#blade vampire nation

[nmmpmmnh-blog]

Feeling 5u1cid@l?.... The Vampire Kingdom can help.

[nfcomics]

Blade: Vampire Nation no.1 • art by InHyuk Lee

[thewormsingularityisnear]

[graphicpolicy]

Review: Blade: Vampire Nation #1

Blade: Vampire Nation is a different take on the vampire genre, as it feels like Robert Harris Fatherland, but with bloodsuckers. #comics #comicbooks #blade

The vampire genre is one whose storied canon has been a mixed bag. Thankfully, most of the new content coming out is far better than much of what has previously been put out. The new iteration of Interview with a Vampire has given fans hope for more to come. It features a story that is faithful to its source material yet groundbreaking. The series has shown a world that is true and not…

[foone]

So here's how the story goes. Four young adults are teleported away from 1940s earth, where it turns out they're the last descendants of the great sages who defeated evil all those years ago, but with his last breath banished the sages to earth. Now, 200 years later, evil has risen again: a vile sorcerer has raised an army and is threatening the peaceful kingdoms of a fantasy world, and only the Divine Bloodline can weild the Weapons of Light and defeat the rampaging hordes. The heroes take up their weapons and fight the good fight, leading the armies of man and elf and dwarf and beast against the evil orcs, who are vaporized by their touch. They cut a path through the horde and defeat evil's greatest champions, who were guarding the Gem of Control, an ancient artifact that gave the terrible wizard control over the orcish population. Just as one of them swings their hammer to shatter it, the wizard intervenes, and uses the last bit of his control to destroy his army, lest they join you in their freed state. As the pieces of the gem hit the floor, already losing their sickly green glow, they see the attacking orcs fade into mist. They'd killed hundreds in your crusade, sure, but he just killed all of them. They later learn, against all fervent hopes, that this extended to the orcish homelands. Men, women, and children, cooking in their homes, planting the crops, raising brutecows and hunting in the dark forests... All gone in an instant. The scouts report a silent land with tools lying in workshops, food left uneaten at dining tables, and bursting into tears at entering a house to find it was a schoolhouse: Quills lying in all the seats, with rough parchment next to it showing the first few letters of the orcish alphabet.

They redouble their efforts, now fueled with genuine hatred for the evil sorcerer. He shifts his tactics, relying on darker magics to summon undead minions, which don't need the Gem of Control. They don't go poof when a holy weapon touches them, but are still no match for the divine warriors. With a skeleton the size of a zeppelin smashing down towers around them, the warriors reach the wizard and drive a broadsword of light through his chest. The skeletons collapse back into their eternal slumber in little piles on the floor.

The warriors put aside their weapons as they're received with great cheer. They're invited to join the royal families of the four kingdoms, marrying into the human, elf, dwarf, and beast royalty. They spend the rest of their long reign ensuring peace returns, monuments are made for the fallen orc nation, and the remaining undead who fled are not allowed to prey on the peasants, only taking up arms again to fight a den of vampires left behind.

In their old age, the wizard who brought them here reappears. It's taken him decades to develop the right magics, but he can finally send them home. They abdicate, letting their hybrid offspring take control, certain in their ability to run a kingdom with wisdom and justice. They leave behind their holy weapons, in case evil rises again. The wizard warns them that much may have changed in the world they left, as 80 years has passed there while it was only 40 for them, but they still want to see if London still stands and if their families or their descendants are alive.

They appear in the modern day, 2024. They're amazed at the technological progress, of course, but then there's a bigger shock. This isn't just an isekai story: this is a reverse-isekai story.

The holy weapons were forged using the same magics that brought them to the fantasy world in the first place. When they vaporized orcs, they didn't die, they were teleported. Teleported here. Every mind-controlled orc warrior that tasted their blade woke up uninjured... in Portsmouth.

And when the sorcerer tried to wipe them all out as the Gem of Control shattered, all he did was transfer that magic to every one of them. None of them died, except for a few elderly orcs who dropped dead from shock at ending up in England, Earth, 1943.

It's now 2024. The Orc population of London is 3 million. There's twelve orcs in parliament, and another in the house of lords. The world has changed a lot since they left, for the better, the weirder, and the greener.

[i-drop-level-one-loot]

Hun something else I want to ask is if you would do a hybrid dragon Yan..? Forgot to mention it in the last ask because I forget ideas a lot <3

-from the one anon who said to use 3 names you like :)!

P.s I’ll probably refer to myself as this forever now hun

I'm sorry this took so long!! Here it is:

CW: mild violence, video game logic

Yandere!Dragon x GN!Reader

The winds in the mountains were cold enough to slice open skin and leave blisters.

Traveling up towards the sky was (Reader), a warrior known throughout the lands for their incredible feats, climbing up the snowy pass towards the dark splotch on their map.

The dragon's lair.

Only human in appearance, (Reader) had slaughtered almost every type of monster and fiend in the continent, sending fear through all living beings. They were rumored to be immortal, since they seemed to be capable of recovering from any wound they received, no matter how critical. Whatever life threatening hit they took, and no matter how certain their death seemed to be, (Reader) would only black out, waking a few hours later. A warrior without a past, without a home, who only lived to kill.

Slaying a dragon would be the last creature on the killer's list, having already defeated deities and apocalypse level threats. It wasn't that a dragon would be harder than killing a god; they just hadn't gotten around to it.

In the grand scheme of life, dragon slaying would be a side quest.

(Reader) doubted that the battle would be difficult in any sort of sense; aside from their incredible physical attributes they also had legendary gear such as "the Ring of Absolution" which was forged from the tears of a Golden Warrior. That ring alone made it impossible for enemies to block their attacks or use "break out" to parry.

Upon finding the cave and entering recklessly, (Reader) wished that someone had told them sooner:

That "when you're at the top, the only place to go is down.."

A blast of fire knocked their helmet off their head as the heat pushed them back. Shocked (and a little excited) the warrior raised their vampiric sword. Inside the cave, a giant red and golden dragon sat posed, muscles tense and eyeing the invader with intrigue.

"Who are you, to enter my home?" His deep voice sounded more confused than offended. And when (Reader) pointed their weapon at him in response, he chuckled. "Adorable little human, if you wish to live a long life, leave this cave now, and I shall spare you."

(Reader) shouted, igniting a glowing light around their body, then lunged, slashing at the beast.

To the dragon's surprise it hurt.

"Foul little thing!" He snarled, attempting to blast the human with another bolt of flames (this time not as a warning) but the fighter rolled out of the way, effectively dodging the attack. (Reader) thrust again, angering the dragon when he found that he could not block the sword, the blade passing his harder scales and hitting his soft flesh despite his guarding.

Amidst the rage and frustration a new emotion began forming within the centuries young being; respect.

There were no dragons he wished to associate with, there were no creatures that approached him of their own free will. He was alone. For a very, very long time. For he was not just a dragon..

He was Targov the Malicious.

A dragon of legend, ender of nations, killer of kings..

And his health was slowly being chipped away by the steel of a mortal.

(Reader) did not know who the dragon was, only that this was the closest location for a dragon nest.

"Small human.. I have a proposition for you."

The warrior paused, tilting their head as they waited for the dragon to continue.

"You have impressed me, and you have earned my admiration. So I offer you a chance at life eternal: become my mate, and ascend to a higher state of being.

You shall never want nor need for anything. I will be your willing servant for all of eternity."

It wasn't the first proposal (Reader) had received, yet it was certainly the first from a beast. They stepped back a fraction as though his words caused them to stumble. His request sounded so genuine that it almost killed their blood lust.

Almost.

Disappointment and betrayal filled the dragon's eyes as (Reader) suddenly threw their sword like a spear, lodging it into Targov's chest, a feather's distance shy of his heart. But even that only further fueled the growing need he had for the mortal. And the obvious solution to the warrior's resistance was to make the choice easier for them.

Targov flew forward, but instead of attacking like (Reader) had predicted, he grappled the human in his talons and continued faster, propelling them both out of the cave and into the sky as he built speed.

The wind jostled the surprised human about like a rag doll as they rose higher into the atmosphere. Their ears popped painfully, but they could still hear the roaring laughter of the dragon.

"HA! Now what do you say, human?! Shall you be mine? Or shall I drop you?!" He held the adventurer loosely by the fabric visible under their armor in an attempt to frighten them. But what he saw next made his heart falter.

His eyes widened as (Reader) smiled triumphantly, raising a dagger while maintaining eye contact, and sliced off the part of their outfit Targov held onto, willingly allowing themselves to fall.

It was just a fall.

Yeah, it would hurt. It would hurt like a son of a bitch, but (Reader) knew they wouldn't die. They never did.

However, their near immortality was something that Targov didn't know about.

Before his emotions could fully form into separate feelings, Targov dove, recatching the little human, now with a more secure grip, and flew back to his home, his heart beating a billion beats per second once it restarted.

(Reader) was thrown to the floor by the dragon seconds before being blinded by a bright flash. The dragon was consumed in a bright white glow that illuminated the cave, morphing into a more human appearance, with deep golden skin and red hair. His horns and claws still remained, but as (Reader) could see clearly from his lack of clothes, was now mostly human. He charged towards (Reader), face twisted in his confusing mix of emotions. Anger, shock, hurt, feelings his adrenaline wouldn't give him time to categorize as he closed in on the confused human.

He hoisted (Reader) up by their neck.

"You'd really rather die than be mine?!" The enraged dragon screamed.

Struggling to breathe, the warrior grabbed one of his scaly hands while trying to smack his face with their dominant hand.

The glint of their ring caught Targov's attention, who recognized it instantly. He had been alive for a very long time, and killed many a god during his rebellious years. Sharp teeth sunk into (Reader's) fingers, the dragon biting their hand lightly, suddenly, earning a shocked cry from the struggling human. Targov dropped (Reader), pulling the ring off their finger with his fangs as he did so.

The warrior didn't notice their missing ring until they regained their composure and attempted to attack the humanoid dragon, who blocked their attack perfectly fine.

Targov wore the ring on his smallest claw.

"I see I was right about you.." His deep voice chuckled, but (Reader) couldn't tell if it was out of amusement or fury. "A fellow God killer.. who better suited to be my mate?"

He grabbed (Reader's) wrist, and despite it's low speed, the ring prevented (Reader) from dodging.

"Welcome home, my mate."

"Even if I have to break you, I will have you. And you will learn to love me."

[stllmnstr]

masterlist

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every fragile thing — park sunghoon / 12.3k

After an ankle injury lands you in mandated physical therapy sessions instead of on the ice where you should be training for nationals, you’re absolutely certain you must be the most frustrated, emotionally volatile figure skater on the planet. Park Sunghoon proves you wrong.

or,

every fragile thing has one of two choices: become stronger or shatter into a million pieces.

⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖

champagne problems part 1, part 2 — sim jake / 48k

The second son of a wealthy family, Jake Sim has gotten used to always standing in the shadow of his older brother. From grades to girls to talks of becoming future CEO of the Sim Corporation, he’s no stranger to coming in second place. So when an opportunity arises for Jake to finally have the one thing his brother can’t and best him once and for all, he knows he’d be a fool not to take it.

There are only two problems. The first is that the thing his brother wants so badly isn’t a thing at all. It’s you, semi-estranged daughter of the Sims’ closest and most long-standing business partner.

The second is that Jake Sim can’t fucking stand you.

⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖

sure thing part 1, part 2 — yang jungwon / 23.7k

An employee in the marketing department of a large company, your days are filled with poorly worded emails, unrealistic deadlines, and passive aggressive friendly reminders from your superiors. On a particularly awful afternoon, a chance encounter with a coworker from the programming department down the hall is the first thing to make you smile in weeks.

But the more you uncover about Yang Jungwon and his mysterious injuries, flimsy excuses, and always occupied Friday nights, the more you begin to realize that you really don’t know him at all.

⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖

sacred monsters [ongoing] — lee heeseung / 54k +

A literature student in your third year of university, you’ve been dreaming of having your writing published for as long as you can remember. With a perfect opportunity dangling at your fingertips, the only obstacle that stands in your way comes in the form of a ridiculously tall, stupidly handsome, and unfortunately, very talented writer by the name of Lee Heeseung. Unwilling to let your dream slip out of reach, you commit to being better than the aforementioned pain in your ass at absolutely everything.

But when a string of vampire attacks strikes close to your city for the first time in nearly two hundred years, publishing is suddenly the last thing on your mind. And, as you soon begin to discover, Heeseung may not quite be the person you thought he was.

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all the things I never said — lee heeseung / 7.3k

Lee Heeseung has a secret.

It’s scribbled on a forgotten note, tucked away in a bottom drawer, carved with a shaky hand into the aging wood of his childhood treehouse. 

But secrets have their way of coming out. And when Heeseung is forced to confront his long-hidden feelings for his best friend of ten years, things take an unexpected turn.

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easy mode — lee heeseung / 2.9k

Lee Heeseung likes to do things the easy way.

Including, of course, getting under the skin of his best friend's younger sister.

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breathing room — lee heeseung / 2.5k

Lee Heeseung is having a hard time breathing. 

Partly because he’s pretty sure he just got the wind knocked out of him. A little bit because of the year-old rib injury he had neither the time nor patience to let heal completely. 

And mostly because there’s a blade being held to his throat. 

Yours, to be exact. 

[crisisofinfinitemultiverses]

Blade: Vampire Nation 1 (2022) variant by Gabriele Dell’Otto

[cleolinda]

Weekend links, May 26, 2024

My posts

My neck is fucked up in some inexplicable way (silent migraine?) and I have been trying everything I can think of. It’s a little better, but the strain persists. 

I am hoping everything in this post is coherent and spelled correctly, but it’s a gamble at this point. I only just caught "Spiders George."

Reblogs of interest

U.S. Justice Department seeks breakup of Live Nation-Ticketmaster through major antitrust suit

Google’s AI Overview results, “the new Lies Your Older Cousin Tells You machine” that uses headlines from The Onion to answer your most pressing questions, are a menace and they’re going to get someone killed. Here’s the magic code to get rid of it.

The Hot Vintage Lady Semifinals are Hedy Lamarr vs Diahann Carroll and Rita Moreno vs Eartha Kitt. “But what about--?” They were already knocked out several polls ago. “But--” Them too. Check out the (very lighthearted) Dracula fantasy cast polls while you’re there.

Tolkien imitators never actually understood Lord of the Rings

If your Willy Wonka isn’t at least partly horror villain, you may not have understood Willy Wonka

A handy guide for finding (tagged) posts on Tumblr

Terms of Service, Didn’t Read, a helpful website/browser add-on

News you can use: Paranormal experts say there may be a portal in an English forest letting in werewolves. 

The last time I saw the Dark Grocery Store on my dash, someone had it tagged “chilla’s art coded,” iirc, and I watch so many game playthroughs that I laughed a little too hard at that.

Something else I laughed at harder than I should have: “Soulsborne bitches will be like omg they brought back Lactus the Intolerant” in the middle of a post about Glup Shitto, Bumbo Wexler and friends.

This cat pole is awful. Let me love it.

If Godzilla fits, Godzilla sits.

Video

PBS Great Performances’ Shakespeare in the Park streaming schedule for May and June (with Danai Gurira as Richard III, even), free to watch.

Considering how much you’re able to see of Frog and their paintbrush, I’m still not entirely sure how India Rose Crawford makes these videos. Also, that amigurumi frog is a better artist than I am. 

The sacred texts

Will any of you motherfuckers ever help Blade fight the vampires

Spiders Georg broke containment and ended up in... Business Insider.

Heart eyes, motherfucker

Personal tag of the week

Some really interesting posts on my jewelry tag, including an emerald ring.

[lelianasbong]

i hear this is where we drop wyllstarion thoughts/fic ideas? so wyll finally gets some down time and decides to pen some new chapters for his journal/creative writing exercises chronicling the adventures of the Blade, and hits a snag in how he wants to present astarion. hes racking his brain for what classic adventure/romance character archetype he fits best, combing through every fairytale he heard growing up and every novel he read on the lonely road and holding astarion up against all those characters like paint swatches. after a series of extensive daydreams imagining them both as various characters in his fav stories, he realizes all of them are super Not Astarion and pens him down exactly as he is, hoping that everyone will like astarion as much as he does and maybe create a new type of Classic Romantic Hero Archetype. (he also makes sure to include how down bad astarion is for the Blade but the Blade is waiting for him to admit his feelings of True Love first, which will defo happen next chapter FOR SURE any second now)

Of course it's okay! Hope it's alright that I answered publically because at least on mobile I don't see an option to reply privately.

But I looove this idea and I think you'd find an eager audience for this fic if you were to write it. I know I'd eat it for breakfast, lunch AND dinner and frankly Wyllstarion nation is starving for fic (otoh every morsel is so SO good).

Especially considering Shadowheart and Wyll's banter where he's brainstorming ideas for his Blade of Frontiers epic (counting his chickens before they've hatched, she says, but it highlights Wyll's sunny optimism... he's gonna live, he's gonna write that action-adventure-romance, and it's gonna be AWESOME!). And that banter where he's trying to come with Suitably Cool™ superhero names for Gale? Wyll is a champion friend-fiction writer! At least in his head.

There's also banter between Shadowheart and Astarion where she's like "your best pickup lines sound like they're out of trashy paperbacks lmao" and he says, "trashy?! i'm the charming rake that everyone fawns over. DUH" so like..... you can imagine Wyll overhears that, measures it against his own perception of Astarion as a charming sort of cad, weighs that against his Classic Romantic Hero Archetype... narrows it down to something new, something different, simultaneously closer to the truth but with a bardic flair that still paints Astarion as larger than life.

And if you want some more fuel for your fire, there's Origin-Astarion's perception of how Wyll views him if you consider fessing up about your vampirism: "Wyll knows you for what you are: a charismatic scoundrel and an asset in battle. He'll probably take the news fairly well."

[queeniethevampire]

The year was 19XX. Before Queenie ascended to the throne. She had come out to the previous monarch, Queen Alessia, that when she died or retired the vampire would take over, making her existence public. From there she had begun quietly living in her castle. Down in the dungeon and the secret second dungeon. That one was fun to explain.

However from time to time she was called to aid with various castle duties. After all she was not the Queen now, and what her majesty says, goes (on citizens born before 1785, as per a law passed in 1900). One night as she was on the grounds moon watching Alessia and her husband came out. Her husband pushed his wife forwards gently as the vampire looked at the woman in her 30’s.

“You don’t need to push she won’t kill her monarch. I commanded it.” Alessia huffed as her husband stopped. They were both in night gowns. And clearly they were tired.

“Pardon my French.” Queenie said facing said.

“Mon Dieu.” Alessia replied.

“But why the fuck are you two out here half past midnight in your pajamas.”

“I have a similar question about the leather.” Alessia’s husband said looking the vampire over.

“I like how it looks.” Queenie replied bluntly.

“Let’s not get distracted. I’d like some sleep tonight.” Alessia said. “Queenie. It’s my daughter. She’s terrified there are demons present in the castle. Or…. Well she changes the monster a lot.”

“Changelings? Some of the fuckers snuck in. Royal guard is fucking slacking. I’ll-“. As she spoke a knife flicked out from her arm into her palm, the silver glint of the blade visible under the floodlights from the castle, the moon hidden behind thick, thick clouds.

“Queenie my daughter is six in a creepy old castle with a goddamn vampire in the basement. I’d say she has an overactive imagination but I’m speaking to the founder of a five hundred year old nation who will not be bringing a knife into my daughters room!” Alessia’s voice rose in a bit of anger. “All we want is for you to introduce yourself to her and explain that you will scare away all the monsters. She’s been listening in on our meetings and signings. Hell, she helped write up February’s draft.”

“That’s why February’s draft said I’ve been around a really really really long time. Damn, I liked that.” Queenie said as her knife went away. “Fine I’ll speak to her. I guess there’s not much harm in going ‘a vampire lives in the castle’ I’ve been spreading that story since Mussolini personally.”

Up she went to the castle. Before it's interior was open to the public, and before a restoration Queenie began once Alessia moved out 30 years from tonight. the old floors creaking, the wires exposed. The lighting poor and oppressive. Alessia went in first.

"I should mention, part of your duties tonight is to get Eva to sleep.". Alessia's husband added on.

Queenie rolled her eyes. "And you call me a monster.". She said before Alessia signalled for Queenie to enter.

The young girl, Eva, had a plainer bedroom. old plaster which needed work was intricately painted. Showing remnants of old masters. Bookshelves with girls toys, old books, gift bibles, and other trinkets were built into nooks in the walls. her bed was an old canopy, though the canopy was long gone. As the redhead approached the light to the room flickered and Eva pulled back holding her teddy bear close to her chest.

"Don't make the light flicker." Alessia said annoyed.

"I'm not.". Queenie said before getting closer and, after a moments thought, kneeling before the girl Eva and bowing her head. "Greetings Miss Eva. I am Queenie, founder of Idra and the greatest warrior and soldier to serve this nation. Your mother Queen Alessia commands me, her most loyal undead to make sure you are both safe and will go to sleep.". She said sounding very serious. in actuality she aimed to tell the child a bedtime story, and check for monsters, but some ceremony might help make a special memory.

As she lifted her head Queenie was struck with a pillow with impeccable timing right square in the face. Alessia had to aggressively fight down a snort, and even her husband watching from the door had to do the same. As the pillow held on her face for a few instants before falling Queenie slowly blinked. “Not the first time I was attacked on ID.” She said flat.

“You’re the monster under my bed!” Eva asserted.

“I, young lady, am most definitely not.”

“You definitely are.”

“Queen Alessia, you are the divinely appointed monarch of this nation and mother to young Eva are you not?”

“Y-yeah.”

“Your daughters bed, am I under it?”

There was a moment. “I’d rather say you’re right next to it if anything.”

“That’s what I thought too. Wanted to see if someone a cardinal blessed would see the same or if my eyes were clouded by demonic trickery.”

“No. Your eyes are as sharp as ever Miss Queenie.” Alessia said getting into the role now.

“Why are you Queenie. Mommy is the Queen. Though I won’t be. But that’s ok. Queen sucks.”

Both women, alive and undead, visibly deflated at that.

“I love you dear.” Alessia’s husband said.

“What about me?” Queenie asked with a look back at him, the man now leaning in the door frame a bit more relaxed.

“You’re ok too.”

With a bemused grin she faced Eva. “Well that’s mean. First you say I’m a monster under your bed, and next you say your mom has a sucky job. You are a rude young Miss.”. Queenie extended one finger and gently poked Eva on the forehead. Naturally the child gripped her teddy bear tighter.

Alessia handed Queenie the recently-thrown pillow. “I’m not re-arming her. This girl is dangerous.” Queenie said. “She has monster vision. And is an anti-monarchist.” There was a moment as she watched Eva cuddle her bear. Something in Queenie sparked.

“Though. That makes sense. I think being so anti monarchist has awoken her totem.”

“T-totem?” Alessia was willing to play a little supernatural with her vampiric predecessor and successor. But she sounded serious about this. “What did you sneak into her room?”

“Well, she has a few books and the sword.” She pointed to a sword mounted up high. “But the totem is…”. She put up a finger. “Miss Eva, who gave you your Teddy Bear?”

“The royal guardsmen, Antonio.”

“Anthony.” Alessia corrected.

Queenie smirked. Anthony was American, his father coming back some time after World War Two. Anthony was one of the supernaturally capable guards and probably had been a worse influence on Eva than Queenie. A rare feat. Still he had given her an out.

“Miss Eva. Have you studied American history yet?” Queenie asked the child.

“We’ve done a bit. We’re doing their civil war right now.”

“Oh. Who is your teacher?”

“Brother Pietro.”

“Ah.” She wouldn’t ask him to bring up the time she stopped the volcano plot in st Helen’s in the 80’s then. “Well he’s getting close to teaching you about the man who made a powerful totem, in the age no gods.” Queenie pointed at the teddy bear. “Theodore Roosevelt.”

“Teddy isn’t some…. Monsters tool!” Eva said sounding shocked. “He helps me sleep. He protects me! Though you stick around.” She said that last part sounding a bit annoyed.

“Of course. I knew mister Roosevelt. We were friends.” Friendly acquaintances, and Roosevelt didn’t know she was a vampire, but still. Alice on the other hand. Ho ho~. “He knows my bark is much worse than my bite. However Teddy Roosevelt he loved children. And you see, they named a toy after him.”

Eva let out a gasp as her eyes widened. “Mister Teddy is a president? I think thats bigger than a Queen. Mom, mister Teddy says I can stay up-“

“President is bigger than a Queen. Mom is bigger than a president and the pope combined young lady.” Alessia said sternly.

Eva let out a huff.

Queenie fought down a smirk. Her plan was starting to work. “Yes. But your safe. See. Mister Roosevelt, Teddy, he saw how the kids loved his bears and with some advice from a few friends made sure they could keep kids safe from monsters. First, he made sure everyone called him Teddy. So they’d associate him with the bear. See names hold magic. And a billion people calling Teddy a bear? That’s a lot of magic. Of course. Teddy was a fierce warrior. I know he beat the crap out of me once.” Young Eva’s mouth went wide as Queenie swore, her mother made it clear to let the vampire continue her story with one look. “So when people think of Teddy Roosevelt and the Teddy bear his spirit remains strong in each teddy bear. And most monsters they fear them. I knew Roosevelt so him and I can get along, and I’m safe in front of any Teddy. But if I was a danger the bear would gut me on the spot!” She said poking herself with her fingers dramatically. “This is, of course, an American myth, so not many Italians know it too well. Teddy bears keep kids safe until they’re able to do it themselves.”

Eva was quiet. “How do I know you’re not lying?” She asked the pale skinned woman with blood red eyes and fangs who came to meet her in the middle of the night. A reasonable question really.

“M’lady.” Queenie said to Alessia.

“Yes.”

“As your citizen. Do I speak the truth?” Queenie asked.

“If you do not may the might Roosevelt strike you down.” Alessia said nodding solemnly and making the sign of the cross.

There was a moment. However from the corner of her eye Queenie saw Eva’s teddy twitch. Calmly she turned around.

“I’ve never seen Teddy do anything like that.”

“Oh. That’s cause they strike while kids sleep. Fighting monsters is gruesome business. Mind if I show you something?” Queenie asked.

After a nod from Eva Queenie scooted over on her knees and touched the bear, she rested one hand under Teddy’s back and pointed to his eyes. Small black buttons. “See his eyes?” She asked. “They’re never closed. Unlike monsters, Teddy’s are guardians and they never sleep. Always watching the monsters who approach kids. And if they get to close you learn about mister Roosevelt.”

“How tough was he? I mean you’re a scary monster. How can some president scare you away.”

“Well you see one time a guy got as close to him as you and I are and shot him”. Queenie used two fingers and made a ‘bang’ sound. “And he got hit. He asked the man, ‘why did you do that’ and then began a speech saying ‘it takes more than a bullet to kill a bull moose’.” With that Queenie began to regale Eva with various tales of Roosevelt perhaps slightly exaggerated.

Alessia stepped out and sat on a bench outside.

Half an hour later Queenie closed the door quietly and nodded to the Queen and her husband to move along. They went to their bedroom and spoke quietly. “Did you do it?” Alessia asked.

“Yeah. I had to spend some time getting it all ready, but she’s convinced that her bear will kill a vampire.” Queenie said with a content sigh.

“I mean if it works.” Alessia’s husband said offering a hand. “Still. Thank you.”

Queenie took it and shook his hand. “No problem. Now I’m below a mortal Queen and a Teddy bear.” She chuckled. “Say, Alessia, is Anthony on duty tomorrow do ya know?”

“No. I think he’s gonna be training the guard, but no formal duties for his squad till Friday.”

“Ok.” She nodded.

“Are you going to thank him for the out?”

“Yeah. That’s the plan.” She said. “Oh, and whenever her class gets to Teddy Roosevelt just, uh, just tell the teacher you are the Queen of a vampire kingdom and some people love to tell stories.

Alessia tossed another pillow and Queenie. “I have to do that once a month already. You’re a terrible influence. Now my husband and I are going to sleep.”

Tossing back the pillow Queenie blew them both a kiss before walking out.

———————

The next morning as the guards assembled for their training Queenie was there before them all. Holding a teddy bear and some red thread. When a young man walked by she tapped his shoulder and motioned for him to come with her.

In an old office overfilled wirh various dusty uniforms and spears Queenie had cleared two seats. “Mistah Anthony.” Queenie said with man exaggerated New York accent. “Have a seat.” She said as she put down the stuffed bear before him.

“Yes m’lady?” He asked sitting down looking at her, then the bear confused as to what kinda interrogation technique involved a child’s toy.

“Did you get young Eva a teddy bear from New York about two years ago for her birthday?”

“That’s the guy.” He said nodding at the toy.

“So. Did you put this in it?” Queenie presented a carved silver disk which she put down on his lap. The carvings had a faint red glow to them.

“What. Why is it glowing red? Did Eva get cut on it?”

“That’s my blood.” Queenie said. “Last night the young Miss had me tell her some bedtime stories and I made up some bullshit about a guardian teddy bear. When I said ‘if it lie let the bear strike me down’ this bear moved on its own.” She said. “So I took a hold of it to investigate and being a vampire I used a drop of blood. Well, it took in the blood and a fair bit of magic too.”

“Fuckin hell. It’s not meant to have a soul in it.”

“Why did you put an absorption talisman in the bear An-to-ny.” Queenie said annihilating the syllables in his name.

“Eva, look, my grandfather was in your guard. And though he died last year he was a damn fine mage. But he said since the war magics been coming back.”

“Yeah. I know. I did that.” Queenie replied.

“How. How the fuck-?”

“Answer the question, magic may be back, but I’ve been around when it was much more plentiful. As it is a poor answer will cost a testicle!”

“Fine! Fine! Grandpa watched over the Queen, and When Eva was born he realized she had tons of magic flowing from her. The castle grounds were modified to keep excess magic from flowing out already, but this kid has a lot and no control. When her mother said no to magic lessons before she’s 16 we wanted to do something. He wanted to keep a talisman to bleed off the excess at night. She’d bleed a little magic during the day, but it wouldn’t hurt her. And when she graduated magic lessons she could use the magic in the talisman to help her. I had just been to America and got the bear. I said it could be a gift for her birthday and we could stick it inside. She’d just have to keep it in her room and it’d be good enough most of the time. As she got older she’d handle her magic a bit better. I just didn’t think a vampire would stick some blood in it. Cause-“

“Cause it’d become alive and gain its own will.” Queenie smirked. “Isn’t that right mister Teddy.” She said before putting the round talisman back in and starting to see it up with the red thread.

“What are ya doing? You’re gonna make-“

“Anthony. I’m 1300 years old. I predate the oath. When I was ‘young’ parents would do something like this if they knew their kids were capable. And either they’d put it in a toy, or tell the kid the amulet would protect them. And while it’s not everything, if the parent died they’d make sure some of their blood went in. While the parent would pass on some of the desire to protect would remain. And if the kid really believed it.” She finished her sewing and then a length of thread integrated with the bear turning it red before fading slowly. “It would protect that child in ways I can’t.” She chuckled. “Alessia will have a new bedtime story to tell Eva. And I’ll do what I can to reinforce it. But at least the lil kid will be safe. For the future my ego took from her. Queens are stupid and second to Presidents and Moms after all.” She said as she checked the bear over.

“What was that?”

“Teddy will need to learn. He’ll be returned at the end of the day.” Queenie said putting him before Anthony, though she was sloppy and the bear faced sideways to Anthony. Letting Teddy go Queenie stood up hands clasped behind her back. “But he will be overseeing your drills with me. Eva asked that I train him.”

“Y-yes?” Anthony said confused before looking at the bear, who was facing him now. “Ahh!”

“Relax. Teddy only hurts monsters who threatens kids. And I guess animals.” Queenie chuckled.

[dysfunctional-family-fight]

"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way"—Leo Tolstoy

Behold, our 64 dysfunctional families!

Round One will start Monday, July 24, with 8 polls released a day. Polls will go on for a week.

Matchups below the cut!

The Batfamily (DCU) VS the Entrati Family (Warframe)

2. The Roys (Succession) VS The Todoroki family (My Hero Academia)

3. The Asanos (Assassination Classroom) VS the Aether family (Pokémon Sun & Moon)

4. The Mikaelsons (The Vampire Diaries / The Originals) VS the Bluths (Arrested Development)

5. Fire Nation Royal Family (Avatar: The Last Airbender) VS the Okiura family (AI: the Somnium Files)

6. The Wang family (Everything Everywhere All at Once) VS The Entire Pantheon of Greek Gods (Greek Mythology)

7. Loustat Family (Interview With The Vampire) VS the Schnees (RWBY)

8. The Samtheon (Friends at the Table - Seasons of Hieron) VS the Shijimas (Kamen Rider Drive)

9. The House of Finwë (The Silmarillion) VS the Preaker/Crellins (Sharp Objects)

10. The Crowders (Justified FX) VS the Falsettos family (Falsettos)

11. The Homunculi (Fullmetal Alchemist) VS the Chrobin family (Fire Emblem Awakening)

12. The Horsemans (Bojack Horseman) VS DGP Staff Family (Kamen Rider Geats)

13. Big Mom Family (One Piece) VS the Buendía Family (One Hundred Years of Solitude)

14. John and his lyctors (The Locked Tomb) VS Familia Madrigal (Encanto)

15. Agreste/Graham de Vanily/Fathom family (Miraculous Ladybug) VS the Wattersons (The Amazing World of Gumball)

16. House Greyjoy (A Song Of Ice And Fire) VS the Ushiromiya family (Umineko When They Cry)

17. The Hargreeves (Umbrella Academy) VS the Gemstones (The Righteous Gemstones)

18. The Winchesters (Supernatural) VS House Davar (Stormlight Archive/Cosmere)

19. The Gravity Brothers (Bungou Stray Dogs) VS King Arthur's Family (Arthurian mythology)

20. The Reynolds + Charlie + Mac (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia) VS the Fowls (Artemis Fowl)

21. The Sohma Clan (Fruits Basket) VS Essun's family (The Broken Earth trilogy)

22. Clear Sky's family (Warrior Cats) VS the Strider-Lalondes (Homestuck)

23. Tachibana Sakuya + Kamijou Mutsuki (Kamen Rider Blade) VS the Minyards+Nicky (All For the Game/Foxhole Court)

24. The Mishima Clan (Tekken) VS the Donquixote family (One Piece)

25. The Fey family (Ace Attorney) VS the Klim family (Zero Escape)

26. Marika's Bloodline (Elden Ring) VS the Lehnsherr-Maximoff+ Family (Marvel)

27. The House of Atreus (Greek Mythology) VS the Lucis Caelum Family (Final Fantasy XV)

28. The Muniz family (Malcolm in the Middle) VS the Jiang family (Mo Dao Zu Shi)

29. The Gallaghers (Shameless) VS the Kirigaya-Yuki family (Sword Art Online Abridged)

30. The Hoovers (Little Miss Sunshine) VS the Afton family (Five Nights at Freddy's)

31 . The Puppingtons (Moral Orel) VS the Simpsons (The Simpsons)

32. The Whitleys (Prodigal Son) VS the Zoldycks (Hunter X Hunter)

[anachronisticmech]

‘It’ll be easier for you to recognise me / By the coils of concentina wire / Surrounding my head in a shiny halo / Of small, sharp blades’ /lyr

[ID: a digital drawing of three characters, Edward, Marius, and Bonnie, standing together with handwritten lyrics in running writing in the background. Marius is in the centre, Edward to the left of them, and Bonnie to the right. Marius holds a tired, fatigued, and hurt expression, Edward one of intrigue, and Bonnie a smile.

Marius is a tall, fat pale vampire with long, pink, greying, wavy hair. The side of her head is shaved, showing a craniotomy scar. They have a small amount of facial hair, large and dark eye bags, some beauty spots, a lot of chest hair, and bruises from bites on their cheek and chest. They have pointed ears that still resemble human ears, and fangs. They have another scar down their chest from a sternotomy. Rot wears semi circle glasses and has a port on rots chest. She wears a purple and green Edwardian era style dress, with a lot of layers and gold ribbon on the corset.

Edward is a shorter, thin, brown Indian vampire with short, curly brown hair that is greying. He has a beard and moustache, large eye bags, and a lot of beauty spots. They have pointed ears that resemble humans the least out of the three characters, and fangs. He wears small, circular glasses with a glasses chain, and has a prosthetic eye. He is looking at Marius, and holding a metal tray, which is dripping a small amount of blood. They wear a light purple undershirt, and blue vest.

Bonnie is a medium height, fat, dark skinned First Nations Australian vampire with long, wavy dark brown hair, which is greying. She has some stubble, lots of beauty spots, and large eye bags. Radi has pointed ears in between Marius and Edward’s, and fangs. Vivi wears large circular glasses, a hanging earring with the Aboriginal flag in a circle, and has a ng feeding tube going into her left nostril. She is looking at Marius, with a hand on rots stomach. She wears an orange shirt under a white lab coat, blue jeans, and blue latex gloves. END ID.]

[peterkothe]

Inktober 2023 Day 27- BLADE

Comics most famous vampire hunter, scourge of the vampire nation, the day walker himself: BLADE! Slicing up bloodsuckers and ghouls since 1973!

[roran01]

I'm bored and I can't find motivation to draw, have my headcanons for Romania instead, some of these are simping and cringe, enjoy:

(Also adding a image to be easier to find this post cause for some stupid reason tumblr only shows posts with images in my blog's search bar now, tags are useless)

♤♡◇☆

1) Three words for this guy: 🌟Tall, blonde and beautiful.🌟

2) He's a fashion genius or a fashion disaster depending on your view but he still got drip.

His color choices are black and red (like no shite), sometimes blue for the jeans and warm colors in general, white and grey from time to time.

3) I'd consider him quite mixed, with some ethnicities leaving a noticeable influence but latin conquers most of his bloodline nowadays.

The slavic tendencies come out whenever he gets drunk.

4) Folks see him as eccentric... they're right.

5) He's one of the few countries with particular traits that are uncommon to the rest of the nations and society in general.

I could say it's magic if I want to be basic about it, but I don't, so here's some of them:

His eyes can see supernaturals like spirits, fairies, ghosts and demons although they rarely make their existence know nowadays.

Technically since he's a vampire that would make him one as well. (Actually I'll make a post about this)

He can communicate with the animals and understand them but won't act on it to not look crazy. So he doesn't visit the zoo too often.

He's interested in dark magic so you can say he vibes with the dark side too. In addition he's way too casual about the creepy factor of some things.

He can poses fire because I said so.

6) Besides the quirks about paranormal, he's charming, both in looks and personality as well until you get to know him better, then he gets a little silly that could mean anything.

The only canon thing I adopted from him is that he's mischievous, but I could make him worse :3

7) He's good with kids, he'd be one of those cool parents if he had any. (I could make parent headcanons)

8) He likes traditional food the best, anything with meat and potatoes but to be frank no one can resist pizza from time to time. He doesn't eat too salty, makes him thirsty easily.

He like savarine as a sweet and usually buys them, but if he wants home made he would chose lemon cake (snow white).

To be honest he eats a lot but at least he keeps himself in shape.

"What do you mean this bread has sugar in it??" He doesn't like american bread.

9) And he definitely is lean build, someone who survived 2 empires and russia isn't gonna be skinny af just because he doesn't show it.

My vision says his body beats the twink allegations, his face not so much... he's a twunk.

10) Speaking of, I like to think he does gymnastics and extreme sports for the thrill.

11) His imagination is wild so if he'd have a modern job it should be something that expands on it.

Like a writer for books or movies. He can cook well too (and mix all kinds of potions) so maybe a chef at a restaurant, Fashion artist, Modeling... I go for the writer though.

12) He has some scars on his body, most are small and unnoticeable but he's too self conscious about them so he's not wearing a lot of revealing clothes, at least he doesn't sweat much during summer.

Two noticeable scars are on his shoulder blades and one besides the left lilac region to lumbar.

The ones on his back I like to think of them as a metaphor for broken wings. The one below his abdomen happened due to his separation from Moldova.

13) Cat person, cat behavior and cat lover. He has at least 2 cats in his house and a little bat because why not?

One of the cats is a lynx because that's his national animal, but also because it's like having dog size cat, a big pile of fluff to snuggle on rainy day, a purring machine against your head and belly (I'm projecting a lot I know)

14) His relationship with his slavic neighbors, mainly balkans, is very capybara coded. He's just chilling around and none of them has any business with him nowadays. He's considered part of the family despite Romania being latin. He may feel more accepted by them than his family from west sometimes.

15) His relationship with his blood relative is kinda mixed and they don't communicate often, assumingly because of his status but proly because of the land distance as well.

He used to look up to them and hoped to be accepted and recognized as a romance country in the past. One out of two happened, he's content enough with that.

16) He drinks a fuck ton of red wine.

17) His fangs are the only teeth that can still fall and regrow, he's able to move and retract them.

18) The pupils in his eyes are vertical stilts that expand and contract, the thinner they get the more blurry everything besides the focus point becomes. Sometimes he wears glasses for that.

Funny thing about his pupils is that they can expand so much it cover the whole Iris. His eyes can also glow in the dark sometimes.

19) In human age he's 23.

20) He loves parks, a lot.

21) Keeps his house clean except his kitchen, until he has guests over. If uninvited you're not allowed in the kitchen.

22) Sleep schedule worse than you've seen in college. Get him to bed or he gets grumpy af.

23) Coffee addict because of that.

24) He doesn't like cold, but there's melancholic beauty in the landscape whenever it's night time and only the tree lights give an ounce of warmth during winter. It's a bittersweet sensation he can't describe properly, it's the same during rainy days or stormy nights. He likes it despite the ache feeling it gives.

25) Sunny days are enjoyable for many of his activities but he's usually more active during the night, which is unfortunate because he ends up sleeping too much during daytime and feeling awful for "wasting time" in bed.

26) His eye color switches from black to red sometimes.

27) Sexually speaking, he's definitely swinging both ways and sideways.

28) If he'd be a yōkai then it's Kitsune (nine tails fox) fits him the most. Also because I like to think he'd have a double pair of fangs from it.

29) I main ship him with: Bulgaria and Norway. Side ships: Greece and Hungary. Crack ships: Prussia, Japan, Belarus. Platonical: Egypt cause I like their aesthetics together.

30) But talking about how compatible he is with other characters. I'd say based on canon he is with Bulgaria. Based on history he'll be with Serbia (dude barely exists). Based on his zodiac sign he's with Hungary (the irony). Based on his mbti he's with either Norway or Japan.

31) Speaking of zodiac signs, he's a Sagittarius. (Although it's hard to identify precisely the "birthday" of countries, so I just go with their national days and his is on Dec 1) if you're into astrology a lot then he also has his moon in scorpio.

32) He is inclined to be overprotective for his close ones ever since he lost Moldova to Russia. He does it automatically without knowing until someone points it out.

♤♡◇♧☆

This may get updated from time to time

[theresattrpgforthat]

THEME: Crime

This week’s recommendations have to do with committing crimes. In the words of Brennan Lee Mulligan, Laws are threats made by the dominant socio-economic ethnic group in a given nation, and police are basically just an occupying army. So go forth and commit crimes, fraud, and misdemeanours!

Crimewave, by Sivad’s Sanctum.

“I ain’t afraid of cops. I was brought up to spit whenever I saw one.”

CRIMEWAVE is a one-page hack of Tunnel Goons by Nate Treme and was submitted to the One-Page RPG Jam 2022. 

If you want movie tropes of old-time mobsters with shootouts in alleyways and gut-punching action, this is a one-page game with more than enough pieces of your character to keep track of. True to Noir tropes, you’ll have a chance to trigger flashbacks to visit relevant moments of your character’s backstory, and the skills list expands well outside of combat, to include lock picking, disguise, forgery and more. 

Corvid Court, by Gila Rpgs.

You are Birds, members of the Corvid Court. Many in the city of Nest would call you a cult, full of killers, liars, and thieves. That doesn’t stop them from paying your fee to get work done. The Court has blessed you with power, and it is up to you to take flight with it. Soar high, don’t crash. 

Corvid Court is a tabletop roleplaying game about bad people doing bad things. There’s no way around it, you’re the baddies here. But the city of Nest is filled with lots of vile people, so “bad” is relative. Sometimes, bad people do good things. Sometimes. 

This game uses a modified version of the Resistance system, designed by Rowan, Rook & Decard. Players roll d6s, and take the highest number. A dice roll of 4 or higher is success, but you will receive consequences unless you roll a 6. When you meet consequences, you fill up consequence tracks, which spill over into Fallout should you suffer more than you can handle. There are Skills and Domains that are determined based off of your character class, and abilities you can gain as your character progresses. A campaign usually lasts about 5 sessions.

I love the art for this book, as well as the fact that you can choose to play birds, people, or something in between. If you want a mafia-style game where the goals of your characters are written out for you but the world itself is up to your interpretation, I recommend Corvid Court.

The Spider and the City, by Thomas Manuel. 

You are a criminal mastermind. You are the spider lurking in the shadows. In a city that was held in the vice grip of Celestial Law, you have never followed a rule that you didn’t write.

You are your own master - a leader of a hard-bitten crew, holding court in the seedy underworld that thrives below your city’s paper- thin facade of order and normality. The rich don’t believe you exist. The poor know you all too well - your justice is often the only one they can access.

You thought you understood how the world works. But if your city can be reborn, what about you?

The Spider and the City combines high stakes resource management and prompt-based journaling. You allocate resources to missions, trying to giving yourself the edge to help you succeed. Using mechanics inspired by Blades in the Dark, you build the strongest dice pool you can ... and then let the gods decide how the bones fall. Like in indie hit Thousand Year Old Vampire, you respond to the prompts that the game throws at you, telling the lonely story of a criminal mastermind in a rebel city. Your decisions might not change history but they matter - and you're in charge of how much. When the game ends, take the journal you've written and read it as a historian and write the "real" story of your tragic character.

Good luck! Let your heart not break on these tumultuous shores.

This is an excellent mafia game for the solo-role player. As a resource management game, you’ll have to make decisions about what you need and who you want to support, with every action leading to consequences that you’ll discover as you play. The game is set in a city on the brink of change, and you’ll get a chance to experience how one person with very specific forms of power can influence those changes. 

A Family of Blades, by A.C. Luke.

A Family of Blades is a tabletop roleplaying game about a team of criminals who became a family, broke up, and have now been thrust back together for one last job.

Powered by the Forged in the Dark engine, A Family of Blades has been written with an emphasis on fast-paced one-shots and episodic gameplay. Inside you'll find all the rules you need to play games inspired by the likes of Leverage, Burn Notice, Ocean's Eleven, and the Fast & Furious movies.

Forged in the Dark games and heist games were made for each-other. Two mechanics that really make this game system sing are clocks and flashbacks. You can mark clocks to simulate how much time your characters have before the guard walks into the room, the alarm goes off, the bank opens, and other such obstacles that will make your job that much harder.

Flashbacks are tools that players can pick up when they want to set up why they are prepared for a very specific obstacle that the GM has put in their way - perhaps the Brains didn’t just hack into this security system - they also hacked into the cellphones of the vault guard to make sure he took a call at exactly the wrong moment, or perhaps the Muscle spent a very specific move in order to make sure she could hit a pressure point just right. If cinema-like scenes and fast-paced action are your niche, this is the game for you.

Squeakeasy, by Caro Asercion.

It’s the roaring twenties, and times are tough here in New York City. This town is no place for you, they say: it's teeming with dogs, cats, all sorts who would see you dead where you stand—if they could catch you.

You and your crew, you know it’s hard out there. So you do what little you can to make life a bit easier for the average rat off the street looking to escape their sorrows for a night. And you do it in the only way you know how:

By running an EXTREMELY ILLEGAL UNDERGROUND BAR FOR RODENTS.

A Forged in the Dark hack about contrabandist mice. Created for the Felonious Fauna 2019 game jam. Uses a handful of six-sided dice. For three to five players or so.

A hilarious pun and a fun concept, made by a designer who knows how to make compelling and beautiful games. I’ve been intrigued by this game ever since I found it, and I’d love to see it in play. I’ve already waxed poetic about Forged in the Dark games before - safe to say I’m excited about this game for all the same reasons.

Games I’ve recommended in the past

Jellyfish Felonies, by Penguin King Games.

Blades in the Dark, by John Harper.

Neon Black, by Not Writing.

When the Guilds Pay In Copper, Crime Pays in Gold, by Andrew J. Young.

High Magic Low-Lives, by Gem Room Games.