#but I don't think it heralds the death of arts

[highdensityrabbitsituation]

AI art neither horrifies nor excites me because fundamentally, one of the most interesting things about art for me is process. A year ago, I went to the Milwaukee Art Museum and saw a series of photos where the artist took film photos of a lake and then developed those photos using water from that lake. The final image was interesting to look at, sure, but the actual significant part of the piece for me was the process of its creation—how the artist related to the environment and their materials, the choices behind what to photograph and how, the ways that the process appeared visibly in the product. They weren't kidding about the medium being the message! But I don't know what the message is when your medium is refining prompts in Midjourney or DALL•E. I'm sure there's a way to make compelling art out of such a process, but I haven't seen it yet, and that's definitely not its current application. Even amongst the "best" AI art, my general feeling is a shrug of indifference. It's a technical marvel, but it's never compelling.

[kwillow]

(1/3) I adore the new comic with Alex, Ridge and Theo! The insight into how Theo's "healing magic" can be used is fantastic and the art is beautiful (as usual) to boot. A question, also: In the background of the last panel, there's several paintings in the background--what looks like three of Jocosa, but also a regular ermine. I recall that beasts (aka animals as we know them) are present in Amaranthine and associations/taboos with them vary by region. In Northcrest, are ermines seen as

Funny that you say there's three portraits of Jocosa in this comic - she is there, but her painting rests alongside these other members of her storied family. Most people who noticed the paintings thought they were all Jocosa, though! I don't blame anyone for being confused. The Norths are infamous for all looking the same.

(Also, they are probably slightly easier to tell apart here, when their portraits aren't covered by 5 years of dust - Theo really needs to clean that place up.)

Anyway, thank you so so much for your compliments on the comic! I will put the rest of your message and answer your questions under the cut.

Ermine Motifs

The ermine isn't a pet, but simply an ermine. The Norths are unusually obsessed with their "source" animal, and use the image of ermines as representations of their power and prestige. Like you predicted, ermines feature prominently in their decor and fashion. Ermine-shaped badges, ermines on rugs, ermine newel posts (that's a fun word!), and ermine paintings. It's a little obnoxious. They hold a peculiar reverence for the creatures while also being extremely willing to wear their skinned pelts as cloaks. They do not think there is anything weird or grim about that.

Part of their fixation comes from the fact that unlike some noble families, ermines feature in their heraldry, so the presence of ermine artwork alludes to their noble status, much like how the royal family of England might display lions. Heraldic ermine spots appear on their coat of arms, and ermines are the shield's supporters. But they are also just self-obsessed and have a fondness for that which reminds them of themselves. Even Theo, despite being of a ratlike persuasion, plays into the North fixation on ermines by occasionally wearing ermine fur and jewelry shaped like heraldic ermine spots.

Closely associating yourself with the animal you resemble was more common in historical times, but the degree to which the Norths do it would still be odd. People with more modern mindsets, more removed from ancient mythical symbolism and more concerned with modern problems of technological advancement and not dying in a frozen wasteland, would consider the Norths to be embarrassing themselves with their ermine obsession. Why are they so heavily identifying with a simple beast? Who cares what kind of animal you look like? Shouldn’t you be more proud of being, you know, a person?

Theo's Catalyst Stone

Yes, the North's catalyst stone is passed down through the generations upon the death of its previous owner. (The teardrop-shaped stone the ancestress is wearing in her portrait is the very same one Theo has stuck in his hand.) Given that Theo slammed the stone into his flesh, he will be the last of his line to use this catalyst stone - and given that he hasn't exactly been a hit on the dating circuit, he will likely also be the last North as well.

Ancient Hyden Encounters

While there were more mages back in Hyden's prime days, it was still a small enough population that it wouldn't be unheard of for Hyden and some early Norths to have crossed paths in their day to day.

Chocodile and I agree that Hyden probably knew some of Theo's ancestors, but we haven't worked out the details of those encounters quite yet. Given the North's seemingly inherent predilection for bitterness and snobbery, they probably didn't get on all that well.

[shadow-fell]

On Moonrise Towers, the Thorm Family, and the Shadow Curse

Once another compilation so that I don't need to go constantly digging for things. A general timeline of events:

Reithwin town founded by the Thorm family

Moonrise Towers constructed

Melodia Thorm dies

Isobel Thorm dies

Ketheric turns to Shar

Gauntlet of Shar constructed/rebuilt; Reithwin turns to Sharran worship

Nightsong is captured by Ketheric and Balthazar

Flaming Fist sends Art Cullagh to investigate Ketheric

Harpers, Druids, and Flaming Fist team up to fight Ketheric

Mason who built Moonrise Towers + the Gauntlet of Shar makes a deal with Raphael; Yurgir kills all the Sharrans in the Gauntlet/Grymforge save one

Ketheric is killed, Shadow Curse released

Survivors of the battle flee

Ketheric resurrects, turns to Myrkul

Gortash and the Dark Urge bring Ketheric in on the Absolute plan

Ketheric resurrects Isobel (maybe before ^ but probably after)

Isobel flees to the Last Light Inn

Now, expanding on the details, sources, and adding some firmer dates? that's all going below the cut.

Construction of Moonrise Towers

The first, and as far as I know only reference to Moonrise Towers outside of BG3 is in the Code of the Harpers, where it is described as the base of the Crescent Coat, officer of the High Heralds (a group spinning out of the Harpers, referenced by Halsin in game), in 1368.

So, we know when it must be established by - but how much earlier can we go? Pretty far given that the Thorms are elven/half-elven.

Our best boundary is that we know Balduran visited Moonrise Towers before becoming an Illithid. His initial departure from Baldur's Gate and shipwreck happened around 1050 DR, at 300 years before BG1/2, so he has to come to Moonrise Towers sometime after that. FR Wiki states this is ~1150 or later, but I don't know where they're getting that from? I think that's a reasonable timeframe, though.

We know the same architect built Moonrise as the Gauntlet of Shar (from talking to him in the House of Hope), but there's no record of what race he was (only meeting him as a skeleton), and if an elf could easily still be working a few centuries after the construction.

Ketheric is a half-elf for sure, though, but he is an old one. How old exactly is hard to say. 3rd edition gave "old" at 93, with a maximum age of 130-190, while 5e just says "often exceeding 180 years". If we take that he looks the way he did in ~1370 as his death, that places his birth at a minimum of ~1170, but probably later, and the construction of Moonrise Towers ~1200 at the earliest, which is maybe a bit long for Balduran but not unreasonably so.

The other thing of note is that Moonrise Towers has a 'sister' in the Sunrise Spire, a Lathanderian Monastery destroyed in 1177 during a territorial war. Combined with the (undated) fall of Rosymorn Monastery, there is perhaps something interesting about the regional shift from Lathander to Selune, and the construction happening after the destruction further supports a date around ~1200.

Personally, I'd want to push things earlier rather than later - it wouldn't be difficult to say that Ketheric is more elven than human, pushing his age a bit further out, so somewhere between 1180-1200 fits the sweet spot. But really, all we have for sure is "before 1368"

Melodia and the Thorm Family

Melodia Thorm is a human worshipper of Selune, who married Ketheric Thorm and converted him to her worship. They had a daughter, Isobel, who was young when Melodia died (or, at least, Melodia still called her their little girl).

Ketheric is a half-elf; every other member of the Thorm family is an elf - Malus, Gerringothe, and Thisobald all have the longer ears (although the hood makes this less clear on Thisobald).

Malus refers to (presumably) Ketheric as his nephew, making him the only certain branch of the family tree. Gerringothe, we have no idea where she fits in, although as a full elf, we can assume no one is Ketheric's siblings, only parents/aunts/uncles/cousins/more distant relatives.

Thisobald...is complicated. He calls Ketheric father, however, the phrasing is ambiguous (capitalized in a religious sense) in addition to the lack of reference to him in accounts of Melodia/Isobel, and the fact he appears to be fully elven. The two possibilities is that Thisobald and Isobel are half-siblings, with Thisobald's other parent being a full elf, and this being the source of disconnect between him and Ketheric, or that Father is not literal and he is related to Ketheric another way.

We know that Malus Thorm was alive in 986, where he recorded battle casualties from a Dark Justiciar/Selunite/Druid conflict. Given that only the Dark Justiciars are named, it seems likely he was a Sharran at that time. If we take the date as legitimate and not referring to the 1370s conflict, then at least Malus worshipped Shar before Reithwin turned to Selunite worship.

Gauntlet of Shar

Around 800 years before Ketheric Thorm's turn, Grymforge was a city of Shar worshippers. He attempted to revitalize it - creating or rebuilding the Gauntlet of Shar in the process.

And, yes, these two are connected - you can see the entrance to the Gauntlet from one of the points in the lava and through the hall where Nere is trapped. There is a further section not accessible seen from where the Mimic fight is, mainly what appear to be another set of docks.

While we're told the Mason constructed the Gauntlet, given that Shadowheart has heard legends of it, the more likely option seems to be it was rebuilt, since it's quite a large place to construct in only a handful of years. Especially if Malus was a Sharran in 986, it would explain the presence of Shar worshippers before Ketheric's turn.

So, we have the initial Dark Justiciar trials around 600 DR, followed by a decline (with the Gauntlet perhaps lasting past the fall of the city, hidden under Reithwin) enough to establish a myth that can then be built on in the 1370s.

Death of Isobel

How Isobel died is an unresolved plot point, revolving around cut content, so it's hard to call anything "canonical" but the two potential paths are as follows:

In the earliest version, she was killed by Halsin, during a meeting between her (and other Reithwin locals) and the druids, before Shar's influence (and the song of the Nightsong, potentially) drove them mad, and Halsin stabbed Isobel with Sorrow, leaving it cursed). This sparked the conflict between Ketheric and the Druid-Harper alliance.

In a later version, Balthazar killed her, framing Aylin for the deed, which led to Ketheric capturing her and trapping her in the Gauntlet of Shar. Isobel was tethered to Ketheric, and needed to be separated before he was killed

Either way, Isobel has no memory of her death upon being resurrected a century later. It happened probably ~1370, triggering the conflict. While it may have happened earlier (with Ketheric keeping his Shar worship hidden) probably not earlier than 1368.

Conflict with the Harpers

Alright, so this is where we get back into figuring out hard dates. Generally, this happened a century ago - so ~1392, but any time something is that round I always assume it's off.

Again, we know things are business as usual around 1368 because of the Heralds; this means that while Ketheric may have turned to Shar, it wasn't public. However, we do have some dates related to the conflict.

The Harpers try and fail to surrender in a letter by Khelben Arunsun - he's expelled from the Harpers in 1371, founding a splinter group, and dies in 1374. That makes 1369-1370 the most likely timing.

However, the records from Moonhaven and from the Emerald Grove push it to being a later date. Uktar 1371 is the date that the Apothecary and Apprentice arrive from Thay, the start of the Apprentice's journal, which ends with the Dark Justiciars killing him. Toth's logbook is the Apothecary's account, and has a raid in late Uktar and in Nightal; this may be the same year, but more likely later. We know there was at least one failed raid on Moonhaven before it fell completely.

Uktar 1371 we also get the Logbook from the Emerald Grove - they're dealing with far more minor problems and presumably aren't yet at war with the Dark Justiciars, which further supports the idea that the raids on Moonhaven happen in 1372 or 1373.

To account for Khelben's presence, we could assume the failed surrender is from an initial conflict in 1369-1370, that ended with the Harpers retreating, but more likely, the threat Ketheric Thorm posed was enough that the Harpers and Moonstars (Khelben's splinter group) were in alliance - after all, it wasn't a clean split and there was still a great deal of overlap, and he's still the Blackstaff.

The details of the conflict are largely uncertain. We know the Dark Justiciars destroyed Moonhaven, and presumably some other villages, and that the shadow curse claimed the region around Moonrise Towers and Reithwin.

However, we do know how it ended. The Mason made a deal with Raphael to destroy the Dark Justiciar army, which brought Yurgir to the Gauntlet, where he killed all but one (hiding as a swarm of rats). While we only see Yurgir's impact in Grymforge and the Gauntlet, presumably Raphael helped with defeating the entire army.

How Ketheric died and came to be buried in the mausoleum is unclear, but in the final moments of the battle, he cursed the lands around Moonrise Towers with the Shadow Curse, killing many of the Harpers and Druid, and lasting for well over a century, until he came to be resurrected in the name of Myrkul.

My Proposed Timeline

You've read the evidence above. This is therefore a mix of canon, reasonably makes sense in canon, and completely made up headcanon

1492 - Balthazar resurrects Isobel; she flees to the Last Light Inn

???? - Balthazar resurrects Ketheric, he becomes Myrkul's chosen

1373 - Yurgir kills Dark Justiciar Army; Ketheric dies and the Shadow Curse falls

1372 - Dark Justiciars spread out and attack local villages, destroying Moonhaven. The Emerald Grove, Harpers, Moonstars, and Flaming Fist ally together

1370 - The Nightsong is captured, used as the final test for the new Dark Justiciar army Ketheric builds

1369 - Isobel killed by [Halsin/Balthazar/???]. Ketheric completes turn to Shar, forces Reithwin to convert, has the mason begin reconstructing Grymforge

1350 - Melodia dies. Ketheric's faith begins to waver.

1340 - Isobel born

1325 - Melodia and Ketheric marry

1300 - Melodia born.

1200s - Moonrise Towers constructed; Reithwin slowly builds up prominence as a trade stop amon

1170s - Ketheric Thorm born.

1150s-1250s - young Halsin grows up in the lands around Reithwin, where he befriends Thaniel.

980s - Dark Justiciar/Druid/Harper conflict, Malus Thorm attending. Sharrans in the region go further into hiding; Reithwin is known as a Selunite enclave.

600s - Grymforge is a thriving Sharran city. Dark Justiciar trials are held within the Gauntlet of Shar.

[mollysunder]

Another Clue in Viktor's Tarot Card?

I think I figured something out. In an older post I talked about how Arcane used tarot symbology to possibly hint at future developments for season 2. It was specifically how Viktor and Jinx fit into the role of the Magician and Death tarots respectively and how it works for Sevika. There was one thing that was bugging the hell out of me when i finished it. What was the symbol within the Machine Herald's grasp?

At first I thought it was the mathematical symbol for fish (∝), without the curves, like how Ekko' infinity symbol are sharp triangles instead of round loops. I thought it could mean Viktor needed to recognize the balance and proprtions necessary to unlock the Arcane and be an indirect reference to how similar but different Ekko and Viktor are. But I think the answer might be simpler.

It's an 'X', sideways. Obviously, the 'X' could refer to the x-factor the Magician needs to unlock the Hexcore's power. And that's the fun trick of it because there's only been one person I know in League that's been explicitly associated with this kind of 'X', it's Jinx.

When Jinx's character debuted in League of Legends, instead of releasing a bio first, they had her 'vandalize' Vi's page with graffiti (really fun marketing move). The end of the page had a signature tag that said "X WUZ HERE" because they didn't want to reveal her name so they used this special "X" instead. Later, the tag was just replaced with "JINX WAS HERE.". I thought it was a one-time thing, but no, Jinx's special 'X' still remains in the game to refer to her presence. For example, one of Caitlyn's gag interactions has her shooting her rifle that's been tampered with by Jinx. And when it happens Caitlyn goes, "Ready, aim... (gasps) Urgh! Why am I not surprised?". Who else could it be?

So this symbol is still associated with Jinx, specifically as a substitution for her name, and it's in the Machine Herald's grasp. I don't think this is meant to hint at any future control Viktor would have over Jinx, nor would he want to. It could mean that he will need a partner in Jinx to help him complete the Hexcore once he and Jayce have their falling out and he's cast out from Piltover (some real Silco and Singed vibes honestly). But maybe it's another hint at how similar their actions will be perceived by us, the audience, like they fly under the same banner of void-touched outcasts playing offense and defense against Piltover. And more so that they will have a deeply impact full relationship with one another. Look at Ekko and Vi, they both bare her tag and you can't pretend she hasn't left her mark on them and their motivations. It's just odd that for Viktor, her tag is in a different position. Maybe it's a past, present, future thing.

I wouldn't bring this up if the creators of Arcane hadn't said that there were plenty of hints at season 2 that the audience hasn't picked up yet, so maybe this is another one. Also, I have noticed that Jinx sometimes has Ekko's infinity symbol on her marketing but it's still solidly an Ekko thing. Even when she has it on her Flame Chomper grenades it's used explicitly to frame Ekko and the Firelights for her damage because it's so well associated with him.

Update: I don't know why I'm just remembering this, but Jinx is also just wearing a big X on her shirt. In fact she's covered in X's, her shirt, her necklacklace choker thing, her shoelaces, her belt, her bandage, the back of her shoe they all have X's in her design.

Update 2: I found more X's! They're all over her background in the 'Enemy' music video. The art really isn't being subtle when you notice.

Update 3: Pretty sure this is the last one... maybe. After rewatching I noticed Vi's prison uniform actually has the symbol as a part of her ID number. Altogether her ID would be X516. Though whenever Vi was referred to as prisoner 516. Alone it actually says her name in Roman numerals, 5=V, 1=I, and 6=VI (a but redundant). If we treat it the 'X' as Jinx's name it makes Jinx and Vi before Vi even knows Powder has grown into Jinx, already intertwining their identities.

Update 4: I really thought I was done, but I wasn't. I found that both of Ekko's loc rings (which look similar to the bullet shells Jinx uses in her braids) have partial infinities that look similar to her symbol. Ekko specifically is represented with a complete hourglass, and this is literally the one exception. The fact that this symbol is visible when he talks about Zaun and Silco makes me feel ridiculous. If this is a subtle hint at the way Jinx affects Ekko... wow. Jinx isn't even dead, but she's practically haunting all these characters.

Seriously, it's a purposeful choice to do this, his game icon has full hour glasses. But in Arcane they're not, they're drawn to be similar to Jinx's symbol. Just like with Viktor and Vi, it means internally, not even consciously, he's seeking her out for her.

[defira85]

Sunday Snippet (Monday... Moments?)

I got tagged by the inestimable @elinorbard who posted a delightful little scene of Ta'av and Enver, and I'm sorry to say that I don't have anything quite so delightful because I've mostly been working on my art these last few weekends instead of my writing

I do have a vaguely ominous scene for Rhyme set at the end of winter in 1385DR (gosh what happened at the end of winter in 1385DR, nothing important I'm sure)

Highmoon was beginning to shake off the cold and death of the winter months, and the magnificent old trees that framed the streets and created a tunnel of greenery in the spring and the summer were showing buds aplenty, small and stalwart leaves that were enthusiastically braving the last few weeks of the cold. She quite liked this time of year, when the drenching rains swept through in vast sheets across the Dales, and the cold was deep without having the same bite that it had during the snow. When she could still see her breath fogging the air before her first thing in the mornings, but the sun shone crisp and pale in the sky regardless. An enigma of a day, because the sun was still the same sun that burned her blue skin purple in the summertime, yet even the colour of it was different on these cool not-quite-spring mornings. Pale and yellow-white, like the yolk of a duck's egg, as opposed to the searing golden orange of the summer months. It was so strange now to think on how alienating the concept of seasons had been to her on her arrival on the surface more than a decade ago now. She loved it now, all of it—the bluster and depth of the winter storms, the soft greenery and explosions of scent and colour that came with spring, the torrid heat and laziness of summer, and the crisp sense of decay that heralded autumn. She missed the Underdark, desperately so, but things on the surface seemed to live far more vibrantly and explosively than they did in the muted darkness. And secretly, hidden in the darkest corners of her heart, she was desperately grateful for every moment she could stand in the sun instead of being recalled like a mad dog on a leash to the deathless, lifeless horror of Lolth's domain.

I've already seen several people posting snippets so uhhhh who has been writing and wants to play? @darkfeanix @sleepytimegrrl @zeph0r anyone else?

[segretecose]

Do you know if the lock of Lucrezia Borgia’s hair has been authenticated? The glass its incased in doesn’t seem to more than a century old so I’m just curious if its meant to be an art object or the genuine article. For five hundred year old hair the color is way too bright and warm for something that wasn’t preserved “properly” for four hundred years after her death. Of course DNA is out unless the hair had been ripped out instead of cut.

i'm not a conservator so i don't really know but according to the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana the lock has been in their possession and under their care since (at least) 1685. i'm assuming it has been kept in closed glass cases since then and you are right in thinking the one that currently houses is recent, as it dates back to 1926:

"Documents show that, as early as 1685, the Ambrosiana had a lock of hair from Lucrezia Borgia (1480-1519), the daughter of Roderic, later Pope Alexander VI, who married Alfonso d’Este, Duke of Ferrara. It was kept together with nine letters, also in the Ambrosiana, written by Lucrezia to Pietro Bembo (1470-1547), the humanist cardinal and man of letters. This lock of blonde hair became an almost cult object for the Romantics in the nineteenth century, and it was later housed, like a reliquary, in this display case made by Alfredo Ravasco, one of the finest goldsmiths in Milan in the first half of the 20th century, with a combination of precious materials, hardstones and gems. The two pendants, with the heraldic emblems of the aristocratic Borgia (the bull) and d’Este (the eagle) families, are worthy of note."

[dragon-swords-prophecies]

For the STS ask thing:

In a role swap, what characters would swap roles and how would it change the story?

hi!! happy sts!

Alex and James would swap roles. Not much of their backstories would change, weirdly, but it doesn't need to change that much to get them to switch. It would massively change how the plot plays out, though, even if the bones and even some of the meat of the plot stays the same.

(this got a little longer than intended, so here have a cut)

James goes from being nephew of the previous editor (he's the current editor) of the herald who got brought onboard because he was curious about writing and then gradually promoted because he turned out to be competent -> still nephew of the previous editor, but now he's the one who dropped out of art school before picking up the writing thing and became an investigative journalist because he was curious, not because its what his dad did.

he still writes the article about nathaniel's mother getting murdered and the killer getting away with it, but now its because leo (who is already friends with nathaniel in the not-swapped version) suggested the idea and james got invested, not because the same thing happened to his father when he was a kid (<- why alex became an investigative journalist)

that would change the tone, i think, because then herald stops being a story about revenge and donovan stops haunting the narrative and starts being a story about justice/closure and being in love with your best friend (james is one of two (2) major characters in the entire story in a romantic relationship. the other is his leo, his boyfriend, who almost dies).

ronald isn't as relevant to the plot in the ways he is now (in how he's basically alex's uncle) but he's more relevant in the ways that his relationship with donovan sort of mirrors james' relationship with leo (except james and leo did something about it).

Alex is still motivated by her father's death, but it shifts to a 'doing justice to the newspaper and what he loved doing', not 'making sure murderers stop getting away with things because the government is shitty'. After Donovan dies, when she's like 15 ish, she expresses some sort of interest in the newspaper and Ronald convinces the then-editor to let her onboard in a minor role.

She gets promoted over time because she's actually competent (unlike many other people), and when the time comes for the then-editor to retire he picks her to be in charge. when James drops out and comes back to writing, she's the one to make the offer to hire him. Still for the same reasons, though.

Alex is still the product of her father drawing away from what he loved because of his obsession with the truth, but that doesn't play nearly as much of a role as it does now. I don't think she would've taken her father's penname if she isn't in the amount of danger that her being an investigative journalist puts her in, so she'd probably still be Alexandrina Gates, but she might've taken it anyway, just as a nod to him (which is part of the reason she picks mclelland in the first place, but not the reason she has a penname to begin with).

Leo's role wouldn't get affected at all. Still the guy who does the politics pages, still James' partner, still a little shit but in the best way possible.

Ronald's role would be different, but the bones of it would be exactly the same. He wouldn't swap with anyone (Donovan's personality is too different from his to make the plot work if Ronald is dead and Donovan is alive. Donovan has to be dead, or else the story doesn't work. The entire point of herald at present is that Donovan is dead, and Ronald & Alex aren't.), but he would get affected by James & Alex's swap.

Currently, his role in the plot is firstly as Alex's father's best friend, and secondly as 1/2 of the parallel to James & Leo's relationship. If James becomes the protagonist and occupies the space Alex does now, those roles switch. Him being a parallel is wildly more important, and it doesn't matter that he was Alex's father's best friend. All that matters is that he was Donovan's best friend, and Donovan = Leo, in a somewhat roundabout way.

[greypetrel]

WIP Whenever

Tagged again by @shivunin and @daggerbeanart, thank you very much! I'm on holiday right now, so I'm a little bit slow and working traditionally but...

I found an Art Nouveau piece and thought that oh look that's Radha. And redrawn it on my sketchbook. And coloured it with watercolours. I have... A love/hate relationship with watercolours, but I haven't brought any markers with me this year to force myself to use them more. And since it's been a while since I've been wanting to do a couple set in Art Nouveau style with her and Aisling... Here. Your muse of Writing and History, Prophet's Laurel all around and PURPLE. The paper is blotchy and not the right one, don't mind that, OOPS.

DadWolf going on, page 5. This page has been... Something that picked me a little off the ground. I'll speak about it more when it won't come out as terribly sad and sappy. I'm looking at those bookshelves and shivering at the idea of colouring them, for now.

Not Dragon Age related, and I'll hope you'll forgive me... But yeah. I am a sucker for trash movies, and John Wick is... It's a trash movie with a lot of money and Keanu Reeves and I love the saga. The sketch on the left was drawn... I think in 2017 when I first saw the first movie and snickered a lot because in Russian he's nicknamed "Baba Yaga"... Which isn't really the boogeyman. It's an old witch that lives in the woods in Slavic folklore, in a tiny hut with chicken legs. And travels on a cauldron. I kept the chicken legs as a reference to the hut. But well I fount the sketch and thought to redraw it. Adding the dog because the dog is VERY important.

Writing-wise I'm a little slow at the moment, but here's a piece from Monster Fic that I don't know if I'll keep. The night right after the Arbor Wilds, Aisling got back, managed to quarrel awfully with Cassandra AND Cullen. Everyone is miserable.

Tagging: @transprincecaspian @zenstrike @scribbledquillz @heniareth @herearedragons @oxygenforthewicked @layalu and YOU who are reading this!

---

Abelas told her she shouldn’t really roam on her own in the Temple, particularly at night. The complex was built on the side of a cliff that opened on more forest down below, with gentle hills and mountains in the background facing west. In some places, where balconies had been long ago, the balaustrade had long fallen, leaving just openings on nothing: the incautious visitor could all too easily fall to their death.

But she was left with very little to do, after unloading Little Brother and setting up a camp in the big atrium for them… Four. Because it ended up that one of the Templars gave in for good, and didn’t really feel like going out. Not with the whole of the Inquisition army ready to jump on him. No one there could really disagree, and since the man -George, a burly man in his fourties, with a ruddy face that spoke of many laughters and evenings spent drinking with friends and eyes that still sparkled even if they were heavily rimmed in red- had been so quick in lowering his sword and yielding…

Aisling had given him one of the cots that were packed on her horse, insisted when he tried to say that no, that was hers, and just… Curled around her saddle, using it as a pillow and rolling herself in a blanket side by side with Radha, and allowed herself to cry.

Except, no tears came forth.

She was grateful of being there, and opening her eyes, looking at remnants of a past long gone, something that every First would have killed to find. Something that poor Taven actually died to find. It’s huge, it’s been kept in wondrous state… And it’s inhabited. It’s inhabited, and she has the way to ask to her heart’s content.

And yet, all she can think of is that the Herald of Andraste would be up in a camp on the top of a hill, after a round of greetings and congratulations with the Empress, the Marquise of the Dales and all the nobles they rallied to the help. After that, she would have pretended to retire in her tent and slipped right out to slowly reach and sneak in the Commander’s one, and sleep curled against his warm frame, caressed by hands that were always cold, held and safe and loved.

And yet, she’s just Aisling, a Dalish mage that touched the wrong artifact and now has gained a unique ability, the mask has been left in her tent up the hill, and she feels giddy from both the sensation of having stood up for herself and the idea of all that she wants to ask to the elves there and explore and learn there. At the same time, tho, the giddiness is chased around by regret, the slimy feeling of being ignoring responsibilities, that she should be up there and doing her job, that she let everyone down. Nobody who stopped in the Temple was happy: Radha is angry because Morrigan drank from the Well, and both Aisling and Solas stopped her when Aisling turned down the chance. Solas is in one of his moods and hurt from Radha being angry.

Her heart beats too fast, her thoughts are too quick: she knows she won’t be sleeping any time soon, unless she does something. So, she lets go of the saddle, quietly slips out of the blanket and leaves on tip-toes, bringing the blanket with her and careful not to wake her sister up.

She saw the old balcony on her way to the baths, and even if there’s no more an old elven guide and the corridors are dark, she can find her way back with ease. The moon is shining up above between the canopies, and the corridors are large, easy to follow. She could maybe activate the magical lanterns that glows very dimly hanging from the ceilings, but on a second thought, she doesn’t know where the other elves sleep, here, and she doesn’t want to risk waking someone up and having to explain why exactly she’s walking around on her own. “I miss my boyfriend, but he believes I am the elven tool of the big plan of a deity I don’t believe in and so I can’t sleep” sounds too pitiful, and who knows whether they’ll approve of her being with a human.

She takes a couple of wrong turns, confused in the darkness, but in the end she finds the place she was looking for. The old pavement is broken, but bathed in moonlight, and even with the plenilune the stars are still shining, more than she can count. It’s beautiful and it’s terribly lonely, and Aisling wonders who was the last person that leaned into that balcony to see stars and enjoy the view. How many centuries passed, what were they thinking.

She curls in a corner, draping the blanket around her shoulders as she leans over the wall. One leg gets bent under the opposite knee, the other foot dwindling in the void. There’s a waterfall roaring nearby, an owl screeches somewhere in the distance, and a choir of crickets are there to lull her to sleep. The breeze is chilly, in spite of the day having been hot enough. It’s a perfect summer evening, and the stars are twinkling and she is not pretending anymore to be someone she isn’t, and she is alone.

Tears stars to fall, because she is not pretending to be someone or something that she isn’t, and the result is that she is alone. And Mythal, it feels like emerging from underwater, but keeping her breath has been so good and warm that she really thinks she could stay underwater forever.

It’s just tiredness making her think that way, she knows -she knows herself well-, the hour is very late and the day has been incredibly long, the choice she had to make a hard one, and one she doesn’t think was the right one. It’s everything, and it’s nothing, and she will feel a little better in the morning.

She lets the crickets and the owl lull her to sleep.

[acsredstringbrigade]

Alright, time to do an analysis of the coat of arms for the Office of Incident Assessment and Response. I am sure other people have done this, but I don't care.

First, the overall emblem is based off of the royal arms of the UK, the lion rampamt sinister, and the unicorn rampant, supporting the crest, as shown below.

This is likely just to signify that it is a british official department, but just in case ...

The lion rampant signifies courage, strength, and royalty. It being sinister just means it is facing right and traditionally doesn't have any specific meanings. In the UK coat of arms, it represents England.

The Unicorn represents purity, innocence, and power, and more specifically, in this case, Scotland. It is interesting that the Unicorn isn't chained in the OIAR symbol, as that symbolizes the fact that England conquered Scotland, and joined them to the UK.

The next element in is the Laurel Wreath. In general, it signifies victory. Though, in this case, a more accurate interpretation would likely be authority or knowledge.

The Latin, non vacilabumis translates more or less to we will not falter. Non is simply a negative. Vacilabimus can be broken down into its base word vacillare, which means to sway, waver, hesitate, stagger, etc, and its ending -ibmus, which is the first person plural ending, or "we".

On to the emblem itself, the center is an inverted philosopher's stone. This was the representation of the culmination of Alchemy. It was said to have both transmutive properties and be an elixir of life. Off the wiki, it " was the central symbol of the mystical terminology of alchemy, symbolizing perfection at its finest, divine illumination, and heavenly bliss." As for what it being inverted means, I am not sure (genuinely it may simply be that by inverting the symbol, it looks more fitting as a government seal).

Around the outside, the symbol for sulfur appears at the four corners. It is the first of the three primes, or what mateerials were thought to be composed of under the alchemical model. It represents the soul, or consciousness, in all matter.

The center two symbols are the symbols for Mercury and Salt. These are the other two of the three primes. Mercury, or quicksilver, was seen as the spirit, something that linked the body and the soul. Historically, it was seen as a possible way to trancend the cycle of life and death. Today, it is seen more as the art of transmutation. Salt was seen as tepresentative of the body and of physical matter, of all that exists.

The fact that all three primes appear in this definitely means something, though what exactly I am not sure yet.

The circle around these symbols could represent acid, vitriol (sulfates), or maybe oxygen. Or it could simply be the use of standard heraldic separation.

The arrows likely mean something, but all I can think of here is the symbol for a corporal in the army.

As for the pips, my best guess is that it could be a way to implement numbers and their meanings. So, just in case, I will put their meanings from numerology here as well. 1 is the number of creation and leadership, or a number of the self. 2 in turn is the number of the other, and represents cooperation and observation. 4 is order and structure. Which all of those make quite a bit of sense...

I wonder if seeing the symbols present through a "magical" lense may begin to yield more results.

[somerunner]

Wintersteel Post (book 8)

Ok, I loved this book the most. Out of all of them, I think it's my favorite (when accounting for recency bias; I'm partial to Waybound at the moment). Lots of that comes from a few of my favorite scenes and character interactions, which I won't really be going into during this post. This series of posts is for analysing pacing and the books' performance as part of the whole story.

In this book we get quite a few advancements. Most of them happen on-screen and are not that dramatic, but a few are very dramatic. Since the crew is going to ascend by the end of Cradle as a whole, at some point we will have to see more than one advancement per character, per book. Wintersteel serves that purpose very well, properly spacing out advancements through the book so they don't lose their appeal.

The Abidan plot intersects once again with the Cradle plot, continuing what Uncrowned set in motion. (deleted side-comment because this post is way too long)

We see a lot more about authority/willpower arts, both for Sages and Heralds. Since Lindon and Yerin are both headed for those advancements pretty soon, we need a little primer of those abilities -- which we get from the individual Sage training for Yerin, and Fury's interactions with Mercy and Lindon. We also get to see a few more sacred artist fights + small team in a big organization, like in Skysworn. Somehow I liked this rendition of that story way better.

The A-plots of the book were handled beautifully. Yerin's involved so many things: saving the bacon of countless humans by winning the tournament, honoring the Sage of the Endless Sword by winning the tournament and striving for the Sword Icon, reconciling with her blood shadow Ruby despite her village's slaughter at her pre-conscious hands, and tolerating Min Shuei and her resentment over Amada's death. Lindon's plot involved being obsessive about getting All the Loot and incidentally being nonlethal about it (but it was equally fun to read).

Even more, we get to know more about Ziel, Ethan and Mercy. Since they're pretty big parts of the team, it's good to get a lot of character moments for them. Not only for them, but we actually get a lot of insights into side characters.

And a major teaser for the ninth book, with Orthos showing up in Sacred Valley. It didn't occur to me until now, but the prologue and epilogue bookend Wintersteel with scenes of Sacred Valley. Maybe it's not intended as theming, but you could certainly argue it that way -- the Dreadgods are very related to Sacred Valley, and they're kind of background villains in this book. By framing them with the first and last chapters, the reader is reminded that they are a serious looming threat that have been the main quest for Lindon since Unsouled (book 1), and will continue to be dangerous even after Monarchs have been killed.

So, pacing was pretty good in this book, and as far as fleshing out the characters and giving stakes to the story, Wintersteel is great. And then you add the fact that there are so, so many awesome scenes and it becomes an incredible book.

[darkmarkets]

The Horrors of NaNoWriMo

So, let's talk about that gory maggot-infested undead elephant in the room: National Novel Writing Month.

We might as well talk about it, because everyone else is. From Time Magazine to Salon, the Washington Post to Wired, the internet is very interested in why you should or should not try to write a novel in one month. Some of these literary pundits (or litdits, if you will) claim NaNoWriMo will be the death of literary publishing altogether. Others herald the egalitarian motives of NaNoWriMo, applauding the event for giving everyone, regardless of talent or spelling ability, the chance to be an author for a little while, hence promoting peace and goodwill. And if you listen to the internet, you might start to think the very fate of humanity rests on our tiny little typing fingers.

Don't worry; it doesn't.

Historically, I've been on both sides of the issue. I have violently rallied against and peacefully protested for the yearly writing event. Maybe that's why I'm able to look at NaNoWriMo with such a bipartisan viewpoint—there are pros and cons, rights and lefts, and what works for one writer may be hideous, spine-shattering torture for another. So, before I follow in the footsteps of my fellow litdits and tell you what you should or should not write, let's take a moment look at our options.

Option 1: Partake in the most publicized mass writing event in the Northern Hemisphere by attempting to write 50,000 words in 30 days.

Pro: It's fun to be insane.

Con: Anyone who tries this goes insane. Now, the term insane does not equate to bad writer, it simply indicates a lack of sanity that may or may not leave an individual babbling at the bottom of the shower at four in the morning with a spatula in one hand and the cat's litter box in the other. Of course there are going to be bad writers doing NaNoWriMo, but that's hardly the point—the point is losing oneself in sheer creative abandon, regardless of the consequences. That's always a good time.

Well, okay; it's an entertaining time. We probably shouldn't call it good. I've done this, by the way, and I was so insane that I managed 120,000 words in six weeks, but now I can hardly keep cookware in my house and my cat really hates me for making her go outside.

Option 2: Write as per normal.

Pro: Writing like normal.

Con: Writing like normal. If writers have anything in common, it's that tiny voice in the back of our heads telling us we should be writing right now. It is that unrelenting urge, that nagging feeling we are never relieved of. To satisfy it, we must shutter ourselves away from polite civilization and bang on a keyboard until our fingers are bruised and bloody, producing a piece of art that, most likely, no one but us will enjoy. But nothing truly makes that terrible voice go away. And, that's as it should be. 

The people I call Real Writerstm are the ones who are constantly banging away at odd hours of the morning, toiling over words, making any and all excuses they need to write even if they can only cram in one sentence a day between brushing their teeth and taking a pee. Those Real Writers are the ones who crave words every day of the year, whether it means they get a whole chapter done or just a measly line of dialogue. It doesn't matter what they do or don't publish, what genre they like, or how many critics think their story was "well-written." Writers write. Even when it's not November.

So, at the end of the day (or month, what have you), it actually doesn't matter whether or not you participate in NaNoWriMo because, as a writer, you're going to go utterly insane either way. At least in November we can all be nutjobs together, in a sense of morbid thanksgiving and goodwill. And spatulas.

Lorna D Keach

[bellsplit]

oi!     i'm  talking  to  you  over  here!     akaza!

akaza !!

AKAZA !!

the compass needle sings its warning due east.     his head is  ringing  with the myriad of sounds & sensations assaulting his form,  both within & without,  a cacophany of alarm & anger & imminent doom  —  douma's blood demon art is oppressive,  the rime in the air stinging his skin wherever it lands now that those  stupid  girls  are in play.     & through it all comes the muffled call of his prize,  trapped within the bowels of this cursed temple,  his voice weak & ragged ...

the voice of a dying man.     a dying man calling out for  him.

no.

a cry of utter despair,  pain,  &  rage  bursts from between fanged jaws  —  douma  may  lack  bark,   but  akaza  has  it  in  spades.    even through the icicles that have thorned right through his tattooed neck,  the red horse's voice heralds destructive death when he yells out his promise :

"  kyojuro !!     i  hear  you,   hang  in  there!     i'm  going  to  save  you!  "

𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎  𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 :    𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚙𝚜𝚎 !

one moment the elder oni is crouched over that hole down to hell,  & the next he's vaulted himself into the air ... only to come down  hard  on one of those icy dolls,  shattering her entire body beneath the force of his punch.     the last time he'd seen these silly mikos he'd been helpless against their charms,  part of him suddenly  going  slack  rather than being able to stop them from making him their prey :    but not this time.

"  keep your filthy thoughts to yourself,  sycophant.  "     again the brightness of the compass needle flashes beneath his feet,  bathing the battlefield in its blue glow.     "  don't touch things that aren't yours :    maybe that's why  no  one  wants  to  spend  time  with  your  dumb  ass.  "

judging by the way he's speaking akaza is clearly in pain,  even as a leftward flick of the head cracks one of the icicles embedded in his throat ;    his strength doesn't seem to be waning as he knows it should be,  though.     the compass needle doesn't waver,  his blood demon art hasn't felt  weaker ...  he's being bled on purpose by douma's hoarfrost & cold,  stalling to slow him down,  likely to prevent the complete & utter collapse of the temple around them ... but if he continues on like this,  it puts kyojuro at further risk.     the longer that rime hangs in the air,  too ... humans lungs can't withstand it.

there's no avoiding it if he can't think of something quickly :    kyojuro will die,  & all of this will be for nothing.

upper three's target shifts in an instant from the prophet himself to that frigid doll.     the other had been easy to destroy since he'd been able to drop down from above,  but looking into this one's face ... it would normally make akaza  buckle.     douma makes them beautiful as an extension of himself,  naturally,  & it shows in the pucker of those lips,  the swoop of her long hair,  the flutter of frozen eyelashes——

𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎  𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 :    𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚛,   𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 !

but this time he's not subdued by her charms,  not even when he gets a faceful of frigid breath that momentarily  blinds  him  when his fists & the shockwaves that they generate decimate that icy form.     but he doesn't stop there :    the red horse pushes forward,  even with his fists completely frozen & his ethereal,  beautiful eyes covered with thick cataracts of ice,  even as a pained cry leaves his lungs & his body wants to give out.     that final blow lands squarely on upper two's chest,  the force behind it doubled as akaza throws himself into it & pushes them both out of the collapsed shoji,  the pair of oni tumbling over one another in a heap of claws & fangs & long hair until they splash into one of the ponds outside.

kyojuro,   i'm  begging  you  to  survive  —  set  your  heart  ablaze.

  A smile cracks through the tension when rhinestone eyes meet their fragmented counterparts. That other time, the ancient warrior's gaze had confessed a measure of wariness. This time there's naught but pure rage; the younger oni tastes it in the air between them, and savors it with a flick of the tongue. Invigorating. He's breezing off of Akaza's wrath like a leaf on the wind; taking it and reflecting its ugly truth. That the third moon thirsts for blood, for power. That he is no better than the rest of them. And so, seraphic features flash a malevolent smirk; triumph.

 It lasts for a moment. The next, he's sent flying to the edge of the chamber. His limbs, his form, reduced to a ragdoll when the punch blows a hole in his midsection. Guts fly left and right. His claws manage the merest scratch on Akaza's wrist with a half hearted attempt to grip it when it plunged inside his viscera. Those same claws dig into the floor to stop him slamming his back and taking the shoji down with him.

Pushing me out of close range, where he has the advantage? He must have wanted to stall. He's too eager to look for the human.

A brief glimpse of their true, empty visage. Their spine unfolds; they rise, as threads of bone and muscle begin to weave a hollow midsection back together. It's purposefully instantaneous and that alone should suffice to send a very clear message as to who holds the upper hand between them. Dōma has no bark; so his bite would be felt twicefold.

꧁༺B̝̼͓l̡̺͓o̡̠͙o̘̺͇d͓̻͓ D͇͜e͎̙̙m̫̼o͎͔n̢͇͍ A̡̼̘r̺̦̝t̢̢:̼̫͜C͛͒o̾͊̕l͋͌d̔̐͒ W͐̿͌h̿̈́̕i͐͋̓t́̔͝e̐͑͘ P͊͐͘r͊͆͝i̾̐̾n̓͛͆c̾͐e͑̈́͛s̿̓s̾͐̚e͑͊̾s͊̀̐༻꧂

There's space between them now. Enough to place two more pawns down on the board - the compass, that would alert his companion to the abrupt entrance of those familiar, demure faces. Their long hair unfolds in waves this time, and puckered lips blow two gusts of hoarfrost in the crouched oni's direction. What the hell was Akaza thinking, giving him the opportunity so freely?

❝ Don't be silly. He's a human. He's a pillar. ❞ He's the enemy. He's the one they have all been programmed to hunt and eat. Once again, Destructive Death gets to be the exception; and the red horse's whims might just fly in the end, because that man bends the rules for him. ❝ Even if you've battered him pretty badly, he looks positively delicious~ ❞ A languid lick of the lips, eyes crinkling with a short-lived giggle; as soon they would flash wide upon being met with... utter ignorance.

His best friend was busy calling out to that human.

I have to exhaust him. If I keep triggering his compass, he will have to keep his attention on me.

❝ Oy! I'm talking to you over here. Akaza! ❞ A mock pout. He waved; fan shut in his palm yet slipping open inconspicuously when he slouched in a dejected fashion. ❝ Bah. You can be so rude sometimes, you know? Hm. Perhaps this will get your attention.❞ A light-hearted giggle prefaced the attack; fans snapped open instantaneously and a graceful motion had them slice piercing shards of ice into life.

꧁༺B̝̼͓l̡̺͓o̡̠͙o̘̺͇d͓̻͓ D͇͜e͎̙̙m̫̼o͎͔n̢͇͍ A̡̼̘r̺̦̝t̢̢:̼̫͜W͊͛͆i̓̓̕n̈́̓t̓̈́͒r̿̚̕ÿ́͊ I̽́c͌́̕y͋͘͠c̓̽̈́l̒̿͌e̿͐̈́s̀͌͆ ༻꧂

Scattered into the artificial wind, these pointy cones would head straight for the third moon's neck. There would hardly be space for him to fully dodge that between the girls' frigid breaths. Even a few scratches would be enough to have his blood art suck the other's flesh and drain it of much needed essence. Small lashes, a snake biting the tiger's feet. To wear him down; to stop him, before his anklets chimed of doom.

@bellsplit

[tanoraqui]

Has anyone ever covered the subject of 'What if Fingolfin was the son of Miriel, and Feanor the son of Indis'?

Obligatory disclaimer: all characterizations are at least 50% headcanon/theory.

I almost said, "I'm not sure that would even work", because so much of Fëanor is shaped by being Miriel's son and so much of Fingolfin is shaped by being Fëanor's younger brother and chief rival...and especially, so much of Fëanor's huge role in the narrative is shaped by being Miriel's son... But the thing about Fëanor and Fingolfin, if not the then certainly a reason they could never get along, is that they're far more similar than either will admit. So I CAN tell you how the early years go.

First: accept the premise that canon!Fëanor, son of Miriel, really literally has superelvish strength of fëa. At minimum, he got, like, half his mother's; possibly he got enough for the like 4 additional children Miriel might've borne to Finwë had she not been a creatively ambitious madwoman. This is how he had the literal creative energy for groundbreaking inventions in multiple disciplines (notable linguistics, jewelcraft); this is how he spoke so forcibly that a herald of Manwë bowed and got out of his way; this is how he scarred his savage intent into the very melody of Arda, shaping events hundreds, maybe thousands of years after his own death. This is why it's impossible for anyone to have a neutral opinion on Fëanor - people loved him or hated him, but there was no ignoring him.

[Sidenote: we as a fandom don't spend enough time appreciating creation as a holy act. The Secret Fire, the means by which Eru gave life and sentience to everyone from the Valar to the Edain, is the purest power of creation. Elves should view all art and craft as inherently religious acts!]

Of course, some one that was just Fëanor, and the Oath was so very permanent because (to my mind) Eru is the sort of parent who's like, "you want that [self-inflicted curse] for a permanent tattoo? Okay, I'll support it, but don't come begging for me to undo it..." And canon!Fingolfin very much had his own Going Off in Glory moment, and did rather more damage in his final fight...but I'd argue that Fëanor was NOT at his best in his final balrog match, whereas Fingolfin...well, he was fell and fey, but he focused it in a way I think Fëanor no longer could when he charged ahead. I'd say that Fëanor had already spent much of his astonishing strength on the Silmarils, on the Oath, on standing up in the immediate wake of the declaring of the Doom and filling his people with such fire that most of them, let's be real, still followed him to Middle Earth even after he tried to abandon them - and the rest of them helped him abandon over half their forces and then charge into battle.

SO. In this motherswap au, it is Fingolfin Nolofinwë Arakáno who is born with that raw strength of spirit. Arakáno is the name he keeps, because it is the name given to him by his mother, Miriel Þerindë, whom he killed with his birth, reminder to all of the unhealable Marring of the World, and he will not let her be forgotten.

Finwë sees Indis of the Vanyar and her love for him, and returns it; the Valar allow this and Miriel allows it and declines to return to life, and Arakáno is...fine. He's fine. (Finwë isn't an idiot, he's worried how Arakáno is taking this - he's always worried about how Arakáno is taking everything, ever since Miriel died. Ever since Miriel first left for Lórien. But if Arakáno won't talk about it, and he does seem happier when Finwë lets him help with things...)

Because of course Arakáno wants his father to be happy, of course he is happy for him, and for Indis! They should have all the time they wish together - would Finwë like him, Arakáno, to handle this day of sitting in judgement on disputes brought before the throne? He's been studying law and justice with the loremasters... Would Finwë like him to oversee this committee on the building, and the building itself, of these new towers in the southern part of the city. Oh, and could Arakáno please sort out that affair with the silversmiths? He has some theories of conflict resolution and internal management he wants to try...

(There's no indication in canon that Fingolfin ever had notable skill at any creative craft - but the Noldor were famous for lore as well as craft, so by the Valar, Arakáno who is not Marred will study. And he clearly had no small skill at leadership - a natural talent in canon honed by practice, here not only practiced but augmented by that raw strength of spirit that could light fire in an entire people.)

Meldayendë* Findis, Fëanáro Curufinwë, Lalwendë Irimë, Ingoldo Arafinwë... Arakáno is always polite to his younger (half-)siblings. He plays with them for an appropriate few minutes whenever his father or Indis asks, or sometimes even when the (half-)siblings themselves do. At worst he is curt when he says that he's busy, and chivies them gently but firmly from his rooms. And with every breath he silently says: this is my city, this is my kingdom and my people, this is my place in Father's affections, in the Noldor, in the Great Song of Arda itself, and you are not wanted here.

*Meldayendë, Q. "beloved daughter", mothername I made up on the spot just now. Findis was named while Finwë and Indis made hearteyes at each other; this much is obvious in canon.

Every now and then, Arakáno forgets himself, or he's desperately lonely, or he decides to heed Finwë's asking to just try a little harder to warm up to them, and his (half-)siblings win a genuinely approving or even fond smile. They all live for this, because how can they not love their older brother? He's as bright in spirit as a star come to the ground, he's beloved of the whole city, he's the cleverest person in the world except for Father... They all hate him, because he clearly despises them, even if Father pretends not to notice, and when Arakáno walks through a room first, bright and charming, everyone is a little colder to them in his wake.

(Fëanor was, is, always fire, long before he turned himself into an all-consuming blaze that was briefly the only light in the Dark; Fingolfin was, is, always fire as well, but one that was so concentrated in its burning that it grew hot enough to be as cold as ice.)

Findis goes to study among her mother's people in Valimar, and rarely returns home to Tirion, where Arakáno is Prince. Arafinwë goes to Alqualondë. Lalwendë is the only one of Indis's children with a knack for the currents of court, and she is just stubborn enough to not abandon Tirion completely (though she often visits her oldest and youngest full-siblings). Mostly she makes herself not a threat - she laughs, she flirts, she throws parties.

Curufinwë is the only one who sometimes makes Arakáno's cool break in temper. Of all Indis's children, Curufinwë looks the most like Finwë, the most like Arakáno, which shouldn't matter but it does. The Noldor hew to their beloved crown prince - beloved of the people, beloved of the king - and rhetoric is a most-admired craft, and Curufinwë has no natural talent for it...but it's quickly obvious that he has a natural talent for most other crafts. Linguistics! Smithing! Jewelsmithing! He has a creative zeal, some murmur, that has not been seen since Miriel Serindë herself...

(Finwë murmurs; Finwë tells Arakáno, trying to give him reason to draw close with his younger (HALF-)brother...)

Curufinwë all but runs away from home to go apprentice with the Aulendili, years younger than most such apprenticeships start, and Arakáno, who of course did nothing to encourage it, is quietly, viciously satisfied. Curufinwë all but elopes with Nerdanel Mahtaniel, and they immediately run off to explore a promising vein of marble in the southern Pelori, for Nerdanel's sculpture and Curufinwë's...whatever craft Curufinwë is interested in this year. Arakáno gives them study traveling packs as a wedding present.

(Curufinwë all but eloped just when Arakáno was about to announce his own engagement with a wonderful elf named Anairë, who is the only person he's ever met who can consistently beat him in an argument. Arakáno told himself this is coincidence, there was no way Curufinwë knew - and anyway, when had hot-tempered, impulsive Curufinwë engaged in any sort of planning?

Finwë was briefly positively gleeful about the idea of his sons having a double-wedding. Curufinwë and Nerdanel explained that this was a courtesy notice and they were going to get married tomorrow night and immediately leave for this promising marble they'd heard about. (Curufinwë briefly considered doing it just to prove that they could, but Arakáno would be so much better at the smiling and pretending this was all fun and fine, and anyway, he didn't want to have a wedding in Arakáno's city; he wanted to marry Nerdanel.))

The honeymoon is cut short, of course, by the need to return "home" for Arakáno and Anairë's wedding, which is as grand and glorious all the craft of the Noldor could make it. Now, I will say, as I say for canon, that there are just enough emotionally intelligent people involved that no children are ever conceived out of pure spite/competition/etc, nor even mostly nor muchly spite/competition/etc. But I will say that Anairë gets pregnant sooner after her marriage than she would in another timeline (and everyone watches her pregnancy and post-partum days very carefully, much they way they used to watch Indis), and Arakáno names his firstborn son Findekáno - "chieftain" from his own "high chieftain" and the "fin" which is nearly synonymous with the Noldorin kingship; his line and Finwë's and nothing else matters.

Curufinwë and Nerdanel, in any timeline, have children with 0 sense of political timing and 100% horny creative enthusiasm. But when they bring their firstborn to court, Curufinwë - who never does anything by halves - announces that his name is Nelyafinwë, third Finwë, and there's really no possible explanation like "first child of the third generation" this time.

(War, then.)

(Another constant of the Song, no matter the key: Findekáno will be impulsive in spirit, always happiest riding out of the city to hunt, camp, jump off cliffs for the joy of the splash and challenge dragons for the defense of his people. Nelyafinwë will have his father's temper but honed to, if not a cold flame, then at least a sharp, precisely wielded blade; he will always be happiest with ink on his fingers and a well-argued law just passed for the improvement of the roads. The only things they will love more than each other are their loyalties and duties to their respective houses. Sometimes this will save the Noldor and sometimes it will doom them.)

Curufinwë and Nerdanel promptly leave the city again, newborn in tow, to explore some quartz caves in the west.

For several hundred mostly happy years, it goes like this:

Ingwë has long-since left Tirion to sit at the feet of Manwë upon Taniquetil; he is still High King but that always mostly meant he was tie-breaker between his younger colleagues. Finwë is King in shining Tirion, his people still love him for leading them through darkness to light - and they love their Prince Arakáno at least as much, and the two of them pretend Indis and her children don't stand between them. (Finwë hopes time will make pretense will wear gently into reality; Arakáno knows it never will but for love of his father, he won't escalate unless provoked; Indis is...getting tired of this.)

Findis stays in Valimar. Curufinwë and Nerdanel mostly only return to Tirion to briefly present Finwë and Indis with new grandchilden - though they stay for a few years after the second while Fëanor throws himself into study with Rúmil, and eventually emerges with the Tengwar, which immediately catches on. Lalwendë is a laughing, harmless gem of the court, Noldo enough to admire beautiful art and attend and discuss lectures, but she has neither craft nor study of her own. Arafinwë falls in love with Olwë's eldest daughter and they do literally elope, the first notably rebellious act of Arafinwë's life, and live by the shore.

Eärwen confesses to Nerdanel that she and Ara are thinking about having a child, but she's a little nervous. Nerdanel says, "I'm just waiting for Curufinwë to finish his current project before we have another - why don't I send you a message when we've begat our newest, and you and Ara can come together then, and we can go through everything together? I'm happy to be a guide - this will be my fourth, after all!

(Boy oh boy, if you thought Finrod and Turgon were a dog + cat combo... Anytime in the future:

Finrod: Hi, I'm Findaráto, and this is my cousin and best friend, Carnistir! Caranthir, glaring and maybe holding a knife: If you make him sad, I'll make you with you hadn't been born. Finrod: That's Carnistir for 'It's nice to meet you!'

That works so well, and overall time is wearing pretense just a little bit into reality, or at least, the raw power of (grand)children is mellowing everyone, that Arafinwë does the second bold thing in his life and goes to his eldest brother Eärwen goes to Anairë and says, "This worked really well when Nerdanel and I did it, so... Ara and I are thinking of trying one more time for a girl. Would you like to try coordinating pregnancies and births? And regular playdates? So maybe family holidays will be slightly less terrible, if only because Finwë is vibrating with joy?"

(Irissë and Artanis simply do not vibe, unfortunately. But the thought counts a little.)

(And Tyelkormo introduces Irissë to Oromë's Hunt, and she is quickly so skilled a shot that she hunts in white and cares not what sees her. Findaráto befriends Turukáno against Turukáno's will, because between Carnistir and Artanis, Findaráto is emotionally attracted to people who will escalate any conflict. Angaráto and Aikanáro conclude that Findekáno is the Coolest Person Ever and he delightedly takes them under his wing - when he's not busy staring a Completely Normal Amount at Nelyafinwë Maitimo. Maitimo, when not staring back, learns statecraft from his (half-)uncle and grandfather with a determination that is part personal interest, part desire to make everyone get along, and only a little bit knowledge that his father isn't very good at this but clearly someone needs to be if they're going to have a real foothold in Tirion.)

...But somewhere in there, Melkor is released. Olwë turns him away, but Finwë, hopeful and invested in the concept of reconciliation, bids him welcome.

And then Curufinwë, greatest in skill of the crafty Noldor, creates the Silmarils.

Now, a couple posits about the Silmarils:

Fëanor literally put some amount of his own fëa, shorn off the whole, into each gem. Possibly that's why they hold Treelight they way Elven eyes do.

This is NOT HEALTHY for an elf who wasn't literally born with extra fëa-stuff.

In every timeline, Fëanáro Curufinwë would do it anyway.

So Curufinwë is... So long as he has at least one Silmaril on his person, he's fine. Two is better, three is best. If they're out, lighting the room, he's more than his best - that is still concentrated Treelight, after all. The pinnacle of Noldorin jewelcraft. Varda herself has hallowed them. Anyone would be hale and glorious while wearing all three, their creator certainly not least of all.

(But otherwise, he's...tired. He's never not tired anymore, save with Silmarils against his skin.)

Needless to say, Finwë wants to go back in time and STRANGLE himself for ever comparing his too-brilliant second son to his too-brilliant first wife. He's handling this with a combination of anxious doting and loud praise (the most concentrated amount of either that...any of Indis's children have ever gotten from Finwë, reminiscent of his anxious care for Arakáno, well, before Indis). Also needless to say, Arakáno is...conflicted. On one hand, Projecting About Mom Hours, with a side order of I really must be Marred, to spread this curse to so many around me. [Note: do NOT tell me canon!Fëanor didn't have these thoughts.] On the other hand, of COURSE Curufinwë, "[mocking tone] craftiest of all the princes of the Noldor", had to go and do this, with an excuse to wear them constantly. Hallowed by Varda - yes, the Queen of the Valar who gladly dismissed Miriel and her real heir, in favor of Indis of the Vanyar and her spawn...

(Morgoth whispers, greed awoken...)

Arakáno corners Curufinwë and delivers a blistering lecture mostly on the theme of how you could be so careless; how could you do this to Father. Curufinwë, the only one who can regularly provoke his older brother to real temper, snaps back something mostly along the lines of, I'm so sorry you're jealous that you can't!

This is not a world where it has ever occurred to anyone to question the place of Finwë and Miriel's son in leadership of the Noldor - indeed, Finwë is King of the Noldor, and does most diplomacy with the Teleri, Vanyar and Ainur, but for all practical purposes, Arakáno rules in Tirion.

...Anyone but Curufinwë, whose first son is named Nelyafinwë. Curufinwë, now plainly proven greatest of the crafty Noldor in their most beloved art of jewelsmithing. Curufinwë, who regularly wears one, two, or all three Silmarils on his brow, and so walks in a halo of blessed light.

(It's barely occurred to Curufinwë to question Arakáno's leadership of the Noldor, his place as Crown Prince of Tirion, any more than it would occur to anyone in canon to question Fëanor's place as greatest, most skilled crafter of the Noldor. Like, you could, but infuriating as it may be, you're objectively wrong. Curufinwë will even admit, to select people these days, that he doesn't want the job himself - maybe Lalwendë could do it? Or, y'know, Father could actually do his job. Most importantly: why should he, his siblings and all their children and their mother, always, still, feel like barely tolerated guests in the city of their births? Why should Arakáno get his way all the time?)

(Melkor whispers...)

"Oh, you want Tirion?" Arakáno challenges (in much finer language). "Fine! The Noldor aren't a place, they're a people (you half-Vanyar mongrel). We were Noldor when Finwë led us in the Great Journey, we were Noldor when we arrived in Valinor with nothing, and built our realm here with our own hands - we would be Noldor if we returned to Middle-Earth, and built realms anew there, with no oversight from the Valar at all! In fact, maybe we'd be more Noldor, achieving greatness with nothing but the skill of our hands and the wit and wisdom of our learning!"

"The skill we learned from Aulë? A 'we' in which I include myself, proudly! The learning of, what - forestry and plant-husbandry from Yavanna? Hunting from Oromë? I have left the city and lived in the wilds, brother. What do you even know of building anything with your own hands at all?!"

"Yes, we all know of your much-acclaimed skill, oh blessed, shining peacock. Thank you for your agreement, wisely said for so many years, that more of us would be happier wandering afar! You and your family are, of course, a prime example. How well we might make ourselves - unless you're scared to leave the so-called protection of the Valar?"

"The so-called - !"

"Are you and my mother not proof that the Valar cannot keep the promise they made 'our' father of a land of bliss? Or maybe they never meant to keep it..."

"The Valar cannot shield us from knives we drive into our own sides out of pride- no, arrogance, and jealousy."

"Oh, so you admit it!"

(Melkor whispers...)

"King and father, wilt thou not restrain the pride of my brother, Curufinwe, who is called the Spirit of Fire, all too truly? By what right does he speak for all our people, as if he were King? Thou it was who long ago spoke before the Quendi, bidding them dare the long, dark road to peace in Aman. Thou it was that led the Noldor through all the perils of that road - only to be betrayed here at the last! It is your own fire-spirited son who now most suffers from the seductions of this land, just as my mother, Miriel, your beloved wife, did. So I speak as you did long ago, and beg you: reconsider!"

And then...

Well, it is always going to be fire-tempered Fëanáro Curufinwë who draws a sword on his (half-)brother in the king's hall.

And the Valar will always cry foul at the explicit threat of violence. They do want to maintain the peace they promised. And no act is so plainly destructive, anathema to the thesis of the Secret Fire, as to take a life outside the course of nature.

So Curufinwë is exiled, and many of his followers go with him. His sons go with him (Maitimo and Findekáno have barely spoken in weeks). His wife...may or may not go with him; I'm not sure how their marriage is going right now. Better than canon, but is it good enough??

Lalwendë doesn't go with him, but she does go with Indis to Valimar, which Findis never left. She'll go to Formenos later, and Arafinwë's family in Alqualondë. Congratulations, Arakáno, you win. They're all gone.

Finwë goes with him. Arakáno...clearly needs his father, and will only think his fears true if Finwë leaves him now. But so will Curufinwë, there is no winning that puzzle, and he'll leave Arakáno Tirion and the crown. It's been many centuries since Finwë's beloved eldest son wanted his father more than he wanted the city, the kingship, the Noldor. [Finwë is wise, but he's also, sometimes, just a little bit very stupid.] It's understandable, given how much FInwë has failed him - failed all of them, his children, his wife and his people. Arakáno will calm down, Arakáno always calms down, and they'll talk it out.

And Curufinwë is. This exile IS wrong, this is a matter for the NOLDOR; Finwë asked Manwë for judgement on his marriage but not on this, it's not helping. And Curufinwë is- It's Miriel all over again, okay? It's Miriel all over again and when you get right down to it, Finwë cannot leave him.

"Behold the blessings of the Valar," Arakáno says, back in Tirion, rhetoricking half on instinct. The city is bathed in Laurelin and Telperion's Light as it ever was, yet it's darker without the Silmarils - which Curufinwë, of course, took with him. As he took Finwë, so all other victories are hollow.

Truly this land is cursed, rather than blessed. Truly, his half-siblings bring nothing but pain.

(Findekáno has punched three walls. Arakáno knows full well where the dog hairs on Irissë's robes are still coming from. Anairë is sleeping in a bedroom across the palace, and when he makes a dry joke that a flies right past a courtier's head, he finds himself thinking, Lalwendë would've noticed, and laughed one of her truer laughs.)

In Formenos: Maybe Arakáno is right, Curufinwë thinks bitterly, if this is what trusting the Valar gets him. Of course, Father has sided with him for once - ha! Ha! Also, Melkor came by, and telling him to fuck off was satisfying.

(But Maitimo has locked himself in his bedroom, as has Carnistir; Nerdanel has been sleeping in a different bedroom since it became clear what the Silmarils had cost him; when he lets his fury fade, he, too starts to wonder if this was the best idea - Arakáno was right that he's distressed Father...)

The Valar once more consult no Eldar before declaring a grand festival of reconciliation but it...isn't entirely opposed by any party. Finwë stays in Formenos until his son's exile is formally ended, and because Curufinwë leaves the Silmarils behind and Finwë doesn't trust them unguarded. In fact, he sends all the children out on a hunt, and all assorted attendants with them or on other errands.

Curufinwë leaves the Silmarils behind as a good-faith gesture of humility (which Arakáno had better appreciate). He'll be fine for a couple days of journey and return - even Miriel didn't fade immediately! Nerdanel joins him, and Indis meets them there, and will return with them to Formenos, in case he needs holding-up in body or spirit.

"As I promised, I do now. I release thee, and remember no grievance," Arakáno says before Manwë's throne, holding out his hand, and means it. Curufinwë is a fire-tempered idiot and Arakáno had been provoking him for, oh, years. It's barely even his fault that he drew that sword.

"Half-brother in blood, full brother in heart will I be." Curufinwë takes his hand, and means it. "Thou shalt lead and I will follow. May no new grief divide us." Because really, deep down, this is his older brother - as bright in spirit as a star come to the ground, beloved of the whole city, the cleverest person in the world except for Father.

"I hear thee," says Arakáno, and doesn't smile approvingly nor fondly, but there's a hint of what could be in his eyes. "So be it."

And then the Mingled Treelight of the world, the same Light captured through skill and foolhardy craft

goes

Dark.

[imagine-silk]

hullo! May I please request varric dating a reader who acts a lot like a detective? (Basically they really like to solve mysteries and help people and be a bit eccentric)

A strange detective covers a lot of ground, so I went with a noir Sherlock Holmes. I don't know, the thought of a melodramatic noir detective in Dragon Age is so out of place it humors me greatly.

Art by Benjamin Carre

You first met in the Hinterlands when Berand asked the herald to find his lover. They found you over her body reading the letter and you quickly explained you found her like this and needed to find her lover. When they told you where he was you got really sad claiming the hunt and satisfaction of finding him was gone.

You joined them to deliver the news a little displeased but immediately perked up when the party off-handily mentioned this was the second person you were hired to find. Excited you asked who they were and joined the inquisition.

Through all of this Varric wanted to laugh. He knew he shouldn't think this was funny in the middle of a war but you were so strange and Trevelyan thought so as well.

Working for the inquisition satisfied your inquisitive nature. Whenever there was a person or object to find you were on the case and you solved them quite quickly.

Because of the ongoing war with templars and mages you were always busy. So much so you never really talked to the inner-circle or anyone really that much not until after Haven is attacked. During the journey to Skyhold it was Varric who checked on you. He had never seen you distraught about anything unrelated to your work. While everyone is getting settled he notices no one really checks on you so he takes it upon himself to do so.

He learns quite a bit during your talks. Proper checking for cause of death, deducting suspects, talking to the victim's family. You also have more personal talks explaining how much you enjoy your job, your extreme highs and lows, your close relationship with death, your need to figure things out and how all of these things make it difficult to be palatable to others.

You also learn about him. He doesn’t really say much about himself that's not cryptic but for you he doesn't need to. Not saying you fully understand, you probably never will, but you get a general idea. As much as you want to press for detail or find a paper-trail you know he wouldn't like that and a stepping stone in your relationship is you learning to be content with that. (And no, he won't tell you the story of Bianca.)

At some point he writes a book that is based off of you. It becomes very popular even to people outside of his fans because it is one of the only book of his where the main character survives and has regular wins, a lot of losses but consistent wins. It wasn't hard to write, he mostly just rewords what you tell him and embellishes it.

A lot of people saw the change of the MC over time. MC started as a strange excitable person obsessed with solving intricate crimes who was petty and difficult to deal with but later turns out to be a person isolated because of their eccentric nature and constantly working because it allows their mind to run as fast as it can without waiting for others.

Readers also noticed when there was a growing romantic tension, like they were suddenly reading this character in the most flattering light. But they had no love interest. It's not very clear if Varric was envisioning his lack of romance or yours. (Cassandra picks up on it and is ate it up)

The only real reason he allowed it to be published was because his beta-readers loved it to pieces and he knows you won't read it due to your lack of time and lack of interest in it. You hate when writers get something wrong but specifically in Varric's case you already knew what happens. And your right, your not going to find anything new other than things he embellished.

By then people have kind of sniffed out the growing interest you both have. An interest you both don't seem to want to act on. Varric's self-loathing is infamous, he would never give himself a happy ending and you know this. You also have reservations due to your very dangerous job and insane working habits. You both are quite content to keep what you both know unsaid.

It gets to a point the inner-circle start to intervene. They don't succeed but they try. Trevelyan gives you less work so you have more free time but having less work pisses you off big time. Cassandra tries to get you to read his books but you keep telling her no and Varric is irked by her attempts. Cole tries to fix your hurts but for both of you it's too little too late. Josephine and Leliana get you to social events but Varric is a socialite and entertains crowds and you are known as a very impressive detective and a main character in a book, you both occupied the whole night. Depending if your fem or masc, Sera or Dorian will ask if you need any advice for the bedroom to which annoyed you. Vivienne got peeved enough to invite you to a spa day and brought Varric along with her, apparently he was under the same impression, so out of spite you both enjoyed your time using her paid day off to do nothing. Even Blackwall and Solas try to ask if either of you are interested in someone, though they're a lot more teasing.

Funny enough Iron Bull is the only one content on letting things play out. He knows something would need to happen for the spark to turn into a flame.

The beginning of your official romance is not very romantic I'm afraid. You leave on a particularly interesting case and don't come back. And he panics. Fully thinks your dead but doesn't give up on trying to find you. He asks news from the scouts, checks taverns and towns when he goes out, even asks Cole if he knows where you are. Cole says, "Panicked, prancing like a headless chicken, they're probably scared as I am. Or maybe their fine. Or maybe their dead. Just another regret. My answer won't soothe your hurt no matter the what I say." He knows the kid is right. If he said you were perfectly safe he would doubt it and if he said you were unsafe or dead he would never forgive himself.

When you come back bloodied and bruised it's almost like you never left. No one reacts and you don't want them to. Because of this Varric doesn't know you’re back. He spots you sitting on the battlements and runs. You turn to see a flushed sweating dwarf staring at someone he's not sure is a ghost, like if he blinks you’ll wisp away. The conversation starts like all the others and for a long time you sit casually talking. A long pause is broken by Varric, "You scared me." to which you replied a quiet I know, and silence takes over once more. You put your hand on his and he pulls you into a hug. When you pull away you look at each other and with no words see everything unsaid. Neither of you knows who started the kiss but it's long and chaste, sweet and tenderly slow.

After that you're just an item, no real talk necessary. It takes a while for others to figure it out, y'all don't act mush different. All of your kisses are stolen, flirting is no more than usual. Varric takes things slow which is fine by you.

When your gone you send letters back and forth. It's a bit difficult because you're on the move constantly. Your letters mostly consist of current events but as the time apart grows it will detail how you miss one another, sometimes it's spicy.

In your extreme highs he listens intensely. Your excited nature making him feel like everything is right in the world. In your extreme lows he learns how to help you. Lack of work? He tries to get you to focus on doing something, like a puzzle or finding a specific item. Saw something horrible? He'll ask you to talk about it. Just down? He tells you it's okay and either does a little spa day and spends the day pampering and goofing off or he takes you to the tavern to have fun, which usually end in some 'fun'.

Varric is also a bridge to having a better social life. You don't stop being strange but he brings out your sweetness and humor allowing others to enjoy it as well. You are also the muse of his latest book and high society folk are nosy so in places like Val Royeaux you will be swarmed. But in taverns and the like it's just an good time.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Friday, July 28

Did you know that if you can't 100% commit to making a newsletter post the same day every week, you can swap to a different day as needed or even skip a week? Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more here.

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Dawn's Vacay by apachefirecat (Dawn, Spike, PG/K+)

Dead by apachefirecat (Spike/Buffy, Dawn, PG/K+)

Impressed by apachefirecat (Spike/Buffy, R/M)

An Amble Through the Zoo With You by cornerofmadness (Giles/Jenny, teen)

Moving On Up by apachefirecat (Giles, with many mentions of other characters and pairings, PG/K+)

Camazotz ("Stands So Far" Series) by madimpossibledreamer (Giles POV, not rated)

The Magic Of Motherhood by JamesTheIceQueen (Tara/Willow/Faith, M)

give them all that they can drink by eagle_eyes (Angel/Cordelia, T)

put on a brave face by bodytoflame (Tara, Willow, G)

Eight Terrible Dates (And One Happily Ever After) by Holly (Buffy/Spike, collection rated NC-17)

Monsters in the Dark by Holly (Buffy/Spike, collection rated NC-17)

A Mighty Woman with a Torch by fortes775 (Doctor Who crossover, Buffy/Spike, R)

Retirement by fortes775 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Video Games by eternallyec (Buffy/Spike, Xander & Spike, collection rated R)

Surprise Party by EllieRose101 (Buffy/Spike, PG)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Twice Broken, Thrice Burnt - Chapter 1 by TheClowniestLivInExistence (Buffy/Spike, E)

Encased by Sunshine, Ch. 20 by acb6293 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Through the Years, Ch. 27-28 by DarkVoid116 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

A Vampire's Guide to Dating the Slayer, Ch. 24-25 (COMPLETE!) by the_big_bad (Buffy/Spike, R)

The Art of Dying, Ch. 29-31, COMPLETE! by disco-tea (Buffy/Spike, R)

Because I could not stop death, Ch. 4-5 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, R)

Vanilla and Spice, Ch. 26-38 by MaggieLaFey (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

The Truth Shall Set You Free, Ch. 8-10 by Geliot99 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Up and Away, Ch. 4-5 by simmony (Buffy/Spike, R)

Home Movies, Ch. 11-14 by cawthraven (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Hi Daddy, Ch. 1-4 by SzmattyCat (Buffy/Spike, OC, PG)

Moving Day, Ch. 1-7 (COMPLETE!) by mcgnagallsarmy (Buffy/Spike, )

Flukes, Ch. 1-2 by MillennialCryBaby (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Best Wishes From San Francisco, Ch. 1-2 by Kanita (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Roots Reaching Light, Ch. 1-3 by Lmrln (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Replacement, Ch. 1 by Melme1325 (Buffy/Spike, OC, PG-13)

What do you mean I'm Magical Nobility? Ch. 29 by KnightofTempest (Harry Potter crossover, Xander, FR18)

Healing After Heaven, Ch. 2 by Kate (Highlander crossover, Buffy, FR13)

Encased in Sunshine, Ch. 20 by Acb6293 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Don't Fall for Rock Stars, Ch. 74-79 by scratchmeout (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

From Hell with Love, Ch. 4-6 by temporarytitle (Buffy/Spike, R)

Five Steps to Falling in Love, Ch. 1-5 (COMPLETE!) by Wojtekstan (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Images, Audio & Video]

After making a 3d model of the Magic Box I decided to try making the training room. by sumyonggai0000 ()

Drawings: Can Your Pussy Do The Vamp? part 1-4 by Wojtekstan (Spike, G)

[Reviews & Recaps]

For reals, "Walk Through the Fire" has probably the most bone-chilling lyric set... by DiscussTek

Why does it feel like more thought and ideas were put into season 6 than season 7? by jdpm1991

I think this subreddit is pretty harsh on the comics by joebocop89

How do you rank the Buffy Halloween episodes? by nfw22

Best musical moment in the show excluding Once More With Feeling? by jdpm1991

Beep Me Pod | 7.21 – "End of Days"

Angel on Top - 5.19 Time Bomb on Stitcher

[Recs & In Search Of]

CharlieOak86868686 recommends a video about the networks Buffy was on

[Fandom Discussions]

Video: Is Glory Underrated? by RachM

Favourite Giles episode: a poll by nightshade

Wes - ingrained paranoia feeding his fear? by Stoney, Priceless

Poll: Which antagonist are you choosing to work for? by InfiniteMehdiLove

How I started watching BTVS .... Too lazy to look for the remote by sunnycoast37

Who’s coming out alive, Bobby [from Supernatural] or Ripper? by Spacityroller

The Order of Taraka is so lame by DiogenesClub91

Just finished my first ever watch of Buffy and (Buffy is my sister, my best friend) by lavenderspr1te

Why do you think they decided to include Amy commenting on Joyce’s death but not Riley in S6? by Simple-Formal-8588

Pop culture references in Buffy by UpstairsReasonable71

Buffy Summers appreciation thread hosted by Opening_Knowledge868

Hulu thumbnails are nothing but spoilers by bethdubv

Is Spike's wedding date human? by sushibananawater

But You’re Just A Girl (Helpless) – Insect Reflection by Emily

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To be honest, when it comes to fantasy, I agree that running down the same ruts can be stale and I like doing things different, but I can pretty much immediately tell when a setting is being weird for the sake of being weird rather than because the author genuinely had an idea for doing things different that they thought would be fun and interesting. Like, sure, most settings don't have 15th-century period-accurate German sumptuary laws. That's because in most books and any tabletop game it would just be weird, distracting, kind of boring and overall suck. Underneath the layers of imitators the pillars of the fantasy genre are fantasy nerds and they knew damn well what they were filtering out from their constructed settings.

Same story with "subversions" where it's just "do the opposite". Arguably worse because at least the oddball shit takes a shred of creativity. "What if instead of good guys the elves were nazis?" Been done, borders on more common than not these days, wasn't interesting the first time. "What if instead of being chosen by fate the main hero--" every possible permutation of that has been done. And on and on

For me it's more about execution. It's really your fault if you can't think of a way to make the essence of base-level fantasy tropes interesting.

Like, Paladins. Paladins are among the first things to go when people start shaking up fantasy, because they're "lame, boring, self-righteous, goody-two-shoes" Like, you don't have to make them humble, pious, chaste pseudocatholic knights--actually Paladins having a chivalric code in a setting with a non-christian-esque church doesn't make sense at all. But the base concept of the Mailed Fist of God walking the earth is not lame or boring to anyone with half a brain. You can even take a conventional religion but lean into the other aspect of a Paladin, that unlike Clerics who generally learn and cast spells through some form of prayer, Paladins are fire and forget weapons; they're granted the ability to harrow, heal and harm in the god's name and unleashed with a moral imperium. So long as they do not deliberately denounce and repudiate their faith, the god leaves them their powers because their judgement and character was trusted when the powers were granted. So long as the Paladin acts in the name of his god, nothing he does can be unrighteous and no one he deems to slay could have been undeserving. Turn them into rare, powerful figures of fear, awe and terror whose fervor raises hosts around them and whose passing is noted by kings and emperors.

Similar story with Chosen Ones. People, by and large from what I've gathered, don't actually hate the idea of someone chosen by fate to accomplish a task; that's kind of implicit in any setting with higher powers. What people hate is the wish fulfilment aspects of it. "You, simple farmboy/blacksmith/Japanese high schooler/etc, are the Chosen One. Here, take this magic sword and some neat powers, destiny is on your side, come be the most important man in the world; everyone can't wait to praise you." Wheel of Time, for all its manifold faults, does a great job showing the Chosen One as someone who "gets" to struggle through hardship and peril while it turns out no one is excited to meet the man whose arrival heralds the end of days--though plenty are happy to try and use him to their petty advantage--with his preordained death hanging over him like the sword of Damocles. You can look to that for inspiration; you can flip the script and focus on other people dealing with some guy from obscurity, wandering into the story from the unknown, whose obsession to learn the arts of war and complete a very specific set of tasks borders on the inhuman, and when asked he simply references an ancient, near-forgotten prophecy and claims that the voice of God spoke to him. You could spend a large portion of the story wondering if he's a madman, with the only thing setting him truly apart is a subtle Mandate of Heaven, where chance and fate are nudged just enough that he keeps walking that single thread of probability to victory, even if he crosses the finish line battered and bloodied. It goes without saying that you can also change the origin, as others have, and make the Chosen One some who led a strange, colorful life before being "Chosen". By the time people realize Elric of Melniboné is the Eternal Champion and prophets start saying only he can save the world, people aren't very happy to trust the reputed backstabbing, kinslaying sorcerer-reaver most famous for his soul-eating sword