#aveyond druid

[daeva-agas]

(Re) Designing Vohu. Finally got around to making druid lore(ish) ahahaha.

I was really considering giving him some other instrument, because I don't think it was specified that he plays the lyre. The temple/druid symbol is one, but Vohu himself doesn't have to actually play the lyre. He's just the druid of music/"the Bard", so I can make him play the mandolin like a cliche medieval bard if I want to.

But he can have the lyre for now, while I try to decide what impractical musical instruments do I want to be his "usual" one.

The "Ravwyrn Air-stringed Lyre" has no physical strings, the blue tassels are just decoration. The "strings" are magic/mana, which allows the lyre to be played two ways: 1) Played like a theremin, and sounds like a violin. Used for buffs (like ATK UP or DEF UP) and defense/healing spells. 2) With manifested mana strings, played like a standard lyre, used for attack spells.

Number 2 basically does this, minus the kungfu:

(although it would be kinda funny TBH if Vohu unexpectedly can, in fact, do kungfu)

[druidofdarkness]

On Pacts and Portals (Down Once More)

When Rashnu has questions, not even a sealed Demon Portal will stop him from getting answers--especially when the well-being of his druid brethren is on the line. The next question, then, is what to do with the answers once he has them.

As told by Rashnu, the Druid of Darkness. Set during Aveyond 1: Rhen's Quest, after Rhen has rescued Armaiti. 3 chapters, total of 6.2k words. No warnings, no major spoilers if you've played the game to the point of rescuing Armaiti. Some spoilers for manor dialogue in chapter 3.

While I cannot say for certain why Leyrvo decided to build up the crypts below Ghed’ahre into a labyrinth, I can hazard a guess: he was a man of many secrets, and there are an infinite number of places to hide things in such a maze...

[iztopher]

Super predictable ask: Te'ijal headcanons ▼ and ♥

YESSS thank you!!! Childhood and Family:

so I actually have kind of a weird? backstory headcanon for Te'ijal, in that I headcanon she never had a childhood / has always been a vampire!

In Aveyond 2, the Oracle says that Aveyond's strength depends on how many people believe in it, and I think it would be really cool if other magical aspects of the world worked the same way. So like, people believe in vampires, and as a result, vampires comes into existence. Most vampires are turned, but every now and then, they're conjured up by people's belief in them. Te'ijal and Gyendal are two such vampires; they came out of the same tomb as their 30-something selves. (this also means they're twins! although not conventionally so, haha).

This also leads into my family headcanon. I think that one of Rashnu's duties as the druid that watches over Ghed'ahre was to help new vampires get acquainted with Ghed'ahre/their new life. He has a home that he lets vampires whose makers have died/aren't interested in teaching them anything/they have a bad relationship with/etc into until they're ready to be in Ghed'ahre on their own, and similarly he lets vampires who just emerged stay with him. As a result, he's kind of like the halfway point between a mentor/father figure to Te'ijal and Gyendal. I think the fact that he has a better relationship with humans than most vampires (as a druid) was also one of the contributing factors in Te'ijal's interest in humans!

[satohqbanana]

Aveyond Divergent Fate Part 17-1

A/N: Let's pick up that plot I purposely left out earlier. ;^)

--

Within the demon realms, the Sun Priest is in a panic. He cannot find a way to reach Dameon since they last connected in Halloween Hills. He doesn't want to ask for any help, however, despite Agas mocking him.

With three daevas down, Agas tells Ahriman he ought to be concerned. The power they want Rhen to acquire is the same power that could potentially slay them. Ahriman angrily retorts that it is supposed to be the Sun Priest's and Agas' job to ensure that won't happen. Ahriman tells the Sun Priest to find any means possible to reach his son, while he tells Agas to "stop messing around with [his] charge".

Agas is about to tell Ahriman about finding a way to get into Rhen's head, but he hesitates. It's not fun that way. An easy victory is a cheat!

He waits for Ahriman to dismiss them, though, before telling the Sun Priest that Dameon and Lars have befriended each other not too long ago. The Sun Priest is furious and threatens Agas he'll kill Lars. However, Agas also threatens that once Lars dies, the demon will come for Dameon, and he will drown the boy in nightmares. Lars is Agas' prey; the Sun Priest better find other targets of his hatred, or perhaps use this to his advantage… if the Sun Priest is smart enough to do so.

Agas leaves, cackling as he teleports to the Dreamland, which he rules in Talia's absence. Things are getting rather interesting, and he desires to sit back, relax, and watch the show. And, of course, give occasional assistance or hindrance, if necessary.

Meanwhile in the Aveyond Realm, mysteriously, no other druid shrine shines. Talia advises Rhen to take a break and train for the meantime. Rhen doesn't mind; she still needs to take Theodore to Sedona anyway.

The teens reunite with their friends in Clearwater. Rhen informs the Darzons of her plans to head to Sedona. However, she is informed that the route to Sedona is heavily guarded. With the threat of monsters, thieves, and bandits, only authorized travellers and merchants may pass. The Mayor of Clearwater would've issued them a new pass, but they'd still have to wait for approval from Sedona.

Though bummed, after a day of rest Rhen gets her party to investigate the Peninsula Routes. Like they were informed, the paths are guarded by Sedonian soldiers and some hired mercenaries. Lars remembers his cousin's words, and suggests that maybe they can earn the favor of the authorities guarding the route by doing some mercenary work.

Dameon suggests it feels like they would've wasted the same time waiting for a new pass. Rhen decides they can do both - request for a new pass, and kill some time by doing mercenary work.

They do just that. They tell the mayor to help them secure a pass, and they find the mercenary agent giving out work for fellows like them. The agent gladly gives out their tasks, but because they're newcomers to the scene with no real reputation, they're given trivial or menial work, like fetch quests, escort quests, and slaying quests. Or dealing with the militant squirrels, again and again and again, because they're difficult to reason with.

Lars almost regrets suggesting they do this. At the least, the gigs pay well, and Lars finds himself busy (and happier) counting their spoils for the day and organizing their budget, with Elini to help him out.

Of course, Elini finds the opportunity to tease Lars about his developing relationship with Rhen. Of course, Lars denies any romantic feelings.

One day, an old man named Velgerd comes begging the mercenary agent to investigate the town of Brumwich. Velgerd has requested this dozens of times before, and many rookie mercenaries have given him a chance, but failed to find exactly what Velgerd is looking for. The agent easily dismisses Velgerd's worries as ramblings of an old crazed coot in his ripe age.

Rhen and the party, out of boredom towards the initial tasks they fulfill, decide to take it up.

Velgerd explains that he is very, very certain something is going on in Brumwich in the Lowlands. It started when he and his brother Dorvan had an argument. Dorvan moved out of their home in the Highlands. After the initial rage, a worried Velgerd followed him into Brumwich. However, the citizens acted peculiarly, using aggressive optimism and positivity to downplay his concerns, and they forcibly prevented him from seeing Dorvan. The mercenaries who tried to investigate Velgerd's concerns weren't met with the same hostility, and in fact thinks that Dorvan is an admirable member of the Brumwich community.

What did the brothers argue about, Rhen asks. It's over a magical glass orb they found while venturing around the Highlands. With the orb, they can hypnotize people into doing what they want. At first, both brothers used the orb to negotiate fairer prices for their trade and services, but Dorvan wanted to do something more, something grander. Dorvan began to use the orb to commit crimes and get away with it, which Velgerd opposed. Eventually, the arguments resulted in Dorvan stealing the orb and running away to the Lowlands. Velgerd fears that his brother has used the orb to subjugate Brumwich.

Intrigued, Rhen accepts Velgerd's request, and the party heads to Brumwich.

[queenrhenpendragon]

You know whose arc gets me every time?

Dameon’s. Dameon Maurva's arc is so beautiful and significant and affects not only himself but multiple other characters and also the entire heckin plot of the game and it moves me Every. Single. Time.

So I’m going to rant  about it, welcome to the post I’ve been waiting to make for fourteen years.

First of all, this precious sun, this dear one, this absolute angel, was most likely raised mainly by an Ahriman sympathizer-- like, c'mon, am I supposed to believe Talia kept a child in the dream realm? Even without the nightmares it's dangerous, and very isolated. If something were to happen there would be nowhere she could send Dameon while she dealt with it. It’s one thing in fanfiction, but when I actually consider the logistics, either she was a truly terrible, irresponsible parent, or Dameon lived in Aveyond with his father. I've played Ahriman’s Prophecy; responsibility is Talia's middle name. Dameon was raised in Aveyond.

He has to have been a lonely child. He most likely had no human friends, and definitely none his age. Maybe the binis or fairies or sometimes Vata babysat him when Mr. Maurva was unavailable. Maybe not. Either way, such contact couldn’t replace his need for love and validation from his incredibly busy and important parents.

He probably constantly sought his parents' approval and was constantly falling short because how do you impress an immortal sun priest, millenia old and the last of his kind? Especially one who is apparently becoming disenchanted with the ideals he once fought for, the ideals his fellow priests died for. How do you impress a half-fairy who saved the world at the tender age of 17, who then became the Guardian of Dreams and is responsible for the safety and well being of every mortal creature? Especially! When! You only see them when they’re not busy keeping the universe running smoothly!

Furthermore. 

Please understand that I love Talia and do not wish to vilify her in any way. I point out her flaws because I love her, because her shortcomings are so human and tragic and are part of what make the story as impactful as it is. And Talia... does not easily express affection. She is not likely to have cuddled Dameon during the times his father took him to the Dreamworld-- which just can't have been often, I just can't imagine a parent who even kind of cared about their child taking them to such a place frequently. She is not likely to have praised him or spent any notable amount of time showing interest in his interests. I do not say this to condemn her. She had a lot of responsibilities. She had never been a mother before-- and yes, she had a great example of motherhood in her Grandmama, but her own mother also left her in the care of others, abandoned her to pursue a louder call. Is it any wonder that she ultimately did the same to her own child?

She has no real relationship with Dameon. Even without all the evidence I have already laid out, this much is obvious in the way they speak to and about each other. Talia doesn't even mention Dameon is her son when she first tells Rhen about him. She gives him no more than an epithet, "Dameon, the sun priest." She does not express particular concern over his safety, even though she knows the druids are in danger and she herself was almost killed. 

And Dameon calls her “mother,” and it is not because of the dialogue style of the game. Talia calls her parental figure “Grandmama.” Rhen calls Tailor “Pa” and “Daddy,” and Ma is known only as “Ma.” But Dameon calls Talia “Mother,” and his father “Father,” because that is the level of familiarity between them. The Maurvas live a strict, solitary life. Is it any wonder that Dameon is stiff and formal at the beginning? Is it any wonder he struggles to connect with others beyond a thoughtful compliment or an antiquated form of greeting? He doesn’t like himself, let alone trust himself. No one has ever taught him how to. He is so isolated, and lonely, and touch-starved, and unloved, and if that was the end of his character it would still move me. But there is more.

Talia literally killed his father, her own husband. It had to have happened when Dameon was still very young. If you take into account Devin’s apparent age, and the fact that a barely-aged Jack in av2 remembers Alicia as queen of Thais when we know that you can only ascend to the throne of Thais if you are married, and a few other details which I would be happy to pull up if anyone is interested, you will realize that Dameon can’t possibly be more than a year older than Rhen. More likely, he is younger, and this would be in line with the other canon ships we see throughout the Aveyond series.

 And we found out in Rhen’s Quest that his father was murdered “many years ago.” MANY! YEARS! He was still a child, maybe 11 years old, at my best guess. He most likely hadn’t even attended a magic school yet. It’s possible he wasn’t even thinking about it. And then he had to take the position as Druid of Light. When he was a child, still mourning the death of the person most precious to him, at the hands of the only other person he could have had any semblance of a relationship with in all of Aia.

The people who were supposed to be teaching Dameon how to be gentle, loyal, and upright instead taught him how to hurt, and betray, and murder those closest to him. Even without Ahriman's influence, how is a child raised in that environment supposed to turn out healthy and good? 

And yet he is still good! He is gentle and thoughtful towards not just Rhen but everyone he meets on the quest. That includes heckin MAD MARGE if you forgot. That includes an actual ogre. That includes people who are spiteful and dismissive towards him. He treats Rhen like she outranks him, the Guardian of the Sun, when she is still a peasant with a practice sword. He is kind to literally everyone except Talia, and he is at least respectful even to her. He never raises his voice at her. He never calls her anything except Mother. Never traitor, never murderer, never any of the curses we know Amanda had no qualms about using because she used them plenty in AP. Just Mother. 

In fact he appears to be the reason Ahriman decided against killing Talia. Yes, Dameon wants justice for his murdered father. I think anyone who is being honest with themselves can admit they would, too. But he doesn’t want to kill her. He doesn’t want her to die. He just wants her to understand what she did, to understand the hurt she caused. He is apparently so against killing her that Ahriman has to change his carefully laid plans before he can convince Dameon to change sides.

And consider. During all of this, Dameon is literally possessed by Ahriman, or under his demonic influence, or however you want to phrase it. This influence likely began even before the game, but even if you ignore that, it is no small thing. Remember how quickly Mel became corrupted under this influence? Remember how quickly Galahad, who resisted the urge to drink blood for actual centuries, became corrupted? The fact that Dameon has any shred of goodness at all, after years of exposure to such darkness, even if you ONLY take into account the actual duration of the game, is evidence that Rhen is right; Dameon has a genuinely good, incredibly strong heart.

And speaking of that conversation. Please allow me to share some of my favorite screenshots in the entirety of the series. 

My precious sun really went from this: 

To having this very level-headed and respectful conversation, of which I have shared only two tiny snippets:

To THIS:

This. Is tangible, real difference, at a rate which makes sense, and I am so proud of him. I have seen people try to dismiss it, and his other development, by saying he is just pretending in order to make Rhen trust him. That literally. Does not make any sense. First of all, if this was part of his efforts to persuade Rhen to join Ahriman he would have done absolutely anything except agree that perhaps Talia was right. He would have tried to convince Rhen that Ahriman was right, not admitted he may have been wrong. And second, even if you ignore that incredibly obvious discrepancy, he either would have forgotten about the conversation with Rhen by the time they returned to the sun shrine and his mother asked him the question again, or he would have pretended to have forgiven her completely. Instead, he acts as though he is uncertain, because he is uncertain. 

And his actions in the dream realm, confronting and fighting Agas for attacking his mother and desecrating her shrine, prove that he is sincere. Of course it takes him some time. Of course he hesitates. Forgiving someone for taking your parent from you is an enormous act. Forgiving someone you trusted for causing you that much pain is unfathomable. His progress is profound and inspiring and does not deserve to be treated like any less.

And he makes this progress while still under Ahriman’s influence! Can you even imagine! Aasgakadgjlkjklj. He tries to do what he believes is right even at the cost of those things most precious to him, his beliefs and ideals and the sacred memory of the person who raised him. ONE conversation prompts him to question everything. While Ahriman still has possession of him. I cannot even begin to comprehend being that brave. And this is just one small example.

I have seen many negative, unfair evaluations of the fairy dust scene. It is deeply tragic to me that such an important, eloquent, beautiful symbol could be so widely misunderstood. I have tried to explain it before. Allow me to indulge myself once again. 

Fairy dust always reveals the truth. This effect is well established, not just in Rhen’s Quest but even in Ahriman’s Prophecy. It heals physical wounds (aka HP) and reveals the truth, and that’s all. There is never any indication that it can change hearts or magically “goodify” anyone or anything. It is not a deus ex machina. It was included specifically to exclude the possibility of that interpretation. It only reveals the truth, and if Dameon had already been aware of the truth, or if he truly honestly wanted the same things Ahriman wanted, it would have changed exactly nothing.  That’s why Rhen’s choice to use it is so significant. It shows that she trusts him, as he is. She knows that he has a good heart and will do what is right when he knows what that is; she has been saying so for the whole game. In the final battle she gets the chance to prove she believes that.

And she does. 

And she’s right. 

When the truth is revealed to Dameon, he follows it, at the cost of his chance for justice, at the cost of living forever, safely, with the one person who has ever shown him any significant amount of affection, at the cost of everything he ever dared to want in his short, lonely, miserable life. While still under Ahriman’s demonic influence! Ahriman is still in his head! And he chooses to resist even though it means he will lose everything. 

Now, this whole plot could have worked without the fairy dust. Previous cutscenes in the game have already proven that Dameon listens to Rhen. The screenshots I included are just a few examples of this; trust me, I could go on for a while. Dameon believes her and believes in her and trusts her, where he doesn’t trust himself. Amanda could have had Rhen just tell him what to do. Rhen could have had another conversation, told Dameon to switch back, and that would be that. It would be consistent and believable with what had happened in the game thus far.

Except then Dameon still wouldn’t trust himself, or like himself. He would still be lonely and self-loathing and miserable, or even if he wasn’t, there would be plenty of room for that interpretation. 

But instead Rhen gives him a choice. Instead Amanda makes it clear that his redemption is not Rhen’s responsibility, or her decision, or her doing at all. All Rhen does is throw the fairy dust, and then lets Dameon realize what is right, and choose for himself what action he will take. She gives him the opportunity to trust himself, to believe in himself, for perhaps the first time in his life. She makes it clear that she believes in him. She gives him the support he’s been starving for his entire existence, and then she steps back, and let’s him choose.

This part is so significant for her arc, too. I have ranted about it elsewhere but allow me to sum up: Rhen has spent the game feeling like she doesn’t have a choice, and questioning her own judgement and her own significance. Dameon is the first to give her a choice, one which she seriously considers. She realizes she’s always had a choice. And she finally acts on her own judgement, without prompting from anyone else (in fact, without prompting even from the player, because as you might recall the choice the player is offered has always been “fight Dameon,” and yet Rhen never lifts a finger against him). She trusts her own heart and invites Dameon to trust his. She has always been a hero but this is the moment she really steps fully into the role. She saves herself. And then she gives Dameon the choice to do the same. 

And they fight Ahriman, at staggering personal costs. Dameon fights while, again, still under Ahriman’s influence. He has to fight Ahriman physically and mentally, or spiritually, or all of them, most likely. He is not free until Rhen plunges the Sword of Shadows through Ahriman’s heart.

This part. I cry every time and I am crying thinking about it. Dameon has been a prisoner for likely as long as he can remember. His father supported Ahriman. He likely let that influence into the sun shrine. He let it affect Dameon. Dameon has likely never known a life without that darkness. Or if he did, he was too young to remember it. And now, finally, he is free. There is light for the first time. And because Rhen gave him a choice, he has the confidence and experience to stay free, to make himself and be proud of himself and not be just what he thought his parents wanted. 

His gratitude to Rhen is profound. He has always been respectful and supportive of her, he has always listened to her and trusted her, as demonstrated during their first conversation when she meets him in Aveyond, and their conversations in the manor in Sedona, and every other tiny interaction they have. He looks up to her immensely.

And I think that is part of why he is so resolute about continuing in his role as the Druid of Light. Rhen has spent the game shouldering responsibilities that no one else could or would. Being the Guardian of the Sun is his responsibility, and he is determined to follow her example. 

It is also the only thing he has ever known.

In the midst of his own uncertainty, still reeling from his own losses, resigned to a lonely eternity in his childhood prison, he still offers Rhen his support and devotion. This is before she ever makes her choice. He listens to her, sympathizes with her, and encourages her. He loves her, explicitly, out loud in canon dialogue, in literally. Every ending. No matter what she chooses. Nobody ever taught him how to love and yet he does it so scrupulously. 

And in the canon ending, the True Ending as many of us like to call it, he finally, finally gets a chance to grow beyond his family’s legacy. To love someone and be there for her. To be adored by her. To be happy. To make a difference. To live a good life and die of old age and be buried beside his best friend and true love, and to face the shadowy unknowns of the afterlife together.  And he accepts it, in an instant. 

This is redemption not only for himself but for Talia, and Nino. All the Maurvas with their good intentions, who never got to see their happy ending because another call was too strong. Talia gets a second chance to watch her son grow, this time in a kinder world. And she gets a second chance with one of her dearest friends. Nino's legacy of absence and broken trust is finally set right. They all get a second chance to become who they intended to be, before they heard the calls they could not ignore. All because Dameon chose truth and love over every other voice, at every cost. 

It was a very fairy-like thing to do. In overcoming his families' legacy, he steps into their true heritage. Aian Fairies value truth and love most of all. 

There is an inscription on the statue that guards the fairies in AP.  It has always resonated with me and I think it will help describe what I mean here:

Heart of gold thy secret guards

Love, felicity, light

Gaia's precious children

I am moved. I do not know a better way to say it. Dameon Maurva inspires me, and comforts me. His example has made me a better person. He has made me a happier person. I am so grateful to Amanda for being brave enough to tell the story she did, and being brave enough to stick by it. Her story changed my life and I honestly, truly do not believe I would be here without it. Her story saved my life, and I can never praise it enough.

[ghedahrianvampress]

Day 3 of the 31 Day Aveyond Fandom Challenge:

The theme for day 3 is: Favorite Druid. Originally I was planning to write a fanfic for it, but after a ROTTEN night last night, and being so overly critical of myself, I decided to scrap that plan. I had something written, but I felt as though it was horrible. So, you’re getting a small rant instead...

Anyway, my favorite druid is probably Eithera. She has a beautiful sprite with long white hair, and she is the druid of strength. Most people think of strength as in physical strength. They imagine these big body builders. That’s not what I think of strength. To me, a strong person is someone who keeps on fighting for what they believe in, even though the whole world is against them. The world is a cruel place, filled with disasters and problems. You have to fight to hold onto any morals that you may have, cause if you don’t, the world will rip them from you and brainwash you to their ways. Strength is having the courage to not give up, even when your tempted to.

That is strength to me, and I like to think that, while Eithera may also be physically strong, she is also strong when it comes to fighting for what she believes in, and that is kinda why I like her. We all need that kind of strength.

[daeva-agas]

More druid drawings. Trying to actually get around to every single one of them.

My Rashnu headcanon is that he's a summoner. Pictured, summoning Nanghaithya.

Also playing with the idea that every "school" of summoning has different hand gestures for the summon. If/when I try to draw Elini she'll have a different one.

[daeva-agas]

I was thinking "I should clarify my designs/mental image of the AV druids some more because of Lore (TM)", but LMAO I can't help thinking of the daeva all the time...

I've had this mental gag for the longest time that "Rashnu looks kind of creepy, and Nanghaithya looks more like the druid than him". Wanted to draw visuals to compare (also Nanghaithya's full face without the covering on his mouth).

Rashnu isn't actually fierce, he just... has permanent frown lines from years of overthinking. Nanghaithya has a few braids that can turn into vines and thorns (because of his Earth element thing).

I probably should make a more detailed character drawing/profile someday... I originally wanted to try to fanfic it, but it's been like 5 years and the words still aren't working.

This version of Nanghaithya is different than this one because the one pictured in this post is for a specific AU/canon divergent lore. Mostly canon compliant, but there's a few flights of fancy taken. That other one is more fully canon compliant.

[daeva-agas]

In my mind, Vohu’s lyre is just a “temporary” instrument for emergencies/quick action because his “main” instrument is inconvenient to use and/or carry around…

I’ve decided that his main instrument looks like this.

This is what it looks and sounds like in real life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_03rw0Dv9M

(the one in the video is a more modern version with guitar-style tuners, but I drew mine in the traditional style)

[daeva-agas]

Crack animation 2: Crispmas. There's a HP/MP bar because in the initial scene it was meant to look like someone actually playing a game and switching around party members to decorate the room.

Never finished for the same reason as the other one: I forgot the script/plot. Was making these between school/college activities, and then like... Woops.

Why are the daeva just chilling there with the druids having "Crispmas party" together together and everything's fine? It was supposed to be explained in the thing, but yeah, silly me for not actually writing down the script.

Funny scenes from the "footage" I already did:

Inside joke about venisons from Ye Olde Forums (courtesy of @druidofdarkness).

Breaking the Fourth Wall

And references to AV3

[daeva-agas]

Crack animation from around 2010 or so.

No matter whether it's a canon compliant or AU scenario, in my headcanon Derez and AV1-Gavin and all the random warlock/sorcerers/etc in AV2 and 3 that are recolours of that same base sprite will always be "Nanghaithya clone minions".

Man, I suddenly kind of want to replace that Vohu faceset, because I just grabbed a random drawing that I had on hand and it was a bit bleh, but I don't wanna reupload this stupid video. It's short but for some reason it takes forever to upload and process.

I really was also gonna make the capture scenarios of all the druids, but at the time I was like "I don't need to write this down, I can remember all my dialogue script". Well, of course I forgot everything afterwards LMAO. The idea was that all 6 daeva had a different spell/method for it, plus chaotic interactions.

I did make Eithera and it's even sillier than this one and I now have second hand embarrassment from it LOL. I'll show the "soul capture" spell at least:

[rhendarzon]

On Journey Roads and Judgement Calls

Ordinarily a druid's journey to the Sun Shrine is not long, but there are a great deal of things that make the present circumstances rather extraordinary. Rhen might be the Oracle's Chosen One, but this does not give her the power of teleportation--and thus, she and her party have another long walk ahead of them if they are to see Rashnu safely to Aveyond.

As told by Rashnu, the Druid of Darkness. Set during Rhen's Quest. 6 chapters, total of 12.7k words. No warnings, no spoilers if you've played the game to the point of rescuing Rashnu.

Peace had never felt so chaotic.

The world hit my senses with the force of a tidal wave. My balance was compromised, I needed to right it. I was under attack, I needed to defend myself. The daeva--

--- --- ---

[druidofdarkness]

Since You Asked

Of the many stories Vohu Manah the Bard often tells, “his own” is rarely one of them. But, since you asked…

As told by Vohu Manah, Druid of Music, in retrospect–because Seb, from the Aveyond discord server, asked! Set an unspecified (but significant) amount of time before the events of Ahriman’s Prophecy and Rhen’s Quest. Names the previous Druid of Music.

Chapter 3: The Blood is in the Water

1800 words. No warnings, no spoilers.

It was a weekly cycle of hope and despair. When I worked with my other instructors, I felt competent and confident. But as soon as I took the field with Master Prowse for the week...

Read “Since You Asked” on Ao3!

[druidofdarkness]

After what feels like a thousand years, I have finally finished the first draft of my fic about Vohu Manah's journey to Aveyond!

Tonight will be proofreading and titles, then I'll aim to start posting it this weekend. It's 6 chapters, which will go up either on Saturdays and Wednesdays, or on Sundays and Thursdays!

After that, I have a fic called "On Pacts and Portals (Down Once More)" ready to go! It's centered around Rashnu and Vohu and what sort of work they do while Rhen is rescuing the other druids, because you can bet they aren't just lounging around the Sun Shrine. That will follow the same posting schedule as Vohu's fic!

These will go on Ao3, with Rashnu's and possibly get moved into a series. Though it wasn't the order I wrote them in, they're meant to be read Vohu's, then Rashnu's, then "Pacts and Portals."

[druidofdarkness]

Since You Asked

Of the many stories Vohu Manah the Bard often tells, “his own” is rarely one of them. But, since you asked…

As told by Vohu Manah, Druid of Music, in retrospect–because Seb, from the Aveyond discord server, asked! Set an unspecified (but significant) amount of time before the events of Ahriman’s Prophecy and Rhen’s Quest. Names the previous Druid of Music.

Chapter 7: To Dust or to Gold

2375 words. Brief language, no spoilers.

Conversation became more normal after that. We finished our lunch and laid back on the grass, enjoying the warm breeze and discussing what we thought might turn up on our written exams...

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[druidofdarkness]

Since You Asked

Of the many stories Vohu Manah the Bard often tells, “his own” is rarely one of them. But, since you asked…

As told by Vohu Manah, Druid of Music, in retrospect–because Seb, from the Aveyond discord server, asked! Set an unspecified (but significant) amount of time before the events of Ahriman’s Prophecy and Rhen’s Quest. Names the previous Druid of Music.

Chapter 6: But Blood is Thicker

1750 words. Brief language, no spoilers.

Tanaatha must have sent word that the roving imp had been put down, because classes resumed the following day. Master Prowse declined to show up for our inspections for several weeks, which was perfectly fine by me...

Read “Since You Asked” on Ao3!