#and this definitely bolsters my spirits

[fayeandknight]

In non sad news - I got a working spot in the training seminar I signed up for!

I legit registered in the first ten minutes the link went live but could only get an audit spot. The working spots sold out that fast. But I was informed I was second in the wait-list so I've been holding out hope.

Just got an email that a working spot opened so of course I jumped on it.

Super excited because the topic is play as a primary reinforcer! I've been shifting my training, with both my dogs personally and with client dogs, to be more play heavy. It's an ongoing goal of mine to make training more fun for the dog and I'm so happy to have this opportunity.

This is my winter holiday gift from my boss, who will cover not only the cost of the seminar but also hotel/air BNB costs.

[mamath]

🌺🍀 Wild Advent: Spring Awakening! 🍀🌺

A little heads up that all the pin designs have been unlocked over at the Wild Advent: Spring Kickstarter! If anyone was waiting for one particular design, you can safely back for any of them now!! Even the mini snail, tho if we manage to hit that 15k mark the lil snail could even become a freebie for multi-pin backers. :0

The next stretch goal is 10k for fancy boxes for these fancy pins, which would elevate these to incredible gifts! There's also some really nice add-on options like stickers of the pin art and washi tape!

I've been sharing the nice reblog comments from tumblr with the other artists too. <3 We really appreciate your support, even if it's just nice words or a silent boost!

🌺🍀 Wild Advent: Spring Awakening! 🍀🌺

[english-history-trip]

Ever see a depiction of St. George and the Dragon? It's pretty fair to say if you've seen one, you've seen them all: Georgie on a horse stabbing a flailing dragon creature, princess piously kneeling in the background, vague landscape alluding to the homeland of the artist's patron.

The most varied part is the dragons. No one had a real definition for the thing, it seemed. For your pleasure and entertainment, I have ranked some medieval depictions based on how impressive George's feat seems once you see the dragon.

Paolo Uccello, 1456

This is a terrifying beast. The hell is that. Uccello was one of the first experimenters with perspective, so the thing also looks surreal, like it's taking place on Mars, or a Windows 95 screensaver. I would not want to fight that, I would not want to be tied to that. (Sometimes the princess is tied to the dragon for some reason.) 10/10

Horse thoughts: Maybe if I look at the ground it will be gone when I look up

Unknown artist, c. 1505

This is a rare change of form for the dragon; it's the only one I've seen actually flying (or at least falling with style). It doesn't look particularly deterred by the spear through its throat, either. Also, George looks appropriately nervous. On the other hand, it hasn't got teeth, it seems to be fuzzy rather than having scaly armor, and George is bolstered by his army of Henry VII and his children, most of whom definitely didn't actually die in infancy. Still, wouldn't want to fight it, wouldn't want my pet sheep near it. (Sometimes the princess has a pet sheep for some reason.) 9/10

Horse thoughts: I am so glad I wore my mightiest feather helmet for this

Raphael, 1505

We are coming to Dragons With Problems. This guy looks about comparable in size to George, and does have wings, but doesn't seem to be using these things to his advantage (and has he only got one wing?) And how does he deal with the neck? He does have a comically small head, but holding it up with such a twisty neck seems complicated at best. But most egregiously, he is doing the shitty superheroine pose where he is somehow simultaneously showcasing his chest and his butt, with its unnecessarily defined butthole (more on this later) (regrettably). 8/10 bc it's Raphael

Horse thoughts: AM I THE BESTEST BOI? AM I DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB? WE R DRAGON SLAYING BUDDIEZ

The Beauchamp Hours, c. 1401

We had a spirited debate about this one at work. Again, the dragon has gotten smaller, and this one hasn't got even one wing. He's basically a crocodile. So the debate became: would you want to fight a crocodile if you had a horse and a pointy stick? Would the horse trample the animal, who can't get on its hind legs, or freak out and throw its rider? Would the pointy stick be enough to pierce the croc's thick hide? In this case, George seems to be controlling his horse and putting his pointy stick in the dragon's weak spot, so we can be impressed by his skill and strategy. However, his hat is dumb. 7/10

Horse thoughts: Dehhhh

Book of Hours, c. 1480

Here we have the same kind of croco-dragon, but George's focus on his strategy has gone out the window. He's flailing around, not even looking at his target, he's about to lose his pointy stick, he hasn't got a hand on the reins, and his sword seems to only be poking the invisible dragon over his shoulder. All he's got going for him is that his hat is slightly less dumb. 6/10

Horse thoughts: Yay, new friend! Come play with me, new fr- what is happening

Final dragons put behind this Read More for your safety:

Rogier van der Weyden, c. 1432

I'm thinking this guy is at least semi-aquatic. Webbed feet, wings that seem more like fins, bipedal but top-heavy, jaws that seem more for scooping than biting. Maybe she's crawled up here from the nearby body of water to lay her eggs, and this is all a big misunderstanding. Moreover, George's dagged sleeves seem entirely impractical for the situation. 5/10

Horse thoughts: i got my hed stuk in a jar and now it is this way forever

Unknown artist, c. 15th century

I hate this. I hate everything about it. Why has it got human eyes and teeth. Why is its nose melting. Why has it got a dick on its face and balls under its chin. The fin/wings are back but they look even more useless. Also, George is shifty as hell, schlumped over in his saddle with his bowler hat thing over his eyes. The baby dragon at the bottom eating some hapless would-be rescuer is kind of metal. 4/10 at least the thing is gonna die

Horse thoughts: I Have Smoked So Much Crack

Book of Hours, c. 1450

Remember what I said about the buttholes? First, sorry. Second, yeah, we're back to that. I'll admit this one is less about the danger from the dragon itself than the very specific choices the artist has made. They didn't need to do that. It's a lizard. They don't even have. And it's like they had an orifice budget and they skipped an exit wound for the spear to focus. Elsewhere. It's so detailed. And George had an even dumber hat. 2/10 take it away

Horse thoughts: I Have Smoked So Much Weed

Book of Hours, c. 1415

This is just bullying. There isn't even a princess. That is clearly an infant. Look at that smug look on George's face as he swings his sword that's bigger than the whole little guy. This is the equivalent of when DJT Jr. hunted those sleeping endangered sheep. 1/10

Horse thoughts: ....yikes

And this is the previous one, but now the baby dragon is cute. He's chubby. He's got toe beans. He's Puff the Magic Dragon. His eyes have already gone white, implying that George is just kicking its corpse around for funsies. What's the difference between the dragon and the lamb in the background? That the dragon is dead, like our innocence. This George is truly deserving of the dumbest hat of all. 0/10 plus one more butthole for the road

Horse thoughts: Perhaps it is we who are the buttholes.

[rinstaro]

Tbh I don’t have an idea for this one kore, but smth horny asf with my bb time or even wild cause I’ve been having a bit of a rough time

hope ur well and thank you!!

-💫

of course, anything for you dear. this took so long!!!! sorry i’ve been so dead lately, life is tryna whoop my ass. i was playing botw and changed into the barbarian set and…… yeah. you know how it “bolsters links fighting spirit”? in my head it just makes him a lot more feral so it makes him horny too. i hope you like it! and i hope you feel better soon! i promise that these rough times will pass 🌟

cw: he’s a little mean, doggy, forest sex, reader is implied to be shorter than him, slight predator/prey dynamics, y’all are just messing around… or are you? reader has a vagina no pronouns, not proofread &lt;3

minors do not interact.

you played with wild’s stuff all the time. he didn’t mind so long as you didn’t hurt yourself. his swords, his bows, and especially his armor. no matter how many rupees he’d spend buying you whatever clothes you wanted, you were always fascinated with his instead.

his knights armor was heavy and sturdy. his climbing gear showed off his toned arms. his sheikah armor had you drooling.

the only set you hadn’t seen on him was the barbarian armor. you always wondered about the set. the headpiece was just a little scary, so you asked him what the armor was for when it covered so… little.

“it makes me a little more…. it’s easier to fight.”

he left it at that, but it made you curious. so it made him stronger, but you wanted to see that firsthand. you asked him if he’d put it on for you to which he shied away. “i don’t think you’d like it…”

you rolled your eyes, begging him to do it, just once. he eventually caved. when he did, you immediately realized why he was hesitant to show you his armor.

he looked fucking divine.

the way it exposed the best parts of him had you salivating. you circled him, trailing your gaze up and down his body. the tattoos that manifest on his torso and legs... you wanted to taste them for yourself. “i cannot believe you hid this from me,” you mumbled. you wrapped your arms around him, tracing his skin with your fingertips. you could hear his breath hitch as you teased him relentlessly.

suddenly he grabbed your wrists, looking at you with a hardened gaze.

“i’m not sure if we should… do that right now.”

you could tell wild was holding himself back, so you decided to kick it up a notch. you dropped to your knees in front of him, batting your eyelashes when he hisses. your hands trailed down to his thighs, nails scratching the skin ever so slightly. “come on, you don’t wanna have fun? at least let me– oh!”

the grip on your wrists tightened, and you were locked in place. your heated gaze met his, and you shuddered. he looked like he was about to eat you alive. wild’s nostrils flared as he stared down at you, seemingly trying to keep himself together. he slowly leaned down, eyes never leaving yours.

“sure, let’s have some fun.”

that’s how you ended up deep in the forest, heart racing and wild hot on your trail. this was harder than you thought, but it was definitely exciting. the deal he made you was simple. just a quick game of hide and seek.

“you get five minutes. if you win, you get your way. if i win, i get mine.”

you took off as soon as he uttered the word ‘run’, excited giggles ringing in his ears as he watched you. he waited til you were out of sight, and even gave you an extra minute. after counting, he started walking at a leisurely place in the direction you took off in, grinning to himself.

sure, this was a little unfair. you didn’t stand a chance against him without the set, let alone with it. but you didn’t need to know that. you wanted to have some fun, so he’ll entertain you. wild wondered how long you’d last when he finally got you under him.

you stopped to catch your breath, hands on your knees as you panted. surely this was far enough. you'd been running at full speed for a while, and you were sure at least 2 minutes had passed. you had to have gotten pretty far.

only moments later did you hear a loud “thud” from behind you. you spun around to be met with trees and shrubs, the silence making you uneasy. your eyes scanned the area only to find nothing. probably just some animal, right? even if it was, you weren’t gonna take the chance. you slowly backed away in the opposite direction of the noise, keeping an eye out for any movement.

when you turned back to run, you were met with the hard surface of someone’s chest. you groaned, rubbing your nose before your eyes widened at the sight of your boyfriend.

“i win, right?”

you opened your mouth to protest, quickly being cut off by him gripping your chin. his hold was gentle but the look in his eyes was anything but. “l-link?” he wore a twisted little grin, as if he’d just caught his first meal in days.

“so we’re doing this my way. i’ll still give you one choice. do you want it here, or do you want me to chase you back home?” your knees buckled at his words, your mind reeling. you couldn’t even begin to speak, sputtering out nothing but nonsense. wild huffed, grabbing your wrists and pinning you face first to the nearest tree. he pinned your arms on the side of you and spoke, “don’t move.” you nodded hastily.

“you know you look really cute when you run? it was hard not to take you right there. the wait was worth it, though,” he grinned. his fingers traced your spine, his hunger only growing as he watched you shiver.

wild placed a hand over your eyes and started trailing love bites down your neck. you whined. the bites felt hard enough to leave marks, yet you could still tell he was holding back. you pushed your ass back against him, trying to rile him up.

your boyfriend growled, suddenly biting down harshly on your neck. you whimpered loudly as your arms twitched with the need to move, which didn't go unnoticed.

"look at you, still trying to be a good pet. ah, its a little late though. you've already pushed me to my limit," he snarled, landing a smack to your ass. he watched the flesh jiggle, humming contentedly. without warning, your bottoms were ripped from you and thrown to the ground. the roles were now swapped, wild on his knees before you- well, behind you.

you felt him part your folds with his thumbs, watching your sex drip with arousal. you squealed at your sudden nudity, arms reaching back to grab him. he quickly put a stop to that, grabbing both wrists in one hand. "on the tree. don't interrupt me."

you obeyed his orders, bringing your arms back to yourself and placing them on the tree. once he was satisfied with your position, he gave no warning before licking a long stripe up your cunt. you moaned shakily, the pleasure between your legs making you tremble. wild hummed, tongue swiping across your clit at a rapid pace.

he ate you like a man starved, your position not allowing you any room to squirm. you moaned his name over and over, and it only seemed to make him more ravenous. a mix of spit and slick dripped down his chin while his nails dug into your thighs. he'd been waiting for this for far too long. "l-link, im gonna- keep going, please!"

your boyfriend wasn't listening to your whines, tongue fucking you until your eyes crossed. he was doing this for him.

only a couple moments later did you gush all over his face, legs shaking in his grasp. wild didn't stop even when you whimpered for him to slow down. he made sure you were licked clean before pulling away from your cunt.

"b-babe what- oh!"

you weren't sure when he undid his belt, but you felt the head of his cock push against your folds.

"you always taste fucking amazing. be sure to give me another taste later," he whispered in your ear. his buttercup blonde hair tickled your shoulder as he leaned over you. "that wasn't loud enough for me, though. maybe i just need to be a little rougher, then you'll scream for me right?"

without another word, he pushed his cock into your cunt making your eyes roll back into your head. it took no time for you to adjust to his size, and he took no time in starting up a mean pace. the sound of his hips slamming into yours rang in your ears, every pleasurable thrusts making your head spin. one hand left your hips to grab your hair, tugging slightly. you winced, the pain sending heat right to your cunt.

"oh, you like that? squeezing me so hard— so cute, baby, thinking you could beat me," he groaned. you could only respond with loud moans, your brain turned to mush. "sound so pretty, gonna cum?" you nodded frantically in response, begging for him to keep going. he watched your cunt suck him in, your ass jiggling with every mean thrust.

"p-please, feels good!" your words slurred together, drool beginning to drip from your chin. it was too much and yet you wanted more. he was hitting your g spot with every thrust, his balls slapped against your clit, and you couldn't imagine a better way for this game of yours to end. you heard him snarl before he picked up his pace.

"f-fuck! 'm my god yes!" a few more thrusts and you were spasming in between him and the tree. wild stopped his movements, relishing in the feeling of your cunt squeezing around him. he chucked to himself as he watched you writhe. he suddenly frowned, realizing he hadn't been able to see your face when you came. oh, well. he'll just make you cum again.

wild pulled out, turning you around and staring you in the eyes. he then watched as your chest rose and fell, mouth hung open as you tried to catch your breath. the ferocity that was temporarily sated was now rising again.

you yelped in surprise when he lifted you up, wrapping your legs around his waist. your back rested against the tree as you furrowed your brows in confusion. "b-babe?"

"you're so gorgeous. how many times do you think i could fuck you til your legs gave out?" he questioned casually, a dark smile on his face. your legs clenched against him, hands coming to rest on his shoulders while he held you up by your thighs. you swallowed thickly, unable to answer. "hm? three? four? or more than that? well, i guess we'll see..."

wild never broke eye contact as he slipped his cock back into you, not even giving you a moment before fucking you at a savage pace. your back arched against the tree as you squirmed in his grasp. he pounded himself deeper into your cunt, his growls getting louder and your vision beginning to turn white. he was too much, fucking you so mercilessly and yet you couldn't bring yourself to want to stop. is this what he meant? he thought you wouldn't like this?

"l-link!"

"hm?" he answered, never faltering in his pace.

"harder!" your boyfriend's eyes widened slightly in surprise before he huffed in disbelief. you just continued to surprise him. he adjusted his grip on your thighs, leaning in so that you two were nose to nose.

"i've always wanted to see how much you could take."

[afraidparade]

YOU! THE GHOST LORE MAKER!

I am coming so close to making a theory video on your characters, specifically Theo, Gabe, Lam(ashtu) and I guess Pazu (If anything he’s the Co-Star from what I plan).

Why? Why go through all the effort of making a theory video about these characters? It’s a fair question that you might be asking, Uncle Cas. BECAUSE THEY WON’T LEAVE MY BRAIN. Infective Parasitics, I need an exorcism on my brain.

But as for the other reason, it’s cause I don’t think I’ve been THIS invested in lore for a decent year or two! I need to let my theories out, Uncle Cas. The day of reckoning for either me or you is approaching, and that terrifies me more than it will for you.

But anywho! I hope you keep creating cool stuff and expanding these world of yours, and even if my theories fall flat, which odds are that they most definitely will.. then so be it, I’ll just try again, again and again till I strike Gold and Diamond …or die from black lung.- Let’s just see what’ll happen.

So ciao, Uncle Cas, and sorry for the long ask, I am just vibrating at lethal speeds with all sorts of theories. (Free tidbit of lore Mayhaps? :3/j)

WAH- this is so cool and flattering?? i knew a few of you paid attention to the lore but i wouldn’t have guessed anybody followed it to this extent 🥹🥹 this is a good motivator for me to actually put out more lore, sometimes i get too in my own head and think like “nobody actually reads this stuff, why are ya putting so much effort into it”

but i’m very honored and grateful! i do try to drop lots of subtle hints about the characters for inquisitive people to pick up and piece together, and it’s SO HARD to not blab spoilers all the time but it’s very worth it. i honestly can’t tell if you were joking or not about making a theory video but i am always delighted to read peoples’ theories (it’s extra fun when they’re right and i can’t say anything 🤭)

i will reward you for your efforts with an excerpt from the exorcist-focused lore update that WOULD HAVE BEEN FINISHED AGES AGO IF ONLY I WERE NOT ALLERGIC TO WRITING :,) here is a breakdown of the exorcist magic system:

There are three main school of exorcist magic: ritual, runes, and sealing. The three are often used in tandem with each other in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness. Each of the three major clans specializes in one school; Oath in ritual, Pact in rune, Vow (while active) in sealing.

Ritual Magic:

Powerful techniques that can only be activated under a very specific set of circumstances, hence the rituals. Ritual magic is among the most difficult exorcism techniques to master due to its precise and intricate nature. There are a wide variety of uses for ritual magic, some of which are so miraculous that they are speculated to be mere legend; soul memory retrieval, astral projection, and fate foresight are among the confirmed uses of the technique. The moon and its phases are a key factor for many exorcist rituals, some requiring a specific phase in the lunar cycle in order to take effect. Due to this extreme limitation, ritual magic’s drawback is that it is the least efficient technique among exorcists.

Rune Magic:

While being tethered to the physical plane may appear to be a disadvantage when fighting spectral opponents, exorcists have found a way to use it in their favor. Runes are a complex written language imbued with a magic that is purely physical. It is incompatible with the metaphysical, making it very effective against beings composed entirely of soul energy. Runes are often used to bolster an exorcist’s physical attributes, such as enhancing their senses, strength, or natural ability to heal. They are also useful in both offense and defense against ghosts, as prolonged exposure to rune magic can cause a spirit’s spectral makeup to disperse completely — also known as a complete exorcism. Defense runes tend to be installed in places of safety that are intended to be entirely ghost-free, while offense runes will be etched into weapons or other battle accessories.

Sealing Magic:

A somewhat controversial technique, due to its disregard of cosmic balance by prolonging the presence of excess soul energy trapped in the physical plane. Sealing magic involves binding a disembodied spirit to a physical object, which is effective in both enhancing the spectral properties of an otherwise average object and in detaining dangerous ghosts that are resistant to other exorcism techniques. The most common application of this technique is with weapons; since ghosts appear to suffer the most damage when the attack is inflicted by a fellow ghost, imbuing a weapon with this power is an innovative way to emulate spectral combat. Although it is a significantly slower process, sealing magic is still technically a viable exorcism technique; if a soul is forced to expend its energy either against its will or in efforts to escape confinement, and cannot replenish this energy by feeding, it will eventually die out and extinguish completely — also known as a complete exorcism. However, this process can take years, decades, or even centuries. In addition to the controversies regarding imbalance, sealing magic can also be quite dangerous, furthering its unfavorable reputation. If done incorrectly, a weak seal could create what is essentially a spectral time-bomb, resulting in a volatile ghost erupting from imprisonment and catching anyone in the immediate area by deadly surprise. Additionally, weak seals risk converting entrapment into possession, allowing a ghost to take control of the object it is bound to and corrupt any human that wields it. In an effort to avoid either catastrophe, sealed ghosts that are deemed too powerful are not to be utilized in any way, and are instead left to deteriorate in isolation.

[idkyetxoxo]

Fifteen | Allure | The Last Kingdom

"I'm not protecting you because you're a woman. I'm protecting you because you're my woman,"

<- prev || masterlist || next ->

───☆⋅☾⋅☆───

"Danes are charging towards the gates," Finan's urgent voice pierced through the air. With resolve etched upon his features, Uhtred swiftly guided Aethelflaed to safety, his protective instincts aflame, while the rest of us braced ourselves to confront the impending onslaught.

Outside, the relentless pounding against the sturdy monastery doors echoed the fervour of the Danes' assault, their demands resonating with an intensity.

As the pressure mounted, I sought higher ground, ascending to the roof, with Uhtred, Finan, and Sihtric close behind. With the lives of Cnut's sons hanging in the balance, tension coiled tight around us like a serpent poised to strike.

"Do you recognize him?" Uhtred's whispered inquiry drew my attention, and I peered over the edge, my gaze fixing upon the figure below. "I think... maybe his name is Bjorgulf. He's definitely one of Cnut's men," I replied.

"Leave, or else the children will die," Uhtred's demand rang out, a steely edge underscoring his words. Yet, Bjorgulf remained obstinate, his resolve unyielding in the face of our ultimatum.

With a daring ruse, Uhtred orchestrated a desperate gambit, convincing Bjorgulf that he had slain young Cnut by casting the lifeless body of a fallen Mercian child from the rooftop. In the grip of fear, Bjorgulf's resolve wavered his retreat a testament to the power of Uhtred's cunning.

"Now we have to leave, Cnut will hunt us down" I remarked. Uhtred's nod affirmed the gravity of our situation as we readied ourselves to flee the encroaching danger.

As we prepared to depart, the two boys, their purpose served, were set free. Together, we joined Aethelflaed and Aldhelm, embarking on the journey towards Tettenhall.

──☆⋅☾⋅☆──

At Tettenhall, the convergence of Father Pyrlig and King Hywel's army lent a glimmer of hope to our beleaguered cause. Pyrlig revealed that it was Aelswith who dispatched him in search of allies, underscoring the ominous silence that emanated from King Edward's court. Despite our bolstered numbers, Uhtred's lingering apprehension loomed large, doubt gnawing at the edges of our resolve.

Yet, in the face of uncertainty, Aethelflaed remained resolute. With Edward's absence casting a pall over our preparations, Uhtred counselled Aethelflaed to weave tales of hope to sustain her men's spirits in the crucible of impending battle.

As we gathered to devise a strategy to repel the Dane's impending assault, all eyes turned to me, prompting a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "Why are you all looking at me?" I asked. "You're the only one with sense, remember," Finan jested, earning a smack on his arm from me.

"Or I'll be the one blamed when hundreds fall to their deaths," I countered, a hint of self-deprecating humour lacing my words. Uhtred's reproachful tut echoed in response, his unwavering faith in our cause evident as he dispelled the spectre of doubt that threatened to eclipse our resolve.

Yet, amidst the ill-timed banter, a sudden realization struck me like lightning, igniting a spark of inspiration. "Okay, I can't guarantee it will work, but it's the best I've got," I declared, my voice tinged with a mixture of determination and uncertainty as I outlined my impromptu plan to rally our forces.

As I began to instruct everyone, the weight of responsibility settled upon my shoulders.

The arrival of the Dane army, led by Cnut and Brida, cast a shadow of impending conflict over Tettenhall.

"This will work," I murmured, a quiet confidence threading through the uncertainty. Beside me, Sihtric's reassuring words echoed my sentiment, his kiss imbued with a mixture of resolve and determination as he tightened his grip on his axe.

As Cnut barked orders and his men surged forward, they unwittingly stumbled into the trap we had laid. A vast, camouflaged ditch concealed beneath the earth.

With a calculated precision, the Danes found themselves thrown into disarray as they grappled with the unexpected obstacle that lay in their path.

Seizing the moment, the rest of our forces surged forward. With the Welsh reinforcements at our backs, we charged into the fray, our weapons flashing in the dim light of battle, each strike finding its mark.

My daggers, honed to a deadly edge, became extensions of my will, finding their targets with unerring accuracy as they cut through the ranks of men and women. With each person that fell beneath my blade, a surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins, fueling the relentless rhythm of the fight.

A triumphant smirk danced upon my lips as I beheld the arrival of the Mercian army, their presence tipping the scales decisively in our favour. In that pivotal moment, the odds shifted in our favour.

Instinct kicked in as I blocked the attack of a Dane with a swift movement of my legs, pushing back against his onslaught. His smirk of confidence only fueled my determination as I sought to turn the tide of the confrontation in my favour.

Before I could unleash the lethal force of my dagger, an axe whistled through the air, intercepting the threat before it could manifest. My eyes darted to the figure beside me, Sihtric.

"I had that," I declared, a note of defiance colouring my tone as I crossed my arms, the adrenaline coursing through my veins. 

"I don't need your help," I insisted, my voice edged with a fierce independence born of years spent honing my skills on the battlefield. "If you recall, I am arguably the best fighter among all of Uhtred's 'men,' despite being a woman," I emphasized, underscoring the disparity in expectations and reality.

Sihtric's response cut through the din of battle, his words carrying a weight of conviction that resonated within me. 

"I'm not protecting you because you're a woman. I'm protecting you because you're my woman," he asserted, his gaze unwavering as he laid bare the depth of his commitment.

A smirk danced upon my lips as I tutted, a silent challenge in the face of his declaration. "Your woman, huh?" I teased.

"My woman," he affirmed without hesitation, his resolve unshakeable as he echoed the sentiment with firm certainty.

With a shared understanding passing between us, I couldn't suppress the laughter bubbling up from within.

"Well, Sihtric, we may be in the middle of battle, but if you're finished staking your claim, perhaps we should focus on the task at hand," I remarked, a hint of amusement dancing in my eyes as I redirected our attention to the urgent demands of the conflict unfolding around us.

As he turned to resume the fray, a fleeting gesture caught me by surprise, a quick kiss pressed against my lips, a testament to the passion that burned between us, even during the tempest of battle.

Truly, leave it to us to find moments of arguing and flirtation amidst the fury of the battlefield.

As the Danes began to scatter into the dense forest, Uhtred's commanding voice cut through the chaos, issuing orders to prevent their escape.

Spotting Cnut trailing Uhtred into the woods, a rush of determination surged within me. Despite our familial ties, I couldn't allow him to evade the consequences of his actions, especially for Ragnar's death.

Racing into the fray, I arrived just as Brida emerged, her fierce presence matching the intensity of the unfolding confrontation between Uhtred and Cnut.

"Don't," I cautioned, a firm warning as Brida advanced, her intent clear.

"Ragnar was weak. I needed him to die, but my son was innocent," Cnut's words hung heavy in the air. Brida's gasp of disbelief mirrored my own inner turmoil as I nodded in silent confirmation, the truth a bitter pill to swallow.

In the midst of the struggle, Uhtred seized Cnut in a chokehold. Demanding his blade, Cnut's plea was met with Brida's trembling compliance, her anguish etched across her features as she confronted the man who had torn her world asunder.

With a swift motion, Brida plunged the blade into Cnut's chest, the final act of retribution echoing the depth of her sorrow. As he crumpled to his knees, gasping for breath, Uhtred's revelation hung heavy in the air, both of his sons were alive and well, a cruel twist of fate.

Surrounded by the Welsh, Danish prisoners in tow, Brida turned to us with a desperate plea, her eyes pleading for release from the torment of her existence.

"Send me to Valhalla," she beseeched, her voice tinged with the weight of unspoken sorrow. Yet, as she stepped back, I couldn't bear to be the harbinger of her demise, refusing to condemn her to death.

Despite her desperate pleas, Uhtred and I couldn't bring ourselves to grant her wish, instead choosing to let her be taken as a prisoner, a testament to the complexities of forgiveness and the enduring bonds that united us.

As Uhtred and I emerged from the dense canopy of the woods, the din of battle gradually fading into the distance, we rejoined the others. Uhtred and Aethelflaed engaged in earnest conversation, while I sought out Sihtric.

Finding him nestled among Finan and Osferth, their weary forms a testament to the trials of the day, I collapsed beside them, the cool earth embracing my weary body. Lying on my back, I gazed upward, the vast expanse of the sky stretching endlessly above us.

"Cnut?" Finan's voice cut through the quiet, his inquiry echoing the collective curiosity that hung in the air like a heavy mist. With a faint smile, I propped myself up on my elbows, exhaustion mingling with the lingering adrenaline of battle.

"Dead," I affirmed, my voice tinged with a mixture of relief and solemnity.

Turning my attention to the men "And you three?" I inquired, "Almost dead," Osferth quipped, his tone light, eliciting a shared chuckle from our weary band. 

Sihtric's gaze met mine, a silent exchange passing between us.

"I am going to find a river to wash away the grime of battle before my brother leads us into some new battle," I declared, pushing myself to my feet. Beside me, Sihtric rose in silent agreement.

Finan's quip cut through the air like a well-aimed arrow, his voice tinged with a mixture of amusement and incredulity. "You both have just killed countless men and women, and all you can think about now is... humping?" he queried, his brow furrowed in disbelief.

With a roll of my eyes, I brushed off his words. "Don't be jealous, Irishman," I retorted.

With purposeful strides, I set off towards the woods, the canopy of trees stretching out before me like welcoming arms.

The hurried tempo of Sihtric's footsteps echoed behind me, urging me onward through the labyrinth of shadows and light. With every stride, the forest embraced us, a haven amidst the chaos of conflict.

A sudden gasp escaped my lips as Sihtric's strong grip yanked me back, igniting a blaze beneath the surface with his touch. Amidst the towering trees' shelter, he ensnared me in his arms, his voice a seductive murmur against my ear.

"I have waited so long for this moment," he confessed, his words dripping with longing and desire, the echo of anticipation vibrating between us.

A  retort danced upon my lips, teasing and taunting in equal measure. "Did I not warn you that one day, you would find yourself falling into my seductress traps" I teased and a low growl escaped his lips.

With a subtle shift in his demeanour, Sihtric tightened his hold, pulling me closer until his touch sparked a wildfire within. His words, heavy with desire, fanned the flames of longing.

"That is no one's fault but your own," he countered, the thin veil of restraint crumbling under the weight of desire.

As I lightly tugged at his hair, igniting a symphony of sensations, his lips hovered tantalizingly close, the promise of ecstasy hanging in the air between us.

"Get on with it then," I murmured, a whispered challenge hanging on the edge, our shared desire pulsing in the air.

His eyes, twin pools of desire, mirrored the intensity of our passion. With intent, he closed the gap between us, his lips capturing mine in a fervent embrace that set the world ablaze.

In that timeless moment, reality faded into oblivion, leaving only the intoxicating collision of passion and surrender.

───☆⋅☾⋅☆───

my woman 😍😍  also if you couldn't tell I don't exactly write full on 'smut' I don't really know how to tbh and I don't read it either so pretty clueless on the matter (I will try add something in later chapters but we'll see) 😭😭

also this is posted later than i expected cause ive been on a week long trip w my friends and honestly wasnt checking my phone as much sorry 😬

[grandpasauce]

Dreadwolf Companion Predictions

These are my personal predictions based off concept art, leaks, and other official media. Using this edited lineup of the alleged companions from reddit. The added text is mine tho.

Left to right:

Dress lady is one of the ones I'm pretty unsure of. The dress and jewelry give me Rivaini vibes for some reason, specifically a lord of fortune? Also the fact that a similar looking woman is seen in another concept art being used as a sort of decoy for the rest of the party to sneak up on a target, and the Lords of Fortune are sometimes adept at disguises and impressions. She gives me 'face of the party vibes'. Honestly, I equate her with mage simply cause the robes but i could be totally wrong lmao.

Next is qunari lady. Not much to say about her, other than some different concept art has her dual wielding daggers, so rogue seems a strong presumption. Probably tal vashoth, perhaps a member of the executors or some other faction?

This is Davrin. We've seen him voiced in that one trailer, the leaks heavily suggest he is a companion. Pretty easy to assume he will be a grey warden based on his one voiced line. His armor gives rogue vibes here, but I'm pretty confident he will be a warrior. But who knows. Leaks also suggest he may be an elf.

This being Calpernia would be my first guess, as no world state from Inquisition actually confirms Calpernia is DEAD dead by end game. Although Maevaris is also a strong guess, I feel Maevaris will be an important npc, not a companion, when/if she shows up in dreadwolf, since she is running a whole ass political party alongside Dorian. Other concept art shows a similar blonde woman casting magic, so this further bolsters my belief that at the very least, this is a mage companion. The armor looks hella tevinter style to me as well, so I'd not be surprised if whoever this is is part of the shadow dragon faction introduced in the missing comics.

This is Harding. It's Harding. Like, come on. Look that the other concept art. It's Harding. Obvs she will be a rogue.

This is definitely a crow assassin. Whether it's Lucanis or not is up for debate, but this is def gonna be a crow rogue companion.

Qunari dude is a warrior, assuming the other concept art is accurate, since he's wearing a full suit of heavy armor + a helmet in that illustration. No idea what his faction alliances may be. I'm really excited to have 2 qunari companions thoooo.

Ghost rider boy is probably Audric from Tevinter Nights, or another undead spirit sort of thing similar to Audric. Class wise, I would assume warrior, as I think bioware is more likely to give us an extra warrior character as opposed to an extra mage character. (There's only 8 companions in this lineup so the split would be 2 mages/3 warriors/3 rogues, which i feel is more likely than 3 mages/2 warriors/3 rogues). This makes me think he will be a warrior of some type.

Now they could leave it at 8. That would leave us short a mage. Specifically, a male mage. We also have a noticeable elf shortage with this cast compared to the other 2 previous games. Not saying there is a secret companion, but. Y'know. This does leave room for a certain ancient old elf man. Maybe.

Okay let me know what you guys think like do any of these predictions seem wildly out of the realm of possibility to you?

[wanderingthroughsands]

VII. Comin' for to carry me home

And now we are awake and it seems too much to take I want to close my eyes because I fear my heart will break I want to look away, I want to look away I want to look away, I must not look away

- "Light Of Love" by Florence and the Machine

I expected Dreamlord to be waiting in Fiddler’s Green, not particularly pleased to see me. The darkness that I thought had vanished returned again, enveloping his face and his deep, dark eyes. I was prepared for him to strike the moment I appeared, yet he didn’t move, even when I summoned the courage to approach far too close for an uninvited guest. The look he gave me was devoid of emotion, but I refused to be discouraged by that. I wanted him to know that no matter what, I had no intention of fighting him.

"I apologize for what happened yesterday," I said, standing before him so I could look him in the eyes. "And I apologize for what I said to you. You are the Master of Dreams and I know that, without you, the world would be bereft of hope. Right now you seek to save your kingdom, and I seek to save my life. If either of our motives is less noble, it is surely mine."

"You do not wish to become a Nightmare," he said calmly, his lips barely moving.

"I do not."

"And do you know, Rebecca Surrey," he gestured with his hand in the direction we were to walk together, a slow stroll through the greenery, "that Nightmares are as much a part of humanity as Dreams? Nightmares reveal what lies deep within you, what prevents you from taking a full, liberating breath. Your conscious mind does not want to face pain, fear, longing. But your subconscious needs confrontation. The role of the Nightmares I create is not to torment... but to heal."

"But I’ve had enough of pain and fear," I said, clenching my lips, deliberately avoiding his gaze. "and I definitely don’t seek confrontation. I just want to rid myself of the power and the darkness within me. So if there’s any chance you could take it from me…"

"We all carry darkness within us," he interrupted firmly, though this time with a certain softness in his voice. "And light. All of us, even the Endless, fight this very battle to be who we are meant to be. I know your darkness well, Rebecca Surrey, because I created it myself. And I know that you could use it to help others confront their inner fears, here, in the Dreaming."

"I just cannot agree to that, Dreamlord," I said, realizing how sorrowful the words made me feel as they left my lips. "And I’m pretty sure you already know why. I may have no control over what I am exactly, but I would like to have a say in the role, however insignificant, that I will play in my world and yours. So if I must choose between the two options you’ve given me, I choose the latter. I will not flee if it means endangering your kingdom and my loved ones. Take this power from me… and simply let me move on. If there is the Dreaming and this beautiful Fiddler’s Green," I smiled slightly, perhaps to bolster my own spirits, "then surely there must be another world where I will, uh, eventually go further."

Dreamlord halted and, touching my shoulder, compelled me to do the same. He studied me for a long while, allowing me to lose myself momentarily in the universe contained within his eyes. Those dark irises seemed to lead somewhere where there was nothing but hope. A brief thought came through my mind that if it was there I was meant to go next, the prospect of awakening in the afterworld wouldn’t be so terrifying after all.

I watched as his gaze wandered across my face, occasionally returning to my eyes, as if he was analyzing me. A familiar mix of fear and anticipation stirred in the pit of my stomach, but this time there was something more—something I couldn’t really name. It wasn’t until after the longest seconds in history had passed that I realized he had kept his hand on my shoulder the entire time, so I slowly relaxed my muscles.

I wasn’t planning to run anymore. Whatever Lord Morpheus would do now, I would surrender to it without hesitation.

"I want to offer you one more solution," he finally spoke. "But I cannot guarantee that choosing it will keep you safe."

"What is it?" I asked.

"I will remove the part of the Nightmare that was given to you. I will do it in the same way I freed your world from the Corinthian. By destroying only the Nightmare, I will leave you with the human part bestowed by your mother. If it succeeds, you will be free from the darkness and return to your world, where you will dream both Dreams and Nightmares, just like everyone else around you."

"And I won’t return to the Dreaming again?"

"Not consciously," he paused, his gaze growing more intense. "But if it fails, your power will remain in my realm, and you… you will go further."

I closed my eyes, feeling an unpleasant tingling sensation course through my entire body. I thought I was ready to give him the power derived from the Nightmare, even if it meant giving up my life as well. But now, having physically heard the words he spoke, I found myself overwhelmed by fear—an instinctual fear born of the need to survive.

I suddenly remembered my mother’s caring smile as she saw me off to work. I remembered my friends, whom I hadn’t had the chance to see for fear of burdening them with Nightmares. I remembered Veronica, who handed me the draft chapters, saying she believed in my abilities and that I would certainly handle them well. I remembered the library, the friendly cashier at the market, my favorite college professor, the restaurant with Asian cuisine, my one and only trip abroad, the park where I first saw Dreamlord.

Then I opened my eyes and looked at him again. It was from this man, as dark as night, that my journey through the Dreaming had begun. Lord Morpheus had tried to capture me, then had tried to convince me, and now… now he was trying to help me. He was an infinite being, surely he had seen thousands like me, and the fragility of human life must have left him unimpressed.

Yet, he chose to grant my request, though he had no obligation to do so. He really wanted to save my life now, and he wanted to free me from the Nightmare.

"If something goes wrong..." I finally began, struggling to keep my voice from revealing my concerns. "Will we ever see each other again?"

Some shadow flickered across Dreamlord’s face, still inscrutable, still as serene as the gentle breezes.

"No, Rebecca Surrey," he replied, loosening his grip on my shoulder. "I will not seek you out in the world where you will go."

The chill that followed when he withdrew his hand seemed to radiate far beyond my shoulder.

"Let’s try the third solution, then" I said, and, just as he had done the night before, he extended his hand to me, which this time, I took without hesitation.

When we arrived at the throne room, fear had already wrapped itself around me from all sides. I sought solace in the colorful reflections dancing on the stone sculptures, but relentless thoughts began to assail my mind with increasing intensity. Should I start counting my last breaths? Should I ask Dreamlord to let me say goodbye to my mother first? Should I want to see more of my world, take the long journey I’d always dreamed of, find my soulmate and start a family with them? Should I fight harder for the gift of life I received twenty-three years ago, one I had never fully appreciated because of the darkness within me?

Dreamlord did not let go of my hand this time, but he stood before me as he had yesterday, framed against the backdrop of his throne. He must have sensed and seen my fear, but he gave no sign of it.

"I do not wish to take your life," he said slowly and calmly, as if standing by the bedside of a sick person, trying to offer comfort. "I will only take the Nightmare that lives within you. And then you will return home."

"I wish I could say it was a pleasure to meet you, Dreamlord," I tried to smile, but fear had already tightened all the muscles in my face. "But all I can say is that I’ve been waiting for you since I first saw you in that park. And I’m glad that, if only for a moment, I was part of your wonderful world."

He raised his other hand toward my chest, touching me with the tips of his fingers, his wrist turned upward. I struggled to breathe, knowing that if he failed, I might have only seconds left to admire his beautiful realm and to feel the extraordinary energy that radiated from him. I thought of my mother again, then looked at him and froze, seeing how he gently furrowed his brow, piercing me one more time with his deep gaze.

"You could still remain here, in the Dreaming," he spoke in a tone I had never heard from him before. It was something... almost human, as if... hesitation. "Keep your power and use it to serve people, in my world."

"Lord Morpheus, please..." I whispered, not allowing myself even a moment of doubt. "Let’s just go with it."

The energy around us thickened. I sensed more than saw how the tips of his fingers, touching the skin beneath my neck, ceased to be solid and became... granular, like heated sand. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting... though I wasn’t sure what exactly I was waiting for. His hand seemed to sink deeper into me, reaching further toward my heart. I felt my muscles weaken, my consciousness begin to drift away, my body and power surrendering to the Master of Dreams, who with extraordinary gentleness was trying to extract it from me.

And then the sudden pain struck me—a pain so sharp, so piercing, that it made everything go blindingly white before my eyes.

"D… Dream—" I managed to gasp before the pain clenched around my throat so tightly that it forced out nothing more but a choked groan.

In a fraction of a second, every cell in me began to suffer, dsperately crying out for relief. I felt as though I couldn’t bear a moment longer of this torment—I wanted so much to just look at Dreamlord, to shout at him to stop this immediately, but I was completely paralyzed by the overwhelming, excruciating pain...

And then the pain vanished, and in its place, the darkness appeared.

[thehauntingofbeasts]

what inspired these hymns? :0

Excellent question, and one I've thought about a lot!

The whole concept took some inspiration from my personal experiences in fiction-based spirituality spaces, and from my time in a cult, where the worst parts of being in said cult were wrapped up in the 'weird but harmless' things that I didn't feel like I could discuss without mockery.

From there, I also thought a bit about how people treat situations like the Snapewives, which I'll admit did have some bearing on things. I felt like we didn't really have stories on the internet that showed a sympathetic side to situations like the Snapewives, that really captured how intertwined a lot of fiction-based spirituality gets with real-world identity.

I did also want to write a sequel/spinoff to my /r/nosleep series, Hotel For The Spirits, for a while — there were a lot of elements from that series that I felt I could have done better on or interrogated in retrospect, having written it when I was still in high school.

So that was what caused me to form the initial idea of making These Hymns, which was bolstered by needing to have a final project for my Digital Culture course I was taking in my last semester of undergraduate college. Ergo, this project came into existence, having a short version that I sent in as my final project and a longer version that's the one we can read online.

Generally speaking, I took a lot of inspiration from existing pieces of online series discussing the internet in making These Hymns Aren't For The Holy.

A few that come to mind right now in the genre:

The Northern Caves by @nostalgebraist absolutely blew my mind with the way it managed to capture the outer edges of a book series that didn't exist in the most delightfully House of Leaves-ian way while still managing to tell a coherent and striking interpersonal narrative between the different forum users. Definitely inspired me to go a bit hog-wild with making fictional media for These Hymns.

What Happens Next (will shock you) by @maximumgraves, a brilliant dark comedy webcomic that has never, ever left my head since I read it. It's a chilling tale that does cover a lot of very unlikeable, very online people while still making them sympathetic in their own ways. I truly think it's one of the best works of fiction at capturing the modern era of the internet and how wacky it's become, and deserves your attention. One of the characters, Milo, was definitely in my head while plotting the characterization of quietCrocodile, the main narrator of These Hymns.

Unauthorized Fan Treatise by Lauren James: Quite frankly, if you ever want to write a web-based story about the internet, this should be at the top of your list. This was the story that made me realize that projects like this were possible, and the edited multi-media approach it took impressed me deeply. Absolutely mindblowing how well it captures shipping culture in fandoms and how it goes wrong, tbh.

I was also very strongly inspired by Umineko: When They Cry, which I was in the middle of reading when actively plotting These Hymns Aren't For The Holy. Specifically, I was thinking of Episode 1 of Umineko, where one of the pivotal characters (Beatrice) isn't fully in the narrative yet but looms over it, haunting the narrative, influencing everyone's behavior — while another character (Battler) denies her existence. This back and forth of 'is it real, is it not?' influenced a lot about how I wrote Conway/the Corrupter Without Morals (the god that the Haunting Beasts worship) in These Hymns Aren't For The Holy, the specific way he's not present and yet /omnipresent/.

And then, of course, no mention of my inspirations is complete without namedropping the works of Sealtoast, creator of Recollect: Records of the Other Side, whose characters and stories inspired the creation of the Corrupter Without Morals/Conway in the first place. :3c

Hopefully this helps!

[pure-garbage]

Brutal Unsolicited Truths. Meddling Of A Nosy Swordsman

"You'll never be decent if you don't do it every day."

"Huh?"

Lana sat up and squinted at Zoro, obscured except for the outline of his imposing silhouette. Perspective placed the blazing midday sun perfectly at his back from her angle, but she could feel his disapproval even without being able to make out his expression.

"This little training routine of yours. If you're not consistent, you may as well not do anything at all."

"Really? I thought anything was better than nothing," Lana huffed. She went back to her self-prescribed sit-ups while her crewmate stood over her with crossed arms and stolid features.

"You're not wrong, but your resolve is lacking," he persisted.

Lana was too out of breath to respond.

"What's your goal?" he pressed.

"My goal?"

She groaned and settled against the deck to catch her breath while she contemplated her answer.

"Nothing special, I'd just like to get stronger," she managed.

"Too broad."

"Excuse me?"

"There's no such thing as progress without consistency. And you'll never achieve consistency with lax discipline. Discipline is driven by resolve, which is fed by desire. You need to want the thing you're striving for more than your body wants to avoid the pain it takes to attain it."

"I didn't know you were a guru too," Lana grumbled. "I guess that all makes sense. So I need a goal or I'll stay weak, that's basically what you're trying to tell me?"

"Basically."

"Ok. A goal. I can come up with a goal."

Lana went back to her sit-ups and Zoro meandered off to leave her in peace.

'I can't say it doesn't make sense,' Lana pondered as she went through her routine. 'Luffy and Zoro both have really clear goals that guide everything they do. Impossible goals... but then, that might be the reason they're both so impossibly strong. So... what's my goal?'

Lana hadn't meditated much since Alabasta. In the brutal desert, it had become ritual, a nightly habit as the trek taxed her body and the lack of resources tested her spirit. The Avariya Lana who emerged from the trials of Alabasta certainly wasn't the same one who'd entered the desert with her band of new friends.

Now, she settled back into the familiar pose behind Nami's tangerine grove.

'What do I want anyway?'

Searching the place in her heart where desire should have lived, Lana found a conspicuous void. She swallowed hard, knowing exactly why she didn't have any clearly defined wants. She'd spent her childhood behind sets of literal locked doors and the only thing she wanted then was to be free. She'd hoped to run away with someone who claimed to care about her, but that hadn't worked out. Not by a long shot.

Thinking about that day made her start trembling.

'I'm definitely not ready to deal with that. Not today.'

She moved on hastily. The five years that followed were more of the same. There wasn't a thing in the world Lana wanted but to make her escape. The desire for freedom she allowed to consume her was so primal, so vast, so basic an essentiality that it left no space for other hopes to blossom.

'Is there nothing in the world I want at all?' she wondered. 'Everyone wants something. Even I have to want something. But... what?'

The answer eluded her, fluttering through her empty heart like a blank scrap of paper as she chased it, ever a step behind.

'I won't stop meditating until I make up my mind,' she decided, stubbornness stepping in to bolster her determination. 'Zoro's wrong. I have resolve too. I'll prove it.'

_______________

In the weeks that followed, Lana stopped skipping days. The regimen of her training easily became clockwork and after only a week, a break in routine began to seem unimaginable to the lockbreaker.

The change in attitude didn't go unnoticed by the swordsman who'd inspired it.

"You never told me what your goal is."

Lana had to do a double-take. Zoro was relaxing against the mast, swords at his side as always. When she'd passed him before, his eyes had been shut and she'd assumed he was napping.

'Right. He told me that's how he prefers to meditate.'

"I didn't have one when you asked me," Lana shrugged.

"You do now."

"Yeah."

"So?"

He waited expectantly. The desire Lana had chosen to drive her felt too personal to share, but once again, she found herself tangled in a web of nebulous indebtedness to Zoro.

"I still just want to get stronger," she offered. A half-truth.

"You're telling me this new resolve of yours is still resting on something so vapid?" Zoro scoffed. He clearly knew better.

'He told me his ambition without any hesitation. And I never would have taken the time to focus my desire into an actual goal without his meddling.'

"I want to get strong enough," Lana clarified with a sigh of defeat, "That no one will ever be able to take my freedom away from me again."

"Hm. The way Corrin did."

"Exactly."

Zoro seemed satisfied. He closed his eyes again and settled back against the mast.

________________________________________

<== Previous Chapter

Next Chapter ==>

== First Chapter ==

[avalonianrising]

are there any notable rivalries in your lore?

OH BOY, YEAH. In the Clan in the Mists alone, Nemesis, Vasilios, and Ruin are all embroiled in a pretty bitter history.

Ruin is a being of Shade that used to inhabit Nemesis, making him do all sorts of things he absolutely didn't want to do. This is how he met Vasilios, who wormed his way into the Clan by stating that Valdis was his Charge. (She actually wasn't at all, but Grimshaw was!)

Nemesis was good at hiding his infection for a long, long time--which is how he met Elethea. (That's my Shadow Rep!) She brought him into the clan with the intent of having him be the Shadow Commander (basically responsible for heading to Shadow territory in times of need to bolster forces!). That obvious was a bad mistake, as he smuggled in Tzila with the intent to completely take over the clan.

Meanwhile, Vasilios intended to make Sovereigns from the children he'd planned to make with Valdis. (Think Emperors--but they would have been either Ridgebacks or Guardians!) That plan went to pot when she became pregnant with another clan-mate's children--and the race was on for her to have them and get them the hell out before Vasilios could get his claws on them. With him reigning over poor Teivel, it could have been equally worse--if not more so. Grimshaw was a COMPLETELY unwilling accomplice in all of this, managing to warn everyone just in time.

It ended up with Vasilios dying, his spirit sealed away beside his skeleton deep in the clan's territory. He's still there, waiting...watching...and Ruin knows this all too well. But luckily, the clan has some INCREDIBLE dragons with the power to keep him sealed away. Not that Ruin makes it easy for them, the little pest.

And THAT is the most notable rivalry, for sure! I've got more, but I'd definitely put those in another post. :D

[gunbun]

WoL asks! 7, 8, and 9!

7. Have they gone through any physical changes? What scars have they collected, and how do they feel about them? Did they sprout horns or other features as a result of spells or pacts gone wrong? How did light corruption impact them? Or have they walked away miraculously unscathed? Are they more peculiar for how eerily unmarred they are?

Her Light corruption was very interesting; there wasn't much physical changes for her but she could see it bleeding into her vision and leaking from her skin. Kind of "as advertised" in the MSQ. Tiona is definitely one of the "you are remarkably unscathed for what you've been through" folks, but she also got resurrected in a dynamis field, so... "idk, dynamis" does a lot of heavy lifting in my personal headcanon, especially after the conclusion of Endwaler. The top-tier Sharlayan chirurgeons were able to do magical reconstructive surgery and most of her long-lasting injuries are all internal.

8. What is one of their biggest regrets? Has it had an effect on how they act moving forward, for better or worse? That she waited to tell not only Urianger, but the rest of her found family about how much they meant to her until she was almost assuredly dying (in Shadowbringers). She .... doesn't do that anymore, not even to strangers.

9. The Warrior of Light has been through quite a lot, but what is a moment, big or small, that bolstered and renewed their spirit? Was it a cup of hot cocoa or a lovingly crafted sandwich? Did someone give them a few words or a gesture at just the right time that meant the world to them? (Of course, this can be a canon event or headcanon!)

This is one of those "because I said so" things that's not much deeper than that, but toward the climax of Endwalker, when all of a sudden my character, the Warrior of Light, gets to be a fucking astronaut? It's like it came from my most self-indulgent fanfiction. Tiona is a naturally curious and intellectual person who's had a terrible time with getting bonked on the head, but here she is, with the people she loves the most, going into the unknown, and the stakes are so high, but it's really fucking cool to use primals as rocket fuel. I thought it was cool. She thought it was cool. It was incredibly inspirational for Tiona to go on that journey.

[jennycalendar]

🌈 ☔ for the fic wip asks?

VIBES THANKS

🌈 Share something soft/fluffy from your WIP.

Marigold moved forward and gripped Wyll’s elbows, full of some big, impossible feeling. “You’re just so good,” she said. “And it has to be frightening to know that your father’s been taken to parts unknown, and that it’s on your head to rescue him. I just think I’d like you to know that that’s recognized, and I would like in turn to help with it, as you’ve helped me. I know what it’s like to put on a smile for the people you’re taking care of. You’ve bolstered my spirits so many times in the last week alone. I want to be able to bolster you in turn, when you need it, and to not shy away just because it’s convenient, and—just—I’d like for you to feel cared for, too. I think that’s my point,” she finished awkwardly, and a bit shyly.

Wyll was studying her face like she was sunlight through the window after a storm. He moved forward and hugged her, which was a warm, nice surprise. She stood on tiptoe and hugged him back as hard as she could.

☔Is there a fic concept you have that you'd like to just explain and share because you're not sure you'll ever write it? If so, what is it?

i cannot legally say very much about all the pre canon fics i wanna write about what my oc girls were up to, bc some of them are spoilery, but i definitely wanna write more Adventures of Thea and Jaheira at some point. those women have been in love for 20 years and mutually refusing to admit it out of some weird combo of pride & emotional vulnerability allergies. so much food there.

[ambyandony]

Monster AU - Joestar Family Lore

Spoilers for Phantom Blood I guess?? Maybe-spoilers for some of the other parts?

I actually made a piece featuring the JoJos of the Joestar family (prime universe) for Inktober (using unofficial prompts) so that will serve as my décor for this lore post.

This post is about the Joestar family in general. The only Joestar that I've confirmed to "be" anything other than human is Giorno (and his half brothers I suppose). But that doesn't mean the Joestar family is full of normal, magic-dry humans.

Let's start from the beginning:

Jonathan Joestar is a human being, and yet, he appears to be distinctly ethereal.

Not holy, per se, I could perhaps use the word 'divine', but the specific religious connotation that would probably conjure is not really meant to be part of it. The way I would tend to describe it would be 'some kind of ethereal entity borne of a miracle'. I'll just refer to this concept as 'the Entity' (with capital E) for simplicity. Within the bearers, there's a sense of righteousness that may be linked to it aswell.

Essentially, it was miraculous that anyone survived the carriage incident, and because George and Jonathan both did miraculously survive, they (but more specifically Jonathan) were hashtag blessed and the Entity became a part of Jonathan and subsequently his descendants. It's pretty simply passed down like genetics are; as generations pass on, there's some muddling or dilution, but every Joestar descendant from Jonathan onwards has this [non-Stand] Entity as a part of them to some extent. Even the normal ones (Holy); basically anyone with genetic parentage tracing back to Jonathan (so unfortunately no Joestars-in-law) will have it.

The muddling is because the Entity is more or less an entirely unique thing, so others that would have that same Entity as part of their being would be rare, if not completely nonexistent. Joestars are mostly having kids with normal humans, so over the generations it gets sort of 'watered down'. The Entity, however, is an incredibly strong thing, so much so that, even generations down the line, it's still detectable or distinct in them or their auras.

Furthermore, Hamon deeply resonates with the Entity, making it more powerful and more prominent; the two things seem to be somehow linked, and this connection may be why Joestars seem to be particularly skilled Hamon Users. Unfortunately, this also means that the Entity started to become much more subtle when the practise of Hamon was no longer passed down in the Joestar family.

So Joseph, despite being Jonathan's grandson, still has a very distinct presence of the Entity which furthermore gets even stronger throughout the events of Battle Tendency when he receives Hamon training. Though you'd never guess there's anything ethereal about him with how much of a little bitch he is

Then we get to Holy, Joseph's daughter. She's three generations (since Jonathan) along and the Entity (thanks in part to Joseph's attunement with Hamon) is still fairly strong. Her good natured spirit helps to bolster it somewhat, and though we never see her using Hamon, she definitely could. The Entity was strong enough for her that, when she was unable to control her own Stand, it helped her, through her will to survive, to withstand the full extent of her Stand's power, keeping her alive (I call bullshit on her not having enough fighting spirit and would like to see Holy throw hands).

So with Jotaro being Holy's son, Joseph's grandson (4 generations in), the Entity starts to become a bit passive. Jotaro doesn't practise Hamon and he's an asshole (albeit with overall noble intention) so the Entity has more or less ceased to be particularly distinct with him (though it might have had some influence on the sheer general capability of Star Platinum). It's still fairly plainly detectable in his aura.

And then we get to resident sleepy boy Josuke Higashikata, requiring a hop back in the generational line. Josuke is Joseph's son, consequently also being Holy's half-brother; thus, he's a third-generation Joestar descendant. This means that, similarly to Holy, the Entity is once again fairly strong (even though Joseph stopped practicing Hamon), and perhaps a little stronger due to another "miraculous" event that occurred in Josuke's childhood (when he'd been deathly ill); it's an Entity borne of a miracle, so it seems only natural that another miracle would strengthen it.

Now, I'm going to skip Giorno for a moment because he's a little... complicated.

Then comes Jolyne. Jolyne is Jotaro's daughter, Joseph's great-granddaughter; she's a 5th generation Joestar (and the only one of which we really know about) and by now, the connection with the Entity is quite faint, especially since it was already pretty subdued for Jotaro. It's detectable in her aura, but it doesn't seem to really have much impact on her.

Funnily enough, Jonathan aside, the Joestar descendant with the strongest attachment to the Entity... is Giorno.

Now before I get into detail about Giorno I need to address... the DIO. The Entity is linked intrinsically to both the spirit, and also to the physical form (hence why it's genetic), its primary attachment generally depending which is 'active', to put it simply. What this essentially means is that while a person is alive, the Entity is mainly attached to their soul. But if the person dies, the Entity typically becomes inactive. However, since DIO (who is, to simplify, still a vampire) decided to steal Jonathan's body when Jonathan died, that meant that Jonathan's body became active despite the lack of his soul, so the Entity remained attached to his body.

Giorno, technically being the son of both DIO and Jonathan (because of, you know, complete bullshit that just works), would inherit both the vampirism from DIO and the Entity directly from Jonathan. And this would also technically apply to Donatello, Ungalo and Rikiel (so, yes, they are all also part-vampire), but there's more when it comes to Giorno; since Gold Experience is basically Hamon: The Stand, the Entity particularly resonates with Giorno, meaning it's pretty much just as intense as it'd been for Jonathan.

This also further bolsters just how absolutely fucked Giorno's genetics are as a presumably three-piece, maybe four-piece hybrid... his aura is a fucking terror.

[marabarl-and-marlbara]

Hey Mara, can you explain a bit more about your thoughts on the Qlifot? Do you believe in the different spheres? Thank you.

Hi Anonymous; this question is a little more broad than I am comfortable with answering (ie: it feels like being asked "what are your thoughts on God?"), so forgive me if my answer is lacking, but here:s my best attempt:

broadly: I believe that there are two distinct "persons" that were created by God, from clay, and that the original archetypical person comes from the Sefirotic blueprint and its material; in the construction of that original blueprint came a flawed 'proof,' that shattered under the pressure of holding soul (soul here is the liquid spirit that allows the archetypical peoples to exist within grace within the server, through the material-basic body).

The shattered sefirot became the Qlifot, roughly 1/10th the scale of the Sefirot, and from this pocked material was wrought the 'other' person -- which, inside material-basic, is identified by (left) handedness, and is bolstered through patterning with cultural and 'mythical' (like Biblical stories) associations with evil or sinister-qualities -- not-so-much that the left-handed are evil, but the incapability of their vessels (outside of the material-basic, located in 'the garden') to hold more than a glaze of soul (glaze here refers to wetness upon the internal surface of a persons vessel, from a soul once being stored but draining through the fractures, which leaves the interior still wet) and the assuredness of annihilation of their souls, as opposed to the assuredness of a right-handed persons subsumation into the heavenly body.

I don:t know how to answer your question about believing in the different spheres, because I don:t understand what you mean or your definitions.

Take care, Anonymous.

[fideidefenswhore]

Do you think think the Boleyns were a dysfunctional family ?

well...the literal definition of dysfunction is to deviate from social/cultural norms. obviously, in the case of anne becoming queen (and thus, the 'patriarch' of her own paternal and maternal family, an unusual occurence, in both income and power), the boleyns were 'dysfunctional'.

but assuming you mean the implicit, ie, interpersonally dysfunctional... not in the big picture, but i think interpersonal dysfunction can be argued in how mary boleyn (then carey, then stafford) was treated. there's an argument to be made that the boleyns were merely conforming to social norms in their repudiation of her after her 'disparaging' marriage (that was the official term for a woman marrying beneath her status without the consent of her higher family and/or king and queen, an offense considered so taboo it could come with legal recriminations in the form of fines) to william stafford ... however, thomas boleyn's treatment of his daughter in the wake of her being widowed has always struck me as oddly cold and distant.

and there's something to be said for dysfunction brought by anne's rise, as well, it's likely to have brought this sort of inherent inequality in the dynamics between anne and her siblings and even the elders of the family. and this would have manifested in her queen-in-waiting period especially...anne becomes the most important person in her family, and this necessitates some self-effacement from her family, as they are bolstering her image and fighting in her battles, anne is always the priority: sustaining her spirit and comfort to keep her steady, defending her reputation, maintaining her hold over and influence with the king, all these things must be preserved at all costs, and it renders the rest of them secondary, ancillary, even (something which was likely humbling and might have caused some jealousy and resentment that really, only mary was brave enough to ever explicitly verbalize: "all the world did set so little by me", "had rather beg my bread with him than to be the greatest queen in Christendom", etc)