mocca-bun

[the-owl-tree]

no wonder the moonflower death scene wrecked everyone as kids lol there's just so much happening

bluepaw looking around for her father and once again being let down by him, recognizing her mother being let down by him again

bluepaw being restrained and forced to watch hawkheart throw her to the side and creep even closer, no one helping her...

the cherry on top of it all being for naught, that even hawkheart finds the idea that they'd raid the idea based on goosefeather's word to be ridiculous

[kaeyachi]

Am I the only one, who finds the lore of descendants of those, who abandon their gods, turning into hilis, ridiculous?

You want to tell me, that in the whole history of teyvat, nobody ever witnessed their unbelieving uncle turn into a hilichurl, because he spit on the imagine of the shogun or something?

What about the sages? Even scara said that Nahida's people abandoned her. Yet last time I checked the sages didn't turn wild.

Or is it the act of leaving celestia's grace and going underground to Khaenri'ah something that seals the curse? And you want to tell me, that in the history before the cataclysm, nobody knew, that going to the surface will kill their humanity?

Seems like something hoyo didn't plan properly

Doesn’t Kaeya's character story imply that he was born and raised in Khaenri'ah (or what remained) before his father brought him to the strange lands of Mondstadt (the literal starter region that is so basic)

If the HSR crew did the lore of Genshin we would have known about his childhood before Mondstadt by know.

Man, if the Genshin crew did HSR lore than Dan Heng's secret and story arc would have been resolved 5 patches later lol

And March's past would have still not been touched on, I was so surprised that she herself suggested to use the Matrix to find some clues! I didn't expect much but that was a Genshin would never moment for me

Hey there anon! Here are the answer to some of your questions!

- Yes, they have to enter Khaenri'ah for the hilichurl curse to work. The act of turning against your archon is easy because archons come and go. The major difference is that by choosing to stay in Khaenri'ah, you are basically declaring that you are against Celestia and the seven

- People have observed others turn into monsters before. In fact, Khaenri'ah is not the first nation Celestia cursed. Turning into a monster is also not as fast as most people think it is.

- Caribert was implied to have stayed in Khaenri'ah for a while with Clothar's voiceline where he tells Caribert that there is "no more red sky". Clothar brought his lover and his illegitimate son closer to him, and that was their downfall. He met the prerequisites I mentioned above.

- Khaenri'ah probably knew that non-purebloods going to the surface would turn them into monsters, if the Perinheri tale is to be trusted. They would end up choosing a select number of families or clans that they know are purebloods (non-Teyvatian). Arguably, this could be why the Alberich clan was so hell-bent on keeping blood purity.

- The Cataclysm is basically a "die here if you choose to stay" or "leave this place and lose your humanity" situation

-Kaeya's story does not imply that he was in Khaenri'ah. At most, they mentioned his father teaching him and talking about their clan, but no direct mention of Kaeya ever having stepped foot inside it. Additionally, Kaeya's attitude of subtly trying to research more about Khaenri'ah somewhat implies that he doesn't have much information other than anything related to his "mission" from his father. Again, Kaeya was once a little boy who purposely attempted to run away from the Ragnvindr family when he saw a chance to go to Sumeru and, therefore, learn more about Khaenri'ah.

- Lmao don't expect any Mondstadt slander from me. I love that nation, and I know that nation so much that I believe there is something more to it. Also, do note that Mondstadt is a hub for people with mysterious lore, not just Kaeya. I guess we can argue that Mond is a starter nation for all of them too ig.

Finally, FYI FOR EVERYONE

I do not care for HSR v. Genshin discourse! Please take this issue somewhere else, okay guys? I am a Kaeya blog 90% of the time and 10% of everything else, and I do not have space in my 10% for arguments ✌️ but for the record, I prefer playing Genshin for a multitude of reasons. Take that as you will.

[aion-rsa]

Van Helsing Returns For A Final Season And Adds Time Travel To Its Narrative Palette

https://ift.tt/3af4PjN

This Van Helsing article contains major spoilers for the season 5 premiere.

From the dynamically retooled opening title sequence to the Jack-centric Transylvania storyline, it takes only moments to recognize that Van Helsing’s fifth and final season promises to take fans on a wild ride as it brings to a close its delightfully circuitous tale of horror’s most iconic vampire hunting family. Season premiere “Past Tense” doesn’t represent the first time the Van Helsing family story finds itself in the past, but there seems to be a more concerted effort this time to employ traditional time travel elements as the unanswered questions mount.

It’s been sixteen months since the season four finale, but the head of the Van Helsing clan remains noticeably absent from the story even though her imprint is unmistakable. Fans of the series understand Kelly Overton’s (Vanessa Van Helsing) pregnancy last season limited her participation, and though she doesn’t appear in the season premiere, Nicole Muñoz (Jack) and Tricia Helfer (Olivia/The Dark One) deliver strong performances that skillfully carry the episode. Still, where’s Vanessa?

Before we address Vanessa’s whereabouts, however, it’s the stunning narrative redirect showrunner/writer Jonathan Lloyd Walker and director Jonathan Scarfe (Axel) throw at viewers that suggests a new approach to bringing the vampire apocalypse to an end. What appears to be a truth on Van Helsing doesn’t always play out the way we think it will, but when Jack leaves the Dark Realm and finds herself in renaissance Transylvania, there seems to be only one logical explanation – time travel. You have to love that Jack immediately recognizes the drastically changed landscape and sets out to take care of business. 

Read more

TV

Van Helsing Season 5 Overcomes Production Challenges

By Dave Vitagliano

TV

Van Helsing Season 4 Episode 13 Review: The Beholder

By Dave Vitagliano

Vanessa apparently still resides in the Dark Realm, but it seems clear that she’s the catalyst for Jack’s temporal journey to Dracula’s city of origin.  Of course, Jack’s experience here could turn out to be similar to Vanessa’s meeting with her grandmother Lily in season three,  but for now, we have to consider conventional time travel as the most likely scenario. Needless to say, time travel in the hands of a less skilled writer can lead to a multitude of narrative pitfalls, but with Walker (Continuum) at the helm, the story is in more than competent hands. Still, we have to wonder how Vanessa’s role will play out since it seems reasonable to assume that if she can send Jack to the past, she can leave the Dark Realm at any point herself. So why does she stay?

Once we learn that Count Dalibor’s wife Olivia (Tricia Helfer) may, in fact, be the genesis of the Dark One, it’s only a matter of time before she and Jack come face to face. It doesn’t take long for viewers and Jack to face the quintessential time travel dilemma: if you could go back in time and kill baby Hitler, would you? Traveling to the past to prevent an apocalyptic future has become a science fiction staple, and Jack now faces the ultimate moral decision. “Now I know why my mother sent me here.” Understanding Vanessa’s motivation is one thing, whether she can carry out this gruesome task is quite another. 

While it might be simpler to have Jack kill Olivia and prevent the 21st century evil that plagues the American northwest, other options do exist. “What if you could stop what turns her dark?” Florian (Matúš Kvietik) asks a reticent Jack. Unfortunately, the Transylvanian problem is far more complex than simply eliminating new mother Olivia. Actions have consequences, and if time travel tales tell us anything, it’s that unintended consequences generally rear their ugly heads sooner rather than later. Whether it’s the Grandfather Paradox or the Butterfly Effect, things rarely turn out the way the protagonist thinks they will.

Not surprisingly, Helfer (Battlestar Galactica; Lucifer) seamlessly transitions from the dark, ultra evil creature at the heart of the vampire threat to a loving wife and new mother who unknowingly sells her soul to Michaela and the roots of the Sisterhood. Nonetheless, the plot thickens because killing Olivia and preventing her from becoming the Dark One only takes care of one problem. What about the Sisterhood? Jack and Ivory already killed Michaela in the present, but now Jack can prevent her from creating and expanding the Sisterhood and becoming the Dark One’s bride. Does Jack have it in her to commit what will seem like multiple atrocities to the innocent bystanders who possess no knowledge of the future from which she comes?

Olivia’s role in the coming apocalypse isn’t as cut and dried as it might seem, and when Florian shows Jack the portrait of the count and countess, it’s her last name that stimulates Jack and the fateful decision she ultimately makes. Dracula. Did Vanessa actually send Jack to this point in time with the intention that her daughter could operate in the role previously ascribed to her – mankind’s savior?

Nobody said saving the human race was going to be easy, and we most certainly didn’t expect the Van Helsing storyline to end up in the middle of a Renaissance street fair, but it’s a perfect vehicle for Olivia to meet another major player on the dark side.  “I see two futures diverging,” the fortune teller (Jesse Stanley) tells Olivia, and the woman who will eventually become the Oracle, informs her that two women wish to shape her fate. “Something dark awaits you.” And Jack’s kill list grows taller by the minute.

“I told you; vampires, and I’m the cure,” Jack explains to Florian, but the subtext here implies something quite different than her ability to return victims to the human state. Micheala (Heather Doerksen) wishes to resurrect someone and begins brewing a potion that seems to affect both Jack and Olivia and sets into motion an act which can’t be taken back. We’ve witnessed this watershed moment many times before, and too often the hero hesitates and allows evil to escape. Not this time, however. Jack plunges her dagger into Olivia’s throat. “I’m sorry; I had to.” This is not the first person Jack has killed, but it will be fascinating to watch the effect this murder has on her personality. Still, if she’s to prevent the dark future, there are at least two more deaths to consider. 

“Do not get enchanted by whispers of magic and monsters,” Dalibor (Kim Coates) tells Florian, laying the groundwork for Jack’s revelation that vampires are real and must be stopped. However, Jack’s in a difficult situation since the “I’m from the future,” explanation rarely yields positive results. It’s early, so we don’t know if Vanessa has an exit strategy planned for Jack, but for now, she’s on her own. Is Florian enamored enough of this stranger to overlook the murder of his beloved countess, or can Jack offer some kind of proof that everything she says is true? And how will Dalibor handle his wife’s brutal killing? No one ever said the Dark One has to be female.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Over the course of five seasons, series creators and showrunners Simon Barry, Neil LaBute, and now Jonathan Lloyd Walker have managed to lure some of genre television’s finest actors for guest spots and recurring roles, and “Past Tense” continues this trend. Filming inside a real Slovakian castle takes the Van Helsing world building to another level which works brilliantly with Jack’s journey to the past, and though it’s likely only a brief paradigm shift, the intriguing introduction of time travel into the overall arc helps assuage the momentary loss we feel in the absence of the core characters. Vanessa will be back. The future’s not as clear for Violet, Doc, Axel, Ivory, and Julius who are still out there somewhere.

The post Van Helsing Returns For A Final Season And Adds Time Travel To Its Narrative Palette appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3mVvw2i

[dailycharacteroption]

Conversion Corner: Startopia Races for Starfinder part 1

Dahanese Sirens and Grekka Targ

 This week, I’m doing something a little different, by putting my game design chops to work and challenging myself to convert content from other media into Pathfinder or Starfinder.

Right now I’ll just be doing conversions, but perhaps someday you might see entirely original content here on my blog!

This time, I’m going to delve into my childhood with a game called Startopia that came out in 2001. It was a space station management game, and had a lighthearted, somewhat humorous tone as you refurbished the station, built facilities, hired employees, try to keep everyone happy, and deal with various threats.

Throughout the week I’m going to be focusing on the various main starfaring races that populate the space stations, and converting them for use in starfinder. Note that due to the lighthearted nature of the source material, their converted forms may not match up exactly with the originals, particularly as I find ways to make each of these races unique. Having a race be a one-note race of space hippies is fine and dandy for a comedy, but for a game with a wider mix of tones, a more serious approach is necessary.

 In any case, let’s start with the Dahanese Sirens!

The Dahanese Sirens, or just Sirens or Dahan for short, are an elegant race of humanoids with sculpted figures that initially seem to resemble humans. However, their snow-white feathered wings and ethereal-sounding voices and language, give them away as something inhuman.

Why yes, the sirens are a parody of every “sexy space women with alien bits glued on”, how could you tell?

That being said, the dahanese sirens are actually the only species in the game with both male and female models, and in their specific jobs on the station, when pairing off with other sirens, they will do so regardless of the gender of each participant, which is significant because sirens work in the “love nest”, a building where aliens come to relieve their aching hearts by having the sirens beam pink telepathic “love” directly into their brains. So basically they fill your space NOT!brothel and provide PG-13 lovings to your residents and visitors. Kinda a mixed bag there, huh?

So with sirens being a mixture of progressive and problematic, how do we bring them forward into Starfinder and the modern-thinking tabletop gaming environment? Well, I’ll give it a go.

 Hailing from a humid, warm world with abundant resources and low gravity, the sirens rose to mastery of their world not only due to their ability to fly away from the mighty beasts that thrived on such a verdant world, but also due to their natural psychic power, able to transmit a rush of euphoria into the mind of other creatures, either in a slow trickle, or as a sudden, overwhelming rush that can stun would-be combatants. As such, sirens rarely see a need for physical violence, but against threats that are resistant or immune to diplomacy or their mental talents, they are fully capable of fighting back.

Siren society is matriarchal, and focused on the pursuit of new experiences. While this does indeed lend credence to the popular notion of siren sexuality and gender being very open, it also applies to science, art, and beyond. Traditions are adopted and abandoned as quickly as their practical applications and ability to hold a clan’s interest allow. However, nothing remains more central to siren society than the bonds they form with their family, be it a clan on their homeworld, a lover, or a ragtag bunch of space explorers.

Among other races from the startopia game, the siren’s desire for experiences often makes them strong friends of the kamarama, while they chafe in the company of the aggressive Kasvagorians and the stuffy zendem. As for Starfinder core races, they find vesk and kasatha to be entirely too focused on duty and honor for their liking, but enjoy the company of humans, ysoki, lashunta, and even the shirren. They also hold a soft spot for feyborn gnomes and halflings, the irrepressible curiosity of the former and the boldness of the latter making them fast friends.

 Ability Adjustments: +2 Dex, +2 Cha, -2 Con

Hit Points: 4

Racial Traits:

Size and Type: Dahanese Sirens are medium humanoids of the siren type

Low-Gravity Flight: The wings of a Dahanese Siren are powerful enough to carry them on their homeworld, and areas of similar gravitation at a speed of 50 ft with average maneuverability. On normal gravity worlds, they can only fly 20 ft with clumsy maneuverability, and cannot fly at all on high gravity worlds.

Telepathic Euphoria: A Dahanese Siren can telepathically stimulate the pleasure centers of a target’s brain. This can be done at will at safe levels casually, but can be used 3/day as the spell daze. At 5th level, this ability improves to function as daze monster, and the HD limit imposed by the spell goes up by 1 for every character level past 5th. The DC of this ability is Cha based.

  Secondly, we have the Grekka Targ, or the Targ for short.

The Targ are a race of stocky, short insectile beings with chitinous hidesn fluttering diaphanous wings, compound eyes, and small, multi-part mouths.

In Startopia, the targ are your primary communications officers, working the comsensor arrays to pick up on local and far-reaching communication details, their natural hive structure making them sensitive to and able to process a multitude of informational cues at once. Additionally, they are one of the four combat-equipped races in the game, and the second strongest, making it well worth your while to hire more than you need if playing on a station where combat is frequent.

They should be exceedingly simple to rework for Starfinder, so here goes nothing.

 Though initially assumed to be some offshoot of the swarm like the Shirren, the Thyorian Grekka Targ are actually a completely unrelated insectile race of bipeds originally from a cold, dry world. Ancient tales speak of their planet being a much warmer, vibrant place before a stellar impact forced the planet into a much wider orbit, with life retreating underground to the warmer subterranean environments.

Contrary to initial assumptions, the targ are not emotionless, but rather their complex communication via body language, subaural chittering, and pheromones, makes them impossible to read their emotional state accurately without the use of much more advanced translation technology than the average citizen normally buys. These methods of communication also explain the “hive mind” myth surrounding them, as they rapidly process the cues of every other targ in range. That constant flow of communication makes them hesitant to open up to other races, however, being reminded of the fierce predators of their homeworld by the relatively simple methods communication they use. As such, without even thinking about it, they often resort of observation behaviors when dealing with other races, eavesdropping on conversation, or in extreme cases, actively spying on others. This unfortunately gives them a reputation as snoops and gossips.

Targ society is largely decentralized, having no analogy with social insects neither socially nor even reproductively, and have little concept of gender. Theirs is a society of communal mutual survival, and when a task needs doing, the individuals with the correct skills are quickly contacted and the task gets done quickly and efficiently. Their delight in communication and understanding also gives them a fascination with technology, as each new device they acquire or develop has its own sort of language and means of communicating that most targ are more than happy to learn.

Targ get along decently with most other races, but many are unnerved by their seeming lack of emotion. They deeply respect dwarven work ethic and crafts.

 Ability Adjustments: +2 Con, +2 Int, -2 Cha

Hit Points: 4

Racial Traits:

Size and Type: Grekka Targ are small humanoids of the targ type

Chitin: Targ gain a +1 racial bonus to AC thanks to their tough shells.

Fluttering Haste: Their wings incapable of flight, the targ have mastered using them as part of a bounding gait when moving, increasing their base speed to 40, and giving them a +2 to Acrobatics.

Stimuli Sponge: With the amount of information that targ normally absorb, they halve the penalties on skill checks made in distracting environments, minimum 0

 And that’s the first pair! Tomorrow we’ll continue with another two!

[ladydwarfbadari]

Dari Cadash: Character Profile

Decided to go back and do one of these for my original Inquisitor. She shares a name with my Lord of the Rings character, but her history is rather different than her Arda counterpart’s. I’ve shortened it to Dari Cadash, she’s just too different to have the same name.

History:

Dari Cadash is a surface-born dwarf from a long line of surface-born dwarves, the house of Cadash having been banished from Orzammar many generations ago.

Cadash’s parents had a tumultuous, on-and-off relationship and never actually married, so she is Cadash after her mother, not her father. She has vague memories of her father, but he left when she was four years old and she has not set eyes on him since. Her mother was a member of the Carta, but not a successful one. She’d been clever in her youth but had taken to drinking over the years, which more or less ruined her.

Cadash’s memories of her childhood are mostly those of poverty and deprivation - what little money her mother had was mostly spent on strong drink and Cadash was often left to fend for herself. She learned early on how move about without being noticed. It didn’t hurt that she had clever, nimble fingers - all the better for pinching purses and poorly guarded merchants’ tables. Cadash always knew her mother loved her, but the drink ruined them both.

Her mother died when she was twelve and she ended up living with an older second or third cousin who had little time for her and even less affection. A more respectable and feared Cadash and member of the Carta, he set her to thieving and, eventually as she grew older, smuggling. He spoke to her rarely but when he did, it was largely to remind her that her mother was a stain on the family and that she herself would likely come to no good end as well, “trash begets trash” as he frequently told her. He’s also the one who had her branded, so that she could be smuggled into Orzammar on occasion to work with contacts in dust town.

It didn’t help that Cadash was something of a throw-back to her Warrior Caste roots, being a bearded female dwarf. Such was common enough among certain bloodlines in Orzammar, particularly in the Warrior and Smith Castes, but it was seldom seen on the surface where marriage habits were more mixed. Like most such dwarf women on the surface, she shaved it off, although she was always a bit lazy about it and loathed the chore. Her skin was more sensitive than most and the task irritated it no matter what she did. Something that in Orzammar would have been no more noteworthy than having red hair instead of brown or black, bore a stigma on the surface - particularly when she had to deal with humans or elves, some of whom seemed to take great offense about it, or treated her like a freak.

It wasn’t until she was dragged into the Inquisition and Varric Tethras went digging about among his guild and underworld contacts at Cassandra and Leliana’s behest (without informing Cadash beforehand of course) that she eventually learned that she had one grandfather who had actually been a city elf from Denerim. Little of her appearance resembled an elf in any fashion, save her long, fine-boned fingers that were an oddity for a dwarf (but quite useful for a thief). It went a long way to explain why her mother had always been something of a black sheep among the clan.

Her presence at the Conclave was as a spy, nothing more and nothing less. She’d long since left her cousin behind, but was still a Carta dwarf, and one considered skilled, but expendable.

She’d always wanted, one day, to escape the life she’d been born into, but had never held out much hope for it. The anchor, of course, changes everything for her.

Personality/orientations:

Cadash is clever but not very confident outside of a certain set of skills. She’s been told she’s worthless by various people throughout her life and even as an adult it took her a long time to consider that it wasn’t necessarily true, and there’s always that little voice at the back of her head telling her she’ll never get anywhere in life, and it happens to sound quite a lot like her old cousin.

She wasn’t raised Andrastean, although she’d been exposed to the Chantry and its adherents often enough when visiting cities like Kirkwall or Denerim. Her mother rarely spoke of the Stone or the Ancestors, and she had no particular belief in any of that either, particularly since those beliefs by definition rejected her as a surfacer.  

She was never really quite sure about the whole “Herald of Andraste” thing, although she could never bring herself to reject it as a possibility outright until she regained her memories and learned the true origin of the anchor. The thought of the Maker was an alien one to her, although she remained largely agnostic throughout the time of the Inquisition. Varric, being the only Andrastean dwarf she’d ever gotten to know, was always a curiosity of sorts to her.

Cadash is naturally reserved around others. She had a few friends among the Carta, but none she considered especially close, and kept to herself most of the time. It wasn’t until she was declared the Herald at the age of twenty seven that she began to develop true friendships based on trust.

She had little interest in romance or relationships for most of her life. She’d fumbled around a bit with other dwarves growing up, but was still relatively inexperienced. She was rarely attracted to anyone in any capacity, certainly not to elves or humans or qunari. It wasn’t until she began spending time with Blackwall that she started to think maybe there were more possibilities.

Relationships:

Cadash doesn’t trust easily or quickly. Her rough treatment at the hands of Cassandra immediately after the Conclave put her on guard for a long time, and it wasn’t really until after they’d been at Skyhold for a while that she began to open up to most of her companions. She remains fairly intimidated by Cassandra even much later.

Cassandra might intimidate her, and many of Cullen’s suggestions of blunt force horrify her, but it’s Leliana who truly scares the tar out of her. She tries to give Leliana a sympathetic ear, but as time wears on, the former bard’s inner turmoil hardens into a genuine callousness. Cadash simply doesn’t know what to say to the woman, and after she’s elected as the Divine, their ever-tenuous friendship largely evaporates. There is still a mutual respect, but Cadash feels she can no longer trust Leliana, that should the Inquisition’s aims ever come into conflict with Leliana’s, it would go badly for all of them.

At Haven, she spoke at length to Varric at times, but otherwise had little to do with the rest. After recruiting the Warden, Blackwall, she found herself watching him from a distance from time to time, sensing in him a kindred spirit, perhaps. He, too, mostly kept to himself.

She loves Sera pretty quickly - she never has to guess what Sera thinks, because Sera will tell her, usually with illustrations. Her best friend drags her away when she’s getting too “mopey” and makes sure she’s forgotten whatever was bothering her completely by the time they’re done terrorizing the rest of Skywall.

She’s leery of Vivienne, to a degree. The woman warms up to her, but she can never forget that Viv is there for her own reasons, that she’s playing a long game which has less to do with the breach than with what might come afterward.

Iron Bull and the Chargers... confuse her, mostly. At least until Bull finally parts ways with the Qun and admits to himself that his company means more to him than simply something to pass the time with.

Solas was fascinating to her from the beginning - as a dwarf with no connection to the fade she could scarcely imagine the world he lived in (at least until she was dumped bodily into the fade herself). His betrayal came as complete shock to her in the end, having considered him a genuine friend up to that point.

Cole as well was someone she sought to understand despite the limitations of her experience, although she worried deeply for him much of the time as he struggled to understand the world he’d taken up residence in. She was often blindsided by his peculiar moods, but she found him a useful companion. His unique abilities lessened somewhat as he became more and more “real” but she did not have the heart to deny him the chance to grow as a person.

She found herself spending much of her time in Varric’s company, as he was an easy companion for her. He was happy to listen to her ramble on about any random subject, and when she preferred to remain silent, he was happy to fill the void with one of his stories. He seemed to understand when she needed to not be alone, but could not handle conversation, either. Over time she began to see him as something akin to a friendly uncle or even father figure, neither of which she’d ever had in her life, although she told herself that at twenty seven, she was too old for such a thing.

Her relationship with Blackwall, however, had a different feeling to it from the very beginning. He was a curious presence to her. The others thought him to be cold and unfriendly, but Cadash eventually found him to have a subtle humor, wry and sometimes sarcastic (although often the object of his ire did not seem to realize they were being insulted). He could be prickly at times, reacting poorly when others questioned his motives or pried too hard into his personal business, but Cadash found him to be knowledgeable on a multitude of subjects, from combat to history to herb-lore and took to picking his brain over whatever was going on within the Inquisition. She looked forward to quiet moments at Haven when she could slip away and spend time with him.

He seemed to grow fond of her, as well. At first, his subtle flirting went straight over her head. She wasn’t accustomed to positive attention of any sort, unless someone was trying to flatter something out of her (or sell something to her). She wasn’t quite sure at first if his expressions of admiration were some kind of mockery, in fact, and reacted poorly at first. He apologized early on, and tried to reassure her that his admiration was genuine, but it was some time before she believed him (and that voice in the back of her head - which still sounded remarkably like her old cousin - still reminded her regularly that she was trash, but now, at least, she tried to tell it to shut up).

His habit of deflecting any time she asked about his own past was hardly unnoticed, however, but given that Cadash rarely cared to recall her own, so she mostly left him alone about it. He was hiding something, that much was clear very early on. It was also clear that whatever it was, it caused him great pain, but she knew well enough when not to jab at old wounds (or as the Fereldens would say, ‘let sleeping mabari lie’). As their friendship deepened, she hoped he might eventually come to trust her.

As time wore on she came to depend on him as more than just a sword-arm and a shield, although he certainly served well enough in that capacity. Being introverted and inexperienced in matters of politics & state, she often felt overwhelmed by all of it. She would grow tired & exasperated with her advisors, especially Cullen, Cassandra and Leliana, who often argued over her in the war room (while Josephine tried fruitlessly to broker peace), sometimes speaking about her as if she were not even in the room as they pressed their points of view. More than once she had simply thrown her hands up and stormed out of the room as their debate raged over her (much shorter) head, retreating to her room.... or to the stables.

There was something comforting in simply being in Blackwall’s presence - chopping firewood, chiseling away at one of his wooden figures, oiling armor, working over a blade with a whetstone, or simply pacing back and forth. It seemed like he could not move without a steady rhythm, and Cadash often found herself perched on the edge of his worktable, or sitting on a bale of hay in the corner. He would look up and greet her, his expression would soften, but only for a moment, and he would go back to whatever he was doing until she spoke. Sometimes she did, at great length, and he would simply nod at times, letting her vent until she was finished. He’d ask her if she wanted advice. Sometimes she did, sometimes she did not. Other times she would say nothing at all, just sit for minutes or hours, then get up and leave as he bid her farewell.

Eventually, she asked him bluntly of his feelings for her. She’d expected him to deny it and was surprised when he did not. Not that it initially led to anything, he walked away from her, simply stating that it was “impossible” - she was the Inquisitor, and went waffling on about duty. Cadash was initially both dumbfounded and furious. She never thought of herself as being even remotely special, more a victim of circumstance, and certainly not a real leader.

Ironically, that confrontation was the moment she was forced to look at herself, at how she had changed since the Conclave, and even moreso since the destruction of Haven. She wasn’t accustomed to thinking of herself being, well, much of anything, really. Not a leader, nothing inspiring, certainly nothing worthy of the kind of outburst she’d provoked from Blackwall.

It was a couple weeks later before she spoke to Blackwall again, having dragged Sera, Cassandra and Dorian out into the hinterlands on a largely pointless errand to get away from him and her own thoughts (Sera’s usual blunt commentary on the matter was another much-needed reality check, at least, although she lost her patience with Dorian’s snippy comments about Blackwall’s sartorial choices and grooming habits after a few days, however much he might have thought the trash talking might cheer her up; Cassandra at least had enough sense to stay out of the conversation entirely).

He promised an explanation of why he’d pushed her away upon her return, but nothing about the trip to the storm coast to retrieve a Grey Warden badge was particularly illuminating, nor the peculiar conversation in her quarters after their return to Skyhold, where he clearly was at war within himself. She could have broken it off then - he literally begged her to - but, perhaps quite selfishly, she refused to let go of him. He was a solid rock in the middle of a storm of absolute shit, and she was surrounded by people who all seemed to have their own agendas. Perhaps Blackwall did as well, but at the very least he seemed to see her as a person, rather than a just means to an end. If asked later, she would never be able to explain why she kissed him, or why she felt nothing but purest guilt for it long after.

She’d felt like the biggest sore thumb in the world at the Winter Palace in Orlais, like an awkward little girl dancing with her older siblings while trying to make an impression on the much taller Orlesians. She’d never felt so small and insignificant in her life. Then came the plotting, the bloodshed, and the heartless apathy of the Court. She’d been on the edge of tears out on that balcony, when he’d materialized out of the shadows and reminded her that there were more important things than playing the Game with a bunch of self-absorbed fools.

A pity, then, that she never seemed to quite gain enough of his trust for him to finally tell her what was so clearly eating away at him. No, she had to find that out after he swanned off into the night, leaving her with nothing but a cryptic note. Even more of a pity, then, that she finally found out the truth of the matter - all of it, the entire ugly story - with iron bars between them.

Sitting in that damned throne was quite possibly the worst day of her life.

In the end, she’s just too damned selfish to let him go, so she forgives him (on the condition that if he ever lies to her again, she’s cutting his knees out from under him and walking away). Its not as though she were a spotless innocent, either, nor had she ever told him everything in her own past. In the long run, they patch things up and come away the better for it. She’d never really opened up about her own history, in all fairness, and finally tells him about all of it - her flawed mother, her abusive cousin, the Carta thievery and smuggling, the shit treatment at the hands of those who don’t care for dwarves, especially the overly hairy girl ones. He laughs at the last one, but not cruelly, and proves to her that he doesn’t care.

(And if Sera calls them “Mr. and Mrs. Beardy” so be it)

Really all Cadash wants in the end is to prove them all wrong, every single asshole who ever told her she was worthless (including herself). She wants to know she can make a positive difference in a world that would just as soon have thrown her out with the garbage.

Well, at least they closed the breach, now just to deal with Solas’s megalomania....

Colors: silver, black, cinnabar red

Song:

[the-royal-courier]

Courier Classifieds 4/24

Personal

Looking for Love -

Okay, I won't try to make this too long, but I can't do it in three lines. Long term relationships, I've found, take time to build. Courting is easy. I am open to either. I would like to add, though, that I've reached a point in my life where the idea of settling down into a long term, committed thing appeals to me. If I've caught your interest, just tell me upfront what you seek and we'll build the foundation differently. My history. My name is Alistandra, but I strongly prefer to be called Ali. I was engaged, years ago, to a dedicated soldier who gave her life to the Alliance. Since then, I've dipped my toe into the pool of romance, but nothing has quite stuck. I was born in Stormwind, and raised there, in a heavily military influenced environment. Both my mother and father were very successful in the Alliance military until my mother passed last year, and my father retired shortly after. As such, I chose to follow in their footsteps. I was elated when the Light chose me to be it's hand and I take my duty as a paladin and a knight very seriously. I would like to find someone that shares a similar history, but I am open to those who have chosen other paths. I have no children, but I would like them in the future. If you have them, please don't allow that to stop you from reaching out to me.  I would like to find someone who is financially stable, relatively easy on the eyes - looks aren't everything -, someone to make me laugh, can read between the lines. If you've found that you connected with anything stated above, you can often find me in Cathedral Square. I look forward to meeting you. -Ali

(contact @alistandra)

_____________________________________

For Sale

Fine Dwarven brews available from Ironforge’s Ironstout Clan Brewery.  Beer is available in casks, half-kegs, and bottles.  Be sure to stop by the Steel Pub and try Loch Modan Maple Mead!  Dwarven Honey Mead, sweetened with freshly tapped Maple sap from Loch Modan.  Only available in Spring, so act now! Please contact Bathildis Ironstout for more information.  (Bathildis in game @ironstoutbrews )

_____________________________________

Ludlow Signature Wines now open and catering to the wine lovers of the realm. For ordering or inquires, contact Elizebella Ludlow of Ludlow Vineyards (@elizebella, @ludlowvineyards )

_____________________________________

The Queen’s Garters is Stormwind’s premier lingerie boutique.  Alliance women insist on only the finest intimate apparel and The Queen’s Garters answers their call. We offer a unique buying experience for each customer. Serving women and their intimate apparel needs with beautiful lingerie, corsets, stockings and more. And because women aren’t the only ones who buy lingerie, our experienced staff can help any man buy the perfect gift for his wife, girlfriend or lady love.  Private fittings available by appointment.

The Queen’s Garters, 4 Canal Street, Stormwind City

Because it’s what’s underneath that counts.

(In-game location:  Canal Tailor & Fit Shop, To schedule a private fitting contact @queensgarters, @nariele, or in-game Nariele )

_____________________________________

The Hexy Lady, offers a plethora of hexes, enchanted items, and potions for the right price. Bartering acceptable. Contact Mistei for more information on how they can help you!

(Contact @noble-witch or find her in-game under Mistei, via ic mail or walk-up.)

_____________________________________

Simple Solutions is now offering its services throughout Stormwind City and its adjacent areas. Everything from small cabins to wide, open spaces used for lavish parties. No home or office is too big or too small for an extensive and discrete sanitation that will allow you to keep going about your business and leave the trivial, tedious work to another. Not only will everything be elegantly clean, but trash will also be removed and disposed of appropriately. You will be free to choose the scent to fill your home, office, or workshop after services have been rendered, free of charge. They include but are not limited to: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, pine, rain, roses, peaches and oranges. All prices are negotiable and payment is to be received upon arrival at the very latest.

Contact M. Grimwald at the Stormwind City Harbor or through a messenger, mail or simply word of mouth. (OOC: You can also send me a message through Tumblr at @everythingisbetterwithpirates or whisper in-game.)

_____________________________________

Now Hiring

Monsters and cultists of the world beware, for Duskmarch has arrived. To combat with us the wicked forces of the night, we are currently seeking monster hunters of all kinds; be them fighters, casters, field medics or even those who wield the magic of the enemy. Under the mandate of the Knights Order of the Titanic Will, we take contracts pertaining to the purge of evil threats to Azeroth from every corner of the world. For glory and honor or simply coin and adrenalin, we protect the homefront!

((OOC: If you’re interested in the <Duskmarch>, check out our site at duskmarch.shivtr.com and whisper Thalvana (@valoraegn) or Leilara (@castleoftherose) with any questions! ))

_____________________________________

Are you looking for a job full of excitement? Have you the fortitude to work with all types of individuals? Are you willing to get your hands dirty? Susan Gampre is looking for individuals to assist her growing business. Currently positions are available in the bar and grill, security, and entertainment divisions of the group. Stop by or send your inquiries to Ms. Gampre.

(OOC: Sisters in Sin is easily explained by the stereotypical, quick to the point definition: Brothel house. In character the group hopes to provide a place for any to indulge themselves in women and vice- all for the right price. This guild is not for the faint of heart. There are dark themes explored. As such the guild is 18+ only. Sisters in Sin are here to have fun with their writing, they just approach at a more unethical angle. Reach out to @susan-gampre for more information on how to join the guild. )

_____________________________________

To carry the name of <House Dragonblade> means to carry the ideals of justice, honor, and charity. Seeking anyone of a kind heart and strong mind, House Dragonblade wants you if you want to make a difference.

(Contact @odessii-dragonblade or Odessii in game)

_____________________________________

Looking for ways to quell your boredom? Endlessly walking around the city? Yearn for a way to find a new adventure? Skilled in Archaeology? Combat? Research? Look no further, House Preston is recruiting! We deal in trade, combat, research, and we’re expanding into so much more! We would love your help!  Not a crafter or fighter? Not of noble birth? We will still accept you into our house. We have a multitude of things to do and if you are thinking you might want to learn how, we can help with that too!

Interested in joining our growing house? Talk to one of us today!

(OOC:  We prefer 18+ due to occasional content. A strong knowledge of lore or willingness to learn is encouraged.  Any level / race / class accepted. How would have heard about us? If you frequent the Cathedral District, noble social circles, the Broken Isles, you’ve probably seen or interacted with us! Contact Retribution or Ananorah @ananorah to discuss how you can join House Preston.)

_____________________________________

Doomwatch is an organization with Alliance ties that is devoted to defeating the Burning Legion and protecting Azeroth. We also do artifact hunting and public relations, we formed to fight the Burning Legion but developed into a close knit family who will do anything to protect this family.

(An interview is required. Contact info: Annyana or Orgrimskar, via whisper or by mail)

_____________________________________

Seeking able bodied and like minded fellows to join the honored House Ironbourne. Councils, guards, magi, healers, crafters and the like, all are welcome at Ironhearth to join the Lord and Lady of Ironwrath in making a better world for those under their care.

(House Ironborne is an RP guild that revolves around nobility and everything that comes with it. Politics, war, alliances, fighting, back stabbing, and loyalty. We seek role players who are interested in stepping into the various positions within the guild. We welcome and encourage player plot lines both individual and guild centric. We believe in quality over quantity and desire players that will maintain the respect of the guild while having fun through role play.

Led by Duchess Jossetta Ironborne, guild RP centers in part around the Ironborne estate, Ironwrath, located in the Hinterlands, Ironhearth, the village outside its gates, and the world that is Azeroth. Interested players should contact Jossetta in-game or here on tumblr @jossetta or @houseironborne We look forward to hearing from you.)

_____________________________________

Lord Dandez Northbane is seeking able bodied men and women to aid in safeguarding his homeland from demonic and domestic threats. The devastation left in the wake of the demonic invasions has created a situation where people are suffering and need strong defenders. Rebuilding and protection is a priority for House Northbane.

All specializations are accepted by House Northbane. Contact Lord Northbane or his Royal Guard Valdasowin to discuss pledging your service to the house.

Currently Open Positions

Mercenaries

Seasoned Knights

Diplomats

Crafters

Trademasters

Retainers

(OOC: All races and classes are welcome, though at this time limited demon hunters will be accepted. The minimum requirements to join the guild are TRP and MessageBoard. Discord to be launched soon. Contact Dândez, Valdasowin, or Darrus in game to join.)

_____________________________________

House Matheredor is currently recruiting able bodies for various roles to help in defending the kingdom as well as assisting in the research and hunting down of dangerous magical artifacts that could threaten the very fabric of the kingdom.

Jobs Available:

Guards

Scouts

Researchers

Healers of all types

General laborers

Those with political aspirations

Shopkeepers

And many others!

House Matheredor’s primary lands are in the mountain ranges in the Northern part of what is now the Western Plaguelands. If you wish to join the house or contact us in any way we have a Stormwind office located in the large building behind the Shady Lady in the Dwarven District.

Application Process consists of an out of character interview with Adorlan (@adorlan) or any other officer who is online followed by a small in character introduction. Contact Adorlan (Adorlan ingame or @adorlan) or Kerydwen (Kerydwen ingame).

_____________________________________

The Amberstaff Coalition, based out of Ambermill in Silverpine Forest, is an organization of mages and martials devoted to studying, teaching, and working with magic to protect and serve Azeroth. Our goal is to provide a welcoming refuge to magi while finding and ridding the world of fel casters, though within a controlled environment we have studied the practice of minor demonology. Our martials provide our first line of defense for Amberstaff, protecting the magi who may not have enough experience to protect themselves.

If you are interested in learning about magic, striving to gain control over your powers, or wish to use your skills to protect others, seek out an Amberstaff member today. We are ready to see you reach your full potential.

(OOC Note: The Amberstaff Coalition is a caster-based guild that has an additional tree for the martials. We host weekly classes in which we are training magi to become wizards of our order, able to act upon and study the majority of all schools of magick. We partner with several other guilds for RP in the Isles and elsewhere around the worlds. We are accepting all classes, contact one of us for more information -Helarsar, for those with magical aspiration or Aacer for those with more fighter type attributes.)

__________________________________

The Royal Courier is hiring! We are looking for intrepid individuals who like to write and capture moments of time. There is a lot happening in the world right now from invasions to daily crime to happier moments. The Royal Courier strives to be everywhere to cover the important events and happenings. If you have an engaging personality, are not afraid to ask the tough questions, and like to network; This might be the job for you!

Currently looking for the following positions to be filled immediately:

Investigator Advertising Office Staff

Contact Risri Elthron for more information on how you can join our expanding team (@risrielthron)

_____________________________________

Have a classified ad see our guidelines here, then send a message to @risrielthron or Risri in game. Use it to make friends, find work, hire employees, and more!