her efforts on understanding the magic that pulsed beneath her skin, a power that felt as alien to her as the past she was trapped in.

The new quarters Solas had arranged for her were a significant change from her previous space—more like a small, self-contained apartment than a simple room. It had a surprising amount of room to move around, a kind of openness that made her feel less like a guest and more like she could start to settle, despite the circumstances.

There was a cozy living area with a worn but inviting couch, a desk piled with books and scrolls, and a spacious bedroom that offered more comfort than she was used to. An unused room sat off to the side, its purpose unclear but full of potential. The private bathroom was a welcome luxury, and a small balcony stretched outside, offering a view of the landscape that made her feel a little less trapped, a little closer to the freedom she missed.

But what truly caught her attention was the private garden area accessible just beyond her new living space. It wasn’t as vast as the conservatory or community garden, but it was hers. The thought of being able to step out into a green space, to feel the soil between her fingers without the weight of expectations or the fear of losing control, brought a small smile to her face.

Isera sat on a bench in her private garden, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the patterns of the wood beneath her. The solitude felt different here, softer somehow, as if the plants around her absorbed some of the tension that lingered from the conservatory incident. Her gaze drifted to the sky, the quiet making it easy to pretend there wasn’t a war just beyond these walls, that the world outside wasn’t consumed by conflict and chaos.

But the illusion didn’t last long. Despite the quiet moments she managed to find here, the reality of the war seemed to loom like a shadow, creeping into her thoughts whenever she let her guard down. She sighed, her mind drifting to Solas, wondering what strategies he was concocting for a conflict she barely understood, a battle that was always there, even if it wasn’t always visible. They hadn’t spoken since the incident—since she lost control of her magic—and she couldn’t shake the feeling that there were things left unsaid between them.

“I thought I might find you here,” his voice seemed to blend with the breeze, soft yet unmistakable. Isera turned her head, a small smile pulling at her lips as she met his gaze. “You thought right,” she teased lightly, a hint of warmth in her voice as she acknowledged his observation.

Solas settled onto the bench beside her, the movement both careful and deliberate. “How are you feeling?” he asked, his eyes never leaving her face, the intensity of his focus so familiar yet different in this quiet moment. His gaze wasn’t just assessing; it was searching, as if trying to see beyond her surface and understand the depths of her thoughts.

Isera’s smile wavered slightly as she considered his question, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on her. “You want to know what happened that night?” she answered knowingly.

He nodded thoughtfully, a hint of gentle curiosity in his eyes. "Tell me," he said, his voice steady, "what were you feeling when it all happened? What was going through your mind right before the magic took over?" His words were carefully chosen, but there was an undercurrent of genuine concern, a need to understand not just the magic, but the emotions that had fueled it.

Isera's smile faded, her expression becoming more serious as she looked down at her hands. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, feeling the gravity of his question settle over her. “I was... focused on the plants,” she began slowly, tracing her fingers along the lines of her palm as though the answer was written there. “I thought I could coax them into thriving, to strengthen the harvest.”

She hesitated, drawing in a slow breath, her eyes drifting to the ground before lifting back to meet Solas's gaze. “It was working,” she said softly, her voice tinged with frustration. “I was being careful, doing everything right.” Solas gave her a small nod, a silent prompt for her to continue.

“And then...” Her words trailed off, the memory clearly vivid in her mind, but she doesn’t want to tell him about her mom. “And suddenly, it was like everything just—” She spread her hands wide, mimicking an explosion, the motion wild and uncontrolled. “—burst out of control. I didn’t mean for it to happen. I lost focus for a split second, and... it all went to chaos.”

She shook her head, a flicker of frustration crossing her face as she struggled to put the chaos into words. “The harder I tried to control it, the more unruly it became, like trying to grip water in my hands—it just kept slipping through my fingers.”

Solas let out a quiet chuckle, his eyes glinting with curiosity. “I must admit, I’m rather intrigued,” he said, tilting his head slightly as he watched her. “How did you manage to redirect that chaos into something constructive?” His voice held a note of genuine interest, as though he were carefully unraveling the mystery of her actions, layer by layer.

Isera hesitated, her gaze drifting to the ground as if searching for words she wasn’t sure she wanted to share. A flicker of something vulnerable crossed her face before she shrugged, her tone softening almost defensively. “Sometimes,” she said, voice barely above a whisper, “when things get broken…” She paused, letting the words hang in the air, then glanced up at him, a hint of a wistful smile touching her lips. “…you make something new.”

Solas's gaze softened as he regarded her, the corners of his lips twitching into a faint smile. “And so you did,” he murmured, his voice gentle and approving, the words carrying a rare note of admiration. He paused for a moment, as if weighing his next words carefully. “I’m going to have Felassan begin training you more frequently,” he continued, his tone shifting to something firmer.

Isera stared at Solas in disbelief for a heartbeat before her expression shifted into one of clear frustration. “Why? Have you met Felassan?” she asked, her tone filled with incredulity, the question laced with the kind of sarcasm that didn’t require an answer.

Solas's laughter filled the space between them, a genuine chuckle that softened the usual intensity in his eyes. “I am quite acquainted with Felassan,” he replied, a hint of amusement threading through his voice.

Isera let out a soft whine, her shoulders sagging slightly. “He is irritating,” she complained, her voice almost petulant, yet playful.

A small, knowing smile tugged at the corners of Solas’s lips. “Which is precisely why I want him to assist in your training,” he said, his tone light but resolute, the glimmer of humor in his eyes.

Isera rolled her eyes but couldn't entirely suppress the faint smile tugging at her lips. She understood his point, even if she didn’t want to admit it. Solas brought a steadying presence—a quiet calm that helped her center herself, making focus come almost naturally. Felassan, on the other hand, was like a force of chaos; playful, teasing, and always finding new ways to get under her skin. He challenged her patience and stirred her emotions, in attempt to make her more irritable.

Solas stirred her emotions too, but in a different way. His presence was calm yet intense, like a still lake with depths she could barely fathom. She was drawn to him in more ways than one—not just to his knowledge and guidance, which she craved, but to the magnetic pull of his very being. The way he looked at her, the way he spoke, his voice smooth and steady yet laced with a fire that made her pulse race. It was impossible to ignore her own desire, the way her thoughts seemed to linger on him long after their conversations ended.

"Fine," she muttered, crossing her arms, "I get it." Even as the words left her lips, she couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, the annoyance Felassan brought into her training might help her not be thrown by sudden emotions.

Isera’s eyes widened as she scrambled out of the way, barely avoiding the heat of another fireball that whizzed past her. "Are you trying to set me on fire?!" she shouted, half exasperated, half panicked, her voice echoing in the training field.

Felassan’s grin only widened, a mischievous sparkle dancing in his eyes. “Not at all,” he said cheerfully, his tone almost too light-hearted for the situation. Another ball of flame crackled to life in his hand, the fire reflecting in his gaze like a dare. “I’m simply encouraging you to use a defensive barrier,” he added, flicking the fireball towards her with a flick of his wrist, clearly enjoying every moment of her reaction.

Isera let out a frustrated squeal, her face scrunched in both fear and annoyance. “You haven’t even shown me how to do that!” she snapped, barely managing to dodge another blazing projectile. The curse she muttered under her breath was barely audible over the crackling of the fire.

Felassan gave a nonchalant shrug, his tone dripping with playful mockery. “You know the basics well enough,” he replied, the hum of his voice making the taunt almost melodic. Another fireball sparked to life in his palm, and with a flick, he sent it hurtling toward Isera. She threw herself out of its path, only to stumble and fall to the ground, the heat brushing too close for comfort.

"Maybe you need a little more encouragement," Felassan said, his grin turning almost wicked. Without missing a beat, he raised his hand, summoning a flurry of fireballs that rained down on her like a blazing storm. His laughter echoed through the training field, teasing and relentless, as Isera struggled to react in time, her eyes wide with a mix of panic and determination.

Isera screamed, instinctively squeezing her eyes shut, pulling her arms close to shield her face. She braced for the searing pain of the flames but felt nothing. The expected heat never came. Instead, she heard the crackling of fireballs striking against something solid, like raindrops on a glass pane.

Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking in astonishment. Surrounding her was a shimmering gossamer shield, delicate yet unyielding, its surface flickering with light as it absorbed each fiery impact. The translucent barrier wrapped around her like a bubble, its soft glow pulsing with each hit, protecting her from the blaze still raining down. Isera’s breath hitched as she stared at the magical shield, her own creation, pulsing with the energy of the Fade.

Felassan halted his barrage, his grin shifting to a look of mild surprise. He cocked his head, studying her with newfound interest. “Did you just…” he mimicked a delicate plucking motion with his fingers, like one would with the strings of a harp, “pluck the Fade itself to form your defensive barrier?” His eyes gleamed with a mixture of curiosity and admiration.

“Uh…” Isera hesitated, uncertainty flickering across her face. “I don’t know…” she whined softly, still wrapped in the shimmering shield of the Fade as she clumsily pulled herself up from the ground. The barrier pulsed gently around her, its light refracting like a delicate, living veil.

Felassan’s eyes never left her, his grin replaced by a look of pure intrigue. He stepped closer, still studying the shield that surrounded her. “It was like watching the Fade itself wrap around you,” he murmured, his voice filled with wonder. “Like a blanket…”

“Is that not what’s supposed to happen?” she asked softly, her voice barely more than a whisper. The uncertainty in her tone echoed her own confusion, the doubt evident in her eyes as she looked up at him. Magic was still so foreign to her; she had no idea what was considered normal, and everything about this felt like it was far from that.

Felassan shook his head slowly, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. “Not exactly,” he said, his voice threaded with amusement and curiosity. “Typically, a mage pulls energy from the Fade to fuel their spells, to cast and shape it to their will.” He paused, a hum of appreciation escaping him. “But you… you didn’t just draw energy. You reached into the Fade itself and pulled it around you like a cloak,” He tells her.

“And you managed not to tear it, either,” Felassan murmured, his voice tinged with genuine wonder. His eyes seemed to sparkle with a hint of surprise as he took in the sight before him. He tilted his head slightly, studying her with an intensity that caused his brow to furrow in thought. “Try dispersing the barrier,” he said, a subtle challenge hidden in his words, as he began to circle her, his movements slow and deliberate.

Isera's eyes darted around, searching for some clue on how to dismantle the shimmering barrier encasing her. She chewed her lip, uncertainty flickering across her features. “Uh…well…” she murmured, a hum of indecision escaping her. “What if I just…” she whispered under her breath. Slowly, almost hesitantly, she raised her hand, her fingertip stretching toward the barrier as though reaching to pop a fragile bubble. The moment she made contact, the barrier shimmered and quivered, its surface rippling like water touched by a gentle breeze. In a soft cascade of light, it broke apart, dissolving into wisps of energy that seemed to melt back into the very fabric of the Fade.

Felassan hummed, a low, thoughtful sound escaping his lips. “Well, that’s not quite how I would have done it,” he said, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He gave a small, approving nod. “But I suppose that is one way to do it,” he added, his tone tinged with a mix of amusement and reluctant admiration, as if entertained by her unconventional approach.

Felassan’s gaze swept over her, assessing her with a raised brow. “Come, that’s enough for today,” he said, his voice softened with a hint of something almost approving. He turned on his heel, gesturing for her to follow, and together they began to walk back to the fortress, leaving the secluded garden behind. The silence between them stretched, comfortable yet charged with unspoken thoughts. Finally, Felassan broke it, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Maybe practice breathing,” he suggested, his lips twitching into a smirk, the amusement in his tone impossible to miss.

Isera shot him a glare, her eyes narrowing in exasperation. “What do you mean by that?” she demanded, crossing her arms over her chest in defiance. “You’re always so vague,” she added, her voice edged with irritation. She shook her head, a sigh escaping her lips. It was as if his was designed to test her patience. Felassan’s smirk only widened, his gaze twinkling with that infuriating blend of mystery and amusement, as though he reveled in keeping her guessing.

Felassan chuckled softly as they stepped into the building, the sound echoing lightly off the stone walls. They climbed the steps to the main hallway, his pace unhurried as if savoring the moment. Near her chamber, he finally spoke, his voice still laced with amusement but carrying a new undercurrent of seriousness.

“It’s like you’re holding your breath,” he said, tilting his head to study her reaction. “And then—your magic just… explodes.” He stopped in front of her chamber door, turning to face her fully. His smile softened, replaced by a thoughtful look. “Do you think about breathing, or do you just… breathe?” His question lingered between them, a quiet challenge wrapped in simplicity.

Felassan held her gaze for a moment longer, the question hanging in the air like a riddle she was meant to solve. Then, with a small, almost imperceptible nod, he turned on his heel and walked away, the echo of his footsteps fading into the corridor. He didn't look back, leaving Isera standing there, his words looping in her mind.

She stared at the closed door to her chamber before entering, a frown tugging at her lips. The simplicity of his question seemed to tease in her thoughts, revealing layers she hadn’t considered. For all his teasing, he always left her like this—on the edge of understanding, with more questions than answers.

Isera's gaze drifted to the ceiling, her eyes tracing the cracks in the stone as she tried to process what Felassan had said. ‘Do you think about breathing, or do you just breathe?’ His words echoed through her mind. She felt the weight of it settle in her chest, the idea is profoundly simple.

Of course, the answer was simple—no, she didn’t think about breathing; it was as natural as the rise and fall of her chest. Automatic. Instinctive. But magic... magic was different. Or was it supposed to be?

A frown creased her brow as she struggled to bridge the gap between Felassan’s obvious riddle and her own approach, wondering if she’d been complicating something that should have been as effortless as drawing air into her lungs.

How do you teach something to become as instinctive as breathing? Isera’s thoughts twisted around the question, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. Felassan, Solas, the elves here—they were all born with magic flowing through their veins, a part of them as natural as their heartbeat. But Isera was the opposite. She knew life without magic, had lived in a world where it was something distant and out of reach.

She closed her eyes, forcing herself to breathe, trying to steady the whirlwind in her mind. What did it take to make something instinctive? To turn effort into ease? Maybe it wasn’t about forcing magic but about trusting it, letting it be as natural as breath. Her brow furrowed as a thought took shape, delicate and uncertain.

The distant rumble of thunder rolled through the air, followed by the soft patter of rain against stone. The sound filled Isera's ears, grounding her in its steady rhythm. Nature had always been one of her anchors, the place where she felt most like herself, where the noise of the world faded into the background, leaving only the simple, unspoken truths.

With a determined breath, she pulled herself to her feet. She needed the rain—without another thought, she left her chambers, her steps quickening as she made her way back to the garden where she had been practicing with Felassan.

The rain greeted her like an old friend as she stepped outside, its cool touch seeping into her skin, and she let it fall freely on her. Isera began to walk, slow and aimless, letting her mind unravel with each step. She let the rain soak through her clothes, trail down her face, washing away the frustration she felt earlier.

There, surrounded by the whispering leaves and the earthy scent of wet soil, her thoughts began to settle. She breathed in the rain, tasting its freshness, feeling its connection to the land, to the Fade itself. She didn’t force her mind to focus; she simply let it drift, hoping the answer she was searching for would find her there, in the place where her heartbeat in time with the storm.

‘He’s telling me to stop overthinking…’ The realization settled over Isera like the rain, its truth undeniable yet maddeningly elusive. She drew in a deep breath, letting the cool, damp air fill her lungs as she continued her slow walk through the garden. The patter of raindrops on the leaves and the steady rhythm of the storm echoed in her chest, urging her to let go, to be as natural as the rain itself.

But the reality was painfully clear—Isera didn’t know how to stop overthinking. Her mind was always in motion, chasing answers, dissecting possibilities, always searching for control in a world that offered so little of it. Overthinking was how she survived, how she made sense of chaos, how she planned and prepared for every outcome.

The idea of simply trusting, of letting magic flow as naturally as breath—it felt like stepping off the edge of a cliff without knowing how far down it goes. She let out a sigh, the sound swallowed by the storm’s relentless symphony, and kept walking, her thoughts drifting with the rain.

Maybe, just maybe, the first step to finding her magic wasn’t in controlling it, but in allowing it to find her—in learning how to feel it, not as something to master, but as something to become. She needed to trust that it was already there, like the rain soaking into her skin, like the earth beneath her feet, waiting for her to let it in.

[etruatcaelum]

On Semblances.

As this post mentions, neither Salem nor Ozma have ‘true’ ancient magic anymore: her immense power derives from the pools of light and darkness, and when Ozma created the maidens, they sacrificed their divine gifts but awakened their aura. Both now wield powers functionally identical to the aura and dust-based magic of modern humans; the sole difference between them and ordinary humans is vastly greater experience and, in Salem’s case, the interaction between her infinite aura and her grimmness.

(That is the subject for another post, but in essence grimm flesh and atrum ‘burn’ aura and this reaction can be controlled and channeled just like dust; Salem, who is grimm, uses this to her advantage to mimic ‘true’ magic.)

And, because their ‘magic’ is really just aura trained to a level beyond what any mortal could achieve in a single lifetime, both of them do have semblances.

Salem’s semblance is less an outward projection of her self than an inward one. It developed through the slow reconstruction of her mind and soul after a long period during which she had no sense of identity and was just kind of mindlessly dreaming all the time; her semblance sparked from the need to become whole and to know herself again. What it does, in essence, is immanentize her thinking.

Think method of loci, but crystallized from the imaginary construct into a real, tangible place—in a sense, the interior of her soul, her semblance, is a realm. Not one anything like as vast or complicated as Remnant or the Ever After, but quite a bit larger and more intricate than the vaults, and accessible only through doors she chooses to open.

It’s how she keeps herself sane and also why her sense of identity and conviction are so unshakable in the present: Salem knows herself extremely well and nearly everything that defines who and what she is, she made a deliberate choice to include as a fundamental part of herself. She is capable of change—and in fact capable of changing herself very rapidly and easily, once she decides to do so—but she cannot be forced or coerced or compelled or worn down or manipulated into it. Because the only way she can change is for her to literally disassemble and reassemble parts of herself and her semblance will not let her do that if she doesn’t truly want it to.

Ozma doesn’t know that they even have a semblance, because their semblance fluctuates from one life to the next; they believe the permutations of their own semblance have all been semblances taken from the lives they steal. What’s actually going on is that their very fragile sense of self gave them a semblance that lacks clear definition because it has yet to be fully-realized. It warps and bends and molds itself into the hollowed-out masks of every host, then loses that shape once those masks crumble again to expose Ozma.

There are, however, some constants:

The base essence of their semblance is remembrance and accretion of time. It’s the grasping for another chance and the tearing pain of almost and the venom of what if and maybe then and it wasn’t supposed to happen this way all rolled into one. It’s the aching possibility on the trailing edge of a mistake. Often, it takes the form of small-scale temporal manipulation: with Ozpin, it became an ability to ‘skip’ a second or two here and an idle moment there and ‘save up’ that time to spend all at once, squeezing several minutes worth of action into a single fraction of a second. (<- Ozma still has this ability and Oscar can tap into it for a while, but after the events of V8 it fades as their self-identification as Ozpin disintegrates.)

As themself—once freed from their curse and restored to live as their own person—their semblance is effectively only half-formed: not quite latent, but not truly manifested either. They will need to find themself and know themself before they’re able to fully bring it out. In its true, unalloyed form, Ozma’s semblance is unbinding: the breaking of chains, the opening of doors, the snipped thread of fate to unleash boundless possibility.

In less poetic terms, they will be able to reach back and bring forward the moments when what is now became inescapable. Nothing can be undone, nothing erased: the past cannot be unwritten, but what they can do is create a second chance to rewrite the future, whether by literally making a new possibility that didn’t exist before or by cutting through whatever beliefs or rationalizations a person clings to to pretend that they have no other choice.

Their fully-realized semblance will turn inward and confront them whether they like it or not; toward other people it is entirely under their control. (<- It is also quite likely the one thing capable of reaching into Salem’s head and shaking the foundations of her self, by drawing out her line of reasoning for committing to those choices and asking her to walk those paths anew, decide again.)

Oscar does not have a semblance and will not have a semblance until he’s separated from Ozma. If the integration were completed he would eventually produce a new permutation of Ozma’s, but it wouldn’t in any meaningful sense belong to Oscar, because Oscar as an individual would, for all intents and purposes, be dead.

But once he’s separated from Ozma, and once he sorts out who he is and who he wants to be outside of the looming existential dread of becoming Ozma, he’ll be able to discover his semblance.

(<- Also his aura, when not subsumed by Ozma’s, will turn out to actually be orange. Like a pumpkin. Because his Ozian allusion isn’t Tip OR Dorothy, it’s Jack Pumpkinhead)

Oscar’s semblance is… essentially, a hyper-specialized form of empathy: he can take the words people say and unfold them to reveal the things they mean, the feelings they’re trying to express but can’t communicate clearly, and then find the words to articulate those things back. He’s an interpreter, not of language but of emotions. He’s able to very quickly talk through to the heart of a problem, and he’s preternaturally good at listening in a way that makes people feel seen and heard. It also has the side effect of making him almost impossible to lie to.

Even with Ozma in his head, there are traces of this latent ability eking through to the surface—his determination to connect with Ironwood throughout V7, his intuitive sense for what to say to Hazel and Emerald to earn their trust, and even earlier, his realization that Ozpin is lying and his ability to break through long enough to spill Jinn’s name: these are all inklings of what could be, if not smothered by Ozma’s curse.

That sort of rising-to-the-surface is very rare among Ozma’s hosts. With Oscar, it’s happening partly because he’s fighting so hard to hold on for as long as he can, partly because his upbringing gave him a pretty strong sense of identity to begin with, and partly because the nature of his semblance itself resists falsehood and obfuscation. Latent though it is, it still gives him a firm place to stand when he pushes back and asserts himself against Ozma’s resignation. This struggle also has the effect of deepening the potential of his semblance—in effect, training it before it even properly manifests—so that once he’s free and it emerges fully he gets in tune with it fast.

[lowlevelkoboldadventures]

Do you have any advice for kobolds seeking to become spellcasters, be it tapping into their own inherent magic or trying to learn something more structured like a wizard or trying to tap into the divine?

Absolutely!!! Here's a quick list of things to try! ✨🙌✨

(Summary:)

Try seeing if you have latent draconic powers

Try the typical sorcery route (or be a mage like me!)

Get bestowed powers by a dragon

Worship a god (highly suggest the draconic pantheon, see below!)

[SPOILERS, read below]

Try seeing if you have latent draconic powers Some kobolds carry something inside them that taps into the inherent magic of dragon lineage! This is probably the easiest way to start casting spells, though not all kobolds have this, and such raw ancient power can be hard to control, especially when you're only 2 feet tall... 💥😅💥 (If that doesn't work, or if draconic magic is just too much to handle, there are plenty of other opportunities! Keep reading!) Try the typical sorcery route (or be a mage like me!) I personally am a mage, but that is really rare amongst kobolds, as most tend to go the sorcerer route and don't tend to be too big a fan of studying dusty tomes and scrolls and such. If sorcery sounds like the method for you, try going to places of magical power, consuming certain ingredients or potions, meditating, tracking dreams, and other such things that help you connect to the magic in the world around you and passing through you! If you're interested in being a mage like me, feel free to check out a book from the archives and get reading!!! 📖😋📚 (Also, if you're trying sorcery, don't be afraid to get weird with it!!! Just find what works for you! ✨☝️✨) Get bestowed powers by a dragon If you're still struggling and are still set on casting cool spells (or just don't have the time), my next recommendation would be to go to a dragon for help! Dragons will often bestow power of some kind to their followers or people they find an interest in, including magical abilities! I didn't recommend this first because I know working for a dragon isn't everyone's idea of a good time, but it is how I'm able to cast such powerful magic at such a low level! Worship a god If no dragons are immediately available, you still might get bestowed the powers you're craving by gods you worship! I highly suggest the dragon pantheon, though non-draconic pantheons would be very lucky to have you too! I personally prefer to serve my dragons in person, but the idea of pledging to the most powerful and noteworthy of all dragons ever is certainly also appealing in its own way!!! Here's this encyclopedia on the Outer Planes System's dragon pantheon, and I think Kereska especially might be who you're looking for! 😉 Pact If you've come this far and still don't have what you're looking for, maybe have you tried being a bard?? Or maybe a chef!!! Inventors are cool, right??? Who needs magic anyways, pshhh, totallly overhyped... Y-You're still here? Well, I guess... technically, there's still one last thing you could try, but I Super Highly Very Strongly advise that you reaaaaaally consider if it's worth it on this one.... You could, theoretically, make a pact for it. I'm not saying that all beings who make pacts are bad, but it's as easy as trading basalt with a hatchling to get screwed over in a way that will permanently remove the words "I'm ok" from your vocabulary. Demons, eldritch, and even some dragons may make this offer to you if you're desperate enough for it, just be really really really careful alright? 👉👈

Hopefully this helps, thank you so much for the ask!!! 🙏🥹 And again, you're free to check out any of the mage books in the collection here if you're interested! I'll even lend you my personal annotated copies if you ask nicely~ ✨;)✨

[fulgurbugs]

ok i’m about to go to bed but i’m like halfway thru the main stories of everyone and here’s my octopath 2 thoughts so far:

gameplay:

Hikari go brrrrrrr. this guy hits like a damn truck

also, i learned how concoct works finally and i am now a true concoct beliver. luv u castti <3

a lot of stuff was nerfed for some classes, some of it i like, some of it i miss

-no more 8stack reflect magic damage, RIP. cleric final ability is no longer a double cast but instead allows the target to take an extra turn after everyone else (i like this one, opens a lot of cool stuff you can do, but you also need to manage bp more if you wanna max your damage or casts instead of just getting double. cleric also now has an SP stealing staff move, reflect is replaced with a shielding move that prevents a % of damage based on boost, and also gains a physical and elemental buff. overall really good changes to the class.

scholar no longer has double hit spells. i kinda miss these, i really didn’t get much use out of the new skills scholar has, except for elemental barrage, which can be good for scouting weaknesses or big damage if solo targeting. but it means enemies with primarily magic based weaknesses are more annoying to break.

i think those two classes got the biggest overhauls. everything else of the 8 main classes seems to have its biggest tools intact (leghold, donate bp, etc) so i was pretty familiar with how to setup and beat bosses pretty efficiently. i do miss the generic multi hit wind and dark spells a lot tho….

otherwise, despite overall nerfs to some of the stronger more abusable strategies (i’m told runelord tressa equivalent is still in the game tho) latent power is balancing that out by being also busted as hell and fun to use. all of them are unique and a fun extra management tool that can make or break your turns. (poor castti tho, if you have enough money, hers is kind of irrelevant.)

ok anyways MINOR GAMEPLAY SPOILER TIME. THIS IS A SPOILER WARNING FOR MINOR PARTS OF CASTTI, HIKARI, PARTITIO, AND THRONE’S BOSS FIGHTS IN THEIR CHAPTERS.

SPOILERS START HERE:

ok. don’t really like how casttis chapter 4 boss has basically the same gimmick as alfyns, with max hp reducing poison. i think this fight is harder than alfyns by a little bit tho.

Hikaris final chapter is. super long. there’s 3 whole boss fights in the last chapter, so be ready for a lot of those in a row. i found the second boss harder than the third fight tho.. lol. it’s again also kinda similar to olberics ch4 so i already knew how to cheese it a bit, though it wasn’t as easy to set up on this guy.

partitios ch4 was piss easy, just did not hit very hard lol. and i don’t think the boss has that much health

throne ch4 was also pretty easy, but had a pretty cool unique mechanic. makes you play a bit different with it because of it, so you gotta get creative sometimes or compromise on your damage etc. good stuff even if it wasn’t too bad on me.

OK. THIS IS STORY SPOILER WARNING. IM GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE 4 CHAPTERS I JUST MENTIONED, SO CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED

SPOILERS NOW:

casttis story was ok. didn’t like it as much as alfyns in ot1 but it wasn’t terrible. i think i’m just usually not that big on amnesia plot lines. i like castti a lot in her travel banters tho, she’s actually pretty funny compared to how serious she always is in her story chapters.

hikari was pretty alright too. i think his evil demon blood is probably tied to galdera in some way, but they never actually explain where it comes from in his route and i was kinda waiting on it the whole time. kinda funny he becomes king and all, gets crowned, and then we’re off to go to partitios silly capitalism project with the new king of ku in tow.

partitio himself is probably my favorite traveler so far, but i think his story falls a little flat at the end. mostly because mr roque gets literally no comeuppance at the end despite literally ruining multiple towns worth’s of peoples lives by putting them in abject poverty and extorting them. partitio just goes i’ll hire you and we’re back to hunky-dory. kinda wish he didn’t accept defeat and suicided or was killed by his own creation or something more fitting, partitio never even confronts him for scamming his family and altering the contract. like come on man.

Throne. i don’t know how i feel about this one, the chapter 4 is. insane. you will never predict how the fuck her story wraps up, so i actually won’t even say even with the spoiler warning. just go fucking play the chapter 4 lol. i like the stuff in her chapter 3s with mother and father tho, even if it’s edgy and whatever. throne also has some fun travel dialogues, i like her well enough. it’s just that the chapter 4 is so bonkers i can’t decide how i feel about it and her lol. idk

looking forward to the other 4! i think all the stories are solid despite if it seems like im saying otherwise here, they’re definitely on par with the first game, which i think had quite a bit simpler plots lol. cant wait to get to the cross character chapters as well!

[holyhappyhour]

Glossary of Characters & Terms

(some of these terms may be different than what was established in the early days of this blog/TL. I'm pretty much making this up as I go and sometimes I change my mind about thing I've come up with on the fly. list will update as I think of/establish more)

Important Characters:

Conrad Walsh: Le's hunting/work partner, and romantic partner as well. Connie's a sweetheart with a lot of energy and a sweet tooth. What he lacks in fighting ability, he more than makes up for in loyalty. more

Alice Walsh: Conrad's older sister, Alice is much more fearsome than her kind smile and effeminate appearance suggest. She's a powerful witch, specializing in both holy and necromantic spells that make her a nightmare for vampires and have earned her the nickname of Archangel. But it's been years since she's seen fieldwork after being promoted to an executive administrative position, issuing assignments, overseeing investigations, and acting as the face of the Missionaries' public relations.

Nico Martin: Le's best friend and mentor, Nico is a terrifying, sadistic force of nature hiding behind a polite smile and pastel sweater. They've chased the vampire who turned them across two continents, dedicating their life to revenge. However, after finding himself growing more cold and unforgiving towards his own kind, Nico agreed to step aside from fieldwork for a while. more

Marcel La Rouge: Perhaps one of the most wanted vampire lords of the modern era, Marcel is personally responsible for a population boom of freshly turned vampires in the 1960's, the effects of which the world continues to see as those vampires have gone on to turn their own exponentially. Though he no longer leads a religious cult, his following is as strong as ever as he continues preaching and and pushing for supernatural superiority over humankind.

Matthew [redacted]: Le's beloved older brother, Matt was a big dreamer with great humor, passion for movies and exploring. Unfortunately, after being lured and bitten by Marcel, Matty tried to hide his transformation from his family, driving him to Frenzy. more

Important Terms:

Missionaries: the official title given to those who work for the branch of the Catholic Church that handles all matters dealing with the Supernatural. all missionaries are designated by the simple, blocky cross necklace they're to wear both on and off duty, engraved with coded identification and acting as a badge.

Reapers: an unofficial title given to active, high-ranking Hunters within the Missionaries, designated by the black sash they're meant to wear at all times. Reapers hold a license to kill and may be given special assignment including bounty hunting and high profile investigations.

Full Moon Patrol: the three night period around each month's full moon, when all active field Missionaries, including Reapers, are required to patrol the city watching for and responding to werewolf and other supernatural activity that may endanger humans.

LifeBlood (LB): the only FDA-approved supplement for vampire nutrition and a surprisingly effective alternative to the real thing, available for free, only through approved distributors.

(Unholy) Communion: the Catholic Church's own little name for LifeBlood, its werewolf equivalent, and the ritual consumption of such.

Frenzy: an uncontrollable state of hunger, usually triggered by the smell or taste of blood during a state of starvation. Frenzied vampires may attack indiscriminately, feeding and feasting until completely and utterly satiated. during this state, latent magic abilities may be unlocked, allowing vampires to use special powers despite prior magic ability or training, even after returning to normal. entering and surviving one's first Frenzy is sometimes seen as a rite of passage for some. vampires who survive Frenzy often come out with permanent physical changes as well, the most common of which is one's eye color turning red, gold, or black.

Monstrosity: an advanced stage of Frenzy, usually caused by a Frenzied vampire continuing to feed well past satiation. after entering an unstoppable, animalistic rage, vampires in Monstrosity undergo rapid physical mutation, beyond anything recognizable as human, and develop powerful magic abilities, often beyond their own control. unlike the common Frenzy, Monstrosity is irreversible.

[dunderbread]

THE CULT GUYS!!???!??!???!👀👀👀

oh fuck yes. I was gonna make some drawings for this then it got late and realized I actually don't need them! here's the text lore anyways.

Before Mr. E received a vision from the original Mr. E (whose name was actually Elias, I've decided) he was kind of a wandering nomad with no name, gender or sense of purpose. After he received his vision from Elias's spirit telling him to start his cult back up again, he gained clarity, realized he wanted to be a man and took on the name Mr. E (the E doesn't actually stand for anything, at least at the start of the story), but his sense of purpose is completely consumed by living up to Elias's legacy (despite having never even met him). It was Mr. E's idea for his two henchmen (zigzag and shubert) to give up parts of their senses so they could "hone their latent abilities" – Mr. E himself wears gloves as a kind of "do no evil" symbol, and because Elias was known for always wearing them.

Zigzag (not his real name, its a nickname for something I haven't decided yet) is actually the former bassist for Idle Warship. he walked out halfway through recording the first album convinced he was sticking it to the band, but then they recorded the rest without him and it became an instant success and now he's bitter about it.

Shubert...I don't have much backstory for. Aside from the fact that he used to be a fisherman and gained his ability to puppet fish after almost drowning and being saved by a mysterious girl. He's the only one I have a drawing for because I had a new idea for his design.

as for the original Elias himself...it's very fuzzy at the moment. But I know he was a railroad company owner and a huge occult/magic fanatic who wanted to achieve some kind of higher enlightenment that Mr. E is also trying to achieve...and that deep down he was a rotten person despite his genteel exterior. maybe I'll draw him at some point cuz there's a whole tangent of lore associated with him that id need to properly introduce on this blog

[thebard490]

Paladins Chapter 12: Condescending Obligation

I am The Bard, who has seen that there are many who may be called worthy of kingship, each for their own time. Many are those who are deceived according to the wisdom of the world.

            Jort and Scylla returned to the abbey along with what survivors remained. Both were covered in spider webs and spider ichor. Several of their number were carried on stretchers, unable to move on account of the fearsome paralytic venom. Still others were covered in horrific injuries, the webs either festering on their victims, or causing long strips of skin to be torn free when they were cut or pulled away from the monsters. Jort, curiously, felt little of his injuries. The wound in his shoulder troubled him not at all, and the wounds inflicted by the spiders had ceased to bleed by the time they returned.

            Since he was in relatively good shape, and still low ranked, he was certainly the last of the soldiers to be attended to. The battle had been brutal for the hobgoblins, and nearly all the goblins had fled or been slain. Of the legionaries that had gone forth, only half returned. Some had fled, and dared not return for shame, and others were gone, devoured by the power of the paladins and the poison of the giant spiders. The surgeon examined him closely as he worked. “You’re nearly completely healed. No scaring either. That’s very odd.” He noted as he examined Jort’s shoulder. “And these flesh wounds from the spiders, they’re already fading. If I didn’t know better I’d wonder if you’d tangled with them a few days ago.”

            “I’ve always healed fairly quickly.” Jort admitted. “I suppose I’m simply hale.”

            “More than that. I’d like to draw some blood, run some tests. It may be you have some degree of magical potential, perhaps some talent as a cleric.” The surgeon noted.

            Jort offered his arm for the draw, though he seemed confused by the idea. “You’re saying you think I might be a mage?” He asked. “I thought that would have come up when I was a lot younger.”

            “If you had a talent for sorcery, almost certainly. Even with relatively limited materials, that kind of magic shows up easily. You can run a test for that with nothing but a bit of magnetite and unforged iron.” The surgeon explained. “However, it’s possible that other abilities wouldn’t have developed until more recently. It’s also possible that any latent abilities were awoken by exposure to powerful magical energies, such as that attack the nephilim used.”

            “How would getting hit by magic give me the ability to use magic?” Jort asked in confusion.

            “Not exactly gave you the ability, but more triggered a response from your body to more actively use its arcanolymphatic system. Everyone processes magic unconsciously; we’d die if we didn’t. But consciously using the systems your body has for processing it is entirely different. It’s a bit like your lungs. Most of the time you breathe without thinking, but you can control it manually with some effort. I heard there used to be entire schools that could teach this sort of thing, let anyone use magic, but with how the world’s gone to hell, it’s mostly only raw talent and divine power that can develop it anymore.” The surgeon explained. “Going to take a while to run the more extensive tests though. I’ll let you know if it comes to anything, and you might want to talk with Numa when he gets back.”

            “Ah, he’s already left then?” Jort remarked. “Was wondering where he was, his healing magic would have come in handy.”

            “Tell me about it kid.” The surgeon remarked. “Having only one person with healing magic certainly makes my job a lot more difficult. Means we have to triage it carefully, same as with those healing potions. The limits on all of that…” He sighed and shook his head. “If we had more healers, or even had the old recipes for making healing potions, it could save a lot of lives.”

            Jort looked upon his wounded fellows solemnly. This was, in no small part, his fault. All this, to kill Pompey, to take his revenge. “How many of them are still going to die?” He asked quietly.

            “Of their wounds? None directly from blood loss or other injury, though most of them won’t be fit for duty for another week at least. I’m surprised you’re able to move with the amount of skin you lost.” The surgeon remarked. “The main thing to watch out for will be infection. We’ll be taking fairly extensively from our soap stockpiles. If needs be, I’ll set to work on the brandy, refine it down further to use it as an antiseptic.”

            “That’s hardly going to be a popular policy.” Jort joked.

            “Hah, my job’s keeping them alive to bitch at me later. I’ll manage the unpopularity.” The surgeon remarked. “Anyways, that’s all I need from you, and you’re in good enough shape to sleep in your own bed. Just remember, keep those wounds clean and for the love of Tamur, try not to charge off into another major battle before you’ve healed!”

            Jort nodded as he rose. “I’ll do my best doc, wasn’t exactly planning on walking into one today. I suppose that’s why they call it an ambush.”

            “Suppose so. Still, be careful. You’re going to have to live with the decisions you make for a long time if they’re the wrong ones.” The surgeon said, and Jort paused, hand drifting towards the hilt of his sword. “You’re a decent swordsman, so don’t mess up that arm any further eh?” Jort relaxed, and nodded, stepping away.

            He ate alone again. He pretty much always did, watching the rest of the legion as they spoke. The tone was terse, tense, and turbulent. They knew they’d lost, but the full details of how hadn’t spread out yet. The sun was starting to set, and Numa still hadn’t returned. In a single day, they may have lost a substantial portion of their strength. Jort considered the result carefully, the empty tables a testament to the fruits of his treachery. This had never been his legion, he reminded himself of that. These were the ones who had betrayed him, betrayed his father, destroyed his family. But meditating on the old wounds no longer brought the burning hate it once had. Something was different now. He’d expected a sort of smug satisfaction to watch the legion who had taken so much from him crumble. But instead, a quiet sorrow covered him. What was different now?

            “I fight for people who haven’t gotten their chance yet.” Peregrin’s words echoed in his mind. He wondered at that. Had they had their chance? What was the chance, really? An angry, hurt part of him surged, reminding him that their chance had been to not stand with Pompey, to not attack his father, to honor the alliance and not see things end with knives and betrayal. Then he thought on the village, on the haggard faces of the halflings, of that hatred in their eyes. He wondered if he had looked like that. He wondered what his father would have done in this region, with the same circumstances. Probably, they would have taken the food from them anyways. Because they were hungry too. They were all hungry, at least back then. For all the hurt the fall of his own legion had brought him, it began to sink in that it was hardly an unusual or abnormal occurrence. Perhaps he might even have admired it if it had not been his own. After all, he was now engaged in the same thing. His father’s death, the death of his legion, it was not merely Pompey. He was simply a symptom of something far more rotten at the heart of the shattered legions. Killing Pompey, killing these legionaries. It would hardly solve anything. It still needed to be done, but now…

            “I want us to be free of him.” He muttered to himself. But him, Pompey, wasn’t the problem. Free to be what? If nothing changed, it would be another Pompey. He might very well become another Pompey, until another Jort, remembering his treachery, answered it with treachery of his own. A cycle of endless violence. That was the history of the shattered legions after all, wasn’t it? So many little emperors. There had to be something different. He had to make something new. Or else, well… he looked up at the rest of his comrades. He didn’t want to have to kill them all.

            He was summoned near to sundown to Pompey’s office once again. He arrived just as Scylla was in the midst of raging. “We cannot allow them to defy us, we must go back and crush them! Exterminate these stunted animals and-“

            “Scylla. Enough.” Pompey ordered, and she was silent immediately. “We are shepherds. Not wolves. We shear the sheep, rather than scalping them. If we devour them, it is with a purpose and not for such petty things as spite. We will not attempt to destroy the halflings. They are already at a low enough population that they will never be able to defy us, and already they struggle to produce sufficient surplus to feed both increasing populations and our army. We already demanded as much as we reasonably could without causing a famine. The loss of the supplies is severe, but there is no sense in permanently exhausting the halflings as a resource. I stand by my decision. I need you to trust me, trust my strategy in the same way I trust your sword.”

            Scylla closed her eyes, drew in a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. She knelt in solemn allegiance. “Yes, Imperator. Forgive my indiscretion.”

            “You lost, and the shame of that loss produces anger, a desire to regain your honor in the face of the enemy.” Pompey considered, resulting in a sudden jerk of Scylla’s head. “Yes, you lost. There is no shame in admitting it, there is more in trying to conceal it. There is no dishonor in defeat, the only sin is failing to learn from it. We will recover, we will defeat this threat, and we will grow stronger from it. But not by reacting carelessly. We must act decisively and wisely in response to the current situation.”

            Scylla nodded. “Rise then.” Pompey ordered. “Jort. Good, I have heard you distinguished yourself most notably in the previous battle, combatting the enemy commander.”

            Jort was taken aback. Pompey had actually used his name, not his number. The legate nodded. “In light of that distinction, recent losses among the officer corps, and the training you received for command in your previous assignment, I am promoting you to Primus of the third cohort. Congratulations. We’ll have the formal ceremony in a few days, best to use it to boost morale in the face of a difficult operation.”

            “Sir. I… I don’t know what to say.” Jort replied. A promotion directly to a Primus? Command of a cohort? It was far beyond he had ever expected to rise given he’d come from another legion, and the son of another legate. Pompey had to have suspected treachery, it was obvious, but now, here he was being given command, and more than that a prestigious command.

            “What are my orders, Legate?” Might be a good place to start.” Pompey noted with a bit of humor. “I am aware you are young for such a high rank, but you have received advanced training, demonstrated a capacity for command, and quite frankly, I need good officers.” His face grew grim. “Numa hasn’t returned, and while a few of those routed in the last battle are trickling back, I don’t expect to see most of them again. You will not have an easy first few days.”

            Jort nodded. Pompey didn’t know the half of it. “Sir yes sir.” He reported. “What are my orders?”

            “Scouts continue to report no trace of either the elves, or the gnolls. In the light of recent events, I believe it is likely that the two forces may have encountered one another, resulting in the destruction of the gnolls.” Pompey reported. “And furthermore, that a significantly larger elvish force than expected has appeared. Reinforcements sent to the bridge report back no sign of your prior unit. All individuals besides you are MIA. Extensive scouting efforts have found little to no trace of major army movements on our side of the river, indicating that the enemy is likely encamped across the river, using superior speed through forested terrain and light raiding parties such as the one recently encountered to harass our forces and steal supplies.”

            “Sir, are you certain they are just elves?” Jort considered. “The force that attacked us contained only one.”

            “Most likely it contained three, based on other reports. Tieflings and nephilim can be born to any race. Most likely, they have half-elvish parents. The presence of such exotic animals in the assault furthermore indicates an elvish raiding party, likely including that halfling of theirs for diplomatic purposes, to trick the halflings into following them. Finally, there is the matter of that nephilim commander. The ability he used is similar to other forms of glamor, this time turned to a direct terror attack rather than the usual hypnosis. The principle is the same, or so I’m told. The alternative is that there is both a major elvish force reaving throughout our lands, and also just coincidentally a glamor-using nephilim with an entourage of exotic cavalry happens to raid one of our villages.” Pompey considered. “After all, something had to deal with those gnolls, and as impressive as those five were in a surprise attack, there’s no way five men could stop an entire gnoll horde by themselves.”

            “No, they’d have to be completely insane to even try. And for them to succeed would be equally nonsensical.” Jort concurred, entirely honestly. “It would be like something out of a children’s story.”

            Pompey nodded in concurrence. “Furthermore, there is an additional layer of concern. They managed to bypass our scouts, and also clearly had a well prepared plan. They knew the terrain, and clearly had an idea of our supply mission. This indicates that one or more of the scouts was compromised, allowing them information on our movements and for them to slip past.”

            “Is it possible they may have simply gotten past the scouts through stealth?” Jort considered, hoping to divert Pompey’s suspicions away from the idea of treason.

            “They had an eight foot tall dragonborn in full plate armor riding a pig the size of a wagon. There is no way in all nine hells they managed to approach stealthily enough to not alert any of the ten scouts or their wolves scattered around to watch for such attacks. They had to have compromised at least one of them to open such a gap in the defenses. Based on their attack from every angle, they likely compromised the entire squad. The alternative is that they managed to attack and wipe out an entire squad, in stealth, in full armor, without making a sound.”

            “That would be truly incredible to see happening.” Jort admitted, still not entirely certain how the paladins had actually managed it. “Therefore, a treacherous scout is the simplest and thus, most likely solution.”

Pompey nodded. “Also, to be expected, as the enemy are elves, and the sign of the elf is always treachery. Furthermore, I want you to consider their target. They went directly for the wagon and stole it along with all the supplies once it was very nearly fully loaded. This indicates…” He gestured for Jort to finish his sentence.

Jort considered carefully. He knew they had stolen it to return the produce to the halflings, but what would an elvish army do? He considered carefully. “It would indicate that either they need the supplies themselves, unlikely given the capacity of elves to live off the land, or that they mean to deny it to us. This would imply that they are, insane as it may sound, preparing to besiege the abbey.”

“Correct. Or at the very least, to give the appearance of besieging the abbey.” Pompey concluded. “I believe it is quite likely that they intend to use their main force to pin us within the abbey, while smaller raiding forces attack the surrounding villages. Remember, the elves are not conquerors, they are slavers. Their objective is very unlikely to be outright seizing control of the territory, but instead capturing as many people as possible to sell back in faerie markets. I have no doubt they would attack the abbey in earnest given the chance, but it would be highly unprofitable for them to become bogged down in a prolonged siege with large numbers of captives. But, if they could force a surrender by depleting us of our foodstocks, they would return home to make a truly monumental amount of money.”

“Tch. Greedy, honorless knife-ears.” Scylla scowled. “It always comes back to money with them.”

“Indeed, which I think should explain to you rather clearly why we are pursuing this strategy.” Pompey reminded Scylla, who scowled, but kept her peace. He turned then to Jort. “We are going to deploy a large number of our forces, and evacuate the remaining villages, bringing them and their supplies back into the abbey. If we can gather them together, we deny the enemy any profit from raiding, and expand our supplies.”

Jort nodded. “It may strain our supplies to feed so many.”

“True, but it will either cause the enemy to retreat, or assemble for a longer siege, in which case, I have a plan. If they assemble for an honest battle, we can beat them, even with their glamors and their war-slaves.” Pompey reported confidently, and then his expression softened somewhat. “Beyond that, protecting the halflings is also necessary on a strategic level, and is our obligation as the superior species.”

Jort raised an eyebrow at that, remembering Peregrin. “The halflings are weak, even weaker than goblins.” Pompey continued. “They are unfit to be anything but servants and farmers, but are incredibly well suited to that role. They are racially superior to every other species when it comes to the art of cultivation. In turn, we are the sons of Tamur, the sons of conquest, forged and bred over generations for a singular purpose: To wage war. In this manner, we are, by birthright, the rightful guardians and masters over all other races. It is therefore our obligation as the master race to protect the inferior species, and to eradicate inherently evil species such as the gnolls, the elves, the orcs, and of course, to finally destroy the dragons once and for all. We are appointed by the course of nature to be protectors and warriors, and all other species are appointed naturally to serve us. But, a good master must always protect their servants and inferiors, and be on guard for dangerous creatures. Not that the evil races are without merit, the elves are unmatched scouts, and with their long lives, there was a reason so many elves were crucial in the imperial bureaucracy. But we underestimated their wickedness, their capacity for treason, and thus, the empire fell. We cannot afford to underestimate them again, or allow them to plague the world and ravage those weaker than ourselves.”

“It is our destiny, as a species, to rule. But rule must be earned, to confirm the birthright.” Pompey concluded. “So we will earn it. We will protect the weak, we will destroy the wicked, and then we will continue on, until the day the empire rises once again.”

[oswinsdolma]

Proving all the Knights of the Round Table have magic part 4: Leon

It's a pretty widespread theorywithin the Merlin fandom that after drinking from the cup of life, Leon became immortal. It's not really addressed post-episode, but at this point it may as well be canon.

So at some point, this proof may divulge into headcanon territory rather than straight analysis. You have been warned.

But it is entirely possible that Leon may have had some kind of magical affiliation before this point:

Firstly, there's the fact that he appears to die several times on screen and just turn up the next episode without a scratch. It's highly probable that he may have some latent magic that allows him to recover from this.

While Leon may have magic, it is fairly improbable that it is the same kind of magic as that of Merlin and Morgana; he was in service to King Uther and showed staunchly by his side in several matters. Where it is possible that he may have stayed in that position for safety or to protect Arthur, it is more likely that the nature of his magic was so subtle that he thought a lot of the things he seemed to miraculously survive were just dumb luck and skill with a sword.

Despite his loyalty to Uther, he did challenge him upon occasion, particularly when Arthur was involved. This could either be in relation to magical sympathies or just his friendship with Arthur.

Leon was barely alive when the druids found him and offered he drink from the cup. While the fact that he alone survived the massacre could be held testement to his magical abilities, the fact that the druids knew to find him and went to such lengths as to save him is strong evidence for him having magic is some way. We knowdruids can sense the distress of sorcerers and mentally communicate with them, so perhaps Leon unwittingly sent out a plea and the druids were compelled to help one of their own.

After this, I think his magic would become more apparent: it's a recurring thing that once a sorcerer learns of/gains immortality in the show, their powers expand and evolve, perhaps because they are able to hold more without doing damage.

It would start with small things: cuts closing minutes after they form, fire lighting more easily, trails being easier to read while hunting. Then there would be heightened awareness of other people, seeing colours that shouldn't be where he sees them, and gradually a strange fuzz of noise around certain people that in time evolve to form words. It's Merlin and Mordred he hears them from most, as they seem to exchange thoughts fairly frequently, but it's present in others too.

But Leon was raised a nobleman, and a nobleman in the court of Uther Pendragon at that, so with nobody to tell him otherwise, he would probably harbour some distrust of magic users. That would explain his skepticism of Dragoon (in particular) and sorcery in general.

Let's be honest the man has to have some sort of magic not to burst out laughing at Merlin and Arthur's "poetry".

Leon is incredibly committed to Arthur and Uther, and he is careful not to antagonise either. If he was in any way aware of his magic, this may have been a plan to avoid ever being out of the king's favour.

Leon is in the curious position of not being mentioned in any Arthurian legend (at least not that I know of, but I don't pretend to be an expert). The fandom wiki confirms his status as an original character but suggests that he may have been based on Sir Lionel. However, there is little similarity between the two other than an ability to get out of fairly ridiculous scrapes.

The other mythological figure mentioned by the wiki is King Leondegrance. This holds more promise as there are more consistent characteristics between the two characters, or at least connections. Firstly, Leondegrance is supposedly Guinevere's father. In the show, Gwen supposedly worked for Leon's family. Secondly, he served under Uther, as he does in the show. Thirdly, he is entrusted with the keeping of the Round Table after Arthur's death, and it is from this point that we can draw further evidence for magic.

In the show, it is implied that Leon takes over many of Arthur's duties after Camlann, taking on responsibilities Gwen was unable to (e.g. knight training). This provides a strong connection between the show's canon and the legends, but the reasons why it is Leon who takes over are what make this point interesting: Leon was Arthur's second in command, but destiny is a force that runs its course through everything Arthur even thinks about. Leon being second in command may be due to more than loyalty and skill. Perhaps the Old Religion gave Leon enough magic to survive without it ever being obvious, then presented the opportunity for him to drink from the cup of life and therefore gain immortality. Leon is entrusted with command of the Round Table and he alone can protect it until Arthur returns. He is not just bound to Arthur, nor does he have as great powers, as Merlin. But he has the devotion to Camelot and the magical assistance to carry out the task.

[pawnshopsouls]

Destiny 2: Musings on the Plant and Salem’s Soul Gem

//Ok but after reading up on some Destiny lore, I got to thinking to thinking about 2 things: what if it was the Fallen who took Bonely’s Aether Plant, and what if Salem’s Soul Gem was actually being used as a power source somewhere, and possibly being used to imbue magic into other things?

//On the first idea—The Aether Plant: what if the Fallen came and raided his house for it bc it just naturally produced Aether which had similar, if not the same, effects on them as Ether? What if they managed to use their numbers in order to get it away from Bonely, thus earning his ire until it vanished from his sights? And what if it was one of the higher noble houses of the Fallen who had the Aether plant last? One of the Kells keeping it safe and out of sight? And what if Aether was identical to Ether with the only difference being its imbuing side effect that would lead to latent magical abilities in those who used it, leading to stronger Kells and other such brutes? Would they

//In the modern day, it could be literally anywhere. It could be lost among the ruined colonies of the Eliksni, hidden by the Kell that took it, or taken by someone else who defeated the possessing faction in a skirmish. Bonely would never know which is why he went to the source of his problems (an Eliksni) to fix it.

//Then we have the second idea—Salem’s Soul Gem: What if Salem’s soul gem (his little blue pearl) was being used as a power source? What kind of things would use it and what would be its effects? It would certainly imbue the weapons or tools that used its energy with light-aligned magical ability—make it lighter to wield, luckier in hitting, more potent in healing, something that would be useful. But in all its use, it still repels and rejects certain beings and machines. Death is not of its nature and darkness will be vanquished like cells facing radiation poisoning. It may even be seen as radioactive. Perhaps it’s used to power a small ship? Perhaps it’s used as a light in a garden?

//Bonely has no idea, but he is determined to find it whatever the cost to him might be. After all, every soul is precious in the sight of the Sovereign, and come hail or high water, he’s gonna make sure his brother’s soul gets to Him.

[groundbreaking-science]

Section 3-2: Amplification

Warning! The following section contains exercises that may cause exhaustion, fainting, dissociation, abreaction and cardiac arrest. No exercise should be undertaken without explicit permission from a medical practitioner, and mental health support may be required for exercise 3.2.5. The reader proceeds at their own risk.

Prerequisites: Exercises in 1.4, 2.1-5, 3.1. Additionally material from section 1.9 is referenced.

The first time my father sensed the Earth and his place in it, a soft dawn was breaking. He stood shaking and gasping for air atop the world's tallest tower, with a view rivalled only by God above. A thick carpet of cloud rolled out to the horizon far below him, the very real verdant lands of Yahhoi still present and visible in glimpses between breaks, and he felt relief.

He'd spent the night screaming in deepest pain and writhing on the indifferent marble floor. He'd flickered between life and death, battling the effects of a poison he'd chosen against all advice to imbibe. It was said that the poison would draw out the drinker's latent power - should the drinker survive the process. My father, at the still tender age of sixteen, was the fifteenth warrior to try and the very first to breathe in the morning's cool air.

In that new light he felt rather than saw life stirring, and he understood the interconnectedness of his own life with the Universe around him. For the first time he sensed a power through the ki-field: the overwhelming strength and evil intent of King Piccolo. With renewed certainty in his abilities my father set out to face down that evil, and the rest is literal history.

After enduring the poison my father obtained the ability to consciously interact with the ki field. Though he wouldn't learn to amplify his abilities with any measured and focused intent for a while, needing guidance from more divine or experienced sources and more powerful, urgent motivators, every one necessitating the honing of a particular element in efficiency or technique. My father's spiritual awakening was slow-going then, though that is not an insult to his effort - even the Monk among our ragtag band took decades to fully master his unlocked potential, and I know there are towering heights I could yet reach.

It is that endless struggle that ultimately gave me the confidence to include this chapter. My current proficiency and my promise to impart certain skills make the work seem simple, but I know I have reached this level with a genetic advantage and a range of thankfully unique life experiences. Yes, nefarious forces could use this chapter to escalate their havoc by orders of magnitude, but that is a highly unlikely outcome, as I'm sorry to say the majority of readers will never achieve a level of amplification that could cause any material damage. Instead I believed it more pressing to think of those curious individuals compelled to perform the "super" techniques covered in the rest of this chapter and beyond, and these skills require ki amplification to perform safely, if at all. And besides, it would never have been fair to keep from you a skill that is considered an Earthling technique at heart.

So whilst I am no God, nor a questionable feline apothecarist making my home amongst the clouds, I am able to employ more traditional teaching methods to improve your ki output with conscious intent, rather than resorting to cryptic life-and-death experiences. And so, in a more measured way, we begin to tie together many elements you have already explored.

Before we delve back into the ki field, I wish to return to the ki we already possess - genki - and the two elements that contribute to the total energy output: the charge (energy per particle) and the flow rate (particles per second). Increasing one or both of these will increase your total genki power output.

The easiest way to achieve a step-change in power output - although impossible for many - would be to utilising a transformation. Simply growing larger means more cells need to be governed, which requires more parcels of genki to be released. You can think of the size of the centre (and therefore the centre's hypothetical surface area) increasing along with the body. A larger surface area with the same flux (flow per unit area) gives a greater power output.

Namekians are able to physically grow in size and therefore power, as demonstrated by Piccolo (the Junior) at the 23rd Martial Arts tournament. This ability is a learnt skill and under conscious control. Saiyans can also grow to gigantic proportions taking on a more ape-like form as Oozaru. Whilst this is an innate transformation and so more accessible (for Saiyans with tails, at least), it requires the reflected sunlight of a full moon to induce, and the Oozaru form does not naturally have a rational mind. Mastery and use of the form is therefore restrictive.

Earthlings on the other hand aren't known for their strength-inducing transformations; the mysterious Shapeshifting Schools utilise magic and transformations in this manner do not appear to grant a power increase. The innate transformation magic of Giants, Manwolves and similar teratoidal folk does grant an increase in power, and zoomorphic people of larger frames will have a greater genki output than the average anthropoidal person, but anthropoidal Earthlings are not granted either of these advantages (by their very definition).

However, Earthlings of all kinds do have access to one technique that will raise the ki particle flow rate: the Kaioken. Against received wisdom I will detail this technique later, if only to emphasize the dangers of trying to learn this skill away from the healing properties of the Heavenly Realm. The technique involves warping the centre's surface, therefore increasing the surface area but preserving the effective volume, allowing more ki particles through. Performed with too much gusto this technique can tear the body apart cell-by-cell, so for those of us bound to the mortal realm, mastery of this technique could take a lifetime.

There is a trade-off to these size increases, however. The pool of ki particles in your centre depletes far faster when deviating from its natural surface area and size. If all particles are used up, you will be left without a way to draw on ki, and will have to rest for an hour to fully replenish.

A further way to boost power output and to much greater effect is to increase the ki particle's average charge. Again some species have access to physical transformations that can achieve this; Frieza's race being one, where various naturally armoured and therefore lower-energy consumption forms reduce the draw on the centre's ki (both in flow rate and charge), and these forms prevent the individual from overwhelming lower ki energy folk around them.

Saiyans have access to another transformation called "Super Saiyan", one that does not increase the size of the body, but does impact every cell, creating a greater demand for charge per particle on the centre. From the combined research of scientists across the Universe, including my own, we know the transformation requires a level of circulating so-called "S-cells" in the body. In brief (as this transformation will be detailed later), high levels of emotion in the body trigger the S-cells to release a message in ki to all cells, asking them to call for more ki in readiness, in turn triggering the centre to release more ki which manifests as a transformation with recognised stages.

The final way to boost your genki output is to use a different version of genki entirely. The Gods and other non-mortals appear to use their own version of ki that is functionally the same in nearly every way, though God ki is more powerful - the reason for which remains unclear. Curiously, God ki is undetectable by mortals unless they receive specific training. Given how parallel they are, I believe then God and mortal ki to be of different chirality.

Chirality is a concept we find in nature. It is woven into the very structure of our bodies, even. When we look at ourselves in the mirror, our mirror image has the same make-up as us - the same number of blemishes on our face and hairs on our head - but there is no way to spin you around to make you look exactly like your mirror image. You and your mirror twin will always be left-right flipped as "optical isomers" of each other. Similarly, some molecules can have exactly the same chemical formula, but the structure can be left-right flipped. In our bodies, one molecule we ingest can fit snugly into a receptor and work as intended, but the optical isomer will be completely ignored (or worse, cause unpredictable damage in the body).

Mortal and God ki then, with their dyadic relationship, can be thought of as chiral mirror images. Unlike chemical optical isomers however, mortals can learn to accept and use the chiral God ki, but it is not natural and so must be unlocked in some manner and developed.

3.2.1 Raising Yuuki With Kiai

Earthlings are Universally known for their ability to change their ki output without reliable access to transformation or divinely developed techniques. Their wide emotional range and social nature can be repurposed or redirected to drive that increase in power. For an instantaneous boost of genki, we can rely on our yuuki. If you recall section 1.9, yuuki (courage) is not a true form of ki but a mechanism of bolstering the flow rate, and comes from reducing fear to free up "effort" and ki-particles and therefore energy otherwise poised to react in a more animalistic fashion to the stressors before us.

Consider the question - "when we run from a bear, do we run because we're afraid? Or are we afraid because we run?" This truth is a mix of both. Calming the mind can calm the body, yes, but changing our physiological state can also affect very real change in our emotions too, which can in turn free up mental capacity for other purposes. Likewise, amping up the body can amp up the mind and ki in tandem.

In section 2.3 we discussed kiai, the guttural yell. We slowed our breathing, using the inward and outward breaths to create a rhythm that our ki synced to. When our core tightened to yell our ki flowed steadily with the breath, expelled with the kiai. Kiai also raises yuuki, as the steady, conscious breathing slows the heart rate, reducing the physical sensations we attach to fear and therefore fear itself, a calming feedback loop. We can then think of that freed energy as released in a short, sharp burst of "courage" instead.

To practise this, perform a push intent with and without kiai. Notice the increase in strength as ki becomes more dense when paired with kiai. Then repeat the exercise, this time explicitly utilising yuuki. Calm the body to begin with, and with the freed capacity of mind, genki should be easier to focus and kiai more effective, the rush of emotion with each kiai honing the intent rather than distracting from it. Practice these four states until you can sense the difference in power, both in quality and quantity. Throughout your practice keep in mind whether your yuuki is well-maintained or not. There is no need to be perfectly physically calm every practice, only to be able to note how calm to better estimate the strength of that day's intents.

3.2.2. Yuuki - Advanced Calming

Slowing one's breathing has the ability to start a soothing chain reaction through the body. But there is a shortcut - to hack our bodily ki intents themselves, intercepting the messages intended for the heart and other systems.

To learn though we must be quiet to begin with. Sit quietly, slow your breathing, and feel the subtle pulse of ki intent that ripples with your heartbeat. Not the ki itself, as that will be flowing through the body at a near constant, rippling with the breath and heartbeat, but the change in intent that drives the heartbeat. This ripple will track back to the upper-right of the heart (close to the body's centre-line) to the pacemaker cells which control the heart's contractions, and will spread from the pacemaker cells to the rest of the heart. These are the intents we must intercept.

Follow these ripples and imagine them slowing - I think of a soothe intent to envelope and slow the beat intent, and before long you'll feel your heartbeat begin to slow too. The other physical symptoms of fear will leave you as the mechanisms triggering them unwind, freeing your mind and therefore affording you yuuki to use for ki manipulation. With familiarity you'll be able to track these ripples when under huge mental and physical stress.

It should go without saying that upsetting homeostatic equilibrium is extremely dangerous. This technique should only be performed for a few seconds before you let the body drive itself again. I only ever use this technique as a kick to my system, like a full-body shiver to reset. Slowing the heart too much will leave you breathless, drop your blood pressure and cause you to faint. Playing too harshly with pacemaker cells directly could cause them to fall out of sync, triggering cardiac arrest.

The next question both the curious and antagonistic among you will ask is whether this same soothe intent will work on others to incapacitate them. The answer is yes but, thankfully, there is an inbuilt difficulty; these homeostatic intents written with a ki signature are so tightly bound to that person's subconscious that overriding the messages takes considerable skill. I know of one assassin using this method to trigger cardiac arrest, and the genki "injection" must be delivered with great, well-practised precision within close-range. Miss and the assassin is wide open for a counter. I do not recommend developing this technique both for the safety of others and your own.

3.2.3 Field Ki

Genki manipulation has its limits. We have a finite amount of genki (created from chemical (food) energy) and a finite number of ki particles to assign it too. So there is a maximum amount of genki that we can release in one instant and whilst substantial, it is most unsustainable.

Instead the most reliable, near limitless way to amplify ki is to increase the charge per particle by converting genki to field ki (banoki). In section 1.9 we discussed the ki field; how the ki field is a lower energy state consisting of a soup of decayed and garbled ki energy separated from us by a barrier of ki particles. In 2.2 we visited the surface of the ki field to read the ripples created by the ki of others. Now we will reach through that undulating surface to harness the ki energy beyond.

Find a comfortable and well-centred position. Lower yourself to the ki-field as when learning to read the ki-signatures of those outside of auratic contact (exercise 2.2.2). Feel the waves of others, those vibrations, and settle 'above' them. Remember, your spirit is tethered to this reality by its very existence, so it would take a deliberate act to cut that tie and fall in. I'd hope by now you would be familiar with this exercise and such visualisations would be of little use, but for now attend to the ripples to aid the next step.

Now, you must expend a little effort and genki. Let your mind follow your decaying genki down to the field and visualise yourself penetrating the waves' surface with a hollow reed of ki, finding your way between the surface of empty ki particles at the still spots between the waves. A through or part intent works well here. Your genki and the field ki energy will meet through the imagined reed. The link will feel tenuous at first, as both your effort and genki used in the process will render the exercise counterproductive in net ki, but do not fret - with a little practice you will break even and then excel.

Once the connection is established, you will need to gather field ki. Imagine the reed straw you've made growing roots, spreading through the endless sea of field ki below to efficiently fill the space. Imagine those fine tendrils reaching, your ki signature spilling out as genki converts to give a semblance of structure in the field ki. Then, suck that captured ki back through the reed, palming it into your very real hands. Retrieving the ki can be tricky - overextend and your fine genki root system will break, essentially wasting that genki as it breaks down far too fast. Spread too little and, whilst safe, some genki will be wasted, unable to touch field ki and convert. Take your time - the amplification will come. Aim to be able to repeat this cycle of reaching and capture as a smooth, continuous flow. When this convoluted process becomes second nature, amplification can be achieved with a simple boost or swell intent.

3.2.4 Storing and Moving Ki

At first, this mix of kis will be heavy and unwieldy to move between foci as your ki signature is weakened through the mass. The usually chatty and fast to react genki will take a while to send intents through the rest of the more neutral ki, the genki acting as lit touchpaper. The best way to manage this mass of ki is to maintain the "rootlike" structure of genki through the mass, enabling fast communication between genki and the furthest section of field ki.

To practice, focus genki between your hands and swell the mass. As you sense the energy convert, try to send the ball of ki from left to right between your hands. Notice how, as you continue to amplify (and at first even lose total ki energy during the conversion) this movement increases in difficulty, demonstrating that as the fraction of genki energy in the focussed ball lessens, it takes more time to propagate your intent from the ordered, ki-signature laden genki to the unstructured mass of field ki.

Notice too, that if you were to apply for example a push intent, the strength of the ability would falter at first, the genki now having to learn how to send out this particular intent as well as apply it to itself. You will be frustratingly back to those early days of learning the basic intents. With time and practice though your skill and dexterity with intents will return - and faster this time around. When you've matched your previous skill level across a variety of intents when using only a tenth or less of the genki usually required without field ki, you will be ready to move on.

In the heat of the moment more powerful techniques will require more ki than can be created instantaneously, necessitating you to charge up the ki intent. There is a fine balance to be had between adjusting your genki flow as and when you need it for amplification, versus letting your mind work on autopilot at a fixed conversion rate to over-produce ki. The former of course saves you energy, but the micro-management could make you slower to counter. It is therefore prudent to know how to amplify and store that ki for later. If charging and amplifying a specific attack, of course bring ki to the focus in question, but to be ready at a moment's notice to push, to explode upwards to fly and to guard, you will need to store ki in an aura.

The fundamentals of this particular technique were covered in exercise 2.4.5, but to recap, use your centre as a focus, but this time expel ki. The ki should surround you in an approximate sphere, ready to be gathered into external foci like hands or feet, to report back to you nearby danger, or to create a near-instantaneous barrier. Remember when charging to use a hold intent too, otherwise the genki, untasked, will degrade. This technique is named "aura-shoring". When performed at high ki energy densities, ki will spontaneously interact with the world, creating an impressive and intimidating visible glow around the body.

3.2.5 Raising Shouki

We don't only trade genki for field ki during amplification. We expend effort to maintain spiritual calmness, shouki. If yuuki is the calmness between mind and body, shouki is our self-assuredness, the calmness between mind and ki. The stronger our connection between mind and ki, the easier amplification becomes. As discussed in 1.9, disrupting this link by agitating an opponent through very incisive taunts will knock their power-level down considerably, as they will be unable to efficiently convert genki to field ki. Now we wish to raise our own shouki.

To do so we must get in contact with our spiritual selves - not necessarily in a religious manner, but to know and speak our own truth. For my father, his brush with death was enough for his young self to begin to attend to that spiritualness, but you do not need to go to such extremes.

Mindfulness, the ability to just be in the present, comes easier to some than others. Mindfulness is not the ability to empty the mind, for that can be frustrating to achieve as worries for the day pop in and out. Instead we must notice those thoughts, the emotional and physical feelings, and maintain curiosity toward them before setting them aside for the moment. This benign distance affords us the ability to take stock. Spending time attending to how genki moves through our body and the environment around us can also assist in this mindfulness process. It is a focus on the here and now, and is something we can do alongside other exercises.

Mindfulness however is not dissociation, where we disown thoughts and experiences as not happening or not our own as a defense mechanism. And that leads me to a warning. For individuals dealing with dissociation as a result of, for example, psychological trauma, forcing the mind back in the body can cause an abreaction and worsen your state of mind. If you find you have constant bad reactions to mindfulness, or exercises and martial arts that encourage this open state of mind, then please seek professional support before continuing further. I know of one individual who broke through life-long trauma through sheer force of will, but it took him decades and could have ended poorly. However, dealing with the emotional block monumentally improved his raw power through yuuki and shouki, so your mental health is worth working on in whatever capacity you can. I also speak from experience. Fluctuating shouki was a difficulty I had in my childhood, and it took a lot of self-compassion and support from family and friends to let go of the guilt a child can swallow when they do not know any better. Simple grounding exercises - feeling the earth between your toes, naming sounds, colours and smells in the world around you - can suffice to bolster shouki somewhat in the meanwhile, and was the technique I used until I could be truly still and in the moment.

I told you once that I made the fortuitous decision to sit cross legged over seiza for twenty hours of a twenty-five hour ceremony. This ceremony, to unlock my fullest potential, required me to keep very still at a time I wanted to do anything but; my friends and family were in grave danger, some even passing away in the meanwhile, and the god performing the magic did not come across as particularly competent. As the hours ticked by I felt no different, only frustrated and wrestling with all my concerns with little else to distract me. It was only as my anger boiled over that I felt the ease at which ki enveloped my clench fists, and I understood the power of stillness. Whilst I know the silent magic of the god played a more than substantial part in my increase in power, I know holding out hope for Earth while confronting myself and my fears during those endless hours did play some part in repairing and raising my shouki, and I am grateful for that time to reflect. I hope you can find this time, too.

With every possible type of amplification in your knowledge and the most accessible at your disposal, it is now time to relearn all techniques with field ki in the mix. I know, I know it feels a step backward, but trust me, this step is a huge leap forward, and will give you access to all the work following on. When - or if - you can amplify the strength of your techniques by a factor of two with only a tenth of the genki available, you will be ready to proceed to the next section on guarding.

next previous first contents ask?

[grailfinders]

Fate and Phantasms #109: Emiya (Assassin)

Today on Fate and Phantasms we’re continuing our trek through Fate Zero with the assassin class Edgemiya, with the ability to alter his own time and everyone’s luck. Despite all his cool powers, he’s still pretty depressed. Oh well, it’s probably nothing a few more builds won’t fix.

Check out Emiya’s build breakdown below the cut, or his character sheet over here!

Next up: “Do I contradict myself? Very well, then, I contradict myself. I am large- I contain multitudes.” -Walt Whitman

Race and Background

Emiya made a deal with the spirit of humanity to protect the human race, which is exactly why he’d make a great Hobgoblin... I’m kidding, he’s a Variant Human, for +1 Dexterity and Charisma, Arcana proficiency (or whatever else a rocket launcher would fall under idk), and the Crossbow Expert feat, allowing you to ignore loading crossbows, fire well with enemies in melee range, and dual wield hand crossbows. You can control the flow of time, you should be able to fire more than once a round.

You’ve fought in plenty of wars, but it’s hard to call a professional assassin anything but a Criminal. This gives you Deception and Stealth proficiencies.

Ability Scores

This is a pretty mono-ability build- make your Charisma as high as possible. You’re a pretty scary guy, and you shoot good. That’s charisma. Somehow. After that is Dexterity- you’re really stealthy, and really, really fast. Your Intelligence isn’t half bad. You can use plenty of fancy modern weapons, and you can hunt down mages to use them on. Constitution doesn’t have to be that high, you don’t need health if you just don’t get hit. Your Strength isn’t great, but it’s enough to get the job done. We’re dumping Wisdom, though-your entire characterization is about how much you regret making that deal with Alaya. You’re not bad at noticing things though, we’ll just have to patch that up with skills.

Class Levels

1. Rogue 1: You have a particular set of skills, and rogues start off with the most, so let’s spend a little time here for now. First level rogues get proficiency with Dexterity and Intelligence saving throws, as well as four rogue skills- Acrobatics to enhance your mobility, Intimidation for that no-nonsense attitude of yours, and Perception and Investigation to hunt down and destroy your enemies.

You also get Expertise, doubling your proficiency bonus for Stealth and Intimidation. Presence Concealment A+ is some good stuff.

You can also add a Sneak Attack bonus to damage done by attacks with advantage or directed at creatures who are occupied with other creatures. Right now, it’s just 1d6. You also learn Thieves’ Cant. It’s a language.

2. Warlock 1: Alaya’s kind of a lot of things to a lot of people, but Hexblades work best for us so a Hexblade it shall be here. As a hex warlock, you learn how to place a Hexblade’s Curse on a creature. It lasts one minute, or until one of you two dies, and you can use it once per short rest. While cursed, you can add your proficiency to damage against the target, all attacks made crit on 19s as well as 20s, and you gain hp when the cursed creature dies.

You also become a Hex Warrior, giving you proficiency with medium armor and martial weapons. You can also use charisma as your attack modifier for one weapon per long rest, as long as it isn’t two-handed. Right now, that means you’re using hand crossbows.

One last benefit of being a warlock is Pact Magic, spells you can cast using Charisma. Grab Eldritch Blast for more shooting and True Strike for more careful shots, Expeditious Retreat for some extra speed, and Cause Fear to drain the luck of one poor sap for up to a minute, rendering them unable to move closer and giving them disadvantage on attacks while you’re in sight for the duration. Sure, making yourself luckier would technically be more directly in line with canon, but it’s a “six in one hand, half a dozen in another” sort of situation.

3. Warlock 2: Second level warlocks get Eldritch Invocations, extra ways to customize the Selling Your Soul Experience! You get two right now, but we’re saving one for The Obvious next level. Grab Thief of Five Fates for yet another way to ruin someone’s day. You can cast Bane once per long rest by using a warlock spell slot. This reduces all the saves and attack rolls of three creatures who failed their charisma saves by 1d4 for up to a minute. The DC on those saves, by the by, is 8 plus your proficiency bonus plus your charisma modifier. You can also cast Hex now, in case your enemies weren’t unlucky enough. This makes your attacks deal extra necrotic damage, they get disadvantage on ability checks with one ability, and you can move the effect to another creature if the first drops to 0 hp, which is nice considering it lasts an hour.

4. Warlock 3: Pact of the Blade time! This level lets you summon a magical pact weapon as an action. This weapon always has the benefits of being a Hex Warrior, and thanks to Improved Pact Weapon it can also be a ranged weapon. Specifically, it has to be a Light Crossbow now, because weapon requirements in D&D are obtuse and terrifying.

On a lighter note, you get second level spells now! You can speed up enough to create a Mirror Image of yourself, creating three copies of yourself on the same square you’re standing. If you’d take a hit, there’s a 75% chance a copy will get hit instead and get destroyed, leaving you with only two, and so on.

5. Warlock 4: Use your first Ability Score Improvement to bump up your Charisma for better... everything, really.

You can also cast Minor Illusion to leave afterimages further away from yourself, and Blur, which gives creatures attacking you disadvantage.

6. Rogue 2: Back in your other class, you learn how to make Cunning Actions, speeding up your Dash, Disengage, and Hide actions so they can fit in a bonus action instead. 

7. Rogue 3: It’s no surprise that you’re an Assassin. I mean, it’s your class, but it’s also your subclass. As an Assassin, you can Assassinate enemies that are surprised and/or slower than you are. You have advantage on creatures who haven’t taken a turn yet, and hits against surprised creatures are instant criticals. Speaking of advantage, you can use your Steady Aim as a bonus action to give your next attack advantage, at the cost of losing al your movement for the turn. Despite this, you’ll have plenty of ways to move in a pinch if you really have to.

Also, your sneak attack goes up to 2d6.

8. Fighter 1: Yes, it’s another 3-class build. Don’t worry though, this one’s just a splash. As a fighter, you get a fighting style- Archery will make your shots even more accurate than they were before. You can also use your Second Wind as a bonus action for a bit of healing. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding time for a breather, after all.

9. Fighter 2: Second level fighters can use an Action Surge once per short rest to add an extra action to a turn. Save up for a burst of gunfire, or cast Mirror Image and Blur at the same time to become almost invincible have fun with it!

10. Warlock 5: Speaking of doubling up on things, at fifth level warlocks get another Invocation. Thirsting Blade lets you attack twice per action. You can also move fast enough to Blink out of existence. On the end of each turn for a minute, you have a 50% chance to enter the ethereal plane until the start of your next turn.

11. Rogue 4: Use your next ASI to grab the Piercer feat, for +1 Dexterity, the ability to re-roll one die of piercing damage per turn, and an extra critical hit die when you shoot somebody. If you don’t plan on wearing medium armor, this will also increase your AC.

12. Rogue 5: Fifth level rogues gain an Uncanny Dodge, spending your reaction to halve the damage of a single attack. I’d think you wouldn’t get hit by this point, but nat 20s happen to everyone eventually. Also, your sneak attack is 3d6 now.

13. Rogue 6: Use your second round of Expertise to double down on Perception and Investigation. You’re a professional, you’ve got to get results.

14. Rogue 7: Seventh level rogues get Evasion, making you fast enough to outrun fireballs. If an effect makes you roll a dexterity save to halve damage, a failure makes you take half damage now, and a success completely negates it. Your sneak attack reaches its final form at 4d6.

15. Warlock 6: Sixth level hexlocks can make an Accursed Specter once per long rest out of humanoids you kill. They stick around until your next long rest. This is very not in character for you, but free help is free help.

To help with all that killing, you can also cast Spirit Shroud, adding extra damage to short-range combat, preventing healing, and slowing down nearby enemies.

16. Warlock 7: You can now burn spell slots to power gunshots thanks to Eldritch Smite, which adds a lot of force damage to a weapon attack. To help maneuver around the battlefield, you can also cast Dimension Door for a quick burst of speed.

17. Warlock 8: Use your last ASI to maximize your Charisma for stronger spells and weapons. You can also cast Shadow of Moil for that dramatic shadowy look you get at higher ascensions. It also works as yet another reason people really shouldn’t hit you.

18. Warlock 9: Ninth level warlocks max out their spell slots at fifth level, allowing you to cast Far Step for a longer speed-up session. While the spell lasts (it’s concentration, up to a minute) you can use your bonus action to teleport 60′. You also get the invocation Trickster’s Escape, which lets you cast Freedom of Movement for free once per long rest. While active, your latent timewarping prevents you from being slowed down by magical effects or difficult terrain. (At least that’s what it looks like from the outside. They don’t need to know you secretly spent two turns getting through those hedges.)

19. Warlock 10: Our final gift from Alaya is the Armor of Hexes. If you’re going to get hit by a hexcursed creature’s attack, you can use your reaction for a 50/50 chance of ignoring the attack completely.

You can also cast the cantrip Friends this level. You’re scary, this’ll make you scarier for a bit.

20. Warlock 11: Having sixth level spells on short rests would be busted, so instead of growing your spell slots warlocks get a Mystic Arcanum. This lets you cast one sixth level spell once per long rest, like those plebeians with spellbooks. Your spell is the Circle of Death, letting you go full on Reaper on a pretty large area, dealing 8d6 necrotic damage to every creature that fails a constitution save in a 60′ radius sphere. It’s not dexterity, purely because there’s that many bullets flying around.

Pros:

You are very, very good at critical hits. With a doubled chance of critical damage and guaranteed crits on surprised creatures, you’ll be rolling a lot of dice pretty often. Especially since you can take advantage of critical hits easily thanks to your smites and sneak attacks.

While you can dish out damage easily, you’re also great at avoiding damage entirely, with plenty of spells that make you harder to hit, teleportation to get out of tricky spots, and multiple ways to dodge attacks even if they’re critical hits. Your mobility also makes it a lot harder to escape from you.

Maxed out charisma, the archery fighting style, and free advantage from Steady Aim means even after the fight starts you can still deal consistent damage over long periods of time. Your shots are going to land more often than not, and they land pretty hard.

Cons:

While you can deal damage over time, your kit is definitely geared more towards short bursts, because most of your skills are on a strict cooldown, with one or two uses per short rest. This is especially true of your spell slots. Warlocks eat up spells fast, especially if you’re using them for offense and defense.

Your low wisdom means you’re going to be fooled by illusions and charmed pretty easily. As a precaution, it might be best to use up your burst damage skills as soon as possible. You really don’t want to have to turn 9d8 + 4d6 + 12 damage on your party members.

Your HP isn’t that high, barely scraping above 100 at higher levels. While you have a lot of ways to make that last a lot longer than you’d think, there’s always the chance your DM’s getting sick of you surviving everything and will just throw someone with Power Word Kill your way.

[selkiewife]

I'm not worried about Theon's part in the books because the TV show really did Theon dirty but I do worry about other characters like Dany who were also done dirty but in a completely different way. I do agree that people do tend to underestimate the Ironborn characters, well except Euron, it seems no one underestimates him and his importance. Theories might come true or they might not but I find Theon the most interesting Greyjoy to speculate about because there's just so much to his 1/3

Thanks so much for your question! And sorry it took me so long to respond! That is really interesting what you say about the flying line. I had never really considered that before. I had just assumed that he had survived because of the snow beneath. Theon describes it in his TWOW POV:

"I saved her." The outer wall of Winterfell was eighty feet high, but beneath the spot where he had jumped the snows had piled up to a depth of more than forty. A cold white pillow. The girl had taken the worst of it. Jeyne, her name is Jeyne, but she will never tell them. Theon had landed on top of her, and broken some of her ribs. "I saved the girl," he said. "We flew."

So at first it sounds ridiculous that he could survive this kind of fall- eighty feet high and in his (and Jeyne’s) malnourished and weakened condition. It’s miraculous that they survived. But then you read the explanation that the snows had piled to more than 40 feet, so they must have only fallen 40 feet or so... still... It would have to be very powdery snow. Of course, Jeyne did break her ribs. So there is enough realism that makes it more believable. But you are right that it could also indicate that something supernatural is occurring. And I do find it very interesting parallel with Bran’s fall and Bloodraven’s promise that he Bran will never walk again, but he will fly. It also echoes Bran’s green dreams where the Three Eyed Crow is telling him he needs to learn to fly. And then there is the parallel with Euron mentioning that he use to have dreams that he could fly. I love that these three are linked together in that way because I do feel like there will be something significant with Theon and Bran perhaps fighting Euron??? 

The only sound was a faint soft sobbing. Jeyne, he thought. It is her, sobbing in her bridal bed. Who else could it be? Gods do not weep. Or do they?

You are right that it could be Jeyne and he is really able to hear her from all the way in the Godswood- and there would have to be something supernatural going on in order to make that happen. But, then it could also be Bran sobbing through the tree, a theory I am partial to-  or maybe Theon is even hearing himself sobbing and not connecting the sobbing as coming from himself- another theory I’ve heard before. The whole thing is very interesting and I kind of love how vague it is- it could be magic and it could also have a nonmagical explanation- like the flying and like Theon’s earlier green dream.

But yes, I do agree that the Greyjoys- along with the Targaryens and Starks all seem to be very connected to the supernatural. It’s funny you bring up Sansa as an exception to that though because even though she’s been cut off from her magic- she actually is connected to magic since she is a warg and skin changer just like her siblings. (Although, I don’t think that is made apparent in the text- I think GRRM said it in an interview that all the Stark children were wargs) But I find that so interesting- that Sansa was cut off from the source of practicing her skin changing abilities before she even knew she had them through Lady’s death. Because what does that mean for her? Clearly the ability is still there, hidden inside her. This well of latent magic. How does hidden magic manifest itself is a question I like to wonder about when it comes to characters such as Sansa. I feel like Theon may have something going on like this as well. And even if it never truly manifests it’s just so fascinating to think about. 

And obviously, Theon’s story is intensely compelling on its own without the possibility of the magical elements. I do like the magical elements though, just because they seem to be connecting him more strongly with Bran and Euron- and where the overall story seems to be heading- and anything that keeps Theon around longer I am here for!