#archespore

[astaldis]

A most unusual plant

(Picture from The Official Witcher Wiki)

“Geralt, do you hear this?”

“A cow. You have heard cows moo before, haven’t you, Jaskier?” Geralt asks.

“I know it’s a cow. But it sounds scared. It might need help!”

“And how is that our problem? Since when do I look like a farmer to you?”

“Geralt, the poor animal might be in mortal danger! We cannot just ride past it and leave it to a most horrible fate. All kinds of monsters are lurking in the nearby swamps, you said so yourself just yesterday!”

“Hm. I might have exaggerated a bit,” Geralt admits. “Just to make sure you stay on the track and don’t run off flower picking or looking for berries. Remember the hirikka you thought was so cute? During the dragon hunt?”

“Before you left me alone on top of that mountain, you mean?” Jaskier asks, although he, of course, knows exactly what Geralt is talking about. “And the hirikka was cute - until Sir Eyck cut its head off, poor thing. Now, what about the cow? Are you going to rescue it, Witcher, or do I have to do it all by myself?”

Summary: Jaskier saves a cow! With a little help from Geralt 😉 (Set during the events of Baptism of Fire, more exactly after the Fish Soup and before the Battle on the Bridge. You don't need to have read the books though to enjoy the story.)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences, No Archive Warnings Apply

Category: Gen

Relationship: Geralt z Rivii | Geralt of Rivia & The Hansa | Geralt's Company Members

Characters: Geralt of Rivia, Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy, Maria Barring | Milva, Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach, Jaskier | Dandelion

Words: 1759

Read on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46668610

@witchermonstermayhem​

[pickleforstony]

In my defense, this is totally lore-accurate. Your honor.

caution nudity below

Everyone needs a hobby. Don't judge me.

[acrowamongsparrows]

Daily Writing Challenge: Day 4 - Salty/Euphoria

A break in the rain this time of year was a blessing as well quite an omen in Jamurlak, for the three men who stood under the hanging sign of the Bat it was marked as a blessing. High above them the clouds had shifted to reveal a short break in the veil of clouds that swallowed the city showing the shining stars and a bright moon beside brightening the cobbled streets as if it's opposite in the day. The creak of the brace echoed the quiet alleys as they gathered to conspire nearby under an old awning, the dull choir of drunks and peasants following them to the drone of the hurdy gurdy.

"I can't believe you came," Alfred murmured again as he began to fish out his pipe and pack it. There was a mild frown on the witcher's face as he watched his nephew fill and draw with far to much absent skill. Eld wasn't sure if it was the fact of smoking or that the boy was now more of a man than he'd been when last they'd talked three years ago. Time waits for no one.

A bit of straw in a low lamp was burning bright as Alfred dipped into the clay bowl, slowly drifting smoke rising about his face as he got it well on it's way. The embers finally lit red and orange there was a quick wave and soft hiss as the straw was dropped into the wet stone below. Alfred sucked on it a moment or two before offering it to the two older men. Both politely raised hands to refuse, glad for the cover of darkness to hide their looks of discomfort.

Despite the dark, Alfred could feel it as he coughed a bit and took a step back to give some room from the smoke. "Sorry, it's kind of a nervous habit."

"Since when did you take to being nervous?" Duncan peered after the younger man, his eyes bright and shining in the moonlight. Night or day mattered little to the vampire's gaze.

"Since I sent you that message," Klaudin replied as he chewed on his pipe. "I didn't want to, but Janus thought it better we try to involve Uncle here."

"You didn't think I'd come?"

Eld and Alfred both looked to the vampire with the same incredulous look.

"Oh to hell with you both," the vampire snapped with a certain level of salt that would have sent Janus howling if he wasn't so busy inside. A shared smile between the warriors was enough as they let the situation's dire circumstances sink in again.

"What's been happening?" Eld finally spoke up as he adjusted his hip, feeling a soft release of tension in his leg as he folded his arms over his chest.

Alfred took a long pull on his pipe before blowing it away from the group and turning back to them. "I wish I had more to report than what you likely already know."

The two watched him for a moment as he stood smoking looking back at them.

Duncan let out a sigh as he rubbed his jaw. "Pretend we know nothing, boy. What have you been doing?"

"Oh sorry, well we arrived here about three months or so ago. Things were not great but they definitely were not shutting down parts of the city from it," Alfred began into his tale feeling a bit sheepish in assuming they knew more. "There were rumors of things going upside down in the south quarter but nothing more than whispers at the time. We came in just fine through the quarter, they were fairly pleased to hear a bard had landed. I guess they haven't had any new entertainment in some time."

Alfred slowly crouched down into a comfortable squat as he continued with his report. "We hit a new tavern every night for the first week. Janus was in high demand as he'd do a show in one spot and the next morning we'd have invitation to another room. We haven't had this much work in some time or least of all this welcoming."

"As they'd let us in we'd notice the downtrodden nature of the peasants and the clearing out of the streets come dark," Alfred continued. "Don't get me wrong, I'm used to towns shutting down at dusk but this was a mad rush. The streets would empty and doors locked up. Taverns full of more hearty men then the usual mixture of women or even families in the early hour time. They'd sulk and stew, asking for less bawdy songs and more of what you saw in there."

Alfred would thumb back to the Bat as he chewed on his pipe a moment. "So Janus would do his thing and I would work the crowd. Usually setting him up for a bit of a laugh to get people interested."

"I saw," Duncan nodded making a slight motion with his hand as if throwing a bottle.

Klaudin let out a half-hearted laugh as he shrugged. "Drama and comedy make coins drop just as easy."

"As I worked the crowd I'd ask here and there about what was going on, where everyone was and the like. I'd get mentions of darklings or kobolds causing trouble which seemed the basic answer for superstitious folk but this didn't feel right. Till I spied Rufial."

Alfred sucked on his pipe again blowing out a stream of smoke down to the cobblestone. "The man looked like hell when he wandered in. Sweating and sickly as he stumbled about to the barman for a drink. He caught my eyes as he didn't order that swill I was drinking. He just wanted water."

"Water?" Duncan piped in appropriately and curiously.

"Yah, water with starch. A lot of it."

Eld's face darkened more than just by night and shadow. "Then what happened."

"I moved up to stand nearby him, watching him guzzle this water down like he was a fish. Dropping big clumps of the stuff into the water and not even waiting for it to break down at all. Barman was perplexed by it but he was charging him for drinks that should be free in water and gaining twice that. I was as well, until he began to shake."

"It was horrible," Alfred spoke softer now. "The whole bar came to a halt and there was silence watching him shiver. He never spoke a word before suddenly he grabbed onto his shirt and began to pull with all his might. It wasn't exactly good quality as it tore like a sheaf of paper and revealed something terrible."

The young man would stand up and pull his pipe out of his motioning with the stem from his midsection to his throat. "Vines. Black and bleeding growing from his navel up to around his throat. Thorns big as nails digging into his flesh and all these little baubles hanging off like bells jingling as he thrashed about. Watching him thrash it was only a moment to really notice the vines moving tighter about his neck."

"Damn thing was strangling him."

There was a moments pause to let the imagery sink in for the three of them. Janus may be the storyteller and bard of the duo, but both were keen to the power of a tale.

"Go on," Eld whispered as he watched his nephew still.

"Right. So the bar starts to empty and they start calling for a guard. Rufial has already hit the floor, his hands flailing as he tries to pull them off his neck. Men rush forward to try and help with knives drawn to cut him free, but no one can get it loosened enough without getting stabbed by these thorns."

"What were you doing?"

"Staying out of the way," Alfred nodded. "I know where my sword is needed and when six is far to big a crowd to be trying to save one man like this. So I keep my eyes on the situation and for Janus."

"Where was Janus?" Duncan asked, hoping for confirmation or perhaps a way to gather some more to the story.

"My brother was detained at the time," Alfred grumbled as he chewed on his pipe, a knowing nod sent to them as they both returned it. Alfred's brother had a way of finding himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Especially if it happened to be someone else's bed. "So I was 'alone' when all this was going on."

"As the men are trying to cut him free, one of them lets out a cry and jumps back from Rufial," the young man holds up his arm and taps it with his pipe. "The baubles. They had come loose in the struggle and began to fall like leaves or in hindsight now, seeds."

"And they started planting," Eld spoke softly.

"Aye," Alfred confirmed as he bit his pipe. "Sliding into any open skin they could find and latching like a leech. Pulsing and burning them as those grabbed them started to flail about trying to be free of them. Screaming of burning and bites."

"By this point, Rufial has stopped squirming. His face a plum," Alfred spoke softer now as he remembered the death rattle of the gasping man. "The guards were starting to come in now spotting the body and the others crying in pain from the baubles attached to them. They clear us out and the bar empties."

"And then the real hero shows up!" Janus called as he stumbled out of the Bat with a jig and a laugh. Three sets of grim faces did not find amusement in his antics as he skipped to join the trio. "Oh come now, don't be such- Eld! By the gods above an below uncle! You came! HA ha! Now we got it! Shoulda never doubted ya Wal-"

"Janus," Alfred cut his brother off curtly. "Stop being you for just a few moments more."

'That' brother scowled a moment but did as he was bidden as he motioned with his hand for the pipe. 'This' brother sighed and handed it over as he looked back to Eld and Duncan. "Sorry."

"Continued on," the witcher urged.

"Right, so we were cleared out. Janus did show up then."

The bard made a bow behind his brother before puffing on his pipe again.

"But we waited there. Waited near two hours. No one came out. By then most people had cleared off and we deemed it best to stay in the wagon that night."

"The next day I came back to see about getting paid for the night before," Alfred spoke softly again.

"Which we did not," Janus muttered as he smoked.

Alfred sighed. "Which we did not as the place was boarded up. Door. Windows. All of it just locked down like it had been condemned in the time it took for a short sleep. Now lights or sound."

"So you broke in," Duncan frowned.

Janus chuckled softly with the pipe between his teeth as his brother sighed and nodded. "I know it's not my proudest thing to do, but it was all to strange. I found my way in and made my way into the common room. The sight was little to nothing new from the night before. But the smell."

"Rotted flowers and vinegar. I could barely make my way to the spot of Rufial's death before I saw the dried black stains on the floor," Alfred softly added. "It's where I found the yellow sack I sent you. I wrapped it up in my tobacco pouch and made my way out as quickly as I could."

"A few days later those signs started popping up about closing off the south quarter and the guards started blockading off the area of the city," Alfred slowly came to a close. "I remembered your stories Uncle."

Eld nodded.

"I remembered the stories," Janus corrected as he pulled the pipe from his mouth and poked his brother. "And it was I as well who discovered that those who did not leave before the quarantine were not allowed to leave thereafter."

The witcher's eyes blinked as he spoke up now. "What do you mean? There's still people in there?"

The elder brother sobered up hearing his uncle's question, his own voice grave for once as he spoke. "Only thing coming out of the south quarter these last few weeks has been smoke."

@daily-writing-challenge

[geraskierfanficprompts]

Prompt 128

In place of August Sixteenth, Promptapalooza 9/ Most people immediately assume Geralt would be annoyed by human ailments. Find them distracting, or burdensome. They assume that if Jaskier gets sick, the Witcher wakes him up at dawn and forces them to travel onward any ways. They spread rumors that Jaskier sews his own wounds when caught in a hunt. The people speak of the heartless witcher yelling at the bard for getting sick. Of course, it's all false. Couldn't be more false, actually. Jaskier woke up with a sniffle. Just a tiny sniffle. No big deal! And yet, Geralt noticed. Of course he noticed. Notices everything with those damn supersenses of his. "Geralt, the contract-" "Fuck the contract." "That archespore hasn't even taken me on a date yet." "Jaskier, lay down!" "I can sit up-" "LAY DOWN!" Jaskier has been stuck in a witcher-enforced bedrest for two days. Even if the sniffles became sneezes, and his throat began to get scratchy and sore. So what if he had a fever? So what if he felt like shit? He shouldn't be slowing Geralt down! But Geralt won't let him do anything but slow him down! "Not gonna tackle me to the bed?" "No, walking is good for you, in spurts." "How nice." "No, keep moving. Ten more minutes of walking." "In the room?" "You can lap the inn if you'd like." "Well, alri-" "No wait- It rained recently- Too cold and damp for you." "Says who?" "Says me. And your fever." "Geralt, it's been two days of nothing but laying!" "I thought you liked being in bed." "Yes! To fuck! To sleep! Not to lay and stare at you!" "I like staring at you." "FineI'llpacethefuckingroom-"

[secretprincesskitty]

post game Ciri passing a field with archespores, the locals say they can't pay her and the land's lord had refused to call a witcher

she goes to the lord to negotiate, of course he truly is one of those assholes who refuse to pay, the peasants will have to deal (they can't, some already died)

so she kills the archespores for free, gathers the seeds, breaks into the lord's garden at night and plants the next gen archespores

months later, the approximate time it takes for the spores to grow, she comes back, agrees to kill the monster for three times the price

that's how she gets rich by fucking with the dickheads 👍

[foggypeacestrawberry]

Dragonfish Reloaded

I continue the story of the WaterFireGod, for part 1 click here

(1) Remember the gate, where the humanoid aliens came through?:

(2) It changed a lot after them humanoids arived -

(3) The second invasion started at dawn. It all happened very fast:

Some very mighty guards came through the gate...

(4) ...and them tiny fragile blossoms, that arrived earlier with the humanoids, grew within seconds into all kinds of - plants?! :

(5) At the same time, a second gate opened…

(6) … spitting out some more "visitors"…

(7) … all kinds of pretty agressive fellas!

(8) The whole garden of our little unnamed sim changed into a nightmare.

Well, he called them, and they came, right?

(9) They forced him to sit down and stay put on an alienesh-crystal-stone-stool-thingy…

(10) …and startet talking…

(11) … to their GOD! The WaterFireGod. Our well known dragonfish.

(12) Then they told our little unnamed sim, that they will return to their home planet through that portal, together with their god...

(13) … right after they solved this kind-a-tricky problem, that they just learned about from the little fish - sry, your highness, of course -

(14) Turns out, unfortunatly they can not just kill the sim, and leave with their god, as they intended…

(15) … because their god can not survive without our little unnamed sim, due to the bond that exists between them. This bond must be broken of course. Or else!

(16) (Moment of akward silence)

(17) They startet negotiating. Meanwhile it was bright daylight.

(18) They discussed during the whole day…

(19) …and also the whole next night.

(20) It turned out, there is more to the good old dragonfish than we ever imagined:

When he spits fire unterwater, while living with a sim that he has a very special bond with, the fire sinks down on the ground, and turnes into gold.

And you know what they say about dragons… they protect treasure.

Next time I will tell you:

What kind of bond the sim + the dragonfish do have,

what the sim is doing with all this gold?!,

and what the "Fisch des Grauens*" has to do with all that

ITS YOUR TURN NOW!

I want you to have the option to influence the story. You can choose 1 of these 3 options, what you want me to put into the story next:

No 1 - Someone will die

OR

No 2 - No one will die

OR

No 3 - Something will happen that has to do with owls.

Just write it into the comments until the End of April, then we will wrap it up and count the voices for 1/2/3!

* Please someone tell me how this fish is called in English, I couldn´t figure that out! (the dark-greenish fella living in the ponds of graveyards, killing all other fishes, and that can be used for prolonging live) - Or maybe I´ll just make up a new name for it :-D , you can recognize it anyway by the pictures I will take then.

The mods I used here for the first time:

Asparagus densiflorus, from alex_stanton1983

Lotus Lamp, from 4Sims

Floor-Lamp Skoll, from sim_man123

From @murfeelee :

TW3 Archespore Miniset

Skyrim Blackreach Giant Mushrooms as Outdoor Lights Miniset

AMR Small Plants Group

Junk Pile as Coin Pile

Deniisu_TS4 to TS3 RoM Rug Medallion as Floor Light

Thank you, @murfeelee! Love your stuff since I played the first time with the telvanni-village, and that was on my old computer (meanwhile, this computer I´m using now is pretty old).

I will also continue the 10-things-challange, weeks ago I already picked the items for the next round - but at the moment, I want to finish that alien-story first!

And yes, I still have to finish the sorting of my mod-collection. That has highest priority, not just because I want to continue playing, but also because of this 10-things-challange I started. For both I need a well-sorted, richly filled mod-folder (lol).

Well. The last weekend I spend downloading nearly everything that Murfeelee ever published :-D ! Just the sorting of this murfeelee-collection alone will take a week, or two, or whatever it takes :-D.

I started yesterday evening with the Letter A. Today I will do the B… like in "babysteps". Like in "Baby Yoda as Teddybear", that is the first mod beginning with a "B" in my murfeel-folder.

Just imagine, this green little fella, how well he would have fit in my alien-story, if I would have known this mod a week before.

You all have a good time :-)

Oh NO now I need to do the tagging. I still have NO clue how that really works here on tumblr, although I always watch you other simmers out there, and try to get it.

[wvrlock]

Autumn Equinox: Subquest prompts

This a list of prompts inspired by the subquests in the Autumn Equinox dash event! (Starts on the 9th!) Feel free to add context as wanted or needed. Muse A refers to the sender's muse, Muse B refers to the receiver's muse.

The SUCCESS and FAILURE prompts assume a roll from Muse A, while the ROLL prompts ask Muse B to make one! You can find the skill checks in the lovely doc for the event.

[PLANTS (SUCCESS)] Muse A attempts to persuade the flowers to behave

[PLANTS (FAILURE)] Muse A attempts to persuade the plants to behave

[PLANTS (ROLL)] Muse B attempts to persuade the plants to behave

[ARGUMENT] Our muses have an argument in Bloomridge Park

[ROMANCE] Our muses have a romantic, intimate moment in Bloomridge Park

[CHOMP] Muse A is bitten / attacked by a plant

[MUNCH] Muse B is bitten / attacked by a plant

[BLOOM] Flowers start to bloom around our muses

[ARCHESPORE] Our muses fight the Archespore

[DANCE (SUCCESS)] Muse A dances with Muse B

[DANCE (FAILURE)] Muse A dances with Muse B

[DANCE (ROLL)] Muse B is asked for a dance by Muse A

[DREAM] Muse B spots someone they love, who is alive

[CHIMERA] Muse B spots someone they love, who is dead

[NIGHTMARE] Muse B spots someone they hate, who is alive

[GHOST] Muse B spots someone they hate, who is dead

[ILLUSION] Muse B realizes the person they saw was an illusion

[UNICORN (SUCCESS)] Muse A attempts to approach the Black Unicorn

[UNICORN (FAILURE)] Muse A attempts to approach the Black Unicorn

[UNICORN (ROLL)] Muse B attempts to approach the Black Unicorn

[HUNTERS (SUCCESS)] Muse A attempts to persuade or deceive the Hunters

[HUNTERS (FAILURE)] Muse B attempts to persuade or deceive the Hunters

[HUNTERS (ROLL)] Our muses attempt to persuade or deceive the Hunters

[POINTY] Our muses fight the Black Unicorn

[HUNT] Our muses capture the Unicorn, or lead the Hunters to it.

[CHILDREN (SUCCESS)] Muse A attempts to locate the missing children

[CHILDREN (FAILURE)] Muse A attempts to locate the missing children

[CHILDREN (ROLL)] Muse B attempts to locate the missing children

[CHANGELINGS] Our muses fight the changelings

[OUT] Our muses are kicked out of somewhere, or get into a fight, while looking for the gems

[STEALTH] Our muses successfully sneak somewhere while looking for the gems

[RED] Our muses find the red gem (Are they taking anything else?)

[ORANGE] Our muses find the orange gem

[YELLOW] Our muses find the yellow gem

[GREEN] Our muses find the green gem (Robbing graves? Really? Again?)

[BLUE] Our muses find the blue gem

[INDIGO] Our muses find the indigo gem

[VIOLET] Our muses find the violet gem (Not the sewers…)

[PROFIT] Muse A suggests selling the completed crown

[WHY] Muse A tries on the completed crown (roll damage, probably)

[DARE] Muse B dares/encourages Muse B to try on the completed crown

[witchermonstermayhem]

Witcher Monster MAYhem 2023 approaches!

Rules:

Anyone can participate.

Any media form is allowed (art, fic, gifs, music, whatever).

You can participate however much or as little as you want, no pressure to complete all the prompts.

You can post your work anywhere on the internet, Tumblr, Ao3, etc.

Tag potential triggers and NSFW accordingly.

If you want to be counted as an official participant and have the chance to be featured on the blog, post your content on tumblr during the month of May. You can still use the prompt list after May ends.

Don't worry if you cannot post your creation on the day of the prompt, as long as it's during May, it counts.

To make it easier for you to fill all 31 prompts, here are some special rules:

You can use just one prompt of the day or combine prompts of the same day (but this counts just as one fill) or you can combine prompts of different days. (If you combine, for example, 2. vampire, 4. cruel claws, 8. full moon, this counts as 3 prompt fills.)

For every new work that you have created for the event, you can post one old work of yours that fits a prompt. They count like new works! (Please tag old works with #old)

You may combine a prompt with a fill for another event!

I can’t guarantee that every single work will be featured but I’ll try to reblog as many as I can.

To increase your chances of being featured here, tag your post with the event name and the prompt of the day that you used.

example 1: #witchermonstermayhem2023, #witchermonstermayhemday1, #too many toes

example 2: #witchermonstermayhem2023, #alt. breathing fire #old

You can also @ the blog, @witchermonstermayhem

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

Please reblog and tag your friends who might be interested in the event. Thank you!

Have fun with the prompts! (see below)

@witcherwheeloftheyear

@witcherrarepaircommentexchange

@witchersummercamp

@witcher-bows-and-arrows

And here the prompts as text:

WitcherMonsterMAYhem 2023 Prompts:

1. Too many toes | myriapod | centipede

2. Fearsome fangs | striga | vampire

3. Wicked wings | dragon | wyvern

4. Cruel claws |  gruesome gashes | scar

5. Nefarious necrophages | ghoul | cemetaur

6. Terrifying tentacles | zeugl | kraken

7. Vicious venom | basilisk | paralysed

8. Haunting howls | werewolf | full moon

9. Something wicked in the water | bubbles | drowner

10. Eery eyes | bloodshot | glowing in the dark

11. Hairy horror | yeti | berserker

12. Searing stings | sharp spikes | puncture wound

13. Shimmering scales | mermaid | mesmerised

14. Scary scratching | nasty noises | reverberating roar

15. Clever camouflage | ambush predator | eyehead

16. Creepy chittering | insectoid | metamorphosis

17. Terrible talons | griffin | chernabog

18. Horrible horns | unicorn | impaled

19. Acid attack | archespore | ants

20. Ghastly ghost | hell hound | nightwraith

21. Ancient abomination | leshen | crones

22. Sexy sirens | succubus | seduction

23. Smelly swamps | kikimore | will-o'-the-wisp

24. Treacherous trap | sand monster | grabbed

25. Menacing maw | swallowed | selkiemore

26. Towering trolls | nasty nekkers | grim giants

27. Duplicitous doppler | despicable doppelgänger | shapeshifting 

28. Rare reptiloid | ferocious fish | absurd amphibian

29. Deadly demon | possessed | diabolic djinn

30. Beautiful bruxa | bloodsucking | black bat

31. Cave creature | barbegazi | knocker

Alternative Prompts (alt.)

If there’s a prompt above you don’t feel inspired or comfortable doing, you can switch it out with any one of these alternatives!

Growl

Run

Breathing fire

Scent of sulfur

Blood-curdling cry

Forked tongue

Hide

Undead

Burrow

Turned to stone

Silver sword

Don't kill it!

I hate monsters

Toss a coin

Monster friend

[wyndford-dekarios-majima]

title; this isn't homosexuality pairing; fleeced wolf (lambert/anthelme) word count; 1047 content warnings; drinking, drunk characters, implied fistfight

summary; it's a russian taunt

---

Tonight was a night to drink. Anthelme had even decided to actively get drunk, rather than sit around buzzed while the other wolves were piss drunk, bringing down one of his own bottles. Geralt was very happy to have a glass, while the others stuck purely to their homebrew. The conversation shifted topics like ripples in water. At first, Eskel was talking about a fascinating hunt he’d had (and the autopsy he’d done on it), then the topic went to the worst monster to fight (Eskel was being boringly indecisive, while Lambert and Geralt argued about archespores and wraiths), then which women were the best (which was mostly taking the piss out of Geralt for his thing for elves).

“Might as well just, just plough a block of marble! It’d be as warm!” Lambert snickered. “Fuck off. You’re just…jealous.” “Jealous? As fucking if!”

Anthelme tuned out of the conversation, let the words wash over him as he focused on his wine glass, swirling the contents around a bit. He glanced up, blinked when he saw Lambert staring at him.

“What?” He then noticed everyone staring at him. “C’mon, what’s your type?” Eskel goaded. He raised a brow, then his glass, taking a sip. “I thought I made it obvious enough with my personal aesthetic and mannerisms.” “Huh?” “I’m not into women. Rather proudly so, matter of fact.” “...Okay, then what’s your type of man?” Geralt shrugged.

Anthelme chokes a bit on his next sip of wine, not anticipating the question. What was his type? He made a bit of a face and shrugged, prompting a chorus of annoyed groans. “You’re dodging the damn question!” Lambert bitched. “I don’t know! Ugh, let me think…” He stares into his glass. “I like men with dark hair.” “Really? That’s it? Dark hair? That’s the bar?” “Shut the fuck up. I don’t go whorehunting like you do.” “I’ll show you whorehunting-”

With that declaration of war, Lambert clambered over the table, and Anthelme tried to abscond before he could pin him down. Geralt got up and swapped table sides, while Eskel just sat back, genuinely curious as to where this was going.

“Should…we stop them?” Geralt haltingly asked, trying not to throw up after moving so much. “Not like they’ll kill each other…” Eskel stared into his mug, just now realising he’d been taking sips of air for the past minute.

Geralt went to grab Anthelme’s bottle, then realised it wasn’t there. Lambert must have knocked it down in his attack. He made a shockingly soft sound of dismay. “The wine…”

Geralt and Eskel both paused in what they were doing as they realised the sounds of combat had…changed. They looked at each other, then leaned over the table to look at the other side at the same time.

Lambert was on top of Anthelme still, having kept him pinned with his weight the whole fight. Anthelme had his hand buried in Lambert’s hair, clenched but not tugging him off. There was a spattering of blood on Lambert’s knuckles, but not enough to indicate anything serious had happened. Lambert was still shifting to keep Anthelme under him, rather roughly, but Anthelme’s legs were wrapped around his middle. It finally dawned on them what was going on as Lambert’s attentions moved from Anthelme’s mouth to his neck.

“...They’re making out,” Geralt managed to spit out first. “Holy shit,” Eskel concurred.

They both sat back down, in varying states of clouded surprise. Eskel’s brow furrowed as he considered it more. He’d said he liked dark haired men. But, he thought…

“...Not that…surprising, actually,” Eskel concluded. Geralt looked over at him, an unspoken question in his brow. “It’s been weeks since Lambert got any. Anthelme’s kinda…” He gestures vaguely with his hands, in a way that is decisively unhelpful or indicative of what he means. Geralt scoffs quietly in disbelief, and Eskel groans softly, tossing up the unhelpful hand in a ‘whatever’ gesture. “You know what I mean.” “Waifish?” “Yeah.” “...I guess. The facial hair kinda…kinda detracts, though.” “Ignoring the face. Long hair, tends to pad out his hips…” “Wait, what?” “He asked me to help him with his armour a while ago, when he was hung over. Wears extra leathers on his hips. Asked me not to tell.” “So you told me.” “...Not like he’s gonna know.”

Geralt leaned over the table again, furrowed his brow.

“If you two are gonna undress, take it…somewhere else.” They finally seemed to come back to reality, with Lambert struggling off and attempting to get to his feet first. Anthelme sat up, moustache thoroughly mussed, still a bit dazed. “Ah…quoi?” “Fucking hell.” Geralt sat back again. “Get a room.”

Lambert and Anthelme split, and Eskel and Geralt only stayed for a couple more minutes before deciding to turn in themselves. The next morning was a blur of hungover fumbling, which culminated in the boys sitting at the table nursing coffees as Vesemir begrudgingly made and assembled breakfast.

“...So, about last night,” Geralt started, making Anthelme bury his nose deeper into his mug as Lambert sat up, suddenly on the defensive. “What about last night.” “The, uh…fighting.” “There was a fight?” Vesemir came around with some plates, placing them down indistinctly. Geralt nodded, dragging one over to himself before anyone else could get theirs. “Yeah, Lambert launched himself over the table,” Eskel chimed in. Anthelme grabbed his plate, declining to contribute to the conversation as Lambert scoffed. “I just climbed over it, I didn’t launch anywhere!” “What was it about?” Vesemir sat down with his own plate. “Anthelme implied we go whorehunting,” Geralt supplied through a mouthful of chicken. Vesemir raised a brow in Anthelme’s direction, and when he did nothing to defend himself, he shook his head with a sigh. “That’s not the problem, though.” Eskel leaned forward a bit. “What was with the making out?” “It wasn’t-!” “No, you guys were making out.” “Not on purpose!” Geralt snorted. “Not on purpose?” “I- I’m not, gay or anything, it just- we were both drunk, the mood struck-” “The mood struck?” “Yeah!” “You don’t have any better arguments?” “Fuck off.”

Anthelme snickered quietly into his coffee, and Lambert quickly glanced over, his pupils dilating just a bit. Everybody decided commenting would be more trouble than it was worth.

[sinfulpetgirlrd]

Fandom: The Witcher

Rating: Explicit

Warning: Expect everything to be way out in left field, then take that expectation and throw it in a river. Remember, this is the witcher universe. It’s a cruel and violent world. Gore/sexual situations(con or not) will be described, strong/offensive language will be used. People will emotionally break and have their ability to “live on” tested (some might fail). What happens really just depends.

Chapters: 1/?

“Meeting a vampire in a cemetery. How much more cliche can one get?” The tall, white haired wolf said as he cautiously creeped forward through the rubble and gnarled roots that littered the cramped cave. As he moved, his hands, clad in earthen brown armed gloves, were slick with sweat from how tightly he gripped the wooden pommel of his trusted rune-encrusted silver sword. Every muscle in his body was tense, his stance screaming ‘dangerous’, ‘do not approach’.

Muttering under his breath, he recounted the admittedly amusing invitation he had received from his old, once dead friend. Honesty, the idea of meeting him at a cemetery, of all things, sounded like a tale spun by the overly courageous bard Dandelion— or Jaskier to his friends.

On a dark and stormy night, a lone Witcher, and a brave vampire meet in a cemetery. The rain pounded against the tombstones as he— haha, hilarious… Until it wasn’t. And it wasn’t for Geralt, not by a long shot. Oh sure, the place had been easy to find. A large, abandoned graveyard normally was; all he had to do was mention the name of the place once, to be pointed in the right direction.

The problem, however, was actually getting inside the tomb that lay in the center of the graveyard. Not only was its stone door locked tight, but the Witcher’s horse, Roach, had freaked out the moment her mutated rider was out of sight. So big was her fit that her nickers and neighs not only attracted the attention of two large and overgrown archespore, but the sound of her cries also drew in an unlucky giant centipede that just happened to be nearby… At least the fights were easy enough; a clever mixture of ingi and ard made sure of that.Read the full chapter on AO3(be sure to read the tags and chapter notes. Your only warning lol)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/45835249/chapters/115353352

[ladysunbite]

"Between listening to the tales about the hypnotic world of crimson grasses and glass skies, half of which might be rhyming fantasy and another - self-indulgent lies, and killing half of the carnivorous flora and fauna of Toussaint without any reward for your good deeds, you deserved a little fun." Orianna drunk the chuckle as if the said grasses were crawling up her throat. During last weeks their time together outside of dutiful chores was scarce. While the young witcher strolled down the countryside, like a brave little knight, Orianna fought her own battles in smoothing out the consciences of that woeful trip to the market with the captain of the Ducal Guard. Damien de la Tour had been suspicious of the secretive mistress of the Mandragora before, not as much due to the unconscious feeling of preservation, as to his stern opinion that Her Grace's visiting her soirées was an archespore soon to bloom. Thankfully, the alien delight of popcorn rendered their talk rather one-sided and gave Orianna all the time she needed to lull captain's fervent desire to capture the truth of the matter. Cirilla's incognito, her very head, and Orianna's own reputation were thusly salvaged. However, the sun-eyed began missing their selfish shared adventures, light and dizzying as a young blood wine. The Duchy were full of the eyes and silent wings that informed the sun-eyed well of the little witcher's progress. It would be rude to leave her beloved guest solely on her own devices, and a few contracts - the most inconvenient and perilous ones - conveniently disappeared from the boards before the grey-haired maiden made her way into the village-in-need. Especially, if a contract mentioned a werewolf. "Forget about your calling for a while, my sweet Ciri. Least soon our knights would hold it against you that you are stealing all their opportunities to help the land and prove themselves," a nod to hand upon the sword, a gesture of habit more than any reaction to real danger there was. The only thing that could case the cultured vampire any unease tonight was the fault in her planned revelry. She craved wonder in Cirilla's eyes, as her children craved sweets. Hunting together with the maiden or keeping her on a short leash were out of question - and the sun-eyed noted with the trained eye of a courtier that the feather-down, the rich food, the sweet music and the gilded halls made the princess, the witcher bored and morose. "If you feel disappointed that no monster awaited you, that shall soon be remedied." with the footsteps softer than the snowdrift, she joined Ciri as the land beneath glittered with soft lights of grand palaces and merchant houses, and blinked with the pools of rich darkness where there was a forest or a shore. Toussaint was a pretty picture, made even more toy-like with the silver blanket of snow. It pleased Orianna that the maiden beside her appreciated such beauty. For soon she would see it, as no human eye had ever had... "I don't believe I have shown my wings to any of your kindred," the confession left her lips softly, cold and weightless like a snowflake, masking the omittance that they both heard. Any of your kindred that left to tell the tale...

Suddenly Orianna felt awkward and a little angry for her own awkwardness. Surely, for a person who had spent the last week waddling through drowners' guts and bandits' camps a pair of wings - the wings that she herself thought rather exquisitely shaped before a minute ago - was not a loathome sight? "Are you ready for the flight? I believe I shall lift us as high as that enormous wheel you enjoyed so in another world." coaxed the sun-eyed, somewhat more hurriedly than a playful tone required.

@fallesto

There truly was no place like home, and returning felt like a warm embrace, even if this land wasn’t hers by birth. It wrapped around her like a comforting blanket, each corner brimming with enchantment and novelty, as if she had stepped into a fairy tale.

During her stay, she honored her promise and ventured into the city, scanning the boards outside the taverns and barracks for contracts. Most were straightforward: a bandit camp to dismantle, a small monster nest to clear, or perhaps a spirit haunting a former lover. There were also peculiarities in the countryside, where insects had grown to the size of horses, and the forests were rife with issues that needed addressing. These tasks were a breeze for someone with her skills and talents, and while the coin was nice, it wasn’t her primary motivation. She found joy in aiding the people, often refusing payment, especially in the rural villages. Instead, she encouraged them to save their resources for their children and families.

She was determined to make the most of the next four months. If a werewolf crossed her path, she knew she had to be more than prepared. The challenges were daunting; one misstep could lead to infection or worse, being torn apart and devoured.

As the moment arrived, she ascended the mountain, her fur cloak wrapped tightly around her and her sword secured on her back. The trail was familiar; she had spent her life tracking monsters, animals, and even humans. In an instant, she opened her eyes, easily locating the vampire who awaited her—hardly a challenge at all.

"You nearly made this too simple for me. I doubt anyone else could have found such a clever hiding spot and concealed their tracks so well. I’m genuinely impressed," she remarked, a playful chuckle escaping her lips, accompanied by a bright smile.

"Typically, I would caution against being in a place like this during a full moon, but for us, I believe we’ll be just fine." She tightened her grip on the sword's handle, ready for any trouble that might arise. After all, who would dare to attack a vampire?

"I half-expected to encounter a giant or a werewolf up here. I was almost anxious about getting beaten and having to hobble back down," she admitted, letting her hand fall from her brow. She gazed out at the breathtaking view from the mountain's peak, where the howling winds met the fallen snow. As she stepped forward, the distant lights of small torches, towers, and castles came into view, along with the sprawling countryside and winding roads. She closed her eyes, inhaling the crisp air and letting out a soft sigh.

It felt like standing at the pinnacle of the world, and in truth, this place was a thousand times more magnificent than anywhere they had been before.

[astaldis]

Witcher Monster MAYhem masterpost

New works (41.033 new words) written for the event prompts (in chronological order of events):

Shimmering Scales and Stormy Seas (Words 800): This is the story of Jaskier's first time. Decide yourself if it is true or just a tall tale. Smut! (13. shimmering scales, mermaid, mesmerised, 22. Seduction)

Of Smelly Sewers and Man-eating Monsters (Words 2,808): On the run from the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, Yennefer and Cahir travers the ancient elven aqueduct on their way from Gors Velen to Oxenfurt to find the Sandpiper. But not only the monster with the many tentacles is lurking in the sewers. (6. Terrifying tentacles, Zeugl, 21. Ancient abomination, 28. Absurd amphibian)

A Most Unusual Plant (Words 1,765): Jaskier saves a cow! With Geralt's help, of course - A little monstery adventure Geralt and his company have on their way to find the druids. (Set during the events of Baptism of Fire, more exactly after the Fish Soup and before the Battle on the Bridge. You don't need to have read the books though to enjoy the story.) (19. Acid attack, Archespore)

Of Eery Eyes and Vicious Venom (Words 500): While travelling with the Witcher and his friends in search of Princess Cirilla, Cahir faces a frightening monster. (7. Vicious venom, paralysed, 10. eery eyes, 15. eyehead)

A most interesting read (Words 2,534): While Geralt and his strange company are on their way to the druids of Caed Dhu, Milva asks Cahir to read a very special book for her. (26. Grim Giant)

How to Kill a Troll (Words 7,612): Geralt and Cahir go on a monster hunt together. Set the summer after Stygga (1268). (14. Reverberating roar, 26. Towering trolls, alt. Silver Sword, Toss a coin)

Wicked Wings and Fearsome Fangs (Words 2,548): On their way to fulfil a contract, Geralt and Cahir happen upon yet another monster. And upon you. First person POV or second person POV. (2. Fearsome Fangs, 3. Wicked wings, 4. Cruel claws, Wyvern, alt. Forked tongue)

You'd be wise to beware (Words 12,847): Geralt and Cahir go on a monster hunt together where they meet an old friend, Jaskier. Unfortunately, the hunt is not as easy as expected ... (1. Too many toes, Myriapod, Centipede, 3. Wicked wings)

The dark things that wait in that house (Words 7,714): After his almost fatal injury at Stygga Castle, Cahir has lost his memory. He lives at Kaer Morhen and has become a Witcher. On the way back to the Witcher keep after his first monster hunt alone, Cahir helps a woman in distress. But is she really who she appears to be? (16. Metamorphosis, 23. Smelly swamps,  24. Treacherous trap, 27. Duplicitous Doppler, Shapeshifting, alt. I hate Monsters)

Monster Friend 1 (Words 300): Regis is waiting in front of the Witcher Keep, but Vesemir is reluctant to let the monster inside the walls of Kaer Morhen. Can Geralt convince him? Triple-Drabble. (alt. Monster friend)

Not Yet - Monster Friend 2 (Words 1,405): Regis meets Cahir on the doorsteps to Kaer Morhen just before the rain starts pouring down. (alt. Monster friend)

Blue (Words 200): Geralt spots something in a meadow. Something that is impossible to exist. (3. Dragon, alt. Monster friend)

Dreaming of Unicorns: Fanart (18. Unicorn)

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Older works fitting the prompts:

5. Ghoul, alt. Growl, Run, Blood-curdling cry : Of Monsters and Moonshine

9. Something wicked in the water, Bubbles, 12. Puncture wound: And quietly lay the frozen lake

14. Scary scratching, alt. Hide: That Scratching

26. Grim Giants: The White Death

31. Cave creature / Barbegazi: Of cavern conversations and mountain monsters

[acrowamongsparrows]

Daily Writing Challenge: Day 6 - Annoy/Holiday

Orange and yellow light flickered silent against cobbled walls around them as the four men rounded another corner of the labyrinth that lay beneath Jamurlak. The city was ancient, built who knew how many years before, and it could have been assumed that the city had been built on top of another entirely. There was an old joke about a king who built a castle three times. The first one sank, so he built another one. The second sank as well, so he built a third. It burned down. But the fourth one stayed up. Try and try again.

"And so that's how they go the Cintra's strongest castle," Janus chuckled as he ducked his head down to avoid what could only be assumed was moss on the ceiling. His hand was held in front of him with the lantern lighting the backsides of the men in front of him. No one else laughed with the bard. "Oh come on now, it's a funny story."

"No it's not," muttered Alfred, a long knife held in one hand as he crept along ahead of his brother. "It wasn't funny the first time and it's not funny now."

"Well 'Wally', I think we're all well aware of your sense of humor or lack thereof," Janus made a face at his brother's back as he stalked along. "Why am I in the back anyway?"

"Cause we all know how you do in a fight," the younger brother snarled quietly back at him, annoyance clear in his tone.

Janus could only make another face and mimic his brother with no real barb to throw back. He knew how was with swords or knives. Crossbow was his best bet, unless it was a full moon and they were crazy, it was best for him to handle the lantern. At least for some.

Ahead of Alfred in the line was Eld, his creaking step muffled by a wrapped cloak causing him some difficulty in his gait but at least kept him quiet. The cloak was the least of all their worries as the four of them were wrapped from head to toe with whatever clothing they had to keep their exposure to the minimum. As Eld had explained to them all, the sap of the spores was terribly corrosive to flesh as he made for them all to see by the black scarring along his neck. All it took was one bauble of the flowers and it would go downhill fast. To help with keeping the creature at bay they had doused all their clothing heavily in vinegar causing quiet a stench at first before they entered the sewer and were mildly grateful for the sour note that clung to them now.

The witcher did his best to ignore the men behind them, their banter back and forth reminding him why he always viewed them as the same boys who nearly burned down the west tower at Kaer Seren. Pushing each other's buttons as much as they could until one or the other broke. It was very clear who was still always the victor in the 'game'. There was a song pang in his heart for those years and a missing for Gregor and Mina Klaudin. He would have relished in seeing the boy's mother giving each a thrashing as Gregor would follow his wife's hand with a cuff of his own. Boys will be boys was not in the Vistani family's dynamic. Respect and responsibility was their way.

A bit of wet moss caught the older man's step as Eld felt his footing give to send him pitching forward onto the walkway they traveled above the thankfully dried out canal. Hands braced to catch himself Eld found the floor stopping it's approach as a strong arm caught him and propped him up. Duncan looked to him with his eerie glowing eyes, his face grim but also bearing concern for his friend. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, thank you. I just caught a bit of this overgrowth," Eld replied, keeping his voice to a whisper to hide his embarrassment. Duncan kept a steady gaze on him for a few moments longer before nodding and propping him back up on his feet. The vampire looked like a shadow of his usual self. The old robes he usually melted into were gone replaced by dark trousers, vest, and hood making the man look nothing like the monk he usually portrayed. Thin limbs and body belied a creature of supernatural grace and strength. Not to mention constitution as he walked barefoot now down these tunnels, advising he could keep a better grip without footwear as he lead them down into the depths. The three others had been shocked how little Duncan cared for himself but Eld knew in his heart there was hardly anything that could hurt the vampire down here.

Waycrest's concern was for his friends as always.

Naked steel shone shimmered in Duncan's left hand, a gladius that looked more ancient that the city they wandered the depths of. Eld had seen it a few times and had been curious of it's make but Waycrest never offered it for more than a brief inspection when he had it. One got the feeling that the vampire hated it being out and especially hated holding it. The past always complicating the present.

The travel was slow but the memories were swift as Eld kept a hand against the wall to steady himself as he kept a brave face. The people of Markhor had been whispering as they borrowed the cart from Cuthbert to head south for the initial journey. Candell on holiday. Holiday was a foreign word to the people of the village as the idea of going somewhere for no reason was a ludicrous notion, especially for the private smith just outside the village. Eld supposed they liked him enough but an odd one in a hamlet usually lead to a lonely life. The first years were fine as he lived in fear of the consequences of being found or his 'family' being found, but those later years just lead to far to much introspection. One could go mad in such a routine and maybe he had gone slightly.

"We're here," Duncan whispered over his shoulder and stepped into the antechamber that was the crossroad.

The room was wide and held more than just cobblestone as Janus widened the shutters and lifted the lantern higher to alight the room. It was built much like the tunnel they had been traveling from but opened into three other tunnels for what could only be the cardinal directions or the very least right and left tunnels. As much as the chamber was like the tunnel they had traveled the black tendrils of vines and still bodies of flowers above them reminded them of why they were really here.

The archespore were horrid in tales and even worse in person. Bulbous wide roots cork screwed from the walls and ceiling, the skin of the plants a deep mixture of the color of manure and the sick of a rotting dog. The smell matched as well from the fetid clouds that drifted from the heads of the dreadful plants. Crimson crowns opened and closed like the gasping breath of a sick child as bits of tendrils bearing the same amber baubles that Alfred had described of the fateful end of the patrons of the Silver Lady. Heavy was the head that bore the crown and the red maws did little to disguise the puckering bulb within as those same tendrils that hung their bells also licked the sickly air.

'Oh gods they're here Eld where do we go?'

"Uncle?" Alfred asked as he gently touched Eld on the elbow causing the witcher to snap back with more than just reality.

"What?"

The younger Klaudin looked as if he'd been struck by the tone the older man had given in his sudden response. Eyes downcast with a cough the mustachioed man would do his best to face the yellow gaze of Eldridge. "I was just asking, which way should we go?"

Eld stood quiet a moment, feeling the release of the venom of his voice and regretting it instantly. The eyes of his other companions could be felt just the same for his harsh word to Alfred as he grimaced hard deciding as ever to push onward. "Right was the way to the hag. We go that way first."

"Together?"

Eld was already limping his way toward the right tunnel, his hands flexing and releasing as at his sides. The Klaudins looked to Duncan, hoping for some kind of guidance or advice with the way their godfather was behaving. The vampire could only shake his head softly as he followed up to reach the witcher as they delved back into the pit of the catalyst.

"I got a bad feeling about this," Janus murmured softly as he looked up at the flowers in the ceiling undulating in their fixed positions.

Alfred frowned as well but motioned with his knife toward the tunnel. "Take up after them, I'll be right behind you."

"Don't trust them," the bard quipped as he motioned up to the ceiling.

"Do you?"

Janus smiled sardonically before he shrugged and jogged after the older companions. Alfred gave a final looked up above and followed into a darker memory.

@daily-writing-challenge

[1spooky-dad]

Not to be a plant nerd on main but the archespore is the best Witcher monster. Ive never played the games but I've read through the bestiary wiki and nothing else compares.

Such a large carnivorous plant wouldn't be able to grow in anything besides "cursed" soil.

Carnivorous plants need to grow in nutrient-lacking soil bc if their roots are taking in nutrients, and their mouths are also taking in nutrients from prey, their systems get overloaded and they poison themselves. If you want to grow carnivorous plants, you can't use fertilizer, you need inert soil mixes.

I love the concept of a crime so awful that it renders the ground around it inert so that nothing but something just as bad as your crime can flourish

[call-me-myszko]

Today’s Journal Entry:

Killed an Archespore near Toussaint, got covered in its fluids.

Haven’t got paid, slept in the woods (again).

Met old friends on the road, drank an ale together. Or more than one. I don’t remember, may you be cursed Lambert.

Back on the Path with Shard.

[missgracieluu]

Here’s a messy Archespore sketch 🤡  👍🏻 

Now then, let’s give a few digital enhancements~