#brounie

[rex-florum]

Dobby for my Harry potter Rewrite idea...

[slanax]

just heard the phrase "I don't know if I'm cooking or if I'm speedrunning a greasefire" and I'm gonna start using that bc if that doesn't sum up my process of creating FE builds or EO parties-

[powdermelonkeg]

Worldbuilding

Made a new fantasy world in my spare time today, populated it with fantasy races.

Premise of the story: An elf chef who runs the best restaurant in the area gets his ingredients by diving into the local dungeon. His restaurant is the best not only because of his fantastic cooking skills and quality ingredients, but also because he can serve anybody that comes through his doors; each of the races has different dietary needs and finds different things poisonous, and he can cook for anyone.

One day, he's in the dungeon, and he falls down into a lower level nobody's been to in AGES. Thing is, though, there's a human living there, a biologist who's been studying the dungeon ecology for centuries, and the last human alive—all others were wiped out centuries ago due to a plague, and she's only alive because she's been living in the dungeon.

Main story arc is this guy trying to figure out not just what she can eat, but what she'd LIKE to eat, without killing her in the process.

Yes this is inspired by Dunmeshi. What of it.

Races are:

Humans (extinct)

Elves

Faunlings

Halflings

Orcs

Dwarves

Brounies

Gnomes

Elves

A camouflage species, their colors depend on the environment they're in. A snow elf would be pale white, a wood elf shades of green and brown, a dark elf (as in, lives underground) stone gray with jet black hair, and so on. Knife-point ears. Average height: 5'8"

Diet: Vegetarian, can't process meat at all, regardless of source.

Faunlings

Deer-like people, ranging visually from elves with horns to satyr-like. They're all one species, despite individual variation.

Diet: Opportunistic carnivores, they CAN eat meat, but mostly eat plants; can't process milk or most sugars past infancy. Average height: 4'10"

Halflings

NOT hobbits. They're small people, deathly pale and young-looking in their base form, with nub horns on their heads. Their appearance changes depending on who they live nearest, from their build to their coloration—a halfling living near wood elves might get taller and coppery with pointed ears, while a halfling near faunlings might have furrier legs, dappled shoulders, and longer horns, etc. Average height: varies wildly

Diet: Obligate ovivores, eat almost exclusively eggs when young and need lots of protein. Depending on who they live near, they'll eventually adapt to local cuisine and build up poison tolerance, but forcing that adaptation to go too quickly can send them into shock.

Orcs

Cat eyes and feline fangs, big and muscular. Like elves, they camouflage based on location, but they tend to be more colorful overall. Average height: 6'10"

Diet: Heavily meat-based diet, they eat most meat raw. Highly lactose intolerant, may occasionally eat plants, but can't process grains.

Dwarves

Short and stocky. Dark blueberry purple-blue by default, will temporarily turn pale on parts of their bodies that are exposed to light for a few hours. Sunlight sends them into temporary hibernation and petrification, making them statue-like. On cloudy days, they're lethargic, and on moonlit nights, their skin gets a little harder, with white patches depending on the strength of the moonlight. Average height: 3'9"

Diet: They have a tolerance for poisons that most races would die over, but they can't stand most acids. Citric acid in particular is poisonous to them. Cavern-based diet.

Brounies

THESE are the hobbits. Short and humanlike, with long, fur-tipped tails. Usually monochrome in color scheme, leaf-point ears. Average height: 3'2"

Diet: Can't process plant fibers properly, all plant matter must be cooked to break it down. Mostly raw pescatarian.

Gnomes

Even smaller than brounies, humanlike, with round-edged pointed ears and generally plump bodies. Average height: 2'4"

Diet: Vegan, with HIGH poison tolerance, they actually need some poisons to live. Mushrooms and fruit make up much more of their diet than leaves do.

[summertrianglee]

[Image ID:

yo what's her number hahah eeyow! [fuckboy lipbite]: nightseeker 4, dragoon 2, arbalist 4, alchemist with short brown hair and glasses, hexer with short brown hair, necromancer 1

peak character design: medic 5, war magus 2, war magus 5, sovereign 2, sovereign 3, sovereign 4, buccaneer 1, buccaneer 3, medic (eo4) 1, both wanderers, fencer 2, pugilist 4, rover 4, vampire 1, gunner 5, survivalist 5, dark hunter 3, sovereign 5, farmer 4

gas: ronin 5, dark hunter (blonde with red whip), medic 2 (mediko), medic masc redhead, highlander 1 and 2, gladiator 4, gladiator 5, twintailed hoplite, ninja 5, old man monk, farmer 5, shogun 5, nightseeker w the middle part, runemaster 4, fencer 3 (blue hair), dragoon 4, harbinger 3, harbinger 4, necromancer 3, fencer 4

its cute!!! or cool!!!: the blonde survivalists, protector 4, dark hunter 1, medic the masc one with glasses, blonde medic, blonde alchemist (masc), troubadour with orange hair, ronin 1 2 and 4, war magus 2, war magus 3, beast 5 (gorilla), hoplite 1, ninja 2, monk 1, monk 4, zodiac 2, zodiac 3, zodiac 5, arbalist 5, farmer 3, shogun 2, landsknecht (eo4) 3, fortress 2, medic (eo4) 3, the girl arcanists, bushi 1, bushi 4, imperial 3, imperial 4, celestrian race portrait 1 (masc), dragoon 3, pugilists 1 2 and 3, harbinger 1 and 2, warlock 2, rover 1, all masuraos, shaman 3 and 4, botanist 1, hero 1 and 2, beast 3 and 4

it's literally fine: landsknechts 1 3 and 2, survivalist (the masc one who isn't blond), protector 1 2 and 3, black hair alchemist, blonde alchemist (fem), white hair troubadour, both male hexers, jack frost gunner, beast 1 and 2, sniper with short brown hair, landsknecht (red hair), hoplite with the bob, buccaneer 2, ninja 1, ninja 4, monk 5, farmer 1, farmer 2, shogun 1 3 and 4, landsknecht (eo4) 1 2 and 4, fortress 1 and 4, sniper 2, both fem eo4 medics, runemaster 2, bushi 2, imperials 1 and 2, earthlain race portraits, fem celestrian race portrait, brouni race portraits, fencer 1, dragoon 1, warlock 4, rover 2, botanists 2 3 and 4, 2 portraits from mystery dungeon 2 that i dont know

he's onto something, but... but...: gladiator 2, hoplite 5, buccaneer 5, yggdroid 4, dark hunter 5

i dont dislike it but i have Problems with it: war magus 4, zodiac 4, wildlings 1 4 and 3, arbalist 1, yggdroids 1 2 3 and 5, dancer 4, troubadour 5, dancers 1 and 3, bushi 3, vampire 2, arbalist 2

my guilt has a strict "no uggos" policy.: landsknecht 5, troubadour 4, protector 5, ronin 3, gunner 4, gunner (black coat), both masc gladiators, hoplit 3, ninja 3, zodiac 1, arbalist 3, nightseeker with fluffy hair, fortress 3, both masc snipers, sniper 4, both masc runemasters, gunner (green coat), both masc arcanists, both therian race portraits, both masc warlocks, necromancer 4, rover 3, shamans 2 and 1

JAILLLLLL: dark hunter 2 (fem w pink hair), alchemist 5, troubadour 2, hexers 2 and 5, sovereign 1, buccaneer 4, monk 2, wildling 2, wildling 5, nightseeker 2, dancer 2, necromancer 2, heroes 3 and 4

hi story character: flavio, raquna, bertrand, simon, arthur, frederica, chloe, highlander, fafnir knight, arianna

/.End ID]

my large evil tierlist go

notes about bias:

i havent played 1 classic at all, i have played a bit of eo2 classic

i havent played either mystery dungeon

i have played through eo3 multiple times (my favorite), eo4 once, eo5 almost done

no thought given to alt colors unless i remembered them. most of these portraits im really only looking at fully while making this tierlist. Feel free to change my mind with good alt colors

just because i dont like some of these doesnt mean i dont like it when other people use it. it's okay when it's your ocs i just wouldnt use the portrait myself

notes about my rankings:

yggdroids are my favorite class bc fuck yes robots, but i wish their designs were better.

dark hunter 5 is so cute, despite the ranking i would play her

most of the problems tier is that yk the designs play into weird stereotypes (wildling and dancer/troubadour) but the first 2 i just dont like blondes, and the bushi just made me laugh the anime boy cut is too funny...

the tiers are unordered. my all time favorite class portrait EVER is [drumroll please...] arbalist 4 alt color.

[ragnar0c]

Now that I have an sd card I also can finally export my eo5 guild card (❁´◡`❁)

Cleared the game last year, but using this an excuse to talk about them moreeeeee.

EOV guild Ragnarok is on mars so, they have no afilliation with the connected eo 2-3-4-EMD-X Ragnarok lore.

Elma- (Precocious voice) Snarky middle aged brouni. Merciful Healer.

Botanist who inherited her mom's flower shop and the debts that came along with it. Desperately trying to keep the shop afloat... Thankfully for Elma a noble, Lyra, becomes fond of visiting and buying flowers.

Lyra finds out Elma's plight, and offers her an invitation to her guild. Claiming that if Elma escorts her to the top of Yggdrasil, her kingdom will pay her handsomely.

Lyra- (Knightly voice) Passionate, and nice, not necessarily kind. Puts on a regal facade, but she's genuinely very lonely. Chain duelist, Called Astral Fencer. (Or something like that)

Okay so. Lyra is. Actually a liar. She frequented Elma's shop to recruit her ... She is not a noble, but WILL BE ONE once she reaches the top of Yggdrasil. Rumor has it any wish comes true atop it. Nothing will stop her from wishing she is a noble. Her bit is that she has to keep this a secret from Elma.

Plover- (Tomboyish voice) Lyra's hired hands. used to do street fights, a gladiator/ pugilist. Used to be a barrage brawler, is an impact brawler now. She's a little silly, but also still shares a brain cell with Elma. She is the common sense when Elma is tooo much of a hater.

Only in it for the money. Knows Lyra is lying but kinda loves how crazy she is for doing it. Would punt Elma into the sun... Might wanna kiss Lyra and that's why she's okay with her being dishonest.

Mysen- (Gentle) A Therian shaman (Divine Herald) with a special clairvoyance charm. The innocence to the Guild's sarcasm and lies. He's just my son. Hence his name.... He's probably 15...

Last two used to rival Ragnarok. A separate guild called guild legend. Joins the guild at the very end.

Javelin- (Collected) Brooding Masurao.... Blade master. Guy who spends the whole damn game rivaling Ragnarok just to realize he needs to get a new personality and join them in the 5th stratum.

Used to be in a rival guild, Guild Legend, with his wife. Anyway, his wife died and he hired a necromancer to travel with him to the top of yggdrasil hoping to use its power to ressurect her. Attempts to kill Ragnarok so no one gets in his way... he misses his wife.

Renge- (Calm) The necromancer, spirit broker, Javelin hired. Calm, cool, and even more sarcastic somehow. But unlike Javelin, he humors Ragnarok despite being their rival.

He tries to stop Javelin from hurting them... But never actually able to. He has feelings for Javelin and they cloud his own judgement. Starts Helping Ragnarok late 3rd stratum.

[acradaunt]

Acra's EO Guild Card Megapost

Guild Cards are a neat thing in the most of the Etrian Odyssey games. Sometimes, they're pretty pointless, but in some, they actually do some neat stuff. I… have a tendency to do multiple playthroughs, to try different team compositions (as seeing how different a game can feel based on your builds is one of my favourite things ever, and I also like abandon them before the big fights, on the hypothetical urge I want to re-fight a boss at an appropriate level an infinite number of times), so I've amassed a fair few of my own.

Why am I uploading these now? Apparently the Nexus database got borked a couple days ago, so this is the perfect time for me to get a few feet in the door. I also swear this is the last time I'll ever post about these, seriously.

EO Nexus -A total of 100 Guild Cards are needed to unlock the Vampire pseudo-class. Obviously, 100 is a lot, so they obviously expected the community, paltry it may be, to come together to make a database. And they did. And then they locked it the second they got 108. And then it died. So now I finally get a second chance to contribute.

Galeforce

-My first (main) playthrough. I actually uploaded a card weekly to help out, but I think only the first one made it on in time. It's not Heroic because it's like a NG+++++ file. This is the final card, but for the weekly set of them, um, here:

Week 0 || Week 1 || Week 2 || Week 3 || Week 4 || Week 5 || Week 6 || Week 7

Stardust

-Filled with all my C-listers that couldn't fit into Galeforce. I ran them as two separate teams; the Boss Killers (shown here), who fought the FOEs/Bosses, and Team Midriff, who did all the exploration.

Sunstorm

-A Guild consisting of classes I mostly avoid using, and portraits I hadn't (as of its conception) used before. As always, there's like another three members that get used that aren't here, including a Survivalist, Nightseeker, and an Arcanist.

Maelstrom

-An attempt at a Nuzlocke-esque run, and also an 'evil' party. Characters stopped being used if they died, but only until the end of the stratum, to not make it overbearing. Being an evil party lacking in support and healing, this was an absolute slog that I considered a total failure by the Jungle.

Brilliant

-An idea for a mage-guild that kinda went askew. Starting as a Sovereign, three Zodiacs, and a Farmer, I ultimately turned this into three single-element teams; Each consisting of a unique Sovereign, a unique Zodiac, two other characters that get earlygame elemental skills (Survivalist's Flame Arrow, Landsknecht, etc.), but the same Farmer (Hazel) across all three. Didn't take it all that far, but worked kinda well!

EOV -Definitely where Guild Cards are seen the most. About 2-4 times every floor, there'll be an event that'll use you GC database to have another guild interact with you in the labyrinth. If you have none, you'll be introduced to memelord Conrad of the Freeblade Guild about 110 times in your course of a playthrough. In stark contrast, Nexus only has GC events maybe a dozen times across the whole game.

Starlight

-Main guild. Not a lot to say. It's a Chain-oriented party, because I love Fencers/Landsknechts.

Bundt

-Cake pun. See, bundt is a type of cake, and the guild is filled with Brouni. As in Brownies, the fairy/pixie/sprite, but I'm punning off the--- ANYWAY. Horrific offense, but don't die easily. Kinda miserable against a few specific enemies like the coffin jerks on 15F, but otherwise worked astonishingly better than you'd expect. Which is; not GOOD, but totally serviceable.

Necrocosm

-My original 'evil' guild, featuring two Necromancers, and edge as far as the eye can see. Two Necros work pretty well together; typically Velvet summoned them and Rue made them explode. The fact Necros heal and have evil vibes let them succeed where Maelstrom would totally fail. I also didn't bench anyone for dying, so that probably helped too.

Firebird

-This playthrough is only saved at Amalgolem and took like a single weekend to get there, so I didn't remember squat about it. Amalgolem is like my single fave boss in the whole series, so I just had to leave a file there. It's heavily skewed towards non-humans, and the bottom deck of the guild is just full of nigh-on unusable cross-classed horrors, like a Celestrian Pugilist and Therian Warlock.

EO2U -Probably where Guild Cards are the most functionally useful. Lets you get the Grimoire Stones the attached character has on hand as many times as you can afford. Pretty nifty, as Grimoires are semi-random in spawning.

Skyquake

-So I didn't actually buy EO2U when it came out for a variety of factors, not least being unaware how different it was from the original EOII, my first EO game. So I've only started this and Untold I fairly recently.

Ironroot

-Holy Gift gives you extra experience, but each level costs twice as much to trade as the previous. That is, you need two level 3 Grimoires to get a level 4. Or 128 level 3s for a single level 10. So having a Guild Card with lowish level Holy Gift is actually pretty dang useful to have.

Untold

-Story Guild. Haven't… uh, haven't exactly been Motivated to do Story mode in Untold 2. On paper, I really dislike the team composition. In practice, hasn't been so bad, but still not enough to make me play them more than necessary.

Fellbloom

-Now legally required Evil Guild. Probably won't ever get past Chimaera.

EOU -Unlike the sequel, Guild Cards don't let you choose what to get from the friend's Guild Card. You just get given a random Grimoire Stone once per playthrough per Guild Card. Kinda lame.

Untold -Unlike later games, only one save file here, and the game nigh-on requires you to play through the Story Mode before doing Classic in NG+, so, that's where we sit.

EOIV -First game to use QR codes. III had Guild Cards, but I don't know how you'd trade them. They do serve a purpose here; each Card gets given a random treasure, and having a Card lets you find that treasure in the overworld. Most are crap, but some are circumstantially useful, and some are permanent stat-boosts, IIRC. I don't think mine was very good…?

Zephyr

-Uh, EOIV had a glitch where your Ventured Days would go up dramatically every time you paused. I think it comes into affect if you ever do NG+. So I haven't actually played for 48 in-game years. Truth be told, now knowing of a way to back up save files, I am admittedly tempted to make a new EOIV playthrough, since it's been like a decade, but for my own sanity, I really probably shouldn't.

[maltessa]

I was bored waiting for a meeting to start at work so I made a list of the Etrian Odyssey towns rated by how much I'd enjoy living there.

EO1 (Etria)

Pros:

+ Small town feel

+ Probably has good maple syrup

+ Temperate climate

Cons:

-Tourist Town.

-Leadership are clowns

-Kind of boring

Rating: 5/10

EO2 (High Lagaard)

Pros:

+Cool summers

+Best food in the world

+Most fun to talk to bartender around

+Great views

Cons:

-Blisteringly cold winters

-I hope you like stairs

-I hope erosion isn't a problem.

Rating: 9/10

EO3 (Armoroad)

Pros:

+Tropical Climate

+People are really friendly

+Fun if you like sailing

+That bartender 👀

Cons:

-Probably rains a lot

-Pretty isolated from the rest of the world

-Napier price gouging you

Rating: 8/10

EO4 (Tharsis)

Pros:

+Travel Hub

+Sunny all year round

+Could hang out at the blacksmith

Cons:

-I forget the other townspeople

-Jesus christ it's probably so hot there

-I hope you like stairs again

-Fantasy australia pest problems and giant kangaroos

Rating: 6/10

EO5 (Iorys)

Pros:

+Cultural melting pot

+Every townsperson is really cool

+Bunny inkeeper

?Home of the saxophone

Cons:

?Home of the saxophone

-Location is kinda mid

-You have to avoid stepping on Brounies

Rating: 7/10

EON (Magnia)

Pros:

+Cultural melting pot

+You get to see the world

+Gorgeous views

Cons:

-Bartender is a massive creep

-Have to buy an airship ticket any time you want to leave probably

-Napier is price gouging here too...

Rating: 7/10

[definitelyimportantpost]

Anyways, the team has at last reached Lv5. Now, I can share with you second reason why I did this:

Denica finally gets Hunter Shot, which is basically her best skill until gaining access to Legendary Titles. Though, the main event is actually Berry acquiring Animal Care.

Earlier on, a guard near the entrance requested for us to find his lost chickens. Now that we have Animal Care, we can get thst done.

Additionally, if you're especially sharp, you may remember that Eleanor is a Brouni, and as such has had the ability to learn Animal Care since lv1.

While neither Eleanor or Berry are particularly pressed for skill points (nor will they really ever be) I gave the point in Animal Care to Berry simply because, between her and Eleanor, she'll be slightly less in need of SP over the course of the first two strata. Thus, she has slightly more to throw into Passives (like Animal Care, for instance!), Union Skills, and the like.

[chromaji]

i’ve been thinking about how I’d go about writing an EO5 fic ever since the poll I held where eo5 won, and yeah the more I think about it, the more fun writing an EO5 fic sounds…

…but i’d be diverting from canon a fair amt. Biggest change being that (most of) the labyrinths would be scattered around the world instead of all being in Yggdrasil. EO4 & EMD style.

In EO5 there’s a lot of potential in exploring the world of Arcania that doesnt get realized due to everything being centered in Iorys. Of all EO games for the devs to go “back to basics” on, in terms of just having the labyrinth & nothing else, EO5 just feels like a weird one to do that with.

Anyway in this idea, Iorys would still be the home base, and Yggdrasil would still be there, but it’d be sealed off with magic or smth you know. Iorys would be like Tharsis, where they issue skyships to explorers to help navigate Arcania easier.

Tutelary Forest would be close to Iorys & has its same role as testing grounds, Jagged Reach would be in the Therian’s mountain region in the world map, Fetid Necropolis would be near the Celestrians, & Lucent Hollows would be around where the Brouni are. And, I could also consider having smaller mazes in addition to those.

Each area would have their own, smaller hub towns too (like Sidonia’s Tower of Sorcery). If we were thinking in terms of an actual game, they’d function like the EO3’s Deep City. But again, Iorys would be the main city for our adventurers.

And lastly, story-wise I wouldn’t be diverting so much as I’d be… adding. And expanding on what’s there. eo5 im sorry your story ended up like that you didnt deserve that

[sweetmorningdew]

I feel like talking about brownies!

These pint-sized house fairies have woven their way into the fabric of Celtic mythology, leaving behind a trail of delightful stories and enchanting traditions.

The origins of brownies can be traced back to ancient Scotland, where they were believed to be helpful spirits dwelling in homes and farms. The name "brownie" is thought to have derived from the Old English word "brounie," meaning "small or dusky brown creature." In appearance, brownies are often depicted as small, humanoid beings with wrinkled faces, adorned in earth-toned clothing.

Legend has it that brownies possess a mysterious and beguiling power - the ability to complete household chores under the cloak of darkness. While humans slumbered, these mischievous creatures would tidy up, mend clothing, and even assist with baking. However, there was a catch: brownies despised being watched or rewarded for their work. If caught, they would vanish forever, leaving behind only a faint whisper of their magical presence.

One beloved tale recounts the story of a weary farmer who found himself struggling to keep up with his never-ending tasks. Late one night, he decided to place a small bowl of cream and a handful of oats by the hearth, hoping to entice the fabled brownies of the land. To his astonishment, the next morning, his chores were completed, and a faint voice echoed through the air, saying, "Wee folk are pleased, so reward we shall not take."

Brownies were not just known for their helpful nature; they were also protectors of households and guardians of children. Stories are told of brownies who would watch over sleeping babes, ensuring they were safe from harm. Mothers would leave out gifts of milk or honey as tokens of gratitude, entrusting their little ones to the care of these mystical creatures.

Interestingly, the concept of house fairies similar to brownies can be found in various cultures across the world. The Scottish brownie shares similarities with the English hobgoblin, the German kobold, and the Scandinavian tomte. It seems that the importance of these tiny, benevolent spirits transcends borders and connects humanity through a shared fascination with the magical and the unseen.

While today, the belief in brownies may have become less prominent, their presence lingers in our hearts and minds. They remind us to appreciate the small joys in life, to find the beauty in ordinary things, and to cherish the magic that can be found within our own homes.

So, the next time you find a mysteriously folded shirt or a sparklingly clean kitchen counter, remember to thank the invisible helpers who might just be the delightful brownies, dancing through the night and bringing a touch of whimsy to your cozy abode.

Sources: - Briggs, Katharine. "An Encyclopedia of Fairies". Pantheon Books, 1976. - Campbell, John Gregorson. "Superstitions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland". James MacLehose and Sons, 1900. - McNeill, F. Marian. "The Silver Bough - Volume 4: A Calendar of Scottish National Festivals, Halloween to Yule". Stuart Titles Limited, 1995.

[solidandsound]

Etrian Odyssey V: Notes on a Journey

THE FORMING OF A GUILD

(For visuals on the guild members, see this Twitter thread.)

Alphonse, Earthlain Fencer

Alphonse is named for Alphonse Mucha, painter of ‘Language of Flowers’.

Alphonse has been fascinated by Yggdrasil since he was a child, growing up in Iorys, under its shadow. He has always loved plants, and Yggdrasil is the most mysterious plant of all. In his teenage efforts to learn more about the tree, he made multiple attempts to approach it, each time being caught by the city guards. When it was announced that they were opening up Yggdrasil, Alphonse took to sword training with surprising diligence in order to be allowed to enter as an explorer. However, his impatience won out, and he set out for Yggdrasil without having mastered his skills.

Rachel, Earthlain Dragoon

Rachel is named for Rachel Ruysch, painter of numerous flower still lifes.

Rachel and Alphonse have known each other since they were children, both having lived in Iorys their whole lives. Rachel has alternatively considered Alphonse a begrudging friend and a vexatious nuisance. Their parents are friends, so they were often forced to spend time together. As the older one by one year, Rachel was responsible for keeping him out of trouble. Her no-nonsense attitude often did not mesh well with his imaginative whimsy.

Rachel was quick to decide on a career as a city guard. She is not yet quite old enough to be hired, but sees adventuring as a way to prove herself. Plus, she would feel guilty if she allowed Alphonse to enter the labyrinth alone and he ended up dead.

Alphonse recruited Rachel, knowing that she was capable, and not knowing who else to ask. Alphonse chose Floralis as the name of the guild, out of his love for flowers. The pair planned to proceed by themselves, but happened to arrive at the Explorers Guild for registration at the same time as three other would-be adventurers.

Hiroshige, Therian Masurao

Hiroshige is named for Utagawa Hiroshige, ukiyo-e artist of ‘Plum Estate, Kameido’ and other nature scenes.

Hiroshige, or Hiro for short, fully believes in his own strength. This is why he he planned to tackle the labyrinth alone, and became enraged when Egar would not allow him to register. He grumpily accepted his fate and joined Guild Floralis at Egar’s suggestion. He comes from a mountain village, but why he left for Yggdrasil is a mystery. On his off time, he can be seen practicing wielding multiple swords at once, but otherwise he only carries one.

Alex, Celestrian Warlock

Alex is named for Alex Katz, painter of numerous flower paintings.

Alex is younger than he looks or, generally, acts. A prodigy with even greater magical prowess than most Celestrians, he tries to put on an air of maturity. This facade, combined with his genuine skills, has propelled him into a position where he is allowed to venture to Yggdrasil by himself. It is not unusual for a Celestrian to go on a journey to improve their skills and knowledge, but what Alex truly wanted was independence; he does not take the journey itself too seriously. He was ready to shrug and move on when told it would be unwise to enter the labyrinth alone, but when introduced to Alphonse and the others, he kept up his act and agreed to join them... for now.

Judith, Brouni Shaman

Judith is named for Judith Leyster, painter of ‘Flowers in a Vase’ and a book of tulip illustrations.

Judith is a Brouni historian and anthropologist. She came to Yggdrasil to learn more about Arcania’s history, which she believes deeply involves Yggdrasil. She’s a bit scatterbrained, but gains intense focus when something that interests her is brought up. Her family watches livestock, so she also has experience with animals. She was offended to learn that Egar would not allow her to enter the dungeon alone. It didn’t matter to him that she didn’t want to fight, that she only wanted to do her research. He insisted that she be able to protect herself, and suggested that she tag along with a capable group. She waited until she saw an opportunity and asked to join the newly formed Guild Floralis.

FIRST STRATUM: Tutelary Forest

Hiro complains loudly as the guild ventures out for the first time. He does not need to be escorted, he assures them. However, when he is injured after their very first battle, he comes to terms with the fact that he would have died if he were alone. He does not admit this to anyone, opting instead to shut up.

Alex is tempted to abandon the guild and go do something else, something that requires less work. These thoughts leave him, however, when his ability to detect mana comes in handy multiple times. As he deciphers messages obscured by magic, Alphonse and Judith praise him for his talents, and he becomes flushed with pride. Placated by compliments, he quickly forgets that he ever intended to leave.

The Tutelary Forest is an area flush with greenery, and Alphonse is ecstatic. His knowledge, too, comes in handy, as he identifies edible plants and catches fish for the group. He is wowed by the great roots that surround them. For Alphonse, this stratum is paradise.

As Floralis ventures further into the labyrinth, Prince Ramus fills the group in on some of the historical background of the tree. Of course, it is nothing that Judith doesn’t know already. Still, the conversation excites her, and she is eager to continue adventuring to learn even more. The golems and statues scattered throughout the stratum are, to her, important artifacts that she knew about but is excited to examine in person. However, when the party faces the Amalgolem, she is confronted with what it means to be an adventurer, and how the role differs from that of a historian. Part of her mourns as they take it down to proceed, but she knows that it is what must be done if she wishes to proceed further, to see things no one has ever seen, to learn things no one as yet knows. Together, Floralis defeats the massive guardian and proceeds to the second stratum.

[alumort]

Ao3

Hii i decided to combine my hyperfixations because i can <3 hope you enjoy!!

(Background kakagai as usual, and implied sex at one point)

And then he woke up in his own bed, in his own clothes, but things were… different.

He was taller, and the red hues of fall decorated the plants he could see through his window when just the day before everything had been filled with many shades of deep green. The boy got up and observed the small home, and there were no signs that showed anybody had been living there for a long, long time.

"Ne… Neji? Is that you?" a soft voice asked, and the brunet looked up just to find his younger cousin staring at him from the kitchen– she was older now, an adult with long hair and even her kind eyes had changed, for there was nothing but rage in her gaze. "Where have you been all this time? You– you… the farm is all yours now. Don't even try to find me."

"Hinata, what happened? I can't remember–" Neji started to say, but Hinata didn't let him continue.

"You left me here! With your father, the weird Vale folk, and… and… you abandoned me," the girl said, holding back tears as she talked. "Hizashi died, you know? I've– um, I've been alone ever since, exploring the world… I don't know why I even came back here. Goodbye, big brother."

He couldn't do anything to make his cousin wait, to ask for explanations– she left as soon as she could, not even looking back to see if Neji tried to reach out for her. It was as if she had never been there in the first place.

A little voice in the back of his mind reminded him of the mystical item that fae had given him in his dreams; was it actually real? His pocket seemed to be heavier than usual, and when he grabbed whatever was inside of it, a huge seed was what he found.

Green with golden details, warm to the touch– the Kynseed, which would give him the ability to pass down his soul to his children, if he ever had any. Fairweather said there was a special place for it on Willowdown Farm, and he would probably get help when it was time to plant it.

Before Neji could even react, an annoying sound invaded his ears, and his gaze fell to the doorstep where a small… a miniature gnome thing was waiting, waving its arms at the boy.

"Hey, you! Human! Fill my bowl, I'm staaarving!" it said out loud, touching its stomach to dramatize the situation. "Why are you looking at me like that? Feed me!"

"Who do you think you are? I don't have to feed anyone," the brunet argued, crossing his arms against his chest as he talked. He felt himself shiver once his unwanted visitor looked at him in the eyes, his presence suddenly turning terrorific without effort.

"I'm Pott, the Brounie of this house, and if you don't give me food… bad things will happen on your farm, buddy. You don't wanna see them."

Anyone in the world knew better than to challenge a fae creature, and so Neji left a single egg on the wooden bowl Pott had mentioned, eyes widening at seeing its interior turn blue for some reason.

Magic was complicated, and he didn't feel like investigating it too much. And so the boy planted the magic seed with the help of the small gnome, observing everything with awe as a small sprout appeared mere seconds after the Kynseed was buried on the ground– he decided to leave it alone and explore the Vale, looking for fish to sell and herbs to gather in order to get some easy brass, riding the pig that used to belong to his father.

Everything was his now. The farm, the animals… and it probably would remain that way until the end of the time.

He would live forever– rather, his soul would be passed down to his offspring for a thousand years, making the Kynseed grow and grow for a long time. Neji didn't have time or energy to waste with other people, talking to them or trying to become their friend.

They would all die anyways, and he would be on his own once again, so what was the point? Any and all attempts of conversation from the Vale inhabitants were ignored, and they gave up trying after a couple of weeks, knowing that the brunet said nothing unless there were requests to be fulfilled.

… Most of them ignored him, except for a boy his age with pitch black hair, cut in an intricate form that reminded Neji of a bowl cut. He had spoken with him a couple of times in the past, before his fate had changed and he made a deal with that Fae rabbit. Or was Fairweather a hare? It didn't matter.

"Hello, Neji! Do you have everything you need for Winter?" his neighbor asked with a soft smile decorating his face, and Neji did nothing but nod in complete silence. Hearing no response, Lee went on. "Papa baked many things to save, and dad fished a lot. We are trying to start selling food for others… Tenten, however, is practicing with the smith. She is getting very good at forging!"

Uninteresting. Yet the shorter boy didn't have the heart to stop his companion from speaking, even though it was mostly a monologue apart from a casual hum– surely that would bore him, and soon Lee would stop pestering him anytime that their paths crossed.

Or that's what he believed. Instead, his annoying follower walked by his side, keeping him company even if he was met by nothing but silence and the occasional scoff; Lee just chuckled at his reaction and went on with his chattering, and Neji could do nothing but roll his eyes as he picked up requests from the bulletin board.

At one point, their conversations stopped being monologues, and the brunet began giving one-worded answers, silently not wanting his companion to leave by his side even if he would never admit it out loud. Having someone by his side soothed his heart, even if he wasn't the most chatty person in the world. Whatever plan Lee had in mind, it was working– Neji stopped getting annoyed by him as time passed, and he even allowed the other boy to be his right hand man in the dark forests.

There was one thing nobody could deny; Lee was a strong fighter and had ability with swords, even if he couldn't realize it on his own. Their movements synchronized with ease, as if they had fought back to back in a previous life, acting as one even without much training. No monster could escape from their blades.

They watched over the other when a more or less safe place was found, lighting a campfire and talking as if they weren't in the middle of a dangerous place, knowing that everything would be okay for as long as they remained together. The icy coldness of Winter forced them to be close to the blazing flames, focusing on not dying due to the low temperatures– Lee was talking about one of the books he was reading back at his house, flapping his hands excitedly as he spoke, doing those small gestures he always did when he got carried away.

Cute was the first word to appear in his mind, and Neji tried to focus on something else once he noticed that thought. It didn't last long, though–

Without him even realizing it, his fingers ended up entwined with Lee's, whose cheeks turned dark in a blush while the familiar chattering faded away in the air. The black haired boy let out a nervous chuckle, never separating himself from his companion, with a warm hue illuminating his face. Neji couldn't say anything, not even knowing how to react– who had grabbed the other's hand first? The details were fuzzy, but he also didn't want to let go.

He could feel his heart beating on his chest, on his throat, as Lee smiled at him and slowly leaned in closer to the other boy; their lips were mere millimeters apart, and it would be so easy to just…

From a moment to another, his companion pushed him to the side, and Neji would have groaned if he hadn't seen the ax passing right in front of his face. An angry hob had appeared and it didn't take long for Lee to finish it off, killing it with a single slash of his sword and grinning at seeing his small victory.

"Wasn't this a safe zone?" the brunet complained, crossing his arms against his chest as he talked, traces of a blush finally disappearing from his cheeks.

"I thought so, I am so sorry!" his companion (Friend? Something?) said, scratching the back of his neck before picking up his things, ready to go on as if nothing had happened between the two. "We are almost there! Dad will be so happy to have Pakkun back, let us continue."

As if they hadn't almost kissed mere heartbeats ago. Neji huffed, deciding to keep quiet and soothe his anger with his blade and whatever unfortunate monster that he found on the way. They managed to see how Pakkun wagged his tail excitedly right at the edges of Simplewood, for once being energetic and running to Lee's arms as if he knew things were going to be alright from that point onwards– the brunet rolled his eyes, deciding to ignore them and go back to the North Gate of his kingdom just to return the small dog to his owner.

There wasn't much distance to cover to go to the Maito-Hatake house, yet it felt like countless kilometers for his tired and confused soul. Any and all attempts of conversation made by the other boy were ignored, and soon an uncomfortable silence fell between the two until they got to their destination.

What was he supposed to do? Neji had never been close to anybody to almost feel their lips against his own, and now he was questioning everything– was that why Lee liked to hang out with him? It was a mystery that he couldn't decipher, for it wasn't like they had been

~

For a couple of days, the brunet decided to avoid his adventuring companion, not even knowing what was going on in his heart. Farming and fishing on his farm were the only things he focused on, using a Fae key to easily transport himself to different villages if it was necessary to get some easy Brass. It was better than accidentally meeting Lee, at least until he figured out anything about his feelings.

He wanted to avoid the North Gate at all costs, just in case he would meet the boy by accident even though his trips usually took place during the darkest hour of the night– it had been the only time that someone had tried to make a move on him, and Neji didn't even know if that would have been something to enjoy.

Instead, he opted for ignoring every gift and letter left on his mailbox, the carefully picked sunflowers left on his doorstep. He didn't know what else to do; Lee would die as time went by, so there was no reason to get attached to him more than he was. Neji didn't need anybody else in his life, for they would soon disappear before he even realized it.

Seasons passed with every single blink, after all. Discovering Fae mysteries was fun and time-consuming, although his lifespan got reduced whenever a huge mistake was made– Neji had gotten so comfortable with having Lee behind him that Simplewoods soon became a deadly challenge.

It was yet another way of keeping himself busy, to ignore someone who liked to be by his side in complete silence. His soul ached at his absence, but being on his own was for the best; his heart would be hurt even more once it was time to say goodbye, if something even happened between the two. They were better on their own, definitely.

… although Lee didn't seem to think the same way, for he was sitting in front of the dark woods with a shining sword and shield in hand. He grinned once he could see Neji, and went to receive him with a warm embrace.

"I can finally see you again! I have been waiting for you," his companion exclaimed, and once again the brunet decided to remain in complete silence, keeping to himself without pronouncing a single letter. Lee gulped. "Um… you have not replied to my letters. I am so sorry about everything– I will stop if it would make you more comfortable. How does that sound?"

"No."

Judging by his gaze, it was crystal clear that the taller boy wasn't expecting that response – who knows how long he had been yearning for him, and now… Neji never realized when both had grown so much, not caring about senseless things like years or months anymore, and he had to look up to see his companion's eyes or even try to steal a kiss from his lips. Lee's eyes brightened up and he leaned in, closing the distance between the two without wasting any time at all.

Although, neither of them had kissed anybody before, and they were technically adults now; the contact didn't last for long, and both of them were blushing deeply as silence fell between the two, enough so they could distinguish the distant groans of monsters from inside Simplewood. But that was the last thought on their minds; instead, Neji grabbed Lee's shirt and supported himself on it to give him another kiss, enjoying the taste of his lips against his own and how his companion carefully wrapped his waist with his arms. The brunet could feel his heart beating so quickly that he was afraid that it would explode at any moment…

Until Lee pulled away, with a goofy smile decorating his face at all times.

"Neji, do you want to go on?" he asked, more as a plea than as a question, with a soft tone so nobody but his companion would be able to hear his words.

It didn't take much to give an answer to that. Neji guided Lee back to his farm to finish what they had started, where he paid no mind as his clothes were removed with haste– they kept exchanging more and more kisses through the night, and something more, until both of them ended up laying side by side on the brunet's bed without exchanging many words.

It was getting a bit cold, so he got comfortable closer to his lover, his ear placed carefully on Lee's chest so as to not make him uncomfortable. Only then did the brunet talk again, in a barely audible voice.

"Why do you like talking with me so much? Even when I ignore you, you… keep coming back, Lee," Neji whispered, relaxing with the soothing rhythm of Lee's heartbeats. "I don't get it. Why do you love me so much?"

Silence. His companion caressed his back in small soothing circles, stealing a kiss or two from him before saying anything, chuckling at the brunet's confused expression as if it was a joke of sorts.

"You really do not remember, do you? Before you disappeared, you, um– Neji, you defended me from someone," Lee whispered, his gaze falling on his companion's eyes for a couple of moments before he went on. "From the Poppyhill boy, remember? Gaara, was it?"

Neji had vague memories of it all, yet he never thought it would be a big deal– the stranger had visited the Vale with his siblings, and he picked on Lee to get strawberries off his hands. Nobody was doing anything but stare, so the brunet jumped in and–

Hizashi didn't let him get out of the farm for a whole week, but it was worth it to give justice to the little black haired boy who just wanted to make a friend or two. Neji hadn't even noticed that it was Lee himself due to the many changes his hair had suffered in the couple of years that he had been missing.

Goddesses, had he really not only remembered that, but tried to befriend him once Neji had returned to the farm? His insistence made sense now, although his companion fell asleep before they could talk further.

And just like that, Neji realized that his heart had been won after so much time of Lee trying to become his friend, yet there was something he couldn't deny; Lee would die before his soul faded, and the pain… seeing how cute his companion was while being asleep was like a weight taken off his chest, somehow.

Thirty years– that was all the time that they would have together, until Neji turned fifty and his soul immediately left his body. Every time that he got defeated in Simplewood or when he messed up with Fae creatures his lifespan got reduced, and soon an idea formed in his mind:

To not waste his life anymore. The few years he had together with Lee must be worth it, for his heart had never loved anyone else except his cousin and his father, and both were gone from his life now; it would be better to stay there with the other boy, forgetting about the rest of the world and his tasks and just… enjoy himself for once.

For now, Neji would rest on his arms, allowing exhaustion to take place and make him forget about the troubles he would soon ignore.

~

That wasn't their last meeting– quite the opposite. For countless days both boys met, and in a couple of years they decided to finally settle down together; they spent more time with the other than alone, anyways, so it wouldn't be a drastic change.

And so the wedding ritual began; a white flower that Lee gave Neji on the first day of the week, and then the gathering of three charmweed, an egg and then some flour– the brunet helped his fiancée prepare the Pie of You and I, needed to exchange for the wedding rings that the priest would give them so they could get wed with the Goddesses' approval.

And with the blooming colors of Spring, Neji and Lee were made husbands, with only four people assisting to the ceremony– Kakashi, Gai, Tenten and Hinata, who had decided to give her cousin another chance. A couple of gifts and congratulations were given, and then the newly made husbands were left alone for the rest of the day.

Lee was more than familiar with the farm's structure, and it didn't take him long to make himself home in a spare wardrobe that Neji had laying around; he actually managed to repair it, and even put some extra shelves for the things he used to workout and get stronger. The brunet was interested in his training equipment, and Lee was more than happy to teach him how to use every single item correctly.

Days went by without much happening– they cooked together, took care of crops and the few animals Hizashi had left behind, and the black haired man sometimes even helped his spouse fish in the most remote places one could imagine.

They talked to the other, even if there was nothing that they didn't know of their partner at that point; Lee told him of how he had been adopted by his dads from a young age alongside Tenten, and Neji admitted that his uncle had stolen him from his parents' watch just to drop him at the shoe with his cousin, Hiashi's own daughter.

By disappearing, he had left Hinata all alone, and that was why she was so angry at him. The brunet had never said it out loud, but he tried to make up an excuse for his absence– kidnapping by some fae, he told Lee, which wasn't technically the truth but also not a complete lie.

His husband had believed him without any kind of doubt, and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead to try and show his support. Neji hugged him in response and they stayed like that, keeping each other company until they saw a chicken enter the house when she should be outside. They laughed and chased her around, making sure the bird left and didn't invade again.

Life was calm, and somehow Neji always managed to find stuff to do in the farm or on the bulletin boards, still ignoring the dark woods and other dangerous places like Woemarsh. He managed to save a good amount of brass, so there would always be warm food on their table– and maybe, just maybe, he could buy and run a shop… he would need to discuss it with his partner.

Either way, they would still need to figure out who to hire as staff. A better plan was needed if they did decide to do something with their brass– for now, they would keep saving for their future, perhaps to later have a child or two if the rabbit corndoll gave them any luck.

Before he even realized, the last day of Winter had arrived once again, and Fairweather decided to pay him a visit after a long period of silence.

He had entered his dreams, just like it was usual of the hare to do, and offered him countless goods– a necklace to get more brass by selling items, a clock… but there was a catch; every item bought implied spending years of life on it, and he already had few of those.

"I don't want your things. I want to let time pass by naturally," Neji exclaimed, crossing his arms against his chest, not looking at the magic items even once.

Fairweather stared at him, moving his ears to the sides before making up a response, his voice sending shivers to the brunet's back.

"You really love that man, don't you, human? But he'll die, just like everyone else in Quill– you won't die anytime soon, however," the hare exclaimed, eyes fixed on Neji's for a moment before he saved everything under his cape. "Remember your immortality, Neji. Don't get too attached to mortals!"

And just like that, he woke up in the middle of the night, hiding in his husband's arms without saying anything just to try and fall asleep once again.

~

Neji kept ignoring any attempt made by the hare of forcing him to waste his life, and instead he decided to spend his days with Lee, farming or foraging stuff to cook and later sell at goods market or stores. His husband and him ended up deciding to later buy one of the stores in their village, but they couldn't leave their house for now– they were waiting for something.

The stork would pay them a visit soon, for the rabbit corndoll had worked after many months of trying. In Quill, couples of any gender could get children with the help of the Goddesses, but they didn't carry them on their bellies like it used to happen in the distant past; that's why a literal bird would visit them with a small bundle, where a kid slept peacefully until they arrived to their destination.

There was no need for both of them to be present when their child arrived, but both men were excited– it was like a miracle, for they were going to stop trying until they got lucky with their last attempt. And now, someone had to be present by the time the stork arrived, because… they didn't really trust the farm's Brounie with such responsibility. It was better to take care of things on their own.

"Neji, look! It is there!" Lee announced, running outside as he saw the stork flying down, landing with elegance in front of their doorstep with the small bundle on its beak.

Neji carefully took the baby, and his eyes brightened up– it was a little boy, almost identical to Lee but with his eye shape. An almost perfect copy of one of his parents, who was already crying and couldn't hold his son in fear of accidentally falling. The brunet didn't even realize when he had started to talk to the baby, but he noticed that his son chuckled at his words, not even understanding but liking his voice anyways.

"How shall we name him, Lee?" Neji asked, his gaze never leaving the boy, who he had now placed near his chest to let him rest on him without problem.

"Well… we will get the blacksmith, right? What if we call him Metal? I know it is silly, but it could work!" Lee replied with a grin and excitement in his voice, hugging his husband before talking again. "But I am just suggesting! You can choose, too."

"Metal. I like how it sounds… our son will have a special name," the brunet replied, leaning into the embrace while making sure Metal wasn't hurt at any moment.

And so they began trying to buy a store, in order to give their son a good life and anything he would ever need.

A deal was made with Zabuza and Haku after a while, and they decided to sell their blacksmith for a good amount of brass to Neji, who was later reminded of someone who had been learning the art of smiting for many years– Tenten, who gladly accepted the position at the forge with a huge grin on her face.

She was a good worker and liked talking with the brunet, who was in charge of selling whatever she crafted and organizing the finances of their shop. It didn't take long for 'The Misty Sword Smith' (name given by the previous owners) rose in popularity among all Quill residents, and even some fae visited from different realms, always leaving a good tip to the workers.

Lee was in charge of finding good ores whenever Neji and Tenten were too busy with work, and he liked to bring little Metal to see his family when it was time to give the different minerals to the blacksmith. He was a curious baby, always looking at everything with wide eyes and chuckling whenever Neji made funny faces or carried him in his arms while dealing with annoying people.

"Do you like it here? Do you?" he asked his son with a soft voice even though Metal was too young to say anything, instead receiving giggles in response. It was almost closing time, so there was nobody around at that hour. "You're so happy."

"He loves being with his dad! And I feel the same way," Lee commented, wrapping his husband with his arm and giving him a kiss, grinning at the feeling that Neji returned the gesture.

Then, the brunet felt something tugging on his shirt, and turned to see that his child was trying to get his attention. He carried him again and hugged him, smiling at seeing Metal slowly fall asleep between his arms– his chest felt warm by how happy he was, and Neji didn't want anything else in the world that the peace that his family brought him just by being there for him.

~

And just like every year, the trees became bare and the wind became colder with snow, and yet another Winter took place in Quill. Neji didn't think much of it, going on with his life as usual, waking up his husband and son with the smell of fresh food and a warm hug to both Metal and Lee, who both chuckled and grinned in the same way no matter how much time passed.

The Kynseed had grown older with the years, and so did the family of three– Metal wasn't a little toddler anymore, in fact, he was a young man now. But he would always be their little boy, no matter how much he complained.

Soon their day had to begin, and the younger man went to take care of the crops as he usually did, as Neji got ready for work and Lee kept him company for a while before he had to leave. It was then that his husband leaned to the brunet to tell him something in a soft tone, as a whisper.

"I have something nice planned for tomorrow, love. Metal will go visit Houki and Mitsuki after our lunch, and then we will have the rest of the day for ourselves," Lee whispered in his ear, and the brunet couldn't help but chuckle, not needing more words to understand what would happen on the following day.

"But why tomorrow? You could surprise me today," Neji argued, although there was a playful smile on his face, increased only by his husband's confused expression. "What?"

"Neji, tomorrow is your birthday! You turn fifty– that is why we must celebrate!"

For a moment, the brunet grinned, kissing his partner without saying anything else– it would be just another birthday, and things would go on as normal, so why bother worrying about anything else?

… at least, that's what Neji believed at first. Until a memory appeared on his mind, of a fae hare covered in leaves smiling at him in an odd way, of ignoring anything dangerous just to spend more time with his loved ones without thinking of strange things such as immortality.

He couldn't ignore it for longer– it was too late for him.

"... I'll die tomorrow, my dear," Neji whispered to Lee, his gaze falling on the ground as he talked. His husband tilted his head to the side and chuckled, thinking it was some kind of joke, but the brunet wasn't even smiling in the slightest. "I'm serious, Lee. It's… complicated fae stuff, and– my soul will leave my body. I'll be here, but I won't be me."

The other man seemed more confused than anything else, and he decided to hug the brunet before talking once again.

"But how? And why?" Lee asked, his gaze showing both sadness and confusion, hugging his husband with his eyes fixed on the shorter man.

"That's why I disappeared for a while after we met– a fae said it was my destiny, and he gave me a contract to sign," Neji replied, letting out a soft sigh afterwards. He went on. "I never expected to fall in love with anyone. I… I regret it now, but it can't be changed. I'm so sorry."

There was silence between the two, and neither man wanted to speak first– and so it soon was time for Neji to go to the blacksmith, work until late in the day and probably not see his partner until he got back.

He could do nothing to change his fate, albeit he wished there was something, anything– but life wasn't fair to anyone, let alone him. Fairweather was probably laughing on his realm, knowing how hurt the husbands were without any way of staying together.

Technical, they could. But Neji would be on his child's body; neither Lee or him would be comfortable continuing their relationship that way. But how could he know what the other man would do afterwards? They probably would come up with a plan the following day.

~

It was time to go home, with night falling behind him– Neji knew how his fate would change once the clock hit midnight, and he almost dreaded coming back to the farm.

His family received him with open arms, with herring soba and other delicious food on the table, ready to be eaten easily. Metal had wondered why they were going to celebrate early, but didn't mind too much. Lee hugged the brunet as if he would leave the place forever– in a way, that was true, yet neither man wanted to say it out loud.

A way to avoid destiny, perhaps. They acted as if nothing would happen, having fun and talking late into the night, stomachs full with different dishes by the time they went to bed.

Neji leaned towards his partner, who hugged him without saying much, gently caressing his long hair and stealing kisses from him every now and then.

Neji finally closed his eyes after countless minutes, becoming small on his husband's arms in complete silence– everything would be okay for as long as he could be with Lee, no matter how long or short their time together would be. He wouldn't leave once his soul possessed Metal, and they would take care of the farm and the blacksmith just like they had done for many years.

It would be okay, or so he wanted to believe as the pain of his joints disappeared once he woke up in a bed that wasn't his own, in a body that wasn't his. Neji looked around the house in hopes of seeing his husband, but all he saw was his own corpse where he had fallen asleep in the previous night– something in his heart ached at seeing himself like that, skin cold to the touch even if the Summer warmth wouldn't have allowed it in a normal occasion.

He really had died, and his soul was now on his son's body no matter how strange that seemed in his eyes. It would be confusing for a while, and surely in no time Neji would get used to his new appearance and to his only child's absence; where was the true Metal? Pinehaven? He would need to ask Fairweather about him, but the hare would probably make him pay with part of his lifespan for information.

Anyways. He had to look for his husband now, wherever he had decided to hide… but first, a full mailbox caught his attention, and usually the townspeople gave him free stuff so Neji decided to check what was going on first.

A letter from Tenten, one from Naruto and, on the farthest part of the box… was an envelope that only said 'Lee' on the front.

Fuck, was all that the brunet could think of, ignoring everything else to check what had been written by his husband– it could be anything, and for him to feel the need to give it like that… something bad was going to happen soon. He had to know what Lee had written in the paper, who knew what he was willing to do?

It said:

'Dear Neji,

I love you with all of my heart, and I hope you keep in mind as you read this. You told me that you were going to change bodies, or something, but… Neji, it will be better if I am not here to watch it happen.

I will die, anyways. I do not want you to go through that pain– it will happen. And if I am not with you, I am afraid being alive makes no sense. Please forgive me, love.'

And then nothing but emptiness, for Lee didn't need to be explicit with what he was going to do– there was only one place that the man would go, for suicide would guarantee a chaotic afterlife, and nobody in Quill wanted that to happen. Being killed by a monster would be the best option.

No matter how fast his legs moved, he would never catch up to Lee– he was faster, stronger and knew the intricate paths of Simplewood better than Neji himself did. He dodged every single creature that got in his way, avoiding fights just to get to his husband without problem; nothing else mattered to him in those moments apart from seeing him safe and sound, wherever he was.

At one point, he managed to distinguish a familiar black hair from between the bushes and he couldn't help it but smile– it faded away in mere seconds, seeing how bloody his husband was, for he hadn't even bothered to bring a shield or a sword to fight and was instead sitting down without moving at all.

"Lee! Stop it!" Neji exclaimed, and he could hear his son's voice coming out from his lips in the first words he said out loud in that new body. He bit his lower lip at seeing Lee turn around and just… smile at him in an apologetic way, eyes closed and ready to allow beasts to destroy his body with no effort.

It didn't take long for the brunet (no, he had black hair just like Lee now) to slash every living creature that tried to attack his partner, but soon he realized it was too late to save him.

No matter what he tried to do, Lee's bleeding didn't stop, not even with the help of healing cream and countless bandages– Neji could feel tears falling from his eyes, desperation taking over his soul as he saw that his husband was going to die in his arms.

And nothing could be done to change his fate.

"Neji, leave me," Lee ordered in mere whispers, barely audible in the middle of the forest and even then Neji refused to obey. "I… I will die anyway. I do not want you to suffer later on."

"No, Lee! Please, stay with me…" Neji mumbled, but his words went unheard– the shine of his husband's eyes had faded right after he had said that, and there was no pulse on his neck anymore, almost as if he had waited to say that before finally dying without waiting to get help.

It was as if the world had turned gray, and not only because of an approaching storm– Neji felt some kind of blockage on his chest as he managed to carry Lee out of Simplewood and into a fae gateway, not knowing what else to do.

Rain fell on his shoulders as he carried his lover back to his farm, falling instead of all the tears repressed on his eyes, knowing that he would never wake up again. Tenten saw him and ran towards him, calling him by a name that wasn't his and a worried expression on her face– Neji couldn't comprehend what she said, what Kakashi and Gai said with only sadness showing through their eyes.

"Metal, I'm so sorry… you– you need to go inside, you might get sick," the black haired man exclaimed, placing a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to bring him some kind of comfort.

He said nothing as his family guided him to his home and helped him carry Lee, and it was then that they discovered a second dead body on the same day. Everyone tried to soothe his pain, but Neji had a never-ending hole in his chest that nothing would ever fill back up again, numb towards the world in the middle of his grief as the entire Vale walked to the graveyard to start the funeral.

There wasn't much else to say or do. Death had taken his husband, and now it was time to say goodbye, go on with his immortal life as if nothing had ever happened. As if nothing had ever happened, and his home had been vacant apart from himself–

"I love you, Lee. I hope the Goddesses treat you right," Neji muttered to himself, his heart feeling heavy with his new voice. His eyes cried for both Metal and Lee as his husband's (and his own) body submerged under the funeral pool of the graveyard, only to never be seen ever again.

His heart became as gelid as ice itself, and Neji never allowed anyone to warm it up, barely even talking to Lee's family even though they didn't know it was him and not his son. Only to Tenten due to their shared job at the blacksmith, yet in the end she ended up passing away as time went by.

He couldn't recognize anyone from the Vale anymore– everyone who had originally inhabited it had died, including his old body. It was hard to find someone to cover her spot, and he had to close his shop no matter how hard he tried to save it.

The shop he had bought in his previous life, where he had spent countless hours with his family– the memories of the past haunted his soul and Neji found himself avoiding the entire place, focusing on battling and fishing as if nothing else was important in life. Ignoring the dusty collection of books that his soulmate had gathered with the passing of the years, only sparing a quick glance to clean the yellowing pages before they crumbled to dust.

Neji didn't have the heart to bother about anything at all, and he barely spoke with anyone that wasn't the old lady of The Shoe and his adopted offspring– nothing was worth his attention in his eyes, and it remained that way for hundreds of years until his contract with Fairweather came to an end.

[z-cerulean]

etrian odyssey V update

so hippogryph was a doable but uhh definitely RNG heavy challenge

and then gorgon shot landed petrify which stuck for like 5-6 turns, following which apparently its behaviour was kinda bungled because it didn't do the second or third sky dives it should have

anyway uhh win's a win and i get masteries now

oh yeah if you want the builds then uhh

Nemissa - Earthlain Harbinger (Deathbringer)

Nakajima - Therian Fencer (Phantom Duelist)

Jonathan - Celestrian Necromancer (Spirit Broker)

Walter - Earthlain Dragoon (Cannon Bearer)

Elly - Brouni Botanist (Merciful Healer)

getting here was very rough necromancer's poison bomb was basically my only good damage output

and yes i went with an smt name theme I felt like it, my EO4 run was archanea themed

[powdermelonkeg]

Worldbuilding

PREVIOUS

For the purposes of this post, "base" lifespan is the average lifespan of one of these people, outside of the help and benefits of society, but also assuming nothing ends their lives prematurely (such as what disease or starvation would cause).

"Modern" lifespan, on the other hand, is an average that factors in what medicine, magic, and social networking can boost that lifespan further. "Maximum" lifespan is the oldest a given member of the race can get with optimal medical care and lifestyle.

Humans

Heartrate: 60 - 100bpm Base lifespan: 85 Modern lifespan: -

No data available. Humans went extinct centuries ago due to a plague.

Elves

Heartrate: 20 - 30bpm Base lifespan: 255 Modern lifespan: 510 (max: 612)

Elves, being very long-lived already, have a very intricate understanding of medical care, magic, and the local resources, the lattermost of which their society fought hard to lay claim to early on. They're by far the most widespread of the eight races, their lifespans and advancements creating a feedback loop into their spread across known society.

Faunlings

Heartrate: 90 - 120bpm Base lifespan: 60 Modern lifespan: 85 (max: 101)

Faunlings have a shorter base lifespan than most races, but have a solid community network to take care of their illnesses and elderly. Faunlings put a heavy emphasis on family duty, though "family" also extends to someone's immediate neighbors.

Halflings

Heartrate: 120 - 140bpm* Base lifespan: 50 Modern lifespan: 70 (max: 84)*

Halflings have a duty to one another that extends to those nearby on a similar level to faunlings, though it's hard to measure how much this truly impacts them given how readily they disperse into other societies in the modern age.

*A halfling's heartrate and lifespan are largely dependent on their surroundings. A given halfling will adapt to more closely match the society they take part in, slowing or speeding up accordingly and benefiting from the social nets and societal advances in place.

Below are the rough modern lifespan expectations of a halfling in a given setting:

Elvish halfling: 305 Faunish halfling: 75 Orcish halfling: 185 Dwarvish halfling: 135 Brounish halfling: 145 Gnomish halfling: 75

Orcs

Heartrate: 50 - 70bpm Base lifespan: 105 Modern lifespan: 250 (max 302)

Orcs both have a high understanding of magic and healthcare and have incredibly strong community ties. Ages and ages ago, they were the strongest ones to stand against the elves in the rush for resources, and alongside them, are the most widespread people.

Dwarves

Heartrate: 30 - 50bpm Base lifespan: 165 Modern lifespan: 205 underground, 290 surface (max 247, sun max 347)

There's a big discrepancy between underground dwarves and surface dwarves. Rather than being a result of culture, however, this is a factor of biology—when dwarves go into torpor state due to sunlight, while petrified, their ageing effectively pauses. A dwarf that lives their whole life with the sun sending them into stone hibernation for a third of their existence is going to have more than a few years in change.

Brounies

Heartrate: 40 - 60bpm Base lifespan: 130 Modern lifespan: 210 (max 250)

Brounies have tight community ties, to the point where it's something of a joke that one brounie can name all the others in the area by heart. This means that, even where healthcare is poor, one falling ill has almost an entire population pitching in to help them out. Brounish history involves a lot of their needs and struggles being swept under the rug in favor of the other people of the world, so they very much have a culture of "if we don't look out for each other, nobody's going to look out for us."

Gnomes

Heartrate: 120 - 160bpm Base lifespan: 45 Modern lifespan: 70 (max 86)

Gnomes live in small pocket communities where they share responsibility for one another. They specialize in their own medicine, not because the advancements of modern society are lackluster, but because many of their biological problems involve a level of toxicology most other races don't know how to manage. Gnomes are poisonous.

[blushroom20]

I've been revisiting my run of Etrian Odyssey V I started on release recently and it has reminded me how much I miss playing Etrian Odyssey.

Dabble about my team under the read more:

Don't have my 3DS on me at the moment so I don't have exact details but I do have this old pic of my main team sitting in my files...

This picture was made with the help of this online character creator: http://edit.s2.xrea.com/sq5/

None of these characters are OCs (most of my EO guildmembers are usually based on existing characters) and correlate to:

Teruteru: (Divine Herald Brouni) This was going to be a Warlock referencing One Way Heroics but then I found out Teru's VA was one of the voices in this game and swapped them out of my main party fast lol.

Brittany: (Merciful Healer Brouni) The first smol Botanist I could think of. Pikmin 3 moment.

Chron: (Chain Duelist Earthlain) No, this is NOT Conrad of the Freeblade guild. This character is a reference to One Way Hero A from Mystery Chronicle: One Way Heroics. Sheer coincidence they look so similar. Since making this picture I made his hair a bit darker to make it less Conrad.

Undyne: (Shield Bearer Earthlain) Saw this design had an eyepatch and went with Undyne.

Akane: (Barrage Brawler Earthlain) I was in my Danganronpa phase around this time okay? I think her English VA is in this game as well so yeah.

[jonnycald]

Un buen vino con un buen brounie !!! (en Cancun Q Roo Mexio) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm3JlEHOfwr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=